A sure firestarter between fan groups of today’s top artists, Forbes released its annual ‘Highest Paid Celebrities’ list recently.

Calculated from data of revenue generated between June 2015 to June 2016, the list is comprised of 100 celebrities across all entertainment mediums (movies, television, sports entertainment, music, etc) who are raking in the dough in front of and behind the scenes.

And, while ‘Tears On My Guitar’ singer Taylor Swift may be crying tears of joy from seeing her name at #1 on the list for her whopping $170 million earned over the last year, the real tears may be shed over the absence of women on the list.  In fact, the list of 100 celebs only has 15 women – a point even Forbes itself noted:

“[The ‘highest paid celebrities’ list] is comprised 85% of men—who earned a combined $4.2 billion, compared to the women’s $892.5 million. The imbalance reflects the gender pay gap endemic across industries–and national borders.”

See where your favorite diva o’ the day landed on the list:

(more…)

If music industry analysts were hoping the successful releases of Rihanna, Drake, Kanye West, and Beyonce would be enough to save 2016 from the sales woes of 2015 (read more here), their hope was misguided.

As detailed by the mid-year Nielsen report created to reflect American music consumption trends, 2016 is off to a much worse start than last year.  In fact, compared to this time last year, traditional sales are seeing a steady decline with physical numbers down 14% while digital numbers are down a whopping 18%.

However, not all is lost. For, as the releases of Drizzy, Rih, and West have proven, streaming is not the wave of the future, but it is the wave of the now (read more here).  Helping boost total music consumption upward (sales plus streaming), tuck in below to get the positive stats on streaming year to date (tracking ended June 30):

(more…)

Much to the delight of his diehard fans, Maxwell kicked off the month of July with the release of his long-awaited sixth album, ‘blackSUMMERS’night’ (his first in nearly 7 years).

The second in a trilogy of projects of the same name (different emphases), part 2 of ‘BSN’ was launched on the back of the #1 Adult R&B single ‘Lake by the Ocean’ and a number of other critically acclaimed cuts to support it.  However, while critics have sung the album’s praises, the commercial response hasn’t exactly been singing a similar tune.

Initial reports indicated the first week sales of part 2 of the trio of albums was on track to land somewhere in the 58,000-68,000 range.  If true, that would barely be a fifth of its predecessor’s first week figures.  Now, with the Nielsen tracking week officially over, tuck in below to see how close (or far) industry analysts’ predictions were to the final figure:

(more…)

Twitter is still alight with roasting Rich Homie Quan after his less-than-stellar rendition of Notorious B.I.G.’s verse from Junior M.A.F.I.A.’s ‘Get Money’ with Lil’ Kim at VH1’s ‘Hip Hop Honors’ (see the performances here).

Originally some thought he was opting out of the song’s more provocative lyrics for the sake of TV, but further review proved homeboy just flubbed majorly.  After a serious backlash ensued (and is still ongoing), RHQ took to Instagram to offer an apology and his take on what happened.

Did you miss it?  Read his apology and relive the awkward moment below:

(more…)

By most counts, Britney Spears is a Pop icon. However, as she learned with the release of 2013’s ‘Britney Jean,’ she is not exempt from falling foul of public favor.

Hoping to turn the tide, she’s been working an album of new music – and it seems she’s ready to unveil.

As reported, she’s uniquely tying-in the release of her latest fragrance ‘Private Show’ with a song of the same name.

Now, ET are taking fans behind the scenes of the scent’s accompanying commercial – which features a lengthy preview of the cut.

Check it out below…

(more…)

All roads lead to July 29th for Fantasia.

The soul-filled songbird will hatch her fifth studio album ‘The Definition Of…’ on said date – much to the joy of her fervent supporters.

It’s been three years since the release of preceding effort ‘Side Effects Of You,’ during which time the North Carolina native has been touring Stateside.

Within the last year she’s also taken on new management, thus rendering this project her first under the regime over at Primary Wave.

With songs such of ‘So Blue’ and official lead single ‘Sleeping With The One I Love’ in public domain, what else awaits on the LP? Are there any features?

Wonder no more because the official tracklist awaits after the jump…

(more…)

After spending the latter half of the noughties garnering more misses than hits on the Billboard Hot 100, Jennifer Lopez‘s musical career hit a homerun in the early ’10s courtesy of the RedOne-produced ‘On the Floor.’  With the assistance of rapper PitBull, Lopez’s return to dominance and prominence spelled of much promise until fans were greeted with a number of rehashes of the J.Lo/Pitbull formula over the four years that followed.

The absence of ‘On the Floor’s catchiness and magical flair proved an impotent punch for its successors as all of them failed to come anywhere near its chart performance.  But, while she was hitting a number of sour notes on the Hot 100, Jenny’s star was proving itself hotter than ever thanks to ‘American Idol,’ a hit scripted series ‘Shades of Blue,’ and a hotly-selling Vegas residency.

The reignition of overall public interest in “Jennifer Lopez: the star” may have acted as the catalyst for the triple threat diva to try her hand yet again at her ailing music career.  Tapping an unused number from hitmaking newcomer Meghan Trainor and producer extraordinaire Dr. Luke, the trio birthed ‘Ain’t Your Mama’:  the first official single from Jenny’s 9th album…

(more…)

After two critically acclaimed seasons, Viola Davis‘ ‘How To Get Away With Murder’ is gearing up for a return to ABC.

Details below …

(more…)

(more…)

Keyshia Cole‘s time at Interscope came to an end following the release of her Hip-Hop kissed set ‘Point of No Return.’

Since then, the gifted entertainer has vowed to continue her career as an independent artist and, before the release of her first label-less album, seems to have secured the support of the boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Press play to peep his short, telling and explicit conversation with his good friend Jason Lee below…

(more…)

With the right material she’ll become one of Pop’s strongest contenders.

Fortunately, fans of the rising star that is Zendaya won’t have to wait until that material surfaces before they’re able to enjoy fresh and original content from her.

For, after bagging a starring role in the forthcoming ‘Spiderman’ movie,  the starlet has joined the cast of ‘The Greatest Showman on Earth.’

(more…)

VH1 Hip-Hop Honors 2016 celebrated the genre’s leading ladies of yesteryear with help from the likes of the always impressive Lil Mama and Teyana Taylor.

Yet to see their performances?

Click here.

Waiting below? Acceptance speeches from the night’s honourees that acknowledged their contributions to their field and the current political climate in the United States.

Watch below….

(more…)