iHeartRadio: Biggest Live Concert Festival in Radio History

Las Vegas welcomes what is being touted as the “biggest live concert festival in radio history” to the MGM Grand for two consecutive nights on September 23 and 24 to celebrate the official launch of the new version of Clear Channel’s iHeartRadio digital service. Live audio and video streams of the iHeartRadio Music Festival will be available online, via mobile devices at www.iHeartRadio.com and across all of Clear Channel’s radio station websites.

And the line-up is stellar. According to “American Idol” host and Clear Channel radio personality Ryan Seacrest, the host for this two-day festival, “This is a once in a generation gathering of artists and fans from all over the country for a true, must-see music event. The iHeartRadio Music Festival, like the iHeartRadio digital radio service, will showcase top artists across all genres of music. Listeners from all over America will travel to Las Vegas to celebrate the next generation of iHeartRadio, while seeing the greatest musicians in the world on one stage.”

So far that lineup includes lineup Lady Gaga, Coldplay, Alicia Keys, Steven Tyler, The Black Eyed Peas, Kenny Chesney, Jennifer Lopez, Carrie Underwood, Jane’s Addiction, Nicki Minaj, John Mayer, David Guetta, Rascal Flatts, Bruno Mars, Kelly Clarkson, Sublime with Rome and special performances from Usher and Sting, with more announcements still forthcoming.

“Building up to the festival, we will be presenting the biggest national promotion in radio history,” said John Hogan, President/CEO of Clear Channel Radio. “All 850 Clear Channel radio stations, spanning diverse music formats, introduced millions of listeners across the country to this historic music event. The majority of our stations will also feature exclusive radio and digital content including exclusive artist interviews and ticket giveaways. The announcement of the event alone has set new records. It’s the first announcement ever to roadblock all Clear Channel Radio platforms and the teasers and the announcement have reached an estimated 100 million people.”

Added Bob Pittman, Chairman of Media and Entertainment Platforms for Clear Channel Radio, “Music is the heart of our business and we think there is no better way to celebrate the launch of the New iHeartRadio than with a groundbreaking, multi-day festival featuring the world’s biggest, most exciting artists – and reaching the largest combined U.S. radio and online audience ever. This underscores Clear Channel’s transformation to a dynamic integrated media and entertainment company with an unmatched reach in the U.S. The New iHeartRadio will offer users a much broader, more integrated and customized digital listening experience than any other service available – and it’s all in one product.”

Seacrest’s video promo on the new iHeartRadio compares it to Pandora, “but with more songs, more control and no commercials through the end of the year.” The New iHeartRadio will deliver Clear Channel stations from across the country as well as the ability to create custom stations with even more songs, more control than the leading custom radio station services and with no commercials through the end of the year.

IDJMG Welcomes G.O.O.D. Music

Island Def Jam Music Group (IDJMG) has signed an exclusive long-term worldwide label agreement with Kanye West’s record label, G.O.O.D. Music. West will continue as a core recording artist on the Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam label, but the artists he has signed to his label will now be released through IDJMG. The first artist under the new agreement is Detroit rapper Big Sean whose debut product, Finally Famous, arrived in stores on June 28. West executive produced the album, which features the single “My Last” featuring Chris Brown.

According to the new Chairman/CEO of Universal Motown Republic Group (UMRG) and IDJMG, Barry Weiss, “G.O.O.D. Music is an exciting new chapter in the long and successful association of Kanye West and Island Def Jam. As a recording artist and a producer over the past eight years, there is no one who has made a greater impression on the game than Kanye. We look forward to working closely with the new and established artists that he will be bringing to G.O.O.D. Music, which is already off to an impressive start with Big Sean.”

Added IDJMG President/COO Steve Bartels, “Kanye’s genius has been proven time and time again on records and onstage. He not only pours it out for himself, but he has made the difference with his presence on innumerable projects with other artists who are indebted to him. Kanye is an integral core member of the IDJ family, and G.O.O.D. Music continues his unselfish tradition of bringing along great new artists to the forefront.”

Sylvia Rhone Relinquishes Motown Spot

Sylvia Rhone and SESAC Songwriter of the Year Rico Love

Sylvia Rhone has resigned as president of Universal Motown with GM Pat Monaco taking over the day-to-day operations of Universal Motown, while UMG looks for a replacement. UMG said in a statement that it remains “committed to [Universal Motown] as a strong presence in the contemporary music scene. We will soon announce important additions to the staff and will further invest in building its artist roster so Motown can continue to bring to market the highest quality music that is best positioned to succeed artistically and commercially.”

