Day in Pop Report for 09/05/2014
CBS New York reported that the New York State health department were investigating her cardiac arrest a week ago, which happened after Rivers went in for an outpatient procedure. From there she was put into a medically induced coma and did not awake. "My son and I would like to thank the doctors, nurses, and staff of Mount Sinai Hospital for the amazing care they provided for my mother," Melissa Rivers said in a statement. "Cooper and I have found ourselves humbled by the outpouring of love, support, and prayers we have received from around the world. They have been heard and appreciated." Rivers was known for her confrontational and sometimes raunchy comedy. She was the host of Fashion Police on E! Rivers started her career as a writer and was named the first permanent guest host of the Tonight Show by Johnny Carson, when she took over his show from 1983-86. The two had a falling out when after that she signed on to host her own talk show opposite him on Fox. She made her first return to the show this March, after Jimmy Fallon became the host. Read more details here.
This was not overly appreciated, and the rappers went after the snatcher into the crowd faster than you can say "Versace." In footage obtained by TMZ, not much is overtly clear about the situation other than someone yelling "Migos fighting out here!" while security drags people around, punctuated with obligatory cries of "Worldstar!" TMZ reports that though police were called, security was able to contain the matter and no arrests were made. There's no official word on whether or not the chain was retrieved. Watch video here.
"Today, with all the scared-ness in my soul, all the love in my heart for music, an alternative for digital music sale is online right now, it started about an hour ago," Brooks told a packed room during the press conference. "Over 7 million singles or albums are available at this point, we're just starting out," he continued. He outlined a couple of key points that differentiate the site from other digital music services. "First, the music is however the artist or the label that owns that artists' work wants it sold. Second, it doesn't go on the 70-30 split that digital music is on right now, it's on a much more flexible scale." Additionally, he said, "You can play it on any device you want the second you get it. So no more territorial stuff." Right now, he admits, the site is "kind of Garth heavy." But he said that what he's trying to do with Ghost Tunes is "to show the rest of the industry that you can do this for any artist." "It's a beautiful format that's young, flexible, small," he said, beaming as he spoke, like a proud father. "I want it to stay that way. I want to stay small, because I don't want corporate wagging the tail of the dog." Brooks also addressed, indirectly, the fact that he wasn't satisfied with the way digital music has been handled up to this point. "In my 14 years on the sideline I didn't find an e-commerce site that to me was selling [digital music] the way they should," Brooks said during the press conference. "I wanted a place that just sold entertainment, that took care of the customer, and the price was flexible so the customer could get a break. And you could sell any way the artist wanted it sold." "I begged and pleaded all the other e-commerce places, we're going to leave the names out," he continued. "That's why we're not with anybody." Read more details here.
Wednesday night, she took to Twitter to address this, and she did so with class and poise. She confirmed that one of the leaked photos was definitely of her, but that one photo is mistakenly labeled as being of her. "I def took the 1st pic w/ a robe; weight loss chronicle but the 2nd, sorry freaks, is not me. I wish I had that space between my thighs," she tweeted. Thursday morning (Sept. 4), she made a few other points about the issue. Her first tweet on the matter had an understandably angry tone, tweeting, "I did nothing wrong & nothing that was YOUR snake concern. My photo was hacked; my PRIVACY INVADED." She had a lot more to say here.
Earlier this week, CBS (Radio.com's parent company) and the NFL Network announced that Jay Z's 2009 song "Run This Town" featuring Rihanna and Kanye West is the new theme music of Thursday Night Football. The new open will no longer ask, "Are you ready for some football?!" but "Who will run this town?!" Along with Rihanna's voice - Jay Z and 'Ye unfortunately didn't make the cut - the theme will also feature narration from House of Lies star Don Cheadle, who will help set-up each Thursday night rivalry. Read more details here.
But he's not the only one to make the latest edition of the book, which comes out next week. One Direction earned the honor of being the "First act to debut at No. 1 with first three albums" thanks to their three chart-topping records, Midnight Memories, Up All Night and Take Me Home. Miley Cyrus is the most "Most searched-for Pop Star on the Internet," thanks in part to her nude "Wrecking Ball" video, VMA twerking scandal and her penchant for inflatable hot dog riding. Katy Perry holds the record for "the most Twitter followers" with 56. 4 million followers, while Shakira is the "Most 'Liked' Person on Facebook" with 103, 246, 480 likes. She managed to best last year's record holder Rihanna by over 13 million likes. See who else made the book here.
