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The 9.1 Cent Mechanical Royalty Rate Ditched in New CRB Ruling
The longstanding 9.1 cent mechanical royalty songwriters and publishers earn for every song sold may be a thing of the past. On Tuesday (March 29), the Copyright Royalty Board agreed to abandon that mechanical settlement between music publishers, record labels and digital services for the sale of songs for the upcoming 2023-2027 rate period, giving way to a new battle over what the rate should be for physical and download sales. The CRB judges’ decision came after receiving the settlement from interested parties in a motion to adopt it, as part of the overall rate-setting process, which also determines royalty rates for on-demand streaming. While the on-demand streaming rates are hard fought between digital services and publishers, with both sides racking up millions of dollars of litigati...
Norah Jones Talks Full-Circle Grammy History, From 2003 Sweep to 2022 Nod: ‘The Grammys Changed My Life’
At the 45th annual Grammy Awards back in 2003, Norah Jones was nominated for her first five Grammy Awards and won all five, thanks to her ubiquitous and beloved debut album Come Away With Me and its breakout single “Don’t Know Why.” So what does the singer remember from that life-changing night, 19 years later? Explore See latest videos, charts and news “I was starving,” she laughs in the latest Billboard Pop Shop Podcast for our special 2022 Grammy preview episode (listen to the full show below). “We got there early for the pre-telecast because I had one award in that. It was definitely pre- or right after lunch. I just remember I didn’t really eat dinner and then we went to the afterparty and I had a giant martini. And I was like, ‘Can someone feed me?!’” At the 64th annual Grammys...
A$AP Rocky Announces New Whiskey Venture
Over the last three years, A$AP Rocky, the multi-hyphenate artist known for projects spanning music, art, fashion, has been quietly working on his latest venture: Mercer + Prince, a Canadian whisky developed in partnership with Global Brand Equities and E. & J. Gallo. The spirit, named for Rocky’s favorite cross streets in his native New York City, has a flavor profile with hints of vanilla, caramel, and baked apple. Explore Explore A$AP Rocky See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news “I’m so excited and grateful to finally introduce Mercer + Prince to the world,” founder Rocky said in a statement. “I have been learning about whisky from all over the world for the past decade and wanted to defy the rules to create something unique, while honoring and re...
HHW Gaming: Sony Announces “All-New PlayStation Plus Subscription Service,” Heres What You Get
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: PlayStation / All-New PlayStation Plus PlayStation’s answer to Xbox Game Pass was the company’s worst-kept secret, but now we know finally know when to expect from it when it launches this year. Originally called “Spartacus,” Sony pulled the lid off the All-New PlayStation Plus via the PlayStation Blog. As many have reported, the new subscription service will see PS Now and PS Plus merge into a three-tier system to form the “Xbox Game Pass competitor.” The new service will feature up to 700 games plus access to retro games, but there is a catch, you must be subscribed to the top tier. So here are the deets. There will be three-tiers PlayStation Plus Essential, PlayStation Plus Extra, and PlayStation Plus Premium, when it arrives. PS Now will become a thin...
Cardi B, Offset & Baby Kulture To Guest Star In ‘Baby Shark: Big Show’
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: Prince Williams / ATLPics.Net Cardi B is coming to TV! According to the announcement, Bardi and her famous family will be making an appearance on Nickelodeon’s ‘Baby Shark: Big Show’ series. Cardi B will make an appearance as the animated character “Sharki B,” who is described as, “the biggest star in the seven seas—but always 100% herself and fin-spires other fishies to do the same;” while Offset will be voicing the character “Offshark,” alongside their three-year-old daughter Kulture who will voice the role of Kulture Shark. Taking to Instagram, Cardi shared the exciting news in a swipe post that included a screenshot of the news along with a few behind the scene clips, writing, “make sure you guys and your babies check out Me & my family episode on...
NYC Mayor Eric Adams Kicks It With A$AP Rocky & Other Celebs At One Vanderbilt
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: Johnny Nunez / Getty Ever since being elected mayor of New York City, Eric Adams has made a few moves that have raised eyebrows across the board including giving his young brother the job of Deputy Commissioner of the NYPD (nepotism), bringing back “Stop & Frisk,” and lifting vaccine mandates for athletes and entertainers not too long after many everyday New Yorkers lost their jobs for not being vaccinated. Now people are chattering about Eric Adams rubbing elbows with the likes of Cara Delevigne, A$AP Rocky and Floyd Mayweather as the New York Post is reporting that the first year mayor spent Monday night turning up at One Vanderbilt with some of entertainment’s biggest names. This isn’t a particularly good look for the mayor given the scrutiny ...
