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Coachella Drops All COVID-19 Precautions

Coachella Music Festival has quietly updated its health and safety rules and will not require proof of vaccination, a negative COVID-19 test, mask wearing, or any other pandemic precautions for the 2022 event. “In accordance with local guidelines, there will be no vaccination, testing or masking requirements at Coachella 2022,” organizers wrote. The change comes as the state of California loosens its COVID-19 rules, mandating masks only for certain indoor environments, and ordering vaccination or a negative test only for indoor events of 1,000 or more attendees. And while nearby Los Angeles County is keeping several precautions in place, Coachella is held in Riverside County, where officials are falling back on state guidelines. The CDC has repeatedly held that outdoor events are...

“Cherry Picking Data”: How Joe Rogan’s Infamous Interview with Robert Malone Spread Misinformation

Neil Young may have lit the match that sparked an exodus from Spotify, but Joe Rogan poured the gas himself with a now-infamous interview with Dr. Robert Malone. That episode of The Joe Rogan Experience prompted hundreds of scientists and healthcare professionals to chastise Spotify for hosting “mass-misinformation events,” and seemingly served as the immediate inspiration for Young’s decision to leave the platform. Now, the fact-checking podcast Science Vs has interviewed some of the scientists doing research that Malone cited in the interview, going back to the source to demonstrate that he “cherry picked the data” to spread misinformation to millions. Malone has claimed to be an expert on the COVID-19 vaccines, and he did perform some of the foundational experiments ...

BTS’ Jimin Discharged From Hospital After Appendicitis Surgery and Has Recovered From COVID-19

BTS‘ Jimin has been discharged from the hospital, Big Hit Music confirmed in a notice released on fan community platform Weverse on Saturday (Feb. 5). Jimin (born Park Ji-min) had been hospitalized on Jan. 30 with abdominal pain and a mild sore throat, and on Jan. 31 he underwent surgery for acute appendicitis. At that time, it was revealed that he’d also tested positive for COVID-19. On Feb. 2, Jimin checked in with fans to tell them he was “recovering well.” Explore Explore BTS See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Big Hit’s latest statement released to the BTS ARMY gave another reassuring update on Jimin’s health. “Hello. This is BIGHIT MUSIC. We would like to inform you that BTS Member Jimin’s quarantine has concluded after his surgery for acute appendic...

David Crosby and Stephen Stills Join Neil Young and Graham Nash in Pulling Music from Spotify

David Crosby, Stephen Stills, Graham Nash, and Neil Young haven’t always liked each other, but the songwriters of CSNY seem to have set that aside because they dislike Spotify even more. After Young pulled his music from the streaming giant last week over concerns about COVID-19 misinformation on Joe Rogan’s podcast, Nash followed suit, and now Crosby, Stills, and Nash have shared a joint statement announcing that they plan to remove their music. “We support Neil and we agree with him that there is dangerous disinformation being aired on Spotify’s Joe Rogan podcast,” the statement reads. “While we always value alternate points of view, knowingly spreading disinformation during this global pandemic has deadly consequences. Until real action is taken to show that a concern for humanity must ...

R Kelly Caught COVID-19 in Jail

R Kelly has caught more than a case. As The Daily Beast reports, the disgraced singer contracted COVID-19 in a New York City jail. He is vaccinated, and so far there’s nothing to suggest that his symptoms are severe. Kelly’s lawyer Jennifer Bonjean gave her client’s health update in court, asking a judge for more time as they try to overturn his sex trafficking conviction. “It is vitally important that Mr. Kelly meaningfully participate in his post-trial defense,” she said, noting that because of his COVID-19 diagnosis, she wouldn’t be able to speak with Kelly until the day the motions are due. Bonjean recently represented Bill Cosby during his successful appeal, after which he was released due to a procedural technicality. She’s helping Kelly as he faces up to life in prison. He...

Aerosmith Cancel European Summer Tour Due to COVID Uncertainty

Aerosmith have canceled their planned summer European tour due to uncertainty over the spread of COVID-19. “It is with deep regret we must announce that our European Tour, scheduled to take place in June and July 2022, has been cancelled,” the band wrote in a Facebook note to fans on Monday (Jan. 31). Explore See latest videos, charts and news “We have continued to monitor the ongoing COVID situation and with the related uncertainty around travel logistics and the continued presence of COVID restrictions and other issues, it has become clear that it will not be possible to go ahead with our summer shows in the region,” they continued. “The health, safety and well being of our fans is our number one priority. We will be back to rock out with everyone and we hope to have some exciting news t...

