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My Morning Jacket announced on Wednesday morning (Jan. 15) that their 10th studio album, Is, will be released via ATO Records on March 21. The groupâs first new full-length LP in more than three years was produced by Grammy-winner Brendan OâBrien (Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam).
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The Louisville-bred group that has typically self-produced their albums in the past mostly recorded Is at Henson Recording Studios in Los Angeles with OâBrien. Lead singer/guitarist Jim James â who has produced or co-produced all of their studio albums since 1999 â explained in a statement that their interest in working with the acclaimed producer came from a ânewfound willingness to open up their process and involve an outside creative force.â
âUp until now Iâve never been able to let go and allow someone else to steer the ship,â James said in the statement. âIt almost felt like an out-of-body experience to step back and give control over to someone whoâs far more accomplished and made so many more records than us, but in the end I was able to enjoy the process maybe more than I ever have before.â
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The first fruits of those efforts is available now via the gauzy lead single âTime Waited,â which dropped on Wednesday along with a Danny Clinch-directed video. The impressionistic clip from the photographer/director known for his work with the Foo Fighters and Pearl Jam features a mix of performance footage and floating flowers with archival photos from throughout the bandâs quarter-century-plus history.
âI made a loop of that piano intro and listened as I went for a walk, and all these melodies started coming to me,â said James about the song that was inspired by a sample of a piano part the singer found on pedal steel master Buddy Emmonsâ classic 1969 Emmons Guitar Inc. album.
âFor a long time, I didnât have lyrics, but then I had a dream where I was in a cafĂŠ and a song was playing, and the lyrics to that song became the lyrics to âTime Waitedâ â the melodies just fit perfectly,â he added. âAnd the lyrics are about how flexible time is, how we can bend and warp time, especially if we are following our hearts, the universe and time itself can flow to work with us.â
âWell they say time waits for no one dear/ And it takes near death to show one, yeah/ But time waited⌠for you and me,â James sings over a hypnotic piano and gentle drums in the first verse before the track expands into one of the groupâs patented psychedelic pop slow-burns.
According to the release, before teaming up with OâBrien for the sessions for their follow-up to 2021âs self-titled ninth album, they had recorded more than 100 demos to land on the final 10 that made the cut.
The final list includes: âOut in the Open,â âHalf a Lifetime,â âEveryday Magic,â âI Can Hear Your Love,â âTime Waited,â âBeginning From the Ending,â âLemme Know,â âSquid Ink,â âDie For Itâ and âRiver Road.â
âIt feels really great to have a collection of songs we all love this much, and to know that we worked as hard as we possibly could on them,â James said. âHopefully those songs will be helpful to people and give them some kind of peace as they try to deal with the insanity of the world â because thatâs what music does for me, and doing the same for others is always my greatest dream come true.â
The band also said they will announced tour dates in support of the album soon. Before that, they will head down to Florida for the next edition of their three-night My Morning Jacketâs One Big Holiday festival at Miramar Beachâs Seascape Resort from April 3-5.
Watch the âTime Waitedâ video and check out the bandâs album announcement below.
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If you want to experience the new Bad Bunny album you will have to take a trip to the Island of Enchantment. He has announced a residency in Puerto Rico, and the first couple of shows are open to only locals.
As spotted on Variety, the promotional roll out for performerâs newest project DeBĂ TiRAR MĂĄS FOToS (transl.âI Should Have Taken More Photos, shortened to DTMF) will shine a light on his hometown. This week, he announced a 21-date residency in Puerto Rico. Titled âNo Me Quiero Ir De AquĂâ (I Donât Want to Leave Here), a lyric from his hit âEl ApagĂłn,â the series will take place at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico. To ensure that residents donât get priced out, the first nine shows (July 11 to July 27) will be exclusive to those that live on the island.
On Monday (Jan. 13), Bad Bunny released a promotional trailer to his social media accounts announcing the Puerto Rico residency. Here he is seen walking past framed posters of his previous tours and explaining that while he has visited several countries he has yet to visit some on his bucket list and return to some cities he has not returned to in many years. At the end of his walk he says that he is returning home and would like his fans to meet him at his âCasaâ (trans. House) and unveils the framed tour posted for the residency.
According to an AI-powered playlist name generator Playlist Name AI, Google searches for the term âBad Bunny Tourâ have surged 809% while âPuerto Rico Flightsâ have increased by 191% since the announcement.
You can read more about the No Me Quiero Ir De AquĂÂ tour here.
