Madonna says Tidal streaming device still working out the kinks
Madonna, who co-owns Tidal with Jay Z, Beyonce and others, says it’s just the beginning for the streaming service that’s had some troubles since its launch in March.
“It’s just the beginning, so we’re working out a lot of kinks and hopefully we’re going to build something unique and amazing that’s going to attract a lot of people,” the 56-year-old singer said in a recent interview.
Tidal, which offers a basic subscription for $10 a month, hasn’t made a splash like its announcement did a few months ago, when Rihanna, Kanye West, Daft Punk, Nicki Minaj, Jack White and others stood onstage in solidarity along with Madonna, Beyonce and Jay Z.
“It’s important that people understand we didn’t create Tidal, we didn’t put this together, we didn’t all join forces because we’re broke and we want more money. The idea is we want to support other artists and we want people to understand this is our heart, this is our work, and we want people to recognize that and we want other artists to have a chance,” Madonna said.
Jackson patriarch suffers stroke
Joe Jackson, the father of the late Michael Jackson and patriarch of the musical family, suffered a stroke while visiting Brazil and was hospitalized in the intensive care unit of a Sao Paulo hospital, the facility said Monday.
The Albert Einstein hospital said in an emailed statement that Jackson was admitted on Sunday afternoon and was suffering from an irregular heartbeat. It did not provide any further details about Jackson’s condition.
But one of the organizers of a party that brought Jackson to Brazil for his 87th birthday on Sunday said he was doing well.
Jackson has suffered minor strokes in the past, including one in 2012.
Trial set in Chappelle peel-tossing
The man accused of throwing a banana peel at comedian Dave Chappelle during a New Mexico performance is headed to court.
Assistant District Attorney Anastasia Martin told the Santa Fe New Mexican on Monday that jury selection is scheduled for Sept. 23 for the trial of Christian Englander.
Englander, 31, who is white, has been charged with disturbing the peace and battery after the fruit-throwing disturbance in March while Chappelle was onstage at the Lensic Performing Arts Center in Santa Fe.
Englander had acknowledged throwing a peel from a banana he had eaten earlier because he took offense to jokes that Chappelle, who is African-American, made about his companion, according to police.
The case has taken on racial overtones and attracted widespread attention after Chappelle said throwing the banana peel was a racist act.
The birthday bunch
Actor Darryl Hickman is 84. “Garfield” creator Jim Davis is 70. Actress Sally Struthers is 68. Actress Georgia Engel is 67. Rock musician Steve Morse (Deep Purple) is 61. Actress Elizabeth Berkley is 43. Singer Afroman is 41. Rapper Soulja Boy is 25.