Shawn Mendes had a very special treat up his sleeve for fans at his O2 Arena show in London on Saturday night (Aug. 16). The singer brought out his old pal former One Direction member Niall Horan for a run through the latter’s debut solo single, 2016’s “This Town.”
In his first stage appearance since the death of his former bandmate Liam Payne in October 2024, Horan was greeted with ear-piercing screams by the fans in the arena, as evidenced by a video of the special moment posted by Mendes. “Everybody please welcome Mr. Niall Horan to the stage,” Mendes said casually as bedlam broke out.
Horan, dressed in jeans and a long-sleeve white shirt made his way to the stage holding an acoustic guitar and gave Mendes a big hug as the duo broke into song together, crooning the ballad’s chorus together. “If the whole world was watching I’d still dance with you/ Drive highways and byways to be there with you,” they sang while smiling at each other and plucking out the song’s melody on their guitars. “Over and over the only truth/ Everything comes back to you.”
“I love you… and I love this guy. Take care of him,” Horan grinned as he pointed to his friend amid the screams of joy. In the caption to his video of the duet, Mendes wrote, “I’ll remember this for a long time [heart emoji]. Thank you so much London.”
Mendes’ world tour will continue on Wednesday (Aug. 20) with a show at the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam, followed by four more European shows before a return to North America on Sept. 25 at TD Garden in Boston. Horan is gearing up for the return of The Voice on Sept. 22, where he will be in the big red chair again alongside castmates Reb McEntire, Michael Bublé and Snoop Dogg for season 28.
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2025-08-18 13:11:032025-08-18 13:11:03Shawn Mendes Brings Out Niall Horan For a Run Through ‘This Town’ During London Show; ‘I’ll Remember This For a Long Time’
Social media is an indispensable tool for comedians to build fan bases and sell tickets. It’s also a ton of work and frequent frustration. Enter digital marketing agency UpHigh, which represents such marquee names in comedy as Ken Jeong, Matteo Lane and Anjelah Johnson-Reyes, and has launched two platforms to “replace and unify marketing strategies, fan engagement, and data insights — all into one streamlined hub,” according to the company.
The online platforms, UpNex and UpHigh University, are intended to transform how comedians and touring entertainers navigate digital marketing and addressing the most pressing challenges of today’s online landscape.
“From high-level marketing tools to fan engagement essentials, UpNex consolidates everything into one intuitive dashboard,” according to an UpHigh release. “Users can seamlessly integrate and schedule social media content, track event listings and ticketing trends, manage email lists and community platforms, sync with Shopify and other merch storefronts, and tap into robust analytics powered by AI. With full integration across platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, it’s a game-changer for comedians, their managers, and agents alike.”
“UpNex was built to help artists and their teams take control of their data, connect with fans, and grow their audience all in one powerful, easy-to-use tool,” UpHigh founder/CEO Ryan Handelsman said in a statement. “It takes fragmented data from social platforms, analytics, communication tools, and more, funneling it into a single user-friendly location.”
“UpHigh has done incredible work with our clients over the years when it comes to managing their social presence and navigating the ever-changing algorithms,” said Rachel Helix — a manager at Brillstein Entertainment Partners, whose comedy clients include JR De Guzman — in a statement. “The introduction of UpNex is an exciting and natural step that will help to keep the power of data at work for the artist in a more seamless way. After previewing the platform, I’m very excited to onboard my clients and to put this all-encompassing tool to work for their careers.”
“Social media started as something fun but quickly turned into a business I didn’t understand — and don’t necessarily want to become an expert in,” said Johnson-Reyes. “However, the business I am in, that I want to focus on, needs expertise in social media. I am so grateful to the team at UpHigh for allowing me the opportunity to focus on my true craft while trusting that my social media ‘business’ is taken care of, growing, and thriving.”
UpNex costs a base fee of $97, and the company says the artists retain all of their data, which is stored in a secure online warehouse. More information can be found here.
The second platform, UpHigh University, is designed as a hands-on learning tool to teach entertainers the skills needed to navigate the ever-evolving world of social media, including, according to the release, “best practices for handling complex social media algorithms, content creation, posting strategies, audience engagement, monetization, and more. Students receive clear, actionable steps to overcome common social media challenges, including low engagement, changing algorithms, and stagnant follower counts.”
