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04 Dec 2024

Depeche Mode’s Dave Gahan Admits New Music ‘Not on the Cards’

Depeche Mode fans may need to enjoy the silence for some time, with vocalist Dave Gahan noting that new music isn’t a priority for the band at this time.

Gahan’s comments were made in a recent interview with NME which saw him reflecting on the loss of musicians such as close friend and collaborator Mark Lanegan ahead of a 60th birthday celebration for the late musician in London.

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Lanegan, who passed away in February 2022, had risen to fame as a member of alt-rock outfit Screaming Trees before joining Queens of the Stone Age in the early ’00s. Not long after, he and Gahan founded a friendship which resulted in the pair working together collaboratively, including on songs recorded as part of Soulsavers and Humanist.

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During his comments, Gahan turned his attention to the topic of writing, claiming that he’s been feeling inspired by his daughter, Stella Rose, and her own musical experiences. However, he admitted that while he’s discussed new music with bandmate Martin Gore, fans will need to hold tight before anything comes to fruition.

“Martin and I have talked. We actually saw each other recently, and it was really nice,” Gahan explained. “We spent some time in Italy where Anton Cobijn and his wife were renewing their wedding vows in a really nice spot just outside of Rome.

“We had a really nice time without any work or show pressure. I actually did ask Martin if he’d been writing and he was like, ‘Nah!’” he added. “That’s normal – especially when you’ve worked intensely for a couple of years. It takes a while. Wait and see. I wouldn’t rule out as getting together at some point, but it’s not on the cards at this point.”

Depeche Mode wrapped up their Memento Mori World Tour in April, havng played 112 shows around the globe in support of 2023’s Memento Mori – their first new album in six years. The album and tour was the band’s first since the passing of co-founding keyboardist Andy Fletcher in 2022.

04 Dec 2024

Sean Lennon Reflects on Yoko Ono’s Life After John Lennon: ‘She Never Has Moved On’

Sean Lennon has reflected on the impact that John Lennon‘s passing had upon his mother, Yoko Ono.

On Sunday (Dec. 8), Sean and the rest of his family will mark the 44th anniversary of father John’s death in New York City in 1980. Viewed by many as another example of ‘the day the music died’, Lennon’s untimely passing has had an impact on countless individuals throughout the world. No more have felt that impact, Sean says, than his mother.

Speaking to BBC Radio 6 Music about the recent Grammy-nominated expanded box set of John’s 1973 Mind Games album, Sean touched on his parents’ relationship around the record’s creation. At the time of Mind Games’ writing, John was in the midst of the 18-month ‘lost weekend’ period in which he was separated from Ono.

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“A lot of people said like, ‘Yoko wasn’t around for this record, why are they featuring her in the booklet’ or something,” Lennon began. “And I think there’s a lot of history, there’s a lot of assumptions made about that time period because they were sort of on their way towards that famous separation that people called The Lost Weekend.

“But the truth is, even when they were apart they were always talking, so I don’t think they ever really broke up, all his stuff was still in the apartment with my mum, it’s not like they had a real separation. And on top of it, all my dad was thinking about was her.

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“You look at the album cover, it’s a collage of my mum literally the size of a mountain, and he’s this little tiny thing sort of fading into the background” he continued. “And I think it’s clear what his view of my mum was in his life. She was monumental, obviously. And the whole album is about her.”

Speaking about his mother directly, Sean claimed that she “never has moved on from that relationship” since John’s passing, but agreed that the recent Mind Games release was something of a “love letter” to his parents.

“I’ve never put it that way but I would say it’s my best effort to try to be a good son,” Sean replied.

04 Dec 2024

Chappell Roan, Olivia Rodrigo & More Donate Items for ASCAP Foundation Auction

The fourth annual ASCAP Foundation Holiday Auction is back, with some of the biggest names in music contributing items to the sale.

Launching on Wednesday (Dec. 4), the annual auction is the latest to be launched by ASCAP, which aims to support music education and talent development programs throughout the U.S. This year, more than 70 exclusive items and experiences – the most in the auction’s history – have been donated by some of ASCAP’s top music creators.

