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YouTube Pauses Monetization for Russian Media Channels Following Sanctions
YouTube is pausing Russian affiliated channels’ ability to monetize on the video platform, the company announced on Saturday (Feb. 26). In a statement, YouTube announced it would be suspending several channels’ ability to collect ad revenue, including the state-funded media outlet RT. The move comes just days after Russia’s decision to invade Ukraine on Thursday. “In light of extraordinary circumstances in Ukraine … we’re pausing a number of channels’ ability to monetize on YouTube, including several Russian channels affiliated with recent sanctions,” YouTube said in the statement obtained by Reuters. Additionally, videos from the blocked channels will appear less often in recommendations. Following a request from the Ukrainian government, RT and the other channels that have had their ad r...
Jennifer Hudson, Will Smith Win Big at 2022 NAACP Image Awards: Full List of Winners
Jennifer Hudson and Will Smith were big winners at the 2022 NAACP Image Awards, which were presented on Feb. 26. The show aired on BET and was simulcast on several of its sister ViacomCBS networks. Hudson took two awards — entertainer of the year and outstanding actress in a motion picture for playing Aretha Franklin in Respect. This makes up for her disappointing showing in the Oscar nominations, where she was passed over for both best actress and best original song. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news It’s the second year in a row the NAACP award for outstanding actress in a motion picture has gone to someone for playing a music legend. Viola Davis won last year for playing blues great Ma Rainey in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. Smith won outstanding ...
Billie Eilish and Finneas Team Up for New Song “Nobody Like U”
Record-breaking and Grammy award-winning siblings Finneas and Billie Eilish have joined forces again for the upcoming Disney+ film, Turning Red. The duo will add their talents to the film’s soundtrack with a song titled “Nobody Like U.” Scored by Ludwig Göransson, the movie includes the portrayal of a fictional boy band called 4*Town – of which Finneas is a member – and centers on an adolescent Chinese-Canadian girl who is transformed into a large red panda. The song was co-written by the siblings and starts off with a thundering piano intro akin to an early 2000s pop music hit. The song theme details an innocent attraction between young lovers, with Finneas’ tenor voice singing, “I’ve never met nobody like you… they don’t turn my tummy the way you do!” In an accompanying music video, anim...
Ukrainian Metal Band JINJER Releases New Video Message From Kyiv: ‘This War Cannot Be Justified By Anything’
Bassist Eugene Abdukhanov of Ukrainian modern metallers JINJER has released a new video message in which he condemned Russia’s invasion of his country, saying “this war cannot be justified by anything.” Russian president Vladimir Putin‘s military aggression — which has been described by U.S. president Joe Biden as an “unprovoked and unjustified attack” on Ukraine — has resulted in nearly 200 deaths so far, including civilians, three of whom were children, according to Ukraine’s health minister. Earlier today, Abdukhanov shared a heartfelt video message via JINJER‘s social media in which he urged all music fans and “the people of the civilized world” to do whatever they can to secure international support to respond to Russia. He s...
DEE SNIDER ‘Absolutely’ Approves Of Ukrainians Using ‘We’re Not Gonna Take It’ As Their Battle Cry: ‘F**k Russia’
TWISTED SISTER singer Dee Snider says that he “absolutely” approves of Ukrainians using the band’s song “We’re Not Gonna Take It” as their battle cry while they are fighting back against the Russian invasion. On Thursday (February 24), Russian president Vladimir Putin announced a “special military operation” in the east of Ukraine. A short time later, explosions were reported in the outskirts of Kharkiv, Kramatorsk and Mariupol, as well as the capital Kyiv. Putin made the announcement during a televised early morning speech, peddling accusations of Nazi elements within Ukraine to justify the attack on his western neighbor, a move that experts slammed as slanderous and false. (Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy is Jewish and lost three fa...
WOLFGANG VAN HALEN Hopes To Record Second MAMMOTH WVH Album This Year: ‘I’m Very Ready To Get Back In The Studio’
During an appearance on this past Thursday’s (February 24) episode of SiriusXM‘s “Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk”, Wolfgang Van Halen said that he is hoping to begin working on the follow-up to MAMMOTH WVH‘s self-titled debut LP at some point in the not-too-distant future. “We’ve got a busy year [of touring] ahead of us,” he said. “I think we’re trying to find some time this year to get back in the studio and do another album. I don’t wanna guarantee anything, but I’d like to get that done as soon as possible.” Unlike “Mammoth WVH”, which arrived last June, some five years after the former VAN HALEN bassist began piecing together ideas for his solo career, the next MAMMOTH WVH LP won’t take nearl...
