Pop

Jayson Tatum Used A Postgame Interview To Apologize To Janet Jackson After The Celtics Finally Beat The Hawks

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Janet Jackson Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony 2022
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The Boston Celtics were expected to finish off the Atlanta Hawks in Game 5 of their first-round NBA Playoffs series on Tuesday, April 25, but the Hawks won, 119-117, and forced a Game 6 for Thursday, April 27. Free basketball is rarely a bad thing, but in this case, there was a cost.

Janet Jackson already had her Together Again Tour scheduled to stop at Atlanta’s State Farm Arena on April 27, meaning State Farm Arena was suddenly double-booked for Jackson and the Hawks’ Game 6.

State Farm Arena announced that Jackson’s concert was rescheduled for Friday, April 28.

Jayson Tatum felt bad for inconveniencing her. The Celtics later took care of the Hawks in Thursday night’s Game 6, 128-120. Tatum finished his on-court postgame interview by apologizing.

“I want to send an apology to the legend Janet Jackson,” the four-time All-Star said with a smile. “We were supposed to close it out in Boston. She had to postpone her show. I hope she sees this. I apologize for that, but we got it done today.”

Jackson seems totally unbothered by the ordeal. She posted highlights from her April 26 show in Atlanta, the first of two nights, and captioned the Instagram post, “Atlanta, show 1 of 2 tonight! See you again Friday (congrats Hawks!) …swipe to see the band’s fave parts of the show. #TogetherAgainTour [basketball emoji].”

Jackson might run into another scheduling issue with the New York Knicks if a Game 5 is needed against the Miami Heat in their Eastern Conference semifinals series, which will begin this Sunday, April 30. A potential Game 5 would be at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, May 10 — Jackson’s second of two nights scheduled at MSG.

Beyoncé Apparently Owes The IRS Over $2 Million In Unpaid Taxes, But Her Attorney Doesn’t Think So

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Of course, some sh*t goes down when it’s billion dollars on an elevator, as Beyoncé sang on the “Flawless” remix featuring Nicki Minaj. But, the singer doesn’t want any smoke with the IRS. The Grammy Award-winning musician refutes claims that she owes millions in unpaid taxes and penalties, according to Page Six.

The Balmain collaborator is getting her financial documents into formation. Forbes revealed that back in January, the Notice of Deficiency asserted that the “Cuff It” singer owed a grand total of $2.7 million in unpaid taxes and penalties. When breakdown, the organization alleged that the entertainer had a tax bill of $805,850 for 2018 with $161,170 in penalties, and a tax bill of $1,442,747 in 2019 with $288,549.40 in penalties.

However, earlier this week, it is being reported by the outlet that Beyoncé and her legal team filed a petition in tax court to dispute these findings. The musician’s representatives claim that the IRS did not correctly account for several millions of dollars worth of deductions, including in charitable contributions over those two years.

To be exact, in 2018, Beyoncé supposedly contributed $868,766 to an unnamed charitable organization. In the newly filed petition, the recording artist requests that her penalties be waived since she “has acted reasonably and in good faith.”

Michael C. Cohen, the singer’s attorney, told Page Six, “We are working with the IRS and anticipate that the matter will be resolved shortly.”

The IRS might want to tread lightly as the singer’s fiercely loyal fan base, the Beyhive just might take matters into their own hands to ensure the Renaissance World Tour kicks off without a hitch.

Post Malone Shut Down Rumors Of Drug Use And Explained What’s Behind His Recent Weight Loss

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Here and there, Post Malone has dealt with rumors about drug use and other worrisome health issues. His recent weight loss has fed into that some, and now Malone laid his cards on the table and shared how he’s doing.

In a new Instagram post, Malone wrote, “i wanted to say that i’m not doing drugs, i’ve had a lot of people ask me about my weight loss and i’d suppose, performance on stage. i’m having a lot of fun performing, and have never felt healthier. i guess dad life kicked in and i decided to kick soda, and start eating better so i can be around for a long time for this little angel. next up is smokes and brews, but i like to consider myself a patient man… lol!”

He added of new music and where he’s at mentally these days, “i’ve spent a bit in the studio lately working on new music, and am so excited to share it with you, thank you for your patience and support y’all. you make my heart beat. i just wanted to say hi, and hopefully i’ll be posting more on here, my brain is in a super dope place, and i’m the happiest i’ve been in a long time.”

Find his full post below.

