State Champ Radio Awards
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The Americana Music Association has revealed this year’s slate of lifetime achievement honorees for the 23rd annual Americana Honors & Awards ceremony, to be held Sept. 18 at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. The ceremony serves as a key event during the annual Americanafest, slated for Sept. 17-21 in Nashville.
Dave Alvin, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Rev. Gary Davis, Shelby Lynne, Don Was and Dwight Yoakam are this year’s honorees.
Alvin is known for both his solo work as well as being part of the duo The Blasters alongside his brother Phil. Alvin won a Grammy in 2000 for his album Public Domain: Songs From the Wild Land.
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The Blind Boys of Alabama was established in Alabama in 1939 and in the ensuing decades came to redefine gospel music with their songs and performances. They are multi-Grammy winners and Gospel Music Hall of Fame inductees, and found mainstream acclaim following the group’s role in the 1983 musical The Gospel at Colonus. They went on to perform and record with artists including Prince, Bonnie Raitt and Peter Gabriel.
South Carolina native Davis was a blues and gospel performer proficient on multiple instruments including harmonica. He became an essential part of the 1960s folk revival thanks to songs including “Death Don’t Have No Mercy,” influencing artists including Bob Dylan and the Grateful Dead.
Lynne made her debut project, Sunrise, in 1989 and has since traversed musical spaces including rock, country and pop. In the 1990s she saw songs such as “Things Are Tough All Over” reach the top 30 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. Her album I Am Shelby Lynne earned Lynne a best new artist Grammy. She’s also won honors including the ACM Awards’ top new female vocalist. Lynne will release her album Consequences of the Crown on Aug. 16, via Monument Records.
Detroit native Was launched the band Was (Not Was) in the 1980s, then as a producer gained renown working with artists including Bonnie Raitt, The Rolling Stones and Brian Wilson. Among Was’s Grammy honors is a trophy for producer of the year. In addition to his production work, he has served as president of the jazz label Blue Note Records since 2012. Was has also been the longtime bass player in the house band for the Americana Honors & Awards ceremony.
Yoakam has earned two Billboard Hot Country Songs chart-toppers, with the 1988 Buck Owens collaboration “Streets of Bakersfield,” and “I Sang Dixie,” as well as numerous top 5 hits such as “Fast As You” and “Guitars, Cadillacs.” Along the way, he forged a sound that melded elements of country, rock, bluegrass and the Bakersfield sound. He’s won two Grammy honors, including best country vocal performance, male (“Ain’t That Lonely Yet”) and best country collaboration with vocals (“Same Old Train”).
“This year’s Lifetime Achievement honorees represent multiple facets of American roots music. It is a privilege to recognize and celebrate the incredible careers of these artists. We look forward to another exceptional night at the Ryman Auditorium,” Jed Hilly, Executive Director of the Americana Music Association and Foundation, said via a statement.Tickets for the Americana Honors & Awards will go on sale to silver passholders on June 26, with tickets going on sale for association members, festival passholders and the general public at a later date.
Prince, Keith Urban and Green Day are among 36 entertainment professionals who have been selected to receive stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Prince, who died in 2016 at age 57, will be a relatively rare posthumous induction. Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the creators of South Park, will be honored in a double ceremony.
The 2025 class was announced at a press conference held at Ovation Hollywood on Monday (June 24). Music producer Jimmy Jam and actors Joe Mantegna and Niecy Nash joined Hollywood Chamber of Commerce president/CEO Steve Nissen to make the announcement. Jimmy Jam was a close associate of Prince in the early 1980s when he and partner Terry Lewis were in The Time.
This year’s inductees range in age from Fantasia, 39, to Toni Vaz, 101. Vaz was Hollywood’s first Black stuntwoman and co-founder of the NAACP Image Awards. Other older inductees are Chinese-American actress Lisa Lu, 97; film and TV actress Jane Fonda, 86; and actor/director Bill Duke, 81.
