Music

Popular book “Contact High: A Visual History of Hip-Hop” is headed to the screen as a documentary. Universal Music Group’s Mercury Studios and Republic Records’ Federal Films, along with Jupiter Entertainment, are behind the adaptation. Joseph Patel is tapped to direct; Jupiter’s Patrick Reardon, Federal Films’ Chris Blackwell and Dana Sano, and Barak Moffitt and

“Let It Be,” the final release of the Beatles’ original catalog, wasn’t about to get memorialized in film and book form this fall without getting a boxed set of the actual music, too. And so months after fans got firm news about “Get Back,” the Peter Jackson documentary, and “Get Back,” the expansive hardback book,

Lil Nas X has officially announced the release date for his long-anticipated debut album, “Montero.” In a social media post on Wednesday night, the rapper and singer revealed that the album will release on Sept. 17. Alongside the date announcement, Nas also debuted a trailer for the album featuring a previously-unheard song. “Creating this album

Death. The very word causes us to recoil. The great unknown and permanence of it all. Yet, loss is such a fundamental part of life. Death defines the human condition. There is no escape from it. It fuels our loves, our ambitions, our priorities. We frequently fear it. But we ultimately must come to terms

The 2021 MTV Video Music Awards show has its host: Doja Cat will preside over the ceremonies, set to be broadcast from Brooklyn’s Barclays Center Sept. 12. It’ll be the singer’s first hosting gig at an awards show, but not her first trip to the VMAs, as last year she performed a medley of “Say

Legendary singer-songwriter and eight-time Grammy-winner Joni Mitchell will be honored as the 2022 MusiCares Person of the Year, the Recording Academy announced on Wednesday. She will be the honoree during the 31st annual Person of the Year benefit gala, which will be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center on Saturday, January 29, 2022, two

Olivia Rodrigo has retroactively added two members of Paramore to the writing credits of her hit single “Good 4 U” — the second time she’s made such a revision for songs from her blockbuster debut album, “Sour.” She had previously added Taylor Swift and cowriters to the credits of her song “Déjà vu”; Swift and

Olivia Rodrigo has retroactively added two members of Paramore to the writing credits of her hit single “Good 4 U” — the third time she’s made such a revision for songs from her blockbuster debut album, “Sour.” She had previously added Taylor Swift and cowriters to the credits of her songs “Déjà vu” and “1

It boggles the mind as much today as it did 30 years ago when four unassuming rock bands from Seattle captured the hearts and minds of the entire world, forever changing the music industry. Soundgarden was first out of the gate. The Chris Cornell-fronted band had several years of indie success under its belt before

Spencer Elden, the man whose unusual baby portrait was used for one of the most recognizable album covers of all time, Nirvana’s “Nevermind,” filed a lawsuit Tuesday alleging that the nude image constituted child pornography. The album cover depicts Elden underwater in a swimming pool as a then-infant with his genitalia exposed. The image has

Kristen Burke has been named president of Warner Music Canada, succeeding Steve Kane who has been with the Warner Music Group company since 2004. Burke arrives from Universal Music Canada, where she spent 20 years and was named EVP and general manager in 2018. She starts on Oct. 18 and will be based out of

Out with the “old Kanye” and in with the “YE.” Kanye West has petitioned to legally change his name to “YE,” according to legal documents obtained by Variety. In order for it to be official, a California judge must sign off, and, in many cases, the name change must be published in several newspapers. In the

Without stretching the comparison too far, Charlie Watts was the Elvis Presley of rock and roll drumming: There was BC (Before Charlie) and after, and he can’t be compared realistically with anyone who followed because he’s an integral part of the foundation not just of the “World’s Greatest Rock and Roll Band,” but rock and

UPDATE: According to legal documents obtained by Variety, a judge has ruled that Megan Thee Stallion is clear to release the remix of BTS’ “Butter” on which she is featured.   Megan Thee Stallion had planned to release a remix of BTS’ “Butter” this Friday — but in a new court filing, the rapper is alleging

Norma Morris, a veteran country music publicist, died Aug. 20 at her home in Kingston Springs, TN, at age 82. The cause of death was given as complications of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Among the artists Morris worked with were Waylon Jennings, Steve Wariner, Ralph Stanley, Merle Haggard, Exile, Paul Overstreet, Jesse Winchester, Maxine Brown

