Music – Page 40 – 105.7 WDNY

Dylan, Springsteen, Joel make ‘New York Times’ readers’ choice list of the greatest living American songwriters

June 3, 2026 by WDNY Radio

The New York Times released a list of the 30 greatest living American songwriters back in April, based on feedback from more than 250 music insiders and six Times critics. The list drew criticism from music fans, so the paper has now decided to give them their say.

The Times has now released a readers’ choice list of the 100 greatest American songwriters, noting, “As soon as we decided to make a list of the 30 greatest living American songwriters, we could guess how readers would respond to the results: with a combination of enthusiasm and outrage, quickly letting us know which of their favorites we had unconscionably forgotten.”

“We didn’t want all that passion to go undocumented. So we invited readers to assemble their own list — with a formal poll,” they added.

The new list is the result of over 25,000 ballots cast, resulting in “nearly 12,000 distinct choices,” which were narrowed down to 100 artists.

While the original list didn’t rank the songwriters, the reader’s choice list does. Bob Dylan lands at #1, followed by Paul Simon at #2, Bruce Springsteen at #3 and Carole King at #4. Billy Joel, who did not make the original list, ranks at #5.

Rounding out the top 10 are Stevie Wonder, Taylor Swift, Dolly Parton, James Taylor, who also didn’t make the original list, and Willie Nelson.

Other artists who didn’t make the original cut but landed on the readers’ choice list include: Jackson Browne, David Byrne, Stevie Nicks, Donald Fagen, Don Henley, John Fogerty, R.E.M., Bonnie Raitt, Jack White, Pearl Jam, Stephen Stills, Patti Smith, Beck, Lana Del Rey, Noah Kahan, John Mellencamp, Chrissie Hynde, Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor, Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong, The National and Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl.

Jordan Davis may have had to ‘Learn the Hard Way,’ but his efforts paid off

June 3, 2026 by WDNY Radio

When Jordan Davis made his third album, Learn the Hard Way, his intention was clear: to color outside the lines a bit.

As his latest hit, “Turn This Truck Around,” becomes his 10th career #1, he can rest assured his efforts paid off.

“I think the overall inspiration for this album really was to do something different, to do something that me and [producer] Paul [DiGiovanni] haven’t done, to kind of show influences instead of just talk about them,” Jordan says. “And I think we did that with a few different songs in this: ‘Son of a Gun,’ ‘Louisiana Stick,’ ‘Turn This Truck Around.'”

“I feel like it’s stuff that we haven’t done before,” he continues. “It’s a different sound for us, so that was really what we wanted to do, and I think we accomplished it.”

Learn the Hard Way marks its first birthday on Aug. 15, and featured his previous hits “I Ain’t Sayin'” and “Bar None.”

Bruce Springsteen, Peter Frampton and more: Tribeca Festival hits New York City

June 3, 2026 by WDNY Radio

The 25th anniversary edition of New York’s Tribeca Festival gets underway on Wednesday with the debut of a documentary on Earth, Wind & Fire, followed by a performance by the legendary band. The festival closes with an Alicia Keys documentary, and in between, there are films focusing on everyone from Madonna, Sara Bareilles and Katy Perry to Peter Frampton, Travis Barker and Mumford & Sons, all of whom will make appearances.

“Musically related projects in movies or just doing concerts, it’s all great. Music is great, and the more we get, the better,” Tribeca Festival co-founder Robert De Niro told ABC Audio.

“And there are amazing stories about artists and their longevity and what they’ve gone through to be able … to sing their songs,” festival co-founder Jane Rosenthal adds. “And you just learn about different musicians and who they are as people and how they all work together.”

During one of the festival’s closing events, U2’s Bono will present the Harry Belafonte Voices for Social Justice Award to Bruce Springsteen for using his platform to “advance equality, dignity, and human rights.” Patti Smith will perform.

“What he’s doing is great,” De Niro says of Springsteen. “And he has a voice that’s very big … and he’s enraged the way … many of us [are]. So God bless him.”

The festival’s head of music programming, Vincent Cassous, says tapping stars like Madonna to do Q&As after their screenings, and acts like Earth, Wind & Fire to perform after theirs, is part of the festival’s plan to “make it something that you can’t miss.”

