Music News for Your Weekend

NUN OPPOSING KATY PERRY’S PURCHASE OF CONVENT APPEALS TO POPE FRANCIS: A nun fighting Katy Perry’s purchase of a former convent is reaching out to a higher authority – Pope Francis – to intervene in the case that has brought the singer a rash of negative publicity. “They’ll have to kill me first if they want to keep me quiet,” Sister Rita Callanan, 80, said, referring to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles, which she said wrongly sold the property to Perry. “I am asking Pope Francis to intercede.” Callanan and her attorneys hope the pontiff will review the case and speak to the Signatora, the highest court in Rome. The nun says the death last month of Sister Catherine Rose Holzman – a close friend and ally in the fight over the sale of their order’s convent on eight acres in the Los Feliz area – has motivated her to stay in the battle, despite urgings by doctors and friends to drop the matter for health reasons. Callanan said she, Holzman and other nuns who lived at the property had seen it as their “Motherhouse,” where they would grow old together, and look after one another. The archdiocese sold the property to Perry for $14.5 million, but the Vatican must give its approval before the deal is considered final.

PENTATONIX SINGING NATIONAL ANTHEM AT THIS YEAR’S KENTUCKY DERBY: Pentatonix will be singing the national anthem at the 144th Kentucky Derby next month. The gig holds special meaning for group member Kevin Olusola, who was born and raised in Owensboro, Kentucky. “I love the Derby, it’s been a huge part of growing up for me,” he tells Billboard. “When I was a fourth-grader, in my class, we made this thing called Derby Pie, which to this day is still my favorite pie that I have ever had in my life.” Pentatonix last performed the national anthem together at a Charlotte Bobcats game in 2011. Kevin says the group is putting together a new arrangement for the song. “We’re going to bring a newness and a swagger to it that can only be done a cappella,” he says. The Kentucky Derby will air live on NBC on May 5th. The group’s new album, PTX Presents: Top Pop, Vol 1, comes out today. The group will be heading out on a 39-date North American tour in July.

YOU CAN STREAM COACHELLA SETS ON YOUTUBE: YouTube will livestream an array of performances from the first weekend of Coachella, including sets from headliners The Weeknd and Beyonc. Coachella will take place April 13th through 15th in Indio, California. This marks the eighth year YouTube has broadcast the festival. Among the other artists whose performances will be streamed are Post Malone, the War on Drugs, Tyler, the Creator, Chromeo, Bleachers, Kygo, St. Vincent, Brns, Alt-J and Vince Staples. A complete list of participating artists is available on Coachella’s YouTube page. YouTube will offer four different livestream feeds over the weekend, with different artists performing on each. One channel will offer virtual reality coverage of both performances and scenes from the festival grounds. Fans will also be able to create personalized viewing schedules featuring the artists they want to see. YouTube will also share performance highlights and interviews with artists and creators throughout the weekend.