Music

29 Mar 2023

Thelma Plum, Ball Park Music Lead 2023 Queensland Music Awards

With two honors, including the coveted song of the year, Thelma Plum was the big winner at the 2023 Queensland Music Awards (QMAs), presented Tuesday (March 28) at Fortitude Music Hall in Brisbane, Australia.

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The Gamilaraay singer-songwriter won song of the year and the pop category for her single “Backseat of My Mind,” lifted from her 2022 EP Meanjin. With song of the year, Plum gets a permanent place in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley – a plaque on the Walk of Fame.

“Queensland I feel has always been an underdog,” she told the packed house, “but I tell ya, we’re not anymore.”

Meanjin is up for best record at next week’s Rolling Stone Australia Awards, and “Backseat of My Mind” will get another chance to win song of the year, at the 2023 APRA Music Awards on April 27.

Other winners at the 2023 QMAs included Brisbane indie band Ball Park Music (album of the year for Weirder & Weirder) Gold Coast singer-songwriter Amy Shark (highest-selling single for “Sway My Way”), and country artist Adam Brand (highest selling album for All Or Nothing).

Go-Betweens great Lindy Morrison was presented the lifetime achievement award for her advocacy work, social work, activism and musicianship. Morrison, a member of the Go-Betweens from 1980-1989, played drums on six of the iconic band’s albums, and performed vocals on three.

The folk-rock act’s classic song “Cattle and Cane” was recognized by APRA in 2001 as one of the top 30 Australian songs of all time, and Morrison was celebrated in 2014 with the Ted Albert Award, presented during the APRA Music Awards, held that year in Brisbane’s City Hall.

Away from the studio, Morrison helped establish Support Act in 1998, and served with music industry charity as a social worker until 2021. During the pandemic, she led her team to deliver more than A$5 million in relief grants for music workers in crisis.

“I’m so glad I’m receiving this award while I’m still alive. I would have hated to get this award when I’m dead,” she quipped at the top of what would be the evening’s most rousing speech. “Thank-you Queensland. I’m still playing, I’m on the road all the time…I’m recording, I’m going to the U.K. soon, I got into practice rooms, I’m 70 years of age. And I still feel like that young woman.”

Recounting those years with the Go-Betweens and other acts she performed with, “We were devoted to art, and we would do anything as long as it was for art. We marched for black rights, we marched for civil rights. And we marched for the right to march. We played music in the streets for pro-choice.”

The city of Brisbane came out a winner when, during a pre-recorded bit, Qld premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced a A$3.8 million investment in the annual Bigsound showcase event and conference.

“We all know how powerful music can be,” she said. “It helps tell our stories, and provides a stage for social change. It helps connect people and shapes our culture. Right now in Queensland, I believe there’s something special happening with our music scene here, and tonight I want everyone in this room to know that our government backs you and backs your industry. I know how important Bigsound has been for the industry over the past 22 years. That’s why I’m pleased to announce $3.8 million in funding over the next four years to make Bigsound even bigger and even better.” The 2023 edition is set for Sept. 5 – 8.

Formerly known as QSong, the QMAs celebrate the state’s “brightest emerging artists and established legends,” with its categories judged by more than 100 music industry professionals.

More than 13,000 songs have been submitted since its inception in 2006. Winners have included Keith Urban, the Veronicas, Kate Miller-Heidke, Bernard Fanning, Sheppard, Violent Soho and many others.

The annual event is organized by trade body QMusic, with Brick Lane, Brisbane City Council and Queensland Government on board as major partners.

2023 Queensland Music Awards – Winners:

MAJOR AWARDS

SONG OF THE YEAR
Presented by Brick Lane Brewing
Thelma Plum

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Presented by Brisbane City Council
Ball Park Music – ‘Weirder & Weirder’

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Presented by Grant Thornton
Lindy Morrison

SCHOLARSHIPS

2023 GRANT MCLENNAN FELLOWSHIP
Sahara Beck

2023 BILLY THORPE SCHOLARSHIP
NEISH

2023 CAROL LLOYD AWARD
Platonic Sex

CATEGORY AWARDS

BLUES | ROOTS AWARD
Presented by Trentham Estate
Jen Mize & The Rough N’ Tumble – ‘All Riled Up’

CHILDREN’S MUSIC AWARD
Presented by The Truss Company
Cheeky Monkey Club – ‘Yes or No – A Song About Consent’

