Month: June 2024

Categories
Pop Daypop

Will Smith to debut new song during performance at 2024 BET Awards

Will Smith at the premiere for "Emancipation" at the Regency Village Theatre.LOS ANGELES^ CA. November 30^ 2022

BET announced that Oscar-winner and four-time GRAMMY winner Will Smith will take the stage to debut a new, original song during a live performance at the 2024 BET Awards. Smith’s most recent studio album, Lost and Found, came out in 2005; he last performed live at Coachella 2024 in April when he made a surprise cameo during J Balvin’s set.

Connie Orlando, BET’s EVP of Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy, said in a press release announcing the performance: “From his start as a rapper to The Fresh Prince to being a box office king as one of the Bad Boys, Will Smith is truly a global icon, and we are honored to welcome him back to grace the BET Awards stage. We look forward to Will adding to yet another defining night for the culture that is not to be missed.” 

Taraji P. Henson will be back to host the annual awards show for the third time on Sunday, June 30 at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. Smith will be joining a star-studded list of live performers including Lauryn Hill, YG Marley, Ice Spice, Tyla, GloRilla, Latto, Muni Long, Sexyy Red, Shaboozey and Victoria Monét.

The show this year will pay special tribute to Usher, 45, who will receive the prestigious Lifetime Achievement BET Award.  Previous Lifetime Achievement BET Award recipients include Whitney Houston, Prince, Queen Latifah, Anita Baker, Mary J. Blige, Samuel Jackson, Lionel Richie, New Edition and Busta Rhymes.

The 2024 BET Awards will air live on BET Sunday, June 30, at 8 p.m. ET/ PT.

Editorial credit: Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Rock Daypop

Godsmack to release 2003’s ‘Faceless’ on vinyl for the first time

Singer and Guitarist Sully Erna from Godsmack perform live at Manchester Academy Uk. Manchester^United Kingdom^ 9th october 2022

Godsmack will release their third album, ‘Faceless’, on vinyl for the first time on August 9th. The album features the No. 1 rock hits “I Stand Alone” and “Straight Out Of Line”, giving the band its first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200. Originally released in 2003, Faceless sold 269,000 copies in its first week.

Faceless was preceded by the group’s 1998 self-titled debut record and its follow-up, 2000’s Awake. At the time of the album’s release, lead singer Sully Erna explained, “It’s a bit more musical at times, it’s a bit more melodic, but it’s still raw. It’s still tough. It’s still got that Godsmack edge to it, but it’s not quite as angry, maybe, as the past stuff has been… all in all I think it’s just really, I think, some well written stuff. I’m really proud of it. .. we were in West Palm Beach, Florida rehearsing for this tour and the call came in [that the album hit No. 1] and it blew my mind because we worked really hard on this record and we wanted people to love it and we wanted it to do well. But we had no idea that it would be the Number One album in the country and it’s very gratifying to know that you’re rewarded at times for the hard work you do.”

Faceless has been remastered and pressed on 2LP 45rpm vinyl, and will be widely released on classic black vinyl, with an additional limited edition marble vinyl available as an online exclusive.  Faceless can be pre-ordered on standard or limited edition vinyl – here.

Editorial credit: ChrisJamesRyanPhotography / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Rock Daypop

Stone Temple Pilots celebrating 30th anniversary of ‘Purple’ by performing album in full on tour

Vocalist Jeff Gutt and guitarist Dean DeLeo^ from the band Stone Temple Pilots^ during a show at Km de Vantagens Hall in the city of Rio de Janeiro. Rio de Janeiro^ February 15^ 2019.

Stone Temple Pilots are celebrating the 30th anniversary of Purple, the band’s chart-topping, multi-platinum second album.  In honor of the milestone, the band will perform the entire album each night starting August 16th on their upcoming summer tour.

Purple, released on June 7, 1994, was the follow-up to Stone Temple Pilots’ 1992 debut, Core, which sold over eight million copies and earned a Grammy Award. Scott Weiland, Dean DeLeo, Robert DeLeo, and Eric Kretz recorded most of Purple in Atlanta with producer Brendan O’Brien. Purple debuted at No. 1 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and eventually sold over six million copies, featuring the legendary tracks “Interstate Love Song”, “Vasoline,” and “Big Empty,”which first appeared on the film soundtrack for The Crow and went on to become a Top 10 hit on mainstream and modern rock charts.

