djfrosty

14 Aug 2023

Watch Jennifer Lopez Casually Crush ‘I Will Survive’ at an Italian Bar While on Vacation

Even while chilling in a pub on vacation Jennifer Lopez can’t help being the star of the show. In a video posted by the Taverna Anema e Core (Heart and Soul) in Capri, Italy over the weekend, the singer/actress dazzles the crowd in the crowded bar when she busts into Gloria Gaynor’s 1978 disco anthem “I Will Survive.”

In the clip from Saturday’s impromptu performance, Lopez, casually wearing an awards show-worthy sparkly silver dress, gamely hops into the fun when the song comes on the karaoke machine, holding a tambourine in her left hand and belting out the empowering lyrics while seated alongside a fellow patron.

And, because she’s a pro, Lopez hung on to the mic for a raucous run through one of her own, “Let’s Get Loud” from her 1999 debut album, On the 6.

Though husband Ben Affleck wasn’t anywhere to be seen in the karaoke video, Lopez was clearly having a blast in another video she posted from the summer getaway in which she chows down al fresco on some delicious ravioli while Dean Martin’s “Mambo Italiano” plays in the background.

Lopez has been gearing up to release her as-yet-unscheduled ninth studio album, This Is Me… Now, the sequel to her 2002 This Is Me…Then collection. She recently teased her latest ode to Affleck, “Midnight in Vegas,” an homage to the couple’s 2022 Sin City wedding. It’s at least the third song she’s written to honor her actor hubby, following up on the 2002 album’s “Dear Ben”; “Dear Ben Pt. II” is slated to appear on Now.

Check out video of the wild night out from the tavern’s Instagram below.

14 Aug 2023

Billy Ray Cyrus & FIREROSE Sign New Management, Agency Representation Deals: Exclusive

Multi-faceted entertainers Billy Ray Cyrus and FIREROSE have signed with Scott Adkins for exclusive management representation, and with Nick Meinema of Action Entertainment Collaborative for global agency representation.

Adkins also manages country singer-songwriter and Country Music Hall of Fame member Tanya Tucker and is president/CEO of public relations firm Adkins Publicity. Meinema’s Action Entertainment Collaborative also represents Trace Adkins, Terri Clark, James Barker Band, Sawyer Brown, Thompson Square and more.

“Billy Ray Cyrus is royalty in all aspects of the entertainment business who continues to reign as a true visionary, and FIREROSE is a multi-talented gem whose talent blew me away the moment I heard her stylistic voice. I’m thrilled to continue representing both artists in a management capacity after working with Cyrus for more than eight years,” Adkins said via a statement.

“We’re thrilled we got the call and opportunity to represent Billy Ray Cyrus and FIREROSE, and are excited to put into motion the plan they have for their future, while building off of Cyrus’ indelible career as a bonafide hitmaker and entertainer, as we embark into the next chapter with FIREROSE,” added Action Entertainment Collaborative founder Meinema.

Cyrus and FIREROSE recently issued their new duet, the Diane Warren-written “Plans.”

“Like our song says, ‘It’s a new day.’ ‘New Day’ was FIREROSE and my first Top 20 radio hit together. It sowed the seeds for a lot of change still yet to come. A new beginning. This moment in time marks not only a new chapter but to be honest, it’s a brand new book,” Cyrus said in a statement.

“I am honored and thrilled to be represented by Scott Adkins and Nick Meinema,” FIREROSE added. “I’m very much looking forward to this next exciting stage of my career and taking my artistry to the next level with this power team. There’s a great synergy in our creative vision and trajectory for my artistic goals.”

Cyrus earned his breakthrough hit in 1992 with “Achy Breaky Heart,” which enjoyed a five-week run at No. 1 on Billboard‘s Hot Country Songs chart beginning on May 30, 1992. One week later, his Some Gave All album hit the summit on Top Country Albums for the first of 34 total weeks, setting a precedent at the time for a debut album. He followed with country hits including “Some Gave All,” “It Won’t Be the Last,” and “It Could’ve Been Me.”

He went on to diversify his career, taking on acting roles in series including Doc and Still the King, as well as the Disney Channel series Hannah Montana with his daughter, singer-songwriter-actress Miley Cyrus. In 2019, he united with Lil Nas X for a remix of “Old Town Road,” which spent 19 weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 and is now certified 17-times multi-platinum by the RIAA.

FIREROSE and Cyrus previously collaborated on the song “New Day,” while FIREROSE is known for her indie-pop tracks “Fragile Handling,” and “Way Out,” which have each earned more than 1 million views on YouTube.

