News

31 Jan 2023

The Weeknd Tops 2023 Juno Awards Nominations: Full List

The Weeknd is the top nominee for the 2023 Juno Awards, with six nods, including artist of the year, single of the year (“Sacrifice”), album of the year (Dawn FM) and songwriter of the year.

Avril Lavigne and Tate McRae follow with five nods each. NAV, Preston Pablo, Rêve and The Reklaws each received three nods.

McRae and Rêve are both set to perform on the Junos, which will be held March 13. Also set to perform on the show: Nickelback (the 2023 inductee into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and a nominee for rock album of the year for Get Rollin’), Tenille Townes (a two-time nominee this year) and AP Dhillon.

Lavigne, The Weeknd, Lauren Spencer-Smith, Michael Bublé and Shawn Mendes are nominated for artist of the year. The Weeknd is a three-time winner in that category; Mendes has won twice; Bublé has won once.

All of those artists except Bublé are also nominated for Juno Fan Choice, a fan-voted award.

Mendes, who won three consecutive awards for single of the year from 2018-20, is nominated again in that category for “When You’re Gone.” The other nominees in that category are The Weeknd’s “Sacrifice,” Lavigne’s “Bite Me,” McRae’s “she’s all I wanna be” and Preston Pablo and Banx & Ranx’s “Flowers Need Rain.” The Weeknd is a two-time winner in the category; Lavigne has won once.

The nominees for album of the year are The Weeknd’s Dawn FM, Lavigne’s Love Sux, McRae’s i used to think I could fly, Ali Gatie’s Who Hurt You? and NAV’s Demons Protected by Angels. As with single of the year, The Weeknd is a two-time winner in this category; Lavigne has won once.

Taylor Swift has two of the five nominees for international album of the year. She is nominated for both Midnights and Red (Taylor’s Version). The other nominees in that category – the only one reserved for non-Canadian artists – are Ed Sheeran’s =, Harry Styles’ Harry’s House and Lil Nas X’s Montero.

The 2023 Juno Awards will be held March 13 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta. The ceremony had originally been scheduled for March 12, but was pushed back a day to avoid competing with the Oscars. Actor Simu Liu, star of the 2021 Marvel Cinematic Universe film Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, is hosting for the second year in a row. Music manager Ron Sakamoto is slated to receive the Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award.

Here’s the complete list of 2023 Juno Award nominations.

Juno Fan Choice

Avril Lavigne, Warner

Lauren Spencer-Smith, Island/Republic*Universal

MacKenzie Porter, Big Loud*Independent

Preston Pablo, 31 East*Universal

Rêve, 31 East*Universal

Shawn Mendes, Island*Universal

Tate McRae, RCA*Sony

The Reklaws, Starseed*Independent

The Weeknd, XO*Universal

Tyler Shaw, Sony

Artist of the year

Avril Lavigne, Warner

Lauren Spencer-Smith, Island/Republic*Universal

Michael Bublé, Warner

Shawn Mendes, Island*Universal

The Weeknd, XO*Universal

Group of the year

Arcade Fire, Columbia*Sony

Arkells, Arkells Music*Universal

Billy Talent, Warner

Metric, Thirty Tigers

The Reklaws, Starseed*Independent

Single of the year

“Bite Me,” Avril Lavigne, Warner

“Flowers Need Rain,” Preston Pablo and Banx & Ranx, 31 East*Universal

“When You’re Gone,” Shawn Mendes, Island*Universal

“she’s all i wanna be,” Tate McRae, RCA*Sony

“Sacrifice,” The Weeknd, XO*Universal

Album of the year

Who Hurt You?, Ali Gatie, Warner

Love Sux, Avril Lavigne, Warner

Demons Protected by Angels, NAV, XO*Universal

i used to think i could fly, Tate McRae, RCA*Sony

Dawn FM, The Weeknd, XO*Universal

Music video of the year

“Fraud,” Emma Higgins, director; Jessie Reyez, Island*Universal

“Unholy,” Floria Sigismondi director; Sam Smith and Kim Petras, Capitol*Universal

“Have Mercy,” Karena Evans, director; Chlöe, Parkwood*Sony

“Different Than Before,” Mayumi Yoshida, director; Amanda Sum, Independent

“Remember Me for Me,” Sterling Larose, director; SonReal and Lily Moore, Black Box*Fontana North/Warner

