Music – Page 921 – 105.7 WDNY

Swizz Beatz says he doesn’t watch ‘Godfather of Harlem’ episodes beforehand: ‘I want to be a fan also’

July 1, 2025 by WDNY Radio

The twists and turns of Godfather of Harlem are just as surprising to executive music producer Swizz Beatz as they are to fans. He tells ABC Audio he watches the full episodes only after they air on MGM+.

“I don’t want to spoil it. I want to be a fan also,” he says, explaining he put together the soundtrack watching only the 30 second clips where his music in the episodes would be placed. “I can see the whole show, but I’m like, no, just leave it there. Because imagine I would have seen the show so long ago, I wouldn’t even be in the mood.”

Swizz joined the Godfather of Harlem team years ago after receiving a personal phone call from Pharrell and Forest Whitaker about producing the soundtrack for the show.

He says he initially created the soundtrack using original songs “that people haven’t heard,” including the theme song “Just in Case.”

But by season 2, Swizz changed his approach to “make the music representing the thoughts and feelings of characters on the show.”

Artists on the soundtrack are paired with certain characters, hence the reason some artists appear on several songs. ScarLip represents Bumpy Johnson‘s daughter Elise and the Black Panthers, while Jadakiss and Pusha T express the thoughts of crime boss Joe Colombo.

“Once I said the music is the voice of the actors, then it was easy for me,” Swizz said.

Seasons 1-4 are of Godfather of Harlem are on MGM+. Swizz’s soundtracks are on streaming platforms.

Cardi B announces brand-new ‘Am I the Drama?’ box sets

June 30, 2025 by WDNY Radio

Atlantic Records

Cardi B is continuing the rollout for her long-awaited sophomore album, announcing the release of brand-new box sets.

Now available for preorder is a limited-edition journal box set of Am I the Drama? that includes an exclusive journal and a standard jewel case CD complete with Cardi B’s signature.

“New box sets are available at https://store.cardib.com. Keep in mind these will be signed by me, with my magical left hand. Make sure yall get them while they’re available because once I drop the next one, they’re gone,” Cardi wrote on social media, alongside a video that captures her transition after her home and car are swarmed by a large group of crows.

The announcement echoes her previous warning about the limited number of box sets. “The ones that are available right now, when I drop the next one, it’s not gonna be available anymore,” she explained.

Cardi B’s Am I the Drama arrives Sept. 19. Her lead single, “Outside,” has just debuted at #10 on the Hot 100.

Pearl Jam marks anniversary of Roskilde tragedy with live ‘Love Boat Captain’

June 30, 2025 by WDNY Radio

Pearl Jam is marking the 25th anniversary of their tragic Roskilde Festival 2000 set with a live “Love Boat Captain” video.

Nine people died in a crowd crush during the band’s performance during the Danish festival. “Love Boat Captain,” which appears on PJ’s 2002 album, Riot Act, references Roskilde with the lyric, “Lost nine friends we’ll never know/ Two years ago today.”

In the new live “Love Boat Captain” video, which was recorded at Pearl Jam’s 2024 concert at New York City’s Madison Square Garden, frontman Eddie Vedder sings, “Lost nine friends we’ll never know/ So many years ago today.”

You can watch the performance on YouTube.

Music notes: The Weeknd, Harry Styles and more

June 30, 2025 by WDNY Radio

Some artists get a day named after them if they sell out a show in a city, but The Weeknd got a whole week. To commemorate his record-breaking seven sold-out shows at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, the city of Inglewood declared June 25 through June 29 The Weeknd Week. You can see the plaque celebrating the singer’s “extraordinary contributions to music and culture” on the SoFi Stadium Instagram page.

Does Harry Styles have a new girlfriend? After photos of the singer kissing a mystery woman at the U.K.’s Glastonbury Festival circulated, the tabloid The Sun claims to have identified her: She’s allegedly a music producer named Ella Kenny. But don’t get too excited. A source told the paper, “They had a good time in the moment but it doesn’t mean it will evolve into anything.”

Lorde has revealed the most difficult song to create for her new album, Virgin, was “Favorite Daughter,” which is about her relationship with her mother. “Hardest song was FD, to write, to produce, to sing,” she wrote on Instagram. “Kicked my a**.”

Dua Lipa celebrated her five sold-out stadium shows in the U.K. and Ireland over the past week in a low-key fashion. She had what’s known as a “lock-in” at a pub in Dublin, Ireland, which means she and her crew took over the pub after closing hours for a private party. While there, she also took part in a tradition called “Splitting the G.” That’s where you take a gulp of Guinness, trying to consume enough so that the remaining foam on top of the beer perfectly bisects the “G” in the Guinness logo on the glass.

Roddy Ricch makes double debut at Paris Fashion Week

June 30, 2025 by WDNY Radio

“High Fashion” is the name of Roddy Ricch‘s song, but it’s also a fitting name for his latest accomplishments. The rapper recently made his debut at Parish Fashion Week as a model, and the executive producer and composer of a collection’s soundtrack.

