SCMS’ Balourdet Quartet, MLC Statutory DesignationHaving mentored musicians and sharing chamber music in homes, schools and health spaces, The Balourdet Quartet (Angela Bae, Justin DeFilippis, Benjamin Zannoni, Russell Houston) returns for a second residency with Seattle’s Chamber Music Society, through May 2027.

--

Launching in 2021, The MLC now has almost 90,000 members and a database of over 54 million songs. With almost $4 billion in royalties distributed to songwriters and publishers to date, the US Copyrights Register continues in its designation of The MLC as the statutory Mechanical Licensing Collective for the United States.

The move follows a periodic review of designation required by the Music Modernization Act (MMA), with The MLC being determined to have met each of the redesignation criteria More HERE. Some improvements were recommended, including database tools, match-rate data disclosure, and investment transparency.

In addition to licensing and distribution, The MLC has also been actively enforcing royalty obligations of digital music services (including a lawsuit with Spotify against subscription bundling, and a dispute with Pandora over ad-supported radio).

The next review of The MLC is slated for January 2029.

The post SCMS’ Balourdet Quartet, MLC Statutory Designation first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Apple Music hikes subscription prices citing ‘rising licensing costs’"As a result of rising licensing costs, Apple Music is increasing its subscription price beginning today," the company said.
Source

Lenny Kaye Brings His Past and Present to ZebulonLenny Kaye is loved by a lot of people. Proper fans of N.Y. punk poet Patti Smith know that Kaye has been working with her from the very beginning, Horses and all. Some would argue that he's equally respected for the Nuggets compilation of "original artyfacts from the first psychedelic era 1965-1968." That album was released in 1972, though it was later blown up into a series of CDs and, in 1998, an awesome four-CD box set. Many of us rock 'n' roll fans not around in the '60s discovered the Strawberry Alarm Clock, the Chocolate Watch Band, the Barbarians and so many others through Nuggets. For that, we're forever grateful.

When we learned that his new album, Goin' Local, is in fact his debut solo record, we had to double check. That felt weird, but it is true. Sorta. He had a band called the Lenny Kaye Connection for a while, so make of that what you will. Still, Goin' Local is the first under Kaye's name alone. We're happy he's done it -- there are some gems on the album, and Kaye played a few of them when he dropped into Zebulon, Los Angeles, in July.

Kaye opened with "Luke the Drifter" from the 1984 LKC album I've Got a Right, before the new record's title track. Other new highlights include "The Things You Leave Behind" (a hoarder's lament) and "World Book Day" (a nuggets-esque bit of twee, sweet, psychedelic garage.

"I see ‘The Things You Leave Behind’ as something that resonates with anyone who collects cultural objects and memorabilia. It reflects that instinct to gather things and the question of what to do with them over time," said Kaye, in a statement. 

Kaye takes time out to read from his book Lightning Striking, as well as Waylon, the autobiography of Waylon Jennings which Kaye co-wrote. The latter is a touching tale about Jennings' memories during his spell in Buddy Holly's band of the tragic plane crash

The set is dotted with covers, including the Velvet Underground's "Run Run Run" and The Box Tops' "The Letter," plus "Naked As the Day You Were Born," originally by the Weather Prophets and produced by Kaye. Opening artist Cindy Lee Berryhill returned to the stage to play The Barbiarians' "Are You a Boy Or Are You a Girl," which was on that Nuggets box set. Our favorite moment was "Ghost Dance," which Kaye recorded with The Patti Smith Group for the Easter album.

