Bandwidth’s Friday roundup of local and not-so-local music news.
Willie Nelson wants to be your weed dealer. [Daily Beast]
Was heartthrob Zayn Malik‘s exit from One Direction an inside job? [Slate]
EDM has a “woman problem,” says electronic-music critic Philip Sherburne. [Pitchfork]
Or maybe it has a “straight white guy problem.” [Thump]
A Finnish metal musician played an elaborate and pretty incredible prank on H&M. [Billboard, Noisey]
Republican presidential contender Ted Cruz says 9/11 made him a fan of country music. [CBS]
Here’s why that’s politically convenient. [Washington Post]
The first documentary about the great Grace Jones is on the way. [Billboard]
Artists and labels are calling for a winding down of free streaming music. [Rolling Stone]
… so what’s behind that, besides the obvious problem that free streaming doesn’t pay artists fairly? [Billboard]
Against Me!‘s Laura Jane Grace, a trans woman, explains how she deals with people who use the wrong pronoun. [Noisey]
Roxy Music guitarist Phil Manzanera say Kanye West and Jay Z owe him “six figures.” [Independent]
After his 2009 assault of Rihanna, Chris Brown is off probation. [Rolling Stone]
Kendrick Lamar‘s To Pimp A Butterfly hits No. 1 on the album chart. [New York Times]
“In indie rock, white is the norm.” [Pitchfork]
Ben Stiller‘s old, weird band is getting reissued by Captured Tracks. [Pitchfork]
George Washington University’s music department facing big budget cuts. [GW Hatchet]
Farewell, Adams Morgan dive/dance spot Chief Ike’s Mambo Room. [Washington Post]
After fire shut it down, what’s going to happen to Silver Spring basement haunt/venue Quarry House? [Washington Post]
A crowdfunding campaign has already raised more than $15,000 for Quarry House staff. [Indiegogo]
D.C. musician (and lawyer) Jack Gregori talks about what happened after he appeared on NBC’s The Voice. [Washington City Paper]
D.C.’s Drop Electric premieres a new song. [D.C. Music Download]
Electronic-pop artist Louis Weeks has new music, too. [Washington City Paper]
D.C. ska-punk band Kill Lincoln is going on “indefinite hiatus.” [D.C. Music Download]
RIP Norman Scribner, founder of the Choral Arts Society of Washington. He was 79. [Washington Post]
RIP John Renbourn, co-founder of influential folk ensemble Pentangle. He was 70. [Billboard]
RIP Black Sabbath, one of the best metal bands of all time. It was 47. [Consequence of Sound]
On Bandwidth: Radiohead and Lauryn Hill are among the latest inductees into the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry; we talk to guitar wizard Joel Harrison about forming his eclectic musical identity in D.C.; Michael Andrade captures a whole lot of stage diving at Wednesday’s Title Fight show; D.C. rapper Yung Gleesh is charged with sexual assault, arrested and released; Waltz Brigade reminds us of how strong D.C.’s indie-folk scene is; we premiere two exclusive video sessions with Richmond psych-rock band Avers; this new garage-punk song from D.C.’s Wanted Man might make you quit your job.