SONA’s Songwriters Fund Announces New Round of Emergency Grants

Songwriters of North America (SONA) will begin accepting applications for a new round of pandemic emergency grants on April 28, the organization has announced.

First launched in May 2020, the Songwriters Fund grew out of an effort by songwriter Autumn Rowe to raise money for her struggling peers. The official fund — which has given out over $400,000 in $1,000 emergency grants to date — was born after SONA came aboard to help create a larger, more structured operation. Initial donations came from a mixture of private and corporate donors, including Sony Music Publishing.

Alongside Rowe, the fund is co-directed songwriter Michelle Featherstone, with management by songwriter Sarah Robertson.

“Everything dried up all at once for the songwriting community: royalties from streaming, as well as the ability to do gig work or be a session player,” said Featherstone in a statement. “We were talking to fellow songwriters who were asking, ‘How will I pay this month’s rent? How will I buy groceries? Will I ever work again?’”

“The Songwriter Fund is a resource for our community when there are no other options,” added Rowe in a statement. “Many writers who ran out of options received grants, and we were really grateful to help. I’d like the Songwriter Fund to feel like that friend who always has your back. Because there is so little overhead in our organization, the most possible money goes out to songwriters.”

To learn more about the fund or to donate, visit www.songwriterfund.com.

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Lin-Manuel Miranda Launches New Times Square Vaccine Site

Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda joined New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio on Monday (April 12) at the grand opening of a Times Square COVID-19 vaccination site intended to jump-start the city’s entertainment industry.

“We want to gather again, and we want to tell stories in the dark,” said Miranda, the author and star of the hit musical about Alexander Hamilton. “We cannot do that if we don’t feel safe and if you don’t feel safe. So the first step in that process is getting our vaccination shots, and the next steps will follow.”

Broadway theaters have been shuttered since the coronavirus pandemic struck in March of last year. De Blasio has said he hopes dedicated vaccination sites will help the industry reopen by September.

The new Times Square vaccine site will be open to workers in theater, film and TV, said the mayor, who stressed the importance of the entertainment industry to the life of the city.

“Yes, it’s part of our economy. Much more importantly it’s part of our identity,” de Blasio said. “It’s part of who we are, it’s part of our hearts. What it means in this city, the theater, the music, the dance, the film and TV, it is our expression of everything that is New York City. It’s our creativity, it’s our heart and soul. We do something here that does not exist anywhere in the world quite like this.”

The new vaccination site, housed in a former NFL Experience store, will be managed by Susan Sampliner, the longtime company manager for the musical “Wicked.” Miranda said that “if anyone knows how to make a show run on time it’s Broadway stage managers. So you’ll be in good hands.”

Coronavirus

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How Cultura Profetica Is Making a Return to Live Shows During a Pandemic

While many artists connected with their fans during quarantine with virtual concerts, Cultura Profetica sat back and waited for things to “go back to normal.”

“We could have done several concerts online and we held on for a bit with the expectation and hope that this would not stay that way for long,” vocalist Willie Rodriguez previously told Billboard.

Now, as people adapt to the new normal, so does the Puerto Rican reggae band, already performing two in-person shows since their last one right as the pandemic struck on March 15, 2020.

On Saturday, Cultura performed at Miami’s Historic Virginia Key Beach Park, offering fans a socially distant outdoor experience where groups of 10 enjoyed the show in their very own “pods.”

Helmed by Swarm (a local production team), Sophisticated Minds and No Limes Entertainment, around 5,000 concertgoers attended the show, half of the venue’s attendance capacity.

“We complied with a full COVID plan approved by the city of Miami and implemented sanitizing locations, 6-foot distance signage, and of course the pod platforms,” Ricardo Arjona, head of Sophisticated Minds, tells Billboard. “We also had fire marshals on-site, a full medical team, and a COVID Area with an additional team for emergency purposes.”

Likewise, all of the production team and musicians followed the rules and protocols, such as washing hands, wearing face masks, temperature checks, social distancing, and a mandatory negative COVID test.

The concert lasted a bit over two hours, where the Latin Grammy-winning band performed notable songs such as “Herida Mortal,” “Caracoles,” “Saca, Prende y Sorprende,” “La Complicidad,” “Love and Happiness” and “Ilegal,” to name a few. Guest artists included opening act Simon Grossman, emerging artist Delić and reggaeton star De La Ghetto.

“The feelings were pure euphoria, and a magical celebration of artistic freedom, a dream-like experience!” guitarist and bass guitarist Omar Silva tells Billboard, adding that the Miami show “definitely met our expectations, especially concerning the audience’s receptiveness for a live music experience.”

