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01 May 2023

Jack Harlow Gives a Tour of Louisville in ‘They Don’t Love It’ Video

Jack Harlow continues his Jackman surge after releasing his third studio album on Friday (April 28) by dropping the first official video from the project with “They Don’t Love It.” 

Directed by Eliel Ford, Harlow gives viewers a mini-tour of his hometown of Louisville, Ky. From visiting his old schools to playing soccer to barbecuing with his family and friends, Harlow lassos his adversaries with barbs, questioning their passion and love for the sport, rapping, “Ya boy’s strivin’ to be the most dominant ever/ The hardest white boy since the one who rapped about vomit and sweaters.”

Harlow announced Jackman on April 26 with no singles or press leading up to the release. The 10-track effort is a sharp pivot from Harlow’s 2022 album, as he delivers more reflective cuts over soulful production. Come Home The Kids Miss You included Harlow’s first Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper, “First Class,” which helped propel him into mainstream superstardom. The album debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and earned several Grammy nominations, including best rap album, at this year’s ceremony. 

Despite his pop wins, Harlow shouldered criticism from hip-hop critics for his pop-leaning direction on his sophomore release, which he addresses on Jackman. “What makes you think I’d rather have backpackers applauding me?/ Why do I feel I need approval from all my skeptics when I fill arenas up with a passionate following,” he rapped on the outro “Questions.” Harlow also addressed racism, sexual assault and more in his latest output. 

Watch “They Don’t Love It” below.

01 May 2023

10 Surprises in the Hollywood Walk of Fame Rule Book

Walk of Fame stars aren’t cheap.

From the website: “Due to rising costs, sponsorship fee will increase to $75,000 for all accepted nominations starting with the class of 2024.”

This represents a jump from $55,000 last year. The sponsorship fee has increased astronomically in the past 36 years.

“When I started in 1987, I think it was about $3,500,” Martinez says. “Then it went up to $5,000. It would go up every few years. The last time we had a big increase, was probably almost 10 years ago – it went from $40,000 to $50,000. Then it was $55,000. Everything is astronomical right now. Everything has gone up since we’ve been back from COVID.”

Some of the costs the sponsorship fee covers include the creation and installation of the star (they are made of terrazzo and brass); the costs associated with the star unveiling ceremony, which is free and open to the public; maintenance of the star in instances of cracking or vandalism (Donald Trump’s star was whacked more than once); and the presentation of a large floral arrangement on the day the honoree dies.

The Hollywood Historic Trust, not the city of Los Angeles, takes care of Walk of Fame repairs and the floral arrangements. “They get a portion of the sponsorship fee,” Martinez says. “The trust was formed to maintain the look of the Walk of Fame and they do other things as well. During COVID, I believe they did a $3 million repair because nobody was on [Hollywood] Blvd. so it was a perfect time to do it.”

When it is suggested that the requirement to commit to sponsor the star would put this out of reach for even most superfans, Martinez replies, “You would be surprised. When Liza Minnelli was selected, she was nominated by fans. They had movie nights at somebody’s house and they would sell baked goods. That’s how they raised the money. For Dean Stockwell, he was very much into the environment. His fans collected newspaper [for recycling; what used to be called paper drives] and got money for that. So, they have their ways. And nowadays, they have GoFundMe and things like that.”

From the website: “The Hollywood Walk of Fame does not encourage or endorse online campaigns for fundraising for a star prior to selection. Such initiatives do not impact the selection process for a star on the Walk of Fame.”

From the website: “The nominator must promise to sponsor the star presentation if it approved.  Please submit completed nomination application and a commitment to sponsor the star.”

Martinez amplifies on that point. “We are a non-profit. We cannot pay for it.”

That said, the Walk of Fame brings in quite a bit of money. At the new rate of $75,000 per star presentation, and assuming 27 presentations per year (the midpoint in the 24-30 range Martinez cites), the presentations bring in $2,025,000 per year. At $250 per application, and assuming 200 applications a year, applications bring in an additional $50,000. (Note that applications buy two years of consideration, so that second figure may be more like $25,000 per year.)

