Back in 1991, Siskel & Ebert actually reviewed a music video. Wait…what? The movie guys? Sure did. The music video for Black or White premiered on MTV, BET, VH1, and Fox (giving them their highest Nielsen ratings ever at the time) as well as the BBC’s Top of the Pops in the UK. The video was directed by John Landis, who previously directed Thriller, and with an audience of 500 million viewers, it was the most ever for a music video.
Erasure Announces World Tour For 2018
ERASURE (Andy Bell and Vince Clarke) have announced a collaboration with Echo Collective, the Brussels-based collective of post-classical musicians best known for their ongoing collaborative work with A Winged Victory for the Sullen, Johann Johannsson, Dustin O’Halloran and Stars of the Lid.
The collaboration sees the entirety of Erasure’s latest album, World Be Gone, given a post-classical rework. World Beyond was recorded over ten days by Andy Bell and seven performers from Echo Collective: Margaret Hermant (violin, harp), Neil Leiter (viola), Thomas Engelen (cello), Jaroslaw Mroz (double bass), Gary De Cart (piano) and Antoine Dandoy (vibraphone, glockenspiel).
Watch a short film filmed during the recording sessions at Jet Studio in Brussels below.
The album was produced by Echo Collective, mixed by Gareth Jones and arranged by Echo Collective’s Gary De Cart, Margaret Hermant and Neil Leiter. Neil Leiter from Echo Collective explains, “The process of this project was really deconstruction and re-purposing. We started by listening to each track layer by layer, and then, using the layers that inspired us or we found essential, we reconstructed the tracks instrumentally. Each of the instruments in the band setup were chosen for their inherent capacities and roles. Often choosing which layer to put with each instrument was a question of matching roles and colors. By stripping so much away, we were able to find a new space for Andy to fill. The text of the songs became much more important in the overall construction of the songs, and Andy was free to explore more dynamics and vocal range.”
The tracks featured on World Beyond show award-winning songwriters Vince Clarke and Andy Bell in a more reflective mood, giving the world and recent political upheavals a thoughtful examination. This new collaboration gives a new dimension to the tracks – including fan-favorites “Still It’s Not Over”, which tackles the LGBT rights movement post-Stonewall, and “Lousy Some Of Nothing”, a ballad for our post-truth age – but the band’s optimism about the future remains clear and bright. Andy Bell explains: “…the reinterpretations have brought such enormous context to the songs, it has created a new place for them.”
The original idea for the album developed from Vince Clarke, who initially suggested that a single from World Be Gone could be given an orchestral reinterpretation, but as the idea expanded and took shape, he spoke at length to Echo Collective ahead of the recording. “It was great to talk through ideas with Echo Collective and then see how their arrangements took shape. The collaboration has given elements of the album a whole new feel and Andy’s vocals remain as powerful and uplifting as ever,” says Clarke.
The collaboration is a natural progression from 1987’s The Two Ring Circus, a companion EP for the band’s second album, The Circus, which included several orchestral interpretations.
Erasure embark on a headline tour through Europe in January 2018 with support from Bright Light Bright Light before heading across the Atlantic for a massive North and South American tour.
