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Today’s Music News: Meryl Streep sings new Jenny Lewis song

by Staff

July 23, 2015

In the new movie Ricki and the Flash, written by Diablo Cody and directed by Jonathan Demme (Stop Making Sense), Meryl Streep plays a rock star who reunites with her family. In the movie, she sings songs by Bruce Springsteen ("My Love Will Not Let You Down"), Tom Petty ("American Girl"), and Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs ("Wooly Bully") in addition to "Cold One," a new song written specifically for the film by Jenny Lewis and Johnathan Rice. Watch a clip of Streep singing "Cold One" at Pitchfork.

Senator Al Franken has called for a federal investigation of Apple over possible anti-competitive behavior involving Apple Music and the iOS app store. "Increased competition in the music streaming market should mean that consumers will ultimately benefit through more choices of better products and at lower prices," wrote Franken in a letter to the U.S. attorney general and the FTC chairwoman. "I am concerned, however, that Apple's position as a dominant platform operator may actually undermine many of the potential consumer benefits of its entry into the market." (Billboard)

Chris Mars (formerly of the Replacements), Sharon Van Ettenthe Flaming LipsLissie, and more artists are set to contribute to an upcoming Donovan tribute album that will raise money for charity. There are a number of local artists on the album—among them Jillian RaeSavannah SmithLittle Man, and Astronautalis. Gazing with Tranquility: A Tribute to Donovan will be released Oct. 16. (Rolling Stone)

Bob DylanB.B. King, and Jack White are among the artists who will appear in Born in Chicago, a new documentary about the Chicago blues. The film's producers have just launched a PledgeMusic campaign to secure rights to music and archival footage used in the film. (Rolling Stone)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKG100xkeQ0

Don Joyce of Negativland has died of heart failure at age 71. Group member Ian Allen also died recently. (Billboard)

If you're going to remake the Roots miniseries, who better to produce the music than...the Roots? Or at least one of them: Questlove will serve as executive producer of the music for A&E's eight-hour series, which is expected to air next year. (Pitchfork)

James Franco is co-writing a book of creative writing about Lana Del Rey. The 100-page Flip-Side: Real and Imaginary Conversations With Lana Del Rey will be published on March 15. (Rolling Stone)

Rare letters by John Lennon and Jim Morrison are garnering high bids at an online auction. (Rolling Stone)

On Friday, Seattle radio station KEXP is dedicating a full day of programming to the Beastie Boys album Paul's Boutique. In addition to the entire album and some bonus tracks and demos, the station will play 115 songs sampled on the record. (Rolling Stone)

31% of Millennials say that when they go to live events—like concerts—they spend over half the time at the show using their smartphones. (Billboard)

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