Music news

• Kodak Black has Florida weapons charges dismissed

  06-06-2020 23:48 via nme.com
  
  Kodak Black has had weapons charges that were brought against him in Florida dropped, his attorney has confirmed.
  The rapper was charged with two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in Miami in November 2019.
  The charges related to a gun purchased in January 2019 and another gun that was found on him when he was arrested in Miami in May. It was reported at the time that Black could face additional jail time, after being sentenced to 46 months in prison for other federal weapon
  
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• Madonna attends Black Lives Matter protest in London on crutches

  06-06-2020 23:18 via nme.com
  
  Madonna attended a Black Lives Matter protest in London today (June 6) while on crutches.
  Read more: “It’s a cry out for justice”: on the scene at London’s Black Lives Matter protest
  Thousands gathered in the city to march on Parliament Square, demanding justice for George Floyd and all those killed by police brutality.
  Photos of the pop star in the crowd were shared by fans on Twitter and showed her walking on crutches. She was forced to cancel a number of shows on her &
  
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• Lil Wayne Recounts His Experiences With Police, Including the White Cop Who Saved Him When He Was 12

  06-06-2020 23:14
  
  Lil Wayne spoke about several different encounters he’s had with law enforcement on the latest episode of Apple Music’s Young Money Radio, explaining his feelings about the police in light of George Floyd’s death and the nationwide protests that have followed.
  “My life was saved when I was young,” he reminded listeners on his show. “I was 12 or something, I think. Shot myself. I was saved by a white cop, Uncle Bob. So you have to understand …
  
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• Hear RZA Pay Tribute to Bruce Lee on New Song ‘Be Like Water’

  06-06-2020 22:59 via rollingstone.com
  
  "His quote ‘Be Water my friend’ is profound and multi-tiered in definition," Wu-Tang producer says of track from ESPN special Be Water
  
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• Little Mix’s Leigh-Anne Pinnock Opens Up About Her Experience With Racism: Watch

  06-06-2020 21:51
  
  Little Mix’s Leigh-Anne Pinnock is opening up about her experience with racism.
  The 28-year-old British singer took to Instagram on Friday (June 5) to share a powerful video of herself speaking about how being the only black member of Little Mix has forced her to “work 10 times harder” to mark her place in the group.
  “More than ever I felt like it was time that I was completely open and honest with you all because finally, the world is awake and people want to listen, hel
  
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• Lil Nas X Slams Tucker Carlson After Being Accused of ‘Inciting Riots’

  06-06-2020 21:35 via digitalmusicnews.com
  
  Lil Nas X has issued a firmly worded response to Fox News host Tucker Carlson, who stated in a recent segment that the rapper “helped incite” riots by encouraging his Twitter followers to donate to bail groups throughout the United States. The controversy unfolded after Lil Nas X, like an array of other music industry […]The post Lil Nas X Slams Tucker Carlson After Being Accused of ‘Inciting Riots’ appeared first on Digital Music News.
  
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• Watch Blossoms’ Tom Ogden cover Babybird’s ‘You’re Gorgeous’

  06-06-2020 21:16 via nme.com
  
  Blossoms’ Tom Ogden has covered Babybird’s ‘You’re Gorgeous’ in full in a new video – scroll down to watch it now.
  Read more: Blossoms: “We might be uncool, but so are ABBA and everyone loves them”
  The band often cover the 1996 track at their shows but opt only to play a snippet of it rather than the full song.
  Earlier today (June 6), frontman Ogden shared a video of himself playing the song on an acoustic guitar. “Always do a bit of thi
  
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• Natti Natasha Talks New Single ‘Que Mal Te Fue’ and Social Justice: ‘We Have to Act With Solidarity’

  06-06-2020 21:05
  
  One of the unintended benefits of the Covid-19 lockdown was spurring artist creativity. For Dominican singer Natti Natasha, it meant creating music and, for the first time ever, directing a music video — for her new single, “Que mal te fue” (You Did Badly), released June 5.
  Natasha, who spent her lockdown in Puerto Rico, played around with penning a light-hearted song, one about a philandering boyfriend that goes after another girl, just to come back with his tail between his l
  
