State Champ Radio Music News
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Things are getting a little uneasy in the Big Easy. According to Nola.com, ahead of Kendrick Lamar‘s anticipated halftime show at Feb. 9’s Super Bowl LIX, a group of 17 Republican Louisiana legislators sent a letter to the leaders of the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation and the Louisiana Stadium and Expo District claiming that the state’s taxpayers should have a say in what takes place during the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles.
Specifically, the note called out what is deemed a “lewd” performance by Rihanna in 2023 and the 2020 halftime show by Jennifer Lopez, during which they said the singer “wore little clothing and was groped by male and female dancers on stage, while the performer made sexually suggestive gestures and performed on a stripper pole.”
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“While certainly a large amount of support exists among many Louisianians who are excited about the Super Bowl coming back to New Orleans, many are also hardworking taxpayers with children who have serious concerns about the fact that past Super Bowl halftime performances have been less than family-friendly,” the letter read.
The note does not specifically name Lamar, instead focusing on some past performances, including the infamous 2004 Janet Jackson/Justin Timberlake “wardrobe malfunction,” while devoting half a paragraph to a vivid description of Rihanna’s halftime show. It describes the singer “groping herself while she sang song lyrics that were so offensive that few Louisiana adults could read those lyrics before an audience without shame.”
The signatories to the letter said they refused to repeat the lyrics in their note because they are “so offensive.”
“We realize that these past vulgar performances may have been acceptable to the residents of those states where those Super Bowls were held but, in Louisiana, these lewd acts are inappropriate for viewing by children, objectify women, and are simply NOT welcomed by the majority of Louisiana parents,” they wrote.
This year’s game will take place at the Caesars Superdome in the city known for its generous embrace of all manner of debaucherous behavior, including nearly round-the-clock drunken, boisterous tourists stumbling through the legendary French Quarter and women hoisting up their shirts to expose themselves for beads during Mardi Gras.
And while the lawmakers acknowledged that the contracts for next month’s Super Bowl are already signed, they expressed a wish that future contracts for the use of facilities “funded and paid for by Louisiana taxpayers” ensure, in writing, that any performers’ conduct adheres to “Louisiana’s community decency standards.”
Pulitzer Prize honoree and 17-time Grammy winner Lamar will be joined by four-time Grammy winner SZA for this year’s halftime show.
Read the full letter here.
Deitrick Haddon achieves his fourth No. 1 on Billboard’s Gospel Airplay chart as “Never Be the Same” ascends to the top of the survey dated Feb. 1. During the Jan. 17-23 tracking week, the song increased by 11% in plays, according to Luminate. “Never Be the Same” was authored solely by Haddon and he co-produced […]
Alison Krauss & Union Station will return with the group’s first new album in 14 years, Arcadia, when the project releases March 28 on Down The Road Records.
The group just released a first glimpse at the project with the new song “Looks Like the End of the Road.”
The 10-song Arcadia album, produced by Alison Krauss & Union Station, features songs primarily composed by Robert Lee Castleman, Viktor Krauss, Bob Lucas, JD McPherson and Sarah Siskind.
“Usually, I find something that’s a first song, and then things fall into place,” Krauss said in a statement. “That song was ‘Looks Like The End Of The Road.’ Jeremy Lister wrote it, and it just felt so alive — and asalways, I could hear the guys already playing it.”
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The new album will release on Down The Road Records, which was founded in 2023 by Ken Irwin, Marian Leighton Levy and and Bill Nowlin, who previously founded the iconic independent music label Rounder Records, as well as “fourth Rounder” John Virant, who led Rounder for several years. Krauss was first signed to Rounder when she was 14. Meanwhile, Douglas first worked with Rounder in the 1970s as part of JD Crowe & The New South. Rounder supported Alison Krauss & Union Station’s earlier releases, from the group’s 1989 debut album Two Highways to their 2011 album Paper Airplane, which debuted atop multiple Billboard albums charts, including the country and bluegrass charts.
