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22 May 2023

Taylor Swift Says She’s ‘Never Been This Happy’ at Eras Tour Show: ‘My Life Finally Makes Sense’

Taylor Swift is feeling a little extra bejeweled as of late. At a recent Eras Tour concert at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., the 33-year-old superstar shared that she’s doing better than ever before diving into that night’s surprise songs.

“I kind of just feel like telling you … I’ve just never been this happy in my life, in all aspects of my life, ever,” she told fans Saturday (May 20). “And I just want to thank you for being a part of that.”

“It’s not just the tour, I just sort of feel like my life finally feels like it makes sense,” she continued.

Swift remained elusive about what, besides her sold-out stadium tour, is putting a smile on her face these days — but fans do have a few guesses. For one, the “Anti-Hero” singer is rumored to be dating The 1975’s Matty Healy. The alleged new romance comes just a couple months after news of Swift’s breakup from Joe Alwyn, whom she was with for six years, went public.

The pop star has also seemingly been spending a lot of time in the studio — sometimes with Healy — and has been spotted a number of times in recent weeks at New York City’s Electric Lady Studios. Is a new project in the works? Or, perhaps another re-recorded album to follow July 7’s Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)?

“I thought I’d play this song which brings me a lot of happy memories,” Swift added Saturday, before playing that night’s first surprise song, “Question…?,” on guitar.

Afterward, the 12-time Grammy winner took to the piano to perform “Invisible,” a deep cut from her 2008 debut album.

Watch Taylor get candid with fans over the weekend at Gillette Stadium below:

22 May 2023

Meta Fined Record $1.3 Billion By European Union Over Data Transfers

The European Union slapped Meta with a record $1.3 billion privacy fine Monday and ordered it to stop transferring users personal information across the Atlantic by October, the latest salvo in a decadelong case sparked by U.S. cybersnooping fears.

The penalty of 1.2 billion euros is the biggest since the EU’s strict data privacy regime took effect five years ago, surpassing Amazon’s 746 million euro fine in 2021 for data protection violations.

Meta, which had previously warned that services for its users in Europe could be cut off, vowed to appeal and ask courts to immediately put the decision on hold.

The company said “there is no immediate disruption to Facebook in Europe.” The decision applies to user data like names, email and IP addresses, messages, viewing history, geolocation data and other information that Meta — and other tech giants like Google — use for targeted online ads.

“This decision is flawed, unjustified and sets a dangerous precedent for the countless other companies transferring data between the EU and U.S.,” Nick Clegg, Meta’s president of global affairs, and chief legal officer Jennifer Newstead said in a statement.

It’s yet another twist in a legal battle that began in 2013 when Austrian lawyer and privacy activist Max Schrems filed a complaint about Facebook’s handling of his data following former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden’s revelations of electronic surveillance by U.S. security agencies. That included the disclosure that Facebook gave the agencies access to the personal data of Europeans.

The saga has highlighted the clash between Washington and Brussels over the differences between Europe’s strict view on data privacy and the comparatively lax regime in the U.S., which lacks a federal privacy law. The EU has been a global leader in reining in the power of Big Tech with a series of regulations forcing them police their platforms more strictly and protect users’ personal information.

An agreement covering EU-U.S. data transfers known as the Privacy Shield was struck down in 2020 by the EU’s top court, which said it didn’t do enough to protect residents from the U.S. government’s electronic prying. Monday’s decision confirmed that another tool to govern data transfers — stock legal contracts — was also invalid.

Brussels and Washington signed a deal last year on a reworked Privacy Shield that Meta could use, but the pact is awaiting a decision from European officials on whether it adequately protects data privacy.

EU institutions have been reviewing the agreement, and the bloc’s lawmakers this month called for improvements, saying the safeguards aren’t strong enough.

The Ireland’s Data Protection Commission handed down the fine as Meta’s lead privacy regulator in the 27-nation bloc because the Silicon Valley tech giant’s European headquarters is based in Dublin.

The Irish watchdog said it gave Meta five months to stop sending European user data to the U.S. and six months to bring its data operations into compliance “by ceasing the unlawful processing, including storage, in the U.S.” of European users’ personal data transferred in violation of the bloc’s privacy rules.

If the new transatlantic privacy agreement takes effect before these deadlines, “our services can continue as they do today without any disruption or impact on users,” Meta said.

Schrems predicted that Meta has “no real chance” of getting the decision materially overturned. And a new privacy pact might not mean the end of Meta’s troubles, because there’s a good chance it could be tossed out by the EU’s top court, he said.

“Meta plans to rely on the new deal for transfers going forward, but this is likely not a permanent fix,” Schrems said in a statement. “Unless U.S. surveillance laws gets fixed, Meta will likely have to keep EU data in the EU.”