Silva — who says the band had “none and so many doubts at the same time” about going back onstage during the pandemic — assures that the band is “working hard to fulfill our fans’ expectations.”

Up next, Cultura Profetica, celebrating their 25-year career in 2021, will visit fans in Texas, Atlanta, New York and Puerto Rico.

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DMX’s Family Denies Rumor That Jay-Z & Beyoncé Bought His Master Recordings

The family of DMX (real name Earl Simmons) set the record straight about the alleged sale of the late rapper’s master recordings and his upcoming funeral in a new statement.

“There have been a few rumors following our loved one, Earl Simmons’, passing that we’d like to clear up,” his family said in a statement provided to Billboard. “No one has bought Earl’s masters. Additionally, we are not selling any merch or raising money for Earl’s funeral. If anyone is requesting for money for his funeral please be aware the person is a scammer. We will keep the public posted on funeral/memorial service arrangements.”

The most popular rumor around DMX’s catalog alleged that Beyoncé and Jay-Z had purchased X’s master recordings for $10 million with plans to return his masters to his 17 children — though DMX only has 15 children. Swizz Beatz also shot down the rumor on social media: “Not true king,” Swizz wrote alongside the false article on Instagram.

It’s unclear who currently owns DMX’s master recordings, but the bulk of his commercial success came on Def Jam, where he made his major-label debut in 1998 with It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot and stayed through 2003’s Grand Champ.

DMX (real name Earl Simmons) died Friday after suffering a heart attack triggered by a drug overdose. He was 50. The rapper had been on life support and was in a “vegetative state,” according to his former manager Nakia Walker, since last Sunday.

His family and friends organized a prayer vigil on April 5 outside of White Plains Hospital, where X remained on life support before he died. Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano told TMZ that he would be willing to offer Yonkers Raceway, the city’s largest outdoor venue, for his family to host a public hometown memorial.

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Volcano eruption in St. Vincent brings new worries: Destruction of parts of the country

The eastern Caribbean island of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, which saw the eruption of its La Soufrière volcano for the first time in 42 years, woke up Sunday to … Click to Continue »
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2021 Guild Of Music Supervisors Awards: Full List of Winners

“Hear My Voice” from The Trial of The Chicago 7 won best song written and/or recorded for a film at the 11th annual Guild Of Music Supervisors Awards, which were presented virtually on Sunday (April 11). The award went to the song’s co-writers, Celeste Waite and Daniel Pemberton, and also to the film’s music supervisors, Peter Afterman and Alison Litton.

The Guild Of Music Supervisors Awards recognize outstanding achievement in the craft of music supervision in film, television, documentaries, games, advertising and trailers.

“Hear My Voice” is an Oscar nominee for best original song. However, none of the four songs it defeated to win this award were Oscar-nominated. As a result, its win here may not have much predictive power as to who will win the Oscar. Celeste performed the song to close the event, which is valuable exposure to an audience that doubtless included many Academy members.

Celeste also performed “If I Ever Lose This Heaven,” a song that first gained notice on Quincy Jones’ 1974 album Body Heat. Andra Day, an Oscar nominee for her performance in The United States vs. Billie Holiday, performed a song to open the show. The show also included performances by Darius de Haas (the zesty “One Less Angel” from The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) and Angelica Garcia.

Soul won the award for best music supervision for film budgeted over $25 million. The award went to Tom MacDougall, the film’s music supervisor. Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross and Jon Batiste are Oscar-nominated for composing the film’s score.

Reznor and Ross won here for best song written and/or recorded for television for “The Way It Used to Be,” which they wrote and recorded for an episode of HBO’s Watchmen. The two composers were nominated for an Emmy last year for outstanding original music and lyrics for writing the song. Liza Richardson, the episode’s music supervisor, was also cited in that category. Richardson won a second award here for best music supervision – television drama for Season 1 of Watchmen.

Richardson revealed that “The Way It Used to Be” is “kind of a happy accident. It was a music supervision failure that became a success because we couldn’t clear the song that was intended to be cleared, so we pivoted to Trent and Atticus creat[ing] this incredible song that you would never know came from members of Nine Inch Nails because it’s this perfectly tuned 1940s, beautiful song.”

Quincy Jones received the icon award. Stevie Wonder performed a brief musical tribute to Jones, who he has known since he was 14 (in 1964). Many people from Jones’ long and legendary career spoke about him, both in archival and new clips. They included Oprah Winfrey, Alicia Keys, Bono, will.i.am, Will Smith, Colin Powell, Lionel Richie, Mary J. Blige, Robin Thicke, Jacob Collier, John Legend, Diane Warren and Gloria & Emilio Estefan. Jones accepted the award wearing a baseball cap which was inscribed “University of the ‘Hood.”