International album of the year

=, Ed Sheeran, Warner

Harry’s House, Harry Styles, Columbia*Sony

Montero, Lil Nas X, Columbia*Sony

Midnights, Taylor Swift, Republic*Universal

Red (Taylor’s Version), Taylor Swift, Taylor Swift*Universal

Breakthrough artist of the year

Dax, Columbia*Sony

Devon Cole, Arista*Sony

Preston Pablo, 31 East*Universal

RealestK, Columbia*Sony

Rêve, 31 East*Universal

Breakthrough group of the year

Banx & Ranx, Universal

Harm & Ease, Cosmo Cat*Independent

Rare Americans, EMPIRE/Crooked City*AMPED

Tommy Lefroy, Independent*AWAL

Wild Rivers, Nettwerk*Amped

Songwriter of the year

Abel Tesfaye, publisher: XO Music Publishing/Kobalt Music Publishing

Faouzia, publisher: Faouzia Music/Kobalt Music Publishing

Tate McRae, publisher: T8 Entertainment Inc/Sony Music Publishing

Tenille Townes, publisher: Year of the Dog

TOBi, publisher: Oluwatobi Ajibolade Publishing

Jack Richardson producer of the year

Akeel Henry

Banx & Ranx

Kaytranada

Mike Wise

Murda Beatz

Recording engineer of the year

Derek Hoffman

George Seara

Gus van Go

Jason Dufour

Serban Ghenea

Pop album of the year

In the Meantime, Alessia Cara, Def Jam*Universal

Love Sux, Avril Lavigne, Warner

The Loneliest Time, Carly Rae Jepsen, 604*Warner

i used to think i could fly, Tate McRae, RCA*Sony

Dawn FM, The Weeknd, XO*Universal

Adult contemporary album of the year

Adventure Book, Francois, Klark Independent

Descendant, Jann Arden, Universal

He Sang She Sang, Marc Jordan & Amy, Sky Linus*Universal/IDLA

Higher, Michael Bublé, Warner

A Tyler Shaw Christmas, Tyler Shaw, Sony

Rock album of the year

Otherness, Alexisonfire, Dine Alone*The Orchard

Crisis Of Faith, Billy Talent, Warner

Get Rollin’, Nickelback, BMG*Warner/ADA

Outta Sight, The Sheepdogs, Warner

Explosions, Three Days Grace, RCA*Sony

Metal/hard music album of the year

Psychic Jailbreak, Cancer Bats, New Damage*The Orchard

Merciless Destruction, Get the Shot, New Damage*The Orchard

Paid In Full, Skull Fist, Atomic Fire*Fontana North/Warner

Synchro Anarchy, Voivod, Century*Sony

Thought Form Descent, Wake, Metal Blade*Sony

Adult Alternative album of the year

Born Losers, Altameda, Pheromone*Fontana North

The Garden, Basia Bulat, Secret City*F.A.B.

Being Somewhere, Dan Mangan, Arts & Crafts*Universal

Colder Streams, The Sadies, Dine Alone*The Orchard

How Is It That I Should Look at the Stars, The Weather Station, Next Door*Outside

Alternative album of the year

Blue Rev, Alvvays, Celsius Girls*Universal

Duality, Luna Li, AWAL

Sewn Back Together, OMBIIGIZI, Arts & Crafts*Universal

The Unraveling of Puptheband, PUP, Little Dipper*Universal

Tongues, Tanya Tagaq, Six Shooter*Universal

Dance recording of the year

“Afterglow,” Bob Moses and Kasablanca, Astralwerks*Universal

“Shinigami Eyes,” Grimes, Columbia*Sony

“These Nights,” Loud Luxury feat. Kiddo, Armada*Sony

“CTRL + ALT + DEL,” Rêve 31, East*Universal

“Spiral,” Rezz, RCA*Sony

Underground dance single of the year

“Debonair,” Bensley, mau5trap*Independent/AWAL

“Aye Aye,” Blond:Ish and Cameron Jack, Abracadabra*Above Board

“The Time Is (Now),” Fred Everything, Lazy Days*Prime Direct/Paradise

“I Knew Techno,” Greg Gow, Restructured*The Orchard

“Easy,” Tiga, Turbo*!K7

Electronic album of the year

Not OK, Mecha Maiko, NewRetroWave*HHV/Believe

Spectrums, Odonis, Odonis Felte*Secretly

Nightmare on Rezz Street 2 Mix, Rezz, HypnoVizion*Universal

Synthetic Season One, Rich Aucoin, We Are Busy Bodies*Redeye

Interior, Teen Daze, Independent*Believe

Contemporary R&B recording of the year

“When Flowers Bloom,” Adria Kain, ArtHaus*Warner

“If I Get Caught,” dvsn, OVO

“No Longer in the Suburbs,” Dylan Sinclair, Five Stone*The Orchard

“Yessie,” Jessie Reyez, Island*Universal

“WTF,” Savannah Ré, Universal

Traditional R&B/soul recording of the year

“Please Do Not Lean,” Daniel Caesar feat. BadBadNotGood, Republic*Universal

“Palisade,” Jon Vinyl, Vinyl Recordings*Foundation

“All I Need,” Safe, RCA*Sony

“Last One,” Savannah Ré feat. Dylan Sinclair, Universal

“How to Make Love,” Thehonestguy, Independent*Believe

Rap single of the year

“Alejandro Sosa,” 6ixbuzz and Pengz, Warner

“Been Himma,” Dom Vallie, Natalus*The Orchard

“Wrath,” Freddie Dredd, RCA*Sony

“Twin Flame,” Kaytranada and Anderson .Paak, RCA*Sony

“Wrong Decisions,” XO*Universal

Rap album/EP of the year

GONZO, Boslen, Capitol*Universal

Retrospected (Acoustic), Classified, Halflife*Universal

The Fleur Print Vol. 2, Jazz Cartier, Petal Garden*Believe

Demons Protected by Angels, NAV, XO*Universal

Shall I Continue?, TOBi, RCA

Country album of the year

Way Back, High Valley, Cage Free*The Orchard

Honkytonk Revival, Jade Eagleson, Starseed*Independent

Bronco, Orville Peck, Columbia*Sony

Masquerades, Tenille Townes, RCA*Sony

Good Ol’ Days, The Reklaws, Starseed*Independent

Reggae recording of the year

“Water,” Ammoye, Lulaword*Symphonic

“Like a Star,” Celena, Independent

“Jah Love,” Exco Levi, Independent

“In the Streets,” Kairo McLean, Soul Survival*Independent

“Reggae Party,” Kirk Diamond, Kairo McLean and Finn, Independent

Contemporary roots album of the year

O Glory, Blackie and The Rodeo Kings, Divine*Warner

That Was You and Me, Fortunate Ones, Sonic *Warner

Hold on to Love, Shakura S’Aida, Independent

Come Morning, The Bros. Landreth, Birthday Cake*The Orchard

House of Dreams, The East Pointers, Nettwerk*Amped

Traditional roots album of the year

Hurricane Clarice, Allison de Groot & Tatiana Hargreaves, Free Dirt*AMPED/MNRK

20 printemps, Le Vent du Nord, La Compagnie du Nord*IDLA

Narrow Line, Mama’s Broke, Free Dirt*AMPED/MNRK

Tell ‘Em You Were Gold, Pharis & Jason Romero, Smithsonian Folkways*AMPED/The Orchard

The Empress, The McDades, Independent

Blues album of the year

Long River, Angelique Francis, Independent

Midnight Blues, Crystal Shawanda, True North*Universal/IDLA

Thanks for Tomorrow, Harrison Kennedy, Electro-Fi*Isotope Music/The Orchard

Preach to My Soul, Spencer Mackenzie, Gypsy Soul*Warner

Live at the King Eddy, The Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer, Fontana North*The Orchard

