Month: October 2022

BMI is set to honor the career and songwriting of Toby Keith, when the performing rights organization presents him with the BMI Icon award during the upcoming BMI Country Awards set for Nov. 8 at BMI’s Nashville office. BMI president/CEO Mike O’Neill will host the ceremony alongside BMI vp, creative, Nashville Clay Bradley.

“We are honored to present Toby Keith with this year’s BMI Icon Award. Since the release of his single ‘Should’ve Been A Cowboy’ in 1993, Toby has been the gold standard of songwriting in the modern era of Country music,” Bradley said via a statement. “Toby is not only a stellar songwriter, musician, and producer whose songs have amassed millions of performances, he is also a true humanitarian. With 11 USO tours under his belt, he continues to commit to honoring and serving our troops worldwide. No one is more deserving of this honor.”

The BMI Icon award recognizes exceptional songwriters for their “unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers.” Previous honorees have included Loretta Lynn, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Dolly Parton, Kris Kristofferson and Hank Williams, Jr.

BMI’s annual invitation-only country awards will also honor the country songwriter, song and publisher of the year, and will recognize the writers and publishers of the past year’s 50 most-performed songs from BMI’s country catalog.

In 2021, Keith was honored with the National Medal of Arts, inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame (having previously been inducted into the all-genre Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2015), and was honored with the Academy of Country Music’s Merle Haggard spirit award. Keith has previously earned the BMI country songwriter of the Year award three times, and his hit single “As Good As I Once Was” was awarded BMI’s country song of the year in 2006. 

Keith has earned 20 No. 1 Billboard Hot Country Songs hits, and he is a writer on the bulk of his hit songs, including his debut single, “Should’ve Been a Cowboy,” as well “American Soldier,” “How Do You Like Me Now?!,” “As Good as I Once Was,” and “Courtesy of the Red, White & Blue (The Angry American).” In 2018, Keith also wrote and released the song “Don’t Let the Old Man In,” which was inspired by a conversation with Clint Eastwood and featured in Eastwood’s movie The Mule.

Rosalía took center stage at the Los Angeles Grammy Museum on Wednesday (Oct. 5) for an intimate conversation where she talked about her Motomami tour, her mother as a muse for inspiration and a changing landscape for female producers, among other things.

The singer-songwriter/producer — who’s up for eight Latin Grammys at this year’s ceremony (including album of the year for Motomami) — is currently in L.A. where she’s set to perform at the YouTube Theater Oct. 7-8 as part of her Motomami World Tour. “It’s going pretty good. Pretty amazing,” she responded when asked how the trek was going. “I have so many stuffed toys that I get tossed onstage that I don’t know what to do with them. I have a suitcase full that I usually just put them on my bed in hotels.”

Most recently, Rosalía’s “Despechá” scored the Spanish artist her first No. 1 as a soloist, unaccompanied by any other act, on Billboard’s Latin Airplay chart. The song advanced from No. 3 to lead the Oct. 8-dated survey.

Below, check out Billboard‘s five most interesting takeaways from the conversation, presented in the artist’s own words, as moderated by the Los Angeles Times‘ music reporter Suzy Exposito.

Creating the concept for her Motomami Tour:

It all started when I was thinking of this project and thinking about what I wanted to talk about and feel. How can I translate this onstage? Because it has certain energy and colors. It was important for people to feel that I’m close to them. I’m used to performing in bars, restaurants — you know, small places — and I thought, “How can I still get the intimacy but in places like arenas?”

I figured there had to be a huge camera so they feel closer to the humans onstage. People expect fireworks, and I understand that — but the craziest thing for me is dancing and expressing myself. That energy is priceless. It has the most value. I’m at a point where I want to put all my effort into having the best vocals, put all my effort into my choreographies. That’s what’s important to me… not having to worry about changing outfits in the middle of a show. What for?

Her mom inspiring the overall concept of Motomami:

To this day, my mom is still riding her Harley. She inspired me so much. I used to hug my mom when we we were riding her bike. I remember her blonde hair hitting my face because of the wind but I didn’t mind. And then, when I was a teenager, I used to ride bikes all the time as well. Riding bikes requires a lot of focus. You have to be able to be present, you can’t look back, you can’t look forward, you have to keep balance. It’s all about focus and there’s something magical about that.

