closed doors? >> the fed is kind of this black box. >> it's your money... >> somebody screwed up. >> ... or is it? >> i worked to save that money and now i get nothing. >> inside the fed. on al jazeera america. check chk >> this is al jazeera america. i'm jonathan betz in new york. >> now hope for those starving in a syrian city under fire as peace talks make slight progress. >> protesters in ukraine take over a third ministry building as the political crisis there deepens. >> the police identify a gunman in the maryland shooting. >> singing a different tune.

how one grammy hopeful is making it big without the backing of a major label. >> topping the news this hour - day two of the geneva peace talks to end syria's war. a small victory for rebels and a deal to get women and children out of a key battle ground city. the government draws a hard line saying it is not giving up the keys to damascus. meanwhile the fighting rages on amongst rebels, government forces and al qaeda-linked militan militants. how are the talks affecting the fighting? >> sadly, that fighting continues unabated. i suppose we shouldn't diminish the fact that this is the first agreement the two sides have made in the three years of war. the fact is nobody knows how the

deal with work on the ground. nobody knows how the women and children will leave the children. it there's nowhere in syria that needs the suffering alleviate more than the third-largest city, homs. >> most of the homs no longer exists. for two years it's been pounded by bombs. mortars. artillery. the assad regime tried to crush the city that was the cradle of a revolt against rule. from the ground and from the air. almost every day the terrifying sound of the jets. and the horrifying inevitable plume of smoke rising above a neighbourhood. the city's population was a million. more than half the houses today

have been destroyed. residents forced to eat greens picked off the sides of the road. the screens are the only sustenance for 22-year-old residence and active ist. he spoke to us from the homs country side via skype. "this is what we eat", it's been 11 months, a year, and there's no fresh food, electricity or water. 20 minutes into the conversation... ..the first distant rumble of war. >> and then less than a mile away on the hill above him we stay with him as he shows us rocket strikes on a neighbourhood controlled by the opposition. these strikes, he says, happened to often he barely sleeps. in geneva 2,000 miles away, saving homes was the subject of

peace talks. >> homs suffered from a long siege. >> the syrian opposition pressured the government to stop the government blockade. the government responded by blaming the rebels. >> they are the one who are kidnapping. they are the one who are shooting at the humanitarian assistants. >> after shuttle diplomacy the u.n. convinced them to relieve some of homs' suffering. >> we are told by the government side that women and children in the besieged area in the old city are welcome to leave immediately. >> but men are still stuck. we are asked after everything that he's seen, whether he loves syria. >> i keep... "i love everything about syria, but the war and the tools of injustice from the army and the leadership - they destroyed

syria." he wants to stay in homs. 20 minutes after the first attack, the bombing started again. >> and the u.n. says it hopes to send in food, medicine, water that the city so desperately needs, tomorrow, but the government has not agreed to that. it's not clear when the people of homs will get relief. >> thank you nick schifrin, live in geneva. >> protesters in ukraine are standing their ground, rejecting a deal to join the government. protestors have taken over the ministry of justice. they have streamed into a building damaged by demonstrators. the government offered top government jobs, on the condition that they leave the buildings that they had taken over. and this is what the scene looked like last night. demonstrators threw fire bombs and tried to take over a government convention centre. hundreds of police officers were

stationed inside. >> jennifer glasse is following the storey and joins us live. what is happening tonight? >> well, tonight we heard in the last hour or so demonstrators took over the justice ministerry. it's about a block and a half from here. a demonstrator said, "i'm surprised we didn't take it earlier, the third ministry that demonstrators took over in kiev, the justice ministerry, the agricultural ministry and the ministry for industrial controls, and the city hall. they've been using it as a dormitory for two months. last night as you saw in the pictures. they took over the - it's called ukraine house. it was the museum for communist leader vladimir lennan. people sore demonstrations spread across the country, including the east which was a

presidential stronghold. >> with the momentum growing, is there an impression ta the president may soon buckle? >> i think that's what the opposition would hope. viktor yanukovych has been stubborn throughout all of this, meeting with the opposition and negotiate. they have been offering the positions of prime minister and deputy prime minister. the opposition turned that down, hoping for more. they are hoping to force early elections there, hoping the president will buckle and step down. we are looking ahead towards an emergency session of parliament on tuesday. that is when the parliament is supposed to address some of the issues that the opposition have brought us, including a law that basically criminalizes many aspects of freedom of speech and assembly. the opposition would like the law scrapped. it would past last week.

