Music

When my debut album, “Periphery,” nabbed a 2021 Grammy nomination, messages began pouring in from back home, first from friends and family, and then from fans across social media. “You are our Indian pride,” posted one YouTuber. “Hope you’ll make India proud,” said another. A third called it, “a very proud moment for Indians.” I

Clive Davis has announced the second part of his virtual “Pre-Grammy Gala,” delayed from its original date of the night before the awards, with music veterans like Elton John, Joni Mitchell and Paul Simon set to join the invitation-only festivities, along with current hitmakers like DaBaby and H.E.R. The party will now take place Saturday,

Even if you haven’t heard of White Dave before, chances are you’ve listened to one of his songs. The Bay Area-born rapper and producer has earned track placements in the critically-acclaimed films “Black Panther” and “Creed,” and is featured in the official “Inspired Album” for “Judas and the Black Messiah,” which is up for best

What do you get when you cross a state of grace with an upraised middle finger? This is not a riddle: You get “Fearless (Taylor’s Version).” There are a ridiculous number of ways to read Taylor Swift’s new do-over of her 2008 landmark. Does remaking the mostly sweet album she released at 18 mark her

Every week it seems another celebrity announces the launch of a new cannabis brand. What started with Snoop Dogg and Willie Nelson in 2015 has gone mainstream; Magic Johnson and Jane Fonda are CBD brand ambassadors now. With the continuing passage of legalization in states across the nation, more such brands will hit the market.

Ted Nugent, who once referred to COVID-19 as “not a real pandemic,” revealed that he was in immense pain after contracting the virus. While recording a Facebook live video at his Michigan ranch, the “Cat Scratch Fever” singer revealed that he tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday. “I have had flu symptoms for the last

Jim Steinman, the composer, lyricist and record producer who worked with artists like Meat Loaf, Celine Dion, Bonnie Tyler and more, died Monday, the Connecticut state medical examiner confirmed to Variety. He was 73. Steinman’s work appeared in a multitude of genres, such as adult contemporary, rock, dance and pop, in addition to musical theater

B-Real (Louis Mario Freese), a founder of the pioneering Los Angeles hip-hop outfit Cypress Hill and a member of the supergroup Prophets of Rage (with Public Enemy’s Chuck D and Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello), has been a prominent cannabis activist and entrepreneur for some time. But every April 20th, he takes stock of

Viola Davis transforms into the Mother of the Blues for her award-winning role in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” — and while she delivers a powerhouse performance, former Ikette and soul singer Maxayn Lewis is the unsung hero of the film. It’s her voice that catapults Davis into a new realm. While it is Davis’ voice

Kacey Musgraves’ next album, due out later this year, will be jointly released via Interscope Records and UMG Nashville. The partnership will find the labels collaborating on marketing, radio promotion and international marketing for the six-time Grammy winner’s new music. Musgraves’ most recent album, “Golden Hour,” released in 2018 via MCA Nashville, won four Grammy

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. We’re grateful for 4/20. And what better way to celebrate the day of unwinding and enjoying the choice

After an 11-year, six-album run with the Matador label, singer-songwriter Kurt Vile has signed with Verve Records, the company announced Tuesday. Vile is said to be preparing an album for the label that will arrive in 2022. “I’ve been a massive fan of Kurt’s for years and feel beyond lucky to have him join the

Immediately making good on its promise to sign superstar estates, WME’s Legends Group has brokered a deal to represent the assets of late rapper the Notorious B.I.G. Born Christoper Wallace, the Brooklyn-raised icon’s enduring brand and all subsequent transactions around it will flow through the agency, which launched the speciality unit in March under Phil

In connection with an authoritative new report from Midia Research showing how songwriters are being dramatically short-changed by the streaming economy, ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus says that “songwriters are last in line for streaming royalties.” In an op-ed that recently appeared in the U.K. paper The Guardian, Ulvaeus — pictured above left, who cowrote nearly every

Five members of the United States House of Representatives have signed a letter urging President Joe Biden to launch an investigation into the Live Nation–Ticketmaster merger, which they call a “monopoly.” Bill Pascrell Jr. (D-NJ-09), Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ-06), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY-10), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09) and David Cicilline (D-RI-01) sent the letter on Monday to

