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Global Concert Business Healthy In 2009

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GRAMMYs
Dec 11, 2009 - 4:22 pm

Global Concert Business Healthy In 2009
The global concert industry totaled a record $4.4 billion in revenue, an 11.7 increase over 2008, and 73 million in attendance, a year-over-year 12.6 percent increase, according to figures from Billboard Boxscore from Dec. 6, 2008, to Nov. 21, 2009. In North America concert revenue reached $2.8 billion in 2009, down 2 percent, and 50 million in attendance, down 1.7 percent, based on 9 percent fewer shows. Live Nation reported a 25 percent increase in gross revenue to $2.5 billion and a 19 percent increase in attendance to 41 million, while AEG Live reported $888 million in gross revenue, a 12 percent decline, and 14.5 million in attendance, a 12 percent drop. (12/11)

Billboard Names Swift, West Artists Of Year
Billboard magazine named Taylor Swift and Kanye West as its top female and top male artists of the year, respectively. Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, and Britney Spears placed second through fifth in the female category, while T.I., Flo Rida, Jason Mraz, and Ne-Yo rounded out the top five in the male category. Swift was also named Billboard's 2009 overall artist of the year. (12/11)

Music Dominates Top 10 Most-Watched Videos In 2009
The top 10 list of most-watched Internet videos in 2009 consisted of all music videos except for the No. 1 video, the trailer to Twilight Saga: New Moon, according to a report by independent measuring firm Visible Measures. Beyoncé's "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)" was the No. 2 most-watched video with 333.2 million views. Rounding out the top five were Lady Gaga's "Poker Face" (317.7 million views), Soulja Boy's "Crank Dat" (313.8 million views) and a Susan Boyle performance from "Britain's Got Talent" (313.2 million views). (12/11)

Elvis Presley 75th Anniversary Events Planned For 2010
A variety of nationwide events will take place in 2010 celebrating the 75th anniversary birthday celebration of Elvis Presley, including a cake-cutting ceremony at his Graceland home in Memphis, Tenn., on Jan. 8, 2010, the date of what would have been his 75th birthday. Other events will include a special exhibit at Graceland featuring Presley's costumes and "Viva Elvis," a Cirque du Soleil tribute to his life and music opening Dec. 18 in Las Vegas. The GRAMMY Museum at L.A. Live will premiere Elvis At 21: Photographs By Alfred Wertheimer, a new Smithsonian traveling exhibition, on Jan. 8. (12/11)
 

Korn
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Who were the big winners at the 2017 APMAs? See the full list

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With the Alternative Press Music Awards now in the books from Cleveland, catch all the action here.
GRAMMYs
Jul 14, 2017 - 10:30 am
GRAMMY.com

Did you miss who won at the 2017 APMAs lfrom Cleveland? Don't sweat, find the full list of Alternative Press Music Awards right here, including Best Basist, Korn's “Fieldy” Arvizu.

Each summer, the Alternative Press Music Awards creates a temporary hub for the best in alternative music of all stripes. Tours are re-routed, overnight drives are endured and showers are skipped, all so this community of artists can come together in a fury of celebration. Part summer camp, part reunion, you never know what will happen at the APMAs.

Rise Against: Tim McIlrath's favorite protest songs of all time

That's where we come in! For the third year running, The Recording Academy will be onsite, behind the scenes and backstage, talking with your favorite artists from the show. This year, we've enlisted Anthony Vincent, the multitalented musician behind Ten Second Songs, to be our man on the ground and provide a candid look at the mayhem in Cleveland.

With performances from Korn, Pierce The Veil, All Time Low, the Pretty Reckless, and more, and the debut of Black Veil Brides' Andy Biersack as host, there's a lot to look forward to at Monday's awards. In anticipation of the festivities, take a look back at some highlights from our coverage of past APMAs.

The Pretty Reckless talk tour, collabs, and love for Die Antwoord

In 2016 we were in Columbus, Ohio, to catch hometown heroes Beartooth, hear some wild tour stories and even talk with Japanese pop-metal darlings Babymetal, right before their show-stopping performance with Rob Halford.

In 2015 we took an in-depth look at the APMAs with exclusive interviews, rehearsal footage and artist reactions as Alternative Press celebrated its 30th anniversary with a special exhibit at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and a killer show.

