In a deal that dwarfs even that of his idol Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen has sold his masters and music publishing to Sony for a whopping $500 million, sources tell Billboard. The publication says the deal may be the biggest payday yet for an individual musical body of work.
Springsteen’s album catalog has sold more than 65 million copies in the U.S. alone. That catalog includes such bestsellers as 1984’s Born in the U.S.A., which has sold 15 million copies, and 1980’s The River, which has sold five million copies.
Billboard estimates Springsteen’s album catalog generated about $15 million in 2020 alone, with his publishing catalog generating about $7.5 million a year.
The publication notes that years ago, Springsteen was granted ownership of his earlier albums as an incentive to re-sign with Columbia, the label for which he’s recorded his entire career.
Last year, Dylan made headlines when Universal Music Publishing Group purchased his catalog for between $375 million and $400 million.
Rush is releasing a collection of rare, never-before-seen photos from the Moving Pictures album cover shoot.
The images were taken by photographer Deborah Samuel, who also shot the covers for the Rush releases Permanent Waves, Exit…Stage Left and Signals. The pics are now being unearthed to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Moving Pictures, and to raise money for the charity organization Grapes for Humanity and its efforts to provide sight-restoring surgeries and “eradicate preventable and curable blindness in low to middle income countries.”
“I clearly remember the day Deborah set up for this cover, and especially the interior series of the Moving Pictures photographs,” says guitarist Alex Lifeson.
“I was jumping around in the dark with a bright strobe flashing away, which was disorienting to say the least, but the results fit so well with the album concept, and I loved the final photos she produced,” Lifeson recalls. “I’m thrilled to revisit them and make the covers and these interior photos available in support of Grapes for Humanity.”
Singer/bassist Geddy Lee adds, “I’m very thankful to Deborah for generously making these rare photographs available to our fans, the proceeds of which will help bring sight to the sightless.”
Moving Pictures, Rush’s best-selling album, hit the big 4-0 this past February. The 1981 record produced the singles “Tom Sawyer” and “Limelight,” as well as the beloved instrumental “YYZ.” It’s been certified five-times Platinum by the RIAA for sales of over 5 million in the U.S.
BMG Rights Management (Europe) GmbH/Sony ATV Publishing/Demetri Jagger
Singer/songwriter Chris Jagger, Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger‘s younger brother, has been hosting a podcast series for the Austin, Texas-based Hot Pie Media podcast network, and he’s revealed that his famous sibling will be joining him on multiple upcoming episodes of the show.
The Jagger brothers are still working out the details of their podcast collaboration, which, according to a press release, “[is] guaranteed to be one-of-kind, uniquely entertaining and the beginning of bigger things to come.”
Hot Pie Media tells ABC Audio that the episodes will feature “scripted portions, as well as allotted time for chatting,” adding, “In addition to [Chris and Mick] creating music beds for some of the content within the episodes, we will encourage them to also perform.”
“I look forward to my brother Mick being a part of my Hot Pie Media podcast series,” Chris says in a statement. “Mick joined me for a duet on my new album…so working together again on my podcast makes our collaboration another family affair!”
Hot Pie Media CEO Robert Walker adds, “Having the Jagger brothers working together on our network is a major milestone for our company. It’s also a very rare opportunity for the public to enjoy these two talented artists performing as a duo.”
Chris, who’s a partner in Hot Pie Media, has co-hosted and/or contributed to a number of podcasts and specials for the network. One of these saw him team up with Mick’s former romantic partner, supermodel Jerry Hall, for a program called Jerry’s Hall of Fame that featured Hall playing and discussing some of her favorite recordings.
Josh: Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images; Billy: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Josh Groban has recorded at least one of Billy Joel‘s songs, but now, he’ll actually be playing the part of The Piano Man himself in a new original scripted series from Audible.
The series is called The Miranda Obsession, and it’s based on a true story that was documented in a 1999 Vanity Fair article of the same name. The audio-only series stars The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’s Rachel Brosnahan as Miranda Grosvenor, the alias of a real-life Louisiana woman who charmed many famous men in the ’70s and ’80s, simply by talking to them on the telephone.