With Arcadia, Alison Krauss & Union Station welcome new band member Russell Moore on guitar, mandolin and co-lead vocals. Moore is known for his work with another bluegrass outfit, IIrd Tyme Out, and is the International Bluegrass Music Association’s most-awarded male vocalist. He joins bandmates Krauss (fiddle, lead vocals), Jerry Douglas (dobro, lap steel, vocals), Ron Block (banjo, guitar, vocals) and Barry Bales (bass, vocals).
Krauss said in a statement regarding the album, “The stories of the past are told in this music. It’s that whole idea of ‘in the good old days when times were bad.’ There’s so much bravery and valor and loyalty and dreaming, of family and themes of human existence that were told in a certain way when our grandparents were alive. Someone asked me, ‘How do you sing these tragic tunes? I have to. It’s a calling. I feel privileged to be a messenger of somebody else’s story. And I want to hear what happened.”
Alison Krauss & Union Station will also embark on their first tour together in a decade when The Arcadia 2025 Tour finds the storied group performing 75 dates across the United States and Canada. The new slate of tour dates starts with a two-night stint at The Louisville Palace in Louisville, Ky., on April 17-18.
Listen to “Looks Like the End of the Road” and see the track list for Arcadia below:
“Looks Like The End Of The Road” (Writer: Jeremy Lister)“The Hangman” (Viktor Krauss & Maurice Ogden)“The Wrong Way” (Robert Lee Castleman & Dan Tyminski)“Granite Mills” (Timothy Eriksen)“One Ray Of Shine” (Sarah Siskind & Viktor Krauss)“Richmond On The James” (Alison Krauss & G.T. Burgess)“North Side Gal” (Jonathan David McPherson)“Forever” (Robert Lee Castleman)“Snow” (Bob Lucas)“There’s A Light Up Ahead” (Jeremy Lister)
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If this whole football thing doesn’t work out, Travis Kelce has proven he has a viable second option in the game show world. Unlike the smash mouth, pound the pigskin skills he needs on the field as a tight end for the Super Bowl-bound Kansas City Chiefs, being the host of Amazon Prime’s Are You […]
The Jonas Brothers are proof you can go home again. Nick, Joe and Kevin Jonas announced on Tuesday (Jan. 28) that they will return to their early home at Disney for an upcoming holiday movie tentatively called Jonas Brothers Christmas Movie.
The trio revealed the news in a promo video posted by Disney+ (which will stream the film), in which the siblings pay homage to Love Actually with a bit in which they show up unannounced at someone’s home as schmaltzy holiday music plays in the background. They are, of course, holding a series of poster boards explaining their intentions, beginning with “Hi, we are the Jonas Brothers.”
After Joe reads the card aloud, Nick snaps at him, “No! Don’t say it! The whole point is you don’t say… you just let it… let them read it.” As the snow keeps falling, they try another take in which they smile and start dropping the news after reminding viewers which brother is which.
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“Sorry to bother you,” they explain. “But we’re making a Christmas movie… coming out this holiday season. Only on Disney+.” At press time the streamer has only said that the film is due out “later this year.” According to a description, the movie will find the brothers facing a “series of escalating obstacles as they struggle to make it from London to New York in time to spend Christmas with their families.”
The brothers will co-produce alongside writers/producers Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger (This Is Us), with Oscar winner Jessica Yu (Quiz Lady) slated to direct.
The team-up with Disney is a full-circle moment for the guys, who signed with Disney’s Hollywood Records in 2007 and made their TV debut that year on the Disney Channel’s Hannah Montana alongside Miley Cyrus. Their film debut came a year later in the Disney Channel music movie Camp Rock, in which they co-starred with Demi Lovato; they were back in 2010 for Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam. They also had their own show on the channel called Jonas and released three albums on Hollywood Records, their 2007 self-titled debut for the label, followed by 2008’s A Little Bit Longer and 2009’s Lines, Vines and Trying Times.
The group split in 2013 and went on hiatus until their reunion in 2019 for the album Happiness Begins, which featured the Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 single “Sucker,” which was their first chart-topping song. The trio released their sixth studio album, The Album, in 2023.
Grammy-nominated Justin Tranter will be the executive music producer and will write original songs for the movie.
Check out the Jonas Brothers holiday movie promo bit below.
