Yes, it’s usually nothing but a cool time to work at the music store, hanging out with funny, charming and irresistibly sharp and self-confident folk until you happen to have customers like these:
Taimane Gardner shreds Zeppelin on a… Ukulele.
Taimane Gardner absolutely shreds on a ukelele. At the age of five, Taimane picked up her first ukulele and began her future in performing. Playing on the streets of Waikiki with the beach boys, Taimane was discovered by legendary crooner, Don Ho and became a featured performer in his show. From there, her popularity grew and Taimane has performed around the world. She has played privately for John Travolta, Steven Seagal, George Clooney, and has opened for Earth Wind and Fire, Chicago, Jimmy Buffett, Chris Isaak, and many more.
Columbia Records, Epic Records, OKeh, RCA, Legacy Recordings Jointly Open Merchandise Store
Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment, is opening up the SME archives to access 125 years-worth of creative artwork, photos and graphics to serve as source material for the most exciting line of historic record label merchandise to ever be made available to the public.
Shop.LegacyRecordings.com, Legacy’s new online emporium, presents music fans with a variety of practical and aesthetically-pleasing merchandise offerings incorporating and/or inspired by historic label designs, logos, album covers, promotional swag, artist biographies and more.
The exclusive merchandise lines offered through Shop.LegacyRecordings.com incorporate artwork and design elements from contemporary and historic labels in the Sony Music family–including Columbia Records, Epic Records, Groove, Kama Sutra Records, OKeh Records, RCA Victor and Silvertone Records.
Branded high-quality merchandise items offered include: cell phone cases for iPhone and Galaxy phones; T-shirts (adult sizes in 100% super soft combed cotton); messenger bags; mugs; magnets; journals and more.
In addition to its current offerings, Shop.LegacyReocrdings.com will soon be making available a variety of fashionably branded home decor products including decorative pillow cases, sheets, shower curtains, duvets and fleece blankets.
Shop.LegacyRecordings.com is currently showcasing a special Johnny Cash store offering T-shirts, mugs, magnets, photo prints, Galaxy and iPhone cases, silky fabric covered journals and messenger bags emblazoned with iconography bearing the unmistakable look of the Man In Black.
New artist collections will be regularly added to Shop.LegacyRecordings.com to keep music fans coming back for the best record label merchandise ever.
The Weeknd, Skrillex, Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne, Justin Bieber To Headline First-Ever Billboard Hot 100 Music Festival
The Weeknd, Skrillex, Nicki Minaj and Lil Wayne will headline the first-ever Billboard Hot 100 Music Festival that will also feature a very special performance by Justin Bieber. The highly anticipated festival, produced by Billboard, the leading global destination for charts, news, trends and innovations in music, in partnership with Live Nation, the world’s leading live entertainment company, will bring together some of the biggest chart-topping artists on August 22 and 23 at New York’s Nikon at Jones Beach Theater and surrounding beach areas for a weekend of epic music performances. More than 40 of today’s hottest hitmakers, including Kygo, Jason Derulo, American Authors, Betty Who, The Chainsmokers, Cold War Kids, Fetty Wap, Halsey, Holy Ghost!, Kiesza, Little Mix, Santigold and ZZ Ward, along with exciting breakthrough artists will perform on one of the festival’s three stages throughout the weekend. A full line-up is below. Fans should check back at www.billboard.com/hot100fest for the latest festival news and line-up information.
The Billboard Hot 100 Music Festival is presented by MasterCard, Sour Patch Kids, Nordstrom Rack and SinfulColors. Citi MasterCard cardmembers who use Citi Wallet connected to MasterPass will have exclusive access to tickets beginning July 13 at 9:00 a.m. EDT through July 15 at 10:00 p.m. EDT before they are available to the public. For more information and to sign up for Citi Wallet, be sure to visit: www.citi.com/citiwallet. Tickets for the general public go on sale July 16 at 10:00 a.m. EDT at www.livenation.com.
