NEWS
WME Partner Richard Weitz’s Pandemic Parties Surpass $2 Million Raised With Star-Studded Nashville Edition
Luke Bryan, Darius Rucker, Michael McDonald and more performed before music execs and first responders. Six weeks ago with the coronavirus shutdown already in full effect, WME partner Richard Weitz celebrated his daughter Demi’s 17th birthday with a virtual party with guests including as LL Cool J. The event proved so popular, Weitz and his daughter knew they were on to something and turned their Zoom party, dubbed RWQuarantunes, into a nationwide invite-only weekly event with a charitable tie in for COVID-19 relief. Each subsequent edition has drawn more entertainment industry insiders and big name performers — including Josh Groban, John Mayer, Rick Springfield, Boy George, Michael Bolton and Fantasia — to what has become Friday night’s hottest ticket and the feel-good e...
Billie Eilish Working on New Song in Quarantine
Billie Eilish is making the most of her time in isolation at home by fostering puppies and recording new music. In a video uploaded to YouTube on Saturday (May 9), the singer chatted with Beats 1’s Zane Lowe about launching her father-daughter Apple Music show, but they mostly talked about how she’s feeling in quarantine. “I know that everybody, like the beginning of this really got to people,” Eilish said. “I didn’t really have that experience because I cheated. I rescued two puppies, or fostered two puppies. I was completely distracted.” And when she’s not spending time in the yard with the pups, she’s been getting the creative juices flowing. “We’ve been in the ‘stu,’ which just means Finneas’ basem...
Screaming Trees’ Gary Lee Conner Calls Mark Lanegan’s Memoir ‘Vicious and Petty’
Mark Lanegan published his memoir Sing Backwards and Weep last month, and to put it bluntly, it’s been pissing people off. Aside from reigniting a 24-year-old feud with Oasis’ Liam Gallagher, the former Screaming Trees frontman also took some swings at his old bandmates. Earlier this week, the band’s guitarist Gary Lee Conner expressed his thoughts about the book in a lengthy Facebook post. After admitting that the band didn’t “get along like friends and sometimes it felt like we were enemies,” Conner couldn’t deny their musical chemistry. “Mark took the songs Van and I wrote and helped elevate them lyrically and vocally to a higher level,” he wrote. However, while he’s able to take the higher road, Conner was disappointed with Lanegan’s recount of his time in Screaming Trees — a...
U2’s Adam Clayton Opens Up About How Quarantine Affects Mental Health
U2’s Adam Clayton has been open about his battles with depression and addiction, and on Friday night the bassist visited Ireland’s The Late Late Show to discuss how quarantine can affect others who are struggling with their mental health. “I think it’s hugely stressful for people to be inside, in small spaces, maybe with children, maybe having to work from home if people still have their jobs,” he explained, adding that these stressors could cause additional anxiety. “For anyone under that kind of pressure, there is help out there,” he assured. “It’s hugely difficult to manage and in an isolated state, when you’re just stuck with your own head and the thoughts going on inside your head, that is extremely stressful.” When asked about his “own run in with issues,” and how...
Deadmau5 Drops New Fortnite Edition Playlist On Spotify
Ahead of his hotly anticipated virtual Fortnite concert, deadmau5 dropped a special Spotify playlist just to celebrate the event. The masked producer helped usher in Fortnite’s new “Party Royale” mode alongside fellow performers Steve Aoki and Dillon Francis. For those that missed the premiere, a rebroadcast of the performances will take place beginning at 1PM CDT today. As a party favor, Deadmau5 is leaving fans with a “Deadmau5 & friends: Fortnite Edition” playlist. Opening with a throwback classic, “Hi Friend!,” Deadmau5 curated a fast-paced gaming playlist for when the stakes are high. The mau5trap label head didn’t steal the spotlight all for himself, however, as he diversified the experience by hi...
Could Amsterdam Dance Event 2020 Potentially Still Happen?
COVID-19 has put global festivals, conferences, and major gatherings on ice, and until a vaccine or effective treatment hits the market, it is difficult to imagine most large-scale events taking place. However, attention is now turning to Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE), which is currently still on the books for 2020. The 25th edition of the event is currently scheduled for late October. At the moment, major events in the Netherlands have been banned until September 1st, and subsequent guidelines for events taking place after that date have yet to be issued. Despite the many hurdles ahead, ADE organizers have not yet cancelled their 2020 event, but they are closely monitoring government regulations. ADE is a bit unique in the sense that it is a collection of showcases, meeting...
