PRS Foundation grants for emerging taent generate revenues

The PRS for Music Foundation says that its International Showcase Fund (ISF) has delivered a nearly nine-fold return on investment since 2013. The ISF, organised by a charitable foundation and run by the UK’s Performing Rights Society (PRS for Music), makes available up to £5,000 for travel, visas, accommodation and per diems for emerging British artists travelling abroad to play showcase festivals, and has invested in acts such as Slaves, Little Simz, Kate Tempest, Everything Everything, Ghetts, Jake Isaac, Wolf Alice and Dan Croll. According to the International Showcase Fund: Impact Report 2013–16, every £1 invested by the fund in the last three years has generated on average an additional £8.90 for its beneficiaries.

http://www.iq-mag.net/2016/05/prs-music-foundation-international-showcase-fund-delivers-900-percent-return-on-investment-since-2013/#.Vzyl7fkrKM9

Forgotten Fields cancelled

The second edition of the Forgotten Fields festival has been cancelled due to “the rising costs of producing a quality event”, according to organisers. The festival had previously confirmed headliners Dizzee Rascal, Suede and Kodaline would be playing at the event on 4-7 August 2016 in Kent. The event is run by the Manchester-based company From the Fields, which also runs Bluedot Festival, Kendall Calling and Live From Jodrell Bank. The festival is offering fans a full refund or a ticket swap with Standon Calling festival, which takes place on 29-31 July in Hertfordshire.

China clampdown hits Beijing's live music scene

Beijing’s grassroots music scene is under siege as authorities crack down on its live venues following a performance by controversial, frequently topless poet Lin Ce. Dusk Dawn Club (DDC), the venue which hosted Lin (whose NFSW art tackles issues around body image and body-shaming), was temporarily shuttered by police and its owner, known only as ’69’, detained. It has since reopened, reports Reuters. New venue Modernsky Lab is also reportedly under investigation, although it was allowed to remain open.

http://www.iq-mag.net/2016/05/lin-ce-risque-performance-art-sparks-beijing-crackdown/#.Vysq7vkrKM8

Live Nation thinks virtual with Hulu

Live Nation is partnering with Hulu for a virtual reality (VR) concerts series. The series, which will be available via the Hulu VR app, will allow audiences to stream a series of concert performances shot in the 360-degree immersive format.. And the first deal to result from Hulu Documentary Films is a Beatles documentary, with the working title The Beatles: Eight Days a Week, from director Ron Howard, which  will be released in cinemas before becoming available on Hulu.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hulu-nabs-ron-howard-beatles-890450

Swift tops tour table

Taylor Swift's 1989 Tour was the biggest of 2015, generating $61.7 million in revenue. Country star Kenny Chesney was second on $38.1m, followed by The Rolling Stones on $37.3m according to Billboard's annual moneymaker rankings. Billy Joel placed fourth with $30.1m following his record Madison Square Garden run, ahead of Grateful Dead/Dead & Company at $22.5m. The Top 10 was completed by U2 ($20.6m), One Direction ($19.6m), Luke Bryan ($17.9m), Jason Aldean ($17.1m) and Shania Twain ($13.8m). Justin Bieber's Purpose tour, meanwhile, is the biggest of 2016 so far, with overall sales topping $40.5m from 29 concerts. 

http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/touring/7357829/which-artists-were-2015s-biggest-earners-on-the-road

Live Nation up 10% in Q1 2016

Live Nation has reported a 10% rise in Q1 revenue at constant currency to $1.2 billion, thanks to strong performance across its concerts, advertising and ticketing businesses. Operating loss stands at $33bn for the quarter, and the firm expects to deliver record top line and bottom line results in 2016. Concert ticket sales are up 10% in Q1, with over 35 million sold. 21 of the top 25 global tours in 2016 were Live Nation's, including Beyoncé, Coldplay, Guns N’ Roses, Rihanna and Drake, driving a 13% increase in confirmed stadium, arena and amphitheater shows.

http://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/live-nation-revenue-10-q1-2016/

THE REVOLVING DOOR

After 17 years at the helm of the The Association of independent Music (AIM), which represents over 800 UK independent music companies, Alison Wenham (left) is stepping down as Chair/Chief Executive of the organisation to take on a new, global role at Worldwide Independent Network (WIN). WIN will now launch as a standalone trade association.

AEG-owned ticketing company AXS has appointed Giles Bayliss to the role of business development director.

Michael Marion, general manager of the 18,000-capacity Verizon Arena in North Little Rock, Arkansas, has been nominated for the position of second vice-chair of the board of directors of the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM).