UpHigh University offers two educational programs: Crash Course Start in Comedy — a free, prerecorded class intended to teach students the basic tools needed to build a comedic brand and online presence — and Master Your Craft, which includes live training sessions, Q&A events, and three workshops tailored to specific challenges. Tier One, Foundation for Growth, costs $79/month; Tier Two, Acceleration for Growth is $99/month and gives subscribers access to an interactive component where they can brainstorm ideas, submit questions and “get real-time feedback from peers and experts.” Tier Three, Ready to Go Pro, currently has a waitlist. More information can be found here.
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2025-08-18 13:02:382025-08-18 13:02:38Digital Marketing Agency That Reps Ken Jeong Launches Two Platforms to Make Comedians Social Media Superstars
A planned BBC One documentary chronicling the final years of Ozzy Osbourne‘s life, Ozzy Osbourne: Coming Home, was abruptly pulled from the networks’ schedule on Monday (Aug. 18) just hours before it was slated to air with no explanation. According to a BBC report, the network had been expected to air the doc on Monday evening, it “has postponed the screening without giving reasons or a new transmission date.”
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Osbourne died on July 22 at age 76, two weeks after performing his final show at his home soccer stadium, Villa Park, in Birmingham, England.
The film was described as a “moving and inspirational account” of the final chapter of Osbourne’s life, filmed over three years with participation from his wife/manager Sharon Osbourne, and two of the couple’s children, Jack and Kelly.
“The resulting film is a moving portrait of one of the world’s most entertaining families at a pivotal moment in their history,” reads a description of the doc. “The strength of Ozzy and Sharon’s love for one another and their kids’ devotion to them is palpable. So too is the family’s acceptance of Ozzy becoming increasingly unwell.”
The doc was originally pitched as a chronicle of the Osbourne’s return to England after years of living in Los Angeles, serving as a kind of bookend to the family’ beloved MTV reality show, The Osbournes, which aired on the network from 2002-2005. That version, first pitched in 2002 as a reality show-like series called Home to Roost, evolved as Osbourne’s health deteriorated due to the effects of Parkinson’s disease and a series of surgeries on Ozzy’s neck and spine.
“Ahead of retirement, Ozzy is determined to perform one last time, for himself and for his fans. Whatever it takes,” the description continued. “Pulling off both the move and the gig will be a phenomenal achievement, and son Jack is worried about the toll of relocating to a country that his parents have barely spent time in over the last two decades, as well as the impact on their close-knit family dynamics. But Ozzy has never been a man to take no for an answer, and he sets about achieving his goals with the determination, blistering honesty and razor-sharp sense of humour that have endeared him to millions for over 50 years. He stops at nothing to make his body work as well as it used to, with the film capturing remarkable levels of resolve.”
A BBC spokesperson told US Weekly that “the film has moved in the schedules and we’ll confirm new [transmission] details in due course.”
The film will show Osbourne “heroically” fighting to get fit enough to perform at the moving, star-studded Back to the Beginning show, where he played solo and Black Sabbath sets from a goth-y throne alongside sets from Metallica, Slayer, Guns N’ Roses, Mastodon, Lamb of God, Yungblud and many more. Amid the “love, laughter and tears” and sweet family moments, the doc also reportedly features scenes of Ozzy’s adult children accepting that the end is nigh, as evidenced by Kelly’s comment that “Iron man wasn’t really made of iron,” in reference to one of Sabbath’s most iconic songs.
“We hope it brings comfort and joy to Ozzy’s fans and viewers as they remember and celebrate his extraordinary life,” BBC’s head of documentary commissioning, Clare Sillery, told BBC about the honor of filming the Osbournes during this difficult period. Two of the film’s executive producers told the BBC that it was an “inspiring and poignant” account of Ozzy working to play one last show.
“Ozzy was loved by millions around the world not just for his music, but for his sense of mischief and his honesty, all of which we saw plenty of in the final years of his life,” said Ben Wicks and Colin Barr. “But one thing shone through even more brightly to us and that was Ozzy’s intense love for his exceptional family who were by his side through it all.”
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The home team paid tribute to their favorite son on Saturday (Aug. 16) when the Aston Villa Football Club remembered Ozzy Osbourne while hosting their Premier League opener against Newcastle United at Villa Park. The home team honored the late rocker by having both teams walk out to a version of Ozzy’s solo hit “Crazy Train” that was recorded at the all-star July 5 Back to the Beginning event at which the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame icon performed with his Black Sabbath mates and solo for the last time before his death two weeks later at 76 on July 22.
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The team also played a recording of the Osbourne ballad “Mama I’m Coming Home” during the match and played a video montage of Osbourne on the big screen, including an image in which the metal icon peered out with a comically maniacal look with his hands extended as the slogan “Up the Villa” surrounded his head.
