New this week: 'Interceptor,' Post Malone and 'Fire Island'
This weekโs new entertainment releases include albums from Post Malone and Drive-By Truckers, โFast & Furiousโ alum Elsa Pataky leading her own action picture with โInterceptor,โ and the modern romantic comedy โFire Island,โ set in the iconic LGBTQ vacation spot.
The joy of music returns for Grammy winners, performers
Beyonce, left, and Megan Thee Stallion accept the award for best rap song for "Savage" at the 63rd annual Grammy Awards at the Los Angeles Convention Center on Sunday, March 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)Beyoncรฉ, Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish made history at the Grammy Awards. Just as joyously, dozens of creators largely sidelined for a year due to the pandemic got to make music again. 's topical โI Can't Breatheโ won song of the year and Megan Thee Stallion was named best new artist. ___This story has been corrected to show the ceremony was held at the Los Angeles Convention Center, not Staples Center.
Ladies night: Beyoncรฉ, Swift make history as others win big
Four women won the top four prizes Sunday, including Swift, who became the first female performer to win album of the year three times. Beyoncรฉ โ with her 28th win โ became the most decorated woman in Grammy history. And 9-year-old Blue Ivy Carter โ who won best music video alongside her mother โ became the second youngest act to win a Grammy in the showโs 63-year history. Megan Thee Stallion, who won three honors, also made history and became the first female rapper to win best rap song. She's also the fifth rap-based act to win best new artist.
New this week: 'Cherry,' 'Bloodlands' & Kids' Choice Awards
This combination photo shows key art for the Acorn TV series "Bloodlands," premiering March 15, left, key art for the Apple TV+ film "Cherry," center, and key art for Nickelodeons "Kids Choice Awards," hosted by Kenan Thompson and airing on March 13. (Acorn TV/Apple TV+/Nickelodeon via AP)Hereโs a collection curated by The Associated Pressโ entertainment journalists of whatโs arriving on TV, streaming services and music platforms this week. AdโAP Film Writer Jake CoyleMUSICโ The 2021 Grammys will hand out 84 awards Sunday, but whatโs more exciting? Other performers include Chris Martin, John Mayer, Doja Cat, Maren Morris, DaBaby, HAIM, Lil Baby, Brandi Carlile, Roddy Ricch, Brittany Howard, Miranda Lambert, Mickey Guyton and Black Pumas. Adโ Grown-ups donโt have a lock on awards shows, as Nickelodeonโs Kidsโ Choice Awards proves once again.
Grammy performers: Taylor Swift, BTS, Cardi B, Billie Eilish
FILE - In this Oct. 5, 2019 photo, Billie Eilish performs during the first weekend of the Austin City Limits Music Festival in Zilker Park in Austin, Texas. Eilish will perform at this month's Grammy Awards. (Photo by Jack Plunkett/Invision/AP, File)NEW YORK โ Taylor Swift, BTS, Cardi B and Billie Eilish are set to perform at next weekโs Grammy Awards. The Grammys were originally supposed to take place on Jan. 31 but were delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic. Beyoncรฉ is leading nominee with nine, followed by Swift, Lipa and Ricch, who each earned six nominations.
Grammy Awards shift to March due to pandemic conditions
FILE - Host Alicia Keys speaks at the 61st annual Grammy Awards on Feb. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP, File)NEW YORK โ The 2021 Grammy Awards will no longer take place this month in Los Angeles and will broadcast in March due to a recent surge in coronavirus cases and deaths. Los Angeles County, the epicenter of the crisis in California, has surpassed 11,000 COVID-19 deaths and has had 40% of the deaths in California. An average of six people die every hour from COVID-19 in Los Angeles County, which has a quarter of the stateโs 40 million residents. The BET Awards was the first major awards show during the pandemic and was a success thanks to its artsy, highly produced, well-crafted pre-taped performances.
