Month: January 2023

Willie Nelson to celebrate his 90th birthday with two-day special concert event

Post author By Staff
Post date January 26, 2023
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Willie Nelson will commemorate his 90th birthday with a special two-day concert event dubbed “Long Story Short: Willie Nelson 90, A Star-Studded Concert Celebrating Willie’s 90th Birthday.” The star-studded festivities are set to take place April 29-30 at the legendary Hollywood Bowl.

The show will include performances by Nelson, Allison Russell, Beck, Billy Strings, Bobby Weir, Charley Crockett, Chris Stapleton, Edie Brickell, Kacey Musgraves, Leon Bridges, Lukas Nelson, Lyle Lovett, Margo Price, Miranda Lambert, Nathaniel Rateliff, Neil Young, Norah Jones, Orville Peck, Particle Kid, Rosanne Cash, Sheryl Crow, Snoop Dogg, Sturgill Simpson, The Avett Brothers, The Chicks, The Lumineers, Tom Jones, Tyler Childers, Warren Haynes and Ziggy Marley. Additional artists will be announced in the coming weeks.

Said Nelson: “I can’t think of a better way to spend my 90th birthday than being surrounded by family, friends and of course the fans who made this all possible. It’s an honor to perform with such an incredible group of artists at such an iconic venue.”

Two-day packages for the general public go on sale Saturday, Jan. 28, at 10 AM PT at Ticketmaster. For more information, head to www.willienelson90.com.

All-star Willie Nelson 90th anniversary concerts detailed

Editorial credit: Randy Miramontez / Shutterstock.com

Pop Daypop

2023 Grammys: Bad Bunny, Mary J. Blige, and Lizzo among first round of performers

Post author By Staff
Post date January 26, 2023
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The Recording Academy has announced the first round of performers for the 2023 Grammy Awards ceremony. which will take place Feb. 5 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles and air at 8 p.m. EST on CBS. It will also be available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+. Former Daily Show host Trevor Noah will host the Grammys for the third consecutive year.

Bad Bunny, Mary J. Blige, and Lizzo are slated to take the stage as part of the 65th iteration of the annual music awards show. Brandi Carlile , Kim Petras and Sam Smith, Luke Combs and Steve Lacy are also slated to perform. Each of the artists is nominated at this year’s Grammys, with Bad Bunny up for three awards, including Album of the Year, Mary J. Blige nominated for both album and record of the year for a total of six nominations, Lizzo racking up five nominations, including record of the year, album of the year and song of the year, and Carlile nominated for seven awards, including Record of the Year. Additional performers are expected to be announced in the coming days.

Beyoncé leads this year’s nominees with nine nominations, followed by Kendrick Lamar with eight nominations and Adele and Carlile with seven nominations each.

Editorial credit: lev radin / Shutterstock.com

Pop Daypop

Justin Bieber sells song catalog in $200M deal

Post author By Staff
Post date January 26, 2023
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Justin Bieber has sold his publishing and recorded music rights to Hipgnosis Songs Capital in a $200 million deal. The 28-year-old singer made the sale for 290 titles released before December 31, 2021, including his most recent album, Justice, released in March 2021.

Merck Mercuriadis, founder and CEO of Hipgnosis Song Management said: “The impact of Justin Bieber on global culture over the last 14 years has truly been remarkable … This acquisition ranks among the biggest deals ever made for an artist under the age of 70, such is the power of this incredible catalog that has almost 82 million monthly listeners and over 30 billion streams on Spotify alone. Scooter Braun has helped him build a magnificent catalog, and it’s a pleasure to welcome Justin and his incredible songs and recordings to the Hipgnosis family.”

Justin‘s manager Scooter Braun added: “I want to thank Merck and his entire Hipgnosis team and all of our partners involved for working so hard to make this historic deal happen. When Justin made the decision to make a catalog deal, we quickly found the best partner to preserve and grow this amazing legacy was Merck and Hipgnosis. For 15 years I have been grateful to witness this journey and today I am happy for all those involved. Justin’s greatness is just beginning.”

Editorial credit: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com

Go Country 105

Nashville notes: Faster Horses for Luke, Shania & Zac

Post author By abookbinder
Post date January 25, 2023
No Comments on Nashville notes: Faster Horses for Luke, Shania & Zac

MacKenzie Porter will perform the track “One Night Left” with the Cheat Codes Monday on ABC’s Good Morning America. It’s one of the tracks from the LA-based trio’s One Night in Nashville record, which comes out this Friday.

You can check out the new video for Texan Randall King‘s “You In A Honky Tonk” now. It was shot in Cahoots Dancehall and Honkytonk in Lebanon, Tennessee, on the outskirts of Nashville.

Luke Bryan, Shania Twain and Zac Brown Band will headline this year’s Faster Horses Music Festival July 14-16 in Brooklyn, Michigan.

Go Country 105

Tyler Hubbard's “Dancin'” into the release of his first solo album

Post author By abookbinder
Post date January 25, 2023
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The countdown is on for Friday’s release of Tyler Hubbard‘s self-titled debut solo album.

