Music – Page 1792 – 105.7 WDNY

Elton John launches lawsuit against ’Daily Mail’ with Prince Harry and others

October 6, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Sir Elton John has filed suit against Associated Newspapers — publishers of the U.K. papers Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday and the Mail Online — under accusations of breach of privacy.

The legendary singer isn’t the only person bringing forth the suit, which was filed October 6, per a press release. Among those who have brought forth the lawsuit include Elton’s husband David Furnish, Prince Harry, Baroness Doreen Lawrence, Sadie Frost and Elizabeth Hurley. They are not just accusing the publishers of gross breaches of privacy, they also claim they are victims of abhorrent criminal activity.

They allege that Associated Newspapers hired private investigators to place surveillance equipment in their cars and homes so they could unknowingly eavesdrop and also record their private phone calls and conversations.

Sir Elton and company also claim the publishers bribed police officials to grant their private investigators access to sensitive information. Furthermore, they claim Associated Newspapers had their employees impersonate officials to obtain private medical information from the institutions that either saw or treated them.

Associated Newspaper were also accused of illegally accessing their private banking information and credit history.

Sir Elton and his group claim they have more alleged evidence of more wrongdoing and that there are more unknowing victims of these alleged crimes. They aim not only to hold those who allegedly wronged them accountable, but to help dissuade journalists from further engaging in such tactics to procure sensitive and private information.

It is unknown how much they are seeking in damages at this time.

Jared Leto to play fashion icon Karl Lagerfeld in biopic

October 6, 2022 by WDNY Radio

For a guy who knows how to make a splash on the red carpet and onstage, Jared Leto is no stranger to fashion. Now, the Oscar-winning actor and 30 Seconds to Mars frontman will be playing one of fashion’s biggest names.

Women’s Wear Daily broke the news that Leto will be playing the late Karl Lagerfeld in a biopic the actor is producing in collaboration with the fashion house that still bears Lagerfeld’s name.

“I feel like this is a full-circle moment and Karl would be proud of what we are doing,” Leto told the trade, adding, “Karl was an artist. Period. He was a fashion designer, he was a photographer, he was an artist. There was no defining him. He was a creative powerhouse.”

Lagerfeld died in 2019, but before his death, per WWD, Leto told him he wanted to portray him, and the designer reportedly answered, “Only you, darling, only you.”

Leto retweeted the article, noting “Karl has always been an inspiration to me. He was a true polymath, an artist, an innovator, a leader and, most importantly, a kind man.” He added, “When we came together with the Karl Lagerfeld team, we immediately shared a creative vision of doing a respectful ode to Karl while pushing the artistic boundaries of what a biopic can be.”

According to the Karl Lagerfeld company, the biopic will center on “key relationships in Karl Lagerfeld’s life, told through an unpredictable lens, much like the man himself.”

Kenny Chesney, Old Dominion take fans inside life on tour with “Beer with My Friends” video

October 6, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Kenny Chesney is popping the top on a “Beer with My Friends” — and that includes everyone from his tour pals Old Dominion to all the fans who came out to see them on tour.

The singer and the guys of Old Dominion shared a music video for their duet rendition of “Beer with My Friends,” taking viewers behind the scenes on the road. From the bus to backstage to a performance in front of a packed stadium, the clip invites fans to get a first-hand look at life on tour with Kenny and the gang.

“If every picture is a million words, then every cut of this clip is a whole movie! Every shot means something to us, all those faces in the crowd, the stadiums…” Kenny reminisces.

But it’s not just the onstage fun that makes it into the video: The clip also includes some of the antics that the tour mates got into along the way, including a cameo from a fish named Marley, another from Kenny’s mom and even some shots of the singer drinking a beer in an ice bath.

“So when you see me drinking that beer in the ice bath, just know: that beer I’m lifting’s for you… wherever you are, whoever you’re with!” Kenny adds. “It’s all about ‘Beer with My Friends,’ from my whole road family, Old Dominion and beyond, to you!”

Lizzo files to trademark the name of her flute

October 6, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Lizzo fans have known for a while that she’s a classically trained flutist, but after she played President James Madison’s 200-year-old crystal flute, more people than ever are aware of her talents. So, it shouldn’t be a huge surprise that Lizzo is now filing to trademark her own flute.

Billboard reports that the “About Damn Time” singer filed to trademark the name “Sasha Flute” — which is the actual name of her instrument — under seven different patent petitions. This filing would protect the name “Sasha Flute” from being used in media, toys, clothing, books, NFTs, virtual marketplaces and more.

It is unknown if Lizzo was prompted to file for trademark protection following her performance on Madison’s crystal flute on September 27.

