Killer Mike, Vince Staples and Steve Aoki are set to headline the inaugural Elsewhere Festival to be held June 21-22. The Elsewhere Festival and Conference, which is scheduled to take place in Wichita, Kansas, will also feature performances from Lane 8, Snow Tha Product, BADBADNOTGOOD, Sudan Archives, TOKiMONSTA, and several others.

Killer Mike, Vince Staples and Steve Aoki are set to headline the inaugural Elsewhere Festival to be held June 21-22.

The Elsewhere Festival and Conference, which is scheduled to take place in Wichita, Kansas, will also feature performances from Lane 8, Snow Tha Product, BADBADNOTGOOD, Sudan Archives, TOKiMONSTA, and several others.

In addition to his performance, Killer Mike will appear as a speaker at the conference, addressing the need for freedom of expression.

The festival, created and produced by Wichita-based artist and music worker collective Midtopia, will aim to build community and opportunity for musicians and music workers in the Midwest.

"Midtopia was created to serve a need in Wichita, but really applies, well, elsewhere," says Midtopia CEO and director Jessie Hartke in a release. "There are so many talented artists and music workers alike, and such wonderful local scenes, but industry support is really lacking and systematically flawed."

The event will take place across local Wichita venues with one free stage open to the public. The two-day event will also see some panel discussions, various art experiences, an immersive light and sound stage, and serve as a platform for community-based artists of all kinds.

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The Songwriters Hall of Fame has announced that SZA will be the 2024 recipient of the eminent Hal David Starlight Award. SZA will be honored at the 53rd Annual Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Dinner, to be held on June 13 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City.

The Songwriters Hall of Fame has announced that SZA will be the 2024 recipient of the eminent Hal David Starlight Award.

SZA will be honored at the 53rd Annual Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Dinner, to be held on June 13 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City.

The Hal David Starlight Award was named in honor of SHOF Chairman Emeritus Hal David for his longtime support of young songwriters. Award recipients are gifted young songwriters who are making a significant impact in the music industry with their original songs.

SHOF Chairman Nile Rodgers said, "This is such an exciting time for songwriters and music. Phenomenal artists like Beyonce and Taylor Swift are pushing the envelope of what success looks like but who could argue that the last 2 years belong to SZA. Incredible songwriting, incredible performances, incredible artistry. She so deserves to be the 2024 recipient of the Hal David Starlight Award!"

Four-time Grammy Award winning recording artist SZA released her long-awaited sophomore album SOS in December, 2022. It earned RIAA Gold certification upon release and amassed more than 400 million streams in the U.S. during release week. SOS debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and remained in the top spot for ten non-consecutive weeks.

SHOF inductees at this year's event include Hillary Lindsey; Timbaland; Dean Pitchford; Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills and Michael Stipe of R.E.M.; and Donald Fagen and Walter Becker of Steely Dan. Master songwriter Diane Warren will be receiving the prestigious Johnny Mercer Award.

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A new documentary, Call Me Country: Beyonce & Nashville's Renaissance will stream on Max in the U.S beginning on April 26. Produced by the CNN FlashDocs unit, Call Me Country: Beyonce & Nashville's Renaissance examines the impact of how high-profile artists like Lil Nas X and Beyonce are challenging the country music status quo.

A new documentary, Call Me Country: Beyonce & Nashville's Renaissance will stream on Max in the U.S beginning on April 26.

As Beyonce recently became the first Black woman to ever top Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart, a larger conversation about what defines country music has exploded into the zeitgeist.

Produced by the CNN FlashDocs unit, Call Me Country: Beyonce & Nashville's Renaissance examines the impact of how high-profile artists like Lil Nas X and Beyonce are challenging the country music status quo and how Black artists in Nashville have been laying the foundation for this transformation for some time.

The documentary features interviews with banjo player Rhiannon Giddens, John and T.J. Osborne of Brothers Osborne, Rissi Palmer, Aaron Vance, and Denitia.

It also includes analysis from culture and country music experts including Toure, Larisha Paul, Chris Molanphy, Kyle Coroneos, Keith Hill, and Co-Directors of the Black Opry Holly G. and Tanner D.

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