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Time for a pre-holiday madness edition of Executive Turntable, Billboard’s compendium of promotions, hirings, exits and firings — and all things in between — across music.
Read on for better-late-than-never personnel news and don’t forget to check out WMG chief Robert Kyncl’s year-end note to staff and dig into all of our year-end business content, plus peruse our weekly interview series spotlighting a single c-suiter and our daily calendar of notable goings-on.

Luke Armitage was appointed senior vp of global marketing at Warner Records, where he’ll oversee international marketing for the label’s U.S. roster. Based in Los Angeles, he reports to Warner Music’s chief marketing officer, Jessica Keeley-Carter, and collaborates with Warner Records’ co-chairmen Tom Corson and Aaron Bay-Schuck. Armitage joins Warner after six years at Capitol Music Group’s Astralwerks Records, where he led global marketing for artists like Marshmello and Katy Perry. He also contributed to projects by The Chemical Brothers, FISHER and Meduza, among others. Prior to Astralwerks, Armitage held court at Universal Music’s international division in London, Metropolis Studios, and Universal Music Publishing.

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Avex USA promoted Ryusuke (Ryan) Kamada to CFO, recognizing his pivotal role in the company’s growth since its 2020 launch. Ryan joined Avex in 2018 and transitioned from Avex’s Japanese headquarters to Avex USA, where he leveraged his expertise in global finance and law to expand operations in North America. He developed Avex USA’s corporate strategy, co-manages the Future of Music Fund and spearheaded partnerships with S10 and Roc Nation, among others. In Japan, Kamada was chief producer of Avex’s investment group, leading M&A and corporate venture capital investments. Prior to Avex, he worked in JP Morgan’s Tokyo office. The University of Pennsylvania grad began his career in Toyota’s legal division, handling major U.S. litigation and congressional hearings. Avex USA CEO Naoki Osada commended Ryan’s strategic vision, financial acumen, and “sincere respect and passion for songwriters are integral to the company culture.” Since its launch in Los Angeles in 2020, the U.S. branch of the Tokyo-based music and entertainment company has established a publishing division, a music start-up investment program and a record label.

Sphere Entertainment appointed Marcus Ellington as executive vp of ad sales and sponsorships, effective immediately. Ellington will develop and lead an ad sales and sponsorships unit to maximize revenue for Sphere’s assets, including the Vegas venue’s unmistakable exterior, known as the Exosphere. He’ll also drive brand-centric opportunities and broader marketing partnerships. Ellington is based in New York and reports to Jennifer Koester, Sphere’s president and COO. Ellington joins Sphere from Google, where he held various sales and partnership roles, most recently as director of Americas partnerships solutions. His experience includes overseeing relationships and ad revenue for Google’s largest media and entertainment partners. Prior to Google, he worked at Interactive One and CBS, and over the years has received industry awards and served on several boards. Koester praised Ellington’s innovative leadership and track record with premier brands “across a range of industries, which will be an asset as we continue evolving how brands can partner with Sphere to create impactful experiences unlike anywhere else.”

Melanie Santa Rosa

Third Side Music named Melanie Santa Rosa as its new head of copyright, based in New York. Reporting to co-founder/CEO Patrick Curley, Santa Rosa will lead the copyright department, focusing on transparency, efficiency and maximizing value for the independent publisher’s extensive roster, which includes Kurt Vile, SOFI TUKKER, Future Islands, Sky Ferreira and more. Santa Rosa brings a wealth of experience to the role, having previously served as executive vp of global digital copyright administration at Word Collections, managing worldwide copyright and royalty administration. She also spent 12 years at Spirit Music Group, rising to senior vp of global administration, and worked at BMI for a decade, collaborating with songwriters, publishers, and performing rights organizations. An advocate for creators, Santa Rosa serves on the AIMP New York Chapter board and is active in several industry organizations. Patrick Curley praised Santa Rosa’s expertise and reputation: “She is precisely the person we needed to lead the operation and development of Third Side Music’s worldwide collections platform in the years to come,” he said.

