Music – Page 2976 – 105.7 WDNY

Jimmie Allen will host ABC News’ ‘Sound of Freedom — A Juneteenth Celebration’

June 17, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Jimmie Allen is commemorating Juneteenth tonight with a hosting spot celebrating the holiday, and Black Music Month, with performances from an all-genre array of stars.

Called Sound of Freedom — A Juneteenth Celebration, the special is part of ABC News’ Soul of a Nation series. The event will feature performances from Patti LaBelle, Marvin Sapp and Jon Batiste, plus conversations with Ciara, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, who will address the importance of ownership in music with ABC News’ Janai Norman.

Another segment will feature correspondent Rachel Scott, putting a spotlight on some of the “all-Black production teams behind major artists and groups.”

The special will air on Friday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. The following day, it will be available to stream on Hulu. It’s the third year in a row that the network has produced the special, but according to co-executive producer Catherine McKenzie, it is one of the most important specials to date.

“From gospel and country to jazz, rock and today’s pop hits, every genre of American music is influenced by the Black Diaspora and our stories of survival, joy, pain and resilience,” McKenzie says in a press release. “We’re looking forward to taking viewers on this musical journey in one of our most significant specials yet.”

Co-executive producer Quiana Burns adds that it’s “a must-watch for all viewers.”

In Pride Month post, Kesha says, “I’m not gay. I’m not straight.”

June 17, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Kesha is most definitely a gay icon, but in a new post in honor of Pride Month, the singer says as far as her own sexuality, she isn’t sure where she lands.

“Happy pride! In case I haven’t been straight forward enough (LOL) I just wanted to take a sec to tell everyone that you are not only enough, just as you are, but the world is so fucking lucky to have you,” she wrote on Instagram, along with a picture that shows her in Iceland.

Then she continued, “I’m not gay. I’m not straight. I don’t know what I am. I love people. I love people because we are all our own little consciousness journeys, dancing around the sun. how weird and interesting and fun this life is, right? I refuse to be anything, really, except for open to it all.”

“I know it can be confusing sometimes, but you are so seen and loved,” she concluded. “Love u animals, happy pride see u at stonewall soon!!!!!”

Kesha was referring to her upcoming performance in front of New York City’s historic Stonewall Inn to mark Stonewall Day on June 24. Stonewall Day was established five years ago to commemorate the 1968 Stonewall riots, which are considered to be the beginning of the gay rights movement in the U.S.

In other Kesha news, her 2013 number-one hit with Pitbull, “Timber,” just hit the billion-stream mark on Spotify. A few days ago, she wrote on Instagram, “Thank u to every person who has ever streamed this song! Send me videos of ur best drunk timber moment. eeeekk this is so exciting. thanks animals. congrats @pitbull.”

Ciara opens up about the journey to owning her masters

June 17, 2022 by WDNY Radio

In a new interview for the ABC News special Sound of Freedom – A Juneteenth Celebration, airing Friday night, Grammy-winning singer and now record label owner Ciara opens up about owning her recording masters. For her, ownership is about the freedom to create the kind of art she wants to without seeking the approval of others.

“I’ve done this for almost 15 years. I’ve been in this these systems for so long. It’s like I can’t keep doing it this way,” Ciara says of the feelings that led her to own her masters. “I want to be free, like, I want to go and really be able to execute my vision how I envision it, not have to wait for someone to approve a budget. Not having to wait for someone to tell me what direction I should go in.”

Ciara’s journey to ownership started with her 2018 song, “Level Up,” which wouldn’t have been released if it’d been up to her then record label, she says.

“I had to meet with the new CEO, and I had my game plan. I had this song called ‘Level Up.’ I had the video for this song as well. I had a whole vision for my project, and I sat down, and I talked to him, to the CEO at that time,” she says. “Like you know, once the meeting was over, and I knew he didn’t want to go forward with my project, I was like, this is my chance and I’m going to ask back for my masters…I’m literally going to level up.”

The record label ended up returning them to Ciara for free. Now, she says she’s in control of her legacy.

You can catch more of Ciara’s interview tonight at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

Led Zeppelin’s John Paul Jones, Heart’s Nancy Wilson & more added to lineups of Taylor Hawkins tribute concerts

June 17, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones and Heart guitarist Nancy Wilson have joined the star-studded lineups of Foo Fighters‘ tribute concerts in honor of late drummer Taylor Hawkins, taking place in London on September 3 and Los Angeles on September 27.

Jones will be performing at both concerts, while Wilson will take part in the LA event.

Other new additions include Nirvana‘s Krist Novoselic, frequent Foo Fighters producer Greg Kurstin and Queens of the Stone Age collaborator Alain Johannes at both shows, as well as Chic‘s Nile Rodgers and viral kid music prodigy Nandi Bushell at the London concert, and pop star Pink and country/pop singer LeAnn Rimes at the Los Angeles event.

Additionally, Chris Rock will join fellow comedian Dave Chappelle at the London show.

