xkcd published a flowchart to determine what kind of chart or graph you prefer. Me? I like them all, but this definitely helps. Somewhat.
80 Facts About The 1980s!
In the new episode of List Show by Mental Floss, John Green presents viewers with 80 facts about the 1980s! How many of them did you know? Really? Gnarly.
“Bohemian Rhapsody” Almost Didn’t Make It Into “Wayne’s World”
In 2014, Mike Myers told Marc Maron on his WTF podcast that using “Bohemian Rhapsody” was one of the things he fought for hardest on Wayne’s World. “They wanted Guns N’ Roses. Guns N’ Roses were very, very popular, they were a fantastic band,” Myers said. “Queen, at that point—not by me and not by hardcore fans—but the public had sort of forgotten about them. Freddie [Mercury] had gotten sick, the last time we had seen them was on Live Aid and then there were a few albums after where they were sort of straying away from their arena rock roots. But I always loved ‘Bohemian Rhapsody.’ I thought it was a masterpiece. So I fought really, really hard for it. And at one point I said, ‘Well, I’m out. I don’t want to make this movie if it’s not ‘Bohemian Rhapsody.’”
http://youtu.be/wUAitHlJMvw
Via Mental Floss
Mumford & Sons, Drake, Sam Smith to Headline 2015 Virgin Mobile Presents Squamish Valley Music Festival, August 7, 8 & 9
Over 70 artists from across the globe will grace the four stages of the Virgin Mobile Presents Squamish Valley Music Festival this summer, led by the star-studded trio of headliners, Mumford & Sons, Drake, and Sam Smith. Back for its sixth year, the Festival, produced by Live Nation Canada in partnership with festival creators brand.LIVE Management Group, takes place at the Logger Sports Grounds and Centennial Fields in Squamish, British Columbia, August 7, 8 & 9, 2015.
ARTISTS SCHEDULED TO PERFORM INCLUDE:
MUMFORD & SONS, DRAKE, SAM SMITH, OF MONSTERS AND MEN, KASKADE, ALABAMA SHAKES, BRANDON FLOWERS, SCHOOLBOY Q, MOTHER MOTHER, CHANCE THE RAPPER, ADVENTURE CLUB, PORTER ROBINSON (Live), HOT CHIP, THE KILLS, MILKY CHANCE, ARKELLS, VANCE JOY, DEATH FROM ABOVE 1979, SHARON JONES & THE DAP-KINGS, ODESZA, ROYAL BLOOD, ANGUS & JULIA STONE, GEORGE EZRA, BAHAMAS, KAYTRANADA, A-TRAK, TCHAMI, GORGON CITY (DJ Set), SLIGHTLY STOOPID, K-OS, JOEL PLASKETT WITH THE EMERGENCY, FIRST AID KIT, MARIACHI EL BRONX, WHITEHORSE, ROBERT DELONG, HANNAH WANTS, JAMES BAY, ELLE KING, SLOW MAGIC, BENJAMIN BOOKER, THE FUNK HUNTERS, SZA, BEAR’S DEN, ALVVAYS, JUSTIN NOZUKA, DEAR ROUGE, PEKING DUK, P REIGN, TEI SHI, OLIVER, MAT THE ALIEN, THE RIVER AND THE ROAD, WILLA, SCOTT HELMAN, OLD MAN CANYON, LITTLE INDIA
In its full 2015 lineup release today, the Festival announced an eclectic roster of artists from all genres, including internationally renowned musicians, emerging local talent, and legendary electronic dance music (EDM) artists who will once again be featured in the Blueprint Arena presented by Bacardi, curated by Blueprint Events.
“We believe today’s festival-goer is looking for diversity in the line-up but are also looking to discover new artists,” says Erik Hoffman, Live Nation Canada Senior Vice-President of Talent. “This year’s programming embodies this spirit. Artists accessible enough for all music fans but cutting edge enough for the most discernible music critic.”
More than 105,000 music fans attended the Festival last year, making it the largest outdoor music event in Western Canada. It generated an estimated economic impact of over $32 million over the four days of the festival.
