Another day, another e-mail from Universal Music Group Distribution CEO Jim Urie. Last time he urged people to write to Congress to support Music Rights Now, an organization that wants Congress to step in on music pirating. All well and good, except that their thinking is fairly backwards, and the organization’s wish to get Congress … [Read more…]
Billboard is reporting that Gang Starr’s Guru has died: Rapper Guru has died aged 43 after a long battle with cancer, according to statements published online. The New York MC – whose real name was Keith Elam – suffered cardiac arrest on March 2 and had been in a coma. Guru’s passing is a major blow … [Read more…]
It’s hard to sum up an entire year of pop music in one concise “best of” list. Instead, here’s a tidy little look at some of the highs and lows in pop music over the past year: Hip-Huh?: The New Yorker‘s Sasha Frere-Jones declared that hip-hop was dead and upset a lot of hip-hop heads. … [Read more…]
Singer-songwriter Vic Chesnutt has been reported dead after slipping into a coma on Thursday. Chunklet‘s Henry Owings took to Twitter two hours ago with the following message: RIP Vic Chesnutt… The A.V. Club’s Josh Modell posted the information an hour later, but was skeptical in declaring Chesnutt dead due to the source of the news. … [Read more…]
I never thought I would read the following statement: Eminem is also the top male artist of the decade. The female honor goes to Beyoncé, while the top duo/group is Nickelback. Congrats Billboard, you’ve done it again. This time, you’ve really proven how obsolete the Billboard charts are as a way of “scientifically” measuring the tastes of … [Read more…]
It’s the halfway point of Hannukah, and it’s unexpected presence on the calendar has marked a sudden disconnect I’ve had with the Jewish community. For most of my life, I’ve been surrounded by aspects of Judaism and Jewish culture, be it growing up attending temple, my various stays in Israel or attending a university with … [Read more…]
Billboard just released its list of the top one-hit wonders of the decade. I enjoy one-hit wonders just as much as the next person: It’s always great when you can experience a song that piques the interest of a broad range of people for a short period of time. Where would I have been in … [Read more…]
Usually, newspaper corrections tend to fly under the radar. They appear in the paper days after the initial article with the mistake in question was published. By that time, most readers have most likely forgotten about the mistake and/or article and have moved on. That’s not the case with Akeya Dickson’s Washington Post article on … [Read more…]
The library just got a little cooler. Lou Reed, Maureen “Moe” Tucker and Doug Yule, all former members of the iconic proto-punk band The Velvet Underground, will come together for a little event at the New York Public Library on December 8. No need to bring your earplugs, eager NY music fans. This is a … [Read more…]
Ok, here’s the breakdown: Today, Billboard had a little write up on Jawbox, which featured an interesting quote from bassist Kim Coletta on a potential Jawbox reunion: “I’d love to,” Coletta tells Billboard. “It would be the coolest thing in the world.” What’s this? Do explain! Coletta says the Jawbox’s “Jimmy Fallon” performance will be … [Read more…]