Author: djfrosty
Page: 199
Coi Leray is going to be a mom. The Boston rapper kicked off 2025 in a major way, as she and Trippie Redd are expecting their first child together.
Leray revealed her pregnancy in an announcement to social media on Wednesday (Jan. 1). “I’m a rock star mommy we ready for 2025,” she captioned an Instagram carousel of photos of her baby bump, with two photos also featuring Trippie.
Congratulatory messages poured into her comments section from her fellow female artists such as Anycia, BIA, Lady London, GloRilla, Mariah the Scientist, Ice Spice, Shenseea, Kehlani and DreamDoll, who revealed a pregnancy of her own earlier this week.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
“Congrats! You finally got what you wanted you’re gonna loveee the journey sis,” Shenseea wrote.
Trending on Billboard
Coi and Trippie dated back in 2019 before breaking things off not long after. During that time, Leray accompanied Redd to the Billboard NYC office for his ! album press run.
The couple went their separate ways, but rekindled their romance in August 2024. Trippie relayed to TMZ that he slid into Coi’s DMs and things flourished from there. “We just been talking. That’s my boo,” he said in September.
Some of their relationship drama was poured into music, as Trippie dedicated “Leray” from A Love Letter to You 4 to his then-ex in 2019. Coi mentioned Trippie years later on 2023’s “Isabel Marant.”
“At first, no, I didn’t like it. It was very like, ‘What the f–k,’ because I always thought we really had something outside of the music,” Coi said of her response to “Leray” in an interview with No Jumper. “So I’m just like, ‘Damn. If you got something to say, let’s get together and you say that s–t to my face.’”
Nearly 300 songs have peaked at No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100, and despite not hitting No. 1 or even the top 10, many remain memorable years or even decades later. In the 1960s, Rat Packers Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra each extended their iconic legacies with notable No. 25 Hot 100 hits: “You’re […]
New year, same Rihanna. Less than one day into 2025, the superstar has already punched in with one of her characteristic comebacks, shutting down a troll who demanded new music and called her a rude name on Instagram Wednesday (Jan. 1).
The exchange went down on Ri’s latest post, a video she filmed of herself celebrating with friends as the clock ticked down to midnight on New Year’s Eve. “Y’all, I didn’t drink all year,” she excitedly tells the camera in the clip.
“New Year, New Me,” the Fenty mogul captioned the post.
Trending on Billboard
One person in the comments, however, seemed intent on raining on her parade. “We want an album forehead,” they wrote.
But Rihanna being Rihanna, the “Umbrella” singer was quick to shut him down. “listen Lorenzo!” she replied. “You ain’t cute enough to be calling me by my black name you dizzy f–k!”
The Barbadian musician hasn’t released an album since 2016’s Anti, which spent two weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Since then, she’s appeared on a couple sparse remixes and contributed “Born Again” and “Lift Me Up” for the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack. The latter tune earned Ri a Grammy nomination for best song written for visual media as well as an Oscar nod for best original song.
Rihanna has been hinting that a new LP has been in the works for years, but fans have had to get used to taking her updates with a grain of salt. In April, she told Interview that she had “a lot of visual ideas” for her next musical project, but not the songs to match. “Maybe the visual ideas are leading me to the songs that I need to make,” she added at the time.
Two months later, Ri told Entertainment Tonight that she was “starting over” the album-making process. “I don’t want to neglect the songs that I have, so I actually want to go back and listen to stuff with new ears, with my new perspective and then see what applies and what I’m still in love with,” she told the outlet in June. “I have been working on the album for so long that I kinda put all that stuff aside, and now I’m prepared to go back in the studio. I’m gonna start — give me a second!”
See Ri’s post below.
It has been more than six years since Lily Allen’s most recent studio LP — but that could be about to change. In a new update, the British pop star has said that she is “trying to manifest” releasing a new album by “the end of the year.”
Speaking on her Miss Me? podcast, a show she hosts with TV presenter and longtime friend Miquita Oliver, the 39-year-old musician discussed the potential follow-up to 2018’s No Shame, which landed at No. 8 on the U.K.’s Official Album Charts.
“Firstly, I’m going to go and get my head straight for a bit,” she said on the show’s latest episode, which was released Thursday (Jan. 2). “I’m doing a little bit of work on myself in this beginning period of the year, then I’m going to do some more writing, then I’m going to do my play [Allen will star in a new production of Hedda Gabler in Bath, England, in July], hopefully, maybe get an album out by the end of the year. That would be nice, wouldn’t it?”