“The 2014 Festival saw unprecedented growth and success across all areas, including security, transportation, camping and medical services – all with tremendous support from the Squamish community,” says Executive Producer of the Festival and Senior Vice-President of brand.LIVE, Paul Runnals. “We’re building off that momentum again this year with another incredible lineup, continued improvements being made to Festival infrastructure and logistics based on feedback from our festivalgoers.”
“We’re proud to be the presenting sponsor of this amazing Festival for the fourth year in a row,” says Kevin Campbell, Director of Brand Experience, Virgin Mobile Canada. “We love offering Virgin Mobile Members VIP experiences at every turn and we’re kicking off this Festival by offering our Members an exclusive presale starting Monday, February 23.”
This year, the festival is proud to have Spotify Canada onboard to enhance the fan experience by providing unique playlists of festival performers online, on their phones and through the festival app. Check out the lineup playlist here: SVMF
The Festival will again be held at Centennial Fields and will be expanding its use of the RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) enabled wristband system that was implemented last year to incorporate all food and merchandise vendors, including those at the four offsite campgrounds.
Weekend passes go on sale Thursday, February 26 at 10:00 am. Tickets will be available through Ticketmaster. Virgin Mobile Members Presale starts Monday, February 23 at 10:00am and ends Wednesday, February 25 at 11:59 pm. Members who purchase a Festival pass will receive a $20 credit applied to their RFID wristband, while quantities last. Visit www.virginmobile.ca/benefits to see the exclusive access and deals available for Virgin Mobile Members.
For more information on the Festival lineup, RFID system, tickets and more please visit: www.SquamishFestival.com. Find us on Twitter @squamishfest #SVMF & Facebook.
Alanis Morissette, deadmau5, Lights, and Sam Roberts Band confirmed as performers for 2015 JUNO Awards
CTV and The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) announced today that 2015 Canadian Music Hall of Fame Inductee Alanis Morissette, as well as electronic music phenomenon deadmau5, electro-pop artist Lights, and rockers Sam Roberts Band, are all set to rock THE 2015 JUNO AWARDS broadcast, Sunday, March 15 on CTV. Alanis Morissette returns to the same Hamilton stage where she won five JUNO Awards for her seminal, multi-platinum 1995 album Jagged Little Pill, released 20 years ago. These artists join previously announced performers Arkells, Hedley, Kiesza, MAGIC!, and Shawn Mendes. THE 2015 JUNO AWARDS airs live from Hamilton’s FirstOntario Centre on Sunday, March 15 at 7 p.m. ET/8 p.m. AT and at 7 p.m. in all other markets on CTV and CTV GO. Check local listings to confirm broadcast times and stations.
Tickets are currently on sale for THE 2015 JUNO AWARDS. Tickets range from $39 to $149 (plus service charges) and are available through the FirstOntario Centre Box Office, by phone at 1-855-872-5000, and online at www.ticketmaster.ca.
Additional broadcast announcements will be released in the coming weeks.
U2’s “Every Breaking Wave” Video is a 13-minute revisit to 80s Northern Ireland
Aoife McArdle’s Every Breaking Wave is a short film based on the U2 song of the same name. Set on the streets early 80s Northern Ireland, Every Breaking Wave is built around themes of emotional abandon and the uncertainty of romantic relationships.
Every Breaking Wave follows two teenagers who fall in love amidst ongoing violence. The short film’s emotional core is centered around “Every Breaking Wave” and “The Troubles,” two tracks drawn from U2’s most recent album Songs of Innocence.
Corus Radio introduces robust customized apps for 38 stations
Corus Entertainment takes the mobile radio experience to the next level with the roll out of new apps for 38 Corus Radio stations, ranging in formats from news-talk and rock, to Country and Hot AC.
“The launch of 38 customized station apps builds on Corus Radio’s commitment to offer listeners the best-in-class mobile first experience to engage and interact with our stations wherever they are,” said Chris “Dunner” Duncombe, Director New Media, Corus Radio. “Our robust branded radio apps give listeners direct access to exclusive content, the ability to interact with their favourite hosts and share unique content from multiple platforms.”
