MUSIC AND TOURS
Motown’s “Prince Of Soul,” Marvin Gaye, was already a hit artist for nearly a decade when, in 1971, he reached new heights with his album What’s Going On. An immediate landmark recording, it was the first of Gaye’s albums to break the top ten of Billboard’s Top LPs, and quickly became Motown’s best-selling record. To this day, What’s Going On is hailed as one of the greatest albums of all time, earning the number one spot on Rolling Stone magazine’s 2020 list of “The 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time.”
On January 22nd, in celebration of this groundbreaking album, while also marking the 50th anniversary of the title song’s release as a single, UMe will be issuing three digital collections that honor the depth of Gaye’s album.
First, Motown/UMe has consolidated several What’s Going On-related releases into one new digital collection, What’s Going On: Deluxe Edition/50th Anniversary. This includes the original album, plus 12 bonus tracks featuring each of the LP’s original mono single versions and their B-sides, two of which are different takes – “God Is Love” and “Sad Tomorrows,” an earlier version of “Flying High (in the Friendly Sky)” – while the pre-album single version of “What’s Going On” has no “party” intro and a false fade. Also included is the title song’s earliest mix, initially made as a reference for Motown’s in-house quality control department before horns and strings were added; a dramatic instrumental mix; a “Coffeehouse Mix” by Grammy-winning engineer Russ Elevado that emphasizes the track’s previously buried acoustic guitar, originally available on a Record Store Day exclusive 10″ EP…
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Charitable Nonprofits Send Letter to President Biden and Congressional Leaders Making Case for Pandemic Relief
On January 22, 75 national nonprofits sent a letter to President Biden and congressional leadership
Six Cities Share $745,000 in Grants Through the 2021 Childhood Obesity Prevention and Environmental Health and Sustainability Awards
The United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) and the American Beverage Foundation for a Healthy
Q the Music Sets the Tone for 2021 With New Single ‘Lust & Pain (L&P)’
A mix of Trap, Soul and Rock take center stage with the latest single from Hip Hop artist Q the Music. “Lust &Pain” is a track created by this Navy engineer currently stationed in Guam. He’s been a writer and producer for other artists for many years and over…
Jerry Garcia Music Arts Releases New Studio Outtakes Album
The Jerry Garcia Music Arts label will release a new album titled “Front Street Outtakes” on January 5. The album tracks are composed of studio outtakes from a 1994 recording session featuring Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead and Sanjay Mishra, an Indian American guitarist-composer. The collaboration showcases a…
Before She Made It Big: Shania Twain’s First Album Issued Onto Vinyl
Before her first single, ‘Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?’ placed in the Billboard country chart, before her international pop breakthrough with album, ‘Come On Over’, before her Las Vegas residency and before her recent duet with Orville Peck. She was Eilleen Edwards, better known as Shania Twain.
In…
Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis’ Mentees the RoneyBoys Aim to Heal Hearts With New Single ‘We Can Do Better’
As 2020 wrapped, socially-conscious young artists The RoneyBoys joined forces with songstress Jessica Jarrell to release the single “We Can Do Better,” a positive affirmation for the world in 2021. Written by former broadcast journalist Marco Gonzalez, the song lyrics were discovered by multi-platinum producer B. Howard who immediately…
Caterina Valente Celebrates Her 90th Birthday
Having retired from showbiz nearly 20 years ago, she often claimed that birthdays are like any other days; therefore, she declined interviews, TV- appearances, and such a disciplined dedication she gave to her career for this occasion more than 60 years.
And what a career it was! More than 1350…
Celebrities help fans choose Top Artist and Top Filmmaker in season finale of the first-ever interactive TV format born in Africa
After a nail-biting inaugural season, The Mic: Africa — the first music competition and docu-series TV format born in Africa — has announced its winning artist. Nigerian emcee, Fecko, took an eleventh-hour lead in the Take Back the Mic (TBTM) app charts, emerging as the show’s winner. As the leader among both fans and Celebrity Champions alike, he wins $25,000 and a VIP trip for two to Kigali, Rwanda, courtesy of the Rwanda Convention Bureau.
Founder and CEO of AMP Global Technologies, Derrick N. Ashong (“DNA”), built and launched the TBTM app in 2020 to reward consumers with ad-supported mobile data to discover and amplify the hottest new content. Derrick also created and hosted The Mic: Africa, based on his two-time Emmy finalist digital series, “The World Cup of Hip Hop.”
