Morgan Wallen‘s Abbey Road Sessions project is here. On Sunday (March 3), the country singer surprised fans by releasing a digital collection of seven live song recordings from Studio Two at London’s Abbey Road Studios.

The release marks the one-year anniversary of his hit album One Thing at a Time, which has spent 18 non-consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, tying Garth Brooks’ Ropin’ the Wind for most weeks at No. 1 for a country album. The album is currently sitting at No. 2 for the week ending Feb. 29.

The tracklist includes performances of five songs from One Thing at a Time, as well as an unreleased song, “Lies Lies Lies,” and a cover of Nothing But Thieves’ “Graveyard Whistling.”

Abbey Road Sessions‘ tracks — “Thinkin’ Bout Me,” “Lies Lies Lies,” “Sunrise,” “Everything I Love,” “I Wrote the Book,” “I Deserve a Drink” and “Graveyard Whistling” — were recorded on Dec. 5, 2023.

“Playing the O2 in London last fall and getting to record at Abbey Road, where so much iconic music has been made, was legendary for me and my band. We will never forget it,” states Wallen in a press release about Abbey Road Sessions. “I’m so excited to release these Abbey Road Sessions for my fans on the one-year anniversary of One Thing at a Time. They make all this possible.”

Wallen’s One Night at a Time World Tour resumes in the U.S. in April, with dates scheduled through August.

Watch his Abbey Road Sessions performances below. The full playlist is available on YouTube.

RAYE was the big winner at the 2024 Brit Awards, winning a record six awards – artist of the year, album of the year for My 21st Century Blues, song of the year for “Escapism” (featuring 070 Shake), R&B act, new artist and songwriter of the year. This breaks the old record of four awards in one night, held jointly by Harry Styles (2023), Adele (2016) and Blur (1995). Adele and Styles had won artist of the year the last two years. RAYE is not yet in their league as a global superstar, but after this strong show of support in her home country, she is on her way.

RAYE sobbed as she won the album of the year award, saying, “You just don’t understand what this means to me. … I’m ugly-crying on national television. All I ever wanted to be was an artist. And now I’m an artist with an album of the year.”

“Escapism,” which reached No. 1 on the Official U.K. Singles Chart and climbed as high as No. 22 on the Billboard Hot 100, is the first collaboration to win song of the year since “One Kiss” by Calvin Harris & Dua Lipa five years ago. (Harris and Lipa were both winners on this night, as well.)

The Brits were held at The O2 arena in London on Saturday (March 2). Clara Amfo, Maya Jama and Roman Kemp co-hosted the ceremony.

The Brits report that “three-quarters of award wins [featured] women and non-binary people.” Female artists made a clean sweep of the three awards for international artists (that is, artists who hail from outside the U.K.).

Miley Cyrus’ “Flowers” won international song of the year, coming out on top in a 15-entry field. (Memo to the Brits: 15 is way too many nominees.) “Flowers” was named the top-selling global single of 2023 by IFPI earlier this week. It won the Grammy for record of the year on Feb. 4. This is the third consecutive year that this Brit Award has gone to a No. 1 hit on the Hot 100. The award had gone the last two years to Olivia Rodrigo’s “Good 4U” and Beyoncé’s “Break My Soul.”

SZA won international artist of the year, beating a very strong field which also included Cyrus, Rodrigo, Kylie Minogue and Taylor Swift. Swift had topped SZA to win the Grammy for album of the year.

Boygenius won international group of the year. They are the fifth all-female group to win in this category, following The Bangles (1987), TLC (2000), Destiny’s Child (2002) and HAIM (2021).

The Last Dinner Party won the rising star award. They are the first all-female group to win in the category, which was first presented in 2008.

The pop/R&B act category was split in two this year — pop act, which went to Dua Lipa, and British R&B act, which went to RAYE. Lipa had won in the combined pop/R&B category two years ago. This was her seventh career Brit Award.

