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Olivia Rodrigo, Doja Cat and other major highlights from ‘Billboard’s 2022 Women in Music Awards

March 3, 2022 by WDNY Radio

It was all about Olivia Rodrigo and Doja Cat at Billboard‘s 2022 Women in Music Awards.

Olivia received the Woman of the Year award from Sheryl Crow. “When I came up, women were struggling to be the architects of their own careers,” Sheryl said. “So when I see someone like our Woman of the Year, Olivia Rodrigo, having such incredible success at such an early age, I am blown away.”

Olivia, who told Sheryl she’s a “massive fan,” said during her speech, “It’s not always easy being a young woman in the music industry, but I’ve found so much strength from the female songwriters who have come before me and paved the way and opened doors for so many young women like me.”

Olivia shared a message to “all the young girls out there who are writing songs every day,” telling them “I promise everyone here today is working to make this world and this industry a better place for you.” She also performed a searing rendition of “Deja Vu.”

Doja Cat, who received the Powerhouse Award, closed the ceremony by performing the “Alone” deep cut from her new album, Planet Her. She received her honor from Normani, who called Doja a “bona fide superhero super star.”

“There’s nothing she can’t do,” Normani continued through shouts and applause. “The attention to detail, the energy, the passion is exactly why she is where she is today. This wasn’t handed to her on a plate! She has earned every ounce of her success.”

Doja thanked her mom, fans and her management before humorously ending her acceptance speech with, “Can’t wait to break this s*** open and put the necklace on — You know, that’s what girls do! Amen, women. Let’s go.”

Robert Smith reveals title of long-awaited new Cure album

March 3, 2022 by WDNY Radio

We may still be waiting for new music from The Cure, but at least we now have an album title.

Speaking with NME, frontman Robert Smith reveals that the long-awaited follow-up to 2008’s 4:13 Dream will be called Songs of the Lost World.

“It’s got artwork, it’s got a running order, it’s almost done!” Smith says of the record. “They’re so slow because of vinyl, but it might come in September. I’d rather it just came out. I can’t stand the anticipation.”

That feeling is probably mutual with Cure fans, since Smith has been teasing the arrival of a new record since 2019.

Songs of the Lost World is actually one of two Cure records in the works, one of which Smith describes as “the doomiest thing that we’ve ever done,” while the other is more “upbeat.”

New band Skills, featuring Night Ranger and Mr. Big members, releasing debut album in May

March 3, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Night Ranger guitarist Brad Gillis and Mr. Big bassist Billy Sheehan are both considered virtuosos at their chosen instruments, so perhaps it’s not surprising that they’re now part of the lineup of a new band called Skills.

The group, which also features singer Renan Zonta of the Brazilian rock act Electric Mob and drummer David Huff of the band Giant, will release its debut album, Different Worlds, on May 13.

Skills have released an advance track from the album called “Stop the World,” along with a companion video that you can check out at Frontiers Music’s YouTube channel.

The video features a young woman sitting on her couch and flipping through channels on her television set, when footage of Skills performing “Stop the World” takes over the screen and she is unable to click to a different channel. Frustrated, she turns the TV off and heads out of her apartment. As she wanders a deserted street, she’s drawn to another building and when she enters, she finds herself in a room with dozens of TV sets all showing the members of Skills playing their song.

You can pre-order Different Worlds now. The album is available digitally, on CD and as a limited-edition LP pressed on white-marble-colored vinyl.

Here’s the full Different Worlds track list:

“Escape Machine”
“Blame It on the Night”
“Different Worlds”
“Losing the Track”
“Writings on the Wall”
“Show Me the Way”
“Just When I Needed You”
“Need to Fall”
“Stop the World”
“Hearts of Stone”
“Don’t Break My Heart”

The Weeknd announces first-ever global stadium tour with Doja Cat

March 3, 2022 by WDNY Radio

After taking a break from touring amid the global pandemic, The Weeknd will return will a vengeance with his first-ever worldwide stadium tour. He also unveiled his opener: his “You Right” collaborator, Doja Cat.

The After Hours Til Dawn stadium tour begins this summer, with the first pit stop set in The Weeknd’s hometown of Toronto, Canada, on July 8. The tour, which wraps September 2 in Los Angeles, combines the two albums he issued during the pandemic, marking the first time he gets to perform After Hours and DAWN FM live before fans.

Tickets for the North American trek go on sale next Thursday, March 10 and 10 a.m. ET on TheWeeknd.com/tour. However, those lucky fans who scored tickets to The Weeknd’s After Hours arena tour will be able to cut the line and access a special pre-sale starting Friday, March 4 via a web link that’ll be emailed directly to them.

In addition, Verizon subscribers will also be able to access a pre-sale of their own for select shows starting Monday, March 7, at 10 a.m. local time through the customer loyalty program Verizon Up. That pre-sale expires on Wednesday, March 9 at 10 p.m. local time.

The Weeknd will also offer a pre-sale opportunity for the Spotify users who stream his music the most via Spotify Fans First; that’ll begin Tuesday, March 8.