“4/28/2023, Antwerp Belgium! hello everybody, i hope you’re having a great night. i wanted to say that i’m not doing drugs, i’ve had a lot of people ask me about my weight loss and i’d suppose, performance on stage. i’m having a lot of fun performing, and have never felt healthier. i guess dad life kicked in and i decided to kick soda, and start eating better so i can be around for a long time for this little angel. next up is smokes and brews, but i like to consider myself a patient man… lol! i’ve spent a bit in the studio lately working on new music, and am so excited to share it with you, thank you for your patience and support y’all. you make my heart beat. i just wanted to say hi, and hopefully i’ll be posting more on here, my brain is in a super dope place, and i’m the happiest i’ve been in a long time. if you’re having a hard time or need some love, i can say that you’re loved more than you know, and keep f*cking crushing it. goodnight nerds [face with steam from nose emoji] spread love and rock on [boot emojis]”

Rihanna Landed The Role Of Smurfette In A New ‘Smurfs’ Movie, Which She’s Also Making Music For And Producing

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Rihanna just landed what will likely go down as the bluest role of her career: she has several important jobs in an upcoming Smurfs movie.

Today (April 27), Paramount Pictures revealed during a CinemaCon presentation that Rihanna will play Smurfette in an upcoming Smurfs movie, which does not currently have an announced title (as IndieWire reports). On top of that, Rihanna will also be creating and performing original music for the film, as well as producing. The film is set to premiere in theaters on February 14, 2025, via Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies.

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Rihanna spoke about the movie at CinemaCon, saying, “Getting to do animation is a fun journey for me. I’m usually front and center with everything with my likeness […] but this was fun. I got to imagine, I got to show up in my pajamas in my third trimester, and be a blue badass. I hope this gives me a little bit of cool points with my kids one day.”

The movie will be co-directed by Chris Miller and Matt Landon, while Pam Brady (a South Park producer and Team America: World Police writer) wrote the screenplay. Ryan Harris, Laurence “Jay” Brown, and Tyran “Ty-Ty” Smith also produce alongside Rihanna.

The Smurfs film will be Rihanna’s second voice role in a movie, after 2015’s Home.

Diplo Is ‘Not A Huge Fan’ Of Frank Ocean And Thinks Coachella ‘Might Be Having A Hard Time Booking Headliners’

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Coachella continues to be the defining music festival of the year, but if you ask Diplo, when it comes to headliners, there’s something to be desired.

In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he said:

“I think they honestly might be having a hard time booking headliners. There’s not much left. We kind of left the era of great superhero acts, like the Red Hot Chili Peppers or Daft Punk. Their [2006 Coachella set] was the most epic show. Now they book acts like Bad Bunny and Blackpink, who are cool, but they’re just the most Top 40 there is. It’s almost like they’re stadium acts.

[Coachella producers Goldenvoice] have a hard time, because I think there’s not a lot of really culturally relevant new acts. I saw Labrinth. That was amazing. I think that represents real Coachella. He’s part of the zeitgeist. But the rest of it just felt like they had to scramble to find things that were cultural touchstones, but also could bring a big crowd in.”

He then noted that he’s not big on Frank Ocean (but did say he “has one of the best voices I’ve ever heard”) and speculated that “he just doesn’t really care about shows”:

“I don’t think Frank Ocean’s concert needs to be the best or worst anything. It was a show where the ice rink didn’t work and that’s all it needs to be. I didn’t see his show, because I’m not a huge fan. It’s probably a generational thing. I think I was a little older when Frank Ocean came out. I was in my 30s. He has one of the best voices I’ve ever heard. I really think he just doesn’t really care about shows. I think that’s Coachella’s fault. He doesn’t really care about his fans, to give them a concert. I don’t think it matters. He’s just a musician. Some people just don’t care.”

Diplo, meanwhile, is heading into a weekend at Stagecoach, another Goldenvoice festival.

Read the interview here.

Here Is Why Ed Sheeran Is Being Sued By Marvin Gaye’s Estate

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Ed Sheeran’s trial pertaining to the lawsuit from Marvin Gaye’s estate has started. For those who might not be aware of the situation, here’s why it’s causing some waves.

The copyright infringement lawsuit against Sheeran is over his 2014 song, “Thinking Out Loud,” which Gaye’s estate has claimed copies the late singer’s “Let’s Get It On.” It was officially filed by the family of the song’s co-writer and composer Ed Townsend.

It claims that Sheeran’s song used the same instrumental progressions and “repeated it continuously throughout ‘Thinking’ — this incontrovertible musical similarity has been observed by music industry professionals previously, as embodied by various social media and articles about the matter,” according to the filing.

“For far too long, Black artists have created, inspired and spread music all around the world,” the Townsend’s lawyer, Ben Crump, told CBS News. “Mr. Sheeran’s infringement of Black artists is merely another example of artists exploiting the genius and the work of Black singers and songwriters.”

Sheeran is also facing two other lawsuits tied to copyright infringement on the song — these filed by Structured Asset Sales, a company that holds a stake in “Let’s Get It On,” according to Vulture.

And, while most copyright lawsuits get dismissed, Gaye’s estate has a track record of being successful in past cases. They were awarded over $5 million in 2015, after claiming Robin Thicke and Pharrell’s “Blurred Lines” borrowed from “Got To Give It Up.”

