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Pete Davidson and Director Jason Orley Reunite for “I Slept with Joey Ramone”

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Pete Davidson and Director Jason Orley Reunite for “I Slept with Joey Ramone”

Netflix and STXfilms have partnered to develop and produce I Slept with Joey Ramone, a biopic chronicling the life of the king of punk.

Director is Jason Orley (Big Time Adolescence, Pete Davidson: Alive from New York and upcoming film I Want You Back), working with a treatment by Pete Davidson and Jason Orley based on the Mickey Leigh memoir of the same name.

“When you share a bed with someone – and not just a bed, but a childhood, a family, and a lifetime – you know that person better than anybody else. Mickey Leigh not only collaborated with his big brother’s band – he has irreplaceable memories of and insights into Joey Ramone, having supported him when no one else would and witnessed him overcome adversity in the most dramatic way. I Slept with Joey Ramone is a great rock anthem that will make an equally great rock biopic, set apart by a universal story of family. Pete is perfect for this role and we’re excited he and Jason will be bringing this icon of rock to life and thrilled to be collaborating once again with our friends at Netflix,” says Adam Fogelson, Chairman STXfilms Motion Picture Group.

The film will be made with the cooperation and support of the Estate of Joey Ramone and with the assistance of Rosegarten Films.

Orley and Davidson previously teamed up on the feature film Big Time Adolescence, which Orley wrote and directed. Orley also directed Davidson’s standup special Alive from New York for Netflix.

I Slept With Joey Ramone continues Netflix’s relationship with STX who produced the Netflix series Rise of Empire: Ottoman, which is produced in collaboration with Karga 7. The companies have previously partnered on other films such as Work It starring Sabrina Carpenter.

Apple Original Films announces “Black & Blues: The Colorful Ballad of Louis Armstrong”

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Apple Original Films announces “Black & Blues: The Colorful Ballad of Louis Armstrong”

Apple Original Films announces definitive Louis Armstrong documentary “Black & Blues: The Colorful Ballad of Louis Armstrong”

Imagine-produced documentary feature tells Armstrong’s story entirely through the revolutionary musician’s own words.

Apple Original Films announced today that it has green lit the anticipated Louis Armstrong documentary feature “Black & Blues: The Colorful Ballad of Louis Armstrong” from Brian Grazer and Ron Howard’s Imagine Documentaries to join its Academy Award-nominated feature film slate.

The documentary, which is produced under Apple’s first-look agreement with Imagine Documentaries, will be directed by Emmy-nominated Sacha Jenkins (“Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men”), and produced by Jenkins, Julie Anderson, Sara Bernstein and Justin Wilkes. Brian Grazer and Ron Howard serve as executive producers. The project is being produced in association with Universal Music Group’s Polygram Entertainment with Michele Anthony and David Blackman serving as executive producers.

The film offers a definitive look at the master musician’s life and legacy as a founding father of jazz, the first pop star and a cultural ambassador of the United States. He was loved by millions worldwide but often mischaracterized for not doing enough to support the civil rights movement. In reality, his fight for social justice was fueled by his celebrity and his willingness to break his silence on issues of segregation and patriotism. With the full support of the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation, the filmmakers have access to a treasure trove of never-before-seen archival materials, including hundreds of hours of audio recordings, film footage, photographs, personal diaries and a life’s worth of ephemera for exclusive use in the first significant documentary dedicated entirely to his life.

“Black & Blues: The Colorful Ballad of Louis Armstrong” follows the global success of the critically acclaimed Apple/Imagine documentary “Dads” for Apple Original Films from director Bryce Dallas Howard, the Emmy-winning “Peanuts in Space: Secrets of Apollo 10” directed by Morgan Neville, as well as the upcoming docuseries “The Supermodels.” Apple will soon premiere the “Peanuts 70th Anniversary, Who Are You Charlie Brown?” documentary from Imagine Documentaries and WildBrain.

The Weeknd Is 2021 Songwriter of the Year at ASCAP Pop Music Awards

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The Weeknd Is 2021 Songwriter of the Year at ASCAP Pop Music Awards

Honoring pop music’s hottest songwriters, producers and publishers, The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) today announces the winners of the 2021 ASCAP Pop Music Awards, which will be celebrated on ASCAP social media through April 15. After a record-setting year following the release of his double platinum album After Hours, pop superstar Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye is named ASCAP Songwriter of the Year for the first time in his career.

