music blog
The Ledger: Spotify Beats SXM Media to Top Podcast Network Rankings
The Ledger is a weekly newsletter about the economics of the music business sent to Billboard Pro subscribers. An abbreviated version of the newsletter is published online. With the help of ratings juggernaut Joe Rogan, Spotify topped SXM Media — just barely — in Edison Research’s Q2 2022 podcast network rankings, covering April 1 to June 30, after taking the runner-up position the previous two quarters. The streaming company has made Rogan’s podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, a cornerstone in its efforts to expand the audio platform beyond its music roots. If Rogan’s role was to help make Spotify a podcast leader, he accomplished his mission. “Rogan is not the only reason they’re no. 1, but he’s the main reason,” says Edison Research president Larry Rosin. For all the c...
NCT 127 Share Their New ‘Attitude’ & Goals for Experimental Album ‘2 Baddies’
“Fast” is the first word said on NCT 127‘s latest album and embodies the palpable excitement and passion the boy band has for their new music. The group’s last full-length from nearly a year ago, Sticker, became the act’s highest- and longest-charting project when it peaked at No. 3 and spent 17 weeks on the Billboard 200. Their latest, 2 Baddies released on Sept. 16, is the record they plan to reach more fans with even greater ambitions and goals. Speaking over an afternoon Zoom call in Seoul, the members talk excitedly about an album they see as pushing themselves as experimental K-pop artists who fully commit to exploring different sounds. While album openers “Faster” and “2 Baddies” embrace high-turbo energy alongside multiple racing and car references, the LP explores different sounds...
Bad Bunny Explores Blackouts and Gentrification in Puerto Rico With 23-Minute ‘El Apagón’ Music Video
Bad Bunny isn’t tip-toeing around some of the most pressing issues facing his beloved Puerto Rico. In his most recent music video — which really is a nearly 23-minute long documentary for his blunt track “El Apagón” — the chart-topping artist addresses blackouts and gentrification, among other topics, taking aim at the local government for their inaction when it comes to these social issues. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news “I hope people in PR can watch my video before the lights go out,” he posted on Instagram Stories Friday (Sept. 16), minutes after releasing the clip, which begins with the song’s intro powered by thumping beats while featuring locals singing along to his song. Then, at the one-minute-mark, the song stops and in come ...
Missing Woman Found Alive After Attending “Spiritual Electronic Music Festival”: Report
A woman reported missing after attending a “spiritual electronic music festival” in Australia has been found alive, The Guardian reports. Juliana Castrillon, 36, reportedly got lost in the remote rainforests of north Queensland for four days after leaving the festival, Orin-Aya. Billed as a “psychedelic global gathering to celebrate together and release the joy within each of us,” the four-day event took place in the remote forests of Cape Tribulation. Orin-Aya’s website and social media paint a picture of a deeply spiritual music festival with rituals and customs regarded as sacrosanct. “By creating a space where we are free to remember the joy of this moment, and the eternal love that surrounds us always, we aim to tap into something greater ...
Infected Mushroom Celebrate 25th Anniversary With Kaleidoscopic Album, “IM25”
In celebration of their 25th anniversary, iconic Israeli psytrance duo Infected Mushroom have finally dropped their highly anticipated IM25 LP. Preceding the 12-track collection, Infected Mushroom teamed up with Israeli compatriot Bliss for a 10-minute, face-melting space expedition called “A Cookie From Space.” Shortly after, they treated fans to a glitchy electro-rock rendition of Alannah Myles’ 1989 classic “Black Velvet” with help from singer-songwriter Ninet Tayeb. Now, the duo are crystallizing their quarter-century legacy with their latest full-length body of work. Infected Mushroom. c/o Press IM25 showcases Infected Mushroom’s expertise as veteran sound designers and takes fans on a visceral journey through their storied career. The new record welcomes a ...
Babyface ft Queen Naija – Game Over
Babyface and Queen Naija team up for a beautiful piece titled – Game Over. American singer & songwriter, Babyface, set a new tone with his release single “Game Over” featuring Queen Naija. The new record is taken off his soon-to-be-release album “Girls Night Out” with features from Ari Lennox; Kehlani; Ella Mai; Coco Jones; Tiana Major9; Tink; Baby Tate; Muni Long; Amaarae, etc. However, It is an impressive piece of music you should listen to and add to your playlist. Listen and share Babyface ft Queen Naija – Game Over below. [embedded content]
YouTuber Anthony Fantano Trolls Drake Into Revealing Threatening DMs
As he has many times before, Drake took the bait on Thursday (September 15th) after YouTube critic Anthony Fantano trolled the rapper with a video claiming Drake had DMed him a vegan cookie recipe. Not long after the video was posted, Drake responded by sharing the threatening DMs he had actually sent Fantano, who is known for running the music review channel The Needle Drop. “Anthony! It’s Drizzy,” the fake messages began. “I know we don’t really see eye-to-eye about music and that you are not the biggest fan of most of my albums (thanks for the kind words on Take Care and If You’re Reading This tho). But it is what it is, you know. Can always hope you’ll like the next one!” The DMs continued, “But I’m not messaging you about your videos. I’m actually messaging you cause I found a really ...