Taking three years to release a new album

I had spent years away from home because of the pandemic. I was in the U.S. working on this new project and I was excited to work with collaborators that I admire so much. I was like, “OK, I can’t go home, because they told me that if I went in the middle of the project to see my family, I probably wouldn’t be able to come back.” Estaba bien jodida.

So I did the sacrifice and I stayed until I finished it. I don’t know how, but I finished it and it took me three years to do this project, to figure it out. It took me a long time and I wasn’t sure that when I would be ready to say something, that there’d be someone on the other side ready to listen. In an industry that everything is so fast, I was concerned — but I thought, “This is the only way.” I was like, I had to finish it properly, so I could sit back and say I did the best I could.

Fusing flamenco with other genres:

I have love for all the music in the world. Everything is at the same level for me. At the end of the day, music either makes you feel or it doesn’t. But it’s not better or worst. There are so many flamenco artists that have pushed [the genre] forward and have done amazing things with it. That’s inspiring. It’s impossible for me to talk about my music without mentioning flamenco. But because I love everything else, I go into the studio trying to put myself in service of the song. I always stay open to be able to think clear and know what that song needs in order to produce properly. The more open your channel is, the more you get and the more you can give.

The changing landscape for female producers:

Björk is such an amazing mind, and Arca, and they both produce and they do it in such a great way. Literally, there’s so much great female minds out there nowadays that I just celebrate that. When I was growing up it was harder to find references of women [producing]. Like I had to dig to find them and I think that it’s amazing now to see more women who are doing their own beats and I love that. There’s something that’s changing now

GloRilla adds another major achievement to her breakout year, as her collaboration with Cardi B, “Tomorrow 2,” debuts at No. 3 on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The track also opens at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100, giving the Memphis rapper her first top 10 visit — and first top 40 hit. It also extends Cardi B’s Hot 100 top 10 count to 11.

“Tomorrow 2,” released Sept. 23, is a remix of GloRilla’s solo track, “Tomorrow,” which she dropped in July. (Both versions of the song are combined for tracking and charting purposes.) Thanks to its new version, “Tomorrow 2” drew 19.7 million official U.S. streams in the week ending Sept. 29, according to Luminate. It debuts at No. 2 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Streaming Songs chart and at No. 3 on the overall, all-genre Streaming Songs list. Sales, too, earn a strong arrival, with 9,000 downloads sold in the same period to enter at No. 1 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales list and the runner-up spot on the all-genre ranking.

Beyond streams and sales, “Tomorrow 2” scores its airplay debuts on R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay (No. 33) and Rap Airplay (No. 22).

Thanks to “Tomorrow 2,” GloRilla lands her first top 10 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, after narrowly breaking the barrier with her breakthrough single, “F.N.F.,” with producer Hitkidd, which peaked at No. 11 last month. Cardi B, meanwhile, banks her 18th visit to the top tier, and her second of 2022, after “Hot Shit,” with Ye and Lil Durk, a No. 7 hit in July.

Elsewhere, “Tomorrow 2” starts at No. 2 on the Hot Rap Songs chart. As mentioned above, the collaboration also enters at No. 9 on the Hot 100 and secures GloRilla’s first time in the upper tier. Plus, as Cardi B collects her 11th top 10, she also extends her top 10 Hot 100 streak to six consecutive years, a run that began with her breakthrough, “Bodak Yellow (Money Moves),” in 2017.

The new music, art and food festival coming to Los Angeles State Historic Park on Dec. 10-11 under the LA3C banner released its full musical lineup on Thursday (Oct. 6). The first-ever culture/creativity fest from Penske Media Corporation will feature already announced headlining sets from Megan Thee Stallion and Maluma, as well as performances from SEVENTEEN, Snoop Dogg, Free Nationals, Gerardo Ortiz, Fonseca, Marc Segui, Shawn Wasabi, Monogem, Shea Diamond and Chicocurlyhead.

“We are thrilled to share our full music lineup today,” said Juan Mora, CEO of LA3C in a statement announcing the full lineup for the event whose mark translates to “Los Angeles, the Capital of Culture and Creativity.” “Our goals were to create a lineup that celebrates the range of musical genres Los Angeles offers including Pop, Hip-Hop, R&B, K-Pop, Regional Mexican Music, EDM and more and for attendees to discover new artists while enjoying names they know and love.”  

