Perrie Edwards has revealed that her debut album is now complete, and features collaborations with RAYE and Ed Sheeran.The singer first found fame after winning The X Factor in 2011 as part of the girl group Little Mix. After 11 years together, the members decided to go their separate ways to pursue their own respective careers as solo artists.Now, Edwards has confirmed that her debut project is now officially completed and recently hosted private listening parties for both fans and industry professionals in London.As reported by Official Charts, who was in attendance for the listening party last week (March 7), the album sees the singer channel inspiration from the likes of Kelly Clarkson and Katy Perry, and create an album that feels like one made for a road trip with friends.Although the title of the album and names of the songs remain under wraps – barring the lead single ‘Forget About Us’ – it has been shared that the album was mainly recorded between her home studio and Weymouth, and features collaborations from two huge names.The first of which is pop legend Ed Sheeran, who not only co-wrote the aforementioned lead single but also joined up with Edwards for the second song on the album too.The second is hit singer-songwriter RAYE – who recently took the BRITs by storm earlier this month by taking home a record-breaking six awards on the night.
Songwriters Slam Unfair Streaming Payments in Sadly Hilarious New Video — but Will Anything Change?
22.02.2024 - 19:03 / variety.com
Jem Aswad Executive Editor, Music One of the saddest ironies in the music world is the fact that songwriters are at the very bottom of the streaming economy. While there’s no question that streaming, and Spotify in particular, saved the music business after 15 years of financial freefall, the jury is still out on who exactly was saved. Major music companies are enjoying record profits, as are many superstar artists — but many others further down the income scale, and especially songwriters, have been left behind by the streaming payment model.
To vastly oversimplify the problem: Streaming generates a fraction of the money that physical music products like CDs and vinyl do. A quarter century ago, a songwriter with a credit on a hit album — i.e. an $18 CD — could make a solid living.
But when that same credit is reduced literally to micropennies — a single stream on Spotify pays approximately $.035 — that’s a drastic reduction in income. Making matters worse, streaming pays approximately 25% in publishing (i.e. for the songwriting) and the remainder to the recording (i.e.
the performing artist and label), and most hit songs these days have three to over a dozen songwriters — most of whom must split those micropennies with publishers. So even if a song has millions of streams, what does 25% of $.035, split multiple ways, add up to? Yes, it’s an outrageous situation — where is the music industry without songs? — and no, it’s not showing many signs of getting better. The situation was put into bold, blunt relief in a minute-long video posted on Instagram Wednesday, coordinated by artist-songwriter Bonnie McKee (Katy Perry, Britney Spears) and featuring some of the most successful professional songwriters working today —
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East Village Radio, Longtime Home of Mark Ronson’s Show, Plans Return Next Month
Jem Aswad Executive Editor, Music East Village Radio, the influential streetfront online radio station that broadcast from 2003-2016 and Mark Ronson hosted an influential show for several years, has announced it is planning to relaunch next month. The station, formerly located in a tiny studio behind a glass window at the front of a restaurant on First Avenue in New York’s East Village, opened directly onto the sidewalk, offering an almost surreal intimacy between passersby and the DJs.
Indie Music Publishers Association Criticizes TikTok, But Tells Members to Decide ‘What Is Best for Their Business’ Before Joining Boycott
Jem Aswad Executive Editor, Music As the standoff between Universal Music Group and TikTok over royalties, AI and other matters continues to boil amid angry words from both sides — and the National Music Publishers Assn. stating last weekthat it does not plan to renew its license with the platform — the official trade group for independent publishers has weighed in with its own advice.
Joanna Newsom Announces Intimate Solo Concerts in Los Angeles
Jem Aswad Executive Editor, Music Singer-songwriter-harpist and indie icon Joanna Newsom, who has kept a low profile since the tour supporting her 2015 album “Divers,” has announced a five-night solo residency in Los Angeles. Billed as the “Strings/Keys Incidence,” the shows will take place at the intimate Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever from May 15-19.