Pollstar: Live events industry lost $30B due to pandemic
NEW YORK โ Due to the global coronavirus pandemic, concert trade publication Pollstar puts the total lost revenue for the live events industry in 2020 at more than $30 billion. Pollstar on Friday released its year-end report, explaining that the live events industry should have hit a record-setting $12.2 billion this year, but instead it incurred $9.7 billion in losses. The company added that the projected $30 billion figure in losses includes โunreported events, ancillary revenues, including sponsorships, ticketing, concessions, merch, transportation, restaurants, hotels, and other economic activity tied to the live events.โ Those losses accounted for more than $8 billion. Celine Dion came in second this year with $71.2 million, followed by Trans-Siberian Orchestra ($58.2 million), U2 ($52.1 million) and Queen + Adam Lambert ($44.6 million). โItโs been an extraordinarily difficult year for the events industry, which has been disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus.
Bad Bunny is Spotify's most-streamed artist of 2020
The Puerto Rican superstar is the music platformโs most-streamed artist of the year with 8.3 billion streams globally. With more than 3.3 billion streams, Bad Bunnyโs sophomore solo album โYHLQMDLGโ tops Spotifyโs list of most-streamed albums globally. The albumโs single, โBlinding Lights,โ is Spotifyโs most-streamed song of the year with 1.6 million streams globally. In the U.S., late rapper Juice WRLD was the most-streamed artist on Spotify. His album โLegends Never Dieโ was the platformโs most-streamed album in the U.S., while Ricchโs โThe Boxโ was the country's most-streamed song.
New this week: 'Saved by the Bell,' Miley Cyrus & McCarthy
(Trae Patton/Peacock via AP)Hereโs a collection curated by The Associated Pressโ entertainment journalists of whatโs arriving on TV, streaming services and music platforms this week. The Melissa McCarthy comedy, her latest with director-husband Ben Falcone ("Tammy," โThe Boss"), had been headed to theaters but will instead debut Thursday on HBO Max. โAP Film Writer Jake CoyleMUSICโ Miley Cyrus is ready to rock โnโ roll on her new album. The pop star recruited some famous rock stars to help on her seventh studio release โPlastic Hearts,โ including Stevie Nicks, Billy Idol and Joan Jett. Everyone wears wear full hazard protection gear as they navigate a โgiant house of cards.โโ Can you have a โSaved by the Bellโ without Screech?
Swift wins top prize at AMAs, says she's re-recording music
NEW YORK โ Taylor Swift won her third consecutive artist of the year prize at the American Music Awards, but she missed the show for a good reason: She said she's busy re-recording her early music after her catalog was sold. She also won favorite music video and favorite pop/rock female artist, winning three honors and tying Bieber, Dan + Shay and the Weeknd for most wins Sunday. โThe last time I received this award it was given to me by the late, great Prince," he said after winning favorite soul/R&B album. Breakthrough singer-rapper Doja Cat performed and won new artist of the year and favorite soul/R&B female artist. And Megan Thee Stallion โ won favorite rap/hip-hop songs for โWAP" with Cardi B โ performed โBody" from her recently released debut album โGood News."
The Weeknd and Roddy Ricch lead AMA nominations with 8 each
In this video grab issued Sunday, Aug. 30, 2020, by MTV, The Weeknd performs "Blinding Lights" during the MTV Video Music Awards. (MTV via AP)LOS ANGELES โ The Weeknd and Roddy Ricch are the leading nominees for this yearโs American Music Awards with eight apiece. Many, like the BET Awards, Country Music Awards and MTV Video Music Awards, have opted for a mix of live and pre-taped performances. Billie Eilish, an awards favorite since her sweeping wins at the Grammy Awards, scored two nominations, for favorite alternative rock artist and favorite social artist. Dan + Shay earned three nominations, including for favorite country duo or group, where theyโre up against Florida Georgia Line and Old Dominion.
