Music

Eurovision Song Contest reaches its final with geopolitical tensions

MALMO, Sweden (AP) — It’s time for many people to don sequins and spangles — and for others to pick up protest banners and Palestinian flags — for Saturday’s final…

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Music streaming was 2022’s top moneymaker for songwriters, composers

Oct 26 (Reuters) - Streaming became the largest source of income for composers and songwriters in 2022 and helped boost their collections by more than a quarter to 10.83 billion…

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Shakira owes $7 million in second Spanish tax fraud case, prosecutor says

A Spanish prosecutor has lodged a second tax claim against Colombian singer Shakira, accusing her of defrauding the state of 6.6 million euros ($7.0 million) in 2018, according to a request…

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Spotify raises prices for its premium plans across several countries

Spotify Technology has raised prices for its premium plans across several countries including the United States and United Kingdom, as the music-streaming company looks to boost profitability in an uncertain economy.…

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Spotify plans a more expensive subscription tier – Bloomberg News

Music streaming platform Spotify Technology SPOT.N is planning a more expensive subscription option that is expected to include high-fidelity audio, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday. The new tier, called "Supremium" internally, will be the…

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Spotify to trim 6% of workforce

Music streaming firm Spotify Technology said on Monday it plans to cut 6% of its workforce, or roughly 600 jobs, adding to a glut of layoffs in the technology sector…

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Singer Jerry Lee Lewis dies aged 87

Jerry Lee Lewis has died at the age of 87. The rock and roll pioneer died of natural causes at his home in DeSoto County, Mississippi. Zach Farnum, a rep…

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Music festivals in UK raise ticket prices as costs soar

British music fans expressed dismay this week as Glastonbury announced that the cost of tickets for next year’s event will rise from £265 to £335. Emily Eavis, co-organiser of the…

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Spanish court formally sends Shakira to trial for tax fraud

A Spanish court on Tuesday formally ordered Colombian superstar Shakira to stand trial on accusations that she failed to pay 14.5 million euros ($14.31 million) in income taxes, a court document released…

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Lola Lennox: I was nervous becoming a musician like my mother Annie Lennox

Lola Lennox felt insecure about following her mother into the music industry. The 31-year-old singer/songwriter is the daughter of Eurythmics star Annie Lennox, and she has admitted that the idea…

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EBU confirms UK to host Eurovision 2023

The Eurovision Song Contest will take place in the United Kingdom next year. This has been confirmed by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and the BBC. The organisers decided that…

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UK music subscriptions in decline as households seek savings

LONDON, (Reuters) - Britons cancelled over 1 million music subscriptions in the first quarter as a worsening cost of living crisis forced them to make savings, industry data showed. Pessimism in British…

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Shakira loses appeal to avoid trial in Spanish tax fraud case

A Spanish court has dismissed an appeal from Colombian singer Shakira and ratified a prior decision, which saw "sufficient evidence" to send her to stand trial over alleged tax fraud,…

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Vangelis, composer of ‘Chariots of Fire’ score, dies at 79

Vangelis, the Greek composer whose rousing electronic theme music for the Oscar-winning "Chariots of Fire" was one of the best-known filmscores of the 1980s, has died at the age of…

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EU regulators to send extra antitrust charge to Apple in music streaming probe

EU antitrust regulators are preparing an additional charge against Apple in an investigation triggered by a complaint from Spotify , as EU enforcers strengthen their case, a person familiar with the matter…

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Bob Dylan sells master recordings to Sony Music

Sony Music Entertainment said on Monday it has acquired Bob Dylan's catalog of recorded music, including his performances of such popular songs as "Blowin' in the Wind" and "Knockin' on Heaven's Door,"…

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Nicki Minaj pulls out of Saudi Arabia concert after critics say it event clashed with her LGBT+ support

U.S rapper Nicki Minaj this week pulled out of a planned concert in Saudi Arabia, where same-sex acts attract the death penalty, after critics said it clashed with her support for…

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Free at last, Britney Spears calls end of conservatorship ‘best day ever’

LOS ANGELES, Nov 12 (Reuters) - Pop star Britney Spears on Friday regained control of her personal life and her money when a judge ended a 13-year conservatorship that became…

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UB 40 founding member Astro dies after short illness

UB40 founding member Astro has died at the age of 64. The musician, whose real name is Terence Wilson, passed away after a short illness. Sky News