Items in the auctions include a signed vinyl copy of Chappell Roan‘s The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess album; a behind-the-scenes studio tour and dinner with producer Jermaine Dupri; a signed merch package from Olivia Rodrigo; and a package of two VIP concert tickets for Usher’s upcoming European tour, including a meet-and-greet and travel vouchers.

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Elsewhere, signed guitar from Jack Antonoff, Peter Frampton, and Steve Vai are on offer, along with a set of books signed by Patti Smith, and VIP concert tickets for artists such as Gracie Abrams, Deftones, Graham Nash, and more.

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Other artists involved in the auction include Tate McRae, Reneé Rapp, Bernie Taupin, Max Martin, Noah Kahan, Sara Bareilles, Chris Stapleton, Alan Jackson, Brad Paisley, Coheed and Cambria, Huey Lewis and The News, and numerous others.

“It’s been an absolute joy to work with ASCAP’s top members to dream up unforgettable experiences and one-of-a-kind gifts to delight music fans this holiday season,” says the ASCAP Foundation Executive Director Nicole George-Middleton. “With over 70 items from music legends, chart-topping artists and more, this year’s auction is bigger and better than ever.

“We are unbelievably grateful to the ASCAP community for these incredible contributions that will help us raise the funds we need to continue supporting the next generation of music creators.”

ASCAP’s annual auction is live now via Charity Buzz, and runs through to December 18.

04 Dec 2024

Backstreet Boys Warm Up ‘Christmas in Rockefeller Center’ With Cozy ‘Christmas Song’ Cover

The holiday season hasn’t truly begun until the iconic Rockefeller Center tree has been lit, and NBC’s annual Christmas in Rockefeller Center telecast on Wednesday night (Dec. 4) brought together a list of all-star performers to celebrate.

The Backstreet Boys took the stage to perform a heartwarming rendition of Nat King Cole’s holiday classic “The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You).” Dressed in coordinating festive suits, ranging from red and green velvet to cream suede and plaid accessories, the quintet traded lines as they harmonized throughout the performance.

Kelly Clarkson, who is returning to host the show as well as performing, kicked off the telecast with a performance of “You for Christmas,” from her 2021 holiday album When Christmas Comes Around… “This time of year can be so hard/ Searching for blessings in the dark/ If Santa has one gift to bring us/ I’ll tell him I just want you for Christmas,” she sang in the chorus, bundled up in a furry black coat.

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Clarkson is joined by Today show’s Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, Al Roker and Craig Melvin for the broadcast.

In addition to Clarkson and the Backstreet Boys, other performers who taking the stage ahead of the moment the Rockefeller Christmas tree lights up include Dan + Shay, Megan Hilty, Jennifer Hudson, Coco Jones, Little Big Town, RAYE, Thalia and, of course, the Radio City Rockettes.

04 Dec 2024

Bob Dylan Praises ‘A Complete Unknown’ Biopic & ‘Brilliant Actor’ Timothée Chalamet

The upcoming biopic about Bob Dylan, A Complete Unknown, is just weeks away from release, and the “Subterranean Homesick Blues” legend took to X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday (Dec. 4) to give the film, as well as starring actor Timothée Chalamet, his stamp of approval.

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“There’s a movie about me opening soon called A Complete Unknown (what a title!). Timothee Chalamet is starring in the lead role,” he wrote. “Timmy’s a brilliant actor so I’m sure he’s going to be completely believable as me. Or a younger me. Or some other me. The film’s taken from Elijah Wald’s Dylan Goes Electric – a book that came out in 2015. It’s a fantastic retelling of events from the early ‘60s that led up to the fiasco at Newport. After you’ve seen the movie read the book.”

Also starring Boyd Holbrook, Dan Fogler, Norbert Leo Butz and Scoot McNairy, the biographical drama was inspired by Elijah Wald’s 2015 book Dylan Goes Electric. Director James Mangold revealed that the “Blowin’ in the Wind” artist personally gave feedback on the script.

