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Pitbull Brings The Heat On His Party ‘After Dark’ Tour

Today, global superstar Pitbull has announced his Party After Dark Tour will hit over 25 cities across the U.S. with special guest T-Pain and openers SiriusXM Globalization DJ’S. Lil Jon will also join in select markets. Following numerous successful solo touring runs and a recent triple headlining one-of-a-kind multigenerational arena run – The Trilogy Tour – with Enrique Iglesias and Ricky Martin, Mr. Worldwide is set to deliver another incredibly dynamic tour with an electrifying mix of his biggest career-spanning hits of instantly recognizable smashes and surprises.

Produced by Live Nation, the 26-city tour kicks off on August 21st at Jiffy Lube Live in Bristow, VA and makes stops across the U.S. at Hersheypark Stadium, Forest Hills Stadium, Thunder Ridge Nature Arena, Xfinity Center, Northwell Health At Jones Beach Theater and more before wrapping up in Albuquerque, NM at Isleta Amphitheater on October 5th.

Pitbull’s recent musical releases include Trackhouse and Trackhouse: Daytona 500 Edition. The album titles are inspired by the NASCAR Cup Series team Trackhouse Racing, which he has been a co-owner of since 2021.

The tracks feature special guests Dolly Parton, Tim McGraw, Nile Rodgers, T-Pain, Omar Courtz, and more.

Armando Christian Pérez, Pitbull, invites disruption on a global scale as a GRAMMY Award winning independent international superstar, education ambassador, entrepreneur, and motivational speaker. With billions of audio streams, video views, and hundreds of gold and platinum certifications, he has one of the most impressive careers in music history. Pitbull’s signature “EEEEEEEYOOOOOO” grito (yell) is one of the most famous sound trademarks in the music industry. Joining the ranks of fewer than 40 sounds that fall under trademark protection by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Beyond music, Armando has leveraged his business acumen through a diverse portfolio of investments and ventures. He is co-owner of NASCAR racing team Trackhouse and has successfully developed other ventures including his own record label Mr. 305, Inc., and Voli 305 Vodka. Pitbull also launched his own SiriusXM channel dubbed Globalization, featuring DJs dropping worldwide rhythmic hits. He co-founded SLAM! tuition-free public charter schools; recognized as one of the top school networks in the world. His recent musical releases include Trackhouse and Trackhouse: Daytona 500 Edition where he fuses music and racing to unite fans globally. Following numerous successful solo touring runs and a recent triple headlining arena run on The Trilogy Tour — Pitbull is set to deliver another run of dynamic and high-energy performances on the Party After Dark Tour.

GRAMMY Award-Winning artist, producer, songwriter, entrepreneur and global cultural icon T-Pain has not only changed the course of pop, hip-hop and R&B, but has reshaped the fabric of culture itself. He has sold over 50 million singles, accumulated billions of streams, racked up 10 iconic #1s on the Billboard Hot 100 and captivated the world with his charismatic live performances, earning a reputation as a global phenomenon. T-Pain’s recent viral sensations On Top of The Covers (Live From The Sun Rose) (based on acclaimed covers album On Top of The Covers), and inspirational single “Dreaming” showcase the innovative artist’s powerful vocals and dynamic voice (all out now via his own Nappy Boy Entertainment). Since emerging in 2004, the Tallahassee trailblazer’s influence has transcended generations in music and more; the iconic artist won the first season of FOX’s The Masked Singer after stunning audiences with his soulful, non-Auto-Tuned voice, and he boasts one of the most-watched Tiny Desk sessions and Hot Ones interviews of all time. He shines as a Twitch phenomenon and uber popular streamer, head of his own Nappy Boy Entertainment and Nappy Boy Automotive, podcast host, director and editor, expert drift driver, actor, author and spokesperson. Recipient of the 2023 Soul Train Legend Award, the frequent, in-demand collaborator recently teamed with Snoop Dogg on “That’s How We Ballin,” with Meghan Trainor on “Been Like This,” and announced his new duo project with Young Cash – Bluez Brothaz. He’ll continue rolling out new music, performing as a resident artist at Zouk Nightclub and Ayu Dayclub (Resorts World Las Vegas), touring in 2024 (which will include his annual Wiscansin Fest + performances at The Hollywood Bowl’s Juneteenth Celebration, Central Park SummerStage, Bonnaroo, BottleRock, Lovers & Friends Festival) and more.

