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‘Grateful’ Taylor Swift inducted into Songwriters Hall of Fame: ‘Songwriting is the easiest thing I ever did’

June 12, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Steven Spielberg’s new movie, Disclosure Day, opened at midnight Thursday, but at that time he was busy inducting Taylor Swift into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in New York City.

Spielberg’s speech during the annual gala was preceded by sombr performing her songs “Cardigan” and “Dear John.” Inside the ballroom, Taylor sat with fiancé Travis Kelce, her mother, Andrea Swift, Travis’ mother, Donna Kelce, and Spielberg and his wife, Kate Capshaw.

In his speech, Spielberg noted that Taylor is the youngest female songwriter to ever be inducted into the Hall, and said that her “place in our culture” rivals the likes of John Lennon and Paul McCartney, Carole King, James Taylor and Stevie Nicks.

“I love making movies,” he concluded. “But I don’t think I will ever fill stadiums of multigenerational fans who want to recite the dialogue from Indiana Jones. So thank you, Taylor, for the gift of your stories and for insisting on being an authentic voice in a world where the line between real and fake is increasingly blurred. You are our mirror ball.”

When Taylor took the stage, she noted that in her entire 23-year career, “Songwriting was the easiest thing I ever did.” She said, “I think what I mean is that it was instinctual. No one taught me how to do it. I had to be taught how to entertain the crowd and learn choreography and be less annoying. … But songwriting for me, it’s pretty much the only thing I ever just naturally did.”

She concluded her speech by addressing the Hall of Fame organization: “I wanna thank the voters for celebrating and honoring the best and truest parts of my life. I’ll be forever grateful.”

Also inducted Thursday night was Alanis Morrissette, who performed acoustic versions of her songs “Mary Jane” and “You Oughta Know.” She was inducted by Brandi Carlile, who performed Alanis’ song “Uninvited.”

Another inductee was Kenny Loggins. He was ushered in by Gavin DeGraw, who performed Kenny’s hit “Danny’s Song” and joined him for “Celebrate Me Home.” And Goo Goo Dolls singer John Rzeznik helped induct KISS members Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, teaming up with The Smashing Pumpkins singer Billy Corgan to perform their hit “Shout It Out Loud.”

It may be Last Call for touring, but Alan Jackson’s museum & distillery is coming soon

June 12, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Alan Jackson’s Silverbelly Whiskey Distillery and Museum will open June 25 in downtown Nashville, just days before his June 27 touring finale at Nissan Stadium.

Located at 121 3rd Ave. South, the museum will focus on “The Music, The Stories, The Legacy” and follow Alan on his journey from Newman, Georgia, to try to share his paper sack full of songs with the world.

“For over four decades, Alan has had an amazing career where his music has told stories of his life, creating the foundation of the legacy that we’re excited to share with his fans,” his longtime manager Debbie Doebler says. “We’re proud to be creating a new way for Alan and his music to be part of all that Nashville offers to residents and visitors alike, day-in and day-out.”

The distillery will trace his whiskey from “barrel to bottle” and showcase how it’s blended, proofed, bottled and labeled on site.

AJ’s Good Time Bar remains on nearby Lower Broadway, with the four-story honky-tonk preparing to celebrate a decade of business in 2026.

On This Day, June 12, 2003: Queen, Phil Collins & more inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame

June 12, 2026 by WDNY Radio

On This Day, June 12, 2003…

Phil Collins, Van Morrison and the members of Queen — Brian May, Roger Taylor, John Deacon and the late Freddie Mercury — were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame at a gala in New York City.

Little Richard was also inducted, and Jimmy Webb was awarded the Johnny Mercer Award, the Songwriters Hall of Fame’s highest honor.

Among the night’s performances, Queen teamed with up Wynonna to perform “Crazy Little Thing Called Love.” The band also performed “We Will Rock You,” with May on lead vocals.

Both Collins and Van Morrison would later receive the Johnny Mercer Award as well — Collins in 2010 and Van Morrison in 2015.

