Music News 9.26.16

Rolling Stone Allows 1st Ever Outside Investor

After nearly 5 decades, Rolling Stone has allowed its first ever outside investor. After 15 months of negotiations, Rolling Stone founder Jann Wenner is selling 49% of the magazine to BandLab Technologies, a digital music startup based in Singapore. Wenner’s vision for the partnership is to expand Rolling Stone’s brand and presence into areas they haven’t quite been able to develop yet. Areas like live events, merchandising, and hospitality. All of this comes just ahead of Jann Wenner’s plan to pass the Rolling Stone torch to his son, current Head of Digital Operations Gus Wenner in conjunction with Rolling Stone’s 50th anniversary next year. (Stereogum)

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Buckwheat Zydeco Dies at 68 After Battle With Lung Cancer

World-famous Louisiana accordionist Buckwheat Zydeco passed away Saturday night in his hometown of Layfayette after battling lung cancer at the age of 68. Buckwheat Zydeco, real name Stanley Dural Jr., started his musical career as an organ player, but eventually took after his father by picking up an accordion and returning to his zydeco roots. Buckwheat was one of the few zydeco artists to ever see mainstream crossover success, opening for Eric Clapton on his 1988 North American tour, being the first zydeco act to be signed to a major label, and building a impressive and exhaustive list of prestigious shows including President Clinton’s inaugurations and the closing ceremonies of the 1996 Olympics. In 2009, Buckwheat Zydeco even picked up a Grammy for his album Lay Your Burden Down (at which point, he’d already won an Emmy too!). According to his manager, Buckwheat died at 1:32 AM Louisiana time, keeping musician’s hours right to the bitter end.” (Stereogum)

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-Taylor Wallace

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