See the official video for the couple’s song “Plans” below:

14 Aug 2023

Clarence Avant, Former Motown Chairman and ‘Godfather of Black Music,’ Dies at 92

Clarence Avant, whose decades of trailblazing work as an artist manager, mentor, executive and record label owner earned him the title of “Godfather of Black Music,” died Sunday at his home in Los Angeles. He was 92.

Explore

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

“Clarence leaves behind a loving family and a sea of friends and associates that have changed the world and will continue to change the world for generations to come,” his family said in a statement. “The joy of his legacy eases the sorrow of our loss.”

As a manager early on in his career, the North Carolina native worked with Sarah Vaughan, Freddie Hubbard, Little Willie John, Jimmy Smith and producer Creed Taylor, among others. He went on to broker the sale of Stax Records in the 1960s and notably discovered and signed “Ain’t No Sunshine” singer Bill Withers. In the ’70s, Avant founded KAGB-FM (Avant Garde Broadcasting), one of the first Black-owned radio stations in the U.S.

He also launched two record companies, Sussex and Tabu, cultivating rosters that included Withers, Dennis Coffey, the S.O.S. Band, Wadsworth Mansion, The Gallery and The Presidents.

Avant’s connection with the S.O.S. Band sparked a introduction to emerging songwriting/production duo Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis. Avant played an instrumental role in the pair’s success (as well as that of another hit-making duo, Reid and Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds). He was also the promoter of Michael Jackson’s “Bad” tour, Jackson’s first ever solo world tour.

He was named Motown chairman in 1993 and four years later became the first African-American to serve on the International Management Board for PolyGram.

Avant ran his Interior Music Group and Avant Garde Music publishing companies until they were sold in 2018 to Universal Music Group.

Avant was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2021 and in 2019, was honored by the Recording Academy with the Grammy Salute to Industry Icons award. Over the decades he also received a Thurgood Marshall Lifetime Achievement Award, an NAACP Image Awards Hall Of Fame Award, a BET Honors Entrepreneur Award, and induction into the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2008, the Recording Academy honored Avant with its Trustees Award.

Involved in the social and political arenas, his relationships range from the presidential (Bill Clinton, Barack Obama) to the entrepreneurial (Oprah Winfrey). Avant was the subject of the Netflix documentary The Black Godfather (2019), directed by Hudlin and produced by his daughter, Nicole Avant.

14 Aug 2023

Ed Sheeran Sings ‘Lego House’ at the Mall After Working Shift at Lego Store

Maybe Ed Sheeran is just catching up on all the crummy retail and food service jobs the rest of us did in our 20s by cosplaying as customer service during stops on his massive Mathematics tour. A few weeks ago, he was slinging dogs at Chicago’s legendarily salty Weiner Circle and on Saturday he popped in to a Lego store at Minneapolis’ massive Mall of America for a shift at a “brick specialist.”

In a video on his Instagram, Sheeran posts up behind the counter as a shocked mom says, “are you kidding me!? Oh my God, my daughter’s gonna freak out!” Sheeran then turns to the camera to show off his official Lego store uniform, consisting of a blue Lego shirt, the signature yellow smock and, yes, an “Ed” name tag.

“I’m here at the Mall of America in Minnesota and I have my Lego outfit on to be a brick specialist at the Lego store and then play ‘Lego House!,” AFOL Sheeran tells the camera. In a montage, Sheeran helps some young shoppers find the right bricks, pushes stock around on a cart and signs a Lego house set for a young fan. Then, after his shift, Sheeran straps on an acoustic and strums the brick-themed third single from his 2011 debut album, +, for hundreds of Sheerios.

“That was super fun,” he says after the quick food court-adjacent gig, teasing a surprise at the U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis later that night. “I’ve got a bunch of these ‘Autumn Is Coming’ minifigures and I’m going to be giving them out at the gig. See you in a bit,” he says.

At previous stops on the tour, Sheeran popped into a pub to sing the Backstreet Boys’ “I Want It That Way,” slung philly cheesesteaks in South Philadelphia and visited a classroom to jam with some high school band students in Tampa.

Check out Sheeran’s video below.

14 Aug 2023

Rapper Magoo Passes Away At 50, Social Media Reacts

HipHopWired Featured Video

CLOSE

Timbaland's Birthday Party

Source: Johnny Nunez / Getty

Rapper Melvin “Magoo” Barcliff of Timbaland & Magoo fame has passed away. He was 50 years old.

