NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Neil Diamond, one of the best-selling singers of all time, announced Monday he was immediately retiring from touring after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Following his doctor’s advice, the Brooklyn native who turns 77 on Wednesday scrapped Australia and New Zealand stops scheduled for March as part of a global tour to celebrate his 50th anniversary as a recording artist. However, Diamond said in a statement that he plans […]
Tag: music
McCartney, Pink Floyd join campaign to save UK music venues
LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason and folk singer Billy Bragg were among artists and politicians campaigning outside Britain’s parliament on Wednesday to save the country’s live music venues. Around 35 percent of Britain’s live music venues have shut over the last decade, buffeted by gentrification, high rents and the changing music industry. “You need that bottom rung of the ladder for any band or artist that wants to work live,” […]
Golden Globes: 10 things you didn’t know you didn’t know
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Hollywood’s annual awards season revs up on Sunday as industry A-listers turn out for the 75th Golden Globes. Here are 10 fun-filled facts (plus a few bonus tidbits) you probably didn’t know about Tinseltown’s biggest pre-Oscars prize-giving, organized by the 90-member Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Beginnings Founded in 1944, the awards were given out for the first 14 years by journalists who were members of the Hollywood Foreign Correspondents […]
Kendrick Lamar heads into film with ‘Black Panther’ soundtrack
NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — High-flying rapper Kendrick Lamar is making his first soundtrack as he released a song Thursday with singer SZA for the upcoming superhero film “Black Panther.” Lamar, whose socially conscious and often experimental hip-hop has won him wide critical praise, will produce the soundtrack for the movie which comes out on February 16. He and hip-hop executive Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith will record and select tracks for “Black Panther,” a […]
Music sales soar in US, as streaming takes over market
by Shaun Tandon Agence France-Presse NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Music sales grew at a robust pace for a third straight year in the United States in 2017 as listeners kept flocking to streaming outlets, an industry monitor said Wednesday. Analytical firm BuzzAngle Music said that consumption in the world’s largest music market jumped 12.8 percent in 2017, well outpacing the 4.2 percent growth seen a year earlier. On-demand streaming services led by Spotify […]
Whither rock? Beyonce, Eminem to headline Coachella
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Beyonce, Eminem and The Weeknd will headline Coachella, promoters announced Tuesday, marking the first time that no rock act will be among the main attractions at the leading festival. Coachella, which has turned into one of the world’s most lucrative and influential festivals since its debut in 1999, takes place in the desert of southern California over two successive weekends in April with identical lineups for each. The festival […]
Justin Timberlake gets ‘personal’ in first album in five years
NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Pop superstar Justin Timberlake on Tuesday announced his first album in nearly five years, promising more “personal” songwriting inspired by his home and family. The 36-year-old singer and actor said that “Man of the Woods,” his fifth solo studio album, will come out on February 2 — two days before he headlines entertainment during the Super Bowl, generally the most watched television event of the year in the United […]
Shakira cancels tour; hopes for June return
NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Colombian pop star Shakira on Wednesday cancelled the remainder of her world tour because of a problem with her vocal chords and said she hoped to be back on stage in June of next year. “Though I very much hoped to be able to recover my vocal chords in time to pick the tour back up in January, and after exploring many options to that effect, I have accepted […]
Lorde cancels Israel show after pressure
JERUSALEM, Israel (AFP) — New Zealand singer Lorde has canceled a planned show in Israel after facing pressure from supporters of a boycott of the Jewish state over its occupation of Palestinian territory. The 21-year-old, who enjoyed phenomenal success while still a teenager, announced last week a Tel Aviv performance in June as part of a tour. After criticism from international and New Zealand activists, Lorde announced on Sunday she was canceling the performance in […]
Mariah Carey back to Times Square New Year’s after debacle
NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Mariah Carey must have made a New Year’s resolution to ensure a better sound system. The pop diva confirmed that she will return to Times Square in New York to ring in 2018, a year after she was humiliated by technical issues at the annual televised ball-drop. “We can all agree that last year didn’t go exactly as planned and we are thrilled to move forward together to provide […]
Facebook promises personalized music in first label deal
by Shaun Tandon Agence France-Presse NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Facebook announced a licensing deal Thursday with Universal Music Group, its first with a major label, as the social media giant promised more personalized, interactive music features for its two billion users. The move marks a new foray into music by Facebook, which, despite its global conquest, had been low-key in developing music functions compared with fellow tech titans Apple, Google and Amazon. Universal — home […]
YouTube seals deal with top music label amid streaming moves
NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — YouTube said Tuesday that it had sealed a licensing agreement with the world’s largest music label conglomerate Universal as the video behemoth explores creating a new streaming service. YouTube, which is part of Google, said it reached a long-term agreement with the Universal Music Group, months after a deal with competitor Warner Music. A joint statement did not specify the terms but hinted that the agreement would address compensation by YouTube, […]





