News

22 Sep 2023

Sofia Vergara Debuts As The “Godmother” In Teaser Trailer To Netflix’s ‘Griselda’

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Griselda screen shot

Source: Netflix / Netflix

Pablo Escobar is arguably the most famous cocaine drug lord the world has ever known, but unbeknownst to many, the man was rumored to be the protégés of one Griselda Blanco aka the “Godmother,” who ran a cocaine operation every bit as lucrative and deadly as that of “El Patron.”

Griselda screen shot

Source: Netflix / Netflix

Years after many became familiar with the name Griselda Blanco thanks to the DVD series Cocaine Cowboys, Netflix is now releasing a six-part miniseries based on the notorious Queen of narcotics starring everyone’s favorite Modern Family housewife, Sofia Vergara. According to Variety, the series will center around Blanco’s reign in the drug game that stretched from the 1970s to the 1980s. And if y’all know anything about Blanco’s history, it was a violent and bloody one that was bound to become must-see TV at some point.

Variety reports:

From writer-producer Eric Newman and director Andrés Baiz, both “Narcos” alums, the series follows Blanco as she builds one of the most profitable drug cartels in history while simultaneously parenting her three sons. She ran a notoriously ruthless and violent cocaine trade in New York and Miami in the 1970s and ‘80s after immigrating from Colombia, before she was arrested in 1985. Blanco was the first-ever woman criminal to become a billionaire before being murdered in Colombia at the age of 69, in 2012.

In addition to Vergara, who also serves as an executive producer, the cast includes Alberto Guerra (“Narcos: Mexico”), Vanessa Ferlito (“NCIS: New Orleans”), Alberto Ammann (“Narcos”), Christian Tappan (“The Great Heist”), Diego Trujillo (“Metastasis”), Paulina Davila (“Luis Miguel”), Gabriel Sloyer (“Narcos”), Juliana Aidén Martinez (“The Blacklist”), Martin Rodriguez (“Detrás de la Verdad”) and José Zúñiga (“American Crime Story: Versace”).

You really have to wonder if the producers of the show (and Vergara) went through backchannels and got permission from anyone related to the Blanco family just to avoid any potential smoke with the OGs in Colombia for doing this series. Just sayin’.

Griselda premiers on Netflix Jan. 25, 2024. Peep the teaser trailer below, and let us know if you’ll be checking for the series come next year.



22 Sep 2023

In 1988, Dan Seals’ Version of Cheryl Wheeler’s ‘Addicted’ Topped Hot Country Songs: Chart Rewind

On Sept. 24, 1988, Dan Seals’ “Addicted” hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. It became the eighth of his 11 career leaders on the list.

Cheryl Wheeler wrote the song following a conversation with her sister, who was deciding whether or not to stay in a relationship. “‘Addicted’ came really fast to me,” Wheeler has said. “I’d just hung up the phone with the person the song is about, after she’d said, ‘I feel like I’m addicted to a real bad thing.’ Chordally (is that a word?), it has a lot more going on than most of my stuff.”

Wheeler first released “Addicted” on her 1987 LP Half a Book. In addition to Seals, Blake Shelton also recorded the ballad, for the iTunes deluxe edition of his 2011 album Red River Blue. Wheeler added a second Hot Country Songs top 10 as a writer via Suzy Bogguss’ version of “Aces” (No. 9, 1992), while Garth Brooks reworked her song “If It Were Up to Me” in 1999.

Seals’ “Addicted” was released as the first of three singles from his LP Rage On, his third of three top 10s on the Top Country Albums chart. Second single “Big Wheels in the Moonlight” topped Hot Country Songs for a week and “They Rage On” hit No. 5.

“Addicted” became Seals’ eighth of nine straight No. 1 singles in 1985-89, a streak that started with his first leader, “Meet Me in Montana,” with Marie Osmond.

Born in McCamey, Texas, on Feb. 8, 1948, Seals was first known as half the duo England Dan & John Ford Coley. The pair notched four top 10s on the Billboard Hot 100, with 1976’s “I’d Really Love to See You Tonight” its strongest showing (No. 2). Meanwhile, Seals & Crofts, comprised of Seals’ older brother Jim Seals and Dash Crofts, tallied three Hot 100 top 10s, starting with “Summer Breeze” in 1972.

Dan Seals was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2008. Following treatments, including a stem cell transplant, he passed in 2009 at age 61.

22 Sep 2023

Olivia Rodrigo Concert Tickets Are Selling Out: Here’s How to Still See the Guts World Tour

All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

Olivia Rodrigo is ready to spill her guts again, but this time in front of crowds across the globe. The “Vampire” singer added more dates to her world tour, which means if you’re looking to score cheap tickets to one of her shows, you have additional opportunities.

Olivia Rodrigo

Olivia Rodrigo Is Taking Her ‘Guts’ on a World Tour: Here Are the Dates

The star took to Instagram on Sept. 15 to announce additional tour dates in cities including Seattle, New York City, Boston, Chicago, London and more.

