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Maroon 5’s upcoming Las Vegas residency may include “unexpected” song choices for a “unique” experience

February 2, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Maroon 5‘s Las Vegas residency kicks off March 24 at the Dolby Live theater at Park MGM. They’re currently trying to figure out how to fit their countless hits into one 90-minute show — and still “bring something unique to the experience.”

“That’s the challenge for us … just the singles fill up 90 minutes, which is a great problem for a band to have,” Maroon 5 guitarist James Valentine laughs. But, he notes, “We want to bring something unique to this experience. So we have a couple ideas … some maybe unexpected song choices that we’re going to bring out.”

Two of the hit singles being considered might be “Animals” and “Moves Like Jagger”; both of them just hit 1 billion streams on Spotify. James says it’s hard to conceive of numbers like that, especially considering what the music business was like when they started 20 years ago.

“None of it existed,” he says of streaming services. “We released our first record in 2002 when people were still purchasing compact discs and before there was really a legal way to buy music online.”

He adds, “So to have gone through the inception of the iTunes Store and then Spotify, Apple Music … and then now to be coming into this new era of AI and what that’s going to do for music creation.”

Of what the music business will look like in another 20 years, James says, “I don’t think anyone has any idea!” But he suspects artists might be cut out of the equation entirely.

“The technology is already there for generative AI to come up with a Maroon 5 song,” he laughs. “So, y’know, we might not be needed in a few years.”

NBA Youngboy apologizes for negatively affecting people with past music

February 2, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Youngboy Never Broke Again‘s music has gone through some changes, as the rapper has altered his way of thinking. In an insightful profile piece by Billboard, the normally recluse rapper opens up about his current perspective on music, among other things.

Youngboy, who’s currently serving house arrest in Utah, was once concerned about being the greatest rapper he could be. Now, he’s remorseful about the content he released and the negative impact it might have had on listeners.

“I’m at a point now in my life where I just know hurting people is not the way, and I feel very manipulated, even at this moment,” he says. “I think about how many lives I actually am responsible for when it comes to my music … How many people have put this sh** in their ears and actually went and hurt someone?”

With a change in mindset, Youngboy’s focus these days is on righting his wrongs and creating music without the negativity he once spewed.

“I promise to clean whatever I can clean, but it’s going to take time,” he says. He’s aware of the effect this direction may have on his fans, who are used to a certain kind of content.

“They listened because of who I supposedly was or showed I was and what I rapped about,” Youngboy says. That music led to 96 Hot 100 entries, but he accepts that “you can’t be on top forever.”

“I’m not changing. I will not be provoked, I will not be broken, and I’m not going back to who I used to be,” says the rapper, noting his unwillingness to compromise his current state of mind. “Accept it or not — I ain’t going back. I’m only going to get more groovy from here.”

Rock Hall exec talks The White Stripes’ case for induction: “They just wrote great songs”

February 2, 2023 by WDNY Radio

They’ve been to Wichita and now The White Stripes may be entering the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

The “Seven Nation Army” rockers, made up of Jack and Meg White, are among the nominees to be inducted into the institution in 2023. Having released their first single 25 years ago in 1998, the Stripes are Rock Hall nominees in their first year of eligibility.

Speaking to ABC Audio about The White Stripes’ case for induction, the Rock Hall’s Jason Hanley says, “Jack White has always been about just stripping things back down to the basics.”

“He goes back to the heart of blues and rhythm & blues that was there from the beginning of rock ‘n’ roll,” Hanley explains. “He connected that along with Meg White with this incredibly dynamic imagery … the red, black and white, just the two of them, the drums and guitar, the rhythm and the melody. And they just wrote great songs.”

Hanley also feels that the timing of The White Stripes’ breakout in a “post 9/11 world” was significant.

“People were just kind of going back to the basics of looking for something to reconnect to,” he says. “I think The White Stripes really filled that, and, man, how influential has that sound been on so many other artists since then?”

