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Today’s Music News: Prince sued over Judith Hill album release

by Staff

March 29, 2015

Prince is being sued by a producer named Jolene Cherry, who claims that Prince's release of an album he produced for Judith Hill violates a contract that Cherry has with Hill. Meanwhile, Hill has filed her own suit against Cherry, arguing that Hill is "an independent artist, not bound by contract to anyone." (Rolling Stone) The night before Prince released Hill's album as a free download, Prince and Hill played music from the album to several local journalists and asked advice regarding the release of the album. Read Andrea Swensson's story about the conversation.

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After local billboard teasers about a possible Rolling Stones announcement last Thursday stoked false hopes, electronic billboards in Minneapolis have now been updated with the Rolling Stones logo and the word "Tuesday." Billboard is predicting a North American tour announcement on Tuesday, calling the tour "one of the worst-kept secrets in live music."

Sacha Baron Cohen (Da Ali G ShowBorat) will not in fact be starring as Freddie Mercury in an upcoming biopic. Cohen left the project over creative differences in 2013, and a mention by Queen's manager Jim Beach that Cohen was returning to the film triggered news reports—but then Queen guitarist Brian May clarified that Beach had only been joking. (Consequence of Sound)

Kendrick Lamar fans were surprised to discover that his new album To Pimp a Butterfly doesn't include a song that Lamar performed in December on The Colbert Report. The album's producer Terrace Martin says that Lamar doesn't intend to release the song, which was written expressly to be performed on Colbert. (Billboard)

Duran Duran have announced that they will release a new album this fall, produced by Mark RonsonNile Rodgers, and Mr. Hudson. The first single, "Pressure Off," will feature Janelle Monaé. (Pitchfork)

Destiny's Child reunited on Saturday at the Stellar Gospel Music Awards, performing Michelle Williams's "Say Yes." (Rolling Stone)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0N190dGOjU

Ozzy Osbourne has canceled his "Ozzfiesta" in Mexico in May as he plans to undergo surgery for an unspecified ailment. (Billboard)

Selfie sticks have been banned at Coachella and Lollapalooza. (Billboard)

Capital Punishment—a high-school punk band featuring Ben Stiller on drums—are reissuing their 1982 album Roadkill on the label Captured Tracks. (Pitchfork)

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