If you weren’t able to catch Louis Tomlinson on his last two world tours, he’s released a surprise live album to share some of his favorite tour performances.
Louis Tomlinson: Live features 15 tracks recorded in 15 cities, including London, Buenos Aires, Nashville and Paris. The songs include the singles “We Made It” and “Walls” off his debut solo album, Walls, as well as tracks from his sophomore album, Faith in the Future.
“I’ve been lucky enough to spend the last 3 years touring the world twice over, the feeling I get sharing those live moments will be with me forever,” the former One Direction member wrote on social media. “To be able to record these songs from all over the world and put them out as an album like this feels so special, and a real tribute to the fans who make each and every show feel unique and incredible. Thank you! Enjoy!”
The digital version of the album is out now, while physical editions — CD and vinyl — will be out August 23.
Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Read moreLouis Tomlinson drops surprise live album recorded on tour
Sheryl Crow is a Billie Eilish fan. After Billie posted photos from her Rolling Stone cover shoot to Instagram, Sheryl took to the comment section to send her some love. "Man, I love what you do so much! So glad you are on the cover!!" Sheryl wrote.
Selena Gomez's boyfriend, producer and songwriter Benny Blanco, is set to receive the BMI President's Award at the 2024 BMI Pop Awards, the organization has announced. “Benny’s numerous contributions to the art of music and songwriting across all genres are unparalleled,” BMI Vice President Barbara Cane said. “His artistry and dedication to his craft have profoundly inspired and influenced many in our creative communities and we are thrilled to be honoring him."
David Guetta and OneRepublic have released the music video for their new single, "I Don't Wanna Wait." The music video features footage from Guetta's Ultra Miami event, where he premiered the track with OneRepublic front man Ryan Tedder.
Travis Kelce's mom, Donna Kelce, says Taylor Swift doesn't need her advice on growing older, People reports. "She doesn’t need my advice on anything," Donna said. "In fact, I hope she will give me advice."
Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Read moreMusic notes: Billie Eilish, Taylor Swift and more
Neil Tennant, the lead singer of U.K. duo Pet Shop Boys, must have some kind of social media death wish: At a London event on April 22, he publicly dissed Taylor Swift's songwriting ability.
Tennant, who used to be a music journalist, took part in a live discussion Monday organized by the U.K.'s The Guardian. He said of Taylor, "I have listened to Taylor Swift’s album. ... Taylor Swift sort of fascinates me as a phenomenon because she’s so popular and I sort of quite like the whole thing. But then when I listen to the records, [bandmate Chris and I] both have the same feeling actually, for a phenomenon as big [her], where are the famous songs? What is Taylor Swift’s ‘Billie Jean’?”
When someone at the event suggested "Shake It Off" is Taylor's "Billie Jean," Tennant asked, "Is it, though? No, ’cause I actually even know that’s the answer. ... But I listened to that the other day, and it’s not ‘Billie Jean.’ It’s not."
"Melodically — she’s got a great voice, by the way, and the production’s beautiful ... but melodically it’s all ... sung one or two notes going up and down. But anyway, it’s a fascinating thing.”
Tennant allowed that he likes the fact that Taylor's music "brings all these people together, even multigenerational," but added, "I just think that the one disappointing thing is the music. Not even, not the lyrics, the music.”
If you're now wondering what some of Pet Shop Boys' famous songs are, their hits in the U.S. include "West End Girls," "Opportunities," "It's a Sin," "What Have I Done to Deserve This," a remake of Elvis Presley's "Always On My Mind" and "Domino Dancing." They're the most successful duo in U.K. chart history and have sold over 50 million records.
Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Read morePet Shop Boys singer says Taylor Swift's catalog lacks "famous songs": "What is [her] 'Billie Jean'?"
Remember when Taylor Swift sang, "Dreaming about the day when you wake up and find/ That what you're looking for has been here the whole time?" Apparently that's what happened between Taylor's BFF Selena Gomez and Selena's boyfriend, Benny Blanco.
Speaking to WSJ. Magazine, Benny says he and Selena had known each other professionally and as friends for nearly 10 years before they fell for each other. "I was the last one to know,” says the producer.
"It’s crazy how your partner could just be sitting there the whole time, right in front of your eyes, and you don’t even notice," he continues. "And then you have that Clueless moment where you’re like, 'Wait, I’m in love.’"
These days Benny is switching up his focus from his songwriting and producing career to his cooking career, readying his first cookbook, Open Wide: A Cookbook for Friends. He tells WSJ. Magazine that he and Selena, who has a cooking show on the Food Network, cook together all the time. In fact, they made a steak dinner for both their families that included Selena's corn casserole and Benny's corn bread with honey butter.
"I just love entertaining and pleasing people," he says. "Doesn’t everyone want to be cared for, whether it’s your friend or a lover or your family? Doesn’t it feel good when someone makes you something?”
Fun fact: Open Wide includes a recipe for deep-frying a watch, because one of his best friends, Ed Sheeran, once gave him a $16,500 Rolex and that's what he did with it. He claims it still works.
Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Read moreSelena's boyfriend Benny Blanco says falling for her was a 'Clueless' moment
Artists including Jason Mraz, Billie Eilish and Sia have signed an open letter supporting the proposed Fans First Act, which aims to "combat predatory resellers and the use of illegal bots" in the concert ticket industry.
The letter was released by a coalition called Fix the Tix, organized by the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA).
"As artists and members of the music community, we rely on touring for our livelihood, and we value music fans above all else," the signees write. "We are joining together to say that the current system is broken: predatory resellers and secondary platforms engage in deceptive ticketing practices to inflate ticket prices and deprive fans of the chance to see their favorite artists at a fair price."
