Posted on Mon Jun 22nd, 2015 8:40am PDT By
X17 Staff
T-Swiz is taking a stand!
Taylor Swift penned an open letter to Apple on Sunday to voice her disappoint with the music streaming service's compensation of artists, and she's clearly a force to be reckoned with, because shortly after the company changed their policy to remedy the problem. The Tumblr post comes shortly after the singer withheld her latest album from Apple Music, just as she did with Spotify.
"I feel this deserves an explanation because Apple has been and will continue to be one of my best partners in selling music and creating ways for me to connect with my fans. I respect the company and the truly ingenious minds that have created a legacy based on innovation and pushing the right boundaries. I'm sure you are aware that Apple Music will be offering a free 3 month trial to anyone who signs up for the service. I’m not sure you know that Apple Music will not be paying writers, producers, or artists for those three months. I find it to be shocking, disappointing, and completely unlike this historically progressive and generous company," she began in a post titled 'To Apple, Love Taylor.'
The songstress went on to explain that she's not so much concerned about her own profit as she is for, "the new artist or band that has just released their first single and will not be paid for its success... the young songwriter who just got his or her first cut and thought that the royalties from that would get them out of debt... the producer who works tirelessly to innovate and create, just like the innovators and creators at Apple are pioneering in their field... but will not get paid for a quarter of a year’s worth of plays on his or her songs."
Fellow artists like Jack Antonoff were quick to voice their praise for her position, and Apple took notice! "Apple will always make sure that artist are paid #iTunes," senior vice president Eddy Cue tweeted. "#AppleMusic will pay artist for streaming, even during customer’s free trial period," he added.
Posted on Mon Jun 22nd, 2015 8:00am PDT By
X17 Staff
We aren't the only ones adjusting to Caitlyn Jenner's transition -- Kendall and Kylie Jenner tackled their first Father's Day after Caitlyn's transition with aplomb. Before sharing sweet snaps on social media, the sisters arrived back in Los Angeles on Saturday Night to spend time with their dad on Father's Day.
Along with a sweet snap from her childhood, the 19-year-old model wrote, "my whole life this soul was my daddy and just because your appearance is different now doesn't mean you were any less of a father to me my entire life. happy Father's Day to the person who raised me, and taught me everything I know, my hero."
The "It" girl spent the day poolside with her sister Kylie and a gal pal, Lauren Perez. The brunette threesome donned matching one pieces as they lounged poolside yesterday.
Meanwhile, Kendall wasn't the only one wishing Caitlyn a happy Father's Day. Her sister Khloe Kardashian also shared a picture of the Olympian with her late father, Robert Kardashian.
Kylie also shared an old image of the two sisters and her parents with the caption, "Happy Father's Day my little light of sunshine. "You can still call me dad, Kylie. No matter what I'm always going to be your father. That's never going to change."'
Posted on Mon Jun 22nd, 2015 7:25am PDT By
X17 Staff
If this isn't a wake up call, we don't know what is!
Lamar Odom suffered a tragedy when his best friend Jamie Sangouthai died of a drug overdose and skin infection last week, and now his other close pal Bobby Heyward just passed away from a suspected OD on Saturday, Us Weekly reports.
Heyward's final social media post was a tribute to Sangouthai, which is eerie considering the current circumstances. "#RIP To my big brother Jamie who always brought light into any room he walked into and laughter as well at all times J you will always be missed. Family for life. #BandOfBrothers #tbt," he captioned the above photo (Heyward top left.)
The NBA player has reportedly struggled with drug addiction for the past year, which is what led to his split with wife Khloe Kardashian, so let's hope he gets help before he meets a similar fate!
Posted on Mon Jun 22nd, 2015 7:04am PDT By
X17 Staff
Justin Timberlake and Ryan Reynolds were too cute as they celebrated their first Father's Day as dads. Both stars shared sweet snaps on Instagram -- and we couldn't love these proud papas any more than we do now!
Timberlake posted a photo with son Silas on Instagram with the caption, "FLEXIN' on Fathers Day...#HappyFathersDay to ALL of the Dads out there from the newest member of the Daddy Fraternity!!" We also love Silas' onesie, which had, "I Heart Dad," written on it.
Meanwhile, Blake Lively posted a hot pic of her hubby Ryan Reynolds, carrying their daughter James.
Along with the pic, the former Gossip Girl, "Happy Fathers Day!!! @vancityreynolds Since the day our baby was born, I've felt so strongly in my heart that you were most likely the father #ILoveYouSoMuchItsSilly."
Reynolds also took to Twitter to celebrate Daddy's Day, tweeting,"On Fathers Day, my daughter smiled at me. It was all the gift I needed as I packed a bag and left for 6 years to write a book on parenting."
Having one of each is a dream come true for the couple! "Kim always wanted two kids. A girl and a boy," a source dished to Us Weekly. Yeezus is also ecstatic to have a mini-me! "Kanye loves Nori more than anything, but to make his world complete he wanted a little boy, an heir. He's overjoyed!" the source added.
The West's are going to be one cute family of four!
Posted on Sun Jun 21st, 2015 9:30am PDT By
X17 Staff
Kanye West put his velour Haider Ackermann pullover in the closet and broke out a karate jacket for flight to Atlanta, on Friday. Love the look!
Always creative with his fashion choices, Kim K's stylist donned a hard-to-find khaki karate gi, leaving the jacket untied for a more casual look, over his grey tee shirt and jeans. His footwear of choice is the Yeezy Boost, of course.
Speaking of creativity, Yeezy fancies himself to be somewhat of a creative genius, as we know. In fact, his latest self-comparison is to da Vinci! Check out what he told the UK's Sunday Times Culture Magazine:
"Imagine if da Vinci or Michelangelo or Galileo were asked not to think of anything except for the one thing they first became famous for. So da Vinci could only have one idea. For all haters, I’m not saying I’m da Vinci, but I feel it’s right for any human being to compare themselves to anything.†He added: “I’m an extreme speaker, and I speak through comparisons.â€
Apparently some people aren't on board with Kanye's brand of self-aggrandizement or his music or both. More than 130,000 people have signed a petition calling for the singer to be dropped from the Glastonbury Festival, which he's set to headline next Saturday.
Kanye, they can't bring you down! As a wise man once said, "I always knew that one day They'd try to bring me down Wow, ... There'll always be haters, that's the way it is."
Posted on Sun Jun 21st, 2015 9:00am PDT By
X17 Staff
It's not all Marriage Boot Camp for Kendra Wilkinson and Hank Baskett -- it looks like the two are actually getting along and having a grand old time. Maybe they don't need counseling anymore!
The pair took their kids, Hank Baskett, Jr. and Alijah, to the beach in Malibu, on Friday, and the former Playboy Bunny couldn't resist taking a few selfies. Girlfriend needs a selfie stick to get her whole family in the shot ... or a wide-angle lens!