Just 72 hours after launching an emergency fund to support families whoâve lost their homes in the Los Angeles wildfires, Paris Hilton announced on X on Tuesday (Jan. 14) that her 11:11 Media Impact nonprofit has raised $800,000 for relief efforts. âThank you. This community is incredible,â she wrote. âHelp me reach my goal to continue supporting those impacted by wildfires in LA.â Click here to support the fund.
Last week, Hilton revealed that sheâd lost her home in Malibu, posting video of the burned-out shell of her familyâs house. âThis house wasnât just a place to liveâ It was where we dreamed, laughed, and created the most beautiful memories as a family,â she wrote. âIt was where Phoenixâs little hands made art that Iâll cherish forever, where love and life filled every corner. To see it reduced to ashes⌠itâs devastating beyond words.â
Days later, she said as a mom of two she could not imagine the âpain and fear of not having a safe place for your babies,â in announcing the fund to support displaced families with young children. She pledged at the time to match the first $100K and then personally contribute $100K to the effort that will help families through the emergency relief organization CORE, including short-term housing and hotel stays for displaced families, as well as supporting local animal shelters.
Hilton also chronicled her volunteer work at Baby2Baby and the Pasadena Humane Society this weekend. At the latter, she agreed to foster a little dog named Zuzu. âAs an animal lover, I am heartbroken by those who have lost their furry friends or have had to give them up due to being displaced,â Hilton wrote. â𼚠I want to do my part and take care of Zuzu and I encourage others who are able to to reach out to their local shelter to see how they can support them!â
At Baby2Baby, Hilton said she and her team helped pack essential supplies for babies and young children.
The historic fires have killed 25 people to date, with the two largest blazes burning nearly 40,000 acres to date. Officials warned that expected high winds on Wednesday (Jan. 15) could hinder efforts to contain the two largest fires, the Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire, which are, respectively, only 18% and 35% contained.
A number of resources are available for those who have lost their homes or need assistance in other ways. The MusiCares and the Recording Academy Los Angeles Fire Relief Effort will help music professionals impacted by the crisis, with a combined pledge of $1 million to kick off the efforts. People who have worked in the music industry for more than five years may qualify for immediate assistance, including up to $1,500 in financial aid and $500 in food vouchers.
See Hiltonâs post below.
Celine Dion paid loving tribute to her late husband, RenĂŠ AngĂŠlil, on Tuesday (Jan. 14) on the night anniversary of his death. âRenĂŠ, we canât believe youâve been gone nine years already. Not a day goes by that we donât feel your presence, RC, Eddy, Nelson and I,â Dion wrote in an Instagram post featuring her and the coupleâs three children, sons RenĂŠ-Charles, 23, and twins Nelson and Eddy, 14.
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âYou were my greatest champion, my partner, and the one who always saw the best in me,â she added. âI honor you and you are forever missed mon amourâŚ. We love you.â AngĂŠlil died of throat cancer in 2016 at 73. Dion and AngĂŠlil met when the singer was 12 and he was 38 and he later mortgaged his home to fund her debut album, 1981âs La voix du bon Dieu. The couple married at Notre-Dame Basilica of MontrĂŠal on Dec. 17, 1994.
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Back in December, Dion marked another milestone when she honored AngĂŠlil on what would have been their 30th wedding anniversary. She posted a throwback black and white picture of the two from their wedding day, writing, âYou still fill our hearts, every day. You are everything to us. We miss you so much. Happy 30th anniversary, mon amour!â
Earlier this week, Dion sent her thoughts and prayers to those suffering during the historic L.A. wildfires. âMy heart goes out to everyone in Los Angeles affected by these devastating fires. In moments like this, itâs so important for us to come together and help,â she wrote on Instagram, where she included a list of resources for those whoâve lost their homes or been forced to flee the conflagrations that have killed 25 people to date. Officials are warning that high winds on Wednesday (Jan. 15) could hamper efforts to contain the two largest fires, which have burned nearly 40,000 acres to date.
For a longer list of organizations providing relief to those impacted by the fires click here.
Drake has dropped his legal action accusing Universal Music Group (UMG) and Spotify of artificially inflating the popularity of Kendrick Lamarâs diss track âNot Like Us,â less than two months after he first filed it.
The action, filed in November, accused UMG and Spotify of an illegal âschemeâ involving bots, payola and other methods to pump up Lamarâs song â a track that savagely attacked Drake amid an ongoing feud between the two stars.
But in a filing Tuesday (Jan. 14) in Manhattan court, Drakeâs company Frozen Moments LLC said it would voluntarily withdraw the action âwithout costs to any party.â Another similar petition, filed in Texas against UMG and iHeartRadio alleging Lamarâs song was defamatory, remains pending.
