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Posted by djtlay318 — Wed, 9 Aug 2023 02:00 GMT

Your trial has expired. Please update your subscription plan at rss.app. - (oO9TiFbpS7jOuQM4) via: https://rss.app

2023 Made In America Festival Has Been Canceled Due to 'Severe Circumstances'

Posted by djtlay318 — Tue, 8 Aug 2023 19:47 GMT

The cancelation was a result of "severe circumstances" that were out of the control of the festival production team. via: https://www.complex.com/music/a/markelibert/2023-made-in-america-festival-has-been-canceled

Chicago Designer Says Drake's Stylist Initially 'Ghosted Me and Refused to Send Payment' After 48-Ho

Posted by djtlay318 — Tue, 8 Aug 2023 18:05 GMT

Designer Jackson Napier says he has since been paid for his services. "It worked," he said of taking the issue to Twitter. via: https://www.complex.com/style/a/tracewilliamcowen/chicago-designer-drake-stylist-refused-payment

Ciara and Russell Wilson Announce They're Expecting Baby Number Three

Posted by djtlay318 — Tue, 8 Aug 2023 17:01 GMT

The singer kept her pregnancy a secret even while filming the music video for "How We Roll" featuring Chris Brown. via: https://www.complex.com/sports/a/markelibert/ciara-and-russell-wilson-announce-theyre-expecting-baby

Coke Studio X Complex Canada @ Osheaga 2023

Posted by djtlay318 — Tue, 8 Aug 2023 16:46 GMT

Coca-Cola invited Complex Canada to check out their Coke Studio Installation at this year's Osheaga Festival in Montreal. via: https://www.complex.com/music/a/erik-leijon/coke-studio-osheaga-2023

On The Run With Flyana Boss: A Fun Conversation With The Viral Rap Duo

Posted by djtlay318 — Tue, 8 Aug 2023 15:26 GMT

In a new interview, rap duo Flyana Boss, discuss their viral running videos for "You Wish," their origin story, and what's next. via: https://www.complex.com/music/a/j-mckinney/flyana-boss-interview

Rostrum Records Releases 'Top Shelf 1988' Documentary With Biz Markie, Big Daddy Kane, MC Lyte, and

Posted by djtlay318 — Tue, 8 Aug 2023 13:10 GMT

Rostrum Records is celebrating its 20th anniversary and hip-hop's 50th anniversary with the new documentary. via: https://www.complex.com/music/a/cmplxtara-mahadevan/rostrum-records-top-shelf-1988-documentary

Iggy Azalea Speaks Out After Tory Lanez Sentencing Letter Revealed, Says She 'Never Intended to Publ

Posted by djtlay318 — Tue, 8 Aug 2023 11:57 GMT

Iggy is clarifying the message at the center of the letter, which she says was intended "for a judge only." via: https://www.complex.com/music/a/tracewilliamcowen/iggy-azalea-tory-lanez-sentencing-letter

Viral Eurodance Man Keeps Replacing Main Female Singer in Each Video, Twitter Reacts

Posted by djtlay318 — Tue, 8 Aug 2023 02:26 GMT

Each new "Planet of the Bass" clip features a different Ms. Biljana Electronica, and a vocal contingent already miss the OG. via: https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/a/starrsavoy/viral-eurodance-video-planet-of-the-bass-replacing-co-star

Drake Plays Patronizing Friend Humbling Man in Front of Girlfriend in Hilarious Sketch

Posted by djtlay318 — Tue, 8 Aug 2023 01:52 GMT

Drake stars in comedian BenDaDonnn's new comedy sketch, embodying "that one lit homie you don't want anywhere near the girl you talking to." via: https://www.complex.com/music/a/starrsavoy/drake-bendadonnn-girlfriend-date-sketch-video

Here Are the First-Week Numbers for Travis Scott's 'Utopia'

Posted by djtlay318 — Mon, 7 Aug 2023 21:07 GMT

The 'Astroworld' follow-up made a strong showing in its first week, ultimately taking the top spot on the Billboard 200. via: https://www.complex.com/music/a/tracewilliamcowen/travis-scott-utopia-first-week-chart-numbers

Travis Scott's 'Circus Maximus' Film is Now on Apple Music

Posted by djtlay318 — Mon, 7 Aug 2023 20:04 GMT

'Circus Maximus' serves as the visual accompaniment to Travis Scott's recently released album 'Utopia.' via: https://www.complex.com/music/a/backwoodsaltar/travis-scotts-circus-maximus-film-watch-now

Travis Scott Brought Out Kanye During Rome Livestream: 'There is No 'Utopia' Without Kanye West'

Posted by djtlay318 — Mon, 7 Aug 2023 19:58 GMT

The pair performed "Praise God" from 'Donda' and Ye's 2007 single "Can't Tell Me Nothing." via: https://www.complex.com/music/a/backwoodsaltar/travis-scott-brought-out-kanye-west-rome-show

Nelly and Ashanti Sing Usher's "Nice & Slow" at Restaurant Fueling More Dating Rumors

Posted by djtlay318 — Mon, 7 Aug 2023 19:23 GMT

Nelly and Ashanti continue to feed into rumors that they've rekindled their romance after eight years. via: https://www.complex.com/music/a/cmplxtara-mahadevan/nelly-ashanti-sing-usher-nice-and-slow-dating-rumors

Brother of C-Murder's Victim Criticizes Kim Kardashian, Says Only Celebrities Want Him Released From

Posted by djtlay318 — Mon, 7 Aug 2023 16:18 GMT

In 2009, C-Murder was sentenced to life in prison in connection with the 2002 murder of 16-year-old Steve Thomas. via: https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/a/backwoodsaltar/c-murder-victim-brother-criticizes-kim-kardashian

Watch J. Cole and Adam Sandler Play Pick-Up Basketball in New York City

Posted by djtlay318 — Mon, 7 Aug 2023 15:09 GMT

J. Cole took a break from the studio to ride his bicycle around NYC and later, ended up shooting hoops with Adam Sandler. via: https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/a/cmplxtara-mahadevan/j-cole-adam-sandler-basketball-game-new-york-city

Lancey Foux & Sexxy Red Share Glitzy "MMM HMM" Visuals

Posted by djtlay318 — Mon, 7 Aug 2023 14:54 GMT

The pair first previewed the track during Lancey's Wireless set. via: https://www.complex.com/music/a/james-keith/lancey-foux-sexxy-red-mmm-hmm-video

Beyonc Paid $100,000 for the DC Metro to Stay Open an Hour Later So Fans Could Get Home

Posted by djtlay318 — Mon, 7 Aug 2023 14:26 GMT

Adverse weather conditions caused extensive delays to DC's Metrorail system the same night the Renaissance Tour came to the Summerfield, Maryland. via: https://www.complex.com/music/a/backwoodsaltar/beyonce-paid-100k-for-the-dc-metro-to-stay-open

M Huncho Reconnects With Slim For New Track "Any Minute"

Posted by djtlay318 — Mon, 7 Aug 2023 12:28 GMT

Take a tour through London's underworld. via: https://www.complex.com/music/a/james-keith/m-huncho-slim-any-minute

Ne-Yo Apologizes After Criticizing Parents of Transgender Children: 'Gender Identity is Nuanced'

Posted by djtlay318 — Mon, 7 Aug 2023 03:20 GMT

The singer offered his opinion on transgender children in a recent interview with VladTV. via: https://www.complex.com/music/a/jadegomez510/neyo-transgender-children-interview-apology

Usher Addresses Keke Palmer Interaction: 'Every Night, I'm Thinking About How the World Now Is Going

Posted by djtlay318 — Mon, 7 Aug 2023 00:43 GMT

The singer stirred up some controversy when he sang "There Goes My Baby" to Palmer during his residency show, leading some to believe it was the catalyst for the rumored split between Palmer and her boyfriend, Darius Jackson. via: https://www.complex.com/music/a/markelibert/usher-addresses-keke-palmer-controversy-vegas

Video Shows Massive Brawls Erupting Following Jake Paul-Nate Diaz Fight

Posted by djtlay318 — Sun, 6 Aug 2023 19:04 GMT

Several fights broke out both ringside and in the bowels of American Airlines Center in Dallas on Saturday night. via: https://www.complex.com/music/a/brad-callas/video-shows-massive-brawls-erupting-following-jake-paul

Pop Smoke's Murder Connected to Recent Killing of Los Angeles Rapper Who Was Found Dead in Barrel

Posted by djtlay318 — Sun, 6 Aug 2023 15:48 GMT

Javonnta Murphy, an up-and-coming Los Angeles rapper whose remains were discovered on a Malibu beach earlier this month, is related to a man who was previously charged in connection with Pop Smoke's killing. via: https://www.complex.com/music/a/brad-callas/pop-smokes-murder-connected-to-recent-killing-of-los

Lil Durk Announces 'Almost Healed' Deluxe Edition During Jake Paul Ring Walk

Posted by djtlay318 — Sun, 6 Aug 2023 05:01 GMT

The news arrived on the rapper's t-shirt worn as he walked Paul out to victory against Nate Diaz. via: https://www.complex.com/music/a/jadegomez510/lil-durk-almost-healed-deluxe-jake-paul-fight

50 Cent Opens Up About His Early-Career Sexual Escapades

Posted by djtlay318 — Sat, 5 Aug 2023 23:53 GMT

The rapper claimed there was so much energy in the early 2000s that could never be recreated. via: https://www.complex.com/music/a/markelibert/50-cent-sex-symbol-early-career

Ugly God Accused of Fatally Shooting Best Friend's Father

Posted by djtlay318 — Sat, 5 Aug 2023 23:09 GMT

The rapper has been accused of bragging about the murder by a relative of the victim. via: https://www.complex.com/music/a/markelibert/ugly-god-murder-accusation

Jack Harlow Declined NFL Player-Turned-Rapper Le'Veon Bell's Request for a Feature Multiple Times

Posted by djtlay318 — Sat, 5 Aug 2023 19:28 GMT

Bell appreciated that Harlow was honest and didn't do a feature just to get a check. via: https://www.complex.com/sports/a/markelibert/jack-harlow-declined-nfl-player-turned-rapper-leveon-bells

Drake Bets $250,000 on Nate Diaz to Beat Jake Paul, KSI Responds

Posted by djtlay318 — Sat, 5 Aug 2023 18:32 GMT

The former MMA star will make his pro boxing debut against Paul on Saturday night in Dallas. via: https://www.complex.com/sports/a/brad-callas/drake-bets-250000-on-nate-diaz-to-beat-jake-paul-ksi

ILoveMakonnen Calls Out Post Malone, Metro Boomin, and Swae Lee for Unfollowing, Ghosting Him: 'Y'al

Posted by djtlay318 — Sat, 5 Aug 2023 15:21 GMT

The "Tuesday" artist accused the trio of ghosting him for years, before reaching out recently after Makonnen linked with YoungBoy Never Broke Again for their new single. via: https://www.complex.com/music/a/brad-callas/ilovemakonnen-calls-out-post-malone-metro-boomin-and-swae

Travis Scott and Live Nation Reach Settlement as Third Family Resolves Astroworld Festival Lawsuit

Posted by djtlay318 — Sat, 5 Aug 2023 02:38 GMT

The family of 14-year-old John Hilgert withdrew their lawsuit against the rapper and others in February. via: https://www.complex.com/music/a/markelibert/travis-scott-and-live-nation-reach-settlement-as-third

Nas Reflects on 'Hip Hop Is Dead,' Says Genre Was in the 'Wrong Hands' at the Time

Posted by djtlay318 — Fri, 4 Aug 2023 20:10 GMT

The rapper said he's "sorry not sorry" for the project's controversial name. via: https://www.complex.com/music/a/backwoodsaltar/nas-reflects-on-hip-hop-is-dead-says-genre-was-wrong-hands

The Smoke Hasn't Cleared: Every Subliminal Drake Has Sent Pusha T

Posted by djtlay318 — Fri, 4 Aug 2023 20:07 GMT

It's been over five years since Drake and Pusha T's beef hit a boiling point, and Drizzy is still sending shots his way. Here are all the subliminal disses from Drake since "The Story of Adidon." via: https://www.complex.com/music/a/j-rose/every-subliminal-drake-pusha-t

YNW Melly's New Murder Trial Delayed, Rapper Tells Family He's Coming Home

Posted by djtlay318 — Fri, 4 Aug 2023 19:52 GMT

The announcement comes after a jury couldn't decide if Melly was guilty or not in his initial double murder trial. via: https://www.complex.com/music/a/markelibert/ynw-melly-new-murder-trial-delayed-coming-home

Cordae Enlists Dr. Luke for New Single "Make Up Your Mind"

Posted by djtlay318 — Fri, 4 Aug 2023 19:27 GMT

The North Carolina rapper's latest offering follows previously released tracks "The Water (Freestyle) and his collaboration with J. Cole and Anderson .Paak, "Two Tens." via: https://www.complex.com/music/a/brad-callas/cordae-enlists-dr-luke-for-new-single-make-up-your-mind

Billie Eilish Dedicated a Performance of "Never Felt So Alone" to Angus Cloud

Posted by djtlay318 — Fri, 4 Aug 2023 18:25 GMT

During her headlining performance at Lollapalooza, Eilish paid tribute to the late 'Euphoria' actor with a song that appeared on the HBO series. via: https://www.complex.com/music/a/backwoodsaltar/billie-eilish-angus-cloud-tribute

Kodak Black Seen Checking Into Florida Hospital on Stretcher

Posted by djtlay318 — Fri, 4 Aug 2023 17:06 GMT

It's unclear what, if anything, happened to the rapper. via: https://www.complex.com/music/a/backwoodsaltar/kodak-black-seen-checking-into-florida-hospital-on-stretcher

Best New Canadian Tracks This Week: Yoko Gold, Sargeant X Comrade, Ardn

Posted by djtlay318 — Fri, 4 Aug 2023 16:31 GMT

It's hard to keep up with new tracks every week. With a bevy of songs being released every day, we made a list highlighting new tracks from Canadian artists. via: https://www.complex.com/music/a/louispavlakos/best-new-canadian-tracks-this-week-aug-4

