Ah, pop music’s greatest maverick. Here’s Madonna with one of the most compelling performances on the music television program Solid Gold from back in 1984.
Toronto Pop Supergroup Girl Pow-R Launch GirlPowRment Wall TODAY With Fans At “A Conversation With Ellen DeGeneres”
Toronto pop supergroup Girl Pow-R will share their message of empowerment and kindness this Sunday, March 3rd to attendees of “A Conversation With Ellen DeGeneres”.
Fresh on the heels of their most recent single, “Never Let Go”, the all-girl band ranging in ages from 10 – 17 will perform outside the Scotiabank Arena at 1:00pm – 2:15pm and 3:15pm – 4:15pm, and will be inviting those passing by to write on their #GirlPowRment #Wall.
“We’ve already started writing messages about friendship, acceptance and support that we find inspiring,” Girl Pow-R says of the wall’s making. “We can’t wait to see what other girls and women of all ages add!”
“A lot of people in our society are trying to change you to not be yourself, and to act differently to fit in. But (we say) you should ‘Never Let Go’ of yourself for someone else! Be you, and be proud of who you are,” says Kalisa, one of the band members.
“Our #GirlPowRrment #Wall is a visual symbol of our overall mission, which is to support and uplift young women through music and community,” says Girl Pow-R creator, Dawn Van Dam. “Ellen DeGeneres is one of the world’s foremost role models for kindness and being yourself, and so we wanted to launch our movement while she was here in Toronto.”
Girl Pow-R shares in Ellen’s values and are excited to share their movement and music with her fans. Girl Pow-R first came together on International Women’s Day 2017 and have since won a Family Channel-sponsored singing competition, as well as nominations for Niagara Music Awards’ ‘Best New Group’ and a Toronto Independent Music Award.
Having performed more than 100 shows in the last two years alone, they were hand-picked to re-create the Mysticons theme song, and have appeared on Fresh 95.3, YTV, TVO Kids, CityTV, eTalk Canada, Girls’ Life, Tiger Beat, J-14, Celeb Secrets, Stage Right Secrets, Geek Girl Riot, and more.
“International Women’s Day means bringing awareness to the hard-working women and girls all over the world who deserve an endless amount of respect and support. I hope that the #GirlPowRment #Wall of strength starts a conversation about encouraging young girls to feel confident and pursue their dreams. I believe Girl Pow-R can make a difference,” says Carina, one of the band members.
Launching this movement for the #GirlPowRment #Wall in conjunction with Ellen’s visit and #IWD2019 International Women’s Day 2019 and their efforts towards #BalanceforBetter is a great way “to celebrate women and how far we have come, and what we have accomplished”, says Maya, a band member. “Also, it’s about educating people about women’s rights and talking about equality.”
Everyone in Girl Pow-R is thrilled to help collect and share these messages to build strength, confidence and resilience through the #GirlPowRment #Wall. At every show from now on, we will be asking people to write an empowering message to all girls and women about how to be stronger and more powerful, how to never let go, how to use the power of how they and their friends click, to be stronger than yesterday, and continuously live life to the fullest by having fun all day!
Timbaland Joins MasterClass to Teach Music Production and Beatmaking
MasterClass, the online education company that enables anyone to learn from the best in the world, announced today that prolific producer and artist, Timbaland, will offer his first online class exclusively through its platform. Timbaland will provide students insight into his uniquely creative and collaborative process inside the studio, while reflecting throughout on his approach to some of his most iconic hits. Timbaland’s class is now available at www.masterclass.com/tmbd. Students can enroll in the class with unlimited access for a one time purchase of $90, or subscribe for unlimited access to this class and all new and existing classes through the All-Access Pass for $180 per year.
With a discography spanning the world’s most influential recording artists across a range of musical genres, Timbaland’s inventive approach to music and production has set a gold standard in the industry. For over two decades, Timbaland’s distinctive style has led to platinum-selling collaborations with leaders in the industry including Beyoncé, Justin Timberlake, Sam Smith, Jay-Z, Missy Elliot, Aaliyah, Rihanna, Coldplay and more. His unparalleled ability to create compelling beats and unforgettable hooks has been recognized across the music industry, with his work having received dozens of nominations and awards including recognition at the People’s Choice Awards, ASCAP Awards, BET Hip Hop Awards and Grammy Awards, among others. Beyond his various accolades, Timbaland’s industry influence transcends himself, as the iconic producer has dedicated much of his career to the mentorship and support of other producers and aspiring musicians.
