Scooter Braun and Yael Cohen reportedly separating after seven years of marriage

July 12, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Music mogul Scooter Braun and wife Yael Cohen are reportedly separating after seven years of marriage.

Page Six, which was first to report on the split, says Braun, 40, and Cohen, 34, are not heading toward divorce but will be using the time spent apart to work on their marriage.

“They’re friends,” an insider told the publication, explaining that the two are still living together. The source also claims that the couple’s close friends have been aware of their relationship struggles for about a month.

Braun is the manager of Justin Bieber, Demi Lovato and Ariana Grande, among other stars, but he may be best known for his ongoing feud with Taylor Swift, after he acquired, and later sold, the rights to her master recordings.

Braun and Cohen wed in 2014 and share three children: Jagger Joseph, 6, Levi Magnus, 4, and Hart Violet, 2. Last week, Braun publicly celebrated his and Cohen’s anniversary by sharing a throwback photo of their wedding: In the picture, it appears that Ed Sheeran is serenading them as they dance together.

“If just for the kids, you have given me everything. But thanks to you I have grown, I have been pushed to be the best version of myself and to continue growing and learning,” he wrote. “That all happened because you came in to my life. 7 years. The adventure is just beginning. Thank you Yae. I love you . Happy anniversary.”

Cohen commented, “A Team 4lyfe.”

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Britney Spears reportedly asks celebrity attorney Mathew Rosengart to represent her ahead of July 14 hearing

July 12, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Britney Spears may soon have new legal representation ahead of her July 14 conservatorship hearing.

According to a report from TMZ, the Grammy winner is in discussions to retain attorney Mathew Rosengart, who previously represented A-listers such as Sean Penn, Casey and Ben Affleck, Steven Spielberg and rocker Eddie Vedder.

Britney’s former lawyer, Sam Ingham III — a court-appointed attorney — resigned recently after Spears expressed during last month’s explosive testimony that she wants to obtain her own legal counsel.

According to legal documents, Spears signed a request that reads, “Pursuant to my statement in open court on June 23, 2021, my rights, and my desire to end the above-referenced conservatorship as to my father Jamie P. Spears, it is my desire to choose and retain my own counsel, at Greenberg, Traurig, LLP as set forth above.”

It is unknown if Rosengart has joined the pop star’s legal team. If he accepts, he will most likely work to remove Jamie Spears as conservator and end the 13-year conservatorship, TMZ speculates, two requests Britney made to the judge during her June 23 hearing.

This development comes as Britney’s co-conservator, Jodi Montgomery, filed documents Friday that appear to convey she will work with Britney to dissolve or at least modify the conservatorship. The papers, obtained by TMZ, state that Montgomery said she’s arranging a “comprehensive care plan” to ensure the singer’s needs are met.

Saying it is “a goal that may not necessarily be shared by Mr. Spears,” Montgomery continued, “It is ironic that [Jamie Spears] now wants the conservatorship to ‘reflect [Britney’s] wishes’ since it is no secret that Ms. Spears has wished her father out of her life for years.”

It’s possible Britney will file a request to terminate her conservatorship during the July 14 hearing.

Blxst and Bino Rideaux’s new project ‘Sixtape 2’ drops this week

July 12, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Blxst and Bino Rideaux will bring the West Coast vibes with their new joint project, Sixtape 2, which drops Friday.

The duo decided to join forces again after fans positively received 2019’s six-track Sixtape. The sequel is led by Blxst and Bino Rideaux’s single “Movie,” and a hilarious music video for the track that features the two working at the All Washed Up Car Wash.

Blxst and Bino Rideaux are known for blending their unique vocals over R&B/hip-hop laced tracks. Sixtape 2 is guaranteed to solidify their status as two of the hottest artists coming out of Los Angeles.

Blxst is still riding the wave of his 2020 EP, No Love Lost, which helped him land a spot on XXL‘s 2021 Freshman Class list for emerging artists. The 25-year-old singer, rapper and producer recently sold out his first North American headlining tour, which begins this fall.

Meanwhile, Def Jam signee Bino Rideaux initially gained traction after releasing his 2015 project Life Is Like a Movie, which he recorded out of a D.I.Y. studio in his grandmother’s house. The “Incredible” rapper unleashed his full-length debut, Outside, four years later. That project boasted appearances by heavyweights such as Ty Dolla $ign, Fredo Bang, Mozzy and BlueBucksClan.

Grand Funk Railroad’s Don Brewer says it’s “a blessing “that band is back out on tour again

July 12, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Grand Funk Railroad returned to the road earlier this month for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic started in March 2020.

Founding Grand Funk drummer/singer Don Brewer tells ABC Audio that he feels “awesome” about getting to play concerts again, noting that as the health crisis got worse, he’d feared that normal touring might never come back.

“And when it finally started turning around and things started opening up and the vaccines came in, it was like, ‘Man, maybe we can do this again,” he notes. “And now it’s like this is a blessing…that we’re able to get back out and do it.”

