Trent Reznor says streaming has ‘mortally wounded’ artists

OHMYGOSSIP — Trent Reznor claims streaming services have “mortally wounded” artists by failing to pay them a fair price for the use of their music.
The Nine Inch Nails frontman believes the payment scheme used by companies such as Spotify and Apple Music are unfairly weighted in favour of bigger stars and makes it very difficult for less famous musicians to make a living.
He told GQ magazine: “I think the terrible payout of streaming services has mortally wounded a whole tier of artists that make being an artist unsustainable.
“And it’s great if you’re Drake, and it’s not great if you’re [rock band] Grizzly Bear. And the reality is: Take a look around.
“We’ve had enough time for the whole ‘All the boats rise’ argument to see they don’t all rise. Those boats rise. These boats don’t. They can’t make money in any means. And I think that’s bad for art.”
He went on to explain he hoped Apple Music would take the lead by paying artists fairly because the company could prop up the streaming side of the business using their other revenues.
Trent added: “I thought maybe at Apple there could be influence to pay in a more fair or significant way, because a lot of these services are just a rounding error compared to what comes in elsewhere, unlike Spotify where their whole business is that.
“But that’s tied to a lot of other political things and label issues, and everyone’s trying to hold onto their little piece of the pie and it is what it is. I also realise, I think that people just want to turn the faucet on and have music come in. They’re not really concerned about all the romantic [stuff] I thought mattered.”
Trent’s comments come shortly after it was announced that Spotify has demonetised all tracks on the streaming service with less than 1000 plays – meaning those artists will get nothing for their efforts.
Reports suggest up to 60 per cent of songs on Spotify do not meet the new threshold for royalty payments.

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‘I think I’ve come a long way’: Shakira prefers her newer music to her old stuff

OHMYGOSSIP — Shakira prefers her newer music to her older works.
The ‘Hips Don’t Lie’ hitmaker, 47, first penned a song, ‘Tus Gafas Oscuras’, when she was just eight years old, and she admits that she likes her new music because it’s evolved lyrically and stylistically.
Speaking to Nile Rodgers on Deep Hidden Meaning Radio on Apple Music 1, the ‘Whenever, Wherever’ – who released her latest album, ‘Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran’, last month – said: “This is a different time in my life with this album, and I think I’ve come a long way, but I prefer what I do today. I don’t know, is that something that happens to all of us, that we like ourselves better with time?
“I wonder if that happens to all artists. I prefer the stuff I do now. I prefer the music that I do now and the way I sing and interpret now, the way I write now. I like my stylistic choices. I think they’re better now than, I don’t know, 20 years ago.”
Nile agreed and responded: “I think that’s what we call maturity. If you don’t develop, what’s the point? If you’re just going to stay the same, why be an artist? If you just feel like, ‘I’ve already made my biggest statement, why continue?’ And that’s why I keep making music. I feel like my best days are ahead of me instead of behind me.”
Shakira added: “Yeah. Well, that’s the attitude. I think that’s the way that every artist needs to think in order to evolve right?”
The Colombian superstar also spoke on the importance of artists being “authentic” and “truthful to ourselves” if they want success.
She said: “It’s like people have this ultra sensitive intelligence, or almost metaphysical that they can really understand the artist’s intentions. They smell what’s true, what’s authentic, and differentiate what’s genuine from what is not. So that’s why we have to continue being authentic and truthful to ourselves and our instincts and our intuition, because that’s really the formula to success. If we calculate things too much, there’s a disconnection between the artist’s sensibility and what people perceive. And that disconnection is usually what leads to failure. There have been moments when you think things too much and that doesn’t really work.”
Listen back to the full interview on-demand with an Apple Music subscription via apple.co/_DHMRadio.

