G-Eazy, The Weeknd cut ties with H&M, Facebook testing local news app, and more
Here’s all the music industry news you need to know today
Facebook is testing a city-specific section of its app to elevate local news and events – via TechCrunch
The Weeknd and G-Eazy cut ties with H&M over ‘monkey’ hoodie – via Guardian
Foo Fighters are to perform at the BRIT Awards for the first time – via Billboard
Pepsi Center in Denver agrees to open captioning for concerts – via IQ
Remote Control Records announced the newest signing to Dot Dash Recordings, Melbourne producer and musician, Katz
There were 3,973 reported instances of ticket fraud in Britain over a six-month period in 2017. – via IQ
Mikio Fujioka, guitarist for the Japanese group Babymetal, has died aged 36. Sources report she died from injuries sustained after falling from an observation deck. – via Billboard
Nigel Hall, formerly managing director of auditor KPMG UK, has joined PRS for Music as chief operating officer. – via IQ
Raury has parted company with with creative agency Love Renaissance and Columbia, saying the label was getting in the way of his relationships with fans. – via Pigeons&Planes
Apple picked as ‘most innovative’ company in recent US survey – via AppleInsider
Jennifer Ivory has been named General Manager of Warner Bros. Records UK. – via RotD
Downtown hires Warner Music exec Tristan Wilson as Head of Sync in the UK – via MBW
US fund manager DE Shaw, which acquired its interest in Spotify in 2015, offloaded roughly 12,000 shares in the company ahead of its direct listing on the NYSE. – via Sky
Michael Huppe signs 4-year extension to continue as SoundExchange CEO – via MBW
Jimmy Iovine has shot down rumours that he plans to exit Apple – via Variety
Apple agrees to pay the UK £137 million in extra taxes – via The Verge
The album ’Run The Jewels 3’ by Run The Jewels, with art direction and photography by Timothy Saccenti has won the publicly voted Best Art Vinyl 2017 Award. – via RotD
Pollstar’s report of the Top 200 North American tours in 2017 puts U2 as the top grossing artists, above Bruno Mars. – via Pollstar
Ultra Music founder Patrick Moxey has relaunched Payday Records. – via RotD
In the US, Columbia Records president of A&R Mark Williams is exiting the company following the arrival of new chairman and CEO Ron Perry – via Billboard.
Peter York has been promoted to Chairman & CEO of Capitol Christian Music Group in Nashville. – via RotD
This article originally appeared on The Industry Observer, which is now part of The Music Network.