Giggs & Diddy Link Up For New Track "Mandem"

Posted by djtlay318 — Fri, 4 Aug 2023 15:57 GMT

The first taste of Giggs' new project, 'Zero Tolerance'. via: https://www.complex.com/music/a/james-keith/giggs-diddy-mandem

LL Cool J Shoots Down Rumors He Was Dissed by Biggie: 'He Wasn't Taking a Shot at Me'

Posted by djtlay318 — Fri, 4 Aug 2023 13:33 GMT

The rapper and actor responded to journalist Bonsu Thompson's theory that Biggie dissed him on "Who Shot Ya?" via: https://www.complex.com/music/a/backwoodsaltar/ll-cool-j-shoots-down-rumors-he-was-dissed-by-biggie-he

Vanessa Bryant Pays Tribute to Kobe and Gianna With Taylor Swift Jacket Design for Eras Tour

Posted by djtlay318 — Fri, 4 Aug 2023 12:36 GMT

Vanessa Bryant's special Swiftie jacket features a photo of Kobe and Taylor from 2015 on the back. via: https://www.complex.com/sports/a/tracewilliamcowen/vanessa-bryant-pays-tribute-to-kobe-and-gianna-with-taylor

Doja Cat Delivers "Paint the Town Red" Single and Video

Posted by djtlay318 — Fri, 4 Aug 2023 03:07 GMT

The track is expected to appear on the artist's long-awaited fourth studio album. via: https://www.complex.com/music/a/joshua-espinoza/doja-cat-paint-the-town-red

Lil Yachty Shares New Tracks "Slide" and "Solo Steppin Crete Boy"

Posted by djtlay318 — Fri, 4 Aug 2023 03:04 GMT

Ahead of the kickoff of his Field Trip Tour in September, Yachty has released new tracks and a music video. via: https://www.complex.com/music/a/tracewilliamcowen/lil-yachty-slide-solo-steppin-crete-boy

21 Savage and Summer Walker Join Usher on "Good Good"

Posted by djtlay318 — Fri, 4 Aug 2023 03:01 GMT

Usher, no stranger to the potential power of a great trio track, recruits 21 Savage and Summer Walker for his latest single of 2023. via: https://www.complex.com/music/a/tracewilliamcowen/usher-good-good-21-savage-summer-walker

Jalmar Is Taking Australian Reggaeton to the World

Posted by djtlay318 — Fri, 4 Aug 2023 02:10 GMT

We spoke to rising Reggaeton star Jalmar about his come up, Chilean roots, and working with Converse. via: https://www.complex.com/music/a/complex-australia/jalmar-is-taking-australian-reggaeton-to-the-world

Skip Bayless Announces Lil Wayne Will Make Weekly 'Undisputed' Appearances

Posted by djtlay318 — Fri, 4 Aug 2023 00:56 GMT

Shannon Sharpe made his final appearance on the FS1 debate show less than two months ago. via: https://www.complex.com/sports/a/jose-martinez/skip-bayless-lil-wayne-weekly-undisputed-appearances

Aspiring Rapper Found Dead Inside Barrel Off Malibu Coast

Posted by djtlay318 — Thu, 3 Aug 2023 20:46 GMT

Authorities have not determined how long the man, identified as 32-year-old Javonnta Murphy, had been inside the container. via: https://www.complex.com/life/a/joshua-espinoza/aspiring-rapper-found-dead-inside-barrel-off-malibu-coast

Why Can't Travis Scott Perform in Egypt? Middle Eastern Experts Explain

Posted by djtlay318 — Thu, 3 Aug 2023 19:16 GMT

The answer is layered. via: https://www.complex.com/music/a/peter-a-berry/travis-scott-egypt-concert-canceled-explainer

Lil Uzi Vert Admits They're Not the Best-Dressed Rapper: 'It'd Be the Worst-Dressed People With All

Posted by djtlay318 — Thu, 3 Aug 2023 19:05 GMT

The Philadelphia rapper says it's always "the worst-dressed people with all the girls." via: https://www.complex.com/style/a/joshua-espinoza/lil-uzi-vert-admits-theyre-not-the-best-dressed-rapper-itd

Drake Slid into DMs of Woman Who Threw 36G Bra, Tells Her 'You're Really Sought-After Right Now'

Posted by djtlay318 — Thu, 3 Aug 2023 19:01 GMT

Veronica Correia went viral after tossing her 36G cup bra at Drake on July 21 at his Brooklyn show. via: https://www.complex.com/music/a/cmplxtara-mahadevan/drake-dms-girl-threw-36g-bra-at-him

Doja Cat to Headline 'The Victoria's Secret World Tour,' Set to Debut New Music During the Show

Posted by djtlay318 — Thu, 3 Aug 2023 16:47 GMT

The fashion show and documentary hybrid is set to debut on Prime Video in September. via: https://www.complex.com/style/a/backwoodsaltar/dojo-cat-victorias-secret-world-tour

YSL Rapper YSL Mondo Arrested for Guns and Drugs After Police Search His Home

Posted by djtlay318 — Thu, 3 Aug 2023 16:29 GMT

YSL Mondo hasn't been implicated in the 56-count YSL RICO case that involves Young Thug and Gunna. via: https://www.complex.com/music/a/cmplxtara-mahadevan/ysl-mondo-arrested-guns-drugs-police-search

Taylor Swift Announces 6 Shows For 'The Eras' Tour In Toronto In November 2024

Posted by djtlay318 — Thu, 3 Aug 2023 13:42 GMT

This comes after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted about Swift missing Canada on earlier rounds of her tour. via: https://www.complex.com/music/a/louispavlakos/taylor-swift-announces-6-shows-for-the-eras-tour-in-toronto

Lil Wayne Doesn't Think AI Can Replicate Him: 'I'm One of a Kind'

Posted by djtlay318 — Thu, 3 Aug 2023 13:36 GMT

In an interview with 'Billboard' for hip-hop's 50th anniversary, Weezy offered his thoughts on artificial intelligence. via: https://www.complex.com/music/a/backwoodsaltar/lil-wayne-doesnt-think-ai-can-replicate-him

Jordy Declares It The Summer Of Love With New Project 'The Love Ting'

Posted by djtlay318 — Thu, 3 Aug 2023 13:21 GMT

The new eight-track EP follows a handful of singles and a romance-themed web series of the same name. via: https://www.complex.com/music/a/james-keith/jordy-the-love-ting-ep

Lizzo Responds to Former Dancers' Lawsuit: 'I Am Not the Villain That People and the Media Have Port

Posted by djtlay318 — Thu, 3 Aug 2023 11:02 GMT

Earlier this week, three former dancers announced a lawsuit against the singer and her production company. via: https://www.complex.com/music/a/tracewilliamcowen/lizzo-responds-former-dancers-lawsuit

Pepsi Announces Partnership With The Notorious B.I.G. Estate To Celebrate The 50th Anniversary Of Hi

Posted by djtlay318 — Thu, 3 Aug 2023 09:02 GMT

The announcement follows on from the unearthing of a freestyle that Biggie recorded in1997 which sees the genre's most iconic artist declare his love for the soft-drink brand. via: https://www.complex.com/music/a/james-keith/pepsi-announces-partnership-with-the-notorious-big-estate

'Supreme' McGriff Jr. Says a Supreme Brand Collab Honoring His Dad 'Would Be So Big for the Culture'

Posted by djtlay318 — Thu, 3 Aug 2023 03:21 GMT

"I love that brand, though, and it would be so big for the culture, for hip-hop, for everything, for the world," said the son of Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff on 'Drink Champs.' via: https://www.complex.com/music/a/markelibert/supreme-mcgriff-jr-wants-brand-collab-honoring-dad

Gunna Nods to O.J. Simpson's White Bronco Chase in "Rodeo Dr" Video

Posted by djtlay318 — Thu, 3 Aug 2023 02:44 GMT

Gunna references O.J. and the Bronco on the chorus of this track from his June album 'A Gift & a Curse.' via: https://www.complex.com/music/a/starrsavoy/gunna-rodeo-dr-video-oj-simpson-white-bronco-chase

Florida Rapper 350Heem Fatally Shot Outside His Mixtape Release Party

Posted by djtlay318 — Thu, 3 Aug 2023 00:42 GMT

The Florida native released a project titled 'Taking Chances 3' late last month. via: https://www.complex.com/music/a/jose-martinez/350heem-fatally-shot-florida-rapper

Lil Yachty Trolls Drake Over 'Load of Blabber' Instagram Caption

Posted by djtlay318 — Wed, 2 Aug 2023 23:58 GMT

Yachty made fun of Drake in the comments for his unique caption on a gallery of photos of himself. via: https://www.complex.com/music/a/starrsavoy/lil-yachty-trolls-drake-blabber-instagram-caption

KayCyy to Fan Asking Why His Feature on Travis Scott's 'Utopia' Isn't Listed: 'F*ck Trav'

Posted by djtlay318 — Wed, 2 Aug 2023 22:24 GMT

The 25-year-old singer and rapper is speaking out after Travis Scott failed to include his name as a featured artist on 'Utopia.' via: https://www.complex.com/music/a/alex-ocho/kaycyy-travis-scott-utopia-feature-isnt-listed-fuck-trav

50 Canadians Who Shaped Canadian Hip-Hop: 10 Women Who Changed The Game

Posted by djtlay318 — Wed, 2 Aug 2023 19:14 GMT

To celebrate Hip-Hop 50, Complex Canada covers 50 Canadians who helped shape the past, present, and future of hip-hop. This week: 10 Women Who Changed The Game via: https://www.complex.com/music/a/latoya-elle/hip-hop-50-canada-women-who-changed-the-game

Mac Miller Honored With Vans Collaboration Dropping Tomorrow

Posted by djtlay318 — Wed, 2 Aug 2023 18:57 GMT

Celebrating the 5-year anniversary of 'Swimming.' via: https://www.complex.com/sneakers/a/victor-deng/mac-miller-vans-authentic-swimming-release-date

Post Malone Says He's 'Working on' His Drinking: 'I Used to Drink Because I Was Sad'

Posted by djtlay318 — Wed, 2 Aug 2023 18:16 GMT

Posty, whose 'Austin' album launched last week, is the latest guest on Alex Cooper's 'Call Her Daddy' podcast. via: https://www.complex.com/music/a/tracewilliamcowen/post-malone-drinking-call-her-daddy

Beyonc Omits Lizzo's Name in "Break My Soul (Queens Remix)" Performance Following Lawsuit

Posted by djtlay318 — Wed, 2 Aug 2023 18:02 GMT

The clip has received heightened attention amid coverage of a lawsuit against Lizzo alleging she weight-shamed and threatened dancers. via: https://www.complex.com/music/a/tracewilliamcowen/beyonce-omits-lizzo-name-performance

Francia Raisa Sets Record Straight on Selena Gomez Kidney Donation: 'No One Forced Me To Do Anything

Posted by djtlay318 — Wed, 2 Aug 2023 17:30 GMT

After tons of speculation and abusive comments, Raisa is breaking her silence on donating a kidney to Selena Gomez and the status of their relationship. via: https://www.complex.com/music/a/alex-ocho/francia-raisa-selena-gomez-didnt-force-kidney-donation

Microphone Cardi B Threw Into Vegas Crowd Shows Up on eBay

Posted by djtlay318 — Wed, 2 Aug 2023 12:58 GMT

At the time of this writing, the listing had a current bid of $50,000. The mic typically retails for around $1,000. via: https://www.complex.com/music/a/tracewilliamcowen/cardi-b-microphone-las-vegas-ebay

Exclusive: ASAP Rocky Stars in New Mercer + Prince Campaign, Shares Advice on Best Ways to Enjoy Whi

Posted by djtlay318 — Wed, 2 Aug 2023 12:00 GMT

The whisky was first unveiled to the world last year and is made by distilling Canadian and Japanese whisky before aging in white oak barrels. via: https://www.complex.com/style/a/tracewilliamcowen/asap-rocky-mercer-prince-whisky-campaign-video

50 Cent on How D'Angelo's Famous "Untitled (How Does It Feel)" Video Motivated Him to Get Fit

Posted by djtlay318 — Wed, 2 Aug 2023 04:26 GMT

50 was one of six pioneering MCs who got together to talk health and fitness. via: https://www.complex.com/music/a/starrsavoy/50-cent-dangelo-untitled-music-video-motivated-him-get-fit more info www.kyeamonroe.com

Bad Bunny Impersonator Wreaked Havoc at Orange County Fair

Posted by djtlay318 — Wed, 2 Aug 2023 00:05 GMT

There was a rush of fans at the fair over a man who appeared to be Bad Bunny. via: https://www.complex.com/music/a/starrsavoy/bad-bunny-impersonator-orange-county-fair-video

Reason Announces His Sophomore Album 'Porches' Is About to Drop

Posted by djtlay318 — Tue, 1 Aug 2023 22:55 GMT

The TDE rapper's second studio offering is right around the corner. via: https://www.complex.com/music/a/brad-callas/reason-announces-porches-album

Travis Scott Announces Live 'Utopia' Show in Rome

Posted by djtlay318 — Tue, 1 Aug 2023 21:26 GMT

La Flame was originally supposed to bring the event to the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. via: https://www.complex.com/music/a/markelibert/travis-scott-announces-live-utopia-show-rome

Lizzo Accused by Former Dancers for Sexual Harassment and Creating Hostile Work Environment in New L

Posted by djtlay318 — Tue, 1 Aug 2023 20:41 GMT

The "Rumors" singer is accused of several accusations including pushing her dancers to sexually interact with nude dancers in Amsterdam. via: https://www.complex.com/music/a/markelibert/lizzo-accused-dancers-sexual-harassment-lawsuit

Foggieraw Has The Internet's Attention. The Artist Talks Getting That "You Don't Know My Name," Alic

Posted by djtlay318 — Tue, 1 Aug 2023 18:06 GMT

"I want to be known as somebody who was pure when it came to art, who never cheated art as a whole." Meet Foggieraw-the Maryland rapper using solid visuals and covers on Instagram to garner attention. via: https://www.complex.com/music/a/nnamdi-okirike/foggieraw-psalm-62-interview

OPH Region 8 End of Summer Bash

Posted by djtlay318 — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 22:36 GMT

A?ugust is recognized as National Immunization Month and we want to help you and your children be better prepared to go back to school with routine vaccinations! We invite you to our End of Summer Bash o?n Saturday, August 5 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Ouachita Parish Health Unit, 1650 Desiard St., Monroe. In addition to the routine back-to-school vaccinations, we will have COVID-19 and mpox vaccinations and information, access to your immunization records, STI testing, a car seat safety booth, information on health topics and the health unit's services, a cooling station, refreshments, and more! You will also get to learn about the Region 8 Office of Public Health and meet some of our staff. T?he event is FREE and family-friendly. For more information, contact the Ouachita Parish Health Unit at (318) 361-7370 or the Region 8 Communications Coordinator Ana VanEaton at (318) 676-7842.

