Music News
Adele’s ‘30’ Aiming for Second Week at No. 1 In U.K.
Adele is heading for a second-straight chart double in the U.K., as her record-busting album 30 (Columbia) takes pole-position in the race to No. 1. The London singer’s fourth album leads the midweek chart, the OCC reports, ahead of Westlife’s new effort Wild Dreams (East West/Rhino), which is on track for a No. 2 debut for it would be the veteran Irish boy band’s 14th U.K. Top 10 appearance. Last week, 30 blasted to the summit of the Official U.K. Albums chart, punching through with the fastest sales for any album this year, and the highest first-week tally for a female album in that territory since Adele’s 25 in 2015. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news There’s Christmas joy in this week’s chart update. Further down the midweek tally, Take That’s...
Bill Cosby Prosecutors Urge Supreme Court to Restore Conviction
Prosecutors urged the U.S. Supreme Court to reinstate Bill Cosby’s sexual assault conviction, complaining in a petition released Monday the verdict was thrown out over a questionable agreement that the comic claimed gave him lifetime immunity. They said the Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision in June to overturn Cosby’s conviction created a dangerous precedent by giving a press release the legal weight of an immunity agreement. Explore Explore Bill Cosby See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele called the court’s decision “an indefensible rule,” predicting an onslaught of criminal appeals if it remains law. “This decision as it stands will have far-reaching negative consequences beyond Montgomery County and Penns...
Wendy Moten Recovers From Nasty Fall to Shine on ‘The Voice Top 10 Live’: Watch
The drama is building on NBC’s The Voice, as the Top 10 get down to their live work, with the threat of the axe hanging. There’s no room for error at this point of the competition, and Wendy Moten knows it. On Monday (Nov. 29), the 56-year-old Tennessee native swung for the rafters with a cover of a stone-cold classic, Dolly Parton’s “Jolene”. Moten introduced her own vocal stylings to the number, accompanied by a real pro on the acoustic guitar. And she did her chances of progressing no harm. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Wendy’s effort was a particularly special one, considering she’s recovering from a brutal fall during last week’s Top 11 elimination show, which, according to some reports, resulted in a broken right elbow and fractured lef...
Marilyn Manson’s Home Raided Amid Abuse Investigation
Authorities searched the home of rocker Marilyn Manson on Monday after allegations of physical and sexual abuse by several women. Los Angeles County sheriff’s Deputy Eva Jimenez said a search warrant was served on the home of Manson, whose legal name is Brian Hugh Warner. She would give no further details. The Sheriff’s Department said in February that its detectives had begun investigating Manson over reports of domestic violence between 2009 and 2011 in West Hollywood, where he lived at the time. Explore See latest videos, charts and news The women involved were not identified, but several women have publicly alleged this year that they were physically, sexually and emotionally abused by Manson around the time of the incidents under investigation, and some have filed lawsuits. Manson’s a...
Miley Cyrus to Co-Host ‘Miley’s New Year’s Eve Party’ With Pete Davidson
It’s official: New Year’s Eve 2021 will be a “Party in the U.S.A.” On Monday (Nov. 29), NBC announced that Miley Cyrus is set to host the network’s special to ring in 2022. Titled Miley’s New Year’s Eve Party, the telecast will be executive produced by Lorne Michaels and co-hosted by Pete Davidson. Additional celebrity guests and musical performances for the evening are expected to be announced in coming weeks. Explore See latest videos, charts and news “In what is sure to be an exciting and fun evening, we are looking forward to partnering with Lorne Michaels and ringing in 2022 with a night of incredible entertainment, led by Miley and Pete,” said NBCUniversal executive vice president of live events, specials and E! News Jen Neal said in a statement. Miley’s New Year’s Eve Party will be ...
Adele Bags U.K. Charts Double as ‘30’ Notches Huge Debut
Adele dominates the U.K.’s main charts, as 30 (Columbia) powers to No. 1 on the albums survey and its lead track, “Easy On Me,” retains the singles title. 30 roars to the top with 261,000 chart sales, for the biggest opening week of 2021 so far, outpacing ABBA’s Voyage (204,000), the OCC reports. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news That’s the biggest debut for an LP since Ed Sheeran’s Divide in 2017, and the biggest start for a female solo album since Adele’s last album, 25, in 2015. Of that full-week tally, two-thirds of 30’s combined sales are physical units, including 16,700 copies sold on vinyl, a market-leading result. Adele’s latest effort is also the most-streamed album, with 55.7 million plays across its 12 tracks. With her latest crown, Ad...
