The Who’s Roger Daltrey on making new music: “What’s the point?”

March 10, 2023 by WDNY Radio

It sounds like The Who fans shouldn’t hold their breath waiting for a new album. In a new interview with NME, frontman Roger Daltrey explains why the band has no plans to make new music together.

“What’s the point?” Daltrey tells the mag. “What’s the point of records? We released an album four years ago, and it did nothing,” he says, referring to the 2019 release Who. He adds, “It’s a great album too, but there isn’t the interest out there for new music these days. People want to hear the old music. I don’t know why, but that’s the fact.”

He also lays the blame on record companies, noting that despite the fact their fan base ranges “from 80-years-old, all the way down to eight-years-old,” companies “just don’t do the same job as they used to.”

Tim McGraw’s “Standing Room Only” will get you thinking about life

March 10, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Tim McGraw has announced the title of his forthcoming 17th studio album with the release of its title track, “Standing Room Only.”

Leading fans on a powerful reflection on life, Tim sings in the chorus, “I wanna live a life, live a life/ Like a dollar and the clock on the wall don’t own me/ Shine a light, shine a light/ Like mama’s front porch when I’m lost and lonely/ Start forgivin’ and start forgettin’/ Be somebody that’s worth rememberin’/ Live a life so when I die/ There’s standing room only, standing room only.”

“‘Standing Room Only’ caught my ear the first time I heard it because of its message,” Tim shares. “For me, this song is so positive and life affirming. It isn’t about the funeral or the procession, it’s about how we live in the here and now. How do we push ourselves and in which direction do we push ourselves? For me, it’s a reminder to live a life filled with gratitude and not take things for granted. Also, it’s a reminder to give back and be there for others.”

“Standing Room Only” was produced by Tim and Byron Gallimore, and written by Craig Wiseman, Tommy Cecil and Patrick Murphy, who also shared a demo clip of the song on Instagram.

Tim’s forthcoming new record will drop later this year.

Nick Jonas releases “Maan Meri Jaan (Afterlife)” with Indian artist King

March 10, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Nick Jonas sang in Hindi when jumping on a remix of the viral hit “Maan Meri Jaan,” a song from India’s breakout star King.

King originally released the song, which went viral, last year. Now, the two have combined forces on the romantic pop ballad and have dubbed it “Maan Meri Jaan (Afterlife).” Nick contributed an English verse to the Hindi song and also sings a few lyrics in King’s native language.

King, born Arpan Kumar Chandel, said in a statement about the remix, “Bringing ‘Maan Meri Jaan (Afterlife)’ to the world with Nick has been an exciting journey. We can’t wait for fans to hear how the blending of our styles has come to life.”

Likewise, Nick said of the new offering, “My love for India extends to its music and collaborating with King on his massive hit, ‘Maan Meri Jaan,’ is an honor.”

The Jonas Brothers member is married to Indian actress Priyanka Chopra, and the two celebrated their 2018 engagement in her native country. They also wed in India, at the Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur, two years later.

Priyanka recently praised her husband in an interview with People, saying, “My husband is my greatest champion and he’s half Indian, as you will see when the music starts, but he’s just such a supporter of me.”

The actress added that Nick “champions me and reminds me when I forget.”

The two share a 1-year-old daughter, Malti Marie.

New photo book ‘David Bowie: Rock ‘n’ Roll with Me’ coming later this month

March 10, 2023 by WDNY Radio

David Bowie’s life and career are being explored in a new book of personal photos from his childhood friend Geoff MacCormack.

David Bowie: Rock ‘n’ Roll with Me, dropping March 20, features photos MacCormack took while on tour with the White Duke in 1973, while Bowie filmed The Man Who Fell to Earth, recorded Station to Station and more.

“I was very lucky,” the photographer tells People of his friendship with the rock star, noting that while it was happening he had “absolutely” no idea the photos were capturing history.

MacCormack previously released a limited-edition Bowie photo book in 2007, which included a forward written by Bowie, who claimed MacCormack imagined all their adventures. That forward is included in the new book, but as the afterward.

“Obviously the book is sad at the end because he departs,” MacCormack shares, referring to Bowie’s 2016 death. “So I’ve used that and it kind of lifts you up at the end.”

MacCormack shares some of the photos from the book with People, including one of what looks like Bowie moving a tree branch in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where The Man Who Fell to Earth was shot.

