Shirley Halperin: Last News

Shirley Halperin Executive Editor, Music Lila Synder is CEO of Bose Corporation, the consumer audio company which is soon to mark its 60th anniversary. Founded by Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor Amar Bose, its home has always been within close proximity to Boston and its abundance of student talent. Snyder was one of those grads, earning a master’s degree and Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from MIT, following her bachelor’s in mechanical engineering from the University of Miami. She arrived at Bose at the top of 2020, just as the Covid-19 pandemic threw the world — and supply chains — into a tailspin. But Snyder is an expert problem solver, and like any engineering challenge, she approached her new job — overseeing all aspects of the company’s consumer electronics, automotive, and related businesses — methodically. She leads a global staff of 6,000 with a guiding principle: that “sound is not an accessory. It is everything we do; It is the most important thing and it’s in the center.”

William Earl Variety won 13 first-place awards Sunday night at the Los Angeles Press Club’s 65th annual SoCal Journalism Awards, more than twice as many as any other entertainment publication. The lucky 13 awards represented a historic high for Variety at the SoCal Journalism Awards, topping the previous best of 12 first-place prizes the magazine earned in 2018. Variety came into Sunday’s ceremony with a record 96 nominations, representing work published online and in print during the 2022 calendar year. The awards were handed out during a gala dinner attended by hundreds in the historic Crystal Ballroom at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles.

Shirley Halperin Executive Editor, Music Spain’s Primavera Sound may be the ultimate FOMO-fest. The 22-year-old music extravaganza kicked off Europe’s festival season with its four-night bow in Barcelona this past weekend. Featuring multiple headliners – Blur, Halsey, Kendrick Lamar, Depeche Mode, New Order, Calvin Harris and Rosalia — on side-by-side interchanging stages, some 70,000 revelers attended daily, taking in the grounds of the city’s Parc del Forum and its myriad entertainment, activity and food options (including a full Primavera Pro conference track for industry attendees).  While at a map’s glance, it seemed as if acts on the smaller stages would drown each other out, the organizers choreographed the schedule so expertly that any conflicts didn’t feel insurmountable. It also helped that there were 317 acts to choose from, spread out over 10 stages and as many acres lining the city’s port. According to the fest, 193,000 attended Primavera’s three main days, with the largest crowd gathering for the final night where the main draw was Spain’s own Rosalia — evident from the scores of fans wearing red and black, the colors of her latest project, “Motomami.” 

Shirley Halperin Executive Editor, Music Dead and Company’s summer tour — the group’s last ever, at least in its current incarnation — had its official kick-off on Friday, May 19, at Los Angeles’ Forum. The first of a two-night stand, the band — featuring original members Bob Weir and Mickey Hart along with John Mayer, Oteil Burbridge, Jeff Chimenti and Jay Lane (sitting in for Bill Kreutzmann who had to sit the 2023 trek out) — was in top form musically, playing for nearly four hours and spanning the Grateful Dead catalog from early studio cuts (“St. Stephen,” “The Eleven”) to Jerry Garcia solo songs (“Deal,” “The Wheel”) to fan favorites (“Eyes of the World,” “Wharf Rat”). The show’s arena-sized production complemented the grandness of the moment, the video screens cycling through psychedelic colors and imagery to match the lighting, which felt more Phish-like than previous outings. The L.A. crowd soaked — and smoked — it up in a warm collective embrace.

William Earl Variety has promoted Jem Aswad to lead all music content across digital, print and live media platforms as executive editor, music. Aswad will oversee all aspects of Variety‘s music-related editorial operations and staff. He will also continue to serve as Variety‘s leading voice on the business of music, penning cover stories, deep-dive features, investigative stories, personality profiles and reviews. With his promotion, Aswad will also help steer Variety‘s music-related event franchises, including Hitmakers and Music Mogul of the Year, and contribute significantly to developing music programming for live media events. Aswad is based in Variety‘s New York office and reports to co-editors in chief Cynthia Littleton and Ramin Setoodeh. Shirley Halperin, Variety’s executive editor, music since 2017, is stepping down to become editor in chief of Los Angeles magazine.

