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Publishing Briefs: bülow Signs to Rx Songs and Under Warrenty, Kobalt Signs ‘Water’ Writer Mocha Lewis

Prescription Songs and Emily Warren‘s Under Warrenty have signed singer-songwriter bülow to a global publishing deal. Fresh off the release of her two co-writes “Texas Hold ‘Em” by Beyonce and “Yuck” by Charli XCX, bülow says of her deal, “I’m very excited to start this journey with Emily and Prescription. So many serendipitous moments led us here organically, and I have the utmost admiration for this team.”

Kobalt has signed songwriter Imani “Mocha” Lewis. News of her signing comes after the whirlwind success of Tyla‘s Grammy-winning track “Water,” which was co-written by Lewis, along with eight other tracks on the South African artist’s debut album.

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Position Music has signed Golden to a worldwide publishing deal as part of a joint venture with Global 7 Publishing. A Colombian writer, musician and Grammy-nominated producer, Golden has worked on tracks for Coco Jones, ¿Téo? and Shenseea.

peermusic has signed award-winning Chilean producer and songwriter Vladi Cachai (Don Omar, Gloria Trevi, Bryant Myers, J Quiles) to an exclusive worldwide publishing deal. The deal was signed jointly by peermusic Spain and peermusic Chile and will encompass both Cachai’s existing song catalog and his future works.

Budde Music has signed songwriter Billy Mann to a go-forward “creative and administrative” publishing agreement. A hitmaker with thirty years of expertise, Mann has worked with stars like P!nk, Backstreet Boys, David Guetta, John Legend, Céline Dion, Carole King, Burt Bacharach and more.

Warner Chappell Music and The Core Entertainment have signed a joint global publishing deal with Hannah McFarland. A rising singer-songwriter and opener for artists like Kelsea Ballerini, Old Dominion, and Travis Tritt, McFarland was recently invited to sing “I Remember Everything” alongside Zach Bryan at a show in Alabama, introducing her talent to a stadium of new listeners. “We are so excited to work with Hannah McFarland and represent her unique talent,” says Bryce Sherlow, A&R manager at WCM Nashville.

Sony Music Publishing Nashville has announced the signing of country songwriter Brian Fuller to a global publishing deal. Fuller is a fast-rising songwriter in Nashville, and news of his SMP deal follows the release of his first-ever major label cut “I Could Be That Rain,” from Randall King’s 2024 album Into The Neon.

Nashville-based rights management company Muserk is expanding its royalty and administration services in Asia. This includes the signing of a series of new clients with impressive cultural impact in their home markets, including Thai neo-soul artist Phum Viphurit and Japanese label and publishing company Midi Inc/Yano Music Publishing. In the coming months, the company says it also plans to bring in more Chinese and Indonesian clients.

Karol G & Feid Lead 2024 Heat Latin Music Awards Nominations: Complete List

On Thursday (May 9), the Heat Latin Music Awards (or Premios Heat) unveiled their 2024 nominees exclusively on Billboard.

This year, Karol G and Feid lead the pack with 10 nominations each. They are followed by top nominees Carin León (6); Peso Pluma, Grupo Frontera and Xavi (5); and Bad Bunny, Young Miko, Fuerza Regida, Maluma, Marshmello and Yandel with four each. Fans can vote for their favorite artists on the LosHeat.TV app.

Taking place July 11 in The Dominican Republic, the awards show — celebrating its 10th anniversary — will include 10 new categories this year: producer of the year; music video director of the year; album of the year; best viral song; composer of the year; best song for video games, series, movies; best tropical artist; best salsa artist; fan club of the year; and best religious song.

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Premios Heat — founded by Colombian music executive Diana Montes — recognizes renowned and up-and-coming artists who are making a buzz in the Caribbean and Latin American regions. The event is celebrated on the beach, offering the ultimate “summer experience” to artists, media and attendees.

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Billboard celebrated the awards show’s 10th anniversary with a special edition of Premios Heat and the Dominican Republic in the April print issue.

