Music – Page 2 – 105.7 WDNY

Evanescence’s Amy Lee on gender equality in music: ‘I don’t want to be the best female-fronted rock band’

June 5, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Evanescence is out with their new album, Sanctuary, but this year also marks the 20th anniversary of their album The Open Door. Frontwoman Amy Lee says things have definitely improved when it comes to gender equality in music since 2006.

“When we were starting out, most of the time I was the only woman I’d see all day at festivals, besides anyone I had with me in my crew,” Lee tells the U.K. publication MusicWeek. “On the one hand, that made things intimidating. But on the other hand, [it was] powerful because we were different and I had something to say.”

“Over the last 20 years, hell yeah, I’ve watched things change,” Lee continues. “When I go to festivals now, there are always other women on stage, so we have seen progress, especially in heavy music.”

But Lee would rather dispense with the gender divisions altogether.

“I don’t want to be the best female-fronted rock band; I want to be the best rock band, period,” she notes.

She adds, “Whether you’re male or female, whatever colour you are, or wherever you come from, none of that should matter. What should matter is that you’re great at what you do. And all the women that I lift up, all the women we’re taking on tour – they all rock. That’s why they’re coming on tour with us.”

Among the artists joining Evanescence for their world tour, starting June 11, are Spiritbox, Nova Twins, Poppy and K.Flay. Amy’s happy that her collaborations with some of those artists, plus Halsey and Bring Me the Horizon, have led to younger audiences discovering Evanescence.

Says Lee, “When we earn new fans at this stage, hearing new music we make and getting into us that way, that really feels like the goal.”

Masego announces Fix Your Face Tour

June 5, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Masego has announced more than 40 dates for his upcoming Fix Your Face Tour.

The tour is set to kick off on Aug. 4 in Dallas and wrap up on Sept. 16 in LA, with a European leg scheduled to follow.

During the tour, Masego will perform music from his forthcoming project while offering fans a more personal look at the man behind the music.

An artist presale begins Tuesday at 10 a.m. local time, followed by additional presales throughout the week. General ticket sales start Friday at 10 a.m. local time. Fans can sign up for early access through Masego’s website.

“This is not a drill!!! I am leaving the comfort of my home and coming city to city. You gon’ pull up on me or what?” he wrote on Instagram. “See you soon.”

Paul McCartney’s ‘The Boys of Dungeon Lane’ debuts at #1 in the UK

June 5, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Paul McCartney is #1 in the U.K. yet again.

The legendary Beatle’s latest solo album, The Boys of Dungeon Lane, has debuted on top of the U.K. Official Chart.

“Guess what? Our album is Number 1! Can’t get much higher. And we are well chuffed,” said McCartney. “My team and the whole gang of people who worked on this thing, they have done a fantastic job, so thank you to all of them. And thank you to all of YOU who bought it! And thank you to me!”

This is McCartney’s 24th career #1 in the U.K. Over the course of his career he’s had 15 chart-toppers as a member of The Beatles, six solo number ones, two number ones with Wings, and one #1 credited to him and wife Linda McCartney.

The Boys of Dungeon Lane also tops the Official Vinyl Albums chart.

The album, produced by Andrew Watt, features songs about McCartney’s childhood in Liverpool, early adventures with future Beatles bandmates George Harrison and John Lennon, and more. It also includes his first-ever duet with Ringo Starr, “Home to Us.”

Deep Purple releases ‘Diablo’ from upcoming album ‘SPLAT!’

June 5, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Deep Purple is offering up another preview of their upcoming album, SPLAT!

The band has dropped the new single “Diablo,” which features country star Keith Urban on guitar.

“It is all about taking chances,” frontman Ian Gillan says of the song. “Just for once in your life, do something exciting, step out of the mold, take that curious bend in the road instead of sticking to the highway and do something that will, for the rest of your life, either guide or warn you.”

“Diablo” is now available via digital outlets. A live performance video is set to debut Sunday on YouTube, with the band’s Roger Glover planning to chat with fans during the premiere.

