Usher says his new album may or may not speak to the ‘Confessions’ era

August 4, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Usher is on the R&B cover of Billboard’s 2021 R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players issue, in which he discusses his Las Vegas residency and his new album. The R&B singer, known for his career-defining 2004 album, Confessions, is currently preparing his ninth studio album. He says he has yet to lock in on a title for the follow-up to 2016’s Hard II Love.

“I am not at the place where I’m going to sign off on the album title at this point. But I am working on an album, and it would be very smart to say it will come out this year,” Usher tells Billboard. “It’s probably too vague right now to determine whether it’s going to be in the Confessions vein or if it’ll be something else.”

Usher has been working on his untitled album for years, reaching back to Confessions producers Jermaine Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox. In the last year, he’s has released music videos for his singles, “Bad Habits,” “I Cry,” and “Don’t Waste My Time,” featuring Ella Mai.

Usher says the pandemic allowed him time to “reset” and “put together a body of work that speaks to all of the people that I’ve been able to capture as fans but also will be something unique to me and to R&B music that doesn’t just live in one space.”

“There’s always the responsibility to speak to the audience that has been growing with you, and also to a new audience,” says the 42-year-old. “What I’ve always done is just try to make music that’s as true as I can possibly be and also offer something I think people can learn from and experience with me: relationships, love, life, the reality of our growth, and maturity.”

Trisha Yearwood’s “She’s in Love with the Boy” becomes the most-heard country song by a woman

August 4, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Trisha Yearwood was at the Grand Ole Opry to celebrate brand-new Opry member Carly Pearce this week, and amid the celebrations of Carly’s accomplishments, Trisha received a surprise of her own.

The singer’s breakout debut single from August, 1991, “She’s in Love with the Boy,” has officially become the most-listened-to country song by a female artist in the history of MRC Data. In the 30 years since she released it, Trisha’s history-making hit has become one of the most popular songs ever to be released by a woman in country music.

“When people come to a show, I see these girls singing ‘She’s in Love with the Boy’ and they’re like, you know, 15. I’m thinking, ‘How do you know this song?’” Trisha noted backstage at the Opry.

“But now learning that it’s…been heard that many times — it’s just such an honor! It’s so cool!” she continues. “All I ever wanted to do was to be a country music singer, so…for a song in my career to have that kind of ‘life’ just makes me proud.”

In celebration of the song’s 30th anniversary, Trisha released a new, acoustic version of “She’s in Love with the Boy.” That song will find a home on the track list of her upcoming deluxe version of Every Girl, due out August 13.

Olivia Rodrigo dishes on her weirdest fan encounter so far

August 4, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Olivia Rodrigo rose to pop music stardom during the pandemic, so she hasn’t had too many in-person fan encounters yet. But in a new interview with GQ, the 18-year-old dishes on what was probably her weirdest one yet.

“Someone came up to me the other day and was like, ‘Sorry if this is weird, but I had sex to the entirety of your album,’” Olivia recounts. “And I was like, ‘What the f***? That’s crazy.’ That was the weirdest experience I’ve ever had.”

She says she was “flattered, of course,” but also a little confused by the choice, given that her album, SOUR, is largely about heartbreak.

“I appreciate that she was bold enough to come up to me and tell me that too,” Olivia adds. “I was like, ‘You want to have sex to the breakup songs?’”

As for her own love life, Olivia is not quite so bold to spill details publicly. Her first single, “Drivers License,” stirred up online rumors of a love triangle between her, Joshua Bassett and Sabrina Carpenter.

“It was really hard for me to watch people on TikTok and stuff that dissects my 17-year-old love life,” Olivia tells the mag. “That was really weird.”

Olivia, who’s now reportedly dating producer Adam Faze, says she now makes sure to limit her time on social media. “You’re literally not meant to know what everyone is saying about you at all times,” she says.

What a twist! Blink-182 pitched M. Night Shyamalan to direct a music video

August 4, 2021 by WDNY Radio

How’s this for a twist: Former Blink-182 guitarist Tom DeLonge reunited with his ex-band mate Mark Hoppus on the latter’s Apple Music Hits show After School Radio. Oh, and they also revealed that M. Night Shyamalan nearly directed a Blink video.

As the pair explains it, the Blink members having lunch while on tour in Japan when they noticed the Sixth Sense director sitting at the table next to them. That’s when DeLonge decided to approach Shyamalan with an idea.

“The dude’s having lunch on a promo tour of his movie in Japan and you just walk up and you’re like, ‘Hey, my name’s Tom DeLonge. I play in a band called Blink 182. We’re a big fan of yours. Would you ever direct a Blink video?'” Hoppus recalls. “And within half an hour, we’re all sitting together and he’s coming up with ideas for a Blink video. And I mean, he did come up with a whole treatment and everything.”

Hoppus doesn’t share exactly why the collaboration didn’t come to fruition, but it seems like Shyamalan’s treatment may have been a bit on the expensive side.