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An attorney for Drake did not immediately return a request for comment on why the case was dismissed. A spokesman for UMG declined to comment. A representative for Spotify did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Drake shocked the music industry in November when he went to court â a remarkable twist in a high-profile beef that saw Drake and Lamar exchange stinging diss tracks over a period of months earlier in the year. That a rapper would take such a dispute to court seemed almost unthinkable at the time, and Drake has been ridiculed in some corners of the hip-hop world for doing so.
The actions also represented a stunning rift between Drake and UMG, where the star has spent his entire career â first through signing a deal with Lil Wayneâs Young Money imprint, which was distributed by Republic Records, then by signing directly to Republic.
The New York petition accused UMG of violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, the federal âRICOâ statute often used against organized crime. He accused Spotify of participating in the scheme by charging reduced licensing fees in exchange for recommending the song to users. A day later, he filed a similar action in Texas, suggesting that UMG had legally defamed him by releasing a song that âfalselyâ accused him of being a âsex offender.â
The filings were not full-fledged lawsuits, but rather âpre-actionâ petitions aimed petition seeking to secure information so that a full lawsuit can be filed.
UMG had not yet responded to either action. But in a stinging response last month, Spotify called the allegations âfalseâ and flatly denied that it struck any deal with UMG to support Lamarâs song. And the company took aim at the unusual way he filed the allegations, saying he had done so because his allegations were too flimsy to pass muster in an actual lawsuit and would have been quickly dismissed: âThis subversion of the normal judicial process should be rejected.â
In Tuesdayâs filing, attorneys for Drake said they had met with both UMG and Spotify ahead of the withdrawal. Spotify had âno objectionâ to the dismissal, according to the filing, but the record âreserved its positionâ about whether it would challenge the move in some way.
R&B singer-songwriter SZA has opened up about her complicated relationship with fame.
In a candid conversation during One of Them Days alongside Issa Rae and Keke Palmer, SZA (real name Solana Imani Rowe)Â admitted that even after over a decade in the spotlight, she still finds being in the public eye âweird.â
âSome people are very well acclimated in being perceived and also have a different mechanism to approach that,â she explained. âKeke has this crazy network of a mechanism where itâs like, everything just kind of like flows, even when the cameras are on.â
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For SZA, who last month dropped SOS Deluxe: LANA, fame is a foreign concept. âI donât really know what is happening. I donât know what the hell going on,â she continued.
âI didnât grow up famous, I grew up in the âburbs, I went to regular school, went to regular college, did regular odd jobs until everything popped off.â
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The four-time Grammy winner elaborated, âIâve never been examined in this way. ⌠I get just a comfortability with letting my shoulders down and knowing that Iâm not in danger just because Iâm being perceived by people that I donât know.â She echoed Keke Palmerâs sentiment, describing fame as âweirdâ and admitting that people often assume sheâs more at ease with it than she truly is.
SZA also reflected on her unexpected rise to superstardom: âThey be like, âThatâs what you signed up for,â and then Iâm like, âI didnât even know what I was signing up for, actually.â I just made a couple songs and I was grateful that they were liked, and then I kept going.â
In a recent social media post in January, SZA shared her intention to create two childrenâs albums, describing the move as a way to channel her creativity while contemplating a future outside of mainstream music.
âEvery day I grapple with, âAm I done with music?â Maybe Iâm just not meant to be famous â Iâm crashing and burning and behaving erratically,â the singer told British Vogue last year.
âItâs not for me because I have so much anxiety. But why would God put me in this position if I wasnât supposed to be doing this? So I just keep trying to rise to the occasion. But Iâm also just like, âPlease, the occasion is beating my ass.’â
SZAâs recent accomplishments suggest otherwise. Her latest album, SOS Deluxe: LANA, released on December 20, 2024, builds upon the monumental success of SOS,â which spent multiple weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. SOS returned to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in December after 22 months, thanks largely to activity generated by the albumâs deluxe reissue.
In addition to her solo work, SZAâs collaboration with Kendrick Lamar on â30 for 30â from the SOS Deluxe: LANA album debuted at No. 1 on Hot R&B Songs Chart, with the two artists set to embark on a joint tour in 2025.
City and Colour frontman Dallas Green has dropped a bombshell for fans of his folk collaboration You + Me with pop icon Pink.
The Canadian musician, currently on tour in Australia with his band, revealed that the duo has completed a long-awaited follow-up to their critically acclaimed 2014 debut Rose Ave.