Charna Flam Hitmaker Jenna Andrews’ “The Green Room Talks” digital series takes on difficult topics like drug and alcohol addiction, eating disorders, anxiety and depression in its latest episode. Featuring Ryan Dusick, Maroon 5 founding member and former drummer, Shirley Halperin, Variety’s executive editor, music, and Angie Pagano, founder and CEO of AMP Entertainment, the four discussed mental health struggles those in the music industry face, particularly when an artist starts out their career at a very young age. Dusick left the band he co-founded after he suffered from a breakdown on the “Songs About Jane” tour in 2005. Since then Dusick has received his master’s degree in clinical psychology at Pepperdine University, and as a result, has become a marriage and family therapist. Most recently he wrote about his difficult time as a musician in his memoir, “Harder to Breathe: A Memoir of Making Maroon 5, Losing It All, and Finding Recovery.”  

Snoop Dogg had some choice words about the “fucked up” streaming models that have led the Writers Guild of America to go on strike over writers’ compensation. “[Artists] need to figure it out the same way the writers are figuring it out,” Snoop said during a panel on Wednesday with Variety‘s Executive Music Editor Shirley Halperin, and his co-panelist and business partner, Gamma’s Larry Jackson. “The writers are striking because [of] streaming, they can’t get paid. Because when it’s on the platform, it’s not like in the box office.” He continued, “I don’t understand how the fuck you get paid off of that shit. Somebody explain to me how you can get a billion streams and not get a million dollars?… That’s the main gripe with a lot of us artists is that we do major numbers… but it don’t add up to the money… it’s not working for the artist right now.”

Shirley Halperin Executive Editor, Music Rocío Guerrero, global head of Latin music at Amazon Music, has collected many professional accolades over her career. If there’s a power list of women in the industry, she’s on it. Latin leaders? She’s there, too.

Shirley Halperin Executive Editor, Music Larry Jackson marked the launch of his new media company Gamma with a starry kick-off party on Thursday night (March 9). Held at the brand-new Bird Streets Club in West Hollywood, the exclusive dinner was attended by Naomi Campbell, Travis Scott, Metallica’s Lars Ulrich, Russell Wilson and Ciara, Danny DeVito, Jimmy Jam, Saweetie, Mr. Brainwash, L.A. Reid, XO Records’ Amir “Cash” Esmailian, Apple Music’s Zane Lowe and actress Stephanie Shepherd, among others. Also represented were Gamma executives Ike Youssef, cofounder and president, and Breyon Prescott, EVP of content and music. Announced on March 8, Gamma is a multi-platform, multi-faceted business that will see Jackson acquiring or joining forces with major artists and brands, with endeavors in music, films, merchandise, fashion, web3 and other areas. The company was cofounded with former Interscope CFO Youssef; backers include Todd Boehly’s Eldridge Industries, Apple and studio A24.

Shirley Halperin Executive Editor, Music Brett Radin, a longtime music manager who recently joined Knitting Factory’s in-house management division, died at his home on Friday, a rep for the company confirms to Variety. Caused of death has not hyet been confirmed; he was 53. Over his career, the Los Angeles-based Radin had worked closely with Dave Matthews, Tracy Chapman, “American Idol” winners Lee DeWyze and Phillip Phillips, the Weepies, Vanessa Carlton and Les Claypool. In January, he took a full-time position at Knitting Factory, bringing with him his Zero Management clients DeWyze, Dave Eggar, D’Arcy and Cut the Kids in Half. Knitting Factory Management President Brian Long said in a statement, “We are extremely saddened to learn the news of Brett’s passing. He brought a lightning bolt of positive energy. He was passionate for his artists, deeply knowledgable about the workings of the music industry, and intuitive. He will be missed.”

