On This Day, March 4, 1967: The Rolling Stones hit #1 with “Ruby Tuesday”

March 4, 2024 by WDNY Radio

On This Day, March 4, 1967…

The Rolling Stones landed their fourth #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart with “Ruby Tuesday.”

The tune, written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, was released as the B side to the single with “Let’s Spend the Night Together,” although in the U.K., where it went to #3, the two tracks were released as a double A-sided single.

“Ruby Tuesday,” which was later included on the U.S. version of their album Between the Buttons, went on to be one of the band’s classic tunes and is often played at their live shows.

The track was certified Gold by the RIAA.

In total, The Rolling Stones have had eight #1 hits in the U.S., their last being “Miss You” in August 1978.

The band is set to hit the road this year, with their Hackney Diamonds tour kicking off April 28 in Houston, Texas. A complete list of dates can be found at rollingstones.com.

Pixies bassist Paz Lenchantin leaves band

March 4, 2024 by WDNY Radio

Pixies bassist Paz Lenchantin has left the band to pursue her own projects.

In a statement published Monday, March 4, the “Where Is My Mind?” outfit says, “We’re grateful for Paz’s many contributions, and wish her all the very best going forward.”

Emma Richardson of Band of Skulls will play bass in Pixies going forward. She’ll make her debut with the group on their upcoming European tour, which launches Friday, March 8, followed by a U.S. tour alongside Modest Mouse and Cat Power kicking off in May.

Lenchantin joined Pixies in 2014 in place of Kim Shattuck, who replaced original bassist Kim Deal. Prior to that, she’d played in bands including A Perfect Circle and the Billy Corgan project Zwan.

Bring Me the Horizon, boygenius win 2024 BRIT Awards

March 4, 2024 by WDNY Radio

Bring Me the Horizon and boygenius were among the winners at the 2024 BRIT Awards, the U.K. equivalent of the Grammys.

Oli Sykes and company earned the Alternative/Rock Act prize, while the “Not Strong Enough” trio was named International Group of the Year.

The other Alternative/Rock Act nominees included The Rolling Stones and Blur. Foo Fighters, blink-182 and Paramore were also up for International Group of the Year.

The 2024 BRIT Awards took place Saturday, March 2, in London. For the full list of winners, visit BRITS.co.uk.

ICYMI: Burna Boy Day in Boston, Drake pays fan’s mortgage and more

March 4, 2024 by WDNY Radio

Saturday, March 2, was officially Burna Boy Day in Boston. The city made the official declaration ahead of the Nigerian superstar’s performance at TD Garden that night. “For too long, mainstream narratives have marginalized African voices and overlooked the richness of the continent’s cultural heritage,” a proclamation from Boston City Council President Ruthzee Louijeune reads. “With Burna Boy’s rise to prominence highlighting a shift in this paradigm.”

Drake promised to pay a fan’s mortgage at his show in Kansas City, Missouri, Saturday. After reading a message from the fan onstage that said, “Pay off my mom’s house. RIP,” Drake addressed them directly. “Your mom passed away?” he says in footage of the moment. “Oh this is the outstanding balance right here? That’s a lot of money right there. But you know what? Imma pay your whole mortgage for you. That’s 160 bands but, Imma pay out of my pocket, that’s gonna come from me.”

SZA won international artist of the year at BRIT Awards on Saturday, beating Miley Cyrus, Olivia Rodrigo, Kylie Minogue and Taylor Swift for the honor. RAYE was the night’s big winner, with a total of six awards, breaking the record for most BRIT awards in one night.

Sinéad O’Connor’s estate blasts use of “Nothing Compares 2 U” at Trump rallies

March 4, 2024 by WDNY Radio

Former President Donald Trump recently played the Sinéad O’Connor classic “Nothing Compares 2 U” at rallies in Maryland and North Carolina, and her family is not at all happy.

In a statement to Variety, the singer’s estate denounced the use of the song, demanding Trump and his associates stop using her music.

“Throughout her life, it is well known that Sinéad O’Connor lived by a fierce moral code defined by honesty, kindness, fairness and decency towards her fellow human beings,” reads the statement. “It was with outrage therefore that we learned that Donald Trump has been using her iconic performance of ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’ at his political rallies.”