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Billie Eilish shares dramatic preview of imminent new song

OHMYGOSSIP — Billie Eilish has shared a preview of a new song and teased it’s coming soon.
The Grammy winner took to her social media channels to post a clip of the ‘Bad Guy’ hitmaker sinking in water before hands appear to save her and pull her up, which is soundtracked by her signature breathy, jazz-tinged vocals and a heart beating.
She simply captioned the clip: “READY?”
On Sunday (07.04.24), Billie teased in an Instagram Story for her Close Friends viewing only: “I’m telling you something tomorrow.”
She later posted a selfie and added: “I promise.”
The 22-year-old singer also appeared to tease a title of a song or album, ‘Hit Me’, when she shared a photo of the words.
Billboards across the world also teased new music is on the way.
In February, the ‘What Was I Made For?’ hitmaker revealed the record was in the final stages.
Alongside photos of herself in a black balaclava with white stars, she wrote on Instagram: “My album is mastered.”
A record being mastered is typically at the end of the recording process.
It will be her third effort after her record-breaking 2019 debut ‘When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?’, and 2021 follow up ‘Happier Than Ever’.
She also released two-track EP ‘Guitar Songs’ in 2022 and dropped ‘What Was I Made For?’ on last year’s ‘Barbie’ soundtrack.
Back in September, Billie confirmed there was “lots of music coming” as she teased the upcoming album.
She told The Cookout: “There is lots of music coming. There is a whole album of music coming.
“We’re in the final stages of making it, so that doesn’t mean it’s about to come out, but it is getting there, and it’s very exciting.”
Three months later, she again stayed tight-lipped but did reveal the LP was “almost done”.
Appearing on ‘The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon’, she said: “We are almost done with this new album. So, at some point, you will know more, but I’m not gonna say anything right now.”
Billie was creatively reinvigorated by Oscar-winning ‘What Was I Made For?’, having convinced herself “it was over” after her second album.
She recalled during a songwriter roundtable: “We’d been trying, and it wasn’t doing what it usually would do in me. I was honestly like, ‘Damn, maybe I hit my peak and I don’t know how to write anymore?’”
A phone call from ‘Barbie’ director Greta Gerwig – and a request to write a song for the soundtrack – was the push she needed.
She added: “Greta saved me, really, honestly. It brought us out of it and immediately we were inspired and wrote so much more after that.”

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‘We ain’t got to boo’: Morgan Wallen didn’t want his fans to boo Taylor Swift

OHMYGOSSIP — Morgan Wallen told his fans to stop booing Taylor Swift after he made a joke about her breaking his audience attendance record.
The country music star played Indiana city’s Lucas Oil Stadium as part of his ‘One Night At A Time Tour’ on April 4 and 5, and the latter show was “the single most attended concert” at the venue, according to the singer, but he joked that when Taylor plays her three sold-out shows there later this year, she will topple his achievement.
The remark led to gig-goers showing their support for the 30-year-old singer by booing the 34-year-old pop superstar.
When he quipped that he’d probably hold the record “until Taylor Swift comes to town,” the audience erupted into boos.
He told the crowd: “They told me right before I walked on stage that this is the single most attended concert in the history of this building.
“And that we’re the first people to do it two nights in a row, so thank you for making it possible for me to say that.”
Defending Taylor, Morgan said: “We ain’t got to boo, we ain’t got to boo.
“I appreciate that. I know you all got my back though.”
The ‘Cruel Summer’ hitmaker is due to headline the venue on November 1, 2, and 3, when she brings her ‘Eras World Tour’ to town.
Meanwhile, Taylor’s Kansas City Chiefs player boyfriend, Travis Kelce, recently gushed that the fact that Taylor has sold out four shows at the 90,000-seat Wembley Stadium – which will take place over the summer – is a “mind-blowing” achievement for her.
He told ‘Entertainment Tonight’: “Man, I’ll tell you what. The London shows, I think she’s at Wembley eight times, which is mind-blowing that she can do that many shows in one stadium and fill that thing up. I played at Wembley once and I don’t even think we filled that thing up.”
Travis, also 34, noted that the pair of them are both very “driven” in their individual careers, and it has been “amazing” to have her support since they got together.
He said: “We’re both very career driven. We both love what we do, and any chance that I can show my support to her – and knowing that she’s showing me all the support in the world throughout the season – it’s just been an amazing experience getting to know.”