Magoo’s cause of death remains undisclosed. Digital Black of the group Playa took to Instagram to confirm his friend’s passing on Sunday (August 13). They both are members of the Bassment Crew and Superfriendz group of creatives.

Hailing from Norfolk, VA, Timbaland & Magoo would drop several albums, including their debut, Welcome To Our World, which had the hits “Up Jumps Da Boogie” and “Luv 2 Luv Ya (Remix).” With Missy Elliott, Ginuwine, Aaliyah and Timbaland, Magoo was party of some of Hip-Hop’s most innovative sounds in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s.

“I don’t even know how to say anything at this point , I have lost 3 friends now within a month to LIFE and it’s due date ….this dude , always pushed me …I will mis you maganooo that’s what we called him,” said singer and friend Ginuwine in a tribute post.

Rest in power Magoo. See social media reactions to Magoo’s untimely passing in the gallery.

This story is developing.

14 Aug 2023

BTS’ Jung Kook Stars in Playful Calvin Klein Fall 2023 Campaign: Exclusive Video

Jung Kook is showing off his sensual side with Calvin Klein.

The BTS star appears in the brand’s Fall 2023 campaign focused on confidence, playfulness and, of course, feeling sexy. In the 30-second clip shot by fashion-photographer duo Inez & Vinoodh and soundtracked by Gary Numan‘s 1980 Hot 100 top 10 hit “Cars,” the 25-year-old superstar struts around an empty parking-garage ramp, wearing a dark denim jacket and matching jeans, his bare chest accentuated by a sleek black tie. Clips of Jung Kook smiling into the camera with his signature lip ring flash throughout the video.

It’s hardly the first time Jung Kook has teamed up with the sleek designer brand. Back in March, he rocked a denim set in his steamy first campaign as global brand ambassador for CK.

It’s been an exciting year for Jung Kook, who is setting the tone for his upcoming solo album with his smoldering Latto collaboration “Seven.” The track features the BTS star turning up the heat as he sings in the chorus, “You wrap around me and you give me life/ And that’s why night after night/ I’ll be f—in’ you right.” The track debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 following its July 14 release. Before that, he teamed up with Charlie Puth for the catchy “Left and Right” before making his biggest global move as a soloist when he performed the song “Dreamers” at the 2022 World Cup opening ceremony as part of its official soundtrack.

The Fall 2023 campaign and collection are available Monday (Aug. 14) on Calvin Klein’s website here. Watch Jung Kook’s video clip exclusively via Billboard above.

Jung Kook for Calvin Klein

Inez & Vinoodh

14 Aug 2023

Foo Fighters’ ‘Haven’t Met You Yet’ Long Con Joke Pays Off When Michael Bublé Joins Them at Outside Lands

Dave Grohl loves a long con. And on Saturday night at the Outside Lands Festival in San Francisco he squared the circle on a joke he’s been telling for much of he Foo Fighters‘ current tour. For months at Foos shows, Grohl has been asking if anyone in the audience knows the lyrics to Michael Bublé‘s bouncy pop ditty “Haven’t Met You Yet” from the crooner’s 2009 Crazy Love album.

Aside from loving an inescapable pop hook, the gag is also a nod to the eclectic resume of drummer Josh Freese, a well-traveled studio and live player who, as luck would have it, did a stint playing for Bublé. And if it even has to be said, yes, Freese played the drums on the studio version of “Haven’t Met You Yet.”

Praising Freese’s lengthy resumé, Grohl had keyboardist Rami Jaffee cue up the springy piano intro to the song. “The last couple shows — I always look out [into the crowd] — someone’s like ‘I know the Bublé song,’ ‘I’ll come up and sing,’ ‘I know the f— Bublé song,’” Grohl said to the audience at the festival in a video of the moment.

“And every time someone f— says they know the song, they don’t know the f— song. Do you know the f— song? Who knows the f— song?,” the excitable Foos leader asked the crowd. Then, spotting a superfan in the crowd with an “I love Bublé” sign, Grohl called him up to the stage. “This motherf–er better know the song! Do you know the song? Because people say they know it but they don’t!”

Spoiler alert: it was the Bubes himself, who smoothly dropped right into the first verse as he took the stage in all-black for the perfectly executed gag with his old pal Freese backing him up. After crooning through the chorus (with some help from the crowd) Grohl admitted, “Okay, this guy’s pretty good. This guy’s pretty good,” before jumping in and asking if he could sing the hook.

Second spoiler alert: Grohl did not sing the word “met” in the chorus, substituting a more graphic lyric.

