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☆ Taylor Swift helps fuel Universal Music Group's third-quarter revenue
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Dawn Chmielewski | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Universal Music Group logo is seen displayed in this illustration taken, May 3, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 26 (Reuters) - Cultural phenomenon Taylor Swift helped fuel revenue at Universal Music Group (UMG.AS) in the third quarter, the world's largest record label said on Thursday. Universal Music and a number of its artists also partnered with YouTube on a Music AI Incubator, to explore how to use the technology to enhance artist creativity. EBITDA for the quarter fell 11.3% to 478 million euros, reflecting the impact of non-cash share-based compensation expenses of 103 million euros during the quarter. Revenue from music publishing rose 17.5% to 491 million euros, while merchandise sales increased 20.1% to 227 million euros.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Taylor Swift, Swift, Lucian Grainge, Grainge, we're, Morgan Wallen, Olivia Rodrigo, King, Prince, Dawn Chmielewski, Chizu Nomiyama, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Universal, REUTERS, Universal Music, YouTube, Revenue, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles

☆ Olivia Rodrigo’s ‘Guts’ Is Her Second No. 1 Album
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Ben Sisario | More About Ben Sisario | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Olivia Rodrigo’s new album, “Guts,” has a blockbuster opening at No. “Guts,” the second LP by the 20-year-old Rodrigo, becomes her second No. Rodrigo’s new album, which is also No. 1 in Britain, Canada, Australia and elsewhere, had 200 million streams in the United States and sold 150,000 copies as a complete package. Last week, Rodrigo announced a 75-date world tour to begin in February 2024.

Persons: Olivia Rodrigo’s, ”, ” —, Rodrigo, Taylor Swift’s, Morgan Wallen’s, Travis Scott’s Organizations: BTS Locations: United States, Britain, Canada, Australia

☆ 'Rich Men North of Richmond': A virtually unknown conservative singer just rocketed to the top of the charts
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The right-wing media universe is maturing — and finding great success — beyond typical news commentary. That’s quite a feat, considering singer Christopher Anthony Lunsford was virtually unknown just weeks ago. It’s also illustrative of the power amassed by right-wing media forces, taking unknown quantities and churning them out into overnight blockbuster hits, a weaponized cudgel against perceived enemies in mainstream institutions. And, while he is a well known country singer, Jason Aldean’s widely criticized “Try That In a Small Town” was not much of a commercial success until it was boosted by right-wing media to the top of the Billboard charts. As conservatives increasingly see legacy media companies and performers as not only disagreeable, but outright evil, it makes sense that they would look toward outsiders to fill their entertainment needs.

Persons: Oliver Anthony Music’s, “, Christopher Anthony Lunsford, Lunsford, Taylor Swift, Morgan Wallen, Olivia Rodrigo, Miley Cyrus, It’s, Donald Trump, Tom Cruise, Jason Aldean’s Organizations: CNN, North, Billboard, Fox News, Trump, Daily, Disney Locations: Richmond, Washington

☆ Travis Scott’s ‘Utopia’ Repeats at No. 1
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Ben Sisario | More About Ben Sisario | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

1 on the Billboard album chart for a second time this week, while Morgan Wallen’s “Last Night” logs its 16th time as the top single. That total includes 146 million streams and 37,000 copies of the LP sold as a complete package. The last rap album to spend at least its first two weeks at No. 2, while his song “Last Night,” a monster hit on streaming services and pop radio, holds at No. Only Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road,” with 19 weeks in 2019, had a longer run at the top.

Persons: Travis Scott, Morgan Wallen’s “, ”, —, Tyler, Luis Fonsi, Yankee’s, Mariah Carey, Lil Nas Locations: United States, ”

☆ Opinion | From Taylor Swift to Beyoncé, Concerts Are Turning Into Something New
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Elamin Abdelmahmoud | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

Ms. Swift’s tour alone is on pace to earn over a billion dollars, while Harry Styles’ Love On Tour ended a couple of weeks ago as the fourth-highest-grossing tour of all time. Elton John wrapped a tour earlier this summer that stands as the highest-grossing of all time — at least for now. While the average ticket price for the Bruce Springsteen tour is an already hefty $250, thanks to so-called dynamic pricing, tickets have been on sale for as much as $5,000. Beyoncé’s tour this summer boasts a giant metallic tank and robot arms, and Ms. Swift’s set is like a traveling Vegas production. For everyone else, there’s social media — and there’s been plenty this summer for online audiences to enjoy.

