CelebrityAccess

INDIO, Calif. (CelebrityAccess) Kanye West has announced he is bringing his Sunday Service celebration of God to the Easter Sunday of the upcoming Coachella festival in Indio, Calif. West has created a literal Sunday service in Southern California filled with Gospel singers, preaching, worship and several celebrity sightings from participants like Kid Cudi to audience members like Katy Perry and David Letterman. Prior to this year’s Coachella lineup announcement, Coachella co-founder Paul Tollett confirmed that West would be performing at this year’s event but then could not because of production issues involving West’s giant pyramid setup. However, when it comes to the April 21 worship session, Coachella is apparently all in: Kanye West’s Sunday Service on Easter, Weekend 2 pic.twitter.com/jFIcLYNUlV — Coachella (@coachella) March 31, 2019 The post Kanye West Brings Sunday Service To Coachella appeared first on CelebrityAccess . from CelebrityAccess https://ift.tt/...

MIAMI (CelebrityAccess) The Ultra Music Festival, which moved from its normal locals for decades in Miami to the island of Virginia Key nearby, had some logistical problems its first night but has apparently resolved them. The problems weren’t slight. The island is accessible from won bridge and apparently, a logistical nightmare caused more than 50,000 concertgoers to wait hours for shuttle buses to take them to the island. Video showed people walking or running across the Rickenbacker Causeway back to Miami instead of waiting for buses, according to the  New York Post . The festival had prepared 200 buses but apparently, the system was still considered “haphazard.” @ultra almost feels like #FyreFestival #Ultra and it’s only day 1 pic.twitter.com/bLyOi4KJZ7 — Duke (@DukeAmazin) March 30, 2019 “Last night, many of you experienced challenging transportation conditions leaving the festival. This is unacceptable and inconsistent with the high standards you h...

LOS ANGELES (CelebrityAccess) — “Dumbo,” the latest live-action remake of an animated classic, took the top spot at the box office this weekend but fell short of analysts’ estimates. Dumbo opened to $45 million in North American theaters and $116 million worldwide, despite tepid reviews, according to estimates compiled by Box Office Pro. Based on the beloved 1941 animated feature, the modern incarnation of Dumbo was directed by veteran filmmaker Tim Burton and features Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton, Eva Green, and Danny DeVito. While its debut was lower than many analysts had predicted, Dumbo still managed to unseat last week’s number one film, Jordan Peele’s Us, which slid to second place in domestic theaters, earning $32 million. Also opening this weekend was the controversial abortion-themed religious drama Unplanned, which opened to a respectable $5.2 million. The post Dumbo’s Disappointing Debut Still Tops The Weekend Box Office appeared first on CelebrityAccess . from ...

LOS ANGELES (CelebrityAccess) Grammy-nominated rapper Nipsy Hussle has been killed outside his clothing sore in Los Angeles, according to multiple law enforcement sources. No further information was immediately available about the shooting at Marathon Clothing on Slauson Avenue in South Los Angeles.   The post Nipsy Hussle Killed In Shooting Outside His LA Store appeared first on CelebrityAccess . from CelebrityAccess https://ift.tt/2K8bYrV via IFTTT

SAN FRANCISCO (CelebrityAccess) Shelley Lazar, 69, the well-known “ticketing queen” and all-around loved matron of the concert business, has died after a battle with cancer. Lazar, the founder of SLO Ticketing, was dubbed not only ticketing queen but MFTQ by Keith Richards and was sung “Happy Birthday” by Paul McCartney during one of his concerts. She is considered the mastermind of today’s VIP ticketing. She began working with Ron Delsener at Madison Square Garden but, like so many, went to San Francisco and worked for Bill Graham Presents as VP of artistic relations and special projects coordinator from 1991 to 2002 before founding SLO VIP Ticket Services. Lazar was also the VIP patron for acts like Lady Gaga, Pink and Beyonce. And she had a great sense of humor throughout, once sending around a cartoon of her with a printing machine on her derriere, printing tickets. She began working in the business in the ’70s while still a public school teacher in NYC, with Chris Rock one of...

