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Tom Corson, co-chairman/COO of Warner Records, is set to receive the City of Hope’s 2025 Spirit of Life Award. It will be presented this fall at the annual Spirit of Life Gala in Los Angeles. For more than 50 years, the music industry has united around the Spirit of Life campaign, raising nearly $170 million to support City of Hope’s research and treatment efforts — mainly focused on cancer and diabetes.
“It is a profound honor to be recognized as this year’s Spirit of Life honoree,” Corson said in a statement. “At Warner Records, we often say it’s not just about the song — it’s about the artist. In the same way, City of Hope isn’t just about treatments — it’s about the people, their dreams, and their futures. When I sit down with an artist, we talk about their goals and aspirations, and we work to make those dreams a reality. That same spirit of transformation is at the core of City of Hope’s mission: turning hope into tangible breakthroughs for patients fighting cancer. The music industry has always been about more than entertainment; it’s about connection, transformation, and impact. I am proud to stand with my peers in championing this cause and supporting the vital and lifesaving work City of Hope does every day.”
Evan Lamberg, president of Universal Music Publishing Group North America and chairman of City of Hope’s Music, Film and Entertainment Industry (MFEI) board, said Corson’s honor was well-earned: “Tom has been an unwavering supporter of City of Hope for years, and his leadership and dedication to both our industry and this cause make him a truly deserving honoree.”
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Alissa Pollack, executive vp of global music marketing at iHeartMedia and president of City of Hope’s MFEI board, added: “Tom Corson has been a driving force in shaping modern music, and his philanthropic passion reflects that same commitment. The Spirit of Life campaign reminds us of the power of music to heal and inspire, and Tom’s leadership will help us elevate that message even further this year.”
“We are thrilled to honor Tom Corson as this year’s Spirit of Life recipient,” said Kristin Bertell, chief philanthropy officer at City of Hope. “Tom’s leadership, both in the music industry and as a long-time member of the Music, Film and Entertainment Industry Board, exemplifies the transformative spirit that defines our work.”
The honor is a cornerstone of the MFEI’s annual philanthropic campaign. This year, the campaign takes on even greater significance as Los Angeles continues to recover from January’s devastating wildfires — events that not only displaced families but also contributed to long-term health risks due to toxic smoke exposure.
A group of key industry executives founded City of Hope’s MFEI group in 1973. The Spirit of Life Award is the organization’s most prestigious honor. Past honorees include Jay Marciano, Lyor Cohen, Shelli and Irving Azoff, Edgar Bronfman Jr., Coran Capshaw, Eddy Cue, Clive Davis, Sir Lucian Grainge, Allen Grubman, Quincy Jones, Rob Light, Monte and Avery Lipman, Doug Morris, Mo Ostin, Bob Pittman, Jon Platt and Sylvia Rhone.
Since Corson joined Warner Records in January 2018, the storied label has had success with such new and established artists as Dua Lipa, Zach Bryan, Michael Bublé, Benson Boone, Teddy Swims, Rufus Du Sol, Linkin Park, Cher, Dasha, Red Hot Chili Peppers, JISOO, Josh Groban, Gary Clark Jr., Green Day, The Black Keys, Saweetie, NLE Choppa and Omar Apollo.
Corson came to Warner Records from RCA Music Group, where he spent nearly 18 years and most recently served as president/COO. He began his career in the music industry as a college intern at IRS Records. Upon graduating from UCLA, he joined the label as director of West Coast sales. Corson moved to A&M Records in 1985, advancing to vp of marketing. In 1990, he was named senior vp of marketing at Capitol Records. From 1996 to 2000, he served as senior vp of marketing at Columbia Records.
Corson has appeared on the Billboard Power 100 list for the last 14 years. On this year’s list, published in January, he and Warner Records co-chairman/CEO Aaron Bay-Schuck were listed at No. 15. Billboard’s capsule entry noted, in part: “Since taking over Warner in 2018, they’ve signed stars Zach Bryan, who was a 21-time finalist for the 2024 Billboard Music Awards; Teddy Swims and Benson Boone, who are both nominated for best new artist Grammys; Dasha, who ‘crossed over in pop and country,’ Corson says; and rapper NLE Choppa, who hit 9 billion career total streams. The label also relaunched Linkin Park, which released its first studio album in seven years, From Zero, and debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200.”
