The artwork and marketing campaign for John Mayer’s new album, “Sob Rock,” features the sort of imagery that pulls you in. That’s because its 1980s-inspired look spurs more questions than answers — is the music retro or just the visuals? Are you meant to laugh or groan? Is the homage related to a specific release
Music
Horror fans tuning into the final installment of Netflix’s trilogy “Fear Street,” based on the R.L Stine books, are transported back to 1666 to experience a nightmare that has been haunting the town of Shadyside for generations: a witch hunt. To create the soundscape, composer Anna Drubich, influenced by Ari Aster’s 2019 release “Midsommar” and
After making a cameo in Cardi B’s provocative “WAP,” the two are back for another eye-popping visual: Normani’s new single, “Wild Side.” The record follows the 2020 song “Diamonds” featuring Megan Thee Stallion, which appeared on the “Birds of Prey” soundtrack. Normani’s last solo single was “Motivation” in 2019. She also saw two massive hits
For all the thousands of words typed and thumbed about singer-songwriter Clairo since her 2017 song “Pretty Girl” went viral, it’s astonishing — and just as astonishingly unsurprising — how few of them actually focus on her music. Even when people are writing specifically about her songs and albums — including this remarkable latest one,
Pioneering Black country superstar Charley Pride will be the subject of a 90-minute CMT special set for August, the network is announcing today, with stars like Luke Combs, Garth Brooks, Mickey Guyton and Darius Rucker participating in the commemoration. Titled “CMT Giants: Charley Pride,” the special will be arriving when Pride-pride is still at a
Wyclef Jean has always loved composing, and now he’s been at it full-time on season four of Showtime’s “The Chi.” This season picks up with Kiesha (Birgundi Baker) meeting potential adoptive parents for her child, and Kevin (Alex Hibbert) telling his girlfriend Jemma (Judae’a Brown) that he loves her. Creator and writer Lena Waithe wanted
Timed to the release of Hulu’s “McCartney, 3, 2, 1,” legendary music producer Rick Rubin has sealed a partnership with Endeavor Content to push his famous Shangri La Recording Studios further into film and television. The overall deal will pair Rubin with Peter Berg’s Film 45, the production company that Endeavor Content acquired in 2019.
Jeff LaBar, guitarist for the hard rock band Cinderella, which rose to multi-platinum status in the late 1980s, has died at age 58. No cause of death has been given. Cinderella had not recorded an album since 1994 but had continued to tour until a few years ago, at which point they irretrievably broke up,
It’s a pretty rare occasion when the director of a superhero movie sits down with the composer to talk about music and neither of them ever uses the word “action” or even “superhero.” Instead, “Black Widow” director Cate Shortland and composer Lorne Balfe talked about the backstory of Natasha Romanoff and her sister, Yelena Belova.
Atlantic has struck a joint-venture with the new label Vnclm_, a label formed last year by artist managers Jorge Hernandez of IAT Artist Management (Will Jay), Mike Kosak of NBD Management (Royal & the Serpent), and Tim Jones of Pipe & Hat (Faouzia). The Los Angeles-based label’s first release through the arrangement is singer-songwriter Arden
Paramount Plus will premiere Madonna’s new documentary, “Madame X,” on Oct. 8. “Sharing my vision with global audiences has been profoundly meaningful to me,” Madonna said. “The opportunity to bring its message and the incandescent artistry of all involved to an even wider audience comes at a time when music is so deeply needed to
Britney Spears celebrated Wednesday’s court hearing with a gratitude-filled Instagram post, even using the hashtag “#FreeBritney.” Following her conservatorship hearing, Spears posted on social media to express her relief at being able to hire her own lawyer. “Coming along, folks … coming along !!!!!” Spears wrote, along with the middle finger emoji. “New with real
The Forum’s rock-christened return has been put on pause. The Inglewood arena was set to reopen with a Foo Fighters show on Saturday, but the band announced today that a COVID-19 case within their organization has led to the postponement of their show. “Despite having made every effort to follow CDC Covid protocols and local
The music streaming business appears headed for unprecedented upheaval in the U.K., after an influential government committee recommended a “complete reset” of the sector. The U.K. Government’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) Committee has been running its investigation into the economics of music streaming since October 2020. And, while British government committees
Britney Spears broke down in tears in open court on Wednesday, making a tearful plea to the judge to remove her father for her conservatorship. “I’m here to get rid of my dad and charge him for conservatorship abuse,” Spears said via remote video. “I want to press charges for abuse on this conservatorship today…
