In January, the Atlanta-based hip-hop producer TM88 received an urgent call from the rapper Lil Uzi Vert, who was craving a beat reminiscent of his hit “XO Tour Llif3.” Over the next few days, the two men spent hours on FaceTime perfecting a track together. “He’s like, ‘take that out …
Read More »CMA Fest 2020 Canceled Due to Coronavirus Pandemic
CMA Fest, the annual country-music festival that draws tens of thousands to Nashville each June for concerts and artist interactions, has been canceled for 2020 because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The Country Music Association confirmed the news in a statement released on Tuesday. “After careful deliberation, and in following …
Read More »Newport Festivals Foundation Announces COVID-19 Musician Relief Fund
As a response to the devastating toll COVID-19 has taken on independent musicians around the country, the Newport Festivals Foundation — which operates the longstanding Newport Folk and Jazz festivals — has announced that it will be allocating some of its funds to an emergency musician relief fund. “In this …
Read More »Dolly Parton Tells Fans to Keep the Faith During Coronavirus Pandemic
Dolly Parton is sheltering in place during the coronavirus pandemic like the rest of us, and on Friday she sent out an uplifting message to fans to get them through their anxiety. At the bottom of the stairs in her house, the 74-year-old country star begins by singing, “Climbing the …
Read More »How Rihanna Ended Up on PartyNextDoor's 'Believe It'
Last November, the producer Ninetyfour was eagerly expecting his first major-label placement. “I was supposed to be on the Game’s album,” Ninetyfour recalls. “They asked us to do the paperwork, ASCAP information, ‘Bet, we’re gonna be on the album.’ It comes down to it — it’s not on there. That …
Read More »'Picard' Finale Recap: An Overstuffed Season Ends on a Hopeful Note
This post contains full spoilers for the first season of Star Trek: Picard, whose finale debuted today on CBS All Access. Midway through the Star Trek: Picard finale, the show’s dying title character realizes that he needs to get into orbit in a hurry, and the only person available to …
Read More »OneRepublic Wrote 'Better Days' While in Quarantine
While self-quarantining as a band, OneRepublic have written the hopeful new song “Better Days.” Their fifth album, Human, will be out on May 9th. “Better Days” was written and recorded by the band over the last week. The track is a bit of optimism in dark times.“Oh, I know that …
Read More »Arnold Schwarzenegger Donates $1 Million to COVID-19 Medical Supply Relief
Shortly after he and his livestock gave COVID-19 advice, Arnold Schwarzenegger donated $1 million for medical supplies in light of the pandemic. Schwarzenegger shared a link to a GoFundMe campaign titled Frontline Responders Fund, a campaign that aims to raise $5 million dollars to supply supplies, masks and gowns to …
Read More »Trump, in Tweet, Says He's Considering Plan That Would Kill a Lot of People
Epidemiologists are asking the public to “flatten the curve” of coronavirus infections by observing “social distancing.” It’s unclear how long we’ll have to do that — particularly absent a vaccine — and that’s both a bummer and a drag on the economy, as people miss out on human connections and …
Read More »Remembering Kenny Rogers' Forgotten Old West Concept Album
Released early in 1972, a time when concept albums were regularly being delivered to record stores, The Ballad of Calico checked all the boxes. Narrative storyline with songs sung in the voices of characters? Check. Cover packaging that made it look more like a scrapbook than an album? Check. Accompanying …
Read More »