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22 Feb 2024

Matty Healy Says The 1975 Is ‘Working on a New Record,’ Previews Unreleased Song During Concert

The 1975 will be taking a break at the end of its Still at Their Very Best Tour, but fans needn’t worry – the band won’t be gone for long. While performing at Resorts World Arena in Birmingham, England, Wednesday (Feb. 21), Matty Healy said that new music was just around the corner – and to prove it, he played a snippet of an unreleased song for the crowd. 

Speaking about the approaching end of his and his bandmates’ European tour, Healy said, “The truth is, everyone’s kind of afraid that we’re going to go away for ages.” 

“We’re working on a new record now,” he continued, sitting behind a piano onstage. “I just need to stop for, like, a minute.” 

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The “Somebody Else” singer went on to spontaneously pull out his phone and hold its speaker up to his microphone, then played a few seconds of a vibrant, up-tempo track that began with a countdown. He went on to seemingly share a lyric that related back to his need to take a break after tour, telling fans, “It’s a line actually, what is it … ‘I take a minute when I think I won’t die from stopping.’” 

“And that’s really how I’ve felt for a long time,” Healy added. “We really appreciate you guys and thank you so much. We’re going to go away and hopefully make you a good new album. I just don’t know what to do in the meantime, really.” 

Billboard has reached out to the band’s reps for more information. 

The Manchester band’s stop in Birmingham marked its last show in the U.K. this tour. Healy, guitarist Adam Hann, bassist Ross MacDonald and drummer George Daniel will continue performing through Europe for the next month – with dates planned in Portugal, France, Germany, Italy and more – before closing out the Still at Their Very Best trek March 24 with a concert in Amsterdam. 

The 1975 has been touring since late 2022 in support of its fifth studio album, Being Funny in a Foreign Language, which debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard 200. The group started with a nine-month run dubbed the At Their Very Best Tour, which lasted through mid-August 2023, before immediately embarking on another sweep of North America and Europe for the Still at Their Very Best Tour.  

Watch Healy discuss new music and play part of an unreleased song below. 

22 Feb 2024

Publishers Quarterly: Taylor Swift and Doja Cat Score Top Songs, While Sony Sweeps the Year


Sony Music Publishing (SMP) won the quarter and the year on Billboard’s last Top Radio Airplay and Hot 100 Songs publishers rankings of 2023, while Warner Chappell held on to second place on the Hot 100 and took the No. 2 spot on Top Radio Airplay as well.

Taylor Swift and Doja Cat swapped the No. 1 and No. 2 spots in the song rankings, with Doja’s “Paint the Town Red” winning Top Radio Airplay and Swift’s “Cruel Summer” taking the top spot on Hot 100 Songs.

The holidays added extra jingle to the late Johnny Marks’ royalty statement. He ranked as the top songwriter with four of his holiday classics on Hot 100 Songs, including Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” which ranked No. 6.

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Meanwhile, Ashley Gorley had a huge quarter as the leading songwriter on the Top Radio Airplay and Top Country Radio rankings, with nine and 16 song placements on the charts, respectively. His biggest hit on both was Morgan Wallen’s “Thinkin’ Bout Me.”

Although SMP topped both rankings, its market share and song count dipped across the board. Its Top Radio Airplay share declined from 30.06% in the third quarter to 27.69% and from a staggering 70 songs to a still-massive 64. On the Hot 100 Songs ranking, the publisher’s market share fell from 30.18% to 27.14% quarter to quarter, and its song placement dropped from 63 to 59. SMP’s top track for the quarter was “Cruel Summer.”

And after a five-quarter run atop the Country Airplay publisher ranking, the company fell to No. 2 with a 22.95% share, down from 28.14%.

Warner Chappell reclaimed the No. 1 Country Airplay spot, which it has held for 22 consecutive quarters before SMP’s ascendance, finishing the quarter with 30.58% of the market, up from 26.20%. That win was part of a stellar quarter for the publisher. Warner Chappell ranked No. 2 on Hot 100 Songs for the second consecutive quarter and was runner-up on Top Radio Airplay for the first time since the third quarter of 2021. Warner Chappell’s Hot 100 Songs market share was 20.65%, up from 18.18%, even though its song count fell from 49 to 44 quarter to quarter. Its Top Radio Airplay share rose more than three percentage points, from 15.87% in the third quarter to 19.12%, and its song count increased from 51 to 54. Warner Chappell’s top song was SZA’s “Snooze.”