the fact that the law was passed shows how steadfast a victory for viktor yanukovych will be. we don't know what the next move or negotiations might be. with cities and towns coming out in favour of the opposition, anything could happen. with the president offering concession, is there an indication that he may, indeed, step down? >> we haven't heard from him in the last - we haven't heard from him since yesterday. he made public announcements. but in the first public announcement he made one ukrainian said he looks rattled and scared. that's why advisors say he's been surprised about the uprisings, the outpouring of people all over the country. we are talking about 21 of 27 regions of ukraine. we don't know what his next move will be. he's been unpredictable.

he's given no indication that he will step down. he's - everyone saw his or to the opposition as a poison chalice. accepted and you are capitulating to a leader that has been untrust wordsy, don't accept it and it looks like you are giving up a good deal. they have the people in their favour, and it's holding out. a lot is changing in kiev. jennifer glasse live in kiev. thank you. >> the unrest is spreading beyond the capital. demonstrators stormed government offices in nine other cities. we have this report from western ukraine. >> this is the regional administration building in a city in the wst of ukraine. on thursday, a large crowd of anti-government protesters arrived and went inside and got the regional governor appointed by president viktor yanukovych to resign. later he said he did

so under duress and took it back. the protesters are in control of the building and are maintaining a 24 hour presence, singing songs and keeping their spirits up. they say they are not going to move, like the people in the square, independence square in kiev. they have erected large barricades made up of tyres and bags filled with snow to stop security forces getting anywhere near here. it's one of many sites in this city that have been taken over by anti-government protesters, and it's part of a movement that has spread across much of the west of the country, and they've been heart ebbed by what is happening in kiev. many people from this city have gone to independence square there to further those protests, there's a lot of solidarity between these people and the capital. >> here in the states police identified the gunmen in a shooting at the marian mall as dar yen marcus aguilar.

he killed two with a shotgun. why is unclear. >> police say 19-year-old dar yen marcus agular took a cap to the mall and was dropped you have a. he has heavily armed with a back pack filled with explosives and ammunition. an hour later he entered a skateboard shop and opened fire, killing two people, then turning the gun on himself. police are trying to understand why he took the lives of taylor johnson, 25, and 21-year-old brianna benlolo. both worked at zumiez, the skate shop. >> we can't establish a relationship between him and either victim. that is an open question. >> beyond that little is publicly known about the victims and the shooter on what appears to be her facebook page.

one of the victims says she's a mum and an assistant manager at the store. five others were injured at the mall. one was shot. they have been released from an area hospital. police are still safing for answers, a memorial facebook page has been posted for the two victims. >> now to washington where we are getting a preview of what we can expect from president obama's stoounion -- state of the union speech. he's expected to push immigration reform. a top aide says three words sum up the president's speech - opportunity, optimism and activism >> the main issue is closing the income gap. >> if president obama wants to give an honest state of the union address, he'll address the fact ta economic policies are

not working. they are hurting the people struggling the most. >> the president will lay out steps on how to deal with restoring equality with americans, how we can lift them out of poverty. there's a lot we can do. these things have had bipartisan support. joining us from 8:30 eastern, for more than the state of union on a regular segment - the week ahead. >> the president's advisor warned congress that if the lawmakers will not work with the white house, the president will do it on his own. >> that drew sharp reaction from republican senator rand paul. >> sounds like a threat and it has a certain amount of arrogance in the sense that a fundamental principle of the country, with the checks and balances, that it wasn't supposed to be easy to pass

legislation. you had to debate and convince people. there's a lot of things the president cannot do. he's not allowed to write legislation or amend legislation or initiate law or tell us when we are in recess or not. the supreme court, i think will rebuke him on the recess question and there are questions whether he can amend obamacare on his open or come to us. he says it's hard to get congress to do anything. it's hard to convince people to get legislation. it takes consensus. he needs to build consensus and not take his pen and create law. >> the republican is to give his own speech after the state of the union. >> he led new orleans after hurricane katrina. now former may ray nagin stands trial for corruption.

>> the state of south dakota issued no travel advisory for the north-east corner. i'll she you how fast the cold blast is coming in for the rest of us.