LA3C also announced a partnership with HIN Events LLC and Hot Import Nights for a second HIN-sponsored stage featuring a headlining set from Mustard, with additional sets from AJ Hernz, ARIUS, Cam Girl, Freya Fox, Kill Bambi, Kim Lee, LOLO, Lucky Light, Madds, MEIRLIN, Peach and Vice. More artists will be announced in the coming weeks, along with the lineup of chefs, restaurants, artists and more programming.

“The Hot Import Nights Brand began in California, with our very first event in Long Beach,” said Michael Munar, CEO of HIN Events LLC in a statement. “We are immensely proud of our LA heritage and how we have grown our events around the world celebrating cars, music, gaming, fashion, technology and more. Our partnership with LA3C was organic. We both share a love for LA and are so excited to bring our unique point of view to this special stage curated by HIN Events. Attendees can expect our talent lineup of DJs, dancers, and more evoking the amazing sound and electric spirit of LA.” 

The festival and performance sets are slated to run from 1 p.m.-10 p.m. PT on the first day and 12 p.m.-9 p.m. PT on day two; all attendees must be 21+. In its effort to nurture and preserve the city’s creative pulse, in its inaugural year LA3C has partnered with the non-profits Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA) and Film Independent.

Tickets for LA3C are available to purchase here. For up-to-date news on LA3C, follow the festival on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Penske Media Corporation is the parent company of Billboard.

Check out the event poster below.

Kanye West isn’t finished with his targeted Instagram posts following his Paris Fashion Week “White Lives Matter” shirt controversy. And this time, he’s calling out Justin Bieber and John Legend while paying surprising compliments to his former rival Drake.

Ye’s latest posts began Wednesday night (Oct. 5), when he noticed that Hailey Bieber had joined Gigi Hadid in supporting Gabriella Karefa-Johnson, a Vogue fashion editor he publicly mocked two days prior after she posted criticisms of the “White Lives Matter” shirts he’d showcased during his Monday (Oct. 3) Yeezy fashion show. “My respect for you runs deep my friend!” the Rhode founder wrote of Karefa-Johnson on her Instagram story. “To know is to adore you and to work with you is an honor.”

Apparently taking offense, Ye posted a screenshot of a news article detailing Hailey and Gigi’s comments and wrote, “Wait Am I canceled again??? Justin please let me know.”

He then shared a longer, characteristically all-caps message bragging about the discourse his controversial shirts inspired online. “MY TEE S–T ON EVERY BODY’S SHOWSSSS,” he wrote. “REMEMBER MY ONE T SHIRT TOOK ALLLLLL THE ATTENTION. BECAUSE YOU’RE ALL F—–G SHEEP.”

At the very end of the message, he looped in the “All Of Me” singer before once again calling out Justin: “THOSE BOOTS GAB WAS WEARING WERE F—–G TRAAAAAAAAAAASH BUT I’M SURE JOHN LEGEND STILL WANTS A PAIR. AND JUSTIN GET YOUR GIRL BEFORE I GET MAD.”

Kanye and Legend were once close friends and collaborators. But when the “Monster” rapper backed Donald Trump in 2016 and launched his own failed presidential campaign, however, their friendship began to fray, and eventually ended. And up until Ye’s latest Instagram spree, he and Justin seemed to be on good terms as recently as June of this year, when the “Peaches” musician wished the rapper a happy birthday and said he was “honored to know you and call you a friend.”

But while Kanye has gone from friends to foes with some of the musicians in his life, it seems he’s doing the reverse with Drake. After years of dissing each other on and off, Ye posted a screenshot that appears to show Drizzy “liked” his sometimes nemesis’ post about Hailey, Gigi and Justin.

“EVERYONE KNOWS ME AND DRAKE HAVE HAD A RIVALRY IN THE PAST IT REALLY WARMED MY HEART TO SEE DRAKE LIKE ONE OF MY POST,” Kanye captioned the screenshot. “WE STILL NEED THE DONDA TEAM TO PLAY NOCTA ALL DRAKE MUSIC WILL BE PLAYED AT DONDA GAMES MOVING FORWARD.”

See Kanye West’s posts about Justin and Hailey Bieber, John Legend and Drake below:

The backlash against Kanye West for weaving “White Lives Matter” shirts into his recent YZY SZN 9 Paris Fashion Week show continued on Wednesday (Oct. 5) when the family of Ahmaud Arbery called the artist now known as Ye out for what they described as a hurtful, duplicitous publicity stunt.