As a solo artist he released five very successful albums: Amor Amarillo (1993), Bocanada (1999), Siempre es Hoy (2002 ), Ah� vamos (2006) and Fuerza Natural. In May 2010 Cerati suffered a stroke a after a show in Venezuela. He remained in a coma under respiratory aid until his death on September 4, 2014. He was 55 years old. here.
The newest name adding their face to the MTV Mount Rushmore of celebrity non-scripted programming is none other than Ja Rule. The rapper/actor has just announced an "unscripted program" launching on MTV that features Queen Latifah attached as an executive producer. The title is Follow the Rules. Get it? According to TV Guide, "the half-hour 'comedic docu-series' will center on Ja Rule and his family, including wife Aisha and their two sons, Jeffrey Jr. and Jordan, as well as both his and Aisha's mothers." Read more details here.
Generally an artist of few words, Aphex Twin (AKA Richard D. James) has been particularly chatty ahead of Syro's Sept. 23 release, opening up on the process and motivation behind the new album. "I'm feeling really horny about it. And very smug," James told Rolling Stone about Syro. "I have wanted to do it; it's just getting around to doing it. It's a real ball-ache. It's not what I'm interested in. I just like making the stuff. To be honest, I thought, 'Who's even interested anymore?' When (record label) Warp was really interested, I was like, 'Really? Is this a joke or something?' I kind of expected them to say, 'No, nobody actually buys any records anymore, mate. Sorry.'" Fans' thirst for new Aphex Twin music was made readily apparent earlier this year when more than $67,000 was raised on Kickstarter for access to his unreleased album from the '90s, Caustic Window. A test pressing of the same album sold on ebay for more than $46,000. Check out the new track here.
Just in 2014, the rapper has dropped multiple mixtapes, a collaborative album, and a full-length studio release - and still has another reported handful of releases on the way. That doesn't even include Brick Factory Vol. 2, the 27-track project that Gucci is streaming today. Brick Factory Vol. 2 follows up his Gucci vs. GuWop mixtape, which came out last month. It's divided into two parts: "The Day Shift" and "The Night Shift." And it features guest appearances from some of Gucci's equally prolific peers, including Waka Flocka Flame, Young Thug, Young Scooter, Ca$h Out and more. You can stream the ambitious project here.
Nissan hit Deadmau5 up on Twitter Wednesday (Sept. 3) with a couple of photoshopped photos showing what the GT-R would look like covered in rainbows and Nyan Cat, to which the producer responded, "that's great!" He's even given the customized version of the car a nickname: the "OMFGtr." Deadmau5 also lauded Nissan for the launch of the popular new sports car, saying that it's the "most whip for the buck for sure." The 2015 edition starts at $101,770 MSRP. He also engaged some fans on Twitter about the car's 0 to 60 acceleration in 2.4 seconds, calling it "insanely fast." Read more details here.
The UK trio have curiously decided to make two nearly identical videos for "Every Other Freckle," with the key difference between the "boy" and "girl" version being, predictably, that the "boy" take features a male lead and the "girl" clip features a female. Otherwise, the two spots seem to be mostly the same, with even the shots of the man and woman very similar, but with a different person being filmed. Both videos show some pretty need images: plants sprouting, a cat being all furry and cute, a warrior dude running with a rock, seagulls flying, (thankfully) more cat. Watch them here.
"It has been a crazy whirlwind year and I feel so fortunate that country music fans and country radio has embraced me in such a huge way," Swindell said in a press release. "It's what an artist dreams about. I've been lucky enough to get a jump start performing alongside Luke Bryan in front of massive crowds, and while I wouldn't change anything for the experience I've gained so far, I know I still have a lot of work to do on the road." After touring with Luke Bryan, Swindell promises to have a new experience with his fans at the shows. "This headlining tour, me and my band are going to work our butts off to give you the best show we can give you." Check out the dates here.
The 2014 honorees are set to receive tributes, as well as give performances of their own. They're selected for contributions to American culture through the performing arts. "The Kennedy Center celebrates five extraordinary individuals who have spent their lives elevating the cultural vibrancy of our nation and the world," Kennedy Center Chairman David M. Rubenstein noted in a press release. Read more details here.
