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01 Oct 2024

Leslie Fram Pens Farewell Letter to CMT Colleagues: ‘It’s Been My Complete Honor to Learn From You’

Leslie Fram, CMT’s highly respected senior vp of music strategy and talent, is among the staffers who have left the Nashville-based country music and lifestyle programming network as part of the broad staff cuts taking place at Paramount Global.

Fram, Billboard‘s 2021 Country Power Players executive of the year, oversaw all musical integration within the brand, including original programming, CMT.com and music video airplay across all CMT platforms. Her last day was Monday (Sept. 30).

In a letter released exclusively to Billboard, Fram looks back with understandable pride at the multiple milestones she and her team, many of whom have also departed the company, achieved over her 13 years at the company, including the CMT Music Awards debuting on CBS, resurrecting franchises such as CMT Giants and Storytellers, and creating or continuing specials like CMT Campfire Sessions and its signature CMT Crossroads.

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Fram, who was an ardent supporter of all country artists — but especially burgeoning acts and women — was an outspoken advocate for diversity and inclusion and continuously strove to create ways to highlight women artists and artists of color on CMT in a genre dominated by white male acts.  

“Among my proudest achievements has been our decade+ support of women with CMT’s ‘Next Women of Country,’ a program that has helped promote and elevate over 100 female artists on all platforms, and our efforts to move the format forward in areas of inclusion and diversity,” she writes.

“Over the years, the team worked tirelessly to grow these types of opportunities when in 2015, we created an all-female ‘Next Women of Country’ tour to give these artists a stage to play on – introducing newcomers like Kelsea Ballerini and supporting headlining acts like Martina McBride, Sara Evans & Jennifer Nettles.”

Fram, who will host the Save the Music event in Nashville on Oct. 15, ends the missive on a positive note: “Cheering on those who remain and those who have left — only great things ahead. With the ever-changing media landscape let’s remember to take care of each other!”

Read the full letter below:   

To My Dear CMT Family, Friends, Colleagues,

Thirteen years ago this month, I had the extraordinary opportunity to become SVP/Music & Talent at CMT and work with my longtime friend and mentor Brian Philips (President of CMT at the time). The transition from rock radio to country music television turned out to be a pivotal moment in my career, allowing me and the brand’s resident experts to build CMT’s next great chapter. We went on to create an even bigger music brand, continuing to amplify the format’s superstars and legends while giving voice to the next generation.

Over the years, we’ve accomplished so many milestones as a team. From celebrating the ‘CMT Music Awards’ debut on CBS, bringing back historic franchises like ‘CMT Giants’ where we honored such legends as Kenny Rogers, Vince Gill and Alabama, and resurrecting the iconic ‘Storytellers’ format to creating new music programming and specials like ‘CMT Campfire Sessions,’ ‘CMT Summer Camp’ and ‘CMT Smashing Glass’ honoring Tanya Tucker & Patti LaBelle, these are once-in-a-lifetime experiences I will always treasure! 

And it wouldn’t be CMT without a deep bow to the award-winning series, ‘CMT Crossroads.’ My first experience with the franchise was with Vince Gill & Sting at NYC’s Hammerstein Ballroom, and I immediately was overwhelmed by the musical magnitude of these shows. We went on to bring together such extraordinary pairings as Stevie Nicks & Lady A, Katy Perry & Kacey Musgraves, Alicia Keys & Maren Morris, Halsey & Kelsea Ballerini, Shawn Mendes & Zac Brown, Nickelback & Hardy, and so many more. I am eternally grateful for the expertise and genius of my colleagues, Executive Producers Margaret Comeaux and John Hamlin, without whom ‘Crossroads’ and so much more, would not be possible.

Among my proudest achievements has been our decade+ support of women with CMT’s ‘Next Women of Country,’ a program that has helped promote and elevate over 100 female artists on all platforms, and our efforts to move the format forward in areas of inclusion and diversity.

Over the years, the team worked tirelessly to grow these types of opportunities when in 2015, we created an all-female ‘Next Women of Country’ tour to give these artists a stage to play on – introducing newcomers like Kelsea Ballerini and supporting headlining acts like Martina McBride, Sara Evans & Jennifer Nettles.