Rep. Matt Gaetz, the highly controversial conservative Republican congressman from Florida, made a surprise appearance at a “free Britney” rally, accusing her father, Jamie Spears, and others of being “grifters” who have victimized the singer, as a court hearing was taking place in Los Angeles. He also called Spears’ father “a dick.” “If this case
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. The late photographer Slim Aarons once described the content of his work as “attractive people doing attractive things
Olivia Rodrigo is encouraging young Americans to get happy and healthy. The pop sensation stopped by the White House to promote youth vaccinations on Wednesday. “I am beyond honored and humbled to be here today to help spread the message about the importance of youth vaccination,” Rodrigo said in a press conference. “I’m in awe
After panic set in among some Harry Styles fans as word got out about some rescheduled tour dates but not others, minds have been set at rest — at least in the U.S. — as the British pop superstar has revealed a full list of new fall dates for the American portion of his outing,
Before Todd Haynes’ Velvet Underground documentary premieres in October, fans of the seminal ’60s group will be able to get a head start on getting in the mood with the September release of a tribute album that was a labor of love for another super-fan, the late producer Hal Willner. “I’ll Be Your Mirror: A
Fans of Israeli pop star Noa Kirel won’t be all that surprised to learn that, for her English debut, “Please Don’t Suck,” the 20-year-old interpolates a song written a half-century before her birth — 1954 barbershop ditty “Mr. Sandman.” Kirel is, if not an old soul, then certainly mature beyond her years in the minds
Cruising through California sunshine in a bright yellow, convertible Chevrolet pick-up truck while rocking bucket hats, turtleneck sweaters and backwards baseball caps, 98 Degrees embraces ’90s nostalgia in the video for the group’s new summer anthem, “Where Do You Wanna Go.” Premiering on Variety below, the video sees the Cincinnati natives kick off the day
Gospel-pop crossover superstar Amy Grant and country music stalwart Toby Keith are among the class of 2021 newly named for the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, with a ceremony to be held this fall. Also set to be inducted in the Nov. 1 festivities at Music City Center are hit country songwriters Rhett Akins, John
Shakira is trending worldwide after announcing a new single called “Don’t Wait Up,” which is due on July 16. The Colombian superstar hinted at an imminent release earlier in the week by refreshing her social media channels with multi-hued pink branding and sharing a mysterious pre-save link. She confirmed the single Tuesday afternoon by posting
Celine Dion did not make the trip to 74th Cannes Film Festival for the premiere of “Aline,” a French musical drama inspired by the life of the Quebecois superstar. But if she’d attended the premiere on Tuesday night in the South of France, it’s hard to know if she’d be flattered or horrified. The most
The TV Academy music branch is clearly not impressed by big names. None of the superstars who entered the 2020-21 Emmy competition in the music categories — including H.E.R., Beyoncé, Bruce Springsteen, Sara Bareilles, Dolly Parton and Cher — were rewarded Wednesday when the 73rd annual Emmy Award nominations were announced. Rather, the majority of
Before her album is released on Aug. 27, Halsey will bring “If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power” the film to theaters on Aug. 3. The 26-year-old artist, known for her visuals, is taking her first dive into film with the IMAX presentation. Collaborating with director Colin Tilley, who she previously worked with on
As Britney Spears’ legal battle ravages on, the buzzy television documentary surrounding the pop star’s conservatorship and the #FreeBritney movement has been nominated for two Emmys. “Framing Britney Spears,” which was produced by the New York Times for FX and Hulu, has been nominated for outstanding documentary or nonfiction special and picture editing for a
It’s been nearly 12 years since Oasis last played live, but that hasn’t stopped the beloved U.K. band from burnishing its legacy with such projects as the 2016 documentary “Oasis: Supersonic.” That film began and ended with Oasis’ career-defining, box office record-breaking 1996 U.K. concerts in front of more than 250,000 people at Knebworth, which
Jordin Sparks will star in the all-new original Hallmark Channel movie, “A Christmas Treasure,” alongside Michael Xavier. The film, premiering as part of the network’s “Countdown to Christmas” programming event, follows writer Lou (Sparks) after she opens a 100-year-old time capsule and finds her grandfather’s journal, causing her to question whether she should move to