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Rolling Loud Makes California Festival 18+ Following Astroworld Tragedy
Earlier this month, 10 people ranging in age from nine to 27 died at Travis Scott’s Astroworld Festival after being trampled in a large crowd surge. Now, in an apparent response to the tragedy, the hip-hop festival Rolling Loud has announced that its upcoming California event will only be open to audience members age 18 or older “in light of recent events.” In a statement posted to Twitter noting they “want everyone to rage safely,” the Rolling Loud organizers wrote: “We welcome everyone to experience our festivals, however, in light of recent events, we will be implementing an 18+ policy specific only to our upcoming 2021 California festival. We will be giving all ticket purchasers who are under the age of 18 the option to either roll their tickets over to next year’s 2022 California fest...
Inside Liberty Media’s Investor Meeting, Where Comedy Bits Mingled With Hard Data
Liberty Media’s annual investor meeting represents an opportunity for Chairman of the Board and legendary investor John Malone to present a ‘State of the Union’ on a portfolio that now includes roughly one-third of Live Nation, 80% satellite radio giant SiriusXM and more e-commerce, communications and entertainment companies. And along with the requisite financial information and optimistic portrayals of its portfolio companies’ futures, this year’s edition, held Nov. 18, also showcased the company’s sense of humor. Held at the Times Center, a block away from Times Square, in Manhattan, this year’s event drew a few hundred investors and analysts – fewer than usual, according to one attendee, possibly because “a lot of investors moved to Miami.” Outside the theater, atte...
Nita Strauss Is the First Woman to Achieve This Rock Chart Feat Since 1995
Nita Strauss accomplishes a feat not achieved since 1995 on Billboard‘s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart, as her co-billed David Draiman collaboration “Dead Inside” rises from No. 11 to No. 10 on the list dated Nov. 27. With the ascent, Strauss is the first solo woman to score a top 10 as a lead artist on Mainstream Rock Airplay in nearly 26 years. In 1995, two solo women reached the top 10 as leads. Alanis Morissette hit No. 3 with “You Oughta Know” that September, followed by a No. 8 peak for her “Hand in My Pocket” that November. Melissa Etheridge also reached the top 10 that November with the No. 4-peaking “Your Little Secret,” which was, before Strauss’ song, the last top 10 by a solo woman lead, having spent its last week in the top 10 on the chart dated Dec. 23, 1995. Since then, a han...
Republic Records Names Wendy Goldstein, Jim Roppo Co-Presidents
Jim Roppo and Wendy Goldstein have been named co-presidents of Republic Records, the label announced today (Nov. 24). The two long-serving executives were named to their posts by label co-founders Monte and Avery Lipman. “Wendy and Roppo together are the ultimate dynamic duo,” chairman/CEO Monte Lipman said in a statement. “Their leadership spearheading groundbreaking releases and historic campaigns has captured the imagination of our industry while making a tremendous impact on popular culture. I’m thrilled to make this announcement as we embark on the next chapter of Republic Records.” Added Avery Lipman, “We can always rely on Roppo and Wendy to not only exceed expectations, but shatter them entirely. They’ve been integral to our success up to this point and will be even more crucial to...
Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Addresses Louis C.K.’s Grammy Nomination
While the Recording Academy is tasked with tabulating the votes and handing out the annual Grammy Awards, policing whose work is submitted for nominations is outside of the group’s purview, according to Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason. The issue popped up on Tuesday (Nov. 23) after the reveal of the 2022 Grammy Awards nominees, which included two performers who’ve been accused of sexual misconduct: Marilyn Manson and comedian/actor Louis C.K. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news “We won’t restrict the people who can submit their material for consideration. We won’t look back at people’s history, we won’t look at their criminal record, we won’t look at anything other than the legality within our rules of, is this recording for this work eligible b...
The 10 Best Indie and Alternative Steely Dan Covers
Once upon a time, Steely Dan were hipsters. As frontman Donald Fagen explained in his 2013 book, Eminent Hipsters, he and Steely Dan co-founder Walter Becker grew up as aficionados of pre-rock ’n roll cool, studying jazz and Beat Generation writers. During the band’s original 1970s run, they were fixtures in the Village Voice critics’ polls even as their music gradually became smoother, slicker, and more popular. “We were kind of on the cusp of the counterculture and whatever happened afterwards,” Fagen told SPIN in a recent interview about the band’s new live album, Northeast Corridor. Over the past half-century, Steely Dan have been heroes and villains in equal measure — subversive iconoclasts to some, banal elevator music hacks to others. Even as they’ve played the role of establishment...
