Music news

• G-Eazy shares new track ‘Love Is Gone’ inspired by Black Lives Matter protests

  12-06-2020 23:51 via nme.com
  
  G-Eazy has shared a new single entitled ‘Love Is Gone’ and an accompanying video comprised of footage from ongoing worldwide protests for racial equality.Read More: How to support Black Lives Matter and anti-racist organisations if you can’t protestThe track features guests Drew Love and JAHMED, with the video available to watch below.As well as addressing police brutality and G-Eazy’s desire to use his platform as an artist, the song takes direct aim at US President Dona
  
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• First Stream Latin: New Music From ChocQuibTown, Myke Towers, Paty Cantú & More

  12-06-2020 23:34
  
  “First Stream Latin” is a compilation of the best new Latin songs, albums and videos recommended by the Billboard Latin editors. Check out this week’s picks below.
  ChocQuibTown, ChocQuib House (Sony Music Latin)
  ChocQuibTown presents its sixth studio album, ChocQuib House via Sony Music Latin, highlighting once again their distinguishable Afrobeat and music of the Pacific rhythms and fusions. The made-at-home, colorful album, which in part was born during the quarantine, i
  
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• Trixie Mattel Celebrates Pride Month With Rainbows, Sparkles & Cher Covers Galore During Billboard Live At-Home Performance

  12-06-2020 23:31
  
  Even though rainbow isn’t her favorite print to wear because of its usual exclusion of pink, Trixie Mattel donned ROYGBIV and more for her Billboard Live At-Home concert outfit Friday (June 12) to celebrate Pride Month.
  The drag queen-turned-folk sensation claimed this might be her favorite Pride so far because it marks the first year a drunk person hasn’t touched her wig. But the real highlight of her aesthetic shimmered on her cheekbones (courtesy of her own makeup brand Trixi
  
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• Edward James Olmos to Produce Tito Puente TV, Film & Music Projects: ‘We’re Bringing His Magic to Life’

  12-06-2020 23:19
  
  When Tito Puente Jr. received the news that Edward James Olmos wanted to produce a set of projects honoring his late father, Tito Puente, it was a no brainer for the Puente family to give the green light.
  “This is a fantastic opportunity,” Puente Jr. tells Billboard. “My father is truly missed and remembered, and Mr. Olmos is going to bring light to someone who impacted Latin American culture in general.”
  Celebrating the life and legacy of the iconic Puerto Rican musician
  
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• Spotify’s ‘Black Lives Matter’ playlist sees 1000% rise in subscribers on ‘Blackout Tuesday’

  12-06-2020 23:12 via nme.com
  
  Spotify‘s curated playlist titled ‘Black Lives Matter’ saw a colossal increase in subscribers on ‘Blackout Tuesday’ last week.
  Read more: How to support Black Lives Matter and anti-racist organisations if you can’t protest
  The initiative saw a music industry-wide movement to “disconnect from work and reconnect with our community” for 24 hours, held as “an urgent step of action to provoke accountability and change” following the dea
  
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• Musicians and retailers boycott Fulltone guitar pedals following founder’s controversial comments on looting

  12-06-2020 22:37 via nme.com
  
  A number of retailers have announced that they will no longer be stocking products by guitar effects pedal manufacturers Fulltone, following statements made by the company’s founder Mike Fuller.Read More: How to support Black Lives Matter and anti-racist organisations if you can’t protestFuller drew widespread criticism for his comments about looting during the protests for racial equality sparked by the death of George Floyd.
  One June 2, in a since-deleted post on Facebook, Fuller s
  
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• First Spin: The Week’s Best New Dance Tracks From Aluna, Charlotte De Witte, Chromeo & More

  12-06-2020 22:30
  
  New Music Friday is intense. Hundreds of songs drop from artists around the world, and you’re supposed to somehow find the best ones. It’s fun work, but it’s time-consuming — so we at Billboard Dance want to give you a hand. Each week, we sift through the streams and dig in the digital crates to present the absolute must-hears from the wide breadth of jams.
  In a moment when many of us would give our left arms to escape into the dark corner of a loud nightclub, curren
  
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• Halsey announces special fund to support black artists