If you still want to go through with this, visit the Walk Of Fame Nomination Dashboard.

01 May 2023

Taylor Swift ‘Eras’ Exhibit Unveiled at Country Music Hall of Fame: See the Photos

For proof that Taylor Swift has been “bejeweled” since 2006, check out the new pop-up at the Country Music Hall of Fame. The museum unveiled Monday (May 1) its Through Taylor Swift’s Eras exhibit, which features a fashion tour of the country-turned-pop star’s musical journey over the past two decades.

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Open until May 31, the exhibit features 10 of Swift’s outfits, each representing one of her 10 studio albums. The oldest outfit on display is a peachy, floral dress and cowboy boots worn by the singer to the ACM Awards in 2006 — the same year she released her self-titled debut record — and the most recent of Swift’s featured looks is a knit vest and corduroy pant combo worn in the 2023 “Lavender Haze” music video.

“Taylor Swift has consistently reinvented herself,” reads a description of the exhibit on the Hall of Fame’s website. “Each new album, 10 since her 2006 debut, has brought changes in her stagewear, hairstyle, and often musical direction, defining that era of her career.”

Country Music Hall of Fame, Taylor Swift

Country Music Hall of Fame

Also on display are sparkly outfits from Swift’s Fearless (2008), Speak Now (2010) and 1989 (2014) album tours, a red ringmaster-inspired getup from a 2012 performance of “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” and the furry black leotard worn by the 12-time Grammy winner in her 2017 “Look What You Made Me Do” music video. Fans can also get an up-close look at Swift’s pink bikini and jacket worn in her 2019 “You Need to Calm Down” video, as well as the cardigan and plaid coat looks sported by the singer on the Folklore (2020) and Evermore (2021) album covers.

Taylor Swift

Country Music Hall of Fame

Home to the Taylor Swift Education Center since 2013, the Country Music Hall of Fame has also recently added new Swift looks to the display in the $4 million classroom space donated by the “Anti-Hero” artist 10 years ago. Education Center attendees can now examine the purple cap and gown Swift wore last year while accepting an honorary doctorate from New York University, the sequin-covered cape and bustier featured in the 2022 music video for “Bejeweled” and more.

The Through Taylor Swift’s Eras exhibit is included in the museum’s general admission tickets, available here. See more of the Country Music Hall of Fame’s brand new Taylor Swift exhibit below:

01 May 2023

JoJo Siwa Pays Tribute to Her Dog Tooie After Fatal Accident: ‘Now in Puppy Heaven’

All dogs go to heaven. JoJo Siwa suffered a tragic loss over the weekend as her puppy Tooie died following an undisclosed accident.

“2 months ago our puppy Tooie (O2) joined our family and he brought the MOST joy, laughter, and messes into our life,” the Dance Moms alum wrote on TikTok on Saturday (April 29) beneath a sweet video of herself dancing in happier times with the pup in her arms.

“My heart hurts so much to say that this morning he was involved in an accident and is now in puppy heaven,” Siwa continued. “I cant even explain how perfect of a dog O2 was. Going to miss him more than words can explain. Thank you for bringing light to my life when it was dark tooie boy. See you one day. rest in peace my lil sweet boy.”

Though Siwa didn’t explain what happened to little Tooie, her followers tried to comfort her in the comments section, with one fan writing, “It’s ok he’s watching over in doggy heaven he luvs u so much I’m really sorry abt what happened to him.” Another added, “I’m sorry Tooie, rest in peace sweet baby.” Others openly wondered about the whereabouts of the dancer’s teacup Yorkie BowBow.

Last month, the 19-year-old had even more drama to contend with after conservative lightning rod Candace Owens accused her of pretending to be gay because she’s “desperate for attention.” Siwa — who first came out two years ago — managed to fire back while also maintaining some boundaries. “I haven’t watched the video yet…. But if it has anything to do with your caption, respectfully back the f— off,” she tweeted directly in response to Owens’ comments.