PARTY AFTER DARK TOUR DATES:
Wed Aug 21 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live
Fri Aug 23 – Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater
Sat Aug 24 – Hershey, PA – Hersheypark Stadium
Sun Aug 25 – Queens, NY – Forest Hills Stadium
Thu Aug 29 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center
Fri Aug 30 – Tinley Park, IL – Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre
Sat Aug 31 – Milwaukee, WI – American Family Insurance Amphitheater
Sun Sep 01 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center
Wed Sep 04 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre
Fri Sep 06 – Buffalo, NY – Darien Lake Amphitheater
Sat Sep 07 – Syracuse, NY – Empower FCU Amphitheater at Lakeview
Sun Sep 08 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Broadview Stage at SPAC
Thu Sep 12 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell Health At Jones Beach Theater
Fri Sep 13 – Hartford, CT – Xfinity Theatre
Sat Sep 14 – Bangor, ME – Maine Savings Amphitheater
Sun Sep 15 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center
Wed Sep 18 – Burgettstown, PA – The Pavilion at Star Lake
Thu Sep 19 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center
Sat Sep 21 – Ridgedale, MO – Thunder Ridge Nature Arena
Sun Sep 22 – St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
Wed Sep 25 – Salt Lake City, UT – Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre
Fri Sep 27 – Ridgefield, WA – RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater*
Sat Sep 28 – Auburn, WA – White River Amphitheatre
Thu Oct 03 – Chula Vista, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre*
Fri Oct 04 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
Sat Oct 05 – Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater
*with Special Guest Lil Jon

Regina Spektor Announces Limited-Run Of Summer Tour Dates: “An Evening With Regina Spektor”

Regina Spektor, the acclaimed singer-songwriter, has announced a special series of performances set to grace stages this summer – An Evening with Regina Spektor. Produced by Live Nation, the eight city tour kicks off on July 24 at The Egg* in Albany, NY making stops across North America in Toronto, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Montclair, Boston, and Portland (Maine) before wrapping up in Stamford, CT at The Palace Stamford on August 3.

Spektor’s eighth studio album, the long-awaited Home, before and after, was released in 2022 and met with critical praise from New York Times, NPR Music, and more.

Regina Spektor calls them sandcastles. There’s a million of them, songs that rise up and multiply in her brain — the fruits of months, sometimes years, of channeling and crafting. But what happens to them when it’s time to make new music? “They all have to be slowly washed away. Some of them are really well built, and they’re really high up on the beach,” she says. “It all has to be gone, and then I can start to hear new songs and make a new record.”

Starting with a clean slate, with six momentous years between albums, Spektor returned in 2022 with Home, before and after. The eagerly awaited eighth studio album was the follow-up to 2016’s Remember Us to Life. It paired Spektor with John Congleton (St. Vincent, Sharon Van Etten, Angel Olsen), who produced the album from afar in Los Angeles with Spektor co-producing in upstate New York.

The years between her albums weren’t exactly fallow. In 2016, at her friend Lin-Manuel Miranda’s invitation, she contributed a song (“Dear Theodosia,” featuring Ben Folds) to The Hamilton Mixtape. Former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio declared Regina Spektor Day in her hometown in June 2019, she got a street sign with her name at the Bronx Walk of Fame, and that same month staged a sold out residency on Broadway at the legendary Lunt- Fontanne Theatre.