Previously announced performers for both shows include Queen‘s Brian May and Roger Taylor, Rush‘s Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson, The Police‘s Stewart Copeland, Wolfgang Van Halen, Jane’s Addiction‘s Chris Chaney, Queens of the Stone Age’s Josh Homme, producer Mark Ronson and drummer/producer Omar Hakim.

The LA lineup also includes Joan Jett, Alanis Morissette, KISS‘ Gene Simmons, Red Hot Chili Peppers‘ Chad Smith, Mötley Crüe‘s Nikki Sixx, Miley Cyrus, Weezer‘s Pat Wilson, The Struts‘ Luke Spiller and Rage Against the Machine‘s Brad Wilk, while The Pretenders‘ Chrissie Hynde and ex-Oasis singer Liam Gallagher are exclusive to the London bill.

The guests will be “playing the songs that Taylor loved and created, with and alongside his FF brothers Dave Grohl, Nate Mendel, Chris Shiflett, Pat Smear and Rami Jaffee,” a press release says.

The London concert takes place at Wembley Stadium, while the LA show will be held at The Kia Forum. For ticket info, visit FooFighters.com.

Ticket proceeds will be donated to charities in the U.S. and U.K. chosen by Hawkins’ family.

Måneskin premieres “If I Can Dream” cover for ‘Elvis’ movie soundtrack

June 17, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Måneskin has premiered a cover of Elvis Presley‘s 1968 “If I Can Dream,” recorded for the upcoming Elvis biopic.

Taking a different direction from what you might expect from the “Beggin'” rockers, Måneskin’s rendition of “If I Can Dream” opts for a slow-burn approach that builds to a crescendo towards the end of the song.

“Feeling so grateful to have had the chance to cover the King for [director Baz Luhrmann‘s] movie and recorded it in Graceland,” Måneskin says.

You can listen to the cover now via digital outlets.

Elvis, which stars Austin Butler in the title role and Tom Hanks as his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, premieres in theaters June 24. Its soundtrack, which will be released that same day, also includes contributions from Jack White, Tame Impala, Gary Clark Jr. and Stevie Nicks.

Luke Combs drops his smoldering new single, “The Kind of Love We Make”

June 17, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Luke Combs’ highly-anticipated new album, Growin’ Up, is coming out next week, but before it does, he’s got one more new song to share with fans off the track list.

“The Kind of Love We Make” is a mid-tempo love song about carving out some time alone with a special someone — and watching the sparks fly as a result. The song’s music video, also out today, puts a literal spin on blazing passion: It follows a young firefighter and paramedic who find passion when they come together to extinguish a house fire.

Luke’s new song will be his next single following a record-setting 13 consecutive number-one hits that include “Doin’ This,” his lead single from Growin’ Up. The singer co-wrote “The Kind of Love We Make” with a group of frequent collaborators — Jamie Davis and Dan and Reid Isbell — and he speculates that the easy songwriting process might be due to a shared life experience between the co-writers.

“It ended up being one of those songs that wrote itself,” he recounts. “Dan, Reid and I are all having kids within a month of each other, so maybe this song had something to do with that.”

Luke and his wife, Nicole, are expecting their first child — a boy — any day now. Nicole has shared that her due date is in June.

Mariah Carey references “All I Want for Christmas Is You” lawsuit at Songwriters Hall of Fame induction

June 17, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Mariah Carey decided to reference the controversial “All I Want for Christmas Is You” copyright lawsuit when she was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame on Thursday.

Mariah has been sued by songwriter Andy Stone — who is better known by his stage name Vince Vance — for $20 million in damages. Vance wrote a song with the same exact title in 1989 and claims the Grammy winner infringed on his copyright, even though the songs differ in both melody and lyrics.

Mariah used her Thursday night acceptance speech to address Stone’s lawsuit by calling it “farcockteh,” the Yiddish word for “messed up.” Mariah noted, “It’s not the easiest profession in the world. Between the — this is a word my friend said to me the other day — the ‘farcockteh’ lawsuits and all the business side of it. No offense, we love the business people… they’re our best friends.”

This is the first time she’s mentioned the pending lawsuit.

Mariah then turned her attention to how writing songs and poetry helped her heal from her “incredibly dysfunctional background.”

Although she has embarked on a successful music career, the “Fantasy” singer revealed, “I constantly have to remind people I’m a songwriter. It’s become a joke.” She referenced the meme of her repeatedly saying “as a songwriter” during interviews and decided to turn her acceptance speech into a replacement meme.

Hoisting up her trophy, she loudly said once more, “As… a… songwriter!”

Mariah also used the moment to take a stand for equality by remarking, “Out of the 439 total inductees into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, only 32 have been women up until this moment. Now it’s 33.”

She then closed her speech on a sweet note, declaring, “As my father once told me — ‘you did good, kid!'”