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Brandi Cyrus is a proud big sister after Miley Cyrus released a song with her idol Beyonce

OHMYGOSSIP — Brandi Cyrus has hailed her sister Miley Cyrus’ appearance on Beyoncé’s ‘Cowboy Carter’ album “so iconic”.
The ‘Flowers’ hitmaker, 31, added her raspy vocals to the 42-year-old superstar’s track ‘II MOST WANTED’ on her latest album in her ‘Renaissance’ trilogy, which is a celebration of her Southern roots, and her older sister is proud of her sister for getting to work with her idol.
Speaking to ‘Entertainment Tonight’ on the red carpet at the CMT Music Awards at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas, on Sunday (07.04.24), the 38-year-old actress-and-DJ gushed: “I’m just so proud of her.
“Fans have really put a lot out there of the videos of her when she was so young, just loving Beyoncé so much and saying like, ‘What an idol!’ And to get to work with one of her idols, I know how much that means to her.
“I just think it’s so iconic, and so true to her roots.”
Miley explained how her “admiration” of the ‘Crazy in Love’ hitmaker “runs so much deeper” since they collaborated on the tune.
She wrote on social media: “I’ve loved Beyoncé since long before I had the opportunity to meet and work with her.
“My admiration runs so much deeper now that I’ve created alongside of her.
“Thank you Beyoncé. You’re everything and more. Love you.
To everyone who spent time making this song so special thank you from the bottom of my heart. Sincerely, Miley.”

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Charlotte Church wishes she had more ‘confidence’ in her music: ‘I was made to feel like a product!’

OHMYGOSSIP — Charlotte Church was made to feel like a “product” of the music industry.
The 38-year-old soprano was discovered as something of a child prodigy in the late 1990s and released the multi-million-selling operatic album ‘Voice of an Angel’ at the age of 12 but admitted that now she wishes she had more “confidence” in her own creativity.
She told Britain’s OK! Magazine: “I look back and I wish I would have had enough confidence in myself, my creativity and my convictions to have been a bit more confident in my voice and my music and my choices rather than being made to feel like a product.”
Charlotte went on to release a further three albums centred around the classical genre before turning to a short-lived pop career with tracks like ‘Crazy Chick’ but reflected that because she had just been “plucked” from a small town in Wales, her entire life since has been a “process” of adjusting to global fame.
She said: “But my family and I were really inexperienced – we were just totally plucked out of working class Wales and put on this global stage so it’s been a process of shedding the stuff that didn’t work for us and for me – being a product.”
Charlotte has not released an album since 2010’s ‘Back to Scratch’ and now wants to challenge the cultural obsession with celebrity and instead focus on the stories of the working class with her new BBC Sounds podcast ‘Kicking Back with the Cardiffians’.
She said: “Our culture is constantly reflecting back at us the lives of the super wealthy and super privileged but actually the working class experience is what the vast majority of us are having.“
“I felt those real working class stories just aren’t being told enough but it’s so important we see ourselves in other people – it helps us understand who we are.”

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Yungblud wants to force change to high ticket prices

OHMYGOSSIP — Yungblud hopes his new festival can “challenge” the way gigs are priced.
The 26-year-old singer is staging Bludfest at Milton Keynes Bowl on 11 August – at which he will be joined on the bill by the likes of Lil Yachty, The Damned, Soft Play and Nessa Barrett – and his decision to sell tickets at just £49.50 was non-negotiable during planning because he thinks high prices are hugely unfair to fans.
He told Big Issue magazine: “We live in a society where like, if this is the way things should be, well, then we’ll just leave it as it is.
“I wanted to do something that would challenge ticket pricing, that would challenge the way things have been done before.
“When you go to a festival, you’ve got to get gasoline. It’s a train ticket, it’s food, it’s everything.
“People end up spending 400 quid on a festival and that is just mental.”
Yungblud has been an outspoken critic of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and encouraged him and other Conservative MPs to attend the festival in order to learn about what will appeal to young people.
He said: “I think they should come and they should learn.
“Obviously I can sit here and say, ‘I think they’re all full of s***.’ But what I would love to happen is I would love them to come and listen.”
The ’11 Minutes’ singer was advised by record company bosses not to “talk politics” in his songs when he was starting his career but he’s glad he didn’t listen.
He said: “Music can genuinely change the world.
“It allows a message to go inside your gut instead of inside your brain.
“When you feel it, I think you’re more inclined to act.”

