Random Music News for Wednesday, January 18, 2017

I still think MH370 was brought down as the result of a lithium battery fire in the hold, but now that the search has been called off, we may never know. But we may get lithium-ion batteries with built-in fire retardant as a result. And now, some music news…

1. Sam Moore (of Sam and Dave and “Soul Man” fame) has agreed to perform at the Trump inauguration.
2. Overall Canadian music sales are running at -6% from this time last year. Album sales are down almost 26%, led lower by a 33% drop in digital albums. Vinyl is up 20.5% and audio streaming is ahead by 120%.
3. George Michael’s cousin maintains that he died of an accidental drug overdose.
4. Lady Gaga’s Super Bowl halftime show looks…dangerous.
5. And has she been asked to avoid anything political?
6. Bob Dylan’s grandson is a model for Dolce and Gabbana.
7. Drake is now being studied at the PhD level. See?
8. Toronto’s life music scene is not what it used to be–and it’s a serious cause for concern.
9. Cool! This was the first machine to replicate human speech.
10. Recommended reading #1: A new book from Johnny Lydon.
11. Recommended reading #2: A new tell-all by the mother of one of the members of Guns’N Roses.
12. Gee, you think there’s a drug connection to that horrible shooting at the EDM club in Playa Del Carmen?
13. This song has become an ear worm–and here’s why.
14. The next TV music drama will be set in Miami, apparently.
15. This guy was the original slap bassist. Just watching this made my hands hurt. (Via Danny)
16. And check out this one-man-band busker. Wow. (Danny again.)
17. Jesse Hughes of Eagles of Death Metal has had a restraining order filed against him due to some alleged death threats against a former friend.