Attorney Michael E. Kondoudis told the outlet that this could mean Lizzo has something planned for her beloved instrument. “Usually in our experience what we find is people file trademark applications after the plans have already started being formed and in motion — not when they get this idea,” he explained.

“Because it does cost money, it does take some time and it is a federal legal matter,” he continued. “So when you have an attorney file it there has to be some kind of concrete plan to go from where they are today to selling the products and service in the metaverse.”

For trivia fans, it should be noted that Lizzo named her flute after her icon Beyoncé‘s alter-ego, Sasha Fierce. For more Sasha Flute updates or to learn more about her, you can follow her Instagram fan account.

Part of Joey Ramone’s music catalog acquired by Primary Wave Music publishing company

October 6, 2022 by WDNY Radio

A stake in late legendary Ramones singer Joey Ramone‘s music catalog has been acquired by the Primary Wave Music publishing company.

The agreement includes non-exclusive rights to license Ramone’s name and likeness as well as income from many songs from the pioneering punk band’s catalog.

Among the many classic Ramones tunes included in the deal are “Do You Remember Rock ‘n’ Roll Radio,” “Sheena Is a Punk Rocker,” “I Wanna Be Sedated” and “Rockaway Beach.”

Mitchel Hyman a.k.a. Mickey Leigh, Joey’s brother and only heir, says of the agreement, “I’m happy to welcome Primary Wave as partners in my brother’s interests in Ramones. I’m thoroughly convinced of their eagerness to perpetuate his legacy, and their sincerity about doing it in a way that will never compromise his credibility. I, very much, am looking forward to working with them.”

Adds Primary executive Lexi Todd, “Joey Ramone was a total original — his songwriting, style, and voice are all undeniably unique and immediately recognizable still today. A counterculture icon and prime mover of punk rock, Ramones demonstrated first-hand the power of music in influencing culture and built a foundation that has influenced decades of musicians. We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to continue the legacy of Joey Ramone and Ramones catalog.

Born Jeffrey Hyman, Joey co-founded the Ramones in 1974 and served as the group’s lead singer and one of its main songwriters throughout the band’s 20-plus-year history. He died of cancer in April 2001, a month before his 50th birthday. Joey was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with the Ramones in 2002.

Fivio Foreign says he’s “happy” Glo Rilla won BET Hip Hop Award: “She deserved it”

October 6, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Fivio Foreign is showing love to newcomer Glo Rilla despite losing an award to the rapper at the 2022 BET Hip Hop Awards.

“I did not get robbed,” he wrote on Twitter, denouncing fan claims that he was snubbed. “Glorilla won cuz she deserved it & ima Happy for her.”

Both rappers were up for Best Breakthrough Hip Hop Artist — along with Baby Keem, Blxst, Doechii, Nardo Wick and Saucy Santana — with Glo Rilla taking home the win.

Many fans on social media disagreed with Fivio, some comparing her short discography to that of the New York rapper’s longer body of work.

“He def got robbed. She has one hot song on the charts and just released another one last week,” one user tweeted.

Another user emphasized the idea that Fivio shouldn’t have been included in the Breakthrough Artist category. “…he already been out so he’s not a breakthrough artist, Glorilla actually was the only breakthrough artist in that category,” they wrote.

Glo Rilla’s viral song “FNF (Let’s Go)” became hip-hop’s summer anthem and earned her a label deal with Yo Gotti‘s Collective Music Group in July.

Speaking to Billboard about his decision to sign the rapper Gotti said, “GloRilla is a natural born star — she has a different sound and approach that’s needed in hip-hop right now.”

He added, “It’s one of the quickest rises that I’ve seen in my career because she only dropped in late-April and now she has the hottest cultural records in music. Glo is hungry for success and determined to win. We look forward to watching her grow as an artist and reach her full potential.”

Glo Rilla accepted the award with a brief but emotional speech.

Tom Morello congratulates Harvard bandmate Carolyn Bertozzi on winning Nobel Prize

October 6, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Imagine getting to truthfully say, “I used to be in a band with Tom Morello” and “I won a Nobel Prize” in a game of Two Truths and a Lie.

Such is the life of Stanford chemist Carolyn Bertozzi, who this week was awarded with the 2022 Nobel Prize in chemistry. Prior to her work at Stanford, she attended Harvard in the ’80s, where she started a band with the future guitarist of Rage Against the Machine.

Upon learning of his former bandmate’s accomplishment, Morello congratulated Bertozzi in a tweet while also revealing a few details about their group.

“We won the Ivy League Battle of the Bands in 1986 with our rockin’ group ‘Bored of Education,’ with [Bertozzi] on keyboards & me in spandex,” Morello shared.