All along, we would constantly ask ourselves, ‘how can we do even better?’

We soon founded an initiative called CMT ‘Equal Play’ – 50/50, male/female parity across all CMT video hours. With this momentum, we strongly encouraged the industry to play, sign and support more women and to make equally bold moves to help cement a format-wide commitment to women and equality. This concept ultimately grew to become the ‘CMT Equal Play Award,’ in recognition of artists who advocate for diverse and underrepresented voices in the industry, bestowed upon such luminaries as Jennifer Nettles, Linda Martell and Shania Twain.

We also partnered with Cameo Carlson, President & CEO at mtheory to create CMT ‘Equal Access’ to better support artists from underrepresented communities. I’m proud to say that this effort closely mirrors the visionary leadership of Marva Smalls, EVP of Public Affairs/Global Inclusion at Paramount, our partners in ‘Equal Access.’ This program has allowed us to work with both artists and management professionals, helping us diversify the talent pipeline in country music.

Looking back over my career at CMT, I have so much gratitude for amazing leaders like Van Toffler, Bob Bakish & Bruce Gillmer to name a few. Thank you for your vision and support. 

To my incredible team, Donna Duncan, Stacey Cato, Jordan Walker, Katrina Cooper, Jordan Hatton, Abbi Roth, Bryana Cielo and my brilliant counterpart, Margaret Comeaux, John Hamlin, Heather Graffagnino, Jackie Barba, Jim Craig, Cynthia Mangrum, Jodi Carmichael, Melissa Goldberg, Ali Marszalkowski, Quinn Brown, Cody Alan, Shanna Strassberg, Andy Luther (and the IT Team) and so many more, we will always be a family and team. Your friendship and support have been my guiding light. I will cherish all our collective challenges and wins. 

To my Paramount and MTV colleagues past and present, it’s been my complete honor to work and learn from you.  

To the OG CMT’ers – the late great Chet Flippo, Suzanne Norman, Martin Clayton, Anthony Barton, Lisa Chader, Lucia Folk, Cindy McLean Finke, Jim Raley, Jackie Jones, Lewis Bogach, John-Miller Monzon, Shane Caldwell, Tessa Jordan, Jennifer Danielson, Jen Hoogerhyde (Morrison), Alina Thompson and so many more – in the words of Dolly ‘I will always love you!’

And finally, to this magical Nashville community and its brilliant artists, you have given and shared so much. I will always be grateful for your friendship and support, and I know that you will continue to collaborate with this undeniable brand for years to come. 

Cheering on those who remain and those who have left-only great things ahead. With the ever-changing media landscape let’s remember to take care of each other!  Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Leslie Fram

lesliefram@me.com

01 Oct 2024

Bubble Up: LVMH Makes Investment Into Moncler

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Moncler Grenoble Fall Winter 2024 – Runway

Source: Jacopo Raule / Getty

It seems LVMH is looking to increase their portfolio within the luxury apparel sector. The conglomerate has made an investment into Moncler. 

As spotted on Hype Beast the French holdings company announced on Thursday, September 26 that they acquired a 10% stake in Remo Ruffini (the investment vehicle controlled by Ruffini Partecipazioni Holding) which owns a direct stake in Moncler. The move will not only increase Double R’s ownership from 15.8% to 18.5%, but also affords LVMH the right to appoint two board seats at Double R. According to Yahoo! News long tenured LVMH executive Antonio “Toni” Belloni will get one of the seats while the other has yet to be announced. Remo Ruffini will remain as Moncler’s CEO and Chairman.

He expressed his enthusiasm in a formal statement. “This partnership reinforces Double R’s position in Moncler and provides the stability needed to execute my vision for the future” he said. “I have long admired Bernard Arnault’s entrepreneurial spirit and unique understanding of the luxury sector, and I am delighted he so clearly supports my long-term ambitions for our Group’s extraordinary brands.”

Bernard Arnault, Chairman and CEO of LVMH, also commented on the agreement. “Moncler has been one of the most significant entrepreneurial success stories in the industry over the past twenty years. Remo Ruffini’s vision and leadership are remarkable and I am delighted to invest in his holding company to reinforce his position as leading shareholder on Moncler and support the independence of the Moncler Group.”