Billboard Hot 100 Music Festival line-Up includes The Weeknd, Skrillex, Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne, Justin Bieber, Kygo, Jason Derulo, American Authors, Betty Who, The Chainsmokers, Cold War Kids, The Faint, Fetty Wap, CRUISR, Halsey, Holy Ghost!, ILoveMakonnen, Justin Baron, Kiesza, Lights, Lindsey Stirling, Little Mix, Main Attrakionz, The Maine, Markam, Matoma, Michael Brun, Michael Woods, Misterwives, MKTO, Natalie La Rose, New Politics, Party Thieves, Ryn Weaver, Santigold, X Ambassadors, ZZ Ward and more.
Collectively, the festival headliners have 197 entries on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and have sold a combined 116.3 million albums and songs in the U.S., according to Nielsen Music. They also represent some of this generation’s biggest social media influencers, with a massive fan following across Twitter, Facebook and other platforms. Joining them will be dozens of Billboard-charting artists spanning multiple genres, from pop and rock to R&B and dance, representing one of the most electrifying and diverse festival line-ups this summer. Fans will see some of their favorite artists at one of the festival’s three stages, including the famed amphitheater Nikon at Jones Beach Theater, as well as two additional stages with one located on the beach.
“It’s an honor to be able to extend the Billboard brand into the festival space, and we feel that Jones Beach is the perfect location to create something truly unique and unforgettable,” said Billboard co-president John Amato.
“The Hot 100 Music Festival will be one of those truly memorable summer concert events. We are very excited to bring fans some of summer 2015’s chart toppers in a venue that will showcase the best these artists have to offer,” said Live Nation President and CEO, Michael Rapino.
Join the Billboard Hot 100 Music Festival conversation by using #hot100fest.
Canada 2015 Mid-Year Report: 10.5 Billion On-Demand Streams; Digital Albums Up 10%; Vinyl LPs Up 40%
ielsen, the music industry’s leading data information provider, announced the 2015 Canada Music mid-year report for the six-month period of Dec. 29, 2014 through June 28, 2015.
Streaming volume continues to grow, with over 10.5 billion songs streamed on-demand through audio and video platforms in the first six months of 2015. Digital album sales are also showing a significant increase over last year, up nearly 10%, while digital track sales are down 10% over mid-year 2014. Combining digital albums and track equivalent albums, we see overall digital sales up 3.2%. CD sales are down nearly 9%, but vinyl LP sales remain strong, up 40%.
“The biggest story of the year continues to be the growth of streaming,” said David Bakula, SVP Industry Insights, Nielsen. “With over 10.5 billion on-demand streams in the first six months of the year, streaming is becoming the primary choice of consumption for many music fans.”
BILLBOARD’S TOP CHARTS FOR MID-YEAR 2015
COMPILED BY NIELSEN MUSIC
2015 Top Albums + TEA
Artist Album Sales
1 TAYLOR SWIFT 1989 172,000
