News

07 Sep 2023

‘Christmas at Graceland’ Will Open Up Elvis Presley’s Home for Holiday Live Music Special

It doesn’t have to be a “Blue Christmas” this year: NBC is set to celebrate Elvis Presley with the upcoming live music special Christmas at Graceland, executive produced by Elvis’ granddaughter Riley Keough, Billboard can exclusively announce.

The special will air Wednesday, Nov. 29, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on NBC and will be simulcast on Peacock.

“My family and I are elated to open the doors to Graceland in this first-of-its-kind special,” said Christmas at Graceland EP Keough; the Daisy Jones & The Six actress is the daughter of Lisa Marie Presley, who died in January at age 54. “With intimate musical performances drawing inspiration from my grandfather Elvis’s cherished Christmases in Memphis, viewers will be invited to experience firsthand the magic that is Christmas at Graceland.”

According to a press release, Christmas at Graceland — which will air immediately after NBC’s Christmas in Rockefeller Center on Nov. 29 (8 p.m. ET/PT) — will “feature music’s biggest stars celebrating the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, his music and his favorite time of year, in an unprecedented holiday special live from his iconic home, Graceland.”

Performers will be announced closer to the air date.

“To celebrate the holidays at Graceland, and be a part of the King’s legacy, is both an honor and absolute dream come true,” said Jen Neal, executive vice president, live events and specials, NBCUniversal Media Group. “We thank Riley and her family for allowing all of us to visit her grandfather’s iconic home and share an intimate musical experience that Elvis would’ve truly loved.”

Presley has a legendary catalog of Christmas music, with two hits on the 2011-launched Holiday 100 songs chart: “Blue Christmas,” which peaked at No. 11 in 2013, and “Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane),” which hit No. 22 in 2015. His album It’s Christmas Time (a 1985 reissue of Presley’s 1957 release Elvis’ Christmas Album) reached No. 2 on Top Holiday Albums in 2015 — his highest-charting project on the tally; it also peaked at No. 2 on the Top Country Albums chart in 2018.

Christmas at Graceland will be produced by Done + Dusted, Authentic Studios and Felix Culpa, a production company co-founded by Keough and Gina Gammell. Executive producers from Done + Dusted are Raj Kapoor, Katy Mullan and Ian Stewart. Colin Smeeton, Matthew Gross and Marc Rosen will serve as executive producers on behalf of Authentic Studios. Felix Culpa’s Keough and Gammell will also executive produce alongside Graceland’s Joel Weinshanker. Done + Dusted’s Patrick Menton will co-executive produce.

07 Sep 2023

The Deals: Exceleration Invests in Indian Label; Encore Luxury Coach Leasing Acquires Competitor

Exceleration Music formed a strategic partnership with Azadi Records, an India-based independent label co-founded in 2017 by Mo Joshi and Uday Kapur. Under the deal, which marks Exceleration’s first in Asia, Exceleration has made a financial investment in the label to help fuel its growth. Azadi will also benefit from access to Exceleration’s worldwide team and infrastructure, with Exceleration partner Charles Caldas joining Azadi’s board to help guide the label’s strategy, performance and development. Azadi Records artists include Indian hip-hop duo Seedhe Maut, producer Sez on the Beat and rapper Prabh Deep, who won a Toto Funds the Arts (TFA) award — a major independent music prize in India. Forthcoming releases on the label include Seedhe Maut’s mixtape Lunch Break, an EP from Ranj & Clifr and a collaborative album from United Kingdom-based rappers Sonnyjim and PAVAN.

Encore Luxury Coach Leasing acquired Nitetrain Coach Company in Whites Creek, Tenn., making it the largest entertainer coach leasing company in North America. The acquisition brings Encore Luxury’s fleet to more than 145 coaches. Under the deal, Encore’s leasing operations will have offices in Phoenix and Nashville, with over 25 maintenance technicians. Touring clients of the combined companies include Nickelback, Thomas Rhett, Bailey Zimmerman, Lauren Daigle, Ben Harper, Barry Manilow, Beck, Phish and Blink-182.

Virgin Hotels partnered with Sofar Sounds for Hear This!, a new monthly concert series that will showcase emerging Sofar artists. The series will be open to the public, with Virgin Hotels’ Know members receiving premier access to reserve tickets ahead of the public onsale. Attendees of the concerts will also have access to exclusive Spotify and Apple Music playlists featuring highlights and recommendations from Hear This! artists. Members of Virgin’s rewards program, Virgin Red, will also be able to redeem Virgin Points to join Sofar Sounds events at Virgin Hotels, including Hear This! Virgin Hotels will also offer preferred room rates to all Sofar Sounds artists to help alleviate the impact of the pandemic on touring artists. Hear This! kicks off on Sunday (Sept. 10) at Virgin Hotel Dallas, with future iterations in Chicago, Dallas, Nashville, New York City, Edinburgh and the recently opened Glasgow location. Get more details here.

