Getting 1 billion views on YouTube is quite a feat, but plenty of artists reached that milestone in 2022 — including classic tunes from Cyndi Lauper, The Police, R.E.M. and Europe.
Cyndi’s 1983 hit “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” received 1.13 billion views this year, 13 years after it was first uploaded to the streaming channel.
Also joining the Billion Views Club this year was The Police’s 1983 hit “Every Breath You Take,” which hit YouTube in 2010, and Europe’s 1986 track “The Final Countdown,” which was added to YouTube in 2009. R.E.M.’s 1991 hit “Losing My Religion” also made it to 1 billion this year, 11 years after it was added to YouTube.
From cheating scandals to health struggles to K-pop stars going solo, here’s a roundup of some headline-making happenings in the world of pop this year:
— Adam Levine, who’s married to Behati Prinsloo and expecting his third child with her, found himself in hot water in September when Instagram model Summer Stroh claimed the two had an affair. Adam denied the affair, but admitted to acting inappropriately by sending flirty messages online. Meanwhile, Maroon 5 announced a Las Vegas residency kicking off in 2023.
— Justin Bieber canceled the rest of his Justice world tour after being diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome in June, which paralyzed the right side of his face. His wife, Hailey Bieber, dealt with health issues of her own, suffering a ministroke in March.
— Bieber’s fellow Canadian pal Shawn Mendes also canceled his world tour this year to focus on his mental health. He came back into the spotlight to promote the film Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile, in which he voiced the title character.
— Selena Gomez released the AppleTV+ documentary My Mind & Me, detailing her own mental health struggles. The second season of her Hulu show Only Murders in the Building also debuted this year. She earned a Golden Globe nomination for her role as Mabel in the series.
— In June, BTS announced they were going on hiatus to focus on their solo careers. J-Hope was the first member to release a solo album, Jack in the Box, which came out in July. He’ll be performing on Dick Clark’s NewYear’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2023. Jin released a song with Coldplay called “The Astronaut” and became the first BTS member to enlist in his mandatory South Korean military service in December. RM released his solo album, Indigo, in December, and V released a Christmas song that same month.
While last year’s ceremony was both star-free and un-televised, it looks like Hollywood has made up with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the organization behind the Golden Globes.
Variety reports big names are already lining up for this year’s 80th annual ceremony.
The Golden Globes found itself embroiled in controversy in early 2021, after accusations of sexism and racism were leveled at the organization. It was revealed not a single minority journalist belonged to the HFPA, which was also accused of engaging in other “unethical conduct,” as reported by the Los Angeles Times.
In response, NBC severed its ties with the organization as stars like Scarlett Johansson, Shonda Rhimes and Mark Ruffalo publicly dragged it. Tom Cruise even went so far as to return his three acting trophies from the organization in protest.
The HFPA subsequently vowed it would be making “transformational changes” to boost minority membership and representation, and increase transparency into the organization and its inner workings.
That said, many in the industry wondered if nominees would show up this year, but according to Variety, a number of big names have already agreed to do so.
Variety reports Elvis nominee Austin Butler is a yes, as is Yellowstone‘s Kevin Costner, and Steven Spielberg and Michelle Williams backing the nominated The Fabelmans.
Others who have RSVP’d yes include Everything Everywhere All at Once nominee Jamie Lee Curtis,Avatar director James Cameron and Guillermo del Toro, who is nominated for Pinocchio.
The trade says other big names will include Dahmer – Monster‘s Niecy Nash, Kaley Cuoco and Wednesday‘s Jenna Ortega.
Hosted by Emmy-winning comedian Jerrod Carmichael, the Golden Globes will take place January 10 beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT, airing live on NBC and streaming live on Peacock.
(WASHINGTON) — Grubhub has been ordered to pay a $3.5 million settlement after the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit over the food delivery service’s alleged deceptive practices.
On Friday, Washington, D.C., Attorney General Karl Racine announced the decision against Grubhub “for charging customers hidden fees and using deceptive marketing techniques to increase profits in violation of District consumer protection laws.”
The District of Columbia sued Grubhub in March for alleged violations of the District’s Consumer Protection and Procedures Act.
D.C.-area customers will collectively be awarded $2.7 million, which Racine said “will be paid back to affected customers.”
“Those with active Grubhub accounts will receive a refundable credit and if the credit is not used within 90 days the money will be sent to customers in the form of a check,” he said.
Additionally, the meal delivery service platform will have to pay $800,000 in civil penalties to the District of Columbia.
