Melanie Martinez Among Headlining Acts for This Year’s Lollapalooza Festival in Chicago

Melanie Martinez is headed to the Windy City

The 28-year-old Puerto Rican and Dominican American singer and former The Voice contestant will be among the headlining acts at this summer’s Lollapalooza festival in Chicago.

Melanie MartinezMartinez is among a roster of headlining acts for the August 1-4 music event that includes SZATyler, The Creator, blink-182The Killers, Future X Metro Boomin, Hozier, Stray Kids and Skrillex.  

Among the 170 acts that will perform on eight stages includes Deftones, Tate McRae, Laufey with the Chicago Philharmonic, Reneé Rapp, Lizzy McAlpine, Zedd, Fisher, Zeds Dead, Dominic Fike, Labrinth, Pierce the Veil, Victoria Monét, Sexyy Red, Teddy Swims, Faye Webster, Benson Boone, Jungle, Two Door Cinema Club, Killer Mike, Ive, Vince Staples, Kesha, Galantis, Kevin Abstract, Ethel Cain, Chappell Roan, Megan Mornoey, Teezo Touchdown and many more.

Fans can sign up now for the 2024 presale, which will kick off on Thursday (March 21) from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm ET; the presale is the only way to guarantee the lowest price on 4-day general admission, GA+, VIP and Platinum tickets. Ticket prices will increase at 1:00 pm ET when the public onsale begins; click here for ticketing information. One-day tickets and the lineup-by-day rundown will be available at a later date.

Last summer’s event featured headlining sets from Billie Eilish, Lana Del Rey, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Kendrick Lamar, Odesza, Karol G, TOMORROW X TOGETHER and The 1975.

The four-day extravaganza that sets up in Grant Park in downtown Chicago draws more than 400,000 fans to the massive party near Lake Michigan.

Peso Pluma Among Latinx Artists to Perform at This Year’s Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival

Peso Pluma is returning to the Colorado Desert of Southern California this spring.

The lineup for this year’s Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival has been finalized, with the 24-year-old Mexican singer set to perform over the two weekends of the festival: April 12-14 and April 19-21.

Peso PlumaPeso Pluma, a Regional Mexican artist who has taken the world by storm, is scheduled to perform on Friday, April 12 and Friday, April 19. He performed at the festival in 2023 during Becky G’s set.

Other Latinx artists set to perform on the same days at Peso Pluma incude Argentina’s Bizarrap, Puerto Rico’s Young Miko and Cuba’s Cimafunk.

Ice Spice will perform on Saturday, April 13 and Saturday, April 20.

Other Latinx artists performing on Saturday alongside the 24-year-old half-Dominican American “Barbie World” singer include Santa Fe Klan and Depresión Sonora.

J Balvin is set to perform on Sunday, April 14 and Sunday, April 21.

It’ll be the 38-year-old Colombian singer’s first performance at Coachella since 2019.

Sunday’s other Latinx performers include Carin Leon, Eddie Zuka, Hermanos Gutierrez and Ludmilla.

This year’s lineup includes a No Doubt reunion, with the band performing together for the first time in almost a decade.

Lana del ReyTyler the Creator and Doja Cat are the 2024 headlining acts

The presale for Coachella starts on Friday, January 19 at 11:00 am PT, with the official site suggesting that for the “best chance at passes,” look at Weekend 2.

General admission passes start at $499 (plus fees) for Tier 1 and go up to $599 (plus fees) for Tier 3. For those festival-goers looking for a VIP experience and have access to exclusive areas, the passes start at $1,069 (plus fees) for Tier 1 and $1,269 (plus fees) for Tier 2. The passes allow entrance to the festival for all three days of the chosen weekend.

Karol G to Perform at Lollapalooza 2023 in Chicago’s Grant Park

Karol G is taking on topliner duties…

The 32-year-old Colombian superstar will be among the top-lining acts for Lollapalooza 2023, which is set for August 3-6 in Chicago’s Grant Park.

