Music

While the MTV VMA telecast on Sunday was pretty star-studded, with acts like Sabrina Carpenter, Lady Gaga and Mariah Carey performing, the show’s producer revealed which stars he tried and failed to book on the show.

Speaking to Rolling Stone, producer Van Toffler said there were “undoubtedly, absolutely” artists that he wanted on the show, but he just couldn’t swing. When asked if Justin Bieber or Taylor Swift were among them, Toffler said that Justin, as well as Beyoncé and Miley Cyrus, were three artists he wished he’d landed.

Toffler said he didn’t even try to get Swift because she’s “not in cycle” — which is industry speak for actively promoting an album.

“She’s done so many MTV awards when she is in cycle. It just didn’t feel right,” he said. “Some people are recording or out of cycle. You pull together the best show you can, and the best of the year.”

However, he did want to have a certain superstar collaboration.

“I wanted to have Harry Styles and Stevie Nicks perform together,” Toffler said. “So, you know, you shoot for the moon.”

Harry and Stevie have performed together several times, both in concert and at industry events like the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

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Runaway June‘s sophomore album, New Kind of Emotion, will finally arrive Sept. 19, more than six years after their debut.

Group members Jennifer Wayne, Natalie Stovall and Stevie Woodward co-wrote 11 of the record’s 13 cuts, including the title track, which is their current radio single.

“It’s us searching for who we are, and you’ll hear some different influences because it spans a three-year period for us,” Natalie says of the album. “We were trying different things and we were in different stages of life, so the album really puts a stamp on that moment in time for us.”

The trio worked with five different producers on the project, including Sugarland‘s Kristian Bush.

“If you just wanna have a good time, there are songs for you on this album,” Stevie says, “or if you wanna feel something, there are those songs as well.”

Here’s the complete track listing for Runaway June’s New Kind of Emotion:
“Real Good Night”
“Drink Champagne”
“New Kind of Emotion”
“Stars on the Ceiling”
“To Be Yours”
“Done with Me Yet”
“Miss Me”
“He Ain’t My Problem”
“Make Me Wanna Smoke”
“Fine Wine”
“Come Home to Me”
“Sad Girl”
“Fine Wine (Duke’s Version)”

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50 Cent has added yet another project to his Hollywood slate. In an Instagram post on Monday, he announced he’s obtained the rights to the 2002 film Paid in Full and has teamed with Cam’ron to transform it into a television series.

“I now have the rights to PAID IN FULL, im developing it into a premium Tv show. if you like God Father of Harlem your [sic] gonna love this,” he wrote alongside the artwork and still images from the film. “Cam set to Executive produce along side me, if you want in get at him I’m out of the country.”

Cam shared a screenshot of the post in his own announcement, thanking 50 for the opportunity. “So we’ve been talking about this for a few months now, and it’s almost time,” Cam wrote in the caption. “We gonna burn this s*** down.”

Paid in Full is set in the late ’80s and tells the story of Ace (Wood Harris), a young man who ditches his job at a Harlem dry cleaning shop to join the drug business with friends Mitch (Mekhi Phifer) and Rico (Cam’ron). The three become major players in the drug underworld, and are forced to deal with the tests and the danger that comes along with their money.

Damon Dash, who was one of the film’s producers, has since reacted to Cam’s announcement — the latest in their series of exchanges, which started when Cam said Dash was to blame for his financial troubles.

“Cam just made a post, major announcement. I wanna congratulate him for making 50 his new boss. So congratulations Cam, 50 is now your new boss and you’re proud of it. Congratulations my n****,” he said.

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Alicia Keys is briefly joining the cast of Hell’s Kitchen in celebration of the actors, their fans and the upcoming 20th anniversary of her Unplugged album. Encore Sessions with Alicia Keys will see her performing live for the first time on a Broadway stage. 

“After the show, we’re doing something really special – me and my keys will be there and I can’t wait to share this intimate moment with the beautiful Hell’s Kitchen community,” Keys said in a press release. 

Described as a “one-of-a-kind night,” Encore Sessions with Alicia Keys will take place Sept. 26 and Sept. 27 at the Shubert Theatre. Tickets are available at HellsKitchen.com, Telecharge.com and the Shubert Theatre box office.

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Jon Pardi aims to spread some holiday cheer this year, but he’s planning to do it solely in the Sunshine State.