LOS ANGELES (CelebrityAccess) The NAACP Image Awards, which took place last night at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, brought Beyonce a big win along with awards for “Black Panther” and “Black-ish.” Beyonce got the top honor, Entertainer of the Year, beating Chadwick Boseman, LeBron James, Regina King and Ryan Coogler. “I am honored to be included among all of you and to be part of a vital, thriving beautiful community,” she said, while acknowoldeging the contenders. Her husband, Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter, received the President’s Award for distinguished public service. He dedicated his award to the “beuatiful women” in his life, including his grandmother. “Black Panther” won Outstanding Motion Picture and Boseman was awarded Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture. Letitia Wright landed Breakthrough Performance for the movie. “Blackish” won Outstanding Comedy Series and landed acting awards for the evening’s host, Anthony Anderson, along with Tracee Ellis Ross. “Power” was named O...

NEW YORK (CelebrityAccess) The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame had its induction ceremony at Barclays Center in New York last night and, by all accounts, it was an evening of gratitude and well-wished not only to the inductees but to the Hall itself for a job well done. This year’s honorees included Radiohead, Stevie Nicks, The Cure, Janet Jackson, Def Leppard, Roxy Music, and The Zombies, with many – especially Trent Reznor – giving the Hall props for the list despite alleged past sins. The Zombies, for instance, had to wait 29 years and four ballots to get in, and Roxy Music, Janet Jackson, and Def Leppard have been waiting for at least 10 years. Reznor, who inducted The Cure, has had choice words for the Hall in the past but last night was apparently extremely gracious. “I remember distinctly saying to myself, among other things, how can I even take this awards ceremony seriously if they’ll open their doors to X, Y, and Z and not acknowledge the Cure?” Reznor said, according to R...

LOS ANGELES (CelebrityAccess) Endeavor, the parent company of Big Four agency WME, is planning on launching an initial public offering by the end of the year, the  Wall Street Journal reported Friday, citing people familiar with the matter. The company has filed or is about to file confidential paperwork for an IPO with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the second half of the year, the  WSJ reported. Endeavor, valued at around $4 billion this time last year, could exceed that in the listing, people told the paper. The agency, which also owns Ultimate Fighting Championship, had sought $400 million from Saudi Arabia’s public investment fund but backed away from it after the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Endeavor, which has not commented on the story, has annual revenues of $330.87 million according to information website Owler. The post Endeavor Reportedly Preps For IPO appeared first on CelebrityAccess . from CelebrityAccess https://...

FLORIDA (CelebrityAccess) Legendary surfer Gary Propper, 72, also a manager in the entertainment business, died March 14 because of undisclosed health issues. Considered one of the most influential surfers to come out of Florida, Propper also became a music businessman, securing the film rights to “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” movie trilogy and managing acts like Carrot Top (also from Propper’s stomping grounds of Cocoa Beach, Fla.), Gallagher and Jon Lovitz. He was also known to have directed some of Burt Reynolds’ later ventures. Propper was also known as a highly competitive and legendary surfer, once throwing a trophy into the bushes because it was second place. The Florida Surf Museum in Cocoa Beach hosted a Gary Propper exhibit in 2017, focusing Propper’s 50-year connection to the Hobie brand and his artwork. “We had a great turnout,” museum executive director John Hughes told Florida Today . “He was the first real surf star, not just on the East Coast, but worldwide. There...

NEW YORK (CelebrityAccess) The Rolling Stones have postponed their 17-date North American tour because Mick Jagger, 75, needs medical treatment. “I hate letting our fans down and I’m hugely disappointed to have to postpone the tour but am looking forward to getting back on stage as soon as I can,” Jagger said in a statement. A representative for the band has declined to elaborate on the situation. “Mick Jagger has been advised by doctors that he cannot go on tour at this time as he needs medical treatment,” the band’s publicist said in a statement. “The doctors have advised Mick that he is expected to make a complete recovery so that he can get back on stage as soon as possible.” The postponed No Filter Tour shows, promoted by AEG Presents/Concerts West, include the kick off April 20 show in Miami, July 29 at Canada’s Burl’s Creek Event Grounds, two shows at Metlife Stadium in New Jersey, two at Soldier field in Chicago, and football stadium shows in Denver, Was...