Known for his signature alternative R&B sound, velvety voice and pitch-perfect falsetto, The Weeknd undeniably dominated the charts in 2020. Taking home the ASCAP Songwriter of the Year honor and two most-performed song awards for smash hits “Blinding Lights” and “Heartless,” The Weeknd is now a 13-time ASCAP Awards winner. As the critical and commercial success of After Hours continues, “Blinding Lights” closes in on diamond-certified status, while becoming the first song in history to spend an entire year in the Billboard Hot 100’s top 10.

ASCAP Pop Music Awards Song of the Year goes to Post Malone’s megahit “Circles,” honoring ASCAP hitmakers Louis Bell, Kaan Güneşberk and Billy Walsh alongside publishers Nyan King Music, Sony Music Publishing and Universal Music Publishing Group. The third single off the chart-topping album Hollywood’s Bleeding, “Circles” spent 39 weeks in the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and marks the artist’s first #1 hit as a solo billing.

Warner Chappell Music receives Publisher of the Year. The prestigious award recognizes the prominent publisher for their contribution to the pop music soundtrack of 2020 with top tracks “10,000 Hours,” “Blinding Lights,” “Lose You to Love Me,” “ROCKSTAR” and more.

Global Citizen Announces “VAX LIVE: The Concert To Reunite The World” Hosted By Selena Gomez

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Global Citizen Announces “VAX LIVE: The Concert To Reunite The World” Hosted By Selena Gomez

International advocacy organization Global Citizen today announced VAX LIVE: The Concert to Reunite the World, a global broadcast and streaming special that aims to inspire vaccine confidence worldwide and help get the COVID-19 vaccines to everyone, everywhere. During the special, Global Citizen, will call on philanthropists and corporations to donate enough “dollars-for-doses” to vaccinate more than 27 million heroic health workers, that are serving on the global frontlines, in the world’s poorest countries everyday. The special will also encourage global development advocates and changemakers to call on world leaders to prioritize the equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines for everyone, everywhere.

VAX LIVE: The Concert to Reunite the World will be pre-taped at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Airing and live streaming on Saturday, May 8, 2021 on ABC, ABC News Live, CBS, YouTube, iHeartMedia broadcast radio stations and the iHeartRadio App, VAX LIVE will start at 8:00 PM ET/7:00 PM CT. The concert will also air on FOX at 11:00 PM ET/PT. With support from the World Health Organization (WHO), European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Prime Minister of Italy and G20 Chair Mario Draghi, and President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, Prime Minister of Norway Erna Solberg, Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sanchez, and the State of California, the special, hosted by multi-platinum recording artist, actress and producer Selena Gomez, will include a night of musical performances by Jennifer Lopez, Eddie Vedder, Foo Fighters, J Balvin and H.E.R.

As the exclusive global streaming partner, YouTube will stream an extended version of VAX LIVE: The Concert to Reunite the World on the Global Citizen channel for a full run-time of 90 minutes, which will include additional performances and appearances by NCT 127 and YouTube creators Daniel El Travieso, Kati Morton, ShootforLove, Thembe Mahlaba and The Try Guys.

“As a global community, we are in a race against time and the key to coming back together is the vaccine. We need to build vaccine confidence in the U.S. and globally, and encourage people to take the vaccine as quickly as possible,” said HUGH EVANS, Global Citizen Co-Founder & CEO. “There is a light at the end of this tunnel, but getting vaccines to everyone, everywhere regardless of who they are or where they are from, is key to ensuring the end of this pandemic around the world. We must all unite to get back on track to eradicating extreme poverty.”

As part of VAX LIVE, Global Citizen is campaigning to support the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator initiative – including COVAX – a vaccine-sharing program co-led by the World Health Organization (WHO), to ensure that low-income countries can access COVID-19 vaccines. VAX LIVE: The Concert to Reunite the World aims to inspire Global Citizens to call on governments, asking them to pledge $22.1 billion, the outstanding balance needed by the ACT-Accelerator to get two billion COVID-19 vaccine doses, tests and treatments to the world’s poorest countries by the end of 2021.

