Selena Gomez details boyfriend requirements, says new album doesn’t have “one sad song”

Interscope

If you like Selena Gomez‘s upbeat new song, “Single Soon,” there’s more where that came from. Selena said in a recent interview that her upcoming album doesn’t have “one sad song” on it.

Talking to SiriusXM’s Hits 1 LA, Selena says, “There’s not one sad song on my album — and I don’t mean that in a way, like, everything is not full of meaning, because I think even the most poppy songs can have heart and I want that to come across. But I genuinely don’t feel like I have anything in me to write something negative. It just doesn’t match with where I am anymore.”

And while Selena describes herself as living “in Sad Girl music world,” she adds, “I just felt like this album shouldn’t be that.”

“Single Soon” is all about being happy without a boyfriend, but in the interview, Selena also addressed the qualities that she’d like a potential boyfriend to have.

“I think I have standards,” she says. “And I think I live in a world right now where boys confuse standards with high maintenance.”  

“I’m not ashamed to say I actually require X, Y and Z for you to be with me,” she continues. When asked to elaborate, Selena reveals, “You gotta be cool, man. I mean, not ‘cool’ in the sense that people think you’re cool — you just gotta be nice, and please make me laugh. And also just be good to my family and people around you.”

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Aerosmith’s ‘Greatest Hits’ debuts at #1 on the ‘Billboard’ hard rock charts

UMe/Capitol Records

Aerosmith‘s hits are still popular with fans. The band’s recent Greatest Hits compilation tops the Billboard Hard Rock Albums chart this week.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Famers moved 19,000 equivalent album units, 10,000 of which were from album sales, to land at #1. It’s their second chart-topper on the Rock Albums chart following 2012’s Music From Another Dimension, which was their last album of original songs.

Greatest Hits also lands at #4 on the Top Rock Albums chart and #7 on the Top Rock & Alternative Albums chart. It’s at #36 on the all genre Billboard 200 chart, their 31st album on that chart.

But this isn’t the first time Aerosmith has released a greatest hits package. In 1980 Columbia released Aerosmith’s Greatest Hits, which was then reissued in 1997 with hits they accumulated through 1988. They also released Big Ones in 1994, O, Yeah! Ultimate Aerosmith Hits in 2002 and Devil’s Got A New Disguise: The Very Best of Aerosmith in 2006.

The latest Greatest Hits album was released ahead of Aerosmith’s Peace Out tour, which will be their goodbye to the road. It launches Saturday, September 2, in Philadelphia. A complete list of dates can be found at aerosmith.com.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Ed Sheeran’s selling a “make your own cover” version of ‘Autumn Variations’

Gingerbread Man Records

Among the new merch that Ed Sheeran is offering to fans to go along with his new album, Autumn Variations, is something you don’t see much: a customizable album cover.

Only 5,000 of these special albums are available. Essentially, it’s a white vinyl LP in a blank cover, and it comes with a set of two sticker sheets that you can use to create your own cover design. 

“The cover of autumn variations was made by my friend @scarcurtis [Scarlett Curtis],” Ed wrote on Instagram. “She does amazing posters for peoples birthdays we know with their favourite things on them, and ive always loved them. I asked her to start drawing autumn themed things and compiling them so we could make a cover for this.”

Ed says, “I always wanted to make an album cover that could be customised by you whilst you listen to it, so we have a blank vinyl sleeve and a sticker sheet so you can make your own variations of autumn, or how it feels to you.”

And if you want to get really artsy, Ed also has an Autumn Variations coloring set on his website, for fans who think the regular black-and-white cover design could use some oomph. It comes with a selection of custom crayons in colors like daisy, carrot and basil.

If you’re not artsy, there’s a selection Autumn Variations T-shirts, beanies, hoodies and vinyl to buy. The album arrives September 29.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Spend Christmas with Darryl Worley, Deana Carter, Lorrie Morgan + more in Nashville

Jason Davis/Getty Images for IEBA

Going to be in Nashville for the festive season? Then be sure to stop by Gaylord Opryland for the Darryl Worley & Friends: Home For The Holidays dinner show.