They add, “It is no exaggeration to say that Sinéad would have been disgusted, hurt and insulted to have her work misrepresented in this way by someone who she herself referred to as a ‘biblical devil.’”

Sinéad O’Connor passed away July 26, 2023, at the age of 56.

This isn’t the first time an artist has blasted Trump’s use of their music. Earlier this year, Johnny Marr from The Smiths denounced Trump’s use of their song “Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want” at a rally, while Neil Young, The Rolling Stones and the estate of Tom Petty have all spoken out about their opposition to his use of their music.

‘Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour’ on Disney+: Exclusive trailer reveal

March 4, 2024 by WDNY Radio

Good Morning America exclusively revealed the trailer for the Disney+ version of Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour, streaming March 14.

It was announced in early February that Swift’s blockbuster concert film would make its streaming debut on Disney+ and would include a few surprises for fans, too.

The Disney+ version of the film — Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (Taylor’s Version) — will show the concert in its entirety for the first time as well as include the song “cardigan,” plus four additional acoustic songs not featured in either the previous theatrical or VOD versions.

Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour hit the big screen at AMC movie theaters across the country in October, becoming an instant smash. It grossed more than $260 million at the global box office, making it the top-selling concert film of all time.

When announcing the Golden Globe-nominated concert film would be coming to Disney+, Disney CEO Bob Iger called it “a true phenomenon that has and continues to thrill fans around the world.”

Stream Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (Taylor’s Version) when it debuts on Disney+ on March 14 at 9 p.m. ET (6 p.m. PT).

Disney is the parent company of ABC News and Good Morning America.

Abe Rasheed talks innovation at MNRK Music, cultivating new talent + working with DJ Drama

March 4, 2024 by WDNY Radio

When Abe Rasheed stepped in to head up the urban space at the legendary MNRK [Monarch] Music Group, his mission was to innovate, cultivate and help the label maintain its spot in today’s ever-changing musical landscape.

One of the ways he’s achieved his goals so far, he says, is by ramping up the R&B landscape and signing “real” soul artists who bring a much-needed voice to the hip-hop world.

“Rap can’t be nothing without R&B because they live in that same space,” Rasheed tells ABC Audio. “You need the melodies. You need the artists that are helping to transcend records.”

Rasheed believes that R&B stars of today — “the Daniel Caesars, the Giveons” — are appealing to younger audiences with their “more relatable” music, which is helpful in keeping the sound alive.

Frustrated with many of the rappers who were signed to the label and “hitting a wall with their growth,” Rasheed “felt like it was a need for us to have a breath of fresh air.”

In came Jaz Karis and Ivory Scott, who were part of Rasheed’s roster revamp.

But the SVP has also worked alongside a not-so-new hip-hop star, a legend, as many in music might refer to him — DJ Drama.

While the Philadelphia native has seen many years of underground and mainstream success, Rasheed helped to release Drama’s Billboard-charting recent album, I’m Really Like That.

“It’s just been amazing just to even be in the same room as him,” Rasheed says of working with Drama.

The famed voice of mixtapes isn’t letting up either, Rasheed says, explaining that a new Drama album is underway featuring nothing but U.K. artists.

As for his plans for MNRK in the future: “Ideally, by this year, we’ll become a household name.”

Sum 41 explodes ‘Billboard’ chart record with “Landmines” single

March 4, 2024 by WDNY Radio

Sum 41 is no longer “Still Waiting” for another #1 hit.

“Landmines,” the lead single off the “Fat Lip” outfit’s upcoming farewell album, Heaven :x: Hell, has reached the top of Billboard‘s Alternative Airplay, their second song to achieve that feat. In doing so, the Canadian rockers have also set a new Billboard record.

Sum 41’s first #1 on Alternative Airplay was “Fat Lip,” which conquered the chart way back in August 2001 — 22 years, five months and three weeks ago, to be exact. No other artist has waited that long in between number ones in the 36-year history of Alternative Airplay. The next closest is The Killers, who went a mere 13 years and sixth months between hitting #1 in 2006 with “When You Were Young” and in 2020 with “Caution.”

