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Michael McMartin, the Canada-born entrepreneur who settled in Australia, where he established the framework for a professional music management community and guided the Hoodoo Gurus for four decades, died Sunday (March 31) following a lengthy illness. He was 79.
“Michael had been undergoing treatment for cancer for a number of years but, despite the best efforts of his medical team, he succumbed to his illness peacefully around noon on Easter Sunday, surrounded by his beloved family,” reads a statement from the McMartin family.
Born on Vancouver Island on March 12, 1945, McMartin completed his BA (Political Science) at Loyola College in Montreal. He relocated to Australia in 1971, and, several years later, joined forces with producer Charles Fisher to form Trafalgar Records, the independent recording and publishing enterprise.
In 1985, he established Melody Management. His first clients were the Hoodoo Gurus, whom he signed to their first record deal in 1982 and commenced managing three years later, in 1985. It was a relationship that would see the Gurus enter the ARIA Hall of Fame, in 2009, and would last until McMartin announced in February of this year that he would be stepping down from that role due to ill health.
“I really can’t find the words to express my feelings at this time but respect, love and gratitude would be among them,” he wrote in a message distributed Feb. 22, announcing his decision to hand over Gurus duties to Mick Mazzone of Mighty Management. “Thanks to the Hoodoo Gurus I have lived a life that I only otherwise could have dreamt of.”
McMartin was a founding member of the Music Managers’ Forum in Australia, he served as chairman and then executive director of the International Music Managers’ Forum (IMMF), the umbrella organization for managers from some 24 countries which has NGO status at WIPO, the United Nations agency dealing with worldwide copyright issues, and was, for 19 years, a board member of Support Act, the music industry benevolent charity.
The much-loved artist manager received the APRA Ted Albert Award for his lifetime contribution to Australian Music in 2007, one of the Australian music community’s highest honors, and in 2015 he was awarded the Medal of the Order Of Australia (OAM) for “services to the performing arts, especially music.”
He’s the reigning legacy award recipient at the AAM Awards, presented last year in Sydney.
John Watson was on hand to present McMartin, his mentor, with the special honor. “When someone passes it’s easy to list what they did but it’s much harder to explain how they did it. In an era where far too many men acted badly, Michael proved that nice guys don’t have to finish last,” Watson writes in a statement to Billboard. “He was an unbelievably kind mentor to hundreds of people, including me, and his political advocacy for the industry as a whole – and managers in particular – was an inspiration across decades. Without him there would not be an AAM and Support Act would be nowhere near the force that it has become.”
Colin Hay, former frontman of Men At Work, remembers McMartin for his kindness. “After I was dropped by MCA Records in 1991, I was unsure of what to do next. I knew Michael McMartin a little. He said to me one day, ‘why don’t you just make an acoustic album, and I’ll release it.’” That happened, and the pair became friends. “Friends that could tell each other the truth. He told me one day that I was wallowing in self pity, and that I could be a much better person. He was right. He helped me whenever I asked, even when I didn’t,” explains Hay. McMartin was “a rarity among men,” someone who “believes in making the industry that we inhabit a better place for all, a place that fosters creative endeavor, instead of the all too often obstacle course that this here music industry can be.”
McMartin “left an indelible mark on the Australian music industry, and his loss is acutely felt within our management community which he supported and uplifted so generously,” reads a statement from the Association of Artists Managers. In recent years, the AAM points out, McMartin “formalized his desire to lift up developing managers” by spearheading the Patron’s Gift; a fund that would enable opportunities to bring in diverse communities, POC and First Nations emerging managers.
McMartin is survived by his wife, Saskia, and his son, Hamish and his extended family, including Michael’s two grandchildren, Kiara and Koby.
A private family funeral held in the coming days and, a little later, an announcement of a public gathering to be held in Sydney to celebrate the late music man’s life and legacy, with friends and music industry acquaintances invited.
Beyoncé received her much-deserved Innovator Award at the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards on Monday night (April 1), and the “Texas Hold ‘Em” superstar took the stage to accept her trophy from a fellow icon, Stevie Wonder.