GLASGOW, Scotland (CelebrityAccess) — A new local tax on concert tickets has organizers of the TRNSMT Festival eyeing the door. Festival director Geoff Ellis told the Evening Times that the new tax had taken the festival’s relationship with the city to the “Cliff’s edge.” “Quite simply we are now accelerating towards the cliff edge in terms of outdoor events in this city,” Ellis told the newspaper. “It is of concern to me, and should be to everyone involved in tourism and culture in Glasgow, that promoters and other event organizers will now be encouraged to start events in other cities knowing that our ability to attract strong artistic talent to Glasgow is compromised by hundreds of thousands of pounds per-event. “I now have to decide whether to lead or follow in that respect and it is the business challenge that I now face,” he added. Glasgow’s City Council’s proposed new tax would see £2.50 added to the price of a ticket for outdoor events on the city’s green. City officials ...

(CelebrityAccess) — German industrial band Rammstein sparked controversy when they released a new music video that shows the members of the band dressed as Nazi concentration camp prisoners. The nine-minute-long video for the track Deutschland includes iconic scenes from Germany’s history, including sequences where the band appear to be prisoners of Nazis SS guards during a V2 rocket launch. In one of the prisoner sequences, a member of the band, dressed explicitly as a Jewish concentration camp prisoner, is executed. Rammstein was subjected to a firestorm of criticism on social media after the video debuted, with some critics suggesting the band courted controversy as a marketing ploy. Emmanuel Nahshon, a spokesman for the Israeli foreign ministry, tweeted: This “ Rammstein “ clip , using the Holocaust for advertisement purposes, is shameful and uncalled for . We join the many voices calling for its immediate removal . @IsraelinGermany @GermanyDiplo pic.twitter.com/ZytGEPYi7T...

LOS ANGELES (CelebrityAccess) — As singer-songwriter Khalid ramps up for the release of his second studio album next month, he’s revealed plans for a major arena tour of North America. The “Free Spirit” tour kicks off on June 20th at Gila River Area in Phoenix, with additional shows scheduled throughout the summer before he winds the run up at American Airlines Arena in Miami on August 17th. Major market plays include The Staples Center in Los Angeles on June 25th; The Pepsi Center in Denver on July 12th; American Airlines Center in Dallas on July 14th; and Madison Square Garden on July 31st. Khalid also announced that Lo-Fi electro-pop artist Clairo, who scored a viral hit with “Pretty Girl” will be providing support for the tour. Khalid’s next album “Free Spirit” is due to go live on April 5th, which is a followup to his 2017 debut “American Teen.” MY FIRST ARENA TOUR! 3 years ago, I did my first show in a coffee shop. Life is such a blessing, I love u guys, thank you so muc...

LONDON (CelebrityAccess) — Stuart Galbraith’s Kilimanjaro Live has teamed up with theatre producer Joshua Andrews to launch Kilimanjaro Theatricals a new joint venture focused on theatrical productions in both the UK and abroad. Kilimanjaro Theatricals will seek to develop its own productions as well as looking to develop co-production deals for international productions. Kilimanjaro Theatricals first projects are 9 to 5: The Musical, which is currently running in the West End of London, and Muriel’s Wedding: The Musical, an Australian production based on the beloved film that is currently playing in Melbourne. “Kilimanjaro Group has wanted to land into the world of theatre and musical theatre for several years,” says Galbraith, per IQ Magazine. “We are hugely excited to combine our ambitions with Josh’s excellent skills and experience in this new venture.” The launch of Kilimanjaro’s new theatrical unit follows parent company DEAG’s 2017 acquisition of Flying Music Group, a theat...

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (CelebrityAccess) WME has announced it has signed Zac Brown Band. The band, only one of two acts in history to top both the country airplay and mainstream rock songs charts with “Homegrown” and “Heavy is the Head” featuring Chris Cornell, respectively, is on the second leg of its “Down the Rabbit Hole Live Tour” and is expected to kick off “The Owl Tour” in June. The band currently holds the record for most consecutive sold-out shows at Fenway Park with nine performances. The only other artist to come close to that record is Paul McCartney. Zac Brown Band is represented by Scooter Braun’s SB Projects and recently signed a global licensing agreement with BMG for its next studio album, due this summer.   The post WME Signs Zac Brown Band appeared first on CelebrityAccess . from CelebrityAccess https://ift.tt/2TJvTge via IFTTT

