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Erykah Badu has announced that she’ll be dropping music later this summer on her own record label, Control FREAQ Records. Having been with Motown since at least 2007, this newly independent venture is a huge deal for Badu. The neo-soul pioneer established Control FREAQ Records in 2005, representing her “desire to foster creativity and innovation […]
Arthur Fonzarelli could have had a way different vibe if the team behind beloved 1970s/early ’80s sitcom Happy Days had gone with their second choice. At least according to The Monkees drummer Micky Dolenz, who told People magazine that back in the day he auditioned for the role of the jukebox-smacking, shark-jumping bad boy with a heart of gold.
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After his run on The Monkees (1966-1968), the last surviving member of that American fab four said he was on the hunt for a role that would break him out of the mop top drummer cage, so in 1973 he auditioned for the role of Arthur “The Fonzie” Fonzarelli, the leather jacket-wearing greaser next door who became the break-out star of the show.
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“I almost got it,” Dolenz, 80, said. “Supposedly it was between me and Henry [Winkler]. He remembers it too. The story I heard is that he was in the waiting room, saw me come in, and thought, ‘Oh s–t, I’ll never get this — Micky Dolenz is here!’ So we laugh about it now. He’s a good friend and a brilliant talent.”
While Yale School of Drama grad Winkler came into his audition with plenty of stage experience and roles in the indie movies The Lords of Flatbush and Crazy Joe, Dolenz was already a seasoned TV pro by the time he auditioned for Happy Days. At 11, he got the lead role of Corky in the adventure series Circus Boy, which ran on NBC for one season before jumping to ABC for another short run in 1957. A young Dolenz then scored a few TV roles in the late 1950s and early 1960s — credited as Micky Braddock — before being cast as Micky on The Monkees alongside Michael Nesmith, Davy Jones and Peter Tork.
When that show ended, Dolenz decided to focus on directing and producing, realizing that his gig as the spacey, floppy-haired drummer would likely get him typecast like his father, George Dolenz, an actor he said got pegged as a “swashbuckling romantic lead in sword-fighting movies” such as The Purple Mask and Sign of the Pagan.
“After Circus Boy, I went to a few auditions as a 12-year-old, and the minute I walked in, they’d say, ‘Circus Boy’! That’s just typical in this business. I knew it was par for the course,” said Dolenz, who added that after the Monkees it was more of the same. “‘What are you doing here? We don’t need any drummers!’” he said casting directors would tell him.
Following his pivot to a number of small movie roles and voice work on dozens of cartoons in the 1970s, “I’m a Believer” singer Dolenz said he has no regrets about the one that got away. “Oh my God, he’s just so good,” he said of Winkler, who parlayed his iconic role into a fifty-plus year career on TV (Mork & Mindy, Arrested Development) and movies (Night Shift, The French Dispatch). “I was definitely not as good as he was. Come on — he was The Fonz! He had that New York, New Jersey thing down. I’m from Southern California. It wasn’t gonna happen!,” Dolenz said.
Dolenz is going on tour this summer with his Songs & Stories tour, which mixes his iconic hits with stories about fellow L.A. legends such as Joni Mitchell, David Crosby and Jim Morrison. The tour is slated to kick off on August 11 at the Ocean City Music Pier in Ocean City, NJ.
ESPN is giving Lil Wayne fans a sneak peek at his The Carter VI album mere hours before it arrives. Unreleased track “The Days” featuring Bono has been used in a promo ad for game one of the NBA Finals between the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday (June 5). “I pledge allegiance […]
Tiësto and Sexyy Red are revving their engines with the just-released collab “OMG!”
The slinky song, in which Sexyy Red opines about maxing out credit cards, breaking the rules and being “too high to be cool” over the Dutch producer’s woozy beat, comes from the forthcoming soundtrack to the Brad Pitt-starring racing film F1.
“Who would have thought that Tiësto would have a collab with Sexyy Red?” the producer recently told Billboard backstage at EDC Las Vegas. “No one, absolutely no one, but here it is, and it’s an amazing track. I think people will really like it. It’s super dance.”
“OMG!” has been in the works for awhile, with Tiësto playing it during a huge performance in October at the annual dance gathering ADE. The track comes from the F1 the Album soundtrack, with the corresponding film hitting theaters on June 27, the same day the soundtrack will be released.
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This soundtrack brings together a collection of musical titans including music by Dom Dolla (who’s slick contribution “No Room For a Saint” came out last month), Doja Cat, ROSÉ, Peggy Gou, Chris Stapleton, Ed Sheeran, Raye, Burna Boy, Roddy Rich, Madison Beer, Tate McRae, Don Toliver and Myke Towers.
Tiësto, a known racing fan, also makes a cameo in the film, which stars Pitt as an aging F1 driver who returns to the sport after a long absence, along with Damson Idris, Kerry Condon and Javier Bardem. F1 The Movie was directed by Joseph Kosinski, who also directed the global blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick.
