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17 Jul 2023

Drake Is Teaming Up With Dave’s Hot Chicken to Give Away Tickets to It’s All a Blur Tour

Missed out on a chance to see Drake live in concert? You’re in luck, as the rapper has teamed up with Dave’s Hot Chicken — a company he also invested in — to give fans a second chance at scoring tickets to see him on tour this year.

“Drake is a global superstar, and we’re thrilled to have him as an investor,” said Bill Phelps, CEO of Dave’s Hot Chicken. “Drake invested because he loved the food and the founders’ story of starting Dave’s with $900 in a parking lot. We hope Drake fans across the country will visit us this summer and experience the taste that made him excited to invest in the brand. And, when they do, they’ll have a chance to win tickets to watch Drake in concert during his It’s All a Blur tour.”

In order to qualify for tickets, fans need to download the Dave’s Hot Chicken app and opt in to the contest, where they will be asked to choose their preferred concert location and date to receive an entry for their requested concert drawing. No purchase is necessary to enter, but fans looking to earn multiple entries can do so by making purchases at Dave’s locations while logged into the loyalty program. Each purchase equates to more entries.

Cities that will participate in the ticket giveaway include New York City (July 23), Washington, D.C. (July 28), Milwaukee (Aug. 3), Los Angeles (Aug.13, 15, 16, 21, 22), San Francisco (Aug. 18), Seattle (Aug. 25), Las Vegas (Sept. 1, 2), Glendale, Ariz. (Sept. 5), Denver (Sept. 8), Dallas (Sept. 14), Houston (Sept. 17), Charlotte, N.C. (Sept. 22), Miami (Sept. 28), Nashville (Oct. 2) and the rapper’s hometown of Toronto (Oct. 5).

The It’s All a Blur Tour is Drake’s first headlining run since the 2018 Aubrey & The Three Migos tour.

17 Jul 2023

Jay-Z & Robert Kraft Partner To Fight Book Bans In Southern States

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Florida Governor and Presidential candidate, Ron DeSantis really opened Pandora’s racially biased box when he signed a book ban that banned books that addressed racial discrimination and inequality.

With other Republican states following suit as they don’t want white feelings hurt with factual history lessons about white supremacy, Jay-Z is planning to fight the ban on books that educate the population on America’s racist past and has found an ally in New England Patriots’ owner, Robert Kraft. TMZ is reporting that Jay-Z and Robert Kraft have joined forces and are planning to help fund legal services for educators and librarians who are being attacked over the book bans in red states.

TMZ reports:

TMZ Hip Hop has learned both Jay and Robert’s organizations — the Shawn Carter Foundation and the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism — have donated $1 million to provide pro bono legal services to educators and librarians who’ve been targeted by local policies banning books.
The American Library Association reportedly documented nearly 1,300 demands last year to remove books — most highlighting the Black and LGBTQIA+ communities, as well as religious minorities.

We’re told the New England Patriots owner and Jay laid down the framework for underserved students to obtain scholarships and financial grants, and hopefully have their works turned into movies, plays, audiobooks, etc. to further the message.
There’s also a plan to reprint banned books and have them circulated in adjacent learning centers.It’s good to see billionaires using their money for the good of the people. Keep in mind, should Ron DeSantis actually end up winning the presidency and occupying the White House come 2025, his book ban would more than likely go national along with his many other racist and pro-white nationalist laws that he’s been passing down in Florida. Scary times, b.What do y’all think of Jay-Z and Robert Kraft’s latest initiative? Let us know in the comments section below.

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17 Jul 2023

‘General Hospital,’ ‘Days of Our Lives’ & More: Best Ways to Stream Your Favorite Soaps Online

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.

Nothing does drama quite like a classic soap opera, and with streaming options dominating how we watch our favorite programs, we can stream old and new episodes wherever and wherever we want.

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For the first time in 60 years, though, the unions for writers and actors are on strike at the same time, which has shut down production on most TV and film productions. For daytime soaps fans, you can breathe a sigh of relief as it won’t be impacting soap operas … for now.