Paul McCartney joined by Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi at US tour finale Thursday in New Jersey

June 17, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Paul McCartney‘s Got Back tour ended in exciting fashion on Thursday night at MetLife in East Rutherford, New Jersey, as the former Beatles legend was joined by two of the Garden State’s most favorite sons — Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi.

Rolling Stone posted a fan-shot video that shows McCartney introducing The Boss, telling the crowd, “He’s a local boy. He says he’s gonna come and sing with us.” Bruce then came out and commented to Paul, “Eighty more years of glory days,” a reference to McCartney’s upcoming 80th birthday this Saturday, before playing his 1984 hit “Glory Days” with Macca and his band.

After that tune ended, McCartney said to Springsteen, “Bruce, one more,” and then launched into the early Beatles tune “I Wanna Be Your Man.”

Later on in the show, as seen in a fan-shot clip, Bon Jovi came out on stage holding a bunch of helium-filled birthday balloons and told Paul, “Welcome to New Jersey. I’ve got 60,000 people want to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to you.” Jon then led the crowd in a singalong, after which he let the balloons go and exited the stage. McCartney and his band followed that with a rendition of The Beatles’ “Happy Birthday.”

According to Rolling Stone, Springsteen and Bon Jovi returned for the final encore of the show, a rendition of The Beatles’ “The End,” with Bruce playing guitar on the song.

Photos of Springsteen’s and Bon Jovi’s appearances during the concert also were posted on McCartney’s social media sites.

Paul currently has only one more confirmed show on his 2022 schedule, a headlining performance at U.K.’s famed Glastonbury Festival on June 25.

John Paul Jones, Krist Novoselic & more join lineup for Foo Fighters’ Taylor Hawkins tribute concerts

June 17, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Led Zeppelin‘s John Paul Jones and Nirvana‘s Krist Novoselic have joined the lineups for Foo Fighters‘ tribute concerts in honor of late drummer Taylor Hawkins, taking place in London and Los Angeles.

Other new additions include frequent Foo Fighters producer Greg Kurstin and Queens of the Stone Age collaborator Alain Johannes for both shows, as well as disco legend Nile Rodgers and viral kid music prodigy Nandi Bushell for London, and Heart‘s Nancy Wilson, pop star Pink and country and pop musician LeAnn Rimes for Los Angeles.

Additionally, Chris Rock will join fellow comedian Dave Chappelle at the London show.

Previously announced performers for both shows include QotSA’s Josh Homme, Queen‘s Brian May and Roger Taylor, Rush‘s Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson, Jane’s Addiction‘s Chris Chaney, Wolfgang Van Halen, The Police‘s Stewart Copeland, producer Mark Ronson and drummer/producer Omar Hakim.

Notably, Foo frontman Dave Grohl played with JPJ, Homme and Johannes in the long-inactive supergroup Them Crooked Vultures.

The LA lineup also includes Miley Cyrus, Joan Jett, Alanis Morissette, KISS‘ Gene Simmons, Mötley Crüe‘s Nikki Sixx, Red Hot Chili Peppers‘ Chad Smith, The Struts‘ Luke Spiller, Rage Against the Machine‘s Brad Wilk and Weezer‘s Pat Wilson, while Liam Gallagher and Chrissie Hynde of Pretenders are exclusive to the London bill.

The guests will be “playing the songs that Taylor loved and created, with and alongside his FF brothers Dave Grohl, Nate Mendel, Chris Shiflett, Pat Smear and Rami Jaffee,” a press release says.

The London concert takes place September 3 in Wembley Stadium, while the LA show will be held September 27 at the Kia Forum. For ticket info, visit FooFighters.com.

Ticket proceeds will be donated to charities in the U.S. and U.K. chosen by Hawkins’ family.

Lil Nas X is “happy” he is able to make LGBTQ youth feel seen

June 17, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Lil Nas X picked up the prestigious Hal David Starlight Award on Thursday night and was honored among the new class of inductees into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

The award is presented to “gifted young songwriters who are making a significant impact in the music industry via their original songs.” Previous winners include Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, Alicia Keys and Drake.

Speaking with Extra on the red carpet, the “Industry Baby” rapper was asked about the significance of the moment and how he’s helping LGBTQ youth feel seen.

He said the recognition “means the world” to him, adding, “It’s always scary when you’re the first — or one of the first — people to take a big role in the world.” The 23-year-old Grammy winner continued, “I’m navigating my way through it and I’m happy that people are inspired by me [and] what I’m doing.”

Lil Nas X also offered a supportive message to LGBTQ fans who are being targeted and harassed either online or by their peers because of their sexuality. “I remember that everything happens for a reason and there’s nothing the world is going to give to me that I can’t take,” he offered.

Additionally, he shared a special message for fans during Pride month: “We need to get a certain word put into the dictionary.” He declined to say it out loud, as the term is not safe for work.

Lil Nas X previously made his case on Twitter to add the word “b*ssy” to the dictionary. Dictionary.com has since responded to his request, “We added WAP to the dictionary, so anything’s possible” — a reference to Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion‘s hit song.

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