Contemporary Christian/gospel album of the year

Into The Wild, Dan Bremnes, CURB | Word*New Day

Trust, Daniel Ojo, Psalmist*Independent

Jordan St. Cyr, Jordan St. Cyr, BEC*The Orchard

Only Ever Always, Love & The Outcome, CURB | Word*New Day

The Church Will Rise, Tehillah Worship, Independent*Wings

Global music album of the year

In the Footsteps of Rumi, Ghalia Benali, Constantinople, Kiya Tabassian, Glossa*Naxos

Thieves of Dreams, Lenka Lichtenberg, Sunflower*Independent

José Louis and the Paradox of Love, Pierre Kwenders, Arts & Crafts*Universal

Vox.Infold, Ruby Singh, Independent

Tradisyon, Wesli,WUP/Disques Les Nuits d’Afrique/Cumbancha*Believe

Vocal jazz album of the year

Featuring, Caity Gyorgy, La Reserve*The Orchard

Blue, Diana Panton, Independent*The SRG/ILS Group

Venez donc chez moi, Laura Anglade and Sam Kirmayer, Justin Time*F.A.B./Nettwerk

Nikki By Starlight, Nikki Yanofsky, MNRK

The Ostara Project, The Ostara Project, Cellar*The Orchard

Jazz album of the year (solo)

Joy, Ernesto Cervini, TPR*A-Train

A Little Louder Now, Lauren Falls, Independent

El Tinajon, Luis Deniz, Modica*Believe

Rumba, Rafael Zaldivar, Effendi*Propagande/Naxos

Kinds of Love, Renee Rosnes, Smoke Sessions*The Orchard

Jazz album of the year (group)

Semantics, Andrew Rathbun Quintet, SteepleChase*Stateside/The Orchard

Talk Memory, BadBadNotGood, People’s Champ*Stem

The History of Us, Carn Davidson 9, TPR*Independent

Desert Bloom, Florian Hoefner Trio, Alma*Universal

The Dragon’s Tail, Mark Kelso & the Jazz Exiles, Independent

Instrumental album of the year

Canadiana, Canadian Brass, Linus*Universal/IDLA

Everything Was Forever Until It Was No More, Esmerine, Constellation*Secretly

Iguana, Hard Rubber Orchestra, Redshift*Independent

Aubades, Jean-Michel Blais, Arts & Crafts*Universal

Lionheart, Stephan Moccio, Decca*Universal

Francophone album of the year

medium Plaisir, Ariane Roy, La maison fauve*Universal

Mercure en mai, Daniel Bélanger, Secret City*F.A.B.

Pictura De Ipse : Musique directe, Hubert Lenoir, Simone*The Orchard

Crash, Les Louanges, Bonsound*Sony/The Orchard

Chiac Disco, Lisa LeBlanc, Bonsound*Sony/The Orchard

Children’s album of the year

Nice to Meet You, Beppie, Platoon

Say Hello, Jeremy and Jazzy, Hidden Pony*Universal

I Am Love, Splash’N Boots, Independent*The Orchard

Walk off the Earth & Romeo Eats, Vol. 2, Walk off the Earth and Romeo Eats, Golden Carrot*The Orchard

Maestro Fresh Wes Presents: Julia the Great, Young Maestro and Keysha Freshh, Independent

Classical album of the year (solo artist)

Winner of the 18th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition Warsaw 2021, Bruce Liu, Deutsche Grammophon*Universal

Prokofiev: Piano Sonatas, Vol. 1, David Jalbert, ATMA*Universal

La Zingarella: Through Romany Songland, Isabel Bayrakdarian, AVIE*Naxos

Bach: Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin, James Ehnes, Onyx*PIAS America/The Orchard

Fables, Philip Chiu, ATMA*Universal

Classical album of the year (large ensemble)

Clara – Robert – Johannes: Lyrical Echoes Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra, conducted by Alexander Shelley, Analekta*F.A.B./The Orchard

Handel: Messiah, HWV 56, Ensemble Caprice, Ensemble Vocal Arts-Quebec, conducted by Matthias Maute, featuring Karina Gauvin, Leaf Music*Naxos

Richard Strauss: Metamorphosen – Arvo Pärt: Symphonie No. 4, “Los Angeles,” I Musici de Montréal, conducted by Jean-Marie Zeitouni, ATMA*Universal

Viola Borealis, Orchestre de l’Agora, conducted by Nicolas Ellis, featuring Marina Thibeault, ATMA*Universal

Radiant Dawn: Music for Advent and Christmas, The Elora Singers, conducted by Mark Vuorinen, Independent

Classical album of the year (small ensemble)

Nagamo, Andrew Balfour and musica intima Redshift*Independent

Hemsi: Chamber Works, ARC Ensemble Chandos*Naxos/PIAS

Vagues et ombres, collectif9 Alpha*Independent

Early Italian Cello Concertos, Elinor Frey and Rosa Barocca, conducted by Claude Lapalme, Analekta*F.A.B./The Orchard

De la cour de Louis XIV à Shippagan! Chants traditionnels acadiens et airs de cour du XVIIe Siècle, Suzie LeBlanc, Marie Nadeau-Tremblay, Vincent Lauzer, and Sylvain Bergeron, ATMA*Universal

Classical composition of the year

“An Overall Augmented Sense of Well-being,” Anthony Tan, Independent

“Bestiary I & II,” Bekah Simms, Centrediscs*Naxos

“The Black Fish,” Keyan Emami, Centrediscs*Naxos

“Prayers for Ruins,” Nicole Lizée, Analekta*F.A.B./The Orchard

“Supervillain Études,” Vincent Ho, Navona*Naxos

Contemporary indigenous artist or group of the year

“Watin,” Aysanabee, Ishkōdé*Universal

“Zhawenim,” Digging Roots, Ishkōdé*Universal r&b

“Code Red,” Indian City, Rising Sun*Warner

“Beyond the Reservoir,” Julian Taylor, Howling Turtle*Warner

“The Crossing,” Susan Aglukark, Aglukark*Universal/IDLA

Traditional indigenous artist or group of the year

kâkîsimo ᑳᑮᓯᒧᐤ, Cikwes, Nehiyaw Soul*Bigstone Cree Nation

Katajjausiit, Iva & Angu, Independent

Mikwanak Kamôsakinat, Joel Wood, Independent

Ôskimacîtahowin: A New Beginning, Northern Cree, Independent

Unbreakable, The Bearhead Sisters, Independent

Comedy album of the year

Let Me Hold Your Baby, Courtney Gilmour, Comedy Records*Independent

Splash Pad, Jackie Pirico, Independent

A Person Who Is Gingerbread, Jon Dore, Howl & Roar*Independent

Here Live, Not A Cat, Matt Wright, Chillybrain

Things Black Girls Say – The Album, Zabrina Douglas, Howl & Roar*Independent

Album artwork of the year

Emy Storey (Art Director, Designer, & Photographer), Becca McFarlane and Pamela Littky (Photographer); CRYBABY – Tegan and Sara, Mom+Pop*Redeye