“Grubhub used every trick in the book to manipulate customers into paying far more than they owed, and even worse, they did so at the height of a global pandemic when District residents were already struggling to make ends meet,” Racine said in a statement.
He added, “Grubhub’s hidden fees and misleading marketing tactics were designed to get the company an extra buck at the expense of DC residents — but we’re not letting them get away with it. No company, big or small, can take advantage of DC residents without consequence.”
As part of the settlement, GrubHub will be required to more clearly note additional fees associated with your order.
“Settling this lawsuit is in the best interest of our business and the matter is now resolved,” the company said in a statement. “Grubhub is committed to supporting all restaurants and diners, and is taking a number of steps to ensure price transparency.”
ABC News’ Beatrice Peterson contributed to this report.
Albums from Black Sabbath‘s I.R.S. Records era are set to be reissued in 2023.
Guitarist Tony Iommi teased the upcoming rereleases in a tweet this week marking the birthday of late drummer Cozy Powell, who played on three of Sabbath’s I.R.S. albums.
“Cozy Powell would have been 75 today,” Iommi writes. “Looking forward to the release of the IRS albums in 2023, a tribute to his great playing.”
Sabbath released five records on I.R.S. — 1989’s Headless Cross, 1990’s Tyr, 1992’s Dehumanizer, 1994’s Cross Purposes and 1995’s Forbidden — three of which featured Iommi as the only original member. The era’s lineup also included Tony Martin on lead vocals for each album but Dehumanizer, which featured the return of Ronnie James Dio.
Meanwhile, Iommi reunited with the original Black Sabbath frontman, Ozzy Osbourne, this year to play on the Prince of Darkness’s new solo album, Patient Number 9. Their collaboration “Degradation Rules” is nominated for Best Metal Performance at the 2023 Grammys.
(MONROE COUNTY, Pa.) — A 28-year-old man, Bryan Kohberger, was arrested Friday morning in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains in connection with the murders of four University of Idaho students, according to a criminal complaint.
Law enforcement sources told ABC News that authorities knew who they were looking for and had tracked Kohberger down to Pennsylvania. A SWAT team entered the location where he was staying in order to take him into custody.
He was arrested on a warrant for first-degree murder issued by Idaho authorities, according to the complaint. Kohberger appeared before a judge Friday morning.
Moscow police officers, members of Idaho State Police, Moscow city leaders and University of Idaho officials will hold a news conference at 1 p.m. local time Friday.
It’s been over six weeks since roommates Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen and Xana Kernodle, as well as Kernodle’s boyfriend, Ethan Chapin, were all stabbed to death in the girls’ off-campus house in the early hours of Nov. 13.
Two other roommates — who police said are not suspects — survived and likely slept through the murders, according to officials. The survivors were on the ground floor while the four victims were on the second and third floors.
Police have been urging the public to come forward with information.
“We just want this person found so bad,” Kristi Goncalves, mom of victim Kaylee Goncalves, told ABC News earlier this month.
“Where are you? Who are you?” she said.
It’s been weeks since police and city officials have gathered for a news conference, choosing instead to release small updates through social media. This new announcement comes as University of Idaho students are away from campus for winter break.
On Thursday, Moscow police said they were planning to send a cleaning crew on Friday to the murder scene. According to property managers, in the wake of the arrest, that planned cleaning has now been put on hold.
ABC News’ Luke Barr and Nick Cirone contributed to this report.
(WASHINGTON) — Washington, D.C., reached its 200th homicide for a second straight year when a man was shot and killed Thursday night in the northeast part of the city.
According to the D.C. police union representing the Metropolitan Police Department, this is the first time since 2002 and 2003 that the city has experienced back-to-back years with more than 200 homicides.
There were 226 homicides in 2021, 198 in 2020 and 166 in 2019. In the last 20 years, homicides were at their lowest in 2012, when there were only 88 homicides.
However, crime in many instances is down from 2021, according to Metropolitan Police data as of Dec. 29.
Homicides are down roughly 12% from last year. Assault with a deadly weapon is down 16%. Burglary and theft from auto is down 11% and 10% respectively.
However, motor vehicle thefts and robberies are up by 7% and 2%, respectively.
“All crimes are down by 6,548 citywide during the past 2 years when compared to the previous 2 years,” according to MPD’s Crime map.
The police union said certain reforms – including chokehold bans, the improvement of public access to body camera footage and expanded civilian review boards – are responsible for the high homicide numbers.
The union also pointed to an exodus of “over 600 officers” from the Metropolitan Police Department.
