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B-Sides Report for 01/21/2016



David Bowie Fans Angered Over Kanye West Tribute Album Rumor

(Radio.com) In the wake of David Bowie's death, conversation swirled about tributes and covers--some real and others imagined. One rumor deemed a bridge too far for Bowie diehards was one that Kanye West would record an album of covers.

Outraged fans launched a U.K. petition on the 38 Degrees change platform. TMZ quickly claimed West's rep denied his plans to do the album, but the growing petition has almost 10,000 signatures.

"David Bowie was one of the single most important musicians of the 20th and 21st century, it would be a sacrilege to let it be ruined by Kanye West," writes petition author Peter Pirhana.

West tweeted his admiration for Bowie last week but never announced formal plans to touch the icon's discography. Read more here.

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2 Chainz Donates House To A Family Of 11

(Radio.com) At a time when people are more concerned about who is beefing with whom, 2 Chainz is in the news for giving back. Through his TRU Foundation, the rapper has donated a 5 bedroom house to a family of 11.

After finding out about the family's struggles and hardship through a GoFundMe campaign created by Atlanta's Progression Church, 2 Chainz decided to help.

Despite the recent controversy between C-Murder and 2 Chainz regarding the origin of "TRU", there's doubt about the positive impact The TRU Foundation has had on this family. Check out the video here.

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Elton John Says Lady Gaga's ARTPOP Was Not a Good Idea

(Radio.com) It wouldn't be an Elton John interview if the Rocket Man didn't say something indelicate about a fellow performer. The icon counts Lady Gaga among his closest friends and recently wrote music for her next album.

However, in a sit-down with Apple Music Beats 1, he said her last solo effort was a mistake. 'She made some bad career decisions," he admits. 'ARTPOP was not a good idea. It was not a good album. I think she will admit that."

Whether she will admit that is up for debate. John did have plenty of nice things to say about the Oscar-nominated superstar as well. 'I think she's a great writer." Read more here.

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Darius Rucker Announces Good For A Good Time Tour

(Radio.com) Country music star Darius Rucker is hitting the road with Michael Ray and Dan+Shay in 2016. The Good for a Good Time tour will kick off on June 3 in Tampa, Fla.

As he did on his 2015 Southern Style tour, Rucker plans to use his live dates as a forum to honor wounded combat veterans, and present some of them with mortgage-free homes via Project Rebuild.

The tour will also partner with Uber for select dates, offering fans a chance to win free rides and VIP packages that include two tickets to the a tour stop, an exclusive pre-show acoustic performance and an invite to a pre-show party. Use the promo code GOODTIME for a chance to win. See the dates here.

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Reba McEntire Releases 'Just Like Them Horses' Video

(Radio.com) Reba McEntire just posted a new, personal music video for her song "Just Like Them Horses." It is dedicated to the Oklahoma native's late father, Clark McEntire, who passed away in October 2014.

"I got the idea for the video one day and knew it was going to be the most meaningful heartfelt video I'd ever do," McEntire says in a press release. "We shot the entire video in Chockie, OK on the McEntire homeplace. Those old hills mean a lot to me. I lived there 21 years and they still call me back time after time."

The clip, which includes McEntire's mother Jacqueline, was co-directed by the songstress. "This is a song about goodbye, closure and letting go. Mama had to be in the video," McEntire adds. "She was and still is the glue to our family. Without a doubt, the ranch wouldn't be what it is today without her. She was the partner, bookkeeper, No. 1 hired hand, cook, my best friend and as I said, the glue. So many times things could have gone south but she held us all together." Watch the video here.

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Dierks Bentley, Eric Church Lead Kris Kristofferson Tribute Lineup

(Radio.com) Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, Darius Rucker, Willie Nelson, Trisha Yearwood, Lady Antebellum, Ryan Bingham, Rosanne Cash, Emmylou Harris and Jamey Johnson are scheduled to perform at an upcoming Kris Kristofferson tribute concert.

The Life & Songs of Kris Kristofferson honors the singer, songwriter and actor behind some of country's biggest hits, such as "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down" and "Help me Make it Through the Night."

The event will take place March 16 at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena and will be filmed for multi-platform distribution. Kristofferson will also be on hand for a special performance at the event. Read more here.

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Kanye West Releases Mos Def Message Over Airport Detention

(Radio.com) After news broke of Yasiin Bey (Mos Def) being detained in South Africa for violating local immigration laws, the artist has broken his silence. The rapper left a 10 minute message for fans, which Kanye West posted, in full, on the homepage of his website.

The message detailed the recent news of his trouble with the law and even stated that he will release an album this year and that will be his last recorded project. He said he's also retiring from acting "effective immediately."

As previously reported, Yasiin was given 14 days to leave South Africa with his family. In his detailed message to Kanye, he borrowed the hook to his recent track replacing it with "No more parties in SA, please, no more parties in SA."

Check out the tweet and full message here.

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Zac Brown Reveals Line of Wines

(Radio.com) Zac Brown Band frontman has announced a new business venture. The singer has partnered with Californian winemaker John Killebrew to create Z. Alexander Brown wines.

"Zac Brown has always been a man on a journey," the company's site reads. "Most know him for his music, yet his artistry and creative spirit are without boundaries.

"No matter where the adventure takes him, Zac has always remained downhome and truthful to his roots. His lifelong connection to the land and passion for bringing music, food, and people together was a natural path to wine."

