Logo the music network
Logo Vinyl Media

Our Sites

Logo Rolling StoneLogo VarietyLogo MediaweekLogo The Music NetworkLogo Tone DeafLogo BragLogo Concrete PlaygroundLogo Refinery29

Network Partners

Art NewsBGRBillboardCrunchyrollDeadlineDeadlineEnthusiast gamingFootwear newsFunimationGamelancerGoldderbyHypebeastIndiewireKidoodlelifewithoutandysheknowssourcingjournalsporticospystylecasterhollywoodreportertoongogglestvlinevibe

Lars Brandle

Joined 20222464 posts
LB
Lars Brandle has reported at the frontline of the international music industry for over 25 years. A former musician, Lars joined the American music trade “bible” Billboard in 2000 and went on to serve as Global News Editor, based in London. Now Billboard’s Australia correspondent and senior writer with The Brag Media, Lars has appeared on CNN, the BBC and ABC, American Public Media and South Africa's EastCoast Radio, and he has spoken at Midem in Cannes, Music Matters in Singapore, Amsterdam Dance Event, London's City Showcase and at industry gatherings on both sides of the Tasman. His works have been published by Reuters, Media Week, Spin, and The Hollywood Reporter, and he has featured as a pundit in the Australian Financial Review, Business Review Weekly and Britain’s The Independent.

Latest stories

2019 guide to music grants: What to apply for

2019 guide to music grants: What to apply for

With patience and experience, cool heads say, there’s nothing you can’t achieve. Applying for a music grant will take all of this, and more. No one ever applied for a grant just for fun, to see what…

By Lars Brandle - Jan 21, 2019
2019 guide to music grants: What to apply for

News

2019 guide to music grants: What to apply for

With patience and experience, cool heads say, there’s nothing you can’t achieve. Applying for a music grant will take all of this, and more. No one ever applied for a grant just for fun, to see what…

By Lars Brandle - Jan 21, 2019
The walls are closing in on R. Kelly

The walls are closing in on R. Kelly

Everyone is distancing themselves from R. Kelly right now, with the notable exception of the authorities. Just one week after the Lifetime channel aired its explosive six-part Surviving R. Kelly…

By Lars Brandle - Jan 17, 2019
The walls are closing in on R. Kelly

News

The walls are closing in on R. Kelly

Everyone is distancing themselves from R. Kelly right now, with the notable exception of the authorities. Just one week after the Lifetime channel aired its explosive six-part Surviving R. Kelly…

By Lars Brandle - Jan 17, 2019
BTS’ ‘Burn the Stage: The Movie’ is coming to YouTube

BTS’ ‘Burn the Stage: The Movie’ is coming to YouTube

BTS broke the box office with Burn the Stage: The Movie. Now they’ll try break the Internet with the documentary film, which gets its YouTube premiere later this week. YouTube Originals announced…

By Lars Brandle - Jan 16, 2019
BTS’ ‘Burn the Stage: The Movie’ is coming to YouTube

News

BTS’ ‘Burn the Stage: The Movie’ is coming to YouTube

BTS broke the box office with Burn the Stage: The Movie. Now they’ll try break the Internet with the documentary film, which gets its YouTube premiere later this week. YouTube Originals announced…

By Lars Brandle - Jan 16, 2019
Tidal is under investigation over allegedly fudged streaming data

Tidal is under investigation over allegedly fudged streaming data

An elbows-deep probe into Tidal and its allegedly inflated streaming numbers on a bunch of titles has entered the next phase as Norwegian authorities launch their own investigation into the digital…

By Lars Brandle - Jan 15, 2019
Tidal is under investigation over allegedly fudged streaming data

News

Tidal is under investigation over allegedly fudged streaming data

An elbows-deep probe into Tidal and its allegedly inflated streaming numbers on a bunch of titles has entered the next phase as Norwegian authorities launch their own investigation into the digital…

By Lars Brandle - Jan 15, 2019
Pill testing debate: Doctors are ‘ready, willing and able’ to volunteer expertise after latest festival fatality

Pill testing debate: Doctors are ‘ready, willing and able’ to volunteer expertise after latest festival fatality

As NSW authorities count the cost of another drug-related death at a music festival, pill testing advocates say doctors are on standby and they’re willing to volunteer their services at events to…

By Lars Brandle - Jan 14, 2019
Pill testing debate: Doctors are ‘ready, willing and able’ to volunteer expertise after latest festival fatality

News

Pill testing debate: Doctors are ‘ready, willing and able’ to volunteer expertise after latest festival fatality

As NSW authorities count the cost of another drug-related death at a music festival, pill testing advocates say doctors are on standby and they’re willing to volunteer their services at events to…

By Lars Brandle - Jan 14, 2019
Australia’s music industry wants ISPs to block ‘stream ripping’ sites

Australia’s music industry wants ISPs to block ‘stream ripping’ sites

Australia’s recording industry is taking the legal route to take down so-called “stream ripping” services. Never heard of stream ripping? You’re in the minority. It’s the process of creating a…

