Category Archives: Hot AC

Alternative Rock CHR Hot AC

No more times: Daft Punk has broken up

Michael Kovac/WireImageDaft Punk is no more.

On Monday morning, the French duo uploaded an eight-minute video on YouTube titled "Epilogue," showing the masked members literally walking off into the sunset. Their publicist confirmed to Variety that Daft Punk has indeed broken up.

Formed in 1993 by Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter, Daft Punk became a hugely popular and influential electronic act thanks to singles including "One More Time" and "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger," the latter of which was famously sampled in Kanye West's hit "Stronger."

The duo was equally known for their identity-concealing robot masks and their elaborate live shows, which were captured in the iconic live albums Alive 1997 and Alive 2007.

Daft Punk reached a whole new level with their 2013 album Random Access Memories, which spawned the mega-hit "Get Lucky," a collaboration with Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers. That record, named Album of the Year at the 2014 Grammy Awards, would turn out to be Daft Punk's final release.

By Josh Johnson
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Alternative Rock CHR Hot AC

“3, 2, 1” go! 24kGoldn releases new song & video, achieves new chart feat with “Mood”

RECORDS/Columbia Records24kGoldn is out with a brand new song and video, just as his previous hit, "Mood," manages to pull off another major chart achievement.

The song, "3, 2, 1," is based on the old saying that there are three sides to every story: Yours, mine and the truth.  In the song, Goldn sings about a woman who's playing with his emotions by not being honest with him: "Two lies that you told me/Say you love me and you hate me, I don't know what to do, girl."

In the video, Goldn and the dishonest women start off at the El Dorado Motel -- named after the artist's upcoming album El Dorado -- before riding on a motorcycle together and moving to several different locations. At one point, they're sitting on thrones side by side when she reaches over and stabs Goldn in the chest, causing a torrent of what look like red paper hearts to fly out.

Meanwhile, Billboard reports that "Mood" is the ultimate crossover hit, as it rises to number-one on the publication's Adult Pop Airplay chart.  It's previously been number one on the Rhythmic Airplay and Pop Airplay charts, and is one of only nine songs that have topped all three.

However, "Mood" has done something that none of those other eight songs have done: It's also been top 10 on the Alternative Airplay and Rap Airplay charts.  Therefore, says Billboard, it's the first song ever to have achieved such success on all five of those charts.

"Mood" was also number-one for eight weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, and is currently number one on the Hot Alternative Songs and Hot Rock & Alternative Songs charts.  Those charts are based on sales, streaming and airplay.

(Video contains uncensored profanity.)

By Andrea Dresdale
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Alternative Rock CHR Hot AC

Billie Eilish seeks restraining order against man sending her threatening messages

ABCBillie Eilish was granted a restraining order against a man she claims has been sending her death threats.  The "bad guy" singer insisted the man was dangerous, adding that he had been stalking outside her home for months.

TMZ obtained a copy of the legal docs filed in court as well as the threatening messages Elish's stalker sent her.

The Grammy winner claims that, over the summer, John Hearle started camping at a school close to her house -- and that's when the disturbing letters began to appear.

One letter promised her, "You will die" and "You can't get what you want, unless what you want is to die for me."

Other letters show the man claiming to be Satan and feature scribblings of religious symbols.

Eilish furthered in the court docs that Hearle would watch her as she entered and exited her property and would try to get her attention by making remarks or disturbing gestures -- like a throat-slitting motion.

The 19-year-old singer insisted that she began to worry about the health and safety of her family -- on top of the anxiety she felt when she returned home.

A judge ruled Thursday that Hearle must stay 200 yards away from Eilish and her parents at all times.

By Megan Stone
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Alternative Rock Classic Hits/Oldies Hot AC

What’s up? 4 Non Blondes’ YouTube views

Paul Natkin/Getty ImagesOne of the most enduring songs of the '90s is "What's Up," the 1993 hit by the band 4 Non Blondes that many people mistakenly think is called "What's Going On."  But whatever you call it, a heck of a lot of people have watched the video on YouTube.

The official video for "What's Up" has just become only the fifth video from the '90s to have hit a billion views on the streaming platform. It joins the videos for Guns N' Roses "November Rain," Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit," The Cranberries' "Zombie" and Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You."

Of those five videos, "November Rain" has the most, with more than 1.5 billion views. "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is next with 1.2 billion. "Zombie" has just under 1.09 billion, and Whitney's hit has 1.07 billion.

4 Non Blondes front woman Linda Perry left the band in 1994 and then went on to become a hit-making songwriter and producer, working on smashes like Pink's "Get the Party Started," Christina Aguilera's "Beautiful" and Gwen Stefani's "What You Waiting For," plus songs recorded by Ariana Grande, Adele, Miley Cyrus, Alicia Keys, Kelly Osborne and Courtney Love.

Perry was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2015.

By Andrea Dresdale
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Alternative Rock CHR Hot AC

AJR shares new ‘OK ORCHESTRA’ song, “Way Less Sad”

Credit: Shervin LainezAJR has premiered a new song called "Way Less Sad," a track from the band's upcoming album, OK ORCHESTRA.

