• Alabama Shakes and 'Sound & Color' Becomes First Independent Release Atop Billboard 200 during 2015

    Alabama Shakes and 'Sound & Color' brought an air of independence to the Billboard 200 this week, as the album became the first independent label (ATO) release to top the charts during 2015. It was easily the band's bestselling week ever, moving 96,000 equivalent copies during its first week. Yet it seemed almost inevitable: The band got to no. 6 with its previous release, 'Boys & Girls', but nearly a year after it debuted. Listeners caught on to the band just a hair too late, and made up for it this time around.
  • Grooveshark Could be Fined $730 Million for Universal Music Group Lawsuit Damages

    It's been five years since the Universal Music Group first brought its legal team against Grooveshark, a music streaming site. Now it looks like the defendant will pay a dramatic amount, approaching a billion dollars in fines. Universal had looked to make an example out of the relatively small site, claiming that it would unleash "legal jihad" on the company, and it looks as if they aim to follow through.
  • Happy 40th Birthday Joey Jordison: 5 Great Drum Tracks from Former Slipknot Percussionist

    Happy birthday to Joey Jordison, the longtime drummer for Slipknot and touring percussionist with Rob Zombie, who turned 40 today. Although his former band continues to go strong—.5: The Gray Chapter topped the Billboard 200, and the new guy (supposedly former Against Me! drummer Jay Weinberg) seems to be doing alright—yet fans can't help but miss Jordison, long considered to be the most instrumentally sound member of the metal collective. All we can do is hope for an anniversary in the future, but for the moment let's reflect on some of Jordison's more impressive tracks.
  • Amy Winehouse's Father Mitch 'Furious' Over Documentary, Threatens Lawsuit Against Asif Kapadia

    We've been hearing a lot about the forthcoming Amy Winehouse documentary 'Amy: The Girl Behind The Name,' but something that hasn't been brought to light: The vocalist's father Mitch Winehouse isn't a fan in the least. He's made statements now that suggest he and the family will bring a lawsuit against filmmaker Asif Kapadia after the film debuts at the Cannes Film Festival next week.
  • Eric Church, Amy Grant and...Richard Nixon? Nashville's Famous Venues and First Performers

    Nashville didn't become known as "Music City" for no good reason: Apart from its role in the history of country, bluegrass and rock 'n' roll, the city hosts a number of iconic venues for traveling performers and tourists to swing by when in town. Eric Church will christen the newest, Ascend Amphitheater, when he plays a solo set to open the new 6,800-capacity venue in July. That got us thinking: Who were the other performers that played the first gigs at some of Nashville's other historic venues, such as Ryman Auditorium, the Grand Ole Opry House and The Blue Bird Cafe?
  • 8 Oasis No. 1 UK Hits: 'Don't Look Back In Anger,' 'The Hindu Times,' 'Lyla' and More

    Oasis, the most essentially-British band of the last 30 years (by both their own reckoning and ours), finally topped the charts in the Gallagher brothers' beloved UK 20 years ago today, with the single "Some Might Say," the first song off of the band's beloved album (What's The Story) Morning Glory? The band ended up topping the UK singles charts seven more times throughout its career (and only getting as high as no. 8 on the U.S. charts). Here are those no. 1 singles...be prepared for a few surprises (in terms of what didn't make it, if anything).
  • Calexico Continues Expansion of Sounds and Cultures in 'Edge of The Sun,' Follow-Up to 'Algiers'

    Society always celebrates the records that top the Billboard 200 album chart. Back of The Billboards is a Music Times weekly segment that looks at the opposite end: the new record that finished closest to the back of the Billboard 200 for the previous week. We hope to give a fighting chance to the bands you haven't heard of. This week we look at Calexico and its continuing expansion of sound, inviting in influences beyond its traditional Southwestern fare.
  • Will John Mayer Tour With Bob Weir, Other Grateful Dead Members After 'Fare Thee Well' Shows?

    We just got done reading about how the Fast and Furious franchise might come back with an eighth film despite the death of Paul Walker, due to the overwhelming sales success of the newest film. Now we see that the Grateful Dead, or some variation of the band, may continue touring later this year despite all the hype built up for the group's supposedly final five shows during July...and John Mayer might be involved.
  • System of A Down Plays First Armenian Show to Mark 100th Anniversary of Genocide [WATCH]

    System of A Down has preached about plenty of political issues over the years but one has always been close to their hearts: The band, comprised entirely of Armenian-American members, has always pushed for the recognition of the injustices against Armenians in Turkey during 1915 to be labelled as genocide. The band finally played its first show in Armenia as the nation prepares to mark the hundredth anniversary of the tragedy on April 24.
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