LAS VEGAS (CelebrityAccess) Actor Nicolas Cage is seeking an annulment from Erika Koike, a makeup artist he married in Las Vegas on Saturday, the same day they applied for a marriage license. The marriage appeared to be impulsive with Cage looking like he “may have had a drink or two” at the time, according to TMZ, and, on Wednesday, he asked a judge for an order to annul the nuptials. TMZ had obtained photos of the couple leaving the Bellagio hotel Saturday night and they were “clearly not happy with each other,” with eyewitnesses saying she was yelling at him. TMZ obtained the annulment docs and “they are really something,” with him saying he and Erika were wasted when they decided to get married. “[Erika] suggested to [Nic] that they should marry, [Nic] reacted on impulse and without the ability to recognize or understand the full impact of his actions.” He said that the marriage was a fraud and Erika, whom he began dating last year, didn’t disclose “the full nature and extent...

LOS ANGELES (CelebrityAccess) Anschutz Entertainment Group landed a perfect score of 100 on the 2019 Corporate Equality Index, the benchmarking survey and report on corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ workplace equality, administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. AEG was one of more than 560 major U.S. businesses that also earned top marks this year, including Live Nation, which also earned a perfect score. “The top-scoring companies on this year’s CEI are not only establishing policies that affirm and include employees here in the United States, they are applying these policies to their global operations and impacting millions of people beyond our shores,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “Many of these companies have also become vocal advocates for equality in the public square, including the dozens that have signed on to amicus briefs in vital Supreme Court cases and the more than 170 that have joined HRC’s Business Coalition for the Equality Act. Time an...

LOS ANGELES (CelebrityAccess) Cher has added several more dates – 14 to be exact – to her “Here We Go Again” tour of North America. The new dates follow a sold-out European leg and start in Portland Nov. 19 and include dates in Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas and New York, where she will play Madison Square Garden. Nile Rodgers & Chic will continue to be special guests. The show includes Cher’s greatest hits but also songs from her recent  Dancing Queen album, a tribute to the music of ABBA CHER UPCOMING NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES: *Newly announced dates bolded DATE CITY VENUE Thurs, April 18 Pittsburgh, PA PPG Paints Arena Sat, April 20 Philadelphia, PA Wells Fargo Center Mon, April 22 Toronto, ON Scotiabank Arena Wed, April 24 Ottawa, ON Richcraft Live at Canadian Tire Centre Fri, April 26 Buffalo, NY KeyBank Center Sun, April 28 Boston, MA TD Garden Tues, April 30 Springfield, MA MassMutual Center Thurs, May 2 Brooklyn, NY...

SACRAMENTO (CelebrityAccess) Music manager Mike Gormley is the special guest on a radio show launch on Sacramento’s 105.9FM this Sunday from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. PDT. The show, “In The Limelight,” is hosted by Liz Scott and the radio station is known to have between 5 million and 6 million listeners. Gormley, who is currently running L.A. Personal Development , has managed artists like The Bangles, The Police, Rush, Supertramp, BTO, Concrete Blonde, and Rod Stewart. The show should be available streaming here .   The post Music Manager Mike Gormley Tells His Tales On The Radio appeared first on CelebrityAccess . from CelebrityAccess https://ift.tt/2FDBCPG via IFTTT

BRUSSELS (CelebrityAccess) – SoundCloud has inked an exclusive advertising deal with leading independent digital audio advertising platform Targetspot for France, Germany and The Netherlands. As part of the agreement, which expands the existing partnership between the two companies in each of the markets, advertisers will now be able to access SoundCloud’s audio and video inventory programmatically and directly, exclusively through Targetspot. Commenting on the deal, Michael Weissman, Chief Operating Officer, SoundCloud, said: “Since launching our ad-supported businesses in France, Germany, and The Netherlands, Targetspot has been a great partner, helping us make it easy for advertisers locally to connect with our young, influential audience who are passionate music lovers. This new exclusive agreement continues to provide advertisers Targetspot’s best-in-class experience when purchasing SoundCloud’s advertising inventory, and helps us continue to grow in these markets.” Erik Porti...

