Music

06 Feb 2024

Howard Stern Loves When the Camera Cuts to Taylor Swift at NFL Games: ‘Let’s See Some Variables!’

Howard Stern is loving how much the NFL has become NFL (Taylor’s Version) as Taylor Swift continues to support her boyfriend Travis Kelce at Kansas City Chiefs games.

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“I like when they cut to Taylor Swift,” Stern noted during his SiriusXM show this week. “I know what’s going to happen in the football game … let’s see some variables, let’s see how Taylor Swift reacts. Let’s see if she talks to Patrick Mahomes’ wife, let’s see how she’s getting along with Travis Kelce’s mom, let’s see if Travis Kelce’s brother comes in and starts running around with his shirt off.”

Longtime Howard Stern Show staffer Jon Hein agreed, noting, “I love the Taylor stuff. I think it’s great for the game, I think it’s great for her, I think it makes it entertaining, and plus there’s a ton of action on Taylor Swift — there’s prop bets like you wouldn’t believe.”

While Swift has been a mainstay at Kansas City Chiefs games throughout the season supporting Kelce, it’s unclear if she’ll be able to make it out to Las Vegas for the Super Bowl on Sunday (Feb. 11), in which the Chiefs will face off against the San Francisco 49ers. She’ll be kicking off the Asian and Australian legs of her Eras tour on February 7 to 10, with four shows at the Tokyo Dome in Japan. She then has a few days off before heading to Melbourne, Australia, for her show on Feb. 16.

Swift discussed the backlash to her presence at the games in her TIME Person of the Year interview last year. “I’m just there to support Travis,” she said in the cover story. “I have no awareness of if I’m being shown too much and pissing off a few dads, Brads and Chads.”

06 Feb 2024

Andrew Dice Clay Gets Ready for His Carnegie Hall Comeback

Andrew Dice Clay didn’t expect to find his next Big Shot eating his lunch on the sidewalk. 

And yet there he was, sipping a Coke and softly radiating in the imperturbable tranquility of a clear skied January day when Dice approached, filming the man and sheepishly asking in a nasally voice, “You heard I got the new phone?”  

Dice’s Instagram gag is to walk up to strangers and insist they must recognize “this famous face of mine.” Most instead softly protest — “I dont know you,” one lady recently said – while most simply scurry away. Sidewalk lunch guy, on other hand, couldn’t be bothered to do either — and simply looked up at Dice and earnestly replied, ‘Congratulations.’” 

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“I couldn’t get home fast enough to show my girlfriend,” Dice tells Billboard. The sidewalk lunch man was now a Big Shot, a title Dice bestows on the people he features on his Instagram channel, which has 400,000 followers. “If there was an actual casting session for a TV show on Big Shot, he would have got the part.”

Dice is in the midst of prepping for his own showcase moment, with a big return comedy comeback show to be held at Manhattan’s Carnegie Hall on Feb. 15. “35 years ago they would not have allowed me on the same block,” says Dice of the famously classy venue.

After all, Dice made his name in the late ’80s and early ’90s with a foul-mouthed routine that exploded across television like a hand grenade, shocking TV audiences and galvanizing millions of fans who bought up his comedy records and paid to see his concerts. Dice, whose real name was Andrew Silverstein, became an overnight star and arena headliner, becoming the first (and to date only) comedian to sell out two nights at Madison Square Garden. 

His agent Dennis Arfa, now at AGI, would field calls “from every promoter in the country, from Ron Delsener to Stu Green to Bill Graham,” Dice tells Billboard. “And honestly, they didn’t know if I was a singer, a magician or a juggler. They just knew I was the guy who went on sale and in 48 minutes sold out.” 

Dice’s material would make him and those he worked with millions, but the crass nature of his jokes about sex and women — as well as his targeting of gays and immigrants — became a growing problem for those around him. His refusal to soften his material (he recently told Joe Rogan, “Dice doesn’t get f–ked, Dice does the f–king”) would eventually be his undoing, although his flame would burn out much slower than history portrays. 

While Dice’s gigs were being protested by gay rights groups like Queer Nation, it was powerful gay men in Hollywood – record producer David Geffen, 20th Century Fox’s Barry Diller and manager Sandy Gallin who developed Dice’s act and protected him for years.  

In 1990 Diller would part ways with Dice, spiking a multi-movie agreement with him on the eve of the launch of his first film the Adventures of Ford Fairlane — a move that a 2023 episode of Vice’s The Dark Side of Comedy about the comedian equated to a death knell for his career. But the truth is that Dice was far from done with television, remaining active in TV and touring for another decade. He inked deals with ABC, CBS and HBO, and launched the 1995 sitcom Bless This House on CBS without any real opposition from within the entertainment business.  

Dice performed his final show at Madison Square Garden in 2000, inked a deal with SiriusXM in 2005 and stayed busy for the next 20 years doing occasional TV work, radio appearance and standup gigs. His recent comeback began seven months ago, when comedian and longtime friend Bill Burr convinced Dice to warm up the crowd at one of Burr’s headliner gigs.

“When we walked in his dressing room for the show, Bill stood up with a big smile and went, ‘Dice, you’re gonna do some time, right?’” Dice recalls. “The minute I got introduced, the New Jersey crowd went absolutely nuts.” 

