Your Musicians Blog 2012-01-27T02:56:25-06:00 DotClear daily 1 2012-01-27T02:56:25-06:00 2012-01-27T02:56:25-06:00 2012-01-27T02:56:25-06:00 http://www.musicians.com/blog/ne-yo-takes-on-challenge-to-revitalize-motown Editor Features

The legendary music label Motown Records has announced that American R&B singer-songwriter Ne-Yo has been appointed as the new Senior Vice President of A&R – Artists and Repertoire – at the Universal Music Group. Currently signed with Def Jam Recordings, the singer will move his work over to Motown, bringing his New-York based imprint Compound Entertainment with him. His new position will include talent-seeking and mentoring Motown label's artists. He will also continue with his own successful music career, with his fifth album due out this year.

The legendary music label Motown Records has announced that American R&B singer-songwriter Ne-Yo has been appointed as the new Senior Vice President of A&R – Artists and Repertoire – at the Universal Music Group. Currently signed with Def Jam Recordings, the singer will move his work over to Motown, bringing his New-York based imprint Compound Entertainment with him. His new position will include talent-seeking and mentoring Motown label's artists. He will also continue with his own successful music career, with his fifth album due out this year. 2012-01-13T02:15:23-06:00 2012-01-13T02:15:23-06:00 http://www.musicians.com/blog/adele-leads-2011-top-sellers Editor Features

According to data released by music sales tracking service Nielsen SoundScan, Adele's album 21 and her single from the album Rolling in the Deep were the number one sellers in the United States for 2011. The album reportedly sold 5.82 million copies, with the single hitting 5.81 million downloads. As the singer-songwriter's second album, 21 is the biggest selling album since Usher's album Confessions sold 7.98 million in 2004. Judging by the initial sales of 21 when it was released in March 2011, it was no surprise to fans that Adele's album took top honors. The album sold 352,000 copies in its first week and has remained in the Billboard 200 chart's top 10 for 44 weeks and counting.

According to data released by music sales tracking service Nielsen SoundScan, Adele's album 21 and her single from the album Rolling in the Deep were the number one sellers in the United States for 2011. The album reportedly sold 5.82 million copies, with the single hitting 5.81 million downloads. As the singer-songwriter's second album, 21 is the biggest selling album since Usher's album Confessions sold 7.98 million in 2004. Judging by the initial sales of 21 when it was released in March 2011, it was no surprise to fans that Adele's album took top honors. The album sold 352,000 copies in its first week and has remained in the Billboard 200 chart's top 10 for 44 weeks and counting. 2012-01-02T03:17:18-06:00 2012-01-02T03:17:18-06:00 http://www.musicians.com/blog/cbe-awarded-to-producer-steve-lillywhite Editor News

Award-winning record producer, Stephen (Steve) Lillywhite, has made Queen Elizabeth's 2012 New Year's Honors List by being named a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his services to music. With a career spanning decades, and being linked with a multitude of celebrated artists and bands, Steve Lillywhite has been an enduring presence in the highly competitive music industry - on both sides of the Atlantic. He has been involved in the production of more than five hundred records and has seen unknown bands become international stars since he first entered the music industry in 1972 as a tape operator for Polygram.

Award-winning record producer, Stephen (Steve) Lillywhite, has made Queen Elizabeth's 2012 New Year's Honors List by being named a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his services to music. With a career spanning decades, and being linked with a multitude of celebrated artists and bands, Steve Lillywhite has been an enduring presence in the highly competitive music industry - on both sides of the Atlantic. He has been involved in the production of more than five hundred records and has seen unknown bands become international stars since he first entered the music industry in 1972 as a tape operator for Polygram. 2011-12-19T03:36:55-06:00 2011-12-19T03:36:55-06:00 http://www.musicians.com/blog/steinway-hall-honors-billy-joel Editor Features

With Piano Man being the song that launched Billy Joel's career, it seems fitting that this popular musician has been inducted into Steinway Hall New York, one of the centers for the legendary piano makers, Steinway and Sons. The fact that he is the only non-classical musician to have been honored in this way is a testament to his talent and popular appeal. His larger-than-life painting will hang alongside that of Vladimir Horowitz (1903-1989), the Russian pianist who was one of Joel's idols. Other legendary musicians to have their portraits hung in the Steinway Hall include Arthur Rubinstein, Sergei Rachmaninoff and Franz Liszt. In addition to the New York Steinway Hall opened in 1925 - replacing the original 1864 showroom - there are also Steinway Halls in London, Vienna, Hamburg, Munich, Berlin and Tokyo.

With Piano Man being the song that launched Billy Joel's career, it seems fitting that this popular musician has been inducted into Steinway Hall New York, one of the centers for the legendary piano makers, Steinway and Sons. The fact that he is the only non-classical musician to have been honored in this way is a testament to his talent and popular appeal. His larger-than-life painting will hang alongside that of Vladimir Horowitz (1903-1989), the Russian pianist who was one of Joel's idols. Other legendary musicians to have their portraits hung in the Steinway Hall include Arthur Rubinstein, Sergei Rachmaninoff and Franz Liszt. In addition to the New York Steinway Hall opened in 1925 - replacing the original 1864 showroom - there are also Steinway Halls in London, Vienna, Hamburg, Munich, Berlin and Tokyo. 2011-12-02T02:27:51-06:00 2011-12-02T02:27:51-06:00 http://www.musicians.com/blog/bruce-springsteen-keynote-speaker-at-sxsw Editor News

Next year's South by Southwest Music Conference and Festival (SXSW) will be taking place from 9 to 18 March 2012. It was recently announced the renowned singer and musician Bruce Springsteen will be the keynote speaker, addressing the audience on 15 March 2012 from the stage at the Austin Convention Center in Texas.

