Author: djfrosty
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Los Angeles-based Interscope Geffen A&M (IGA) Records has set down roots in Nashville with the relaunch of the iconic Lost Highway imprint.
Former Thirty Tigers executive Robert Knotts and Universal Music Group Nashville (UMGN) executive Jake Gear will serve as co-heads and executive vps of the resurrected label.
“Lost Highway carved out a special place in the remarkable musical legacy of Nashville. It was a left-of-center label with one-of-a-kind artists who, at their core, were great songwriters and moved culture,” John Janick, chairman/CEO of Interscope Capitol and IGA, said in a statement. “Similarly, Interscope has always been a beacon to artists who don’t fit into a box yet are destined to inspire what comes next. With this new chapter in Lost Highway’s history, we are devoted to empowering the next generation of trailblazers, both artists and executives.”
The revered label, which takes its name from the song made famous in 1949 by Hank Williams, had been dormant for 13 years after being launched by then-UMGN head Luke Lewis in 2000, who retired in 2012.
From the start, Lewis and his team curated a tasty roster focused on roots-leaning music from artists including Willie Nelson, Lucinda Williams, Ryan Bingham, Hayes Carll, Mary Gauthier, Lyle Lovett and Kacey Musgraves, who signed with the label in 2011, shortly before it was folded into Mercury Nashville.
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Lost Highway was also home to soundtracks, including the T Bone Burnett-produced, Grammy-winning O Brother, Where Art Thou.
Lost Highway
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Janick says he picked Knotts and Gear because their musical aesthetic matches the imprint’s storied history. While at Thirty Tigers, where he rose to senior vp of artist and label services, Knotts worked with such artists as Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Sturgill Simpson, Turnpike Troubadours, Muscadine Bloodline and more.
“Over the course of my career, my goal has always been to operate in service to the artist’s vision while understanding the emotional connection to their art. It is with this same spirit that Lost Highway left a lasting impact on the Nashville community — providing a home for artists who aren’t defined by genre and recognizing that the artist’s vision ultimately shapes culture itself,” Knotts said. “I am honored to carry that approach forward alongside one of my closest friends, Jake Gear. With John Janick’s guidance, and support from the entire Interscope team, we have an incredible opportunity to combine an artist-first mentality with Interscope’s remarkable ability to help build worlds around an artist’s vision.”
Gear was most recently vp of A&R at UMG Nashville, where he signed and/or developed upstarts Tucker Wetmore and Vincent Mason and A&R’d projects by Parker McCollum, Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Sam Hunt and Brothers Osborne, among others.
“Lost Highway has a rich history. Many of these releases and artists were formative in developing my own appreciation of the craft of songwriting,” Gear said. “The label was a pioneer in taste, representing an ethos of artistry first, an openness to taking creative risks and shining a light on artists who drifted on the fringes of the major label defined ‘mainstream.’ Together with my friend, Robert, and with the backing of John Janick and Interscope, I look forward to curating the roster.”
Lost Highway was briefly resurrected earlier this year by UMG Nashville’s chair/CEO Cindy Mabe, who exited the label in February, in partnership with iconic producer Burnett. Their first release under the revamped Lost Highway was Ringo Starr’s country album, Look Up, which came out Jan. 10. Burnett will now work with the IGA iteration, including on a 25th anniversary edition of the O Brother, Where Art Thou soundtrack. A release date on the reissue, artists on the roster and staffing are expected to be announced shortly.
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Donald Trump is arguably the most hated man in the world right now (Elon Musk is a close second), and though he has the support of some artists in the Hip-Hop community, Lizzo has just let it be known that she isn’t one of them.
On Saturday night (April 12), Lizzo was the musical guest star on Saturday Night Live and during her performance she threw a little shade at the tariff obsessed dictator and for that we love her that much more. During her musical set she performed “Love In Real Life” and “Still Bad” in a crop top with one simple word: “TARIFFIED,” a clever play on the word that’s been the topic of discussion for the past few weeks and how Americans (and the world) have been feeling in general ever since Trump took office. The shirt is an obvious jab at Donald Trump and his administration’s continuous assault on democracy and everything decent about America.
Though Trump’s back-and-forth decisions on his unnecessary tariffs on China and islands of penguins is being called “market manipulation” and has spurred allegations of insider trading by his inner circle, expect more of the same in the coming future as the 90-day pause on tariffs leaves much room and time for more chaotic “negotiation” methods on Trump’s behalf.