2 ED SHEERAN X 170,000
3 SOUNDTRACK FIFTY SHADES OF GREY 134,000
4 SAM SMITH IN THE LONELY HOUR 132,000
5 YOAN * YOAN 101,000
6 HOZIER HOZIER 101,000
7 DRAKE * IF YOU’RE READING THIS… 101,000
8 MAROON 5 V 92,000
9 MEGHAN TRAINOR TITLE 86,000
10 MUMFORD & SONS WILDER MIND 84,000
2015 Top Albums
Artist Album Sales
1 ED SHEERAN X 117,000
2 TAYLOR SWIFT 1989 111,000
3 SAM SMITH IN THE LONELY HOUR 105,000
4 YOAN * YOAN 100,000
5 SOUNDTRACK FIFTY SHADES OF GREY 89,000
6 DRAKE * IF YOU’RE READING THIS, 89,000
7 JEAN LELOUP * PARADIS CITY 76,000
8 MUMFORD & SONS WILDER MIND 74,000
9 HOZIER HOZIER 68,000
10 IMAGINE DRAGONS SMOKE + MIRRORS 66,000
2015 Top Digital Albums
Artist Album Sales
1 DRAKE * IF YOU’RE READING THIS… 77,000
2 ED SHEERAN X 63,000
3 TAYLOR SWIFT 1989 56,000
4 SOUNDTRACK FIFTY SHADES OF GREY 52,000
5 SAM SMITH IN THE LONELY HOUR 47,000
6 MUMFORD & SONS WILDER MIND 46,000
7 HOZIER HOZIER 40,000
8 KENDRICK LAMAR TO PIMP A BUTTERFLY 36,000
9 IMAGINE DRAGONS SMOKE + MIRRORS 33,000
10 SOUNDTRACK GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY 33,000
*Indicates Canadian artist
2015 Top On-Demand Streams
Artist Album Streams
1 MARK RONSON FEAT. BRUNO MARS UPTOWN FUNK! 38,000,000
2 ED SHEERAN THINKING OUT LOUT 25,000,000
3 WIZ KHALIFA FEAT. CHARLIE PUTH SEE YOU AGAIN 23,000,000
4 MAROON 5 SUGAR 20,000,000
5 TAYLOR SWIFT BLANK SPACE 18,000,000
6 TAYLOR SWIFT SHAKE IT OFF 18,000,000
7 HOZIER TAKE ME TO CHURCH 18,000,000
8 ELLIE GOULDING LOVE ME LIKE YOU DO 17,000,000
9 SIA ELASTIC HEART 13,000,000
10 OMI CHEERLEADER 13,000,000
2015 Top On-Demand Streams
Artist Album Streams
1 MARK RONSON FEAT. BRUNO MARS UPTOWN FUNK! 38,000,000
2 ED SHEERAN THINKING OUT LOUT 25,000,000
3 WIZ KHALIFA FEAT. CHARLIE PUTH SEE YOU AGAIN 23,000,000
4 MAROON 5 SUGAR 20,000,000
5 TAYLOR SWIFT BLANK SPACE 18,000,000
6 TAYLOR SWIFT SHAKE IT OFF 18,000,000
7 HOZIER TAKE ME TO CHURCH 18,000,000
8 ELLIE GOULDING LOVE ME LIKE YOU DO 17,000,000
9 SIA ELASTIC HEART 13,000,000
10 OMI CHEERLEADER 13,000,000
2015 Top Audio On-Demand
Streams
Artist Album Streams
1 MARK RONSON FEAT. BRUNO MARS UPTOWN FUNK! 4,800,000
2 ED SHEERAN THINKING OUT LOUD 4,100,000
3 HOZIER TAKE ME TO CHURCH 4,000,000
4 WIZ KHALIFA FEAT. CHARLIE PUTH SEE YOU AGAIN 3,900,000
5 ELLIE GOULDING LOVE ME LIKE YOU DO 3,800,000
6 MAROON 5 SUGAR 3,700,000
7 FLO RIDA FEAT. SAGE THE GEMINI G.D.F.R. 3,500,000
8 OMI CHEERLEADER 3,500,000
9 MAJOR LAZER FEAT. DJ SNAKE LEAN ON 3,400,000
10 WEEKND * EARNED IT 3,100,000
*Indicates Canadian artist
2015 Top Video On-Demand
Streams
Artist Album Streams
1 MARK RONSON FEAT. BRUNO MARS UPTOWN FUNK! 33,600,000
2 ED SHEERAN THINKING OUT LOUD 20,800,000
3 WIZ KHALIFA FEAT. CHARLIE PUTH SEE YOU AGAIN 19,100,000
4 TAYLOR SWIFT BLANK SPACE 18,000,000
5 TAYLOR SWIFT SHAKE IT OFF 17,800,000
6 MAROON 5 SUGAR 16,100,000
7 HOZIER TAKE ME TO CHURCH 13,700,000
8 ELLIE GOULDING LOVE ME LIKE YOU DO 13,000,000
9 PSY GANGNAM STYLE 12,000,000
10 MEGHAN TRAINOR ALL ABOUT THAT BASS 11,500,000
2015 Top Digital Songs
Artist Album Sales
1 MARK RONSON FEAT. BRUNO MARS UPTOWN FUNK! 526,000
