By Creative Media Times

Nas, M.I.A., Santigold, De La Soul and Busta Rhymes are among the special guests set to join Lauryn Hill in her The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill World Tour 2018, Live Nation has announced.

The tour commemorates the 20th anniversary of “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” the singer and rapper’s debut solo album which was released in August 25, 1998.

Other acts set to join her are include Dave Chappelle, Santigold, A$AP Rocky, SZA, Big Boi, Dave East, Jo Mersa Marley, Talib Kweli, Bambaata Marley, Shabazz Palaces, Patoranking, Tierra Whack, Protoje, Kelela, Victory, Raury, Iman Omari and more. To see a which artist appear on specific dates, go to Live Nation’s website.

The 29-city tour kicks off Virginia Beach, Virginia, VA venue Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater on July 5. There, A$AP Rocky and Jo Mersa Marley is set to open, then wraps in St. Louis, Chaifetz Arena on October 5 where Nas, Patoranking and Shabazz Palaces are the supporting acts.

The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill remains Hill’s signature album. The record breaking album debuted at number one on Billboard album charts and won numerous awards, including the Grammy Award for Album of the Year. The album produced three top 40 hit singles, including “Doo Wop (That Thing)” which topped Billboard singles chart in the US.

By Creative Media Times

Teaming up with the House of Blues Music Forward Foundation, Live Nation is awarding $30,000 in scholarships to three students who are pursuing careers in the music industry, Live Nation announced today.

“Live Nation is uniquely positioned to help the next generation of music industry leaders build their foundation and follow their dreams,” said Mark Campana, Chief Operating Officer, Live Nation US Concerts. “Music Forward has helped us connect with hundreds of distinguished candidates, and I couldn’t be more proud of this philanthropic program.”

The scholarship program was established in 2016, aiming to support students with an interest in various music career endeavors such as concert business, concert promo, and artist management among others.

Here are this year’s recipients:

Andrae Alexander, a veteran of the United States Marine Corps and a Senior at California State University, Northridge is this year’s recipient of the Steven J. Finkel Service Excellence Scholarship, established in memory of a Live Nation employee who went above and beyond to improve the concert experience for fans, artists and staff. Andrae possesses an impressive and dedicated approach when supporting clients, making him a natural at customer service. He embodies this passion for service and also aspires to implement change in the industry by incorporating social impact programs into live music experiences.

Clara Maurer, a Senior at Berklee College of Music in Boston is the recipient of this year’s Tiffany Green Operator Scholarship, established in memory of one of Live Nation’s first female concert production specialists. Wanting to inspire fellow women to innovate and drive change within the music industry, Clara founded the Berklee Women in Action Club bringing together female musicians and artists to network, explore career paths, and challenge the status quo.

Sammie Jo Concilio, a Junior at Eugene Lang College at The New School in NYC is this year’s recipient of the Live Nation US Concerts Scholarship, established to support students interested in the core areas of Live Nation’s business: concert promotion, venue operation, sponsorship, ticketing, e-commerce and artist management. Influenced by her upbringing in the NYC music scene, Sammie Jo’s experience in concert production inspired her to found a dance club, H0L0, serving as a collaborative hub for many young pioneers of the electronic music scene in Brooklyn.

To learn more about them, head over to hobmusicforward.org.

By Creative Media

Alternative rock band Smashing Pumpkins was back on stage Monday night, performing their latest single “Solara” on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

“Solara” is the band’s first song by three fourths of its original members (Billy Corgan, James Iha, and Jimmy Chamberlin) in 18 years. “Tear down the sun, bring down the sun,” Corgan singing the chorus. “I’m not everyone, I’m not everyone, I’m not everyone.”

The band also performed “Zero,” their song “Zero” from their 1995 double album “Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness” which debuted at number at the top of Billboard 200 album chart.

On February, lead vocalist Billy Corgan revealed 8 new songs on Instagram, then weeks later posted that the songs are for two new EP’s.

Smashing Pumpkins is set to embark on a 36-city tour this July with the “Shiny and Oh So Bright Tour” which comes in celebration of their 30th anniversary. The tour kicks off at Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona on July 12. You can grab tour tickets from Ticketmaster.

https://youtu.be/F8PYdpzhTY0

By Creative Media Times

Bruno Mars is clearly not having problems selling ticket for his tour. After quickly selling out his first Honolulu show, Mars has added a 2nd show to his 24 Magic World Tour. The new show date occurs on November 11 at Aloha Stadium.

