Mötley Crüe to perform at NFL Draft Concert Series

April 19, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Mötley Crüe has been booked to perform during this year’s NFL Draft Concert Series. The three-day event takes place April 27-29 in Kansas City, Missouri, in conjunction with the 2023 NFL Draft.

The Crüe is booked to play on April 28, with the concert series lineup also featuring Fall Out Boy on April 27 and Thundercat on April 29.

All the performances will stream via the NFL’s website, Facebook page and YouTube channel. Additionally, clips from the shows will be televised as part of ESPN and NFL Network’s draft coverage.

For more info, visit NFL.com.

The news comes as Mötley Crüe recently revealed they in the studio with new guitarist John 5 and Dr. Feelgood producer Bob Rock. The band is also dealing with a very public lawsuit with ex-guitarist Mick Mars and is set to hit the road again with Def Leppard for a European and U.K. tour, kicking off May 22 in Sheffield, England.

Lineup revealed for 2023 Music City Grand Prix

April 19, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Courtesy of Big Machine Music City Grand Prix

Race car fans and country music fans, get ready. The Big Machine Music City Grand Prix is returning for its third annual event.

The three-day festival will take place during the NTT INDYCAR SERIES weekend from August 4 to August 6 and will feature performances from both superstars and rising stars.

Chris Janson will perform on the Zyn Main Stage as part of the Wesley Mortgage Freedom Friday Tribute Concert, alongside chart-topping artists like Gavin DeGraw and rock legend, Vince Neil. Up-and-comers such as Megan Moroney, Frank Ray, Dillon Carmichael, Ryan Griffin, Neon Union, Tim Dugger and Mae Estes will appear on a stage that spotlights promising newcomers.

Additionally, Jay DeMarcus will take the Praise Stage with other artists as part of his record label Red Street Records’ showcase.

“Music has been a big part of the experience since we launched in 2021 and this year is no different. We are bringing fans the best and brightest artists on the scene today,” shares Jason Rittenberry, President & COO, Big Machine Music City Grand Prix.

For the full schedule and to get tickets, visit musiccitygp.com.

After “Fantasy” collab, Lauren, Em and GAYLE agree it’d be “fun” to form a girl group

April 19, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Lauren Spencer Smith tapped her friends Em Beihold and GAYLE to join her on her new single, “Fantasy.” But does that mean we can expect more music from the trio, who collectively refer to themselves as the “Powerpuff Girls”? Well, they’re willing, but they may not be able.

Asked by Billboard’s Pop Shop podcast if we might get an EP from the trio, GAYLE says, “I mean, if we all stop touring and are in the same spot, I feel like that would be fun.”

Em chimed in, “I’m here for it,” while Lauren added, “I feel like even when we were on set [for the ‘Fantasy’ video], I was like, ‘If they asked me to be in a girl group tomorrow, I would say yes!'”

But before that, the women have to release their debut albums, which none of them have gotten around to doing yet. In Lauren’s case, she tells the podcast, “I definitely have an album coming out, I’m definitely announcing it very soon.”

She explains that she keeps pushing it back because she wants to continue working on it, but adds, “I feel like I’ve been getting screamed at [by fans] to put out more music….so I definitely have one coming.”

As for GAYLE, who’s touring with Taylor Swift and Pink this year, she put out three EPs last year but is only putting out singles this year because she’s so busy on the road. As for Em, she says she’s in the “writing a lot phase,” but she’s not sure when any of the songs are coming out.

All three girls hope that they’ll be able to perform “Fantasy” live at some point — if their schedules align, that is.

David Foster sells rights to his income from writing hits for Celine, Madonna, Whitney and more

April 19, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Super-producer David Foster is the latest celebrity to cash in by selling the rights to his music. But in Foster’s case, he’s not a recording artist, so he’s sold the rights to the money he earns from writing some of the biggest hits ever.

Specifically, Hipgnosis Song Management has purchased Foster’s share — known as the “writer’s share” — of the performance income that’s generated each year by all the songs he’s written.

