Suki Benjamin

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Bob Dylan’s legal team reportedly seeking “monetary sanctions” following dropped sexual abuse lawsuit

Content warning: This story contains descriptions of alleged sexual abuse. Bob Dylan‘s legal team are reportedly calling for “monetary sanctions” against the lawyers behind a dropped sexual abuse lawsuit levelled at the singer. The lawsuit, which was filed in August last year, accused Dylan of assault, battery, false imprisonment and infliction of emotional distress. The plaintiff alleged that Dylan had “befriended and established an emotional connection” with her over a six-week period in 1965, when she was 12-years-old and Dylan was in his mid-20s. She claimed he had plied her with drugs and alcohol, before sexually abusing her in his room in Manhattan’s Chelsea Hotel. Dylan denied the claim at the time, with a representative saying the claim was “untrue” and would be “vigorously defended”. The lawsuit was dropped last month, after Dylan’s lawyers accused the plaintiff of destroying evidence by failing to provide emails and text messages about case by the court-ordered deadline. In a statement provided to NME at the time, Dylan’s lead attorney, Orin Snyder of Gibson Dunn, described the suit as “a lawyer-driven sham”. As reported by Billboard and Pitchfork, Dylan’s team have since moved to demand “real consequences” for the plaintiff’s lawyers, Daniel W. Isaacs and… Read More →

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The Libertines say they’re going to play two “last minute” shows soon

The Libertines have said that they’re going to play two “last minute” shows soon. READ MORE: Gary Powell on The Libertines’ new album: “We’re not going to reinvent the wheel, but we can push the boat out a little more” The band tweeted the news this evening (August 11) but didn’t give details as yet of where the gigs will take place. “[Two] last minute UK shows to be announced very soon,” the Tweet began, before adding: “where we heading?” 2️⃣ last minute UK shows to be announced very soon, where we heading? pic.twitter.com/M5BOxG7zIY — Libertines (@libertines) August 11, 2022 Advertisement Speaking recently to NME about the band’s upcoming new album, Gary Powell said he was focussed firmly on the band’s future now, rather than their 20th anniversary celebrations for ‘Up The Bracket’. He said: “My mind is more in line with the opportunity to record a new album than anything regarding 20 years ago. We’ve been playing the majority of the album [‘Up the Bracket’] for 20 years now, so this year for me, is a great opportunity to draw a line under this part of the saga and move on to the next phase.” Discussing the progress of… Read More →

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Snoop Dogg says he is working on new music with Dr. Dre

Snoop Dogg has confirmed he is working on new music with Dr. Dre for the first time in 30 years. READ MORE: Pop powerhouse Benny Blanco: “Do I consider myself a ‘hitmaker’? I think I’m a loser!” The pair reunited for the Super Bowl Halftime Show, alongside Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, Mary J. Blige and 50 Cent earlier this year. Now, the rapper confirmed on the red carpet at the LA premiere of his new movie, Day Shift, that the pair were working together again last night (August 10). Advertisement “We’re cooking up a little something,” he told ET Online. “I don’t wanna talk about it too much, but we’re back together again. It’s been 30 years since we worked on a record, and we’re doin’ something, we’re workin’ on something.” Snoop featured on Dre’s debut solo single, ‘Deep Cover’ and 1992 LP ‘The Chronic’. The pair also teamed up on Dre’s 1999 album ‘2001’. It comes after Dre recently said that he spent the last two years working on at least a dozen albums’ worth of material. Snoop meanwhile also spoke about his recent collaboration with Benny Blanco and BTS – ‘Bad Decisions’. “Hey, I just try to stay active,” Snoop said… Read More →

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Investment into artists by UK record labels has doubled in last five years

Investment into artists by UK record labels has doubled in the last five years, new figures show. READ MORE: Check out the full list of Record Store Day 2022 releases According to data by the BPI, UK record labels invested almost £500million in artists’ career development in 2021, more than double the amount spent in 2016. The labels’ investment last year included a record £358.1million spent on A&R and another £136.7million on marketing and promotion, and together represents 39.2 per cent of total UK label revenue. Advertisement The A&R spend, which includes artist advances, creating new recordings, video costs and tour support, was 106.6 per cent more in 2021 than the amount invested in 2016, which amounted to £173.3million. Over the same five-year period to 2021, UK labels’ total revenue income increased by 42.9 per cent, driven largely by a 51.3 percent surge in streaming revenue. Ellie Rowsell performs live with Wolf Alice, 2022 CREDIT: Getty According to the data, the latest investment has been instrumental in developing the international careers of British artists such as Sam Fender, Wolf Alice, Arlo Parks, Dua Lipa, George Ezra, Glass Animals, Griff, Lewis Capaldi, Mabel, PinkPantheress and Rag N’ Bone Man. Recent BPI research… Read More →