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Earlier this year, fans first spotted Chalamet filming as Dylan in New York. Mangold previously confirmed that the actor would do his own singing for the flick, which hits theaters on Christmas Day (Dec. 25). “It’s such an amazing time in American culture,” the director noted at the time. “The story of a young, 19-year-old Bob Dylan coming to New York with, like, $2 in his pocket and becoming a worldwide sensation within three years — first being embraced into the family of folk music in New York and then, of course, kind of outrunning them at a certain point as his star rises so beyond belief.”  To prepare, the Wonka star says he sifted through 12 hours’ worth of unreleased Dylan songs, sent to him by the musician’s longtime manager and A Complete Unknown producer Jeff Rosen.

04 Dec 2024

Metro Boomin, 21 Savage & Mustafa “Walk Em Down,” G Herbo “My Soul” & More | Daily Visuals 12.4.24

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To many Hip-Hoppers, Metro Boomin seems like Future’s exclusive producer but the man has blessed a few other rappers with some hard hitting head knockin’ production and in his latest offering recruits some of his peers to spit on his latest offering.

Linking up with 21 Savage and Mustafa for the black-and-white visuals to “Walk Em Down (Don’t Kill Civilians),” 21 Savage and company hit The A and walk through the streets as if none of them had a record deal and show just how real life can get when you’re living the life forreal with nothing to lose and just a little to gain.

Back in The Chi, G Herbo shows just how good the life he’s carved out for himself has gotten and in his clip to “My Soul,” G shows us how he gets ready for a show as he polishes off his ice in his fancy apartment before blazing some trees in his truck while on the way to rock his adoring crowd.

Check out the rest of today’s drops including work from Dave East and araabMUZIK, Drag-On, and more.

METRO BOOMIN, 21 SAVAGE & MUSTAFA – “WALK EM DOWN”

G HERBO – “MY SOUL”

DAVE EAST & ARAABMUZIK – “BET MY LIFE”

DRAG-ON – “INTUITION”

ROCKY ROCK & MACK 10 FT. GUTTALANE LOW – “REALLY OUTSIDE”

GRAFH FT. 38 SPESH – “ROCK, PAPER, SISSORS”

DUSTY LOCANE – “MASTERPIECE”

DDG – “HANDLING BUSINESS FREESTYLE”

04 Dec 2024

Ariana Grande to Receive Rising Star Award at Palm Springs International Film Awards

Ariana Grande’s performance as Glinda in Wicked has been generating awards buzz since even before the film’s Nov. 22 release. Now, the Palm Springs International Film Awards has selected Grande as the winner of the Rising Star Award, an honor previously presented to such actors as Terrence Howard (Hustle & Flow), Anna Kendrick (Up in the Air), Scarlett Johansson (Lost in Translation) and Jennifer Lawrence (Winter’s Bone).

The awards ceremony will be held at the Palm Springs Convention Center on Jan. 3. The festival will take place from Jan. 2-13.

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“In Wicked, Ariana Grande’s portrayal of Glinda elevates her to new heights with a powerful acting performance that beautifully combines her outstanding musical talent, brilliant characterization and impeccable comedic timing,” Festival chairman Nachhattar Singh Chandi said in a statement. “Ariana is an iconic global performer, who has seamlessly transitioned to film in her first major starring role, proving herself to be a multifaceted and undeniable talent. This role is certain to be the beginning of the many accolades she will garner throughout her acting career. It is our great honor to recognize Ariana Grande with the Rising Star Award.”

Billboard’s Joe Lynch was similarly impressed with Grande’s performance. He allowed that he wasn’t sure she had the acting chops to play the role made famous on Broadway by Kristin Chenoweth. “No one with ears could question Grande’s pipes, but based on her acting credits, we simply didn’t know if she was capable of filling Chenoweth’s small but mighty heels. Well, having seen Wicked: Part 1 in theaters, I can say without exaggeration that Grande isn’t just a good witch – she’s sinceriously astonishing,” playing off Glinda’s penchant for amusing spoonerisms.

Lynch’s bottom-line: “Some pop stars turned actors acquit themselves competently on the big screen, but like Lady Gaga in A Star Is Born, this performance signals the arrival of a formidable cinematic talent with a lot more to show us.”

