The Current Music News

Neve Campbell talks about playing Zach Sobiech's mom in 'Clouds' Oct 16, 2020

In 'Clouds,' the Zach Sobiech biopic debuting today on Disney+, Neve Campbell plays Laura Sobiech - the mother of the young Minnesota man who wrote and recorded the inspiring title song before dying of cancer at age 18.

Why can't musicians get politicians to stop playing their songs? Oct 01, 2020

Artists including Neil Young, the Rolling Stones, and R.E.M. have asked the President to stop playing their music at campaign rallies - and this isn't the first election cycle where musicians have clashed with politicians over the unauthorized use of their songs. Why can't musicians get politicians to stop using their music? Jay and Jade explain.

SXSW 2021 goes virtual, but holds out hope for IRL option Sep 23, 2020

The festival has now announced that its spring 2021 event will be at least partially virtual. At the same time, SXSW hasn't entirely given up hope that a live-in-person option could be part of the mix. 'SXSW is working with the City of Austin and public health authorities on plans for a physical event in 2021.'

Lana Del Rey, Jeff Tweedy, Mariah Carey, David Byrne plan big music books for fall 2020 Sep 16, 2020

all is always a big publishing season, and this fall is going to see a slew of new books for music fans - including a poetry book by Lana Del Rey, a songwriting guide from Jeff Tweedy, a Mariah Carey memoir, and a book inspired by David Byrne's sensational Broadway show.

New Music Roundup Sep 11, 2020

Discover a bunch of new songs. From Janelle Monae to SZA, Gorillaz, New Order and the newest Sylvan Esso track, there are some heavy hitters this week.

Radio K's Julian Green on how college radio is showing up in 2020 Sep 04, 2020

What's it like running a college radio station in fall 2020, as students return to campus amidst the ongoing coronavirus pandemic? Jay Gabler talked with Julian Green, program director of Radio K at the University of Minnesota.

The 2020 MTV VMAs and the best videos to come out of quarantine Aug 31, 2020

Jade and Jay talk about the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards and highlight a few of the best videos to come out of quarantine.

Music world works to guard mental and physical health in COVID era Aug 27, 2020

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to grip the planet, the music world is working to protect the mental and physical health of artists and fans. A 'test' concert in Germany sought to pave the way towards a return to live music.

In pandemic tech boom, who's making money on music? Aug 25, 2020

While many workers struggle amidst the economic slowdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, America's tech giants are booming. How much of that money is coming from music?

Why did it take 18 years to file charges in the murder of Run-DMC's Jam Master Jay? Aug 20, 2020

News broke this week that criminal charges have been filed in the 2002 killing of Run-DMC's Jam Master Jay. Why has this crime taken two decades to crack?

How is the pandemic permanently changing the music world? Aug 18, 2020

The coronavirus pandemic has changed the music world - in some ways that will change back, and in some ways that won't.

Author and pop historian Maria Sherman on boy bands Aug 13, 2020

Jay Gabler interviews Maria Sherman, author of 'Larger Than Life: A History of Boy Bands from NKOTB to BTS.' Subjects of discussion include boy bands vs. girl groups; K-pop; Brockhampton and the future of the boy band; underrated boy bands (remember Magneto?); and the ultimate boy band song of all time.

From Smash Mouth at Sturgis to illegal raves in Europe, music draws thousands outdoors Aug 12, 2020

As the world continues to grapple with the coronavirus pandemic, huge crowds are gathering for outdoor concerts. Are they safe?

How TikTok became a hit machine Aug 06, 2020

President Trump has threatened to ban TikTok, the China-owned video app that now has an enormous role in driving music discovery. Whether you're a TikTok addict or have absolutely no idea what it is, Jade and Jay break down the reasons why TikTok turmoil has the attention of everyone in the music world right now.

Spotify CEO says the album cycle is over Aug 04, 2020

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Spotify is doing well. The company's most recent quarterly earnings statement says that the number of listeners -- including the numbers of paying listeners -- is on the rise. In an interview with Music Ally, CEO Daniel Ek sounded frustrated with artists who complain that they're not getting much of that streaming revenue. Jay and Jade talk about Ek's pronouncement that 'you can't record music once every three to four years and think that's going to be enough.' Is this the end of the album as we know it?

