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Kanye West’s hate speech had landed him in another legal battle. A former Jewish employee has filed a claim against him for anti-semitism and more.
Variety Magazine is reporting that an unidentified woman who once worked at YEEZY is seeking damages against Kanye West. Jane Doe claims the performer harassed her and other workers via text messages because of her Jewish faith. Some of the hateful messages included “I Am A Nazi,” and “Welcome to the first day of working for Hitler.” She details that the harassment started in January of 2024. A couple of weeks later Kanye issued an apology in Hebrew but started using similar hateful language towards the staff shortly after.
The marketing executive suggested Kanye West denounce any ties to Nazism in an effort to better position his forthcoming album at the time Vultures Vol. 1. This suggestion was communicated to Ye by another employee to which West allegedly responded “I Am A Nazi” via text. Jane Doe says she was terminated from the company in March 2024 only to be rehired shortly after with her salary doubled. Later in June she claims Kanye sent out another text to several employees asking “What the F*** Is Everybody Here Getting Paid?” He targeted her a series of messages including “Come destroy me bi***.”
The suit not only alleges that Kanye West was guilty of religious discrimination but also gender discrimination and wrongful termination. “Ye waged a relentless and deliberate campaign of antisemitism and misogyny against my client,” said the plaintiff’s lawyer, Carney Shegerian. “His appalling treatment of women and fixation on Nazism, evident in abusive texts where he repeatedly calls himself Hitler, expose his motives. We need to stop excusing Ye’s behavior. As a father, husband, and employer, he must be held accountable. Ye dared my client to sue, and we will see him in court.”
Last week Ye’s X account, formerly known as Twitter, was deactivated due to similar rants where he referred to himself as a Nazi, complimented Adolf Hitler and even said “JEWS WERE BETTER AS SLAVES YOU HAVE TO PUT YOUR JEWS IN THEIR PLACE AND MAKE THEM INTO YOUR SLAVES.” Since then he has been dropped by his talented agency and Shopify suspended his http://www.yeezy.com e-commerce store.
Kanye West nor his representatives have yet to formally comment on the lawsuit.
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Reverend Al Sharpton is convening a gathering of top Black officials to address New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ relationship with President Donald Trump.
As news broke of the Justice Department recommending that federal charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams be dropped, one of Adams’ allies is acting on his concern about the situation. The Reverend Al Sharpton is gathering top elected Black officials to meet to determine whether they will pull support from Adams as Mayor and in the upcoming Democratic mayoral primary. “I have spoken to several elected officials and clergy, whom I convened early in the Mayor’s term, to meet between now and the weekend to decide where we will go,” Sharpton said. “Because we have clearly crossed the Rubicon.”
The longtime civil rights activist expressed his concern over Acting Deputy U.S. Attorney General Emil Bove’s memo, which states that the charges be dropped against Adams so that he can further President Donald Trump’s agenda of detaining and deporting more immigrants in New York City. “It is unheard of in a criminal justice proceeding to suggest you not deal with the criminal allegations for political or policy reasons,” Sharpton said, adding: “So if the mayor were to disagree with the president, does that mean they have the right to call a trial on him at any time? It certainly sounds like President Trump is holding the mayor hostage.” The memo did state that the DOJ can revisit the case at a later time.
The summit is expected to include House of Representatives Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, New York Rep. Gregory Meeks, New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, NY State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, and Attorney General Letitia James along with several clergy leaders. “A potential loss of Al Sharpton is huge because you don’t want him against you,” Fordham University political science professor Dr. Christine Greer said. ” He’s an organizer, a brilliant one at that, and has been for a very long time, and knows all five boroughs of New York City. But he also has a very strong, active, loyal collection of people who really do listen and respect his political analysis.”
As for Adams, he took the memo as vindication in a video address to the city on Tuesday, saying: “I thank the Justice Department for its honesty,” Adams said. “Now, we can put this cruel episode behind us and focus entirely on the future of our city. It’s time to move forward.”
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We’re only a few weeks into 2025 but from the looks of things Kendrick Lamar has the Midas touch going for him as everything he touches turns to gold and with Captain America: Brave New World struggling to garner much buzz, it couldn’t be a better time to announce that Kung-Fu Kenny done contributed a little something-something to the upcoming Marvel film.
In a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight, Captain America star, Anthony Mackie let it “slip” that the hottest revolutionary rapper in the world actually has a new song for the film’s soundtrack.
Say word?!
Casually talking about the film, Mackie revealed to ET that “Kendrick did the title song for my movie,” before catching himself and adding “Hope that’s not supposed to be a surprise!”
Well, it’s not a surprise anymore as heads are now curious to see what kind of bars Kendrick spits when rapping about a Black Captain America. As shocking as the revelation was, it actually makes sense as Kendrick did add a banger to the Black Panther soundtrack with the SZA assisted “All The Stars.” Now that Marvel is releasing another film with a Black superhero at the forefront, of course K. Dot would be lending his talents to such a project.