It’s not just Burr either – podcaster Joe Rogan, comedians Sebastian Maniscalco and Jim Norton, radio megastar Howard Stern and dozens of other high-profile comedians have long supported Dice and cited him as an inspiration. And while he has never apologized for his past remarks toward gays, women and immigrants, he has softened his personality, and even slightly dialed back his famously filthy routine for one of his comebacks shows at the Wiltern in LA last year. 

“I’m less ego and more self-deprecating,” he explains, noting that he enjoys mentoring younger talent and is more eager to share the spotlight with others — like the deadpan man eating his lunch on the sidewalk.  

“One word, that’s all he need to get the part.” Dice notes. “One word to let the world know that this man is a genius.”  

06 Feb 2024

Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton Rock Retro Denim-On-Denim Look in ‘Purple Irises’ Duet Announcement

Gwen Stefani and husband Blake Shelton rock their snappiest Canadian tuxedos in an Instagram post promoting their upcoming duet, “Purple Irises.” The retro-looking snap posted on Monday night (Feb. 5) has Stefani lounging on a 1970s stripey couch in a denim jumpsuit, chunky-heeled shoes and a bra, while Shelton sits on a chair in jeans and a denim shirt with leather epaulets while strumming a guitar.

The stand-alone single is due out on Friday (Feb. 9), but at press time neither artist had offered any additional information on the track. The announcement of the latest duet from the lovebirds comes just days after Shelton dropped his 6-track Love Language EP, featuring the previous Stefani collabs “Nobody But You” and “Happy Anywhere,” as well as “God Gave Me You,” “Sangria,” “Honey Bee” and “A Guy With a Girl.”

Back on Jan. 29, Stefani appeared to being the long tease for the song with an Instagram post featuring a bunch of irises next to a picture of the couple and the words, “never knew a love like this [heart],” followed a few days later by another shot of a bouquet of irises in a vase near a window with the card “To: Pretty Girl, Love Blake.”

Stefani also posted a snippet of the 1970s AM radio country pop ballad on her TikTok on Monday in which they sing, “But if someone comes along and tries to love you like I love you/ Don’t know what I’d do/ Don’t want to lose you/ If someone comes along and tries to take you tries to make you/ Don’t let ’em change your mind/ Wonder why you took a risk/ On a broken heart you cannot fix/ No I never knew a love like this/ Now we’re pickin’ purple irises.” She followed up with a video of the two recording the song in a studio.

It will be a busy 2024 for both singers, with Stefani slated to reunite with her band No Doubt for their first concert in nine years at April’s Coachella Festival and Shelton gearing up to launch his Back to the Honky Tonk North American tour with Dustin Lynch and Emily Ann Roberts on Feb. 22 at the Giant Center in Hershey, PA.

Check out the “Purple Irises” song announce below.

06 Feb 2024

Grupo Frontera Makes Cameo in Nissan Super Bowl Ad Starring ‘SNL’s Marcello Hernandez: Watch

You won’t have to wait till Sunday to watch Grupo Frontera‘s cameo in Nissan’s Super Bowl ad starring Saturday Night Live breakout Marcello Hernandez.

The 60-second commercial released on Monday (Feb. 5) features Hernandez retelling the riveting story about his unexpected, yet adventurous journey while test-driving the latest Nissan Pathfinder. Just as he hits the road, Hernandez gets calls from his abuela (grandma), sister and uncle asking him — and the Nissan salesperson as his co-pilot — to pick them up. So, they do.

“From the dealership to the mountains, desert and beach, Hernandez and the salesperson make their way through this epic adventure, the Pathfinder navigates various terrains while thrilling everyone across all generations of the family,” an official description of the ad reads.

As he’s telling this nail-biting story in a diner, Grupo Frontera pops up from a booth nearby and asks Hernandez to keep narrating his epic adventure. “Qué? No, sigue, sigue (What? No, keep going, keep going),” the group orders.

The ad will air on TelevisaUnivision on Sunday, Feb. 11, as part of the networks’s Super Bowl 2024 broadcast for Spanish-language viewers. 

Univision will also broadcast a pre-kickoff performance — featuring a special performance by Puerto Rican star Myke Towers — presented by Nissan, which will air on Univision at 4 p.m. ET Sunday from the Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

“At Nissan, we’re always looking for ways to deeply connect with our customers,” said Marisstella Marinkovic, chief marketing Ooficer, Nissan U.S, in a statement. “We’re using the nation’s biggest game day to air an in-language spot that reignites the love of Nissan among bicultural Latinos, who comprise many of our customers. From our partnership with TelevisaUnivision, to the Latino talent and the director we casted, we brought music and sports together to create a thrilling in-language and in-culture experience.”

“This is a significant moment for TelevisaUnivision, and we’re excited for Nissan to debut their Spanish-language creative to our audience,” added John Kozack, executive vice president of multimedia sales at TelevisaUnivision. “Latinos are an economic powerhouse, and this national stage provides the perfect opportunity for brands like Nissan to reach this fast-growing demographic – and further our goal of showcasing the value and importance of in-language and in-culture advertising to this consumer base.”

Watch Nissan’s Super Bowl ad above featuring a cameo from Grupo Frontera.

06 Feb 2024

Everything We Know About Taylor Swift’s New Album ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ So Far

Taylor Swift gave fans a lot more than they bargained for at the 2024 Grammys, dropping the bombshell news mid-acceptance speech that her new album, The Tortured Poets Department, is arriving this year.

