Atlantic Records Promotes Lanre Gaba to Co-President of Black Music

Nikki Bella is opening up about fiancé Artem Chigvintsev's ongoing struggle with pneumonia. Nikki and her sister, Brie Bella, spoke with ET's Lauren Zima on Saturday at the 2022 Fanatics Super Bowl Party in Culver City, California, and the 38-year-old TV personality and pro wrestler shared some news about Artem's «terrifying» and persistent case of pneumonia.«He's doing well. He still has pneumonia, it's crazy!» Nikki shared.

Valentine's Day.Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani, Britney Spears and Sam Asghari, the Beckhams, as well as Mandy Moore, Salma Hayek and more are celebrating Feb. 14 with sweet and heartfelt posts for their significant others.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorSpotify will remove Neil Young’s music from its platform, per his request, following his objections to Joe Rogan’s statements about the Covid-19 vaccine on his Spotify-hosted show. The music is expected to be removed later Wednesday.A rep for Spotify said in a statement to Variety: “We want all the world’s music and audio content to be available to Spotify users.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorThe full list appears below, but highlights include Cassandra Jenkins (New York), Coogie (South Korea), Ian Sweet (Los Angeles), Kosha Dillz (New York), La Doña (San Francisco), Moonchild Sanelly (South Africa), Pom Pom Squad (New York), Sloppy Jane (Los Angeles), Wet Leg (England), Wolf Eyes (Detroit) and dozens more.According to the announcement, SXSW continues to plan for a hybrid event (in-person with online viewing and participation options). The festival has updated its Covid-19 guidelines and will continue to coordinate with both the City of Austin and Austin Public Health — more details on SXSW’s Covid protocols are available on the SXSW website.All SXSW Music registrants receive primary access to Music and Convergence Conference programming, including Keynotes and Featured Speakers, Music Festival showcases, the Comedy Festival, exhibitions, networking Meet Ups, the Flatstock Poster Show, Registrant Lounge, the SXSW Outdoor Stage at Lady Bird Lake concerts, and the closing BBQ & softball tournament.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorRihanna is putting $15 million behind her belief that climate change is a social justice issue by making that sizable donation to the movement through her Clara Lionel Foundation.On Tuesday the singer announced that the money will be distributed between 18 climate justice organizations working in seven Caribbean nations and the United States, including the Climate Justice Alliance, the Indigenous Environmental Network, and the Movement for Black Lives, according to the Associated Press.“Climate disasters, which are growing in frequency and intensity, do not impact all communities equally, with communities of color and island nations facing the brunt of climate change,” Rihanna said in a statement. The grants, which were made in partnership with Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey’s #StartSmall fund, are focused on groups with female, LGBTQ and Black and indigenous leaders because their communities are at the greatest risk.“Funders must build partnerships with grassroots organizations, acknowledging their deep understanding of what is necessary to achieve climate justice in their own communities,” said Justine Lucas, Clara Lionel Foundation’s executive director.During the height of the pandemic in 2020, Rihanna and Dorsey together donated $15 million to mental-health services as well as $2.1 million each to aid victims of domestic violence in Los Angeles.Earlier this week, Rihanna’s  Savage X Fenty lingerie line announced a new funding round of $125 million led by Neuberger Berman.Rihanna was officially named a billionaire last year when Forbes estimated her net worth at $1.7 billion.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorLuis Fonsi, co-writer and singer of the massive global hit “Despacito” and many others, has sold his entire publishing catalog to HarbourView Equity Partners, the global alternative asset management company founded by Sherrese Clarke Soares.Terms of the deal, which an announcement says was negotiated and closed in two weeks, were not disclosed. Billboard reports that the deal includes both the songwriter and publisher share on all songs Fonsi wrote or co-wrote; Sony Music Publishing will continue to administer his catalog.“We are extremely excited to acquire the chart-topping, multi-platinum selling catalog of world renowned artist Luis Fonsi,” said Clarke Soares.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorJ. Cole, Halsey and Kid Cudi will headline the 2022 Governors Ball Music Festival, set to take place Friday, June 10 through Sunday, June 12 at the Citi Field complex in Queens, New York, Founders Entertainment has announced.More than 60 artists are slated to perform, also including Flume, Playboi Carti, Roddy Ricch, Glass Animals, Migos, Jack Harlow, Kaytranada, Joji, Louis the Child, Clairo, Jazmine Sullivan, Still Woozy, 100 Gecs, Japanese Breakfast, Becky G, Black Pumas and more.A special presale for 3-day and 1-day GA and VIP tickets will be available exclusively for Citi Cardmembers from today (Jan.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorSony Music Entertainment today announced it has fully acquired Bob Dylan’s entire back catalog of recorded music, as well as the rights to multiple future new releases, in a major expansion of SME’s six-decade relationship with the artist.Sources tell Variety that the deal was worth between $150 million and $200 million, although the number was not confirmed; reps for Sony and Dylan declined comment.This landmark agreement, concluded in July 2021, comprises the entirety of Bob Dylan’s recorded body of work since 1962, beginning with the artist’s self-titled debut album and continuing through 2020’s highly acclaimed and successful “Rough and Rowdy Ways.”Bob Dylan and SME will continue to collaborate on a range of future catalog reissues in the artist’s renowned and top-selling Bootleg Series, which began in 1991 and includes 14 releases through last year’s lauded “Springtime In New York: The Bootleg Series Vol. 16 (1980-1985).” The agreement also provides the opportunity for SME to partner with Dylan on additional projects.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorBig Sean, H.E.R., Moneybagg Yo, Ari Lennox and others will perform at the the second annual “iHeartRadio Living Black! Empowered by AT&T,” a month-long on-air celebration. The event will also feature special appearances from Lizzo, J.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorBob Dylan, whose “Never-Ending Tour” sprung back to life late last year, has unveiled a string of North American dates for March and April.The dates, which launched last fall in support of his most recent studio album “Rough and Rowdy Ways,” is slated to last through 2024 (by which point the legendary bard will be 83). This run begins in Phoenix on March 3 and ends six weeks later in Oklahoma City.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorJohn Lennon’s coat from the “Magical Mystery Tour” film, his cape from “Help!,” three guitars, and Paul McCartney’s handwritten arrangement notes for “Hey Jude” — all from John’s son Julian’s private collection — are going up for NFT auction on Feb. 7, the first in a series to be rolled out over the coming months.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorTerry Tolkin — a veteran A&R executive for Elektra Records, Touch and Go Records and his own No. 6 label, who signed or worked closely with such acts as Luna, Afghan Whigs, Stereolab, Scrawl and Nada Surf — has died, a rep for his family confirmed to Variety.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorThe Fugees have canceled their reunion tour celebrating the 25th anniversary of the release of their blockbuster album “The Score.”A post shared by Fugees (@fugees25)