If at least a portion of the record 133 million viewers that tuned into Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Halftime Show head to theaters just to hear what Kendrick laid down for the Captain America film, Marvel Studios is gonna make a pretty penny by the time it’s all said and done.
While fans are now eagerly awaiting the new Kendrick Lamar cut for Captain America: Brave New World, we at least won’t have to wait long as the film is set to hit theater this coming Friday (February 14).
Are you looking forward to seeing Captain America: Brave New World now that Kendrick Lamar crafted a new cut specifically for the film? Let us know in the comments section below.
It’s well established that a song which becomes popular on TikTok often becomes popular on streaming services soon after. The platform aims to quantify this effect in its second annual Music Impact Report, released on Thursday (Feb. 13): On average, “an artist can expect an 11% increase in on-demand music streaming over the course of the three days following a peak in TikTok total views.”
TikTok commissioned the latest report, and it hits the same themes as its predecessor, repeatedly emphasizing the extent to which music fans on the platform are more engaged than average listeners, and thus more supportive of the larger music ecosystem. (Luminate conducted the analysis.)
“TikTok’s role as a driver of music discovery and artist success is already well known,” Ole Obermann, global head of music business development at TikTok, said in a statement. “However, Luminate’s report goes even further in laying out the many ways in which TikTok and its community of highly-engaged and high-spending music fans are proven to drive incremental revenues, chart success, and added value to artists and the music industry.”
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The study finds that 40% of U.S. TikTok users “listen to a new album on release week — a rate that is 27% higher than that of the average U.S. music listener.” And they are more likely to seek out additional information about musicians they like: “50% of U.S. TikTok users say they enjoy watching videos about music artists, such as interviews and behind-the-scenes content — 47% higher than the average U.S. social and [short-form video] user.”
The report also finds that American TikTok users are more willing to shell out for music (“spending 46% more money on [it] each month than the average U.S. music listener”), live experiences (52%), and artist merch (62%).
On top of that, they like to watch the charts — and try to influence them. “TikTok users are 40% more likely to make music purchases with the specific goal of boosting an artist’s chart position compared to the average consumer who makes music purchases,” according to the report.
In 2024, TikTok went wide with the “add to music app,” which allows users to quickly save music they find on the platform to their streaming service of choice. The latest report indicates that users have saved more than 1 billion songs to their streaming service of choice, though it’s hard to make much of this number without any additional context, as TikTok has a large user base.
The report also serves up two case studies that suggest a strong correlation between TikTok views and saves (for Sabrina Carpenter the week she released Short n’ Sweet) and between saves and streams (for Korn’s catalog). But the overall impact of the feature on the interplay between TikTok and streaming services remains unclear.
In his statement, Obermann said the “add to music app” “is already positively influencing artist success and chart placements, and the most exciting thing is that we are just getting started.”
BMG has a new look, with the company unveiling their fresh brand identity as part of their continuing BMG Next strategy.
Unveiled on Thursday (Feb. 13), the new branding is described as a “significant milestone” for the Berlin-based company’s evolution as a leader in the global industry. Dubbed a “comprehensive refresh”, the nascent design is said to represent the company’s bold approach to continuity and innovation, while still honoring its heritage.
“BMG has been through a significant transformation, and our refreshed brand reflects that journey,” said BMG CEO Thomas Coesfeld. “From the beginning, we’ve been a forward-thinking music company. Now, we’re building on that foundation with a renewed focus on innovation and creativity. Our vision is to contribute to a world where music makes a lasting impact. By uniting creative intuition with cutting-edge technologies, we empower our clients and partners to achieve long-term success.”
The new redesign is part of the company’s BMG Next strategy. Launched in 2023, it’s described by BMG as emphasizing a localized yet globally scalable approach. As Coesfeld explained in 2024, it’s “local where necessary, global where possible”.
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The brand identity update features a new symbol and an updated color scheme, moving away from the red color that has become associated with BMG for many years. According to a press release, the symbol is designed to bring “energy and movement” to the company’s visual identity, while still reinforcing its status as a modern music company that continues to integrate services related to music publishing and recorded music.
“While the BMG logo remains the same, our new symbol and brand hero colors reflect the company’s dual commitment to stability and forward-thinking innovation,” explained BMG Executive Vice President of Corporate Communications Kristal McKanders Dube. “‘Midnight,’ a deep emerald-blue, represents parent company Bertelsmann’s enduring commitment to music and BMG’s independent strength. The accent colors—‘Limelight,’inspired by the iconic stage spotlight, and ‘Platinum,’ along with other metallic tones, pay tribute to the industry’s highest achievements.”
“Our new visual identity isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s a statement of intent,” added Coesfeld. “At its core, it redefines our ambition and who we are today: we put artists and songwriters at the heart of everything we do. We embrace technology, collaborate with an ecosystem of partners, and stay true to our distinctive approach to artist advocacy.
“With the implementation of our BMG Next strategy, we have reached a new level in how we deliver for music creators, how we partner with the industry, and how we operate as a whole.”