Below, see the full list of nominees:

Best Male Artist
Feid
Bad Bunny
Peso Pluma
Carin León
Arcangel
J Balvin
Eladio Carrion
Chayanne
Carlos Rivera

Best Female Artist
Karol G
Shakira
Young Miko
Maria Becerra
Nicki Nicole
Anitta
Greeicy
Kany García
Kali Uchis
Kenia OS
Natti Natasha

Best Group or Band
Morat
Eslabón Armado
Piso 21
Grupo Frontera
Los Ángeles Azules
Grupo Firme
RBD
Wisin & Yandel
Fuerza Regida
Reik
Monsieur Periné
Cultura Profética
Rawayana

Best Rock Artist
Juanes
Morat
Molotov
Maná
Belanova
Jorge Drexler
Aterciopelados
Mar Rendón

Best Pop Artist
Luis Fonsi
Greeicy
Sebastián Yatra
Manuel Turizo
Camilo
Carlos Rivera
Ana Mena
Aitana
Lasso
Maluma
Fonseca
Chris Lebron
Manuel Medrano

Players, Dominican Republic, Premios Heat, Greeicy, Mike Bahía

Greeicy (left) and Mike Bahía at Premios Heat in 2023.

Premios Heat

Best Urban Artist
Feid
Karol G
Wisin
Ozuna
Young Miko
Blessd
Eladio Carrion
Duki
Anuel AA
Arcangel
J Balvin
Mora
Myke Towers
Rels B
Justin Quiles
Yandel
Nicky Jam

Best Tropical Artist (Bachata, Merengue, Vallenato, Cumbia)
Romeo Santos
Carlos Vives
Silvestre Dangond
Prince Royce
Juan Luis Guerra
Grupo 5
Eddy Herrera
Felipe Peláez
Ke Personajes
Charlie Zaa
Olga Tañon
Jorge Celedón
Jandy Ventura
Servando y Florentino

Best Salsa Artist
Víctor Manuelle
Gilberto Santa Rosa
Willy García
Grupo Niche
Alvaro Rod
Christian Alicea
Yiyo Sarante
La India

Best Artist South Region
Nicki Nicole
Ludmilla
Emilia
Anitta
Duki
KHEA
Cris Mj
Trueno
La Joaqui
Amy Gutiérrez
Cielo Torres
Tini
Milo J
Tiago PZK
Lit Killah

Best Artist Andean Region
Mike Bahía
Manuel Turizo
Camilo
Greeicy
Danny Ocean
Ovy On The Drums
Ryan Castro
Dayanara
Andreina Bravo
Elena Rose
Lasso
Farina
Jerry Di
Nacho
Fanny Lu

Best Artist North Region
Lenny Tavárez
Darell
Jay Wheeler
Young Miko
Lola Índigo
Rauw Alejandro
Quevedo
Eladio Carrion
Jhayco
St. Pedro
Kim Loaiza
Lunay
Álvaro Díaz

Best New Artist
Xavi
Kenia OS
Humbe
Joaquina
Saiko
Gabito Ballesteros
Junior H
Yng Lvcas
Elena Rose
Omar Courtz
Santa Fe Klan
Bad Gyal

Musical Promise
Nath
Zhamira Zambrano
Los Esquivel
DannyLux
Venesti
Ana Del Castillo
J Noa
Marlon Arenas
Damian
Lucia De La Puerta
Anais Castro
Sarodj Bertin
Esteban Rojas
Juan Duque

Influencer of the Year
Domelipa
Yeri Mua
Wendy Guevara
Yuleria (Yurielkys Ojeda y Valeria Ramírez)
Gemelas Ortega
Lele Pons
Carlos Montesquieu
La Divaza
La Segura
Calle y Poché
Los Montañeros
La Granja del Borrego
El Mindo

Anitta

Anitta

Premios Heat/Carlos Zambrano*

Best Popular Regional Artist
Peso Pluma
Christian Nodal
Grupo Frontera
Carin León
Pipe Bueno
Alejandro Fernández
Ángela Aguilar
Xavi
Gabito Ballesteros
Jessi Uribe
Luis Alfonso
Yuridia

