Kobalt Music Removes More Than 700,000 Songs From Facebook and Instagram

SHERELLE has launched a new academy featuring workshops with PinkPantheress, Mura Masa and more.BEAUTIFUL, which will run workshops throughout October, will be hosted by the producer, giving 15 students access to “hands on classes, lectures and talks about how to navigate the music industry, better their artistic craft and learn about electronic music and how ingrained Black and queer artists are in its history,” according to a press release.The first session will cover the history and political impact of black music with journalist, author and DJ, Marcus Barnes with Lil Silva, Mura Masa and LCY giving a workshop in production.DJ and writer Elijah will also discuss the economical and social aspects of the industry followed by a roundtable discussion with key professional figures from managers to PRs in another session while the final workshop will be with PinkPantheress on her rise and the cultural impact of black music.Artists can enroll for the workshops here before August 22.According to a press release, BEAUTIFUL was launched in 2020 and it was SHERELLE’s “response to whitewashing and the erasure of both Black and queer history within electronic music”.Last year, SHERELLE curated an 18-track album featuring “some of the very best artists of the electronic scene” and celebrating Black & LGBTQI+ talent on the scene through the initiative.Speaking to NME about the project previously, SHERELLE said: “I know a lot of people want to be in positions where they are able to cultivate change, but I know it’s going to take time until we are in a position of influence to do that.“I want there to be more Beautifuls: community-led legacy-led teams which address ownership.

Michael Jackson estate and Sony Music, that alleged the label had released songs by a Jackson impersonator, has been settled after eight years.Back in 2014, Jackson fan Vera Serova filed a class-action lawsuit against Sony Music, the Jackson estate and producers.They claimed that three cuts on the late singer’s posthumous 2010 album ‘Michael’ – ‘Monster’ (featuring 50 Cent), ‘Keep Your Head Up’ and ‘Breaking News’ – were sold as official Jackson recordings, despite multiple accusations that they’d been sung by someone else.In 2010, Jackson’s mother Katherine Jackson claimed that “some of the tracks on the album are fake”. His sister LaToya Jackson said: “It doesn’t sound like him.” Taryll Jackson, Jackson’s nephew, also commented on how the songs had been made in a “sneaky and sly” fashion.Some Jackson fans have long disputed the assertion that the tracks actually feature the artist’s vocals.Last month, ‘Monster’, ‘Keep Your Head Up’ and ‘Breaking News’ were all removed from the ‘Michael’ album on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube Music.In a statement, a spokesperson for Jackson’s official website confirmed that the songs were no longer available online, but claimed the move “had nothing to do with their authenticity” (via American Songwriter).The message added: “The Estate and Sony Music believe the continuing conversation about the tracks is distracting the fan community and casual Michael Jackson listeners from focusing their attention where it should be, on Michael’s legendary and deep music catalogue.”According to Rolling Stone, the lawsuit finally reached its conclusion yesterday (August 10) in the California Supreme Court.

Elon Musk sold $6.9 billion worth of shares Tesla this month to help finance an acquisition of Twitter — a deal he is fighting in court to avoid.

Scots have waited more than 1,000 days for mental health treatment as the NHS struggles to meet demand, new figures show.

Home sweet home! Tarek El Moussa returned from his trip to Mexico, and pregnant Heather Rae El Moussa (née Young) couldn’t be more excited to have her husband back under the same roof.

Kelsey Parker, the wife of the late The Wanted star Tom Parker, has paid an emotional tribute to her husband on what would have been his 34th birthday on August 4. The singer and father of two tragically passed away in March after an 18-month battle with brain cancer, leaving behind his wife Kelsey, 32, and their two children, Aurelia, two, and 23 month old Bodhi. Kelsey took to Instagram on Thursday to share a sweet video of students from her K2K Stars Performing Arts School as they all sat on a train and sang out loud to This is Me, from smash-hit musical drama The Greatest Showman.