Stay tuned for more of our coverage from the APMAs. Plus, watch the APMAs live on July 17 starting at 7 p.m. EST.

Read more: 17 must-attend music festivals in 2017

Esperanza SPalding in 2013
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Esperanza Spalding to write, record newest album live on Facebook

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The 3-time GRAMMY winner has devised a remarkable approach for the production and release of her forthcoming album, 'Expsosure'
Brian Haack
GRAMMYs
Jul 27, 2017 - 4:55 pm
GRAMMY.com

Three-time GRAMMY Awards winner Esperanza Spalding is gearing up for a mid-September album release for music that has not yet been written.

The Best New Artist honoree for 2010 has built an intriguing, never-before-attempted concept for her new record: She plans to write and record the entire project in one 3-day session, with every moment streamed directly to Facebook Live.

 The singer/jazz bassist's forthcoming project will be aptly titled Exposure, and will be created entirely during a 77-hour broadcast window, starting on Sept. 12 at 9 a.m. PT. Spalding plans to tap some other musicians from her professional circle, including some "special guests" who will make appearances during the stream.

The viewing audience will be able to communicate in real time via the live stream's comment features, and Spalding voiced considerable excitement about the audience participation component of the experiment. In her press release announcing the album, Spalding comments, "I foresee that creating before a live audience will add excitement and extra inspiration energy.  Knowing someone is watching and listening to what you’re making seems to conjure up a sort of "can't fail" energy."

Pre-orders for the album are now available, but Spalding plans to cap the number of physical CDs up for purchase at 7,777. The preorders are expected to also come packaged with pieces of the notebook paper that Spalding will use to write her lyrics.

Spalding's project adds to an already extremely interesting year for the artist, which began in March 2016 with the release of her fairly universally acclaimed fifth album, D+Evolution, and has included, among other developments, the artist finding herself taking on the role of exhibit curator for the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum in New York City.

Time will tell if the experiences of the past 12 months will enter into Spalding's lyrical conscience for Exposure, but it is certainly guaranteed that the finished work will be a truly unique piece of radical self-expression, and undoubtedly one steeped in the artist's consummate music talent.

Rihanna to Lady Gaga: Rethinking pop with women in the center

Album covers from new music released in June 2017
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From 2 Chainz to Calvin Harris: What was new in music in June?

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Also included in this roundup: Sia, Jay Z, Dan Auerbach, DJ Khaled, Royal Blood, Roger Waters and more
Renée Fabian
GRAMMYs
Jun 30, 2017 - 1:02 pm
GRAMMY.com

Cruising up the freeway with the top down, you've got that music jamming. And we're right there with you, bringing you just a few of the hottest new releases from the past month to make your road trip slammin'. From Lorde to 2 Chainz, Katy Perry, Lady Antebellum, Phoenix, and more, check out what's new in music from June 2017.

Albums

2 Chainz, Pretty Girls Like Trap Music

GRAMMY-winning rapper 2 Chainz is back with his third solo album, Pretty Girls Like Trap Music, which reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200. Chock full of amazing hooks and dead-on punchlines, 2 Chainz continues to build his solo brand. "He's put together a project that finds him taking another step towards becoming regarded as a supreme soloist," writes XXL.

Dan Auerbach, Waiting On A Song

Auerbach, perhaps best known as a member of the GRAMMY-winning rock duo the Black Keys, has stepped out on his own to create a record that evokes the sounds of Southern soul. A multitalented artist/producer, it's no surprise this rocker has expanded his musical palette to include a wider range of sounds. Per Rolling Stone, "It's a 'Nashville Sound' the town could use more of."

Chuck Berry, Chuck

Before his passing on March 18, rock and roll pioneer Berry had already announced he was working on a new album. Now that Chuck is here, it serves as a reminder why Berry's music has a lasting place in music history. "Chuck is his show," writes Ultimate Classic Rock. "He charges through its 35 minutes with the same command and authority that drove his string of hits back in the day."

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Louie Louie Louie

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy's latest release covers three Louies — Louis Armstrong, Louis Prima and Louis Jordan — capturing the essence of jazz royalty in combination with the jump blues aesthetic of the band. "The result," writes AllMusic.com, "is an album that strikes a balance between Jazz at Lincoln Center-style adherence to tradition and dynamic, pop-informed bravura showmanship."