Watch the video of Siwa with Tooie below.

@itsjojosiwa

2 months ago our puppy Tooie (O2) joined our family and he brought the MOST joy, laughter, and messes into our life. My heart hurts so much to say that this morning he was involved in an accident and is now in puppy heaven. I cant even explain how perfect of a dog O2 was. Going to miss him more than words can explain. Thank you for bringing light to my life when it was dark tooie boy. See you one day. rest in peace my lil sweet boy??

♬ original sound – Mia Mugavero

01 May 2023

Everything You Need To Know About Bluesky, The Alternative To Elon Musk’s Lame Twitter

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Bluesky Is Gaining Buzz & Could Send Twitter To Graveyard

Source: SOPA Images / Getty / Bluesky

Since Elon Musk acquired Twitter, he has been doing a fantastic job making it an awful experience, leaving users screaming for a new place to debate $200 debates. Well, their prayers might have finally been answered.

Many of you have noticed on your Twitter timelines people talking about Bluesky, pondering where they can secure an invite leaving you wondering what the hell they are talking about.

Well, Bluesky could be the app that officially puts Twitter in the social media hospice, joining the likes of MySpace, Tumblr, and other social media platforms hanging on for dear life.

Bluesky is backed by Twitter’s former owner, Jack Dorsey, and it has the buzz Twitter first had. Per the New York Times, Bluesky could be Twitter 2.0 and is already boasting users like Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Chrissy Teigen, to name a few, with thousands begging for invites to get in on the action.

Those who have the privilege of using Bluesky say that the app comes the closest to giving users the feeling Twitter used to give before Elon Musk messed it all up.

Bluesky has all of the core features that made Twitter popping, like the ability to post short text, photo updates, reply, and share each other’s posts.

How Does Bluesky Differ From Twitter?

Bluesky’s chief executive, Jay Graber, spoke on what makes his app different from Elon Musk’s Twitter in a blog post, noting it will be a “decentralized system” that will eventually allow users to create their own apps and build their own communities within Bluesky.

According to Ms. Graber, this design is because an “individual could create rules for the entire Bluesky community,” the New York Times reports.

Also, Bluesky is “open protocol,” which is unusual regarding social apps. This means that Bluesky could allow for cross-posting between different social media platforms.  This is something that Twitter used to do before becoming “walled off.” For example, there was a time when Instagram links populated Twitter timelines, showing the post. Now, if you share an IG post on their Twitter account, it just shows a link.

Sounds lit, so how do you sign up? Right now, if you want to use Bluesky, you can only do so if you receive an invite from someone already using the app while it’s in its testing phase.

Bluesky is available for download on iOS and will come to Android devices soon. You can sign up to be on the waiting list by heading here.

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Photo: SOPA Images / Getty

01 May 2023

Carrie Underwood to Launch SiriusXM Channel

Carrie Underwood is set to take fans deeper into her world via the launch her exclusive, year-round SiriusXM channel titled Carrie’s Country in June.

The channel, to be curated and presented by Underwood, will highlight a range of the eight-time Grammy winner’s favorite music, including country, rock and gospel, workout hits and more. Carrie’s Country original programming will include monthly themed shows, as well as morning workout and late-night, hard-rock music blocks and Savior Sunday — a full day of inspirational music from Underwood’s own gospel catalog as well as other music that is close to her heart. She will also invite friends, peers and fans to join as special guest DJs. She’ll also introduce listeners to her band members and touring crew, and will share her passions for fitness and wellness, as well as gardening. 

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Over nearly two decades in music, Underwood has earned 16 No. 1 Billboard Country Airplay hits, as well as three ACM entertainer of the year honors. Carrie’s Country will highlight milestones from throughout Underwood’s career, in a regular feature inspired by her current Las Vegas residency, Reflection. Listeners will also hear music from artists including Keith Urban, Dolly Parton, AC/DC, Guns N’ Roses and more.

