Metallica

Metallica

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Metallica Give Back With $1 Million Toward Major Workforce Education Initiative

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The titans of metal show their softer side by launching a generous community college grant program through their All Within My Hands Foundation
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Dec 11, 2018 - 1:37 pm

Not all heroes wear capes. In fact, some wear all black. Enter Metallica, by now known as much for their massive stadium-filling riffs as their enlarged hearts. The GRAMMY-winning quartet's All Within My Hands Foundation has announced a new workforce training intuitive that will spread $1 million across ten community colleges to support more than 1,000 students, who will be known as the first-ever Metallica Scholars.

According to a statement from the band, the funds will go to career and technical community college programs that "provide skills and services to students who are looking to enter a traditional trade or other applied learning program."

Each of the 10 community colleges chosen will receive $100,000 in support. For the selection process, the band partnered with the American Association Of Community Colleges to conduct a competitive application process.

“The All Within My Hands Foundation and Metallica are proud to announce this major new initiative,” said Dr. Edward Frank, executive director of AWMH. "The goal of our Metallica Scholars Initiative is to improve career opportunities for community college students in the trades… so that they have the skills and training necessary to find meaningful and well-paying jobs in their communities.”

Metallica drummer and co-founder Lars Ulrich added, “All of us in the band feel fortunate that music has provided us the opportunity to be successful doing something we are passionate about. We want to share our success with others so that they can find a job where they can do the same.”

For more information on All Within My Hands, including a full list of the community colleges selected, visit the organization's website.

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Dave Grohl

Dave Grohl

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Dave Grohl & Lars Ulrich Chat About New Foos Album, Paul McCartney

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The Foo Fighters frontman was the special guest on "It's Electric!," a Beats 1 radio show hosted by the Metallica drummer
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Sep 15, 2017 - 11:52 am

What do you get when put two of the most popular rock drummers of the last century in the same room for 45 minutes? We found out when Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich invited Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl on his radio show "It's Electric!" on Apple Music's Beats 1.

In the interview, Grohl and Ulrich swap tales from the road, including behind-the-scenes stories from Glastonbury, jamming with Mick Jagger and Paul McCartney, The Foo' 'new album, a hilarious backstage moment with Oasis' Liam Gallagher and Taylor Hawkins, drinking too much coffee, spontaneous trips to Las Vegas, and much more.

A natural as a radio host, Ulrich has been broadcasting "It's Electric!" on Beats 1 since May. So far he's welcomed Iggy Pop, Avenged Sevenfold's M. Shadows, and Royal Blood. The show airs every Sunday at 3:00 p.m. PST on Beats 1.

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Photo: Guillaume Payen/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images

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Report: Global Music Sales Climb To $19 Billion In 2018, Nearly Half From Streaming

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A 9.7 percent overall increase marks the highest annual bump in recent history and is led by notable rises in Latin America, Asia and Australia
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Apr 3, 2019 - 4:34 pm

The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry has released the new Global Music Report 2019, showing an overall increase in sales of 9.7 percent in 2018. This jump is the highest rate since the IFPI began tracking the market in 1997.

“Last year represented the fourth consecutive year of growth, driven by great music from incredible artists in partnership with talented, passionate people in record companies around the world," said IFPI chief executive Frances Moore. “Record companies continue their investment in artists, people and innovation both in established markets and developing regions that are increasingly benefitting from being part of today’s global music landscape."

Streaming, which we know was ruled by rap and hip-hop in 2018, accounted for 47 percent of all income, according to IFPI. This reflects a 34 percent growth from 2017, illustrating there is no slowing in streaming's proliferation among consumers. The gap continues to widen between streaming and previous format titans such as physical music, which saw a 10.1 percent decline in revenue, and digital downloads, which dropped by 21.2 percent.

The fastest growing region, according to the report, is Latin America, which saw a big pickup especially in Brazil and Mexico. Asia and Australia came in as the second largest region for combined physical and digital revenue.

The K-pop explosion was also represented in the report, with an 18 percent rise in music sales in South Korea, which can be credited to breakout years from groups such as BTS and BLACKPINK. 

IFPI's full "State Of The Industry" report can be read here.