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• Ringo Starr sends “peace, love and continuous support” to Black Lives Matter protestors

  06-06-2020 20:07 via nme.com
  
  Ringo Starr has spoken out about the wave of Black Lives Matter protests around the world, saying he is sending “peace, love and continuous support” to them.
  Read more: How to support Black Lives Matter and anti-racist organisations if you can’t protest
  The Beatles drummer referenced his bandmate Paul McCartney’s own message, which was shared yesterday (June 5), in his tweet.
  “As my brother Paul said The Beatles always stood for equal rights&justice and I&r
  
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• Pearl Jam Shares Uncensored ‘Jeremy’ Video on National Gun Violence Awareness Day: Watch

  06-06-2020 20:01
  
  Pearl Jam shared the uncensored version of its “Jeremy” video for the first time to coincide with National Gun Violence Awareness Day on Friday (June 5).
  The Mark Pellington-directed video for the song “Jeremy” — which appeared on Pearl Jam’s 1991 debut, Ten — tells the troubling story of a bullied teen who ends up shooting himself with a pistol in front of his schoolmates.
  “The increase in gun violence since the debut of ‘Jeremy’ is st
  
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• Germany Commits 150 Million Euros to ‘Restart’ Live Music

  06-06-2020 19:57 via digitalmusicnews.com
  
  The German government has committed over $169 million (€150 million) to boosting its live music sphere, as part of a broader $1.13 billion (€1 billion) plan to reinvigorate cultural institutions and entertainment businesses, which have been hit especially hard by the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. Dubbed “Neustart Kultur” (literally “restart culture”), the growth-minded program will inject […]The post Germany Commits 150 Million Euros to ‘Restart&rs
  
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• Fontaines D.C. to donate proceeds from merch sales to Black Lives Matter movement

  06-06-2020 19:36 via nme.com
  
  Fontaines D.C. have announced they will donate the proceeds from their merch sales from the last week to the Black Lives Matter movement and other charities.
  Read more: Fontaines D.C. on how The Beach Boys inspired their second album: “We wanted to make something a bit more subversive”
  The band are one of the latest to share their plans to raise funds for groups working towards racial justice and equality.
  In an Instagram post shared today (June 6), the group said: “We’ve
  
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• Killer Mike says “protesting is the first step” for change but the US needs to “beat up ballot boxes”

  06-06-2020 18:59 via nme.com
  
  Killer Mike has urged fans to think to the long-term in their protests against police brutality and use their vote.
  Read more: “It’s a cry out for justice”: on the scene at London’s Black Lives Matter protest
  The Run The Jewels rapper recently addressed citizens of Atlanta, telling them to “plot, plan, strategise, organise and mobilise”.
  Speaking to Bill Maher on Real Time yesterday (June 5), the musician explained in more detail what he meant by that. “
  
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• Rafa Pabon Drops George Floyd-Inspired Protest Anthem ‘Sin Aire’

  06-06-2020 18:56
  
  Inspired by the uprising of people around the nation demanding justice for George Floyd, Puerto Rican artist Rafa Pabón released a poignant protest anthem titled “Sin Aire (Without Air).”
  In the wake of national outrage over the killing of Floyd, an unarmed black man who was killed at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer on May 25, Pabón calls out police brutality and racial discrimination.
  “While there is no justice, the law will never have weight,&rdqu
  
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• Sony Music Donates $100 Million to Racial Justice Causes

  06-06-2020 18:45 via digitalmusicnews.com
  
  In the wake of nationwide protests and chaos, Sony Music Group has established a $100 million social justice fund. Sony Music Group (encompassing both Sony Music Entertainment and Sony/ATV Music Publishing) announced the substantial fund in a press release, which was shared with Digital Music News. And per this press release, Sony Music will immediately […]The post Sony Music Donates $100 Million to Racial Justice Causes appeared first on Digital Music News.
  