K-Pop superstars BTS have partnered with McDonald’s to offer the band’s favorite order starting May 26. The BTS Meal, announced using french fries to emulate the group’s iconic logo, includes a 10-piece Chicken McNuggets, medium fries and medium Coke, complete with Sweet Chili and Cajun dipping sauces inspired by popular McDonald’s South Korea recipes, available

After several previous notable singles, Polo G’s “Rapstar” is looking like his first true phenomenon, becoming his first No. 1 single with the highest streaming numbers for any song by a male artist out of the box so far in 2021. The song debuted atop the Rolling Stone songs chart and bounced Lil Nax X’s

Universal Music Publishing Group has signed Ariana Grande/ Justin Bieber/ Blackpink collaborator Tommy Brown to an exclusive global publishing deal. Brown worked with Ariana Grande on all six of her studio albums, including executive producing the most recent album “Positions,” as well as co-producing “Holy” by Bieber, “Ice Cream” by Blackpink, “Make Believe” by Juice WLRD

Influence Media announced Monday it has acquired the copyrights for portions of the songwriting catalog of writer Ali Tamposi, including her part of such hits as “Senorita” by Camila Cabello and Shawn Mendes and songs by BTS, Justin Bieber and others.

While the feat is obviously affected by the pandemic, Bad Bunny’s “El Último Tour del Mundo 2022” has become the fastest-selling tour on Ticketmaster since 2018. According to Ticketmaster and Cardenas Marketing Network (CMN), Bad Bunny’s pre-sale date on April 15 now ranks as the top sales date for any tour on Ticketmaster since 2018,

The falling rate of COVID-19 infections and rising rate of vaccination has prompted California state officials to allow concerts and other indoor events to be held at 75% of capacity in some counties so long as all attendees are vaccinated or have tested negative for the virus. The boost to indoor event capacity levels came

Ever since the music industry began its streaming-fueled recovery around five years ago, the songwriting and publishing communities have been protesting not only the uneven payment structure of streaming — which sees recorded-music rights holders being paid three times what publishing is paid — but also the imbalanced power and payment structures of the music industry.

Facebook is jumping on the audio entertainment and messaging bandwagon, outlining a road map of features — including integrating Spotify’s music and podcast player — it’s planning to bring to the Facebook service. The social media giant said it will add the ability to listen to podcasts directly on the podcast app in the next

Scottish synthpop trio Chvrches have dropped their first song since 2019, “He Said She Said.” Of the song, lead singer Lauren Mayberry says, “Like everyone, I’ve had a lot of time to think and reflect over the past year; to examine experiences I had previously glossed over or deeply buried. I feel like I have

Ever wondered how you could get your hands on Janet Jackson’s signature black jacket-hat-and-gloves ensemble from the “Rhythm Nation” tour? Or her outfits from the “That’s the Way Love Goes” and “Alright” videos? Her gold and platinum records? Her wedding dress? Her 1956 Chevy pickup truck? Her high school Spanish homework? If so, you’re in

Songwriters of North America (SONA) will launch its first ever SONA Warrior Awards on May 23, with legendary songwriter Paul Williams as the inaugural honoree. The virtual event will feature tributes and performances dedicated to Williams. It will also offer a look into SONA’s rise over the past six years from a group of friends to

Independent music venues and theaters in the U.S. have been mostly shuttered for 13 months now — and although the #SaveOurStages act was signed into law on Dec. 27, promising $16 billion in relief to those businesses, when the website through which venues could apply for relief finally opened on April 8, it immediately crashed. After a week

Luke Bryan won the top prize, entertainer of the year, at Sunday’s Academy of Country Music Awards, accepting the honor via remote from Los Angeles, where he had just made a surprise return to his “American Idol” hosting duties after recovering from COVID-19. Bryan had publicly announced only six days ago that he was diagnosed

Luke Bryan will return to “American Idol” for a live broadcast tonight, sources tell Variety, after being sidelined from last week’s first live episode of the season — and also tonight’s Academy of Country Music Awards — as a result of contracting COVID-19. Shortly after this story was first published, Bryan tweeted (and the “Idol” account

The Dave Grohl-directed series about musicians and their mothers has been given a start date, with a May 16 premiere for a Paramount Plus show that will feature artists from Geddy Lee to Miranda Lambert interacting with their moms. Grohl himself will be one of the musicians showing off his mother, as Virginia Hanlon Grohl