'Goonica' trends after Monica jumps off stage to confront man hitting woman.

Posted by djtlay318 — Sun, 23 Jul 2023 22:25 GMT

Concertgoers were reminded why Monica fans came up with the R&B singer's alter-ego. via: https://www.complex.com/music/a/brad-callas/goonica-trends-after-monica-jumps-off-stage-to-confront-man

UK R&B Star Mahalia Returns With Sophomore Album 'IRL'

Posted by djtlay318 — Tue, 18 Jul 2023 12:53 GMT

Featuring Stormzy, Joyce Wrice, Kojey Radical, Destin Conrad, and "Leave (Get Out)" star JoJo. via: https://www.complex.com/music/a/james-keith/mahalia-irl-album-stream

Seersuckers Sundresses and Cigars

Posted by djtlay318 — Wed, 17 May 2023 16:50 GMT

Seersuckers Sundresses and Cigars SAT. MAY 20TH GENERAL ADMISSION $40 TIME:6:00PM-11:00PM PAYMENT ZELLE: monroeques@yahoo.com *PAYPAL: monroeques@yahoo.com CASH APP: SMuTAU674 DOWNTOWN RIVER

Here's Who Won Season 15 of 'RuPaul's Drag Race'

Posted by djtlay318 — Sat, 15 Apr 2023 02:13 GMT

After an extremely competitive few weeks that saw 16 queens contend for the crown, season 15 of RuPaul's Drag Race finally came to an end on Friday night (April 14) when one queen walked away with the crown. Related

'RuPaul's Drag Race': Every Lip Sync From Season 15, Ranked 04/14/2023 Filmed live on April 1 at The Theatre at the Ace Hotel in Los Angeles, the finale gave all of the eliminated queens a chance to return to the stage and show off their fabulous fashion, before the top four - Anetra, Luxx Noir London, Mistress Isabelle Brooks and Sasha Colby - began their official fight for the title of America's Next Drag Superstar. Taking to the stage in a series of solo performances, the top four rewrote their narratives for an eager audience: Anetra blossomed into a "Lotus" with her EDM-tinged single; Luxx declared that "It's Giving Fashion" with her couture single; Mistress psychoanalyzed the "Delusion" of the season with a mesmerizing song; and Sasha Colby ascended to become a "Goddess" with her dance-pop anthem. With only two queens able to move forward to the final showdown, RuPaul selected Anetra and Sasha Colby as the season's top two thanks to their stellar performances. Advancing to the famous Lip Sync for the Crown, Anetra and Sasha put it all on the line to the tune of Amii Stewart's 1979 classic "Knock on Wood." Anetra showed off her superior dance skills with a (literally) bleeding heart on her chest that she then removed during the performance. Meanwhile, Sasha Colby gave fans not one but two stunning outfit reveals, all while tearing up the stage and performing her signature hair flips along the way. With the lip-sync over, and the audience at home waiting, RuPaul announced that the winner of RuPaul's Drag Race season 15 was... ...Sasha Colby! Your favorite drag queen's favorite drag queen clutched her face as she accepted the crown and scepter from RuPaul. As the crowd roared with applause, Colby dedicated her award to her community with an empowering statement. "This goes to every trans person - past, present and future," she proclaimed. "Because we are not going anywhere." See the full moment when Sasha Colby clinched the crown below: Spoilers ahead! She's a winner, baby! Condragulations to America's Next Drag Superstar! #DragRace pic.twitter.com/1KsmRiyDJr — RuPaul's Drag Race (@RuPaulsDragRace) April 15, 2023 via: https://www.billboard.com/culture/pride/who-won-drag-race-season-15-1235302482/

2023 NBA Playoffs: Here Are All the Ways to Watch the Games Without Cable

Posted by djtlay318 — Sat, 15 Apr 2023 00:00 GMT

All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. The 2023 NBA Playoffs are here! For sports fanatics who want to watch their favorite teams face off, there are plenty of affordable streaming options that offer NBA coverage live and on-demand. When do the NBA Playoffs start? Playoffs games kick off this Saturday (April 15) with four games including the Brooklyn Nets vs. Philadelphia 76ers, Atlanta Hawks vs. Boston Celtics, New York Knicks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors vs. Sacramento Kings. If you want watch the action in person, you can find playoffs tickets at StubHub, Vivid Seats, SeatGeek Ticketmaster and other ticketing sites for approximately $44 and up. Read on for details on how to watch playoff games without cable. NBA Playoffs Schedule: How to Stream Games Online If you’re a die-hard basketball fan, NBA League Pass is an obvious choice during the regular season but things change for the playoffs. The service lets subscribers access hundreds of live games and 24/7 access to news, highlights, studio shows and classic games from the archives starting at $14.99/month, however NBA Playoffs games will broadcast and stream on ESPN and ESPN platforms. ESPN’s coverage begins on Saturday with NBA Countdown Presented by Chime at 12 p.m. ET on ESPN, ESPN2 and streaming on the ESPN app. The special will feature commentary from Mike Greenberg, Jalen Rose, Stephen A. Smith, Michael Wilbon, and Adrian Wojnarowski. Saturday’s Nets vs. 76ers game is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN+ and the ESPN app; followed by the Hawks vs. Celtics at 3:30 p.m. ET; and Knicks vs. Cavaliers games airing at 6 p.m. on ESPN, ESPN Radio and the ESPN app. ESPN+ $9.99/month Buy Now 1 Later in the evening, the Warriors will face the Kings at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC and the ESPN app, while the Los Angeles Lakers and Memphis Grizzlies game airs Sunday (April 16) at 3 p.m. ET. on ABC and the ESPN app. ESPN platforms will broadcast and stream a dozen first-round playoff games. Where can you watch ESPN and ABC without cable? You can stream ESPN, ABC and more on DirectTV Stream, Fubo, Sling TV and other platforms. Most streamers offer a free trial or a discount at sign up, so you won’t necessarily have to pay out of pocket, depending on which platform you choose. To make shopping a little easier, we collected a short list of some of the more affordable options and what they offer. DirectTV Stream’s Entertainment package starts at $64.99/month for more than 75 channels including ABC, NBC, ESPN, CBS, TNT, USA and TLC. The package includes DVR storage. Direct TV Stream $64.99/month for 2 years Buy Now 1 Direct TV also offers a Gemini streaming device, which allows you to watch live and on-demand channels alongside streamers like Prime Video, HBO Max, Disney+ and Netflix, all in once place. How to Watch the NBA Playoffs on Sling, Fubo & More Sling TV subscribers can watch ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, etc. for just $20 for the first month (regular $40/month). Sling’s Orange tier gets you access to 31 channels, 50 hours of DVR storage and one device stream. Sling TV $20 $40 50% off% OFF Buy Now 1 For additional channels, DVR storage and up to three device streams, upgrade to Sling Blue currently discounted to $22.50 for the first month or the Orange & Blue tier currently $30 for the first month. Fubo Pro is $74.99 a month, plus you get to stream free for the first week. The streaming packages includes 151 channels, over 100 sporting events, cloud DVR (1,000 hours) and streaming from unlimited screens at home. For Spanish-speaking sports fans, Fubo offer a Latino package, which is discounted to $24.99 a month (regular $32.99). Another affordably-priced option, Vidgo Plus is $69.99/month to access ABC, ESPN and over 110 live and on-demand channels, plus DVR storage. Vidgo also offers Ultimate, Premium, and Vidgo Mas packages ranging from $34.95-$99.95 per month. You can join Hulu + Live TV and stream over 75 channels, plus access to ESPN+, Hulu and Disney+, for less than $75 per month. Other options for live television include Verizon Fios and T-Mobile, and if you’re streaming internationally, ExpressVPN lets you watch ESPN and other channels and streaming platforms from outside of the U.S. See the full 2023 NBA Playoffs bracket here. via: https://www.billboard.com/culture/product-recommendations/nba-schedule-how-to-watch-games-without-cable-1235158064/

Emilia, Big One & Callejero Fino's 'En La Intimidad' Adds a Seventh Week Atop Billboard Argentina Ho

Posted by djtlay318 — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 22:55 GMT

Emilia, Big One and Callejero Fino celebrate another week in command as "En La Intimidad" adds a seventh week at No. 1 on the Billboard Argentina Hot 100 chart (dated April 8). With seven weeks up top, the song continues its longest-leading run in 2023 thus far, moving away ahead of its closest competitor, Bizarrap and Shakira's "Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53" which ruled for four weeks. Karol G and Shakira's "TQG" claims a sixth week at No. 2, encompassing its entire run on the chart. Luck Ra, La K'Onga and Ke Personajes' "Ya No Vuelvas" rebounds 7-3, after the song topped the 100-deep tally for one week in February. Ke Personajes also places a second top 10 with "Pobre Coraz n," featuring Onda Sabanera, which rises 12-9, while Luck Ra and La K'Onga concurrently take home the Greatest Gainer trophy with a 33-rank surge as "Te Mentir a" rallies from No. 68 to No. 35. Further, TINI's "Cupido" falls 3-4, and BM's "M. A. (Mejores Amigos)" holds at No. 5 for a sixth week. Meanwhile, Argentinian Milo J scores his first top 10 as "Rara Vez," with Taiu, climbs 11-8. It's a second top 10 for Taiu after he led for four weeks through his featured turn in Trueno and Nicki Nicole's "Mamichula," which also features Bizarrap and Tatool. Watch Video on YouTube Elsewhere, Duki and C.R.O earn the Hot Shot Debut of the week with "Harakiri" at No. 22. With 39 career entries, Duki breaks from a tie with Maria Becerra for the fourth-most among all acts, trailing Bad Bunny's 57 entries, J Balvin's 49 and Bizarrap's 43 total entries. Emilia concurrently adds a new charting title as "Jagger.mp3" opens at No. 30. Lastly, the week features five other debuts: Feid and Young Miko's "Classy 101" at No. 53; Big One, FMK and Ke Personajes' "Un Finde | CROSSOVER #2" at No. 70; Yami Safdie's "De Nada" at No. 73; Tiago PZK's "Que Se Parezca A Ti" at No. 79 and BM's "Ven Mami" at No. 81. via: https://www.billboard.com/pro/emilia-big-one-callejero-fino-en-la-intimidad-argentina-hot-100-2/

Katy Perry, Lionel Richie & Andrea Bocelli Lead King Charles' Coronation Lineup

Posted by djtlay318 — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 22:44 GMT

King Charles' coronation concert officially has its lineup, with Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Andrea Bocelli leading the pack, according to People. The BBC Studios Productions-organized event will also feature pop group Take That, Sir Bryn Terfel, Freya Ridings and Alexis Ffrench, and is set to take place on the grounds of Windsor Castle on May 7, one day after King Charles and Queen Camilla are crowned at Westminster Abbey. The Coronation Choir, which brings together singers from the Portishead RNLI sea shanty choir, farmers, cab drivers and reggae groups, will also deliver a special performance. "The concert will celebrate a new chapter in the nation's history, with themes of love, respect and optimism, celebrating the four nations, their communities and the Commonwealth," the BBC said in a statement to the publication. It's no surprise that American Idol judges Perry and Richie are performing at the coronation concert, as they've had ties to the royal family for years. The "Roar" superstar is an ambassador of The British Asian Trust, while Richie was appointed the First Global Ambassador and First Chairman of the Global Ambassador Group for The Prince's Trust in 2019. The coronation concert will stream on BBC One, BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds. via: https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/king-charles-coronation-performers-katy-perry-lionel-richie-andrea-bocelli-1235303552/

Dove Cameron Reveals She Auditioned for Ariana Grande's Role in 'Wicked'

Posted by djtlay318 — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 22:41 GMT

Dove Cameron spilled the Ozian tea about auditioning for the big-screen adaptation of Wicked in a new interview on Friday (April 14). Speaking to The Wrap at an FYC event for season 2 of Apple TV+'s Schmigadoon!, the "Boyfriend" singer confirmed that she was after the role of Glinda, which ultimately went to her pal Ariana Grande. Related

Dove Cameron Explains Why She Almost Didn't Release Her Hit 'Boyfriend' 04/14/2023 "I definitely went out for it," she said. "I know that for everybody who did go out for it, it was a very long process. It was one of the longer processes I've been a part of." However, despite losing the role of the future Good Witch of the North, Cameron doesn't hold any ill will toward her Hairspray Live! co-star. "I'm so excited for Ariana," she said. "She's a genuinely dear friend of mine. We met when we were super young. I think she's gonna kill it." Instead, the Descendants alum is stepping into the dangerous world of Schmicago for the second season of the Apple TV+ musical series alongside returning stars Cecily Strong, Keegan-Michael Key, Aaron Tveit, Alan Cumming, Ariana DeBose, Ann Harada and original Wicked star Kristin Chenoweth. "This was the era of musicals that raised me, and Cabaret was extremely influential on me," she said during the FYC panel. "Obviously, I hold Liza Minnelli in the highest of hallowed ground, as I know so many people do. And when I heard about [creator] Cinco [Paul]'s inspiration for the character of Jenny, I was equal parts petrified and super, super honored and just wanted to begin to even try to scratch the surface of trying to get it right." Meanwhile, according to a recent post by Grande, Wicked is roughly halfway through filming, with the first of two planned films set to premiere on Nov. 27, 2024. via: https://www.billboard.com/culture/tv-film/dove-cameron-auditioned-wicked-movie-1235303534/