Moncler is an Italian luxury ready to wear apparel company based in Milan. They are most known for their down jackets

01 Oct 2024

Maya Rudolph Returns As Kamala Harris On ‘SNL,’ Delights Audience

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Maya Rudolph x SNL

Source: YouTube / NBC

Actress Maya Rudolph thrilled audiences in her SNL return as Vice President Kamala Harris over the weekend.

As Saturday Night Live opened up its 50th season over the weekend, the cold open featured the return of veteran comedienne Maya Rudolph portraying Vice President Kamala Harris. “Well your fun aunt has returned,” she began, “The fun has been rebooted. Too fun, too furious.” From there, Rudolph demonstrated how uncanny her portrayal of the Democratic presidential nominee is, right down to recapturing the exact facial expression Harris displayed during her debate with Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.

Stepping in to portray Harris’ running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, was comedian Jim Gaffigan. “What can I say? I’ve got that BDE- Big Dad Energy!” Gaffigan said. He continued to portray the effervescent energy of Walz in the intro. “I’ve got to be honest here folks. When Kamala Harris called and asked to be her vice president, I said, ‘Uh, yeah,’” Gaffigan said before adding: “This is personal for me. I love this country. And as a former teacher, I need the money. This suit is from Costco!”

The skit also introduced another SNL alum, Andy Samberg, who played Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff who referred to himself as the “Second Gentle Minch,” and James Austin Johnson as Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. Lastly, SNL alum Dana Carvey appeared as President Joe Biden leading to a comical exchange where Rudolph said thanks for “putting the country first and for handing over the reins,” to which Carvey replied, “I didn’t want to! They made me.”

Rudolph’s portrayal of Harris has garnered her two Emmy Awards – the first in 2019 for her presidential debate sketch, and in March 2021 when she hosted the show. “When I see her, I see her having fun,” she said in a Variety cover profile about the role. “And so the fictional Kamala that we created tapped into her fun. And then [SNL producer] Steve Higgins said to me that his wife called her a ‘fun aunt,’ and we were laughing at how that sounds like ‘funt.’ We just went from there. That was the moment where you realize, ‘Oh, now I know how to do this.’”

Check out the entire opening sketch above.

01 Oct 2024

Hailey Bieber Celebrates Fifth Anniversary With Justin Bieber By Posting Sweet Tribute to Late Designer Virgil Abloh: ‘We Miss You!’

Hailey Bieber celebrated her fifth wedding anniversary with Justin Bieber on Monday (Sept. 30) by posting a loving tribute to late fashion designer Virgil Abloh. She posted a picture of herself with the beloved fashion icon who created the custom Off-White gown and veil for the model’s wedding on what would have been Abloh’s 44th bday; he died from cardiac angiosarcoma in Nov. 2021 at age 41.

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“Happy Birthday V, we miss you! Thank you for making me the most magical wedding dress. ??,” the model wrote on her Instagram Stories alongside a photo of her walking with Abloh in her lace wedding gown. A second image captured the happy couple at their Sept. 2019 wedding in South Carolina, showing the Biebers are kissing at night on a lawn with Hailey’s voluminous train spread out on the grass to reveal the secret embroidered message on its hem: “Till Death Do Us Part.” The post was accompanied by the number five and a three-star emoji.

The final slide featured Hailey posing in the dress in profile, a sly smile on her face.

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In August, the Biebers welcomed their first child, Jack Blue Bieber. They shared the news in an Instagram post in which Hailey was pictured holding her baby’s tiny foot. As the couple nest with their newborn, indie singer-songwriter Mk.gee recently revealed in an interview that he’s been in the studio with Bieber working on the singer’s first new album since 2021 Justice album.

“He’s searching,” Mk.gee told the New York Times. “Anything that comes out of his mouth: That’s pop music. You can really do pretty wild stuff behind that, just because it represents something.” Bieber has been mostly off the musical radar since cancelling the 2023-2024 world tour in support of Justice after getting diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, which resulted in “full paralysis” on one side of his face.