VAX LIVE: The Concert to Reunite the World is part of Global Citizen’s overall 2021 Recovery Plan for the World, a year-long campaign and series of events that aims to help end COVID-19 for all, end the hunger crisis, resume learning everywhere, protect the planet, and advance equity for all.

To achieve global vaccine access and confidence, VAX LIVE: The Concert to Reunite the World aims to: 

  • Increase donations of vaccine doses to low income nations, build vaccine confidence and promote vaccine uptake, helping to ensure access for everyone, everywhere;
  • Call on philanthropists and corporations to donate enough “dollars-for-doses” to help vaccinate the more than 27 million heroic health workers, that are on the front lines, in the poorest countries that need access to vaccines most;
  • Call on governments, corporations and philanthropists to invest an additional $22.1 billion to get two billion vaccine doses and other medical tools to the poorest countries;
  • Disseminate financial commitments to regional responders supporting health, education, hunger, equity and climate efforts;
  • Encourage pharmaceutical companies to commit to selling COVID-19 vaccines at a production price – earning profits at the expense of human lives will impede progress; and
  • Build vaccine confidence by educating and empowering audiences to get answers to their top questions about the COVID-19 vaccines.

Global Citizen today is also launching VAX BECAUSE, to drive candid conversations about the COVID-19 pandemic, provide people with ranging perspectives about vaccine confidence, and arm people with facts about personal health and immunization options. With the aim of ensuring that individuals, families and communities can make the right decisions for themselves, the campaign will live on a multi-media HUB, where visitors can both ask questions they have about the vaccine, and find fact-based information about the coronavirus epidemic. Global Citizens are encouraged to ask questions and find answers at http://VaxBecause.org.

CBC Music’s Annual Searchlight Initiative Returns April 19

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CBC Music’s Annual Searchlight Initiative Returns April 19

CBC today announced an expanded version of its annual musical talent search, CBC MUSIC’S TOYOTA SEARCHLIGHT 2021, featuring additional prizing for the Top Five acts and a larger grand prize to help kickstart the finalists’ music career, courtesy of Toyota Canada, the National Music Centre, Play MPE global music promotion and Allan Slaight JUNO Master Class. Launching Monday, April 19, the Top Five and grand prize winners, as selected by a combination of public votes and an industry panel, will be announced on CBC Radio One’s Q with Tom Power on Tuesday, June 22. Canadian artists are encouraged to submit an original song across any genre to CBC MUSIC’S TOYOTA SEARCHLIGHT 2021 contest at CBCMusic.ca/searchlight between April 19 – May 3, 2021.

The winner of CBC MUSIC’S TOYOTA SEARCHLIGHT 2021 will earn a grand prize package tailored to take an artists’ career to the next level. This year again includes a five-day residency at Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre, with access to recording studios, professionals, and a historic instrument collection that spans more than 450 years of technology and innovation. New to this year, the grand prize winner will receive a curated full-service, global music promotion distribution campaign for one release (single or album) from Play MPE. Additionally, Toyota Canada is providing $2,500 worth of studio recording time and $2,500 worth of music equipment. More information on prizing for the four runners up provided by Toyota Canada and Play MPE can be found here.

CBC MUSIC’S TOYOTA SEARCHLIGHT 2021 KEY DATES:

  • Submissions: start on Monday, April 19, at 9 a.m. ET and end Monday, May 3, at 3 p.m. ET. This is the period when all entrants can register for Searchlight 2021 and upload a song.
  • Round 1: Voting begins on all eligible songs on Tuesday, May 11, at 3 p.m. ET and ends Thursday, May 20, at 3 p.m. ET.
  • Round 2: Top 100 revealed and voting begins on Top 100 Tuesday, June 1, 3:00 p.m. ET and ends on Tuesday, June 8 at 3:00 p.m. ET.
  • Round 3: Top Ten revealed on Tuesday, June 15 at 3:00 p.m. ET.
  • Final: Judges reveal Grand Prize Winner and Runners Up on Tuesday, June 22

CBC MUSIC’S TOYOTA SEARCHLIGHT 2021 is an annual search to find the next great Canadian artist. Recent winners include: Shawnee (2020), Shopé (2019) and aquakultre (2018). Canadians can join the conversation online by using #Searchlight2021 and #ToyotaMusic and following CBC Music on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Rita MacNeil to be Inducted to the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame

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Rita MacNeil to be Inducted to the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame

One of Canada’s finest music icons and First Lady of Cape Breton, Rita MacNeil, is the newest Inductee to the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. Today, on the anniversary of her untimely passing, MacNeil’s legacy will be indelibly remembered with a permanent place in the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame at the National Music Centre in Calgary. A special tribute is planned for the 2021 East Coast Music Awards Show on Thursday, May 6, taking place in the songwriter’s hometown of Cape Breton, NS. The induction presentation will include a musical tribute performed by a cast of former bandmates, friends and more.