Little Richard’s History on Billboard’s Charts: ‘Tutti Frutti,’ ‘Good Golly, Miss Molly’ & More
The late star scored over two dozen songs beginning in the ’50s. Little Richard was one of the most influential pioneers of modern music, shaping the evolution of rock and R&B and charting legendary songs on Billboard‘s charts. The icon, born Richard Penniman on Dec. 5, 1932, in Macon, Georgia, died Saturday morning (May 9) at age 87. The singer, songwriter and pianist sent over two dozen songs onto Billboard‘s charts, with his most of his beloved hits having predated the Billboard Hot 100, which began on Aug. 4, 1958. (Prior to the Hot 100’s inception, Billboard published various charts ranking store sales, radio airplay and jukebox selections). [embedded content] He first debuted on a Billboard chart in November 1955 , when “Tutti Frutti” debu...
6ix9ine Flashes ‘$1 Million’ Jewelry & Stacks of Cash from House Balcony: Watch
6ix9ine is living his best life after being granted an early release from prison. On the heels of dropping his new comeback single “Gooba” on Friday (May 8), the 24-year-old rainbow-haired rapper shared a video on Instagram of himself flashing stacks of cash and showing off his “$1 million” diamond encrusted shark pendant and watch. “Every rapper calling each other pushing there albums back,” 6ix9ine captioned the video, adding the cost of his jewelry. “1,500,00 WATCHES (and) 750,000 CHAIN.” In his video post, the rapper — who was granted an early prison release last month amid the coronavirus pandemic — is seen on the balcony of a discreet house wearing a baby blue hoodie and shorts while singing and dancing to a remix of Brytiag...
Here’s How Billboard Reviewed Little Richard’s ‘Tutti Frutti’ in 1955
The song was Little Richard’s first entry on a Billboard chart in 1955. There wasn’t much else like “Tutti Frutti” when Little Richard premiered the song in 1955. The risqué song about sex and dancing, helped Richard land performing slots in clubs, and later established him as a certified hitmaker. The track also earned him his first career Billboard chart entry in 1955, debuting at No. 12 on the Best Sellers in Stores chart in November 1955, and later reaching No. 17 on the Most Played in Juke Boxes tally in 1956. Before that, though, Billboard reviewed the song in the October 29, 1955 issue of the magazine, calling it “A cleverly styled novelty with nonsense words.” Here’s the full mini-review from the magazine, alongside other by The Cadillacs, Piano Red, Margie Day and Rollee McG...
Lil Wayne Chopped It Up With Eminem, Kevin Durant, Swizz Beatz & More On Young Money Radio
Source: Kevin Mazur / Getty Lil Wayne is still very much an active musician but should he decide to hang up the microphone for good, he’ll surely have a career in media waiting on him. On the third installment of his Young Money Radio show, Tunechi hosted yet another star-studded affair with Eminem, Kevin Durant, and more joining him for the live broadcast. As the first artist to live stream their self-hosted radio show on Apple Music when he launched back in April, Weezy F. Baby opened up this latest venture with a bang. Past guests include Drake, Lil Baby, Shaquille O’Neal, Stephen A. Smith, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell, and many more. Live from his Miami recording studio, Young Tune showed an expert hand as an interviewer, most especially when he and Slim Shady entered into a conve...
Chris Martin Closes Out Together at Home Livestream Series With Coldplay Classics
On Friday, the Global Citizen livestream series Together At Home came full circle. Chris Martin, who played the first virtual show in March, closed out the series with a nearly 30 minute set of Coldplay classics. Martin began the acoustic performance on a high note, recruiting two young violinists to virtually play “Viva La Vida” from an iPad while he sang. The set also included hits like “Til Kingdom Come,” “Magic,” “God Put a Smile Upon Your Face,” “In My Place,” and “Fix You,” as the singer moved from acoustic guitar to piano. Watch the final Together At Home performance below. The streaming series is a partnership between World Health Organization and Global Citizen. Aside from intimate performances like Martin’s, Together At Home also put together a huge benefit concert cura...
Brian Wilson, Jimmy Page, Dave Grohl, Mick Jagger and More Pay Tribute to ‘Architect of Rock and Roll’ Little Richard
Little Richard passed away Saturday at the age of 87. The rock ‘n’ roll pioneer’s son Danny Jones Penniman confirmed the news to Rolling Stone, adding that the cause of death was cancer. Little Richard (born Richard Wayne Penniman) released a number of hits in the mid-to-late-50s including classics “Tutti Frutti,” “Good Golly Miss Molly,” and “Long Tall Sally.” The pianist’s flamboyant stage presence changed the art of musical performance, and bands like The Beatles, Elvis Presley, and Creedence Clearwater Revival have cited him as an influence. Penniman was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986 — its inaugural year. Other rock ‘n’ roll icons, including Brian Wilson and Jimmy Page, paid tribute to Little Richard on Twitter. “I’m very sorry to hear about Lit...
