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Miley Cyrus was a songwriter-for-hire at the 2025 Oscars

December 29, 2025 by WDNY Radio

Miley Cyrus hit the red carpet at the Academy Awards earlier this year, but now she’s revealed that the reason she attended was to ask for a job.

Miley shared with People that she ended up writing her Golden Globe-nominated song “We Dream as One” for Avatar: Fire and Ash after running into director James Cameron at a Disney event and letting him know she was up for writing music for his movies.

She also pitched Jamie Lee Curtis, which, she said, led to her writing her Golden Globe-nominated song from last year, “Beautiful That Way,” for Curtis’ film The Last Showgirl.

And she didn’t stop there. Miley told People, “No, literally, that’s why I went to the Oscars this year. Everybody that came up and introduced themselves, I said, ‘Well, if you need any music, I’m around.’”

Miley said she also offered her services to the creators of the hit Netflix show Baby Reindeer, adding, “I don’t know what I would write for Baby Reindeer season 2, but I threw that out there!”

Her approach seems to be working: back-to-back Golden Globe nominations can’t be denied.

As for why Miley is so determined to write music for films and TV, she explained, “I really feel myself attached to [movie] songs. There’s certain songs that, even if they were written for the film or just a song used in the film, like ‘I Will Always Love You,’ you immediately think of the movie itself and they become embedded.”

Bono and The Edge’s Woody Guthrie Prize performance now on YouTube

December 29, 2025 by WDNY Radio

Back in October, Bono and The Edge were in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to represent U2 as they were honored with the Woody Guthrie Prize, which was given out by the Woody Guthrie Center. Now they are giving fans who weren’t in attendance a chance to hear what went down.

Audio of the conversation Bono and The Edge had with T Bone Burnett about art and activism, as well as the duo’s acoustic performance from the event, is now available on YouTube.

The surprise performance includes such songs as “Running to Stand Still,” which included a bit of Guthrie’s “Bound for Glory”; “Sunday Bloody Sunday”; “One”; “Pride (In The Name of Love),” which also featured a bit of Guthrie’s “Jesus Christ”; and “Yahweh.”

The Woody Guthrie Prize recognizes “a recipient who embodies the spirit of Woody Guthrie’s social consciousness and musical legacy.” The event was held at Cain’s Ballroom, a venue U2 headlined in 1981 on their Boy tour.

Previous Woody Guthrie Prize winners include Bruce Springsteen, John Mellencamp, Joan Baez and Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello.

Beyoncé is fifth musician to become a billionaire

December 29, 2025 by WDNY Radio

“It should cost a billion to look that good” must have been some sort of manifestation. According to Forbes, Beyoncé is now officially a billionaire, becoming the fifth musician to achieve the feat — she joins husband Jay-Z, Taylor Swift, Bruce Springsteen and Rihanna.

Forbes pinpoints the launch of Parkwood Entertainment as the moment she started building her business empire, taking control of “every aspect” of her career in-house. While she’s earned income from businesses including Cécred, SirDavis and the now-discontinued Ivy Park, a large part of her wealth comes from her global tours, the most recent being Cowboy Carter.

“In total, the Cowboy Carter Tour grossed more than $400 million in ticket sales, per Pollstar, and another $50 million in merchandise sold at the shows, according to Forbes estimates,” Forbes writes.

The addition of earnings from her music catalog and sponsorship deals, according to Forbes, brings her to “$148 million in 2025 before taxes, making her the third-highest paid musician in the world.”

The Cowboy Carter era also led to a series of Western-inspired Levi’s commercials, which brought her roughly $10 million, as well as a halftime performance on Netflix’s NFL Christmas Day broadcast, for which she reportedly earned an estimated $60 million from the streamer.

Also notable is the Renaissance World Tour in 2023, followed by the release of its concert film distributed through AMC theaters. Bey earned nearly half of the movie’s $44 million global box office gross from the release.

Watch Linkin Park’s Brad Delson speak with London music students

December 29, 2025 by WDNY Radio

Linkin Park guitarist Brad Delson made a surprise appearance at the Lambeth Music Service school in London to speak with students.

When asked to choose his favorite guitar riff that he’s written, Delson picked the opening to the LP hit “One Step Closer.”

“It’s not technically hard to play, but it has a bounce to it, and a pocket that’s not obvious,” Delson shared. “I don’t try to show off with my playing, I try to channel something that people will like.”

You can watch footage from Delson’s visit in the latest episode of Linkin Park’s LPTV series, streaming now on YouTube.

While Delson remains a member of Linkin Park, he hasn’t been touring with them since the band relaunched in 2024 with new singer Emily Armstrong.

“Over the years I’ve realized I thrive most when I’m actively working with my bandmates behind the scenes––in the studio, collaborating on our new music, and helping build our live show,” Delson said.

