Random music news for Wednesday, August 29, 2018

Today would have been Michael Jackson’s 60th birthday. And in music news for August 29, 2018, there’s quite a bit to talk about.

1. Donald Trump-branded ecstasy pills have been seized at some UK festivals. They contained deadly amounts of MDMA.
2. In iPhone rumour news, say goodbye to the home button…
3. …and new units should go longer between charges.
4. How do we feel about this shot of Aretha Franklin in her casket?
5. Katy Perry was drawn into the Dr. Luke controversy but testified that nothing happened.
6. Mike Shinoda and Alessia Cara are starring in a suicide prevention campaign.
7. Has Live Nation become too big and powerful? Some people think so and are demanding an investigation.
8. Feeling blue? This list of celebrities doing good deeds should cheer you up.
9. Weird Al now has a Hollywood Walk of Fame star. He’s pleading that no one “pickaxe it.”
10. Want to appear in a Prince video? Here’s your chance. (Yes, he’s still dead, but…)
11. This Russian bride wanted to really piss off her ex, so she had both Elton John and Mariah Carey perform at her wedding.
12. Record labels are worried about streaming companies’ pushing of family plans. They complain they’re losing too much potential revenue.
13. Speaking of streaming, there could be 100 million streamers in just India.
14. How important are video games to music? Rockstar Games claims that in the last five years, gamers have been exposed to 75,000,000,000 minutes of music.
15. Liam Gallagher vs. the bouncer in a domestic violence affair.
16. A sad history of musicians and airplanes.
17. If you’re a producer into sound design or a musician looking for samples, take a look at Sononym.
18. What’s all this business about Lauryn Hill stealing music?
19. These seven performers made very good records using Garageband.
20. Remember the story last week of Pete Doherty eating a massive breakfast? The feat has now been memorialized in a mural.