Music news

• From Demi Lovato to Adam Lambert, Here Are 7 of the Best ‘Mad World’ Covers

  02-04-2021 23:58
  
  Tears for Fears’ “Mad World” seems to sum up 2020 and its aftermath perfectly with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, so it’s no surprise that two recent covers — on Demi Lovato’s just-released Dancing With the Devil album and on Kelly Clarkson’s talk show — have reinvigorated interest in the 1982 hit.
  Of course, this isn’t the first time the synth-pop song has resurfaced since its original release: It was also transformed into a somber ball
  
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• Barack Obama shares how Jay-Z’s ‘My 1st Song’ helped him through his presidency

  02-04-2021 23:20 via nme.com
  
  Barack Obama has spoken about how Jay-Z’s ‘My 1st Song’ helped him during his time as President of the United States.
  The 44th president is well-known for being an avid music fan and often shared playlists of his favourite songs during his two terms in the White House.READ MORE: Jay-Z’s 10 best songsIn a new video, Obama discussed how ‘My 1st Song’, which appeared on ‘The Black Album’, was a track he would listen to often when he was on the ca
  
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• First Out: New Music From St. Vincent, Demi Lovato, Brockhampton & More

  02-04-2021 23:10
  
  A new month is here, which means it’s time to get into some new music! Billboard Pride is here to help with First Out, our weekly roundup of some of the best new music releases from LGBTQ artists.
  From St. Vincent’s stunning new single, to Demi Lovato’s long awaited new album, check out some of our favorite releases from this week below.St. Vincent, “The Melting of the Sun”Before she struts her way onto the stage of Saturday Night Live this weekend, A
  
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• First Stream Latin: New Music From Ozuna & Ovi, Girl Ultra, Dalex & More

  02-04-2021 22:43
  
  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.
  Khea x Duki, “Wacha” (Young Flex/Interscope Records)Khea, one of Billboard’s Latin Artists to Watch in 2021, teamed up with popular Argentine artist Duki for “Wacha,” a track that really spotlights the colorful trap scene in Argentina. It kicks off with a romantic piano ballad. Khea is telling his &ld
  
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• Slipknot’s Corey Taylor, Halestorm’s Lzzy Hale and more team up on new song ‘Thunder Force’

  02-04-2021 22:41 via nme.com
  
  Slipknot’s Corey Taylor, Halestorm’s Lzzy Hale, Anthrax’s Scott Ian and Slayer’s Dave Lombardo have joined forces on a new song called ‘Thunder Force’.
  The track is taken from the soundtrack of the Netflix film of the same name, which will be released next week (April 9).READ MORE: Corey Taylor – ‘CMFT’ review: the most fun record the Slipknot frontman has ever produced‘Thunder Force’ begins with its title being chanted befor
  
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• Demi Lovato, Olivia Rodrigo, BTS & More: What’s Your Favorite New Music Release? Vote!

  02-04-2021 22:31
  
  Some artists started a new chapter in their music this week and some felt like they were flipping back to old ones like déjà vu. But which new music release are you going to be replaying over and over again?
  Demi Lovato reflects on her journey to hell and back following her 2018 overdose with her seventh album Dancing With the Devil… The Art of Starting Over while looking forward to coming out on the other side. Olivia Rodrigo looks in the rearview mirror and
  
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• Migos’ Takeoff won’t face charges over sexual assault allegations

  02-04-2021 22:09 via nme.com
  
  Migos’ Takeoff won’t face charges over sexual assault allegations that were made against him last year.
  The rapper was sued last year by a woman using the alias Jane Doe, who claimed that Takeoff had raped her at a house party. The lawsuit sought damages for sexual battery, false imprisonment, assault and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
  Attorneys for Doe told Spin that they hoped the lawsuit would cause witnesses to come forward so “law enforcement will give this
  
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• Jessica Simpson Launches Sultry Fiend Fragrance