Listen to “OMG!” below:
Lorde revealed in a new interview that she has multiple favorite songs from her upcoming album, Virgin. But on the other side of the coin, there’s one that she can’t even listen to because of how raw it is — and it’s about a pretty NSFW topic.
Speaking to Jake Shane on an episode of his Therapuss podcast posted Wednesday (June 4), the New Zealand native shared that track seven — which is named after a popular pregnancy test brand — is particularly emotional for her. “There’s a song that I love so much called ‘Clearblue’ that is about unprotected sex,” she began, laughing.
“And just the experience of taking a pregnancy test, and like, this flood of emotions that goes through your body,” she continued, noting that the track is one of several “slammers” on the album. “Whatever you want to say — it’s such a moment.”
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“That whole song just destroys me,” Lorde added. “I can’t even really listen to it.”
According to the pop star, “Clearblue” is one of several songs on Virgin that features sexual content, despite the album’s contradicting name. She explained to Shane of the title, “It speaks to a sort of purity, but the album is quite sexual, so it wasn’t sexual purity … virgin steel, virgin hair, all of these things that denote purity, but I’m also kind of always trying to take me to my teen self.”
Arriving June 27, Virgin will mark Lorde’s first album in four years. In the weeks leading up to its release, she’s been open about how the confluence of stopping birth control, recovering from disordered eating habits and embracing her gender fluidity have shaped the project’s direction.
The album’s subject matter and percussive, electric sound are expected to mark a distinct shift from the Grammy winner’s last project, Solar Power, which peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard 200. That LP found Lorde singing about her gravitation toward a more peaceful, unplugged lifestyle after years of living the pop-star life following the successes of 2013 debut album Pure Heroine and 2017 follow-up Melodrama. But on Therapuss, she revealed that the concept of Solar Power doesn’t really resonate with who she is today.
“I love Solar Power so much, and I truly needed to make it,” she told Shane. “I wouldn’t be here with another album if I hadn’t made Solar Power, but I think it showed me that you sort of just have no choice but to be what you’re supposed to be. Me sort of disappearing and being all wafty and on the beach, I was just like, ‘Actually, I don’t think this is me.’ I just am this person that’s meant to make bangers that f–k us all up … I love to vibe out. That is me to my core.”
Watch Lorde’s full Therapuss interview above.
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Offset does not play about his children. The Migos rapper made it clear he is ready to crash out over his son having matching braids with Stefon Diggs.
As per Page Six, Offset is none too happy about his son’s Wave hairstyle. Earlier this week, Stefon Diggs debuted his new braid pattern while at the New England Patriots practice at Gillette Stadium. The cornrows in question go down the sides of his head and feature a star-like pattern at the crown, which is identical to the style Wave has been sporting for about two months. As expected, this landed on Offset’s radar and he took to social media to express his frustration.
“Now when somebody die for playing with my son then call me the crash out,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter. Minutes later he added, “Idc how I look trolling wit my kid ends bad.” His reaction caused a lot of stir online with many people criticizing Offset for his harsh response to the matter. So much so he eventually deactivated his X and Instagram accounts.
Earlier this month, his soon-to-be ex-wife Cardi B made her long-rumored relationship with Stefon Diggs official with a very spicy photo from their recent yacht outing. Offset also commented on that informal announcement saying, “Good roll out n PR,” via an X post that was accompanied with a video of a basketball being passed out the frame. The copy read “Today I pass.” Diggs seemingly responded to the Migos rapper with a photo showing him catching a ball, which was largely interpreted as him being overjoyed about having Cardi B in his life.
Offset and Cardi B wed in 2017. Since then, their relationship has had many ups and downs with rumors of him cheating with different women. They filed for divorce for a second time in July 2024. The two share three children. Cardi B has yet to comment on the matter.
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At a recent meet-and-greet, a fan got a little too handsy while posing for a photo with Megan Thee Stallion.
The guy, who goes by “King Paris” and is known as a celebrity hairstylist, posted the video himself. In it, his hands seem to go too low, and fans were quick to call him out online.
Instead of apologizing, the hairstylist doubled down. He shared another video and said, “@theestallion loves me, get tf outta here!!!! I definitely asked the queen.” He even joked that he should be made “co-captain of the Hotties.” In one clip, just as security was about to step in, Megan can be heard saying, “he’s good,” which made the situation even more confusing for fans.
While people are debating whether he crossed the line, Megan is keeping it moving with her latest project: her own tequila brand called Chicas Divertidas, which means “fun girls” in Spanish. It’s made in Mexico with 100% blue agave and comes in two flavors: Blanco (which has citrus and green tea vibes) and Reposado (which tastes like caramel and spices). It costs around $70–$80 per bottle. Megan made it clear this isn’t a sponsorship, it’s her business.
Along with launching her liquor brand, Megan is working on her own anime series and even has plans to open assisted living homes. So even though the fan moment got people talking, Megan is still all about her bag, her fans, and her future.
