Latest Music News
2024 Essence Festival to honor Frankie Beverly's 'final performance' with tribute
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Organizers of the Essence Festival of Culture have revealed that legendary soul group Maze featuring Frankie Beverly will be recognized during this summer's gathering with “a star-studded tribute” that will “honor their final performance.” Maze, which is...
Kecia Lewis in Broadway's 'Hell's Kitchen' delivers the soul and earns a Tony Award nomination
NEW YORK (AP) — It's fitting that Kecia Lewis has had her most successful theater season while playing a mentor. The Broadway veteran — now celebrating 40 years in the business — portrays the formidable piano teacher Miss Liza Jane in “Hell’s Kitchen” who inspires the...
In Saudi Arabia, an all-women psychedelic rock band jams out as its conservative society loosens up
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Leaning into the microphone in Saudi Arabia's capital, Nora let loose a primal scream. Guitars wailed and drums throbbed behind her as part of a set with her bandmates during a recent show. The performance by Seera, an all-women psychedelic rock band...
Music Review: Billie Eilish's 'Hit Me Hard and Soft' is zealous outsider pop in a league of her own
“Am I acting my age now?” Billie Eilish, 22, wonders aloud on the opening track to her ambitious third album, “Hit Me Hard and Soft.” "Am I already on the way out?” The 10-track release sees a once-in-a-generation pop performer once again rewriting the...
Lainey Wilson wins big at the 2024 Academy of Country Music Awards, including the top honor
It was Lainey Wilson ’s night, in many ways. She took home female artist of the year and the top prize of entertainer of the year at the 2024 Academy of Country Music Awards. “I’ve been in Nashville for 13 years doing this,” Wilson started her speech. “Everybody in this...
What to stream this weekend: 'Bridgerton,' Billie Eilish and Zayn Malik albums, 'American Fiction'
Billie Eilish’s third studio album, “Hit Me Hard and Soft” and the return of “Bridgerton” are some of the new television, movies, music and games headed to a device near you. Also among the streaming offerings worth your time as selected by The Associated Press’...
Drake leads the 2024 BET Awards nominations with 7, followed closely by Nicki Minaj
Drake is the leading nominee for next month's BET Awards, followed closely by Nicki Minaj. The Canadian rapper received seven nominations Thursday, including an album of the year nod for his eighth studio album, “For All the Dogs.” One of the awards he's up for is the music video...
Chasing Amy: How Marisa Abela became Amy Winehouse for 'Back to Black'
LONDON (AP) — There’s no point asking Marisa Abela to sing Amy Winehouse songs at karaoke. Her friends have already tried and failed. But you can see her sing — and become — Winehouse in the new film “Back to Black,” which opens in the U.S. on Friday. ...
Rock band Cage the Elephant emerge from loss and hospitalization with new album 'Neon Pill'
NEW YORK (AP) — To say Cage the Elephant's latest album had a turbulent birth would be an understatement. The band dealt with the deaths of loved ones, the pandemic and their lead singer's arrest and hospitalization. “It’s no secret that I had a medical crisis,” Matt Shultz...
Brazilian dance craze created by young people in Rio’s favelas is declared cultural heritage
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — It all started with nifty leg movements, strong steps backwards and forwards, paced to Brazilian funk music. Then it adopted moves from break dancing, samba, capoeira, frevo — whatever was around. The passinho, a dance style created in the 2000s by kids in...