  02-04-2021 22:03
  
  Jessica Simpson has unveiled the latest addition to her fragrance releases.
  Her new perfume, Fiend, launched on Tuesday (March 30), and comes in a white plush-looking bottle with a pink bedazzled lip cap. The sultry fragrance boasts notes of “cozy skin musk and sensual woods combined with addictive amber and topped with touches of smoked sage, tiger lily, and velvet orris.”
  Fiend is available for $49.50 in a 3.4 fl. oz bottle via HSN here. Simpson’s other perfume launches &mdas
  
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• Hear the Stories Behind Neil Young’s Lost Masterpieces

  02-04-2021 21:58 via rollingstone.com
  
  Why Neil Young wait until now to release some of his best ‘70s songs until now? Rolling Stone Music Now digs into his archives
  
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• $90 Million Lawsuit Against Live Nation Tests Unorthodox Legal Theory

  02-04-2021 21:58
  
  Do the legal protections that prevent Live Nation from retaliating against venues for not using Ticketmaster also protect venues that reportedly owe money to the global promoter?
  A Cleveland venue owner and promoter is testing this unorthodox legal theory in a $90 million lawsuit against Live Nation filed earlier this week in District Court. In 2019, the Cleveland venue ended its booking agreement with Live Nation in an apparent dispute over money owed to the global concert promoter.In a ci
  
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• Playboi Carti Runs Riot in a Grocery Store in New ‘Sky’ Video

  02-04-2021 21:57 via rollingstone.com
  
  Track appears on rapper's latest album, Whole Lotta Red
  
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• Cash Her Online: Bhad Bhabie Breaks OnlyFans Record, Earning $1M in 6 Hours

  02-04-2021 21:51
  
  Bhad Bhabie racked up $1 million on OnlyFans in just six hours, breaking a record for the NSFW content subscription service, Billboard can confirm.
  The rapper charges $23.99 per month for access to photos and videos on her OnlyFans page, which she created Thursday, just a week after her 18th birthday. She posted the receipts Thursday night via Instagram, showing the $757,526.08 she made in subscription fees, $267,675.00 she made from direct message payments, and $5,502.35 she
  
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• First Spin: The Week’s Best New Dance Tracks From Wavedash, Sofi Tukker, Deadmau5 & More

  02-04-2021 21:47
  
  While it will likely still be a long while before we return to dark clubs, as big deal fall festival lineups are starting to drop, the light at the end of the pandemic tunnel is indeed getting brighter.
  And until dance music returns to its spiritual home on the dancefloor, we shall continue enjoying it through our preferred set of speakers. This week delivers another batch of new music to get acquainted with on your runs and in your living rooms. Let’s dig in.
  Wavedash, “Satin Cash&r
  
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• First Country: New Music from Alan Jackson, Chase Rice & FGL, Maddie & Tae and More

  02-04-2021 21:45
  
  Alan Jackson, “Where Have You Gone”Jackson, one of country’s true believers, is none too subtle in this lament for traditional country music to come back. “Soft steel guitar, oh how I’ve missed you / Words from the heart, let me hear you again… sweet country music where have you gone,” he sings, over a bed of steel guitar and fiddle. The first single from his first album of new material in six years finds Jackson with a new, deeper rasp in his voice tha
  
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• Executive Turntable: Gould Hired as EVP at Roc Nation, Sesay joins OkayMedia as CEO

  02-04-2021 21:34
  
  Roc Nation appointed Andrew Gould as evp of publishing. He will report to CEO Desiree Perez and work closely with vp Jay Brown.
  “Roc Nation is one of the most trusted and respected brands in music, culture, and beyond,” said Gould. “I am thrilled to work with this team of professionals to grow the Roc Nation publishing footprint.  Thank you Desiree and Jay Brown for this incredible opportunity. And a thank you to Omar Grant, without whom this would not have happened.&rdquo
  
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• Scooter Braun Sells Ithaca Holdings to Hybe In $1+ Billion Deal

  02-04-2021 21:24 via digitalmusicnews.com
  
  Scooter Braun has sold Ithaca Holdings to BTS agency Hybe (formerly Big Hit Entertainment) in a more than $1 billion deal. The companies announced the billion-dollar transaction, covering the entirety of Ithaca Holdings, in a formal release this morning, though the sale amount came to light in a financial document filed by Hybe. Under the […]
  The post Scooter Braun Sells Ithaca Holdings to Hybe In $1+ Billion Deal appeared first on Digital Music News.
  
