This story appears in Rolling Stone‘s 2021 Future of Music issue, a special project delving into the next era of the multibillion-dollar hitmaking business. Read the other stories here.
“Executive songwriter” isn’t a title. But Madison Love — who’s penned smash hits like Selena Gomez’s “Rare,” Lady Gaga’s “Sour Candy,” and Ava Max’s “Sweet but Psycho” all before age 26 — thinks it should be.
Love wants to “set a new precedent for what our roles are as songwriters,” she says, speaking from the studio she built with...
“Executive songwriter” isn’t a title. But Madison Love — who’s penned smash hits like Selena Gomez’s “Rare,” Lady Gaga’s “Sour Candy,” and Ava Max’s “Sweet but Psycho” all before age 26 — thinks it should be.
Love wants to “set a new precedent for what our roles are as songwriters,” she says, speaking from the studio she built with...
- 6/15/2021
- by Samantha Hissong
- Rollingstone.com
Earlier this year, Leanne Bailey spent an entire day making 100 cookies for a birthday party. She was paid $300 for her efforts.
Later that week, she went on the app TikTok, which allows users to make 15-second videos set to music, and created a pair of cookie-decorating posts under the name TheBaileyBakery. She netted $1,000. “She’s a 40-plus-year-old lady from Kentucky, she has four kids, and TikTok videos are helping to financially support her,” says Devain Doolaramani, an intern at Arista Records who also manages Bailey — along with over 20 TikTok users...
Later that week, she went on the app TikTok, which allows users to make 15-second videos set to music, and created a pair of cookie-decorating posts under the name TheBaileyBakery. She netted $1,000. “She’s a 40-plus-year-old lady from Kentucky, she has four kids, and TikTok videos are helping to financially support her,” says Devain Doolaramani, an intern at Arista Records who also manages Bailey — along with over 20 TikTok users...
- 8/12/2019
- by Elias Leight
- Rollingstone.com
In 1989, Bruce Pavitt, the founder of the Seattle label Sup Pop, hatched a plan to boost the profile of several of his bands, including a pre-fame Nirvana.
“During the pre-internet 1980s, it was difficult for struggling regional bands in the United States to achieve any national media attention,” he wrote in the 2013 book Experiencing Nirvana. “In England, the situation was different.” Pavitt attributed this to two factors: “The swift transmission of information enabled by the mutually combative ethos of the weekly U.K. music magazines” and “the country’s geographical compactness.
“During the pre-internet 1980s, it was difficult for struggling regional bands in the United States to achieve any national media attention,” he wrote in the 2013 book Experiencing Nirvana. “In England, the situation was different.” Pavitt attributed this to two factors: “The swift transmission of information enabled by the mutually combative ethos of the weekly U.K. music magazines” and “the country’s geographical compactness.
- 7/30/2019
- by Elias Leight
- Rollingstone.com
Hip-Hop’s New Generation Takes Over
The year in hip-hop made one thing blindingly clear: The old guard is, well, old. Kanye West executive-produced five albums over the summer, but it took a Lil Pump feature to get him any traction on streaming services. Nicki Minaj needed a duet with embattled rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine to make any real noise. The generation rushing to fill the vacuum at rap’s top isn’t always getting there on artistic merit — see the empty gestures masquerading as scintillation on Minaj and 6ix9ine’s hit “Fefe,...
The year in hip-hop made one thing blindingly clear: The old guard is, well, old. Kanye West executive-produced five albums over the summer, but it took a Lil Pump feature to get him any traction on streaming services. Nicki Minaj needed a duet with embattled rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine to make any real noise. The generation rushing to fill the vacuum at rap’s top isn’t always getting there on artistic merit — see the empty gestures masquerading as scintillation on Minaj and 6ix9ine’s hit “Fefe,...
- 1/2/2019
- by Brendan Klinkenberg, Patrick Doyle, Andy Greene, Elias Leight, Amy X. Wang, Joseph Hudak and Jon Dolan
- Rollingstone.com
Perched smack in the middle of Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter V album is “What About Me,” an accusatory, open-wound R&B record where the rapper croons heartbroken Auto-Tuned lines. “I stayed up all night for you/ Girl, what about me?” Wayne sings. “I shut down my life for you/ Now you run around with him.”
This is straight from the school of drunk-alone-at-2-a.m. Drake ballads, so it’s not surprising that Drake was originally supposed to appear on the track, according to Johnny Yukon, who co-wrote “What...
This is straight from the school of drunk-alone-at-2-a.m. Drake ballads, so it’s not surprising that Drake was originally supposed to appear on the track, according to Johnny Yukon, who co-wrote “What...
