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Linda Perry’s Let It Die documentary will be spotlighted at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival in June, but leading up to the event, the official trailer for the film arrived on Thursday (April 18). Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news In the two-minute clip, fans get a […]
As Cowboy Carter enjoys a second consecutive week atop the Billboard 200, the world continues to dissect Queen Bey’s latest opus. On Thursday (April 18), via a press release, Max announced a new documentary titled Call Me Country: Beyoncé & Nashville’s Renaissance slated to hit the streamer on Friday, April 26.
Produced by CNN FlashDocs, the upcoming documentary will provide a look at the impact of high-profile acts like Beyoncé and Lil Nas X on the contemporary country music scene and how their contributions connect to the history of Black artists in Nashville.
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Earlier this year, Queen Bey made history with “Texas Hold ‘Em,” the lead single for Cowboy Carter, announced and released during the 2024 Super Bowl (Feb. 11). On the chart dated Feb. 24, “Texas Hold ‘Em” reached No. 1 on Hot Country Songs, marking the first time a Black woman had ever topped the ranking. The following week (chart dated March 2), “Texas Hold ‘Em” became the first country song by a Black woman to top the Billboard Hot 100. Following the release of “Texas Hold ‘Em” and its B-side, “16 Carriages,” streaming activity for other Black women in country exploded across the board.
Call Me Country will feature interviews with Grammy-winning country duo Brothers Osborne, “Texas Hold ‘Em” banjo player Rhiannon Giddens, Rissi Palmer, Aaron Vance and Denitia, as well as analysis from a slew of cultural critics and country music experts, including Touré and co-directors of the Black Opry Holly G. and Tanner D.
Cowboy Carter, Beyoncé’s eighth solo studio album, arrived March 29 with 27 tracks that pay homage to the Black roots of country music and envision a distinctively Beyoncé-esque future for the genre. The sprawling album included collaborations with several ascendant Black country stars including Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Reyna Roberts, Tiera Kennedy, Shaboozey and Willie Jones. In addition, country music legends Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton voiced interludes on the album, which Beyoncé described as a “continuation” of her Grammy-winning Renaissance record.
Fans may still be waiting on the visuals, but, in the meantime, they can enjoy the Call Me Country documentary.
The 2024 Tribeca Festival is just around the corner and this year’s selections feature a number of anticipated documentaries about musical luminaries from the rock, pop, country and EDM worlds.
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The festivities will kick-off on June 5 with the world premiere of Diane von Furstenberg: Woman in Charge, a profile of the life of the fashion designer and cultural icon directed by Tribeca alum Trish Dalton and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy.
Over the course of nearly two weeks (June 5-16) the fest will feature screenings of a number of important music docs, including They All Came Out to Montreux, a look at the half century-old annual jazz festival in Switzerland featuring Prince, Carlos Santana, Sting, Aretha Franklin and the Rolling Stones’ Keith Richards.
Attendees will also be able to check out Linda Perry: Let It Die Here, a look at the mega-successful former 4 Non Blondes singer-turned-songwriter-producer featuring Dolly Parton, Brandi Carlile and Christina Aguilera, as well as a film about late EDM superstar Avicci, Avicii – I’m Tim, featuring Coldplay’s Chris Martin and David Guetta. In addition to screening the doc Satisfied about actress/singer Renée Elise Goldsberry (Hamilton, Girls5eva), Goldsberry (and Perry) will perform after the world premieres of their respective films.
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Other music films will look at the careers of techno producer Carl Craig (Desire: The Carl Craig Story), civil rights activist/singer Harry Belafonte (Following Harry), Bruce Springsteen guitarist and actor “Little” Steven Van Zandt (Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple), performance artist/singer Genesis P-Orridge (S/He Is Still Her/e – The Official Genesis P-Orridge Doc) and 1990s alternative goddess Ani DiFranco (1-800-ON-HER-OWN), as well as a doc about the the new crop of country insurgents, Rebel Country, featuring Blanco Brown, Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson and BRELAND.
“Each year, the Tribeca Festival reflects our culture, capturing the essence of the present moment. We’re thrilled to showcase our 23rd edition, delving into captivating explorations of artificial intelligence with Demis Hassabis, thought-provoking discussions on the future of democracy, and so much more,” said Tribeca CEO/co-founder Jane Rosenthal in a statement. “Storytelling possesses a remarkable ability to bring us together, offering hope in these challenging times. We eagerly anticipate engaging with audiences on difficult yet timely subjects.”
