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Nashville music industry executive Mike Borchetta died on Saturday (June 14) at age 84, Billboard has confirmed. The news was first reported by Country Aircheck.
Borchetta served as vp of promotion at Curb Records from the late 1980s through the mid-1990s, and also worked at labels including Broken Bow, Capitol, RCA, Mercury and Rebel Engine. Along the way, he promoted music for numerous country and pop artists, including 29-time Billboard Country Airplay chart-topper Tim McGraw (Borchetta was key in McGraw’s signing with Curb Records), Hal Ketchum, The Beach Boys, Wayne Newton, Glen Campbell, The Four Seasons and Dusty Springfield. He also served as president at Lofton Creek Records, helping propel Heartland’s song “I Loved Her First” to No. 1 on Billboard‘s Hot Country Songs chart in 2006.
In an Instagram post, McGraw shared, “I am saddened to hear about the passing of the legendary music executive, Mike Borchetta. I came to Nashville the day my hero Keith Whitley died — on a Greyhound bus with only the clothes on my back, a guitar and a big dream. About as green as they come. I was able to get a meeting with Mike while he was working at Curb Records. He pretty much said we are signing you on the spot. I will be forever grateful for his belief in me. Gonna miss seein’ ya at my shows but I know you will be looking down with a smile. My heartfelt condolences to the family. Rest in peace my friend.”
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Beyond music, Borchetta and his wife Martha also raised and trained thoroughbreds.
Several of Borchetta’s children followed in his footsteps, forging their own successful music industry careers, including Big Machine Label Group CEO/chairman/founder Scott Borchetta (known for working with artists including Taylor Swift, McGraw, Thomas Rhett and Florida Georgia Line). Another son, Chris Borchetta, has worked at several labels, including Big Machine, Lofton Creek, Star Farm and Nine North, and launched an eponymous promotions and marketing company. Adelle Borchetta, has worked as director of radio promotion and marketing at Nine North Records, Turnpike Music and Edgehill Music and also launched an eponymous promotions and marketing company. And another daughter, Angela Borchetta, has worked at companies including Universal South, RCA and Big Machine; she also founded White House Promotion and Marketing.
Scott Borchetta wrote a tribute to his father on Instagram. “This Legend’s time here is done… without you, there’s no music biz or racing in my life… your memory shall live on… and you’re riding shotgun today in the #48 Chevrolet Xfinity car… Love you, dad…”
Information on funeral services is pending.
This week’s crop of new songs features two sterling collaborations: the first, between Americana music darling Sierra Ferrell and blues-country singer Kashus Culpepper. Also, two traditional country-steeped artists, Randall King and Braxton Keith, team up for a barroom-ready track. Also issuing new songs this week are Tyler Childers, Tanner Adell and Kayley Green.
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Check out all of these and more in Billboard‘s roundup of the best country songs of the week below.
Kashus Culpepper (feat. Sierra Ferrell), “Broken Wing Bird”
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Culpepper melds his husky, soulful voice with Ferrell’s plaintive twang on this languid, tender song of loving an injured bird until it becomes strong enough to fly away, as the wounded bird brings back memories of an old lover who was emotionally wounded and stopped trying to spread her own wings. The pared-back acoustics here showcase just how well their voices pair together.
Tyler Childers, “Nose on the Grindstone”
Childers has long included this fan-favorite in his shows, and now fans officially get this song via this newly-released live recording. This theatrical feel and Childers’ gritty, rough-hewn voice tell the tale of a son recalling lingering lessons learned from a father who pulled long hours doing blue collar work, and the hardship in living by those words in a modern world as the son battles addiction. “There’s hurt you can cause time alone cannot heal,” he sings, masterfully weaving lyrics depicting the tension between a son’s desire to make his family proud and the insistent pull of addiction. The track previews Childers’ upcoming album Snipe Hunter, out July 25.
Tanner Adell, “Snakeskin”
Acoustic guitar and Adell’s pristine vocal wind together for a song that blends breezy instrumentation with a venomous warning for anyone who thinks they can easily capture her heart. “I’m a cowgirl/ I’ma gone do my own saving,” she declares in a sweet-toned vocal that also harbors an edge of hard-won toughness. Adell previously issued the heart-wrenching, intensely personal “Going Blonde,” but here she evinces how a tough childhood has long-reaching impact.