The “Friday Night Heartbreaker” hitmaker will kick off the four-date The Christmas Show Dec. 12-13 with two concerts at The St. Augustine Amphitheatre. From there, he heads to the Hard Rock in Hollywood, Florida, on Dec. 18 and the Hard Rock in Tampa on Dec. 19.  

Jon promises his hits, holiday classics and songs from 2023’s Merry Christmas from Jon Pardi album, as well as an “Elvis-inspired wardrobe.” He’ll also have a 12-piece band, including fiddle, steel guitar and horns.

Presales start Wednesday, before tickets become available to the public on Friday. 

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Drowning Pool performed on NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Monday night, joining Offset and JID for a performance of the rappers’ song “Bodies.”

As its title suggests, “Bodies” samples Drowning Pool’s signature song of the same name. For the Fallon performance, Drowning Pool rocked their “Bodies” while Offset and JID rapped their verses over it.

“Last night was INSANE,” Drowning Pool writes in an Instagram post Tuesday. “Massive thanks to everyone that made this happen, who watched, screamed, and felt the energy with us.”

“Most of all — this one was for Dave,” the band adds, referring to late original frontman Dave Williams. “Always with us.”

Along with getting sampled by Offset and JID, “Bodies” was recently remixed by electronic music duo SOFI TUKKER.

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Hayley Williams has premiered the video for her solo song “Parachute.”

The clip finds the Paramore frontwoman dancing around the Bristol Northern Soul Club in England, cut with shots of her running through a field.

“Special thank you to Bristol Northern Soul Club for letting us crash your party,” Williams says.

The “Parachute” video is now on YouTube.

“Parachute” is included on Williams’ new solo album, Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party. It wasn’t one of the original 17 songs Williams surprise-released on her website at the end of July, but was added to the track list when Williams officially put out Ego Death on Aug. 28.

As for Paramore, Williams recently confirmed in an interview with The Face that the band is currently taking a break. Their most recent album is 2023’s This Is Why.

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A day after taking home the best new artist trophy at the MTV VMAs and performing for thousands at the UBS Arena in Queens, New York, Alex Warren scaled things down for an intimate show in Manhattan.

As part of Verizon’s Concerts in the City program, Alex performed a mostly acoustic set for about 350 sweepstakes winners and told the crowd how happy he was to be able to see their faces. He spent as much time interacting with fans — looking at their photos, talking to them about their lives, taking selfies and asking them to vote on which song he should play next — as he did actually singing. 

The set list included “Ordinary,” of course, but also a cover of Robyn‘s “Dancing on My Own,” plus “Save You a Seat,” “Yard Sale” and “Carry You Home.” When he asked the audience to choose his final song from three choices, they went for “Before You Leave Me.”

Alex also told the crowd that even though he wasn’t supposed to say anything, he would be announcing a new tour very soon, which would feature him playing at a nearby arena. Considering the midtown Manhattan location of the gig, he may have been referring to New York’s famed Madison Square Garden, but we’ll have to wait and see.

Meanwhile, Alex will begin the 15-date extension of his 2025 Cheaper Than Therapy tour Sept. 23 in Indianapolis.

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(NOTE LANGUAGE) Leon Thomas was recently honored with the Creative Visionary Award at an event called Billboard Future of Music & Money. “It’s really hard sometimes being early on a trend or early on a sound because there’s really nothing kinda to reference it to in the marketplace and I really thank everybody for being fearless enough to trust my vision,” he said while accepting the award, per Billboard. Ty Dolla $ign received the Collab Impact Award, and Shawn Barron took home the Executive Impact Award.

After previewing the song on his Iceman livestream, Drake has released “Dog House.” The song features Julia Fox and Yeat, who takes aim at Drake’s nemesis Kendrick Lamar. “F*** a money tree, I’m a cash cow/ If I ain’t give a f*** then, I don’t give a f*** now,” he rhymes on the song. Nicki Minaj, Ja Morant, Kriss Kross and The Notorious B.I.G. were also referenced in the song.

During an appearance on Kai Cenat‘s Mafiathon 3 livestream, Tee Grizzley was asked to name his favorite artist. He said, “I’m not even about to sit here and cap! Drake!” His answer remained the same when asked to name his choice for best artist of all time.

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