In other words, be “tariffied” of what’s to come as Donald Trump continues to do what he can to tank the American economy to enrich his millionaire and billionaire buddies.
Check out Lizzo perform in her clever shirt and let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
Katy Perry brought a few earthbound things with her during her 10-minute trip to outer space. After blasting off in a Blue Origin rocket on Monday morning (April 14) as part of an all-female crew that briefly achieved weightlessness at approximately 62 miles above Earth, Perry posted a video from her space adventure on Tuesday morning (April 15).
The clip shot inside the nose cone of the flight from Amazon owner Jeff Bezos’ rocket company showed the singer and her fellow space voyagers — CBS Morning co-host Gayle King, pilot and Bezos fiancée Lauren Sánchez, bioastronautics research scientist and astronaut Amanda Nguyen, NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe and filmmaker Kerianne Flynn — gathering in the middle of the ship as they floated around in their body-hugging custom blue space suits.
The women, their hair floating freely behind them, give the camera a loud “whooo!” before approaching the lens to show off the special tokens they brought with them on the journey. Perry, 40, showed of a single daisy, which she brought along to honor her four-year-old daughter with fiancé actor Orlando Bloom, Daisy Dove. The couple have kept Daisy out of the spotlight to date, but the preschooler who showed up in her own silver space suit to the launch was beaming in footage of the rocket ride as she said, “My mama!”
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Right after the crew marveled at their view of the moon, Perry floated by once again with a butterfly-shaped piece of paper that featured what she said is the setlist for her upcoming Lifetimes world tour. Though the print was a bit too small to read, Katy Cat sleuths pulled out their magnifying glasses and sussed out a few titles, including: “Chained to the Rhythm,” “Teary Eyes,” “Dark Horse,” “Harleys in Hawaii,” “OK,” “I Kissed a Girl,” “Has a Heart,” “Last Friday Night,” “Teenage Dream” and others. The video was cued to the the song “Wonder” from Perry’ 2024 143 album; the global Lifetimes tour will kick off in Mexico City on April 23.
In the caption to the video, Perry wrote, “One day when you’re older, will YOU still look up in wonder? Still processing this incredible journey ✨ Thank you @blueorigin and to my space sisters, taking up space AND making room in space for all – 143. See you on tour (when I come down, figuratively).”
According to King, Perry sang a bit of the Louis Armstrong classic “What a Wonderful World” as the space tourists strapped back into their seats for the descent, with the singer trying to sum up the wonder of the moment afterwards. “I feel super connected to love,” she said after kissing the ground following touchdown. “So connected to love. I think this experience has show me you never know how much love is inside you, how much love you have to give, and how loved you are until the day you launch.”
Describing the launch and return, Perry said it was “the highest high. It is surrender to the unknown, trust. This whole journey is not about just going to space. It’s the training, the team, it’s the whole thing. I couldn’t recommend this experience more.” Asked to rate it, she gave the trip a “10 out of 10,” saying it was second only to becoming a mom.
Check out the video below.
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College sports has suffered another major loss. LSU wide receiver Kyren Lacy has been found dead by a reportedly self-inflicted gunshot wound.
As reported by TMZ, the Louisiana State University football star is no longer with us. Police authorities in Houston say they received a call at 11:15 p.m. on Saturday, April 12, regarding a disturbance. The caller claimed that Lacy got into a heated argument with a family member. Unfortunately, things escalated further prompting Lacy to discharge a firearm into the ground. He is said to have left the scene after the shooting.
Police were able to catch up to his car after the incident, but Lacey sped off which led to a pursuit and his car crashing. When the law approached the vehicle, they found him dead with “what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.” A firearm was also found in his car.
Naturally, his family was devastated by their loss. His father Kenny Lacy took to social media and encouraged parents to check in with their children. “Young parents, start talking to your kids at a very early age and make sure they are confident and comfortable confiding in you,” his Facebook post read. “Don’t be cool with “I’m Alright, or I’m good” when you know deep down something isn’t right. Mental Health is real, and for the most part, it’s invisible, don’t ignore the signs, even if they may seem small.”
This was not the first time Kyren Lacy had faced legal issues. Back in December 2024, he was involved in a car wreck that left a 78-year-old man dead. He is alleged to had left that scene without providing aid to the victim. He would eventually turn himself into police in January and was arrested on charges of negligent homicide, felony hit-and-run with death and reckless operation of a vehicle. He would later be released on $151,000 bail.