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• A Guide to Easter Sunday Livestreams & Virtual Concerts

  02-04-2021 21:13
  
  There’s plenty of music to help you ring in Easter weekend from the comfort of your home, but Billboard won’t send you on an Easter egg hunt looking for the best virtual concerts to enjoy on Sunday.
  From a special-edition Verzuz battle to livestream concerts by award-winning gospel singers and choir members, here are all the Easter Sunday livestream shows you can tune into during the holiday weekend.Carrie Underwood’s My Savior: Live From the Ryman
  Carrie Underwo
  
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• Hear Fucked Up’s Epic 22-Minute Song ‘Year of the Horse – Act Three’

  02-04-2021 20:50 via rollingstone.com
  
  The National's Matt Berninger provides vocals to third installment in Toronto hardcore band's hourlong-and-growing piece
  
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• WagakkiBand & Voice Actor Tasuku Hatanaka Compare Notes on Participating in New Animated Series ‘Mars Red’

  02-04-2021 20:28
  
  A highly-anticipated new animated TV series called Mars Red premiered this week (March 29) on Funimation, featuring WagakkiBand’s new track “Aria of Life” (“Seimei no Aria” in Japanese) as the opening theme.
  The vampire-themed series, set in pre-war Tokyo, is based on Bun-O Fujisawa’s popular musical recitation play, starring voice actor Tasuku Hatanaka in the leading role as Shutaro Kurusu, a soldier in the fictional Imperial Army.
  The story depicting the bat
  
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• Sexy Zone Debuts at No. 1, Yoasobi Rises to No. 2 on Japan Hot 100

  02-04-2021 20:28
  
  J-pop boy band Sexy Zone’s “Let’s Music” blasts in at No. 1 on this week’s Billboard Japan Hot 100, dated March 22 to 28.
  The theme of an ongoing TV series (starring Sexy Zone member Shori Sato and Hiromitsu Kitayama of Kis-My-Ft2) sold 176,844 copies in its first week and led physical sales, look-ups, and Twitter mentions to take the top spot.
  “Let’s Music” is the group’s 20th single and while it performed well, sales declined by about 75,00
  
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• Lana Del Rey Ties This Rock Band for Most No. 1s on Alternative Albums Chart

  02-04-2021 20:26
  
  Lana Del Rey ties Foo Fighters for the most No. 1s in the history of Billboard’s Alternative Albums chart, earning her fifth ruler with Chemtrails Over the Country Club on the tally dated April 3.
  Chemtrails bows at No. 1 with 75,000 equivalent album units earned in the March 19-25 tracking week, according to MRC Data. Of that sum, 58,000 units comprise album sales.
  Del Rey first crowned Alternative Albums (which began in 2007) for two weeks in 2012 with her first LP, Born to Die, followed
  
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• Gallant Talks Finding His Footing With ‘Neptune’ EP: ‘I Wanted to Get Back to a Small Place’

  02-04-2021 19:56
  
  Gallant doesn’t like to sit on music for too long. “It would be really tough to sit on something that might not match my mood by the time it comes out,” he says over a video call from his parents’ home in Maryland.
  Born Christopher Gallant, the R&B singer-songwriter is referring to his second album Sweet Insomnia, and the three-year span it took to create the project. The record was released as the 2019 follow-up to his Grammy-nominated debut album Ology, but this tim
  
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• Megan Thee Stallion joins Bankroll Freddie on new track ‘Pop It’

  02-04-2021 19:48 via nme.com
  
  Megan Thee Stallion has teamed up with Bankroll Freddie on his new single ‘Pop It’ – scroll down the page to listen to it now.
  The Arkansas rapper released the track earlier today (April 2) after weeks of teasing on both stars’ Instagram accounts.READ MORE: Megan Thee Stallion: “I’m really working on my dynasty right now”‘Pop It’ marks Megan’s first release since she cleaned up at last month’s Grammy Awards. “If he got money
  
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• Taylor Swift Is Ready to Have the Vault Door ‘Unhinged’ — But Only If You Can Decode Her Message