Trending on Billboard
She continued, “It’s not real, I’m just trying to manifest it now.” Later, she added, “Listen, I’ve got this. We’re bringing Lily Allen back in 2025.”
Across her career, Allen has released four studio albums: 2006’s Alright Still, 2009’s It’s Not Me, It’s You, 2014’s Sheezus and 2018’s No Shame. Three of her singles have charted at No. 1 on the Official Singles Chart in the U.K. – “Smile” (2006), “The Fear” (2008) and a cover of Keane’s “Somewhere Only We Know” (2013).
On a previous episode first released in April 2024, Allen revealed that she had been working on new music in Nashville. “I’m in Nashville, where everyone is really good. There’s so much legacy,” she told her co-host Oliver. “I have to say it’s quite intimidating being here. People are really talented.” Prior to that, she also said on X that she had written up to 50 songs for a new album.
In July 2024, Allen shared that she had begun selling pictures and videos of her feet on OnlyFans and that she was receiving more revenue from her pictures than from her music streams. “Imagine being and artist [sic] and having nearly 8 million monthly listeners on spotify but earning more money from having 1000 people subscribe to pictures of your feet,” she said on social media.
Listen to the episode below (music discussion begins at the 6:00 mark.)
Britney Spears‘ ex-husband Sam Asghari has gone Instagram official with his new girlfriend. The 30-year-old The Traitors actor posted a series of celebratory New Year’s pics on Wednesday (Jan. 1) in which he is seen getting up-close-and-personal with his blonde lady love.
In the first snap, the couple, both dressed in all white, are seen staring deep into each other’s eyes under a palm tree beneath a starry sky next to a caption reading “Happy New Year to All.”. According to US Magazine, Asghari’s new partner is realtor Brooke Irvine, whose social feeds are set to private.
In another picture, Irvine lays her head on Asghari’s stomach as the couple recline on the trunk of a palm tree. The reel also features a snap of the pair in all-black at what looks like a party, followed by another cuddly image of them sitting on a carnival-like ride and a final pic of Asghari with his arm around Irvine’s neck, standing behind her as they take a mirror selfie while dressed in all-white again.
Trending on Billboard
In December, Spears celebrated her 43rd birthday on the same day a California court declared her officially single. The declaration came seven months after her divorce from Asghari was finalized in Los Angeles. Spears and Asghari separated in July 2023, 13 months after their wedding and six years after they first started dating. Asghari filed for divorce in August 2023, citing irreconcilable differences.
Two months earlier, Spears announced that she’d “married” herself in a throwback video that appeared similar to one from 2022, in which she wrote, “The day I married myself … Bringing it back because it might seem embarrassing or stupid, but I think it’s the most brilliant thing I’ve ever done !!!
The divorce from Asghari was the third for spears, who was also briefly married to childhood friend Jason Alexander in 2004 before tying the knot with dancer Kevin Federline that same year; she and Federline had two sons, Sean Preston, 19 and Jayden James, 18, before splitting in 2007.
While Asghari spent the new year with his new love, Spears revealed over the Christmas holiday that she’d reunited with Jayden, calling their reconciliation the “best Christmas of my life!!! I haven’t seen my boys in 2 years!!!”
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Prince Williams / Getty
Waka Flocka recently got people talking after he posted a pic on Instagram Threads of his face looking beat up. He said he got jumped by 10 people and added, “Can’t believe nobody helped me fight ten nixxas off but I’m still standing ten toes mark.” His followers started freaking out, thinking he really got attacked. But a few hours later, Waka flipped the script. He posted a video on his Instagram Story, laughing like crazy, saying there’s no way anyone would believe he actually got jumped. It was clear he was trolling.
Implying that he was just messing with his fans and the internet, making it seem like he got hurt when really, it was all a joke.
In non-getting beat-up news, it is rumored Waka Flocka Flame is set to attend the newly re-elected President Of The United States Donald Trump’s Legacy Of Freedom Ball hosted by the Black Conservative Federation later this month. SMH…
Waka Flocka caught heat online for supporting Donald Trump and trolls online suggested to have MAGA fans help him next time he gets jumped. Flame tweeted “TRUMP2024,” which stirred up major reactions, especially from the Hip-Hop community. Earlier in 2024, Flocka told all Joe Biden supporters to leave one of his concerts, and that definitely sparked some serious backlash.
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE
Source: 343 Industries / HALO Infinite
News of Microsoft dropping the ball isn’t surprising lately, but this might be a massive L for the company looking to secure as many wins as possible.
