Month: July 2023

J-Hope announces physical editions of ‘Jack in the Box (Hope Edition)’

Post author By Staff
Post date July 27, 2023
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BigHit Music has announced J-Hope of BTS will release Jack In The Box (Hope Edition) in physical format as a special gift for BTS Army members.

The set will be available on CD on August 18th, containing the original album tracks along with three new live recordings from the pop star’s performance at 2022 Lollapalooza in Chicago — “Equal Sign,” “Stop” and “Future” — and two instrumental tracks — “More” and “Arson.” Two variations of the CD will be available with an outerbox, photo book, lyric book, two of four randomly inserted photo cards, one of two posters, one of two paper toys and accompanied user guide, and sticker packs.

Jack In The Box dropped on July 15, 2022, before J-Hope’s military enlistment. J-Hope participated in the overall composition and planning of the new physical album, which showcases the K-pop star’s experimental approach. Jack In The Box was released as a Weverse album which fans could download and listen to the songs via the Weverse Albums application aside from streaming platforms.

Editorial credit: lev radin / Shutterstock.com

Pop Daypop

Irish singer Sinéad O’Connor dies at age 56

Post author By Staff
Post date July 27, 2023
No Comments on Irish singer Sinéad O’Connor dies at age 56

The Irish Times reported that singer Sinéad O’Connor, best known for her 1990 hit single “Nothing Compares 2 U,” has died at age 56. O’Connor’s family said in a statement, confirmed by RTE: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinéad. Her family and friends are devastated and have requested privacy at this very difficult time.” No cause of death was revealed as of press time.

O’Connor released her debut album in 1987, and its 1990 follow-up I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got brought her international fame on the heels of her smash hit “Nothing Compares 2 U,” a song written and composed by Prince which became a hit across the globe. The Irish singer’s mental health struggles plagued her over the years since her early rise to fame, culminating in a hospitalization in 2022 following the death of her 17-year-old son, Shane, whom she shared with musician Dónal Lunny. Shane went missing in January 2022, and O’Connor revealed days later that he’d died by suicide, tweeting at the time: “My beautiful son, Nevi’im Nesta Ali Shane O’Connor, the very light of my life, decided to end his earthly struggle today and is now with God. May he rest in peace and may no one follow his example. My baby. I love you so much. Please be at peace.”

At the beginning of July, O’Connor switched to a new Twitter account, using her full name. She seemed positive about the future, and tweeted on July 11th that she was working on new music and had hopes for an international tour: “Hi All, recently moved back to London after 23 years absence. Very happy to be home : ) Soon finishing my album. Release early next year : ). Hopefully Touring Australia and New Zealand toward end 2024. Europe, USA and other territories beginning early 2025 : ). Her final Twitter post on July 17 alluded to her son’s suicide as she linked to a “Great Tibetan Compassion Mantra” and wrote: “For all mothers of Suicided children.”

O’Connor is survived by her three children: Jake Reynolds, 36, Roison Waters, 27, and Yeshua Bonadio, 16.

Sinéad O’Connor, Iconic Irish Singer, Dies At Age 56

Editorial credit: Paul Keeling / Shutterstock.com

Go Country 105

Nashville notes: Reba's livestream + Caylee's “That Dog” video

Post author By abookbinder
Post date July 26, 2023
No Comments on Nashville notes: Reba's livestream + Caylee's “That Dog” video

Reba McEntire has teamed up with Veeps to livestream her recent Madison Square Garden concert. To purchase tickets and for more information, visit veeps.com/reba.

Brett Young is celebrating the release of his upcoming album, Across The Streets, with new merchandise. Check it out at Brett’s merch store.

Caylee Hammack has dropped the music video for her latest breakup track, “That Dog.” Watch it now on YouTube.

Go Country 105

Walker Hayes joins Great Clips for new campaign

Post author By abookbinder
Post date July 26, 2023
No Comments on Walker Hayes joins Great Clips for new campaign

Great Clips has tapped “Fancy Like” hitmaker Walker Hayes for a brand new back-to-school campaign.

As part of the campaign, they have rolled out a promotional video that shares a chorus of Walker’s unreleased song “Haircut.” In the clip, Walker draws similarities between performing onstage and going to school.

“I study songs and I practice before my shows. You guys study and practice before your test,” Walker tells his six kids in the video.

“There's nothing like that feeling from a fresh new haircut,” he adds in a press statement. “I know from my own experience going back-to-school and with my kids, how big of a boost a haircut can provide to tackle whatever you're facing.”

“I’m also really happy to be able to give fans a sneak peek of this song ‘Haircut’ because the message of what a haircut can offer in terms of confidence fits so well with Great Clips and this campaign,” notes Walker.

For more information about the campaign, visit greatclips.com/BacktoSchool.

Go Country 105

Dolly Parton's “We Are The Champions/We Will Rock You” will be used to promote 2024 Paris Olympic Games

Post author By abookbinder
Post date July 26, 2023
No Comments on Dolly Parton's “We Are The Champions/We Will Rock You” will be used to promote 2024 Paris Olympic Games

Dolly Parton has just released the video for her cover of the Queen classic “We Are The Champions/We Will Rock You,” and sports fans will likely be seeing a lot of it in the coming year.

The video is a celebration of athletes and will be used to help NBCUniversal promote the Paris Olympic Games, which kick off July 26, 2024.

The clip features footage Olympic superstars like Simone Biles, Suni Lee, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Noah Lyles, Katie Ledecky, the U.S. women’s soccer team and more. It starts with Dolly performing in an empty stadium and in front of the Eiffel Tower as a nod to next year's games. In the end, the stadium gets filled by people who help her with Queen's legendary “We Will Rock You” chant.