“It was going to cost, whatever it was, $20 million,” Hoppus says.

Also during the conversation, Hoppus and DeLonge speak about their favorite Blink albums and songs, and DeLonge discusses his upcoming Angels & Airwaves album and, of course, his UFO research.

Santana to release lead single from upcoming album this month; announces new label deal

August 4, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Carlos Santana has announced plans to release the first single from his band’s forthcoming studio album, Blessings and Miracles, later this month.

Coinciding with the news, the legendary guitarist has announced that the star-studded project will be released as part of a new global deal he’s signed with the BMG label.

“I am honored to partner with BMG to release Blessings and Miracles,” Carlos says in a statement. “I would like to thank everyone at BMG for sharing our collective commonality-vision to touch people’s hearts with energy, conviction and integrity. Now more than ever, we need songs and melodies to remind us that we are significant, meaningful and that life is full of blessings and miracles.”

BMG executive Thomas Scherer adds, “Listening to and feeling this album is an embrace of the source from where we all come from. Blessings and Miracles is full of joy, and we are grateful to be his partner in spreading this musical treasure to his fans and new fans everywhere around the world.”

Santana recently revealed to ABC Audio that Blessings and Miracles will feature guest appearances by Steve Winwood, Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett, Living Colour frontman Corey Glover and Fifth Harmony‘s Ally Brooke, among others. In addition, Carlos reported that hit-making songwriter Diane Warren and country star Chris Stapleton have contributed tunes to the album.

Carlos’ next performance will be at the star-packed “We Love NYC: The Homecoming Concert” event taking place August 21 in New York City’s Central Park. The Santana band then is slated to kick off a new series of Las Vegas residency dates at the House of Blues on August 25. Check out the group’s full schedule at Santana.com.

So close, no matter how far: Metallica’s “Nothing Else Matters” video hits one billion YouTube views

August 4, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Life is ours, we live it our way. And that includes watching Metallica‘s “Nothing Else Matters” video many, many times.

The visual for the Black Album hit single has officially passed one billion views on YouTube, making it the first-ever Metallica video to reach the milestone.

“Nothing Else Matters” is also the just the sixth ’90s music video to join the billion-views club, following Nirvana‘s “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” Guns N’ Roses‘ “November Rain,” The Cranberries‘ “Zombie,” 4 Non Blondes‘ “What’s Up,” and Whitney Houston‘s “I Will Always Love You.”

Originally released in 1992 before being uploaded to YouTube in 2009, the “Nothing Else Matters” video shows Metallica working and hanging out the studio while recording their massive 1991 self-titled record, aka The Black Album.

Fittingly, “Nothing Else Matters” hit the billion-views mark just ahead of The Black Album‘s 30th anniversary, August 12. Metallica will be celebrating the occasion with a massive deluxe reissue and the 53-track Metallica Blacklist tribute album, both of which drop on September 10.

Rihanna is world’s wealthiest female musician with an estimated worth of $1.7 billion, reports ‘Forbes’

August 4, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Singer, actress and entrepreneur Rihanna has put in a lot of hard “work” — and now she’s a billionaire.

Forbes estimates the Grammy-winner’s worth is now $1.7 billion, making her the wealthiest female musician in the world and second to Oprah Winfrey as richest entertainer.

While Rihanna is known for her number-one hits like “Work,” “Umbrella” and “We Found Love,” and starring in big budget films like Ocean’s 8, she is also a fashion icon. In 2017, she teamed up with French company, LVMH — the fashion house behind Louis Vuitton and Dior — to launch her now wildly popular Fenty Beauty cosmetics line.

The following year, Rihanna spearheaded Savage by Fenty, a lingerie line promoting body positivity and inclusivity.

“The majority of her $1.7 billion estimated net worth is not from singing but from cosmetics,” Forbes editor Kerry Dolan told ABC’s Good Morning America. “From a super-successful cosmetics line which, when it was launched, drew lots of praise because there were something, like, more than 40 shades for all range of skin tones, which was something that at the time, not very many cosmetics lines had been that inclusive.”

While Fenty’s luxury clothing line was shut down earlier this year, the brand catapulted the singer-turned-mogul into billionaire status.

Rihanna joins Kim Kardashian and Kylie Jenner on the coveted Forbes list as one of Hollywood’s most successful female self-made entrepreneurs.

“Women are making more headway, slowly but surely as super-successful entrepreneurs,” said Dolan. “So we will see more famous artists, entertainers, performers go into a successful entrepreneurial vein. It’s been proved as a proven formula for some people so others would like to try it.”

Bruce Springsteen, Eddie Vedder featured on Tom Morello’s new cover of AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell”

August 4, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello is on a “Highway to Hell,” and he’s brought Bruce Springsteen and Pearl Jam‘s Eddie Vedder along for the ride.

