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"The new owners of Fender since 2020 are attempting to own the copyright on the Stratocaster body. A German court has taken them part of the way but most experts don't believe it will hold up to scrutiny. Nonetheless, Fender has sent Cease and Desist letters to multiple guitar makers telling them to stop production, call back orders and destroy stock. Fender may have just committed brand suicide because history is not on their side."
"It is no secret that music contracts can be rather brutal on artists. Often the stories focus on not getting paid but there is also the interesting idea of a lawsuit ordering a musician to fill his or her contract and record what we are calling a court ordered album. We have multiple examples plus one where the band was paid NOT to record an album."
"Sony Music Publishing confirmed an agreement to acquire Blackstone's Recognition Music Group catalog for $3.5 billion. The Red Hot Chili Peppers just sold their catalog for $300 million. Other Funds are raising billions to start buying. These buyers are called Music Rights Funds. I became interested in how these Funds actually made money. How does one invest and can I sell my own music. I have the answers for you."
"The New York Times released their 30 Greatest Living American Songwriters list a short while ago. I know online lists usually have some click bait to start conversation but this list was overtly egregious. Not for who was on it. It was who was left off. We will go over the list and play some artists that should have been on there."
"Many summer tours are having to scale back or cancel altogether. The nickname given to this practice is Blue Dot Fever. It is named after the blue dots that appear on unsold seats when a ticket buyer uses Ticketmaster. It has become indicative of a larger societal and financial concern that is leading to people not being able to attend live music. We will explain."
Rundāles pils šogad svin 290. gadadienu kopš pils pamatakmens ielikšanas, un jubilejas gads apmeklētājiem nes gan svētku noskaņu, gan bagātīgu kultūras programmu. Viens no centrālajiem notikumiem ir jaunā izstāde "Ziedu valdzinājums", kas atklāj ziedu nozīmi mākslā, dārzu kultūrā un Eiropas vēsturē. Rundāles pils muzeja direktore Laura Lūse stāsta, ka jubilejas svinības tiks papildinātas ne tikai ar izstādes atklāšanu, bet arī muzikālu vakara programmu. Tajā uzstāsies Liepājas Simfoniskais orķestris ar īpaši ziediem veltītu repertuāru, kurā skanēs gan ārvalstu klasiķu, gan latviešu komponistu darbi, noslēgumā atskaņojot arī [Jāņa Mediņa] "Ziedu valsi". Izstādes "Ziedu valdzinājums" ideja radusies, pētot Rundāles pils kolekcijas un holandiešu ziedu klusās dabas tradīciju. Ekspozīcija veidota kā izziņas ceļojums, kas atklāj ne vien ziedu simbolisko nozīmi gleznās, bet arī to vietu Eiropas kultūras un dārzu vēsturē. Tajā stāstīts par 17. un 18. gadsimta "modes puķēm" — tulpēm, hiacintēm un citām sīpolpuķēm, kas savulaik kļuva par greznības un statusa simboliem. Īpaša uzmanība izstādē pievērsta arī tam, ko parasti skatītāji pamana mazāk — vāzēm, kurās ziedi tika kārtoti. Viena no ekspozīcijas telpām veltīta tieši vēsturiskajām vāzēm, kas atspoguļo laikmeta