Zack O'Malley Greenburg's Blog, page 58

Bands, Brands And The Convergence Of SXSW And CES

Well over 100,000 people descended on a city with a population under 1 million to attend a conference this month that spanned technology and entertainment. There was a convention center full of gear, brand logos splashed across nearly every available surface, and a quantity ofconcertsexceeded only by the amount of networking opportunities.

This describes the latest iteration of South By Southwest (SXSW), which has finally come to a close–but it could just as well apply to the International Co...

Snoop Dogg Talks Dr. Dre, HBO Deal And Willie Nelson At SXSW Keynote

If Dr. Dre hadn’t thrown a bachelor party for his friend about a quarter of a century ago, he might have never met Snoop Dogg—and Snoop Dogg might have still been toiling in Southern Californian hip-hop anonymity.

As the story goes, the music at the gatheringstopped and Snoop’s friend Warren G put on the rapper’s tape. The crowd loved it, and Dr. Dre asked for an introduction. The rest is hip-hop history. At least that’s how Snoop himself put it earlier today during his keynote conversation a...

Paul Krugman And Arcade Fire Agree: Touring Is The Key To Music Money

Nobel laureate Princeton professors aren’t known for declarations of agreementwith indie rock bands from Canada. But today at a South By Southwest panel dubbed The Celebrity Economy in Music, that’s exactly what happened.

Superstar economist Paul Krugman joined Edwin “Win” Butler and his brother Will–both members of Montreal-based Arcade Fire–in setting forth the belief that live music is, and will continue to be, where artists make the bulk of their bucks.

“It was always live performances,”...

With YouTube For Artists, Music-Data Connection Deepens

Earlier this morning, YouTube’s makeshift headquarters at South by Southwest hummed with activity as a handful of musicians strummed guitars and tested sound equipment. The venue’slineup this week includes War On Drugs, The Weeknd and FKA Twigs, but today all eyes were on something that should have more far-reaching implications than any of the aforementioned performances: YouTube For Artists.

The Google-backed video giant previewed part of the initiative–anew data tool, due out in the coming...

Six Reasons Empire’s Lucious Lyon Is A Terrible Label Boss

Empireis nearing the end of its much-ballyhooed first season, and itsnumbers are certainly making Fox look wisefor pouring vast sums of cash into marketing and promotion.

The show isthe first primetime broadcast in 23 years to experience audience growth during each of its five initial episodes; according to Fox Research, last week’s show was watched by 13.8 million people, up nearly 4 million from the debut. AndEmpireis breaking other kinds of barriers as well.

“I think you’re seeing shows with...

Why Airport Security Almost Confiscated Wu-Tang’s Secret Album Box

The box that has housed the Wu-Tang Clan’s secret album for much of the past year recently arrived at MoMA PS1 in Queens, carried by a white-gloved porter and flanked by security guards–but it almost didn’t make it through customs.

That was just one of the takeaways from an event at MoMA last night where album producer Cilvaringz joined Wu-Tang ringleader RZA to publicly discuss the album and play a 13 minute sampler in front of a crowd of journalists, art aficionados and lucky fans, all of wh...

Wu-Tang Clan Set To Release Secret Album–In 88 Years, Give Or Take

see photosIlja Meefout

Click for full photo gallery: An Inside Look At The Wu-Tang Clan's Secret Album

The Wu-Tang Clan went seven years between the release of its last two albums. That may seem like a long time, but not when compared to the likely wait for the next one: 88 years.

According to producer Cilvaringz, that’s how long it will be before the eventual buyer of the lone copy of the group’s secret double album, The Wu: Once Upon A Time In Shaolin, canrelease the LP commercially.

“After 88...

Leonard Nimoy, Of ‘Star Trek’ Spock Fame, Dies At 83

Leonard Nimoy, who gained a fond international following for playing the role of Spock onStar Trek, has died in Los Angeles. He was 83 years old.

His widow, Susan Bay Nimoy, confirmedto the New York Timesthat the cause was end stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He’d been hospitalized earlier this month.

Much like the Spock character, Nimoy exuded calm dignity all the way to the end of his life, and seemed to be at peace even as his health declined.

“A life is like a garden,” he tweeted...

Weird Al Yankovic’s Business Plan: No More Albums

Earlier this month, a legendary singer-songwriter stood before a group of reporters gathered to cover the Grammys at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, and held court.

The musician, who had just won his fourth Grammy–and has sold over 12 million recordsin his 39-year career–was not an arena rocker or Vegas crooner, but Albert Matthew Yankovic, better known as Weird Al.

“It’s great to be nominated because it means I get to go to the show,” he said, grinning. “I get to hang out with my peers and...

Oscar Winners That Overcame The (Betting) Odds

see photosJohn Shearer/Invision/AP

Click for full photo gallery: Full List: Winners Of The 2015 Academy Awards

The 87th Academy Awards are over, capping a night where some of Hollywood’s brightest stars went home with affirmation in the form of little golden statues–or, at least, with the promise of such an object being delivered to them in short order.

Few of those actors and filmmakers, however, should have been surprised by the awards they did or didn’t receive: online oddsmakerssuccessfully...