John Ozier has been promoted to the position of VP, Nashville Creative for Canada-based rights management firm Ole after three years at the firm.

Brian Celler, who for the last seven years has been MD of U2 management house Principle/Maverick, is joining Universal Music UK. Celler has been appointed EVP, Head of International at the major – where he will report into Chairman and CEO David Joseph.

StubHub announced has Perkins Miller as its new GM of North America. 

Mike Davis has been named CEO of Rhapsody International. Davis previously advised TPG, which just led Spotify's $1bn investment round. He has also worked at UMG. Amd speaking of UMG ..........

Universal Music Group's classical music boss in the US market, Elizabeth Sobol, is leaving the major after three years. Sobol was hired at UMG as President of Decca Label Group in the US by Max Hole, who stepped down as Universal's international boss last year.

Jeremy Erlich, who for the past five years has worked in a central role at UMG as Head of Corporate Development and Strategy, is moving to a Universal label group – Interscope Geffen A&M.

Selina Webb has been promoted at Universal Music UK into a role with a wider remit. She joined UMG in 1998 and has served as Director of Communications since 2010.

Simon Barnabas is joining Universal Music UK as Managing Director of its UMTV division. Barnabas joins the label after a successful 16-year run at Sony Music, most recently as Marketing Director. As MD of UMTV he will report to Universal Music UK chairman and CEO David Joseph. he replaces Adam Corke, who has been promoted to a new wide-ranging international role as VP, Commercial Affairs at UMG, reporting to Universal Music Group’s SVP Commercial Affairs Ross Foster.

Universal Music Group Nashville has appointed Mike Harris as Chief Operating Officer. Previously Harris was Executive Vice President/General Manager for Caroline, the independent label services division of UMG’s Capitol Music Group.

Universal Music Group now has an official chief of video monetization: Barak Moffitt has been promoted to EVP of Content Strategy and Operations

Independent music powerhouse [PIAS] has announced a number of key promotions within its UK division. Jason Rackham, the current Managing Director of [PIAS] Cooperative, the company’s associated labels arm, will become Managing Director of [PIAS] UK. The recently acquired Harmonia Mundi business will be relocating to the [PIAS] London Head Quarters in Bermondsey, with Simon Astridge heading up the dedicated services team for classical and jazz repertoire, reporting to Richard Sefton. Craig Penney has been promoted to Head of [PIAS] Cooperative and Geoff Muncey becomes General Manager of [PIAS] UK.

Nettwerk staffer Karen Macmillan has been appointed as Vice President of Imagem USA Creative Services. In her new role, she will oversee and facilitate North American synchronization for all of the copyrights across the company’s music catalogue.

Gareth Smith has been hired as Sup Pop Publishing’s new Director of A&R. Responsible for all day to day activities of Sub Pop’s Publishing roster, Smith will report directly to Tony Kiewel, VP of A&R.

Warner/Chappell UK boss Richard Manners is leaving the major publisher after 17 years.  One of the most respected A&R minds in the British music industry, Mike Smith, is the new Managing Director of Warner/Chappell UK. Smith switches over from Universal's Virgin EMI, where he was appointed President Of Music in 2013.

And Phil Christie has been appointed President of Warner Bros. Records in the UK. He will take up the role from July, reporting to Max Lousada, Chairman and CEO, Warner Music UK.

Warner/Chappell was last week named Publisher Of The Year at the 33rd annual ASCAP Pop Music Awards. Max Martin picked up Songwriter Of The Year

Former Warner Music UK exec Hannah Dudley has joined Sony Music Nashville as Director, Marketing.

Ynon Kreiz has joined Warner Music Group’s Board of Directors: Kreiz most recently served as Executive Chairman, CEO and President of Maker Studios, the largest content network on YouTube. He joined Maker Studios in 2012, and sold the company to the Walt Disney Company in 2014 for $500m – a figure that could reportedly rise as high as $950m depending on its subsequent performance.

Capitol Records has named Chris York Senior Director of A&R. Based in Nashville, York will sign and develop talent for Capitol as well as continuing to oversee A&R for label signings Striking Matches and Judah and The Lion.

Music social network Crowdmix has laid off around 8% of its staff, and as Business Insider rightly points out,  it's still yet to actually launch its product.

Managing Director of UK-based classical music distributor Select Music, Anthony Anderson, will step down from his post at the end of June, to be replaced by the current Head of Sales and Marketing, David Blake.