UPDATED: Although a falling security fence received the initial blame, a different culprit has been officially identified as the source of the startling sound that created panic at Saturday’s seventh annual Global Citizen Festival in Central Park. The event nearly turned into a catastrophe when attendees, thinking that gunshots were fired at 7:35 p.m., stampeded away
Music
September 30, 2018 8:55AM PT Otis Rush, a legendary Chicago blues guitarist whose work influenced the likes of Carlos Santana and Eric Clapton, has died. He was 84. Rush’s manager Rick Bates confirmed his death to the Associated Press. He said it was as a result of complications from a 2003 stroke. Rush, who began
One of America’s most iconic bands is paying a visit to Cuba this spring for a special music and art “cultural exchange.” Blondie unveiled details this week for Blondie in Havana, a historic, four-day event set for March 14 to March 18 in Havana. The trip will feature two concerts from the band, along with performances
UPDATED: Kanye West remained onstage after his performance on “Saturday Night Live” tonight and gave a politically themed speech to the audience after the broadcast ended. In reports to Variety and clips captured on social media, he was at times confrontational as he discussed his support for President Trump, his pledge to run for president in
Mariah Carey may be known best for her five-octave voice, but the “Elusive Chanteuse” also knows her way around a clever lyric. Carey, who was a co-writer on 17 of her 18 Billboard #1 hits, namechecks a Napa winery in her latest single, and the inspiration may have been decades in the making. The owners
As far as rock’s elder statesmen goes, Marty Balin (pictured above, at left), who died Sept. 27 at age 76, was one of its rarest birds. While helping to create the freewheeling San Francisco psychedelic scene and sound that gave rise to his Jefferson Airplane, he possessed a richly fluid and romantic tenor unusual for rock’s
The first time I ever saw Beck in concert, before “Mellow Gold” made him a star, at a small, long-defunct club on a dodgy section of Pico Blvd., he wore a Stormtrooper helmet for the better part of his performance. He’s come a long way, baby, as they say. Little would anyone watching him in
Giles Martin, son of Beatles producer George Martin, previewed his 50th anniversary remix of “The Beatles,” the two-LP opus better known as the White Album, at an invitational event at Capitol Records’ Studio A in Hollywood on Friday. Unlike last year’s private playback of the younger Martin’s “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” remix, in
Marty Balin, a co-founder of Jefferson Airplane and a member of its later incarnation Jefferson Starship, whose high and soulful voice defined many of both groups’ songs, died Thursday, his rep confirmed. He was 76; the cause of death was not announced. His wife, Susan Joy Balin, was “by his side,” according to the announcement.
September 28, 2018 3:41PM PT The songwriter’s catalog includes hundreds of songs with Uncle Tupelo, Wilco and the “Mermaid Avenue” series, among other works. Jeff Tweedy has extended his global publishing administration deal with BMG. Originally signing with Bug Music in 2004, which was acquired by BMG in 2011, Tweedy in 2012 expanded his agreement
September 28, 2018 3:08PM PT A one-minute moment of silence will be observed by country radio stations around the nation Monday in memory of the victims of the mass shooting at the Route 91 Festival in Las Vegas one year ago. Others participating in the memorial include all stations across all formats thorough the state
September 28, 2018 2:10PM PT It’s likely the cancelation is due to the rapper’s announcement that he’s going to jail for “a couple of months.” Lil Pump’s fall tour dates have been canceled, according to Live Nation. The 15-date tour was scheduled to begin tonight in Denver and cross the country before concluding in Los
An appeals court on Friday vacated the jury verdict in the “Stairway to Heaven” copyright infringement case and ordered a new trial, finding that the district court judge gave faulty jury instructions. The ruling reopens the battle over whether Led Zeppelin borrowed from the 1968 song “Taurus” when it composed the classic rock anthem that
September 28, 2018 11:01AM PT Show boss Lorne Michaels said so, but a source close to the show suggests otherwise. In a recent interview with “Saturday Night Live” boss Lorne Michaels, he said that Kanye West was not the first choice as the musical guest on this weekend’s season premiere: Michaels says it was Ariana
September 28, 2018 10:09AM PT Grammy Award-winning EDM artist Skrillex and internationally renowned singer/songwriter Hikaru Utada are creating the opening theme song to “Kingdom Hearts III,” publisher Square Enix announced on Thursday. Skrillex is apparently a long-time fan of the role-playing game series, which mashes up Square Enix and Disney characters and locales. Originally, he