“Whenever anyone asks me if there’s anyone I could listen to for the rest of my life, it’s always you. God bless you,” she told the “Isn’t She Lovely” singer, thanking him for playing the harmonica on her version of Dolly Parton’s “Jolene,” featured on her freshly released album, Cowboy Carter.
Wonder then sweetly told Bey, “I just want to thank you for motivating the world to becoming a better place.”
During her heartfelt acceptance speech, Beyoncé shared what being an innovator means to her. “Innovation starts with a dream, and the road to execute that dream can be very bumpy. Being an innovator is doing what everyone believes is impossible,” she told the crowd, dressed in line with her current country era, rocking a leather jumpsuit with fringe, as well as a big belt with a buckle and a sleek black cowboy hat. “Being an innovator often means being criticized, which often will test your mental strength. Being an innovator is leaning on faith and trusting that God will catch you and guide you.”
She continued, “To all the record labels, every radio station, every award show, my hope is that we’re more open to the joy and liberation that comes from enjoying art with no preconceived notions. I want to dedicate this award to all the innovators who have dedicated their lives and their art to creating shifts. Thank you for your sacrifice and your powerful forces and your dauntless spirit.”
Bey then thanked the artistic innovators who inspired her, including Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Tracy Chapman, Linda Martell, Prince, Andre 3000, Tina Turner, Michael Jackson and Wonder, applauding them for “executing your dream so we can all follow.”
The “Break My Soul” singer wrapped up by thanking her team at her Parkwood Entertainment company, as well as her husband Jay-Z, whom she called “my rock, my best friend,” and her three children — 12-year-old Blue Ivy and six-year-old twins Sir and Rumi — “who continue to be my inspiration and biggest blessing.”
Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter arrived on Friday (March 29) and officially became Spotify’s most-streamed album in a single day in 2024, and marked the most first-day streams for a country album by a female artist in the history of Amazon Music.
Between performers and winners, the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards on Monday night (April 1) at Dolby Theater in Los Angeles was a star-studded affair.
Justin Timberlake kicked things off for the show’s performers, starting the show with “Selfish” and “No Angels,” both from his just-released sixth album, Everything I Thought It Was. Other performers included Ludacris — who also served as the night’s host — as well as Green Day, Jelly Roll with Lainey Wilson, Tate McRae and TLC, who enlisted Latto to fill in for the late Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes on her “Waterfalls” rap verse.
Cher also hit the stage as she received the Icon Award, introduced by Oscar-winning actress Meryl Streep. Jennifer Hudson paid tribute to Cher by singing her 1989 hit “If I Could Turn Back Time,” before Cher herself joined Hudson onstage for the 1998 smash “Believe.”
And that was just the performers — we also saw SZA, Ice Spice and Fall Out Boy all take the stage to accept awards, as well as a video message from the night’s artist of the year, Taylor Swift.
Also on hand was Beyoncé to accept the Innovator Award from Stevie Wonder. “Innovation starts with a dream, and the road to execute that dream can be very bumpy,” Bey said in her heartfelt acceptance speech. “Being an innovator is doing what everyone believes is impossible. Being an innovator often means being criticized, which often will test your mental strength. Being an innovator is leaning on faith and trusting that God will catch you and guide you.”
Below, find all the best photos from Monday night’s 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards.
The 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards went down Monday night (April 1) in Los Angeles, with SZA taking the stage to accept multiple trophies — including the final prize of the night: song of the year for “Kill Bill.”
Jelly Roll was also on hand to perform and accept the awards for both pop and country new artist of the year, while Ice Spice was named hip-hop’s new artist of the year. Taylor Swift sent in a video message to accept the artist of the year prize, in addition to two other awards.