01 Oct 2024

TikTok ‘Walked Away’ From Talks With Merlin. Now Indie Songs by Nirvana, Phoebe Bridgers & More May Leave the App

Merlin, which negotiates digital licenses for a coalition of more than 30,000 independent labels around the world, told its members in a letter on Friday (Sept. 27) that TikTok “walked away” from talks to renew their TikTok license “before negotiations even began.”

“[TikTok] informed us that they do not want to renew our deal,” the letter, obtained by Billboard, states. “They informed us that… they intend to license some of our members directly.” The current Merlin-TikTok license is set to expire on Oct. 31.

“Their approach [to pursue direct deals with Merlin members] suggests that [TikTok] believe[s] their objectives can be better served by fragmenting the Merlin membership, in order, we believe, to minimize their pay out,” states the letter. “As you know, Merlin was founded to stand up for and champion its members. We will not support an approach that devalues our community.”

Trending on Billboard

A TikTok spokesperson says that “TikTok would like to offer all of the world’s music to our users. We are committed to working with the independent sector as well as the major labels and publishers. We know that our community of over a billion music fans value the diversity and richness that independent music brings to our platform. We are committed to entering into direct deals with Merlin members in order to keep their music on TikTok.”

Founded in 2008, Merlin represents 15% of the global recorded music market, and it uses that collective market power to negotiate with digital partners on behalf of its members on a similar footing as the bigger major labels. The end of its license with TikTok would mean that top songs from artists like Coolio, Diplo, Faye Webster, J Dilla, The Lumineers, Mac Demarco, Madlib, Mitski, Nirvana, Phoebe Bridgers, Thundercat, Wet Leg and more will leave the platform after Halloween, unless their respective labels are able to reach agreements with TikTok. Each label individually would have to agree to terms with the platform, negotiating with a much smaller market footprint than they would have collectively.

Merlin is the third music organization this year, after Universal Music Group and National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA), to express challenges in renewing music licenses with TikTok. In February, UMG’s failure to reach a deal with TikTok led to the removal of its entire catalog of hits from TikTok for about three months. In April, after publicly supporting UMG’s position against TikTok, the NMPA allowed its TikTok license, which was used by a number of indie publishers, to lapse as well. It has not been renewed.

“We believe the most likely reason that TikTok did this is that TikTok does not want to pay a fair rate for the music that powers their platform,” Merlin’s letter to members continues. “If this is right, then TikTok does not value independent music, the independent labels and distributors who support that music, nor the diverse artists who create it. They are unlike every other partner that Merlin works with.”

Along with negotiating digital deals for indie labels on TikTok, Merlin also licenses members’ catalogs to 40 services around the world, including platforms like YouTube, Meta, Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Tidal, SoundCloud, Deezer and more.

Separately, Billboard obtained an email TikTok sent out to some Merlin members, stating that the short-form video app “decided not to renew [its] license agreements with Merlin” and that TikTok “may be able to do direct deals” with the labels, provided that they agree to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA). “The purpose of the NDA is to enable us to discuss direct licensing agreements with you.” The deadline to sign and return the NDA is Oct. 4. A source familiar with TikTok said, however, that any Merlin label that wishes to stay on TikTok after Oct. 31 can review and sign the TikTok and CapCut agreements anytime before Oct. 25.

Merlin told its members that it is doing “all [it] can to re-engage with TikTok… we have already made it clear to them that we are ready to hold an actual negotiation and address any concerns they may have.”

While Merlin believes TikTok’s move is an attempt to keep the price tag for indie music lower than it would like, the organization’s letter to members also says that TikTok has “suggested” they are walking away “because of concerns about ‘fraud.’” “As we have told them on numerous occasions, we are incredibly proactive on this issue,” the letter states.

“TikTok’s refusal to negotiate a deal with Merlin isn’t just a setback — it’s a threat to the whole music ecosystem,” Dr. Richard Burgess, president of the American Association of Independent Music (A2IM), says of the situation. “This isn’t just about Merlin; it’s about properly recognizing the value of artists and their music.”