ERASURE 2018 WORLD TOUR
January 29 – Dublin, Ireland – Olympia (SOLD OUT)
January 30 – Dublin, Ireland – Olympia (SOLD OUT)
January 31 – Dublin, Ireland – Olympia (SOLD OUT)
February 2 – Dundee, Scotland – Caird Hall (SOLD OUT)
February 3 – Edinburgh, Scotland – Usher Hall (SOLD OUT)
February 4 – Newcastle, England – City Hall (SOLD OUT)
February 6 – Liverpool, England – Philharmonic (SOLD OUT)
February 7 – Hull, England – City Hall (SOLD OUT)
February 8 – Manchester, England – O2 Apollo (SOLD OUT)
February 10 – Cambridge, England – Corn Exchange (SOLD OUT)
February 11 – Birmingham, England – O2 Academy (SOLD OUT)
February 12 – Nottingham, England – Royal Concert Hall (SOLD OUT)
February 14 – Ipswich, England – Regent (SOLD OUT)
February 15 – Southampton, England – O2 Guildhall (SOLD OUT)
February 16 – Cardiff, Wales – St David’s Hall (SOLD OUT)
February 18 – Aylesbury, England – Friars Waterside Theatre (SOLD OUT)
February 19 – Brighton, England – Dome (SOLD OUT)
February 20 – Guildford, England – G Live (SOLD OUT)
February 22 – Norwich, England – UEA (SOLD OUT)
February 23 – London, England – Eventim Apollo (SOLD OUT)
February 24 – London, England – Eventim Apollo (SOLD OUT)
February 27 – Cologne, Germany – E-Werk (SOLD OUT)
February 28 – Hamburg, Germany – Mehr Theater (SOLD OUT)
March 1 – Berlin, Germany – Columbiahalle (SOLD OUT)
March 3 – Leipzig, Germany – Haus Auensee (SOLD OUT)
March 4 – Munich, Germany – Tonhalle (SOLD OUT)
March 5 – Frankfurt, Germany – Batschkapp (SOLD OUT)
March 7 – Hanover, Germany – Capitol (SOLD OUT)
March 9 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Royal Arena
April 21 – Guadalajara, Mexico – Roxy Fest
April 22 – Tijuana, Mexico – El Foro
April 24 – Nuevo León, Mexico – Palestino Libanes
April 25 – Mexico City, Mexico – Pepsi Center WTC
April 27 – Quito, Ecuador – Agora De La Casa De La Cultura
April 28 – Bogota, Colombia – Chamorro Music Hall
April 30 – Medellín, Colombia – Chamorro City Hall – El Rodeo
May 2 – Lima, Peru – Anfieteatro Del Parque De La Exposicion
May 3 – Santiago, Chile – Movistar Arena
May 5 – Buenos Aires, Argentina – Luna Park
May 6 – Rosario, Argentina – Metropolitano
May 8 – Asunción, Paraguay – Paseo La Galeria
May 10 – Curitiba, Brazil – Teatro Positivo
May 11 – São Paulo, Brazil – Espaco Das Americas
May 12 – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – Vivo Rio
July 6 – Miami Beach, FL – Fillmore
July 7 – St. Petersburg, FL – Mahaffey Theater
July 8 – Orlando, FL – Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
July 10 – Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle
July 15 – New York, NY – Beacon Theater
July 17 – Boston, MA – House of Blues
July 18 – Philadelphia, PA – Merriam Theater
July 20 – Washington, DC – Warner Theater
July 22 – Pittsburgh, PA – Byham Theater
July 24 – Toronto, ON – Queen Elizabeth Theater
July 25 – Grand Rapids, MI – 20 Monroe Live
July 27 – Chicago, IL – Chicago Theatre
July 29 – Minneapolis, MN – State Theatre
July 31 – Indianapolis, IN – Murat
August 1 – Kansas City, MO – Uptown Theater
August 3 – Dallas, TX – Toyota Music Factory
August 4 – Houston, TX – Smart Financial Centre
August 5 – San Antonio, TX– Tobin Center for the Performing Arts
August 7 – Austin, TX – Austin City Limits Live
August 10 – Denver, CO – Opera House
August 12 – Salt Lake City, UT – Kingsbury Hall
August 14 – Seattle, WA – Moore Theatre
August 15 – Vancouver, BC – Orpheum Theatre
August 19 – San Francisco, CA – Masonic Auditorium
August 21 – Santa Barbara, CA – Arlington Theatre
August 22 – San Diego, CA – Symphony Hall
August 26 – Los Angeles, CA – Wiltern Theater
TimePlay to Launch its First In-Theatre Tournament with Cineplex
Three years after TimePlay Inc. and Cineplex began running multi-player interactive games for Movie-goers at Cineplex theatres across Canada, the platform is about to pull back the curtain on a completely new concept. For the first time ever, Movie-goers will have the chance to compete in a gaming tournament for the chance to win $5,000 in total cash prizes, including $2,500 for the first place winner.