All in all, a wonderfully intimate, career-spanning night.The post Lenny Kaye Brings His Past and Present to Zebulon first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Suno scraped YouTube, Deezer to train AI, hacked code reveals – potentially strengthening UMG and Sony’s legal caseThe code was obtained by a hacker who breached Suno and shared it with 404 Media.
Source

BARRY MANILOW TO CELEBRATE LOCAL MUSIC EDUCATORS ACROSS THE U.S.Manilow and Mario Banks, the Manilow Music Teacher Award winner in Newark, NJ. Photo Credit: Mark Ashe 

When the apparently ageless Barry Manilow returns to the road in late July to continue his U.S. arena tour, news today revealed that "he'll once again use the spotlight to recognize the people who inspire the next generation of musicians. At every stop, the GRAMMY®, TONY®, and EMMY® Award-winning icon will present the Manilow Music Teacher Award, honoring an outstanding local music educator whose passion and dedication have made a lasting impact on their students and community."

Manilow with Kenneth Luckey and team in Wilkes-Barr, PA. Photo by Justin Topa.

Manilow will present a whole lot of giant checks to a whole lot of deserving educators, as he did on the last leg of the tour.

"Created through the Manilow Music Project, a program of the Manilow Fund, the Manilow Music Teacher Award recognizes educators whose passion and dedication bring music to life for their students," a statement reads. "Ten outstanding high school music teachers in each tour market are nominated before the public votes to select the local recipient. Each winner receives a $10,000 grant, with $5,000 awarded directly to the teacher and $5,000 designated for new instruments and equipment for their school's music program. The winning educator is presented with the award during a private meet-and-greet with Manilow before the show and is also recognized onstage during the concert."

"Founded after Manilow learned that music programs across the country had been devastated by budget cuts, the Manilow Music Project has donated more than $10 million in instruments and scholarships to high school and college music students, teachers, and music programs nationwide."

Manilow with Trevor Prutsman and team in Buffalo, NY. Photo by Joseph Hrycych

"While Barry continues his extraordinary career with arena shows this summer, he has chosen to share the spotlight with those he believes truly deserve it: music educators," said Matt Parrish, President of the Manilow Fund.

Manilow with Philip Pandori and team in Albany, NY. Photo by Claude Sawyer

According to the statement, the upcoming recipients of the Manilow Music Teacher Awards are:

Charleston, SC (July 30): Ronnie Ward, Westview Middle School

Nashville, TN (August 1): C. Allen Kennedy, Hume-Fogg High School

Columbus, OH (August 2): Gretchen Wyder Zunic, Upper Arlington High School

Lexington, KY (August 4): Robert Bishop, Lafayette High School

Cincinnati, OH (August 5): Kyle Phillips, Princeton High School

Baltimore, MD (August 7): Christopher Gnagey, Catonsville High School

Norfolk, VA (August 8): Emily Wolcott, Oscar F. Smith High School

Greensboro, NC (August 10): Eddie Deaton, Walter Hines Page High School

Duluth, GA (August 11): Quentin Goins, Stephenson High School

Jacksonville, FL (August 13): Alexander Washington, Jacksonville Classical Academy

Manilow with Thérèse Mannino and team in Elmont, NY. Photo by Mark Ashe

Manilow's arena tour resumes July 30 at North Charleston Coliseum in Charleston, SC before continuing to Nashville, Columbus, Lexington, Cincinnati, Baltimore, Jacksonville, and more. For a complete list of tour dates, visit barrymanilow.com/the-last-concerts. 

The post BARRY MANILOW TO CELEBRATE LOCAL MUSIC EDUCATORS ACROSS THE U.S. first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Andi Arya Dwi Putra promoted to Head of TuneCore, IndonesiaHe will lead the Believe-owned distributor’s growth strategy, artist roster and partnerships in the market.
Source

FIFA World Cup 2026: The Songs, the Stats, and Why “Goal” Is Music’s Real MVPAs the FIFA World Cup heads into its final stretch, a new data snapshot from LyricFind highlights something fans already know instinctively: the tournament doesn’t just dominate the pitch—it echoes through music across the globe.

Analyzing more than 17 million songs in its database, the company mapped out how football culture shows up in lyrics, from recurring themes to the players and countries artists reference most. The findings reveal a deep and lasting connection between the sport and the songs that surround it.

Among the most striking takeaways is the dominance of a single word: “goal.” Appearing more than 63,000 times, it stands as the most frequently used football-related term in lyrics.

