News

16 Feb 2023

Four Florida Men Held In Assassination of Haitian President

HipHopWired Featured Video
Haiti-politics-assassination-Moise

Source: VALERIE BAERISWYL / Getty

The federal government announced that they had detained four men from Florida in for their alleged roles in the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse.

According to reports, four more men in Florida were arrested by local authorities working under the direction of the Department of Justice for their roles in the assassination of the Haitian national leader which took place on 2021. The arrests took place on Tuesday (Feb. 14th). These arrests bring the number of those involved up to 11.

“Today, individuals who we allege participated in the planning, financing, and orchestration of the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse will face justice in an American courtroom,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement. Former Haitian Prime Minister Claude Joseph shared the news on Twitter, writing “Justice must prevail.”

Details from the filed court documents show that Antonio “Tony” Intriago, owner of CTU Security in Miami, Florida was charged with conspiracy to kill or kidnap a person outside the U.S. in addition to other offenses. Arcangel Pretel Ortiz, the company’s representative was also detained. Walter Veintemilla, a financier from the state has been accused of financing the operation. A fourth man, Frederick Joseph Bergmann Jr, was detained on suspicion of smuggling.

The documents state that the four were part of a plot originally designed to kidnap Moïse and supplant him with a new leader, Christian Emmanuel Sanon. Sanon is one of three Haitian-Americans who have been previously arrested. The plot turned from a coup to an assassination when it was found that Sanon wasn’t qualified to take over, with other suspects including James Solages who reportedly shouted that the CIA was involved to back down Moïse’s security detail at his private home during the attack.

On the Haitian side, proceedings have stalled, leaving the 18 detained Colombian mercenaries and 40 other suspects in a Port-au-Prince prison. Three judges have stepped down for fear of being assassinated themselves, while a fourth was dismissed outright. Martine Moïse, the president’s widow called for a special United Nations investigation last month.

16 Feb 2023

Harry Styles, Beyonce & More: 2023 Grammy Awards’ Big Gainers in Streams & Sales

Following the 65th Grammy Awards Feb. 5, multiple songs, albums and artists show sizable surges in U.S. streams and sales, equating to gains on Billboard charts dated Feb. 18.

Among the most impactful: Sam Smith and Kim Petras’ “Unholy,” which lifts 5-4 on the multi-metric Billboard Hot 100 after being performed during the ceremony (broadcast on CBS) and winning for best pop duo/group performance.

In the Feb. 3-9 tracking, the former No. 1 earned 17.9 million official U.S. streams, up 16%, according to Luminate.

A pair of songs that were also part of the festivities — Beyoncé’s “Cuff It” and Harry Styles’ “As It Was” — sport gains as well, the former returning to the Billboard Hot 100’s top 10 while the latter extends its run in the region. “Cuff It,” which vaults 15-6 for a new high, earned a 37% boost in streams to 9.4 million, along with 78,000 in sales, up 4,026%, due in part to newly released remixes and its Grammy win for best R&B song.

Former 15-week Hot 100 No. 1 “Was” dips 9-10 but jumped 21% in streams to 12.4 million and 289% to 7,000 sold. Styles performed the song during the broadcast, while parent album Harry’s House took home album of the year honors.

Outside the Hot 100’s top 10, Lil Uzi Vert’s “Just Wanna Rock,” the closing song of the Grammy’s 50th anniversary pf hip-hop medley, backtracks to No. 12 from its No. 10 high but is up in overall metrics, garnering a 5% gain to 15.7 million streams, alongside 2,000 sold, up 18%. Elsewhere within the top 30, Luke Combs’ “Going, Going, Gone” pushes 24-23 after his performance of the song during the telecast, with 10.7 million streams, up 6%, and 3,000 sold, up 71%.

Lizzo‘s former two-week Hot 100 No. 1 “About Damn Time” climbs 50-41 after she performed the song and it won for record of the year nod, garnering 6.2 million streams, up 20%, and 5,000 sold, up 295%.