AMSTERDAM (CelebrityAccess) – Leon Ramakers, the former, long-term director of Mojo Concerts, been made an officer of the Order of Orange Nassau for his contributions to the live music industry by deputy mayor of Amsterdam, Touria Meliani. Meliani, who presented Ramakers with the award during a surprise ceremony at AFAS Live, said: “You have built up the concert and festival culture in the Netherlands from scratch. You did that on your terms with respect for both sides, the audience and the musician. With an eye for the long term. You are a great connector who works with a pleasant modesty. People that know you praise your unsurpassed musical knowledge, your entrepreneurship and social commitment. Your moral compass and your business instinct.” Ramakers received the royal award for “his major contribution to the cultural sector” and, in particular, for his efforts in promoting and developing “international pop music in the Netherlands” as part of Mojo Concerts, which celebrated ...

(CelebrityAccess) – Spotify announced this week that it is testing a new cheaper subscription plan for couples, roommates and other duos living under the same roof. The streaming giant’s “Premium Duo” package, which will run you about €12.49 ($14USD) per month, offers users a personal Duo Mix playlist that is regularly auto-generated based on music both people like, the ability to share playlists — or their entire library — with their partner in a single click, and access to Duo Hub, a single destination to manage accounts, edit your home setup and view settings. Spotify’s Premium subscription currently costs €9.99 per month, while the company’s existing Family subscription, which allows up to six people to share the same plan, costs €14.99 per month. So, the savings are minimal. Something to note: Like the Family subscription, Premium Duo subscribers must live at the same address. In an effort to crack down on friends sharing plans despite not living together as a fa...

ICELAND (CelebrityAccess) – Members of the Icelandic band Sigur Ros have been charged with tax evasion to the tune of 151 million Icelandic Krona ($1.2 million), according to the Associated Press. The charges, laid by the District Prosecutor on Thursday (March 28), arrive nearly three years after local authorities launched a probe into the group’s finances. Now, the four members of Sigur Ros are being accused of submitting incorrect tax returns from 2011 to 2014. In a statement, the band faults its former accountant, says it cooperated with tax authorities after becoming aware of the issue and has vowed to clear its name. While the tax case is pending trial, assets belonging to the four — apartments and houses worth $6.5 million — will remain frozen by the authorities, reports AP. A court date has not set. The post Sigur Ros Members Charged With Tax Evasion appeared first on CelebrityAccess . from CelebrityAccess https://ift.tt/2FNiOO7 via IFTTT

SANTA ANA, Calif. (CelebrityAccess) Stephen Fitzpatrick and Audun Laading, the duo known as Her’s, were killed in a car crash today while traveling to a show in Santa Ana, Calif. The UK band’s tour manager, Trevor Engelbrekston, was also killed, according to a statement from record label Heist or Hit. “Their energy, vibrancy and talent came to define our label,” Heist or Hit said in a statement. “As humans, they were warm, gentle and hilarious. Each time they stopped by the office made for an uplifting experience. To say they were close would be an underestimation of a friendship that was genuinely beautiful to witness; they loved one another like brothers.” “Musically, Her’s were astonishing. An aptitude for melody, fun, and entertainment combined with a complexity that was as sophisticated as it was stylish. They were in America playing to thousands of adoring fans,” the statement continued. Fans they made a point of meeting and spending time with, such was their passion and ...

Now on The Promoter 101 The Podcast, Roundhouse’s Jane Beese. Cooking tips with Madison House’s Adam Bauer. Special Guest Co-Host: Nederlanders’ Jamie Loeb Direct Link: https://is.gd/pOE6AU The post Episode 137: Roundhouse’s Jane Beese appeared first on CelebrityAccess . from CelebrityAccess https://ift.tt/2HWAsBz via IFTTT

LOS ANGELES, (CelebrityAccess) — AEG Presents and food delivery app Postmates today announced an exclusive, multi-year partnership to bring Postmates Pickup technology to the promoter’s marquee event, the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. The partnership will allow customers to order food, beverages and merch from the festival’s concessions through the festival’s mobile app and have their order available for pickup. After the order is placed, the customer will receive a pickup time and text notification when the order is ready, allowing said order to be retrieved from a designated Postmates Pickup points located throughout the festival. At larger festivals like Coachella, AEG Presents will deploy commissary kitchens dedicated to preparing Postmates orders to ensure shorter wait times. AEG Presents will also launch Postmates Pickup at this year’s Stagecoach: California’s Country Music Festival, Hangout Festival, Electric Forest, Mo Pop Festival, Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival and ...

