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☆ Katy Perry, Billie Eilish, J Balvin and more lash out against ‘enormous’ AI threats that ‘sabotage creativity’
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-02 | by ( Elizabeth Wagmeister | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —More than 200 artists, including Billie Eilish, Kacey Musgraves, J Balvin, Ja Rule, Jon Bon Jovi, The Jonas Brothers, Katy Perry, Miranda Lambert and more, are speaking out against artificial intelligence-related threats in the music industry. The letter highlights AI threats including deepfakes and voice cloning, as well as “irresponsible uses of AI” such as the using AI sound to diminish royalty payments to artists and the use of musical works by AI developers without permission to train and produce AI copycats. “Unfortunately, some platforms and developers are employing AI to sabotage creativity and undermine artists, songwriters, musicians and rightsholders.”The letter urges digital music platforms and services to pledge to protect artist. “We must protect against the predatory use of AI to steal professional artists’ voices and likenesses, violate creators’ rights, and destroy the music ecosystem,” the letter says. In a statement, the executive director of the ARA, Jen Jacobsen, said the threats of artificial intelligence are worsening already-tough working conditions for artists.

Persons: Billie Eilish, Kacey Musgraves, J Balvin, Jon Bon Jovi, Jonas, Katy Perry, Miranda Lambert, “, ’, Billy Porter, Camila Cabello, Chuck D, Darius Rucker, Finneas, Jon Batiste, Julia Michaels, Kate Hudson, Kim Petras, Mumford, Nicki Minaj, Norah Jones, Pearl, Sam Smith, Sheryl Crow, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, Zayn Malik, Bob Marley, Frank Sinatra, Jen Jacobsen, ” Jacobsen, Tyler Perry, OpenAI’s, ” Sora Organizations: CNN, Rights Alliance, Sons, ARA, SAG, WGA Locations: Atlanta

☆ Beyoncé is opening the door for these Black country artists
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-01 | by ( Lisa Respers France | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —Beyoncé has some people excited about country music. But they aren’t the only ones whose careers could benefit from Queen Bey’s entrance into country music. Andrew Nelles /The Tennessean/USA Today NetworkRVSHVD (pronounced Ra-shad) is another Georgia native who is making his way in the country music industry. Apple TV+Ashlie Amber may not have won a TV competition meant to open doors for underrepresented country artists, but she’s definitely winning fans. Jason Kempin/Getty ImagesTwins Derek Campbell and Brandon Campbell are fighting for inclusivity in country music in more ways than one.

Persons: CNN — Beyoncé, Cowboy Carter, Beyoncé, can’t, Dolly Parton’s, Jolene, ”, Tanner Adell, Willie Jones, Tiera Kennedy, Linda Martell, Reyna Roberts, Brittney Spencer, Derek White, Kelly Clarkson, Shania Twain, Twain, “, ” Twain, ” Kylan Boykin, we’re, Nytere Boykin, Carter ”, ” Nytere Boykin, RVSHVD RVSHVD, Andrew Nelles, Clint Rashad Johnson, Keith Urban’s, — Marvin Gaye, Luther Vandross, Luke Bryan, Darius Rucker, Angel Rewis, Johnson, She’s, Amber Ashlie Amber, Amber, she’s, Reese Witherspoon, Kacey Musgraves, Jimmie Allen, Mickey Guyton, Orville Peck, ” Micaela Kleinsmith, ” Amber, “ Beyoncé, Derek Campbell, Brandon Campbell, Jason Kempin, we’ve, ” Derek Campbell, WSMV4, Hart, Trea Swindle, Danica Hart, Devynn Hart, Chapel Hart, Evan Agostini, “ Jolene, –, Danica, Trea, America’s, ” Parton, “ We’re Organizations: CNN, The Recording, CMT, USA, Billboard, Florida Georgia Line, Apple, The Kentucky Gentlemen, Winery, Getty, inclusivity, ”, Rolling Stone, Chapel, Channel, Nashville Locations: Atlanta, Nashville, Georgia, Florida, Nashville , Tennessee, Kentucky, Winery Nashville, Versailles , Kentucky, America, Austin , Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana

☆ The symbolism in Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” album has fans talking
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( Aj Willingham | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —Beyoncé knows how to get people talking, and her new album “Cowboy Carter,” had tongues wagging long before its release date on March 29. “Cowboy Carter” is the much-anticipated followup to her 2022 album “Renaissance” and her 2016 album “Lemonade,” both of which injected the culture with paradigm-shifting art and symbolism. This is Black American culture.”“Beyoncé’s album cover makes complete sense to Black Texans” guest columnist Taylor Crumpton wrote for Bloomberg. Of course, a new Beyoncé album is bound to ignite all sorts of conversations. The discourse is part of the experience as much as any cowboy hat, and “Cowboy Carter” is already taking fans to school.