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Billie Eilish’s vinyl copy of new album is 100 per cent recycled

OHMYGOSSIP — Billie Eilish’s vinyl for her upcoming album, ‘Hit Me Hard And Soft’, will be 100 per cent recycled.
The ‘What Was I Made For?’ hitmaker recently branded fellow musicians “wasteful” for releasing their music via collectible vinyls to boost sales, and whilst she will be releasing her own vinyls, the disc and packaging are made from 100 per cent leftovers and will help to reduce carbon emissions by 90 per cent.
A statement on the sustainability section of the Grammy winner’s website reads: “The standard black variant is made from 100 per cent recycled black vinyl. The remaining seven colored vinyl will be made from ECO-MIX or BioVinyl. The former is created using 100 per cent recycled compound made of leftovers from any color which cannot otherwise be used.
“These pieces are recycled and re-used for production of future discs; therefore, every disc will be unique and look different from the last. Additionally, Billie is using recyclable compound for her single LP colors, collecting all first run scraps to re-use for additional runs later. BioVinyl helps reduce carbon emissions by 90 per cent vs. virgin vinyl by using non-fossil fuel materials like used cooking oil or industrial waste gases while maintaining the same audio and optical quality as conventional vinyl.”
A note on the packaging added: “All vinyl packaging is made from FSC certified recycled paper/boards made 100% from post-consumer waste and recycled pre-consumer fibers. The ink used is raw plant-based and water-based dispersion varnish. In place of shrink-wrap, the sleeves are 100 per cent recycled and re-usable. For shipping, all finished goods are packaged and shipped to depots in up to 93 per cent recycled and 100 per cent recyclable shipping boxes.”
The 22-year-old pop star has committed to being as “sustainable” as possible in her work by embracing recyclable materials and making sure her tours are as green by banning disposable plastics from her shows and providing plant-based meals for her crew – and she recently hit out at some of the “biggest artists in the world” for creating multiple different versions of the same vinyls to encourage fans to buy more.
She told Billboard: “We live in this day and age where, for some reason, it’s very important to some artists to make all sorts of different vinyl and packaging … which ups the sales and ups the numbers and gets them more money and gets them more …
“I can’t even express to you how wasteful it is. It is right in front of our faces and people are just getting away with it left and right, and I find it really frustrating as somebody who really goes out of my way to be sustainable and do the best that I can and try to involve everybody in my team in being sustainable – and then it’s some of the biggest artists in the world making … 40 different vinyl packages that have a different unique thing just to get you to keep buying more.”
Billie is set to share her record all it once without releasing any singles on May 17.

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Sir Tim Rice bemoans ‘miserable’ lyrics of Olivia Rodrigo

OHMYGOSSIP — Sir Tim Rice has criticised the likes of Olivia Rodrigo and Taylor Swift for their “miserable” and “me, me, me” lyrics.
The 79-year-old songwriter – who is best known for his stage musical collaborations with Andrew Lloyd Webber – claimed modern pop music “depresses” him because although they display “great musicianship”, there’s nothing uplifting about the words being sung.
Discussing the music that cheers him up, he told The Times newspaper: “Early rock’n’roll: Elvis, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, the Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly … all the stuff that was really big when I was in my early teens. Even if it was a sad song, it cheered you up.
“One of the things that depresses me today about a lot of pop music is that so many of these songs seem to be pretty miserable in a very ‘me, me, me’ way.
“I was listening to ‘Traitor’ by Olivia Rodrigo — she’s a great singer and there’s some great musicianship, but you think, ‘They sound really unhappy.’
“And Taylor Swift: every time she falls out with somebody, the poor bloke gets slaughtered in the next song.
“In the unlikely event that Taylor Swift asked me out, I would say no.”
But one song Tim has always admired is ‘Summertime Blues’ by Eddie Cochran.
Explaining why he wished he’d written the track, he said: “In under two minutes he launches an attack on almost everything: his school, his parents, his car, his boss and finally his congressman. It’s brilliant — a wonderful rock’n’roll song with a very clever, witty lyric about life as a p*****-off teenager.”
And the EGOT winner confessed to walking out when he went to see Bruce Springsteen in concert.
He admitted: ” I love Bruce Springsteen, but I went to see him at the O2, and we had pretty awful tickets up in the gods, so I thought, ‘This is pointless, I can see him at any time I want at home in a video.’ So I’m afraid after three or four numbers, our party left discreetly.”