estētiku un galma kultūru. Izstāde tapusi plašā starptautiskā sadarbībā — darbi un priekšmeti deponēti no muzejiem Nīderlandē, Ukrainā un Lietuvā. Viens no nozīmīgākajiem eksponātiem ir glezna no Jana Brēgela Vecākā darbnīcas, kurā attēlota bagātīga ziedu kompozīcija ar simtiem precīzi izgleznotu augu. Šādi darbi savulaik simbolizēja ne vien bagātību un izsmalcinātību, bet arī mākslinieka centienus atainot dabas daudzveidību un skaistumu. Lai izstādi padarītu saistošu dažādām paaudzēm, tajā iekļauti arī interaktīvi elementi. Apmeklētāji varēs iepazīt Rundāles pils dekoros sastopamos ziedu motīvus, aplūkot lielizmēra ziedu kompozīcijas un ieiet īpaši veidotā ziedu telpā. Savukārt multimediāls mākslas darbs pievērsīsies slavenajam tulpju drudzim Eiropā. Ne mazāk aizraujošs ir stāsts par Rundāles vēsturiskajiem dārziem. Pētot arhīvu materiālus, noskaidrots, ka hercoga Bīrona laikā dārzos audzētas ne vien tulpes, narcises un hiacintes, bet arī eksotiski augi — citrusaugi, olīvkoki, lauru ķirši un citi oranžēriju stādījumi. Arī šodien Rundāles dārzos cenšas saglabāt vēsturisko augu un ziedu klātbūtni, atjaunojot parteru stādījumus un uzturot vēsturisko ainavu. Pavasaris šobrīd ir viens no skaistākajiem laikiem Rundālē — vēl zied tulpes, hiacintes un narcises, pamazām plaukst peonijas, bet ziedošie koki piešķir dārzam īpašu krāšņumu. Vasara Rundāles pilī būs bagāta arī ar mūziku. Plānoti koncerti ciklā "Sarunas pilī", Senās mūzikas festivāla noslēguma koncerts un Liepājas Simfoniskā orķestra uzstāšanās ar Mocarta un Bēthovena mūzikas programmu. Kā uzsver Laura Lūse, Rundāles pils Baltā zāle ar savu akustiku un atmosfēru ir īpaša vieta, kur mūzika iegūst pavisam citu skanējumu. Jaunumi gaidāmi arī Mežotnes pilī, kuru muzejs pakāpeniski cenšas atdzīvināt kā kultūras telpu. Šosezon tur būs skatāma Ernsta Velkera karikatūru izstāde, kas saistīta ar hercogienes Dorotejas laiku un viņas galma dzīvi. Tā ir daļa no plašāka mērķa — soli pa solim atjaunot Mežotni kā vietu kultūras notikumiem, izstādēm un nākotnē, iespējams, arī muzikāliem vakariem. Rundāles pils jubilejas gads apliecina, ka šī vieta nav tikai vēstures piemineklis. Tā turpina dzīvot kā kultūras un izziņas telpa, kur vienuviet sastopas māksla, daba, vēsture un mūzika. Izstāde "Ziedu valdzinājums" ir stāsts ne tikai par ziediem, bet arī par cilvēka vēlmi caur skaistumu saglabāt un izprast pasauli.
"This is a requested topic from a friend. He wondered if we had ever discussed steel drums. We had not so we did a show. We have some history and some discussion of tuning and prices. There are also a lot of songs that use the steel drum you may not have noticed before."
"On April 16 2026 A federal jury in Manhattan found that Ticketmaster and its parent company Live Nation have been acting as a monopoly. The case is wide ranging involving 33 states and the District of Columbia. Live Nation will not appeal any of the verdicts. We will discuss what is a monopoly and what these decisions could mean for the future."
"Just a bit of fun this week. Nobody is perfect so it is pretty easy to hear mistakes in recorded music. Here are some of the big ones in rock and hopefully some you did not know. Once you hear them, you cannot unhear them."