Post Malone owns Billboard Awards, Legend shines onstage
Post Malone accepts the top artist award at the Billboard Music Awards on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2020, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)NEW YORK โ Walking into the show with 16 nominations, Post Malone won nine honors at the 2020 Billboard Music Awards, where John Legend gave a heartfelt performance that was dedicated to his wife. Garth Brooks accepted the Icon Award from Cher, who called the country star โa true music legend and my friend." Guitar rock legend Eddie Van Halen, who died last week, was honored as the show aired a clip of his Billboard Awards performance from 2015. This yearโs Billboard Awards were originally supposed to take place in April but were postponed because of the pandemic.
New this week: David Byrne, 'The Amazing Race' & Tommy Lee
Hereโs a collection curated by The Associated Pressโ entertainment journalists of whatโs arriving on TV, streaming services and music platforms this week. โ Gretchen Sorin and Ric Burns' โDriving While Black: Race, Space and Mobility in Americaโ was, unfortunately, always going to be of the moment. โ Rocker Tommy Lee is in a collaborative state of mind on his new album, โAndro,โ out Friday. Sundance Nowโs true crime drama โDesโ stars David Tennant (โDoctor Whoโ) as Dennis Nilsen, a serial killer who targeted young men, including the homeless. The three-part โDes,โ debuting Thursday on the streaming service, was a recent U.K. TV hit and drew raves for Tennantโs performance.
Killer Mike to earn Change Maker Award at Billboard Awards
NEW YORK โ Grammy-winning rapper and social-political activist Killer Mike will receive the first Billboard Change Maker Award at the 2020 Billboard Music Awards. Atlanta-born Killer Mike first made waves in music with his appearance on Outkast's 2000 album, โStankonia." But Killer Mike has made noise outside of music, too. Last year he hosted Netflix's โTrigger Warning with Killer Mike," a 2019 documentary series about issues affected the Black community. The Billboard Change Maker Award will be presented by Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms at the African American Panoramic Experience Museum in Atlanta.
Billboard Awards: Alicia Keys, Bad Bunny, Malone to perform
NEW YORK โ Alicia Keys, Bad Bunny, Luke Combs and leading nominee Post Malone will perform at the 2020 Billboard Music Awards. With restrictions set due to the coronavirus pandemic, it wasnโt clear if the performances will be live or pre-taped. The awards show was originally supposed to take place in April but was postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic, which caused a halt to live performances and TV and film productions. Kelly Clarkson will host the Billboard Awards, and Garth Brooks will receive the ICON Award. Maloneโs 16 nominations include top male artist, top rap artist and the showโs biggest prize, top artist.
Sweet 16: Post Malone leads Billboard Awards nominations
Post Malone is the sunflower of the 2020 Billboard Music Awards. Malones nominations include top artist, top male artist, top rap artist and top streaming songs artist. (Photo by Ben Hider/Invision/AP, File)NEW YORK โ Post Malone is the sunflower of the 2020 Billboard Music Awards. Maloneโs nominations include top artist, top male artist, top rap artist and top streaming songs artist. The 2020 awards show was originally supposed to take place in April but was postponed because of the coronavirus.
MTV VMAs honor Chadwick Boseman; The Weeknd, DaBaby perform
NEW YORK The 2020 MTV Video Music Awards, a night highlighting music and pop culture, kicked off with heartfelt words in memory of Chadwick Boseman, as host Keke Palmer told viewers the event was dedicated to the Black Panther icon. Moments after, the Weeknd brought his Blinding Lights" music video where he is bruised and blooded in a red suit to life. DaBaby, backed by the dance crew Jabbawockeez, also performed, running through several of his hits, including Rock Star." The shifts artists have made because of the pandemic are reflected in two new categories: best music video from home and best quarantine performance. Megan Thee Stallion who topped the charts this year with the Beyonc-assisted Savage" and WAP," her viral song with Cardi B earned multiple nominations, including one for artist of the year.
