Music Industry Moves: Recording Academy Adds Yola, Jimmie Allen, Others to Black Music Collective Council; WMG Taps Tracie Parry as Senior VP

Darren Hayes is opening up about homophobia that he faced in the music industry.

Music star Paul Heaton has been praised for capping the price of his and Jacqui Abbott's concert tickets at £30 - to battle back against "music industry greed". Paul and Jacqui were guests on BBC Breakfast in Salford on Friday when ticket pricing was discussed.

The stars of Black Adam are stepping out to promote their upcoming superhero flick!

Thania Garcia Influence Media Partners has acquired Blake Shelton’s catalog of master recordings, which comprises all of his commercial releases from 2001 to 2019. In the announcement, the company described the joint venture as a “groundbreaking deal” put in place “to amplify his works and entitling Blake to participate in a share of the profit generated.” Warner Music Group will continue to oversee distribution for the country singer’s catalog; further terms were not disclosed. Shelton said, “I can’t believe it’s been 20 years since my first album and single. Sometimes I still feel like the kid from Oklahoma I was back then! While a lot has changed during that time, my passion for music hasn’t. I’m excited to be working with Lylette, Rene and the team at Influence Media on so much of my catalog and to introduce my songs to the next generation of country fans.”

Anna Marie de la Fuente In a clear vote of confidence for Colombian director Juan Sebastián Mesa, Bordeaux-based Dublin Films has boarded his third film “Lovers Go Home!” The company also co-produced Mesa’s lauded sophomore pic, “The Rust.” “Lovers Go Home!” centers on a Colombian single mom who leads a double life as a webcammer. One day she meets a U.S. veteran online who becomes obsessed with her. He flies to Colombia to meet her in person. Their meeting makes them reflect on who they truly are. In development, the project participated in this year’s Europe-Latin America Co-Production Forum, one of San Sebastian Film Festival’s key industry events, which ran over Sept. 19-21. 

Doja Cat commanded attention as she attended the Vivienne Westwood Womenswear Spring/Summer 2023 show during Paris Fashion Week on Saturday. The singer, 26, showcased her quirky sense of style in a bright orange floral top and jacket, which teamed up with a black layered maxi skirt and an orange headscarf. She stood out from the crowd with a dramatic black eye look, while hiding her natural eyebrows with makeup.

Kelsea Ballerini is clearing the air on a specific song featured on her latest album Subject To Change. 

Stormzy urged the music industry to “not just use diversity as a buzzword” during his acceptance speech at the AIM Awards last night (September 28).The Croydon MC was named Diversity Champion at the event, owing to his efforts to “level the playing field” through his Merky Foundation and publishing imprint, #Merky Books.In a pre-recorded video message, Stormzy offered his thanks to the AIM Awards and said that he was “really grateful” to receive the honour.“I think we’ve just always led with love, and there’s a spirit among my team where we all share the same goals when it comes to having a platform and doing all the positive work that we do. So I think that’s what’s led us here.”He continued: “I encourage everyone in the room today to not just use diversity as a buzzword.

TIME100 Next roundup, which recognizes up-and-coming professionals who are changing the world across a wide variety of industries. Among the entertainers selected for the 2022 list are Machine Gun Kelly, Keke Palmer, SZA, Joe Alwyn, Jack Harlow, Sadie Sink, Sydney Sweeney, Lily Collins and FKA Twigs. In abrief profile penned by Ryan Reynolds, peppered with his signature humor, Taylor Swift's beau, Alwyn, is credited as someone who «lives at the intersection of enigmatic mystery and fun drinking buddy.» «I've known Joe Alwyn for six years — and that's long enough to see someone's heart. Long enough to know whether or not they're made of good stuff.

posted to TikTok on Sunday and currently boasts nearly 2.4 million views, recalled how she and her mother were contacted by a “distant family relative,” who asked the then 14-year-old to come do a “meet and greet” with a “fan club from a small town in Mexico.”When Black and her mother — who immigrated to the US from Mexico — arrived at the event, they quickly realize they’d been set up. “They took us to this fancy house, and then ushered us into a room full of men in suits,” Black remembered.

Thania Garcia Sony Music Publishing has signed a global deal with singer-songwriter and actress Dove Cameron, who has seen major success this year following her gold-certified queer anthem, “Boyfriend.” The 26-year-old singer-actress — who won a Daytime Emmy Award for her dual role as the eponymous characters in the Disney Channel series “Liv and Maddie” — recently released her follow-up single and video, “Breakfast.”  “Dove is a brilliant songwriter – her creative authenticity has not only led to chart success, but it has enabled her to become an important voice representing the LGBTQ+ community,” said Thomas Krottinger, Sony Music Publishing VP of creative. “We’re thrilled to welcome Dove to SMP, and we look forward to supporting her in this next chapter.”

Tim Allen is returning as Santa Claus as he reprises his role in "The Santa Clauses" coming to Disney+. Although it took some convincing for Allen to return as the guy in the big red suit, the filming of the new series included a special someone from the actor's real life – his daughter. "As I walked on set for the first time in the full regalia, everybody got very quiet, both adults and kids," Allen told Entertainment Weekly about filming.

BreAnna Bell Lil Baby was recognized with the Black Music Action Coalition’s Quincy Jones Humanitarian Award on Thursday night at the Music in Action Awards Gala. After being introduced with a video congratulations from his mother Lashawn Jones and Quality Control Music Group founder Pierre Thomas as well as a letter written by Quincy Jones, the rapper took the stage in a dapper velvet black suit, which he paired with some reading glasses on stage. “Not only have you made music history and impacted the course of modern hip-hop, but you use your platform to give back to the community in a meaningful way. And that’s what it’s all about,” said Jones in his letter, which was read to the crowd by his son Quincy Jones III.

Thania Garcia In spring 2020, the U.S. came to terms with its role in racial inequality on the heels of a tragedy: the murder of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police. That singular moment compelled many, including those in the music business, to pledge funds and action. It also gave birth to the Black Music Action Coalition, a collective of Black creators, activists and change-makers who have diligently kept the issue in the headlines and on the minds of corporate parents.  On Sept. 22, the organization — whose leadership includes industry veterans Damien Smith, Caron Veazey and Shawn Holiday, among others — celebrates its second annual Music in Action gala in Beverly Hills, where honorees include Lil Baby, Sony Music Publishing chairman Jon Platt, 300 Elektra Entertainment’s Kevin Liles and 1619 Project creator Nikole Hannah-Jones. It promises to be a gathering of heavies, as last year’s inaugural fete — Variety is a media sponsor — drew the Weeknd, Motown chairwoman Ethiopia Habtemariam and attorney Ben Crump. 

Peacock is getting into adult cartoons.

Morgan Myles wows the judges with her amazing rendition of “Hallelujah”.

Camila Cabello is wasting no time getting in the game on her first season of  -- but Blake Shelton has wife Gwen Stefani in his corner!Season 22 of the NBC singing competition kicks off on Monday, but fans got a look at the first four-chair turn of the season in a sneak peek clip on Friday, which shows Nashville singer Morgan Myles wowing all four coaches with her soulful rendition of Leonard Cohen's classic ballad, «Hallelujah.»Camila makes her move straight away, blocking returning coach Gwen, who turns right after her. Blake and John Legend follow, but Blake starts «feeling himself» when he finds out Morgan is a Nashville girl — who's even opened for him in the past!«It was exquisite, one of the best Blind Auditions I've seen in a long time,» John praises.«I'm a storyteller too,» Camila says, shooting her shot.