Donald Trump’s renaming of the Kennedy Center has led to multiple artists canceling their performances, creating financial and reputational damage to the institution. The Cookers, Chuck Redd, Kristy Lee, and Doug Varone and Dancers are among those who have withdrawn, citing the political implications of Trump’s action. Ric Grenell, the center’s head, has responded with threats of lawsuits and attacks on the artists, while Senate Democrats investigate him for alleged misconduct. The Kennedy Center’s revenue has plummeted since Trump’s intervention, exacerbating the fallout from the controversy.
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Following the Kennedy Center board’s decision to rename the venue the Trump-Kennedy Center, several artists have canceled their performances in protest. New York Dance Company Doug Varone and Dancers, the Cookers, and Kristy Lee are among those who have withdrawn. Kennedy Center President Richard Grenell has responded, criticizing the artists’ actions and claiming the previous leadership favored “far left political activists.” These cancellations add to a growing list of performances, including those by Issa Rae, that were previously canceled earlier this year, citing concerns about the center’s values.
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While AI music generators haven’t taken over the charts, disturbingly realistic AI songs are subtly infiltrating listeners’ experiences. These tracks are often hidden in playlists alongside authentic music, created by AI artists with fabricated online presences. The Velvet Sundown, a band with hundreds of thousands of streams and a likely ChatGPT-generated bio, exemplifies this trend, with their music appearing in popular playlists and even Spotify’s Discover Weekly. The anonymity surrounding artists like The Velvet Sundown raises concerns about the financial impact on genuine musicians.
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John Q. Hosedrinker