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
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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
The last time I interviewed Cher was at her Malibu mega-mansion, and before the photo shoot, I committed a cardinal sin: I accidentally knocked over the wig she planned to wear. It toppled over and hit the kitchen floor with a thud as Cher’s glam squad looked on, horrified. Fortunately, I was assured that Cher
Indie singer Lauv dropped a new single and video on Thursday featuring artist and hit songwriter Julia Michael called “There’s No Way.” The pair are set to perform the single on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” on Oct. 1. [embedded content] Michaels said on writing the song, “Writing with Ari [Leff, Lauv’s real name]
September 27, 2018 7:55AM PT “I tried to fuse both of our worlds together and bring us both to a place we wouldn’t have gone to by ourselves,” Zedd says. Variety‘s Young Hollywood cover star Shawn Mendes has teamed up with Grammy-winning artist/producer/DJ Zedd on a new remix his latest single “Lost In Japan.” The
Island Records today announced LaTrice Burnette has been appointed Executive Vice President and General Manager, joining the label’s senior management team. Burnette, who will be based in New York, will work across the label’s artist roster and report directly to Island president Darcus Beese. “Success isn’t always about the roster, it’s also about the staff,”
For the better part of the past decade, Sin City’s rallying cry has been “what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas,” but that has gone out the window — along with the notion of music as a loss leader in a town built on gambling. Since Caesars Palace launched the Colosseum in 2003 for Celine
Of all the stars — including Stevie Wonder, Jennifer Hudson, and John Legend — who turned out to honor Quincy Jones at L.A.’s Microsoft Theater on Tuesday night, at least one had never met him before. “You’re a legend and I love you,” gushed Meghan Trainor upon meeting her idol on the red carpet before
Offerings at casinos continue to reach new heights as they invest in infrastructure and top-tier talent. Variety’s inaugural Casino Entertainment Impact List looks at which gambling institutions are truly at the top of their game. CASINOS Agua Caliente Casino Resort SpaRancho Mirage, Calif. Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians; the Show at Agua Caliente (capacity:
September 26, 2018 3:12PM PT The actor appeared with the bluegrass band in a 2009 movie and had recently filmed a video testimonial for Prine. Bill Murray has already been the unofficial president of the John Prine fan club. He’s also been a buddy of the bluegrass-based SteelDrivers since they appeared together in a movie
September 26, 2018 12:14PM PT The tune is the title track from her first album in eight years, due Oct. 26. Months after she played a snippet of the song at her Red Bull Music Academy talk — and eight years since the release of her last studio album — pop savant Robyn has finally
September 26, 2018 11:20AM PT Look out Saskatoon! The real “Rocket Man” is coming … Unstoppable showman Elton John has added 25 more dates to his “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” tour, taking him nearly to the end of 2019. He’s added multiple dates in Las Vegas, Philadelphia and several Canadian cities, among other stops (the
September 26, 2018 10:05AM PT Cardi B will make her first televised awards show performance since the birth of her child when she takes the stage at the 2018 American Music Awards. She will be joined by Latin artists Bad Bunny and J Balvin to sing her latest hit, “I Like It.” As previously announced, Benny Blanco,
September 26, 2018 6:18AM PT Childish Gambino has postponed at least one date on his “This Is America” North American tour and possibly more, according to a tweet from his creative team. A rep for tour promoter Live Nation confirmed to Variety that the Sept. 26 Los Angeles Forum date is postponed to an unspecified
Garrett Borns, known as indie rock artist BØRNS, is denying allegations of sexual misconduct, manipulation and harassment made by multiple young female fans. In tweets beginning Sept. 21, the women described meeting Borns at concerts — some when they were teenagers — which led to years-long conversations via Instagram and Snapchat messages that, according to the
September 25, 2018 5:15PM PT The filing alleges improper withholding of international streaming royalties. The estate of 1950s teen idol Rick Nelson hit Sony Music Entertainment with a class action lawsuit on Tuesday, alleging that it improperly withholds a portion of artists’ royalties from international streaming revenue. Rick Nelson LLC filed the complaint in U.S.
September 25, 2018 3:40PM PT The move is confirmed in a memo sent by Sony Corp. CEO Kenichiro Yoshida. In one of those “everybody’s saying it but it’s not quite officially official yet” situations, when news gradually broke last week that Warner/Chappell Music Publishing chief Jon Platt was leaving that company to take over for
A year ago, Scandinavian pop singer Anna Lotterud, frontwoman of duo Anna of the North, was on her way to quietly becoming Norway’s answer to Bebe Rexha, appearing on buzzy tracks with Frank Ocean, G-Eazy and Tyler, the Creator while carving out her own name with debut album “Lovers,” released last September via Honeymoon/+1 Records.
September 25, 2018 1:14PM PT Mariah Carey will perform at the 2018 American Music Awards on Oct. 9, the ceremony announced on Tuesday. Producer and songwriter Benny Blanco is also set to perform in a collaboration with Halsey and Khalid. They join previously announced performers Carried Underwood and Post Malone featuring Ty Dolla $ign. The
Earlier this month, the legal battle between Ozzy Osbourne and AEG officially ended when the singer’s attorney agreed to drop a lawsuit against the live-entertainment giant stemming from its block-booking policy, which the company recently discontinued. The policy required artists playing the London’s O2 Arena to also perform at Staples Center in Los Angeles, both of which
September 25, 2018 10:00AM PT Rapper Lil Yachty has been cast in the lead role of the MTV film “How High 2,” Variety has learned exclusively. The film began production in Atlanta today. It is a follow up to the 2001 stoner comedy “How High” starring Method Man and Redman. It will premiere on MTV in 2019.
September 25, 2018 9:51AM PT The New Jersey native handles publicity for Harry Styles, PRETTYMUCH, Grace Vanderwaal, among other label acts. Mike Navarra has been promoted to Vice President of Publicity at Columbia Records. The public relations strategist has overseen campaigns for such acts as One Direction, Harry Styles, Grace Vanderwaal, PRETTYMUCH and Russ, among
U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) sent a letter to Michael Rapino, CEO of Ticketmaster parent company Live Nation, about the allegations made in a CBC/Toronto Star report last week, which claims the company’s proprietary program, TradeDesk, to allow ticket scalpers to access a web-based inventory of Ticketmaster’s ticket supply in order to
A month after his exit from Columbia Records, Joel Klaiman has a new job at Hitco Entertainment, the label founded by L.A. Reid and Charles Goldstuck that’s home to Outkast’s Big Boi, Fifth Harmony’s Dinah Jane and newcomer rappers SAINt JHN and Yella Beezy. Klaiman joins the Los Angeles-based company as President. He will be