John Mellencamp

John Mellencamp

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John Mellencamp, Jermaine Dupri Among 2018 Songwriters Hall Of Fame Inductees

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Alan Jackson, Kool & The Gang also selected for this year's class of songwriting legends
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Feb 6, 2018 - 4:29 pm

It all starts with a song. On Feb. 6, the Songwriters Hall Of Fame announced their class of 2018, led by a five-pack of GRAMMY-winners: John Mellencamp, Jermaine Dupri, Alan Jackson, Kool And The Gang, and Allee Willis. GRAMMY nominees Bill Anderson and Steve Dorff round out this year's class.

Anthony Hamilton, Jermaine Dupri talk songwriting

"The 2018 roster of Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees is a prodigious representation of creators of cross-genre hits, certain to resonate with everyone," said SHOF co-chairs Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff and President/CEO Linda Moran in a joint statement. "Each year, the slate of songwriters we induct is more diverse and illustrative of the history and contributions that we strive to acknowledge and honor."

Mellencamp penned such iconic hit roots rock songs as "Jack And Diane," "Small Town," and "Hurts So Good," which earned him the GRAMMY for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Male for 1982 at the 25th Annual GRAMMY Awards. 

As the man behind super-hits such as the GRAMMY-winning "We Belong Together" by Mariah Carey and "Burn" by Usher, Dupri's songs have been recorded by everyone from Aretha Franklin to Janet Jackson to Notorious B.I.G. His songwriting style and output have left a permanent imprint on pop, R&B, and hip-hop, and he shows no signs of slowing down.

The songwriting quartet of Robert “Kool” Bell, Ronald Bell, George Brown & James “JT” Taylor, better known as Kool And The Gang, enjoyed wild success in the '70s, and earned a GRAMMY for their involvement in Saturday Night Fever – Soundtrack, which won for Album Of The Year at the 21st GRAMMY Awards.

Willis is best known for co-writing the Broadway musical "The Color Purple" as well as "I'll Be There For You," the theme song from the television show "Friends."

Jackson has written and recorded more than 20 No. 1 hits, placing him in an elite club with Paul McCartney and John Lennon, and establishing himself as one of the top country songwriters of all-time.

From his first major label cut in 1958, Bill Anderson has had the magic touch, writing hits for artists from Ray Price to Brad Paisley across several decades.

With placements including Whitney Houston, Garth Brooks, and Celine Dion, Steve Dorff enters the Hall not only on the strength of his 12 No. 1 hits and countless awards, but also for his many songs written for hit TV shows, including "As Long As We Got Each Other," the theme from the sitcom "Growing Pains."

The Songwriters Hall Of Fame's 49th Annual induction ceremony, set for June 14, will honor this accomplished group of songwriters at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City. Tickets are available via the organization's website.

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Alan Jackson

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Alan Jackson Announces 2020 U.S. Tour

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The "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" singer announces a sprawling 18-date run spanning most of next year
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Nov 7, 2019 - 3:44 pm

GRAMMY-winning country music megastar Alan Jackson might just be kicking up dust in your town in 2020. The Georgia-born, Nashville-based singer announced an 18-show tour that stretches across the U.S. and most of next year.

The run kicks off Jan. 10 in Cincinatti, Ohio, and wrapping Oct. 3 in Denver, Colo., with notables stop along the way in Atlanta on Valentine's Day, at Stagecoach in Indio, Calif. on Apr. 26, and his first show in Nashville in three years, set for Aug. 7 at Bridgestone Arena.

Tour openers are still yet to be announced, but according to a statement, "Many of the tour stops will showcase some of Jackson’s favorite rising stars who play at AJ’s Good Time Bar, his self-owned honky-tonk on downtown Nashville’s famed 'Lower Broadway.'" 

A member of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Songwriting Hall of Fame, Jackson's racked up 20 GRAMMY nominations and two wins in his 30-plus-year career. His most recent album is 2015's Angels And Alcohol.

Tickets for some shows are available now with other dates going on-sale soon. Visit Jackson's website for a full list of dates and ticket info.

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Jermaine Dupri

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Jermaine Dupri & T.I. Lead REVOLT Summit Atlanta Industry Speakers Lineup

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The three-day hip-hop summit will also feature Quality Control's Coach K and Pierre “Pee” Thomas plus Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Ester Dean and more
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Aug 20, 2019 - 5:10 pm

Hip-hop cross-platfrom media juggernaut REVOLT TV has unleashed the first wave of speakers for its REVOLT Summit Atlanta, set to toake place Sept. 12-14, and it packs quite the hip-hop punch. Led by GRAMMY winners Jermaine Dupri and T.I., the lineup also includes local Atlanta legends and Quality Control Founders Coach K and Pierre “Pee” Thomas as Co-Chairs, AtlanAtlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and GRAMMY nominated singer/songwriter, producer and actriess Ester Dean.

