Month: June 2022

Everyone’s talking about aespa right now, and with good reason.

The singers made a splash last fall with their EP Savage – The 1st Mini Album, which blasted into the Top 20 of the Billboard 200, one of the highest entries for a K-pop girl group’s debut.

TIME named aespa to “The Next Generation Leaders, Class of 2022” and the foursome was named Apple Music Up Next Artist.

Next up, the EP Girls – The 2nd Mini Album, which is due out on July 8. Girls features “Life’s Too Short,” the group’s first English-language single, which got its debut at Coachella 2022.

“Life’s Too Short” is a “reminder to all our MYs to stay true to yourselves and spread love because life is too short for hate,” aespa explains in a statement.

The girls spread the love Wednesday night (June 29) when they made their U.S. late night debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live with a performance of that bubbly, poppy number.

Check it out below.

 

Edén Muñoz and Nicky Jam were among the top winners at the annual SESAC Latina Music Awards, which took place Wednesday (June 29) in Los Angeles.

Both were honored as songwriter of the year at the ceremony — held in person after three years at The Beverly Hills Hotel — where, for the second year in a row, the top award was presented in two categories: Regional Mexican and Pop/Latin Rhythm.

“I’m very excited to be back together after three very long years,” Celeste Zendejas, VP of creative at SESAC, said before announcing the top winners of the night. “Latin music has overcome any obstacle that its faced on its way to global domination, because Latin music is now global music.”

During the event, Muñoz was announced songwriter of the year in the regional Mexican category for songs penned for other groups such as his former band Calibre 50 (“A La Antigüita” and “Te Volvería a Elegir”), Banda MS (“La Casita”) and La Arrolladora Banda El Limón de René Camacho (“Mi Primer Derrota”). Also for the second year in a row, Muñoz’s publisher, Dulce María Music, won publisher of the year, Regional Mexican.

Muñoz, who in January launched his solo career after his departure from Calibre 50, was in attendance and got emotional during his acceptance speech for songwriter of the year. “I don’t have many words tonight. I have many emotions,” he said. “I want to dedicate this award to my family, my team and to those that believed in me. It’s been a complicated year on a personal level. Bittersweet even. Artistically, it’s probably been one of my best years. The biggest award is to have you all.”

The Mexican singer-songwriter also performed a medley including his chart-topping single, “Chale,” which scored him his first No. 1 on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Airplay chart as a solo artist, “La Casita” and “A La Antigüita.”

Meanwhile, Jam won songwriter of the year, Pop/Latin Rhythm thanks to his songs “Fan de tus Fotos” performed with Romeo Santos, “Polvo” featuring Myke Towers and “Poblado” remix. His publisher, Sony Sounds, won publisher of the year for the seventh consecutive year.

The song of the year award in Regional Mexican went to Banda MS for “La Casita,” penned by Muñoz. In the Pop/Latin Rhythm category, song of the year went to Bad Bunny’s “Yonaguni,” which spent five weeks at No. 1 on the Hot Latin Songs chart.

Producer of the year went to Trooko (Residente, Bomba Estéreo) who said that to be considered for the award was an honor. “Thank you for even thinking of me as producer of the year, there are so many good producers out there, you should give this to someone else. But thanks so much. This doesn’t seem like it’s real.”

Additionally, SESAC Latina welcomed chart-topping trio Yahritza Y Su Esencia to the organization. In celebration, the siblings took the stage to perform “Enamorado” and “Soy El Único.”

Below, the complete list of the 28 performance awards unveiled by SESAC Latina:

“La Curiosidad”
Written by: Orlando Cepeda
Published by: Melodías De Oro, Sony Sounds
Recorded by: Jay Wheeler & DJ Nelson feat. Myke Towers

“Dime Cómo Quieres”
Written by: Christian Nodal
Published by: Editora Jago, Multisongs
Recorded by: Christian Nodal & Angela Aguilar

“Volví”
Written by: Ivan “Mate Traxx” Chevere
Recorded by: Aventura & Bad Bunny

“A La Antigüita”
Written by: Edén Muñoz
Published by: Dulce María Music LLC
Recorded by: Calibre 50

“Pareja del Año”
Written by: Orlando Cepeda
Published by: Melodías De Oro, Sony Sounds
Recorded by: Sebastián Yatra & Myke Towers

“Mi Primer Derrota”
Written by: Edén Muñoz
Published by: EMC Lyrics
Recorded by: La Arrolladora Banda el Limón de René Camacho

“Poblado (Remix)”
Written by: Shander, Natan, Nicky Jam, Juan Diego Medina
Published by: High Beats Records, Sony Sounds, La Industria Music Publishing
Recorded by: J Balvin x Karol G x Nicky Jam feat. Crissin x Totoy El Frio x Natan & Shander

“Soy Buen Amigo”
Written by: Eduardo Gurrola
Published by: Music of Afinarte
Recorded by: El Fantasma