Persons: CNN — Beyoncé, Cowboy Carter, ”, Cowboy Carter ”, Carter ”, Beyoncé’s, Carter, Azaelia Banks, Banks, “, Vanessa Vaillareal, Tory Shulman, Beyoncé, Napoleon, George Washington, James Baldwin, Maya Angelou, Angelou, ” Baldwin, Taylor Crumpton, Randy, ” Beyoncé, ” Kacey, John Shearer, Jim Crow, Linda Martell, Martell Organizations: CNN, Sony, AP, YouTube, Daily, Black Texans, Texans, Bloomberg, ”, Los Angeles Magazine, Grand Ole Opry Locations: Parkwood, Columbia, American, Texas, Houston, Los Angeles , California

☆ Beyoncé's country songs are bringing new listeners to the genre, boosting streams for Black artists
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-16 | by ( Micah Washington | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

While some music critics praised Knowles' country tracks, other fans of the genre refrained from a warm welcome. Beyond just radio, Black artists and artists of color represented less than 4% of country songs played on the radio, airplay, charting songs, artists signed to major labels and award nominations, according to SongData. One such fan, Tenley Patterson, 26, said she didn't bother listening to country music before Beyoncé's releases, but was impressed with the country tracks. Rachel Whitney, head of editorial for the Nashville team, said playlists outside of the country genre are playing Knowles' country tracks, broadening its reach. The Beyoncé draw is also boosting exposure for other artists on some lists, like Lainey Wilson and Cody Johnson, who have more "traditional" country songs, Whitney said.

Persons: Beyonce, James Devaney, Cowboy Carter, Beyoncé Knowles, Tanner Adell, Mickey Guyton, Reyna Roberts, Knowles, Alice Randall, Randall, —, Rhiannon Giddens, hasn't, Jocelyn Neal, Maren Morris, Luke Combs, Kacey, Lil Nas, Nas X, Tim Mosenfelder, Neal, Knowles —, Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, George Bush, Tenley Patterson, I've, Patterson, It's, there's, Z, Rachel Whitney, Lainey Wilson, Cody Johnson, Whitney, Kevin Mazur Organizations: Scott, New York, Spotify, The New York Times, Radio, University of North, NBC, Houston, CMA, Republican, Nashville, Crypto.com Arena, The Recording Academy Locations: Brooklyn, New, New York City, U.S, Texas, an Oklahoma, University of North Carolina, San Francisco , California, Iraq, Los Angeles , California

☆ On ‘Deeper Well,’ Kacey Musgraves Is Closer to Fine
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Jon Pareles | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Songs thrive more often on extremes: desire, heartache, rage, despair, striving, longing, ecstasy. But Kacey Musgraves has now made two superb albums suffused with satisfaction: “Golden Hour” from 2018, which won the Grammy for album of the year, and her new one out Friday, “Deeper Well.”On “Golden Hour,” Musgraves sang about the gratification and relief of blissful romance in songs like “Butterflies.” With “Deeper Well” — which follows her divorce album, “Star-Crossed” — Musgraves finds more comfort in a wistful self-sufficiency. In the album’s title song, Musgraves calmly notes how she’s setting aside youthful misjudgments. She’s moving away from people with “dark energy” and no longer getting high every morning (though her Instagram account is still @spaceykacey). Her 2013 debut, “Same Trailer Different Park,” won a Grammy as best country album, as did “Golden Hour,” and she has won multiple Grammys for best country song.

Persons: Kacey Musgraves, ” Musgraves, Musgraves, She’s, ” Locations: East Texas, she’s

☆ 9 New Songs You Should Hear Now
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Dear listeners,Though we’re still less than two months into 2024, it already feels like it’s going to be a busy year in the music world. For today’s Amplifier, I’m highlighting nine others who have recently released songs worth your time. Sure, there are a few names you’ll recognize (I hear this guy Usher just played a pretty high-profile gig), but hopefully some will be new to you. Many of these picks are culled from the Playlist, a weekly collection of new songs selected by our critics, but a few of them (by the prolific rocker David Nance and the mystical folk singer-songwriter Jessica Pratt) are songs I meant to include on the Playlist. Listen to this playlist to see (hear?)