12. maija Latvijas Nacionālā mākslas muzeja direktore būs Iveta Derkusova. Līdz šim viņa bijusi direktores vietniece krājuma darbā. Kā jums šķiet, kas būtiski mainīsies jūsu darba dzīvē? Iveta Derkosova: Manā personīgajā darba dzīvē būs diezgan lielas pārmaiņas ikdienas pienākumos, jo es līdz šim esmu vadījusi vienu ļoti lielu, tomēr vienu jomu muzejā, kas ir krājuma darbs. Lielākais izaicinājums ir tas, ka Latvijas Nacionālais mākslas muzejs darbojas sešās adresēs, līdz ar to tā laukuma aptveršana jebkurā gadījumā prasīs varbūt ne gluži simts dienas kā amatpersonām, kas sāk no nulles, tomēr zināmu laukuma pārskatīšanu, sarunas ar kolēģiem, lai mēs vienojāmies visi kopā par tiem veicamajiem darbiem, kuri nav varbūt ikdienas plānos iezīmēti. Bet, paldies Dievam, direktora maiņa muzejā nedrīkst neko rīt uz brokastīm mainīt, jo muzejs strādā ar ilgtermiņa plāniem, ar ikgadējiem plāniem, un tie visi procesi un projekti, pie kuriem mēs strādājam, tas arī ir mans darba uzdevums. Protams, ka, piesakoties šim amatam, es redzu atsevišķas akcentu pārbīdes tajā ceļā uz mērķu sasniegšanu. Pie tiem arī būs jāstrādā. Muzeja direktoriem ir jārunā par visu mākslas ainu. Bet, kamēr jūs vēl neesat direktore, man jums tomēr ir jautājums, kas ir bijuši jūsu pētniecības lauki mākslā - kādi virzieni vai kādi autori? Iveta Derkusova: Ja mēs runājam par periodu, tad lielais periods, kurā es orientējos vislabāk, ir starpkaru māksla, bet arī ar tādu starptautiskā avangarda piesitienu, jo autors, kuru es esmu pētījusi faktiski 20 gadu garumā, tas ir Gustavs Klucis, kam es esmu arī veidojis daudzas izstādes. Līdz ar to ir gan šī sasaiste ar starptautisko ainu, ar konstruktīvismu. Un tādā aspektā man arī, protams, vairāk interesē tie latviešu autori, kuriem saskares punkti ar šo laikmetu vai kā pretmeti, vai kā līdzgaitnieki. Šis ir tas laukums, kurā es kā mākslas zinātniece esmu visspēcīgākā. Bet, protams, gribētos domāt, ka man ir zināms priekšstats par plašāku periodu. Protams, es sekoju visu laiku līdzi aktualitātēm, kas notiek. Īpaši šobrīd ar akcentu uz laikmetīgo mākslu, jo tā sadaļa savukārt, kas muzejā visu laiku ir bijusi fokusā faktiski visu 21. gadsimtu, bet es personīgi pie tā esmu bijis klāt pēdējos 10 gadus, tā ir komplektēšana, kas attiecas arī uz mūsdienu mākslas procesu dokumentēšanu. Tā kā tas arī man nav svešs. Vai šobrīd laikmetīgās mākslas komplektēšanai, iepirkšanai ir finanses? Iveta Derkusova: Diemžēl nav, mērķēta finansējuma papildus nav. Droši vien arī atceraties, 2020. gadā ar noturības finansējumu muzejam tika piešķirts pusmiljona apmērā finansējums, kad mēs varējām ļoti mērķtiecīgi izveidot arī atsevišķu speciālu darba grupu ar ārējiem ekspertiem un tādu plašāku iepirkumu veikt. Pārējie gadi vienmēr ir periodiski, ļoti atkarīgs no muzeja pašu finansējumu, cik mēs spējam šim veltīt. Bet lai mēs laikmetīgo mākslu komplektētu mērķtiecīgi, var teikt, ka finansējuma nav.
"The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry has released its 2026 State of the Industry Report. There are some pretty big take aways including stances on AI and the fact that the music industry is now more profitable than ever before. We will explore the findings."
"The former head of Interscope and Geffen records Jimmie Ivine said that streaming has had its time. Spotify will see its demise soon. Whether you believe that or not, the question is what comes next. After Spotify. Many have suggest this next step in music evolution. We will tell you what Ivine said and offer up some possibilities for after Spotify."
Maija Kurševa ir Latvijas Mākslas gada balvas pretendente kategorijā “Gada mākslinieks 2025”. Aizvadīts aktīvs un piepildīts gads, piedaloties vairākās izstādēs, atzīst māksliniece. Maija Kurševa aktīva arī starptautiskā pedagogu tīklā, kas aktualizē māksliniecisko zīmēšanu mākslas augstskolās. Savos darbos māksliniece aizrautīgi pēta formu, krāsas un telpas attiecības, izmanto papīra griezumus un akrila laukumu savienojumus. Maiju raksturo disciplīna un kārtība, par to pārliecināmies, viesojoties pie mākslinieces darbnīcā.