“my GUTS world tour just added 18 new dates! ticket registration is open til Sunday, 9/17 on oliviarodrigo.com. more dates in many countries yet to come!!!! ?❤️ p.s. fans who already registered can update their show preference to one of the new dates,” she captioned the post, which was accompanied by a photo with the updated list of her tour dates.

Openers for Rodrigo’s tour include The Breeders, Chappell Roan, PinkPantheress and Remi Wolf. Each show will feature a different opener, which can be found using the provided key on the list of tour dates on the “Get Him Back!” singer’s tour flyer.

Ticketmaster hosted the official presale for verified tickets on Thursday (Sept. 21) with American Express cardholders getting access a day earlier through the American Express Early Access presale, which occurred on Wednesday (Sept. 20). Ticket prices ranged from $49.50 to $199.50, and VIP packages were included as well.

If you missed the presale, don’t worry. Ticketmaster‘s sale isn’t the only opportunity to get tickets. Keep reading to see where else you can score tickets.

Where to Buy Tickets to Olivia Rodrigo’s Guts World Tour

Before you get sour overing not scoring tickets the first time around, resale sites including StubHub, Vivid Seats and Seat Geek will most likely have tickets available for purchase. They might not be sold at the same prices as Ticketmaster, but it’s likely that costs will fluctuate — especially the closer it gets to each show.

StubHub

$From $174

StubHub is offering tickets to Rodrigo’s show starting at $174. You can customize tickets based on recommended ones from the site or price, or you can click on the interactive map to select exactly where you want to sit. The site also comes with the FanProtect Guarantee, which you can read more about here.

Vivid Seats

$From $151

Vivid Seats tickets begin around $151 and include 100% Buyer Guarantee protection to help keep your purchases safe. To make sure you get the type of tickets you want, the site allows you to sort tickets by price or seating area in the arena.

Seat Geek

$From $149

Seat Geek has tickets starting around $149 and uses a ranking system on a scale of 1-10 to rate the deals. Tickets labeled as a 10 are considered the best deal, and one-rated tickets are the worst. You can also include fees when looking at ticket prices and even sign up to get notified if ticket sales drop in cost.

22 Sep 2023

Executive Turntable: Blue Raincoat Founder Takes New Role; Sound Talent Hires Parent

If it’s Friday that means another spin around the Executive Turntable, Billboard’s comprehensive(ish) compendium of promotions, hirings, exits and firings — and all things in between — across the music industry.

Blue Raincoat Music co-founder Robin Millar will step down as the company’s chairman and take on a new role as creative consultant. Founded in 2014 by Millar and former Chrysalis CEO Jeremy Lascelles, Blue Raincoat Music began life as an artist management company before branching out into publishing in 2016 and, then, recorded music when it acquired Chrysalis. Reservoir purchased BRN and the entire Chrysalis catalog in 2019, but kept Millar and Lascelles on board to run day-to-day operations. In his new role, Millar will advise on creative decisions across the company’s roster and continue to oversee mixing and mastering operations across the company. He’ll also remain a director on the board and a significant shareholder across Blue Raincoat. “The simple fact is that Blue Raincoat would not be the company it is today without Robin’s involvement,” said Lascelles. “He has been an unbelievable partner, bringing relentless positivity, focus, and ambition to our plans. He has a brilliant business brain, is a fiercesome negotiator, and has been an inspiration to me and everyone within the company.”

Experienced music lawyer Lynn Gonzalez joined Granderson Des Rochers as a partner in the firm’s music practice group. Gonzalez is fresh off a decade-long tenure at Def Jam, where she rose to executive vp/head of business affairs and business development at the label. Prior to Def Jam, she worked in legal roles at Razor & Tie Entertainment and then Atlantic Records, where she also was a founding member and then president of the Black Women In Entertain­ment Law Foundation, providing mentorship and scholarships to women of color in entertainment law. At GDR, whose music-related clients have included J.Cole, H.E.R., J Balvin and Bernie Taupin, among many others, Gonzalez will work on matters including music publishing, licensing and intellectual property. “Joining GDR means joining a team that puts artists first – a mantra that resonates with me from my time working with labels,” Gonzalez said. “With this guiding principle in mind, together, we’ll protect their creativity and ensure they thrive in a music industry that celebrates their unique voices.”