One Media iP acquired the licensor’s income share — or the income that is generated from digital exploitation — of the “Entertain Me” catalog of rights, which includes more than 15,000 tracks performed by artists including Dean Martin, Gloria Gaynor, Judy Garland, Ray Charles and Louis Armstrong. The acquisition was undertaken by One Media’s Harmony IP asset release program, “which allows music rights holders advanced access to the future earnings of their intellectual property by purchasing a portion of their rights up front,” according to a press release.

Also at One Media iP, the company renewed its partnership with music distributor The Orchard; the deal includes a $1 million recoupable advance to One Media “to be used to enhance catalogue enrichment,” according to a press release. The advance is recoupable against future sales by One Media.

The Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority (PCCA) board of directors approved a five-year contract renewal for ASM Global as its venue management company. The new agreement commences on Dec. 1, 2023, and runs through Nov. 30, 2028. ASM Global is “planning to bring many of its most innovative designs to a leading group of convention centers beginning with PCCA,” according to a press release.

Allseated, which offers virtual tour technology and floorplan design tools for venues, raised $20 million in funding, including capital from Level Structured Capital (an affiliate of Level Equity) and existing investors Magma Ventures, Vestech Partners, NYFF and WGG. The money will be used to further scale Allseated’s space visualization and collaboration platform and fuel its global expansion. Along with the new funding, the company is spinning out its Meetaverse division; according to a press release, “this includes a brand-new entity with a dedicated mission: to pioneer immersive experiences, such as virtual events and corporate environments, within an emerging market landscape.”

Full-service artist management company and record label Red Music Rising, which is managed entirely by Indigenous individuals, struck an exclusive global distribution deal with Warner Music Canada/ADA Canada. The Red Music Rising roster includes Wolf Saga, Boogey The Beat, Logan Staats and Nimkish.

Grant Avenue Studio, a legendary recording studio based in Hamilton, Ont., that has hosted artists including Gordon Lightfoot, Johnny Cash, U2 and Sarah McLachlan, was sold to music and film industry executives Mike Bruce and Marco Mondano. Bruce is a musician who owns and operates film studios, including Aeon Bayfront Studios in Hamilton, while Mondano owns D.C. Music, a rehearsal, recording and live production studio in Toronto. Grant Avenue Studio was established in 1976 by Daniel Lanois and his brother Bob, who later teamed up with engineer Amy King to helm the studio until the spring of 2023. Under its new ownership, new offerings at the studio will include an artist lounge, a writers’ studio, film and photography location opportunities and artist development programs.

Deezer expanded its partnership with leading Latin e-commerce platform Mercado Libre, becoming the official music streaming partner for the company’s new retail and entertainment subscription program, Meli+, which has been introduced in Mercado Libre’s main markets, Brazil and Mexico. The program includes a full year of music streaming from Deezer, among other elements. Brazilian artist Ana Castela has been appointed as the official Deezer ambassador on Meli+ and will star in joint campaigns and promotion.

Symphony, an artificial intelligence-powered marketing operating system for artists, creators, managers and independent labels, closed a $1 million pre-seed fundraising round from investors including Spice Capital, GoldHouse Ventures, LVRN Records, Guin Records, former Motown Records CEO Ethiopia Habtermariam and artists including 21 Savage and 24kGoldn. The SymphonyOS platform uses artificial intelligence to analyze millions of data points in order to create music marketing strategies for artists and labels. Since its beta launch in April 2022, SymphonyOS has processed over $750,000 worth of advertising budgets.

07 Sep 2023

2023 CMA Awards Nominations: Snubs & Surprises

The final nominees for the 57th annual Country Music Association Awards were revealed Thursday morning (Sept. 7), with this year’s slate of nominees reflecting the chart dominance of an array of artists, but leaning heavily on giving recognition to relative newcomers whose starpower is surging — including Lainey Wilson, Jelly Roll, HARDY and Jordan Davis.

Over the past year, Morgan Wallen’s “Last Night,” Luke Combs’s rendition of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car,” and Zach Bryan’s “Something in the Orange” have been among the songs gaining traction on the Billboard Hot 100, and those artists are among those who have earned top honors heading into the CMA Awards this year.

As she did in 2022, “Heart Like a Truck” singer-songwriter Wilson again leads the pack, with nine nominations — followed by “Need a Favor” hitmaker Jelly Roll (five nominations), and both Combs and HARDY with four nominations. Meanwhile, several artists, writers and/or producers earned a trio of nods each, including Davis, Ashley McBryde, producer/mix engineer Joey Moi, “wait in the truck” songwriter/producer Jordan Schmidt, Chris Stapleton, Wallen and musician/producer Derek Wells.

The eligibility period for the 2023 show is July 1, 2022-June 30, 2023. According to CMA rules, “singles, albums, music videos and qualified music products for the annual show must have been released or reached peak national prominence during the eligibility period.”

The 57th Annual CMA Awards, hosted by Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning, broadcasts live from Nashville Wednesday, Nov. 8 (8:00 – 11:00 PM/EST) on ABC. Here are some of the biggest snubs and surprises from Thursday’s nominations.

