John Forté conducts all of his interviews by mail. Not because he’s shy or eccentric, but because he doesn’t have a phone. See, he’s the only Grammy-winning convict at Pennsylvania’s Lorreto Federal Penitentiary with a new album to promote. Forté, 27, was behind bars when his confessional second album, I, John, was released in April. That’s why he’s done most of the interviews about it via letters from his cell. “Spiritually, I’ve never been more free in my life,” wrote the former Fugees confidant, who was sentenced to 14 years in prison in November after being found guilty of possession… Read more »
Warner Music Group (WMG) announced today that it has acquired, from edel music AG, a 50% interest in music publisher Deston Songs LLC. Deston Songs, founded in 2000 by world-renowned songwriter/producer Desmond Child and music industry veterans Winston Simone and David Simone, has quickly established itself as one of the industry’s leading independent music publishers. Under the agreement, WMG’s Warner/Chappell Music Inc. will acquire 50% of Deston with the remaining 50% continuing to be held by Deston’s founders. Desmond Child, who has been an exclusive songwriter for the company since its formation, has written songs that have sold more than… Read more »
Hard rocking acts Staind, Godsmack, and Aerosmith took home two prizes each at last night’s 15th annual Boston Music Awards at Boston’s Orpheum Theatre. Staind, fresh off a breakthrough year that saw its second Elektra album “Break the Cycle” debut at No. 1 on The Billboard 200, took act of the year and single of the year for “It’s Been Awhile.” Aerosmith took home album of the year for “Just Push Play” (Columbia) and video of the year for “Jaded,” while Godsmack won the outstanding rock band award. Lead singer Sully Erna also picked up the trophy for male vocalist… Read more »
Boston native Joey McIntyre will host the 15th annual Boston Music Awards (BMAs) at the city’s 2,700-seat Orpheum Theatre on Thursday (April 11). Acts scheduled to perform at the event include Godsmack, American Hi-Fi, Reveille, Bill Morrissey, Kay Hanley, Tracy Bonham, Tribe of Judah, Must, the Sheila Devine, Mission Of Burma, and, of course, McIntyre. Staind, Aerosmith, and American Hi-Fi lead the pack of 162 BMA nominees with seven nominations each, with Godsmack close behind with six. Other major label acts receiving multiple nominations include LFO (three), Jo Dee Messina (two), Vertical Horizon (two), Rivers Cuomo of Weezer (two), Reveille… Read more »
Aerosmith, Staind, and American Hi-Fi each earned seven nominations to lead this year’s field for the Boston Music Awards. The trio will go head to head in the act of the year, album of the year, rock band, single of the year, song of the year, and video of the year categories, while frontmen Steven Tyler (Aerosmith), Stacy Jones (American Hi-Fi), and Aaron Lewis (Staind) are all listed in the male vocalist group. This year’s awards ceremony takes place April 11 at Boston’s Orpheum Theatre. Other multiple nominees include Godsmack with six (act of the year, rock band, single of… Read more »
Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Carole King was honored with a Heroes Award by the New York chapter of the Recording Academy at the sixth Annual New York Heroes Awards on Tuesday evening (December 4). In addition to King, the gala dinner at the Roosevelt Hotel-sponsored by music-performing rights organization Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI)-paid tribute to Russell Simmons, Kiss, and Linda Moran, the president of the Songwriters Hall Of Fame. Singer-songwriter and actor Dominic Chianese (The Sopranos) hosted the event, and he performed a touching version of “Typical New Yorker” from his recently released album, Hits. Matchbox Twenty frontman Rob Thomas presented King… Read more »
Four-time Grammy Award winner Janet Jackson is set to release All For You – Special Limited Edition, as part of a brilliant-boxed set, which will include new music, award-winning videos, as well as behind the scenes footage and live performances. Set for release on November 20th, the CD and DVD will be packaged together, along with a 24-page booklet with new photos of Janet from her “All For You World Tour 2001.” “Janet Jackson’s brilliant visual sense and style in music video along with her multi-platinum All For You album is represented dynamically in this new DVD/album package,” says Ray… Read more »
“Come back to me,” the tiny figure onstage pleaded, her arms outstretched. Janet, they never left. At least that’s how it sounded as her attempt at that 1989 weeper was drowned out by two full minutes of a standing ovation – and that was three songs into the set. Pop Lolitas-of-the-week may come and go, but this Jackson, it seems, is forever, if Saturday night’s All for You tour kickoff was any indication. Following a sparsely attended set from opening R&B quartet 112 and a good 40 minutes of pre-recorded Motown hits, the arena lights went down and the screaming… Read more »
Those of you who thought The Velvet Rope marked the end of Janet Jackson’s music-to-make-you-blush motif will be surprised, if not shocked, after listening to her new album, All for You. Due out on April 24, the LP is dominated by two themes: the liberation that comes with ending a bad relationship, and sex. On the sultry ballad “Love Scene (Ooh Baby),” Janet breaks out the F-word as she fantasizes about her partner “playing with [her] body”; even steamier is “Would You Mind,” in which the Grammy Award-winner paints a rather explicit lovemaking scenario before moaning until the song’s end.… Read more »
What better way to kick off a weekend than with new music? Featuring new tracks from The 1975, Panic! at the Disco, blackbear, and more.