Chlöe, Doja Cat, Shawn Mendes and Twenty One Pilots are joining the lineup of performers for the 2021 MTV VMAs, taking place live from Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on Sunday, September 12 at 8PM ET/PT and airing on MTV. On the show, Chlöe, one half of the duo Chloe x Halle, will premiere her first single, “Have Mercy,” from

When news broke on Tuesday that Charlie Watts had died, musicians and other celebrities took to social media to pay tribute to and celebrate the life of the legendary Rolling Stones drummer. Known for being the steady backbone of one of the greatest rock bands in history, Watts was an authoritative and controlled drummer well

Drummer Charlie Watts, whose adept, powerful skin work propelled the Rolling Stones for more than half a century, died in London on Tuesday morning, according to his spokesperson. No cause of death was cited; was 80. A statement from the band and Watts’ spokesperson reads: “It is with immense sadness that we announce the death

Kanye West’s first “Donda” listening party in Atlanta last month was a simple event — as much as an album-listening party in a football stadium can be simple — featuring the rapper, clad in a mask, stomping around the stadium floor as his album played. The second listening party, also at Mercedes Benz Stadium earlier this

My Morning Jacket will release its first new studio album in nearly six years, an 11-track, self-titled affair, on Oct. 22 via ATO Records. First single “Regularly Scheduled Programming” is out now, accompanied by a video directed by frontman Jim James (pictured in center) in tandem with George Mays. The group will support the new

This may still come as a surprise to oldsters, but the young people do love their vinyl now — even contemporaries of 18-year-old Olivia Rodrigo, whose debut album returns to the No. 1 spot on the chart this week due partly to a belated LP-format release. Rodrigo’s “Sour” tops the Rolling Stone album chart with

Just a few weeks ago, industry sources were buzzing that the real reason Kanye West’s long-delayed “Donda” album has missed two scheduled drop dates this summer is because he’s looking for a release-date battle with Drake’s “Certified Lover Boy,” similar to his 2007 duel with 50 Cent. “Donda” was scheduled to be released after listening

Insane Clown Posse announced that its 2022 tour will be the duo’s last, as Violent J revealed his serious heart issues. During the Gathering of the Juggalos over the weekend at Legend Valley in Thornville, Ohio, Violent J said that while Insane Clown Posse will retire from touring, he and Shaggy 2 Dope will still

Barry Manilow fans never got to hear the end of his set at Saturday’s “We Love NYC” Central Park concert, after the all-star show got shut down right in the middle of a Manilow medley. But there’ll finally be an ending to the saga of his stage musical “Harmony” coming to New York City, as

Due to ongoing pandemic conditions, Phoebe Bridgers has announced that she has decided to only play outdoor shows on her fall tour, precipitating venue changes in some cities and postponements in others. Altogether, the settings for about half of the dates on the tour have been changed. The singer-songwriter also said proof of vaccination will

Brian Travers, a saxophonist, arranger and lyricist for the group UB40 and one of its founding members, died Sunday at age 62 at his home near Birmingham in England. The cause of death was cancer; Travers was reported to have undergone three surgeries for brain tumors since they were discovered in early 2019. Said the

After months of anticipation in which Kacey Musgraves has appeared on magazine covers but revealed only scattered details about her fourth studio album — least of all when it might be arriving — the stars are aligning so that it’s coming sooner rather than later. “Star-Crossed” will be out Sept. 10, the country-pop star’s reps

Miley Cyrus has parted ways with longtime manager Adam Leber and joined the team at Crush Management, two sources confirm to Variety. There, she joins a roster that includes fellow female pop luminaries Sia and Lorde as well as such veteran rock acts as Green Day, Weezer and Fall Out Boy, all three of whom

Lisa Lee, a leading figure in the country music industry who rose up through the ranks of broadcasting and most recently served as senior VP of creative and content for the Academy of Country Music, died Saturday at 52. The cause of death was brain cancer. The country stars paying tribute to Lee included Kenny

Aerosmith and Universal Music Group have announced a new global partnership that will bring the long-running American rock band’s entire discography, merchandise and audio-video projects to the company. UMG will also be the home of future music projects, and will work with the band to develop, produce and distribute new film, television and other audio-visual