Sting and Shaggy

Sting and Shaggy

Photo: Recording Academy

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Sting And Shaggy Talk Music Advocacy, Philanthropy & More

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At a special event at the GRAMMY Museum, the duo discuss the importance of music advocacy, the causes near and dear to them, and perform music together
Ana Yglesias
Advocacy
Oct 10, 2018 - 4:44 pm

GRAMMY winners Sting and Shaggy are not necessarily the most-expected of collaborators, but their passion for music was part of what brought them together. The duo, who have been playing shows around the world together the past few months, stopped by the GRAMMY Museum in Los Angeles on Oct. 7 for a special edition of Up Close & Personal presented by the Recording Academy and moderated by the organization's Chief Industry, Government & Member Relations Officer Daryl Friedman.

Sting and Shaggy

In the intimate discussion, Sting and Shaggy talked about the causes most important to them and why it's important for musicians to both give back to the things near to their hearts as well as advocate for their rights as music creators. The two artists also discussed how their latest musical collaboration came together.

Sting and Shaggy_4

On an evening focused on music advocacy, Sting and Shaggy revealed they are supportive of improving music creators' rights. This passion is shared by others in the industry and is reflected in recent efforts by members of the music community advocating for the Music Modernization Act, new legislation which would establish fairer rates and greater protections for all music creators. Thanks to widespread, bipartisan support for the bill and increased awareness around the need for copyright law reform to protect creators, the bill has passed both the House and Senate and currently awaits final approval by the President.

Shaggy and Daryl Friedman

Sting and Shaggy also discussed their ongoing dedication to giving back as musicians, using their platforms for social good. They shared two of their biggest causes, the Rainforest Foundation Fund and the Make a Difference Foundation, and why it has been important to each of them to contribute to the communities and causes they’re passionate about. They encouraged other musicians to use their platforms for good, including to advocate for artists' rights and the music community as a whole.

For anyone lucky enough to be in the room for this exclusive event, Sting and Shaggy brought down the house, closing the night with a special performance of some of their new songs, serving as a reminder of the magic music can create.

Final Passage Of Music Modernization Act In The House Brings Copyright Reform Closer

Mitch Glazier

Photo: Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images

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Sirius XM Continues to Fight Against Paying Artists Fairly

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RIAA President Mitch Glazier explains how Sirius XM's opposition to the Music Modernization Act is unfounded and unfair to artists
Ana Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Sep 12, 2018 - 5:20 pm

In a recent statement, Mitch Glazier, the President of the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), explained why Sirius XM's opposition to the Music Modernization Act, or MMA, is unfair to artists, with their arguments in their defense flimsy at best.

As the Recording Academy has highlighted, Sirius XM is fighting against the pre-1972 provision of the MMA which calls for digital and satellite providers to pay market rate royalties for playing any pre-1972 recordings. This important piece of legislation would allow legacy artists (and their estates) to finally be paid fairly for use of their music. Satellite radio providers such as Sirius XM have profited of the loophole which allows them to play legacy artists' music without paying them a penny. Because of this, Sirius XM is fighting to make last minute changes to the MMA in an attempt to kill the otherwise widely-supported bill.

In an article published on Billboard's business page, Glazier outlines how Sirius XM's claims are simply unfounded. They said that they've already paid for all of the legacy (pre-1972) songs they use across their stations, when in fact they have not. After years of paying nothing to legacy artists to use their music, artists and labels sued them in state court, garnering wins in California. Sirius settled these claims and used those limited (albeit forced) payments as the argument that they are now paid up on all pre-1972 song plays, which is, of course, false.

"The real issue is that Sirius XM wants to avoid paying legacy artists any more money while it keeps its special deal that allows it to pay for post-'72 music at below-market rates," Glazier explains. "The Music Modernization Act finally corrects both these injustices and makes Sirius XM play by the same rules as every other digital service."

Where’s The “Respect” For Older Artists and Musicians’ Royalties?

Contact Your Senators: Tell Them To Support Comprehensive Music Reform

A Perfect Circle

Photo: Tim Cadiente | Design: F Inomata

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A Perfect Circle's Billy Howerdel On New Music, Touring Again & More

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We go behind-the-scenes with the influential rock group's guitarist and lead composer, who shares what it's been like making music together again and hints that "Judith" could be heard live in the near future
Ana Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Oct 15, 2018 - 12:06 pm

A Perfect Circle, led by Maynard James Keenan and Billy Howerdel, released their ground-breaking, genre-nonconforming debut album, Mer De Noms, in 2000 to much critical acclaim. The group followed up with two more albums, Thirteenth Step in 2003 and Emotive in 2004, but then took a long hiatus to work on other projects, including Keenan returning to his GRAMMY-winning band Tool. Despite the time apart, A Perfect Circle wasn't over, and much to fans' delight the group started actively working together again in 2017, embarking on a tour and working on new music. They released their fourth studio album, Eat The Elephant, on April 20, 2018, along with a stunning album-length companion film.

The group visited the GRAMMY Museum on Oct. 10 for an intimate conversation and performance at the Clive Davis Theater for 200 lucky fans. Before the event we caught up with Howerdel to ask what he's been listening to lately, how the group's creative approach has shifted, his favorite songs to play live, what he'd like to say to fans, and more.

Billy Howerdel On A Perfect Circle's Return & More

Howerdel, who composes the majority of the group's music, with Keenan writing the lyrics, shares that their creative process has indeed shifted, and in working on the new album they took extra time "breaking things down a bit more" on each song. The guitarist also reveals that "Delicious" is one of his favorite tracks to play from the new album, and he's looking forward to playing it live for the first time soon. He also hinted that he wants to play "Judith," a fan-favorite from Mer De Noms, with the group again soon, one they haven't performed together live in quite some time.

