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Saturday, May 28, 2022

Justin Timberlake Sells Rights To Song Catalog To Hipgnosis

Pop icon Justin Timberlake has sold his song catalog rights to Hipgnosis Songs Capital, a fund backed by private equity firm Blackstone.

Hipgnosis announced on Friday that it has bought 100 percent "of all of Justin Timberlake's copyright, ownership and financial interests of the writer and publisher's share of public performance income, and the catalog of musical compositions written by Justin Timberlake."

The sale also includes "the worldwide administration rights to the compositions, subject to the remaining term of Universal Music's administration rights, which expire in 2025."

"I am excited to be partnering with Merck and Hipgnosis - he values artists and their creative work and has always been a strong supporter of songwriters and storytelling," Timberlake said. "I look forward to entering this next chapter."

"Justin Timberlake is not only one of the most influential artists of the last 20 years, but he's also one of the greatest songwriters of all time. His hit songs including 'Cry Me a River,' 'Rock Your Body,' 'SexyBack,' 'My Love,' 'What Goes Around.Comes Around,' 'Suit & Tie,' 'Mirrors' and 'Can't Stop the Feeling' are amongst the most iconic of the period. Putting this deal together has been a complete labor of love," Hipgnosis Song Management founder Merck Mercuriadis said.

Financial details of the deal weren't disclosed. Citing unnamed sources, the Wall Street Journal said the value of the deal could be "just above $100 million" and does not include future works.

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Kelly Clarkson Announces EP Based On Popular 'Kellyoke' Segment

Kelly Clarkson has announced a Kellyoke EP based on the hit segment from her daytime talk show, "The Kelly Clarkson Show."

The six-track album, featuring the studio versions of some of her favorite covers performed on the show, will be released on June 9 via Atlantic Records.

"Music is in the DNA of everything I do, so when The Kelly Clarkson Show started we knew it was the perfect way to kick off every episode," Clarkson said in a statement announcing the new album. "Over 500 songs later, and we're still not running out of amazing artists to pay tribute to."

"Picking just six was near-impossible, but these songs have been some of my favorites. Thanks for singing along with me y'all," the Grammy Award-winning singer added.

Clarkson's announcement was accompanied by the release of her popular "Kellyoke cover" of Billie Eilish's "Happier Than Ever," which was first performed during a September 2021 episode of "The Kelly Clarkson Show."

Kellyoke EP Track List:

1. "Blue Bayou" (by Linda Ronstadt) 2. "Call Out My Name" (by the Weeknd) 3. "Happier Than Ever"(by Billie Eilish) 4. "Queen of the Night"(by Whitney Houston) 5. "Trampoline"(by Shaed) 6. "Fake Plastic Trees"(by Radiohead)

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Lorde Praises Kendrick Lamar As 'Most Popular And Influential Artist In Modern Music'

Kendrick Lamar is the "most popular and influential artist in modern music," according to Lorde.

"I'm loving Kendrick," the singer-songwriter wrote in her email newsletter to fans. "I cannot get over the most popular and influential artist in modern music displaying a working nervous system, admitting mistakes, trying to process intergenerational trauma and prejudice."

"I love the way the album opens, the pace and heat of the first few songs, and later 'Count Me Out,' the build and strings in 'Auntie Diaries'. special," Lorde added, referring to Lamar's new album, Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers.

The double LP, which is Lamar's fifth full-length album, was released on May 13.

It debuted atop the Billboard 200 chart, marking the third consecutive No. 1 album in the rapper's career.

Lorde, who is currently in London as part of her ongoing Solar Power Tour, is set to embark on the European leg in June.

(Photo: Ophelia Mikkelson Jones)

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Atlantis Concert For Earth To Feature Black Eyed Peas, Pitbull, Sting & More

The inaugural Atlantis Concert for Earth it set to feature performances from Black Eyed Peas, Pitbull and Sting, among others.

Atlantis Entertainment announced the first-ever edition of the Atlantis Concert for Earth, a two-day nonprofit concert to promote global conservation efforts. The event is set to take place from July 22 to July 23 in Sete Cidades, Portugal.

Stone Temple Pilots, Bush, Mod Sun and Girlfriends are also set to perform, while Nicole Scherzinger will be the event's host as well as perform.

"Nature is the true headliner at the Atlantis Concert for the Earth," said will.i.am of Black Eyed Peas in a statement. "It is a surreal other-worldly experience to perform on the rim of an extinct volcanic crater to celebrate the Rockstars of Conservation while using music as a megaphone to call attention to the need for global conservation."

Ticket for the two-day concerts are available to Azores locals on the event's website. Performances will be livestreamed worldwide for free on July 23 via Veeps.

In addition to the music performances, the show will highlight the work of a variety of conservationists and organizations focused on the environment, including Lennon's White Feather Foundation.

"These days, words 'climate' and 'climate crisis' trigger so many different emotions from all walks of life," said Nuno Bettencourt, CEO and co-founder of Atlantis Entertainment. "It shouldn't matter who you voted for, we don't judge what your political color is internationally or, here in the U.S. if you are Republican, Democrat, Black, white, Hispanic, rich or poor."

He added, "Because whatever we are, whether we like it or not, we share the same air, the same water and the same soil. We have all heard about the urgency, but fear is not the answer."

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