- 9/28/2018
- by Elias Leight
- Rollingstone.com
Bhad Bhabie, aka Danielle Bregoli, the 15-year-old rapper who first gained notoriety from an appearance on “Dr. Phil” that went viral — spawning her signature line, “Cash me outside, how ’bout dat?” — drew a heavy industry crowd to the Roxy on Thursday night.
The line for her first Los Angeles performance snaked down the Sunset Strip hours before Bhad Bhabie’s set time of 10 p.m. She would perform for 45 minutes in the sweltering, packed-to-the-gills venue (capacity: 500), which was sold-out for the night. At one point during her performance, Bregoli danced provocatively as singer Pia Mia sat stoically in a chair (watch a clip below).
Perhaps not coincidentally, Robin Antin, choreographer and creator of the Pussycat Dolls, was spotted in the V.I.P. area; Pia Mia is reportedly going to be fronting a “next generation” version of the group, taking over the Nicole Scherzinger role.
Also seen taking in the...
The line for her first Los Angeles performance snaked down the Sunset Strip hours before Bhad Bhabie’s set time of 10 p.m. She would perform for 45 minutes in the sweltering, packed-to-the-gills venue (capacity: 500), which was sold-out for the night. At one point during her performance, Bregoli danced provocatively as singer Pia Mia sat stoically in a chair (watch a clip below).
Perhaps not coincidentally, Robin Antin, choreographer and creator of the Pussycat Dolls, was spotted in the V.I.P. area; Pia Mia is reportedly going to be fronting a “next generation” version of the group, taking over the Nicole Scherzinger role.
Also seen taking in the...
- 6/16/2018
- by Shirley Halperin
- Variety Film + TV
Reo beat was passed up by Kanye West, Nas and Drake before ending up on Vma performer's album, in Mixtape Daily.
By Rob Markman
Lil Wayne
Photo: MTV
Behind the Beats: Ramon "Reo" Owens
As an up-and-coming producer, having Kanye West, Nas and Drake pass up on your beats can be dejecting, but Ramon "Reo" Owens proves that persistence pays. After crafting a beat nearly three years ago, the 30-year-old finally got his instrumental placed on Lil Wayne's Tha Carter IV as the deluxe bonus track "Mirror," featuring Bruno Mars.
"Kanye heard it, Drake heard it, and it already had the Bruno [hook]," he said. "Basically, Nas had it for a while, and it just ended up in the hands of Wayne and he loved it."
With the help of Atlantic Records A&R Mike Caren, Reo, who producers in tandem with his group the Soundkillers, was able to get his...
By Rob Markman
Lil Wayne
Photo: MTV
Behind the Beats: Ramon "Reo" Owens
As an up-and-coming producer, having Kanye West, Nas and Drake pass up on your beats can be dejecting, but Ramon "Reo" Owens proves that persistence pays. After crafting a beat nearly three years ago, the 30-year-old finally got his instrumental placed on Lil Wayne's Tha Carter IV as the deluxe bonus track "Mirror," featuring Bruno Mars.
"Kanye heard it, Drake heard it, and it already had the Bruno [hook]," he said. "Basically, Nas had it for a while, and it just ended up in the hands of Wayne and he loved it."
With the help of Atlantic Records A&R Mike Caren, Reo, who producers in tandem with his group the Soundkillers, was able to get his...
- 8/26/2011
- MTV Music News
"Gossip Girl" star Leighton Meester has become the latest actress to unleash a song on the masses in an attempt at a crossover. The track, "Somebody to Love," features a guest spot from Robin Thicke and is the first single from Meester's forthcoming debut full-length album. It's bright, shiny dance beat (produced by Mike Caren and Oligee and written by Usher collaborator Rico Love) borrows heavily from classic Madonna tracks and provides a good base for Meester's shape-shifting voice. The track is also miles away from the type of music that "Gossip Girl" castmate Taylor Momsen has been producing with her band Pretty Reckless.
We know what we think, but what do the people thing? We decided to hit the street outside of MTV News headquarters, play the tune for some folks and get their initial reaction to it. It's a chilly day in Times Square today, but did Meester's...
We know what we think, but what do the people thing? We decided to hit the street outside of MTV News headquarters, play the tune for some folks and get their initial reaction to it. It's a chilly day in Times Square today, but did Meester's...