07 Sep 2023

Head of Johnny Kitagawa’s Johnny & Associates Talent Agency Resigns, Apologizes For Uncle’s Sex Abuse

The head of a powerful Japanese talent agency resigned Thursday (Sept. 7) and made an apology punctuated by repeated, lengthy bows, nine days after an internal investigation concluded that its founder had sexually abused hundreds of young performers over decades.

Julie Keiko Fujishima announced she was stepping down as president of Johnny & Associates, the agency founded by her late uncle Johnny Kitagawa, and promised to contribute to a compensation fund from her own fortune.

“This is what my uncle committed, and as a niece, I want to take responsibility,” Fujishima said solemnly. Fujishima said the alleged sex abuse had really happened and that she would stay on the company’s board to see through a victim compensation program.

A group of men who accused Kitagawa of raping them as children said they were pleased the company apologized, but some had reservations.

“The wounds in my heart will not heal,” Yukihiro Oshima told reporters. “But I feel a little better.”

Fujishima remains the sole owner of Johnny’s, and her replacement faces his own allegations of mistreating young performers.

Rumors that Kitagawa had abused children followed his career for decades, but his power allowed him to silence almost all allegations until his death in 2019. The company agreed to investigate earlier this year, after the BBC aired a documentary that spoke with several accusers and others began to come forward by name.

The three-month probe concluded that Johnny Kitagawa sexually assaulted and abused boys as far back as the 1950s and targeted at least several hundred people.

The company named a 56-year-old performer as its new leader. Noriyuki Higashiyama said he was retiring as an actor and singer to take the job, a role that will include overseeing compensation for men who were assaulted as children.

“A horrendous crime has been committed,” Higashiyama told reporters at a Tokyo hotel, bowing deeply with Fujishima.

“It will take time to win back trust, and I am putting my life on the line for this effort.”

Higashiyama immediately fielded questions about allegations that he had engaged in bullying or sexually abusing other Johnny’s boys.

“I don’t remember clearly; maybe it happened, maybe it didn’t,” he said.

He acknowledged he tended to be strict with younger performers, and that he may have done things as a teen or in his 20s that he would not do now. A new company structure, which will include an outside compliance officer, will be announced next month, Fujishima said.

At one point, she choked down tears, stressing the achievements of the company’s singers and dancers. “I only feel deep gratitude to all the fans,” she said. Kitagawa had been so powerful that she, and many others, had kept silent, she added.

The men who have come forward say Kitagawa raped, fondled and abused them while they were working for his company as dancers and singers.

Many of the victims were members of a backup group called Johnny’s Jr., who danced and sang behind bigger stars. One man who came forward recently said he was routinely molested when Kitagawa had yet to found his company. He was just 8 years old.

Higashiyama denied he was a victim. He said Kitagawa had been like a father to him, while denouncing his acts as “the most pathetic in the history of humankind.” When he found out what Kitagawa had done, he felt as though he had lost everything, Higashiyama recalled.

“Whether I am qualified to take on this job, you be the judge,” he said.

Separately, Guinness World Records said it had stripped Kitagawa of all the records he had held, such as No. 1 hits, according to its policy toward “criminals.”

07 Sep 2023

Olivia Rodrigo Celebrates Summer’s End (And Her ‘Guts’ Album) With Jeni’s Ice Cream Weekend Takeover

You wouldn’t know it from the triple-digit temperatures that are still broiling across the country, but Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream and Olivia Rodrigo have teamed up to celebrate summer’s end with a special ice cream stunt this weekend. The sweet treats company announced on Wednesday (Sept. 6) that it’s rolling out an Olivia Rodrigo cone takeover this Friday (Sept. 8) through Sunday (Sept. 10) in all its shops across the U.S.

“This weekend only! We’re turning all Buttercrisp Waffle Cones & Bowls purple to celebrate @oliviarodrigo’s new album GUTS (drops Friday, 9/8),” read an Instagram post announcing the promotion that feature special purple cones; click here to find a Jeni’s near you. The ice cream company teased the collab earlier this week in an Insta post featuring purple batter being poured into a waffle iron while promising a “super-special, shop-only collab this weekend.”

Rodrigo’s second album, Guts, is due out on Friday, more than two years after her Grammy-winning debut, Sour, made the Bizaardvark and High School Musical: The Musical: The Series into a chart superstar thanks to her debut single “Drivers License,” as well as hits “Deja Vu” and “Good 4 U.” The singer has previewed Guts with the singles “Vampire” and “Bad Idea Right?”

Rodrigo recently tamped down talk that the lacerating “Vampire” could be about Taylor Swift after fans speculated that the song about a “bloodsucker, famef—er” might be aimed at one of Olivia’s childhood music idols. “How do I answer this?” Rodrigo reportedly whispered to Guardian journalist Laura Snapes, when the question about “Vampire” arose during an interview ahead of the Sept. 8 release of Guts.

