Random Music News for Monday, December 26, 2016

Was Santa good to you? Or are you going to fill those empty spaces in your soul by shopping on Boxing Day? While you’re considering that, here’s some music news.

1. Were these the 10 essential musical moments on TV in 2016?
2. Here are 2016’s least essential tracks. (Via Rupinder)
3. Bandcamp has released some interesting stats for 2016.
4. This guy listened to the Nickelback catalogue over three days and came away with a new appreciation for what they do. Read this, haters.
5. Interesting: The most-Googled subject in Vermont in 2016 was “David Bowie.” And in Minnesota? Prince, of course. (In Louisiana, it was “Beyonce halftime show.”) More here.
6. Can we please put the “Blurred Lines” trial to rest? No?
7. Fascinating: Great musician-to-musician letters.
8. Want to spend the weekend plumbing forgotten websites of the past? Okay…
9. Beyonce and Adele have been lined up to perform at the 2017 Grammys.
10. Kanye still has his health problems.
11. Are aliens behind these mysterious radio bursts from space?
12. This could be the most important radio station in Syria.
13. Need a new ringtone? There’s one consisting of just Tom Cruises’ screams.
14. These are the best viral videos of 2016.
15. Fun: a list of “alternative” awards for 2016 (there’s a lot of music in here).