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Ringo Starr is set to return with new single ‘February Sky’ this week

OHMYGOSSIP — Ringo Starr has announced the first single, ‘February Sky’, from his forthcoming EP, ‘Crooked Boy’.
The legendary former Beatles drummer will share the new track, penned by Linda Perry, on Friday (12.04.24).
In fact, all four tracks were written by the renowned songwriter and producer – whose credits include Christina Aguilera, Gwen Stefani, Pink and Adele – with the 83-year-old music legend adding his vocals and drums.
After working together on ‘Everyone and Everything’ from 2022’s ‘EP3’ and ‘Coming Undone’ from 2021’s ‘Change the World’, Linda, 58, approached Ringo asking if she could write an entire EP for him.
The other songs are: ‘Gonna Need Someone’, ‘Adeline’ and the title track.
Ringo said: “Linda made me a great EP – she produced it in her studio and then sent me the tracks and I added the drumming and my vocals.
“’February Sky’ is great – very moody – but since Linda wrote these specifically for me – it of course has to have a positive peace and love element.”
The lyrics include: “Gonna stand up rise above the rain.
“Start a revolution in these brighter days.
“Found the missing pieces.
“That were vacant to the eye.
“Well, I had enough of February sky.”
The EP – his fourth consecutive in a row – will be released on a limited-edition marble vinyl on Record Store Day, April 20, 2024. The following Friday, April 26, it will be released digitally. Fans can pre-order the black vinyl and CD now, releasing May 31.
Meanwhile, Ringo and his All Starr Band are hitting the road this spring for 12 shows, with further dates set to be announced for later this later.
Head to www.ringostarr.com for more information.

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Zayn Malik ‘singing directly’ to fans on new record

OHMYGOSSIP — Zayn Malik wants fans to think he is “singing directly” to them on his new album.
The 31-year-old singer is preparing for the release of his fourth solo LP, ‘Room Under the Stairs’, and he couldn’t be happier with the sound of the “raw” record.
He told Big Issue magazine: “I wanted each song to feel as if it was just me sitting beside you telling you how I feel, singing directly to you.
“It’s raw and stripped back and the type of music I always hoped to make.”
The album was preceded by the single ‘What I Am’, and the former One Direction singer explained he wanted the track to provide a snapshot of the person he is now, rather than looking back on his journey to this point.
He said: “The sentiment of ‘What I Am is less reflective of my origins and where I come from, and more reflective of who I am as a person at this point in my life.
“I’m reflecting on the way that I approach situations, rather than necessarily a correlation to what my original identity is.
“It’s just growth as a human being. I’m a man, you know, that’s what I’m talking about.”
The ‘Pillowtalk’ hitmaker previously expressed his hope that his new album will help people get to know him better.
He said in a short video shared to Instagram: “I think the intention behind this album fully is for the listener to get more insight on me personally as a human being.
“My ambitions, my fears… and for them to have a connection with that. And that’s why it’s so raw, you know?
“There’s just me writing this. I didn’t want anyone else to be in between me and the music, and the music and the people listening to it.”

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Liam Gallagher insists he’s moved on from Oasis, tells Andy Bell not to get fans’ hopes up

OHMYGOSSIP — Liam Gallagher has told former Oasis bandmate Andy Bell “not to get people’s hopes up” about an Oasis reunion.
The former frontman of the legendary Britpop group has several times over the years pleaded with his estranged brother, ex-guitarist Noel Gallagher, to put the past behind them and reform the ‘Wonderwall’ group, to no avail.
And when Ride star Andy – who was the band’s bassist until their demise in 2009, following a backstage bust-up between the warring siblings at their final show in 2009 – suggested it’s still possible they could reunite, Liam told him it’s not going to happen and that they should all “move on” for the sake of their “mental health”.
In a recent interview with Virgin Radio, Andy said of the possibility of the ‘Some Might Say’ hitmakers getting back together: “Yeah, they probably will. I think yeah, they probably will do it.
“I don’t think it looks likely right now, but life is long, isn’t it?”
Comparing Noel and Liam Gallagher’s feud to that of fellow Mancunians Stone Roses, he said: “They were not getting on at all, and there was a lot of bad blood in the press and stuff with the Roses, and then suddenly you were hearing about gigs.
“I think we could see something like that for Oasis.”
Responding, Liam – who has been performing with ex-Stone Roses guitarist John Squire after they recently released a self-titled joint LP – penned on X: “Andy Bell from Ride the shoe gazing phenomenon should really not be getting people’s hopes up it’s not big and it’s not clever LG x.”
When one fan responded to Liam saying Andy was only saying what he has said repeatedly about a reunion, he replied: “I’ve never mentioned [an] Oasis reunion it’s over we must all really move [on] for our own mental health.”
Andy – who later joined Liam in Beady Eye until their split in 2014 – has since apologised, writing: “Apologies! Didn’t mean to get anyone’s hopes up, nothing to see here! X.”