The Songwriters Hall of Fame’s 2026 class was inducted on Thursday. This year’s performer inductees included Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of KISS, Taylor Swift and Kenny Loggins. John Fogerty, who was inducted into the SHOF in 2005, received the Johnny Mercer Award.

Hear all six bonus tracks off blink-182’s ’Take Off Your Pants and Jacket’ with 25th anniversary reissue

June 12, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Blink-182 has released a deluxe reissue of their 2001 album, Take Off Your Pants and Jacket, in honor of its 25th anniversary.

Those who picked up Take Off Your Pants and Jacket when it first released a quarter-century ago may remember that it was available in three configurations, each corresponding to one of the images on the cover artwork — the red airplane, the yellow pants or the green jacket. Each edition included its own set of bonus tracks.

The 25th anniversary Take Off Your Pants and Jacket edition marks the first time all those bonus tracks have been collected in a single package. It also marks the songs’ streaming debut. The reissue is out now via digital outlets and is available now to preorder on vinyl.

Take Off Your Pants and Jacket, which was released on June 12, 2001, marked the fourth blink-182 album and the follow-up to their massive 1999 breakout effort, Enema of the State. It spawned the singles “First Date,” “The Rock Show” and “Stay Together for the Kids,” and became the first blink album to hit #1 on the Billboard 200.

Carly Simon returns with ‘Comes in Waves’, first album of new material since 2008

June 12, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Carly Simon is back with new music.

The “You’re So Vain” singer/songwriter is set to release the new album, Comes in Waves, on Aug. 14. The record is Simon’s first album of original music since 2008.

Fans are getting their first taste of her new music with the release of the album’s opening track “Howl,” which she co-wrote with songwriter David Spencer.

“‘Howl’ lives in that space between betrayal and forgiveness, where anger has to be voiced before it can be released,” says Simon. “It’s about letting the frustration out so it doesn’t sit and simmer. The song begins in anger, but it moves toward forgiveness, and speaks to any situation where trust has been broken.”

“Howl” is available now via digital outlets.

Simon wrote and recorded much of Comes in Waves at her home in Martha’s Vineyard. It features contributions from his son, Ben Taylor, and her daughter, Sally Taylor, whose dad is singer James Taylor.

Simon’s last album of new material was 2008’s This Kind of Love. In 2009, she released Never Been Gone, featuring acoustic versions of her previous material.

Comes in Waves is available for preorder now.

Here is the Comes In Waves track list:

“Howl”
“Maybe I Never Loved You”
“Peaches”
“Love Has No Ending”
“Mother Of Pearl”
“Slowly”
“Four In The Morning”
“The More I Look For You”
“Love The Way I Do”
“The Father Daughter Dance”
“Share the End”
“Do It Anyway”

How ‘Guitar Man’ Keith Urban wound up in a ‘Flow State’

June 12, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Keith Urban didn’t set out to make an oldies cover album as the follow-up to 2024’s High.

But once he fixed his sights on a new spot to make music, it seemed out of his hands.

“I have a yacht rock playlist and I found myself walking around, you know, singing a lot of these songs,” the Aussie superstar explains. “And I bought a studio and kinda just to break the studio in for fun, we thought we’d do one or two yacht rock songs. And I never intended to release them or do anything with them. It was just a fun way to break in my recording studio.”

“And slowly over the course of months of touring, every time I was off the road, we’d record a couple more and then a couple more and before I knew it, we were starting to make a record,” he continues. “It wasn’t a strategy, let’s put it that way. The record just took on a life of its own.”

The 11-song Flow State covers the time period from 1972 to 1981, bridging the gap between Seals & Crofts’ “Summer Breeze” and Bread’s “Guitar Man” to “Just the Two of Us” by Grover Washington Jr. & Bill Withers.

Yacht rock legend Michael McDonald guests on the one original, “We Go Back,” with Little Big Town adding their harmonies to “Magnet and Steel” and John Mayer joining “Guitar Man.”

New book explores 50 years of the Eagles’ ‘Hotel California’

June 12, 2026 by WDNY Radio

The 50th anniversary of the Eagles’ iconic album Hotel California is being celebrated in a new book.