Her work for television and film continued. “You’ve Got Time,” from Netflix’s Orange Is the New Black, entered the pantheon of classic TV theme songs, so much so that Spektor released an orchestral version of the award-winning tune for the final episode. She wrote “One Little Soldier” for the closing credits of the film Bombshell and multiple songs for the animated series Central Park.

Time has been kind to Spektor’s work. Twenty years have passed since she self-released her 2001 debut, 11:11, which recently received a remastered reissue, as well as a limited-edition box set. In the decades since, Spektor, who was born in Moscow, Russia and raised in the Bronx, New York, has defied classification. With a sophisticated marriage of classical training and a gift for sharp pop hooks and nuanced lyrics, she has created her own genre. She makes Regina Spektor music.

TOUR DATES:
Wed Jul 24 | Albany, NY | The Egg
Thu Jul 25 | Toronto, ON | HISTORY
Sat Jul 27 | Philadelphia, PA | The Met Philadelphia presented by Highmark
Sun Jul 28 | Baltimore, MD | Modell Performing Arts Center at the Lyric
Mon Jul 29 | Montclair, NJ | The Wellmont Theater
Wed Jul 31 | Boston, MA | MGM Music Hall at Fenway
Fri Aug 02 | Portland, ME | Merrill Auditorium at City Hall
Sat Aug 03 | Stamford, CT | The Palace Stamford

Kygo Announces World Tour Across North America And Europe

Today,  global superstar, producer, and DJ Kygo announced part one of his 2024 world tour across North America, Europe and the UK. Produced by Live Nation, the 26-date run kicks off on Saturday, September 7 in Commerce City, CO at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park, with stops in Boston, Toronto, Chicago, Berlin, Amsterdam, Paris, London and more before wrapping up on Friday, December 13 in Dublin, Ireland at 3Arena. As the highest-selling ticket artist in dance music, part one of Kygo’s 2024 dates marks his first tour since 2018 and will bring his incredible live show across the globe. The impressive, must-see performance will feature Kygo’s signature piano, as well as strings, singers, and drummers. Special guests SOFI TUKKER, GRYFFIN, Sam Feldt, Zara Larsson, Klangkarussell, Hayla, Victoria Nadine, and Vandelux will join on select dates.

The Kygo World Tour will feature performances at iconic venues around the world, including Los Angeles’ Hollywood Bowl, Brooklyn’s Barclays Center and a hometown show at Telenor Arena in Oslo, Norway.

Whether behind the piano in his studio or headlining a sold-out festival, Kygo quietly reaffirms his status as a prodigious talent, forward-thinking producer, dynamic DJ, and influential global superstar. The Norwegian musician born Kyrre Gørvell-Dahll first introduced himself in 2013 and quietly became one of the most ubiquitous hitmakers in the world. Amassing over 23 billion cumulative global audio and video streams, he has broken numerous streaming records. Kygo earned one of his biggest hits with the multiplatinum “It Ain’t Me” (feat. Selena Gomez), going Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and clocking over 2.9 billion streams worldwide. In 2019, Kygo unleashed “Higher Love” with Whitney Houston and generated another 1.4 billion combined streams/views worldwide and peaked at #1 on Dance Radio, in addition to leaving his imprint on a classic.

He heralded his 2020 critically acclaimed third full-length album Golden Hour [Sony Music International/Ultra Records/RCA Records] with the anthems “Like It Is” (feat. Zara Larsson & Tyga), “Lose Somebody” (with OneRepublic), and “I’ll Wait” (feat. Sasha Alex Sloan). The album has garnered over 2.6 billion streams worldwide. Following Golden Hour, Kygo released his remix of Tina Turner’s “What’s Love Got To Do With It” and Donna Summer’s “Hot Stuff” to rave reviews. In 2022, after headlining Lollapalooza and Life Is Beautiful, along with sold-out headlining shows at Madison Square Garden and Oslo’s Ullevaal Stadion, Kygo surprised fans with the release of his fourth album Thrill Of The Chase [RCA Records]. The album featured notable singles including “Dancing Feet” (feat. DNCE), “Woke Up In Love” (with Gryffin feat. Calum Scott), and “Never Really Loved Me” (feat. Dean Lewis), amassing over 1 billion streams worldwide and debuting in the Top 5 on the Billboard Top Dance/Electronic Albums Chart. This year, Kygo continues his run of stunning collaborations, teaming up with Ava Max for his latest single “Whatever,” which the pair performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.