Shirley Halperin Executive Editor, Music Universal Music Group is home to dozens of labels spanning every genre, from pop to hip-hop, rock to R&B, country to Latin and niche styles like Christian, classical and Jazz. To run one of these companies is to associate with top talent — household names like Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Drake and Lady Gaga — and the pressure to perform is equally massive. Which makes a label like Verve, which launched in the 1950s with the music of Ella Fitzgerald — and whose current roster includes left-of-center signings like Tank and the Bangas, Kurt Vile and Arooj Aftab — a sort of refuge in the giant commercial enterprise that is the world’s biggest music company. But Verve’s value to UMG is significant, and this is not lost on Sir Lucian Grainge, its chairman and CEO, who has given the label the leeway to invest in traditional artist development. What does that mean? For some familiar context: it’s letting an artist like Bruce Springsteen put out two albums achieving less-than-stellar sales so that he can reach a “Born to Run,” his third and career-launching release. Verve has its own success stories that follow this trajectory, like Jon Batiste, the former Stephen Colbert bandleader and master musician from New Orleans, whose “We Are” won album of the year at the 2022 Grammys.

Shirley Halperin Executive Editor, Music Shep Gordon, the longtime manager of Alice Cooper, also known affectionately as “Supermensch” (the title of a 2013 documentary about him), appeared at the Pollstar Live! conference in Los Angeles Tuesday and shared a revealing story about his former client Raquel Welch. The actress, who died last week at the age of 82, was actually quite prudish, Gordon explained, but “her appeal was sex.” The two worked together for five years straddling the end of the 1970s and beginning of the ’80s, a time when Welch’s career had reached a crossroads. The solution seemed to be a Las Vegas show, which Ann-Margret had executed successfully, drawing an audience of wives with husbands in tow. Similarly, what man wouldn’t want to see a scantily clad Welch in the flesh? The formula worked, but after a three-year residency at Caesars Palace, Welch’s contract was close to expiring and Gordon had to step in.

Shirley Halperin Executive Editor, Music Veteran music publicists Luke Burland and Bobbie Gale are teaming up to form a new firm, 2b Entertainment. The two share more than 30 years experience working with artists, music companies and brands. Both previously served in senior media relations positions at Warner Bros. Records (now known as Warner Records) and as in-demand indies — Burland, most recently at BB Gun Press (founded by Brian Bumbery, currently a top communications executive at Apple Music); Gale at her own MixedMediaWorks. Based in Los Angeles, 2b Entertainment’s client roster includes Jojo Siwa, Danny Elfman, Mike Dean, Holly Humberstone, Josh Groban, Julian Casablancas, Justin Tranter, Maggie Lindemann, Meghan Trainor, My Chemical Romance, OK Go, Shania Twain and Steve Earle, among other artists. Corporate accounts run across entertainment, lifestyle and fashion, representing such brands as CITI, +1 Records, Laylo, Dad Grass, Muserk and Cosm. (See the full roster here.)

Shirley Halperin Executive Editor, Music Madison Square Garden marked the end of Harry Styles’ 15-night run at the venue by installing a permanent banner to mark the accomplishment. The artist’s “Love On Tour” residency played between August 20 through September 21, with Styles taking days off in between performances to appear at Venice and Toronto film festivals. Fans were rewarded on the final night (Wednesday, Sept. 21) with feather boas for all. The banner presentation was anchored CBS host Gayle King during the encore. Styles joins Billy Joel and Phish in the rafters of the Garden, which seats more than 18,000. On the nights when Styles was playing, the venue was transformed into “Harry’s House” with specialty foods, exclusive merch and even signage in nearby subway stations.

Shirley Halperin Executive Editor, Music Gordan Dillard is trading SALXCO, management home to Doja Cat, for Capitol Music Group where he joins as executive vice president of A&R and artist development. The Los Angeles-based Dillard, who plans to maintain a “strong presence” in New York, reports to CMG chair and CEO Michelle Jubelirer and is tasked with signing and developing artists across the pool of Universal Music Group labels. His start date was Sept. 19. Dillard will continue to manage Doja Cat alongside Lydia Asrat, Josh Kaplan and SALXCO founder/CEO Wassim “Sal” Slaiby, who noted: “SALXCO is about building a culture of young entrepreneurs to watch them grow into some of the industry’s most powerful players. I am so proud of Gordan and all his success.”

