CelebrityAccess

LOS ANGELES (CelebrityAccess) — Two new entries, Warner Bros. Smallfoot and Universal’s Night Schoo l, topped the weekend box office, earning an respective $37M and $33m worldwide on their debut weekends. Smallfoot , a 3D computer-animated comedy adventure film, featured voice acting by Channing Tatum, James Corden, Zendaya, Common, LeBron James, Gina Rodriguez, Danny DeVito. The movie debuted to a $23m opening in North American theaters, but was propelled to the top of the worldwide box office roundup with $37m from 50 territories. Universal’s Night School , a rom-com starring comedians Kevin Hart and Tiffany Haddish, easily recouped its estimated $29m production budget, earning an estimated $28m in North American, where it was the #1 film this weekend and $33.5M worldwide, placing it just behind Smallfoot . Last week’s champion, The House With A Clock In Its Walls , held on to the number three spot both in North America and aboard, earning an estimated $21.9m from 24 territories...

NEW YORK (CelebrityAccess) Kanye West began his day yesterday with what would, in any other climate, be big news: an announcement that he has changed his name to Ye. But that was before he wore a hat. “The being formally [sic] known as Kanye West. I am YE,” the former Kanye posted on Twitter. He then proceeded to appear on “Saturday Night Live,” filling in for an apparently emotionally drained Ariana Grande. He performed “I Love It” with Lil Pump while dressed up as a Perrier bottle, and “We Got Love” with Teyana Taylor. However, for his final performance, “Ghost Town,” Ye ended his appearance wearing a MAGA baseball cap and encouraging black Americans to think for themselves. Watch the latest video at foxnews.com “I wanna cry right now, black man in America, supposed to keep what you’re feelin’ inside right now…” TAFNAK (The Artist Formerly Known As Kanye) said. “The blacks want always Democrats…you know it’s like the plan they did, to take the fathers out the home and put them on...

(CelebrityAccess) Radio stations across Nevada, plus SiriusXM, the Country Music Association, Academy of Country Music and others, are expected to remember the events of last year’s Route 91 Harvest Festival with a moment of silence tomorrow at 10:05 a.m. PT. Participating organizations will observe 58 seconds of silence, in honor of the 58 people killed at the festival from a mass shooting, at exactly 12 hours removed from when the shooting occurred that evening at 10:05 p.m. On Monday we will join the Country Music community in observing a 58 second moment of silence at the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum to remember those lost and all who were affected at the Route 91 Music Festival one year ago. #CountryStrong #VegasStrong pic.twitter.com/g5PWbicwl8 — Country Music HOF (@countrymusichof) September 29, 2018 A partial list of participants, according to All Access Music Group : ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC (ACM); ALL ACCESS; ASCAP; ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT MUSIC PUBL...

LAS VEGAS (CelebrityAccess) The one year anniversary the Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting, the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history, is tomorrow, Oct. 1, and remembrances are already beginning including a special concert held in Las Vegas for the survivors. One year ago, on a Sunday night, shots rained down upon a country music crowd from a window at Mandalay Bay casino, killing 58 people and injuring hundreds. The official story is that a lone gunman with an arsenal of weaponry unloaded upon the crowd below, although the FBI and other authorities have yet to produce a clear picture as to what actually happened. Meanwhile, throughout the year, security at festivals and events became even more secure, including the visible presence of snipers and sniper nests, not only at country music festivals but at events like Coachella. Concerns over gun safety were once again raised as were concerns over the locations of outdoor events. Among all this, hundreds of survivors gather...

Pandora’s Next Big Sound has made all artist data open and available to anyone. Until now, Pandora data was only visible to the artist, label and their team. “In an industry where stream counts are an important measure of an artist’s success,” writes Next Big Sound senior product manager Dan Wissinger, “the inaccessibility of this data publicly has meant that Pandora’s important role in many artists’ career trajectories has gone unnoticed.” Starting today, Releases, Reach, and Engagement sections of the profile will show Pandora metrics like Radio Spins, Interactive Plays, Thumbs Up, and Station Adds for every artist on Pandora and each of their tracks. Those same metrics are also available to Next Big Sound users in email notifications and Weekly Report emails for artists that they follow. Pandora Data vs. Spotify Data Illustrating the importance of multiple data points and Pandora in particular, Wissinger runs through data for Lil Donald. The Atlanta rapper who’s ...