For Dolly, teaming to help promote the Olympics makes sense because she's a big fan of the games.

“I love the Olympics! I do my best to plan my schedule to watch as much of it as I possibly can,” Dolly shares. “I laugh, I cry, I scream, there are no losers in the Olympics as they have all spent a lifetime preparing but I celebrate with the ones that go away with the gold, silver, and bronze medals.”

“We Are The Champions/We Will Rock You” is the latest single off Dolly's upcoming album Rockstar, which drops November 17. It features Dolly collaborating with a whole host of A-list artists, including The Beatles‘ Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, Steven Tyler, Steve Perry, Sting, Stevie Nicks, Elton John and more.

Rockstar is available for preorder now.

Go Country 105

Scotty McCreery shares adorable photos from family hike

Post author By abookbinder
Post date July 26, 2023
No Comments on Scotty McCreery shares adorable photos from family hike

Scotty McCreery is tackling Utah’s Zion National Park with wife Gabi and their baby boy, Avery, on their day off.

“Zion day 1,” Scotty captions his latest Instagram carousel. The post features photos of the family of three on their hike, picturesque shots of the red cliffs at Zion National Park and cute videos of Avery waving and smiling widely with his daddy.

Scotty’s set to perform at the Country Fan Fest in Tooele, Utah, on July 27, before heading to Caldwell, Idaho, for the Canyon County Fest. For tickets and for Scotty’s full tour schedule, visit his website.

Go Country 105

Michael Ray wants you to pick his next single

Post author By abookbinder
Post date July 26, 2023
No Comments on Michael Ray wants you to pick his next single

Ever wanted to pick an artist’s single on country radio? Well, here’s your chance.

Michael Ray is turning to his fans for their input on what his next single should be.

“Ok y'all, woke up thinking about this. What song off ‘Dive bars and broken hearts’ do you think should be my next single to country radio?” Michael tweeted.

Dive Bars & Broken Hearts arrived in June and is Michael’s latest EP.

Of the project, Michael shares, “When I was trying to decide what to call this project, I wanted something that stripped it back to the frame. Dive Bars & Broken Hearts is me getting to the sound I’ve always heard in my head, something that’s played on a jukebox or a bandstand in a bar somewhere just outside of town.”

Have a song you think should be Michael’s next single? Let him know by replying to his tweet.

Go Country 105

Tim McGraw's got something up his sleeves

Post author By abookbinder
Post date July 26, 2023
No Comments on Tim McGraw's got something up his sleeves

Hang tight, Tim McGraw fans: Something new’s arriving on Friday, July 28.

Tim recently posted a cryptic Instagram video of him putting his gold chain and cowboy hat on before striking several poses that fuel the mystery. The only hint he provided in the caption is simply, “Friday.”

While you wait for the big reveal, be sure to preorder and presave Tim’s upcoming 17th album, Standing Room Only.

The title track is currently #13 and ascending the country charts.

Go Country 105

Miranda Lambert bids farewell to beloved dog Thelma

Post author By abookbinder
Post date July 26, 2023
No Comments on Miranda Lambert bids farewell to beloved dog Thelma

Miranda Lambert‘s dog Thelma has passed away.

The country star shared the news with fans on Tuesday, July 25, through an emotional tribute on Instagram.

“May 1, 2016 I adopted 2 beautiful Great Pyrenees named Thelma and Louise to watch over one of my happiest places on earth. My farm outside of Nashville,” Miranda wrote in the caption before detailing their duties and making the sad announcement.

“Yesterday we had to say goodbye to our sweet Thelma. She spent her days lounging in the barn and her nights keeping watch over all of us. She lived the last 8 years with no fences, just freedom to do what she did best. Love and protect. I loved her with all my heart,” Miranda continued.

“It hurts so bad to say goodbye to these sweet companions but their love is always worth it,” adds “The House That Built Me” singer. “How lucky are we do get to have friends like Thelma. I am so proud to have been part of her story.”

Read Miranda’s tribute in full on Instagram.

News Daypop

Potential strike averted as UPS and Teamsters reach tentative agreement

Post author By Staff
Post date July 26, 2023
No Comments on Potential strike averted as UPS and Teamsters reach tentative agreement

UPS and the Teamsters union both announced on Tuesday that have reached a tentative contract on working conditions for UPS’s 340,000 unionized employees. If ratified, the contact would avert a strike that would have been the biggest in 60 years. Voting on the contract begins Aug. 3 and ends Aug. 22.

Part-time workers’ pay was a major sticking point in the negotiations, with many employees decrying the two-tier wage system in the current contract. The new Teamsters leadership called it “unfair,” and that tiered system will end under the new agreement. The new contract also raises starting pay for part-timers to $21 an hour, up from the current contracted pay of $15.50, and includes catch-up raises for longtime workers. Full-time workers will see their top hourly rate go up to $49 an hour. The Teamsters called the five-year contract “overwhelmingly lucrative,” and said it “raises wages for all workers, creates more full-time jobs, and includes dozens of workplace protections and improvements.”

Teamsters president Sean O’Brien said in a statement: “Rank-and-file UPS Teamsters sacrificed everything to get this country through a pandemic and enabled UPS to reap record-setting profits. We demanded the best contract in the history of UPS, and we got it.” The agreement also provides for air conditioning in trucks, paid time off for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, and more full-time positions, according to the Teamsters.

UPS chief executive Carol Tomé said in a statement: “This agreement continues to reward UPS’s full- and part-time employees with industry-leading pay and benefits while retaining the flexibility we need to stay competitive, serve our customers and keep our business strong.”

Editorial credit: Jonathan Weiss / Shutterstock.com