If the pandemic wasn’t bad enough for touring artists now we could be losing another great promotional avenue. It’s Ellen DeGeneres who is in the middle of a PR storm.

Warner launched an investigation into “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” after the release of a Buzzfeed News article. Other media outlets such as the LA Times and The NY Times also picked up the story which had  staffers assert that the atmosphere of the daytime talk show behind the scenes is one of racism, fear, and intimidation.
You see folks, it’s a tough time for high profile figures. More and more we have to be self aware of our actions as well as our staffers. Social media leaves a digital foot print that can’t be erased. We have people that will take a blurb a soundbite and spin their own narrative.  If it picks up steam then the dam breaks. The flurry of negative press begins and the A-list pals will desert you. They don’t want to be caught in a storm and it becomes everyone for themselves. It becomes the soldier die alone scenario.

Before Governor Andrew Cuomo prepares to take his own victory tour on the road after he spared the lives of New Yorkers from covid he has some things to tidy up. That’s investigating the EDM duo The Chainsmokers for playing a outdoor concert. It’s been reported that while commuting in a subway, a concerned citizen showed the governor a video he was appalled by videos showing crowds standing close together at a Hamptons concert over the weekend. Other witnesses saw a crowd of people who were socially distancing with masks. Of course, we know today that events are widely open for interpretation. Regardless, Cuomo says “We have no tolerance for the illegal reckless endangerment of public health,”.
Now, it will be interesting to see how this all plays out. Because some notable figures were also billed at this festivity. Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon and Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman’s band performed.
Funnily enough, the charity event which was billed Safe and Sound is being called not safe, not sound. The Goldman Sachs CEO and Andrew Cuomo can duke it out and take it to the streets while Kanye keeps the score.

NYC/South Africa Lee Cole will release a new single Pink Dragons next month. The latest release I Don’t Wanna Wait is still gaining traction having landed on several playlist after getting picked up on South Africa radio. It landed on Spotify’s South Africa Viral 50 as well as Spotify’s  New From NYC: Pop New York Pop,  and Apple’s Heartbreak Playlist.  The soon to be released Pink Dragons falls in the same vein of this sad boy pop songs.

A slew of artists signed off on a letter that is demanding politicians refrain from using their songs during campaign rallies.

Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler, Lionel Richie, Sia, Mick Jagger, and Lorde are demanding that politicians seek “consent” from artists and songwriters before using their songs in a campaign.
“Being dragged unwillingly into politics in this way can compromise an artist’s personal values while disappointing and alienating fans — with great moral and economic cost. For artists that do choose to engage politically in campaigns or other contexts, this kind of unauthorized public use confuses their message and undermines their effectiveness,” the letter said. “Like all other citizens, artists have the fundamental right to control their work and make free choices regarding their political expression and participation. Using their work for political purposes without their consent fundamentally breaches those rights – an invasion of the most hallowed, even sacred personal interests.”
It’s a crazy world. It’s a strange world. The environment is becoming more poisonous by the day. Music will prevail.

Check out the new track Karmic Lemonade by Velvet Starlings. Indie rock fans could love this. This is the second track from their Love Everything, Love Everyone EP which was recorded at CAVE Studios in Echo Park and mastered by Brian Lucey (Black Keys, Arctic Monkeys, Beck, Royal Blood). The band is made up of Christian Gisborne, a 17 year old singer-songwriter. Drawing comparisons to Arctic Monkeys, White Stripes or Ty Segall the band has toured internationally garnering support from BBC, Amazing Radio ,KROQ, Sirius XM and performed shows at Hi Hat (L.A.), The Hotel Café (L.A.) Casbah (San Diego) The Basement (Nashville). as well as legendary Cavern club (UK) & King Tuts (Scotland) Give it a stream.