Country
Kanye West, Ellie Goulding, Pop Smoke and More: What’s Your Favorite New Music Release? Vote!
This week’s new music releases brought fans a variety of new tunes from some of today’s hottest rappers, rock legends, pop songstresses and country stars. Pop Smoke returned with a posthumous album featuring a star-studded track list, Rage Against the Machine‘s Tom Morello brought a politically righteous tune, and Kanye West teamed with Travis Scott for a fiery examination of injustice, and Ty Dolla $ign recruited the best and brightest for his new track. Elsewhere, Ellie Goulding delivered an emotionally intelligent track with the help of Lauv, Chris Young reflected upon the wonder of the commonplace, and Sufjan Stevens prodded at America’s problems in a 12-minute epic. So, with so much to choose from, Billboard wants to know which new music release is your favorit...
PTF: Schools to reopen only for graduating pupils
The Federal Government on Thursday insisted that schools have not reopened in the country. The Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, stated this in Abuja during a briefing. He maintained that President Muhammadu Buhari only approved the resumption of schools for graduating pupils to take revision classes and write their examinations. Mustapha, who is also the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, explained, “The Presidential Task Force similarly announced some limited measures for the educational sector. Specifically, we pointed out that it was still not safe to reopen schools. “However, in order not to truncate the progression of pupils and students not in critical classes, the President approved that arrangement be made for those who need revision b...
John Prine Posthumously Named First Honorary Poet Laureate of Illinois
John Prine has received a very special posthumous honor. The late country folk legend has been named the first honorary poet laureate of Illinois, his home state. “John Prine leaves behind an unparalleled musical legacy and was beloved by family and millions of fans who hope that in Heaven he finds Paradise waitin’ just as he longed for,” comments Governor J.B. Pritzker in a statement. Prine is the first Illinoisan to receive the honorary designation, which commemorates his and celebrates his writing and musical contributions. “John had a great respect for Writers of all kinds. He regarded Poets as being among those whose work carried weight, relevance and elevated craft,” comments Fiona Whelan Prine, the celebrated singer and songwriter’s widow. “It is such an honor for me, our...
John Prine Named Illinois’ First Honorary Poet Laureat
John Prine has long been heralded as a man of wise words and even sweeter songs. Now, he will be forever remembered for such. Earlier today, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker announced that the Maywood-born singer-songwriter will be named an Honorary Poet Laureate, making him the first in Illinois’ history. “It’s my honor to name our state’s first honorary poet laureate,” tweeted Governor Pritzker. “John Prine leaves behind an unparalleled musical legacy and was beloved by family and millions of fans who hope that in Heaven he finds Paradise waitin’ just as he longed for.” Prine learned how to play guitar at the Old Town School of Music in Chicago, and following a brief stint in the military, he worked in the city as a mailman. While on his routes, he wrote songs in his head. Eventually, Prine...
Kenny Chesney Extends Record For Most Country Airplay No. 1s With ‘Here and Now’
The song is his 31st leader. Kenny Chesney’s “Here and Now” ascends 2-1 on Billboard‘s Country Airplay chart dated July 4. In the week ending June 28, the song increased by 18% to 29.8 million audience impressions, according to Nielsen Music/MRC Data. Chesney adds his record-extending 31st Country Airplay leader. Dating to the list’s January 1990 launch, Tim McGraw ranks second with 29 No. 1s, Blake Shelton places third with 27 and Alan Jackson and George Strait follow with 26 apiece. “I remember cutting ‘Here and Now’ and how great it felt,” Chesney tells Billboard. “But I also hoped it might remind really busy people what matters is, be in the moment. I always try to cut songs that lift people up, or say something about how...
John Legend, Black Eyed Peas & More Set for ‘Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular’
John Legend, The Black Eyed Peas, Lady A and many more are set to take the stage during NBC’s upcoming 44th annual Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular. Hosted by Jane Lynch and Today anchor Craig Melvin, the annual Independence Day event will be broadcast live from New York City. Additional performers confirmed for the telecast ahead of the yearly fireworks display include The Killers, Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley and national youth poet laureate Amanda Gorman. Due to concerns over social distancing amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, this year’s Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular will look a bit different than it has in years past. This year, the event is being “reimagined as a series of neighborhood shows” through the city’s five boroug...