BTS Sing as a Full Group on Soundtrack for Animated Film 'Bastions': Listen to a Preview

Posted by djtlay318 — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 22:18 GMT

While the BTS members are focusing more time on their solo careers, the pop icons are keeping their promise to deliver special group projects in the meantime. Korean animated film Bastions announced on Friday, April 14, that BTS sings the theme song to its upcoming 3D superhero movie. According to a Korean media report shared by BIGHIT MUSIC, the single features BTS as a full group. Other reports shared the track was recorded before Jin enlisted in his mandatory South Korean military service last December. Bastions also shared a 30-second preview of the track alongside clips from the flick described as a "K-pop action hero 3D animation" to tell a story of superheroes fighting environmental-pollution villains. Jung Kook and Jimin's unmistakable vocals were featured prominently in the clip of the bouncy K-pop song that sounds like it should fit nicely alongside bright BTS hits like "Boys With Luv" or "Butter." The Bastions soundtrack will be a star-studded K-pop affair with songs also by BTS' HYBE label mates LE SSERAFIM, chart-topping female troupe Brave Girls, American Song Contest winner AleXa, soul-pop songbird Heize, rising K-R&B star P.Cassady and more. The official Bastions websites shares the song's release is "coming soon," pointing to a May 12 release date, with the movie premiering on the public Korean TV channel SBS on May 14 at 7:30 a.m. local time. Bastions has shared plans to broadcast the film worldwide as well. The new Bastions single will be BTS' first song credited to the full group after last year's "Bad Decisions" from August with Benny Blanco and Snoop Dogg. The track peaked at No. 10 on the Hot 100 and No. 26 on Pop Radio. Worldwide, the star-studded collab reached No. 6 on the Billboard Global 200 and No. 7 on the Billboard Global Excl. US chart. Watch Video on YouTube via: https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/bts-soundtrack-single-ost-bastions-preview-1235303508/

Dove Cameron & Sean Penn Star in Diplo's 'Use Me (Brutal Hearts)' Music Video

Posted by djtlay318 — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 21:00 GMT

Diplo is continuing the musical journey of his country persona Thomas Wesley with his newest release, the guitar-infused "Use Me (Brutal Hearts)," featuring Dove Cameron and Sturgill Simpson "reborn" under the name Johnny Blue Skies. The Grammy-winning producer unveiled the corresponding music video on Friday (April 14) starring Cameron herself and Sean Penn stepping into the role of Blue Skies. In the clip, the singer and the actor trade sultry verses in a Western-style strip club and rodeo bar, as Diplo makes his way through the madness. Diplo "Use Me (Brutal Hearts)" feat. Johnny Blue Skies & Dove Cameron "Use Me (Brutal Hearts)" is set to appear on Diplo's upcoming country project, Diplo Presents Thomas Wesley: Chapter 2 - Swamp Savant, out April 28 via Columbia Records. "To prepare for this new Thomas Wesley project, I went back to my father's house in Florida and I spent six months learnin guitar, gettin in touch with nature, working his boat when the shrimp were running on full moons at the trailer park," he said of the album in a press statement. "I tried on a lot of cowboy hats. I rode a lot of motorcycles and horses basically reflected on my whole life and career and connection with this music... there was a lot. It all started in the swamps I was raised in. This is the greatest single piece of work I've ever done, I can promise you that." Diplo is also gearing up for a number of Thomas Wesley shows this year, including returning to Stagecoach for the third time for his annual Late Night in Palomino closer and his own stage at the festival, Diplo's HonkyTonk. He's also set to perform at Nashville's Wildhorse Saloon on May 10. Watch the "Use Me (Brutal Hearts)" music video below. Watch Video on YouTube via: https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/diplo-use-me-brutal-hearts-music-video-dove-cameron-sturgill-simpson-sean-penn-1235303503/

Skrillex & Pretty Lights Concerts Present New Scalper Challenges for AEG

Posted by djtlay318 — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 20:52 GMT

The return of two highly popular dance artists has created new headaches for promoters dealing with increased public outcry over ticket scalping. Skrillex's first show in nine years at the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado, and Pretty Lights' comeback tour after a five-year absence have created supply and demand issues not often seen in the amphitheater and club space. That's meant new challenges with how to deal with resellers buying tickets en masse and posting them online for profit. Earlier this week, AEG Presents announced plans to reclaim tickets purchased by scalpers for a sold-out April 29 show by Skrillex at Red Rocks and resell them to fans through the Fair AXS ticketing platform, AEG's own fan verification. Fair AXS requires fans to register in advance for high demand tickets, and like Ticketmaster's Verified Fan platform, is designed to weed out scalpers. The company is now weighing whether a similar plan to claw back tickets for the upcoming, sold-out Pretty Lights tour that kicks off Aug. 6 at the Mission Ballroom in Denver and sell those to fans through Fair AXS. With the Skrillex concert, says AEG Presents co-president and senior talent buyer Don Strausberg, when the company scraped the sales data, it found instances of buyers who bought multiple tickets, exceeding the four-ticket limit on purchases and violated the terms of service for AEG-owned ticketing system AXS tickets. Those ticket purchases were then canceled, refunded to the originally buyer and put back on sale through the Fair AXS platform, a registration-based identity-verification system that helps concert promoters determine the likelihood that a ticket purchaser is a legitimate fan and not a ticket broker. (This verification system was recently utilized by Zach Bryan for his 2023 tour and requires fans to register in advance and provide their credit card information.) Strausberg says AEG is now considering whether to do the same for the Peaking Lights tour. Strausberg didn't identify how many Skrillex tickets were pulled back and sold through Fair AXS, but noted that demand for the April 29 show far exceeded supply at the world-famous 9,545-capacity venue. "It's time consuming," to comb through all of the sales, and requires additional steps by both AEG and fans to register in advance for Fair AXS and to verify the accounts, Strausberg says, "but lately more people are asking for this." Trying to identify individuals who violated AXS's terms or service is "something we do without fail on nearly every large concert" says Strausberg, although the scale of unauthorized activity happening with the Skrillex show was larger than normal. Scalping exists at every level of the concert business, but it's much rarer to see high volume ticket scalping at smaller capacity venues like those on the Pretty Lights tour, where the artist is playing 3,500-size rooms. AXS ticketed 18 of the 24 shows on the Pretty Lights tour, totaling about 60,000 tickets total. Lately, ticketing companies like Ticketmaster and AXS have become more effective at reducing the number of tickets that end up on the secondary market. That's pushed some brokers into smaller capacity events, says a secondary market analyst who spoke on the condition of anonymity. "There's much less opportunity at the club and theater level," they add, where the majority of shows don't sell completely sell out. via: https://www.billboard.com/pro/skrillex-pretty-lights-concerts-scalper-aeg/

Drake Calls AI-Generated Cover of Him Rapping Ice Spice's 'Munch' 'The Final Straw'

Posted by djtlay318 — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 20:25 GMT

Drake is in his feelings. On Friday (April 14), the chart-topping artist took to Instagram to voice his opinion about AI-generated versions of his voice, particularly a video that features him rapping Bronx artist Ice Spice's "Munch." "This is the last straw," he wrote on his story, along with a post about the AI clip. The pairing of Drake with Ice Spice is particularly interesting, given the rappers' history. While Drake was an early advocate of Ice Spice, born Isis Gaston, he unfollowed her on Instagram, something Gaston had no explanation for in interviews. However, shortly after, he re-followed her. Drake's complaint comes after Universal Music Group asked streaming services including Spotify and Apple Music to prevent artificial intelligence companies from accessing their copyrighted songs. AI companies would use the music to "train" their machines, something that is becoming a cause for concern within the music industry. In an email sent to Spotify, Apple Music and other streaming platforms, UMG said that it had become aware that certain AI services had been trained on copyrighted music "without obtaining the required consents" from those who own the songs. "We will not hesitate to take steps to protect our rights and those of our artists," UMG warned in the email, first obtained by the Financial Times. Billboard confirmed the details with sources on both sides. Although there isn't clarity on what those steps would be or what streaming platforms can do to stop it, labels and artists alike seem aligned about a needed change. UMG later issued a statement regarding the email sent to DSPs. "We have a moral and commercial responsibility to our artists to work to prevent the unauthorized use of their music and to stop platforms from ingesting content that violates the rights of artists and other creators. We expect our platform partners will want to prevent their services from being used in ways that harm artists," it read. Other AI covers making the rounds include Rihanna singing Beyonc 's "Cuff It," which sounded relatively believable, aside from a glitch during a melodic run. While the implications of artificial intelligence poking its head into music can be scary for artists and labels alike, it's hard not to smirk at Drizzy rapping, "A- too fat, can't fit in no jeans." via: https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/drake-reacts-ice-spice-munch-ai-1235303454/

SEVENTEEN Fight for Their Lives in Cinematic 'FML' Trailer

Posted by djtlay318 — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 20:03 GMT

SEVENTEEN unveiled "F*ck My Life: Life in a Minute," the intense trailer for their upcoming mini-album FML, on Friday (April 13). "How do you define the world that surrounds you?" an unseen narrator asks over dramatic, dystopian visuals of security officers wielding orange batons and a car crash. "In the middle of this f-king world. You're not allowed to feel happy. But you deserve to be happy. So fight. Fight for your life." Related

SEVENTEEN Announces 10th Mini-Album 'FML': See the Teasers 04/14/2023 As one member drops a pin emblazoned with the latter phrase, the rest of the idols do just that - smashing a television with a baseball bat, gazing up at the stars surrounded by telescopes and sitting on a serene beach as the narration continues: "Be an explorer. Be spontaneous. Break free from the perfectly unhappy world. Where are we going? How's it going to end?" The clip ends with all 13 members ecstatically racing down a beach towards an awaiting speedboat before the scene fades to black and the narrator concludes, "Inspired by everyone around the world. Coming soon." FML is set to be released April 24, just nine months after the boy band's most recent full-length SECTOR 17. According to the tracklist released earlier this month on Twitter, the mini-album will contain six tracks including "F*ck My Life," "Fire," "I Don't Understand But I Luv U," "Dust" and "April shower." Sub-unit BSS, made up of Seungkwan, DK & Hoshi, also dropped their new single album Second Wind back in February with guest appearances by Korean hip-hop star Lee Youngji (lead single "Fighting") and Norwegian singer-songwriter Peder Elias ("7PM"). Watch SEVENTEEN chase happiness in the trailer for FML below. Watch Video on YouTube via: https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/seventeen-fml-trailer-1235303428/

New Music From Ice Spice & Nicki, Doja & SZA, Guide to Coachella 2023 & More | Billboard News

Posted by djtlay318 — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 19:57 GMT

Ice Spice teamed up with Nicki Minaj for a remix of 'Princess Diana', Kelly Clarkson releases a powerful double single, Post Malone drops a pop track in 'Chemical', and more. We break down the things you must see at Coachella 2023, Lil Mosey reveals his favorite Seattle slang and more! via: https://www.billboard.com/video/new-music-ice-spice-nicki-doja-sza-coachella-2023-more-billboard-news/

A 'World of Barbie' Experience Is Opening in L.A.: How to Get Tickets Before They're Gone

Posted by djtlay318 — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 16:56 GMT

All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. Ready to live out your Barbie dreams? “World of Barbie” is making that possible by way of an immersive experience set to open its doors at Santa Monica Place in Santa Monica, Calif. on Friday (April 14). Related

Watch ‘Barbie’ Have ‘Fun, Fun, Fun’ in New Movie Trailer 04/14/2023 Produced by Mattel and Kilburn Live, the dreamy experience lets Barbie lovers of all ages explore a 20,000 square-foot, interactive space featuring a life-size Barbie Dreamhouse and camper van, movie theater and more. Visitors will be able to step inside the rooms of Barbie’s legendary Dreamhouse, complete with a patio, pool and walk-in closets filled with garments showcasing Barbie’s iconic style over the years. Additionally, guests can visit the Barbie exhibit featuring dolls and accessories throughout the decades; relax in a Barbie-inspired hammock or take the driver’s seat inside a full-size camper van courtesy of West Coast Customs.

World of Barbie™ Tickets are priced at $34 for adults and $26 for children (special discounts are available for military, students, first responders and seniors). The experience is open on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 12:00 – 6:00 p.m. PST; Fridays from 12:00 – 8:00 p.m. PTS; and Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 a.m.– 8:00 p.m. PST. Due to high demand, additional dates have been added for April, but tickets are selling out extremely fast. In fact, some dates are already sold out, so you’ll have to act quickly to score passes. World of Barbie $from $26 Buy Now 1 The interactive experience has a music studio and fashion studio, with a red carpet that guests can strut down; a neighborhood movie theater playing “classic Barbie content” and a Barbie space shuttle that transports visitors on an interactive mission through the stars. There’s also an interactive hair salon where Barbie fans can try out new looks and Paul Mitchell products and enjoy styling from Paul Mitchell professionals on select dates. Starting in May, the Barbie experience will launch a “Sips After Sunset” recurring event for guests (21+) to enjoy a live DJ and cocktails. June will see the launch of “Pink Carpet Night,” which is described as a “night of glamour, dancing, and high fashion fun” that encourages guests to wear their best Barbiecore outfits. Also coming soon: Special days for visitors to enjoy their favorite Barbie animated movies. via: https://www.billboard.com/shop/world-of-barbie-where-to-buy-tickets-1235303242/

Taylor Swift Tells Fans There's 'A Lot to Catch Up On' During First Eras Tour Show in Tampa

Posted by djtlay318 — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 16:53 GMT

Taylor Swift kicked off yet another round of shows on The Eras Tour Thursday night (April 13) in Tampa, Fla. Related

All the Surprise Songs Taylor Swift Has Performed on The Eras Tour (So Far) 04/14/2023 "Is it just me or do we have a lot of things to catch up on?" the superstar asked the crowd, per People, before launching into the section of the show dedicated to 2020's Folklore. "It's been a really long time since I've been on tour. And to say that a lot has happened is an understatement." Considering the concert was the first after a nearly two-week break in the tour schedule, Swift's off-the-cuff remarks may have been a cryptic allusion to news of her breakup with longtime boyfriend Joe Alwyn going public. But some fans opined that the "Anti-Hero" singer was simply referencing how long it's been since she was last on the road for the Reputation Stadium Tour in 2018. Either way, Swift made a couple of changes during the first Tampa concert, including switching out a few of her costumes and adding Red (Taylor's Version) cut "Treacherous" and the Speak Now title track to the setlist as the pair of surprise songs for the evening. She also laughed off a couple of onstage bloopers after accidentally telling the audience that Gracie Abrams had opened the show instead of GAYLE and repeating a line from the first verse of "Speak Now" in the second verse. Ahead of the first Tampa show, a local food bank shared on social media that the singer had privately made a generous donation that will fund more than 125,000 meals for local residents in need. The Eras Tour is set to continue throughout the weekend with two more shows at Raymond James Stadium before heading to Houston and Atlanta later this month. via: https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/taylor-swift-eras-tour-tampa-a-lot-to-catch-up-on-1235303041/

Kelly Clarkson Unveils 'Chemistry' Release Date & Tracklist... Featuring Steve Martin?

