Brian Wilson, Carole King, U2, Van Morrison among nominees for 2021 Hollywood Music in Media Awards

Brian Wilson, Carole King, U2, Van Morrison among nominees for 2021 Hollywood Music in Media Awards
Brian Wilson, Carole King, U2, Van Morrison among nominees for 2021 Hollywood Music in Media Awards
Courtesy of Hollywood Music in Media Awards

A number of well-known veteran music artists have received nominations for the 2021 Hollywood Music in Media Awards — the HMMAs — which honor composers, songwriters, and music supervisors for their work in music for film, television and videogames.

This year’s nominees include Brian Wilson, Carole King, U2, Van Morrison and Devo‘s Mark Mothersbaugh.

Wilson received two nods, both for his recent documentary Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road. Brian will vie for the Song: Documentary Film honor for “Right Where I Belong,” which the Beach Boys legend co-wrote with My Morning Jacket‘s Jim James, while the movie itself has been nominated in the Music Documentary/Special Program category.

King has been nominated for the Song: Feature Film for “Here I Am (Singing My Way Home),” from the Aretha Franklin biopic Respect. The two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Famer co-wrote that tune with the movie’s star, Jennifer Hudson, and with Jamie Hartman.

U2 received a nod in the Song: Animated Film category for their new tune “Your Song Saved My Life” from the upcoming flick Sing 2.

Morrison will compete for the Song: Independent Film award for “Down to Joy,” which is from the movie Belfast.

Like Wilson, Mothersbaugh is a two-time nominee. He’s in the running for the Score: Animated Film prize for The Mitchells vs. The Machines, and in the Score: Video Game category for Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart.

The winners of this year’s Hollywood Music in Media Awards will be announced during a livestreamed ceremony held November 17 in Hollywood, California.

To check out all of the nominees, visit HMMAwards.com.

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Deon Taylor to develop scripted series on Master P; Hulu renews ‘Wu-Tang: An American Saga’ for third season; and more

Deon Taylor to develop scripted series on Master P; Hulu renews ‘Wu-Tang: An American Saga’ for third season; and more
Deon Taylor to develop scripted series on Master P; Hulu renews ‘Wu-Tang: An American Saga’ for third season; and more
Photo credit: Derreck Rizzo

Director Deon Taylor has teamed up with Roxanne Avent Taylor’s Hidden Empire Film Group to develop a scripted series centered on the life of Percy Miller, better known as the artist Master P.

The forthcoming project, which will span 30 years of Miller’s life, will touch on the rapper’s humble beginnings, his pursuit of the NBA, as well as his meteoric success in the music business. Miller will co-executive produce the 10-part series with Taylor, who is also set to write and direct and executive produce the project.

In other news, Hulu has renewed their hip-hop docuseries, Wu-Tang: An American Saga, for a third and final season. The news was shared on the show’s socials, with the message, “Season 2 may be over but Wu-Tang is Forever. See you for Season 3.” Created and written by Wu-Tang Clan founder RZA, the series follows the group’s formation and examines how Bobby Diggs, better known as RZA, took his vision for the group and made it a success. Wu-Tang: An American Saga stars Shameik MooreAshton Sanders, Erika Alexander and Joey Bada$$, among others.

Finally, hip hop producer Pete Rock has teamed up with Tracklib for their latest Beat Battle competition. The opportunity gives one lucky winner the rare chance to work on music with Rock. Aspiring producers must create a beat by flipping the 1970s soul classic “Handle With Care” by Ben Aiken, which was released by Philly Groove Records. The winner, selected by Rock, will win a one-on-one virtual studio session with the producer, as well as an autographed MPC Live II Retro Edition, valued at $1400. Interested producers can go to tracklib.com/peterock to see all of the rules and guidelines.

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Avril Lavigne’s new song “Bite Me” due out November 10

Avril Lavigne’s new song “Bite Me” due out November 10
Avril Lavigne’s new song “Bite Me” due out November 10
Jeff Kravitz/MTV VMAs 2021/Getty Images for MTV/ViacomCBS

Avril Lavigne wasn’t kidding earlier this week when she asked if she should drop her new single “next week” — that’s exactly what she’s doing.

The new track, “Bite Me,” arrives November 10.  Avril announced it with a photo of herself wearing massive black boots, a blue plaid skirt and a studded bustier, sitting next to a heart-shaped cake inscribed with the song’s title.

“Are you ready to ‘BITE ME?’ My new song, November 10th,” she wrote in the caption.

Lately, the Canadian singer has been working with the artists connected to the recent pop/punk revival, such as Machine Gun Kelly, Mod Sun and WILLOW, and announced earlier this week that she’d signed to Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker‘s DTA record label.