CONTEMPORARY CLASSICAL AWARD
Presented by Queensland Conservatorium – Griffith University
Monique Clare – ‘Downhill Skiing’

COUNTRY AWARD
Presented by ABC Radio Brisbane
James Johnston – ‘COUNTRY BOYS’

ELECTRONIC AWARD
Presented by The Prince Consort
Sycco – ‘Ripple’

FOLK AWARD
Presented by APRA AMCOS
Yb. – ‘Blackphemy’

HEAVY AWARD
Presented by IJS
DZ Deathrays – ‘Paranoid’

HIP HOP AWARD
Presented by NAFA
Khi’leb – ‘Cheques’

INDIGENOUS AWARD
Presented by Anacta
William Barton – ‘Kalkani’

JAZZ AWARD
Presented by Jazz Music Institute
Trichotomy – ‘Forward Motion’

POP AWARD
Presented by Star Entertainment Group
Thelma Plum – ‘Backseat Of My Mind’

ROCK AWARD
Presented by Comiskey Group
WAAX – ‘No Doz’

YOUTH (AGES 10 – 17) AWARD
Presented by SAE
Lottie McLeod – ‘Happy Birthday’

SOUL | FUNK | RNB AWARD
Presented by The Sound Garden
Miiesha – ‘Still Dream’

WORLD AWARD
Presented by MEAA
Isaac Conomos and Menaka Thomas – ‘Space’

REGIONAL | REGIONAL AWARD
Presented by Telstra
Sahara Beck – ‘Nothing Wrong With That

VIDEO AWARD
Presented by Creative Productions
Ben Wrigley – Purple Static by Mirrors

HIGHEST SELLING SINGLE
Amy Shark – Sway My Way

HIGHEST SELLING ALBUM
Adam Brand – All Or Nothing

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS

METRO VENUE OF THE YEAR
Presented by Oztix and The Music
The Fortitude Music Hall

REGIONAL VENUE OF THE YEAR
Presented by Oztix and The Music
Sol Bar

FESTIVAL OF THE YEAR
Presented by Oztix and The Music
Caloundra Music Festival

ACCESSIBLE VENUE OF THE YEAR
Presented by CPL – Choice, Life, Passion
Kingston Butter Factory

28 Mar 2023

LØREN Talks His First U.S. Performance, Working With BLACKPINK & More

LØREN finally brought his alternative rock energy to the United States this month, when he took the stage at SXSW. To celebrate, he joined Billboard‘s Tetris Kelly to chat about his music, production and more.

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“It was wild,” he said of his first U.S. performances. “If I’m being honest, I haven’t done that many shows in Korea. I honestly didn’t know what to expect from the crowd, if they were going to like it, so it was kind of nerve-racking at first. It was great to get this reassurance that whatever I’m trying to do, does move people to a certain point.”

He also shared the inspiration behind his intense “Folks” music video, in which the singer is shot in the chest. “It comes down to how people are so quick to judge you based on things that are just out there,” he explained. “I wanted the video to portray that even if you’re just trying to be yourself, you’re still going to get attacked and there are all these things that are going to get in your way.”

While LØREN is an incredible solo artist, he’s an equally talented producer and songwriter who has worked with other popular Korean acts like BLACKPINK. “When I was a producer, I didn’t know what to expect. You just write beats or tracks hoping that they’re going to go somewhere,” he shared of the experience working with the girl group. “With BLACKPINK, they needed a certain set of lyrics that are both in tune with how the song was written originally and how it’s going to sound in Korean. I don’t want to flatter myself, but I think what I did fit that role.”

He added, “I’ve been a fan even pre-debut, so it’s been a dream to work with them and interact with them musically, whether it be the Instagram Live with Rosie or being in the studio with them, hearing their stories and whatnot.”

Watch Billboard‘s full interview with LØREN above.

28 Mar 2023

Boygenius Announces North American Headlining Tour in Support of ‘The Record’: See the Dates

Boygenius are hitting the road. On Tuesday (March 28), the supergroup made up of Lucy Dacus, Julien Baker and Phoebe Bridgers announced their upcoming headlining tour of North America.

The nationwide trek will start with a show on April 12 at the Pomona Theatre in Los Angeles. The concert serves as a precursor to the band’s stop at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, which they’re slated to play Saturday (April 15 and April 22) before headliners BLACKPINK turn the Indio, Calif.-based fest into BLINKCHELLA for the night.