TY TABOR On Upcoming KING’S X Album: ‘It’s ‘The Best Thing We’ve Done In A Very Long Time’
KING’S X guitarist Ty Tabor spoke to Chris Akin of The CMS Network about the progress of the recording sessions for the band’s follow-up to 2008’s “XV” album. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “[We recorded it] during 2019 and continued to work on it during COVID, just at individual studios. I added some additional vocals down here [at my studio] and actually another guitar part on a song. And we sent tapes around. Jerry [Gaskill, drums] added some more vocals. Doug [Pinnick, bass/vocals] added some more vocals. And we also had Wally Farkas [GALACTIC COWBOYS] singing on the record; he added some more [vocals]. “But other than that stuff being done after we left California, the record is done,” he explained. “And it’s a...
Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak Kick Off Silk Sonic Las Vegas Residency: Recap + Setlist
Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak) began their Las Vegas residency on Friday (February 25th), transforming the Dolby Live theater at Park MGM into a seventies disco. The superduo — whose live appearances have thus far been limited to awards shows — threw what might just be the sexiest dance party Sin City has ever seen. The mood for “An Evening With Silk Sonic” was set from the get-go, as wisps of fog spilled out from under a red velvet curtain while guests settled into their seats. When the venue went dark, signaling the start of the show, the crowd roared in unison. Two screens on opposite sides of the stage flashed images of Silk Sonic sipping cocktails in a tropical setting with flowery button-up shirts, while a giant disco ball hung high above the seats. As the curtain lifted,...
A&E Announces James Brown Documentary Series Produced by Mick Jagger and Questlove
A&E Network has announced a new four-part documentary series about James Brown that’s set to arrive in 2023. James Brown: Say It Loud will be directed by Deborah Riley Draper and is executive produced by Mick Jagger, Questlove, and Black Thought, among others. The series will explore Brown’s legacy as a music icon through interviews with friends, family, and collaborators as well as never-before-seen archival footage. In a statement, Jagger said he was “thrilled” to executive produce James Brown: Say It Loud, saying, “He was a brilliant performer who inspired me from the beginning and was deeply committed to the Civil Rights movement. I have always admired James and learned so much from him.” “The life of James Brown is significant not only to understand his immense musical impact, whi...
Mick Jagger and Questlove Teaming Up for James Brown Doc Series on A&E
Mick Jagger and Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson are teaming up to produce a four-part documentary series on soul legend James Brown for the A&E Network. James Brown: Say it Loud is expected to premiere on the network next year. Brown, who died in 2006, would have been 90 in May 2023. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The Rolling Stones frontman described Brown as “a brilliant performer who inspired me from the beginning.” Questlove, leader of the Roots, is riding high from Summer of Soul (Or, When the Revolution Could Not be Televised), his Oscar-nominated documentary on a series of Harlem concerts described as the Black Woodstock. “The life of James Brown is significant not only to understand his immense musical impact, which inspires us and...
Silk Sonic Bring the Funk, Perform Entire Debut Album at Las Vegas Residency Launch
Launching the 25-date “An Evening With Silk Sonic” on Friday (Feb. 25), Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak staged a galactic funkship landing on the Las Vegas Strip, staking their disco ball into uncharted territory — a full-length live concert. As the Dolby Live Theater at Park MGM shook with the opening notes of “777” and out-of-this-world visuals, it felt impossible that Mars and .Paak had never done a show of this magnitude before as a duo. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news With the lyrics, “I’m ’bout to buy Las Vegas after this roll … come on, 7-7-7, let’s go,” the ruched red silk curtain raised on a night of funk, soul and R&B dance jams, powered by two musicians who first and foremost came to rock the party — Gucci and Bootsy included. A ne...
Selena Gomez, Hailee Steinfeld, Tim McGraw & More Added to 2022 SAG Awards Presenter Lineup
Additional presenters for the 28th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards have been announced. A myriad of SAG Awards nominees are set to take the stage during Sunday’s (Feb. 27) show including Benedict Cumberbatch (The Power of the Dog), Jessica Chastain (The Eyes of Tammy Faye), Jung Ho-Yeon (Squid Game), Martin Short and Selena Gomez (Only Murders in the Building), Oscar Isaac (Scenes From a Marriage), Salma Hayek Pinault (House of Gucci), Tony Goldwyn (King Richard) and Reese Witherspoon (The Morning Show). Other presenters also include SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher, Jesse Plemons (The Power of the Dog), Hailee Steinfeld (Hawkeye), Jeff Goldblum (Jurassic Park Dominion), Maggie Gyllenhaal (The Lost Daughter), Kerry Washington (Little Fires Everywhere), Lisa Kudrow (Friends), Mira Sorvin...