Merlin declined Billboard’s request for comment. In an interview with Billboard published last week, Merlin CEO Jeremy Sirota discussed his approach to renewing partnerships with platforms such as Meta and YouTube, with which Merlin has struck new deals of late. “We don’t think of it as, ‘Let’s come back and kick the tires every few years,’” Sirota said. “We want to help shape their thinking about music and their understanding of what independents need at an operational level. We want to do the same thing with our partners to create this continual feedback loop and conversation.”

Merlin’s membership includes, but is not limited to, independent labels like 4AD, Brain Feeder, Captured Tracks, Domino, Dualtone, Empire, Higher Ground, Matador, Ninja Tune, Secretly Group, Stones Throw, Subpop, Tommy Boy, XL and thousands more.

Read Merlin’s letter to members below in full:

Dear Merlin Member,

On August 5th, we informed you that we expected a difficult negotiation with TikTok.

This past Wednesday, with no warning, TikTok walked away before negotiations even began. They informed us that (1) they do not want to renew our deal, which expires on October 31st, and (2) they intend to license some of our members directly. To be even more clear, unfortunately, as of now, there will not be a Merlin-TikTok deal after October 31st.

We believe the most likely reason that TikTok did this is that TikTok does not want to pay a fair rate for the music that powers their platform. If this is right, then TikTok does not value independent music, the independent labels and distributors who support that music, nor the diverse artists who create it. They are unlike every other partner that Merlin works with.

TikTok pays substantially less for your music than other services, apparently relying on the perception that artists cannot afford to have their music unavailable on the platform. We made a good faith proposal to narrow this gap, but rather than negotiate, TikTok chose to simply walk away.

Given that TikTok refused to negotiate with us, our view is that they must see the obligation to pay fair royalties as a nuisance. They must view Merlin – with its mission to protect and maximize the value of our members’ music – as too strong a negotiating partner for their liking. Their approach suggests that they believe their objectives can be better served by fragmenting the Merlin membership, in order, we believe, to minimize their pay out.

TikTok has asked us for an “orderly transition” to do direct deals with those members they deem worthy. As you know, Merlin was founded to stand up for and champion its members. We will not support an approach that devalues our community.

The Merlin team remains dedicated to forging meaningful relationships between our members and partners, as well as driving value into every partnership. This includes dedicated teams to answer member inquiries across every aspect of our partnerships, operational support, best practices guides, partner-led and Merlin-led webinars, consolidated pitch forms, and so much more.

We are doing all we can to re-engage with TikTok to secure a renewal agreement for our members. We have already made it clear to them that we are ready to hold an actual negotiation and address any concerns they may have. TikTok has also suggested that they are walking away because of concerns about “fraud,” but as we have told them on numerous occasions, we are incredibly pro-active on this issue.

We recognized early on, and communicated with TikTok, the concerning growth and impact of stream manipulation and fraudulent content both on TikTok and across the marketplace. We have worked productively and collaboratively with TikTok on this issue, and until now, no concerns have been raised about the approach Merlin is taking. We have implemented measures to address illegitimate activity and content; automated systems to detect suspicious activity; and a dedicated team to address issues and impose sanctions, including ultimately, termination of membership for bad actors.

Members must, as ever, make their own decisions on how to deal with TikTok. For our part, we will never stop fighting for the value that our members bring, regardless of how this situation resolves itself.

We will follow-up by separate email with whatever answers we might have on your operational questions.

01 Oct 2024

Carlos Vives Gets His Own Radio Channel on SiriusXM

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month and to celebrate Carlos Vives‘ 30 years in music, the Colombian star is getting his own limited-run radio channel on SiriusXM.

Hosted and curated by the “Fruta Fresca” singer himself, Carlos Vives Radio will “showcase the impact” he’s had on the industry and air hits from his extensive music catalog over the years. “Listeners will hear the icon give a retrospective on his celebrated career and share insights on his memorable collaborations and life moments,” according to a press statement.

Throughout the programming, themed guest-hosted shows like “Nuestro Rock” will give a look into Vives’ journey, which will highlight some of his rock favorites, from Charly García to Juanes and The Rolling Stones. “Vallenatos Desesperados” will spotlight his favorite vallenatos by Diomedes Díaz, Los Inquietos del Vallenato and others. Plus, “Mis Colaboraciones Memorables” is set to include songs from his most memorable collaborations with Marc Anthony, Ricky Martin, Shakira and more.

