Legendary music producer Clive Davis passed away on Monday at the age of 94. 
Davis made history in the music industry as the founder of Arista Records and president of Columbia Records. He was known for creating some of the most iconic stars in modern music. He died peacefully from age-related illness following a recent hospitalization for respiratory issues.
Among Davis’s many protégés are Whitney Houston, Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, and Neil Diamond. He won five Grammy Awards during his 59-year career.
“He discovered, mentored, and championed the greatest artists in modern music history, leaving an indelible mark on culture that will endure for generations,” said a family statement released after his death.
His annual pre-Grammy party was one of the most significant social events of the year, and regularly featured the most influential stars in the industry. He was inducted into the Rock &amp; Roll Hall of Fame as a non-performer in 2000. 
Raised in Brooklyn, Davis was a Harvard Law Graduate and never planned on a career in music. He began as a corporate lawyer for Columbia Records before transitioning into music. “I was thrust into it,” he once <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/22/entertainment/clive-davis-death">remarked to CNN</a>, “Never knowing I had a natural ear and gift for music that would become the passion of my life.”
Many of his stars have posted tributes to him on social media, crediting him for their success. 
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&#8220;Clive Davis convinced me to sign with Columbia Records many years ago. He recognized the talent of great musicians and understood the power of contemporary music. I will always be grateful to Clive for his recognition of the critical importance of songwriting. He undoubtedly enhanced the stature of the music industry during his tenure as president of Columbia Records,&#8221; Billy Joel commented.
Carlos Santana added, &#8220;Clive Davis was a visionary. He could hear the intangible before anyone else could see it. He believed in Santana from the beginning, and years later he believed in us again. That kind of faith is a beautiful blessing, and I will always be grateful.&#8221;
Davis is survived by his four children — Fred, Doug, Mitchell, and Lauren — as well as eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. 
“To his family, Clive was Dad and Granddaddy, the steady presence at the center of our lives, the source of wisdom, strength, encouragement, and unconditional love. No matter how extraordinary his professional accomplishments, he never lost sight of what mattered most: the people he loved,” said the family statement.

Clive Davis and the Recording Academy Pre-GRAMMY Gala & GRAMMY Salute to Industry Icons Honoring Avery Lipman & Monte Lipman – Inside

Legendary Music Exec Clive Davis Dead At 94

Music

Music Industry

There’s a new trend among major recording artists, and it’s becoming so common that it even has a viral new nickname: “blue dot fever.”
This disease comes not from alien chickenpox, but instead represents musicians who allegedly cancel their shows due to poor ticket sales. Those “blue dots” reference the empty seats that would-be attendees aren’t buying for whatever reason.
Some artists are upfront about their reasons for canceling, while others offer thinly veiled excuses. 
Post Malone canceled the first few weeks of his tour with Jelly Roll because he supposedly wanted to spend time making new music, but many fans speculate that it’s really because some stops had too many of those blue dots.
A local news segment from El Paso, Texas, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reels/DX0J5TakTSv/">reported</a> that early stops on the “Big Ass Stadium Tour Part 2” that were axed “showed a majority of tickets not sold,” noting that “the blue ones are empty seats.” 
The singer said that wasn’t the reason, writing on social media, “truth is, I promised y’all beautiful people new music, and I don’t have the time to finish it before tour starts. We ain’t ready for tour just yet, so I’m making the decision to push the tour back about 3 weeks to get this music done.”
Meghan Trainor is also being accused of pulling out of performing due to an overabundance of blue dots. 
She canceled her “Get In Girl” tour last month and attributed it to wanting to spend time with her family. 
“Balancing the release of a new album, preparing for a nationwide tour, and welcoming our new baby girl to our growing family of five has just been more than I can take on right now, and I need to be home and present for each and all of them at this time,” she <a href="https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2026-04-17/meghan-trainor-cancels-tour-why-new-baby-girl">said</a> in April.
Most recently, the girl group “The Pussycat Dolls” canceled their reunion tour’s North American stops — except for one — and did not give any specific reason for doing so.
“When we announced the PCD FOREVER Tour, we hoped to bring the show to fans across the world. After taking an honest look at the North American run, we’ve made the difficult and heartbreaking decision to cancel all but one of the North America dates,” the group said in an update shared on Monday. They stopped just shy of admitting the blue dots were the problem.
“Our U.K. and European dates are still moving forward as planned, and the response has been incredible, with several shows already sold out. We are putting everything into making this show a true celebration of the music and the memories, for the fans who have been with us from the beginning and those discovering us for the first time. We’re working hard to create the kind of show we’ve always dreamed of bringing to you. We cannot wait to bring this reunion to Europe and make these nights unforgettable.”
The Dolls will play one show in the U.S., however, stopping in at the WeHo Pride event in L.A. on June 6. “We could not think of a more meaningful place to celebrate with our fans,” the statement said. “The LGBTQ+ community has shown us so much love and support throughout our career, and we’re honored to be part of a weekend rooted in joy, pride, music, and chosen family.”
So why has blue dot fever become such an issue?
Many commenters are pointing out that these artists are targeting huge, 50,000+ arenas when they’d be better off putting on small, intimate shows that are guaranteed to sell out and therefore drive hype. There have also been plenty of complaints about high ticket prices. There were also observations about where the shows take place.
“The prices are high, but the biggest thing keeping me away from huge arena shows is that I have to drive to a major city,” one commenter <a href="https://x.com/staticdazzle/status/2051365489763565595">said</a>. “In my case it&#8217;s Los Angeles, only about 45 minutes away but it&#8217;s such a disgusting city that I just won&#8217;t go anymore.”
“Maybe don’t charge $100+ for an upper level seat or let bots buy all the tickets and charge resell prices,” another person <a href="https://x.com/dougie1395/status/2051652903190884801">added</a>.
“No one has the disposable income that they used to have … Concerts are one of the first things that are going to go. Artists are either gonna have to lower their ticket prices or cancel concerts,” echoed a third.

