#WhatsHappening for October 23, 2018

Good Tuesday evening, friends and neighbors. Hope you're all digging the week so far. I'd say I was enjoying the weather- but I'd be lying. I've spent the better part of the past two days in bed, still battling my evil, rat-bastard sinuses. And it sure makes my day job a blast, let me tell ya!

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Attorneys for Tracy Chapman have filed a copyright infringement suit against Nicki Minaj over a track that was removed from Minaj's Queen album because of clearance issues. 

Chapman has a blanket policy of denying requests usage of her songs, and "very much protects her rights," according to attorney Lee Phillips. He added that Chapman had received potentially "hundreds" of requests over the decades to sample or interpolate her music and that, as far as he knew, had never granted one. 

The suit, which lists 10 other unnamed defendants in addition to Minaj, says that the track, Sorry, was leaked to New York DJ Funkmaster Flex and played on Hot 97 and went viral. 

"This action is necessary to redress (Minaj's) disregard and willful infringement of Chapman's rights under the Copyright Act, and to ensure that her misconduct is not repeated." The complaint also claims that Minaj's song clearly "incorporates the lyrics and vocal melody of the Composition, its most recognizable and memorable parts," comprising "approximately half the Infringing Work" without authorization.

Phillips says he was forced to file the suit on Chapman's behalf once the song was played on the radio, noting that Minaj's managers were informed they would not be granted consent to use the song "on or around" July 16, 2018- before the leak occurred.

The suit seeks damages from any profit Minaj makes from the songs, as well as restraining Minaj from "copying or otherwise using or exploiting the Infringing Work."

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Canadian rapper Jon James McMurray fell to his death in British Columbia while filming a video for a new single. According to a statement from his representatives, McMurray was walking on the wing of a plane for the filming, and had been training "intensively." The statement continued that "as Jon got further out onto the wing of the plane, it caused the small Cessna to go into a downward spiral that the pilot couldn't correct. Jon held onto the wing until it was too late, and by the time he let go, he didn't have time to pull his chute. He impacted and died instantly." 

The plane reportedly landed safely and no one else was injured.

"Jon was an incredibly passionate person and was always smiling. He filled everyone around him with positivity, and never spoke poorly about another person. He truly had a heart of gold."

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Transportation Safety Board of Canada have begun an investigation into the incident.

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Birthdays today include: Shelby Lynne (50); David Thomas of Take 6 (52); Weird Al Yankovic (59); and Dwight Yoakam (62). #MusicalBirthdays