The Current

Great Music Lives Here ®
Listener-Supported Music
Donate Now
The Current Music News

Music News: Facebook introduces 'Lip Sync Live' feature

The Current's Jesse Wiza demonstrates how one might lip-sync 'Welcome to the Jungle' using a new Facebook feature.
The Current's Jesse Wiza demonstrates how one might lip-sync 'Welcome to the Jungle' using a new Facebook feature.Jay Gabler/MPR

by Jay Gabler

June 06, 2018

Facebook is debuting a new feature called "Lip Sync Live." On Tuesday, the company began rolling out the ability for users to stream live videos of themselves lip-syncing to songs including Guns N' Roses’ "Welcome to the Jungle," Drake’s "God's Plan," and Camila Cabello’s "Heaven."

As Billboard describes: "Those wishing to try out the Lip Sync Live function may do so by selecting it when they start their Live video. After selecting a song, they may also add a description and customize with masks or a background. During broadcasts with Lip Sync Live, friends will see the artist and song highlighted on the video and can tap to follow the artist on Facebook."

The company has been working for months to license the songs for the feature, which moves it into a space competing with the popular lip-sync app Musical.ly.

Dylan musical heading to New York

A musical set in Duluth and featuring the songs of Bob Dylan will be produced in New York after premiering to acclaim in London last year. Girl From the North Country, which opens Sept. 11 at the Public Theater, is a Depression-era drama incorporating songs from throughout Dylan's career. (New York Times)

Talib Kweli accused of sexual harassment

Rapper Talib Kweli has been accused of sexual harassment by Res, an artist who's signed to Kweli's platform Javotti Media and has appeared on several of his tracks. Res says that Kweli is intentionally withholding music because she's refused his sexual advances, tweeting "you letting a kiss that you didn't get @TalibKweli keep my career on hold."

Kweli calls Res "a liar," saying she was dropped from his label five years ago and, "I am not holding her music because she never turned any music in. At all. Ever." The two are now dueling in court. (Rolling Stone)

Remembering Jerry Hopkins

Music writer Jerry Hopkins has died at age 82 after a long illness. He wrote extensively for Rolling Stone, and authored books including No One Gets Out of Here Alive, the 1980 Doors biography that became the basis for Oliver Stone’s 1991 biopic.

Jim "Morrison was the most interesting of all the rock stars I met because he was the best conversationalist," Hopkins remembered years later. "I was interviewing people whose avenue of communication was singing or playing an instrument. Why should anyone expect them to have a political opinion worth listening to? Most of them didn't, but Morrison was interesting on a totally different level." (Rolling Stone)

Young Dylan covers Kendrick

Ellen viewers and 227,000 Instagram followers are familiar with the music of Young Dylan, a nine-year-old rapper who's been appearing on the talk show since last year. Recently, he went back on the show to share his cover of Kendrick Lamar’s "Humble." (NME)