In addition, Corson and Bay-Schuck were named 2024 Variety Hitmakers Executive of the Year. Corson is a member of the Recording Academy and the Music and Entertainment Industry board for City of Hope and also sits on the executive committee of the board of directors for the T.J Martell Foundation. He is also the chairman of the UCLA School of Music Business’ board of advisors.
Durand Jones & The Indications are back and it’s “Been So Long.” The soul group – officially the trio of Durand Jones, Aaron Frazer and Blake Rhein – are returning Wednesday (March 18) with the announcement of their fourth studio album Flowers (out June 27 on Dead Oceans) and lead single “Been So Long.”
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Their latest offering – the first since the release of the band’s funky Private Space in 2021 – is a callback to their soulful roots featuring 11 tracks that reflect “a strong sense of the band’s maturation and conviction.” According to the group, Flowers is “grown and sexy, fit for cruising, and delight in the softer side of soul and disco.”
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“We are all in our 30s, have all been through ups and downs in our personal lives and professional lives, and flowers are a sign of maturity, growth, spring, productivity,” Jones said in a release.
Much of the self-produced album was written together at Rhein’s Chicago home studio, and many tracks are based on one-take demos.
“We took the spirit of play that started the project and added in the wisdom and lessons we’ve acquired through the years,” Frazer said.
Lead single “Been So Long” is a toe-tapping jam that reveals the band’s renewed sense of camaraderie as they sing in unison: “Itʼs been so long/ Since weʼve been gone/ Itʼs good to be back together.”
Of the single, the band says, “ʻBeen So Longʼ felt like a natural choice for the first single from the new album. Although it hasnʼt been that long since weʼve been apart, it is the longest stretch the band hasnʼt toured or released music in nearly a decade. The feeling of returning to your hometown is not unlike getting back together with your band mates after a spell. Some things have changed nearly beyond recognition, while others are exactly as you always remembered.”
For the “Been So Long” video, Jones, Frazer and Rhein take center stage alongside Chicago musicians Wyatt Waddell and Michael Damani (who also feature on the track’s background vocals) for some beautifully choreographed moves that harken back to the city’s deep soul heritage. Check out the video below.
“When I think of Flowers, I think of this sense of naturalness. There’s a lot of courage in showing the human side of making music,” added Rhein. “We spent the most energy playing to each other’s strengths and learning how to support each other. Being able to make art from an intuitive level takes a lot of confidence, not second guessing yourself, not asking if it’s going to be well received.”
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Kanye West is once again making headlines for all the wrong reasons. If crossing the line was a person, it would surely be Kanye West.
The rapper went on an outrageous Twitter rant that has left everyone, from fans to celebs, stunned. This time, he crossed a major line with some seriously disrespectful comments about Jay-Z and Beyoncé’s younger kids, sparking massive backlash and even calls for legal action.
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In a now-deleted tweet, Kanye said: “Wait, has anyone ever seen Jay-Z and Beyoncé’s younger kids? They’re retar*ed.” As if that wasn’t bad enough, he followed it up with: “No, like literally. And this is why artificial insemination is such a blessing. Having retar*ed children is a choice.” The internet lost it. Fans, celebs, and even some of his die-hard supporters hit back hard, slamming Kanye for his vile remarks. People are now calling for Jay and Bey to take legal action, claiming defamation.
For any of yall wondering pic.twitter.com/nOU9xmbe80
— killzT (@eurosteppp) March 19, 2025
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This outburst is just the latest in a long line of wild social media meltdowns Kanye’s been having, and even his biggest fans are starting to turn on him. This isn’t the first time Kanye’s been in the headlines for drama—he’s been beefing with anyone who dares to disagree with him lately. His most recent target? Playboi Carti. Kanye claimed they were supposed to drop a joint project after Carti’s I AM MUSIC album, but that never came through and honestly, no one was checking for that collab anyway.
The Latin Recording Academy has announced several major updates to its eligibility guidelines on Wednesday (March 19) for the 26th annual Latin Grammy Awards.
Among the updates is the addition of a new field for visual media and the introduction of two new categories: best music for visual media and best roots song — singles or tracks only, with the latter falling under the traditional field.
These changes aim to reflect the Latin Academy’s “commitment to evolve with the ever-changing musical landscape, and to best serve its membership body of music creators and professionals,” as noted in the press release. These updates take effect immediately for the awards scheduled for November.
