Music News: 'My Boy Lollipop' singer Millie Small dies at 73 May 7, 2020 Millie Small, the Jamaican singer who had an early ska hit with 'My Boy Lollipop,' has died after suffering a stroke. Also today: the Pitchfork Music Festival calls off this year's event; Guns N' Roses are publishing a children's book; Peloton pays millions for copyright infringement; and a load of vintage MTV goes up online.
Music News: Beat the final boss for an encore? Get ready for more concerts in video games May 6, 2020 After the wild success of Travis Scott's Fortnite concert, get ready for more stars to play virtual shows in multi-player video games. Meanwhile, Arkansas is preparing to host a socially-distanced concert IRL, while fans staying in quarantine will be able to watch documentaries about Wilco and the Beastie Boys. Plus, Mick Jagger shows off his shelter-in-place recreation for charity.
Music News: Stranglers keyboardist Dave Greenfield dies of COVID-19 May 5, 2020 Dave Greenfield, keyboardist in the Stranglers, has died of coronavirus at age 71. Also, catalog albums by artists like Fleetwood Mac and Mariah Carey are bumping back up the chart; a new baby for Grimes; a Prince guitar and other rock memorabilia go up for auction; and a little kid in pajamas may have written the song of the summer.
Music News: Missouri allows concerts to resume, but venues remain closed May 4, 2020 There's tension in Missouri as the governor says concerts may resume, while venues opt to remain closed. Also, disco drummer Hamilton Bohannon has died at 78; Great Scott has closed in Boston; Florence Welch is playing a virtual Met Gala party as big names book a telethon to support NYC; and Germany's trying drive-in raves.
Music News: Afrobeat drummer Tony Allen dies at 79 May 1, 2020 Tony Allen, a drummer who helped define the sound of Afrobeat, has died of an aneurysm at age 79. Also: the MusiCares COVID-19 relief fund has dried up, Sirius XM debuts a Prince channel, and 'Weird Al' Yankovic plays Ted Nugent on 'Reno 911.'
Music News: Nervous fans in 'no rush' to return to concert venues April 30, 2020 Music fans are eager to return to concert venues - but they're also understandably worried about COVID-19, and a new survey indicates most plan to wait a while to return to crowded venues. Also: a tide of happy songs is coming, Record Store Day's splitting into three 'drop' days, St. Vincent's hosting a shower-stall podcast, and Billie Joe Armstrong covers 'I Think We're Alone Now' with his kids.
Music News: L.A. company announces protective 'Micrashell' for concertgoers April 29, 2020 It looks like a spacesuit, but one company is hoping you'll buy it...to go to a concert. Also today, SXSW faces a class-action lawsuit over ticket refunds, Statler Brothers leader Harold Reid dies at 80, and hip-hop videos turn to sanitizer for swag.
Music News: Daft Punk scoring new Dario Argento film April 28, 2020 Daft Punk are returning - not for a new album, but to score a new movie. Also today, Billboard breaks down how often critics and Grammy voters agree on the year's best album (not often), the Strokes auction some face time for charity, a Genesis reunion won't include Peter Gabriel, and the Offspring cover Joe Exotic.
Music News: It's 2020, and the Beatles and the Stones are still beefing April 27, 2020 It's 1965 all over again as Mick Jagger and Paul McCartney trade barbs. Also, Detroit techno great Mike Huckaby dies of COVID-19, shows in virtual space get weird, Britain has its oldest-ever chart-topper, and Miley Cyrus covers 'Wish You Were Here.'
Music News: NYC hospitals pick coronavirus survival anthems April 24, 2020 NYC hospitals are picking songs to play when they celebrate the release of recovering COVID-19 patients. Also, the Rolling Stones have dropped their first original song in eight years; Camila Cabello and our audience figure out what to do about their hair; a new Taylor Swift album is released without her permission while Jason Isbell releases his early to support independent record stores; and the BBC recruits an all-star 'band' to sing the Foo Fighters' 'Times Like These.'