Infinite Reality, a leader in digital media and e-commerce leveraging spatial computing and AI, appointed Drew Wilson as chief operating officer. Wilson, who most recently served as both COO and chief financial officer at SoundCloud, will manage business operations, drive revenue, and advance iR’s strategic vision. Under his watch at SoundCloud, the audio platform achieved profitability for the first time in the company’s history, driving significant revenue growth, margin improvements and product innovation. He has also held key roles at First Look Media, AwesomenessTV, RLJ Entertainment and Warner Bros. Discovery, contributing to revenue growth and digital transformation. John Acunto, iR’s co-founder and CEO, praised Wilson’s proven ability to scale digital media businesses and his expertise in technology and fan engagement.

AEG Presents promoted Evan Marks to talent buyer for the Rocky Mountains region. Previously an assistant in the role, Marks will now oversee bookings at prominent venues like Mission Ballroom, Ogden Theatre, Gothic Theatre, Bluebird Theatre and some outdoor spot called Red Rocks. Based in Denver, he’ll report to Don Strasburg, president of Rocky Mountains and Pacific Northwest. A Houston native, Marks has been active in the Colorado music scene for nearly 15 years. After graduating from CU Boulder, he began his career as a talent buyer at Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom in 2017 before joining AEG Presents Rocky Mountains in 2022. Strasburg commended Marks for his passion and dedication to live music, highlighting his deep musical knowledge and strong execution skills. “Evan’s wide berth of musical knowledge and ability to execute will meet and exceed the lofty expectations of our music community.”

Eddie Kloesel has been named partner at WHY&HOW, the management company founded by Bruce Kalmick. Joining at its inception in 2020 as vp of touring and sponsorships, Kloesel was later promoted to executive vp, playing a pivotal role in shaping the company’s strategic goals. He has spearheaded brand partnerships, touring strategies and album releases, contributing to the success of clients like Whiskey Myers and Chase Rice. With a music industry career spanning nearly two decades, Kloesel began in 2005 as a day-to-day tour manager for Brandon Rhyder and joined Triple 8 Management in 2011 before becoming a member of WHY&HOW’s founding team. Kalmick calls Kloesel a a “trusted strategic thinker who approaches our clients’ business like an entrepreneur,” adding, “He’s always thinking outside the box and has brought forward opportunities that are not only lucrative for our clients but are also unique within the industry.”

Supreme Music secured the exclusive services of renowned sound designer Markus Stemler, celebrated for his Academy Award-nominated and BAFTA-winning work on All Quiet on the Western Front. This collaboration strengthens Supreme Music’s sound design and audio post-production for advertising and branded content. Stemler, known for projects like The Matrix Resurrections and Cloud Atlas, brings expertise in dialogue editing, ADR, Foley and re-recording mixing. His recent credits include Tides (2021) and Perfect Days (2023). For Supreme Music, he has contributed to standout campaigns such as Penny’s Wonderful World and the American Red Cross’ Mom, showcasing his exceptional artistry and versatility.

HarbourView Equity Partners partnered with The CultureShaker to lead its brand, marketing and PR efforts. The CultureShaker’s founder, Lucinda Martinez, will now serve as chief marketing officer of the investment firm, joined by Deborah Renteria as vice president of brand and content strategy. Martinez, known for award-winning campaigns like Game of Thrones and Insecure, brings a quarter-century of experience from Netflix, HBO and Comedy Central. Renteria brings complimenting expertise in content development and audience engagement from roles at Lionsgate, Facebook, and HBO. HarbourView CEO Sherrese Clarke Soares praised the team’s cultural and strategic insights, essential for the firm’s rapid growth, adding: “The CultureShaker is our first operating partner under our Create Platform, further cementing our position as a valued partner to artists, content creators, investors as we broaden our footprint and deepen our focus across the entertainment and creative ecosystem to continue to drive ROI.”

Curbside Concerts, a Canadian company that produces curbside concerts, welcomed Tracy Posadowski and Tom Yeates as managing directors of sales and marketing. Posadowski, co-founder of ATTCo Global Services, and Yeates, with extensive revenue management experience, aim to expand the company in Canada, enter the U.S. market, and explore new business avenues. Founded by Matt and Amanda Burgener during the COVID-19 pandemic to support struggling musicians, Curbside Concerts has grown significantly in its first four years, bringing music to people’s yards and curbs.

