AM Prep-Music

SKYLARKS FORCE RELOCATION OF ED SHEERAN CONCERT

BERLIN (AP) — Ed Sheeran’s concert in Germany has been displaced by rare birds. A spokesman for production company FKP Scorpio says it will move Sheeran’s July 22 concert from Essen airport to nearby Dusseldorf because of potential impact on the local population of skylarks. More than 80,000 people are expected to attend. However, even the new site is drawing criticism. Conservationists have complained about plans to chop down about 100 trees and transplant dozens of others to make way for the crowds.

KATIE ARMIGER HELPS PUSH BILL TO PROTECT MUSICIANS FROM SEXUAL MISCONDUCT

NASHVILLE (AP) — Country singer-songwriter Katie Armiger (AR’-mih-jer) is supporting a bill moving through the Tennessee legislature that would give better protections to musicians. Armiger says because musicians are not considered employees of a record label, bringing action against sexual misconduct is poorly defined. The bill would change that. Armiger says by time she was 18, she was subjected to innuendos, sexual comments and unwanted touching. She says she was told not only to tolerate it, but to encourage it, because that’s how it’s done in country music. Armiger is fighting a lawsuit from her former label, Cold River Records, saying she failed to comply with the terms of a settlement. She responded by saying she was sexually harassed by radio broadcasters. Cold River has denied knowledge of the harassment.

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Sound:

008-a-17-(Katie Armiger (AR’-mih-jer), country singer, during news conference)-“respect or performing”-Country singer Katie Armiger says she came to a crossroads in her career that no one should have to face. (7 Mar 2018)

<<CUT *008 (03/07/18)££ 00:17 “respect or performing”

009-a-12-(Katie Armiger (AR’-mih-jer), country singer, during news conference)-“outright unwanted touching”-Country singer Katie Armiger says she was a minor when she was sexually harassed. (7 Mar 2018)

<<CUT *009 (03/07/18)££ 00:12 “outright unwanted touching”

010-a-16-(Katie Armiger (AR’-mih-jer), country singer, during news conference)-“of the business”-Country singer Katie Armiger says the culture of the country music world was one of sexually tinged behavior and flirting. (7 Mar 2018)

<<CUT *010 (03/07/18)££ 00:16 “of the business”

011-a-13-(Katie Armiger (AR’-mih-jer), country singer, during news conference)-“to encourage it”-Country singer Katie Armiger says she was still just a kid dealing with much older men who could make or break her career. (7 Mar 2018)

<<CUT *011 (03/07/18)££ 00:13 “to encourage it”

FLAMING LIPS AND DOGFISH HEAD CREATE BEER-THEMED MUSIC AND MUSIC-THEMED BEER

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Flaming Lips and Dogfish Head Brewery have inspired each other on a collaboration that’s part music, part beer. Dogfish has created a pink-tinged pale ale called Dragons and YumYums. Flaming Lips have created a song based on the ingredients of that beer. It’s called “The Story of Yum Yum and Dragon” that will be released as a 7-inch single, with the flip side being “Pouring Beer in Your Ear.” Taking that collaboration a step further, Dogfish and Flaming Lips will release 100 translucent records that will contain the actual beer. Those will be available at special events leading up to Record Store Day, April 21, when the 7-inch single will be released. The beer comes out later this month.

X AMBASSADORS KEYBOARDIST CASEY HARRIS IS MARRIED

NEW YORK (AP) — Keyboardist Casey Harris of X Ambassadors describes his wedding day as “perfect.” Harris married his longtime girlfriend, Olivia, on Sunday in Dripping Springs, Texas, according to People magazine. Sam Harris, Casey’s brother and the singer for X Ambassadors, sang Maxwell’s song “Lifetime” for the couple’s first dance.

WAYNE KRAMER CREATES MC50 BAND FOR “KICK OUT THE JAMS” ANNIVERSARY TOUR

NEW YORK (AP) — Wayne Kramer of the MC5 will celebrate 50 years of the album “Kick Out The Jams” with a band he’s calling MC50. He’s enlisted Kim Thayil of Soundgarden, Brendan Canty of Fugazi, Dug Pinnick of King’s X and singer Marcus Durant. Tour dates have not been announced, except for the final date: Oct. 27 in Detroit. Kramer says the world has lived with the album for 50 years, so he’s not interested in doing a note-for-note reproduction of it. He says the musicians he’s enlisted will help him “bring the monster back to life.” Kramer will also release his autobiography, “The Hard Stuff,” on Aug. 14.

ANN WILSON PREPARES COVERS ALBUM

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Singer Ann Wilson of Heart is going old-school in the recording of her new solo album. She’s doing it on a tape recorder. Wilson says that creates a sound that’s “vibrant, present and powerful.” She is recording songs made famous by musicians who have died in the past few years. So far she’s recorded “Back To Black” by Amy Winehouse, “You Don’t Own Me” by Lesley Gore and “Life in the Fast Lane,” in honor of Glenn Frey. She also plans to remake songs by Chris Cornell, Leonard Cohen, David Bowie and Tom Petty. The tentative album title is “Songs For The Living, Vol. 1.” She hopes to release it this summer.

GRAMMYS HIRE MICHELLE OBAMA’S CHIEF OF STAFF TO HEAD DIVERSITY INITIATIVE

NEW YORK (AP) — The Recording Academy has enlisted the former chief of staff for former First Lady Michelle Obama to head up its new task force on diversity. Attorney Tina Tchen (CHEN), who has also worked for the Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund, will chair the new initiative. The group will look for unconscious biases and other reasons why women are underrepresented in the music industry. The Grammys came under fire after its CEO said women need to “step up” in response to the lack of female winners and performers. A recent study also found women made up less than 10 percent of the nominees in the major categories in the past five years.

SARA BAREILLES WILL GET SPECIAL HONOR FROM SONGWRITERS HALL OF FAME

NEW YORK (AP) — The Songwriters Hall of Fame will honor Sara Bareilles (bah-REL’-ihs) as a songwriter with a bright future. She will receive the Hal David Starlight Award, which recognizes gifted young songwriters. Songwriting team Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff, the co-chairs of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, say Bareilles is “a force to be reckoned with in popular music.” She will receive her award during the hall of fame’s induction ceremony in New York on June 14.

FYRE FESTIVAL ORGANIZER PLEADS GUILTY

NEW YORK (AP) — The promoter of a Bahamas music festival that was supposed to feature Blink-182 and Migos has pleaded guilty to wire fraud charges. Billy McFarland entered the plea yesterday in New York. He admitted using fake documents to trick investors in the Fyre Festival. Sentencing is set for June 21. The festival promised two luxurious weekends on an island last April and May, but attendees got leaky tents and cheese sandwiches. Blink-182 pulled out as headliner just days before.

by Margie Szaroleta

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