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SEVENTEEN announce first-ever compilation album

OHMYGOSSIP — SEVENTEEN have announced their first- ever compilation album.
Upcoming record ’17 Is Right Here’ will drop on April 29 and the K-pop group have shared a “hidden version” of the album on X, which will feature music from members S.Coup, Jeonghan, Joshua, Jun, Hoshi, Wonwoo, Woozi, The8, Mingyu, DK, Seungkwan, Vernon and Dino.
The compilation LP will include two discs for the physical addition. The first will feature Korean-language versions of their Japanese singles, including ‘Fallin’ Flower’ and ’24H’, as well as as-yet-unannounced tracks.
The second disc will feature 20 of the boy band’s singles, including debut ‘Adore U’ and their latest track ‘God of Music’.
The full tracklist for the record will be unveiled on April 17.
’17 Is Right Here’ is the group’s first release since their mini-album ‘Seventeen Heaven’, which came out in October 2023.
The band made history with the release of ‘Seventeen Heaven’ after it became the most pre-ordered K-pop album in the genre’s history.
In March, the 13-piece pop group were confirmed to be part of the line-up for this year’s Glastonbury Festival, making them the first K-pop act to perform at Michael and Emily Eavis’ festival at Worthy Farm, Pilton, Somerset, South West England.
SEVENTEEN will also headline Lollapalooza Berlin 2024, which will be held at the Olympiastadion and Olympiapark Berlin from September 7 to 8.
They will be joined on the bill by Martin Garrix, Burna Boy and Sam Smith among many other acts.

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Robbie Williams vows to be more rebellious and ‘upset’ people like Matty Healy

OHMYGOSSIP — Robbie Williams has lamented the “boring” state of the current music scene, whilst hailing The 1975’s Matty Healy the “only commercially viable Pop/Rock star” who is “willing to be something other than beige.”
The ‘Rock DJ’ hitmaker, 50, has vowed that he himself he’s going to get his “rebellious streak” back that he shares with the outspoken ‘About You’ singer, 34, and start offending people, because he’s tired of people fearing cancel culture.
In a new Instagram post, he penned: “How boring is the music scene right now? Im not attacking the music itself. im just lamenting the death of friction, danger, personality,
I’ll admit I’ve vanilled myself into a corner trying to chase what’s gone. I get it everyone’s scared. No one knows what you’ll say that will get you cancelled.
No one knows what you’ve already said or written that will end you. So many people to offend.
“Matt Healy is the only commercially viable Pop/Rock star that I can see who is willing to be something other than beige. I really like Matt he’s unhinged, super smart, super talented and willing to upset. Upsetting for a cause. The cause being a complicated inner life a rebellious streak and boredom.
“I’ve gotta get some of that energy back in my musical life. Like I say ‘’so many people to offend’’ I hope I have time to fit them all in.
“It’s time to take the **** again…and im looking forward to it. (sic)”
Matty’s rebellious actions include The 1975 being banned from Malaysia, where same-sex activity is illegal, after he protested the laws by kissing his male bassist Ross MacDonald during their show at the Good Vibes Festival in Kuala Lumpur last summer.
Matty’s own bandmates have also had to cut his microphone when he got a bit too outspoken onstage.
The ‘Love Me’ hitmaker also made some controversial comments on podcasts, including branding Ice Spice, 24, a “chubby Chinese lady”.
During a concert at the Hollywood Bowl last October, the artist addressed his actions, claiming he was playing the role of a “21st-century rock star”, and apologised to those he hurt.
He told the crowd: “Because some of my actions have hurt some people, I apologise to those people, and I pledge to do better moving forward. I think it’s also important that I express my intentions, so everybody knows that there is no ill will coming from me.
“You see, as an artist, I want to create an environment for myself to perform where not everything that I do is taken literally… I’ve kind of performed exaggerated versions of myself on other stages, be it print or on podcasts and in an often-misguided attempt at fulfilling the kind of character role of the 21st-century rock star – so, it’s complicated.
“Sometimes playing pretend is the only way you can truly find out who you are, and you could probably also say that men would rather do offensive impressions for attention than go to therapy.”