Birmingham native Osbourne was a lifelong fan of the team — which is why he chose their home pitch at Villa Park for his final concert — and the band that performed at his public funeral on July 30, the Bostin Brass Band, was on hand in the stadium to play a series of Ozzy’s solo and Sabbath hits in the stadium’s fan zone during the game. Attendees could also visit the club store to sign a condolence, with the official matchday program also paying homage to Osbourne, with an illustration of a figure resembling the rocker walking up the steps to the stadium wearing a No. 9 jersey with the name “Ozzy” across the back.
Ahead of the game, the team wrote a note honoring Ozzy and laying out its plans. “Aston Villa Football Club will remember world-renowned rockstar and Villan, Ozzy Osbourne, ahead of Saturday’s Premier League opener against Newcastle United at Villa Park. Ozzy, who grew up in Aston, sadly passed away in July aged 76, having always held a special connection to the club and the community he came from,” read the statement.
“At the beginning of last month, the Prince of Darkness headlined the unforgettable Back to the Beginning concert at Villa Park. He took to the stage for the final time with an all-star lineup of rock legends, including his iconic band Black Sabbath. At our first home game since his passing, the club will come together to pay tribute to Ozzy and his legacy in several ways. A video tribute will be shown on the big screens immediately following the players’ warmup, while the teams will walkout to a backdrop of Ozzy’s live ‘Crazy Train’ performance from Back to the Beginning.”
It noted that a mural was also commissioned for the external wall of the beloved Hotle Put that reads “Ozzy Forever” and features an image of Osbourne in a similar pose as the one seen inside the stadium in the tribute video, hands extended, moth open, sly smile on his face.
“We have also kept a little piece of history in the Fan Zone Bar which was used as the exclusive artist backstage area for Back to the Beginning. Parts of the original branding and carved trees are there for fans to see, touch, take photos and remember the night Ozzy celebrated where it all started,” the team statement continued. “In the Villa Store, our book of condolences is open for supporters to add their messages which will be then presented to Ozzy’s family. Aston Villa is proud to remember Ozzy Osbourne, a music legend, and his connection to our club.”
Watch the tributes below.
In memory of Ozzy Osbourne, Aston Villa and Newcastle players walkout to his live ‘Crazy Train’ performance ❤️ pic.twitter.com/JfmUEUjmN6
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The concert cruise was slated to begin its voyage Nov. 4-8, 2025, headlined by Michael Franti & Spearhead and tracing a path from Miami to Cozumel, Mexico.
Produced by Sixthman, and billed as Soulshine at Sea 3 With Michael Franti, the event was officially sold-out back in mid-December 2024.
However, the show entered stormy waters in recent days when performers including Dispatch, Maggie Rose, Hirie, and Liz Vice pulled out. Sixthman has returned its plans to dock.
“In light of recent events, the Soulshine at Sea with Michael Franti event scheduled for November 4-8, 2025, is cancelled,” reads a statement posted to the official Soulshine at Sea’s website, noting that plans for a separate event are underway.
The artist exodus was fueled by allegations of abuse by an unnamed artist on the lineup.
Maggie Rose shared a post on her Instagram stories: “I’ve made the decision to no longer perform at Soulshine at Sea. There were some allegations made by a peer of mine about another artist on the lineup and I want to stand in solidarity with her. I hope you understand my decision and I appreciate your support.”
Another, from Dispatch reads: “We’ve decided we will no longer be performing at Soulshine at Sea. We have been made aware of deeply concerning public allegations involving another artist on the lineup and have chosen to withdraw from the event. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding.”
Hirie and Lice Vice also pulled out, citing similar reasons.
Earlier, musician Victoria Canal accused a “very powerful, decades older” man in the music industry of grooming and sexually abusing her when she was 19. “This is something I’ve never spoken about publicly, and have been holding for 8 years now – it has plagued my body, spirit, and mind, in subliminal and overt ways, for my entire 20s,” Canal wrote Aug. 11 on her Instagram account.
She declined to mention his name or any specifics “because I can’t risk the financial loss or emotional terror a lawsuit would bring.”
This “experience, which lasted a little over a year, has had a years-lasting effect on my intimate life,” she writes.
As the accusations and subsequent cancellation spread on social media, Franti attempted to clear the air with a statement on an extramarital affair, a “regrettable mistake,” as he puts it.
