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Britney Spears shouts out attorney Mathew Rosengart: “This man has turned my life around”

February 2, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Britney Spears is looking forward to living her life post-conservatorship, and she has one person to thank for making it happen — her attorney, Mathew Rosengart.

Taking to Instagram on Wednesday, the “Toxic” singer shared a couple of sweet photos of the two smiling and wearing the color pink while standing arm in arm. Britney explained in the caption that the photo was taken at a recent lunch meeting and, based on her tone, they had a very productive time.

“This man has turned my life around…So many exciting projects ahead !!!! We accidentally matched for lunch !!!!,” she wrote. “Thank you for being so kind and respectful to me always.”

The Grammy winner included six red rose emojis in the caption and added, “Pssss Mathew Rosengart…I simply adore you !!!!”

While Britney’s 13-year conservatorship was terminated in November, her legal woes against her former conservators continue. Among them is fighting against father Jamie Spears‘ and mother Lynne Spears‘ separate requests to pay their attorney fees. A hearing is set for March 16 concerning the latter request.

The next major hearing is set for July 27.

In addition, Rosengart is working on summoning Jamie Spears for a deposition following a recent New York Times report that he bugged Britney’s room and conducted other illegal surveillance. The attorney also made it clear that he wants to question Mr. Spears about potential mismanagement of the conservatorship, especially on its finances following allegations that the patriarch abused it for personal gain.

In January, Rosengart alleged via court documents that Mr. Spears took $36 million out of his daughter’s estate during the course of the conservatorship — paying himself “at least $6 million,” while the remaining $30 million was “petitioned for fees to be paid to dozens of different law firms.”

Missy Elliott makes hip hop history with 6th RIAA Platinum album; releases vinyl version of 2005’s ‘The Cookbook’

February 2, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Missy Elliott is celebrating another milestone in her trailblazing career as she just became the first female rapper in history with six RIAA-Certified platinum solo albums.

“This is a HUGE MILESTONE! No matter how long it took to get here I am here & I AM HUMBLY GRATEFUL,” the four-time Grammy winner tweeted. “To all my SISTERS in HIP HOP yall keep doing yall thang & SHINING.”

To commemorate the RIAA Platinum certification of her sixth and most recent album, The Cookbook from 2005, Missy had a special announcement.

“AS A THANK YOU TO MY FANS I AM RELEASING A LIMITED NUMBER OF THE COOKBOOK AS ORIGINAL VINYL DOUBLE LPs TODAY VIA THE ATLANTIC RECORDS WEB STORE.”

The Cookbook debuted at the top of Billboard’s Top Rap Albums and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts in July 2005. It included the RIAA double-Platinum hit “Lose Control,” featuring Ciara and Fatman Scoop, which won a Grammy for Best Short-Form Music Video.

In 2019, the iconic rapper made history as the first female rapper ever to receive the MTV VMA Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award. That same year, Missy also became the first female hip hop artist and third-ever rapper to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. In November 2021, the 50-year-old artist/composer/producer was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Just Like You: Three Days Grace ties Shinedown for ‘Billboard’ chart record

February 2, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Three Days Grace and Shinedown are once again tied for a Billboard chart record.

The Canadian rockers’ new single, “So Called Life,” is the band’s 16th number-one hit on the Mainstream Rock Airplay ranking. That matches the record for most leaders on the chart since it first launched in 1981, which was set by Shinedown in August 2020 with “Atlas Falls.”

For the chart nerds out there, Three Days Grace and Shinedown’s battle for Mainstream Rock Airplay dominance has been one for the ages. TDG first set the record for most number-ones in 2018 with the song “Infra-Red,” giving them a total of 14 chart-toppers, breaking a mark long held by Van Halen. At the time, Shinedown was in third place with 12 number-ones.

Shinedown then went on a chart-conquering tear, notching three straight number-ones between 2018 and 2020 with “GET UP,” “MONSTERS” and “ATTENTION ATTENTION” to tie Three Days Grace’s record, which had grown to 15 with “Right Left Wrong.” Brent Smith and company then took sole possession of the record with “Atlas Falls.”

As Billboard notes, Shinedown is already on the way to retaking the record with “Planet Zero,” the lead single and title track off the band’s upcoming album. The single debuts on Mainstream Rock Airplay this week at number 20.