Fonda, daughter of acting legend Henry Fonda, is one of three second-generation stars being honored, along with Emilio Estevez, son of Martin Sheen; and journalist Chris Wallace, son of 60 Minutes great Mike Wallace.
Most of the inductees are American, though some hail from outside the U.S. These include English band Depeche Mode; Mexican grupera band Los Bukis; Urban, who was born in New Zealand, but is now Australian/American; Irish actor Colin Farrell; Chinese-American actress Lisa Lu; Scottish actor Alan Cumming; and retired English football player David Beckham.
The Walk of Fame selection committee, made up of past Walk of Famers, selected this year’s honorees from among hundreds of nominees on June 14. The choices were ratified by the Hollywood Chamber’s board of directors that same day.
Dates have not yet been scheduled for these star ceremonies. Recipients have two years to schedule star ceremonies from the date of selection before they expire. Upcoming star ceremonies are usually announced 10 days prior to the dedication on the official website.
Star ceremonies are streamed worldwide. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce administers the Walk of Fame on behalf of the city of Los Angeles. Sponsors fund the star, the ceremony, and the maintenance of the world-famous attraction. Attending Walk of Fame ceremonies is free to the public. To learn more, and to find the location of stars on the Walk of Fame, visit the website.
Here are quick details about this year’s inductees into the Hollywood Walk of Fame, showing the current ages of all individuals.
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The board of governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on Monday (June 24) that CEO Bill Kramer will continue in his role through July 2028. Kramer’s contract, up for renewal in 2025, was approved one year early due to what the Academy calls “his exceptional leadership and significant contributions.” “Bill […]
Will Smith is just two years into a 10-year suspension from attending Academy Award events, a penalty for his well-documented behavior at the 2022 Oscars, but he’s being welcomed back to the 2024 BET Awards on Sunday, June 30, where he is set to debut a new original song.
Smith, 55, has a long history with the BET Awards. He and his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, hosted the show in 2005. Smith is also a three-time BET winner for best actor — for Ali (2001), Hancock/Seven Pounds (a dual entry in 2009) and King Richard (2022).
“From his start as a rapper to The Fresh Prince to being a box office king as one of the Bad Boys, Will Smith is truly a global icon, and we are honored to welcome him back to grace the BET Awards stage,” Connie Orlando, EVP specials, music programming & music strategy at BET, said in a statement. “We look forward to Will adding to yet another defining night for the culture that is not to be missed.”
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This won’t be Smith’s first major TV appearance since the 2022 Oscars debacle. He and Jeff Townes, his partner in DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, reunited to perform on A Grammy Salute to 50 Years of Hip-Hop, a two-hour CBS special which aired on Dec. 10.
Moviegoing audiences have also welcomed Smith back to their good graces. Bad Boys: Ride or Die, the fourth installment in the Bad Boys franchise, in which Smith stars with Martin Lawrence, has grossed nearly $147 million in the U.S. and Canada since its release on June 7, making it the sixth-highest-grossing film so far in 2024.
BET touts Smith’s performance as an “exclusive” and “a major addition to Culture’s Biggest Night.”
Previously announced performers are GloRilla, Ice Spice, Latto, Ms. Lauryn Hill & YG Marley, Muni Long, Sexyy Red, Shaboozey, Tyla and Victoria Monét. Additionally, Tanner Adell will perform on the BET Amplified stage.
Taraji P. Henson will host the show for the third year. Usher will receive BET’s lifetime achievement award — an award Smith has inexplicably yet to receive. The 2024 BET Awards will air live on Sunday, June 30 on BET at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
BET touts its annual awards show, which dates to 2001, as “the ultimate platform to showcase the best, brightest and most beautiful aspects of the Black experience — honoring the present and future of Black music, creativit and sportsmanship, by celebrating the culture and being a driving force for social change.”
Drake leads the 2024 nominations with seven nods. He is followed by Nicki Minaj with six; J. Cole, Sexyy Red, SZA, Victoria Monét, and Beyoncé with five each; and 21 Savage, Doja Cat, Megan Thee Stallion, Tyla and Usher with four each.