  12-06-2020 22:16 via nme.com
  
  Halsey has set up a special fund to support black artists and creators.
  Dubbed the “Black Creators Fund”, the scheme will “provide financial support, resources and a platform” to creatives.
  Read more: How to support Black Lives Matter and anti-racist organisations if you can’t protest
  Taking to Instagram, she wrote: “Looking for black creators who want to enrich the world with their work, use #BLACKCREATORSFUND & tag your favorite black creators in the com
  
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• Crack Every ‘Level of Concern’ in Twenty One Pilots’ Cryptic Online Scavenger Hunt

  12-06-2020 22:15
  
  Twenty One Pilots reached a significant “Level of Concern” with the alternative duo’s quarantine hit, but Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun want fans to catch up with their new cryptic interactive game.
  On Wednesday (June 10), the group posted a short clip on Instagram that played “Level of Concern” in the background while revealing a cryptic code: LOC-061-220-2012P. In the comments, fans theorized the two were releasing something tied to the single (abbreviated &ldquo
  
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• Todrick Hall Reacts to His First Billboard Cover: ‘I Am Completely Blown Away’

  12-06-2020 22:08
  
  This week, singing superstar Todrick Hall graces the cover of the Pride Issue of Billboard magazine. Now, the 35-year-old sensation is ready to celebrate.
  In a post on his Instagram page, Hall showed off the official cover, while reflecting on his achievement. “Never in my wildest dreams did I ever believe that I’d someday see my face on the cover of @billboard magazine,” he wrote. “I am completely blown away! I don’t believe there could possibly
  
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• Lil Baby Always Had a Lot to Say — You Just Weren’t Paying Attention

  12-06-2020 22:06 via rollingstone.com
  
  On "The Bigger Picture," the Atlanta rapper shows solidarity with the protests calling for justice across the nation
  
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• Protest & Social Justice Songs Reign on LyricFind U.S. Chart, Led By Buffalo Springfield

  12-06-2020 22:03
  
  Of the 25 songs on Billboard’s LyricFind U.S. chart dated June 13, 24 follow a common general theme, relating to the protests worldwide stemming from the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25.
  The LyricFind Global and LyricFind U.S. charts rank the fastest momentum-gaining tracks in lyric-search queries and usages globally and in the U.S., respectively, provided by LyricFind. The Global chart includes queries from all countries, including the U.S. The company is the world’s
  
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• How Well Do You Know Your Billboard ‘Baby’ History? Take Our 20-Question Quiz

  12-06-2020 21:53
  
  Blame it on “Baby”: For decades and decades on the Billboard charts, the word has been as unavoidable in the names of the songs, albums and artists topping our various listings as nearly any other.
  That continues this week with the ascent of DaBaby’s “Rockstar” to the top of the Billboard Hot 100. Not only is it the first No. 1 entry on the chart for the rap star (as well as the second of the year for breakout guest Roddy Ricch), it’s also the first &ldqu
  
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• Tricky announces new album ‘Fall To Pieces’ and shares hypnotic lead single ‘Fall Please’

  12-06-2020 21:49 via nme.com
  
  Tricky has announced the release of his fourteenth studio album ‘Fall To Pieces’, and shared an entrancing first taste in the form of lead single ‘Fall Please’. You can watch a video for it below.Read More: Murder on the dancefloor: the best music moments in Ibiza-set Netflix thriller ‘White Lines’Like much of the new album, ‘Fall Please’ features vocals from Marta Złakowska, who filled in last minute on the first night of one of Tricky’
  
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• What Does ‘Antebellum’ Mean? – A Closer Look at the Controversial Word

  12-06-2020 21:43 via digitalmusicnews.com
  
  Country group Lady Antebellum says it is changing its name. But what does ‘antebellum’ mean, and why is it controversial? The literal Latin definition of antebellum means ‘before the war.’ It’s primarily used to refer to the American Civil War in modern use, though. The first use of the world relates to plantation architecture found […]The post What Does ‘Antebellum’ Mean? – A Closer Look at the Controversial Word appeared first on Digital M
  
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• How to Watch ‘Graduation 2020: For Chicago. By Chicago’ Event Featuring Oprah Winfrey, Common, Louis The Child & More

