The Weeknd released his Starboy album in 2016 and, despite its massive success, held off on releasing a deluxe version of it — until now.
The singer shocked fans when he dropped the album’s new edition on Tuesday, which is available to stream and purchase across all platforms.
The deluxe version of Starboy treats fans to three new additions that didn’t appear on the original album, including the Ariana Grande remix of “Die for You,” which soared to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The album also features the previously released DJ Kygo remix of the album’s title track, as well as last year’s reboot of “Reminder” that features A$AP Rocky and Young Thug.
The Weeknd wasn’t done surprising fans: he also shared several stills from what appears to be an upcoming music video, which fans believe is for his song “Creepin’.” One still features singer Mario Winans, whose 2004 song with P. Diddy, “I Don’t Wanna Know,” is sampled in the 2022 track.
The Weeknd added Winans is “in the cut,” which fans are taking as further proof there’s a new music video on the horizon.
“Creepin'” also features 21 Savage and Metro Boomin, but they didn’t appear in any of the teaser images. However, the singer did retweet Metro talking about “working hard on editing these music videos” and musing over “what I wanna drop first.”
Avenged Sevenfold has finally announced a new album.
The eighth studio effort from M. Shadows and company is titled Life Is But a Dream… and arrives June 2. You can listen to lead single “Nobody” now via digital outlets and watch its accompanying video streaming now on YouTube.
Life Is But a Dream… is the long-awaited follow-up to 2016’s The Stage. Leading up the announcement, A7X claimed to be the victim of a deepfake hack, which a press release now confirms was part of the promotion for the record.
Avenged Sevenfold will be performing at the Welcome to Rockville and Sonic Temple festivals in May, followed by just-announced headlining shows in Los Angeles and New York City on June 9 and June 23, respectively. Tickets go on sale Friday, March 17.
Here’s the Life Is But a Dream… track list:
“Game Over”
“Mattel”
“Nobody”
“We Love You”
“Cosmic”
“Beautiful Morning”
“Easier”
“G”
“(O)rdinary”
“(D)eath”
“Life Is But a Dream…”
Pink Floyd may be the next group to sell off their catalog, but a new report in Variety questions whether it’s going to happen — and blames the rocky relationship of band members Roger Waters and David Gilmour for delaying the deal.
Sources tells the trade the deal is “basically dead” because the pair “just can’t get along.” But one of the sources also tells Variety, “But at the same time, it’s still on the table. It’s a strange situation!”
Variety notes that nobody in Pink Floyd has actually confirmed they are trying to sell the catalog, although the Financial Times reported the band was seeking about $500 million for their songs.
The trade argues that Waters’ controversial political comments about Israel, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine could be devaluing the price of the catalog, but the ultimate issue is the relationship between the band members, which also includes Nick Mason, and the estates of keyboardist Richard Wright and singer-songwriter Syd Barrett.
The mag does note that the band members can actually afford to wait and hope the controversy around Waters dies down. “It’s one of the most valuable music catalogs of the past 50 years,” a source explains. “Will it be worth as much in two or five years — or worth even more? Sure. They can afford to wait.”
While it’s quite possible Jimmy Kimmel would be asked back to host the Oscars next year, since ratings for Sunday’s telecast were at a three-year-high, it’s still way too early to predict.
However, one big star is game. And another, definitely not.
On the champagne-colored carpet before Sunday night’s telecast, Variety asked Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson if he’d ever take the stage as host. “Sure,” the star said. “We’ve talked about it in the past, and maybe when the time is right … maybe if there was a co-host situation happening.” He added, “Yeah, I would love it.”
However, comedian and Last Week Tonight host John Oliver is a no, if he’s ever asked. Appearing on Late Night with Seth Meyers Monday night, Oliver snarked he couldn’t hide his “low-lying contempt” for the event like Kimmel apparently can, in his opinion.
“The great thing about Kimmel … you’re confident that there is this low-lying contempt for the whole event there … but he somehow doesn’t manage to poison the room with that visible contempt,” Oliver said. “And that is a kind of magic trick that I couldn’t do.”
Oliver added, “I could not, at any point, say, ‘It’s gonna be a magical night.’ These are some of the most over-praised people on Earth, and we’re gonna give them shiny trophies like they’re dogs.”
Incidentally, according to Johnson, he was the Motion Picture Academy’s “first choice” to host back in 2019, but shooting on his Jumanji reboot left him out. “Maybe one day,” he noted.
The telecast went host-free that year, after Kevin Hart was disinvited from hosting thanks to old tweets some called homophobic. Even though he apologized, he refused to return after the rebuke.
Courtesy: Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
Nickelback was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame during Monday’s Juno Awards with some help from two other Canadian icons.