Universal Music Publishing Group held steady at No. 3 on the Hot 100 Songs list with a 15.78% share, down from the prior quarter’s 17.95%. Song placement also fell from 43 to 41. UMPG’s 18.47% of the Top Radio Airplay market — down from 21.16% in the previous quarter, when it ranked at No. 2 — put it behind Warner Chappell. Its top song in the Hot 100 chart was “Cruel Summer,” while in the Top Radio Airplay chart it was “Paint The Town Red.”

Kobalt ranked fourth on both the Hot 100 Songs and the Top Radio Airplay charts, scoring a 10.83% market share with stakes in 29 songs on the former and an 8.81% market share with 30 songs on the latter. Kobalt’s showings on both tallies were down from the previous quarter when it had 11.33% market share with 36 songs on Hot 100 Songs and 9.94% market share with 31 songs on the Top Radio Airplay chart. Its top song in both charts was “Paint the Town Red.”

BMG moved up a position from last quarter on Top Radio Airplay to No. 5, growing its market share from 3.23% to 6.77%. Its song placements grew from 10 to 18. On the Hot 100 Songs chart, BMG stayed at No. 5, growing market share from 4.57% to 5.95% and placements from 11 to 16, also including “Paint the Town Red.”

Concord jumped four places from the prior quarter on the Top Radio Airplay rankings, growing its market share from 1.37% to 3.71% and more than doubling its song placements from six in the third quarter to 14. Its top song on that chart was Paul Russell’s “Lil Boo Thang” (No. 8). The publisher returned to the Hot 100 Songs ranking, too, landing at No. 8 with a 1.91% market share, led by Tyla’s “Water” (No. 16).

Otherwise, Pulse held steady at No. 7 in the Top Radio Airplay publisher rankings at 2.66% market share, down from 2.80% in the third quarter. Purple Rabbit Music dropped to No. 8 with 2.07% market share from 3.52% as Luke Combs’ version of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car” fell from the No. 1 spot in the third quarter to No. 9. Once again, Hipgnosis Songs Group placed No. 9, with a 1.48% share, down from 1.76% in the prior quarter. And Reservoir fell to No. 10 with 1.43% market share from the prior quarter’s No. 8 finish and 1.82% market share. “Cruel Summer” was the Hipgnosis top song while “Snooze” was Reservoir’s top song.

Rounding out the Top 10 for Hot 100 Songs, Johnny Marks St. Nicholas Music ranked No. 6 with 4.96% market share. Purple Rabbit landed at No. 7 with 1.99% market share. peermusic landed at No. 9 with 1.61% market share, making the ranking for the first time since the third quarter of 2020.
Pulse finished at No. 10 with 1.31% market share.

Last Quarter: Tracy Chapman + Oliver Anthony Make History

22 Feb 2024

Trans-Siberian Orchestra Mourn Death of Keyboardist Vitalij Kuprij: ‘You Will Be Deeply Missed’

Longtime Trans-Siberian Orchestra keyboardist Vitalij Kuprij died on Tuesday at age 49. The pianist’s death was confirmed by the orchestral rock band on their socials, in which they paid tribute to the Ukrainian-born musician who spent more than a decade touring with the group whose over-the-top holiday shows have become an annual Boxscore Report-topping staple of the Christmas season.

“We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our dear friend and bandmate, Vitalij Kuprij,” read the TSO’s statement. “He was a world-renowned classical pianist and composer. In 2010, Vitalij joined TSO for the inaugural ‘Beethoven’s Last Night’ tour and seamlessly became an integral part of the band. His flawless and energetic performances consistently captivated audiences, and many of you came to know and love him as much as we did.”

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The post noted that in addition to his prowess as a musician, Kuprij was an “accomplished chess player, an avid fisherman, and simply a fun-loving soul. His absence will be profoundly felt by all.” Kuprij was part of TSO from 2009-2019 and rejoined the group in 2021, most recently performing on their Nov.-Dec. 2023 tour.

His friend, Finnish guitarist/producer Lars Eric Mattsson also paid homage to Kuprij, writing, “Woke up to really sad news this morning as my dear friend and keyboard maestro Vitalij Kuprij has passed away last night. The Ukranian born virtuoso was living in Philadelphia and recently came off another hugely successful tour with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. I have known and worked with Vitalij for over 20 years and he always talked about seeing me here in Finland to go fishing, which was his second love after music.”

