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Sean “Diddy” Combs is motoring on with “Sex In The Porsche,” the hip-hop mogul’s new collaboration with PARTYNEXTDOOR.
Diddy is listed as co-writer (with PARTYNEXTDOOR, real name Jahron Brathwaite) and co-producer (with Nyan) on the smooth cut, the second lifted from Diddy’s forthcoming album release.
The first, “Gotta Move On” featuring Bryson Tiller, arrived in October, part of a three-pack which included the Queens Remix and the Kings Remix. “Gotta Move On” went to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart in November, the first No. 1 for both acts on the survey.
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According to reps, Diddy’s new album is scheduled to drop early next year through his Love Records imprint, a partnership with Motown Records.
“Sex In The Porsche” is accompanied with a visualizer featuring creative direction by Lauriann Gibson, and starring rapper and model Rubi Rose.
Diddy got his year in music underway by hosting, executive producing, and performing at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards.
Later, Diddy and Tiller performed “Gotta Move On” alongside Teyana Taylor at the 2022 BET Awards in June. During the ceremony, the mogul was presented with the show’s lifetime achievement award, which featured an introduction by Jay-Z and a tribute performance from Mary J Blige, Lil’ Kim, Shyne, Busta Rhymes, The Lox, Faith Evans. Ye and Babyface also gave speeches during the event.
“Music has always been my first love; Love Records is the next chapter about getting back to the love and making the best music of my life,” he said of his latest venture. “For the label, I’m focused on creating timeless R&B music with the next generation of artists and producers. Motown is the perfect partner for my album, and I’m excited to add to its legacy.”
Since his career took flight in the ‘90s, the producer, songwriter, rapper, label executive and head of Combs Enterprises, has scooped three Grammy Awards, won ASCAP’s “songwriter of the year,” and collaborated with a host of hitmakers, including Mary J. Blige, The Notorious B.I.G., Mariah Carey, Jennifer Lopez, Boyz II Men, Britney Spears and Kanye West, among others.
He’s not just a hitmaker. Diddy was in the news recently with the announcement of the birth of his seventh child.
After months of thrills, and near spills (certainly for Morgan Myles), America has chosen Bryce Leatherwood as the winner of The Voice 2022.
The country singer was guided throughout by Blake Shelton, and hadn’t hit a bum note during his ride.
Based in Statesboro, Georgia, the 22-year-old singer gives Shelton a record ninth victory. Shelton will get a chance to reach double figures in the win column before he steps away from the show at the end of the 23rd season.
Earlier, during the first part of NBC’s two-day finale, Leatherwood impressed with covers of Travis Tritt’s “T-R-O-U-B-L-E” and Keith Whitley’s “Don’t Close Your Eyes”.
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He wasn’t done there. During the finale, Shelton joined forces with his protégé for a performance of his 2011 hit “Hillbilly Bone”.
In the closing moments, Leatherwood out-pointed fellow Team Blake singers and Bodie, Team Camila Cabello’s Morgan Myles (Team Blake’s Brayden Lape and Team Legend’s Omar Jose Cardona were eliminated in the closing stages).
For Leatherwood, who is blessed with a name that resonates with country music, Christmas arrives early. His victory spoils include a recording contract with Universal Music Group and $100,000 in cash.
Prior to the nail-biting conclusion, The Voice finale also featured performances by Kane Brown, Kelly Clarkson, Maluma OneRepublic, BRELAND and Adam Lambert, who debuted his cover of Duran Duran’s “Ordinary World.”
Watch the closing moments below.
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The winner of The Voice 2022 is in plain sight, but the coronation must wait a little longer.
On the penultimate episode of NBC’s popular singing competition, each of the remaining contestants got their chance to sing twice for America’s vote.
One, an up-tempo number. The other, something from the heart.
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Bodie (Team Blake) went out and hit Harry Styles’ “Late Night Talking” and Brandon Lake’s “Gratitude”; Morgan Myles (Team Camila) sang Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart” and Little Big Town’s “Girl Crush”; Brayden Lape (Team Blake) sang Corey Kent’s “Wild As Her” and Tim McGraw’s “Humble and Kind”; Bryce Leatherwood (Team Blake) tackled Travis Tritt’s ““T-R-O-U-B-L-E” and Keith Whitley’s “Don’t Close Your Eyes”; and Omar José Cardona (Team Legend) went with Michael Jackson’s “The Way You Make Me Feel” and Queen’s “Somebody to Love”.