Posted by djtlay318 — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 16:46 GMT

Kelly Clarkson's upcoming album finally has a release date and tracklist - and you'll never guess who's featured on one of the songs. In a Friday (April 14) post to her socials, the three-time Grammy winner announced that her highly anticipated post-divorce record Chemistry will arrive this summer, unveiled its ethereal cover art and confirmed that none other than Steve Martin is a guest artist on the project. Related

Here's Why Fans Think Kelly Clarkson Is Calling Out Her Ex in Her Cover of Gayle's 'ABCDEFU… 04/14/2023 The album, which we now know is coming June 23, will feature two sides and 14 tracks, two of which - "Mine" and "Me" - were also unveiled Friday. Martin, confirmed by Billboard to be the famous actor Steve Martin, will appear on track 13, "i hate love." The only other collaborator billed on the set is legendary drummer Sheila E., featured on track 14, "that's right." "Having chemistry with someone is an incredible, and overwhelming, feeling," Clarkson wrote of the record in a statement. "It's like you have no choice in the matter. You are just drawn to each other. This can be good and bad. This album takes you down every path that chemistry could lead you down. There are many stages of grief and loss on this album. Each song is a different stage and emotional state." The "Since U Been Gone" singer looks almost saintlike on the cover, posing with her hands raised and ghostly prints of herself layered transparently over the image. Clarkson also released not one, but two songs from the album on Friday: "Mine" and "Me," the latter of which was co-written by "abcdefu" singer Gayle. "We decided to release 'mine' and 'me' at the same time because I didn't want to release just one song to represent an entire album, or relationship," she added in her statement. See Clarkson's announcement and the full tracklist for Chemistry below. my new album 'chemistry' is coming June 23rd! pre-order and pre-save now to get my two new songs "mine" and "me"! https://t.co/Sd3Nn4xgEv #mineme #chemistry pic.twitter.com/LlAJUo8Kla — Kelly Clarkson (@kellyclarkson) April 14, 2023 Side A skip this part mine high road me down to you chemistry favorite kind of high Side B magic lighthouse rock hudson my mistake red flag collector i hate love (feat. Steve Martin) that's right (feat. Sheila E.) via: https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/kelly-clarkson-chemistry-release-date-steve-martin-collab-1235303201/

John Rich Removes Bud Light From His Restaurant (And His Bar's Beer Can Flag) Amid Kid Rock's Budwei

Posted by djtlay318 — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 16:42 GMT

Ten days after Kid Rock shouted "F-k Bud Light!" in a video response to trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney posting about a personalized gift from the beer giant, those words became a rallying cry at a downtown Nashville bar owned by John Rich. During a Thursday afternoon (April 13) visit to the country singer-songwriter's Redneck Riviera Bar & BBQ, a restaurant staffer could be seen covering the blue Bud Light cans that were part of an American "beer can flag." The blue coverings sported white stars that obscured the brand's iconic logo; the red and white beer cans, which included Budweiser cans, were not covered. An American flag was draped over the wall while the coverings were being applied to the Bud Light cans. When all the stars were in place, the staffer removed the American flag, revealing the altered beer can flag display. The group of approximately 30 patrons in the restaurant applauded, with a few yelling "F-k Bud Light!" Other patrons of the bar lauded Rich's decision. The backlash stems from an April 1 video in which the transgender TikTok star/social media influencer posted about a can of Bud Light with her face on it. Though the can was a personalized, not-commercially-available gift just for Mulvaney, musicians including Travis Tritt, Kid Rock and John Rich spoke out against the beer giant. Rock posted a video in which he shot several cases of Bud Light with an assault-style rifle while shouting "f-k Bud Light and f-k Anheuser-Busch." A bartender at Redneck Riviera Bar & BBQ confirmed that though the restaurant is no longer actively selling or promoting Bud Light to customers, they will accommodate customer requests for Bud Light with the product they have left in stock. They are still selling other products owned by Anheuser-Busch (AB) InBev. A representative for Redneck Riviera and Rich paints the decision to pull Bud Light products from the restaurant as based on business and consumer demand, rather than politics. A Redneck Riviera representative confirmed to Billboard that sales of Bud Light have "fallen dramatically" at Redneck Riviera following the release of the Mulvaney video, with Miller Lite now becoming the lower-calorie beer of choice. Rich himself mentioned the plummeting Bud Light sales at Redneck Riviera during a recent tweet, and during an April 10 interview with Fox News talk show host Tucker Carlson. "I think the customers decide," Rich told the outlet. "Customers are king. I own a bar downtown in Nashville called Redneck Riviera and our No. 1 selling beer up until a few days ago was guess what - Bud Light. That was the No. 1 beer. We've got cases and cases and cases of it sitting back there but in the past several days, you are hard pressed to find someone ordering one, so as the business-owner, I just go, 'Hey, if you guys aren't going to order it, we've got to put something else in here.' At the end of the day, that's capitalism." Related

Every Musician Who's Spoken About Anheuser-Busch's Trans-Inclusive Campaign: Kid Rock, Jason Isbell… 04/14/2023 A representative for Redneck Riviera noted that in response to the low Bud Light sales, Bud and Bud Light signs are being removed in the restaurant, while Bud Light Draft will be replaced with Miller Lite draft. John Rich's Redneck Riviera Bar & BBQ opened at 208 Broadway in Nashville in 2018. A similar visit to Kid Rock's Big Ass Honky Tonk Rock n' Roll Steakhouse in Nashville on Thursday afternoon (April 13) revealed that AB beers such as Bud Light and Budweiser are no longer on the menu. Representatives for Kid Rock and Kid Rock's Big Ass Honky Tonk Rock n' Roll Steakhouse could not be reached by press time. On April 1, transgender TikTok star/social media influencer Dylan Mulvaney posted a video of herself taking part in the Bud Light Easy Carry Contest during the NCAA's March Madness. The video saw Mulvaney telling followers that Bud Light had helped her celebrate her "365th day of womanhood" with "possibly the best gift ever" - a can of Bud Light that featured Mulvaney's face on the can. In addition to Kid Rock's reaction video, Tritt said via Twitter that he was removing all Anheuser-Busch products from his tour rider. Mulvaney appeared on a recent episode of Onward With Rosie O'Donnell on April 11, and seemed to respond to the backlash regarding her work with brands including Bud Light. Mulvaney told O'Donnell, "I have tried to be the most uncontroversial person this past year, and somehow, it has made me controversial still. I think it comes back to the fact that these people don't understand me, and anything that I do or say then somehow gets taken out of context and used against me. And it's so sad, because everything I try to put out there is positive." O'Donnell addressed the Kid Rock video, saying, "Kid Rock had to take an assault weapon and shoot the boxes of beer, proving what? Beer companies have been supportive of the LGBTQIA community for decades! This is not the first time! Who do you think sponsors Pride? C'mon. Gay people, trans people, we drink beer, too, man! Put down your gun, Kid Rock, it's in bad taste - especially after what happened at the school in Nashville," referring to a mass shooting that took place at the private Christian school The Covenant School on March 27, which resulted in the deaths of three schoolchildren, three staff members and the shooter. In related news, the 2023 NFL Draft will be presented by Bud Light this year. via: https://www.billboard.com/music/country/budweiser-boycott-john-rich-bar-bud-light-1235302784/

Gary Clark Jr., Keb' Mo', Dianne Reeves & More Featured on 'Sweetwater' Soundtrack

Posted by djtlay318 — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 16:42 GMT

At the same time the NBA began desegregating in 1950, the swing era was giving way to a renaissance period involving jazz, blues and other genres. Both seismic shifts play central roles in Sweetwater. The film and its original motion picture soundtrack arrived on Friday (April 14), the eve of this year's NBA playoffs. Sweetwater draws its storyline from the life of Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton, the first Black man to sign an NBA contract. Portrayed by newcomer Everett Osborne, Clifton endured racism and other challenges on his journey from Arkansas to Chicago and from Army vet to playing with the Harlem Globetrotters before joining the New York Knicks. Touted in the film as "the man who changed the game," the Hall of Famer's energetic playing style - what the NBA team owners dismiss as "razzle dazzle" in the film - was the precursor to fellow legends such as Julius Erving, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and other contemporary NBA stars. Additional members of the Sweetwater cast include Kevin Pollak, Cary Elwes, Jeremy Piven, Richard Dreyfuss and Robert Ri'chard. The film was written and directed by Mart n Guigui, who joined several cast members and soundtrack collaborators at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles earlier this week (April 10) for a screening, panel session and a musical performance "We were all looking to elevate the level of emotion to bring the authenticity, truth and realism of what it was like in 1950," related Guigui. That sentiment also extended to the music used in the film as Guigui further noted that Clifton would always visit a jazz club in whatever city he played. "It was like him getting fueled for the next game," said Guigui. "It was those rhythms and beats that he played to on the floor." Emmaline and Carmine Rojas perform during Reel To Reel: SWEETWATER at The GRAMMY Museum on April 10, 2023 in Los Angeles. A celebration of jazz and blues, the Candid Records soundtrack was produced by John Burk who is a partner at Exceleration Music. The 12-song set opens with "Taking Me Higher." Composed by Keb' Mo', it's the first song that plays in the film's end credits. Another original song inspired by the film and playing in the end credits is "To Be First," performed by PWP Works of Art featuring Titus "Erly" Makin (Glee). PWP Works of Art is comprised of producer Neal Pogue plus Earth, Wind & Fire members Verdine White and John Paris. Explaining the origin of "To Be First," Pogue told the museum audience, "I love '50s music. "So I started thinking, 'If Little Richard, Fats Domino and Ray Charles had a child, what would it [the song] be like?'" Added White, "Things were moving fast as we'd [he and Paris] just got back off the road. But after Neal played us the song and told us about the movie, we got it done in a three-hour session." The Sweetwater soundtrack mixes in period era classics such as "The Man I Love" and "Sweet Georgia Brown" performed by singer-songwriter Emmaline who makes her acting debut in the film as the character Jeannie Staples. Emmaline also duets with Gary Clark Jr., who has a cameo in the film as well, on "Down Home Blues." Additional soundtrack performers include Terri Lyne Carrington, Dianne Reeves, Larkin Poe, Robert Randolph, Liyah Bey, Rick Braun, Paul Hipp and Billy Gibbons. Here's the track listing for Sweetwater (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack): 1. Taking Me Higher - Keb' Mo' 2. Down Home Blues - Gary Clark Jr. & Emmaline 3. It Had to Be You - Emmaline 4. Right Place Right Time - Larkin Poe 5. Sweet Georgia Brown - Emmaline 6. Someone to Watch Over Me - Dianne Reeves & Terri Lyne Carrington 7. A Little More Faith - Robert Randolph & Liyah Bey 8. Fo' Sho' - Rick Braun 9. The Man I Love - Emmaline 10. What Does It Matter - Paul Hipp & Billy GIbbons 11. To Be First - PWP Works of Art Featuring Titus "Erly" Makin 12. Get Up - Larkin Poe via: https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/gary-clark-jr-keb-mo-dianne-reeves-sweetwater-soundtrack-1235303194/

Tanner Usrey Signs With Atlantic Records, Makes Label Debut With 'Give It Some Time'

Posted by djtlay318 — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 13:07 GMT

Atlantic Records has signed country singer-songwriter Tanner Usrey to its artist roster, with Usrey's label debut single, "Give It Some Time," releasing Friday (April 14). Texas native Usrey was belting out Alan Jackson songs by age five, and counts artists including George Strait, the Rolling Stones and Tom Petty among his influences. Usrey quit his job as a skip tracer in 2019 and released his independent EP Medicine Man, with songs including "Beautiful Lies" earning millions of Spotify streams. In 2021, he followed with S L Sessions EP; a song from the project, "The Light," soundtracked the finale of Yellowstone's fourth season. "Give It Some Time," was written by Usrey and producer Beau Bedford (Jonathan Tyler, The Texas Gentlemen). "I started writing this song about a year and a half ago," Usrey said via a statement. "It wasn't one that came easy, by any means. I had the hook and a verse down when I went to start the record with Beau Bedford. And we finished the song in an hour and recorded it later that day. It's an anthem about change, holding on to the person you love, and riding out the storm, because things will get better with time. This song means a lot to me, it's one that I had to work at for a long time to write, and it's our first single release with Atlantic, so I'm super excited about working together with this awesome team and seeing what we can accomplish together." "Tanner's innate talent as a storyteller is evident in all of his music and we are incredibly excited to welcome him to the Atlantic family," Ian Cripps, senior vp, A&R for Atlantic Records, added via a statement. Last year, Usrey performed over 180 shows; in 2023, he is opening shows for artists including Elle King, Charles Wesley Godwin, and The Steel Woods. Watch Video on YouTube via: https://www.billboard.com/pro/tanner-usrey-atlantic-records-deal/