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Vives is set to be honored in November as the Latin Recording Academy’s 2024 Person of the Year. The winner of 18 Latin Grammy Awards, two Grammy Awards and a Billboard Latin Music Awards Hall of Fame inductee, he redefined the traditional Colombian vallenato by incorporating pop and rock sounds. Overall, he’s placed nine top 10 LPs on Billboard‘s Top Latin Albums chart and 14 top 10 tracks on the Hot Latin Songs ranking. Five of those hit No. 1, including “Volví a Nacer” and “Luna Nueva”

Carlos Vives Radio is available to listeners on channel 79 until Oct. 11 and on the SiriusXM app until Oct. 31.

Carlos Vives

Carlos Vives

SiriusXM

01 Oct 2024

Rascal Flatts Reunite for 25th Anniversary ‘Life Is a Highway’ Tour

Rascal Flatts are hitting the road in 2025, five years after announcing, and then cancelling, their final tour due to the pandemic.

The multi-platinum country trio’s 21-date Life is a Highway tour kicks off Feb. 13 at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana. Lauren Alaina and Chris Lane are the opening acts.

“In 2020, we announced the farewell tour after being on the road extensively for 20 years,” the band said in a statement. “To put it simply, we needed a break. Then COVID hit and our plans came to a screeching halt, like the rest of the world.  Since then, we’ve been able to revisit our unique and special experience as a band and we’re ready to get out on the road again.  It’s hard to believe that next year will be the 25th anniversary of Rascal Flatts, and that felt like the perfect time to get back in front of the fans who have given us so much.”

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Rascal Flatts—vocalist Gary LeVox, multi-instrumentalist Jay DeMarcus and guitarist Joe Don Rooney—got fans buzzing Monday (Sept. 30) when they posted a video to their Instagram account featuring the three individually walking through stage doors as if headed to rehearsal with the message, “Life’s a road that you travel on.”

Rascal Flatts, Tour

The group originally announced the Rascal Flatts Farewell: Life Is a Highway Tour during an appearance in January 2020 on CBS This Morning, saying it was the perfect way to celebrate their then 20th anniversary.

Trending on Billboard

“We make music and that’s what we do,” Jay DeMarcus told CBS This Morning in 2020. “We may do it again someday collectively. We’re not going to sign some pact that says we’re never going to tour again … we all still do love each other, but we do make music, and we will probably make some music individually, collectively.”

Founded in 2000, the band scored such hits as “Prayin’ for Daylight,” “Bless the Broken Road” and “What Hurts the Most,” landing 14 No. 1s on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart. They won the CMA Awards’ vocal group of the year award six years in a row from 2003 to 2008.

No word on if the band plans to record new music or extend the tour beyond the initial 21 dates.

Tickets go on sale Friday (Oct. 4) at 10 AM local time.

LIFE IS A HIGHWAY TOUR Official Dates:

Feb. 13 Evansville, IN- Ford Center

Feb. 14 Charleston, WV- Charleston Coliseum

Feb. 15 Grand Rapids, MI- Van Andel Arena

Feb. 22 Durant, OK- Choctaw Grand Theater

Feb. 27 Sioux Falls, SD- Denny Sanford Premier Center

Feb. 28 Green Bay, WI- Resch Center

March 1 Moline, IL- Vibrant Arena

March 6 Columbus, OH- Nationwide Arena

March 7 Toledo, OH- Huntington Center

March 8 Youngstown, OH- Covelli Centre

March 13 Manchester, NH- SNHU Arena

March 14 Uncasville, CT- Mohegan Sun Arena

March 15 Allentown, PA- PPL Center

March 20 Huntsville, AL- Von Braun Center Propst Arena*

March 22 Savannah, GA- Enmarket Arena

March 27 Ft. Worth, TX- Dickies Arena

March 28 Lafayette, LA- CAJUNDOME

March 29 Little Rock, AR- Simmons Bank Arena

April 3 Estero, FL- Hertz Arena

April 4 Orlando, FL- Kia Center

April 5 Jacksonville, FL- Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena

01 Oct 2024

Lady Gaga Gushes About Fiancé Michael Polansky: ‘When You Are With Your Best Friend Everything Changes’

Lady Gaga is smitten. During a red carpet chat at Monday’s (Sept. 30) Los Angeles premiere of  Joker: Folie à Deux the singer could not stop gushing about her fiancé, tech entrepreneur Michael Polansky, with whom she collaborated on her just-released Joker companion album, Harlequin.