"I found a cheeky online piece where the author was using funny put downs to describe some popular bands. Tourist Rock. Ring Tone Rap. Yallternative. So I put it to the Facebook and received a much longer list. I call then Genre Insults and we have a bunch for you."
"I ran across an article that listed three songs that people listen to only to wait for just that one section. It mentioned the drum break in the Phil Collins song In the Air Tonight. I knew exactly what it was talking about and immediately had five examples from my own collection. I put it to Facebook and now I have a slew of examples."
"Major record companies are suing SUNO and Udio over song usage to create AI tunes. The one big thing the companies are looking for is a Walled Garden, the idea that what is created on SUNO will stay on SUNO. It cannot be taken and spread around. One company has already settled but it goes much deeper than that."
"I ran across an article listing musicians who are in both the Rock and the Country Halls of Fame. There aren't many. When I started looking into it further I found that the people on the list were in multiple other Halls of Fame as well. I wanted to find out what musician is in the most Halls. There is a clear winner."
"Luminate is a company that tracks the Entertainment Industry pointing out data analytics and trends. Their 2025 report has come out and it points to overall listenership being up. Listening to new music is way down. There are also some interesting data points regarding AI."
"The internet loves lists. The click bait ones often choose to list the worst of something and choose the best of it just to upset the audience for engagement. I can usually ignore these but this one really bugged me for some reason. I'll tell you the list and debunk it and offer some of mine."
"The Rockin 1000 is a project that started in Italy as gag to create a video of 1000 musicians playing Learn to Fly in order to get the Foo Fighters to come and put on a concert. It has since grown into full scale concerts across Europe. On January 31 the Rockin 1000 played their first concert in America, in New Orleans, and I was part of the band. Let me tell you the story."
"Every year I hear people complaining that the NFL makes lousy picks for the Super Bowl halftime show. If the picks are lousy then ratings must tank. But they do not. In fact the halftime show has never been better watched. We have a long list of ratings and demographics to show that the NFL seems to know what they are doing."
"We are coming into tax season so Tammy and will talk about paying the government. The HITS Act is now in full swing. Foreign governments are changing their tax codes for musicians and we also have a list of what you might not have known was tax deductible."
"In our New Year show we related an article that suggested that 3D spatial audio was going to be popular in 2026. Tammy asked for an explanation of 3D audio so here it is. We have examples of both new songs and classic music that has been remixed into a spatial audio format."
"A report from Spikerz, an Israeli company that tracks hacking, suggests that in 2025, music hacks were a sizeable number of methods bad actors were using to extract money from unsuspecting persons and companies. We have the numbers and multiple examples."
"This is our second of two year opening shows. We will cover new Public Domain availability, anniversaries for this new year and some predictions for 2026."
"This is our first of two year opening shows. We will cover new Public Domain availability, anniversaries for this new year and some predictions for 2026."
"This is our second Christmas show of 2025. We are giving more trivia and history for many of your favorite songs. It is quite a list."
"NOTE. This show is being posted a week early due to our Holiday travel. Enjoy two shows this week. This is our traditional end-of-year show were we give one last tip of the hat to the musicians who passed in 2025. "
"This is the first show of our annual Christmas double header. We did a show years back that looked at the history and trivia of classic Christmas Carols. For these shows we chose a whole bunch of songs we did not cover in that previous show. Get ready for a lot of information about your favorite songs of the season."
"We have broken down the meaning of American Pie and Creeque Alley and now it its time for We Didnt Start the Fire from Billy Joel. Listen closely. We go pretty quick."
"The The Office of the US Trade Representative has released their 2024 Piracy Report listing the notorious markets for counterfeiting and piracy. The practice is alive and well. This report dedicated an entire section just to music. We will tell you what it said."