Maureen Crowe, the founding president of the Guild of Music Supervisors, received the legacy award. Crowe has worked on such films as Wayne’s World, True Romance, Chicago, The Bodyguard and Dead Man Walking. Her legacy also includes making it so music supervisors can vote, and receive awards, at both the Grammys and the Emmys, and playing a key role in music supervisors receiving retirement and other benefits. Singing her praises were Kenny Ortega, Kevin Costner, Jay Landers, Dean Pitchford, Debbie Allen, Michael A. Levine, Neil Meron, Rickey Minor and Clive Davis. “I’m not retiring,” she insisted, when the plaudits made the tribute start to sound like a retirement party.

Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell, who, between them, have won 15 Grammys in the past two years, were presenters at the ceremony. Other celebrity presenters or participants included Angela Bassett, Connie Britton, Michael Chiklis, Bryan Cranston, Tony Hawk, Marin Hinkle, Regina King, Savan Kotecha, Michael McDonald, Eva Noblezada, Folake Olowofoyeku,  Tony Shalhoub and Paul Williams.

There was an unusual three-way tie for best music supervision – television comedy or musical. The winners were Manish Raval, Alison Rosenfeld and Tom Wolfe for High Fidelity – Season 1; Kier Lehman for Insecure – Season 4, and Robin Urdang for The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel – Season 3.

Joel C. High, Robin Kaye, and Thomas Golubić executive produced the event.  Angelia Bibbs-Sanders produced, while Nick Urbom acted as technical producer and  Jessica Milten served as talent producer.

There were more than a few technical glitches in the Jones tribute. Let’s hope we are nearing the end of these virtual events, and can soon go back to live events.

Here is the complete winners list for the 11th annual Guild of Music Supervisors Awards:

Film Awards

Best music supervision for film budgeted over $25 million: Tom MacDougall – Soul

Best music supervision for film budgeted under $25 million: Dawn Sutter Madell – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

Best music supervision for film budgeted under $10 million: Susan Jacobs – Promising Young Woman

Best music supervision for film budgeted under $5 million: Dondrea Erauw, Michael Perlmutter – The Cuban

Best song written and/or recorded for a film: “Hear My Voice” from The Trial of the Chicago 7; writers: Celeste Waite, Daniel Pemberton; performed By: Celeste; music supervisors: Peter Afterman, Alison Litton

Television Awards

Best music supervision – television drama: Liza Richardson – Watchmen – Season 1

Best music supervision – television comedy or musical (three-way tie): Manish Raval, Alison Rosenfeld, Tom Wolfe – High Fidelity – Season 1, Kier Lehman – Insecure – Season 4, Robin Urdang – The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel – Season 3

Best music supervision – reality television: Meryl Ginsberg – The Masked Singer – Season 3

Best music supervision – television movie: Warren Fischer, Laura Webb, Lindsay Wolfington – To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You

Best song written and/or recorded for television: “The Way It Used to Be,” songwriters: Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross; artists: Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross; program: Watchmen; episode: #106 “This Extraordinary Being;” music supervisor: Liza Richardson

Documentary Awards

Best music supervision for a documentary: Aminé Ramer – Crip Camp

Best music supervision in a docuseries: Rudy Chung – The Last Dance

Trailer Award

Best music supervision in a trailer: Mike Lynn – Judas and the Black Messiah

Advertising Awards

Best music supervision in advertising (synch): Andy Hamm – Apple “A Journey into the Valley of Fire – Shot on iPhone”

Best music supervision in advertising (original music): Mike Ladman – Hennessy “Maurice and the Black Bear School”

Video Games Award

Best music supervision in a video game: Eric Kalver, Brandon Young – Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2

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Bowen Yang on ‘SNL’ as Iceberg Who Sunk the Titanic Goes Viral

Bowen Yang had fans rolling when he played the iceberg who sunk the Titanic during “Weekend Update” on Saturday Night Live.

Saying he stopped by for an interview to promote his new album, Yang’s iceberg said he did not want to talk about the sinking of the historic ship, which occurred April 14, 1912.

“That was a really long time ago. I’ve done a lot of reflecting to try and move past it,” he said to big laughs. “It’s one very small part me, but there’s so much going on beneath the surface that you can’t see.”

Yang’s iceberg snapped at Colin Jost’s line of questions about the Titanic with, “I think my publicist was very clear: I’m not here to talk about the sinking,” before getting into the details of the incident from his point of view.

“First of all, you came to where I live and you hit me! It was midnight. I was chilling. And then I hear this Irish cacophony behind me,” he explained. “And before I turn around and go, like, ‘What?’ Half my ass is gone, which was my best feature. And I’m literally injured but all anybody cares about is that like 40 or 50 people died or whatever.”