Why aren’t soaps being impacted? Well, according to Deadline, “SAG-AFTRA’s film and TV contract, which expires June 30, does not apply to SAG-AFTRA members working on soaps.” This is because soap opera actors operate under a different contract within SAG-AFTRA called the SAG-AFTRA National Code of Fair Practice for Network Television Broadcasting (aka the Network Code). That contract runs through July 2024, which means soaps actors are required to work regardless of the larger union being on strike. That’s right, everything from The Young and the Restless, Days of Our Lives, General Hospital and The Bold and the Beautiful won’t be impacted by the ongoing strikes at this point.

Since soaps tend to work weeks to months in advance, production already has a lot of scripts to keep the shows running.

New content will continue being produced for the time being, meaning you won’t have to rewatch old episodes to keep yourself occupied until the strike comes to an end.

Keep reading for the best ways to stream soap operas online.

How to Watch Soaps Online

For those with cable, you can tune into CBS to watch The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful, whereas you can see Days of Our Lives on NBC and General Hospital on ABC. Make sure to refer to your provider’s channel guide to find what channel each on is on.

Don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on cable? There are affordable live TV network options with free trials such as Fubo and DirecTV Stream, which means you can watch your favorite soaps for free. You can subscribe to Hulu + Live TV, which gives you access to the entire Hulu library including Hulu Originals and FX shows as well as a ton of network TV channels — including ABC for $69.99/month.

DirecTV Stream

$64.99/month $74.99/month 13% off% OFF

DirecTV Stream is currently offering a promo where you get $10 off for the first three months, after that you’ll pay as low as $74.99/month. Once the promo ends, you’ll have to pay $74.99/month for the Entertainment plan, which gives you 75+ channels, DVR storage and the unlimited screens to stream on. If you want additional channels, the Choice plan provides everything the Entertainment plan comes with along with 105+ channels and regional sports at no additional cost for $99.99/month after the trial ends.

With the Premier plan you’ll get everything that comes with the Choice plan as well as Max, Starz, Cinemax and Showtime for no additional cost at $154.99/month after the promo ends.

Other Ways to Stream Soaps

If you don’t watch every soap on TV, then you can save additional money by subscribing to the streamer its on. Subscribers to Hulu, Paramount+ and Peacock can watch current episodes of soaps for no additional cost, but for those without a subscription, you’ll need to sign up in order to watch.

Fans of The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful can watch new episodes on CBS.com or on the app, but you’ll need to log in with a provider. Paramount+ features not only CBS shows, but a library full of Paramount+ Originals and exclusive content including Praise This, 1883, Yellowstone, Scream VI, Beavis & Butthead, A Hollywood High and more starting at $4.99/month after a 7-day free trail. Paramount+ is also now the home of Showtime, which means if you want to catch up on Yellowjackets and more Showtime Originals, you can add the channel onto your subscription for $11.99/month.

To catch new episodes of General Hospital, you can watch it through ABC.com or on the app, but like with CBS, you’ll need a provider login. Otherwise, Hulu offers a selection of ABC shows as well as Hulu Originals and FX content including American Idol, Dancing With the Stars, The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, Abbott Elementary, White Men Can’t Jump, What We Do in the Shadows, The Handmaid’s Tale, Prey, Bob’s Burgers and more starting at $7.99/month after a 30-day free trial. If you love bundling, you can even add ESPN+ and Disney+ starting at $12.99/month.

Days of Our Lives is an NBC show that you can catch up on through NBC.com or the app (with a provider’s login). Peacock is another way you can tune into all the drama, with its most popular plan being $4.99/month, or you can save 17% with an annual plan from $49.99/year. You’ll be able to watch programs such as Bupkis, Mrs. Davis, Poker Face, Bel-Air, Poker Face, Yellowstone, The Real Housewives: Ultimate Girls Trip, Vanderpump Rules, Queens Court, The Traitors, The Best Man: The Final Chapters, Based on a True Story, Sick and other Peacock Originals in addition to NBC and Bravo shows, sports and more.