“Oh my God, it’s Michael Bublé!” Grohl said in shock surprise, explaining that every time they did it on tour people would claim to know the lyrics, but never actually did. “This bad-ass motherf—er, and I’m not even kidding, flew in today from Argentina to f–ing sing that song to you guys,” Grohl said. “‘Cause there’s no such thing as taking a joke too far.”

In a backstage bit posted by Bublé, the ultra-smooth singer announces that he’s finally been asked to join the Foos, to which Dave Grohl says, “f–k you Bublé!”

Watch the videos below.

14 Aug 2023

King Stingray, Budjerah Dominate 2023 NIMAs

King Stingray continued its golden run with a brace of wins at the 2023 National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMAs), held Saturday (Feb. 12) at Darwin Amphitheatre on Larrakia Country.

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

Formed in Northeast Arnhem Land, the Stingers, as they’re lovingly known in these parts, snagged song of the year and film clip of the year both for “Let’s Go,” converting two-of-two nominations.

Earlier in the month, the Yolngu surf-rockers dominated the 2023 AIR Awards with three trophies, adding to a collection that includes the Michael Gudinski breakthrough artist, best new artist at the 2022 Rolling Stone Australia Awards, first-prize in the Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition, and the 2022 Australian Music Prize.

Also at the 2023 NIMAs, Budjerah won the coveted artist of the year category, adding to his own impressive haul. The rising singer and songwriter from Fingal Head, New South Wales, was the inaugural winner of the Michael Gudinski prize at the 2021 ARIAs, he has also collected best new artist at the 2023 RS Awards and, in 2022, won his first APRA Award for most performed R&B/soul work of the year (“Higher” with Matt Corby).

Queensland singer and songwriter Thelma Plum scooped the album of the year NIMA for Meanjin, while the Indigenous language award was bestowed to traditional songman Ngulmiya for his self-titled debut album.

One of the night’s outstanding moments belonged to Yothu Yindi, as the “Treaty” singers were inducted into the NIMAs Hall of Fame for their “long and powerful contributions to Indigenous and Australian music across several decades,” reads a statement from organizers.

During the induction ceremony, the band’s original lineup, along with King Stingray vocalist Yirrŋa Yunupiŋu, nephew of the late Dr M Yunupiŋu, took to the stage for a rocking rendition of their signature song.

Performers on the evening included Kobie Dee, Dean Brady, Plum, Barkaa, Ngulmiya and Budjerah and the Red Flag Dancers.

“So proud of all the artists, performers, nominees and winners at this year’s NIMAs,” comments NIMA creative director Ben Graetz. “It was an exceptional night of Blak excellence.”

An initiative of trade body MusicNT, the NIMAs, now in its 19th year, are a celebration of the “finest celebration of First Nations music”.

Read more here.

2023 National Indigenous Music Awards Winners
Artist of the Year — Budjerah
New Talent of the Year — Bumpy
Film Clip of the Year — King Stingray, “Let’s Go”
Song of the Year — King Stingray, “Let’s Go”
Album of the Year — Thelma Plum, Meanjin
Community Clip of the Year — Wildfire Manwurrk, “Mararradj”
Indigenous Language Award — Ngulmiya, Self-Titled
Hall of Fame — Yothu Yindi
Archie Roach Foundation Award — Wildfire Manwurrk

14 Aug 2023

Died Pretty Frontman Ron S. Peno Dies at 68

Ron S. Peno, frontman and co-founder of Died Pretty, which, thanks to combination of his stagecraft, a handful of evergreen singles, and a cult following, had a seat at the front of Australia’s alternative rock explosion in the 1990s, died Friday (Aug. 11) after a years-long battle with cancer. He was 68.

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

News of his death was confirmed by the official Died Pretty social accounts.

“With great sadness we announce the passing of our singer Ron S Peno who left us peacefully on Friday evening in the presence of his loving wife Charity and his son Zebadiah, at his home in South Yarra, Melbourne,” the tribute reads.

For the last four and a half years as he battled cancer, “Ron displayed a resolute positivity and a profound depth of character that has proved inspirational to his fellow band members, manager and many friends,” the message continues. “In the face of adversity he was towering.”

Formed in Sydney in the 1980s, Peno and Died Pretty channeled the look and sound of their heroes from New York’s punk scene, including the Velvet Underground and Television, and injected it with psychedelic rock.

As the band built a buzz on the live circuit, their releases would follow the proper trajectory on the ARIA Charts. Early releases merely tickled the tally, though debut Free Dirt from 1986 continues to grow in stature, and cracked Rolling Stone Australia’s list of 200 Greatest Australian Albums of All Time, published December 2021 (placing at No. 153).

