Elton John’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road continues to be a huge success, although there’s one artist currently doing a little better than him on the road.
Elton’s tour lands at number two on Billboard Boxscore’s 2023 midyear charts, just behind Harry Styles’ Love On Tour. According to Billboard, Elton’s tour has brought in $138.2 million from 32 shows between November 1, 2022, and April 30, 2023, just .3% less than Harry’s $138.6 million from 38 shows.
Of course, number two is nothing to cry about, and Elton’s tour has been hugely successful. In fact, the Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour topped the midyear charts in 2019 and 2020. It’s also held the top spot on the monthly chart seven times, the most of any other touring act.
When it comes to Top Ticket Sales, Elton lands at five, selling 798,152 tickets, with Styles once again at number one.
(NEW YORK) — Popular Reddit pages, known as “subreddits,” with names like /r/funny, /r/sports, /r/todayilearned and /r/music are currently inaccessible for new posts in a protest over planned changes to the website.
The protest is over how the company plans to reshuffle pricing for its application programming interface, or API, which is the code that allows third parties to build apps. In recent years, the API also has been used to train artificial intelligence programs like ChatGPT.
Both OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, and Google, which makes a similar chatbot called Bard, use Reddit data to train their systems.
In April, as AI-powered chatbots soared in popularity, Reddit announced it was planning to change the pricing to access its API. Engadget Senior Editor Karissa Bell said the move was intended to crack down on companies that use Reddit’s API for AI programs.
“A lot of these companies had been training using Reddit’s data, because it was open and because their APIs were readily accessible,” said Bell. “So, at the time Reddit said, ‘hey, we are not going to be allowing these big companies, which are extremely profitable, to access all of our data for free.’”
But soon after, other companies that use Reddit’s API began raising concerns, saying the changes make the API too expensive and could take many popular Reddit-based apps out of commission.
“Third party developers, who make these Reddit clients, started sounding the alarm and saying, ‘hey, we’re probably not going to be allowed to continue operating our services at these prices,’” said Bell.
Christian Selig is the developer behind the app “Apollo,” which he said has about 1.5 million monthly active users. He told ABC Audio that Reddit’s move to charge for access to its API wasn’t completely unexpected.
“It is something in the back of my head that I thought they’d entertain at some point,” he said. But the actual cost ended up being much more expensive than he was anticipating.
Selig said his company would have to pay $20 million annually for API access. “I don’t see how this pricing is anything based in reality or remotely reasonable,” Selig wrote in a post on Reddit, adding, “I hope it goes without saying that I don’t have that kind of money or would even know how to charge it to a credit card.” Apollo said it would shut down its app on June 30, when the new API pricing goes into effect. Other apps, like ReddPlanet and Sync, have announced similar moves.
The prospect of losing apps like Apollo prompted some Reddit users to coordinate a protest of the pricing changes.
“Thousands and thousands of these subreddits have said that they’re going to ‘go dark,’ which means that they’ll be setting their communities to ‘private’ so people who aren’t subscribers can’t access them,” said Bell.
On Monday morning, visitors to Reddit were greeted with a variety of messages from some of the platform’s most popular communities. The subreddit /r/Music currently displays a message that says it is “Closed Indefinitely for Reddit API Policy Change Protest.” The /r/aww subreddit, which is dedicated to cute images, notes that it has gone private “due to Reddit’s decision to effectively kill 3rd party applications with their API costs. If or when /r/aww returns will depend on Reddit’s continued responses to the situation.”
“Reddit’s historically had a massive focus on being, like, a very community-driven website,” said Selig. “And now that, just, everybody feels very unheard and dismissed, I think that it’s not surprising that there’s some pushback there.”
Selig said he’s in favor of a pricing structure that differentiates between companies that use it for artificial intelligence programs, and those that use it for apps like Apollo.
“Of course, bills need to be paid and they need to have a sustainable platform going forward, and they need to charge bills to do so” said Selig. “But do so in a way that respects the community and makes them feel like they’re not being taken to lunch.”