Position Music Sells Minority Stake to Vesper Company in Bid to Expand Roster, Acquire Assets

Posted by djtlay318 — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 13:01 GMT

Position Music has sold a significant minority equity stake in itself to Vesper Company, a private investment firm founded in 2021 by executives formerly involved with a company that invested in Kobalt Music. In addition, Position Music has a new revolver credit facility from Pinnacle Bank. Terms were not disclosed for either deal. Founded in 1999 by CEO Tyler Bacon, Position Music has a 40-person staff and occupies a 15,000-square-foot facility with office space and two recording studios, with four more studios currently being built. The company, which started as a synch music house, now consists of music publishing, a record label and a small artist management operation. Related

The Deals: Cutting Edge Acquires Film Music Catalog; Atlantic Strikes JV With Gabe… 04/14/2023 "I am excited to be partnering with the Vesper team as we enter this next phase of growth," Bacon said in a statement. "With Vesper's investment and strategic experience paired with our new credit facility from Pinnacle Bank, we are well-positioned to substantially build on the foundation we have built for 24 years." According to the company, Position Music's publishing roster includes RIAA platinum-certified songs including Em Beihold's "Numb Little Bug," grandson's "Blood // Water" (double platinum) and Judah & the Lion's "Take It All Back," along with gold-certified songs including Rotimi's "In My Bed" and Sueco's "Paralyzed." Its roster includes songwriters and/or artists such as Kid Bloom, Welshly Arms, Fantastic Negrito, Layto, Ryan Oakes, Blackway, 2WEI, TeaMarr and Judah & The Lion. Position Music says the songwriters and producers it represents have written or produced songs for such artists as Avril Lavigne, Dua Lipa, Blink-182, Travis Barker, iann dior, Pop Smoke, Machine Gun Kelly and Avicii. Moreover, the company says it has recently completed joint ventures with Big Noise Music and Champagne Therapy Music Group. Position Music provides its own administration in the United States, while Kobalt serves as its international administrator. Vesper was founded in 2021 by David Caro, Shamit Grover and Raj Gopal, formerly with MSD Partners. They were involved in that firm's purchase of a minority stake in Kobalt Music Group, first made in 2014. "For over twenty years, Tyler and his team have shown a strong commitment to serving artists and songwriters and helping them reach the next level of their careers," added Gopal in a statement. "We're excited to support the continued growth and evolution of Position Music." Related

Accounting Firm Armanino Acquires Blue Sky Group and Royalty Compliance Organization 04/14/2023 According to SEC filings, Vesper has raised at least $36.5 million in selling securities since its founding, although that appears to be related to another Vesper investment: its acquisition of New England Marine Monitoring. That investment, like its stake in Position Music, is apparently part of its investment strategy of partnering with companies that the firm can help scale through providing "strategically aligned capital and active support," according to its website. "Few independent music companies today can match Position Music's scale, track record, and depth of synch and creative services," Vesper's Caro said in a statement. After his involvement with MSD Partners - but before the formation of Vesper - Caro served as head of corporate development at Kobalt, according to his LinkedIn profile. With its new investment partners, Bacon tells Billboard that Position Music will organically expand by signing another 15 artists to its label roster in the near future and another 20 or so songwriters and/or producers in the next few years. Moreover, it will continue to selectively acquire current music assets, mainly in the pop and hip-hop genres; it recently completed two such buys in deals that included going-forward songwriting contracts. Bacon says the company is also open to doing more joint ventures. As for investing in legacy music - a preferred asset class for most institutional investors - Bacon says the company's financing is currently not set up to accommodate that type of investment strategy, though he doesn't rule out making such investments somewhere down the line. Position Music was represented by Shot Tower Capital and Reed Smith. Vesper Company was represented by Drummond Woodsum and Greenberg Traurig. In other Position Music news, Bacon announced that vp/head of A&R Mark Chipello, vp/head of synch Emily Weber and vp of A&R and gaming Jake Versiuis have been made partners at the company.

Tyler Bacon (second from left) with his newly announced partners at Position Music: Jake Versluis, Emily Weber and Mark Chipello. / Mallory Turner via: https://www.billboard.com/pro/position-music-sells-minority-stake-expand-roster-acquire-assets/

Where Are They Now? Catching Up With 2003 Stars Lumidee, The Ataris, Eamon & Electric Six

Posted by djtlay318 — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 12:20 GMT

This week, Billboard is publishing a series of lists and articles celebrating the music of 20 years ago. Our 2003 Week continues here as we catch up with some old hitmaker friends we might not have heard from in a little bit - Lumidee, The Ataris, Eamon and Electric Six - to reminisce about old times, and see what they've been up to since we last spoke. Related

