Kristin Robinson

Imogen Heap joined my podcast, Billboard On The Record, this week to talk:
- AI music
- 20th anni of Speak for Yourself
- future collab with Ariana Grande
- SNL Hide and Seek skit
- being an independent artist for 20 years
- getting dropped by label bc of Frou Frou

open.spotify.com/episode/4YrG...

Thank you AU :)

Had so much fun doing this pod episode with the one and only AU!

Also highly recommend checking out all the episodes of the Greatest Popstars podcast. It’s SO great. Andrew is an excellent host.

How Indie Thinking Helped Faye Webster Create Her Own Musical Universe — And Prepare For Her Move to a Major Faye Webster on tour, her first major-label deal with Columbia Records, Minions, Alison Krauss and more in an interview with Billboard.

A totally charming profile – with a little news, too – of Faye Webster by @wordsbykristin.bsky.social www.billboard.com/music/rock/f...

Is Maren Morris a Pop Star? This Greatest Pop Stars podcast looks at Maren Morris' career and if she ever made the jump to pop stardom during her rise and fall in country.

Is Maren Morris a pop star? Digging into a surprisingly tough question (and a surprisingly -- though maybe not *that* surprisingly -- great new pop album) with the fantastic @marissarmoss.bsky.social. Insurrection Barbies not welcome. www.billboard.com/music/pop/ma...

from NYT breaking news alert on the selection of the new pope: "An evening chill can be felt as the sun sets behind St. Peter’s Basilica. The throngs of priests, nuns and Vatican workers who’ve assembled on rooftops for a glimpse of history don’t seem to mind."

on a professional level, i sympathize with the reporter who's being asked to provide breaking news updates and can only offer "uh... it's kinda cold out?"

The Trump Administration Is Upending the AI Race. What Does That Mean for Music? As the Trump administration appears to be removing the regulatory guardrails around AI, experts weigh in on the possible consequences for musicians.

JD Vance said we have been “too self conscious, too risk averse” with AI

In the Trump admin’s race for AI dominance, is it possible the copyright protections the music business has fought for get cast aside too??

I ask the experts:

www.billboard.com/pro/trump-up...

Genre Report: Can the Ambient Music Boom Withstand AI? Ambient music has been on the rise in the streaming era. But with royalty reform and the threat of AI-generated sounds, its future is still uncertain.

New story about the business of ambient music, which has been booming in the streaming era and as wellness culture continues to rise

Newcomer labels are flocking to the genre but not all have the best intentions

Read more:

www.billboard.com/pro/can-ambi...

How Trump’s Tariffs Could Be ‘Devastating’ for Musical Instrument Manufacturers Here's how Trump's tariffs could hurt musical instrument manufacturers who create guitars, drum kits and more, according to NAMM CEO John Mlynczak.

Most affordable instruments are made abroad, w top guitar brands like Fender, Taylor + Martin all having hubs in MX. Drum makers like Pearl, Yamaha + PDP all make product in China.

W/ Trump's tariffs, it could threaten people's chance at learning a new instrument.

www.billboard.com/pro/how-trum...

(i will find the answer, stay tuned lol)

Here's my question: With Trump's Mex/Canada tariffs set to start tomorrow, how will this affect instrument brands, like Fender and Taylor, which make their lower priced goods in Mexico?

...and more importantly how will this affect people who can't afford pricey instruments?

Sign up for Machine Learnings for free: cloud.email.billboard.com/signup/

In every one of my Machine Learnings newsletters I include a story from Billboard's archives... Back in 1982, Clive Davis urged the music biz to not be “proclaimers of doom” about the rise of early video games in an op-ed.

“They have seen our demise and have named it Atari,” Davis said.

Bla Dee~

They’re targeting a very specific SNL fan there

Honest question, how can we make it through 4 years (if not more) of this.

Listening to “Dawn Chorus” on the tube right now, as god intended

Appreciate you!!

Which Pop Stars Won January 2025? Greatest Pop Stars · Episode

Been a very packed start to 2025 in pop stardom -- surprise releases, breakout hits, benefit concerts, maybe the best Grammys ever. @stephenrdaw.bsky.social, Kyle Denis & I recapped it and listed our own top five pop stars of the year so far. open.spotify.com/episode/4Vmx...

Spotify and songwriters/publishers have had a hard time getting along… what’s the story? TikTok video by Kristin Robinson - Billboard

What’s the drama between Spotify and songwriters/music publishers?

If you need a full debrief, I gotchu. I made a TikTok explaining it in great detail

www.tiktok.com/t/ZT2rN2jSn/

Why didn’t Billie come out for Guess???

Drake is crashing out right now

Doechii… a star is born

i just cannot get over how much the administration’s response to the crash shows a profound disrespect for the lives of the people they are supposed to serve

ya youre right LOL

why major label CEOs**

In an interview with 'The Town,' longtime music exec Irving Azoff was asked by major label CEOs are so old now. He countered by saying "well, you're missing the point...why are they so ENGLISH" lol

The Spotify/UMG Deal Signals Hope for Publishers — What Comes Next? Spotify's new direct deal with the Universal Music Group is good news for publishers and songwriters. Will other companies get to benefit as well?

Spotify + UMG made a deal which sources say helps pay UMPG + its songwriters better than b4. Good for them.

This opens the door for other big pubs + their writers to get similar deals. Also, good...but what about the indies? Do they get left behind?

My analysis:
www.billboard.com/pro/spotify-...

seems like the worst part about writing the book... tapping your network and begging for them to help. I almost never buy a book for the blurbs. Mayyyyybe once or twice.