“Fan de Tus Fotos”
Written by: Julián Turizo, Nicky Jam, Saga WhiteBlack, Juan Diego Medina
Published by: Sony Sounds, Jutuza Publishing, SWB Music LLC, La Industria Music Publishing
Recorded by: Nicky Jam & Romeo Santos

“2 Veces”
Written by: Christian Nodal
Published by: Editora Jago
Recorded by: Los Plebes del Rancho de Ariel Camacho & Christian Nodal

“Polvo”
Written by: Nicky Jam, Juan Diego Medina
Published by: Sony Sounds, La Industria Music Publishing
Recorded by: Nicky Jam & Myke Towers

“Tus Desprecios”
Written by: Edén Muñoz
Published by: EMC Lyrics
Recorded by: Pepe Aguilar & El Fantasma

“#Problema”
Written by: Ramsés Herrera
Published by: Songs of HBTF
Recorded by: Daddy Yankee

“Ya Te La Sabes”
Written by: Salvador Aponte
Published by: Kalja Publishing
Recorded by: Julión Alvarez y Su Norteño Banda

“Sejodioto”
Written by: Lenny Tavarez
Published by: EMI Foray Music
Recorded by: Karol G

“Cuando Andes Buena y Sana”
Written by: Martín Adrián Morales
Published by: Música Garmex Internacional
Recorded by: Los Huracanes del Norte

“Mala Costumbre”
Written by: Manuel Turizo, Julián Turizo, Juan Diego Medina
Published by: Jutuza Publishing, MTZ Publishing, La Industria Music Publishing, Sony Sounds
Recorded by: Manuel Turizo & Wisin & Yandel

“Calzones Finos”
Written by: Salvador Aponte
Published by: Trébol Musical Corp.
Recorded by: Los Nuevos Federales

“+Linda (Remix)”
Written by: Ramsés Herrera
Published by: La Industria Music Publishing, Sony Sounds
Recorded by: Dalex, Arcangel, Manuel Turizo, De La Ghetto & Beele

“Saludos A Mi Ex”
Written by: César Valdivia, Edwin Luna, Salvador Aponte
Published by: Trébol Musical Corp, La Trakalosa de Monterrey Inc.
Recorded by: Edwin Luna y La Trakalosa de Monterrey

“Perfecta”
Written by: Jesús Navarro, Gilberto “Bibi” Marín
Published by: Multisongs
Recorded by: Reik & Maluma

“Me Rindo”
Written by: César Valdivia
Published by: Dulce María Music LLC
Recorded by: Banda Carnaval

“Apoco”
Written by: César Valdivia
Published by: Trébol Musical Corp, La Trakalosa de Monterrey Inc.
Recorded by: Edwin Luna y La Trakalosa de Monterrey

“Te Volvería A Elegir”
Written by: Edén Muñoz
Published by: Dulce María Music LLC
Recorded by: Calibre 50

“Vamos Bien”
Written by: Edén Muñoz
Published by: Dulce María Music LLC
Recorded by: Calibre 50

“Sin Miedo al Éxito”
Written by: Juan Pablo Zazueta, Luciano Luna
Published by: Canciones Plata Publishing, Multisongs
Recorded by: Banda Los Sebastianes de Saúl Plata

“Duele”
Written by: Christian Nodal
Published by: Editora Jago, Multisongs
Recorded by: Alejandro Fernández & Christian Nodal

“El Que Te Amó”
Written by: Luciano Luna, Gussy Lau
Published by: LAR Entertainment
Recorded by: Luis Angel “El Flaco”

Both sides rested their cases Wednesday (June 29) in the trial of a man charged with the killing of rapper Nipsey Hussle after a day’s delay because of an assault on the defendant by fellow jail inmates.

Closing arguments are set to begin Thursday in the trial of Eric Ronald Holder Jr., who is charged with first-degree murder in Hussle’s killing and attempted murder of two other men struck by gunfire.

Holder appeared in court with swollen eyes and staples closing a wound in the back of his head.

He was punched and cut with a razor by two inmates while waiting in a holding cell to come to court on Tuesday, his attorney Aaron Jansen said.

The motive for the attack was unclear, and the issue was not discussed in the courtroom.

Holder did not take the stand during his trial.

Jansen called two witnesses for the defense, including a private investigator and gang expert who testified to the seriousness of “snitching” allegations that the prosecution says were the motive for the shooting.

“As you grow up in the neighborhood, everybody knows the consequences of what it means to be labeled a snitch,” the investigator, Robert Freeman, said.

Both Hussle and Holder grew up in the same South Los Angeles neighborhood, and had ties to the same gang, the Rollin’ 60s.

Without naming Hussle, Jansen asked whether discussions of acting as an informant are especially serious if they come from a revered figure in the group.

“If they’re an OG or looked upon, whatever they say is almost gold in the streets,” Freeman answered.