Jussie Smollett Trial: Brothers to Take Center Stage
Two brothers stand at the center of the case that prosecutors will lay before jurors when the trial of Jussie Smollett begins this week. The former “Empire” actor contends he was the victim of a racist and homophobic assault in downtown Chicago on a frigid night in January 2019. The siblings, who worked with him on the TV show, say he paid them $3,500 to pose as his attackers. Smollett is accused of lying to police about the alleged attack and has been charged with felony disorderly conduct. A class 4 felony, the crime carries a sentence of up to three years in prison but experts have said it is more likely that if Smollett is convicted he would be placed on probation and perhaps ordered to perform community service. Explore See latest videos, charts and news Whether the Black and openly g...
Adele’s ‘Easy On Me’ on Track For Another U.K. Chart Title
Adele currently rules both U.K. charts, with 30 and its lead single “Easy On Me.” Don’t expect the pop superstar to give up her throne without a fight. Based on early streaming and sales data, “Easy On Me” is on track for a seventh consecutive week at No. 1, further extending its lead as Adele’s longest reigning single. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news “Easy On Me” leads the First Look update, which ranks singles based on 48 hours of music consumption across the U.K. Its nearest competition is another 30 release, “I Drink Wine,” which is set to lift two places to a new peak of No. 2. Meanwhile, British rapper ArrDee is on the rise with ”Flowers (Say My Name),” which is up 7-3 and is the only track that currently stands in the way of an Adele tri...
Charli XCX Had a Spectacular Wardrobe Malfunction While Presenting at the ARIA Awards: Watch
The bigger the stage, the more spectacular the wardrobe malfunction. Thanks to the magic of pre-records, Charli XCX dodged her very own blooper when she presented at the 2021 ARIA Awards. The British singer and producer beamed into last Wednesday’s virtual ceremony in Sydney to hand out the trophy for best pop release, collected by The Kid Laroi for his hit “Stay” with Justin Bieber. For those who watched the stream, there was nothing out of the ordinary. But proving she’s a good sport, Charli (real name Charlotte Aitchison) shared the raw footage on her socials. Explore Explore Charli XCX See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news In the extended version, Charli delivers her piece to camera before her dress drops on the left to reveal much more than she anticipa...
Kanye West (Ye)’s Choir Covers Adele’s ‘Easy on Me’ at Sunday Service Dedicated to Virgil Abloh
A choir assembled for a moving rendition of Adele‘s “Easy on Me” at Kanye West‘s latest Sunday Service, which was dedicated to Virgil Abloh, his longtime creative director who died on Sunday (Nov. 28). Ye’s Sunday Service choir sang new lyrics set to “Easy on Me,” the chart-topping lead ballad from Adele’s album 30. The performance was live streamed briefly at dondalive.com Sunday afternoon, shortly after Ye shared the link on his Instagram Story. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news In a reworked first verse, they sang: “I know your love flows like a river/ And I could wash myself in it forever/ I know there is hope in these waters/ But I can’t bring myself to swim/ When I am drowning in my sin.” “Go easy on me, father,” Ye’s choir harmonized on th...
Lady Gaga & Tony Bennett’s ‘MTV Unplugged’ Gets a Premiere Date: Watch the First Promo
Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett are coming to MTV Unplugged on Dec. 16, MTV announced on Sunday (Nov. 28) — and you can watch the first promo below. The new episode, which marks the return of the MTV Unplugged franchise, was filmed earlier this year in New York. The duo performed songs from their Billboard 200 top 10 album Love for Sale, which just earned Gaga and Bennett six 2022 Grammy nominations on Tuesday, including for album of the year. The project — which topped Billboard‘s Traditional Jazz Albums and overall Jazz Albums charts after its September debut — follows their first joint project, 2014’s Cheek to Cheek. MTV Unplugged: Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga will air Thursday, Dec. 16, at 9 p.m. ET on MTV in the U.S. and across its global platforms. Its premiere takes place during “Love Mu...
Queen’s Brian May Says His Words Were ‘Subtly Twisted’ to Suggest Unfriendliness Toward Trans People
Queen guitarist Brian May has taken to Instagram to explain that his words were “subtly twisted” to suggest he is unfriendly toward the trans community during a recent interview with press at ITV’s Palooza event in London. “Yes — I was ambushed and completely stitched up by a journalist at the recent ITV event,” wrote May, 74, on social media. “And it’s led to a whole mess of press stories making it look like I’m unfriendly to trans people. Nothing could be further from the truth. My words were subtly twisted.” Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Speaking to The Mirror newspaper on Nov. 23, May seemed to criticize the Brit Awards — U.K.’s biggest music event — for removing separate male and female categories for the solo artist prizes. This move wa...