Thania Garcia Lil Baby will be honored with the Quincy Jones Humanitarian Award at the second annual Music in Action Awards Gala, hosted by the Black Music Action Coalition and taking place Sept. 22 at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills. The ceremony will celebrate artists, executives, businesses, entrepreneurs, activists, and companies that have utilized their platforms to effect social change over the past year, according to BMAC. Lil Baby will be honored for his contribution to racial and social justice inside and outside of the music industry. Recently, the Atlanta-born rapper hosted his third annual “Back to School Fest” at Atlanta’s West End Mall. In partnership with Goodr, the event provided over 3,000 local children with music, games, carnival rides, food, backpacks, school supplies, and haircuts. Additionally, Lil Baby worked with Atlanta restaurateur Lemont Bradley to offer 100 jobs to young adults and established the $150,000 “My Turn” scholarship program for students at his former high school. Previous recipients of this award include the Weeknd and H.E.R. who both received the award at the inaugural Music in Action Awards Gala in 2021.

Shirley Halperin Executive Editor, Music Larry Jackson is leaving his role as Apple Music’s global creative director, Variety has confirmed. The executive’s last day is Monday, Sept. 19. He joined the tech giant in 2014 following its acquisition of Beats Music and Beats Electronics in May of that year for $3 billion, alongside Beats cofounders Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre. Hits first reported news of Jackson’s exit. A music industry veteran who had held senior positions at RCA and J Records as well as Interscope, the Los Angeles-based Jackson brought to Apple his deep rolodex and longstanding relationships with top music stars like Kanye West, Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne and Drake.

Shirley Halperin Executive Editor, Music Two years of the COVID pandemic have yielded some silver linings. For Virginia songwriter and independent artist Anees, it led to a fortuitous meeting — and eventual collaboration — with Scooter Braun.    The music mogul is no stranger to the creative process, and has been credited as a songwriter and producer on tracks by his longtime clients Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande, as well as Ed Sheeran, and on the latest album by Demi Lovato, “Holy Fvck,” for which he served as EP and is credited as a producer on five songs alongside Warren “Oak” Felder. But Anees’ song “Leave Me” marks a public acknowledgment of Braun’s work as a co-writer, contributing lyrics that are clearly drawing from his own recent experience of splitting from his wife of seven years. Anees shared a snippet of the song via Instagram on Aug. 21, writing, “The universe has sent me a million signs that this song will absolutely shake ground. … This song has blessed me beyond my wildest dreams and it’s not even released yet. Especially as an independent artist, some of these blessings feel too good to be true … like the fact that I got to write this song with my brotha @scooterbraun. Truly a special experience.” 

Shirley Halperin Executive Editor, Music French Montana’s 2017 hit, “Unforgettable,” featuring Swae Lee, has achieved the rare diamond certification from the RIAA, marking equivalent sales of 10 million units. To celebrate, the artist hosted friends and associates at his home on Wednesday night for an intimate dinner and plaque presentation. Among those in attendance was Epic Records chair and CEO Sylvia Rhone, XO Records co-founder and CEO Sal Slaiby, SALXCO VP of A&R Rahsaan “Shake” Phelps and producer C.P Dubb. The song was a smash across formats, and has over 1.4 billion YouTube views for its official video, which featured Ugandan youth dance troupe Triplets Ghetto Kids. “Most of the them live in the States now,” Montana noted.

Shirley Halperin Executive Editor, MusicThe singer GAYLE, whose “abcdefu” is among the most-consumed songs of 2022, will join Israeli pop star Noa Kirel onstage at her Aug. 24 concert at Tel Aviv’s Hayarkon Park.Both singers are signed to Atlantic Records.

Shirley Halperin Executive Editor, MusicHitCo Entertainment, the music company launched by Antonio L.A. Reid (pictured at left) and Charles Goldstuck (at right) in 2017, has been sold to Concord, Variety has learned through multiple sources.