The current lineup for Stone Temple Pilots – Dean DeLeo, Robert DeLeo, Eric Kretz, and Jeff Gutt – will kick off the tour on June 29th in Traverse City, Michigan; beginning on August 16th, the band will join forces with +Live+ to co-headline the Jubilee Tour. The 19-city run begins in Concord, California, and wraps up on September 15th in Indianapolis, Indiana.

In addition, Rhino Records has launched an immersive online hub with exclusive anniversary content, including a driving game inspired by “Interstate Love Song.” Fans can visit for updates and explore the engaging design, which evokes the rooftop from the “Interstate Love Song” music video. Visitors can also enjoy an eight-bit arcade-style driving game, scoring points by dodging objects from the video, like couches, microphones, and cowboy hats.

Editorial credit: A.PAES / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Pop Daypop

BTS’ Jungkook releases new single, ‘Never Let Go’

SUGA^ Jin^ J-Hope^ RM^ Jimin^ and Jungkook of BTS arrives for the KIIS FM's iHeartRadio Jingle Ball at the Forum Los Angeles in Inglewood^ CA Los Angeles^ California / USA - December 6 2019

BTS’ member Jungkook has released new solo music with the new song “Never Let Go”, dedicated to his fans. Jungkook released “Never Let Go” ahead of BTS Festa, the group’s annual celebration of its anniversary.

According to BTS’ label Hybe, “Never Let Go” is described the track as a “heartfelt tribute” to the K-pop idol’s fans with the message to “never let go of each other’s hands”. The label added that Jungkook’s ‘Never Let Go’ is also “a token of gratitude for the boundless love from ARMY all over the world”.

‘Never Let Go’ also marks Jungkook’s first solo release since his album Golden in November 2023 which featured the singles ‘3D’ with Jack Harlow and ‘Seven’ with Latto. Jungkook is currently servicing his military service, after having enlisted late last year. Prior to his enlistment, the K-pop singer held a final livestream, telling fans: “I love you guys, I’ll be back stronger. Bye, stay well!”

BTS consists of Jungkook, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin and V. The group has been on hiatus since 2022 as the members fulfill their mandatory military service, and pursue solo careers.

Editorial credit: Silvia Elizabeth Pangaro / Shutterstock.com

Categories
News Daypop

Trump gag order partially lifted in hush money case ahead of presidential debate

Former President Donald Trump speaks to the press before closing arguments at his civil fraud trial at State Supreme Court in New York on January 11^ 2024

On Tuesday, NY Judge Juan Merchan partially lifted former President Donald Trump’s gag order in his New York hush money trial, following the former president’s conviction last month on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. The move comes two days before the former president faces off against President Joe Biden in the first of two debates, with the revised terms of the gag order allowing Trump to speak freely about witnesses and jurors in the case.

Merchan wrote Tuesday: “Circumstances have now changed. The trial portion of these proceedings ended when the verdict was rendered, and the jury discharged.” Trump is allowed to speak about witnesses, the jury and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, but is still restricted from speaking about lawyers and staff for the District Attorney’s office and the court, as well as any family members until he is sentenced on July 11. Merchan wrote: “Until sentence is imposed, all individuals covered by Paragraph (b) must continue to perform their lawful duties free from threats, intimidation, harassment and harm.” Although he struck the portion of the gag order pertaining to jurors, Merchan wrote that it would be his “strong preference” to extend those protections because there remains “ample evidence to justify continued concern for the jurors.” An earlier prohibition on releasing personal information about jurors will remain in effect.

Trump’s campaign spokesman blasted the judge for failing to lift the entire gag order and promised Trump’s legal team “will immediately challenge” the order. Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement: “this is another unlawful decision by a highly conflicted judge, which is blatantly un-American as it gags President Trump, the leading candidate in the 2024 presidential election during the upcoming presidential debate on Thursday.”

Merchan first imposed the gag order in March; before and during the trial, Merchan fined Trump $1,000 for each of 10 violations and warned the former president he could face jail time if the violations continued. On May 30, Trump was convicted of falsifying business records in connection to a hush money payment Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election. Trump, who denied an affair, pleaded not guilty to the 34 counts and has vowed to appeal the verdict.

