jason hirschhorn's @MusicREDEF: 06/28/2022 - Artists Fight Back, Rethinking Concert Safety, Musicians in Uvalde, Mavis Staples, Phoebe Bridgers...

Let's be clear: if you believe the government belongs in a woman's uterus, a gay persons business or marriage, or that racism is okay- THEN PLEASE IN THE NAME OF YOUR LORD NEVER F***ING LISTEN TO MY MUSIC AGAIN. Open in browser Tuesday June 28, 2022 Naming names: Olivia Rodrigo (left) and Lily Allen at Glastonbury, Pilton, England, June 25, 2022. (Joseph Okpako/WireImage/Getty Images) quote of the day "Let's be clear: if you believe the government belongs in a woman's uterus, a gay persons business or marriage, or that racism is okay- THEN PLEASE IN THE NAME OF YOUR LORD NEVER F***ING LISTEN TO MY MUSIC AGAIN." - Pink rantnrave:// Irreconcilable Differences How many ways can you say "f*** you"? In England, at the GLASTONBURY festival, PHOEBE BRIDGERS had fans chanting "F*** the Supreme Court." LORDE chanted the same thing herself. MEGAN THEE STALLION conducted a cheer of "My body, my motherf***ing choice." And OLIVIA RODRIGO and LILY ALLEN dedicated the latter's song "F*** YOU" to five members of the court, who Rodrigo named, one by one, while Allen raised alternating middle fingers. Cathartic, frightening, life-affirming moments, all of them. In Los Angeles, at the BET AWARDS, JANELLE MONÁE offered a middle finger of her own, which was shown on live TV, and a "F*** you Supreme Court," which was edited out. LIZZO (joined by LIVE NATION) and RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE donated hundreds of thousands of dollars. BILLIE JOE ARMSTRONG said he was going to renounce his citizenship. RHIANNON GIDDENS posted an a cappella cover of PEGGY SEEGER's ballad "JUDGE'S CHAIR," about a woman who dies from an illegal abortion. BRANDI CARLILE counterprogrammed with a message of hope: "We outnumber the oppressors and we are unstoppable." MARGO PRICE promised a "riot girl summer." A long, loud, sad, angry weekend at the top of a long hot riot girl summer in (and around) an irreconcilable country. There are other things in the world and in music that deserve thought and discussion, but this isn't the time. It really, really isn't the time. Many (if not most) of the artists who've spoken out over the past several days are women, and many (if not most) have jobs that require them to regularly travel through cities and states with people, and laws, that may or may not have their best interests at heart. It's time to listen to these troubadours, and to act. Here are more examples of artists speaking and singing out, as collected by the indispensable ANN POWERS, and here and here are the beginnings of lists of what the business is doing about this. Labels, agencies, promoters and others are pledging to cover travel expenses for women who need them for abortion care. LIVE NATION appears to have gone further than most so far; the company announced it will cover the bail of employees arrested at peaceful protests and will work with artists and others to support abortion rights and voting turnout. But politics, as they say, makes strange—and sometimes inconvenient—bedfellows, and some of those companies may discover a need to ask themselves about their own role in the changing political landscape that they've vowed to fight. Not showing up yet on either of the above lists is UNIVERSAL MUSIC, which was a major contributor to the US Senate campaign of MARSHA BLACKBURN, a Tennessee Republican who has been a reliable supporter of music business interests in Washington and an equally reliable opponent of abortion rights. TAYLOR SWIFT, one of UMG's biggest artists and a Tennessee local, was an outspoken opponent of Blackburn's campaign, but UMG had Blackburn's back. ASCAP and the RIAA were big contributors to Blackburn as well. WARNER MUSIC was a smaller donor. One wonders how, and if, artists and employees at those entities will reconcile those (and other) donations in the days ahead. And if choices will be made. Rest in Peace Producer/songwriter BERNARD BELLE, a frequent collaborator with new jack swing pioneer Teddy Riley. He wrote or co-wrote for Michael Jackson ("Remember the Time"), Bobby Brown & Whitney Houston, and his sister, Regina Belle, and was a successful gospel producer in later years... R&B songwriter KEN WILLIAMS, whose biggest hit was the Main Ingredient's "Everybody Plays the Fool"... Funk/R&B pianist, producer and songwriter REGGIE ANDREWS (the Dazz Band's "Let It Whip"), who became a high school music teacher in Los Angeles, where he mentored artists including the Pharcyde and Tyrese Gibson. - Matty Karas (@troubledoll), curator nine month blues Cabbages Roe v. Wade and Your Music Streaming Dollars By Gary Suarez When we, as journalists and critics as well as consumers, talk about how these companies specifically use their resources–which comes often directly from revenue generated by consumption–we ought to consider that they do not do so in our best interests. Chicago Reader Rethinking concert safety By Kira Leadholm Do police and hired security have a place in live music? Or is the community of fans, artists, venues, and presenters better able to keep itself safe? Rolling Stone Mexican Classics, Corridos, and a Plaza Filled With Mariachi: The Sounds of Solidarity in Uvalde By Julyssa Lopez In the weeks after the deadly shooting at Robb Elementary School, musicians have