>> former new orleans mayor ray nagin says, "no deal, taking his chances in court instead of accepting a plea bargain. ray nagin led the city through hurricane katrina, but is accused of taking $2-00,000 in bribes in exchange for city contracts. jury selection begins tomorrow. >> within a few days after hurricane katrina, it seemed the world now of new orleans's naior ray nagin. >> he had one shining moment when he went on radio and said, "mr president, get your arse down here." >> he was criticised for his decisions and lack of

follow-through. now on trial for corruption, it appears he opted out of a plea deal and is ready to put life in the hand of a jury. a lot of people blame him. >> a lot of people didn't feel that the rebuilding was going as expeditiously and smoothly as they liked. >> with the city in sham bles, he changed his approach making a speech calling for new orleans to return to a chocolate city. >> in 2006 certainly it was play the race card. the issue was about the right to return. that resonated with african-americans who had been displaced. >> the people have said they like the direction we are going in. >> by 2011 six people with city contracts had been convicted or plead guilty to bribery or corruption involving the former

mayor. >> the corruption took hold. it may have had its roots in the first four years, but took hold in the second, when all the money came in and the shady contractors came around and sleazed up to him. >> you have the ability to let contracts for the city, and so for a certain fee i'll give you this contract. >> last year is a federal grand jury indicted nagle, alleging he took $200,000 in money and favours from contractors, now set to testify against him. what ray nagin is going to have to do is convince the 12 jurors that roughly a half-a-dozen of his former friends are now laying to help themselves >> that may prove tough in a town where wounds have not heeled. >> they are tired of ray nagin, but tired of it in the way that you are looking at a bad rug, you want to throw it out and seen it taken away by the trash guy. home are tired of ray naigon,

but don't want to see him fade away. >> if he fades away it won't be it dollars, it will be in day, and months. >> prosecutors offered the former mayor a plea deal, making some wonder about the strength of the case against ray nagin. it was a case we put to a law professorism. >> the government charged different schemes of kickbacks and corruption and has almost every co-conspire iter pleaded guilty and admitted the behaviour was criminal and is testifying against the former mayor. it looks like a strong case. >> why do you think he did not accept a plea bargain. >> you would never know, but when i was a prosecutor i found some of the white collar defendants had a hard time wrapping their idea around going to jail. you don't know what deal the government offered him, if it was worth it to him. he's known as a guy who is

fairly arrogant and likes his chances even if that's inaccurate. >> nagin has little public support in new orleans. when he left office his approval ratings were at a low. >> a deep freeze is sweeping across the midwest, sending temperatures below zero, and keeping kids out of schools. windy city is bracing for temperatures as low as minus 40, when you include the wind chill factor. >> the forecast prompted chicago public schools to cancel classes for 400,000 students. rebecca steven is here with more. it's another round of arctic air coming across the midwest. >> that's it. it's another round of that arctic air blasting through and it's incredibly cold. it's sinking down to the central u.s. as we speak. temperatures are dropping to the

until digits. we are staying highlighted to the west coast coast. we are getting colder to the upper midwest, feeling the chill. as we look at the low temperatures, we'll fall to 2 degrees in billings, 20 degrees below zero for miles per hour. it's a below zero temperature continuing further south. chicago 7 degrees below zero. the arctic air blasting through the northern playing states and temperatures falling near record lows. the low temperatures 20 degrees below for miles per hour, but 25 below for fargo. four below for omaha. wind speeds are gusting. we have been getting wind speeds up to 40 miles per hour sustained. now, if it's 13 degrees in rapid city, and you have 40 minneapolis, it makes it feel like it's 60 degrees below zero.

the reason why the wind chills are dangerous, is because the faster the wind goes, the faster it removes heat from the skin, the more rapidly we can get hypothermia and frost bite. we'll see these continues along the front. it will be through the first part of the week. we'll watch temperatures dive down, even with know, into the southern states. >> yikes. >> it was 1971 when daniel elsberg gave the "new york times" pentagon papers exposing how president johnson's administration lied about the war. tonight on "talk to al jazeera" the executive editor of the "new york times" sits with john seigenthaler and compares the edward snowden story to the pentagon papers. >> it's hard to say. i mean, the pentagon papers, you know, in that situation daniel