After establishing itself as a huge success in the travel industry, Airbnb is now looking at expanding its services into the live music space by partnering with Sofar Sounds to offer guests “Music Experiences”. _____________________ Guest post by  Chi Zhan  from the  Berklee College of Music: Music Business Journal Airbnb Concerts Founded in 2008 in San Francisco, Airbnb has gone from three air mattresses and broke roommates to a company valued at more than $30 billion. Having changed the way people travel, which led to a massive revolution in the hospitality industry, Airbnb is now trying to make its move to enter the live music space. In November 2016, Airbnb launched a new offering called “Trips” as an offshoot alongside its home rental service. Trips allows consumers to not only rent a place to stay, but also sign up for local activities including city tours, surfing lessons, and music events. Later in March 2017, it seemed that Airbnb had bigger plans for the...

The Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre Township, Pa., will retain its name for another 10 years with Mohegan Sun Pocono paying $2.875 million to retain naming rights to the arena through the end of 2029. Hard to believe, but Blondie ‘s  Parallel Lines album just turned 40 years old . Joel Embiid , All-Star center and Philadelphia 76ers fan favorite, attended Ed Sheeran ‘s concert at Lincoln Financial Field and is apparently a big fan, doing his best Biz Markie impression while singing along to Sheeran’s hits and posting them to Instagram.     The post Mohegan Sun Arena, Blondie, 76ers’ Joel Embiid Sings Ed Sheeran appeared first on CelebrityAccess . from CelebrityAccess https://ift.tt/2zEXQ22 via IFTTT

NEW YORK (CelebrityAccess) The family of Tom Petty told the Associated Press that it was like “therapy” to compile a four-disc compilation of Petty’s music so soon after his death. American Treasure dropped yesterday, just four days before the one-yuear anniversary of Petty’s passing. “I felt like when Prince died, unfortunately from a similar situation, that there was no central place to grieve for fans or for anyone, to make sense out of the greatness of that artist,” daughter Adria Petty told the AP. She compiled the discs alongside Petty’s widow, Dana, Heartbreakers Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench and producer Ryan Ulyate. “You see a picture of a man that emerges from this box and that man was such a special, complex Southern gentleman,” Adria added. “He’s sort of the best of what you’d call an American. I felt like this was something beautiful to show people.” Ten of the songs have never been released before, 18 are alternate versions of songs and the traditionals are also i...

RALEIGH, N.C. (CelebrityAccess) The band Balsam Range was the big winner at the International Bluegrass Music Awards in Raleigh, N.C., Sept. 27, grabbing the entertainer of the year award while band members Buddy Melton and Tim Surrett won male vocalist and bass player of the year, respectively. The act Special Consensus landed album of the year and instrumental recorded performance. Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver got their eight award for vocal group of the year. The Travelin’ McCourys took home the instrumental group of the year and Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers won song of the year for “If I’d Have Wrote That Song.” As reported earlier , the awards show also included the induction of Ricky Skaggs, Tom T. & Dixie Hall, and Paul Williams into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame. The post Balsam Range Wins Entertainer Of The Year At Bluegrass Awards appeared first on CelebrityAccess . from CelebrityAccess https://ift.tt/2zEsOqR via IFTTT

SAN FRANCISCO (CelebrityAccess) A U.S. appeals court has re-started the battle over who wrote “Stairway To Heaven” – Led Zeppelin or Spirit. Two years ago, a federal court jury ruled that Led Zeppelin did not, for once , borrow or lift music from a previous source without credit . A longtime challenge to the title was resolved when the jury determined that Led Zeppelin wrote the song on its own and did not lift a chord progression from Randy California, the guitarist for Spirit. However, a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled unanimously today that the lower court judge provided erroneous jury instruction that misled the jury about copyright law, according to CBS News. The judge failed to advise jurors that, while single common scales in a song do not elevate to the status of thievery, various blocks of music, in sequence, that appear similar does. “This error was not harmless as it undercut testimony by Skidmore’s expert that Led Zeppelin copied a chro...