gathered, played, and recorded to help a community heal. The New Yorker The Gospel According to Mavis Staples By David Remnick A legendary singer on faith, loss, and a family legacy. The Guardian Phoebe Bridgers on Taylor Swift, Paul Mescal and why she spoke about her abortion: 'I wasn't emotional at all' By Laura Snapes As the indie superstar makes her Glastonbury debut, she explains why she is much more than just the 'patron saint of sadness.' Billboard Roe v. Wade Overturned: What Music Companies Are Doing to Support Employees (Updating) By Chris Eggertsen In the wake of the Supreme Court's decision to overturn the landmark 1973 ruling, some music companies are providing access to abortion care. Stratechery Spotify, Netflix, and Aggregation By Ben Thompson When Spotify filed for its direct listing in 2018, it was popular to compare the streaming music service to Netflix, the streaming video service; after all, both were quickly growing subscription-based services that gave consumers media on demand. Vulture Robin S. Is Riding the Wave of Beyoncé's 'Break My Soul' By Justin Curto "'Show Me Love' is my legacy. And Beyoncé thought of me enough to be a part of my legacy." The Ringer Meet the Two Tim Heideckers By Justin Sayles Most know him as half of the duo behind the legendary sketch show 'Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!' But his new album may change forever what you think when you hear his name. MetalSucks 10 Years Later, Randy Blythe's Arrest and Trial Have Changed How Metal Views Concerts, Fandom, and Itself By Emperor Rhombus Arrested for Manslaughter ten years ago today, Lamb of God's Randy Blythe taught us how safety and empathy are vital to metal's growth. the pill Talkhouse What Made Mr. Mustard Such A Mean Old Man? By Caleb Nichols Caleb Nichols on queering the Beatles. The New Yorker The Controversial Legal Strategy Behind the Indictment of Young Thug By Charles Bethea The RICO Act, which was designed to go after the Mafia, is now used to target supposed members of predominantly Black street gangs. Critics say the law is being stretched very thin. Culture Notes of an Honest Broker The Hot Mess of Fair Use for Music Educators By Ted Gioia Or why record labels are like guards at a Soviet prison camp. The Associated Press Stars use BET Awards stage to criticize Roe v. Wade ruling Hosts and entertainers at the annual show recognizing Black excellence in the arts and sports criticize the recent Supreme Court decision the landmark overturning Roe v. Wade. The Guardian 'It's everyone coming back together': why 200,000 of us couldn't wait to get back to Glastonbury By Laura Barton The festival's return has filled a gaping hole in the British calendar. We soak up the atmosphere with the help of Jarvis Cocker, Self Esteem and Shaz from Shepton Mallet. The Independent National Wake: the multiracial South African punk band who rebelled against apartheid By Kevin EG Perry New documentary 'This is National Wake' tells the story of an outlaw group whose very existence was an act of defiance. Guitarists Ivan Kadey and Steve Moni, along with director Mirissa Neff, talk to Kevin E G Perry about banned tours, police harassment and saying 'f*** you to the system.' Billboard HYBE Is Playing Moneyball With BTS' Solo Projects By Glenn Peoples The company could cobble together BTS-like sales and streams from three or four solo projects. Concerts are a bigger challenge. Variety Senators Slam Streaming Services' Request to Defer Payment of Back Royalties, as CRB Ruling Looms By Jem Aswad Five U.S. senators expressed "serious concern about any requests that would delay important and necessary royalty payments to copyright owners and [oppose] any granting by the Copyright Office of an extension." The Conversation Australia is one of few countries that doesn't pay session musicians ongoing royalties. Our music industry suffers as a result By Rod Davies Most of the music we listen to is made by session musicians. These guns for hire are experts in their field, much sought after and often bring a unique sound - that extra thing that helps to make the recording what it is. The Washington Post Sailing the high seas with John Davidson, the superstar time forgot By Geoff Edgers The next-big-thing of '70s TV was the ultimate Hollywood Square, always out of step with the era. At 80, he's still working on his act — and aiming to please himself. VAN Magazine The Birth of a New Ritual: An Interview With Composer Alvin Curran By Robert Barry As a child, Alvin Curran would lie in bed at his parents' Providence, Rhode Island home and listen to the counterpoint between the booms of trains shunting together at a nearby rail yard and foghorns down at the harbor a few miles away. "Was that a piece of music?" I ask him. "Absolutely," he replies. "And it's been one ever since!" what we're into Music of the day "F*** You (Glastonbury 2022)" Olivia Rodrigo and Lily Allen "This song goes out to the justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Amy Coney Barrett and Brett Kavanaugh. We hate you." Music | Media SUBSCRIBE Suggest a link "REDEF is dedicated to my mother, who nurtured and encouraged my interest in everything and slightly regrets the day she taught me to always ask 'why?'" Jason Hirschhorn CEO & Chief Curator HOME | ABOUT | SETS | PRESS Redef Group Inc. LA - NY - Everywhere Copyright ©2021 UNSUBSCRIBE or MANAGE MY SUBSCRIPTION