Month: June 2023

After teaming up for capsule collaborations in the fall of 2022, Anuel AA and Reebok officially announced a long-term partnership Monday (June 5).

The partnership between the Latin rapper and sporting goods company will include a range of product collections and special projects, including original content creation, innovative design and activations, with the mission of enriching Reebok’s storytelling and connection with new audiences. 

“As a lifelong fan of Reebok, becoming part of the brand is a dream come true,” Anuel (real name: Emmanuel Gazmey Santiago) said in a press statement. “I have long admired Reebok’s unique designs and iconic roster of collaborators who have never shied away from writing their own rules. It’s a special feeling to know that I’m considered a member of the team and that they not only believe in me but give me the space for unbridled creative expression. I am so honored to be a part of this brand’s legacy and help shape its next chapter.”

Todd Krinsky, Reebok’s CEO added: “Reebok and Anuel share a longtime mutual admiration for one another.  Having the opportunity to collaborate this past season was a great indicator of what’s to come and we’re thrilled to make this partnership finally official. Reebok is a brand with deep roots in music and culture, dating back to being the first sportswear brand to make a signature shoe with a hip-hop artist in the 90s, and we’re excited to continue blazing trails in the industry with someone like Anuel, who possesses such strong individuality.  We’re thrilled to welcome him into the Reebok family and looking to do some special things together.”

In August 2022, the Puerto Rican artist debuted his sneaker capsule called “The Sky Above the Street” featuring two signature Reebok models: the Classic Leather and Pump Omni Zone 2 in red and black colorways – “inspired by the sun-faded vibrant urban neighborhoods and outdoor courts of Puerto Rico and celebrates the beauty of the community and its people,” according to a press release. Through the collection, Anuel donated to the local non-profit organization SER De Puerto Rico, supporting the organization’s mission of uplifting people with disabilities. 

Of the new contract, Anuel thanked prolific basketball player Shaquille O’Neal—and a partial owner of Reebok—for believing in him. For more information or to shop the collection, visit www.reebok.com. 

Japanese Breakfast lead singer Michelle Zauner has a fan in BTS‘ Jung Kook. Zauner had the perfect reaction when finding out that the BTS vocalist purchased a copy of her 2021 memoir, Crying in H Mart, on Sunday.

Jung Kook sat down for a Weverse Live to speak with fans for nearly two hours. During the casual chat, the K-pop star revealed that he picked up a copy of Zauner’s New York Times bestselling book and held up the book in the live.

After catching wind of Jung Kook’s promo of her novel, Zauner took to her Instagram Story and wrote, “Excuse me Jung Kook has bought a copy of Crying in H Mart!!!!!” Over on Twitter, she reposted a tweet that informed BTS fans of Jung Kook’s co-sign of the book and quote-tweeted it with several excited exclamation points.

Crying in H Mart is slated to become a feature film. Zauner is currently holding an open casting call to see who will play her in the movie. Meanwhile, the director was recently announced to be White Lotus star Will Sharpe.

“I am so relieved to have found Will Sharpe and am beyond delighted that he will be the director of Crying in H Mart,” Zauner shared on Instagram. “I believe his sensitivity, as a director and an actor, and his own personal experience, having also grown up between two cultures, will be tremendous assets.”

She continued, “His work on Flowers and The Electrical Life of Louis Wain speak to his ability to conjure lofty, vulnerable performances, to find humor and grace within the tragedy of the everyday. They are a precious collection of talents that make him the perfect fit for this film.”

See Zauner’s Instagram Story regarding Jung Kook before it disappears here.

On June 1, Perfume graced the stage at one of Europe’s largest music festivals — Primavera Sound 2023 in Barcelona — for their first festival appearance outside Japan since 2019.

The last time the trio had performed outside its home country was when it hit the Indio desert for a set at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in California.

During their Primavera set, Perfume treated the festival crowd to a total of nine songs over the course of an hour including “Polyrhythm” — featured in the soundtrack for the Disney/Pixar-produced 2011 movie Cars 2 — “FLASH” and “Chocolate Disco.” The electro-pop group consisting of a-chan, NOCCHi and KASHIYUKA is also scheduled to perform as part of the festival’s Madrid lineup on Thursday (June 8).

