One of the largest record labels in the world, Warner Music Group (WMG) has announced it intends to purchase Believe SA, a French digital music company. Among the many companies Believe owns includes a controlling stake in Nuclear Blast Records (acquired in 2018) and its offshoot Blood Blast Distribution, as well as Tunecore a Brooklyn, New York–based digital music distribution, publishing and licensing service founded in 2006. Tunecore distributes music through online retailers such as iTunes, Deezer, Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Music, Google Play, Tidal, Beatport. According to the press release you can read below, Warner “would provide Believe with strategic support and financial stability to help the development and growth of the Company, including by accelerating its expansion into new geographies.” Nuclear Blast founded in 1987 in Germany, is home to some of the greatest bands in Metal such as, Slayer, Anthrax, Testament, C.O.C., Nightwish, Sepultura, Sabaton, In Flames, Lamb of God (Europe), and countless others. In addition to their legendary main brand known for Rock, Pop, Country, and Dance music, WMG owns a ton of sub labels boasting some of the biggest names in Hard Rock, Metal and Punk like 10K Projects, 300 Entertainment (Highly Suspect, Waterparks), Asylum, Atlantic (Shinedown, Halestorm) Big Beat, Elektra Entertainment (formerly: Metallica, Slipknot & Paramore – current: twenty one pilots, Brandi Carlile, Sturgill Simpson) Erato, First Night, Fueled By Ramen (Fall Out Boy, Jimmy Eat World, A Day To Remember), Nonesuch, Parlophone (Iron Maiden), Reprise (Lamb of God in the USA, Deftones, Disturbed, Crosses), Rhino (boxed sets, vinyl and CD reissues, and countless legacy releases), Roadrunner (Gojira, Turnstile, Motionless In White, Trivium, newly signed Deafheaven, Coheed and Cambria, Stone Sour), Sire, Spinnin’, Warner Records, Warner Classics, and Warner Music Nashville. WMG’s music publishing arm, Warner Chappell Music, as well as artist management and services divisions. If the sale goes through, it remains to be seen what shape the deal would have and what impact is might have for Nuclear Blast and Tunecore. Stay tuned for more news on this story.Continue reading
Tag Archives: Apple Music
Metallica’s “Master of Puppets” Enters The Billboard Charts After Being Featured in “Stranger Things”
Metallica’s Master Of Puppets album and its title track has entered the Billboard charts as well as Spotify and Apple Music top rankings, 36 years after its release. This is in just one week following its appearance in the season four finale of Netflix’s hit series “Stranger Things”. The popularity of the 1986 song, used in the series, brought it to the Billboard Hot 100 chart for the first time ever in the band’s lengthy career. It is also #22 in the Spotify Global Top 50, which includes Pop and Rap music, as well as number one on the Apple Music Rock chart. Continue reading
Watch Metallica’s Career-Spanning Interview with Zane Lowe of Apple Music
To celebrate 40 years of Metallica, the band joins Zane Lowe for a career-spanning conversation exploring the group’s early days, seminal moments, lineup changes, and the secrets to longevity. They also discuss why their 2004 documentary ’Some Kind of Monster’ was so ahead of its time, gratitude for former bassist Jason Newsted, the status of new music on the way, and more. The band will perform two 40th anniversary shows at The Chase Center in their hometown of San Francisco, CA this December 17th and 19th.
Ghost, Juanes, and Rodrigo y Gabriela Create Apple Music Playlists Celebrating Metallica’s “Black Album” 30th Anniversary
In celebration of the 30th anniversary of Metallica’s “The Black Album” and the forthcoming ’The Metallica Blacklist’ 53-Song covers album, Ghost, Juanes, and Rodrigo y Gabriela have curated exclusive Apple Music playlists showcasing their love for Metallica as well as tracks from other beloved rock icons.
Rob Zombie Discusses Being Hated On by Slayer Fans and Being “The World’s Biggest Cult Artist”,
In his latest ‘At Home With’ conversation on Apple Music, Zane Lowe is joined by Rob Zombie who discusses riding out quarantine from a farm in Connecticut, becoming friends with his heroes, being “the world’s biggest cult artist”, Alice Cooper as a mentor, why he stopped collecting posters, and discovering music from filmmaking. He also recalls the first time he met Ozzy Osbourne, how White Zombie was widely hated by most bigger bands and their fans when they started and much more!
AC/DC Share The Stories Behind Their Biggest Hits with Zane Lowe of Apple Music Hits
AC/DC legends Angus Young and Brian Johnson joined Zane Lowe on Apple Music to discuss their most celebrated songs, like “Highway to Hell” and “It’s a Long Way To The Top”, one of the most successful albums of all time, Back in Black, dealing with the loss of bandmate and lead vocalist, Bon Scott, and the addition of Brian to the band. Every other weekend on Essentials Radio, a rotating cast of hosts explores the legendary hits that turned some of their favorite artists into superstars and household names. The band’s latest album Power Up is out now!
Foo Fighters’ Chris Shiflett Hosts the latest Episode Medicine At Midnight Radio on Apple Music
Chris Shifflet of Foo Fighters discusses his career, his love of Country Music, and his time with No Use For A Name in episode 2 of Medicine At Midnight Radio on Apple Music. You can listen below and see some quotes from the show. Fans can tune in to Medicine At Midnight Radio every day this week at 4:00p PST on Apple Music Hits at apple.co/FFRadio or anytime on-demand. The series continues tomorrow with Rami Jaffee’s episode. Medicine At Midnight Radio will include six hour-long episodes each hosted by a separate band member where they’ll explore their personal inspirations, musical journeys, and reflect on the creative process behind the album.
Maynard James Keenan Talks New Puscifer Album, Aliens, and COVID-19 with STROMBO on Apple Music
Music legend Maynard James Keenan (Tool, Puscifer, a perfect circle) appeared on STROMBO’s show on Apple Music Hits to reflect on Puscifer’s most recent album, share stories about his peers, mental health, and his experience getting COVID-19 twice. Listen to STROMBO interview MJK at Apple Music and read select quotes from their chat below.
System of a Down Discuss Reunion and New Music with Zane Lowe of Apple Music
System of a Down had one of the biggest stories in 2020 when they reunited and released two new songs for charity to benefit Armenia. Now Serj and Shavo have joined Zane Lowe on Apple Music to discuss their new songs “Protect the Land” and “Genocidal Humanoidz”, why they hadn’t come back before now, except as a live act, and more. Watch the video and read some excerpts now courtesy of Zane Lowe on Apple Music.
Deftones Reveal More of New Album Title, Artwork, and First Tease of Music
In a story we have been following, Deftones have shared more clues for their new album, reportedly (over at Metalsucks) titled Ohms, and will be released on September 25th via Reprise Records. The band is due to release both a brand new album and a 20th-anniversary edition and a remix album of their classic White Pony, dubbed Black Pony. The band leaked out clues like a treasure hunt for their new artwork, which you can see below started doing press this week (where the titled was shared) and now a stream of a sample of the title track and the tracklist all on Apple Music. The artwork kind of looks like the end of the “When Doves Cry” video, by Prince! Check it out!