Meta warned in its latest earnings report that without a legal basis for data transfers, it will be forced to stop offering its products and services in Europe, “which would materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.”

The social media company might have to carry out a costly and complex revamp of its operations if it’s forced to stop shipping user data across the Atlantic. Meta has a fleet of 21 data centers, according to its website, but 17 of them are in the United States. Three others are in the European nations of Denmark, Ireland and Sweden. Another is in Singapore.

Other social media giants are facing pressure over their data practices. TikTok has tried to soothe Western fears about the Chinese-owned short video sharing app’s potential cybersecurity risks with a $1.5 billion project to store U.S. user data on Oracle servers.

22 May 2023

Smashed Kurt Cobain ‘Nevermind’-Era Guitar Sells For $600K

A classic piece of Kurt Cobain memorabilia went under the gavel this weekend at Julien’s Auctions and raked in huge bucks. The Fender Stratocaster signed by the late Nirvana singer and former bandmates Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic — which had been smashed to bits by the singer and reassembled — sold for nearly $600,000 after initially being listed for $60,000.

Julien’s said before the $595,000 sale that the instrument was splintered by Cobain on stage during Nirvana’s Nevermind album era and that it was put back together afterward, but was unplayable. In addition to the trio’s signatures, the guitar also has a message to pal Screaming Trees singer Mark Lanegan from Kurt that read, “Hell-o mark! Love, Your Pal, Kurdt Kobain/ Washed up rockstar.”

The black guitar’s neck plate featured an engraving reading “Boddah Lives,” in reference to Cobain’s imaginary childhood friend and came in a black hard case with the inscription “Abort Christ.” According to a description, Cobain gave the busted guitar to Lanegan in the fall of 1992 during the North American leg of the Nevermind tour. In describing its condition, Julien’s noted that it had been “smashed and reassembled” and that “aside from the broken neck there are many marks and signs of use and abuse including chunks of wood missing from the bottom rear of the body.”

That wasn’t the only high-ticket Nirvana item that went in the auction. A bidder also paid big bucks for a setlist from the band’s April 17, 1991 show at the OK Hotel in Seattle, Washington, which sold for $50,800, from the show that featured the live debut of their soon-to-be-iconic breakthrough hit, “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” which was released in November of that year.

Last May the iconic left-handed 1969 Fender Mustang guitar played by Cobain in the 1991 video for “Smells Like Teen Spirit” sold for $4.5 million.

See a picture of the guitar below.

22 May 2023

Tool’s Maynard James Keenan Dons Fake Breasts, Lipstick at Florida Festival in Defiance of Ron DeSantis Anti-Drag Bill

Tool frontman Maynard James Keenan is not afraid to make a bold statement on stage. And at the Welcome to Rockville Festival on Sunday night (May 21) in Daytona Beach, Florida, the singer who often dons elaborate costumes during his band’s sets slipped into something that seemed aimed at making Florida Gov. and likely Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis feel uncomfortable.

During Tool’s first show of 2023, Keenan took the stage in a blonde wig, smeared red lipstick and a body-hugging shirt that showed off his fake breasts. The outfit appeared to be a reaction to a controversial bill signed by DeSantis last week, one of which bars minors from attending drag shows, as well as measures that severely restrict discussion of personal pronouns in schools and ban gender-affirming care for minors.

As noted in Consequence — which posted a series of photos of Keenan — because Welcome to Rockville was an all-ages festival, the singer was, technically, in violation of the new law.

Keenan isn’t the first artist to mount a public protest against the latest bill from a conservative lawmaker looking to make headlines with legislation based on hot-button culture war issues. Husband-and-wife team Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick danced around the living room to Taylor Swift’s “Karma” last month while wearing shirts that read “drag is an art and drag is a right” over the image of a drag performer in protest against a Tennessee anti-drag law.

Reba McEntire has also spoken out against the Tennessee law, while Cyndi Lauper and the B-52s made statements in March against what the group called were bills that promote “transphobia and discrimination against transgender individuals and drag artists.”

Check out images of Keenan below.

22 May 2023

Olivia Rodrigo Pinky Promises That She Is ‘So So So So Close’ To Finishing Second Album

Olivia Rodrigo had a lot to celebrate over the weekend. The singer marked the second anniversary of the release of her full-length 2021 debut, Sour, as well as some good news about her in-the-works follow-up.

“oh man oh man oh man. SOUR turns 2 years old today. no words could ever describe how much this album means to me and how insanely grateful I feel for every blessing it has brought into my life,” she wrote in a post that first appeared as a hand-written note via her newsletter and then migrated to her socials.

There she added some home behind-the-scenes photos and video from the sets of the videos for her debut, as well as a video of her freaking out and running down the street screaming upon seeing a massive billboard promoting Sour.

