Meanwhile, in the rest of the (music) world...

 

Let us try and take a global look at what the music news looked like in the past few days. While many musicians are getting involved in the fight against Russia / for Ukraine, Spotify’s Russia operations are effectively ending, Dolly Parton refused to be taken into consideration for inclusion in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Tekashi 6ix9ine claims he is nearing bankruptcy and Aretha Franklin’s granddaughter failed to qualify for American Idol…

• A new Ukraine fundraiser was organized in New York last week, featuring the great Patti Smith, Gogol Bordello (whose frontman Eugene Hutz was born in Ukraine) and Suzanne Vega. Yoko Ono and son Sean Lennon couldn’t be there but donated to the cause. This is only the latest such event designed to help Ukrainians in their uphill battle against Putin’s army: many other musicians already mobilized by canceling shows, setting up fundraiser and/or posting supportive messages on the Internet…
• Spotify, meanwhile, is effectively stopping operations in Russia. The company already closed its offices in the country earlier and is now working to handle the transition with its local team. The service, however, is still functioning — only not the premium version: as it happens, international sanctions now make it largely impossible for users to pay their subscription. In other words, Spotify has not discontinued its premium offering so much as it has vanished…
• Stateside, Dolly Parton announced her rather surprising decision to take her name out of consideration for this year’s induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The reason for that, it appears, is that she does not consider herself enough of a Rock & Roll musician to be included into that Hall. While many fans may differ, it is after all her call to make. Incidentally, it seems the episode gave her inspiration to actually release a Rock & Roll album. So it’s not all bad…
• Tekashi 6ix9ine is currently standing trial for a 2018 armed robbery which he did not take part in — but filmed. In court, the musician testified that his personal finances have not recovered from the incident: on the one hand, his royalties have been frozen since it took place, while new advances he is getting pale in comparison to former deals he was offered. He stated that he was contemplating bankruptcy were he to be found guilty. While that may in fact be true, it does not change the fact that the man took part in an assault…
• Aretha Franklin’s granddaughter Grace was a candidate on the new season of American Idol. When judge Lionel Richie found out who Grace’s grandmother was, he started regaling fellow judges Katy Perry and Luke Bryan with anecdotes from his encounters with the Queen of Soul. The 15-year aspiring then had to perform: although she did quite well considering the pressure, she was not allowed to pass to the next level, Richie’s deciding vote being negative. There’s always next time!