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Today’s Music News: The year’s least rare album turns into Record Store Day’s most rare vinyl

by Staff

April 21, 2015

Many artists released limited-edition vinyl on Saturday for Record Store Day—and unsurprisingly, some collectors ran straight for their laptops instead of their turntables, looking to flip their finds on eBay for a quick profit. Stereogum lists ten of the most lucrative, including discs from Bob DylanPhish, and Brand New. The single most lucrative record flip Stereogum found, though, was ironically a limited edition of the year's most infamously inexpensive album: U2's Songs of Innocence.

At least a couple of U.K. fans hoping to scoop vinyl copies of that album were surprised, however, when out of the sleeves came not Songs of Innocence but rather Opiate, a 1992 EP by Tool. (Billboard)

John Lennon's solo catalog will be mined for an eight-record box set. Lennon, to be released on June 9, will include vinyl copies of eight of the ex-Beatle's solo albums from John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band to Milk and Honey. (Rolling Stone)

Is the Unplugged era making a comeback? The Smashing Pumpkins have also announced their first-ever acoustic tour, which will cross the U.S. in June. (Rolling StoneWilliam Corgan and company will conclude the tour on June 25 at the Pantages Theatre in Minneapolis.

Lianne La Havas released new single "Unstoppable" and announced a new album: Blood will be released this summer. (Nonesuch) La Havas's was the spoken voice heard on last year's Prince album ART OFFICIAL AGE.

Spotify is now valued at over $8 billion—more than the annual revenue of the entire American recording industry. (Consequence of Sound)

Phil Rudd, the former drummer of AC/DC, has now pleaded guilty to New Zealand charges of threatening to kill and possessing meth and weed. The case has been adjourned until June 26. (Billboard)

Wisconsin's Amanda Palmer left some fans incredulous when she said she only "broke even" on a $1.2 million Kickstarter. She said the real purpose of that Kickstarter was to get fans to support her on the crowdfunding network Patreon, where supporters receive regular premiums in exchange for monthly donations. (Stereogum)

Blackalicious are also turning to crowd-funding: they launched a PledgeMusic campaign to fund their first new album in a decade. Premiums include a signed touring mixer ($2,500) and a cupcake ($17). (Rolling Stone)

Blackalicious cupcake

The newest in the long and distinguished line of Scooby-Doo guest stars are Kiss, who will appear in a forthcoming animated film called Scooby-Doo! & Kiss: Rock & Roll Mystery. (Billboard)

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