Tim Miller and Dave Wilson set out to deliver an anthology series like Netflix’s Love Death + Robots, but with popular video game IP with their latest offering, Secret Level, currently streaming on Prime Video.
The 14-episode first season, featuring characters from beloved video game franchises like Pac-Man, Warhammer 40K, Mega Man, SIFU, God of War, and more, is currently hit or miss with fans. Still, news of a nixed Halo x Doom crossover episode has gamers pondering what could have been and bashing Microsoft.
Speaking exclusively with Collider, Miller and Wilson confirmed they see and hear fans’ questions and complaints regarding specific video game IPs getting episodes while others didn’t.
Miller pointed to one instance of someone highlighting Spelunky getting an episode while Halo didn’t, which opened the door for him to reveal they had big plans for the 343 Industries franchise. Ultimately, Microsoft told them, “Nah,” denying us an epic team-up we didn’t know we needed with Master Chief and Doomguy.
“We wanted to make a Master Chief/Doom Slayer crossover episode, and I spent a whole weekend crafting this impassioned letter of my childhood. And it’s exactly what Tim said; they were like, ‘Nah,” Wilson revealed.
The interview also notes that Secret Level has been in production since 2021, so there could have been some conflict between the Halo x Doom crossover pitch and the first season of the now-canceled Halo TV show on Paramount+.
Gamers Are Very Disappointed
Whatever the case, gamers are very disappointed that Microsoft decided to pass on the episode.
One user on X, formerly Twitter, wrote, “Microsoft is so allergic to fun that they shot down one of the coolest crossovers they could have possibly done, that’s insane.”
Microsoft is so allergic to fun that they shot down one of the coolest crossovers they could have possibly done, that’s insane. https://t.co/ako4BCjRlE
— Ultima (@UltimaShadowX) January 2, 2025
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Gamertag Radio’s Danny Peña replied to the news, “What?!?!?! *smh emoji.”
What?!?!?! 🤦♂️ https://t.co/jnNYSSNL9e
— Danny Peña (@godfree) January 2, 2025
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
It definitely sounds like a missed opportunity. Maybe we will see it in season two. Until then, you can see more reactions in the gallery below.
1. Gamers are in an abusive relationship with Xbox
2. Infuriating
3. Gamers are pleading with Microsoft
4. A Halo x Doom crossover would have been an easy slam dunk
7. The Paramount show was not that bad
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: @coileray / Instagram
Coi Leray has a bun in the oven. The “Players” rapper announced that she is expecting her first child with fellow rapper Trippie Redd.
The daughter of rapper and reality TV star Benzino took to Instagram to make the announcement and set off the new year. “I’m a rock star mommy 💋🥹 we ready for 2025 🖤,” was her caption of 10 photos posted on Wednesday, January 1, 2025, that show off the petite MC’s growing baby bump. Per her IG Stories, she is about four months along—meaning a delivery day around May or June.
Also included in the flicks is the proud papa, boyfriend Trippie Redd.
Last we heard from Coi Leray, she was taking her dad to task earlier this year for his apparent defending of R. Kelly during a podcast appearance. To say their relationship is “strained” would be an understatement. Leray’s last proper album, her sophomore project Coi, was released in June 2023. Recently, Leray also shared that she just copped her second home.
Congratulations to the happy couple.
In 2025, indie digital rights nonprofit Merlin will double down on its recently unveiled AI policy while moving forward with its “first AI pilot program” in tandem with an unnamed “global partner,” CEO Jeremy Sirota said in a New Year’s memo to staff.
Sirota’s mention of the new program in the Thursday (Jan. 2) letter, obtained by Billboard, includes a nod to Merlin’s recently released memo outlining the organization’s position on AI, in which it warned tech companies not to harvest data from Merlin members to train AI algorithms while also stating that it supports “AI products that aid human creativity, or provide new opportunities for artists to create and collaborate in developing new original works.”
“We are proving that innovation, respect for artists and delivering on our policy on AI and abiding by our position on AI can go hand in hand,” Sirota wrote in the memo. “Let’s continue to identify AI partners who want to be on the right side of history about copyright, consent and culture.”
Trending on Billboard
Sirota’s memo also highlights new deals with both Meta and Audiomack signed in 2024, adding that “nearly 400 of our members joined” the latter agreement, “putting it near the top of deals for the total number of members opted in.” He additionally touts new agreements with social streaming platforms Rhythm and Turntable/Hangout as well as renewals with Peloton, Tencent, Twitch, YouTube, Anghami, Deezer and iHeart, among others.