“I mean, I never want to say who any of my songs are about,” she said. “I’ve never done that before in my career and probably won’t. I think it’s better to not pigeonhole a song to being about this one thing. I was very surprised when people thought that.”

Check out Jeni’s post about the Rodrigo special event below.

07 Sep 2023

Blink-182 Appear to Tease New Music With Mystery Website and Lyric Posters

Blink-182 are up to… something. The pop-punk trio posted a mysterious new video on their official site on Wednesday (Sept. 6) and fans have spotted posters in a number of cities that seem to hint at a new single. The latter reportedly feature the Blink logo and the line “One more time…”

A snap of a set of posters one fan found in a Toronto store window reportedly have what seem like lyrics that read: “Do I have to die to hear you miss me?/ Do I have to die to hear you say goodbye?/ I don’t want to act like there’s tomorrow/ I don’t want to wait to do this one more time.”

Adding to the speculation that the reunited group are prepping a follow-up to their late 2022 comeback single, “Edging,” is a revamped official site which now opens with a note that says “Site closed for maintenance.” But if you click on the box that says “okay,” it leads you to a colorful page where a figure in a yellow hazmat suit and gas mask wearing headphones is busy dancing around and scrubbing various messages off a dirty bathroom wall.

The wall features a band logo, the words “crappy punk rock,” “a pink TV playing classic Blink concert footage and the apparent lyrics “I don’t feel pain/ But I feel more than you’d ever know.” As the scrubber listens to what sounds like a new Blink riff on the headphones, they slowly erase all the messages on the wall while tuning the TV and cueing up a clock that blinks “12:00” as the sounds of a strummed acoustic guitar briefly bubble up.

In addition, fans who text the phone number on the wall will get a response that reads: “helloooo it’s your favorite crappy rock band blink-182. make sure you click the link above so we can save your contact.” Blink re-re-united with twice-departed singer/guitarist Tom DeLonge last year and dropped “Edging” in October. Though they’ve been teasing a comeback album ever since, to date they have not yet announced a title or release date for their follow-up to 2019’s Nine, which featured DeLonge’s fill-in, Alkaline Trio guitarist/singer Matt Skiba. DeLonge shared what appeared to be a snapshot from a new video two weeks ago in which he strummed a guitar in front of a green screen.

The band has been on tour in Europe, but last week they were forced to postpone a series of shows so drummer Travis Barker could fly home to be by pregnant wife Kourtney Kardashian’s side due to a medical emergency she described as “urgent fetal surgery”; the band will resume the tour on Friday (Sept. 8) in Antwerp, Belgium.

See the poster and new landing page pics below.

07 Sep 2023

Lainey Wilson Leads 2023 CMA Awards Nominations – And Makes History (Full List)

Lainey Wilson is the top nominee for the 2023 CMA Awards, with nine nods. Wilson was also the top nominee last year, with six nods. Wilson is the first artist in CMA history to top the nominations list in her first two appearances on the final ballot.

Moreover, Wilson is just the fourth artist in CMA history to land nine or more nominations in a single year. She follows Merle Haggard (nine nods in 1970), Alan Jackson (a record 10 nods in 2002) and Miranda Lambert (nine nods in both 2010 and 2014).

Wilson is the first artist in 13 years to land two nominations for single of the year in the same year. Wilson is nominated for “Heart Like a Truck” and as a featured artist on HARDY’s “wait in the truck.” Lambert was the last artist to land two nods in this category in one year; she was nominated in 2010 with both “The House That Built Me” and “White Liar.”

First-time nominee Jelly Roll landed five nominations, second only to Wilson for the most nods this year.

Luke Combs and HARDY each collected four nominations. Jordan Davis, Ashley McBryde, producer/mix engineer Joey Moi, songwriter/producer Jordan Schmidt, Chris Stapleton, Morgan Wallen and musician/producer Derek Wells each secured three nods.

Two women are nominated for entertainer of the year for the fourth consecutive year. Carrie Underwood and Wilson are nominated this year. Underwood and Lambert were both nominated in each of the last three years. This is the first time in CMA history that two women (or woman-led groups) have been nominated four years running.

The other entertainer of the year nominees are Combs, who won in that category the last two years; Stapleton, nominated for the seventh time; and Wallen, nominated for the second year in a row.

Women dominate the album of the year nominations for the second year in a row. Wilson, McBryde and Kelsea Ballerini are nominated in that marquee category this year. Wilson, Lambert and Maren Morris were nominated last year.

The other nominees in that category this year are Combs and Wallen.

Lambert landed her 17th nomination for female vocalist of the year, which puts her in a tie with Martina McBride for second place in that category; Reba McEntire leads with 18 nominations.

Little Big Town landed their 18th nomination for vocal group of the year; only Alabama has had more nods (21).

Brooks & Dunn was nominated for vocal duo of the year for a record-extending 24th time.

