Brian Haack is a Recording Academy/GRAMMY.com contributor.
The 60th GRAMMY Awards was packed with powerful performances by some of music's biggest stars. From the throwback vibes of Cardi B's "Finnesse" performance with Album Of The Year winner Bruno Mars, to Kesha's empowering statement with "Praying" featuring Cyndi Lauper, Camila Cabello, Julia Michaels, and Andra Day, to Logic's heartfelt rendition of "1-800-273-8255" with Khalid and Best New Artist…
GRAMMY-winning gods of thrash metal Slayer are finally hanging up their guitar straps and retiring from life on the road. <iframe width="620" height="349" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/d3-ITn0e00U?rel=0" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe> Amid their previously announced European farewell tour, the band have now revealed their final shows in the U.K., with a planned run of six dates across England, Scotland and Ireland. Along for…
As the man once said, "The times they are a-changing." After decades of stalled efforts to amend unfair and outdated music licensing laws – many of which have languished unchanged for decades, leaving creators hanging in the breeze – real progress in fixing the state of music law finally appears to be fast approaching. Today, creators everywhere have great reason…
Music fans in Columbus, Ohio, are in for a treat this summer as Breakaway Music Festival has just unleashed a killer lineup for their flagship three-day multigenre event Breakaway Columbus. <iframe width="620" height="349" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Z3cQXULjp1k?rel=0" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe> With a lineup stacked with the names Flosstradamus, Smokepurpp, Jaden Smith, Flatbush Zombies, Chris Lake, and more, plus Halsey, ODESZA, and Migos…
Austin-based Latin funk orchestra Grupo Fantasma are one of their hometown's proudest musical exports. Formed via the condensation of members from two former bands in 2001, they grew from a biweekly local gig to earning their first GRAMMY nomination for Best Latin Rock Or Alternative Album for Sonidos Gold at the 51st GRAMMY Awards to earning their first GRAMMY in…
The Senate Judiciary Committee has officially scheduled their first hearing to review the Music Modernization Act (MMA) for May 15. After years of sustained advocacy by the Recording Academy and its members, comprehensive music reform has gained new momentum in 2018. Just two weeks ago, the Music Modernization Act passed the House of Representatives with a unanimous 415 – 0…
The Japanese pop metal trio Babymetal dropped a new surprise today as a gift for their legions of rabid fans and to commemorate the opening date of their new world tour, which kicks off with an eight-date U.S. run and will include appearances at some of the world's most iconic metal festivals. <iframe width="620" height="349" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1ce456Nnkt8?rel=0" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>…
Last night on "American Idol," GRAMMY-winning country superstar Carrie Underwood treated fans to the world premiere of her latest music video, the glamorously bittersweet "Cry Pretty," which is the title track of her forthcoming new studio album. <iframe width="620"height="349"src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KUUjtUP2CrE?rel=0"frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe> The video teases the juxtaposition between an artist's public image and the emotional hardship that can often be…
Tenacious D, the GRAMMY-winning comedy duo comprised of actor/musicians Jack Black and Kyle Gass, first gave audiences an insight into their supposed occult origins in their 2006 film, The Pick Of Destiny. <iframe width="620" height="349" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QOUcIsvymOY?rel=0" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe> Detailed therein was the tale of a cursed guitar pick which could allow its bearer to unleash soul-rending guitar riffs and melt…
"All the new data tells the story — music is an important part of the U.S. economy and supports nearly 2 million American jobs. But as music keeps growing, the law hasn't kept up. The Music Modernization Act is a necessary step for improving the livelihoods of the many creators who bring music to the world." — Conversations In Advocacy…
Canadian singer/songwriter Shawn Mendes is gearing up for the release of his third studio LP, the self-titled Shawn Mendes. Today, he premiered the third new single in support of the forthcoming album on Apple Music's Beats 1 radio. The new track "Youth" features GRAMMY-nominated singer Khalid and speaks to the artists' vision of a shared sentiment of progress and solidarity…
Even as Avengers: Infinity War continues to smash box-office records with no hint of slowing down, the creative forces behind the summer's next big comic-book blockbuster Deadpool II are gearing up to try to smash some records of their own. <iframe width="620" height="349" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CX11yw6YL1w?rel=0" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe> Despite the pervasive ultraviolence and wisecracking comedic elements that set the Deadpool…
New York City's Electric Zoo festival is rounding the final corner on its 10th year. To commemorate the big milestone, the festival promoters have assembled a killer lineup of top-tier performers that pays tribute to all major subgenres of dance music. <iframe width="620" height="349" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/B6k6jjamUkc?rel=0" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe> Previously announced headliners for Electric Zoo 2018 include Kaskade, Marshmello and…
GRAMMY-nominated indie/folk iconoclast Father John Misty has announced an extended world tour in support of his new album Gods Favorite Customer, due out June 1. <iframe width="620" height="349" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/j5B5IGqyy2s?rel=0" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe> The title and release date for God's Favorite Customer was previously leaked in an apparent accidental move by Amazon France, igniting speculation over the new project in…
The lineup for the third annual installment of the Dana Point, Calif., oceanside live music gathering Ohana Festival has been officially announced. Boasting headliners such as Eric Church, Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam, Mumford & Sons, Beck, Norah Jones, and Yeah Yeah Yeahs, the festival promises something for everyone in the realms of rock, country, indie, and folk music. <iframe…
GRAMMY-winning rock band the Flaming Lips have always been hard to pin down. Their always-intriguing interpolations of electronic experimentation, raw psychedelic rock, and ecstatic live production have built them a reputation as a must-see act over their 35-year career. <iframe width="620" height="349" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cvfxKbpoxRE?rel=0" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe> This week, the band has announced plans to release a new collection of…
It's been a big week for J. Cole. <iframe width="620" height="349" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ufynqs_COF4?rel=0" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe> Fresh off of dropping his fifth album KOD, and likely earning his fifth No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 along the way, then premiering a new music video starring GRAMMY-nominated comedian Kevin Hart, Cole has shown no signs of slowing down. His next…
It's always exciting when a famous band or pop group reunites after calling it quits for a few years. A reunion tour gets planned, tons of fans get a chance to see a group they never thought they'd have a chance to see live, maybe some new music even gets recorded and the group decides to stay together for the…
GRAMMY-nominated rapper and longtime Eminem collaborator Royce Da 5'9" has a new album coming out on May 4. Just this week, the Detroit native (real name Ryan Montgomery) dropped some tantalizing details about his new effort The Book Of Ryan. <iframe width="620" height="349" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rJOsjP33nF4?rel=0" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe> In a new interview with Rap Up, Montgomery revealed that album track…
Across his nearly 20 years in the business, GRAMMY- and Latin GRAMMY-winning pop icon Pitbull has built a successful music career into a globally recognized brand. He credits his long-running success to making a decision early on about what he wanted to do with his life, and then dedicating all of his energy to pursuing that goal. As he makes…