The welcome news came as the pop star was accepting best pop vocal for her 2022 record Midnights — aka, the last album she announced without warning during an awards show acceptance speech. “This is my 13th Grammy – which is my lucky number, I don’t know if I’ve ever told you that,” she teased the crowd from the stage at Crypto.com Arena Sunday (Feb. 4). “I want to say thank you to the fans by telling you a secret that I’ve been keeping from you for the last two years …”

Swift went on to reveal the pending arrival of The Tortured Poets Department before posting the album’s sultry cover almost immediately after she left the stage. “All’s fair in love and poetry…,” she captioned the artwork. “New album THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT.”

Later that night, the 34-year-old singer-songwriter took home a historic fourth album of the year for Midnights, but Swifties were probably more excited for the new LP announcement, especially because most were expecting that the musician would announce her long-awaited Reputation (Taylor’s Version) at the ceremony instead — so much so that “Rep TV” was trending ahead of the Grammys. Swift has been steadily releasing re-recorded versions of her first six albums since 2021. Following Fearless, Red, Speak Now and 1989, she only has her self-titled debut and Rep left to go — but clearly, fans will just have to wait a little longer as the Tortured Poets era takes hold.

From the release date to the song titles, see everything Billboard knows about Swift’s 11th album The Tortured Poets Department below.

06 Feb 2024

Kelsea Ballerini Brushes Off Comments About Grammy Loss Reaction, Says Face Reading Is ‘Unnecessary and Hurtful’

One of the hardest balancing acts in entertainment is appearing gracious and happy when the person on stage opens the awards envelope and doesn’t read your name. That was the spot Kelsea Ballerini was in on Sunday night at the 2024 Grammy Awards when Lainey Wilson‘s Bell Bottom Country bested her Rolling Up the Welcome Mat in the best country album category.

Here’s the thing. On Monday night (Feb. 5), Ballerini, 30, explained in an Instagram Story that what commenters and some viewers clocked as a look of disappointment or displeasure was a totally normal, healthy reaction that doesn’t deserve the harsh judgement it’s faced.

“Ohhhh yall. You can be bummed for your loss and happy for somebody else’s win at the same time. Two things can be true and both hold valid and valuable space,” Ballerini wrote. “The face reading and reaction analysis is unnecessary and hurtful to everyone.”

Most crucially, Ballerini said, “a woman’s win is a team win. Write about that instead?”

The latter was a seeming reference to the huge night female performers had at this year’s Grammys, one in which women artists swept all Big Four Awards, including Taylor Swift snagging her record fourth album of the year trophy for her Midnights album, as well as Miley Cyrus winning record of the year for “Flowers,” Billie Eilish taking song of the year for the Barbie soundtrack hit “What Was I Made For?” and Victoria Monét winning best new artist.

Wilson’s album has had a strong awards season run, previously taking album of the year at the Academy of Country Music Awards in May 11 and at the Country Music Association Awards on Nov. 8; it’s just the 9th album to complete country music’s “triple crown” by winning all three of these top awards.

06 Feb 2024

Watch Toby Keith’s Final Television Performance

As country music fans and the country music community mourn the passing of singer, songwriter and musical iconoclast Toby Keith, who died Feb. 5 at age 62 following a battle with stomach cancer, it is notable the fortitude he possessed in his final months.

On Sept. 28, Toby Keith played what would be his final television performance when he took part in the inaugural People’s Choice Country Awards held at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House. Keith was honored with the Country Icon Award during the ceremony.

During the show, Keith’s fellow country artist Blake Shelton called him a “global country superstar, award-winning singer-songwriter, devoted and beloved activist, business powerhouse … Toby Keith is a multi-dimensional artist like no other … a global megastar, a man of the people, and a genuine inspiration. Toby Keith is a true icon.”

In accepting the country icon honor, Keith’s speech was both lighthearted and heartfelt. “I bet you never thought y’all’d see me in skinny jeans,” he joked before getting serious. “I want to thank the Almighty for allowing me to be here tonight. He’s been riding shotgun with me for a little while now. I want to thank my beautiful family that’s here. A lot of people go in and make a career like this of 30 years.”

Keith also gave one of the evening’s most powerful performances as he took the stage to sing “Don’t Let the Old Man In,” a song he wrote solo, and which was included in the 2018 Clint Eastwood movie The Mule. Though the physical toll of Keith’s cancer battle was evident as he stood onstage, his voice was a strong as ever — filled with grit, refined by life — as he offered a musical tribute to living every day to its fullest. “Try to love on your wife and stay close to your friends/ Toast each sundown with wine/ Don’t let the old man in,” he sang.

Following the performance, Keith’s “Don’t Let the Old Man In” hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Digital Song Sales in October.

Keith, who was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2015, followed the performance by releasing the album 100% Songwriter — an album filled with songs he wrote — in November 2023. His final concerts came in December at the Dolby Live at Park MGM in Las Vegas, when he spearheaded a trio of sold-out concerts, performing several of his hits, such as “Should’ve Been a Cowboy” and “Red Solo Cup.”

Since his career debut in 1993, Keith notched 20 No. 1 Country Airplay hits. He also earned three Billboard Music Awards during his career, including country singles artist of the year (2002), as well as country artist of the year and country albums artist of the year (both in 2005).