Is every artist an indie artist now? Jul 30, 2020

Taylor Swift isn't an 'independent artist' in the conventional sense, but her new album 'folklore' was assembled remotely with indie artists like Aaron Dessner and Justin Vernon. From Nur-D to Charli XCX, everyone's going DIY these days. Will this become the new normal?

Save Our Stages Act introduced to help independent venues Jul 28, 2020

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) have introduced a Save Our Stages Act. If passed, it would establish a $10 billion grant program and provide other measures to help live music venues survive the COVID-19 shutdown.

Musicians lost to COVID-19 Jul 23, 2020

As the coronavirus crisis continues, we look at some of the sadly many musicians - from world-famous to quietly impactful - we've lost to COVID-19.

Muzak goes bankrupt Jul 14, 2020

Mood Media, the owner of the Muzak brand, is filing for bankruptcy. Is this the end of an era for elevator music? Jay and Jade gather on Instagram Live to discuss.

Michael Stipe and Aaron Dessner talk about 'No Time for Love Like Now' Jul 10, 2020

Aaron Dessner of The National and Michael Stipe, formerly of R.E.M., connected with Jade to talk about 'No Time For Love Like Now,' a collaboration between Stipe and Big Red Machine.

Artists doing whatever it takes to sustain themselves as pandemic pressures grow Jul 08, 2020

The shock has faded, and the long scary slog has set in. How can artists sustain themselves over the course of a pandemic that could last well into next year? Today, we look at ways people in the music world are struggling to keep their heads above water.

Country music faces racial reckoning Jun 30, 2020

Changing their name to the Chicks, the band formerly known as the Dixie Chicks have declared that they want to 'meet this moment.' Is this the moment when country music finally faces a reckoning that will unseat the genre's longstanding racial exclusion?

How musicians are fighting white supremacy Jun 23, 2020

As the music world confronts institutional racism and white supremacy, individual artists are wondering what steps they can take to establish a new, more equitable norm. Jeff Tweedy and Fiona Apple are sharing revenue, Patterson Hood is acknowledging 'the bad name I gave my band,' and the Beths are wondering about the responsibilities of white artists releasing new music.

Drive-in shows by Garth Brooks and others a bright spot amid dark outlook for live music Jun 18, 2020

As music venues continue to fight for their survival during the coronavirus pandemic, artists are getting creative. We talk to the company behind Garth Brooks's upcoming drive-in streaming show, look at what went wrong during the U.K. 'quarantine raves,' and consider the risk Live Nation is now asking artists to assume.

Interview with Nabil Ayers Jun 17, 2020

Nabil Ayers is the U.S. General Manager for the record label 4AD. He's also a musician and a writer, and recently in the New York Times, Ayers published an interview with Ed Eckstine, who was the first Black person to be appointed head of a major label in the U.S. In this episode, Jay Gabler asks Ayers about that New York Times article and about the conversations happening in the music industry around Blackout Tuesday.

From the Grammys to 'Lady A,' music industry changes its language Jun 16, 2020

In the wake of Blackout Tuesday, will real change come to the music world? The Grammys are changing their use of the word 'urban' and the band formerly known as Lady Antebellum are now 'Lady A,' while BMG is looking at its historic contracts to root out inequities.

Epidemiologists uneasy about concert safety for another full year Jun 11, 2020

Most epidemiologists say that at this point, they won't feel comfortable attending a concert for more than a year from now. Even as the United States starts to reopen from coronavirus lockdown, the financial crisis for the concert industry is deepening, with a potentially devastating round of permanent venue closures looming.

Artists respond to George Floyd's killing with new and renewed songs of protest Jun 09, 2020

As protests of a scale not seen in decades spread around the world in the wake of George Floyd's killing, musicians released both new songs and songs of continuing relevance.

Will 'Blackout Tuesday' lead to meaningful industry change? Jun 04, 2020

'Blackout Tuesday' was a very visible music industry statement that spread across social media, but artists and fans are wondering whether the industry can go beyond a statement to truly change structures that have historically disempowered black artists.

Minnesota music community shows up, helps out, calls for change Jun 02, 2020

After a week of protest and pain in the Twin Cities after the death of George Floyd, Jay and Jade look at the Minnesota music scene and its calls for institutional change. Also, Andre Cymone reflects on his experiences with racism in Minneapolis when he was growing up with Prince.

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