“The Police Union remains dedicated to working with the DC Council and other elected officials to find positive ways in which we can achieve meaningful police reform while also keeping communities safe from violent crime,” the union said. “We hope these years of tragic, but largely avoidable loss of life does not go unnoticed.”
(WASHINGTON) — The White House on Friday announced six full pardons granted by President Joe Biden.
“Today, President Biden is granting six full pardons for individuals who have served their sentences and have demonstrated a commitment to improving their communities and the lives of those around them,” a White House official said. “These include individuals who honorably served in the U.S. military, volunteer in their communities, and survived domestic abuse.”
Those being pardoned are Gary Davis of Yuma, Arizona; Edward Lincoln De Coito III of Dublin, California; Vincente Ray Flores of Winters, California; Beverly Ann Ibn-Tamas of Columbus, Ohio; Charlie Byrnes Jackson of Swansea, South Carolina; and John Dix Nock III of St. Augustine, Florida.
Five of the people pardoned served sentences for drug or alcohol-related crimes while they were relatively young, according to the White House.
Davis, now 66, was 22 years old when he pleaded guilty to using a telephone to facilitate an unlawful cocaine transaction.
Jackson, now 77, pleaded guilty to one count of possession and sale of distilled spirits without tax stamps when he was 18 years old.
Nock, now 72 years old, pleaded guilty nearly three decades ago to one count of renting and making for use, as an owner, a place for the purpose of manufacturing marijuana plants.
One of the individuals pardoned served in the military and one remains on active duty. Flores pleaded guilty at a special court-martial for consuming ecstasy and alcohol while serving in the military, and has since gone on to be awarded with multiple military honors. De Coito also received honors in the U.S. Army and Army Reserves before he pleaded guilty at the age of 23 to involvement in a marijuana trafficking conspiracy.
Ibn-Tamas, 80, was convicted of second-degree murder for killing her husband while pregnant at the age of 33. She testified he abused her during and prior to the pregnancy, but the court didn’t allow a battered women expert to testify in her case.
“President Biden believes America is a nation of second chances, and that offering meaningful opportunities for redemption and rehabilitation empowers those who have been incarcerated to become productive, law-abiding members of society,” the White House official said.
“The president remains committed to providing second chances to individuals who have demonstrated their rehabilitation — something that elected officials on both sides of the aisle, faith leaders, civil rights advocates, and law enforcement leaders agree our criminal justice system should offer,” the official added.
The year-end pardons add to Biden’s clemency list. The president pardoned three people in April, including the first Black Secret Service agent to serve on a presidential detail.
Then, in October, Biden announced he was pardoning thousands of individuals convicted of marijuana possession under federal law. The White House said at the time the executive action would benefit 6,500 people.
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British fashion designer Vivienne Westwood, who made punk and new wave fashion mainstream, died Thursday at age 81, and her loss is being felt throughout the music community. Several artists took to social media to pay tribute to Westwood, including Paul McCartney and Boy George.
“Goodbye Vivienne Westwood,” McCartney shared. “A ballsy lady who rocked the fashion world and stood defiantly for what was right.”
“R.I.P to the great and inspiring Vivienne Westwood who lead us through punk and beyond. Laughed at by the fashion industry but without question she is the undisputed Queen of British fashion,” Boy George tweeted. “I love you!”
John Taylor of Duran Duranshared a touching tribute to the designer, calling her “the most original and influential” of designers and noting, “Without her no Punk, no Pistols and no Future.” He added, “There will not be another like her. There is rarely a day that Vivienne doesn’t influence some clothing choice that I make. Who shall we look to now?”
And Billy Idoladded, “difficult 2 process this today… she was such a big part of our lives those who loved her fashion and cultural influences …her fight against climate change …oh god…it’s too much.”
Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament also marked Westwood’s passing, writing, “RIP @viviennewestwood who with Malcom and Jamie Reid created the best/most shocking/thought provoking pieces from the great art of the punk rock era.”
The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office is blaming the June death of 18-year-old actor Tyler Sanders on an accidental overdose of the deadly drug fentanyl. That’s the word from TMZ, which obtained a copy of the coroner’s report. According to the outlet, the report says the 9-1-1 Lonestar and Fear The Walking Dead actor texted a friend he was using the drug the night he died.
The friend called him back and reportedly received no answer. Sanders was found dead on June 16.
According to the report, the actor, who started his career at 10 years old, had a history of drug use, and a plastic straw and white powder were found in his Los Angeles apartment.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said fentanyl was the leading cause of the record number of drug poisonings and overdose deaths in the country last year. More than 71,000 overdose deaths were linked to synthetic opioids like fentanyl, according to the CDC.