Below, find all the 2024 iHeartRadio Awards winners:
All-Genre Categories
Song of the year
“Calm Down” – Rema and Selena Gomez
“Creepin’” – Metro Boomin with The Weeknd and 21 Savage
“Cruel Summer” – Taylor Swift
“Dance The Night” – Dua Lipa
“Fast Car” – Luke Combs
“Flowers”- Miley Cyrus
WINNER: “Kill Bill” – SZA
“Last Night”- Morgan Wallen
“Paint The Town Red” – Doja Cat
“vampire” – Olivia Rodrigo
Artist of the year
Drake
Jelly Roll
Luke Combs
Miley Cyrus
Morgan Wallen
Olivia Rodrigo
Shakira
SZA
WINNER: Taylor Swift
Usher
Duo/group of the year
(G)I-DLE
Blink-182
Dan + Shay
Fall Out Boy
Foo Fighters
Jonas Brothers
Måneskin
WINNER: OneRepublic
Paramore
Parmalee
Best collaboration
“All My Life” – Lil Durk ft. J. Cole
“Barbie World (with Aqua)” – Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice
“Boy’s a liar Pt.2” – PinkPantheress and Ice Spice
WINNER: “Calm Down”- Rema and Selena Gomez
“Creepin’” – Metro Boomin with The Weeknd and 21 Savage
“Good Good” – Usher, Summer Walker and 21 Savage
“Rich Flex” – Drake and 21 Savage
“Thank God” – Kane Brown and Katelyn Brown
“Tomorrow 2” – GloRilla with Cardi B
“TQG” – Karol G and Shakira
Producer of the year
Carter Lang
Dan Nigro
WINNER: Jack Antonoff
Kid Harpoon
Rob Bisel
Songwriter of the year
Aldae
Ashley Gorley
J Kash
Jack Antonoff
Michael Ross Pollack
Genre-Specific Categories
Pop song of the year (new category)
“Calm Down” – Rema and Selena Gomez
“Cruel Summer” – Taylor Swift
WINNER: “Flowers”- Miley Cyrus
“Kill Bill” – SZA
“vampire” – Olivia Rodrigo
Pop artist of the year (new category)
Doja Cat
Miley Cyrus
Olivia Rodrigo
SZA
WINNER: Taylor Swift
Best new artist (Pop)
David Kushner
Doechii
WINNER: Jelly Roll
Rema
Stephen Sanchez
Pop album of the year
WINNER: Olivia Rodrigo, Guts
Country song of the year
“Fast Car” – Luke Combs
WINNER: “Heart Like a Truck” – Lainey Wilson
“Last Night” – Morgan Wallen
“Rock and a Hard Place” – Bailey Zimmerman
“Thank God” – Kane Brown and Katelyn Brown
Country artist of the year
Jason Aldean
Jelly Roll
Lainey Wilson
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen
Best new artist (country)
Corey Kent
Jackson Dean
WINNER: Jelly Roll
Megan Moroney
Nate Smith
Hip-Hop song of the year
WINNER: “All My Life”- Lil Durk ft. J. Cole
“fukumean”- Gunna
“Just Wanna Rock” – Lil Uzi Vert
“Rich Flex” – Drake and 21 Savage
“Tomorrow 2”- GloRilla with Cardi B
Hip-Hop artist of the year
21 Savage
WINNER: Drake
Future
Gunna
Lil Durk
Best new artist (hip-hop)
Doechii
WINNER: Ice Spice
Lola Brooke
Sexyy Red
Young Nudy
Hip-hop album of the year
WINNER: Metro Boomin, Heroes & Villains
R&B song of the year
“Creepin’”- Metro Boomin with The Weeknd and 21 Savage
“CUFF IT”- Beyoncé
“Good Good” – Usher, Summer Walker and 21 Savage
“On My Mama” – Victoria Monét
WINNER: “Snooze”- SZA
R&B artist of the year
Beyoncé
Brent Faiyaz
Chris Brown
WINNER: SZA
Usher
Best new artist (R&B)
Coco Jones
Fridayy
Kenya Vaun
October London
WINNER: Victoria Monét
R&B album of the year
WINNER: SZA, SOS
Alternative song of the year
“Lost” – Linkin Park
“Love From the Other Side” – Fall Out Boy
WINNER: “One More Time”- Blink-182
“Rescued”- Foo Fighters
“This Is Why”- Paramore
Alternative artist of the year
Blink-182
WINNER: Fall Out Boy
Foo Fighters
Green Day
Paramore
Best new artist (alt and rock)
Bad Omens
HARDY
Jelly Roll
Lovejoy
WINNER: Noah Kahan
Alternative album of the year
WINNER: boygenius, the album