Fans used the Take Back the Mic (TBTM) app, available in the Google and iOS stores, to select 18 semi-finalists and finalists from six countries: Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Nigeria, Rwanda, and South Africa. Local filmmakers directed revealing artist profiles, offering an on-the-ground perspective while enabling the production teams to work around Covid-19 travel restrictions.
Six Celebrity Champions from across the diaspora also helped choose the winning artist: Hip Hop legends DJ…
Neon Music promotes positivity through music
Neon Music, a popular independent music publishing company, announced the beginning of its online music wellness series. Neon Music is making wellness resources available not only to musicians and the technical experts who make it possible to hear their music but also for listeners and those yet to discover a wonderful group of talented artists. The series was conceived to help people during the COVID-19 pandemic—amid the lockdowns that are making everyday life difficult and very different.
“We will be featuring music playlists that provide comfort during difficult times,” said Neon Music‘s Editor, Lucy Lerner. “We will also offer articles about music therapy, interviews with artists, and perspectives of those in the music community. We will feature artists who have written all sorts of music for your listening pleasure.”
Some of the music has been inspired by aspects of the global pandemic and songwriters who write their feelings into their music, feelings that can seem overwhelming such as depression, anxiety, and other issues. Music is known as a healing therapy and Neon Music understands that music brings people together. Music can take away fear and give people hope. Neon Music wants its listeners and readers to know…
Taye Ricks Showcases His Talent With Euphoric, Must-Listen R&B/Hip-Hop Single ‘Mission Impossible’
Emerging artist Taye Ricks returns to deliver his latest joint, “Mission Impossible.” The R&B/hip-hop vibe contains every element to get listeners grooving and uplifted. “Mission Impossible” takes the listener on a musical journey where Taye Ricks showcases his artistic versatility infusing a nostalgic R&B style with a modern hip-hop/trap…
Sarah Brightman and Queen Will Perform “Endless Rain” Composed by X Japan’s YOSHIKI
Kohaku Uta Gassen, broadcast on Japan’s public broadcaster NHK, is the annual music program in Japan, which continues to be the most popular TV program each year for the past 70 years. With an unprecedented viewership of over 40%, it has long been viewed as the true barometer of…
Top 5 Music Managers of the Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on the music industry, mirroring its impacts across all arts sectors. Numerous music events, including music festivals, concert tours, and award shows, have been canceled or postponed. While some musicians and composers were able to use the time to create new…
DJ Snoopadelic, Jordin Sparks, Estelle, Grandmaster Flash and More for ‘Together We Vibe’
Tune in for free and safely celebrate this New Year’s Eve with legendary musical performers, all while supporting the evening’s mission to raise awareness for the Community Healing Gardens non-profit.
Midnight Ball Drop Celebrity Headliners:
DJ Spoodadelic – West Coast 12:00 a.m. PT
Jordin Sparks – Mountain Time 11:00 p.m. PT
Estelle -…
New Jazz/Pop Project With Christina Jones and Kimiko Ishizaka
GoodGirlPR announced an untitled collaboration between Christina Jones and composer/pianist Kimiko Ishizaka to be released in 2021. The album will consist of original, heart wrenching songs – all in the name of saving love. Further collaborators are Corey Allen (arranger & producer) who has previously worked with the Manhattan…
After a winning performance filmed at the Triller House in Atlanta, T-Lyon received industry mentoring and two new digital ad campaigns from Wild Cherry Pepsi and Triller
By Emily Patterson / Staff WriterPepsi and Grammy-nominated artist Fat Joe announced Florida native Tyon Davis (T-Lyon) as the winner of Pepsi Wild Cherry “Your Wildest Dreams” – the first-ever virtual hip-hop talent competition available exclusively on viral entertainment platform Triller. T-Lyon’s undeniable talent and performance skills helped him outshine the thousands of hopeful entrants that competed for the winning spot.
Featuring a prestigious panel of industry talent including Fat Joe, Mike WiLL Made-It, rapper Mulatto, producer Quay Global, on-air personality Kenny Burns, and founder of the Ayers Agency Ashaunna Ayers- Pepsi Wild Cherry “Your Wildest Dreams” welcomed the top three contestants to the Triller House in Atlanta, GA where they each performed live for the judges. Streamed exclusively on Triller, users had the ability to watch the fierce competition live last night and can catch it again as it streams all weekend long.