ellsberg was the source for that material coming out of the pentagon. that material exposed really terrible terrible official lies by the u.s. government. lies about the progress of vietnam war. it made that material to consequential because of that. in this case the material has, you know, provided a window on to, like, the scale of eavesdropping and all scoined of troubling things. and certainly misstatements by officials. i'm not sure that they have ex-most a whole-sale cover up

and public lying over years and years. >> you disagree with editorial opinion when it comes to edward snowden and amnesty, or do you have an opinion. >> i don't have an opinion. i value the fact that by going what he did. node did help the new york times keep the public informed on what i consider to be important matters. >> you can see the interview at the top of the hour. jill abe ram son talks about the edward snowden story. that's at the top of this hour. 7:00 pm eastern, 4:00 pm pacific. >> a pipeline carrying gas through canada exploded sending

flames into the air. the fireball was caught on camera by people living nearby. it happened 40 miles south of winnepeg. officials shut off the gas supply to let the fire burn out. despite temperatures below zero, they could feel the intense heat for the fire. >> it was like being at a barbecue and a bomb fire, but it was a quarter mile away. >> no one was hurt and an investigation is underway to figure out what caused the explosion. around 5,000 customers lost access to gas. warming shelters are set up to help those deal with the bitter co cold. >> still ahead - officials board a cruise ship where hundreds of passengers are sick. >> one team has arrived in new jersey for the super bowl. all the sights and sounds in

just a

>> welcome back to al jazeera america. here is a look at the top stories. >> place say darion marcus aguilar the gunman in the mall shooting had no criminal record or relationship with his victims. he killed two people with a shotgun before turning the gun on himself. police are investigating what sparked that shooting. >> demonstrators in the ukraine are holding firm on streets of the capital. it's taken over the ministry of justice. thousands mourn the deaths of those that died in custody ni. a victory for rebels in day two the syria's peace talks. both sides allowing women and children out of a key battle ground city. the government stood firm on damascus, the capital.

>> i asked how they felt about the announcements of the geneva ii talks regarding peace in syria. here is what he had to say. this agreement doesn't rebuild homs but is a step towards addressing the problem of the block im of humanitarian aid. it's not just getting caught up in the long-term prospect and transiti transition. i hope he use it is to address blockages. what is urgently required is an agreement to allow cross-border humanitarian assistance from turkey and other countries. >> is that not the grant proposal of the talk, that it's time to end the war, stopping the violence once and for all. >> obviously if you had piece,

that would stop syria's killing, stopping the destruction of aid. my point is that nobody thinks this will happen. it will be months and months. if you ever get a look at the siege. in the meantime you have 2,000 civilians killed. you have millions who are deprived of basic necessities of life. you can't afterward to wait tore peace. i hope that lakhdar brahimi fushs for further access of humanitarian aid for people throughout is syria who needs it. >> do you get the impression the approach here is slowly surely. >> that's spinning it optimistically. it's put forward as a confidence-building measure. lakhdar brahimi talked about having a modest prisoner

exchange and access to humanitarian aid as a way of building confidence towards a broader peace. i hope it doesn't rest on a confidence-building measure. that means all would be focused on longer term, is the grand peace talks, which will be very difficult. i hope at the same time they continue to put pressure on assad to allow humanitarian aid in. what is it means and why it is difficult is it means pressuring russia. the way to get bashar al-assad to do something is pressure moscow. the russian government is partner in peace. john kerry doesn't want to pressure moscow because he's working with them. the confidence of that bashar al-assad is killing 2,000 civilians a month and depriving millions of aid. the u.s. needs to walk and chew gum at the same time, talk peace and exert pressure for an end to the killing of civilians.

>> and thanks to ken roth with human rights watch. we have breaking news. according to military officials the u.s. carried out app air strike in somalia against a suspected militant leader. no other details were given about where the strike occurred or the target. more when it becomes available. >> egypt's interim president says the country will hold presidential elections before it votes for parliament. today's elections coming after 49 were killed in clashes. general abdul fatah al-sisi is expected to run for president. >> earlier i spoke with harvard professor who said egypt's next president will likely shape the rest of the governments. >> once you have a president. that becomes basically the tent poll for the new egyptian political system, and you can imagine the parliamentary elections that follow, that

basically the present allies will win the election, and quickly you get to a situation where you have a president and a ruling party much like what you had prior to january 25th, 2011. >> so the old power structure back into form. >> something that resembles the old power structure. too much has changed to say that we'll go back to the hosni mubarak era. too many people are used to having their voices served and some of those revolutionaries may be silent for now. it's, look, we have seen the supreme council. it was the victim of protests. mohamed morsi when he was in charge had - failed to protest. it's likely that whoever is in charge in egypt will have a short honeymoon. >> al jazeera cannot report from cairo, because or journalists are detained.