(CelebrityAccess) Marty Balin, 76, co-founder of Jefferson Airplane died yesterday. His cause of death was not known at press time. The Rock And Roll Hall Of Famer wrote some of the band’s biggest hits, “It’s No Secret,” “Today,” “Comin’ Back To Me,” “Plastic Fantastic Lover,” “Share a Little Joke” and “Volunteers,” and co-wrote five songs on the band’s breakout album,  Surrealistic Pillow  including the album opener, “She Has Funny Cars.” Born Martyn Jerel Buchwald, Balin was a struggling folk guitarist in San Francisco when he met Paul Kantner at a 12-string guitarist hootenany and together formed a band. Soon, alongside guitarist Jorma Kaukonen, bassist Jack Casady, drummer Slip Spence and singer Signe Toly Anderson, they formed a band and cut in 1966 the debut album  Jefferson Airplane Takes Off . Anderson left the group the next year and was replaced by Grace Slick. Balin quit the group in 1968, managed some bands in San Francisco, and rejoined the band now know...

MIAMI (CelebrityAccess) — Florida rapper Lil Pump has canceled his upcoming ‘Harverd Dropout’ tour at the 11th hour. The tour was scheduled to kick off on Sept. 28 at the Fillmore Auditorium in Denver, with dates scheduled through November 6th, when Lil Pump was slated to perform at The Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles. In a statement to Complex, a rep for Lil Pump said: “Due to unforeseen circumstances, Lil Pump’s Harverd Dropout Tour has been canceled. Refunds will be provided at point of purchase. We apologize for any inconvenience.” While a more concrete reason for the cancellation was not provided, it may have something to do with a series of legal tangles that Lil Pump has been embroiled in this year. Last month, Pump, whose real name is Gazzy Garcia, was arrested  in Miami, Florida for driving without a valid driver’s license and in a subsequent social media post, he revealed he was facing jail time behind the charge. As well, in February, he was charged w...

BOSTON (CelebrityAccess) — The Red Sox and Live Nation are eyeing the construction of a new, 5,000-seat concert hall near to be built near Boston’s Fenway Park. Fenway Sports Group and Live Nation released images of the performing arts center – Fenway Theater, which will be located at the corner of Lansdowne and Ipswich streets, just south of the Stadium on land that is currently used for parking. “The success of Fenway Park as a year-round venue has paved the way for this project,” Fenway Sports Group chairman Tom Werner said in a press statement. “To have an intimate, indoor performing arts space for smaller-scale events will allow for a wider array of uses throughout the year.” According to the Boston Globe, neither Live Nation of FSG has filed any formal plans for the project with the city, but the companies have been in communication with city officials and local neighborhood groups. In a bid to win public support, companies said the new venue would be made available to local...

MENLO PARK (CelebrityAccess) — Facebook Inc. on Friday revealed that earlier this week it had discovered a security breach that had affected almost 50 million user accounts. “Our investigation is still in its early stages. But it’s clear that attackers exploited a vulnerability in Facebook’s code that impacted “View As”, a feature that lets people see what their own profile looks like to someone else. This allowed them to steal Facebook access tokens which they could then use to take over people’s accounts. Access tokens are the equivalent of digital keys that keep people logged in to Facebook so they don’t need to re-enter their password every time they use the app,” the company said in a statement released on Friday afternoon. Facebook said that the investigation into the attack was still in a preliminary stage and they were unable to determine if any of the affected accounts were misused, or what customer information had been compromised. The company has taken three immediate st...

Nashville, Tenn. (CelebrityAccess) — Bluegrass legends Ricky Skaggs, Tom T. & Dixie Hall, and Paul Williams have been officially inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame. The induction took place during the International Bluegrass Music Awards show, hosted by Hot Rize, at the Duke Energy Performing Arts Center in Raleigh, North Carolina.in Raleigh, N.C. Skaggs was inducted by his longtime friend and fellow musician, Marty Stuart. “He’s a radical revisionist, he’s a traditionalist, he’s a keeper of the flame, he’s an innovator, he’s always keeping his music moving forward, he’s invited so many people into the world of country and bluegrass music, he has become a universal touchstone to our kind of music,” Stuart said from the stage. “Tonight, it’s my honor to ask Ricky Skaggs to come up here and receive bluegrass music’s most coveted award. I induct Ricky Skaggs, gladly, into the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame.” “I appreciate this award so much,” said Skaggs u...

