Veteran rapper Big Sean —whose new album “Better Me Than You” is out next month —has signed with Brandon Silverstein’sS10 Entertainment, the company announced Monday. (The two, with Sean on the right, are pictured above.)
“Brandon shares the vision, understands where I’m headed, and I’m incredibly excited to work with him and the S10 team,” said the Grammy-nominated rapper, whose collaboration with Eminem, “Tobey,” at No. 24 on the Hot 100.
S10 also includes a publishing division, as well as film and investment. It has partnerships with Jay-Z,Max Matsuura,Ryan Tedder,Simon Fuller others. Silverstein also managed Brazilian superstar Anitta for several years before parting ways with her in June of last year and continues to manager Puerto Rican singer-rapper Myke Towers.
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+ Music Votes, a coalition of music industry nonprofits in the voting and activism spaces, has announced its first wave of partners participating in its voting-improvement process (which includes registration, ensuring the correct voter I.D., and turning out). The partners are: Artist for Artist, Artist Rights Alliance, AEG Presents, ASM Global, Bandsintown, Downtown, Echoette: Sound + Vision, Fenway Recordings, High Road Touring, Music Business Association, Music Managers Forum-US, National Independent Talent Organization (NITO), Redeye, Songwriters of North America (SONA), Vector Management, and Wasserman Music.
Music Votes has also added new members for the industry to get involved with civic engagement, music policy, Disability Culture, gun violence prevention, and gender equity while providing additional options to support social and racial justice.
“We are honored to have such amazing support, both from our coalition members, and our new partners,” says Eleanor Anderson, MSA Board Member. “It is important for the music industry to present a unified front, and the support we have from labels, promoters, venues and more shows that the music industry is ready to mobilize and encourage everyone to exercise their right to vote.”
Music Votes will also be hosting a webinar on Thursday August 1st at 2p ET, led by Bill Werde, director of Syracuse University’s Bandier Program. Head here for more information.
+ BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville has signed K. Michelle, marking the singer-songwriter’s full-fledged move into country — last year, she’d announced that her sixth album, “I’m the Problem,” was her final R&B outing.
“When we first met K. Michelle, she radiated her passion for country music. It’s the fabric of who she is because the lyrics represent truth. She’s built an incredible fanbase with her unique vocals anchored with storytelling at its heart and that is what transcends genres,” saysKatie Kerkhover, VP, A&R at BMG.
“I have been ready. I am grateful for this moment,” sharesK. Michelle. “Rebels and Real Outlawz, it’s time! I am excited and want to thank my BMG Team. I am happy to finally sing the music I grew up on. I am a country girl at heart and can’t wait to share my country music with you.”
+Soundful has announced a “first-of-its-kind” AI music competition withKaskadeand SoundCloud. The competition offers aspiring artists an opportunity to showcase their songwriting talents, as well as win a chance to perform live alongside Kaskade, and release a track on his label, Arkade.
Participants are invited to create a track from Kaskade’s Collab style — Soundful Collabs capture artists’ core music musical aesthetic, or “Sonic DNA,” enabling users to create tracks that sound like their favorite artists. Participants are encouraged to modify the track to reflect their unique style.
The first-place winner will have their track completed and released by Kaskade as a featured artist, perform live with Kaskade at one of his upcoming shows, and receive a two-year Soundful Pro plan, one year of SoundCloud Next Pro, a $1,000 cash prize from Soundful, as well as up to $1,000 towards travel expenses for the meet and greet. Apply here by Aug. 12, 2024.
+ Alison Donald, Kobalt’s head of global creative, has announced she will be leaving the company at the end of the month to pursue other endeavors. During her seven-year tenure at the company, Donald has signed Sam Fender,Cigarettes After Sex,Koffee,Gabriels,Jungle,Khruangbin, Rage Against the Machine, The Last Dinner PartyandTom Odell.
“Alison’s fervor for creativity and music have always been felt throughout the entire organization, inspiring our teams every day,” said Kobalt PresidentJeannette Perez. “Her palpable energy and enthusiasm will be missed by everyone at Kobalt. We wish her all of the best as she embarks on her next journey.”
Donald joined Kobalt from Columbia Records UK, where she was co-president. Previously, she held senior posts at Chrysalis Music Publishing and Warner/Chappell Music, and earlier in her career was at Capitol/EMI Records and Arista Records.
“Working with the team at Kobalt and all of the incredible artists and writers on the roster has been very rewarding, I am extremely proud of what we’ve all achieved,” said Donald. “I’m sad to be leaving both my friends at Kobalt and our wonderful roster but I am looking forward to the next chapter.”
