State Champ Radio Music News
Page: 279
For Leslie Fram, the highly respected former senior vp of music and talent for CMT, launching her own company that continues her work advocating and amplifying artists’ voices is a natural move.
Fram, Billboard’s 2021 Country Power Players executive of the year, has founded FEMco (Fram Entertainment & Music), a consulting company with divisions focused on artist development, talent booking and production, as well as a B2B arm that will connect outside businesses to Nashville companies.
“I’ve always wanted to start my own company, leveraging my three decades of accumulated experience and opportunities to intentionally design a purpose-driven business that aligns with my personal and professional aspirations,” Fram tells Billboard. “Through my time in radio and television, I’ve gained a wealth of knowledge, skills and insights from various roles, industries and projects that are not just a collection of past events but a foundation for future endeavors with FEMco. Starting my own company, doing what I enjoy most, was the best choice for me.”
Trending on Billboard
The new company will allow Fram to use her estimable mentoring, community-building and networking skills that she put into practice during her 13-year tenure at CMT, which she left in September. While there, Fram launched a number of programs, including CMT’s Next Women of Country, which gave a platform to nascent female country artists. She also created the Next Women of Country Tour, which paired Next Women of Country participants with established headlining acts. She was also a fierce advocate for equity, pushing CMT to institute its Equal Play initiative, with a commitment to 50/50 video airplay for female artists on the TV network and CMT Music channels.
FEMco
Courtesy Photo
While at CMT, Fram executive-produced the annual CMT Music Awards, CMT Crossroads and Storytellers. In January, she served as talent producer on CBS Presents Ringo & Friends at the Ryman. Prior to CMT, she had an illustrious background in rock and alternative radio, serving as program director and on-air talent at influential Atlanta alternative rock station 99X before becoming program director and morning show co-host with Matt Pinfield at New York rock station WRXP. She moved to Nashville in 2011.
While FEMco’s other divisions focus on all genders, keeping with her groundbreaking work with female country artists at CMT, Fram has already launched FEMco Presents, “the company’s music-focused production arm that will create multiple opportunities for female artists to increase their visibility and reach via events, sponsorships and more,” Fram says. The first franchise under FEMco Presents is FEMcountry, which will work with women country artists as “a continuation of my work in creating programs like ‘Next Women of Country’ and my passion for elevating female voices in country,” she adds.
FEMcountry soft-launched in March with a singer-songwriter event at Reynolds Lake Oconee in Georgia. “Moving forward, FEMcountry will include writer’s rounds, showcases, listening events both in Nashville and nationwide, along with curating festivals,” Fram says. “The goal is to support female artists in all aspects of their career, finding a stage to play on and to get paid.”
Fram sees her new venture as a through-line in her decades-long work supporting artists. “FEMco will absolutely represent the work I did at CMT in elevating women in country music via FEMcountry,” she says. “A program like ‘Next Women of Country’ is still as relevant today as it was when I launched it over 10 years ago — women are still criminally underrepresented in the country music format.”
Fram also plans to launch FEMpop and FEMrock.
The B2B element will connect companies and brands looking to establish a presence in Nashville with the local music and entertainment market. “Through our extensive industry relationships, we are able to help navigate the city’s unique blend of creativity and commerce with relationships to build authenticity and visibility,” Fram says.
Through FEMco, Fram will also continue working with mtheory CEO Cameo Carlson on another former CMT program, Equal Access, which helps artists and management professionals break into the country music industry.
FEMco will work with artists and companies on an a la carte basis depending upon their individual needs, Fram says.
It’s a story as old as time: no matter who cool you think you are — even if you’re one of the biggest pop idols on the planet — there are plenty of times your kids are just not interested in what you have to offer. That’s why it was helpful that Rihanna shared the […]
Mike Van has been elevated to the role of CEO of Billboard — the first time anyone has held the role.
