Tove Lo says a rock star is expected to act like a mess, sound like a mess & look like a mess. People don’t expect you to show up on time and be professional. But when you’re a pop star, you have to do all that, look perfect and be a role model.

Pop stars like Taylor Swift spend hours putting on makeup before performing a show or even going to the gym. She is always anticipating a camera moment from either a fan or a paparazzi and she can never look a mess.

Apple hits 10 million subscribers in just 4 weeks. The struggling streaming service Tidal only has a couple of hundred thousand sign ups since its launch 5 months ago. But Madonna defended Jay Z’s Tidal & tells the press this is just the beginning. Tidal has a tough road ahead even with celebrities pushing it. Apple is a fierce competitor.

Taylor Swift approached Apple with concern for its 3 month free music trial & not the music labels. Is there more to the story? It doesn’t add up.

Two weeks after Apple released its new $10-a-month streaming service, the pop star wrote the company a public letter on her Tumblr, explaining why she’s withholding her latest album,1989, from the subscription-based platform.

“I’m sure you are aware that Apple Music will be offering a free 3 month trial to anyone who signs up for the service. I’m not sure you know that Apple Music will not be paying writers, producers, or artists for those three months. I find it to be shocking, disappointing, and completely unlike this historically progressive and generous company.”

“These are not the complaints of a spoiled, petulant child. These are the echoed sentiments of every artist, writer and producer in my social circles who are afraid to speak up publicly because we admire and respect Apple so much. We simply do not respect this particular call.

I realize that Apple is working towards a goal of paid streaming. I think that is beautiful progress. We know how astronomically successful Apple has been and we know that this incredible company has the money to pay artists, writers and producers for the 3 month trial period… even if it is free for the fans trying it out.

Three months is a long time to go unpaid, and it is unfair to ask anyone to work for nothing. I say this with love, reverence, and admiration for everything else Apple has done. I hope that soon I can join them in the progression towards a streaming model that seems fair to those who create this music. I think this could be the platform that gets it right.

But I say to Apple with all due respect, it’s not too late to change this policy and change the minds of those in the music industry who will be deeply and gravely affected by this. We don’t ask you for free iPhones. Please don’t ask us to provide you with our music for no compensation.”

1 Taylor Swift Bad Blood (feat. Kendrick Lamar) 25,554
2 Wiz Khalifa See You Again (feat. Charlie Puth) 22,197
3 WALK THE MOON Shut Up and Dance 20,709
4 Rachel Platten Fight Song 19,948
5 Omi Cheerleader (Felix Jaehn Remix Radio Edit) 19,159
6 Andy Grammer Honey, I’m Good. 18,916
7 Jason Derulo Want to Want Me 14,371
8 Fetty Wap Trap Queen 14,152
9 David Guetta Hey Mama (feat. Nicki Minaj, Bebe Rexha & Afrojack) 13,285
10 Fifth Harmony Worth It (feat. Kid Ink) 12,755
11 Little Big Town Girl Crush 12,047
12 DJ Snake & AlunaGeorge You Know You Like It 11,482
13 Skrillex & Diplo Where Are Ü Now (with Justin Bieber) 10,899
14 Mark Ronson Uptown Funk (feat. Bruno Mars) 10,643
15 Silento Watch Me (Whip / Nae Nae) 10,562
16 Luke Bryan Kick the Dust Up 9,720
17 Major Lazer Lean On (feat. MØ & DJ Snake) 9,545
18 The Weeknd The Hills 9,311
19 Tove Lo Talking Body 8,812
20 Taylor Swift Bad Blood 8,561

BPI and Brit Awards chief executive, Geoff Taylor, said the figures showed the UK is a “creative powerhouse” & he is absolutely correct. British acts account for 1 in 7 albums sold worldwide with 13.7% of worldwide sales. Sales of albums by British artists rose in Canada, Australia, Italy and Sweden, as well as the US.

Kings of A&R recently featured new acts from the UK including Flight Brigade who released their new track Housefire.

Flight Brigade almost completed their debut album, co-produced by Gavin Monaghan (The Editors, Kings of Leon, Robert Plant) and mixed by Donald Clark (The Knife, Noah & The Whale, Muse) at Artillery Studios. The album is due for release in early Autumn. Flight Brigade have released the official music video for their upcoming single ‘Housefire’ which is set in the Welsh mountains and follows the story of a girl fleeing the haunting influence of her past. They have been confirmed for Bestival and Glastonbury Festival. Housefire has a haunting atmospheric vibe with a singable anthem.
clare@ccmusicpromotion.com, info@flightbrigade.com CONTINUE READING