See Keith’s People’s Choice Country Awards performance above.

06 Feb 2024

Tate McRae, Daniel Caesar, Charlotte Cardin & More Nominated for 2024 Juno Awards: See the Full List

Tate McRae‘s “Greedy,” which has topped the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 multiple times and has climbed as high as No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, is nominated for single of the year at the 2024 Juno Awards, where it is competing with Charlotte Cardin‘s “Confetti,” Daniel Caesar‘s “Always,” Lu Kala’s “Pretty Girl Era” and Talk‘s “A Little Bit Happy.”

Nominations were announced Tuesday (Feb. 6) in a press conference at the CBC Building in Toronto. Comeback artist Nelly Furtado, who will host as well as perform on the broadcast ceremony on March 24, was a surprise guest at the nominees announcement. She also received a nomination for “Eat Your Man,” her collaboration with Dom Dolla, for dance recording of the year.

Cardin received the most nominations for the 2024 Juno Awards. The breakthrough Montreal pop singer-songwriter got six nods, including artist of the year, album of the year and pop album of the year (99 Nights), single of the year (“Confetti”) and TikTok Fan Choice. 

Cardin previously cemented her Canadian stardom on the Junos stage in 2022, winning six awards. With her “Confetti” ubiquitous in both Quebec and the rest of Canada, it could be another big year for her. 

Caesar and Talk follow with five nods each. Allison Russell, who won her first Grammy on Sunday, Feb. 4, for “Eve Was Black,” voted best American roots performance, received three Juno nods, as did Aysanabee, Connor Price, Lauren Spencer Smith, McRae and DVBBS. 

Punjabi-Canadian artist Karan Aujla, a cover star for Billboard Canada’s inaugural digital cover, was also announced as a performer at the upcoming Junos ceremony at the Scotiabank Centre in Halifax. He follows fellow cover star AP Dhillon, who played the first full Punjabi performance at the awards last year. Joining Aujla as performers will be country breakout Josh Ross and singer-songwriter Talk.

Shubh, another Punjabi-Canadian artist, is nominated for the TikTok Fan Choice, a fan-voted award, along with Aujla, Cardin, Ross, Caesar, DVBBS, McRae, ThxSoMch and Walk off the Earth. 

Nominated with Cardin for album of the year are Néo-Romance by Alexandra Stréliski, Never Enough by Caesar, Mirror by Spencer Smith and Lord of the Flies & Birds & Bees by Talk.

Cardin, Caesar, Smith and McRae are all nominated for artist of the year too, along with the legacy artist of the category, Shania Twain. 

International album of the year, the only category reserved for non-Canadian artists, includes hit albums by SZA, Metro Boomin, Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen and Taylor Swift, who was nominated twice in the same category last year. Music executive, author and lawyer Chip Sutherland will receive the Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award.

Tickets for the show, which will be broadcast live on CBC, and the JUNO Week events, are on sale at ticketmaster.ca/junos. The majority of the awards will be presented at The Juno Opening Night Awards the night before the main ceremony on March 23.

Here’s the complete list of 2024 Juno nominations:

TikTok Juno Fan Choice

Charlotte Cardin, Cult Nation*The Orchard

Daniel Caesar, Republic*Universal

DVBBS, Ultra*Sony

Josh Ross, Universal

Karan Aujla, Warner

Shubh, Mass Appeal*The Orchard

Tate McRae, RCA*Sony

The Weeknd, XO*Universal

ThxSoMch, Elektra*Warner

Walk off the Earth, Golden Carrot*The Orchard

Single of the Year

“Confetti,” Charlotte Cardin, Cult Nation*The Orchard

“Always,” Daniel Caesar, Republic*Universal

“Pretty Girl Era,” LU KALA, LVK/Amigo Records*AWAL

“A Little Bit Happy,” TALK, Capitol*Universal

“greedy,” Tate McRae, RCA*Sony

International Album of the Year

Gettin’ Old, Luke Combs, River House/Columbia*Sony

HEROES & VILLAINS, Metro Boomin, Boominati*Universal

One Thing At A Time, Morgan Wallen, Big Loud/Republic*Universal

SOS, SZA, Top Dawg/RCA*Sony

1989 (Taylor’s Version), Taylor Swift, Taylor Swift*Universal

Album of the Year

Néo-Romance, Alexandra Stréliski, Secret City*F.A.B.

99 Nights, Charlotte Cardin, Cult Nation*The Orchard

NEVER ENOUGH, Daniel Caesar, Republic*Universal

Mirror, Lauren Spencer Smith, Universal

Lord of the Flies & Birds & Bees, TALK, Capitol*Universal

Artist of the Year

Charlotte Cardin, Cult Nation*The Orchard

Daniel Caesar, Republic*Universal

Lauren Spencer Smith, Universal

Shania Twain, Republic*Universal

Tate McRae, RCA*Sony

Group of the Year

Arkells, Arkells Music*Universal

Loud Luxury, Armada*Sony

Nickelback, BMG*Warner/ADA

The Beaches, AWAL*Independent

Walk off the Earth, Golden Carrot*The Orchard

Breakthrough Artist of the Year

Connor Price, Independent

Karan Aujla, Warner

LU KALA, LVK/Amigo*AWAL

Shubh, Mass Appeal*The Orchard

TALK, Capitol*Universal

Breakthrough Group of the Year

Busty and the Bass, Arts & Crafts*Universal

Crash Adams, Warner

Good Kid, Good People*The Orchard

Men I Trust, Independent

New West, Republic*Universal

Songwriter of the Year

Allison Russell, Publisher: PO GIRL MUSIC / CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING

Aysanabee, Publisher: SELF PUBLISHED

Charlotte Cardin, Jason Brando & Lubalin, Publisher: BIG BOY ED

Nicholas Durocher & Connor Riddell, Publisher: SUMMER CAMP MUSIC PUBLISHING LTD. / ARTHAUS MEDIA INC. / PEER MUSIC CANADA INC.