SPLAT!, dropping July 3, explores the idea of the end of humanity as a transformation rather than a destruction, with the album’s description noting it sees the end “not in any crude apocalyptic sense but as a metamorphosis beyond physical existence.”

Deep Purple kicks off a European tour on June 11 in Finland. They launch a North American tour Aug. 4 in Raleigh, North Carolina.

A complete list of dates can be found at DeepPurple.com.

Stevie Nicks makes major donation to USC

June 5, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Stevie Nicks is honoring the doctor who helps keep her voice in tip-top shape.

The singer has made a major donation to University of Southern California to help complete a $3 million fundraising goal for an endowed chair at the Keck School of Medicine at USC within the Caruso Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery.

The chair honors Dr. Joseph Sugerman, Nick’s longtime ear, nose and throat specialist.

“Through late nights on the road, years of touring, hours in the recording studio, I always knew I could count on Dr. Sugerman to be there to help keep my voice healthy, just as he does for his other patients,” said Nicks. “I am thrilled to have this opportunity to acknowledge his talent and insights and mark his many years of outstanding practice.”

The first holder of the endowed chair will be Dr. Michael M. Johns, director of the USC Voice Center, which was established in 2017.

“I am touched and humbled by the support of my patients who have extended themselves to create this endowed chair, which will be dedicated to advancing vocal medicine,” said Dr. Sugerman. “I’m especially excited that this will strengthen the outstanding programs at the USC Voice Center.”

Muse releases ‘Nightshift Superstar’ from upcoming album ‘The Wow! Signal’

June 5, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Muse has dropped the new single “Nightshift Superstar” from their upcoming album, The Wow! Signal.

In a press release, the song is described as blurring Muse’s “signature fiery rock with funky French house,” noting it contains “driving disco rhythms, orchestral flurries, pinwheeling guitars, and choir vocals.”

“Nightshift Superstar” is now available via digital outlets, with a new video now on YouTube.

The Wow! Signal, dropping June 26, is the follow-up to 2022’s Will of the People. It also includes the previously released songs “Hexagons,” “Unravelling,” “Be with You” and “Cryogen.

Muse is getting ready to hit the road this summer. They’ll launch a North American tour on July 2 in Milwaukee, with dates confirmed through Aug. 31 in Los Angeles. A complete list of dates can be found at Muse.mu.

Taylor Swift’s ‘Toy Story 5’ song is ‘an adventure I plan to be on, to infinity and beyond’

June 5, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Taylor Swift’s new original song for Toy Story 5 is here.

The music superstar shared the song, “I Knew It, I Knew You,” on social media Friday alongside an adorable video of herself as a little girl, marching around in cowboy boots and a cowboy hat, like the Toy Story character Jessie, whose journey inspired the song.

“Writing this song felt like a musical departure and coming home at the same time. Creating something for Jessie was a new challenge and also felt like second nature all at once,” Taylor captioned the video. “And being a @toystorykid from the age of 5 til now… is an adventure I plan to be on, to infinity and beyond.”

Taylor noted that she reunited with Jack Antonoff for the song, adding, “We wrote this with so much adoration for these characters that made us laugh and helped us learn lessons and think outside the backyard all throughout our childhoods.”

She also shouted out legendary singer/songwriter Randy Newman, whose song “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” has been featured throughout the franchise. “Thank you to the incomparable @randynewmanofficial for the gorgeous sonic tapestry of songs and scores you’ve meticulously woven over the years,” she wrote. “You created the Toy Story musical world, and we are lucky to get to live in it.”

The song, which features more organic instrumentation than Taylor’s recent work, has her singing, “I remembered I loved you/ Came back when it mattered/ I saw you/ Standing there in the light of the window wearing that same smile/ Man, it’s been a while/ But I knew it, I knew you/ I knew it, I knew you.”

Toy Story 5 hits theaters on Friday, June 19.

Disney is the parent company of ABC News and Pixar.

Cody Johnson shows off his ‘gold buckle’ as he headlines CMA Fest Friday night

June 5, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Cody Johnson will headline the main CMA Fest show at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium on Friday night.

