music blog
Surfcomber Hotel’s “Legendary House Music Week” to Feature Over 30 DJs During MMW 2022
The sun-kissed grounds of Miami’s Kimpton Surfcomber Hotel are turning into a pool party utopia for Miami Music Week 2022. For nearly a full week from March 23-27, the Surfcomber is hosting a special MMW takeover called Legendary House Music Week. And it’s exactly what it sounds like: five days worth of hedonism and house music at one of South Beach’s most popular hotels. Presented in partnership with UZO Media Productions, Legendary House Music Week 2022 will showcase a staggering 30 DJs from across the world. A number of legendary artists are primed to descend on the hotel for blissed-out performances, like house music luminary Todd Terry and Grammy Award-winning producer Roger Sanchez. Each day of Legendary House Music Week is split into two parts to separate day and n...
3LAU, A-Trak, Diplo Bet Big On HIFI as the Future of Financial Transparency for Music Creators
The music industry’s A-listers and executive class are betting on HIFI as the future of financial transparency and empowerment in the creator economy. HIFI, a platform branded as a “financial rights organization,” is committed to delivering a suite of data-driven financial products to creators on a membership basis. Thus far, the company has delivered on the development of a Royalty Dashboard solution that uniquely aggregates royalty earnings data from across platforms and accounts all in one location. Financial empowerment and transparency are two core principles for HIFI as it aims to shed light on an element of the industry that—in some ways—has remained opaque by design. Now, the company, which launched in 2020, has closed an eight-figure funding round to contin...
Lightning in a Bottle Announces Compass Music, Learning and Culture Programming Ahead of 2022 Festival
Back in November, the hotly anticipated reveal of Lightning in a Bottle‘s expansive 2022 lineup certainly impressed. Featuring the likes of GRiZ, Kaytranada, Glass Animals and Black Coffee, among many others, the docket has something to offer every dance music fanatic. Taking the offerings of the weekend even further, Do LaB, the event’s organizers, have now announced its Compass music, learning and culture programming for the Memorial Day Weekend festival. The progam aligns with the core principles of Lightning in a Bottle: connection, expression, and community. The motive of Compass is to present unique opportunities for its attendees to take in potentially life-changing lessons that they can carry with them in their day-to-day lives. Through a serie...
Amelie Lens’ Exhale Records Releases Charity Compilation to Aid Humanitarian Efforts In Ukraine
The residents of Exhale Records are coming together to support humanitarian efforts in Ukraine with a charity compilation, Together with Ukraine! Helmed by Amelie Lens, the Belgium-based imprint has assembled a team of techno stalwarts for a 14-track album. Lens herself opens things up with a tone-setting rework of her 2017 original, “Purge.” Lens, who was named one of EDM.com‘s Best Music Producers of 2021, pumps up the energy of the original with an accentuated, thumping kick and powerful synths reminiscent of a prior era of old-school rave. The ode to the underground continues with the acid rave stylings of Ahl Iver’s “Feel The Groove,” the frenetic cadence of Lokier’s “Broken,” and Charlie Sparks and Frazi.er’s ...
Rap Lyrics Are Still Cited in Court, But That Might Be About to Change
When Vonte Skinner stood trial in New Jersey in 2008 for a drug-related shooting that he claimed he did not commit, a detective read to jurors at length from a book of amateur rap lyrics discovered in Skinner’s car the night of the crime. They referenced bloodshed and violence and death – but they weren’t connected to the actual facts of the case. Skinner was later found guilty and sentenced to 30 years in prison. “It made absolutely no sense,” says Ezra Rosenberg, an attorney who worked with the American Civil Liberties Union on Skinner’s appeal. “This was a guy who was convicted of an extraordinarily serious crime based on evidence that included his rap lyrics, when there was nothing in them that was connected in any way to the crime he was convicted of.” Years later, prosecutors are sti...
Muse Confront Global Instability, War, Authoritarianism on 9th Album, ‘Will of the People’
Muse are not holding anything back on their upcoming ninth album, Will of the People. The hard-hitting English rock trio announced the title of the 10-track collection on Thursday (March 17), Will of the People, which is slated to drop on Aug. 26 via Warner Records. Explore Explore Muse See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news “Will Of The People was created in Los Angeles and London and is influenced by the increasing uncertainty and instability in the world,” said singer Matt Bellamy in a statement. “A pandemic, new wars in Europe, massive protests & riots, an attempted insurrection, Western democracy wavering, rising authoritarianism, wildfires and natural disasters and the destabilization of the global order all informed Will Of The People. ...