All of them will fancy their chances. Some pundits are calling it for Leatherwood, others are moved by Myles.
The season-long frontrunner Bodie did his chances no harm with a fun cover of Styles’ poppy number, despite being thrust into the opening spot of the night. He followed up with a dramatic rendition of “Gratitude” that had everyone waving their hands in the air.
Earlier in the competition, the California native impressed with his take on a modern classic, JVKE’s 2022 release “Golden Hour”; he won through in a battle with Jaeden Luke on Justin Bieber‘s “As Long as You Love Me”; and got a four-chair turn during the blind auditions with a performance of The Fray’s “You Found Me”.
All will be revealed soon.
The reality show’s live two-day finale wraps with results at 9 p.m. ET on Tuesday (Dec. 13). For the lucky winner, Christmas will come early. The winner’s spoils include a recording contract with Universal Music Group and $100,000.
The Christmas takeover is about to begin on the U.K. chart, with three holiday classics jostling for the crown.
Based on sales and streaming data published by the Official Charts Company, Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” (Columbia) holds the edge at the halfway point, ahead of Wham’s “Last Christmas” (RCA) and Ed Sheeran & Elton John’s “Merry Christmas” (Atlantic), respectively.
Just 1,000 chart sales separate the three tracks at the midweek point, the OCC reports.
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All three tracks have led the Official U.K. Singles Chart, with Carey’s 1994 classic the current No. 1.
They’ll face some stiff competition for the coveted Christmas No. 1 in the form of LadBaby. The husband and wife duo of Mark and Roxanne Hoyle last year made history with a fourth consecutive U.K. Christmas No. 1, a streak they intend to extend with a fundraising cover of Band Aid’s “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”
The single will drop this Friday (Dec. 16), with proceeds from it divided equally between food bank charity The Trussell Trust and the Band Aid Trust.
This year’s countdown to the Christmas No. 1 will be revealed on Friday, Dec. 23.
Meanwhile, the original Band Aid all-star recording is one of many Christmas songs which stuff the Official Chart Update, as classics by Brenda Lee, Michael Buble, the Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl, and Bobby Helms rise in the top 10.
Also noteworthy is Lizzo’s cover of Stevie Wonder’s “Someday At Christmas” (Atlantic), an Amazon Music “Original,” which eyes a new peak, up 21-13 on the chart blast, while Kelly Clarkson’s “Underneath The Tree” (RCA) could land its highest spot on the chart, at No. 14.
The highest debut on the chart should belong to SZA, whose “Kill Bill” (RCA/Top Dawg) bows at No. 24 at the midweek point, and “Nobody Gets Me” is set to start at No. 28. Both are lifted from the U.S. R&B artist’s long-awaited sophomore album, SOS, which dropped last Friday.
BRISBANE, Australia — Universal Music Australia taps Sean Warner for the top job, which will vacated by the incumbent George Ash at year’s end.
Announced Tuesday (Dec. 13), Warner is promoted to president, Universal Music Australia & New Zealand, with effect from Jan. 1, 2023.
The incoming chief is a UMA stalwart with 15 years’ experience leading the company’s commercial business, both physical and digital.
Warner joined UMA in 2007 as national sales manager and has served on its senior management team in recent years, most recently as senior vice president of commercial, with duties for the commercial growth, innovation and digital development for UMA & New Zealand.
During his time with Universal, Warner has overseen the commercial strategy in Southeast Asia (SEA), launched the Bravado merchandise and licensing interests on both sides of the Tasman, and developed UMA’s eCommerce activities.
Prior to joining the music major, Warner held senior roles with BMG Interactive, Sony PlayStation, DMX Music and Foxtel. Also, he serves as chair of the AMTD fundraising committee for the music industry charity organization Support Act.
“Sean’s deep understanding of the Australian market combined with his operational experience and the respect he has earned from his UMG colleagues and artists—both domestic and international—makes him the ideal executive to take on the role of president,” comments Lucian Grainge, chairman and CEO of UMG.
“I’m confident he will expand our track record of creative and commercial success in a market that so culturally important.”
Warner will succeed UMA’s long-time leader Ash, who, as previously reported, plans to retire from his position at UMA.
Ash, who led the company as president since 2010, marked the end of an era in the Australian music industry when he announced his departure on Monday (Dec. 12).