Post Malone

Rash Of Artists Stricken With ‘Blue Dot Fever’

concert

Entertainment

For the first time in history, the number one country song in the digital sales <a href="https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-digital-song-sales/">category</a> on the Billboard charts is AI-generated.
“Walk My Walk” by Breaking Rust currently holds that honor despite not being attached to any human artist. There’s not much information available about the “musician” beyond an artist’s bio on Linktree that says, “Music for the fighters and the dreamers.”
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Breaking Rust - Walk My Walk ( Official Lyric Video )" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tx3OirkhX0g?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Breaking Rust has more than 39,000 followers on Instagram. The <a href="https://www.instagram.com/breakinrust/?hl=en">profile</a> includes videos and stills of a man in a cowboy hat standing in the rain.
News of the song topping the Billboard chart got mixed reactions on social media.
“80% of songs are auto-tuned, single-beat, 2-minute tracks. No sympathy there. But for the remaining 20% of artists who can actually sing, challenge, and surprise listeners? This is tragic,” one person <a href="https://x.com/paraclete06/status/1988295441612750968">wrote</a> in response to the news. 
“I have a feeling that Spotify might be PRO AI as they won’t have to pay royalties or any other fees in case the music is AI generated,” another <a href="https://x.com/hrishikesshhhh/status/1988550471074668883">observed</a>. “But it’s bad for listeners. Bad for artists.”
“A lot of people like AI music, and I don&#8217;t think any amount of shaming is gonna change that,” a third <a href="https://x.com/LegionOThought/status/1988299847678783533">argued</a>. “Just ask the vegans.”
The debate over using AI in creative endeavors has been raging for years and is back in the spotlight as it becomes increasingly difficult to distinguish between AI-generated content and human-generated content.
The media labor union SAG-AFTRA recently spoke out against a 100% AI-generated “actress” being touted by its creators as “the next Scarlett Johansson or Natalie Portman.”
The “synthetic performer,” which goes by the name Tilly Norwood, was concocted by the U.K.-based production studio Particle6.
Tilly Norwood’s creator, Eline Van der Velden, argued that the AI-generated character “is not a replacement for a human being, but a creative work — a piece of art.”
“I see AI not as a replacement for people, but as a new tool, a new paintbrush,” Van der Velden said, as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hollywood-actors-union-slams-ai-synthetic-performer-pitched-as-the-next-scarlett-johansson">reported</a>. “Just as animation, puppetry, or CGI opened fresh possibilities without taking away from live acting, AI offers another way to imagine and build stories. I’m an actor myself, and nothing — certainly not an AI character — can take away the craft or joy of human performance.”

Cowboy

AI-Generated Hit Reaches No. 1 On Billboard’s Country Digital Song Sales Chart

AI-Generated Country Song Reaches No. 1 On Billboard’s Country Digital Song Sales Chart 

Artificial Intelligence

Billboard

Country Music

U.S.

