Hip-Hop rules 2019 Grammy Awards Nominees
Kendrick Lamar and Drake
lead the Grammy Awards nominees with the two receiving 8 and 7 nods
respectively. Lamar’s All the Stars
with SZA is nominated for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Rap
Performance and Best Song Written for Visual Media, while the original
soundtrack of the film, Black Panther wherein he is featured is nominated for
Album of the Year. Drake’s God’s Plan
is also nominated for Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Rap Song
while his Scorpion in nominated for Album of the Year. Cardi B and Childish Gambino
have also garnered 5 nominations each.
Musicals lead the 2019 Golden Globe Nominations
The Golden Globe nominations
were announced last week with the musicals leading the way. A Star is Born has 5 nods including Best
Picture, Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
for Lady Gaga and Best Original Song
for Shallow. Mary Poppins Returns has been nominated 4 times followed by
Queen-biopic Bohemian Rhapsody with 2
nods. Shallow goes up against stiff competition like Black Panther’s All the Stars by Kendrick Lamar & SZA and Boy Erased’s Revelation by Troye Sivan.
Billboard releases its 2018 Year-End Lists
Billboard has released its
most anticipated year-end lists for the US with Drake named as the Top Artist, Top Male Artist and claiming the
biggest single of the year with God’s
Plan. The biggest album of 2018 was Taylor
Swift’s Reputation with her being named as Top Female Artist as well. Cardi B is the Top New Artist while Imagine Dragons topped the Artists –
Duo/Group category and BTS was dubbed
the Top Social Artist.
Final Judgment in ‘Blurred Lines’ Suit
US District Judge John
Kronstadt delivered the final judgment in the Blurred Lines copyright lawsuit wherein Robin Thicke, Pharrell Williams and Williams’ publishing company, More
Water From Nazareth Publishing Inc. was ordered to pay the Marvin Gaye estate over USD 4.9 million. The lawsuit which began in
2013 was filed by Gaye’s estate over copyright infringement of his 1977 hit Got to Give It Up. Gaye's family was
also rewarded 50% of the song's future royalties.
Spotify Settles a USD 1.6 Billion Claim Over Songwriter’s Rights
Music streaming giant Spotify
has settled a USD 1.6 billion claim over songwriter and publishing rights for
an undisclosed amount. The lawsuit was filed in 2017 by Wixen Music Publishing
over the alleged use of more than 10,000 songs without a license or
compensation. Wixen looks after compositions of many high profile artists
including Neil Young, Stevie Nicks, Rivers Cuomo and the late Tom Petty.
Ariana Grande breaks record with Thank U, Next video
Ariana Grande premiered the music video for her biggest hit to
date, Thank U, Next, breaking the
record for most-watched video in YouTube within 24 hours, achieving over 50.3
million views surpassing the views for BTS’ Idol. The video is inspired by iconic
2000s flicks Mean Girls, Legally Blonde, Bring It On and 13 Going On 30.
Artists face backlash over imminent performances in Saudi Arabia
The Black Eyed Peas, Enrique
Iglesias, Jason Derulo, OneRepublic and David Guetta are to headline the Saudi Ad Diriyah E-Prix, an auto
racing series and multi-day music festival. The Human Rights Foundation has
called for the cancellation of their performances due to the human rights
violations by Saudi Arabia and its crown prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Mary Poppins Returns with new tracks
The sequel to Walt Disney’s
beloved musical-fantasy film is coming to cinemas this December after a lapse
of 54 years. The soundtrack featuring 27 songs out of which 9 are brand new was
released last week. Songs are performed by Emily Blunt, Meryl Streep, Ben
Whishaw, Angela Lansbury and Dick Van Dyke.
Brexit Poses Threat to UK’s Music Industry
The recently formed Music4EU initiative in an open letter
warned of how Brexit represented a significant threat to UK’s music industry.
The letter was signed by over 550 industry representatives including musicians
such as Annie Lennox, Paloma Faith,
Chrissie Hynde and Nick Mason.
Post-Brexit, the UK artists will find it more expensive to reach consumers and
fans, and international markets will be harder to access. Moreover they will be
unable to benefit from EU’s proposed copyright reforms.
Cher Announces Memoir and Biopic
Cher announced on Twitter that she will be releasing a memoir in
2020 which would be followed by a biopic. Prior to this, Cher released a
collection of essays titled The First
Time covering major events of her life in 1998.
Aretha Franklin Tribute Concert
A tribute concert for the late
superstar has been announced to be held on 13 January 2019 by the Recording
Academy, AEG Ehrlich Ventures and CBS titled Aretha! A GRAMMY Celebration For The Queen Of Soul. Performing
songs from Franklin’s repertoire are Grammy winners Alessia Cara, Kelly
Clarkson, Common, Celine Dion, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys, John Legend, Patti
LaBelle, and BeBe Winans as well as current Grammy nominees Brandi Carlile,
H.E.R., Janelle Monáe, and SZA.
Shakira Charged With Tax Evasion
Colombian singer Shakira has
been charged with tax evasion in Spain. The singer is alleged to have avoided
Euros 14.5 million in tax by claiming she lived in the Bahamas, whereas she
actually resided in Catalonia, Spain. It will be left to a judge now to decide
if there is enough evidence for her to face trial.
Chris Brown Charged Over Exotic Pet Monkey
The Los Angeles City
Attorney’s Office has charged Chris Brown
with two counts of owning a restricted species without a permit for his exotic
pet capuchin monkey, Fiji. The maximum sentence for the offence is 6 months in
jail. They had obtained a search warrant for his home, but he voluntarily
agreed to hand over the monkey before his property was raided.
Chart News
In the US, Ariana Grande continued her reign into
the month of December with Thank, U Next
which was dethroned by Travis Scott’s
Sicko Mode, but Grande returned with force and held on to the crown for the
remainder of the month. During the month Meek
Mill ft. Drake’s Going Bad and Andy
Williams’ Christmas classic It’s the
Most Wonderful Time of the Year entered the top 10.
In the UK, Grande continued
her reign with Thank U, Next as well, although she missed out on the coveted
Christmas No.1 which went to LadBaby’s comic version of Starship’s We Built
this City. During the month Ava Max’s Sweet But Psycho, Mark Ronson ft. Miley
Cyrus’ Nothing Breaks like a Heart, Ariana Grande’s Imagine and the X Factor UK
winner Dalton Harris coronation single, a cover of Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s
The Power of Love featuring James Arthur, all entered the top 10 during the
month.
Other songs which became
popular during the month were:
1. Cardi
B – Money
2. Stephen
Puth – Sexual vibe
3. Marc
E. Bassy ft. G-Eazy – Love her too
4. Ariana
Grande – Breathin’
5. Alan
Walker ft. Sofia Carson, K-391 & CORSAK – Different world
6. Rita
Ora – Falling to pieces
7. Bebe
Rexha – Knees
8. Skylar
Grey – Everything I need
9. Post
Malone & Swae Lee – Sunflower
10. Gucci
Mane, Bruno Mars & Kodak Black – Wake up in the sky
Till the next beat...
At Ease!!!