Check out some of the reactions below of a fan getting a little too handsy with the Houston Hottie, Meg Thee Stallion.
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Independent live events tech platform Fever said on Thursday it agreed to acquire the U.K. ticketing and discovery platform DICE, according to a press release.
The news comes a day after Fever announced it raised $100 million in a funding round led by L Catterton and Point72.
The tie-up will strengthen Fever’s standing as a global tech entertainment company and will help the 11-year-old DICE scale by giving it access to the 40 countries Fever operates in, the company’s executives said in a statement.
Fever, which operates a discovery platform and media reaching more than 300 million people in 40 countries, says joining forces with DICE will strengthen its global standing while helping DICE to scale. DICE says it has 10 million monthly active fans and ticket sales have doubled in the past two years, according to the press release.
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“We are strengthening our position as the leading global tech player for culture & live entertainment,” Fever’s co-founders Ignacio Bachiller, Alexandre Perez and Francisco Hein said in a statement. “We are firm believers that data and technology have the power to elevate the live music experience — making it more accessible, more personalized, and ultimately more impactful for fans, artists, and venues alike.”
Fever, which combines audience insights, ticketing and discovery tools for promoters and venues, was most-recently valued at $1.8 billion in 2023, Music Business Worldwide reported. The company partners with festivals, such as Primavera Sound, Rock in Rio Lisbon and Pitchfork, as well as independent venues like Clapham Grand.
DICE users will be able to continue using the platform “exactly as they are today,” according to the release.
LionTree Advisors LLC served as the financial advisor DICE, and Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati LLP served as their legal counsel. Fever Labs Inc. was advised by Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP and Morrisson & Foerster LLP.
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On Monday (June 2), Jay-Z visited New York’s State Capitol Building in Albany. The purpose of the surprise appearance by the rapper and entrepreneur was to meet with State Senate Minority Leader Andrea Cousins, in order to discuss a bid by his Roc Nation company to secure a gaming license to open what would be New York’s first Black-owned casino.
Jay-Z’s hope is to open a Caesar’s Palace casino in Times Square, with Caesars Entertainment and SL Green Realty. He explained his plans for the project in an open letter back in 2023. “We are New Yorkers. Supporting and providing opportunities for our neighborhoods and community isn’t just a part of Roc Nation’s ethos . . . It’s our collective responsibility,” the rapper said in the statement. “Any proposal that wins a gaming license will undoubtedly profit. Our vision is to give back to New York and ensure that the Broadway community, Hell’s Kitchen, and the surrounding businesses and areas all benefit. And not just for a minute, but for the long-term.”Last fall, Roc Nation proposed a reported $450 million in grants for the communities in Hell’s Kitchen and surrounding areas if they were successfully granted approval on their bid. According to The Robb Report, the first $15 million would go to the community, with regular grants based on 0.5% of the casino’s performance to be doled out. A local trust would be responsible for administering the funds to those in need and for infrastructure improvements in Hell’s Kitchen and the Times Square area.If successful, Jay-Z would become the second Black owner of a casino in the United States – the first was Don Barden, who in 2002 acquired three Fitzgeralds casinos in the Las Vegas area for $149 million. Currently, the Genting Group owns and operates the Resorts World Casino at the Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. New York State is set to award three gaming licenses this year, and Senate Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris has already backed an $8 billion casino proposal for the Metropolitan Park complex proposed by New York Mets owner Steve Cohen.
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Save this storySaveSave this storySaveTalking Heads are celebrating their 50th anniversary by releasing the first-ever video for “Psycho Killer.” The band enlisted the great Mike Mills to direct, with Saoirse Ronan starring as an office worker who dances, squirms, shudders, and screams through her daily routine. “This video makes the song better,” the band said in a press release. “We LOVE what this video is NOT—it’s not literal, creepy, bloody, physically violent or obvious.” Watch it below, and stay tuned for Talking Heads’ ongoing celebrations of the 50 years since their formation.Mills, who previously directed the National’s I Am Easy to Find short film, said Talking Heads’ debut album, Talking Heads: 77, “literally changed what was possible in life for me.” He went on, “To get to play with the subversive, uncategorizable beauty of Talking Heads, and to play with Saoirse who brought so much surprise, power, vulnerability and mischief to the party, it’s one of the best things I ever got to be a part of—still can’t believe it actually happened.”Ronan added, “To simply be mentioned in the same breath as Talking Heads is hands down one of the coolest things that has ever happened to me, let alone making a video with the singular Mike Mills to accompany one of their most iconic songs—‘Psycho Killer.’ I have grown up listening to their music, so this truly is a childhood/teenage/lifelong dream come true. Mike, myself and the rest of the creative team had so much fun making this, and I can’t wait for Talking Heads fans to see it!”Revisit Andy Cush’s 2021 interview “Talking Heads’ Original Lineup on Stop Making Sense, Their Early Days, and the Future.”