Music Industry
Artists Are Complaining About Their Record Labels Forcing Them To Make TikToks, But That's Nothing New
Celebrities not wanting to spend time making little videos for their audiences is nothing new.
If You’re Waiting For COVID To End To Date, You Might Be Waiting A Long Time
"They are concerned and they’re cautious, but they’re sick of having to be and they want to live their lives."
That Photo Of Billie Eilish Isn’t Brave. It’s Just Typical.
In the pursuit of body positivity, we’ve tipped over into an absurd place — where merely existing in a body larger than a size 0 is considered courageous.
Taylor Swift And The End Of An Era
Love her or hate her, Taylor Swift embodied the contradictions of the decade in pop music.
Taylor Swift Says She Plans To Rerecord Her Music Catalog After It Was Acquired By Scooter Braun
Swift says she will "absolutely" rerecord her old music.
Meet The Man Who Gave The World Justin Bieber
Scooter Braun is a veritable hitmaker — and he started with a 12-year-old nobody singing R&B covers in Stratford, Ontario. (An excerpt from Amos Barshad’s No One Man Should Have All That Power.)
These Instagram Messages Led To A Billboard Magazine Editor Being Accused Of Sexual Harassment
"He was trying to leverage his role as an editor at a massive magazine, to get himself off that night," Nik Thakkar told BuzzFeed News. "It’s manipulation. It’s orchestrated.”
How Becky G Relaunched Her Music Career — In Spanish
After a “lonely” start in the music industry as a teenage one-hit wonder, Becky G is riding the new wave of women in reggaeton as Latin pop takes over YouTube.
Parents Told Police Their Daughter Is Being Held Against Her Will In R. Kelly’s “Cult”
As the R&B legend tours the country this summer, parents have told police that R. Kelly is keeping women against their will in an abusive "cult" that's tearing families apart. Three former members of Kelly’s inner circle told BuzzFeed News similar stories.
Who Decides What Gets Played On The Radio? More And More, It's Listeners
Recent fan-chosen singles from Drake and Future show how even the oldest traditions in popular music are shifting.
The Fyre Festival Fiasco Shows How Insane The Festival Market Has Become
"You always have to be upping your game because the competition is so fierce."
Young Grammy Nominees Are Embracing The 'Dated' Tradition
D.R.A.M., Kelsea Ballerini, Gallant, and Sofi Tukker on what makes the Grammys useful.
Apple Music Subscriptions Doubled In 2016
But it still hasn't closed the gap with Spotify.
Inside Apple Music's Second Act
A year into its battle for users — and the trust of record labels — the most talked-about company in music sheds a light on what's working, what's not, and its controversial plan to shape the industry's future.
Apple Music Exec Shuts Down Rumors Of A Tidal Deal
"We're not looking to acquire any streaming services," Apple Music head Jimmy Iovine told BuzzFeed News.
The Playlist Professionals At Apple, Spotify, And Google
At the most powerful companies in Silicon Valley, small teams of anonymous music nerds race to solve the music industry’s toughest problem.
One Of The Writers For Beyoncé Came Clean About What "Love Drought" Is About And It Isn't Jay Z
"You and me could move a mountain."
We Need To Know What Foreign Musical Artists We Should Listen To
Because good music knows no borders.
What Apple Music Gets Right, And Wrong, About Music Fandom
Ten days in, the best parts of Apple Music are a blast from the past for music nerds.
Taylor Swift's "1989" Will Not Be On Apple Music
The technology giant could not secure the rights to Swift's latest blockbuster, which will remain unavailable on any streaming service, BuzzFeed News has learned. UPDATED: Swift spoke out against Apple Music's payment policy, prompting the company to change course.
The End Of Album Privilege
Six months after Billboard's Top Albums chart opened the door to tracks and streams, the album has been bumped from its perch at the top of music’s food chain.
Can Apple Fix Music Again?
Apple Music's real competitor isn't Spotify, but years of diverging consumer trends.
How Hip-Hop Conquered Streaming
Though it's second fiddle in digital and physical sales to rock and pop, hip-hop has long been the most popular genre on music streaming services. BuzzFeed News spoke to music industry experts to find out why.
Instagram Courts Musicians With Dedicated Music Channel
The Facebook-owned social network's first category-specific vertical will showcase popular and emerging artists.
Trinidad James Is Sorry About All Those One-Hit Wonders In Hip-Hop
The rapper who broke the mold for hip-hop stardom with his 2012 hit "All Gold Everything" now says signing artists on the basis of viral singles is "stupid as fuck."
Meet The Twentysomething Party Promoters Shaking Up The Concert Business
For three friends in Texas, partying until morning with Kendrick Lamar, Lil Wayne, and A$AP Rocky is merely an occupational hazard.
Here's What It Was Like At Jay Z's Star-Studded Tidal Event In New York
Beyoncé, Madonna, Kanye West, Rihanna, Jack White, and others came out to show solidarity with Tidal, which boldly promised to revolutionize the music industry.
Rihanna, Kanye West, Madonna Change Avatars For Jay Z's Music Streaming Service
On Sunday night, several music superstars showed support for Jay Z's new music streaming service by changing their profile pictures to cyan blue.
Watch These Americans Try Bollywood Dance Moves
“Sexy face, angry face, sexy face, angry face.”
Why The "Blurred Lines" Verdict Probably Won't Change Much In The Music Industry
"Is this going to bring the music industry to its knees? Certainly not."
Billboard To Count Streaming In Top Albums Chart
For the first time, the Billboard 200 will include streaming data.
Spotify Remains Steadfast On Free Tier Despite Taylor Swift Fight
A spokesperson tells BuzzFeed News that the service is doubling down on music's right to be free — whether Swift and her cohorts like it or not.
Is Taylor Swift Right About Spotify?
Are marquee artists who abstain from streaming services like Spotify saving the music industry, or hastening its demise?
Urban Outfitters Now The World's Biggest Seller Of Vinyl Records
The people buying vinyl grew up with Spotify, Pandora, and Napster.
Sony Liked It So Much They Put A Block On It
Beyonce is a pirate! Or that's what Sony claims she is, since she's been putting her videos on her YouTube channel. As of right now, you can't view any of the videos on her official channel. Stay classy Sony!
Roger Wallis
Retired Stockholm professor Roger Wallis is on the fast track to becoming a cult Internet hero thanks to his performance at the ongoing Pirate Bay trial.