Calvin Harris won dance act, beating Becky Hill, who had won in that category the last two years. In accepting the award, Harris praised Ellie Goulding, with whom he teamed on “Miracle,” a song of the year nominee.

Chase & Status are this year’s Producer of the Year winners. The electronic music duo, consisting of Saul Milton (Chase) and Will Kennard (Status), was also nominated for group of the year. They have produced not only their own releases, but the works of such other acts as Becky Hill, Rihanna, Rita Ora and Tinie Tempah. Chase & Status are the fourth multi-person production team to win Producer of the Year, following Stock Aitken Waterman (1988), Chris Potter, The Verve & Youth (1998) and Alan Moulder & Flood (2014).

Central Cee and J Hus, which had finished second to RAYE in the nominations count with four nods each, were shut out on the night. 

Here’s the complete list of 2024 Brit Awards nominees, with winners marked.

Mastercard album of the year

Blur, The Ballad of Darren, Parlophone/Warner Music

J Hus, Beautiful and Brutal Yard, Black Butter/Sony Music

Little Simz, NO THANK YOU, Forever Living Originals/AWAL

WINNER: RAYE, My 21st Century Blues, Human Re Sources/The Orchard

Young Fathers, Heavy Heavy, Ninja Tune

Artist of the year

Arlo Parks, Transgressive

Central Cee, Columbia Records/Sony Music

Dave, Neighbourhood/Live Yours

Dua Lipa, Warner Records/Warner Music

Fred Again.., Atlantic/Warner Music

J Hus, Black Butter/Sony Music

Jessie Ware, EMI / Universal Music UK

Little Simz, Forever Living Originals/AWAL

Olivia Dean, EMI/Universal Music UK

WINNER: RAYE, Human Re Sources/The Orchard

Group of the year

Blur, Parlophone/Warner Music

Chase & Status, EMI/Universal Music UK

Headie One & K-Trap, One Records & Thousand8/The Orchard

WINNER: Jungle, Caiola/AWAL

Young Fathers, Ninja Tune

Best new artist

Mahalia, Asylum/Atlantic Records/Warner Music

Olivia Dean, EMI/Universal Music UK

PinkPantheress, Warner Records/Warner Music

WINNER: RAYE, Human Re Sources/The Orchard

Yussef Dayes, Brownswood Records/ADA/Warner Music

Song of the year

“Miracle,” Calvin Harris/Ellie Goulding, Sony Music/Universal Music UK

“Prada,” cassö/RAYE/D-Block Europe, Ministry Of Sound/Sony Music

“Let Go,” Central Cee, Columbia Records/Sony Music

“Sprinter,” Dave & Central Cee, Neighbourhood/Live Yours

“Dance the Night,” Dua Lipa, Atlantic Records/Warner Music

“Eyes Closed,” Ed Sheeran, Asylum/Atlantic Records/Warner Music

“Who Told You,” J Hus Ft Drake, Sony Music/Universal Music

“Strangers,” Kenya Grace, Warner Music

“Wish You the Best,” Lewis Capaldi, EMI/Universal Music Group

“Boy’s a Liar,” PinkPantheress, Warner Records/Warner Music

WINNER: “Escapism,” RAYE ft 070 Shake, Human Re Sources/The Orchard

“Dancing Is Healing,” Rudimental/Charlotte Plank/Vibe Chemistry, Columbia/Sony Music