Voting for the 2024 Viewer’s Choice Award ends June 30 at 6:30 p.m. PT/ 9:30 p.m. ET.
Orlando will oversee and executive produce the annual show, with Jamal Noisette, SVP of tentpoles & music community engagement, to also executive produce for BET. Jesse Collins Entertainment is the production company for the show, with Jesse Collins, Dionne Harmon and Jeannae Rouzan-Clay also serving as executive producers.
On April 8, 2022, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences announced that Smith will not be permitted to attend any Academy events or programs for the next 10 years in the wake of his conduct at the 94th annual Oscars ceremony on March 27 of that year.
In one of the most infamous episodes in Oscars history, Smith rose from his seat and slapped presenter Chris Rock following a joke the comedian made about Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head. (Pinkett Smith suffers from alopecia, which causes hair loss, though it’s unclear if Rock was aware of her condition.) After returning to his seat, Smith twice yelled at Rock, “Keep my wife’s name out your f—in’ mouth.”
Compounding the strangeness, Smith received a standing ovation when he subsequently won best actor. And he was allowed to give a nearly six-minute acceptance speech.
On April 1, 2022, just five days after receiving the biggest accolade in his profession, Smith resigned from the Academy.
“My actions at the 94th Academy Awards presentation were shocking, painful and inexcusable,” Smith said in a statement. “The list of those I have hurt is long and includes Chris, his family, many of my dear friends and loved ones, all those in attendance and global audiences at home. I betrayed the trust of the Academy. I deprived other nominees and winners of their opportunity to celebrate and be celebrated for their extraordinary work. I am heartbroken. I want to put the focus back on those who deserve attention for their achievements and allow the Academy to get back to the incredible work it does to support creativity and artistry in film.”
Phil Wickham was named songwriter of the year at the 2024 BMI Christian Awards, which were held Tuesday (June 18) at BMI’s Nashville’s office. BMI’s AVP of creative, Nashville, Leslie Roberts hosted the invitation-only ceremony.
Wickham, 40, had a hand in writing four of this year’s award-winning songs — “Holy Forever,” “Hymn of Heaven,” “Then Christ Came” and “This Is Our God.” Wickham has received three Grammy nominations in the past two years, including one for his album I Believe at the Feb. 4 ceremony. He has amassed 11 top 10 hits on Billboard’s Hot Christian Songs chart, including “House of the Lord,” which reached No. 1 in 2022.
Wickham performed an acoustic rendition of his song “Hymn of Heaven” at the event.
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“Gratitude” was named the 2024 song of the year. Written by BMI songwriters Dante Bowe and Ben Hastings (APRA) and recorded by Brandon Lake, the song logged 28 weeks at No. 1 on Hot Country Songs. The track, featured on Lake’s album, House of Miracles, received nominations from the 2023 GMA Dove Awards for song of the year and worship recorded song of the year.
Essential Music Publishing took home the accolade for publisher of the year. Essential is responsible for 12 of the 25 most-performed songs of the year — “Cornerstone,” “God Is in This Story,” “Heart of God,” “Holy Forever,” “I Thank God,” “I’m So Blessed,” “Perfectly Loved,” “Same God,” “Thank God I Do,” “Then Christ Came,” “This Is Our God” and “Who I Am.”
In addition, the ceremony named 21 first-time winners for their role in writing the top 25 most-performed Christian songs of the previous year. They included pop powerhouses P!nk and Jeff Bhasker, who co-wrote the Lauren Daigle hit “Thank God I Do,” which topped Hot Christian Songs for 20 weeks.
Three first-time winners were double winners on the night — Jonathan Jay (“Fear Is Not My Future” and “Rest on Us”) and Jacob Mills and Levi Mills (“God Is Real” and “Never Not God”).
The complete winners list can be found here.
Wickham wasn’t the night’s only performer. Anne Wilson, 22, offered a stripped-down version of her hit, “Strong,” accompanied by BMI’s 2023 songwriter of the year, Jeff Pardo. Newcomer Charly Beathard made her BMI performance debut with “Hallelujah Anyway.”
