There’s a famous “Peanuts” cartoon panel, long circulated as a meme among music nerds, in which the Schroeder character, bearing armloads of LP, explains to Lucy, “Buying records cheers me up… Whenever I feel low, I buy some new records.” We knew just how Schroeder felt in 2020 — even if “…I create a new
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One of the most telling parts of Ken Burns’ sprawling 2019 PBS documentary “Country Music” was the section devoted to Charley Pride, who was billed as country music’s first Black superstar. In the segment, Pride, who died on December 12 of COVID-19 complications at age 86, tells a story that perfectly illustrates what it was
It didn’t take long after news broke Saturday that legendary country musician Charley Pride died of complications from COVID-19 for musicians and industry professionals to speculate whether he contracted the virus at the Country Music Association Awards (CMAs), which took place on Nov. 11 in person though socially distant. Among those to posit such a
Verzuz has officially postponed tonight’s battle between Ashanti and Keyshia Cole after Ashanti tested positive for COVID-19. On Saturday night, Ashanti shared on Instagram that she had tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of the event. “Hey y’all I can’t believe I’m saying this but I tested positive for COVID-19,” the singer wrote. “I’m ok and
After news broke Saturday that legendary country musician Charley Pride died of complications from COVID-19, musicians and industry professionals took to social media to honor his career and mourn his death. Maren Morris commented on the fact that Pride had recently performed at the Country Music Association Awards on Nov. 11. “I don’t want to
Vocalist Charley Pride, the first modern Black superstar of country music, has died. He was 86. Public relations firm 2911 Media confirmed that Pride died on Dec. 12 in Dallas, Texas from complications related to COVID-19. Pride had just been seen by millions on live TV in November as he received a lifetime achievement award
One of the things that made the Beatles, when they first arrived, seem magical was the uncanny way the look and sound of all four of them matched up. For all their iconic differences, they had variations on the same thick billowy dark hair, gleaming lemon-shaped smile, and Liverpool singsong and mocking twinkle. They seemed
Ronee Blakley still remains better known to many as an actor than a singer-songwriter, thanks to screen appearances like her Oscar-nominated turn in “Nashville” and later appearance in “A Nightmare on Elm Street.” But she was releasing major-label albums in the early ’70s before a plum Robert Altman part landed her on the cover of
Peermusic’s Ralph Peer II is handing the reins of the independent music publishing company he’s run for 37 years to his daughter and deputy, Mary Megan Peer. She’ll assume the role of CEO starting in Jan. 2021. The elder Peer will transition to executive chair. The company was founded by Ralph S. Peer in 1928
Despite his role as one of the most zealously forensic birthers of emo-rap and its tales of troubled mental health, there has always some disconnect between what Kid Cudi was saying and how he was saying it… or trying to say it all at once. That murky, melancholic jumble finally comes into greater bittersweet focus
Ryan Murphy’s adaptation of “The Prom” is now streaming on Netflix, bringing the songs of Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin to the screen in all their glittered glory. Producer Adam Anders, whose work with Murphy traces back to “Glee,” was tasked with recording the soundtrack. He spoke to Variety about adding a creative stamp to an
Benicio Del Toro has joined the feature film “Reptile” as star and executive producer, Variety has learned exclusively. The Black Label Media project will also mark the feature directorial debut of Grant Singer, the prolific music video director whose collaborators include The Weeknd and Taylor Swift. Del Toro will play Nichols, a hardened New England
As the nation and the globe wake up each morning asking, “Is 2020 over yet?,” the search for the next great new song is one thing that makes getting out of bed a worthy endeavor. We’ve already covered the Taylor Swift, Avalanches, Kid Cudi and Chris Cornell albums as well as the 20-years-late Britney Spears-Backstreet
Harry Shearer is spending Christmas with the devil, as he does every year, when the Spinal Tap holiday chestnut comes up as part of the annual “Christmas Without Tears” live shows he and his wife, singer-songwriter Judith Owen, do for charity. This year, the event is going virtual, with an array of new guests such
Artists Royce da 5’9”, Busta Rhymes, Jon Batiste and Funkmaster Flex are among the names of performers who have participated in roving pop-up shows in front of polling centers around the country as part of nonpartisan pop-up concert series Joy to the Polls. Rick Ross, Moneybagg Yo, Kap G, DJ Infamous and a host of