For the first time in thirty-five years, there are no rap songs listed among the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 music chart, representing the most popular singles in America.
This occurred after the track “Luther” by Kendrick Lamar and SZA dropped out of the top 40 following a 13-week run at number one.
Currently, the highest-ranking songs in the rap genre are “Shot Callin” by YoungBoy Never Broke Again at number 44, “Safe” by Cardi B at 48, and “Hell at Night” by BigXthaPlug at 49.
The last time there were no rap songs in the Billboard Top 40 was in February 1990, according to <a href="https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/no-rap-songs-hot-100-top-40-first-time-since-1990-1236100625/">Billboard</a>.
Part of the reason for the change is new rules that say descending songs are “recurrent” and removed from the chart if they have appeared for certain durations on the chart while falling below prescribed thresholds. That’s what happened to “Luther,” which dropped to number 38 after being on the chart for 46 weeks. 
Currently, the top song is Taylor Swift’s “The Fate of Ophelia,” which has been on the chart since its release three weeks ago. Out of the top 40, twelve of the songs are from the pop star’s “The Life of a Showgirl” album. 
Other top ten songs include “Golden,” featured in the hit Netflix series “KPop Demon Hunters,” and the single “Ordinary” by Alex Warren, along with “Daisies” by Justin Bieber and Olivia Dean’s “Man I Need.”
Billboard noted that many rap artists are in an “in-between” period, with fans eagerly awaiting Drake’s upcoming “Iceman” album and with his rival Kendrick Lamar being “somewhat dormant” after years in the spotlight. But <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/entertainment/article/no-rap-songs-billboard-21129466.php">per</a> The San Francisco Chronicle, the market share for hip-hop music was almost 30% in 2020 but slipped to 24% this year. Five years ago, there were 16 rap songs in the top 40, while two years ago, that number decreased to 8 songs.

Kendrick Lamar and SZA

There Are No Rap Songs In The Billboard Hot 100 Top 40 For The First Time In 35 Years

Culture

Rap Music

Performer Bob Vylan celebrated the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk during a performance, shouting vile insults from the stage as he referred to the Turning Point USA founder as a &#8220;piece of s***&#8221; and worse.
Vylan — who recently made headlines for chanting &#8220;Death to the IDF&#8221; from the stage at Glastonbury&#8217;s famed music festival — trashed Kirk from a stage adorned with a Palestinian flag, saying he&#8217;d deserved to get shot.
WATCH:
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BOB VYLAN CELEBRATES DEATH OF CHARLIE KIRK
Calls Charlie &#8220;An absolute piece of sh!t&#8221;
&#8220;Pronouns Was/Were&#8221;
“Coz if you chat sh!t, you get banged.” Followed by a gun gesture. 
<a href="https://t.co/rBSkNloxcG">pic.twitter.com/rBSkNloxcG</a>
— Eyal Yakoby (@EYakoby) <a href="https://twitter.com/EYakoby/status/1967270424150249831?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;I want to dedicate this next one to an absolute piece of s*** of a human being,&#8221; he began, pacing back and forth across the stage.
&#8220;The pronouns: Was/Were,&#8221; he said, prompting cheers from the audience. &#8220;&#8216;Cos if you talk s***, you will get banged. Rest in peace, Charlie Kirk, you piece of s***.&#8221;
He made a shooting gesture with his hand and then proceeded to dance around the stage as the crowd cheered some more.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/police-consider-criminal-charges-after-rapper-leads-death-to-the-idf-chant-at-festival">Vylan</a> prompted backlash after his Glastonbury performance when he led chants of &#8220;Free, free Palestine&#8221; and &#8220;Death to the IDF&#8221; during the show in June. Police in the United Kingdom even considered formal charges against him at the time.
&#8220;We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon,” Avon and Somerset Police <a href="https://x.com/ASPolice/status/1939025011844485405" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a post on X. “Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation.&#8221;
Festival officials rebuked Vylan in a statement, saying, &#8220;We are appalled by the statements made from the West Holts stage by Bob Vylan yesterday. Their chants very much crossed a line and we are urgently reminding everyone involved in the production of the festival that there is no place at Glastonbury for antisemitism, hate speech or incitement to violence.&#8221;

