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Music News: TSA PreCheck providing ‘Fast Pass’ lanes at music festivals

by Staff

August 16, 2016

Haven't signed up for TSA PreCheck because you just don't fly that often? Well, now you have another incentive: people who have signed up for the expedited security program will be able to access certain music festivals and concerts via shorter lines, thanks to a partnership between promoter Live Nation and the company that handles PreCheck applications. Several upcoming festivals and shows featuring artists including Chance the RapperKanye West, and ZZ Top will have the expedited entry for PreCheck members. (Pitchfork)

The Man Who Fell to Earth soundtrack to be released for first time

As the classic David Bowie film The Man Who Fell to Earth returns to theaters this fall to mark its 40th anniversary, the movie's soundtrack will also be released — that's right, not reissued, but released for the very first time. The soundtrack, released digitally on Sept. 9 (the day of the film's re-release) and on vinyl on Nov. 18, will feature the film's score by John Phillips (of the Mamas and the Papas) and Stomu Yamash'ta. Bowie wrote music for the movie, but when the film's director Nicolas Roeg decided on a different sound, some of Bowie's music ended up on his album Low instead. (Consequence of Sound)

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Springsteen shares foreword to memoir

Bruce Springsteen has posted the foreword to his forthcoming memoir, Born to Run. The book, out Sept. 27, will be accompanied by a companion album that will include previously unreleased music from the Boss's early years. "I come from a boardwalk town where almost everything is tinged with a bit of fraud," the foreword begins. "So am I. By twenty, no race-car-driving rebel, I was a guitar player on the streets of Asbury Park and already a member in good standing amongst those who 'lie' in service of the truth . . . artists, with a small 'a.' But I held four clean aces. I had youth, almost a decade of hard-core bar band experience, a good group of homegrown musicians who were attuned to my performance style and a story to tell." (Billboard)

Remembering a jazz great

Jazz vibraphonist and bandleader Bobby Hutcherson has died at age 75 after being treated for emphysema. "Mr. Hutcherson’s career took flight in the early 1960s, as jazz was slipping free of the complex harmonic and rhythmic designs of bebop," notes the New York Times. "He was fluent in that language, but he was also one of the first to adapt his instrument to a freer postbop language, often playing chords with a pair of mallets in each hand."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OV6ZAdUuSlM

All in the family

Will Butler has released a new video for "Friday Night," the title track from his recent live album. The video features members of Butler's family (no, not his brother and Arcade Fire bandmate Win), traveling through time. (Pitchfork)

Congratulations to Ringo Starr, who's just welcomed his first great-grandchild. Starr's granddaughter Tatia Starkey (daughter of Zak Starkey, Starr's son and a longtime drummer for the Who) and her partner just had a son, Stone Zakomo Low. (Billboard)

Job opening of the day

Apple is hiring a "lyrics curation manager" to help develop a system for iPhone users to follow song lyrics as they listen. Among the job qualifications: "General understanding, love, and ideally, experience in writing lyrics." Oh, and "proficiency in Excel." (Billboard)

Beef of the day

Justin Bieber has taken down his Instagram account after being inundated with negative comments from fans of Selena Gomez — his ex-girlfriend, with whom he exchanged Instagram comments in which each claimed the other cheated during their relationship. Gomez later apologized via Snapchat: "What I said was selfish and pointless." (Billboard)

Phelps playlist

What was Michael Phelps listening to in the much-memed photograph of himself wearing headphones during the Rio Games? It turns out that the gold medalist's pre-competition playlist typically includes Eminem as well as songs by Skrillex (a remix of Nero’s "Promises") and Steve Aoki with Afrojack ("No Beef"). (Billboard)

Madonna celebrates Cuba-style

Madonna celebrated her 58th birthday in Cuba — dancing on a table. #lifegoals (Billboard)

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