Kyren Lacy was 25; details of his funeral have yet to be disclosed.
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On Monday (April 14), Pennsylvania state authorities arrested a man who they say set fire to the mansion of Governor Josh Shapiro as he and his family were sleeping inside earlier on Sunday (April 13), the first night of the Passover holiday. The Dauphin County District Attorney’s office announced that they arrested Cody Ballmer, 38, of Harrisburg, after he allegedly fled the scene and charged him with arson, attempted murder and domestic terrorism among other charges.“Last night, we experienced an attack, not just on our family, but on the entire Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” Shapiro said in a press conference. “I want you all to know that your prayers lift us up, and in this moment of darkness, we are choosing to see light.” He became emotional as he described the ordeal, stating that a state trooper had awakened him and his family at 2 a.m. to get them to safety. State police said that the fire had caused “a significant amount of damage to a portion of the residence.Ballmer is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital for an unrelated medical event. According to court documents, when asked what he planned to do to the governor if he found him, Ballmer stated that he planned to beat him with a small sledgehammer. His mother, Christie Ballmer, said to reporters from the Associated Press that she had tried to get him assistance for alleged mental health issues. “He wasn’t taking his medicine, and that’s all I want to say,” she told them at their family home.In the press conference, Governor Shapiro said that Federal Bureau of Investigation director Kash Patel promised “all of the resources of the federal government,” and thanked him and the FBI as well as President Donald Trump for their support. He continued, blasting the increased violent rhetoric in American politics. “This type of violence is not OK,” the Democratic governor said with notable anger. “I don’t give a damn if it’s from one particular side or another. It’s not OK.”
“The attacker was not a fan of Trump, I understand, just from what I read and from what I’ve been told. The attacker basically wasn’t a fan of anybody, he was probably just a whack job,” Trump said to the press on Monday afternoon at the White House, adding: “And certainly a thing like that cannot be allowed to happen.”
Partial facial paralysis is no joke. But in a video posted on Monday (April 14), Lil Nas X just had to laugh at the medical condition in a clip he posted from a hospital bed. “And when I smile? This is me doing a full smile right now by the way,” he said in the clip in which the left side of his mouth was open and the right side was immobile. “It’s like, what the f–k? I can’t even laugh right, bro. What the f–k?”
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The video, captioned, “Soooo lost control of the right side of my face 😭,” captured the 26-year-old rapper laying in a hospital be in a hospital gown and white Von Dutch baseball hat. He seemingly had a chipper attitude about the health condition in an Instagram Story featuring a close-up video of his face in which he panned from one side to the other, saying, “We normal over here, we get crazy over here!” with the caption, “I’m so cooked [two crying laughing emoji].”
Though no additional information was available at press time about what is ailing the “Hotbox” MC, another slide assured fans, “Guys I am OK!! Stop being sad for me! Shake ur ass for me instead!” to the strains of Huey’s 2006 hit “Pop, Lock & Drop It.” The final slide contained yet another assurance that things are fine, with a photo of the rapper and the promise, “Imma look funny for a lil bit but that’s it.”
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At press time a spokesperson for Lil Nas could not be reached for additional comment on his condition.
Last month, Lil Nas released the 8-track Days Before Dreamboy EP, which scooped up his recent run of surprise singles, including “Right There!,” “Big Dummy,” “Swish,” “Hotbox,” “Dreamboy,” “Need Dat Boy” and others. Fans are still awaiting word on the release date for the Dreamboy LP, his anticipated follow-up to his 2021 debut full-length album, Montero.
Check out Lil Nas X’s hospital video below.
BTS‘ Jin is gearing up to release his second solo album. The singer announced on Monday (April 14) that Echo, his follow-up to last year’s solo debut, Happy, is due out on May 16. “Aiming to connect on a deeper level with fans through music, Echo offers Jin’s perspective on universal life experiences, capturing everyday emotions with […]
RENZO continued to prove why he’s one of the most unique vocalists on The Voice this season, earning a spot in the Playoffs after a powerful performance of Billie Eilish’s “Happier Than Ever” during Monday night’s Knockouts episode (April 14).
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Paired with fellow Team Legend artist Nell Simmons, who performed Chaka Khan’s “Sweet Thing,” RENZO delivered a gripping, emotionally nuanced version of the 2021 hit.
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Following the performance, coach John Legend praised Nell’s performance as “poised” and “perfection,” but ultimately chose RENZO to move forward.
