The Coronavirus Thread Of Good News

[Flex]

I have no argument at this point. I've had many students ask me why I don't have a lecture on metal and I've explained, truthfully, I just didn't have a social angle to tie it to. But I've wanted to do something on religion and rock, so I'm going to try figure out something about heavy metal and Satanism. The whole thing might get abandoned—I tried to do something on Cyndi Lauper and Madonna and feminism and gave up because I just couldn't frame it in an interesting way—but I'll spend a few months accumulating research and see what happens.

i mean, it's not exactly inspirational, but the norwegian black metal scene is obviously teeming with social angles for discussion.

[revbob]

Thrash Metal Drummer Awakens from Coronavirus Coma, Doesn't Think Satan Is That Cool Anymore

https://www.gq.com/story/coronavirus-satan-not-cool

I've started assembling material to write a lecture on Satanism and metal and came across this. Fucking wimp gives up his faith really easily.

The headline is right out of Hard Times

[Dr. Medulla]

I have no argument at this point. I've had many students ask me why I don't have a lecture on metal and I've explained, truthfully, I just didn't have a social angle to tie it to. But I've wanted to do something on religion and rock, so I'm going to try figure out something about heavy metal and Satanism. The whole thing might get abandoned—I tried to do something on Cyndi Lauper and Madonna and feminism and gave up because I just couldn't frame it in an interesting way—but I'll spend a few months accumulating research and see what happens.

i mean, it's not exactly inspirational, but the norwegian black metal scene is obviously teeming with social angles for discussion.

That's getting a bit too esoteric for a lecture and with pretty mainstream kids, I think. I'm kind of drawn to playing around with how critics and fans each want to tie metal to the devil, but what does any of that even mean when it's not that serious? The fun of scaring parents, who, goaded by evangelical snakeoil salesmen, properly respond? But why the devil? Ultimately, there's some kind of weird mutual interest in playing with occult iconography and that it falls almost exclusively within metal—why? Further curiosity: metal went mainstream in the 80s at the same time as a big ol' Satanism fear more generally. Is there a link to be asserted there?

[Sparky]

Guess team Q isn't immune from the democratic hoax after all.

https://www.newsweek.com/unvaccinated-q ... id-1672099

[Sparky]

I've always admired Neil Young for sticking to his principles. He's willing to forgo some of his income in order to call attention to the lunacy that is Joe Rogan.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/joe-rogan- ... 00-10abd1h

[Dr. Medulla]

I've always admired Neil Young for sticking to his principles. He's willing to forgo some of his income in order to call attention to the lunacy that is Joe Rogan.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/joe-rogan- ... 00-10abd1h

Well, he's got a shit ton of money—he just sold his catalogue for $100M+—and it's not like Spotify royalties amount to much. Its only real value to artists is exposure and he doesn't need that. But pulling his songs does deprive the company of some revenue and perhaps might inspire other artists to do the same. It's a fine principle and all, but more practically it's just a gesture.

[revbob]

I've always admired Neil Young for sticking to his principles. He's willing to forgo some of his income in order to call attention to the lunacy that is Joe Rogan.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/joe-rogan- ... 00-10abd1h

Unfortunately Spotify is likely to side with Joe Rogan over phony free speech concerns. They make a ton of money off Rogan and his incel army of supporters.

[Sparky]

I've always admired Neil Young for sticking to his principles. He's willing to forgo some of his income in order to call attention to the lunacy that is Joe Rogan.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/joe-rogan- ... 00-10abd1h

Unfortunately Spotify is likely to side with Joe Rogan over phony free speech concerns. They make a ton of money off Rogan and his incel army of supporters.

I was reading that Rogan program has 11 million listeners, so I agree, they'll side with Rogan, but if more artists took this position I could see it having an impact on Spotify.

[Flex]

I agree with doc's assessment that it's mostly a gesture, but I guess it illustrates how most artists (at least the ones who can afford it) aren't even willing to engage in a small gesture towards decency. Good on Neil, says I.

[revbob]

I agree with doc's assessment that it's mostly a gesture, but I guess it illustrates how most artists (at least the ones who can afford it) aren't even willing to engage in a small gesture towards decency. Good on Neil, says I.

Yeah absolutely, would like to see some other big names follow suit.