Def Jam Recordings will issue the soundtrack for “The Hate U Give” on Oct. 12, featuring new songs by the rising stars Arlissa and Bobby Sessions (pictured above). The 20th Century-Fox film – which takes its title from Tupac Shakur’s acronym THUG LIFE, and deals with highly charged racial issues – opens a week later,
U.K.-based management firm the James Grant Group has been majority-acquired by private equity firm Trilantic Europe and rebranded as YM&U. Trilantic becomes the majority shareholder in YM&U in the wake of the deal, with the remainder held by management and employees. Music Business Worldwide estimated the purchase price at more than $100 million; reps for
It’s impossible to separate Lil Wayne’s long-delayed “Tha Carter V” from the tortured story behind it: The seemingly endless legal battle with Birdman, his mentor and Cash Money’s label boss (a family feud which the rapper finally won in June); the five years of release dates missed and rescheduled; even the chart race with Kanye
Josh Hutcherson’s first time directing a music video required filming two driving sequences, three locations and three underwater scenes in just two and a half days. “Directing is definitely something that I am very locked into,” the “Hunger Games” star tells Variety. “Acting is something that I love and something that I don’t want to stop
September 28, 2018 7:55AM PT Previously announced performers include Cardi B, Mariah Carey, Carrie Underwood and more. Dua Lipa, Ciara and Missy Elliott have been added to the American Music Awards lineup, Dick Clark Productions and ABC announced today. Dua Lipa will perform two songs from the her self-titled 2017 debut album, including the hit
It was ten years ago that producer Josh Abraham approached songwriters and longtime friends Scott Cutler and Anne Preven with a business proposition. The two members of mid-‘90s L.A. alternative group Ednaswap were known for writing “Torn” — which Natalie Imbruglia turned into a worldwide hit — while Abraham also had worked in the studio
For anyone feeling like the time-honored art of stunt casting has gotten a little bit lost lately, what a breath of fresh-enough air it was to witness Cher’s small and yet somehow Godzilla-size cameo in the closing reel of “Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again.” Her Grandma has so little to do with the plot
Aretha Franklin will be honored with a special tribute at the 2018 American Music Awards, hosted by Tracee Ellis Ross and broadcasting live on ABC from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Oct. 9 at 8 p.m. ET. Soul and gospel stars Gladys Knight, Ledisi, Mary Mary, Donnie McClurkin and CeCe Winans will headline
When Kanye West amps up the controversy, it usually means he’s got an album on the way, and today he both confirmed that “Yandhi” will be arriving Saturday night — and made a number of controversial statements in a visit to the offices of The Fader magazine. West had sort-of announced last week that he’s
September 27, 2018 1:23PM PT Awkwafina and Seth Meyers will each host an upcoming episode of “Saturday Night Live.” “Crazy Rich Asians” and “Ocean’s 8” star Awkwafina will host the Oct. 6 show, marking her first appearance on the NBC sketch comedy series. She will be joined by musical guest Travis Scott, also appearing on
September 27, 2018 1:01PM PT “No settlement or money changed hands,” the rapper’s attorney says. The sexual assault lawsuit against Nelly has been dropped, the rapper’s lawyer confirmed Thursday. “Both parties agreed to drop the lawsuit. No settlement or money changed hands,” said attorney Scott Rosenblum in a statement to Variety. The announcement comes nine months
“It’s more honest that way,” says Nile Rodgers of his about-to-drop album “It’s About Time,” under the banner Nile Rodgers & Chic. It’s his first record in 16 years and, while driving through London in a cab on his 66th birthday, the recently-anointed Rock and Roll Hall of Fame producer, songwriter and collaborator to David Bowie
September 27, 2018 11:40AM PT Disney darling turned international pop star Demi Lovato, currently receiving treatment in an upscale Arizona rehab facility, has slashed the asking price of the Los Angeles residence where she overdosed in late July (2018) from $9.45 million to $8.995 million. The 26-year-old 13-time Teen Choice Award winner and 2017 Grammy
Retail cannabis sales in 2017 reached $10 billion. By 2021, that amount is expected to hit $24 billion. Meanwhile, adult use is now legal in nine states while 30 states have established medical weed programs. And polls find more than 60% of the U.S. population supports legalization. However, there’s an even more significant indicator of
September 27, 2018 9:30AM PT The VH1 show premieres on Nov. 26. When “Love & Hip Hop: New York” returns to VH1 on Nov. 26, it will be with two alumni from the top-rated cable unscripted franchise: Joe Budden and Cyn Santana. The two have been away from the show for four years, during which