The Chicks Switch Representation to John Silva’s Silva Artist Management
Less than a month before the Chicks’ first studio album in 14 years arrives, the trio has changed artist management. The Chicks, who dropped Dixie from their name earlier today (June 25), have inked with John Silva’s Silva Artist Management (SAM), Billboard has confirmed. Among the other artists repped by SAM are Foo Fighters, St. Vincent and Nine Inch Nails. The group has been managed by Simon Renshaw for more than 20 years until he retired two years ago. Since then, the Chicks had been repped by Monotone/LBI Entertainment, who also manage Vampire Weekend, Jack White and Margo Price, Jamie Foxx, LCD Soundsystem and Amber Mark, among others. In March, Natalie Maines and sisters Emily Strayer and Martie Maguire released “Gaslighter,” the first single and title track from t...
How We Work Now: Academy of Country Music CEO Damon Whiteside
In a series amid the coronavirus pandemic, Billboard is asking individuals from all sectors of the music business to share stories of how they work now, with much of the world quarantined at home and unable to take in-person meetings, attend conferences or even go into the office. Read the full series here. This installment is with Damon Whiteside, the new CEO of the Academy of Country Music. Damon Whiteside: I started the job Jan. 6 and I was still getting to know everybody. I’m based in Nashville and was at [the ACM’s Los Angeles] office two weeks a month for those first couple of months. And then, suddenly, we’re isolated and quarantined after we decide to close the office in L.A. the week of March 16. That was literally the week that I was planning to go back to L.A., so that’s b...
Marcus King on El Dorado, Dan Auerbach, and Why He’ll Never Sing About White Claws
Kyle Meredith With… Marcus King Listen via Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Play | Stitcher | Radio Public Marcus King calls into Kyle Meredith to speak about his new album, El Dorado. The South Carolina-born singer-songwriter discusses the album’s production by The Black Keys frontman Dan Auerbach, leaving home for a life on the road, the loss of style and character, and finding a strong metaphor in old Cadillacs. He also talks about taking inspiration from Willie Nelson, his Grand Ole Opry debut, what Beatles song he listened to every morning before school, and singing about whiskey. Kyle Meredith With… is an interview series in which WFPK’s Kyle Meredith speaks to a wide breadth of musicians. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Fri...
Marcus King on El Dorado, Dan Auerbach, and Why He’ll Never Sing About White Claws
Kyle Meredith With… Marcus King Listen via Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Play | Stitcher | Radio Public Marcus King calls into Kyle Meredith to speak about his new album, El Dorado. The South Carolina-born singer-songwriter discusses the album’s production by The Black Keys frontman Dan Auerbach, leaving home for a life on the road, the loss of style and character, and finding a strong metaphor in old Cadillacs. He also talks about taking inspiration from Willie Nelson, his Grand Ole Opry debut, what Beatles song he listened to every morning before school, and singing about whiskey. Kyle Meredith With… is an interview series in which WFPK’s Kyle Meredith speaks to a wide breadth of musicians. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Fri...
Zinedine Zidane unconcerned by Real Madrid’s fixture list complaints
Zinedine Zidane has claimed Real Madrid will accept the congested fixture list for what it is, despite the club complaining to La Liga. Los Blancos issued a complaint to top-flight officials on Monday after the schedule for matchdays 33 and 34 of the season left them with less than 72 hours between fixtures against Getafe and Athletic Bilbao. Madrid felt this left them at a disadvantage compared to title rivals Barcelona, who were given five days of rest between games against Atletico Madrid and Villarreal. However, it has since emerged that Madrid will have accumulated more rest – approximately 26 hours in total – than Barca until matchday 35, and asked if he felt the club’s complaints to La Liga were fair, Zidane insisted he is fully focused on preparing his side for the fixture list as ...
Miami Dolphins Rookie QB Reached Out to His Celebrity Music Crush and She Said ‘Thank You Baby’
Miami Dolphins rookie quarterback Tua Tagovailoa did a Q&A on Twitter recently in which he gave fans a peek into his private life, weighing in on whether pineapple should ever be on pizza (nope), the strangest thing a fan ever said to him (that they named their dog after him) and what peanut butter would be called if it wasn’t called peanut butter (peanut cream). But it was when he was asked who his favorite guilty pleasure singer was that things got interesting. You see, Tagovailoa, 22, said Shania Twain, but then he also said she was his celebrity crush. “Shania if you watch this, from this moment on, please message me back,” he said. Here’s where things got interesting. It seems Shania, 54, caught wind of Tua’s feelings and she tweeted back on Sunday, w...
