Do you know when you hear the song and you think it could have universal mass appeal? This is the track that hit me – Next Year by Running Lights. If this band doesn’t make the song a smash, then somebody else needs to have a go. But I think the band is up for the job because I’m not sure another artist can deliver the track like guitarist/singer Mike Squillante. The band is made up 3 brothers. They’ve performed roles as touring musicians with artists like Melanie Martinez and Gnash. In 2018 they signed a deal with LA-based IDAP Music, home to William Wiik Larsen (Nico and Vinz, Kygo , Florida Georgia Line ). Check out the track on our Indie Invaders Playlist.

Deborah Dugan takes her story on TV after after filing lawsuit against Recording Academy with Grammy allegations. She seemed a bit hesitant when Good Morning America’s George Stephanopoulos asked her if the Grammys were fixed. The former ousted female CEO did say there was a conflict of interest.
Without naming the artist, she did say “This artist was actually permitted to sit on the ‘Song of the Year’ nomination committee. Incredibly, this artist is also represented by a member of the Board.”  This has become a PR nightmare for the award show.

FULL INTERVIEW: "I have evidence…"

Ousted #Grammys CEO Deborah Dugan speaks out on bombshell allegations of “vote rigging” in the Recording Academy. https://t.co/KIQ3IyMxRG pic.twitter.com/CUanT3XuMO

— Good Morning America (@GMA) January 23, 2020

The talented Em Rossi recently signed with Sony Music Germany. Having been dubbed as an artist you need to know it was only a matter of time before she was snatched up. Of course it wasn’t without hard work and releasing original songs on YouTube that garnered millions of streams. The numbers on the popular social singing app SMULE was the tipping point. She has grown over 500k fans on the app and has become SMULE’s biggest partner artist. See? Why didn’t you think of that. Instead you’re on TikTok relentlessly trying to rack up followers.

Now we have Shawn Mendes breaking out on Vine, Lil Nas X getting signed off of Tik Tok success, Troy Sivan breaking on YouTube, and Em Rossi on SMULE. She had other offers, but she felt Sony was the best fit. Em Rossi offers more than a beat and a topline vocal and since America is a bit ‘beat conscious’, she’s gonna make a presence in Europe before she hits America hard.

What’s going on with the Grammys? Now, Dugan filed a charge of discrimination alleging that she was booted for attempting to drain a good ol’ boys club riddled with sexual harassment, corruption and self-dealing. You can read the full suit here. In the suit has attorney Joel Katz and his firm Greenberg Traurig, getting paid “exorbitant” fees and that her predecessor, Neil Portnow, “allegedly” raped a female recording artist, which was “the reason for his exit”. We’re hearing everyone is on edge. The saga continues…..

Oslo’s indie pop artist CELIIN drops Nasty Human, and I like it. She has attitude and so does the song. Think Billie Eilish goes pop mixed with rock. The new track is a departure from the debut art pop track Leonardo. The track has been playlisted on Spotify’s Brand New Chill, New Music Friday Norway, Alternative Pop and Indie Invaders. Check out the video here.