Warner Chappell Music hired Rachel Jacobson to the role of svp, creative sync. In the newly created role Jacobson will oversee an also-new team that’s solely focused on sourcing and developing songwriters for creative opportunities in sync. “We’re reimagining our approach to the creative side of sync at Warner Chappell to better align with the rapidly evolving media and streaming landscape,” says Jacobson. –Kristin Robinson

Sound Talent Group added agent Jason Parent and his roster of bands to its ever-expanding New York office. Parent arrives after a decade at APA/IAG, where he developed acts including Meet Me @ the Altar, Cloud Nothings, Oso Oso, Grayscale and Kuckle Puck, among others — all of whom came with him. He joins Jake Zimmerman, Eric Powell and John Lashnits in the agency’s NYC outpost. STG made its debut in 2018 after Dave Shapiro, Tim Borror and Matt Andersen made for the exits — on good terms — at United Talent Agency. “When we had the chance to bring [Parent] to STG, we jumped on that opportunity,” said Anderson. “Jason is an incredible agent with an amazing roster of bands, and we’re excited to have him join the team.” STG’s current roster includes Black Veil Brides, Built to Spill, Calle 13, Dave Navarro, Eve 6, Gwar, Hanson, Ice Nine Kills, Killswitch Engage, Opeth, Saliva, Story of the Year, Vanessa Carlton, Zakk Wylde and hundreds more.

Downtown Music president Pieter van Rijn joined the board of directors of Downtown Music Holdings. Van Rijn, a regular fixture on Billboard‘s annual list of Indie Power Players, joined Downtown Music a year ago from FUGA, where he’d served as CEO since 2014. He joins Downtown’s existing board of directors, including independent directors Alison Moore and Kelli Turner, who joined in January 2022. “When we first set out to transform Downtown Music, our B2B division, into a fully integrated suite of business service offerings, we were fortunate to have such a strong executive in our organization who could help us execute on that vision,” said Andrew Bergman, CEO of Downtown Music Holdings. “The addition of Pieter to our board further demonstrates Downtown’s commitment and mission to empower creators and the businesses that serve them.”

Did someone say FUGA? The Downtown-owned distributor continues its expansion into Germany, Switzerland and Austria with the appointment of Desiree Vach as general manager of the Deutsch-speaking triad. In her new role, Vach will lead FUGA’s business development, service offering and brand presence in the region, as well as oversee the Berlin office. She reports directly to Liz Northeast, the svp of Europe, Middle East, and Africa. Vach joins FUGA following a nine-year tenure at Ingrooves Music Group, where she oversaw operations in the GSA region.

Change is afoot at German indie distributor Zebralution, with company co-founder Kurt Thielen announcing he’ll step down at the end of the year. Two industry veterans will fill Thielen’s considerable shoes: Konrad von Löhneysen, founder of the Embassy of Music label, will join as co-CEO in October 2023, while current Zebralution COO Tina Jürgens will also be promoted to co-CEO, effective in January. The shakeup portends the company’s international growth ambitions, and follows the expansion into North America earlier this year — led by co-founder Sascha Lazimbat as U.S. director and president. Founded in 2004, Zebralution currently has a portfolio of more than 3,500 labels and audio book publishers from all over the world. “I look back on 38 exciting years as CEO,” says Thielen. “I am immensely proud of what we have achieved with Zebralution as pioneers in the industry. I can’t think of a more opportune moment for this change in responsibility.

Kygo‘s Palm Tree Crew hired Karan Ram as president of its festivals and events unit. Ram arrives from touring festival specialists Breakaway, where as president he more than doubled the company’s events held in 2023. Prior to Breakaway, he founded Moment Entertainment, a producer of concerts and events on college campuses that was later acquired by Pollen. “We’re excited to welcome Karan to Palm Tree Crew and to have him bring his expertise and passion to our team,” said Myles Shear, co-founder of Palm Tree Crew. “As the President of Palm Tree Crew Festivals and Events, he will play a pivotal role in scaling our brand to even greater global heights.”

ICYMI: Warner Music hired 30-year Disney veteran Bryan Castellans as the label group’s next executive vice president and chief financial officer, effective Oct. 16 … Monica Damashek has been named head of label partnerships of North America for Spotify. She succeeds Vic Trubowitch, who has moved to the music product strategy … Warner Chappell Music locked down Guy Moot and Carianne Marshall, CEO and COO, respectively, until late March of 2028 … and Jann Wenner was swiftly excised from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation board of directors after making inflammatory remarks about Black and women artists.

Melissa Maskan joined boutique indie publisher OTM as head of North America and svp of creative. Based in L.A. and reporting directly to OTM founder Alex Sheridan, Maskan will manage the org’s U.S. efforts, namely sync and A&R. She joins after six years as evp of A&R at Third Side Music, where she helped to develop all-cappers SOFI TUKKER and ODESZA, among others. Supporting Maskan at OTM will be Rob Hunt (head of A&R) and Emily Keating (svp of sync). “[Maskan] heading up our US business will add immeasurable value to our offering there and now provides OTM with a platform for further growth,” said Sheridan.

Production music company FreshTracks Music added three new executives to its recently launched UK division. Tayo Kazzim joins as head of sales after stints at PRS for Music, Imagem and Extreme Music; Josie Kiely is the new senior client account manager, following roles at Warner Chappell and PPL; and Charley Dunlop serves as client account manager, having previously worked at Sky, KPM/EMI and BAM.

