Recent Classical Highlights for October 2023Some of this month's classical highlights include new recordings by veteran performers, but also new music. Angela Hewitt (pictured) released her second volume of the Mozart piano sonatas, while Heinz Holliger put together a recital of French, primarily 20th century music for oboe, as a few examples of the diversity of recent albums.

Musexpo Conference will honor Goldstein with Seymour Stein - Global A&R AwardMUSEXPO (www.musexpo.net) the renowned annual global music industry conference and showcase event, often dubbed the “United Nations of Music,” recently announced the establishment of the inaugural and annual Seymour Stein - Global A&R Award. The award will be presented by Richard Gottherer, Seymour’s longtime friend and co-Founder of Sire Records, and Seymour’s daughter Mandy Stein.

This prestigious accolade will honor the illustrious career of Wendy Goldstein, Co-President of Republic Records, one of the world’s most accomplished A&R executives. The award ceremony will take place during an A&R Worldwide gala dinner at the MUSEXPO conference, which takes place March 17 - 20 in Burbank, CA, “The Media Capital of The World,” on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, during an A&R Worldwide gala dinner post MUSEXPO, will mark the beginning of a tradition that celebrates excellence in A&R worldwide, and the indomitable spirit of discovery in music.

Seymour Stein, a legend in the music industry known for his discovery of iconic artists, serves as the inspiration behind this award. His unparalleled signings, including Madonna, Talking Heads, The Ramones, The Pretenders, Depeche Mode, The Cure, and many others have left an indelible mark on the music landscape. His dedication to the art of A&R makes him an enduring figure in the music industry, and this award seeks to celebrate and perpetuate his legacy.

Wendy Goldstein, who will be celebrating 30 years in A&R next year, is unquestionably one of the industry’s most gifted A&R executives. She has overseen the careers of renowned artists such as The Weeknd, Ariana Grande, Jonas Brothers, John Legend, Hailee Steinfeld, and many more. Her journey in the music business began as an assistant in the A&R department of Epic Records, followed by impactful stints at Geffen Records where she personally signed the Roots, Common, GZA, Mos Def, and The Bloodhound Gang. She then joined Priority Records/Capitol where she orchestrated a label deal with Disturbing the Peace and oversaw projects for Snoop Dogg, Chingy, Latoya Luckett, and others.

Goldstein joined Republic Records in 2009, initially as an A&R Consultant, later assuming the role of Senior Vice President of A&R in 2011. In 2014, she was appointed Executive Vice President and Head of Urban A&R, solidifying her place as a key figure in the label's leadership.

The Seymour Stein - Global A&R Award will honor Wendy Goldstein’s outstanding contributions to the music industry, highlighting her remarkable A&R skills and her dedication to nurturing talent.

Sat Bisla, President & Founder of A&R Worldwide and MUSEXPO, stated, “Wendy Goldstein’s career is a testament to her unwavering commitment to the art of A&R and her exceptional talent for identifying and developing artists who shape the music industry and impact global pop culture. Wendy’s unique abilities, instincts and musical foresight make her truly remarkable and impactful as an A&R afficionado. She is the embodiment of the spirit of Seymour Stein’s legacy.”

For further information about the Seymour Stein - Global A&R Award, please contact Sat Bisla at sat@anrworldwide.com or call 323.782.0770.

About MUSEXPO:

MUSEXPO is the leading international showcase and networking event for the global music industry, often referred to as the "United Nations of Music." Founded by Sat Bisla, A&R Worldwide, and MUSEXPO have played a pivotal role in connecting emerging artists, established acts, and music industry professionals on a worldwide scale. The conference serves as a dynamic platform for discovering, developing, and promoting musical talent across genres and borders. With a rich history of fostering connections and championing innovation, MUSEXPO continues to be a vital hub for shaping the future of the music industry.

For more information about MUSEXPO, visit www.musexpo.net.

About A&R Worldwide:

A&R Worldwide is an independent, forward-thinking company specializing in music, media, and technology. Leveraging extensive relationships and market knowledge, they facilitate the thriving of these elements in the global marketplace. The company and its team have been instrumental in the early discovery, development, and support of artists such as Muse, LMFAO, Lily Allen, Adele, Coldplay, Katy Perry, and many more. For more information about A&R Worldwide, visit www.anrworldwide.com.