Among the features on tap this year are a film about a young woman growing up on the Oglala Lakota reservation in South Dakota, Jazzy (Lily Gladstone), Daddio (Dakota Johnson, Sean Penn), the Brat Pack doc Brats (directed by Andrew McCarthy and featuring Demi Moore, Ally Sheedy, Rob Lowe, Molly Ringwald and Lea Thompson), Sacramento (Michael Cera, Kristen Stewart, Maya Erskine) and Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story featuring archival footage of Liza Minnelli.
Other films on tap include Group Therapy (Neil Patrick Harris, Mike Birbiglia, Tig Notaro), All That We Love (Margaret Cho, Jesse Tyler Ferguson) and a deep dive into the world of queer stand-up, Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution (Lily Tomlin, Wanda Sykes, Rosie O’Donnell, Hannah Gadsby and Joel Kim Booster).
According to a release, this year’s films “speak to today’s political moment and inform voters ahead of the upcoming election,” including the screening of Hacking Hate, a Simon Klose film that “questions the role of social media in amplifying hate speech and extremism.” Among the other politically charged films are McVeigh, an exploration of chilling modern implications of right-wing extremism directed by Mike Ott and America’s Burning, in which Michael Douglas narrates director David Smick’s look at the roots of hate and division.
The Cranes Call is a profile of war crimes investigators for the Clooney Foundation For Justice in which director Laura Warner gives a look at the brave staffers for the organization founded by George and Amal Clooney as they risk their lives traversing war-torn Ukraine to gather evidence for cases against Russian soldiers and commanders. There will also be a look into Russian dictator Vladimir Putin’s deadly, repressive regime (Antidote) and a doc about the daring rescue of animals trapped behind enemy lines in Ukraine, Checkpoint Zoo.
This year’s sprawling program will include 103 features from 114 filmmakers from 48 countries — out of a record 13,016 submissions — including 86 world premieres, two international premieres, six North American premieres and eight New York premieres; in addition, half of the films in competition were directed by women and 35% (36) were directed by BIPOC filmmakers.
Check out a 2024 Tribeca sizzle reel below.
Forget “The Power of Love,” the world is going to get an up-close behind-the-scenes look at the power of Céline Dion in her new documentary, which finally received an official release date. On Tuesday (April 16), via a joint Instagram post on the official pages for Dion and Prime Movies, Amazon MGM Studios announced that […]
Kiss the Future, the documentary about U2’s landmark 1997 concert in Sarajevo, is coming to Paramount+, Billboard can exclusively announce.
The Berlin Film Festival and Tribeca Film Festival selection will arrive exclusively on the platform in the U.S. and Canada on May 7.
The film, produced by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon for Artists Equity and Sarah Anthony, is based on writer Bill S. Carter’s memoir Fools Rush In, which captures the artistic defiance surrounding the 1990s siege of Sarajevo during the Bosnian War. The doc highlights the underground community that used music to effect change, ultimately inspiring an American aid worker to reach out to U2 to help raise awareness of the conflict.
Kiss the Future features interviews with U2’s Bono, The Edge and Adam Clayton, as well as President Bill Clinton, journalist Christiane Amanpour and more as it celebrates U2’s post-war concert, where they performed to 45,000 fans in the joyous, liberated city.
“What I learned from my experience during the war and through the process of making this film is that even in the darkest of times, those who found purpose through playing music, making art and helping others did not just survive, they thrived – in the end Sarajevans embraced their enemy in order to heal,” Kiss the Future director and co-writer Nenad Cicin-Sain shared in an exclusive statement to Billboard. “The people of Sarajevo gave me hope in humanity, and I believe if you see this movie it will do the same for you.”
U2 lead guitarist The Edge added: “Kiss the Future documents how through superhuman acts of courage and creativity, the people of Sarajevo kept going while their city was under siege during the bloody Balkan civil war of the early 1990s. Their story of defiance and resistance against extreme nationalism couldn’t be more relevant to today. To have been even a small part of this amazing story is a huge privilege.”
