#WhatsHappening for January 9, 2021

 Wow. What a week.

I mean, I knew January 1st was just another day. I knew that the pandemic wouldn't disappear, that people on opposite sides of the fence wouldn't just magically resolve their differences, that wars wouldn't end, that it was- after all- just another day. What I didn't know- what I think the overwhelming majority of us didn't know- was the 2021 had spent it's first five days looking at 2020 and then said:

I already can't wait for this year to be over.

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For those of you looking forward to yesterday's live streaming of the David Bowie birthday celebration, you'll get a chance to view it tonight- if things go as planned.

Yesterday's planned A Bowie Celebration: Just for One Day! was postponed just before it was scheduled to begin due to technical issues. The show will feature Trent Reznor, Duran Duran, Billy Corgan, Macy Gray, Gary Oldman, Gary Barlow, Anna Calvi, and more honoring Bowie's career with tribute performances. It's being hosted by Mike Garson, who played with Bowie’s band longer than any other performer.

Tickets are available here. The show should kick off at 6:00 tonight, Eastern.

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Tracy Chapman's copyright suit against Nicki Minaj has reportedly been settled.

E! reports that that court documents filed by Chapman's legal team last month say the Fast Car singer has accepted Minaj's settlement offer, ending the need to move to trial in the case.

"Judgment shall be entered in favor of plaintiff Tracy Chapman and against Defendant in the amount of $450,000, inclusive of all costs and attorney fees incurred to date."

In a statement to E!, Chapman said she was "glad to have this matter resolved and grateful for this legal outcome which affirms that artists' rights are protected by law and should be respected by other artists. I was asked in this situation numerous times for permission to use my song; in each instance, politely and in a timely manner, I unequivocally said no. Apparently, Ms. Minaj chose not to hear and used my composition despite my clear and express intentions."

Chapman went on to say she's "never authorized" the use of her songs for samples and that the suit was an effort to defend herself and her work and to protect "the creative enterprise and expression of songwriters and independent publishers like myself."

The case stemmed from the 2018 Minaj album Queen, which was to feature the song Sorry. The track- with a guest appearance from NAS- featured a sample of Chapman's Baby Can I Hold You, which she had denied Minaj permission to use. The song was removed from the album prior to the release, but was leaked and posted online. Chapman's reps then filed suit, stating they had "repeatedly denied" what they termed "after the fact" requests to use the song.

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British director Michael Apted, died earlier this week. Apted is best remembered by music fans as director of Oscar-winner Sissy Spacek as Loretta Lynn in Coal Miner's Daughter. He also directed Jodie Foster's Oscar nominated turn in Nell and Sigourney Weaver's nominated role as Dian Fossey in Gorillas in the Mist.

He also directed The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, and The World Is Not Enough, among others and was president of the Directors Guild of America from 2003-09. More recently, Apted had directed episodes of Ray Donovan and Masters of Sex. His last film was 2017's Unlocked.

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Taylor Swift had the top selling album of 2020, as well as the only million plus selling album last year with her July release Folklore.

The album's top of the charts perch is Swift's record setting fifth time with the best-selling album of the year- previously reaching that spot with Lover (2019), Reputation (2017), 1989 (2014), and Fearless (2009).

The top ten albums last year, with units sold:

1. Taylor Swift, Folklore (1.276 million)

2. BTS, Map of the Soul: 7 (674,009)

3. The Weeknd, After Hours (480,000)

4. Harry Styles, Fine Line (420,000)

5. Billie Eilish, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? (348,000)

6. Lady Gaga, Chromatica (331,000)

7. Juice WRLD, Legends Never Die (301,000)

8. Halsey, Manic (301,000)

9. Eminem, Music to Be Murdered By (287,000)

10. Taylor Swift, Evermore (283,000)

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Rapper Deezer D, who also enjoyed a long run as Malik on NBC's Thursday night ratings stalwart er, died Thursday.

No official cause of death has been announced, but Marshawn Thompson, D's brother, told TMZ he thought a heart attack had killed his brother. The performer, born Dearon Thompson, had undergone heart surgery in 2009.

D appeared on nearly 200 episodes of ER from 1994 through 2009, and released the album Delayed, But Not Denied in 2008.

He was on the verge of releasing new music this year, posting part of a new tune last Monday on his Instagram feed. The song, History Can’t Be Stopped was released posthumously yesterday.

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Country singer-songwriter Ed Bruce died Friday of natural causes, according to his representatives.

Bruce began his career with Sun Records at 17, recording Rock Boppin' Baby  as Edwin Bruce for Sam Phillips. He began writing for other performers- often gaining popularity with his own versions of the songs others were enjoying chart success with. Thirty-five of his compositions made Billboard's Hot Country Songs- the first being Walker’s Woods in 1967. He also penned You’re the Best Break This Old Heart Ever Had- his only chart topper- and his best known song, Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys, wo-written with his wife at the time, Patsy. That song was named best country song at the 1978 Grammys.

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Michael Anthony says he remains troubled by not having been able to reconcile with former band mate Eddie Van Halen before the latter's death last October.

Anthony told the Talkin’ Rock With Meltdown podcast he "hadn’t spoken (with Van Halen)... (Unfortunately), we didn’t get a chance to. And, you know, it kind of bothers me, because we had some issues that were never resolved. But, I mean, what can you do?"

"We were on track (for) a reunion, which I’m really sad that it never happened. But, you know, life and the show goes on." He went on to tell the hosts about the first time he saw the band play. 

"They must’ve played the whole WHO Live At Leeds or whatever, or any of the classic CREAM stuff they played, Eddie played the lead stuff note for note. Back then, when you’re a kid like that, that’s very impressive to see somebody playing like that."

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Birthdays today include: Joan Baez (80); Kenneth Kelly of The Manhattans (78); Jimmy Page (77); Buster Poindexter/David Johansen (71); Crystal Gayle (70); Eric Erlandson of Hole (58); What Is Love? singer Haddaway (56); Steve Harwell of Smash Mouth (54); Carl Bell of Fuel (54); Dave Matthews (54); Lara Fabian (51); Angie Martinez (50); and Sean Paul (48). #MusicalBirthdays