Additionally, Sirota makes special mention of Merlin’s Data Warehouse and Insights initiative, noting that in 2024, Merlin “greatly expanded the access independents have to critical insights” via its recorded music data, which he notes is “one of the largest sets” in the industry. He also makes sure to hype Merlin Connect — a new initiative launched in June that aims to help emerging tech and social platforms license independent music while increasing earnings for Merlin members — stating that the program is “creating a blueprint for how music powers the next wave of digital experiences.”
Elsewhere in the memo, Sirota says that Merlin’s effective admin fee for members, which “is initially set at 1.5%,” was just 1.17% between 2021 and 2023 thanks to nearly 16 million pounds paid back to members in the form of rebates. “Every year we set a goal of maximizing how much we pay back to our members as a rebate,” Sirota writes, adding that while there’s “no guarantee we can always achieve these incredibly low rates… this is a remarkable achievement to celebrate.”
For 2025, Sirota outlines three major goals: to “super serve” Merlin members via its “Insights visualization rollout,” which he says “will expand the scope of business intelligence available to our members”; “supercharge Merlin Connect”; and expand Merlin Engage, a mentorship program that aims to “empower the next generation of female leaders in the independent music space” and which last year expanded to 30 participants, he says.
Read Sirota’s full memo below.
Hi Merlin Team,
As we start a new year, I’m struck by a simple truth: while our members represent over 15% of the global recorded music market, the music industry’s future will not be shaped by those with the broadest reach or even deepest pockets. It will be owned by those with the clearest vision and strongest commitment to artists. This is why we stay laser-focused on our singular mission: strengthening the world’s leading independents to compete and strengthen their independence. I couldn’t be prouder of our mission and this team.
Let’s never forget that our difference is more than just a business model; it’s a belief system. We deliver true independence as the only global deal making organization that is member-led, member-owned and member-governed. Every single day, we wake up and get to solve the most important question: how can we better serve our members? Our key performance indicator is simple: the success of our members and the artists they represent.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t specifically acknowledge your incredible cross functional work in December, which culminated in the launch of Merlin’s first AI pilot program. This was an impressive accomplishment achieved in close partnership with our members. It also marks an exciting start to our AI journey with a global partner. We are proving that innovation, respect for artists, and delivering on our policy on AI and abiding by our position on AI can go hand in hand. Let’s continue to identify AI partners who want to be on the right side of history about copyright, consent, and culture.
Let’s reflect back on 2024 and then look forward to 2025.
Membership
Collectively, our membership rivals the largest players in music. Merlin stands as the guardian of independence in digital music, not just through deals and technology, but as a force that protects and empowers independents to thrive on their own terms. We are indies – smart, adaptable, and fiercely dedicated to proving that independence, partnership with artists and market leadership can go hand in hand. From our newest team member to our longest-serving partner, we share one goal: ensuring independent music maintains its significance and voice in the digital future.
Everyone at Merlin is inspired by the diversity of artists, music, and experimentation our independent members bring to the world. This year we were proud to welcome a number of leading and innovative independents into Merlin deals: Artist Partner Group (U.S.), Nettwerk Music Group (Canada), Rostrum Pacific (U.S.), UNFD (Australia), VP Music Group, and Wide Awake (Netherlands).
Merlin members rule. Here’s just a small sample of the incredible releases from our members’ artists in 2024 (and a soundtrack to start the new year):
Armada Music – the world is always a better place when Armin van Buuren releases new music
Better Noise – The Hu’s live album
Curb Records – the resurgence of Sixpence None the Richer “Kiss Me”
Domino Records – who doesn’t love Arctic Monkeys, but, also, what an amazing debut solo album from Beth Gibbons
EMPIRE – one word: Shaboozey
Exceleration & Redeye – Daptone Records released the new album from Thee Sacred Souls “Got a Story to Tell”
Hopeless – a new Neck Deep album and 30 years of Hopeless
Lex Records – the album by Eyedress “Vampire in Beverly Hills”
Muting the Noise – Adam Port’s amazing track “Move”
Nettwerk – bôa “Duvet”
Ninja Tune – the viral hit by nimino “I Only Smoke When I Drink”
Pony Canyon – the new album “Rejoice” from OFFICIAL HIGE DANDISM
Secret City – Patrick Watson “Je Te Laisserai des Mots” (the first French language song to reach 1bn streams on Spotify)
Secretly – the continued success of Mitski “My Love Mine All Mine” and Khruangbin (Best New Artist nod at Grammys)
Sub Pop – Suki Waterhouse
UnitedMasters – what a year for FloyyMenor
Warp Records – releases from Flying Lotus and Nighmares on Wax
Finally, you know that our Admin Fee is used to cover our budget and is initially set at 1.5%. Every year we set a goal of maximizing how much we pay back to our members as a rebate (i.e., the difference between our actual budget and the 1.5%). I’m pleased to report that, over the last three years, we have paid back nearly £16,000,000 to our members in rebates. From 2021 through 2023, our average effective admin fee was 1.17%. There’s no guarantee we can always achieve these incredibly low rates, but this is a remarkable achievement to celebrate. It’s a testament to your hard work and the creativity in how we operate this organization.
