Written for music industry professionals and fans. Contents provide news, reviews and statistics for all genres of music, including radio play, music video, related internet activity and retail updates.
Billboard US
Leray Among Hip-Hop’s Rising ‘Players’
22 “TQG” Karol G x Shakira
BILLBOARD 200
8 “Set Me Free, Pt. 2” Jimin
20 BAILEY ZIMMERMAN WEEKS ON CHART 43
SIGNS OF SUCCESS • Ed Sheeran returns to the top of Billboard’s monthly Boxscore report while the Red Hot Chili Peppers double up
Fake Streams Are A Real Problem • According to one estimate, more than $1 billion in royalties is lost to streaming fraud worldwide. But the industry has yet to form a united approach to a global problem
How To Spoof A Stream • Streaming fraud “covers a multitude of techniques used to increase stream counts or impressions by other than legitimate means,” according to Richard Burgess, president/CEO of the American Association of Independent Music. Here are three.
THE CASE FOR — AND AGAINST— HIGHER STREAMING SUBSCRIPTION RATES • As the growth of streaming revenue slows, some are looking to Spotify to raise prices
Merch Tables Give CDs A New Spin • The digital discs are more portable and economical than vinyl albums and less subject to manufacturing delays, which could be why sales are slightly up so far this year
INDIA DRIVES SPOTIFY’S GLOBAL GROWTH • Will revenue follow? With 10 billion streams in January alone, Spotify has become the country’s leader in monthly streams, but India is still not a top five revenue market for the service
From The Desk Of... Nari Matsuura • PARTNER/CO-LEADER, MUSIC ECONOMICS AND VALUATION SERVICES PRACTICE, CITRIN COOPERMAN
‘I Hate Living In Fear’ • Daniel Caesar is boldly making the major-label leap — while doubling down on R&B innovation
Monetizing Memories
A Whole Lot Of Buzz • How Donald Glover’s new show, Swarm, became spring’s breakout streaming hit
Uncle Waffles • FROM Eswatini (formerly known as Swaziland)
HEART BEATS • THE STAGE IS A CANVAS FOR ROSALÍA’S AND RAUW ALEJANDRO’S BOUNDLESS CREATIVITY. OFF IT, THE ENGAGED DUO TAKES ITS RELATIONSHIP JUST AS SERIOUSLY
Latin Explodes — Live
THE UNCOMMON EVERYMAN • PRE-PANDEMIC TICKET PRICING. NO PYRO. MASSIVE SOLD-OUT CROWDS — ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ATLANTIC. HOW LUKE COMBS BECAME COUNTRY MUSIC’S GLOBAL TOURING “UNICORN”
SOUND WAVES • FROM BROADWAY DIVAS TO METALHEADS TO EDM DJS , MUSIC CRUISES OFFER ALL KINDS OF ARTISTS A STAGE LIKE NO OTHER — AND SIXTHMAN HAS CORNERED THE MARKET
THE NEW CLASSICS • AS ROCK’S TOURING LEGENDS ENTER THEIR GOLDEN YEARS, A NEW GENERATION OF BANDS — WITH QUALITY, GROWING CATALOGS AND LOYAL, LEGION FAN BASES — ARE ESTABLISHING CAREERS ON THE ROAD BUILT TO LAST
BATTLE FOR THE BOX OFFICE • BUNGLED ON-SALES RENEWED FUROR AT TICKETMASTER. BUT A SLEW OF NEW PLATFORMS ARE GIVING FANS (AND ARTISTS) ALTERNATIVES
THE COMPETITION
2023 TOP MUSIC LAWYERS • The best attorneys in the business are defending the rights of their clients, negotiating smart deals — and warily watching the rise of artificial intelligence
LEADING LAW SCHOOLS OF THE TOP MUSIC LAWYERS • THE MOST FREQUENTLY CITED ALMA MATERS OF THE 2023 CLASS OF HONOREES
LIBIANCA • The rising Afrobeats star has become a much-needed voice with breakout hit “People”