ESMAA, the Gulf-based music rights organization, appointed Saqer Al Qassimi as head of business development and government relations. The Emirati national is tasked with growing membership and supporting the org’s licensing efforts throughout the UAE and Gulf region. ESMAA claims to be the only music organization of its kind in the Gulf — in that it works with international entities whose disciplines focus on either performing, mechanical and/or neighbouring rights in order to find solutions to simplify music licensing in the region.

Last Week’s Turntable: GoodTalk Takes Shape

22 Sep 2023

Friday Music Guide: New Music From Doja Cat, Zach Bryan, Shakira and More

Billboard’s Friday Music Guide serves as a handy guide to this Friday’s most essential releases — the key music that everyone will be talking about today, and that will be dominating playlists this weekend and beyond. 

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This week, Doja Cat turns into a hip-hop titan, Zach Bryan has more tricks up his sleeve and Shakira keeps piling up the wins. Check out all of this week’s picks below:

Doja Cat, Scarlet 

Not many music stars could release an album with five bonafide pop hits, follow that up by declaring a new rap-focused era, and find just as much artistic and commercial success — but that’s exactly what Doja Cat has achieved with Scarlet, a thrilling curveball that still complements her inherent skill set. Planet Her demonstrated that Doja could toss off fierce, funny rhymes in between pop hooks, and while Scarlet contains plenty of hummable melodies to follow the one on recent No. 1 single “Paint the Town Red,” the album’s primary triumph resides in Doja’s fully rendered verses, with boastful onomatopoeia (“Shutcho”), extended sex metaphors (“Gun”) whirlwind romance (“Agora Hills”) and deafening clapbacks (“F–k The Girls (FTG)”). Scarlet proves that Doja could reside among hip-hop’s elite for a long time — but that would presume she doesn’t create a whole new dazzling world on her next project.

Zach Bryan, Boys of Faith EP

For those surprised that Zach Bryan’s self-titled album was only 16 songs long following last year’s 34-track epic American Heartbreak, Boys of Faith, a surprise EP released less than a month after the country superstar’s first chart-topper, helps even the scales a bit, while also boasting some more intriguing sounds and collaborations to add to Bryan’s repertoire. The immediate focus will be on the back-to-back guest spots from Noah Kahan (on the rolling, wistful “Sarah’s Place”) and Bon Iver (on the wrenching, fuzzed-out title track), but opener “Nine Ball,” on which Bryan recounts his complex feelings toward his father as he helps him win a billiards bet, highlights this rewarding addendum to a breakthrough project.

Shakira & Fuerza Regida, “El Jefe” 

“I feel like a cat with more than nine lives; whenever I think I can’t get any better, I suddenly get a second wind,” Shakira told Billboard during her recent cover story interview. Amidst a period of personal tumult and professional victories, Shakira sounds like she’s positioned herself to enjoy another smash with “El Jefe,” a collaboration with regional Mexican group Fuerza Regida that transports her unmistakable voice into their ever-expanding world while pushing the tempo as the guitar strums and bubbling horns gradually turn more urgent. “El Jefe” sounds like no other Shakira song before it, and turns truly exciting — that’s why she keeps getting better.

Blink-182, “One More Time” 

Blink-182’s 2023 reunion tour included plenty of arena and festival dates, even more scatological jokes from the stage and the jokey 2022 comeback single “Edging” joining the pop-punk vets’ collection of anthems; the live run also held some unexpected moments of reflection from the trio, who candidly spoke about Mark Hoppus’ 2021 cancer battle and how they were grateful to be back together. “One More Time” bottles that appreciation into a somber, genuinely moving three-and-a-half minute self-examination: as Hoppus and Tom DeLonge sing to each other, “I don’t want to act like there’s tomorrow / I don’t want to wait to do this one more time,” longtime fans will be wiping away tears, grateful that they didn’t.

Kylie Minogue, Tension 

Although “Padam Padam” represented a surprise comeback for Kylie Minogue — reaching international charts that the dance-pop veteran hadn’t graced in a decade, as well as becoming her first top 10 single in the 10-year history of the Billboard Dance/Electronic Songs chart in the U.S. — the reinvigoration of Minogue’s aesthetic that the hit single hinted at can now be heard in full on Tension, her most complete full-length since 2010’s Aphrodite. Minogue’s gift for airy, energetic pop music sounds more natural on songs like “Things We Do For Love,” “Green Light” and the title track than it has in years, as the Australian star mines simple pleasures in each track and then amplifies their impact.

Editor’s Pick: 070 Shake, “Black Dress” 

070 Shake is currently playing stadiums as an opening act on Coldplay’s current west coast run, and “Black Dress,” the daring hip-hop artist’s first single release of 2023, deserves an enormous venue: like 070 Shake herself, the song defies easy categorization — it combines a heavy guitar riff, swirling electronics and a “na-na-na” pop refrain — but the mixture rings out as massive. After 070 Shake enjoyed a surprise top 40 hit alongside Raye with “Escapism” earlier this year, let’s hope “Black Dress,” which precedes a forthcoming new album, receives a mainstream moment as well.