Persons: Drake, Bruce Springsteen, Ed Sheeran, Luke Combs, Tracy Chapman’s, Morgan Wallen, Julien Baker, Lucy Dacus, Phoebe Bridgers, Swift’s, Harry Styles ’, Elton John, there’s, concertgoer Organizations: Bloomberg Locations: Europe

☆ Analysis: Country music is at a crossroads. Two of its most viral songs show why
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-29 | by ( Aj Willingham | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The struggle for the soul of country music is on full display now as two very different songs have been making headlines. Michael Loccisano/Getty ImagesThese two songs, so differently received yet recorded under the same big country umbrella, are an embodiment of the crossroads where country music currently stands. Like all musical traditions that fuse, evolve and splinter, country music and its legions of fans are engaged in a negotiation for the genre’s main identity. When the Dixie Chicks spoke out against the Iraq War in the early 2000s, their popularity in country music circles never fully recovered.. Small towns, fast cars and American values are as essential to country music as four chords and the truth.

Persons: Jason Aldean, Luke Combs, Tracy Chapman, Chapman, Combs, ”, Tracy, ” Chapman, “, Luke, Bryan Bedder, they’ve, Aldean, Little Richard, Otis Redding, ” Aldean, —, Holly G, Morgan Wallen, Michael Loccisano, foremothers, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, ” Combs, it’s Organizations: CNN, CMT, Billboard, Singer, Amarillo, Black Opry, Washington Post, Texas Democrat, country’s, Dixie, Grand Ole Opry Locations: Copenhagen, underrepresentation, Aldean, Macon , Georgia, Iraq

☆ Universal Music earnings boosted by strong sales
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

July 26 (Reuters) - The world's largest record label Universal Music Group (UMG.AS) on Wednesday posted a better than expected second quarter core profit margin, boosted by strong sales from artists including Taylor Swift and South Korea's SEVENTEEN. Universal Music's quarterly margin on adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose to 21.9%, from 20.0% a year earlier, the group said in a statement. Adjusted EBITDA rose by 16.4% to 590 million euros ($653 million), higher than a company-provided consensus of 547 million euros. Universal Music reported revenues of 2.7 billion euros in the quarter, helped by a 10.6% yearly rise in recorded music subscriptions, the company added. Apart from Taylor Swift and South Korean boy band SEVENTEEN, other top sellers in the second quarter were King & Prince, Morgan Wallen, and Stray Kids, Universal Music said.

Persons: Taylor Swift, Lucian Grainge, Prince, Morgan Wallen, Alessandro Parodi, Toby Chopra, Barbara Lewis Organizations: Universal Music, Universal, Thomson Locations: South Korean

☆ Jason Aldean, Decrying ‘Cancel Culture,’ Has a No. 2 Hit
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( Ben Sisario | More About Ben Sisario | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

In May, the country star Jason Aldean released a single, “Try That in a Small Town,” with lyrics that paint contemporary urban life as a hellscape of crime and anarchy: “Sucker punch somebody on a sidewalk/Carjack an old lady at a red light.”“You think you’re tough,” Aldean sings. “Well, try that in a small town.”Initially, the track got relatively little notice, landing at No. “Try That in a Small Town” makes its debut at No. 2 on the Hot 100, Aldean’s best showing ever on Billboard’s all-genre pop chart, beating current hits by Olivia Rodrigo and Morgan Wallen. Aldean was surpassed this week only by Jung Kook of the South Korean supergroup BTS, whose debut solo single, “Seven,” opens at No.

Persons: Jason Aldean, Aldean, Aldean —, “, Olivia Rodrigo, Morgan Wallen, Jung Kook, ”, Henry Choate, — Organizations: Korean, BTS Locations: ”, Maury, Columbia, Tenn

☆ Jelly Roll’s ‘Save Me’ and the Music of Addiction and Recovery - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-23 | by ( Crispin Sartwell | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

In a country riddled with crises — the opioid epidemic, mass incarceration, the mental health crisis and gun violence among them — Jelly Roll’s music is an expression not just of musical tastes, but also of a desperate national hunger for healing and recovery. Disclosure: Jelly Roll’s music makes me cry, too. I lost a brother and two stepbrothers to addiction and mental illness: Bob was killed in a drug-motivated shooting in 1984. These are the sorts of experiences that Jelly Roll is bringing to the charts: very common devastating experiences of betrayal and survivor’s guilt and despair that, despite their prevalence, are not usually made public. And as the ABC News Studios documentary “Jelly Roll: Save Me” makes clear, he is still struggling.