the correspondent peter greste have been in custody for 29 days. they are accused of spreading lies, and joining the terrorist group, allegations al jazeera says are totally unfounded. >> two other journalists from the sister channels are being healed. abdullah al-shami, is a reporter and mohammed badr is a cameraman. they have been detained for over five months. >> one of thailand's senior opposition leaders has beened killed. suthin tharathin was attacked in his car moments after giving a speech, falliollowing days of protest. they've been trying to stop early fighting in the elections. >> peacekeepers are under fire. maintaining order is trickier, with both sides claiming that soldiers can do more to protect them. barnaby phillips reports from the capital that many are zeroing in on french troops.

>> in a muslim neighbourhood on the outskirts of bangui people are hostile to french peacekeepers. "we don't want you here", he says, "don't come any closer." many here are armed. they are also frightened. they tell me the french have killed some of their people whilst making no effort to disarm the christian anti-balaka militia who lied in the hills. they say they have had enough of the french standing by. all the muslims want to escape the capital and head north. as soon as they arrange capital and feel it's safe to head out. some say the central african republic should be divided and muslims take over the north. it seems the peacekeepers are struggling to hold the country together. >> just a stone's throw away a

christian neighbourhood. i walked there to ask them what they think of the french. "we like them", they say, "they are doing a good job." the french patrol bangui tirelessly. they move through what is a city of stark contrasts. many christian areas are busy and the french well received. muslim areas tend to be quieter. people are not so happy. the french say they don't take sides. >> translation: we disarm the anti-balaka as we do the seleka. we are impartial to the groups and there are defense groups. we treat them in exactly the same way. >> in the central mosque the mood is tense and the imams say the french are complicit in christian attacks on muslims. >> how can the french disarm

someone carrying a knife and leave them at the mercy of a hostile crowd. the crowd will steal his belongings and kill him. we have seen this happen. >> we have seen the french take weapons by both sides. the french try to win hearts it and minds. in this christian area, they succeed. if they are not careful the perception that they are more comfortable with one side than the other could become reality. >> they can't let things drift in these dangerous waters. >> a pregnant woman considered brain dead has been removed from life support. a texas hospital filed a court order today and disconnected the machines keeping marlise munoz alive. she was 14 weeks pregnant when found unconscious in her home. the hospital had been keeping her alive due to a law saying life support cannot be withdrawn

from a pregnant woman. the court argued the hospital misapplied the law. she was taken off life support, the family saying she would not have wanted to be kept in that position. >> investigators are looking at the outbreak of an illness, 300 are suffering gastrointestinal symptoms. 22 crew members are among those sick. the ship is docked and has been sanitised. >> same-sex marriage laws are being challenged. the state is friendly to gay visitors, but not his residents in mimry. >> daddy put socks on you. >> 3-year-old blake has two fath, todd and jeff. they have built a life together, taking on the same last name.

now he want to get married. >> it's one piece of society we can't participate in. we want that opportunity. >> they have rings on their fingers, but they want the paperwork. >> when you get married with our wedding band is on your left hand. until that happens, it will be worn on the right hand. >> they are among six same-sex couples named in a lawsuit filed by a civil rights group, challenging a constitutional ban against same-sex marriage. >> we stand for those applying for marriage licences and faced the humiliation of being denied. the couples say that florida's ban denies them the protection afforded to heterosexual couples. 17 states and washington dc recognise same-sex marriage. the supreme court overturned key

parts of the defensive marriage act meaning federal benefits can no longer be denied to same-sex couples. >> florida voters, 62%, voted to maintain the position against gaye marriage. gaye activists in florida says since then public positions have changed >> the lawsuit is a cheap stunt. millions voted to report marriage as a union between a man and a woman. it's troubling and disturbing that there are people out there with this mate and this intolerance and bigotry against the will of the people of florida. >> still, couples like summer green and pamela farver who have been together 25 years are hopeful. >> this is my partner, this is my life partner - this is my wife. that would be gratifying.