The 100 Greatest Songs of 2003: Staff Picks 04/14/2023 LUMIDEE Watch Video on YouTube If the clap-clap-clap-clap beat of Nicki Minaj's latest single "Red Ruby da Sleeze" gives you straight-up 2003 vibes, there's good reason: the song leans heavily on a sampled hook and riddim from Lumidee's breakout hit "Never Leave You (Uh Oooh, Uh Oooh)." No one was more surprised by the request from the Queen of Barbie Tingz than Lumidee herself. "It was random! It was an email I got. They need a rushed approval," the Harlem native explains. "I do get these emails a lot through my administrator. But I'm reading and I'm like, 'Oh wait - Nicki Minaj?' Obviously I'm excited! Like, who's not a Nicki Minaj fan?" She adds, "I got even more excited because I have a 14-year-old daughter and she's a Barb! She goes to war for Nicki Minaj. So I'm like, if this happens, you know all the cool points I'm gonna get?" The solid-gold staying power of "Never Leave You" can be chalked up to the combined appeal of the then-18-year-old Lumidee's sincere pledge of devotion in the lyrics, the song's hypnotic "Uh-ohhh! Uh-ohhhh!" refrain and the early-2000s popularity of the Diwali Riddim employed on the track. It was one of three songs to utilize the very same dancehall beat and hit the Hot 100's top 20 between the spring and summer of 2003. Here, Lumidee explains the humble origins of her evergreen smash that first dominated the airwaves two decades ago. Who she is: Lumidee Cede o, who was raised in New York City's East Harlem neighborhood and dreamed of being a performer from an early age. "I always was inspired by people like Mary J. Blige and Missy Elliott growing up," the singer, who is of Puerto Rican descent, explains. "And Missy with her wordplay, the words were so simple and relatable, but then fun." "Never Leave You" sprung out of an entirely different track altogether: "I was a year into recording music with this DJ [Tedsmooth] from my neighborhood who worked a lot of clubs," Lumidee recalls. "We had a record already called 'Honestly' and it was a little more slow-paced. It's also on Almost Famous, my first album [which would be released later that year]. It got some club reaction, but it's not a club kind of record. So in my mind I'm like, 'Let's do a remix'." Watch Video on YouTube Enter the Diwali Riddim: Jamaican dancehall producer Steven "Lenky" Marsden crafted the beat heard on "Never Leave You," the above-mentioned "Get Busy" by Sean Paul and Wayne Wonder's "No Letting Go," a No. 11 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. All three were released in 2003. "I didn't really like the beat they built around ['Honestly'] at first," Lumidee explains. "So one day I'm in the studio and this Diwali riddim is hot at the moment. So the guy I'm signed to is like, 'We gotta jump on this.' [I was] having problems in my relationship. I wasn't in the mood to write, but I was like, 'Never Leave You' would go to this [beat] on the remix. My producer places it on there and it's a little bit off. He tweaks the beat a little bit and it kind of just sat in there. We both were like, 'I think it works!' That's literally how it happened." The relationship that inspired the lyrics: "It was a guy I met in my neighborhood, just walking by. We had some friends in common. We hung out a few times, but he kind of just disappeared. I didn't have an ego, but I had pride and I wasn't going to call him if he wasn't going to call me. We ran into each other again and we were together [from there]. So 'Never Leave You' was pretty much about the back-and-forth between us. It really was a genuine love song." She continues, "I wanna say my whole first album and the second album were based on this guy. I have two kids from this guy! It's weird what time will do. Now it's 20 years later and the relationship is over, but it's not sad. When things end it feels weird, but it's always a new chapter. Every lesson comes with a little bit of pain, a little bit of struggle." The first time she heard "Never Leave You" on the radio: "I was in a car with [DJ Tedsmooth]," she recalls. "I had a couple of records that they would play on mix shows. I had a few moments like that. But this one was different because the first time it played, it was like, "OK. Cool. Then it played again and the reaction from the DJs was like, 'If you don't have this song in your back pocket right now, you're crazy!' It was in clubs and then people started calling the radio and requesting it." Her big break: With "Never Leave You" growing organically out of club and radio play, major labels came knocking. Lumidee eventually signed with Universal Records. Being a teenager at the time, however, she admits that she was green as far as how the business side of the industry worked. And when it came down to it, she only had two weeks to cobble together her first LP, Almost Famous. "Pretty much, the album was just the first songs I'd ever written and recorded. We really didn't do anything new for it," she explains. "At this time, 'Never Leave You' is already blowing up everywhere. I'm doing two or three shows every weekend and things are taking off. All these record labels are calling, and I'm just going wherever they lead me, because I had no clue how the record business worked. I was signed to this DJ [Tedsmooth] and I was just being guided. I went wherever he took me and that's what it was. "People are like, 'Why would you do that?'" she continues. "They don't have a clue unless they're in it. And you're so excited as an artist, and it's that thing of - you don't wanna lose this as an opportunity. It's now or never. So you wind up signing things maybe you should read over. But I have to say, even with all of that, it still has been such a tremendous blessing. I haven't had to do anything but music since. Even with the not-so-great deal, I still got mine in there and it's great." What happened next: Free from her deal with Universal Records after Almost Famous, Lumidee found herself in high demand outside of the States as a featured vocalist. "The best thing that happened for me after [my first album] was going overseas, doing these shows and working with other artists," she says. "I just kept getting a lot of bookings. I signed with a German label the second time around. We did this record, 'Sientelo'. It was a reggaet n track with Sir Speedy and it was a No. 1 record in France. It was actually with another Puerto Rican artist, but it was a No. 1 record in France. The randomness of it all! Then we did the FIFA World Cup song ["Dance!" with Fatman Scoop] in 2006." Lumidee put out her second LP Unexpected in 2007 and followed it up over the next few years with mixtape releases. Watch Video on YouTube Her recent output: Lumidee stayed productive during the pandemic and dropped her third album, 1013, in 2021. It's a melodic set, lush with smooth, synth-heavy cuts that find the 38-year-old singer exploring musical territory outside of the R&B genre, thanks to a new collaborator. "I got with this producer [Ibra-Heem] and was just using him as an engineer. I didn't realize he was a good producer until one day he [said], 'Let me play you something'," Lumidee recalls. "So the first record we did was a Christmas record called 'Slay Ride'. I'd had the song written, but nobody could get the beat right. So I did it with him and he just locked right in with it. We just kept working. We called [the album] 1013 because we were both born on October 13th. We're both Libras." The singer makes sure to point out that she's exactly where she wants to be, creatively. "This is the type of music, to be honest, that I listen to; that I vibe to on my own. Even though it's still very much me, Lumidee, it's a little more grown and a little more evolved." Watch Video on YouTube Enter Nicki Minaj: After receiving the request to sample "Never Leave You" from Minaj's camp, Lumidee wasn't sure when "Red Ruby Da Sleeze" would actually arrive. "Obviously it has to go through a lot of different approvals, and I'm waiting to hear back," she says. "Then I got a random call at 3:00 in the morning from a friend of mine, and he's like, "Listen, b-ch - you need to go online right now! Nicki Minaj just posted this!" It was a visual of her doing the record. I was like, "Oh, shit! This is really happening." I definitely woke up my daughter at three in the morning like, look at this! She's like, 'Oh my god - this is so good for me! I mean, it's good for you. But it's also good for me!'" On her 20-year journey since "Never Leave You": "I gotta say, I feel lucky. I feel blessed. But I've definitely been through some s-t," Lumidee laughs. "And no one has made it easy for me in this business. But I've noticed that if you stick to your guns and you keep going, you start seeing the blessings. I went through a lot of shit with this record, you know, and a lot of beatdowns. But at the same time, people loved it and I feel like the people that loved it - they're still out here. It's still surviving through them." Up next: Lumidee is scheduled to perform in Las Vegas on May 6 during Usher's Lovers & Music festival. THE ATARIS Watch Video on YouTube The pandemic not only sidelined punk rockers the Ataris from performing for a long stretch; frontman Kristopher Roe found himself hospitalized with COVID-19 in 2020. ""I got it in March 2020 for five weeks and then I got it again in July 2020 for five weeks, just by being in the same room as my now-ex-wife for 15 minutes," Roe notes as he discusses his band's 2003 major label breakthrough album, So Long, Astoria. "She works as a doctor, and it was just one of those things where she was around sick people a lot." A few days later, however, Roe is happily on the phone describing "a warm-up show" he and the current lineup of The Ataris performed near Eureka, Oregon in early March. It was his first time on stage in nearly a half-decade. "Overall, for not having played together in the same room since 2019 and just jumping right on stage, it was really good," he says. A few weeks later, the 2003 lineup of The Ataris reunited to commemorate the two decades that have now passed since So Long, Astoria with live performances of the full album at Los Angeles' Wiltern theater (on April 7) and House of Blues in Anaheim, California (April 8). Ahead of those, Roe discusses the Gold-certified LP and unexpected success of the band's cover of "The Boys Of Summer" 20 years ago. Who they are: The Ataris, a band formed in Anderson, Indiana by Kristopher Roe during his teenage years in the mid-1990s. "I would record all my own music in my bedroom in the small town of Anderson, Indiana, where I grew up," the singer and guitarist recalls. "We're talking about from age 13 to about age 17 or 18." How they first got signed: "I would go to shows around the midwest, but specifically at Bogart's in Cincinnati, Ohio," Roe explains. "I remember it was Friday the 13th of September in 1996. I went to a show with my friend. It was The Queers, The Vandals, the The. Mr. T Experience - old Lookout Records bands." Roe's friend chatted up a roadie that evening who informed them that Joe Escalante and Warren Fitzgerald, of California punk outfit The Vandals, were forming their own label called Kung Fu Records. "I always had my demo tape with me and I would give it to bands that I would see," Roe says. Some time later, he received a letter from Kung Fu, who subsequently flew the young musician to California. After the release of debut Ataris album Anywhere but Here in 1997, Roe added band members Marco Pe a on guitar, Mike Davenport on bass and Chris Knapp on drums. John Collura eventually replaced Pe a, and that lineup would six years later record So Long, Astoria. "We just went out and toured. You know, we got in the van and did it like the bands that we loved, DIY-style. We would just do the weekend thing and play every place we could." From an indie to a major: Sensing that The Vandals and Kung Fu had "kind of given up" on his band, Roe convinced the label to let The Ataris record an EP to be released by Fat Wreck Chords. The song "San Dimas" was included on a free mail-order compilation by the rival indie label. "That was the first gateway to The Ataris for most people," Roe points out. He adds, "We had a three-record contract with Kung Fu and we were still kind of hampered by the fact that the label always suffered good distribution. We would be on tour and people would be like, 'Man, we can't find your records'. So people would mail-order them." After cultivating notable buzz from years of touring, other labels, including Columbia Records, began to talk to wine and dine Roe. "I asked my friend Glen Phillips, who was in the band Toad the Wet Sprocket, what his experience was like on Columbia," Roe recalls. "He was like, 'Dude, I gotta tell you, for a label that just took what we did and nurtured it and let us do our thing, they were great'. There were definitely labels that were throwing bigger money around, but I really wanted to just go to a label that would let us continue to do what we did and let me have full creative control to do my thing." Watch Video on YouTube Covering "The Boys Of Summer": Though first So Long, Astoria single "In This Diary" brought the band alt-rock radio success, it would be The Ataris' cover of Don Henley classic "The Boys Of Summer" that launched them into the mainstream. "I recorded that song because it was a tribute to my grandmother. I would go down to Florida to visit my dad's mom and dad when my parents got divorced. So my mom saw me to the gate and put me on a plane, and then my grandmother met me at the other side. It was really rainy, so I couldn't get out and do the things you do as a kid. I was stuck inside my grandparents' little trailer park home in Largo, Florida. My grandmother, being the great woman she was, said, 'Let me take you out to the local department store. You can pick out one record and listen to it while you're here'." Roe's album of choice that day was Don Henley's Building the Perfect Beast. He recalls, "I'd always tape songs off the radio with my little jambox and I loved the melancholy of ["The Boys Of Summer"]. When my grandmother passed away in 2001 I just thought, 'Man, I really wanna cover that song as a tribute to her'." The single that almost was: "My Reply" was originally intended to be the second single released off So Long, Astoria. "It was a real personal song about a girl who had written us a letter and had been in and out of the hospital," Roe explains. "We had this treatment written for the video and everything, and one of the heads of radio at Columbia had gotten wind of some shake-ups starting to happen at the label. He thought, well, ['The Boys Of Summer'] is already gonna be a hit, because it was a hit before. So he thought he took that song to radio behind our back. We were like, 'Can they do that?' We were green to that. Of course they can!" Watch Video on YouTube How he views "The Boys Of Summer" now: "It's a great song. The rest is history, and I'm honored that people related to it and liked our version of it. [Los Angeles station] KROQ still plays it to this day. It's surreal. I think it was the only thing in my career I had no say in, but I've learned to embrace it. You can't fuck with the writing team of Don Henley and Mike Campbell." What happened next: Roe and his bandmates pushed to evolve their sound for their 2007 follow-up, Welcome the Night. "We just wanted to continue doing what we felt was our next organic step," he says. "There were a lot more effects pedals. We were incorporating a lot more of those big, atmospheric echo-y kind of breakdowns in the instrumental parts of the songs. Jawbreaker always did that in their songs." Unfortunately, the band's creative process collided with Columbia, and every other record label fighting an uphill battle against illegal downloading at the time. "We were recording Welcome the Night, and we started to see more and more of our crew at Sony being let go or going to other jobs," Roe says. "That was the time where they were trying to figure out new ways to get people to continue to buy CDs. But we had this really amazing thing happen where we talked to the head of Sony and they ended up letting us go." The Ataris moved over to U.K. label Sanctuary for the release of Welcome the Night, but the band experienced d j vu. "The same thing happened to them about six months after the album was out," Roe explains. "We toured, but the album never really got a chance. Sanctuary folded and decided they were only going to do back catalogs because putting out new records wasn't lucrative for them anymore." The Ataris now: For the next 10 years, Roe steadily remained on the road with a newer lineup of The Ataris. "Pre-pandemic, I would go out for two or three months at a time," he says. "As I've gotten older, I've learned to balance that out. The good news is I've always maintained friendships with everyone, and that's why we were able to come back around for the 20th anniversary of So Long, Astoria. I feel like that album was really the first time I was able to be aware of what my strong points were as a songwriter. I feel like I was able to really dig a lot deeper and write these descriptive stories. I'm proud that I was able to make this time capsule of this period of my life." EAMON Watch Video on YouTube When Eamon's expletive-riddled debut single "F-k It (I Don't Want You Back)" dropped on the masses like one giant F bomb in late 2003, one thing was apparent: You did not want to be the one to do the 20-year-old Staten Islander dirty in a relationship. In just under four minutes, smooth crooner drops the king of all four-letter words no less than 21 times during the crass breakup ballad. "The label had me go with the angle that I was heartbroken. But the truth is, I was a smart-ass kid who was always into shock value for entertainment purposes," Eamon, now 39, admits. "And also, I was a dirty dog as a kid with the girls. I was always on the other side of heartbreak - the kind of guy that I pray the Lord keeps far away from my daughters! Anyway, I flipped the script and wrote it from the heartbroken perspective. So technically it's not a true story." Finding a direct avenue to distribute his music wasn't an easy road for Eamon in 2003. He recalls, "As far as labels, every single one - and we went to tons of them - told us the same thing: 'We love the songs, but this music has no shot at radio. It's impossible'." In the end, all it took to turn the tide was for one influential New York DJ to give the song a spin on air. Who he is: Eamon Doyle, purveyor of tunes in the genre of Ho-wop - aka "doo-wop, '60s and '70s soul and hip hop." His early influences: "Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers were by far my biggest inspiration," he says. "I can go on and on about various '50's doo-wop acts and '60s soul acts that influenced me so much. Especially since I was just coming out of singing lead with my father's doo-wop group [The Elations] and performing alongside many of the legendary '50s and '60s groups. I recorded much of my first album when I was 16 and 17. My first single was written and recorded when I was 16, but didn't get my record deal until I was 19. The oldies and hip hop heavily shaped me as an artist in my teen years." But doo-wop wasn't the only genre that caught the singer's ear while growing up. "Being a proud Staten Islander, I was heavily influenced by Wu-Tang," Eamon notes. On the use of explicit language in lyrics to his early songs: "As an Italian-Irish teenager in Staten Island, I was just writing how we communicated," says Eamon. "I will say, though, I was telling my producer Milk [Dee] at the time that it was crazy he had so much faith in ['F-k It (I Don't Want You Back)']. I believed it wouldn't hit like he thought it would because of the language. I didn't have the vision that him and Mark [Passey, who co-wrote the song] had." His big break: While Eamon was between the ages of 16 and 19, his team trotted the singer's music out to dozens of labels, including Jive Records, who he eventually signed with. But Jive wasn't ready to bite at first. "Their reaction was, 'The music is great, but we can't see the vision of how this is gonna work'," Eamon explains. "So, the CEO of the production company I was signed to, Nat Robinson of First Priority Music, had a relationship that went back a long time with Troi Torain, also known as Star from The Star & Buckwild Morning Show on [New York City station] Hot 97 at the time." Initially, Robinson played Torain the clean version of Eamon's song - "for radio purposes" - but got a pass. "But before Nat left the meeting, Star looked at the CD demo and asked, 'What's the dirty version sound like?'" says Eamon. "He proceeded to play it in the meeting and flipped out. He went and did his own edit, which consisted of loud beeps over the expletives, and told Nat he'd break it the next morning. The next day rolled around and the request line was so out of control that he played it eight times. Almost every label that turned us down called us and wanted to talk about a deal. The rest is history." Eamon's grandmother was beside him when he first heard the song on the radio: "My parents were at work, so I was downstairs with my grandmother in her apartment - which is so sentimental because I just lost her a couple days ago," the singer reminisces. "[She was] my second mom. Star introduces the record with an incredible introduction, as only Star could do - and the chills, the goosebumps and of course the hollering was heard through the whole block. Like I said, he played it seven more times in a four-hour radio program! So it was a feeling of ecstasy because I knew we had something special on our hands." "F-k It (I Don't Want You Back)" was so special, in fact, that it hit No. 1 in over a dozen countries, including the UK, Australia, Germany, France, Italy and Sweden. Stateside, the song peaked at No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 and helped propel Gold-certified parent album I Don't Want You Back to No. 7 on the Billboard 200. Watch Video on YouTube He got an "F.U.R.B." response: On the heels of the global success of "Fuck It (I Don't Want You Back)", fellow Staten Island singer Nicole Francine Aiello, aka Frankee, claimed to be the cheating ex-girlfriend Eamon lyrically admonished on his hit song. In 2004, she released sound-alike answer single "F.U.R.B. (F U Right Back)", which proved to be just as packed with colorful language. It played out like a poetic pop soap opera. However, Eamon insists he had no idea who Frankee was. "I've never even met the girl," the singer says. "It's funny, because I thought the song was really amusing when I first heard it. But then the whole ordeal got really annoying ... So many interviews had the question, 'What is it like to have your ex make a rebuttal song?' That was frustrating, because I wanted to talk about music instead of a lie that had no foundation in truth whatsoever. It is what it is, though. I made money off of it, because it's no different than Weird Al re-doing a song." Frankee started a trend: "There were rebuttals from all around the world," Eamon recalls. "So many different countries had girls putting out rebuttal songs saying that they were my ex. The best by far though was a girl from Philly. I got to speak to her once and she was good people. I wish I could find the song, because it was the best rebuttal out of all of them." What happened next: Eamon found that his sophomore LP, Love & Pain, didn't receive the same push as its predecessor. "At the time, I was extremely disappointed," he explains, adding that it "kind of sucked that they put 'F-k It' as a bonus song on the CD release, when that was just extremely successful only 18 months ago. They never even released the album in America. There's so many layers to what happened there, though." Eamon also found himself in an extremely dark space in his personal life. "At that point I was self-destructing because I was so empty," he says. "I believe the Lord let me destroy myself with isolation and addiction for that period of my life and the next four years that followed. It truly brought me to my knees four years later. I just [barely] got by handling success as a 19 year old. I don't know what would've happened if it happened again a couple years later for the Love & Pain album. I might not be here today." He turned his life and his music around: After locking himself in a hotel for a year to "cut off the world," Eamon was at peace with a decision to quit music in 2011. Then he was offered a deal with an independent label. It proved to be another setback "because of [a contractual situation].". "It didn't end well, because of situations I won't get into. It kept me stagnant for a few more years," says Eamon. "Finally in 2017, I dug back into that time in that hotel room and a multitude of other experiences, and released my first album in 10 years, Golden Rail Motel." Watch Video on YouTube That LP, as well as its 2022 follow-up, No Matter The Season, saw Eamon return to the doo-wop music that inspired him at a young age. "These albums are my proudest work, my best work by far in my opinion and the happiest I've ever been with making music," he says. "It's truly me. If something were to happen to me, heaven forbid, I would want people to be able to go back to [No Matter The Season] and experience what my soul was screaming out. My goal in the new chapter of my career is, every time I record something, I impact you in ways you didn't think was possible." What's next: Eamon has recorded a Christmas album that he says will see a release in the fourth quarter of this year. "It's an incredibly special record that my late grandmother had been pushing me to do for years. It hurts that she won't see it come out, but I'm grateful I got to play it for her and she heard what she inspired me to do. Other than that, I'm always recording. I'm putting together songs little by little in hopes to make the greatest album that I'll ever make in my career. The genesis of it is off to an amazing start." ELECTRIC SIX Watch Video on YouTube Detroit rockers Electric Six shook the disco's rafters with their debut single "Danger! High Voltage" and, in the process, landed at the lofty heights of No. 2 in the U.K. Blocking them from crowning the chart in early January 2003: Girls Aloud, the wildly successful '00s pop act who were enjoying the tail-end of a four-week reign with their own first outing, "The Sound of the Underground." "I know it wasn't close. I think they had like triple the sales," Electric Six frontman Dick Valentine recalls. "But to debut at No. 2 like that, I'll take it." To be fair, Girls Aloud had the strength of a full season's exposure on U.K. TV series Popstars: The Rivals behind them. But Valentine and his bandmates had their own secret weapon in tow on their first major release: uncredited vocals by fellow Michigan native Jack White, who often rubbed elbows with the members of Electric Six in their respective late-1990s salad days in Detroit's now defunct Gold Dollar Bar. "Our guitar player had the idea to call in Jack to do a call and response kind of thing. It was before [the White Stripes] had blown up," Valentine laughs. "I really, really doubt, had they already gotten big, he would have done it." Following "Danger! High Voltage," Electric Six's comedic punk romp "Gay Bar" became yet another top five smash in the U.K. and further fueled the band's cult following in the U.S., though the band never found major chart success in their home country. Below, Valentine looks back on the year that put his band on the global map. Who they are: Dick Valentine (real name: Tyler Spencer) initially formed Electric Six with gents from his former high school, including Cory Martin (drums), Anthony Selph (lead guitar), Joe Frezza (rhythm guitar) and Steve Nawara (bass). Since 2003, the band has undergone several lineup changes, with Valentine remaining the sole constant member. "The band started when I was 24 in 1996," he explains. "I graduated from the University of Michigan and moved back to Detroit, kind of aimless. I had a copywriter job at an ad agency. Doing the band was more of an escape for me. I didn't realize at the time that I lived in a city with such a vibrant rock scene." The band's original name: The Wildbunch. Alas, a collective of British DJs had staked their claim on the name by the time Valentine and his bandmates signed a deal with indie label XL Recordings. "We were forced to huddle and come up with a new name pretty quickly," says Valentine. "We had like two months to get it done and we were bickering back and forth. Electric Six - somebody said it. Nobody knew what it meant, but nobody threatened to quit. It was so neutral and so harmless. And it doesn't mean anything. It didn't offend anybody and that's why we kept it." Their big break: "It was really easy for us to get gigs around [Detroit] and it took off pretty quickly, locally. That said, we kind of struggled to get out of Detroit," notes Valentine. "We never really toured - we didn't really have the money or the means or anybody putting our stuff out to make that happen. Then five or six years later, the White Stripes happened and we were totally in the right place at the right time. And not just us; pretty much every other band in Detroit got looked at or got signed." The initial spark of "Danger! High Voltage": Despite their local success and the cadre of promising songs in their set like "Gay Bar," Valentine briefly split from his bandmates. He explains, "I took a job out in Los Angeles for about a year. We took a hiatus. I came back around Y2K and we wrote 'High Voltage'. We had a riff that had been lying around and I just put the words to it." Along comes Jack White: "Fire in the disco! Fire in the Taco Bell!" thunders Dick Valentine in the opening lyrics of "Danger! High Voltage." The next three minutes of the dance-rock jam wind up being a musical duologue between the Electric Six frontman and one "John S. O'Leary," aka Jack White. "He came in and had a good time doing it," Valentine says. "He didn't wanna sing anything about Taco Bell at the time. He didn't want to be affiliated with anything corporate. But he came in and did the song and that was that. I don't know if it was the fact that he was on it or if it was that it had that sound that everyone was looking for, but it obviously became the lead single." Devo helped the band whip together another hit...sort of: For follow-up single "Gay Bar," the innuendo-crammed video saw Valentine playing a multitude of writhing Abraham Lincolns in various states of undress. And the lyrics, by his own account, were a breeze to write. "The repetitive guitar riff, I'd had for a while. We were at our local bar one night and the song 'Girl U Want' by Devo came on the jukebox. I'm drunk and it's loud and people are talking. I couldn't really hear the lyrics that well. I thought [Devo singer Mark] Mothersbaugh was saying 'It's just a girl, just a girl in a gay bar!' But it's actually 'girl you want'. I misheard the lyric, so I was like, I'll write a song about a girl at a gay bar. It's not a very complicated piece of songwriting. It wrote itself in about a minute." Watch Video on YouTube What happened next: Electric Six moved from indie label XL to Warner Bros. for their 2005 sophomore LP Se or Smoke. Valentine recalls, "That was a situation where the guy who signed us left the company shortly after. We got left in limbo. There was a lot of, 'We want another 'Gay Bar'.' And there wasn't another 'Gay Bar' on that record. We had songs like 'Jimmy Carter', and they'd be like, 'No, no, no - you can't be a serious band. You have to be a funny band'." Eventually the band found a home on another indie, Metropolis Records, where they remain signed to this day."We've put out like 14 records [with Metropolis] and it's just been a lot easier to turn in whatever record we want and go out on tour, sell them at the merch table and be more of a touring band." Twenty years later, Valentine and the current lineup of Electric Six have steadily remained on the road. "Other than Covid, the only time I had a sizable break was between Fire and Se or Smoke," says Valentine. "It was different then because the thought was like, 'You're gonna write more hits. You're gonna go in and you're gonna duplicate what you just did'. Then that didn't work out on the second album. We became much more of a DIY band, just home-recording, and that's really worked for us. We've kind of built up a cult following that way. That was a weird time because it was the last time there was pressure to write a hit - which we've never had since then. And it feels great." Coming up: Electric Six will tour in Canada and the UK in June and July. "Then I don't think we go out in the States again until like September or October," Valentine says. "And our new record Turquoise comes out on Metropolis in September." via: https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/where-are-they-now-2003-lumidee-the-ataris-eamon-electric-six-1235302586/