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Spotify to hire hundreds to drive ad sales in Europe, Australia, Canada

Spotify is planning to hire hundreds of staff to boost its advertising sales in Europe and elsewhere, as the music streaming service looks to increase revenue from customers who don't pay…

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Dance music events awakening in Netherlands

Techno fans dance during the performance of DJ Reinier Zonneveld during the techno event Awakenings, at the Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE), in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 15 October 2021 (issued 16…

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Nevermind 30 years on – how Nirvana’s second album tilted the world on its axis

Dean Biron PhD in Cultural Studies; teaches in School of Justice, Queensland University of Technology For many of us back in 1991, it felt as if the planet tilted slightly…

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Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts dies at 80

LONDON (Reuters) - Charlie Watts, widely regarded as one of the coolest men in rock during his nearly 60 years as a drummer with the Rolling Stones, has died peacefully, surrounded by…

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ZZ Top bassist Dusty Hill dies aged 72

ZZ Top bassist Dusty Hill has died. He was 72. The band's Billy Gibbons and Frank Beard issued a statement saying he would be “greatly missed”. Hill had been with the…

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Raffaella Carra, Italian singer and TV presenter, dies at 78

Raffaella Carra, one of Italy's best-loved singers and television presenters, who became almost as famous as a symbol of sexual liberation in Spain and South America as in her own country,…

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EU top court hands win to YouTube in user copyright fight

Europe's top court on Tuesday said that Google's YouTube and other online platforms are not liable for copyright-infringing works uploaded by users onto their platforms under certain conditions. The case marks the…

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Sinead O’Connor announces retirement from music

Sinead O’Connor has announced her retirement from her music career in a series of tweets on Friday night. “This is to announce my retirement from touring and from working in the…

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Måneskin are clean – EBU confirms there was no drug use at Eurovision Song Contest

A drug test voluntarily undertaken earlier today by the lead singer of the Italian band Måneskin returned a negative result seen by the EBU. Following the allegations of drug use…

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In Pictures – Destiny’s Performance during Eurovision Grand Final

Destiny from Malta with the song 'Je Me Casse' performs during the Grand Final of the 65th annual Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) at the Rotterdam Ahoy arena, in Rotterdam, The…

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Italy, France or Malta? – Eurovision Song Contest Final

Tonight is the night, for some countries more than others. However after the pandemic forced many in isolation and restriction, this year's Eurovision, possibly entertained more people than usual. Certain…

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Eurovision Final Running Order announced

The running order for the Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final was finalised once the last group of countries was decided in the second semi-final on Thursday night. The 20 qualifying…

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Franco Battiato dies aged 76

The Italian singer-songwriter, composer and filmmaker Franco Battiato has died in Sicily aged 76. Battiato died at his home in Milo where he retired in 2019. Born in 1945, the…

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Coldplay to release Higher Power on May 7

Coldplay will release their new single, ‘Higher Power’, on May 7, after fans managed to decipher the the letter-like symbols posted on cryptic billboards around the world Coldplay will release…

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Ed Sheeran working on new music

Ed Sheeran has been spotted filming a new music video after an 18-month hiatus from the industry Ed Sheeran is planning his music comeback. The 30-year-old singer has been on…

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Italian singer Milva dies at 82

Milva, one of the greatest Italian voices passed away. She was 82 years old and died in her home, with the her secretary Edith and daughter, art critic Martina Corgnati…

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Demi Lovato had ‘anxiety attack’ after watching Dancing with the Devil

Demi Lovato was overwhelmed after watching her ‘Dancing with the Devil’ documentary series for the first time. The 28-year-old star candidly opened up about her struggles with addiction and mental…

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Rapper, actor DMX, five-time Billboard chart topper, dead at 50

NEW YORK (Reuters) - American rapper and actor Earl Simmons, known by the stage name DMX or Dark Man X, died on Friday, People magazine said, after suffering a heart…

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Flirting with drugs, Dancing with the Devil – Demi Lovato recreates her drug overdose experience in powerful video

Demi Lovato has dropped the music video for her newest single, “Dancing With the Devil,” which features a harrowing recreation of the events of her drug overdose. The title track off of her album “Dancing…

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Ronan Keating’s wife Storm rushed into surgery following after being diagnosed with Cauda Equina Syndrome