Editorial credit: lev radin/ Shutterstock.com

Categories
News Daypop

Shooting in north Las Vegas leaves 5 people dead, teen injured

Patrol car of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department parked under the neon lights of Las Vegas Boulevard. LAS VEGAS^ NEVADA^ USA - FEBRUARY 2019

The North Las Vegas Police Department confirmed that a man who fatally shot five people and critically injured a 13-year-old girl at an apartment complex near Las Vegas killed himself. The suspected shooter, 57-year-old Eric Adams, died by suicide on Tuesday morning after he was confronted by officers.

North Las Vegas Police officers responded to a reported shooting at about 10 p.m. at the apartment complex at 370 Casa Norte Drive between Commerce Street and Craig Ranch Park. Per local news outlet 8 News Now, police initially found two women dead while investigating reports of a shooting; one of them was in her early 40s and the other in her late 50s, according to the department. While officers were investigating,  a 13-year-old girl was also found in the apartment and transported to the hospital in critical condition. Authorities later discovered the bodies of two women in their mid-20s and a man in his early 20s in a nearby apartment; all five victims were killed by gunshot.

A manhunt for the gunman led to an overnight search, who authorities had described as “armed and dangerous.” After officers arrived  a business in North Las Vegas just after 10 a.m. on Tuesday, they saw the suspect with a firearm, running into the backyard of a nearby home. The department said officers followed him, but the suspect refused to drop his weapon and died by suicide.

Police have described the shooting as an “isolated incident,” and have not disclosed a motive for the shootings. A spokesperson for the police department didn’t respond on Tuesday to phone and emailed requests for more information. Anyone with information about this crime is urged to contact the North Las Vegas Police Department at 702-633-9111. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers by phone at 702-385-5555, or at the link here.

Editorial credit: Ceri Breeze / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Sports Daypop

Pavel Datsyuk, Jeremy Roenick, Shea Weber included in 2024 Hockey Hall of Fame Class

Exterior signage at the Hockey Hall of Fame in downtown Toronto. Toronto^ Ontario - October 7^ 2023

The Hockey Hall of Fame announced Tuesday that Natalie Darwitz, Pavel Datsyuk, Jeremy Roenick, Shea Weber, ​Krissy Wendell-Pohl, Colin Campbell and David Poile will make up the 2024 Hockey Hall of Fame class.

The 18-member selection committee, comprised of former players, executives and journalists, met on Monday and decided to elect a class of seven. Players must not have played in a professional or international game in any of the previous three seasons. Builders are eligible even if they are still active in the game. In order to make the Hall of Fame, a candidate needs to get 14 “yes” votes from the Selection Committee. All seven will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on Nov. 11.

Darwitz, Datsyuk, Roenick, Weber and Wendell-Pohl will be inducted in the Player category. Per Sports Illustrated, Datsyuk spent his entire 14-year career with the Detroit Red Wings, winning two Stanley Cup; Roenick played 21 years with five teams, registering three 100-point seasons for the Chicago Blackhawks; Weber, one of the best defensemen of his generation, finished in the top five of the Norris Trophy voting five times; Wendell-Pohl won two Olympic medals after a legendary career with Minnesota; and Darwitz, a three-time world champion with the national team, was inducted into the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame this year.

Datsyuk and Weber were both elected in their first years of eligibility. This is also the first year since 2010 that two women will be part of the same Hockey Hall of Fame class.

Meanwhile, Campbell and Poile will be going in as Builders. Poile served as the Nashville Predators’ general manager from their inception up until 2023, while Campbell is a longtime league administrator.

Editorial credit: Todamo / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Sports Daypop

Celtics’ center Kristaps Porziņģis to miss Paris Olympics, due to undergo leg surgery

Kristaps Porzingis at National men's basketball team of Latvia and National men's basketball team of Russia. RIGA^ LATVIA - 25.06.2018

The Boston Celtics announced in a post Tuesday on X that center Kristaps Porziņģis will undergo leg surgery “in the coming days” and will miss the 2024 Paris Olympics. The team wrote: “Kristaps Porziņģis suffered a torn retinaculum and dislocated posterior tibialis tendon in Game 2 of the NBA Finals. Surgery will be performed in the coming days and further updates will be provided when available.” 