  12-06-2020 21:42
  
  Oprah Winfrey will send off high school seniors from all over Chicago, Ill., during her commencement address at the “Graduation 2020: For Chicago. By Chicago” event this Sunday, June 14.
  Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot plans to host the citywide virtual ceremony with hedge fund business Citadel, which she announced back in April while filming her own spin on the “Renegade” TikTok dance. Chicago native and Hamilton star Miguel Cervantes will serve as the event&
  
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• Dead Cross Cover Black Flag’s ‘Rise Above’ in Solidarity With Black Lives Matter

  12-06-2020 21:40 via rollingstone.com
  
  Hardcore supergroup share video for Damaged classic featuring Los Angeles protest footage, "Suck my dick and choke on it" viral recording
  
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• Tencent Is Now a 10% Shareholder in Warner Music Group

  12-06-2020 21:36
  
  Tencent has confidence in a publicly traded Warner Music Group, to the tune of at least $200 million. According to a new SEC filing, TME scooped up 8 million shares of WMG Class A common stock on June 3, the day the major label began trading on the Nasdaq at an initial price of $25 per share. (The stock ended the day at $30.12, valuing Warner at $17.9 billion.)
  Four million shares were purchased by Tencent Music Entertainment, a streaming company of which Chinese conglomerate Tencent is a majori
  
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• Pink donating to NAACP to 'help fight for racial justice'

  12-06-2020 21:30 via music-news.com
  
  Pink insisted that every American should be feeling "outrage and anger" right now.
  
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• Bettye LaVette Unleashes Cover of Billie Holiday’s ‘Strange Fruit’

  12-06-2020 21:30 via rollingstone.com
  
  Timely track will appear on LaVette's upcoming album Blackbirds
  
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• Carla Morrison, Ana Tijoux & More Talk Mental Health During LAMC Panel

  12-06-2020 21:16
  
  Carla Morrison, Ana Tijoux, Kany García and Guaynaa came together to talk about mental health and how they’ve dealt with anxiety and/or depression throughout their career during the LAMC’s Mental Health & The Creative Community panel today (June 12).
  Sharing insight on a serious topic that doesn’t get talked about enough, the four artists were part of a panel, sponsored by The Latin Grammys and MusiCares, where they opened up about their own struggles and what t
  
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• Blues singer Lady A hits out at Lady Antebellum’s name change

  12-06-2020 21:11 via nme.com
  
  Blues singer Lady A has criticised Lady Antebellum for changing their name.
  The Nashville band took their name from a house built in the Antebellum architecture style where they took their first band photos.
  Read more: The 25 best country music songs of all time
  However, the word antebellum also has associations with slavery. Its literal meaning is “before the war” but is used to refer to a time before the US Civil War in 1861 when slavery was still legal in the United States an
  
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• Tencent Music Acquires 5% of Warner Music Group Class A Shares — $100MM+ Investment

  12-06-2020 21:09 via digitalmusicnews.com
  
  Tencent Music, a subsidiary of Chinese conglomerate Tencent, has acquired approximately 5.2 percent of Warner Music Group’s Class A shares. Tencent Music’s substantial investment was revealed in a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing, which Digital Music News obtained. Investors are required to disclose their stock purchases to the SEC when the shares at hand […]The post Tencent Music Acquires 5% of Warner Music Group Class A Shares — $100MM+ Investment appear
  
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• Watch Bob Marley’s 1977 ‘Live at the Rainbow’ Concert in Full

  12-06-2020 21:00 via rollingstone.com
  
  Show marks the final stop on the Exodus tour
  
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• Sam Bettens, Transgender Frontman of Rex Rebel, Recounts His Coming Out Journey

  12-06-2020 20:56
  
  When Sam Bettens was in his early twenties, he got to experience what it’s like to be a global rock star. As the lead singer for the Belgian band K’s Choice, Bettens was booking international gigs, releasing popular music and getting to do what he loved with his best friends.
  “It was amazing, and we enjoyed every minute of it,” he tells Billboard, fondly looking back on the early days of his career. “I was so young, and I didn’t know a lot about life
  