Ronan Keating's wife Storm was rushed to hospital for emergency surgery on her spine after being diagnosed with Cauda Equina Syndrome. In a candid Instagram post, the mum-of-two revealed she…

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Sir Elton John marks 74th birthday with digital Jewel Box release

Sir Elton John has released 'Scarecrow' and five other rareties from 'Elton: Jewel Box' digitally for the first time. The music legend has marked his 74th birthday (25.03.21) with the…

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Tina Turner bows out of public life with emotional documentary

Tina Turner opens up about her troubled past and living with PTSD in new documentary “TINA”, a film the soul and rock star says is the final act of her…

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Music duo Daft Punk quits after three decades

Parisian electronic music duo Daft Punk have apparently announced they are calling it quits after almost three decades. Pitchfork reports that, asked if the duo were finished, their longtime publicist…

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Marilyn Manson dropped by record label after abuse allegations

Rock singer Marilyn Manson was dropped by his record label on Monday after "Westworld" TV and film actress Evan Rachel Wood said that he "horrifically abused me for years." Wood,…

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You’ll never walk alone – Gerry Marsden of Gerry and the Pacemakers died at 78

LONDON (Reuters) - Gerry Marsden, lead singer of the British band Gerry and the Pacemakers whose version of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” became the thunderously sung anthem for Liverpool Football…

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Whoopi Goldberg thanks Patrick Swayze for Ghost role

Whoopi Goldberg landed her iconic role in ‘Ghost’ after Patrick Swayze gave producers an ultimatum. The 65-year-old star was asked not to audition to play psychic Oda Mae Brown in the…

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Robbie Williams pens Covid-19 Christmas song

The 46-year-old singer/songwriter's new track, 'Can't Stop Christmas', references the 2020 pandemic but says nothing will stop the festive celebrations this year. Lines include: "Oh what a miserable year, but…

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Adele returns to London to work on new music

Adele has returned to London to work on her new music. The 'Hello' hitmaker is said to be back on British soil as she is "totally focused" on her new…

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Gianna Nannini turns 66

Gianna Nannini is celebrating her 66th birthday. She started her career in the mid 70s. During her career she released 20 albums, with the last one being "The difference" in…

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Italian musician and composer Ezio Bosso passes away

Italian musician and composer Ezio Bosso died on Friday May 15th in Bologna. Bosso, 48, has been suffering from a neurodegenerative disease since 2011. He initially continued to play the…

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L-aħħar bidwi f’Wied il-Għasel played by the Big Band Brothers is Malta’s selection in Spotify’s Europe Day playlist

L-aħħar bidwi f'Wied il-Għasel played by the Big Band Brothers is Malta’s selection in Spotify’s Europe Day playlist. Europe Day is celebrated on May 9th. The music streaming service, which…

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Rock band Queen and Adam Lambert launch new single ‘YOU are the Champions’ in tribute to frontline health workers

Rock band Queen and singer Adam Lambert are raising money for health workers fighting COVID-19 with new single ''You Are The Champions." British rock legends Queen have tweaked their classic…

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“Joy, bright spark of divinity and talent” Melania’s rendition of Ode to Joy makes it special in many ways

Over the past few days, our editorial team noticed what can be described an extraordinay feat by talented Melania, who will be turning four in a month’s time, where was…

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Rolling Stones release their first new song in eight years

The Rolling Stones have released their first new single in eight years, Living In A Ghost Town. The sparse blues track references the coronavirus crisis, with Sir Mick Jagger singing:…

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Where the Streets Have No Name …. Valletta

The Malta Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) is once more collaborating with the Valletta Cultural Agency (VCA) with the support of Bank of Valletta (BOV) on multiple audiovisual music productions - acting…

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Singer Pink, donates $1,000,000 to two emergency funds after recovered from Coronavirus

The singer Pink said that she has recently recovered from Covid-19, and announced that she is donating $500,000 each to two emergency funds helping tackle the outbreak. In a statement…

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A collective individual effort as a tribute to Malta’s heroes

Members of St Paul Metropolitan Orchestra and choir ‘came together’ during a stay at home period to play the National Anthem in tribute to healthcare workers on the frontline of…

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Polish composer Krzysztof Penderecki has died, aged 86

The classical world has lost one of the great composers, and Poland is mourning one of its most passionate music educators and cultural ambassadors. He was born in Dębica in…

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