Zack O'Malley Greenburg's Blog, page 76

Madonna, Jay Z Among Top-Paid Grammy Performers

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Click for full photo gallery: The World's Highest-Paid Musicians 2013

Jay Z and Beyonce set the stage for the 56th Annual Grammy Awards with a sultry rendition of “Drunk in Love”–one that proved to be a sign of what was to come, both in terms of talent and of money-making abilities.

The rest of the night has been a showcase for the biggest names in music and its highest-paid acts, too. All in all, six of music’s top 25 earners appeared as perf...

Jay Z And Beyonce’s Synergy On Display At Grammys

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Click for full photo gallery: Beyonce Knowles

Jay Z and Beyonce just did something that neither of them has done in ages: perform as an opening act. The concert they kicked off, however, happens to be music’s biggest night.

Their performance of “Drunk in Love” at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards is the latest example of the synergy between their two brands, and it serves as a reminder that their union is as much a merger as it is a marriage.

As media buyer Ryan Sc...

Grammys 2014: All The Latest From Music’s Biggest Night

Music’s biggest night is here, and we’ll be bringing you all the latest news as it unfolds, live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

On tap: performances from the likes of Jay Z and Beyonce, introductions from Bruno Mars and others, and of course, those golden gramophones that can change all aspects of an artist’s career–particularly the bottom line.

Below are the most recent posts on the 56th Annual Grammy Awards, from newest to oldest:

1/26/2014 @ 9:30PM EST

Jay Z And Beyonce’s Synergy On D...

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Win Three Grammys; More On Way?

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis have long been primed for a big night at the 56th Annual Grammys–a sentiment agreed upon by music industry players and professional prognosticators alike. And already, the Seattle-based duo has taken home three gramophones.

Moments ago, the hip-hop act won for Best Rap Performance (“Thrift Shop” feat. Wanz), Best Rap Song (also “Thrift Shop”) and Best Rap Album (The Heist) during the ongoing Grammy pre-telecast.

The trio of awards brings Macklemore & Ryan Lewis nearly ha...

Cedric Gervais Wins Grammy For Lana Del Rey Remix; Miley Cyrus Project Next

Cedric Gervais, 34, watched his first Daft Punk performance two decades ago in his native France. Today, he joins the famed electronic duo as one of the winners at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards.

He took home the golden gramophone for Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical, for his remix of Lana Del Rey’s “Summertime Sadness.” Gervais topped nominees including Alesso’s remix of “If I Lose Myself” and Sultan + Ned Shepard’s remix of “Locked Out of Heaven.”

“I didn’t work on the remix with her,” he...

Grammys 2014: My View From The Press Room

The big hardware at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards is still hours away from being handed out, but already the media room at the Staples Center is filling up with journalists preparing to churn out stories tonight.

When I arrived at the building and walked through the airport-style security post nestled in a dark corner off to the side of the VIP entrance, a fellow writer shot me a knowing glance and said, “Goodbye, daylight.”

Every year when I tell friends and colleagues that I’m heading off to...

Grammys 2014: Bet On A Big Night For Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

Super Bowl XLVIII is a little more than a week away, with early odds slightly favoring Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos over the Seattle Seahawks. Prognosticators are a bit more certain about who will be the big winner at the Grammys this coming Sunday: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis.

The rapper-producer duo has already earned seven nominations, second only to Jay Z. According to gambling site BetUSA, which offers “exotic” bets on who will win Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Album of the Y...

Next Big Sound Report Offers Clues To Music’s Future

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Click for full photo gallery: 2013 30 under 30: Music

A little less than a year ago, I profiled music data outfit Next Big Sound and its founder, 30 Under 30 member Alex White. The takeaway: his startup was leading a statistical revolution that I dubbed “Moneyball for Music.”

“Data has transformed industries before,” White explained in an interview for the story. “Music’s the next one.”

Next Big Sound has continued to shine in the intervening time, most recentlypartneringwith Spotify t...

An American Idol, Not So Idle: Inside The World of Taylor Hicks

Dusk is closing in on a winter weeknight, but Taylor Hicks’ work day is just beginning.

The former American Idolchamp isdriving to his next gig, somewhere in the middle of Idaho, and his cell phone connection crackles as it tests the outer limits of its service range. Eventually, he’ll head back to Las Vegas, where he’s been playing well over 100 shows annually in recent years. That’s just part of his busy schedule.

“I commute between L.A. and Nashville and Birmingham [and Vegas],” says the Ala...

Top-Earning American Idols 2013

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Click for full photo gallery: The Top-Earning American Idols 2013

Carrie Underwood has come quite far since winning American Idol in 2005—and it’s safe to say the show has made good on its titular promise.

Underwood tops this year’s list of the highest-paid Idol alums, pulling in $31 million thanks to platinum-selling Blown Away, extensive touring and endorsement deals with the likes of Olay. Not only is that more than any Idol contestant, but it exceeds the annu...