Hugh R Hastings/Getty Images

Rapper Who Chanted ‘Death To IDF’ Targets Charlie Kirk In Profane Rant

Rapper Who Chanted 'Death To IDF' Targets Charlie Kirk In Profane Rant

assassination

Charlie Kirk

Media

Politics

Astronomer announced the resignation of CEO Andy Byron on Saturday, just days after a video showing the married tech executive cozying up to a colleague at a Coldplay concert went viral.
The company shared the news of Byron&#8217;s resignation in a post to X on Saturday afternoon, saying the CEO had failed to meet the company&#8217;s standards with regard to &#8220;conduct and accountability.&#8221;
&#8220;As stated previously, Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding. Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met,&#8221; the statement read. &#8220;Andy Byron has tendered his resignation, and the Board of Directors has accepted.&#8221;
&#8220;The Board will begin a search for our next Chief Executive as Cofounder and Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy continues to serve as interim CEO,&#8221; it continued.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
As stated previously, Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding. Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met.
Andy Byron has tendered his resignation, and… <a href="https://t.co/aTTUhnnyVz">pic.twitter.com/aTTUhnnyVz</a>
— Astronomer (@astronomerio) <a href="https://twitter.com/astronomerio/status/1946640685983224131?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 19, 2025</a></blockquote>
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The company announced an investigation into the situation on Friday, also dismissing rumors that another employee was in attendance at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, at the time the video was taken.
The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/coldplay-fan-who-posted-video-of-ceo-embracing-his-chief-people-officer-speaks-out" target="_blank" rel="noopener">short video</a> shows Byron and Cabot embracing one another and then reacting with shock upon realizing they were on the kiss cam. Byron immediately lets go of Cabot and ducks out of frame, while Cabot hides her face and turned away from the camera.
“Oh look at these two,” Coldplay frontman Chris Martin said to the crowd. “Either they’re having an affair or they’re very shy.”
Amanda Harding contributed to this report.

Byron

Tech Company CEO Resigns After Coldplay Kiss Cam Debacle

The official cause of death for legendary songwriter and Beach Boys founding member Brian Wilson was revealed on Thursday.
Wilson, who <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/brian-wilson-beach-boys-founder-and-legendary-songwriter-dead-at-82">passed away</a> weeks ago at the age of 82, died of respiratory arrest, according to a death certificate obtained by entertainment website <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2025/06/26/brian-wilson-cause-of-death/">TMZ</a>. Respiratory arrest, the site explained, occurs when the heart is still beating, but the lungs cease to function, thus failing to deliver oxygen to the body.
Several other conditions were listed as contributing factors in the musician&#8217;s death, including sepsis, cystitis, neurodegenerative disorder, chronic kidney disease and respiratory failure, and obstructive sleep apnea.
Wilson was just 19 when he founded the iconic band alongside brothers Dennis and Carl Wilson, cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine — and the group made the laid-back surfing vibe into a musical movement. They solidified themselves as rock stars with 1966&#8217;s Pet Sounds album, which included standouts like &#8220;Good Vibrations&#8221; and &#8220;God Only Knows.&#8221;
Wilson struggled publicly with his mental health in his later years, once telling <a href="https://people.com/brian-wilson-dead-82-beach-boys-singer-co-founder-8548234">People Magazine</a>, &#8220;I’ve been through a great deal of mental anguish. I felt like a fat slob. It was very embarrassing. I used to go onstage and it was scary. Now I’m getting used to it. I feel a little more confidence in myself.&#8221;
He was placed under a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-beach-boys-member-brian-wilson-under-conservatorship-due-to-dementia-diagnosis">conservatorship</a> just over a year before he died — and following the death of his wife, Melinda — due to a &#8220;major neurocognitive disorder.&#8221;
&#8220;This decision was made to ensure that there will be no extreme changes to the household and Brian and the children living at home will be taken care of and remain in the home where they are cared for by Gloria Ramos and the wonderful team at the house who have been in place for many years helping take care of the family,&#8221; a statement from his family read. &#8220;Brian will be able to enjoy all of his family and friends and continue to work on current projects as well as participate in any activities he chooses.&#8221;