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• Google Countersues Sonos to ‘Assert IP Rights’ in Escalating Patent Battle

  12-06-2020 20:48 via digitalmusicnews.com
  
  Google countersues Sonos, alleging patent infringement of five Google-owned patents. The suit follows Sonos’ patent lawsuit against Google – first filed back in January. Sonos filed two lawsuits covering five patents on its wireless speaker design. In the lawsuits, Sonos seeks a ban on Google laptops, phones, and speakers in the United States. Sonos’ initial […]The post Google Countersues Sonos to ‘Assert IP Rights’ in Escalating Patent Battle appeared first
  
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• Chloe x Halle Shine Together on ‘Ungodly Hour’

  12-06-2020 20:46 via rollingstone.com
  
  The R&B duo's second album is beautiful example of sisterly solidarity
  
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• Song You Need to Know: John Prine, ‘I Remember Everything’

  12-06-2020 20:44 via rollingstone.com
  
  With subtle production and lines about looking back on life, the ballad is a beautiful send off from one of America's greatest songwriters
  
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• Lady Gaga narrowly beats Sports Team in tight race for UK Number One album

  12-06-2020 20:36 via nme.com
  
  Lady Gaga has dashed Sports Team‘s hopes of securing a Number One album with their debut LP ‘Deep Down Happy‘ following a tight race to the top of the UK’s official charts.
  Read More: Sports Team are in the race for a Number One album – despite the release plan almost going to shit
  Gaga’s sixth LP ‘Chromatica‘ has remained at the summit by less than 600 copies, the Official Charts Company has reported, despite Sports Team leading in midweek.
  &ldquo
  
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• What’s Your Favorite Song of the Summer From the 21st Century? Vote!

  12-06-2020 20:31
  
  As Billboard has yet to announce which smash will officially be crowned the Song of the Summer 2020, we reflected on the past 20 years of hits that turned up the heat.
  Nelly topped our critics’ picks with his 2002 club banger “Hot in Herre,” a quintessential summertime ode that rolls through all kinds of heatwaves but only cranks up the intensity with the “ah ah” groans.Usher, Katy Perry and Drake are the only three lead artists to notch mor
  
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• Music Venue Trust is counting on you to fill out a survey on how coronavirus will affect your gig-going

  12-06-2020 20:09 via nme.com
  
  The Music Venue Trust (MVT) is urging fans to take part in a survey on the impact of coronavirus on grassroots venues.
  The online invitation is a continuation of the MVT’s existing ‘Save Our Venues Campaign’, which was launched back in April in response to the economic threat that is facing over 500 of the UK’s independent music venues during the coronavirus crisis.
  Read more: Live after lockdown — venues on the idea of gigs with social distancing
  In the survey, whi
  
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• Check Out the Cover Art and Track List For John Legend’s New Album ‘Bigger Love’

  12-06-2020 20:05
  
  John Legend revealed the cover art and track list for his upcoming seventh studio album, Bigger Love, on Friday (June 12).
  Painted by artist Charly Palmer, the artwork features a smiling portrait of the singer-songwriter covered in blooming flowers and a starry sky against a pop of turquoise backdrop. The LP’s 16 tracks include singles “Conversations in the Dark,” “Actions” and the title track, as well as collaborations with Gary Clark Jr. (“Wild”), Jhen
  
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• The Entire ‘Ed Sullivan Show’ Music Performance Archive Will Soon Be Streaming Online

  12-06-2020 20:03 via digitalmusicnews.com
  
  Fans can officially stream full clips of musical performances from The Ed Sullivan Show, including those delivered by some of the most prominent and successful 20th century artists. Universal Music Enterprises (UMe), the catalog division of Universal Music Group, joined The Ed Sullivan Show copyright holder SOFA Entertainment in revealing the agreement in a press […]The post The Entire ‘Ed Sullivan Show’ Music Performance Archive Will Soon Be Streaming Online appeared first on
  
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• TicketIQ Safety Index Assesses State-By-State Risk For Fans and Concert Promoters