Isekai Records, a joint venture with Broke Records, launched in August 2024 by Ewan Jenkins, Jack Mangan and RJ Pasin, aims to be artist-friendly. Jenkins and Mangan, co-founders of E2J Artist Management, gained recognition in 2023 by managing Pasin, whose TikTok followers grew from 10,000 to 2.8 million and Spotify listeners to 7.5 million monthly. Isekai Records leverages their expertise to support emerging talent. Their debut release, “Embrace It” by Ndotz, marked their global entry and commitment to artist-centric music production.

ICYMI:

Hugh Forrest

The board of directors of Farm Aid appointed Shorlette Ammons and Jennifer Fahy to lead the non-profit effective Jan. 1 … Hugh Forrest was promoted to president of South by Southwest, where he’ll continue to oversee programming and assume full leadership of an organization. Jann Baskett, the current co-president and chief brand officer, prepares to step down on New Year’s Eve.

Last Week’s Turntable: Red Light Green Lights Former Warner Nashville Prez

The Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation has joined forces with Warner Music Latina for a 2025 scholarship that will be good toward a bachelor’s degree at Berklee College of Music, Billboard can announce.
The four-year Prodigy Scholarship, which will cover tuition and room and board for the 2025 fall semester, as well as wrap-around services provided by the foundation, marks the first time a Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation scholarship has been sponsored by a record label.

“This partnership embodies one of our core values: to cultivate intellectual and artistic potential by removing barriers that often impede exceptional musicians from realizing their vision,” said Alejandro Duque, president of Warner Music Latin America, in a statement. “Through strategic educational support we’re not just investing in individual careers, but in the broader cultural landscape of musical innovation.” 

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Roberto Andrade, MD at Warner Music Latina, added: “At Warner Music Latina, we’re proud to support young talent through this scholarship. By empowering aspiring musicians, we’re investing in the voices that will shape tomorrow’s soundtrack. This is more than an opportunity — it’s a commitment to creativity, talent and the future of music.”  

In addition to the Prodigy Scholarship, three other scholarships — from the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, the Gil Family Foundation and Gibson Gives — will be available for music students between the ages of 17 and 25 with financial limitations who have a passion for Latin music.

“The support of our donors makes the fulfillment of our mission to provide educational opportunities that advance Latin music and its heritage a reality,” added Raquel “Rocky” Egusquiza, executive director at the Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation. “We are grateful to Warner Music Latina, Frost School of Music, Gibson Gives and the Gil Family Foundation for hosting these scholarships, providing opportunities to aspiring Latin music creators in need of financial aid to pursue their dreams.” 

Applications for all of the scholarships will be open between now and 11:59 p.m. ET on April 10, 2025. For more information and to apply, click here. 

Several more players in the independent music community have called on regulators to block the acquisition of Downtown Music Holdings by Universal Music Group (UMG) announced this week, arguing the deal “would seriously distort the global music market” and “reduce competition and the independents’ bargaining power.”
Virgin Music Group, which is owned by UMG, announced Monday (Dec. 16) that it had agreed to buy Downtown Music Holdings for $775 million in a deal that would beef up the music giant’s market share by absorbing Downtown’s stable of indie distributors, publishing and rights administrators including FUGA, CB Baby, AdRev and Songtrust. The deal came just two months after UMG acquired the remaining shares of indie label group [PIAS], including its services division, Integral — an agreement that was similarly criticized by indie trade groups, who have asked regulators to launch an investigation into the pact.

In a joint release Thursday (Dec. 19), several indie music leaders said the deal, if allowed to go through, would result “in fewer options for smaller companies to negotiate fair terms and compete on equal footing, leading to higher costs and less choice.”

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“We are the global independent music community,” said Noemí Planas, CEO of Worldwide Independent Network (WIN), in a statement. “UMG trying to present this as an investment in the independent ecosystem is fooling no one. This is wealth extraction from the independents, another step in UMG’s relentless path to dominance and stifling competition. Independent music is the lifeblood of cultural innovation and market consolidation threatens the diversity that makes music so rich and compelling around the world. We call on regulatory bodies to block the deal.”

