CLOCK IS TICKING
Universal Music Group
STOP, YOU’RE LOSING ME
SHAKE IT OFF
While performing and accepting the “Artist of the Decade” award at the AMAs, the pop superstar decided not to address her ongoing war with her old label and Scooter Braun.
A MOMENT OF SILENCE
His career-long battle against record label tyranny and championing of artists’ right to be paid is exactly why you can’t find his music online to listen to today.
Death to Diversity
The so-called caliphate has a special hatred for ‘apostate’ Muslims who adopt Western ways—and declared them special targets of the Paris attacks.
Core Values
Processed and modified are out. Natural and crafted are in. Is the music business about to imitate the food industry? And will the industry giants get caught napping again?
Pivotal
Beanie Babies were hot, Napster debuted, ‘Star Wars’ returned, Bruce reunited with the E Street Band, and Pedro Martinez won 26 games. For a while there, it was heaven.
Time to Pay Up
A new report says Apple is trying to end Spotify’s free streaming option—and displace about three-quarters of its users along with it. The DOJ is trying to stop it.
Slow Fade
The record label of Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald just got swallowed by a hip-hop business… and no one even noticed!