William Prince, Publisher: SELF PUBLISHED

Country Album of the Year

The Compass Project – South Album, Brett Kissel, Big Star*Universal

Right Round Here, Dean Brody, Starseed*Stem

Do It Anyway, Jade Eagleson, Starseed*Stem

Ahead Of Our Time, James Barker Band, RECORDS/Columbia*Sony

Spillin’ My Truth, Tyler Joe Miller, MDM*Universal

Adult Alternative Album of the Year

Powder Blue, Begonia, Birthday Cake*The Orchard

Multitudes, Feist, Universal

Are We Good, Hayden, Arts & Crafts*Universal

Motewolonuwok, Jeremy Dutcher, Secret City*F.A.B.

Revolution, Shawnee Kish, Amelia*Symphonic

Alternative Album of the Year

Here and Now, Aysanabee, Ishkōdé*Universal

Dizzy, Dizzy, Royal Mountain*Universal

To Learn, Leith Ross, Republic*Universal

See You In The Dark, Softcult, Easy Life*The Orchard

Lord of the Flies & Birds & Bees, TALK, Capitol*Universal

Pop Album of the Year

99 Nights, Charlotte Cardin, Cult Nation*The Orchard

Mirror, Lauren Spencer Smith, Universal

Saturn Return, Rêve, 31 East*Universal

Queen Of Me, Shania Twain, Republic*Universal

Lost In Translation, Valley, Universal

Rock Album of the Year

Fearless, Crown Lands, Universal

Formentera II, Metric, Metric Music*Thirty Tigers/The Orchard

Blame My Ex, The Beaches, AWAL*Independent

Pretty Monster, The Blue Stones, MNRK*Outside

Glory, The Glorious Sons, TGS*Warner

Vocal Jazz Album of the Year

Songwriter, Alex Bird & Ewen Farncombe, Independent

You’re Alike, You Two, Caity Gyorgy & Mark Limacher, La Reserve*Independent/The Orchard

Little Bit a’ Love, Denielle Bassels, Independent

Our Roots Run Deep, Dominique Fils-Aimé, Ensoul*F.A.B./Believe

Your Requests, Laila Biali, Empress*Independent/Believe

Jazz Album of the Year (Solo)

Day Moon, Christine Jensen, Justin Time*F.A.B./Nettwerk

Walls Made of Glass, Gentiane MG, TPR*Propagande/A-Train

Sonic Bouquet, Jocelyn Gould, Independent

Twelve, Noam Lemish, TPR*Independent/A-Train

The South Detroit Connection, Russ Macklem, TQM*Independent/IDLA

Jazz Album of the Year (Group)

Migrations, Allison Au with the Migrations Ensemble, Independent

Septology-The Black Forest Session, Canadian Jazz Collective, HGBS Blue*MIG/Proper/UMV/MVD/Independent

Cry Me A River, Hilario Duran and His Latin Jazz Big Band, Alma*Universal

Recent History, Mike Murley & Mark Eisenman Quartet, Cornerstone*Outside/The Orchard

Convergence, Nick Maclean Quartet feat. Brownman Ali, Browntasauras/Independent

Instrumental Album of the Year

Néo-Romance, Alexandra Stréliski, Secret City* F.A.B.

When we were that what wept for the sea, Colin Stetson, 52 Hz

Calibrating Friction, Haralabos [Harry] Stafylakis, New Amsterdam*Naxos

Fourth Album, Markus Floats, Constellation*Secretly

Tesseract, Meredith Bates, Phonometrograph*Independent

Francophone Album of the Year

Zayon, FouKi, Disques 7ième, Ciel*Believe

Dans la seconde, Karkwa, Simone*Sony/The Orchard

En concert avec l’Orchestre symphonique de Montréal (sous la direction du chef Simon Leclerc), Les Cowboys Fringants & l’Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Les Disques de La Tribu*Propagande/Believe

À boire deboutte, Salebarbes, Productions Grand V.*The Orchard

Non conventionnel Souldia, Disques 7ième Ciel*Independent/Believe

Children’s Album of the Year

Big Words, ABC Singsong, Independent/The Orchard

Going Back: Remembered and Remixed Family Folk Songs, Vol. 1, Ginalina, Independent

Love-a-By, Splash’N Boots, Independent/The Orchard

Welcome to the Flea Circus, The Swinging Belles, Independent

Maestro Fresh Wes Presents: Young Maestro, Stick To Your Vision For Young Athletes, Young Maestro, Independent

Classical Album of the Year (Solo Artist)

