Spotify hosted its annual Best New Artist Grammy party Thursday, celebrating all 10 nominees in the category this year.
Held at West Hollywood’s Pacific Design Center, the event showcased the contenders’ skills, as they each took the stage for performances of their hit songs. Among them were Muni Long and Latto.
According toUSA Today, Muni performed “Hrs and Hrs,” as well as her song “Time Machine.” Latto rapped hits “It’s Givin'” and “Big Energy (Remix),” which is up for Best Melodic Rap Performance.
The Spotify party marked its return after being on hiatus since 2020; the Grammys will broadcast Sunday at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on CBS, and will stream live and on-demand on Paramount+.
Chris Stapleton will likely lean into his R&B side Sunday night as he performs on the Grammys with the legendary Stevie Wonder and Smokey Robinson. The announcement came Friday on CBS Mornings.
Smokey’s being honored as the MusiCares Person of the Year for 2023, along with his longtime friend, Motown founder Berry Gordy.
Stapleton, of course, is a Grammy favorite, already amassing a collection of eight trophies. This year he’s up for Best Country Song, but ironically, it’s not for his singing — it’s for writing “I’ll Love You Till the Day I Die” with Rodney Crowell, which was recorded by Willie Nelson.
Luke Combs and Kacey Musgraves will also represent country music at the Grammys, with Kacey set to pay tribute to the late Loretta Lynn. You can watch all the action live from LA Sunday starting at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.
Mary Wilson may have passed away on February 8, 2021, but fans will soon get to hear her voice again in a never-before-heard tune.
A previously unreleased Wilson track, “Soul Defender,” is set to be released March 3 to coincide with what would have been The Supremes singer’s 79th birthday on March 6. The track, written by Billy Ray Martin and produced by Paul Brewer, will be released by Sweet Face Music in three versions: a radio version, an extended dance mix and an instrumental version.
“Growing up in the ’70s it was not hard to hear the Supremes and see them on TV,” says Sweet Face Music’s Brewer. “Although I grew up the son of a preacher and secular music was banned in our home, The Supremes and Mary Wilson always represented class and style, and also the music world I daydreamed to one day be a part of.”
“Soul Defender” is the first Wilson release since The Motown Anthology, which was released in January 2022. It was a two-disc collection spanning her Motown career.
Zakk Wylde has commented on Pantera‘s recent canceled concerts in Germany and Austria.
The Black Label Society frontman plays guitar in the reformed version of the “Walk” metallers, which features longtime members Phil Anselmo and Rex Brown alongside Wylde and Anthrax‘s Charlie Benante in place of the late Abbott brothers, “Dimebag” Darrell and Vinnie Paul, respectively.
In January, Germany’s Rock am Ring and Rock im Park festivals removed Pantera from its lineups, citing “criticism” surrounding the booking. According to German news site DW.com, said criticism stems from when Anselmo yelled “white power” while giving the Nazi salute during a performance at the 2016 Dimebash concert. Austria’s Gasometer festival canceled Pantera’s set a few days later.
During an interview with Guitar Worldpublished Thursday, Wylde was asked if he has a “reaction” to the cancellations.
“There’s nothing I can do about that, you know what I mean?” Wylde responded.
“In terms of my role, it’s always a case of being ready for whatever — as in seeing if the fellas want to add any more songs or anything like that while we’re out rolling together on this tour,” he continued. “If I get a call from Phil or Rex and they want to change up the set or do whatever, I’m usually just in the back lounge working on more songs!”
Anselmo apologized several times following the initial incident in 2016, while his band Down was dropped from several European festivals that year.
Pantera is set to play Japan in March, followed by a European tour kicking off in May. They’re also scheduled to launch a U.S. headlining tour in July, in between playing several U.S. festivals and opening for Metallica.
(NEW YORK) — A dangerous and possibly record-shattering freeze is invading the Northeast.
The cold moved into the Northeast Friday morning, with a wind chill — what the temperature feels like — reaching minus 21 degrees in Maine, minus 22 degrees in Vermont and minus 7 degrees in Buffalo, New York.
Boston is bracing for its coldest temperatures since 2016. By Saturday morning, it’ll feel like minus 31 degrees in Boston.
Public schools in Boston are closed on Friday and sports are canceled through the weekend due to the extreme cold.