2 ED SHEERAN THINKING OUT LOUD 346,000
3 WIZ KHALIFA FEAT. CHARLIE PUTH SEE YOU AGAIN 315,000
4 MAROON 5 SUGAR 289,000
5 RIHANNA/KANYE WEST/PAUL MCCARTNEY FOURFIVESECONDS 289,000
6 HOZIER TAKE ME TO CHURCH 279,000
7 ELLIE GOULDING LOVE ME LIKE YOU DO 245,000
8 OMI CHEERLEADER 242,000
9 ANDY GRAMMER HONEY, I’M GOOD 204,000
10 WALK THE MOON SHUT UP AND DANCE 200,000
2015 Radio Songs
Artist Album Plays
1 MARK RONSON FEAT. BRUNO MARS UPTOWN FUNK! 69,000
2 ED SHEERAN THINKING OUT LOUD 65,000
3 MAROON 5 SUGAR 65,000
4 TAYLOR SWIFT STYLE 61,000
5 ELLIE GOULDING LOVE ME LIKE YOU DO 56,000
6 HOZIER TAKE ME TO CHURCH 54,000
7 SHAWN MENDES * SOMETHING BIG 51,000
8 TAYLOR SWIFT BLANK SPACE 48,000
9 WALK THE MOON SHUT UP AND DANCE 46,000
10 WEEKND * EARNED IT 43,000
Based on plays at all Canadian Formats
Watch John Candy, Catherine O’Hara, Rick Moranis And The SCTV Crew Play Baseball, 1982
Found by John Candy’s widow, Rose, the Super 8mm footage is a highlights reel of a game played in Edmonton City Park by SCTVers Catherine O’Hara, John Candy, Rick Moranis, Eugene Levy, Joe Flaherty, and Dave Thomas. Rick did the interviews in-between pitches, and boy, are you going to miss this show even more after watching.
Video: Car Full Of Alaskan Malamute Puppies Hears Music For The First Time
A joyous, uninhibited and pretty cute ride beckon for a car full of Alaskan Malamute puppies after they hear music for the first time. I had the same expression when I heard the latest Jack White album.
Bon Jovi Is Releasing A Special Fan Album Next Month
Bon Jovi is releasing a special fan album leading up to its overseas fall tour, Billboard has learned.
The band is releasing two new tracks not even one month before the Aug. 21 release of their new album, Burning Bridges.
A spokesperson for Bon Jovi tells Billboard: “Burning Bridges, which will be released August 21st, is an album for fans and will accompany an upcoming international tour. The band is hard at work on their next album, which will see a full-scale release in 2016.”
Via Billboard
Behind the scenes video: Paul McCartney inducts Ringo Starr to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
On Saturday, April 18, 2015 Paul McCartney inducted his friend Ringo Starr into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Here’s a look behind-the-scenes from the night, as filmed by Paul and his team.
The Runaways’ Jackie Fuchs Tells Her Side of Kim Fowley Rape Story
Jackie Fuchs (Fox) of the Runaways talks about Kim Fowley and the rape she remembers differently from bandmates Joan Jett and Cherie Currie. The impact of her sexual assault at the hands of her manager in a room full of friends and associates, and the misconceptions about the 1970s scene of sex, drugs, and rock and roll are all explained in this uncensored discussion. The strange and scary quaalude connection that Fowley had with Bill Cosby, and the ‘bystander effect’ that sexual assault has on witnesses is explored with attorney Mike Cavalluzzi, in this Crime Time hosted by Allison Hope Weiner.