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Andrew VanWyngarden 

Photo: Chelsea Lauren/WireImage via Getty Images 

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Mexican Summer Launches New COVID-19 Single Series

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The "Looking Glass" series will be exclusively available on Bandcamp, and money will go directly to the artist or a charity of their choice
Jennifer Velez
GRAMMYs
Apr 27, 2020 - 12:57 pm

Brooklyn-based independent record label Mexican Summer is supporting its artists through the COVID-19 pandemic with a new single series called "Looking Glass." MGMT's Andrew VanWyngarden, using the Gentle Dom moniker, launched the series with a remix of New Zealand's Connan Mockasin's "I Wanna Roll With You." 

VanWyngarden's "I Want Troll With You" adds a faster tempo and more drums to Mockasin's laid-back 2010 track, which was released as a part of his 2013 album Caramel. 

Kikagaku Moyo, Matchess and Sessa will also release music in the digital-only series that is "focused on the human condition in a time of remote connection," Mexican Summer said on Instagram. Ariel Pink, Angel Bat Dawid and Julie Byrn are among other artists taking part in the initiative. 

"Mirroring the tenets of Mexican Summer’s ten plus years of supporting adventurous music, Looking Glass looks inward to artists close to the label’s core, and outward to familiar names not far from the family tree, to demonstrate discovery, diversity, and collaboration," the label's post continued.

The singles can be exclusively purchased on Bandcamp. Money from the series will go directly to the artist or to a charity they choose. Listen to "I Want Troll With You" here. 

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YouTube & NIVA Team Up On #SOSFEST To Raise Money For Indie Venues

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Miley Cyrus, YG, Foo Fighters, Marshmello with Demi Lovato, the Roots, Sebastian Yatra and more will contribute original performances Oct. 16–18
Jennifer Velez
GRAMMYs
Oct 8, 2020 - 4:29 pm

YouTube and the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) are joining forces to bring #SOSFEST (Save Our Stages Fest) benefiting independent music venues across the country. The three-day music event on Oct. 16–18 will feature an eclectic lineup of musicians.

Miley Cyrus, YG, Foo Fighters, Marshmello with Demi Lovato, The Roots, Sebastian Yatra and more will contribute live original performances across 25 independent venues. Other artists participating include Leon Bridges, Phoebe Bridgers, Reba McEntire and G-Eazy.  

The festival "aims to generate significant awareness, advocacy and donations for the NIVA Emergency Relief Fund." The fund aids the "most vulnerable venues experiencing catastrophic revenue loss."

"Independent venues are closing permanently all around the country. These are the clubs and theaters that you know and love; the rooms our favorite bands play their first gigs at. With no assistance from the federal government in the future, we need to act NOW to #SaveOurStages!" NIVA, whose group of over 2,000 venues includes Los Angeles' The Troubador and New York's Apollo Theater, posted to their Instagram. 

According to a NIVA survey released in June, 90 percent of roughly 2,000 venues without federal help surveyed were going to close in a few months. 

#SOSFEST will livestream on NIVA's YouTube channel. 

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Laura Jane Grace And The Devouring Mothers At SXSW

Photo: Justin Zamudio 

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SXSW Looks Forward With Virtual Festival Offerings For 2021

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The newly announced SXSW Online: A Digital Experience will happen March 16–20
GRAMMYs
Sep 23, 2020 - 4:35 pm

South By Southwest (SXSW) announced Sept. 22 it will go virtual for their conference and festival events in 2021. 

The virtual edition will happen March 16–20 with SXSW EDU Online happening before on March 9–11. SXSW Online announced screenings, showcases, keynotes, exhibitions and networking opportunities will make up some of the digital event. SXSW also noted they are working with public health authorities and the city of Austin "on plans for a physical event in 2021."

"The challenge of building a new future is one that we’re excited to tackle. This has been such a year of change and we, like the entire world, are reshaping our perspective on how we connect," said CEO and Co-Founder Roland Swenson in statement on the SXSW website. "We’re pleased to be working on SXSW Online as part of our program for 2021, and regardless of platform, we will continue to bring together the brightest minds from creative industries worldwide."

