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Sphere Entertainment Co. has reached an agreement with the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism to create a second Sphere in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) capital city.
“The vision for Sphere has always included a global network of venues, and today’s announcement is a significant milestone toward that goal,” said James L. Dolan, executive chairman/CEO of Sphere Entertainment who oversaw the construction of the Las Vegas Sphere in late 2023. Sphere Entertainment is a spinoff of Madison Square Garden Entertainment and is headquartered in L.A., where a small staff develops the audio and visual components for Sphere’s massive internal video screen.
The long-term success of Sphere has always been contingent on Dolan’s ability to scale the business model and build additional Sphere facilities to amortize the costs of producing content for the uniquely shaped arena. According to sources, video produced to accompany the 10-bout Noche UFC match in Las Vegas cost last month cost upwards of $20 million.
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A second Sphere location would provide Dolan and crew a chance to recoup some of their production costs from a new audience via projects like Postcard from Earth, a multi-sensory film directed by Darren Aronofsky that helped generate more than $1 million in average daily ticket sales on the days it ran during the company’s most recent fiscal quarter, according to a shareholders report.
There’s also an opportunity to save on production costs by staging concerts at both the Vegas and Abu Dhabi venues, although it’s unclear how much demand there would be in the Middle East for Western concerts. Since the end of the pandemic, only a handful of concerts from American artists performing in the UAE have been reported to Billboard Boxscore.
“We are excited to bring Sphere to Abu Dhabi in partnership with Sphere Entertainment, providing our residents and visitors with an extraordinary new form of entertainment,” said H.E. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi, in a statement. “Sphere Abu Dhabi will seamlessly integrate advanced technology with captivating storytelling, creating unforgettable memories for everyone who visits. This partnership aligns with our Tourism Strategy 2030, further establishing Abu Dhabi as a vibrant hub for culture and innovation. By embracing cutting-edge entertainment like Sphere, we’re not only elevating our global profile but also setting new standards in immersive experiences and cultural offerings.”
Under the terms of the partnership, which is subject to the finalization of definitive agreements, DCT Abu Dhabi will pay Sphere Entertainment a franchise initiation fee for the right to build the venue, utilizing Sphere Entertainment’s proprietary designs, technology and intellectual property. Construction will be funded by DCT Abu Dhabi, with Sphere Entertainment’s team of experts providing services related to development, construction and pre-opening of the venue.
Following the venue’s opening, Sphere Entertainment plans to maintain ongoing arrangements with DCT Abu Dhabi that are expected to include annual fees for creative and artistic content licensed by Sphere Entertainment, such as Sphere Experiences; use of Sphere’s brand, patents, proprietary technology and intellectual property; and operational services related to venue operations and technology, as well as commercial and strategic advisory support.
Former Journey frontman Steve Perry signed to the late George Harrison‘s Dark Horse Records. The label will release his upcoming holiday album, The Season 3, on Nov. 8. “I am so pleased to announce that I have just signed with George Harrison’s label, Dark Horse Records,” said Perry in a statement. “I’ve so much music in me that has yet to be heard. To be able to work with a team of people who support and respect my creative expressions, is a dream come true.”
CAA signed singer-songwriter, actress, dancer and TV personality Nicole Scherzinger, who is set to make her Broadway debut as Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard on Sunday (Oct. 20). Scherzinger won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for the play’s London run. She’s also set to reprise her role as Sina in Disney’s Moana 2, which is slated for release next month.
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British rapper-producer Jim Legxacy signed with XL Recordings and released a new single, “aggressive,” on Oct. 7. He’s slated to release a new mixtape, Black British Music (2024), next year.
Seth Shomes‘ Day After Day Productions signed Bobby Brown for exclusive global touring representation. Tour dates will be announced in the coming months. Brown is managed by Alicia Etheredge-Brown at AE Management.
Electronic music duo Deep Dish (Ali “Dubfire” Shirazinia and Sharam Tayebi) signed with Purple Wall for management and CAA for touring. The duo, which recently signed with Armada Music and returned to the studio for the first time in a decade to reimagine some of their older songs, including “Flashdance” and “Say Hello,” is slated to hold residencies in both London and New York this winter.