Brian Wilson

Cause Of Death Revealed For Beach Boys Legend Brian Wilson

Celebrities

Mental Health

Beyoncé rode a vintage car through the air &#8212; but does that hold a candle to getting busted by the cops while playing a Columbia, Missouri, house party?
In an era where over-the-top concerts and sky-high ticket prices dominate headlines, The All-American Rejects are taking a different approach. The pop-punk band, which rose to fame in the early 2000s, is reconnecting with fans on their House Party Tour, which brings the band to intimate, fan-suggested venues. 
Frontman Tyson Ritter explained the motivation behind this unconventional approach.
&#8220;I recently read something about people financing festival tickets, the complete inaccessibility of the concert experience in 2025, and how it&#8217;s juxtaposed against these wild and weird economic times,&#8221; he told <a href="https://www.vulture.com/article/all-american-rejects-interview-house-party-tour.html#:~:text=%2C%E2%80%9D%20he%20says.-,%E2%80%9CI%20recently%20read%20something%20about%20people%20financing%20festival%20tickets%2C%20the,our%20shows%20can%20still%20work.%E2%80%9D">Vulture</a> in a recent interview.
This realization led to the band investing their own money to bring live music directly to fans.
&#8220;We took $50,000 out of our own pockets, booked a bus,” Ritter explained. “For me, it was that we could find an opening and an opportunity as four guys from Oklahoma who didn’t come from much.&#8221;
&#8220;I was raised in a trailer house, my first concert was sitting on my porch listening to a band that was playing at an outdoor pavilion,” Ritter added, noting that the backyard tour is also a form of protest against the music industry status quo.
“It was like, this is the reason people are showing up. It’s the have-nots and have-littles in the middle-of-nowhere America who keep the lights on for our country. They’re often drive-through states for many of these big tours. Who’s playing Ames, Iowa? Who’s playing Green Bay, Wisconsin? Unless it’s a big arena with the big old sponsor,” he told the outlet.
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“You’re seeing it now where these giant artists — I’m not going to say her name — aren’t really selling out their shows anymore, and they pay for these arenas to make it look like they did,” Ritter added. “The first 25% of the arena gets sold from people buying $300 tickets, and they don’t even know that the local promoter is getting hundreds of free tickets to fill the rest of the venue.”
The House Party Tour has taken off in a large part because younger concertgoers never got to experience intimate concerts. And since Gen Z is all about nostalgia, they were eager to latch onto something they’d heard about, but had never got to try firsthand.
“We did a show in LA that was the kind that you have to do when promoting new music. It left a sour taste in our mouths and in this giant gorilla of an industry we’re clawing our way back into, we decided to put on a show the next day,” Ritter told <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2025/05/21/all-american-rejects-singer-tyson-ritter-pop-up-shows-interview/83777418007/">USA Today</a>, adding that the band first played at the home of a University of Southern California student with just five hours notice.
He added, “We start playing and there were [40 ounce bottles of beer] hoisted in the air and people crowd surfing. I looked into some of their eyes and I saw a rite of passage moment was happening. That they’re going, ‘I saw pictures of my parents doing this, but I never got to.’”
Ritter said the band recaptured a feeling from long ago. “We felt cool,” he told Vulture.
“So after that night, we all put our heads together to see what would be possible. My wife’s getting ready to bring our second child into the world, and she’s due in a week and a half. I told my manager, ‘What if we do as many as we can in this week-and-a-half space? Let’s do it the same way we did when we started out. Let’s reach out to college radio stations and local businesses. Let’s ask for a $5 donation at the door.’ It was that simple.”
Since then, the Rejects have performed in a variety of unconventional venues, including a Minneapolis bowling alley and fans&#8217; backyards in “flyover states” like Iowa and Missouri. These pop-up shows emphasize spontaneity and a return to the communal spirit of live music.
Despite not making money hand over fist like other artists charging hundreds or even thousands of dollars per ticket, the band has been prioritizing connection with fans over profit. And they’re finding new fans in addition to the millennials who remember viral hits from the early aughts like “Swing Swing,” “Move Along,” and “Gives You Hell.”
In the case of getting <a href="https://people.com/all-american-rejects-backyard-gig-shut-down-by-cops-11741776">busted by the police</a> while performing at the University of Missouri, the patrol sergeant admitted to listening to The All-American Rejects in college and allowed the band to play “one more song” before the party had to disperse.
Their choice? The viral 2008 jam “Gives You Hell.&#8221; Obviously.
The House Party Tour coincides with the release of &#8220;Sandbox,&#8221; the band&#8217;s first new song in almost 14 years. They will be opening for the Jonas Brothers on an actual stage beginning on August 10, but for now, they’re gaining fans and publicity by proving they don’t think they’re too good for a classic middle America roller rink.
And instead of being embarrassed or feeling like it’s beneath them, the band is proud of the route they’ve chosen. “This is going to be a feather we fly in our cap, and we’re going to Yankee Doodle as far as we can go,” Ritter said. “I felt like I was watching an echo of a yesterday that got me into doing this.”