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• Paul McCartney Recalls The Beatles Refusing to Play for a Segregated Audience in 1964

  06-06-2020 18:32
  
  Paul McCartney is speaking out against racism following the death of George Floyd.
  The former Beatles member took to social media Friday (June 5) to share an encouraging message about working together to fight social injustice as protests over Floyd’s murder continue around the country.
  “I know many of us want to know just what we can be doing to help. None of us have all the answers and there is no quick fix but we need change,” the 77-year-old music icon tweeted. “We al
  
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• Pearl Jam Release Uncensored Version of ‘Jeremy’ Video for First Time

  06-06-2020 18:16 via rollingstone.com
  
  "The increase in gun violence since the debut of 'Jeremy' is staggering," band says after uploading video that was "unavailable in 1992 with TV censorship laws"
  
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• Music at Home: Songs of Resistance

  06-06-2020 17:48 via rollingstone.com
  
  From Rage Against the Machine to Beyoncé, these songs honor the legacy of global Black resistance in song
  
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• Lil Nas X Fires Back at Fox News’ Tucker Carlson Over ‘Inciting Riots’ Comments

  06-06-2020 17:08
  
  Lil Nas X is setting the record straight over comments made by Fox News’ Tucker Carlson.
  The “Old Town Road” rapper took to social media Friday night (June 5) to defend himself after the conservative television commentator blamed Lil Nas and other celebrities for “fueling” riots around the country by donating to causes that help bail out citizens arrested during protests.
  “this man just lied and told millions of people on national television that i was incitin
  
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• Lewis Capaldi completely 'smitten' with new girlfriend Catherine Halliday

  06-06-2020 16:15 via music-news.com
  
  The 23-year-old singer - who is currently working on his follow-up album to the award-winning 'Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent'
  
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• Protesters steal NYPD radios to play Judas Priest’s ‘Breaking The Law’

  06-06-2020 16:10 via nme.com
  
  Judas Priest‘s ‘Breaking The Law’ is being played over stolen police radios by protesters in New York, according to reports.
  Read more: How to support Black Lives Matter and anti-racist organisations if you can’t protest
  Protests have been taking place across the world following the death of George Floyd, an African American man who was killed in Minneapolis when a white police officer knelt on his neck as he lay on the ground during an arrest.
  A number of
  
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• ‘Why I Protest’: A.Chal on Why He Marches in Solidarity With Black Lives Matter

  06-06-2020 16:00
  
  While the music industry observed Blackout Tuesday on June 2 across social media in response to the recent murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and countless other black citizens at the hands of police, A.Chal was encouraging his followers to “wake up.”
  “I ain’t buying this blackout trend,” he wrote on Instagram, expressing that most people posted a black image just to ride the wave without really supporting the cause. “We gotta come together
  
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• Kelly Clarkson and LL Cool J outraged at police for shoving elderly protester

  06-06-2020 15:45 via music-news.com
  
  The protests in New York have been part of a worldwide uprising following the murder of African-American man George Floyd.
  
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• Hear two new tracks from Mötley Crüe’s Tommy Lee, ‘Knock Me Down’ and ‘Tops’

  06-06-2020 15:37 via nme.com
  
  Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee has shared two new solo tracks, titled ‘Knock Me Down’ and ‘The Ride’ – take a listen to both below.
  Read More: Mötley Crüe biopic The Dirt reviewed
  Both see the musician teaming up with special guests. The hardcore-influenced ‘Knock Me Down’ features nu-metal rapper Kilvein, while the poppier ‘Tops’ enlists South African rapper PUSH PUSH. Videos for both, directed by Limp Bizkit‘s Fred
  
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• Bob Geldof says “there had to be a political agenda” behind Lady Gaga’s ‘One World: Together At Home’ benefit concert

  06-06-2020 15:34 via nme.com
  
  Bob Geldof has said he thinks “there had to be a political agenda” behind Lady Gaga‘s recent benefit concert, ‘One World: Together At Home’.
  Read more: The show must go online: inside the rise of virtual gigs during the coronavirus crisis
  The event, which was organised by Global Citizen and featured an all-star lineup curated and led by the ‘Chromatica’ singer, saw acts including Taylor Swift, Paul McCartney, and Billie Eilish, deliver performances
  
