Jem Aswad
Jem Aswad, who launched Variety's music section with former executive music editor Shirley Halperin in 2017, has held senior editorial posts at Billboard, MTV News, Spin, Time Out New York and CMJ. He also has worked at three record labels (Atlantic, Warner and Caroline), two record stores, one performing-rights organization (ASCAP), moonlighted as an unpaid hand model for the cover photograph of a Hole single and even helped out at CBGB for a few weeks while one of said labels was filming a documentary there. A lifelong music obsessive, he started out writing concert reviews for his high school newspaper and over the years has been published in Rolling Stone, New York magazine, the Village Voice, Esquire, Entertainment Weekly, the Trouser Press Record Guide and other publications. He has won several Los Angeles Press Club and Southern California Press Club awards — including the LAPC's National Arts & Entertainment Journalist of the Year/ Online for 2022 — appears regularly on television and at conferences speaking about music, and sporadically guest-lectures at Syracuse University's Bandier (music business) Program and New York University. He is based in Variety's New York offices. Recent Articles
92%
The Daily's Verdict
This author is known for its high journalistic standards. The author strives to maintain neutrality and transparency in its reporting, and avoids conflicts of interest. The author has a reputation for accuracy and rarely gets contradicted on major discrepancies in its reporting.
Bias
92%
Examples:
- The author has a personal opinion evident in the review of Britney Spears: The Woman in Me Audiobook.
- The author's articles often contain reports on music industry news and events with a neutral tone.
Conflicts of Interest
95%
Examples:
- The author has won several Los Angeles Press Club and Southern California Press Club awards.
- The author has worked at three record labels, two record stores, and a performing-rights organization.
Contradictions
95%
Examples:
- In the article about Jennifer Lopez's canceled tour, the author reports contradictory information regarding the reason for ticket sales and tabloid rumors.
- The cause of death was a heart attack for Steve Albini as reported in one article.
Deceptions
90%
Examples:
- In the article about Jennifer Lopez's canceled tour, the author implies that the tour was rebranded to focus on career hits rather than a new album.
- The author reports on TikTok and Universal Music Group settling a royalty dispute without mentioning their connection through UMG's ownership of SoundCloud.
Recent Articles
Jack White's Surprise Release of Unnamed Album at Third Man Records: A Stripped-Down, Vinyl-Only Offering
Broke On: Friday, 19 July 2024Renowned musician Jack White surprised fans with the release of a new, untitled album, 'No Name,' on July 19, 2024. Given away for free at Third Man Records locations in Nashville, Detroit, and London, the stripped-down and guitar-heavy LP aligns with White's commitment to vinyl industry and limited-edition releases. 
Kendrick Lamar's Star-Studded Juneteenth Concert: A Unity Effort Featuring Dr. Dre, Tyler, the Creator and More
Broke On: Wednesday, 19 June 2024Kendrick Lamar's Juneteenth concert at the Kia Forum brought together LA rap legends and rising stars for a unifying performance, featuring collaborations with Dr. Dre, Tyler, the Creator, Schoolboy Q, Jay Rock and more. The event aimed to celebrate unity in Los Angeles rap culture and marked a potential end to Kendrick's feud with Drake. 
R.E.M.: The Original Lineup Reunites for Surprise Performance at Songwriters Hall of Fame
Broke On: Friday, 14 June 2024R.E.M., original lineup reunited for surprise performance at Songwriters Hall of Fame, playing acoustic hit 'Shining Light: R.E.M.'s Iconic Reunion' 
Ticketmaster: 560 Million Customer Records Hacked, Sensitive Info Listed for Sale on Dark Web
Broke On: Saturday, 01 June 2024Hackers obtained sensitive information of over 560 million Ticketmaster customers, including names, phone numbers, addresses, transaction info, and partial credit card details. The data was listed for sale on a dark web forum for $500k by the hacking group ShinyHunters. Ticketmaster's parent company, Live Nation, identified unauthorized activity within its cloud database environment containing Company data on May 20 and confirmed the breach a week later. Customers are advised to monitor potentially leaked payment methods and change affected passwords. 
Jennifer Lopez Cancels 'This Is Me... Live' Tour: Poor Ticket Sales, Family Time
Broke On: Friday, 31 May 2024Renowned singer-actress Jennifer Lopez cancels her 2024 North American tour 'This Is Me... Live' due to poor ticket sales and personal reasons. The decision follows reports of unsold seats for some shows and the cancellation of several dates. Lopez, who recently released her ninth album 'This Is Me... Now,' promises to make it up to fans. Other artists like The Black Keys and Pink also faced challenges with their tours this year. 
Jennifer Lopez Cancels Summer Tour: A Surprise Announcement from the Renowned Singer and Actress
Broke On: Friday, 31 May 2024Renowned singer-actress Jennifer Lopez cancels her summer tour. 
ACM Awards 2024: Lainey Wilson, Chris Stapleton Shine; Post Malone Debuts, Controversies Arise
Broke On: Friday, 17 May 2024Lainey Wilson and Chris Stapleton were big winners at the 2024 ACM Awards, each taking home multiple accolades. Notable performances came from Post Malone's country music debut and exciting collaborations between artists like Jelly Roll and Lainey Wilson. Controversies arose with Bailee Madison's comments and Netflix announcements for 'Happy Gilmore' sequel and 'Wicked.' The night was filled with memorable moments, heartfelt speeches, and unexpected surprises. 
Steve Albini: Influential Rock Producer and Frontman of Big Black and Shellac Dies at 61
Broke On: Wednesday, 08 May 2024Renowned rock music producer and engineer Steve Albini, known for his work with Nirvana, Pixies, PJ Harvey, and others, passed away at age 61 due to a heart attack. Born in California in 1962, Albini discovered the Ramones as a teenager and studied journalism at Northwestern University before forming Big Black. He later founded Shellac and was known for his raw recording style and DIY ethic. Albini's influence on alternative rock music is significant, with acclaimed albums for Nirvana, Pixies, PJ Harvey, Cheap Trick, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant. /cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25429884/2024260145.jpg)
UMG and TikTok Reach Agreement: Human Artistry Protected, Fair Compensation Guaranteed for Universal Music Group's Artists
Broke On: Thursday, 02 May 2024Universal Music Group (UMG) and TikTok have resolved their dispute, allowing UMG's artists like Taylor Swift, Drake, and Olivia Rodrigo to return to the platform. The agreement addresses concerns over AI-generated music and ensures fair compensation for human artistry. UMG will explore new monetization opportunities through TikTok's e-commerce services. Mixed Reactions to Michelle Williams' Narration of Britney Spears Audiobook
Broke On: Wednesday, 25 October 2023Michelle Williams narrated an audiobook about Britney Spears' life titled `The Woman in Me`. Williams' narration style, described as a `blaccent`, has sparked controversy and mixed reactions from fans. Williams also imitates Justin Timberlake's voice in the audiobook, adding to the controversy.