“This is the first big announcement of many for REVOLT Summit in Atlanta,” said Sean “Diddy” Combs. “I’m excited that Coach K and Pierre “Pee” Thomas will join me as co-chairs of the Atlanta Summit.  We’ve got many big & exciting announcements to come that will include established artists, leaders & the real next generation of cultural voices.”

Dupri will join Dallas Austin and Rico Wade on "The Pioneers Panel," to discuss their storied careers and the impact of their work on Southern rap. T.I. and Mayor Lance Bottoms aong with Eboni K. Williams will take part in "Trap The Vote: Hip Hop & Politics," moderated by Jeff Johnson. Mayor Lance Bottoms will present Combs with  Atlanta’s “Key to the City,” the Phoenix Award.

Coach K and Pee will lead a discussion titled, "Quality Control: The Blueprint Behind Hip Hop's Most Influential Imprint," which will offer insight into the business of Hip Hop, cover their personal path to success and provide advice for attendees. The duo will also speak on "The Making Of Since The '80s" panel with Kei Henderson and Zekiel Nicholson. Dean, will participate in the Songwriting 101 panel and judge REVOLT's "Be Heard" competition featuring performances from five finalists selected from over 100 applicants.

Last month, REVOLT kicked things off with a preview event in New York. After the Atlanta Summit, the festivities head to Los Angeles Oct. 24-26.

Tickets for REVOLT Summit Atlanta and Los Angeles are available now via REVOLT's website.

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Report: Global Music Sales Climb To $19 Billion In 2018, Nearly Half From Streaming

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A 9.7 percent overall increase marks the highest annual bump in recent history and is led by notable rises in Latin America, Asia and Australia
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Apr 3, 2019 - 4:34 pm

The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry has released the new Global Music Report 2019, showing an overall increase in sales of 9.7 percent in 2018. This jump is the highest rate since the IFPI began tracking the market in 1997.

“Last year represented the fourth consecutive year of growth, driven by great music from incredible artists in partnership with talented, passionate people in record companies around the world," said IFPI chief executive Frances Moore. “Record companies continue their investment in artists, people and innovation both in established markets and developing regions that are increasingly benefitting from being part of today’s global music landscape."

Streaming, which we know was ruled by rap and hip-hop in 2018, accounted for 47 percent of all income, according to IFPI. This reflects a 34 percent growth from 2017, illustrating there is no slowing in streaming's proliferation among consumers. The gap continues to widen between streaming and previous format titans such as physical music, which saw a 10.1 percent decline in revenue, and digital downloads, which dropped by 21.2 percent.

The fastest growing region, according to the report, is Latin America, which saw a big pickup especially in Brazil and Mexico. Asia and Australia came in as the second largest region for combined physical and digital revenue.

The K-pop explosion was also represented in the report, with an 18 percent rise in music sales in South Korea, which can be credited to breakout years from groups such as BTS and BLACKPINK. 

IFPI's full "State Of The Industry" report can be read here.

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Shania Twain_122718

Shania Twain

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The 100 Best-Selling Albums Ever: Eagles, Michael Jackson, Shania Twain & More

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Heading into the new year, the RIAA has updated its list of the albums that moved the most units—where does your favorite artist rank?
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Dec 27, 2018 - 12:24 pm

As the sun sets on 2018 and the music industry looks forward to the year ahead, the Recording Industry Association Of America has updated its list of gold and platinum album sales, providing a look in the rear view mirror.

The battle for the top spot continues, as the Eagles and Michael Jackson both jockey for No. 1. The Eagles dethroned the King of Pop this past summer—in terms of album sales, that is— when the RIAA certified Their Greatest Hits as 38x platinum, edging out M.J.’s Thriller at 33x platinum. The latest top five includes another Eagles album, Hotel California, at 26x platinum, as well as Billy Joel’s Greatest Hits Volume I and Volume II and Led Zeppelin’s Led Zeppelin IV with 23x platinum sales each.

Fleetwood Mac’s 1977 classic, Rumours, rounds out the top 10, followed closely by Shania Twain’s Come On Over, making Twain’s 1997 hit the highest ranking album by a female solo artist. Both albums sold over 20 million copies.

The folks at Digital Music News took the list a step further, compiling the top-selling artists of all-time, according to RIAA’s certified gold and platinum sales data. The Beatles top that list with 178 million certified units, followed by Garth Brooks, Elvis Presley, the Eagles, and Led Zeppelin rounding out the top 5. Women in the top 20 include Barbra Streisand (No. 12), Madonna (No. 16), Mariah Carey (No. 17), and Whitney Houston (No. 19).

Looking ahead, the RIAA has a big change of its own coming in 2019. Longtime chairman and CEO Cary Sherman is retiring after over 20 years with the organization, leaving behind an admirable legacy as a true music champion as an advocate for empowering music to thrive in the digital marketplace. With all the industry’s changes, one wonders who will top this list in another 20 years.

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