HITS HIGH FIVE: FAKES, FACTS & REFUNDS

We see that Lo Mimieux and Benny Treskow will be opening for Emin at the Epidemic Sound Spectacular’s Prince tribute this weekend in Moscow. No, not really. That’s fake news featuring characters who peppered top stories gathered together in this week’s HITS’ High Five.

Universal Music Group will have their $31m check returned to them as a Minnesota judge voided the label group’s deal with the Prince estate. Now what happens to the commissions paid to L. Londell McMillan and Charlie Koppelman?

Lo Mimieux and Benny Treskow are not performing anywhere this weekend. They’re among the fake bands filling up Spotify and cutting into monies paid out to actual acts. An investigation by Music Business Worldwide got this story started.

Speaking of Moscow, we learn this week a publicist hyping Russian pop star Emin Agalarov helped connect the Trump campaign with Ruskies claiming to have dirt on Hillary.

Isn’t it great to be part of an expanding music industry again? That’s one of the observations coming from HITS Editor in Chief Lenny Beer as he examines the first half of 2017.

Did you hear the one about Pearl Bailey insisting that an unknown Tony Bennett should open shows for her at the Village Inn? It’s one of the many anecdotes collected in our History of the Music Business 2.