The major music, film and tech live event in Austin announced in March it would cancel their 2020 edition due to fear of the spread of COVID-19.

SXSW and SXSW EDU PanelPicker proposals and Film Festival submissions will open on Oct. 6. Staff will program the 2021 music festival edition. Priority will be given to presenters and artists who were on the 2020 lineup. 

For more information, visit the SXSW website.

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Fonseca 

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Fonseca, Lali, Gerardo Ortiz & More To Appear In Made In: Casa Music Festival

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Diego Torres, Gepe, Fito Páez, La Oreja de Van Gogh, Lila Downs, Pabllo Vittar and We The Lion are among other artists participating in the virtual event encouraging fans to stay home to fight COVID-19
Jennifer Velez
GRAMMYs
May 7, 2020 - 3:45 pm

In a push to keep fans at home, Sony Music Latin-Iberia is putting on a virtual show filled with artists from its roster including appearances from Becky G, Fonseca, Lali, and Gerardo Ortiz. 

The music festival will go live on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube on May 10 at noon Eastern Standard Time. Jose Luis Rodriguez “El Puma,” Diego Torres, Gepe, Fito Páez, La Oreja de Van Gogh, Lila Downs, Pabllo Vittar and We The Lion are among other artists participating in the virtual event. On top of performances, artists and other special guests will cook, exercise and give music lessons during the livestream.  

While the country is starting to reopen, the label wants to keep music lovers staying home entertained and reinforce "messages of social distancing and prevention to help fight COVID-19," it said in a statement. Sony Music Latin President Alex Gallardo said artists wanted to come together to show their appreciation for their fans practicing social distancing.

"As we’re all staying at home right now, our artists decided to come together and spread some hope and joy to fans around the world," he said. "They’re excited to both remind everyone how important it is to stay home, but to also reward them for doing so with some incredible content. We are excited about the opportunity to make a positive impact together at home."

For more information on the event and to see the full lineup, visit the festival website. 

RIAA Report: Latin Music Is Growing Faster Than The Overall U.S. Music Market

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Pitchfork Fest 2014

Photo: Chelsea Lauren/WireImage via Getty Images 

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Pitchfork Fest 2020 Has Been Canceled Due To COVID-19 Concerns

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The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Run The Jewels, Waxahatchee, Thundercat, Tierra Whack and more were scheduled to perform at Chicago's Union Park in July
Jennifer Velez
GRAMMYs
May 6, 2020 - 3:08 pm

Pitchfork Fest was set to celebrate its milestone 15th anniversary this year. However, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Pitchfork Fest 2020 has been canceled.

The Chicago festival, organized by the digital music publication and scheduled to run July 17–19, said it was "heartbroken" as it broke the news to festivalgoers in a statement on Tuesday, May 6. Pitchfork said the fest would come back in 2021 if the circumstances are right. 

"It can be pretty daunting to think about the future of live music right now, but know that we are fully committed to bringing Pitchfork Music Festival back in 2021, if the public health situation allows for it," organizers said. 

The 2020 festival rendition was set to feature Run The Jewels and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs as headliners. Big Thief, Thundercat, Tierra Whack, Caroline Polachek, Waxahatchee, Danny Brown, Maxo Kream, Kim Gordon, Angel Olsen and Yaeji were among other performers set to take the stage at Union Park.  

The festival organized kick-off parties on Feb. 19 and 20 in celebration of its 15 years running. 

Last year, Pitchfork Fest's executive director Adam Krefman spoke to the Recording Academy ahead of the 2019 festival about how it stands out from the rest, its diversity inclusion in its lineup, how much it values being a festival monetarily accessible to fans and how it likes to highlight Chicago's culture. 

"We like to support our own and people are kind of self-made here. And so, that part is just important as the annual celebration of Chicago music and art and culture," Krefman said.

The festival reiterated in their statement that this was not the end for them and that in the meantime, they would continue to support artists in other ways.

"We’re not going anywhere—stay tuned, stay positive, and see you soon," the statement ended. 

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