22 Sep 2023

How Edgar Barrera Became One of Latin Music’s Most In-Demand Producers

When Edgar Barrera first thought of bringing Bad Bunny and Grupo Frontera together for a collaboration, he thought to himself, “Wait, what am I even saying? That could never happen.” But like so many of the Mexican American songwriter-producer’s genre-bending ideas, this one didn’t just work out — it became a smash. The cumbia-norteña track “un x100to” peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in May.

“To have the biggest artist, whom I had been wanting to work with, collaborate with a group from my hometown and record a cumbia, which is the music I grew up listening to with my dad, it was crazy and a full-circle moment in my career,” Barrera says today. “Sometimes I sound delusional, but the crazy thing is that the impossible happened.”

Ten years into Barrera’s career, his ability to effortlessly move across genres has made him one of the most sought-after songwriters in Latin music, with collaborators including Maluma (“Hawái”), Christian Nodal (“No Te Contaron Mal”), Grupo Firme (“Ya Supérame”), Camilo (“Vida de Rico”), Becky G (“Chanel”) and Marc Anthony (“De Vuelta Pa’ la Vuelta”), in addition to non-Latin stars such as Ariana Grande (“Boyfriend,” with Social House) and Shawn Mendes (his “KESI” remix with Camilo). In January 2021, he topped four genre charts — pop, rhythm, tropical and regional Mexican airplay — with four different songs, something no other Latin songwriter had done before. “That moment was really special,” says Barrera, 33, who also won the 2021 Latin Grammy for producer of the year. “I remember when I heard about it, I kept calling people in the industry asking, ‘Is this normal?’ ”

Extraordinary moments have defined the career of Billboard’s 2023 Latin Groundbreaker, who grew up near the border between Roma, Texas, and Ciudad Miguel Alemán in Tamaulipas, Mexico. At 6 years old, he created a rock band with his brother, cousins and a friend, who were all around his age. “I swear there are photos of me playing a guitar that was bigger than me,” he says with a laugh. “And I would write songs too. The first ones were really bad — they were about teddy bears — but come on, I was a little kid.”

It was around that time that he also started joining his father, a cumbia artist, at the studio or watching him rehearse with his band. Later, as a teen, Barrera handed out business cards and CDs with songs he had written to artists leaving local radio stations after their interviews. He still has one of those old business cards, which he proudly shows off. “I would go home and just keep hitting refresh on my Hotmail in case someone wrote, but no one ever did,” he says with a shrug.

Still, his hustle landed him an internship across the country in Miami with songwriter-producer Andrés Castro. “It was the best decision I could’ve ever made,” he says. “I started off as an engineer, [but] I remember when artists would come to the studio, I’d make sure to tell them, ‘Hey, I’m not really an engineer. I’m a songwriter and producer.’ And I’d show them my music. I got into a lot of problems because you’re not really supposed to talk to them directly. But I preferred to ask for forgiveness later than to ask for permission. And it worked: I got what I wanted.” Later, Castro would take Barrera to Sony Music Publishing Latin America, where he was signed by president/CEO Jorge Mejía.

Now, Barrera is laser focused on BorderKid Records, an imprint he launched in February 2022, with emerging acts Alex Luna and Neeus along with marquee client Grupo Frontera on his roster. When Barrera signed the six-piece last October, it was already a popular local band in McAllen, Texas, and had just landed its first big hit, “No Se Va,” which peaked at No. 3 on the Hot Latin Songs chart.

“We’re from the same place, so we all know each other, and one day, my compadre, who had hired them to perform at his tire shop opening, kept sending me videos telling me that they wanted to meet me,” Barrera explains. Their partnership began with a meet-up at a local Starbucks. “He believed in us from the start,” says vocalist-accordionist Juan Javier Cantú. “When we first met, he asked us where we saw the group going and we told him, but he told us that we were thinking too small and that we could go so much further. He pushed us to dream big.”

Edgar Barrera

Edgar Barrera photographed on September 6, 2023 in Miami.

Natalia Aguilera

And now, Grupo Frontera is the latest Barrera success story. In August, its debut album, El Comienzo, bowed and peaked at No. 3 on the Top Latin Albums chart, and in the past year alone, the group — a 15-time finalist at the 2023 Billboard Latin Music Awards — has placed eight songs on the Hot 100.

“I promised myself that, from now on, I would work only on projects that I feel really passionate about and make me feel something,” Barrera says. “With BorderKid, it’s that. I want to be that bridge between new artists, songwriters and producers and their goals.”

Edgar Barrera will speak at Billboard Latin Music Week, taking place Oct. 2 – Oct. 6. To register, click here.

This story will appear in the Sept. 23, 2023, issue of Billboard.