Ian Ilavsky (Art Director & Designer), Maciek Szczerbowski (Illustrator); Everything Was Forever Until It Was No More – Esmerine, Constellation*Secretly

Jud Haynes (Art Director & Designer); Kubasongs – Kubasonics, Independent

Kee Avil (Art Director), Lawrence Fafard (Photographer); Crease – Kee Avil, Constellation*Secretly

Lights (Art Director & Illustrator), Virgilio Tzaj (Designer), Matt Barnes (Photographer); PEP – Lights, Fueled By Ramen*Warner

31 Jan 2023

Vanilla Ice Describes His Reaction to Surprise 1990s Madonna Marriage Proposal: ‘This Is Too Fast!’

Imagine if you will, a world in which Madonna was married to Vanilla Ice. Yes, that Vanilla Ice, of “Ice Ice Baby,” “Ninja Rap” and Cool As Ice fame. In a recent interview with the Just Jenny podcast, Ice revealed the origin story of his early 1990s dalliance with Madonna, as well as spilling the beans on her matrimonial intentions.

See latest videos, charts and news

But first, the meet cute.

Vanilla recalled that he was booked for three sold-out show shows at New York’s now-shuttered Palladium at the time when he looked out into the audience, “and there’s Madonna, dancing her ass off. Right there like a normal person but with lots of entourage around her,” he recalled. “But dancing right in the middle of the crowd, with all the kids, screaming and everything.”

The rapper-turned-house-remodeler said the world-famous pop star was firmly in the mix instead of hanging backstage surrounded by security. “And I look at her and it was intimidating to me,” he said. After the show, though, he said Madonna came back to the dressing room to say hello, as well as give him the “sexy eyes.” At the time, the 23-year-old rising star thought the then 32-year-old singer was “too old” for him, so he thought he must have been “way mistaken” about her apparent romantic interest.

After the shows, he was told by Hutt’s dad — late music and TV executive Charles Koppelman — that Madonna wanted another meeting, which he, again, couldn’t believe. Koppelman set up a romantic dinner at The Palm restaurant in New York, after which Ice, demurring on details, assured Hutt it “got a little dirty.” The pair then starting hooking up, but the affair was short-lived, he said, because Madonna put him in her infamous 1992 Sex book without his consent.

He said the two were still dating when the book came out and he had no idea about it beforehand because his career was so busy. “She even proposed to me,” he said of the whirlwind romance. “I was just like, ‘What?! I thought the guy was supposed to do that? What do you mean, wait a minute! This is too fast! I’m just getting started here and I’m way too young for this.’” The proposal came a few years after Madonna’s marriage to actor Sean Penn and several years before her second marriage, to director Guy Ritchie.

And while it didn’t work out, Ice said Madonna is, of course, a legend and the GOAT, even if he still clearly has a bit of a wrinkle in his Van Winkle about being included in the “slutty” Sex book. If you can believe it, Ice said, after he broke it off, “she would call me all the time, she was not happy with it, she was upset and I had to hang up on her a few times. But that was it.”

Check out Vanilla Ice’s Madonna matrimony story below.

31 Jan 2023

Daniel Ek Promises New Focus on Efficiency in Spotify’s ‘Next Era’

Spotify CEO Daniel Ek stressed his company’s focus “on tightening our spend and becoming more efficient” in the company’s fourth quarter earnings call on Tuesday (January 31) — the first such call since Spotify announced it was laying off 6% of its global workforce.

In a statement following the layoff announcement, Ek wrote that “in a challenging economic environment, efficiency takes on greater importance.” And the idea of “efficiency” was hammered home again and again on the latest earnings call — the word was sprinkled liberally throughout the remarks of both Ek and CFO Paul Vogel. “The next era of Spotify is one where we’re adding speed plus efficiency,” Ek said, not one “just focused on speed or growth at all costs.”

But he also emphasized that “this doesn’t mean that we’re changing our strategy” overall. “We will continue to work to build the platform of the future,” Ek vowed, “and that will take investment in new opportunities that we outlined, like podcasts and audiobooks.”

While Ek acknowledged that Spotify “probably got a little carried away [in 2022] and over-invested relative to the uncertainty we saw in the market,” he said that, given the choice, he “would do it again.” According to Ek, not only did that investment help grow Spotify’s user count — the company added premium subscribers at a higher-than-expected rate — but it helped differentiate Spotify from its competitors.

Responding to a question about how Spotify was working to compete with TikTok, Ek said “we’re in a better position competitively than we’ve been for many many years.” By adding podcasts and audiobooks to Spotify’s music offering, he added, the platform has created “a much more resilient consumer experience.”

While Ek had said Spotify was exploring raising U.S. subscription prices during an earnings call last year, he said “I don’t have anything specific to announce at this point” on Tuesday. But he noted that the platform raised prices in “more than 40 markets around the world” last year and that “our priority is to grow revenue as fast as we possibly can.”

When asked about potential price increases a second time, Ek responded that “we’re thinking how we can grow our business the best possible way.” “Sometimes that is keeping the price low to grow the number of users on the platform,” he continued. “Sometimes it is increasing the revenue per user. Sometimes it’s increasing our margin per user… the important part is that this is something that creates win wins with our label partners too.”