Fans, of course, have also rallied behind the film, which was directed by Jon M. Chu and which also stars Cynthia Erivo, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh and Jonathan Bailey. The film has grossed $275.8 million in the U.S. and Canada. Worldwide, it has grossed $372.9 million.

This year’s award winners also include Timothée Chalamet for the chairman’s award for his performance as a young Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown and Emilia Pérez actors Karla Sofia Gascón, Zoe Saldaña, Selena Gomez and Edgar Ramírez and director Jacques Audiard for the vanguard award.

04 Dec 2024

The 1975’s Matty Healy Says He’ll ‘Stick to Music’ After Heated Social Media Exchange With Azealia Banks

Matty Healy is stepping back after a heated back-and-forth social media exchange with Azealia Banks.

“Guys I don’t have the right kind of intelligence / emotional maturity etc for social media I literally just end up saying stuff that immediately regret etc,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter) Wednesday (Dec. 4). “I’m actually just gonna stick to music cos I’m good at that. Having manic episodes on twitter at 35 is kinda pathetic.”

The post was seemingly in reference to his feud with Banks, which started when the “Liquorice” rapper took aim at Charli XCX, who is engaged to Healy’s The 1975 bandmate George Daniel. Banks called out the “360” singer’s looks, saying she “used to be soooo pretty. Ugh.”

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In response, Healy wrote, “Azealia you seem to have a blind spot when it comes to your ‘reads’. All the women you attack seem to be culturally relevant, attractive, divisive and NICE people. I think this makes you jealous cos you’re so talented but everything else about you is a failure. Just rap bro.”

The reply spawned a sequence of aggressive words between the two, and while Healy deleted a number of his posts in the feud, he at one point threatened to “slap” Banks after she began throwing jabs at his fiancée, Gabbriette. “The b—- look like Frankenstein to me. You both look like you share needles. Lmao,” Banks wrote when Healy claimed he would “use my mental illness to full affect” and “dox” anyone who were to attack Gabi.

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Healy then wrote to Banks, “I now you think your life is some episode of the library is open but I am not the one. Talk to me like that I’m not gonna side eye you at an awards do I’m going to f—ing slap you so hard I’ll get a Guinness world record for the highest a rat some b—- calls a wig has ever flown.”

However, the “So American” singer quickly took back his words and deleted the post, then asking Banks to “sort this out on the remix,” adding, “Nah I can’t be saying I’m gonna hit a girl that’s insane I’m sorry. You just can’t keep being so mean about my mates and my mrs it’s really hurtful gets me well defensive.”

“She’d f—in batter me tbf,” he continued.

Banks then threatened to sue Healy, and leaked DMs in which he apologized to her. She concluded by attacking The 1975 frontman for getting “fined 4m for kissing a man on stage In Malaysia, doing a nazi salute, watching violent porn, being a heroin addict, writing s—ty songs, randomly attacking black women and caping for trash white b—-es. I question the women who associate with him. I’m signing off for today, because my anger is really really really boiling.”

Some of Banks’ post was in reference to Healy stirring up controversy in 2023 when he made racist and sexist remarks about rapper Ice Spice on the Adam Friedland Show, during which he and the hosts made jokes about the rapper sounding like an “Inuit Spice Girl” and looking like a “chubby Chinese lady” before performing racist accents. After one of the men suggested Healy should have asked the MC about her ethnic background while dropping an Inuit ethnic slur, Healy called Ice Spice “dumb.” He later somewhat apologized for his comments.

Healy also kissed his bandmate Ross MacDonald for an extended period of time onstage at Good Vibes Festival in Malaysia in July 2023, but the set came to an abrupt end after he spoke out against the country’s stances on LGBTQ+ rights.

04 Dec 2024

King Bey: ‘Billboard’ Names Beyoncé Greatest Pop Star Of 21st Century

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Beyoncé has already leveled up after being snubbed at the Country Music Awards. Billboard has named her the greatest pop star of the 21st century.