  02-04-2021 19:39
  
  With Easter two days away, it’s prime time for Taylor Swift to drop more of her notorious Easter eggs. But this time, she’s taking the Swifties on a whole scavenger hunt.
  The pop superstar called on her “expert” level fans to decode her latest video that she posted on Friday (April 2). “The vault door is about to be as unhinged as you’ll think I am after you watch this video,” Swift wrote.
  She’s only released one song featured in her “Fr
  
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• Major Labels’ Streaming Dominance Under Scrutiny as UK Hearings Debate Reforms

  02-04-2021 19:37
  
  LONDON – When the U.K. Parliamentary Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMA) Committee opened hearings on the economic impact of streaming last fall, questions about the fairness of payouts to artists by the major streaming platforms like Spotify and YouTube dominated the debate.
  But now that the first stage of the inquiry is complete, the major record labels’ power in the streaming market has emerged as a significant subject.
  When pressed at the final hearing on March 22, digital
  
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• Japanese Music Industry Still Fighting Its Physical Attraction

  02-04-2021 19:34
  
  TOKYO — Near the iconic scramble crossing in Tokyo’s Shibuya district stands Tower Records Japan’s nine-story flagship store — a hulking, gray colossus proudly defying the local music market’s slow drift toward streaming. Emblazoned in red letters above the entrance is the chain’s slogan: “No Music, No Life.” Despite the pandemic, there’s ample evidence of both.
  Crowds of young people mill around the entrance comparing notes on the latest rel
  
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• I Partied With Dillon Francis In The Metaverse

  02-04-2021 19:34 via digitalmusicnews.com
  
  Last night, Dillon Francis put on a free virtual show, Total Fiasco. The virtual concert consisted of various interactive experiences with Dillon and the other viewers. Total Fiasco entered the metaverse by using Wave’s technology to broadcast Dillon’s real-time movements as his avatar. I have been attending Dillon Francis’s live shows since 2014. My first […]
  The post I Partied With Dillon Francis In The Metaverse appeared first on Digital Music News.
  
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• Anthony Ramos Taps ‘In the Heights’ Co-Star Melissa Barrera for ‘Say Less’ Video

  02-04-2021 19:31 via rollingstone.com
  
  Track marks actor/singer's first new music of 2021
  
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• WME Launches Legends Estates Group

  02-04-2021 19:24
  
  WME announced Thursday the launch of WME Legends, a management company focused on estate and brand management to be run by Phil Sandhaus.
  Clients include Tony-and Grammy-nominated singer Eartha Kitt, The Wailers cofounder Peter Tosh in association with Brian Latture, and the MegaSource Entertainment Group. The intellectual property of New York’s former CBGB Club will also be run by Sandhaus.Sandhaus brings more than 35 years of experience as an artist manager, record label execut
  
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• Sobriety and Mental Health Struggles Shaped Morgan Wade’s Debut Album: Emerging Artists Spotlight

  02-04-2021 19:06
  
  Welcome to Emerging Artists Spotlight, the Billboard series where we highlight a musician who has recently made his or her debut on the Emerging Artists chart. Whether they are new to the industry, or have been around for a while but are just starting to have a chart impact, the intention is to showcase where they are here and now. This week’s pick is Morgan Wade, who debuted at No. 42 on the chart dated April 3 thanks to her debut album Reckless.Morgan Wade define
  
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• Lil Nas X scores second UK Number One with ‘Montero (Call Me By Your Name)’

  02-04-2021 19:06 via nme.com
  
  Lil Nas X has scored his second UK Number One single with ‘Montero (Call Me By Your Name)’, the Official Charts Company has confirmed.
  The track has gone straight to the top of the Official UK Singles Chart after it was released last week (March 26).
  ‘Montero (Call Me By Your Name)’ has been surrounded by controversy over the last week, partially due to the religious imagery used in the video. Right-wing voices criticised Lil Nas X for using scenes based on the Garden of
  
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• Journey Band Members Agree to Settle $10 Million Lawsuit and Go ‘Separate Ways’