Karol GHeadliners include Kendrick LamarBillie Eilish and Red Hot Chili Peppers, while other top-liners include Odesza, Lana Del Rey, The 1975 and Tomorrow x Together.

Tickets for this year’s concert weekend go on sale beginning Thursday. Four-day tickets will run $365-$4350, with single-day tickets and the day-by-day lineup schedule still to be announced.

Other Latin acts set to perform at Lollapalooza 2023 include Jessie Reyez, Usted Señalemelo and Los Aptos.

In all, more than 170 bands will play across nine stages.

Hulu is in the middle of a deal to livestream select Lollapalooza performances exclusively to its SVOD subscribers; last year, it had two streams running.

Becky G to Receive Impact Award at This Year’s Billboard Women in Music Awards

Becky G is being feted for her influence…

The Billboard Women in Music Awards will return on March 1, 2023, with Billboard honoring today’s most influential female powerhouses who are shaping the music landscape, including the 25-year-old Mexican American singer and actress.

Becky G x Dime Sunglass CollectionBecky G will receive the Impact Award.

But she isn’t the only Latina being honored…

Ivy Queen will be presented with the Icon Award.

Other honorees include Doechii with the Rising Star AwardKim Petras with the Chartbreaker AwardLatto with the Powerhouse AwardLainey Wilson with the Rulebreaker AwardLana Del Rey with the Visionary Award, and TWICE with the Breakthrough Award.

Emmy-winning writer/actress Quinta Brunson will host the 2023 ceremony, which will take place at the YouTube Theater at Hollywood Park in Los Angeles.

More performances and talent — including the 2023 Woman of the Year recipient — will be announced at a later date.

“We’re thrilled to recognize these groundbreaking artists across genres and generations who are defining today’s sound – and paving the way for tomorrow’s women in music,” said Billboard editorial director Hannah Karp. “With the inspiring Quinta Brunson as our host, this year’s Billboard Women in Music Awards is going to be an incredible night.”

Tickets to attend the Women in Music Awards are available to the public.

American Express card members can take part in the ticket presale taking place Tuesday and Wednesday, Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, before the public on-sale Friday, Feb. 3, at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT, at billboardwomeninmusic.com. Prices range from $85 to $275.

The 2023 Women in Music Awards will also stream live with more details about the livestream to be announced soon.

Camila Cabello to Take Part in Kacey Musgraves’ First Holiday Special to Air on Amazon Prime Video

Camila Cabello is ready to celebrate a country Christmas

Country singer Kacey Musgraveshas announced her first holiday special, The Kacey Musgraves Christmas Show, with the 22-year-old Cuban and Mexican singer and former Fifth Harmony member among her all-star cast of collaborators on a variety of classic and original holiday songs.

Camila Cabello

Musgraves’ special, directed by Dan Levy will premiere globally on November 29 on Amazon Prime Video and feature Musgraves teaming up with Cabello on “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.”

Her other collaborators include Fred Armisen on “Silent Night,” Leon Bridgeson “Present Without a Bow,”James Corden on “Let It Snow,” Zooey Deschanel on “Mele Kalikimaka,” Lana Del Rey on “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” and Troye Sivanon the world debut of “Glittery.”

Musgraves will also be joined by the Radio City Rockettes, who will do one of their famous kickline routines as Musgraves sings “Ribbons and Bows,” as well as special guest Kendall Jenner.

The show “invites fans in as Musgraves prepares for a most joyful Christmas gathering with a whimsical set and dazzling wardrobe influenced by the artist’s fresh aesthetic,” according to a release announcing the special. “Equal parts heart-warming and cleverly absurd, Musgraves pays tribute to holiday specials of the past whilst also reinventing just what a Christmas special can be, with a magically modern twist.”