The event, which is part of Gaylord Opryland’s 40th annual A Country Christmas, will run from November 23 to December 25 and be headlined by Darryl. Special guests Deana CarterLorrie MorganBilly DeanThe IsaacsAndy Griggs and Billy Gilman will perform on select dates.

“Christmas has always been a special time for my family,” shares Darryl. “Growing up, we never had a lot of excessive things, but my parents made sure Christmas was not just about the presents but about the experience and meaning of the season. I am so grateful to Gaylord Opryland for giving me a chance to share that Christmas spirit with all the people who visit Nashville during the holidays!”

“Headlining a brand-new dinner show as part of the resort’s 40th annual A Country Christmas is an honor beyond words,” adds the “Have You Forgotten?” hitmaker. “Please come visit Gaylord Opryland for the holidays to see me, along with some very talented friends, as we share the music, memories, love, and joy of the holiday season!”

For more information and to grab tickets, visit Gaylord Opryland’s website.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Good idea, right? Olivia Rodrigo’s opening a ‘GUTS’ pop-up store in NYC

Geffen Records

Olivia Rodrigo‘s eagerly anticipated sophomore album, GUTS, arrives September 8, and that weekend fans in New York City will be able to snap up exclusive merchandise at a special pop-up shop.

SPOTIFY x AMERICAN EXPRESS PRESENT: GUTS Gallery Pop-Up Experience will run from September 8 to 10 at 25-27 Little West 12th St. in New York’s trendy Meatpacking District. Fans can grab T-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, hats, beanies, bumper stickers and more at the Gallery. There will also be limited-edition giveaways and Insta-worthy photo ops.

Olivia’s top listeners on Spotify, as well as American Express card holders, get to enter the store one hour early and have the opportunity to purchase an exclusive T-shirt. Amex card members also get an exclusive gift with purchase and a dedicated checkout line. 

Still, everyone who shows up will get a complimentary tote bag and have the chance to win prizes from an onsite vending machine. Visit OliviaRodrigo.com/GUTSgallery for all the details.

Here are the times the store will be open:

Friday 9/8: 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. ET

Saturday 9/9: 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. ET 

Sunday 9/10: 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. ET 

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Queen’s Brian May reveals his fears about AI influence on music

The effect artificial intelligence will have on music has been the subject of hot debate, and Queen’s Brian May has shared his thoughts on the subject.

“I think a lot of great stuff will come from AI, because it is going to increase the powers of humans to solve problems,” May shares in an interview with Guitar PlayerBut he says, “[M]y major concern with it now is in the artistic area. I think by this time next year the landscape will be completely different. We won’t know what’s been created by AI and what’s been created by humans.”

He continues, “I think we might look back on 2023 as the last year when humans really dominated the music scene. … It makes me feel apprehensive, and I’m preparing to feel sad about this.”

May shares that he’s worried about “the potential for AI to cause evil” in all areas, not just music.

“I think the whole thing is massively scary. It’s much more far-reaching than anybody realized — well, certainly than I realized,” he says.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Tyler Hubbard’s “most physical” job taught him important life lessons

ABC/Connie Chornuk

With Labor Day weekend right around the corner, country star Tyler Hubbard is reflecting on the life lessons he picked up from “one of the worst jobs” he had early on.

“I don’t know if it was the worst job, definitely the most physical, [but it] was probably pouring concrete,” says Tyler. “I did that for a year with a friend that had a concrete business, and we poured a lot of concrete that year, and I just remember really early mornings and really late nights.”

“If the sun was up, we were working, and that was pretty influential in creating the work ethic that I have,” he recalls. “It was either that or my dad had a tree service that I grew up working with him doing that, as well, which was again very manual labor, very long days and taught me a lot about working hard.” 