Big Loud Texas, the label offshoot recently co-founded by Miranda Lambert and Jon Randall, signed country singer-songwriter Jake Worthington. To mark the occasion, Lambert and Worthington released the duet “Hello S—ty Day” late last month.
Tyler Brown (former MD at Syco Music) and Harold Serero (former senior A&R at Ultra Music Publishing and Payday Records) launched Heatwave Records, which will focus on signing artists from emerging markets. The label’s first signings are Nigerian artists Fido (“Awolowo”) and Firstklaz (“Gen-Z Area”) and Ivory Coast artist døpelym (“Guala”).
WME signed singer-songwriter Adrien Nunez (“Low Road”). Managed by Dillon Goldberg at FNGRPRNT, Nunez is slated to support both Dasha and Avery Anna on their respective tours later this year.
Music licensing company PPL signed Manchester, U.K.-based pop-soul singer-songwriter Lusaint (“Sweet Tooth”) for the collection of her international neighboring rights royalties. Lusaint recently released her debut EP, Self Sabotage.
Riser House Records signed cross-genre soul artist Stephen Day, who is set to release a two-pack of holiday songs: an original track, “It’s Christmas All Over,” and a rendition of “Pennies From Heaven.”
Universal Music Canada signed singer-songwriter Lindsay Ell, who will release a new EP, love myself, on Oct. 25. It’s preceded by lead single “Story I Tell Myself.”
Bay Area hardcore band Scowl signed with Dead Oceans. The label released the group’s new single, “Special,” earlier this month.
Irish folk band Amble signed with Warner Records and released a new song, “The Commons,” the title track off a forthcoming EP slated for release on Nov. 1.
Deb Never signed with GIANT Music and released a new single, “Not In Love,” on Tuesday (Oct. 15). Her debut full-length album is due for release next year.
Musical duo CocoRosie signed with Joyful Noise Recordings and will release the new single, “Least I Have You,” on Wednesday (Oct. 16).
Metal/hardcore band Biohazard signed with BLKIIBLK, a new heavy music imprint from Frontiers Label Group. The band is set to release a new album next year, marking its first full-length release in more than a decade. Biohazard is co-managed by Andy Gould and Paul Gargano.
Gotee Records, co-founded by CCM hitmaker TobyMac, has signed indie pop singer/songwriter Lydi Lynn. The Portland native, who now resides in Nashville, will release her debut EP Desert Dream on Oct. 11 and is currently providing direct support for Jervis Campbell’s Magnolia Tour. Lynn is booked by Reliant Talent Agency’s Kevin Castleman. – Jessica Nicholson
This is The Legal Beat, a weekly newsletter about music law from Billboard Pro, offering you a one-stop cheat sheet of big new cases, important rulings and all the fun stuff in between.
This week: Limp Bizkit sues Universal Music Group for $200 million over claims that the band has ‘never’ been paid royalties; a lawsuit against Nelly takes a twist as his former bandmates allegedly push back on the case; Barry White’s estate files a lawsuit over Future and Metro Boomin’s chart-topper “Like That”; and much more.
THE BIG STORY: Has Limp Bizkit Really Never Gotten Royalties?
At one point in the bombshell, $200 million lawsuit Limp Bizkit filed against Universal Music Group last week, the band’s attorneys explicitly asked the question that everyone was thinking as they read the case: “The band had still not been paid a single cent by UMG in any royalties until taking action against UMG, leading one to ask how on earth that could possibly be true.”
How on earth, indeed. How had one of the biggest bands of its era, which sold millions of records during the music industry’s MTV-fueled, turn-of-the-century glory days, still never have been paid any royalties nearly three decades later?
According to Limp Bizkit and frontman Fred Durst, the answer is an “appalling and unsettling” scheme by UMG centered on “systemic” and “fraudulent” policies that were “deliberately designed” to conceal royalties from artists and “keep those profits for itself.”
