Celebrity Scoop – 04/24/2020

BEYONCE’S CHARITY BEYGOOD DONATES $6MILLION FOR CORONAVIRUS RELIEF PLAN – (04/24/2020)

Beyonce’s charity initiative BeyGOOD is living up to its name: the initiative announced an extensive coronavirus relief plan, focused on helping people who have been most affected by the pandemic. BeyGOOD has designated $6million in funding towards mental health and wellness services, partnering with UCLA and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey’s #startsmall initiative.

The initiative posted a statement on Bey’s official website, saying “Beyoncé’s BeyGOOD recognizes the immense mental and personal health burdens being placed on essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. In our major cities, African-Americans comprise a disproportionate number of workers in these indispensable occupations, and they will need mental health support and personal wellness care, including testing and medical services, food supplies and food deliveries, both during and after the crisis”.

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SELENA GOMEZ & NORMANI TEAM WITH SPOTIFY TO CURATE SPECIAL ‘AT HOME’ PLAYLISTS – (04/24/2020)

Selena Gomez and Normani have partnered with Spotify to curate special “at home” playlists designed to soundtrack what you’re most likely to be doing while self-isolating at home.

Selena’s playlist is “Cooking Together,” while Normani’s is “Working Out Together.”

For Selena’s cooking playlist, she’s chosen a selection of her own tracks as well as songs by her pals Taylor Swift and Julia Michaels, and her ex, The Weeknd. There are also tracks by Dua Lipa, Roddy Ricch, Post Malone, Rihanna, Bruno Mars, Cardi B and Rosalia, plus oldies from artists like Journey, Rod Stewart and Etta James.

Normani’s workout playlist includes tracks from Justin Timberlake, Drake, Missy Elliott, Lil Uzi Vert, Megan Thee Stallion, Drake, Sam Smith with Disclosure, Diplo, Rihanna and Kendrick Lamar.

Spotify has also put together artist-curated playlists for gaming, cleaning, meditating and more.

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Full Story: Billboard

FOO FIGHTERS LEAD CHARITY PERFORMANCE OF ‘TIMES LIKE THESE’ – (04/24/2020)

As advertised, BBC Radio One’s “Live Lounge” brought together some of the biggest names in music on Thursday (April 23rd) for an online group performance of the Foo Fighters hit “Times Like These.”

The collaboration featured the Foos’ Dave Grohl and Taylor Hawkins, joined by Royal Blood, Coldplay singer Chris Martin, Dua Lipa, Ellie Goulding, Yungblud, Bastille and others all performing the 2002 tune from their homes.

The video premiered on the BBC’s Big Night In special, while the song will be released as a charity single. Proceeds will support BBC Children In Need, Comic Relief, and the WHO’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.

Radio One head of music Chris Price said, “‘Times Like These: BBC Radio 1 Stay Home Live Lounge’ sends a simple message to the world — that the power of music and human creativity can overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles to build a sense of community, togetherness and determination, even when we are forced apart.”

Story source: Stereogum

SHAKIRA GRADUATES FROM UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY COURSE WHILE IN QUARANTINE: Shakira used her time in quarantine to learn something new. The 43-year-old singer revealed that she’s graduated from her University of Pennsylvania Ancient Philosophy course in a message on Twitter. “I just graduated from my 4 week Ancient Philosophy course with the University of Pennsylvania (@Penn). I know… my hobbies are very impractical, but it took a lot of hours after the kids were asleep. Thank you Plato and predecessors for all the ‘fun’ over the past month!” Shakira tweeted.

Taylor Swift Slams Big Machine Records Release Album Of Her Live Performances – (04/24/2020)

Taylor Swift posted to her Instagram Story to address the release of an album of music by Big Machine Records – the label she’s been publically feuding with since the summer of 2019 – which was apparently brought to her attention by fans.

Swift is upset the label released an album featuring her live performances titled Live From Clear Channel Stripped 2008. The eight-track live set features “Fearless,” “Love Story,” “Untouchable” and more and is available for streaming on Apple Music.

“I want to thank my fans for making me aware that my former record label is putting out an ‘album’ of live performances of mine tonight,” her message began. “This recording is from a 2008 radio show performance I did when I was 18.”

“I’m always honest with you guys about this stuff so I just wanted to tell you that this release is not approved by me,” the singer wrote. “It looks to me like [label owner] Scooter Braun and his financial backers, 23 Capital, Alex Soros and the Soros family and The Carlyle Group have seen the latest balance sheets and realized that paying $330 million for my music wasn’t exactly a wise choice and they need money.”

Swift’s comment was in reference to Braun’s purchase of the label that included the masters to Swift’s catalog, costing $300 million, according to Billboard.

Swift continued: “In my opinion… just another case of shameless greed in the time of Coronavirus. So tasteless, but very transparent.”

Meanwhile, Taylor posted a photo of one of her cats plopped down on a chair with her back legs splayed out in front of her, just like a human. She captioned it, “Captain Olivia Benson off duty like…”

The official Twitter account for Law & Order: SVU replied, “As you were, Captain.” with a thumbs-up emoji.

Two of Taylor’s cats, Olivia and Meredith, are named after two of her favorite TV characters: Capt. Olivia Benson of Law & Order: SVU and Dr. Meredith Grey of Grey’s Anatomy. 

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Full Story: NME

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