Peso Pluma to Make Debut Performance at MTV Video Music Awards

Posted on September 8, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Peso Pluma is preparing to make a grand debut appearance at the MTV Video Music Awards.

The 24-year-old Mexican singer-songwriter has been added to the list of performers for the upcoming MTV VMAs.

Peso Pluma, who is nominated for Best New Artist, Best Latin and Song of the Summer, is part of a roster of new performer additions that includes Fall Out Boy, Metro Boomin with Future, A Boogie Wit da Hoodie and Swae Lee & NAV.

They join previously announced Nicki Minaj, Olivia Rodrigo, Lil Wayne, Anitta, Doja Cat, Kelsea Ballerini, Tomorrow X Together, Demi Lovato, Karol G, Måneskin and Stray Kids.

Minaj will reprise her dual role at the VMAs as show emcee and performer for the 2023 live event from New Jersey’s Prudential Center on Tuesday, September 12.

Taylor Swift leads the pack in nominations with eight. Other multi-nominated artists include SZA with six noms, Doja Cat, Kim Petras, Miley Cyrus, Minaj, Olivia Rodrigo and Sam Smith with five each, and Blackpink, Diddy and Shakira with four each.

Fans can vote for their favorites across 15 gender-neutral categories, including “Video of the Year,” at vote.mtv.com through Friday, September 1st; voting for “Best New Artist” will remain active into the show on Tuesday, September 12th.

Mariah Carey Among Inaugural BRIT Billion Award Honorees

Posted on May 5, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a BRIT-ish invasion for Mariah Carey.

The 52-year-old half-Venezuelan American Grammy-winning singer is among the first recipients of the new BRIT Billion Award, denoting 1 billion career UK streams.

Carey is among a list of honorees that includes Lewis Capaldi, Whitney Houston, Coldplay and Sam Smith.

The BRIT Billion award, which, like the existing BRIT Certified program and its platinum, silver and gold tiers, is verified using Official Charts data.

Other artists in the inaugural class of recipients are ABBA, AJ Tracey, Anne-Marie, Ellie Goulding, George Ezra, Headie One, RAYE and Rita Ora. More artists who have surpassed the threshold will be announced in due course.

“I’m really honored to be one of the recipients of the BRIT Billion Award,” Carey said in a statement. “I’m so grateful to my fans for their endless and enduring support. I love you UK lambily and cannot wait to come back to your side of the pond and create more magical moments together.”

This is the first time in its five-decade history that the BPI’s certifications program has recognized an artist’s combined success across multiple projects. The One Billion career total will include tracks an artist has appeared on either as the principal performer or as a featured artist, as credited by the Official Charts.

The introduction of BRIT Billion reflects the extent to which streaming has transformed the music landscape for artists and fans alike over the past decade. More than 85% of the UK’s recorded music consumption now takes place through streaming.

Sophie Jones, BPI chief strategy officer and interim chief executive, said in a statement: “For a recording artist, there can be few greater sources of pride than having a Platinum or Gold disc on their wall, but in an era when success in measured in the hundreds of millions and indeed billions of streams, it was clear that we needed a new and additional way to recognize and celebrate outstanding achievement in recorded music, and I feel certain that having a BRIT Billion Award will become equally prized.”

The BRIT Billion award represents the first significant upgrade to the certifications program since April 2018, when it was rebranded from the BPI Awards to the BRIT Certified Awards.

Cardi B to Serve as Presenter at This Year’s Grammy Awards Show

Posted on February 1, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Cardi B is taking the stage on music’s biggest night…

The 30-year-old half-Dominican American Grammy-winning rap superstar will help hand out awards at the 65th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, February 5.

Previously, Cardi B made Grammy history as the first and only woman to win the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album as a solo artist was the second female rapper to have her album nominated for Album of the Year.

Other presenters include Viola Davis, Olivia Rodrigo, Shania Twain and Dwayne Johnson. Davis will become an EGOT if she wins in her category, best audio book, narration, and storytelling recording, on Sunday.

Performers set to appear on the show are Harry Styles, Lizzo, Bad Bunny, Mary J. Blige, Brandi Carlile, Luke Combs, Steve Lacy and Sam Smith & Kim Petras.

The Recording Academy made its first performers announcement a week ago. It added a big name – Styles – on Sunday, January 29. The announcement was made during the fourth quarter of the AFC Championship game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Kansas City Chiefs. The game aired on CBS, the Grammys’ network since 1973.

Three of this year’s four leading nominees – Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar and Adele – have yet to be announced as performers. But the Academy is expected to announce additional performers in the remaining days before the big show.

The 65th Annual Grammy Awards will air live from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles and will be hosted for the third year in a row by Emmy-winning comedian Trevor Noah.

The show will be broadcast live on Sunday, February 5, at 8:00 pm ET/5:00 pm PT on CBS, and will be available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+.

The 65th Annual Grammy Awards are produced by Fulwell 73 Productions for the Recording Academy. Raj Kapoor serves as showrunner and executive producer, alongside Ben Winston and Jesse Collins as executive producers. Phil Heyes joins the team for the first time as director. Eric Cook is co-executive producer with Tabitha Dumo, Tiana Gandelman, Patrick Menton, David Wild as producers.