Roddy first walked the runway for 424’s spring/summer 2026 show. He then took the back seat for Namesake’s Innerchild collection, directed by creative lead Steve Hsieh. He curated the score for its fashion show, which featured scout gear, school uniforms and sportswear to display “a poignant return to the unfiltered joy of youth,” a post on the brand’s Instagram says.

With support from 808 Mafia, DJ Mustard and Hendrix, Roddy mixed orchestral textures, trap gospel, ambient strings and sports soundbites to create the soundtrack.

“The idea wasn’t just to make something that sounded good,” Roddy Ricch said in a statement. “It was to create something that felt like opening a memory you forgot you had.”

ABBA’s ‘Dancing Queen’ hits 1 billion views on YouTube

June 30, 2025 by WDNY Radio

ABBA’s iconic tune “Dancing Queen” has reached a new milestone.

The video for the track, first uploaded to YouTube in 2009, has now reached 1 billion views on the site, making it the Swedish band’s first video to accomplish such a feat.

In a message on Instagram, ABBA’s Frida Lyngstad shares that the band’s “overwhelmed” that so many people have viewed and listened to the song, noting there are only about 300 other videos that have reached 1 billion views.

Frida writes that one of her “most cherished” memories is of the first time she and Agnetha Fältskog heard the backing track Benny Andersson wrote for “Dancing Queen,” noting they “cried listening to it” because even back then they “found it to be simply perfection.”

She adds, “And we knew – this must be a hit, because we loved every bit of it and still do!”

“So thank you from the bottom our hearts for sharing our love for this special song and keep on enjoying it forever,” she ends the post.

Released in 1976, “Dancing Queen” was the lead single off ABBA’s fourth studio album, Arrival. It topped the chart in several countries and was the band’s only #1 hit in the U.S. The video for the track was filmed in 1976 and directed by Lasse Hallström, who went on to direct such films as What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, The Cider House Rules and Chocolat.

Ariana Grande says it’s the ‘best day of her life’ thanks to Sasha Colby

June 30, 2025 by WDNY Radio

RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Sasha Colby is the new face of fembot, the new capsule collection of makeup from Ariana Grande‘s r.e.m. beauty line — and Ariana couldn’t be happier.

You can see the photos of Sasha aka “your favorite drag queen’s favorite drag queen” modeling the new colors on the r.e.m. beauty Instagram page. “mother fembot has arrived,” reads the caption. “we’re so excited to partner with @sashacolby again after first collaborating for @rupaulsdragcon in 2023.”

“sasha’s iconic legacy and enchanting artistry personifies our viral shade of fembot, making her the perfect muse to showcase our new capsule collection,” the post adds. Ariana wrote in the comments, “the best day of my life.”

On her own Instagram Story, Ari wrote, “this has been a dream of mine for @r.e.m.beauty since day one, i love you @sashacolby, thank you mother.”

Ari also reposted a message from the company’s VP of global brand marketing, which reads, “There was a list of dream collaborators for our new fembot collection and it went like this: Sasha Colby.”

Ariana added, “True.”

Nashville notes: Craig Morgan’s ‘Live with Kelly & Mark’ + Carter Faith’s ‘Cherry Valley’

June 30, 2025 by WDNY Radio

Tyler Rich will release two new tracks on Friday: “When?” and “Summer of Us.”

Craig Morgan will perform the title track of his latest EP, American Soundtrack, Friday on the syndicated Live with Kelly & Mark.

The debut album from Carter Faith, Cherry Valley, drops Oct. 3. The new track “Sex, Drugs and Country Music” is out now.

Why Charles Kelley covered Cyndi Lauper’s ‘Time After Time’

June 30, 2025 by WDNY Radio

If you’ve wondered why Charles Kelley chose to cover Cyndi Lauper‘s classic “Time After Time” on his new album, Songs for a New Moon, there’s a simple answer: it’s for his son.

“Time After Time by @cyndilauper has always been my song for Ward,” he revealed on Instagram. “Adding this cover to my 80s-inspired album was a no brainer for me. Will forever love this song… time after time.”

Accompanying the post is a video that will likely be emotional for any parent, starting in the hospital room after Ward Kelley’s birth and moving forward as he grows. You can get a longer look at the now-9-year-old’s life in the song’s visualizer.

Charles and his wife, Cassie Kelley, are expecting their second child in the fall.

The Lady A singer’s new album also features his top-10 adult contemporary hit, “Can’t Lose You.”

Rod Wave announces 2025 edition of annual Birthday Bash

June 30, 2025 by WDNY Radio

Rod Wave‘s Birthday Bash is back again, with its 2025 date set for Aug. 29 at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.

Dubbed Rod Wave The Introduction To: The Redemption Experience, the one-night-only show will feature a set filled with songs from his latest album, Last Lap, as well hits from throughout his discography.

“Every move I make is about elevating for the fans who’ve been with me,” Rod says in a statement. “The Redemption Experience isn’t just a show. It’s a new level – and you’ll feel that.”

The artist presale kicks off Tuesday, with other presales following throughout the week. Tickets will then go on sale to the general public on Wednesday at 10 a.m. local time via official-rodwave.com.

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