The category of music for visual media will recognize “original music created to accompany and enrich the storyline of movies, television series, video games and other visual media.” To qualify for this category, a project must either incorporate Latin rhythms that are recognized as eligible genres for the annual Latin Grammy Awards, or be composed by an individual of Ibero-American heritage.
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Meanwhile, the best roots song award will be given to the songwriters of “new, unpublished recordings, both vocal and instrumental, that reflect the traditions and roots of various communities, cultures, or social groups, especially those of Hispanic American origin, whether in Spanish, Portuguese or in indigenous languages or dialects,” notes the release. It will highlight works in genres like tango, folk, flamenco, and other traditional subgenres.
Other amendments include category renaming. In the pop field, “best pop vocal album” will now be called “best contemporary pop album”; in the children’s field, “best Latin children’s album” is being renamed to “best children’s album”; and in the urban field, “best urban fusion/performance” will be named “best urban/urban fusion performance.” The later category will now require 60% urban elements for eligibility, rather than 51%. “Remixes are eligible only if the original version of the song was released within the same eligibility year,” states the official announcement regarding the urban field.
Additionally, the songwriter of the year category reduced its minimum song threshold from six to four, while producer of the year will now undergo screening “by a specialized committee in addition to the membership screening and voting process.”
For more information, visit LatinGRAMMY.com.
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Diddy’s sex trafficking trial is a little more than two months away from getting underway and already ABC News is looking to capitalize off the attention it will no doubt get with a new podcast centered around the allegations lobbed at the Bad Boy Records founder.
According to Variety, ABC News will be launching Bad Rap: The Case Against Diddy on May 25, the day that Diddy’s trial is set to begin and will be hosted by legal contributor and attorney Brian Buckmire. Bad Rap will be the first true-crime series supported by 20/20 and ABC’s news gathering squad and “will trace how whispers of abuse came to light and led to the stunning federal charges and civil lawsuits that Diddy now faces.”
The first six episodes of Bad Rap are set to cover the background on the allegations that have been thrown at Diddy, which will be followed by “twice-weekly episodes during Combs’ trial with ‘real-time updates’.”
Per Variety:
“Bad Rap: The Case Against Diddy” is one of the anchor shows on ABC Audio’s new podcast slate in collaboration with “20/20,” which it says will provide “always-on true crime content.” The new podcasts will join ABC News’ flagship daily news podcast “Start Here” and the popular “20/20” podcast. Also available today, ABC Audio is launching a new “20/20 True Crime” channel on Apple Podcasts.
Launching Monday (March 17) is “20/20: The After Show,” a weekly show hosted by “20/20” co-anchor Deborah Roberts. It’s a companion podcast to the TV newsmagazine, which airs Fridays on ABC. In “20/20: The After Show,” listeners can hear the story behind each week’s episode and access exclusive bonus material.
We low-key wish Barbra Walters was hosting this podcast if for no other reason than for nostalgia sake. Just sayin’.
Will you be listening to ABC’s Bad Rap: The Case Against Diddy podcast when it premiers on May 25? Will you be checking in on the trial? Let us know in the comments section below.
Crowdsurfing can sometimes feel like a trust-fall: you are hoping against hope that the people you’ve put your faith in will be there to grab you before you crash to the ground. At least that’s how it’s supposed to work. That definitely was not the case on Sunday night (March 16) when producer/DJ The Dare […]
Of course Joe and Kevin Jonas were in the house on Tuesday night (March 18) to support their brother Nick Jonas in his return to Broadway in The Last Five Years. The siblings were reunited on the stage with Nick’s co-star, Adrienne Warren in a family snap at the kick-off of preview performances at the […]
Sir Rod Stewart is not done with Las Vegas. The ageless pop wonder announced another six-pack of residency shows at the Colosseum for this fall, extending his Sin City run yet again. “Las Vegas! You wanted more, so here we go—I’ve added more shows! I’ll be back at @colosseumatcp this September and October, Can’t wait to see […]
Australian rock icons Silverchair are set to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their seminal debut album, Frogstomp, with a special event in Sydney next week. However, frontman Daniel Johns will not be taking part.
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The event is scheduled for March 26 at the Metro Social in Sydney, a venue that holds significance for Silverchair, as it hosted some of the band’s early performances before their rapid rise to fame.
The night will feature drummer Ben Gillies, former Silverchair manager John Watson, and label executive John O’Donnell, all sharing insights into the band’s meteoric success. Additionally, celebrated music photographer Tony Mott will be in attendance, and Sydney-based indie rockers The Buoys are set to perform tracks from Frogstomp in tribute.