KYGO WORLD TOUR 2024 DATES:
Sat Sep 07 – Commerce City, CO – DICK’S Sporting Goods Park *+
Thu Sep 12 – Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion *+
Fri Sep 13 – Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center *+
Tue Sep 17 – Boston, MA – TD Garden *+
Fri Sep 20 – Montreal, QC – Bell Centre *+
Sat Sep 21 – Toronto, ON – Woodbine Park *+
Wed Sep 25 – Chicago, IL – Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island ^~
Sat Sep 28 – Austin, TX – Germania Insurance Amphitheater ^~
Fri Oct 04 – San Francisco, CA – Chase Center ^~
Wed Oct 09 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena ^~
Thu Oct 10 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena ^~
Thu Oct 17 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl ^~
Wed Nov 06 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Royal Arena > =
Fri Nov 08 – Oslo, Norway – Telenor Arena > %
Wed Nov 13 – Stockholm, Sweden – Tele2 Arena >=
Fri Nov 15 – Berlin, Germany – Uber Arena >=
Sun Nov 17 – Budapest, Hungary – MVM Dome *=
Thu Nov 21 – Cologne, Germany – Lanxess Arena #=
Sat Nov 23 – Vienna, Austria – Stadthalle #=
Tue Nov 26 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Ziggo Dome #=
Fri Nov 29 – Milan, Italy – Forum #=
Tue Dec 03 – Madrid, Spain – Wizink Center #=
Fri Dec 06 – Brussels, Belgium – ING Arena #=
Sat Dec 07 – Paris, France – Accor Arena #=
Wed Dec 11 – London, UK – The O2  #+
Fri Dec 13 – Dublin, Ireland – 3Arena #+
# With SOFI TUKKER
> With GRYFFIN
* With Sam Feldt
^ With Zara Larsson
= With Klangkarussell
+ With Hayla
% With Victoria Nadine
~ With Vandelux

Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum to Open New Exhibition, Luke Combs: The Man I Am

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum will explore the life and career of Luke Combs in a new exhibition, Luke Combs: The Man I Am. The exhibit will trace Combs’ story from singing with his school choirs in North Carolina to headlining stadiums around the world. The exhibit, which will be open from July 11 until June 2025, is included with museum admission.

“Few artists have experienced the kind of meteoric rise and sustained success Luke Combs has since signing his first recording contract just two years after moving to Nashville,” said Kyle Young, CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. “He has earned a career-defining string of #1 singles, set new benchmarks on the music charts, won more than a dozen major country music industry awards since 2016 and sold out stadiums around the world.”

“Once I decided I wanted to do music as a career, it didn’t matter if it was for 100 people or 1,000 people, I just wanted to be playing Country Music for anyone who would listen,” said Luke Combs. “If I could have enough fans to call it a job, I was set. Other than that, I never dreamed of being featured in the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, much less having my own exhibit; that was beyond my wildest dreams. But honestly, it’s all a credit to my fans, family, songwriters and team. I have only made it to where I am today because of them, and this honor is one of my most humbling yet. At my core I love Country Music and this exhibit is as prestigious of an honor as it gets.”