At press time no additional information was available on the details or cause of Kuprij’s death. According to AllMusic, Kuprij was born in 1974 in Volodarka, Ukraine, and early on showed great promise on the piano, winning first prize in the All-Union Chopin competition in the Republic of Kazan in the former Soviet Union and the top honors at the Geneva Duo competition for violin and piano as a youth.

He formed his first progressive metal band in 1993, Atlantis Rising, relocating to the U.S. in 1995, where the band was refashioned into Artension, which released a series of albums on the Shrapnel label. Kuprij released a number of solo albums and also worked with the groups Ring of Fire and the Vivaldi Metal Project.

Progressive rock band TSO was founded in 1996 by producer/songwriter Paul O’Neill and has been barnstorming arenas from coast-to-coast for more than 25 years with over-the-top productions mixing rock opera theatrics with explosive light shows. Some of their most beloved productions include “Christmas Eve and Other Stories,” “The Christmas Attic” and “Beethoven’s Last Night.”

See the tributes below.

22 Feb 2024

Steven Tyler Sexual Assault Lawsuit Dismissed By Judge, Citing Decades-Long Delay By Alleged Victim

A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit accusing Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler of sexually assaulting a teenage girl decades ago, ruling that she had waited too long to bring her case.

Former teen model Jeanne Bellino sued the rocker in November, claiming he had forcibly kissed, groped and “humped” her twice over a single day in Manhattan in the summer of 1975. The case was filed under a recently-amended New York City law that allows abuse victims to sue over decades-old claims.

But in a ruling Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan ruled that Bellino’s case did not qualify under the new statute. He ruled that the special “lookback” window only applies to cases where the abuser’s actions presented a “serious risk of physical injury” – and that Tyler’s alleged actions did not do so.

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“The complaint in this case does not alleged conduct presenting a serious risk of physical injury and therefore fails to state a legally sufficient claim under the [NYC statute],” the judge wrote.

Wednesday’s ruling could be legally significant. Numerous other alleged victims who have filed long-delayed abuse cases under the law in question — New York’s Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Law – after it opened a two-year window for such lawsuits from March 1, 2023 to March 1, 2025.

Bellino sued in November, claiming she had suffered “severe and permanent emotional distress” over the incidents, which allegedly occurred when she was 17 and Tyler was 27. “Tyler used his power, influence, and authority as a well-known musician to sexually assault Plaintiff.”

In her complaint, Bellino claimed that she and a friend had arranged to meet Aerosmith in Manhattan. First, she said that Tyler pushed her into a phone booth and “stuck his tongue down her throat” before groping her and “humping her pretending to have sex with Plaintiff.” After she returned to a hotel with the band later in the day, she claimed that Tyler “again pinned Plaintiff against the wall” and forcibly kissed and groped her.

Tyler has not publicly commented on the lawsuit, but in court filings, his attorneys have said he “vehemently denies” the allegations. In their motion to dismiss the case, his lawyers argued Bellino could not use the New York City newly-enacted statute to sue over “purported sexual misconduct that occurred nearly half a century ago.”

“Ms. Bellino’s attempt to advance a claim based on legislative enactments decades after the purported misconduct occurred is contrary to the legislative intent, statutory construction, and fundamental notions of individual liberty and due process embedded in both the state and federal constitutions,” Tyler’s lawyers wrote in a motion earlier this month.

Wednesday’s ruling from Judge Kaplan granted that motion, dismissing the lawsuit. But the judge said Bellino could potentially seek to file an updated version of her case; he gave her until next month to request the right to do so. Neither side immediately returned requests for comment on Thursday.

The lawsuit was the second abuse case against Tyler in recent years. In 2022, the rock star was sued by Julia Holcomb, who claims that Tyler repeatedly assaulted her for three years starting in 1973, when she was just 16 years old. Holcomb claims to be the girl Tyler referred to in his memoir, Does the Noise in My Head Bother You?, when he wrote he “almost took a teen bride” and convinced her parents to grant him guardianship over her.

Holcomb’s case, filed in Los Angeles under a different look-back statute, remains pending. Tyler has denied those allegations, too, and his lawyers are seeking to have the case dismissed.