Actor Ryan Reynolds and hockey star Connor McDavid each gave speeches in honor of the “How You Remind Me” rockers, highlighting the band’s career achievements, as well as all the Nickelback jokes.
“There are millions of reasons to be a proud Canadian, and tonight, the Junos and Canada are coming together to celebrate one of them: homegrown talent from right here in Alberta, Joni Mitchell!” Reynolds quipped. “Wait, Nickelback? I love Nickelback! Wasn’t Joni Mitchell in Nickelback?”
The ceremony also featured a performance by Nickelback, who rocked a medley of “Rockstar,” “How You Remind Me” and “Animals.”
Keith Urban has just announced the extension of his ongoing Las Vegas Residency.
Held at the Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, Keith’s headlining run now has dates through November. “We’re gonna keep this party going, Vegas !!!!” Keith wrote on Instagram.
The added-on 2023 dates are November 1, November 3, November 4, November 10, November 11, November 15, November 17 and November 18.
Fans can expect an electrifying show from the global music superstar, with hits such as “Somebody Like You,” “Blue Ain’t Your Color” and “Wasted Time” brought to life on the Vegas stage.
A limited number of tickets for Keith’s earlier-announced dates are still available. These include shows in March, June and July. For a full list of dates and to purchase tickets, go to Ticketmaster.
Tickets for the eight new dates go on sale Saturday, March 18.
Megan Thee Stallion‘s comeback continues with her return to social media. A day after attending the Vanity Fair Oscar Party Sunday night, she reemerged on Instagram, posting snapshots of her look at the annual event.
Meg’s post was met with flattering comments from fans and celebrities alike. Zendaya, Yung Miami, Gabrielle Union, Dreezy and Chlöe were just a few who flooded the comments section with fire and heart-eyed emojis.
As reported, Meg is headlining The AT&T Block Party Concert in Houston this month and the Outside Lands festival in August. She also has some other things planned out for the future.
Speaking to Entertainment Tonight on the red carpet for the Vanity Fair party, she revealed she secured tickets and will be attending the Renaissance Tour, courtesy of Beyoncé. “They’re gonna be hating on me, but I got ‘em. … You know I called up them directly, ‘Beyoncé! Lemme get a ticket!’” she said.
Willie Nelson is bringing back the Outlaw Music Festival for another season. He’s announced 16 shows, which will continue this year’s celebration of his 90th birthday (his actual birthday is April 29).
The lineup for the 2023 Outlaw Music Festival Tour features Robert Plant and AlisonKrauss, John Fogerty and Gov’t Mule, along with The Avett Brothers, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Marcus King and others.
“I can’t wait to be on the road with the amazing group of artists joining us on this year’s Outlaw Music Festival Tour,” Nelson shares. “It is always a great day of music and fun with family, friends and the incredible fans, and even more special this year in celebration of my 90th birthday.”
The tour kicks off June 23 in Somerset, Wisconsin, and runs through August 13 in Cincinnati, Ohio, with additional shows to be announced at a later date.
Tickets for the Outlaw Music Festival Tour go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. local time. More information, as well as the complete lineup, can be found at outlawmusicfestival.com.
(NEW YORK) — Kara Goucher, one of the fastest female long-distance runners in American history, describes a “secret world” of professional running in her new memoir.
“Running is life-changing,” Goucher told Good Morning America. “It’s given me so much freedom and strength and power.”
In her new memoir, The Longest Race: Inside the Secret World of Abuse, Doping, and Deception on Nike’s Elite Running Team, Goucher says for the first time publicly that she is the woman behind the sexual assault allegations that led to her former coach Alberto Salazar to be banned from the sport for life in 2021.
“Alberto Salazar was very, very powerful. He was a legend. He won the Boston Marathon. He won the New York City Marathon three years in a row,” said Goucher, who added that as she got to know him, she liked him more.
Goucher said she first met Salazar in 2004 when she and her now-husband were approached by Nike to join the prestigious running team “The Oregon Project,” an immersive training environment for an elite team of athletes.
“We just couldn’t believe this program, all of the money behind it, all of the equipment behind it. I became the first woman to join and I was just excited with that backing,” she said. “Where could I take my running?”
She said she realized that the opportunity could turn into something more and that Salazar could help her get to the Olympics.
“At first I just wanted something new, but the longer I was there, I really believed that he was the person that could get me there, so much so that later on I felt like I was nothing without him,” said Goucher, who went on to represent the United States in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2012 London Olympics.
Goucher said that while she made great strides with Salazar and was running some of her fastest times, she rationalized what she said was unusual — Salazar sometimes personally massaging his athletes.
“I had never seen a coach give an athlete a massage,” she said. “And so I just thought, ‘That’s Alberto. He’s just so dedicated. He’s even willing to give his athletes massages.'”