Rhone was named president of Universal Motown in 2004. “We’re thankful to Sylvia for her contributions,” said a Universal statement. “We continue to be in discussions with her on how and where she can best utilize her skills and relationships in the multiple rights arena in which UMG continues to expand.”

Before running Motown, Rhone was the top executive at Elektra Records. In a career that spanned three decades, she has jump started and maintained the successful careers of a variety of artists, including many that remain hot today, such as Lil Wayne, Akon and Nicki Minaj.

Esperanza Grabs Grammy’s Best New Artist

Debuting in 2008 with her self-titled album that spent more than 70 weeks on the Contemporary Jazz charts, this multi-lingual prodigy from Portland, Oregon has had a rapid ascent ever since she discovered the bass and taught herself to play. A Berklee College of Music alum, who also became the youngest ever instructor for the venerable music school at age 20, Spalding, who appears in the Banana Republic ad campaign, was invited to perform at the Nobel Prize Ceremony In Oslo, Norway by President Obama. Highlighted in Oprah’s May 2010 edition of O Magazine in “Women on the Rise,” Spalding is already readying her third album, Radio Music Society, for this spring.

Grammys Salute Aretha

“I loved it!” was the response on Aretha Franklin’s Facebook page about the Grammy Salute to Aretha that had Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson, Yolanda Adams, Florence Welch and Martina McBride performing Aretha hits. And in the personal message Aretha taped for the show, she looked great! The 18-time Grammy Award winner was in great spirits, having just attended the previous Friday night basketball game between the Detroit Pistons and the Miami Heat in hopes of personally meeting the Heat’s Dwayne Wade. The Queen of Soul fully expects to return to performing this May and recently recorded a new song with R. Kelly for her upcoming album on Aretha Records.

Michael Kyser Named 1st Ever President Atlantic Black Music

Michael Kyser (Photo by Andrew Zaeh)

Michael Kyser was named the first-ever President of Black Music for the Atlantic Records Group according to Atlantic Chairman/COO Julie Greenwald and Chairman/CEO Craig Kallman. Kyser, who began his music career two decades ago at Def Jam Recordings, joined Atlantic Records in 2004 as EVP of Urban Music.

Says Greenwald, “Kyser has been my trusted colleague and close friend for nearly 20 years, since we both joined Def Jam. We grew up together in this business. He has a deeper understanding of the urban music landscape than anyone in our industry. Kyser has immersed himself in the music and the culture, and he is a master at creating opportunities, building careers, and developing invaluable artist relationships. He has been a down-to-earth mentor and guide to artists and staffers alike, earning the genuine respect and loyalty of everyone he works with. I am very proud to announce this much-deserved promotion.”

Added Kallman, “It is a terrific testament to Kyser’s rich knowledge, insight, and achievements that he becomes the first person in Atlantic history to hold the title of President of Black Music. Among his many gifts, he knows intuitively how to bring the music to the widest possible audience, breaking down cultural barriers while nurturing the artist in the process. Since coming on board at Atlantic seven years ago, he has played a pivotal role in the revitalization of our urban presence.”

“Since Kyser joined us at Def Jam, I have watched him quite literally learn the business from the ground up: working the streets; hitting radio, TV, and the clubs; going on the road with the bands and doing whatever it took to break artists, get their music heard, and build brands,” commented Lyor Cohen, Warner Music Group Vice Chairman and Chairman and CEO, Recorded Music – Americas and the U.K. “That kind of complete immersion in an artist’s career is one of our top priorities at WMG, where we are 100% focused on identifying rising stars and nurturing their careers, as well as on giving our creative executives the support they need to make those careers the biggest they can be. Kyser is one of those executives. He doesn’t just do his job, he lives his job, and since those early days at Def Jam, I’ve seen him evolve into one of the most admired and accomplished members of the urban music community.”

Kyser, for his part, referred to the promotion as a dream come true, adding, “I’m looking forward to building on our achievements to take black music at Atlantic Records to new heights.”