“When it comes to music production, the key is believing in your own ideas and finding collaborators that can help those ideas breathe,” says Timbaland. “In my MasterClass, students will walk away with the essentials to bring their own beats to life, giving them the confidence to find collaborators that believe in their vision as much as they do.”
Timbaland’s course is designed for aspiring recording artists and producers at any level and offers invaluable insight into the production processes that have defined his music. The course lays a foundation from creative inception to final production, giving students a chance to develop their own unique styles with a firm understanding of how to manifest that rhythm. Starting with the basics, the course teaches students foundational processes such as building a beat from scratch, working with a vocalist to create a melody, and layering in samples. As students progress, the course builds upon these lessons by delving into sound mixing and design, ultimately establishing a process for creating complex musical compositions. Going beyond instruction, each lesson is colored by first-hand accounts of Timbaland’s own industry experiences. Timbaland and his co-producers also create two new songs from scratch throughout the class. The songs are available for download to those enrolled in the class along with stems that students can use to remix into their own tracks.
MasterClass continues to expand its catalogue into new categories, bringing leading instructors to its engaged base of subscribers. MasterClass provides educational, inspiring, and engaging classes taught by the world’s greatest minds. With more than 50 classes that dive into processes, techniques and philosophies, MasterClass helps students progress more rapidly towards their own mastery, explore new passions, and learn new skills. It offers a unique learning experience, including video lessons, interactive exercises, course materials, peer interaction, and more. Students can subscribe for unlimited access to all new and existing classes through the All-Access Pass for $180 per year, or enroll in an individual class with for a one time purchase of $90. The course can be accessed online at www.masterclass.com, the MasterClass mobile app for iOS and Android and Apple TV.
Janet Jackson Announces Las Vegas Residency Metamorphosis At Park MGM
Global music icon, multiple GRAMMY Award-winner and multi-Platinum selling artist, the incomparable Janet Jackson, is taking over the Las Vegas Strip with her headlining residency Metamorphosis beginning Friday, May 17 at Park Theater at Park MGM resort.
Members of Janet’s fan club will receive access to an exclusive presale beginning Wednesday, Feb. 27 at 10 a.m. PST.
Metamorphosis peels back the layers of the immensely private life of Janet Jackson, sharing her transformation from a young girl with issues of self-esteem to global icon. The centerpiece of this all new thought-provoking show, will be Janet herself, captivating you through your senses with electrifying visuals, explosive dance numbers, chart-topping hits and fan favorite deep cuts. The show also features a special 30-year anniversary celebration of her ground-breaking album ‘Rhythm Nation.’
Fans will follow her path to self-love, empowerment, motherhood and activism, amidst the challenges faced along her personal journey. She encourages her audiences to find their own light within themselves through her Metamorphosis.
Citi is the official presale credit card of Janet Jackson’s residency at Park Theater. As such, Citi cardmembers will have access to purchase presale tickets beginning Wednesday, Feb. 27 at 12 p.m. PST until Friday, March 1 at 10 p.m. PSTthrough Citi’s Private Pass program. For complete presale details, visit citiprivatepass.com.
M life Rewards loyalty members as well as Live Nation and Ticketmaster customers will receive access to a presale beginning Friday, March 1 at 10 a.m. PST. To join the M life Rewards program, or for more information, visit mlife.com.
All presales end Friday, March 1 at 10 p.m. PST. Tickets starting at $79 go on sale Saturday, March 2 at 10 a.m. PST. Tickets can be purchased at all Ticketmaster outlets or online at ticketmaster.com. All shows are scheduled to begin at 8 p.m.
The 15 dates going on sale are:
May 2019: 17, 18, 21, 22, 25, 26
July 2019: 24, 26, 27, 31
August 2019: 2, 3, 7, 9, 10
Janet Jackson is one of the most influential entertainers of the modern era. Her music has won her six GRAMMY Awards, two Emmy Nominations, a Golden Globe Award and a nomination for an Academy Award along with dozens of American Music Awards, MTV Video Music Awards and Billboard Music Awards. She has received accolades as an actress as well including the NAACP Best Supporting Actor award. Janet is a published author, dancer, businessperson, philanthropist and one of the biggest-selling artists in popular music history. With sales of over 160 million records worldwide, Janet Jackson stands as one of the best-selling artists of all time with a string of hits that have left an indelible impression on pop culture. Her music and artistry has opened doors through which other top artists have followed, many acknowledging her impact on their musical perceptions. For more information, please visit janetjackson.com.