“I’m totally mystified about this picture because I don’t remember taking it!” he says. “It looks like Santa Fe, if you look at the house, it’s got that kind of look about it.” He added, “Why would he be moving trees? It’s beyond crazy.”

Meghan Trainor taps Kris Jenner to star in her “Mother” music video

March 10, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Meghan Trainor made a splash with her “Mother” music video, which features the famous mom-ager Kris Jenner.

Kris takes a starring role in the video as the two channel old Hollywood glamour. The Keeping Up with the Kardashians star lip syncs to the feminist anthem while sashaying around in an exquisite white dress and diamond necklace in one scene.

Another scene sees the ladies wearing black velvet outfits, and showing off their eye-catching diamonds and jewelry.

The singer said in a statement about her latest offering, “This song is my response to being in the industry for almost a decade now and still finding myself in situations where I am talked down to or made to feel like my opinion isn’t valid.”

“It’s for anyone who is in a situation where they feel like they are being mansplained to and want to take their power back,” she added.

The song samples The Chordettes’ 1954 hit “Mr. Sandman,” as Meghan sings about putting men with a “God complex” in their place. “Yeah, your opinion’s so strong/ Even when you’re wrong/ Bet that feels like power to you,” she muses before reminding them they “must’vе forgot who you’re talking to.”

She also gives a shout-out to husband Daryl Sabara in this new offering, singing, “Y’all need a masterclass from my man/ Learn how to satisfy like he can/ Ain’t tryna control me and own me/ Like an old man on C-SPAN/ Bet you wish you could wife this/ Stay mad, that’s priceless.”

“Mother” is one of three new songs featured on Meghan’s deluxe version of her album Takin’ It Back, which is out now.

Carrie Underwood gifts fans a surprise new song on her birthday

March 10, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Carrie Underwood is celebrating her 40th birthday Friday with a surprise new song, “Out Of That Truck.”

Out now, the uptempo breakup tune finds Carrie playing the character of a bitter ex who’s certain her old flame won’t ever get over her.

“When you’re runnin’ around in that stick shift Chevy/ I bet it drives you crazy/ Thinking about us on every other back road, baby/ You got someone new on your bench seat trying to forget me lately/ But my memory’s stuck/ So good luck trying to get me out of that truck,” the powerhouse vocalist sings in the song she co-wrote with David Garcia and Lydia Vaughn.

“It’s not an aggressive song at all, so it’s like, we didn’t wanna push it there, but just wanted it to move and have some energy,” Carrie says of the song’s production in an Instagram video. “I have an affinity for guitars, so it was just kind of one of those wanting it to take you somewhere and sing along with it. It’s just kind of a cool vibe, kind of looking at doing a country truck song in a different kind of way, just wanted it to be moving and kind of a bit of a tempo song.”

“Out Of That Truck” is the first new track Carrie has released following her 2022 album, Denim & Rhinestones. The 12-song record includes her current single, “Hate My Heart.”

India.Arie explains why she’s back on Spotify

March 10, 2023 by WDNY Radio

India.Arie‘s explaining her decision to put her music back on Spotify. The singer left the platform last year because it hosts Joe Rogan‘s podcast, despite his “language around race,” and because of its treatment of all, but especially Black, artists.

Speaking to Billboard, India said she pulled her music off Spotify in protest and “in the name of my own dignity.”

“I’ve been in the music industry for 24 years … and I know too much about how racism functions in the music industry to be comfortable with what I saw,” she said. “And so knowing that Black music sells most of the music, and just how important Black people are in the [music industry], and in the creation of music … Knowing that Black music does the most streams [and how] streaming has deeply affected people’s ability to make a living as songwriters, and then they just throw it in our face that they’re given [sic] this man who uses racist language $200 million — for me, my dignity could not stand it.”

India said she has “watched people’s checks dry up” since the introduction of streaming platforms, which she says gives most of the money to record labels. She notes a payment then goes to Spotify, before the label and streaming services pay the artist whatever they deem the value of a stream.

Despite that, India’s decided to return mainly because of two recent changes: She’ll begin getting royalty payments this year, and National Music Publishers’ Association President/CEO David Israelite won a lawsuit that increases songwriters’ royalty rate from 10.5% to 15.1% for stream payments between 2018 and 2022.

“When those two things shifted, I put my music back up,” she said. “Cause I want my checks. And not only do I want my checks, I deserve my checks.”