Investors asked Spotify for additional information about two 2022 initiatives, its moves into audiobooks and selling concert tickets, but company executives were scant on specifics. “It’s early days on audiobooks,” Ek said. “We’re seeing some encouraging signs. We’re definitely seeing people take up the offering.” He added that “audiobooks have a massive opportunity and there are very few consumers currently participating in the ecosystem,” echoing his comments from Spotify’s 2022 Investor Day.

When it came to Spotify’s nascent live events business, Ek underscored that his company isn’t aiming to “go compete with the [existing live music] ecosystem.” Instead, he said, Spotify hopes to “enable the ecosystem.” “Users are asking us, ‘help me find more great things to go watch,’” Ek explained. That translated to a “tremendous uptick in the number of people visiting the concerts tab on Spotify in 2022.”

“If we can be a partner to creators and help them sell more of their tickets,” Ek added, “that’s a meaningful increase to many artists’ livelihood, which is great and something we’re focused on.”

31 Jan 2023

Taylor Swift Is Top Music Nominee at 2023 Kids‘ Choice Awards: Here’s the Full List of Nods

Taylor Swift is the leading nominee in music categories at the 2023 Kids’ Choice Awards. Swift has five nods – including two for favorite song, “Anti-Hero” and “Bejeweled.” And Swift’s nods don’t even count one for her cat, Olivia Benson Swift. The feline is vying for favorite celebrity pet. (It could be awkward at home if the cat won and Swift didn’t, but with five nods, that probably won’t happen.)

Harry Styles is the runner-up with four nods in music categories. Beyoncé and Lizzo have three each.

Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards 2023 are set to air live on Saturday, March 4, at 7 p.m. (ET/PT) from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles for the first time. TikTok star Charli D’Amelio and Nate Burleson, co-host of CBS Mornings and CBS Sports analyst, will co-host the show.

Nominees for favorite breakout artist are Devon Cole, Dove Cameron, GAYLE, Joji, Lauren Spencer-Smith and Nicky Youre. None of these hitmakers were Grammy-nominated for best new artist. Cameron, GAYLE, Joji and Spencer-Smith were entered and eligible in that category, but failed to be nominated.

Some music stars are competing in other fields. Olivia Rodrigo is nominated for favorite female TV star (kids) for her role as Nini in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. Selena Gomez is nominated for favorite voice from an animated movie (female) for her role as Mavis in Hotel Transylvania: Transformania.

Musical performances will be announced at a later date.

In television categories, Stranger Things leads the pack with six nominations, followed by That Girl Lay Lay, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series and The Fairly OddParents: Fairly Odder with four nominations each.

Beginning today, fans in the U.S. can cast their votes across 31 categories on the official Kids’ Choice Awards website, KidsChoiceAwards.com, with an additional 32 international categories available in regions around the world.

Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards 2023 is produced by Nickelodeon Productions and overseen by Ashley Kaplan, executive vice president, Nickelodeon & Awesomeness Unscripted & Digital Franchise Studio; Paul J Medford, vice president, unscripted current series; Luke Wahl, vice president, unscripted creative; and Jennifer Bryson, vice president, production, tentpoles, events & music & specials. Jesse Ignjatovic, Evan Prager, and Barb Bialkowski serve as executive producers, with Harriet Cuddeford and Andria Parides serving as co-executive producers.

Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards 2023 will simulcast across Nickelodeon, TeenNick, Nicktoons, the Nick Jr. channel, TVLand, CMT and MTV2.

Here’s a complete list of nominations for the 2023 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards:

Music

Favorite Song

“About Damn Time”- Lizzo
“Anti-Hero”- Taylor Swift
“As It Was”- Harry Styles
“Bejeweled”- Taylor Swift
“Break My Soul” – Beyoncé
“First Class”- Jack Harlow
“I Ain’t Worried”- OneRepublic
“Lift Me Up”- Rihanna

Favorite Album

Dawn FM– The Weeknd
GOD DID – DJ Khaled
Harry’s House– Harry Styles
Midnights (3 am Edition)- Taylor Swift
Renaissance– Beyoncé
Special – Lizzo

Favorite Female Artist

Adele
Beyoncé
Billie Eilish
Cardi B
Lady Gaga
Lizzo
Rihanna
Taylor Swift

Favorite Male Artist

Bad Bunny
Drake
Ed Sheeran
Harry Styles
Justin Bieber
Kendrick Lamar
Post Malone
The Weeknd

Favorite Music Group

5 Seconds of Summer
Black Eyed Peas
BLACKPINK
BTS
Imagine Dragons
OneRepublic
Panic! At the Disco
Paramore

Favorite Music Collaboration

“Bam Bam”- Camila Cabello featuring Ed Sheeran
“Don’t You Worry” – Black Eyed Peas, David Guetta, Shakira
“I Like You (A Happier Song)”- Post Malone, featuring Doja Cat
“Numb”- Marshmello, featuring Khalid
“Stay With Me”- Calvin Harris, featuring Justin Timberlake, Halsey, Pharrell
“Sweetest Pie”- Megan Thee Stallion, Dua Lipa

Favorite Breakout Artist

Devon Cole
Dove Cameron
GAYLE
Joji
Lauren Spencer-Smith
Nicky Youre

Favorite Global Music Star

Bad Bunny (Latin America)
BLACKPINK (Asia)
Harry Styles (UK)
Rosalía (Europe)
Taylor Swift (North America)
Tones and I (Australia)
Wizkid (Africa)

Favorite Social Music Star

Bella Poarch
Dixie D’Amelio
JoJo Siwa
Oliver Tree
Stephen Sanchez
That Girl Lay Lay

Film

Favorite Movie

Avatar: The Way of Water
Black Adam
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Hocus Pocus 2
Jurassic World Dominion
Monster High The Movie
Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Top Gun: Maverick

Favorite Movie Actor

Chris Hemsworth (Thor, Thor: Love and Thunder)
Chris Pratt (Owen Grady, Jurassic World: Dominion)
Dwayne Johnson (Black Adam/Teth-Adam, Black Adam)
Jim Carrey (Dr. Robotnik, Sonic the Hedgehog 2)
Ryan Reynolds (Big Adam, The Adam Project)
Tom Cruise (Capt. Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell, Top Gun: Maverick)