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U2 just wrapped a 40-date residency at the brand-new Las Vegas venue Sphere last month, grossing $244.5 million from 663,000 tickets sold to become the fourth-highest-grossing concert residency of all time.
Watch the Kiss the Future trailer below, and watch the film exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S. and Canada starting May 7.
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Since there have been stars there have been superfans. But not until Eminem gave a name to his most obsessed, singularly focused admirers did we have “Stans.” Slim Shady’s 2000 “Stan” single from this smash Marshall Mathers LP — famously featured a lilting sample of Dido’s “Thank You” — has become shorthand for the kind of sometimes too-into-it disciple a famous musician might want to avoid meeting in person.
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Well, now the reclusive Detroit rap god is calling all Stans for possible inclusion in an upcoming untitled documentary about his most monomaniacal mavens. ” [eyeball emoji] Looking for Stans [movie slate emoji] for a documentary produced by Eminem & Shady Films. To share your story, please answer the questions here,” read a tweet on Wednesday (April 10) seeking stories.
The solicitation tweet then whisked fans to a questionnaire featuring a list of queries aimed at gauging their level of super-fandom. “Share your story with the world in an exciting new documentary film produced by Eminem and Shady Films,” reads a message on the doc site. In addition to basic bio and social media information, the list of questions includes the following: “When/how did you first hear Eminem?,” “Would you consider yourself a ‘Stan?’ Why/why not?,” “Do you collect Eminem merch, make Eminem artwork, write fan fiction, etc.? If so, please explain in detail,” as well as queries about whether they’ve ever been to Detroit and where they went while there.
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The questions go deeper still, asking about their favorite Eminem song (and which one hit them on a “deep personal level” and why), as well as which parts of Em’s personal story relates to them, whether his music has helped them through difficult times, things they’ve accomplished thanks to his songs, if they’ve met the rapper (where/when) and what the interaction was like, and, of course, if they have any photos or video of their Marshall meet cute.
The last batch really dig deep into their Stan-itude, asking if they remember the MC taking a break from touring/releasing albums around 2005 (and how it impacted them), how often they listen to his music/look at his socials/Google him, and, most importantly, “if you could tell Eminem anything, what would it be?” In addition to a recent photo, the questionnaire ends with a request for a one-minute video explaining why they are the Stanniest Stan, including a story about “anything unique” they’ve done, a fan letter they sent or their favorite Shady merch.
In February, Variety reported that Em was co-producing a Stans doc aimed at diving into the complicated relationship between artists and their audience. The film will reportedly open later this year, with Steven Leckhart tapped to direct what is described as a “revealing, edgy and disarmingly personal journey into the world of superfandom, told through the lens of one of the world’s most iconic and enduring artists, Eminem, and the fans that worship him.”
In a statement, the rapper’s longtime manager Paul Rosenberg added, “Stans will be the opportunity for us to to turn the camera around and ask the audience about being fans — and in some cases, fanatics. This is a study of the relationship between fanbase and artist through the lens of one of Eminem’s most fascinating songs and one of the world’s most important entertainers.”
“Stan,” produced by The 45 King, peaked of No. 51 on the Billboard Hot 100 in December 2000. The Oxford English Dictionary added the term “Stan” to its pages in 2017.
Check out the call for stories below.
J-Hope‘s new album era is upon us. The BTS superstar is unveiling a six-part docuseries, Hope on the Street, which will “trail J-Hope’s dance journey” as he explores Osaka, Paris and New York, as well as Seoul and Gwangju in Korea, and meets street dancers throughout the cities. To celebrate the upcoming series, Billboard can exclusively […]
The Kid Laroi gets more vulnerable than ever with fans on his newest Prime Video documentary Kids Are Growing Up: A Story About A Kid Named LAROI, and in the film, the 20-year-old Australian star opens up about his relationship with Justin Bieber, from friendship and musical collaborators to mentorship.
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“From the moment I met Justin, it was just all about positivity coming in here. No judgment zone, let’s all have fun,” Laroi says in the doc, before Bieber recalls: “He plays me this song, ‘Stay,’ and it was him on it by himself. He was like, ‘I don’t think I’m gonna use it for my album.’ I was like, ‘Well, if you don’t use it, give it to me. I’ll use it. This is a great song.’”
