ASCAP Experience Returns for 2022 With ‘Encanto’ Composer Germain Franco, Tania Leon, More

EXCLUSIVE: Heather Graham (Half Magic), Brandy Norwood (Queens), Jason Biggs (Outmatched) and Matt Cedeño (Power) have signed on to star in the Netflix holiday film Best. Christmas. Ever. from director Mary Lambert (A Castle for Christmas, Pet Sematary).

Tom Grennan has become the latest artist to cancel planned shows in Russia and Ukraine this summer. 

LOS ANGELES -- When John Mayer toured with the Dead & Company band, he lost some motivation to solely perform his songs as a concert tour headliner.Mayer grew more satisfied with blending in than standing out.“It was awfully cozy to play in Dead & Company, because I’m not in the center of the stage,” recalled Mayer, who toured with former Grateful Dead members Bob Weir, Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann. “I have really grown to love that vantage point to musically make those contributions from that place.

Tom Brooks‘ attempt to spend the rest of his life with girlfriend Mariah Fineman hit an unexpected snag.

Hilary Duff is looking back at some of the highs and lows of her career, including her 2003 Vanity Fair photo shoot, featuring all teenage royalty at the time, Amanda Bynes, Mandy Moore, Alexis Bledel, Evan Rachel Wood, Raven-Symoné, Lindsay Lohan, the Olsen twins, and more stars.The 34-year-old star of ‘How I Met Your Father’ was recently asked if the iconic cover was a “career high” for her, to which she said “Explain career high,” adding “personal high or just like a big achievement?”“I remember being like, ‘This is cool I was included in this,’ but no, this was a very high stress, anxiety-inducing day,” Hilary shared, “Also, Mandy and I are great friends now, so this is very funny.”Mandy previously opened up about her friendship with Hilary, revealing she is a “close friend” and described her as a “super mom,” confessing that she hosts a music class at her house, “There’s lots of other new moms in our group: Meghan Trainor, Ashley Tisdale.”Evan Rachel Wood was also asked about the cover, which featured young Hollywood stars, with the headline ‘It’s Totally Raining Teens! And It’s, Like, So a Major Moment in Pop Culture.’The actress revealed that it was not a positive experience for her, explaining that she was “close to tears” and “felt like meat,” as the photo shoot “wasn’t comfortable” at all” and she was pressured to “shut up and do what you are told.”

Kelis‘ husband Mike Mora has died after a battle with stomach cancer.The 37-year-old photographer’s death was confirmed by Steve Satterhwaite of Red Light Management, in a statement to Entertainment Tonight.“Sadly, it’s true that Mike Mora has passed away,” he said. “We would ask all to respect Kelis and her family’s privacy as of right now.

Reading & Leeds has announced a wave of new additions for its 2022 festivals – check out the line-up below.The dual-site event will return to Little John’s Farm in Reading and Bramham Park in Leeds on August Bank Holiday Weekend (August 26-28). Any remaining tickets are available from here (Reading) and here (Leeds).This year’s R&L will once again boast six headliners: Arctic Monkeys, Rage Against The Machine, Dave, Bring Me The Horizon, Halsey and Megan Thee Stallion.

Jon Burlingame editorComposer Germaine Franco’s Oscar nomination for “Encanto” is a landmark moment in film music:– She is the first Latina to be nominated in that category;– She is only the sixth woman ever to be nominated for an original score;– And she is the first woman to score a Disney film.But ask any of her colleagues in the profession and they’ll tell you something else: that it’s a triumph for a musically talented, genuinely kind person who has worked hard her entire life, dating back decades to her childhood in El Paso, Texas, just across the border from where her grandparents were born in Chihuahua and Durango, Mexico.Franco landed the “Encanto” assignment in part because she had firmly established the Mexican backdrop of Disney’s 2017 film “Coco” via her orchestrations and original songs. Says Lin-Manuel Miranda, who is also nominated as songwriter for “Encanto”: “I admired her work on ‘Coco’ and it was really important to me that we have a Latino music team.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentNetflix unveiled its 2022 slate of 25 French Originals, as well as projects including the second and third opus of its action movie “Lost Bullet,” and “En Place,” a comedy series created by Jean-Pascal Zadi (“Tout simplement Noir”) and Francois Uzan. The company said it will invest more than €200 million ($220 million) in 2022 in France.

Britney Spears’ baby fever is apparently really heating up!