The coldest air for the Northeast will hit Saturday morning, when wind chills are forecast to plunge to a bone-chilling minus 9 degrees in New York City, minus 42 degrees in Burlington, Vermont, and minus 51 degrees in Lake Placid, New York.
The most extreme forecast is for Caribou, Maine, near the Canadian border, where wind chills could be as low as minus 55 degrees on Saturday morning. Caribou’s lowest wind chill ever recorded was minus 58 degrees in 1951.
Portland, Maine, could break its all-time record low windchill of minus 41 degrees.
At Mount Washington in New Hampshire — the highest mountain in the Northeast — the wind chill could reach its coldest on record: minus 102 degrees.
Parts of northern Maine are also under a blizzard warning as the high winds are expected to blow snow, creating whiteout conditions.
But the bitter blast won’t last long. On Sunday and Monday, Boston is forecast to thaw to the mid-40s. New York City could reach 50 degrees by Monday.
Madonnapolled her fans on what songs they most want to hear her perform on her upcoming Celebration Tour — or, as she put it, “Think of me as your waitress….. What songs would you like on the menu?” And it looks like she’s giving us a peek into her appetizers and main course.
On her Instagram Story, Madonna is seen writing down the titles of some of her most beloved hits, as well as some songs that weren’t singles but are fan favorites. They include “Rescue Me,” “Like a Prayer,” “Physical Attraction,” “Papa Don’t Preach,” “Bad Girl,” “Human Nature,” “Crazy for You,” “Lucky Star” and “Erotica.”
Whether or not Madonna actually performs these songs is anybody’s guess. According to Setlist.FM, “Like a Prayer,” “Human Nature” and “Papa Don’t Preach” are among her top 10 most-performed songs, so those may be a safe bet. Then again, Madonna doesn’t like to repeat herself.
Madonna’s Celebration Tour kicks off July 15 in Vancouver, British Columbia.
(WASHINGTON) — U.S. officials say a massive surveillance balloon believed to be from China and seen above Montana is being tracked as it flies over the continental United States.
“The United States government has detected and is tracking a high-altitude surveillance balloon that is flying over the continental United States right now,” Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said in a statement on Thursday. “NORAD [North American Aerospace Defense Command] continues to track and monitor it closely.”
China’s foreign ministry has claimed it is a civilian balloon used for meteorological purposes, but U.S. politicians, many on the right, are already demanding President Joe Biden shoot it down.
Here’s how the news is developing. All times Eastern:
Feb 03, 2:16 PM EST
Biden first briefed Tuesday, took military’s recommendation on balloon: WH
President Joe Biden was first briefed about the Chinese surveillance balloon on Tuesday, according to White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, two days before the news was publicly confirmed by U.S. officials.
“He asked the military to present options,” she told reporters in a gaggle on Air Force One. “It was the strong recommendation by Secretary Austin, Chairman Milley, the commander of Northern Command, not to take kinetic action because of the risk to safety and security of the people on the ground. President Biden took that recommendation from the military seriously.”
“The president will always put the safety of the security of the American people first,” she said.
Jean-Pierre said Biden continues to receive regular briefings from national security team, and that he “agreed” with Secretary of State Blinken’s decision to delay his trip to China.
“We are tracking closely and keeping all options on the table,” the press secretary said.
Feb 03, 1:41 PM EST
Biden again ignores questions on Chinese balloon
President Joe Biden didn’t answer questions reporters shouted about the Chinese surveillance balloon as he left the White House and boarded Marine One shortly after 1 p.m. Friday.
Biden has yet to publicly comment on the balloon since it was confirmed to be flying over the continental U.S. by officials on Thursday.
Biden is heading to Philadelphia, where he and Vice President Kamala Harris will appear at an infrastructure event in the afternoon and then later will speak at the Democratic National Committee’s winter meeting.
Feb 03, 1:27 PM EST
‘Gang of 8’ staff received classified briefing on Chinese surveillance balloon
Staff to the so-called “Gang of 8” received a classified briefing on the balloon by the administration Thursday afternoon, according to multiple congressional officials.
The “Gang of 8” refers to the group of congressional leaders who are briefed on classified intelligence matters. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., requested a meeting with the group on Thursday.