“So Called Life,” meanwhile, is the lead single off Three Days Grace’s next album, Explosions, due out May 6.

Take a deep dive into the rise and demise of Las Vegas legends Siegfried & Roy with ‘Wild Things’ podcast

February 2, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Today, a new episode of Wild Things: Siegfried & Roy dropped on Apple Podcasts. The series takes a deep dive into the titular tiger handlers, and what happened before and after a 2003 performance in which a 400-pound white tiger mauled and nearly killed Roy Horn.

The attack ended the pair’s reign as the kings of Las Vegas, but as the podcast shows, the investigation into the incident was possibly even more bizarre than the mishap — with theories ranging from a tragic accident to attempted murder.

“I think they were the most hyperbolic magicians in history, right? I mean, magic and illusions are all predicated on spectacle, but the two of them took it to another level,” Wild Things‘ executive producer Steven Leckart tells ABC Audio. “To look at just their personas, the way that they dress, the music, the scale of the show, we’ve never really seen anything like that, and I’d argue we’ll never see anything like it again.”

With interviews from those who worked with the pair, and those who investigated the incident, the podcasters sought to “weave between not just the tragedy, but also just their rise and how meteoric it was,” Leckart says. “That was the goal of the series, to kind of intercut between the two and not just reduce them to a tragedy.”

A new episode of At Will Media’s Wild Things: Siegfried & Roy drops every Wednesday until its finale, February 23. “It’s about to get more wild,” Leckart teases. “Every week is going to get crazier and crazier…the deeper you go in the story and the closer you look at everything, it just became crazier and weirder and wilder and shocking, so tune in.”

CNN president Jeff Zucker resigns, says he failed to disclose consensual relationship with colleague

February 2, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — CNN president Jeff Zucker announced Wednesday that he’s resigning for not disclosing a consensual relationship with a colleague.

Zucker said in a note to employees, “As part of the investigation into Chris Cuomo’s tenure at CNN, I was asked about a consensual relationship with my closest colleague, someone I have worked with for more than 20 years. I acknowledged the relationship evolved in recent years. I was required to disclose it when it began but I didn’t. I was wrong.”

The colleague, who is not leaving the company, said in a statement, “Jeff and I have been close friends and professional partners for over 20 years. Recently, our relationship changed during COVID. I regret that we didn’t disclose it at the right time. I’m incredibly proud of my time at CNN and look forward to continuing the great work we do everyday.”

WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar said in a companywide memo that he accepted Zucker’s resignation and that he’ll announce an interim leadership plan soon.

“We thank Jeff for his contributions over the past 9 years,” Kilar said.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

Charlie Puth credits TikTok for reinventing his sound

February 2, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Charlie Puth is out with a new single, “Light Switch,” and the singer credits TikTok for inspiring his new music.

Charlie told E! News he first downloaded the popular video sharing app because he wanted to “educate people on how I make music… [and] inspire people musically.” He added, “The whole point in my downloading TikTok originally wasn’t to make a career advancement.”

But that’s exactly what happened, Charlie admitted. TikTok inspired him to become more vulnerable and open with his thoughts and emotions, which bled into his songs. “It’s scary for people to know more about me than I know about me,” he noted. “But that’s probably why the music is resonating more than ever before… I’m just oversharing life experiences and putting melody sprinkles on top of that.”

That also led him to work on his eponymous new album, the followup to 2018’s Voicenotes. “I’m proud of myself that I opened up… I love oversharing and I’m going to continue to do it. I can’t really see putting out music a different way,” he said of his journey. “‘I’m calling [my new album] Charlie for that reason.”

It is unknown when Charlie will release his third studio album, but he told E! he’s intending for it to drop in the middle of the year. He also joked that he might give acting a go following his debut on a Frito-Lay Super Bowl commercial as a beatboxing fox.

“Clearly I’m such a great actor now,” the 30-year-old quipped. But, if given the option to dust off his acting chops, Charlie says he’d love to make a cameo in pal Jacob Elordi’s Euphoria. “I love how dark it is,” he gushed. “It’s so twisted in the most grandiose kind of way. It takes pride in being twisted.”

Empire of the Sun’s Luke Steele to release debut solo album

February 2, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Empire of the Sun frontman Luke Steele is set to release his debut solo album.

