Merck Mercuriadis, Hipgnosis Songs founder and former Guns N’ Roses manager asks a simple question. Why are songwriters the lowest paid in the business?

Whoever built the music business, built it backwards. Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory is more sustainable for its chocolate workers. Santa’s elves are paid more than songwriters.

Mercuriadis notes: “In almost every other vocation in the world – and even in every other aspect of the entertainment business – the equivalent person to the songwriter would be amongst the highest paid… not the worst. How can this not be the case in music?”

Read his full open letter below
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Watch out for Tara Lynn Rye and her debut single Backroads. You’ll like if you love folk-pop that turns dark. The haunting video mirrors the track. She’s influenced by Fleetwood Mac, Lana Del Rey, John Mayer, and Lady Gaga.

Rye says this about the video.  “An ancient witch who is underestimated by men because of her appearance, who lurks in the shadows until she wants to have some fun, who could burn the whole town down if she wanted to but instead spends her time teaching her suitors a lesson. She shows men that women are so much wiser and more powerful than their silly idea of us could ever be. Creating her was wildly cathartic for me and I hope she is for the women watching as well.”

Watch out for Adored by Charli Lucas. I liked it right away, an upbeat chill track. It’s reminiscent to Benee’s Supalonely.

The Sydney artist started releasing music in the lockdown last year and made some noise with the debut, self-produced single ‘Cigarette Breath’.

“My producer REGI worked on this track while I sat in his bedroom with a notebook and poured my heart out over two sessions. This particular one hits hard as I feel like it says ‘POV: you have destructive tendencies but make them seem cool” says Lucas.

‘Adored’ landed on Spotify’s playlists  ‘Global media Pop’ and ‘Fresh Finds’, and TikTok Songs & Chill Hits 2021’. Stream the track on KOAR’s Indie Invaders Playlist.

Nicki Minaj compares U.S. cancel culture to Communist China.

Nicki Minaj came out skeptical of Pfizer’s vaccine and the media pounced on her. The rapper and CNN’s Joy Reid got into a pissing match. Late night comedians (I say that loosely) also joined in the attacks.

While she was fending off her critics, Minaj insists she has a right to question government authority when it comes to mandates and science.

“You should be able to question about anything you’re putting inside your body” says Minaj.

She said women scrutinize unobjectionable items like cosmetics and beauty products including wig glue.

“But you can’t innocently ask question about something going in your body?” says Minaj. “I remember going to China and they were telling us you cannot speak out against the people in power there,  and I remember all of us thinking, oh, ok, we understand and we respect the laws here and that it’s so different from where we live.”

Nicki warns that cancel culture has poisoned the U.S.

“But don’t y’all see what’s FN happening?” she said. “Don’t y’all see that we are living now in that time, where people will turn their back on you for not agreeing? People will isolate you if you simply speak and ask a question.”

Watch out for Natalie Shay and the new track ‘New Wave’. The song is reminiscence of La Roux’s “Bulletproof”, one of my favorite upbeat pop songs in 2010.

Her previous single ‘Medicine Boy‘ found itself on Spotify’s New Pop UK, Wholesome and New Music Friday playlists.  She was also featured in Rolling Stone, and played on BBC Introducing London.

She sold out headline gig at Oslo Hackney and has an upcoming headline show at Camden Assembly (24 Nov). The 21 year old indie pop artist hails from North London and has performed The Roundhouse, The 100 club, and Ronnie Scotts. Stream the track on KOAR’s Indie Invaders Playlist.