22 Sep 2023

Lizzo Gives Emotional Speech at 2023 Black Music Action Coalition Gala: ‘It’s Easy to Do the Right Thing When Everybody’s Watching You’

In one of her first public appearances since a trio of former dancers filed a lawsuit accused her of turning a blind eye to toxic working conditions, Lizzo took the stage at Thursday night’s (Sept. 21) 2023 Black Music Action Coalition gala to receive the night’s final honor: the BMAC Quincy Jones Humanitarian Award.

The award was presented by the Big Grrrls from Lizzo’s Emmy-winning reality show, Watch Out For the Big Grrrls, just hours after the singer was hit with the latest lawsuit from a former employee, this one alleging sexual and racial harassment, disability discrimination and illegal retaliatory termination; the suit from Special Tour clothing designer Asha Daniels filed in L.A. Superior Court named Lizzo, along with tour manager Carlina Gugliotta and the Big Grrrl Touring company as defendants. It’s the second such lawsuit in two months, alleging sexual and racial harassment.

Before Lizzo came onstage, one of the cast members spoke about her being the “first person to ever believe in us, show us love and believe in our talent and our craft.” Another said, “When we found out Lizzo was being honored, we knew that we had to be here. This has always been somebody that gives back. She cares deeply. She loves with her whole heart … she put in the work to get to this moment.”

Stepping onstage to accept the statuette, an emotional Lizzo said, “BMAC thank you because I needed this right now. God’s timing is always on time! I’ve been blessed to receive a lot of incredible awards. But this one truly hits different because humanitarianism is selfless. And to be kind to someone isn’t a talent. Everyone can do it. It’s a gift that you give. In all my years of activism and outreach, I have witnessed at the core of every organization, every movement, every march is just people helping people. And they do it every damn day. I get to come in, help and go back to my life as a musician. These people are still helping people because they’ve dedicated their lives to service. And they don’t get awards; they don’t get a round of applause. Because of that, I’ve dedicated my life and decided to share my platform to shine a light on those people. Because I so badly want to live in a world where we award goodness with our attention.”

Lizzo further shared that she donated a quarter of a million dollars in June to several Black-led organizations dedicated to helping Black youth, Black women, the Black queer/Black trans communities. To applause and shouts, she went on to name the organizations, which included the Marsha P. Johnson Institute, Black Girls Smile, Sphinx Organization, Save Our Sisters and a scholarship partnership with the University of Houston.

“It’s easy to do the right thing when everybody’s watching you,” Lizzo continued in the speech that did not directly address any of the allegations. “But it’s what you do in those moments where nobody’s watching that defines who you are. I’m going to continue to be who I am, no matter who’s watching. I’m going to continue to amplify the voices of marginalized people because I have a microphone and I know how to use it. And I’m going to continue to put on, represent and create safe spaces for Black fat women because that’s what the f–k I do! My family’s here, Nice Life is here … the Big Grrrls. This support right now means the world to me.”

Lizzo responded to the first suit alleging sexual harassment and weight-shaming in August, calling them “false allegations” and “sensationalized stories.”

“I am not the villain that people and the media have portrayed me to be these last few days,” Lizzo wrote in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter). “I am very open with my sexuality and expressing myself but I cannot accept or allow people to use that openness to make me out to be something I am not.”

At press time it did not appear that Lizzo had responded to the allegations in the latest lawsuit. Daniels is being represented by attorney Ron Zambrano, who is also representing former dancers Ariana Davis, Crystal Williams and Noelle Rodriguez, who claimed in their suit that they were subjected to sexual harassment and a hostile work environment, including being pressured to touch nude dancers during a live sex show.

22 Sep 2023

Lizzo, Sylvia Rhone, Jermaine Dupri & More Honored by Black Music Action Coalition

The Black Music Action Coalition’s (BMAC) third annual awards gala was an evening brimming with surprises, emotion, insights and inspiration. Held on Thursday night (Sept. 21) at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles, the artists and executives being honored all shared a singular trait: activists working to affect positive change and improve equity within the industry and their communities.

It was fitting, then, that the evening began with a special tribute to Clarence Avant, lovingly referred to as “The Black Godfather.” A member of BMAC’s advisory board — along with Quincy Jones and Irving Azoff — Avant passed away on Aug. 13. His legacy as a staunch advocate for diversity and equity was referenced throughout the event by presenters and honorees.

“He’s the essence of why we’re gathered here today,” said BMAC co-founder/chair Willie “Prophet” Stiggers of Avant before introducing a musical tribute to the trailblazer. Backed by the 1500 or Nothin’ band, BJ the Chicago Kid, Chanté Moore and Luke James performed Bill Withers’ (signed to Avant’s Sussex Records) “Grandma’s Hands,” “Ain’t No Sunshine” and “Lovely Day,” respectively. Then James and Moore teamed up on Alexander O’Neal & Cherrelle’s “Saturday Love” and O’Neal’s “Fake” (both released on Avant’s Tabu Records).