In all, 10 songs performed during the Grammy broadcast are among the 2,000 most-streamed titles of the week Feb. 3-9 in the U.S. and garnered at least a 5% gain:

Performed

  • Sam Smith & Kim Petras, “Unholy” (17.9 million streams, up 16%)
  • Lil Uzi Vert, “Just Wanna Rock” (15.7 million streams, up 5%)*
  • Harry Styles, “As It Was” (12.4 million streams, up 21%)
  • Steve Lacy, “Bad Habit” (11.6 million streams, up 6%)
  • Luke Combs, “Going, Going, Gone” (10.7 million streams, up 6%)
  • Lil Baby, “Freestyle” (8.1 million streams, up 6%)*
  • Lizzo, “About Damn Time” (6.2 million streams, up 20%)
  • Bad Bunny, “Después de la Playa” (3.1 million streams, up 34%)
  • Nelly, “Hot in Herre” (1.8 million streams, up 5%)*
  • DJ Khaled feat. Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, John Legend & Fridayy, “God Did” (1.7 million streams, up 57%)

(*performed during the Grammy’s hip-hop medley)

Additionally, nine songs that won Grammy awards, either during the main ceremony or during the pre-telecast, were both up at least 5% and within the top 2,000 songs in U.S. streams Feb. 3-9.

Won

  • Sam Smith & Kim Petras, “Unholy” (17.9 million streams, up 16%) (best pop duo/group performance)
  • Future feat. Drake & Tems, “Wait for U” (10.9 million streams, up 5%) (best melodic rap performance)
  • Beyoncé, “Cuff It” (9.4 million streams, up 37%) (best R&B song)
  • Lizzo, “About Damn Time” (6.2 million streams, up 20%) (record of the year, best remixed recording, non-classical)
  • Adele, “Easy on Me” (5.8 million streams, up 16%) (best pop solo performance)
  • Cody Johnson, “’Til You Can’t” (4.8 million streams, up 7%) (best country song)
  • Beyoncé, “Break My Soul” (3.5 million streams, up 41%) (best dance/electronic recording)
  • Muni Long, “Hrs and Hrs” (3.5 million streams, up 8%) (best R&B performance)
  • Taylor Swift, “All Too Well (Taylor’s Version)” (3.3 million streams, up 9%) (best music video)

Concurrently, the Billboard 200 dated Feb. 18 reflects multiple bumps for albums either prominently featured during the Grammys or by artists who appeared at the ceremony. Leading the way, Bad Bunny’s Un Verano Sin Ti rises 8-7 with 45,000 equivalent album units, up 16%. Aforementioned album of the year winner Harry’s House follows, jumping 13-9 with 38,000 units, a 51% boost.

Samara Joy’s Linger Awhile also appears on the Billboard 200 for the first time, debuting at No. 158 (8,000 units, up 319%) following her best new artist victory.

16 Feb 2023

Judge Denies R. Kelly’s Request for New Trial on Child Pornography Charges

A Chicago federal judge has rejected R. Kelly’s bid to overturn his conviction last year on child pornography charges, clearing the way for sentencing which is scheduled for next week.

Denying motions filed by Kelly’s lawyers seeking either a new trial or an outright acquittal, Judge Harry D. Leinenweber ruled Thursday (Feb. 16) that federal prosecutors provided jurors with “enough evidence to sustain a guilty verdict on all six counts Kelly was convicted of.”

Among other arguments, Kelly’s lawyers had argued that one of his victims (known as “Jane”) gave false testimony on the witness stand about whether she planned to seek monetary restitution from Kelly if he was ultimately convicted. They said the incident suggested Jane had “motivation to share her story in ways that were not entirely honest.”

But Judge Leinenweber saw things differently: “Simply because Jane and her attorney considered the possibility of restitution, does not mean she lied during her testimony,” the judge wrote.

Following a four-week trial in Chicago federal court, Kelly was found guilty in September on three counts of child pornography and three counts of enticing a minor. He was acquitted of other charges that accused him of fixing a 2008 state-court trial over the same child pornography accusations.

That conviction came after a federal judge in New York previously sentenced Kelly to 30 years in prison in June on separate racketeering and sex trafficking convictions.

Kelly is set for sentencing on Feb. 23 on the Chicago charges. He faces as many as 90 additional years in prison on those convictions.

In seeking to overturn the conviction, Kelly’s lawyers made a number of arguments, including that the government had failed to show conclusively that the singer “enticed” Jane into making child pornography. But Judge Leinenweber ruled instead that there was “ample” evidence to support the charge.

“Jane testified about how Kelly gradually persuaded her into sexual activity with him,” the judge wrote. “Jane described how Kelly induced her into making Videos One through Three and that Kelly positioned the camera and told Jane exactly what to do and say while having sex with him.”