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• See Grace Potter Perform ‘Eachother’ With Jackson Browne on ‘Colbert’

  06-06-2020 15:02 via rollingstone.com
  
  Lucius and Marcus King also take part in socially distanced rendition of all-star collaboration
  
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• IDLES direct fans to virtual protest in support of Black Lives Matter

  06-06-2020 14:10 via nme.com
  
  IDLES have voiced their support for ongoing protests for racial equality, and have asked fans who cannot attend physical demonstrations to do so remotely via a virtual protest created by Black Lives Matter.
  Read more: How to support Black Lives Matter and anti-racist organisations if you can’t protest
  Black Lives Matter have created a virtual protest via Zoom that can be joined by up to 100,000 people, with footage broadcast live from the protest and speeches from a number of activists. It
  
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• Machine Gun Kelly tells fan “I don’t want your racist money” after being criticised for protesting

  06-06-2020 13:20 via nme.com
  
  Machine Gun Kelly has responded to a fan who criticised him for attending a Black Lives Matter protest.
  Read more: How to support Black Lives Matter and anti-racist organisations if you can’t protest
  MGK is one of a number of entertainers who has taken to the streets to protest the death of George Floyd, an African American man who was killed when a white police officer knelt on his neck as he lay on the ground during an arrest.
  Halsey, John Cusack, and Kanye West are just a
  
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• Inside Country Music’s Polarizing ‘Urban Cowboy’ Movement

  06-06-2020 13:00 via rollingstone.com
  
  1980 John Travolta film and the famous honky-tonk in which it was set spawned both musical and fashion revolutions
  
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• Abbey Road Studios reopen after 10 weeks of coronavirus lockdown

  06-06-2020 12:17 via nme.com
  
  London’s world famous Abbey Road Studios have reopened after 10 weeks of closure enforced by England’s coronavirus lockdown rules.
  Read More: The Beatles’ Abbey Road at 50: 10 perfect moments that give you goosebumps
  The site welcomed members of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra as the first people to record there since March, who were working with American jazz singer Melody Gardot.
  Gardot was booked to record at the studios earlier this year, but was unable to do so due to the
  
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• Pearl Jam share uncensored version of ‘Jeremy’ music video

  06-06-2020 12:14 via nme.com
  
  Pearl Jam have shared a previously unreleased uncensored music video for their song ‘Jeremy’.
  Read more: Pearl Jam – ‘Gigaton’ review: one of the biggest rock bands in the world return to semi-brilliance
  The band released the video, which was previously unavailable in the US due to TV censorship laws, to mark National Wear Orange Day, also known as National Gun Violence Awareness Day, which took place yesterday (June 5).
  Taken from the band’s 19
  
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• Billie Eilish says she's become little more than 'clickbait'

  06-06-2020 11:25 via music-news.com
  
  The Grammy-winning star has distanced herself from social media in recent years, claiming she's "super hated" by some people simply because of her fame and success.
  
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• Republic Records will no longer use the word “urban” to describe music

  06-06-2020 11:08 via nme.com
  
  Republic Records have announced that they will no longer be using the word “urban” to describe music.
  Read More: How to support Black Lives Matter and anti-racist organisations if you can’t protest
  “Effective immediately, Republic Records will remove “URBAN” from our verbiage in describing departments, employee titles and music genres,” the label said on Twitter with the hashtag #WeUseOurVoices.#WeUseOurVoices, Use Yours. pic.twitter.com/dQFoMMj0h1
  &mdas
  
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• Little Mix’s Leigh-Anne Pinnock says she “felt invisible” in group because of her skin colour

  06-06-2020 11:08 via nme.com
  
  Little Mix‘s Leigh-Anne Pinnock has said that she “felt invisible” in the group because of her skin colour.
  Read more: Pop Is Not A Dirty Word: Piers Morgan, stop slut-shaming women in pop
  In an emotional video, the singer discussed the struggles she has endured as a black entertainer following the death of George Floyd, an African American man who was killed when a white police officer knelt on his neck as he lay on the ground during an arrest. Officer Derek Chauvin has s
  
