YouTube Says It Paid Out $4 Billion to Music Industry Over Past 12 Months

Activision Blizzard, after the company tried to argue against it.On February 15, judge Timothy Patrick Dillon ruled that temporary workers could be included in the Department of Fair Employment and Housing’s lawsuit against Activision Blizzard.The company had previously tried to have the suit dismissed – or its scope narrowed down – by saying that California had wrongly included this group of employees.“The Court finds that [Department of Fair Employment and Housing] did not expand the scope of this lawsuit by amending the complaint to add the phrase “contingent and temporary workers,” reads a court document shared by reporter Stephen Totilo.Activision scandal news: Yesterday, in a tentative ruling, a judge in California overruled Activision's argument that the state wrongly added temp workers to its big discrimination suit against the company.

Only a couple of months of the season remain with the regular League One campaign set to come to a conclusion at the end of April.

PlatinumGames CEO, Atsushi Inaba, has stated he sees NFTs as “frustrating” in a recent interview.In an interview with VGC, Inaba shared his thoughts on NFTs, also known as Non-Fungible Tokens, and he is not impressed. He explained that he sees “no positive impact on creators or users in any sense” adding that the studio had not “really been thinking about” them.Talking to VGC, Inaba explained that he understands “it’s a hot topic right now” and acknowledges it’s “[gaining] momentum”. However, he also points out that it has done this by focusing on “profitability for the company” rather than looking at benefits for players.“The people who are trying to promote NFTs and partner with gaming companies, their conversations seem extremely one-sided,” Inaba explained.

Wordle has become a massive hit over the past couple of months and has brought out everyone's love of word challenges.

Bastille have been announced as the final headliners of Kendal Calling 2022.The four-piece will top the bill at the Lowther Deer Park festival in July in place of The Streets, who were previously set to headline alongside Supergrass, Stereophonics and Haçienda Classical.Bastille, Supergrass, Stereophonics and Haçienda Classical now lead a line-up which includes Craig David, The Wombats, The Vaccines, Pale Waves, Sea Girls, Sports Team, Alfie Templeman, Baby Queen and more.You can see the latest line-up poster for Kendal Calling 2022, which will take place from July 28-31, below.All remaining tickets for Kendal Calling 2022 are on sale now from here.Speaking back in November about the return of the festival, which was cancelled in 2021, Kendal Calling co-founders Andy Smith and Ben Robinson said: “2022’s festival is three years in the making – organising festivals is never easy, yet despite the false starts and setbacks encountered we have never been more geared up as we prepare for the festival of a lifetime.“We are so very proud to announce our largest bill to date, keeping as many of those favourites you all booked for many moons ago while adding a bunch of big acts we have been working to bring to the fields for many years.

A 'struggling' young businesswoman has been banned from driving for more than two years after she was caught drunk at the wheel of her car following a 2am pub lock-in.

ACTRESS Sarah Ellen appears in full bloom on the beach. The Aussie, 24, found fame in Neighbours playing Madison Robinson — daughter of Kylie Minogue’s character Charlene.

Ed Sheeran has announced that a new remix of Bad Habits featuring Bring Me The Horizon will be released this Friday (February 18). 