"'Way Less Sad' is a song about how we're really feeling in this moment," the brother trio explains. "So much of last year felt apocalyptic and this year we can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. Things aren't back to normal yet but we should be celebrating the small wins, even if they seem trivial."

"Way Less Sad" is available now now via digital outlets. The song is also accompanied by a video featuring AJR performing at a number of New York City locations, including John F. Kennedy Airport and the famous carousel in Central Park. You can watch that streaming now on YouTube.

OK ORCHESTRA, the follow-up to 2019's Neotheater, is due out March 26. It also includes the single "Bang!", as well as the previously released songs "Bummerland" and "My Play."

By Josh Johnson
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Alternative Rock CHR Hot AC

24kGoldn named one of YouTube’s Artists on the Rise for 2021

Courtesy YouTubeGiven the fact that he topped the Billboard Hot 100 for weeks, we'd argue that 24kGoldn has already risen, but nevertheless, YouTube has named the singer and rapper one of its "Artists on the Rise" for 2021.

As part of the honor, he'll appear Thursday on YouTube's weekly series, RELEASED, to debut his new single and video "3, 2, 1."  He'll also discuss his musical influences and his future musical plans.

Explaining what inspired "3, 2, 1," Goldn tells YouTube that when he was on tour, his friend Paypa Boy told him, "Remember little bro, there's three sides to every story: yours, theirs, and the truth."

Goldn adds, "That made me realize how real that saying is."

Following the success of his singles "Valentino" and "Mood," 24kGoldn's debut album El Dorado will be released later this year.  The title of the album is fitting: El Dorado is Spanish for "The Golden One."

By Andrea Dresdale
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Alternative Rock CHR Hot AC

Billie Eilish doc ‘The World’s a Little Blurry’ coming to IMAX

NEON/Apple TV+Want to see Billie Eilish on the really big screen?

Her new documentary, Billie Eilish: The World's a Little Blurry, is coming to IMAX theaters in addition to its release on Apple TV+.

The film debuts both in theaters and on Apple TV+ on February 26, with exclusive IMAX previews on February 25.

Tickets for the IMAX showings are on sale now.

By Andrea Tuccillo
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Alternative Rock CHR Hot AC

Billie Eilish in talks to produce Peggy Lee biopic starring Michelle Williams

ABC/Rick RowellIs movie producing Billie Eilish’s next venture?

Variety reports that Billie, her mother Maggie Baird, and the CEO of her label Darkroom, Justin Lubliner, are in early talks to executive-produce the upcoming Peggy Lee biopic Fever, named after the late singer and actress' best-known song.

The trade confirms that Oscar-nominee Michelle Williams is on board to Lee, with Todd Haynes directing.

Billie previously told Variety in a 2019 interview that she considers Peggy Lee an inspiration.

“I used to listen to tons of old music — Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Etta James, Johnny Mathis and people like that — where all the songs had a perfect songwriting structure,” she said.

And last May, she participated in a Grammy Museum online panel in honor of the 100th anniversary of Lee’s birth.

By Andrea Tuccillo
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Active Rock Adult Contemporary Alternative Rock CHR Hot AC

Grammy Awards to be held outdoors, with no audience

Recording AcademyThe Grammy Awards were moved from January 31 to March 14 due to the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic in Los Angeles, and now more details are emerging about how the show will be staged.

Sources tell Variety that everything is subject to change, but right now, the plan is to hold the ceremony in the outdoor part of the Los Angeles Convention Center, using the Staples Center -- which is where the show is usually held -- as a backdrop.  There won't be an audience, though there will be some kind of red carpet broadcast with performers and presenters.

Many of the performances are likely to be pre-recorded, Variety adds, but there will be a few live performances.  In December, the show's executive producer, Ben Winston, said that he wanted to stage performances in independent venues around the city, but so far there are no details on that.

As previously reported, Beyoncé is this year's leading nominee with nine nods, while Taylor Swift, Dua Lipa and rapper Roddy Ricch each have six.

By Andrea Dresdale
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Alternative Rock CHR Hot AC

Check out the second official trailer for Billie Eilish doc ‘The World’s a Little Blurry’

Courtesy Apple TV+Did you know Billie Eilish is into Star Trek?  That's just one of the things you'll learn by watching the new trailer for her upcoming Apple TV+ documentary The World's a Little Blurry.

The first shot of the trailer shows Billie and brother Finneas working together at home; she's wearing a Star Trek original series t-shirt with Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock and Dr. McCoy on it.  She also wears the same shirt in the very last shot of the trailer.

In between we see Billie and Finneas recording songs like "bury a friend" and "when the party's over," and Billie admitting that she sleeps in her parents' bed because she's "scared of monsters."  We also hear from Billie's mom and dad, with her mom declaring, "I honestly don't know how any artist of any age is doing it without a parent."

Footage from Billie sweeping the Grammys is intercut with shots of her in concert, getting her scarily sharp nails done, reacting to her sales numbers, goofing around with Finneas, hugging crying fans and more.

"I look into the crowd and I see every single person is going through something," Billie says. "And I have the same problem. So I was like, 'Why don't I turn this into art, instead of just living with it?'"

Billie Eilish: The World's a Little Blurry will be in theaters and on Apple TV+ on February 26.

By Andrea Dresdale
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.