Persons: Rollmania, Bob, Adam, Jim, Jelly Roll’s, Morgan Wallen’s, Wallen’s, ”, “, David Allan Coe, Nan Goldin Organizations: ABC News Studios Locations: Nashville

☆ Taylor Swift Now Has More No. 1 Albums Than Any Woman in History
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Ben Sisario | More About Ben Sisario | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

When Taylor Swift released “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)” this month, there was no doubt it would debut at No. The only questions were how forcefully it would smash records, how many mountains of vinyl it would sell and how far down the chart Swift’s catalog would push everybody else. 1 albums, but the only acts with more are Jay-Z (14) and the Beatles (19). Swift is the first living act to have four albums in the Top 10 since Herb Alpert in 1966. (Prince had five after his death in 2016, and for many years Billboard barred older “catalog” albums from reappearing on its main chart — a rule that was changed after Michael Jackson’s death, in 2009.)

Persons: Taylor Swift, Morgan Wallen’s, Barbra Streisand, Drake, Swift, Herb Alpert, Prince, Michael Jackson’s Organizations: Beatles Locations: United States

☆ Taylor Swift Halts Morgan Wallen’s Run at No. 1
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Ben Sisario | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

For 12 weeks, nothing could stop Morgan Wallen’s domination of the Billboard chart with his latest album, “One Thing at a Time.” Not Metallica. Then came deluxe reissues of “Midnights,” Taylor Swift’s seven-month-old LP. In the United States, “Midnights” has had the equivalent of nearly five million sales and been streamed 3.2 billion times. Lately, as Swift’s Eras Tour has become a cultural juggernaut, her wider catalog has also dotted the upper ranks of the album chart. Last week, Swift had nine titles in the Top 40.

Persons: Morgan Wallen’s, ”, Ed Sheeran, Jonas Brothers, ” Taylor Swift’s, Midnights ”, “, Swift Organizations: BTS Locations: United States

☆ Universal Music reiterates AI concerns as quarterly profit slumps
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

April 26 (Reuters) - Universal Music Group (UMG.AS), the label representing Drake and Taylor Swift, on Wednesday posted a slump in first-quarter core profit due to compensation expenses, and reiterated concerns over AI-made music. Core profit, or earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA), slumped 43.4% in constant currency to 261 million euros ($288.04 million), due to non-cash, share-based compensation expenses, part of an equity compensation plan announced last year. Excluding these expenses, adjusted EBITDA was 522 million euros, up 13.0% on the same basis, and beating a consensus cited by Credit Suisse which had expected 513 million euros. UMG's CEO, Lucian Grainge, has come under shareholder pressure over an "excessive" $100 million pay deal, The Financial Times reported on Wednesday. Labels now face challenges like slowing global revenue growth in recorded music, particularly in established markets like the U.S, while the emergence of AI-generated music adds to their concerns, as many laws do not currently deem the replication of artists' voices as strictly illegal.

☆ Universal Music profit slumps due to compensation expenses
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

April 26 (Reuters) - Universal Music Group (UMG.AS), the label representing Drake and Taylor Swift, on Wednesday posted a significant drop in core profit due to compensation expenses, even as sales edged up in the first quarter. Core profit (EBITDA) for the first quarter fell 43.4% at constant currency to 261 million euros ($288.07 million), with the metric's margin also dropping to 10.6% from 20.6% in the same quarter a year earlier. The drop was due to non-cash, share-based compensation expenses of 261 million euros during the quarter, part of a global equity compensation plan announced in the fourth quarter of last year, UMG said. UMG's CEO Lucian Grainge has come under shareholder pressure over an "excessive" $100 million pay deal, The Financial Times reported on Wednesday. The group nonetheless posted higher first quarter sales, helped by growth in recorded music and music publishing.