Born Whitney Walton, “Miranda” would call stars late at night, and was reportedly so alluring that the men she called would fall in love with her, just by hearing her voice. Among the people with whom Walton had phone relationships were Billy, Eric Clapton, Warren Beatty, Bob Dylan, Richard Gere, Peter Gabriel, Robert De Niro, Ted Kennedy, Johnny Carson and many more.
Billy was reportedly so entranced by Miranda that he considered writing a musical about her. Others bought her expensive gifts, and, according to Vanity Fair, two of her telephone pals — music producers Quincy Jones and Richard Perry — proposed to her. Walton died in 2016 at age 74.
In a statement, Brosnahan says, “I was completely captivated by the story of Miranda and her intimate relationships with some of Hollywood’s most powerful male players. Not only did she hold her own, but she curated a fantasy on the other end of the telephone and drew men into her design with words alone.”
In addition to Brosnahan and Josh, The Miranda Obsession series will feature Milo Ventimiglia as Richard Perry, and will premiere on Audible April 28, 2022.
Ringo Starr, Joe Walsh and Jeff Lynne are among the more than 40 celebrities featured in the first-ever official video for the late George Harrison‘s chart-topping 1970 hit “My Sweet Lord,” which premiered Wednesday on Harrison’s YouTube channel.
The clip begins with Star Wars great Mark Hamill portraying the head of a clandestine bureau sending one of his agents, played Saturday Night Live alum Fred Armisen, on a quest to find “something out there” that the bureau wants him to see.
Armisen soon teams up with another agent, portrayed ex-SNL cast member Vanessa Bayer, to look for the mysterious “something.”
Along the way, they cross paths or interact with a variety of musicians, actors, comedians and other celebs. In addition to Starr, Walsh and Lynne, the video features appearances by “Weird Al” Yankovic, Jon Hamm, Rosanna Arquette, Patton Oswalt, Reggie Watts, Darren Criss, Taika Waititi, the comedy duos of Tim & Eric and Garfunkel and Oates, and many others. The clip also includes cameos from Harrison’s widow, Olivia, and son, Dhani, who served as an executive producer for the clip.
The “My Sweet Lord” video was written and directed by veteran filmmaker and music video director Lance Bangs, and uses the 2020 mix of the song that’s featured on the deluxe 50th anniversary reissues of George’s classic 1970 solo album All Things Must Pass, which were released this past August.
“Making this was one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life,” says Bangs. “The approach was to represent the song visually while these agents and inspectors kept missing the metaphysical wonder around them…George threaded a sense of humor through all of his videos, so we kept that spirit and filled the cast with friends and admirers of his music, many coming from the current comedy landscape.”
Elton John has notched a major milestone in his illustrious career: He’s just scored his 70th entry on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Sir Elton’s holiday collaboration with Ed Sheeran, “Merry Christmas” has debuted at number 72 on the Hot 100. The festive track sold nearly 12,000 copies and was streamed more than 4.6 million times in its first week of release.
Elton is now one of only 23 artists who’ve racked up at least 70 entries on the Hot 100 since the chart began in 1958.
It’s been a landmark year for Elton. “Merry Christmas” follows his other two collaborations that hit the Hot 100 in 2021: “Cold Heart (Pnau Remix),” which features Dua Lipa, and “One of Me,” with Lil Nas X. Prior to this notable hat-trick, Elton hadn’t appeared on the Hot 100 since 2000.
Meanwhile, “Merry Christmas” has debuted at number two on Billboard‘s Adult Contemporary radio airplay chart, where’s Elton’s 41st top 10. Elton holds the record for the most top 10s on this ranking; Neil Diamond is in second place with 38.
As previously reported, “Merry Christmas” is also number one in the U.K. Elton recently teamed with Ed to perform his new Christmas hit live for the first time when they took over BBC Radio 1’s stage.
Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine has announced his first signature guitar as part of his new partnership with Gibson.
The Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP is available in two finishes: Antique Natural and Silver Metallic. According to a press release, the axe provides “the powerful, heavy sounds and exceptional playing performance on the stage and in the studio that Dave demands.”