Thursday’s ruling is not the final decision on Kelly’s conviction. His attorneys can still challenge the outcome to a federal appeals court and eventually to the U.S. Supreme Court, though they face long odds in overturning a jury’s verdict.

Kelly’s attorney, Jennifer Bonjean, did not immediately return a request for comment on Thursday’s order.

Read the judge’s entire ruling here:

16 Feb 2023

Depeche Mode Adds Second North American Leg to Memento Mori World Tour

Depeche Mode expanded its upcoming world tour on Thursday (Feb. 16) by adding a new run of fall dates across North America.

“29 new shows just announced. On sale next week,” the duo announced on Instagram, directing fans to their official website for more information.

The new leg of shows will kick off Sept. 21 in Mexico City after Dave Gahan and Martin Gore wrap up their summer run in Europe. From there, the bandmates will head stateside and hit major cities including Dallas, Miami, Boston, New York City, Denver, Las Vegas, San Francisco as well as Canadian markets such as Montreal, Toronto, Edmonton and Vancouver. The tour closes then closes out Dec. 10 and 15 with dual shows in Los Angeles at the Kia Forum and Crypto.com Arena.

Tickets can be purchased by the general public starting next Friday, Feb. 24, at 10 a.m. local time. A special fan presale will take place a few days prior on Tuesday, Feb. 21.

Depeche Mode’s announcement extends their global trek to 75 dates in support of the group’s upcoming 15th album, Memento Mori, which is set to be released March 24 via Columbia Records. Preceded by lead single “Ghosts Again,” the studio set is the English electronic act’s first full-length since 2017’s Spirit. In the interim, founding member and original keyboardist Andy Fletcher passed away last May, leaving Gahan and Gore as a duo for the first time.

Check out all the dates on Depeche Mode’s newly announced second North American leg below.

16 Feb 2023

Linkin Park’s New ‘Lost’ Song Off to Strong Start, Lifts ‘Meteora’ Tracks

Linkin Park‘s anniversary plans for their 2003 album Meteora this spring are already off to a soaring start. A reissue of the soon-to-be-20-year-old album was recently announced for this April, along with exciting news of a previously unreleased song from the era (featuring original vocals from the band’s late frontman Chester Bennington) being discovered for the set: the appropriately haunting “Lost.”

Released on Friday (Feb. 10), “Lost” has enjoyed the kind of explosive first week the band used to regularly post with new singles during their commercial prime. The song started with nearly 2 million official on-demand U.S. streams its debut day, and earned 7.1 million total plays through Tuesday (Feb. 14), according to Luminate — while also putting up robust sales numbers, moving nearly 11,000 copies over that timespan. It even has started to make radio impact, with 7.1 million in all-format radio audience from Feb. 10-13.

The extra attention around “Lost” and the Meteora reissue (scheduled for Apr. 7 via Warner) has also led to a bump in the songs from that original RIAA seven-times-platinum-certified 2003 blockbuster. The album, which features such Linkin Park staples as “Numb,” “Faint,” “Somewhere I Belong” and “Breaking the Habit,” jumped from just over 1.7 million combined official on-demand U.S. streams the day before “Lost” to nearly 2.3 million on the day of its release, a gain of 32%.

“Lost” should make a significant impact on the Billboard charts next week (dated Feb. 25), including a likely debut on the Billboard Hot 100 — which would be the band’s first since they reached No. 45 with the Kiiara-featuring “Heavy” in Aug. 2017, following Bennington’s tragic death at the age of 41 that July. (If it made the chart’s top 40, that would be their first visit to the region since “Burn It Down” reached No. 30 in May 2012.)

16 Feb 2023

A ‘Masked Singer’ Judge Is Reduced to Tears After an Icon Is Revealed as The Gnome

The Masked Singer‘s ninth season kicked off on Wednesday night (Feb. 15) without a hitch, and had a legendary entertainer in their midst — or in costume, if you will.

Explore

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

After performing a passionate rendition of Frank Sinatra’s “When You’re Smiling,” The Gnome was one of the two masked singers to be placed on the show’s chopping block. Judges Ken Jeong, Jenny McCarthy, Nicole Scherzinger and Robin Thicke had no clue who the man underneath the costume could be, guessing everyone from Robert De Niro to Dustin Hoffman and Tony Bennett. But the surprise the judges got was much larger than they anticipated.