  12-06-2020 20:01
  
  While COVID-19 has been a global crisis, the virus has spread and behaved differently around the world and the U.S. With that in mind, TicketIQ — an event ticket search engine and aggregator — has revealed its COVID-19 Safety Index by State.
  Plus, using 2019 Billboard Boxscore touring data, TicketIQ has also unveiled a Gross Concert Ticket Sales by State + Safety Score ranking. (See charts, below.)
  The two charts present a look at where the live music industry, and fans alike, c
  
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• Motion Picture Academy Reveals 10 Specific Plans to Boost Equity & Inclusion

  12-06-2020 19:53
  
  The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the next phase of its equity and inclusion initiative, Academy Aperture 2025, on Friday (June 12). This phased initiative will further the Academy’s efforts to increase representation within its membership and in the greater film community.
  “While the Academy has made strides, we know there is much more work to be done in order to ensure equitable opportunities across the board,” Academy CEO Dawn Hudson said in a stateme
  
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• Buju Banton Readies New Album ‘Upside Down 2020,’ First LP in 10 Years

  12-06-2020 19:52 via rollingstone.com
  
  Dancehall star enlists John Legend, Pharrell and Stephen Marley for first album since December 2018 prison release
  
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• Teyana Taylor Reveals She’s Expecting Her Second Baby in ‘Wake Up Love’ Video Feat. Husband Iman Shupert

  12-06-2020 19:51
  
  Teyana Taylor gave fans quite the wake-up call Friday (June 12) when she showed off her baby bump in the romantic “Wake Up Love” visual featuring her husband Iman Shupert.
  As the two nestle together in bed surrounded by clouds, the couple — who have been married since 2016 — reveals there’s no trouble in paradise. In her signature sultry lyrics, Taylor beckons her beloved and calls him to please her in the morning, something the sheets or herself won’t a
  
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• Teyana Taylor Reveals She’s Expecting Her Second Baby in ‘Wake Up Love’ Video Feat. Husband Iman Shumpert

  12-06-2020 19:51
  
  Teyana Taylor gave fans quite the wake-up call Friday (June 12) when she showed off her baby bump in the romantic “Wake Up Love” visual featuring her husband Iman Shumpert.
  As the two nestle together in bed surrounded by clouds, the couple — who have been married since 2016 — reveals there’s no trouble in paradise. In her signature sultry lyrics, Taylor beckons her beloved and calls him to please her in the morning, something the sheets or herself won’t
  
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• 6ix9ine & Nicki Minaj Call Out Rappers For Being Hypocrites About Snitching

  12-06-2020 19:49
  
  On Thursday night (June 11), 6ix9ine and Nicki Minaj connected on Instagram to talk about their new collaboration “Trollz.” During their conversation, the two scolded rappers for playing both sides of the fence when it came to snitching.
  “I feel like street n—-s have every right to feel how they wanna feel about snitching because they lived that life,” said Minaj. “I feel rappers need to play it easy because everybody mingles and integrates with everybody. If
  
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• How We Work Now: D’Addario Chairman of the Board Jim D’Addario

  12-06-2020 19:48
  
  In a series amid the coronavirus pandemic, Billboard is asking individuals from all sectors of the music business to share stories of how they work now, with much of the world quarantined at home and unable to take in-person meetings, attend conferences or even go into the office. Submissions for the series can be sent to [email protected]. Read the full series here.
  This installment is with Jim D’Addario, chairman of the board and director of innovation at music manufacturing com
  
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• Hear Bruce Springsteen Perform ‘Reason to Believe’ on New Stockholm 2005 Live Album

  12-06-2020 19:48 via rollingstone.com
  
  Springsteen has released a solo acoustic show he played at Sweden's Hovet arena featuring rarities like "Walk Like a Man," "Downbound Train" and "Across the Border"
  
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• Taylor Swift Donates to Minneapolis Teens’ Fundraiser

  12-06-2020 19:47
  
  Taylor Swift spotted a video from Minneapolis teens Yasmine and Grace Norman earlier this week — in which the pair said they were planning a “big haul” shopping trip to buy haircare and skin products for a local church seeking items for people of color in need in the city — and the pop superstar stepped up to help.
  The singer, who made a strong political statement on Tuesday by tweeting out her support of Black Lives Matter, donated $1,300 to the cause after see
  