“In just a few days I can't wait to share these songs and stories and parts of who I am with all of you,” he shared on his socials on Wednesday. “I hope you get to know me better and that you hear your stories in these songs too.”

“Get ready to turn em up and play em loud. Let's go baby,” he added.

The Florida Georgia Line hitmaker’s also set to play The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon next Monday night.

Of course, Tyler Hubbard features his first solo #1, “5 Foot 9,” as well as his new single, “Dancin’ in the Country,” which was co-written by his recent tour mate Keith Urban.

Go Country 105

Jon Pardi will usher in a new Opry stage

Post author By abookbinder
Post date January 25, 2023
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When the Grand Ole Opry returns to the Opry House in February, it’ll have a brand new look.

Right now, the world’s longest-running radio show is taking its usual January jaunt to its former home, the historic Ryman Auditorium in downtown Nashville. But now we know what they’ve been up to north of town in the Opryland area: building a new stage.

The Opry’s iconic barn backdrop has long been part of its nearly 100-year history, which will officially hit the century mark in a couple years. While it’s been updated several times, we’ll have to see what the first major change in two decades brings. The new stage is part of $4 million worth of Opry upgrades.

You can tune in to get a first look at the new stage Saturday, February 4, at 9 p.m. ET on Opry Live on Circle Network. Jon Pardi, the Oak Ridge Boys, and The War and Treaty are all set to perform that night.

Go Country 105

Reba invites fans to first show at her new Oklahoma attraction

Post author By abookbinder
Post date January 25, 2023
No Comments on Reba invites fans to first show at her new Oklahoma attraction

Reba McEntire‘s inviting you to her place for a show this week.

Thursday night, Reba will do a special concert at the grand opening of her new attraction, Reba’s Place in Atoka, Oklahoma. Though the performance is closed to the public, you can check it out starting at 7:45 p.m. ET on her socials.

Located near her hometown, Reba’s Place is a restaurant, bar, music venue and store built in an old Masonic Temple. The two-story building houses a restored antique bar, as well as a rotating collection of memorabilia from the Country Music Hall of Famer’s career.

If you’re hungry, you can order a “Fancy” steak dinner, chicken-fried steak, street tacos or Reba’s personal pick: pinto beans and corn bread.

You can take a virtual look around at RebasPlace.com.

Go Country 105

Little Big Town's visiting Friends of Mine on tour

Post author By abookbinder
Post date January 25, 2023
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Little Big Town‘s headed out on the Friends of Mine Tour in 2023.

“Been dying to share this news,” the foursome shared on their socials. “Beyond excited…”

The trek kicks off April 13 in Birmingham, Alabama, and includes 10 dates that wrap July 16 in Reno, Nevada.

Presales start Tuesday, January 31, before tickets become available to the general public the following Friday. You can find out more at FriendsofMineTour.com.

The shows take their name from the closing track on the band’s latest album, Mr. Sun, which came out in September.

Go Country 105

Luke Combs is headed to LA to play the Grammys

Post author By abookbinder
Post date January 25, 2023
No Comments on Luke Combs is headed to LA to play the Grammys

Luke Combs is set to take the stage in a couple weeks at the 65th annual Grammy Awards.

He’s among the first round of performers just announced, along with Brandi Carlile, Mary J. Blige, Lizzo, Sam Smith, Bad Bunny, Steve Lacy and Kim Petras.

Luke could take home three trophies: Best Country Duo/Group Performance for “Outrunnin’ Your Memory” with Miranda Lambert, Best Country Song for “Doin’ This” and Best Country Album for Growin’ Up.

Trevor Noah returns this year as host. You can watch the show live from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles Sunday, February 5, starting at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.

News Daypop

Justice Department sues Google over its dominance in advertising technology

Post author By Staff
Post date January 25, 2023
No Comments on Justice Department sues Google over its dominance in advertising technology

The U.S. Justice Department filed its second antitrust lawsuit against Google in just over two years. The Justice Department, along with the attorneys general of multiple states, filed an antitrust suit Tuesday against Google “for monopolizing multiple digital advertising technology products.” The Department’s earlier lawsuit, filed in October 2020 under the Trump administration, accused Google of using its alleged monopoly power to cut off competition for internet search through exclusionary agreements. That case is expected to go to trial in September.

The second lawsuit, filed in the District Court of the Eastern District of Virginia. is focused on Google’s online advertising business, and seeks to make Google divest parts of the business. The Department of Justice said in a news release Tuesday: “As a result of its illegal monopoly, and by its own estimates, Google pockets on average more than 30% of the advertising dollars that flow through its digital advertising technology products … Google’s anticompetitive conduct has suppressed alternative technologies, hindering their adoption by publishers, advertisers, and rivals.” The DOJ emphasized that the search advertising market addressed in the 2020 suit is different from the digital advertising technology market addressed in Tuesday’s lawsuit.

Attorney General Merrick Garland said Google has been “wielding its dominance across digital advertising markets to force more publishers and advertisers to use its products; and thwarting the ability to use competing products … Today’s complaint alleges that Google has used anticompetitive, exclusionary, and unlawful conduct to eliminate or severely diminish any threat to its dominance over digital advertising technologies.”

Editorial credit: achinthamb / Shutterstock.com