Friday, February 5, 2021
Peloton, the treadmill and exercise bike company, cannot seem to get off the legal hamster wheel. First, in 2019, a group of music copyright owners sued Peloton, alleging it had improperly and without license from the copyright owners synchronized exercise videos to the music owners’ music. (
Downtown Music Publishing LLC v. Peloton Interactive, Inc., No. 19-2426, S.D.N.Y.) That case ended in a confidential settlement, but some terms in the settlement became apparent when Peloton removed many videos from its library. This led to the second case, in which Peloton was sued by its users for removing the videos from its library. (
Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Billboard
Shawn Holiday attends the Billboard 2018 R&B Hip-Hop Power Players event at Legacy Records on Sept. 27, 2018 in New York City.
Columbia Records co-head of urban music,
Shawn Holiday, is launching a new label and publishing venture with
Irving and
Billboard can confirm. He will maintain an A&R capacity role with Columbia.
The news was first reported by HITS Daily Double, which noted Holiday will continue to work with Polo G, Chloe x Halle and other artists signed to the label. Holiday also held a dual role at Sony/ATV, where he was named head of urban music in January 2019.
OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE Shore Fire Media
Downtown Music Publishing today announced the appointment of Sarah McCann to Senior Vice President of International Creative. In this newly created position, McCann will sign and work with songwriters, producers and artists represented by Downtown in North America, and collaborate with the company’s global creative team to help local international talent break into the U.S. market. McCann will be based in Los Angeles, and will report directly to Downtown Music Publishing Global President Mike Smith.
“I have been hugely impressed by Sarah’s work with songwriters and producers; she works tirelessly to create world class collaborations and never fails to add value to a creator’s career,” said Smith. “Songwriting is more global than ever before, and I know Sarah will do a great job of breaking our international writers as well as bringing fresh talent to Downtown. The combination of her impeccable taste and bulletproof work e
“I am thrilled to welcome Louis Bell to the UMPG family,” said UMPG chairman and CEO
Jody Gerson in a statement. “He is not only an immensely talented songwriter and producer for the some of the biggest artists in the world; he is one of the kindest and most thoughtful people I know. It’s even better when you can work with good people! Our global team looks forward to providing outstanding opportunities that support his artistry and songs.”
Other recent credits for Bell not included in the deal are Miley Cyrus’ “Angels Like You,” “Plastic Hearts,” “WTF Do I Know,” “Gimme What I Want,” “Hate Me” and “Midnight Sky”; Halsey’s “Graveyard”; Taylor Swift’s “I Forgot That You Existed,” “Afterglow” and “It’s Nice to Have a Friend”; and 5 Seconds of Summer’s “Old Me.”
Dewayne Ector
Dewayne Ector is tapped to lead Downtown’s digital licensing activities as chief revenue officer, a new position.
The post, announced Thursday, places Ector in charge of negotiation and maximization of revenue from digital licenses across Downtown’s business units.
“Establishing a group-wide strategy for digital licensing with DSPs and other pay sources has long been part of Downtown’s plan to support our continued growth and efforts to scale our business globally,” comments Downtown Music Holdings CEO
Justin Kalifowitz on the new appointment.
Ector’s “knowledge and command of the complicated global royalties landscape, he continues, and his commitment to both clients and colleagues make him ideal for this important role.”