Pop
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Miley Cyrus is sharing her reaction to the devastating Los Angeles wildfires.
On Saturday (Jan. 11), the 32-year-old superstar singer took to social media to express her support for those affected by the wildfires ravaging Southern California. In her Instagram Story, Cyrus also reflected on the fire that destroyed her Malibu, Calif., home in 2018.
“This image hits me hard today,” the “Flowers” singer captioned the post, which featured a photo of her destroyed house. “This is a photo taken of my front porch in 2018 after losing our house in the Woolsey fires. It’s a feeling you don’t ever forget.”
She continued, “Walking up to the door you would pass through daily, looking forward to being greeted by the ones you love like you always do but instead being met by a pile of ash and rubble.”
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The Hannah Montana alum expressed that her “soul aches” for the victims of the L.A. wildfires. “It’s beyond heartbreaking. Los Angeles represents ‘living the dream’ but the reality today is wreckage and destruction.”
Cyrus also shared links to organizations supporting wildfire relief, including the Malibu Foundation, which she co-founded.
“Time, resources and dedication from inside and outside of our community will heal us, but it hurts deeply for now,” the singer wrote, signing off with “Love always.”
For health alerts, evacuation updates and additional shelter information as the wildfire battle continues, go to L.A. County’s emergency website here.
A number of organizations, listed here, are also offering help to those impacted by the California wildfires, which have been blazing through the L.A. area and causing extensive damage since Tuesday. Musicians and music industry professionals who are affected can get details about assistance here.
In November 2018, the Woolsey Fire in Malibu destroyed the home of Cyrus and her then-husband, actor Liam Hemsworth, leaving her devastated, as she shared on social media at the time.
“My house no longer stands but the memories shared with family & friends stand strong,” Cyrus tweeted after her evacuation, expressing that she was “completely devastated” by the loss. “I am one of the lucky ones. My animals and LOVE OF MY LIFE made it out safely & that’s all that matters right now.”
Ariana Grande is opening up about a new song from the upcoming Wicked sequel.
In a recent interview with Variety’s Awards Circuit podcast, published Saturday (Jan. 11), the 31-year-old pop star and actress opened up about what fans can expect from her character Glinda’s new song, penned by composer Stephen Schwartz, in the live-action adaptation of the Wicked sequel, Wicked: For Good, set for release on Nov. 21.
“It’s a pivotal moment in Glinda’s journey,” Grande said. “It shows a side of her we’ve never seen before. In the stage show, this transformation happens offstage. But in the movie, we get to see her make the decision that defines who she is. It’s a privilege to sing this song and be the first Glinda to bring it to life.”
The “We Can’t Be Friends” singer also dished on her dream role as Glinda and the preparation that went into bringing the beloved character to life.
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“I started acting lessons a year before I even knew when the auditions were happening,” she told the podcast. “I wanted to make sure I was ready. Transforming my voice to sing Glinda’s soprano parts took months. Pop singing and musical theater are so different. I had to retrain my muscles and reframe how I approached every note.”
Grande acknowledged that taking on the role of Glinda came with a significant sense of responsibility.
“From the moment it was announced, I realized this role would live with me forever. It’s an honor, but it also comes with so much weight,” she said. “I wanted to do it justice. Glinda isn’t just a character to me — she’s a symbol of growth and love, and I wanted to give her everything I had.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Grande further teased the already-confirmed deluxe version of Eternal Sunshine, revealing that the project is “in the can” and will include several new tracks.
“It’s a very special project,” Grande said. “I’m out there so much right now. I want to let my children miss me for two seconds. I’m excited to surprise them with it at some point, but I’m still mulling over the timing in my head. It’s not the end of ‘Peaches’ just yet, but she’s going in the closet for a minute.”
The home seen in “Scissors,” a new song and music video from Julia Michaels and Maren Morris, burned down in the wildfires that have devastated Los Angeles.
The pair made the video in Altadena, Michaels mentioned in an Instagram post on Friday (Jan. 10), the release day for her latest single with Morris. On YouTube, she shared a message that they’d learned the home’s owners, a couple with two young children, had since lost their house. (One of the L.A. region’s wildfires, the Eaton Fire, started in Altadena on Jan. 7; high winds turned it into a firestorm that destroyed “as many as 5,000 structures” in this area of L.A. County, the New York Times reported.)
“The house we shot the Scissors video in has been wiped out due to the wildfires in LA,” Michaels wrote in a comment on YouTube, pinned for viewers to see. “I feel so deeply sad for the family that lent their home to us to create this video. I just have no words for the devastation that has transpired in such a short span of time. If you are able to give anything to help this family rebuild donate here.”
She shared the link to a GoFundMe started by a friend of the family facing the loss of their home. As of Saturday (Jan. 11), the fund’s donation goal is close to being met.
