Posts Tagged: Spotify

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Wendy Williams Shopping $100M Podcast Deal; Spotify, iHeart Radio Interested

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Wendy Williams has accepted her fate. According to The Sun, the former daytime TV host has given up her dream of returning to television.

Instead, she is shopping a $100 million podcast deal - and interest is heating up.

Multiple sources revealed to The Sun that Wendy, 57, is shopping a podcast deal that could net her a whopping $100 million.

One source tells The Sun that iHeart Radio and Spotify are interested in a deal with the former radio host.

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Wendy would be going back to her roots in radio if she lands a podcast deal similar to Joe Rogan's. Joe has a $100 million podcast deal with Spotify.

A source close to Wendy explained, "She sees Joe Rogan has a $100 million podcast deal, and now she wants that kind of money."

The source tells The Sun that Spotify is the likely home for Wendy's new podcast. But Spotify execs worry that Wendy may not show up for work.

The talk show guru took an extended hiatus from The Wendy Williams Show for health and personal reasons. Sherri Shepherd has her own talk show in Wendy's time slot. Sherri subbed for Wendy while she was gone.

Derrick Salters/WENN.com

Sherri expressed concern for Wendy in an Instagram Live on Saturday, after Wendy said she would not watch her former friend's new talk show.

"I did hear Wendy say she will not watch me on the new show and that's okay," Sherri said. "You know, I understand I'm not mad at Wendy. She's going though a lot."

Sherri asked viewers to keep Wendy in their thoughts and prayers. "I would say that everyone should be praying for Wendy right now. I'm truly concerned for her because I don't feel like there's anybody over there protecting her."
 
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Jussie Smollett declares his innocence in new song, ‘Thank You God’

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Jussie Smollett released a new single in which he declares his innocence and calls out his enemies who labeled him a pathological liar.

Smollett was convicted in March of lying to Chicago police about a hate crime hoax.

He was sentenced to 150 days in the Cook County Jail, but he only served 6 days. He was released from jail on March 16 while he appeals his conviction.

Smollett sings, "Thank you God for showing me my enemies." He also claimed his lies were corroborated.

"I never played the victim / Just trying to let y'all know / The truth about the distraction political show."

He also sings: "You think I'm stupid enough to kill my reputation?"

Smollett posted the lyrics on his Instagram account.

    "It's like they're hell-bent on not solving the crime / Taking out the elements of race and trans and homophobia that's straight taking lives / But turn around and act like I’m the one that killed the strides."

Smollett said proceeds from the sales of the single will be donated to Rainbow Push Coalition, Secure the Bag Safety and the Illinois Innocence Project.

Click HERE to listen. You must have a Spotify account.

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Rihanna’s ‘Don’t Stop The Music’ reaches 500 million streams

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Rihanna's hit single "Don't Stop The Music" reached 500 million streams on Spotify, becoming her 17th song to achieve the feat.

The pregnant pop singer returned to New York City after spending a week on the West Coast. The temperature in NYC is just above 40 degrees, but Rihanna, 33, bared her growing baby bump in a leopard coat, jogging pants and faux fur covered strappy heels.

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The 4x certified Platinum hit "Don't Stop The Music" reached No. 1 on the charts of nine countries (including the Billboard Dance Club chart).

"Don't Stop The Music" is ranked No. 9 on Rolling Stone's list of Top 30 Rihanna songs.

Rihanna asked music icon Michael Jackson for permission to borrow his line "Ma ma se, ma ma sa, ma ma coo sa" from his 1983 hit song "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin.'"
 

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India.Arie Accepts Joe Rogan’s Apology: ‘I don’t think Joe Rogan is racist’

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YouTube

India.Arie told CNN anchor Don Lemon that she accepted Joe Rogan's apology after she helped to cancel him on social media.

Arie was among social media users who reposted a compilation video of Rogan uttering "ni**er" on his popular podcasts from years ago.

The campaign to cancel Rogan began when he hosted anti-vaxxers on his podcast, including health experts who were against vaccinating children.
 
RELATED: Joe Rogan Regrets Using Racial Slurs
 
Spotify stood by Rogan and didn't blink an eye when musicians Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, and then Arie removed their music from the platform.

However, Arie has had a change of heart.

On CNN Monday night, Arie said she accepted Rogan's apology. She said she was aware of Rogan's "insensitive comments around race before because I'm a podcast listener. I've heard many episodes of his podcast. When I learned about his language, I just tuned out on my own."

