Pop Music

Billboard Magazine reports: The long-running Music Midtown festival at Piedmont Park in Atlanta, scheduled for Sept. 17-18 with headliners My Chemical Romance, Future, Jack White and Fallout Boy, has been called off. The likely cause, industry sources tell Billboard, are recent changes to Georgia gun laws that prevent the festival from banning guns on to the publicly owned festival grounds. …

Popular Information reports: June 24, the day the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the Republican Attorneys General Association reached out to its supporters with an urgent plea for money: “[E]very donation will help Republican Attorneys General combat the Democrats’ pro-abortion agenda and stand tall for life.” Several days later, on June 29, according to a filing submitted to the …

The BBC reports: The Eurovision Song Contest will take place in the UK next year, it has been confirmed. The show’s organisers decided the event could not be held in the winning country, Ukraine, due to the ongoing war following Russia’s invasion. The UK came second this year, so talks were opened with the BBC. “We are grateful to our …

Courthouse News reports: Just two and a half hours into deliberations following a two-day trial, a federal jury found onetime R. Kelly manager Donnell Russell guilty on Friday of calling in a shooting threat to sabotage the docuseries premiere of the gut-wrenching “Surviving R. Kelly.” The conviction carries a maximum sentence of five years for Russell, who did not testify …

Axios reports: Music from the 1990s is more popular than music from any other decade right now — even current tunes, according to data that Luminate shared with Axios. Savor this moment … a rare point of cross-generational consensus. They may not agree on bangs or jeans styles, but Gen Xers, millennials and “zoomers” (Gen Z) all appear to love …

The New York Daily News reports: Disgraced R&B singer R. Kelly, who for decades preyed on his fans through psychological and sexual abuse, was sentenced Wednesday to 30 years in prison. The 55-year-old multiplatinum-selling artist, whose real name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, had faced up to a life sentence. He was convicted last September of nine racketeering counts for a …

From the European Broadcasting Union: The Rules of the Eurovision Song Contest, that all participating broadcasters agree upon, clearly state that the event can be moved in a force majeure situation such as an ongoing war. In response to the EBU’s security questionnaire a number of risks that would impact the immediate planning for such a large event, including the …

Yahoo Entertainment reports: Earlier this week, Justin Bieber postponed his North American tour due to an undisclosed illness, and now he has revealed that he has been battling facial paralysis. “As you can probably see from my face, I have this syndrome called Ramsay Hunt syndrome and it is from this virus that attacks the nerve in my ear and …

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports: Elvis might be leaving the buildings. The company that lords over the King’s image and likeness is cracking down on Las Vegas chapels that book Elvis-themed weddings and otherwise embrace his persona. Authentic Brands Group (ABG), which licenses Elvis Presley-related merchandise, has issued a cease-and-desist letter dated May 19 to several Las Vegas chapels. “This …

The Guardian reports: Van Morrison has issued legal proceedings against Northern Ireland’s Department of Health and its minister Robin Swann over an opinion piece written for Rolling Stone magazine. In September 2020, Morrison released three anti-lockdown songs, with lyrics that accused scientists of “making up crooked facts”. “The new normal is not normal,” he sang. “We were born to be …

The Guardian reports: Andrew Fletcher, keyboardist and founding member of British electronic band Depeche Mode, has died aged 60.  Formed in Basildon in the late 1970s, the band has had 14 top ten studio albums in the UK, and international chart success with songs including Enjoy The Silence, Personal Jesus and Just Can’t Get Enough. In the late 1970s he …

CBS News reports: Vangelis, the Greek electronic composer who wrote the unforgettable Academy Award-winning score for the film “Chariots of Fire” and music for dozens of other movies, documentaries and TV series, has died at 79. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and other government officials expressed their condolences Thursday. Greek media reported that Vangelis — born Evángelos Odysséas Papathanassíou — …

Posted today to Eric Clapton’s Facebook page: Eric Clapton is unfortunately suffering from Covid having tested positive shortly after the second concert at the Royal Albert Hall. He has been told by his medical advisors that if he were to resume traveling and performing too soon, it could substantially delay his full recovery. Eric is also anxious to avoid passing …

The New York Times reports: The Ukrainian rap and folk band Kalush Orchestra won the Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday, as European viewers and juries delivered a symbolic, pop culture endorsement of solidarity behind Ukraine in its defense against Russia’s invasion. After 80 days of fighting that has forced millions from their homes, brought ruin to cities and towns across …

People Magazine reports: Ashley Judd is sharing more about her mother Naomi Judd’s cause of death. The actress told Diane Sawyer in an emotional interview that aired Thursday on Good Morning America that Naomi “used a weapon” when she died by suicide on April 30. “Because we don’t want it to be part of the gossip economy I will share …

Gothamist reports: This summer, The DiscOasis will set up shop at Wollman Rink in Central Park, so New Yorkers can get back in touch with the city’s famed disco roots. Running from June 16th until October 1st, The DiscOasis will bring a mix of open skate sessions and theatrical performances—some with playlists crafted by Nike Rodgers the legendary songwriter, producer …

The Independent reports: U2 band members Bono and the Edge have shown their support for Ukraine by performing in bomb shelter in Kyiv. According to a post from the band’s official social media, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky invited the Irish rock singer and the lead guitarist to play in his embattled country. At Khreshchatyk metro station, the duo performed for …

Mediaite reports: Kid Rock started his concert on Wednesday night with a video greeting from former President Donald Trump saying “all of you in attendance are the true backbone of our great country, hard-working, God-fearing, rock-and-roll patriots.” “I know you’re having a great time at the Kid Rock concert tonight. Quite frankly, he’s amazing,” Trump said to the crowd at …

Variety reports: Kanye West has pulled out of his scheduled appearance at the Coachella festival, a source confirms to Variety. Reps for West and the festival did not immediately respond to requests for comment; West had been scheduled to play the closing night of the two-weekend festival, which runs April 15-17 and April 22-24. The reason for his cancelation was …

People reports: Lil Nas X hasn’t forgotten his haters — even as he’s breezing right past them. During the 64th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday night in Las Vegas, the singer-rapper, 22, performed a medley of hits off of his latest album, 2021’s Montero. After performing “Dead Right Now” in a sparkling black cape-like outfit, Lil Nas X moved backstage …