SACRAMENTO, CA (CelebrityAccess) — Music industry veteran Mike Gormley will be featured in the debut of the music and talk show In The Limelight with Liz Scott on Rhythm 105.9 FM in Sacramento on Sunday. Gormley, who has had a long career as a manager and PR consultant for artists such as Rod Stewart, the Danny Elfman-fronted Oingo Boingo, and the Police, will go in-depth with Scott on his career, including his stints as head of PR for Mercury Records and founding his own company, Los Angeles Personal Development in 1983. The interview will also touch on Gormley’s more recent activity, including serving as a consultant with artists such as Kisspanic, Lacy J Dalton, Quincy Coleman, and HEЯITAGE. The two-hour show, hosted by rising Australia DJ/Singer/Producer Liz Scott, premieres on Rhythm 105.9 at 8 PM PDT. The post Mike Gormley To Be Featured On Rhythm 105.9 FM ‘In The Limelight With Liz Scott’ On Sunday appeared first on CelebrityAccess . from CelebrityAccess https://ift.tt...

NORWICH, UK (CelebrityAccess) — William “Billy” Clayton, an aspiring pop artist who became an international celebrity last year after Charli XCX hosted a benefit concert in his honor, has died. In a post on Clayton’s Twitter account on Thursday, his mother said Becky Clayton said Billy died on Tuesday after a battle with Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of bone cancer. “On Tuesday 26th March at approximately 5pm my darling, beautiful boy Billy had to go to his new home in another realm. He held on for so long and had more strength than anyone could ever imagine. But his body would no longer allow him to live the life he desperately wished for and his soul needed to escape to be free,” she wrote. Clayton was diagnosed with his affliction four years ago when he was 18. In August, he spoke candidly of the strain the disease had inflicted on him but said his art and music had kept him motivated even at his lowest points. Clayton produced just two EPs over the course of his ...

LOS ANGELES (CelebrityAccess) — Live Nation Entertainment has been recognized as a top workplace in the US for LGBTQ equality by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation, the educational arm of the civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual transgender and queer people. For the second year in a row, Live Nation earned a perfect score of 100 on HRC’s Corporate Equality Index, which benchmarks organizations on a variety of criteria that includes: transgender benefits & wellness, domestic partner benefits, cultural engagement, corporate and employee policies, learning and development, and public engagement with the LTBGTQ community. “The top-scoring companies on this year’s CEI are not only establishing policies that affirm and include employees here in the United States, they are applying these policies to their global operations and impacting millions of people beyond our shores,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. The recognition comes amid...

(CelebrityAccess) — Following his death in an apparent suicide last year, the family of DJ/Producer Avicii has launched a new foundation in his name. According to Rolling Stone, the Tim Bergling Foundation will raise money for a variety of causes, including suicide prevention and supporting mental health. As well, the foundation will also focus on other issues including climate and nature conservation, the Bergling family said in a statement. Avicii, 28, was found dead in Oman in 2018, just two years after he announced he was stepping back from his life as a touring artist to address his mental health. “Creating music is what makes me happy and I have gotten to know so many great people in my days of touring, seen so many amazing places and created endless of good memories,” he posted on social media at the time. “The decision I made might seem odd to some but everyone is different and for me this was the right one.” The post Tim “Avicii” Bergling’s Family Launches A Foundation ...

DALLAS, TX (CelebrityAccess) — Guitar legend Eric Clapton announced the Crossroads Guitar Festival will return for its fifth installment in 2019. Set for September 20-21, the festival will take place at the American Airlines Arena in Dallas, Texas, the city that hosted the first edition of the festival. The festival promises two nights of “performances and impromptu collaborations from the world’s most legendary guitar players” with a lineup that includes Clapton, Jeff Beck, Joe Walsh, Keb Mo, Bonnie Raitt, Jimmie Vaughn, Robert Cray, Vince Gill, and the Tedeschi Trucks Band among others. In addition to the concerts, the festival will also feature a Guitar Center Festival Village which will be located on Victory Plaza adjacent to the arena. Some of the world’s best guitar and gear manufacturers, including Ernie Ball, Fender, Gibson, Martin, PRS, and more, will host interactive exhibits where guitar fans can plug in and play new products and classic favorites. In addition, Guitar C...