Infinite Voyage, Barbara Hannigan, Alpha Classics*Naxos/Independent

Nielsen: Violin Concerto, Symphony No. 4, James Ehnes, Chandos*Naxos/The Orchard

Fauré: Nocturnes & Barcarolles, Marc-André Hamelin, Hyperion*Universal

De Hartmann: Cello Concerto, Matt Haimovitz, Pentatone/Naxos

mouvance, Suzie LeBlanc, Centrediscs*Canadian Music Centre/Naxos

Classical Album of the Year (Large Ensemble)

Bekah Simms: Bestiaries, Cryptid Ensemble, Ensemble Contemporain de Montreal, Centrediscs*Canadian Music Centre/Naxos

Maxime Goulet: Symphonie de la tempête de verglas, Orchestre classique de Montréal, conducted by/dirigé par Jacques Lacombe, ATMA*Universal

Sibelius 3 & 4, Orchestre Métropolitain, conducted by/dirigé par Yannick Nézet-Séguin, ATMA*Universal

Mahler: Symphony No. 5, Orchestre Symphonique De Montreal, conducted by/dirigé par Rafael Payare, Pentatone*Naxos

Rachmaninoff: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 3; Isle of the Dead, The Philadelphia Orchestra, conducted by/dirigé par Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Deutsche Grammophon*Universal

Classical Album of the Year

Mythes, Andrew Armstrong & James Ehnes, Onyx*The Orchard

Portrait: Alex Baranowski, Angèle Dubeau & La Pietà, Analekta*Naxos/The Orchard

Portrait, Cheng² Duo, Centrediscs*Canadian Music Centre/Naxos

Il Ponte di Leonardo, Constantinople, Glossa*Naxos

Basta parlare!, Les Barocudas, ATMA*Universal

Classical Composition of the Year

Simulacra, Amy Brandon, Independent

Portrait of an Imaginary Sibling, Dinuk Wijeratne, Centrediscs*Canadian Music Centre/Naxos

…and the Higher Leaves of the Trees Seemed to Shimmer in the Last of the Sunlight’s Lingering Touch of Them…, Emilie Cecilia LeBel, Redshift

Shāhīn-nāmeh, for Voice and Orchestra, Iman Habibi, Analekta*Naxos/The Orchard

Don’t Throw Your Head in Your Hands, Nicole Lizée, Redshift

Rap Album of the Year

bag or die, bbno$, Independent*Stem

Spin the Globe, Connor Price, Independent

Crying Crystals, Haviah Mighty, Mighty Gang*Foundation Media

KAYTRAMINÉ, KAYTRAMINÉ, Independent

PANIC, TOBi, RCA*Sony

Dance Recording of the Year

“Eat Your Man,” Dom Dolla & Nelly Furtado, Three Six Zero*Sony

“Crew Thang,” DVBBS, Jeremih & Sk8, Ultra*Sony

“Need Your Love,” Felix Cartal & Karen Harding, Physical Presents*Fontana North

“I Go Dancing” (feat. Ella Henderson), Frank Walker, Ultra*Sony

“Next To You” (feat. Kane Brown), Loud Luxury & DVBBS, Armada*Sony

Contemporary R&B Recording of the Year

“For the Better,” Aqyila, Sony

“Never Enough,” Daniel Caesar, Republic*Universal

“Heartbreak Hill,” Jon Vinyl, Vinyl*Foundation Media

“When It Blooms,” Nonso Amadi, Universal

FACETS, Shay Lia, AWAL

Reggae Recording of the Year

“Stir This Thing,” Ammoye, Donsome*Ingrooves/Virgin

“Feel Like Home,” Exco Levi, Penthouse*High Priest/ONErpm

“Roots Girl,” Jah’Mila, Independent

“Dread Kirk,” Diamond & Finn, Independent

“Rush Dem” (feat. 4Korners, Haviah Mighty), Omega Mighty, Independent*Foundation Media

