entertainment blog
Streaming Is Growing — Just Not Like It Used To: 5 Takeaways From the RIAA Mid-Year Report
The music subscription market, the driving force behind the U.S. recorded music industry’s six-year growth streak, posted another gain in the first half of 2022, according to RIAA midyear figures released Wednesday (Sept. 21). But revenue from paid services such as Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube Music have slowed from earlier break-neck paces. After rising at double-digit growth rates in recent years, subscription revenue grew by only 9.4% in the first half of 2022, down from 11.3% at the mid-point of 2021 and 13.7% at the mid-point of 2020. The $387.6 million increase, to $4.5 billion, was less than half of the $823.5 million reported a year earlier, a period in which streaming services surged during the early pandemic’s lock-down periods and strict restrictions. Still, subscription rev...
‘Andor’: How to Stream the ‘Star Wars’ Prequel Series on Disney+
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. A new era begins with Andor, the Rogue One prequel series, now streaming on Disney+. The three-episode premiere arrived on Wednesday (Sept 21). Diego Luna stars as Andor in the 12-episode series from the Star Wars franchise, which follows Cassian Andor’s journey as a rebel hero. Stellan Skarsgård, Genevive O’Reilly, Alex Ferns, Kyle Soller, Adria Arjona and Denise Gough are among the cast. Read on for details on how to watch Andor and other Disney+ exclusives for free. How to Watch Andor on Disney+ Andor is streaming exclusively on Disney+, at no extr...
Kid Cudi Claims He Is Writing a Memoir
Kid Cudi wants fans to know his side of the story. In recent months, Cudi has been at the topic of conversation online having faced criticism from former friends and colleagues including Ye and Mike Dean. Recently, the Man on the Moon artist has faced public backlash from these artists, dredging up past feuds. Ye’s issue with Cudi stems from his friendship with Pete Davidson, while Dean recently took to social media to call Cudi out for dropping him from his tour. As he does his best to rise above these issues, Cudi took to Twitter to call himself the “most hated man in hip hop right now”, despite being “one of the most blessed.” In hopes to tell his side of the story, the Entergalactic rapper tweeted that he is planning on releasing a memori very soon. The memoir is said to give fans the ...
Doja Cat Is No Longer Releasing a Rave Album Next, Going for Rock Instead
It looks like Doja Cat is no longer sticking to her plans of releasing a “’90s German rave” album for her next project. The artist originally spoke to Matthew M Williams about her plans for her upcoming mixtape, hinting at a “rave kind of vibe.” Now, Doja has taken to Twitter to refute these claims. In a series of tweets, the rapper backtracked on her statements of creating the rave album by announcing to her fans, “im not doing a german rave culture album you guys i was pranking the outlet that interviewed me about it.” She later continued to tweet that she will actually be doing an R&B album, but quickly claimed it was not true either. Doja continued her pranking street with yet another tweet claiming that she is working on “an experimental jazz album.” Finally, she went on to tweet ...
Historian Kyrie Irving Says COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates Are Human Rights Violations
HipHopWired Featured Video CLOSE Source: Prince Williams / Getty Kyrie Irving is a savant on a basketball court. His opinions on other topics, leave much to be desired, though. Case in point, the NBA superstar took to Twitter to express his thoughts on COVID-19 vaccine mandates. “If I can work and be unvaccinated, then all of my brothers and sisters who are also unvaccinated should be able to do the same, without being discriminated against, vilified, or fired,” tweeted Irving on Tuesday (Sept. 21). “This enforced Vaccine/Pandemic is one the biggest violations of HUMAN RIGHTS in history.” Human rights history? History that includes the Atlantic Slave Trade and the Holocaust, just to name a couple of examples. History, where just recently women are being told hear in the United States they ...
Future Sells Portion Of Publishing Catalog To Influence Media Partners
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: VCG / Getty Future is, without a doubt, one of the biggest hitmaking artists of his era, and his catalog is certainly potent enough to generate him wealth for years. The Freebandz honcho sold off a significant portion of his publishing catalog to Influence Media Partners for an undisclosed amount according to a new report. As reported by Music Business Worldwide, Influence Media Partners announced the purchase of Future’s catalog, adding to other big purchases of publishing catalogs the firm has made in its three years of existence. Related Stories “The impressive catalog marks Influence Media’s latest eight-figure acquisition and builds on the company’s commitment to investing in modern evergreens and cementing hip-hop and R&B’s high value in the mus...
