Random music news for Wednesday, February 26, 2020

Marsquakes! Cool! Switching now to music news for February 26, 2020…

1. The major labels are now hauling in over US$1 million every hour from streaming. And 80% of US music revenues are coming from streaming.
2. Spotify is testing a new home screen interface with some users.
3. K-pop material has streamed 41 billion times on Spotify and 8 billion of them came from BTS.
4. Speaking of whom, they’re asking fans to avoid their shows because of the corona virus. Uh, why wouldn’t you just cancel those shows?
5. Metallica has canceled some US festival dates as James Hetfield’s rehab recovery continues. He’s checked back in.
6. Indie band Yeasayer has sued Kendrick Lamar over an allegedly uncleared sampled.
7. More Prince material will be released from the archives soon.
8. The UK music industry is terrified at what Brexit will mean for British musicians touring Europe.
9. Michael Jackson’s son has changed his name. Please don’t call him “Blanket” anymore. It’s now Bigi, thank you.
10. Some ticket resellers in the UK have been sent to jail for fraud.
11. If you’re into extreme music, do I have a platform for you.
12. I was a guest on this podcast. Give ‘er a listen.
13. A Saudi prince has ordered the arrest of a female rapper who dared rhyme the word “Mecca.” Oh, and she’s also Black. Racist much?
14. Kraftwerk is about to embark on a 50th anniversary tour of North America.
15. The first reviews for the Whitney Houston hologram tour are coming in. It’s apparently…surreal.