Month: August 2022

In the midst of the group’s break to focus on their solo projects, BTS will drop an episode of their RUN BTS variety show. The bonus ep will drop on Aug. 16 through Weverse and VLive and be available on YouTube as well.

In a 30-second teaser promoting the first RUN show in 10 months, the casually dressed septet take their bows and greet ARMY while standing on a bright white soundstage. “We did some recharging and brought more fun back with us,” promises group member Jin in the video. “We hope you’ll look forward to it,” he adds as his bandmates break out into comical dances as they recite the show’s title.

The RUN BTS web series kicked off in August 2015, with more than 150 episodes posted so far through the most recent one on Oct. 12, 2021. The announcement is one of the first group projects on the K-pop superstars’ roster since they announced a time-out in June to spend time on solo material. While the others prep their solo material, J-Hope made history on Sunday night (July 31) when he became the first South Korean artist to headline a U.S. festival.

The rapper wowed the 100,000-strong crowd packed into Grant Park in Chicago with high-energy performances of songs from his new Jack in the Box album during an 18-track, one-hour set that also included selections from his Hope World debut solo mixtape and a set-ending team up with his “Chicken Noodle Soup” partner Becky G.

Hope playfully introduced himself to the audience by noting that he’s a member of BTS, “but you can call me J,” the rapper smiled as the crowd exploded in cheers during a set that melded hip-hop with pop, rock and some smoothed-out R&B. “You guys are f—ing crazy,” he said, thanking ARMY for showing up. “A lot of you may be seeing me for the first time today…. it’s great to be here.”

Watch the RUN BTS teaser below.

Drake’s October World Weekend has come to a devastating halt. The “Sticky” rapper took to Instagram Stories Monday (Aug. 1) to announce he had “tested positive for COVID,” and that “the Young Money Reunion show is being rescheduled to the SOONEST date possible.”

“I am truly devastated,” the artist told fans in his text message on Stories.

The news comes mere hours before Drake was set to storm the stage alongside Lil Wayne and Nicki Minaj for the final night of October World Weekend. “I love you all and I am so sorry for letting you down on our weekend together and the moment I test negative I will give you everything I got on stage (except the Covid),” the “Jimmy Cooks” rapper continued.

The first two nights of October World Weekend delighted Toronto fans with sets from Canadian music icons, performances from Chris Brown and Lil Baby, and a surprise appearance from Nelly Furtado. Drake even joined the “Promiscuous” singer onstage to perform her smash hit “I’m Like a Bird.”

Nonetheless, all hope is not lost for a Young Money Reunion show. “I will keep the city posted and share the new date whenever we have it locked in,” Drake wrote, confirming plans to reschedule the concert. Drake, Lil Wayne, and Nicki Minaj were originally slated to grace the Budweiser Stage tonight.

October World Weekend is a three-day Toronto-based festival that aims to commemorate the tenth anniversary of Drake’s OVO Fest and preview a global run for the festival in 2023. This year’s splashy weekend of performances follows another banner for the rapper. Last month (July 2), Drake notched his eleventh No. 1 title on the Billboard 200 with the debut of Honestly, Nevermind. The corresponding No. 1 debut of the 21 Savage-assisted “Jimmy Cooks” on the Billboard Hot 100 helped Drake become the soloist with the most Hot 100 top 5 hits in history (29, tied with The Beatles).

Two-time CMA Awards entertainer of the year winner Luke Bryan and NFL star Peyton Manning will host the 56^th annual CMA Awards on Nov. 9 on ABC from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. This will mark Bryan’s second year hosting the show, after first hosting the CMA Awards in 2021; it will be former Colts/Broncos superstar Manning’s first time serving as CMA Awards host.

Manning, who has made four Super Bowl appearances and won two Super Bowls during his 18-season career, is no stranger to the CMA Awards. In 2016, Manning was part of a comedic skit with then-hosts Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, and also presented the CMA’s pinnacle award to Kenny Chesney.

“Being a part of such a historical night that honors my peers and country music is such a privilege,” Bryan said via a statement. “When I was asked if Peyton Manning was someone I would consider co-hosting with I didn’t hesitate. We have become great friends through the years and what he brings to the table is gonna make it even more of a blast. I know he’s been to the CMA Awards before, but he’s never been with me. Hey Peyton, I hope you’re ready for the night of your life!”

“I cannot wait to head to Nashville and take the CMA Awards stage alongside my friend Luke Bryan,” Manning added. “I am such a huge fan of country music, so to have the chance to stand among so many incredibly talented artists is an absolute honor.”

In addition to being a two-time CMA Awards host, Bryan is also a two-time CMA Awards winner, earning the coveted entertainer of the year honor in 2014 and 2015 (he has been nominated in the CMA Awards’ top category six consecutive times, from 2013-2018).

