Warner Music Group Intends to Buy French Digital Music Company Believe SA, Owner of Nuclear Blast Records and Tunecore


One of the largest record labels in the world, Warner Music Group (WMG) has announced it intends to purchase Believe SA, a French digital music company. Among the many companies Believe owns includes a controlling stake in Nuclear Blast Records (acquired in 2018) and its offshoot Blood Blast Distribution, as well as Tunecore a Brooklyn, New York–based digital music distribution, publishing and licensing service founded in 2006. Tunecore distributes music through online retailers such as iTunes, Deezer, Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Music, Google Play, Tidal, Beatport. According to the press release you can read below, Warner “would provide Believe with strategic support and financial stability to help the development and growth of the Company, including by accelerating its expansion into new geographies.” Nuclear Blast founded in 1987 in Germany, is home to some of the greatest bands in Metal such as, Slayer, Anthrax, Testament, C.O.C., Nightwish, Sepultura, Sabaton, In Flames, Lamb of God (Europe), and countless others. In addition to their legendary main brand known for Rock, Pop, Country, and Dance music, WMG owns a ton of sub labels boasting some of the biggest names in Hard Rock, Metal and Punk like 10K Projects, 300 Entertainment (Highly Suspect, Waterparks), Asylum, Atlantic (Shinedown, Halestorm) Big Beat, Elektra Entertainment (formerly: Metallica, Slipknot & Paramore – current: twenty one pilots, Brandi Carlile, Sturgill Simpson) Erato, First Night, Fueled By Ramen (Fall Out Boy, Jimmy Eat World, A Day To Remember), Nonesuch, Parlophone (Iron Maiden), Reprise (Lamb of God in the USA, Deftones, Disturbed, Crosses), Rhino (boxed sets, vinyl and CD reissues, and countless legacy releases), Roadrunner (Gojira, Turnstile, Motionless In White, Trivium, newly signed Deafheaven, Coheed and Cambria, Stone Sour), Sire, Spinnin’, Warner Records, Warner Classics, and Warner Music Nashville. WMG’s music publishing arm, Warner Chappell Music, as well as artist management and services divisions. If the sale goes through, it remains to be seen what shape the deal would have and what impact is might have for Nuclear Blast and Tunecore. Stay tuned for more news on this story.Continue reading


Aftershock 2024 Books Slayer, Slipknot, Iron Maiden, Motley Crue, Pantera, Judas Priest, FFDP, Disturbed, Biohazard, Shadows Fall and More!


Aftershock, it’s happening! Our 2024 lineup is here and holy sh*t, this one will go down in the history books. Not only do we have Iron Maiden’s only U.S. festival play and the exclusive West Coast performance of Slayer, but also Slipknot, the first Mötley Crüe appearance at Aftershock, plus Disturbed, Five Finger Death Punch, Judas Priest, Pantera, and 130 more of your favorite artists. Continue reading


Corey Taylor of Slipknot and Stone Sour Will Release “CMF2B… Or Not 2B” for Record Store Day


Corey Taylor of Slipknot and Stone Sour fame, will release a new solo album of covers and live recordings, titled CMF2B… Or Not 2B, on April 20 via BMG as part of this year’s Record Store Day. Corey made the announcement on social media. Continue reading


Infectious Grooves (Suicidal Tendencies, Metallica, ex-Slipknot) Announces Further Australian Tour Dates


Infectious Grooves (Suicidal Tendencies, Metallica, ex-Slipknot) have announced full dates for Australia. They previously booked their appearance at Byron Bay Bluesfest on April 1. In addition to former Slipknot drummer Jay Weinberg, mainstay IG/ST members Mike Muir and Dean Pleasants, Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo, and Dave Kushner (Velvet Revolver) will also join the band for the gig. Trujillo joined his other former band, Suicidal Tendencies on stage for their show in Glendale, Arizona on the M72 tour last fall. Trujillo co-founded Infectious Grooves with ST’s will also join the band on on guitar. Suicidal Tendencies will also perform in Hawaii, Japan, and European Metal Festivals in 2024. Tickets are available at the link below. Continue reading


Corey Taylor Shares an Update About His Mental Health Struggles – Says He Had “A Complete And Utter Breakdown”


