They truly are marching to the beat of their own drum.

It’s as though anything Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre touches turns to gold: The dynamic duo marked epic-level success when they introduced Eminem to the music world 15 years ago, and their lucrative Beats by Dre business reached blockbuster heights following reports that Apple plans to buy the headphones’ parent company, Beats Electronics, for $3.2 billion.

STARTED FROM THE BOTTOM
Well, not necessarily the bottom, but Iovine kicked off his career behind the scenes. He was a recording engineer in the 1970s who mixed albums such as Bruce Springsteen’s “Born to Run.” He later upgraded to producer, working with revered icons from Tom Petty to U2 to Stevie Nicks. Springsteen says it best in the song “Ain’t Good Enough for You,” singing: “And babe I tried to make the latest scene, hitting cool just like Jimmy Iovine.”

Dre, too, started as a producer, but it was for N.W.A., the hip-hop group he was a member of alongside Eazy-E and Ice Cube. The West Coast-based rappers made their stance in hip-hop culture and music history in the late `80s with controversial lyrics and edge, and Dre followed that with his own solo work that topped the charts. Dre is also responsible for bringing forth rap king Snoop Dogg, rap king Eminem, rap king 50 Cent and rising rap prince Kendrick Lamar. Outside of those acts, beats by Dre – literally – include tracks like Tupac’s classic “California Love,” Eve and Gwen Stefani’s Grammy-winning “Let Me Blow Ya Mind” and Mary J. Blige’s only song to hit No. 1, the party jam “Family Affair.”

BEATING THE OTHERS WITH BEATS
Many celebrities and musicians have launched headphones lines, from 50 Cent to Quincy Jones to Jay Z, but no one has come close to Beats by Dre, even before Apple’s billion-dollar acquisition. The brand, which debuted in 2008, brought new life to the headphone industry, reinvented the way people listen to music and revived how earphones could make a fashion statement. Dr. Dre is a doctor in the music industry, and Iovine is as needed as an IV.

HI, MY NAME IS…
It’s hard to imagine the world of entertainment – or Emtertainment for that matter – without thinking of Eminem, one of the ultra-successful members of pop culture. And part of his victory comes from his team: Iovine and Dre have been behind the Detroit icon since he emerged with brash raps and an energy that was both dominating and enticing. From the Oscar-winning “8 Mile” to multiple multiplatinum albums to an influence on today’s musicians and music lovers, Eminem is a musical virtuoso and praise should also go to his guardian angels.

STILL GOING STRONG
Iovine, who co-founded Interscope Records, is the chairman of Interscope Geffen A&M, where the roster includes U2, Madonna, Robin Thicke, the Black Eyed Peas, Maroon 5 and Lady Gaga, who released a line of headphones via Beats by Dre.

Dre, whose upcoming album “Detox” has been anticipated for a decade, has mentored Lamar, a fellow Compton rapper who had a breakthrough last year with his platinum-selling debut album, “good kid, m.A.A.d city,” which was nominated for album of the year at the Grammy Awards this year.

Posted by David Miller

The Standard Hotel in New York City says it is investigating the leak of a security video that appears to show Beyonce’s sister, Solange, attacking Jay Z.

Asked about the video on Monday by The Associated Press, the hotel issued a statement saying it is “shocked and disappointed that there was a clear breach of our security system.”

TMZ posted the video and said it was shot last week inside a Standard Hotel elevator. It appears to show Solange attacking Jay Z in Beyonce’s presence. A security guard intervenes. There is no audio.

The hotel says the leaked video violates the confidentiality it provides customers. It says it “will discipline and prosecute the individuals involved to our fullest capacity.”

Representatives for Beyonce, Jay Z and Solange didn’t immediately comment.

Posted by David Miller (Via Billboard)

It’s only fitting that Eminem decided to release the video for his song “Headlights” on Mother’s Day. The track, which features Nate Ruess and appears on Eminem’s most recent album “Marshall Mathers LP 2,” is basically an open letter to his mother, Debbie Mathers, apologizing for the hatred-filled lyrics he has directed at her since his career took off in the late 1990s. Despite all that, Eminem makes clear in the song, he still loves her. Sample lyric: “Did I take it too far?/ ‘Cleaning Out My Closet’/and all them other songs/But regardless I don’t hate you ’cause/Ma, you’re still beautiful to me/’cause you’re my mom.”

Directed by Spike Lee, who hasn’t shot a music video since Michael Jackson’s “This Is It” in 2009, the majority of the clip is shot from the first-person perspective of Eminem’s mother, interspersed with video clips and photo album pictures from Eminem’s youth. The video climaxes with the rapper and his mother meeting on his driveway for a heartwarming embrace.

Posted by Ryan Kristobak (Via Huffington Post)

Apple could be close to making its biggest acquisition in the company’s history, offering $3.2 billion to purchase headphone maker Beats Electronics, which recently launched a streaming music service.