In breaking one Billboard record, Sum 41 also keeps blink-182 from setting another. The “All the Small Things” trio’s single “ONE MORE TIME” had spent the last 20 weeks at #1 on Alternative Airplay, tying Portugal. The Man‘s “Feel It Still” for the longest reign in the chart’s history. With “Landmines” grabbing pole position, “ONE MORE TIME” would now have to climb back up to #1 in order for blink to gain sole possession of the record.

Heaven :x: Hell, a 20-track double album, is due out March 29. Sum 41 is supporting the record on a final tour, which comes to the U.S. in April. They’ll play their last-ever show in January 2025 in Toronto.

In other chart news, Pearl Jam‘s new single “Dark Matter” has hit #1 on Billboard‘s Hot Hard Rock Songs tally, while Linkin Park‘s “Friendly Fire,” an unearthed song from the sessions for their 2017 One More Light album, takes the top spot on Rock & Alternative Airplay.

“Let’s make a deal”: Pop-Tarts wants Taylor Swift’s homemade toaster pastry recipe

March 4, 2024 by WDNY Radio

Turns out fans weren’t the only people interested in hearing that Taylor Swift made homemade Pop-Tarts for her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, and his Kansas City Chiefs teammates. The company that makes the official toaster pastry took notice, too — and now they want Tay’s recipe.

The Pop-Tarts brand took out a full-page ad in The Kansas City Star‘s March 1 print edition. It read, “To KC’s most famous fan, we heard you have a Pop-Tarts pastry recipe. We’re tortured not knowing more about this DIY delight. What’s the filling? Does it have frosting? Do they have little holes? So let’s make a deal.”

The ad says Pop-Tarts is making a donation to a local food bank in Kansas City and will double it “if you share (your version) of our recipe with the masses. And this time we’ll make sure coach gets a bite. You in?”

That last line refers to Chiefs coach Andy Reid, while appearing on a podcast, noting that she didn’t give him one of the Pop-Tarts she’d made for the offensive linemen.

The ad also includes an illustration of a friendship bracelet that reads “Crazy Good.”

This isn’t the first time that Pop-Tarts has tried to gain attention with a Swift reference. In 2022, after she released Midnights, the brand posted a parody of the album’s cover with the caption, “FYI we’re around if you need a midnight snack (aka emotional support Pop-Tarts).”

The cover also listed song titles that had been changed to reference Pop-Tarts, like “Strawberry Glaze,” “Betoasted,” “Anti-Hunger” and “Snackster-Mind.”

Travis Denning says “Going Places” offers a good overview of debut album

March 4, 2024 by WDNY Radio

Travis Denning‘s upcoming debut album, Roads That Go Nowhere, is set to offer a collective chronicle of his roots, life journey and where he’s headed. But if there’s one track that encapsulates it all, the singer says it’s “Going Places.”

“I think [‘Going Places’] is the most indicative piece of it. You know, I’ve tried to be as deliberate [with] all the songs I’ve recorded for it. This one feels like a better cornerstone than the other two songs [‘Things I’m Going Through’ and ‘Strawberry Wine and a Cheap Six Pack’],” Travis tells ABC Audio.

“I try to challenge myself sonically on this one and melodically and just do something different,” he says of the track, which he co-wrote with Paul DiGiovanni, Jeremy Stover and Matt Mulhare.

Travis loves and believes in “Going Places” so much that he’s got a hunch it’ll take his career to new heights.

“I don’t like to be the hype guy, but I mean, I feel very excited about this one. It just feels like it could be something,” shares Travis. “I don’t know, it feels good. And, you know, [we’re] trying to go places, so we’re doing it all.”

Roads That Go Nowhere drops May 24 and is available for preorder now.

Here’s the Roads That Go Nowhere track list:

“Why I’m Drinking”
“I Know How It Sounds“
“Better At Leaving“
“Strawberry Wine and a Cheap Six Pack”
“Going Places“
“Someone That Isn’t Me”
“Southern Rock” (featuring HARDY)
“Love You Past That”
“Things I’m Going Through”
“Add Her To The List”
“Roads That Go Nowhere”
“The Sound of a Beer Getting Cracked” (featuring Josh Ross)
“Can’t Find One”
“Here and Her”
“Ocmulgee River”

+ More