Rema, Steve Mac, Lostboy and Daniel Pemberton are among the top winners at ASCAP London Celebrates, a private event that is being held on Tuesday (June 18) at The Shard in London.
British songwriter and producer Peter Rycroft, aka Lostboy, captures four ASCAP awards, including songwriter of the year. 2023 was a big year for Lostboy, which saw him co-write a string of hits including Tate McRae and Tiësto’s “10:35,” Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding’s “Miracle” (co-written by fellow winner Pablo Bowman Navarro), which spent eight weeks at No. 1 on the Official UK Singles Chart; and Kylie Minogue’s “Padam Padam,” which earned him a Grammy for best pop dance recording. Each song earned him an ASCAP award in the hot dance/electronic song category.
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Continuing a breakout year which has seen him release his fourth EP and perform “Calm Down” (a nominee for best international song) at the BRIT Awards, Rema is honored with two ASCAP awards – song of the year and top streaming song, also for “Calm Down.” Co-writers Michael “London” Hunter and Andre Vibez were also winners. “Calm Down,” a collab with Selena Gomez, reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Producer, songwriter and musician Steve Mac wins top hot dance/electronic song for his work on “Baby Don’t Hurt Me,” a collaboration by Anne-Marie, David Guetta and Coi Leray.
Eddie Jenkins, Andy Sheldrake, Camden Cox and Hayla receive a hot dance/electronic song prize for “Where You Are” by John Summit & Hayla.
In the world of TV, film and streaming, Daniel Pemberton lands top box office film of the year for Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. Pemberton’s score, which was shortlisted for an Oscar for best original score, draws on disparate strains of music, including punk rock, electronic music and traditional Indian instruments.
Julian Gingell and Barry Stone receive the top network series award for the second year in a row for their theme to American Idol.
2024’s top box office film awards go to composers Martin Phipps, for Napoleon, Patrick Jonsson for The Boogeyman and Joby Talbot for Wonka.
Paul Leonard-Morgan receives the prize for top streaming film for real-life crime thriller The Boston Strangler. Awards for top streaming series go to Anne Nikitin and Wil Malone for Apple TV’s Hijack, Natalie Holt for Loki and Andrew Skeet and Nathan Klein for Netflix docuseries MH370: The Plane That Disappeared.
As previously announced, South Africa-born British singer-songwriter and producer Kenya Grace receives the ASCAP Global Impact Award, in recognition of her success in the dance music world. Irish indie-pop singer-songwriter Cian Ducrot takes home the ASCAP Vanguard Award, which recognizes artists whose innovative work is helping to shape the future of music.
This year’s winners join a string of previous UK-affiliated ASCAP award recipients including Charli XCX, Dua Lipa, MNEK, Lewis Capaldi, Dev Hynes and Becky Hill.
ASCAP’s private event on Tuesday night for its winning songwriters and composers is set to include a brief performance from rising R&B/soul star Elmiene. The event is designed to shine a light on ASCAP’s UK-affiliated talent for their success in the U.S.
A full list of ASCAP London Music Award winners is available at https://www.ascap.com/londonawards24.
This award is presented to a country music artist, duo/group or industry leader who, throughout their career, has advanced the popularity of the genre through their contributions in multiple facets of the industry, such as songwriting, recording, production, touring, film, television, literary works, philanthropic contributions, and other goodwill efforts. The award honors the contributions of Cliffie Stone, who was known for his producing work along with his country music career.
Brown, 77, has had a storied career in the music industry, from playing piano with Elvis Presley and Emmylou Harris, to producing innumerable hits for such artists as Reba McEntire, George Strait and Trisha Yearwood, and serving as president of MCA Records Nashville. He has previously won seven ACM Awards, including producer of the year.
