Links to the past, with relevance today:
L.A. TIMES: A deep dive into the battle to control Nichelle Nichols, 88, via a conservatorship. The aging legend is suffering from dementia, and has her only child as her conservator; a former manager and a friend object.
PEOPLE: Simon Gallup leaves the Cure after 40 years with the band.
VARIETY: A remembrance of the late Nanci Griffith, who died at 68 last week.
TWITTER: The music video for Rick Astley's 1987 mega-hit "Never Gonna Give You Up" — powered by a neverending Rick-rolling trend — has turned 1 billion views old.
MADONNA.COM: Madonna, Queen of Pop, is acting like it — and taking all her 17 albums and umpteen singles and special projects back to Warner, where her legacy will be shored up beginning in 2022. Via statement:
"2022 will mark the 40th anniversary of Madonna’s recording debut. This new deal heralds the launch next year of an extensive, multi-year series of catalog releases that will revisit the groundbreaking music that made her an international icon. For the first time, Madonna will personally curate expansive deluxe editions for many of her landmark albums, as well as introduce unique releases for special events, and much more. The series of releases will be overseen by Warner Music’s catalog team, led by Kevin Gore, President of Global Catalog, Recorded Music, with the first release to be announced soon.
"This monumental deal was executed by Madonna’s longtime manager Guy Oseary at Maverick, Allen Grubman of Grubman Shire Meiselas & Sachs P.C., her business manager Richard Feldstein of NKSFB, and Max Lousada, CEO, Recorded Music, Warner Music Group.
"Madonna said: 'Since the very beginning, Warner Music Group has helped bring my music and vision to all my fans around the world with the utmost care and consideration. They have been amazing partners, and I am delighted to be embarking on this next chapter with them to celebrate my catalogue from the last 40 years.'”
EW: Debra Winger talked (again — this was a widely reported story 30 years ago) about leaving A League of Their Own because she felt casting Madonna would make it "an Elvis movie." The movie went on to become a classic, and is preserved in the Library of Congress for its importance. Also, Madonna was great in that movie. And happy 63rd to Madonna today!