“I come here most humbly to share my story with you,” he writes in a social post. “7 years ago I had a romantic relationship outside my marriage. It was with an artist who was touring with me. I broke my wedding vows, I broke my wife’s trust, I broke her heart and for that I am deeply sorry for the pain my actions have caused.”
Franti’s wife found out about, and “to save my marriage, we ended the relationship,” he continues. The unidentified artist continued to tour with Franti in what he depicts as a professional relationship, and after the tour ended, continued to perform with him at “several shows.”
Meanwhile, organisers of Soulshine at Sea are “actively working to announce a new event that will sail November 4-8, 2025”. Additional details will be shared today, Aug. 18.
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Alison Wonderland more than met her match in Shaquille O’Neal, the DJ and retired basketball great who recently spent some time with the Australian EDM star.
Wonderland and Shaq, with his Bass Allstars, were in the house and on the stage Saturday, August 16th for the Aftershock event in Chandler, AZ.
Away from the decks, the 7’1” former NBA MVP and four-times champion posed with the Wonderland, who is two-feet shorter, and effortlessly lifted her for the cameras.
“Dj who plays basketball, DJ with basketball in her belly = dj holding other djs belly like a basketball. It’s simple math,” Wonderland wrote on her socials.
It’s shaping as a particularly special year for Wonderland. That belly like a basketball that she speaks of is Wonderland’s second child. She’s also readying the release of Ghost World, her fourth solo studio album, due out October 3rd.
“Not only are you getting a new album, you’re getting a new sibling,” she writes in an earlier post. “Being able to create in so many ways is my ultimate happiness.”
Wonderland is a superstar in her field. In 2018, she made history as the highest-billed female DJ in Coachella history, and cites among her career highlights her seven sold-out shows at Red Rocks Amphitheater. She has also headlined Lollapalooza’s Perry’s Stage, and performed at Tomorrowland, Electric Daisy Carnival, Ultra, Bonnaroo, Austin City Limits, and Life Is Beautiful. Her second album, from 2018, Awake, cracked the Billboard 200 at No. 88.
Career streams top 1.1 billion, and Wonderland has shifted more than 800,000 headline ticket sales across her U.S. tours alone.
The new collection was co-written and co-produced by Alison and Dylan Ragland (Party Favor, SIDEPIECE) and mastered by Dale Becker (Billie Eilish, SZA, Omar Apollo, Doja Cat), and houses the previously-released singles “Get Started,” “Again? Fuck.”, and “iwannaliveinadream.”
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2025-08-18 05:00:502025-08-18 05:00:50Alison Wonderland Goofs Around With Shaquille O’Neal: See The Photos
Wishbone, the new album from Conan Gray, tops this week’s fan-voted music poll.
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Music fans voted in a poll published Friday (Aug. 1) on Billboard, choosing the pop artist’s fresh LP as their favorite new release of the past week.
Wishbone worked its magic with listeners in a week that also saw new releases streaming in from Chance The Rapper, Cardi B and more. An overwhelming majority said Gray’s fourth studio album was their top choice, with the set bringing in nearly 80% of the vote.
“I named it Wishbone because I think relationships remind me a lot of wishbones,” Gray told Billboard in a recent interview. “It’s like the only wishing ritual that requires two people, but a wishbone requires two people, and they essentially make a bet against each other, and they’re like, ‘Hey, I want my wish to come true. So let’s do this. You might win and get your dreams come true, but I also might win, and if I win, then you get nothing.”’
Gray added, “I had so much fun. I was writing lyrics, smiling ear to ear like so happy to get things off my chest. I felt immense freedom. I was literally, I literally have never had a better time writing an album — which is hilarious because the album is truly miserable.”
The 12-track album — which was highlighted as an editor’s pick on Billboard‘s Friday Music Guide — features singles including “Vodka Cranberry,” “a song that encapsulated the entire album,” says Gray, whose voice soars through a chorus of somber late-night rumination: “Speak up, I know you hate me/ Looked at your picture and cried like a baby/ Speak up, don’t leave me waiting/ Got way too drunk off a vodka cranberry/ Called you up in the middle of the night/ Wailing like an imbecile/ If you won’t end things, then I will.”
Among the new releases trailing behind Wishbone on this week’s poll are Chance The Rapper’s Star Line, coming in with 11% of the vote, and Cardi B’s “Imaginary Playerz,” with 3% of the vote. Olivia Dean’s “Man I Need,” Dijon’s Baby, Kaytranada’s Ain’t No Damn Way! and Jordan Davis’ Learn the Hard Way follow.