Contemporary Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year

Here and Now, Aysanabee, Ishkōdé*Universal

Scream, Holler & Howl, Blue Moon Marquee, Independent*IDLA

Inuktitut, Elisapie, Bonsound*Sony/The Orchard

Revolution, Shawnee Kish, Amelia*Symphonic

Bekka Ma’iingan, Zoon, Paper Bag*Fontana North

Contemporary Roots Album of the Year

The Returner, Allison Russell, Fantasy*Universal

We Will Never Be The Same, Good Lovelies, Outside

Beyond The Reservoir, Julian Taylor, Howling Turtle*Warner

A Light in the Attic, Logan Staats, Red Music Rising*Believe

Stand in the Joy, William Prince, Six Shooter*The Orchard

Traditional Roots Album of the Year

Paint Horse, Benjamin Dakota Rogers, Good People*The Orchard

The Breath Between, David Francey, Independent

Roses, Jackson Hollow, Mountain Fever*Syntax Creative

Second Hand, James Keelaghan, Borealis*Universal/IDLA

Resilience, Morgan Toney, Ishkōdé*Universal

Blues Album of the Year 

SoulFunkn’BLUES, Blackburn Brothers, Electro-Fi*Isotope Music/The Orchard

Scream, Holler & Howl, Blue Moon Marquee, Independent/IDLA

One Step Closer, Brandon Isaak, Independent

The Big Bottle of Joy, Matt Andersen, Sonic*Warner

Gettin’ Together, Michael Jerome Browne, Borealis*Universal/IDLA

Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year

Glory To God, Brooke Nicholls, Independent

ALL YE LEPERS, Joshua Leventhal, Independent

Arrow, K-Anthony, Independent

Where I’m Meant to Be, Stirling John, Independent

Alive, Tuzee, Independent

Global Music Album of the Year

Donte sann yo, Bel and Quinn, Independent

Kizavibe, Kizaba, Disques Nuits d’Afrique*Believe

SMS for Location Vol. 5, Moonshine, Moonshine/FORESEEN*MNRK

Okantomi, OKAN, Lulaworld*Symphonic

Soap Box, Waahli, Wyzah Musk*Lemont

Jack Richardson Producer of the Year 

Hill Kourkoutis

Jason Brando, Lubalin, Mathieu Sénéchal & Sam Avant

Joel Stouffer

Shawn Everett

Wondagurl

Recording Engineer of the Year 

Denis Tougas

George Seara

Matty Green

Serban Ghenea

Shawn Everett

Album Artwork of the Year 

Carolyne De Bellefeuille (Art Director/Directeur artistique), Jessica Ledoux (Designer & Illustrator/Concepteur & Illustrateur), Mali Savaria-Ille (Designer & Illustrator/Concepteur & Illustrateur), Veronique Lafortune (Designer & Illustrator/Concepteur & Illustrateur), Leeor Wild (Photographer/Photographe); INUKTITUT – Elisapie, Bonsound*Sony/The Orchard

Heather Goodchild (Art Director/Directeur artistique), Colby Richardson (Designer/Concepteur), Colin Fletcher (Illustrator/Illustrateur), Sara Melvin (Photographer/Photographe), MULTITUDES – Feist, Universal

Kit King (Illustrator), Vanessa Heins (Photographer/Photographe), THE LOVE STILL HELD ME NEAR – City and Colour, Dine Alone*The Orchard

Nicolas Lemieux (Art Director/Directeur artistique), Mykaël Nelson (Designer & Illustrator/Concepteur & Illustrateur), Albert Zablit (Photographer/Photographe), RIOPELLE SYMPHONIQUE – Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, GSI*Independent

Quinton Nyce (Art Director/Directeur artistique), Brodie Metcalfe (Designer/Concepteur), Davis Graham (Illustrator/Illustrateur), Kaylee Smoke (Photographer/Photographe), I’M GOOD, HBU? – Snotty Nose Rez Kids, Independent*Fontana North

Music Video of the Year

“Of Woods and Seas,” Andrew De Zen, Alaskan Tapes, Nettwerk*Amped

“Demons,” Ethan Tobman, Allison Russell, Fantasy*Universal

“onetwostep” (feat. juicelover), Jordan Clarke, des hume des hume*Independent

“DAMN RIGHT,” Sterling Larose, Snotty Nose Rez Kids, Distorted Muse*Fontana North

“feral canadian scaredy cat,” Sterling Larose & Zachary Vague, young friend Nettwerk