Heather Rae El Moussa is lying low and putting her health first. The pregnant 34-year-old star was noticeably absent from a group photo of husband Tarek El Moussa's family trip to Cabo San Lucas in Mexico this week. In the caption, Tarek wrote that his entire family and children were «having a blast,» but noted, «Just missing @heatherraeyoung like crazy but doctor's orders come first!!» Heather replied in the comments, writing: «Miss my family and love you so much baby.» A post shared by Tarek El Moussa (@therealtarekelmoussa)Tarek and Heather are currently expecting their first child together, a baby boy, due in 2023. This will be the first child for Heather, and the third for Tarek, who shares Taylor and Brayden with his ex-wife, Christina Hall. While Heather has been open about undergoing IVF and her pregnancy journey, just last week, the reality TV star revealed that despite doing IVF, she ultimately ended up getting pregnant naturally.In an Instagram post, she opened up about taking the time to slow down and truly nurture her body during pregnancy. «I've always been a healthy person but I'm also ambitious so I love the busy busy go-go-go lifestyle,» she wrote.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorOne of the wonders of music streaming is its borderlessness. Back in the day, a person might never hear, let alone purchase, music outside their country or comfort zone if they didn’t happen to wander into that area of a record store or radio dial.

Sir Christopher Meyer, the UK’s former ambassador to the U.S., has died aged 78.

Todd Spangler NY Digital EditorSnap has announced the Snapchat Sounds Creator Fund: Its first fund designed to support emerging and independent artists who distribute their music on the app via DistroKid.Starting in August, Snap will provide monthly grants of up to $100,000 to artists who are distributing music on Snapchat via DistroKid. The program is currently capped at 20 songs; Snap says it will provide grants of $5,000 per song to artists, based on the level of engagement Snapchat users have with the music.Currently, musicians who are signed with Snap’s music label and publisher partners — which include Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, Merlin, Sony Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell and Kobalt — monetize their content through those agreements.

More than 20,000 objections to proposals for a Flamingo Land development on the banks of Loch Lomond were submitted over the weekend, the Scottish Greens have said. Plans from the theme park developer have been fought fiercely by the party, with original proposals being withdrawn two years ago after receiving more than 50,000 objections.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has issued an urgent warning to more than 222,600 Tax Credits customers who have not yet submitted their renewal packs. Payments will be stopped if renewals are not completed before Sunday, July 31.

DEALSPulse Music Group has renewed its publishing deal with Brent Faiyaz. “With Brent and [manager] Ty [Baisen], we found kindred spirits”, Pulse co-CEOs Scott Cutler and Josh Abraham say. “They are working towards the highest artistic bar.

Muse have shared their new single ‘Kill Or Be Killed’ from their forthcoming ninth album ‘Will Of The People’ – listen to the track below.The song, which has been previewed at numerous festivals over the summer, is the fourth to be lifted from the trio’s new LP after the title track, ‘Compliance’ and ‘Won’t Stand Down’.Frontman Matt Bellamy said: “’Kill Or Be Killed’ is Muse at their heaviest! We wanted to update our hard rock sound on this album and with ‘Kill Or Be Killed’ we found a modern metal sound featuring double bass drum action and even a death growl.“Lyrically the song takes influence from my favourite Paul McCartney song ‘Live And Let Die’, a dark take on how life’s adversity can sometimes bring out the worst human instincts to survival at any costs.”‘Will Of The People’ is due out August 26 via Warner Records and can be pre-ordered here.Meanwhile, Muse’s Matt Bellamy recently told NME that he thinks society wants “a new type of revolution”.Following the coronavirus pandemic, the war in Ukraine and the current cost of living crisis, the frontman said he believes change is coming.“I think everyone knows we want a revolution, but we definitely don’t want a bunch of authoritarian lunatics from the right. That’s the last thing we want,” he told NME.“And also we don’t want a total communist situation on the hard left either.

She is one of hundreds of children whose lives have been changed thanks to a father keeping alive the memory of his daughter. But the support Heidi-Lou Decieco has received from a Salford charity will hopefully one day enable her to walk.

Temperatures have now hit record highs today as the heatwave unfolds across the country. NHS chiefs have sounded alarm bells that an already stretched system, dealing with ever-increasing demand on A&Es combined with a rising Covid tide, will suffer as people are hit with heat-related illnesses and injuries.

Elvis Presley is being remembered following the release of "Elvis" - a new biopic from Baz Luhrmann which tells the story of the King's life. His ex-wife, Priscilla Presley, has often spoken about her relationship with the King over the years, and once confessed that she didn't feel as if she truly had "teenage years" due to the couple getting together so early.

APPOINTMENTSUtopia Music has appointed Tracy Maraj as its Chief People & Culture Officer. “I am excited to join Utopia at such a key stage in its growth journey”, she says. “With such an ambitious mission and vision it’s vital that Utopia continues to cultivate a culture where everyone can grow and excel”.————————————————–RELEASESEllie Goulding has released new single ‘Easy Lover’, featuring Big Sean.