You’re a songwriter in the music business and may have number one hits, but outside of a small inner circle, nobody knows who you are. Music producers are even more anonymous. The good news is that Billboard will launch a weekly top songwriters and producers chart onJune 15th. Billboard will rollout the top 10 charts for Hot 100 songwriters and producers that will coincide with charts from genres including R&B/hip-hop, rap, R&B, country, rock, dance/electronic, Latin, Christian and gospel. The songwriters and producers will finally have a ‘look at me’ moment outside a yearly award ceremony

Up & coming Toronto based Deanna Petcoff releases a really cool track Stage Lights. The singer-songwriter cites Bowie, Joan Jett, Lou Reed, and Patti Smith as influences. Her debut single Terribly True garnered coverage from The 405, Atwood Mag, and indie 88, while clocking 209k Spotify Streams. Give it a stream.

Apple will finally shut down iTunes.  Apple will rollout new software for Mac this fall and iTunes will cease to exist. Apple Music, Apple Podcasts, and Apple TV will replace iTunes.  For those who have an iTunes library full of songs – no need to worry. Your iTunes library will exported into a new app, which includes your downloaded songs, purchased songs, or songs ripped from a CD.

Both Miley Cyrus and Katy Perry are back with new music. Miley dropped the first of three six-song EPs while Katy Perry released a Ariana-Grande style single “Never Really Over.” Perry is aiming for the radio charts and Miley is taking chances again. In fact, Miley hasn’t made a radio album since Bangerz which was released 2013. There has been a lot of talk if Miley and Katy can still move tracks and and sell tickets. While Miley and Katy focused on outside endeavors new pop stars dominated like Post Malone, Ariana Grande, Cardi B, and Billie Eilish.

Most pop stars rarely last more than 5 years, nobody survives the changing trends. That still doesn’t mean business is over.  They can still generate lots of money, even though they can’t pack the same size venues. When the pop stars of yore like Katy and Miley discover the fact they will no longer be trending topics, they will actually start writing great music again – the type of songs that broke them in the first place. Creativity is the highest when their are no strings attached.

Dinosaur Pile-Up releases the new single ‘Round The Bend’ which comes off their album Celebrity Mansions via Parlophone Records. The alt-rock three piece has three albums under their belt. The new single premiered last night on the Radio 1 Rock Show. Give it a listen.
Playlists: Radio X and Kerrang Radio
Press: NME, DIY, Kerrang, The Independent, Dork
Upcoming shows: Download Festival and a upcoming US tour with Shinedown.