NEW YORK (CelebrityAccess) — Ahead of the kickoff for A2IM’s Indie Week, the indie-oriented trade association announced the list of nominees for the 2019 Libera Awards presented by SoundExchange. The awards are intended to recognize the contribution of artists and industry figures across the independent music sector, with awards given for artists, albums, and videos from a diversity of genres, as well as the labels and marketing teams that help bring the music to the fans. The 2019 Libera Awards will be held on June 20, 2019. While the Awards were originally slated to take place again at the PlayStation Theater in Times Square, demand for tickets saw organizers relocate the awards gala to the Ziegfeld Ballroom in NYC (141 West 54th St.) The awards show serves as the capstone to A2IM’s Indie Week, which this year takes place from June 17-20, which marks its 10th anniversary this year. The 2019 Libera Award Nominees: Best American Roots/Folk Album * Calexico – The Thread That ...

CHICAGO (CelebrityAccess) — While Cook County prosecutors have the dropped state charges brought against Empire actor Jussie Smollett, he may not be out of the woods just yet. On Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump took to Twitter to call for the FBI and Justice Department to ‘review’ the case. In his tweet, the President described the decision to drop the charges as “outrageous” and an “embarrassment to our Nation.” However, it is unclear exactly how a federal review of the prosecutor’s decision to drop charges would take shape, or under what jurisdiction such a review would operate. Federal investigators are already looking into a different aspect of the case — a threatening letter that Smollett was alleged to have sent to himself at the Empire set through the U.S. mail, and which, if true, may constitute mail fraud. Smollett gained notoriety earlier this year after police alleged that he staged a fake hate crime attack on himself in what investigators claimed was an attempt ...

ENGLAND (CelebrityAccess) This year’s Glastonbury Festival, to take place June 26-30 near Pilton, Somerset, England, will not only include acts like The Chemical Brothers, The Cure and The Killers, but also a 60-meter-long pier called “Glastonbury-on-sea.” The new project is said to resemble a Victorian pier. The announcement of the “enormous pier” came in passing while Glastonbury founder Michael Eavis was speaking at the launch show of Joe Rush’s Stories From The Wasteland. Rush’s sculptures and artwork have been a staple of the festival since the 1980s. That show is located at the newly opened Vinegar Yard, a new venue and outdoor mini-festival space next to London Bridge that features vintage market, food and drink stalls, according to MixMag. The pier, designed by Rush, isn’t really a pier in the classic sense considering it will be raised over the grassy field of Glastonbury usually designed for cattle grazing, although it may bring a nice respite during those muddy times. ...

NEW YORK (CelebrityAccess) — Rapper Lil Nas X scored crossover country hit when his cowboy-themed rap song “Old Town Road,” debuted at #19 on the Billboard chart. However, Billboard has since decided to pull the song from a country chart after determining it wasn’t a good fit for the genre. In a statement to Rolling Stone, a rep for Billboard said: “Upon further review, it was determined that ‘Old Town Road’ by Lil Nas X does not currently merit inclusion on Billboard‘s country charts. When determining genres, a few factors are examined, but first and foremost is musical composition. While ‘Old Town Road’ incorporates references to country and cowboy imagery, it does not embrace enough elements of today’s country music to chart in its current version.” In a separate statement to Genius, Billboard noted that the decision to remove the track from the country chart “had absolutely nothing to do with the race of the artist.” ” Lil Nas X released the track in late December and it quickl...

NEW YORK (CelebrityAccess) Satisfi Labs, an AI-powered Knowledge Management Platform, has announced it has completed a new round of funding led by Major League Baseball with participation from Red Light Management. The investments bring Satswifi Labs’ total funding to more than $6 million and will help develop the company’s immersion into sports, entertainment and tourism. Satisfi Lab’s technology would, through accessing a venue or festival’s website or app, provide a customer the ability to buy a ticket, order food or beverage from his or her seat, find the best parking space or the nearest restroom, and even have merch delivered to a home address. “This is a milestone for Satisfi Labs, and having MLB, our long term client, as the lead investor is an honor,” said  Don White , CEO and Co-Founder of Satisfi Labs. “We are grateful for our committed group of strategic partners who believe in our mission and are helping us build a better solution for customer engagement. The ...