Amazon Music Unlimited Prices to Increase for U.S. and U.K. Subscribers

Subscribers to Amazon Music Unlimited in the U.S. and U.K. will have to pay a higher price for the on-demand streaming service starting in February. According to Amazon’s customer service pages in both countries, subscribers to both individual and student plans will begin paying more starting Feb. 21.

In the U.S., Amazon Music Unlimited will increase from $9.99 to $10.99 for individual subscribers and climb from $4.99 to $5.99 for subscribers to the student plan. Likewise, U.K. prices will increase from 9.99 pounds to 10.99 pounds for individual subscribers and from 4.99 pounds to 5.99 pounds for student subscribers.

The e-commerce giant’s decision follows Apple’s move in October to charge higher prices for Apple Music as well as other cloud-based entertainment platforms and services. Apple Music also raised individual subscriptions from $9.99 to $10.99 per month in the U.S. It also increased the price of family plans, which offers up to six accounts under a single subscription, from $14.99 to $16.99 per month. Deezer, a small player in the U.S., raised the price of individual plans to $10.99 per month in 2022.

In May 2022, Amazon raised the price of Amazon Music Unlimited for Prime subscribers from $7.99 to $8.99 per month, and from $79 to $89 annually.

Spotify, the largest music subscription service, could soon follow suit. On the heels of Apple’s announcement, CEO Daniel Ek said during the company’s Oct. 25 earnings call that a U.S. price increase “is one of the things we would like to do.” Spotify has not raised its standard price from $9.99 since launching in the U.S. in 2011.

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David Crosby’s 10 Best Songs, With Crosby, Stills & Nash, The Byrds, Solo & Beyond

Some years ago, David Crosby lamented a lack of outlets for his songs.

“I’ve written so many things,” he explained while promoting in the early 2000s, when he felt he was experiencing a creative renaissance. “When you’re in a band they got tossed in with everybody else’s songs. And no record company wants to release as much music as I’m ready to. It’s a struggle, man — but I just keep writing and keep creating, and one day hopefully everything that I want to will come out.”

Despite that, we’ve heard plenty of songs over the years from Crosby, who died Thursday at 81.

Whether on his own or with The Byrds, Crosby, Stills & Nash (& Young), CPR and, most recently, the Lighthouse Band, Crosby’s idiosyncratic touch with a melody and a lyric was showcased in abundance. Intimate and personal, confounding and meaningful, he was a craftsman guided by a wide array of muses, stylistically and topically. He channeled Woody Guthrie and John Coltrane, Pete Seeger and Ravi Shankar, Bach and The Beatles. He made memorable music from political and social commentary, romantic longing (and, occasionally, fulfillment) and from the well-chronicled struggles with substances that periodically derailed his life.

Taken in total, Crosby’s body of work offered a lot to take in, but was always worth the effort. And from that big stash, these are 10 of the best, in alphabetical order

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GOT7’s Jinyoung Releases Long-Awaited Solo Album: Watch Sweet New Single ‘Cotton Candy’

GOT7 are barrier-breakers for K-pop artists on the charts and the Korean industry at large, so it’s an occasion whenever one of its members releases new music. Finally, the last member of the septet has released his first solo album after more than a decade on the scene.

Jan. 18 marks the release of Jinyoung’s debut solo album Chapter 0: WITH, the singer-actor’s first full music project. While the 28-year-old introduced himself to the world via acting and singing in 2012, and continued to juggle both careers performing as a member of GOT7 and starring in various TV and movies, the five-track EP marks his first official solo release. With the EP’s lyrics written entirely by Jinyoung, plus composition and production credits on almost every song, Chapter 0 sees the star returning to a comfortable place as the suave and soothing vocalist, songwriter and composer.

Chapter 0: WITH opens with lead single “Cotton Candy,” which lets Jinyoung’s silky vocals skip over effortlessly light pop production embellished with dreamy piano, bass and synthesizer elements. The accompanying music video delivers the track with a clean and fresh aesthetic, letting Jinyoung’s model-like good looks and elegantly smooth dance skills take center stage. It’s a warm welcome home for the boy-band member who gifted fans multiple new songs as well as choreography skills. 

Previously, Jinyoung had teased his return to the music with 2021’s rock-pop single “Dive,” released in Korean and Japanese, and scored him his first-ever solo entry on the World Digital Song Sales chart. While he was never too long without music, Jinyoung has concentrated on his flourishing acting career, including credits like the 2022 Netflix film Yaksha: Ruthless Operations and both seasons of the hit Korean TV drama Yumi’s Cell.

Jinyoung’s release is the latest indication that GOT7 fans have even more to look forward to as GOT7 hit a decade in the business. After Chapter 0, all seven members of GOT7 (which includes Jinyoung alongside Jay B, Mark Tuan, Jackson Wang, BamBam, Youngjae and Yugyeom) have all released solo EPs and albums to their name, while still staying together as a group (after the septet departed JYP Entertainment in early 2021, GOT7 released a comeback EP together under Warner Music Korea last May). Not only was it remarkable to see GOT7 return on a new label—especially when all seven moved to new K-pop management teams—but every member releasing successful solo projects points to the star power in all seven GOT7 members. 