Following Weekend 2 at the Empire Polo Club, the threesome’s tour will pick back up in the month of June, with intermittent stops in Phoenix, Pittsburgh and Toronto through the summer. Eventually, the 14-date journey will conclude with a show at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado on Aug. 5.

Carly Rae Jepsen, Broken Social Scene, Bartees Strange, Claud and Illuminati Hotties are all confirmed as opening acts on select dates of the tour. Meanwhile, Boygenius will also be touring in tandem as headliners for the inaugural traveling Re:Set Concert Series during the month of June along with LCD Soundsystem and Steve Lacy.

Each of the shows throughout the summer will be in support of the band’s long-awaited debut album The Record, which is set to be released Friday via Interscope Records — the same day tickets for the tour go on sale to the public. Leading up to the full-length’s drop, the indie rockers have already unveiled the tracks “$20,” “Emily I’m Sorry,” “True Blue” and, most recently, “Not Strong Enough.”

Check out the full list of Boygenius tour dates below

28 Mar 2023

Gwen Stefani, Alanis Morissette & Shania Twain to Perform at 2023 CMT Music Awards

The CMT Music Awards have added a solid shot of female star power.

Gwen Stefani, Alanis Morissette and Shania Twain have been added to the performers lineup for the fan-voted awards show, which airs Sunday on CBS, live from the Moody Center in Austin, Texas, beginning at 8 p.m. ET. The show will also be available to stream live and on-demand via Paramount+. This marks the first time that the CMT Music Awards have been held in Austin, after being held in Nashville for decades.

Stefani will make her CMT Music Awards debut via a collaboration with Carly Pearce. Morissette will make her CMT Music Awards debut by helping to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the CMT Next Women of Country franchise, by performing her 1995 hit “You Oughta Know” alongside former CMT Next Women of Country honorees Morgan Wade (Class of 2022), Ingrid Andress (2019), Madeline Edwards (2022) and Lainey Wilson (2019).

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Twain will perform and will also be honored with the third CMT Equal Play Award, which recognizes an artist’s work as an advocate for diversity and a champion for underrepresented voices within country music. Previous recipients of the award are Jennifer Nettles and Linda Martell.

Twain, Stefani and Morissette join previously announced performers Darius Rucker with The Black Crowes, as well as Wynonna Judd with Ashley McBryde. Other previously announced performers include Carrie Underwood, Cody Johnson, Blake Shelton, Keith Urban and show co-hosts Kelsea Ballerini and Kane Brown.

Leading this year’s CMT Music Awards nominees is Wilson with four nominations, including video of the year (for “Wait in the Truck” with HARDY), female video of the year (“Heart Like a Truck”), collaborative video of the year (“Wait in the Truck” with HARDY) and CMT performance of the year (for “Never Say Never” with Cole Swindell, from the 2022 CMT Music Awards). Johnson, Brown and first-time nominee Jelly Roll follow with three nominations each.

28 Mar 2023

Jesse Rutherford Talks New Solo Music Without The Neighbourhood: ‘I Just Needed a Moment for Myself’

The Neighbourhood‘s Jesse Rutherford — who now goes by Jesse — has formally announced his plans to embark on solo endeavors, and he released two new tracks, “Rainbow” and “Joker,” on Tuesday (March 28) to kick off the new era.

Rutherford spoke with Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1 to share what inspired him to start creating music on his own, through his new solo deal with Atlantic Records.

“It’s a true solo journey, and the music is just kind of soundtracking what I’m going through in my life. And I thought it was kind of time to grow as an individual, because I’ve put a lot of my time and energy into growing within relationships, which is a great thing,” said Rutherford, who is currently in a relationship with Billie Eilish. “I mean, I love and I hold dear all my relationships, and I feel like I have a lot of strong ones. And even the ones that didn’t last, I feel like we’re lovely, and nobody’s on any sort of bad terms or anything.”

He continued, “I just needed a moment for myself. It was just kind of like it had to happen sooner or later. So this felt like the best time to do it. Honestly, taking some time away from touring and music in general was probably a really good thing for me. And even now, jumping back in, I’m kind of like, ‘OK, here we go.’ I wish I could sit here and be like, ‘Man, I’m so excited. Everybody’s got to go hear it.’ But I’m kind of like, ‘I mean, I’m being honest. I think it’s good, if you get around to listening to it.’”