In this position, Van will oversee Billboard’s global brand footprint in 15 countries, along with all aspects of strategy, revenue, business operations, live experiences, international licensing and brand partnerships. Van will oversee both the business and editorial teams, with Billboard editor-in-chief Hannah Karp now reporting to him directly.
Van has served as the president of Billboard since 2022, driving double-digit revenue growth and expanding the brand’s global presence. Van has also driven Billboard‘s digital transformation and continued to develop cutting-edge live experiences, including Latin Music Week, the Billboard Latin Music Awards, THE STAGE at SXSW, the Billboard Music Awards and Billboard Women in Music.
Van will report to Jay Penske, chairman and CEO, Penske Media Corporation.
Trending on Billboard
“Mike is a one-of-a-kind leader, visionary and partner,” Penske said. “His passion for the Billboard brand and clear vision for its future has always set him apart. Mike has fostered a collaborative environment with a team committed to building a formidable global business – innovating and trailblazing at every level. It has been inspiring to watch Billboard’s seismic growth over the last several years and I look forward to seeing the brand continue to thrive under Mike’s leadership.”
“It is the honor of a lifetime to lead Billboard and the team,” Van said. “Together, we have cultivated a culture of excellence. What we’ve built over the last several years has been nothing short of extraordinary, particularly in a media landscape marked by contraction and consolidation. I am deeply proud to carry this legacy forward as we shape the next 125 years by continuing to celebrate artist and executive achievements through our charts, content, global IP expansion and evolving our signature live experiences, cementing our position as the definitive voice of music business and culture.”
Van’s career has spanned media, entertainment and business transformation. He has held leadership positions at Billboard for the last seven years before serving as president. In addition to his time with Billboard, Van brings more than 25 years of marketing and monetization experience, including leadership roles at Pandora, Electronic Arts and Complex.
A day before the kick-off of her anticipated Cowboy Carter and the Rodeo Chitlin’ Circuit Tour, Beyoncé gave the Beyhive a preview of the outings massive set. In a dramatic 16-second greyscale video titled “SHE COMING” the camera slowly pans from the darkness inside the concourse of Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium into the light of […]
Noel and Liam Gallagher are just 67 days from kicking off their first tour in more than 16 years. And while the formerly battling brothers have kept a tight lid on what fans can expect from Oasis 2.0, according to reports from the U.K., they recently took the stage together for the first time in nearly two decades and, as you might expect, the neighbors complained about the noise.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
According to The Guardian, the Gallaghers were pictured arriving at the Mildmay club in North London on Thursday, where they were reportedly filming a promo video for their sold-out summer reunion tour. They reportedly spent an hour at the club and made such a racket that the neighbors lodged a noise complaint. At press time a spokesperson for the group had not returned Billboard‘s request for additional information on the shoot.
Though a London tabloid reported that the pair performed and/or rehearsed during their visit to the club, singer Liam Gallagher threw cold water on that when the Oasis Podcast Twitter feed wrote, “The S*n reporting Noel and Liam actually performed on Thursday and there were noise complaints from local residents … knowing them could be rubbish but very interesting to see what comes out of it even if it is just an Adidas advert!”
Trending on Billboard
In response, Liam wrote “there was no performance.” As usual, though, Liam also had some cheeky answers to fan questions in the wake of the reports, writing on Saturday, “It’s all good can’t wait to get rehearsing.” When another fan wrote, “Noel says you’re on tip top form. How would u say Noel is??,” Liam responded of his guitarist/songwriter and occasional singer older brother, “He’s the same we’re locked in.”
Oasis have booked 41 dates for their long-awaited reunion tour, which is slated to kick off on July 4 with the first of two dates at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, U.K. Following a run of shows in their hometown of Manchester, as well as London, Edinburgh and Dublin they will move on to North America with August shows in Toronto and Chicago and September gigs in East Rutherford, N.J., Los Angeles and Mexico City.