Setting off the parade of surprises, emotional moments and multiple standing ovations was the first award presentation to Epic Records chairwoman and CEO Sylvia Rhone. The surprise presenter of Rhone’s honor, the BMAC Clarence Avant Trailblazer Award, was her daughter, Quinn. 

“Nobody surprises me like this,” said an astonished Rhone as she simultaneously accepted the award and hugged her daughter. “This is so special to be in a room of people I’ve worked with for years. We came up together. I have great gratitude for BMAC and this award, named after my friend and inspiration, the legendary Clarence Avant. I’ve been up , down and I’ve survived. You’re only as good as the people you work with. At Epic, 56.6% of the team are women and 57.1% of the team are people of color. I don’t play around with that; it’s a constant for me. Creativity and inclusion are the lifeblood of culture and this business.”

Also receiving the Clarence Avant award — from his longtime creative collaborators Johntá Austin and Bryan-Michael Cox, was songwriter/producer and So So Def CEO Jermaine Dupri, who is celebrating the label’s 30thanniversary this year. Noting that he’d been with ASCAP at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. the night before, Dupri prefaced his acceptance speech with his thoughts about AI. 

“I don’t f–k with AI; it will take the emotion out of music if we allow that to happen,” Dupri said to hearty applause. “And when people can take our words and voices and do what they want without getting our consent … I need everybody to stand up and make sure that doesn’t happen.” He then noted, “It don’t matter how you dress. It don’t matter how you talk … if people decide to f–k with you, they’ll f–k with you. That’s what Clarence represents. And I hope you all understand that that’s me. All I’ve ever been trying to do is help people.”

The gala’s final award presentation was a stirring one: Lizzo receiving the BMAC Quincy Jones Humanitarian Award by the Big Grrrls from her Emmy-winning reality show, Watch Out For the Big Grrrls. Just hours before, the “About Damn Time” singer was hit with the latest lawsuit accusing the Grammy-winner of creating a hostile workplace by turning a blind eye to toxic and abusive behavior by several members of her touring team. It’s the second such lawsuit in two months, alleging sexual and racial harassment.

Before Lizzo came onstage, one of the cast members spoke about her being the “first person to ever believe in us, show us love and believe in our talent and our craft.” Another said, “When we found out Lizzo was being honored, we knew that we had to be here. This has always been somebody that gives back. She cares deeply. She loves with her whole heart … she put in the work to get to this moment.”

After stepping onstage to accept the statuette, an emotional Lizzo said, “BMAC thank you because I needed this right now. God’s timing is always on time! I’ve been blessed to receive a lot of incredible awards. But this one truly hits different because humanitarianism is selfless. And to be kind to someone isn’t a talent. Everyone can do it. It’s a gift that you give. In all my years of activism and outreach, I have witnessed at the core of every organization, every movement, every march is just people helping people. And they do it every damn day. I get to come in, help and go back to my life as a musician. These people are still helping people because they’ve dedicated their lives to service. And they don’t get awards; they don’t get a round of applause. Because of that, I’ve dedicated my life and decided to share my platform to shine a light on those people. Because I so badly want to live in a world where we award goodness with our attention.”

Lizzo further shared that she donated a quarter of a million dollars in June to several Black-led organizations dedicated to helping Black youth, Black women, the Black queer/Black trans communities. To applause and shouts, she went on to name the organizations, which included the Marsha P. Johnson Institute, Black Girls Smile, Sphinx Organization, Save Our Sisters and a scholarship partnership with the University of Houston.

“It’s easy to do the right thing when everybody’s watching you,” Lizzo continued. “But it’s what you do in those moments where nobody’s watching that defines who you are. I’m going to continue to be who I am, no matter who’s watching. I’m going to continue to amplify the voices of marginalized people because I have a microphone and I know how to use it. And I’m going to continue to put on, represent and create safe spaces for Black fat women because that’s what the f–k I do! My family’s here, Nice Life is here … the Big Grrrls. This support right now means the world to me.”

Among the evening’s other salutes, the BMAC Social Impact Award was shared by three honorees: actress/singer-songwriter Keke Palmer, Dr. Menna Demessie, senior vp at Universal Music Group and executive director of its Task Force for Meaningful Change, and Emmy-winning producer Jesse Collins. The BMAC Change Agent Award was given to Jason Flom, co-founder and CEO of Lava for Good, and rapper/activist Trae tha Truth. Rolling Loud co-founders Tariq Cherif and Matt Zingler were honored with the BMAC 365 Award.

Kenny Burns served as the gala’s host. Among the celebrities spotted in the ballroom were LL Cool J, Public Enemy’s Flavor Flav, rapper/singer Doechii and Muhammad Ali’s daughter, Khaliah Ali. Ali presented the award to Flom, her fellow advocate for people wrongfully imprisoned and their significant others.

