Category Archives: Music

Justin Timberlake tells fans ‘it’s been a tough week’ after drunk-driving charge

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Singer addresses crowd at first concert since being arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated

Justin Timberlake acknowledged having “a tough week” and thanked fans for their support at a concert Friday in what was the first time the pop star spoke publicly since police in the Hamptons arrested him on allegations of driving while intoxicated days earlier.

“We’ve been together through ups and downs, lefts and rights,” Timberlake told a crowd at the United Center in Chicago three days after his 18 June arrest. “It’s been a tough week, but you’re here and I’m here, and nothing can change this moment right now.”

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Madonna fans who sued singer over late concert start dismiss their own lawsuit

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Michael Fellows and Jason Alvarez have dismissed their suit with prejudice, having previously argued that the late concert had impacted their sleep

Two Madonna fans have dropped their lawsuit against the singer for starting her show two hours late, having previously argued they had to get up early the next day.

In January, Michael Fellows and Jason Alvarez filed a class action case against the singer, Brooklyn venue the Barclays Center and her tour promoters Live Nation after she came on stage at 10.30pm at the Barclays Center on 13 December.

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Dua Lipa says criticism of Israeli war in Gaza was for ‘greater good’

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Singer due to headline Glastonbury embraces risk of backlash over ‘Israeli genocide’ post on Instagram

The pop star and soon-to-be Glastonbury headliner Dua Lipa has said she is willing to risk a backlash over political statements after she recently described military operations in Gaza as “Israeli genocide”.

In an interview with the Radio Times, the 28-year-old said she repeatedly checked herself before making a statement, but did so if she felt it was for the “greater good” and worth the risk.

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Coldplay: vinyl copies of new album Moon Music will be made from old plastic bottles

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Band say carbon emissions for vinyl production will be reduced by 85% thanks to new method, as they announce 10th studio album

Coldplay are aiming to make the most ecologically sustainable vinyl record yet, for their newly announced album Moon Music.

Each 140g vinyl copy of Moon Music, released 4 October, will be manufactured from nine plastic bottles recovered from consumer waste. For a special “notebook edition”, 70% of the plastic has been intercepted by the environmental nonprofit The Ocean Cleanup from Rio Las Vacas, Guatemala, preventing it from entering the Gulf of Honduras and the Atlantic Ocean.

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Sean Combs returns key to New York City after Cassie attack video

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Mayor Eric Adams sent letters rescinding key and asking for it to be sent back to City Hall, which received it on 10 June

Sean Combs has returned his key to New York City after a request from mayor Eric Adams in response to the release of a video showing the music mogul nicknamed “Diddy” attacking R&B singer Cassie, officials said Saturday.

The mayor’s office said Combs returned the key after Adams sent letters to the embattled musician’s offices in New York and California on 4 June rescinding the key and asking for it to be sent back to City Hall. The city received the key on 10 June.

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Pop singer Kevin Jonas documents skin cancer treatment

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Jonas Brothers star revealed he has had surgery for basal cell carcinoma, advising followers to get moles checked

Pop singer Kevin Jonas, a member of chart-topping trio the Jonas Brothers, has received treatment for skin cancer.

In an Instagram video, the 36-year-old singer, guitarist, actor and reality TV star said he had been diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma.

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Jin from BTS wraps up military service to the strains of K-pop hit Dynamite

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Jin has finished his stint in South Korea’s military but group won’t be able to reform until RM, Jimin, Jungkook, J-hope and V are discharged in 2025

Jin, the oldest member of the K-pop supergroup BTS, has completed his military service in South Korea, although their legions of fans around the world will still have to wait at least a year until all seven artists are reunited.

The star, who in December 2022 became the first member of the group to begin 18 months of military service, emerged on Wednesday from the 5th Army Infantry Division’s base in northern Yeoncheon province, 60km north of Seoul, to be greeted by fellow bandmates J-hope, RM, V, Jungkook and Jimin.

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Australian punk rock pioneers the Saints announce national tour

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Joining founding guitarist Ed Kuepper and drummer Ivor Hay in new five-piece lineup for November tour will be Mudhoney singer Mark Arm

The Saints – the Brisbane band who jump-started the punk movement in Australia with their hot-wired debut single (I’m) Stranded – have announced a national tour in November with a new five-piece lineup, more than 50 years after their rough beginnings.

Joining founding guitarist Ed Kuepper and drummer Ivor Hay will be singer Mark Arm, from the Seattle band Mudhoney. Arm replaces the original singer and primary lyricist, Chris Bailey, who died in April 2022.

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Howard University revokes Sean Combs’ honorary degree and scholarship he funded

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Move comes after video released showing hip-hop mogul attacking singer Cassie Ventura in 2016

Howard University on Friday announced that it has revoked the honorary degree it gave to Sean “Diddy” Combs in 2014, discontinued a scholarship program named after the rap mogul and returned a $1m donation from him, citing the video that showed him violently attacking singer Cassie Ventura in the hallway of a Los Angeles hotel.