The exhibit will include stage wear, tour memorabilia, manuscripts, set lists, instruments, photographs, posters, childhood memorabilia and more. Examples of items to be displayed include:

  • Martin GPCPA4 Sapele acoustic guitar Combs used extensively at his early performances, 2012–2014. When he moved to Nashville, Combs gave the instrument to his friend and fellow performer Adam Church.
  • Playbill from Combs’ leading role as Nathan Detroit in the musical “Guys and Dolls” during his senior year at A. C. Reynolds High School, Asheville, North Carolina.
  • CD-R of the three songs recorded for Combs’s debut EP, The Way She Rides, signed by Combs and Adam Church and given to Church’s parents. Combs wrote on the paper sleeve, “To the Church’s / Y’all rock SO hard!”
  • Columbia PFG shirt and Swamp Assassin ball cap Combs wore in the 2016 music video for “Hurricane.”
  • Manuscript of “Six Feet Apart,” co-written by Combs, Brent Cobb and Rob Snyder on April 14, 2020.
  • Dale Earnhardt commemorative leather jacket Combs wore in honor of the famed stock car racer and team owner when he performed at Daytona International Speedway prior to the start of the NASCAR Daytona 500, Feb. 14, 2021. Earnhardt was killed on the final lap of the Daytona 500 in 2001.
  • Jersey that Combs wore when he was a member of the Rockets football team at A. C. Reynolds High School.
  • Dollar bill Combs kept as a memento from his first paying gig at Boone’s Parthenon Café, where the cover charge was $1.
  • Crosley Dansette portable record player Combs used to share his recording of “Beautiful Crazy” with Nicole Hocking, now his wife, for the first time.

In support of the exhibition, Combs will participate in a songwriter round in the museum’s CMA Theater on Thursday, July 11, at 2:30 p.m. During the program, Combs will be joined by four of his songwriting collaborators — Ray Fulcher, James McNair, Drew Parker and Rob Williford — to share the stories behind and perform some of the songs they have written together. Tickets will be available here on Friday, May 17 at 10 a.m. Central.

Growing up in North Carolina, Combs enjoyed singing from a young age. His parents encouraged his innate talent by taking him to concerts — his first was a Vince Gill show with his mom and grandmother — and buying him a guitar, which he stopped playing after only a few lessons, when he was in middle school. Combs joined several school choirs and was cast in four school musicals while growing up. While attending Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina, he studied criminal justice, played rugby and sang in an a cappella group.

During the summer after his junior year, when he was feeling frustrated and uncertain of his future, Combs’ mother reminded him of the guitar in his closet and told him Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw learned to play when they were his age. So, Combs spent his free time teaching himself to play the instrument.

Back in Boone for his senior year, Combs began performing around town and building an online following with clips of himself singing country and R&B covers — including Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car” — and original songs that he posted on YouTube and Vine, a short-lived platform for six-second videos.

Combs visited Nashville in January 2014 to record his debut EP, The Way She Rides, and permanently moved to the area that September, at age 24. He signed with a booking agent within a year and filled small rooms throughout the Southeast with fans who had discovered him online. After independently releasing three EPs, and with buzz building around him in part due to his song “Hurricane,” Combs signed a record deal with River House Artists and Sony Music Nashville in October 2016, two years after moving to Nashville.

“Hurricane” earned Combs his first country radio #1 in May 2017. His debut album from the same year, This One’s for You, which included “Hurricane,” spent 50 weeks atop the country albums chart, tying Shania Twain’s record for most weeks at #1. In 2019, Combs became the first artist to top the Billboard Country Airplay chart with his first five singles — and then extended the record to 13 consecutive #1 songs. Through April 2024, he has amassed a total of 16 solo Billboard Country Airplay chart-toppers.