Launching January 26, 2018, and running through to February 22, 2018, the tournament concept will pilot at 14 Cineplex theatres in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). During that time, Movie-goers will compete against each other in a TimePlay gaming experience 15 minutes before their movie begins. Players’ scores accumulate during the program and the top 20 participants will compete in a larger dedicated final event on March 17, 2018, at Scotiabank Theatre Toronto. As part of this special tournament, TimePlay will be offering new games revolving around sports and music.
TimePlay’s proprietary technology transforms a smartphone into a game controller, which connects to the big screen and creates two-way interactivity. Movie-goers can participate in a completely new social entertainment experience, sparking live competition between family, friends and strangers on 720 of Cineplex’s big screens.
Def Leppard’s Albums Make Streaming And Download Debut And Announce North American Tour With Journey
Beginning today at 12:01am local time around the world, legendary British rock icons Def Leppard debut their full recording catalog worldwide via streaming and download platforms. One of the last multi-platinum selling acts to be made available on streaming and download, music fans from all corners of the globe can now enjoy tracks and albums from Def Leppard who have sold more than 100 million albums worldwide to become one of rock’s most enduring and influential bands.
Said Joe Elliott, “It is with a mixture of relief & euphoria that we now see our entire catalog finally getting a digital release. Having embraced every other format with open arms, especially & more recently the reemergence of vinyl, we’re now going to be available to everyone everywhere and honestly, it’s as exciting as the original releases were.”
Added Rick Savage, “Finally the wait is over! Our music is now available on all digital formats. Very excited. Thanks for your patience and continued support.”
Phil Collen also said, “We felt we’d been left out of the digital party but it’s a thrill to us to finally accept the invitation and to be able to say ‘yeah, you can stream us, download us and get us great on all of these digital outlets’.”
As a cornerstone of rock and roll’s history, Def Leppard‘s substantial career includes numerous hit singles including their first early chart hit “Wasted” — to their radio and MTV staples “Bringin’ On The Heartbreak”, “Photograph”, “Rock of Ages”, “Too Late”, “Animal”, “Armageddon It”, “Love Bites”, “Rocket”, and “Let’s Get Rocked.” Their ground-breaking multi-platinum albums—including two of the best-selling albums of all time with sales of more than 10 million copies each in the U.S. alone, Pyromania and Hysteria, captured some of the group’s legendary tracks, bringing together classic Leppard hits such as “Pour Some Sugar on Me”, “Hysteria” and “Foolin’.” The group continued their success expanding into the world of film, covers, and new collaborations including “Two Steps Behind” from the film Last Action Hero, “No Matter What”/”Waterloo Sunset” and “Nine Lives” with Tim McGraw as well as straight ahead Def Leppard hits “When Love and Hate Collide”, “Slang”, “Work It Out”, “Promises” and “Now.” Finally, all of Def Leppard‘s awe-inspiring music is available for everyone around the world, from the band’s eponymous debut EP through to their most recent album.
In conjunction with the release of their catalog, Def Leppard also announced they will embark on a massive co-headlining tour with Journey. Comprised of stadiums and arena venues around the U.S., the 58-city run is set to kick off in Hartford, CT on May 21st and will wrap in Los Angeles, CA on October 6th. Please see tour routing below. Tickets go on sale beginning Saturday, February 3 at 10 AM local time at LiveNation.com.