NASHVILLE, TN (CelebrityAccess) — Balsam Range took top honors at the International Bluegrass Music Association awards on Thursday, taking home the award for Entertainer of the Year. The Haywood County quintet also picked up wins after Buddy Melton was named as male vocalist of the year and Tim Surrett won the prize for bass player of the year. Vocal group of the year went to Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, marking the 8th consecutive win for the band in that category, and the Travelin’ McCourys won instrumental group of the year. Special Consensus took home the trophy for album of the year, while Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers won for song of the year. Hot Rize hosted the festivities, which were held at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts, as part of IBMA’s annual conference. “Congratulations to this year’s awards recipients and all of the nominees,” said Paul Schiminger, Executive Director of IBMA. “Being recognized by your professional peers with the ...

BOISE, Idaho (CelebrityAccess) — After a fire damaged the Knitting Factory in Boise on Sept. 11, the concert venue is still in recovery mode, with no prospect of re-opening any time soon. According to the Idaho Statesman, the blaze damaged about 60 percent of the venue’s interior, including floorboards and walls. “It looks like a shell of a venue,” Mark Dinerstein, president of Knitting Factory Presents told the newspaper. “I don’t even know how to describe it.” Boise Fire Department officials determined that the fire was accidentally started by a contractor working on the building’s HVAC system. Dinerstein went to say they are currently weighing options for how to best repair the damage and if the time is right to improve aspects of the venue. Before the fire, the Knitting Factory team was exploring options to raise the venue’s legal capacity to 1,200, which may be on the table in the rebuild. “There’s an opportunity to make improvements and rehabilitate simultaneously,” Diners...

LONDON (CelebrityAccess) – Bucks Music Group announced today (Sept. 28) that it has signed indie punk band LIFE to an exclusive worldwide publishing deal. In the last 12 months, the band has appeared at a number of festivals across the UK and Europe, headlined for the BBC at SXSW, toured with Slaves, Idles and Nadine Shah, and most recently performed at Reeperbahn Festival in Hamburg. Their debut album, Popular Music , was also included on BBC Radio 1’s Album Of The Year list in 2017. Commenting on the signing, Liquid Management’s David Manders said: “We are delighted to welcome Bucks Music into the LIFE team. From the word go, Sarah and her team have been extremely enthusiastic and it was great to seal the deal on the Reeperbahn around some great punk rock shows in Hamburg. The Bucks ethos is extremely independent and matches LIFE’s outlook. We’re looking forward to the journey ahead together.” Bucks’ Director Creative A&R, Sarah Liversedge Platz, added: “We felt an immediate ...

Rapper Lil Xan claims he was hospitalized from eating Flamin’ Hot Cheetos (many young people say they suffer “gastric-related” injuries from spicy snacks) and it caused the Frito-Lay to issue a statement to  Billboard defending its product and that “food safety is always our number one priority.” … While Cher is on tour in Australia, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Dept., armed with a warrant, arrested the son of one of her assistants at her Malibu home, allegedly because he was involved in a deadly fatal fentanyl overdose in nearby Thousand Oaks a few weeks earlier… Kanye West is the musical guest on tomorrow night’s “Saturday Night Live” season premiere after Ariana Grande dropped out because of “emotional reasons.” … can i pls have one okay day. just one. pls. — Ariana Grande (@ArianaGrande) September 27, 2018 i’m so tired pls — Ariana Grande (@ArianaGrande) September 27, 2018 j fucking k https://t.co/LeY2UGtrSP — Ariana Grande (@ArianaGrande) September 27, 2...