The White Stripes are also the first band from the “rock revival” scene of the 2000s to be a Rock Hall nominee. Hanley feels their nod may lead to more recognition of “21st century developments,” naming bands including The Strokes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and The Black Keys.

“I think we’re gonna see a lot of that, potentially, coming up,” Hanley says.

The 2023 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees will be announced in May.

Doja Cat hints more rap will be included on next album

February 2, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Doja Cat has a new album coming out this year and has hinted it’ll contain more rap songs.

Speaking with Variety, Doja acknowledged people think of her as a pop artist because of songs like “Kiss Me More” and “Say So.” That’s why she’s calls “Vegas” one of “the greatest experiences” she’s had.

“Everyone knows [Elvis‘] ‘Hound Dog’ — but I was able to give it my own spin. I went in and I was like, ‘Finally, I get to rap again,'” she recalled. “A lot of people discredit me, so it’s nice to just put another one in the f***ing bucket for a great rap song.”

Doja understands using pop-inspired hooks did allow for some success, but she’s ready to prove herself in rap and R&B music.

There’s also another genre she is flirting with: “I want to explore punk. But not pop-punk,” Doja said. “I want to explore more of a raw, unfiltered, hardcore punk sort of thing.”

While the singer is making punk songs “for my own personal fun,” Doja’s not sure the songs will make it onto her future album. According to her, punk and rap “[do] not mesh.”

Although she has yet to announce a title or release date for her new album, Doja appeared disinclined to tour in support of it. “I do want to make sure that everything I’m doing right now in terms of recording is solidified before I make any decisions,” she noted.

Elsewhere in the interview, Doja spoke of her love of going to war with online trolls. “I need to respond,” she said, adding she is “very good at handling” trolls because she grew up with that online culture. “I will gladly join in, balls to the wall. It’s fun for me.”

Paul McCartney shares what being a husband and father means to him

February 2, 2023 by WDNY Radio

In addition to being a rock star, Paul McCartney is a husband and father, and those are two roles that are very important to him. In a new post on his website, the Beatles legend responds to a Twitter question about what the two roles mean to him, noting they are “two completely different things.”

“As far as being a dad is concerned, I’ve always just tried to give my kids a bit of guidance, if they seem to need it – but that was mainly when they were younger,” he explains. “Now that they are older, they’re guiding me! They don’t need so much guidance these days but if there’s ever a problem, I’m very happy to be the guy they come to.”

He adds, “You’re just there to help, and I suppose have fun with – we do have a lot of fun. Now they’re older we can have a drink together, for instance!”

As for being a husband, he says the most important thing is “just trying to be good to my wife Nancy (Shevell) and trying to be considerate and romantic.” And it sounds like Nancy can expect something special later this month.

“I completely overdo Valentine’s Day! I mean, there’s not just one card, there are cards hidden around the room, and sometimes things even spill into the next day – it’s completely silly,” Sir Paul says. “If there’s an excuse to have some fun, I overdo it!”

McCartney adds that he likes to be helpful to his wife, noting, “I’m always very happy to be the person Nancy relies on, and to be her strength when she goes through tough times. I am very proud, in fact, to be ‘The Guy’ there.”

Who’s the celebrity with the most smarts? find out on the finale of ‘Celebrity Jeopardy!’

February 2, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Who’s the smartest celebrity? We’ll get an answer, kind of, with Thursday night’s Celebrity Jeopardy! finale.

Host Mayim Bialik tells ABC Audio that finalists Wil Wheaton, Ike Barinholtz, and Patton Oswalt are “three very, very, very smart people and three very funny people and three very competitive people who are taking this very seriously” — for the most part, anyway.

“When you’re at this level, it’s definitely, it’s competitive as it feels like when we do syndicated Jeopardy!. It honestly didn’t really feel that different,” she says, except that she “got to laugh a lot more” and had to work harder to keep them in line, because “sometimes they kind of go off on riffs and they played off each other in ways that even funny Jeopardy! contestants who are not celebrities don’t necessarily like keep the jokes going.”

