::THE SLICE REPORT WITH MONA AUSTIN

buzzz worthy. . . MIAMI, May 15, 2015  -- The Internet, which, many claim, has all but destroyed the music industry, has enabled music of countless independent artists to flourish. Online-based music production studio, GoranGrooves , has seized the opportunity to break physical borders by helping music makers from around the globe record, produce and mix their craft. Founded by session drummer / producer / audio engineer Goran Rista, they have been bringing world-class sound quality to singers/ songwriters, musicians and producers alike for the last 7 years. What started as a modest personal recording setup in Rista's bedroom in order to work on his own musical ideas, grew into a whole range of music production services aimed at independent music community around the world. Rista recalls: "When computers, software and recording equipment finally become capable and affordable, it was the beginning of a renaissance period for me. I soon realized that there had...

buzzz worthy. . . (NASHVILLE, Tennessee) -- Jimmy Needham fans are finding plenty to be thankful for this month, starting with the May 4th release of his seventh studio album, Vice & Virtue (Platinum Pop Records). The cinematic music video for the title track was released during street week, followed by the just-released lyric video for spoken word fan-favorite, "The Story." Needham describes "The Story" as the Gospel in five minutes. The Story was the first track I wrote for Vice & Virtue, says Needham. I actually wrote it as a piece for a friend's wedding. I've always loved slam poetry and have historically ended my albums with a spoken word track. This was the first time that we incorporated music into it. The music helped to really make it a piece of art I've never tried before. 

buzzz worthy. . . Friday, May 15, 2015 The name B.B King has been synonymous with the blues for more than 50 years. A 15-time GRAMMY winner and 1987 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, B.B. pioneered the electric blues as we know it today, and his prolific career has left an indelible mark on music and our culture. Undoubtedly one of the most influential and hardest working musicians of our time, his remarkable legacy will continue to inspire many generations to come. We have lost a true American treasure, and our deepest condolences go out to his family, friends, and fans around the world who have been entertained by his magnificent work. Neil Portnow President of the Recording Academy

buzzz worthy. . . The man who gave us blues, blues, and nuthin' but the blues for over six decades has passed away. Mississippi born, Riley B. King, known as blues titan B.B. King, a name synonymous with the genre, died peacefully while sleeping in his Las Vegas home on Thursday night.  His attorney, Brent Bryson confirmed his death. King was 89. On Facebook, Claudette King, the daughter of the legendary blues man left a simple statement on behalf of their family acknowledging his passing: "It is with great sadness that we relay on that Blues legend BB King has died in Las Vegas at the age of 89. The Family thanks you in advance for your condolences during this very delicate time and asks that all respect their privacy. Please remember him in your heart." ~Claudette "The Bluz Queen" King In a way, fans are mourning two losses today--King, the master of a signature one note ripping style of playing, and  Lucille -- a "talking" guita...

buzzz worthy. . . Universal Pictures ahs turned "Jem and the Holgrams" into an action movie. The Twitterverse is not reacting to it favorably. "Jem and the Holograms," stars Aubrey Peeples, Aurora Perrineau, Stefanie Scott, Hayley Kiyoko, Juliette Lewis, Ryan Guzman and Molly Ringwald, and will be in theaters on Oct. 23, 2015. Take a look a the trailer below.

buzzz worthy. . . #povertysummit By Mona Austin By Mona Austin The Fox News organization has profusely criticized President Barack Obama during both of his terms in office and at a event event Obama. At a poverty summit with experts and policy makers held at Georgetown University, Obama called out the conservative news media outlet for perpetuating racial stereotypes about Blacks. Hear what the president had to say in the video clip below. President Obama joined the conversation on poverty at the Catholic Evangelical Leadership Summit held at Georgetown University on Tuesday. In the talk the president pointed out poverty in America is an a-political issue that deserves the attention of both Democrats and Republicans.  He also addressed the link between poverty, race and class, saying essentially racial segregation and class segregation are now trading places. "Part of what's happened is elites in a very mobile globalized world are able to live together a...

buzzz worthy. . .#bouncetv        Los Angeles, CA -- May 12, 2015 --  Comedian Rudy Rush  will headline his very own one-hour special as part of Bounce TV's popular, family-friendly original comedy series " Off The Chain." " Off The Chain: Rudy Rush" premieres on Monday, May 18 at 9/8pm CT . " Off The Chain"  features some of the most hilarious African-American comedians on the stand-up scene. For season three, Bounce TV turns over the microphone to one comic per show, expanding to an hour-long format.   As a result of its success, Bounce TV recently announced that "Off The Chain" has been renewed for a fourth season, set to debut in 2016.   A veteran of the professional comedy circuit, Rudy Rush has experienced a wide spectrum of the entertainment business, from touring colleges and clubs to becoming the youngest host of the longest-running African-American syndicated show, Sh...

buzzz worthy. . . (FORT WAYNE, IN) -- Just a year after releasing his critically heralded national debut Awakening Hearts , worship artist Mike Lee returns June 16th with his brand new studio release, All I Need . Produced by Cody Norris, Scott Cash and Ed Cash (whose Dove Award-winning collaborations include Chris Tomlin, David Crowder and Kari Jobe), the new EP is a more stripped-down collection than his band-driven debut, providing a glimpse into his artistic, personal and spiritual growth. All I Need captures a tumultuous time for Lee, who spent the last year balancing touring and leading worship at his home church in Fort Wayne, Indiana with his job as a mixed martial arts trainer, in addition to newfound fatherhood and a life-changing diagnosis for his own father. Last May we released the first project, but I wrote the title track for this EP, All I Need, the same week, explains Lee. I'm not a believer in coincidence. The same day my first album cam...

buzzz worthy. . . DEFLATE GATE SOLUTION? An independent investigator concluded Tom Brady, the star quarterback of the Superbowl winning New England Patriots was likely aware that staff deflated footballs. Brady has been suspended for the first four games of the coming season. The league also announced the Patriots were fined $1 million and will lose their 2016 first-round draft pick and 2017 fourth-round draft pick. Some people are crying foul against the NFL for levying  "excessive" punishment for a practice that has gone on quietly in the sport for years.   The remedy for the "Deflate Gate" scandal is not sufficient.  The NFL is letting  Brady off too easy.  He only got suspended for 4 games (which will start in the 2015 season).  BRADY MAKES $40 million a year individually so the amount the team was fined was a splash in the pan.  The punishment is not sufficient for a player who tarnished the game. Cheating is not kosher. Fans don't know...

buzzz worthy. .#grammysocial SANTA MONICA, Calif. (May 11, 2015) — Music's Biggest Night ® , the 58th Annual GRAMMY Awards ® , returns to Los Angeles' STAPLES Center on Monday , Feb 15, 2016 and will be broadcast live in high-definition TV and 5.1 surround sound on the  CBS Television Network from 8 – 11:30 p.m. (ET/PT) . The eligibility year for the 58th Annual GRAMMY Awards is Oct. 1, 2014, to Sept. 30, 2015. GRAMMY Week — a weeklong series of cultural events culminating with Music's Biggest Night — will again feature celebrations of music, education and philanthropy, including the Entertainment Law Initiative ® luncheon, the Producers & Engineers Wing ® event, the annual MusiCares ® Person of the Year tribute, the Special Merit Awards Ceremony & Nominees Reception, and Clive Davis and The Recording Academy's Pre-GRAMMY Gala, among other events. The GRAMMY Awards telecast is one of television's major broadcast events, ranking as one ...