By Lars Brandle - Jan 11, 2019
Australia’s music industry wants ISPs to block ‘stream ripping’ sites

News

Australia’s music industry wants ISPs to block ‘stream ripping’ sites

Australia’s recording industry is taking the legal route to take down so-called “stream ripping” services. Never heard of stream ripping? You’re in the minority. It’s the process of creating a…

By Lars Brandle - Jan 11, 2019
Angie McMahon, Kwame, Mansionair & more added to SXSW 2019 Line-up

Angie McMahon, Kwame, Mansionair & more added to SXSW 2019 Line-up

The annual live music rodeo that is SXSW is nearly upon us, and the Aussies will be in full voice. A third and latest round of performers dropped overnight, with rising indie artists Angie McMahon,…

By Lars Brandle - Jan 10, 2019
Angie McMahon, Kwame, Mansionair & more added to SXSW 2019 Line-up

News

Angie McMahon, Kwame, Mansionair & more added to SXSW 2019 Line-up

The annual live music rodeo that is SXSW is nearly upon us, and the Aussies will be in full voice. A third and latest round of performers dropped overnight, with rising indie artists Angie McMahon,…

By Lars Brandle - Jan 10, 2019
Pitchfork’s founding editor-in-chief Ryan Schreiber steps down

Pitchfork’s founding editor-in-chief Ryan Schreiber steps down

Ryan Schreiber is leaving Pitchfork, the worshipped indie music title he created almost a quarter century ago. In a memo to employees on Tuesday, Bob Sauerberg, president of the publication’s owner…

By Lars Brandle - Jan 9, 2019
Pitchfork’s founding editor-in-chief Ryan Schreiber steps down

News

Pitchfork’s founding editor-in-chief Ryan Schreiber steps down

Ryan Schreiber is leaving Pitchfork, the worshipped indie music title he created almost a quarter century ago. In a memo to employees on Tuesday, Bob Sauerberg, president of the publication’s owner…

By Lars Brandle - Jan 9, 2019
Rolling Stone is Hiring Australian Staff, ‘Ambitious’ Expansion Is Coming

Rolling Stone is Hiring Australian Staff, ‘Ambitious’ Expansion Is Coming

Will Rolling Stone magazine push out another Australian edition? It looks that way after the famed U.S. rock and lifestyle masthead put the call out for staff in Australia and three other global…

By Lars Brandle - Jan 8, 2019
Rolling Stone is Hiring Australian Staff, ‘Ambitious’ Expansion Is Coming

News

Rolling Stone is Hiring Australian Staff, ‘Ambitious’ Expansion Is Coming

Will Rolling Stone magazine push out another Australian edition? It looks that way after the famed U.S. rock and lifestyle masthead put the call out for staff in Australia and three other global…

By Lars Brandle - Jan 8, 2019
K-POP superstars BTS made an indie Australian duo famous overnight

K-POP superstars BTS made an indie Australian duo famous overnight

BTS had quite the year in 2018. The Korean boy band owned it at every station, leading the Billboard 200 Albums Chart with two titles Love Yourself: Tear and Love Yourself: Answer (no other K-pop…

By Lars Brandle - Jan 7, 2019
K-POP superstars BTS made an indie Australian duo famous overnight

News

K-POP superstars BTS made an indie Australian duo famous overnight

BTS had quite the year in 2018. The Korean boy band owned it at every station, leading the Billboard 200 Albums Chart with two titles Love Yourself: Tear and Love Yourself: Answer (no other K-pop…

By Lars Brandle - Jan 7, 2019
This is who will win the Hottest 100 according to Sportsbet

This is who will win the Hottest 100 according to Sportsbet

It’s been said that Aussies will bet on two flies crawling up a wall. We’re a country addicted to chucking our cash on horses, cards, lotteries and into machines that go “bing”. Australians lose…

By Lars Brandle - Jan 4, 2019
This is who will win the Hottest 100 according to Sportsbet

News

This is who will win the Hottest 100 according to Sportsbet

It’s been said that Aussies will bet on two flies crawling up a wall. We’re a country addicted to chucking our cash on horses, cards, lotteries and into machines that go “bing”. Australians lose…

By Lars Brandle - Jan 4, 2019
Did Gladys Berejiklian change her mind on pill testing?

Did Gladys Berejiklian change her mind on pill testing?

It’s a new year and, just maybe, a new dawn for advocates of pill testing at music festivals after NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian appeared to have a change of heart on the issue. The state Liberal…

By Lars Brandle - Jan 3, 2019
Did Gladys Berejiklian change her mind on pill testing?

News

Did Gladys Berejiklian change her mind on pill testing?

It’s a new year and, just maybe, a new dawn for advocates of pill testing at music festivals after NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian appeared to have a change of heart on the issue. The state Liberal…

By Lars Brandle - Jan 3, 2019
of 206
THE MUSIC NETWORK NEWSLETTER

Reporting from inside the Australian music business since '94.

Get our top stories straight to your inbox daily by signing up to our Newsletter

By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy. We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services.