“China’s brazen disregard for U.S. sovereignty is a destabilizing action that must be addressed, and President Biden cannot be silent,” McCarthy said.
It’s unclear if the classified briefing for the staff is a precursor to their bosses being briefed. No meeting appears to be on the books so far.
-ABC News’ Trish Turner
Feb 03, 12:50 PM EST
Surveillance balloon is ‘maneuverable,’ Pentagon says
After saying the Chinese surveillance ballon was headed eastward, Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder said the balloon is “maneuverable.”
“So, the balloon is maneuverable. Clearly, it’s violated U.S. air space, and again we’ve communicated that fact to the PRC,” Ryder said.
“The balloon has changed its course, which is why we are monitoring it. That is as specific as I can get,” he said, not giving further details on how it could be maneuvered.
“We continue to assess and make appropriate decisions based on how we are going to address what we perceive as a potential threat,” Ryder added. “The safety and security of the American people is paramount. At this time we assess it does not pose a physical threat to people on the ground.”
Feb 03, 10:26 AM EST
Pentagon to hold press briefing at noon
Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder will conduct an on-camera press briefing at noon on Friday as the Biden administration faces questions about what U.S. officials call a Chinese surveillance balloon flying over the U.S.
Ryder said in a statement Thursday that the government was tracking the balloon and that it didn’t present a military threat.
“Instances of this kind of balloon activity have been observed previously over the past several years. Once the balloon was detected, the U.S. government acted immediately to protect against the collection of sensitive information,” Ryder said.
Feb 03, 9:36 AM EST
Secretary of state delays visit
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is postponing his visit to China after the balloon was tracked soaring across the country.
Blinken will delay his upcoming trip to Beijing, originally scheduled for next week. The official noted that Blinken did not want to blow the situation out of proportion by canceling his visit, but also does not want the balloon to dominate his meetings with Chinese officials.
Feb 03, 9:29 AM EST
China claims balloon is civilian in nature
The Chinese Foreign Ministry is saying the balloon is civilian in nature and used for scientific research, “mainly meteorological.”
“The airship is from China,” the foreign ministry said. “Affected by the Westerlies and with limited self-steering capability, the airship deviated far from its planned course. The Chinese side regrets the unintended entry of the airship into US airspace due to force majeure.”
It continued, “The Chinese side will continue communicating with the US side and properly handle this unexpected situation caused by force majeure.”
“Force majeure” refers to something that is done beyond the control of the government.
(NEW YORK) — The job market is booming despite high-profile layoffs at companies like Amazon, Microsoft, Twitter and Goldman Sachs.
The economy added a staggering 517,000 jobs in January, more than double the employment growth a month prior and well above the breakneck pace of some 400,000 monthly jobs added on average last year, according to government data released on Friday.
In turn, the unemployment rate fell to 3.4%, the lowest figure since 1969.
Layoffs at prestigious positions at companies with household names send a shudder through workplaces nationwide but the news doesn’t indicate much about broader job trends, since tech and finance are relatively small sectors with limited ties to the larger economy, labor economists told ABC News.
Perhaps more improbably, the hiring blitz has defied an aggressive series of rate hikes from the Federal Reserve aimed at slowing down the economy and slashing inflation, the experts said. Tech and finance are more sensitive to rate hikes than other sectors.
“Tech is omnipresent in our lives so it feels like it should be omnipresent in our labor market, but that’s not necessarily the case,” Kathryn Edwards, a labor economist and policy consultant, told ABC News.
Sales at top tech firms have retreated from the blistering pace attained during the pandemic, when billions across the world were forced into isolation. Customers stuck at home came to rely on delivery services like e-commerce and virtual connections formed through social media and videoconferencing.
As consumers return to habits that more closely resemble pre-pandemic life, companies have encountered diminished revenue growth and the need to reduce their workforce, Rachel Sederberg, a senior economist at labor analytics firm Lightcast, told ABC News.
“They’re making a course correction to come back to the economic reality that we’re all facing,” she said.
Exacerbating this pain, the tech sector – alongside peers in finance – suffers from more expensive borrowing costs tied to a string of interest rate hikes imposed by the Fed.
The Fed on Wednesday said it was raising its short-term borrowing rate another 0.25%, extending a monthslong effort to cool the economy and dial back inflation.