The brand identity refresh was developed in collaboration with global brand consultancy Wolff Olins, and its launch coincides with the unveiling of BMG’s first phase of a redesigned website, which aims to showcase its offerings while celebrating the achievements of its artists and songwriters.
Universal Music Group (UMG) and Nashville-based non-profit Music Health Alliance (MHA) are expanding their relationship to launch the Music Industry Mental Health Fund, which will provide comprehensive, high-quality outpatient mental health resources for music industry professionals across the United States, it was announced Thursday (Feb. 13).
The new partnership, which builds upon the healthcare access program launched by UMG and MHA in April 2021, will provide a range of mental health services, including individualized recommendations for mental health professionals; grants to help offset costs; and funding resource recommendations to ensure continuity of care through additional financial and mental health support. Clients from UMG and beyond will have access to MHA’s team of advocates, with initial inquiries receiving a response within 24 hours.
“Music Health Alliance possesses the comprehensive resources necessary to address the full spectrum of mental health needs for music industry professionals,” said MHA founder/CEO Tatum Hauck Allsep in a statement. “This includes financial assistance, a continuum of care for both mental and physical health, and wraparound services such as psychiatric support, facilitation of intensive outpatient and inpatient programs, and data collection. MHA’s holistic approach ensures a long-term commitment to the health, well-being, and sustainability of the music industry workforce.”
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Services will be open to current and former music professionals, including those outside of UMG.
“We have been working on ways to establish a streamlined pathway for mental health access, funding and care planning,” said UMG chief impact officer Susan Mazo. “Growing and continuing our partnership with Tatum and the Music Health Alliance was the most natural way to ensure continuous and effective mental health support for anyone working in our industry.”
In addition to the expanded services, MHA offers a full spectrum of mental health and healthcare advocacy services, including dental care resources via the Richard M. Bates SMILE Fund, group health services, healthcare advocacy and confidential guidance. MHA, which boasts more than 32,000 members from across the music community, also offers individual/family healthcare insurance, senior care support via Price Legacy Fund and vision care resources.
According to UMG and MHA, the entities’ earlier healthcare access program, which provides a healthcare concierge to clients, has served nearly 1,000 clients to date and saved them more than $12.5 million in healthcare costs.
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Dave Chappelle will receive the President’s Award at the upcoming NAACP Image Awards, which will be held later this month.
On Tuesday (February 11), the NAACP announced that the iconic comedian Dave Chappelle will be the recipient of their lauded President’s Award at the 56th NAACP Image Awards ceremony, which will be held on February 22. The award, which is bestowed “in recognition of special achievement and distinguished public service”, has been given to such luminaries as Usher, Gabrielle Union-Wade, Dwyane Wade, Rihanna, LeBron James, Kerry Washington, Spike Lee, Muhammad Ali, Jesse Jackson, Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice, Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter, and Ms. Lauryn Hill. The honor comes at a keen moment for Chappelle, as he’s preparing to embark on another tour this year, and was the host of Saturday Night Live after the 2024 presidential election last November. He’s slated to take part in the variety show’s 50th anniversary special which will be aired on February 16.
“The President’s Award honors an unwavering dedication to community, and throughout his distinguished career, Dave Chappelle has consistently been recognized as a powerful voice of social consciousness,” said NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson in the press release announcing the honor. “Through his unique ability to transform complex political issues into thought-provoking humor, Dave has solidified his place as one of the most impactful voices of our time. His work sparks conversations that compel people to examine their own beliefs, proving that in an age where open dialogue is increasingly rare, comedy can be both a powerful truth-teller and a driver of progress.”
The 56th NAACP Image Awards will be held at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California on February 22 at 8 P.M. EST, and aired live on BET and CBS. This year, the event will be extended to run for 2.5 hours and honor the Altadena, Pacific Palisades, and Pasadena communities who have been affected by the recent wildfires. The ceremony will also provide support for the Altadena Community Preservation Fund, which was created to preserve the area’s cultural heritage and to defend homeowners from being displaced. The fund was created through a partnership between BET Media Group, NAACP, Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole (JSSK), and WME with LA County. The fund collaborated with and received feedback from several local community organizations, including Community Aid Dena, Altadena Heritage, and WalkGood LA,
Debut albums by Jay-Z, Luther Vandross and Big Star and breakthrough singles by Miami Sound Machine and Eddie Floyd are among the 13 recordings that were inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame this year. This year’s additions (eight albums and five singles) meet the main requirements – they exhibit “qualitative or historical significance” and […]
Sum 41 singer Deryck Whibley offered up his sincerest apologies to the pop punk band’s Australian fans in a video posted this week after the group were unable to play what were slated to be the final-ever shows Down Under in December due to his illness. “This is the part that I hate… The fact […]
Sony Music reported 14% revenue growth in the quarter ending last year — or total revenue of 482 billion yen ($2.72 billion) — bolstered by big releases from ATEEZ and Tyler, the Creator and subscription streaming growth across recorded and music publishing divisions, its parent company Sony Group Corp., reported Thursday (Feb. 13). Sony Music’s […]