“As a result of his display ‘White Lives Matter’ started trending in the U.S., which would direct support and legitimize extremist behavior, [much] like the behavior that took the life of her son,” said Arbery’s mother, Wanda Cooper-Jones, in a statement to Rolling Stone through her attorney Lee Merritt. “That is the thing that Wanda and families like hers continue to fight against.”

Arbery, 25, was killed in February 2020 when he went for a jog in Georgia and was chased down by three white neighbors and shot. Arbery’s family said the shirt was especially offensive because Ye privately supported the family after Arbery’s murder in the racially motivated attack.

“This mockery of the Black Lives Matter movement and his now denunciation of the movement as some sort of hoax flies directly in the face [of what he’s said],” the family’s statement continued. “It’s confusing for her, it’s confusing for the families to receive his support privately, but publicly to set us all back.” 

Merritt told RS that in addition to West’s donation of $2 million to the families of George Floyd, Arbery and Breonna Taylor at the height of the Black Lives Matter movement, West also also provided financial support to the family of Jemel Roberson, a Black security guard who was fatally shot by police in 2018.

According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, the phrase “White Lives Matter” is a “racist response to the civil rights movement Black Lives Matter” that is the name of a neo-Nazi group that is “growing into a movement as more and more white supremacists groups take up its slogans and tactics.” Following the fashion show, Ye posted an Instagram Story in which he wrote, “EVERY ONE KONWS THAT BLACK LIVES MATTER WAS A SCAM NOW IT’S OVER YOU’RE WELCOME.”

West’s latest provocation came during a surprise Paris Fashion Week show on Monday evening (Oct. 3), which began trending online when he was seen wearing a long-sleeved shirt with “White Lives Matter” emblazoned on the back. In addition to Ye, some of the models in the show also wore the shirts, with Kanye later posing with conservative commentator Candace Owens, who wore a matching “White Lives Matter” top.

So far, West has not specifically explained the reasoning behind promoting the phrase, but the incident has drawn widespread disgust from a number of fellow artists decrying the sight of a Black man promoting the slogan of a racist group, even as West went on the attack against fashion editor and director Gabriella Karefa-Johnson — who was in attendance at Monday’s show — by posting since-deleted Instagram comments mocking her appearance.

Model Gigi Hadid also weighed in, coming to Karefa-Johnson’s defense while condemning Ye’s treatment of the editor, calling her “one of the most important voices in our industry… and could school that disgraceful man in more ways than he knows.”

Kanye said he held a two-hour meeting with Karefa-Johnson on Tuesday to discuss their difference of opinion, writing on Instagram, “GAB IS MY SISTER. IM NOT LETTING PEOPLE GO TO BED THINKING I DIDN’T MEET WITH GABRIELLE [sic],” while claiming that Vogue editor Anna Wintour got acclaimed Elvis director Baz Luhrmann to film the conversation.

And while he claimed to have settled things with Karefa-Johnson, West continued to lash out at Hadid, roping her into his ongoing disagreement with ex-wife Kim Kardashian over the co-parenting of the estranged couple’s four children. He also hit out at Hailey Bieber on Wednesday night after the model supported Karefa-Johnson in an IG Story, taunting those who would criticize him for what he called his “paradigm shifting t-shirt” while offering a misogynist taunt to Hailey’s husband, pop superstar Justin Bieber, that read: “And Justin get your girl before I get mad.”

The Black Lives Matter organization also blasted West, issuing a scathing statement on Tuesday that read, “While some may see Kanye and Candace’s stunt as a distraction, we recognize that it harms thousands of families fighting for justice for their loved ones killed by state-sanctioned violence. It can spread toxic confusion and be used to legitimize violent assaults on Black people. Battling misinformation while continuing to do the hard [work] that liberation requires is nothing new for us.”

Tripling down on his latest pot-stirring stunt, on Thursday morning (Oct. 6) West posted a partial quote from Breonna Taylor’s mother, Tamika Palmer, in which she said in a since-deleted April 2021 Facebook post, “I have never personally dealt with BLM Louisville and personally have found them to be fraud,” in reference to groups raising money in the wake of her daughter’s killing by officers pursuing a no-knock warrant on the wrong apartment.

Demi Lovato is taking a brief pause from touring. On Wednesday (Oct. 5), the “29” singer shared that they needed to reschedule their Rosemont, Ill., Holy Fvck tour date at the Rosemont Theater — which had been set for that evening — after losing their voice.