Partnership
Yes, we renewed our licensing agreement with Meta. More importantly, we strengthened and expanded our partnership. Meta is a partner who values Merlin, its members, independent music and building together. That’s why I continue to prioritize this partnership. The Meta team is keen on helping our members and their artists drive culture, are keen on fandom, and appreciate the unbelievable talent of independent artists.
We also struck a new deal with Audiomack, an artist-first music streaming platform that empowers artists to reach and engage with fans worldwide. Despite being in business for over twelve years, and a significant number of our members having direct deals, nearly 400 of our members joined the Merlin deal, putting it near the top of deals for the total number of members opted in. That is the value of Merlin and the importance placed by Audiomack on our partnership.
We ensured our members are at the forefront of social streaming platforms, striking deals with Rythm, the pioneering community-based group listening platform, and Turntable (Hangout), designed to make music a more social experience.
Every partnership matters to me, but I want to applaud your enhanced approach to dealmaking and partnership in renewing with Peloton (new features), Tencent (VIP tier), Twitch (DJ program), and YouTube (working in partnership with them on the full spectrum of our relationship from content integrity through to their product innovations).
Beyond new deals, we renewed our partnerships with Anghami, Deezer, FLO, iHeart, JioSaavn, JOOX, KKBox, Kuaishou, Lickd, and VEVO.
These are music services that value Merlin, its members and independent music. One stand-out you might have missed is our Soundtrack Your Brand partnership where, thanks to a cross functional team effort, we have increased our members’ deal participation by over 50%.
Another stand-out is our Canva partnership, where Merlin members and their artists’ music account for over 40% of Canva’s music library. That’s the power of independent music.
Merliners
2024 was our Year of Connectivity. To continue providing opportunities for the Merlin team to build closer relationships with our members, our partners, the trade associations, and each other, we held our first ever company-wide global retreat (which you affectionately called The Great Merlin Escape). We set goals of fostering greater understanding and empathy, building context across teams, and leaning more into strategic thinking. It was great to have a dedicated facilitator to help Merliners better understand their own strengths, learn how to more effectively collaborate cross functionally, and implement practices that help Merliners more effectively serve the needs of our members. Don’t forget you can find the group photo here.
For a small team, I am amazed at how many opportunities we create to connect with our partners, members, and the network of dedicated trade associations around the world. The web sessions and in-person meet-ups we hosted had attendees numbering in the thousands; we traveled to over 30+ countries; we participated in dozens of panels, moderated many more, and delivered keynotes; and we were proud to organize unique visits to our members’ offices where so many Merliners could listen to, learn from and interact with our members. I can’t wait to do more of those this year.
We integrated these connections into our daily operations by launching and improving the internal systems that make knowledge-sharing about our business relationships easier throughout the org, all in the service of helping members and partners get more from Merlin.
Continuing with the theme of connectivity, I want to again extend a warm welcome so many talented people who joined in 2024 across virtually every discipline: Alice Moss arrived from SoundCloud into our Member Operations team; Carol Zuma-Hall from Platoon/Apple as our new Controller; Ceri Brown as our new UI/UX designer; Emillia Walsh as our talented Paralegal; Gary Watson moved from a consultancy role on our Data Warehouse initiative to leading our Data Operations team; Jac Powell came from Universal Music as senior data analyst; Kirsty Langdell as our new People & Culture Lead; Leah Kraft with time at Spotify and Disney joined Member Relations; Maria Lavric in our newly-formed Data Operations team; Martin Vovk joins from Sony Music as our new Insights lead; Matt Price as a Data Engineer supporting our warehouse; Molly Kempen on our reporting team; Sara Oman on our analytics team; Simon-Turner Thompson as our new product manager; and Wes Green as our first-in-kind Product Owner.