Electronic Album of the Year 

INFINITY CLUB, Bambii, Innovative Leisure*Red Eye

Birds, Bees, The Clouds & The Trees, Harrison, Last Gang*MNRK

Creatures of the Late Afternoon, Kid Koala, Envision*Amplified/Believe

Synthetic Season 2, Rich Aucoin, We Are Busy Bodies*Redeye

No Highs, Tim Hecker, Sunblind/Kranky*The Orchard

Metal/Hard Music Album of the Year 

As Gomorrah Burns, Cryptopsy, Nuclear Blast*AEC/Believe

Electric Sounds, Danko Jones, Sonic Unyon*Universal

Goliath, Kataklysm, Nuclear Blast*AEC/Believe

VOID, KEN mode, Artoffact*MVD/The Orchard

Morgöth, Tales, Voivod Century*Sony

Adult Contemporary Album of the Year 

Heavy Lifting, Amanda Marshall, Metatune*The Orchard

I Wish I Was Flawless, I’m Not, BANNERS, Nettwerk*Amped

To Be Loved, Vol. 1, Josh Sahunta, Independent*Believe

Run Where the Light Calls, Luca Fogale, Amelia*Symphonic

Wildflower, Steph La Rochelle, Independent

Comedy Album of the Year 

Life of Leisure, Derek Seguin, Independent

Never Was, Graham Clark, Independent

A Lylebility, Kyle Brownrigg, Independent

Sexiest Fish in the Lake, Laurie Elliott, Howl & Roar*Independent

SAP, Mae Martin, Independent*Netflix

Traditional R&B/Soul Recording of the Year 

“Hello,” Aqyila, Sony

“Unbreakable,” Jhyve, Independent

“Where To Find Me,” Katie Tupper, Arts & Crafts*Universal

“9 to 5,” Luna Elle, Hot Freestyle*Independent/Believe

“Real World,” RealestK, Columbia*Sony

Rap Single of the Year 

“American Nightmare,” Belly, XO/Roc Nation*Universal

“Spinnin” (feat. Bens), Connor Price, Independent

“Honey Bun,” Haviah Mighty, Mighty Gang*Foundation Media

“Minimum Wage,” Pressa, RCA*Sony

“Someone I Knew,” TOBi, Same Plate/RCA*Sony

Underground Dance Single of the Year

“Call My Name,” BLOND:ISH, Warner

“Mad Mess,” DJ Karaba, DJ Karaba*The Orchard

“Could Be Wrong,” LOSTBOYJAY, Universal

“Eclipse,” Peach, Psychic Readings*One Eye Witness/Music Deli

“Concorde Groove,” Smalltown DJs, Fool’s Gold*Virgin Music

Traditional Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year 

Sing. Pray. Love., Joel Wood, Independent

LFS5, Nimkii & the Niniis, Independent

Mitòòdebi (For My Relatives), The Bearhead Sisters, Independent

Reverie, The Red River Ramblers, Independent

Drum Nation, Young Scouts, Independent

06 Feb 2024

How to Watch Online Conversation With 2024 Oscar Nominees for Best Original Song

The Songwriters Hall of Fame (SHOF) will celebrate this year’s Oscar nominees for best original song with a virtual roundtable. The annual discussion, which is in its eighth year, is viewable for free at songhall.org from Thursday Feb. 8 at 9 a.m. PT through March 10.

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The event is co-hosted by SHOF inductees Nile Rodgers and Paul Williams. Rodgers currently serves as SHOF chairman. Williams has been nominated three times in this category – for “Nice to Be Around” from Cinderella Liberty (1973), “Evergreen (Love Theme From A Star Is Born)” from A Star Is Born (1976) and “The Rainbow Connection” from The Muppet Movie (1979). Williams won the Oscar for “Evergreen,” which he co-wrote with Barbra Streisand.

This year’s panel features Jon Batiste, co-writer (with Dan Wilson) of “It Never Went Away” from American Symphony; Billie Eilish and Finneas, co-writers of “What Was I Made For?” from Barbie; Scott George, writer of “Wahzhazhe (A Song for My People)” from Killers of the Flower Moon; Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt, co-writers of “I’m Just Ken” from Barbie; and Diane Warren, writer of “The Fire Inside” from Flamin’ Hot. The nominees discuss how they got involved with the films, their influences, writing process and more.

This is the seventh consecutive year that Warren has been nominated for best original song, the longest streak of nominations in the category since Sammy Cahn was nominated eight years in a row from 1954 to 1961. Thus, she has participated in seven of the SHOF’s eight roundtables. Warren was inducted into the SHOF in 2001.

06 Feb 2024

Usher Announces Past Present Future North American Tour: See the Dates

Usher is set to hit the road again later this year as 2024 is shaping up to be a banner year for the R&B dignitary.

The hitmaker announced his Usher: Past Present Future tour, which will take him across North America toward the end of summer and into the fall.

CITI and Verizon customers will have a pre-sale window starting on Wednesday morning (Feb. 7), while the general public can get their hands on tickets next Monday (Feb. 12) on Live Nation. There are also VIP ticket packages available for those who are interested.

The 24-city trek will kick off in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 20, and will make stops in Boston, Philadelphia, Toronto, Brooklyn, Los Angeles, Atlanta and more, before wrapping up in Chicago with a date at the United Center on Oct. 29.

Per the press release, global dates are going to be revealed later on, so Usher is expected to be taking the show outside of North America.

The “Hey Daddy” singer will have plenty of new content to perform, as he’s slated to drop his Coming Home album on Friday (Feb. 9).

The project serves as Usher’s ninth studio album, and it’s his first released independently. It’s a star-studded affair across the 20 tracks, as he’s recruited Latto, Burna Boy, 21 Savage, The-Dream, H.E.R., Summer Walker and BTS’ Jung Kook to join him on the journey.

“I put a lot of heart and time into making sure that this was curated right. Something that felt like this next chapter of my life. It’s the next frontier, the next chapter of my legacy,” the “Love In This Club” singer said of the album in a recent interview with Club Shay Shay.

Forty-eight hours later, Usher will take over Sin City to hit the stage for the Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show in Las Vegas on Feb. 11 at Allegiant Stadium.

Find all of the Usher: Past Present Future tour dates below.

  • Aug. 20 – Washington, D.C. @ Capital One Arena
  • Aug. 24 – Baltimore, MD @ CFG Bank Arena
  • Aug. 27 – Boston, MA @ TD Garden
  • Aug. 30 – Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center
  • Sept. 2 – Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena
  • Sept. 3 – Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena
  • Sept. 6 – Brooklyn, NY @ Barclays Center
  • Sept. 7 – Brooklyn, NY @ Barclays Center
  • Sept. 12 – Detroit, MI @ Little Caesars Arena
  • Sept. 17 – Denver, CO @ Ball Arena
  • Sept. 21 – Los Angeles, CA @ Intuit Dome
  • Sept. 22 – Los Angeles, CA @ Intuit Dome
  • Sept. 28 – Oakland, CA @ Oakland Arena
  • Sept. 29 – Oakland, CA @ Oakland Arena
  • Oct. 4 – Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center
  • Oct. 7 – Austin, TX @ Moody Center ATX
  • Oct. 11 – Miami, FL @ Kaseya Center
  • Oct. 12 – Miami, FL @ Kaseya Center
  • Oct. 17 – Atlanta, GA @ State Farm Arena
  • Oct. 18 – Atlanta, GA @ State Farm Arena
  • Oct. 22 – Charlotte, NC @ Spectrum Center
  • Oct. 26 – St. Louis, MO @ Enterprise Center
  • Oct. 28 – Chicago, IL @ United Center
  • Oct. 29 – Chicago, IL @ United Center