Just a few of the many hits the 16-time Grammy winner has penned include Peter Cetera‘s “The Glory of Love,” Whitney Houston‘s “I Have Nothing,” Celine Dion and Andrea Boccelli‘s “The Prayer,” Earth, Wind & Fire‘s “After the Love Has Gone,” The Tubes‘ “She’s a Beauty,” Chicago‘s “Hard to Say I’m Sorry,” Madonna‘s “You’ll See,” John Parr‘s “St. Elmo’s Fire (Man In Motion),” and Celine’s “To Love You More.”

In a statement, Hipgnosis CEO Merck Mercuriadis said Foster is “the songwriters’ songwriter and the producers’ producer,” adding, “David is truly special, and we are delighted to be working with his almost 50 years of incredible songs and to welcome him to the Hipgnosis family.”

Foster added, “I’ve long admired what Merck and his team have built and I trust they will be terrific partners.”

Foster, 73, is married to Katharine McPhee. They welcomed a son in 2021.

Hipgnosis has also purchased the rights to songs by Justin Bieber, Neil Young, Shakira, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Fleetwood Mac‘s Christine McVie and Lindsey Buckingham, to name just a few.

Listen to two new Extreme songs, “Banshee” and “#Rebel”

April 19, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Extreme has released two new songs, titled “Banshee” and “#Rebel.”

The tracks will appear on the “More Than Words” outfit’s upcoming album, Six, due out June 9.

You can listen to “Banshee” and “#Rebel” now via digital outlets, and watch their accompanying videos streaming now on You Tube.

Six, the aptly titled sixth Extreme studio effort, also includes the previously released single “Rise.”

Extreme will launch a U.S. tour in support of Six beginning August 2 in Portland, Maine. Living Colour will also be on the bill.

Tickets go on sale this Friday, April 21, at 10 a.m. local time. For the full list of dates and all ticket info, visit Extreme-Band.com.

“Unforgettable memories”: Get a behind-the-scenes look at Kane and Katelyn Brown’s tour life

April 19, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Kane Brown is currently on the road, but he’s brought his entire family along with him: His wife and duet partner, Katelyn, and their daughters Kingsley, 3, and Kodi, 15 months. Now the “Thank God” singer has posted some behind-the-scenes photos of what it’s like on the road for the Brown family.

“Sometimes we are so exhausted after being on the road, but when I get home and look through all the pictures while we were gone I realize how many unforgettable memories we get to make all while dad works,” Katelyn captioned a slideshow on Instagram.

The photos show Katelyn rehearsing onstage as Kingsley watches her, Kane and the girls in what looks like a bounce house, Kodi hanging backstage with the tour bus, Kingsley sitting on a pool table playing with the balls, Kodi being swung around by a crew person and, most adorably, Kodi rocking a “Thank God” tour hoodie.

Katelyn added, “We are so blessed to be able to do all of this as a family. thank god.”

Visual podcast series, hosted by Angie Martinez, will delve into The Notorious B.I.G.’s ‘Life After Death’

April 19, 2023 by WDNY Radio

As hip-hop celebrates its 50th anniversary, Warner Music Group’s creative content division WMX has announced Iconic Records, a brand-new visual podcast series that will highlight iconic albums in pop culture. First on the list is The Notorious B.I.G.’s posthumous album Life After Death, which host Angie Martinez will delve into for the series’ debut season.

She’ll speak to the likes of Lil Cease, Fat Joe, Pusha T, Rick Ross, Too $hort and some surprise guests about making the album, its legacy and Big’s overall impact on hip-hop, with some exclusive stories shared along the way.

“Biggie was, and still is, one of the most important artists of our lifetime and Life After Death is a masterpiece!” Martinez said in a statement. “To collaborate with WMX on this series has been an incredible experience. It’s especially meaningful as we also pay homage to 50 years of hip-hop and how it’s changed the course of history.”

Martinez and Kevin Hofman executive-produced Iconic Records: Life After Death, while Bonsu Thompson and the estate of Christopher Wallace co-directed the eight-episode series.