Yang was trending on Twitter Sunday morning for the hilarious bit and a tweet from the show with the segment had more than 25,000 likes alone.

Yang — SNL’s first Asian American cast member — has quickly become a fan favorite with his impressions, such as Fran Lebowitz, and also for recently speaking his mind about the increase of anti-Asian assaults and harassment during the pandemic.

Watch the segment below.

This article originally appeared on The Hollywood Reporter.

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Olivia Rodrigo Gets a Parking Ticket, Finds Out Driving ‘Isn’t All Fun and Games’

“Drivers License” hitmaker Olivia Rodrigo has hit another milestone: getting what is likely to be her very first parking ticket.

The young singer-songwriter found herself with a City of Los Angeles parking violation notice and shared that moment with her fans via an Instagram Story on Sunday (April 11).

“damn this driving s— isnt all fun and games,” she quipped in a a captioned for the snapshot.

Earlier this month, it was reported that Rodrigo’s runaway hit single — which spent eight weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the Billboard Global 200 charts — had become the first song to surpass 1 billion global streams in 2021, according to figures from MRC Data.

She recently released the new single “Deja Vu,” and her debut studio album is scheduled to arrive on May 21.

Check out her reaction to getting a parking ticket on Instagram.

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Lil Nas X Keeps U.K. Chart Crown With ‘Montero’

Lil Nas X enters a second week at No. 1 on the U.K. singles chart with “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” (Lil Nas X) while Demi Lovato misses out on the albums crown in an agonizingly close race.

“Montero” collects another 62,000 chart sales in the past cycle, including 8.6 million streams, the OCC reports. The U.S. rapper’s controversial song finishes comfortably ahead of the second-placed single, Justin Bieber’s “Peaches” (Def Jam) featuring Daniel Caesar & Giveon, up 3-2 to a new peak.

Also hitting new highs this week is Russ Millions & Tion Wayne’s “Body” (Atlantic), up 21-12; Australian rapper Masked Wolf’s “Astronaut In The Ocean” (Elektra) up 20-18; Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak’s Silk Sonic’s “Leave The Door Open” (Atlantic), up 23-20; and D-Block Europe & Raye’s “Ferrari Horses,” up 28-22 (D-Block Europe).

The highest debut of the week belongs to Olivia Rodrigo with “Déjà Vu” (Geffen), the followup to her global hit “Drivers License.” It’s new at No. at 27.

Meanwhile, it’s been a memorable battle for the Official U.K. Albums Chart title as The Snuts’ W.L. (Parlophone) edges Demi Lovato’s Dancing With The Devil – The Art Of Starting Over (Island).

Just 272 chart sales separate the top two albums as The Snuts become the first Scottish band in 14 years to lead the U.K. chart with their debut album. The last was The View with 2007’s Hats Off To The Buskers.

Lovato’s No. 2 bow is her highest-charting record in the U.K., eclipsing the No. 5 best for her 2017 set Tell Me You Love Me.

The most-streamed LP this week is Justin Bieber’s Justice (Def Jam), down 2-3; South London post-punk outfit Dry Cleaning start at No. 4 with their debut New Long Leg (4AD); and Dua Lipa’s Future Nostalgia (Warner Brothers) — the U.K.’s biggest album of 2021, according to the OCC — rounds out the Top 5.

Finally, Bronx rapper Lil Tjay has his first Top 10 and a career high with Destined 2 Win (Columbia), his sophomore album. It’s new at No. 7.

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Travis Barker Alludes to Sex Life With Kourtney Kardashian in Not-So-Subtle Instagram Post

Travis Barker wants the world to know his thoughts about Kourtney Kardashian.

The Blink-182 drummer shared exactly what’s on his mind on Instagram over the weekend when he posted a photo of himself with a drumstick flying high in the sky above. The image shows Barker looking up, waiting in anticipation for it to come to him.

“All day I dream about sex w/ you,” he captioned the picture on Saturday (April 10).

In case anyone questioned who the “you” in Barker’s caption was, he tagged Kourtney Kardashian as the drumstick in the photo.

Some left comments that Barker’s caption brought to mind a Korn song (1997’s “A.D.I.D.A.S.”), while others gabbed about how smitten he clearly is with his Kardashian.

The couple have been sharing glimpses into their private world over the past couple months: Barker recently got Kourtney’s name tattooed on his chest, and they’ve been posting their love notes to each other on their Instagram Stories.

The pair went Instagram official in February with a photo of their hands intertwined.

See Barker daydreaming about Kardashian in his latest post on Instagram.

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