Astroworld Festival UPDATE: Death toll rises to 10, Travis Scott & Drake facing $2billion lawsuit

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As it was reported earlier on 8th November, Travis Scott’s Astroworld Festival turned into a tragedy, taking the lives of 8 people and injuring hundreds of others. Around a week after the event, the number of death toll rose to 10, after 22-year-old Bharti Shahani and 9-year-old Ezra Blount couldn’t recover from the injuries they got at the festival. 

In the first 24 hours after the event, Houston attorney Tony Buzbee filed a lawsuit on behalf of 125 victims for 750 millions from the parties involved in the organization of the festival. As the story escalates, Travis Scott, Drake, Live Nation and others are facing lawsuits for 2 billion dollars from 282 attendees of the festival. 

Thomas J. Henry, attorney representing the group of 282 people, gave a statement – “The defendants stood to make an exorbitant amount of money off of this event, and they still chose to cut corners, cut costs, and put attendees at risk. My clients want to ensure the defendants are held responsible for their actions, and they want to send the message to all performers, event organizers, and promoters that what happened at Astroworld cannot happen again.”. Moreover, Henry shared some details regarding the trauma of his clients in a conversation with Hollywood Life, saying “Those who were injured are still very traumatized because they had to step over dead bodies. They didn’t have a choice because there was nowhere to move. These people were trapped… They couldn’t breathe. They couldn’t get out.”

What makes the lawsuit interesting for many people is that Apple Music was involved in it as well, even though at first sight it can look like the company was not responsible for the organization of the festival, whether than its live streaming. However, according to Rolling Stones, the lawsuit, filed by Thomas J. Henry, mentions that “Early reports from the investigation of the Astroworld catastrophe indicate that the premises were arranged in a fashion that best served Apple’s online streaming of the concert at the detriment to concertgoer safety”. 

None of the involved parties publicly responded to the lawsuit yet, but Drake and Travis Scott issued their statements regarding the tragedy. Apart from that, Travis promised to pay for the funerals of the festival’s victims. 

Tragedy at Travis Scott’s Astroworld Festival: at least eight people are dead

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Photo: Eika Goldring/WireImage

Heartbreaking news came from Travis Scott’s Astroworld Festival in Houston, TX, on November 5th  – at least eight people are dead, 23 hospitalized by emergency responders and more than 300 taken to the on-site hospital of the event. 

Houston’s authorities stated that there are several causes that led to lethal cases such as trampling, laced drugs and cardiac arrest. According to the attendees and employees of the festival, in addition to the uncontrollable crowd, the festival didn’t have enough medicaments, medical and security personnel, as well as some of the medical personnel turned out to be unprofessional and simply not knowing how to do CPR. Moreover, the show was over-packed since the organizers let a massive amount of people without tickets in, which caused a pushing to the stage at overcrowded territory of the festival. 

The main trampling happened when Travis Scott brought Drake on the stage as a surprise guest – people started falling on each other due to the crowd surge, not being able to go out or move independently. As one of the witnesses explained it in her Instagram post, fans started panicking and asking for help from the closest security and Travis, who was performing at the moment, but no one reacted. When the attendee was able to get out of the crowd, she came to the stand of an operator of a livestream, screaming to help dying people and pointing out the way, but all she got in return was ignorance and a threat from other crew member, saying that if she doesn’t leave the employee’s zone, they will push her from the stand which was 15 feet tall. 

According to Houston Chronicles, promoter of the show, Live Nation, agreed to finish the concert earlier due to the crowd surge but the headliner, Travis Scott, decided to continue no matter the fact that “mass casualty” was declared. He kept performing for 37 minutes after that. 

Second day of the festival was cancelled, Travis issued a statement regarding the situation only next morning after the tragedy, saying that he will help authorities with an investigation and sending prayers to the families of those who lost their members. 

There are no words to describe how devastated we are. Our thoughts are with all who got affected in this incident and we are praying for them to get justice. 

