Sheldon “Shel” Talmy, the American-born producer behind classic ‘60s songs by the Who, the Kinks, the Easybeats and even a teenaged David Bowie, died at his home in Los Angeles on Wednesday, from complications due to a stroke, a rep confirms to Variety. He was 87. A facilitator of the classic Brit Beat sound, Talmy […]

In an elaborately converted garage in the Czech Republic, a 15-minute ride from Prague’s city center, sits one of the most unusual and ambitious venues one is likely to find anywhere. It might have three stages, but “venue” is a misleading term for Doupě — which means “den” or “lair” in Czech and is pronounced […]

Eminem, N.W.A, George Clinton, Janet Jackson, Bryan Adams, Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, Nashville hitmaker Ashley Gorley and many more are in the slate of Songwriters Hall of Fame nominees to be voted upon for induction at the organization’s 2025 gala in New York City. The complete list appears below; pictured above are Eminem and N.W.A member/ […]

Live Nation saw its biggest summer concert season to date, the company announced in its third-quarter earnings on Monday, with profitability up 39% to $474 million over the previous year, revenue of $7.7 billion and operating income of $640 million and adjusted operating income of $910 million. While revenue fell 6% to $7.7 billion, adjusted […]

Coldplay, Morgan Wallen, Noah Kahan, Olivia Rodrigo, Taylor Swift and Zach Bryan are among the top nominees for the 36th annual Pollstar Awards. The awards are a highlight of the long-running live-entertainment trade publication’s three-day Pollstar Live! Conference, which recognize and celebrate the most innovative and successful artists, tours, companies, venues, and executives. A new honor this […]

\It’s been 16 long years since legendary British alternative rockers the Cure last released a studio album, but the campaign for the band’s new outing, “Lost World,” has made it feel like they’ve never been away. And the band has also returned “home” to the Fiction-via-Polydor label, which released the band’s recordings up until 2004’s […]

Billionaire Bill Ackman said in a social media post on Friday that he will attempt to terminate the Amsterdam listings of Pershing Square Holdings and Universal Music Group and has a “contractual right” to move UMG’s listing to the United States, following attacks on Israeli soccer fans in the city — although the company posted a statement […]

Being the head of the Recording Academy and the Grammy Awards is a very challenging job, and even one of the organization’s most joyful days of the year — the annual Grammy nominations — can be fraught with controversy and disappointment as well as happiness. But every year, Grammy chief Harvey Mason Jr. gets on the line […]

Bruce Springsteen’s wholehearted support for Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign was as emphatic as he’s ever been for a candidate — he even filmed a three-minute video last month supporting her — and he spoke of that support multiple times in recent weeks, even calling now-president-elect Donald Trump a “tyrant” at a Harris rally in Atlanta. In concert, […]

An ocean away from the turmoil of the U.S. presidential election, Ed Sheeran paid moving tribute to outgoing Warner CEO of Recorded Music Max Lousada, with whom he’s worked closely at the company for many years, at Music Business Worldwide’s Music Business U.K. Awards in London Tuesday night. Lousada was honored with the Sir George Martin […]

Ashley Gorley, Variety’s Hitmakers Songwriter of the Year for 2023, will donate his royalties from his 80 th country No. 1 single, Jelly Roll’s “I Am Not Okay,” to the Onsite Foundation: Creatives Support Network, providing free mentorship, education, resources and mental wellness support specifically designed for members of the songwriting community. The song was written […]

In what is apparently the first official video to be released from her months-old “Cowboy Carter” album, Beyonce comically channels Pamela Anderson’s “Baywatch” look in a new clip for the song “Bodyguard” — retitled “Beywatch,” naturally enough. The  video, which dropped early Tuesday, is uncharacteristically low-budget for the singer, shows the singer in a variety of […]

Tyka Nelson, a Minneapolis-based singer and Prince’s only full sibling, died Monday morning, a rep for Prince’s estate confirms to Variety. No cause of death was reported; she was 64. Nelson released four albums between 1988 and 2011 and was scheduled to supposed to hold her retirement and farewell concert last June, but became ill […]

Spanning 70 years and towering roles as a musician, songwriter/ composer, producer, arranger, entrepreneur and more, Quincy Jones’ career in music is unparalleled. Jones — “Q” to friends and collaborators, who died late Sunday at the age of 91 — revolutionized how audiences across the globe heard popular music by erasing genre boundaries while playing […]

If rap were more like one of Lil Wayne’s favorite sports, football, the iconic MC would be similar to Tom Brady when he joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the age of 43. At this point in the 42-year-old rapper’s career, Wayne, like Brady, has soared high enough in his profession to be considered one […]

“Perverts,” the new project from Ethel Cain, is set for release on January 8, 2025, and is led by the singer’s first new song and video in many months, “Punish,” directed by Cain and Silken Weinberg, here. “I wonder how deep shame can run, and how unforgivable an act could be that I may still […]

UPDATED: Universal Music Group, the world’s largest music company, reported revenue of €2,870 million for the third quarter — an increase of 4.3% year-over-year, or 4.9% in constant currency, although it noted that “excluding a prior-year item affecting comparability,” revenue actually grew 6.3% year-over-year, or 7.0% in constant currency. Top sellers for the quarter included […]

More than 50,000 tickets sold for Oasis 2025 U.K. reunion tour will be cancelled, promoters Live Nation and SJM confirmed to the BBC on Monday. The promoters said that all invalidated tickets will be made available again through the official seller, Ticketmaster, at face value. The problem-plagued British on-sale for the tour, announced in August, […]

50 Cent turned down a $3 million offer to perform at former President Donald Trump’s controversial rally at New York’s Madison Square Garden on Sunday, he revealed in an interview on “The Breakfast Club” radio show Tuesday morning. During a segment of the interview, 50 is asked directly by host DJ Envy whether it’s true […]