Best Dominican Artist
El Alfa
Rochy RD
Chimbala
Angel Dior
Amenazzy
Jey One
Donaty
Yailin La Más Viral
Shadow Blow
La Insuperable
La Perversa
Yaisel LM

Best Music Video
“Triple S” – J Balvin, De La Ghetto, Jowell & Randy
“S91” – Karol G
“Mamasota” – Manuel Turizo, Yandel
“Mónaco” – Bad Bunny
“Isla Desierta” – Ozuna
“Contigo” – Karol, G, Tiësto
“Primera Cita” – Carin Leon
“Puntería” – Shakira Cardi B
“Así es la vida” – Enrique Iglesias, Maria Becerra
“Privilegios” – Feid, Cupido

Best Collaboration
“Perro Negro” – Bad Bunny, Feid
“Contigo” – Karol G, Tiësto
“ALV” – Arcangel, Grupo Frontera
“Los del Espacio” – LIT killah, Duki, Emilia, Tiago, PZK, FMK, Rusherking, Maria Becerra, Big One
“Según Quien” – Maluma, Carin León
“Luna” – Feid, ATL Jacob
“BZRP Sessions 58” – Bizarrap, Young Miko
“Trofeo” – Maluma, Yandel
“Harley Quinn” – Fuerza Regida, Marshmello
“Bellakeo” – Peso Pluma, Anitta
“No Es Normal” – Venesti, Nacho, Maffio
“Calor” – Nicky Jam & Beéle

Best Content Platform
MoluscoTV
Alofoke Media
Panel Urbano (Enrique santos, Dímelo King, Maiky Backstage)
Dímelo King
La Nave Podcast (Marko)
Chente Ydrach
Ibai llanos
Escorpión Dorado
El Chombo
Juanpis González

DJ of the Year
Steve Aoki
Marshmello
Tiësto
Dj Adoni
Marcela Reyes
Agudelo 888
Gordo
Alex Sensation

Song of the Year
“Luna” -Feid, ATL Jacob
“La Diabla” – Xavi
“Que Chimba de Vida” – Karol G
“Mi Ex Tenía Razón” – Karol G
“Harley Quinn “- Fuerza Regida & Marshmello
“Lala” – Myke Towers
“La Víctima” – Xavi
“El Amor De Su Vida” – Grupo Frontera, Grupo Firme

Producer of the Year
Tainy
Ovy On The Drums
Big One
Master Chris
The RUDEBOYZ – Kevin y ChaN
Bizarrap
SOG
Sky Rompiendo
Icon Music – Jowan y Rolo
Sergio George
Andrés Castro
Edgar Barrera

Director of the Year
Simon Brand
Fernando Lugo
Rodrigo Films
Jessy Terrero
Pedro Artola
Nuno Gomes
Kacho López Mari
Patricia Alfonso
Stillz
Ada Odreman
Hannah Lux
Sánchez

El Alfa

El Alfa

@carlosoarturo y @danielarcilafoto

Album of the Year
Mañana será Bonito Bichota Season – Karol G
Ferxxocalipsis – Feid
Génesis – Peso Pluma
Colmillo de Leche – Carin León
Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana – Bad Bunny
El Comienzo – Grupo Frontera
Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran – Shakira
Orquídeas – Kali Uchis
Un Sueño Llamado Ranchera – Felipe Peláez

Best Viral Song
“Luna” – Feid, ATL, Jacob
“La Diabla” – Xavi
“Según Quién” – Maluma, Carin León
“Lollipop” – Darell
“Dora” – Farina, El Alfa
“Línea del Perreo” – Uzielito Mix, Yeri Mua, El Jordan 23, DJ Kiire
“Harley Quinn” – Fuerza Regida, Marshmello

Composer of the Year
Edgar Barrera
Mauricio Rengifo y Andrés Torres
Master Chris
Elena Rose
Keityn
Mora
Feid
Manny Cruz
Justin Quiles
Bullnene