Per CBS SPORTS, Celtics president of basketball ops, Brad Stevens told reporters that Porziņģis is consulting with specialists on a treatment plan, but declined to provide a timeline of recovery for Porzingis post-surgery. The Celtics in a news release said that Porzingis had hoped to delay the surgery until after the Olympics, but that the injury would not allow him to do so.   The release read: “This injury always requires surgical repair. Porzingis had hoped to delay surgery until after both the NBA Finals and Latvia’s Olympics campaign, but the injury doesn’t allow for consistent play at the level required for Olympic competition.”

Porziņģis suffered the rare left leg injury during Game 2 of the NBA Finals when he collided with Dallas Mavericks big man Dereck Lively II under the basket. He had also suffered an unrelated calf injury during the Celtics’ first round series victory over the Miami Heat, which forced him to miss 10 postseason games. According to Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla, Porziņģis overruled the team’s medical staff to play in the championship-clinching Game 5, and in June he joined the Latvian National team’s roster for the Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

Porziņģis played in seven playoff games – starting in four – and averaged 12.3 points off 47 percent shooting along with 4.4 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game for the Celtics.

Editorial credit: Gints Ivuskans / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Country Daypop

Kane Brown earns his 11th No. 1 hit on country radio with ‘I Can Feel It’

Kane Brown performs during the "We Love NYC: The Homecoming Concert" at the Great Lawn in Central Park on August 21^ 2021 in New York City.

Kane Brown celebrated his latest No. 1 “I Can Feel It,” which samples Phil Collins’ classic song, “In The Air Tonight”. The achievement marks Brown’s 11th No. 1 hit.

Brown co-wrote the song alongside Gabe Foust and Jaxson Free, with Dann Huff as producer. Collins, who solely penned “In The Air Tonight,” is credited as a writer on “I Can Feel It.” Brown told Billboard: “I just got the news that ‘I Can Feel It’ went No. 1 – this means so much to me. And it’s amazing to have a No. 1 with a huge legend like Phil Collins.”

BMI’s Brad Kennard said of Brown’s accomplishment: “A couple of years ago, Concord was blessed with the opportunity to acquire the incredible and legendary catalog of Phil Collins and Genesis …I was absolutely blown away by what you guys did with this—you really honored the song. I want to point out that ‘In The Air Tonight’ came out in 1981, nearly 43 years ago, and Phil Collins has never had a country No. 1 until you guys made it happen. Creating a first for Collins is pretty incredible from my point of view.”

Brown also thanked everyone who supports him: “I love the fact that I got to be Jaxson’s first No. 1, and now I get to be Gabe’s first No. 1. That’s what I like—being a part of peoples’ firsts because I remember the feeling of having my first. It’s exciting to get to relive that moment with these guys.”

Editorial credit: Ron Adar / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Country Daypop

Little Big Town to release ‘Greatest Hits’ album to celebrate 25th Anniversary

Little BIg Town^ Jimi Westbrook^ Karen Fairchild^ Kimberly Schlapman^ Philip Sweet at the Academy of Country Music Awards 2017 at T-Mobile Arena on April 2^ 2017 in Las Vegas^ NV

Little Big Town is celebrating their 25th anniversary as a band with a Greatest Hits album, dropping on Aug. 9.

The band posted on Instagram: “celebrating 25 years as a band with a Greatest Hits album, out August 9th. This collection of favorite songs will be available for pre-order tonight at midnight along with a new version of Shut Up Train, featuring our friend @kelseaballerini.”

As noted, to preview the album’s arrival Little Big Town shared a new version of their 2011 hit, “Shut Up Train” featuring Kelsea Ballerini.  The band said: “Kelsea is a dear friend of ours and has been telling us for years that ‘Shut Up Train’ is one of her favorite album cuts. When we asked her to add her voice to the song, we were blown away by the nuances she added. She made this song all the more special.” 

Little Big Town also teamed up with Miranda Lambert for a new collaborative version of the platinum 2010 single,“Little White Church.”  The group shared in a statement: “As we embark on the next 25 years of Little Big Town, we wanted to reflect back on our catalog and really honor the songs that have had the greatest impact throughout this incredible journey. This Greatest Hits album was carefully curated by all four of us and is a love letter to our fans who have been there for every reason .. Thank you to the fans for giving these songs so much life over the years.”

In addition to the Greatest Hits album, Little Big Town’s headlining Take Me Home Tour with Sugarland kicks off Oct. 24 in Greenville, South Carolina.

Stream “Shut Up Train” featuring Kelsea Ballerini – here.
To preorder Little Big Town’s Greatest Hits, head here.

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com