17 Jul 2023

Musicians at Wimbledon 2023

Wimbledon 2023 wrapped on Sunday (July 16), and the music stars were out in full force to enjoy thrilling matches at the world’s oldest tennis tournament. This year’s Wimbledon Championships, the 136th edition, featured some stunning victories. Twenty-year-old Carlos Alcaraz of Spain won the gentlemen’s singles title, beating renowned tennis star Novak Djokovic of Serbia. Markéta Vondroušová of the Czech Republic won the ladies’ singles title, beating Ons Jabeur of Tunisia, becoming the first unseeded female player to win the singles title.

Alcaraz and Djokovic’s nearly five-hour match was an instant classic Wimbledon moment that captivated the attention of one of the most star-studded crowds of the year. The Wimbledon audience featured royals (King Felipe VI of Spain; Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales; Princess Maria-Olympia of Greece and Denmark), former champions (Andy Murray, Neal Skupski, etc.), actors (Emmy nominee Idris Elba, James Bond star Daniel Craig, Bridgerton star Jonathan Bailey), musicians (Ariana Grande, Stormzy, Nick Jonas) and more.

It’s been a busy Wimbledon for tennis’ brightest stars, both on and off the court. Just four days into the tournament, Olympian Naomi Osaka welcomed her first child, a baby girl, with Grammy-nominated rap star Cordae. “Well that was a cool little intermission, now back to your regularly scheduled program,” she joked in an Instagram caption on July 13, complete with emojis of a tennis ball, a peace sign and a pair of pink hearts.

Like many tennis tournaments, the fashion was just as enrapturing as the athleticism on display. From Priyanka Chopra-Jonas’ floral-inspired Victoria Beckham dress to Issa Rae’s Barbie-evoking bubblegum pink mini dress, the stars were dressed to the nines.

See which musicians stunned at Wimbledon 2023.

17 Jul 2023

Tina Knowles-Lawson Gushes Over Blue Ivy Joining Beyoncé’s Renaissance Tour: ‘She Really Worked Hard’

From show-stopping vocals to eye-popping choreography and production, Beyoncé‘s Renaissance World Tour is one of the grandest shows happening right now. In the midst of all the show’s opulent elements stands one special surprise for select dates: a dance performance by Grammy winner Blue Ivy, the eldest daughter of the superstar and husband Jay-Z, and grandma Tina Knowles-Lawson couldn’t be prouder.

“Well, this is a heels family. You’re trained early to walk in heels,” Knowles-Lawson, mother to Beyoncé and grandmother to Blue Ivy, told People. “She’s having the time of her life, and I couldn’t be more proud of her because she really worked hard.”

Blue Ivy, the second-youngest Grammy winner in history, seamlessly fit into Beyoncé’s crew of seasoned dancers, featuring ballroom powerhouse Honey Balenciaga and renowned dancer-choreography Aliya Janell.

At the tour’s Paris stop (May 26), Blue surprised the sold-out stadium with some dazzling dance moves set to a pair of her mother’s most empowering anthems: “My Power” and “Black Parade,” both from 2019’s The Lion King: The Gift (Deluxe Edition). Blue’s flawless execution of the “My Power” choreography went viral and sparked a dance trend on TikTok.

Knowles-Lawson, a credited costume designer for the Renaissance World Tour, told the publication, “She is 11 years old, and she had one week to prepare, and she’s just getting better and better. So I’m the proud grandma, always.”

Blue is the eldest Carter child; she is the big sister to 6-year-old twins Rumi and Sir Carter. According to her grandmother, the tween’s confidence has soared “to the sky” since joining the Renaissance Tour. The young dancer made her debut on the tour’s North American leg at the Philadelphia show on July 12.

Blue Ivy has earned one entry on the Billboard Hot 100: 2019’s “Brown Skin Girl” (with Beyoncé, Wizkid & SAINt JN), which won the 2020 Grammy Award for Best Music Video and peaked at No. 76.