NEW YORK (CelebrityAccess) SummerStage, the flagship amphitheater for City Park Foundation in New York’s Central Park, is preparing for a $5 million renovation. The venue, situated in the park’s Rumsey Playfield, will begin work on a new stage, cover, sound system and lighting and video with improved sightlines and a VIP section once this season ends, according to reports. “We are thrilled to unveil our new venue for our 2019 season and are excited to be ushering in a new era of City Parks Foundation’s SummerStage with a venue that has been planned holistically, one that enhances both the audience’s and the artists’ experience,”  Heather Lubov , executive director for City Parks Foundation, told  Billboard . “Our SummerStage season was curated to represent New York City’s cultural diversity. Each year we celebrate the joy of communities gathered around the arts, with iconic performances spanning music, dance, film, and more,” added executive a...

LOS ANGELES (CelebrityAccess) – VEVO announced this week that Bryon Schafer has been hired as SVP of Research. Schafer, who will be based in LA, joins Vevo from Otter Media where he was responsible for advising on a range of product, brand, content, marketing, advertising and industry issues for the company its affiliates. In his new role, he will guide Vevo’s efforts in audience and advertiser research, as well as consumer and artist insights. Commenting on the news, Schafer said: “I’m thrilled to be joining the team at Vevo. The value proposition is incredibly strong for us as the eminent platform for music video. “I’m excited to start working with such a talented and passionate team, expanding our insight capabilities and further unlocking value to those we work with and represent.” Schafer has also held leadership positions at Warner Bros. Television Group and at Hulu. The post Vevo Hires Bryon Schafer as SVP of Research appeared first on CelebrityAccess . from Celebrity...

NEW YORK (CelebrityAccess) Boxing is facing an end of an era with HBO announcing it will end live boxing programming at the end of this year. HBO launched its first live boxing broadcast in 1973, covering George Foreman’s victory over Joe Frazier in Kingston, Jamaica for the world heavyweight title. Through the years, it was the place to watch fights by boxing greats like Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield,  Oscar de La Hoya, Sugar Ray Lenoard, Floyd Mayweather and, recently Roy Jones Jr. However, that was then and, in the age of UFC and after decades of controversial decisions, plus increased competition from Showtime and ESPN, HBO Sports Sept. 8 broadcast of “Superfly 3” card between Juan Francisco Estrada-Felipe Orucuta junior bantamweight title eliminator drew 298,00 viewers, one of the lowest-viewed fights in HBO history. “Our mission at HBO Sports is to elevate the brand. We look for television projects that are high-profile, high-access, and highly ambitious in the stories th...

TORONTO (CelebrityAccess) Toronto law firm Sotos Class Actions has proposed a class-action lawsuit against Ticketmaster, claiming it is taking “double-dip commissions” on the resale market. The firm, following the investigation by the CBC and  Toronto Star , claims TM is allowing professional resellers to buy “massive volumes” of concert and event tickets and reselling them “at significant markups, according to The Canadian Press. Sotos, in a statement to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, claims Ticketmaster turns a blind eye to resellers’ use of “bot” software to buy large blocks of tickets on the primary market and is allowing it to increase profits by taking commissions on both the original sale and the resale. The lawsuit seeks $250 million in damages, according to the Canadian Press. The post Ticketmaster Facing Class-Action Suit In Canada For ‘Double-Dip Commissions’ appeared first on CelebrityAccess . from CelebrityAccess https://ift.tt/2NJQfYq via IFTTT

BANGKOK (CelebrityAccess) Anschutz Entertainment Group is making a significant move into Southeast Asia, investing $308 million alongside Thai retailer The Mall Group to build a concert hall and a theatre in Bangkok, Thailand. The Bangkok Arena will have a 16,000 capacity and EM Live Theatre will have a cap of 6,00, with both opening atop new shopping malls in 2022, according to  Nikkei Asian Review . “We will be a big game-changer for Thailand,” Adam Wilkes, AEG Asia CEO Adam Wilkes told the Review , adding that Bangkok’s improvement of public transportation and tourist accommodations were factors in the decision and that AEG is looking at other Asian countries for expansion. “I’m looking at Japan and [South] Korea very closely. They are very exciting markets,” Wilkes said. “Japan will host the Rugby World Cup in 2019, as well as the Olympics and Paralympics in 2020. The country also passed a bill to legalize integrated resorts earlier in the year. With these factors combined,...