Also speaking out against the acquisition was A2IM CEO Richard James Burgess, who stated: “Universal Music Group’s acquisition of Downtown Music’s assets continues a troubling trend of consolidating independent music infrastructure, following acquisitions of InGrooves, MTheory, and PIAS. This increasing level of market concentration chips away at the competitive landscape, making it increasingly difficult for truly independent artists and companies to operate freely and equitably. These acquisitions risk silencing the independent voices that drive innovation and creativity in the music industry.”

Added Darius Van Arman, CEO of Secretly Distribution and co-founder of Secretly Group, “When near-monopolist Universal acquires Downtown, one of the largest independent music ecosystems, and does so in the name of independence, it cheapens what the word means. Market consolidation at this scale is not only anti-competitive, it is a fundamental threat to true independence.”

Virgin’s purchase of Downtown is just the latest in a string of similar acquisitions by major labels over the last several years. In 2024 alone, UMG acquired Outdustry, a label services and rights management firm that works across China, India, and other Asian markets; Thailand-based recorded music catalog RS Group; Nigerian record label Mavin Global; and a minority stake in U.S.-based Chord Music Partners, among others. Two years ago, Sony Music made a splash when it acquired AWAL and Kobalt Neighbouring Rights from Kobalt Music Group, followed by the more recent acquisitions of companies like Spanish label and distributor Altafonte and Greek independent label Cobalt Music. And Warner Music Group has snapped up minority stakes in European indie labels of late, including Dancing Bear Music (Croatia), NIKA (Slovenia) and Mascom (Serbia); it also fully acquired the Dutch label Cloud 9 Recordings in October.

“Whilst we are in favour of free enterprise, monopolies dominate market forces and remove the ability to compete,” said Maria Amato, CEO of Australian Independent Record Labels Association (AIR), in a statement on the Downtown deal. “There must be regulation to ensure that Universal who is already the largest music business in the world with a large stake in Spotify does not dictate prices and the ability for artists and labels to negotiate fair and equitable terms.”

“The recent acquisition by large corporations of companies that until recently were independent is a red alert for the entire global independent music community,” added Felippe Llerena, president of Brazilian trade association ABMI. “The Orchard, AWAL, Som Livre, Proper Music, Altafonte and now Downtown Music are examples of how multinational capital is reshaping the sector. ABMI believes that it is our duty to protect and promote an independent ecosystem, where artists, labels and companies can create freely and sustainably. Our fight is for the appreciation of music as art, culture and expression, not as a simple market product.”

In her own statement, Cecilia Crespo, GM of the association of Argentinian record labels ASIAr, said: “Concentration not only has a negative impact in the way platforms distribute royalties to artists and rights holders (based on market share), but also due to the unregulated use of data and intelligence from the analysis of the data and the behavior of all actors involved (artists, audiences, and users).”

On Tuesday (Dec. 17), several other indie music players came out in opposition to the Downtown acquisition, including indie labels trade body IMPALA, the U.K.-based Association of Independent Music (AIM) and global indie music publishers trade body IMPF.

UMG didn’t immediately respond to Billboard‘s request for comment on the latest statements of opposition.

Over the past dozen years, vinyl records have grown from an indie-rock subculture to a significant, established part of the music business. In the U.S. alone, vinyl sales were worth $1.4 billion in 2023, more than CDs — and as much as Latin music — and they will probably be worth more than $2 billion worldwide by 2025.
As the market matures — and growth slows from spectacular to merely healthy — it’s also splintering. A part of the business once dominated by rock and reissues now looks more like the Billboard 200, and labels are releasing different kinds of records for different buyers — low-price products for big box retail, endless color variations for pop fans and, increasingly, high-end vinyl for audiophiles.  