Scathing language aside, the lawsuit really appears to be a long-delayed dispute over recoupment.
Durst says that UMG repeatedly told him that Limp remained unrecouped — meaning its royalties still had not surpassed the amount the group had been paid in upfront advances. UMG allegedly told Durst that it had paid out a whopping $43 million in advances over the years, a huge figure that would go a long way to explaining the lack of royalties.
Limp Bizkit’s lawsuit says UMG didn’t provide “any back-up for this alleged amount” – and that the label essentially kept the band in the red with shady bookkeeping, including “intentionally concealing the true amount of sales” and “fraudulent accounting practices.”
“Where did this additional $199,676.00 charged to the account come from?” the band’s lawyers wrote at one point, referring to one such alleged inconsistency. “It seems to have come out of thin air to overdraft Limp Bizkit’s due and payable account in order to defraud Limp Bizkit and show an unrecouped account.”
UMG has not yet publicly commented on the allegations, so we’ll keep you updated when the music giant files its first formal response in court…
Other top stories this week…
ALWAYS MORE DIDDY – Since you last heard from Legal Beat one whole week ago, there have somehow already been four big developments in the story of Sean “Diddy” Combs, who stands accused of decades of sexual abuse. Here goes:
-Attorneys for the rapper filed their opening salvo in an appeal of a ruling denying him pre-trial release on bail, arguing the “sensationalism” of the case led the judge to keep him locked up over “purely speculative” concerns about witness intimidation. In the days since, the appeals court has already declined to issue a quick ruling releasing him; instead, the court will hear the case at normal pace and rule at some point in the next few months on whether he should be set free until trial.
-Less than a day after filing the appeal, Combs’s team accused the government of leaking evidence to the media in order to “taint the jury pool and deprive Mr. Combs of his right to a fair trial.” Among other evidence allegedly shared with the press? The infamous surveillance video of Combs assaulting then-girlfriend Cassie in 2016, which his lawyers say was leaked “to mortally wound the reputation and the prospect of Sean Combs successfully defending himself.”
-The judge set a May 5 date for the start of Combs’ criminal trial, in which he will face charges of racketeering and sex trafficking over what prosecutors say was a sprawling criminal operation aimed at satisfying his need for “sexual gratification.” The schedule could still be pushed back, particularly if prosecutors file new charges or add defendants to the case, or if Combs eventually gets released on bail and chooses to waive his “speedy trial” right.
-Six new civil lawsuits were filed in Manhattan federal court, including one from a man who says he was sexually assaulted by Combs in 1998 when he was 16 years old and attending one of the rapper’s famed “white parties” in the Hamptons. The cases were the first in a wave of dozens of civil cases that are expected to be filed in the weeks ahead by Los Angeles attorney Andrew Van Arsdale and Texas attorney Tony Buzbee, who earlier this month said they are representing at least 120 such alleged victims.
ST. LUNATICS REBEL – Weeks after Nelly’s former St. Lunatics groupmates sued him for allegedly cutting them out of royalties, an attorney for the star claimed that three of them had never approved the lawsuit in the first place. In a letter sent last month, Nelly’s attorney warned the lawyer who filed the case last month that Murphy Lee (Tohri Harper), Kyjuan (Robert Kyjuan) and City Spud (Lavell Webb) had recently retained his services and had “informed me that they did not authorize you to include them as plaintiffs” and were “demanding you remove their names” from the case.
DR. DRE’S DR. DRAMA – Dr. Dre was hit with a lawsuit accusing him a waging a “malicious campaign of harassment” against a psychiatrist served as a marriage counselor and mediator for the rapper and his now-ex-wife Nicole Young. Dr. Charles J. Sophy says the rapper subjected him to a “barrage of threats” via text message, and even sent fake FBI agents to his home to intimidate him. Dre’s attorneys quickly fired back, saying Sophy only sued because Dre is currently seeking to have his medical license revoked over allegations of “dereliction of duties and incredible incompetence” during the divorce.