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Dua Lipa felt like she was in a band making Radical Optimism

OHMYGOSSIP — Dua Lipa felt like she was in a band working on her new album, ‘Radical Optimism’.
The 28-year-old pop star has given fans a “deep dive” into the process of her eagerly awaited follow-up to 2020’s ‘Future Nostalgia’ and shared how she she listened to the songs “over and over” again to ensure she knew exactly how she wanted to tell the story.
Previewing the record in a behind-the-scenes video clip shared on social media, she said: “It’s the beauty of the chaos and trying to stay calm through it. Listening over and over and feeling like, ‘How do I want to tell this story?’
“I always go for the most upbeat ones to introduce people to the record.
“I can just keep on dancing and keep people dancing.
“We’re trying to create a world in a different way, and sonically it was about experimenting. Thematically, it was always about resilience.”
Dua worked with Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker, Danny L. Harle, Tobias Jesso Jr. and Caroline Ailin in a secluded cabin on the record, and said it very much felt like a band mentality.
Announcing the LP, which is out on May 3, she said: “A couple of years ago, a friend introduced me to the term ‘Radical Optimism’.
“It’s a concept that resonated with me, and I became more curious as I started to play with it and weave it into my life.
“It struck me – the idea of going through chaos gracefully and feeling like you can weather any storm.
“At the same time, I found myself looking through the music history of psychedelia, trip-hop, and Britpop. It has always felt so confidently optimistic to me, and that honesty and attitude is a feeling I took into my recording sessions.”
The album cover sees Dua in the ocean as a shark swims nearby.
Tracks on the record include ‘French Exit’, ‘Maria’, and ‘Falling Forever’, as well as the previously released singles ‘Houdini’ and ‘Training Season’.
Dua previously explained her new record “captures a period of major changes in her life, including the end of a relationship and her forays into dating.”
She told Rolling Stone magazine: “This record feels a bit more raw.
“I want to capture the essence of youth and freedom and having fun and just letting things happen, whether it’s good or bad. You can’t change it. You just have to roll with the punches of whatever’s happening in your life.”

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Billie Piper said to be £9m in debt to Virgin Records

OHMYGOSSIP — Billie Piper is said to have an estimated debt of “£9 million” owed to Virgin Records.
The 41-year-old actress-and-singer was signed to Innocent Records, a subsidiary of Virgin Records, in 1998, when she was just 15 years old and released her debut single, ‘Because We Want To’, on the label.
And the ‘Scoop’ star – who left her music career behind her in 2003 after an extended break to focus on acting – has revealed she owes the record label a ton of cash and won’t be relaunching her music career anytime soon.
Billie is quoted by the Daily Mail newspaper’s Eden Confidential column as saying: “I’m still in debt to Virgin.
“If I ever release an album, which I won’t, I’d probably have to pay off that debt. It’s like a university debt.”
Sharing one of her other pet peeves from her brief stint as a pop star, she said: “You do all these big promotional tours which I absolutely hated. I hated going off.”
The ‘Doctor Who’ star released two Top 20 studio albums, 1998’s ‘Honey to the B’ and 2000’s ‘Walk of Life’, on Innocent.
‘Because We Want To’ reached number one on the UK Singles Chart and saw Billie become the youngest British artist to release a number one single in more than four decades.
The ‘Day and Night’ singer previously explained that people lost their “sense of moral compass” around her during her early stardom.
After revealing she was forced to turn off the Britney Spears documentary ‘Finding Freedom’ – which tells the story of the pop idol’s rise to stardom as a teenager and her subsequent breakdown – Billie explained that people lost their “sense of moral compass” around her during her early stardom.
When asked if she could relate to anything in the documentary, she told The I newspaper in 2021: “How people behave around you, and how they think they can have access to you. The sense of a moral compass is completely destroyed.”
Billie also said the programme made her reassess the amount of control she had in her music career.
She explained: “I thought I had a lot because I’d get to choose my outfits and my dancers, and I would be coming in with ideas for my choreographer.
“Creative input is very different to the overview. I had little to no agency at that time in my life.”
Billie revealed also claimed she saw lots of “adults behaving badly” during her time in the music industry.
She said: “It was a very jumped-up, moneyed time in the music industry, and I think people were massively seduced by that. I saw a lot of adults behaving badly.
“Just things they would talk about, jokes they would make… things they would say to you as a guy to a girl. Just totally inappropriate. Male banter, you know?”

Source: IconInsider.com