The Big Payback: How Pharrell Williams Is Breaking the Chains of the Music Industry’s Troubled Past

(CNN)Pharrell Williams has penned a powerful essay for Time in which he says the protests sweeping the nation have made him finally feel like an American.The singer/producer/composer collaborated with the publication on a special cover project, "The New American Revolution."For it, Williams curated a series of essays and conversations between Black leaders and celebs that "explore America's oppressive past and visions for a more equitable future."It includes a variety of perspectives such as

As he cruised into the fall of 1995, Robert Rodriguez had a plan for avoiding the dreaded sophomore slump. His debut feature, “El Mariachi,” was an indie sensation two years earlier – originally intended as a self-financed calling card of a movie, solely for the Mexican home video market, it had found unexpected success on the film festival circuit and was picked up for full-on theatrical and video distribution by Columbia Pictures.

Elbow will play the Night And Day Café for the first time in 30 years. Slow Readers Club will return to Hebden Bridge Trades Club to relive the heady days of 2018.

Michael Jackson took aim at The Beatles and Elvis Presley in a number of handwritten notes that criticised racism in the music industry. The notes are believed to have been penned by Jackson in 1987, the same year his acclaimed album Bad was released.

Singers Pharrell Williams and Jay-Z have teamed up for a new song and it comes with a powerful message. The two music icons recently released their collaboration titled Entrepreneur, which is about the racial inequalities Black people face in the United States.

Pharrell Williams and Jay-Z want you to know that black is still king.After appearing in Beyoncé’s “Black Is King” visual album that was inspired by Africa, the “Happy” singer and the “Empire State of Mind” rapper are continuing to celebrate and empower black lives with their new single “Entrepreneur,” released on Friday.“I’m black ambition/I’m always whispering/They keep telling me I will not/But my will won’t listen,” Williams whispers at the beginning of the track over a bass-heavy beat

BRANDS & MERCHThe Rolling Stones are opening a shop in Central London. Well someone has to, I guess.

Pharrell Williams and Jay-Z have teamed up for a new song with a powerful message.

Pharrell Williams has curated a special edition of Time magazine and announced a new song with Jay-Z.

A bus was left completely destroyed after a fire broke out in a Wigan street.Dramatic footage of the blaze shows flames ripping through the vehicle after it came to a stop on Conway Drive, Billinge, on Tuesday afternoon.Fire crews rushed to the area but the bus was already engulfed by the fire.Fortunately, the driver and passengers had evacuated the vehicle before the blaze began to spread and nobody was injured.A spokesman for Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service said the fire is believed to have

NME about their call for the government to urgently provide support to their industry while unable to work due to COVID-19 restrictions.Earlier this month, the #LetTheMusicPlay campaign saw artists and industry figures take to social media to demand that the government share arts funding to protect the future live crew, musicians and the individuals working behind the scenes.Despite the government’s recent £1.57billion to help the arts, culture and heritage industries survive the impact of

Chris Willman Music WriterIn the music industry, it can sometimes feel like old hat to be wearing only one hat. The business continues to show its openness to executives having multiple roles, even if it’s not always clear which gig is their “A” job and which is their side hustle, if you will.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorIt’s no surprise that the announcement of Kamala Harris as presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s running mate was met with wild enthusiasm by large swaths of the music industry — after all, she’s a Bay Area-bred California senator who lives in Los Angeles with her entertainment-attorney husband, Douglas Emhoff. But less known is how longstanding and strong her connections with the music business are — and not necessarily with artists.

Variety Staff Follow Us on TwitterGrammy-winning songwriter Jozzy has signed a worldwide administration deal with Sony/ATV Music Publishing. The Memphis native is best known for her work on Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road Remix,” writing the Billy Ray Cyrus verse.

Attitude Is Everything, which has been working towards accessibility throughout the live industry for 20 years, has set up the Beyond The Music initiative with the help of the National Lottery Community Fund.BTM will provide the necessary skills, experience, resources and guidance for deaf and disabled people as well as for music businesses in order to create inclusive work environments and close the employment gap.“Attitude is Everything believes it is crucial that deaf and disabled people have

Shirley Ju Mr. Criminal sounds like the moniker of a lifelong man of crime, but these days, that’s firmly in the past for the Chicano rapper.