The All-American Rejects Perform Free Show After High Wind Warning Cancels Day One Of The 2022 When We Were Young Festival

This Pop-Rock Band Ditched Pyrotechnics For Middle America Porch Parties

rock music

Recording artist Billy Joel has canceled all his upcoming shows and shared a health update with fans.
The 76-year-old singer shared a lengthy statement on social media, which included news of his medical diagnosis of normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH).
Per the <a href="https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/what-is-dementia/types-of-dementia/normal-pressure-hydrocephalus#:~:text=Normal%20pressure%20hydrocephalus%20is%20a,spinal%20tap%20is%20often%20normal.">Alzheimer’s Association</a>, this condition occurs when cerebrospinal fluid builds up inside the skull and presses on the brain. This can “disrupt and damage nearby brain tissue, leading to difficulty walking, problems with thinking and reasoning, and loss of bladder control.”
The condition has been exacerbated by his recent tour schedule, and has led to issues with Joel’s hearing, vision, and balance.
The statement on Instagram said the “Piano Man” singer has been &#8220;advised to refrain from performing during this recovery period.&#8221;
It also said Joel is &#8220;thankful for the excellent care he is receiving and is fully committed to prioritizing his health. He is grateful for the support from fans during this time and looks forward to the day when he can once again take the stage.&#8221;
&#8220;I’m sincerely sorry to disappoint our audience, and thank you for understanding,&#8221; Joel said in a statement.
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This news comes after Joel took a fall onstage at the Mohegan Sun resort in Montville, Connecticut, in February and subsequently postponed the rest of his tour. Now those rescheduled dates are being canceled indefinitely.
<a href="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial&amp;utm_campaign=memorial&amp;utm_content=editorialmemorialday" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Memorial Day Sale – Get 40% Off New DailyWire+ Annual Memberships</a>
At the time, Joel said only that the concert tour changes were due to a “medical condition.”
Joel is an iconic American singer-songwriter and pianist known for hits like “Piano Man,” “Uptown Girl,” “Tell Her About It,” “The Longest Time,” and “New York State of Mind.” With over 160 million records sold, he&#8217;s one of the best-selling artists of all time, with a career that’s been going strong since the 1970s.

Billy Joel

Billy Joel Cancels All Upcoming Concerts Following Health Diagnosis, Fall Onstage

