Justin Timberlake sells song catalog to Hipgnosis

Justin Timberlake has sold the rights to his songs including hits such as “Cry Me A River” and “Rock Your Body” to Hipgnosis Song Management, the latest pop star to cash in on his body of work in the red-hot market for music streaming.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, although a report by the Wall Street Journal said the transaction was valued at just above $100 million.

The deal was made on behalf of Hipgnosis Songs Capital, a partnership between Hipgnosis Song Management and funds managed by investment firm Blackstone Inc BX.N, the advisory firm owned by music executive Merck Mercuriadis said in a statement.

Timberlake rose to fame as one-fifth of 1990’s boy band NSync, becoming a pin-up for good looks.

After NSync parted ways, Timberlake launched his solo career in his debut solo album “Justified,” in 2002.

His “FutureSex/LoveSounds” album arrived at the forefront of a new sound in the pop charts, fusing pop, R&B, hip hop and dance. He also appeared in films such as “The Social Network,” “Friends with Benefits” and “The Trouble With The Curve,” alongside Clint Eastwood.

The deal comes at a time when the lack of live concerts and delayed release of new recordings due to the pandemic prompt artists to monetize their older work.

Earlier this year, Hipgnosis Song Management acquired the music catalog of Canadian singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen, while British singer-songwriter Sting sold his career music catalog to  Universal Music Publishing Group.

Hipgnosis buys artists’ song catalogs and earns revenue when the music is streamed online or used in movies or advertising.

The firm’s partnership with Blackstone aims to invest $1 billion for buying music rights, record songs and manage catalogs. 

-reuters

Justin Timberlake serenades the Obamas at White House gig

Justin Timberlake performed for Barack and Michelle Obama at the White House last night (9 April).

The set was part of the White House's In Performance series, and is the tenth concert in the series to take place since Obama's election to office in 2009. The concert was celebrating soul music from Memphis Tennessee, and other artists who performed included Queen Latifah, Cyndi Lauper and Booker T Jones.

Timberlake serenaded the couple, along with a private audience, in the East Room of the White House with a cover of the Otis Redding hit '(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay'. Steve Cropper, who wrote the track along with Redding, looked on and apparently seemed to approve of Timberlake's version.

According to the Washington Post, Obama was bobbing his head, tapping his feet and mouthing along to the lyrics as Timberlake performed. Timberlake's wife, actress Jessica Biel, also attended the event.




Obama later announced that two of the staff members at the White House were engaged, and suggested that they ask Biel and Timberlake for advice. According to USA Today, he also joked, "Justin, they are looking for a wedding singer, just sayin'."

Billboard said that the President also praised Timberlake's work ethic, saying, "[When] Justin first started touring, he would immediately go to the bus to watch a tape of his performance, taking notes so that the next night he would be even better."

article source: gigwise.com

Rock Stars Who Should Take Up Acting (But Only On The Side)

It seems a tad bit ridiculous that one of the most naturally talented musicians of my generation, Justin Timberlake, has not released an album in nearly six years (his last being ‘06’s FutureSex/ LoveSounds, of course). The guy is missing out on what would be the prime of his music career. With that said, there’s got to be something to this acting business that keeps driving musicians – rockers and rappers alike – to the medium.

Timberlake’s undeniable good looks and wealth of talent help make him a perfect candidate for a career in film career, but there are plenty of other rockers who we feel would be right at home on the silver screen.

Here are the six rock musicians that we want to see take up the acting game the most.

Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips
Sure, zany Wayne does have one acting credit under his belt as “The Alien Super-Being” in the film he wrote and co-directed, “Christmas on Mars.” However, we’d like to see Wayne tackle more serious work. He would have been right at home appearing in Richard Linklater’s surreal film “Waking Life” or even a Tarantino film (provided he can truly act). Not to mention Wayne is known for being one hell of a dapper dresser.

Dave Grohl of The Foo Fighters
This is the big no-brainer. Anyone who's seen a Foo Fighters’ vid knows Grohl is a natural comedian. Their greatest video, “Everlong,” was directed by Michel Gondry and is one of the many that shows Grohl’s chops. Additionally, his role as Satan in Tenacious D’s “Tribute” music video would’ve gone unnoticed due to the heavy use of makeup if they had not revealed his identity. He’s already like the Paul Rudd of the music world – loved by all.

Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails
The only thing that seems to have stopped Reznor from acting is himself; any photo Reznor is packed with character and emotion. At one point, he was rumored to be set for a surprise cameo in his director friend Timur Bekmambetov’s recent flick “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter,” but alas, it didn’t happen. Given his newfound affinity for pumping iron, Reznor should go ahead and appear in his upcoming HBO TV mini-series based on his Year Zero album.

Brent Hinds of Mastodon
You may recall Hinds’ hilarious appearance in a commercial for an Atlanta restaurant, where he gave personal testimony that the cantina helped him to eliminate his diagnosis of OHP: overwhelming hunger pains. Hinds would be great at the acting game, because as intimidating and downright frightening as he appears, the man is notorious for being a comical prankster. We would like to envision him as the Caucasian Danny Trejo, and wouldn’t even mind seeing him randomly appear in a Judd Apatow comedy.

Jared Leto of 30 Seconds to Mars
Sure, Leto is a rather tongue-in-cheek choice, having begun his career in acting before turning to music in 2002. He continued to make films at first, but the last five years seem to indicate that music is his full-time gig now – appearing in only two films since 2007, one of which was a Belgian science fiction film that very few actually saw. But when he was good, he was great, and we long to see him in dark films like Darron Aronofsky’ “Requiem for a Dream” and David Fincher’s “Fight Club” again.

source: newsroom.mtv.com