The Gnome was unmasked to be none other than Emmy, Golden Globe, Tony and Grammy winning entertainer and comedian Dick Van Dyke. “It was real dark in there,” the 97-year-old said after host Nick Cannon asked him what it was like being The Gnome. “You can’t see anything. I just love that they thought I was Robert De Niro. I didn’t know Robert De Niro could sing, to tell you the truth.”

Jeong, McCarthy and Thicke stood up on the judge’s table to give Van Dyke a standing ovation, while Scherzinger was overcome by emotion and started crying during the applause. “I love you so much. The whole world loves you so much. It’s an honor to have you on our show,” she told him through tears. Jeong added, “You are one of the reasons why I got into comedy. You are comedy. You are our childhood. Greatest reveal ever.”

After the show, Van Dyke spoke with People and revealed that going into the program, he was certain none of the judges would have been able to guess his identity. “I had never even seen the show when they asked me. So I checked it out and it looked like a lot of fun,” he shared. “I was positive they wouldn’t be able to guess who I was. And I was right!”

Also unmasked on the season premiere of The Masked Singer was the Mustang. Mustang took the stage for a rendition of Whitesnake’s 1987 classic “Here I Go Again” and Rihanna’s “Diamonds” for the battle round. The dark horse was unmasked to be none other than “A Little Bit Stronger” singer Sara Evans.

Speaking with Billboard before her elimination, Evans said she did not inform her family that she would be competing on the singing competition. “I wanted my kids to be surprised and I didn’t trust my mom not to tell people,” she explained. “I’m going to tell my mom and siblings and everyone tonight, like around five or six o’clock and ask them to watch.”

As for Evans’ choice to sing Whitesnake, the song choice was a result of production decisions and last-minute changes behind the scenes.

“I was going to be on a different episode, doing ABBA Night. But then someone had to drop out and the producers asked me if I would fill in for that person and take their songs to be on the first episode of The Masked Singer instead,” she explained. “So I already knew the Whitesnake song. Of course, everyone knows it, but I got it at like 11:30 the night before we had to film it, at the last minute. Everyone was really appreciative, though, and I ended up having so much fun singing the Whitesnake song, especially.”

Watch Dick Van Dyke’s Masked Singer reveal above, and Sara Evans’ unmasking below.

16 Feb 2023

Roc-A-Fella Founder Damon Dash Wins Jury Verdict Rejecting Sexual Assault Allegation

A federal jury has issued a verdict mostly clearing Damon Dash in a lawsuit that accused the Roc-A-Fella Records co-founder of sexually assaulting a photographer, Billboard has confirmed.

Monique Bunn sued Dash in 2019, claiming he had inappropriately touched her while she was sleeping at his house during a video project. She then tacked on defamation charges to the case, after Dash accused her on social media of charging thousands of dollars to a credit card without permission.

But following a four-day trial, the jury found that Dash was not liable for sexual assault, seemingly swayed by Dash’s testimony that the allegation was “ridiculous.” The jurors did find him liable for defamation but awarded Bunn just $15,000 in damages. A hearing on additional “punitive” damages is set for Thursday.

Bunn had sought tens of millions of dollars from the lawsuit, including for accusations that Dash failed to give her back a huge trove of her photos. But despite an earlier ruling by the judge that said Dash was liable on that claim, the jurors awarded Bunn no damages over the unreturned property.

The verdict was first reported by Law360 and confirmed to Billboard by attorneys for Dash. Attorneys for Bunn did not return a request for comment on Thursday (Feb. 16).

As reported in detail by Law360, Bunn testified last week at trial that the one-time hip-hop mogul had groped her during a 2019 video shoot at his house. While sleeping in his daughter’s room, she said she awoke to feel “something on the left side of my like lower back onto my butt, down my thigh.”

Bunn then also reportedly testified that Dash’s response to her allegations — a social media post and a radio interview in which he claimed she had stolen money from him — had destroyed her career. “I lost everything, I have nothing,” she said.

In his own testimony earlier this week, Dash reportedly called the allegations “ridiculous,” flatly denying any misconduct and calling Bunn a “con artist” who was making false accusations against him.

Following the verdict for Dash, either side can appeal the outcome — first by asking the judge to overturn the verdict against them, then by taking the case to a federal appeals court.

