Words: Gery Hristova

#1

Facebook and Instagram may shut down in Europe. Meta, formerly knowns as Facebook, in an annual report, announced that it may have to stop the access to Instagram and Facebook for its European users. Due to a new regulation approved by the European Commission, all companies must process user data on local European severs which contrary is Meta’s process of sending data overseas to the US.

Previously, the social media giant used a data transfer framework called Privacy Shield as the legal basis to carry out transatlantic data transfers. However, two years ago, the European Court of Justice annulled the agreement due to violations of data protection, because the program does not adequately protect European citizens’ privacy.

As a result, US companies were restricted in sending European user data to the US and have had to rely on SCCs (standard contractual clauses). To curb the risk of shutting down the social media platforms, the EU and US authorities are currently working on a new or updated version of the contract.

#2

The Tung Auditorium, Liverpool’s new world-class concert hall, launches its debut season with a concert by the internationally regarded pianist, Paul Lewis.

the hall was renovated to contain a new 400 seat, acoustically optimised, flexible music performance space, capable of facilitating chamber music, vocal groups, electro-acoustic and multi-media work, or up to a 70-piece orchestra.

You can book a ticket for some of the upcoming events here.

#3

A TikTok user accidentally made his dad’s unreleased 70s song an online hit. A few weeks ago, the 19-year-old Zach Montana released the 43-year-old song that his dad, William “Curly” Smith, never officially released. For just a few days, the ‘Surrender To Me’ groovy disco sound got more than 3 million views on TikTok and it was pre-saved over 10,000 times on Spotify.

This came as no surprise since social media platforms have become a new way for artists to link with record labels and build a fan base.

Listen to the song here:

#4

Red Hot Chili Peppers announced their first song since the release of their 2016 album ‘The Getaway’. The new release, ‘Black Summer’, also marks the first track with their new guitarist John Frusciante who rejoined the lineup in 2019 after the replacement of Josh Klinghoffer.

What is more, the new single arrives ahead of Red Hot Chili Peppers’ upcoming stadium album, ‘Unlimited Love’, which is produced by Rick Rubin (Johnny Cash, Metallica, Public Enemy) and will be released on the 1st of April via Warner Records. 

#5

Officially, the 2022 BRIT awards were female-dominated. As usual, the ceremony was presented at the O2 Arena in London and the show was streamed on YouTube.

The biggest winner at the ceremony was Adele who took multiple awards including the brand new award for the non-binary category. She took home the prizes for artist of the year, the album of the year for her fourth record, 30, and British song of the year for its lead single, Easy on Me.

Surprisingly, Ed Sheeran won none of his four categories, but he was given another new award, for a songwriter of the year, because of his constant contribution to the music industry.