The Daily Chord Weekly Recap – Friday, February 1

In music news this week, negotiation over Article 13 continued in Brussels, mystery artists on Spotify playlists prompted scrutiny, and the story of Willie's IRS tapes was retold. The Daily Chord updates every weekday with a handful of music news stories worth reading. Join our email list for a handy inbox reminder.

Monday, January 28

• The mystery tracks being 'forced' on Spotify users
  Story from BBC News
• Federal judge dismisses major labels' lawsuit against Russian stream-ripper
  Post from Billboard
• Tracey Thorn: 'Not everything you do is cool'
  Interview from The Guardian
• Take this test to figure out how tone-deaf you are
  Post from The Verge
• James Blake, Future, and the power of voice
  Review from Vulture
• NAMM 2019: Four who worked with Prince talk about what made him a legend
  Post from OC Register

Tuesday, January 29

• 'You're probably going to be replaced' - Digital music pioneer issues stark warning for the industry
  Post from BBC News
• Rare Ziggy Stardust footage hailed as the 'holy grail'
  Item from BBC News
• New initiative aims to develop an improved music industry in N.O.
  Post from WLOX
• I'm a 26-year-old black woman and I love Dave Matthews Band
  Essay from Noisey
• Spotify fake artists return - but who's faking plays within user accounts?
  Post from Music Business Worldwide
• Louis Messina on being awarded the CMA Touring Lifetime Achievement Award
  Post from Pollstar

Wednesday, January 30

• The music industry is fighting for its analog soul
  Post from The Verge
• James Ingram, Grammy-winning and chart-topping R&B singer, dies at 66
  Obituary from Billboard
• The lonely, and often risky pursuit of R. Kelly: 'Where was everybody else?'
  Story from NY Times
• Beatles, Peter Jackson to make film from 'Let It Be' sessions
  Post from Best Classic Bands
• Several top Pandora executives, including CEO Roger Lynch, will leave after its acquisition by SiriusXM
  Post from TechCrunch
• German court caps ticket resale price at 25% above face value, Viagogo responds
  Story from Pollstar

Thursday, January 31

• SoundExchange paid $953M to artists and labels last year - an all-time record
  Post from Music Business Worldwide
• Article 13, YouTube and what's really going on in Brussels
  Column from Billboard
• Edwin Birdsong, whose music was reborn in hip-hop, dies at 77
  Obituary from NY Times
• Marshmello is rumored to be playing a live set at Fortnite this weekend
  Post from NME
• 4 Instagram best practices for musicians in 2019
  List from Hypebot
• Fred Armisen announces tour
  Item from Pitchfork

Friday, February 1

• What happens when Cuban rockers and a Cuban-American country singer join forces
  Story from Miami Herald
• Harold Bradley, a Nashville studio master, is dead at 93
  Obituary from NY Times
• Skengdo and AM: The drill rappers sentenced for playing their song
  Profile from The Guardian
• Remember that crazy album the IRS made Willie Nelson release?
  Story from Vulture
• David Bowie's son blocks new biopic from using music
  Post from BBC News
• From Avril Lavigne to Wu-Tang, the 10 best music moment at Sundance
  List from Variety