The rest of the year will have the group — whose other touring members have not yet been revealed — returning to London before wrapping things up in Japan, Australia, Argentina and Chile before winding down with two shows at Estadio MorumBIS in São Paulo, Brazil on Nov. 22 and 23.
As they gear up to get back on the road, Oasis is also prepping a return to the charts in England, with their single “Some Might Say” expected to be back on the singles tally 30 years after its initial April 1995 release. According to NME, the song that earned the band their first U.K. No. 1 from their second album, (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? looks to climb to No. 2 on the U.K. Official Singles Chart after the release last week of a 30th anniversary vinyl re-release of the single.
Paul Rodgers, Simon Kirke and Mick Ralphs are looking forward to being in good company in November when their band Bad Company is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
“It is pretty amazing and very cool to be part of an iconic American institution that celebrates music, musicians and sometimes unsung heroes behind the scenes,” frontman Rodgers tells Billboard. “I know that our fans, friends and some media have wanted this for a long time, so they will be pleased at last. I am looking forward to seeing some old friends, reconnecting with (fellow inductee) Chubby Checker — maybe do the twist?”
Kirke, Bad Company’s drummer, adds that he too is “very happy. It’s been a long time coming… I’m not taking anything away from the (Rock Hall) committee; they had their reasons, but it’s a welcome addition if you will.”
Trending on Billboard
Via email from England, Ralphs — who suffered a debilitating stroke in 2016 — notes that, “I am elated and think that Bad Company’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is fantastic!” Both Rodgers and Kirke say they’re happiest that the guitarist was able to know the band would finally be inducted, though he’ll be unable to attend the Nov. 8 ceremony in Los Angeles.
“To be honest, every year we were not nominated it was another blow, not necessarily for me but we wanted Mick to be able to see this,” Kirke says. “So that’s been rectified, and we’ll give him a shout from the podium in November.”
Bad Company has been eligible for induction since 1999 and received its first nomination this year. It also finished second on the fan ballot with more than 279,000 votes.
It formed as a rock ‘n’ roll supergroup during 1973 in England. Rodgers and Kirke hailed from Free, Ralphs had left Mott the Hoople, and bassist Boz Burrell, who passed away in 2006 at the age of 60, was fresh out of King Crimson. The group was managed by the legendary Peter Grant and signed to Led Zeppelin’s Swan Song label. Its self-titled 1974 debut hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and No. 3 in the U.K., selling five-times platinum and launching enduring rock radio hits such as “Can’t Get Enough,” Movin’ On” and the song “Bad Company.”
Four of the band’s other 11 studio albums went platinum or better, as did the 1985 compilation 10 from 6. All told Bad Company sold more than 40 million records worldwide, with a cadre of other hits including “Feel Like Makin’ Love,” “Young Blood” and “Shooting Star.”
“Bad company struck deep chords” with audiences around the world, Rodgers says. “At the time we didn’t really fully understand it, and even now it is difficult to quantify or analyze. Suffice to say we resonated with music fans, or you could say we were in the right places at the right times. Sometimes the best plans are no plans, just rely on feel.
“When we put the band together it was because it felt right and as songwriters there was a natural flow, an unspoken understanding and connection between us that still exists to this day. My mission was to go in whole-hearted and deliver our music from the heart and soul to the heart and soul and let… the fans decided if they liked it or not.”
Kirke maintains that Bad Company’s muscular, spartan brand of hard rock was the sound of four musicians liberated from circumstances that had become stifling and were subsequently free to find new and more pleasing path.
“There was this air of ‘we’re free of the bonds of our three bands and free to do whatever we wanted,’” he explains. “We were all seasoned. (The success) didn’t take us completely by surprise… although maybe not to the extent we had right from the start. I think from the get-go Paul’s voice coupled with Mick’s songs — ‘Can’t Get Enough,’ ‘Movin’ On,’ “Ready For Love’ — made them come alive. And hooking up with Peter Grant and Led Zeppelin was the icing on the cake. (Grant’s) credo was, ‘I never tell anyone what to do in our bands except the lead singer. I said to (Robert Plant) and I’m saying the same thing to you, Paul — just wear something right and jump up and down a bit.”