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• YG Calls for Defunding the Police in ‘FTP’ Protest Video

  12-06-2020 19:44 via rollingstone.com
  
  Visual for anti-racist anthem was filmed at Los Angeles march for George Floyd
  
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• YG’s ‘FTP’ Video Was Fueled by 100,000 Black Lives Matter Protesters: Watch

  12-06-2020 19:35
  
  What better place was there for YG to film the video for his street anthem “FTP” than at a massive rally in Los Angeles last week in support of Black Lives Matter?
  The epic black-and-white clip dropped on Friday morning (June 12), and was filmed during a rally in Hollywood on Sunday (June 7) honoring the victims of police brutality and demanding the defunding of police — causes that fit perfectly with the vibe of the hard-hitting track.
  The video opens with the song’s tit
  
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• How Dua Lipa & Lana Del Rey’s Managers Get Them the Best Deals — And Offer Support in a Crisis

  12-06-2020 19:33
  
  At the end of March, the TaP Music team gathered virtually — calling in from New York, Los Angeles, London and elsewhere — to celebrate the release of Dua Lipa’s highly anticipated second album, Future Nostalgia. The album debuted and peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 (dated April 11) — and set an early precedent for how to successfully promote a project under a pandemic lockdown, including late-night performances in front of green screens and at-home photo shoots.
  Two
  
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• From Lil Baby to Chloe X Halle, What’s Your Favorite New Release of the Week? Vote!

  12-06-2020 19:31
  
  We’re nearly halfway through June and the end of another week brings another round of new music from the likes of Lil Baby, Chloe x Halle, 6ix9ine and Nicki Minaj and more.
  As always, Billboard wants to know which of this week’s plethora of offerings you have on repeat heading into the weekend. Is Lil Baby’s powerful new single “The Bigger Picture” helping you channel your emotions about the nationwide protests against police brutality? Or maybe DaBaby’s Black
  
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• Palaye Royale fire bassist Daniel Curcio following allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards underage fans

  12-06-2020 19:15 via nme.com
  
  Las Vegas rock band Palaye Royale have sacked their bassist Daniel Curcio following allegations of inappropriate conduct towards underage fans.
  Although Curcio contributed to the band’s recent studio album ‘The Bastards’, released last month, and was described as an “official member” in a 2019 interview, Palaye Royale say they considered him “one of our touring musicians.”Please note; Daniel Curcio no longer works for Palaye Royale. https://t.co/lZ8pxowO
  
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• Penny Lane road signs in Liverpool have been vandalised following slavery claims

  12-06-2020 19:07 via nme.com
  
  Road signs on Penny Lane in Liverpool have become the latest landmark to be vandalised following claims it was named after a slave trader.
  Four signs on the road, made famous by The Beatles song of the same name, were spray-painted over this morning (June 12), with the word “racist” painted on the wall above one sign.
  Read more: How to support Black Lives Matter and anti-racist organisations if you can’t protest
  One of the them was autographed by Paul McCartney, who signed his
  
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• BMG Promises to Review Every Black Artist Contract to Fix ‘Music Industry’s Record of Shameful Treatment’

  12-06-2020 19:02 via digitalmusicnews.com
  
  BMG is reviewing “all historic record contracts” in an effort to identify and address any inequities and anomalies in agreements with black artists. BMG officials announced the comprehensive review – and a series of other racial-justice initiatives – in a press release, which was shared with Digital Music News. The far-reaching plan comes 10 days […]The post BMG Promises to Review Every Black Artist Contract to Fix ‘Music Industry’s Record of Shameful T
  
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• Lady Gaga’s ‘Chromatica’ Narrowly Retains U.K. Album Lead

  12-06-2020 19:00
  
  Lady Gaga narrowly retains her lead on the U.K. album chart to start a second week at the top with Chromatica (Interscope/Universal).
  Chromatica won the album race by fewer than 600 combined units, according to the Official Charts Company. English indie rock band Sports Team’s first album for Island/Universal, Deep Down Happy, arrives at No. 2. In physical sales and downloads, the band come out on top, also selling over 4,000 vinyl copies to lead that listing.
  Maryland rock quartet All Tim
  
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