‘AfroFuture’s vision is to bring African art, cuisine, fashion, and music to a global audience.’MBW's Trailblazers series interviews Abdul Karim Abdullah, Co-Founder and CEO of cultural entertainment platform AfroFuture
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Deezer’s ‘artist-centric’ model now has a new ‘user-centric’ element which, despite not really being ‘user-centric’, is quite a clever idea.MBW Explains: Digging into what Deezer's latest addition to 'artist-centric' really means
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Streaming empowered music’s long tail. Is Spotify about to cut it off? [Bill Werde]“The promise of the streaming age was always the long tail,” writes Bill Werse “We all cheered that it would lower barriers to entry and empower artists.” But new royalty. Continue reading
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Fans care about openers, says survey. But for acts, is bigger better?Fans care about opening acts, according to a recent survey by UTA and Variety, and these coveted slots remain a way to build a fanbase. Two graphics from the survey. Continue reading
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How musicians can grow (and keep) a fanbase using RedditReddit may not be the obvious choice for musician-fan engagement, but it has proven to be a great option. Here’s what you need to know to get started… by Chris. Continue reading
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BMG, following ‘more efficient and more effective’ strategy under new CEO Thomas Coesfeld, reorganizes structure; around 40 staff cutMBW obtains internal note that confirms a range of changes at Bertelsmann-owned company
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Getting It Done: The Week in D.I.Y. & Indie MusicLast week, our tips and advice for the independent, do-it-yourselfers out there covered how to utilize SEO, changes in Spotify payouts to artists, how to save money on tour, and. Continue reading
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REWIND: The new music industry’s week in reviewIt was a busy week by any definition and the music industry was no exception, with 50 years of music revenue reviews, Spotify profits growing to new highs, problems with. Continue reading
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The Circuit Group Announces Partnership with Defected RecordsThe Circuit Group (pictured), the new enterprise led by some of the most respected artist managers in the world to build business opportunities around artists’ intellectual property, and global dance music institution Defected Records announced their strategic partnership. Under terms of the agreement, The Circuit Group will provide Defected expertise across their suite of services to help the label build their presence in North America, while Defected will support The Circuit Group as they expand their presence in the UK, Europe, and other territories around the world. Together, they will build new business around artists’ IP.

“Defected Records is without a doubt one of the most respected label brands in the world,” said The Circuit Group co-founder and CEO Dean Wilson. “Working closely with the label head Wez Saunders and his team will be invaluable to us as we continue to establish our new vision across the music landscape. Circuit and Defected are creating a partnership that helps artists build longer lasting, higher impact, more profitable careers across their labels, publishing, events and brand ventures. We’re looking forward to supporting Defected’s further expansion into the North American market.”

The Circuit Group, which was launched earlier this month when two established artist management companies – Seven20 and AYITA – merged to form a new kind of music enterprise. Circuit’s vision is to create a new business model centered around artists’ intellectual property, partnering with artists and strategic partners to create business verticals around recorded music, publishing, merchandise, brand partnerships, gaming, events, Web3 technologies, and cutting-edge music innovations. Circuit principals include industry veterans Dean and Jessica Wilson (Seven20), along with Brett Fischer, David Gray, and Harvey Tadman (AYITA).

Gibson App Launches “Master Chicago Blues with Kirk Fletcher”The Gibson App is guitar learning made easy. It simplifies the learning process and brings guitar playing to life for the current and next generation of guitarists with interactive lessons and songs. The Gibson App is the place for beginners to learn to play guitar, and for intermediate and advanced players to continually challenge themselves to reach new levels. The Gibson App works with any guitar and is accessible for both acoustic and electric guitar players. Inside the Gibson App Guide, players receive exclusive step-by-step guidance and instruction straight from the music icons who write and perform legendary songs. Download the Gibson App on Apple/iOS and Android HERE.

The latest addition to the Gibson App Guide is “Master Chicago Blues with Kirk Fletcher." Players will learn how to master the fundamentals of Chicago Blues with world-renowned blues guitarist extraordinaire Kirk Fletcher who has poured his heart and soul into crafting an exceptional guide that covers Chicago blues in 25 days. Fletcher dives deep into the essence of the famous Chicago blues, sharing his wealth of knowledge and expertise. Players learn every step of the way with video-guided lessons from Kirk Fletcher himself, showing all of his hints and tricks to master the individual parts, jump into the song lessons, and continue to refine newly acquired skills. New lessons and videos are posted every day, “Master Chicago Blues with Kirk Fletcher” is available exclusively on the Gibson App HERE.

From Spotify changing its royalty model to Universal’s $3bn in Q3… it’s MBW’s Weekly Round-UpThe five biggest stories to hit our headlines over the past seven days
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Hipgnosis Songs Fund has been left concussed by ‘discontinuation’. But with a seemingly rock solid ‘call option’, Merck Mercuriadis still holds all the cards.On: Hipgnosis Songs Fund, the all important 'call option', Blackstone, and the most likely outcome of this week's mess
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Did UMG’s CEO just call DistroKid, CD Baby & TuneCore Garbage Merchants?While not calling anyone out by name, UMG CEO Lucien Grainge said anyone involved in music who is struggling to find an audience is a “merchant of garbage” during this. Continue reading
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