Prior to the telecast, the Grammy Awards Premiere Ceremony will be broadcast live from the Microsoft Theater at 12:30 pm PT, and it will be streamed live on live.Grammy.com. Randy Rainbow, a first-time Grammy nominee this year for best comedy album for A Little Brains, A Little Talent, is co-hosting the show. His co-host has yet to be named.

Performers at the Premiere Ceremony include Arroj Aftab, Madison Cunningham, Samara Joy, Anoushka Shankar, Carlos Vives and The Blind Boys of Alabama with La Santa Cecilia.

Presenters at the Premiere Ceremony include Babyface, Domi and JD Beck, Myles Frost, Arturo O’Farrill, Malcolm-Jamal Warner and Jimmy Jam.

Jessie Reyez to Appear on Sam Smith’s New Single “Gimme”

Posted on January 9, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Jessie Reyez is about to gimme more…

The 31-year-old Colombian singer, who was born and raised in Canada, is joining voices with Sam Smith and Koffee for the new single “Gimme.”

Smith announced the new single over the weekend, saying it will be officially released on Wednesday, January 11.

Teasing the new track on Instagram and TikTok, Smith also shared a snippet of the song’s infectious chorus, with them and Reyez singing the word “gimme what I want” over an undulating tropical beat.

Fans of Reyez will also be excited to know that this is not the only time the R&B star will be appearing on Smith’s new album Gloria — the singer is also credited as a featured artist on the song “Perfect.”

Reyez was also announced as Smith’s special guest for their upcoming U.S. tour, which will see them hit arenas around the country this summer.

Gloria, which will be released on Friday, January 27, is marked to be something of a breakthrough for Smith in terms of songwriting and production.

Speaking to Billboard for its August cover story last year, the star said that fans can expect to hear Smith’s “first non-heartbreak album,” and that the project was centered around the concept of queer joy. “I think joy for me, and for a lot of queer people, is quite a dangerous place,” Smith said “We’re all masters of pain, and I think it’s actually a very courageous act to step into the queer joy of it all.”

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Danny Pino to Appear on Soundtrack for Film Adaptation of Broadway Musical “Dear Evan Hansen”

Posted on August 31, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Danny Pino isn’t just starring in Dear Evan Hansen… He’s also appearing on the soundtrack.

Universal has announced the track list for the film adaptation of the award-winning Broadway musical Dear Evan Hansen, with the 47-year-old Cuban American actor among the talents appearing on the album.

Pino appears on the film’s track “Requiem,” alongside Kaitlyn Dever and Amy Adams.

The soundtrack, which will be available on September 9 – the same day as the film’s theatrical release via Interscope Records, will also feature Sam Smith with Summer Walker, SZA, Carrie Underwood with Dan + Shay, Finneas, and Tori Kelly. They’ll be performing reimagined versions of the musical’s Tony Award-winning songs and as well as original recordings from the film’s score.

Songwriting duo Benj Pasek and Justin Paul also wrote original tracks for the movie adaptation of Dear Evan Hansen. The album also features 16 tracks that include recordings by the film’s cast.

“Pasek and Paul’s songs from the Dear Evan Hansen stage play are so amazing and timeless — newly recorded by our film’s cast for the soundtrack (and freshly produced by Benj Pasek, Justin Paul, Alex Lacamoire and Dan Romer, and supervised by Jordan Carroll) — and they’re now also complemented by two new original songs written for the film (with one of them co-written and performed in the film by Amandla Stenberg),” Mike Knobloch, president of global film music and publishing at Universal Pictures, tells Billboard.

Pino portrays Larry Mora in the film.

Demi Lovato Releases Deluxe Edition of New Album “Dancing With the Devil… The Art of Starting Over”

Posted on April 5, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Demi Lovato is livin’ the de(luxe) life…

The 28-year-old half-Mexican American singer/actress has unveiled the deluxe edition of her seventh album Dancing With the Devil… The Art of Starting Over.

The deluxe LP includes four additional tracks, one bonus track titled “Sunset,” and three live acoustic versions of the first three “prelude” songs of the album, “Anyone,” “Dancing With the Devil” and “ICU (Madison’s Lullabye).”

The live acoustic songs were recorded during the drive-in premiere of her four-part YouTube Originals docuseries Demi Lovato: Dancing With the Devil, where she also premiered “Dancing With the Devil” and “ICU.”

“Sunset,” a gospel-tinged love ballad, was revealed to be a part of the album during the SXSW premiere of the doc, as well as another track titled “Say a Prayer” that’s not included in the deluxe version.

The pop superstar released Dancing With the Devil on April 2 with 19 tracks, including collaborations with Sam Fischer, Ariana Grande, Saweetie and Noah Cyrus. The expanded edition digital bonus tracks of her seventh LP include her previously released top 20 hit “I Love Me,” “I’m Ready” featuring Sam Smith, and “OK Not to Be OK” with Marshmello.

Demi Lovato to Host This Year’s People’s Choice Awards

Posted on October 27, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Demi Lovato is the People’s host…

The 28-year-old half-Mexican American singer/actress is set to host the 2020 E!’s People’s Choice Awards, which will air on November 15 live from Barker Hangar in Santa Monica.

