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Music News: Minnesota lightning forms Love Symbol on Prince's birthday

Lightning over Maple Grove, Minn. on June 7, 2017
Lightning over Maple Grove, Minn. on June 7, 2017April McGuire

by Jay Gabler

June 08, 2017

If you liked the Prince cloud, you'll love this. On June 7 — the date that would have been Prince's 59th birthday — April McGuire of Maple Grove, Minnesota captured an image of a lightning bolt that resembles Prince's famous Love Symbol. The image went viral when FOX 9 meteorologist Ian Leonard, a friend of McGuire's, shared it on Facebook.

McGuire told CNET the image wasn't doctored, and proved it by providing other images from the photo burst. "I didn't expect to see what I captured," she told CNET. "I was actually outside with the dogs and it wasn't raining where I was, but there was all this fantastic lightning to the east. All I did was set my iPhone 6 to burst and I captured the photo."

Meanwhile, less literal stormclouds are brewing in court. A hearing has been scheduled for next week in a case that has Prince's estate attempting to get out of a Universal deal that, it now says, presents a conflict with music rights that are currently signed to Warner Bros. Universal wants out of the deal too, and for the very same reason; Universal would also like to exit the deal with the $31 million it agreed to pay for the rights. (NME)

SXSW to stay in Austin

South by Southwest says the festival will stay in Austin, Texas, despite calls for the organizers to pick up and leave in the wake of a new Texas law that's aimed at limiting the ability of local law enforcement officers to honor "sanctuary city" status with respect to immigration. The request to relocate came in the form of a letter from U.S. Senators Robert Menendez (D-New Jersey) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-New Mexico).

"Austin is our home and an integral part of who we are," said SXSW CEO Roland Swenson in a statement. "We will stay here and continue to make our event inclusive while fighting for the rights of all." (Rolling Stone)

Radiohead unenthused about Hall of Fame

Next year, Radiohead will become eligible for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Are they excited about it?

"I don't care," says Jonny Greenwood. "It's quite a self-regarding profession anyway. And anything that heightens that just makes me feel even more uncomfortable."

Would they attend the induction ceremony if they were voted in? "It's probably not at the top of my list of things to do," said Philip Selway.

The comments came in the outtakes from a Rolling Stone interview that was notable for Thom Yorke’s confirmation that the band have no plans to break up. "No, we're not gonna stop," said Yorke. "I f---ing hope not."

Nashville's rooting for the Predators

The Nashville Predators are in the Stanley Cup finals, and country stars are rooting for their hometown team to prevail over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Carrie Underwood, Garth Brooks, Keith Urban, Alan Jackson, Luke Bryan, Martina McBride, Trisha Yearwood, Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, and Kelsea Ballerini have all been vocal about their support for the Predators. Of course, the team has a deep bench when it comes to the National Anthem. (Billboard)

Will Pittsburgh-bred artists similarly represent for the Penguins? As of yet, Christina Aguilera, Joe Grushecky, and Rusted Root have remained silent on the Stanley Cup.