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Metallica

Metallica

Photo: Randy Holmes/ABC/Getty Images

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Metallica & San Francisco Symphony To Reunite For 20th Anniversary Of Live 'S&M' Album

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The GRAMMY-winning heavy metal kingpins first performed with the S.F. Symphony in 1999, resulting in the two-disc 'S&M' album
Ana Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Mar 19, 2019 - 9:33 am

On March 18, the reigning NBA champs Golden State Warriors, along with their new future-home in San Francisco, Calif., the Chase Center, revealed details for the venue's inaugural event. On Sept. 2, 2019, GRAMMY winners Metallica and the San Francisco Symphony, along with long-time SFS Musical Director Michael Tilson Thomas, will celebrate the 20th anniversary of their collaborative live album, S&M, with a concert at Chase Center.

The S&M^2 concert will include the first live versions of the collaborative versions of the songs since their first inception in 1999. The special one-night event will also cover ground since the last time they linked up, with new renditions of more recent Metallica classics with the added oomph and fervor only a world-renowned symphony could add.  

"This is beyond exciting on so many fronts," said Metallica drummer and founding member Lars Ulrich in a press release. "The fact that San Francisco is finally getting a much needed world-class arena, the fact that Metallica get to be part of the opening celebration, the fact that we get to revisit S&M 20 years later, and the fact that we get to share the stage not only with the San Francisco Symphony once again, but with the legend himself, MTT, as he kicks off his final year as music director here in San Francisco. This is mind-blowingly awesome...bring it on ASAP!!!"

The two-disc S&M was released on Nov. 22, 1999, during Metallica's two nights of shows with the S.F.S. in Berkley, Calif. that April. The symphony was conducted by the late Michael Kamen during those events; S&M^2 this September will be conducted by Edwin Outwater.

Following the release of S&M, Metallica, S.F.S. and Kamen earned a GRAMMY win at the 43rd GRAMMY Awards for Best Rock Instrumental Performance for the album's live version of "The Call Of Ktulu." The band originally released the song on their sophomore studio album, 1984's Ride The Lightning.

GRAMMY winner Thomas is serving his final year as the Musical Director of the S.F.S., which he began back in 1993, making him "the longest-tenured music director at any major American orchestra." Together, they have earned many GRAMMY nominations and wins, with the first win for the Thomas-led symphony happening at the 39th GRAMMY Awards for Best Orchestral Performance.

"The San Francisco Symphony is delighted to be a part of the Chase Center's opening week, and to perform once again with Metallica to recreate the magic of the historic S&M concerts," Thomas said. "I'm happy to join with my friends in Metallica to make this an extraordinary only-in-San Francisco music event."

Pre-sales for the show begin on March 19 and open up to the general public on Fri. March 22; more info here.

Metallica Give Back With $1 Million Toward Major Workforce Education Initiative

Shania Twain_122718

Shania Twain

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The 100 Best-Selling Albums Ever: Eagles, Michael Jackson, Shania Twain & More

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Heading into the new year, the RIAA has updated its list of the albums that moved the most units—where does your favorite artist rank?
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Dec 27, 2018 - 12:24 pm

As the sun sets on 2018 and the music industry looks forward to the year ahead, the Recording Industry Association Of America has updated its list of gold and platinum album sales, providing a look in the rear view mirror.

The battle for the top spot continues, as the Eagles and Michael Jackson both jockey for No. 1. The Eagles dethroned the King of Pop this past summer—in terms of album sales, that is— when the RIAA certified Their Greatest Hits as 38x platinum, edging out M.J.’s Thriller at 33x platinum. The latest top five includes another Eagles album, Hotel California, at 26x platinum, as well as Billy Joel’s Greatest Hits Volume I and Volume II and Led Zeppelin’s Led Zeppelin IV with 23x platinum sales each.

Fleetwood Mac’s 1977 classic, Rumours, rounds out the top 10, followed closely by Shania Twain’s Come On Over, making Twain’s 1997 hit the highest ranking album by a female solo artist. Both albums sold over 20 million copies.

The folks at Digital Music News took the list a step further, compiling the top-selling artists of all-time, according to RIAA’s certified gold and platinum sales data. The Beatles top that list with 178 million certified units, followed by Garth Brooks, Elvis Presley, the Eagles, and Led Zeppelin rounding out the top 5. Women in the top 20 include Barbra Streisand (No. 12), Madonna (No. 16), Mariah Carey (No. 17), and Whitney Houston (No. 19).

Looking ahead, the RIAA has a big change of its own coming in 2019. Longtime chairman and CEO Cary Sherman is retiring after over 20 years with the organization, leaving behind an admirable legacy as a true music champion as an advocate for empowering music to thrive in the digital marketplace. With all the industry’s changes, one wonders who will top this list in another 20 years.

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