In an Instagram Story, Morris wrote, “the house we just shot Scissors in sadly was lost in the fires. it was a cute family’s home… I got ready in their kid’s bathroom. now it’s this. between floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, fires, ugh. my heart breaks for every child who doesn’t get to go home, the animals displaced. my heart breaks for mother earth.”
For health alerts, evacuation updates and shelter information amid the ongoing wildfires in California, go to L.A. County’s emergency website here. A list of organizations helping those impacted by the wildfires is here.
In her Instagram post about “Scissors” on Friday, Michaels had said, “I hope you like this video as much as we enjoyed making it and that it captures a little of the magic and beauty that is Altadena foothills,” after praising Morris and the team behind the shoot: “So proud of this video and getting to create this song with some truly incredible people. @marenmorris, I am so in awe of you, your voice, your talent, the woman you are. What an honor it is that I get to sing with you AGAIN.”
The music video for “Scissors” is a cheeky one that matches the lighthearted tone of the pop tune, with the ladies singing about cutting a lover off, and out, of their life. Michaels and Morris coyly play on the lyrics with visual references of actual scissors (and scissorhands) coming for a man in bed … and end the clip with the sound of a quick snip.
“Scissors” is the first single of 2025 from both artists, and it follows their 2024 collab, “Cut!” Morris teased their new song ahead of its release in a red carpet interview with Billboard at the Golden Globes last weekend, saying, “Y’all are not ready. It’s so, so good. The video is so funny.”
See the “Scissors” video below.
Paris Hilton is stepping up to help those impacted by the devastating Los Angeles wildfires.
On Friday (Jan. 10), the 43-year-old Simple Life alum announced on social media that she is launching an emergency fund through her nonprofit 11:11 Media Impact to support families who have lost their homes in the fires.
“My heart is with everyone impacted by the devastating fires here in LA,” Hilton wrote on Instagram. “While I’ve lost my Malibu home, my thoughts are with the countless families who have lost so much more — their homes, cherished keepsakes, the communities they loved, and their sense of stability.”
The singer and entrepreneur added, “As a mom, I can’t imagine the pain and fear of not having a safe place for your babies.”
She went on to announce that she is personally contributing $100,000 to the fund and will match additional donations up to $100,000. “I’m asking others to join me in doing our part to support these families,” she wrote.
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Hilton is working alongside L.A.-based emergency relief organization CORE, founded by Sean Penn and Ann Lee. The funds will provide short-term housing, hotel stays for displaced families, essentials for evacuation centers, and support for local animal shelters.
Hilton’s charitable effort comes shortly after she watched her Malibu home burn down live on TV. On Wednesday (Jan. 8), she posted a heartfelt message on Instagram: “Heartbroken beyond words. Sitting with my family, watching the news, and seeing our home in Malibu burn to the ground on live TV is something no one should ever have to experience. This home was where we built so many precious memories. It’s where Phoenix took his first steps and where we dreamed of building a lifetime of memories with London.”
She continued, “While the loss is overwhelming, I’m holding onto gratitude that my family and pets are safe. My heart and prayers are going out to every family affected by these fires. To all the people who have lost their homes, their memories, and their beloved pets. My heartaches for those still in harm’s way or mourning greater losses. The devastation is unimaginable.”
The first full music-release week of 2025 has officially arrived, bringing with it fresh releases from Teddy Swims, Lil Baby and more hitmakers to start the new year off right. Following a dominant year in 2024 thanks to his Billboard Hot 100-topping single “Lose Control,” Swims has returned this year with a new track titled […]
Gracie Abrams‘ breakout hit “That’s So True” has secured a seventh non-consecutive week at No. 1 on the Official Singles Chart (Jan. 10). “That’s So True” first hit the top spot back in November and lasted at the summit for five consecutive weeks into mid-December until Wham!’s festive classic “Last Christmas” interrupted her run at […]
Sir Elton John is still shining bright on the U.K.’s Albums Chart as his greatest hits collection Diamonds has finally hit No. 1 in its 374th week on the chart (Jan 10). The icon’s career-spanning collection was first released in 2017 and features a number of his biggest hits, including “Your Song,” “Tiny Dancer,” “Rocket […]
The Weeknd is ready for a change. As the release of new album Hurry Up Tomorrow approaches, the 34-year-old hitmaker is saying it will most likely be his last under the persona that made him a star.
In a new Variety cover story published Friday (Jan. 10), the artist — born Abel Tesfaye — addressed his plans to retire his stage name following the conclusion of his ongoing album trilogy, which began with 2020’s After Hours, continued with 2022’s Dawn FM and will end Jan. 24 with Hurry Up Tomorrow. The first LP debuted atop the Billboard 200 and spawned smash hit “Blinding Lights,” which spent four weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, logged a record 57-week run in the Hot 100’s top 10 and was recently revealed as the No. 1 song on Billboard’s Top Hot 100 Songs of the 21st Century chart.