Some of MacNeil’s best-known songs often spoke of Nova Scotia, however, her cross-genre appeal and immense talent resonated with Canadians across the country and globally. With her shy persona, MacNeil endeared herself to grassroots audiences nationwide and enjoyed commercial success despite not conforming to the music industry’s expectations. Her melody-driven, heartfelt songwriting resisted classification – sometimes country, sometimes hinting of folk, gospel and blues.

As MacNeil once told the CBC: “The people in this country have given me such a career and loved me back so much.”

Before reaching commercial success, MacNeil was involved with the women’s movement in the early 1970s writing feminist protest songs. Gradually, her songwriting evolved into a broader folk-pop autobiographical style, and she performed for rallies, at coffeehouses, folk clubs, the Mariposa and other folk festivals.

She recorded three albums independently beginning with “Born a Woman” (1975), but it was “Flying On Your Own,” her 1986 debut album with Virgin Records, that became her commercial breakthrough. With the successful single Flying On Your Own and the double-platinum album of the same name, MacNeil won her first JUNO Award in 1987 as Most Promising Female Vocalist, and ECMA Female Recording of the Year in 1989-1990 and 1993.

A large part of MacNeil’s successes came with her compositions. More than 200 of her own songs are registered with Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI), and she was recognized in 2009 with SOCAN’s National Achievement Award. MacNeil often described her songwriting as arising from strong emotions for people or places, and has spoken of her songwriting technique as being unusual, with the music and lyrics coming together in her head simultaneously in the shape of songs.

1988’s Working Man, was inspired after a visit to Sydney Mines, and written as a tribute to the hardships and sacrifices of coal miners in Cape Breton – but it would serve an anthem for coal miners everywhere. The song, which she famously performed with the coal miners choir, The Men of the Deeps, soared to No. 11 in the U.K. She would continue to regularly perform with The Men of the Deeps, including at the 1989 JUNO Awards.

MacNeil became Canada’s top-selling country singer-songwriter in 1990 and 1991. Her highest charting single, We’ll Reach the Sky Tonight, earned SOCAN’s Country Award in 1991; and in the same year her homage to Cape Breton, Home I’ll Be, won the ECMA Song of the Year. In total, MacNeil has received 11 East Coast Music Awards, culminating with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005, making her the ECMA’s second most-winning female artist after Natalie MacMaster, and tied with Rose Cousins.

MacNeil’s highest charting single, We’ll Reach the Sky Tonight, earned SOCAN’s Country Award in 1991.

Her popular songs have been covered by the likes of Anne Murray, Tara MacLean, Matt Minglewood, The Elora Singers, The Elmer Iseler Singers, Celtic Thunder, Foster & Allen, and Mary K. Burke.

She also became a familiar face and beloved personality as host of her television variety show, “Rita and Friends,” which aired on CBC from 1994 to 1997. The show regularly drew millions of viewers and won a Gemini Award in 1996. MacNeil would continue to produce her own television specials, and make appearances on shows such as the “Royal Canadian Air Farce” and “Trailer Park Boys.”

She performed at the world’s fair during Vancouver’s Expo 86, and toured internationally at venues including the iconic Royal Albert Hall and Sydney Opera House. Having come far from her humble beginnings, MacNeil has earned membership in the Order of Canada and the Order of Nova Scotia, and was inducted posthumously to the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in 2013.