- 10/14/2009
- by MTV News
- MTV Newsroom
"Gossip Girl" TV show star, Leighton Meester released her new song entitled "Somebody To Love," featuring the soulful Robin Thicke yesterday. It's the first single off her debut album,which has yet to receive a title. "Somebody To Love" was produced by Mike Caren. Also they've already filmed the music video for the song. They filmed it last month,and it's reportedly going to debut,later on this month. "Somebody To Love," was exclusively released to Ryan Seacrest's radio show on 102.7 Kiis FM in Los Angeles, California yesterday. Ryan Seacrest gave it a positive review. Also the listeners who called in reportedly gave it a good review, as well.
- 10/14/2009
- by Eric
- OnTheFlix
The 'Gossip Girl' star's first single harks back to Madonna's early-'90s dance tracks.
By Jocelyn Vena
Leighton Meester
Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/ Getty Images
Leighton Meester has finally released the first single off her forthcoming debut album. After the "Gossip Girl" star teased fans with her duet with Cobra Starship, the Vma-nominated "Good Girls Go Bad," as well as the leaked track "Birthday," the actress-turned-singer has hooked up with Robin Thicke on "Somebody to Love."
Although no release date has been set for the record, Meester recently spoke to EW.com about the track, produced by Mike Caren and Oligee (Flo Rida, Cobra Starship). "I so often get love confused with sex and vice versa," she said about "Somebody to Love." "And the song is basically about how I can't get any — I can't find anyone to love."
The song, which mixes Meester's pop-electronica vibe with Thicke's smooth R&B stylings,...
By Jocelyn Vena
Leighton Meester
Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/ Getty Images
Leighton Meester has finally released the first single off her forthcoming debut album. After the "Gossip Girl" star teased fans with her duet with Cobra Starship, the Vma-nominated "Good Girls Go Bad," as well as the leaked track "Birthday," the actress-turned-singer has hooked up with Robin Thicke on "Somebody to Love."
Although no release date has been set for the record, Meester recently spoke to EW.com about the track, produced by Mike Caren and Oligee (Flo Rida, Cobra Starship). "I so often get love confused with sex and vice versa," she said about "Somebody to Love." "And the song is basically about how I can't get any — I can't find anyone to love."
The song, which mixes Meester's pop-electronica vibe with Thicke's smooth R&B stylings,...
- 10/14/2009
- MTV Music News
Jennifer Lopez gets helping hands from Pharrell Williams in the making of her new single called "Lola", Pitbull said. While attending the Sunday ceremony of 2009 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio Music City Hall, the song's featured guest opened up that Pharrell serves as the producer of the new track.
Furthermore, Pitbull who tweeted about having a duet with Jennifer earlier this year revealed he and Jennifer have filmed a music video aimed to promote the soon-to-be-released single. He described the video as "an upscale Eyes Wide Shut - where my role is being taken advantage of by these beautiful women who are, like, massaging me."
News surrounding Jennifer Lopez's new album has emerged since June. During an interview, she revealed that her new album will be put out for purchase sometime in January 2010. Although she didn't mention about Pitbull's involvement, the wife of singer Marc Anthony indeed said...
Furthermore, Pitbull who tweeted about having a duet with Jennifer earlier this year revealed he and Jennifer have filmed a music video aimed to promote the soon-to-be-released single. He described the video as "an upscale Eyes Wide Shut - where my role is being taken advantage of by these beautiful women who are, like, massaging me."
News surrounding Jennifer Lopez's new album has emerged since June. During an interview, she revealed that her new album will be put out for purchase sometime in January 2010. Although she didn't mention about Pitbull's involvement, the wife of singer Marc Anthony indeed said...
- 9/15/2009
- by AceShowbiz.com
- Aceshowbiz
Jennifer Lopez reportedly has entered recording room with Johnta Austin in a bid to make new music for her upcoming studio album. Spilling the beans on that matter is music producer Alex Da Kid on his Twitter.
"Alex Da Kid + Jennifer Lopez + Johnta Austin = ????? She Went in on these Vocals Yo!" so Alex wrote on his page. Other info about the song, including its title and when it will come out, are still under tight wraps.
During an interview in June, Jennifer Lopez revealed that the new album will be put out for purchase sometime in January 2010. She also said about unveiling a new single in September. Other people who are speculated to make contribution to the studio project are Pitbull, Jim Jonsin and Mike Caren.
"Alex Da Kid + Jennifer Lopez + Johnta Austin = ????? She Went in on these Vocals Yo!" so Alex wrote on his page. Other info about the song, including its title and when it will come out, are still under tight wraps.
During an interview in June, Jennifer Lopez revealed that the new album will be put out for purchase sometime in January 2010. She also said about unveiling a new single in September. Other people who are speculated to make contribution to the studio project are Pitbull, Jim Jonsin and Mike Caren.
- 9/8/2009
- by AceShowbiz.com
- Aceshowbiz
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