 “I can say without a doubt that this project is unlike anything I’ve ever done before,” Musgraves says in a statement. “What started as the small seed of an idea one night over a year ago has turned into something I’m so proud of.  Some truly brilliant comedic and musical guests are featured in the show — as well as my own Grandma. My vision was to bring my old Christmas album to life visually and create a modern and fashionable, fresh take on a classic format. It’s a nostalgic, Wes Anderson-inspired reimagining of the holidays. It’s heartfelt, funny, and most of all, real. I can’t wait to finally share.”

The show will be accompanied by an official soundtrack available on Amazon Musicand other digital services on November 29 as well.

Jared Leto Appears Opposite Lana Del Rey in Gucci’s Quirky New Forever Guilty Campaign

Jared Letois forever guilty

The 47-year-old part-Spanish American actor/singer appears opposite singer Lana Del Rey in Gucci’s new Forever Guilty campaign.

Jared Leto

In the video, Leto and Del Rey go about mundane tasks like folding laundry and food shooping. Being a Gucci ad, things get a little surreal when an ostrich starts walking down the grocery store aisles and a tiger is roaming around the laundromat.

Courtney Lovemakes a surprise cameo as a waitress at a diner — one of the stops the duo makes during their day of running errands.

The campaign by Glen Luchford depicts the pair as “individuals who live and love outside of social conformism to embody the #GucciGuilty fragrances,” according to a Gucci Beauty Instagram post.

Del Rey and Leto were announced as the faces of the campaign and even attended the Met Galatogether last year.

Cédric Gervais to Perform with Juanes on his Loco de Amor Tour Stop at Madison Square Garden

Juanes is bringing a special guest to his next stop on his Loco de Amor tour…

The 43-year-old Colombian musician will be joined by Grammy-winning French DJ/producer Cédric Gervais at New York City’s Madison Square Garden as part of his tour.

Juanes & Cédric Gervais

The two are set to perform their ethereal Latin pop-meets-EDM duet, “Este Amor,” which they first unveiled at the Sunset Music Festival earlier this summer to a massive crowd.

This time, Gervais will be on Juanes’ turf, amid a sea of proud, flag-waving Colombians.

“I’m a bit nervous, but it’s a good feeling,” says the EDM superstar of his first time playing at the Garden.

It was Gervais’ idea to collaborate with Juanes, whose music he first heard while playing in Colombia some eight years ago, long before his 2013 remix of Lana del Rey’s “Summertime Sadness” made him a global sensation.

“I had a Colombian girlfriend at the time, and I started developing a big love for the country and making friends down there,” Gervais remembers, adding that he actually bought Juanes’ Mi Sangre CD. “It doesn’t matter what language it is, when it’s good music, it’s good music, and I instantly connected with ‘La Camisa Negra.’”

Part of the creative process involved Gervais spending time at Juanes’ Miami home, sharing his vision for the song — and then just letting go.

“Cedric told me, ‘Don’t worry about anything. Just write a [Spanish-language] song as if you’re playing on an acoustic guitar, almost like a ballad, and then I will take care of the rest,” says Juanes, who admits to being intimidated by the whole process at first. But the chance to do something risky with someone he respects compelled him, even if the Latin audience, however loyal, is often risk-averse. Balancing his fans’ expectations, the pressure of the industry, and his own artistry is something he’s been working on since day one.

“From the moment I released ‘La Camisa Negra’ I started thinking about not doing the same thing again because it’s not going to be exciting,” admits Juanes. “If I feel that vibe again of course I’ll do it, but what I don’t want is just to do it because that song was successful and then I end up with a bad version of ‘La Camisa Negra,’” adds the 43-year-old father of three with a laugh. “I’m trying to have a long career and stay relevant over the years. Sometimes it’s hard, but in the end it pays off.”

For Gervais, it was important not to take his collaborator out of his element. “A lot of artists in my world, they don’t understand artists like Juanes, so when you want to do something special you don’t just give them a beat that you created and say, ‘Here, write to this,’ because then you’re not going to get the magic.”