"Predatory resellers have gone unregulated while siphoning money from the live entertainment ecosystem for their sole benefit," the letter continues. "They use illegal bots, speculative ticket listings, and deceitful advertising, which cause real harm."
It concludes, "We, as artists, as music lovers, and as concert attendees ourselves, urge you to support the Fans First Act to combat predatory resellers’ deceptive ticketing practices and the secondary platforms, which also profit from these practices. Predatory resellers should not be more profitable than the people dedicating their lives to their art."
Others who signed include Lorde, Billie's brother FINNEAS, Train, Cyndi Lauper, Duran Duran, Diplo, Fall Out Boy and Dave Matthews.
To read the whole letter, visit NIVAssoc.org/fixthetix.
Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Read moreSia, Jason Mraz, Billie Eilish and more sign letter protesting "predatory resellers" of concert tickets
Florence Welch got a taste of what a Taylor Swift release day is like with The Tortured Poets Department.
The Florence + the Machine frontwoman guests on the album track "Florida!!!" Speaking with British Vogue about the response to the song, Welch shares, "I almost didn't think of the scale of it."
"There's the sort of bigness of [Taylor Swift the phenomenon], and then there's the Taylor I spend time with in the studio, who is just the sweetest and most down to earth," she adds.
Welch explains that the song came together when Swift approached her with "a concept and a story."
"[That's] my favorite way to start songwriting," Welch says. "We had such a fun time. And then when it came out I was like, 'Oh, s***!'"
As for whether the London-born Welch might pop up during the upcoming U.K. leg of Swift's Eras Tour, she teases, "If I was gonna do it, it would be a surprise."
By the way, the Eras Tour will come to Florida in October, though Swift is playing Miami, not Destin.
Welch, meanwhile, just announced an orchestra-accompanied concert taking place September 11 at London's Royal Albert Hall as part of the BBC Proms classical music series. The show will celebrate the 15th anniversary of Florence + the Machine's 2009 debut album, Lungs, which includes the single "Dog Days Are Over."
Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Read moreFlorence Welch "had such a fun time" recording "Florida!!!" with Taylor Swift
Travis Kelce's mom, Donna, is spilling the tea about what her son and Taylor Swift do in their downtime: hang with other power couples, apparently.
People reports that during the QVC Age of Possibility summit in Las Vegas on April 24, Donna revealed that Travis sent her a photo showing him and Taylor on the beach in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, with Taylor's pal Gigi Hadid and her boyfriend, Bradley Cooper.
Why did he send the pic? Well, on that beach day, Travis found out Cooper and his mom would both be at the event in Vegas. When Cooper showed up, Donna was able to greet the Oscar-nominated actor/director saying, "Travis told me you were going to be here."
At the event, Donna told People that she's listened to Taylor's new album, The Tortured Poets Department. "I was just very impressed," she said. "She is a very talented woman, and I think it is probably her best work."
At least two songs on the album are thought to be about Travis: "The Alchemy" and "So Like High School."
On the other end of the spectrum, People reports that The 1975 singer Matty Healy, who is thought to have inspired numerous tracks on the album, told paparazzi on April 24, "I haven't really listened to that much of it, but I'm sure it's good."
Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Read moreTravis Kelce's mom says TTPD is "probably [Taylor's] best work," says Tayvis vacationed with Gigi & Bradley
Dua Lipa is going to have a heart-to-heart with Drew Barrymore.
She sent a message to members of her mailing list announcing that she's going to sit down with the talk show host on April 26 to chat "through all things Radical Optimism." It's not clear when the chat will air.
The Drew Barrymore Show records in New York City, where Dua is currently ensconced to do promotion for the new album and prepare to host and perform on Saturday Night Live on May 4.
Dua, who was chosen by TIME as one of the World's Most Influential People for 2024, will also perform at the TIME100 Gala, hosted by Taraji P. Henson.
TIME will celebrate the 2024 TIME100 list of the World’s Most Influential People at the TIME100 Summit on April 24 and the TIME100 Gala on April 25 in New York City; the gala will air as an ABC special on May 12. Other performers and attendees include Fantasia Barrino, Michael J. Fox and Patrick Mahomes.
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After Taylor Swift mentioned a bar called The Black Dog in her new song of the same name on The Tortured Poets Department, fans started flocking to a pub of that name in London. And there's real-time data showing how Taylor's mention of certain musicians on her new album is sending fans to streaming services to check them out.
Taylor mentioned the song "Downtown Lights" by the Scottish band The Blue Nile in her TTPD song "Guilty as Sin. According to Billboard, streams of the 1989 song experienced a 1,400% increase in four days. The song had 3,000 streams from April 12 to April 15, but from April 19 — TTPD release day — to April 22, streams rose to more than 48,000.
Along the same lines, Taylor mentions the Philadelphia pop-punk band The Starting Line in the song "The Black Dog." According to Billboard, the band's catalog experienced a 55% increase after the album came out.
But despite Taylor singing about how "Charlie Puth should be a bigger artist" in the album's title track, his streams didn't increase as much as you might think. According to Billboard, his entire catalog got a bump of slightly less than 4% in the four days after the album came out.
However, Billboard points out that Charlie was already getting millions of streams every week, so the mention didn't have as big of an impact as the more obscure acts.
So far there's no data on whether the music or book sales of poet and artist Patti Smith, also mentioned in the title track, have increased.
Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Read moreArtists mentioned by Taylor Swift get streaming boosts — but should Charlie Puth's be bigger?