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Nick Mason cancels Russian concerts; David Gilmour, The Who express their support for Ukraine

March 3, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason‘s current band, Nick Mason’s Saucerful of Secrets, has joined the growing list of artists who have canceled concerts in Russia in the wake of that country’s invasion of Ukraine.

A statement from Mason’s group reads, “Due to the current events happening in Ukraine, we are cancelling all of our shows in Russia that were due to take place this summer. Our thoughts and support are with all those in Ukraine.”

Saucerful of Secrets’ Russian shows had been scheduled for June 10 in St. Petersburg and June 11 in Moscow. The band’s 2022 European tour begins April 13 in Dublin, Ireland.

Meanwhile, Mason’s former Pink Floyd band mate David Gilmour is among the rockers sharing their support for Ukraine.

Earlier this week, Gilmour posted a note online that reads, “Russian soldiers, stop killing your brothers. There will be no winners in this war. My daughter-in-law is Ukrainian and my grand-daughters want to visit and know their beautiful country. Stop this before it is all destroyed. [Russian President Vladimir] Putin must go.”

To accompanying his message, Gilmour posted the animated music video for his 2015 song “In Any Tongue,” which is about the futility of war.

The Who‘s Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend also shared their support for Ukraine, in a note posted on the band’s social media pages this week.

“We stand by the people of Ukraine at this particularly harrowing time as we will stand for all whose freedoms are violated,” Daltrey and Townshend said in a joint statement.

The message also includes a quote from late U.S. historian, playwright and philosopher Howard Zinn that reads, “There is no flag large enough to cover the shame of killing innocent people.”

Kerry Washington, Amal Clooney, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez among ‘TIME’ Women of the Year for 2022

March 3, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Little Fires Everywhere star and advocate Kerry Washington, human rights attorney Amal Clooney, and Pose groundbreaker and trans advocate MichealaJaé Rodriguez are among the honorees in TIME magazine’s 2022 Women of the Year issue.

TIME Executive Editor Naina Bajekal and Senior Editor Lucy Feldman wrote in part, “[W]e chose to spotlight leaders who are working to create a better future for women everywhere. Our 2022 Women of the Year list features 12 individuals who have reached across communities, generations, and borders to fight for a more inclusive and equitable world.”

Washington was heralded for using “her star power to lend the spotlight to others.” The actress and advocate offers, “funding, her Hollywood connections, and her storytelling expertise to 10 local organizations that are part of the Vision Into Power Cohort,” which supports, “grassroots organizations that empower marginalized groups.”

TIME also noted that Washington has invested in several women-led startups, and that her Simpson Street production company “focuses on bringing the stories of women of color to life with projects like Confirmation, American Son, and Little Fires Everywhere.”

Rodriguez broke barriers by becoming the first trans actor to win a Golden Globe, and the first trans woman to earn an Emmy nomination in a lead acting category for Pose. The proud “Afro-Latina trans woman,” said, “When I was younger, I didn’t have representation for anyone of color in the LGBTQI community…Now…I want to show them that it’s possible.”

Amal Clooney was described as having, “empathy…as strong as her knowledge of the law and her courage.” The attorney “makes sure that women who are victims of mass atrocities, including genocide and sexual violence, are not forgotten, that they get justice, that their lives and communities are better as a result.”

Listen to two new Jack White songs, “Hi-De-Ho” & “Queen of the Bees”

March 3, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Jack White has premiered two new songs: “Hi-De-Ho” and “Queen of the Bees.”

“Hi-De-Ho,” which features A Tribe Called Quest rapper Q-Tip, will appear on the upcoming album Fear of the Dawn, one of two solo albums White is dropping this year. The other, Entering Heaven Alive, includes “Queen of the Bees.”

Both “Hi-De-Ho” and “Queen of the Bees” are available now via digital outlets.

Fear of the Dawn, which features the lead single “Taking Me Back,” will be released April 8. The more acoustic-driven Entering Heaven Live arrives July 22.

White will launch his Supply Issues tour in support of both records April 8 in Detroit.

Summer Walker thanks Ciara for “being so sweet” at the ‘Billboard’ Women in Music Awards

March 3, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(NOTE LANGUAGE) Summer Walker posted a picture of her and Ciara at the 2022 Billboard Women in Music Awards Wednesday night and thanked her for acting as a mentor.

“Thanks @ciara for being so humble & sweet to me cause these b****** really be rude as hell lol, you’ve slick been a mentor & you looked so beautiful tonight,” Summer’s caption read.

Ciara responded in a comment, “Haha. Love you mama. Fun times.”

The R&B singers posed for photos together at the annual Billboard event, which streamed live on Wednesday from the YouTube Theater in Inglewood, CA.

Ciara hosted the show, where Summer was presented with the Chartbreaker Award. Her 2021 hit “No Love” landed at #13 on the Hot 100 chart and her sophomore album, Still Over It, sat at #1 for a week on the Billboard 200 Album chart.

Walker is known for openly speaking her mind and letting fans in on her personal life. Her debut album, Over It, features 18 tracks that Rolling Stone referred to as “sultry and cathartic, processing bad relationships and new beginnings.”

Summer’s also opened up about her struggle with depression and the “happy place” she’s found recently. “If you struggle with depression, don’t give up it gets better, baby,” the singer said on Instagram.

In response to what she’s most proud of accomplishing in the past year, Walker told Billboard, “Just meeting people that I really f*** with.”

H.E.R and Saweetie were also among the honorees at the Billboard Women in Music Awards. Doja Cat was presented with the Powerhouse Award and gave the final performance of the night, singing “Alone” from her 2021 album, Planet Her. The coveted Woman of the Year Award went to 19-year-old Olivia Rodrigo.

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?”

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