It’s a coveted, big-time gig at any point in an artist’s career, but for Cody, it’s his first time meeting the CMA crowd with an entertainer of the year trophy under his belt.

It’s something “The Fall” hitmaker’s been trying to absorb ever since he picked up the ACM honor May 17.

“I remember playing those gigs for very, very little money and knowing … it’s not gonna pay my house off,” he said, looking back on his beginnings. “But ultimately, people got to hear my music. And then that shaped why I wrote certain songs, why I chose certain songs from certain songwriters to send that message.”

“If I have a platform that’s gonna reach this many people,” he explained, “I can send this message or this message. And I chose those songs that sent a brighter message to the world.”

“And looking back, it’s kinda surreal,” Cody continued. “I haven’t really let it soak in yet. For a cowboy, this is that gold buckle I’ve been chasing my whole life.”

Jo Dee Messina, Blake Shelton, Shaboozey, The Red Clay Strays, The Band Perry and Keith Urban are all set to play before Cody goes on at 11:30 p.m. CT.

Baby Keem talks addressing childhood in Vegas in his music, hiatus before ‘Ca$ino’ release

June 5, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Baby Keem and his mother moved from Long Beach, California, to Las Vegas when he was a child to be closer to family, and it’s a place that holds tough memories for the rapper.

Speaking to HighSnobiety, he says he continues to reflect on his childhood through his music — specifically his February drop “Highway 95 Pt. 2,” the follow-up to 2021’s “Highway 95.”

“I knew I would eventually have to address Vegas,” he says. “I just didn’t know it was going to come out like this.”

He adds, “But when you really dig deep — and I was digging deep, deep — through some of these ideas, it was clear that being from this place was the root of a lot of these concepts. My mom didn’t start using substances until we moved to Vegas. … Vegas is hard for me. I still have some family there, but it’s tough.”

“Highway 95” was featured on Keem’s Grammy-winning album The Melodic Blue in 2021, while Pt. 2 is included on 2026’s Ca$ino. There is a five-year gap between those two projects, due in part to health issues he has not publicly discussed.

“I’ll never be super public about what it was because I don’t want that to be the narrative,” he tells HighSnobiety. “Going through that was the hardest setback for me.”

“You have all these [moments] where you’re like, ‘Damn, I really won’t make music ever again.’ I turned off my Twitter. I didn’t need to see people telling me to release when I physically could not make music for a year. I had to learn how to do it again. It really f***** me up to where I didn’t want to go outside at all.”

The full interview is available online.

The return of Rush: Band’s first tour in over 10 years kicks off Sunday

June 5, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Rush’s highly anticipated Fifty Something tour finally kicks off Sunday in Los Angeles, something fans of the Canadian rockers have been waiting for for more than a decade.

The tour will be Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson’s first outing since wrapping the R40 tour in 2015. It will also be their first tour since the 2020 death of their drummer and friend Neil Peart.

Playing drums on the tour will be Anika Nilles, who previously worked with the late Jeff Beck. Of course, filling Peart’s shoes won’t be easy.

The Police drummer Stewart Copeland, who was a friend of Peart’s, tells ABC Audio Nilles’ biggest challenge will likely be “Rush fans who have memorized every detail of Dr. Peart’s performance.” Still, he believes “she has the chops” to succeed.

“I think she’s gonna do fine,” he says. “I think, you know, the sense that I get is that everyone is very curious. Nobody resents her.”

As for Rush’s return to the road, Copeland notes, “Rush waited a very respectable amount of time. There’s no doubt that it’s all in honor of Neil.”

If you were wondering, Peart will be honored throughout the tour. The band plans to play two sets each night, with a different set list at every show, along with a tribute to their late bandmate. In an April interview with Brazilian TV show Fantástico, Lee said they’ll dedicate two songs per night to Peart, with each performance featuring a visual tribute.

Lifeson described the tribute as “a celebration of who he was as a person and a drummer, not so sad anymore.”

Rush’s Fifty Something tour begins with four nights at the KIA Forum in Los Angeles. The North American run continues through Dec. 17. A complete list of dates can be found at Rush.com.

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