Billboard Magazine

Mondo Times editors    Boulder Colorado USA

Posted at 11:40am on Friday, January 22nd, 2010

According to a press release supplied by Ingrooves/Universal Music, a Billboard cover featuring singer Veronica is causing some upset among Christians and Catholics.

From the (rather poorly assembled) press release:

Hollywood, Calif. (January 22, 2010) -- The news of Veronica dropping her first name, and her appearance on the cover of Billboard magazine is fueling some chaos amongst her loyal Hispanic following, most of which are Christian. The controversy surrounds Veronica's portrayal of a snake while engulfed in wings. The snake is a very touchy subject amongst Christian worshippers, who are claiming it to be sacrilege.

Veronica, whose name means "True Image," says, "The snake is symbolic for 'sinner.' The title to my new album is ''Saint nor Sinner' -- therefore the depiction of both symbols. If they cannot see beyond the symbolism and wish to see it as sacrilege, then they have bigger problems to tend to."

'Saint nor Sinner' is scheduled for a November release. "If You Wanna Fly" is now hitting the airwaves. Billboard magazine is out now.

Mondo Times editors    Boulder, Colorado USA

Posted at 4:15pm on Wednesday, October 28th, 2009

Billboard announced on October 21, 2009 that it has launched Billboard Brazil magazine - a monthly publication for Brazilian music fans.

The magazine is published by BPP Promocoes e Publicacoes LTDA, and features the most popular Billboard charts as well as in-depth editorial coverage of news and artists across all genres of music.

In addition to the North American charts such as the Hot 100 and Billboard 200, Billboard Brazil also includes the first-ever Billboard Brazil charts. The charts track the hottest music on the Brazilian airwaves based on exclusive airplay data from Crowley Broadcast Analysis - a service that monitors 265 radio station in the national territory.

"The Billboard charts are the measure of success in music, and we're proud finally to bring this information to Brazilian music fans," said Antonio Camarotti, Publisher of Billboard Brazil magazine. "Talking with people connected to the entertainment world, it is obvious that the market is excited about the publication. In The United States being in Billboard is a goal and here it won't be different."

Howard Appelbaum, publisher of Billboard, said: "Our goal is to establish Billboard as the most important music brand in the Latin American market, and Billboard Brazil is the perfect way to increase our presence in the culture."

Billboard Brazil has a monthly circulation of 40,000, and the first issue consists of 84 pages with advertisements from major brands including Volkswagen, Nokia, Nextel, Sony Music, Warner Music and Nestle. Billboard magazine is also currently published internationally in Russia and Turkey.

Mondo Times editors    Boulder, Colorado USA

Posted at 4:57pm on Sunday, July 26th, 2009

Billboard magazine is making its hit music charts free on the web, MediaWeek reported on July 22, 2009:

"As part of a site launch going live today, Billboard is opening up its entire chart history to the global audience and giving music fans the tools to participate in the past, present and future of music.

Users of the new Billboard.com will be able to personalize the way they approach music discovery whilst interacting with friends, fellow fans and even the musicians themselves.

One feature, called Soundtrack of My Life, allows users to create a string of songs tied to key moments in their lives.

Billboard, like Mediaweek, is owned by The Nielsen Co.

One of the big distinguishers Billboard expects to have in the crowded music space is its ability to free the decades of chart data to a consumer audience. For the first time, the Hot 100 chart will be freely available for all 100 listings.

“We’ve been on a path to make this Billboard brand as relevant as we can to as wide an audience as we can,” said Howard Appelbaum, publisher of Billboard."