Best Videogame, Series or Movie Song
Luis Fonsi, Adriel Favela – “La Paz” (Banda sonora serie “Zorro”)
Karol G, feat Aldo Ranks – “Watati”- (Barbie)
Peso Pluma, Grupo Frontera “TULUM” – (FIFA 24)
Myke Towers – “LALA” – (FIFA 24)
Peso Pluma – “Peligro” – Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II
Banda MS –“141”- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II

Fandom of the Year
Fandom – Karol G
Keninis – Kenia OS
TeamAndreina – Andreina Bravo
Turbias – Yeri Mua
Fandom Domelipa
Marcianos – Mar Rendón
TeamLu – Lucia De La Puerta
Fandom – Yuleria
Fandom – Feid
Yahalovers – Yahaira Plasencia
Team Chivirikas – Yailin La Más Viral
La Tribu – Camilo

Best Religious Song
“Me Encontraste”- Christian Ponce & Alex Zurdo
“Pan Duro” – Alex Campos
“Pasa_je_ro” – Farruko
“Guarda tu Corazón” – Alex Zurdo
“Mambo 23” – Juan Luis Guerra
“Donante de Sangre” – Daddy Yankee
“El Cielo Aun Espera” – Adriel favela & Jesús Adrián Romero
“Parabellum”- Redimi2

Switzerland, Georgia, Israel & 7 More Countries Qualify for Grand Final of Eurovision 2024

The lineup of songs for the 68th annual Eurovision Song Contest is now set. Ten of the 16 songs performed in the second semifinal on Thursday (May 9) join the 10 qualifiers from semifinal 1 plus the six pre-qualified entries, for a total of 26 songs competing live in the grand final on Saturday (May 11).

Among the 10 new countries joining the list are Georgia, with former American Idol singer Nutsa Buzaladze leading the charge with “Firefighter,” and Switzerland, with Nero’s “The Code” tipped to be the second favorite by the oddsmakers.

Georgia first competed in Eurovision in 2007 and hasn’t performed in the grand final since 2016, when Nika Kocharov and and Young Georgian Lolitaz placed 20th with “Midnight Gold.” The nation failed to qualify from the last six semifinals, but Nutsa has put them back in the running.

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Only seven countries participated in the first Eurovision Song Contest in 1956, including Switzerland, which hosted and won with “Refrain” by Lys Assia. Switzerland won again in 1988 with Celine Dion singing “Ne Partez Pas Son Moi,” so if Nemo can pull off a win, it will be Switzerland’s first victory in 36 years.

The other eight countries to qualify in the second semifinal are Armenia, Austria, Estonia, Greece, Israel, Latvia, Netherlands and Norway. The six countries that were relegated are Alabnia, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Malta and San Marino.

The qualifiers from semifinal 1 are Croatia, Cyprus, Finland, Ireland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Portugal, Serbia, Slovenia and Ukraine.

The six pre-qualified countries are France, Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom and host country Sweden.

results of the competition, with 10 countries out of 15 moving forward into the grand final on Saturday (May 11) and five countries going home. Most notable among the 10 winning countries are Luxembourg, which returned to the pan-European competition this year after a 31-year absence, and Ireland, which holds the record for the most wins with Sweden at seven each.

However, Ireland has failed to qualify for the grand final 11 times since the semi-finals were introduced in 2005. Bambie Thug breaks that spell with “Doomsday Blue,” a self-described “electro-metal breakdown.” Thug (real name: Bambie Ray Robinson) is the first non-binary artist to represent Ireland in Eurovision and will be the first Irish contestant in the competition since Ryan O’Shaugnessy placed 16th with “Together” in 2018.

Thug’s entry is expected to place high in the grand final rankings. If they end up in the top 5, it will be Ireland’s biggest Eurovision success since Marc Roberts’ “Mysterious Ways,” which finished second to Katrina & the Waves winning U.K. entry, “Love Shine a Light” in 1997.

Talia, an Israeli-born singer living in Luxembourg, will be the first person from that small European country, the only grand duchy (a country ruled by a monarch with the title of grand duke or duchess) remaining in the world, to sing in Eurovision since Modern Times placed 20th with “Donne-Moi Une Chance” in 1993.