'Late Late Show' Has Good News/Bad News About Those One Direction Reunion Rumors For Show's Finale

Posted by djtlay318 — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 12:19 GMT

James Corden has long had a soft spot in his heart for the men of One Direction. He's hosted them and done bits with the beloved boy band's members over the course of his eight years hosting the Late Late Show. So naturally given their affection for one another speculation has been running rampant that Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne and Louis Tomlinson would get the band back together to honor Corden's final curtain call. Related

Niall Horan Sends His Unreleased Music to One Direction For Feedback 04/14/2023 In a tweet on Thursday afternoon (April 13) - over a screenshot of a British tabloid report claiming that the five-piece would reunite for the first time in 8 years for Corden's swan song - the show stamped the words "FALSE ALARM" in red letters. "Nobody loves the boys more than us ... but this story just isn't true," read the let-down message to anyone who believed that the quintet are getting the band back together to honor their pal one last time. "What is true is we've got an absolutely brilliant 2 hour finale planned to celebrate 8 years of #LateLateShow at 10pm on April 27th," the tweet added. One Direction visited the Late Late Show in May 2015, shortly after Malik took leave from the group, with Styles, Horan, Payne and Tomlinson cramming into a minivan for a "Carpool Karaoke" segment. Over the years Payne has dropped by to do a "Boy Bands Vs. Solo Artists Riff-Off" with Corden and perform "Strip That Down," while Horan has done his own "Carpool" segment, a "500 Miles" song parody, and, just last month, a musical pirate sketch. Tomlinson popped in last year and performed "Bigger Than Me" - while proving game to talk about whether he was open to being kidnapped in another long-running 1D bit on the show - and also performed in a number of sketches over the years. Styles has allowed Corden to film a low-budget music video for him, done a week-long residency, played a very spicy "Spill Your Guts" with Kendall Jenner, guest hosted, shot his own "Carpool" trip and even a Crosswalk Concert over the years. Check out the Late Late Show's tweet below. Nobody loves the boys more than us ... but this story just isn't true. What is true is we've got an absolutely brilliant 2 hour finale planned to celebrate 8 years of #LateLateShow at 10pm on April 27th. pic.twitter.com/Vyj75eB5qz — The Late Late Show with James Corden (@latelateshow) April 13, 2023 via: https://www.billboard.com/culture/tv-film/late-late-show-reacts-one-direction-reunion-rumors-show-finale-1235302978/

Executive Turntable: Discogs Hires Lloyd Starr as COO; iHeartMedia Names Business Affairs EVP

Posted by djtlay318 — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 12:00 GMT

Lloyd Starr has been appointed COO at Discogs, the recorded music database, marketplace and community, effective May 1. He joins the company from vinyl subscription service Vinyl Me, Please; prior to that, he served as president/COO at digital electronic music marketplace Beatport. In his new role, Starr will oversee Discogs' day-to-day operations, with a focus on driving growth and innovation. He will work closely with CEO Kevin Lewandowski and the rest of the executive team to develop and implement Discogs' strategic direction. "We're thrilled to welcome Lloyd Starr to the Discogs team as our new COO," said Lewandowski. "Lloyd's extensive experience in the music industry and his track record of success in building and scaling companies make him an ideal addition to our leadership team. We're confident that his expertise will help us continue to grow and innovate as we serve our community of music fans, record collectors, and sellers around the world." Starr added, "I've long admired the Discogs mission and its passionate community. I am thrilled to join such a talented and creative team to help realize our vision and continue to add value for vinyl and music lovers worldwide." Related

Warner Music Mexico Launches Women-Run Label Gorgona 04/14/2023 Jon Kurland was named executive vp of business affairs and chief entertainment counsel at iHeartMedia. In his new role, Kurland will lead the company's business affairs team and focus on deals and relationships with iHeart's podcast, music, entertainment and new media partners. He will additionally oversee the company's entertainment legal functions across podcasts, live events and new media initiatives as well as its music licensing strategy. Based in New York City, he will report to executive vp and general counsel Jordan Fasbender. Kurland joins iHeartMedia from Amazon, where he was senior corporate counsel in the global media and entertainment group. Jen Ashworth was promoted to senior vp of commercial marketing & streaming at Capitol Music Group (CMG), up from her previous role as vp of global commercial marketing. In her new role, Ashworth will oversee the company's streaming strategies across its portfolio of labels, with a focus on editorial and partner activations with Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, YouTube and Pandora. She will continue managing CMG's relationship with Spotify as the company's account lead. Based in Hollywood, she reports to CMG executive vp of global commercial marketing strategy Mike Sherwood. Manager Jared Rosenberg joined Red Light Management, bringing clients Aly & AJ and Disney star Kylie Cantrall to the firm. Rosenberg has been in management for over 20 years, working with artists including Backstreet Boys, Janet Jackson and Thirty Seconds to Mars. Related

Live Nation Adds LeBron James' Agent Rich Paul to Board of Directors 04/14/2023 Mateo Dorado joined Atlantic Records as senior director of A&R. The New York-based executive will work closely with emerging artists including Luh Tyler and Alicia Creti while reporting to Atlantic co-president of Black music Lanre Gaba. He arrives at Atlantic from Alamo Records, where he signed Rod Wave. Jonathan McHugh joined independent music publishing, rights management and catalog marketing company AMR Songs as senior advisor of creative and synch. McHugh will also sit on the company's board. Over a decades-long career, the industry veteran has served in roles at New Line Cinema (as vp of soundtrack music), Jive/BMG and Island Def Jam/Def Jam Films; he has produced 40 music-focused films and TV series and music-supervised 85 feature films and TV shows. In addition to his new role at AMR Songs, he will continue working as an independent producer/director and music supervisor while teaching a music industry studies class at Loyola University in New Orleans. Amanda Tumulty was named vp of global marketing at Cinq Music Group. She joins the company from Universal Music Group, where she spent over five years on the global consumer marketing team, specializing in marketing strategy and operations. At Cinq, she will oversee all marketing strategies for the label/distributor's roster and the Cinq Music brand. Tumulty can be reached at atumulty@cinqmusic.com. Related

UMG Nashville's Royce Risser, Stephanie Wright and Brian Wright Exit 04/14/2023 Nashville-based record label Melody Place restructured and rebranded while elevating Sanborn McGraw to president/general manager and Tony Gottlieb to COO. Under the new leadership, the company will refocus its efforts on artist development, original material and international promotion. The first signing following the restructure is Nashville singer-songwriter Makena Hartlin, who signed a recording and publishing deal with Melody Place and its affiliate, Melody Place Publications. She will release her single, "LA," on the label April 21. Melody Place is also working on a new project from singer Jackie Evancho. McGraw can be reached at sandy@melodyplace.com and Gottlieb can be reached at tony@melodyplace.com. Global creative audio network Squeak E. Clean Studios hired music producer Jennie Armon as executive creative producer out of New York. She joins the company following seven years at Brooklyn-based music and sound company Found Objects, where she served as executive producer and music supervisor. Armon can be reached at jennie@squeakeclean.com. via: https://www.billboard.com/pro/discogs-new-coo-iheartmedia-business-affairs-evp/

Morgan Wallen Unseats Miley Cyrus on Australia's Singles Chart

Posted by djtlay318 — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 07:20 GMT

Morgan Wallen is the new king of Australia's singles survey. The U.S. country star bags his first leader on the ARIA Singles Chart with "Last Night" (Republic Records/Universal), which lifts 2-1, emulating its parent album One Thing At A Time, which hit the summit last month and currently lifts 4-3. Prior to "Last Night," Wallen's chart best in these parts was a No. 20 peak for "You Proof" in 2022; "You Proof" dips 23-27 on the current tally. With Wallen at the throne, Miley Cyrus' unbroken reign with "Flowers" (Columbia/Sony) comes to an end at 12 weeks. That's impressive, but still some way off the 24-week non-consecutive reign of Tones And I's 2019 hit "Dance Monkey," the all-time leader. "Flowers" dips 1-2 on the latest chart, published April 14, while PinkPantheress' "Boy's a liar" (Parlophone/Warner) holds at No. 3. The highest new entry belongs to Drake, as "Search & Rescue" (Republic/Universal) bows at No. 8. Just one other cut debuts in the top 50 on the latest frame, NLE Choppa's "S**t Me Out" (Warner), rising 105-48. Over on the ARIA Albums Chart, homegrown queer pop band Cub Sport pounces to No. 1 with Jesus At The Gay Bar (Believe). It's the first No. 1 and second ARIA top 10 album for the Brisbane outfit. "We've been a band for over a decade and to achieve our first #1 record with our fifth album is incredible," reads a statement from the four-piece. "So proud of the four of us for the years of hard work and for building to this moment as a self-managed and independent band. Above all, we're so grateful to our beautiful fans - thank you so much for making this dream come true!" Adds ARIA CEO Annabelle Herd: "Cub Sport are an incredible home-grown act who absolutely deserve to be celebrated. Congratulations to the band and their team for an incredible triumph, particularly as an independent band. All of us at ARIA are thrilled to be welcoming another Australian album to the top of the charts." Jesus At The Gay Bar shimmies past Hope (Capitol/Universal), the fifth studio album from Michigan-born, singer, songwriter and producer NF. It's new at No. 2. That's a career best for NF (real name: Nathan John Feuerstein), bettering the No. 3 peak for The Search in 2019, and the No. 5 for his mixtape Clouds in 2021. Further down the tally, the Linkin Park's sophomore album Meteora (Warner) impacts the top 10, at No. 8, thanks to a 20th anniversary reissue, which features previously-unreleased works including vocals from the late frontman Chester Bennington. Meteora originally peaked at No. 2 in 2003 and has been certified four-times platinum, ARIA reports. Finally, Aussie punk rock outfit Frenzal Rhomb just miss out on a top 10 berth with The Cup Of Pestilence (Virgin/Universal), their 10th studio effort. It's new at No. 1 on the all-genres albums chart, and it's the best-seller on wax this cycle. via: https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/morgan-wallen-cub-sport-australia-charts-1235302932/