I also want to welcome back Kaoruko Hill, our second boomerang employee, as our new GM for APAC. And the unbelievably talented Neil Miller, who joined as our new General Counsel, supporting the best Business Affairs team in the world.
Technology and Innovation
We’re building a future where independent music thrives on its own terms – innovative, authentic, and uncompromised. This isn’t about competing with or trying to recreate the past. It’s about redefining what’s possible when technology and independence join forces.
But scale alone is not enough. Music discovery and consumption have fundamentally changed. Gaming, social platforms, and new consumption models have shifted power toward independents. Our deals don’t just ride these changes – they shape how value flows to rightsholders.
This is how Merlin helps our members stay at the forefront of the industry. We are in this business because we love music and the artists who make it. Our superpower at Merlin is built on supporting our global membership through three core philosophies: rights, relationships, and resourcing (here).
Along those lines, I’m thrilled with how far along we’ve come with our Data Warehouse and our Insights initiative. Merlin sits on one of the largest sets of recorded music data in the industry. Our ability to leverage that data will unlock so many opportunities for our members. From helping our members understand rapidly changing platform trends to navigating new markets, we have greatly expanded the access independents have to critical insights. Kudos to the team in refining and improving Dremio and our capability for better business analytics and insights performance. This sets the stage for 2025 in continuing to improve how we help members understand their performance within the global marketplace.
And, of course, Merlin Connect. While others guard old models, we saw that emerging platforms needed a fresh approach to music licensing. These platforms want quality music but traditional licensing remains complex, slow, and expensive. We built something different: a streamlined path to independent music, backed by API delivery and hands-on support. This isn’t another licensing deal – we’re investing in the future of independent music and creating a blueprint for how music powers the next wave of digital experiences. What’s most exciting? The unlimited possibilities we can explore and technologies we haven’t even heard of yet.
Through Merlin Connect, we’re opening new channels for our members’ music while solving a critical market problem. It’s exciting that platforms want to work exclusively with Merlin and its members as their music solution of choice. They know the transformative impact our members’ music will have on their platforms and we can’t wait to be the catalyst for that impact this year.
2025 and Beyond
Let’s crank our initiatives up to 11:
Super Serve Our Members: With our Insights visualization rollout, we will expand the scope of business intelligence available to our members, and deliver it via a self-serve tool in the Wizard.
Supercharge Merlin Connect: Let’s continue to drive opportunities into emerging platforms and create monetization opportunities by making music accessible to more business innovators.
Expand Merlin Engage; Build More Community: This mentorship program, from across the global Merlin membership, is helping empower the next generation of female leaders in the independent music space. Last year, we expanded our program to 30 participants, brought on board a seasoned facilitator (Miriam Meima), and offered additional workshops in managing up, storytelling (also offered to program alumni), and other workshops in soft skills. This year we’re going bigger.
Enjoy a well-deserved break with your friends and family. I look forward to our work together in 2025 and beyond.
Let’s build a future for true independence!
Jeremy
Lauren Davis, a veteran music business attorney, has been promoted to associate chair of New York University’s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music.
Davis joined the institute’s full-time faculty in 2006, teaching courses on the legal and business aspects of the music industry, including intellectual property law. She has also lectured on social entrepreneurship and advancing equity and inclusion in music. As the director of professional development at CDI, she oversees the professional planning and Senior Year Professional Development courses for graduating students.
With 33 years of experience as a music and entertainment attorney, Davis has represented high-profile recording artists, songwriters, producers, publishers, and music companies. She has also served as the faculty senator on NYU’s Faculty Council for six years, advocating for faculty interests.
Trending on Billboard
Nick Sansano, chair of the Clive Davis Institute, praised Davis for her unwavering support and inspiration to students since the institute’s inception.
“Her music business and legal expertise, and her academic focus on policy, rights advocacy, and gender equity in the music industry has influenced and directed the professional lives of so many of our students and alumni,” he said. “Her willingness to take on the role of Associate Chair, deepening her contribution to the development of our curriculum and mission, is a huge win for our program.”
Davis expressed her excitement about her new role, stating it has been a privilege to teach and prepare future industry leaders over the past 18 years, adding that she’s “excited to roll up my sleeves, work with Nick Sansano as chair, and help steer the Clive Davis Institute’s growth and expansion in the years ahead.”
Named after the iconic music executive, the program offers a distinctive BFA that blends business, creative and intellectual exploration as part of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. The CDI marked its 20th anniversary earlier this year and is a fixture in Billboard‘s annual list of top music business schools.