A Day in the Life of…Ariana and the Rose
“Songs you can dance, sweat and cry to,” is how Ariana and the Rose describes her music. We’d like to add: bold, brave and heartfelt. And, fair warning, be ready to dance, because her music will make you move. “I create music with a lot of synths and electronic beats, but a lot of music originates at the piano, so the melodies and lyrics come from a more singer/songwriter place,” she says, noting synth-pop influences Robyn and Goldfrapp. “I’m a sucker for a lush synth and really good storytelling, so I always aim to have both happening in my own music.” With such hits as “You Were Never My Boyfriend,” “Love You Lately,” and the LOGO-approved pride anthem “True Love”, she’s become known for bringing the party wherever she goes, including an intergalactic immersive art party in Brooklyn, whe...
OZZY OSBOURNE’s European Tour With JUDAS PRIEST Postponed To 2023
Ozzy Osbourne‘s previously announced European tour with guests JUDAS PRIEST, originally set for 2019 and then rescheduled three times, has once again been postponed. All tickets remain valid and will be honored for new dates in May and June 2023. Ozzy says: “Due to the ongoing uncertainty with full capacity events and travel logistics in much of Europe, we have come to the difficult decision to postpone my 2022 tour to 2023. Original tickets remain valid for the new dates. I want to thank all of you and JUDAS PRIEST for your continued patience and support.” Ozzy Osbourne + JUDAS PRIEST 2023 tour dates: May 03 – Finland, Helsinki – Hartwall Arena May 05 – Sweden, Stockholm – Friends Arena May 07 – Germany, Dortmund – Westfalenhalle May 1...
You Can Own QUIET RIOT Drummer FRANKIE BANALI’s 1970s GRETSCH Drum Kit
An early 1970s round badge Gretsch drum kit in a burgundy sparkle finish that originally belonged to QUIET RIOT drummer Frankie Banali is available for purchase via Reverb. This drum set includes a Gretsch 14×10 marching snare, two floor toms (at 16×16 and 16×18), a 10×14 rack tom, and a 14×26 bass tom. The whole lot also comes with a Banali-signed QUIET RIOT bass drum head and a certificate of authenticity from Frankie‘s wife, Regina Banali. As previously reported, a public funeral service for Frankie Banali was held on November 15 at 2:30 p.m. at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, California. The entire event was livestreamed to the public. Banali, who joined QUIET RIOT in 1982 and played on its breakthrough album, 1983’s ̶...
KILLSWITCH ENGAGE’s ‘As Daylight Dies’ Album Certified Platinum In U.S.
KILLSWITCH ENGAGE‘s fourth album, 2006’s “As Daylight Dies”, has been certified platinum by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) on November 23 for sales in excess of a million copies. The LP was previously certified gold in June 2009. The RIAA developed its gold and platinum awards program in 1958 to honor artists and create a standard by which to measure the commercial success of a sound recording. The program trademarked the gold record and formalized the industry practice of presenting awards to artists for music sales achievements. Presently, the RIAA awards a gold honor for 500,000 units sold, a platinum honor for 1 million units sold and a diamond award for more than 10 million units sold. In the streaming age, each permanent digital album or ...
JOE LYNN TURNER Says He Is Using ‘A Different Voice’ For His Collaboration With PETER TÄGTGREN
Legendary hard rock vocalist Joe Lynn Turner spoke to Greece’s RockPages.gr about his collaboration with Swedish producer and multi-instrumentalist Peter Tägtgren on a new album, tentatively due next year. Asked why it has taken him so long to release a new studio LP, Joe said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “It’s been a long time — purposely it’s been a long time. I took some time to live life, because I was crazy for all those years working really hard, and doing different projects here and there — for Cleopatra [Records], et cetera; a song here [and] a song there — and writing with Peter Tägtgren from PAIN and HYPOCRISY. Finally we had a chance to do 11 songs and master them, and they’re ready to go. Now we’re dealing with Nuclear Blast, but we&...
A Memoir Blue Brings a Text-Free Musical Experience from Halo Infinite Composer
As is the case with many video games published by Annapurna Interactive, there’s nothing quite like A Memoir Blue on the market. The upcoming title developed by Cloisters Interactive will undoubtedly be labeled as “games as art,” “interactive story” and a whole lot of other relatively meaningless subgenres to say that it boasts a unique narrative rather than action-heavy gameplay, but Shelley Chen’s first project as creative director and driving force is still going to catch plenty of people by surprise. For starters, there’s no text or spoken dialog. The entire tale — which happens to be about the ups and downs of a championship-winning swimmer named Miriam — is told entirely through the player’s interactions and song, leaving plenty of space for interpretation and imagination to fill in ...