SAMPLE SPAT – Barry White’s estate filed a copyright lawsuit over allegations that a prominent sample at the heart of Future and Metro Boomin’s chart-topping “Like That” infringes the rights to a 1973 song by the legendary singer — but they didn’t actually file the case against those stars. Instead, they sued duo Rodney-O (Rodney Oliver) & Joe Cooley, the classic hip hop duo behind “Everlasting Bass,” the track that Future and Metro Boomin sampled.
NAME BLAME – Attorneys for Garth Brooks publicly disclosed the name of a woman who sued the country star for sexual assault, naming her as a defendant in a lawsuit that accuses the woman of extortion and defamation. The move drew a sharp rebuke from the woman’s lawyers, who said Brooks had “publicly named a rape victim” in order to “punish” her for speaking out.
THE CASE ISN’T ALRIGHT – A California appeals court sided with The Offspring in a long-running court case filed by former drummer Ron Welty, rejecting his claims that he was owed millions more from the punk band’s $35 million catalog sale to Round Hill Music. A Los Angeles judge rejected those accusations last year, and California’s Court of Appeals ruled that there had been “no reversible error” in that decision.
I WANT MY ROYALTIES BACK, ROYALTIES BACK – What’s going on in the Chili’s legal department? For the second time this year, the huge restaurant chain was sued over accusations that it used copyrighted music on social media without permission — this time by Universal Music Group over dozens songs by Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber and other stars. The new case came shortly after the advertising-averse Beastie Boys sued Chili’s over the same thing back in July.
TAKING THE STAND – Amid a lawsuit claiming Martin Shkreli might leak copies of Wu-Tang Clan’s ultra-rare album Once Upon a Time in Shaolin, a federal judge ruled that the pharma exec must personally go to court and testify under oath about the fate of the album. Shkreli once owned the album, but was forced to forfeit to federal prosecutors after he was convicted of securities fraud.
YE LAWSUIT UPDATE – Ye (formerly Kanye West) was sued by Lauren Pisciotta, a former assistant who claimed that the rapper drugged and sexually assaulted her during a studio session he co-hosted with Diddy. Pisciotta already sued Ye in July for sexual harassment, breach of contract and wrongful termination, but she filed an updated version of the case that includes the Diddy-linked claims.
David Gray has been appointed U.K. managing director of Universal Music Publishing Group, succeeding Mike McCormack, who is stepping down from the role after almost nine years in charge to launch a new consultancy and joint venture with UMPG. In addition to taking the reins at the company’s U.K. arm, Gray will also take up the newly created post of head of global A&R at UMPG.
Gray’s promotion was announced Tuesday (Oct. 15) by UMPG chairman and CEO Jody Gerson, who called him “one of the best creative A&R executives I have ever known.”
Gray was most recently UMPG’s executive vice president and co-head of U.S. A&R, as well as head of the company’s Global Creative Group – a division which he and Gerson formed in 2022 to amplify opportunities for songwriters, producers, artists and executives on a worldwide scale.
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Successful projects that have spun out of the Global Creative Group include Colombian artist Feid and American hip-hop producer ATL Jacob‘s “Luna,” which topped the charts in multiple countries and Brazilian artist Luísa Sonza‘s album Escandalo Intimo, which became the third biggest debut of a female Latin album in the history of Spotify following its release last year.
Artists Gray has signed to UMPG include Sabrina Carpenter, Stephen Sanchez, Julia Michaels, Shawn Mendes, Nick Jonas, Joe Jonas and Demi Lovato.
In his new expanded role, Gray will be responsible for leading the management and creative direction of UMPG’s London office, overseeing the signing and development of songwriters, artists and producers, as well as supporting the company’s current roster. Gray will relocate to London from New York in January, said Universal Music Publishing Group.
Announcing the appointment, Gerson praised Gray’s “talent for identifying and building careers for songwriters, artists and producers,” as well as his “leadership and mentorship of the next generation of publishers.”
“I want to thank Jody for her constant belief in me and for shaping a company built upon A&R, creativity, and a belief in songwriters and artists that is at the heart of our ethos,” said Gray, who joined the company in 2013 having previously held A&R posts at Zomba, Sony Music International and Simon Cowell‘s Syco Music, where he developed artists signed to the label via TV shows X Factor and the Got Talent franchise.