Previous witnesses testified that on March 31, 2019, in a conversation outside the hip-hop star’s clothing store The Marathon, Hussle told Holder there were rumors of “paperwork” suggesting he’d been informing to authorities, and that Holder needed to address it. Holder returned about 10 minutes later and shot Hussle, the witnesses and prosecution said.

In his cross-examination of Freeman, Deputy District Attorney John McKinney got him to acknowledge that such conversations are not unusual, and that while beatings over them are frequent, killings over them are very rare.

“That kind of admonition is common in the hood among homies, among friends, is that correct?” McKinney asked.

“Yes,” Freeman answered.

“It’s not uncommon for someone to hear about it, and then address it. It happens all the time, right?”

Freeman again answered, “yes.”

“That person can do everything from deny it to get a piece of paper to say it didn’t happen,” McKinney said, and Freeman agreed.

The issue of “snitching” has hung over the entire case, not only as the alleged motive but in the reluctance to testify of prosecution witnesses, one of whom, Hussle’s friend and shooting eyewitness Evan “Rimpau” MacKenzie, failed to appear despite a subpoena and a bench warrant.

McKinney had rested the prosecution’s case earlier Wednesday, the eighth day of testimony though the first in nearly a week after a pair of planned days off and the delay over Holder’s assault, which was first reported by Rolling Stone.

In the face of overwhelming evidence including eyewitnesses who knew both Hussle and Holder, surveillance photos and video, and testimony from the womanwho acted as his unwitting getaway driver, Jansen acknowledged in his opening statement that Holder was the shooter, but said there were mitigating circumstances, including a lack of premeditation, that mean he is not guilty of first-degree murder.

Hussle, whose legal name was Ermias Asghedom, had just released his major-label debut after years of underground acclaim and had been nominated for his first Grammy Award when he was killed at age 33.

Mandy Moore is pregnant with her second child, which has made it difficult for her to continue her live touring schedule. The star announced on Tuesday (June 28) that she is canceling her remaining show dates this year to focus on her health during her pregnancy.

“When we booked these shows, I wasn’t pregnant and although I truly thought I could power through, the way we are traveling (long hours on the bus and not getting proper rest) has caught up, taken its toll, and make it feel too challenging to proceed,” Moore wrote in a statement posted to Instagram. “I know that I have to put my family and my health (and the health of my baby) first and the best place for me to right now is at home.”

She concluded by noting that all tickets will be refunded. “Thank you for all of your support along the way and thank you in advance for respecting my decision,” she wrote. I can’t wait to get back out there soon to bring this music and show your way!”

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Moore announced she is expecting baby No. 2 with husband Taylor Goldsmith earlier this month. The singer-actress announced the happy news in an Instagram post Friday (June 3) with a picture of son Gus wearing a “big brother” T-shirt. “One incredibly seminal chapter of my life just ended and the next one, as a mother of two, is about to start… and are we ever so deeply grateful and excited,” she captioned the sweet photo. “Baby Boy Goldsmith #2 coming this fall!

The “Fifteen” singer and Goldsmith married in November 2018. The couple announced in February 2021 that they had welcomed their first child together, August Harrison Goldsmith.

Kelly, born Robert Sylvester Kelly, was sentenced to 30 years in prison by U.S. District Judge Ann M. Donnelly on Wednesday (June 29) — nine months after a federal jury in New York found him guilty of all nine counts of a superseding indictment, which included racketeering and sex trafficking charges stemming from decades of alleged abuse against several victims.

“R. Kelly used his fame, fortune and enablers to prey on the young, the vulnerable and the voiceless for his own sexual gratification, while many turned a blind eye,” U.S. Attorney Breon Peace said in a statement. “Through his actions, Kelly exhibited a callous disregard for the devastation his crimes had on his victims and has shown no remorse for his conduct.”

Peace continued, “With today’s sentence, he has finally and appropriately been held accountable for his decades of abuse, exploitation and degradation of teenagers and other vulnerable young people. We hope that today’s sentence brings some measure of comfort and closure to the victims, including those who bravely testified at trial, and serves as long-overdue recognition that their voices deserve to be heard and their lives matter.”

During the trial, eight Jane Does and two John Does — out of the more than 40 witnesses — recounted traumatic experiences caused by Kelly, 55.  The victims’ testimonies were corroborated by the ex-singer’s previous employees and associates.

Steve K. Francis, acting executive associate director of Homeland Security Investigations, said of the sentencing, “Robert Kelly is a prolific serial predator who utilized his wealth and fame to prey on the young and vulnerable by dangling promises of fame, fortune and stardom for his own sexual gratification. For nearly 30 years, Kelly and his accomplices silenced his victims through bribery, intimidation, blackmail and physical violence, confident they were immune to justice. Today’s sentence is a victory which belongs to the survivors of Kelly’s abuse. These brave women and men came forward, despite threats to their own personal safety, and were forced to relive the pain of the most traumatic days of their lives to tell the truth and make their voices heard.”

Kelly has been in prison without bail since 2019.