“Rosemont, today I woke up and had absolutely no voice. I’m so so sorry but it breaks my heart to tell you I have to reschedule the show,” Lovato wrote from the Holy Fvck tour’s official Instagram account.

“Tickets will be honored for a new date as soon as its announced. This is the absolute last thing I want to do,” they continued. “I’m having so much fun with you all and I can’t wait to see you again. Again, I’m so sorry and I appreciate your understanding. I love you all.”

In the post’s caption, the singer made sure to note that fans’ tickets will be honored for the new date. “If you have tickets, hang on to them — they will be honored for the new date as soon as its announced. Hope to see you all soon. Appreciate your understanding,” she added. The singer’s next concert is set to take place on Oct. 7 at the Fox Theatre in Detroit.

The Holy Fvck tour has been rough on Lovato. In September, she fell ill and told fans that her current tour will likely be her last. “I’m so f—ing sick I can’t get out of bed,” Lovato wrote on a series of photos of a window. “I can’t do this anymore. This next tour will be my last. I love and thank you guys.”

Read Lovato’s announcement below.

LeAnn Rimes will receive the ASCAP Golden Note Award in a special ASCAP Experience on Oct. 12. The award presentation by Paul Williams, ASCAP chairman of the board and president, will segue into an exclusive conversation steered by Chris Willman, senior music writer and chief music critic for Variety.

Rimes will talk with Willman about her life in music so far and how her artistry and her humanitarian work intertwine. The session, dubbed “The Story So Far: Celebrating 25+ Years of LeAnn Rimes,” will broadcast @ASCAP on YouTube on Oct. 12 at 3 p.m. ET/ 12 p.m. PT.

The event will include congratulatory video tributes from Reba McEntire, Rob Thomas, Diane Warren, Mickey Guyton, David Gray, Aloe Blacc and the San Francisco Gay Men’s Choir.

“From the moment we first heard her immortal recording of ‘Blue’ – back when she was just 13 years old – we knew that LeAnn was a voice for the ages,” Williams said in a statement. “In the 25 years since, we have watched her navigate her evolving career with grace, artistry and humanity. Her passion, clarity and emotion have won her fans around the world and truly set her apart as a songwriter.”

Previous recipients of the ASCAP Golden Note Award include Tom Petty, Blondie, Garth Brooks, Lee Ann Womack, Alicia Keys, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Duran Duran, Jeff Lynne, Lionel Richie, Alan Jackson, Greg Kurstin and J.D. Souther.

In February 1997, at age 14, Rimes won two Grammys – best new artist and best female country vocal performance for “Blue.” She is, to this day, the youngest individual Grammy winner in a lead role. Ten months later, she was named artist of the year at the Billboard Music Awards. She has won 12 BBMA Awards in all.

Rimes has also won two Country Music Association Awards, three Academy of Country Music Awards, one Dove Award and two World Music Awards.

Rimes has also received recognition for her humanitarian work. She was honored with the Ally of Equality Award by the Human Rights Campaign for more than 20 years of support of equal rights, the 2019 HOPE Award for Depression Advocacy, and the 2009 ACM Humanitarian Award.Oc.t

Rimes had two No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200 in 1997 – Unchained Melody: The Early Years and You Light Up My Life: Inspirational Songs. She has had five No. 1 albums on Top Country Albums – those two albums plus Blue (1996), LeAnn Rimes (1999) and I Need You (2001).

Rimes’ biggest hit on the Hot 100 is “How Do I Live,” which reached No. 2 in 1997. Her biggest hit on Hot Country Songs is “One Way Ticket (Because I Can),” which hit No. 1 in 1996.

In the years since her breakout success, Rimes has ventured into pop, dance, Christian, “world Americana” and even chant music, and selling a reported 48 million albums worldwide. Her latest album, god’s work, was released Sept. 16 on EverLe Records.

Rimes continues to channel her voice in new ways, releasing CHANT: The Human & The Holy (EverLe Records / Thirty Tigers) in 2020, as well as her iHeartRadio mental health and wholeness podcast, Wholly Human, that brings her lifestyle blog, Soul of EverLe, to life.

ASCAP Experience sessions in 2022 have included discussions with such music creators as R&B star Ashanti, Latin superstar Camilo, Oscar-nominated Encanto composer Germaine Franco, K-Pop stars Amber Liu and Justin Park, and pop hitmakers Tommy Brown and Poo Bear.

For more information and to see the full schedule and watch sessions on demand, go to ASCAPexperience.com/schedule.