Music

Ariana Grande is taking her talents to “Fortnite.” On Sunday, the online video game announced that they have partnered with Grande for a concert series called “Rift Tour,” scheduled for Aug. 6-8. Spanning five showtimes over three days, the in-game event promises to be a “musical experience” with a special playlist and playable character inspired

DaBaby is no longer performing at Lollapalooza. Following the rapper’s homophobic remarks at Rolling Loud on July 25, the Chicago festival has removed DaBaby from their Sunday lineup. A statement tweeted from Lollapalooza’s official Twitter account reads: “Lollapalooza was founded on diversity inclusivity, respect and love. With that in mind, DaBaby will no longer be

Clarence “Mac” McDonald, a keyboard player, producer, songwriter and arranger who worked with artists including James Taylor, Ray Charles, Bill Withers and the Emotions, died in Las Vegas July 21 from complications related to cancer, his friends and family reported. He was 76. During a 50-year-plus career in the music business, McDonald had as among

Embattled country superstar Morgan Wallen returned to public life in a big way during a Luke Bryan concert Friday night, being greeted by a lengthy, roaring standing ovation at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena as he joined Bryan, Jason Aldean and Tyler Hubbard on stage to do celebratory shots and sing a couple of his greatest hits.

Chinese-Canadian superstar Kris Wu has been detained for suspected rape, the Beijing police said late Saturday evening local time. The Beijing Chaoyang district police wrote on their official Weibo late Saturday: “In response to internet reports ‘Wu Xfan has repeatedly tricked young women into having sex’ and other related issues, after police investigations, Wu Xfan

Summer vacation season may have started in the U.K., but the fallout from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport’s Parliamentary Committee report into the economics of music streaming continues to keep much of the British industry hard at work. The report calls for a “complete reset” of the streaming economy and recommends measures,

Spotify’s release party for Billie Eilish’s “Happier Than Ever” album marks the slow return of events in Los Angeles and it did not disappoint as guests were transported to the cinematic world of the singer’s sophomore album — complete with immersive installations, insight into Eilish’s creative process and of course, a gaggle of celebrities. Olivia

Late last year, in the video for “Chinatown,” Jack Antonoff drove from New York to New Jersey, cruising down the turnpike with Bruce Springsteen riding shotgun. Last month, in an “Into the Shadow” live performance, the Bleachers frontman and pop producing titan crossed state lines again, this time in a bus with his touring bandmates.

Mark Knopfler’s score for “The Princess Bride,” to quote the film, was only mostly dead. On Saturday, the L.A. Philharmonic will perform it live to picture at the Hollywood Bowl — and they really do mean live. The original 1987 score was recorded almost entirely using a Synclavier sampling machine, with the exception of some

While few official comments about Ed Sheeran’s long-awaited fourth full-length album, prospectively titled “-” (“Minus”), have surfaced, the singer is pretty clearly in album mode. He recently released a new single, “Bad Habits” — which will soon rack up its fifth week at No. 1 in the U.K. — he’s performing at the British record-store

A central theme in Tom McCarthy’s film “Stillwater,” reaching theaters this weekend, is that of culture clash: Oklahoman Bill Baker (Matt Damon) in southern France, visiting his imprisoned daughter (Abigail Breslin) and becoming involved with a French theater actress (Camille Cottin). That idea extended to the music, composed by Oscar winner Mychael Danna (“Life of

The estate for Jacques Levy, co-writer of much of Bob Dylan’s 1976 “Desire” album, was handed a defeat Friday in a lawsuit against Dylan and Universal Music Group that hoped to establish co-ownership of the songs the late collaborator had a hand in. “We’re pleased with today’s decision,” Dylan’s attorney, Orin Snyder, said in a

If you’re an aficionado of the confessional school of pop songwriting, then waking up to the release of Billie Eilish’s “Happier Than Ever” should feel like Christmas morning. Not that anything about it feels too neatly tied up with a bow. Her second full-length album hits a sweet spot where the mixed emotions and occasionally

Miley Cyrus pulled out all the stops for her headlining Thursday night set at the Lollapalooza festival in Chicago: She brought out Billy Idol, Juicy J, Wiz Khalifa, Kid Laroi and G Herbo; played covers of songs that “made me who I am” — Blondie’s “Heart of Glass,” the Pixies’ Where Is My Mind?,” Temple