16 Feb 2023

Beyonce’s Grammy-Winning ‘Renaissance’ & ‘Break My Soul’ Surge on Dance/Electronic Charts

Beyoncé, fresh off her historic wins at the Grammy Awards on Feb. 5, takes more honors on Billboard‘s Feb. 18-dated dance/electronic charts.

On the Top Dance/Electronic Albums chart, the superstar enjoys a 13th week at No. 1 with Renaissance, which won the best dance/electronic album Grammy (among her four wins this year, upping her career total to a record-breaking 32). The set earned 37,000 equivalent album units, up 109%, in the Feb. 3-9 tracking week, according to Luminate.

On the multi-metric Hot Dance/Electronic Songs survey, the set’s lead single “Break My Soul” bounds 9-6, earning the top Streaming Gainer award with 3.5 million official U.S. streams, up 41%. The track, which dominated the chart for 11 weeks last July-September and won the Grammy for best dance/electronic recording, also sold 1,600 downloads, up 30%, and drew 4.3 million radio airplay audience impressions, up 18%.

Concurrently, “Break” bolts 5-4 on the Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales chart and 18-7 on Dance/Electronic Streaming Songs. It spent 10 weeks at No. 1 on each tally, as well as five frames atop Dance/Mix Show Airplay.

David Guetta and Bebe Rexha roll back to No. 1 for a 20th week atop Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales with “I’m Good (Blue),” The track – nominated for the best dance/electronic recording at the Grammy Awards – sold 9,000 downloads, up 118%. The track ties DJ Snake and Lil Jon’s “Turn Down for What” (2014-15) for the seventh-most weeks at the summit in the chart’s 13-year history; Elton John and Dua Lipa’s “Cold Heart (Pnau Remix)” ruled for a record 44 frames in August 2021-June 2022.

“Good” claims top Sales Gainer honors on Hot Dance/Electronic Songs, racking up a 21st week at No. 1, the ninth-most dating to the chart’s January 2013 premiere. In addition to its sales, “Good” collected 76.9 million airplay impressions and 11 million streams Feb. 3-9.

“Good” also adds a 14th week at No. 1 on Dance/Mix Show Airplay, tying “Cold Heart” and Rihanna’s “We Found Love,” featuring Calvin Harris (2011-12), for the sixth-most weeks on top since the chart’s August 2003 inception; the Chainsmokers’ “Closer,” featuring Halsey, leads with 20 weeks at No. 1 in 2016.

Shifting to Dance/Electronic Streaming Songs, P!nk powers into the top 10 with “Trustfall,” up 12-6 in its second week. Her first top 10 on the chart totaled 4 million streams, up 35%.

Also noteworthy on Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales is Depeche Mode‘s second-ever showing with “Ghosts Again,” new at No. 12. The Feb. 9-released track, from the band’s album Memento Mori (due March 24), sold 900 downloads in its first day of release. It’s the electronic-rock legends’ second appearance, following their 1990 Billboard Hot 100 No. 8 classic “Enjoy the Silence” (which reached its No. 5 high on Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales in May 2022).

16 Feb 2023

Ozuna & Feid Unite Atop Latin Rhythm Airplay Chart With ‘Hey Mor’

Ozuna adds a 29th No. 1 to his career count on Billboard‘s Latin Rhythm Airplay chart as “Hey Mor,” featuring Feid, leads the Feb. 18-dated ranking. The song trades places with Bad Bunny and Rauw Alejandro’s “Party,” which slides 1-2 after two weeks in charge.

“Hey Mor” was released Oct. 8 via Aura/Sony Music Latin. It ascends 2-1 in its 10th week with 9.3 million in audience impressions, up 7%, earned in the U.S. in the week ending Feb. 9, according to Luminate.

The song is the sixth single from Ozuna’s fifth studio album OzuTochi which debuted at No. 5 on Top Latin Albums and at No. 4 on Latin Rhythm Albums last October.