Favorite Movie Actress

Elizabeth Olsen (Wanda Maximoff/The Scarlet Witch, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness)
Letitia Wright (Shuri, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever)
Lupita Nyong’o (Nakia, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever)
Millie Bobby Brown (Enola Holmes, Enola Holmes 2)
Natalie Portman (Jane Foster/The Mighty Thor, Thor: Love and Thunder)
Sarah Jessica Parker (Sarah Sanderson, Hocus Pocus 2)

Favorite Animated Movie

DC League of Super-Pets
Hotel Transylvania: Transformania
Lightyear
Minions: The Rise of Gru
The Bad Guys
Turning Red

Favorite Voice from an Animated Movie (Male)

Andy Samberg (Dale, Chip N’ Dale: Rescue Rangers)
Andy Samberg (Jonathan, Hotel Transylvania: Transformania)
Chris Evans (Buzz Lightyear, Lightyear)
Dwayne Johnson (Krypto, DC League of Super-Pets)
Kevin Hart (Ace, DC League of Super-Pets)
Steve Carell (Gru, Minions: The Rise of Gru)

Favorite Voice From an Animated Movie (Female)

Awkwafina (Tarantula, The Bad Guys)
Keke Palmer (Izzy Hawthorne, Lightyear)
Salma Hayek (Kitty Softpaws, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish)
Sandra Oh (Ming, Turning Red)
Selena Gomez (Mavis, Hotel Transylvania: Transformania)
Taraji P. Henson (Belle Bottom, Minions: The Rise of Gru)

Television

Favorite Kids TV Show

Are You Afraid of the Dark?: Ghost Island
High School Musical: The Musical: The Series
Ms. Marvel
Raven’s Home
That Girl Lay Lay
The Fairly OddParents: Fairly Odder
The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers
The Really Loud House

Favorite Family TV Show

Cobra Kai
iCarly
Obi-Wan Kenobi
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law
Stranger Things
Wednesday
Young Rock
Young Sheldon

Favorite Reality Show

America’s Funniest Home Videos
America’s Got Talent
American Ninja Warrior
Floor Is Lava
MasterChef Junior
The Masked Singer

Favorite Animated Show

Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous
Rugrats
SpongeBob SquarePants
Teen Titans Go!
The Loud House
The Smurfs

Favorite Female TV Star (Kids)

Audrey Grace Marshall (Vivian Turner, The Fairly OddParents: Fairly Odder)
Imogen Cohen (Zina, The Fairly OddParents: Fairly Odder)
Olivia Rodrigo (Nini, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series)
Raven-Symoné (Raven Baxter, Raven’s Home)
Sofia Wylie (Gina, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series)
That Girl Lay Lay (Lay Lay, That Girl Lay Lay)

Favorite Male TV Star (Kids)

Brady Noon (Evan Morrow, The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers)
Israel Johnson (Noah Lambert, Bunk’d)
Joshua Bassett (Ricky, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series)
Tyler Wladis (Roy, The Fairly OddParents: Fairly Odder)
Wolfgang Schaeffer (Lincoln Loud, The Really Loud House)
Young Dylan (Young Dylan, Tyler Perry’s Young Dylan)

Favorite Female TV Star (Family)

Hilary Duff (Sophie, How I Met Your Father)
Jenna Ortega (Wednesday Addams, Wednesday)
Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven, Stranger Things)
Miranda Cosgrove (Carly Shay, iCarly)
Sadie Sink (Max Mayfield, Stranger Things)
Tracee Ellis Ross (Bow Johnson, Black-ish)

Favorite Male TV Star (Family)

Caleb McLaughlin (Lucas Sinclair, Stranger Things)
Ewan McGregor (Obi-Wan Kenobi, Obi-Wan-Kenobi)
Finn Wolfhard (Mike Wheeler, Stranger Things)
Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin Henderson, Stranger Things)
Jerry Trainor (Spencer Shay, iCarly)
Ralph Macchio (Daniel LaRusso, Cobra Kai)

Other Categories

Favorite Male Creator

Austin Creed
MrBeast
Ninja
Ryan’s World
SeanDoesMagic
Unspeakable

Favorite Female Creator

Addison Rae
Charli D’Amelio
Dixie D’Amelio
Gracie’s Corner
Kids Diana Show
Miranda Sings

Favorite Social Media Family

FGTeeV
Ninja Kidz TV
Ohana Adventure Family
The Bucket List Family
The Royalty Family
The Williams Family

Favorite Female Sports Star

Candace Parker
Chloe Kim
Naomi Osaka
Serena Williams
Simone Biles
Venus Williams

Favorite Male Sports Star

LeBron James
Lionel Messi
Patrick Mahomes
Shaun White
Stephen Curry
Tom Brady

Favorite Celebrity Pet

Dodger Evans
Gino Chopra Jonas
Noon Coleman
Olivia Benson Swift
Piggy Lou Bieber
Toulouse Grande

Favorite Book

Cat Kid Comic Club Book Series
Diary of a Wimpy Kid Book Series
Five Nights at Freddy’s Book Series
Harry Potter Book Series
The Adventures of Captain Underpants Books Series
The Bad Guys Book Series

Favorite Video Game

Adopt Me!
Brookhaven
Just Dance 2023
Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope
Minecraft
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet

31 Jan 2023

Michael B. Jordan Nails Portrayal Of A Nutty Jake From State Farm In ‘SNL’ Sketch

HipHopWired Featured Video

State Farm’s “like a good neighbor” tagline got the SNL treatment last weekend when host Michael B. Jordan put on the signature red polo shirt and took over a family.

In the sketch, Michael B. Jordan shows up when a set of parents were looking to file a claim after their daughter clogged a toilet with her stuffed animals.

Mikey Day plays the confused dad who comes home to discover that Jake from State Farm really was “here for you 24/7” in fact, playing with his kids. Jake also takes the kids and their mom, played by Heidi Gardner, to church on Sunday morning — sparking a fight between the couple.