  02-04-2021 19:05
  
  Journey principal members Neal Schon and Jon Cain agreed to settle their $10 million trademark infringement lawsuit accusing the band’s former drummer Steven Smith and former bassist Ross Valory of engaging in an “attempted corporate coup d’état” to improperly use the Journey name.
  “The members of the band Journey who were parties to a recent lawsuit (Neal Schon, Jonathan Cain, Steve Smith and Ross Valory) are pleased to announce that they have resolved their
  
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• Elvis Presley’s Rock & Roll Ambitions Grow in New Graphic Novel Excerpt

  02-04-2021 19:00 via rollingstone.com
  
  Biographical comic will be published via Z2 in August
  
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• Ben Howard lands second UK Number 1 album

  02-04-2021 18:56 via music-news.com
  
  Congratulations to Ben Howard, who enters straight in at Number 1 with his fourth album Collections From The Whiteout.
  
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• Lil Nas X’s Montero (Call Me By Your Name) lands straight in at Number 1

  02-04-2021 18:55 via music-news.com
  
  Lil Nas X lands in pole position on this week’s Official Singles Chart with Montero (Call Me By Your Name.
  
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• For These Oscar-Nominated Films, Songwriting Was More Collaborative Than Ever

  02-04-2021 18:48
  
  Ahead of the Oscars on April 25, three films have more in common than just competing for top honors. Sound of Metal and Minari, which both have six nominations, and One Night in Miami…, which has three, highlight how much more collaborative composers have become in the filmmaking process, whether working closely with actors on select songs or even doubling as a screenwriter.For Abraham Marder, working with his brother, director Darius Marder, on the Sound of Metal script — abou
  
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• Sony Music Acquires Brazil’s Som Livre In $250 Million Deal

  02-04-2021 18:42 via digitalmusicnews.com
  
  Sony Music has acquired Rio de Janeiro-based indie-music company Som Livre in an approximately $252 million (R$1.44 billion) deal. The Big Three record label unveiled the high-profile buyout in a formal release, and the quarter-billion-dollar transaction’s value came to light in a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing. Rio-headquartered Globo, Brazil’s biggest media conglomerate, had […]
  The post Sony Music Acquires Brazil’s Som Livre In $250 Million Deal appea
  
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• Selena Gomez Gushes Over Rare Beauty’s New Always an Optimist Pore Diffusing Primer

  02-04-2021 18:39
  
  Selena Gomez’s Rare Beauty has begun teasing its summer releases, starting at the base (literally).
  The cosmetics brand announced its new Always an Optimist Pore Diffusing Primer on Thursday (April 1), described as a “cushiony gel that smooths away the look of pores, boosts and extends makeup wear, & actually hydrates skin while fighting shine all day.”
  Despite its matte finish, the primer is made with hydrating and soothing hyaluronic acid, green tea extract and vitamin E.
  
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• Olivia Rodrigo’s Roaring Return, Lil Nas X’s Celestial CGI, And More Songs We Love

  02-04-2021 18:37
  
  This week's Bop Shop features songs from Olivia Rodrigo, Lil Nas X, Isaac Dunbar, Flock of Dimes, and more.
  
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• Taylor Swift shares cryptic new video hinting at a new collaboration: “Happy decoding!”

  02-04-2021 18:33 via nme.com
  
  Taylor Swift has shared a cryptic video on her social media accounts that appears to tease another collaboration in her project to re-record her back catalogue.
  The star is remaking all her albums up to 2017’s ‘Reputation’ after the rights to the records were sold by her former record label without her permission.READ MORE: Taylor Swift – ‘You All Over Me (From The Vault)’ review: a musical time capsulePosting on Twitter earlier today, Swift shared a vide
  
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• How the Pandemic Changed 2021’s Oscar Campaigns

  02-04-2021 18:16
  
  Mike Knobloch, president of global film music and music publishing at Universal Pictures, has been reminiscing a lot lately about how the studio pulled off its first project under COVID-19 restraints. While recording the Academy Award-nominated orchestral score for the Tom Hanks Western News of the World, Knobloch says composer James Newton Howard did the “unimaginable” by recording and executing his work from another country. While musicians safely gathered at London’s Abbey R
  
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• Inside Executive Producer Jesse Collins Big Year, From the Super Bowl To the Oscars