DEF LEPPARD TITLES NOW AVAILABLE ACROSS ALL STREAMING AND DOWNLOAD PLATFORMS INCLUDE:
The Def Leppard EP (1979)
On Through The Night (1980)
High ‘N’ Dry (1981)
Pyromania (1983)
Hysteria (1987)
Adrenalize (1992)
Retro Active (1993)
Vault (1995)
Slang (1996)
Euphoria (1999)
X (2002)
Yeah! (2006)
Songs From The Sparkle Lounge (2008)
Mirror Ball – Live & More (2011)
Def Leppard (2015)
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2018 DEF LEPPARD & JOURNEY TOUR DATES |
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Mon May 21 |
Hartford, CT |
XL Center** |
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Wed May 23 |
Albany, NY |
Times Union Center |
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Fri May 25 |
Hershey, PA |
Hersheypark Stadium |
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Sat May 26 |
Buffalo, NY |
KeyBank Center** |
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Mon May 28 |
Cleveland, OH |
Quicken Loans Arena |
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Wed May 30 |
Cincinnati, OH |
U.S. Bank Arena |
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Fri Jun 01 |
Toronto, ON |
Rogers Centre |
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Sat Jun 02 |
Pittsburgh, PA |
PPG Paints Arena |
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Tue Jun 05 |
Raleigh, NC |
PNC Arena |
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Wed Jun 06 |
Knoxville, TN |
Thompson-Boling Arena |
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Fri Jun 08 |
Bristow, VA |
Jiffy Lube Live |
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Sat Jun 09 |
Charlotte, NC |
Spectrum Center |
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Mon Jun 11 |
Philadelphia, PA |
Wells Fargo Center** |
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Wed Jun 13 |
New York, NY |
Madison Square Garden |
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Fri Jun 15 |
Newark, NJ |
Prudential Center |
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Sat Jun 16 |
Baltimore, MD |
Royal Farms Arena |
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Sun Jul 01 |
Atlanta, GA |
SunTrust Park |
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Tue Jul 03 |
Indianapolis, IN |
Ruoff Home Mortgage Pavilion |
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Wed Jul 04 |
Milwaukee, WI |
Summerfest |
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Fri Jul 06 |
Memphis, TN |
FedEx Forum |
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Sat Jul 07 |
Little Rock, AR |
Verizon Arena |
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Mon Jul 09 |
Tulsa, OK |
BOK Center |
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Wed Jul 11 |
Louisville, KY |
KFC Yum! Center |
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Fri Jul 13 |
Detroit, MI |
Comerica Park |
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Sat Jul 14 |
Chicago, IL |
Wrigley Field** |
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Mon Jul 16 |
Wichita, KS |
INTRUST Bank Arena |
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Wed Jul 18 |
Sioux Falls, SD |
Denny Sanford PREMIER Center |
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Thu Jul 19 |
Lincoln, NE |
Pinnacle Bank Arena |
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Sat Jul 21 |
Denver, CO |
Coors Field |
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Mon Jul 23 |
Des Moines, IA |
Wells Fargo Arena** |
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Wed Jul 25 |
Kansas City, MO |
Sprint Center** |
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Fri Jul 27 |
Minneapolis, MN |
Target Field |
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Sat Jul 28 |
Fargo, ND |
Fargodome** |
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Sat Aug 11 |
Boston, MA |
Fenway Park** |
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Mon Aug 13 |
Virginia Beach, VA |
Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater |
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Wed Aug 15 |
Columbia, SC |
Colonial Life Arena |
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Fri Aug 17 |
Ft Lauderdale, FL |
BB&T Center |
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Sat Aug 18 |
Tampa, FL |
Amalie Arena |
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Mon Aug 20 |
Birmingham, AL |
Legacy Arena @ The BJCC |
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Wed Aug 22 |
Columbus, OH |
Schottenstein Center |
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Fri Aug 24 |
St. Louis, MO |
Busch Stadium |
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Sat Aug 25 |
Nashville, TN |
Bridgestone Arena |
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Mon Aug 27 |
New Orleans, LA |
Smoothie King Center |
