Jennifer Lopez to Perform as Part of “Global Citizen Live” Concert Event

Posted on August 10, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Jennifer Lopez is going global to defend the planet…

Global Citizen Live has revealed additional names of performers for its worldwide show on September 25, with the 52-year-old Puerto Rican superstar among those taking the stage.

J.Lo — who also performed as part of Vax Live in Los Angeles a few months ago — Taboo and his fellow Black Eyed Peas and Meek Mill are among the acts just added to the 24-hour event, which will feature performances on six continents.

Global Citizen, the international advocacy group behind the Vax Live concert on May 8, said next month’s event is aimed at defeating poverty, Covid and climate change.

The acts revealed today join Adam Lambert, Alessia Cara, Andrea Bocelli, Angélique Kidjo, Billie Eilish, BTS, Burna Boy, Camila Cabello, Christine and the Queens, Coldplay, Davido, Demi Lovato, DJ Snake, Doja Cat, Duran Duran, Ed Sheeran, Femi Kuti, Green Day, H.E.R., Hugh Jackman & Deborra-lee Furness, Keith Urban, Lang Lang, Lizzo, Lorde, Metallica, Rag’n’Bone Man, Ricky Martin, Shawn Mendes, The Lumineers, The Weeknd, Tiwa Savage and Usher.

Global Citizen’s stated goal for the event is call on world leaders, major corporations and foundations to donate at least 1 billion Covid-19 vaccine doses to those most in need by September, help the 41 million people on the brink of famine by contributing enough meals to feed everyone for the next year and combat climate change by developing science-based targets to reach net-zero emissions.

Broadcast and streaming partners for Global Citizen Live include ABC, ABC News Live, BBC, FX, iHeartRadio, Hulu, YouTube, Time and Twitter.

Here are the full concert lineups for September 25, with more locations and performances to be announced, per Global Citizen:

NEW YORK CITY
Coldplay, Billie Eilish, Camila Cabello, Jennifer Lopez, Lizzo, Meek Mill, Shawn Mendes (with guest performances by Alessia Cara, Burna Boy, Cyndi Lauper, Jon Batiste and Lang Lang)

PARIS
Ed Sheeran, Doja Cat, DJ Snake, H.E.R., Black Eyed Peas, Christine and the Queens (with a guest performance by Angélique Kidjo)

LAGOS, NIGERIA
Femi Kuti, Davido, Tiwa Savage, Made Kuti

Camila Cabello Makes History as “Never Be the Same” Reaches No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult Pop Songs Chart

Posted on June 27, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Camila Cabello is making history …

The 21-year-old Mexican and Cuban singer’s “Never Be the Same” rises 2-1 on Billboard‘s Adult Pop Songs radio airplay chart, dated June 30.

The track previously led the Pop Songs airplay chart for three weeks beginning May 12.

The song is Cabello’s second No. 1 on each list from her debut album, Camila, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 dated January 27. The set’s lead single, “Havana,” featuring Young Thug, led Pop Songs for seven weeks (beginning December 9) and Adult Pop Songs for one frame (March 3).

With “Never” following “Havana,” Cabello is the first artist to crown both the Pop Songs and Adult Pop Songs charts with the first two promoted singles from a debut LP.

Lorde had previously come closest to achieving the feat, as “Royals,” the lead single from her first studio full-length, Pure Heroine, ruled both rankings in 2013. Follow-up “Team” topped Adult Pop Songs but peaked at No. 2 on Pop Songs.

The Pop Songs chart, which began in 1992, measures total weekly plays, as tabulated by Nielsen Music, among its reporting panel of 160 mainstream top 40 stations. Adult Pop Songs (launched in Billboard magazine in 1996) reflects airplay on 84 adult top 40 stations.

While “Never” is Cabello’s second total Adult Pop Songs No. 1, after “Havana,” “Never” became her third leader on Pop Songs, after “Havana” and “Bad Things,” with Machine Gun Kelly, for two weeks in February 2017.

Additionally, Fifth Harmony, with Cabello as a member, led Pop Songs for two frames with “Work From Home,” featuring Ty Dolla $ign, in June 2016; Cabello was a member of the now-on-hiatus group from its 2012 inception to December 2016.