Three of the five song of the year nominees were written by gaggles of four or more songwriters, a change from past practices in country songwriting circles. A fourth was written by a three-member team. The only nominee written by a solitary songwriter was written 35 years ago: Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car,” nominated this year because of Combs’ smash cover version.

Chapman isn’t the only Black artist to receive a CMA nod this year in a high-profile category: The War and Treaty, consisting of married couple Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter, is nominated for vocal duo of the year for the first time.

Davis’ “Next Thing You Know” and “Wait in the truck” by HARDY featuring Wilson are this year’s only works to receive nominations for single, song and video of the year. “Fast Car” and “Heart Like a Truck” were both nominated for single and song of the year, but not music video of the year.

First-time CMA Awards nominees — besides the aforementioned Jelly Roll, Chapman and The War and Treaty — include Mason Allen, Trannie Anderson, Renee Blair, Michael H. Brauer, Katelyn Brown, Zach Bryan, Josh Ditty, David Fanning, Nicki Fletcher, Greylan James, Paul Jenkins, Gena Johnson, Chase McGill, Cameron Montgomery, Megan Moroney, Austin Nivarel, Eivind Nordland, John Osborne, Hunter Phelps, David Ray Stevens, Patrick Tohill, Alysa Vanderheym, Hailey Whitters, Ben Williams, Dallas Wilson and Charlie Worsham.

Fiddle player Jenee Fleenor, who has won musician of the year four years running, is nominated again this year. She faces steel guitarist Paul Franklin, who is nominated in the category for the 31st time; guitarist  Derek Wells (his eighth time); guitarist Rob McNelley (his second); and multi-instrumentalist Charlie Worsham (his first).

Winners will be determined in a final round of voting by eligible voting CMA members. The third and final ballot will be emailed to CMA professional members on Monday, Oct. 2. Voting closes on Friday, Oct. 27. CMA Broadcast Awards winners will be determined by a final round of judging this month. Entries are judged by a panel of broadcast professionals, representing all market sizes and regions. Winners will be revealed in October and will be honored at the CMA Awards. All balloting is tabulated by Deloitte. 

The 57th annual CMA Awards, hosted by Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning for the second year in a row, broadcasts live from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville Wednesday, Nov. 8 (8–11 p.m./ET) on ABC. The show is a production of the Country Music Association. Robert Deaton is the executive producer.

The first CMA Awards Banquet and Show was held at Municipal Auditorium in Nashville in 1967. The following year, the CMA Awards was broadcast for the first time on NBC – making it the longest-running annual music awards program on network television. The CMA Awards have aired on ABC since 2006.

Here’s a complete list of the nominations for the 57th annual CMA Awards (listed in ballot category order):  

Entertainer of the year

Luke Combs

Chris Stapleton

Carrie Underwood

Morgan Wallen

Lainey Wilson

Single of the year

Award goes to Artist(s), Producer(s) and Mix Engineer(s)

“Fast Car” – Luke Combs; Producers: Luke Combs, Chip Matthews, Jonathan Singleton; Mix Engineer: Chip Matthews

“Heart Like a Truck” – Lainey Wilson; Producer: Jay Joyce; Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce

“Need a Favor” – Jelly Roll; Producer: Austin Nivarel; Mix Engineer: Jeff Braun

“Next Thing You Know” – Jordan Davis; Producer: Paul DiGiovanni; Mix Engineer: Jim Cooley

“wait in the truck” – HARDY (feat. Lainey Wilson); Producers: HARDY, Joey Moi, Jordan Schmidt, Derek Wells; Mix Engineer: Joey Moi

Album of the year  

Award goes to Artist, Producer(s) and Mix Engineer(s)

Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville – Ashley McBryde; Producers: John Osborne, John Peets; Mix Engineers: Gena Johnson, John Osborne

Bell Bottom Country – Lainey Wilson; Producer: Jay Joyce; Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce

Gettin’ Old – Luke Combs; Producers: Luke Combs, Chip Matthews, Jonathan Singleton; Mix Engineers: Michael H. Brauer, Jim Cooley, Chip Matthews

One Thing at a Time – Morgan Wallen; Producers: Jacob Durrett, Charlie Handsome, Joey Moi, Cameron Montgomery; Mix Engineers: Josh Ditty, Joey Moi, Eivind Nordland

Rolling Up the Welcome Mat – Kelsea Ballerini; Producers: Kelsea Ballerini, Alysa Vanderheym; Mix Engineers: Dan Grech-Marguerat, Alysa Vanderheym

Song of the year 

Award goes to Songwriter(s)

“Fast Car”; Songwriter: Tracy Chapman

“Heart Like a Truck”; Songwriters: Trannie Anderson, Dallas Wilson, Lainey Wilson

“Next Thing You Know”; Songwriters: Jordan Davis, Greylan James, Chase McGill, Josh Osborne

“Tennessee Orange”; Songwriters: David Fanning, Paul Jenkins, Megan Moroney, Ben Williams

“wait in the truck”; Songwriters: Renee Blair, Michael Hardy, Hunter Phelps, Jordan Schmidt

