Pure Music

It was Winter Music Conference: 2008. Yet another party. Almost no one noticed the pale blonde. She was overly dressed for Miami’s South Beach heat, vogueing across the rooftop of the Raleigh Hotel. A lone cameraman dutifully snapped her strange pantomimes, but most people were more focused on scoring free drinks and listening to B-list DJs play afternoon-appropriate sets. Less than two years later, the blonde is known as Lady Gaga, the record-breaking, hitmaking, international phenomenon. Meteors like Gaga are rare, but stars are frequently born at WMC, where the global dance community gathers each year to hock new talent and celebrate the old. Read more…

Tags: Music, Music Conference, Winter Music, Winter Music Conference

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Grammy-nominated Carolina Chocolate Drops have made a lineup change on the eve of the awards.

Nonesuch Records spokeswoman Melissa Cusick told The Associated Press that founding member Justin Robinson has left the band. Beat boxer Adam Matta and multi-instrumentalist Hubby Jenkins are coming aboard to join Rhiannon Giddens and Dom Flemons, she said.

The Chocolate Drops announced the change at a show last week. No reason was given for the switch.

“The Carolina Chocolate Drops have been playing together and touring the world for more than five years,” Robinson said. “During those years, we have experienced great successes, heartbreaks, trials and triumphs. Read more…

Tags: Chocolate Drops, Lineup

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There is no real reason to post this today, other than that it has a saxophone in it and saxophones inspire us every day. But here are the basics anyway: In 1979, Friction was bassist Reck, saxophonist Chico Hige, drummer Sakuro Watanabe and guitarist Tsunematsu Masatoshi. Reck and Chico had just returned to Tokyo from stints in Teenage Jesus & The Jerks and James Chance & The Contortions to reform their old band. This was the first single back together and would eventually appear on their debut album Atsureki, produced by Ryuichi Sakamoto of Yellow Magic Orchestra. It does not sound like Yellow Magic Orchestra, and we would not be surprised if a teenage Yamataka Eye jammed this super hard after drum practice.

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Tags: Friction, Inspiration Friction

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ATLANTA — The company that boasts of owning the world’s largest collection of live music has bought Georgia-based Paste Magazine.

Paste announced Tuesday that Wolfgang’s Vault has acquired the magazine, which reverted to a solely online publication last year after struggling financially. In 2009, Paste made headlines by asking subscribers to donate money to help keep the magazine afloat.

Wolfgang’s Vault also owns websites Daytrotter, which focuses on new and emerging artists, and Crawdaddy! The Magazine of Rock. Wolfgang’s Vault CEO Bill Sagan called Paste “a wonderful complement to our broad array of music content.”

Paste editor-in-chief Josh Jackson said the sale brings financial stability for the magazine. Read more…

Tags: Company, Paste Magazine

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Britney Spears’ new album finally has a name: “Femme Fatale.” 

The pop star announced the title of her seventh studio set via Twitter and posted the cover art, which, much like the artwork for her “Hold It Against Me Single,” is a sexy closeup shot of Spears against a neutral background. 

“I’ve poured my heart and soul into this album over the last 2 years,” Spears tweeted of “Femme Fatale.” “I’ve put everything I have into it. This album is for you, my fans, who have always supported me and have stuck by me every step of the way! I l

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Tags: Art, Cover Art, Femme Fatale

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