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danrys

@danrys

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I write but mostly I just live

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From Warner Music executive shakeups to Dolly Parton’s inheritance, streaming fraud and big news from Suno Music resulting in more litigation for the AI company, September 2026 shaped up to be a busy month in the music industry.

On a very special bonus episode of Billboard On The Record, @wordsbykristin is joined by Dan Rys, Billboard executive editor of business, to chat through the biggest headlines of the month.

Out now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & YouTube — link in bio! 🎧

Val Blavatnik, the 28-year-old son of Warner Music Group majority owner and vice chairman Len Blavatnik, was named managing director of Warner Music North America, U.K. and Corporate Development at the Warner Music Group on September 25, 2026.

Atlantic Music Group chairman/CEO Elliot Grainge will take over ADA as its new chairman.

Host @wordsbykristin was joined by Dan Rys, Billboard executive editor of business, to chat through the latest shakeups at the two music companies.

Check out the full episode of Billboard On The Record wherever you get your podcasts.

“A nephew [of Dolly Parton’s, Bryan Seaver,] has started to say that her longtime manager was not handling things correctly. It is a fight that, unfortunately, as often is the case, boils down to money. It’s been tough to watch that happen.” — Dan Rys, Billboard executive editor of business, discussing the litigation that has followed Dolly Parton’s death on this week’s special bonus episode of Billboard On The Record.

Dolly Parton died from cancer at age 80 in August 2026, and her family has found themselves deep in legal action, despite the queen of country having organized her affairs in advance, something she advised all artists to do in a 2020 Billboard cover story.

As one expert tells Billboard, “you can plan the inheritance as carefully as Dolly did, but you cannot guarantee everyone’s acceptance of that plan.”

Check out the full episode wherever you get your podcasts.

As the music industry grapples with a surge in AI songs, the world’s biggest music company says a massive distributor is a big part of the problem.

Dan Rys, Billboard executive editor of business, joined @wordsbykristin for a bonus episode of by @danrys

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13 days ago

Where does the music industry stand halfway through 2026?

From the future of Live Nation and Ticketmaster and the latest wave of industry consolidation to what it means to be an independent music company in today’s landscape, Billboard’s Dan Rys, executive editor of business, Elizabeth Dilts Marshall, senior finance correspondent and Bill Donahue, senior legal correspondent, sit back down with host @wordsbykristin on this week’s episode of Billboard On The Record to dive into the biggest music business stories of the year so far.

Out now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & YouTube — link in bio! 🎧 by @danrys

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4 months ago

I know the process is so much stress / but it’s the progress that feels the best by @danrys

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4 months ago

went to japan by @danrys

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5 months ago

I got miles by @danrys

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9 months ago

zohran’s new york taken in New York, New York by @danrys

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a year ago

mix the light into grey

written with lyndsey by @danrys

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a year ago

10 years. by @danrys

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a year ago

and all points in between by @danrys

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a year ago

There are a lot of stories about people who leave home to make it in the big time. There are fewer stories about making the big time come home to you. This is one of those stories.

@ghazi
@empire
📸 @austinhargrave
Link in bio by @danrys

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2 years ago

merry christmas paco loves u by @danrys

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2 years ago

connemara boys taken in Ireland by @danrys

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2 years ago