Pop Shots – As The World Turns

Welcome to your weekly dose of pop world musings. Covering all things pop culture, this week Pop Shots is hitting you with thoughts on everything from Taylor Swift turning a massive profit, to Chance The Rapper wanting to turn his chair around for someone new, to Vanessa Carlton turning one of her classics into an ode to a hockey player, and since this is Pop Shots you know everything is seasoned with a little bit of attitude.

* Taylor Swift was included on Forbes World’s Billionaires List, having amassed an estimated $1.1 billion. It just goes to show what you can accomplish when you price gouge your fans for tickets, and convince them that they need to buy all of your albums at least twice, and in formats they can’t even play. It’s a real riches to even more riches story.

* After having been accused of sexual abuse, and having had the feds raid his home in a sex trafficking investigation, Diddy has seen radio airplay of his songs plummet by 88%. For Diddy this is just the latest example of forcing something to go down on him.

* Chance The Rapper, and his wife Kirsten Corley announced they are getting divorced after five years of marriage. Let’s see if Chance continues to follow the Blake Shelton playbook. He’s done step one – be a coach on The Voice, and step two – getting divorced from his wife, so all that’s left is step 3 – get married to another coach on The Voice. Reba McEntire better watch out!

* Lizzo capped off an extended Instagram post by declaring “I QUIT,” sparking speculation that she was done with music, but just a few days later she made another post to clarify her statement, saying what she was quitting was feeding into negative energy, adding, “What I’m not gonna quit is the joy of my life, which is making music, which is connecting with people.” All this entire thing really proves is the need to be the center of attention is a hell of a drug.

* The Made In America festival, which was founded by Jay-Z in 2012, and took place on Philadelphia’s Ben Franklin Parkway, has been cancelled for the second year in a row. There’s no truth to the rumor, however, that it will be replaced by the Made in China festival, which would have cheap knockoffs of the artists, and sets created by child labor.

* Nicki Minaj is teaming up with urban-lux vegan apparel brand Loci for a sneaker collection featuring 11 different designs, all of which will be available on April 12th. As a heterosexual male, this was the first time I’ve been made aware that Nicki Minaj has feet.

* Big Sean has written a book titled Go Higher that’s due out this October. Go Higher will reportedly be a “an interactive guidebook on maintaining daily mental wellness.” If you’re looking for a book on testicular wellness, I wrote that one!

* Vanessa Carlton rewrote the lyrics of her 2002 mega-hit “A Thousand Miles” in honor of Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson reaching 1,000 games played. Sadly, in the video her piano is stationary, when we all know she should be playing it as it’s sliding across the ice.

That’s all for this edition of Pop Shots, but come back next Monday for more shots on all things pop.