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Wed Aug 29 |
Dallas, TX |
American Airlines Center |
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Fri Aug 31 |
San Antonio, TX |
AT&T Center |
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Sat Sep 01 |
Houston, TX |
Toyota Center** |
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Wed Sep 05 |
Albuquerque, NM |
Isleta Amphitheatre |
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Fri Sep 07 |
Phoenix, AZ |
Talking Stick Resort Arena |
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Sat Sep 08 |
Las Vegas, NV |
T-Mobile Arena** |
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Fri Sep 21 |
San Francisco, CA |
AT&T Park |
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Sun Sep 23 |
San Diego, CA |
Petco Park |
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Tue Sep 25 |
Salt Lake City, UT |
Vivint Smart Home Arena |
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Wed Sep 26 |
Nampa, ID |
Idaho Center Arena |
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Fri Sep 28 |
Portland, OR |
Moda Center |
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Sat Sep 29 |
Seattle, WA |
Gorge Amphitheatre |
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Mon Oct 01 |
Vancouver, BC |
Rogers Arena |
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Thu Oct 04 |
Sacramento, CA |
Golden 1 Center |
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Sat Oct 06 |
Los Angeles, CA |
The Forum |
Neil Diamond To Be Honored With The Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award
The Recording Academy has announced that iconic songwriter and celebrated performer Neil Diamond will be honored with The Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award, a Special Merits Award that celebrates performers that have made outstanding contributions of artistic significance to the field of recording. A special award presentation ceremony and concert celebrating all of honorees will be held in the summer of 2018.
Throughout his illustrious and wide-ranging career, Neil Diamond has sold over 130 million albums worldwide and has dominated the charts for more than five decades with 38 Top 40 singles and 16 Top 10 albums. He has achieved record sales with 40 Gold albums, 21 Platinum albums and 11 Multi-Platinum albums.
Before becoming one of the most noted and successful recording artists in the world, Diamond’s early recognition came as a songwriter. His recorded songs have become part of the fabric of America’s songbook with a wide range of international hits that include “Solitary Man,” “Cherry Cherry,” “Girl, You’ll Be A Woman Soon,” “I’m A Believer,” “Red Red Wine,” “Holly Holy,” “Thank The Lord For The Night Time,,” “Sweet Caroline,” “Kentucky Woman,” “Brother Love’s Travelling Salvation Show,” “Cracklin’ Rosie,” “I Am…I Said,” “Song Sung Blue,” “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers” (with Barbara Streisand,) “September Morn” and “Heartlight” among many others.
A Grammy Award-winning artist, Diamond is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Songwriters Hall Of Fame and a recipient of the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award, one of the highest honors bestowed upon songwriters. Diamond’s many other achievements include a Golden Globe Award, 13 Grammy nominations, ASCAP Film and Television Award, Billboard Icon Award, American Music Award and 2009’s NARAS’s Musicares Person of the Year Award. In 2011, Diamond received the prestigious Kennedy Center Honor for his lifetime of contributions to American culture.
oiid Launches Music Platform And Is Granted Exclusive Digital Release Of New Esperanza Spalding Album, “Exposure”
In tandem with its philosophy of allowing music fans the opportunity to step inside the music and close the gap between artists and their fans, oiid, a cutting-edge, state-of-the-art technology company based in Norway, is thrilled to announce its official global launch with the exclusive digital release of Esperanza Spalding’s new album, “Exposure.”
oiid’s technology provides music lovers around the world access to listen to songs differently, allowing users the ability to dissect each instrument stem-by-stem (aka instrument-by-instrument) — allowing a unique listening experience from their favorite artists. Fans will be able to interact with and uniquely remix the songs on every level – from vocals to drums to guitar etc. – allowing for an unrivaled and immersive music experience, and can also activate exclusive play-along stories, liner notes and behind-the-scenes features.
In tandem with this is an unprecedented partnership with Concord Records, which will feature songs from its artists and catalogue in conjunction with oiid’s u technology. Partnerships with other labels will be announced shortly.