As Jake continues to take over the family, teaching the little girl piano and playing catch with the son, Day’s character becomes more and more perplexed. He even looks up rates of other insurance when Jake shows up in the shadows, whispering that it won’t help because State Farm matches rates. Jake then taunts Day with a sinister voice saying, “Save more when you bundle home and auto.”

Left with nothing, Day mourns losing his family to handsome insurance pitchman Jake, drunkenly singing “Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there,” as he plans to jump off a bridge. “He took everything,” he roars.

The whole sketch takes another turn when it’s revealed that the entire scene is a commercial for Liberty Mutual insurance.

The hilarious sketch isn’t the first time Jake from State Farm has been the subject of satire. In a commercial during Super Bowl LV, the company hired Drake to don the red shirt as “Drake from State Farm.”

The actor who plays Jake is actually Kevin Miles from Chicago, in 2021 he told Forbes about his experience with the notoriety that comes with the role.

“They never say Kevin, which is okay (laughs). They’ll say ‘Jake.’ Even on-set, they just say ‘Hey Jake!’ and I just answer. It definitely started with the mask a little bit. I’d walk my dog and people would be like Hey, you’re ‘Jake from State Farm.’ They could still tell! One time I was at the store and I had my glasses on with a hat, deep incognito mode. Someone was just like Man, your voice is just so recognizable. That felt cool and weird.”

As for Michael B. Jordan, he will make his directorial debut with Creed III in theaters March 3, 2023.

—

Photo: Rich Polk / Getty

31 Jan 2023

Austin Butler Recalls His Deep Connection to Lisa Marie Presley: ‘We Got So Close So Fast’

Austin Butler is making his late-night show rounds as he collects awards and nominations for his acclaimed portrayal of Elvis Presley, but there’s one very important person missing from the celebrations: Lisa Marie Presley, who died earlier this month. And during his appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Monday (Jan. 30), the 31-year-old actor opened up about his connection to the only daughter of the late rock n’ roll legend.

“I’ve never had an experience where I met somebody and felt an immediate depth of relationship to them,” said Butler, who recently picked up a best actor Oscar nod for his starring role in Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis. “[Lisa Marie] was a person who didn’t really have anything to prove and wouldn’t open up to everybody, and she just opened up to me.”

The Carrie Diaries alum went on to explain that though he and Lisa Marie didn’t cross paths until after Elvis wrapped — they first met at the film’s screening at Graceland — the two bonded instantly and attended the Golden Globes together just days before she died. That night, Butler took home the award for best actor in a motion picture, drama.

“We got so close so fast,” he said, recalling the moment Lisa Marie invited him to see Elvis’ bedroom and showed him The King’s slippers. “His bedroom is a place that most people never get to see. Up there, he’s not Elvis. He’s just dad. To hear those stories — I’ll treasure that forever.”

On the same day he and the rest of the world received word that he’d earned an Oscar nomination, Butler called in to the TODAY With Hoda & Jenna and spoke about his devastation that Lisa Marie isn’t here to help celebrate the honor. She died Jan. 12 after suffering a full cardiac arrest. The singer-songwriter was just 54 years old.

“It’s just devastating,” Butler added. “It’s weird in moments like this because it’s so bittersweet. So much great stuff is happening. I’m just devastated for her family and for her to not be here celebrating with us.

To get to be with her at the Golden Globes, I’ll never forget that for the rest of my life.”

Watch Austin Butler open up about Lisa Marie Presley on The Tonight Show above.

31 Jan 2023

MAGA Ye Paid Nick Fuentes $15K From 2020 Campaign

HipHopWired Featured Video

London Celebrity Sightings - September 26, 2022

Source: Ricky Vigil M / Getty

A newly disclosed financial statement from the 2020 presidential campaign of Ye aka Kanye West shows a hefty sum paid out to white supremacist Nick Fuentes.

According to reports, the committee for the rapper’s 2020 presidential campaign submitted end-of-year financial documents that were required by the Federal Election Commission on Monday (Jan. 30). The filing revealed that the committee paid Fuentes $14,719. The payments were classified as reimbursement for travel expenses.

When contacted by reporters, the 24-year-old confirmed that it was “incurred by myself and the team when I relocated to LA in November to do work for Kanye 2020.” The first payment, which was $9,000, was given on the same date as his trip to Mar-A-Lago with Ye to see former President Donald Trump.

The filing also showed that Ye paid a large amount to Milo Yiannopoulous, the former Breitbart writer and far-right personality. According to the records from the campaign committee, Yiannopoulous was paid $50,000 in total. Almost $10,000 of that amount ($9,955) was for what is described as a “Domain Transfer.” The remainder – $40,000 – was for “Campaign Wrap Up Services” which was paid out to Yiannopoulous in the middle of December before he was fired.

Another noteworthy finding from the documents from the committee reports that Ye received no donations at all in 2022. This contrasts with their disclosure that they still had $228,000 in their funds as last year came to a close.

The news comes as Ye has been relatively quiet on the political front. He detached himself from Fuentes after a media run with shocking moments such as delivering antisemitic comments and defending Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler while appearing with Fuentes on conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ show.

His proclivity to run with members of the far-right is still intact, as Ali Alexander is now on the team for his 2024 presidential campaign. Alexander is a rabid election denier and has been implicated for his role in the events leading up to the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol Jan. 6, 2021.

—

Photo: Ricky Vigil M / Getty

31 Jan 2023

Taylor Swift Holds at No. 1 on Artist 100, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young Return

Taylor Swift extends her record run at No. 1 on the Billboard Artist 100 chart (dated Feb. 4), as she tallies her 63rd week as the top musical act in the U.S.

Swift continues her dominance thanks to two tracks on the Billboard Hot 100 from her latest album, Midnights. Her former eight-week No. 1 “Anti-Hero,” which became her sole longest-leading hit two weeks earlier, ranks at No. 3, while “Lavender Haze” places at No. 30; the latter’s official video premiered Jan. 27.