The other eight countries that qualified for the grand final are Croatia, Cyprus, Finland, Lithuania, Portugal, Serbia, Slovenia and Ukraine. The five countries relegated out, by public vote during the live broadcast, are Australia, Azerbaijan, Iceland, Moldova and Poland.

The oddsmakers have Croatia heavily tipped to win; it would be that nation’s first victory in 30 attempts, although Riva, a band from Croatia, triumphed in 1990 when their country was still part of Yugoslavia.

A second semi-final will be broadcast live on Thursday (May 9). There will be 16 countries fighting for a spot in the grand final top 10 that night: Albania, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Israel, Latvia, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, San Marino and Switzerland.

Pre-qualified, and thus able to skip the semi-finals, are the host country (Sweden) and the “Big Five” (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom), so-named because they contribute the largest amounts to the production budget.

Semi-final No 2 of the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest will be live on Peacock in the U.S. on Thursday, May 9, starting at 3pm EDT/12 noon PDT. The grand final will also be live, on Saturday, May 11 at the same times.

Jay Wheeler & Kany García Back on Latin Pop Albums With Dual Top 10 Debuts

For the first time in over four years, two albums debut in the top 10 at the same time on Billboard’s Latin Pop Albums chart.

On the May 11-dated list, Jay Wheeler’s Música Buena Para Días Malos opens at No. 4, while Kany García’s García, arrives at No. 8. The pair marks the first time the Latin Pop Albums chart has dual titles launch in the upper region since Oct. 12, 2019, when José José bowed at Nos. 1, 6 and 7, following his death that September, with Serie Platino – 20 Exitos Vol. 2, El Principe de La Canción and Secreto, respectively.

Wheeler’s Música Buena Para Días Malos starts with 5,000 equivalent units earned in the U.S. in the week ending May 2, according to Luminate. Out of those, a little over 4,000 derive from streams, which equates to 6.3 million official on-demand streams of the album’s songs. Traditional album and track sales comprise the remaining sum of the album’s first week.

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Música Buena Para Días Malos was preceded by one song on the overall Latin Airplay chart: “Historia,” which peaked at No. 35 (chart dated April 27).

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Further, with the simultaneous top 10 debuts on Latin Pop Albums by two different artists, Wheeler and García also repeat a feat last achieved five years ago, when Miguel and Anitta debuted at Nos. 3 and No. 4, with Te Lo Dije (EP) and Kisses on the April 20, 2019-dated list.

Both sets add to the list of few albums that have debuted on Latin Pop Albums in 2024. Here are those five top 10 debuts, including two No. 1 albums:

Debut Date, Debut Pos., Title, Artist
Jan. 27, No. 1, Orquídeas, Kali Uchis
April 6, No. 1, Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran, Shakira
April 13, No. 6, Final, Vol. 2, Enrique Iglesias
May 11, No 4, Música Buena Para Días Malos, Jay Wheeler
May 11, No. 8, García, Kany Garcia

García’s eponymous album arrives on Latin Pop Albums with 2,000 equivalent units earned in the U.S. during the same period. García’s opening frame was almost entirely driven by the streaming activity of its 12 songs. That figure equals to 3.4 million official on-demand streams of the set’s songs.

García, who has history on the tally, returns to the top 10 after almost five years, when the Puerto Rican singer-songwriter’s Contra El Viento debuted and peaked at No. 3 in June 2019.

García has landed 10 titles on the chart altogether, with eight of them reaching the top 10, spanning three decades since the album Cualquier Día, her chart debut, rose to No. 10 in September 2007.

García was preceded by three songs on Latin Pop Airplay. The No. 15-peaking “Una Vida Buena” led the new recruits (Feb. 3). Meanwhile, “Que Vuelva,” with Carla Morrison, and “En Esta Boca,” with Young Miko, reached No. 12 on the March 16- and March 30-dated rankings, respectively. Lastly, “Te Lo Agradezco,” with Carin León, re-enters at No. 43 on the current multi-metric Hot Latin Songs chart, which combines airplay, digital sales, and streaming activity.

