Flexible pricing has long been a contentious issue in the streaming business, now it seems that Universal and Sony Music are taking the matter into their hands and are quietly rolling out their own low-priced subscription service.
NOW Music+, a streaming app that offers customers access to an advert-free playlist of chart hits and compilation albums from the Now That’s What I Call Music series — jointly owned by Universal Music and Sony Music Entertainment — silently launched in the U.K. earlier this year.
Subscriptions cost £4.99 ($6.50) per month if users sign up through the NOW Music+ website and £5.99 ($7.90) if they join via the App store (thanks to Apple’s 30 percent “tax” on subscriptions). At present, the under-the-radar streaming service is only available in the U.K., although Reuters reports that preparations are underway for a broader roll-out.
With thousands of Toronto-area students back in school this month, Dufferin Mall is doing its part to combat the negative, sometimes tragic effects of bullying by bringing together an entire community for its ‘Be Awesome’ anti-bullying event at Dufferin Mall at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 24.
“Bullying is still one of the most troubling and pervasive issues facing young people today. No one should have to deal with the negative feelings and implications of bullying,” says Mira Kopanarov, Marketing Manager at Dufferin Mall. “We’re holding this event to rally an entire community around our youth and to demonstrate that by using positive role modeling and by practicing kindness and understanding, we can all make a positive difference in the lives of our young people.”
The two-hour ‘Be Awesome’ anti-bullying event will feature a fashion show in conjunction with Wear Your Label (fashion tackling stigmas) and inspiring speeches by youth activist Hannah Alper (@ThatHannahAlper) and Neil Pasricha (@NeilPasricha), New York Times best-selling author of The Happiness Equation and The Book of Awesome. The talent in the fashion show will be real people showcasing their stories. The Be Awesome event will be emceed by Globe and Mail reporter Carly Weeks (@carlyweeks), who has written about her traumatic firsthand experience with bullying in her youth.
Those in attendance will also have a chance to see an example of the ‘Buddy Benches’ Dufferin Mall has donated to neighbouring schools. The benches, which have been proven to help curb loneliness and foster kindness in schoolyard settings, are being donated along with paint and art supplies. Students will paint and decorate the benches before installation in their schoolyards. Join the conversation @DufferinMall (Twitter) and @Dufferin_Mall (Instagram) and use the hashtag #BeAwesome.
On Saturday, September 17, Toronto Mayor John Tory and Councillor John Filion of Ward 23 in Willowdale will join community members to celebrate the opening of the new music-themed Lee Lifeson Art Park. Part of the Willowdale Park footpath corridor, the new park features new trees, grass, benches, unique music-themed art installations and a small performance space for acoustic concerts.
Mayor Tory will present Rush with the Key to the City. George Stroumboulopoulos will conduct an interview with band members Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson after the ceremony. It all goes down at 12:30 p.m., when Mayor Tory to present Key to the City at 1 p.m. at 45 Princess Ave., North York.
Terry Kath Experience : A Daughter’s Journey is a documentary about a daughter discovering the legacy of her father, the late Terry Kath. Kath was one of the founding members of the band Chicago whose powerful guitar playing and husky, melodic voice has been praised by such icons as Jimi Hendrix, Joe Walsh and Eric Clapton. Before discovering his full potential as a guitar icon, Kath’s life ended tragically at age 32.
Terry’s daughter Michelle was only two years old when he passed only knowing him through his music and stories from her mother. After discovering a box of memorabilia Michelle sets out on a journey to get to know her father and to search for his iconic lost guitar. In this documentary, Michelle interviews her dad’s family, bandmates, and good friends, as well as prominent musicians, to piece together the life of her father, one of the great unsung rock legends on the 1970’s.
Michelle says, “The idea to make a film about my father came to me many years ago when, in looking through old photos of him, I realized that I didn’t know his full story. I’ve since learned that his is the quintessential story of an all-American boy raised in the midwest, who, at a young age, picks up a guitar, falls in love with it, and goes on to become a famous 70’s rock star. With all the highs and lows that come along with success, my father’s life ended suddenly before my 3rd birthday. My journey of discovery began with the first interview. I could only have dreamed that making this film would bring me this much closer to my father and would help me better understand the man he was and the decisions he made. Meeting these people and hearing their stories are memories that will stay with me forever. I am forever grateful to all that have helped me to take this journey and to discover this man.”
Take a behind the scenes look at a virtual reality experiment from Google Play and Queen. The Bohemian Rhapsody Experience offers a journey through Queen frontman Freddie Mercury’s subconscious mind and recreates the sensation of being onstage with the band, with visual and audio elements that respond to your movements. The content is also available as a 360 degree video for you to experience even if you do not own a Google Cardboard.