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2025-08-18 03:13:352025-08-18 03:13:35Fans Choose Conan Gray’s ‘Wishbone’ as This Week’s Favorite New Music
Pastor Mike Jr. thoroughly dominated the 2025 Stellar Gospel Music Awards, which was taped live at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville on Saturday, Aug. 16. He won in all nine categories in which he was nominated. Pastor Mike Jr. won artist of the year for the fourth time, which allows him to pull ahead of Kirk Franklin and Marvin Sapp as the top winner in the history of the category. Franklin and Sapp have each won three times.
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These nine awards ups Pastor Mike Jr.’s total of Stellar Awards to 28. Pastor Mike Jr., 41, is a contemporary gospel singer, public speaker, and pastor from Birmingham, Alabama. The artist, born Michael McClure Jr., is the founder of Rock City Church, which has four churches in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana.
There are just 30 categories at the Stellar Gospel Music Awards, so Pastor Mike Jr. won nearly one-third of the awards presented on the night. He won five awards, including album of the year, for his EP I Got Away, which reached No. 5 on Billboard’s Top Gospel Albums chart in May 2024. He won four awards, including song of the year, for “Amen,” which reached No. 4 on Hot Gospel Songs in January 2025.
Jason Nelson, who had tied with Pastor Mike Jr. for the most nominations (nine) won just one award, contemporary album of the year for You Belong: Live in Durham. Nelson had the misfortune of going up against Pastor Mike Jr. in six categories.
ADIA took the award for new artist of the year. Don Jackson, founder of the Stellar Awards and chairman of Central City Productions, Inc., received the James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award.
The Stellar Awards also announced winners for the Gospel Radio of the Year Awards in six categories.
This year marked the show’s first time in Nashville since 2021, following stints in Atlanta (2022) and Las Vegas (2023-24). This year’s Stellar Awards capped STELLAR PLUS week, which ran from Aug. 14-16.
The 40th Stellar Gospel Music Awards show was executive produced by Jackson with Jennifer J. Jackson serving as producer and executive in charge of production; Michael A. Johnson as producer and director, Erin Johnson as talent producer, and Daniel Moore as music director.
Here’s the full list of nominations for the 2025 Stellar Gospel Music Awards, with winners marked.
Artist of the Year
CeCe Winans; More Than This; Pure Springs Gospel/Fair Trade Services
Jason Nelson; You Belong: Live in Durham; Jaelyn Song / Tyscot Records
Kenny Lewis & One Voice; The Healing Project; PureSound Muzik Group
WINNER: Pastor Mike Jr.; I Got Away EP; Rock City Media Group
Tamela Mann; Live Breathe Fight; TillyMann
Song of the Year
WINNER: “Amen,” Michael McClure Jr., Adia Andrews, Terrell Anthony Pettus, Andrea Crouch, & David “DLo” Outing; Pastor Mike Jr.; Rock City Media Group
“Clap My Way,” Fred Jerkins III, Alvin Garrett, & Micah Lee; Micah Lee; Darkchild Gospel/ MicahLeeMusic
“I Prayed for You (said a prayer),” Major Johnson Finley, Brunes Charles, & Jeshua Williams; MAJOR.; NowThatsMAJOR / MNRK
“That’s My King,” Taylor Agan, Kellie Gamble, Lloyd Nicks, & Jess Russ; CeCe Winans; Pure Springs Gospel/Fair Trade Services
“Yahweh” ft. Melvin Crispell III; Danni Baylor, Jason Nelson, Jerome Baylor, & Johnnie Huntley Steele III; Jason Nelson; Jaelyn Song / Tyscot Records
Male Artist of the Year
Chandler Moore; Chandler Moore: Live in Los Angeles; TRIBL
Deitrick Haddon; One Night in California; DH Visions
Doc McKenzie; Run On; Blockbuster Records/Milbert McKenzie Music Group
Jason Nelson; You Belong: Live in Durham; Jaelyn Song / Tyscot Records
WINNER: Pastor Mike Jr.; I Got Away EP; Rock City Media Group
Albertina Walker Female Artist of the Year
ADIA; On the Way; Rock City Media Group
