Zack O'Malley Greenburg's Blog, page 51

Hip-Hop Cash Kings 2015: Preview & Contest

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On Tuesday, September 22nd, FORBES will release the ninth annual Hip-Cash Kings list–and, as usual, there will be some big surprises. Perhaps foremost: where Dr. Drewillland a year after clocking $620 million in 2014, the biggest payday of any musician in history.

We’ll have answers to that question as well as earnings numbers for the likes of Dre, Jay Z, Diddy, Nicki Minaj and Drake–just a few of the names whomake the list on a regular basis. As the latter told us in 2013, “Tha...

For Holy Land Hip-Hop, Grim Challenges And Silver Linings

Over the past year, the popular Israeli hip-hop groupHadag Nachash played over100 shows—more than Jay Z, Dr. Dre, Drake, Diddy and Eminem combined. But grueling schedules are simply a reality for top acts in a country where making a living in music is almost as complicated as the omnipresent political issues.

In a country with roughly the same population and size as New Jersey, it’s difficult for a career in music to scale. Toss in rampant piracy, a lack of large venues, hostile neighbors and...

Robots, Reggae And Revelry In Jerusalem

The Jerusalem Sacred Music Festival: Home to music of intention made by humans and androids alike. Photo by Zack O’Malley Greenburg.

A few hours after midnight last night, I found myself in a basement room in Jerusalem’s Tower of David, watching and listening with two dozen revelers as a band of robots made from recycled household items played spiritual music for 30 minutes.

The performance, dubbed “Puja” (Sanskrit for “reverence” or “worship”) and orchestrated by musician Yaniv Schnetzer, wa...

In Jerusalem, Soaking Up Music Sacred And Profane

An unlikely prelude to the Jerusalem Sacred Music Festival. Photo by Zack O’Malley Greenburg.

Sometime in the wee hours of last night, I found myself in a dimly-lit bar watching a band best described as noise rock and fronted by a pear-shaped, ponytailed, half-naked man who at one point shrieked his lyrics into a microphone while lying face down on the stone floor.

This picture–which could be painted in more familiar brushstrokes as Josh Ostrovsky doing his bestIn Utero-era Kurt Cobain impres...

Electronic Arms Race: Inside The Booming Business Of EDM Effects

Skrillex and Diplo performing together prior to their Full Flex Express tour. (Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Invision for Levi’s/AP Images).

Earlier this summer Skrillex, Diplo and a handful of other acts embarked upon an eight-city excursion that had all the trappings of a typical EDM tour—screaming fans, thumping beats and stops at major festivals—except for one major difference: it was structured as a cross-country Canadian train ride.

The Full Flex Express careened through the continent on a...

From Skrillex To Steve Aoki: Inside The Rise Of DJ-Owned Labels

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The following Electronic Cash Kings feature was written by Leo Wing.

In the chorus of young DJ duo The Chainsmokers’ hit, “Kanye,” guest vocalist Siren claims, “I wanna be like Kanye … Do what I want, have it my way.” In the world of electronic music, many artists such as The Chainsmokers have moved towards this goal by signing with artist-owned record labels.

Best known for the viral, vapidity-mocking hit single “#Selfie,” The Chainsmokers were one of the most popular acts on s...

The World’s Highest-Paid DJs: Electronic Cash Kings 2015

Calvin Harris: The world’s highest-paid DJ, again. (Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images).

It’s been a year to remember for Calvin Harris. Over the past twelve months, the Scottish DJ earned $66 million, dropped an album that rocketed to the top of the U.S. dance charts and started dating Taylor Swift, in the process dethroning Jay Z and Beyoncé as music’s top-earning couple.

The fact that he’s the world’s top-earning EDM act—tying the record for annual earnings by a DJ, which he set last ye...

Jimmy Iovine’s Net Worth In 2015: $800 Million

Apple Of The Iovine: Jimmy’s net worth derives mostly from his share of the electronics giant’s $3 billion buyout of Beats. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images).

Jimmy Iovineranks 13th on our inaugural list of Hollywood’s RichestPower Brokers, which appeared inthe September 7th, 2015 issue of FORBES magazine.

Name:
Jimmy Iovine

Age:
62

Estimated Net Worth:
$800 million

Source:
Music, Electronics

Summary:
After starting Interscope Records in 1990, Iovine branched from rock into hip-hop, bre...

Jerry Bruckheimer’s Net Worth In 2015: $900 Million

Jerry Bruckheimer (center) can thank Jack Sparrowfor a large chunk of his net worth.(Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney).

Jerry Bruckheimerranks 12th on our inaugural list of Hollywood’s RichestPower Brokers, which appeared inthe September 7th, 2015 issue of FORBES magazine.

Name:
Jerry Bruckheimer

Age:
69

Estimated Net Worth:
$900 million

Source:
Movies, Television

Summary:
The Hollywood super producer made a name for himself with 1990s blockbusters like “Bad Boys” and “Ar...

Electronic Cash Kings 2015: Preview & Contest

Calvin Harris: Will he remainEDM’s top cash king?(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images For 102.7 KIIS FM’s Wango Tango)

In 2014,Calvin Harris topped the Electronic Cash Kings list with a haul of $66 million, the highest annual total ever recorded by a DJ to that point. Will hekeep his crown this year? Tune in a week from today to find out.

On Monday, August 25th, FORBES will release the 2015 edition of the Electronic Cash Kings list, which measures the highest-earning stars on the EDM scene, ma...