“…It kind of feels like you get to know them, you know, in a different way,” she adds. “I guess that’s why people feel like they know celebrities because here I am feeling like I know all of these people.”

While she’s settled quite nicely into her role as Jeopardy! host, Bialik — who has a Ph.D. in neuroscience — was never a Celebrity Jeopardy! contestant and doesn’t think she’d have been good anyway.

“I do absolutely have a general knowledge, you know, particularly in science and Jewish history, you know, Bible, like those are things that I feel comfortable with, but I’m a very nervous performer in general and very nervous even at kind of like being myself,” she shares. “I did Celebrity Wheel of Fortune, for example, for charity, and I cried just before anything started happening, just from anticipation. So I’m not like your best contestant.”

Celebrity Jeopardy! airs Thursday, February 2 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

Top Trump Organization executive to appear before grand jury

February 2, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — The Trump Organization’s controller is expected to testify Thursday before a grand jury in New York that is investigating whether former President Donald Trump played a role in the hush payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election, sources familiar with the matter told ABC News.

Jeffrey McConney has worked at the Trump Organization for more than three decades and was a subordinate to its former chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg, who is now serving jail time after he pleaded guilty to tax fraud.

McConney appeared more than a half-dozen times before a grand jury about illegal practices at the Trump Organization and he testified at the company’s trial late last year that resulted in a conviction on charges it paid certain executives as independent contractors and through under-the-table perks.

McConney is expected to appear before the new grand jury convened to hear evidence by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office about the payment to Daniels meant to keep quiet about her long-denied affair with Trump, the sources said.

A spokeswoman for the district attorney’s office declined to comment. An attorney for McConney also declined to comment.

McConney’s anticipated grand jury appearance was first reported by CNN.

The former publisher of the National Enquirer, David Pecker, appeared before the grand jury earlier this week, the sources said. Pecker helped broker a $150,000 payment to Daniels, according to federal prosecutors who previously investigated the arrangement and reached a non-prosecution agreement with Pecker’s employer, AMI.

Pecker interviewed Daniels about her alleged affair in June 2016 and agreed to acquire the story for the purposes of burying it, a practice known in the tabloid industry as “catch and kill.”

Prosecutors believe the payment violated campaign finance laws governing expenditures made for purposes of influencing an election and in coordination with a candidate or his campaign.

Trump has denied knowing about the payment that was arranged through his former personal attorney, Michael Cohen.

The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office is investigating whether the Trump Organization falsified business records in the way it recorded a reimbursement payment to Cohen, sources familiar with the investigation have told ABC News.

Scoreboard roundup — 2/1/23

February 2, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — Here are the scores from Wednesday’s sports events:

NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Portland 122, Memphis 112
Washington at Detroit (Postponed)
Philadelphia 105, Orlando 104
Boston 139, Brooklyn 96
Minnesota 119, Golden State 114
Houston 112, Oklahoma City 106
Sacramento 119, San Antonio 109
Utah 131, Toronto 128
Atlanta 132, Phoenix 100

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Carolina 5, Buffalo 1
Boston 5, Toronto 2

TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Purdue 80, Penn State 60
Xavier 85, Providence 83
Florida 67, Tennessee 54
Auburn 94, Georgia 73
Marquette 73, Villanova 64

Biggs rolls out new articles of impeachment against DHS Secretary Mayorkas

February 1, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — Arizona Republican Rep. Andy Biggs on Wednesday rolled out new impeachment articles against Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, saying the top Biden administration official has “violated his oath of office, wreaking havoc on this country and he must be impeached.”

“He must be impeached because he is a public official who has lost public trust and is an imminent threat to the United States of America,” Biggs said at a Capitol Hill news conference.