“Firebabe,” Stormzy Ft Debbie, #Merky Records/0207 Records/Universal Music UK

“REACT,” Switch Disco & Ella Henderson, Relentless Records/Sony Music

“Messy in Heaven,” Venbee & Goddard, Room 2/Columbia Records/Sony Music

International artist of the year

Asake, YBNL Nation/Pri.me

Burna Boy, Spaceship/Bad Habit/Atlantic Records

Caroline Polachek, Perpetual Novice/The Orchard

CMAT, CMATBABY/AWAL

Kylie Minogue, BMG Records

Lana Del Rey, Polydor/Universal Music UK

Miley Cyrus, Columbia/Sony Music

Olivia Rodrigo, Polydor/Geffen/Universal Music Group

WINNER: SZA, RCA/Sony Music

Taylor Swift, EMI/Republic/Universal Music Group

International group of the year

Blink-182, Columbia/Sony Music

WINNER: Boygenius, Polydor/Interscope/Universal Music Group

Foo Fighters, Columbia/Sony Music

Gabriels, Parlophone/Warner Music

Paramore, Atlantic/Warner Music

International song of the year

“What Was I Made For?,” Billie Eilish, Darkroom/Interscope/Polydor/Universal Music Group

“Daylight,” David Kushner, Miserable Music/Virgin Music Group/Universal Music Group

“Paint the Town Red,” Doja Cat, RCA/Sony Music

“Giving Me,” Jazzy, CHAOS/Polydor/Universal Music UK

“People,” Libianca,5k Records/Sony Music

“Made You Look,” Meghan Trainor, Epic Records/Sony Music

WINNER: “Flowers,” Miley Cyrus, Columbia Records/Sony Music

“Stick Season,” Noah Kahan, Mercury Records/Republic Records/Island UK/Universal Music Group

“Miss You,” Oliver Tree & Robin Schulz, Atlantic Records / Warner Music

“vampire,” Olivia Rodrigo, Polydor/Geffen/Universal Music Group

“(It Goes Like) Nanana,” Peggy Gou, XL Recordings

“Calm Down,” Rema, Mavin Records/Jonzing World/Virgin Music Group/Universal Music Group

“Kill Bill,” SZA, RCA/Sony Music

“greedy,” Tate McRae, RCA/Sony Music

“Water,” Tyla, Epic Records/Sony Music

Alternative/rock act

Blur, Parlophone/Warner Music

WINNER: Bring Me The Horizon, RCA/Sony Music

The Rolling Stones, Polydor/Universal Music UK

Young Fathers, Ninja Tune

Yussef Dayes, Brownswood Records/ADA/Warner Music

Hip-hop/grime/rap act

WINNER: CASISDEAD, XL Recordings

Central Cee, Columbia Records/Sony Music

Dave, Neighbourhood/Live Yours

J Hus, Black Butter/Sony Music

Little Simz, Forever Living Originals/AWAL

Dance act

Barry Can’t Swim, Ninja Tune

Becky Hill, Polydor/Universal Music UK

WINNER: Calvin Harris, Columbia/Sony Music

Fred again.., Atlantic/Warner

Romy, Young Recordings

Pop act

Calvin Harris, Columbia/Sony Music

Charli XCX, Atlantic/Warner Music

WINNER: Dua Lipa, Warner Records/Warner Music

Olivia Dean, EMI / Universal Music UK

RAYE, Human Re Sources/The Orchard

R&B act

Cleo Sol, Forever Living Originals

Jorja Smith, FAMM/The Orchard

Mahalia, Atlantic/Warner Music

WINNER: RAYE, Human Re Sources/The Orchard

SAULT, Forever Living Originals

Brits rising star

Caity Baser, EMI / Universal Music UK

Sekou, Island / Universal Music UK

WINNER: The Last Dinner Party, Island / Universal Music UK

Producer of the Year

Winner: Chase & Status

Songwriter of the Year

Winner: RAYE

Global Icon Award

Winner: Kylie Minogue

With radio programmers spread across the country, it’s not often that artists have a chance to interact with the programmers and personnel who have aided them in their respective journeys to earning their first country radio hits — at the same time, all in one room. But each year, they do get that chance when radio programmers — along with plenty of label personnel — gather in Nashville for the Country Radio Seminar.

On Friday (March 1), following three days of radio and streaming-focused panels and label luncheons, the conference concluded by highlighting five highly-promising new artists.

This year’s class featured Records Nashville’s George Birge, Riser House’s Dillon Carmichael, Sony Music Nashville/RCA’s Corey Kent, Sony Music Nashville/Columbia’s Megan Moroney and Valory Music’s Conner Smith.