Prior to becoming a music executive, Gray was signed to UMPG as lead singer of the band Idle Wilds.
Gerson also thanked McCormack for “his many contributions” to UMPG over his almost nine years as managing director of the U.K. division. “I value him greatly as a friend and colleague,” said Gerson in a statement. “I am delighted he will continue to be part of the UMPG family.”
In a memo sent to staff, which has been viewed by Billboard, McCormack said he would be stepping down from his role on Nov. 4 but would remain a partner of UMPG for the next few years via a new joint venture that is being set up. McCormack, who first joined UMPG’s U.K. business in 1999, said he would also continue to help manage some of the long-term relationships he has built over the years with the firm’s writers and catalogues.
“It’s been a real honour to lead the U.K. company for the past nine years,” said McCormack, paying tribute to what he described as an “exceptionally talented and wonderful” team of colleagues. “I’m very proud of our accomplishments, and the many awards we have won together, but my real fulfillment during the past 25 years at UMPG (as Deputy MD then MD) has come from working closely with artists, songwriters and producers when incredible music is being created,” he said.
Warner Music Japan has appointed longtime Universal executive Takeshi Okada as the label’s new president and CEO, with a start date of Dec. 2. He’ll report to Simon Robson, president of international recorded music, who is temporarily overseeing WMG’s recorded business in the APAC region until a permanent appointee is announced. Okada transitions from EMI […]
Sony Music Publishing U.K. has signed folk singer-songwriter Myles Smith to an exclusive publishing deal on the heels of his breakthrough hit “Stargazing.” Even before “Stargazing” shot Smith to stardom, he was quickly amassing a fan base with other streaming successes like “Solo” and “My Home.” Iconoclast has acquired the publishing catalog, sound records and […]
The founders of indie label group [PIAS] have announced they are selling the remaining shares they hold in the company to Universal Music Group (UMG), making the music giant the firm’s majority shareholder.
In an announcement on Tuesday (Oct. 15), Kenny Gates said he and his [PIAS] co-founder Michel Lambot were selling their shares to UMG, which acquired a 49% stake in the company in 2022, to “allow us to offer a truly global distribution and services platform to the independent music community.”
Financial terms were not revealed for the deal, which expands upon a strategic global partnership between the two companies that began in 2021. When UMG acquired the 49% stake in [PIAS] for an undisclosed sum the following year, Gates and Lambot retained majority control of the company.
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Ownership of [PIAS] now appears to be fully in the hands of UMG, although representatives of the European indie label group and UMG declined to expand upon the information contained in Tuesday’s press release.
Details that have been confirmed as part of the new arrangement include the merger of Virgin Music Group and [PIAS]’s services division [Integral], which provides physical and digital distribution services to more than 100 indie label partners including ATO, Beggars Group and Secretly Group.
The newly combined teams will provide “independent entrepreneurs with world class services and access to a bespoke, stand-alone international distribution network,” said [PIAS]. Reps for the firm and UMG declined to comment when asked if the merger would result in any job losses.
The [PIAS] Label Group, which includes the indie labels Play It Again Sam, harmonia mundi, Spinefarm, Source and partner imprints such as ATO, Heavenly, Mute and Transgressive, will remain completely autonomous, said the company. Artists signed to or distributed by those labels include Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Kneecap, Sofiane Pamart, Sleep Token, Arlo Parks and Black Pumas.
“I am selling my shares not my soul,” said Gates, who will remain CEO of [PIAS] and sit on the Virgin Music Group main board and advisory group, in a statement.
“Since agreeing [to] a strategic alliance with UMG in 2021 we have found them to be supportive and engaged partners who have added real value to our offering,” continued Gates, describing the decision to relinquish the founders’ remaining shareholdings in [PIAS] as a “pragmatic one.”