‘Serial’ Podcast Subject Adnan Syed Freed, Judge Vacates Conviction
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: Baltimore Sun / Getty Adnan Syed, the subject of the popular podcast Serial, is now a free man after a judge vacated his conviction for murder. Syed, 41, was in a Baltimore courtroom on Monday (Sept. 19) after prosecutors were granted approval of their motion to vacate his 2000 conviction for the murder of Hae Min Lee. Lee, who was killed in 1999, was Syed’s former high school girlfriend. Baltimore City Circuit Judge Melissa Phinn vacated Syed’s conviction and explained that there was material in the state’s investigation that wasn’t turned over properly to defense lawyers and the existence of two suspects that possibly were cleared improperly. “In the interest of judgment and fairness, the state’s motion to vacate judgment … is hereby granted. The defend...
Elegance Is A Must: Ralph Lauren Launches ‘Polo Originals’ Collection
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: Richard Phibbs / Richard Phibbs Ralph Lauren is taking it back to what made him. The “Polo Originals” collection honors their roots of distinctive details, tradition in textiles, and time-honored tailoring. Source: Richard Phibbs / Richard Phibbs As per Hype Beast the American brand is paying homage to classic tailoring for its Fall 2022 drop. Inspired by the timeless nature of well-made garments, Polo Ralph Lauren travels to Scotland, where the neighboring legacy of British tailoring blends seamlessly with a rugged style, inspired by classic sportswear pieces, and refinement shaped by centuries of academic tradition. In a press statement the Bronx native captures the goal for the new capsule. “I started with the origins of tradition, but I was not b...
Spoon Announce Remix Album, Share Video for New Version of “On the Radio”
Spoon have announced Lucifer on the Moon, a track-for-track reworking of their 2022 LP Lucifer on the Sofa helmed by producer and On-U Sound founder Adrian Sherwood. The album is due out November 4 via Matador. They’ve shared a Britt Daniel–directed clip for Sherwood’s reconstructed version of “On the Radio.” Check out the video and full tracklist below. Of Sherwood’s remixes, Daniel said in a statement: It wasn’t just a thing where you pick apart this and that and you stay on the grid and you add a delay. He added so much more instrumentation to the tracks that they became completely different versions of the songs. Not just remixes, but companion pieces. A “Part II.” Spoon recently wrapped up a string of tour dates with Interpol in support of Lucifer on the Sofa. They performed “Th...
Nilüfer Yanya Covers PJ Harvey’s “Rid of Me”
Nilüfer Yanya has shared her cover of PJ Harvey’s “Rid of Me,” the title track from the iconic English musician’s 1993 LP. Check it out below. Of the song, Yanya said in a statement: “Rid of Me” haunted me for many years after I first heard it, but in a comforting kind of way, like I knew it was always there for me. It comes across defiant, alien and twisted, but it is a perfect song. I actually think it’s very romantic despite what some of the lyrics get at. Yanya released her second LP, Painless, earlier this year. She also joined Danish band Liss on their debut album I Guess Nothing Will Be the Same in May. In June, she opened for Adele at London’s Hyde Park. She’s set to perform at Desert Daze in Perris, California next month before heading out on a run of European tour dates, st...
Watch Rico Nasty’s New Video for “Gotsta Get Paid”
Rico Nasty has unveiled a music video for “Gotsta Get Paid,” her Las Ruinas single that’s co-produced by 100 gecs. In the visual, directed by Moshpxt, the rapper can be seen hanging out at the edge of a blackened cliff, lighting a car on fire with a can of gasoline, and strutting through a forest at midnight while singing along to her song. Watch the video below. Las Ruinas is the latest release from Rico Nasty. It follows her sole studio album, 2020’s Nightmare Vacation, and the recent mixtapes Anger Management in 2019 and Nasty in 2018. In addition to “Gotsta Get Paid,” Las Ruinas also includes the previously released single “Vaderz” featuring Bktherula. Read about Rico Nasty’s track “iPhone” in Pitchfork’s “100 Best Songs of 2020.” Content This content can also be viewed on the site it ...
BBC’s Later… With Jools Holland to Stage 30th Anniversary Show
The stalwart BBC music series Later… With Jools Holland will celebrate its 30th anniversary in October with a live concert in London. A secret lineup will play the Hammersmith Apollo on October 5, before footage airs later in the year. Performers will span “different eras and musical worlds,” according to a press release, and will mix previous guests to the show with newer artists. Jools Holland, the show host and former member of Squeeze, said, “It’s unbelievable that this year sees my show reach its thirtieth birthday. It’s a testament to the great power of music that we are still going strong, and are now the longest running international music show on earth. I’m delighted and honoured that we’re going to celebrate this monumental milestone with a special one off event in the fabulous E...