Silk Sonic, the lusciously retro duo of Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak that debuted back in March with the smash throwback single “Leave the Door Open,” continue their loving tribute to the mid-1970s with the smooth R&B of “Skate.” Where the first single was based around 1974-era groups like the Commodores and the Chi-Lights, “Skate”

That little ol’ band from Texas is now, sadly, littler. Dusty Hill, one-third of ZZ Top for the last 51 years, was revealed Wednesday to have died of indeterminate causes. On Thursday, remaining members Billy Gibbons announced that the tour they just began would resume Friday after a brief lull, with their guitar tech of

Industry veteran Bob Merlis has been involved with publicity efforts on behalf of ZZ Top for the better part of four decades of the band’s 50+ year existence. He was publicity director at Warner Bros. Records when the group signed with that label in the late 1970s and estimates that he’s seen them perform more

JaQuel Knight made his name as a dancer and choreographer who’s worked with Beyonce, but that’s not the only area he helped innovate. In a giant stride to take creative control, Knight launched Knight Choreography and Music Publishing Inc. in April, a home for dance move copyrights beyond his own. Now he has partnered with

The legal battle over Britney Spears’ 13-year-old conservatorship continues, as efforts to remove the singer’s father, Jamie Spears, are ramping up. According to new legal docs, the pop star’s doctors are in favor of booting her father. The claim made in the filing would be a major development — should Spears’ medical team believe that

All products and services featured by Variety are independently selected by Variety editors. However, Variety may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. America’s hero, Dolly Parton, finally has her own perfume line, this brand new business venture for the revered

All products and services featured by Variety are independently selected by Variety editors. However, Variety may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. When it comes to dressing sustainably in Hollywood, there’s one fashion whisperer who makes it all possible: Laura

Monte Conner is a three-decade music industry veteran who signed Slipknot, the aggressive Iowa hard rock band whose cofounder, drummer Joey Jordison, died on Tuesday, to Roadrunner Records in 1998. He is currently VP of A&R at Nuclear Blast Records.   Slipknot cofounder and drummer Joey Jordison was one of the most talented musicians I’ve

Reservoir Media, the fast growing music rights company that recently acquired the catalogs of members of Migos and Tommy Boy Records, has become a public company listing on NASDAQ. The company, which announced plans to go public back in April with a $788 million valuation, confirmed the closing of its previously announced business combination with Roth

Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top has affirmed that the band will soldier on after the death this week of founding bassist Dusty Hill, asserting that it was his wish to “let the show go on.” Gibbons texted the statement to SiriusXM “Trunk Nation” host Eddie Trunk, who passed the sentiments along via Twitter. Gibbons said,

Artists Den brings back “Live From My Den” for the second season of the digital series showcasing some of today’s most extraordinary artists performing live from the creative spaces of their homes, studios, and cities most meaningful to them. New episodes of “Live From My Den” will premiere each week exclusively on Variety.com, beginning Friday,

Rick has rolled into YouTube’s billion-views club. The official video for the popster’s 1987 hit “Never Gonna Give You Up” — uploaded almost 12 years ago — surpassed 1 billion lifetime views on YouTube on Wednesday. The video has benefited from one of the earliest YouTube memes: “Rickrolling,” a prank in which someone shares a

Range Media Partners, the fast-growing management company launched last year, has entered into a worldwide distribution agreement with Capitol Music Group and Virgin Music & Artist Label Services. According to the announcement, the deal spans all physical and digital distribution channels and will focus on releases under a new label, entitled Range Music. Range Media’s

“I’m often asked, did I think it was going to be what it became?,” Perry Farrell says before adding with a laugh, “I mean, that’s ridiculous. Of course not! How could I, you know?” The Jane’s Addiction cofounder is of course speaking about his other main creative offspring, the granddaddy of all U.S. summer music

Music technology company VNUE has announced that it is acquiring livestreaming platform StageIt in a deal that it says will add over $9 million in revenue and access to thousands of performers and creators. The deal brings fans and technology to VNUE’s portfolio, in addition to boosting the company’s Soundstr platform with Music Recognition Technology.

Marilyn Manson’s attorneys have filed to dismiss the lawsuit of “Game of Thrones” actor Esmé Bianco, in which she accuses Manson of sexual assault and battery. Back in April, Bianco filed a federal lawsuit alleging that Manson — whose legal name is Brian Warner — raped her in May 2011, among other acts of sexual