Men, we need to talk. Go to weneedtotalk.movember.com for more information on how to start important conversations and share this video to keep the conversation going.
Globally, the rate of suicide is alarmingly high, particularly in men. Around the world, on average we lose a man to suicide every minute of every day. This is a social crisis that demands our immediate action.
The intention of this campaign from the Movember Foundation is to give male suicide the urgent attention it deserves and to take a bold stand towards protecting men’s health.
It’s all about igniting conversations. Important conversations about suicide, the complex issues that surround it and what everyone can do to address it. Conversations that we hope will save countless lives and prevent the far-reaching and painful consequences for the families, friends and communities of the men we tragically lose everyday. It’s an uncomfortable conversation, but it’s one we know we need to have.
Too many men are ‘toughing it out’, keeping their feelings to themselves and struggling alone with their issues. It’s time to break this silence and recognize that a key to overcoming even the biggest problems is for men to talk more. Not about trivial stuff, but about the significant changes and challenges going on in their lives – things like difficulties with work or finances, the breakdown of a relationship, overwhelming family responsibilities or a significant set back. These things happen regularly and, for some, have the potential to derail or be more overwhelming than they’d imagined.
This campaign tackles male suicide with a powerful but simple message… “Men, let’s talk when things get tough”. Like everything the Movember Foundation does, it’s been important that this message is delivered with realness and authenticity. That’s why the stories of men with a personal experience of suicide are featured in the video. They are the most powerful voices in suicide prevention – they truly understand the challenges and are proof that there is a brighter future ahead. Family members and friends who have lost men to suicide have also had a significant role in shaping our message. We’re extremely grateful to the many passionate people who have invested their ideas, hearts and stories into this campaign.
This campaign forms part of the Movember Foundation’s suicide prevention strategic approach – encouraging men to reach out, particularly during times of change and when things get tough, and to take action sooner rather than later to reduce the risk of suicide.
Our number one priority in creating this video was to do no harm. The messages and images were developed through extensive consultation with mental health and suicide prevention experts, clinicians and those with a lived experience of suicide. The story of resilience in the resolution of the message is designed specifically to give hope and empower the community to take positive action to help reduce male suicide.
To speak with someone immediately, contact your local 24-hour crisis support service. Details are listed on weneedtotalk.movember.com. #weneedtotalk #WSPD #movember
Every day, New York City buskers bring joy and excitement to the busy commuters that pass them by. Together with VH1 Save The Music, JetBlue believes the artists who play the background music to their city finally deserve to be center stage.
Acclaimed musician Nathan East and his son Noah East are part of a new project called Earthoteric, a digital telecast featuring internationally renowned music streamed over images of Earth from space. The musicians are enthusiastic about the potential of the project, which brings the beauty of the planet into the public eye.
“What an exciting time we live in, where the wonder of our planet can be presented to the world’s population and continue to inspire positive human action and interaction.” -Edwina Rogers, Earthoteric Board
Nathan Harrell East is an American jazz, R&B, and rock bass player and vocalist who just kicked off the U.S. Open with Phil Collins. With more than 2,000 recordings, East is considered one of the most prolific bass players in the history of music, is a founding member of the contemporary jazz quartet Fourplay, and has also recorded, performed and co-written songs with performers such as Eric Clapton, Michael Jackson, Joe Satriani, George Harrison, Stevie Wonder, Toto, Daft Punk, and Herbie Hancock.
Earthoteric is the first American television program to show stunning views of our amazing planet coupled with music from well-known and up-and-coming artists. From your computer or cable network, Earthoteric delivers “Your Earth, Your Music, Our Pleasure.”
Dolly Parton will celebrate her 50th wedding anniversary with husband Carl Dean later this year, and she just reveals the secret to their enduring marriage.
“We’ve just always been great friends. He’s very much a loner. He likes his time alone, he likes his space. The fact that I’m gone a lot suits him fine! He likes it when I’m home, he likes it when I’m gone, and it’s kinda the same with me. We just always had this wonderful relationship and a wonderful understanding about this whole thing.”
TMZ recently revealed that Nelly owes $2.4 million in federal and state taxes. SPIN reported the story with a headline based on the average Spotify payout for each song stream: “Nelly Needs At Least 287,176,547 ‘Hot In Herre’ Streams to Pay Off His IRS Debt.” The St. Louis rapper’s supporters took it from there. Tracking their music marathons with the hashtag #SaveNelly, fans have been playing “Hot In Herre” again and again and again. It now sits at 54 million streams, but that’s easily reachable.