Kayley Green, “You’d Still Be Drunk”
On her latest, Green sings of rebuffing any notions that an ex-lover might have potentially followed a redemptive arc should she have remained in the relationship. Sonically, the song has a upbeat, throwback vibe soaked in girl power and attitude that further reinforces Green’s strong vocals.
Randall King (feat. Braxton Keith), “Cheatin’ on My Honkytonk”
Keith and King team up for this barn burner about a guy who has traded in nights at a beloved honkytonk bar for time spent with his enticing lover. “The old me probably wouldn’t know me/ He’d probably disown me if he could see me now,” they sing, with their distinctive twangy vocals weaving together effortlessly. This track has the potential to be a mighty summer lovin’ anthem.
Source: Amy Sussman/Getty Images / Amy Sussman/Getty Images
Reginae Carter recently spoke out in defense of her father, Lil Wayne, after he got a lot of hate for his new album Tha Carter VI.
The album had been highly anticipated, but many fans online didn’t like it. People complained about the songs, the production, and how the album was put together. But Reginae thinks a lot of this hate isn’t really about the music itself.
Reginae went on social media to respond to the critics. “Tha Carter VI is trash? That’s fine, that’s what you want to say,” she said, before calling out people for judging music based on whether it goes viral. She said just because you can’t make a TikTok dance to a song doesn’t mean it’s bad. “My dad was talking real stuff,” she explained, adding that the songs are the kind you might hear in video games, malls, and other public places. In her eyes, that makes the album more meaningful and wide-reaching.
Reginae went on to say that people need to get off the internet and stop letting trends decide what’s good. She reminded everyone that her pops is a real lyricist who puts thought into his words. “If you can’t understand it, please move in silence like the ‘G’ in lasagna,” she said, quoting one of Lil Wayne’s famous lines. At the end of the day, Reginae made it clear she’s standing by her dad. To her, *Tha Carter VI* is more than just an album. It’s part of a legacy that doesn’t need to go viral to be respected.
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Source: Amy Sussman/Getty Images / Amy Sussman/Getty Images
Reginae Carter recently spoke out in defense of her father, Lil Wayne, after he got a lot of hate for his new album Tha Carter VI.
The album had been highly anticipated, but many fans online didn’t like it. People complained about the songs, the production, and how the album was put together. But Reginae thinks a lot of this hate isn’t really about the music itself.
Reginae went on social media to respond to the critics. “Tha Carter VI is trash? That’s fine, that’s what you want to say,” she said, before calling out people for judging music based on whether it goes viral. She said just because you can’t make a TikTok dance to a song doesn’t mean it’s bad. “My dad was talking real stuff,” she explained, adding that the songs are the kind you might hear in video games, malls, and other public places. In her eyes, that makes the album more meaningful and wide-reaching.
Reginae went on to say that people need to get off the internet and stop letting trends decide what’s good. She reminded everyone that her pops is a real lyricist who puts thought into his words. “If you can’t understand it, please move in silence like the ‘G’ in lasagna,” she said, quoting one of Lil Wayne’s famous lines. At the end of the day, Reginae made it clear she’s standing by her dad. To her, *Tha Carter VI* is more than just an album. It’s part of a legacy that doesn’t need to go viral to be respected.
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Source: Amy Sussman/Getty Images / Amy Sussman/Getty Images
Reginae Carter recently spoke out in defense of her father, Lil Wayne, after he got a lot of hate for his new album Tha Carter VI.
The album had been highly anticipated, but many fans online didn’t like it. People complained about the songs, the production, and how the album was put together. But Reginae thinks a lot of this hate isn’t really about the music itself.
Reginae went on social media to respond to the critics. “Tha Carter VI is trash? That’s fine, that’s what you want to say,” she said, before calling out people for judging music based on whether it goes viral. She said just because you can’t make a TikTok dance to a song doesn’t mean it’s bad. “My dad was talking real stuff,” she explained, adding that the songs are the kind you might hear in video games, malls, and other public places. In her eyes, that makes the album more meaningful and wide-reaching.
Reginae went on to say that people need to get off the internet and stop letting trends decide what’s good. She reminded everyone that her pops is a real lyricist who puts thought into his words. “If you can’t understand it, please move in silence like the ‘G’ in lasagna,” she said, quoting one of Lil Wayne’s famous lines. At the end of the day, Reginae made it clear she’s standing by her dad. To her, *Tha Carter VI* is more than just an album. It’s part of a legacy that doesn’t need to go viral to be respected.