Died Pretty’s Lost from 1988 appeared at No. 99 on the ARIA Albums Chart, and 1990 followup Every Brilliant Eye peaked at No. 79, according to data supplied by the trade body to Billboard. Then, with 1991’s Doughboy Hollow, a first top 40 appearance. Peaking at No. 24 on the national albums survey, Doughboy Hollow was powered by two of the band’s evergreen songs, “D.C.” and “Sweetheart,” numbers that captured the spirit of the time. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s triple j station had embarked on its national rollout in 1989, and those two songs sounded sweet on its airwaves (a 2018 poll of the 50 Best Australian Albums of the 90s, published by triple j’s sister station, Double J, placed Doughboy Hollow at No. 22).

Meanwhile, the late Ken West and Viv Lees were working on a game-changing festival, the Big Day Out, which would kick-off the following year in Sydney, and rapidly grew into a national production, selling 330,000 tickets at its peak. Died Pretty was on the inaugural BDO lineup.

After striking a deal with Sony Music’s Columbia division, Died Pretty enjoyed a career-best chart placing in 1993, hitting No. 11 with Trace, and 1996’s Sold would hit No. 29. While signed to Sony Music, Died Pretty were invited to Europe to showcase their talents for the music major’s international executives.

In 2008, induction into Hall of Fame at the The Age EG Awards, celebrating Victoria’s creative scene.

Peno joined his bandmates on the road for several major tours in the past decade, including the A Day on the Green outdoor concert series in 2016, with Hoodoo Gurus, Sunnyboys, Violent Femmes and Ratcat, and a joint national tour the following year with Radio Birdman.

The singer’s battle with cancer became a public one when, in February 2019, it was announced via the band’s social channels that Peno had been diagnosed with oesophageal cancer and that all upcoming shows were scrapped as he underwent treatment.

Support Act, the charity for Australia’s music community, rallied behind Peno with the “Help a Mate” appeal.

“For the 40 years Ron entertained us as Died Pretty’s frontman he was never less than always charismatic,” reads the tribute from his surviving bandmates. “He has provided warm and enduring memories for those who shared the stage with him and for his audience. For many he is the soundtrack of their lives. He leaves us a legacy of extraordinary recordings that will continue to be treasured into the future.

“Our hearts go out to Charity, Zebadiah and all his family and friends at this time. Ron will be sorely missed. The world will be a smaller place without him.”

14 Aug 2023

Dave And Central Cee’s ‘Sprinter’ Clocks 10th Week at No. 1 In U.K.

Dave and Central Cee’s “Sprinter” (via Live Yours/Neighbourhood) outraces the field in the U.K. for the 10th week, setting a new record in the process.

“Sprinter” becomes the first U.K. rap track to enter double figures at the summit of the Official U.K. Singles Chart, further proof of the global phenomenon that is hip-hop, a genre that’s currently celebrating its 50th anniversary as a genre.

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

Meanwhile, Becky Hill and Chase & Status lift into the top 10 for the first time with “Disconnect” (Polydor), up 15-9. With that gain, Hill boasts her sixth U.K. top 10 hit, while Chase & Status land a fifth — and first in ten years. Chase & Status appear again further down the Official U.K. Singles Chart, published Aug. 11, with Flowdan and Bou on “Baddadan” (EMI), up 31-21 for a new peak position.

It’s strength in numbers for Nathan Dawe, Joel Corry and Ella Henderson as “0800 Heaven” (Atlantic) improves 9-10, while Calvin Harris and Sam Smith’s latest collaboration, “Desire” (Columbia), gains 18-12, for a new chart best.

There’s a new peak position for Ryan Gosling’s Barbie number “I’m Just Ken” (Atlantic), up 14-13; D.O.D’s “So Much In Love” (Armada), up 23-16; and Anne-Marie and Shania Twain‘s duet, “Unhealthy” (Atlantic/Asylum/EMI) up 22-18, also a new high

Doja Cat has the highest new entry on the Official U.K. Chart with “Paint the Town Red” (Ministry of Sound). It’s new at No. 20 for the U.S. artist’s 15th top 40 single and first top 20 appearance in two years, since 2021’s “Woman” reached No. 13.

Finally, Travis Scott scores his 17th U.K. top 40 with “Telekinesis” (Epic) featuring SZA and Future. The track, lifted from the U.S. rapper’s No. 1 album Utopia, starts at No. 31 on the Official Chart.