Cam Wells & Benny The Butcher “Tony Two Tone,” Young Breed ft. Rick Ross “Hold Up Wait” & More | Daily Visuals 5.9.24

HipHopWired Featured Video

For a while there it seemed like Benny The Butcher was in every other music video as he was doing features all over the board and collecting all the bags, but lately the Buffalo representative has seemingly been MIA as of late and letting his Black Soprano Family do them.

Coming back off the bench The Butcher returns as he heads down to Miami to link up with Cam Wells for the visuals to “Tony Two Tone” where the two take in the South Beach vibes and politic on the street before hitting the club and performing for a crowd eager to see the men do their thing.

Keeping the scene in Miami, Young Breed and Rick Ross cross paths and in their clip for “Hold Up Wait,” the two kick it with a few thick young women before landing at the airport where they style in front of Rick Ross’ private jet that crash landed in Texas just a few days ago. We wonder if that happened right after shooting this video. Just sayin.’

Check out the rest of today’s drops including work from Dirty Red, Larry June, and more.

CAM WELLS & BENNY THE BUTCHER – “TONY TWO TONE”



YOUNG BREED FT. RICK ROSS – “HOLD UP WAIT”



DIRTY RED – “I LIKE ME”



LARRY JUNE – “MEET ME IN NAPA”



KALAN.FRFR – “EVERYBODY”



408 DARWIN – “GANG GANG”



JAE STEPHENS – “WET”



BIG MEEL – “SNAKES INA GRASS”


https://youtube.com/watch?v=W1IIDUzjbh8&version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-US&autohide=2&wmode=transparent

BUILTTOSHRED – “NEW YORK”



Ryan Castro Reflects on the Journey of Making His New Album ‘El Cantante del Ghetto’

Fueled by ambition, determination and hard work, Ryan Castro represents the new generation of urbano hitmakers. His highly-anticipated debut album, El Cantante del Ghetto, is not only a reflection of the qualities that have catapulted Castro to the top of the charts, but it also serves as a mirror that showcases the culture of his neighborhood of Pedregal in Medellín, Colombia.  

“My career and my music are being respected as I dreamed it would be,” Castro says in an interview with Billboard News while sitting in a makeshift bus stop in a studio in Miami. Along with the new album, set to drop on Thursday (May 9), Castro will also unleash the music video for the project’s focus track, “Pueblo De Medallo,” with Latin trap pioneer Arcángel. “For me, it is a triumph to be able to say that I have a song with Arcángel and that it is the focus track of my album.”

The Colombian hitmaker also opens up about the hustle to get to where he is now. “I learned a lot about not letting my emotions take over, or get ahead of myself and my own process,” adds Castro about what performing in the streets taught him at the beginning of his career. “I have been able to really enjoy everything I have been doing.”

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The 18-track set is a testament to his journey, from street busking to global stardom, shaped by classic reggaetón, dancehall and trap. El Cantante Del Ghetto, a personal tribute to his roots, humble upbringing and the dynamic community of his hometown, is a name that resonates with authenticity and connection.

Watch the full Billboard News live interview above.

After Playing a Part in the Weirdest Scam in Music, This Organization Is Making Good on Its Comeback

For much of the last decade, the Spanish collective management organization SGAE was part of one of the weirdest stories in the music business. Over the years, the collective management organization combined larger-than-life misbehavior (“Going to brothels after dinner was normal,” former senior executive Pedro Farré told El País in 2017) with an only-in-the-entertainment-business royalty accounting scheme called “la rueda” (the wheel) in which television companies played music to which they controlled the rights on late-night shows at barely audible levels in order to get back some of the money they paid SGAE in royalties.

Such songs became known as “witches’ music,” since they were played during “the witching hour,” often on astrology programs that could last for hours, and some were barely changed arrangements of public domain classical compositions registered to television executives and their relatives. In 2017, police raided SGAE headquarters.