Bad Company’s lineup splintered in 1982 and regrouped in 1998 to tour and record sporadically through 2019. Kirke and Ralphs, meanwhile, continued the band between 1986-1998 with the late Brian Howe and Robert Hart as frontmen. The group notched two more gold and another platinum album and scored more hits with “Holy Water,” “If You Needed Somebody,” “No Smoke” Without Fire,” “How About That” and “Shake It Up.”
Only the original lineup is being inducted, however, which Kirke — the only constant of Bad Company — feels is proper.
“(Howe and Hart) extended the band’s life and popularity,” the drummer acknowledges, “but I think the die-hard Bad Company fans will recognize the original lineup as being the quintessential Bad Company. The six albums we put together with the original lineup are the ones most people remember and hold dear to their hearts. The others kind of belong to another generation.”
As to what Burrell would make of the induction, Rodgers guesses “possibly cooly chuffed,” while Kirke notes with a laugh that, “He would’ve been his usual, bitter self — I mean that in a fond way. Boz was that sort of little bit of a curmudgeon. I loved him to death, but I think he would probably get slightly tipsy and God knows what he would’ve said on the podium — leave it at that.”
Rodgers and Kirke, who recently had dinner together with their wives in Palm Springs, both say they intend to perform at the induction ceremony, though details “will come a little closer to the time” according to Rodgers. Both also voiced a desire to see Free be inducted in the future.
Both remain busy making new music; Rodgers released a solo album, Midnight Rose, in 2023, while Kirke has written a stage musical about addiction that’s currently being shopped and is also planning his fourth solo album during the spring. Both are also involved in a Can’t Get Enough: A Tribute to Bad Company being put together by Primary Wave Music, which co-owns the group’s catalog, for release later this year. The Struts’ rendition of “Rock ‘N’ Roll Fantasy” was released for Record Store Day, and Rodgers and Kirke will play on the album — which will also include a rendition of Free’s “All Right Now.”
“It has been very interesting listening to other musicians interpret your songs. I found myself smiling a lot,” says Rodgers, who’s also about eight months into writing of a memoir for publication next year. “The timing just seemed right at this point to open up and share my story. How interesting looking back at old photographs and the memories they evoke, reminding me that I am just a lad from Middlesbrough who got lucky — very lucky.”
Kylie Minogue will be honored with the prestigious Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music at this year’s APRA Music Awards, set to take place at Melbourne Town Hall on April 30.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
The honor, awarded annually by APRA AMCOS, recognizes outstanding contributions to the Australian music industry. Minogue joins a distinguished list of previous recipients, including Paul Kelly, Midnight Oil, and The Seekers.
To celebrate Minogue’s latest accolade, several leading artists and industry peers shared tributes to her career and influence. Longtime collaborator, Neighbours co-star Jason Donovan, praised her “dedication and focus to her craft,” describing her as “a hardworking and authentic Melbourne girl who is proud of her Australian heritage.”
Trending on Billboard
Fellow Australian songwriter Kylie Sackley declared, “Kylie Minogue walked so the rest of us Australian music makers could run,” hailing her as “an innovator and an inspiration.”
Ben Lee reflected on Minogue’s lasting cultural impact, calling her a “mirror” through which audiences see themselves, and Gretta Ray credited Minogue with making the path toward pop stardom less daunting for emerging Australian artists. “She has inspired me to be courageous in my creativity,” Ray said.
Missy Higgins noted Minogue’s remarkable longevity: “She continues to tour consistently and remain exciting and relevant,” while The Wiggles, who once collaborated with Minogue when she portrayed the honorary “Pink Wiggle,” applauded her “unstoppable artistry” and “special Kylie-magic.”
