ASCAP Pop Awards Honor ‘Stay’ as Song of the Year, Dr. Luke as Most Played Songwriter, Sony Music as Top Publisher

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic Imagine Adele happy, and you’re at least part of the way toward understanding the appeal of Lauren Daigle, the powerhouse singer whose self-titled third album — and first with Atlantic Records — came out May 12. Of course, making a joyful noise has been something of a mandate for Daigle, who became arguably the biggest star to arise out of the Christian music scene in the last 10-15 years before entering pop crossover territory. But even if peacefulness and positivity weren’t part of the job description up to this point, Daigle is someone who naturally exudes good vibes, in and out of song. As she puts it, quoting her friend Natalie Hemby, Daigle has a “little hippie thing” going on, which she attributes in part to her Louisiana upbringing, that has erupting in perpetual grins to go with her inner groove.

Kim Petras has unveiled the cover image and the full tracklist of her official major label debut album, Feed The Beast.

Foo Fighters have officially revealed their new drummer, who will take over from the late Taylor Hawkins. Josh Freese has joined Dave Grohl and the rest of the band ahead of the release of new album But Here We Are and an upcoming summer of live shows and festival appearances.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic “More stars than there are in heaven!” crowed Peter Zaremba, lead singer of the Fleshtones, taking a cue from MGM’s famous slogan of the 1930s and ’40s as he boisterously extolled the cast of performers taking part in Friday night’s tribute to the garage-rock of the middle and 1960s. The salute took the form of a semi-reconstruction of the 1972 compilation album “Nuggets,” put together by the Wild Honey Foundation as one of its annual autism benefits at the Alex Theatre in Glendale, with the original compiler of “Nuggets,” Lenny Kaye, on board as emcee, resident historian, cheerleader and intermittent singer-guitarist.

Miley Cyrus has said she isn’t going to head out on a lengthy headline tour in support of recent album ‘Endless Summer Vacation’.Her last arena headline tour was in support of 2013’s ‘Bangerz’. In 2015, she headed out on the 8-date ‘Milky Milky Milk’ tour in support of fifth album ‘Miley Cyrus & Her Dead Petz’ while 2022’s ‘Attention’ tour consisted of just five shows across America.

Bethenny Frankel is the latest star to question Prince Harry and Meghan Markle after their “near catastrophic car chase” earlier this week.

Three of this year’s Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue cover stars celebrated the release at a launch party on Friday night (May 19) in Hollywood, Florida.

In a bold reaction to market trends, Korean entertainment powerhouse HYBE Corporation — best known as the home of K-Pop superstars BTS — is more bullish than ever, expanding out of its core record label, talent management and concert production business into several other areas, and now bills itself as a global entertainment lifestyle platform.

Bethenny Frankel is royally roasting Prince Harry and Meghan Markle for their alleged paparazzi car chase incident.

alice + olivia teamed up with The Golden Pear in Southampton, Bridgehampton, and East Hampton, New York, to launch a stylish and delicious collaboration. The designer, whose pieces have been spotted on Meghan Markle, Beyonce, Gwyneth Paltrow, Gigi Hadid, Jessica Alba, and Katy Perry, partnered with the popular gourmet market, loved by Justin and Hailey Bieber, Kendall Jenner, Robert Downey Jr., Molly Sims, and Conor McGregor, to create a special latte and cookies. The Staceface Vanilla Latte is made up of espresso, almond milk, vanilla-sweetened monk fruit, and topped with foam and cinnamon, and The Staceface sugar cookies make the perfect addition for some extra sweetness.Beyond enjoying the yummy drink and treat, customers can also enter to win prizes by taking a selfie with their coffee cup, tagging @aliceandolivia, and using the #StaceSelfie #GoldenSummer hashtags, or by scanning a QR code at any Golden Pear location.The available rewards on deck: Tickets to Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour concert, The Palm Tree Festival, and Governors Ball, gift packages from Too Faced, U Beauty, Sun Bum, The Slip, and Dermstore, workout classes from Melissa Wood Health and The Class by Taryn Toomy, a massage at Gurney's, an iPad, and more.If you can’t make it to The Hamptons, New Yorkers can join in on the fun by visiting The Golden Pear pop-up at the brand’s flagship store on Madison Avenue in New York City from Friday, May 19 to Sunday, May 21.  Check Out Rihanna's Most Standout Maternity Style Statements Beyoncé Kicks Off Renaissance World Tour in Glittering Style Met Gala Drama: The 14 Most Jaw-Dropping Moments to Ever Happen  