Bryan previously co-hosted the Academy of Country Music Awards for five consecutive years, from 2013-2017. The first three years, his co-host was Blake Shelton, with Dierks Bentley co-hosting in 2016-2017.

Bryan and Manning follow in a long tradition of CMA Awards hosting duos, starting with the first CMA Awards in 1967, which featured hosts Bobbie Gentry and Sonny James. Dale Evans and Roy Rogers hosted the 1968 and 1969 CMA Awards. Among the hosting duos have guided a CMA Awards ceremony are Glen Campbell and Charley Pride (1975), Johnny Cash and Roy Clark (1976), Mac Davis and Barbara Mandrell (1980-1982), Anne Murray and Willie Nelson (1983), Reba McEntire and Randy Travis (1990), McEntire and Vince Gill (1992), and Brooks & Dunn (2004-2006). The longest-running hosting duo was Paisley and Underwood, who co-hosted the CMA Awards for 11 years, from 2008-2019.

With Manning co-hosting, this marks the first time a sports star has co-hosted the CMA Awards, though other country awards shows have turned to football stars or former football stars as co-hosts.“Dandy” Don Meredith, former quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys, co-hosted the 1981 ACM Awards with Larry Gatlin and Tammy Wynette. J.J. Watt, defensive end for the Arizona Cardinals, co-hosted the 2016 CMT Music Awards with Erin Andrews. Terry Bradshaw, former quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, co-hosted the 2001 CMT Music Awards with Lee Ann Womack.

“Country music’s Biggest Night will without a doubt live up to its expectation this year,” Sarah Trahern, CMA CEO, said via a statement. “During an evening when we celebrate the best of the best in country music, we are thrilled to have two award-winning hosts at the helm! I cannot wait to see what Luke and Peyton have up their sleeves, which I’m sure will be hilariously unpredictable and playfully energetic, just like the two of them.”

“Just when we thought we couldn’t top Luke’s explosive energy and signature charm as host of last year’s CMA Awards, we’re bringing him back alongside sports legend Peyton Manning for Country Music’s Biggest Night,” added Rob Mills, Walt Disney Television executive vp, unscripted and alternative entertainment. “Their dynamic chemistry and magnetic friendship is the perfect anchor for this year’s star-studded show.”

Robert Deaton will serve as executive producer for this year’s CMA Awards, while Alan Carter will serve as director and Jon Macks as head writer. The final crop of nominees for the 56^th annual CMA Awards will be revealed in coming weeks.

The sweat is just drying from this weekend’s blow-out 2022 edition of Lollapalooza on the lakefront in Chicago, which means that it’s already time to start gearing up for next summer. As fans were straggling home following this year’s blowout featuring Metallica, Lil Baby, Dua Lipa, Machine Gun Kelly, J. Cole, Big Sean, Kygo, Green Day, Dua Lipa, Charlie XCX and the first solo show by BTS‘ J-Hope, organizers revealed on Monday morning (Aug. 1) that they will return for more around the same time next year, and for many years to come.

Lollapalooza will be back in Chicago’s Grant Park from Aug. 3-6 in 2023 with hotel packages already available for early planners out there; the Chicago Tribune also reported that on Sunday that Mayor Lori Lightfoot confirmed that organizers had agreed to terms with the city that will keep the fest in Chicago for another decade.

This year’s Lolla had something for everyone, including Metallica tricking out their Thursday night headlining set with a tribute to Stranger Things‘ “Master of Puppets”-loving Eddie Munson during a performance of their beloved 1986 thrash metal classic.

After running through fan favorites including “Enter Sandman,” “Nothing Else Matters” and a cover of AC/DC’s “It’s A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘N’ Roll),” Metallica closed out the show with the song that’s currently in the midst of a streaming renaissance thanks to its inclusion in the finale episode of Stranger Things‘ fourth season. Staged in front of a big screen playing the show’s standout scene — which features Joseph Quinn’s metalhead character epically shredding “Master of Puppets” on his electric guitar as a means of distracting killer bats in the Upside Down — the band synchronized their performance of the song with Eddie’s.

In addition, drill rapper Lil Durk is on the mend after having an onstage mishap in which he was hit in the face with some pyro during his Saturday evening set. “Due to the incident that happened at Lollapalooza in Chicago on stage, I’ma take a break & focus on my health,” Lil Durk captioned a post on Instagram, which showed a photo of the hip-hop artist in a hospital room wearing a mask and a large patch covering his right eye.

And, if BTS’ J-Hope was nervous about his first-ever solo set outside the comfort of the K-pop supergroup’s orbit he didn’t seem to show it when he became the first South Korean artist to headline a major U.S. festival. As the group is in the midst of a break while its 7 members explore solo work, J-Hope wowed the 100,000 crowd with high-energy performances of songs from his new Jack in the Box album.

