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Country singer Jameson Rodgers allegedly hurled a “full, unopened beer can” into a concert crowd and hit a fan during a 2022 festival on the Jersey Shore – and an appeals court now says Sony Music must continue to face the resulting lawsuit filed by the injured woman.
Samantha Haws sued Rodgers, Sony and others, claiming the incident at the 2022 Barefoot Country Music Festival in Wildwood, NJ, had left her with “severe and permanent injuries.” She even sued MillerCoors because it was a can of Miller Lite that Rodgers allegedly threw.
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Sony wants to be dismissed from the case, arguing that it cannot be sued in New Jersey because it isn’t based in the state and didn’t operate the festival. But a lower judge denied that request last year – and a New Jersey appeals court upheld that ruling on Wednesday.
In recent years, there’s been a disturbing trend of objects being thrown at concert performers. NBA YoungBoy stopped a show earlier this month after fans threw objects, Luke Combs was hit in the face during a July concert, and Bebe Rexha needed stitches after being hit with a smartphone, leading to criminal charges against the offender.
But there’s also been multiple incidents involving objects thrown by the artists, often resulting in legal action. 50 Cent was sued last year over an incident in which he threw a microphone off-stage in frustration, allegedly hitting a stagehand. Cardi B hurled a mic at a fan who threw a drink at her at a 2023 Las Vegas concert, resulting in another lawsuit.
In her July 2024 case, Haws claims that Rodgers and/or others “threw full, unopened cans of Miller Lite beer from the stage into the crowded audience” at the Barefoot Festival. She says one struck her “violently and without warning in the head and facial area,” leaving her with “severe, painful and permanent bodily injuries.”
Sony, named as a defendant in the case because Rodgers is signed to Columbia Nashville, immediately moved to exit the case. The company argued that it didn’t organize or market the festival or pay for or provide security for it. But a judge said last year that Rodgers had potentially performed at the festival as Sony’s agent, which could legally put the company on the hook for his actions.
In Wednesday’s decision, the New Jersey appeals court rejected Sony’s appeal of that ruling. It said there was “no error” by the lower judge because Haws had established a “business relationship between Sony and Rodgers related to live performances” and the label “would be subject to specific jurisdiction if Rodgers was acting on Sony’s behalf at the time Haws was injured.”
The ruling does not mean Sony is liable to Haws, or that her allegations will ultimately be proven. Instead, it merely sets the stage for more litigation over whether Sony was sufficiently involved to face the lawsuit. Reps for Sony, and both reps and an attorney for Rodgers did not immediately return requests for comment on Thursday.
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Source: Budweiser / Budweiser
One of America’s most beloved beers is saluting one of the culture’s most beloved MC’s. Budweiser has just released an issue of Word Up! Magazine in tribute to The Notorious B.I.G..
As spotted on Hype Beast the King of Beers has partnered with the late great rapper’s estate to bring back one of Hip-Hop’s most influential publications. The co-branded effort celebrates the anniversary of his seminal debut Ready To Die. This limited-edition print highlights his brief but significant career while using some of the most iconic photographs of the “10 Crack Commandments” MC. Additionally, it will feature excerpts from his mother Voleta Wallace, his children, Angie Martinez and others.
“Christopher Wallace’s story is one of resilience, determination, and the belief in self that shaped him into the rap legend known as The Notorious B.I.G. During Hip-Hop’s 50th anniversary, Budweiser is proud to champion B.I.G.’s story, spirit and legacy through the reimagining of this iconic publication” a formal press release reads. “Dive deep into these pages; in every line and image, the story of B.I.G. awaits. From the gritty avenues of Brooklyn to the corners of the country, a legend in the making never quits.”
The first edition of the Budweiser Word Up! Magazine Notorious B.I.G. edition is available now at select retailers throughout the country. A deluxe edition is scheduled for a September 28 release. You can read about this special release here.
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Ozuna and Coors Light join forces and kick off their newest campaign Ritmo Chill. In the spirit of the beer brand’s slogan “Made To Chill” — which is on par with Coors Light’s aesthetic of the Rocky Mountains — Ozuna heads towards the icy route but gives his newest song some heat with the tropical-laden single, “Chill Conmigo,” written and produced by the artist himself.
The visual follows the Puerto Rican-Dominican star in an office setting who’s ready to break free and go on a quest for chiller moments. So he climbs to the peak of the Rocky Mountains and discovers a loaded Coors Light cooler. “Yo solo busco un ambiente para vacilar con mi gente,” he sings against a joyous mix of Afrobeats and calypso pop. “I’m just looking for an environment to hang out with my people.” Then the scene transitions to the Ozuna enjoying himself at a spring break-styled pool party.
“Ritmo Chill is a musical program focused on helping consumers eliminate daily pressures by relaxing with good music and a cold Coors Light,” said consumer excellence senior manager, LatAm, Yaidi Clery in a statement. “The collab with Ozuna is a dream partnership because they both embody that spirit of taking things easy and letting go with good vibes. Just like Ozuna, Coors Light is ‘made to chill’.”
Although Coors Light Latin America soft launched Ritmo Chill last year, which also includes a series of five playlists on Spotify titled “Chill with Friends,” “After Work,” “Beach Chill,” “Pool Time,” and Chill Vibes,” it’s the first time the division launches an original song and video with a Latin powerhouse performer for their campaign.
Ozuna, a global reggaeton and Latin trap hitmaker, is a five-time No. 1 chart-topper on Hot Latin Songs. He has landed on the Top Latin Albums with all of his five albums, including two No. 1s, and has reached the Billboard Hot 100 twenty times to date with hits like “Taki Taki,” “Te Boté,” “Monotonía,” “Criminal,” and more. In December, Ozuna performed live at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 closing ceremony.
As conservative country stars such as John Rich and Travis Tritt continue their calls for a boycott of Bud Light, Anheuser-Busch CEO Brendan Whitworth has responded to the ongoing controversy on Friday (April 14).
In a statement posted to the company’s official Instagram page and Twitter account, Whitworth said that he felt a responsibility toward making sure “every consumer feels proud of the beer we brew,” pointing to Anheuser-Busch’s history of support for “our communities, military, first responders, sports fans and hard-working Americans everywhere.”
In regards to the ongoing backlash, Whitworth clarified the company’s objectives as a brand: “We never intended to be part of a discussion that divides people,” he wrote. “We are in the business of bringing people together over a beer.”
Conservative backlash to the brand began when transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney participated in a branded partnership with Bud Light, advertising its Easy Carry Contest across her social media accounts, in which she thanked the company for sending her a can of the beer with her face emblazoned on the side.
In response to Mulvaney’s video, artists including Kid Rock and Ted Nugent began speaking out against the brand, with Tritt and Rich starting their own respective boycotts of all Anheuser-Busch products.
Whitworth never directly referenced Mulvaney, Tritt, Rich, or the boycotts themselves in his statement. Instead, he focused on “the importance of accountability and the values upon which America was founded: freedom, hard work and respect for one another,” while also adding that he as CEO would focus more on “protecting [Anheuser-Busch’s] remarkable history and heritage.”
Closing his official statement, Whitworth said that he would “continue to work tirelessly to bring great beers to consumers across the nation.”
Check out Brendan Whitworth’s full statement below.
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