Persons: we’re, Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Musgraves, Justin Timberlake, Shakira, Usher, David Nance, Jessica Pratt, There’s

☆ 18 popular artists Noah Kahan has collaborated with, so far
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Jordana Comiter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

Noah Kahan has become famous for working and collaborating with other popular musicians. Kahan has also performed live with Gracie Abrams, Lizzy McAlpine, and Zach Bryan. The internet has given singer-songwriter Noah Kahan many nicknames: the Folk Malone, the Jewish Ed Sheeran, and the American Hozier. But Captain of the Folk Avengers might be the most fitting because he seems to join forces with and bring together everyone's favorite indie artists. Here are 17 of the popular artists he's collaborated with, so far.

Persons: Noah Kahan, Kacey Musgraves, Post Malone, Kahan, Gracie Abrams, Lizzy McAlpine, Zach Bryan, Folk Malone, Ed Sheeran, he's Organizations: Post, Folk

☆ Beyoncé's 'Renaissance: Act II' is officially on the way. Here's what to know.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-12 | by ( Callie Ahlgrim | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The second act of her recent album "Renaissance" will arrive on March 29. Shortly after, Beyoncé's website was updated to announce "Act II" of her latest album "Renaissance" will arrive on March 29. Both songs recall "Daddy Lessons," the sixth track on Beyoncé's album "Lemonade." AdvertisementFans had already speculated that Beyoncé was teasing more country music when she wore a cowboy hat and a leather bolo tie to the 2024 Grammy Awards. Last April, Variety reported that country music was seeing a "historic streaming spike," largely fueled by Wallen's blockbuster album "One Thing at a Time."

Persons: Beyoncé, —, Chuck Berry, Morgan Wallen, Noah Kahan, Zach Bryan, Kacey Musgraves, Luke Combs, Tracy Chapman's, Wallen Organizations: Service, Verizon, Radio, Variety, The Locations: Radio Texas, Houston , Texas, Texas

☆ Taylor Swift and Beyoncé were the real stars of the Super Bowl, proving we're in the age of the upstage
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-12 | by ( Callie Ahlgrim | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewShortly after Usher wrapped his dazzling performance at the Super Bowl halftime show, Beyoncé made a surprise appearance. Of course, the Super Bowl is an advertising opportunity as much as it's a football game. AdvertisementTaylor Swift attended the Super Bowl to cheer for her boyfriend , Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce . Much like the Super Bowl, awards shows are designed as vehicles for promotion; to win is to bulk up your résumé, attract new fans, and make more money . AdvertisementThe key difference here is also quite simple: Very few people could pull off this kind of event-conquering announcement, Swift and Beyoncé among them.

Persons: —, Usher, Beyoncé, she'd outdone, Usher crooning, Alicia Keys, Bey's, Coldplay, Swifties, Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce, Blake Lively, Hillary Clinton, Andy Murray, Swift, it's, Travis, I'm, Kacey Musgraves Organizations: Service, Super, Verizon, Business, Kansas City Chiefs, Chiefs, NFL, Poets Department Locations: Hollywood

Political Cartoons View All 253 ImagesStill, country music has broken new ground. He says country music is now in a position where people who “maybe never gave us a chance” are listening to country music with an open-mindedness. Smyers has his own theories to why country music is experiencing this explosive period. “And I feel like country music kind of does the authenticity thing better than any other genre.”Up-and-comer Megan Moroney agrees. “I just kind of stay in my lane and do the best I can with supporting country music,” she told AP.