17 Jul 2023

Jerry Bradley, Longtime Nashville Executive & Country Music Hall of Fame Member, Dies at 83

Music executive and Country Music Hall of Fame member Jerry Owen Bradley died Monday (July 17) in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee. He was 83.

Born in Nashville on Jan. 30, 1940, Bradley was part of the illustrious Bradley family, who played an indelible role in creating and shaping Nashville’s music industry and Music Row area.

Bradley’s father was music producer Owen Bradley while his uncle was studio musician Harold Bradley, who together shaped Nashville’s Music Row as a music business town and architected the “Nashville Sound.” Bradley’s wife of 42 years, Connie Bradley, died in 2021 at age 75; she had served as the head of ASCAP Nashville for more than three decades. Bradley’s sister, Patsy Bradley, previously served as assistant vp at BMI.

Jerry Bradley got his start in the music industry through Forrest Hills Music, a publishing company he launched with his uncle Harold. He soon began engineering and producing records at the Bradley’s Barn studio, which he and his father owned in Mt. Juliet; Bradley’s clients as an engineer included Loretta Lynn, Roy Clark, Gordon Lightfoot, The Who and more.

Given that his father Owen had produced enduring, legendary hits for artists including Patsy Cline, Kitty Wells, Conway Twitty and Brenda Lee while transforming Decca/MCA Records in Nashville into a dominant operation, Jerry sought to make his own way in the industry. He approached Chet Atkins for a job at RCA, where he served as staff producer from 1970 to 1973. Atkins later handpicked Bradley to succeed him as vp of Nashville operations — a role he held from 1973 to 1983.

While at RCA, Bradley worked with artists and on albums that shaped the fabric of country music. Inspired by the success of albums including Nelson’s groundbreaking 1975 set Red Headed Stranger, Bradley began developing a compilation project using the “Outlaw” moniker that included music from Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Jessi Colter and Tompall Glaser.

“We’d been working on Waylon. He was selling about 250,000 albums, which at that time, was fairly good,” Bradley said during an interview with the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2012. “But Willie had Red Headed Stranger and he was selling a million on Columbia. Jessi had ‘I’m Not Lisa.’ Waylon, we just couldn’t get him over the hill and I had [a] Time Life set of books on the old west and we looked at it and all these things were happening. Hazel Smith, who was working for Tompall, she used the word ‘Outlaw’ first and [when] you would talk about the Outlaws, that’s what she was talking about. I got wind of it, and I picked up this old Time Life Western thing and it had a picture of an old wanted poster on it and I thought, ‘Man, that would make a good album cover for the Outlaws.’”

In addition to coming up with the album’s eventual title, Wanted! The Outlaws, Bradley was influential in its marketing, including by modeling its vintage-style cover after that Old West “wanted” poster. Spurred by the Jennings/Nelson duet “Good Hearted Woman,” Wanted! The Outlaws became the first platinum-selling country album certified by the Recording Industry Association of America and furthered the notion of country music as a major commercial force.

At RCA, Bradley also signed hitmakers including Alabama, Ronnie Milsap, Steve Wariner, Earl Thomas Conlee and Gary Stewart. Additionally, he produced No. 1 singles and albums for RCA artist Charley Pride, including the album Charley Pride Sings Heart Songs, as well as hits for Dave and Sugar, Dottie West and Jimmy Dean.

After Bradley left RCA in 1983, the Gaylord Corporation (which had acquired Opryland) bought the Acuff-Rose music publishing company and named Bradley vp of Opryland USA and GM of the Opryland Music Group, which owned the Acuff-Rose publishing catalogs. During his tenure, Bradley brought in new staffers and song pluggers as well as hit writers and artists including Dean Dillon, Casey Beathard and Kenny Chesney, whom Bradley brought to Acuff-Rose in 1992.

