Red Mosquito

My dog Stanley sent this to me because I am in the hospital.
It’s a cute image, but this post is serious.
I am in the hospital. I am in the ICU.
Most of you reading this know that I have an artificial heart. Sometimes I joke that I am a sexy android. Part man, part machine.
Unfortunately, the machine (which is called “heartware”) was built by a fucked up company called Medtronic and the machine is falling apart. The machine will stop soon.
Google “Medtronic heartware scandal.”
My doctors’ solution to this problem is to get me an emergency heart transplant.
If my machine stops before the hospital can find me a heart, I die.
If I survive this situation, you best believe Medtronic and I are gonna have words.
But for now I am focused on trying to stay calm and positive and optimistic.
I have tried to make meaningful music in my life. I don’t regret it. Beauty Pill has plans to make a new album this fall with revered mischievous genius @artolindsay and other special guests.
I hope I live to do it.
But if “Instant Night” was my last music, so be it. I think that record makes a good final statement.
If you are someone who has cared about me or the music I’ve made, I thank you and I send you my love.
If you’re an executive at Medtronic… I look forward to speaking with you.

BurtReynolds wrote:https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/30/entertainment/shakira-tax-fraud-trial/index.html


Shakira charged with tax fraud.

Her cancelation speaks to a growing problem as festivals and touring artists returned after two years of lockdown: Audiences can’t or won’t return in sufficient numbers to support all of the tours and festivals that are taking place, due to ticket prices, too many options, Covid caution or all three. While attendance numbers might be great for Harry Styles or Lady Gaga, for the average touring musician, it’s tougher than ever.

What this will mean for the music world remains to be seen: Touring has been the primary source of income for working musicians ever since illegal downloading and then streaming upended many artists’ business models — they came to accept that they would not make money from recordings, as they had during the CD and vinyl eras, but those recordings would bring people to their shows, where they could make money from ticket and merchandise sales. But if their tours are failing after two years without road work, it’s hard to see what the next option might be.