As for the new songs, Rutherford noted that while new track “Rainbow” details his personal relationships, “Joker” serves as a “note to self.” Reflecting on the latter track, the 31-year-old added, “Identity’s a tricky thing, and I feel like when you’re in front of people and you’re lucky enough to have an audience like I do, people could kind of tell you who you are. Even if you’ve already told them, ‘This is who I am,’ but then you’re like, ‘Wait, but I want to grow.’”

Rutherford’s new tracks mark his first releases since The Neighbourhood’s 2021 single “Fallen Star” and the group’s 2020 album Chip Chrome & The Mono-Tones. Listen to “Rainbow” and “Joker” below.

28 Mar 2023

10 Best Poison Songs

Everything you need to know about Poison was summed up in the title of their 1988 hit “Nothin’ But a Good Time.”

Since forming in 1983 in Mechanicsburg, Pa., the stalwart glam-metal quartet has made music for literally nothing but a good time. Sure, “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” may have dampened a hanky or two, but Poison’s raison d’rock has been to get the party started and keep it going until dawn and beyond. And the good times rolled to the tune of four multi-platinum albums and eight top 20 hits on the Billboard Hot 100.

Poison laid any doubts about its staying power to rest with its performances during 2022’s The Stadium Tour, warming up for Def Leppard and Mötley Crüe with an ebullient greatest set that had thousands of fans rocking each night like it was 1988.

“I never knew what would happen, but I never thought it couldn’t happen,” frontman Bret Michaels tells Billboard. “We just found a way to get it done and enjoyed it. My pot of gold is the journey. I’ve met incredible people, I got to play incredible places and travel the world and play music and have a great time doing it. I think that’s something everybody who comes to see us relates to.”

During its tenure, Poison released seven studio albums, from the triple-platinum blockbuster Look What the Cat Dragged In in 1986 up to the 2007 covers set Poison’d! The classic lineup of Michaels, guitarist C.C. DeVille, bassist Bobby Dall and drummer Rikki Rockett has remained intact since 1996, and the frontman says the group is looking at 2025 for another tour and possibly some new music.

From Billboard chart hits to deep cuts, here are our picks for the group’s 10 best songs.

28 Mar 2023

Lenny Kravitz Jokes That Taylor Swift ‘Went in My Closet’ for Her 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards Look

Taylor Swift had a jovial backstage run-in with none other than Lenny Kravitz on Monday night at the 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards.

“The moment Lenny Kravitz and Taylor Swift met backstage,” the official iHeartRadio account wrote on the behind-the-scenes video on TikTok. In the clip, fans can spot Ice Spice shuffling past before Kravitz stops Swift for a chat.

“Taylor! Girl!” he calls out as the pair hug, with the “Lavender Haze” singer telling the host, “You did amazing!”

From there, Kravitz jokes that the superstar just might have pilfered her sequined, hooded look directly from his flamboyant wardrobe. “OK, you went in my closet, huh? You went in my closet,” he quips while Swift volleys back, “Yeah, absolutely. I was just inspired by you, I was like, ‘My favorite color is…’” before the video cuts out.

While Kravitz MC’d the evening’s star-studded ceremony, Swift took home six awards out of her eight total nominations, including song of the year and best lyrics (for “Anti-Hero”), TikTok bop of the year (for fan fave “Bejeweled”), favorite use of a sample (for using her own “Out of the Woods” in Midnights album cut “Question…?”), pop album of the year (for Midnights) and the special honor of this year’s iHeartRadio Innovator Award.

Accepting the latter award, the superstar spoke about her own trial-by-error process of coming up with new ideas. “I never a single time woke up in the morning and said, ‘You know what I’m gonna do today? I’m gonna innovate stuff,’” she said. “What I did do was make the right decisions for me. People want an example of something working before, but I think the coolest ideas, moves and choices are new ones, ones that set a new precedent. I’m so thankful because my fans have backed me up on things like switching genres or re-recording all my old music.”

Watch Swift and Kravitz’s awards show meet-up below.

28 Mar 2023

Demi Lovato Wishes ‘Sweet Angel’ Jutes Happy Birthday: ‘You’re a Literal Dream Come True’

Demi Lovato’s singer-songwriter boyfriend Jutes turned 31 years old on Tuesday (March 28) and the “29” star took to Instagram to celebrate their sweetheart.