Singapore firm uses blockchain to battle counterfeit COVID-19 jabs

Singaporean healthcare services provider Zuellig Pharma is using a blockchain-based network to track COVID-19 vaccinations to prevent practitioners from administering expired vaccines. Zuellig Pharma says that its new “eZTracker” management system can help prevent improperly stored or counterfeit vaccines from being used by allowing its clients to instantly verify the provenance and authenticity of their vaccines via a mobile app. “Accidents involving expired or improperly stored vaccines can be avoided,” said Daniel Laverick, vice-president and head of digital and data solutions at Zuellig Pharma. eZTracker uses the SAP blockchain to capture, track and trace multiple data points to improve supply chain transparency. The eZTracker website explains how it works: “Simply scan the QR code on ...

Spotify Adds “Content Advisory” on COVID-19 Content in Wake of Neil Young Boycott

Spotify has announced that it will begin adding a “content advisory” to all podcasts that include information about COVID-19, following the company’s decision to continue streaming The Joe Rogan Experience despite a boycott from Neil Young. In a new open letter issued on Sunday (January 30th), CEO Daniel Ek also revealed that Spotify is making the company’s “platform rules” public for all to see. As previously reported, Young called out Spotify for presenting Rogan’s podcast, which has been criticized for disseminating questionable information about COVID-19 and its vaccines. The legendary rocker issued an ultimatum to the company to either remove his music or the podcast. As he put it, “They can have Rogan or Young. Not both.” Spotify promptly removed Young’s music, stating, “We want all ...

Kanye West Will Not Be Allowed to Tour Australia if Unvaccinated, Warns Prime Minister

Australia’s prime minister has warned Kanye West that he will not allowed to tour the country unless he is vaccinated. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, West’s team recently put a hold on Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium for a proposed concert in March. Several other shows across the country are reportedly also on the books. However, when asked about the rapper’s planned visit to Australia, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he would only be welcome if he is vaccinated. Advertisement Related Video “The rules are you have to be fully vaccinated, they’re the rules,” Morrison said. “They apply to everybody as people have seen. It doesn’t matter who you are, they’re the rules. Follow the rules [and] you can come, if you don’t follow the rules you can’t.” Australia’s Home Affairs Department sta...

Kid Rock Threatens to Cancel Concerts Where Vaccine Mandates Are Enforced

When Kid Rock first announced his “Bad Reputation Tour,” I jokingly referred to it as the “Superspreader Tour,” which sent the Bawitdaba stans into a tizzy, because god forbid one questions Mr. Colostomy Bag’s attention to health and safety. Well, lo and behold, Robert Ritchie is now threatening to cancel concerts on his upcoming tour if venues dare to enforce vaccine mandates. In a video posted to Facebook, Kid Rock assured fans that he and his team did extensive research and are confident that they hadn’t booked a gig at a venue with an existing mandate; and if they had, that the mandates “will be done… by the time we’re going to get to your city.” “If they’re not,” Kid Rock continued, “you don’t have to worry, you’ll be getting your money back — because I won’t be showing up either! If ...

Neil Young’s Battle with Polio May Have Colored His Stand Against COVID Misinformation

Neil Young has taken a stand against Spotify and Joe Rogan over COVID-19 falsehoods, following through on his ultimatum to leave the streaming giant if it continued to platform The Joe Rogan Experience. This will come as no surprise to longtime fans; Young has long been a proponent of vaccination, going back to his battle with polio when he was about five years old. According to his 2012 memoir Waging Heavy Peace, the “Harvest Moon” singer was diagnosed with polio in 1951 and spent time in Toronto’s Sick Children’s Hospital as he battled the life-threatening disease. He ultimately recovered, though the disease left him with a slight limp. The polio vaccine was first widely disseminated in 1955, and Young was one of the beneficiaries. As he recently wrote on his website,...

#CancelSpotify Trends on Twitter Following Neil Young Spat

Spotify’s decision to remove Neil Young’s catalog from the platform in order to keep peddling COVID misinformation via podcasts like The Joe Rogan Experience has sparked quite a lot of online discourse about free speech, streaming, and the best way to support artists. The hashtag “#CancelSpotify” trended among Young fans on Twitter Thursday evening (January 27th), and other artists and streaming platforms joined the conversation as well. Apple Music, TIDAL, Deezer, and Qobuz made sure to remind fans that they still offered Young’s music, while SiriusXM relaunched Neil Young Radio. “When you have an opportunity to present an iconic artist still at the height of his creativity, you don’t hesitate to do it, again,” Steve Blatter, SiriusXM senior vice president and general manager of musi...