Other commonly used terms include “champion” (17,800 mentions) and “World Cup” (1,100 mentions). The disparity suggests that while artists may not always reference the tournament directly, they consistently tap into its emotional core—victory, ambition, and the pursuit of greatness.

When it comes to players, Pelé remains the most referenced name in lyrics by a significant margin, with more than 33,000 mentions. His influence extends far beyond his playing career, cementing his legacy as both a sports and cultural icon.

He is followed by a roster of modern and historic greats, including Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, and Diego Maradona—names that continue to symbolize excellence across generations.

Several official and unofficial World Cup songs continue to hold a strong presence in global music culture.

Tracks like “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa),” “The Cup of Life,” and “Wavin’ Flag” have outlived their respective tournaments, continuing to chart and re-emerge in playlists during each World Cup cycle. Their longevity underscores how music can extend the life—and memory—of the event itself.

LyricFind’s VP of Marketing, Alex Bellissimo, emphasized the natural overlap between sport and music, noting, "Music and sport have always spoken the same language. The connection between passion, identity, and belonging runs deep through the World Cup and the songs people sing in the stands and listen to at home during and after the games. This infographic is our way of proving that football not only has an impact on lyrics, but it's a significant one. We're delighted to put a spotlight on it”

Ultimately, the data reinforces what fans experience every four years: the World Cup is as much a cultural event as it is a sporting one. Long after the final match concludes, its influence continues—playing out in lyrics, anthems, and the shared soundtrack of the global game.

Pelé photo by AFP/SCANPIX via NationalencyklopedinThe post FIFA World Cup 2026: The Songs, the Stats, and Why “Goal” Is Music’s Real MVP first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

AEG Presents expands Venue Development team, promoting Cameron Marcotte to VPAlongside Marcotte, Jake Hiersteiner and Mike Ryan have been promoted to Director roles, alongside three new hires.
Source

Grammy Camp Los Angeles Returns This WeekGrammy Camp Los Angeles is taking place this week, starting Sunday, July 12 and running through to Saturday, July 18.

According to a statement, "The Grammy Museum's® Grammy Camp® Los Angeles is a seven-day, non-residential intensive program for high school students with strong proficiency in multiple areas of music and the music industry, including music business, production, songwriting, and instrumental or vocal performance. Students are placed into cohorts where every subject area is represented, creating a collaborative environment that mirrors real-world music industry settings. In cohort-based teams, you'll collaborate across music business, production, songwriting, and performance—learning through the lens of artistry, entrepreneurship, and a DIY mindset. With the freedom to focus on your strengths while exploring new skills, you'll develop the versatility, creativity, and industry insight needed to build a sustainable career in today's music world."

"Grammy Camp gives students the opportunity to explore music in a way that feels connected to the real world," Arin Canbolat, Vice President of Education, Grammy Museum, told MC. "As they build skills in songwriting, production, performance, and music business, they also learn how collaboration and creativity show up in the professional world. What makes the program so powerful is the access students have to Grammy-winning and Grammy-nominated artists and industry professionals, who help students see the many ways a passion for music can become a lifelong pursuit."

Faculty, according to the statement, includes: Chase Jackson, multi-instrumentalist and producer; Jason Goldman, Grammy-winning, multi-platinum music producer, songwriter, composer/arranger, and engineer; JJ Kirkpatrick, internationally acclaimed multi-instrumentalist; Natasha Pasternak songwriter, composer, musician, producer, performer, and professor; Ryan McDiarmid, drummer, recording artist, and educator; Haleigh Bowers, songwriter and faculty member at USC; YULI, Grammy-nominated, platinum selling producer, songwriter, composer, violinist and violist. Guest artists include Grammy-nominated artist WILLOW (pictured) and Latin Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Sofia Reyes."