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• Snoop Dogg joins Liam Payne and football stars for charity FIFA tournament

  06-06-2020 11:00 via nme.com
  
  Snoop Dogg has joined the celebrities and professional footballers taking part in Gamers Without Borders, an online charity tournament of the video game FIFA 20.
  Read More: Can video games help rid the world of COVID-19?
  Former One Direction singer Liam Payne is also on board for the competition, organised by the Saudi Arabian Federation for Electronic and Intellectual Sports.
  Among the footballers taking part are England internationals Trent Alexander-Arnold of Liverpool FC and Tottenham Hotspu
  
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• YouTube's star-studded graduation event postponed by a day

  06-06-2020 08:45 via music-news.com
  
  Other stars due to make appearances during the bash are Justin Timberlake, Jennifer Lopez, Lady Gaga, Alicia Keys
  
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• Tom Morello wants to name and shame those mocking George Floyd's death

  06-06-2020 08:45 via music-news.com
  
  Derek Chauvin, the cop who used excessive force against Floyd, has been charged with murder and manslaughter
  
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• Paul McCartney: 'Saying nothing about George Floyd's death is not an option'

  06-06-2020 08:45 via music-news.com
  
  The rocker, who provided links to organisations such as Black Lives Matter, Color of Change, and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
  
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• John Legend seeks arrests in Breonna Taylor murder on her birthday

  06-06-2020 08:45 via music-news.com
  
  Legend goes on to condemn Louisville Metro Police Department bosses and District Attorney Thomas B. Wine.
  
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• How to Watch YouTube Originals’ ‘Dear Class of 2020′ All-Star Commencement

  06-06-2020 06:01
  
  YouTube Originals’ “Dear Class of 2020″ commencement ceremony, featuring Barack and Michelle Obama, Beyoncé, BTS, Lady Gaga, Maluma and more, will officially commence Sunday, June 7 at 3:00 p.m. ET.
  The four-hour virtual graduation, which was pushed back a day to honor George Floyd’s memorial service, will open with Lizzo and the New York Philharmonic performing “Pomp and Circumstance” and remarks from Alicia Keys. At the end of the celebration, Ka
  
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• Shabazz Palaces share new single ‘MEGA CHURCH’ featuring Stas THEE Boss

  06-06-2020 04:55 via nme.com
  
  Shabazz Palaces have again teamed up with former THEESatisfaction member Stas THEE Boss for a new single, entitled ‘MEGA CHURCH’.
  The new song is exclusive to Bandcamp as a pay-what-you-want release, for the platform’s monthly revenue waiver today. It has not been released to other streaming services. Shabazz Palace’s label, Sub Pop, is also passing 100% of its share of Bandcamp proceeds to its artists. Listen to the new track below:
  MEGA CHURCH by Shabazz Palaces ft. Sta
  
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• John Frusciante shares new Trickfinger album ‘She Smiles Because She Presses The Button’

  06-06-2020 04:55 via nme.com
  
  Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante has shared his third acid house album, ‘She Smiles Because She Presses The Button’, under his Trickfinger alias.
  Listen to the album below:
  Trickfinger – She Smiles Because She Presses The Button by Trickfinger
  ‘She Smiles Because She Presses The Button’ was released yesterday (June 5) via Avenue 66, an imprint of Acid Test Records. Per Consequence of Sound, the album is the second of three releases to come before year
  
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• Black Midi share jam spoken word album ‘The Black Midi Anthology Vol. 1: Tales of Suspense and Revenge’

  06-06-2020 03:52 via nme.com
  
  Black Midi have shared a new jam and spoken word album entitled, ‘The Black Midi Anthology Vol. 1: Tales of Suspense and Revenge’, on Bandcamp.
  The album consists of four edited short stories read by members of the band from Guy De Maupassant, Robert Tressel, Edgar Allen Poe and Ernest Hemingway, over jams from the band. Three instrumental mixes, taken from much of the same recordings as the spoken word tracks, are also included.
  The instantly recognisable voice of frontman Geordie G
  
