MANILA, Philippines — Bryan Bagunas ended his first Taiwan stint becoming the first Filipino volleyball player to win an MVP award overseas. The Chinese Taipei Volleyball Association on Wednesday announced that Bagunas was crowned as Top Volleyball League’s MVP after leading Win Streak to its first championship. Bagunas scored 520 points in the regular season, […]
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MANILA, Philippines–Christian Standhardinger considers Barangay Ginebra’s comeback win that completed the sweep of San Miguel Beer in the PBA Governors’ Cup semifinals as a testament to the team’s refusal to quit. “That’s something special,” Standhardinger said after his go-ahead basket off a Justin Brownlee assist in the dying seconds sealed the 87-85 win and a […]
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A host of popular Bollywood songs have been removed from Spotify after a licensing dispute with a top label.
As The Independent report, fans have been sharing their anger after hundreds of songs from the Indian label Zee Music Company have been disappearing from playlists.
The label, which purports to be India’s second most popular, claims it is home to more than 50 per cent of new Bollywood music.
Now, hugely popular soundtracks to films including Bajirao Mastani, Ram-Leela and Gully Boy have all been removed from the service, while the song ‘Apna Bana Le’, from new film Bhediya, has also been removed despite being the most-streamed song in India on Spotify in recent weeks.
In a statement to Billboard, Spotify said: “Spotify and Zee Music have been unable to reach a licensing agreement.
“Throughout these negotiations, Spotify has tried to find creative ways to strike a deal with Zee Music and will continue our good faith negotiations in hopes of finding a mutually agreeable solution soon.”
Spotify (Picture: Randy Shropshire/Getty Images for Spotify)
Elsewhere, it was recently revealed that Spotify executives have only spent 10 per cent of their $100million (£81.75million) budget on a new fund to promote music and audio content by members of “historically marginalised groups”.
The Creator Equity Fund was launched last year in the wake of controversy surrounding Joe Rogan’s Spotify-exclusive podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, due to uses of the N-word and COVID-19 vaccine misinformation.
Just over a year on, however, Bloomberg has found that the initiative has got off to a slow start. Spotify was found to have taken months to hire staff and deal with “shifting priorities”, and Bloomberg also obtained a memo which said that at the beginning of the year, they were still finalising the fund’s budget and were still sorting out their priority projects.
Many outlets have pointed out that the Creator Equity Fund had the same budget as Rogan’s contract with Spotify (though others have estimated that his contract was worth twice as much).
Following the Rogan controversy last year, the likes of Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Graham Nash and Nils Lofgren all pulled their catalogues from the streaming platform as a means of protest.
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Tom Morello has discussed the ticket prices for Rage Against The Machine‘s recent reunion tour, saying that dynamic ticket pricing is an “awful idea”.
READ MORE: Tom Morello – “In the past, I’ve wanted to use music as a battering ram for social justice”
The band reunited last year for a number of US gigs, but ended up cancelling dozens of shows in the wake of frontman Zack de la Rocha injuring his leg onstage last July.
In a new interview with Rolling Stone, Morello asked the journalist if he could “check a couple of boxes surrounding the U.S. tour and some misunderstandings around them”.
Firstly, he hit out at “foolish” reports of vaccine mandates at Rage shows, saying: “No fans at any show in the history of Rage Against the Machine have ever had a vaccination requirement to be in the room.”
Then, he discussed criticism of the tour’s ticket prices, and how the band employed controversial dynamic pricing.
“I think by this point, I think everybody is familiar with the awful idea of dynamic ticket pricing,” Morello said. “There was that big uproar with Springsteen and this one and that one. Just to reiterate, every ticket for the show was $125 (£100) with the exception of about five to ten percent of tickets, which we did the dynamic ticket prices with, and gave away every cent.”
He explained: “Every penny over $125 went to charities in those cities. In New York City, we raised over a million dollars for activist organisation charities.
“There was a total of about six or seven million raised on that tour in what was basically a Robin Hood tactic. I wanted to say those things out loud since there was a lot of misinformation in the world about those two things.”
Rage Against The Machine’s Tom Morello. Credit: Astrida Valigorsky/Getty Images
Last week, tickets to The Cure’s North American tour went on sale but was soon mired in controversy after it was brought to light that Ticketmaster had added “unduly high” add-ons and fees to tickets against the band’s wishes.
