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In February of 1968 the Beatles traveled to India to study transcendental meditation with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the spiritual leader who died early this month. New York Times music critic Allan Kozinn says that – despite its abrupt ending – the trip was a creative inspiration for the Fab Four.
When CBS fired Dan Rather over Memogate two years ago, the longtime newsman wasn’t the only one who lost a paycheck. So too did Neal Fox, the composer who co-wrote the theme music for Evening News. Fox’s one-man revue, Thank You, Dan Rather, opened last week in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Alicia Zuckerman tells the story.
When Radiohead releases its new album on October 10th, it’ll likely feature the dyspeptic lyrics, man vs. machine music and alien encounters for which the band is beloved. It’ll also cost whatever you want it to. Economist Tyler Cowen uses the dismal science to gauge the impact of Radiohead’s new model.
The tradition of “bards” has its roots in the Soviet Union of the 1960’s. Singer-songwriters wrote metaphorical protest songs that represented subtle opposition to the government. One of the best bards of the new generation, Timur Shaov talks about how the genre has evolved.
EMI has agreed to drop the digital locks that have become standard for online music. Other music companies have argued the locks prevent piracy, but critics say they prevent consumers from freely using their purchases. Endgadget editor Ryan Block discusses the industry's attempts to secure its music.
Payola - bribes paid to DJ’s to play certain songs - is as old as radio. Recently, the FCC tried to address the problem by fining the four biggest radio station groups. Industry watcher Paul Porter says the more payola changes, the more it stays the same.
MSNBC anchor Keith Olbermann has a weekly segment called "the worst person in the world," and frequently awards that honor to Fox News' Bill O'Reilly. O'Reilly never misses a chance to fire back, and away they spar, all the way to the bank. We took cable news' toughest two emcees, and added a beat.
Judges and law scholars appear to have a penchant for dropping music references into their writing. But a close look at their opinions and journal articles reveals that to them, not all music is created equal. Alex Long, associate professor at the Oklahoma City University School of Law, tells Brooke that the top ten list of most-quoted songs reads like the tattered vinyl collection of a typical baby boomer.