Biggs, who previously introduced articles in 2021, said he would be filing the articles while standing alongside fellow conservative GOP members, including Reps. Lauren Boebert, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Bob Good and others. The presser began as House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s first in-person meeting with President Joe Biden since winning the gavel was slated to begin.

“Secretary Mayorkas has failed to faithfully uphold his oath and has instead presided over a reckless abandonment of border security and immigration enforcement, the expense of the Constitution and the security of the United States,” the articles read.

Biggs did not provide a hard timeline for when the articles would be moved forward in committee.

When asked if Speaker McCarthy supported the effort to impeach Mayorkas, Biggs didn’t answer directly, but said he was hopeful, adding, “We start this hopefully at the Judiciary Committee.”

Greene made it clear she intends to target President Biden, once again calling to impeach him as well: “It’s also President Biden’s responsibility. I’ve called for his impeachment because of his failure to protect our country as well. And I’ll continue to call to impeach President Biden for that reason as well.”

The articles also come as Republicans held their first hearing on the border crisis, highlighting the issue at the House Judiciary Committee earlier on Wednesday.

The move follows months of conservative Republicans vowing to impeach Mayorkas and even with Speaker McCarthy holding an event on the border weeks back calling for an investigation into the DHS secretary.

Biggs’s announcement also comes weeks after Rep. Pat Fallon, R-Texas, introduced his own impeachment articles against Mayorkas on Jan. 10. Fallon accused Mayorkas of failing to maintain operational control, providing false testimony to Congress and misleading the public. A DHS official said at the time they believed Fallon’s impeachment articles had no factual grounds.

Biggs said Wednesday he and Fallon will co-sponsor each other’s impeachment resolutions.

Mayorkas said in January, just after Republicans took control of the House, that he was ready for any congressional investigations and that he had no intention of resigning.

“I’ve got a lot of work to do, and we’re going to do it,” Mayorkas told ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos on “This Week.”

Canadian province decriminalizes drugs to fight overdose deaths

February 1, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(VANCOUVER, Canada) — The Canadian province of British Columbia said it’s decriminalizing small amounts of some drugs to help combat the number of drug overdose deaths.

During the three-year pilot program, which started Jan. 31, no one 18 years and older will be charged if caught in possession of 2.5 grams of certain illegal drugs, including heroin, meth, ecstasy, among others, for personal use.

“We know criminalization drives people to use alone. Given the increasingly toxic drug supply, using alone can be fatal,” Jennifer Whiteside, B.C.’s Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, said in a statement Monday. “Decriminalizing people who use drugs breaks down the fear and shame associated with substance use and ensures they feel safer reaching out for life-saving supports. This is a vital step to get more people connected to the services and supports as the Province continues to add them at an unprecedented rate.”

At least 2,272 people died of an overdose in the province in 2022, officials said. At least 2,306 people died in 2021.

The number of “illicit drug toxicity deaths” was about 6.4 deaths per day in November and December last year, authorities said.

“The shocking number of lives lost to the overdose crisis requires bold actions and significant policy change. I have thoroughly reviewed and carefully considered both the public health and public safety impacts of this request,” Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions of Canada, said in a statement. “Eliminating criminal penalties for those carrying small amounts of illicit drugs for personal use will reduce stigma and harm and provide another tool for British Columbia to end the overdose crisis.”

While certain drugs are decriminalized, Bennett said the exemption doesn’t mean they are legal. It means adults will no longer be arrested, charged or have their drugs seized. Instead, police will offer information on available health and social supports and will help with referrals when requested, officials said.

Possession of any drugs will continue to be a criminal offense on school grounds and at child care facilities, officials said.

“Decriminalization is an important part of an integrated approach, along with safer supply and public-health supports, to divert persons who use drugs away from the criminal justice system and toward health services and pathways of care because substance use is a health matter, not a criminal one,” Deputy Chief Const. Fiona Wilson, Vancouver Police Department, said in a statement Monday. “This approach has the potential to address harms associated with substance use, reduce stigma, prevent overdose deaths and increase access to health and social services.”

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