Eagles and Hotel California: 50 Years is described as a “visual and narrative journey” exploring “the creation, legacy, and lasting cultural power of one of rock’s most iconic albums.”

It includes more than 200 photos and images, including rare studio shots, tour photography and band memorabilia. In book, rock historian Sean Egan delves into the “tumultuous” recording sessions for the album, as well as the record’s iconic songs, including the title track, “New Kid in Town” and “Life in the Fast Lane.” He also explores the band’s internal struggles and the album’s 50-year legacy.

The book will be released Sept. 8 and is available for preorder now.

Released in December 1976, Hotel California was the Eagles’ fifth studio album and their third #1. The album, their first with guitarist Joe Walsh, spent eight nonconsecutive weeks in the top spot and went on to become one of the bestselling albums of all time, selling over 32 million records and being certified 26-times Platinum by the RIAA.

Music Notes: Rick Ross, Young Thug and more

June 11, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Rick Ross has pushed back the release date for his upcoming album, Set in Stone. It was initially scheduled to arrive on Friday, but fans noticed streaming services have changed the date to July 17. Ross is scheduled to perform in Atlanta Friday as part of his Port of Miami 20th Anniversary Black-Tie Experience Orchestra Tour. He is bringing CeeLo Green as a special guest.

Young Thug may be known for his rapping, but he’s tapping more into the melodious side of his artistry. He revealed in a video that he is working on an R&B album.

Burna Boy helped kick off the FIFA World Cup 2026 Thursday at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca stadium, performing “Dai Dai” alongside collaborator Shakira. Tyla, who teamed with Future for the “Game Time” single off the Official FIFA World Cup 2026 Album, also made an appearance, treating the crowd to the South African national anthem. “DNA,” the Official FIFA World Cup 2026 Anthem, by Megan Thee Stallion, Andrea Bocelli, David Guetta and EJAE, is now available to stream.

Jakob Nowell says Sublime’s ’Until the Sun Explodes’ album will be ‘the last one I’m gonna make’

June 11, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Sublime will release a new album called Until the Sun Explodes on Friday, marking the band’s first record in 30 years and their first with Jakob Nowell, son of late frontman Bradley Nowell. As Jakob tells Billboard, though, it may also be their last.

“Unless a child of mine wants to make another one one day, this is the last one I’m gonna make,” Jakob says.

“I think you have to know your goals, set out to achieve them, and if you do you must then create new goals,” he continues. “I love doing this and it’s truly healed me in many ways, and allowed me to grow as an entertainer and performer. But I wish to carry the flag forward in different ways now.”

That includes making music with his own Jakobs Castle project and growing his record label. Jakob also intends to keep performing with Sublime alongside original members Eric Wilson and Bud Gaugh, and adds his feelings about making another Sublime album “could change in the future.”

“But it would be enough into the future where it would be a moot point,” Jakob says. “I’ve done what I thought was impossible and I’m very proud with the results.”

“I would want Until the Sun Explodes to feel like [an] epilogue, the victory lap, a celebration of Sublime’s history and a love letter to my father and all of his friends and the scene that raised me and touched so many people’s lives,” he continues. “After this I’d really like to pass that along and help the kids who want to do something similar.”

ABBA’s ‘Dancing Queen’ to be reissued on vinyl for 50th anniversary

June 11, 2026 by WDNY Radio

The 50th anniversary of ABBA’s iconic track “Dancing Queen” will be marked with the release of two new vinyl variants.

The single, remastered at Abbey Road Studios in London, will be reissued on 10-inch black vinyl and 10-inch sparkling vinyl on Aug. 13. The song “La Reina Del Baile” is featured on the B-side.

Both formats are available for preorder now.

Originally released in August 1976, “Dancing Queen” was the lead single off the Swedish band’s fourth studio album, Arrival. A huge hit across the world, the song became ABBA’s only #1 hit in the U.S. and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2015.

The video for the track, which reached 1 billion views on YouTube in June 2025, was directed by Lasse Hallström, who went on to direct such films as What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, The Cider House Rules and Chocolat.

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