One dollar from each ticket sold will benefit The Weeknd’s newly launched XO HUMANITARIAN FUND, which is part of the United Nations World Food Programme to fight world hunger, for which he serves as goodwill ambassador.

The Weeknd plans to launch additional tour legs in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East and South America. Those dates are forthcoming.

Slipknot, Iron Maiden cancel Russia & Ukraine shows

March 3, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Slipknot and Iron Maiden have joined the growing list of rock artists canceling shows in Russia due to the country’s invasion of Ukraine.

The affected Knot dates include their headlining set at Moscow’s Park Live festival this summer, which has already seen a number of acts drop off the lineup, as well as shows in Kyiv, Ukraine, and Minsk, Belarus.

“We had looked forward to reuniting with our fans in these incredible cites, coming back together after global lockdown,” Slipknot writes in a statement. “But we take this step in support of our community and in solidarity with the people of Ukraine, for whom the struggle continues, in a new and more terrible form.”

The masked metallers add, “We also acknowledge that our Russian and Belarusian fans are overwhelmingly united with the Ukrainians in their fight for peace.”

Maiden, meanwhile, has scrapped shows in Kyiv and Moscow scheduled for May 29 and June 1, respectively. In their statement, the metal legends write, “Our priority is, and will always be, the safety of our fans.”

50 Cent lashes out at Starz over ‘Power’ franchise being in “limbo”: My bags are packed”

March 3, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(NOTE LANGUAGE) Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson — rapper, actor, and executive producer of Starz’ hit Power franchise — is not happy with the cable network, again.

In a series of Instagram posts, Fiddy showed himself stuffing clothes into suitcases, noting, with some colorful emoji use, “This is me packing my stuff, STARZ…Sucks, my deal is up over here I’m out.”

At issue was the network’s decision to grant another season to another series, Hightown, while remaining mum about the fate of his so-called Power Universe.

“They Renewed High town [sic] and FORCE is the highest rated show they have it sitting in limbo,” Jackson griped, referring to Power Book IV: Force. “If I told you how much dumb sh** I deal with over here,” he vented, with the facepalm emoji.

As previously reported, Force launched on February 6 to Starz’ highest ratings ever, and bested high-profile premieres like The White Lotus on HBO and Showtime’s Dexter: New Blood.

Force wraps up on March 27, but with Fiddy’s G Unit production deal set to expire, as he alluded to, it looks like the rapper’s already calling it a wrap with Starz. The fate of Book V: Influence remains unclear.

When ABC Audio recently spoke with Fiddy for Force, he didn’t hold back as to how the network treated him, initially passing on Power and then allegedly underpaying him before the original show launched a successful franchise.

“I was getting paid seventeen thousand dollars per episode to be a producer, act on the show, and to be the marketing…” he admitted. “[I]n the beginning, I’m looking at it like, ‘Bro, I coulda went to the nightclub and waved.’ I would have got paid more to go to a nightclub and waved. Like, you know what I’m saying?”

Madonna releases new “Frozen” remix; more details on auditions for her biopic

March 3, 2022 by WDNY Radio

2022 marks Madonna‘s 40th year as a recording artist, and she’s kicking off the celebration with a new take on one of her classic hits.

Madonna’s dropped a new remix of her 1998 song “Frozen,” based on the viral version by producer Sickick that took over TikTok last year, soundtracking more than 100,000 videos. It’s called “Frozen (Fireboy DML Remix),” and is credited to Madonna, Sickick and Fireboy DML, a Nigerian singer who’s currently on the charts with an Ed Sheeran collaboration called “Peru.” A video for the remix is coming “soon,” according to Madonna.

In other Madonna news, The Hollywood Reporter has more information on the casting process for the Queen of Pop’s upcoming biopic, which she co-wrote and is directing. The publication says Ozark‘s Julia Garner, Black Widow‘s Florence Pugh, Euphoria star Alexa Demie, indie-film star Odessa Young and Mayor of Kingstown actress Emma Laird are in the running to play Madonna, and even pop star Bebe Rexha has been part of the search.

The audition process is described as “grueling,” involving 11-hour-a-day choreography sessions with Madonna’s choreographer and then with Madonna herself. The callbacks consist of readings and singing auditions, again with Madonna — so, no pressure, right? One insider tells The Hollywood Reporter, “You have to be able to do everything.” Just like Madonna.

In October, Madonna told Jimmy Fallon that she’s so involved in the project because “A bunch of people have tried to write movies about me, but they’re always men.”

Robert Pattinson read “probably a trillion” comics to prepare for ‘The Batman’ role

March 3, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Robert Pattinson had a lot of preparation ahead of him when he signed on to play the iconic Caped Crusader in The Batman — including about 80 years’ worth of reading material.

At Tuesday’s New York City premiere of the film, the actor detailed the daunting process to ABC Audio.

“A year just working on the script and then probably three months just physically training, and then fight choreography and then reading probably a trillion Batman graphic novels,” Pattinson admitted on the red carpet.

“[I] didn’t really think about the fact that you got a character that’s been around for 80 years, there’s quite a lot of comics you’ve got to read, so I had a whole suitcase full of them.”

