Hailey Whitters sings about a chance encounter and living a full life in “Janice at the Hotel Bar,” a standout from the Nashville singer-songwriter’s 2020 album The Dream. The story of their enlightening interaction comes to life in a new video released on Wednesday. Directed by Erica Silverman in partnership …
Read More »Why Jeff Tweedy Is Calling for Reparations in the Music Industry
In the six weeks since nationwide Black Lives Matter protests rose up after Minneapolis police killed George Floyd, musicians have been reckoning with their own complicit role in the longstanding structural racism of the music industry. Those efforts have ranged from the largely symbolic (removing the word “urban” from radio …
Read More »Usher Drops Self-Directed Video for BLM-Inspired Song 'I Cry'
Usher released a self-directed video for “I Cry,” a song he released last month inspired by the Black Lives Matter protests. The clip features Usher singing over stark piano as photographs by the late Gordon Parks flash across the screen. “I usually don’t show my emotions,” he sings. “But it …
Read More »Radio Is Quietly Scrubbing the Word 'Urban,' Sources Say
Weeks after music’s Blackout Tuesday, which sparked a plethora of heated, industry-wide conversations about systemic racism, companies and executives are still debating the use of the word “urban” in job titles, awards categories, and other facets of the music business. While not all organizations are in agreement about what to …
Read More »Advertisers Are Fleeing Facebook Over Its Failure to Moderate Hate Speech
Facebook is finally paying a price for its inability — if not its outright refusal — to effectively moderate hate speech and misinformation on its platform. In recent weeks, over 400 companies have pulled advertising from the social media giant. Coca-Cola, Adidas/Reebok, and Hershey’s are among the major brands to …
Read More »Hear Disclosure, Aminé, Slowthai Team Up on 'My High'
Disclosure have released “My High,” a high-octane collaboration with British rapper Slowthai and Oregon MC Aminé that comes with an equally balls-to-the-wall music video. It’s the latest track shared from the U.K. dance duo’s upcoming album Energy, out August 28th via Capitol Records. Directed by French filmmaker Simon Cahn, the …
Read More »MTV Video Music Awards to Take Place in Brooklyn With Governor Cuomo's OK
The 2020 MTV Video Music Awards will take place at the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn on August 30th, according to an announcement from New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. Cuomo confirmed the show at a press conference Monday as New York State, and specifically New York City, continued its COVID-19 re-opening …
Read More »Watch Halsey and Marshmello's Colorful 'Be Kind' Video
Halsey and Marshmello have shared the colorful new video for their collaborative single “Be Kind,” which the pair initially released May 1st. The visual — shot during the COVID-19 isolation, as evidenced by its extensive use of green screen and artificial backgrounds — features Halsey dancing along to “Be Kind” …
Read More »Jon Stewart Talks COVID-19 Deniers, Hope for America's Political Future on 'The Daily Show'
Jon Stewart returned to The Daily Show to discuss COVID-19 deniers, his new movie Irresistible and what makes him hopeful for America’s political future in an interview with Trevor Noah Thursday. The interview started with Stewart touching on two topics of the day: the debate over tearing down Confederate statues …
Read More »Tina Knowles-Lawson Urges Congress to Protect Voters During COVID-19
Beyoncé’s mother, Tina Knowles-Lawson, penned an open letter to Senate leaders urging them to pass a COVID-19 relief bill that includes significant funding for the upcoming November elections. Knowles-Lawson wrote the letter in partnership with the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights’ campaign, And I Still Vote. It’s addressed …
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