As reported by HuffPost, the trade publication recently curated a list of the greatest talents in music. On Tuesday (Dec. 3), Billboard released their Greatest Pop Stars of the 21st Century list. The editorial staff ranked the 25 most prominent talents in the game. Included in the exclusive list are the likes of Drake, Jay-Z, Adele, Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, Bruno Mars, Bad Bunny and more. Landing at the top spot is Beyoncé, crowning her as the best of the best with the receipts to match the claim.

Billboard chronicles her epic run of hit songs starting with her first No. 1 single “Bills, Bills, Bills” as part of Destiny’s Child. The group would follow things up with “Say My Name,” which also topped the Hot 100 chart. From there they track her game-changing solo career that has produced several anthems and left an indelible impact on popular culture. Since then, she has won over 16 American Music Awards, 36 BET Awards, 27 Billboard Awards, 32 Grammy Awards and 30 MTV VMA Awards. “There are no flop eras for Bey, no periods where she disappeared for a half-decade, no clear missteps that were not immediately and emphatically course-corrected. There are only varying degrees of winning for over two decades,” the feature reads. 

You can read Billboard’s  editorial on why Beyoncé is the greatest pop star of the 21st century here.

04 Dec 2024

WWE & Netflix Executives Explain What We Can Expect When Monday Night Raw Moves To Netflix

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After almost two decades of being a programming stable on the USA Network, WWE Monday Night Raw will be making their much publicized move to Netflix in January 2025 and while fans don’t know exactly what that may mean for the show, it seems like not many changes will be made.

According to Deadline, WWE and Netflix executives spoke to the media Tuesday (Dec. 3), and revealed what we can expect from Monday Night Raw when it streams on Netflix Jan. 6 (hopefully it won’t involve an insurrection) and where they hope it goes going forward. With WWE overlord Vince McMahon no longer involved in the company due to some scandalous accusations, his son-in-law, Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque, and WWE President Nick Khan will steer the franchise going forward. With a 10-year deal worth an impressive $5 billion dollars, best believe they’ll do what they can to keep the show fresh, relevant and utterly entertaining.

With that being said, do not expect the move to Netflix to automatically set the rating from PG-13 to a hard-rated R as Nick Khan promises the wrestling soap opera will continue to be a family affair that people of all ages can enjoy.

Per Deadline:

“We’re not changing the rating of our programming. So there’s some online chatter about, ‘oh, it’s going to be R-rated, or for us old folks, X-rated.’ That’s definitely not happening,” he said. “It’s family-friendly, multi-generational, advertiser-friendly programming. It’s going to stay that way. I would look for more global flair, especially as the relationship continues to develop. Countries outside of the United States are as important to us as the United States is. So we have certain targeted countries that are priorities for Netflix. They’re priorities for us. You’re going to see more of that. I think that’s the way you’ll see a bit of a difference.”

That’s all good and dandy, but we wouldn’t be opposed to seeing Monday Night Raw return to the golden “Attitude Era,” which bore many classic moments and matches that blurred the line between PG-13 and NC-17. Just sayin’.

While fans are worried that the move may lead to streaming problems as we witnessed during the fiasco that was the Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul fight, it seems like that’s a risk that Netflix’s Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria and company are willing to take.

“We expected a big number, for sure. It was a big number. But again, you don’t know, and you can’t learn these things until you do them so you take a big swing. Our teams and our engineers are amazing, moved super quickly, and stabilized it, and many of the members had it back up and running pretty quickly. But we learn from those things. And we’ve all obviously done a lot of stuff to learn and get ready for the NFL and Beyonce at halftime and so we’re totally ready and excited for WWE.”

Added Levesque jokingly, “I’ll just say, if it blinks a couple of times and we do 60 million, I’m good with that.”

Heck, for $5 billion we’d be good with a few blinks too.

Aside from remaining true to their platform, WWE does expect more celebrity involvement in future matches (Bad Bunny actually held his own during his WWE run) and possibly taking their SmackDown and NXT shows along with them to the streaming platform when those contracts are up.

What do y’all expect from WWE Monday Night Raw when it moves to Netflix? Let us know in the comments section below.