singer

Few artists loathe the music industry quite like Tom MacDonald.
The rebel rapper takes glee in taunting labels on his social media platforms. He recently posted a troll video in front of Sony Music headquarters, name-checking industry pariahs like R. Kelly and P. Diddy with a broad grin on his face.
And despite repeatedly crashing the Billboard music charts he’s refused to go corporate for a bigger promotional wallop.
MacDonald is solo to the core, with an assist from his girlfriend/video director Nova Rockafeller. No managers. No publicists. Just the music and his sizable social media flock.
The mind behind “Fake Woke,” “Snowflakes” and “American Flags” still felt influenced by mainstream superstars, from their branding efforts to songs that purport to dig deeper into their personal lives.
<div id="attachment_891745" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-891745" class="size-large wp-image-891745" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/MixCollage-14-Mar-2025-10-16-AM-4499-1024x576.jpg" alt="Screenshot: YouTube/Tom MacDonald &quot;Facts&quot; feat. Ben Shapiro" width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/MixCollage-14-Mar-2025-10-16-AM-4499-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/MixCollage-14-Mar-2025-10-16-AM-4499-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/MixCollage-14-Mar-2025-10-16-AM-4499-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/MixCollage-14-Mar-2025-10-16-AM-4499-1536x865.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/MixCollage-14-Mar-2025-10-16-AM-4499-2048x1153.jpg 2048w" sizes=" (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Screenshot: YouTube/Tom MacDonald &#8220;Facts&#8221; feat. Ben Shapiro</div>
“As an independent artist, we’re all watching what the biggest artists in the world are doing and what they sound like,” he says. “Even if you’re somebody like me who detests the major label system, you’re taking information in. You’re being indoctrinated … they must know what’s best.”
It took a while to shake free from that thinking, something he accomplished on his latest album.
“Proud to Be a Problem” finds the Canadian native opening up about his life in ways he never did before.
“I’ve never really been good with processing my emotions and explaining the way I’m feeling to other people… it’s the reason why I make music,” the California-based musician says.
<div id="attachment_915575" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-915575" class="size-large wp-image-915575" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/MixCollage-03-May-2025-11-58-AM-574-1024x576.jpg" alt="Screenshot: YouTube.com/Tom MacDonald." width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/MixCollage-03-May-2025-11-58-AM-574-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/MixCollage-03-May-2025-11-58-AM-574-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/MixCollage-03-May-2025-11-58-AM-574-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/MixCollage-03-May-2025-11-58-AM-574-1536x865.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/MixCollage-03-May-2025-11-58-AM-574-2048x1153.jpg 2048w" sizes=" (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Screenshot: YouTube.com/Tom MacDonald.</div>
Time and maturity have let him tap into something vital and deeply personal, witness tracks like “Hell &amp; Back.”
<blockquote>I&#8217;ve been called a loser since first day of 2nd grade 
I&#8217;ve been an alcoholic with one foot inside the grave 
And I&#8217;ve been brave enough to say that I&#8217;m afraid I&#8217;m not okay 
And I don&#8217;t know if I&#8217;ll survive another day</blockquote>
Other tracks, like “Man in the Sky,” merge MacDonald’s protest-singer DNA with heartfelt pleas for empathy. He’s an imperfect vessel in an imperfect world.
The musician’s flaws, like his signature tattoos, are visible to all. <a href="https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/goodbye-joe-god-bless-the-usa-top-digital-song-sales-chart-after-election-1235825769/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">So are his successes</a>.
His post-election song “Goodbye Joe” gave him his <a href="https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/goodbye-joe-god-bless-the-usa-top-digital-song-sales-chart-after-election-1235825769/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fourth number-one ranking</a> on Billboard’s Digital Song Sales chart, following “Fake Woke,” “Ghost” and “You Missed.”
His YouTube channel boasts 5 million subscribers and most videos eclipse the million-view mark in days, not weeks.
MacDonald, whose recent pairings include songs with Roseanne Barr (“Daddy’s Home”) and The Daily Wire’s Ben Shapiro (“Facts”), sounds a little different on the new album. He isn’t giving up on rap, but the newer material offers a rootsy feel, brimming with acoustic guitars.
<div id="attachment_915573" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-915573" class="size-large wp-image-915573" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/MixCollage-03-May-2025-11-57-AM-7387-1024x576.jpg" alt="Screenshot: YouTube.com/Tom MacDonald." width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/MixCollage-03-May-2025-11-57-AM-7387-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/MixCollage-03-May-2025-11-57-AM-7387-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/MixCollage-03-May-2025-11-57-AM-7387-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/MixCollage-03-May-2025-11-57-AM-7387-1536x865.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/MixCollage-03-May-2025-11-57-AM-7387-2048x1153.jpg 2048w" sizes=" (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Screenshot: YouTube.com/Tom MacDonald.</div>
That singing style hearkens back to his earliest days as a musician. He remembers riding in the car with his father as a boy when he came up with a jingle for Ford.
“[My Dad] was bewildered … where did that come from?” MacDonald recalls. 
He started writing music more often, but he felt he didn’t have the classic rock voice, a la Robert Plant or Joe Cocker, to execute the material. “I had to do something else. I was writing poetry, a primitive form of rap. That’s how the rap thing started,” he says.
“Problem” found him more confident in his singing, allowing him to expand his sound in the process.
“I know where my boundaries are and what I’m capable of singing on a song &#8230; if I don’t do it right now I won’t have a good enough excuse to give it a good shot [later],” he says.
Fans can pick up “Proud to Be a Problem” at MacDonald’s official web site, <a href="https://hangovergangofficial.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HangoverGangOfficial.com</a>. That’s part of his indie approach, lashing out at a streaming landscape that pays little to participating artists.
“I have such a big chip on my shoulder for the music industry,” he says, recalling a brush with a major label earlier in his career that ended in rejection. “I’ve done enough for these streaming platforms.”
“A big part of the reason I put the singles on streaming is we keep going to no. 1 on Billboard [charts] … it’s a giant f***ing middle finger to the music industry,” he says.
<div id="attachment_915581" style="width: 334px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-915581" class="wp-image-915581 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/MixCollage-03-May-2025-12-10-PM-5842-324x576.jpg" alt="Screenshot: Instagram/@TomMacDonaldOfficial" width="324" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/MixCollage-03-May-2025-12-10-PM-5842-324x576.jpg 324w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/MixCollage-03-May-2025-12-10-PM-5842-169x300.jpg 169w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/MixCollage-03-May-2025-12-10-PM-5842-768x1365.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/MixCollage-03-May-2025-12-10-PM-5842-864x1536.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/MixCollage-03-May-2025-12-10-PM-5842-1152x2048.jpg 1152w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/MixCollage-03-May-2025-12-10-PM-5842.jpg 1440w" sizes=" (max-width: 324px) 100vw, 324px" />Screenshot: Instagram/@TomMacDonaldOfficial</div>
That solo spirit extends beyond the music on “Problem.” He designed the merchandise around the released, mailed signed LP copies of it to fans personally and oversaw every part of the production.
“It hasn’t been touched by Hollywood. That’s the way I want it,” he says.
He shared his feelings about sending out signed copies of “Proud to Be a Problem” to fans on his <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DJIdKXgPXX0/?img_index=1">Instagram account</a>:
<blockquote>I gotta tell y’all &#8211; people didn’t care about me for most of my life. I was one of the forgotten people whose voice was drown out by the noise of the world. Every single day I’m shocked that you guys care about me enough to want my album and my signature. I’m shocked…but I’m thrilled. I felt like a “nobody” for so long that every day I wake up expecting to be forgotten again. Every day that y’all remember me, you prove me wrong. And you absolutely make my day. No one should ever feel like a nobody. But it happens.</blockquote>
That personal connection reflects being a music fan growing up in Canada. He fondly remembers lining up at the local record store and waiting for the newest albums to go on sale.
“When you got that album .. you felt like you might be one of the only people in the world who had it,” he says. “You could hold on to it, a physical product … That’s the way I want my music to be experienced.”
Record labels still reach out to MacDonald about potential deals, and he sometimes will listen to the conversation. Then, he’ll share his reactions on Instagram.
“I’ve been trolling these people for years and years,” he says. “I’d rather roll around on broken glass [than sign onto a label].”
<div id="attachment_915577" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-915577" class="size-large wp-image-915577" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/MixCollage-03-May-2025-11-58-AM-5929-1024x576.jpg" alt="Screenshot: YouTube.com/Tom MacDonald." width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/MixCollage-03-May-2025-11-58-AM-5929-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/MixCollage-03-May-2025-11-58-AM-5929-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/MixCollage-03-May-2025-11-58-AM-5929-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/MixCollage-03-May-2025-11-58-AM-5929-1536x865.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/MixCollage-03-May-2025-11-58-AM-5929-2048x1153.jpg 2048w" sizes=" (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Screenshot: YouTube.com/Tom MacDonald.</div>
MacDonald leveraged new media and a collective mistrust of the mainstream to power his music career. Somewhere a fledgling singer/songwriter might want to follow in his shoes, avoiding corporate overlords to make music on their terms.
MacDonald has some clichéd but honest advice for the next generation of indie musicians.
“Just be yourself … there’s always gonna be a better producer, a better rapper, a better singer. You’re the only person on earth who can do you better than anybody else,” he says. “The entire world is fake and bulls*** and disingenuous. The best way to cut through all that noise is to be honest and scream your truth at the top of your lungs … people gravitate towards the truth and what’s real.”
* * *
Christian Toto is an award-winning journalist, movie critic and editor of <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>. He previously served as associate editor with Breitbart News’ Big Hollywood. Follow him at <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Millions Of Views And Fiercely Independent. Inside The Mind Of Tom MacDonald.