Female vocalist of the year 

Kelsea Ballerini

Miranda Lambert

Ashley McBryde

Carly Pearce

Lainey Wilson

Male vocalist of the year

Luke Combs

Jelly Roll

Cody Johnson

Chris Stapleton

Morgan Wallen

Vocal group of the year

Lady A

Little Big Town

Midland

Old Dominion

Zac Brown Band

Vocal duo of the year  

Brooks & Dunn

Brothers Osborne

Dan + Shay

Maddie & Tae

The War And Treaty

Musical event of the year 

Award goes to Artists and Producer(s) 

“Save Me” – Jelly Roll (with Lainey Wilson); Producers: Zach Crowell, David Ray Stevens

“She Had Me at Heads Carolina (Remix)” – Cole Swindell & Jo Dee Messina; Producer: Zach Crowell

“Thank God” – Kane Brown (with Katelyn Brown); Producer: Dann Huff

“wait in the truck” – HARDY (feat. Lainey Wilson); Producers: HARDY, Joey Moi, Jordan Schmidt, Derek Wells

“We Don’t Fight Anymore” – Carly Pearce (featuring Chris Stapleton); Producers: Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne, Carly Pearce

Musician of the year

Jenee Fleenor

Paul Franklin

Rob McNelley

Derek Wells

Charlie Worsham

Music video of the year 

Award goes to Artist(s) and Director(s)

“Light on in the Kitchen” – Ashley McBryde; Director: Reid Long

“Memory Lane” – Old Dominion; Directors: Mason Allen, Nicki Fletcher

“Need a Favor” – Jelly Roll; Director: Patrick Tohill

“Next Thing You Know” – Jordan Davis; Director: Running Bear

“wait in the truck” – HARDY (feat. Lainey Wilson); Director: Justin Clough

New artist of the year

Zach Bryan

Jelly Roll

Parker McCollum

Megan Moroney

Hailey Whitters

2023 CMA Broadcast Awards

Finalists for broadcast personality of the year (by market size):

Weekly National

“American Country Countdown” (Kix Brooks) – Cumulus/Westwood One

“Country Countdown USA” (Lon Helton) – Compass Media Networks

“Honky Tonkin’ with Tracy Lawrence” (Tracy Lawrence and Patrick Thomas) – Silverfish Media

“On The Horizon with Buzz Brainard” (Buzz Brainard) – SiriusXM

“Y’all Access with Kelly Sutton” (Kelly Sutton) – Firefly Media/Silverfish Media

Daily National

“Angie Ward” – iHeartMedia

“The Big D and Bubba Show” (Derek “Big D” Haskins, Sean “Bubba” Powell, Patrick Thomas, and Carsen Humphreville) – Silverfish Media

“Katie & Company” (Katie Neal) – Audacy

“Nights with Elaina” (Elaina Smith) – Westwood One

“The Sam Alex Show” (Sam Alex) – Sam Alex Productions, LLC

Major Market

“Chris Carr & Company” (Chris Carr, Kia Becht, and Sam Sansevere) – KEEY, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.

“Frito & Katy” (Tucker “Frito” Young and Katy Dempsey) – KCYY, San Antonio, Texas

“Hawkeye in the Morning with Hawkeye and Michelle” (“Hawkeye” Mark Louis Rybczyk and Michelle Rodriguez) – KSCS, Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas

“Josh, Rachael & Grunwald” (Josh Holleman, Rachael Hunter, and Steve Grunwald) – WYCD, Detroit, Mich.

“Scotty Kay” (Scotty Kay) – WUSN, Chicago, Ill.

Large Market

“The Big Dave Show” (“Big Dave” Chandler, Ashley Heiert, and Jason “Stattman” Statt) – WUBE, Cincinnati, Ohio

“The Morning Drive with Mike Kellar and Jenny Matthews” (Mike Kellar and Jenny Matthews) – KBEQ, Kansas City, Mo.

“Scott and Shannen” (Scott Dolphin and “Shannen O” Oesterreich) – WMIL, Milwaukee-Racine, Wis.

“Tim & Chelsea In The Morning” (Tim Leary and Chelsea Taylor) – WIRK, West Palm Beach-Boca Raton, Fla.

“The Wayne D Show” (“Wayne D” Danielson and Tay Hamilton) – WSIX, Nashville, Tenn.

Medium Market

“Cait & Bradley Morning Show” (Cait Fisher and Matt Bradley) – KWEN, Tulsa, Okla.

“Clay & Company” (Clay Moden, Rob Banks, and Kadie Daye) – WYRK, Buffalo-Niagara Falls, N.Y.

“Ellis and Bradley Show” (Bill Ellis and Beth Bradley) – WSSL, Greenville-Spartanburg, S.C.

“Mo & StyckMan” (Melissa “Mo” Wagner and Greg “StyckMan” Owens) – WUSY, Chattanooga, Tenn.