Charli XCX shared thoughts about her next album

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Charli XCX released her new single “Good Ones” a couple of weeks ago and left everyone to question how the next album is going to sound like and what to expect since the single sounds like an absolute pop-dance hit.  Attending one of the latest episodes of The Chart Show on Apple Music 1, the singer talked about her upcoming album and said that it is deeply sensual, sexual and even has some sort of “demonic” aspects. Referring to the single “Good Ones”, she mentioned, “It definitely sets the palette for the rest of the album. It is heavily ’80s inspired. There are a lot of uptempo tracks. It’s dark, it’s kind of sexy and sexual and sort of demonic at points, I suppose. But then there are lighter moments too…”. Charli XCX explained, “I think the whole record is about my relationship with relationships and sex and power, but the song itself, I suppose, it’s about falling for a toxic person, being always ready to put myself in the most dangerous positions, just to feel something which I guess it’s kind of the whole record, but I feel like we’ve all been there at points in life.” As everyone got the idea of what the album is going to be about, the singer also pointed out what she wants her fans to feel, listening to it, “The fans can expect an overload of sexiness. I want it to all feel sexy. Like the music, the sounds, the tour, the videos, the clothes, the way they feel. So that’s kind of my hope really that everyone just discovers they’re in a sexy demon and it all comes out.” The title of the album and the date or the release is yet to be expected, but as Charli XCX confirmed on her twitter, it will not come out earlier than in 2022. As of now, fans should get ready for the overload with sexiness and dances all night long!

Jared Leto got tear gassed in Italy

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Actor and frontman of the band 30 Seconds to Mars, Jared Leto, was tear gassed in Italy. According to his Instagram Stories, the singer came out on the streets of Rome and saw a lot of people outside – as he understood later, Rome citizens were protesting against the vaccine passports. Jared decided to record a couple of videos and then got caught in the middle of the conflict between the citizens and police, resulting in him getting tear gassed. As the Oscar-winning actor said, “Got tear gassed and called it a night”.  Currently, fans can expect to see Leto in the soon to come out movie “House of Gucci”, starring Lady Gaga as well. Moreover, 30 Seconds to Mars is coming back with its first in a long time single “Wouldn’t Change A Thing” collaborating with Illenium.  Clearly, Jared Leto keeps himself busy and we are about to see the harvest of his hard work, which also reminds of such movies in the making with the star as Morbius and Andy Warhol.

Måneskin conquers the world

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This rock band does not need an introduction (at least in Europe) – Måneskin became the winner of Eurovision 2021, representing Italy, and its fame skyrocketed after that. It is not usual for Eurovision’s winners, however – even though all countries in Europe, as well as England and Russia, watch and vote in this contest, the statistics show that winners don’t last long after. However, there are some exceptions such as Celine Dion and now – Måneskin.  Eurovision 2021 finished on May 22. It’s been 5 months since the band became an obsession of the European Union (and not only) and it keeps growing. What is the phenomenon of the band? Some people say it is the energy and music they bring to a stage – the good old pure rock with extravagant costumes and provocative performance.  It seems like Måneskin conquers the world – their first tour across Europe got sold out in less than 2 hours. Isn’t it a success?  The tour hasn’t even started yet, but the band already travels around Europe with special performances, press meetings, etc.. And today, they released a new single “MAMMAMIA”. The frontman of the band, Damian David, shared some of his thoughts during the press conference in Berlin about the process of recording new songs after the Eurovision 2021, “We only had a few days to go to the studio and write music, but fortunately this song came out in a few hours – that’s why we felt like it was going to be a banger for us”. “After Eurovision, we had a lot of attention on us. A lot of the time, we did something that we thought was great but people criticized us. I wanted to translate that into the lyrics, because it happens a lot – maybe you’re doing something that you feel is great, but people don’t understand it and make bad judgements and bad comments about it. I wanted to make fun of that situation.”, he said.  The most interesting question right now is – Will this obsession over Måneskin come to the US? And if yes, how long is it going to take? Well, guess we should wait and see.

Is Adele coming back?

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Everyone knows Adele – a beautiful woman with one of the strongest voices in the industry and classic melancholic songs accompanied by piano. She wowed the audience the moment she stepped in the industry with her first single “Hometown Glory” for her debut album “19” in 2008. Since then, every release by Adele has been a global success.  After the debut album “19”, three years later, “21” came out (enough to mention its single “Rolling in the Deep”), blowing up the whole world, just like the last release “25” in 2015. Adele is always on point and gets right into the hearts of millions of people.  It’s been six years and fans are waiting for new music. The rumours in the beginning of 2021 were saying that Adele will appear this year with her new album but her team constantly reschedules the release and no one can tell the exact day when she will make her comeback. However, now it feels like she is coming.  Last Friday, people started noticing miraculous installations all around the world in the most important parts of the cities with the number “30”. Logically, fans consider that it is related to Adele’s upcoming album which is going to be called “30”, because of the previous albums named in the same way – the age the albums were in production. Moreover, the theory about such a major rollout and it’s connection to Adele appears due to the changed banners and profile photos across all Adele’s social media. Rumors are spreading as well as excitement, saying that the lead single from the fourth album of the singer can be expected on October, 8. Let’s see what happens next!