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Amy Sussman/Getty Images / Amy Sussman/Getty Images
Reginae Carter recently spoke out in defense of her father, Lil Wayne, after he got a lot of hate for his new album Tha Carter VI.
The album had been highly anticipated, but many fans online didn’t like it. People complained about the songs, the production, and how the album was put together. But Reginae thinks a lot of this hate isn’t really about the music itself.
Reginae went on social media to respond to the critics. “Tha Carter VI is trash? That’s fine, that’s what you want to say,” she said, before calling out people for judging music based on whether it goes viral. She said just because you can’t make a TikTok dance to a song doesn’t mean it’s bad. “My dad was talking real stuff,” she explained, adding that the songs are the kind you might hear in video games, malls, and other public places. In her eyes, that makes the album more meaningful and wide-reaching.
Reginae went on to say that people need to get off the internet and stop letting trends decide what’s good. She reminded everyone that her pops is a real lyricist who puts thought into his words. “If you can’t understand it, please move in silence like the ‘G’ in lasagna,” she said, quoting one of Lil Wayne’s famous lines. At the end of the day, Reginae made it clear she’s standing by her dad. To her, *Tha Carter VI* is more than just an album. It’s part of a legacy that doesn’t need to go viral to be respected.
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Source: Win McNamee / Getty
The 13th anniversary of the DACA program is celebrated as it faces uncertainty under the Trump Administration.
On Sunday (June 15), the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program celebrated 13 years of existence after its creation during the administration of former President Barack Obama. It comes as the administration of President Donald Trump has endorsed numerous raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents nationwide, and has worked to end the program outright, doing so for six months in his first term. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Obama honored the day and the program, which was created to provide a pathway to aid the young children of immigrants to becoming citizens and to protect them from deportation.
“Thirteen years ago, my administration acted to protect young people who were American in every single way but one: on paper,” the former president began in the post. “DACA was an example of how we can be a nation of immigrants and a nation of laws. And it’s an example worth remembering today, when families with similar backgrounds who just want to live, work, and support their communities, are being demonized and treated as enemies.” Obama concluded, “We can fix our broken immigration system while still recognizing our common humanity and treating each other with dignity and respect. In fact, it’s the only way we ever will.”
Obama was joined by a slew of other Democratic lawmakers voicing their own support for DACA on social media, and who called for the passage of the bipartisan H.R. 1589 bill, commonly referred to as the “American Dream and Promise Act”. The bill, if passed by both the House of Representatives and the Senate, would codify parts of DACA into federal law. The 5th Circuit Court ruled against DACA being continued in full in January, but allowed applications for renewal to continue.
The Trump Administration recently received a verdict in its favor from the Supreme Court, 7-2, to remove Temporary Protected Status from over 500,000 immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela last month drawing ire from advocates. DACA and the issue of protecting young immigrants have taken center stage again within the past week, as protesters decrying the deportations and policies of ICE outside of a federal building in downtown Los Angeles were confronted by local police. President Donald Trump moved to send in 2,000 members of the National Guard, and subsequently 200 Marines without approval from California Governor Gavin Newsom or Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.
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If you’re hosting pool parties this summer, you’ll want to prep with products that’ll keep the vibe strong.
Of course, you’ll need floaties, meat for the grill, drinks, the whole nine yards. A key element to throwing a successful shindig is music, of course. If you’re looking for the perfect speaker system for your next poolside get-together, look no further.
Target, Amazon and Walmart all feature unique Bluetooth waterproof pool speakers to get your next pool party bumping with tunes, whether you’re in or out of the water. We’ve compiled a list of the best options available for an affordable price. It’s safe to say that with these speakers, your next pool party will be a hit.
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KingSom Pool Bluetooth Speakers with LED Lights
$16.95
$22.58
25% off
A floating speaker with rainbow LED lights.
KingSom Pool Bluetooth Speaker is currently on sale on Amazon for $16.95, which is 25% off the original price. This nifty gadget is Bluetooth compatible and delivers clear and crisp sound both indoors and outdoors. The speaker also includes a built-in mic with anti-noise and anti-interference cancellation technology so you can also take calls from the pool or hot tub without getting your phone wet.
This tech is waterproof, allowing it to glide across the water’s surface without fear of damage. Perfect for any celebration, the speaker also features 7 color-changing modes including single color, color gradient, color flash, color slow flash and color off. Our favorite is slow flash mode, a setting that flashes in time with the beat of the music.
