Music

Between getting sampled in Lil Nas X‘s breakout hit and being covered by Miley Cyrus for Black Mirror, Nine Inch Nails has had some unexpected crossover with the pop world in recent years, but this latest intersection may take the cake.

Britney Spears has shared an Instagram video of her pole-dancing while NIN’s “Closer” plays in the background. In the caption, Spears writes, “Got this pole two days ago and last night was my first time on it!!!”

We’ll see if frontman Trent Reznor ends up commenting on Spears’ soundtrack choice like he did when he revealed which Dua Lipa song made him cry.

Spears, by the way, has a song called “Hold Me Closer,” though it’s not related to the NIN hit at all. Instead, it’s a collaboration with Elton John that reworks his songs “Tiny Dancer,” “The One” and “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart.”

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Riley Green has released a brand new song, “Mississippi Or Me.”

The midtempo track was penned by Riley, Josh Thompson and Tyler Reeve.

“I ain’t gonna lie, when those headlights/ Pulled into my drive tonight/ It was a sight for sore eyes, last thing I thought I’d see/ And is somethin’ wrong? What brought you home?/ Was it tough out on your own?/ Or did you drive all the way down here just to see me?” Riley sings in the opening verse over fiddle lines, before questioning in the chorus, “Were you missin’ Mississippi or me?”

Prior to its release, Riley posted a clip of him playing the song on acoustic guitar on Instagram and shared that he’s “wanted to cut this song since the day I wrote it.”

Riley’s current single is the Luke Combs-assisted “Different ‘Round Here,” which is now in the top 30 on the country charts.

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Da Baby is flexing his directing chops as the man behind the camera for Lil Duval‘s new music video.

Da Baby took to Instagram with a short video teaser of Duval’s latest song, “Squeeze,” announcing that the official visual will be out August 15. 

“Don’t y’all wanna stop the violence,” Lil Duval says in the clip, as he hosts an anti-violence rally. 

He took part in announcing the video on social media, encouraging fans to “hurry up and like, share and comment before the algorithm” catches on. 

Da Baby, who’s known for incorporating satire in his own music videos, has directed for other artists, including Moneybagg Yo‘s “F My BM” in July. 

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Alice Cooper has been wearing makeup on stage for years, and now, he’s teamed with the vegan and cruelty free cosmetics brand Vampyre Cosmetics for a new makeup line that will be out just in time for Halloween.

The Alice Cooper Collection, designed to “exude Alice’s style,” features makeup palettes shaped like guitars and amps and two lipsticks shaped like a microphone: one in pink and one in lime green. There will also be a new version of his unisex Whiplash mascara, also shaped as a microphone.

The Vampyre Cosmetics x Alice Cooper Collection is available for preorder now.

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Joe Walsh is once again getting some big-name artists together to help veterans.

The Eagles guitarist just announced the lineup for his seventh annual VetsAid concert, taking place November 12 at North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre in San Diego, California, the first time the concert is being held at an outdoor venue. 

This year’s concert will be headlined by Jeff Lynne’s ELO, marking their first show in four years, along with Walsh and special guest Stephen Stills. Other artists on the bill include The War On Drugs, The Flaming Lips and Lucius.

“VetsAid is back for 2023 and we’re taking it outside in beautiful San Diego to support California’s veteran population.” Walsh explains. “My friends and I will see you under the stars this November 12th!”

Proceeds from the concert will be donated directly to charities helping veterans. This year’s concert will specifically help organizations based in, or with operations on the ground in, Southern California. In the seven years Walsh has been holding the VetsAid concerts, the organization has given out $3 million in grants. 

Tickets for this year’s show go on sale Friday, August 18, at 10 a.m. PT.

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The Cult members Ian Astbury and Billy Duffy have announced a tour under the band’s early name, Death Cult.

The outing includes just one U.S. date — October 23 in Los Angeles — before heading to the U.K. and Ireland in November. Tickets go on sale Friday, August 18, at 10 a.m. local time.

For the full list of dates and all ticket info, visit TheCult.us.

The story of Death Cult dates back to Astbury’s band Southern Death Cult, which began in 1981 before breaking up in 1983. Astbury then linked up with guitarist Duffy to form Death Cult, which then became simply The Cult in 1984.

During the tour, Astbury and Duffy will be playing songs from the Southern Death Cult and Death Cult eras, as well as from the first two The Cult records.

Meanwhile, The Cult will be touring the U.S. as The Cult in October.

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Selena Gomez just might have some new music coming.

A cryptic website, illbesinglesoon.com, offers fans a chance to sign up for email updates from Selena. Also, posters started appearing in Texas — Selena’s home state — bearing the same “Single Soon” message as the website and tear-off numbers.

Calling the number gets you a recorded message that could be from Selena’s little sister, Gracie. The voice says, “Hi I love you, Sissy. Never worry about boyfriends: at all.” That’s followed by a steady drumbeat.

A third clue is that something called “Club 90s Single Soon: Selena Gomez Night” has been booked for August 26t at LA’s Teragram Ballroom. Because August 25 is a Friday, fans are now speculating that the new single is coming on that day.

Further proof is a photo that Selena posted on her Instagram Story over the weekend, which was captured by a fan Twitter account. It shows her sitting at a table in a restaurant looking at her phone, which is displaying the date “8-25.”

Back in June, Selena posted photos of herself in a recording studio and wrote, “don’t worry guys, it’s coming.”  The new music will be her first release since 2021’s Spanish-language EP Revelación and her first solo English-language release since 2022’s standalone single “My Mind & Me.”

Selena’s last full-fledged album was 2020’s Rare. She’s currently at the top of the charts thanks to her “Calm Down” remix with Rema.

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The tributes poured in on social media Monday, August 14, after reports surfaced that Magoo, the rapper who often partnered on songs with Timbaland, died at the age of 50. 

“This one hits different,” Timbaland wrote on Instagram. “Long live Melvin aka magoo !!! Tim and Magoo forever. rest easy my king.”

The legendary producer shared a series of memories to social media, including a throwback video of the duo performing their debut song, “Up Jumps Da’ Boogie.”

R&B singer Ginuwine reflected on his friendship with the rapper, writing in an Instagram post that he was “totally one of the best ever.”

“I don’t even know how to say anything at this point,” Ginuwine said. “I have lost 3 friends now within a month to LIFE and it’s due date ….this dude , always pushed me …I will mis you maganooo that’s what we called him.”

News of the passing of Magoo, born Melvin Barcliff, circulated after a post by recording artist Digital Black made its rounds on Monday.  

“Man can’t believe this RIH Magoo damn big bro wasnt ready for this at all,” he wrote. 

In the late ’80s, Magoo and Timbaland formed a rap group and went on to produce three studio albums: Welcome to Our World, Indecent Proposal and Under Construction, Part II.

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