More from Mesfin Fekadu
Grammys CEO Reminds Members to Vote With Purpose: “Just Listen to the Music and Evaluate It”
Grammys CEO Harvey Mason jr. is making one thing clear to Recording Academy voters: “There is no place in our organization for such bias, grudge-holding, or careless voting.” The songwriter-producer and executive sent a letter to Academy voters on Friday, reminding them to cast their votes for the 2025 show with a purpose. “Last GRAMMY […]
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Choreographer Nina McNeely on Earning Sole Emmy Nod for ‘The Idol’: “I Was Very Pleasantly Surprised”
When the Emmy nominations were announced last week, heads turned when Sam Levinson and The Weeknd’s The Idol scooped up a nomination. And Nina McNeely, who earned the nod for choreography, feels like the axed HBO show deserved more Emmy love. “Definitely cinematography,” she tells The Hollywood Reporter. “I thought Lily [Rose Depp]’s acting was […]
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The War & Treaty on Bringing Rissi Palmer, Valerie June and Their “Country Music Family” to ‘Celebrity Family Feud’
When the Grammy-nominated husband-and-wife duo The War & Treaty — who have created their own sound by blending genres like country, soul, Americana and gospel — booked Celebrity Family Feud, they immediately thought of which blood relatives they would invite to the famed game show. But the couple thought: Let’s showcase a family of Black […]
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Will Smith Signs Distribution Deal at New Independent Record Label SLANG (Exclusive)
Will Smith is ready to get jiggy with music (again) — he’s signed a new distribution deal. On the heels of his performance at last month’s BET Awards, the Grammy-winning rapper and Oscar-winning actor has signed to the new independent frontline label SLANG, led by music executive Rene McLean, the partner and founding advisor of […]
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Janelle Monáe’s Fem The Future, Made In Her Image Partner to Highlight Young Filmmakers (Exclusive)
Janelle Monáe’s nonprofit Fem The Future has partnered with Made In Her Image to bring forth the next generation of filmmakers. The organizations plan to nurture and “focus on young women, girls of color and genderqueer individuals in film, media and technology industries.” In March, Fem The Future and Made In Her Image hosted 25 […]
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Musicians at the Emmys: Billy Joel, Lionel Richie, Usher, Jay-Z, Selena Gomez Score Nominations
Billy Joel, Lionel Richie, Usher, Jay-Z and Selena Gomez are some of the music stars who scored major Emmy nominations for the 2024 Emmys. Billy Joel: The 100th — Live at Madison Square Garden earned four nominations Wednesday, including outstanding variety special (pre-recorded) for Joel, who has won five Grammys and a Tony. Richie picked […]
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The War and Treaty on Seeing Cotton Plant in Their Music Festival Dressing Room: “It’s a Safety Issue Now”
Though Black artists have made major strides on the recent country music scene — with Beyoncé and Shaboozey launching No. 1 hits and acts like Brittney Spencer and Tanner Adell marking breakthroughs — racism in the genre still exists. For Americana-country husband-and-wife duo The War and Treaty, it came last week at the Coca-Cola Sips […]
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BET Apologizes to Usher, Says “Audio Malfunction” Led to Portions of His Speech Being “Inadvertently Muted”
When Usher received the Lifetime Achievement Award during Sunday’s BET Awards, a good amount of his speech was muted. But BET has apologized to the singer, adding that an “audio malfunction” led to portions of his 13-minute speech being “inadvertently muted.” Usher received the honor at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles during his 30th […]
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BET Awards: Will Smith, Killer Mike and Victoria Monet Receive Standing Ovations
In between the explosive performances and touching speeches, the BET Awards were evangelized with an emotional performance by Will Smith, a killer speech by Killer Mike and host Taraji P. Henson reminding viewers to get out and vote in the upcoming presidential election. Performing in a circle of fire backed by the Sunday Service Choir […]
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Apple Original Podcast on Iconic Mexican Singer Juan Gabriel to Debut July 1 (Exclusive)
Apple TV+ is launching an original podcast — in English and Spanish — told through the lens of the late iconic Mexican singer Juan Gabriel. The first two episodes of My Divo will debut July 1 and the superstar performer, also known as El Divo de Juárez, will serve as a guide for host and […]
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How ‘Cowboy Carter’ Changed My Life: Shaboozey, Brittney Spencer and Tiera Kennedy on Seminal Beyoncé Album
When Beyoncé’s “Texas Hold ‘Em” hit the top spot on Billboard’s Hot country songs chart, she became the first Black woman to achieve the feat in the chart’s 80-year history. The tune blending elements of country, Western music, pop and soul reigned supreme for 10 weeks as her Cowboy Carter album emerged as a cultural […]
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From ‘Bad Boys’ to “Baby Boy”: Sean Paul on Collaborating With Will Smith and Beyoncé
Sean Paul says he usually writes songs for women, but when Will Smith called him to collaborate on a song for Bad Boys: Ride or Die, he needed him to turn up his inner bad boy. “He sent me the song with him on it already and basically asked me to do a verse, and […]
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