Z. Alexander Brown currently offers two wines, a Cabernet Sauvignon and a Proprietary Red Blend. Read more here.

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Jason Aldean, Brooks & Dunn, Tim McGraw For FarmBorough

(Radio.com) The second annual FarmBorough Festival announced its 2016 lineup Wedneday (Jan. 20). Jason Aldean, Brooks & Dunn, Brantley Gilbert, Toby Keith, Tim McGraw and Thomas Rhett are among the artists tapped to perform at New York's largest country festival.

Held June 17-19 at Randall's Island Park, the festival will also feature A Thousand Horses, Billy Currington, Lonestar, Kacey Musgraves, David Nail and Eric Paslay. More names will be announced in the weeks to come.

Co-founder and Partner at Founders Entertainment, Jordan Wolowitz said, "We made history last year by launching New York City's first ever major Country Music Festival." Read more here.

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Charles Kelley Performs New Song 'Leaving Nashville'

(Radio.com) Charles Kelley is sharing another song from his upcoming solo debut, The Driver. "Leaving Nashville" captures the struggles of singers and songwriters trying to make their way in Music City.

'This song was actually written by a couple songwriters, Abe Stoklasa and Donovan Woods, and it's about the struggles as a writer in Nashville - 'One day you're the king the next you're not,'" Kelley told American Songwriter. 'You may go a year without having a cut and then the phone starts ringing."

The Georgia native admits he can relate to that struggle. 'Being in a band like Lady Antebellum, we have had our fair share of ups and downs, and it's hard for me to listen to this song and not hear myself in that," he added. 'What I love about it is this inside look of Nashville and the music business, but I think it's so relatable because [we] all know what it's like to have those moments in life where you're never going to give up on a dream because it's addictive." Check out the song here.

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Major Lazer Releases Video For 'Be Together' With Wild Belle

(Radio.com) Major Lazer released a new video for their "Be Together" track, which features Wild Belle. The video cuts between Wild Belle and Diplo riding a motorcycle across the desert and enjoying each other's company as they pause at gas stations and roadside stops along the way, and a color-rich funeral with deep blues and reds.

Even though they have a magnetic connection, their time together takes a turn when Diplo's motorcycle runs off the road. Wild Belle's unique vocals lend the entire song a lamenting, passionate feel.

"Maybe if the stars aligned/ Maybe if our worlds collide/ Maybe on the dark side, we could be together/ Be together," she sings on the chorus. Watch the new video here.

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Trip to Nepal Inspired Cam's 'Burning House'

(Radio.com) One of the new names making big waves in country music recently is Cam, aka Camaron Marvel Ochs. Much of that attention is thanks to her hit single, "Burning House," which is a very unusual song in today's country music landscape.

The song uses only acoustic guitars, piano and a string section. No electronics, drums or even percussion. And the song was inspired by a trip that was also unusual, especially among country musicians: she spent some time volunteering in Nepal.

Cam recently told Radio.com about the trip, and how it led to "Burning House." "I went through a volunteer organization," she noted. "There was a lot that that trip did for me. Meeting people who have a lot less than we do in America, and who are super busy with the regular tasks that we have machines do for us: their whole day could be just cooking and doing laundry. And yet they're just so happy. It also helped me value the idea of slowing down. The south is really good at this too: if you see someone you know, you stop and have a conversation. Whereas in California, we'll smile and say hi, but we're busy so we don't stop to talk."

"When I was on that trip, my boyfriend at the time was supposed to come meet me, and we were going to do some traveling. The day before he was supposed to come, I told him, 'If you come, we're just going to be friends.' And I told him over email. And it wasn't very nice. And that was the breakup that I felt so bad about, that I had that dream about a burning house. That's a very embarrassing story because it was a very hurtful thing to do." Read more here.

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Granger Smith Releases 'Backroad Song' Video

(Radio.com) Going for a drive? Get ready to crank up your stereo for this feel good country tune that's all about�wait for it�driving. Granger Smith released the music video for his "Backroad Song," which journeys back to the farm, and takes the backroads to get there.

Smith and his band perform in a barn while standing in front of a video screen backdrop. That backdrop shows off nature scenes, like clouds passing or a pretty sunset, and it's a clever way to bring the outdoors inside while still exuding a countryside feel.

Given the song's theme, the video also includes shots of a man cruising down backroads in the country on his way to meet his sweetheart. "Backroad Song" appears on Smith's upcoming album Remington, due out March 4th. Watch the video here.

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DJ Drama Talks Leaked Drake Tracks

(Radio.com) DJ Drama and Don Cannon stopped by the Rap Radar Podcast with their Philadelphia rap upstart, Lil Uzi Vert. They talk new music and reuniting after the mixtape raid that almost ended their connection. Oh, and DJ Drama wants you to know he did not leak any ghost-written Drake tracks to fellow Philly native Meek Mill.

"What we've learned from this whole thing is how powerful social media is," Drama said when asked about the battle between Drake and Meek, and the accusations about his involvement. "I know one thing though, I definitely am not no leaker of records. The records that I put out people give me. I gotta lay that to rest. None of that s�t was from me."

DJ Drama and Don Cannon--the two Philly-based DJs, who went separate ways after being arrested for pirating music--have come together to give a major co-sign to the first rapper under their new Generation Now imprint. Enter Lil Uzi Vert.

"Some of the artists we had signed before I think we pushed it a little too hard on the public," Cannon told hosts Elliott Wilson and Brian B.Dot Miller. "[We] were saying it's a Cannon and Drama thing instead of saying let him do his thing and stay out of the way." Read more and listen to the full podcast here.

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