we feel that the time is now. >> if the state chooses to fight the case, it's likely to take years for the courts to settle it. >> well, super bowl week is upon us. i cannot believe it is seven days from today we'll see the broncos and the seattle seahawks. things are getting real. the excitement is heating up. we are talking about the excitement, not the weather. >> let the hype begin. the broncos and seahawks are arriving in new jersey. denver got in first, landing at newark airport around 4:00 pm eastern. the broncos are making their seventh appearance and all eyes on peyton manning. the seahawks are scheduled to touch down around 7 o'clock. both teams are staying and practicing in jersey, versus staying in new york city, and the distractions. i think not. an examplionship is on the line. there's speculation if denver

win, peyton manning at 38 years young will call it a career. what do you say? >> i enjoy playing football. i feel better than i thought i would coming off the surgery. i still enjoy the preparation part of it, the works part. everyone enjoys the games and will be excited to play in a super bowl. when you enjoy the preparation and the work part of it, i think you probably still ought to do that. >> as for seattle's head coach, he has won a college football title. can he win is football title. jessica taff has more on passionate pete. >> when pete carol began to coach in 1973 it was his energy and charisma that was an enigma. 41 years later not much has changed as carol is prepared to lead her seahawks.

>> it is magical >> we are getting - moving on with it now. we have to start talking about plans and what is going on and what this all means. we are very grateful. this is not the 62-year-old's first n.f.l. gig. he held the head job for the jets and patriots ending in quick exits. he was able to turn the page, going back to the collegiate level, taking over the university of southern california in 2001. carol lead the trojans to two titles and an 82 and 9 record over two seasons. >> there's a reason why people want to flock to play for pete carol. the same reason he had success in college and is beloved here. he loves the game as much as his players. his open-mineded approach has guys able to be them. >> when they say we let them be

themselves, i told them this weekend we don't let them be themselves, we celebrate them being themselves. our approach is letting them be the best they can do, figure out how to help the guys perform at their best. some guys have personalities that hit in some places, some in other teems. in our situation we are open. i have no problem with guys that have parties that are outgoing, or that are quiet. >> carol's population in the league and team may be because he gets it. >> he has a system down that is very thought out and very effective. it's very methodical. i think he works it perfectly. he designed it and works it. on top of that, within the system he brings energy and a passion, and makes it a fun place to play and a fun place to work. that atmosphere creates a winning atmosphere. >> pete carol is looking to join barry switzer and jimmy johnson

as the only coaches to win at a collegiate level. >> you take note of a kid watching the games and thinking you'd like to be part of it. i picture playing, not coaching. we all have the dreams, you know, so we need to take note and recognise how special it is. >> you got to love the passion. that's why he's called uncle pete. with the super bowl a week away, the n.h.l. is starting their stage purposes, it was hollywood. >> the new york rangers and devils laced up at yankee stadium. the game was declared for 90 minutes because of the glare on the ice because of sun. i guess there was sunshine. >> the rangers scored six goals, 50,000 fans braved the companies and it will be a chilly one

wednesday night because there'll be another stadium game at yankee stadium between the raeners and islanders. >> snowing there, freezing cold and the sun is too bright. it's all there. >> check out this next story by the way. a bit of surprise after the pope led a prayer for piece in the ukraine. this is scary. the two doves he released were attacked by a seagull and a crow. one broke free after losing feathers, the crow pecked repeatedly at the other dove before it escaped. the fate of the doves are unclear. a lot of people praying for those two birds. okay. still ahead on al jazeera america. the changing music industry. how more artists without record labels are going for grammy gold.

>> some of the biggest names in the music industry walking the red carpet for the 56th grammy awards at the staple center in downtown los angeles. mcilmore and brian lieu use go in with seven nomination, the only artists in three of four categories,al bum of the years, song of the year and best new artists. their road to success is u.n. conventional. ♪ we go back ♪ this is a moment ♪ >> mcill back and brian louis's video went platinum in 2013 here on a beach in museum ♪ like the feeling >> at the end mcill more skydives on to the space needle

in seattle planting a flag reading, "the heist." it's also the name of their third album, which sky rocketed them into the stratosphere of pop star dom. they began on their own, building their audience through social media. >> the base that they built was all independent. all using youtube and social media and the other tools available to artists in the digital age. first they built a huge fan base, not to take away their achievement there that put them into massive pop success into lady lady gaga's world. that's when they needed traditional radio and record labels. many see their success as something to replicate. >> like ted mason, former guitarist and president of his own label mi 5 recordings. >> as a label boss i have the big acts.