The Duke of Sussex, Naomi Campbell, Iskra Lawrence, Liam Payne and Nicole Scherzinger to empower young change-makers at WE Day UK
WE Day, the greatest celebration of social good, with stadium sized events across Canada and the U.S., returns to the UK uniting 12,000 extraordinary students and educators who have made a difference in their local and global communities. Together they will share in a day of unforgettable performances and motivational speeches by The Duke of Sussex, WE co-founders Craig Kielburger and Marc Kielburger, model, actress and activist Naomi Campbell, model, self care and mental health activist Iskra Lawrence, internationally acclaimed, multi-platinum selling singer-songwriter Liam Payne, Grammy-nominated singer Nicole Scherzinger, singer-songwriter and BRIT Award-winner Tom Walker and more additions still to be announced. Led by UK Title Supporter Virgin Atlantic, WE Day UK will be held at The SSE Arena, Wembley on March 6, 2019.
Returning to the WE Day stage for the third time, The Duke of Sussex will speak about his role as President of The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust and the importance of social entrepreneurship and its aspiration of enabling young leaders to realize their hopes and dreams for the future. The Duke of Sussex has previously spoken on the WE Day stage at WE Day Toronto, September 2017 as well as WE Day UK, March 2014.
“I’m fortunate to stand alongside the thousands of students joining us at WE Day UK,” said model, actress and activist, Naomi Campbell. “Today’s young people are tomorrow’s leaders and their commitment to affecting change on a global scale is the motivation we all need as we advocate for our philanthropic initiatives.”
More than a one-day event, WE Day is connected to the free, yearlong educational program WE Schools, a program designed to enhance a school or community’s existing social initiatives or spark new ones. WE Schools provides participants with curriculum, educational resources and action campaigns, encouraging students to further their curricular learning and develop life skills to succeed beyond the classroom.
“As we start another year of creating lasting change, I’m thrilled to be a part of WE Day UK to recognize and applaud the work of the thousands of incredible young leaders. Each student and teacher has challenged themselves to give back in remarkable ways and the team at WE are honoured to provide them with the tools to achieve their year-long social action goals,” said Craig Kielburger, co-founder of WE. “From tackling the stigma surrounding mental health, to fundraising to improve access to clean water and eliminating local homelessness, today’s young change-makers are more fearless than ever when it comes to taking action on timely issues. Their unwavering commitment to doing good never ceases to inspire me.”
WE Day is free of charge to students and teachers across the UK, thanks to the generous support of partners led by UK Title Supporter Virgin Atlantic. Virgin Atlantic believes in empowering young people to build a brighter, more sustainable future. Students can’t buy a ticket to WE Day—young people from across the UK earn their way through the actions they take on one local and one global cause of their choice.
The initial list of WE Day UK hosts, speakers and performers in alphabetical order, announced to date, includes:
- Co-Hosts: Dean Chaumo (youth co-host), Conor Maynard, Tamara Smart (youth co-host)
- Speakers and Presenters: Nicola Brentnall, The Duke of Sussex, Naomi Campbell, Nikki Christou, Gemma Cleland, Celebrity Marauders, David Foster, Connor Franta, Julia Gillard, Homebros, Kees Kruythoff, Craig and Marc Kielburger, Iskra Lawrence, Sonny & Dixie, Living the Dream, Katharine McPhee, Conor Maynard, Temi Mwale, Baruani Ndume, Louise Pentland, Paul Polman, Nicole Scherzinger, Amani Simpson, Nadja Swarovski, Natalia Vodianova, Lord Rumi Verjee, Isabelle Weall, Yeading Junior School
- Performers: Jack & Jack, Liam Payne, Tom Walker
The JUNO Awards return to Saskatoon in 2020
The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) today announced the JUNO Awards are heading back to Saskatchewan in 2020. Affectionately dubbed the ‘Paris of the Prairies’, Saskatoon will once again host the largest music event in the country and all JUNO Week festivities beginning on March 9, culminating with the 49th annual JUNO Awards broadcast live on CBC from the SaskTel Centre on Sunday, March 15, 2020.
As one of the premiere cultural destinations in Canada, Saskatoon is one of Canada’s youngest city with a palpable energy and a vibrant cultural scene. The SaskTel Centre has undergone numerous renovations and a seating expansion since the 2007 JUNO Awards, now boasting seating for more than 15,000 fans.
SiriusXM unveils more than 100 new music channels on its streaming platform, the largest addition ever to its content lineup
SiriusXM Canada, the country’s leading audio entertainment company, today debuted more than 100 new curated commercial-free streaming music channels featuring multiple variations of SiriusXM’s acclaimed lineup, giving listeners more music variety than ever before. SiriusXM’s new Xtra Channels break down and mash up many of the SiriusXM channels you love to match any mood, occasion or activity.
