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Kanye West Says He’s Not Releasing Any More Music Until His Contracts with Sony and Universal are Up

Roger Friedman
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Kanye West Says He’s Not Releasing Any More Music Until His Contracts with Sony and Universal are Up

Kanye West: where’s that “Donda” album? It was supposed to come out weeks ago. Now, it’s not. Kanye says he’s not releasing any more music until his record contracts are up. His main one is with Def Jam. He has one with Sony’s EMI Publishing too.

A year ago this week he settled a lawsuit with them, as well as
Universal Music Group, Roc-A-Fella and Def Jam. The entrepreneur rapper was seeking a way out of the contract he’d signed with EMI back when he was working on his 2004 debut, “The College Dropout,” citing a California labor statute that limits personal service contracts to seven years.

West’s records haven’t been big sellers recently, anyway. And now this gives him an excuse. Of course, this could all change by tomorrow or even in an hour.

He does bait both companies to “come and get him” which sounds like he owes them records and has a lot of their money in advances. This could get interesting.

“I’m not putting no more music out till I’m done with my contract with Sony and Universal … On God … in Jesus name … come and get me”

“Star Wars” Star John Boyega Makes a Stink About Jo Malone Cosmetics After Company Screws Him: “I don’t have time for nonsense”

Roger Friedman
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“Star Wars” Star John Boyega Makes a Stink About Jo Malone Cosmetics After Company Screws Him: “I don’t have time for nonsense”

“Star Wars” star John Boyega — he’s played Finn in the last three movies– is angry with cosmetics company Jo Malone, and I don’t blame him. He’s stopped being their brand ambassador for men after one year. The reason? Jo Malone replaced the black people in a short film Boyega made with Chinese people for release in China. They took the black people out.

They don’t sound very smart. They didn’t even tell him. He found out about it on social media. Are these people daft?

Boyega wrote on Twitter:
“I have decided to step down as Jo Malone’s global ambassador. When I joined the brand as their first male global ambassador last year, I created the short film we used to launch the campaign. It won the Fragrance Foundation Virtual awards 2020 for Best Media Campaign.

“Their decision to replace my campaign in China by using my concepts and substituting a local brand ambassador for me, without either my consent or prior notice, was wrong. The film celebrated my personal story– showcasing my hometown, including my friends and featuring my family.

While many brands understandably use a variety of global and local ambassadors , dismissively trading out one’s culture this way is not something I can condone.

It’s back to back but I assure you this will be dealt with swiftly. I don’t have time for nonsense. We press on and strong. Stay blessed people”

Jo Malone is expensive, high end stuff. You’d think they’d be smarter than messing with a Jedi. They deserve a time out, for sure, a nice little boycott, I think.

The company, too late, apologized: “We deeply apologise for what on our end was a mistake in the local execution of the John Boyega campaign. John is a tremendous artist with great personal vision and direction. The concept for the film was based on John’s personal experiences and should not have been replicated.”

Here’s a video from YouTube of Boyega’s film and the Jo Malone Chinese altered version:

Bonnie Raitt Memorializes Toots Hibbert of Toots and the Maytals: “I will miss you, dear Toots, and treasure the times we’ve shared together”

Roger Friedman
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Bonnie Raitt Memorializes Toots Hibbert of Toots and the Maytals: “I will miss you, dear Toots, and treasure the times we’ve shared together”

Bonnie Raitt has memorialized Toots Hibbert of Toots and the Maytals, on Twitter. “I will miss you, dear Toots, and treasure the times we’ve shared together on and off stage,” she writes.

Bonnie is class act. I miss her, frankly! Bonnie’s last couple of albums were homemade productions, maybe her best ever. Did I ever tell you about the time BB King asked me from his chair to bring Bonnie over to him? We were at Radio City where Martin Scorsese was shooting his blues documentary. BB said, “I want to tell her she’s the best slide guitarist I’ve ever heard.” Bonnie nearly fainted. I was past that point.

Anyway, nice words from Bonnie, who has brought so many roots and Americana artists to the public. I’m putting “Homegrown” on the turntable right now.

Allison Janney — Now Blonde — Tweets a Video from Set of “Mom” without Anna Faris, “A Whole New Territory”

Roger Friedman
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Allison Janney — Now Blonde — Tweets a Video from Set of “Mom” without Anna Faris, “A Whole New Territory”

Allison Janney has tweeted out a nice video welcoming back “everyone” to season 8 of “Mom”– except of course Anna Faris, who mysteriously quit the show last week. “It’s a whole new territory but we’re excited for season 8 to begin!”

Janney is now a very whitish blonde. She was previously a brunette. I like her new look but maybe she still has to dye it back to her character’s color.

Gladys Knight, Patti Labelle Score 600,000 Viewers for Instagram Verzuz Show with Surprise Guest Dionne Warwick

Roger Friedman
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Gladys Knight, Patti Labelle Score 600,000 Viewers for Instagram Verzuz Show with Surprise Guest Dionne Warwick

Gladys Knight and Patti Labelle scored 600,000 viewers for their Instagram Verzuz show which less a death cage match than a love in between the two famous singers.