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Dinosaur Jr.’s J Mascis launches new jigsaw subscription service ‘Puzzle Heads’

Dinosaur Jr. frontman J Mascis has launched a new jigsaw subscription service that features iconic album artwork. The ‘Puzzle Heads’ club is due to begin later this year with a 1,000-piece jigsaw depicting the cover of David Bowie‘s classic fifth record, ‘The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars’ (1972). READ MORE: Freakscene: The Story of Dinosaur Jr. review: behind the music with US indie’s biggest introverts Other upcoming puzzles in 2022 include ones based on Joy Division‘s ‘Unknown Pleasures’, Sharon Van Etten and Angel Olsen‘s ‘Like I Used To’, Dinosaur Jr.’s ‘Dinosaur’ and Wilco’s ‘Star Wars’. Advertisement Per the service’s official website, Mascis enlisted designer Aaron Draplin to bring the idea to life. “Much like the vinyl clubs we all love, Puzzle Heads will leave a puzzle with amazing iconography curated by the team on your door step every other month,” it reads. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Puzzle Heads? (@puzzleheadsclub) Co-founder Brian Schwartz said in a statement: “All of us at ‘Puzzle Heads’ love puzzles and we love music. We happen to have day jobs in music and so we have the network to license some of the most iconic… Read More →

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Pavement to be honoured with album-themed pierogi at Ohio restaurant

Pavement are to be honoured with some album-themed pierogi at an Ohio restaurant next week. READ MORE: Does Rock ‘N’ Roll Kill Braincells?! – Stephen Malkmus The event will take place in Parma, Ohio. According to Pitchfork, it will see “local businesses Schnitz Ale Brewery, Rudy’s Strudel, and the Current Year Records and Tapes joining forces for the ticketed event, which will feature ‘special varieties of Pavement pierogi,’ paired beer flights to match, and a vinyl DJ set by the band’s own Bob Nastanovich.” In a statement about the event, Nastanovich said: “I’ve been thrilled and amazed by a group of Pavement enthusiasts striving to get our band to play at a local football stadium for some time. Led by Lidia at Rudy’s and the Stutzes, the effort has been heartening. I figured the least I could do is come visit, spin a variety of weird tunes, and try to raise some dinero for a good cause. I love the Cleveland area and it’s been too long.” Advertisement The event will see a pierogi for each Pavement album. Tickets to the Parma for Pavement event are available to buy on MeowSold. All proceeds from the event will go to All Faiths Pantry, a local… Read More →

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Street in Missy Elliott’s hometown to be renamed in rapper’s honour

A street in Missy Elliott’s hometown is being renamed in her honour. Portsmouth, Virginia, has decided to rename a portion of a street ‘Missy Elliott Boulevard’ after a unanimous vote by the City Council on Tuesday evening (August 9). Missy Elliott herself responded to the news when it was shared by a reporter.”I am forever grateful,” Elliott tweeted, which you can see below: I am forever GRATEFUL?? P-TOWN?? VA #757 LOVE? — Missy Elliott (@MissyElliott) August 10, 2022 Advertisement Elliott recently gave advice to artists working on their second album, encouraging them to take risks and not allow themselves to be pigeonholed. “Sophomore albums are a very PIVOTAL time for [artists],” the rap icon tweeted yesterday (July 7). “Your sophomore album be stressful but it’s the BEST ALBUM to EXPERIMENT on! Don’t be AFRAID! Becuz If u play safe you will be BOXED in & its hard to get out because your fans get used to that 1 sound.” She continued: “Listen CLOSELY! Go with the songs you feel you should drop not what everyone else suggest! You the Artist must FEEL it YASELF because YOU are the one that have have to SELL it & CONVINCE ppl it’s HOT. Go… Read More →

