Look out for London based artist Marie Dahlstrom. She just released the track Like Sand (feat Beau Diako) which comes off her soon to be released debut album.  She mashes R&B, soul and jazz. I like it because it’s not pop, it’s experimental, with no big hooks, but tons of vibe. Listen to the album in the background and let it do its work. She’s won support from blogs like Complex, Line of Best Fit, EarMilk, and Wonderland – and playlisted on Spotify’s Bedroom Jams, R&B UK, and Spotify and Chill. Give it a stream.

When it comes to childhood fame, nobody experienced it more than Justin Bieber. Having been in the spotlight since his teens, Bieber is well aware of the effects of fame. The new teen sensation is Billie Eilish and Bieber wants to protect her from that world.
Speaking on Zane Lowe’s Beats 1 Show, Bieber said: “Let her do her thing. If she ever needs me I’m going to be here for her.” Check out the video.

Up & coming Plymouth indie act The Native just headlined Plymouth Pavilions. This is venue that helped kicked off Oasis, The 1975, and Ed Sheeran.  Speaking of Oasis, they do have traces of the iconic Manchester act. Maybe that’s why they stand out a bit and they really do with the track Otherside. The 5 piece has been rallying up local support from BBC Introducing while landing festival slots and supporting Bastille. You can check them out at The Fiddler in London on 3/19. Give the track of a stream.

Interim Recording Academy president Harvey Mason Jr. sent a memo to voting members addressing concerns that were made by former Recording Academy CEO Deborah Dugan.

General counsel, Greenberg Traurig’s Joel Katz, is “being independently investigated by a law firm with no previous ties to the Academy,”.
The Recording Academy was also criticized for paying more than $15 million in legal fees, including a one-time $5 million bonus paid to Greenberg Traurig for negotiating a  $500 million deal. “Paying millions of dollars to lawyers is well in line with industry standards,” says Mason.
Mason also noted that the Grammy’s aren’t rigged despite the claims made by Dugan.

Her outrageous assertion that the Grammys are “rigged” is utterly false. We do realize that the nomination and voting process needs to be better understood so we have taken steps to make it more public and to educate people about how it works to preserve fairness and protect Nominations Review Committee members from lobbying and pressure. In addition, as always, our awards process will be reviewed at the upcoming April Awards and Nominations Committee meeting.

Lewis Capaldi let us know that his massive piano power ballad ‘Someone You Loved’ hit one billion streams. He posted this on his instagram:
“And of course when I say OUR achievement I mean MY achievement how dare you try to piggy back on my success you bastards ??It was all me, all along, no help from anyone and another thing I have decided that no one is allowed to make eye contact with me anymore unless they too have 1 billion streams on @spotify so don’t even try it. I am a genius, goodbye”
You have to love his sense of humor.