Haim, Dave Matthews, More to Perform at Cat Stevens Tribute Concert

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorAs this trainwreck of a year trainwrecks itself to a close, we present the final Fri5 of 2020 — and as if on cue, it’s one of the more confusing batches of songs we’ve highlighted. We’re not even entirely sure who one of these artists is (see Rook Monroe).

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorThe charts are usually filled with holiday fare each mid-December, but this year is over the top even by that standard. While Shawn Mendes’ “Wonder” debuted at No.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorThe annual Ally Coalition Talent Show is one of the best benefits of the year, which has seen stellar performances in the past from Taylor Swift, Lana Del Rey, Kacey Musgraves, Lorde, the (Dixie) Chicks, the National, Carly Rae Jepsen and Antonoff himself.While this year’s event will be virtual, the lineup is just as stellar as ever, with Del Rey, the Chicks, Brittany Howard, St.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorIn a two-hour hearing on Tuesday morning, representatives for the concert industry, which has been ravaged by the pandemic shutdown, made a passionate and compelling case for federal aid before the U.S. Senate.“We’re here before you with our hats in our hands,” said witness Michael Strickland, owner of the lighting company Bandit Lites in Knoxville, TN.“Please don’t let the music die,” said Adam Hartke, who owns two independent venues in Wichita, KS.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorJay-Z’s Roc Nation and Random House, a division of Penguin Random House, have announced a new literary publishing partnership to be called Roc Lit 101.

died on Saturday after a battle with COVID-19. He was 86.The iconic singer became the first Black artist to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, as well as the first Black country artist to perform at the Grand Ole Opry.

died on Saturday after a battle with COVID-19. He was 86.The iconic singer became the first Black artist to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, as well as the first Black country artist to perform at the Grand Ole Opry.

died on Saturday after a battle with COVID-19. He was 86.The iconic singer became the first Black artist to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, as well as the first Black country artist to perform at the Grand Ole Opry.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorAs the nation and the globe wake up each morning asking, “Is 2020 over yet?,” the search for the next great new song is one thing that makes getting out of bed a worthy endeavor.We’ve already covered the Taylor Swift, Avalanches, Kid Cudi and Chris Cornell albums as well as the 20-years-late Britney Spears-Backstreet Boys tag team, and fittingly for this odd week, the top songs are an odd batch …James Blake “When the Party’s Over” We don’t usually go for covers in

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorThe North American live events industry lost more than $30 billion in 2020 due to the global pandemic, including $9.7 at the box office, according to the year-end report by Pollstar, the leading live-entertainment industry trade publication.At the top of the year, the industry was projected to hit a record-setting $12.2 billion at the box office in 2020, but instead incurred $9.7 billion in Boxoffice losses after the industry effectively shut down completely in

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorFoo Fighters founder and frontman Dave Grohl and Grammy-winning producer Greg Kurstin have announced “Hanukkah Sessions,” a series of eight songs written by Jewish artists to be rolled out beginning with the start of the eight-day Festival of Lights at sundown Thursday.The pair announced the series in a social media post late Wednesday night that begins, “Hi, I’m Greg Kurstin and I’m Jewish,” followed by, “And I’m Dave Grohl.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorFor nearly 20 years, Yo La Tengo’s annual eight-night Hanukkah concert series has been a staple of the New York-New Jersey music scene. However, as with many events in 2020, this year’s celebration will be taking a slightly different form.On Friday, December 18 at 8 p.m.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorConcord announced today that two-time Grammy-winner Shooter Jennings will be joining its label group as a staff producer.

Chloe x Halle bring NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert series to their home.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorOkay, we’ll admit it: We’re still hung over from celebrating after our stellar “Hitmakers” event last night — a virtual party that basically turned into a virtual mini-awards show with appearances from Harry Styles, Billie Eilish, Lil Baby and many more.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorSony Music Entertainment has acquired Human Re Sources, J. Erving’s Los Angeles-based artist distribution and services company, from the music and tech company Q&A.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorWith 3.6 million subscribers, New Music Friday is hardly Spotify’s most popular playlist (that would be Today’s Top Hits, which tops 27 million).

Metallica‘s Kirk Hammett played a 1959 Les Paul guitar which was previously played by Fleetwood Mac‘s Peter Green.Hammett delivered a rendition of Fleetwood Mac’s ‘The Green Manalishi (With The Two Pronged Crown)’ at a tribute concert for Green which was held at The London Palladium in February – joined by an all-star cast including Mick Fleetwood.Taking place only months before Green’s passing in July 2020, the concert also saw contributions from the likes of Noel Gallagher, David Gilmour,

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorThe Weeknd, Doja Cat, Ty Dolla $ign, Brandy, Bebe Rexha, Nav, Bryson Tiller, French Montana — that’s not the top of a 2020 singles or albums chart. Those are just a few of the artists handled by the rapidly growing Salxco, the management-and-more concern founded by Wassim “Sal” Slaiby.

PLZ Make It Ruins the London-based label run by Frank Ocean collaborator Vegyn, have announced a 40-track compilation album comprised entirely of original loops. Each track on the album, which was compiled alongside Arts Council England, is 1.8 seconds long and is designed to be played repeatedly with the aim of "creating a uniquely hypnotic rhythm." Among the artists to contribute loops are Haim, 100 Gecs, Clairo, Four Tet, King Krule, Arca, Kenny Beats, and Dominic Fike.