Persons: Morgan Wallen, Zach Bryan, Luke Combs, Roll, Harvey Mason, ”, Kacey Musgraves, Jason Aldean’s “, Wallen’s “, Combs, Tracy Chapman’s, Oliver Anthony’s, “, Richmond ”, Wilson’s Deana Carter, Bailey, Wilson, Gabby Barrett, Carly Pearce, Ingrid Andress, Dan Smyers, Dan, Shay, Justin Bieber, I’ve, Smyers, Dustin Lynch, Darius Rucker, “ I've, Megan Moroney, there's, Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, John Legend, Chance, Garth Brooks, Brooks, fiddles, ” Brooks, it’s Organizations: ANGELES, Recording Academy, Associated Press, North, Richmond, “, AP, United, CBS, Paramount, Crypto.com Locations: —, U.S, Luminate, United States, Philippines, Indonesia, India, Brazil, Mexico, Germany, Vietnam, Europe, America, Nashville, Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Ten of the best songs of the year, as determined by Associated Press Music Writer Maria Sherman, in no particular order. “Monaco,” Bad BunnyBad Bunny’s 2023 album, “Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana,” is a reclamation of his past sound, the hard-hitting rap that preceded his mainstream superstardom. And it is part of the reason why his 2023 single and first No. “OMG,” NewJeansIn 2023, girl groups dominated the K-pop conversation. At the fore is NewJeans, with their Y2K-nostalgic sound that pulls from the turn of the millennium's R&B and pop music.

Persons: Maria Sherman, Victoria Monét Buckle, Victoria Monét, Ariana Grande, Chloe x Halle, Monét’s, doesn’t, “, ”, ” Miley Cyrus, Miley Cyrus ’, ” PinkPantheress, PinkPantheress, Leo ”, What’s, ” Zach Bryan, Zach Bryan, ” Paramore Long, Paramore, Hayley Williams, “ Rush, ” Troye Sivan, Sivan, Laura Les, Dylan Brady, NewJeans, ” Danny Brown Danny Organizations: ANGELES, Associated Press, Fifth Harmony, Bronx Locations: “, “ Monaco, Monaco, The Tennessee, Australian

☆ SZA, ‘Barbie’ Songs and Young Women Lead 2024 Grammy Nominees
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Ben Sisario | More About Ben Sisario | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

In past years, the Grammys have been criticized for failing to adequately reward female artists, and this year’s woman-heavy nominations will likely be welcomed in the industry as a sign of progress. As always, the nominations included some surprises in the top tier, particularly when it came to country artists. (“Fast Car” was not, however, eligible for song of the year, since it had already been nominated for that award in the ’80s.) (Wallen’s hit “Last Night” is up for best country song, though Wallen was not among its four writers.) Harvey Mason Jr., the chief executive of the Recording Academy, said in an interview that the nominations simply reflect the musical judgment of the academy’s 11,000 or so voting members.

Persons: Noah Kahan, Jelly Roll, Fred, Coco Jones, Swift, Gracie Abrams, Luke Combs, Tracy Chapman’s, ”, Zach Bryan, Kacey, Morgan Wallen, Wallen, Harvey Mason Jr Organizations: Nashville, Recording Academy Locations: Nashville, British

☆ Noah Kahan’s Rootsy Rock Revival
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Noah Kahan’s song “Stick Season” currently sits at No. But it’s more remarkable because “Stick Season” is the title track of an album released just over a year ago. That success arrives a few years into Kahan’s career, which began with more straight-ahead pop and shifted into rootsier territory during the pandemic. He inflects his songs with bits of Vermont attitude and lore, and has collaborated with Zach Bryan and Kacey Musgraves. On this week’s Popcast, a conversation about how Kahan’s niche stardom has given way to pop acclaim, how Vermont figures into his songwriting and sound, and how he revisits the rustic mainstream rock of the early 2010s.

Persons: Noah Kahan’s, Kahan, Zach Bryan, Kacey, Rebecca Jennings, Vox Jason Lipshutz, Jon Caramanica Organizations: Billboard, Facebook, Twitter Locations: rootsier, Vermont

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Taylor Swift’s reimagined “1989” is here, the album that ushered in the first Peak Swift era — revisited at the height of her massive pop culture dominance. Swift had shed the Nashville country roots of her first four studio albums and announced herself a full-fledged pop superstar. In 2014, that was Swift finding her pop sound with “1989.”In 2023, it’s becoming the most successful version of herself, and rereleasing “1989 ” while on the top of her game. She’s moved to NYC; she’s working with new people; she’s making synth pop. In 2023, Swift is more famous now than she was then, and she's still engaging with her celebrity in a very public way.