And now, courtesy of BBC Radio 1, Smith has released another dashing cover. This time he takes on Tracy Chapman's 1988 sad core single "Fast Car." Smith has generated some love back for himself in the form of covers in 2014. His breakthrough single "Stay With Me" has been covered by Ed Sheeran, Chris Brown and, perhaps most importantly, Vin Diesel. Check out the track here.
Pops of dusty blue play on the weathered walls of the space as Krause sets a balloon-festooned table for another party that weekend. Noble cracks her gum behind the counter, looking like a teen Lolita, while Priory is handing out skates. Eventually, a solo skate-dance party ensues and a make-out fantasy scene. At the end, it says "In Loving Memory of the Skate Depot in Cerritos, CA." Watch it all unfold above. "The song 'Weekend' came from the notion that everyone feels oppressed by an authority figure at some point in life. It could be a controlling parental figure, a boss at work or something bigger and beyond our control," explained Priory about the video in their press release. "The video was directed by our friend, David Vincent Wolf AKA White Ghandi, and we had a great time hanging with Nick Krause and Bailey Noble. There was definitely some chemistry on set, just saying." Watch it here.
The Capo is a goon living the high life, gruff as ever: "Nothin' but political / None of my n***as is hospitable / We don't give a f**k about no ridicule / Point blank, we'll put your a** in critical." As if this song wasn't already bringing back mid-2000s NYC in a big way, Jadakiss features. "Last Night" is the first single off Jim Jones' We Own The Night Pt. II - Memoirs Of A Hustler, which will also feature Yo Gotti, K. Camp and Cam'ron. Listen to the track here.
West has in his possession 24 golden men, which he must find suitable storage for in his house. Presumably the novelty wore off long ago, if the information Kim Kardashian divulged during an interview with BBC is any indication. "Kanye's not big on putting his GRAMMYs up and stuff like that, they're literally in the laundry room, like just randomly," she said. "Or a sock drawer and all around." more here.
Nico & Vinz's debut U.S. single, "Am I Wrong," was not only the most Shazam-ed song in the world throughout much of the summer, but was streamed over 100 million times on Spotify and has gotten nearly 65 million views on YouTube - more than 80 million if you count the song's lyric video. The duo just wrapped up a U.S. arena tour opening for Bruno Mars, and are prepping to play Brooklyn's Barclays Center on September 9 for Fashion Rocks, a Fashion Week concert airing live on CBS (Radio.com's parent company) at 8 pm EST. There the guys will share the stage with Jennifer Lopez, Usher, Miranda Lambert, Jennifer Hudson and others. Luckily, spending the summer with Mars prepared the guys for large gigs opening for big artists. "Warming up is a funny thing, you go on stage and people might not even know who you are," Vinz tells Radio.com. "You've got to give it all you got. Hopefully, you'll gain a couple of new fans. I think we did a great job of that." Being an opener can be tough on the ego, but Nico said that on Mars' tour "at least 50% of the place would be filled when we started. During the course of our show, more people would come and sometimes at the end, we'd get a standing ovation." The duo sound surprisingly low-key when they talk about sharing the stage with Mars and don't seem to be too nervous about sharing a stage with J. Lo or Duran Duran at Fashion Rocks. They chalk that up to being out-of-towners. "It's funny, people are like, 'You're so calm about all of these things.' But that's because we never know how big something is before we get there, because we didn't grow up in America with all of these things," Vinz says. "But we know who those artists are. We think we have the ability to perform on the same stage as these people. We just want to give it everything we've got. We just want to show the world who Nico & Vinz are." The only thing most Americans know about Nico & Vinz is that they're the duo behind the song "Am I Wrong," and some may not even know that they are the ones who sing that song. "That's why we need to just go out to wherever we can to perform for people, so they can associate a name with the song," Vinz says. "The song is huge, but not everyone knows Nico & Vinz. That's what we're working on now." Therein lies the challenge, says Nico, the must show people that they are more than just one song. It's something they hope to do with their full length U.S. debut, Black Star Elephant,, out October 14. "We hope people will see us for our body of work," he says. Read the rest of the interview here.
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