The night’s performances were tightly focused, with artists largely running through their familiar breakthrough hits, while also offering glimpses into what lies ahead musically.

First up was Kent. In an introductory video that played on the main screens prior to his performance, Kent began by thanking country radio for “helping us to deliver the biggest axe blow we’ve ever had,” in making his single “Wild as Her” a top 5 Country Airplay hit. “There will be many more to come,” he promised. Taking the New Faces stage, Kent introduced his set with the brooding “Gold.”

“If you know anything about me, you know this. I believe tomorrow isn’t guaranteed and what you do today matters. What we do tonight is take a few risks … you either getting busy living or you’re getting busy dying.”

He then offered his most recent radio single, “Something’s Gonna Kill Me,” a churning, freewheeling song which made great use of his rock-woven, rugged voice. From there, he offered his breakthrough hit “Wild as Her.” He largely stayed close to center stage throughout his set. Not that he needed to roam the stage — his voice, full-bodied and shot through with rock influences, permeated the room.

“Thank y’all so much, country radio!” he told the packed ballroom of radio executives, before offering a preview of a new song, titled “This Heart,” which Kent noted will soon impact country radio.

Next up was Birge, who reached No. 2 on the Country Airplay heart earlier this year with “Mind on You.” Microphone in hand, he stalked the stage as he offered the hard-rock influenced “Hard on the Bottle.” He later gave the audience an early look at new song “Damn Right I Do,” and concluded with “Cowboy Songs.”

“I’ve dreamed about this day for a long, long time and damn it did not disappoint,” he said. “I couldn’t come here and not play the song that you changed my life with,” he added before taking up a guitar to perform “Mind on You.”

“Thank you for believing in me,” he told the audience. “I don’t take for granted for one second that I get to be up here on this stage and it’s because of you guys.”

Before Nashville native Smith took the stage, screens on both sides of the stage showed home videos of Smith as a young child, around five or six years old, performing covers of hits from Kenny Chesney and Montgomery Gentry, followed by footage of Smith earning a standing ovation during his Grand Ole Opry debut in 2022.

Smith, clad in a white shirt and black leather jacket, began his high-octane set with “Smoky Mountains,” the title track from his January-released full-length album.

He noted that he’s attended the New Faces of Country Music Show a few times. “I would always watch and just pray that I would get a chance to be on this stage,” he said, thanking the crowd. “It means so much more than you know.” He then rolled into another song from the album, “Heatin’ Up.”

He also offered up with the tender, fiddle-laced duet “Roulette on the Heart” (though his duet partner on the song, Hailey Whitters, wasn’t in attendance). Still, Smith’s solo rendition connected with the audience just fine, thanks to his warm, smoothing vocals.

Smith also thanked country radio for changing his life by making the revved-up “Creek Will Rise” a hit. “It’s like Luke Bryan says — rain is a good thing,” Smith said before launching into the careening, rock-fueled, slightly bluesy track. ”Long live country radio!” he said, exiting the stage.

Kentucky native Carmichael, who is currently out on tour opening shows for Cody Johnson, launched his set with “Raised Up Wrong.”

“What an opportunity this is. Thank you for giving us a chance,” he said, before launching into his breakthrough hit “Son of A.” “In order to even qualify to be voted for to be a new face, one of those qualifications is you have to have at least a top 25 at country radio, so I want to thank my team for continuing to push this song we are about to play … and for country radio all of you who kept playing it … it means so much.”

He concluded with another uptempo track, one perfect for getting crowds to lift up their cups and enjoy some levity, with his current top 40 Country Airplay hit, “Drinkin’ Problems.”

The evening included a special moment to remember the life and career of the late country star Toby Keith, who died last month at age 62 following a battle with stomach cancer.