WINNER: CeCe Winans; More Than This; Pure Springs Gospel/Fair Trade Services
Dorinda Clark-Cole; Determined; Malaco Records
Karen Clark-Sheard; Still Karen; Motown Gospel
Lisa Page Brooks; The Grateful Chant; FlowNeeNee Music
Duo/Chorus Group of the Year
Deitrick Haddon ft. Damita & Tasha Page-Lockhart; Hold On 2 Your Faith; ManHaddon Ministries / Tyscot Records
FK&M (Fred Hammond, Keith Staten and Marcus Cole); Time Capsule – The Trilogy; 3Brothers/Dare Records
Ted & Sheri; You’ve Been So Faithful (Groove); Ted & Sheri LLC / Black Smoke Music Worldwide
WINNER: The Group Fire; About Last Night; Jet Records North/East
New Artist of the Year
WINNER: ADIA; On the Way; Rock City Media Group
Bobbi Lane; Unmatched Grace; Blockbuster Records/ Taylor Music Group
Josh Bracy and Power Anointed; Favor; Josh Bracy Muzic
Micah Lee; Clap My Way; Darkchild Gospel/ MicahLeeMusic
Montrae Tisdale and The Friends Chorale; The Faith Journey; Tisdale Nation Entertainment
Album of the Year
WINNER: I Got Away EP; Pastor Mike Jr.; Rock City Media Group
Live Breathe Fight; Tamela Mann; TillyMann
More Than This; CeCe Winans; Pure Springs Gospel/Fair Trade Services
The Healing Project; Kenny Lewis & One Voice; PureSound Muzik Group
You Belong: Live in Durham; Jason Nelson; Jaelyn Song / Tyscot Records
Choir of the Year
Bishop S.Y. Younger; Bishop S.Y. Younger Presents Worship in Brazil; Ramp Records (exclusively distributed by Haus Records)
Chicago Mass Choir; Greater Is Coming; New Haven Records
WINNER: Ricky Dillard; When I Think; Motown Gospel
The Mississippi Mass Choir; We Still Believe; Malaco Records
Producer of the Year
Dana Sorey; Jason Nelson; You Belong: Live in Durham; Jaelyn Song / Tyscot Records
Fred Hammond, Keith Staten, Marcus Cole, Paul Wright III and Ray Hammond; FK&M (Fred Hammond, Keith Staten and Marcus Cole); Time Capsule – The Trilogy; 3Brothers/Dare Records
J. Drew Sheard; Karen Clark-Sheard; Still Karen; Motown Gospel
WINNER: Michael McClure Jr., & David “DLo” Outing II; Pastor Mike Jr.; I Got Away EP; Rock City Media Group
Stan Jones, Jerry Mannery, Jerry Smith, & David R. Curry Jr.; The Mississippi Mass Choir; We Still Believe; Malaco Records
Contemporary Duo/Chorus Group of the Year
Deitrick Haddon ft. Damita & Tasha Page-Lockhart; Hold On 2 Your Faith; ManHaddon Ministries / Tyscot Records
Red Hands; The Three (EP); Black Suit Music / Anderson Music Group / TAMLA Records
Ted & Sheri; You’ve Been So Faithful (Groove); Ted & Sheri LLC / Black Smoke Music Worldwide
WINNER: The Group Fire; About Last Night; Jet Records North/East
Traditional Duo/Chorus Group of the Year
WINNER: Brandon Camphor & One Way; Hymn Medley; Tomii Entertainment
Men Of Prayze; Live: in the Red; EvoWorld Entertainment, Inc
The Flint Cavaliers; The Fellowship (Psalms 133:1); The Flint Music Group
Tim Woodson & The Heirs of Harmony; Try Me; Blackberry/Marxan Records
Contemporary Male Artist of the Year
Jason Nelson; You Belong: Live in Durham; Jaelyn Song / Tyscot Records
Micah Lee; Clap My Way; Darkchild Gospel/ MicahLeeMusic
WINNER: Pastor Mike Jr.; I Got Away EP; Rock City Media Group
Vincent Bohanan; VBSOV Summer Jam; Independent
Traditional Male Artist of the Year
Bishop Calvin Norton; Hold Me Beyond Rear View EP; Blockbuster Records
Brent Jones; Live Your Best Life; JDI Entertainment
WINNER: Earnest Pugh; Worthy Is the Lamb; Blacksmoke Music Worldwide
Kenny Lewis; The Healing Project; PureSound Muzik Group
Contemporary Female Artist of the Year
ADIA; On the Way; Rock City Media Group
Bobbi Lane; Unmatched Grace; Blockbuster Records/ Taylor Music Group
WINNER: CeCe Winans; More Than This; Pure Springs Gospel/Fair Trade Services
DOE; Heart of a Human; RCA Inspiration / Provident Entertainment
Keyla Richardson; Home; Uncle G Records
Traditional Female Artist of the Year
Dorinda Clark-Cole; Determined; Malaco Records
Lasha Knox; Right There; Blacksmoke Music Worldwide
WINNER: Lisa Page Brooks; The Grateful Chant; FlowNeeNee Music