“Mr Combs’ behavior … is so fundamentally incompatible with Howard University’s core values and beliefs that he is deemed no longer worthy to hold the institution’s highest honor,” the Washington DC school said in a statement. “The university is unwavering in its opposition to all acts of interpersonal violence.”

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Dolly Parton announces Broadway musical: ‘You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll clap’

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Hello, I’m Dolly, a stage show inspired by the superstar’s life, will include her classics and new songs

Dolly Parton is heading to Broadway with the musical Hello, I’m Dolly.

The star is writing new songs to go along with some of her past hits and co-writing a stage story inspired by her life – a stage show that she hopes to land on Broadway in 2026.

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Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood calls backlash over Israel show amid Gaza war ‘unprogressive’

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Radiohead musician issues statement on his ongoing work with Israeli musician Dudu Tassa after being accused of ‘artwashing genocide’ by pro-Palestine movement

Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood has defended his ongoing collaboration with the Israeli artist Dudu Tassa amid criticism from pro-Palestine activists, calling the backlash “unprogressive” and “silencing”.

Greenwood, a composer and musician who also plays in the Radiohead spin-off group The Smile, has been playing with Tassa since 2008. Last year, Greenwood and Tassa released a collaborative album titled Jarak Qaribak, a compilation of Arabic love songs featuring artists from across the Middle East.

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The-Dream, singer and producer for Beyoncé and Rihanna, accused of rape

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A lawsuit alleges the musician, involved with hits such as Umbrella and Single Ladies, of sexual battery and abuse by a former protege

Terius Gesteelde-Diamant, the songwriter and producer better known as The-Dream, has been accused of rape by a former protege.

Gesteelde-Diamant, who scored hits himself but had bigger success working with artists such as Beyoncé, Rihanna and Britney Spears, is the focus of a lawsuit filed by singer Chanaaz Mangroe, also known by her stage name Channii Monroe.

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Colin Gibb, singer with Black Lace, dies aged 70

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Musician who had huge 1984 hit with Agadoo had retired last month

Colin Gibb, who had huge success as a core member of novelty pop band Black Lace, has died aged 70.

His wife Sue Kelly announced the news on Facebook, writing: “I love you Colin … we were due to retire to Spain on Thursday, you were so happy, so looking forward to our new life, now you’re gone. As we used to say, always love you forever.”

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Things Can Only Get Better group ban Labour from using song

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D:Ream members regret association with Tony Blair and do not want song played at July general election

The pop group that sing Things Can Only Get Better – which became an anthem for Labour at the 1997 general election victory – will deny any request from Keir Starmer to use the track at this year’s election.

D:Ream’s founding members Peter Cunnah and Alan Mackenzie said they were dismayed to hear their song play through a loudspeaker as the prime minister, Rishi Sunak, called a 4 July general election on a wet afternoon in Downing Street.

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Thank you for the music: Abba members get Swedish knighthoods

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Agnetha, Benny, Björn and Anni-Frid become first Swedes to be knighted by their monarch for almost 50 years

Abba have received one of the most prestigious Swedish knighthoods after being awarded an order of chivalry last handed out almost 50 years ago.

The pop legends were recognised by King Carl XVI Gustaf on Friday for their cultural impact, which has taken Swedish pop music to a huge global audience.

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‘I just let it rip!’: jumbo amateur rock band bangs the drum for Brum

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Brum Rocks, born out of community musical groups, will bring together dozens of performers to play a new anthem for Birmingham

When Steve Groome started learning to play guitar after retiring, he never expected he would end up in a band.

“At 66, I’m not going to get a phone call from Mark Knopfler or Eric Clapton. I might not even get in an averagely rubbish covers band,” he said. “But I don’t need to with this, we have fun. I just let rip.”

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Dua Lipa denounces ‘Israeli genocide’ in Instagram post

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Singer calls for 88 million followers to ‘show your solidarity with Gaza’ following Israeli attack on Rafah

Pop singer Dua Lipa has condemned the military operations in Gaza, describing them as “Israeli genocide” in an Instagram post to her 88 million followers.

Reposting a graphic from the group Artists4Ceasefire, along with the hashtag #AllEyesOnRafah that has trended in the days following Israel’s bombing of the Palestinian city, she wrote: “Burning children alive can never be justified. The whole world is mobilising to stop the Israeli genocide. Please show your solidarity with Gaza.”

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Nicki Minaj says sorry to fans as Manchester gig cancelled after arrest

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US rapper detained in Amsterdam on suspicion of ‘possessing soft drugs’ before being fined by Dutch police

Nicki Minaj has offered her “deepest and most sincere apologies” after her Manchester concert was cancelled at the last minute after she was arrested in Amsterdam.

The US rapper was detained for hours at Schiphol airport on suspicion of “possessing soft drugs” before being fined by Dutch police and allowed to continue her journey.

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Nicki Minaj’s Manchester show postponed after Netherlands arrest

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Rapper detained at Schiphol on suspicion of ‘possessing soft drugs’ hours before concert at Co-op Live

Nicki Minaj’s concert at Co-op Live has been postponed after she was arrested at a Netherlands airport hours before.

Fans had been let into the Manchester venue in the evening despite the star’s detention.

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