The descriptions of these products makes them sound quite impressive — as do the prices. If the new Joni Mitchell vinyl reissues just aren’t good enough for you — and they are very good — $125 will buy you Mobile Fidelity’s UD1S 180g 45RPM SuperVinyl 2LP Box Set, pressed from “analog master to DSD 256 to analog console to lathe.” That’s about five times the price of most records. Mobile Fidelity is selling a few of Mitchell’s albums in that format, plus titles by Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Van Halen and many more. It’s not the only company selling premium products, either: Analogue Productions is reissuing all the Steely Dan albums on 45rpm on UHQR vinyl for $150 each, plus putting out a treasure trove of deluxe Atlantic Records reissues to make the label’s 75th anniversary. (Both companies have been in business for some time.) The majors are doing this themselves, too. Back in 2019, Blue Note President Don Was launched the Tone Poet series, which reissues jazz records that sell for about $35. And in 2023, Rhino began releasing Rhino High Fidelity reissues of WMG albums, which it sells online for $40.  

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All of these are marketed with the exacting specificity of supercar engines — it’s not just vinyl, it’s SuperVinyl! But how much better do they really sound — especially to an untrained ear on a home stereo? This is important to the music business — consumers will only buy so many $125 records if they don’t sound great. And I was also curious myself.  

Here I must confess that I’m enough of an audiophile to understand about half of the jargon above. Over the years, I’ve accumulated a few dozen audiophile records myself, including two Mobile Fidelity Linda Ronstadt records (fantastic), a CBS Mastersound version of Bridge Over Troubled Water (incredible), and the Craft Recordings Small Batch pressing of Isaac Hayes Hot Buttered Soul (like being in the studio). Others were just very good — and not worth the money. And I had never really sat down and compared different versions of the same record in any disciplined way. So I decided to do so. A few caveats: I have no real audio expertise; I listened on a very good home stereo, and it doesn’t make sense to buy records like this unless you have one; your mileage may vary. Here’s what I found. 

I started with the Analogue Productions reissue of Steely Dan’s Aja because the album has a well-deserved reputation as a fantastic recording. I compared it to an early pressing I have, which is a detailed and vibrant record — it sounds great. This reissue just blew it away. The definition on the reissue was so impressive that on “Black Cow’ and “Deacon Blues,” I noticed sounds that I hadn’t really paid much attention to before. And while the older album sounded spacious, the new one sounded like I could point to which musicians were playing where. If you’re a Steely Dan fan, this is worth $150. If you’re not, this might make you one. It’s that good.  

The other Analogue Productions reissue I listened to, Otis Blue / Otis Redding Sings Soul, is part of the company’s Atlantic 75 Audiophile Series, and I compared it to my copy of the album that came in a 2017 box set of Redding’s mono studio albums. (I compared these reissues to records I happened to own.) The Analogue version was more detailed and transparent — specific sounds stood out more. But the reissue was of the stereo version of the album, on which Redding’s voice is on one side, and I found that my less detailed mono version had more punch. I prefer the reissue, but it’s a close call.  

The first new Mobile Fidelity album I played was Bob Dylan’s Good as I Been To You, which I compared to the 2017 European reissue. Neither record has much of a soundstage — it’s really just Dylan and his guitar — but the Mobile Fidelity version has more detail. For this album, though, that’s everything. Hearing Dylan’s fingers on the strings matters because the album is so intimate — it’s a portrait of a songwriter going back to the music that inspired him. The reissue makes a big difference. 

Then I tried Mobile Fidelity’s $125 pressing of Joni Mitchell’s Blue. It’s astonishing. From the opening strums of “All I Want,” I felt like I could better hear more details on a familiar recording. I compared it to my 2007 reissue, which I prefer to an early pressing I used to own. The 2007 pressing is a great record, with the depth and spaciousness this album deserves, and I don’t have a bad thing to say about it. But the Mobile Fidelity pressing offered more space and detail. Here, the deluxe version is better, but it’s hard to go wrong either way. 

Last I turned to two Rhino High Fidelity records. (Tone Poet pressings sound great, but I don’t have enough old jazz records to compare them to.) I’ve always been happy with the 2014 reissue of Gram Parsons’ Grievous Angel, a quiet, clear pressing of a detailed recording. But the Rhino High Fidelity reissue blew it away: Details came out clearer, vocals emerged more forcefully, the music just seemed more lively. It just felt more there. Listening to the old record after the new one, it almost sounded veiled. Of all the records I played, this one delivered the biggest difference for the least amount of money. It’s a no-brainer. 