22 Feb 2024

James Fortune Ties for Most Gospel Airplay Chart No. 1s With Monica Duet ‘Trusting God’

James Fortune and Monica’s “Trusting God” ascends to No. 1 on Billboard’s Gospel Airplay chart (dated Feb. 24). During the Feb. 9-15 tracking week, the single increased by 15% in plays, according to Luminate.

The song, which Fortune wrote with David Outing, is his record-tying 10th Gospel Airplay No. 1 – as he matches Kirk Franklin and Tamela Mann for the most on the 2005-launched survey – and Monica’s first. It’s from Fortune’s seven-track EP Worth It, released last September.

“This year I am celebrating my 20th year of ministering through gospel music professionally,” Fortune tells Billboard. “It’s truly humbling to be blessed with another No. 1 radio airplay single.”

Fortune links his third consecutive Gospel Airplay No. 1, following his featured turn on Pastor Mike Jr., “Impossible,” which led for two frames last April, and his own “Never Let Me Down,” which dominated for two weeks in July 2022.

A native of Richmond, Texas, Fortune first reached Gospel Airplay with “You Survived,” with his longtime backing group FIYA. The song hit No. 4 in June 2005, becoming his first of 17 top 10s. He first reigned with “I Trust You,” featuring FIYA, for 29 weeks starting in August 2008 – the third-longest command in the chart’s history.

As for veteran R&B artist Monica (born Monica Denise Arnold in College Park, Ga.), “Trusting God” marks her sophomore Gospel Airplay entry and second top 10 – both earned with Fortune. In 2012, Fortune and FIYA’s “Hold On,” featuring Monica and Fred Hammond, hit No. 2.

“Working with Monica again was a way for both of us to impact lives with our faith,” Fortune says of “Trusting God.” “To see how this song has touched so many lives is something special. I am grateful.”

Monica has banked three No. 1s, among eight top 10s, on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100. She debuted with “Don’t Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days),” which reached No. 2 in 1995. In 1998-99, she led consecutively with “The Boy Is Mine,” with Brandy, for 13 weeks, “The First Night” (three weeks) and “Angel of Mine” (four).

22 Feb 2024

Jelly Roll Announces Dates For 2024 Beautifully Broken U.S. Arena Tour

Jelly Roll is hitting the road this summer for his biggest tour to date, a U.S. run that will bring the Grammy-nominated country rapper to arenas from coast-to-coast. The Beautifully Broken tour is slated to kick off on August 27 with a gig at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City and include stops in Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles, San Antonio, New Orleans, Orlando, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Chicago and St. Louis before winding down with an Oct. 27 gig at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C.

The Live Nation-promoted tour will include opening acts Warren Zeiders and Alexandra Kay and marks the Grammy-nominated “Bottle and Mary Jane” singer’s biggest headlining shows to date. A Citi presale will begin on Monday (Feb. 26) at 10 a.m. local time and run through Feb. 29 at 10 p.m. local time; click here for information. A number of other presales will also kick off on Monday and run through the week ahead of the general onsale, which will open on March 1 at 10 a.m. local time here.

Before he hits the road, Jelly will join Tori Kelly as guest mentor on the just-launched 22nd season of American Idol.

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Check out the dates for Jelly Roll’s 2024 Beautifully Broken U.S. tour below.