T-Lyon has continually proved his talent over the last year in talent competitions and virtual performances across digital channels. Having garnered over 100K+ views on his Triller videos, T-Lyon has undoubtedly established his voice on the artist and music-first platform. As the winner, T-Lyon will receive a mentoring session with the esteemed panel of judges where he will gain invaluable lessons from successful industry vets, and an exclusive feature in a national Pepsi Wild Cherry digital commercial this year, featuring an original track of his co-produced by the team of judges.
“I feel extremely blessed to be the winner of the first Pepsi Wild Cherry Your Wildest Dreams contest. It took a lot of sacrifice and dedication, but…
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Colson Baker Makes Directorial Debut With First of Its Kind Musical Film Experience ‘Downfalls High’
Rock & Roll Hall Of Famer Paul Stanley Releases First Full-Length Soul Station Album
Jennifer Lopez Launches Exclusive Lifestyle Channel on Triller
Khao Partners With Memik App to Create Christmas Album for Families to Engage Amid COVID-19
While many families are forced to celebrate Christmas holiday apart, Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum producer, “Khao” has partnered with the technology company, “Memik” to create a Christmas album for families to engage during the holiday season, despite social distancing guidelines amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The app includes preset songs and features…
Re-Imagined “Feliz Navidad 50th Anniversary (FN50)” Music Video Releases Worldwide
Anthem Records released worldwide the music video for global icon José Feliciano’s “Feliz Navidad 50th Anniversary (FN50)”, the newly reimagined re-recording of his bilingual classic, “Feliz Navidad.”
Helen Murphy and Kash Tahen directed the video. It was initially released this month exclusively to Amazon Unlimited Members as part of a…
Kamran Atta: Today Will Be a Good Day Because I’m Alive
Kamran Atta, one of the very well known Iranian pop singers, has released his first English track. He has covered many hits in English, but this time, he made his own. After the 1978 Revolution in Iran, singing in other languages, especially in English, requires approval from the Iranian…
Colson Baker Makes Directorial Debut With First of Its Kind Musical Film Experience ‘Downfalls High’
Premiering on Facebook, film stars Sydney Sweeney and Chase Hudson
Colson Baker aka Machine Gun Kelly is kicking off 2021 with his directorial debut, the 49-minute musical film Downfalls High, available first on Facebook, is narrated by himself and Travis Barker, featuring Sydney Sweeney and Chase Hudson (Lil Huddy), with musical appearances by blackbear, Iann Dior and Trippie Redd.
Downfalls High will premiere on Facebook today (1/15) at 6pm pt/9pm et HERE.
Last year, the multi-hyphenate talent flourished following the release of his Billboard 200 No. 1 album Tickets to My Downfall. The album spawned a bevy of Hot 100 singles, including “bloody valentine” and “my ex’s best friend.” MGK celebrated his 2020 success by performing his hit records during Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve. The mesmerizing performance took place in an empty Times Square area where his rockstar swagger ruled. To follow up his impressive showing, MGK upped the ante with a three-song medley on Jimmy Kimmel Live. The multi-faceted star flaunted his musicality playing three different instruments throughout his fun-filled session.
The film, which started as a passion project written by Baker and Mod Sun, was filmed in Los Angeles in 2020 and fans on Facebook will get an exclusive first…
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Rock & Roll Hall Of Famer Paul Stanley Releases First Full-Length Soul Station Album
TOMORROW X TOGETHER’s First Japanese Full-Length Album ‘Still Dreaming’ to be Released in the U.S.
Global phenomenon K-pop boy group TOMORROW X TOGETHER (SOOBIN, YEONJUN, BEOMGYU, TAEHYUN, and HUENINGKAI) will release STILL DREAMING via UMe, their first full-length album in Japanese, on February 12, 2021, in the U.S.
The album title STILL DREAMING imparts the message that the five boys continue to reach for a…
Manny Halley Produced Urban Action Film ‘TRUE TO THE GAME 2’ and Soundtrack Now Available
Imani Motion Pictures/Faith Media Distribution’s urban action film TRUE TO THE GAME 2, based on the original New York Times bestseller by Teri Woods is now available video on demand. The film, which debuted on more than 250 screens nationwide on Friday, November 6th, has grossed more than $1…
Multi-Award Winning DJ and Producer Black Coffee Joins Sensorium Galaxy To Take ‘Afropolitan House’ Into VR
Since getting his first break at 2003’s Red Bull Music Academy, South African artist Black Coffee has conquered the global music industry’s hearts and minds. The DJ-producer has gone on to release five critically acclaimed artist albums (his sixth album “Subconsciously” is due to be released in February 2021),…