“Steve & Gina In The Morning” (Steve Lundy and Gina Melton) – KXKT, Omaha-Council Bluffs, Neb.-Iowa

Small Market

“The B100 Morning Show with Brittney Baily” (Brittney Baily) – WBYT, South Bend, Ind.

“The Eddie Foxx Show” (Eddie Foxx and Amanda Foxx) – WKSF, Asheville, N.C.

“Officer Don & DeAnn” (“Officer Don” Evans and DeAnn Stephens) – WBUL, Lexington-Fayette, Ky.

“Steve & Tiffany in the Morning” (Steve Waters and Tiffany Kay) – WFLS, Fredericksburg, Va.

“Steve, Ben and Nikki” (Steve Stroud, Ben Walker, and Nikki Thomas) – WXBQ, Johnson City-Kingsport-Bristol, Tenn.-Va.

Finalists for radio station of the year (by market size): 

Major Market

KCYY – San Antonio, Texas

KEEY – Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Minn.

KKBQ – Houston, Texas

KSCS – Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas

WXTU – Philadelphia, Pa.

Large Market

WIRK – West Palm Beach-Boca Raton, Fla.

WKDF – Nashville, Tenn.

WMIL – Milwaukee-Racine, Wis.

WUBE – Cincinnati, Ohio

WWKA – Orlando, Fla.

Medium Market

KUZZ – Bakersfield, Calif.

KXKT – Omaha-Council Bluffs, Neb.-Iowa

WGGY – Wilkes Barre-Scranton, Pa.

WPCV – Lakeland-Winter Haven, Fla.

WQMX – Akron, Ohio

Small Market

KCLR – Columbia, Mo.

WBYT – South Bend, Ind.

WKML – Fayetteville, N.C.

WXBQ – Johnson City-Kingsport-Bristol, Tenn.-Va.

WYCT – Pensacola, Fla.

07 Sep 2023

Miley Cyrus Was Filming ‘Black Mirror’ Scene When Her Malibu House Burned Down

Miley Cyrus said she was filming a traumatic scene for Black Mirror at the same time the Woolsey Fire tore through Malibu and burned down her and ex-husband Liam Hemsworth’s home.

As a result, the “Flowers” singer explained in a recent installment of her Used to Be Young TikTok series that she suffered from panic anxiety attacks years later.

“I was filming Black Mirror and while I was there the Woolsey Fires happened in Malibu,” Cyrus said. “I was in South Africa but [the episode] was taking place in Malibu, so it was just a real trip. Two or three years after this happened, I didn’t understand, but I had this anxiety attack with a vision attached that I would be strapped down to a gurney.”

The scene she was referring to was when her character, fictional pop star Ashley O, was tied down to a medical bed against her will in an episode of season five of the popular anthology series. The scene was also similar to the harrowing dreams she was having in real life.

“I would have these dreams any time I would go to perform, and I thought that was just an anxious vision that made no sense,” she said. “But actually as my house was burning I was strapped to a gurney with my hands locked in handcuffs strapped to a bed [filming Black Mirror].

Explore

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

The following day, after her house was demolished by the wildfires, Cryus said in the TikTok video that she had to film the music video for Ashley O’s song “On a Roll,” which went on to receive more than 19 million views on YouTube.

“Found out that my house had burned to the ground, and this was the next day of [filming],” she added. “The show must go on.”

During her Used to Be Young TikTok series to celebrate her new single of the same name, Cryus has been looking back at earlier moments in her career as well as past relationships and friendships. Most recently, Cyrus talked about how she “didn’t make a dime” from her 2014 Bangerz Tour, as well as reminisced on falling in love with ex-husband Hemsworth while filming 2010’s The Last Song. She has also opened up about why she hasn’t toured in nearly a decade.

This article originally appeared in THR.com.

07 Sep 2023

Los Angeles Azules & Maria Becerra’s ‘El Amor De Mi Vida’ Hits the Top 10 on Regional Mexican Airplay

Los Angeles Azules add a new single to their collab portfolio with “El Amor De Mi Vida,” featuring Maria Becerra. The song flies 38-9 on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Airplay chart dated Sept. 9. It earns Becerra her first top 10 with her first entry.

“El Amor De Mi Vida” was released Aug. 18 via SeiTrack/Disa/UMLE. With a 38-9 surge it becomes the biggest jump for a song since Adan Chalino Sanchez’ “Nadie Es Eterno” equally climbed 29 rankings, from No. 33 to No. 4, in 2004.

“El Amor De Mi Vida” traces its top 10 ascent to a robust 178% percent gain in audience impressions, to 4.1 million, earned in the U.S. in the week ending Aug. 31, according to Luminate.

As the song arrives in the upper region, Becerra secures her first top 10 since the chart’s inception in 1994. Los Angeles Azules, meanwhile, log their 14th top 10 hit, after “Tú y Tú,” with Cazzu and Santa Fe Klan, crowned Regional Mexican Airplay for one week in May.