Cassou says the Frampton documentary will be a highlight, since the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer will make an appearance despite living with a degenerative muscle disease.

“I think it’s going to be one of the most emotional moments at the festival, for sure.”

Evanescence offers fans ‘Sanctuary’ at live album listening party

June 3, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Sanctuary, the new album from Evanescence, officially comes out on Friday, but you can hear it today if you want.

The band has teamed up with Volume.com to host an album listening party, which starts at 2 p.m. ET. All you need to do is create an account and claim your free ticket. You’ll also be able to ask the band questions, which they’ll answer during a live Q&A after the stream.

Sanctuary, the follow-up to 2021’s The Bitter Truth, drops June 5. It includes Evanescence’s hit Devil May Cry song, “Afterlife.”

Amy Lee and company will launch a U.S. tour in June. Spiritbox and Nova Twins will also be on the bill.

A$AP Rocky talks response to ‘Don’t Be Dumb,’ tour and evolution

June 3, 2026 by WDNY Radio

A$AP Rocky is a fan of his latest album, Don’t Be Dumb, although he believes people don’t fully realize how good it is.

“That s*** was fire, bro. They still sleep on it,” he says in an interview with Vibe, which marks its return to print for the first time in more than a decade. “I had to throw them off. The whole album ain’t ‘Punk Rocky.’ The whole album ain’t ‘Helicopter.’ The whole album ain’t just one kind of sound. Just play it, sit down, enjoy it, and shut the f*** up.”

Later in the interview, Rocky says he isn’t interested in conforming to people’s expectations.

“If they don’t get it, f*** it,” he says. “I’m making what I f*** with. I’m a chef. I’m cooking you these five-star dishes. If you don’t have this acquired taste, don’t listen to this s***. I’m not giving y’all McDonald’s and s*** no more.”

A tour, however, is where he knows his music will be appreciated.

“Imagine putting out a product, and then thousands and thousands of people [are] coming together to celebrate that product,” Rocky says. “That’s the s*** that I live for.” His Don’t Be Dumb World Tour is currently underway.

Don’t Be Dumb marked Rocky’s first album in eight years. Asked how he’s changed since 2018, he says, “a little bit of evolution and time.”

Although he doesn’t know what the next decade looks like, he tells Vibe, “Hopefully, knowing me, more than likely it’s still going to be music.”

He continues, “I don’t know what that’s going to look like, what that’s going to sound like, what my vibe is going to be, but it’s not going to be what I’m on today.”

Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, Alicia Keys, Katy Perry and more: Tribeca Festival hits New York City

June 3, 2026 by WDNY Radio

“Musically related projects in movies or just doing concerts, it’s all great. Music is great, and the more we get, the better,” Tribeca Festival co-founder Robert De Niro told ABC Audio.

“What he’s doing is great,” De Niro says of Springsteen. “And he has a voice that’s very big … and he’s enraged the way … many of us [are]. So God bless him.”

Cassou says the Frampton documentary will be a highlight, since the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer will make an appearance despite living with a degenerative muscle disease.

“I think it’s going to be one of the most emotional moments at the festival, for sure.”

Charli XCX says creating ‘Music, Fashion, Film’ album cover left her ‘genuinely shook’ for the first time

June 3, 2026 by WDNY Radio

The album cover for Charli XCX’s new album Music, Fashion, Film features rocker John Cale, designer Marc Jacobs and director Martin Scorsese, three giants in their respective fields. Charli says being present while they were photographed together made her finally understand the word “shook.”

Speaking to Shaad magazine, Charli says, “You know how people use the term ‘shook?’ … I never really have felt genuinely shook before, I think. And once we finished that shoot, me and [photographer] Aidan [Zamiri] were just … it was like this out-of-body experience and I turned to him and I was like, ‘I think this is what shook means.'”

“Just to have these three legends in this room being willing to come together for this album cover … it was really cool,” Charli continues, adding, “It felt quite magical, and not something that I think I’ll ever really experience again.”

As for why Charli chose those three men, she tells the magazine she wanted to feature people she had “personal connections with.” She collaborated with John Cale on the soundtrack for the movie Wuthering Heights earlier this year, and she’s done three fashion campaigns with Marc Jacobs, the first person to ever ask her to do one.