Lil Nas X hangs with Miley Cyrus, Dua Lipa, Elton John and more at Versace fashion show

March 10, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Lil Nas X rubbed elbows with some of music’s biggest names at the Versace Fall-Winter 2023 Fashion Show. He was seen palling around with Dua Lipa, Elton John and Miley Cyrus — to name a few.

He shared a collage of images to his Instagram, in which he also displayed the head-turning ensemble he wore to the event. He captioned the post “I [heart] donatella.”

Donatella Versace replied in the comments, “And I love you!!!!!!”

The rapper donned a sheer crop top tank that was embellished with dazzling white crystals and a pleated, black leather skirt with a similar stream of beads cascading down the front. He accessorized with matching black boots and a boxy clutch.

Lil Nas X also got his fans hyped by sharing two snaps of him sandwiched between Sir Elton and Miley. He put up an image of him posing with Dua and another photo of him posing with actress Anne Hathaway.

Variety journalist Mark Malkin shared a video to his personal Instagram showing Lil Nas X hanging with Elton and Miley. Elton featured both on his album The Lockdown Sessions, while Lil Nas X featured both Miley and Sir Elton on his Montero album on the respective songs “Am I Dreaming” and “One of Me.”

The rapper also chatted with Variety while walking the red carpet and disclosed his outfit wasn’t what he planned on wearing for the evening. “At first, this outfit was a little more conservative,” he said, adding, “But now it’s really cute and slutty — my favorite two things.”

The fashion show took place at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood on Wednesday night.

Pete Townshend’s first single in 29 years, “Can’t Outrun The Truth,” coming March 24

March 10, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Pete Townshend fans won’t have to wait much longer for his new solo single. After teasing the track last month, The Who rocker finally announced the song “Can’t Outrun The Truth” will drop March 24 and shared a snippet of it on social media.

“Can’t Outrun The Truth” is Townshend’s first solo single in 29 years and will be accompanied by his first solo video in 40 years. The track was composed and produced by Townshend’s wife, Rachel Fuller, under her nom de plume, Charlie Pepper.

Rachel shares that the song was inspired by the feelings of isolation many were dealing with during the pandemic: “I really started to think about how unbelievably difficult this period of time was going to be for so many people.”

She added, “I wrote lyrics and then I sat at the piano and wrote the music, and then I thought, ‘Oh, I really would like to record it, because it’s really not a bad song at all’ – and my singing days are long over. So, I asked Pete to record the demo.”

A portion of each “Can’t Outrun The Truth” download will be donated to the Teenage Cancer Trust. The song is available for preorder now.

There will also be 200 12-inch singles of “Can’t Outrun The Truth,” featuring artwork by Damien Hirst and Pete’s “Let My Love Open The Door” on side B. Each one will be signed by Townshend and will be sold at the upcoming Teenage Cancer Trust shows at London’s Royal Albert Hall from March 21 to 26. All proceeds from those sales will go to the charity, as well.

Depeche Mode on ‘The Last of Us’ reviving “Never Let Me Down Again”: “That was nuts”

March 10, 2023 by WDNY Radio

While Depeche Mode has a new single, “Ghosts Again,” and a forthcoming album, Memento Mori, one of their classic hits, “Never Let Me Down Again,” has been enjoying new life thanks to its inclusion in the hit HBO series The Last of Us — a phenomenon that the band says they never expected.

The original version of the 1987 Depeche classic was used in the first episode of The Last of Us, and a haunting cover version by Jessica Mazin was included in episode six. Streams of the original song in the U.S. rose more than 220% after that first episode, which used the song as part of the plot: The characters play tracks from the ’80s over the radio as code to indicate trouble.

“That was nuts,” singer Dave Gahan tells NME. “We didn’t expect that. It’s like it’s our time again and you can feel it in the air.”

He adds, “It’s amusing to me, because we’ve f***ing worked hard and we’re getting this weird recognition again of, ‘This band are important and cool and they deserve to be here.’”

Guitarist/keyboardist and singer Martin Gore notes, “It’s incredible that we got that boost. We’re fortunate in that we seem to attract a young audience anyway. With each record there are 20-year-olds getting into it.”

“But that’s just one track,” he continues. “I hope that anyone who discovered that song would be interested to get into everything else we’ve done.”

They can start with Memento Mori, which comes out March 24. Gahan tells NME the title is Latin for “Remember you must die” — fitting, perhaps, since it’s their first album since the 2022 death of founding member Andy Fletcher.

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