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Courtney Barnett announces new compilation release to aid reproductive rights groups

Courtney Barnett has announced details of a new ‘Here And There’ festival compilation, which will aid reproductive rights groups. The Australian singer-songwriter’s Here And There touring festival kicked off in Kansas City, MO on Monday (August 8) and will visit 13 further stops before it wraps up Denver, CO on September 3. Each night features a unique line-up, featuring the likes of Japanese Breakfast, Wet Leg, Lucy Dacus and more. READ MORE: ‘Anonymous Club’ review: Courtney Barnett doc takes fans inside her on-tour struggles Some of the artists set to appear at Here And There have contributed to the new compilation, which will be released on a very rare and limited edition run of 600 cassette tapes. All funds raised will be donated to the National Network of Abortion Funds and Advocates For Youth. Advertisement The tracklist consists of b-sides, demos and live tracks from the likes of Sleater-Kinney, Julia Jacklin and more, and is previewed by a demo version of Barnett’s own ‘If I Don’t Hear From You Tonight’. Listen to it below now and pre-order the record here. Here And There: B-Sides, Live Tracks + Demos by Milk! Records Projects The full tracklist for ‘Here And There: B-Sides, Live… Read More →

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LE SSERAFIM’s Huh Yun-jin shares new self-produced song, ‘Raise y_our glass’

LE SSERAFIM member Huh Yun-jin has released a new self-produced solo track, ‘Raise y_our glass’. READ MORE: LE SSERAFIM on being HYBE’s first girl group: “Diamonds are made under incredible pressure” The sentimental visual accompanying the release sees Yun-jin recording the track in the studio, along with other clips of her writing the track and embarking on photoshoots and promotional activities with her LE SSERAFIM groupmates. “In this ugly world where the colour is fading / You’re beautiful in every colour and shade / I don’t know if you drink, / But raise a glass to the past in the story of us,” Yun-jin croons in the chorus. ‘Raise y_our glass’ is available to stream on Soundcloud. Advertisement This isn’t the first time Yun-jin has been credited as a producer on a song. On LE SSERAFIM’s debut mini-album ‘Fearless’, she is credited as a co-producer for B-side ‘Blue Flame’, alongside leader Kim Chae-won. Hours after the release of her solo track, Yun-jin also launched her personal Instagram account. She’s the fourth LE SSERAFIM member to launch a personal account on the social media platform, following Kazuha last June. Sakura and Chae-won, meanwhile, had Instagram accounts before joining LE SSERAFIM. View… Read More →

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Ex-BBC radio host found guilty of stalking Jeremy Vine and three other broadcasters

A former local BBC radio host has been found guilty of stalking four people including radio and TV broadcaster Jeremy Vine. Ex-BBC Radio Leeds host Alex Belfield was found guilty at Nottingham Crown Court last week of four stalking charges [via BBC News]. Vine, who presents a weekday lunchtime programme on BBC Radio 2 and a weekday morning current affairs show on Channel 5, called Belfield “the Jimmy Savile of trolling” while giving evidence against him. Advertisement The broadcaster was referring to the disgraced, late BBC presenter who was found posthumously to have abused hundreds of victims of abuse over his career. Vine claimed that Belfield had waged a war of abuse against him via social media and via Belfield’s YouTube channel, ‘The Voice Of Reason’. Belfield has been suspended from the platform on more than one occasion. Jeremy Vine. CREDIT: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Vine added: “I have in the past had a physical stalker who followed me. That is a picnic compared to this guy. It’s like an avalanche of hatred that you get hit by.” BBC Radio Northampton presenter Bernie Keith told the court he was left feeling suicidal by what he called Belfield’s “tsunami of hate”. Belfield’s contract… Read More →

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Fans think they’ve figured out the name of Megan Thee Stallion’s new album