Dave Grohl, Black Keys, Nile Rodgers, Hozier and More Help Raise $3.8 Million for Charity at Love Rocks NYC Annual Concert
Jem Aswad Executive Editor, Music The Love Rocks NYC Benefit Concert has become an annual New York tradition and Thursday night’s show at the Beacon Theatre was one of the best on record, raising $3.8 million for the God’s Love We Deliver charity with performances and/or appearances from Dave Grohl, the Black Keys, Hozier, Nile Rodgers, Tom Morello, Don Felder, Bettye LaVette, Joss Stone, Allison Russell, Emily King, Marcus King, Lucius, Larkin Poe, Trombone Shorty, Luke Spiller, Quinn Sullivan, and Bernie William. This year’s concert raised $3.8 million, which will allow God’s Love We Deliver to serve 380,000 meals for New Yorkers living with severe illnesses.
This Morning's Alison Hammond replaced by co-star as Dermot issues statement on air
Alison Hammond was missing from ITV's This Morning today (Friday), with her co-star Josie Gibson filling in for her alongside Dermot O'Leary. Josie, 39, has been at the helm of This Morning throughout the week, hosting alongside Craig Doyle. With Friday marking International Women's Day, Josie and Dermot gave a big shout-out to Alison during her absence from the show.
Charli XCX Debuts Song Dedicated to Late Producer Sophie, Karol G Is Woman of the Year and More From Billboard’s Women in Music Awards
Thania Garcia Before Charli XCX took the stage at Billboard’s Women in Music Awards on March 6, the Grammy-nominated singer prefaced that her heart was beating “really, really fast.” Performing an unreleased song called “So I,” presumably a track for her new album “Brat,” Charli said: “This song is about someone really, really special to me who is no longer with us,” and launched into singing a song that references her late collaborator Sophie’s 2017 track “It’s Okay To Cry,” with the lyrics revealing Charli’s grief: “You would say ‘C’mon stay for dinner’ / I’d say ‘No, I’m fine (Now I really wish I stayed).'” Sophie died at the age of 34 in 2021 after she accidentally slipped and fell. Charli and Sophie worked together on various songs, including Charli’s “Vroom Vroom.” Sophie was best known for her solo work, specifically her 2018 album, “Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides.” After completing her performance, Charli accepted the award for Powerhouse of the Year, and told the audience — which ranged from industry champions, including Executive of the Year Michelle Jubelirer, to stars including Katy Perry, Ice Spice and more — that she was incredibly nervous to perform since she proudly and openly uses autotune.
Raye Calls for Better Songwriter Deals in Passionate BRIT Awards Acceptance Speech
Jem Aswad Executive Editor, Music It’s no surprise that British-Ghanaian R&B singer/songwriter Raye was the center of attention at last weekend’s BRIT Awards — she won a record six trophies at the British Grammy-equivalent ceremony, including Best Artist, Album of the Year and Song of the Year, and during her acceptance speeches made empowering statements like “I’m in control — I’m my own boss.” Yet obscured in all the headlines was the strong business statement she made on behalf of fellow songwriters, calling for them to receive a share of the master recording income of the songs on which they’re credited. Multiple other participants receive such shares — “points on the master” — including artists, labels, producers and others, but not songwriters.
National Music Publishers Assn. Does Not Plan to Renew TikTok License — Will Indie Publishers Follow?
Jem Aswad Executive Editor, Music The standoff between Universal Music Group and TikTok took another turn on Wednesday when the trade group National Music Publishers Association sent a letter to its members saying that it does not expect to renew its license with the China-based platform when it expires at the end of next month. “Recently, the press has highlighted concerns around TikTok’s licensing practices, concerns that NMPA has heard directly from many of our members,” the letter reads in part.
Who’s Getting Hurt in the Universal Music-TikTok Standoff? Artists and Songwriters (Guest Column)
Ari Herstand By now, it’s widely known that Universal Music Group has removed most or all of its catalog from TikTok, as well as apparently every song that includes at least one songwriter affiliated Universal Music Publishing Group. It’s a battle that pits the world’s largest music company against the most influential and powerful platform for promoting music — which for the past five years has been TikTok.
Keith Richards Covers Velvet Underground’s ‘Waiting for the Man’ for Forthcoming Lou Reed Tribute Album
Jem Aswad Executive Editor, Music Even amid the literally thousands of Lou Reed cover versions that have emerged over the past half century — by everyone from David Bowie to Patti Smith to R.E.M. to Beck , it’s hard to imagine a more fitting musical tribute than Keith Richards covering “Waiting for the Man,” the 1967 song that heralded not just the Velvet Underground’s arrival, but a whole new realm of ultra-real, novelistic songwriting in rock music.