‘Sorry, I been drunk’: Thief returns stolen mandolins to New Jersey guitar store with apology note

December 29, 2025 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — In a sobering decision, one drunk thief apparently changed his tune and returned two mandolins that he had previously stolen, according to the owner of a New Jersey vintage guitar store.

In a social media post Friday, Lark Street Music said that two previously stolen mandolins – a small, guitar-like instrument in the lute family – had been returned to the store, along with a handwritten note partly in all caps that read, “SORRY, I BEEN DRUNK, MERRY CHRISTMAS You are good man.”

Buzzy Levine, who has owned the store since 1981, told ABC News that he was shocked when the instruments were returned.

“I couldn’t believe it. I said, ‘this is insane.’ This is like, some kind of weird movie that has a happy ending or something,” Levine said.

The store had previously posted surveillance video online depicting the alleged thief stuffing the instruments beneath his parka and leaving the store on Monday, Dec. 22, and asking for help in identifying the culprit.

“How to steal 2 mandolins at the same time! Be on the lookout for this criminal and the Gibson F-12 #A2985 and a Weber Yellowstone #9360302. This thief has a Montenegrin accent,” the post read.

Levine told ABC News that the mandolins were valued at $3,500 and $4,250, respectively.

Levine said in his online post that he saw the alleged thief “surreptitiously” open the store’s front door and return the mandolins in two shopping bags.

“An instant later, I wanted to see who did it, and so I went outside, and I saw the guy sort of trotting down the street. And I took chase, probably not the smartest thing to do, and he was he took off. He was running really fast and kept looking back to see if I was catching up or he was gaining ground, and then he took a turn – and then I lost them,” Levine said, adding that he then called 911.

Christopher Kurschner, captain of investigations for the Teaneck Police Department, told ABC News that they’re investigating the crime but haven’t made arrests. Anyone with information can call the Teaneck Police Department at 201-837-2600.

Good ‘Karma’: Taylor Swift surprises Arrowhead Stadium employee with hefty Christmas tip

December 29, 2025 by WDNY Radio

If you watched Taylor Swift‘s Disney+ docuseries, you saw the scene where she gives everyone on the Eras Tour bonuses. But her generosity also extends to people she doesn’t know that well — or at all.

An employee at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, revealed on a Taylor Swift fan Facebook group that she encountered Taylor, Travis Kelce and his mom, Donna Kelce, during her shift at the Chiefs’ Christmas Day game, and was surprised when Taylor handed her an extremely unexpected tip.

The employee, Robyn Gentry, wrote of Taylor, “She was running around telling everyone merry Christmas and came towards me, saying thank you so much for working on Christmas, please take this, Merry Christmas. My mind just froze. Of course I said Merry Christmas and thank you so much.”

“Travis and her were smiling so big and just kept saying merry Christmas, thank you for working Christmas,” Gentry continued. “But then they were gone and I stopped to look at what was in my hand…. $600. My whole paycheck for two weeks. I had just dropped that much for Christmas for 8 kids. I immediately started crying.”

Gentry goes on to say she couldn’t bring herself to spend the money — immediately, anyway — and posted a photo of a framed $100 bill.

“I framed one,” she wrote. “Still havent spent any, but I wanted to share the story with people who will appreciate it with me. Taylor and Travis are beautifully kind people.”

Prior to Christmas, Taylor donated $1 million to the American Heart Association and another $1 million to Feeding America.

Chappell Roan reveals the late Brigitte Bardot inspired one of her songs

December 29, 2025 by WDNY Radio

(A previous version of this story was published on 12/29/25 at 12:53 p.m. ET. This version has been updated to include new remarks from Chappell Roan.)

The French movie icon and sex symbol Brigitte Bardot died Sunday at age 91, and Chappell Roan paid tribute to the late star on her Instagram Story.

Chappell, who was born over 40 years after Bardot became a worldwide sensation in the 1956 film And God Created Woman, posted a photo of the actress and wrote, “She was my inspiration for red wine supernova. Rest in peace Ms. Bardot.”

“Red Wine Supernova” is from Chappell’s debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess. It was originally released as a single in 2023, but hit the Billboard Hot 100 in 2024 thanks to the success of “Good Luck, Babe!” The opening lines of the song are, “She was a playboy, Brigitte Bardot/ She showed me things I didn’t know.”

Chappell’s not the only artist who has name-checked Bardot in a song. She also appears in the lyrics of songs by Billy Joel, Elton John, Bob Dylan and the Pretenders.

Following Chappell’s initial post, fans apparently informed her of some of Bardot’s more controversial views, which the actress espoused later in life. She supported right-wing politicians, made disparaging comments about gay people and immigrants, and was convicted and fined multiple times by French courts for “inciting racial hatred.”

