• Jake Schepps on New Quintet Album 'Entwined', Commissioning Gyan Riley and Marc Mellits, Béla Bartók vs. String Bands, Ship in the Clouds Tour, Brazilian Choro Music

    Banjo player Jake Schepps sure is opening up the possibilities for his instrument: contemporary classical bluegrass? Yes, a thousand times so. In fact, his latest album, Entwined (Fine Mighty), is the perfect manifestation of a seemingly non-existent genre. Featuring new compositions from the likes of Marc Mellits, Gyan Riley, Matt McBane and Matt Flinner, Schepps' traditional, five-band string band sounds anything but trad here. Curious how Schepps & Co. got wise, Classicalite got on the horn with this Scruggs-slash-Stravinsky to talk process, commissioning and what's next for him, instrument and ensemble.

  • Frankie Knuckles 'House Masters' Compilation: CD to Benefit Elton John AIDS Foundation, Frankie Knuckles Fund

    A posthumous CD compilation crafted by the godfather of house music, Frankie Knuckles, is being released by Defected Records with all proceeds of the sales going to the Elton John AIDS Foundation and the Frankie Knuckles Fund. The 'House Masters' compilation was originally started in February 2014, shortly before the Chicago DJ died. The project, which includes handpicked singles and remixes from Knuckles's career, was sidelined when the "Whistle Song" DJ died March 31, 2014.

  • Ultra Music Festival Announces 2016 Dates: 3-Day Electronic Music Event Moves to Third Weekend in March

    Another Ultra Music Festival is in the books, closed out Jack Ü and Justin Bieber, and many fans are heading home with heavy legs and memories they will cherish for years. As they normally do, the festival leaves the tired attendees with one final gift as they trudge off the grounds: the dates for next year's event. Ultra Music Festival 2016 will take place a little earlier than it usually does, as the three-day electronic music event moves to the third weekend in March. Normally, UMF is the last weekend of March with Miami Music Week leading up to it, but the festival has decided to move the event up a week and do it March 18 to 20.

  • Rihanna Denies New Album 'R8' Will Be Released with Launch of Jay Z's Tidal Streaming Service

    There's a big splash rising on social media today (March 30), as the impending re-launch of Jay Z's new streaming service Tidal inches ever closer. With big name stars like Rihanna, Coldplay, Beyoncé, Kanye West, Taylor Swift and more throwing their support behind the hi-fi Spotify competitor, surely a new album or big announcement is set to come during the 5 p.m. press conference, right? Well, if you're expecting Rihanna's hotly anticipated "R8" album, you're still in for a long wait.

  • Rihanna Talks Sam Smith Collaboration: 'Umbrella' Artist Calls 'Stay With Me' Singer a 'Beautiful Songwriter'

    Rihanna is one of the biggest names in pop music, and she recently revealed that she wants to work with another big name: Sam Smith. The "Umbrella" artist sang Smith's praises to 'The Sun,' via NME, getting fans and pop enthusiasts excited in the process. But any collaboration in the future will have to wait until Rihanna drops her highly anticipated eighth album. "He is so talented. It would be amazing to work with him," she said of the "Stay with Me" singer. "No matter how busy we are, when two artists want to work together they make it happen. He is such a beautiful songwriter, but more important than that, he is an absolutely beautiful person, and that comes across in his songs."

  • Rihanna Owns 'B*tch Better Have My Money' Performance at 2015 iHeartRadio Music Awards [WATCH]

    When Rihanna tells you, "B*tch Better Have My Money," you best believe her. After dropping the new "R8" single with little notice last week, RiRi gave "BBHMM" its official live debut last night (March 29) at the 2015 iHeartRadio Music Awards. To mix with the intense attitude of the Kanye West produced track, the fashionable pop superstar dropped in on a helicopter, dressed in black and lime green like a #boss.

  • Giuliana Rancic Thinness Due to Stress Trying to Save 'Fashion Police' Job and Marriage to Bill Rancic

    Giuliana Rancic's year is really off to a lousy start, and all that stress seems to be taking a real toll on her. The E! star seems to be a lightening rod for criticism, and unfortunately in recent weeks she has brought a lot of it on herself. Her comments regarding Zendaya Coleman's Oscar ensemble brought backlash, and even after a well-publicized apology, Rancic was still taking verbal hits. Her diva antics are reportedly a catalyst leading to 'Fashion Police' taking a six-month hiatus and, as of now, her job and marriage are said to be on shaky ground. In fact, she looks thinner than ever due to the stress.
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