Midnights holds at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 with 67,000 equivalent album units earned in the U.S. Jan. 20-26, according to Luminate, after spending five weeks at No. 1. Swift boasts nine sets on the survey, the most among all acts: Midnights, Folklore (No. 24), Lover (No. 27), 1989 (No. 34), Red (Taylor’s Version) (No. 41), Reputation (No. 59), Evermore (No. 80), Speak Now (No. 137) and Fearless (Taylor’s Version) (No. 141).

Elsewhere on the Artist 100, HARDY re-enters at No. 7 (a new peak), thanks to his new studio album The Mockingbird & The Crow. The set opens at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 (55,000 units), becoming his first top 10 album. It also starts at No. 1 on Top Album Sales, with 20,000 copies sold.

Just beyond the Artist 100’s top 10, Crosby, Still, Nash & Young re-enter at No. 20, sparked by gains for the legendary group after the death of David Crosby on Jan. 18. Two of the act’s albums return to the Billboard 200: Deja Vu at No. 129 and its Greatest Hits at No. 156.

The Artist 100 measures artist activity across key metrics of music consumption, blending album and track sales, radio airplay and streaming to provide a weekly multi-dimensional ranking of artist popularity.

31 Jan 2023

Fall Out Boy Announce Dates For ‘So Much For (Tour) Dust’ 2023 North American Trek

Fall Out Boy announced the dates for their So Much For (Tour) Dust North American tour on Tuesday morning (Jan. 31). The 29-city tour in support of their upcoming So Much (For) Stardust album (March 24) is slated to kick off in the band’s home town on June 21 with a gig at the iconic home of the Chicago Cubs: Wrigley Field.

The run will then take the group through Dallas, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, Cincinnati, Tampa, Atlanta, Toronto and Boston before winding down on August 5 at Freedom Mortgage Pavilion in Camden, New Jersey. They will be joined along the way by a number of opening acts including: Bring Me the Horizon on most dates, as well as Alkaline Trio, New Found Glory, Four Years Strong, The Academy Is…, Royal & the Serpent, Games We Play, Daisy Grenade and Carr on select shows.

Ticket pre-sales for the Live Nation-produced tour will start on Thursday (Feb. 2) beginning at 10 a.m. local time, with general tickets available beginning Friday (Feb. 3) at 10 a.m. local time; click here for ticketing information.

FOB kicked off the Stardust era in style last week with a surprise homecoming show at Chicago’s 1,100-capacity Metro, just over 20 years after their very first gig at the legendary club, which is just around the corner from Wrigley Field. The Metro show featured the live debut of two Stardust singles, “Love From the Other Side” and “Heartbreak Feels So Good,” as well as the live debut of the band’s current configuration, which, for the first time since their founding, will not feature guitarist Joe Trohman, who recently announce that he was taking an indefinite mental health hiatus.

In his stead, singer Patrick Stump is pulling double-duty on lead vocals and electric guitar alongside bassist Pete Wentz and drummer Andy Hurley. As was the case during a pair of previous promotional appearances, the group got some assistance from longtime guitar tech Ben Young, who played lead guitar from the side of the stage; at press time a spokesperson for the group had not responded to a request about whether Trohman will be back in the fold for the tour.

Check out the dates for FOB’s So Much For (Tour) Dust 2023 North American tour:

June 21 – Chicago, IL @ Wrigley Field
June 23 – Maryland Heights, MO @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
June 24 – Bonner Springs, KS @ Azura Amphitheater
June 27 – The Woodlands, TX @ The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
June 28 – Dallas, TX @ Dos Equis Pavilion
June 30 – Phoenix, AZ @ Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
July 1 – Chula Vista, CA @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
July 2 – Los Angeles, CA @ BMO Stadium
July 5 – Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre
July 7 – Salt Lake City, UT @ USANA Amphitheatre
July 9 – Englewood, CO @ Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre
July 11 – Rogers, AR @ Walmart AMP
July 13 – Somerset, WI @ Somerset Amphitheater
July 15 – Cincinnati, OH @ Riverbend Music Center
July 16 – Noblesville, IN @ Ruoff Music Center
July 18 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH @ Blossom Music Center
July 19 – Bristow, VA @ Jiffy Lube Live
July 21 – Charlotte, NC @ PNC Music Pavilion
July 22 – Virginia Beach, VA @ Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater
July 24 – West Palm Beach, FL @ iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre
July 25 – Tampa, FL @ MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
July 26 – Atlanta, GA @ Lakewood Amphitheater
July 29 – Clarkston, MI @ Pine Knob Music Theatre
July 30 – Toronto, ON @ Budweiser Stage
August 1 – Forest Hills, NY @ Forest Hills Stadium
August 2 – Boston, MA Fenway Park
August 4 – Darien Center, NY @ Darien Lake Amphitheater
August 5 – Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Bank Arts Center
August 6 – Camden, NJ @ Freedom Mortgage Pavilion

^≠Non-Live Nation date
*Alkaline Trio as direct support; all other dates feature Bring Me The Horizon as direct support

1 … 5,028 5,029 5,030 5,031 5,032 5,033 5,034 … 5,592

Tour

Aug

SELMA, AL

RIVERFRONT PARK

FREE EVENT

Aug

MONTGOMERY, AL

SONS Of Kia Montgomery

FREE EVENT

Sep

Amsterdam, NL

Heineken Music Hall

Buy Tickets

News

Explore

Music

Favorite Song

Favorite Album

Favorite Female Artist

Favorite Male Artist

Favorite Music Group

Favorite Music Collaboration

Favorite Breakout Artist

Favorite Global Music Star

Favorite Social Music Star

Film

Favorite Movie

Favorite Movie Actor

Favorite Movie Actress

Favorite Animated Movie

Favorite Voice from an Animated Movie (Male)

Favorite Voice From an Animated Movie (Female)

Television

Favorite Kids TV Show

Favorite Family TV Show

Favorite Reality Show

Favorite Animated Show

Favorite Female TV Star (Kids)

Favorite Male TV Star (Kids)

Favorite Female TV Star (Family)

Favorite Male TV Star (Family)

Other Categories

Favorite Male Creator

Favorite Female Creator

Favorite Social Media Family

Favorite Female Sports Star

Favorite Male Sports Star

Favorite Celebrity Pet

Favorite Book

Favorite Video Game

Related Stories

Thank you