For both nights, the first being the previous night, Saturday, November 10, will feature special guests The Green & Common Kings.

Here’s the official statement from Ticketmaster:

Due to overwhelming demand, Bruno Mars has added a 2nd Honolulu show to his 24K Magic World Tour taking place Sunday, November 11 at Aloha Stadium. Both nights, produced by Live Nation, will feature special guests The Green & Common Kings. Tickets go on sale to the general public starting Saturday, June 16, 2018, at 10 AM HST at Ticketmaster.com and the venue box office. This is an all-ages show.

The date concludes Mar’s 24K Magic World Tour, his third concert tour. The tour, which is in support of his support his third studio album 24K Magic, began March 28, 2017, at the Sportpaleis in Antwerp, Belgium.

Bruno Mars performed at this year’s 60th Grammy Awards with Cardi B. where he won seven awards including Album of the Year (24K Magic), Record of the Year (“24K Magic”), Song of the Year (“That’s What I Like”), Best R&B Performance (“That’s What I Like”), Best R&B Song (“That’s What I Like”), Best R&B Album (24K Magic), and Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical (24K Magic).

By Creative Media Times

Led Zeppelin have reunited to work on a new book “Led Zeppelin by Led Zeppelin” which serves to commemorate their 50th anniversary, the band announced on twitter.

The book marks the first official illustrated book in collaboration with the band members and includes career-spanning photographs, many of which unpublished.

“Work on the official book “Led Zeppelin by Led Zeppelin” is almost complete. The images have been carefully selected and annotated throughout by Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and John Paul Jones.”

Led Zeppelin By Led Zeppelin is set to be published in October through Reel Art Press. Pre-order is now available and cost $69.95.

“Celebrating 50 years since the band’s formation, it covers the group’s unparalleled musical career and features photographs of Led Zeppelin on and offstage from their very first moments together,” the announcement continues. “This definitive 400-page volume includes previously unpublished photos, artwork from the Led Zeppelin archives and contributions from photographers around the world.”

More than 10 years ago, the band famously reunited for the massively successful “Ahmet Ertegun Tribute Concert” in London. Last April, Led Zeppelin released their first single in 21 years, a 7″ single “Rock and Roll (Sunset Sound Mix)”/”Friends (Olympic Studio Mix).”

Photo: John Paul Jones, Robert Plant and Jimmy Page photographed in May 2018 with their working draft of the book "Led Zeppelin By Led Zeppelin". Published in Oct. by @ReelArtPress to celebrate fifty years since the formation of the band. Pre-order here: https://t.co/kMdbJEDy2x pic.twitter.com/3GnYcfMt4p

— Led Zeppelin (@ledzeppelin) June 8, 2018

By Creative Media Times

Country music honored its biggest stars Wednesday night, with Blake Shelton taking home the biggest trophy of the night, Video of the Year. The song is Shelton’s first single off his 2017 album Texoma Shore and also won Male Video of the Year.

“I’ve been doing this for 18 years. I have been making records and luckily enough you guys have accepted them,” said Shelton. “It’s been a crazy ride.”

Carrie Underwood also had a great night, winning Female Video of the Year, thereby extending her title as the most-awarded artists in CMT history.

The 2018 CMT Music Awards aired live on Wednesday night from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.

Here’s a complete list of 2018 CMT Music Awards winners:

Video of the year
Blake Shelton, “I’ll Name the Dogs”

Female video of the year:
Carrie Underwood featuring Ludacris, “The Champion”

Male video of the year
Blake Shelton, “I’ll Name the Dogs”

Duo video of the year
Dan + Shay, “Tequila”

Group video of the year
Little Big Town, “When Someone Stops Loving You”

Breakthrough video of the year
Carly Pearce, “Every Little Thing”

Collaborative video of the year
Kane Brown featuring Lauren Alaina, “What Ifs”

CMT performance of the year
Backstreet Boys and Florida Georgia Line, “Everybody” (from “CMT Crossroads”)