In an Instagram post, Steele reveals, “My first solo record is done. It was a wild ride but I survived.” He adds that the first single from the album will premiere on February 10.

Empire of the Sun’s most recent album is 2016’s Two Vines, which spawned the single “High and Low.” In 2019, they released a 10th anniversary vinyl reissue of their 2008 debut album Walking on a Dream, as well as a new, one-off single called “Chrysalis.”

In between, Steele teamed up with Daniel Johns of Silverchair to form the new band DREAMS. The duo’s debut album, No One Defeats Us, dropped in 2018.

Kane Brown, Miranda Lambert & Morgan Wallen are headlining Watershed 2022

February 2, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Watershed Festival has announced its 2022 lineup, and headliners Morgan Wallen, Miranda Lambert and Kane Brown are leading the pack.

Each will lead the bill on one of the event’s three days. Other acts scheduled to play include Jake Owen, Chase Rice, Jordan Davis, Runaway June, Lauren Alaina and many others. Tickets will go on sale on February 11.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Watershed. The festivities will once again be held in George, Washington.

It’s shaping up to be a big year for all three headliners. Miranda’s joining forces with Little Big Town to revive their co-headlining Bandwagon Tour, and Kane’s currently teasing the release of his next studio album.

Meanwhile, Morgan is mounting a return to the spotlight after being benched by many facets of the music industry last year when video footage emerged — exactly one year ago on Wednesday — of him yelling a racist slur.

In a mid-2021 interview with ABC’s Good Morning America, Morgan discussed the incident and pledged $500,000 in donations to Black organizations. Last week, he completed fulfilling that pledge, donating $100,000 to Nashville’s National Museum for African American Music, according to USA Today.

The singer has since announced his own headlining tour, and has also plotted appearances at multiple festivals and released new music.

Report: Rihanna is due to give birth this spring

February 2, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Rihanna shocked fans this week by confirming she and boyfriend A$AP Rocky are expecting their first child — and according to an insider, the two will be welcoming their bundle of joy very soon.

The couple, both 33, have yet to make a formal announcement about the pregnancy, but US Weekly quotes a source who claims the baby is “due this spring.” The source adds, “They’re both very excited.”

The insider claims that Rihanna and A$AP Rocky “shared the exciting news with trusted confidants about a month ago” because they “basically couldn’t” keep it a secret anymore.

As for how the “Umbrella” singer is preparing for motherhood, the insider says she “can’t wait to be a mom!”

“She’s embracing her pregnancy body and sees it as a beautiful thing. She’s been taking care of herself and her growing baby,” the spy noted, claiming says Rocky is “definitely treating her like a princess.”

The source predicts that the beauty mogul will “be an amazing mother” because she has “had some practice already with her nieces and nephews.”

The insider also revealed that the pair will “continue working on music and continue other projects” until the big day arrives, at which point they’ll withdraw from the spotlight to put “all their energy into raising a healthy baby.”

The two artists have been romantically linked since January 2020. Rihanna debuted her baby bump over the weekend while out in New York City with the rapper.

Back to black: Billie Eilish debuts darker hair style

February 2, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Billie Eilish secretly headed to the salon again: On Tuesday, she debuted a new hair color that has fans predicting that the singer’s next era may be upon us.

In an Instagram photo, the “bad guy” singer revealed that she traded in her brunette locks for a jet-black dye job, which is reminiscent of her early 2019 style. The photo was seemingly taken inside of a plane and depicts Billie sitting in her seat while wearing an equally dark face mask. She captioned it with a simple black square.

This is only the latest transformation for the chameleon-like pop star, who seems to casually update her look every couple of months. In December, Billie showed off a brand new caramel-colored shag cut, revealing that shade was the closest she’d been to her natural hair color for quite a while.

Before that, she revealed she was secretly a redhead for a week after transitioning from the platinum blonde bob she rocked starting in March 2021.

While she’s best-known for her black and green ‘do, which she sported from July 2019 to March 2021, she’s also dabbled in various shades of blues, greens, grays, and even white hair.

So, what does it mean now that Billie is back to black? Fans think it’s a clue that the “Happier Than Ever” singer is back in the studio preparing for her next era of music. Stay tuned.

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