☆ Morgan Wallen fans upset about abrupt concert cancellation
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Marianne Garvey | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Morgan Wallen is taking vocal rest and canceling tour dates after losing his voice. The country star, who is just 11 dates into his seven-month global tour, told fans that he spoke to his doctor and has been told he is unable to sing. “After last night’s show I started losing my voice so I spent the day resting up, talking to my doctor and working through my vocal exercises trying to get better. Instead, ticketholders were greeted with an announcement on a screen near the stage reading: “Ladies & Gentlemen, Unfortunately Morgan has lost his voice and is unable to perform tonight – therefore tonight’s show has been cancelled. Refunds for tonight’s event will be available at point of purchase.”Wallen is scheduled to perform next on April 27 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

☆ Morgan Wallen’s Chart-Domination Strategy? Really Long Albums
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Neil Shah | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Over the past few years, Morgan Wallen has become one of the most significant new stars across pop music. Morgan Wallen’s “One Thing at a Time” is an 18-wheeler of an album, with 36 songs that run for a total of nearly two hours. The album, released Friday and Mr. Wallen’s first since a public scandal in early 2021, has scored the largest first-week numbers of 2023, according to initial data from Luminate. (For comparison Taylor Swift’s 20-track “Midnights” racked up 550 million streams in its first week.) If Mr. Wallen, a 29-year-old from East Tennessee, lands at least 28 songs on the Hot 100 singles chart, he will set a new record.

☆ Factbox: Key winners at the 2022 American Music Awards
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( Danielle Broadway | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nov 20 (Reuters) - The 2022 fan-voted American Music Awards were handed out at a ceremony in Los Angeles at the Microsoft Theater on Sunday, hosted by Wayne Brady. Following is a list of winners in key categories;ARTIST OF THE YEARTaylor SwiftNEW ARTIST OF THE YEARDove CameronCOLLABORATION OF THE YEARElton John & Dua Lipa -- "Cold Heart"FAVORITE TOURING ARTISTColdplayFAVORITE MUSIC VIDEOTaylor Swift -- "All Too Well (Taylor's Version)"FAVORITE MALE POP ARTISTHarry StylesFAVORITE FEMALE POP ARTISTTaylor SwiftFAVORITE POP DUO OR GROUPBTSFAVORITE POP SONGHarry Styles -- "As It Was"FAVORITE MALE COUNTRY ARTISTMorgan WallenFAVORITE FEMALE COUNTRY ARTISTTaylor SwiftFAVORITE COUNTRY DUO OR GROUPDan + ShayFAVORITE MALE HIP-HOP ARTISTKendrick LamarFAVORITE FEMALE HIP-HOP ARTISTNicki MinajFAVORITE ROCK ARTISTMachine Gun KellyFAVORITE POP ALBUMTaylor SwiftReporting by Danielle Broadway; Editing by Savio D'SouzaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ American Music Awards 2022: See the winners list
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-20 | by ( Dan Heching | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The 50th American Music Awards are taking place on Sunday night at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. Elton John, first nominated for an AMA in 1974, is now regarded as the longest-recognized artist in the awards show’s history. Taylor Swift led the pack with three AMA wins ahead of broadcast, including best female country artist. Below is a list of nominees for this year’s American Music Awards. The list will be updated with winners in bold throughout the broadcast, along with the winners from non-televised categories.

☆ CMA Awards 2022: See the full list of winners
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( Dan Heching | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Country music threw a party on Wednesday night as the CMA Awards were presented. First-time nominee Lainey Wilson topped the list of nominees going into the show and ended the night with major wins, including new artist of the year and female vocalist of the year. The emotional Wilson declared in one acceptance speech: “I know I’m new to a lot of folks, but I won’t let y’all all down. I promise you.”Luke Combs also had a big night, taking the stage both as a performer and winner. Other performers included Kelly Clarkson, who performed with Kelsea Ballerini and Carly Pearce, and Luke Bryan, who pulled double duty as host alongside Peyton Manning.

☆ Taylor Swift’s ‘Midnights’ sees biggest album debut week in nearly 7 years
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-31 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

In streaming, Swift scores the third-largest streaming week for an album, by total on-demand official streams (549.26 million), and also logs the biggest streaming week for a non-R&B/hip-hop album and any album by a woman. 2 on the Billboard 200 with 110,000 equivalent album units earned (down 49%) after scoring the top spot a week prior. 6 in its debut week with 37,500 units (of that total, 28,500 units consist of album sales). 7 with 37,000 equivalent album units earned. 8 with 32,000 equivalent album units earned (up 1%) and Beyonce’s former No.