Perfume also hopped over to London on June 3 for their first headlining concert in nine years at the O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire in the U.K., titled Perfume LIVE 2023 “CODE OF PERFUME.”

Perfume’s setlist at Primavera Sound 2023 Barcelona on June 1:

Polyrhythm
FLASH
Spending all my time
Electro World
Nee
FUSION
edge
FAKE IT
Chocolate Disco

Universal Music Group Nashville and Capitol Christian Music Group have partnered for the release of new music from Grammy-nominated artist Anne Wilson. Additionally, Wilson has signed with The Neal Agency, the boutique operation that’s home to artists including Morgan Wallen, Ernest, HARDY, Bailey Zimmerman, Riley Green, Ashland Craft and Ella Langley. Wilson continues to be managed by Matthew West‘s Story House Collective.

In 2022, Wilson released her debut major label album, My Jesus, and topped Billboard‘s Christian Airplay and Hot Christian Songs charts with the project’s title track (the album also debuted atop the top Christian albums chart). She followed with the top 5 Hot Christian Songs hit “Sunday Sermons” and the top 20 Hot Christian Songs single “Living Water.” Additionally, her collaboration with Phil Wickham, “Behold,” reached No. 2 on the Christian Airplay chart.

My Jesus features a blend of contemporary Christian lyrics with the sounds of modern country music and featured Lady A member Hillary Scott on the song “Mamas.” Last year, Wilson took home two GMA Dove Awards: for new artist of the year and pop/contemporary recorded song of the year (“My Jesus”).

Wilson is slated to perform in Nashville this week as part of CMA Fest. She made her Grand Ole Opry debut last year, with another Opry performance slated for June 16.

“From the moment we first met Anne, it was clear she had a special talent and an incredible story and message,” said Capitol CMG’s Brad O’Donnell and Hudson Plachy in a statement. “It’s been so rewarding to be a part of the success she’s had with her debut project and we are thrilled to have UMG Nashville and Cindy Mabe as partners for this next chapter. We believe there’s no ceiling for what Anne can achieve.”

“Anne Wilson is a boundary-pushing artist who belongs in both Christian and country music formats and cultures,” added UMG Nashville chair/CEO Mabe. “She’s here to take her story and the power of her music to new audiences, while continuing to be an ambassador of faith in youth culture and beyond within the Christian music audience. She’s unique and dynamic in sound, purpose and spirit and getting to partner with her, her team at Story House Collective, and Hudson Plachy and Brad O’Donnell and their team at Capitol Christian Music Group is a great privilege.”

“I am so excited to partner with UMG Nashville, and with The Neal Agency,” Wilson said. “Over the last two years, I have watched God open doors for my music that I could never open for myself. I see these new partnerships as another open door to share the message of hope, faith and the love of my Jesus to an even broader audience. I can’t wait to see what happens next!”

Taeyong’s debut solo album is finally here. On Monday (June 5), the NCT 127 member released his highly anticipated project, SHALALA, alongside a high-energy music video for the lead single of the same name.

The visual for “Shalala” sees the K-pop star playing a hacker who is so talented at what he does, he disrupts several multiverses, travels hundreds and thousands of years back in time, and even distorts the shape of Earth. Throughout the hip-hop track’s infectious chorus, the NCT 127 rapper expertly hits choreography with the help of a few back up dancers.

“Wow, wow, wow, wow/ Bounce (We jumpin’ around, let’s go)/ Sha-la-la-la, la-la, oh-my-my/ Sha-la-la-la, la-la, I’ma shine,” the K-pop star raps on the track.

SHALALA arrived with six songs alongside the title track: “Move Mood Mode” featuring Red Velvet main vocalist Wendy, “Ruby,” “Gwando,” “404 File Not Found,” “Virtual Insanity” and “Back to the Past.”

Though Taeyong and several other members under the NCT umbrella have released solo songs via their label, SM Entertainment’s SM Station project, he marks the first member of the group to make a solo debut with an album. Taeyong’s last solo release was 2022’s “Fine,” which was uploaded to SoundCloud in November.

As for NCT 127, the group made moves on the Billboard charts earlier this year with the release of Ay-Yo, the album repackage of its fifth studio album, 2 Baddies. The repackaged set peaked at No. 13 on the all-genre Billboard 200, and spent two weeks on the tally.

Watch the video for “Shalala” above, and stream the album in full below.