Gaga, Grande top MTV VMA noms; quarantine categories added
Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande both scored nine VMA nominations each, including video of the year for their No. Rain on Me is also competing for song of the year, best collaboration, best pop, best cinematography, best visual effects and best choreography. The 2020 MTV Video Music Awards will air live on Aug. 30 from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Gaga and Grande both scored nine nominations each, including video of the year for their No. Rain on Me is also competing for song of the year, best collaboration, best pop, best cinematography, best visual effects and best choreography.
Eilish leads iHeartRadio Music Awards with 7 nominations
LOS ANGELES, CA โ Billie Eilish came away with the most nominations for the upcoming iHeartRadio Music Awards. iHeartMedia announced Wednesday that Eilish received seven nominations. The singer will compete for female artist of the year and song of the year with โbad guy.โ Lil Nas X and Lizzo are each nominated six times. Eilish will face off against Taylor Swift, Lizzo, Halsey and Ariana Grande for female artist of the year. For the menโs top artist award, Ed Sheeran, Khalid, Luke Combs, Post Malone and Mendes will vie for the honor.
Drake is Spotifyโs most-streamed artist of the decade
NEW YORK, NY โ Drake is the king of streaming: the rapper has been named Spotifyโs most-streamed artist of the decade. Ed Sheeran came in second, while Post Malone, Ariana Grande and Eminem round out the Top 5. For 2019, Post Malone is the top-streamed artist globally. Eilishโs debut album โ โWhen We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?โ โ is the yearโs most-streamed album, while Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabelloโs โSenoritaโ tops the list of the most-streamed songs. โThe Joe Budden Podcast with Rory & Malโ is the yearโs most-streamed podcast on Spotify.
Post Malone's 'Hollywood's Bleeding' headed for No. 1 debut
Post Malone performs during the first day of Lollapalooza Buenos Aires 2018 at Hipodromo de San Isidro on March 29, 2019, in Buenos Aires. (CNN) - Post Malone is headed for his second No. Music industry experts expect his latest release, "Hollywood's Bleeding," to launch with 475,000 to 500,000 album unit sales in the US this week, reports Billboard. If those sales do happen, it will score Malone the second-largest week for any album in 2019 in equivalent album units. Ariana Grande currently holds the biggest streaming week of 2019 with 307 million on-demand audio streams for "Thank U, Next."
New Music Monday: 5 new albums you should listen to
With New Music Monday, we let you know about some of the best new music being released so you have some new tunes to listen to at work, the gym or recommend to your friends. Here are five new albums and songs that we're currently obsessed with, and hopefully you will be, too. "The Center Won't Hold" by Sleater-KinneySleater-Kinney's longtime drummer, Janet Weiss, quit the band a few weeks after they released the new single from their new album, called "The Center Won't Hold," and it turns out that even for a band with such history, the center actually won't hold. "The Center Won't Hold" is the band's ninth studio album and defenitly their most experimental. Sure, she hasn't had a super huge hit in a few years, but that doesn't mean she's not making incredible music.
Ozzy Osbourne guests on new Post Malone song
Ozzy Osbourne announces his "No More Tours 2" final world tour at a news conference at his Los Angeles home on Feb. 6, 2018. (CNN) - Ozzy Osbourne is back and guest starring on a new Post Malone song. The track, "Take What You Want," is off Malone's "Hollywood's Bleeding" album and also features rapper Travis Scott. Osbourne, once known as the Prince of Darkness, is healing after health issues forced him to suspend his farewell tour in April. Also appearing on Malone's album are SZA, Halsey, Meek Mill, Young Thug and Future.
Post Malone dropped his new single and it was worth the wait
Post Malone performs onstage during the 61st Annual Grammy Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (CNN) - Post Malone dropped his new single Friday and it's everything his fans had hoped for. It's the first single off his sophomore album, "Hollywood's Bleeding," due out September 6. Fans have been waiting for the single since the beginning of August, when Post Malone played it at the Bud Light Dive Bar Tour in New York. The album will be released right before Malone kicks off his Runaway Tour on September 14 in Washington.