The news was revealed Tuesday during a Twitter conversation between the Grammy-nominated singer and the cable network.

Lovato, who has won five People’s Choice Awards in 12 nominations, has had a busy 2020, with performances at the Grammys and the Super Bowl (where she sang the national anthem) and the release of singles “Anyone,” “I Love You” and “I’m Ready,” the latter in a duet with Sam Smith.

Recent singles include “OK No to Be OK” with Marshmello and “Commander in Chief.” On screen, her recent credits including a role on the final season of NBC’s Will & Grace and in Netflix’s Eurovision.

She now will emcee a hybrid People’s Choice ceremony that will present awards in 44 categories across entertainment and pop culture.

Tyler Perry and Jennifer Lopez will receive special honors during the ceremony, which will air from 9:00 -11:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Demi Lovato Releases the Somber Breakup Ballad “Still Have Me”

Posted on October 5, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Demi Lovato is letting us know she is all she needs.

The 28-year-old half-Mexican American singer/actress has released a new single “Still Have Me,” with the song arriving just days after her split from fiancé Max Ehrich became public knowledge.

The breakup ballad features Lovato singing the lyrics, “I’m a mess and I’m still broken/ But I’m finding my way back/ And it feels like someone’s stolen /All the light I ever had.”

Later, she adds, “Like the world disappeared/ And I’m laying right here/ While the silence is piercing/ And it hurts to breathe.”

Lovato shared the song in a tweet alongside a caption that reads: “Music is always there for me.”

Lovato’s split from Ehrich made headlines last week. The couple had been dating for six months and had been engaged for the last two.

Music is always there for me… pic.twitter.com/I77rrfFj8r

— Demi Lovato (@ddlovato) September 30, 2020

“Still Have Me” is the first solo single Lovato has released since March’s “I Love Me.” She has since dropped the collaborations “I’m Ready,” with Sam Smith, “Lonely Hearts” with Jojo, and “OK Not to Be OK” with Marshmello.

Demi Lovato Releases Emo-fied Remix of “I Love Me” Featuring Travis Barker

Posted on May 7, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Demi Lovatois getting all emo…

The 27-year-old half-Mexican America singer/actress has released the official remix of her latest single “I Love Me” featuring Travis Barker.

Complete with a Myspace-themed lyric video, the new version of the song is every former emo kid’s dream as Lovato transforms the single into something that would sound perfectly at home amid the punchy pop-rock of her 2008 debut album, Don’t Forget.

“‘Cause I’m a black belt when I’m beating up on myself/ But I’m an expert at givin’ love to somebody else/ I, me, myself and I, don’t see eye to eye, me, myself and I/ Oh, why do I compare myself to everyone?/ And I always got my finger on the self-destruct/ I wonder when I love me is enough/ I wonder when I love me is enough,” she belts out over crunchy guitars and the iconic Blink-182 drummer’s roiling percussion.

First released back in March following her triumphant performance at the 2020 Grammys,“I Love Me” is set to serve as the lead single for the pop star’s forthcoming seventh studio album, and has thus far peaked at No. 18 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Lovato has since collaborated with Sam Smithon the bombastic “I’m Ready” from the non-binary singer’s as-yet-untitled follow-up to 2017’s The Thrill of It All.

Nikki & Brie Bella Among Presenters at This Weekend’s iHeartRadio Music Festival

Posted on September 19, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Nikki and Brie Bella are headed to the iHeartRadio Music Festival.

The 34-year-old half-Mexican American professional wrestling twins, The Bella Twins, have been added to the list of presenters at iHeartMedia’s iHeartRadio Music Festival this weekend.

Other celebrity presenters for the festival — which takes over Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena on Friday and Saturday night — are Paula Abdul, Taran Killam, Ireland Baldwin, Erin Foster,Sara Foster, Ken Jeong, Sarah Hyland, Lais Ribeiro, Shanina Shaik, Jeff Gordon, Kristin Cavallari, KJ Apa, Skeet Ulrich, Luke Perry,Sharna Burgess, Candice Patton and Nicole Maines.

Notable attendees scheduled to hit the desert are *NSYNC‘s Lance Bass, Disney Channel star Sofia Carson and country singer Jana Kramer.

Performances kick off Friday with Fleetwood Mac, Jack White, Mariah Carey, Jason Aldean, Sam Smith, Panic! At The Disco, Kygo, Rae Sremmurd and Childish Gambino and then continue Saturday night with Justin Timberlake, Carrie Underwood, Imagine Dragons, Luke Bryan, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Kelly Clarkson, Shawn Mendes and Logic. The Daytime Stage on Saturday afternoon will feature Logic, Dua Lipa, 5 Seconds of Summer, Lil Uzi Vert, Dustin Lynch, MAX and Bazzi.

An exclusive live stream will air both nights of the festival and the Daytime Stage via CWTV.com and The CW app, as well as be broadcast across iHeartRadio stations.

The CW will then broadcast a two-night television special of the event on October 7 and 8 from 8:00 to 10:00 pm ET.

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