Em Drifts Onto the Music Scene With Graceful, Compelling Music

The music industry is always looking for talent and performances that stand out from the crowd, and it may soon play host to one of the hottest rising talents at the moment. Em makes her way to the music stage with her ethereal beauty and the elegant composition of songs.

Emily, better known by her stage name Em is a musical artist and songwriter who is rapidly gaining traction on the musical scene for her distinct, powerful vocals and spectacular performances. Born in New Jersey, the stunning and graceful artist is renowned for an artistic style that is compelling and “one hundred percent from the heart,” and as such, tugs on the heartstrings of her audience.

Em always had a history with music and had developed a love for it from her childhood. At age four, her grandparents took her to see a concert by Britney Spears, and that breathtaking experience cemented her desire to follow a musical path. By the time she was 12, by fate or whatever powers may be, she ended up working with producer Andy Ditaranto – singing on the selfsame microphone Britney had used in recording some of her hits. With encouragement from her mother to follow her dreams, Em worked with Ditaranto until his passing about six years later, which left her in a very uncertain place. However, she never gave up on music or her desire to become a performer.

Continuing to perfect her craft, Em worked on several songs with a variety of engineers and producers. She formed a successful partnership with Chris Young, which led to her breakthrough creation called “Grace.” This marked the beginning of her transition into a full-fledged artist, and according to the young artist, her songs afterward began to show a sense of purpose and take on a more seasoned sound.

Recently she has been working with the celebrated former Motown producer and songwriter Michael B. Sutton who worked with icons like Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross and the legendary Michael Jackson. Together, they created a single called “Sleepwalking,” whose message is aimed at inspiring humanity to embrace one another. “That song is a plea to stop seeing and treating each other as an inferior race or culture,” Em explained. “We are all souls. We must remember our faith and history that happened before us to provide understanding – and in that understanding, rest in a reality that unites us, never separates us,” she added.

In addition, she also came across a collaborator, Gregor Stobie, whom she considers to be her artistic soulmate. Both artists are of the same age range – mid-20s – with Gregor residing in Glasgow, Scotland. “We are on the same wavelength,” Em explained. “We do international calls and are so connected. I can say something completely abstract, and he will completely understand it – totally get it. It’s like he can go inside my mind, and we completely read each other.”

For the fast-rising star, the opportunity to work with others who understand and are in tune with her is essential to her artistic identity and motivation, helping her stay true to her sound, looks, and motives for deciding on a career in music rather than just a mimicry of other artists. “Anytime I am writing, or I am in the booth recording, I know beyond the shadow of a doubt that this is the destiny of what I was put here on Earth to do,” Em certifies. “My mission is to help people heal and feel connected – closer to God and their truth.”

Presently, Em is working on an album-oriented project, “Dear life,” and hopes to be signed to a major record label in the next couple of years. She also hopes to have an acting career sometime in the future.

To learn more about Em, visit her website.

Knowing the Backstage and Limelight: How DJ and Musical Artist Itz Youngin Transitioned to Music Production