Should the deal close, it would mark a major payout for Beats founders and music industry icons Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre, who launched the Santa Monica, Calif.-based company in 2008. Its products were produced by Monster Cable until 2012, when founders bought back control of the company from Monster and mobile hardware maker HTC.

A deal could be announced next week, individuals close to the companies say.

The deal stands out not only for Beats’ holdings, but because Apple rarely buys other companies to bolster its bottom line. That’s changed under Apple chief Tim Cook, who has dug into the company’s $133 billion coffers and acquired 24 companies in the past 18 months. He is considering other additions to the company to help its products stand out from rivals, including Samsung, and inject a “cool factor” back into the company that has relied on iTunes, its iPhone and iPads for far too long.

The Beats deal would make a lot of sense for Apple.

Beats has established itself as a major player in the industry with its colorful line of headphones. And its music streaming service, which launched in January for $10 a month, would be used to tune up a streaming service Apple has been developing internally. Beats Music competes with Spotify, Google Play Music, Pandora and Last.fm.

The Beats brand is also licensed to others under the Beats Audio brand and can be found in cars made by Chrysler, HTC smartphones and HP computers.

Posted by Marc Graser (Via Variety)

Known for his colossal successes with everyone from the Ying Yang Twins to Soulja Boy, Mr. Collipark needs very little introduction. The Atlanta based label owner and producer has played an integral role in the evolution of Southern hip-hop from early Atlanta booty shake to crunk to kiddie club music and everything in between.

Now the certified “Twerk King” brings us a whole new side to his productions, by entering the dance music world with his debut EP No Discrimination. Setting the bar high with this jam-packed package, Mr. Collipark’s music guarantees to make its way into club sets far and wide.

Leading the EP is his collaboration with Meaux Green that comes out guns fully blazing with a twerk worthy anthem, catchy vocals from DPK and a bass big enough to erupt madness on the dance floor. Long time ColliPark collaborator and Atlanta native, Mr. Hanky lends a hand on the Bounce Mix of the single. Video dj pioneer DJ Roonie G joins the twerk fest and Denver, CO native duo The Basscrooks give their rendition of the track as well. The EP provides a variety of mixes to No Discrimination that are sure to please dj’s and twerkers alike from Atlanta to Paris.

This is the first of many for Mr. Collipark, with more music coming from releases alongside Waka Flocka Flame and Mayhem as well as Dirty Audio Featuring Ying Yang Twins. So get ready to bounce and twerk with the “Twerk King” himself, Mr. Collipark.

Posted by Dennis Blaze

2 parties, 1 day! ClubKillers.com invades LIQUID once-again this Thursday. Catch DJ Earwaxxx & John Cha as they put on a house music education poolside to launch the popular party. Also, later that night, HAZE’s industry Thursday night celebrates the best and the brightest from around the Vegas nightlife community with its Industry All-Stars event hosted by JackColton.com.

Music provided by DJ Earwaxxx, John Cha, and Club Killers fam DJ Scene!

Posted by John Cha

After over a month of waiting for this exclusive remix to be released to the general public we have got the okay to post on our VIP Soundcloud page.

This is our first of hopefully many “Club Killers” official remixes signed to a major label & we are extremely excited that it just happened to be for one of the biggest names in the music industry, Calvin Harris. The original track is really picking up steam at my home radio station KIIS FM Los Angeles and all over the world. Safe to predict this might just be one of the biggest tracks of the SUMMER.

Have a HYPEM account? We would sincerely appreciate a like/heart to help us jump up on the Hype Machine charts on the link here: http://hypem.com/track/247yz/Calvin+Harris+-+Summer+(Club+Killers+Festival+Trap+Remix Thank you for your continued support! Look forward to more bangin exclusive remixes & mash ups! Big news coming soon – Alex Dreamz

Posted by Alex Dreamz

DJ Skribble says his Vegas gig was torpedoed by vindictive club managers who refused to give him a microphone, telling him his act was fit for a toilet stall.

Skribble filed suit against Chateau Nightclub, claiming it reneged on a 1-year, $3,500 per gig deal. Skribble says everything changed when the club hired new management. He says the new guys tried to dump him as the house DJ … driving customers away from his room, cancelling bottle service and even refusing to give him a microphone.

Skribble says they also cancelled his advertising and promotion … and slandered him by telling customers he should “be put in the bathroom to play.”He says the club owes him $42K for the cancelled shows … but he’s suing for more than $1 million … for breaking the contract and damaging his good name.

Posted by David Miller (Via TMZ )

One of the most popular producers of electronic dance music has collaborated with one of pop music’s and Nickelodeon’s television star of the shows Victorious and Sam & Cat. That’s right, Anton “Zedd” Zaslavski and Ariana Grande have come together on a song for Ariana’s next album. Veering off from her Yours Truly album, Ms. Grande considers this new song to be “fantastic and super-experimental for me.” Now that she has pushed out her new single “Problem” featuring Iggy Azalea, her sophomore album is sure to have a variety of sound and genres bending with dance rather than R&B like her previous material.