On September 12th, beginning at 9 AM and over the course of 77 hours, bassist-composer-songwriter Spalding created an unprecedented album live on Facebook – utilizing oiid’s video production in front of a global audience. Called “Exposure,” the project brought its audience into the process of recording an album, revealing the magic that arises from spontaneous creativity. Over 3 million fans across the globe were reached during the recording and as guest artists Robert Glasper and Lalah Hathaway joined the project, additional fans such as Don Cheadle and Bilal joined the social media fray.
Though only 7,777 physical copies were made, Esperanza is pleased to be able to bring the audience even closer to the music through oiid’s digital platform. Spalding said, “We made an amazing batch of music, and now we’re able to share the process in an unprecedented way. I love that oiid saw the connection between what they want their app to do, and what I wanted this project to do: dissolve the distance between artists’ work and their listeners.”
Fender Announces American Original Series – Inspired By Fender Models Through The Decades
Fender Musical Instruments Corporation today announced the launch of the American Original Series, a new line of American-made electric basses and guitars inspired by some of Fender’s most-successful ’50s, ’60s and ’70s models. Boasting 11 models and 30 SKUs to match a variety of musical tastes and players, the American Original Series replaces the American Vintage Series, which was first introduced in 1982. Whether you’re a gigging musician, lover of vintage-style design or a collector – this new series marries that classic Fender vibe players have always loved about ’50s, ’60s and ’70s Fender electric guitars and basses with distinct, modern features offering greater comfort, playability and best-in-class performance.
“American Original guitars are a tip of the hat to Fender’s timeless designs, which remain enduring and relevant tools of creative expression,” said Justin Norvell, SVP Fender Products. “Even though models like the Stratocaster and Telecaster were introduced decades ago, the design was perfect and the form factor remains largely unchanged because we got it right the first time. If you’re looking for a fresh take on authentic, period-correct and accurate versions of Fender guitars and basses from the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s – the American Original Series is the best new choice out there.”
Priced from $1,799.99 to $2,099.99, American Original electric guitars and basses are designed and handcrafted in Corona, Calif. The progressive lineup features a wide variety of models across decades, including: ’50s and ’60s Stratocaster guitars; ’50s and ’60s Telecaster guitars; ’60s Jazzmaster and ’60s Jaguar guitars; ’50s and ’60s Precision Bass guitars; ’60s and ’70s Jazz Bass guitars; as well as left-handed models for the ’50s Stratocaster, ’60s Stratocaster and ’50s Telecaster. Thirteen classic Fender colors are featured on these electric guitars and basses: Aztec Gold, White Blonde, 2-Color Sunburst, Olympic White, Candy Apple Red, 3-Color Sunburst, Butterscotch Blonde, Fiesta Red, Lake Placid Blue, Surf Green, Ocean Turquoise, Natural and Black.
Marrying classic style, modern playability and performance, the American Original Series brings together vintage-style design cues, as well as modern fingerboard radii and switching. Other key features include: vintage-style hardware, vintage-tall frets, body radii and neck shapes, lacquer finishes, original-spec pickups, classic Fender colors and vintage-style cases.
Like the American Vintage Series before it, Fender American Original guitars and basses are already widely used across multiple musical genres by top artists, such as: Isaac Brock – singer, guitarist, banjoist and songwriter for indie rock band Modest Mouse; Rock and roll singer-songwriter JD McPherson; Kurt Vile – singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and record producer; as well as Grammy-winning producer and artist Raphael Saadiq – accompanying each on their musical journey toward exceptional artistry.
The American Original Series is available now at local dealers and on www.Fender.com. Models include:
- American Original ’50s Stratocaster
- American Original ’50s Stratocaster, Left-Hand
- American Original ’50s Telecaster
- American Original ’50s Telecaster, Left-Hand
- American Original ’50s Precision Bass
- American Original ’60s Stratocaster
- American Original ’60s Stratocaster, Left-Hand
- American Original ’60s Jaguar
- American Original ’60s Jazz Bass
- American Original ’60s Jazzmaster
- American Original ’60s Precision Bass
- American Original ’70s Jazz Bass
To learn more about Fender’s American Original Series, click here. See here for product images and artist images. Additional information on each model can be found here.
