NEWS
Ultra Music Festival Likely Stressful to Toadfish, According to New Study
Following the conclusion of a new study, the phrase “drop the bass” has taken on new meaning. According to a study published in the journal Environmental Pollution by the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, researchers found that Ultra Music Festival is likely stressful to toadfish. The 2019 iteration of Ultra on the barrier island of Virginia Key, Florida attracted over 170,000 people to Miami Marine Stadium and Virginia Key Beach Park, which is home to many toadfish. The interdisciplinary team spearheading the study claims that on the first day of Ultra in March 2019, the island’s local toadfish experienced a significant stress response as a result of the elevated noise. “The stress response was similar to what t...
Failure Share Newly-Recorded Cover of Depeche Mode’s ‘Enjoy the Silence’
Failure has shared a newly-recorded cover of Depeche Mode’s “Enjoy the Silence.” “We originally recorded a cover of ‘Enjoy The Silence’ for the 1998 Depeche Mode tribute, For The Masses,” Failure’s Ken Andrews said in a statement. “That album has all but disappeared, no longer in print and not available via streaming platforms but we as a band are proud of our take on that song and had wanted to re-record it for some time. With the blessing of both Martin Gore and Depeche Mode, we re-addressed our version and came up with this new version for 2020.” The band was supposed to perform residencies in Chicago, New York and Los Angeles this year but, you know, coronavirus. The alt-rock outfit also announced that they’ll be releasing a box set titled 1992-1996 that will be comprised of vinyl...
Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour Releases First Solo Song in Five Years
Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour is back with his first new song in five years. The song, “Yes, I Have Ghosts,” was released in conjunction with his wife’s (Holly Samson) audiobook for her recently released novel. The song wasn’t available on its own until today. The song features Gilmour’s daughter Romany. “Polly’s vivid and poetic writing, coupled with her very natural narration voice, made joining forces to produce the audio version of A Theatre for Dreamers a fantastic and fulfilling experience,” Gilmour said in a statement. “The audiobook format has so much untapped potential, and I am surprised more musicians have not creatively collaborated with authors, narrators and audiobook producers in this way before. The two worlds seem to seamlessly link, and music can reall...
Animal Collective Change 2003 EP Art and 2006 Album Title Due to ‘Racist Stereotypes’
Animal Collective are changing the name of their 2003 EP, Here Comes the Indian to Ark, and are changing the artwork to their 2006 People EP due to racial stereotypes. The band out a lengthy statement explaining the reasons (besides the obvious) for the changes and apologized for using them in the first place. “With utmost respect to Indigenous people we feel that having the word Indian in our record title sends the wrong message by objectifying the American Indian people which is not what we were intending with the music,” the group said of the 2003 EP. A portion of royalties from that album will go to Seeding Sovereignty. They’re donating a portion of royalties from 2006’s People to Equal Justice Initiative as well. Lastly, with regards to their 20...
2021 Dodge Durango First Look: Not New, but Improved
Model-year 2020 marks the end of the line for the Dodge Journey crossover SUV and the Dodge Grand Caravan minivan, which means the aging Dodge Durango must serve the role as the brand’s sole people mover come next year. Fortunately, a thorough update for 2021 ought to help the SUV attract Journey and Grand Caravan buyers in search of a Dodge-badged three-row family hauler. The most noteworthy exterior changes are made to the Durango’s front end, which features a new front fascia that mimics the look of the Dodge Charger sedan’s. Slimmer headlights and new grille designs (Dodge offers three grille options throughout the line) give the SUV a more modern look. A more driver-centric dashboard breathes fresh life into the Durango’s cabin. A newly available 10.1...
BMW’s Rad VR Presentation Previews Potentially Uncool Subscription Model for Car Options
The craziest moment during BMW’s virtual-reality Connected Car press event was briefly sensing that zoned-out, mental blue-screen feeling that’s the hallmark of jet lag. We’re familiar, thanks to those many annual European press trips we (usually) attend to log miles in the newest cars on the Continent’s best roads. Too many old triggers were piling up—I notice that Munich looks overcast again outside the stopped 5 Series‘s windshield in which I’m twisted to my left in the passenger seat, glancing back and forth between the car’s info screen and the monotone-voiced BMW rep behind the wheel who’s virtually explaining everything to me. There’s been no nine-hour time change, or endless, hissing 37,000-ft flight, or waking up at 2:45 a.m. t...