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic All these decades on, Paul Simon is still looking for angels in the architecture. Maybe especially now; he’s 81 and, like many of his contemporaries, thinking about end-of-life issues both spiritual and corporeal. The observations in his quietly stunning new album, ”Seven Psalms,” reflect a sort of consummate maturity: There aren’t many more stages of ripeness you can move on to, in this life, beyond the one where a hard out looms. “Psalms” is a collection of songs with concerns in the past, present and (maybe) future, with Simon briefly looking back at some bridges burned; looking presently at how little the topical concerns that divide us seem to matter in the face of mortality; and looking ahead to see… well, to see if there is an ahead, as afterlife concerns remain as murky in old age as they did in youth.

, a new four-part Hulu documentary series from FX and  explores the rise and fall of a megachurch — and the charismatic pastor at the center of it all.Most of the public first heard of Carl Lentz over a decade ago. He made headlines as the «spiritual advisor» spotted hanging out with Justin Bieber, who was in the midst of a notorious spree of minor arrests and public altercations (remember the mop bucket?). Lentz co-founded and served as the head pastor at Hillsong NYC — an offshoot of the original Australian megachurch — from 2010-2020, eventually becoming something of a star in his own right as A-listers flocked to the casual and contemporary services and membership numbers skyrocketed.While Hillsong projected an image of a progressive church for a new age, many interviewed in the series paint the real story in a different light.

Dipped in gold! Martha Stewart was a metallic dream at the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue release party in New York City on Thursday, May 18.

Martha Stewart, Kim Petras and Brooks Nader are three of the newest Sports Illustrated cover stars, and they celebrated the feat at a launch party for the publication’s Swimsuit Issue on Thursday night (May 18) in New York City.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic Rhino Records is launching a quarterly series of limited-edition vinyl releases intended to appeal to LP-loving audiophiles, with records that are cut directly from analog sources by one of the most revered names in the mastering business, Kevin Gray. The first two releases in the Rhino High Fidelity series, both out today, are the Cars’ self-titled debut album from 1978 and John Coltrane’s 1964 album “Coltrane’s Sound.” It won’t be a high-volume series: The releases will be limited to 5,000 numbered copies, with only two new titles issued per quarter. Each catalog album will have lacquers cut by Gray from the original analog tapes, pressed on 180-gram vinyl, with glossy, fold-out, “tip-on” jackets in the old-school style and supplemental printed inserts with modern essays or interviews.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic Jimmie Allen addressed his wife, who is divorcing him, in an Instagram post Thursday afternoon, publicly apologizing to her for what he continues to characterize as a consensual “affair,” and what a woman who used to be one of his managers claims in a lawsuit was sexual assault and rape. “I want to publicly apologize to my wife, Alexis, for humiliating her with my affair,” Allen writes in the post. “I’m embarrassed that my choices have brought shame on her. That’s something she did not deserve at all. I also want to apologize to my children for being a poor example of a man and a father.” Allen’s wife is pregnant with their third child.

