Random music news for Friday, May 25, 2018

On a day just like this long, long ago–1977, to be exact–Star Wars opened in theatres. Now let’s move to music news for May 25, 2018.

1. This American smuggled rock music out of the USSR. Usually, it was the other way around.
2. Then there’s this podcast of the underground rock scene in the Soviet Union. (Via Jillian)
3. Here’s a good timesuck to pass the time leading up to the weekend: a talk about Bowie’s relationship to sci-fi and fantasy.
4. How different is Pope Francis? He picked Rod Stewart and his wife out of a crowd.
5. Spotify has settled one of its outstanding class action lawsuits.
6. This teen pianist is doing just fine with only four fingers.
7. Michael Jackson’s estate is not happy about an ABC special called The Last Days of Michael Jackson.
8. How Tom Wolfe changed music journalism.
9. The value of the whole EDM scene dropped last year, including a 4.8% fall in Canada. Has the EDM scene peaked?
10. This is a great podcast featuring Moby. It’s worth the listen.
11. Are you into synths? Check out this new stackable unit.
12. Speaking of synths, we need to acknowledge the birthday of Bob Moog which happened this week.
13. Want to know what Apple knows about you? Go here.
14. Want to smoke with Snoop Dogg? Go here.
15. Ed Sheeran is REALLY going after scalpers by cancelling tickets.
16. Another Grammy scandal is brewing.
17. Liam Gallagher met his love child daughter for the first time.
18. How to make it as a music journalist.
19. Lenny Kravitz looks back in his 30 years in music.