Exclusive Video Premiere: A Perfect Circle "Eat The Elephant"

Dua Lipa

Dua Lipa

Photo: Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images | Design: F Inomata

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Dua Lipa Reflects On Her Journey To Pop Stardom: "Absolutely Mental"

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The rising star spoke to a lucky group of 200 fans at the GRAMMY Museum about how she got to where she is today, her musical influences and more
Ana Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Oct 11, 2018 - 6:14 pm

Burgeoning popstar Dua Lipa visited the GRAMMY Museum in Los Angeles on Sept. 28 to share the story behind her music and her rise to fame and to treat fans with an intimate performance of a few of the songs that helped her get there, including "New Rules." During the conversation with Sam Lansky, the West Coast Editor of TIME Magazine, she spoke about her gratitude for where she is today, how she got there, the music she grew up listening to, and her biggest inspirations.

Dua Lipa On Success, Influences & More

Thanks to the viral success of the breakout single "New Rules," from her debut album, Dua Lipa, the young singer/songwriter is making a name for herself as she helps shift the pop landscape towards a safer, more celebratory place for empowered, confident women. She is grateful for where she is today, as well as for everything the success of the single has allowed her to do since then.

She explains that many of the connections she has made over the years have been through social media, mainly Twitter, and have allowed her to link up with others in the music industry, as well as her fans. She appreciates how her fans are her biggest advocates and their support has allowed her to keep doing what she loves.

"I'm so grateful for all the experiences I've been given. And all these amazing places that I visited. And all the crowds that I've experienced to do really what I love," Lipa shares. "I'm really just so thankful to the fans and all the listeners that have really reacted and resonated with the music."

When Lansky asks her about her biggest inspirations, she shares how much she loved—and still loves—listening to Pink and Nelly Furtado growing up, and learned all the words to their songs. She shares how listening to their albums when she was younger, and feeling like she really got to know the two popstars, inspired her to make music that would allow her fans to get to know her.

"I feel like I really got to know those two artists so well just by listening to their music. And that was something I aspired to do with my first album," Lipa explains. "It was all about allowing people to get to know me, for me."

Dua Lipa On Calvin Harris, Other Dream Collabs, "New Rules," & More

A Perfect Circle

A Perfect Circle

Photo: Rebecca Sapp/WireImage/Getty Images

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Exclusive Video Premiere: A Perfect Circle "Eat The Elephant"

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The supergroup returned with a new album 'Eat The Elephant,' 14 years since their last. They filmed a special album-length video for the release, and today we premiere the video for the emotive title track
Ana Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Oct 11, 2018 - 3:15 pm

A Perfect Circle released their fourth studio album, Eat The Elephant, on April 20, 2018, 14 years after they put out their last album, Emotive. Their latest video for the album's title track is an emotive opening to the new album, with lead singer and songwriter Maynard James Keenan's haunting vocals supported by flowing, piano-filled notes by Billy Howerdel, the group's lead composer and guitarist. The group shot an innovative album length film for their new release, for which we see the first segment of in the new video for "Eat The Elephant."  

Always ones to put exquisite attention detail in their art, the rock group didn't hold back on their return to making music as A Perfect Circle. They worked with innovative filmmaker Steven Sebring to create a 58 minute film for the full album. The film was shot with Sebring's high-tech 360 degree circular camera system, creating what they are calling the "world's first hologram album." The latest video for "Eat The Elephant," premiering here today exclusively on GRAMMY.com, is a piece from the storyline of the new film.

The video is strange and intriguing, fitting for Keenan's piercing vocals, which begin with him singing; "Looming, omnipresent/This task ahead/This task at hand/Ominous and daunting." In the video we see a young girl sitting on a rotating bed, looking into a handheld projector. It gives you taste of the content of the album's full film, albeit in 2D, which takes you on a journey through the eyes of the same young girl across all 12 songs of the album.

"It's not so much a music video, so much as a companion piece to the song. I mean it is a video, but it's not," Howerdel recently told the Recording Academy. "Steven [Sebring] has this amazing loft in New York City, he's got this 360 degree camera array in there. We shot the album cover photos of Maynard and I there, and then he did the other video content. It's just amazing…It was an interesting process to see of how that booth worked."

The hologram film can only be viewed in 3D through a special prism placed on top of a smartphone. Watching it through the small silver pyramid-shaped device, which is available with the deluxe box set of Eat The Elephant, is next level visuals, like a live message being transmitted from another dimension, or from someone otherworldly.

"Having Maynard and Billy’s trust to create this for A Perfect Circle was a true artist's dream," Sebring shared on his site. "Their 14-year break allowed technology to catch up with their groundbreaking music and gave me the chance to apply new ideas of dimensional capture to this stunning album."

"It's incredibly refreshing to meet someone as bananas as I am," Keenan told Revolver. "Steven Sebring is my kind of eccentric. Top notch, Mr. Sebring. Top notch."

Last night, at An Evening With A Perfect Circle at the GRAMMY Museum on Oct. 10 Keenan and Howerdel discussed their creative process on the new album, the new film and played some new material to an intimate group of fans. Keenan shared "it was just time" to make music together again.

The group continues their tour in support of the new album, with dates across the U.S. ending in Phoenix on Nov. 20, then crossing the pond over to Europe in December. More information on the tour as well as the special album box set can be found on the band's website.

A Perfect Circle Announce More U.S. Tour Dates In Support Of New Album