“Hey Mor” gives the Latin rhythmic hitmaker his 29th champ on Latin Rhythm Airplay, and steps closer to the lead extending his second-best count of No. 1s among all acts on the 17-year-old chart. Daddy Yankee and J Balvin continue to have the most champs, both with 34 No. 1s. Here’s the leaderboard:

34, Daddy Yankee
34, J Balvin
29, Ozuna
20, Bad Bunny
19, Maluma
19, Wisin
19, Wisin & Yandel

Feid, meanwhile, captures his third No. 1 among seven career appearances. The Colombian’s first offering arrived with “Porfa,” with an all-star team comprising J Balvin, Maluma, Nicky Jam, Sech and Justin Quiles in August 2020. Plus, he locked in his first and only champ as a soloist, unaccompanied by any other act, on Latin Rhythm Airplay with “Normal” in January.

Elsewhere, “Hey Mor” doubles its previous peak on the all-genre Latin Airplay chart, rallying 8-4 in its seventh week. Plus, Feid scores a career best on the overall Billboard Hot 100 ranking, as the song climbs 96-88.

16 Feb 2023

Publishing Briefs: Gershwin Extends Deal With Raleigh; WCM Partners With K-Pop Publisher

George Gershwin‘s heirs have opted to renew their long-term publishing administration deal with Raleigh Music Publishing. The deal is specifically for the works owned under A Gershwin, LLC, which holds a major share of Gershwin’s copyrights, including “Rhapsody in Blue” (arr. Ferde Grofé), works from musicals like Porgy and Bess, Shall We Dance, Crazy for You, An American in Paris, Nice Work If You Can Get It, and more. Songs from these stage productions remain some of the most vital musical works in American history, including “They Can’t Take That Away from Me,” “Love Is Here to Stay,” “Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off,” “A Foggy Day,” and “Summertime.”

Sony Music Publishing has extended its global partnership with David Gates and his publishing company Kipahulu Music which began in the 1960s. Gates is best known as the frontman of the band Bread and as the songwriter of hits for The Murmaids and The Monkees, and worked with Elvis Presley, Bobby Darin, Merle Haggard and more. His hits include “If,” “Everything I Own,” “It Don’t Matter To Me,” “Baby I’m-A Want You,” “Make It With You” and many more. 

Warner Chappell Music has signed a worldwide publishing deal with MZMC Inc. Korea Co. — a popular production and publishing company in the K-pop market. Under the partnership WCM will be administering MZMC’s entire music catalog worldwide, including hits like ‘Fine’ by Taeyeon; ‘Ko Ko Bop’, ‘Love Shot’, and ‘Tempo’ by EXO; RBB (Really Bad Boy)’ by Red Velvet, as well as ‘We Go Up’ by NCT DREAM.

Ultra International Publishing has expanded its Afrobeats operations to Nigeria and has formed a new creative hub there. Ultra has appointed Harold Serero, a London-based A&R manager, to oversee the operation. The company’s signings within the genre include Tejiri Akpoghene who is signed jointly between Ultra and Revels Group’s publishing arm Coup D’Etat Music. They have also signed Maesu, a rising Afrobeats artist, and Amexin to publishing agreements.

Marv Green has inked a global publishing deal with Red Door Music Group and Warner Chappell Music. Over the past few years, he has worked with Morgan Wallen, Jake Owen, Eric Church, Brooks and Dunn, Jon Pardi, Midland, Lee Brice, Tim McGraw and more. He is most known for his BMI Song of the Year-winning track “Amazed,” which was released by Lonestar.

Boosey and Hawkes, which is part of Concord, has added ballet score Mythologies to its catalog. Written by Thomas Bangalter of Daft Punk, the ballet set to his score has been touring France and Italy since April 2022.

Warner Chappell Music, Liz Rose Music and Jimmie Allen have come together to jointly sign Cameron Bedell to a global publishing agreement. The singer-songwriter from Wichita, Kansas recently co-penned “Down Home” by Allen.

Sentric Music has signed Mason, a Dutch producer and DJ, to an exclusive publishing administration deal. The talent has been making dance music since his breakout song “Exceeder” in 2006. Since then he has worked with Roisin Murphy, Shingai, Aqualung, Kurtis Blow, Sway, and more.

Minds on Fire, a pop and dance-focus music publishing company, has announced that it is partnering with BMG. Its catalog will now be administered by BMG and future co-publishing signings will be done jointly with the Berlin-based company as well. The first signings to this new deal are Emre Turkmen and Michael Goldsworthy, founding members of the group Years & Years.

King Pen Music and Warner Chappell have joined together to sign a global publishing agreement with Liam St. John, a blues singer-songwriter and former contestant of The Voice (Season 19).