Music

Walter Yetnikoff, who rose from working-class Brooklyn to become the head of CBS Records and became a star as volatile, if not more so, than many of the million-selling artists he signed, died on Monday at age 87. The cause of death was cancer, according to The New York Times.  Yetnikoff came into power during the 1970s, as the modern music industry was becoming big business; he prided himself on a hard-charging, take-no-prisoners, booze-for-breakfast style that turned the industry into a series of gladiatorial contests — over artists, hits, headlines,...

The title track from Scotty McCreery's Same Truck album is a likable message of unity that fits safely within the singer's comfortable repertoire. Images of rural America color a guitar and mandolin-led arrangement that finds the 27-year-old focused on the world around him.McCreery has done little of this across his four previous studio albums. Songs of love and loss have stood out and almost exclusively been chosen for radio singles. Exceptions include "Water Tower Town" (easily tied to his hometown, even if he didn't write it) and "In Between," a chart-topping co-write that smartly...

The federal racketeering case again singer R. Kelly commenced in a Brooklyn courthouse on Monday, as Judge Ann Donnelly quizzed more than three dozen potential jurors about their ability to remain impartial and committed during a trial which is scheduled to start August 18th and is estimated to last at least four weeks. The judge pressed prospective jurors on their ability to absorb testimony on “sexual activity between people of the same sex,” their previous knowledge of the allegations against Kelly, and in some cases, their views on law enforcement....

Jason Isbell is speaking out about his decision to require that fans show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a current negative test in order to attend his shows. It's a requirement that has affected recent performances from the singer — such as his appearance at Austin City Limits Live at the Moody Theater — and will be in place for all shows going forward."We're now requiring proof of vaccination or a current negative test to attend all of our shows, indoors or out," Isbell explained in a tweet on Monday (Aug. 9)....

Machine Gun Kelly added to his already impressive collection of tats Monday when he announced his next album’s title via matching ink with frequent collaborator Travis Barker. The duo showed off their new tattoos — reading Born With Horns — on Instagram, sneering and flexing all the while. Barker is the record’s executive producer; Born With Horns marks Kelly’s sixth studio album and follows 2020’s Tickets to My Downfall, also produced by Barker. The Blink-182 drummer has found new life over the past few years by collaborating with younger artists, including...

In a new interview, Miranda Lambert says she's still got a long way to go in learning how to be an ally for the LGBTQ+ community — but she's definitely learning with some help and advice from her brother, Luke Lambert, and his husband.Lambert tells GLAAD that she definitely wants to be part of the changing attitudes toward the LGBTQ+ community, an issue that has been more at the forefront of sociopolitical debate and change in recent years."I do think we are in a moment of change and I have so...

Seven months after Hipgnosis Songs Fund bought 100 percent of Lindsey Buckingham’s publishing rights, the Merck Mercuriadis-led group has acquired the catalog of fellow Fleetwood Mac member Christine McVie. The deal includes every song McVie penned both with the band and solo, including the Mac hits “Say You Love Me,” “Little Lies,” “Don’t Stop,” “You Make Loving Fun,” “Think About Me,” “Save Me” and many more. “I am so excited to belong to the Hipgnosis family, and thrilled that you all regard my songs worthy of merit,” McVie said in a statement. “I’d...

Asleep at the Wheel have officially hit 50 years as a band, and to mark the milestone, they're celebrating with a new album, appropriately titled Half a Hundred Years. Due out on Oct. 1, the project will feature 19 tracks and an all-star collection of special guests.Some of those featured performers hail from the many prior lineups the band has taken over the past five decades; original AATW members Chris O'Connell, Leroy Preston and Lucky Oceans all make an appearance, for example.Then, the band enlist two legendary Texans -- Willie...

Following their triumphant performance at Lollapalooza, Limp Bizkit have canceled the remainder of their August concerts due to safety concerns related to Covid-19. “Out of an abundance of caution and concern for the safety of the band, crew and most of all the fans, the Limp Bizkit show this Monday and the remaining August tour is being cancelled,” the band said in a statement. “Refunds are available at their points of purchase. All tickets purchased online will be automatically refunded.” The tour cancelation comes after the band’s concert Friday at...

Rodney Crowell is one of those rare talents who has found success as both a singer and a songwriter in equal parts. As a recording artist, he's released more than 20 studio albums, earned a couple of Grammy Awards and taken five singles to No. 1. As a songwriter, he's written hits for everyone from Waylon Jennings to Keith Urban to Tim McGraw.The Boot's list of Crowell's Top 10 songs draw from from both of these pools: Crowell as a performer and Crowell as a songwriter. There's a little bit of everything on this...

Following the premiere “Rift Tour” event Friday, Ariana Grande has shared the full “performance” that she staged within the popular gaming app Fortnite. The Rift Tour featured the Grande avatar singing a handful of her hits — “Raindrops,” “7 Rings,” “Be Alright,” “R.E.M.,” “The Way,” and “Positions” — plus songs by Wolfmother, LSD (Labrinth, Sia and Diplo) and Juice WRLD and Marshmello’s “Come & Go.” According to GameSpot — which uploaded the entire 14-minute event — the unique “musical experience” took gamers on a series of vibrant adventures, including snowboarding...

The Mavericks are one of the most innovative country bands around. Formed in Miami, Fla., in the late 1980s -- and fronted by vocalist Raúl Malo -- the band melds traditional country, blues and soul sounds with Latin instrumentation and styles.The group first broke big with their third album, 1994's platinum-selling What a Crying Shame, which spawned four Top 40 country hits and propelled the band to nab the ACM Awards trophies for Top New Vocal Group and Top Vocal Group. (For good measure, the Mavericks also won Vocal Group of the Year...

Dennis “Dee Tee” Thomas, longtime saxophonist and co-founding member of the legendary funk outfit Kool & The Gang, has died at the age of 70. The band announced Thomas’ death Saturday, revealing that he “passed away peacefully in his sleep” in New Jersey. No cause of death was provided. “An original member of Kool & The Gang, Dennis was known as the quintessential cool cat in the group, loved for his hip clothes and hats, and his laid-back demeanor,” the group said in a statement. “A huge personality while also an extremely private person, Dennis...

Despite being vaccinated, both Reba McEntire and her boyfriend, Rex Linn, contracted COVID-19, the country star recently shared."It's not fun to get this ... You don't feel good," McEntire said during a livestream on TikTok, during which the singer chatted with fans from her "birdyard" (i.e., her home's courtyard). "Stay safe, stay home, and be protected the best you can."The CDC reports that the current seven-day moving average of new daily COVID-19 cases in the United States increased 33.7 percent from the previous seven-day moving average. Ninety-three percent of all newly reported...