This Morning replaces Dermot O'Leary as Alison Hammond gets new co-host amid more changes
This Morning still appears to be going through a number of changes ahead of the start of a new partnership on the programme. Earlier this month (February) Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley were confirmed as the new permanent presenting duo.
Salma Hayek shares hilarious censored video with gray hair cover-up tricks
Salma Hayek was very comfortable while getting glammed up recently. The Mexican star wore a white robe while getting her hair and makeup done and kept hilariously opening up during her demonstration. It would have been an NSFW video, but she enlisted the help of blurred pixels to keep her private parts - private.In the video, Hayek has a full face of makeup, as she points out some gray hairs.
Fox Corp. Streaming Service Tubi Introduces New Logo And Brand Identity
Fox Corp. streaming service Tubi has updated its brand identity, with a new logo whose letters are designed to echo the company’s invitation to viewers to “find your rabbit hole.”
Taylor Swift’s Dad Accused of Assaulting Photographer, Team Claims He Was Responding to a Threat
Thania Garcia Taylor Swift‘s team has responded to claims of her father Scott Swift allegedly assaulting a 51-year-old man. After reports claimed Scott, attacked a photographer who was looking to get close to Swift, a representative for the pop singer told Rolling Stone that at the time of the alleged incident, two people were lunging towards Swift and threatened a member of her staff.
Made in Chelsea's Spencer Matthews gets new tattoo tribute to wife Vogue Williams
Spencer Matthews and Vogue Williams are well and truly 'couple goals' in the latest social media posted from the former Made in Chelsea star.The 35 year old shared a video of himself on Instagram plunging into an ice bath and gave a glimpse what looked like his latest tattoo - transcript reading Vogue - as a tribute to his stunning wife. Reality star Spencer then addressed the camera - with Vogue videoing him - as he braved the cold and joked that an ice bath was the second "love of his life." As he sat down in the freezing water, fans were treated to a look at his latest inking across his chest. This isn't the first time that Spencer has shown fans his love for the cold as he recently persuaded his wife to plunge into a freezing lake in Scotland.The Irish model had documented her trip to the Scottish hills on Instagram and gave fans a glimpse into what she and Spencer got up to, including swimming outdoors.
Palestinian-Algerian Rapper Saint Levant Drops ‘Deira’ Single With MC Abdul, Paying Tribute to Gaza
Jem Aswad Executive Editor, Music Palestinian musicians Saint Levant and MC Abdul have united to release “Deira,” which sees the two artists paying peaceful tribute to the people and culture of Gaza and performing in traditional Shaabi Arab musical style. Levant recently signed with Universal Arabic Music label, founded by Wassim “Sal” Slaiby, manager of the Weeknd and CEO of XO. “Deira is the name of the hotel that my father, Rashid, an architect, built with my mother in 2000 when they moved to Gaza,” said Levant, who is of Palestinian, Algerian, French and Serbian descent and is currently based in Los Angeles.
Justin Timberlake’s new single ‘Drown’ is a failed rescue attempt
Justin Timberlake moves on from the first single to the second one within less than a month.Especially when you’re launching a critical comeback attempt like “Everything I Thought It Was” — his first album since 2018’s “Man of the Woods” — which arrives on March 15.But “Selfish,” despite its smooth midtempo groove and all of JT’s falsetto feels, barely cracked the Top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100. Just four weeks after its release, the much-anticipated single currently stands at a very unsexy No.
Taylor Swift Couldn't Help But Shout Out Boyfriend Travis Kelce During Her Sydney Tour Stop
during her Eras Tour stop in Sydney, Australia on Friday. Having flown in for the first night of her stint at Accor Stadium, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end showed up wearing a thick stack of .
Katy Perry Reunites with Taylor Swift Backstage, Shares Hilarious Reaction to 'Bad Blood' Song
Katy Perry surely is aware that everyone thinks Taylor Swift‘s song “Bad Blood” is about her and she had a hilarious reaction to watching the song be performed at the Eras Tour.