entertainment blog
Warner and Sony Music Groups Suspend Russian Operations
Following in the footsteps of fellow major label Universal Music Group, Warner and Sony Music Groups are suspending their operations in Russia. “Warner Music Group is suspending operations in Russia, including investments in and development of projects, promotional and marketing activities, and manufacturing of all physical products,” a Warner Music Group spokesperson said today in a statement shared with Pitchfork. “We will continue to fulfill our agreed upon obligations to our people, artists, and songwriters as best we can as the situation unfolds. We remain committed to supporting the humanitarian relief efforts in the region.” On its website, Sony Music Group wrote, “Sony Music Group calls for peace in Ukraine and an end to the violence. We have suspended operations in Russia and will...
The Black Keys Announce New Album Dropout Boogie, Share Video for New Song: Watch
Almost exactly one year after the Black Keys released their last album Delta Kream, Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney will release a new one. Dropout Boogie is out May 13 via Nonesuch. The album features collaborations with ZZ Top’s Billy F. Gibbons, Reigning Sound and Oblivians’ Greg Cartwright, and Kings of Leon’s Angelo Petraglia. Check out the Bryan Schlam–directed video for “Wild Child,” which features Cartwright and Petraglia, below. The new album’s release falls near the 20th anniversary of the band’s first album The Big Come Up. “It’s the natural chemistry Pat and I have,” Auerbach said in a statement. “Being in a band this long is a testament to that. It was a real gift that we were given. I mean, the odds of being plopped down a block-and-a-half from each other in Akron, Ohio–it ju...
Miranda Lambert Announces New Album Palomino, Shares Video for New Song “Strange”: Watch
Miranda Lambert has announced a new album. Palomino is out April 29 on Vanner Records and RCA Records Nashville. The record is co-produced alongside Luke Dick and Jon Randall and features a cover of Mick Jagger’s “Wandering Spirit,” as well as an appearance from the B-52’s. View the tracklist below and video for new song “Strange” below. Palomino is Lambert’s first solo record since 2019’s Wildcard, which won the Grammy Award for Best Country Album. Last year, she shared The Marfa Tapes, a collaboration with Jack Ingram and Jon Randall, which is nominated for Best Country Album at the 2022 Grammy Awards. In December, Lambert released a single called “Y’all Means All” for the sixth season of Netflix’s Queer Eye, which was filmed in her home state of Texas. Read Pitchfork’s Sunday Revi...
Pete Davidson to Star in New Lorne Michaels–Produced TV Show Bupkis
Pete Davidson is set to play a fictionalized version of himself in an upcoming Lorne Michaels–produced TV show tentatively titled Bupkis, Deadline and Variety report. The Saturday Night Live cast member is reportedly co-writing the show with Dave Sirus and Judah Miller. All three will executive produce alongside Michaels, Andrew Singer, and Erin David, according to the outlets. The project currently does not have a home but comes from Michael’s Broadway Video and Universal Television. The show is described in the reports as being in a similar vein to Larry David’s HBO series Curb Your Enthusiasm. Lately, Davidson has been a mainstay in the tabloid headlines, as he’s been in a relationship with Kim Kardashian for a number of months. Kardashian recently discussed Davidson in a new Variety pr...
Ricardo Arjona Captures 21st Top 10 on Latin Pop Albums Chart With ‘Blanco y Negro’
Ricardo Arjona posts his 21st top 10 on Billboard’s Latin Pop Albums chart as Blanco y Negro debuts at No. 8 on the March 12-dated survey. Blanco y Negro was released exclusively in a deluxe two-CD/book package. He had previously released the Blanco and Negro albums as separate titles. The albums were recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London. Blanco y Negro starts with 2,000 equivalent album units earned in the U.S. after its first full tracking week ending March 3, according to MRC Data. The double-CD was released Feb. 25 via Metamorfosis/Sony Music Latin. The set’s opening sum is derived entirely from traditional album sales, a sum that also makes it the top-selling Latin pop album of the week — enough to earn a No. 74 debut on the 100-deep Top Album Sales ranking, his first chart visit ...
Concert Business Moves From Pandemic to Endemic as COVID-19 Restrictions Lift
The live event industry fought hard to implement COVID-19 vaccine mandates and mask requirements in order to bring back shows, but with dropping cases and high inoculation rates, promoters and venue owners are steadily moving away from strict safety precautions. When Coachella announced in February that it is dropping all COVID-19 safety restrictions for its upcoming event in April, it set the stage for the entire festival season to come. Coachella producer Goldenvoice, which also runs the country music-focused Stagecoach in the same location, said both Indio events would no longer require fans to show proof of vaccination, obtain negative COVID-19 tests prior to entering or need to wear masks. Coachella — with headliners Harry Styles, Billie Eilish and Kanye West – was the first major fes...