Minogue’s career, spanning over four decades, has earned her international acclaim. She has amassed 10 ARIA No. 1 albums, including her most recent project Tension, which debuted atop the Australian Albums Chart in September 2023. Minogue made history on the Billboard charts when “Padam Padam,” the lead single from Tension, became her first solo track to reach the top 10 on Billboard’s Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart in 2023.
Minogue’s influence on generations of artists remains unmatched. Julian Hamilton of The Presets, who curated a special performance for the APRA Awards night, said, “With so many hits to her name, it hasn’t been the easiest of tasks.”
Tim Nelson of Cub Sport summed it up best, calling Kylie “a true global icon who has filled countless lives with joy, expression and a sense of belonging for decades.”
Neil Young returned to the stage on Saturday night (April 26) for a special cause, delivering a rare live performance at the Autism Speaks Light Up The Blues 7 concert at Los Angeles’ Greek Theatre. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news In a set packed with surprises, […]
Tool frontman Maynard James Keenan has expressed an air of concern about what to expect from Ozzy Osbourne’s final performance this July.
Keenan and his Tool bandmates are one of the many acts scheduled to appear at the Back to the Beginning concert, which takes place in Birmingham, England on July 5. The event will feature names such as Osbourne’s own Black Sabbath performing their final-ever show, while acts such as Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax, Alice in Chains, and myriad others join the bill.
While Osbourne hasn’t performed a full set since Dec. 31, 2018 – two months before his diagnosis of Parkinson’s – he’s previously tempered expectations for the upcoming gig, noting he isn’t “planning on doing a set with Black Sabbath,” but rather “little bits and pieces” with the group. “I am doing what I can, where I feel comfortable,” he explained.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Despite this, Osbourne told fans only last week that he’s been undertaking “endurance training” ahead of the gig in an effort to “wake up” his body after years spent recovering from numerous surgeries. “I haven’t done anything for, this will be seven years, and so I’ve been through all this surgery,” he explained. “It really is like starting from scratch.”
Trending on Billboard
While Osbourne was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in October 2024 as a solo artist (he was previously inducted as a member of Black Sabbath in 2006), Keenan was on hand with the likes of Wolfgang Van Halen, Billy Idol, and Jelly Roll to perform a tribute set to honor his legacy.
Speaking to the Loudwire Nights podcast recently, Keenan noted that his experience with Osbourne at the induction ceremony has left him unsure of what to expect at the July event.
“I think for me, seeing Ozzy moving around at [the Rock Hall ceremony], the idea of him playing a show at all, if we’re being honest, the conversation about going to do the song was just like, ‘We’ll have this conversation, but, ahh… I don’t know that this [concert] gonna happen,’” Keenan told the podcast..
“And even now, I’m cautious about saying, ‘Yeah! All in, he’s gonna do it.’ Because man, I don’t know what kind of modern miracles we’ll come up with to get him on stage to do the songs, but this is gonna be a challenge for them.”
Keenan closed by noting he feels privileged to be included in the forthcoming event, though added he’s “preparing for the worst, but hoping for the best.”
Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello will be the musical director for the show that will mark Osbourne’s first time on stage since a brief 2022 set at the NFL Kickoff in Los Angeles; his last full show was in December 2018 at the Forum in L.A. as part of his No More Tours 2 outing.
Other acts slated to perform at the final Sabbath blowout include: Halestorm, Gojira, as well as appearances by Smashing Pumpkins leader Billy Corgan, Guns N’ Roses’ Duff McKagan and Slash, Wolfgang Van Halen, Limp Bizkit’s Fred Durst, Lzzy Hale, Disturbed’s David Draiman, Korn’s Jonathan Davis, Sammy Hagar and many more.
Former MTV VJ and music industry stalwart Matt Pinfield has told fans he is “slowly but surely” continuing to recover from a massive stroke he suffered earlier this year. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Pinfield, a onetime Columbia Records VP of A&R who has had a […]