Pattinson wasn’t the only cast member who came prepared. Paul Dano, whose villain Riddler takes heavy cues from the Zodiac Killer, told ABC Audio he practiced extensively with the creepy mask he wears for much of the film.

He also noted that in trying to put his stamp on the Riddler he focused on, “going as deep as I can into that character and bringing the history with me but going in a new direction.”

Darker in tone even than Christopher Nolan‘s Oscar winning The Dark Knight, director Matt Reeves‘ The Batman dives into the psychology of its titular character and his iconic nemesis.

In addition to Dano’s Riddler, admitted Bat-fan Colin Farrell is unrecognizable as a sleazy Penguin, and Pattinson’s hero tangles, and teams up, with Zoë Kravitz‘ Selena Kyle/Catwoman.

On how Gotham has changed in Reeves’ reboot, Pattinson said, “It’s very much about the corruptions of the institutions. The bad guys are not fantastical at all, and Batman is not fantastical at all in this movie. He’s not even known as Batman in this movie yet…he’s just a guy in a suit of armor.”

The Batman hits theaters on Friday.

Shonda Rhimes says “there’s absolutely no evidence or reason” women should settle for less

March 3, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Shonda Rhimes transformed television with her hit shows such as Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal, and now the five-time Emmy nominee wants to transform something else — the “dream gap.”

Rhimes teamed with Barbie to close the “dream gap,” a “heartbreaking” phenomenon where are girls as young as five are led to believe they aren’t as smart or as capable as their male counterparts. In order to break this “widespread… problem,” she says parents need to stop limiting their expectations for their daughters.

“Overcoming the dream gap has to do with your parents and how you’re raised,” Rhimes explained. “My parents never allowed me to think that there was a dream gap for me. Their dreams for me were as big as their dreams were for my brothers or for anybody else.”

“I was lucky enough to be raised in a household where I was expected to be president of the United States… My father literally used to say to me, ‘If you can believe it, you can achieve it,'” she continued.

Rhimes understands not everyone was raised by supportive parents, which is why she hopes her new partnership will inspire more female role models to step up and encourage girls to embrace their full potential.

As for the advice she has for those who have been tricked by the dream gap, she says, “There’s absolutely no evidence or reason why you should be settling for less than your greatest or your best or anything that you want to have happen… Nobody asked men to settle, so I don’t think anybody should be asking a woman to settle.”

Barbie is honoring the Shondaland CEO with her own one-of-a-kind Barbie doll, as part of their Role Models line that highlights 11 other women, which you can see here.

In Brief: ‘The Girl from Plainville’ trailer; Tiffany Haddish keeps ‘The Afterparty’ going, and more

March 3, 2022 by WDNY Radio

The official trailer for Hulu’s The Girl from Plainville, starring Elle Fanning, dropped on Wednesday. The miniseries, inspired by the true story of Michelle Carter‘s unprecedented “texting suicide” case, is based on Jesse Barron‘s Esquire article of the same name and explores the relationship between Carter and Conrad Roy III — played respectively by Fanning and Colton Ryan — and the events that led to his death and, later, Carter’s conviction of involuntary manslaughter. The series also stars Chloë Sevigny, Cara Buono, Kai Lennox and Norbert Leo Butz. The Girl from Plainville premieres on Hulu with three episodes March 29…

Apple TV+ announced on Wednesday that it has renewed the Tiffany Haddish-led murder-mystery comedy, The Afterparty, for a second season ahead of Friday’s season-one finale. The series follows Haddish’s Detective Danner as she searches for a killer during a house party following a high school reunion. The first season stars Haddish, Sam Richardson, Zoë Chao, Ben Schwartz, Ike Barinholtz, Ilana Glazer, Jamie Demetriou and Dave Franco…

CBS has picked up two additional seasons of the long-running soap The Bold and the Beautiful through the 2023-2024 broadcast season. The announcement comes three weeks before the daytime drama celebrates its 35th anniversary on March 23. “For 35 years, The Bold and the Beautiful has been a cornerstone of our #1 daytime lineup,” said Margot Wain, senior vice president, daytime programs, CBS Entertainment. “Congratulations to our talented cast and crew, as well as Bradley Bell, who have made this show a creative and ratings success, and thank you to B&B’s dedicated fans, whose passion for these characters and stories is unrivaled.” The Bold and the Beautiful debuted in 1987 and has won 100 Daytime Emmys…

The Shubert Organization announced on Wednesday that Broadway’s 110-year-old Cort Theater will become the James Earl Jones Theatre “in recognition of Mr. Jones’s lifetime of immense contributions to Broadway and the entire artistic community.” In a statement, 91-year-old Jones said, “For me standing in this very building sixty-four years ago at the start of my Broadway career, it would have been inconceivable that my name would be on the building today. Let my journey from then to now be an inspiration for all aspiring actors.” Jones has been seen on Broadway in The Great White Hope, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Fences, Driving Miss Daisy, Gore Vidal’s The Best Man, You Can’t Take It with You and The Gin Game, among others. He has won three Tony awards, including a lifetime achievement award in 2017…

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