Corus Entertainment Inc. is a Canadian-based media and entertainment company that creates, broadcasts and licenses content across a variety of platforms for audiences around the world. The Company’s portfolio of multimedia offerings encompasses specialty television and radio with additional assets in pay television, television broadcasting, children’s book publishing, children’s animation and animation software. Corus’ brands include YTV, TELETOON, ABC Spark, W Network, OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network (Canada), HBO Canada, Historia and Séries+, as well as Nelvana, Kids Can Press, Toon Boom and 39 radio stations including CKNW AM 980, Rock 101, Country 105, 630 CHED, Fresh FM London, JUMP! 106.9, Q107 and 102.1 the Edge.
Developed and created by Corus’ partner SoCast, each Corus Radio app offers users a personal and seamless mobile experience curated specifically for each station’s audience. The Corus Radio music station apps give listeners access to an interactive playlist with artist information, videos, photos and exclusive content; as well as concert listings, the latest music news and contests. The Corus Radio news-talk apps report breaking news and weather, and feature an all-new interactive map, which provides real-time traffic updates.
These easy-to-use mobile apps allow listeners to connect directly with the station and on-air personalities anytime, anywhere enabling users to engage in real-time conversations with hosts by uploading texts, photos and audio to the app as well as share the content across social media.
The Corus Radio apps also offer new customized opportunities for advertisers to reach audiences through mobile video, audio and interactive display on any one or all 38 of Corus’ stations across the country.
The 38 apps are available for free download on the stations’ websites, from the App Store for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch, and from the Google Play store for Android devices.
Neil Peart, Danny Carey, and Stewart Copeland team up for awesome jam session
Ex-Police drummer Stewart Copeland has kept busy after ending their 2007-2008 reunion tour with hosting star-studded jam sessions in his Sacred Grove studio. At a recent session, Copeland asked drummers Neil Peart of Rush and Danny Carey of Tool to test out some new kits he’d gotten in, and likely ask them not to break them, just break them in. And just to prove Copeland knows everyone on the planet, South Park co-creator Matt Stone and Vertical Horizon frontman Matt Scannell stopped by, too, liklely the only time these two guys will ever be in the same sentence on this blog (but should be more often!)
Tim McGraw Announces Dates For 35+ City Summer “Shotgun Rider” Tour 2015
Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, actor, Tim McGraw, who is set to perform at the 87th Oscars this Sunday, announced major touring news today revealing details of his highly-anticipated summer Shotgun Rider Tour 2015. The tour will kick off June 5 at the Verizon Arena in Little Rock, AR and travel across North America before concluding September 19 at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Irvine, CA. Other cities include Dallas, Toronto, Chicago, Washington DC, Seattle and Denver. The four-month trek will hit amphitheaters, arenas and festivals and feature supporting acts Billy Currington and Chase Bryant.
Citi® is the official credit card of the tour. Citi cardmembers will have access to Boston and Portland pre-sale tickets beginning Wednesday, February 18 at 12:00 p.m. local time through Citi’s Private Pass Program. For complete pre-sale details, visit www.citiprivatepass.com. General tickets for select cities will be available beginning Friday, February 20 at 10 a.m. local time. Please see below for full details and visit www.timmcgraw.com for exclusive fan opportunities.
The Shotgun Rider Tour will feature performances from McGraw’s latest hit album Sundown Heaven Town. The album – McGraw’s thirteenth studio album and second release for Big Machine Records – debuted at #1 on the Billboard Country Albums Chart; the RIAA gold-certified single “Shotgun Rider” has spent four weeks at #1 on the country charts.
It was recently announced that McGraw will perform the Oscar-nominated song “I’m Not Gonna Miss You” for Glen Campbell at the 87th Oscars held on February 22 at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood, and will be televised live on the ABC Television Network at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. “I’m Not Gonna Miss You,” written by Campbell and Julian Raymond for the documentary feature “Glen Campbell…I’ll Be Me,” is nominated for Original Song.