I found less of a difference between the Rhino High Fidelity version of the Stooges debut and my 2010 reissue. This is a less detailed recording than Grievous Angel, by design, and it should hit harder – and both versions did. The deluxe version sounded a bit more present, but only if you listened closely. To get another perspective, I also listened to a 2005 CD reissue of the album, which I kept because it came with a disc of extra tracks, and I immediately noticed that it sounded lousy — shrill, unexciting, and hard on the ears at any volume. Here, both vinyl versions are great.

Obviously, pricey records have a limited audience. But at a time when so many music executives are talking about “superfans,” this seems like a product category worth keeping an eye on.

12/19/2024

While decades-old classics tend to dominate the holidays, here are 25 relatively new seasonal songs that have connected with listeners.

12/19/2024

The board of directors of Farm Aid — including Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews and Margo Price — have appointed Shorlette Ammons and Jennifer Fahy to lead the non-profit effective Jan. 1.
Farm Aid’s annual festival, the music industry’s longest-running concert for a cause, began in 1985 and has raised more than $80 million to support programs that help family farmers thrive. Across the decades, it has taken action to change the nation’s dominant system of industrial agriculture and promote food from family farms.

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Ammons and Fahy succeed Carolyn Mugar, Farm Aid’s first and only executive director, who was tapped for the role by Nelson when he launched the organization. She will continue to work as an advisor to Farm Aid. In addition, Farm Aid associate director Glenda Yoder is leaving the organization at the end of 2024 after 34 years. Yoder has been responsible for the launch of Farm Aid’s Homegrown Concessions, demonstrating that family-farm-sourced food could feed concertgoers on a huge scale.

Fahy joined Farm Aid in 2002 and has served as communications director since 2008, while Ammons has served as the organization’s program director since 2022. Together, they will share leadership responsibilities in the ongoing mission to cultivate a family farm-centered system of agriculture in America.

“There would not be 40 years of Farm Aid without Carolyn Mugar — and for all those years she’s made me look good!,” said Nelson in a statement. “ I am deeply grateful for her passion and commitment leading Farm Aid’s work, listening to farmers and always being a champion of grassroots organizations. Carolyn and Glenda rallied the Good Food Movement to bring people together in support of farmers.”

Mugar was recognized by Billboard on its 2020 Women in Music list. At that time, she noted that in the years since Farm Aid’s first concert in 1985, “what has changed is people’s consciousness.” Farm Aid supporters have recognized the links between its mission and “the good-food movement, the environmental movement, the whole issue of structural racism,” she said. “Farm Aid has been working with Black farmers and Black farm organizations since day one.”

From barnyards to backstage trailers, Mugar has networked nonstop on behalf of family farmers, herding artists and activists “like a collie dog,” she joked then. But inevitably, she has deflected and given credit for Farm Aid’s enduring impact to its leading artists: Nelson, Young, Mellencamp, Matthews and Price. “For all practical purposes, they lead Farm Aid — and they do not take prisoners. They really never give up,” she said then.

In a statement announcing her succession, Mugar said, “All of us at Farm Aid confidently trust that Shorlette and Jennifer are poised to lead Farm Aid’s next chapter to benefit farmers, eaters and our soil and water. We face urgent issues with the health of our planet, and I’m are thankful Farm Aid has a strong foundation for the next leaders to build upon.”

In addition to her deep experience managing communications for Farm Aid and co-producing its annual festival, Fahy holds a certificate in nonprofit management from Boston University’s Questrom School of Business. Ammons, who comes from a farm family in North Carolina, spent her career prior to Farm Aid addressing the systemic barriers that BIPOC, low-income and rural food and farming communities face. She has 20 years of experience in community leadership, training, education and engagement.

“My two-decade career at Farm Aid has offered me incredible opportunities to dig into a broad spectrum of the work and operations of the organization, for which I am grateful and proud,” says Fahy. “Farm Aid’s people are its greatest strength, and I am thrilled to deepen my work with all of the folks — from farmers and artists to our supporters, advocates, policymakers and everyone who eats — who make up this organization and this movement for thriving family farmers.” 