Interest rate hikes make it more expensive for banks to access money that they in turn lend to companies and households, hurting the finance industry’s profit margins. Also, rate hikes typically hurt the stock market, damaging investor returns.
High interest rates make it more expensive for tech companies to access cheap capital, which they rely upon to fuel early growth, experts said.
“Finance and tech, Silicon Valley and Wall Street, have been hardest hit by the Fed’s interest rate increases but layoffs there are more than offset by an absence of layoffs on Main Street,” Julia Pollak, a labor economist at ZipRecruiter, told ABC News.
Last year, the smallest number of Americans lost their jobs to layoffs and firings of any year since data collection began in 2000, Pollak said, citing government data.
“Layoffs are very, very low,” Pollak said.
Government data released on Friday showed robust hiring in the service sector as pandemic fears continue to wane. Government, health care and retail were also among the sectors spearheading the hiring surge.
The strong hiring owes in part to an excess of job openings when compared to the number of available workers, leaving employers eager to hire whichever workers they can find and hold onto the ones they have, Edwards said.
“We’ve heard employers say for almost two years now that they’ve had a hard time finding workers,” she said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if people see an employee they can get, they will grab it.”
The pandemic brought a surge in early retirement among baby boomers, alongside other factors like long COVID that have prevented some working-age adults from rejoining the job market.
A stock market tear during the pandemic ballooned the assets of some older Americans, allowing them to subsist without income, experts previously told ABC News. Meanwhile, the heightened risk of severe illness faced by older Americans amid the COVID outbreak left them fearful of exposure at the workplace.
“The baby boomer retirement has put a lot of strain on the labor market,” said Sederberg of Lightcast. “I’m not worried about layoffs.”
Despite strong hiring in January, there was no change in the labor force participation rate, a measure of the share of working age adults in the workforce or seeking work, suggesting many Americans remain on the sidelines.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Fed Chair Jerome Powell said there remains a path for bringing inflation down to normal levels without causing a significant rise in unemployment.
In other words, Powell reiterated the possibility of a soft landing, in which the Fed slows the economy and brings down inflation while preventing the U.S. from entering a recession and causing a spike in unemployment.
The jobs report released on Friday suggests the potential for an even more optimistic outcome, Pollak said.
“Now we’re seeing something even more improbable than that soft landing,” she said. “The best case scenario is rather than a small increase in unemployment, we actually see falling unemployment.”
Former British rock star Gary Glitter is a free man. The BBC reports that Glitter, best known for his hit “Rock & Roll (Part 2),” was released from prison on Friday. He’d been serving a 16-year sentence for various sexual offenses against minors.
Glitter was released after serving only half of his sentence at a prison on the Isle of Portland in Dorset, England. His fixed-term sentence meant he’d automatically be freed halfway through.
Glitter, born Paul Gadd, was sentenced back in 2015 on charges involving three young girls between the ages of 10 and 13. Those charges included attempted rape, unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 13 and four counts of indecent assault.
But while Glitter’s out of jail, he isn’t completely free. He will be monitored by probation officers, with a Ministry of Justice spokesperson noting he’ll “face some of the strictest license conditions.” He will also have to wear a GPS tracker.
Ever since he portrayed The King in his Golden Globe-winning and Oscar-nominated performance in Elvis, Austin Butler is being snarked on online for not dropping his “Elvis Presley voice” after the film.
However, on Friday’s episode of BBC One’sThe Graham Norton Show, the actor explained there’s a medical reason for it. “I am getting rid of the accent, but I have probably damaged my vocal cords with all that singing. One song took 40 takes,” he said.
He called the attention and accolades for his performance in Baz Luhrmann‘s film a whirlwind: “Because when you are making a film you never really know how it will be received. With this one there were so many ways it could go wrong, so to be received in the way it has means the world to me.”
What was also key, Butler explained, was his co-star Tom Hanks, who played Elvis’ scheming manager Col. Tom Parker.
“I had no idea what it was going to be like meeting someone you have admired for so long,” the actor said. “You hope they would be warm to you, but you never really know.”
He added, “He is such a master of his craft, and I was intimidated, but the first time I met him he gave me the biggest bear hug and joked about how nervous he was.”