A limited pre-release for the Mustaine Flying V EXP has already sold out, but more are set to go on sale for the official launch in February 2022. For more info, stay tuned to Gibson.com.
Mustaine announced his partnership with Gibson this past February following a years-long collaboration with Dean Guitars.
Here’s wishing a speedy recovery to KISS frontman Paul Stanley, who revealed in a Twitter post that he’s having an operation on his shoulder today.
According to the message, this will be the latest in a series of surgical procedures on his shoulder.
“SHOULDER SURGERY TODAY! How many show related surgeries have I had?? I lost count at EIGHT!!” writes Stanley. “Was it worth it?!? ABSOLUTELY! Judge the value of what of you have by what you sacrificed to achieve that goal. This was a joy-filled BARGAIN.”
Earlier this year, the singer/guitarist weathered a bout with COVID-19 that briefly sidelined KISS’ End of the Road farewell tour. The trek is scheduled to resume next year with an Australian leg that kicks off March 19 in Melbourne.
In his career, Kragen managed stars like Lionel Richie, Kenny Rogers, The Bee Gees, Olivia Newton-John and The J. Geils Band, country stars Trisha Yearwood and Travis Tritt, and entertainers like Burt Reynolds and The Smothers Brothers. He also produced The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and The Gambler movies, starring Rogers.
However, Kragen is best known for his involvement in “We Are the World.” In 1984, actor and humanitarian Harry Belafonte asked Kragen to help organize a concert to raise money for African famine relief. Kragen suggested a charity single instead, and was instrumental in helping to line up the talent who appeared on the “We Are the World” single, co-written by Richie and Michael Jackson.
Released in 1985, “We Are the World” featured everyone from Stevie Wonder, Bob Dylan, Tina Turner, Diana Ross and Ray Charles to Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Steve Perry, Hall & Oates, Cyndi Lauper and Huey Lewis. It topped the Billboard Hot 100, became the first single ever to be RIAA-certified multi-Platinum, and raised more than $64 million for poverty relief in Africa and the U.S.
That same year, thanks to his efforts, Kragen became one of only a few private citizens ever to receive the United Nations’ Peace Medal.
In May of 1986, Kragen organized “Hands Across America,” which saw 6.5 million people linking hands across the U.S. for 15 minutes to create a human chain. Celebrities who participated included Rogers, Kenny Loggins, Bob Seger, Dionne Warwick, Yoko Ono, Robin Williams, Michael J. Fox, Michael Jackson, Brooke Shields and President Ronald Reagan. That project raised $15 million for hunger and homelessness.
Kragen went on to serve on the boards of numerous charities, lecture and teach at various universities, and produce part of Bill Clinton‘s 1992 presidential inauguration. He wrote the 1994 best-selling book Life Is a Contact Sport, won two MTV Awards and an American Music Award, and was nominated for two Emmy Awards.
Kinks guitarist Dave Davies has written a new autobiography titled Living on a Thin Line that’s scheduled to be released on July 7, 2022, in hardcover and e-book editions.
According to TheBookseller.com, the memoir will feature Dave’s recollections and anecdotes about The Kinks’ heyday, his turbulent relationship with his brother Ray — the band’s lead singer and main songwriter — the group’s legacy and much more.
The book also will include stories about Dave crossing paths with various other music legends, among them John Lennon and Jimi Hendrix.
“I’ve had a laugh, and shed quite a few tears, thinking back over the last six decades since The Kinks had our first hit in 1964 with ‘You Really Got Me,'” says Dave in a statement. “Here are the ups and downs of my life in The Kinks and what happened afterwards. Prepare to be amazed and, I hope, surprised.”
Editor Richard Roper, who acquired the rights to Davies’ book for the Headline Publishing Group, states, “Dave is hands-down one of the greatest musicians to pick up a guitar. His fans will absolutely adore it.”
Dave previously published a memoir titled Kink in 1996, but a post on his Instagram page reports that Living on a Thin Line “is ALL NEW WRITING never before seen in his previous autobiography — a completely new book to enjoy.”