As Los Angeles Azules register a new top 10 song, here’s the history of their top 10 hits:

Peak, Title, Artist, Peak Date, Weeks At No. 1
No. 5, “Como Te Voy A Olvidar,” Jan. 25, 1997
No. 3, “Me Haces Falta Tú,” April 18, 1998
No. 7, “Quiero Ser,” Nov. 21, 1998
No. 1, “El Listón De Tu Pelo,” Feb. 5, 2000, seven
No. 8, “Sin Ti No Se Vivir,” Sep. 16, 2000
No. 5, “Ni Contigo Ni Sin Ti,” featuring Pepe Aguilar, August 4, 2018
No. 1, “Nunca Es Suficiente,” featuring Natalia Lafourcade, Jan. 26, 2019, three
No. 2, “Amor A Primera Vista,” with Belinda & Lalo Ebratt featuring Horacio Palencia, Aug. 31, 2019
No. 6, “Acaríñame,” with Julieta Venegas & Juan Ingaramo, Dec. 28, 2019
No. 7, “Y La Hice Llorar,” featuring Abel Pintos, June 13, 2020
No. 4, “Otra Noche,” with Nicki Nicole, March 12, 2022
No. 4, “Cumbia Del Corazón,” con Carlos Vives, Nov. 26, 2022
No. 1, “Tú Y Tú,” con Cazzu & Santa Fe Klan, May 20, 2023, one
No. 9, “El Amor De Mi Vida,” y Maria Becerra, Sept. 9, 2023

Elsewhere, “El Amor” debuts at No. 29 on the overall Latin Airplay chart. It’s the highest start for Los Angeles within their 17 career entries. Prior, the Mexicans scored a No. 29 debut with “Acaríñame,” with Julieta Venegas and Juan Ingaramo, in 2019.

Becerra adds a seventh entry on Latin Airplay. Plus, she extends her record for the most entries by a woman on Billboard Argentina Hot 100 with 43 career entries.

07 Sep 2023

El Fantasma Lands Fifth No. 1 on Regional Mexican Airplay With ‘Vida Cara’

El Fantasma captures his fifth No. 1 on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Airplay chart as “La Vida Cara” crowns the list dated Sept. 9. The single checks into the penthouse after a 13% gain in audience impressions, to 6.8 million, earned in the U.S. during the Aug. 25-31 tracking week, according to Luminate.

‘La Vida Cara” ascends 4-1 in its ninth week and unseats Carin León’s “Indispensable” from its three-week domination; the song dips 1-2.

El Fantasma scores his fifth No. 1 after coming short on his last appearance. Previously, “El Selectivo” reached No. 2 in April, where it held for three weeks. Prior, “Soldado Caído” lifted 3-1 in Oct. 2022.

With his fifth champ, El Fantasma becomes the sixth male artist with as many No. 1s on Regional Mexican Airplay since the list launched in 1994. Christian Nodal beats the race with 15. Here’s the recap:

15, Christian Nodal
12, Gerardo Ortiz
8, Marco Antonio Solis
7, Vicente Fernández
6, Alejandro Fernández
5, El Fantasma

Notably, as “Vida Cara” lands at No. 1, collaborators Salvador Hurtado and Indalfer Ochoa, who share writing credits, achieve their first champ on any Latin radio list. Hurtado previously landed in the runner-up slot when La Fiera De Ojinaga’s “900 Cigarros” peaked at No. 1 on the Aug. 26-dated list.

Beyond its Regional Mexican Airplay coronation, “Vida” gifts El Fantasma his ninth top 10 on the overall Latin Airplay chart as the song climbs 15-5.

Maluma’s ‘Don Juan’ debuts in the top 10: Elsewhere on Latin charts, Maluma picks up his sixth top 10 on Latin Rhythm Albums as Don Juan opens at No. 5 with 8,000 equivalent album units earned in week ending Aug. 31.

The 24-track Don Juan was released Aug. 25 via Sony Music Latin. Of the 8,000-unit week, 7,000 derives from streaming activity, equal to 10.3 million official on-demand audio and video streams for the album’s songs in its first week.

With Don Juan, Maluma logs his sixth top 10 effort on Latin Rhythm Albums out of seven chart entries. Before the No. 12-peaking The Love & Sex Tapes set in June 2022, his previous five releases all reached top 10, and three out of those topped the list – 2015 Pretty Boy, Dirty Boy earned the Colombian his first chart appearance and maiden No. 1, while F.A.M.E. (2018) and 11:11 (2019), both debuted at the summit and ruled for one week, respectively.

Don Juan was preceded by four songs on the multi-metric Hot Latin Songs chart, starting with “Sobrio,” which peaked at No. 11 in Oct. 2021. Meanwhile, three others debuted in 2023: “La Fórmula,” with Marc Anthony, “Diablo, Que Chimba,” with Anuel AA, and “Coco Loco,” all debuted and peaked at No. 33, No. 45, and No. 41 in Feb., April, and June, respectively.

Further, Don Juan debuts at No. 11 on Top Latin Albums, Maluma’s best chart performance since Papi Juancho debuted and peaked at No. 2 in 2020.