August 27 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Delta Center

August 28 – Nampa, ID @ Ford Idaho Center

August 30 – Spokane, WA @ Spokane Arena

August 31 – Seattle, WA @ Climate Pledge Arena

Sept. 1 – Portland, OR @ Moda Center

Sept. 3 – San Jose, CA @ SAP Center

Sept. 4 – Sacramento, CA @ Golden 1 Center

Sept. 6 – Los Angeles, CA @ Crypto.com Arena

Sept. 7 – Anaheim, CA @ Honda Center

Sept. 9 – El Paso, TX @ Don Haskins Center

Sept. 11 – San Antonio, TX @ Frost Bank Center

Sept. 13 – Lafayette, LA @ CAJUNDOME

Sept. 14 – New Orleans, LA @ Smoothie King Center

Sept. 17 – Orlando, FL @ Kia Center

Sept. 19 – Charleston, SC @ North Charleston Coliseum

Sept. 20 – Raleigh, NC @ PNC Arena

Sept. 21 – Washington, DC @ Capital One Arena

Sept. 24 – Albany, NY @ MVP Arena

Sept. 26 – Boston, MA @ TD Garden

Sept. 27 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden

Sept. 28 – Belmont Park, NY @ UBS Arena

Sept. 29 – Newark, NJ @ Prudential Center

Oct. 1 – State College, PA @ Bryce Jordan Center

Oct. 2 – Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center

Oct. 5 – Pittsburgh, PA @ PPG Paints Arena

Oct. 6 – Buffalo, NY @ KeyBank Center

Oct. 9 – Columbus, OH @ Nationwide Arena

Oct. 11 – Chicago, IL @ United Center

Oct. 12 – Louisville, KY @ KFC Yum! Center

Oct. 15 – Wichita, KS @ INTRUST Bank Arena

Oct. 18 – Tulsa, OK @ BOK Center 

Oct. 20 – Bossier City, LA @ Brookshire Grocery Arena

Oct. 22 – Little Rock, AR @ Simmons Bank Arena

Oct. 23 – St Louis, MO @ Enterprise Center 

Oct. 25 – Knoxville, TN @ Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center

Oct. 26 – Atlanta, GA @ State Farm Arena

Oct. 27 – Charlotte, NC @ Spectrum Center

22 Feb 2024

Move Over Zola: ‘WTF Did I Marry’ TikTok Series Goes Viral After Captivating Viewers

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ReesaTeesa

Source: TikTok / TikTok

An Atlanta woman’s TikTok series shedding light on her toxic relationship with her ex-husband has gone viral after captivating social media users across all platforms.

The 50-part series shared by TikTok user, ReesaTeesa, titled “Who TF Did I Marry” is an extensive recount of her experience with a man she met online and married during the pandemic.

“I’m going to tell the story of how I met, dated, married, and divorced a real pathological liar,” she said in the introductory video, sharing that she’s “going to be truthful, even if it makes me look bad.”

The story begins with Teesa meeting the man she nicknamed “Legion” on March 4, 2020, through Facebook Dating. She was unaware they had also matched on Hinge until he told her about it. After exchanging numbers, the pair had their first telephone conversation, where “Legion” shared information about his childhood, family, and friends and what he did for a living.

Legion told her that he was a wealthy former arena football player who had a job at Apple during his off-season, sharing that he recenlty relocated to Atlanta from California to work as the VP of a condiment company.  While getting to know one another, they shared intimate details about their lives, with Legion revealing that he had recently divorced his first wife due to her infidelity. Legion and Reesa discussed what they were looking for in a relationship and continued dating; she was falling for him.

Shortly after they started dating, COVID-19 shut down the world, which intensified their romance. Legion and Reesa began living together, and while it was against her Christian values to cohabitate with a man before marriage, she didn’t want to be alone. He was also taking care of her by paying her bills. Their relationship continued to escalate, and soon, they were discussing buying a home together, with Legion reassuring Reesa that he could afford a $700,000 home.

While Legion always assured her that he had savings and money to pay the downpayment on relatively expensive homes in cash, multiple attempts to go through with the process fell through on several different homes, always for different reasons. The same suspicious circumstance also began to occur around a series of cars the couple intended to purchase.

After nine months, the couple became pregnant within months of meeting but unfortunately lost the pregnancy soon after. Despite the multiple setbacks, the two got married in January of 2022. In the following months, Teesa found out through some digging that Legion was not the VP of the condiment company or a former arena football player, he had falsified legal documents, lied about his social security number, created fake bank statements, and had even been having one-sided conversations with people who were not actually on the phone while in front of her. During that time Teesa also discovered he worked for a temp company as a forklift driver, had a criminal record, and had lied about his past marriages. Additionally, it is revealed that Legion has a twin brother who seemingly has the life he has been trying to portray.

The pair divorced by June of that year. She says she has since worked on forgiving herself for getting caught up in such a situation and for believing Legion’s many elaborate lies.

While some users had just discovered the content creator’s story, others were too invested as she wrapped up the series and posted the final video on Saturday. Teesa also held a two-hour live chat on the video-sharing platform, revealing more shocking information about the ordeal.

The saga has since completely blown up online, with many comparing it to a riveting television show. Streaming platform Tubi even commented, writing: “Starting now, no spoilers please” on part one of the 52-part playlist, receiving more than 27k likes.