[Low Down Low]

I've always admired Neil Young for sticking to his principles. He's willing to forgo some of his income in order to call attention to the lunacy that is Joe Rogan.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/joe-rogan- ... 00-10abd1h

Well, he's got a shit ton of money—he just sold his catalogue for $100M+—and it's not like Spotify royalties amount to much. Its only real value to artists is exposure and he doesn't need that. But pulling his songs does deprive the company of some revenue and perhaps might inspire other artists to do the same. It's a fine principle and all, but more practically it's just a gesture.

So he still obviously retains some control even though he sold the rights? Either way, I'm down with it as a simple gesture.

[Dr. Medulla]

I've always admired Neil Young for sticking to his principles. He's willing to forgo some of his income in order to call attention to the lunacy that is Joe Rogan.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/joe-rogan- ... 00-10abd1h

Well, he's got a shit ton of money—he just sold his catalogue for $100M+—and it's not like Spotify royalties amount to much. Its only real value to artists is exposure and he doesn't need that. But pulling his songs does deprive the company of some revenue and perhaps might inspire other artists to do the same. It's a fine principle and all, but more practically it's just a gesture.

So he still obviously retains some control even though he sold the rights? Either way, I'm down with it as a simple gesture.

I'm not sure how these sales go. It seems weird to think they'd completely divest all rights.

edit: He sold 50% of publishing rights.
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/06/neil-yo ... -fund.html

[Low Down Low]

I've always admired Neil Young for sticking to his principles. He's willing to forgo some of his income in order to call attention to the lunacy that is Joe Rogan.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/joe-rogan- ... 00-10abd1h

Well, he's got a shit ton of money—he just sold his catalogue for $100M+—and it's not like Spotify royalties amount to much. Its only real value to artists is exposure and he doesn't need that. But pulling his songs does deprive the company of some revenue and perhaps might inspire other artists to do the same. It's a fine principle and all, but more practically it's just a gesture.

So he still obviously retains some control even though he sold the rights? Either way, I'm down with it as a simple gesture.

I'm not sure how these sales go. It seems weird to think they'd completely divest all rights.

edit: He sold 50% of publishing rights.
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/06/neil-yo ... -fund.html

Interesting piece. Seems to be a good measure of integrity on both sides there, I mean of course relative to what you normally expect from the music business.

[Sparky]

I've always admired Neil Young for sticking to his principles. He's willing to forgo some of his income in order to call attention to the lunacy that is Joe Rogan.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/joe-rogan- ... 00-10abd1h

Well, he's got a shit ton of money—he just sold his catalogue for $100M+—and it's not like Spotify royalties amount to much. Its only real value to artists is exposure and he doesn't need that. But pulling his songs does deprive the company of some revenue and perhaps might inspire other artists to do the same. It's a fine principle and all, but more practically it's just a gesture.

So he still obviously retains some control even though he sold the rights? Either way, I'm down with it as a simple gesture.

I'm not sure how these sales go. It seems weird to think they'd completely divest all rights.

edit: He sold 50% of publishing rights.
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/06/neil-yo ... -fund.html

Maybe he used the money to buy in on Lionel trains, which makes me respect him even more.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/ ... 5ab29fc70/

[Dr. Medulla]

I've always admired Neil Young for sticking to his principles. He's willing to forgo some of his income in order to call attention to the lunacy that is Joe Rogan.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/joe-rogan- ... 00-10abd1h

Well, he's got a shit ton of money—he just sold his catalogue for $100M+—and it's not like Spotify royalties amount to much. Its only real value to artists is exposure and he doesn't need that. But pulling his songs does deprive the company of some revenue and perhaps might inspire other artists to do the same. It's a fine principle and all, but more practically it's just a gesture.

So he still obviously retains some control even though he sold the rights? Either way, I'm down with it as a simple gesture.

I'm not sure how these sales go. It seems weird to think they'd completely divest all rights.

edit: He sold 50% of publishing rights.
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/06/neil-yo ... -fund.html

Maybe he used the money to buy in on Lionel trains, which makes me respect him even more.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/ ... 5ab29fc70/

Heh. Well, it was 25 years ago, but still, what a strange thing to buy. I really don't care much for NY music, apart from a few songs, but he's a wonderfully weird guy. Plus he championed Devo in the late 70s, so that's permanent good guy status.