The company’s existing leadership team will continue to steer day-to-day operations “and nothing will change culturally or commercially for our existing clients and partners,” said Gates, who co-founded [PIAS] with Lambot in Brussels, Belgium, in 1983.
Lambot said that despite initially having “some concerns” about partnering with UMG in 2021, the experience has surpassed his expectations.
“Our relationship to date has been fruitful, convivial and everything we hoped it would it be,” he said. “This new phase, which will see us working even closer together promises to be an exciting new era for [PIAS], our staff, our partners and the artists we represent.”
“I’ve known Kenny and Michel for decades, beginning in the 80s when we were all signing bands from emerging scenes in Europe,” added Lucian Grainge, chairman/CEO of UMG, in a statement.
“Since that time, Kenny and Michel have built [PIAS] into a company that stands for authenticity and the best in independent music,” Grainge added. “And it is those qualities that are not only important to me personally but that also make [PIAS] a perfect fit for UMG’s entrepreneurial and creative culture.”
“We are delighted by all that’s been accomplished over the past three years together, and we look forward to working with Kenny and Michel and their entire team, including their family of artists and labels, to further build [PIAS]’s legacy,” said UMG executive vp/CFO/president of operations Boyd Muir. “Their experience and insights have significantly helped to grow this dynamic area of our business. Completing the acquisition of [PIAS] Label Group and [Integral] reinforces our best-in-class label services operations and enhances our ability to support the independent artist and label community globally.”
Gonzo Lübel, an L.A.-based artist manager who represented acts including The Marías and Peach Tree Rascals, tragically died in a plane crash Tuesday (Oct. 8) on Catalina Island. He was 34.
“The entire Red Light family is devastated by this loss and our hearts go out to Gonzo’s family, friends and all those who knew and worked with him,” said Red Light in an Instagram post. “Gonzo truly had the biggest of hearts and was a beloved member of our team. A kind individual, he was a friend to all whom he encountered. His positive impact on all of us will be remembered forever.”
Lübel, who had worked at Red Light Management for roughly three years, also represented several other artists at the firm, including Inner Wave and Cash Bently. Outside of his work in the music industry, friends say he was a lover of animals — especially his foster dog Virgil — and enjoyed flying planes.
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In a tribute on Instagram, The Marías said of Lübel’s passing: “rest in peace gonzi. thank you for always being undeniably you. the animals in heaven are so lucky they get to spend their days with you.”
In a subsequent post, the bilingual alt-pop band added: “our manager, friend and family for six years, but a part of us forever. you were there for all of our firsts. our first project, our first tour, our first headline show, our first sold out show, our first million streams, our first coachella, our first album, our first grammy nomination. thank you.”
Joseph Barros, a member of Peach Tree Rascals, also shared a tribute to Lübel via an Instagram story, saying, “It’s hard to accept you’re not here with us anymore, but I’m grateful to have met such a genuine soul I could call my brother your spirit lives on in me from all the beautiful memories we made. You always told me you believed in me & I promise I’ll make you proud. love you Gonzito. rest in peace.”
This Trip Travel, a company that hosts retreats for music industry professionals, also shared a carousel of photos of Lübel at last year’s manager summit in Mexico with the caption: “Gonzo was a true one of a kind. A brilliant manager, a caring friend and a heart of gold… We love you Gonzo, we’ll hold you in our hearts forever.”
Lübel is survived by his mother Mariana Garcia, his brother Federico Lübel, nieces Mila and Lucia Lübel, wife Cristina Pillajo and best friend Sandy Kanphantha.
PPL has been appointed to collect neighboring rights for John Lennon and Yoko Ono. Announced Tuesday (Oct. 15), the deal will see the U.K.-based collective management organization (CMO) collect broadcast and public performance royalties globally on sound recordings where Lennon or Ono are listed as performers in markets where such rights exist. “PPL has shown […]
Billboard is now accepting nominations for the Chip Hooper Award, named in honor of the legendary talent agent, father and photographer who played a key role in building the Paradigm talent agency, which was purchased by Wasserman Music in 2021. Hooper passed away after a battle with cancer in 2016; the award was created in […]