The sentiment dubbing Teesa’s saga as “better than tv” was repeated countless times across her videos, with many people speculating her story will eventually be picked up for a movie or television series, similar to “Zola,” the 2021 film adapted from a 148 part Twitter thread posted by dancer Aziah Wells back in 2015.

“I just canceled my Hulu subscription,” said a comment on one video in the list, while another said, “Just canceled my Netflix subscription and handed my kids a box of Fruit Loops. They’re fine til Tuesday or so. Let’s go…”

In regards to why she felt the need to share her experience, the viral storyteller said during the live stream that she intended to help raise awareness for other women and forgive herself for falling for the elaborate scheme.

“I just know that everything was a lie. I have not found anything that proves something was true,” Teesa explained in a live chat. “I need to forgive myself; maybe I shouldn’t say forgive myself for being dumb, but definitely forgive myself, for you would rather be right and married than be obedient and patient.”

22 Feb 2024

Snoop Dogg Pays Tribute to Late Half-Brother Bing Worthington: ‘Keep Mama Company Til We Get There’

Snoop Dogg paid tribute to his beloved half-brother, Bing Worthington, on Tuesday in an Instagram post featuring an image from the 44-year-old’s funeral. “Everlastin love Beverly’s boys. Dirty left Bing and snoopy [fire, flower, dove emoji],” Snoop wrote alongside an image of himself at the funeral wearing an all-red suit and matching Kangol hat as he and other mourners looked solemnly at Worthington’s casket.

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“@badabing33 miss that laugh and the way u made us smile,” Snoop added. “Keep mama company til we get there [dove, peace sign emoji].” Snoop announced that Worthington — the rapper’s half-sibling on his their late mother Beverly’s side — had passed last Friday; the Orange County Sheriff’s Dept. said Worthington died on Feb. 15 of as-yet-undetermined causes, according to NBC News.

Worthington — who was a member of the rap duo Lifestyle — played a number of roles in Snoop’s career over the years, including tour manager and executive producer at the rapper’s Dogg Records label.

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Snoop’s post about Worthington’s death garnered comments and messages of support from a number of singers, athletes and friends, including former NBA player Matt Barnes, comedian Affion Rockett, R&B singers Miki Howard, Melba Moore and Sunshine Anderson, rappers Young Buck, M.C. Serch, Xzibit, DJ Quik, Tony Yayo and Three 6 Mafia and former NFL player and TV presenter Michael Strahan.

Earlier this month, Snoop reunited with longtime producer and mentor Dr. Dre to launch a branded cocktail based on one of their most beloved collaborations from the rapper’s 19194 Dre-produced debut album, Doggystyle: Gin & Juice.

Check out Snoop’s post below.

22 Feb 2024

Diane Warren to Receive 2024 Johnny Mercer Award From Songwriters Hall of Fame

Diane Warren is set to receive the 2024 Johnny Mercer Award at the Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Gala on Thursday, June 13 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City. 

The Mercer Award, the highest honor bestowed by the SHOF, is reserved for a songwriter or songwriting team who has already been inducted into the SHOF and whose body of work upholds the high standards set by Mercer, wrote dozens of hits from the 1930s through the 1960s. Learn more about Mercer here.

Warren will bethe fourth woman to receive the award on her own, following Carole King (2002), Dolly Parton (2007) and Carole Bayer Sager (2019). In addition, three songwriting teams with a female partner have won the honor – Betty Comden & Adolph Green (1991), Alan & Marilyn Bergman (1997), and Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil (2011).

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The recipient of a second honorary award, the Hal David Starlight Award, will be announced at a later date.

Warren, 67, has won a Grammy, a Primetime Emmy and two Golden Globes. In November 2022, she became the first songwriter to receive a Governors Award from the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences.

Most notably, Warren is one of just six individuals in Oscar history to receive 15 or more nominations for best original song. The other members of this elite club are Sammy Cahn (26 nominations), Mercer (18), Paul Francis Webster (16) and Marilyn and Alan Bergman (15).

Warren has been in the running for best original song the last seven years in a row. That’s the longest continuous streak of nominations in this category since Cahn was nominated eight years running – from 1954-61. Warren’s current nomination is for “The Fire Inside,” performed by Becky G for the film Flamin’ Hot. While it seems to stand little chance of beating the favorite, “What Was I Made For?” from Barbie, it’s practically a foregone conclusion that Warren will be back in the running again. 