but my acts that are diverse are different, speaking in different languages and playing different instances. i have a hard time selling it to the united states. >> he credits mack ill more and ryan louis for their savvy. >> they are doing a puct that is selling. they are not bringing them in, they are not singing in arabic. that is revolution. mcillmore and louis hit chords with many, promoting gay rights in a song "same love", something hip hop stars are not known for ♪ ♪ i can't change ♪ even if i stride >> the video, which embraces diversity has also gone viral. >> well, it is good music. let's bring in bill wyman, the culture critic. >> high. let's talk about mcillmoor and

the route to fame. is this the norm where artists don't need to rely on big record labels? >> boy, i think i can speak for many when i say boy i hope so. the music industry has been a callsified institution for the past 20, 30, 40 years. it made all its money by having this monopoly, by paying radio stations to get songs on to the radio and into people adds homes. the fact that we see it cracking, and there has been a few, mack miller had a number one record that was an independent artist. mcillmore and ryan louis, not only did they do it on their own, and we should get to that, but they are flying the flag for it. one of the things that is in their songs is how they are independent and proud and they took a solid shot at jimmy. >> ving, the head of universal records, which i can't remember anyone in history on their level doing. >> how does it happen that an

artist like mcillmore strikes cold. a lot of people think they'll put a song on youtube and the rest happens. >> we should make it clear, there's two kinds of artists. there are artists destined to be famous and star dom. madonna was always going be a star. then there's an unwashed 80% of the rest, which record labels could help back in the day, because chances of being a star were better. what youtube does is give the top 10% away into the hearts and minds of the consumer audience, without having to go through the gauntlet of the record labels, which they controlled the access to the press to tv, to radio, to mtv. now those are the things that have broken down, which is the record labels's control of the ways of getting your music out to the public. >> once it's on youtube there's a lot of other things that happen to make the artist a name

brand star. >> right. but that's the way the world is, right. not everyone gets to be a star. >> what made mcillmore a star and not another group that put a video out there. >> he's an amazing guy. you heard the "thrift shop" song and you realise he's a great comedian, a great performer. he has sasz, he speaks truth to power, he's not afraid of looking someone in the eye and saying what he thinks. the same love song, it's true, as the report stated. you don't here hip hop people speaking out for same-sex marriage. he has incredibly winning qualities, he's a great wrapper and has a great producer, ryan louis. that's the other secret message. >> any predictions for the grammies. >> it's hard to del the grammy's is a crazy outfit.

you never know. what actor will they give it to or band we never hear of will get a top award or what industry darling will get it. taylor swift is overdue to get ner big award. you can see, "same love" getting it because it's a beautiful song. there's all sorts of people who aren't all that talented like pink and dragon. so you rarely know, you never know how crazy they're going to be. same with amy wipe house. >> who tonight. >> i don't know. the top four will go to four different people, i think. >> thank you bill wyman. headlines after this quick break.

>> this is al jazeera america live from new york. the two sides of syrian peace talks agree to allow women and children to flee a key battle

ground city. the settlement comes on day 2 of the talks. the government was firm on maintaining control of damascus. demonstrators in the ukraine took over the ministry of justice in kiev, clashes escalated across the country after opposition leaders rejected the offer to join the government. they want the president to call new elections. u.s. military carried out an air strike in somalia. it happened in a remote area near the coastal town. few details were given, including the identity of the suspect or whether the strike was successful. police say darion marcus aguilar, the gunman in the mall shooting had no record and no relationship with his victims, the 19-year-old killed two with a shotgun before turning the gun on himself. they found darion marcus aguilar's journal which shows that he was unhappy. but no motive. >> a texas hospital took a woman

off life support. she's been on life support for two month,s. the hospital kept her alive according to law, but not the family's wishes. >> i'll be back with more later. ""real money" is next with ali velshi, on al jazeera america. edward snowden did help the "new york times" keep the public informed on what i consider to be very important matters. >> i would say it is the most secretive white house that i have ever been involved in covering. >> during the run-up to the iraq