There were plenty of celebrities live on line watching, too, including Mariah Carey, Holly Robinson Peete, Jimmy Jam Harris, Johnta Austin, Janet Jackson, Larenz Tate, LaToya Luckett and many more.

Gladys and Patti sang a lot of their hits, some together even, and to track. Patti sat for most of the show and at one point did her make up and changed shoes while Gladys was singing! Gladys jumped up a lot while she sang because she couldn’t stop herself. They talked a lot about their voices changing, but they sounded the same as ever, like gold.

They hosted themselves, and did a fine job for women in their mid 70s who’ve seen and done it all. Who won? We did! Dionne Warwick joined them for two songs at the end including “Superwoman.”

I hope Verzuz will put this thing somewhere we can embed it and play it for you. A historic night!

Surprise! (Not!) Oracle’s Larry Ellison– Major Trump Donor– Wins Bid for US Rights to TikTok Over Microsoft

Roger Friedman
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Surprise! (Not!) Oracle’s Larry Ellison– Major Trump Donor– Wins Bid for US Rights to TikTok Over Microsoft

Well, this pretty hilarious.

Microsoft’s bid to take the US rights to TikTok was rejected in the end. The Wall Street Journal reports that Oracle, owned by major Trump donor Larry Ellison, came out of nowhere and won the bid.

The Journal doesn’t mention Ellison or the Trump connection. They just say Oracle won the bid.

How convenient.

Ellison is a billionaire, of course, and has raised a lot of money for Trump starting with the 2016 election cycle. So this whole Tik Tok sale thing just wreaks of an insider deal, a perfect cap to the corrupt Trump administration.

Microsoft must be pissed.

Even the New York Times story buried the Trump-Ellison connection and downplayed it. You can trust the Times to miss the meaning of almost any Trump story. On purpose.

As Donald Trump might himself say, the whole thing was rigged.

Well, congratulations. I don’t use TikTok anyway. I use an abacus.

 

Watch Teaser Trailer for Aaron Sorkin’s “Trial of the Chicago 7” Starring Sacha Baron Cohen as Abbie Hoffman and Jeremy Strong as Jerry Rubin

Roger Friedman
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Watch Teaser Trailer for Aaron Sorkin’s “Trial of the Chicago 7” Starring Sacha Baron Cohen as Abbie Hoffman and Jeremy Strong as Jerry Rubin

Aaron Sorkin wrote and directed “The Trial of the Chicago 7” for Netflix, appearing they say in theaters and then on the platform. Cast includes Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Sacha Baron Cohen, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Michael Keaton, Frank Langella, John Carroll Lynch, Eddie Redmayne, Mark Rylance, Alex Sharp, Jeremy Strong, Noah Robbins, Danny Flaherty, Ben Shenkman, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Caitlin Fitzgerald, Alice Kremelberg, John Doman, J.C. MacKenzie, Damien Young, Wayne Duvall, C.J. Wilson.

Looking forward to this one. That’s for sure!

PS this movie has a record breaking THIRTY THREE producers. Most invested money, Marc Platt and Stuart Besser actually produced it. But 33 people with producer credits.

Netflix Spends Over $50 Mil On Three Movie Titles for Oscar Season with Stars Including Halle Berry, Shia LaBeouf, Ellen Burstyn, Zendaya, John David Washington

Roger Friedman
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Netflix Spends Over $50 Mil On Three Movie Titles for Oscar Season with Stars Including Halle Berry, Shia LaBeouf, Ellen Burstyn, Zendaya, John David Washington

Netflix is spending like a drunken sailor at the various film festivals this weekend.

They plunked down $30 million for a movie called “Malcolm and Marie” starring John David Washington and Zendaya. Sam Levinson, creator and director of HBO’s “Euphoria” and son of director Barry Levinson, is the director.

Netflix spent $20 million on Halle Berry’s “Bruised,” starring and directed by the Oscar winning actress as a mixed martial arts fighter.

The media platform also shelled out some dough on “Pieces of a Woman” starring Shia LaBeouf and Vanessa Kirby as a couple that undergoes a terrible tragedy. It’s from Hungarian director Kornél Mundruczó.

Netflix wants to be in the Oscar race, and they’re willing to open their coffers to get there. Will it work? It will be hard to beat “Nomadland,” that’s for sure. But Netflix is relentless. I haven’t head seen two of the films but “Pieces of a Woman” may be too intense for most audiences in theaters. In this case, home viewing is perhaps more advisable. One thing Netflix will get out of it is many awards nominations for Ellen Burstyn.

“Malcolm & Marie” stars Washington as a filmmaker and Zendaya as his girlfriend, following them after they return home from a movie premiere. It was shot this summer in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. It also seems to be in black and white.

