Music

The 2023 MTV Europe Music Awards, scheduled for November 5 in Paris, France, has been canceled due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

In a statement shared with ABC Audio, a spokesperson for Paramount said, “Given the volatility of world events, we have decided not to move forward with the 2023 MTV EMAs out of an abundance of caution for the thousands of employees, crew members, artists, fans, and partners who travel from all corners of the world to bring the show to life.”

The statement continued, “The MTV EMAs are an annual celebration of global music. As we watch the devastating events in Israel and Gaza continue to unfold, this does not feel like a moment for a global celebration. With thousands of lives already lost, it is a moment of mourning. We look forward to hosting the MTV EMAs again in November of 2024.”

On social media, the MTV EMA account further clarified, “Voting is continuing and the winning artists will receive their MTV EMA Awards.”

Nominees included Foo Fighters, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Metallica, Måneskin, Arctic Monkeys and The Killers for Best Rock, and Fall Out Boy, Thirty Seconds to Mars, Paramore, Blur, Lana Del Rey and Yungblud for Best Alternative. Thirty Seconds to Mars was also set to perform.

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Pearl Jam has announced a vinyl and cassette reissue of their 1993 album, Vs., in honor of its 30th anniversary.

The release will be available in a variety of variants on November 17, including as a “Dreamsicle” colored — translucent orange with white swirls — two-LP package and clear cassette exclusive to members of Pearl Jam’s Ten Club.

You can preorder your vinyl and cassette configuration of choice now.

Meanwhile, a new Atmos Spatial Audio Mix of Vs. will be released Friday, October 20, on Apple Music along with new visualizers for each of the album’s songs.

Vs., Pearl Jam’s sophomore album, was first released October 19, 1993 — 30 years ago Thursday. The RIAA seven-times Platinum record spawned the singles “Daughter,” “Go,” “Animal” and “Dissident” as well as the fan favorite cut “Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town.”

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Brantley Gilbert and Jelly Roll‘s collab, “Son of the Dirty South,” has been certified Gold by the RIAA.

Brantley shared the news alongside a single cover picture celebrating their latest accomplishment. 

“Gassed up and GOLD baby… Son of the Dirty South is the track that keeps on giving y’all… So excited to share it’s officially been certified by the @RIAA… LET’S GOOOO,” he shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, with the hashtags #sonofthedirtysouth and #bgnation.

“Son of the Dirty South” is off Brantley’s latest album, So Help Me God, which arrived in 2020.

Meanwhile, Jelly is currently top 10 on the country charts with his Lainey Wilson-assisted single, “Save Me.” The track is the second single from his debut country album, Whitsitt Chapel.

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The MTV EMAs, scheduled for November 5 in Paris, France, have been canceled due to the conflict in the Middle East.

In a statement shared with ABC Audio, a spokesperson for Paramount said, “Given the volatility of world events, we have decided not to move forward with the 2023 MTV EMAs out of an abundance of caution for the thousands of employees, crew members, artists, fans, and partners who travel from all corners of the world to bring the show to life.”

The statement continued, “The MTV EMAs are an annual celebration of global music. As we watch the devastating events in Israel and Gaza continue to unfold, this does not feel like a moment for a global celebration. With thousands of lives already lost, it is a moment of mourning. We look forward to hosting the MTV EMAs again in November of 2024.”

On social media, the MTV EMA account further clarified, “Voting is continuing and the winning artists will receive their MTV EMA Awards.”

The EMAs had just announced a star-studded lineup of performers earlier this week, including, The Kid LAROI, David Guetta, Jung Kook, Sabrina Carpenter, Rema, Anne-Marie, Coi Leray and Reneé Rapp. 

The leading nominee is Taylor Swift with seven nods; Olivia Rodrigo and SZA are next with six each.

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21 Savage returns to music with his first solo effort in a while: his single “Call Me Revenge” featuring Houston alt-R&B artist d4vd.

The new song, out via Epic Records, comes by way of 21’s partnership with popular video game Call of Duty. The rapper will soon star in an upcoming Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III trailer and be featured as an operator in the game. 

“Call Me Revenge” marks 21’s first unaccompanied track since 2020’s Summer Walker collaboration, “Secret.”

It also follows the rapper’s monthslong trek across the globe as Drake‘s counterpart on the It’s All a Blur Tour.

Last week, the Atlanta-based rapper announced he will make his return to his birthplace in the U.K. for his first international concert since becoming a U.S. resident. 

In a special announcement by Drake during an IAAB Canada show, 21 revealed his citizen update and performed for the first time since obtaining his green card. 

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Sonic Youth‘s Thurston Moore ponders the possibility that the band could reunite in a new interview with The New York Times.

“Everybody wants us to get back together,” Moore says. “I don’t foresee it happening because I think maybe it’s a little too unwieldy at this point … I’d rather be like the Beatles and never get back together.”

However, Moore doesn’t completely shut the idea, saying it would be “really worthwhile” for Sonic Youth to reunite.

“[It’s] something that’s always going to be on the table,” he says.

Of course, there remains the question of Moore’s relationship with bassist Kim Gordon. The two had been married for 27 years before splitting up in 2011, leading to Sonic Youth’s disbandment.

In response to a question about if he and Gordon could share the same stage again, Moore says, “We’re adults.”

“We can find our peace in this kind of situation,” he says. “We’re very connected in our family with my daughter and my nieces and everything. It’s not like some hate-fest or anything.”

Moore is set to release a new memoir, Sonic Life, on October 24. Earlier this month, Moore shared that he’d canceled his U.S. book tour due to a health issue, which he now reveals is a longstanding condition related to his heart rhythm.

“This year, it became slightly concerning,” Moore says. “I was finding myself at times to be so weak I could hardly walk around the neighborhood.”

Moore adds, though, that his “prognosis is very good,” and his book tour through the U.K., where he now lives, is still on schedule.

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October 18 was a special day for rising country artist and American Idol alum Chayce Beckham.

Not only did he make his long-awaited Grand Ole Opry debut, but he was surprised with a plaque for his RIAA-certified single, “23.”

The news was shared on the Opry’s Instagram.

“Chayce Beckham’s debut single was certified platinum, and presented with it just moments after his Opry debut!” they captioned the Instagram carousel, which featured Chayce receiving his plaque onstage. The post also included photos of Clay Walker and Rhett Akins celebrating their respective accomplishments.

“23” is currently top 20 and climbing up the country charts. 

Coming up, Chayce will release a new track, “Whiskey on the Wall,” October 27. You can hear a preview of it on X, formerly known as Twitter, and presave it now.

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