Back in January, Rodrigo told fans she was back in the studio with producer Dan Nigro in a brief video in which she banged her head along to Nigro’s piano playing, writing, “working on so many new songs I’m excited to show u. Thank u for everything.”

In November, fans got the first hint that new music from the singer was on the horizon when she sent a video message out through Spotify Wrapped. “Hey, it’s Olivia! I just wanted to say thank you so much for listening to my music this year,” she said. “I really, truly couldn’t be more grateful and I’m so excited for next year, and all of the new things and new music that 2023 will bring. So I’m sending so much love your way and thank you again! Bye!”

Rodrigo’s Sour album went to No. 1 upon its release, spending five weeks atop the chart in 2021, and featured the Hot 100 No. 1s “Drivers License” and “Good 4 U.”

See Rodrigo’s post below.

22 May 2023

Jaxsta Named Master of Metadata at 2023 Bizzy Awards: Exclusive

Jaxsta is awarded Master of Metadata honors at the Music Business Association’s Bizzy Awards 2023, Billboard can exclusively reveal.

Based in Sydney, the official music credits database snags a category that recognizes companies that have made a significant impact in the area of data processing, credit clarification, streamlining or otherwise promoting clean data and best practices.

“We are exceptionally proud to be recognized by the Music Business Association for our excellence in metadata,” comments Jaxsta CEO Beth Appleton in a statement. “It is critical that the industry has one verified source of truth and that we continually value and insist on official credits,” she continues. “Only by doing this, can we ensure that creators are paid quickly, accurately and cost-effectively.”

Currently, Jaxsta’s data set includes over 55 million recordings and almost 15 million works which are matched, deep-linked and searchable by multiple industry identifiers, including ISRC, ISWC, Spotify IDs, UPCs and more.

This Music Biz honor, adds Michael Stone, Jaxsta CTO, “is a testament to the trust placed in Jaxsta by our label partners.”

Jaxsta’s victory closely follows the launch of Vinyl.com. A vinyl-hunter’s dream, the new online store is powered by Jaxsta’s official music credits and gives record buyers verified creative contributions metadata on every album, for a deep dive into artists, songwriters, producers, composers, engineers, musicians and any other contributors.

The vision for Vinyl, its creators say, is to offer quickly expand its offer beyond selling vinyl to include merchandise, tickets, digital collectibles and other “experiences that connect fans with creators.”

First announced and held in 2022, the Bizzy Awards also presents the Leading Light Award, the Agent of Change Award, the #NEXTGEN_NOW One To Watch Award and others.

Read more here.

22 May 2023

Ed Sheeran Holds Top Spot on U.K. Albums Chart With ‘Subtract’

Ed Sheeran is unmoved at the summit of the U.K. albums survey as – (Subtract) (via Asylum) logs a second week at No. 1.

The English singer and songwriter has a perfect six No. 1s, with all of his albums logging multiple weeks at the top. Just one week after scooping the year-best sales tally in the U.K., Subtract is set to chase down another target. It’ll draw level with the three-week reign of Sheeran’s 2011 debut set + (plus) if it holds its position when the next chart is published, Friday, May 26.

The highest new entry on the latest chart, published May 19, belongs to English rapper Potter Payper, as his debut full-length LP Real Back in Style (0207) starts at No. 2. That’s a career high for the artist (real name: Jamel Bousbaa), who previously cracked the top 10 with 2020 mixtape Training Day 3 (No. 3) and 2021’s Thanks for Waiting (No. 8).

Completing the podium is Jonas Brothers with The Album (Polydor), new at No. 3. It’s the fourth top 10 LP for the brothers Joe, Kevin and Nick Jonas, following 2007 debut Jonas Brothers (No. 8), 2009’s Lines, Vines and Trying Times (No. 9) and 2019’s record Happiness Begins (No. 2).

Also new to the top 10 on the fresh Official U.K. Albums Chart is Brighton, England indie-rock act Lovejoy with their third EP Wake Up & It’s Over (Anvil Cat). It’s new at No. 5, for the four-piece’s first-ever top 10 appearance, bettering the No. 12 peak for 2021’s Pebble Brain.

And finally, Alison Goldfrapp grabs her first solo top 10 album, as The Love Invention (Skint) starts at No. 6. As the singer for electro-pop duo Goldfrapp, alongside Will Gregory, the British artist boasts a further five U.K. Top 10 albums: 2005’s Supernature (No. 2), 2008’s Seventh Tree (No. 2), 2010’s Head First (No. 6), 2013’s Tales of Us (No. 4) and 2017’s Silver Eye (No. 6).

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22 May 2023

Eurovision Songs Enjoy ‘Record-Breaking’ Charge Into U.K. Top 10

Loreen very nearly made it two wins in the space of a week.