“As a Black Southern woman who grew up in the family farm tradition, I have a deep understanding of the struggles of family farmers and rural communities,” says Ammons. “I know the ways that food and music bring folks together. So, for me, this transition has been taking place over the course of my lifetime of work and service. I’m excited to step into this role to live up to the legacy of Farm Aid’s leadership and the resistance that marginalized communities have demonstrated since the farm crisis of the 80s and throughout our shared history.”

Farm Aid will stage its 40th-anniversary festival in 2025. The venue and date of next year’s concert has not yet been announced.

Dualtone Music Group president and partner Paul Roper died on Tuesday (Dec. 17) following a battle with cancer. Roper was 45. A statement from Nashville-based Dualtone Music Group noted, “Paul’s vision and unwavering commitment continues to define the heart and soul of Dualtone. He led Dualtone and his team with dedication, authenticity, humor, and kindness […]

Universal Music Group, the owner of Republic Records, has reached a settlement to resolve a trademark lawsuit the music giant filed against a music investment platform called Republic.
The deal will end a case in which UMG accused the smaller company of confusing consumers by expanding into music royalties investing – a move UMG warned could dupe people into thinking Republic Records was involved in the project. But a judge later ruled that the case would be difficult to win.

In an order last week (Dec. 13), the federal judge overseeing the lawsuit said that all claims had been “settled in principle” and ordered the case dismissed. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed, and neither side immediately returned requests for more details.

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Launched in 2016, OpenDeal Inc.’s Republic platform lets users buy into startups, cryptocurrency projects and other investments across a wide range of sectors. In October 2021, the company announced it would start allowing users to invest in music royalties by purchasing NFTs (non-fungible tokens), calling itself the first to “bring music investing to the masses.”

That quickly sparked the lawsuit from UMG, which acquired Republic Records in 2000 and now operates it as one of its top imprints, home to Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Drake, Post Malone and many others. In a November 2021 complaint seeking an immediate injunction, UMG called OpenDeal’s new service a “wanton effort to usurp plaintiff’s Republic name and trademarks for itself.”

“The artists, labels, managers, agents, and fans who currently know of plaintiff’s Republic label would be presented with two different companies offering identical services under identical names in the same industry,” UMG’s lawyers wrote at the time. “Confusion is inevitable.”

But in July 2022, Judge Analisa Torres ruled that that UMG was unlikely to be able to prove such allegations in court. She said the evidence of potential confusion was “extremely minimal,” since the services and consumers of the two companies “differ significantly” — and that a shared connection to the music industry was “not enough.”

“It is conceivable that there may ultimately be some overlap between the parties’ consumers—for instance, fans of a popular artist may both purchase that artist’s music through Republic Records, and make crowdfunded investments in recordings by that artist through the Republic Platform,” the judge wrote. “But, such scenarios remain hypothetical.”

That ruling – denying UMG’s request for a so-called preliminary injunction that would have forced OpenDeal to change its name while the case was litigated – was not a final decision on the case. But it indicated that UMG was unlikely to win, and such trademark cases often settle after such early skirmishes.

After that decision, UMG later filed an updated version of its allegations, and the case proceeded into discovery – the process of exchanging evidence in a civil lawsuit. But the lawsuit has largely been paused for more than a year as the two sides engaged in settlement talks that ultimately resulted in last week’s agreement.

Burning Man still needs to raise $14 million amid its ongoing fundraising efforts.
An email sent out to the Burning Man community on Thursday (Dec. 19) from Burning Man Project CEO Marian Goodell provided an update on the fundraising push that the nonprofit organization launched in October seeking $20 million.

“We started 2024 with a commitment to raise $10 million philanthropically,” Goodell’s email states. “This was up 20% from the $8.2 million raised in 2023. Due to the ticket sales shortfall to Black Rock City in 2024, we found ourselves needing to make mission-aligned budget adjustments and raise the remaining deficit to the tune of approximately $10 million—this, in addition to the initial $10 million goal. And today, with reductions as well as dollars raised from supporters, we’re still about $14 million short of where we ought to be.”