SiriusXM Launches ‘Last Mile, Second Chances,’ Groundbreaking New Show on Prison Reform and New Beginnings
SiriusXM today announced the launch of “Last Mile, Second Chances,” an exclusive new show about formerly incarcerated women moving back into society and how communities can help in the transition. The show airs on SiriusXM’s Urban View channel 126 Sundays at 9:00 am ET.
Hosted by justice reform advocate Topeka K. Sam, the compelling weekly show focuses on women personally affected by the penitentiary system sharing their experiences, traumas, and stories and tackles the topics of disenfranchisement, paying restitution, and the larger issue of incarceration and its ripple effects on women’s lives and that of their families.
“I am thrilled to host ‘Last Mile, Second Chances’ and help women turn the page on their past and start fresh,” said Topeka K. Sam. “It’s important for women moving back into society to have a place where they can learn the new ways of navigating the world – from how to apply for a job, get housing, or even going back to school – and SiriusXM’s ‘Last Mile, Second Chances’ will offer just that.”
“‘Last Mile, Second Chances’ fits in perfectly with Urban View’s mission of empowering our listeners to participate and foster change in their communities,” said Karen Hunter, Urban View host and Programming Consultant, SiriusXM. “At some point formerly incarcerated women return to society, which brings up the question, ‘What will they do now?’ We know the transition is difficult but SiriusXM’s ‘Last Mile, Second Chances’ can help.”
Upcoming guests on “Last Mile, Second Chances” include advocates Susan Rosenberg and Laura Whitehorn; New York University doctoral student Michelle Jones; author and activist Sibil Fox Richardson; Director of U.S. Prison Programs for the National Religious Campaign Against Torture Johnny Perez; Soros Justice Fellow James Kilgore; and The Federal Defenders of New York’s Director of Mitigation and Client Services Vivianne Guevara.
Having served three years in a federal prison, host Topeka K. Sam witnessed firsthand the epidemic and disparity of incarceration on women. The shock of learning some of the most gruesome details leading these women to jail – and their loud cries at night as they missed their children – prompted her to become their voice once she was free.
Topeka K. Sam is the Founder and Executive Director of The Ladies of Hope Ministries whose mission it is to help disenfranchised and marginalized women and girls transition back into society through spiritual empowerment, education, entrepreneurship and advocacy. She is also the founder of Hope House NYC, a safe housing space for women and girls. Topeka serves on the board of directors for Grassroots Leadership. She is a Beyond the Bars 2015 Fellow and a 2016 Justice-In-Education Scholar both from Columbia University, a 2017 Soros Justice Advocacy Fellow working on Probation and Parole Accountability, a 2018 Unlocked Futures Inaugural Cohort Member and a founding member of The National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls. Topeka attended Morgan State University; she lives in the Bronx, New York.
Drake’s Virginia Black Decadent American Whiskey Intends To Launch An Initial Public Offering
Grammy-award winning and certified platinum-selling recording artist, Drake, in collaboration with acclaimed spirits producer and entrepreneur Brent Hocking, today announced the intention to file an initial public offering that will allow any investor the opportunity to invest in the Company’s vision to redefine whiskey. The offering is expected to commence at the end of the 1st quarter 2018. Individuals interested in learning more about the Virginia Black investment opportunity and registering an indication of interest, along with opening and funding their BANQ account to purchase shares once the offering commences, can visit here.