“My sweet angel – it’s officially your birthday!!!” Lovato captioned a series of romantic, cuddly photos of the adorable duo. “I couldn’t be more excited to celebrate you because I couldn’t be more in love with your gorgeous, funny, sexy, talented self. I’ve waited my whole life to find you and I can’t wait to celebrate so many more birthdays together.. you’re a literal dream come true and I’m so grateful to call you mine. Have the best birthday my love.. you deserve it, the world, and more!!!! Here’s to many more.”

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Lovato’s relationship with Jutes marks their first public romance since breaking off their engagement to actor Max Ehrich in September 2020. For his part, tattooed indie artist Jutes helped write multiple songs on Lovato’s most recent album Holy Fvck, including second single “Substance” as well as “Happy Ending” and “City of Angels.”

The couple made their relationship Instagram official in August 2022, just days after Lovato coyly gushed about Jutes in an interview with Extra. “This person inspired so much of the album because … well, it’s just, like, the way that it makes you feel,” she shared. “And also that connection with someone that you have that you know is going to last forever is so special and so important. But most importantly, you have to find someone that’s your best friend, that makes you laugh. Laughing is so important to me. And I’m just, like, constantly laughing.”

28 Mar 2023

Kirk Franklin & Live Nation Urban Bring Back Exodus Music & Arts Festival

Award-winning gospel artist Kirk Franklin and Live Nation Urban have announced the return of the Exodus Music & Arts Festival. Launched in 2018, the festival will mark its third year at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory in Dallas by expanding from one to two days (May 20-21) for the first time. Performers who will be joining host/headliner Franklin onstage include Yolanda Adams, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Tamela Mann and Natalie Grant.

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“I am absolutely thrilled that our music festival is back and bigger than ever, now extending to two full days of unique voices and talented artists that will inspire and uplift all those in attendance,” Franklin said in a statement. “Exodus has always been about bringing together fans and artists in celebration of the power of gospel music, and it’s a true honor to be a part of this incredible event once again. I’m also incredibly thankful for our partnership with Live Nation Urban, which has allowed us to create an unforgettable experience for everyone involved.”

Added Live Nation Urban president Shawn Gee, “Kirk Franklin and his team have been amazing partners for Live Nation Urban. This was the first festival partnership we entered into when the company was formed a few years back. It’s great to see the event grow and scale, and we will continue to invest in the gospel music community as it’s an area of priority for LNU.”

The Exodus Music & Arts Festival welcomed such gospel stars as Mann, Marvin Sapp and Tye Tribbett during its aforementioned inaugural year. For its second year in 2019, the festival boasted a lineup that featured Cobbs Leonard, Fred Hammond, The Clark Sisters and Travis Greene, among other acts.

Additional information about the 2023 Exodus Music & Arts Festival will be announced in the coming weeks. Ticket information is available here.

Kirk Franklin, Exodus

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28 Mar 2023

‘Weird Al’ Yankovic’s 10 Biggest Songs on the Billboard Hot 100

In many ways, the history of popular music over the last several decades can be traced through the eyes of one Alfred M. Yankovic. A master satirist who spent years fashioning pun-filled, ornately produced send-ups of the most popular hits of any given time period, “Weird Al” Yankovic paid homage to the ‘80s pop anthems of Michael Jackson and Madonna, the ‘90s grunge of Nirvana, the turn-of-the-century top 40 Billboard Hot 100 fodder of Backstreet Boys and Avril Lavigne, the rap stylings of Eminem and T.I. and much more. While Yankovic makes a habit of asking the permission of any artist he’s satirizing, being spoofed by “Weird Al” has long been a badge of honor — if he’s making a parody of your song, your song is important.

And yet, Yankovic does not only exist for comedy fans: his send-ups of popular tracks are so well-done, and so catchy, that they have often become popular on their own merit. Over the course of his career, “Weird Al” has launched multiple songs onto the Billboard Hot 100 chart — with one even reaching the top 10. And while Yankovic hasn’t released a proper album since 2014’s Mandatory Fun, he’s still active on tour, playing these parody hits to thousands of adoring fans. In 2022, Yankovic tapped Daniel Radcliffe to play him in Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, a “Weird Al” biopic that fittingly satirized musician biopic tropes (and had little basis in reality, but was still hilarious).

Check out “Weird Al” Yankovic’s 10 biggest Billboard hits to date below.