Megan Thee Stallion has posted a cryptic image to Instagram, with fans believing it to be a not-so-subtle hint about the title of her new album. READ MORE: Megan Thee Stallion at Glastonbury 2022 – potential future headliner material At the end of last week (August 5) Stallion took to Instagram to share the definition of Traumazine, which is “the chemical released in the brain when it is forced to deal with painful emotions caused by traumatic events and experiences”. There was no caption alongside the post although fans believe “Traumazine” is set to be the title of Stallion’s second album. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Megan Thee Stallion (@theestallion) Advertisement Earlier today (August 8) Stallion teased the record’s release, writing “it’s nearly that time” on her Instagram stories before explaining how “my album jerking me between feeling mean (as fuck) and sexy (as fuck)”. She added that she’s “really got some of the baddest women on my album”. .@theestallion hints at a few female collaborations on her new album via IG Story. pic.twitter.com/pmMvIxGvu3 — Tina Snow Updates #TRAUMAZINE (@theestallionhq) August 8, 2022 Last month, Stallion confirmed her second album, the follow-up to 2020’s ‘Good News’,… Read More →

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Jewel’s tour bus caught on fire this week: “How about this bullshit?”

Jewel revealed that her tour bus caught on fire earlier this week, however nobody was harmed as the blaze occurred during one of her off days. The ‘Foolish Games’ singer updated fans on the incident in a video shared to her TikTok account, where she explained that her bus caught fire while it was parked at a hotel, and it was quickly attended to by the fire department. “We had a full bus fire,” she said in the TikTok. “Nobody was hurt, it happened on an off day, in the parking lot of a hotel. The fire department came, everybody is safe, we saved the vintage guitar and guitar amp… All’s well that ends well, but how about this bullshit?” Advertisement Have a look at the video – which features photos of the aftermath of the fire – below: @jewel No one was hurt ? #greenscreenvideo #fire #electricalfire #firefighters ♬ original sound – jewel It’s not clear what caused the fire, or where the incident happened, however the two shows on Jewel’s most recent North American tour went down in Morrison, Colorado last night (August 6) and in Manchester, New Hampshire on Wednesday (August 3). Jewel is currently touring in… Read More →

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See footage from the Young Money reunion show with Drake, Nicki Minaj and Lil Wayne

Drake, Nicki Minaj and Lil Wayne performed their Young Money reunion show in Toronto last night (August 6), performing a litany of their respective hits for approximately 16,000 fans. READ MORE: Drake – ‘Honestly, Nevermind’ review: rapper’s house makeover provides long-overdue career boost Announced less than a month ago, the show rounded out a trilogy of shows Drake hosted for his ‘October World Weekend’, a concert series that the rapper said precedes the worldwide expansion of his music festival, OVO Fest. It was initially scheduled to go down on Monday (August 1), but was pushed back five days after Drake tested positive for COVID-19. The show itself started later than scheduled. When it did begin, a message on the screens flaking the stage read: “Unfortunately, Lil Wayne had some troubles at the border. Luckily, Drake runs the border.” Advertisement At one point in the show, Drake gave a heartfelt shoutout to both of his colleagues: “I’m standing onstage with the greatest rapper of all time,” he said, pointing to Lil Wayne. “And I’m standing onstage with the other greatest rapper of all time, she’s over there with the pink hair. By the way, like, are these bitches serious? Like, nobody… Read More →

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Hear members of Sex Pistols, Blondie and Melvins cover Small Faces’ ‘Song Of A Baker’

Member of the Sex Pistols, Blondie and Melvins have covered the Small Faces’ ‘Song Of A Baker’ – listen below. The rendition is by Cabbage ‘N Mash, a project featuring Melvins‘ Dale Crover and director Bob Hannam, who have together enlisted Blondie drummer Clem Burke, Sex Pistols bassist Glen Matlock and Melvins producer/engineer Toshi Kasai (on keyboards). As Consequence reports, Crover, who primarily plays drums with Melvins, is on guitar duties for the cover. Hannam, who directed the documentary The Colossus of Destiny – A Melvins Tale, takes lead vocals. Advertisement The collaboration surfaced from Crover and Hannam’s love for the Small Faces, the ’60s British rock outfit later headed by Rod Stewart under the Faces reincarnation. ‘Song Of A Baker’ featured on the Small Faces’ third album, ‘Ogdens’ Nut Gone Flake’, which was released in 1968. Crover said: “Bob and I, being big Small Faces fans, thought it would be fun to pay tribute to the band. Somehow we managed to get Clem Burke from Blondie and Glen Matlock from the Sex Pistols to join us, as well as Toshi Kasai. I’ve always loved this track and really happy we got to record with these guys.” Hannam added: “After… Read More →