Ready to party like it’s 1999? Britney Spears and the Backstreet Boys have dropped a new song called “Matches” that’s part of the deluxe reissue of Spears’ 2016 album, “Glory.” Listen to the song below. “‘Matches’ featuring my friends @backstreetboys is out now !!!!,” Spears tweeted after the song dropped on Friday morning. “I’m so
Composer Tom Holkenborg (“Mad Max: Fury Road”), also known as Junkie XL, is scoring the upcoming Universal spy thriller “The 355,” Variety has learned. Directed by Simon Kinberg (“Dark Phoenix”), the film features a powerhouse cast of women including Jessica Chastain, Lupita Nyong’o, Penelope Cruz, Diane Kruger and Bingbing Fan. This marks Holkenborg’s first time
UPDATE: Based on information provided by Pollstar, a previous version of this article stated that the North American concert industry lost more than $30 billion in 2020 — Pollstar later corrected that statistic to be the global concert industry. The global live events industry lost more than $30 billion in 2020 due to the global
The virtual version of Z100’s annual Jingle Ball may been lacking for snow but had plenty of star power. Performing from remote locations, the event featured performances by Billie Eilish, Doja Cat, Dua Lipa, Harry Styles, Lewis Capaldi, Sam Smith, Shawn Mendes and The Weeknd which were broadcast across more than 95 iHeartMedia CHR radio
Taylor Swift appears to be waging war over the serial resale of her old master recordings on two fronts. She recently confirmed that she is already underway in the process of re-recording the six albums she made for the Big Machine label, in order to steer her fans (and sync licensing execs) toward the coming
Taylor Swift’s new album isn’t the only surprise release of the week: Chris Cornell’s estate has dropped a full album of covers performed by the late Soundgarden frontman called “No One Sings Like You Anymore,” which the announcement describes as Cornell’s “handpicked collection of 10 cover songs, which he personally selected and sequenced to celebrate
“I never believe an Avalanches album is coming until I actually see it,” a friend said when discussing the group’s third album in 20 years — and it’s hard to blame her. In 2000, the Australian trio released its debut album, “Since I Lost You,” arguably the greatest masterpiece of sampling art since the Beastie
Variety has announced additional programming for its virtual FYC Festival, running from Dec. 15 to Dec. 17. Lee Isaac Chung, director of A24’s “Minari,” will take part in a conversation with Academy Award winner Bong Joon Ho about the making of the film. A Music for Screens panel exploring the creation of the Bond song
In what is surely an unprecedented moment for the Grammy Awards Best Children’s Album category, three of the five 2021 nominees are asking the Recording Academy to rescind their nominations. “We are deeply grateful to the Recording Academy and its voting members for the honor we’ve received, but we can’t in good conscience benefit from a
Veteran A&R exec Rob Stevenson is joining 300 Entertainment as a partner, the company announced Thursday. The move sees Stevenson, who was most recently executive VP of A&R at Universal’s Republic Records, reuniting with 300 co-founder and CEO Kevin Liles, with whom he worked for five years at Island Def Jam. According to the announcement,
Lebanese-Canadian Massari and Iraqi-Canadian Ali Gatie teamed up for a new song and video, “I See The Dream (Badna Salam),” promoting a global message of peace. The pair debuted the pop release with a pre-recorded acoustic version, as part of the The United Nations World Food Programme’s pre-show for the People’s Prize Celebration during which
New Grammy Awards executive producer Ben Winston says he is “looking to do something quite exciting with independent venues” either in or around the 2021 show, according to a comment in an interview with Billboard. Responding to a question about what might be new with the 2021 show, Winston responds, “I’m so struck by the
On United Nations Human Rights Day (December 10), singer-songwriter-activist John Legend has been named recipient of the High Note Global Prize for social justice, presented by United Nations Human Rights, Partner of the High Note Global Initiative, and David Clark Cause, the organizations announced. The annual High Note Global Prize honors and celebrates recording artists
Ingrooves Music Group has named industry veteran Liz Morentin as its head of marketing and communications. In this newly created role, Morentin will be in charge of brand marketing and communications for the independent music marketing services and distribution company, overseeing internal, external and B2B communications. “We have been looking for an executive with the
“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” which bows on Netflix on Dec. 18, features Oscar-winning actress Viola Davis as the legendary blues singer and Chadwick Boseman in his final on-screen performance. “Ma was really successful and super famous, and preceded Bessie Smith,” says composer Branford Marsalis, who delivered the film’s score and music. “Without Ma Rainey, there