Stay tuned…

 

Taylor Swift Performing on the Academy of Country Music Awards, from Nashville, Live, Singing “Betty,” Her Maybe-Lesbian Song

Roger Friedman
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Taylor Swift Performing on the Academy of Country Music Awards, from Nashville, Live, Singing “Betty,” Her Maybe-Lesbian Song

OK, it’s all  big news.

Taylor Swift is returning to her country roots in a HUGE way. She’s going to perform on the Academy of Country Music Awards live from Nashville THIS WEDNESDAY September 16th.

She’s singing “Betty,” the maybe-lesbian song from “Folklore,” and the best song on the album, I think.

This ACM is historic because for the first time in the show’s history, the awards will take place in Nashville, broadcasting from three iconic Country Music venues: Grand Ole Opry House, Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium, and The Bluebird Cafe.

It’s unclear from which of these famous places Taylor will sing. My guess is the Grand Ole Opry House.

“Folklore” has sold 1.5 million copies and is the album of the year, frankly. This appearance should push it over the top, bringing Taylor back to the very fervent country music crowd. This will also be good for CBS.

Other performers on the show include Jimmie Allen, Kelsea Ballerini, Gabby Barrett, Kane Brown, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Dan + Shay, Florida Georgia Line, Riley Green, Miranda Lambert, Tim McGraw, Maren Morris, Old Dominion and Thomas Rhett featuring Jon Pardi, Blake Shelton featuring Gwen Stefani, Tenille Townes, Carrie Underwood, Morgan Wallen, Trisha Yearwood.

Now follow this: the ACM Awards are produced by Dick Clark Productions, which also produces the pop American Music Awards in November. Last year, Taylor got a Lifetime Achievement Award from the AMAs and sang a medley of old hits. She held the new songs from “Lover” for the Grammys, but was snubbed by them and didn’t make an appearance. Also, her “Cats” Oscar aspirations went up in smoke. So now “Folklore” is a monster and there will be a lot of jockeying for her. Get ready for some fun negotiating!

Meantime: here’s “Betty,” which will be a single, and be Taylor’s biggest hit yet.

 

Bruce Springsteen Fans Are Saying Lyrics to New Song, “Rainmaker,” Are About Donald Trump, Comparing Him to a Con Man

Roger Friedman
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Bruce Springsteen Fans Are Saying Lyrics to New Song, “Rainmaker,” Are About Donald Trump, Comparing Him to a Con Man

Bruce Springsteen’s “Letter to You” album won’t be out until October 23rd. But already fans are saying that lyrics to a new song, called “Rainmaker,” are about Donald Trump, comparing him to a grifter.

Back in 1956, Burt Lancaster starred as Bill Starbuck, a con man, in a classic movie called “The Rainmaker.” (Katharine Hepburn was his co-star.) The description: “During the Depression, a con-man promises rain to a desperate drought-ridden Kansas town and marriage to a local desperate spinster.”

Is “Rainmaker” a clever metaphor for Trump? Could be. A “rainmaker” is also a term for Wall Street stars who earn lots of dough for their clients through sometimes shady investments.

No one’s heard Bruce’s song yet, the anticipation is killing us.

PS Fans are finding the lyrics in a promo for Bruce merch bundles. The lyrics book is suspiciously open to the page with “Rainmaker.” Coincidence? I’m sure!

RAINMAKER

Parched crops dying ‘neath a dead sun
We’ve been praying but no good comes
The dog’s howling, home’s stripped bare
We’ve been worried but now we’re scared

People come for comfort or just to come
Taste the dark sticky potion or heat the drums
Hands raised to Yahweh to bring the rain down
He comes crawlin’ ‘cross the dry fields like a dark shroud

Rainmaker, a little faith for hire
Rainmaker, the house is on fire
Rainmaker, take evеrything you have
Sometimes folks need to bеlieve in something so bad, so bad, so bad
They’ll hire a rainmaker

Rainmaker says white’s black and black’s white
Says night’s day and day’s night
Says close your eyes and go to sleep now
I’m in a burnin’ field unloadin’ buckshot into low clouds

Rainmaker, a little faith for hire
Rainmaker, the house is on fire
Rainmaker, take everything you have
Sometimes folks need to believe in something so bad, so bad, so bad
They’ll hire a rainmaker

Slow moving wagon drawing through a dry town
Painted rainbow, crescent moon and dark clouds
Brother patriot come forth and lay it down
Your blood brother for king and crown
For your rainmaker

They come for the smile, the firm handshake
They come for the raw chance of a fair shake
Some come to make damn sure, my friend
This mean season’s got nothin’ to do with them

They come ’cause they can’t stand the pain
Of another long hot day of no rain
‘Cause they don’t care or understand
What it really takes for the sky to open up the land

Rainmaker, a little faith for hire
Rainmaker, the house is on fire
Rainmaker, take everything you have
Sometimes folks need to believe in something so bad, so bad, so bad
They’ll hire a rainmaker
Rainmaker
Rainmaker
Rainmaker

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