Rock song of the year
“72 Seasons” – Metallica
“Dead Don’t Die”- Shinedown
WINNER: “Lost” – Linkin Park
“Need A Favor” – Jelly Roll
“Rescued” – Foo Fighters
Rock artist of the year
Disturbed
WINNER: Foo Fighters
Jelly Roll
Metallica
Shinedown
Rock album of the year
WINNER: Metallica, 72 Seasons
Dance song of the year
“10:35”- Tiësto ft. Tate McRae
“Baby Don’t Hurt Me” – David Guetta, Anne-Marie and Coi Leray
“Padam Padam” – Kylie Minogue
“Praising You” – Rita Ora ft. Fatboy Slim
WINNER: “Strangers” – Kenya Grace
Dance artist of the year
Anabel Englund
David Guetta
Illenium
Kylie Minogue
WINNER: Tiësto
Latin pop / urban song of the year
“La Bachata” – Manuel Turizo
“La Bebe (remix)” – Yng Lvcas and Peso Pluma
“Lala”- Myke Towers
WINNER: “Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53”- Shakira and Bizarrap
“TQG”- Karol G and Shakira
Latin pop / urban artist of the year
Bad Bunny
Feid
Karol G
Manuel Turizo
Shakira
Best new artist (Latin pop / urban)
Bad Gyal
GALE
Mora
Yng Lvcas
WINNER: Young Miko
Regional Mexican song of the year
“Bebe Dame”- Fuerza Regida and Grupo Frontera
WINNER: “Ella Baila Sola” – Eslabon Armado and Peso Pluma
“Indispensable” – Carin León
“Qué Onda Perdida” – Grupo Firme ft. Gerardo Coronel
“Qué Vuelvas”- Carin León and Grupo Frontera
Regional Mexican artist of the year
Calibre 50
Carin León
El Fantasma
Grupo Frontera
WINNER: Peso Pluma
Best new artist (regional Mexican)
Gabito Ballesteros
Gerardo Coronel
Grupo Frontera
Junior H
WINNER: Peso Pluma
Regional Mexican album of the year
WINNER: Peso Pluma, Genésis
K-pop artist of the year (new category)
(G)I-DLE
Jung Kook
NCT Dream
Seventeen
Stray Kids
K-pop song of the year (new category)
“Bouncy (K-Hot Chilli Peppers)” – ATEEZ
WINNER: “Cupid (Twin Version)”- FIFTY FIFTY
“S-Class” – Stray Kids
“Seven” Jung Kook ft. Latto
“Super Shy” – NewJeans
K-pop album of the year
WINNER: Stray Kids, 5 Star
Best new artist (K-pop) (new category)
BOYNEXTDOOR
WINNER: NewJeans
RIIZE
xikers
ZEROBASEONE
Best African music artist
WINNER: Burna Boy
Rema
Tems
Tyla
Wizkid
Socially voted categories
Best lyrics
“Dial Drunk”- Noah Kahan
“Flowers”- Miley Cyrus
“Greedy”- Tate McRae
“Houdini”- Dua Lipa
“Is It Over Now? (Taylor’s Version)”- Taylor Swift
“Last Night”- Morgan Wallen
“Lovin On Me”- Jack Harlow
“Nonsense”- Sabrina Carpenter
“Paint The Town Red”- Doja Cat
“vampire”- Olivia Rodrigo
“Water”- Tyla
“What Was I Made For?”- Billie Eilish
Best music video
“3D”- Jung Kook ft. Jack Harlow
“Dance The Night”- Dua Lipa
“FLOWER”- JISOO
“Flowers”- Miley Cyrus
“I’m Good (Blue)” – Bebe Rexha and David Guetta
“Kill Bill”- SZA
“La Bebe (Remix)”- Yng Lvcas and Peso Pluma
“Paint The Town Red”- Doja Cat
“Seven”- Jung Kook ft. Latto
“TQG”- Karol G and Shakira
“vampire”- Olivia Rodrigo
“What Was I Made For?”- Billie Eilish
Best fan army
Agnation
ATINY
Barbz
Beyhive
WINNER: BTS Army
Harries
Livies
Louies
Niallers
Rushers
Selenators
Swifties
Social star award
Alex Warren
David Kushner
Flyana Boss
WINNER: Gracie Abrams
Jessie Murph
Megan Moroney
Natalie Jane
Noah Kahan
Favorite tour photographer
Alfredo Flores – Sabrina Carpenter
Anna Lee – Coldplay
Carianne Older – Charlie Puth
Catherine Powell – Kelsea Ballerini
Cynthia Parkhurst – Jonas Brothers
David Lehr – Morgan Wallen
WINNER: Joshua Halling – Louis Tomlinson
Mason Poole – Beyoncé
Matty Vogel – Misterwives
Ravie B – Adele
Ryan Fleming – 5 Seconds of Summer
