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Mary Megan Peer Succeeds Father Ralph Peer II as Peermusic CEO
As executive chair, Ralph Peer II will retain corporate board responsibilities at peermusic, including providing expertise that helped build the company into one of the world’s top independent music publishing firms. (In the third quarter of 2020, peermusic ranked ninth by marketshare on the Top Radio Airplay chart and 10th on the Hot 100 Songs chart.) Moreover, Peer II will continue to serve as a member of several industry boards, including the National Music Publishers’ Association NMPA and International Confederation of Music Publishers. “It’s been a very satisfying challenge to have stewarded peermusic’s heritage repertoire made possible through the genius of my father and the savoir faire of my mother while simultaneously keeping our firm active and successfully engaged wi...
John Legend Receives United Nations Human Rights’ High Note Global Prize
“I believe in the power of music to inspire us, to connect our hearts, to give voice to feelings for which words alone won’t suffice, to wake us up out of complacency, to galvanize and fuel social movements,” the singer said upon accepting his award. “Artists have a rich tradition of activism. We have a unique opportunity to reach people where they are, beyond political divisions, borders, and silos. And it’s been my privilege to use my voice and my platform to advance the cause of equity and justice.” He went on to highlight his most recent campaign, #FreeAmerica, which works toward criminal justice reform. “As a citizen of the United States, and of the world, I know that for far too long our most essential systems have served to perpetuate inequity and injustice,&...
Cyndi Lauper Looks Back on 10 Years of Her Home For the Holidays Benefit: ‘I Can’t Believe What We’ve Done’
Porter tells Billboard that getting involved in Lauper’s annual show, which he has for the past few years, is never a difficult choice. “I am so very lucky to have had a supportive mother, sister and chosen family throughout my journey. But I am acutely aware that far too many young people do not have that and experience homelessness because of it,” he says. “I am always happy to lend my time and my voice to Home for the Holidays and to Miss Cyndi!” Lambert agrees, saying it was an honor to be asked to join the lineup for this annual event. “We have a little history of collaborating now, so this was a no brainer,” he says. “I’m very flattered to share a bill with such iconic women, and for such a great cause!” But for Lau...
Bladee And Mechatok Are Winning And Losing At The Same Time
By Eli Enis Bladee and Mechatok like to think of luck as a paradox. The 26-year-old cloud-rap icon and the 23-year-old producer are sitting in a Swedish hotel room talking about how their new album documents their simultaneous failure and success at creating perfect pop music. The eight-track project is simply titled Good Luck, but they don’t subscribe to the idiom’s optimistic connotations. “When you say ‘good luck’ to someone, you’re kind of implying that there’s a good chance that it might not work out,” Mechatok says with a smile. “You’re not saying that, if you’re confident, it’s going to be fine.” At the very least, the album’s existence is the result of some good fortune. The two artists met a few years back through a mutual connection in the London club scene. The Berlin-based Mech...
Rick Ross, Moneybagg Yo, And More To Perform For Georgia Runoff Voters
Despite the harrowing, end-of-days feeling that often surrounded the 2020 presidential election — what felt to many, and to one candidate in particular, as a battle for the very soul of the United States — New York City exploded with music. On a Manhattan street corner during Election Day, the singer Patti Smith apologized to a gathering crowd; she’d need to remove her mask to deliver a stripped-down performance of her song “People Have the Power” with the guitarist Lenny Kaye. Uptown, outside the Apollo Theater where Harlem residents arrived to cast their votes, the rapper Busta Rhymes zipped through a rowdy, two-song set in his characteristically high-speed flow. Videos of the performances shot through social media like fireworks, bright images of fun and play that cut through the partis...
Jo Ellen Pellman Loved The Prom On Broadway. Now She’s Its Film Lead
By Alex Gonzalez The Prom is ostensibly the story of 17-year-old Emma Nolan, played by newcomer Jo Ellen Pellman, a friendly, outspoken girl who is banned from attending her school’s dance with her girlfriend in the fictional, conservative Edgewater, Indiana. But it also relies on what happens next, when a troupe of struggling Broadway actors — played by marquee icons Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, James Corden, and Andrew Rannells — see Emma’s story on social media and visit her town in an attempt to resurrect their public images. While the idea of sharing the bill with such an all-star cast for one’s first major on-screen role may seem daunting, the 25-year-old actress felt welcomed by her co-stars on the first day of filming. “Meryl scoots over and pats the seat next to her,” Pellman tell...
