Random music news for Friday, March 1, 2019

Back in the home office although it always takes a few days for my soul to catch up with my ultra-long-haul air travel. I am cogent enough to provide some music news for March 1, 2019,

1. HBO will run Leaving Neverland, the Michael-Jackson-was-a-pedo documentary starting Sunday. The Jackson estate is freaking out.
2. Meanwhile, Neverland Ranch is up for sale at a 70% discount from the original asking price.
3. The fan that bailed out R Kelly is–wait for it–a woman.
4. The 2020 Juno Awards will return to Saskatoon.
5. Want to rent Blink-182’s Travis Barker’s old place? Just US$27,500 a month.
6. Motley Crue, NASCAR Grand Marshalls.
7. If you are a Canadian songwriter or publisher and you’re looking to get paid for your work, better take a look at this.
8. Here’s something to stream over the weekend: a playlist of often-forgotten Canadian hard rock bands.
9. Yes, Ed Sheeran apparently got married.
10. Back in 1981, these were considered to be the 100 greatest punk songs of all time.
11. There are at least two more Weezer albums ready to go.
12. Are you a “subscription mooch?”
13. Apple Watch took half of all smartwatch sales in 2018.
14. Sometime soon, someone is going to write an in-depth research paper on the influence of SoundCloud on hip-hop. This, however, is a good start.
15. A follow-up to the West Java, Indonesia, ban of certain songs being “pornographic”: Here’s the full list.
16. On the same subject, this Indonesia preacher claims that K-pop bands “promote homosexuality and free sex.”
17. Crisis with Eurovision!
18. There was a metalcore gig inside a Wendy’s.
19. Promoters of the WOMAD Festival are having trouble booking acts because of Brexit issues.
20. This is fun. The Class of 1999: Where are they now?