“The songwriting community is filled with many special people who have delivered incomparable songs that have made the world go round,” SHOF chairman Nile Rodgers said in a statement. “Within that special group of people, Diane Warren is unique; she is a force of nature that, despite her enormous success … she shows up to write songs every morning at 8 a.m.!”

Rodgers’ statement hints at what may be the secret of Warren’s success – a work ethic that is second-to-none.

In a statement, Warren said, “I’m beyond honored to receive the Johnny Mercer Award, especially looking at the names of the other songwriters who have gotten this great honor. When I was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, my mom was there and finally understood that I could make a living and life being what I was born to be and wake up every day loving to be… a songwriter. Now, both she and my dad will be looking down on me with big smiles on their faces. Thank you, Songwriters Hall of Fame.”

A personal note: Back in the 1980s, when I wrote the Chart Beat column in Billboard, Warren’s father called me out of the blue to tout his daughter’s chart successes, an extraordinary show of parental pride and support.

Warren has written or co-written 33 top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, spanning more than 40 years. Her first top 10 hit was Laura Branigan‘s “Solitaire” in May 1983. Her most recent was Taylor Swift’s “Say Don’t Go (Taylor’s Version) [From the Vault]” in November 2023. Swift and Warren co-wrote the song in 2013 for 1989 but it was shelved until the release of 1989 (Taylor’s Version).

Among Warren’s 33 top 10 hits, she has penned nine No. 1s, from Starship’s “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” in 1987 (also her first Oscar nominee for best original song) through Brandy’s “Have You Ever?” in 1999.

Warren is the sole owner of Realsongs, her publishing company, which is the most successful female-owned and operated business in the music industry.

Warren was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2001, along with two other songwriters who went on to receive the Mercer Award – Parton and Paul Williams. (The other members of that especially strong class were Willie Nelson and Eric Clapton.)

Three “non-performing” songwriters – Hillary Lindsey, Timothy Mosley (Timbaland) and Dean Pitchford – and members of two groups – Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills and Michael Stipe (R.E.M.) and Donald Fagen and Walter Becker (Steely Dan) – are this year’s inductees into the SHOF.

A songwriter with a notable catalog of songs qualifies for induction 20 years after the first commercial release of a song.

Tickets for the Songwriters Hall of Fame event begin at $2,000 each, and are available through Buckley Hall Events, 914-579-1000 and SHOF@buckleyhallevents.com. Net proceeds from the event will go toward Songwriters Hall of Fame programs.

22 Feb 2024

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce Visit Sydney Zoo After Tight End’s Global Trek to Australia

Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift didn’t waste any time doing some classic couple stuff ahead of the singer’s upcoming run of Eras Tour shows in Sydney, Australia. According to News.com.au, after the Kansas City Chiefs tight end landed down under on Wednesday, he and Swift took a trip to the Sydney Zoo on Thursday (Feb. 22).

The news outlet dubbed it Swift’s “favourite hotspot,” reporting that it was the second day in a row that the “Karma” singer had visited the animal park. The couple reportedly got a private tour and fed kangaroos during their visit, taking selfies along the way as they held hands and walked around the zoo arm-in-arm.

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Cameras spotted Kelce getting off a private jet the day before, marking the second time the three-time Super Bowl champ has hopped on a plane to go see Swift on her globe-hopping Eras Tour. Swift is slated to play four dates at Sydney’s Accor Stadium beginning on Friday (Feb. 23) through Monday (Feb. 26), with Sabrina Carpenter slated to open the gigs.

According to the Australian news site’s report, Swift visited the city’s Olympic stadium on Wednesday for a sound check ahead of Friday’s kick-off gig, which may be marred by some predicted foul weather. The site said that “heavy hail” is in the forecast for Friday night, with showers and storms predicted amid “scorching hot weather” in the city over the weekend.

The global trip by Kelce is the mirror image of one Swift took two weeks ago when she flew from Tokyo to Las Vegas to support her boyfriend when the Chiefs played the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII on Feb. 11. In a testament to the massive frequent flier miles the long distance couple are likely to wrack up over the next year, in November, Kelce flew to Buenos Aires, Argentina to take in one of Swift’s Eras Tour gigs.