RCA Records Promotes John Fleckenstein and Mark Pitts; Joe Riccitelli Out

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorJason Flom’s Lava for Good Podcasts — whose “Wrongful Conviction” series brings to light the wrongful incarceration of innocent people — has joined forces with the content network and podcast listening service Stitcher for a series of new criminal justice-focused podcasts.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorAlong with the news that legendary singer Tony Bennett is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, the singer’s team revealed that he and Lady Gaga recorded a follow-up to their chart-topping 2014 album, “Cheek to Cheek,” even as Bennett battled the disease.The news, confirmed by a rep for Bennett, was revealed in the AARP magazine article announcing Bennett’s illness, which he and his team manager to keep under wraps since he was diagnosed in 2016.

Roc Nation Sports, the sports-focused division of Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter's Roc Nation, has hired former New York Mets general manager and CAA agent Brodie Van Wagenen to serve as COO and head of strategy and business development. Van Wagenen will report to Carter andRoc Nation Sports president Juan Perez.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorRoddy Ricch, 21 Savage, Jhené Aiko and Kirk Franklin will perform in “iHeartRadio’s Living Black!,” a special spotlighting the power of Black culture throughout Black History Month in February.The nationwide on-air celebration will feature the first-ever “iHeartRadio’s Living Black!” special event with performances by Roddy Ricch, 21 Savage, Jhené Aiko, Kirk Franklin and hip-hop, R&B and gospel music artists.

Variety Staff Follow Us on TwitterRCA Records has announced new leadership for its promotions teams with Sam Selolwane and Keith Rothschild each being named head of promotion. Selolwane will oversee the hip-hop, R&B and mixshow formats while Rothschild will oversee the pop, rhythm and rock formats.

What happens in Miami, stays in Miami! Jay Cutler had some fun in the sun days before sparking rumors that he and his estranged wife, Kristin Cavallari, were back together.

Jay Cutler is keeping fans guessing when it comes to his relationship status. On Jan. 26, new photos surfaced of the 37-year-old lounging by the pool in Miami with a mystery woman. The pics were taken at the 1 Hotel in South beach on Jan. 20. Jay was shirtless and soaking up the sun while chatting up the gorgeous blonde, who was catching some rays in her bikini.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorIf Sabrina Carpenter wanted to start off her career at Island Records with a bang, she succeeded: Even before word of her signing with the label had been announced, she’d dropped a headline-grabbing new single called “Skin.“Carpenter praised Island president/CEO Darcus Beese and the Island staff in a statement. “I’m so excited to join the Island Records family,” she says.

EXCLUSIVE: Solstice Studios is temporarily taking their Mark Wahlberg drama Joe Bell off the calendar in plans for a theatrical release later this year.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorR&B singer Trey Songz was arrested in Kansas City on Sunday after getting into an altercation with a police officer during the AFC Championship Game, an attorney for the artist confirmed to the Kansas City Star on Monday.Details of the arrest were not immediately available; attorney John P. O’Connor confirmed that Songz — whose real name is Tremaine Neverson — had been arrested, but declined to comment further until he had a chance to talk with prosecutors.

Madison LeCroy appears to be confirming that she had a fling with Jay Cutler.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorIt is no overstatement to say that on an Inauguration Day filled with memorable moments, 22-year-old poet Amanda Gorman’s poetry reading was definitely one of the most lasting.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorOf all the songs President Joe Biden might have quoted during his inaugural address on Wednesday, a song that many people know as a Norah Jones track from a Ken Burns documentary might not have been the first guess.The song, “American Anthem,” was written by songwriter Gene Scheer and was first sung by Denyce Graves in 1998 for President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton at the Smithsonian Institution during the launch of the “Save America’s Treasures” initiative.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorLady Gaga delivered a rendition of the national anthem at Joe Biden’s inauguration that was both respectful, and very Lady Gaga.Dressed in a tight black long-sleeved shirt embellished a golden dove brooch, and a billowing, bright red dress, Gaga sang into a golden microphone.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorA Michigan nurse whose informal performance of “Amazing Grace” at a local hospital became an online sensation last year will sing at a memorial for those who have died from COVID-19 on Tuesday (Jan. 19), ahead of President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration.Lori Marie Key, 29, of Belleville, Michigan is set to sing “Amazing Grace” as part of the tribute ceremony to be held at 5:30 p.m.

Stacey Solomon shared the heartwarming moment that her son Rex got to go on his dad Joe Swash's sleigh that he played on as a child.The mum-of-three, who shared a hilarious video of herself being horrified after trying on a veil, enjoyed a day out with her son and husband-to-be in the snow in the woods by their home.The 31 year old took to her Instagram stories to share a sweet snap of Joe, 38, and Rex, one, sitting on the sleigh. She wrote: "My heart," alongside a red heart emoji.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorIn the wake of Hipgnosis Song’s blockbuster growth, former Geffen Records president Neil Jacobsen, who launched his own songwriter-producer management firm in 2019, is lining up a $200 million IPO on the New York Stock Exchange for a new company called the Music Acquisition Corporation.

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris' inauguration is going to be complete with A-list stars! Next week, the president-elect and vice president-elect will be sworn in, and the Presidential Inaugural Committee is celebrating by having Tom Hanks host a star-studded, primetime special, .On Wednesday, the 90-minute special will celebrate the new administration, as well as showcase the American people's resilience, heroism, and unified commitment to coming together as a nation. Among those stars participating

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorBruce Springsteen, the Foo Fighters, John Legend, Eva Longoria and and Kerry Washington will be among the celebrities at Joe Biden’s inauguration on Jan.