ABOUT CANADIAN SONGWRITERS HALL OF FAME
The Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame (CSHF) honours and celebrates Canadian songwriters and those who’ve dedicated their lives to the legacy of music; and works to educate the public about these achievements. National and non-profit, the CSHF is guided by its own Board of Directors, who comprise both Anglophone and Francophone music creators and publishers, as well as representation from the record industry. In December of 2011, SOCAN (the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada) acquired the CSHF. The Hall of Fame’s mandate aligns with SOCAN’s objectives as a songwriter and publisher membership-based organization. The CSHF continues to be run as a separate organization. www.cshf.ca

ABOUT STUDIO BELL, HOME OF THE NATIONAL MUSIC CENTRE
Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre (NMC), is much more than a museum. A national catalyst for discovery, innovation and renewal through music, NMC is preserving and celebrating Canada’s music story inside its home at Studio Bell in Calgary’s East Village. With programming that includes on-site and outreach education programs, performances, artist incubation and exhibitions, NMC is inspiring a new generation of music lovers. For more information, please visit studiobell.ca.

ABOUT ECMA
The East Coast Music Association (ECMA) is a regional collaboration of people in the music industry of Atlantic Canada that fosters, develops and celebrates East Coast music and its artists locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. The ECMA annually produces the East Coast Music Awards: Festival & Conference, one of the top music industry events in Canada, inclusive of its International Export Buyers Program. The ECMA would like to acknowledge the financial support from the Province of Nova Scotia, Cape Breton Regional Municipality, FACTOR, MUSICACTION, and the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage (Canada Music Fund). www.ecma.com.

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Media Contacts:

Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame:
Tran Nguyen, Centric PR
tran@centricpr.ca
c/ 416-220-4285

East Coast Music Awards:
Brendan MaGee, Front Porch Publicity
frontporchpublicity@gmail.com
c/ 506-447-1296

Lost Treasures of Rock ‘n Roll Legend Eddie Cochran Found

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Lost Treasures of Rock ‘n Roll Legend Eddie Cochran Found

Eddie Cochran is an American rock n’ roll legend from late 1950s and early 1960s, a contemporary of Elvis Presley with a particularly strong following in the UK. His life was tragically cut short when, after performing at the Bristol Hippodrome, England, he died in a car accident near Chippenham, Wiltshire on the 17th April 1960, aged just 21.  A monument to Eddie marks the location of the crash at Rowden Hill.

The contents of ‘Eddie’s Room’ recently turned up in an abandoned storage locker in California that was sold for just $300 as it was considered junk! Now Eddie’s Room has found its way to the UK.  UK and International Rock ‘n Roll musician, Sonny West, saw bits of Eddie Cochran memorabilia appearing on ‘eBay’ and made  enquiries of the seller. Despite missing out on a few minor items, Sonny, who is one of the owners of  Killertone Records UK, purchased the remainder of the collection in order to keep it together as a tribute to Eddie.

“To find all his personal possessions, home recordings of songs never heard, unseen photos and even his clothes, was like discovering an Aladdin’s Cave,” said Sonny. “There’s a huge untold story here, from birth to death.”

The collection also includes Eddie’s Gold Discs, family albums, fan club memorabilia, original artwork, unseen photos from his last tour and even love letters to Eddie from his fiancée, Sharon Sheeley.

Very small part of the ‘Eddies Room’ collection

Killertone Records plan to stage a travelling exhibition of ‘Eddie’s Room’ to celebrate his music and his talent, initially around the UK but eventually internationally. They aim to fund the exhibition by releasing limited amounts of  fan club memorabilia and original recordings later in the year.

Eddie Cochran’s influence on rock n’ roll is undeniable. Best known for immortal hits such as ‘Summertime Blues’, ‘C’mon Everybody’ and ‘Three Steps to Heaven’ (released posthumously), Eddie is credited with being an inspiration to many UK musicians, from John Lennon and Paul McCartney of the Beatles to Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page. Eddie’s music has been covered by numerous bands; The Who, the Sex Pistols and Bruce Springsteen to name but a few. Ahead of his time and often termed the original ‘Guitar Hero’, he was a creative song writer and music producer, experimenting with multi-track recording and over-dubbing long before others. He was one of the first to use an unwound third string on his guitar, which allowed him to ‘bend’ notes up a whole tone.

You can find out more about Eddie’s life, items to be released and the exhibition plans by signing up to Killertone Records newsletter at www.killertonerecords.co.uk

Eddie Cochran was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.