After playing small shows in bars, clubs and theaters for several years, Combs began headlining shows in front of thousands in arenas and amphitheaters in 2019. His sold-out 2023 world tour took him to stadiums throughout North America and arenas in Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

Combs keeps a close circle of songwriting collaborators. Like him, many were unproven talents when they first crossed paths in Nashville. When his first four singles topped the country radio chart in 2017 and 2018, the songs’ nine co-writers all earned their first #1 hits. Among those songwriters was Ray Fulcher, who has written more than two dozen of Combs’s songs, including six #1s. Dan Isbell, James McNair, Randy Montana, Jonathan Singleton and Rob Williford are also mainstays in the writing group.

Combs has also written with other artists, including a duet with Miranda Lambert, “Outrunnin’ Your Memory,” and a collaboration with Billy Strings, “The Great Divide,” that they wrote with Wyatt Durrette. Songs written by Combs have been recorded by Gabby Barrett (“Dance Like No One’s Watching”), Zac Brown Band (“Out in the Middle”) and Carly Pearce and Lee Brice, whose duet “I Hope You’re Happy Now” is Combs’ first chart-topper as a songwriter only.

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum collects, preserves and interprets country music and its history for the education and entertainment of diverse audiences. In exhibitions, publications, digital media and educational programs, the museum explores the cultural importance and enduring beauty of the art form. The museum is operated by the Country Music Foundation, a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) educational organization chartered by the state of Tennessee in 1964. The museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, and is among the most-visited history museums in the U.S. The Country Music Foundation operates Historic RCA Studio B, Hatch Show Print poster shop, CMF Records, the Frist Library and Archive and CMF Press. Museum programs are supported in part by Metropolitan Nashville Arts Commission and Tennessee Arts Commission.

More information about the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is available at www.countrymusichalloffame.org or by calling (615) 416-2001.

Rediscovering Mr. T’s Inspirational Legacy: “Be Somebody or Be Somebody’s Fool” Album From 1984

Released in 1984, “Be Somebody or Be Somebody’s Fool” is an iconic album by the legendary Mr. T, blending motivational messages with vibrant hip-hop and R&B beats. This unique collection is designed to inspire and uplift young audiences, encouraging them to pursue their dreams, build self-confidence, and stand up against bullying. Each track is infused with Mr. T’s unmistakable charisma and powerful presence, offering practical life lessons wrapped in catchy rhythms and memorable lyrics. Over three decades later, the album remains a testament to Mr. T’s enduring influence as a cultural icon and role model, continuing to inspire new generations with its timeless wisdom and infectious energy.

My Next Read: “Vibe: The Sound and Feeling of Black Life in the American South” by Corey J. Miles

Where exactly does the South begin and end? Current maps are too rigid to account for the ways Black people have built the South while being simultaneously excluded from it. Drawing from the different ways Black artists in the 2-5-2 area code in North Carolina use “vibe” as a mode of knowing and communication, author Corey J. Miles illustrates how Black feeling and unfeeling offer entry points into the contemporary South that challenge static and monolithic notions of the region. Placing the local artists in conversation with other southern cultural creators such as 2 Chainz, Rod Wave, and Rapsody, these ethnographic narratives demonstrate that there are multiple Souths, with overlapping and distinct commitments to working through pain, sound, and belonging.

In Vibe: The Sound and Feeling of Black Life in the American South, Miles narrates how southern Black sound, feeling, and being is constantly policed, surveilled, and criminalized. In doing so, he re-narrates the region as the “carceral South,” to capture the ways people in the South and beyond can feel the emotional weight of the criminalization of Blackness. Pain music, a subgenre of trap music, is used to take the listener to moments of violence to allow them to hear the desires, anger, and silences that bind Black life in community. Through conceptions of ratchet, hood, and ghetto, Black artists turn away from respectable images and unmap the South. In trap music, they move the South to a space where multiple modes of being find respect and care.

Subaru Makes SiriusXM Standard Across Entire Model Year 2025 Vehicle Lineup

SiriusXM today announced that Subaru has expanded the installation of SiriusXM to make the audio entertainment offering a standard feature beginning with its entire model year 2025 vehicle lineup in the United States.