After Dismal Year-End Results, LiveXLive Wants to Pivot Conversation to Pay-Per-View and Podcasts
Would you pay $150 for a ticket to see a virtual Monsta X concert if it included a 20-second digital meet and greet with the band? Plenty of the Monbebes (the nickname for the K-pop group’s fans) would gladly pay, according to a press release from LiveXLive, one of five announcements the company has sent out since it dismal annual earnings report came out last week. Besides announcing LiveXLive had sold out of the VIP passes, LiveXLive is hoping to convince investors it is on sound financial footing as it goes into the second quarter. With live events on hold for the rest of the year, the company is hoping pay-per-view concerts and podcasts will help the streaming company reign in growing losses, a high-interest loan that’s restricted a large chunk of its ca...
John Legend Praises ‘Verzuz’ Battles: ‘It’s Just Been Great for the Culture’
John Legend joined Ebro Darden on Apple Music on Thursday (July 2) to chat about his new album, Bigger Love, his musical legacy, the power of protesting and just how good all those recent Verzuz battles have been. “Well, we love it because one, we can never watch the whole thing because kids and things are always going on, so I just drop in when I can,” Legend, who took part in his own Verzuz showdown with Alicia Keys for Juneteenth, admitted. “But the energy has been so good around all of them.” “And what I love about them is they’ve really been teaching people about the history of our culture and the music,” Legend said, “knowing particularly because so many producers and writers have been a part of it, not just front artists, lead art...
Apple Music Launches Africa Rising Artist Showcase with Debut Cover Star Omah Lay
The new program, designed to elevate the careers of African artists, will also include a companion playlist. Over the last couple of years, Africa has become an increasingly important force on the global music scene, leading labels, publishers and streaming services to extend their reach on the long-neglected continent. In late April, Apple Music announced an expansion of its platform in two dozen African countries, and now the streaming service has unveiled a new initiative to identify and showcase rising talent on the continent. Named Africa Rising, the artist program and companion playlist will feature an African artist chosen by Apple Music’s editorial team every two months, using the full weight of the platform to elevate their careers in Africa and around the world. The first artist ...
‘Hamilton’ Parody Makes Light of the Debate Over Wearing Face Masks: Watch
The ongoing mask debate across the United States has gotten the Hamilton treatment just in time for the musical’s Disney+ premiere this weekend. A YouTube parody brings the coronavirus pandemic pro-mask and anti-mask sides head to head, with lyrics themed the soundtrack of Hamilton. The clip, uploaded by the Holderness Family, gets straight to the topic as it opens with a call-and-response to the tune of “Aaron Burr, Sir”: “Pardon me, do you have germs, sir?” “No, I don’t — and that’s my business, not yours, sir. I have my rights and have my freedom.” “To be sure, sir…” “But this corona is a sham.” “I’m getting nervous, sir.” The humorous song goes on to address everything from the v...
50 Cent Is Asking Fans To Vote For The Best Pop Smoke Album Cover on His IG Page
Source: Virgil Abloh / Instagram After Virgil Abloh unveiled arguably the strugglest Hip-Hop album cover off all-time (mixtape covers have been held to higher standards), 50 Cent was one of millions who voiced their displeasure with the final product and called for a do over. Though both Virgil and Pop Smoke’s label owner Steven Victor have confirmed that they’d be going back to the drawing board, 50’s decided to dedicate his Instagram page to possible Pop Smoke covers and is calling on fans to choose their favorite. Serving as executive producer for Pop Smoke’s posthumous album, Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon, 50’s posted a up a gang of covers and asking his followers to rate each fan-made artwork on a scale from 1 to 10. We’re not gonna front, there’s a lot of dope pieces floating...
No Laughing Matter: D.L. Hughley Says He Unknowingly Spread The Coronavirus To His Team
Source: Michael S. Schwartz / Getty It turns out there were more consequences to D.L. Hughley testing positive for COVID-19. The actor/comedian had fans worried when he suddenly passed out during a standup show at a Tennessee comedy club. He provided us with an update that he fainted due to exhaustion and dehydration but also learned that he tested positive for COVID-19. Hughley didn’t experience any symptoms and is considered an asymptomatic carrier of COVID-19. Hughley revealed in an exclusive interview with TMZ, that he has a pretty good idea where he caught the coronavirus and that he unknowingly spread the virus to his radio show team and son. He jokingly referred to himself as a “regular Typhoid Mary.” Per TMZ: “Hughley says he was in Dallas for a few days — where COV...