Terri McConnell; He’ll Get Me Through This; Royal T Records
Contemporary Album of the Year
Chandler Moore: Live in Los Angeles; Chandler Moore; TRIBL
Live Breathe Fight; Tamela Mann; TillyMann
Still Karen; Karen Clark-Sheard; Motown Gospel
WINNER: You Belong: Live in Durham; Jason Nelson; Jaelyn Song / Tyscot Records
Traditional Album of the Year
WINNER: Determined; Dorinda Clark-Cole; Malaco Records
Live in Detroit, Pt 1; The Victorius Army ATL Feat. Vincent Bohanan; Independent
The Healing Project; Kenny Lewis & One Voice; PureSound Muzik Group
We Still Believe; The Mississippi Mass Choir; Malaco Records
Urban Single or Performance of the Year
WINNER: Amen; Pastor Mike Jr.; Rock City Media Group
Clap My Way; Micah Lee; Darkchild Gospel/ MicahLeeMusic
I Prayed for You (said a prayer); MAJOR.; NowThatsMAJOR / MNRK
Without You ft. Zacardi Cortez; Jevon Dewand and The Trap Starz; Black Smoke Records
Music Video of the Year
WINNER: “Amen,” Pastor Mike Jr., Tony “Mr.YNOT” Minifield, Drae Rudolph & Kevin “Krispy” Key/Moon Men; Rock City Media Group
“Deserve to Win,” David Mann; TillyMann
“For My Good,” Jekalyn Carr; Waynorth Music
“Never Be the Same,” Deitrick Haddon & Terrance Church; DH Visions
Traditional Choir of the Year
Chicago Mass Choir; Greater Is Coming; New Haven Records
Christopher L. Ervin & Abraham’s Descendants; Recover; CervinMusiq
WINNER: Ricky Dillard; When I Think; Motown Gospel
The Mississippi Mass Choir; We Still Believe; Malaco Records
Contemporary Choir of the Year
Alphaeus Anderson Presents The USC Upstate Gospel Choir; Already Done; Music2ChangeU
Charles Butler & Trinity; Live in Washington DC; Red Alliance Media
Johnny Sanders Featuring Faith on Full; Christmas Everyday; Third Century Development Corp/Johnny Sanders Presents, LLC
WINNER: Vincent Bohanan & SOV; VBSOV Summer Jam; Independent
Traditional Artist of the Year
Bishop Calvin Norton; Hold Me Beyond Rear View EP; Blockbuster Records
WINNER: Dorinda Clark-Cole; Determined; Malaco Records
Earnest Pugh; Worthy Is the Lamb; Blacksmoke Music Worldwide
The Mississippi Mass Choir; We Still Believe; Malaco Records
Special Event Album of the Year
WINNER: Bishop S.Y. Younger Presents Worship in Brazil; Bishop S.Y. Younger; Ramp Records (exclusively distributed by Haus Records)
Joyful, Joyful: A Christmas Album; CeCe Winans; Pure Springs Gospel/Fair Trade Services
Red & Green; Jonathan McReynolds; Life Room Label, Motown Gospel
The Gift Deluxe Edition; The Group Fire; Jet Records North/East
We Still Believe; The Mississippi Mass Choir; Malaco Records
Rap/Hip Hop Gospel Album of the Year
WINNER: Canton Jones and CAJO Records Presents the Free Life Experience; The Free Life Experience; CAJO Records
Let Go Let God: The EP; 1K Phew; Reach Records
Meet Me in Miami; Otis Kemp; Revive 5.0 Entertainment
Without You: There Would Be No Me; Jevon Dewand and The Trap Starz; Black Smoke Records
Youth Project of the Year
AMG Kidz x Boston Arts Academy; The Kidz at North Station; Anderson Music Group / TAMLA Records
WINNER: Brent Jones presents The Fire; Brent Jones presents The Fire; JDI Entertainment
Janessa Smith; Sounds of Joy; Inspired Recording
Nina Symmone & Noah Alexander; God’s Way; The Big Moment / Anderson Music Group
Quartet of the Year
Blest By Four; Only Believe The EP; EvoWorld Entertainment, Inc
WINNER: Men Of Prayze; Live: in the Red; EvoWorld Entertainment, Inc
The Flint Cavaliers; The Fellowship (Psalms 133:1); The Flint Music Group
Tim Woodson & The Heirs of Harmony; Try Me; Blackberry/Marxan Records
In honor of Nipsey Hussle‘s legacy on what would have been his 40th birthday (Aug. 15), the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) temporarily renamed Hyde Park station as Nipsey Hussle Station. Two limited edition TAP cards featuring the late rapper were also released on Friday as part of the L.A. transit agency’s Metro x Culture series, which highlights the city’s cultural landscape, artists, musicians and community figures.