Frontman Robert Smith revealed that he had spoken to the ticketing system to issue small refunds to fans who had purchased tickets. Before tickets went on sale, Smith said in a statement to fans that the band chose Ticketmaster as their ticketing partner as they hoped they would be able to provide fans with affordable tickets that weren’t “instantly and horribly distorted by resale” and the platform would be able to combat scalpers and try “to get tickets into the hands of fans at a fair price”.
Once tickets went on sale, Smith said he was “sickened” by high Ticketmaster fees after they vowed to keep prices affordable for fans. After the Verified Fan sale went live on March 15, some fans reported that Ticketmaster fees, including service fee, facility charge and order processing fee, exceeded the price of actual tickets.
Neil Young then offered his thoughts on touring and Ticketmaster, writing on his website: “It’s over. The old days are gone. I get letters blaming me for $3,000.00 tickets for a benefit I am doing. That money does not go to me or the benefit.”
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Pussy Riot member Nadya Tolokonnikova has reportedly been identified on a list of Russian authorities’ “most wanted” criminal suspects.
READ MORE: Who are Pussy Riot? A guide to the Russian activist group who crashed the World Cup Final
According to the Associated Press, Tolokonnikova – a founding member of the feminist punk group, which has long been controversial in their native Russia for their incitive protests against Vladimir Putin’s regime – was first spotted in the Russian Interior Ministry’s database of criminal targets on Wednesday (March 29). The revelation reportedly came via Russian news outlet Mediazona, which was co-founded by Tolokonnikova.
It’s said that Tolokonnikova’s listing in the database shows her wanted for “criminal charges”, however these are not disclosed in any significant detail. The artist was notably jailed for more than a year after a Pussy Riot demonstration in 2012, where after performing inside the Cathedral Of Christ The Saviour in Moscow, she was arrested for “hooliganism motivated by religious hatred”.
Tolokonnikova was also detained by Russian police in Sochi in 2014, with her and fellow Pussy Riot member Maria Alyokhina alleged to be involved in a hotel theft case; they were later released without any charges. Tolokonnikova has since left Russia, and in 2021, was added to a list of “foreign agents” identified by the Russian Ministry Of Justice.
As per the Associated Press, Tolokonnikova’s appearance on the Russian “most wanted” list could stem from a newly launched criminal case against her – as detailed by one of the country’s top human rights lawyers, Pavel Chikov – which accuses her of “offending religious believers’ feelings”. Such became a criminal offense in Russia following Pussy Riot’s controversial performance.
Pussy Riot’s most recent release is the standalone single ‘Putin’s Ashes’, which arrived back in January. It follows on from last December’s ‘Mama, Don’t Watch TV’ – with which the group called for Putin to be prosecuted for his war crimes against Ukraine – which itself arrived on the heels of their ‘Matriarchy Now’ mixtape.
Also in 2022, Pussy Riot member Masha Alyokhina’s made her escape from Russia following turbulence with authorities; in January of 2021, she was detained for two days after attending demonstrations that encouraged Russians to protest on social media.
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Skrillex (aka Sonny Moore) has announced a monumental one-off show at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado, where he’ll perform for a mind-boggling five hours.
READ MORE: Skrillex – the story so far in 10 key songs
Similar to his recent gig at Madison Square Garden in New York – where he DJ’d alongside recent collaborators Fred Again.. and Four Tet – Moore will hit the decks at 7pm, delivering tunes from then until midnight. The show is set to go down on Saturday April 29, with tickets available here at 10am this Friday (March 31).
Reviewing the New York show (which sold out in a matter of minutes), NME’s Erica Campbell wrote that Moore and co. “[wooed] the crowd into a frenzy with ingenious mixes like a high-octane version of Taylor Swift’s ‘Love Story’ and a fresh take on the formidable dancefloor banger, ‘Return Of The Mack’ by Mark Morrison”.
Moore’s current string of touring comes in support of his recent second and third albums, ‘Quest For Fire’ and ‘Don’t Get Too Close’, which arrived one day apart back in February. In a three-star review of the former album, NME’s Ben Jolley praised the album for delivering “a collection of genre-blending tracks that push things forward while succinctly showcasing [Moore’s] seemingly endless versatility”.