“Those were special times and as hard as it was, I’m thankful for those years,” shares Tyler. “I love working hard, and I’m grateful for the struggle that got me where I’m at.”

Coming up, Tyler will open for Old Dominion on select dates of their No Bad Vibes Tour. For Tyler’s full tour schedule, visit his website.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Nita Strauss shares how touring with Demi Lovato helped in sobriety journey: “It was such a healthy experience”

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for DL

Touring with Demi Lovato not only gave Nita Strauss a different kind of music experience, it also helped her in her sobriety journey.

The guitar virtuoso took a break from her gig in Alice Cooper‘s touring band in 2022 to tour with Lovato’s live lineup. Speaking with Guitar World, Strauss says touring with the pop star marked “my first time on a tour that prioritized sobriety.”

“All the other tours I’ve been on have been respectful of people who don’t partake, but it’s still around all the time,” Strauss explains. “It was such a healthy experience being on a tour that didn’t have alcohol backstage.”

“It wasn’t a dry tour; people could go out and partake at their leisure if they wanted to, but not in the dressing rooms or areas where Demi and the band were going to be,” Strauss continues. “There were a lot of sober people on that tour and a lot of people in recovery to talk to.”

Strauss adds that Lovato has been a “huge ally on my journey.”

“When I was recovering from knee surgery, I had to take pain pills for a few days,” Strauss recalls. “Demi was the first person to reach out and ask how I was feeling, and whether I was triggered in any way or needed anything. That struck me as incredible, because she’s one of the biggest stars in the world, and she took the time to reach out to one of her band members, check in, and make sure my recovery was doing OK.”

Strauss is currently on tour with Cooper’s band. She also plays on the “School’s Out” rocker’s new album, Road.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Mariah Carey celebrating 30th anniversary of ‘Music Box’ with expanded edition

Sony Legacy

Thirty years ago — August 31, 1993 — Mariah Carey released her third album, Music Box. Now she’s marking the milestone with a special expanded edition with new and unreleased tracks.

“It’s the anniversary of MUSIC BOX! A whopping whole 30 minutes since the album was first released,” Mariah jokes on Instagram. “I’ll never forget creating this record, fully immersing myself in the music that would change my life and connect me with YOU, the lambily, in a way that bonded us forever. I hope you enjoy celebrating this milestone with me!”

According to her Instagram post, a four-LP or three-CD version of Music Box will be out on September 8. Among the goodies it includes are bonus tracks like a version of “Dreamlover” live from Top of the Pops and an extended mix of “Anytime You Need a Friend.” 

Also included is a remastered audio version of Mariah’s 1993 concert at the Proctor’s Theatre in Schenectady, New York, which originally aired as an NBC special called Here Is Mariah Carey. 

In addition, there’s a mini-documentary giving fans a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the “Dreamlover” video, which has now been remastered in 4K.

Music Box is one of the bestselling albums of all time, with more than 28 million copies sold worldwide. It produced two number-one hits, “Dreamlover” and “Hero,” plus the #3 hit “Without You,” a cover of a 1970 song by the British band Bandfinger that singer/songwriter Harry Nilsson took to #1 in 1972.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

The Flaming Lips announce vinyl release of ’Live at the Forum’ album

Warner Records

The Flaming Lips have announced a vinyl release of the band’s live album Live at the Forum, London, UK Jan 22, 2003.

The set was recorded during the Lips’ tour supporting their 2002 album, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots. It includes earlier singles “She Don’t Use Jelly” and a cover of Pink Floyd‘s “Lucifer Sam,” as well as a rendition of Yoshimi song “Do You Realize??”

Live at the Forum had previously been included in the 20th anniversary reissue of Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, which was released in 2022. It will be available as a standalone record for the first time on October 27.

The Flaming Lips continue to celebrate Yoshimi’s 20th anniversary this year by playing the album in full on tour.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.