The 18-song, hour-long set included tracks from Jack, as well the MC’s Hope World debut solo mixtape, such as “More,” “Arson,” “HANGSANG” and “P.O.P. (Peace of Piece),” as well as retooled versions of the BTS smash “Dynamite” and “BTS Cypher Pt. 1” and a run through his Becky G collab “Chicken Noodle Soup,” with a cameo from the “Mamiii” singer.

Swaggering across the stage in a loose black shirt and matching pants, Hope playfully introduced himself to the audience by noting that he’s a member of BTS, “but you can call me J,” the rapper smiled as the crowd exploded in cheers during a set that melded hip-hop with pop, rock and some smoothed-out R&B. “You guys are f—ing crazy,” he said, thanking ARMY for showing up. “A lot of you may be seeing me for the first time today…. it’s great to be here.”

Check out the teaser video for the 2023 Lollapalooza below.

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LF System locks-up a fourth consecutive week at No. 1 in the U.K. with “Afraid To Feel” (Warner Records), the Scottish production duo’s disco-tinged summer hit.

The track now boasts a full, unbeaten month atop the Official U.K. Singles Chart, notching 49,000 chart sales during the most recent frame, including 5.4 million streams and a market-leading volume of digital downloads, the OCC reports.

The highest new entry this week belongs to Central Cee, as the hip-hop artist’s viral track “Doja” (Warner Records) starts at No. 2. It’s the Londoner’s highest-charting U.K. single to date, eclipsing the No. 4 best for his 2021 single “Obsessed With You”.

Further down the list, OneRepublic lifts 13-12 with “I Ain’t Worried” (Interscope), taken from the Top Gun: Maverick soundtrack, and there are new peak positions for Sigala and Talia Mar’s Love Island anthem “Stay The Night” (up 15-14 via Ministry of Sound) and Steve Lacy’s “Bad Habit” (up 25-18 via L-M/RCA for a new career best).

Billie Eilish sees both Guitar Songs (via Interscope) releases appear in the top tier on the Official U.K. Singles Chart this week. “TV” bows at No. 23 and “The 30th” debuts at No. 33, for the California pop star’s 16th and 17th U.K. Top 40 appearances, respectively.

Finally, Australian electronic music producer DJ Luude snags his second U.K. Top 40 hit, this time with “Big City Life” featuring Mattafix, new at No. 37. It’s the follow-up to his update of Men At Work’s “Down Under,” which cracked the U.K. Top 10.

If medals were handed out during the 2022 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony, Duran Duran would’ve been atop the podium with an epic, quick-hit of three classics and one new number.

The incoming Rock Hall inductees had headline honors at the curtain-raiser concert July 28 in Birmingham, the city where John Taylor, Nick Rhodes, Roger Taylor, Simon LeBon and Andy Taylor (no longer with the band) formed more than 40 years ago.

A big finale requires a big score, and the hometown heroes delivered the goods with “Save a Prayer;” “Planet Earth;” “Tonight United,” from their most recent album Future Past; and “Ordinary World.”

Erol Alkan, producer of Future Past, Duran Duran’s 15th and most recent studio album, gave the lads a shoutout on social media, writing “Nailed it.”

The past year has been a resurgent one for Duran Duran. In that time, Future Past opened at No. 3 on the Official U.K. Albums Chart, and the band performed for Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Party at the Palace, a warm-up to their headline show at Hyde Park, which was attended by some 70,000 fans.

On Nov. 5, the Brits will take their place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame during the induction ceremony at Los Angeles’ Microsoft Theater.

Watch a snippet of the performance at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium.

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Guaynaa has made a very public display of affection by proposing to Lele Pons during Tomorrowland 2022.

The sweet moment took place on stage for tens of thousands to enjoy, as Guaynaa, using Steve Aoki’s slot, got down on one knee and asked his celebrity girlfriend for her hand in marriage.

She didn’t waste any time in saying “yes,” the teary proof of which is captured on video that’s now doing the rounds of social media. Cue the fireworks. 

“Happiest day of my life,” she wrote on Instagram.

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Aoki led well-wishes for the happy couple, and shared a clip filmed from several vantage points. 

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The Latin power pair made made their union official in December 2020, via Insta.

The duo had a viral moment in recent months when, in a snap shared on social media, Guaynaa got down on one knee while holding Pons’ hand.

It wasn’t what it seemed, as Guaynaa was simply tying his shoe.

Now he’s done the deed, for real. 

The pair took their love affair even further with the song “Se Te Nota,” released  in 2021.

Guaynaa, who hails from Puerto Rico, signed an exclusive worldwide booking deal with Cardenas Marketing Network (CMN) last year.

Venezuela-born Lele Pons is a star in her own right as a singer, actor and YouTuber.