The email continues that “thanks to the generosity of enthusiastic donors” the fundraising campaign is now matching donations through the end of the year.

The update comes amid a fundraising campaign launched in October by Burning Man Project — the nonprofit behind the annual gathering in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert and other Burning Man-related initiatives — that notified Burners that the organization needs to raise $20 million in charitable donations by the end of 2024 due to the fact that the 2024 festival did not sell out “as planned,” per Goodell’s original announcement.

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As reported by Billboard in November, each year since 2016 before the main ticket sale begins, roughly 4,000 Burning Man tickets go on sale for much more than main sale tickets — this year selling at $1,500 and $2,500. These tickets, which are typically purchased by people who have cash to spare and don’t want to risk not getting a ticket during the main sale, usually bring in approximately $7 million — and nearly $10 million in 2023. But in November a spokesperson for BMP said that in 2024, higher-priced ticket sales totaled $3.4 million, down nearly $6 million from the prior year. 

This budget deficit is creating uncertainty about ticket prices for the 2025 Burning Man event in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert. “If we don’t set ourselves up right, we’re going to have to raise ticket prices,” Goodell told Billboard in November, “[especially because] we don’t have the sponsorships that the other festivals do. And I’d like to lower ticket prices.”

Goodell’s latest update emphasizes that Burning Man organizers are “determined to keep Burning Man financially accessible by offering reasonably priced ticket options for Black Rock City 2025,” and also notes that representatives of Burning Man Project are “making ourselves more accessible. By offering town halls, office hours and more clearly providing contact points for you within the nonprofit, we are making ourselves available to participants as a resource.”

Actively Black, a Black-owned global sportswear brand, has partnered with the Shakur Estate to introduce a new collection: Tupac X Actively Black. Inspired by the late rapper’s enduring legacy as a music icon and poet, the first drop in the new line will be available for purchase on Christmas Day (Dec. 25), exclusively at activelyblack.com.
In a statement announcing Tupac X Actively Black, the Shakur Estate commented, “With this collaboration, Actively Black celebrates Tupac’s enduring impact on culture, creativity and artistry. Actively Black’s commitment to empowering the Black community perfectly aligns with Tupac’s mission to inspire and spark meaningful change. Inspired by [the poem] “The Rose That Grew from Concrete,” this collection honors Tupac’s voice and message, ensuring it resonates with a new generation.”

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The first drop features a collection of unisex hoodies and T-shirts illustrated with custom co-branded artwork and imagery from Tupac’s archives. The standout piece in the new collection is a relaxed hoodie in washed grey with a graphic rendering of the poem in the late rapper’s own handwriting.

“I grew up listening to Tupac, and even before I fully understood the content of his music, there was something moving about his delivery that resonated with me and so many others still, to this day,” said Lanny Smith, founder of Actively Black. “In early interviews of Tupac, you can see his passion to breathe new life into the Black pride movement. His awareness about the truths of society and determination to improve the lives of his people was awe-inspiring.”

Tupac X Actively Black is the latest collaboration from Actively Black. The company recently introduced a new apparel collaboration with Disney in celebration of the latter’s Mufasa: The Lion King. Earlier this year, Actively Black partnered with the Nigerian Olympic delegation, serving as the official outfitter and apparel sponsor for team Nigeria at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. The company’s additional partnerships and collaborations include the estates of Muhammad Ali, Michael Jackson and Bob Marley as well as sports franchises the Sacramento Kings and Houston Rockets.

A former NBA player for the Sacramento Kings, Smith launched Actively Black in 2020. Of the upcoming debut of Tupac X Actively Black, Smith singled out a favorite Shakur quote in the announcement release. “One of his quotes has always stayed with me: ‘I may not change the world, but I guarantee I will spark the brain of someone who will.’ I am one of the minds Tupac sparked; and Actively Black is an extension of our shared mission to uplift and empower our people. Tupac X Actively Black is an ode to the genius of Tupac Shakur. He represented us: the Black community, boldly and unapologetically; his legacy embodies what it means to be ACTIVELY Black.”