Drum’n’bass duo Chase & Status have been revealed as the latest headliner for London’s All Points East festival on Aug. 16. They join previously announced performers for the two-weekend event including The Maccabees, RAYE and Barry Can’t Swim. Billed as the latest instalment in their RTRN II DANCE series, the duo will curate a day’s […]
The 2025 American Music Honors is set to celebrate a powerhouse lineup of legendary artists, with Smokey Robinson, John Fogerty, Emmylou Harris, Tom Morello, and Joe Ely being recognized for their influence on American music.
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Hosted by the Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music, the event will take place on April 26 at Monmouth University in New Jersey, with Bruce Springsteen and Patti Scialfa, along with Steven Van Zandt and Nils Lofgren, serving as presenters. Tickets for the event go on sale March 25.
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“This year’s honorees represent a cross-section of American music,” said Robert Santelli, founding executive director of the Bruce Springsteen Archives. “Rock, Americana, soul, and country are all represented by some of the most important artists from each genre. We are most excited to honor them and welcome them into the American Music Center family.”
While their careers span different genres—Motown, rock, country, and alternative—the honorees all share an undeniable impact on Billboard’s charts and American music history.
Smokey Robinson’s work as the frontman of The Miracles helped define the sound of Motown, and he was behind some of its biggest early hits. “Shop Around” became Motown’s first million-selling record and climbed to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1960. Later, as a solo artist, Smokey kept the momentum going. His 1981 hit “Being with You” also peaked at No. 2 on the Hot 100, making it his highest-charting solo single. Meanwhile, “Cruisin’” remains one of his most beloved tracks, reaching No. 4 on the Hot 100 in 1980.
John Fogerty, the voice behind Creedence Clearwater Revival, is a Billboard legend in his own right. The band famously holds the record for the most No. 2 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 without reaching No. 1, with classics like “Proud Mary” and “Bad Moon Rising.” His solo career continued that momentum, with Wrote a Song for Everyone reaching No. 3 on the Billboard 200 in 2013.
Tom Morello, best known as the guitarist for Rage Against the Machine, has left a major mark on rock music. The band’s 1992 self-titled debut peaked at No. 45 on the Billboard 200 but became one of the most influential records of the era. Their follow-ups Evil Empire (1996) and The Battle of Los Angeles (1999) both debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
Emmylou Harris, a country and Americana icon, has earned multiple No. 1 albums on the Top Country Albums chart, including Luxury Liner in 1977. She also secured a No. 1 hit on Hot Country Songs with “Together Again” in 1976.
Joe Ely, a pioneer in progressive country music, has had multiple charting albums. His 1981 release, Musta Notta Gotta Lotta, reached No. 135 on the Billboard 200 and peaked at No. 12 on the Top Country Albums chart. His later work continued to make an impact, with Twistin’ in the Wind peaking at No. 55 in 1998, Streets of Sin at No. 51 in 2003, and Satisfied at Last at No. 46 in 2011 on the Top Country Albums chart.
COIN are calling it quits. The Nashville-based pop-rock trio is officially disbanding, frontman Chase Lawrence announced on Tuesday (Jan. 28), citing “revelations” about his bandmates that conflicted with his values.
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“I have recently become aware of revelations around my bandmates and want to share some thoughts directly with all of you,” Lawrence wrote in a statement posted on the band’s official Instagram account.
“I believe in accountability and doing what’s right.”
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The news comes just weeks after COIN announced plans to tour without drummer Ryan Winnen, who left the band earlier this month “to focus on some personal matters.” In his statement, Lawrence revealed that he has now also parted ways with guitarist Joe Memmel.
“Three months ago, I made the decision to move forward without my drummer, and yesterday, I parted ways with my guitarist,” he continued. “Their behaviors directly conflict with my values, and I am devastated for anyone who has been affected by these actions.”
Formed in 2012, COIN rose to prominence with their breakout single “Talk Too Much” in 2016, which peaked at No. 8 on Billboard’s Alternative Airplay chart. The band released five studio albums, including I’m Not Afraid of Music Anymore, released in 2024.