“It’s just the first time that we decided to fully just go into it and do it. It just felt right,” she told People magazine of Polansky serving as the co-executive producer of the LP that features a mix of jazzy standards and two new songs. “We were both so excited. We were all warmed up and ready to go.” Polansky also has co-writing credits on a few songs on Harlequin, including “Good Morning,” “Get Happy,” “Oh, When the Saints” and “If My Friends Could See Me Now,” standards that the pair gave lyrical and musical refreshers.

Gaga and Polansky were first spotted kissing at a 2020 New Year’s Eve party before making their relationship Instagram official with a post that February from the Super Bowl in Miami. The singer made it super official by referring to Polansky as “the love of my life” in an interview later that year. Their engagement was revealed, by accident it seems, at this summer’s Paris Olympics when the French Prime Minister’s office leaked the news.

Trending on Billboard

“I just love my fiancé so much,” she told People. “He’s my best friend. He’s my partner, and I just feel like when you are with your best friend, everything changes.” In a recent interview, Gaga also credited Polansky with helping to inspire her upcoming, as-yet-untitled seventh studio album, saying that he was the one who convinced her to make a full-on pop album. “He was like, ‘Babe, I love you. You need to make pop music,” she said of the record due out in February.

Gaga also did a bit of manifesting recently in an interview promoting the sequel that is due out on Friday (Oct. 4) when she said, “I’m so happy to be in love, and I’m so excited to have a family. That’s definitely number one, but also, I really believe in the ability to grow as a person. That feeling can give everybody hope. I just want to keep growing.”

Watch the red carpet interview below.

01 Oct 2024

Jelly Roll, MGK and Travis Barker Take ‘Tonight Show’ To Church With Spirited ‘Lonely Road’

Jelly Roll capped off an epic weekend with a stirring performance of his collaborative single with MGK, “Lonely Road,” on The Tonight Show on Monday night (Sept. 30). After headlining Madison Square Garden, then performing on Saturday Night Live‘s 50th season opener and headlining the Global Citizen Festival, Jelly put a button on a career quadfecta by teaming up with Machine Gun and the song’s producer, Travis Barker, for an inspired run through the song that interpolates John Denver’s beloved 1971 “Take Me Home, Country Roads” single.

KellyRoll (as the duo have dubbed themselves) began the performance singing the song’s aching refrain a cappella while standing on either side of a flaming garbage can backed by three soulful back-up singers. “Lonely road, take me home/ To the place that we went wrong/ Where’d you go now, it’s been a ghost town/ And I’m still here, all alone,” they sang in unison before Kelly called Barker to the stage and busted into his rap verse.

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The Blink-182 drummer tapped out the song’s clip-clop rhythm on the lip of the can before scooting over to a proper drum kit as Jelly and Kelly meandered to host Jimmy Fallon’s desk set to make themselves comfortable. Seated in the guest spot on the couch, Jelly Roll crooned, “I use alcohol to fill that hole/ Will our home ever be the same?,” as MGK tapped out the rhythm on Fallon’s desk.

The performance ended with the two men standing on either side of Barker, with always humble Jelly thanking Fallon and the viewers at home for “allowing us into your living rooms tonight.”

Before the set, Jelly made his first visit to the Tonight Show couch, admitting that he was so nervous that he may have “tinkled” himself a bit. “I won’t know until I do a full assessment,” he joked. He then admitted that he likely “double-tinkled” himself being in a sketch on SNL, the sadly cut-for-time hilarious House of the Dragon spoof “Blonde Dragon People,” where he played Lord of the Rings‘ Samwise Gamgee to Andy Samberg’s Legolas, for some reason.