, a new four-part Hulu documentary series from FX and explores the rise and fall of a megachurch — and the charismatic pastor at the center of it all.Most of the public first heard of Carl Lentz over a decade ago. He made headlines as the «spiritual advisor» spotted hanging out with Justin Bieber, who was in the midst of a notorious spree of minor arrests and public altercations (remember the mop bucket?). Lentz co-founded and served as the head pastor at Hillsong NYC — an offshoot of the original Australian megachurch — eventually becoming something of a star in his own right as A-listers flocked to the casual and contemporary services.«People say we cater to celebrities,» Lentz told  back in 2015.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic With a new exhibit celebrating the Songwriters Hall of Fame that has opened at the Grammy Museum in downtown Los Angeles, the facility finally has a space in which the pen is definitively mightier than the sword. Although there are some axes on view, too — but this is an exhibit where attendees are at least as likely to ooh and aah over Sammy Cahn’s typewriter or Burt Bacharach’s hand-written scores as they are Tom Petty’s guitar or Jimmy Jam’s keytar. The range of artifacts on display in “The Power of Song: A Songwriters Hall of Fame Exhibit” runs a gamut from from Irving Berlin’s piano and Cole Porter’s walking stick to material contributions from contemporary writers like Benny Blanco and Imagine Dragons’ Dan Reynolds. In-between those poles, you can find handwritten lyrics and sheet music, telegrams, production notes, cassette demo tapes, Oscars, and — lest a writers’ exhibit seem like too much of a paper chase — even some jackets worn by more sartorially flashy writer-performers like John Legend and Annie Lennox.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic A new documentary about Avicii, the late Swedish DJ who became an international phenomenon in the 2010s, is underway, with Lawrence Bender, known for his many projects with Quentin Tarantino, and longtime talent manager Orlando John as producing partners. John will co-direct the film with Jonas Trukanas. “Avicii changed the music industry,” said John, a Dutch talent manager who works with musician Wyclef Jean, actor Joel Kinnaman and others. “People think they know the story, but they have really no clue as to what actually happened. I feel a profound responsibility to ensure that it’s told accurately and objectively. This documentary will give the audiences a deeper understanding of the brand that left an indelible mark on music and culture.”

Sports Illustrated is coming under fire for putting Kim Petras, a transgendered pop star, on one of its covers for the magazine’s annual Swimsuit Issue. Petras was revealed alongside Martha Stewart, Megan Fox and Brooks Nader as SI’s cover models f

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic What might have felt like double jeopardy has turned into a double win for Ed Sheeran, as the pop superstar prevailed in yet a second copyright infringement lawsuit filed over the song “Thinking Out Loud,.” The same judge who oversaw the previous case dismissed this additional suit on Tuesday before it ever got to trial. This like-minded lawsuit had been filed by Structured Asset Sales LLC, another party with an interest in the 1973 Marvin Gaye hit “Let’s Get It On,” similarly contending that Sheeran’s 2014 smash infringed on the previous song’s copyright. The company owns part of songwriter Ed Townsend’s share of the Gaye tune; it was heirs of Townsend who filed the previous unsuccessful lawsuit. The result was much the same, with or without a trial, with the elements shared by the two tunes being judged “common.”

Alabama Barker is taking heat for her latest rap video!

Fame and faith. Justin Bieber and wife Hailey Bieber are among the A-listers who have attended Hillsong Church.

Ariana Grande is celebrating two years of marriage with Dalton Gomez. On Monday, the singer shared photos from her wedding on her Instagram story, writing “2” with a heart, “(3.5 together!!!)” and “I love him so.”The singer also reposted a gallery of photos from their special day in 2021. She shared the post a week after they said “I do” on May 26, 2021.A post shared by Ariana Grande (@arianagrande)Hailey Bieber gets emotional about having kids with Justin Bieber: ‘I can’t imagine’Lily-Rose Depp reveals relationship with rapper Danielle BalbuenaBad Bunny and Kendall Jenner rocked matching shoes at the Lakers gameGrande, who is currently filming the two-part adaptation of Wicked, and Gomez’s love story started in 2020 when she was shopping for a home.