Virginia Black is an aged Bourbon whiskey, focused on a high-rye content and finished with a decadent profile. Rich, decadent and smooth, Virginia Black captures consumer palates and preferences across market segments. Voted one of the top 5 spirits in 2016 by Wally’s Wine and top 100 spirits of 2017 by Wine Enthusiast earning a 91 point rating, Virginia Black surpasses competitive brands Jack Daniel’s, Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark in flavor profile ratings, even outscoring aficionado favored High West “Bourye” acquired by Constellation Brands for $160 million in 2016.
Virginia Black is uniquely positioned to redefine American whiskey. Attracting a wider and more diverse demographic, broadening the appeal of whiskey and brown spirits in general. Brown spirits lead growth in the U.S. with American whiskey volumes up 6.8% and revenues of $3.1 billion signifying an increase of 7.7% in 2016. Notably, Cognac volumes are also up 12.9% over the previous year with revenues totaling $1.5 billion and an increase of 15.3% in 2016. Virginia Black takes aim to capture market share from both.
The company launched a national commercial campaign on November 19, 2017 airing nation-wide on CBS, ABC, and TNT among other networks during NFL, NBA and holiday season programming. The campaign epitomizes Drake’s own self-deprecating humor beloved by fans and followers alike. A series of teasers for the commercial titled, “The Realest Dude Ever,” went viral after release on Drake’s Instagram receiving over 20 million views almost instantaneously. With over 110 million followers on social media Drake—like Virginia Black—crosses market segments with an impact and influence unparalleled in the industry.
Virginia Black is distributed by Proximo Spirits, which lists Jose Cuervo and Bushmills among its roster of brands, and is available in 45 states and in Burundi, Ghana, Ireland, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, and Zanzibar, as well as the United Kingdom and Canada.
TriPoint Global Equities, LLC, working with its online division BANQ® (www.banq.co), will act as the lead managing selling agent and bookrunner for the offering. The Company seeks to raise up to $30 million in its IPO. Virginia Black intends to use the proceeds from the offering to fund domestic and international expansion, sales and marketing, and for working capital and other general corporate purposes.
Founder and CEO Brent Hocking is known for creating award-winning brands and bottle designs. Hocking states, “Virginia Black is the perfect combination of exceptionally good juice in exquisite packaging at an accessible price. From inception, we wanted everyone to enjoy Virginia Black and are pleased to extend the opportunity to millions of Americans and other investors around the world to become part of the Virginia Black family.”
“I am thrilled that Virginia Black is embarking on this offering. TriPoint has been a pioneer and leader in IPOs for years and has developed a methodology that allows issuers and brands to reach a large audience of both investors and customers,” said Mark Elenowitz, CEO of TriPoint. “Virginia Black leads us into exciting new territory where Main Street meets Wall Street, giving millions of fans worldwide the opportunity to be a part of Drake’s success.”
Stuart Murdoch On The Power Of Songwriting Surrounded By Political Chaos
Stuart Murdoch is a Scottish musician, writer and filmmaker, and the lead singer and songwriter for the indie pop band Belle and Sebastian.
As the state of the world becomes more perilous and the political landscape becomes more toxic, lots of artists are wrestling with this means for their work. What is my art really doing? Am I helping anything? Those seem like healthy questions to ask.
Absolutely. You have to respond, not only to what is happening in the world, but also just to what’s happening to you, what’s happening to your family. Most people have a desire to respond to problems in a positive and inquisitive way, and why shouldn’t that include artists? So I know there’s a lot of shit going down, but I think it’s a good thing to still make art. We’ve had these discussions in the group as well about being useful. It has inspired us.
I think our general feeling, my general feeling, is a little bit akin to if the problems of the world just now in society and in politics are like a war, then we’re kind of like the non-combatants, you know? I feel like I would be a war chaplain. I’d be the fellow running about the trenches just handing out cigarettes with a pocket bible and saying prayers for the soldiers. I think there’s a limit to how much you can actually do in terms of anger and fighting, and fighting what’s going on, and maybe the artist’s job is to be more conciliatory. I don’t know, different people have different attitudes.