Celebrity Life
Bob Dylan Rejected a $400 Million Hipgnosis Offer Before Universal Music’s Deal
The singer-songwriter — whose Universal deal is the new crown jewel of the booming song-acquisition market — turned down a deal from high-profile investor Merck Mercuriadis, who owns rights to hits like "Single Ladies" to "Uptown Funk"
Wait, Bob Dylan Owned ‘The Weight’? An Explainer
In selling his own catalog to Universal Music, Dylan also sold the publishing rights of the Band's first album Music From Big Pink — thanks to a peculiar arrangement that goes back to 1967
When an Instagram Meme Gets You a Record Deal
TikTok dominates label marketing conversations, but some digitally savvy acts are having more success seeding their music through Instagram memes
Universal’s Bob Dylan Catalog Buy Is About Survival
Universal Music bought Bob Dylan's 600 songs to fight back against existential threats to its business. The two other music majors, Warner and Sony, have also joined the battle
What Bob Dylan Selling His Music Catalog Does and Doesn’t Mean
Universal Music Publishing Group is getting control of Dylan's songwriter income — but it doesn’t take over recording rights or future songs
At Work With Neil Jacobson, the ‘Larry Gagosian of the Catalog Business’
The former Universal exec founded his own company to represent the hitmakers behind the likes of BTS, Ariana Grande, and AC/DC — and to make them some serious cash
Stevie Nicks Sells a Share of Her Publishing Rights for $100 Million
Nicks joins a number of major artists who've sold their catalog rights to investors and talent management companies this year
Blackpink Reschedule First-Ever Livestream Concert
K-pop group's online show, originally set to air exclusively on YouTube on December 27th, has moved to January
TikTok Is Blowing Up Rap Verses Before They’re Even Songs
Championxiii only turns his freestyles into full-fledged tracks if he gets an enthusiastic response from his TikTok followers. "I don't like to waste resources," he says
Rapper IDK Will Teach a Music Business Crash Course at Harvard
The artist-producer went from being incarcerated to signing a major record deal. Now he wants to create job opportunities for other people with odds stacked against them
Social Media, Not Streaming, Is the Music Industry’s Future
Music-streaming subscriptions contribute $8.5 billion a year to the record business — but the biggest future growth may lie in social media, gaming, livestreaming, and fitness
Dua Lipa’s Very Expensive Concert Is the Future of Livestreaming
With over $1.5 million in production expenses, Dua Lipa's global stream drew 5 million viewers — and represents a new norm in the crowded field of virtual concerts