Arie said she got upset when Spotify paid Rogan $100 million to bring his popular podcast to the streaming service.

"Many people find it offensive," she said, noting that Rogan is well-compensated while "the vast majority of working artists are paid [peanuts]" by streaming services.

Watch the interview below.
 

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Joe Rogan Regrets Using Racial Slurs, Spotify Deletes 100 of Rogan’s Podcasts

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YouTube

Spotify quietly deleted over 100 of Joe Rogan's podcasts in which he is heard causally uttering a racist slur.

The campaign to cancel Rogan began when he hosted anti-vaxxers on his podcast, including health experts who were against vaccinating children.
 
RELATED: Thousands of Spotify users delete their accounts in protest of anti-vaxxer Joe Rogan
 
Someone compiled a video of Rogan uttering "ni**er" on his popular podcasts from years ago.

As the compilation video went viral, songstress India.Arie re-posted it on her Instagram Stories and asked Spotify to remove her content from its music streaming platform after legendary rocker Neil Young exited Spotify first.
 
RELATED: India.Arie explains why she pulled her music from Spotify
 

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Arie said her decision based on Rogan's "language" and the fact Spotify paid him $100 million while artists like her earn peanuts for their music streams.

Rogan responded to the growing controversy on his YouTube and Instagram page.

"I know that to most people, there is no context where a white person is ever allowed to say that word, never mind publicly on a podcast, and I agree with that now. I haven't said it in years."

Rogan pointed out that the viral compilation video took his words out of context. He noted that he was simply discussing Red Foxx, Richard Pryor and Quentin Tarantino using the word liberally in their work.

"I was also talking about how there's not another word like it in the entire English language," he said.

"Because it's a word where only one group of people is allowed to say it... Like, if a white person uses that word, it's racist and toxic. But, a Black person can use it and it can be a punchline, it can be a term of endearment, it can be lyrics to a rap song, it can be a positive affirmation. It's a very unusual word, but it's not my word to use."

 

 
Former pro wrestler-turned-A-list actor Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson rushed to his former colleague's defense initially — until the video went viral. Then Johnson pulled his support.

"I was not aware of his N word use prior to my comments, but now I've become educated to his complete narrative," Johnson told a Twitter follower on Saturday.

But Johnson has problems of his own.

After pulling his support of Rogan, Johnson quietly deleted old tweets that contained transphobic slurs.

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Exclusive: Tamron Hall Interviews India.Arie (Video)

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YouTube/Tamron Hall

On Friday's "Tamron Hall," Grammy-winning artist India.Arie appears in a daytime exclusive interview where she reveals why she's pulling her music and SongVersation podcast from Spotify's platform.

Arie explained that the decision was based on the audio streamer's ongoing relationship with podcaster Joe Rogan and her frustration with the meager compensation musicians receive from Spotify.

MediaPunch / BACKGRID

The Grammy-winning singer also says she hopes other artists will consider following her lead (on the heels of the same move by Neil Young, Joni Mitchell) and noted her #WhatIfWeAllLeave hashtag.

The celebrated singer-songwriter later opens up about what provoked her viral Instagram post describing the music industry as "racist, sexist, deceitful."

MediaPunch / BACKGRID

India.Arie on her decision to pull her podcast and music from Spotify:

"Yes, I decided to pull my music and my podcast from Spotify but it's dual. One is the Joe Rogan conversation and for me his language around race and some of the things I've seen and heard, but also coupled with that, there is the treatment of artists by Spotify. And so artists are underpaid and Joe Rogan gets paid all this money and it's hard for me to, these days, just sit back and go, 'Oh, well, that's how it goes.'"

She added:

"I made a commitment with myself, after reading this book by Martha Beck called The Way of Integrity – she challenges the reader to an integrity cleanse and it means telling the whole truth all the time and see what it will make of your life. And so I've been doing that since maybe around May, and so when this came up, I had to do it. And I'm a little bit nervous about it because I know people are gonna conflate the conversations and some people are gonna judge me and they're gonna say it's not my business and you know all these things because it is a little bit of a different reason than Joni [Mitchell] and Neil [Young] but also, it's my truth. And it's not always my job to educate people about how I feel, although I try. I know that my truth is mine. And so I am working to have it [her music and podcast] pulled down."

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YouTube/Tamron Hall

India.Arie said Spotify can remove her music from the platform or pay her and other artists more money. Spotify paid Rogan $100 million to host his popular podcast.