Not all subreddits have joined the protest. Moderators of the popular /r/AskReddit continue to allow new posts, writing in part “as mods of a community dedicated to conversations, we think it’s more impactful to keep the subreddit open so people can discuss this controversial change and the surrounding impacts.”
In response to a request for comment, Reddit spokesperson Tim Rathschmidt drew attention to the “efficiency” of certain third-party Reddit apps – that is, how often they use the company’s API. “Some apps are more efficient (and require significantly less API calls),” said Rathschmidt, adding, “Apollo is notably less efficient than other third-party apps.”
Last week, Reddit CEO Steve Huffman took to Reddit to answer questions about the API changes. In his introductory post, Huffman told users “we respect when you and your communities take action to highlight the things you need, including, at times, going private.”
Parkway Drive and Lamb of God are headlining the revived New England Metal & Hardcore Festival, taking place September 15-16 in Worcester, Massachusetts.
The bill also includes Hatebreed, Shadows Fall, The Amity Affliction and The Black Dahlia Murder, among many others that certainly live up to the festival’s name.
Andy Summers is extending his time on the road. The former Police guitarist is due to head out on his The Cracked Lens + A Missing String tour in July, and he’s just expanded the trek.
The tour, which combines Summer’s music and photography, will now consist of over 30 dates, kicking off July 21 in Beverly, Massachusetts, and wrapping November 12 in Calgary, Canada.
Summers originally hit the road with this tour in 2019, but COVID-19 got in the way of expanding the trek. He shares, “I’m thrilled to be going out with his show again. Let the light shine … after all we went through.”
Tickets for the tour go on sale Friday, June 16. A complete list of dates can be found at andysummers.com.
Disney has announced a revamped schedule for its forthcoming movies produced by Disney and its various properties, 20th Century Studios, Marvel Studios and Lucasfilm.
Among the changes, the third Avatar will now be bumped to December 19, 2025, a year later than anticipated. That caused a ripple effect, moving a fourth Avatar adventure to December 21, 2029, and Avatar 5 to 2031.
It’s just possible you’ll be taking your flying car to get to the theater for that final go-round in Pandora.
The release of Deadpool 3 — Ryan Reynolds‘ first foray into the Marvel Cinematic Universe — was moved up from November 8, 2024, to May 3, 2024, a slot formerly occupied by Captain America: Brave New World. The latter film has been moved to July 26, 2024. 2024 will also see the release of a third Marvel film, Thunderbolts, on December 20.
In other Marvel news, Blade opens on February 14, 2025; The Avengers: The Kang Dynasty will open May 1, 2026, and on May 7, 2027, there’s Avengers: Secret Wars to look forward to.
The schedule revealed the live-action Moana will open June 27, 2025, starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
Disney also slated May 22, 2026, as the bow of an untitled Star Wars movie, which will apparently be the first of three since the finale of the divisive Star Wars sequel trilogy, 2019’s Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker.
Two other untitled Star Wars movies are slated for December 18, 2026, and December 17, 2027.
Selena Gomez sent her fans into a frenzy when she appeared to tease something new from the studio.
The singer shared five images on Instagram Tuesday, June 13, from a recording studio in Paris, along with the caption, “Don’t worry guys, it’s coming. Even from Paris. [winky face emoji]”
In the photos, Gomez appeared to be recording something, which led her fans to take to the comments to express their hopes for new music, specifically the singer’s upcoming album.
The teaser comes after Gomez said in an interview with The Wrap, released last week, that she’s recording new music and working on her fourth studio album after wrapping her third season of Only Murders in the Building.
“I just wrapped my show and I’m spending one week with my family and then I’m going off to Paris and then I’ll return to them but I’ll be working on my album at the same time,” she told the outlet. “I just have to do it all. Right now, that’s just how I function.”
Gomez’s last album was 2020’s Rare. She’s released a slew of hit singles since then, including her chart-topping collaboration with Rema, “Calm Down.” It’s currently #3 on Billboard‘s Hot 100 chart in its 40th week on the chart.