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorWith 1989’s “Three Feet High and Rising,” the Long Island rap trio De La Soul created one of the truly groundbreaking albums in hip-hop history, bringing a happy, psychedelic, flower-bedecked vibe — dubbed “the D.A.I.S.Y. Age” — to a genre that had largely been musically and lyrically aggressive and/or self-aggrandizing up to that point.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorReservoir has acquired legendary independent Hip-Hop and Electronic record label Tommy Boy Music. The deal comprises 6,000+ masters including Coolio’s “Gangsta’s Paradise,” House of Pain’s “Jump Around,” and Afrika Bambaataa & The Soulsonic Force’s “Planet Rock.” According to an SEC filing, the price was around $100 million.Tommy Boy Music helped to launch the careers of Hip-Hop icons such as Queen Latifah, Coolio, De La Soul, Naughty By Nature, Afrika Bambaataa, Digital Underground, House of Pain, and Force MDs, among many others.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorNew York’s City Parks Foundation returns to live, in-person performances this summer with the announcement of the shows planned for the 2021 season of Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage, New York City’s largest free outdoor performing arts festival. SummerStage shows will be returning to Rumsey Playfield in Central Park, Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem, Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens, and The Coney Island Amphitheater.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorWarner Chappell Production Music has opened the doors to two new recording facilities: SkyLight Studios in Los Angeles and Sandtrack Sound in Nashville.The WCPM team partnered with David Kotch of Criterion Acoustics to redesign SkyLight Studios, a former mastering lab located in Hollywood. The building is equipped to offer digital and analog recording capabilities with Pro Tools systems, a Neve console, vintage microphones, tape machines, and A-list outboard gear.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorIn recent years, as streaming has rapidly become the format of choice for much of the world — and the primary revenue source for recorded music — the value of copyrights has soared. That value climbed even higher when the pandemic flattened the financial engine of the music business — the live-entertainment industry — and copyrights proved themselves to be a remarkably durable asset.Over the past few months, Bob Dylan sold his song catalog to Universal Music Publishing for between $300-400 million, Neil Young sold half of his to fast-rising upstart Hipgnosis Songs for $100 million, and Stevie Nicks sold hers (along with other intellectual property) to Primary Wave for $100 million as well, sources say.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorDef Jam Recordings has elevated promotion veteran Nicki Farag to Executive Vice President and General Manager.According to the announcement, in her new role, Farag will oversee the label’s day-to-day operations, working with artists, managers and staff to develop strategies and execute plans on behalf of the label’s diverse roster of global superstars and emerging talent. Based in Santa Monica, Farag will report to Def Jam interim Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Harleston.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorThe Prince Estate and Sony Music have released “Born 2 Die,” is the second single made available from Prince’s upcoming, previously unreleased 2010 studio album “Welcome 2 America.”  According to the announcement, song was recorded during a flurry of studio activity in the spring of 2010, when President Obama was just a year into his first term and Prince was reflecting deeply on the issues affecting the Black community and the role he hoped to play in the social justice movement.The song was first recorded by Prince, the bassist Tal Wilkenfeld, and the drummer Chris Coleman, and with vocals added by Shelby J., Liv Warfield, and Elisa Fiorillo. Morris Hayes added final production to the track.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorAs its 2019 concert with Taylor Swift, Dua Lipa, SZA and Becky G shows, Amazon Music does not half-step for its Prime Day entertainment — and even in these concert-challenged times, they’re delivering this year: Billie Eilish, H.E.R. and Kid Cudi will star in the Prime Day Show, a “three-part immersive musical event” presented by Amazon Music in celebration of Prime Day.All three episodes of the Prime Day Show will premiere globally starting June 17 on Prime Video and will be available to all customers for 30 days, with or without a Prime membership.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorWhether or not you know Justin Tranter the person, if you’ve been near a radio in the past 10 years, you know Justin Tranter the songwriter, who’s had a hand in hits like Justin Bieber’s “Sorry,” DNCE’s “Cake by the Ocean,” Selena Gomez’s “Lose You to Love Me,” Imagine Dragons’ “Believer,” Halsey’s “Bad at Love” and dozens more. The former lead singer of Semi Precious Weapons, Tranter (pronouns: they/their) also founded and runs Facet Records and Music Publishing, which launched late in 2018.Yet music is just half of the story: They are also a prominent and outspoken advocate for arts education, animal rights, ending gun violence, songwriters’ rights and perhaps most of all, the LGBTQ community.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorOne year ago today was  “Blackout Tuesday” — during which the music industry took a work pause to protest police violence against the black community and consider its social justice policies and efforts in the wake of the murders by police of George Floyd, Breona Taylor and so many others over the years.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorFor the second time, Lady Gaga has postponed her “Chromatica Ball” tour — now it will take place in 2022.“While some parts of the world are moving quickly to open up, others are not yet ready. So until we can confirm all global dates, we have to postpone The Chromatica Ball shows to the summer of 2022,” Lady Gaga wrote in a message.The initial tour dates, originally announced on March 5, 2020, were a month-long, six-city stadium jaunt sprawling from July 25 through Aug.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorNetflix has struck a new long-term exclusive agreement with BMG for the management and administration of its music publishing rights worldwide outside the U.S., the companies announced on Wednesday. The companies forged a similar deal in 2017.Under the arrangement, BMG will serve as Netflix’s exclusive music partner outside the U.S., handling rights and royalties for its original films and series.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorSean “Diddy” Combs has teamed up with Salesforce to launch Shop Circulate, which the announcement describes as a curated digital marketplace that allows consumers to discover and buy products exclusively created and sold by Black entrepreneurs. The platform’s goal is to provide Black businesses with a platform to reach global audiences and empowers consumers to shop the world’s best Black-owned brands.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorAs first revealed by Variety, the Coachella festival has officially moved to April 15-17 and April 22-24, 2022, according to an announcement from promoter Goldenvoice. The country themed Stagecoach festival will follow the two Coachella weekends, on April 29-May 1.“Our desert homecoming is officially set for April 2022: weekend one will take place on April 15-17, 2022 and weekend two on April 22-24, 2022,” the announcement reads..