  02-04-2021 18:14
  
  Jesse Collins is reimagining the modern awards show. In 2020, the Emmy-nominated producer’s work on the BET Awards set the standard for what large-scale virtual events could accomplish during a pandemic. This year, the 50-year-old CEO of Jesse Collins Entertainment worked on his 17th Grammy Awards (his first as co-executive producer) and became the first Black executive producer of the Super Bowl halftime show.
  Now, thanks to a personal recommendation from Oprah Winfrey, Collins is gearing
  
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• Leslie Jordan Talks Recording Gospel Album With Dolly Parton and Eddie Vedder: ‘Wonderful Feelings Washed Over Us’

  02-04-2021 18:06
  
  Leslie Jordan has served as the perfect pandemic panacea. The character actor, best known for his roles on Will & Grace, The Help and American Horror Story, has met the moment with hilariously relatable Instagram posts addressed to his “fellow hunker-downers.”
  The Emmy winner also takes his 5.7 million followers (swelled from 80,000 when the COVID-19 shutdown first started) to church each Sunday with a gospel performance with his friend, musician/songwriter Travis Howard.
  Jordan
  
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• Rock the Bells: Time to Vote LL Cool J Into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (Guest Op-Ed)

  02-04-2021 18:04
  
  Yes, yes, y’all.
  I’ve been a member of the board of directors of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for over ten years. You might imagine that that’s a position that grants me considerable juice, but when it comes to the HOF’s most important decisions — who exactly ends up enshrined in the hall — the directors are allowed to cast a single vote, the same as any other member.
  Normally that’s enough for me. This year is different. I’m writing not in my
  
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• In Computero: Hear How AI Software Wrote a ‘New’ Nirvana Song

  02-04-2021 17:40 via rollingstone.com
  
  Computer-generated artificial tracks by Jimi Hendrix, Amy Winehouse and Jim Morrison highlight a new project that helps bring attention to mental illness
  
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• Bandcamp Friday, April 2021 Edition: Support Artists by Buying This Music

  02-04-2021 17:40 via rollingstone.com
  
  The music platform is waiving its revenue share for all purchases made on April 2nd
  
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• Quavo responds to leaked video of lift fight: “I didn’t physically abuse Saweetie”

  02-04-2021 17:20 via nme.com
  
  Quavo has responded to leaked footage of him getting into a fight in a lift with Saweetie, denying that he “physically abused” his former partner.
  The two rappers were in a relationship at the time of the filmed fight, which reportedly took place last year. They confirmed their split last month after being together for over two years.  
  The video went viral when it leaked online earlier this week and showed the pair getting into a physical altercation over an orange case. T
  
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• Conversations With Every 2021 Oscar Best Original Song and Score Nominee

  02-04-2021 17:20
  
  Breaking down this year’s Oscar best original song and score nominees and why, in their own words, a nod means more to them than ever after a trying 2020.Of the 12 songwriters who are vying for best original song this year, 11 are first-time Academy Award nominees. The 12th is category perennial Diane Warren, who lands her 12th nod. This is the only Oscar nomination for Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga and The Life Ahead (La Vita Davanti a Se), which delivered two prime cand
  
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• Kris Ahrend Built and Launched MLC During a Pandemic — Now the Hard Part Begins

  02-04-2021 17:18
  
  Every CEO in the world has a story about how their company handled the pandemic. But how many of those executives were a first-time CEO just two-months into building a brand new company when the pandemic hit? And not just any new company, but one charged with solving what may be the most vexing problem facing the music industry, a problem the labels had punted on and the digital service providers had done no better with: making sure songwriters and publishers receive their rightful royalties whe
  
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• Six Oscar Nominees Who Set New Records for Song and Score

  02-04-2021 17:17
  
  While all of the nominees for best original song and best original score at the 93rd annual Academy Awards — set for April 25 — have reason to celebrate their achievements, the following six contenders should feel particularly proud as their nominations made history.
  Leslie Odom Jr., who is the fourth actor in four years to receive Oscar nods for acting and songwriting in the same year, believes it’s easier to shatter ceilings because “there’s less boundar
  
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