As for Scorsese, she says, “I’ve been lucky enough to be able to sit down and have a few conversations with him about film, about his films and his encyclopedic knowledge of films.”

Charli then adds, “I mean, he doesn’t really need an explanation, he’s f****** Martin Scorsese and the fact that he wanted to do this … I felt really honoured.”

Music, Fashion, Film comes out July 24.

‘Beauty and the Beast’ singer Peabo Bryson dies at 75

June 2, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Legendary singer and songwriter Peabo Bryson has died. He was 75.

The Grammy Award winner, known for his hit songs and duets, including “Beauty and the Beast,” “A Whole New World” and several R&B classics, died on Tuesday, according to a statement from his family.

“He transitioned peacefully at 5:00 p.m. ET on the evening of Tuesday, June 2, 2026, surrounded by the love of his family and those closest to him,” according to the statement.

The statement continued, “In this deeply difficult moment, the family asks for privacy as they mourn the loss of a beloved husband, father, family member, friend and artist whose impact extended far beyond the stage.”

The statement went on to say: “We are tremendously moved by the outpouring of love, prayers and support from fans, friends, and colleagues around the world. While our hearts are broken, we find comfort in knowing how deeply Peabo was loved and how many lives were touched by his voice and his generous spirit. His legacy and music will live on for generations to come.”

The news of Bryson’s death comes days after a representative for the singer confirmed to ABC News that he had suffered a stroke and was receiving medical care.

Bryson was known for two hit Disney duets: “Beauty and the Beast” with Céline Dion, from the film of the same name, and “A Whole New World” with Regina Belle, from Aladdin. “Beauty and the Beast” hit the top 10 in 1992; “A Whole New World” hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1993, becoming the first Disney movie theme to do so. Both songs earned Bryson and his duet partners Grammys for best pop performance by a duo or group with vocals.

He is also known for songs including his first top 10 pop hit “If Ever You’re in My Arms Again,” as well as “Can You Stop the Rain,” “Feel the Fire,” “Tonight, I Celebrate My Love” and “You’re Looking Like Love to Me.” Among his many collaborations were duets with Roberta Flack, including “Born to Love” in 1983, and “For You and I” with Angela Bofill.

The Who releases performance of ‘Won’t Get Food Again’ from ‘Live at Eden Project’

June 2, 2026 by WDNY Radio

The Who has shared another performance from their recently released album, Live at Eden Project.

The latest is a video of the band performing their iconic track “Won’t Get Fooled Again” from their fifth studio album, Who’s Next.

Live at Eden Rock is a recording of the band’s July 2023 concert at Cornwall’s Eden Project, the home of a sustainable network of biomes in the English countryside. The concert was part of The Who Hits Back! tour, which saw Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend backed by the Heart of England Philharmonic Orchestra.

While The Who has no current plans to tour, Daltrey is set to kick off a summer solo tour Aug. 23 in Mesa, Arizona. He recently added a new date to the tour, Oct. 2 in Brookville, New York. A complete list of dates can be found at TheWho.com.

In other Who news … Townshend will sit down for a conversation at London’s Opera Holland Park theater on July 2. The event will benefit the U.K. HIV charity Terrence Higgins Trust.

Minneapolis mayor announces weeklong celebration honoring Prince

June 2, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has declared a weeklong celebration honoring Prince in his hometown. Prince Celebration Week kicked off Monday and will come to an end on Sunday.

“There are few artists as connected to a city as Prince is to Minneapolis,” Mayor Frey said in a statement. “His music, style, and creativity helped define who we are and how the world sees us. Prince Celebration Week gives us the opportunity to celebrate the hometown legend who made purple our unofficial city color and put Minneapolis on the map in a way no one else could.”

The week features a variety of events, including the Prince Celebration 10th Anniversary Kickoff Party featuring DJ Lenka Paris and special guest Chaka Khan; the Prince Celebration of Life 10th Year Anniversary Concert with Miguel, Bilal, Tevin Campbell and others; and the Prince Celebration Block Party and inaugural Prince Sing-Along featuring performances by CeeLo Green, among others.

Additional activities include food drives, Paisley Park open houses and a lighting of the Minneapolis skyline in purple in honor of Prince’s life and legacy.

The full schedule and programming details can be found on PrinceCelebration2026.com.

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