Sofia Receives Vevo Lift Nomination

Posted on October 13, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a special is Lift off for Raquel Sofia…

The Puerto Rican singer-songwriter, nominated for Best New Artist at this year’s Latin Grammys, has received a nomination in Vevo’s artist development program, Lift.

Launched in 2011, the program lends promotional support to a handful of emerging artists per year, giving them a special landing page on Vevo with exclusive content including interviews, behind-the-scenes footage, video premieres and more to expose their music to a broader audience.

Jessie J, Sam Smith, Lorde, and Tori Kelly are among the famous artists who make up part of the Vevo Lift alumni.

In this current round, Sofia is up for the Vevo Lift slot with Canadian R&B singer/songwriter Alessia Cara and Swedish pop singer Zara Larsson.

Online fan voting determines the winner, but if Sofia — who herself has a love affair with jazz, blues, folk, rock and pop — does anywhere near as well as she’s done on Spotify (17 million total streams and counting), she stands a good chance.

And then there’s the fact that she’s learned from the best, having performed backing vocals for Shakira and Juanes, among others.

“They’re so professional and so talented and they’ve worked so hard, so you get to see why they are at the top,” she recently told Billboard of working with major artists. “So I guess more than advice I learned just from being around them, like osmosis, just absorbing everything that they did, watching them perform. It’s just incredible.”

“I just remember listening to a lot of Bob Marley, the Beatles, Juan Luis Guerra and Shakira. Wanting to do that, especially the songwriting part,” she told us when discussing her childhood in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico and the influences around her debut album, Te Quiero Los Domingos.

Fans can vote for Sofia here until October 19.

Miguel Reveals New Music on His SoundCloud Page

Posted on December 20, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Miguel is in a sharing mood…

The 29-year-old half-Mexican American singer-songwriter has released three new songs on his SoundCloud page.

From the looks of it, Miguel is working on a cohesive new project of his own. Before 2012’s Kaleidoscope Dream and after his debut, the singer released three free EPs, which helped build buzz while showing the new direction his music was taking.

Of the three songs, “Coffee” is the strongest, full of Miguel’s trademark mixture of big, fuzzy guitars and sweet romance.

Since Kaleidoscope Dream, Miguel has been staying busy mostly by working for others. He added some hooks to rap songs, contributed to the soundtrack for the TV show Girls, and dueted with both Janelle Monae and Mariah Carey. He also helped write “Rocket” for Beyonce — an explicit D’Angelo homage — and “Kind Of… Sometimes…. Maybe…” for Jessie Ware, which Billboard recently named one of the Top Ten R&B Tracks of the year.

He also teamed with Lorde and Chemical Brothers on The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Pt. 1 soundtrack.

Ferreira Performs New Single “Guardian” at California Concert

Posted on December 1, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Sky Ferreira has a special guardian…

The 22-year-old part-Brazilian singer-songwriter has shared new music that could be fit for a highly anticipated sophomore album.

Ferreira, who released her debut album Night Time, My Time in late 2013, performed “Guardian” at a recent show at Santa Ana, California’s Observatory.

The song showcases how far Ferreira’s live vocals have come since she hit the scene.

“I wanna be free from the dark that lives deep inside me,” sings Ferreira, projecting like Florence Welch and emoting like Lorde.

There’s plenty of room for a commanding vocal performance here, with little more than a dramatic drum march and distant, twinkling synthesizer to guide the song along. The Santa Ana Bars can help you access your party side.

Back on Nov. 21, Billboard reported that Ferreira is currently working on her new album with Primal Scream‘s Bobby Gillespie and Andrew Innes.

Lopez & Iggy Azalea to Perform “Booty” at the American Music Awards

Posted on November 21, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

It’ll be a bootylicious weekend for Jennifer Lopez…

The 45-year-old Puerto Rican singer/actress and American Idol judge will bring her high-octane single “Booty” to the American Music Awards stage on Sunday alongside Iggy Azalea.

But Lopez and Azalea promise their performance will be completely network television-appropriate. This is the first time the duo will perform the sexy track together on television.

After TMZ reported Thursday they “have created excruciating stress” on the network censors and executives due to the risqué nature of the song and its music video, the awards top-nominated artist Azalea responded promising neither nipples nor vaginas will be exposed.