“Stay” spent seven non-consecutive weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100, and the diamond-certified anthem won Top Hot 100 Song as well as Top Collaboration honors at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards.
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Elsewhere in the documentary, Bieber offers Laroi encouragement while he’s rehearsing. “When you’re singing, believe everything you’re saying while you’re singing,” he tells him. “It helps so much. Sing it and really think about what you’re saying. I’m sure you do that.”
In another scene, Bieber is seen laying on the floor, shouting: “That’s a f—ing great song. You wrote that, bro. That’s f—ing sick!”
Directed by Michael D. Ratner and produced by OBB Pictures, the documentary takes viewers on a journey following The Kid LAROI — born Charlton Howard — and how he deals with fame amid the massive commercial success of “Stay” leading into his The First Time debut album, which arrived in November and included the singles “Love Again” and “Too Much” with Jung Kook and Central Cee.
Kids Are Growing Up: A Story About A Kid Named LAROI is streaming on Prime Video now.
Universal Music Group Nashville, known for its roster of country music artists including Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, Eric Church and Chris Stapleton, has launched a new production arm of the Nashville-based entertainment company, focused on film and television projects.
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UMG Nashville‘s Sing Me Back Home Productions will delve into the deep catalog of artists throughout UMG Nashville’s history, in addition to celebrating newly-discovered talent. The new production arm is led by UMG Nashville chair/CEO Cindy Mabe, as well as senior vp, digital business and creative development Dawn Gates. The new division will focus on developing content for documentaries, original scripted and unscripted television, feature films and short-form content. In addition, it will be heavily involved in securing production partners, music supervision and distribution.
“Country music has always been the home of the richest storytellers in music. Storytellers like Merle Haggard, whose song ‘Sing Me Back Home’ helped frame the intent and name behind our production company,” Mabe said in a statement. “Songs and stories can transport people and literally sing them back home no matter where they are in the world. Creating a new canvas for our storytellers to paint was a natural next step for our artists to talk to their fans in a new way. With several productions underway, this new endeavor fits prominently into what we are sustaining and building as a music company: roots, legacy, music discovery, and storytelling. We are finding faith, family, and heartland are at the core of our business and we are making sure we are building generational content for different mediums across a variety of platforms and shepherding it into the homes of our audience.”
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Sing Me Back Home Productions has teamed with ITV America’s Thinkfactory Media to develop and produce a docuseries that will follow the personal and professional lives of Grammy-nominated husband-and-wife duo, The War and Treaty‘s Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter. The docuseries will be helmed by Thinkfactory’s CEO and veteran producer Adam Reed. The docuseries is already in the works with a broadcast partner and is among the first of several projects in development through Sing Me Back Home’s broader collaboration with Thinkfactory Media.
Additionally, the Betsy Schechter-produced documentary Gloria Gaynor: I Will Survive, will soon be released in partnership with Storyville Entertainment. The documentary premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, and won the best feature documentary award at La Femme Women’s International Film Festival in Los Angeles. Most recently, Gloria Gaynor: I Will Survive won The Palm Springs International Film Festival audience award “best of fest.”
“Country music and its community of artists, past and present, offer such a vast and rich world to explore for content,” Reed said in a statement. “As Thinkfactory doubles down on work rooted in the Heartland, we’re incredibly bullish on the projects we’re developing with Sing Me Back Home, and we admire what Cindy and her group are building at a time when the genre and its hitmakers are flying higher than ever.”
“We are thrilled to have the expertise of Cindy, Dawn, and the Sing Me Back Home team to partner on producing ‘Gloria Gaynor: I Will Survive,’” Schechter said in a statement. “Just like her iconic song ‘I Will Survive,’ Gloria’s life is equally inspirational and this film has the power to impact audiences around the world for years to come.”
The new production division is the latest expansive move for UMG Nashville, following the recent launches of Silver Wings Records, and the comedy division Capitol Comedy Nashville.
The Kid Laroi gets vulnerable in his upcoming Prime Video documentary Kids Are Growing Up: A Story About A Kid Named Laroi, and in a new clip shared exclusively with Billboard, the 20-year-old Australian star opens up about his current mental health state as he navigates the beginning of adulthood. “Maybe I’m just feeling lost. Maybe […]