Watch “Cotton Candy” below:

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Fall Out Boy Guitarist Joe Trohman Announces Break From the Band Ahead of New Album Release

The same day Fall Out Boy announced their upcoming eighth album, founding guitarist Joe Trohman posted a note to social media saying he’s taking a break from the band.

“Without divulging all the details, I must disclose that my mental health has rapidly deteriorated over the past several years,” Trohman wrote in a message posted to Fall Out Boy’s Instagram page. “So, to avoid fading away and never returning, I will be taking a break from work which regrettably includes stepping away from Fall Out Boy for a spell.”

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Trohman has been with the band since its early 2000s formation in the suburbs of Chicago, alongside singer Patrick Stump, bassist Pete Wentz and drummer Andy Hurley.

Earlier Wednesday, Fall Out Boy announced their eighth studio album, So Much (For) Stardust, out March 24, and released the LP’s first single, “Love From the Other Side.” Trohman plays on the new album but appears to be stepping away ahead of promotion around the project, including a performance scheduled for Wednesday night on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

“It pains me to make this decision, especially when we are releasing a new album that fills me with great pride (the sin I’m most proud of),” Trohman’s note continued. “So, the question remains: Will I return to the fold? Absolutely, one-hundred percent. In the meantime, I must recover which means putting myself and my mental health first.”

Trohman thanked his bandmates and family for “understanding and respecting this difficult, but necessary, decision.”

Read Troman’s full note below:

Neil Young once howled that it’s better to burn out than to fade away. But I can tell you unequivocally that burning out is dreadful. Without divulging all the details, I must disclose that my mental health has rapidly deteriorated over the past several years. So, to avoid fading away and never returning, I will be taking a break from work which regrettably includes stepping away from Fall Out Boy for a spell.

It pains me to make this decision, especially when we are releasing a new album that fills me with great pride (the sin I’m most proud of). So, the question remains: Will I return to the fold? Absolutely, one-hundred percent. In the meantime, I must recover which means putting myself and my mental health first. Thank you to everyone, including my bandmates and family, for understanding and respecting this difficult, but necessary, decision.

Smell you sooner than later,

Joe Trohman

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J. Cole Surprise Drops New Song ‘Procrastination (Broke)’

J. Cole is helping fans get through the week with a surprise drop.

Producer Bvtman unveiled the rapper’s new track “Procrastination (Broke)” on Wednesday night (Jan. 18), along with a text message from Cole, in which he notes that the song wasn’t meant to be released. However, he decided to drop it as a “thank you” to Bvtman and “every producer out there cooking up and sharing their work with the world.”

“It’s a million artists out there right now just like me, hungry and searching every day for something to spark a word, a melody, a hook, a verse, a punchline, a way to vent, or a way to cut through,” the text reads. “On a day when I couldn’t find much motivation, I was looking for anything to inspire me. Out of curiosity, I typed in ‘J. Cole type beat’ into YouTube. Yours was the first I saw. I pressed play, focused, and wrote this.”

Cole concluded by writing, “This is some s— that would normally stay in the vault, but I don’t want to hold onto the music like that no more. This is for you and whoever else need to hear it. God bless bro and keep doing what you do!”

The new song comes more than a year after J. Cole dropped his six studio album, The Off-Season, in 2021 via Dreamville/Roc Nation/Interscope. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart dated May 29, 2021. A number of his other albums, including KOD (2018), 4 Your Eyez Only (2016), 2014 Forest Hills Drive (2014), Born Sinner (2013) and Cole World: The Sideline Story (2011), also topped the Billboard 200.

Listen to “Procrastination (Broke)” below.

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Samsonite’s BTS ‘Butter’ Collection Is Almost Sold Out: Here’s What’s Still in Stock

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Following a successful launch overseas, the Samsonite RED BTS Butter Recipe Collection is now available in the U.S. and Canada. The 10-piece collection, which launched Stateside on Jan. 12, includes luggage, a backpack, a mini crossbody bag, a pouch bag, an expandable bag (available only in the U.S.) and a three-piece luggage tag set complete with images of melting butter.

The hardshell luggage ranges from $220 to $315 for carry-on and trunk-style options available in buttery yellow and midnight black. The luggage features printed graphic motifs and wheel caps channeling the “Butter” vibe. There’s also a DIY customization kit, so that BTS Army members can personalize their new suitcase with interchanging luggage handles, wheel caps and more.

The collection includes an expandable tote bag ($80) that transforms into a mini tote bag and features the “Butter” logo on the bottom, a pouch bag ($60), three-in-one luggage tags ($45) and a mini crossbody bag ($50).

BTS Butter & Samsonite RED Mini Crossbody Bag
$50
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Like other BTS merch, the Samsonite collection is nearly sold out, but there are a few pieces still available in limited quantiles like the mini crossbody and pouch bag.

In honor of the new campaign, Samsonite RED debuted a “Butter Recipe” campaign video inspired by the hit single.  BTS’ “Butter” topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 10 weeks and broke YouTube’s record for the biggest premiere of all time with nearly 4 million viewers. The “Butter” music video has since surpassed 810 million views on YouTube.

Of course, Samsonite isn’t the only major brand to release a collection celebrating one of the Bangtan Boys’ biggest hits. Nordstrom and Casetify are just two of the brands that have released collections inspired by “Butter.” Click here for more BTS merch that fans won’t be able to resist.

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