“Jerry Bradley signed me to Acuff-Rose when I was a kid. He had a profound and unmeasurable impact on my life,” said Chesney in a statement. “But not just in my life…he helped change the lives of so many people that had a song in their heart. Jerry’s impact on our creative community will be felt for years.”

“Jerry never once called himself a ‘mentor’ but every day since the summer of 1988, when he hired me at Acuff-Rose, he has mentored me,” said Universal Music Publishing Group Nashville CEO Troy Tomlinson in a statement. “I will deeply miss him and the place he has occupied in my life and in my heart.”

During his more than five decades in music, Bradley served as president of the Country Music Association (1974-1975) and became a charter alumnus of Leadership Music; he also served on the Fan Fair committee from 1970 to 2000, during which time the festival grew into CMA Fest. For 20 of those years, Bradley served as either chairman or co-chairman of the committee. During his last year on the committee, the event moved to Adelphia Coliseum (now known as Nissan Stadium), home to the Tennessee Titans in Nashville.

“Today we lost a Country Music Hall of Famer and business icon who was instrumental in the careers of dozens of artists,” Country Music Association CEO Sarah Trahern said in a statement. “Jerry loved Country Music just as much as he lived it. His reputation preceded him and personally, I remember several times in my career being nervous to get Jerry’s blessing on a project or program. However, I quickly realized his bark was not as bad as I’d imagined. Jerry’s deep passion for our business will be greatly missed. My deepest condolences go out to his friends and family during this difficult time.”

Bradley was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2019, making him the third Bradley to be bestowed with that honor after his father Owen and his uncle Harold.

During his induction speech, Bradley told the audience, “This business has given me a wonderful life. I’m grateful for the people I’ve met, the songs I’ve heard and the part I played.”

Today, two more generations of Bradleys work on Nashville’s Music Row, including Bradley’s son, Clay Bradley (vp at BMI Nashville), grandson John Bradley (creative director at Eclipse Music Group) and granddaughter Lillian Grace Bradley (social media marketing manager at Easy Eye Sound).

Bradley was predeceased by his parents, Owen Bradley and Katherine Bradley; his uncles Harold Bradley, Charlie Bradley and Bobby Bradley; his aunt Ruby Strange; his wife Connie Bradley, and the mother of his two children, Gwynn Hastings Kellam. He is survived by his sister Patsy Bradley; his children Leigh Jankiv (Rob LeBlanc) and Clay Bradley (Sara); his grandchildren Josh Jankiv (Ashley), Eli Jankiv, Emma Jankiv (Matt Acott) John Bradley and Lillian Grace Bradley; and five great-grandchildren.

A celebration of life will be held at Cedar Creek Yacht Club in Mt. Juliet on Sept. 10 at 4 p.m.

17 Jul 2023

Elton John & Husband David Furnish Testify at Kevin Spacey’s London Sexual Assault Trial

LONDON (AP) — Kevin Spacey’s lawyers enlisted the help of an A-list star Monday in his sexual assault trial, calling on Elton John and his husband David Furnish to cast doubt on one of the Oscar winner’s accusers at the end of the defense case.

John appeared briefly in the London court by video link from Monaco after Furnish testified that Spacey did not attend an annual gala ball at their Windsor home at the time that the accuser said he was attacked in a car.

John was the final witness for the defense and was followed by character testimonials from colleagues, friends and family that had Spacey in tears in the dock when they were read aloud by his lawyer in Southwark Crown Court.

Spacey, 63, has pleaded not guilty to a dozen charges that include sexual and indecent assault counts and one count of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent.

One of the alleged victims said he was driving Spacey to the White Tie & Tiara Ball in 2004 or 2005 when the actor grabbed his crotch so forcefully that he almost ran off the road.

Furnish supported Spacey’s own testimony that the only year the actor had attended the event was 2001. Furnish said he had reviewed photographs taken at the party from 2001 to 2005, and Spacey only appeared in images that one year. He said all guests were photographed each year.

John, who was wearing yellow-tinted glasses, a dark jacket and light blue open-collar shirt, said the actor attended the party once in the early 2000s and arrived after flying to England on a private jet.