“I was more nervous for the sketch, obviously,” he told Fallon. “Because I’m already a fish out of water in the music business. And I’m a double-fish out of water when I was there… I’m just whaled out!” And, just days after Machine Gun addressed his former beef with Jelly at the 2024 People’s Choice Country Awards — where he said, “Jelly, I love you. We went from 10 years ago, hating each other, to elevating each other” — Jelly Roll told Fallon, “I just love him to death. We’ve known each other a long time and we started on rocky roads and made amends.”

Jelly Roll’s upcoming album, Beautifully Broken, is due out on Oct. 11.

Watch Jelly Roll on the Tonight Show below.

01 Oct 2024

Narcís Rebollo Appointed CEO and President of UMG’s Newly Standalone Global Talent Services Division

Narcís Rebollo has been appointed CEO and president of Global Talent Services, Universal Music Group’s full-service company for Latin artists spanning management, booking, live events, promotion and brand partnerships.

In line with Rebollo’s appointment, which was announced by Universal Music on Tuesday (Oct. 1) and is effective immediately, Global Talent Services (GTS) becomes a standalone company, with its management and operation now handled independently from UMG’s local music labels.

In the newly created role of GTS CEO and president, Rebollo — who is based in Madrid — will oversee the company’s operations in the U.S., Latin America, Spain and Portugal, reporting to Jesús López, chairman and CEO of Universal Music Latin America and Iberian Peninsula. Further details of leadership appointments within Universal Music Iberian Peninsula will follow shortly, said UMG in a statement announcing the structural changes.

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Launched in 2007, Global Talent Services provides a full suite of artist services for Latin artists and operates offices in eight countries, including the U.S., Spain, Portugal, Brazil, Mexico and Columbia.

Artists signed to GTS’ management roster in Spain include Antonio José, Salma, Natalia Lacunza and Mala Rodriguez with the company’s live events team booking over 500 shows in the country last year, according to Universal Music. 

Other markets where UMG says Global Talent Services is experiencing solid growth include Mexico, where it booked 175 shows for 25 artists in 2023; and Brazil, where the company has had strong success as a booking agency and managing partner for artists projects by Maneva, Leo Santana, Atitude 67, Felipe Araújo and Paula Fernandes.  

One of GTS’s biggest campaigns to date has been establishing Colombian band Morat as one of the leading Spanish-speaking pop-rock acts in the world with its “Si Ayer Fuera Hoy” 2023-2024 global tour — which included a sold-out show at New York City’s Madison Square Garden Theater in January — selling more than one million tickets across 125 concerts and over 15 countries, according to the company. GTS also operates the multi-date Universal Music Festival, which takes place every year in the Spanish capital city of Madrid.

Prior to today’s appointment, Rebollo served as president of Universal Music Iberian Peninsula since 2015, where he was responsible for UMG’s recorded music and GTS operations in Spain and Portugal. Under his leadership, the company grew its operations to include concert booking and promotion, festivals, touring and live events with GTS clients including Latin artists David Bisbal, David Bustamante, Pablo López, Lola Indigo, Aitana and Camila Fernández.

Before joining Universal, Rebollo held senior roles at Spanish independent music company Divucsa, BMG, electronic dance music label Max Music and Spain’s biggest independent label, Vale Music, which Universal acquired in 2006.

“Narcís is one of the most experienced executives in Latin music,” said Jesús López in a statement. “His vision of the evolution of the business and the expansion of Latin music around the world in recent years, has led him to create a very successful team in Spain and Portugal in the areas of management, booking, promotion and brands.”

López went on to say that GTS was born “with the purpose of being a full-service agency for artists, and the time has come for it to become an independent business unit within UMG.” Rebollo, added López, is the “perfect leader” to lead the growth of GTS globally.

“Today more than ever, our artists need strategic support from a company that is both fully focused on management, but with the ability to deliver global services and support,”  said Rebollo in a statement. “With the explosion of interest and influence of live music, and music driving social engagement and conversation more than ever, I strongly believe that GTS is perfectly positioned to provide the best support for Latin artists around the world.”