Bleachers, Gone Now

Bleachers — aka GRAMMY-winning artist/producer Jack Antonoff — released his second studio album, a pop masterpiece with spoken word, passionate production and lyrical candor. "Though it's hard to believe it's possible, Antonoff shares even more of himself on Gone Now than on Bleachers' debut," writes AllMusic.com. "It makes for some of his most immersive and satisfying music yet."

Lindsey Buckingham and Christine McVie, Lindsey Buckingham/Christine McVie

You may recognize them as members of the GRAMMY-winning band Fleetwood Mac. Now they have teamed up for an album of rock duets written or co-written by each. The result is a 10-track collection of songwriting genius. "Their self-titled album is front-loaded with jams, with the kind of choruses that dissolve doubt on first listen," writes Pitchfork.

Jay Z, 4:44

It's been four years since Jay Z's last opus, Magna Carta Holy Grail. Produced by GRAMMY winner No I.D., 4:44 likely promises another classic with lyrics such as, "Letter to my dad that I never wrote/Speeches I prepared that I never spoke/Words on the paper that I never read/Proses never penned, they stayed in my head." A series of promotional clips feature Mahershala Ali, Danny Glover and Lupita Nyong'o, and the album is available through his streaming service, Tidal.

Lady Antebellum, Heart Break

Their sixth studio album, Heart Break shot to No. 1 on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart, the GRAMMY winners' fifth No. 1 album. Lady Antebellum called on GRAMMY-nominated producer busbee to create their first album back after a brief hiatus, one that proved creatively lucrative. "The alluring sheen doesn't intend to grab the ear but burrows into the subconscious," writes AllMusic.com. "The melodies are remembered upon repeated plays."

Lorde, Melodrama

Melodrama marks this GRAMMY winner's first No. 1 album, and with good reason. Her raw lyrics in combination with inventive beats (courtesy of producer Jack Antonoff) make a record that's equal parts vulnerable, relatable and danceable. "Where Pure Heroine was her global, future-forward debut, Melodrama is the red-eyed, no-rules after-party, where the lost and loveless go for comfort," writes Paste.

Mali Music, The Transition Of Mali

Mali Music's R&B infused gospel on Mali Is caught the attention of listeners, and his latest release emphasizes more of the R&B for "smooth feel-good music." Add in top-notch collaborators such as Jazmine Sullivan and Jhené Aiko, and it's the perfect blend. "Blues is the truth of what's happening," Mali Music told The Boombox. "You add rhythm to that, and you can kind of dance to it."

Katy Perry, Witness

This GRAMMY nominee's hotly anticipated album went straight to the top of the Billboard 200 upon its release. Perry called on GRAMMY-winning producers Jeff Bhasker and Max Martin as well as collaborators such as Nicki Minaj and Jack Garrett to round out the album's direction. "It feels as if she's more comfortable with who she is," Consequence of Sound says. "And just to drive the point home, Perry keeps in some swearwords."

Phoenix, Ti Amo

This French indie band brought their flavor of pop/rock/disco influences to their latest, Ti Amo, for a '70s inspired album. Their 10-track opus covers lots of love and lust across several languages. "Phoenix are at their most fun when they're writing in the margins of pop history," writes Rolling Stone. "The music radiates a suave majesty that feels universal."

Royal Blood, How Did We Get So Dark?

Royal Blood, a British rock duo, made a name for themselves with their debut self-titled album and its driving hooks. Their follow-up builds on that legacy by keeping their muscled rhythm section, but adding in funk instrumentations for a varied sound. "We welcome another 40 minutes of Royal Blood exploring their home turf on 10 shamelessly melodic rock monsters that hit home like a nail gun to the eardrum," says NME.

Vince Staples, Big Fish Theory 

Big Fish Theory finds Long Beach rapper Staples pioneering the art of rap and pushing the boundaries of his lyricism. The album also boasts some serious features, including Bon Iver, Juicy J, and GRAMMY winners Flume and Kendrick Lamar. The result is what AllMusic.com says "cements Staples' status as one of the most talented and forward-thinking voices in rap in the late 2010s."