CAA Names Hilary Krane as Chief Legal Officer
Creative Artists Agency has hired former Nike exec Hilary Krane as its chief legal officer. In her new role, Los Angeles-based Krane will oversee all legal matters, including strategic business initiatives, mergers and acquisitions and international expansion at CAA. That M&A activity includes CAA’s proposed acquisition of ICM, which the U.S. Department of Justice is scrutinizing for the impact of the major agencies’ proposed merger on the entertainment industry. The acquisition, unveiled in Sept. 2021, is looking to be completed in the second quarter of this year. “CAA’s devotion to, and consistent success for, the world’s top talent and brands unquestionably begins with its exceptional internal culture of service and collaboration. To play a role in that special environment and help ...
Influence Media Calls Tainy Catalog Acquisition an ‘Eight-Figure Deal’
Influence Media Partners, which previously acknowledged its acquisition of rights from producer/artist Tainy, has provided additional details on the deal, saying it consists of the producer’s song publishing catalog from 2005 to 2021 and includes such songs as Cardi B‘s “I Like It” featuring Bad Bunny and J Balvin; Bad Bunny and Jhay Cortez’s “Dakiti;” and Kali Uchis’ “Telepatia.” Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed, other than to describe it as an eight-figure deal. “I am happy to continue to be a part of this cultural awakening for Latino music and artists in this business,” Tainy said in a statement. “This acquisition solidifies my hard work and the power that Latin music has in the global mainstream.” Influence Media, which is backed with funding from BlackRock Alternative Inve...
‘The Penguin’ Spinoff Series Starring Colin Farrell Ordered By HBO Max
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: Jonathan Olley™ & © DC Comics / The Batman You have to credit HBO Max for giving the DC Extended Universe new life with drops like the Snyder Cut of Justice League and the critically acclaimed Peace Maker. Now with Matt Reeves’ The Batman all the rage amongst fanboys on the internet, HBO Max will be exploring the dark streets of Gotham City as Variety is reporting that the streaming network has ordered a Penguin spinoff series starring Colin Farrell (the man really did kill that role). While it was rumored for months that HBO Max was considering a limited Penguin series starring Farrell, it’s now been made official and the show’s star couldn’t be any happier returning as one of Batman’s best villains. Related Stories “The world that Matt Reeves...
Peep The ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ Teaser Trailer From Disney+
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: Star Wars / Disney+ Disney+ has really been killing it with their Star Wars spinoff series such as The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett, but this time around Disney+ will be bringing back a familiar face that many thought they’d never see again. For their next installment into the Star Wars universe, Disney+ will be bringing back Ewan McGregor as the OG Jedi in Obi-Wan Kenobi and if the first teaser trailer is any indication of how the series will be, hang on to your lightsaber because ish is about to get real. In the trailer we get an idea of how things are playing out in a galaxy far, far away as the last remaining Jedi’s are being hunted down by the deadly Inquisitors who are on a mission to rid the universe of the force wielding heroes. One of th...
Nick Cannon’s Talk Show Canceled After One Season
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: E! Entertainment / Getty It’s was a grand opening and a quick grand closing for Nick Cannon’s talk show. N’Credible seed spreader Nick Cannon’s talk show has been canceled. Variety reports staffers at The Nick Cannon Show were informed on Thursday (Mar.10) it was a wrap for the show. Luckily, there were enough shows already taped and banked that they will be able to close out the season with new episodes airing through May. Variety also states that the sudden cancellation was sudden. The show’s crew and producers were not too surprised at the show’s abrupt ending. Per Variety: Related Stories Insiders say that a five-week hiatus was already previously planned, due to Cannon’s busy schedule with responsibilities for his long-running Viacom improv show...
Lil Durk Reveals ‘7220’ Tracklist Featuring Future, Gunna and More
Lil Durk took to social media on Wednesday to reveal the tracklist for his upcoming album 7220, which is slated for release on Friday, March 11. The Chicago rapper shared an image of the record’s back cover, unveiling the 17-song tracklist and a selection of top-shelf guest features. Among them are Future, Gunna, Summer Walker and Morgan Wallen, who previously appeared on Durk’s highest-charting solo track, “Broadway Girls,” which reached No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 following its release last year. “7220 my granny address I grew up in that house that made me the realist,” the rap star captioned the photo on Instagram, alongside the release date and a lock emoji. 7220 will land as Durk’s first solo full-length effort since The Voice, which was released in 2020. Last year, the 29-ye...