“We are excited to continue expanding our relationship with Subaru by making SiriusXM a standard feature across their entire lineup of vehicles,” said Gail Berger, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Automotive Partnerships, SiriusXM. “Every Subaru customer will now have the opportunity to experience and enjoy SiriusXM’s extensive lineup of ad-free music channels, plus live sports, news, entertainment and comedy programming in their new vehicle.”

SiriusXM’s standard availability in Subaru follows the introduction of SiriusXM with 360L to Subaru’s vehicle lineup earlier this year. SiriusXM with 360L combines satellite and streaming content delivery into a single, cohesive in-vehicle entertainment experience, which provides drivers and their passengers with more content, better discovery, and a more personalized listening experience. For more information about SiriusXM with 360L in Subaru, click here.

Newly purchased or leased Subaru vehicles in the United States receive a four-month trial subscription to SiriusXM that delivers SiriusXM’s full lineup of varied content, plus access at home and on the go through the SiriusXM app on connected devices and speakers.

SiriusXM is home to hundreds of expertly-curated, ad-free music channels across all genres, decades, and moods as well as the must-hear moments in sports, news, entertainment, comedy, and more. From one-of-a-kind channels by some of the world’s top musicians to first-listens and exclusive performances from emerging artists and bands, SiriusXM presents the perfect soundtrack for any moment. SiriusXM brings fans closer to their favorite sport by offering the most extensive lineup of live pro and college events, plus programming that delivers reactions and analysis from experts and insiders. Subscribers also stay informed and entertained with the latest in news and politics, entertainment, comedy, and beyond with celebrity interviews, iconic hosts, trusted opinions, non-stop laughs, and so much more, available only on SiriusXM.

For more information on all the programming that SiriusXM offers, and all the ways subscribers can listen, visit SiriusXM.com

A Wild and Chaotic Ad for the Captain Lou Albano Wrestling Hotline From 1987

In this wild and chaotic ad from 1987, Captain Lou Albano promotes his wrestling hotline with his signature larger-than-life personality. The commercial is a whirlwind of energy, featuring Albano’s boisterous charm and colorful antics, making it an unforgettable piece of wrestling nostalgia. Fans are invited to call in for exclusive wrestling news and updates, all delivered with Albano’s unique flair.

My Next Read: “Hip-Hop Is History” by Questlove

This is a book only Questlove could have written: a perceptive and personal reflection on the first half-century of hip-hop.

When hip-hop first emerged in the 1970s, it wasn’t expected to become the cultural force it is today. But for a young Black kid growing up in a musical family in Philadelphia, it was everything. He stayed up late to hear the newest songs on the radio. He saved his money to buy vinyl as soon as it landed. He even started to try to make his own songs. That kid was Questlove, and decades later, he is a six-time Grammy Award–winning musician, an Academy Award–winning filmmaker, a New York Times bestselling author, a producer, an entrepreneur, a cofounder of one of hip-hop’s defining acts (the Roots), and the genre’s unofficial in-house historian.

In this landmark book, Hip-Hop Is History, Questlove skillfully traces the creative and cultural forces that made and shaped hip-hop, highlighting both the forgotten but influential gems and the undeniable chart-topping hits―and weaves it all together with the stories no one else knows. It is at once an intimate, sharply observed story of a cultural revolution and a sweeping, grand theory of the evolution of the great artistic movement of our time. And Questlove, of course, approaches it with not only the encyclopedic fluency and passion of an obsessive fan but also the expertise and originality of an innovative participant.

Hip-hop is history, and also his history.

Edifier International Announces Stax Spirit S5 Wireless Planar Magnetic Headphones

Edifier International, the award-winning audio electronics designer, announces the STAX SPIRIT S5 Wireless Planar magnetic headphones.