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• Raymix Comes Out as Gay: ‘I Am Free & Happier Than Ever’

  06-06-2020 03:40
  
  Electrocumbia pioneer Raymix (real name: Edmundo Gómez Moreno) took to social media to come out as a gay to his fans opening up for the first time about his sexuality.
  In a five-minute video posted on his YouTube channel today (June 5), the “Oye Mujer” singer begins his heartfelt message acknowledging the vulnerable moment we’re living in today with the COVID-19 pandemic and cases of racism and discrimination, and then goes on to make the announcement.
  “Can you bel
  
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• Beyonce Demands ‘Justice’ for Breonna Taylor on Her 27th Birthday

  06-06-2020 03:15
  
  Beyoncé has joined the growing list of celebrities honoring Louisville native Breonna Taylor on what would have been her 27th birthday Friday (June 5).
  “Justice for Breonna. Click the link in my bio to take action,” Bey wrote alongside an animated image of Taylor, with a link to the petition fans can sign to demand justice. View this post on InstagramJustice for Breonna. Click the link in my bio to take action.
  A post shared byBeyoncé (@beyonce) on Jun 5, 2020 at 5:
  
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• Phoebe Bridgers releases ‘inner demos’ to benefit bail funds

  06-06-2020 02:17 via nme.com
  
  Phoebe Bridgers has shared a new collection of song drafts on Bandcamp to raise money for bail funds, entitled ‘inner demos’.
  The three-track offering, available to stream exclusively upon Bandcamp purchase, is composed of early versions of the singles from Bridgers’ forthcoming album ‘Punisher’.
  ‘Garden Song’ and ‘Kyoto’ are listed as “voice memos”, while ‘I See You’ is a “spire demo” – a possible re
  
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• Here Are the Racial Justice Organizations & Black Creators That Took Over Artists’ Instagrams

  06-06-2020 02:01
  
  Lizzo, Lady Gaga, Shawn Mendes, Selena Gomez and more artists are using their platforms for good — but while letting someone else run it.
  Protests sparked after the racist murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade and more Black people, but the conversations about justice in this country must continue. That’s why artists have teamed up with organizations like the Black Visions Collective and social activists like Zyahna Bryant and Alicia Garza to spread the
  
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• Abbey Road Reopens From Lockdown: ‘We Will Recover, But It Has Hit Our Bottom Line Hard’

  06-06-2020 01:32
  
  LONDON — On Thursday, London’s Abbey Road Studios reopened its famous oak doors to musicians after being closed for more than 10 weeks in accordance with United Kingdom government measures to limit the spread of COVID-19.
  The first recording session to take place in the Grade II listed complex — synonymous with The Beatles and Pink Floyd — since reopening included 40 members of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, jazz singer Melody Gardot, who joined remotely from Paris, an
  
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• Lizzo Talks Artists’ Power & Intersectionality Within BLM Movement on Black Visions Collective’s Instagram Live

  06-06-2020 00:29
  
  Lizzo hopped on Instagram Live with Black Visions Collective, a Minnesota-based, Black-led organization that empowers Black queer and transgender people, on Friday (June 5) to talk about pushing the Black Lives Matter movement forward.
  “I’ve never seen anything like this…. I’m actually hopeful,” the pop star told Black Visions Collective’s core team member Oluchi Omeoga. She recalled camping outside of a local police precinct to protest after Jamar Clark
  
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• Bob Vylan say music industry figures told them “scarily relevant” new EP ‘We Live Here’ was “too extreme”

  06-06-2020 00:17 via nme.com
  
  Bob Vylan have called out the music industry for telling them their “scarily relevant” new EP ‘We Live Here’ was “too extreme”.
  Read more: How to support Black Lives Matter and anti-racist organisations if you can’t protest
  The duo – comprised of Bobby Vylan and Bobb13 Vylan – shared the record on Bandcamp today (June 5) in response to “the climate we are living in right now”.
  Speaking in an Instagram video, Bobby Vylan explained
  
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