Yearwood, 59, emerged as one of the top voices in country music in the 90s, winning ACM new female vocalist of the year in 1991 and winning ACM female vocalist of the year in 1997. Along with a win for ACM video of the year in 2016, Yearwood has taken home three ACM Awards in her career. She has notched five No. 1 hits on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart – “She’s in Love With the Boy,” “XXX’s and OOO’s (An American Girl),” “Thinkin’ About You,” “Believe Me Baby (I Lied)” and “Perfect Love.”
Previous recipients include: Alabama, Connie Bradley, Brooks & Dunn, Garth Brooks, Glen Campbell, Johnny Cash, Charlie Daniels, Mike Dungan, Joe Galante, Merle Haggard, Emmylou Harris, Alan Jackson, George Jones, The Judds, Loretta Lynn, Martina McBride, Tim McGraw, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Charley Pride, Rascal Flatts, George Strait, Conway Twitty, Hank Williams, Hank Williams Jr. and Dwight Yoakam.
One of the most exciting moments of the 2024 Tony Awards on Sunday night (June 16) was when the cast of Hell’s Kitchen took the stage to perform a medley of songs from the musical, with Alicia Keys on the piano for a crowd-riling performance of her 2009 hit, “Empire State of Mind.” Halfway through […]
The Academy of Country Music has revealed this year’s slate of winners for the organization’s Industry Awards and Studio Recording Awards for the 59th annual Academy of Country Music Awards.
Steel guitar player Paul Franklin picks up his second ACM specialty instrument player of the year honor (which marks his 18th overall ACM Award, and he ties fellow steel guitarist J.D. Maness for the most ACM Studio Recording Award wins).
Dann Huff, whose illustrious list of clients includes Alabama, Brooks & Dunn, Merle Haggard, George Strait and Miranda Lambert, earns his fifth ACM producer of the year win (upping his total ACM Awards tally to 11). Meanwhile, Jimmie Lee Sloas picks up his fifth ACM bass player of the year win, and Rob McNelley wins his first ACM electric guitar player of the year accolade. Jim “Moose” Brown earns his third win for ACM piano/keys player of the year (in a tie with David Dorn, who picks up his second win in the category). Meanwhile, audio engineer Jim Cooley, and guitar player Charlie Worsham each earn their second career ACM Award for audio engineer of the year and acoustic guitar player of the year, respectively. Drummer Jerry Roe wins his first ACM Award, for drummer of the year.
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The ACM industry awards winners include two Nashville, Tennessee venues, with the Ryman Auditorium winning ACM theater of the year, while Bridgestone Arena won ACM arena of the year. This marks the Ryman’s eighth win and Bridgestone Arena’s sixth win.
Meanwhile, Uncasville, Connecticut’s Mohegan Sun Arena took home its eighth ACM award, in the casino of the year – arena category.
Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colo. won its third ACM outdoor venue of the year win (marking its fifth overall ACM accolade). Joe’s Live, in Rosemont, Ill., won its third ACM honor for club of the year, while the club’s owner, Ed Warm, picked up his first win for ACM Don Romeo talent buyer of the year (upping his total trophy count to six). The Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Tortuga Music Festival earned a third ACM Award for ACM festival of the year, while the Durant, Okla.-located Choctaw Grand Theater was named ACM casino of the year – theater.
The San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo earned its second ACM Award for ACM fair/rodeo of the year, while AEG promoter Adam Weiser earned his first ACM Award for ACM promoter of the year.
The winners were revealed via video announcements from Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, Dan + Shay, Jordan Davis, Vince Gill, Cody Johnson, Parker McCollum, Justin Moore, Thomas Rhett, Tigirlily Gold and Keith Urban.
All of the winners will be celebrated during the Academy of Country Music Honors ceremony, slated for Wednesday, Aug. 21 at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium.
Jay-Z and Alicia Keys reunited for their first performance of “Empire State of Mind” since 2016, and Lil Mama was nowhere in sight. Hov and Keys took the stage for their Big Apple anthem — which turns 15 later this year — on Sunday night (June 16) in their hometown at the 2024 Tony Awards […]