the second-ever transgender model to do so.The publication is facing backlash from conservatives suggesting to boycott the publication for featuring a trans woman, though many people clapped right back at anti-transgender remarks.The artist was one of four women to appear alongside Megan Fox, Brooks Nader and Martha Stewart in the 2023 edition, and she opened up about the “pressure” she feels from being an icon in the LGBTQ+ community.“It’s definitely a scary time to be transgender in America, but there’s also so much more representation than there’s ever been, and there’s so many things on the bright side,” Petras, 30, told SI in her cover interview amid an onslaught of anti-LGBTQ legislation popping up across the country.“I do feel a pressure sometimes to represent the trans community with everything I do,” the Grammy winner admitted. “Because I feel very blessed that I am at this point where I have all these amazing opportunities that I’ve worked really hard for, and feel so happy when I hear from trans people in general that they’re inspired by me.”Despite marking a win for the LGBTQ community, it sparked outrage against diverse representation from conservatives who were quick to compare the trans-inclusive cover to the widespread backlash Bud Light received after teaming up with transgender social media star Dylan Mulvaney.“Except Kim Petras is not there because of her popularity with SI readership, but because SI editorial despises its readership, just as Bud Light management despises its customer base,” one Twitter user wrote in response to SI’s tweet about Petras’ cover.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic A film rendering of the two-night 90th birthday tribute to Willie Nelson at the Hollywood Bowl in April will be coming to movie theaters sooner rather than later. “Long Story Short: Willie Nelson 90” will appear on the big screen across the U.S. for three nights, with an initial showing on June 11 followed by repeat screenings on June 13-14. The running time is being described as “two hours plus,” which means editors have a big job on their hands cutting down the more than six hours of music that transpired April 29-30 at the Bowl, with very little overlap of material between the two nights. A lot of artists who appeared at one or both shows will necessarily not make the cut.

DEALSMinistry Of Sound has signed LF System. “We’re absolutely buzzing to be working with such an iconic label for the dance music scene and it feels like the perfect home to be releasing our new music on”, say the duo. “And finally, we are able to share our new single with the world and hope that you love it as much as we do!” What’s that? A new single? Yes, the first release under the deal is ‘Dancing Shoes (Take Me Higher)’.BMG has acquired the artist royalties associated with nine Pointer Sisters albums released between 1978 and 1988, as well as 100% of their US royalties, including from their 1982 song ‘I’m So Excited’.

Kim Petras has announced she'll be releasing an album called Feed The Beast, her major label debut. "The story begins on June 23rd," she wrote on social media. "Feed The Beast." The record will be released on Republic Records/Amigo Records.

Megan Fox opened up in a revealing interview with Sports Illustrated.

The infamous now-disgraced ex-pastor at the head of uber-popular celeb church Hillsong is speaking out. And his wife is, too.

Carl Lentz, the former Hillsong pastor known for standing at the pulpit of a mega celebrity church, admitted to cheating on his wife with their family nanny while at the helm of the U.S.-based ministry. In a new FX docuseries, Lentz reveals the highs and lows that came with leading a successful congregation for nearly 10 years after Hillsong Church expanded from its initial Australian roots into the United States via New York.

Hailey Baldwin Bieber is sharing how she really feels about starting a family with husband, Justin Bieber. In an interview with The Sunday Times, the 26-year-old socialite said, "I literally cry about this all the time." "I want kids so bad but I get scared," Hailey continued. "It's enough that people say things about my husband or my friends.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic There has never been a compilation album in the history of rock as influential as “Nuggets,” a 1972 double-LP that revived a period and style that was seen as having ended about five years before. It was nostalgia of a sort for the very recent past — as opposed to the very distant past that’s now being celebrated with fondness as “Nuggets” itself surpasses the half-century, arguably no less central to a certain rock ‘n’ roll ethos than ever. Lenny Kaye, now best known as the guitarist for Patti Smith’s band, but then highly regarded as a rock critic, compiled the original “Nuggets” for Elektra and may have saved an early wave of garage-rock for the ages … although some would give the collection even more credit, for helping invent, or at least bring into focus, the burgeoning punk-rock movement in the 1970s.

When the Biebers aren’t hitting up an exclusive red carpet event, they’re most likely at home enjoying a low-key lifestyle despite their stardom.

Megan Fox, Martha Stewart, Kim Petras, and more. Megan Fox’s new hair transformation: Blonde bob with bangsMegan Fox reacts to infidelity rumors between Machine Gun Kelly and Sophie Lloyd: Who is she?Martha Stewart’s beauty secrets for glowing skin at 81A post shared by Martha Stewart (@marthastewart)“There is no theme [to this year’s issue]—rather, there is a vision, a sentiment, a hope that women can live in a world where they feel no limitations, internally or externally,” said MJ Day, the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit editor.

Fall from grace. Megachurch Hillsong has faced a series of controversies over the years and the new documentary series The Secrets of Hillsong is breaking it all down.