With songs like “Clarity”, “Stay The Night”, and “Find You” all featuring female vocalists, it is evident that Zedd is very effective in making popular chart toppers as well as epic tunes to dance to. Fitting one of his productions with Ariana Grande’s voice should be no challenge to the young Russian-German musician. Plus he’s previously produced works for female singers like Eva Simons in “I Don’t Like You”, Lady Gaga with three songs in her last album ARTPOP, and Justin Bieber with his song “Beauty And A Beat” featuring Nicki Minaj to serve as evidence of his production skills without counting his own discography. Like many electronic dance/pop music hybrids, this track will most likely see some radio play and reach top spots on Billboard’s Top 40.

Posted by Miguel Tost (Via YourEDM)

It’s taken Hakkasan less than a year to become one of the most popular DJ destinations in Las Vegas—and the country, for that matter. The MGM Grand restaurant/nightclub complex will have made an estimated $80-$90 million by this weekend, when it celebrates its first anniversary. Here’s a glimpse of its premiere year.

Highlight: Signing Calvin Harris Whatever the expense to hire away the EDM-pop chart-topper from Wynn Nightlife, it was worth it. The Scottish producer/DJ has been a solid draw for the nightclub, which can command over $100 a head for his weekend appearances (as it likely will for his April 25 return).

Lowlight: Losing Deadmau5 No one’s talking about the one that got away, but even if the progressive house phenom quit four months into his deal, it’s still a big loss for Hakkasan, as ’Mau5’s signing was the most anticipated of the club’s initial roster.

Best cred brag: Questlove Hakkasan snagged the coolest man in music, as the drummer of The Roots (and Jimmy Fallon’s Tonight Show Band) frequently mans the booth inside the Ling Ling Club side room (and will do so again on April 26).

Biggest night: Actual attendance figures weren’t available, but a rep for the club says the best nights have drawn “upwards of 6,000 partygoers.”

Best guest DJ: Moby Knowing Moby plays pretty left of Hakkasan’s signature EDM, we weren’t sure how his Labor Day debut set would go over. Turns out it went so well he returned four months later. Future resident, maybe? Here’s to another year of similarly interesting happenings.

Posted by Mike Prevatt (Via LV Weekly)

If you actively keep up with the news, you would know that SFX, the giant media conglomerate helmed by Robert FX Sillerman, has stake in many different parts of the EDM industry. If SFX isn’t buying out or partnering up with another company to create groundbreaking festivals, web applications, radio shows or more, it is seeking innovative ways to move the genre forward. Insert its latest project: ULTIMATE DJ.

Syco Entertainment, the production company behind The X Factor and Got Talent; SFX and T-Mobile US, Inc announced today that they are teaming up to produce a brand new television show that will center on EDM and bringing to light DJ/producer talent and skills. In other words, American Idol for electronic music. Of course, Simon Cowell, the AI judge we have all grown to love and hate, developed the new show. At the moment, the competition will launch online, and producers will be invited to submit their original recordings, while viewers will vote through social media. Then, there will be live challenges and performances at SFX event venues.

“Bringing EMC to the world is our goal,” said Sillerman. “And building a TV franchise in the USA is a key part of that strategy. It’s always exciting to work with Simon Cowell, and the creative power of the Syco organization is undisputed. They are the perfect partners for our vision. And we couldn’t be more excited to partner with T-Mobile US. John is the most exciting CEO of this generation, and I am personally inspired by the mobile revolution he and the team at T-Mobile are driving. Together, we share a vision of challenging the status quo and pioneering new territory in business, media, and entertainment.”

SFX has made their presence in the EDM industry known and their message is clear: they are trailblazers. While a DJ competition might sound silly, you must remember the musicians who made their start through “American Idol” and other “Got Talent” shows. At the very least, it could potentially open up additional avenues for musicians in the dance music space to showcase their talent above and beyond what they could manager in the already very crowded scene. We are curious to see what sort of genres and styles will be favored or propagated by the show, however, considering it will be tailor-made for American television, a mainstream tilt is most likely. Either way, it will surely be entertaining.

Posted by Elizabeth Udell (Via EDM Tunes)

The Carters have officially announced their rumored joint tour. Beyonce and Jay Z will head out on a 16-date stadium tour they’re calling On The Run, to kickoff in Miami on June 25th and wrap in San Francisco on August 5. The tour is sponsored by Chase.

Chase cardholders as well as Beyonce Fan Club members will be granted access to a ticket pre-sale tomorrow, April 29, at 10AM. General pre-sale will be available at 10AM on May 1. $1 from each ticket sale will be donated to the Shawn Carter Foundation, which provides scholarships to underserved students. The donations are in partnership with Beyonce’s #BeyGOOD initiative, which supports a number of charities.

The couple recently made surprise appearances during the first weekend of Coachella, with Beyonce popping in during her sister Solange’s set and Jay Z dropping by Nas’ midnight set in Indio.

Jay Z’s tour with Justin Timberlake in 2013 brought in an average of $5 million a night, according to Billboard Boxscore. Check out concert schedule after the jump.

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