Music – Page 7 – 105.7 WDNY

Freddie Mercury’s 80th birthday celebration announced

January 8, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Queen frontman Freddie Mercury would have turned 80 in 2026, and the milestone won’t be overlooked.

As in previous years, the rocker’s birthday will be celebrated at the Official Freddie Mercury Birthday Party. The 2026 edition will be held Sept. 5, Mercury’s actual birthday, at the Casino Barrière in Montreux, Switzerland.

According to the announcement on Queen’s Instagram, this year’s theme will be “The Great Pretender’s Gala,” a reference to the song “The Great Pretender,” which was recorded by Mercury in 1987.

The dress code for this year’s event will be “fancy and formal,” with the announcement noting, “[W]e are leaning into Freddie’s smarter, sharper dress sense, so think tuxedos, dresses, waistcoats, cravats, scarves and maybe even a monocle or face mask.”

More information about the party, along with ticket info, will be announced at a later date.

Proceeds from the Official Freddie Mercury Birthday Party will go to The Mercury Phoenix Trust, which raises funds for the fight against HIV/AIDs. It was founded by Queen band members Roger Taylor and Brian May and their manager Jim Beach in memory of Freddie, who died from the disease in 1991.

Music Notes: SZA, Latto and more

January 7, 2026 by WDNY Radio

An auction is underway for a chance to speak with SZA one-on-one via Zoom — or in person if you live in LA. The auction, which ends on Jan. 12, is part of Freedom for Sudan’s fundraiser benefiting Sudanese nonprofits. “ANYTHING TO RAISE AWARENESS AND SUPPORT,” SZA wrote in an Instagram caption announcing the event. She is also offering the chance to receive a signed blind box featuring five surprise pieces of SZA merch.

Big Boss Vette was secretly battling cancer, but now she’s cancer-free. She shared a video on her Instagram of her walking down a hospital hallway and eventually strutting to her song “Pretty Girls Walk.” “IF YOU WOULD’VE TOLD ME I’D BE BEATING CANCER AZZZZZZ IN 2026 I WOULDN’T HAVE BELIEVED YOU!!!! WE DID IT YALLLLLLLLL,” she wrote in the caption.

LaRussell released his album Something’s in the Water with no label, but has gotten support from Kyrie Irving and Snoop Dogg, among others. Kyrie gave him $11,000 and told him, “You earned it. … I want to contribute to what you got going on. And I know you’ll pay it forward.” Snoop Dogg purchased the album for $2,500 and wrote of his donation, “Had 2 do it!!! Nefew @LaRussellGC changin tha game.”

If Latto could make a modern-day version of Lil’ Kim‘s “Not Tonight,” she knows what women she’d bring on board. “Doja Cat, YK Niece, GloRilla and Cardi B,” she tells Okayplayer. “I think that checks a lot of boxes and is unexpected, haha. My favorite producers are Pooh Beatz, Go Grizz and Coupe so definitely one or all of my boys.” Lil’ Kim’s 1996 song features Missy Elliott, Da Brat, Angie Martinez and the late Left Eye.

Members of Foo Fighters, Social D, Alkaline Trio & more contribute to ‘We Are LA!’ charity single

January 7, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Members of Foo Fighters, Social Distortion and Alkaline Trio contribute to a new song called “We Are LA!,” a charity single marking the one-year anniversary of the devastating 2025 Los Angeles wildfires.

The track features Foos keyboardist Rami Jaffee, Social D guitarist Jonny “Two Bags” Wickersham and Alkaline Trio drummer Atom Willard, as well as Jane Wiedlin of The Go-Go’s, Jim Lindberg of Pennywise and Mike Watt of Minutemen, among many others.

The video for “We Are LA!” is streaming now via producer Charlie Overbey‘s YouTube channel. You can also order the single on vinyl.

Proceeds from “We Are LA!” will benefit the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund, which provides “services and financial assistance for career musicians and music industry professionals,” per a press release.

The “We Are LA!” participants have also signed a guitar to auction off in support of Sweet Relief Musicians Fund. The auction runs through Jan. 18 at 10 p.m. ET.

(Video contains uncensored profanity.)

Finn Wolfhard, Teyana Taylor and Alexander Skarsgård to host ‘Saturday Night Live’

January 7, 2026 by WDNY Radio

The next three hosts of Saturday Night Live have been revealed.

NBC has announced that Finn Wolfhard, Teyana Taylor and Alexander Skarsgård are set to host the first three episodes in 2026.

Wolfhard will take over hosting duties for the first time on the Jan. 17 episode of the show. SNL initially made the announcement of Wolfhard’s hosting gig during the Dec. 20 episode, which was hosted by Ariana Grande. Wolfhard is promoting the final season of Stranger Things, which is now streaming on Netflix. He will be joined by A$AP Rocky, who will serve as the show’s musical guest for the first time.

Taylor is set to make her SNL hosting debut on the Jan. 24 episode. She’s promoting her Golden Globe, Critics Choice and Actor Award-nominated performance in One Battle After Another. Geese will serve as the musical guest on the episode, making their first appearance on SNL after the release of their album Getting Killed.

Finally, Skarsgård will also make his hosting debut on the Jan. 31 episode. He will be joined by musical guest Cardi B. She is promoting her Little Miss Drama Tour, which starts on Feb. 11. This marks Cardi’s second appearance as musical guest on the show after she first appeared on the April 7, 2018, episode.

Pink Floyd’s ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’ approaching new ‘Billboard’ 200 milestone

January 7, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Pink Floyd is close to reaching a huge milestone on the Billboard 200 chart.