57th Academy of Country Music Awards!Going into this year's show — which was hosted by Dolly Parton, Jimmie Allen and Gabby Barrett — Chris Young led the pack with seven nominations to his name! Miranda Lambert, the most-nominated female artist in ACM history, earned five nominations, including a record-tying 16th nod in Female Artist of the Year category.Actress Blake Lively also earned two nominations — her first nods at a music awards show — for producing and directing Taylor Swift's music video for «I Bet You Think About Me (Taylor's Version).»So who actually walked away with the night's coveted trophies? Check out the full list of winners below!Eric Church Luke Combs Miranda Lambert Chris Stapleton Carrie UnderwoodGabby Barrett Miranda Lambert Ashley McBryde Maren Morris Carly PearceJimmie Allen Luke Combs Thomas Rhett Chris Stapleton Morgan WallenBrooks & Dunn Brothers Osborne Dan + Shay LOCASH Maddie & Tae Lady A Little Big Town Midland Old Dominion The Cadillac ThreeTenille Arts Priscilla Block Lily Rose Caitlyn Smith Lainey WilsonHARDY Walker Hayes Ryan Hurd Parker McCollum Elvie Shane  [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)] – Carly Pearce; Producers: Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne, Jimmy Robbins, Tony Brown; Record Company-Label: Big Machine Records  – Thomas Rhett; Producers: Dann Huff, Jesse Frasure, Matt Dragstrem; Record Company-Label: Big Machine Label Group  – Morgan Wallen; Producers: Joey Moi, Jacob Durrett, Charlie Handsome, Matt Dragstrem, Dave Cohen; Record Company-Label: Big Loud Records / Republic Records  – Chris Young; Producers: Mark Holman, Corey Crowder, Chris Young, Chris DeStefano; Record Company-Label: RCA Records Nashville  – Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert, Jon Randall;

Double dose of love! The 2022 Academy of Country Music Awards served as the ultimate date night for some of music’s biggest couples.

Jazz Tangcay Artisans EditorAs Disney’s “Encanto” continues to break music chart records, a much more personal moment stands out to composer Germaine Franco. It’s a viral moment, captured on social media, of a little boy who lights up at realizing that he looks just like the young character Antonio. “It’s so beautiful because he sees himself on screen,” she tells Variety’s Awards Circuit Podcast.“Encanto” features eight original songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda, while Franco’s score cuts in and out of the songs, evoking a sense of magical realism.

Yungblud, Louis Tomlinson, Iggy Pop and Green Day are among the growing number of artists cancelling shows in Russia, after its troops invaded Ukraine.

lightweight moisturizers and healing retinol body lotions, to TikTok trends like slugging and light therapy, no skincare technique is off the table. And since you've likely been investing more in your skincare than ever before — especially while dealing with the brisk, often dry winter temperatures of the last few months — a spring skincare refresh feels like the perfect opportunity to embrace the new (thankfully warmer) season, and tap into some of the year's biggest beauty trends while you're at it. Whether you're the type of person to go all-in with spring cleaning each year or not, there's no doubt that cleaning out a cluttered beauty drawer or closet is always worth the time — especially when it leaves you with more space for a new arsenal of products.Just as you would transition your wardrobe from winter to spring, adjusting your skincare routine for the changing seasons is a natural shift.

Yungblud, Louis Tomlinson, Iggy Pop and Green Day are among the growing number of artists cancelling shows in Russia, after its troops invaded Ukraine.

Look at her now! Selena Gomez offered a glimpse at how she prepared for the 2022 SAG Awards — and the singer brought her A-game!

John Mayer has tested positive for COVID-19 a second time, leading to the next four shows on his ‘Sob Rock’ tour being pushed back to May.The songster shared his diagnosis overnight (February 25), confirming that alongside himself, several members in his band have also wound up with the virus. It comes just days after Mayer’s touring drummer tested positive, with Questlove stepping in to fill his role at the band’s New York City gig.Whelp.

Black History Month, we've put together a playlist of songs that have moved the needle of the culture, documented the times, inspired or have just moved us to dance. Often imitated, but never duplicated, these songs have become a staple in communities, households and even history.

Dua Lipa, My Chemical Romance, Green Day and Halsey.The Delaware festival will once again take place in September – the same as last year –  instead of returning to its previous June dates, on September 22-25 at The Woodlands in Dover.In addition to the four headline acts, other names announced include: Weezer, The Kid LAROI, Big Sean, Zedd, Porter Robinson, Gunna, Avril Lavigne, Jamie xx, Charli XCX, Bleachers, The Head And The Heart, Jungle, SAINt JHN, Cordae, Willow, Benny The Butcher, Little Simz and more.General tickets for the festival go on sale Monday (February 28) at 10am EST, with a pre-sale beginning tomorrow (February 25) at 10am.You can see the full line-up for Firefly below:☀️ welcome to paradise ☀️ https://t.co/dHrAzrhpY3— Firefly Festival (@LiveAtFirefly) February 22, 2022“After last year’s rapturous return, Firefly 2022 is packed full of everything that makes the festival so special – incredible sets from iconic artists, the best food and beverage offerings within the Delaware Valley, treehouse DJ sets, spirited drag brunches and a joyful pride parade; unique, moments that give Firefly its characteristic sense of fun, flare and community,” a statement announced.It also notes that the festival will be presented in accordance with all applicable COVID-19 mandates, with more information available on its website.Elsewhere, Dua Lipa will headline Sziget Festival 2022 alongside Arctic Monkeys, and Kings Of Leon.My Chemical Romance, meanwhile, are set to headline this year’s When We Were Young Festival with Paramore.