☆ Bad Bunny dominates American Music Award nominations
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-13 | by ( Lisa Richwine | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Bad Bunny performs during his World's Hottest Tour at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, U.S., September 30, 2022. Bad Bunny received a total of eight AMA nominations and will compete for artist of the year against British singers Adele and Harry Styles and Canadian musician The Weeknd. Bad Bunny's other nods included favorite male pop artist, favorite music video and favorite touring artist. If Bad Bunny wins all eight awards he is eligible for, he would tie 1980s superstars Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston for the most AMA wins in a single year. In country music categories, Chris Stapleton, Luke Combs and Morgan Wallen are among the nominees for favorite male country artist.

☆ Factbox: Key nominees for the 2022 American Music Awards
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LOS ANGELES, Oct 13 (Reuters) - Nominations were announced on Thursday for the 2022 American Music Awards. Fan votes will determine the winners, and the awards will be presented at a televised ceremony in Los Angeles on Nov. 20. Following is a list of key nominations:ARTIST OF THE YEARAdeleRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterBad BunnyBeyonceDrakeHarry StylesTaylor SwiftThe WeekndNEW ARTIST OF THE YEARDove CameronGAYLELattoManeskinSteve LacyCOLLABORATION OF THE YEARCarolina Gaitan, Mauro Castillo, Adassa, Rhenzy Feliz, Diane Guerrero, Stephanie Beatriz & Encanto Cast -- "We Don’tTalk About Bruno"Elton John & Dua Lipa -- "Cold Heart"Future featuring Drake & Tems -- "Wait for U"Lil Nas X ft. Jack Harlow -- "Industry Baby"The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber -- "Stay"FAVORITE TOURING ARTISTBad BunnyColdplayEd SheeranElton JohnThe Rolling StonesFAVORITE MUSIC VIDEOAdele -- "Easy On Me”Bad Bunny featuring Chencho Corleone -- "Me Porto Bonito"Harry Styles -- "As It Was"Lil Nas X featuring Jack Harlow -- "INDUSTRY BABY"Taylor Swift -- "All Too Well (Taylor’s Version)"FAVORITE MALE POP ARTISTBad BunnyDrakeEd SheeranHarry StylesThe WeekndFAVORITE FEMALE POP ARTISTAdeleBeyonceDoja CatLizzoTaylor SwiftFAVORITE POP DUO OR GROUPBTSColdplayImagine DragonsManeskinOneRepublicFAVORITE POP SONGAdele -- "Easy On Me"Carolina Gaitan, Mauro Castillo, Adassa, Rhenzy Feliz, Diane Guerrero, Stephanie Beatriz & Encanto Cast -- "We Don’tTalk About Bruno"Harry Styles -- "As It Was"Lizzo -- "About Damn Time"The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber -- "STAY"FAVORITE MALE COUNTRY ARTISTChris StapletonCody JohnsonLuke CombsMorgan WallenWalker HayesFAVORITE FEMALE COUNTRY ARTISTCarrie UnderwoodLainey WilsonMaren MorrisMiranda LambertTaylor SwiftFAVORITE COUNTRY DUO OR GROUPDan + ShayLady AOld DominionParmaleeZac Brown BandFAVORITE MALE HIP-HOP ARTISTDrakeFutureKendrick LamarLil BabyLil DurkFAVORITE FEMALE HIP-HOP ARTISTCardi BGloRillaLattoMegan Thee StallionNicki MinajFAVORITE ROCK ARTISTImagine DragonsMachine Gun KellyManeskinRed Hot Chili PeppersThe LumineersFAVORITE K-POP ARTISTBLACKPINKBTSSeventeenTomorrow X TogetherTwiceRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Lisa Richwine; Editing by Robert BirselOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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☆ American Music Awards 2022: See the full list of nominees
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-13 | by ( Sandra Gonzalez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The Puerto Rican performer is the most-nominated artists for the 2022 American Music Awards, earning eight nominations, among them his first-ever for artist of the year. Beyoncé, Drake and Taylor Swift each earned six nominations, while Adele, Harry Styles and The Weeknd came in with five a piece. And elsewhere, Elton John made history for what the show called being “the longest-recognized artists” in the show’s history. The show also boasted about the addition of a new category dedicated to the K-Pop genre, favorite K-Pop artist. The American Music Awards will air Sunday, November 20 at 8 p.m.

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