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GEMS Novelty Floating Speaker
A rubber duckie-shaped speaker that floats on water.
Pool floaties are a must-have for pool parties. Speakers are too. GEMS’ Novelty Floating Speaker offers the best of both worlds, given it’s an inflatable pool floatie with a speaker in the center. This sweet little speaker features a battery life of up to 4 hours and an IPX7 waterproof speaker inserted into the center. The duckie floatie surrounding the speaker can easily be inflated and deflated thanks to a nozzle fixed to the side. A USB-C charging cable is included with your purchase so you can charge up your tunes with ease.
Speaqua Barnacle Pro 2.0 Portable Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker in Tidal Blue
A bluetooth speaker that can stick to the wall.
Retailing for $69.99 at Target, the Speaqua Barnacle Pro 2.0 Portable Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker can securely stick to any surface, true to its aquatic name. The speaker boasts and 8-hour battery life. It’s 100% waterproof and features a suction cup on the bottom that allows you to stick it to the walls of pools, bathtubs and more so you can take your tunes wherever you go. The suction detailing can be removed so that the speaker can float on water. Keeping this tech clean is easy, given the Barnacle is shockproof, dustproof and sandproof. Additional features include 4-in-1 universal mounting and a whopping 8GB of internal storage.
Mainstays 1.1 lb Portable Bluetooth Pool Speaker with RGB Lights
A floating pool speaker with colorful lights.
This circular speaker doesn’t look like much at first glance, it’s a knock-out in our book. Retailing for $19.97 at Walmart, the Mainstays 1.1 lb Portable Bluetooth Pool Speaker is a compact piece of tech that can easily float in the pool. This speaker can be controlled with a remote control included with the tech. Diving into the details on this piece, it includes rope holes for portable carrying, vibrant RGB lights and Bluetooth compatibility with a distance of 20 meters. This is on the more affordable side, perfect for those looking to bring the party without breaking the bank.
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Many of us are familiar with the fact that Nick Cannon has fathered enough children to ensure his bloodline will remain on this Earth until the end of time, so it shouldn’t be surprising that the man continues to take on new jobs as children ain’t cheap and he’s making sure his babies eat well.
According to Variety, Nick Cannon will be adding a new hosting gig to his ever-expanding portfolio as he will now be taking on Lego Masters, replacing the show’s former host, Will Arnett. Though Will Arnett has been the show’s host for the past five seasons, the Fox network is looking to inject some new energy into the show and who better than the man who can’t seem to stop procreating and wildin’ out on a daily basis, right?
Per Variety:
“We’re thrilled to bring ‘Lego Masters’ back for another season,” said Michael Thorn, president of Fox Television Network. “Alongside our incredible creative partners, this beloved series continues to captivate audiences. Originally launched with the wonderful Will Arnett, the show now enters an exciting next chapter with Nick Cannon at the helm, who brings a new fun energy to the competition.”
Endemol Shine North America CEO Sharon Levy called Cannon “a proven entertainer with a fantastic rapport, and we’re eager to witness how his unique style will elevate the competition during the new season,” said Levy. She also saluted Arnett for five seasons of brick-building action.
While everyone seems excited to be bringing Nick Cannon on board for the show’s sixth season, Arnett was given his flowers for making the show the phenomenon it is today (amongst Lego enthusiasts anyway).
“Of course, none of this would have been possible without the phenomenal Will Arnett, who guided us through five truly superlative seasons. Will’s comedic brilliance and genuine passion for the show laid the perfect foundation, and we are immensely thankful for his incredible contribution,” Levy said.
Cannon for his part is excited to be taking on the new gig as he too is a fan of what Will Arnett has brought to the Lego game.
“I’m a huge fan of ‘Lego Masters,’ said Cannon. “It’s an honor to join the series and host another show with my Fox family. Season six we’re bringing an action-packed hour full of family fun, passion and for the first time ever, in-person audition episodes. I can’t wait to see the insane creations and give away a big bag of money to the best of the best.”
Don’t be surprised if someone builds Nick Cannon a baby crib made out of Legos or something.
What do y’all think of Nick Cannon replacing Will Arnett as the host of Lego Masters? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Wiz Khalifa has become one of the faces of weed rap since his debut in 2005. The rapper’s also built up a tolerance for the smoke, according to a new interview between Khalifa and late night host Jimmy Kimmel. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Khalifa appeared […]