“Creating a space for love & joy through music has always been my mission,” Lawrence added in his statement. “Discovering that this space has been compromised by the actions of others is truly heartbreaking. Unfortunately, these developments have led me to the decision that COIN can no longer continue as a band.”
The singer apologized to fans for “the disappointment this may bring” and confirmed that refunds for the band’s now-canceled tour dates would be available at the point of purchase. Despite the band’s dissolution, Lawrence hinted that he will continue making music in some capacity.
“There’s a lot to figure out about the future, but I know I’m not done making music yet,” he concluded.
Read Lawrence’s full statement via COIN’s Instagram below.
Just over ten years since TV on the Radio last shared fresh music with their dedicated fanbase, vocalist Tunde Adebimpe has announced the release of his forthcoming debut solo album.
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Dubbed Thee Black Boltz and set for release on April 18th, the record comes following Adebimpe’s signing to the iconic Sub Pop Records in October. While the new track “Magnetic” was released at the time, the formal announcement of the new album has also come accompanied by the Jahphet Landis-produced “Drop”
Per a press release, Thee Black Boltz is not a TV on the Radio album, though the excitement Adebimpe experienced while going out on his own was similar to what he felt in the band’s early days in Brooklyn at the turn of the century. However, while his songwriting process remains the same, the previous safety harness of a full band allowing him to leave ideas incomplete did not exist within this context.
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“I’ve been doing this thing with this group of people for so long, that I can just have a vague sketch of a concept and I know Jaleel [Bunton] or Kyp [Malone] will have five brilliant ideas on where it can go,” Adebimpe says. “But for Thee Black Boltz, I didn’t have that scaffolding to hang on. That was both terrifying and exhilarating.”
On the topic of the album’s title, Adebimpe explains that it’s a response to the unease that world has experienced – ranging from a post-pandemic world and its movement towards “violent authoritarianism” – and also his own grief, including the passing of his younger sister during the record’s construction.
“It was my way of building a rock or a platform for myself in the middle of this fucking ocean,” he says of the album. “Also, it’s a good name for a cool metal band, and I think that most people would describe me as akin to a very cool metal band.”
Adebimpe reprised his role up the front of TV on the Radio last year when the band played their first live shows since 2019. Performing in New York City, Los Angeles, and London, the performances coincided with the reissue of their 2004 debut album Desperate Youth, Bloodthirsty Babes. The reissue was also complemented by the addition of five bonus tracks, which served as the band’s first release of unheard music since 2014’s Seeds album.
Following a surprise comeback show in 2024, Alabama Shakes are bringing their reunion into the new year, with confirmation of new music.
The band confirmed their intentions to return with new music in a post shared to Instagram on Monday (Jan. 27).
The series of photos shows the band – including vocalist and guitarist Brittany Howard, bassist Zac Cockrell, and lead guitarist Heath Fogg – in the studio with producer Shawn Everett, who mixed and engineered their last album, 2015’s Sound & Color. “Working on some exciting stuff!” the group wrote in the accompanying caption.
The band went on hiatus in 2018, with Howard soon embarking upon a solo career that resulted in the release of 2019’s Jamie, which peaked at No. 13 on the Billboard 200. Her second solo album, What Now, would arrive in February 2024.
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Alabama Shakes first formed in Athens, Alabama in 2009, with two albums – Boys & Girls and Sound & Color – arriving in 2012 and 2015, respectively. Their second album would chart atop the Billboard 200 and win them three Grammys, including Best Alternative Music Album, and Best Rock Song and Best Rock Performance for “Don’t Wanna Fight”.
The group reunited for a benefit concert in Tuscaloosa, Alabama in December 2024, though drummer Steve Johnson was absent from this performance. Johnson had previously been arrested in March 2021 after being indicted on charges of abuse of a child, though they were later dismissed in December of that year. Johnson was also absent from the recent photos shared by Alabama Shakes, so it’s currently unknown whether he will be involved in their new era.
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In November 2024, Howard also announced the debut of a new hardcore band called KUMITE. The group made their live debut in Nashville on Jan. 12, though no further details have arrived in regard to further shows or potential recorded material.