In the 2012, Edifier acquired STAX Ltd., a company with over 80 years history, and a specialist in electrostatic headphones. The brand name “STAX” is almost considered the benchmark of electrostatic headphones. Inspired by STAX’s pursuance of high-fidelity music and craftsmanship in the field, the STAX SPIRIT brand was created as a high-end sub brand for Edifier headphone products with the aim of developing more high-quality products for audiophile users.

The STAX SPIRIT S5 are Planar magnetic headphones. Planar magnetic drivers are commonly found in Hi-Fi headphones and other high-end audio equipment. With their unique way of operation, planar magnetic drivers can represent a superior audio experience with rich details and impressive transient response. With solid innovation and advanced features, the STAX SPIRIT S5 packs upgraded planar magnetic drivers and the latest Bluetooth V5.4 technology into a compact and portable form-factor. The 2μm thin film and 2nd gen EqualMass wiring technology generate a performance comparable to legendary electrostatic headphones.

Dynamic driver reproduces sound with a cone-size diaphragm driven by a voice coil submerged in a circular magnetic field. The diaphragm has to be stiff enough to avoid partitioning during vibration, especially in high frequency band. The whole motor system is also heavy to move. The planar magnetic driver, on the other hand, features a flat, thin diaphragm with embedded wires, suspended in the magnetic gap. This design allows the diaphragm to move in a piston-like manner across the whole frequency spectrum. The diaphragm is light and has good transient response, which makes the planar driver a much better choice for sound reproduction by nature compared to dynamic drivers.

In other headphones with planar magnetic drivers, it is common practice to address the uneven distribution of the magnetic field by using wires of varying widths on the diaphragm, aiming to achieve uniform driving force across the entire diaphragm, ensuring consistent performance.

Edifier take this approach a step further with EqualMass. By connecting a different number of wires with the same width in parallel, EqualMass achieves a uniform driving force for all parts of diaphragm while keeping its weight evenly distributed. This allows the diaphragm to move back and forth with the same motion and momentum, reducing harmonic distortion to almost zero.  In the 2nd generation of EqualMass wiring, Edifier introduce a symmetric wiring structure, further enhancing the diaphragm’s stability across the entire frequency spectrum.

To ensure uniformity in the magnetic field strength distribution across each planar magnetic driver, Edifier have developed a proprietary automatic toolset for calibrating and compensating the magnet circuitry during production. This meticulous process guarantees that every set of S5 headphones delivers sound fidelity identical to the original unit crafted by the designer.

In addition to LDAC and LHDC, the S5 supports all audio codecs under the Snapdragon Sound Technology Suite, including aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, and aptX Lossless. It achieves a bit rate of up to 1.2 Mbps in Bluetooth mode, delivering high resolution (24-bit/96kHz) and end to end low latency audio. It also supports the AAC codec, enhancing compatibility with a wider range of devices.

Thanks to aptX Adaptive codecs, the STAX SPIRIT S5 achieves end-to-end latency as low as 89ms in Bluetooth mode, synchronizing your audio experience with the action you see on the screen. This can provide a totally immersive gaming experience.

The S5 supports simultaneous connection to two Bluetooth audio devices. Whether it’s a mobile phone or a laptop, switching between devices is more convenient and seamless, allowing you to work and listen to music simultaneously.

Wrapped in genuine lambskin earpads and adorned with top-grain cowhide earcups, the S5 epitomizes elegance and refinement in both form and function. Crafted with the utmost attention to detail, its ergonomic design ensures a snug and secure fit, giving hours of uninterrupted enjoyment with no discomfort.

Download the EDIFIER ConneX App and you can select from three kinds of preset EQs and customize your personal EQ to suit your music style.

Price & Availability:

Currently, the STAX SPIRIT S5 is available for $499.99 on Amazon.com.

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That Eric Alper
6-time nominee for Publicist of the Year during Canadian Music Week, a 16-time JUNO Award winner overseeing PR campaigns, and have also been truly honoured to work with some of the biggest and most important artists of our time.

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