After hinting in the interview that the final trilogy installment would represent a broader chapter close, Tesfaye clarified that the chapter in question is “my existence as the Weeknd.”
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“It’s a headspace I’ve gotta get into that I just don’t have any more desire for,” he said of his moniker. “You have a persona, but then you have the competition of it all. It becomes this rat race: more accolades, more success, more shows, more albums, more awards and more No. 1s. It never ends until you end it.”
The musician previously hinted that his days as The Weeknd were coming to a close in late December, when billboards reading “The End Is Near” started popping up in cities all over the world. In a May 2023 interview with W Magazine, Tesfaye also forewarned: “It’s getting to a place and a time where I’m getting ready to close the Weeknd chapter. I’ll still make music, maybe as Abel, maybe as The Weeknd. But I still want to kill The Weeknd.”
To Variety, the “Blinding Lights” singer echoed that he still plans on making music no matter what, emphasizing, “I don’t think I can stop doing that.” “But everything needs to feel like a challenge,” he added. “And for me right now, the Weeknd, whatever that is, it’s been mastered. No one’s gonna do the Weeknd better than me, and I’m not gonna do it better than what it is right now.”
Tesfaye added that his headline-making 2022 concert at SoFi Stadium — during which he had to stop and cancel midway through the show after losing his voice on stage — partially inspired his decision to hang up his Weeknd hat for good. “Part of me actually was thinking, ‘You lost your voice because it’s done,’” he told the publication. “You said what you had to say. Don’t overstay at the party — you can end it now and live a happy life … I just want to know what comes after.”
See Tesfaye on the cover of Variety below.
Cast recordings are a crucial part of supporting a musical’s life, during its initial run on or off-Broadway, as well as far beyond that. While a show is running, a recording available on streaming platforms can reach a wide ticket-buying audience and thus potentially help increase its performing lifespan; the recording is also often the way that regional theaters first discover shows they might produce — which proves especially important to shows that have shorter lives on Broadway.
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But while shows have ample platforms for releasing their original cast recordings — from boutique labels specializing in theater to major labels getting in on the next big hit — a trio of journeyman theater musicians noticed a gaping hole in the market for a new kind of label: one that would support a show from its earliest writing stages all the way through is fully realized production.
That new label — aimed at amplifying new voices in musical theater as well as individual solo performers — is Joy Machine Records, co-founded and run by Ian Kagey, Sonny Paladino, Brian Usifer and Will Van Dyke.
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The quartet have musical theater bonafides in spades. Kagey is a Grammy-winning engineer and mixer who has engineered numerous Broadway cast recordings in addition to working in TV, film, and with artists including Bruce Springsteen and Paul McCartney; Paladino is a seasoned arranger and producer who most recently was music supervisor, arranger, orchestrator and conductor for Neil Diamond bio-musical A Beautiful Noise; Usifer is an orchestrator, arranger, music director, pianist, producer and composer who recently worked on the acclaimed (but short-lived) Swept Away and Huey Lewis’ The Heart of Rock and Roll musical; and Van Dyke is a Grammy-nominated producer, songwriter, music supervisor, orchestrator and arranger who was music director of Swept Away and is music supervisor/orchestrator/arranger for the long-running off-Broadway hit Little Shop of Horrors.
“Our approach comes from our experience being on many sides of the table in that process, and understanding what it takes to see a show from inception through opening night and beyond,” says Usifer. “We approach every project with not only a high bar musically but an emphasis on kindness and transparency throughout the process.”
Joy Machine, which will be distributed by The Orchard, is launched as a full-service record label which will offer what it calls “three tiers of support for musical development.” As Van Dyke explains, “from the first piano/vocal demos through fully produced tracks,” Joy Machine’s team will “help producers think about budgeting for these recordings from the jump. That kind of awareness will also help teams build a cast recording into their budget to be able to fully preserve their final product.”
The label’s current and upcoming client roster includes The Avett Brothers’ original Broadway cast recording of Swept Away; Huey Lewis’ OBCR of The Heart of Rock and Roll; and solo projects with Joy Woods (currently starring as Louise in Gypsy on Broadway), composer Joe Iconis (Be More Chill), Corey Cott (a star of The Heart of Rock and Roll) and more.
Thus far, the team has recorded at Kagey’s own Renaissance Recording in New York for demos and smaller concept albums, and at the storied Power Station studios for original Broadway cast albums. (“They really know how to make a cast album and make it a seamless and un-chaotic experience,” says Usifer of the latter). Joy Machine is currently working on a concept album for the new musical Joy, meant to give audiences an insight into the show’s music before it ventures to Broadway.
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From international superstars to that Oasis reunion, it’s set to be a busy year for music lovers.
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