She added on Twitter, “with that being said, we aren’t performing in turtleneck sweaters either…. hahahahaha ;)”

Lopez and Azalea join a list of performers that includes 5 Seconds of Summer, Mary J. Blige, Garth Brooks, Charli XCX, Fergie, Selena Gomez, Ariana Grande, Imagine Dragons, Jessie J, Lil Wayne, Lorde, Magic!, Nicki Minaj, One Direction and Sam Smith.

Pitbull will serves as the night’s host.

The 2014 AMAs will broadcast at 8:00 pm ET on November 23 on ABC, courtesy of Dick Clark Productions.

Blacc to Serve as a Presenter at This Year’s American Music Awards

Posted on November 11, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Aloe Blacc is set to make a statement at this year’s American Music Awards.

The 35-year-old Panamanian American singer has been added to the list of presenters set to take the stage at the upcoming AMAs.

Blacc joins Orange Is the New Black stars Taylor Schilling and Uzo Aduba, along with reality siblings Kendall and Kylie Jenner, as the latest additions.

Elizabeth Banks, Jamie Foxx, Julianne Hough, Jessie J, Heidi Klum, Olivia Munn and Emmy Rossum also are set to present at the fan-voted awards show, which will air live on ABC starting at 8:00 pm ET on Sunday, November 23, from the Nokia Theater L.A. Live.

As previously announced, the show will feature performances by 5 Seconds of Summer, Iggy Azalea, Mary J. Blige, Garth Brooks, Charli XCX, Fergie, Selena Gomez, Imagine Dragons, Lorde, One Direction, Sam Smith, Taylor Swift and Pitbull.

Pitbull will also serve as the event’s host. Voting is currently ongoing.

Fergie to Perform at This Year’s American Music Awards

Posted on October 27, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Fergie is heading back to the stage as a solo artist…

The 39-year-old part-Mexican American singer and Black Eyed Peas member has been added to the lineup of performers at this year’s American Music Awards.

Dick Clark Productions has confirmed that Fergie, as well as One Direction and Lorde, will perform at the fan-voted awards show, set to air live from 8:00 – 11:00 pm ET on November 23 on ABC.

Fergie will make her worldwide television debut performing her first single since 2006, “L.A. LOVE (la la),” the debut track from her upcoming sophomore album.

As previously announced, other musical artists scheduled to appear on the show include 5 Seconds of Summer, Charli XCX, Mary J. Blige, Sam Smith and Pitbull, who will also host the event at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live.

Gomez Named Favorite International Artist at the MuchMusic Video Awards

Posted on June 16, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Selena Gomez has Much(Music) to celebrate…

The 21-year-old half-Mexican American singer/actress earned her first-ever MuchMusic Video Award during the Canadian music channel’s awards ceremony on Sunday from Downtown Toronto.

The “Come & Get It” singer beat out Imagine Dragons,  Katy Perry, Lorde  and Miley Cyrus  to claim the Your Fave International Artist or Group award.

Gomez was not in attendance to accept the award in person.

Maldonado & Her Pentatonix Members Sign with RCA Records

Posted on May 14, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Kirstin Maldonado has landed a new recording contract…

The half-Mexican American/part-Spanish singer and her fellow Pentatonix members have signed with RCA Records.

Maldonado and her a cappella quintet members, The Sing-Off season-three champions and viral stars, is known mostly for their creative covers of pop hits like Lorde‘s “Royals” and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis‘ “Can’t Hold Us,” evolution-style arrangements and original songs.

“We are thrilled to have Pentatonix join RCA,” said RCA president and COO Tom Corson. “Their musicality and special vocal abilities have enabled them to create innovative original songs as well as re-create some of today’s biggest hits. Pentatonix is unique to our business and we look forward to working with them as we take their talents to new and exciting heights everywhere in the world.”

“We’re really excited to start this new chapter of our career with RCA,” said the group — consisting of Maldonado, Scott Hoying, Mitch Grassi, Avi Kaplan and Kevin Olusola — in a statement. “We feel like we’ve found a home where we can truly develop our artistry with the best in the industry.”

Following their Sing-Off win in 2011, the electro-infused quintet has released three albums via Madison Gate Records (PTX Volume 1, PTXmas and PTX Volume 2, selling over 500,000 copies combined) and collected over 445 million views and more than 5.6 million subscribers on YouTube.

The group wraps its sold-out European tour on May 18, following a sold-out North American tour.

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