“Happier Than Ever” was the title track from Billie Eilish’s sophomore album, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in 2021. The song itself peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned Grammy nominations for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Solo Performance.
RENZO’s raw vocal style brought new weight to the song’s emotional arc, which shifts from gentle melancholy to full-throttle anguish. His performance left the coaches visibly moved, and the audience responded with raucous applause.
Later in the night, Team Legend’s Olivia Kuper Harris also earned a spot in the next round with a sultry rendition of Donna Summer’s “Last Dance,” narrowly edging out Jacquelyn George, who tackled JoJo’s “Too Little Too Late.”
Over on Team Bublé, Adam David took on Allen Stone’s “Unaware” and impressed coach Michael Bublé and winning over Carlos Santiago, who performed Calum Scott’s “You Are the Reason.” In another pairing, Jadyn Cree’s performance of Avril Lavigne’s “Keep Holding On” earned her a spot in the Playoffs, with Bublé noting her voice “cuts through.”
Meanwhile, Team Kelsea’s Knockout between Jaelen Johnston and Hailey Wright saw both artists step up. Hailey brought crowd-pleasing energy to the Patsy Montana classic “I Want to Be a Cowboy’s Sweetheart,” but Jaelen’s take on Noah Kahan’s “Dial Drunk” ultimately secured his win.
The night closed with a dramatic decision on Team Adam, where Conor James’ rendition of Alphaville’s “Forever Young” narrowly beat Darius J.’s high-energy take on Estelle’s “American Boy.” However, Kelsea used her steal to bring Darius onto her team, saying, “I’ve been waiting for this for so long.”
With RENZO’s Knockout victory, Team Legend’s updated lineup heading into the Playoffs includes Ari Camille, BD.ii, Bryson Battle, Olivia Kuper Harris, and RENZO — a stacked roster for the live shows.
The Voice Season 27 continues Mondays on NBC.
Ozuna and Kapo‘s debut collaboration is making waves, as “Más Que Tú” claims the No. 1 spot on Billboard‘s Latin Airplay chart (dated April 19). Colombian artist Kapo achieves a career milestone as he celebrates his first-ever chart-topping hit on the overall Latin radio ranking. Meanwhile, Ozuna continues as one of the chart’s top performers, adding a 35th No. 1 to his ledger.
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“Más Que Tú,” released Feb. 12 on Nibiru/Sony Music Latin, jumps 3-1 after earning 8.3 million audience impressions in the U.S. in the tracking week ending April 10, according to Luminate. That is a 14% gain in impressions from the week prior. The song ejects another Puerto Rican-Colombian pair-up from the lead: Yandel and Feid’s “Habláme Claro,” falls 1-13 with a 43% decline in audience (to 5.2 million), after one week in charge.
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Thanks to “Más Que Tú,” Ozuna reaches a new milestone, securing his 35th chart-topping hit on Latin Airplay since the chart’s inception in 1994. He ranks just behind J Balvin, who holds the record with 37 No. 1 hits. The latest chart-topping track comes a year after Ozuna last claimed the peak with “Baccarat,” which spent one week at No. 1 in March 2024.
Kapo, meanwhile, scores his first No. 1 on his sixth chart visit. The Colombian has earned four top 10s, including two No. 2-peaking songs, “Ohnana” last November and “Imagínate,” with Danny Ocean, on the April 5-dated list. The song drops 4-7 on the current ranking.
Notably, in 2025 so far, 11 songs have reached the top on the Latin Airplay chart. While Shakira (“Soltera”) and Karol G “(Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido”) mark the only female presence among those winners, five of those emerge from collaborations between male soloists; all one-week rulers. Here’s the recap of the male collabs:
Title, Artist, Peak Position“Doblexxo,” J Balvin & Feid, March 15“Khe?,” Rauw Alejandro & Romeo Santos, March 29“Háblame Claro,” Yandel & Feid, April 12“Más Que Tú,” Ozuna & Kapo, April 19
Elsewhere, “Más Que Tú” also improves on the Latin Rhythm Airplay chart, where it jumps 2-1 for its first week atop.
All charts (dated April 19, 2025) will update on Billboard.com tomorrow, April 15. For all chart news, you can follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both X, formerly known as Twitter, and Instagram.
Olivier Bergeron brought the judges — and much of America — to the brink of tears on American Idol Monday night (April 14), performing Jelly Roll’s “I Am Not Okay” with vulnerability and raw conviction. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The 22-year-old Canadian contestant, who grew […]