Sweden’s representative at the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest won by a landslide with “Tattoo”. And in the U.K., “Tattoo” (via UMG International) has made a big impression with music fans, as it gathered momentum through the chart week.

“Tattoo” debuts at No. 2 on the Official U.K. Singles Chart, published last Friday (May 19), in a tight race won by Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding’s “Miracle” (Columbia).

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According to the Official Charts Company, “Miracle” clocked up a market-leading 5.1 million U.K. streams during the latest seven-day stretch, for its sixth non-consecutive week at No. 1.

Meanwhile, Loreen lands a new career high, beating the No. 3 best for “Euphoria,” her winning entry from the 2012 Eurovision.

“Tattoo” leads a “record-breaking” charge for Eurovision songs in the U.K. top 10, the OCC reports, as Finland act Käärijä’s “Cha Cha Cha” (No. 6 via WM Finland), U.K. entry Mae Muller’s “I Wrote A Song” (up 45-9 via Capitol) and Norway singer Alessandra’s “Queen of Kings” (No. 10 via Universal Music AS) all enter the top tier for the first time, following the recent song contest, the final of which took place held at May 13 at Liverpool’s M&S Arena.

Further down the list, Chicago hip-hop artist Lil Durk bags his third U.K. top 40 appearance as “All My Life” (Ministry of Sound) featuring J Cole starts at No. 17, while east coast drill rapper Lil Mabu cracks the top 40 for the first time with “Mathematical Disrespect” (Lil Mabu), new at No. 27.

Finally, two songs are enjoying revivals for totally different reasons. Florence + The Machine’s “Dog Days Are Over” (Island), which appeared on the English act’s 2009 album Lungs, is on the rise following its sync to Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3. It’s up 27-21.

And as the U.K. leg of her Renaissance World Tour gets underway, Beyonce’s “Cuff It” (Columbia/Parkwood Ent) reenters the chart at No. 24.

22 May 2023

‘American Idol’ Crowns Its 2023 Winner

American Idol has a new champion.

Following months of auditions, solo highs, the goodbyes, duets, trips to California and Hawaii, all of it came to a head on Sunday night (May 21) as America chose its Idol.

For those who’ve been a passenger for this latest, 21st edition, the winner had announced himself months ago. The grand finale was confirmation of what many already knew.

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During the special on ABC, the three finalists – Iam Tongi, Megan Danielle, and Colin Stough – had their last chance to impress the viewers by way of solo performances and duets with the stars.

And, with millions watching on at home, the stars did come out. Keith Urban, Kylie Minogue, Ellie Goulding, Lionel Richie, TLC, REO Speedwagon, Pitbull & Lil Jon, and others filled the screens.

America chose Tongi and Danielle as the final two contestants.

There could be only one, and that was Tongi.

The Hawaii highschooler with the beautiful voice and the tragic story had captured the hearts of Idol obsessives in recent months. With each performance, Tongi’s legend grew.

On the final, he performed Keith Urban’s “Making Memories of Us,” “Cool Down,” got the tears flowing with a tribute to his own, late father, “I’ll Be Seeing You,” and teamed-up with James Blunt for a rendition of “Monsters.”

Tongi can now kick start his career with a recording contract, part of the spoils that come with winning the annual competition.

Get the winning feeling below.

21 May 2023

Taylor Swift Danced in the Rain During a ‘Full On Deluge’ at Gillette Stadium

It rained, it poured, but  Taylor Swift didn’t let mother nature ruin her Saturday night (May 20).

The pop superstar and her Swifties danced in the rain for her hours-long outdoor set at Gillette Stadium, in at Foxborough, MA, proof of which TayTay has shared on social media.

Judging by the snaps taken from the pit, the weather event didn’t dampen spirits.

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“Last night we all danced together in the rain for THE ENTIRE 3.5 HOUR SHOW in foxy Foxborough MA!!,” she writes.

“We’ve had rain shows at Gillette Stadium before but this was a full on deluge that never let up, I just want to thank that iconic crowd!! Love you so much you have no idea.”

Swift hit the stage at 8pm and blazed through a 45-song set that included “Blank Space,” “Wildest Dreams,” “Bad Blood,” and, appropriately, “Midnight Rain” during the later, Midnights end of her set.

The 12-times Grammy winner and Billboard’s woman of the decade award winner has been described as a force of nature. On this current The Eras Tour, however, it’s been Swift and her support team and crew who’ve had to navigate some particularly bad weather.

Swift’s May 7 concert at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium was delayed by several hours due to inclement weather, which meant TayTay didn’t finish until after 1am.

Next stop: Metlife Stadium this Friday (May 28) at East Rutherford, NJ.

Fans won’t have to wait long for some new, old music from Swift. Speak Now (Taylor’s Version), the rerecording of her third album, is set to drop July 7.