“The time is right for me to step down from Universal,” Ash explained in a separate statement. “I feel confident that with the brilliant leadership group we have now, the organization will continue to grow and thrive.”
As previously reported, Ash last year initiated an investigation into workplace culture at UMA, and engaged Darren Perry at law firm Seyfarth Shaw to conduct the probe.
“As the region’s leading music company, we will continue to innovate and evolve our businesses,” says Warner in a statement, “and support our artists and labels as they deliver the very best music and culture to fans.”
Sam Ryder is up, up and away in the U.K. albums chart race.
The hirsute Eurovision contestant leads the midweek chart with There’s Nothing But Space, Man! (via Parlophone), his debut album.
Space, Man holds an advantage of almost 2-to-1 over its nearest competitor, SZA’s SOS, the Official Charts Company reports.
Ryder represented England at Eurovision 2022 in May, his entry “Space Man” raking in 466 points for second place behind the winners from Ukraine, Kalush.
“Space Man” went on to peak at No. 2 on the Official U.K. Singles Chart in the same month, losing out to Harry Styles’ mega-hit “As It Was.”
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If it maintains its trajectory, There’s Nothing But Space, Man! would become the first debut album by a solo artist to hit No. 1 in the U.K. since Oliva Rodrigo’s Sour in March 2021, according to the OCC.
Coming in at No. 2 on the Chart Update is SZA’s long-awaited second LP SOS (via RCA/Top Dawg), which is on track to land the U.S. singer a career chart peak and her first U.K. top 10. Regardless of where it enters, SOS should top the No. 45 best for her critically-regarded debut Ctrl from 2017.
English singer and songwriter Sam Fender could nab two top 10 titles this week, with Live From Finsbury Park (Polydor) set to debut at No. 7, and his former leader Seventeen Going Under on course to lift 45-9. Earlier in the week, Fender was announced as a headliner for the 2023 edition of Britain’s Reading and Leeds Festivals.
Also eying a top 40 U.K. debut is A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie’s fourth album Me Vs Myself (Atlantic), which currently sits at No. 21. The U.S. rapper hit No. 11 with his previous collection, 2020’s Artist 2.0.
As the U.K. enters a cold snap, Christmas tunes are dominating playlists at home. No less than four holiday-themed albums appear in the top 10 of the chart blast, led by Michael Buble’s Christmas (via Reprise), up 5-4.
All will be revealed when the weekly chart is published Friday.
Shaq is throwing an appropriately large New Year’s Eve event in the VR world.
Retired NBA great Shaquille O’Neal will host “The Shaq-tacular Spectacular,” an immersive VR countdown special featuring guest spots from Cardi B, Killer Mike, Ludacris, Lil Yachty, Rob Gronkowski and Camille Kostek.
“This year we’re ringing in 2023 with new experiences and connections. I’m excited to celebrate with some of my favorite artists and athletes in a way that you can enjoy with friends and family in VR across the world,” the basketball superstar, broacaster and DJ says in a statement.
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“From music, laughs and much more, we’re celebrating New Year’s Eve and welcoming 2023 with a spectacular party you won’t want to miss.”
The 19-year pro, who won four titles in the NBA and is regarded as one of the most dominant big men of all time, will spin tunes for a virtual DJ Diesel set, filling it up on a main stage that’s said to be “filled with a marching band, cheerleaders, pro roller skaters, basketball players” and more.
As the clock counts down to 2023, the one-hour special will premiere in VR in Meta Horizon Worlds and on Meta Quest TV, as well as on O’Neal’s Facebook and Instagram pages and Messenger’s Watch Together.
It is being produced by Westbrook Media, Media.Monks and Shaquille O’Neal’s Jersey Legends Productions, with the action tipping off from 6:30pm ET on Saturday, Dec. 31. Shaq has thrown his considerable frame behind several music ventures, including Shaq’s Fun House festival — a part festival, part carnival brand.
As DJ Diesel, he’s partial to massive, heavy-hitting bass music, a genre he says saved him and gave him purpose after retiring from the NBA in 2011. “The whole genre is energy,” O’Neal told Billboard earlier this year. “I missed that once retiring. Bass music was the vice I was missing and desperately needed.”
Since launching the DJ Diesel project, O’Neal hasn’t sat on the bench. He’s played many prestige clubs and festivals including Electric Zoo, Lollapalooza and Tomorrowland.