Adding, “It was unusual at first, but I kind of convinced myself that that was normal.”
Goucher said she felt something was wrong when she was in Rieti, Italy, for a race and she said she found herself alone in a hotel room with Salazar.
“He was giving me a post-workout, pre-race, what he would call a ‘flush,'” said Goucher. “If I’m being honest, I just totally froze. I was thinking, ‘There’s no way he’s touching me like that. I’m imagining this. He’s just a bad masseuse.'”
Goucher said a similar incident happened years later while the two were in Lisbon for a race.
“He goes to give me a massage, it was the same situation where I felt his finger was going where it shouldn’t be going. And I was so uncomfortable,” she said.
At the time, Goucher said she didn’t tell anyone about the massage.
“I felt shameful about it. I also felt like maybe it was just a mistake,” she said.
Goucher left The Oregon Project in 2011 and said she never spoke about the alleged assaults until she was questioned by lawyers about doping allegations brought against Salazar by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. In 2019, Salazar was suspended for four years by that agency for doping violations — allegations he has denied.
In 2021, the U.S. Center for SafeSport, a governing body to protect professional athletes from sexual abuse, banned Salazar from the sport at the Olympic level for life for “sexual misconduct.” The organization did not identify the accuser and the New York Times later reported that an arbitrator’s ruling indicated the ban was based on a finding of violations that included two instances of inappropriate touching during an athletic massage. In her memoir, Goucher says she testified for SafeSport about the alleged touching by Salazar and that her allegations were the basis for the lifetime ban.
Nike said in a statement to ABC News, in part, “Sexual misconduct has no place in sports or society and is something we stand vehemently against…. Alberto is no longer a contracted coach, and we shuttered the Oregon Project several years ago … Mr. Salazar did not engage in any doping of his athletes and not a single Oregon Project athlete was found to have violated the rules.”
Salazar also told ABC News, in part, “Any claim that Ms. Goucher was sexually assaulted by me is categorically untrue…. I have never sexually assaulted Ms. Goucher and never would have done so. The accusation is deeply hurtful and abhorrent and contrary to my fundamental beliefs as a husband, father and deeply devout Catholic.”
Goucher says she has mixed feelings knowing Salazar will not participate in the sport at the highest levels again.
“Honestly, it makes me a little sad because I know how much he loves it. I think that’s his whole life,” she said. “But at the end of the day, he should not be coaching.”
Goucher wrote in her book that ultimately her power is not in her legs — but in her voice.
“It is my responsibility to use my voice,” she said, “and to fight for other people.”
Statement from Nike
Sexual misconduct has no place in sports or society and is something we stand vehemently against. As a company, we’ve always taken great pride as a leader in supporting female athletes. We know that Nike can continue to play an elevated role in supporting female athletes and improving their experience in sports.
Alberto is no longer a contracted coach, and we shuttered the Oregon project several years ago. In July 2021, we were informed of a preliminary decision from the U.S. Center for SafeSport to ban Mr. Salazar from coaching for “Sexual Misconduct & Emotional Misconduct.” Following SafeSport’s decision, we changed the Alberto Salazar building name at our World Headquarters to Next%.
Nike does not condone the use of banned substances in any manner. The doping allegations have been extensively investigated and arbitrated. In 2021 a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) panel reaffirmed that Mr. Salazar did not engage in any doping of his athletes and not a single Oregon Project athlete was found to have violated the rules.
Statement from Alberto Salazar
Any claim that Ms. Goucher was sexually assaulted by me is categorically untrue. I am deeply saddened by Ms. Goucher’s false claim. I worked with Ms. Goucher as her coach for nearly seven years, from October 2004 to September 2011, when Ms. Goucher was 26 to 33 years old. We had a strong professional relationship, and Ms. Goucher and her husband became friends with my wife and family during the time we worked together. Ms. Goucher achieved a number of professional successes during my coaching of her, but when I became unable to provide the coaching and support that Ms. Goucher needed to achieve her goals, Ms. Goucher left and retained another coach. I have never sexually assaulted Ms. Goucher and never would have done so. The accusation is deeply hurtful and abhorrent and contrary to my fundamental beliefs as a husband, father and deeply devout Catholic.
The annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony took place in New York City, with U2 and The Pretenders inducted into the prestigious institution, along with The O’Jays, Buddy Guy and Percy Sledge.
U2 was inducted by Bruce Springsteen, who joined the band for a performance of “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.” The band also performed “Until the End of the World,” “Pride (In The Name of Love)” and “Vertigo.”
Neil Young was on hand to induct The Pretenders, who performed “My City Was Gone” and were then joined by Young for “The Needle and the Damage Done.”