SiriusXM’s new Xtra Channels are available exclusively to SiriusXM All Access and SiriusXM Premier Streaming subscribers – as well as all SiriusXM trialers – via the SiriusXM app, web player, and select connected devices. Subscribers can also preview a selection of Xtra Channels on SiriusXM Spotlight (channel 4) on SiriusXM radios in their vehicles throughout the month of March.
These music channels also feature skip-ahead functionality that makes it easier for listeners to find the songs they love.
SiriusXM listeners will be able to explore new Xtra Channels that break down and mash up current favorites, allowing listeners to explore top music by decades, discover newly created formats, and hear the latest hit songs by music style, all from the acclaimed SiriusXM music curation team. For fans of 80s on 8, new channels include 80s on 8 Top 100, 80s on 8 Workout and 80s on 8 Party; avid Prime Country fans can check out Prime Country Top 100, Prime Country 80s Hits and Prime Country Party; and BPM listeners who follow dance music will have options that include BPM Top Hits, BPM Discovery and BPM Workout. Pop and rock music is mashed up in channels that play music from across the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, and 2000s. And for those looking for the very latest music that’s about to break, there is a Discovery category featuring new channels from the taste-making programmers behind channels including SiriusXM Hits 1, The Highway, Alt Nation, and The Heat.
For a full list of new Xtra Channels visit: https://www.siriusxm.ca/100-xtra-channels/
SiriusXM All Access and SiriusXM Premier Streaming subscribers, and all trial subscribers, have streaming access to SiriusXM via the SiriusXM app and web player, enabling them to connect to their favorite channels online, on-the-go and at home on connected devices and speakers. SiriusXM’s Premier Streaming offering is a standalone streaming subscription, while All Access combines streaming with SiriusXM’s in-car audio offering.
With the new Xtra Channels, the SiriusXM app now offers more than 300 channels of world class programming to choose from, plus video from the Howard Stern Show, and thousands of hours of on-demand content.
SiriusXM All Access delivers a comprehensive bundle of entertainment, sports and news programming. It includes Howard Stern’s two exclusive channels, commercial-free music from many genres, plus every NFL, MLB, and NBA game, every NASCAR race, NHL games, PGA TOUR coverage, college sports, some of the biggest names and brands in entertainment, news and comedy, and more.
Chevy dealer training video to convince customers that the El Camino is as good as the competition, 1981
The Black Keyes’ El Camino cover art depicts a minivan similar to one the group toured in early in their career, but in an inside joke, they named the record after the El Camino muscle car. A faux newspaper advertisement and parody car commercial playing on this joke were used to promote the record prior to release.
This commercial, however is real. Unlike a pickup truck, the El Camino was adapted from a two-door station wagon platform that integrated the cab and cargo bed into the body.
Karaoke performance of the day
I just wish he didn’t sing the lyrics too quick. I didn’t quite get them.
MOTÖRHEAD Announces Record Store Day 2019 Double 7″ Single “Overkill/Bomber”
MOTÖRHEAD has announced the release of “Overkill/Bomber” on double picture disc 7″ vinyl, which will be released via BMG for Record Store Day, featuring a new 2019 remaster of the original “Overkill” single edit.
A 40th anniversary celebration of the loudest, dirtiest, bastard rock ‘n’ roll of 1979 – the year MOTÖRHEAD released the seminal Overkill and Bomber albums – the featured single edit was previously only available as the A side of the original 1979, 7″ single, “Overkill.” It will be released digitally for the first time ever on March 8, to coincide with its original release date.
This lavish double picture disc is housed in a gatefold sleeve, which features iconic photos of the band, shot by Paul Slattery on the February 8, 1979 in front of a huge MOTÖRHEAD Snaggletooth mural on the Harrow Road in Paddington, London.
To get a taste of Ian “Lemmy” Kilmister, “Fast” Eddie Clarke and Phil “Philthy Animal” Taylor in full flight in 1979, you can watch classic archive footage of the band performing both singles on Top Of The Pops from that year.
2019 marks the 40th anniversary of both the Overkill and Bomber albums, with this special release including both the lead singles from those albums. The celebrations will continue too, with more exciting, louder and heavier announcements to come later this year. Be sure to visitwww.iMotorhead.com for news and updates all year long!
RSD 2019 DOUBLE 7″ SINGLE
“OVERKILL”
Side A: “Overkill”
Side B: ‘Too Late Too Late”
“BOMBER”
Side A: “Bomber”
Side B: “Over The Top”