âWe started writing and recording some songs in 2018 and recorded some more in 2022 and in April last year, we wrapped it up,â Green said, as per News.com.au. âI would hope that it comes out sooner than later but thereâs a lot going on; sheâs just finished the feat of doing back-to-back stadium tours and Iâm just about to finish two and a half years of touring myself.â
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In another interview with The Plug podcast, Green noted that Moore also made the surprise announcement during a recent charity show.
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âShe announced it on stage and I was like, âOh, youâre talking about this? Iâm gonna talk about it!ââ
Pink first met Green through her husband Carey Hart and felt an immediate creative connection. She then invited the singer-songwriter to Los Angeles, where they recorded the majority of their debut, Rose Ave., in one week.
The two artists had worked together on one previous occasion. In 2014, Moore âsang with [Green] once at another show,â and she told Billboard she âknew that we didnât sound horrible.â So when âthe stars alignedâ and both artists had some time off, they decided to try to recreate that magic.
Their album debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200, reached No. 1 on the Folk Albums chart peaked at No. 2 on the Digital Albums chart. It also peaked at No. 2 on the Australian charts and No. 1 in Canada. The albumâs lead single âYou and Meâ also charted in several countries.
The announcement comes as Green navigates the emotional terrain of his latest City and Colour album, The Love Still Held Me Near, written after the tragic loss of his producer and close friend Karl Bareham in 2019.
Beyond the stage, Green told the publication he had also recently collaborated with Australian multi-instrumentalist Tash Sultana. âThey had a song they wanted me to possibly help finish, so I came out early and went to the studio for two days and it was amazing, a lot of fun,â Green shared.
For Green, the parallels between his connection with Sultana and his partnership with Pink are unmistakable. âThe only other time someone actively reached out to collaborate like this was Alicia [Pink],â he said.
City and Colourâs tour continues through Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Perth this January, with Green returning Down Under in March for a series of shows with his post-hardcore/screamo band Alexisonfire.
Dream Theaterâs Mike Portnoy recently ventured into unexpected territory by reimagining the drumming on Taylor Swiftâs chart-topping pop anthem âShake It Off.â
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As part of Drumeoâs popular First Time series, the legendary prog-metal drummer approached Swiftâs infectiously upbeat track with his technical brilliance, creating a fascinating hybrid of pop and prog.
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After hearing a snippet of the songâstripped of its original drum tracksâPortnoy immediately immersed himself in crafting his own interpretation, quipping, âMy daughter is going to get a kick out of this ⌠It sounds like something out of Disneyland Japan or something.â
While figuring out how to approach the song, Portnoy commented on its unconventional structure: âItâs like Bob Dylan. Itâs all verses, it doesnât change keys. I donât even know what to write. Iâm just going to jam to it, I guess.â Despite the challenges, he powered through, delivering an impressive interpretation filled with his rhythmic flair.
Despite the playful mismatch of styles, Portnoy maintained his admiration for Swift, adding, âTaylor, Iâm really sorry. I still would play with you in a heartbeat, but I wouldnât do that [drum pattern].â
The unexpected crossover comes as Portnoy gears up for a major moment in his own career. Dream Theaterâthe iconic prog-metal band he co-founded in 1985 with John Petrucci and John Myungâis preparing to release their highly anticipated album Parasomnia on Feb. 7.
It marks the first record featuring Portnoy since his 2009 departure following Black Clouds & Silver Linings, and subsequent return in late 2023.
âThere is so much shared history between us all⌠so many memories, so much music⌠to think weâre coming up on 40 years since this journey began!â Portnoy said. âThe idea of creating new music together is so exciting and I absolutely cannot wait to hit the road and get to play live for a whole new generation of fans that werenât ever able to see this lineup beforeâŚThereâs no place like home!!âÂ
Taylor Swift, meanwhile, continues to shatter records in her own right. Her Eras Tour concluded in December 2024 as the highest-grossing tour of all time, earning $2.2 billion.
Swift also made waves with The Tortured Poets Department, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, spent a career-best 17 weeks at the top, sold 2.61 million equivalent album units in its first week.
You can watch Portnoy tackle Taylor Swiftâs âShake It Offâ here.
Itâs four years in a row for Taylor Swift, with the U.S. pop icon dominating Australiaâs year-end charts once again, according to data published by ARIA
Swift has once more found her way to the top of the ARIA Top 100 Albums Chart, this time off the back of her massively-successful eleventh album, Aprilâs The Tortured Poets Department. With results undeniably bolstered by her seven local shows as part of the record-setting Eras Tour, Swift is a constant presence in the year-end charts, making up 40% of the top ten.