Knowing the Backstage and Limelight: How DJ Keith ‘Itz Youngin’ George Transitioned to Music Exec Making it in the music industry requires a deep understanding of its front and back-end aspects. Suitably, that’s what music executive, talent management professional, and dj Itz Youngin has that not many others do. And today, the dj turned music executive is on his way up. Keith George II, also known by his stage name Itz Youngin, is a former DJ who has worked alongside Yung Berg (Hitmaka), Statik Selektah, Stack Bundles family, SwishaHouse Records, Soso Def’s DJ Delz, Dj Decko, King Crooked, and many other big names in music. Born in the United Kingdom, he would later move to the United States as a military brat who traveled in many states. George has an undeniable talent for music and a command of the stage and dance floor. But in recent times, he has shown that he understands the business aspects of the industry and has started working in artist management and music production.  Youngin’s music career started in 2006 when he started as a mixtape DJ. He went by the name DJ Youngin Beatz, and played in various shows while endlessly networking and building relationships with artists, managers, brands, music executives, and events professionals. In 2008, Youngin would receive the opportunity to work with a Def Jam executive named Sarah Alminawi. She managed the recording artist known as Maino under artist management company MGMT Inc. During that time, Youngin helped conceptualize a marketing campaign for the hit single “Hi Hater.” It was in 2017 that Itz Youngin decided to transition into the talent management sphere. First, he started working with a San Antonio-based rock band that would eventually sign with a major label. Eventually, he started working with Glu Entertainment to co-manage recording artists like Chris King and Ponce De’leioun. Today, Youngin works as a music liaison for Left Lane Music Group, a Los Angeles-based music production company. The production firm is owned by Tony “Fonz” Walker, Isaac “West$ide Ike” Lowery and Shawn “Source” Jarrett. Some of the artists the company have served include Trina, Dinero Farrar, Trinidad James, and Jimmy Bolt, among many others.  But even as Keith manages artists and music careers, he has a thriving influencer and entertainment career of his own. Currently, he is one of the significant ambassadors for the sneaker cleaning brand called Snkr Glove. He is also one of the podcast producers for the show known as “For The Culture NYC,” a Spanish-English podcast highlighting Latino culture in music, fashion, lifestyle, and more.  To this day, Youngin sports a strong musical ear that makes him an asset to the companies he serves. More than anything, he has an undeniable passion for music and mentoring artists to get them on bigger stages. Itz Youngin has now opened his doors to serve other music executives and artists who need guidance on music launches, marketing, public relations, income-generating opportunities and beyond.  Youngin remains a polished networker and talented musician and has many more tricks up his sleeves. Learn more about Itz Youngin’s upcoming projects or get in touch with him to pick his music business brain by visiting his Instagram profile. https://instagram.com/itzyoungin_?utm_medium=copy_link

R. Kelly Possibly Facing Life in Prison for Sex Trafficking and Other Heinous Crimes

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From several accusations of sexual harassment in the 2000s, 2010s to the whole movie on Netflix “Surviving R. Kelly” – the singer’s case finally started moving. And this time, it wasn’t in his favor. Kelly might face life sentence in prison due to allegations of sexual abuse, violence and charges of child pornography and obstruction, as well as sex trafficking. In general, the singer was faced with 9 charges, some of which will have a trial in the future. Currently, the singer is found guilty for sex trafficking, sexual abuse and violence – 11 victims performed in court with their stories after that the jury of seven men and five women found him guilty. At the moment, R. Kelly got a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison.  “Today’s guilty verdict forever brands R. Kelly as a predator, who used his fame and fortune to prey on the young, the vulnerable, and the voiceless for his own sexual gratification. A predator who used his inner circle to ensnare underage teenage girls, and young women and men, for decades, in a sordid web of sex abuse, exploitation and degradation,” said Acting Attorney Jacquelyn M. Kasulis. However, R. Kelly doesn’t consider himself guilty and maintains his innocence. He shared a post on his Facebook, saying, “To all my fans and supporters I love you all and thank you for all the support. Today’s verdict was disappointing and I will continue to prove my innocence and fight for my freedom. ✊🏾❤️ #notguilty” More news will come after the singer’s trial in Illinois for child pornography and obstruction – this, however, can easily increase 10 years of prison to a life-sentence. 

Miley Cyrus on Verge of Panic Attack On Stage.

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Miley Cyrus – a star, who used to be on stage as a center of attention since her childhood, revealed that she was close to having a panic attack on stage at Summerfest in Milwaukee.  Summer 2021 was good for Miley regarding shows – she was a headliner at Lollapalooza in Chicago, performed at Bottlerock Napa Valley, Summerfest and Music MidTown. However, the comeback on the big stages and transition from not performing at all took its effect.  During her set at Summerfest, Miley Cyrus shared her feelings with the crowd, “A couple of songs ago, when the lights were off, I went back to Stacy who’s known me since I was 12 – we’ve been in this band together since I was 12 years old – and I said ‘I feel like I am going to have a panic attack.’ Even though the feeling didn’t have the most motivating effect to continue the show, Miley stayed and decided to keep performing and talking with the audience – “The look’s too good, I ain’t going anywhere!”, joked Miley.  “Like everyone else, for the last year and a half I’ve been locked away and isolated and it is very stunning to be back in a place that used to feel like second nature. Being on stage used to feel like being at home, and it doesn’t anymore because of how much time I spent at home locked away. And this is very drastic… Being a part of a pandemic was startling and terrifying, and coming out of it is also slightly terrifying.”, said Miley. “So I just wanted to be honest with how I’m feeling. Because I think by being honest about that, then it makes me less afraid, because we all experience this shit together.” – finished the singer.