The line between art and artifice is one that Kim Gordon has explored throughout her four-decade career, first as cofounder of Sonic Youth and more recently as a visual artist, memoirist, fashion designer, actress, and one-half of the experimental duo Body/Head. When we’re perusing a corporately designed bauble or experience, are we genuinely imagining the
Music
When Jennifer Aniston was 11, she was casually dismissed from the dinner table by a parental figure “because I ‘didn’t have anything interesting to add to the conversation.’” That belittlement has stayed with the “Friends” and “The Morning Show” star through to adulthood, prompting her to muse at Variety‘s Power of Women luncheon on the messages
October 11, 2019 6:28PM PT After being inundated with requests from fans, composer Nicholas Britell decided to remix the the original main title theme for “Succession.” Hip-hop star Pusha T has added rap vocals to the show’s instrumental theme, creating a new track titled “Puppets (Succession Remix),” released two days before the “Succession” season 2
ASCAP and the Virgil Thomson Foundation have issues their annual awards in the fields of music writing, with the honors going to such works as a prominent Rolling Stone critic’s liner notes for a boxed set by the Band, a biography of Dexter Gordon by the jazz great’s widow, and a Wall Street Journal critics’s
Chaka Khan was among the most emotional of the honorees at Variety’s Power of Women luncheon Friday, telling the assembled guests: “If I can inspire anybody to do themselves, fearlessly, I’m happy. God knows I have.” After being introduced by Niecy Nash at the star-filled event at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, Khan related a childhood
The music industry turned up en masse to honor Epic Records chairwoman and CEO Sylvia Rhone with City of Hope’s “Spirit of Life” award on behalf of her professional and philanthropic achievements. The black tie event, held at the Barker Hanger in Santa Monica, is curated by City of Hope’s Music, Film and Entertainment Industry
Mariah Carey did some playful creative math during her speech at Variety’s Power of Women luncheon presented by Lifetime on Friday, as she recounted her devotion to the charity that was being honored as part of the event, Camp Mariah. “I started this camp 25 years ago,” she said, “and if you don’t see what an accomplishment that is
Awkwafina spoke about the ability of music to change lives and inspire young people at Variety‘s Power of Women luncheon Friday at the Beverly Wilshire hotel. The “Crazy Rich Asians” and “The Farewell” star was honored at the event sponsored by Lifetime for her support of Building Beats, which provides equipment, workshops and mentoring for
There came a point, naturally for most any longtime fan, of utter and somewhat awe-inspiring incredulity during Tyler, the Creator’s concert this past Thursday night at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco. For some, it could have come the moment he appeared on stage, casually walking out in shades, a pink and red
Katy Perry, her label and her “Dark Horse” collaborators have filed an appeal of the July decision that found them liable to the tune of $2.78 million for plagiarizing elements of their 2013 hit from a 2008 Christian rap song. In documents filed Oct. 9, the defendants are asking the California courts to overturn or
ABC has given a put pilot order to a drama series inspired by Mandy Moore’s early music career, Variety has learned. Currently titled “90’s Popstar,” the project hails from writer and executive producer Amanda Lasher, with Moore set to executive produce alongside “This Is Us” showrunners Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger. Adam Londy of Aptaker
October 11, 2019 7:55AM PT Camila Cabello today dropped a second song from her forthcoming sophomore solo album “Romance,” which is due later this “very soon,” the announcement promises, calling it “one of the most anticipated albums of 2019.” Cabello spoke about the new album’s inspiration in her cover story as part of Variety’s Young
The “Charlie’s Angels” soundtrack consists entirely of female artists. And a lot of them are Ariana Grande. At least, it can be said that Grande has engaged in a friendly takeover of the album, due Nov. 1. The newly unveiled track list, which she announced on her Instagram account overnight, includes five tracks on which
Lana Del Rey reminded concert-goers why she’s become Los Angeles’ favorite transplant when she headlined the Hollywood Bowl on Thursday night, Oct. 10. It was her second time playing the famed hillside venue and the show, part of her fall Norman F–ing Rockwell tour, did not disappoint — especially in the guest department. Read on
October 11, 2019 4:16AM PT Little Mix is making a new talent show for the BBC. The group has enjoyed international success since winning Simon Cowell-fronted “The X Factor” in 2011. That show is a staple of ITV’s weekend primetime schedule, but the band is now headed to the BBC for its own series, provisionally