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The Mars Volta announce first album in 10 years and share new single ‘Vigil’

The Mars Volta have shared details of their first album in a decade alongside the release of a new single called ‘Vigil’. The self-titled album, ‘The Mars Volta’, is released on September 16 via Cloud Hill and marks the band’s first record since 2012’s ‘Noctourniquet’. It follows the release of ‘Graveyard Love‘ last month and June’s comeback single ‘Blacklight Shine‘, both tracks of which feature on the new album. Advertisement The reunited Mars Volta will head out on a US tour later this year in support of their self-titled seventh record. See the full list of dates here (and buy tickets). ‘The Mars Volta’ tracklist: 01. ‘Blacklight Shine’ 02. ‘Graveyard Love’ 03. ‘Shore Story’ 04. ‘Blank Condolences’ 05. ‘Vigil’ 06. ‘Qué Dios Te Maldiga Mí Corazón’ 07. ‘Cerulea’ 08. ‘Flash Burns From Flashbacks’ 09. ‘Palm Full Of Crux’ 10. ‘No Case Gain’ 11. ‘Tourmaline’ 12. ‘Equus 3’ 13. ‘Collapsible Shoulders’ 14. ‘The Requisition’ The Texas-formed band released six albums between 2003 and 2012 before splitting due to a falling out between founding members Cedric Bixler-Zavala and Omar Rodríguez-López. However, the pair made amends and formed a new group, Antemasque. They also revamped their pre-Mars Volta outfit, At The Drive-In, for a… Read More →

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Girls’ Generation’s future beyond new comeback album ‘Forever 1’ undecided, says leader Taeyeon

Girls’ Generation have returned on their 15th anniversary with highly anticipated comeback album ‘Forever 1’. Today, the veteran K-pop group’s leader Taeyeon revealed that the group’s future beyond the record is still up in the air. READ MORE: GOT The Beat on working together for the first time: “We had great chemistry from the start” The ‘Forever 1′ album, which got its digital release today (August 5) at 6pm KST, marks the first time in five years all eight members of the group have come together to release new music together. It also signifies the end of Girls’ Generation’s extended hiatus, which first began when members Tiffany, Seohyun and Sooyoung departed SM Entertainment in 2017. “I love all of you, my everything / We are forever, we are one / Give in your passionate heart for this excitement / Just like a love bomb, We are one,” they belt in the chorus of the record’s title track of the same name. The full record, inclusive of nine brand-new tracks apart from its lead single, is now out digitally, with a physical release slated for August 8. Advertisement During a press conference held earlier today (August 5) in support of the veteran… Read More →

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Rick Ross says he wasn’t allowed into Buckingham Palace

Rick Ross has expressed his upset after being denied entry into Buckingham Palace after a visit to London. On his Instagram story, Ross explained how he tried to get into the royal residence, but was denied entry. In a tongue-in-cheek post, the rapper joked that not even his illustrious CV was enough to gain access to the palace. He wrote: “Alright so y’all saw me go to Buckingham Palace. I pulled the homie to the side and told him you know, who I was, the Biggest Bawse. And for one of the first times in a long time that didn’t get me in. It didn’t get me through the gates.” Advertisement Ross joked that he forgave the person who denied him entry after he directed him to a local luxurious restaurant. “I didn’t get to sit at the table,” the rapper went on. “But what he did do was refer me to a spot and they said they’d be waiting on me and I can pick the lobster I wanted to eat so I forgave him.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Biggest Boss Rick Ross (@richforever) Earlier this year, Freddie Gibbs enlisted Ross for a new collaborative single,… Read More →

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Fatboy Slim recalls Woodstock ’99 horror: “I did what I was told and ran”