Willie Mitchell Remembered (1928-2010)

Willie Mitchell

Famed soul producer, arranger, musician and artist Willie Mitchell died January 5 around 7:30 am at Methodist University Hospital in Memphis from cardiac arrest suffered on December 19. Born March 23, 1928 in Ashland, Mississippi, Mitchell was 81. Also known as “Poppa Willie,” a moniker he received when he took over the helm of Hi Records in 1970, Mitchell brought the label to its greatest heights with the recordings of such artists as Al Green, Syl Johnson, Ann Peebles, O.V. Wright and himself. He helped create the Memphis sound, employing the hard-hitting kick drum sound in his releases that was usually executed by Booker T & the MGs’ drummer Al Jackson.

Most of Mitchell’s hits were made behind the console at the revered Royal Recording Studio, which he owned. Mitchell would say not to touch any of the settings since that’s where so many hits had been produced. Most recently, he reunited with his partner Al Green in 2003 to record I Can’t Stop, followed by the 2005 release Everything’s OK.

His adopted sons, Archie and Boo Mitchell, the sons of his two daughters who now carry on his name, traveled to Los Angeles with him in 2008 to accept the Trustees Award from the Grammy Foundation. Raised in the studio under their father, both sons, who played keyboards on Green’s Grammy-winning 1988 release “As Long As We’re Together,” continue to record in the same South Lauderdale Street location which was renamed Willie Mitchell Boulevard in 2004, where their father created the Memphis soul sound. The two-CD set Poppa Willie: The Hi Years (1962-1974), the four-CD set The Immortal Soul of Al Green, and the three-CD package Hi Times: The R&B Years are among the collections that reveal the talent of this legendary artist.

Beyoncé Leads Grammy Nods

Black Eyed Peas performed at Grammy nominations show

The Album of the Year honors at this year’s 52^nd Annual Grammy Awards will go to Beyoncé, Black Eyed Peas, Lady GaGa, Dave Matthews Band or Taylor Swift. And one thins is for sure, Beyoncé, nominated for ten awards, will not go empty-handed. The Grammy’s one-hour television special, “Countdown to Music’s Biggest Night,” broadcast live from Club Nokia on CBS, announced the nominees amidst performances from the Black Eyed Peas, David Guetta and Maxwell, who has six nods along with Black Eyed Peas and Kanye West.

The 52^nd Annual Grammy Awards will broadcast live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles on January 31 over the CBS network.

Lawrence, Walker & Winans Lead Stellars 25th

(l-r) Don Jackson, Chairman and CEO of Central City Productions, Stellar Award nominee Phillip Carter, Erma Gray Davis, President and Chief Operations Officer of Central City Productions, Ambassador Dr. Bobby Jones and Stellar Award nominee Niyoki

Donald Lawrence, Hezekiah Walker and Vickie Winans are all vying for the #1 and #2 top Stellar Awards for Artist of the Year and Song of the Year at the 25th annual gospel awards scheduled to tape at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville on January 16 before airing in syndication in more than 125 markets. Produced again by Don Jackson and his Central City Productions, the Stellars will be hosted by Kirk Franklin, Donnie McClurkin and Vickie Winans.

Winans and Lawrence, in fact, have the majority of nominations with nine apiece. Hezekiah Walker and Phillip Carter & SOV each have six nominations while Kierra Sheard grabs five, including one for her collaboration with The Clark Sisters and J. Moss on Silky Soul Music…A Tribute to Maze. Claiming four each are Mary, Mary and Crystal Aikin; three bids each were given to newcomer Niyoki, Shari Addison, Smokie Norful, Lisa Knowles & the Brown Singers and Israel Houghton.

Special Awards to be handed out at the 25th Anniversary Awards celebration will include the presentation of “The James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award” to Lee Williams and the Spiritual QC’s. “The Thomas A. Dorsey Most Notable Achievement Award” will be bestowed upon the Mississippi Mass Choir for a decade of excellence, and Edwin Hawkins will be presented with this year’s “Ambassador Dr. Bobby Jones Legend Award,” celebrating his 40-plus years’ contributions to contemporary gospel.

Toni Braxton Emerges At Atlantic

With a new single, “Yesterday,” featuring Trey Songz already on the airwaves, multiple Grammy-award winning artist Toni Braxton looks to release her next album from the home of such soul greats as Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin and Otis Redding—Atlantic Records.

“It’s the start of an exciting new chapter,” states Atlantic Chairman/CEO Craig Kallman, “one which all of us at Atlantic are so very proud to be part of.”

The as yet untitled album, scheduled for release next February, includes collaborations with Frank E., Steve Mac, Lucas Secon, Harvey Mason & Oak, Troy Taylor, Dapo Torimiro and David Foster, among others.

Next Page »