Piedāvājam sporta sarunu šova “eXi” epizodi, kurā pie Jāņa Celmiņa autosalonā SKANDI MOTORS viesojas kino režisors Dzintars Dreibergs, kurš jaunības gados spēlējis basketbolu. Arī viņam bijis sapnis par NBA, taču dzīvē viss iegrozījies citādāk - viņš kļuvis par vienu no vadošajiem Latvijas kino industrijas cilvēkiem.
"This is our annual Thanksgiving show. Thanksgiving is celebrated in many counties other than the United States. We will tell you the list and and how the people celebrate. Plus play songs about Thanksgiving food."
"Video may have killed the radio star but streaming and individual choices in music killed the video. Paramount Global has begun shutting down Mtv channels in Europe and reports are that soon it will come to the United States. Mtv is 44 and it looks like it may not make it to 45. "
"At least three record companies have extended million dollar contracts to people who create AI music. The US Copyright office has said it will begin extending protection those who use AI as a tool. The PROs will extend licensing. We will tell you what is going on."
"The number changes, but as of the writing of this description, only 1883 songs have topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart including all its earlier versions. This week back in 1990, the first rap song topped the chart. That got me wondering how many other firsts and other interesting facts surround the top spot. Here is a list."
"The NOW CDs, as they are often called, started in the UK in 1998 with Richard Branson. They were a hit out of the gate, each crafted to a specific formula. They are a professionally made mix tape. We have the full history and a good bit of trivia about the series."
"Cryptozoology is the study of a creature that probably doesn ot exist. Think Bigfoot. What is great about it is that every state seems to have its own monster. Maybe people really do think it exists or maybe it was invented to scare children at Halloween. We built up a list along with songs about candy. It is Halloween 2025."
"Many music outlets noticed there was no traditional Summer Song this year. No poppy dance tune that rose to the top of the charts. The Billboard Summer Song chart claimed a number one but it was a down tempo ballad. We will explore what happened and why."
"Many countries around the world take time each year to poll their citizens about their favorite songs. It usually happens around Christmas and a major media outlet plays the songs. We will tell you about some of the biggest ones and try to figure out why we don't do that here in America."
"An Idiom is a group of words that suggest a meaning different than their specific words. Many of them come from the world of music and we have created a solid list. You will recognize a lot of them."
"This past 4th of July someone posted the Preamble and I wondered who the singer was. I watched a few more and wondered who they were. We will answer that today. We will play some of their Schoolhouse Rock song and then one of their singles. Plus we have some trivia about the show."
"Long before American Idol and Americas Got Talent, there was Star Search. It was pretty schmaltzy but looking back, some of the biggest singers, actors and comedians got their big break on Star Search. We have grabbed as many examples as we could."
"Here is a game to play. Name as many two minute songs as you can following these rules. Only one song per group and you cannot name just punk songs. We then go one step farther and change the game to as many one minute songs as you can."
"A band named The Velvet Sundown had a hit a short while ago. The concern was that the band and the music were all fake. They were both fully AI generated. It is easier than you think. We have the story and some examples of when I did the same thing for an audience just to prove how easy it is to do."
"The Rock School show is now a part of the Library of Congress through their American Archive of Public Broadcasting. I know. I can barely believe it myself. Here is the story of the Library of Congress and how this all came to be. Check the calendar. It is not April and I am not fooling."
"This is a fun parlor game. Name a band, a song by that band and then an album from that band that are all named exactly the same. Here is an example. Bad Company by Bad Company on the album Bad Company. There are many that are close but a true Trilogy is all three exactly the same."
"Naming a band can be quite difficult. The list of bands we will discuss today went back into history to grab a name or an event to come up with a moniker. You know a good many of them. "
"The K Pop band EXO claimed that one of their concerts in South Korea sold out in less than two seconds. It sounds impossible because you are not being told the entire story. It is a badge of honor for bands to sell out quickly. Other than EXO, who did legitimately sell out the fastest. We will tell you our pick."
"Often an actor will start a band once her or she is famous. However many actors start as musicians. Some saw great success. We have some surprising names this week."