“I’m thrilled to partner with SiriusXM on my new channel,” Underwood said via a statement.  “I can’t wait to welcome listeners into my personal musical universe, sharing my favorite music across all of the genres I love, from classic rock to the latest in country.”

“Carrie Underwood is one of country music’s biggest and most multifaceted artists today, and to collaborate with her on her very own SiriusXM channel is truly special,” said Scott Greenstein, SiriusXM’s president and chief content officer. “‘Carrie’s Country’ will give listeners and fans the opportunity to connect with her on a new level, beyond her musical choices and influences, as she curates the channel’s programming. We welcome her to the SiriusXM family as we continue to expand our country music offerings to our subscribers.”

01 May 2023

Investors Sue adidas For Not Ending Kanye West Partnership Sooner

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adidas + KANYE WEST New Partnership Announcement

Source: Jonathan Leibson / Getty

It’s been a minute since adidas publicly severed ties with Kanye West over his antisemitic outbursts, but now the three-striped brand is being taken to court by investors who feel they waited too long to make the business decision.

Bloomberg is reporting that investors have filed a lawsuit against Adidas claiming that the German sportswear conglomerate knew the risks of partnering with the likes of Kanye West, but rolled the dice anyway and crapped out when it was all said and done. Apparently the higher ups at Adidas did indeed discuss the potential hazard that Kanye West presented back in 2018, but decided to continue their partnership with the controversial artist. That did not end well for anyone.

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In a 2018 annual report, released in March of the following year, Adidas ignored serious issues of partnering with Ye – and the risk to shareholders – by “generally alluding” to the risks “rather than stating that the company had actually considered ending the partnership as a result of West’s personal behavior,” according to the complaint.

Reports in subsequent years failed to disclose that West made anti-Semetic comments to Adidas staff, at one point suggesting that he might name an album after Adolf Hitler, according to the complaint. As the relationship with Ye eroded, so did Adidas shares, until the deal was terminated, according to the filing.

To make matters worse for Adidas, even after they cut ties with Kanye West, the company continued to accept shipments of Yeezy products from suppliers who were still producing it. Ultimately Adidas ended up with $1.3 billion in Yeezy merchandise that they now plan on selling off and giving the money to charity.

The lawsuit, which seeks to representing investors who bought Adidas securities between May 3, 2018 and Feb. 21, also names ousted former CEO Kasper Rorsted as a defendant.

The case is HRSA-ILA Funds v. Adidas, 23-cv-629, US District Court for the District of Oregon. 

2023 is looking to be a struggle year for Adidas given everything that Kanye has wrought on the company.

01 May 2023

Drake And Diddy Will Serve As Executive Producers To French Montana Doc

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2018 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Radhika Jones - Inside

Source: Nicholas Hunt/VF18 / Getty

French Montana’s story will finally be told. Drake and Diddy are serving as the executive producers to his forthcoming documentary.

As spotted on Variety Magazine the South Bronx, New York talent is set to premiere For Khadija, a film detailing his life story, this summer at the Tribeca Film Festival. To hear the Coke Boy tell it, he has been working on this since 2017. The press releases bills the project as a narrative that will follow “the unlikely rise of Moroccan-born, multi-platinum recording artist French Montana, as his single mother she sacrifices everything to raise her three young sons in the Bronx, after being abandoned by their father and left destitute”.

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It is also set to explore how his hopes to make it in the United States directly correlated to his Rap career. “The film spans the globe as it depicts the family’s unique immigrant journey, a son’s perseverance in the face of insurmountable obstacles, and a mother’s unwavering faith — all in pursuit of the American dream.” Along with having Drake and Diddy as executive producers the project was directed by Mandon Lovett of RapCaviar Presents fame. Additionally, at the June 16 premiere French will perform live along with Ugandan group Triplets Ghetto Kids.