2022 Dance/Electronic Grammy Preview: Black Coffee on His Historic Nomination & Why Dance Deserves ‘Better Exposure’ at the Awards
Editors note: In this series, Billboard Dance is speaking with each 2022 Grammy nominee from the dance/electronic categories ahead of the 64th Annual Grammy Awards on April 3, in Las Vegas, NV. Black Coffee was at home in Johannesburg, South Africa hanging out with his mother when he learned that his 2021 album Subconsciously was nominated for the best dance/electronic album Grammy. “It was a surreal moment,” the producer tells Billboard. Explore See latest videos, charts and news One could also say it was a long time coming. The artist born Nkosinathi Innocent Sizwe Maphumulo has been a fixture of the global electronic scene for nearly two decades and has long flown flags for both house music and the vibrant electronic scene of his native South Africa. His nomination marks the first time ...
St. Patrick’s Day: Ed Sheeran, Paul McCartney and More Celebrate the Day of the Irish
Throw on something green, hit up your local Irish pub and use the four-leaf clover emoji with reckless abandon — it’s what all the celebrities are doing. From Ed Sheeran to Paul McCartney, keep reading to see what your favorite musicians are doing this St. Patrick’s Day. Ed Sheeran celebrates five years of “Galway Girl” (feat. Saiorse Ronan) 🍀 HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY 🍀And a Happy Five years to ‘Galway Girl’, released on this day in 2017 💥 pic.twitter.com/Sldr90on2F — Ed Sheeran HQ (@edsheeran) March 17, 2022 Paul McCartney reminisces on a long-ago trip to Ireland Here’s to Ireland and St. Paddy – Paul 🍀 📷 By Linda McCartney pic.twitter.com/rDmNYH9G8X — Paul McCartney (@PaulMcCartney) March 17, 2022 Liam Gallagher gets ready to drink...
DEF LEPPARD Announces ‘Diamond Star Halos’ Album; ‘Kick’ Single Now Available
DEF LEPPARD will release its new album, “Diamond Star Halos”, on May 27 via UMe. The follow-up to 2015’s self-titled LP is available for pre-order now in multiple configurations, including a deluxe edition, 2-LP vinyl, digital formats and more. Exclusive bundles including newly designed album merch have also launched. To herald the arrival of “Diamond Star Halos”, the U.K. quintet — Joe Elliott (vocals), Rick Savage (bass), Rick Allen (drums), Phil Collen (guitar) and Vivian Campbell (guitar) — has just shared a powerful and rip-roaring new rock single titled “Kick”. The song thrusts into an anthemic stadium-ready frenzy kickstarted with driving guitars and bombastic drums woven into its musical fabric. Meanwhile, the chorus has all the makings of ...
W.A.S.P.’s BLACKIE LAWLESS Blasts ‘Bully’ PUTIN: ‘Today, I Am Ukrainian’
W.A.S.P. leader Blackie Lawless has blasted Russian president Vladimir Putin as a “bully” whose motivation for invading Ukraine was “simple, godless selfishness.” Earlier today, Lawless released the following statement via W.A.S.P.‘s official web site: “With regards to any invading force, I am an American. I am an American first. I put my country first. I put my Nation’s People first. Whether we are Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Libertarians, Progressive, Liberal or Conservative, in moments of true crisis, any and ALL individual, selfish wants must be laid down for any nation to survive. A nation’s people must come first. “Of the Americans that are alive now, regardless of modern sentiments and arrogance, we are not the first to...
Watch: SLIPKNOT Kicks Off 2022 ‘Knotfest Roadshow’ Tour In Fargo
SLIPKNOT kicked off the 2022 iteration of its infamous “Knotfest Roadshow” tour Wednesday night (March 16) at the Fargodome in Fargo, North Dakota. The band’s setlist was as follows: 01. Disasterpiece 02. Wait And Bleed 03. Sulfur 04. Before I Forget 05. The Chapeltown Rag 06. Dead Memories (performed for first time since 2016) 07. Unsainted 08. The Heretic Anthem 09. Psychosocial 10. The Devil In I 11. Solway Firth 12. All Out Life 13. Snuff (performed for first time since 2012) 14. Vermilion 15. Duality 16. Custer 17. Spit It Out Encore: 18. People = Shit 19. (sic) 20. Surfacing Fan-filmed video is available below. The “Knotfest Roadshow” tour is taking place over two legs, both headlined by SLIPKNOT. The first leg features special guests IN THIS MOMENT and ...
SAMMY HAGAR To Release ‘Cocktail Hits: 85 Personal Favorites From The Red Rocker’ Book
Sammy Hagar will release a new book, “Sammy’s Cocktail Hits: 85 Personal Favorites From The Red Rocker”, on March 29 via Skyhorse Publishing. Hagar may be best known as the former frontman of the iconic band VAN HALEN. His fans know him as the Red Rocker and as the songwriter behind hits like “I Can’t Drive 55”, “Right Now” and “Why Can’t This Be Love”. However, music is just one of his passions. Sammy is a businessman, a connoisseur of great cocktails, and the creator of Cabo Wabo Tequila, Sammy’s Beach Bar Rums, and — along with his good friend and celebrity restaurateur Guy Fieri — a line of Santo Tequilas and Mezquila. He created Cabo Wabo Cantinas and Sammy’s Beach Bar & Grills so people could hang out w...