Slipknot and Stone Sour frontman, and solo artist Corey Taylor has shared a new video to social media addressing fans’ concerns over his well-being after he canceled most of his solo headline dates booked for early 2024. Following an announcement that he was canceling his solo dates in North America to take a break and focus on his mental and physical health and spend time with his family, Taylor revealed a few short weeks later that he plans to go ahead with a short run of four shows in Asia between late March and early April. Slipknot has tour dates booked at festivals such as Sick New World and Welcome to Rockville, as well as a 25th anniversary tour in celebration of Slipknot’s debut album release in 1999. Stone Sour is presently on a lengthy hiatus. Continue reading


Ex-Slipknot Drummer Jay Weinberg and Metallica Bassist Robert Trujillo to Play With Infectious Grooves At Australia’s Byron Bay Bluesfest


Former Slipknot drummer Jay Weinberg will play his first gig since being fired from the band for Infectious Grooves when they play this year’s Byron Bay Bluesfest on April 1. Former IG members and Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo will also join the band for the gig. Trujillo joined his other former band, Suicidal Tendencies on stage for their show in Glendale, Arizona on the M72 tour last fall. Trujillo co-founded Infectious Grooves with ST’s Mike Muir and Dean Pleasants. Dave Kushner (Velvet Revolver) will also join the band on on guitar. Bluesfest’s 35th anniversary edition will take place at its regular home of Byron Events Farm in Tyagarah, New South Wales, Australia. It will run across the Easter long weekend, from March 28 to April 1. Continue reading


Corey Taylor Cancels His Upcoming North American Tour, Citing Mental and Physical Health Issues


Slipknot singer Corey Taylor has canceled his upcoming North American solo tour. The trek, which was scheduled to feature support from Des Rocs And Jigsaw Youth, was due to kick off on February 3rd in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and end March 3 in Omaha, Nebraska. Corey released the following statement via social media: “It is with a heavy heart that I announce the cancellation of my upcoming North American tour.Continue reading


Thunderflix Add New Releases from Soulfly, Immortal, Soilwork, and More, Revealing Their Top Ten Streaming Titles of 2023


Metal video streaming service, Thunderflix, have shared the top ten releases on their service for 2023. Featured among them are Death, Ozzy, Powerwolf, Opeth, and more. The site has also teamed up with Nuclear Blast Records, and added a huge batch of new material. Head into the article below for more.

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Joey Jordison’s Estate is Suing Slipknot, Accuses The Band of Cashing In on His Death, Stealing His Belongings and to Promote Their Last Album – “The End So Far”


According to a published report from TMZ, Joey Jordison’s estate has filed a lawsuit against Slipknot, accusing the band and its principal band trademark owners /managers: Corey Taylor, M. Shawn Crahan and their management of profiting off his death after “abruptly” kicking the drummer out of the group by e-mail a decade ago. In the lawsuit, which was filed this past June by Steamroller, LLC, the successor in interest of Jordison, Joey’s estate claims that Slipknot has failed to return over “at least 22 items” belonging to the drummer after “promising to return all of Jordison’s belongings.” Slipknot has countersued, asking for a dismissal of the case. Another major complaint against the band is they used Joey’s death to promote 2022’s controversial album The End, So Far (Roadrunner Records). Continue reading


Slipknot, Korn, Post-Malone, Smashing Pumpkins, Nickelback and More Received Millions in PPP Loans According to a U.S. Government Report


According to a report from Lambgoat.com and The New York Post, Kentucky senator Rand Paul’s annual “Festivus Report” has shared his annual report for Christmas deriding U.S. government federal spending. The report highlights that over $200 million was allocated to music artists and their touring companies through the Small Business Administration’s Shuttered Venue Operators Grant. The program appears to have benefitted not only small enterprises but also well-known names in the music industry. Applicants were eligible to receive 45% of their 2019 gross revenue up to $10 million per grant. This news is not new, is several years old, and was a source of contention from bands and fans following the pandemic, but this is first time the amounts dispersed were made public. Some of the notable recipients identified in the report include Korn receiving $5.3 million, and Slipknot receiving $9.7 million, with an additional $1.05 million going to Slipknot’s Knotfest music festival. It’s noted by Paul that the $416 billion grant program was intended to aid struggling live venue operators, theatrical producers, performing arts organizations, talent representatives, and movie theaters – entities that suffered significant losses during the pandemic. Coincidently, Paul’s state of Kentucky ranks 2nd in the United States in dependency on government handouts, so this report is always curious to political pundits. Other artists called out by Paul includes Post Malone, Lil Wayne, Chris Brown, and Smashing Pumpkins, and non-Americans Nickleback (whose record label is US based, and thus their band is likely incorporated in the states.Continue reading