Persons: — Taylor, Swift, “, Swift —, Jack Antonoff —, —, Scooter Braun’s, it’s, Travis Kelce, Brittany Spanos, who’s, haven’t, Rebecca Jennings, ”, rereleasing, Spanos, New York University’s, Davis, Janet Jackson’s, Christina Aguilera’s “, Swift’s, She’s, Rachel Brodsky, couldn’t, ” Brodsky, Shania Twain, LeAnn Rimes, Brodsky, Kacey Musgraves, Maren Morris, Olivia Rodrigo, She’d, Beyoncé, Katy Perry, Taylor, Kanye, Drake, Kendrick Lamar, she's, Jennings, Taylor Swift’s, Blake Lively, Sophie Turner, Selena Gomez, she’s, Harry Styles —, ” Spanos, what’s Organizations: ANGELES, NFL, Kansas City Chiefs, Vox, New York, Davis Institute Locations: Nashville, New York, New, NYC, Buenos Aires, Argentina

NEW YORK (AP) — Troye Sivan was initially going to begin his third full-length album with a ballad, a wistful song looking back at lost love. “It was a feeling that I knew that I was feeling in life that I hadn’t yet managed to distill,” Sivan says. And I’m really happy about that.”The new album has the potential to cement Sivan among today's pop elite. “I didn’t really feel the pressure to prove anything this time around,” he says. Whereas now I’m like, ‘No, this sounds really cool and I love it.’ So I want to I want to just go for it," Sivan says.

Persons: — Troye Sivan, Frisky, ”, —, Rush, ” Sivan, ‘, ’, “, I’m, “ Bloom, Ariana Grande, Alessia Cara, Charli, Zedd, Betty Who, Sivan, Ian Kirkpatrick, ” ___ Mark Kennedy Organizations: “, Sivan Locations: ”

☆ Analysis: Country music is at a crossroads. Two of its most viral songs show why
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-29 | by ( Aj Willingham | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The struggle for the soul of country music is on full display now as two very different songs have been making headlines. Michael Loccisano/Getty ImagesThese two songs, so differently received yet recorded under the same big country umbrella, are an embodiment of the crossroads where country music currently stands. Like all musical traditions that fuse, evolve and splinter, country music and its legions of fans are engaged in a negotiation for the genre’s main identity. When the Dixie Chicks spoke out against the Iraq War in the early 2000s, their popularity in country music circles never fully recovered.. Small towns, fast cars and American values are as essential to country music as four chords and the truth.

Persons: Jason Aldean, Luke Combs, Tracy Chapman, Chapman, Combs, ”, Tracy, ” Chapman, “, Luke, Bryan Bedder, they’ve, Aldean, Little Richard, Otis Redding, ” Aldean, —, Holly G, Morgan Wallen, Michael Loccisano, foremothers, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, ” Combs, it’s Organizations: CNN, CMT, Billboard, Singer, Amarillo, Black Opry, Washington Post, Texas Democrat, country’s, Dixie, Grand Ole Opry Locations: Copenhagen, underrepresentation, Aldean, Macon , Georgia, Iraq

☆ Listen to the Mother of All Playlists
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-12 | by ( ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

Listen along on Spotify as you read. Kacey Musgraves: “Mother”The shortest, sparsest song on Kacey Musgraves’s 2018 album, “Golden Hour,” is also the most emotionally piercing. “I’m just sitting here, thinking ’bout the time that’s slipping and missing my mother,” the country renegade sings with heartbreaking plaintiveness, before zooming out a generation and imagining that her own mother is probably doing the same. Musgraves has said that “Mother” is one of the “Golden Hour” songs she wrote while tripping on LSD — but don’t tell her mom that part. Merle Haggard: “Mama Tried”“Instead of life in prison I was doing one-to-15 years,” Merle Haggard once admitted of the slight embellishment as to how he spent his 21st birthday in one of his most famous (and semi-autobiographical) songs.

☆ A Spree of Country Music Divorce Albums
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-17 | by ( ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

In February, Kelsea Ballerini released a surprise EP, “Rolling Up the Welcome Mat,” a set of songs inspired by her recent divorce from another country singer, Morgan Evans. It was her freshest recent work, thematically and musically, and also a reminder that for the past few years, several female country singers have found freedom in divorce-inspired music. In 2021, Carly Pearce put out “29,” an EP, and later “29: Written in Stone,” a full-length project, inspired by her divorce from the singer Michael Ray. That same year, Kacey Musgraves released “Star-Crossed,” which followed her split from the singer Ruston Kelly. (Men have traveled this path as well — Kelly has just released an album of his own, and in 2016, both Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert reacted to their divorce with new albums.)

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