Recordings Showbiz and Celebrity Breaking News

It was 20 years ago that Hidden Beach Recordings introduced itself and Jill Scott to the masses by way of the singer-songwriter’s double-platinum debut album Who Is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds Vol. 1. Now the R&B/soul, jazz and alternative label is announcing its formal relaunch with the premiere and release of a new single and video from singer-songwriter Gene Noble, the label’s first signing in several years.

It was 20 years ago that Hidden Beach Recordings introduced itself and Jill Scott to the masses by way of the singer-songwriter’s double-platinum debut album Who Is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds Vol. 1. Now the R&B/soul, jazz and alternative label is announcing its formal relaunch with the premiere and release of a new single and video from singer-songwriter Gene Noble, the label’s first signing in several years.

Japan's ONE OK ROCK will stream six of their past concerts in full on YouTube starting Friday (April 17).

Very few people can say they've sat with legendary Stax Records co-founder Jim Stewart at his kitchen table. Let alone listened to the 89-year-old recount stories about the venerable Memphis label and its iconic roster of creatives and executives, including Isaac Hayes, Otis Redding, The Staple Singers, William Bell, songwriter David Porter (Sam & Dave’s "Soul Man"), longtime publicist Deanie Parker and the label's former co-owner Al Bell.

Thanks to some enterprising fans, you can finally hear some new(ish) Frank Ocean songs.

Including a set from New York's CBGB's in 1989

Congratulations to the coolest kid in Africa Nasty C – the rapper becomes the first South African artist to sign to Def Jam Recordings. The announcement was first made by Billboard ahead of the release of his new single from his forthcoming album Zulu Man With Some Power.

Award-winning South African rapper Nasty C has signed an exclusive pact with Def Jam Recordings through a joint venture with Universal Music Africa. He’ll make his official U.S. debut when his new single “There They Go” premieres on Apple Music Beats 1 with Ebro Darden today (March 26 at 4:30 p.m. ET).

In Soundgarden's ongoing court battle with Chris Cornell's widow, Vicky Cornell, the surviving band members -- Kim Thayil, Matt Cameron and Hunter Benedict Shepherd -- have asked a judge to either dismiss her Florida case against them or to move it to Washington state.

Johnny Depp will have to disclose audio recordings of conversations between him and his ex-wife Amber Heard, as part of his libel claim against a British tabloid newspaper.

Johnny Depp has been ordered to disclose audio recordings of conversations between him and his ex-wife Amber Heard in his libel trial against British tabloid The Sun.

Johnny Depp will have to disclose audio recordings of conversations between him and his ex-wife Amber Heard, as part of his libel claim against a British tabloid newspaper.

Johnny Depp will have to disclose audio recordings of conversations between him and his ex-wife Amber Heard, as part of his libel claim against a British tabloid newspaper.

Johnny Depp will have to disclose audio recordings of conversations between him and ex-wife Amber Heard as part of his libel claim against a British tabloid newspaper.

Record giants scored a coup late last year when a Virginia jury not only held Cox Communications liable for copyright infringement but also returned a $1 billion verdict punishing the internet service provider for contributing to music piracy. Warner, Sony, Universal, EMI and other record labels are now looking to follow up on this win with another in a similar case against Charter Communications, but the defendant is pushing back with a broad challenge to ownership rights.

A live rarity by David Bowie is to be released on Record Store Day 2020.

SoundCloud has unveiled a mobile upload feature that allows creators to post their tracks on the go.

Back in 2008, a massive fire burned down a Universal Music Group building leading to the damage of thousands of recordings, the details of which only came to light in a New York Times report from last year. Now, the label is confirming that recordings by artists like Nirvana, Beck, Slayer, Soundgarden, R.E.M., and Elton John were damaged or completely destroyed in the fire, according to legal documents obtained by Rolling Stone.

The fall out from the 2008 blaze in LA has formed the basis of an ongoing class-action lawsuit against UMG

Hildur Guðnadóttir has been busy making history. The composer of the Joker soundtrack took home the 2020 Oscar for Best Original Score this week, making her the fourth woman composer to win overall and the first to win for a dramatic score.

A new label has entered the music space. Billboard has confirmed that The 740 Project and Chioke "Stretch" McCoy are launching Blac! Noise Recordings, with backing from ex-Warner Bros.

The surviving Soundgarden band members are demanding that Chris Cornell's widow, Vicky, hand over recordings to what they claim are the band's final unreleased tracks. Band members Kim Thayil, Matt Cameron and Hunter Benedict Shepherd say they worked jointly on these final tracks with Cornell and that Vicky Cornell has no right to withhold from them what they call the "final Soundgarden album."

By Matt Grobar

The estate of acclaimed jazz trumpeter Roy Hargrove has established Roy Hargrove Legacy LLC. The new company will manage the late musician’s rights, recordings and other properties affiliated with the late Grammy Award winner’s 30-year career.

Richard Russell, the producer and musician who runs XL Recordings, has announced a new memoir about the three-decade history of the label. It’s called Liberation Through Hearing and it’s out April 2 via music book publishing house White Rabbit. The book is set to tell the story of Russell’s early years, his production work with Bobby Womack and Gil Scott-Heron, his own work as Everything Is Recorded, and more.