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorSeven-time Grammy winning singer/songwriter Alanis Morissette has unveiled new tour dates for her 2021-2022 world tour to celebrate 25 years of her groundbreaking “Jagged Little Pill” album. The 35-date U.S.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorIt was supposed to be the 25th anniversary tour, but like every other tour last year, the pandemic forced the Foo Fighters to postpone everything that involved large groups of humans gathering together.But on Tuesday morning, in a press release reading “FOO FIGHTERS FIRST U.S.

Jem Aswad Senior Music Editor364 days after “Blackout Tuesday” — during which the music industry took a pause to protest police violence against the black community and consider its social justice policies and efforts in the wake of George Floyd’s murder — Motown Records has named Jamila Thomas, a co-founder of #TheShowMustBePaused, as vice president of artist marketing. #TheShowMustBePaused played a pivotal role in establishing Blackout Tuesday and leading the industry to reassess its policies and pledge millions of dollars to social justice causes.According to the announcement, in this role, Thomas will oversee marketing strategies and campaigns across Motown’s roster of artists and partners.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorWarner Records ruled the 2021 BRIT Awards with three wins – two for Dua Lipa (Mastercard Album and Female Solo Artist) and one for singer-songwriter, Griff (Rising Star). And the executive who signed both artists got his own reward shortly afterwards, when head of A&R Joe Kentish was appointed label president, following predecessor Phil Christie’s decision to step down.Kentish takes over on June 1 and inherits a label in strong shape, with Warner’s market share of all U.K.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorIt’s hard not to listen to DMX’s posthumous album “Exodus” — which the rapper completed just weeks before his death on April 9 — without feeling wistfulness, but there are many classic moments on the set.One in particular is a rare team-up between DMX’s fellow New York rappers Jay-Z and Nas, bringing three of the greatest MCs of all time — not to mention one of its legendary producers in album executive producer Swizz Beatz — on a single track.Over rich, thumping rhythms, Jay raps “To be loved, Shakespearean, experienced to be honest/ Jumpin’ off boats, hoppin’ off another cliff/ Every six months, I think I need a new bucket list”; Nas follows with, “My instincts guide me through this Kurtis Blow culture/ Good

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorJ. Cole, Kid Cudi and Future are set to headline the Rolling Loud California 2021 festival, taking place on December 10th-12th, 2021 at the NOS Events Center in San Bernardino.Also on the bill are Wiz Khalifa, Playboi Carti, Moneybagg Yo, Lil Durk, Polo G, Rod Wave, Lil Tjay, Jack Harlow and Ski Mask the Slump God, along with rising rappers like Pooh Shiesty, 42 Dugg, Coi Leray, Morray, $NOT, and Latto, as well as Cali veterans Ty Dolla $ign, Tyga, Drakeo the Ruler and more, including a duo performance by Young Thug and Chris Brown.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorMondo.NYC, the New York-based music, arts & technology conference, has announced several more panels, events and showcases taking place at this year’s edition, which takes place Oct.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorWarner Chappell Music has entered into a co-publishing agreement with rising hip-hop artist 42 Dugg, who is signed to both Yo Gotti’s CMG label and Lil Baby’s 4PF imprint as part of a joint venture.The announcement comes on the heels of the release of the Detroit native’s new project, “Free Dem Boyz,” and last year, he was featured on Lil Baby’s double-platinum single, “We Paid,” which he also performed with Baby on the BET Awards. Warner Chappell Music President of A&R, U.S., Ryan Press said: “This is 42 Dugg’s moment.