Month: May 2023

NBC’s The Voice announced that country music legend Reba McEntire will serve as a coach on Season 24 of the series, replacing Blake Shelton whois leaving the show after 12 seasons.  McEntire is slated to join coaches John Legend, Niall Horan, and Gwen Stefani on the panel. McEntire previously was a Mega Mentor on the current season of The Voice, and served as a Battle Advisor for ‘Team Blake.’

McEntire turned to social media to share the news alongside a graphic displaying her name in block letters on a rotating chair and the caption: “There’s a new Coach in town! See you all this Fall! #TheVoice.”

Shelton announced his retirement ahead of Season 23, and the upcoming season will be the first without Shelton. Shelton has eight wins under his belt, and coached 15 artists whose songs have hit No. 1 on the iTunes Top Songs chart.

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The Weeknd recently revealed he would be working on his final album under his stage name, but hinted he was also thinking of releasing music under a new name. Now, the singer has changed his name on Twitter and Instagram to his birth name, Abel Tesfaye (although his handles on both social media platforms remain The Weeknd).

Tesfaye told W Magazine in an article last month: “I’m going through a cathartic path right now. It’s getting to a place and a time where I’m getting ready to close the Weeknd chapter. I’ll still make music, maybe as Abel, maybe as The Weeknd. But I still want to kill The Weeknd. And I will. Eventually. I’m definitely trying to shed that skin and be reborn.”

Fans of The Weeknd (and/or Abel) will soon be able to watch his new show on HBO, the Sam Levinson-directed series “The Idol.”

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Kylie Minogue announced that her new album “Tension” will be out Sept. 22 via BMG. Kylie tweeted: “Baby break the tension ….. my brand new album TENSIONwill be yours on 22nd September! The first single PADAM PADAM is coming soon!”

The album, Kylie’s first since 2020’s Disco, is described as a blend of “personal reflection, club abandon and melancholic high.”  Several of the tracks of “Tension” are produced and co-written by her frequent collaborator Richard “Biff” Stannard and “Disco” contributor Duck Blackwell.

Minogue said in a statement: “I started this album with an open mind and a blank page. Unlike my last two albums there wasn’t a ‘theme,’ it was about finding the heart or the fun or the fantasy of that moment and always trying to service the song. I wanted to celebrate each song’s individuality and dive into that freedom … I loved being back in the studio with my collaborators but was also able to benefit from remote recording, which we have all got used to – my mobile studio never left my side for a year and a half!  The album is a mix of songs I have written and songs which really spoke to me. Making this album helped me navigate challenging times and celebrate the now. I hope it accompanies listeners on their own journeys and becomes part of their story.”

To pre-order “Tension” head here.

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BTS have shared their latest single, “The Planet,” written for the upcoming animated series Bastions. . Bastions is an upcoming animated series that will follow a team of “rookie heroes” as they attempt to save the environment from destruction. It will premiere on May 14th via the Korean broadcasting station SBS.

“The Planet” is bilingual, as the members of BTS deliver the lyrics in English and Korean. The chorus ‘encourages listeners to look inwards to find their star power and strive for greatness.’ According to Billboard, the song will be the only release for an extended period since BTS members Jin and J-Hop have begun their mandatory service with the South Korean military; meanwhile RM, Jimin, and Suga have all focused on their solo careers since the group’s temporary break.

Listen to the song “The Planet” – here.

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Doja Cat has shared several updates about her new album recently, and now she is providing more details. The rapper/singer has been teasing the upcoming project through IG live sessions, and she now she has clarified the updated title for the album.

However before revealing the album title, Doja referred to her previous two projects “Cash Grabs.” She tweeted: “planet her and hot pink were cash-grabs and yall fell for it. sh “now i can go disappear somewhere and touch grass with my loved ones on an island while yall weep for mediocre pop.” She later tweeted that her upcoming album – which was initially called “Hell Mouth” – will now be titled “First Of All”.

Doja has also stated over the last few months that she will no longer make pop music. “no more pop … i also agree with everyone who said the majority of my rap verses are mid and corny … I know they are. I wasnt trying to prove anything I just enjoy making music but I’m getting tired of hearing yall say that i can’t so I will … pop isnt exciting to me anymore. I dont wanna make it.” 

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Lana Del Rey dropped her new video for ‘Candy Necklace’, the fourth single taken from her ninth studio album, ‘Did You Know That There’s A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd.’

The video, directed by Rich Lee, was shot in Los Angeles, coming in at over 10 minutes long. The video sees Lana take on the role of multiple Hollywood starlets throughout history including Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Short aka The Black Dahlia, and more.

Lana is set to headline Chicago’s Lollapalooza and San Francisco’s Outside Lands this August, as well as the All Things Go Music Festival in Columbia, Maryland. Lana was also announced as the final headliner for the 10th anniversary of London’s festival American Express presents BST Hyde Park, taking place on Sunday July 9th.

Take a look at the video for ‘Candy Necklace’ – here.

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