She said:

"We all have a reverence for, say, Questlove, who has a wonderful big podcast ... does he get paid $100 million? Those kinds of things, like the equity, even in the podcast world, I'd love to see. But also what would make me comfortable is for artists to get paid more than a fraction of a penny. And so now we're all amplified and not just him [Rogan]."

Watch clips from the show below.
 

 

 

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India.Arie explains why she pulled her music from Spotify

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Instagram

India.Arie joined the growing collective of artists who pulled their music from Spotify over the Joe Rogan COVID controversy.

Rock legend Neil Young was the first to ask Spotify to remove his music after the music streaming giant paid Rogan $100 million to host his popular podcast.

However, Arie clarifies that she didn't pull her music over Rogan's COVID misinformation. Arie said her decision was partly due to Rogan's "language around race".

"Neil Young opened a door that I MUST walk through," Arie wrote. "I believe in freedom of speech. However, I find Joe Rogan problematic for reasons OTHER than his Covid interviews. For me it's also his language around race. What I am talking about is respect... [Spotify] paying musicians a fraction of a penny, and him $100 [million]? This shows the type of company they are and the company that they keep."

Arie's followers begged the singer to re-post her Instagram Story message:

One follower wrote:

"You should post whats in your story!!!!!!! Dont leave it there so it can be gone [tomorrow]. Post it!! Leave it up for all to see!!!! Im wit u an support u queen."

The 46-year-old singer, born India Arie Simpson, is best known for her hit single "I Am Not My Hair," off her third studio album, Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship (2006). Her other hits include "Video" and "Brown Skin."

Arie has sold over 10 million records worldwide and won four Grammy Awards, including Best R&B Album.


 

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Thousands of Spotify users delete their accounts after Spotify removed Neil Young’s music in support of anti-vaxxer Joe Rogan

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YouTube, Getty Images

Thousands of Spotify users overwhelmed the servers by deleting their accounts after Neil Young's music was removed in support of podcaster Joe Rogan.

The rock legend accused Rogan and his guests of spreading "misinformation" about COVID mRNA vaccines.

Neil Lupin/WENN

Young's extensive catalog includes his solo hits as well as his classics with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, and other artists.

Prior to his removal, Young had 2.4 million subscribers and more than six million monthly listeners on Spotify.

Neil Lupin/WENN

Spotify decided Young had to go after he slammed the company for supporting Rogan.

Spotify paid Rogan a whopping $100 million to host his right-wing "Joe Rogan Experience" podcast on the service.

Rogan has interviewed famous anti-vaxxers Dr Robert Malone and Dr Peter McCullough on his podcast.

MMA fighter Julianna Pena told Rogan on his Thursday show:

"I'm a massive conspiracy theorist on this whole thing, and I have been from the very beginning. I'm like, this is just a money grab. This is — they're trying to kill us, you know, and this is ridiculous."

JLN Photography/WENN.com

Rogan survived a COVID infection by self-treating with Ivermectin. Pena also experienced minor flu-like symptoms with COVID.

The hashtag #Deletespotify trended on Thursday and Friday on Twitter.com.

Spotify's rival SiriusXM announced it is relaunching "Neil Young Radio" on its music streaming platform after Spotify removed his music.

"When you have an opportunity to present an iconic artist still at the height of his creativity, you don't hesitate to do it, again," Steve Blatter, SiriusXM senior VP, said in a statement on Thursday.

"Outspoken, brave, and a true music icon, Neil Young is in a rare class of artists, and we are honored to collaborate with him to create a special audio experience for his fans," Blatter added.

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Normani’s “Wild Side” ft. Cardi B Tumbles Out of Spotify Top 100

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Normani's provocative single "Wild Side" featuring Cardi B is struggling on the Spotify chart.

The single, released on July 16, dropped like a rock out of the Spotify Top 100 and currently sits at No. 147.

"Wild Side" is the lead single off Normani's upcoming untitled debut solo album.

Normani played a stripper in the music video for "WAP" by Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion.

Cardi, who is pregnant with her second child, returned the favor by playing a stripper in "Wild Side."

The song contains a sample of Aaliyah's single "One in a Million" (1996).

The video was choreographed by Sean Bankhead who also choreographed Normani's "Motivation."

Normani, 25, is best known as a member of the girl group Fifth Harmony.
 

"Wild Side" featuring Cardi B

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