H.E.R. Headlines 20th Anniversary Virtual Honda Civic Tour

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H.E.R. Headlines 20th Anniversary Virtual Honda Civic Tour

The Honda Civic Tour returns for its 20th Anniversary with a special two-stop virtual concert series, headlined by four-time Grammy Award winner, R&B singer-songwriting powerhouse and actress H.E.R. The 2021 Virtual Honda Civic Tour kicks off on April 28 at 5 p.m. PT on the Live Nation Channel on Twitch, where fans will get a special first look at the all-new 2022 Honda Civic Sedan during the livestreamed concert experience before it arrives in Honda dealerships nationwide this summer.

“I’m honored to join some of the biggest artists in the music industry in bringing my unique perspective to the stage for the Tour’s 20th anniversary,” said H.E.R. “We have created a beautiful mixed reality world for fans of the Honda Civic Tour and I look forward to sharing my music, as well as a special first look for fans of the all-new 2022 Honda Civic.”

For the Honda Civic Tour April 28 livestream on Twitch, H.E.R. has planned a mixed reality experience for fans. H.E.R.’s upcoming performance pushes the boundaries of virtual concert technology with the first-ever, live mixed reality broadcast on an XR stage. Using a combination of live-action footage, a stage created with LED panels, and the powerful Unreal game engine, the artist is seamlessly integrated into Civic Tour’s virtual environment.

H.E.R. joins the likes of Maroon 5, OneRepublic, Nick Jonas & Demi Lovato, blink-182, Black Eyed Peas, One Direction and Charlie Puth as artists to perform on the Honda Civic Tour Stage.


Civic Tour fans will get a special first look at the all-new 2022 Honda Civic Sedan prior to H.E.R.’s virtual Civic Tour performance on April 28. The 2022 Honda Civic, on sale this summer, is the most fun-to-drive and technologically advanced Civic ever. Honda’s iconic Civic has long set the standard by which other compact cars are measured, and this new 11th-generation Civic will raise the bar in every conceivable way – style, performance, safety features and technology.

For more information on the 2022 Civic Sedan, please visit: https://hondanews.com/en-US/honda-automobiles/releases/honda-offers-first-look-at-all-new-11th-generation-civic-sedan.

Civic Tour fans can enter for a chance to win an all-new 2022 Civic Sedan, exclusive virtual meet-and-greets with H.E.R. and more. The next virtual stop of the Honda Civic Tour will feature a “Remix” version of H.E.R.’s April 28 Twitch performance, with additional details to be announced. The 2021 Honda Civic Tour Presents H.E.R. is produced by Live Nation.

Honda has a deep connection and long-standing commitment to music, including presenting two decades of Civic Tour. Since 2001, Honda Civic Tour has provided more than five million fans with exclusive interactive concert experiences and behind the scenes access to unforgettable music performances.

In addition to the Civic Tour, the brand invests in its broader Honda Stage music initiative through premier music festival partnerships, including Austin City Limits and Governor’s Ball, as well as offering online music programming, performances, exclusive digital content, artist interviews and more to fans. To bring its music content to life, Honda works hand in hand with entertainment leaders including: Live Nation, Billboard, UPROXX, Universal Music Group and Vevo.

2021 Virtual Honda Civic Tour Schedule
Wednesday, April 28, 2021 
     5:00 p.m. PST: Honda Civic Tour Presents: H.E.R. Livestream Begins
     Approximately 6:00 p.m. PST: 2022 Honda Civic Sedan Revealed

Second Virtual Civic Tour Stop
“Remix” version of H.E.R.’s April 28 Twitch Performance: additional details to be announced

For more information on the Honda Civic Tour, please visit Honda.com/Music/CivicTour.

American Foundation for the Blind Announces ‘Inclusive Power of Music’ Centennial Conversation

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 The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB), in celebration of 100 years of creating a more inclusive world for people who are blind or visually impaired, launched a series of “Centennial Conversations”—curated webinars focused on the pressing issues and topics affecting the blind and low vision communities, pairing prominent speakers with younger voices. On Thursday, April 22 at 2 p.m. EDT, AFB presents Matthew Whitaker: The Inclusive Power of Music.