Sanjay Parikh – Shinedown
TikTok bop of the year
“Boy’s a liar Pt. 2”- PinkPantheress and Ice Spice
“Collide (Sped Up Remix)”- Justine Skye
“Cruel Summer”- Taylor Swift
“Cupid (Twin Version)”- FIFTY FIFTY
“Daylight”- David Kushner
“Her Way (Sped Up)”- Party Next Door
“If We Ever Broke Up”- Mae Stephens
“Paint The Town Red”- Doja Cat
“Water”- Tyla
“What It Is (Solo Version)”- Doechii
“What Was I Made For?”- Billie Eilish
Favorite on screen (new category)
WINNER: j-hope IN THE BOX
Love To Love You, Donna Summer
Louis Tomlinson, “All of Those Voices”
Prince: The Final Secret
Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé
Jelly Roll, “Save Me”
Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour
TLC Forever
Favorite tour style
Beyoncé
Carrie Underwood
Doja Cat
Elton John
Harry Styles
Jonas Brothers
Madonna
Måneskin
Sabrina Carpenter
Shania Twain
SZA
WINNER: Taylor Swift
Favorite debut album (new category)
Jung Kook, GOLDEN
Chlöe, In Pieces
WINNER: V, Layover
Megan Moroney, Lucky
Lauren Spencer Smith, Mirror
Raye, My 21st Century Blues
Bailey Zimmerman, Religiously
Reneé Rapp, Snow Angel
Tyler Hubbard, Tyler Hubbard
At the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards at Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre on Monday (April 1) night, bona fide pop legend Cher received the Icon Award.
When the Oscar-winning actor and Grammy-winning singer took the stage, she had some words for the haters. “There are people who say, ‘Doesn’t that b-tch have more than one pair of pants?’” she said, laughing, while sporting a pair of Chrome Hearts pants. “I’ve had these pants for 40 years. I thought we should come here and accept this award together.”
Speaking to her longevity, Cher said she felt “lucky to have people that have stayed with me all these years,” while acknowledging that “most of you weren’t born” when her career began as part of Sonny & Cher in the ‘60s.
“I don’t usually talk about it, but I have been down and out so many times you could not believe it,” Cher admitted. “Dropped by record companies, couldn’t get a job… they said, ‘Oh, she’s so over.’ But I never gave up my dream.”
She had some advice for everyone in attendance and watching at home, too. “Have a dream and don’t give it up no matter what happens. If you have a dream and stick with it, you will have a wonderful life and it will probably come true.”
Prior to accepting the Icon Award, Cher hit the stage to perform her Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 “Believe.” But she wasn’t alone. Vocal powerhouse (and fellow Oscar winner) Jennifer Hudson joined her, trading full-throated vocals with Cher on the dance-pop classic. Prior to “Believe,” Hudson took the stage to sing Cher’s Adult Contemporary No. 1 smash “If I Could Turn Back Time,” which Hudson (no surprise) blew out of the water.
Cher’s Icon Award was introduced by another living legend: Meryl Streep, who has been friends with Cher since they starred in the 1983 drama Silkwood together. Streep noted that Cher is the only woman who has notched a No. 1 Billboard song in every one of the last seven decades. She also shared a story about listening to “I Got You Babe” back when she was just a tween in the mid ‘60s. “[Cher was] 17. I thought she was old – she could have been a senior! Now we’re both seniors,” she added drily.
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