Life After Death will premiere April 29 at 8 p.m. ET on WMX’s new hip-hop channel on The Roku Channel, and will also be available to watch on Big’s YouTube Channel. Those who prefer an audio experience can stream on major podcast platforms starting May 1.

Three times is a trend: Hear “Praising You,” Rita Ora’s reworking of Fatboy Slim’s 1999 hit

April 19, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Someone once said, “Once is a fluke. Twice is a coincidence. Three times is a trend.” Well, meet the trend-making new single from Rita Ora.

“Praising You,” Rita’s new single, is from her upcoming third album You & I, due July 14. As the title suggests, the song is a reworking of “Praise You,” the 1999 hit by U.K. musician Norman Cook, aka Fatboy Slim. He’s credited on the track and has given Rita the thumbs-up for the redo.

“To not only get Norman’s stamp of approval, but to actually collaborate with him and pay homage to such a massive song from my childhood was truly a surreal experience,” Rita says.

“I think this record means something different for everyone, but from my perspective, it’s about praising your loved ones and really celebrating those relationships,” she adds, noting that she’s “honored” to get to “re-introduce” the song “to a whole new generation.”

The video for the track, directed by Rita’s husband Taika Waititi, features a cameo from Cook and pays homage to the song’s original Spike Jonze-directed, award-winning video. You can watch it now on Facebook and Instagram today and on all platforms starting April 28.

As for why “Praising You” is trend-making, well, it’s the third reworking of a globally popular dance track from the ’90s to arrive in the past year. The trend started in 2022 year with David Guetta and Bebe Rexha‘s “I’m Good (Blue)” — a reworking of “Blue (Da Ba Dee)” by Eiffel 65. The second instance was “Baby Don’t Hurt Me,” a reworking of the 1993 Haddaway hit “What Is Love” by Guetta with Anne-Marie and Coi Leray.

Maybe Moby should be waiting for a call?

Missy Elliott to be honored at 2023 Black Music Honors

April 19, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Missy Elliott is one of the honorees at this year’s Black Music Honors. She’ll be recognized for her contributions to both African American culture and music alongside fellow guests of honor SWV, Evelyn “Champagne” King, Jeffrey Osborne and The Hawkins Family.

“Black music is the heartbeat of our culture, and the honorees for this year’s Black Music Honors represent the soul of American music,” founder and executive producer Don Jackson said in a statement, per Billboard. “We pay homage to the musical innovators who have paved the way for future generations. Our tribute performances not only celebrate the honorees of yesterday, but also showcase the influence and impact of their iconic sounds and styles on today’s artists with a beautiful symbiosis of past and present.”

The 2023 Black Music Honors, hosted by Letoya Luckett and DeRay Davis, will take place May 19 at Atlanta’s Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center. It will air June 3 on the Stellar Network and from June 10-July 2 in national broadcast syndication. The show will also air June 19 on Bounce TV.

Elton John testifies before Senate about AIDS relief: “We need to keep our foot on the accelerator”

April 19, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Elton John testified remotely before the U.S. Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday morning, urging the committee to continue to fund the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.

The plan, known as PEPFAR, was founded in 2003 by President George W. Bush. The Hill reports that in his testimony, Elton credited it with saving some 25 million lives and urged Congress to extend and fund the program for the next five years.

“I am boundlessly grateful for the bipartisan cooperation that has been the hallmark of PEPFAR for two decades now,” he told lawmakers, noting that the plan has been “enthusiastically supported by four presidents and 10 Congresses, and consistently championed by the generosity of the American people.”

“The PEPFAR platform has not only transformed HIV into a chronic disease for tens of millions, it has been leveraged to fight [COVID-19] and made countries far better prepared for whatever viral nightmare comes next,” Elton noted. “But we are not done yet.”

He continued, “We need to keep our foot on the accelerator,” adding, “By extending PEPFAR for another five years and fully funding it, together, we can continue the march toward ending AIDS for everyone everywhere and leave no one behind.”

The committee’s chairman, Bob Menéndez (D-N.J.) praised Elton as someone who “use[s] their fame in a way that saves the lives of others.”

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