The 72-year-old rocker says he’s excited “hear the crowd again and look at the faces and to see the smiles and to see people enjoying what we do.”

The band currently has about 20 confirmed upcoming dates on its 2021 trek, which is called the the Some Kind of Wonderful Tour, named after Grand Funk Railroad‘s hit 1974 cover of the 1967 Soul Brothers Six tune “Some Kind of Wonderful.”

Brewer tells ABC Audio that Grand Funk’s 2021 set list is similar to the one they played prior to the pandemic, although they’re adding a couple of old tunes back into the show, 1969’s “Heartbreaker” and 1970’s “Mean Mistreater,” the latter of which Don says the band hasn’t played since 1998.

The current Grand Funk lineup, which also features founding bassist Mel Schacher, has now been together for 22 years.

“We’re brothers,” says Brewer. “Not only Mel, but everybody. And we lucked out to put this group of guys together, because I don’t think I’ve ever been in a band where you get along with everybody…And we do.”

Check out the band’s full tour schedule at GrandFunkRailroad.com.

The Kid LAROI thanks fans and Justin Bieber: “You guys have literally changed my life”

July 12, 2021 by WDNY Radio

After teasing its release for weeks, “Stay” by The Kid LAROI and Justin Bieber is finally out and nobody is happier about that than LAROI himself.

“wowowow I can’t believe ‘stay’ is finally out,” he wrote on Instagram. “this song is so special to me and I’m so f***in happy that you guys finally get to hear it.”

“3 years ago I would of never thought I’d be here but here I am,” he continued. “And I’m so f***ing grateful for everything you guys do for me. you guys have literally changed my life and there’s nothing that I can ever do to repay you.”

He also had kind words for Justin, writing, “dawggggggg thank you so much for being you and all the help and advice you’ve given me. I appreciate you more than you know. I love you I love you I love you guys and I’m so excited to keep movin on this journey with y’all.”

LAROI’s journey essentially started in 2018, when he first posted his music online. He tells ABC Audio that hitting upon his current style — a mixture of singing and rapping — has been a process.

“I went through phases where I was…just hardcore rapping,” he says. “I went through phases where I just wanted to sing and just all different types of stuff. And like, I listen back to some of my old music now and…like, old music, and I’ll be like, ‘Damn, it’s so crazy!'”

“I feel like I’m still getting to find my own sound completely,” he adds, “But, I mean, I’m way closer than I was five years ago. So I guess that’s all that counts!”

Dogs and trucks and “We Didn’t Have Much”: Justin Moore’s early years were “a country song”

July 12, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Even though Justin Moore didn’t write his nostalgic hit, “We Didn’t Have Much,” it’s still very much representative of the way he grew up in Arkansas, where he still lives today.

“This sounds like a country song,” he explains, “but we were a family that really did eat dinner together every night. And I was outside ’til dark, I never came in and played with an iPod or anything like that, like my kids do.”

“So that’s something we’re trying to impress upon our own kids as well,” the father of four adds. “And so I think this song kind of wraps all that stuff into one.”

Even though Justin’s hit longs for the good ole days, he admits some of the song’s scenarios still hold true.

“The one line in it that always just kind of makes me chuckle,” he tells ABC Audio, “because it really did happen — and to this day, even my dogs it does happen — is ‘dog barking in the yard at a truck he don’t know.'”

“I mean, that really happens,” he continues. “They know whose truck is okay and who’s ain’t… There’s a lot of those moments in the song that kind of make me smile.”

“We Didn’t Have Much” is the lead single from Justin’s latest collection, Straight Outta the Country, which also includes an acoustic version of his hit.

“Coming soon”: Imagine Dragons teases “Wrecked” video

July 12, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Prepare yourself to get emotionally “Wrecked” by Imagine Dragons.

Dan Reynolds and company have shared a clip from the upcoming video for their new single, which, according to their Twitter, is “coming soon.”

The 15-second teaser features a woman standing on a beach in front of an ocean as waves crash onto the sand.

“Wrecked,” which premiered earlier this month, will appear on the upcoming ID album Mercury — Act 1, due out September 3. Reynolds wrote the song after his sister-in-law passed away from cancer.

Mercury — Act 1 also includes the previously released singles “Follow You” and “Cutthroat.” The video for “Follow You” featured It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia co-stars and real-life couple Rob McElhenney and Kaitlin Olson, while the “Cutthroat” clip starred X:Men: Apocalypse actor Olivia Munn.

Kool & the Gang to release new album, ‘Perfect Union,’ in August; check out first single, “Pursuit of Happiness”

July 9, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Funk/R&B legends Kool & the Gang will release Perfect Union, their first new studio album of original music in more than a decade, on August 20.