This story contains discussion and descriptions of sexual assault Fatboy Slim has recalled the “terrifying” moment a van drove into the audience during his set at Woodstock 1999. The DJ and producer looked back on the incident during an interview for the three-part Netflix documentary series Trainwreck: Woodstock ’99, which was released yesterday (August 3). READ MORE: Woodstock 50 looks doomed – like every other iteration of the festival. Is Woodstock cursed?! “Woodstock 1969 promised peace and music, but its ’99 revival delivered days of rage, riots and real harm. Why did it go so horribly wrong?” an official listing reads. As Mixmag notes, the 30th anniversary edition of the event, which had an estimated attendance of 400,000, failed to provide basic facilities such as water, food, toilets or on-site security. Fatboy Slim (aka Norman Cook) was booked to headline the ‘rave hangar’ on the Saturday night but was unaware of the out-of-control crowd that was heading towards the venue. “I’d been closeted in my dressing room all afternoon with people just going, ‘Oh it’s a bit chaotic out there’,” Cook remembered. “But no one had told me there’d been any damage – that there’d been any violence.” The docuseries includes footage… Read More →

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Listen to Suede’s powerful new single, ’15 Again’

Suede have today (August 3) shared a powerful new single called ’15 Again’ – listen to it below. READ MORE: It’s time we recognised the genius of Suede The single is taken from their upcoming studio album, ‘Autofiction‘, and it’s described as “a song about falling in love with life for the first time” by Brett Anderson. The song follows on from the previously released ‘She Still Leads Me On’, which was the first taster of Suede’s ninth studio album. It’s due for release on September 16 via BMG and can be pre-ordered here. Advertisement Check out the new song here. Suede – CREDIT: Dean Chalkley Suede, made up of Anderson, Mat Osman, Simon Gilbert, Richard Oakes and Neil Codling, went “back to basics” for this new record according to a press statement. They hired “a rehearsal studio in deserted Kings Cross to collect a key, hump their own gear, set up and start playing,” before recording at London’s Konk studios. Speaking about ‘Autofiction’, frontman Brett Anderson said: “‘Autofiction’ is our punk record. No whistles and bells. Just the five of us in a room with all the glitches and fuck-ups revealed; the band themselves exposed in all their primal mess… ‘Autofiction‘ has a natural… Read More →

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Peloton sued for unlicensed use of Cypress Hill and House Of Pain songs

Exercise equipment brand Peloton is being sued for the alleged unlicensed use of songs by Cypress Hill and House Of Pain. READ MORE: Cypress Hill – ‘Elephants On Acid’ review A lawsuit has been filed against the company by Soul Assassins Inc. which is owned by Cypress Hill member DJ Muggs, according to Billboard. It is alleged that Peloton used portions of Cypress Hill’s classic 1993 track ‘Insane In The Brain’ and ‘(Rap) Superstar’ (2000) during their workout regimes without obtaining a proper license. Advertisement The suit also names House Of Pain’s ‘Jump Around’ (1992) as another song that Peloton used without permission. DJ Muggs produced that track and has a songwriting stake in it. Peloton was previously sued for copyright infringement in March 2019 by a coalition of music publishers that accused the company of playing songs by the likes of Rihanna, Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga and Katy Perry without obtaining proper licenses. That lawsuit was settled in 2020. “Peloton’s use of [the songs] in its work-out videos without a license from Soul Assassins is an outrageous, willful infringement because Peloton was sued by a group of music publishers in March of 20019 for doing the exact same thing,” the… Read More →

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Sara Quin of Tegan and Sara welcomes her first child

Sara Quin of Tegan and Sara has welcomed her first child with her partner. READ MORE: Tegan and Sara: “How have we lasted 25 years? Strategy” Taking to the duo’s official Instagram yesterday (August 2), the Canadian musician shared a photo she’d taken in the mirror of herself cradling her new baby. “My #crybaby,” she captioned the post, referencing Tegan and Sara’s recently-announced 10th album. Advertisement Check out the image below. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tegan and Sara (@teganandsara) Tegan and Sara are due to release ‘Crybaby’ – the follow-up to 2019’s ‘Hey, I’m Just Like You’ – on October 21 via Mom+Pop Music. The band have already previewed the project with the songs ‘Yellow’ and ‘Fucking Up What Matters’. A full tracklist is yet to be revealed. Produced by John Congleton (St. Vincent, Sharon Van Etten, Angel Olsen) along with Sara Quin and Tegan Quin, the forthcoming LP was recorded at Studio Litho in Seattle and Sargent Recorders in LA. “This was the first time where, while we were still drafting our demos, we were thinking about how the songs were going to work together,” Tegan explained previously of how ‘Crybaby’ came about. She continued:… Read More →