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While The Tortured Poets Department sits at No. 1, 1989 (Taylorâs Version) appears at No. 5, with Lover at No. 7, and Midnights rounding it out at No. 10. Overall, she makes up 11% of the entire Top 100, with original or re-recorded versions of her entire discography (save for her self-titled debut) placed across the top 68 positions. Her 2014 album 1989 doubles up thanks to its original version placing at No. 68.
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Itâs not a far cry from the results of last year either, where 1989 (Taylorâs Version) reigned supreme and was joined by the likes of The Weeknd, Morgan Wallen, SZA, and Harry Styles. In 2024, the top ten is rounded out by Billie Eilishâs Hit Me Hard And Soft, Sabrina Carpenterâs Short nâ Sweet, The Weekndâs The Highlights, SZAâs SOS, Wallenâs One Thing At A Time, and Olivia Rodrigoâs Guts.
The singles chart, however, belongs to U.S. singer-songwriter Benson Boone, whose âBeautiful Thingsâ spent six weeks at No. 1 and has rarely been absent from the top ten since it first debuted. Booneâs success isnât limited to Australia, with the track having topped numerous charts globally, and peaking at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Shaboozeyâs âA Bar Song (Tipsy)â holds the silver medal position, with Carpenterâs âEspressoâ closing out the podium finishes. Noah Kahanâs âStick Seasonâ and Teddy Swimsâ âLose Controlâ round out the top five, with Eilishâs âBirds Of A Featherâ following closely behind. Irish musician Hozierâs âToo Sweetâ prevents a clean sweep for American artists, however, with his single hitting No. 8.
Swiftâs influence also extends to the Singles Chart, with 2019âs âCruel Summerâ hitting No. 9 off the back of its 2023 viral success and single release. Miley Cyrusâ âFlowersâ, which topped the chart last year, also makes a return appearance, albeit relegated to a respectable No. 39.
Of note, however, is the lack of Australian artists that make up the Albums and Singles Charts. In the latter category, just 5% are home-grown, with Vance Joyâs 2013 single âRiptideâ leading the charge at No. 24. Cyrilâs reimagining of Suzi Quatroâs âStumblinâ Inâ can be found at No. 29, while DJ and producer Dom Dollaâs âSaving Upâ splits the field at No. 50. The Kid LAROI closes out the local representation with âNights Like Thisâ featuring at No. 84, and his 2021 Justin Bieber collaboration âStayâ in at No. 96.
The Albums Charts, however, boasts only three Australian names â with only one being a studio release. While South Australian veterans Cold Chisel can be found at No. 44 with their 50 Years â The Best Of compilation, so too can INXSâ Diamond-certified The Very Best be located down at No. 81. The Kid LAROI is once again the only point of difference, with his debut album â 2023âs The First Time â hitting No. 67.
Check out ARIAâs year-end singles and albums charts.
Stephen Schwartz, the composer of the Broadway and film juggernaut Wicked, and music supervisor Bonnie Greenberg are set to receive honorary awards at the 15th Guild of Music Supervisors Awards. The ceremony will take place on Sunday, Feb. 23 at The Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles.
Schwartz is set to receive the Icon Award, which celebrates those who have made legendary contributions to the music and film industries. Previous recipients include Robbie Robertson, Paul Williams, Diane Warren, Quincy Jones, Burt Bacharach, Kenny Loggins and Marc Shaiman.
Schwartz, 76, has won three Oscars, four Grammys, four Drama Desk Awards and a Golden Globe. He has received six Tony nominations, in addition to receiving their Isabelle Stevenson Award in 2015. Schwartz was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2009. In addition to Wicked, Schwartzâs other credits include Godspell and Enchanted and the animated classics Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame and The Prince of Egypt.
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The Legacy Award will be presented to music supervisor Bonnie Greenberg, known for her work on such films as My Best Friendâs Wedding, The Mask and The Hunting Ground. The Legacy Award is bestowed to a music supervisor who has made an impact within the industry over the course of their career. Previous recipients include Allan Mason, Pilar McCurry, Mitchell Leib, Maureen Crowe, Bob Hunka, Joel Sill, Gary Lemel and Chris Montan.
Greenberg began her career as an entertainment attorney. She was a business affairs executive at MCA Records and Paramount Pictures, then pivoted to become a sought-after music supervisor. After getting a masterâs degree in clinical psychology, Greenberg pivoted again, turning her attention to documentaries and films that shed a light on issues. She is one of the founding members of the Guild of Music Supervisors.
âThe Guild of Music Supervisors Awards is a night of coming together in our community, and we need this more than ever,â GMS president Lindsay Wolfington and vice president Heather Guibert said in a joint statement.
Further information and details about tickets can be found at www.gmsawards.com.