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorBoston Calling, the  three-day festival scheduled to return to Allston, Mass. Over Memorial Day Weekend, May 27 – 29, 2022, has unveiled its full lineup.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorWith her just-released “Caprisongs” mixtape and a fresh affiliation with a new label, Atlantic, British singer-songwriter-producer FKA Twigs ups the ante on her eerily experimental sound and intimately nuanced lyrics and goes big. That’s not only because the genre-jumbling, multi-octave performer has invited brand-name featured guests such as Jorja Smith and the Weeknd to the party that is “Caprisongs.” Rather, it’s because the Gloucester, U.K.-born artist — real name Tahliah Barnett — is having any kind of party at all.The bottom line on Twigs has long been that her most ambitious music was deeply emotional and uncompromising.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorDavid Waxman has been appointed president of dance powerhouse Ultra Records, it was announced today. In this role, he will oversee overall management and day-to-day operations of the global electronic and dance music label and be responsible for identifying and developing new artists and projects.Sony Music confirmed to Variety that it has acquired the remaining shares in Ultra, which it has co-owned since 2012, and that former president Patrick Moxey, who founded the label in 1995, is no longer with the company.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorOn the day after the 2022 Grammy Awards’ move to Las Vegas was confirmed, the Recording Academy announced on Wednesday that Jennifer Jones has joined the organization as executive vice president of Legal Affairs, effective immediately. Reporting to CEO Harvey Mason jr., Jones will oversee the Academy’s day-to-day legal matters and is the advisor to the Academy’s Board of Trustees, senior Recording Academy staff, the senior leadership of its affiliates, and other areas within the organization, according to the announcement.She will also act as the liaison between the Academy’s business units and outside counsel, and supports and facilitates these interactions to enforce the Academy’s intellectual property rights.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorHipgnosis Song Management has acquired 80% of Kenny Chesney’s recorded music royalties, the company announced, covering his discography from his 1994 debut “In My Wildest Dreams” through 2017’s “Live in No Shoes Nation.” The catalog includes 22 albums, 15 of which are certified platinum. The deal is the first acquisition made by Hipgnosis Song Management since its recently announced partnership with Blackstone to acquire music rights and manage catalogs.Terms of the deal were not announced.Chesney is one of the top-selling country performers — and one of the top-grossing live artists — of the past 25 years, with more than 30 million albums sold worldwide.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorAlong with her “Caprisongs” mixtape on Friday came the news that FKA Twigs has “partnered with Atlantic Records for this next exciting phase of her art,” according to the announcement. In the U.K., she will continue to release music via the Young label (formerly Young Turks) through Beggars Group.“FKA twigs is the kind of artist you dream of signing — one with truly original vision, voice, and presence,” said Atlantic chairman-COO Julie Greenwald.  “She’s among the most compelling talents, always pushing her creative envelope to deliver emotionally honest music that’s both intensely personal and universal. We’re thrilled that she’s chosen Atlantic to be her home as she continues on her fantastic musical adventure.” “The progression of FKA twigs’ music over the past decade has been extraordinary,” said chairman-CEO Craig Kallman. “She’s never content to stay in one place – constantly crossing musical boundaries, embracing fresh sounds, telling new stories, and exploring what’s next.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorMelissa Goodwin, a former executive vice president and general manager of the T.J. Martell Foundation, one of the music industry’s biggest and longest-running charities, has been charged with wire fraud in a scheme to defraud the organization out of $3.7 million, according to an announcement from the Department of Justice.The DOJ alleged that Goodwin, 55, used the foundation’s money to purchase expensive and rare alcohols, plane tickets, hotel stays and as part of a multimillion dollar ticketing scheme.The T.J.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorHot on the heels of the David Bowie estate’s $250 million-plus deal with Warner Chappell Music publishing, Peloton has announced that it struck a deal for the artist’s entire catalog as well as various remixes for its cycling, strength, yoga and running classes, beginning Wednesday. The deal comes during the “Bowie 75” celebrations around what would have been the singer’s 75 th birthday on January 8, which has been observed with reissues, pop-up stores in New York and London, and more.Along with his greatest hits, three new and exclusive remixes are part of the deal: from St. Vincent, TokiMonsta and Honey Dijon.