WHEN: Sunday, July 12 - Saturday, July 18, 2026 PDT

WHERE: WESTLAKE RECORDING STUDIOS

7265 Santa Monica Blvd.

West Hollywood, CA 90046

2026 Los Angeles Grammy Camp Selectees (In Alpha Order by First Name)

Andrew Carlson — Solana Beach, CA

Andrew Tran—Round Rock, TX

Anjali Haaf—San Diego, CA

Asha Dreher—Berkeley, CA

Ava Valianti—Newbury, MA

Ayoade Oladimejij—Greenbelt, MD

Basel Hall—Los Angeles, CA

Baxter Zrob—San Francisco, CA

Bellalina Young—Las Vegas, NV

Brandon Pham—Foothill Ranch, CA

Cabell Williams—Fredericksburg, VA

Calibrooke Myers—Burbank, CA

Campbell Carey—South Pasadena, CA

Carolina Chase Butler—Pasadena, CA

Charlotte Milstein—La Jolla, CA

Chase Gardenhire—Carlsbad, CA

Christopher Wilson—West Hills, CA

Devanjana Rajesh—Irvine, CA

Deven Dhanidina—Irvine, CA

Edie Yvonne—Laguna Hills, CA

Ella Wu—Laguna Hills, CA

Emma Berg—Hillsborough, CA

Emma Nevell—Santa Ana, CA

Emmy Gerth—Washington, IL

Erik Holterman—Hillsborough, CA

Genevieve Bracher—Rutherford, CA

Grady Prance—Peachtree City, GA

Haley Le—Los Angeles, CA

Hudson Brandt—Foster City, CA

Hudson Toney—Mission Viejo, CA

Ian Chenne—Bellevue, WA

Izzy Burris—Carlsbad, CA

Jenner Yaep—North Tustin, CA

Jillian Ritter—Swansea, IL

Joseph Bradic—Los Angeles, CA

Julia Castro—Los Angeles, CA

Kamaiya Whitaker—Compton, CA

Knox Yoon—Encino, CA

Leia Perez—Houston, TX

Leon Schiefele—St. Pete, FL

Londyn Knight—Carson, CA

Lucas Noe—Venice, CA

Lucie Johnson—Burbank, CA

Lucy Rowley—Phoenix, AZ

Maira Srivastava—Palo Alto, CA

Mansen Li—Interlochen, MI

Maxwell Stein—Chicago, IL

Mia McEwen—Miami, FL

Noam Ben-Efraim—San Diego, CA

Oscar Ellsworth—Los Angeles, CA

Parker Beck—Studio City, CA

Parker Winzenried—Los Angeles, CA

Petra Betti—San Anselmo, CA

Phoenix Ferrari—Los Angeles, CA

Raquel Reyes—Sherman Oaks, CA

Ray Lally—West Hills, CA

Rayan Karoui—Phoenix, AZ

Rylie Tyson—Houston, TX

Sawyer Mitchell—San Marcos, CA

Seven McIntosh—Los Angeles, CA

Sienna Kay—Fair Haven, NJ

Sol Vega Storace—Woodland Hills, CA

Sophie Seaver—New Canaan, CT

Sparkle Shabazz—Woodland Hills, CA

Takahiro Yoshida—Kirkland, WA

Trisha Jha—Cerritos, CA

Tvisha Garodia—Castro Valley, CA

Veronica Horosz—Kentfield, CA

William Dearborn—La Canada, CA

Yoyoka Soma—South El Monte, CA

For more information, visit  www.grammymuseum.org

WILLOW photo by Five TowersThe post Grammy Camp Los Angeles Returns This Week first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Meta scraps AI Muse Image feature that scraped Instagram accounts, following CAA backlashUnder the opt-out design, the public Instagram account of any adult artist could be referenced by other users to generate AI images unless the artist switched the feature off
Source

Jason Mraz at the GRAMMY Museum, Los Angeles, CAWeb: jasonmraz.comContact: ashley@ashleywhitepr.com

Sitting down with rising artist Philip Labes for a Q&A session with Dan Povenmire (Phineas and Ferb) following the screening of music documentary The Opener, it is clear that two-time GRAMMY winner and Songwriters Hall of Fame Honoree Jason Mraz is a fan of Labes’ art.