You can see the official trailer for French Montana’s project below.



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01 May 2023

Tim Bachman, Guitarist/Co-Founder of Bachman-Turner Overdrive Dies at 71

Tim Bachman, guitarist and co-founder of Canadian rock band Bachman-Turner Overdrive, has died at age 71. The news was announced by Bachman’s son, Ryder, on Friday, who wrote in a Facebook post, “My Dad passed this afternoon. Thank You Everyone for the kind words. Grateful I got to spend some time with him at the end. Grab yer loved ones and hug em close, ya never know how long you have.”

In a previous post, Ryder revealed that he got a call from the care unit where his father was staying last Wednesday in which they informed him to pay his final respects after doctors found “cancer riddled all throughout his [Tim’s] brain.”

Tim Bachman co-founded the group commonly referred to as BTO in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1973 with his brothers, singer/guitarist Randy Bachman and drummer Robin Bachman; the latter died in January of this year at age 69. Tim performed on the band’s eponymous album and their breakthrough second collection, Bachman-Turner Overdrive II, which dropped in December of that year and featured two of the band’s most beloved, hard-charging hits, “Let It Ride” and Billboard Hot 100 No. 12 hit “Takin’ Care of Business,” which Tim sang backing vocals on in addition to playing second lead guitar.

His run in the brotherly band would be short-lived, however, as he left in early 1974 shortly after the second album dropped, reportedly due to singer Randy’s strict rules prohibiting drugs, alcohol and premarital sex on the road. He was replaced by Blair Thornton, who played on the band’s third album, 1974’s Not Fragile, which included the No. 1 single “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet” and “Roll on Down the Highway.”

After a series of lineup changes — including the departure of singer Randy in 1977 — BTO reunited in 1983 with Randy and Tim leading the charge, with younger brother Robbie declining to participate. They released Bachman-Turner Overdrive in Sept. 1984 and a live album from their stint opening for Van Halen before Randy left again in 1986, which marked the last year of Tim Bachman’s run with the group as well. The group re-re-reformed in 1988 with Randy Bachman again taking lead along with Robbie on drums, but no Tim Bachman.

On Sunday, Ryder Bachman continued paying tribute to his dad, writing “The last words he said were, “I love you Paxton, Share the Music” and so I’ll honour Dad this afternoon by sharing songs, some he’s played a million times on stage; c’mon down and sing em with me, I bet u know the words.”

See Ryder Bachman’s post below.

01 May 2023

Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino’s Total Pay Jumps to $139M in 2022

Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino’s total compensation package rose to $139 million in 2022, up from $13.8 million the previous year. 

Rapino’s compensation included a base salary of $3 million, up from $2.6 million in 2021 (which came as Rapino agreed to take a pay reduction during the pandemic). Live Nation entered into a new employment agreement with Rapino in July 2022, ending Dec. 31, 2027, which meant he also earned a $6 million signing bonus. 

The executive also earned a $12 million annual cash performance bonus for 2022 and stock awards of $116 million, some of which vest in early 2024, while others vest in four installments through 2027 if the company reaches certain stock price targets.

CFO Joe Berchtold also saw his overall compensation jump to $52.4 million in 2022, up from $5 million the prior year. His base salary increased slightly to $1.3 million from $1.1 million, and he also earned a signing bonus of $6 million and an annual cash performance bonus of $2.5 million. Berchtold received $42.4 million in stock awards.

These pay bumps come after a rocky year for the company.

The Ticketmaster, which falls under Live Nation Entertainment, has faced backlash since its site experienced errors and site slowdowns during its Taylor Swift presale for verified fans in fall 2022. Since then, the company has faced pushback from lawmakers over its merger of Ticketmaster and Live Nation and is said to be undergoing an investigation by the Department of Justice. At the same time, concert attendance has been on the rise, as has the company’s revenue. 

This article was originally published by The Hollywood Reporter.