That’s right, The Boss and Vedder are featured on Morello’s just-released new cover of the classic AC/DC song “Highway to Hell” that’s available now via digital formats.

The track will appear on Morello’s upcoming second solo album, The Atlas Underground Fire, which will be released October 15.

“Our version of ‘Highway to Hell’ pays homage to AC/DC but with Bruce Springsteen and Eddie Vedder, brings this legendary song into the future,” Morello says in a statement.

Explaining how the cover of “Highway to Hell” came about, Tom notes that he played the song live a few times with Springsteen – and Vedder on guest vocals — when he was touring as a temporary member of Bruce’s E Street Band in Australia in 2014.

“I began to wonder, what does the most ferocious version of this song sound like in 2021?” notes Tom. “I put together a pretty rocking demo and sent it over to Bruce and Eddie with my fingers crossed. This is what we got back: one of the greatest rock ‘n’ roll songs of all time, sung by two of the greatest rock ‘n’ roll singers of all time, and then I play a shredding guitar solo. Thank you and good night.”

The Atlas Underground Fire, which you can pre-order now, will feature a variety of other guests, including country star Chris Stapleton, reggae artist Damian Marley and many more.

Here’s The Atlas Underground Fire‘s full track list:

“Harlem Hellfighter
“Highway to Hell” — featuring Bruce Springsteen and Eddie Vedder
“Let’s Get the Party Started” — featuring Bring Me the Horizon
“Driving to Texas” — featuring Phantogram
“The War Inside” — featuring Chris Stapleton
“Hold The Line” — featuring grandson
“Naraka” — featuring Mike Posner
“The Achilles List” — featuring Damian Marley
“Night Witch” — featuring phem
“Charmed I’m Sure” — featuring Protohype
“Save Our Souls” — featuring Dennis Lyxzén of Refused
“On the Shore of Eternity” — featuring Sama’ Abdulhadi

Camila Cabello promises to use social media to promote body positivity

August 4, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Isabel Infantes/PA Images via Getty Images

Camila Cabello understands that social media can be both a delightful and terrifying place — that is why she swears to use her platform to promote only positive messages.

Speaking to the British show Lorraine on Tuesday, the “Don’t Go Yet” singer addressed the pressures people face — particularly when it comes to beauty standards — when browsing social media.

“It can be fun, but it can also be a lot,” Camila, 24, explained, saying she sees the benefit of using social media. “For me, like posting about that video that I posted about my body and being like, ‘I have cellulite and stretch marks and gain weight sometimes and that’s normal.’ And kinda having messages like that feels really liberating.”

“TikTok seems like it’s a positive platform where people can just be funny, be honest, be inspiring [and] be truthful,” the three-time Grammy nominee continued. However, she admits her experiences on TikTok do not reflect what she witnesses on other sites.

“[Social media] is a lot,” Camila continued. “Yesterday, I had a day off and I was just like, ‘I can’t be on social media today!’ I just notice it just makes my brain go so fast and sometimes you just need to take a break.”

When opening up about the downside of social media, the Cinderella star said women face an additional pressure to look and act perfect at all times.

“A lot of the times I feel and I’m sure a lot of people feel, especially like female pop stars or pop singers, that the narrative can be kind of written for you,” she explained, adding that she finds it “frustrating” when people try to define her.

As for how she overcomes the obstacle, Camila said she takes “control of my own narrative” to share “who I am.”

Da Brat says ‘Brat Loves Judy’ is a “serious inside look” at her “vulnerability”

August 4, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Veteran hip-hop artist Da Brat is sharing a never-before-seen side of herself in the new WE tv reality series Brat Loves Judy.

As someone who only recently became open about her sexuality, Da Brat says being proposed to by her girlfriend, Jesseca “Judy” Dupart, was something she “never, ever, ever, ever” thought would happen.

“First of all, it was ridiculous,” Brat tells ABC Audio of the surprise proposal. “Like, I was so stunned because I had no idea.”

She continues, “I was told that I was going to a photo shoot for [Judy’s] Kaleidoscope Hair Products…And I get there and it’s this huge thing. And I just almost passed out at least 15 times. Like everybody was there that I loved that I hadn’t seen in years. I couldn’t understand how she was able to keep this secret for so long.”

While marriage was something that Da Brat says she “just never thought about,” she now smiles when she thinks about Judy’s “breathtaking” proposal.

“I was like on cloud 10,000 every second,” she says. “Every time I turned around, [I] was like, ‘Oh, my God! Oh, my God! Like, it was so dramatic.”

And if fans are looking for more “dramatic” moments like that on the show, they’ll get it — along with a softer side of Da Brat.

“This show is going to show the most cream-puffish side of me that the world has ever seen, because I never show that,” she admits. “I’ve always felt like I should keep that side for only people that I already know and that love me already. So, they’re gonna really get a serious inside look of my vulnerability, and my love for [Judy].”

Brat Loves Judy premieres Thursday at 9 p.m. ET on WE tv.

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