Matthew Whitaker is a multi-instrumentalist who taught himself to play piano at age 3, the Hammond B3 organ at age 9, and four years later he became the youngest artist to be endorsed by Hammond in its more than 80-year history. He was also named a Yamaha Artist at 15, becoming the youngest musician to join the stellar group of jazz pianists. Having just turned 20, Matthew is currently enrolled in the jazz studies program at Juilliard in New York City, the first person who is blind to be accepted in the program.

With AFB Major Gifts Specialist Melody Goodspeed guiding the conversation, the pair will discuss the power of combining music, technology, self-advocacy, and collaboration. The event is free, with required registration available at afb.org/InclusivePowerOfMusic.

As with all AFB centennial events, the Inclusive Power of Music will be an inclusive event – captions, ASL, audio description, and transcripts will be made available.

“Matthew’s music comes straight from his heart and I have learned a great deal from him,” Goodspeed said. “He tells a beautiful story in each note he plays and brings joy in challenging places. His musical prowess illustrates that we all need to take our unique gifts and apply them for the greater good.”

Future Centennial Conversations include:

  • Gratitude, Courage, and Joy: May 27, 2 p.m. EDT
  • Inclusion, Intersectionality, and the Future of Work: June 24, 2 p.m. EDT
  • Making Money Work: Including Disability in the Financial Equation: July 22, 2 p.m. EDT

Founded in 1921, the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) is a national nonprofit that creates a world of no limits for people who are blind or visually impaired. AFB mobilizes leaders, advances understanding, and champions impactful policies and practices using research and data. AFB is proud to steward the Helen Keller Archive, maintain and expand the digital collection, and honor the more than 40 years that Helen Keller worked tirelessly with AFB. Visit: www.afb.org

U.S. Remains Fastest-Growing Market for K-Pop’s Physical Album Sales; Reaches All-Time High in 2020

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Despite the clear decline of physical album sales across the globe, one genre continues to show stunning physical sales performance in the U.S. market. According to South Korea’s Gaon Music Chart and the Korea Customs Service, global K-Pop album sales jumped a whopping 60% globally between 2019 and 2020 — with a 90% increase in the United States alone.

K-Pop Physical Album Sales 2016-2020

This counter-trend is a phenomenon uniquely K-Pop, something attributable to both consumer behaviors of the fandom and the record-breaking performance of albums released by popular idol groups BTS, BLACKPINK, and more. 2020’s performance was so strong that, even with COVID-19’s economic impact, K-Pop’s physical sales still managed to enjoy a record year.

To support this growing album demand, K-Pop fandom platform theQoos officially launched commerce this month. Starting with the release of NCT Dream’s first studio album ‘Hot Sauce,’ U.S.-based users are now able to pre-order albums directly from theQoos’ online store.

Users can not only access a special discount through the mobile application, but group order incentives are also available. Additionally, each ‘Hot Sauce’ purchase brings fans closer to an opportunity to win a signed copy of NCT Dream’s 2017 EP ‘We Young.’

Meanwhile, NCT Dream is a unit of SM Entertainment boy group NCT, who has sold over 2.8 million copies of their 2020 two-part LP ‘Resonance’ – more than doubling album-equivalent sales of Taylor Swift’s ‘Folklore’ through physical sales alone. This number also made ‘Resonance’ the top-selling in SM’s history, breaking a 25-year-long record originally set by legend idol group H.O.T. As one of the first NCT releases following ‘Resonance,’ NCT Dream’s ‘Hot Sauce’ is among K-Pop’s most anticipated in 2021.

The commerce launch is the latest addition to theQoos, which also provides up-to-date idol news aggregation and an interactive social community. As the only U.S. platform dedicated exclusively to K-Pop’s rapidly-growing domestic fanbase, theQoos works to provide a service accommodating their users’ unique needs — including customizable news feeds, community boards and chatrooms, and exclusive fan Q&A events with trending K-Pop artists.

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That Eric Alper

Eric Alper is a 6-time nominee for Publicist of the Year during Canadian Music Week and has overseen the publicity campaigns for over 183 JUNO Award-nominated albums (and 16 in 2025), 45 Grammy-nominated albums, including 47 JUNO Award, 58 Canadian Folk Music Award, 126 Maple Blues Award-winning albums and is also truly honoured to work with some of the biggest and most important artists of our time.

Contact me: eric@thatericalper.com

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