Jason Flom, Ty Stiklorius, Binta Niambi Brown Among Mondo.NYC Conference Keynotes

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorEven in a pandemic, the VMAs found a way to start off their show with a bang: The Weeknd performed his smash single “Blinding Lights” 1,100 feet above New York, from the city’s highest observation deck, Edge at Hudson Yards.Weeknd was in the guise of the busted-nose character he portrays on his latest album, “After Hours,” and the performance began in a way similar to the album’s videos, which depict the character having a surreal and absolutely terrible night in

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorK-pop titans Blackpink are joined by Selena Gomez for a new song and video called “Ice Cream,” the second single from the quartet’s debut album, set for release via YG Entertainment/Interscope Records on October 2.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorPublic Enemy, the legendary rap group that helped shape socially conscious hip-hop into what it is today, have returned to Def Jam Recordings, the label that hosted their most iconic recordings.The reunion launches with a remix of the group’s classic 1989 song “Fight the Power (Remix 2020),” which opened the 2020 BET Awards in June featuring Nas, Rapsody, Black Thought, YG, Jahi and Questlove. The song, originally featured in Spike Lee’s film “Do the Right Thing,”

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorHarvey Mason jr., interim president/CEO of the Recording Academy, and Grammy-nominated recording artist Aloe Blacc have joined the list of keynote speakers for a conversation at Mondo.NYC 2020 on Wednesday, October 14, 2020.

former first minister's criminal trial on a train, the Daily Record can reveal.The significant step follows allegations by Rape Crisis Scotland that Gordon Jackson "undermined public confidence" by openly talking about the case and women involved.Jackson was filmed talking about the case on the Edinburgh to Glasgow commuter service, sparking outrage from victims groups.Recorded in March, the film emerged after Salmond was acquitted of all charges at the High Court.The recording of Jackson, who

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorBeyonce has released a new video for her song “Brown Skin Girl,” featuring appearances from her daughter Blue Ivy and former Destiny’s Child bandmate Kelly Rowland, along with Naomi Campbell, actor Lupita Nyong’o, singers Saint Jhn and WizKid and others.

Michael Jackson took aim at The Beatles and Elvis Presley in a number of handwritten notes that criticised racism in the music industry. The notes are believed to have been penned by Jackson in 1987, the same year his acclaimed album Bad was released.

Chris Cornell‘s life, will begin filming in September.The movie, which will star John Holiday (Walk The Line, CMT’s Sun Records), is being produced by Los Angeles-based film production company AmeriFilms LLC and Road Rage Films.It will be based on true events that took place during the last days of the grunge music icon’s life.

BTS' new music video Dynamite featured numerous nods to Michael Jackson. RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook included several iconic poses and hook steps of the King of Pop.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorPhoenix have released their first new song since 2017, “Identical,” which is featured in Sofia Coppola’s forthcoming film “On the Rocks,” which reunites the director with “Lost in Translation” star Bill Murray as well as Rashida Jones and Marlon Wayans.The song, the band’s first release since 2017’s album “Ti Amo,” can also be heard in the new trailer for the upcoming Original Films and A24 film.

Washington Football Team on Monday named former NFL player Jason Wright to be its new president, making him the league's first Black team president. The announcement comes after the team removed its Redskins name and branding and reports of sexual harassment accusations by former employees this summer. Wright spent seven years as a running back in the NFL, playing for the San Francisco 49ers, Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns and Arizona Cardinals.

Angelique Jackson Throughout Hollywood history, Black actors have played a limited role in onscreen explorations of the past, often serving in small supporting roles or simply not appearing at all. And, as such, Black people’s place in history often goes unnoticed off-screen and the context necessary to understand the racial tensions of the current moment is lost.“In essence, our history has been so overlooked.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorAugust used to be the doldrums for the music business, a dumping ground for low-priority releases that were usually ignored while everyone was on vacation and/or gearing up for the big Fall releases that would carry through until the holiday season. That model was on its way out even before the pandemic, but now all bets are off: Seven years after Beyonce proved that a gigantic project can drop at any time, anything does.

Jill Scott is ready to play the queen. The Grammy-winning singer and sometimes actress has signed on to topline Mahalia! playing the queen of gospel Mahalia Jackson in a new biopic that counts collaborators in Jamie Foxx and Queen Latifah, two stars who have navigated the moves from music and movies to critically acclaimed biopics with successful results.

Jill Scott is set to play Mahalia Jackson in the upcoming biopic Mahalia!, based on the novel Mahalia Jackson written by Darlene Donloe.As reported by Deadline, Mahalia! will also be produced by Queen Latifah, Jamie Foxx, Shakim Compere and Holly Carter.

Brian Austin Green, 47, seemed to have a great time with Jennifer Flynn, one of his longtime gorgeous friends this week, as the two young talents met up in Calabasas, CA on Aug. 10 for a cozy lunch to talk about business.

Dominic Patten Senior Editor, Legal & TV CriticCAA’s Bryan Lourd will take over as the keynote speaker for the 44th Annual UCLA Entertainment Symposium Wednesday, replacing Bob Greenblatt, the former Chairman of WarnerMedia Entertainment.In a virtual sit-down interview with powerhouse attorney Ken Ziffren, the uberagency Managing Partner and Co-Chairman will now be the yearly media conference’s marquee attraction in a session that goes online on August 12, at 5 p.m. PT.

Jason Momoa has a huge surprise for wife Lisa Bonet!