“He lived life fully, right to the end,” CRS Board of Directors president Kurt Johnson said, noting that Keith had planned to perform during Country Radio Seminar this year. CRB/CRS executive director RJ Curtis noted that 30 years ago that night, Keith made his New Faces Show debut in 1994. Then screens on either side of the main stage showed clips from Keith’s CRS New Faces of Country Music Show debut, including a performance of “Should’ve Been a Cowboy” and a short interview clip of Keith from his New Faces debut.

The lone woman on this year’s New Faces bill, Moroney closed out the lineup that evening. She is also one of the most-celebrated newcomers, thanks to her breakthrough hit, “Tennessee Orange,” and her debut album, Lucky.

“Anybody feel lucky?” she asked as she took the stage, clad in one of her signature sparkly, brightly-colored dresses to perform the title track to her album Lucky, as images of horseshoes, four-leaf clovers and boots crisscrossed the screen behind her.

Moroney’s star power was undeniable from the first song. From there she sailed through southernism-tinged kiss-off “I’m Not Pretty” and new release “No Caller ID” (which debuted at No. 13 on the Hot Country Songs chart earlier this year), led by her warm-hued voice, which cracked in all the right places, letting the emotional nuances of each song seep through.

“I have a lot of new music coming out this year that I’m excited for you to hear,” she teased, later adding, “Thank you for your support of me and my songs. I love writing songs. I love to do this and I get to do this because of you,” she said. In a departure from earlier performers on the bill, Moroney’s set offered its share of ballads, including the introspective song from Lucky “Girl in the Mirror.” Moroney closed with a faithful live rendering of her hit “Tennessee Orange.”

Since its inception in 1970, the New Faces of Country Music Show has put some of country music’s brightest new talents in the spotlight, with the members of the Class of 2024 joining the list of past New Faces performers including Tim McGraw, George Strait, Taylor Swift, Faith Hill, Keith Urban, Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert and Jelly Roll.

Nas wants to bring a state-of-the-art casino to his home borough of Queens.

On Thursday (Feb. 29), the rap legend was on hand to unveil the $5 billion vision for Resorts World’s Aqueduct Park in Southeast Queens as the company hopes to win a license from New York State to break ground on the project. If granted, the casino is expected to be one of the largest in the world at 350,000 square feet.

“This is an ambitious project that will give new opportunities to the hard-working families who call Queens home, attract top-tier talent, and build up the next generation of leaders,” said Nas, who has partnered with Resorts World to help promote the project, in a statement. “Clearly, with this project, the world is ours.”

The “Queens Get the Money” rapper reportedly added at the unveiling: “It’s an honor to be here, to be a part of this with Resorts World, realizing the future, seeing what this can be and what it will be.”

Since Resorts World gained access to the land and infrastructure in 2010, it has been preparing to one day build a multi-functional casino. There are plans for a 7,000-seat capacity entertainment venue to host events and concerts as well.

Park space, housing, hotels, restaurants and renovated transit options to JFK Airport and Manhattan are also part of the grand vision, which could create 5,000 union jobs.

Two-time NBA champion and current TNT basketball analyst Kenny “The Jet” Smith also endorsed the project; the plan includes building a sports academy with facilities named after the former Houston Rocket player.

“Resorts World came to me with a clear goal of fostering tomorrow’s athletes, student athletes and leaders both on and off the court,” said Smith in a statement. “Their investment in this Academy will help us teach the next generation the nuances of the game on and off the court, as well as the social, economic, and cultural impact of sports. I’m thrilled to partner with them to improve the borough that raised me and take it to the next level.”

Per The New York Times, Resorts World as well as Yonkers’ Empire City are expected to receive two out of the three licenses granted by New York State. That would not bode well for JAY-Z’s Times Square casino bid in Manhattan.

Watch an ad starring Nas for the Queens Resorts World Casino proposal below.

Nas featured in new commercial for Resorts World Casino In Rockaway Blvd In Queens NYC pic.twitter.com/3rg7ImRoTf

— Hip Hop Immortal (@HipHopImm0rtal) February 29, 2024