Next year's South by Southwest Music Conference and Festival (SXSW) will be taking place from 9 to 18 March 2012. It was recently announced the renowned singer and musician Bruce Springsteen will be the keynote speaker, addressing the audience on 15 March 2012 from the stage at the Austin Convention Center in Texas. 2011-11-18T07:27:28-06:00 2011-11-18T07:27:28-06:00 http://www.musicians.com/blog/music-industry-continues-to-evolve-with-sale-of-emi Editor Features

Highlighting the changes advancing technology is having on the music industry, after 80 years of operating as an independent music distributor, EMI has concluded agreements which break the company up. Currently owned by Citigroup Inc., EMI reportedly sold for a total of US$4.1 billion, with the recorded-music division going to Universal Music Group, owned by French corporation Vivendi, for $1.9 billion, and EMI Music Publishing going to a consortium of six investors led by Sony. While the deal still needs the official nod from regulators, all parties concerned appear to agree that this is a formality. The sale of EMI leaves Warner Music Group, which had reportedly made a bid of $2 billion, out in the cold, but nonetheless considered to be one of the Big Three of the music industry – Universal, Sony and Warner.

Highlighting the changes advancing technology is having on the music industry, after 80 years of operating as an independent music distributor, EMI has concluded agreements which break the company up. Currently owned by Citigroup Inc., EMI reportedly sold for a total of US$4.1 billion, with the recorded-music division going to Universal Music Group, owned by French corporation Vivendi, for $1.9 billion, and EMI Music Publishing going to a consortium of six investors led by Sony. While the deal still needs the official nod from regulators, all parties concerned appear to agree that this is a formality. The sale of EMI leaves Warner Music Group, which had reportedly made a bid of $2 billion, out in the cold, but nonetheless considered to be one of the Big Three of the music industry – Universal, Sony and Warner. 2011-10-31T12:50:20-05:00 2011-10-31T12:50:20-05:00 http://www.musicians.com/blog/icm-honors-top-musicians Editor Features

With fifty years in the entertainment world to his name, Ricky Skaggs was named both Musician of the Year, and Entertainer of the Year, at the 17th Annual ICM Faith, Family and Country Awards Show held at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville on Friday 28 October 2011. Other big winners of the evening included Lady Antebellum, The Fox Brothers and Justin Moore as awards were given out in over twenty categories, honoring seasoned musicians and newcomers to the world of inspirational country music.

With fifty years in the entertainment world to his name, Ricky Skaggs was named both Musician of the Year, and Entertainer of the Year, at the 17th Annual ICM Faith, Family and Country Awards Show held at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville on Friday 28 October 2011. Other big winners of the evening included Lady Antebellum, The Fox Brothers and Justin Moore as awards were given out in over twenty categories, honoring seasoned musicians and newcomers to the world of inspirational country music. 2011-10-24T12:41:02-05:00 2011-10-24T12:41:02-05:00 http://www.musicians.com/blog/western-canadian-music-award-winners Editor Features

The Yukon Arts Center hosted the 2011 Western Canadian Music Awards on Sunday 23 October in an exciting event honoring the musical achievements of artists from Manitoba, Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Yukon and Northwest Territories. The ceremony was hosted by Grant Lawrence of CBC Radio3 and was the culmination of the 2011 Breakout West Music Festival in Whitehorse – an annual event which includes conferences, panels, performances and opportunities to network within the independent music industry.

The Yukon Arts Center hosted the 2011 Western Canadian Music Awards on Sunday 23 October in an exciting event honoring the musical achievements of artists from Manitoba, Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Yukon and Northwest Territories. The ceremony was hosted by Grant Lawrence of CBC Radio3 and was the culmination of the 2011 Breakout West Music Festival in Whitehorse – an annual event which includes conferences, panels, performances and opportunities to network within the independent music industry. 2011-10-17T09:57:04-05:00 2011-10-17T09:57:04-05:00 http://www.musicians.com/blog/southern-ground-music-and-food-festival Editor News

The Zac Brown Band has become well known for their exceptional music, including seven singles that have reached the number one spot on the Billboard country charts. Heading up the band is Zac Brown, who came up with the concept of the fantastic upcoming three-day Southern Ground Music & Food Festival. This event will see brilliant music and delicious food combining forces to offer festival-goers a mind-blowing experience.

The Zac Brown Band has become well known for their exceptional music, including seven singles that have reached the number one spot on the Billboard country charts. Heading up the band is Zac Brown, who came up with the concept of the fantastic upcoming three-day Southern Ground Music & Food Festival. This event will see brilliant music and delicious food combining forces to offer festival-goers a mind-blowing experience. 2011-10-10T12:11:51-05:00 2011-10-10T12:11:51-05:00 http://www.musicians.com/blog/future-music-festival-2012-welcome-to-las-venus Editor Features

Taking place at the Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne on Sunday 11 March 2012, the Future Music Festival promises to deliver the biggest acts in the universe, and the brightest stars of the future. As the name suggests, the Future Music Festival has a futuristic theme as it welcomes fans to Las Venus where they will be blasted with the "galactic-bombastic forces of pure sound, dazzling light, and electrifying color" in an out-of-this world party. Covering a range of genres, the festival prides itself on its quality and variety, with something for everyone.

Taking place at the Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne on Sunday 11 March 2012, the Future Music Festival promises to deliver the biggest acts in the universe, and the brightest stars of the future. As the name suggests, the Future Music Festival has a futuristic theme as it welcomes fans to Las Venus where they will be blasted with the "galactic-bombastic forces of pure sound, dazzling light, and electrifying color" in an out-of-this world party. Covering a range of genres, the festival prides itself on its quality and variety, with something for everyone.