MIAMI, Fla. (CelebrityAccess) The Miami City Commission unanimously voted down a contract yesterday that would keep Ultra Music Festival at the city’s 32-acre Bayfront Park. In what is considered a “significant setback” for the future of the festival, the rejection comes after a public dispute between two commissioners with a “political grudge” and mixed public opinion. Many in the audience were identified as neighbors who oppose the festival, according to the Miami Herald . The Ultra Music Festival has taken place on the city’s waterfront for 18 years. Organizers say that even if the the EDM event doesn’t return to the park next year, they would attempt to salvage a concert at the park this March. An agreement could still be worked out the vote reported elated the NIMBYs. “Is there a world where we could work something out that we could live with? I don’t see it today,” Kenneth Schwartz, who wore a white hat emblazoned with “Save Bayfront Park,” told the  Herald . Ultra head ...

Spotify has announced Co.lab, a series of free educational and networking events open to all working musicians.  Every Co.Lab event will be organized around a music business theme. _______________________________ Co.Lab  is a new free Spotify for Artists event series designed to connect musicians with experts from across the industry – label reps, touring experts, and creative directors – to help both build their network and understand the nuts and bolts of the modern music industry. Each Co.Lab event will be organized around a music industry theme and led by experts who will draw on their experience to offer practical advice and insider knowledge. The first season of Co.Lab will be held New York and Los Angeles over the next few months with topics to include Collaboration, Release Strategies, Touring, Merch, and Revenue Streams. Panels will be moderated by Frosty. founder of dublab and Mindy Abovitz-Monk, founder of Tom Tom Magazine. Featured speaker...

Late payments continue to plague artists using PledgeMusic more than 100 days after the music crowdfunder promised to fix the problem,  blaming rapid growth  and “externally imposed transfer of the company’s payment processing systems.”  Multiple artists have reached out to Hypebot in recent weeks saying that a month or more had passed since they’d completed their PledgeMusic crowdfunding campaigns, but money collected from their fans had not been released. Neo-folk-world-rock ensemble HuDost exceeded their goal when  their Pledgemusic campaign  ended on August 27th. According to the standard PledgeMusic contract, “75% of goal, minus PM commission and any charity funds” was due then. Those several thousand dollars meant a lot to the band and their ability to finish their record with producer and mixer Vance Powell (Jack White, Chris Stapleton, Pearl Jam, Willie Nelson, Buddy Guy, Beyonce, Beck, Alicia Keys, Melissa Etheridge, Kings of Leon and more). ...

Spotify has recently begun not only allowing artists to directly upload their content to the streaming service, but also cutting directly deals with artists. Here we take a closer look at what exactly artists, labels, and Spotify all get out of these deals. __________________________ Guest post by  Bobby Owsinski  of   Music 3.0 As  previously posted ,  Spotify  is now doing both direct deals with artists, and allowing them to directly upload their content onto the platform. There have been a lot of announcements to that effect, but not much on exactly what an artist receives when it comes to royalty payout – until now.  Music Business Worldwide  did some digging  to understand the payouts in most scenarios. According to the article, Spotify confirmed that it’s paying 50% of the net revenue to the artist. This is pretty much what was expected, since anything less would make a direct deal of dubious value, especially when it comes to usi...

WEST HOLLYWOOD (CelebrityAccess) – LiveXLive Media has today (Sept. 28) reported record numbers across key viewing areas and content KPIs. The global digital media company, which is focused on live entertainment, has produced 13 music festivals since May 17, 2018 , including Rolling Loud, Life is Beautiful, EDC Las Vegas, Rock on The Range, Country 500, Rock in Rio Lisbon and more, and achieved 35MM+ livestreams in the last four months alone. Included in those 35MM+ streams, were 300+ artists across nearly every genre of music, including Wiz Khalifa , Travis Scott , T-Pain, Shawn Mendes , Katy Perry , Demi Lovato , Jessie J, The Killers, Jack White , Muse, Deadmau5 and hundreds of others. The company has also aggregated more than 250 hours of live music festival content, streamed to fans globally via mobile, OTT/connected TV and desktop devices, and secured some 540,000+ paid subscribers. Commenting on the company’s recent success, Rob Ellin , Chairman and CEO of LiveXLive said: “S...