Roger Waters, Is This The Life We Really Want? 

The former bassist and chief songwriter for Pink Floyd, Waters' latest album harkens back to a more 1970s sound, with GRAMMY-winning producer Nigel Godrich given strong oversight of the album. Of its content, Waters told Entertainment Weekly, "It's about the transcendental nature of love and, I suppose, how it can transform anger into compassion."

Singles

DJ Khaled, "Wild Thoughts"

This sexy dance track features Rihanna and Bryson Tiller, and capitalizes on Rihanna's seductive ability to sing repeated words with verve. And don't miss the sample of Carlos Santana's guitar lick from "Maria, Maria."

Foo Fighters, "Run"

Foo Fighters surprised fans with their latest single, "Run." The tune continues the GRAMMY-winning band's signature rock sound with a heavy twist. The track is the first single from the Foo Fighters' recently announced ninth LP, Concrete And Gold, due out Sept. 15.

Sia, "Free Me"

Sia's "Free Me" is a charity single that supports the EndHIV initiative to find a vaccine for HIV. The downtempo song features heart-wrenching lyrics that approach the gravity of the cause it supports with respect. Sia recruited Zoe Saldana and Julianne Moore to help support the single.

Shania Twain, "Life's About To Get Good"

"Life's About To Get Good" marks the first single from Twain's first album since 2002, Now. And she doesn't disappoint. "A rollicking anthem of folk-pop perseverance with a gently throbbing pulse, a sing-along-by-song's-end chorus and an inscrutable, almost quacking hook on the verses … it's marvelous, it's irresistible," says Billboard.

Calvin Harris, "Feels"

Harris' collaboration with Katy Perry, Pharrell Williams and Big Sean may be a candidate for song of the summer with its island vibes and stylized video. This is the latest in all-star releases from Harris' upcoming album, Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1.

Dive into 4th of July with our songs of the summer playlist

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Fleetwood Mac: Revisit 7 classic songs (that weren't hits)

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They aren't "Dreams" or "Go Your Own Way," but these songs offer a glimpse of the hidden treasures found in the 'Rumours'-era lineup's catalog
Tim McPhate
GRAMMYs
Jul 27, 2017 - 11:07 am
GRAMMY.com

In the case of Fleetwood Mac, it's not difficult to curate a playlist of hits. After all, they've scored 16 that have cracked the Top 40.

But as with select artists whose careers span decades, the Fleetwood Mac catalog is far richer than the likes of "Dreams," "Don't Stop," "Go Your Own Way," "Sara," and "Tusk." Indeed, the Rumours-era lineup of Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks, Christine McVie, John McVie, and Mick Fleetwood — who will be honored as the 2018 MusiCares Person of the Year — mined an assortment of precious gems from 1975's Fleetwood Mac to 1987's Tango In The Night. 

For those looking to dig deeper than the obvious songs, have a listen to these 7 diamonds that might have flown by like a "Songbird" under the radar, but make for essential Fleetwood Mac listening just the same.

"Monday Morning" (Fleetwood Mac, 1975)

"Monday morning you look so fine/Friday I got travelin' on my mind"

As the saying goes, first impressions are everything. "Monday Morning," the first track on Fleetwood Mac, offered listeners a satisfying taste of the new Buckingham/Nicks-fronted lineup. Tuneful pop sensibilities and hooks abound, led by Buckingham's animated voice, showers of heavenly harmonies and a rock-steady rhythm section. (Check Buckingham's deft slide guitar break as well.) Despite the track's upbeat nature, upon closer listen there's a troubling relationship issue at play, a theme the group would explore ably on Rumours. In this case, the couple (presumably Buckingham and Nicks) is so happy together on Mondays but come Fridays they take a bad turn — offering proof how intense feelings can turn on a dime.

"The Chain" (Rumours, 1977)

"And if you don't love me now/You will never love me again/I can still hear you saying/You would never break the chain"

"The Chain" is literally a team effort, with all five band members receiving songwriting credit and shining as an ensemble. Buckingham's dobro lines, John McVie's thundering bass, Fleetwood's inventive percussion, the harmonic blend of Buckingham and Nicks, and Christine McVie's reverb-drenched background vocals muster a musical depth not found elsewhere on Rumours. The stronger link in "The Chain" is the spooky jam that commences at the three-minute mark and twists and turns until fade-out. "Something magical was happening while the band was playing down the song — I could see that they had started to feel the excitement, too," said producer Ken Caillat in his 2013 book, Making Rumours. "In many ways, it is the band's manifesto."