Chappell wrote on her Instagram Story, “Holy s*** i did not know all the insane s*** Ms. Bardot stood for obvs I do not condone this. very disappointing to learn.”

These states will raise the minimum wage in 2026

December 29, 2025 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — Nearly 20 U.S. states are set to raise their minimum wage in 2026, boosting pay for millions of workers spanning from Arizona to New Jersey.

A mix of Republican- and Democrat-controlled states will raise their wage floors on Jan. 1 in keeping with inflation-adjusted increases or as part of scheduled hikes that take effect at the beginning of each calendar year.

The pay increases will affect about 8.3 million workers, who will gain a combined $5 billion over the course of 2026, according to the left-leaning Economic Policy Institute, or EPI.

Beginning next year, the number of workers living in a state that guarantees a $15 minimum wage will exceed the number living in a state that offers the federal wage floor of $7.25 per hour, the EPI found.

After the wave of wage hikes, Washington will become the state with the highest minimum wage, offering workers $17.13 per hour.

Workers in New York will enjoy the second-highest wage floor, as the state implements a minimum hourly wage of $17 for workers in New York City, Long Island and Westchester. Outside those areas, workers in New York will receive at least $16 per hour.

Overall, the 19 states set to raise their minimum wage on Thursday include: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia and Washington.

The nation’s highest wage floors will take effect in some of the nearly 50 cities and other localities that will impose minimum pay hikes.

Twenty-nine localities in California will see pay hikes, including a $20.25 an hour wage floor that will take effect in West Hollywood. Eight localities in Washington will increase their minimum wage, among them the country’s highest wage floor: $21.65 an hour in Tukwila.

The latest round of pay increases, however, will not affect 20 states concentrated in the South that lack a minimum wage or offer a minimum wage that does not exceed the federal minimum.

The last federal minimum wage hike took place in 2009, when Congress raised the pay floor to its current level. Since then, the federal minimum wage has lost more than 30% of its value due to inflation, EPI found.

Ye says a new album is coming

December 29, 2025 by WDNY Radio

Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, is working on a new album, he revealed to Deon Cole during a comedy show at the Hollywood Improv.

Cole brought Ye onstage to thank him for attending the show and asked the crowd to give his “good friend” a round of applause. He asked Ye if he enjoyed the show, jokingly asking him to clarify whether his laughter was genuine or just “symphony laughs.”

With Ye mostly staying quiet onstage, Cole quipped, “This is good, a good, healthy conversation. Two great friends.”

Cole asked if Ye had anything fans should be looking out for, to which Ye revealed a “new album [is] coming out.” Cole suggested he could appear on an interlude for the project, prompting a laugh from Ye.

Cole then asked Ye to send him a care package and gave him his flowers. “Thank you for being the legend that you are,” he said.

Ye was also spotted over the weekend at Disneyland with girlfriend Bianca Censori.

The rapper was expected to release his album Bully on his daughter North West‘s birthday, June 15, but it has been delayed multiples times. It’s unclear whether the new album he mentioned is an entirely different project.

The news comes ahead of his first solo performance in Italy this summer. Ye will be playing at the RCF Arena in Reggio Emilia on July 18 as part of the Hellwatt Festival.

Frankie Muniz, Bryan Cranston and more return in ‘Malcolm in the Middle’ revival teaser

December 29, 2025 by WDNY Radio

It’s a family reunion in the new teaser for Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair.

In the teaser, which arrived Monday from Hulu, Frankie Muniz reprises his role as Malcolm. We also see Bryan Cranston as Malcolm’s dad, Hal, and Jane Kaczmarek as Malcolm’s mom, Lois.

Like the original series, the teaser is filled with quirky and loud family moments that made the sitcom a beloved show for many.

According to a synopsis, the Malcolm in the Middle revival, which will be a limited four-episode series, will focus on Malcolm, who “after shielding himself and his daughter from his family for over a decade” is “dragged back into their orbit when Hal and Lois demand his presence at their 40th anniversary party.”

Also returning to the revival are Christopher Kennedy Masterson as Francis, Justin Berfield as Reese and Emy Coligado as Piama.

New cast members include Keeley Karsten as Malcolm’s daughter, Leah, Vaughan Murrae as Malcolm’s youngest sibling, Kelly, Kiana Madeira as Malcolm’s girlfriend, Tristan, and Caleb Ellsworth-Clark as Dewey.

Malcolm in the Middle aired from 2000 to 2006 and earned a slew of awards during its seven-season run, including a Peabody, seven Emmys and a Grammy.

All 151 episodes of Malcolm in the Middle are now streaming on Hulu or via Hulu on Disney+.

Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair will premiere on April 10, 2026, on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+.

Disney is the parent company of ABC News, Disney+ and Hulu.

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