The 10-track collection was produced by the group’s late co-founder, Ronald Khalis Bell, who died in September of 2020 at age 68. The album, which can be pre-ordered now, will be available on CD and digital formats.

Perfect Union begins and ends with two different versions of a song titled “Pursuit of Happiness.” The second version of the track, a rap version, has been released as the album’s first single.

Kool & the Gang leader Robert “Kool” Bell explains, “My brother, Khalis, wrote the single ‘Pursuit of Happiness’ around the time of Obama‘s second campaign for President. That was such an inspirational time and the hook and music just bolted out of him. That time period was a pretty creative period for him and all of us.”

Adds Kool, “Now that he has passed, that [album title], Perfect Union makes even more sense to me. It’s about us. He used to say we were the ‘koolective’ genius of a band called Kool & the Gang. We came together as kids and it’s been a perfect union. He knew that.”

An animated music video for the track premiered this week at RollingStone.com, and you also can watch the clip on YouTube. It follows a robot, apparently living on a post-apocalyptic Earth, who creates a pair of goggles that allow other robots to see the planet as it once was. Together, they’re inspired to help make the Earth thrive again.

Here’s the full track list for Perfect Union:

“Pursuit of Happiness”
“The Weekend”
“Leave It on the Dance Floor”
“High”
“Sexy (Where’d You Get Yours)”
“All to Myself”
“R.O.Y.A.L.T.Y.” (Kool & The Gang Mix)
“Hold On”
“Good Time”
“Pursuit of Happiness” (Rap Version)

Bass smashed by The Clash’s Paul Simonon in ‘London Calling’ cover photo going on display at London museum

July 9, 2021 by WDNY Radio

An instrument featured on one of the most iconic album covers of the punk-rock era, The Clash‘s London Calling, will go on permanent display at the Museum of London on July 23.

The Clash’s Paul Simonon has indefinitely loaned the museum the Fender Precision bass that he smashed at a September 1979 concert by his legendary band at the New York City venue The Palladium.

A photo snapped by Pennie Smith of Simonon smashing the bass at the end of the show wound up on the cover of the British rockers’ classic album, which was released in December of ’79 in the U.K. and January 1980 in the U.S.

The bass previously was featured in the popular “The Clash: London Calling” exhibit that ran from from November 2019 to September 2020 at the Museum of London and celebrated the 40th anniversary of the album. The instrument now will go on display indefinitely in the museum’s World City gallery, and it eventually will be displayed at the facility’s planned new location in London’s West Smithfield section.

“We’re thrilled to have Paul Simonon’s Fender Precision bass on long-term loan,” says Museum of London curator Beatrice Behlen. “A seminal piece of music history, the moment the bass was smashed was immortalised on The Clash’s seminal album London Calling, a rallying call for Londoners and people around the world.”

She adds, “We are aware that many were unable to see the guitar as part of our exhibition The Clash: London Calling in 2020 due to coronavirus, so we are pleased to provide a second opportunity to see it.”

Free tickets to view the World City gallery can be reserved at MuseumofLondon.org.uk.

Check out new music from Tinashe, Lucky Daye, Kid Ink, Mariah the Scientist & more

July 9, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for SHEIN Together Fest 2021

Here’s a roundup of new music from today’s hottest R&B and hip-hop artists.

Tinashe dropped off another single, “Bouncin’,” from her upcoming album, 333. The futuristic dance song flirts with both pop and R&B sounds, while Tinashe sings about sending dirty pics to her lover and sweating out her edges at the club.

“Watch it bouncin’ on the ground/ Got my edges sweating out/ Turn it up extra loud (Uh, oh ohhh)/ Yeah tonight we stepping out/ Been a minute since/ I found someone who could hold it down,” she sings.

“Bouncin'” follows Tinashe’s June release, “Pasadena” featuring Buddy.

Meanwhile, New Orleans singer Lucky Daye has lent vocals to “Sinner,” the new single from Nigerian artist Adekunle Gold. The romantic song tells the story of two lovers and takes inspiration from the biblical story of King David and Bathsheba.

Rappers Kid Ink and RMR Chanel dropped their summer-ready single “Party,” which includes a reworked version of the chorus of Jagged Edge‘s 2001 hit “Where the Party At,” featuring Nelly.

Last but not least, rising singer Mariah the Scientist shares her new album, Ry Ry World. Mariah uses her R&B vocal stylings to sing relatable songs about love, heartbreak and seeking “Revenge” on an ex from her past. Ry Ry World also features appearances from rappers Lil Baby and Young Thug. Earlier this week, Mariah the Scientist dropped a music video for her single “Aura.”

And, in case you missed it, the soundtrack for the upcoming film Space Jam: A New Legacy is out now. It features Saweetie, Cordae, Salt-N-Pepa, Kash Doll, Joyner Lucas and more, including Lil Babyand Kirk Franklin on the new single “We Win.”

Space Jam: A New Legacy arrives in theaters and on HBO Max on July 16.

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