Earlier this month, Moore, Fred Again.. and Four Tet teamed up for another collaborative effort, the standalone single ‘Baby Again..’. The trio previously worked together (alongside Flowdan) on ‘Rumble’, one of the key singles released ahead of ‘Quest For Fire’.
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Owen Wilson has opened up about the time he made friends with The Rolling Stones, being gifted an all-access backstage pass that would remain valid indefinitely – only to have it taken off him after one show.
READ MORE: Why The Beatles and The Rolling Stones should’ve let history be
Wilson is a lifelong fan of the rock’n’roll greats, who performed the first-ever concert he attended in 1980. So in a new interview with James Corden and Jeff Goldblum on The Late Late Show, the Loki star explained that he was rather chuffed to be honoured with their attention.
“I went to see the Rolling Stones in Argentina,” he said (via Consequence), “and I was kinda friendly with some of the band, and my friend was really good friends with Mick Jagger. And we got these special laminates, kind of all-access, that were good for the rest of your life…”
After being gifted with the passes, Wilson recalled being eager to test just how “all-access” they truly were, thinking to himself, “I’m gonna walk over here and see if anybody stops me.” He noted that “no one would stop [him in] any place” he ventured off to, and eventually he “ended up right at this place where [he] could look over and see Mick Jagger on the stage, right there”.
Wilson continued: “Then all of a sudden, he bolts, during ‘Jumpin’ Jack Flash’, and comes running down, and it turns out where I was was part of the stage a little bit, so I just sort of froze and tried to be inconspicuous… And then someone came running over, [screaming], ‘Get out of here! Move! You’re not supposed to be here!’
“I go to bed that night still thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, that was kind of a gnarly experience.’ And then I get a call the next morning from Mick’s security team: ‘Do you have that laminate?’ ‘Yes, I still have it.’ ‘Okay, we’re gonna come over and pick it up…’ I get it – he has a show to do, he doesn’t need some bozo just cruising around, distracting him.”
The Rolling Stones are currently hard at work on their 24th studio album; last month, it was reported the band had recruited Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr to perform on it, with Andrew Watt producing.
In 2020, Jagger said the Stones had recorded “a bunch of tracks”, with the band in the process of “finishing off the vocals and some other instruments on them”. Then, last March, Keith Richards said he and Jagger had recorded “more [tracks] than [he] can count” during a week-long recording session in Jamaica. And in January of this year, Richards said in an Instagram post that the Stones finally have “some new music on its way”.
Meanwhile, Wilson’s next film role will be in the Bob Ross biopic Paint – set to hit cinemas on April 7 – in which he stars as the legendary artist. Later in the year, he’ll star as a priest named Kent in a new reboot of Disney’s Haunted Mansion franchise.
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Matthieu Blazy, the creative director of luxury fashion brand Bottega Veneta, has welcomed BTS member RM to the brand’s family.
READ MORE: Jimin – ‘FACE’ review: BTS singer captures the turbulence of modern life in shadowy debut solo album
Earlier today (March 30), Blazy took to his personal Instagram account with a new post featuring the K-pop idol carrying a black version of the brand’s Andiamo bag, seemingly as part of Bottega Veneta’s new Spring/Summer 2023 campaign.
The Italian fashion house’s creative director also tagged RM in the picture, and added the caption: “Welcome to the family”. Check out the full post below.
It is currently unclear whether this means RM will become an ambassador for the brand. A number of his fellow BTS bandmates like Jimin and J-hope currently represent brands such as Tiffany & Co. and Louis Vuitton, respectively.
This is not the first time RM has interacted with the luxury Italian fashion house. Earlier this month, speaking to Spanish publication El País, the K-pop idol spoke about how “Bottega [Veneta] is different” for him despite having “lost interest in brands”.
“they don’t use logos, they have a history with weaving and leather, they don’t even have Instagram. They are beyond the buzz,” he added.
The K-pop idol was also previously spotted front row at the brand’s Fall 2023 show at Milan Fashion week in February. According to Fashionista, the singer had also been gifted an Andiamo bag from the fashion house just days before the Milan show.
Meanwhile, BTS member Jungkook recently became the newest global ambassador for Calvin Klein. As part of his new appointment, the singer also released his first campaign for the brand, as part of its Spring 2023 collection.