Avril’s most recent single, “In Flames,” was a collaboration with her boyfriend, Mod Sun.  Her most recent solo single was 2020’s “We Are Warriors,” a re-recording of a song from her 2019 album that she released as a charity single.

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Ed Sheeran scores fifth UK number one with ‘= (Equals),’ outsells the rest of the Top 30 combined

Ed Sheeran scores fifth UK number one with ‘= (Equals),’ outsells the rest of the Top 30 combined
Ed Sheeran scores fifth UK number one with ‘= (Equals),’ outsells the rest of the Top 30 combined
Atlantic Records

Ed Sheeran‘s new album = (Equals) has blasted into the top of the U.K. albums chart with the biggest opening week for an album in the U.K. this year.

= (Equals), which gives Ed his fifth number-one album in the U.K., sold 139,000 copies in its first week.  That may not sound like a lot, but to put things in perspective, it outsold every other album in the Top 30 combined.  Not only is it the biggest sales week for an album this year in the U.K., but it’s also the biggest since Ed’s last album, ÷ (Divide), came out in 2017.

In a statement to Britain’s Official Charts Company, Ed said, “Thank you so much for making Equals the Number 1 album in the U.K. this week. I don’t know what else to say — you guys are great. Thank you so much for all listening to it, I hope you enjoy it and I hope to see you on tour next year. Nice one!”

Over on Britain’s Official Singles Chart, Ed missed the number-one spot, with Adele reigning for a third straight week with “Easy On Me.” However, Ed can’t be too upset: His song “Shivers” is number two, “Bad Habits” is number three and his new single “Overpass Graffiti” is number four.

 

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Watch video for new Neil Young & Crazy Horse song “Heading West” from forthcoming album, ‘Barn’

Watch video for new Neil Young & Crazy Horse song “Heading West” from forthcoming album, ‘Barn’
Watch video for new Neil Young & Crazy Horse song “Heading West” from forthcoming album, ‘Barn’
Reprise Records

Neil Young & Crazy Horse have debuted a music video for “Heading West,” the second advance track that the veteran rockers have released from their upcoming album Barn.

You can check out the visual now at NeilYoungArchives.com and at Young’s official YouTube channel.

Like the clip for the first advance track released from Barn, “Song of the Seasons,” this video was directed by Young’s wife, Daryl Hannah, and features time-lapse footage of the Rocky Mountain area where Neil and the band made the album.

The “Heading West” clip shows the actual barn where the Barn album was recorded.

“This is the second of our series,” Neil writes in a post about the video on his website. “We are featuring ‘nature on the move’ in the area of the BARN where the music is emanating…Watch the door pulsing with the beat! It’s wonderful the way the videos let you listen and watch undisturbed at the same time.”

In a separate post, Young explained what inspired him to write “Heading West.”

“My mom and I travelled across the country together, heading west. She was on her way back home to start over. I was on my way there with her,” he wrote. “Here’s a song about me and my mom and those ‘growing up’ times. It’s so great to remember her this way!”

As previously reported, Barn, which you can pre-order now, is a 10-track collection that will be released on December 10. It will available on CD, vinyl, cassette and digital formats, and as a deluxe box set.

The box set includes a CD and a vinyl LP, as well as a Blu-ray disc that features a film directed by Hannah offering a look at the making of Barn. The Blu-ray will also be released separately.

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Billy Porter apologizes to Harry Styles after calling out ‘Vogue’ cover

Billy Porter apologizes to Harry Styles after calling out ‘Vogue’ cover
Billy Porter apologizes to Harry Styles after calling out ‘Vogue’ cover
ABC/Jeff Neira

Billy Porter is apologizing to Harry Styles after calling out the singer’s Vogue cover.

During his appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Thursday night, the Pose actor clarified that it was never his intent to drag Harry specifically and he never expected his comments to get so much traction.

“Apparently, I’m famous now and it was a slow news day,” he told Colbert.

Porter added, “The first thing I wanna say is, Harry Styles, I apologize to you for having your name in my mouth. It’s not about you. The conversation is not about you.”

“It is about the systems of oppression and erasure of people of color who contribute to the culture,”  the Emmy winner explained.

Last year, Harry became the first solo male to grace Vogue’s cover and he did so while wearing a dress. In an interview with U.K.’s The Sunday Times last month, Porter said he was disappointed by Vogue’s choice to put Harry, “a straight white man,” on the cover and pointed out that he has been pushing gender boundaries with fashion way before Harry was.

“I’m sorry, Harry. I didn’t mean no harm,” Porter reiterated on The Late Show. “I’m a gay man. We like Harry. He’s cute.”