Magic Mike’s Last Dance Gets Theatrical Release Date
Magic Mike’s Last Dance will hip-thrust its way into theaters after all. Warner Bros. has set the threequel’s release date for February 10th, 2023, Deadline reports. Originally set as an HBO Max exclusive, the Steven Soderbergh-directed film will now have a window between its theatrical release and debut on the streamer, with availability on video on demand in between. The change falls in line with Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav’s business philosophy that movies should be released in theaters first rather than premiering on streaming. Advertisement Related Video Channing Tatum, who will return in the title role, described the film as “a reverse-role Pretty Woman“ in a March interview with The New York Times. “We’re kind of swinging for the fences — there never needs to be ano...
Los Espookys’ Bernardo Velasco and Cassandra Ciangherotti on Season 2 and Making a Bilingual Comedy
There aren’t really any other shows like Los Espookys on television right now. The HBO comedy focuses on a group of friends who create an unconventional event planning service, delivering ghoulish twists on quinceaneras and building haunted houses from scratch. But the story is bigger than that, thanks to the eclectic cast, including Bernardo Velasco, Cassandra Ciangherotti, Ana Fabrega, Julio Torres, and Fred Armisen, and the wild journeys each character is on. In Season 2, the Los Espookys crew is back to create yet more spooky mayhem, while dealing with the repercussions of Season 1’s relationship dramas. Below, transcribed and edited for clarity, series stars Bernardo Velasco and Cassandra Ciangherotti, who play founding Los Espookys members Velasco and Ciangherotti, tell Consequence a...
Kanye West “Hasn’t Read Any Book,” Says “It’s Like Eating Brussels Sprouts”
Grass is green, water is wet, and Kanye West doesn’t read. The rapper, business mogul, and private school founder (?) recently revealed that he “[hasn’t] read any book,” likening it to “eating Brussels sprouts.” The topic came up on the latest episode of Alo Yoga’s Alo Mind Full podcast, when co-founder Danny Harris mentioned a certain book about confidence that he found inspiring: “Ye was telling me that he hasn’t read this book, but I was telling him that every positive attribute, he naturally embodies. And that’s extraordinary to have that confidence.” Kanye interjected, “When you said I hadn’t read this book, I actually haven’t read any book. Reading is like eating Brussel sprouts for me. And talking is like getting the Giorgio Baldi corn ravioli.” (For our fellow plebei...
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Hip-Hop Wired Presents: CRT FRSH [Certified Fresh] Playlist 9.16.22
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: Westend61 / Getty What up, Hip-Hop Wired Nation? We’re back with the latest edition of CRT FRSH AKA Certified Fresh! Part of our duty as a publication and crew is to school the masses on who is doing what musically and there’s no better way to do that beyond our CRT FRSH (Certified Fresh) bi-weekly playlist. The CRT FRSH playlist is a labor of love. We don’t take payments nor do we do favors. We only add joints to our playlist that fit the theme and vision we’re going for and don’t seek to waste the time of the listener. Further, we don’t stick to one lane of Hip-Hop. We believe that all aspects of the music should get some light, whether it’s young lions in the trenches or those hoping for that one shot to blow up to grizzled veterans puffing out their c...
Kanye West Gives A Rare Interview, Says He Hasn’t “Read Any Book”
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: Gilbert Carrasquillo / Getty It’s been a wild few months for Kanye West as of late as he’s been involved in everything from lowkey stalking his ex-wife, Kim Kardashian and sending Pete Davidson into trauma therapy to beefing with adidas. Now Yeezy is opening up about many other weird and interesting things on a podcast you may or may have not heard of. Recently the mad genius currently known as Ye sat down with Alyson Wilson and Danny Harris for an interview on the Alo Mind Full Podcast in which the controversial artist spoke on all sorts of topics that will leave the average person bewildered and the educated human scratching their head. Related Stories From continuing to wage war on his current business partners by stating “I honestly believe that ...