Ed Sheeran is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Spotify CEO Daniel Ek Says The Platform Is ‘Ready’ To Increase Subscription Prices In The US

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Spotify can be used for free, but to unlock more features, music lovers can subscribe to one of the streaming services’ premium tiers. The most basic of those plans, for a single user, currently costs $9.99 per month in the US. That could change soon, though.

Yesterday (April 25), in a conference call discussing Spotify’s first quarter earnings (as Billboard notes), Spotify CEO Daniel Ek said, “I think we are ready to raise prices, I think we have the ability to do that, but it really comes down to those negotiations [with major music industry stakeholders].”

Ek also noted, “We did raise prices in 46 different locations and markets last year, and even in those markets, we were still out performing. I feel really good about our ability to raise prices over time — that we have that ability — and we have lots of data now that backs that up. We may have been marginally helped by being a lower-cost provider, but it isn’t a primary part of our strategy and it’s not something that we’re thinking about. Instead, we’re working with our label partners to work […] to figure out what’s the best opportunity to do that. And that’s a more complex trade. When the timing’s right, we will raise it.”

This comes after Spotify had about $3.3 billion in total revenue during the first quarter of 2023. That’s a 14-percent increase over 2022, but as Billboard notes, it’s “slightly lower than the company expected as macroeconomic fears crimped Spotify’s advertising business by around $20 million.”

Ed Sheeran Thinks He’d Have To ‘Be Quite An Idiot’ To Do What He’s Accused Of In The Marvin Gaye Plagiarism Case

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The legal battle between Ed Sheeran and Marvin Gaye’s team. Yesterday (April 25) in a New York courtroom, Sheeran defended his songwriting for his 2014 single, “Thinking Out Loud,” which Gaye’s team has alleged plagiarizes his song, “Let’s Get It On.”

In 2016, the heirs of Gaye’s co-writer on “Let’s Get It On,” Ed Townsend, filed a lawsuit against Sheeran, alleging that he and Amy Wadge, the co-writer of “Thinking Out Loud,” replicated an ascending four-chord sequence, as well as a rhythm.

Per The Guardian, Sheeran appeared in court and claimed that he and Wadge wrote the song taking inspiration from the love his grandparents shared.

Ben Crump, the plaintiff’s lawyer, then referred to a video of Sheeran performing a mashup of “Thinking Out Loud” and “Let’s Get It On” during one of his shows, calling the moment “a confession” of plagiarism.

Sheeran then replied, saying, “Most pop songs can fit over most pop songs… You could go from [The Beatles’] ‘Let it Be’ to [Bob Marley’s] ‘No Woman, No Cry’ and switch back.”

He continued, “If I had done what you’re accusing me of doing, I’d be quite an idiot to stand on a stage in front of 20,000 people and do that.”

Sheeran’s lawyer, Ilene S. Farkas, also argued, saying, “The two songs share versions of a similar and unprotectable chord progression that was freely available to all songwriters.”

However, Townsend’s daughter Kathryn Griffin Townsend, who appeared as a witness in the hearing, continued to fight. She lauded Sheeran’s craft, but noted that she intends to “protect [her] father’s legacy.”

The hearings are expected to continue throughout the week.

Ed Sheeran is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Spotify CEO Daniel Ek Believes AI Is ‘Huge For Creativity’ But Acklowledges ‘The Scary Part’

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AI recreations of popular musicians’ voices have become a rising trend, with Drake and The Weeknd’s fake “Heart On My Sleeve” song being pulled from streaming platforms, Grimes saying she’s OK with it, and Liam Gallagher calling an Oasis AI album “mega.” Still, Spotify’s CEO, Daniel Ek, offered his thoughts on just what this means for the future of the music industry,

“On the positive side, this could be potentially huge for creativity,” Ek said on a conference call, according to Billboard. “That should lead to more music [which] we think is great culturally, but it also benefits Spotify because the more creators we have on our service the better it is and the more opportunity we have to grow engagement and revenue.”

Earlier this year, the streaming service announced an AI DJ aspect to the app, which develops song recommendations for users based on their listening history and features narration from an AI bot.

“I’m very familiar with the scary part… the complete generative stuff or even the so-called deep fakes that pretend to be someone they’re not,” Ek added during a recent episode of Spotify’s For The Record podcast. “I choose to look at the glass as more half-full than half-empty. I think if it’s done right, these AIs will be incorporated into almost every product suite to enable creativity to be available to many more people around the world.”

Currently, Universal Music Group and the National Music Publishers’ Association are some standing against AI, as the record label released a recent statement to the publication:

“The training of generative AI using our artists’ music (which represents both a breach of our agreements and a violation of copyright law) as well as the availability of infringing content created with generative AI on DSPs, begs the question as to which side of history all stakeholders in the music ecosystem want to be on: the side of artists, fans and human creative expression, or on the side of deep fakes, fraud and denying artists their due compensation. We’re encouraged by the engagement of our platform partners on these issues – as they recognize they need to be part of the solution.”