Sources Say Chris Rock’s Oscars Joke About Jada Pinkett Smith Not In The Script
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images / Getty The ongoing controversy stemming from Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars has gained more fuel, as it has been revealed that the joke that started it all wasn’t in the official script. According to inside reporting, the joke that comedian Chris Rock made towards Jada Pinkett Smith at the 94th Academy Awards on Sunday (March 27th) which led to Will Smith slapping him during the live telecast was not part of the script and was not done during rehearsals for the event. The comedian, who was presenting the award for Best Documentary, had begun by directing a joke at Smith’s wife. “Jada I love you, ‘G.I. Jane 2,’ can’t wait to see it”, he said. Pinkett Smith has been public about her hair being lo...
Soul Glo: Diaspora Problems
Soul Glo’s rise to hardcore heroism would be greater cause for celebration if it weren’t such a damning indictment of American society. Since forming in 2014, the Philly quartet has garnered modest acclaim for airing their righteous grievances against being both tokenized and ostracized as a Black punk band, all while sparing no detail on hypocrisy within their own community, our broken health care system, generational trauma, and the false promises of higher education and upward mobility. By the time Americans en masse were starting to admit that things were as fucked up as Soul Glo had been saying, they’d put out their first widely distributed release, Songs to Yeet at the Sun, in November 2020. The message hadn’t changed, but more people were actually willing to listen. Nearly two years...
JOE SATRIANI Announces Fall 2022 North American Tour
World-renowned guitarist Joe Satriani will embark on a 44-date North American tour in the fall. The trek will kick off on September 21 in Riverside, California and conclude on November 19 in Dallas, Texas. Joining Satriani on the tour will be drummer Kenny Aronoff, bassist Bryan Beller and keyboardist Rai Thistlewayte. Tickets go on sale on April 1 at Satriani.com. Tour dates: Sep. 21 – Riverside, CA @ Fox Performing Arts Center Sep. 22 – San Diego, CA @ Balboa Theatre Sep. 23 – Los Angeles, CA @ Orpheum Theatre Sep. 24 – Scottsdale, AZ @ Talking Stick Resort Sep. 25 – Reno, NV @ Grand Theatre @ Grand Sierra Resort Sep. 26 – Stockton, CA @ Bob Hope Theater Sep. 28 – Seattle, WA @ The Moore Theatre Sep. 29 – Spokane, WA @ Bing Crosby Theater S...
TOOL’s ADAM JONES Teams Up With GIBSON For New Les Paul Standard Guitar
Gibson and Adam Jones have announced their third guitar collaboration with the Adam Jones Les Paul Standard from Gibson USA. Multi-platinum selling and four-time-Grammy Award-winning guitarist Adam Jones from the band TOOL is one of rock’s most talented and sonically innovative guitarists. The new Adam Jones Les Paul Standard from Gibson USA is a new take on Adam‘s No. 1 guitar, his prized original Silverburst 1979 Gibson Les Paul. The new Adam Jones Les Paul Standard from Gibson USA pays tribute to what Adam calls “one of my top favorite guitars of all time.” Fans can see Adam and his Les Paul Standard on stage during the world tour for TOOL‘s blockbuster “Fear Inoculum” album. Finished in Antique Silverburst, Adam‘s new Les Paul Standard ha...
OZZY OSBOURNE’s ‘The Ultimate Gin’ Now Available In Europe
Ozzy Osbourne‘s The Ultimate Gin is now available in Europe through www.brandsforfans.com Made in the classic London Dry Gin style and with a bold alcohol content of 47%, The Ultimate Gin‘s exceptional quality has been recognized in a recent Silver Medal from the IWSC, the beverage industry’s globally recognized benchmark for spirits awards. Available exclusively in the Brands For Fans webshop in a 700ml glass bottle, now you can have your fill of the long-awaited The Ultimate Gin. Available markets: * U.K. * Germany * Austria * France * The Netherlands * Belgium The Ultimate Gin: Tasting Notes * Nose: Large complex gin-typical aroma with clear notes of Juniper, citrus and herbs * Palate: Large complex gin-typical taste with clear notes of Juniper and citrus and hints of ...
BLACK SABBATH Bassist GEEZER BUTLER Shares Preview Of His Multi-Part NFT Graphic Novel
YellowHeart, the NFT marketplace for music, ticketing and community tokens which accepts both crypto and credit card payments, recenly teamed up with Geezer Butler, legendary Grammy Award-winning musician, songwriter and bass player and founding member of BLACK SABBATH, for his first-ever NFT, a graphic novel called “The Antibody Collection” which went live on March 25. The exclusive multi-part NFT collection offers each chapter as an animated limited-edition NFT, each featuring original bass driven-music composed by Geezer Butler, as well as original artwork by notable artist KOL (Kolin Humphries). A couple of previews of “The Antibody Collection” are available below. Butler will also donate his proceeds from the NFT to various organizations involved in Ukrainian r...