The band’s iconic album The Dark Side of the Moon recently landed its 996th nonconsecutive week on the Billboard 200 albums chart, meaning it’s only four weeks off landing 1,000 weeks on all-genre chart. It currently ranks at #167.

The Dark Side of the Moon, which was released in 1973, is already the current record holder for the most weeks ever on the Billboard 200, an honor it earned in October 1983 with its 491st week on the chart.

The album debuted on the Billboard 200 in March 1973 and hit #1 on April 28 of that year. It rarely dropped off the chart from its debut until Oct. 8, 1988, spending 741 out of 813 weeks on it. The album then returned to the Billboard 200 on Dec. 12, 2009, after Billboard 200 rules changed, allowing catalog albums to return to the chart.

Pink Floyd celebrated the 50th anniversary of The Dark Side of the Moon in 2023, releasing a box set that featured a remastered version of the album, along with a 1974 live concert.

Mike Jones says fans are still calling his viral number: ‘[It] is connected with me for life’

January 7, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Mike Jones‘ fans have been calling his phone ever since he included his real number in his 2005 song “Back Then.”

In an update shared to his Instagram on Tuesday, he showed off his new iPhone and revealed it’s still connected to the iconic number (281) 330-8004.

“The [number] was ringing back to back before it came out the BOX!!” he wrote. “This [number] is connected with me for life lmao, thanks to all y’all who believed, who still call to this day!!”

“Some call just to say what’s up and some call JUST to say thank u! Some call for shows & features, but I may go live and just answer calls from fans live!!” he continued. “So y’all can see [and] feel the organic love that comes thru this phone!!!”

In “Back Then,” Mike famously gives out his number as he discusses his rising fame. He raps, “They used to love to me diss me, now they rush to hug and kiss me, now/ They tellin’ all they friends when I leave how they miss me, now/ (281) 330-8004/ Hit Mike Jones up on the low ’cause Mike Jones about to blow.”

Mike has said in the past that it was his way of preventing fans “from dealing with janky promoter[s] who promote fake shows” and “to be accessible n hands on with my fans n supporters.”

Geese to make ’SNL’ debut

January 7, 2026 by WDNY Radio

The ascension of Geese has reached the Saturday Night Live debut phase.

The buzzy indie band will perform on SNL for the first time on Jan. 24. One Battle After Another star Teyana Taylor will host the episode.

Saturday Night Live airs at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBC.

While Geese has never before played SNL, they have been parodied on the show. Cast member James Austin Johnson did an impression of frontman Cameron Winter in a sketch during December’s Ariana Grande-hosted episode.

Geese released their acclaimed album Getting Killed in September. It includes the single “Cobra,” which is currently charting on the Billboard Alternative Airplay ranking.

DMX to be posthumously ordained as minister

January 7, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Among the many things DMX, born Earl Simmons, was known for was his deep spirituality and faith in God, which have posthumously earned him special recognition. The Gospel Cultural Center will host a service on Saturday to ordain him as a minister, honoring his “lifelong spiritual journey and his impact as a ‘hip-hop pastor’ who used his platform to lead millions in prayer,” reads an announcement shared by GCC founder Bishop Osiris Imhotep.

“Earl Simmons wrestled with God in the public square, turning his pain into a ministry of raw truth,” he says in a statement. “This ordination recognizes the divine calling he fulfilled every time he spoke a prayer into a microphone.”

The service will take place at Foster Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church, a historic site that served as a verified “safe house” stop on the Underground Railroad. It’s located in Tarrytown, New York, as is the Gospel Cultural Center.

The most ‘Romantic’ month: Bruno Mars confirms new album is coming in February

January 7, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Days after announcing that his album is “done,” Bruno Mars has confirmed when we’ll be able to hear it.

Bruno’s new album is called The Romantic and will be out on Feb. 27. It’s now available for preorder on his website; you can also get a T-shirt with the album cover on it. The album cover is a simple black-and-white drawing of his face, showing him with a bandana tied around his head, surrounded by a border made up of chains and roses.

And that’s not all: In the Instagram post announcing the news, Bruno said there’s “new music coming this Friday.” No word yet on what the first single is called.

The Romantic is Bruno’s fourth solo album and his first release in a decade; his last solo studio album was 2016’s 24K Magic. Since then, he’s teamed up with Anderson .Paak to form the duo Silk Sonic and release the hit album An Evening with Silk Sonic, and scored global hits with duets with Lady Gaga and Rosé. He’s also had a long-running and successful Las Vegas residency.

Yes releases remastered single edit of ‘The Ancient’ from Tales from ‘Topographic Oceans’

January 7, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Yes is giving fans another preview of their upcoming super-deluxe reissue of 1973’s Tales from Topographic Oceans.

The band has just released the 2026 remastered single edit of “The Ancient (Giants Under the Sun),” described in a press release as being “inspired by Purāna, the mythic texts and sacred lore of humanity’s distant past.”

Tales from Topographic Oceans (Super Deluxe Edition) will be released Feb. 6 as a package of 12 CDs, two LPs and a Blu-ray. It includes a newly remastered version of the album, along with several new mixes by producer Steven Wilson, including a Dolby Atmos mix. It will also include rarities, and previously unreleased studio and live recordings.

Tales from Topographic Oceans, Yes’ sixth studio album, was the first to feature drummer Alan White, who had replaced Bill Bruford. Frontman Jon Anderson came up with the idea for the album after reading a footnote in Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda.

The album, which went to #1 in the U.K. and was a top-10 hit in the U.S., featured four songs, all of which were at least 18 minutes in length, taking fans on a “four-part musical journey through ancient Hindu scriptures.”

Tales from Topographic Oceans (Super Deluxe Edition) is available for preorder now.

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