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Rod Stewart releases romantic new pop song, “I Can’t Imagine,” dedicated to wife Penny; watch video now

Rod Stewart releases romantic new pop song, “I Can’t Imagine,” dedicated to wife Penny; watch video now
Rod Stewart releases romantic new pop song, “I Can’t Imagine,” dedicated to wife Penny; watch video now
Credit: Penny Lancaster Stewart

Rod Stewart has debuted a third track from his upcoming studio album The Tears of Hercules, an upbeat and romantic pop-soul tune called “I Can’t Imagine” that the singer has dedicated to his wife, Penny Lancaster Stewart.

The song is available now as a digital download and via streaming services, and you also can check out a new companion music video at Stewart’s official YouTube channel.

The clip captures Stewart performing the song and having fun with his band members and backing singers at a large lakeside mansion outside of Las Vegas. “I Can’t Imagine” is one of nine songs that Rod co-wrote on the 12-track album, which is due out next Friday, November 12.

Stewart will be promoting The Tears of Hercules with a number of TV appearances in the coming week. On Monday, November 8, he’ll be featured on Entertainment Tonight, while on November 12, the album’s release date, he’ll perform and be interviewed on The Kelly Clarkson Show and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

The Tears of Hercules can be pre-ordered now, and is available on CD, as a vinyl LP and in digital formats.

“I Can’t Imagine” follows the release of two other advance tracks co-written by Stewart, the country-pop gem “One More Time” and the introspective and topical gospel-influenced ballad “Hold On.”

Stewart recently wrapped his latest Las Vegas residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, and his next engagement at the venue is scheduled for May 2022. First up for Rod is a tour of Australia and New Zealand taking place in March and April.

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Carrie Underwood’s ‘My Gift (Special Edition)’ gets the vinyl treatment

Carrie Underwood’s ‘My Gift (Special Edition)’ gets the vinyl treatment
Carrie Underwood’s ‘My Gift (Special Edition)’ gets the vinyl treatment
Joseph Llanes

Carrie Underwood is dropping a special surprise in fans’ stockings this year: The Special Edition of her My Gift Christmas album, including three bonus songs in addition to the original track list, is now available on vinyl.

Pressed on Crystal Clear Double Vinyl, a limited edition version of the product will also be available on White Vinyl at Walmart. Those picking up their copies at Target have exclusive access to a limited-edition Green Vinyl version, along with a collectible poster.

My Gift, originally released in 2020, is Carrie’s first-ever full-length Christmas album. It features a collaboration with John Legend, “Hallelujah,” as well as a version of “The Little Drummer Boy” featuring vocals from the singer’s six-year-old son, Isaiah.

Since releasing My Gift, Carrie followed up her holiday project with My Savior, a collection of gospel hymns. More recently, Carrie topped the country charts with her Jason Aldean duet, “If I Didn’t Love You.”

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Big Sean responds to Kanye West calling him a “sellout” on ‘Drink Champs’

Big Sean responds to Kanye West calling him a “sellout” on ‘Drink Champs’
Big Sean responds to Kanye West calling him a “sellout” on ‘Drink Champs’
Scott Dudelson/FilmMagic

Kanye West had harsh words for his former GOOD Music artist Big Sean when he appeared Thursday on Revolt’s Drink Champs podcast.

“The worst thing I’ve ever done is sign Big Sean,” Ye said about the Detroit MC. Sean recently left West’s label after releasing all five of his studio albums on GOOD. He complained that he needed a bigger cut of the royalties.

Kanye also attacked Sean, and another of his protégés, John Legend, for not supporting him during his brief 2020 presidential campaign.

“Both John Legend and Big Sean, when I ran for office, got used quick by the Democrats to come at their boy that actually changed their life and that’s some sellout s**t. And I don’t rock with neither of them and I need my apologies.”

Sean quickly responded on Twitter. “Was just [with] this man, he ain’t say none of that!!! And this was after the interview! I’m dying laughing at you @kanyewest.”

“I didn’t get used by anybody or endorse anyone publicly at all,” the “Bounce Back” rapper added. “Cause I’m not political. That’s what’s hilarious, none of it’s true [and] he doesn’t even know what he’s talking about. I’m rollin.”

Sean was asked to appear on the next show so he can further respond to his mentor’s diss. 

“I can’t wait to go on drink champs now!!!,” he declared.

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iDKHOW releases new version of “New Invention” featuring Tessa Violet

iDKHOW releases new version of “New Invention” featuring Tessa Violet
iDKHOW releases new version of “New Invention” featuring Tessa Violet
Fearless Records

I DONT KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME has released a new version of “New Invention.”

The updated recording features Tessa Violet, who you may know for her song “Games” with lovelytheband. You can listen to it now via digital outlets.

The original “New Invention” appears on iDKHOW’s 2020 debut album Razzmatazz, which also features the number-one Billboard Alternative single “Leave Me Alone.”

iDKHOW’s current tour in support of Razzmatazz continues Friday in Colorado Springs and will wrap up later this month. The duo will then launch another live outing in January 2022.

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