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Released in March 1995, Frogstomp catapulted Silverchair to international stardom. The album debuted at No. 1 on the ARIA Albums Chart and made history by reaching the top 10 of the Billboard 200, peaking at No. 9 and marking the first time an Australian band had done so since INXS.
The record, which features hits like “Tomorrow” and “Pure Massacre,” earned five ARIA Awards and has sold over 10 million copies worldwide.
The upcoming anniversary celebration follows the release of Love & Pain, a memoir co-authored by Gillies and bassist Chris Joannou in 2023. The book offers an in-depth look at the band’s origins in Newcastle and their rise to becoming one of Australia’s most successful rock acts. However, the absence of Johns from the event is consistent with his continued reluctance to revisit Silverchair’s past.
Johns has been vocal about distancing himself from his former band. He previously opposed the airing of a two-part Australian Story documentary on ABC iView, which coincided with the release of Love & Pain, citing unauthorized use of Silverchair’s music. In an Instagram post, Johns addressed his stance:
“I was and remain incredibly supportive of them telling their story,” he wrote. “I was asked at the end of filming to be interviewed about their contribution to the band and although I wished them all the best, I respectfully declined for one reason. I haven’t been involved in the book nor am I aware of the contents. I’ve asked on many occasions to read the book but haven’t been sent a copy, consequently, I was uncomfortable being interviewed to help promote it.”
Despite Johns’ absence, the Frogstomp anniversary event is expected to be a significant occasion for longtime Silverchair fans, offering a retrospective look at one of the most defining records in Australian rock history.
John Legend is marking the 20th anniversary of his debut album Get Lifted and recently appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to reflect on his journey.
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During the interview, Legend reminisced about one of his earliest experiences in the music industry—meeting Lauryn Hill and earning his first-ever recording credit on her groundbreaking album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.
“So the first time I met Lauryn Hill, I was still a student at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, so I was going to school there, and I used to play at this church up in Scranton. So Scranton’s a couple hours north of Philly, and I would drive up there every weekend. And one of my choir members’ name was Tara Michel, and she went to high school with Lauryn Hill,” Legend recalled.
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“And The Score had already been a huge success for the Fugees and ‘Killing Me Softly.’ And everybody was wondering when Lauryn’s going to go solo. And she was working on her solo album, and Tara was like, ‘Johnny, come to Jersey with me, and we’re going to meet Lauryn Hill. She’s working on her solo album.’ And so they’re working on the album, and I get on the piano just to show her what I could do.”
“It was like a mini audition,” Legend continued. “I was nervous, but, you know, I did my thing. I sang a little Stevie Wonder, sang an original song, too, and then she was like, ‘Why don’t you play piano on this song I’m working on now?’ And it was ‘Everything Is Everything’ from The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.”
Legend reflected on the significance of the moment, noting, “That was my first credit on any album. And it was, you know, one of the greatest albums of all time.”
At the time, Legend was still credited under his birth name, John R. Stephens. “I didn’t know if the song was going to make the album. I didn’t know if my parts were going to make the album. And so I was just waiting to find out, and I get a call from A&R at Columbia Records, which is where Lauryn signed, and they asked me how to spell my name for the album credits,” he said.
“I was like, ‘Oh, okay, you want to know how to spell my name?’ So I was like… John R. Stephens. John R. Stephens—S-T-E-P-H-E-N-S. And I was like, in retrospect, that was not a great stage name to, like, put on the album credits.”
Reflecting on his current stage name, he added, “John Legend’s a lot better. I didn’t become John Legend for a while. But I was John R. Stephens on Track 13 of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.”
Beyond reminiscing about his past, Legend looked ahead to the future, announcing his Get Lifted 20th Anniversary World Tour, which is set to kick off on May 27 in Glasgow, U.K.
The tour will cover more than 40 cities across the U.K., Europe, and North America, including stops at The O2 in London, Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam, Accor Arena in Paris, Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, and Barclays Center in New York, before wrapping up on December 9 in Oakland, California.
To commemorate the anniversary, Legend also revealed plans for a deluxe edition of Get Lifted, which will include remixes and unreleased tracks from the era. The album, originally released in 2004, featured hits like “Ordinary People,” “Used to Love U,” and “So High,” and helped establish Legend as a major force in R&B and soul music.