"Silver Springs" (Rumours B-side, 1977)

"You could be my Silver Springs/Blue-green colors flashing"

"Silver Springs" glistens as an example of just how deep the wellspring of songwriting ran in Fleetwood Mac. The song was tracked but ultimately left on the Rumours cutting-room floor in favor of "I Don't Want To Know," and later relegated to a B-side on the "Go Your Own Way" single. Tackling a relationship situation from a "what could have been" scenario, Nicks stitches pretty imagery ("I would be your only dream/Your shining autumn ocean crashing") together with stern warnings ("I will follow you down until the sound of my voice will haunt you"). Gentle-as-a-feather dynamics support throughout, propelled by Buckingham's delicate guitar swells and shimmery harmonics. Ultimately, "Silver Springs" found its well-deserved day in the sun, with the live version from 1997's The Dance earning a GRAMMY nomination. The original recording has been included on recent expanded issues of Rumours.

"Save Me A Place" (Tusk, 1979)

"Save me a place/I'll come running if you love me today"

Rather than assemble Rumours II, Fleetwood Mac charted a rebellious direction with Tusk, an ambitious double album masterminded by Buckingham that is perhaps best described as their chaotic version of the White Album. "Save Me A Place" is but one example of the disparate material he contributed, which tossed aside radio-friendly nuances in favor of off-the-wall aesthetics (for example, taping microphones to the ground and singing into the floor). This insular song finds an interesting middle ground with a crooning Buckingham innocently pleading over a chiming acoustic track, anchored by a boxy, lo-fi drumbeat. The result is a delectable mix of sweet and melancholy.

Fleetwood Mac named 2018 MusiCares Person of the Year

"Never Forget" (Tusk, 1979)

"We'll never forget tonight/What a wonderful night to be/The stars must be my friends/To shine for me"

There are lovely voices and then there is Christine McVie's voice. Running counter to Buckingham's oddball leanings and Nicks' mysticism on Tusk, McVie brought her honey-laced contralto and literate pop songcraft to the party, with songs like "Never Forget" dripping with romantic sentiment. With her breezy hit "Over & Over" opening the album and "Never Forget" closing it out, McVie bookends Tusk as if to provide listeners warm, cozy boundaries amid the chaos.

"Straight Back" (Mirage, 1982)

"What can I say this time/Which chord shall I play/The dream is not over/The dream is just away"

As with 1975's "Rhiannon," the A minor tonal center in "Straight Back" provides a backdrop that somehow casts a more hypnotizing tint on Nicks' voice. The tune is classic Mac through and through with layered harmonies, howling Buckingham guitar lines and a sturdy rhythm section framework, topped with rare vocal interplay between Nicks and Christine McVie. "There's no doubt that having come off Tusk there was a conscious effort to make Mirage into more of a band album," Fleetwood told Rolling Stone. While the lyrics are surely open to interpretation, an interesting theory comes courtesy of fan site StevieNicks.info, which has concluded the song is a capsule of Nicks' career challenges at the time: balancing her flowering solo career after the success of 1981's Bella Donna with returning to the Fleetwood Mac fold for Mirage.

"Mystified" (Tango In The Night, 1987)

"Pretty darling/This feeling is deep inside/You got me mystified"

A full decade removed from Rumours, Tango In The Night is a different slice of Fleetwood Mac served chilled with a high-gloss chaser. Once again, Christine McVie's pop offerings are nestled comfortably in the middle of Buckingham's edginess and Nicks' fairy tales. "Mystified," a McVie/Buckingham collaboration, is an exquisite dose of ear candy that benefits from cinematic instrumentation, ethereal vocal layers and glorious '80s production flourishes. In addition to scoring with the hits "Everywhere" and "Little Lies," deeper McVie cuts like "Mystified" add proof that she benefited the most from Tango In The Night's slick, dreamy soundscapes.

More Fleetwood Mac: Watch their Album Of The Year acceptance for Rumours