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MANILA, Philippines—Coach Jojo Lastimosa hailed the bounce-back performance of import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson in TNT’s 99-80 victory on Wednesday to go up 2-1 over Meralco in their PBA Governors’ Cup semifinal series. Hollis-Jefferson recorded a PBA high 40 points with 13 rebounds after missing crucial free throws in regulation three days ago when the Tropang Giga […]
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Several rappers have found themselves on the wrong side of the law in recent years, including Young Thug and YFN Lucci. The two Georgia stars made millions from their music careers, but their beef stole just as much attention as their hits. Disses were thrown on social media and in lyrics, and the chaos has made it to court. Thug has been jailed for about a year over a RICO case where prosecutors claim he’s the head of a criminal organization, YSL. However, Thugger insisted YSL is a record label, not a gang, and supporters call for his release.
Meanwhile, YFN Lucci has faced a legal war all his own. In 2021, Lucci turned himself over to the authorities in connection with a murder case. Prosecutors alleged Lucci and several others were involved in a shooting. The incident resulted in the death of a man named James Adams. The rapper has denied any involvement and continues to fight for this freedom. Additionally, in March of 2021, Lucci was injured, and later, it was revealed he was stabbed in jail. Officials in Thug’s case stated the rapper was the person who ordered the attack. Authorities claimed Lucci was assaulted by members of YSL.
Lucci’s name has been repeatedly mentioned by prosecutors in Thug’s case. There was speculation that the former would testify against the latter. However, DJ Akademiks shared a reported court document that showed Lucci’s defiance. He allegedly refused to sign a subpoena to appear in court to testify against Young Thug and YSL. The validity is unclear, but a new post appeared on Lucci’s Instagram after the paperwork was circulated. It reads: “Even in a earthquake we wouldnt break n*gga know we solid #Free650.”
With all of the conversations about snitching permeating Hip Hop, this has sparked debates. Gunna was also arrested in connection with the YSL case, but in December, he copped to an Alford plea. He admitted that YSL was a gang in court as a part of the plea deal, but not everyone thought this was a good look. Still, Gunna was released and has been enjoying his freedom. When he does occasionally materialize on social media, he calls for the freedom of his friend, Young Thug. Check out YFN Lucci’s court documents above.
A record label is singing a different tune these days after being at odds with Megan Thee Stallion. The Houston Hottie signed to the label years ago under the guidance of former MLB star Carl Crawford. She partnered with them in 2018 and signed a distribution deal with 300 Entertainment later that year. The following year, Roc Nation became Megan’s management team, setting off a tense reaction from Crawford. Soon, the “Savage” hitmaker publicly feuded with 1501, and both sides claimed the other owed them money.
Some social media fallouts took fans by surprise. Crawford alleged Megan did drugs, but she seemed to return the favor, alluding to him abusing cocaine. The scathing jabs wouldn’t frequently surface, but when they did, it made for a viral moment. This all unraveled as lawsuits were fired off, but 1501 has been extending olive branches in recent weeks. Today (March 29), Crawford offered another by praising Megan Thee Stallion ahead of her Houston performance. The label even released a statement that caught the rapper’s fans by surprise.
The message noted that the “Queen of the Hotties” would be touching down in H-Town. “We want the entire Community of Texas to help 1501 Certified Entertainment welcome Queen of the Hotties, Megan Thee Stallion, back to the City of Houston.” Megan is in the city for the NCAA March Madness Music Festival. The message also revealed that Megan is working on a new album and world tour. It all seemed friendly, but it’s a far cry from Crawford’s online taunts, especially amid Megan’s allegations against Tory Lanez.
Last month, Crawford emerged with an apology of sorts for his spat with Megan. “Unfortunately, me and Megan haven’t talked since 2019,” he said. “We been going through what y’all seen online. That’s unfortunate, too, because I never wanted to go have a situation where I was going back and forth with her on the internet.” He further added, “I never had problems with Megan Thee Stallion, but this social media stuff turned it really sour. You take this social media stuff out of it, and we won’t have a problem. You won’t hear me mention Megan Thee Stallion’s name unless it’s a big-time interview.” No word from Megan about this just yet. Check out Crawford’s statement above.
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