Music always has been celebrated communally, on dance floors and at concert halls. But this life-affirming ritual, like so many other daily experiences—going to school or church or work—continues to be threatened, because of gun violence in this country. Open in browser Wednesday May 25, 2022 Moment of silence. (Daniel Meskill/EyeEm/Getty Images) quote of the day “Music always has been celebrated communally, on dance floors and at concert halls. But this life-affirming ritual, like so many other daily experiences—going to school or church or work—continues to be threatened, because of gun violence in this country.” - Open Letter to US Senators, signed by 200 musicians and music execs including Jennifer Lopez, Paul McCartney, Alicia Keys and Scooter Braun rantnrave:// Melt the Guns This is a music newsletter, as it was yesterday, as it will be tomorrow. It's a newsletter about music and musicians and music fans and the music business and the culture in which all those entities exist. What happened Tuesday in an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, is part of that culture. A culture that killed 49 people dancing to bachata, reggaeton and salsa in Orlando in 2016. And 60 people listening to live country music in Las Vegas in 2017. A dozen people at a country bar in Thousand Oaks in 2018. At least 42 hip-hop artists around the US, in cities big and small, since the beginning of 2021. We're still mourning all those victims and processing the violence and wanting desperately to put an end to it as we hear the horrible stories about shoppers and employees at a supermarket in Buffalo and churchgoers in Laguna Woods and now schoolchildren in Uvalde, all in a span of 10 days. It's hard to think about anything else today. This is our culture. None of the stories below are new. All remain terribly relevant. All are about music. This is a music newsletter. - Matty Karas (@troubledoll), curator never more to fire them KCRW RETRO LISTEN: Song of a Gun By Jessica Hopper, Robin Linn and Myke Dodge Weiskopf The role guns play in songs is almost universal: from the heroic outlaws in country songs and narcocorridos, to early blues, rap, classic rock, and dancehall. Guns are tools of power. Songs that suggest that guns are a problem are fewer and far between. Longreads RETRO READ: Pulse Nightclub Was My Home By Edgar Gomez On the anniversary of the Pulse nightclub massacre in Orlando, Edgar Gomez reflects on what a safe haven the club was for him and others -- maybe even shooter Omar Mateen. Billboard RETRO READ: An Open Letter to Senators From the Music Industry: End Gun Violence Now As leading artists and executives in the music industry, we are adding our voices to the chorus of Americans demanding change. THV11 RETRO READ: 'We scared to come outside': 4-year-old rapper shares powerful message against gun violence By Jade Jackson Kashmania has been releasing music since he was three. His latest music video is spreading a powerful message as he speaks out against gun violence in his city. The Washington Post RETRO READ: Country artists have the ear of American gun culture. They need to speak up By Chris Richards It’s time for Nashville to start talking about gun control. The New York Times RETRO READ: Rosanne Cash: Country Musicians, Stand Up to the N.R.A. By Rosanne Cash Patriotism is not antithetical to gun control. Variety RETRO READ: Ariana Grande Manager Scooter Braun Calls on Nashville to Support Gun Control By Jem Aswad "I haven’t met one artist or friend who has guns who doesn’t agree with me once we actually have a conversation." Teen Vogue RETRO READ: Kesha: Why I'm Joining March for Our Lives to End Gun Violence By Kesha "United, our voices are more powerful, and now we want to ask you to be part of this movement with us." David Byrne RETRO READ: Guns Are About Freedom: Our Freedom to Live By David Byrne Allow me to be optimistic. At this point, any cause for hope is worth considering. The Washington Post RETRO READ: Eminem portrays the Las Vegas shooter in video calling for an end to gun violence By Hannah Knowles It’s the star’s most recent embrace of political stances that may divide his followers. never more desire them The New York Times RETRO READ: California Shooting Kills 12 at Country Music Bar, a Year After Las Vegas By Jose A. Del Real, Jennifer Medina and Tim Arango The Borderline, a popular hangout for country music fans, had become a place of solace for dozens of survivors of the Vegas massacre. Lefsetz Letter RETRO READ: Anti-Gun Concerts By Bob Lefsetz Doesn’t there need to be a big, star-studded concert – a benefit for gun control? LA Weekly RETRO READ: Henry Rollins: What Happened in Vegas Will Not Stay in Vegas By Henry Rollins Even after the Las Vegas mass shooting, don't expect any progress on gun control. Instead, we'll just have to keep heeding Sen. John Thune's advice to "get small." Los Angeles Times RETRO READ: CMT tweets in support of gun-violence awareness; viewers fire back By Michael Ordoña If responses on its official Twitter page are any indication, CMT's tweet in support of gun control struck a sour note with viewers. Billboard RETRO READ: Ricky Martin's Open Letter on Orlando Massacre: 'I Ask You To Break Your Silence and Call Congress' By Ricky Martin After the Orlando mass shooting that left at least 49 people dead at a gay nightclub, Ricky Martin made a call out to Congress to take action on gun control in a letter titled "I will never cease to fight for love." what we're into Music of the day “Requiem” Charles Lloyd Music | Media SUBSCRIBE Suggest a link “REDEF is dedicated to my mother, who nurtured and encouraged my interest in everything and slightly regrets the day she taught me to always ask ‘why?’” Jason Hirschhorn CEO & Chief Curator HOME | ABOUT | SETS | PRESS Redef Group Inc. LA - NY - Everywhere Copyright ©2021 UNSUBSCRIBE or MANAGE MY SUBSCRIPTION