The 2023 BMAC Gala was presented by Live Nation and produced by Primary Wave and Jesse Collins Entertainment. In addition to Stiggers, BMAC’s board members include Caron Veazey, Ashaunna Ayars, Naima Cochrane, Jamil Davis, Shawn Holiday, Damien Smith and Courtney Stewart.

22 Sep 2023

Nipsey Hussle Murder Subject of ‘Behind the Crime’ Series

The 2019 murder of rapper Nipsey Hussle is the subject of a just-launched limited true series entitled Behind the Crime. The show, which premiered this week on Fox’s Tubi network on Wednesday, is a collaboration with Dan Abrams’ Law&Crime network and it follows the killing of Hussle, as well as the murder trial of Eric Holder Jr., who was found guilty of first-degree murder in the March 2019 killing in July 2022.

The show “dives deep into the inner workings of the justice system with gripping cases that give viewers unfiltered access with real case footage,” with the Hussle episode, “Behind the Crime: The Nipsey Hussle Murder,” telling the story of the brazen daytime shooting following an altercation outside of Hussle’s The Marathon clothing store in South Central Los Angeles.

The episode uses accounts from the people who were involved as well as actual street camera footage from the shooting, its aftermath and the funeral of the beloved MC. Holder Jr., 33, was sentenced to 60 years to life in prison by an L.A. judge in February, eight months after his conviction in the case.

The two men had reportedly known each other for year and prosecutors said Holder, who was allegedly angry over accusations that he was a “snitch,” came back after an earlier altercation outside of the Marathon with two handguns, shooting Hussle more than 10 times.

In addition to the first-degree murder conviction, jurors also found Holder guilty of two counts of attempted voluntary manslaughter over two other men who were hit with gunfire during the shooting. Prosecutors had sought the more serious charge of attempted murder over those two shootings, but the jurors did not agree to convict on those counts.

Future episodes of the series will focus on a headline-grabbing 2020 case of Zachariah Anderson — convicted of murdering his ex-lover’s new boyfriend — and former NFL player Travis Rudolph’s employment of Florida’s stand-your-ground law after he fired nearly 40 shots at an SUV filled with men who confronted him after an alleged domestic violence incident.

Check out the trailer below.

22 Sep 2023

Olivia Rodrigo ‘Guts’ Enters Second Week at No. 1 In Australia

Australians just love Olivia Rodrigo‘s Guts.

The U.S. pop phenomenon’s sophomore album starts a second consecutive week at No. 1 on the ARIA Chart, holding off LPs by The Weeknd (The Highlights unchanged at No. 2 via Universal) and Taylor Swift (1989 up 9-3 via Big Machine/Universal).

Rodrigo just misses out on a chart double, again, as Guts (via Geffen/Universal) track “Vampire” holds at No. 2 on the ARIA Singles Chart, behind Doja Cat’s “Paint The Town Red.”

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The top new entry on the albums tally belongs to Teddy Swims (real name: Jaten Dimsdale), whose debut I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 1) (via Warner) bows at No. 4. The Atlanta, GA vocalist completed a national headline tour last month, produced by Frontier Touring.

The current ARIA top five is completed by Travis Scott’s former leader Utopia (Epic/Sony), down 3-5.

Also new to the top frame is Jared Leto’s Thirty Seconds To Mars with It’s The End Of The World But It’s A Beautiful Day (Concord/Universal), new at No. 9. The U.S. alternative rock outfit’s career-best chart position in Australia is a No. 4 peak for 2013’s Love, Lust, Faith And Dreams.

Further down the list, Mitski lands her second title on the ARIA Chart with The Land Is Inhospitable And So Are We (Dead Oceans/Inertia), new at No. 13. The Japanese-American artist previously cracked the top 10 with 2022’s Laurel Hell, peaking at No. 7.

U.S. rapper Sleepy Hallow, meanwhile, bags his first appearance on the ARIA Chart with Boy Meets World (RCA/Sony), his second studio LP. It’s new at No. 32.

Over on the national singles tally, published Friday, Sept. 22, Doja Cat’s “Paint The Town Red” (via RCA/Sony) enters a fifth week at the summit. “Paint The Town Red” is lifted from the U.S. artist and producer’s fourth solo studio album Scarlet, which arrived earlier today.

The top five is completed by Swift’s “Cruel Summer” (up 4-3), Morgan Wallen’s “Last Night” (up 5-4 via Republic/Universal) and Tate McRae’s “Greedy” (RCA/Sony), new at No. 5 for the week’s top debut. That’s a career high for the Canadian artist, whose previous best was No. 7 in 2020 for “You Broke Me First.”

Kenya Grace’s “Strangers” (Warner) is making a strong connection with Australian audiences. The South Africa-born, U.K.-based artist’s major label debut bounces 30-6 in its third week on the survey.

Finally, Drake and SZA’s “Slime You Out” (Universal) slides to No. 12 on debut.