Need to catch up on the hottest stories in music? Check out the latest with this week’s On the Radar.
Pink shows why she’s awesome with touching VMA speech
The VMAs were pretty lackluster, as usual, but one moment that got everyone buzzing was Pink’s Michael Jackson Video Vanguard acceptance speech. She took to the stage and shared a story about her daughter saying she’s ugly because she looks like a boy. After joking about kicking a six-year’s old ass, she continued:
“But I didn’t say anything. Instead, I went home and I made a Powerpoint presentation for her. And in that presentation were androgynous rockstars and artists that live their truth, are probably made fun of every day of their life, and carry on, wave their flag and inspire the rest of us. And these are artists like Michael Jackson and David Bowie and Freddie Mercury and Annie Lennox and Prince and Janis Joplin and George Michael, Elton John, so many artists — her eyes glazed over.”
After pointing out all the critique the singer gets for being too outspoken or masculine, she ended her speech saying “And you, my darling girl, are beautiful, and I love you. Thank you, MTV. This is a really special night. Thank you, Ellen. I couldn’t love you more. Thank you guys. Goodnight.”
Her speech reminds us now more than ever how important it is to be body positive. And if you don’t look everyone else, it’s something that should be embraced rather than shunned. You go, Pink!
Taylor Swift fights back against scalpers with asinine pay-to-play program
With ticket bots, sites like StubHub, and scalpers, it’s harder for fans to get their hands on tickets. Many artists have tried taking matters into their own hands with tactics like paperless tickets. Taylor Swift is joining the fight, but her method is problematic. Last week, Swift announced she partnered with Ticketmaster’s Verified Fan program to help fight against scalpers. There’s nothing wrong with this program itself; it’s the how-to that’s a problem.
In order to hold a place in line, fans are encouraged to pre-order her album, buy other Swift merchandise, and event promote her online. The more you buy, the better your chances are to get a better spot. This means you can buy her album multiple times, only from big box resellers. And if you want to make sure you want to get it on the release date, you have to shell out an extra $48.03 driving up the cost to a stunning $63.03.
This is a disgusting practice for someone who supposedly cares about her fans. This system benefits those wealthy enough to buy loads of Swift merchandise, while others who can only earn points by watching her video don’t stand a chance. It’s bad enough that many of her fans will fall for it, since her fan base is comprised of young girls.
We’re not saying artists don’t deserve to make money, but ticket prices are expensive enough, especially with Ticketmaster’s ridiculous service fees. Asking fans to buy merch just to hold a place in line, not even guarantee tickets, just makes Swift look greedy. And, thankfully, other artists are calling her out for it. Hopefully, this isn’t a trend other artists choose to follow.
Red Bull Sound Select reveals 30 Days in Chicago lineup
Red Bull Sound Select announced who they’ve lined up for their 30 Days in Chicago series and there are some killer acts. Young Thug, Migos, Lil Yachty, Kehlani, and Khalid will all perform during this event.
Other acts include Alice Glass, Jorja Smith, Daniel Caesar, SiR, Mitski, and Smino. More acts will be announced in the coming weeks. Check out the complete lineup here.
Starting November 1 concerts happen almost daily for the rest of the month. Things kick off with Young Thug at the Metro and wrap up with Lil Yachty at the Riviera Theater on November 30.
Tickets for Sound Select shows are normally $15 or less before fees and taxes. Purchase tickets by signing up for Red Bull Sound Select, which is free.
Upcoming Shows
Pink plays the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre in Tinley Park September 9. Don’t miss out; get tickets here.
Spend the evening with Ms. Lauryn Hill and Nas with special guest Chronixx at the Huntington Bank Pavilion on September 7. You still have time to grab tickets.
Show support for suicide prevention and mental health with Mastodon, Brain Tentacles, and Powermad at the Metro September 9. Find tickets here.
Rock out with legends Deep Purple and Alice Cooper on September 6 at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre in Tinley Park. Grab tickets here.
Chicago Artist Spotlight: Tee Spirit
Tee Spirit is a 23-year old emcee who’s been performing poetry for a long time but only launched her rap career last year. Hailing from the West Side of Chicago, Tee decided to start turning her poetry into music leading to the birth of her rap career. And she’s already making waves in the scene.
Earlier this year she dropped two singles: “Don’t Lie” and “Home.” Right off the bat, you can hear her talent for lyrical wordplay and her intense flow that dares to be reckoned with. Currently, she’s working on her full-length project, Womyn, slated to come out later this year. For now, make sure to check out her music on SoundCloud and watch the video for “Run” above.