October 10, 2019 10:39PM PT At a campaign rally in Minneapolis on Thursday night, President Trump not only insulted the Prince Estate by playing “Purple Rain” despite a pledge last year not to do so, he also went after several major Democratic politicians, along with Bruce Springsteen, Beyonce and Jay-Z for their performances in support
The Prince Estate strongly criticized the Trump campaign for playing “Purple Rain” at a Minneapolis rally in which the president made multiple aggressive and juvenile comments about Democratic leaders, Bruce Springsteen, Beyonce and Jay-Z. In a statement posted on social media, the Estate wrote, “President Trump played Prince’s ‘Purple Rain’ tonight at a campaign event
October 10, 2019 9:03PM PT Nearly two years after his debut solo album, Harry Styles is releasing some new music. The new single, “Lights Up,” dropped Thursday night after a series of mysterious posters began popping up around London and New York with the caption “DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE?” Despite not mentioning Styles
Music industry heavyweights from Live Nation, management company Friends at Work and WME along with artists including John Legend, Steve Aoki, MARINA, Grace VanderWaal and Rick Springfield, are banding together to launch Tour Support, a new nonprofit program providing mental health support for the touring community. Tour Support lives as a new division of LightHopeLife,
Stephen Swid, a music executive who helped turn SESAC into a major contender in the world of performing rights organizations alongside BMI and ASCAP, died Sunday at 78. Swid was also famous as the “S” in SBK Entertainment, a music publishing company that he, Martin Bandier and Charles Koppelman (the “B” and “K,” respectively) formed
In today’s TV news roundup, NBC announces a concert special commemorating Dolly Parton’s 50th anniversary with the Grand Ole Opry, and Netflix reveals the premiere date of and first look at “Prank Encounters.” CASTING Fivel Stewart, Anthony Keyvan, Karin Konoval, Yaani King Mondschein, Sean Blakemore, Jennifer Spence, Megan Charpentier and Millicent Simmonds have been cast
With the recent release of City Girls’ Jatavia ‘JT’ Johnson from federal custody, the rap duo is reunited and wasting no time dropping new music. “First Day Out” by JT hit digital music services on Tuesday night, making her the latest rapper to celebrate a release — in more ways than one. JT opens the
Some superstar acts, even with record sales in the millions and multiple nominations, have never gotten a chance to make an acceptance speech at the Grammy Awards … not even on the little-watched pre-telecast portion. The list of Grammy losers is a pretty surprising one: Blake Shelton, Florida Georgia Line, the Jonas Brothers, Katy Perry,
Women supporting women was the main topic of conversation Wednesday night at the Tennessee premiere of Lifetime’s new film, “Patsy & Loretta,” held south of Nashville at the Franklin Theater. Starring Megan Hilty (“Smash”) as Patsy Cline and Jessie Mueller (Tony-nominated for “Waitress” and a winner for “Beautiful”) as Loretta Lynn — pictured above, with
The soundtrack to the highly anticipated film “Queen & Slim” will be released by Motown on Nov. 15, it was announced today. The 17-song collection features new tracks from Ms. Lauryn Hill, Megan Thee Stallion, Lil Baby, Vince Staples featuring 6lack X Mereba, Tiana Major 9 & EARTHGANG and Coast Contra featuring BJ The Chicago
It’s official: TaP Management has gone Hollywood. Granted, the U.K.-based firm co-founded by Ben Mawson (pictured above at right) and Ed Millett (pictured at left), which also includes an in-house label and publishing arm under the TaP Music umbrella, has had a Los Angeles presence — a humble abode in Venice Beach — since 2012.
Multiple snitches swear Mike Shinoda, co-founder of the two-time Grammy winning alt-rock band Linkin Park, one of the top-selling bands on the planet with more than 70 million album sales, has made a clandestine, $7.95 million off-market purchase of a brand spanking new mansion in the affluent foothills above Encino, California. The house, a forward
Dwight Yoakam, already set to be inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame this fall, has just been scheduled for another imminent Music City honor. BMI announced Thursday that the California country icon will receive the President’s Award as a centerpiece of the Nashville branch’s signature event, the BMI Country Awards, taking place in
Ben Platt never imagined he would one day star in a series like “The Politician.” “I didn’t think I could be a star of a show in general starting out. I think I was like, ‘I’ll do Broadway. I can be on stage and I can play Jimmy in “Thoroughly Modern Millie” and Nathan Detroit
“Tommy Mottola lives on the road.” If you were in or around New York City in the summer of ’76, you couldn’t help hearing that verse come out of every radio. The song was “Cherchez la Femme” by Dr. Buzzard’s Original Savannah Band, and disco was in full swing.That was the first time many people