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Today’s Music News: Paul McCartney records a video game song at Abbey Road, and more

by Staff

August 11, 2014

45 years after the BeatlesAbbey Road album, Paul McCartney has returned to the iconic London studio—to record a theme song for a video game. Accompanied by a 120-piece orchestra conducted by Giles Martin—son of the Beatles producer George Martin—McCartney recorded a theme song for the forthcoming first-person alien-shooting game Destiny. McCartney also collaborated on the score for the game, which will be released on September 9. (New York Times) To learn all about video game music, check out our Top Score podcast.

Lana Del Rey has postponed what was to have been her first Israel show, in Tel Aviv on August 20, due to the hostilities in Gaza. (Billboard)

Myspace insists that a turnaround plan is in place to revive the sagging fortunes of the once-dominant social network's reboot as a music discovery site. Since relaunching in January 2013, Myspace has struggled to attract users and recently has endured waves of staff layoffs. (Billboard)

62-year-old Brazilian bus magnate Zero Freitas owns several million record albums. A New York Times profile reveals that Freitas has a dozen college interns cataloging the collection at the rate of 500 records a day; he hopes to one day turn the collection into a public listening library.

To raise money to fight AIDS, Elton John is co-hosting a tennis match will Billie Jean King at Royal Albert Hall in London on December 7. The two, longtime friends, will coach teams of pro and retired-pro competitors. (Billboard)

Van Morrison has chosen 200 pages of his favorite lyrics for inclusion in the book Lit Up Inside. "The lyrics in this book span 50 years of writing and as such are representative of my creative journey," said the 68-year-old singer-songwriter on his website. The book will be released on October 21; on November 17 Morrison will read, sing, and discuss his work at the Lyric Theatre in London. (Rolling Stone)

Remember that Pulp karaoke contest judged by Jarvis Cocker? It happened, and it was won by a nine-year-old boy singing "This Is Hardcore." (BuzzFeed)

Having just celebrated his 50th birthday by appearing on the cover of AARP's magazine, Counting Crows frontman Adam Duritz is looking for love on Tinder. (Consequence of Sound) Meanwhile, former Creed singer Scott Stapp prefers a more professional social media presence—and we're in his Rolodex.

In local music news, the proprietors of the recently-closed Cause Spirits and Soundbar have announced that they plan to reopen in the same space. Owner Mike Riehle says he's only five years into a 15-year lease, and is disputing the undisclosed terms under which the building owner attempted to terminate the lease. Riehle has the keys to the space back, and hopes to reopen by September 1. (Local Current)

Minneapolis schoolkids are learning reading through singing, with the benefit of new karaoke-like software in a program called "Rock 'n' Read" that a study has shown can help kids consistently learn reading skills more quickly than their non-singing peers. (Twin Cities Daily Planet)

Here's Ariana Grande's new puppy Fawkes. "She's a baby doge!" says Barb Abney. "She's a bad a*% b*!#%h," says Ariana. (Instagram)

Ariana Grande dog
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This activity is made possible in part by the Minnesota Legacy Amendment’s Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.