17 Jul 2023

Lindsay Lohan Gives Birth to First Child With Husband Bader Shammas

Lindsay Lohan is a mom! The singer-actress has given birth to her first child with husband Bader Shammas, her rep confirms to Billboard.

The newborn is a “beautiful, healthy son named Luai,” the rep says. “The family is over the moon in love.”

The actress first announced her surprise pregnancy in March. At the time, she shared a photo of a white onesie featuring the words “coming soon,” and tagged financier Shammas in the post. “We are blessed and excited!” she captioned the post.

After announcing that the couple was expecting, the actress said in a statement to TMZ, “We are very excited for our new family member to arrive and we are looking forward to this next chapter of our lives!”

Days before giving birth, the “Rumors” singer showed off her baby bump and the little one’s nursery. In snaps in an Instagram carousel post, the star — glowing in a long, white knit dress, her hand on her bump — stands in front of a brown and white crib. The nursery walls are painted in a beachy theme, with a sailboat on the blue water, birds flying and the sun shining. “So excited to show you my nursery & the collection I designed with @nestigbaby! Everything is inspired by the beach and is so peaceful and playful ?,” she captioned her post.

Lohan and Shammas announced their engagement in November 2021, and confirmed In July 2022 that she was married. “You found me and knew that I wanted to find happiness and grace, all at the same time,” the Freaky Friday actress captioned a photo of the couple at the time. “I am stunned that you are my husband. My life and my everything. Every woman should feel like this everyday.”

17 Jul 2023

Ariana Grande’s ‘Into You’ Music Video Reaches 1 Billion YouTube Views

It’s been seven years since Ariana Grande unveiled her club-ready hit “Into You” off her 2016 album Dangerous Woman, and the enduring hit has reached a new milestone. The music video for the track crossed the one billion views mark on YouTube.

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Upon its release in 2016, “Into You” climbed to No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart. Over the course of her impressive career, Grande has notched a whopping 73 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart. Of those hits, 20 made the top 10 and seven topped the chart. The superstar’s first leader on the track was her 2018 breakup song, “Thank U, Next,” before snagging two more solo No. 1s with “7 Rings” and “Positions.”

She also topped the tally with a number of collaborations, including “Rain on Me” with Lady Gaga, “Stuck With U” with Justin Bieber and her two team-ups with The Weeknd, “Save Your Tears” and “Die For You.”

In other Grande news, the singer has reportedly split from husband Dalton Gomez after two years of marriage. According to TMZ, who was first to report the news, the couple has been separated since January and are planning to legally end their marriage. People also reports that the pair went their separate ways earlier this year.

Reminisce and rewatch Grande’s “Into You” music video below.

17 Jul 2023

Noname Hits Back At Critics Over Song Featuring Jay Electronica

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Noname often gets more notoriety these days over her political stances instead of her formidable music catalog, which is reportedly expanding at a later date. However, Noname bristled at online foes challenging her decision to include Jay Electronica on a single for the upcoming studio album.

Noname teased the release of “Balloons,” featuring the talents of Jay Electronica and R&B singer Eryn Allen Kane. The single is assumed to be the first from Noname’s upcoming studio album, Sundial. It does appear that due to the blistering criticism Noname faced after announcing the track is aimed at her rapping counterpart over what some perceive to be antisemitic views.

Noname came to Electronica’s defense in a retort to fans who questioned the creative decision and labeled Electronica as delivering hateful thoughts against Jewish people.

An example of this came in the form of fans quote-tweeting a screen-shotted image of Noname saying to a fan that the album could be shelved, something she did with the previously announced Factory Baby.

“N*ggas legit rap about actual murder and sexual assault that they commit in real life and y’all can’t take a jay elect verse?” Noname fired back at a fan.

She continued to engage fans on her decision, ultimately leading her to delete the entire Twitter account, but not before screengrabs of her replies to fans were obtained.

Sundial was slated to be released on July 21.

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Photo: Scott Dudelson / Getty

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