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How much of this was amusing, as opposed to outrageous, varied directly with whether any of the money belonged to your company or creators with whom you worked, and in May 2019 the collecting society trade association CISAC took the unusual step of ejecting SGAE. Within months, hundreds of creators notified SGAE that they intended to withdraw their rights and alternatives began to emerge, including the Barcelona-based UNISON. That seemed to put more urgency behind the reforms that were already taking place, and two years later SGAE rejoined CISAC and began to rebuild the trust of creators, publishers and other CMOs.

Since then, SGAE has stabilized and turned itself around, a process that solidified and gained ground under new CEO Cristina Perpiñá-Robert, who was appointed a little more than a year ago. Last year, the organization took in €349.1 million ($377.7 million, using the average 2023 conversion rate) and distributed €354.1 million ($383.1 million), according to its 2023 financial results, which will be announced on May 10. (Distributions are higher than revenue in 2023 because of special payments from broadcasters that SGAE received in 2022 and disbursed in 2023.) Those numbers represent a 24.9% gain in revenue and a 26.6% increase in distributions, and they arguably understate SGAE’s biggest achievement: Giving publishers and creators confidence that they’re distributing royalties in a fair way.

Over that same period, the number of SGAE members with authors rights grew from 36,956 to 83,148 as it celebrates its 125th anniversary. Perpiñá-Robert has also helped make SGAE something of a hub for digital rights for Latin American repertoire. SGAE is also benefitting from the global popularity of Spanish-language music, especially a new wave of Spanish urbano musicians like Quevedo and Bad Gyal.

“For them to see SGAE as something that’s not old and bureaucratic, that’s been really good,” says Perpiñá-Robert, who previously worked at SGAE, then left for CISAC and returned last year. The Spanish CMO never had the scale of SACEM (the French CMO) or PRS (in the U.K.), and that may not change – the Spanish economy is much smaller than those of France and the U.K. But it could become a kind of specialist hub. “Everywhere is, in Europe, local music is doing better,” Perpiñá-Robert says. But only a couple of countries manage to export that local music around the world.

Since the European Commission opened up competition among CMOs to manage rights online, two major hubs have emerged to license music for online use in Europe and some other territories: SACEM and ICE, the latter of which is a joint venture of PRS, GEMA (Germany) and STIM (Sweden). (Each society still collects for offline uses of music in its home country.) They compete to represent rights from creators, publishers and even other societies, and the conventional wisdom is that most of the smaller societies will become dependent on these, while those in the middle will get squeezed. But the rise of Latin music offers SGAE another path forward.

“We’re trying to become a pan-European hub for digital for Latin American music,” says Perpiñá-Robert. SGAE collects online royalties in Europe for all the Latin American societies except those in Mexico and Brazil. (Some international superstars from Latin America sign directly to ASCAP or BMI, which make their own international deals.) With CMOs, scale leads to scale – smaller societies that lack the resources to handle the amount of data now needed to manage royalties accurately tend to get smaller, while bigger ones tend to invest, grow and then invest and grow more. And there’s never been a better time to represent any kind of Latin music rights.

As SGAE improves its reputation, its past is also getting another look. Former SGAE president Teddy Bautista, who once faced possible jail time on charges of misappropriation of funds, was acquitted, along with others. And even “la rueda” was more of a failure of organizational governance than anything else: SGAE followed its own rules, but broadcasters gamed them.

SGAE still faces its share of challenges, including a UNISON lawsuit for anti-competitive behavior. But it has already made serious progress toward earning back trust, and it could go from a problem child to a serious player.

Cardi B Apologizes After Met Gala Backlash, Megan Thee Stallion & Ice Spice Tease New Singles, Shaboozey in TikTok Chart Top 3 & More | Billboard News

It’s Thursday, May 9, and Cardi B issued an apology after receiving backlash from her Met Gala interview where she forgot her designer’s name and just stated he was Asian. Meanwhile,  Kendrick Lamar’s back catalog is up 49% following a weekend full of beef, while Drake’s is down by 5%. Ice Spice teases her new single “Gimme A Light,” Megan Thee Stallion announced her new song “BOA” and Jermaine Dupri posted a sneak peek at a possible remix with one of Mariah Carey’s songs. Ryan Castro talks new music with us and what to expect from his new album, ‘El Cantante del Ghetto’  Cover star Lainey Wilson teases new music and some of the challenges she’s had with stardom. Will Lay Bankz be able to hold on to her top spot on the TikTok Chart? SEVENTEEN takes us behind the scenes of their music video for “Maestro” and more! 