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“The Hussle family is proud to be partnering with Metro for the renaming of the station in honor of Nipsey for his 40th birthday,” Nipsey’s family says in a statement released at the campaign’s launch. “Access to Metro played a vital role in providing transportation from South Central to Watts to pursue his early musical aspirations. Metro helped bridge the gap, not just between neighborhoods, but between his vision and his future. Metro provides access and opportunity to so many people who without this resource wouldn’t be able to pursue their passions. The family hopes insight to Hussle’s early years utilizing the Metro will bring light to Hussle’s favorite quote, ‘The highest human act is to inspire.’”
The TAP card designs — available in a release limited to 12,000 at select Metro station ticket vending machines, Metro Customer Care centers and through Metro’s LIFE Program — include “Crenshaw & Slauson,” which shows a black-and-white portrait of Hussle at the intersection captured by photographer Jonathan Mannion, and “Watts” (seen below), which depicts the rapper on a Metro bus.
Nipsey Hussle is featured on a limited edition TAP card design.
Courtesy Photo
The station known in the short-term as Nipsey Hussle Station will hold on to its new name through Aug. 31.
Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins notes, “Hussle’s legacy goes far beyond music. He was a visionary who understood the power of community, connection and opportunity. At Metro, we share his belief that public transportation is more than just a way to get around; it’s a vital lifeline that can unite neighborhoods, open doors and uplift lives. Honoring Hussle with these commemorative TAP cards and temporarily renaming the Hyde Park station is our way of celebrating his enduring impact on Los Angeles and reaffirming our commitment to building an accessible, inclusive transit system that serves all Angelenos.”
Nipsey Hussle died in 2019. He was murdered in a daytime shooting in front of his Marathon Clothing store in South Central Los Angeles.
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2025-08-17 03:01:482025-08-17 03:01:48How Los Angeles Metro Is Honoring Nipsey Hussle on What Would’ve Been His 40th Birthday
On Friday night (Aug. 15), Wembley Stadium was bathed in pink light. If you’re one of the, conservatively, gazillion people who’ve watched Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters since its release, this could read like a bad omen. But this wasn’t the signaling of demons from the underworld getting their grips on unsuspecting K-pop stans, this was BLACKPINK making their long-awaited return to London with the Deadline World Tour, two years since their sold-out BST Hyde Park headline show in 2023.
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The Deadline World Tour, which wraps its Europe and U.S. leg with its stops at Wembley, came as something of a shock when it was announced in May. Back in 2023, BLACKPINK’s label, YG Entertainment, announced that each of the members — JENNIE, LISA, JISOO and ROSÉ — had ended their contract for individual work, but would still work together as BLACKPINK for group activities. Usually, that’s an unspoken agreement that life as a unit will wind down, and since then, the members have been going full throttle in their solo careers, each releasing albums and hitting iconic milestones (Rosé’s smash hit “APT,” featuring Bruno Mars, was the longest-running No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200 in 2024, clocking up 12 weeks at the summit.)
A tour, then, seemed way off, especially since the group hadn’t released any music together since 2022’s Born Pink (they did eventually drop a digital single with the Euro banger-inspired, Diplo-produced “Jump” at the start of the U.S. leg of the tour). Still, we’re living in a post-Eras Tour world now, where a pop tour doesn’t have to necessarily coincide with an album release if you’ve got the back catalogue and ravenous stan appetite to fill a 70,000 capacity venue twice over. You’d be hard-pressed to find a BLACKPINK fan who doesn’t want to hear hits like “Kill This Love,” “BOOMBAYAH” and “DDU-DU DDU-DU,” even if they’ve been hearing them every tour since 2019.
But with the inclusion of “Jump” and specific stages dedicated to each member’s latest solo work, there was just enough newness to the show to keep it fresh and exciting. Here are the best moments from BLACKPINK’s Deadline World Tour Wembley Stadium shows.
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2025-08-17 03:01:472025-08-17 03:01:47BLACKPINK Bring the Bangers to London’s Wembley Stadium: 7 Best Moments