Algoriddim Has Updated djay Pro AI With a New Hands-Free Mixing Feature
Renowned software company Algoriddim has been making some major waves in the world of DJing. Earlier this year, the company released its djay Pro AI software, which can isolate elements of tracks in real time for potentially limitless mixing capability. Now, Algoriddim has set its sights even higher with a new update to the djay Pro AI software, introducing a hands-free DJing element that’s straight out of a sci-fi film. Utilizing the iOS 14 Vision Framework and extensive power of Apple’s A14 Bionic chip, djay Pro AI will now allow for mixing, scratching, and adding effects to a DJ set completely hands-free. Simple hand gestures can be used to move faders, twist knobs, and cue up tracks—all without touching the iPad or iPhone. “The ability to mix mus...
Here is a Baby Fist-Pumping to a Tiësto Track Behind the Wheel of a BMW
Here is a video of a baby fist-pumping to Tiësto’s “The Business” behind the wheel of a BMW. It’s not exactly breaking news, but it’ll make you smile, which we could all use right about now as we spiral towards the end of a dumpster fire of a year. Check out the video below, courtesy of Tiësto’s Instagram. FOLLOW TIËSTO: Facebook: facebook.com/tiestoTwitter: twitter.com/tiestoInstagram: instagram.com/tiestoSpotify: spoti.fi/3dVvySo
Slow Magic Shares Stellar Album “it’s the end of the world, but it’s ok”
2020 is wrapping up in a huge way for mysterious talent Slow Magic, who has shared more than a handful of vibrant singles in recent months, ultimately leading up to the release of his latest body of work it’s the end of the world, but it’s ok. Having built a career around otherworldly and unique sounds, Slow Magic has emerged as a definitive voice within the electronic music scene, and one who has now capitalized on the momentum he’s built over the years with this new project. Representing hope for a world in crisis, Slow Magic’s it’s the end of the world, but it’s ok is a truly stunning auditory effort. Out via Moving Castle, the LP runs 12 tracks in length and features the likes of Manila Killa, RUNN, Paperwhite and more. Previously released singles such as “...
These Fully Functional, Environmentally Friendly MIDI Pedals are Made from Cardboard
NILSON brand beat bars has been manufacturing some truly impressive MIDI software and hardware since 2015. Experts in 3D modeling, electronics, and computer engineering are the minds behind some of the brand’s work, including MIDI pedals and footswitches that are perfect for musicians who wish they had four hands instead of two. Pedals and footswitches are nothing new, but beat bars’ quality products have consistently garnered positive reviews and have been an effective tool for music makers across the globe for years now. beat bars recently took things a step further, crafting something that is new. The Cardboard Expression Pedal and Cardboard Footswitch are 100% environmentally friendly, using only cardboard and other biodegradable material. That̵...
STEEL PANTHER’s SATCHEL On Concert Industry Shutdown: ‘It Sucks For Fans, But It Really Sucks More For The Musicians’
STEEL PANTHER guitarist Satchel (a.k.a. Russ Parrish) has lamented the devastating impact the coronavirus pandemic has had on the music industry, with canceled concerts, tours and music festivals, all leaving hundreds of thousands of crew members out of work. “It sucks when the government shuts everything down completely and you’re at the whim of politicians,” the guitarist told Metal Matt in a new interview (see video below). “‘Cause, basically, our industry, the music industry, is done until people deem it okay to do that again, which sucks for musicians. It sucks for fans, but it really sucks more for the musicians, ’cause a lot of people make their living in the music business. And all these major venues are gone. “Don’t get me wrong — I ...
DORO Has Six Songs Written For Next Studio Album
In a new interview with Metal Shock Finland, Doro Pesch was asked if there is anything she would still like to achieve 40 years into her career as a heavy metal singer. She responded: “I always try, with every song, every album, every gig — small or big; that doesn’t matter — to make people feel good and to give them a lot of power and energy. And it would be awesome if I could it for a long time, and if I could do — I don’t know — maybe 10, 20 more records, that would be awesome, and do what I love to do. I love people, and that’s, I guess, what I’m here for — I just wanna make people feel great and get inspiration, motivation and positive metal power. So that’s what I would love to continue doing. There’s not much — I don’t have any other d...