Sharing the inspiring journey of a street performer-turned-opening act, The Opener navigates how the life of a viral TikTok artist changed the day Jason Mraz joined his livestream. “I took a risk [interacting with Mraz] and he stuck around,” shared Labes. “I was already familiar with the music,” says Mraz. “I clicked on it and he says, ‘Hi Jason Mraz.’ I thought maybe A.I. was communicating with me, but it was so sincere. I watched his entire performance that evening.” 

A few days later, Mraz invited Labes to be his opening act.

Labes’ friends, Jeff Toye and Sunya Mara joined the tour to document the adventure, planning to capture social media footage, but the adventure grew into a full-length documentary. Says Mraz, “I still cry when I see it, probably because I can relive my journey through the way Philip conducted himself on this tour. He went above and beyond and absolutely nailed it.” Labes says he feels like it is a “love letter to creatives and the impulse to be creative.” He hopes it inspires more creativity. 

Performing “(This Movie Is) Rated Ours” and fan favorite “I Won’t Give Up,” Mraz interacted with trademark humility, delivering stunning pure vocals and breathtaking guitar stylings, leaving the room in quiet awe before Philip Labes hopped on stage. Sharing new track, “Big Scary Thing,” sing-a-long “CANNONBALL!," and breakout favorite, “A TV Show Called Earth,” Labes’ combination of softness and sharp wit make him an absolute delight. The full-circle evening (Labes busked outside GRAMMY museum doors 13 years ago) was a magical breakout, with Mraz returning to wrap the evening with a gorgeous rendition of biggest hit, “I’m Yours.”

On creating art, Mraz shared to, “take a deep breath, exhale, [and] make a noise. Maybe the first song is all tears, sorrow and chaos, but maybe the next song has a little bit more clarity, and then after that, you have the laughter again.” 

Grandma’s Gospel Favorites—originally recorded almost 20 years ago for Mraz—is out this month, including songs recalled from his earliest church memories, a few standards with mandolin and upright bass, a Johnny Cash cover, and a couple of originals. Features include longtime collaborator Noel ‘Toca’ Rivera, Andy Powers (CEO/Chief guitar designer at Taylor Guitars), and Ray Suen.

Photo courtesy of the Recording Academy, by Rebecca Sapp, Getty ImagesThe post Jason Mraz at the GRAMMY Museum, Los Angeles, CA first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

From Primary Wave’s Kobalt acquisition to CVC’s DistroKid deal… it’s MBW’s weekly round-upThe biggest headlines from the past few days...
Source

12 Madonna Albums That Defin​e Pe​ak Madon​naOn July 3rd, she relea‍sed Confessions II, a full-circle sequel to 2005's Confessions on a Dance Floor that reunites he⁠r with p‍roducer‍ Stuart Pri‍c⁠e for another‍ night⁠ on the dance floor. Acr‍oss more tha⁠n four d‍e‌cades, M‍adonna has never‌ settle⁠d into‍ one ver‌sion of hers‍elf, which is exactly why "peak Madonna" i‍sn't a‍ sing‌le soun‍d —‌ it'‍s a recurring event‍. Here are 12 albums that c⁠ap⁠ture⁠ Madonna at her most Madonna.

Believe restructures global organization to ‘accelerate artist development strategy’Romain Becker named Group COO, Elsa Bahamonde Bourgain to lead combined Artist Services and Label & Artist Solutions
Source

The Over‍looked "Australian Invasion": The '80s Down Under Expl⁠osi⁠on Tha‍t Ne‌ver G‍ot Its DueFrom AC/DC's Back in Black to Men at Work, INXS, and Midnight Oil, Australian artists left an undeniable mark on the 1980s. In this exclusive excerpt from Down Under: The Men at Work and Colin Hay Story, Greg Prato investigates why this remarkable era has remained one of rock history's most underappreciated musical movements.