Tim McGraw has sold more than 40 million records worldwide and dominated the charts with 36 #1 singles. He’s won three Grammy Awards, 16 Academy of Country Music Awards, 14 Country Music Association Awards, 10 American Music Awards, three People’s Choice Awards and numerous other honors. His iconic career achievements include being named the BDS Most Played Artist of the Decade for all music genres and having the Most Played Song of the Decade for all music genres with “Something Like That.” He is the most played Country artist since his debut in 1992, with two singles spending over 10 weeks at #1 (“Live Like You Were Dying” and “Over and Over”). The two-time GRAMMY-nominated “Meanwhile Back at Mama’s” marked Tim’s 54th career Top Ten Hit off his latest album, SUNDOWN HEAVEN TOWN (Big Machine Records). The project also produced the #1 “Shotgun Rider” and current single “Diamond Rings and Old Barstools” featuring Tim’s cousin, Catherine Dunn. His critically acclaimed acting skills were highlighted in the award winning Friday Night Lights and The Blind Side. Tim will star in Disney’s Tomorrowland in theaters May 22.
Tim McGraw – Shotgun Rider Tour 2015
|
Date |
City |
Venue |
|
June 5 |
Little Rock, AR |
Verizon Arena |
|
June 6 |
Dallas, TX |
Gexa Energy Pavilion |
|
June 11 |
Wantagh, NY |
Nikon at Jones Beach Theatre |
|
June 12 |
Boston, MA |
XFINITY Center |
|
June 18 |
Phoenix, AZ |
Ak-Chin Pavilion |
|
June 19 |
Albuquerque, NM |
Isleta Amphitheater |
|
July 10 |
Raleigh, NC |
Walnut Creek Amphitheatre |
|
July 11 |
Charlotte, NC |
PNC Music Pavilion |
|
July 16 |
Toronto, ON |
Molson Canadian Amphitheatre |
|
July 18 |
Holmdel, NJ |
PNC Bank Arts Center |
|
July 19 |
Virginia Beach, VA |
Farm Bureau Live |
|
July 24 |
Bonner Springs, KS |
Cricket Wireless Amphitheater |
|
July 30 |
Darien Center, NY |
Darien Lake Performing Arts Center |
|
July 31 |
Cleveland, OH |
Blossom Music Pavilion |
|
August 1 |
Cincinnati, OH |
Riverbend Music Center |
|
August 2 |
Detroit, MI |
DTE Energy Music Theatre |
|
August 7 |
Indianapolis, IN |
Klipsch Music Center |
|
August 8 |
Chicago, IL |
First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre |
|
August 9 |
St. Louis, MO |
Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre |
|
August 14 |
Birmingham, AL |
Oak Mountain Amphitheater |
|
August 21 |
West Palm Beach, FL |
Coral Sky Amphitheatre |
|
August 22 |
Tampa, FL |
MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre |
|
August 28 |
Washington, DC |
Jiffy Lube Live |
|
August 29 |
Philadelphia, PA |
Susquehanna Bank Center |
|
August 30 |
Pittsburgh, PA |
First Niagara Pavilion |
|
September 4 |
Seattle, WA |
White River Amphitheatre |
|
September 5 |
Portland, OR |
Amphitheatre Northwest |
|
September 9 |
Denver, CO |
Red Rocks Amphitheatre |
|
September 10 |
Denver, CO |
Red Rocks Amphitheatre |
|
September 12 |
Salt Lake City, UT |
USANA Amphitheatre |
|
September 17 |
Sacramento, CA |
Sleep Train Amphitheatre |
|
September 18 |
Mountain View, CA |
Shoreline Amphitheatre |
|
September 19 |
Irvine, CA |
Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre |
C.D. Howe Report: “Getting the Price Right: Putting a Fair Value on Music Copyrights”
Today, the C.D. Howe Institute has released a new report that finds that Canada’s current copyright framework for recorded music is shortchanging artists. Analysis by the report author Marcel Boyer determines that the competitive value of recorded music is approximately 2.5 times higher than the current level of copyright payments.
“In today’s digital age, copyright regimes everywhere face common piracy threats along with wide dissemination,” said Boyer in a release. “Meanwhile, rights holders and users contest the market value of copyrights in public forums, legislatures and in the courts. The root of those conflicts is the difficulty of properly valuing the intellectual property rights of authors, composers, performers and makers.”
The full report is now available as a PDF on the C.D. Howe website.
Via Music Canada