Bertozzi then responded, “Thanks Tom! Maybe we can get the band back together someday.”

A Bored of Education reunion may not be too unrealistic, as Morello suddenly has a lot more free time following the cancellation of Rage Against the Machine’s 2023 North American tour. The outing was scrapped due to frontman Zack de la Rocha‘s continued recovery from the torn Achilles tendon he suffered during a Rage show in Chicago earlier this year.

Sam Smith reveals the backstory of how their James Bond theme came to be

October 6, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Sam Smith helmed the James Bond theme “Writing’s On The Wall” for the 2015 film Spectre. To celebrate the franchise’s 60th anniversary, the British superstar revealed exactly how the haunting theme came to be.

Sam took to their Instagram Story to reveal they began working on the song while recording their 2013 hit “Lay Me Down” with producer Jimmy Napes.

“Jimmy just played some chords and it just flowed,” Sam expressed.

Napes picked up the story from there, explaining, “After we finished writing, we literally went next door to RAK Studio 1 and recorded it and that was the take.”

Throwback footage shows Sam singing “Writing’s” for the first time. “The vocal [for the song] is the demo vocal. The first vocal I ever did for the song,” they described. Because Sam used the first take, the piano Napes played in the background can actually be heard if one isolates the track’s vocals.

“Such a special memory,” the British superstar expressed when sharing the footage.

Sam isn’t the only artist saluting James Bond’s legacy. Adele, who sang the 2012 Bond theme “Skyfall,” took to Instagram to celebrate the 10th anniversary of her chilling theme. “Hold your breath and count to ten,” her account wrote, a nod to the song’s opening lyrics.

Billie Eilish, who is the newest Bond singer, also saluted the franchise on its anniversary when looking back at her offering “No Time to Die.” She told Prime Video she had chills when she heard her song play during the most “emotional parts of the film” at the movie premiere.

It should be noted all three of these artists took home the Oscar for Best Original Song, and to date, are the only singers to have won an Academy Award for their Bond themes.

“Not bad for a girl goin’ nowhere”: Ashley McBryde invited to join the Grand Ole Opry

October 6, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Ashley McBryde is set to become the next member of the Grand Ole Opry. She got a surprise invitation to join the hallowed institution from Garth Brooks in the middle of an in-studio appearance on CBS Mornings.

Ashley was in the studio to promote her new album, Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville, when Garth showed up on the screen at the end of her interview, dialing in live from the Opry stage.

“I’m here for a proposal,” Garth said.

“You’re already married!” show co-host Gayle King joked from off-camera.

But it wasn’t that kind of proposal that Garth — an Opry member since 1990 — had in mind. “I am, but this is part of a family that keeps growing,” he continued before officially popping the question.

Garth was a little emotional as he spoke, and Ashley fought back tears as she gave her response. “It would be the great joy and the great honor of my life,” she replied.

“I’ve always said I will earn it, and this is a pretty surreal moment,” she reflected. But there was one more surprise for Ashley: When she turned around to look at her team, who all knew the surprise was coming, she saw her mom standing there.

“Now I’m gonna ugly cry on TV. That is my mother!” the singer said. “She’s gonna cry too, just so you know.” And she did: As her mom came out and gave her a hug, the pair were both weeping with joy.

Ashley will be formally inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in a ceremony on a yet-to-be-announced date.

Jada Pinkett Smith to release “honest & gripping” memoir fall 2023

October 6, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Jada Pinkett Smith is ready to speak for herself, and she’ll do that in her new, not-yet-titled book that will release in the fall of 2023.

In partnership with Dey Street Books, the Red Table Talk host plans to publish an “honest and gripping” memoir that will chronicle lessons learned throughout her “difficult but riveting” journey. As detailed in a press release, the book will explore personal life experiences “from the depths of suicidal depression to the heights of personal rediscovery and the celebration of authentic feminine power.”

The release adds, “With no holds barred, Jada reveals her unconventional upbringing in Baltimore — from the child of two addicts to a promising theatre student and a violent interlude as a petty drug-dealer — followed by a parallel rise to stardom alongside her close friend 2Pac, then falling in love with and marrying Will Smith, and a joyous embrace of motherhood.”

At the center of the book are the “unexpected love stories” of Jada’s “complicated marriage” to Will and her relationship with herself.

“The world has imposed many labels and narratives on Jada Pinkett Smith,” Carrie Thornton, Dey Street Books VP and Editorial Director said. “This is down to the realities of our media landscape, but also the roles thrust upon women by culture.”

Thorton added, “This memoir is Jada giving the world her truth, taking readers on a journey from lost girl to woman warrior. It is my great honor to take that journey with her.”

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