All photos by Mini’s Memories. You can contact her at minismemories@hotmail.com
Photo Gallery: Ellen Degeneres with Sean Jones at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena
SiriusXM Unveils More Than 100 New Music Channels on Its Streaming Platform, the Largest Addition Ever to Its Content Lineup
SiriusXM 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.
“With more than 100 new commercial-free channels to choose from, SiriusXM is offering even more variety for our subscribers. The new channels have the DNA of current SiriusXM channels that our subscribers love, but offered in a variety of new versions that fit listeners’ tastes, moods and activities,” said Steve Blatter, Senior Vice President and General Manager for Music Programming, SiriusXM. “We have also developed channels that satisfy the demand for combining SiriusXM channels together into exciting new curated experiences. These new channels are sure to make our streaming service even more attractive and valuable to our listeners.”
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: www.siriusxm.com/xtrachannels
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.
Photo Gallery: Sevendust with Tremonti, Cane Hill, Lullwater and Kirra at Niagara Falls’ Rapids Theatre
All photos by Mini’s Memories. You can contact her at minismemories@hotmail.com
Joan Jett: “We didn’t want barriers put up on what we were allowed to sing about, say, or play”
When you were starting out, both with The Runaways and as a solo act, did you think of yourself as a feminist?
“No. The terminology was so new at the time; it wasn’t part of the lexicon. On a day to day level, people didn’t talk about being a feminist or not. It was, at that time, more of a political word. But, I definitely felt criticism from aspects of that movement who were uncomfortable with the fact that young girls and teenagers want to have sex and talk about sex. You don’t just dismiss that aspect of being a woman. I understand, given time to reflect on it, why people may have been a little punchy about it. But it’s frustrating when you’re taking crap from women when you’re trying to follow your dreams. Your parents always told you that you could be whatever you wanted to be, and now you’ve got these women telling you that you can’t for some political reason you don’t yet understand. I was didn’t get it.”
I know what you’re talking about with second-wave feminists. That idea of separating equality from being a sexual being was very real in the ‘80s and ‘90s. Has feminism evolved since then? Is it something you identify with more now?
“The problem with labels is they have boundaries, you know? What a feminist is to one person is not the same thing [to another]. I’m for people being what they want to be; if that’s a woman being a rock ‘n’ roller or a nuclear physicist, which may not be fields women typically go into. You can’t let other people dictate your life to you. I know I’m a woman, I knew I was a girl, but I’m going to do what I’m going to do. I didn’t get caught up in the gender role of it. That’s what I was fighting against the whole time, the fact that people were saying girls can’t play rock ‘n’ roll. It didn’t make logical sense to me. I was in band class playing clarinet and sitting next to girls playing cello and violin, while we played Beethoven and Bach. You’re not saying girls can’t master the instrument, you’re saying they’re not allowed to be the Rolling Stones. Rock ‘n’ roll by its nature is sexual. So, if a girl is going to play guitar or drums, it’s going to be sexual! There’s no way of separating those things. I found out very quickly how uncomfortable people are with people discussing their sexuality, and certainly teenagers discussing it. Really that’s all The Runaways were doing: trying to express ourselves the way we knew how, putting it into our songs. Not much different than what the Rolling Stones were doing. We didn’t want barriers put up on what we were allowed to sing about, say, or play.”
Musician Mashes 46 Different Nintendo Melodies
Grant Woolard built this epic composition, blending 46 different melodies from Nintendo games in a single track. If you can spot them all, you deserve a gold star.
Pepsi Commercial featuring a mosquito singing The Rolling Stones’ Brown Sugar, 1998
On January 23 and 24 1998, Pepsi celebrated their 100th anniversary with a huge convention, staged on Hawaii’s Big Island, and included speaking appearances by former President George Bush and former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. The concert, billed as “The Great Pepsi Mystery Rock Show”, was a very private affair with no access to the public, with The Rolling Stones headlining the stage on both nights. Later that year, the group and soft drink manufacturer continued their relationship with this TV advert.
Original TV commercial for Michael Jackson’s Thriller, 1984
The TV ad featuring Michael Jackson’s Thriller, without the title song nor Billie Jean mention, likely because they weren’t singles by the time this aired.
Madonna performing ‘Like a Virgin’ on Solid Gold after an introduction by David Hasselhoff and Rick Dees, 1984
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.