Part of that magic was recording the tune in Juanes’ native language. “This is who Juanes is, that was the whole point of it, to do something completely different,” adds Gervais. “The American fans, it’s not that they don’t understand it, but they just don’t comment on it. The response that I have from my Latin fans has been ridiculous.”

 

Fergie Performs on “The Great Gatsby” Soundtrack

Fergie may be expecting her first child with husband Josh Duhamel… But that isn’t stopping her from getting her party on for one of Hollywood’s most anticipated films…

The 38-year-old part-Mexican American singer is lending her voice to the soundtrack for The Great Gatsby, which Jay-Z is executive producing.

Fergie

Fergie, who will be honored at Logo’s NewNowNext Awards this year,  performs the song “A Little Party Never Killed Nobody (All We Got)” on the soundtrack, along with Q Tip and GoonRock.

The Black Eyed Peas member joins a star-studded line-up of artists that includes Beyonce Knowles covering Amy Winehouse‘s “Back to Black” with Andre 3000, will.i.am, Lana Del Rey and Emeli Sande.

The Great Gatsby soundtrack will be released officially on May 7, and will feature a remarkable collection of indie, hip-hop and neo-jazz tunes.

It will debut three days ahead of the movie’s theater run beginning on May 10.

Here’s a look at The Great Gatsby soundtrack:

1. “100$ Bill” – Jay-Z

2. “Back to Black” – Beyonce Knowles and Andre 3000

3. “Bang Bang” – will.i.am

4. “A Little Party Never Killed Nobody (All We Got)” – Fergie, Q Tip and GoonRock

5. “Young and Beautiful” – Lana Del Rey

6. “Love Is the Drug” – Bryan Ferry with The Bryan Ferry Orchestra

7. “Over the Love” – Florence and the Machine

8. “Where the Wind Blows” – Coco O. of Quadron

9. “Crazy in Love” – Emeli Sande and The Bryan Ferry Orchestra

10. “Together” – The xx

11. “Hearts a Mess” – Goatee

12. “Love Is Blindness” – Jack White

13. “Into the Past” – Nero

14. “Kill and Run” – Sia

Dudamel to Participate in the London 2012 Festival

The London 2012 Summer Olympics may be 37 days away… But, Gustavo Dudamel will be getting people into the Olympic spirit this week.

On Thursday, June 21, the 31-year-old Venezuelan conductor will help kick off the London 2012 Festival, a cultural celebration across Britain tied to the Summer Olympics.

Gustavo Dudamel

Dudamel, who won a Grammy this year for Best Orchestral Performance, will lead Venezuela’s Orquesta Sinfónica Simón Bolívar in a big open-air concert at Scotland’s Stirling Castle during the kick off event, which will include a fireworks display by Lake Windermere in northwest England.

The London 2012 Festival, which runs through September 9, will include 12,000 events and performances across the United Kingdom in celebration of the Summer and Paralympic Games. Organizers say there will be 10 million tickets for free and paid-for events in such fields as film, music, theater, fashion, dance and art.

Musical stars, including Jay-Z, Rihanna, David Guetta and Elton John, films from the likes of Alfred Hitchcock and Mike Leigh and art from Yoko Ono and others will all be part of the festival, which is being described as “the biggest festival the U.K. has ever seen.”

With a budget of around £55 million ($86 million), the celebration is seen as a chance to showcase Britain’s cultural heritage and get the country in the Olympic spirit.

One of the most star-studded events of the London 2012 Festival will be a BBC Radio 1 show being dubbed the “biggest-ever free live music event.” The lineup for the June 23 and 24 extravaganza, which will feature six stages in the Hackney Marshes area of East London, includes Jay-Z, Rihanna, Flo Rida, David Guetta, Jessie J, Lana del Rey, Leona Lewis, Florence and the Machine and more.

Click here for a complete look at the London 2012 Festival.