Tetris Kelly
Kendrick’s music is up with Drake’s down, three big teases in new female Hip-Hop tracks, and Cardi B is clearing the air. We go behind the video with SEVENTEEN, chat new music with Ryan Castro find out who’s on top on TikTok and Lainey Wilson is on Billboard’s Country Power Players issue. You’ve got another very exciting episode of Billboard News, let’s jump in. Here’s three things you need to know any apart. With all the distracts between Drake and Kendrick Lamar fans are wondering if Kendrick’s “Not Like Us” is going to top the charts. But when it comes to both rappers catalogs a winner in the battle is clear. Kendrick Lamar’s back catalogue is up 49% following the weekend of beep, while Drake is down 5%. Dang Drake’s Hotline ain’t blinging no more, we’ll have to see if we’re getting a new king of the charts and new music is coming. Ice Spice has teased “Gimmie A Light” out Friday.

Ryan Castro Talks New Album ‘El Cantante del Ghetto’ & His Journey to Stardom | Billboard News

Ahead of the release of his album, ‘El Cantante del Ghetto,’ Ryan Castro shares his struggles to get to where he is today and more!

Ryan Castro:

I never thought one day as I was waiting to sing on the bus, all sweaty with my mic, that in a few years I was going to be at the same bus stop, but in an interview with Billboard.

Tetris Kelly:

Colombian superstar, Ryan Castro, sat down with Billboard for an interview ahead of the release of his new album to talk about how far he’s come. 

Ryan Castro:

I had more needs. I believe that that need also made me do crazier things to get what I wanted. And nowadays I am more mature, I think about the actions I take so I can stay out of trouble or to avoid making bad moves.

Tetris Kelly:

His latest dream is this album featuring some big collaborations including Arcángel on the focus track. 

Ryan Castro:

To be able to say that I have a song like that is a triumph, like being able to say that I have a song with Arcángel and for it to be the focus of my album, for me it is a real triumph and it says that my career and my music is getting the respect I dreamed of. 

Tetris Kelly:

The album fittingly called, ‘El Cantante del Ghetto,’ or ‘The Ghetto Singer,’ is inspired by his humble upbringing in Medellín as he reflects on what the streets taught him. 

Ryan Castro: 

I learned to control my time and emotions. I learned not to skip the process. I learned that singing on a bus.

Keep watching to learn more!

Dennis Thompson, Drummer & Last Member of MC5, Dies at 75

Dennis Thompson, the high energy drummer for influential Detroit band MC5, died on Thursday (May 9). He was 75 years old.

The rocker died at MediLodge of Taylor in Michigan, where he had been recovering following a heart attack in April, according to local news station Detroit Free Press. Thompson was the last surviving member of the band, who are set to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this fall in the musical excellence category. Thompson was preceded in death by singer Rob Tyner, guitarist Fred “Sonic” Smith, bassist Michael Davis and guitarist Wayne Kramer, the last of which died in February of this year.

Thompson joined MC5 in 1965. While the band had little commercial success initially and its core lineup did not last beyond the early 1970s, but its legacy endured, both for its sound and for its fusing of music to political action. During their time as a band, they released three studio albums, 1969’s Kick Out the Jams, 1970’s Back in the USA and 1971’s High Time.

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In 2022, two years before his own death, Kramer announced that two new singles, an album and a national tour are on the horizon for We Are All MC5, Kramer’s reimagination of the band that started it all. However, due to the deaths of the remaining band members, no album arrived. “We’ve just barely survived four catastrophic years of a failed presidency and a devastating pandemic,” Kramer said in a statement at the time. “It had become so polarized and depressing that bringing in other writers was like a hope injection. Tom Morello, Jill Sobule, Tim McIlrath, Kesha and Alejandro Escovedo helped me expand the work using the most powerful weapon in existence: our creativity.”

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