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We've got a couple of pieces of good news for music fans who listen to podcasts — that's you, right?

First of all, the Pixies are planning a podcast to document the making of their new album. The album, which doesn't have a title yet, is coming out in September, but it was recorded last month in upstate New York. A podcast called "Past Is Prologue, Pixies" will launch on June 27, with one new episode each week leading up to the album's release (Rolling Stone).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mk2Z270Xxcs

Singer-songwriters Aimee Mann and Ted Leo are also launching a podcast. On Twitter, Leo explained that "We talk to a broad array of ppl from many backgrounds and many regions of the creative spectrum about how, in these times, they remain creative while navigating the labyrinth of abandon, depression, elation, inspiration, and most importantly for us, work, structures, process."

The first two episodes, featuring comedian Wyatt Cenac and Rebecca Sugar, creator of Cartoon Network's Steven Universe, come out on Monday, with a new episode to follow each week. Mann and Leo must have discovered that they got along pretty well during the course of their musical collaboration, called the Both. (Pitchfork)

Crowdfunding campaign supports restaurateur who was financially devastated by failed Fyre Festival

Two new documentaries about the famously failed Fyre Festival are drawing attention to the Bahamanians who were counting on revenue from the event to recoup money they spent preparing for it. Among them is a 55-year-old restaurant owner named MaryAnn Rolle, who was featured in the Netflix documentary about the festival. She says the festival founders owe her over $130,000 and that her credit has been ruined. In response, a crowdfunding campaign has raised over $170,000 to support Rolle. In a note thanking donors, Rolle also shared an apt piece of advice: "Be mindful of strangers." (New York Times)

Artists donate concert tickets to federal employees during shutdown

Over 800,000 employees of the federal government are currently furloughed or working without pay as President Trump continues to spar with Congress over his proposed border wall. In response, a number of music artists are offering federal employees free concert tickets or other support.

Several symphony orchestras are offering free tickets, including the New York Philharmonic and the Minnesota Orchestra. The producers of Beautiful are offering free Broadway tickets to their jukebox musical, which features the songs of Carole King. Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of KISS are offering free meals to TSA workers at their chain of Rock & Brews restaurants.

And Nile Rodgers is giving away 600 Chic concert tickets. In a statement, the star guitarist referred to the 1979 hit he co-wrote for Sister Sledge. "In one of my biggest songs I wrote, 'We Are Family, I've got all my sisters with me,' I consider all of these people to be my brothers and sisters and I hope this lets them know that we are 100% behind them." (Billboard)

Courtney Love celebrates a quarter-century of Bikini Kill beef

An infamous '90s alt-rock beef is still going strong, Courtney Love demonstrated as she once again threw shade at Bikini Kill. Love's enmity for Bikini Kill frontwoman Kathleen Hanna has been well-documented since at least Lollapalooza 1995, when Love either threw some candy or threw a punch, depending on which version of the story is true.

Now that Bikini Kill have announced a highly-anticipated reunion, Love is stirring up drama in the comments. On Bust Magazine's Instagram, Love said she was "triggered" and called Bikini Kill the "biggest hoax in the history of rock and roll," among other derogatory comments. So far, Hanna and Bikini Kill, widely considered the defining band of the Riot Grrrl movement, are taking the high road and declining to respond. (Pitchfork)

Widely sampled keyboardist Edwin Birdsong dies at 77

You may not recognize the name of Edwin Birdsong, but you've appreciated his artistry if you've heard songs like De La Soul's "Me Myself and I," or Gang Starr's "Skillz," or Daft Punk's "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger."

All of those cuts sample the music of the jazz and funk keyboardist, who has just died at the age of 77. The Juilliard-trained artist was a busy session player who collaborated with the likes of Stevie Wonder, and his work as a solo artist has long been a go-to source for producers seeking sweet samples. Here's his 1979 track "Cola Bottle Baby," which was sampled by Daft Punk for the song you just heard. (Rolling Stone)

Taylor Swift checks in from the set of Cats

If you weren't paying close attention during the Golden Globes, you may have wondered why Taylor Swift was co-presenting with Idris Elba. The answer: they're both cast members in the upcoming film adaptation of George W. Bush's favorite Broadway musical.

Yes, I'm talking about Cats, the 1981 Andrew Lloyd Webber musical based on a poem collection by T.S. Eliot. Swift is playing Bombalurina, a character Wikipedia describes as "a red queen with an interest in the Rum Tum Tugger" who's also a member of the "Gumbie trio."

Obviously I haven't actually seen Cats, but clearly now I'm going to have to because the movie's also going to star Jennifer Hudson, Rebel Wilson, James Corden, Dame Judi Dench, and Gandalf himself, Sir Ian McKellen.

We're talking about this today because today's viral clip comes courtesy of Swift's Instagram, where she revealed her character casting but didn't give too much more away. (Billboard)

https://twitter.com/TSUpdatesNY/status/1087752773633040386

Here's "Macavity: The Mystery Cat," a song Swift's character sings about Elba's character.

The film is scheduled for release on Dec. 20.

Audio sampled in podcast
Jahzzar: "Comedie" (CC BY 4.0)
BoxCat Games: "Against the Wall" (CC BY 3.0)
The Both: "You Can't Help Me Now"
Audiobinger: "Good Times" (CC BY NC 4.0-02)
Carole King and Louise Goffin: "Where You Lead"
Kiss: "Rock and Roll All Nite"
Sister Sledge: "We Are Family"
BoxCat Games - "Epic Song" (CC BY 3.0)
Daft Punk: "Better Harder Faster"
Edwin Birdsong: "Cola Bottle Baby"
Cats (Original London Cast Recording): "Macavity the Mystery Cat"