Country music superstar Garth Brooks is speaking out after causing what he described as a “little bit of a stir” by saying he would serve “every brand of beer” in his new Nashville bar.
Brooks’ comment, made in an interview with a Billboard reporter on June 7, was interpreted by many as saying his upcoming Friends in Low Places Bar & Honky Tonk would serve Bud Light, which has faced backlash from conservatives after a product endorsement from transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney.
Much of the backlash was focused on a comment Brooks made after confirming his bar would serve all beers: “Our thing is this: If you come into this house, love one another. If you’re an a******, there are plenty of other places on Lower Broadway to go.”
“Everybody’s got their opinions. But inclusiveness is always going to be me,” Brooks said. “I think diversity is the answer to the problems that are here and the answer to the problems that are coming. So, I love diversity. All inclusive, so all are welcome. I understand that might not be other people’s opinions, but that’s OK, man. They have their opinions. They have their beliefs. I have mine.”
Brooks also said it will ultimately be up to the bars’ customers to decide what type of beer is sold, saying it’s his responsibility as the owner to stock Friends in Low Places with the most popular beers and let the patrons decide.
“So here’s the deal: If you want to come to Friends in Low Places, come in, but come in with love,” Brooks said. “Come in with tolerance, patience. Come in with an open mind, and it’s cool.”
A new album celebrating Pink Floyd‘s sixth studio release, Meddle, is on the way and we are now getting the first taste of it.
Yes’ Rick Wakeman, Blue Öyster Cult’s Joe Bouchard,ex-Megadeth guitarist Chris Poland and former Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo have teamed up with Rainbow vocalist Graham Bonnet for a new take on the track “San Tropez,” which is expected to appear on an album featuring revamped and reimagined takes on the 1971 Floyd album.
The album, Meddle Reimagined, will be similar to 2022’s Animals Reimagined and 2021’s Still Wish You Were Here, which featured such artists as Todd Rundgren, Joe Satriani, The Zombies’ Rod Argent and more sharing their takes on Floyd’s 1977 release, Animals, and 1975’s Wish You Were Here.
“When first invited to participate on Pink Floyd’s ‘San Tropez,’ I was flattered, yet a little nervous. I had sung on ‘Dogs’ (from Animals Reimagined) a year earlier and was initially concerned whether I could do justice to such an iconic song and thankfully, it turned out better than expected,” Bonnet shares. “‘San Tropez’ would prove to be trickier for me but ultimately I was happy that I was able to honor yet another gem from the cherished and enigmatic Pink Floyd.”
So far there’s no word on when Meddle Reimagined will be released.
Olivia Rodrigo is back with a supernatural new single.
The singer announced the track, titled “vampire,” is coming out June 30. It marks her first new music since the May 2021 release of her debut album, SOUR, which topped the charts for five weeks and spun off the hits “Drivers License,” “Good 4 You” and more. The new song was co-written by Olivia and her SOUR collaborator Daniel Nigro.
Olivia also revealed the single’s cover art, featuring a side profile portrait of her in black-and-white with two purple bandaids crisscrossed on her neck.
“Vampire” is available to presave now. You can also preorder special limited edition physical versions of “vampire” on CD and 7-inch vinyl, which include Olivia’s first demo of the song.
Earlier this month, a countdown clock was launched on Olivia’s website with the end date of June 30, which many fans rightly suspected was the date of a new music drop.
Skillet and Theory of a Deadman‘s Rock Resurrection tour is being, well, resurrected.
Following their first run together in February and March, the two bands will reunite for a second co-headlining leg, running from October 20 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to December 9 in Wichita, Kansas. Saint Asonia is also returning to the bill.
Tickets go on sale Friday, June 16. For the full list of dates and all ticket info, visit Skillet.com or TheoryOfficial.com.
Skillet’s most recent album is 2022’s Dominion, which got a deluxe, expanded version in February. Theory of a Deadman released a new record, Dinosaur, in March.