Conservatives

Rapper

Tom MacDonald

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday that targeted ticket resellers and scalpers who profit from jacking up the prices.
Recording artist Kid Rock joined the president for the signing. The order directs the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice to team up with state attorneys general to enforce laws that prevent entertainers and fans from being overcharged and price gouged by resellers, per <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5224370-trump-executive-order-ticket-scalping-reselling/amp/">The Hill</a>.
The EO also highlights the Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act and promotes it being enforced by consumer protection authorities.
It also ensures price transparency at all stages of the ticket-purchasing process, including the secondary ticket market, as a better protection for concertgoers. The EO says it will take action to prevent &#8220;unfair, deceptive, and anti-competitive conduct&#8221; in the secondary ticketing market.
&#8220;Anyone who&#8217;s bought a concert ticket in the last decade, maybe 20 years, no matter what your politics are, knows it is a conundrum,&#8221; Kid Rock, who was decked out in red, white, and blue, told reporters. 
&#8220;If you buy a ticket for 100 bucks by the time you check it out, it&#8217;s 170. You don&#8217;t know what you can charge for it, but more importantly, these bots you know, they come in to get all the good tickets to your favorite shows you want to go to, and then they&#8217;re relisted immediately for sometimes a 4 or 500% markup.&#8221; 
Kid Rock explained that the artists &#8220;don&#8217;t see any of that money.&#8221;  
“It bothers him, it bothers a lot of other artists too,” Trump said of Kid Rock. 
Trump mentioned tackling high concert ticket prices while on the campaign trail last year.
“Scalpers and bots prevent fans from getting tickets at the prices artists set, and we thank President Trump for taking them head-on. We support any meaningful resale reforms — including more enforcement of the BOTS act, caps on resale prices, and more,” Live Nation Entertainment told The Daily Wire in a statement on Tuesday morning.
Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino echoed that sentiment in an X <a href="https://x.com/Michael_Rapino/status/1906842969078120667">post</a> thanking President Trump and Kid Rock for &#8220;taking ticket-scalping head on.&#8221;
&nbsp;

Kid Rock and Trump

Trump Signs Executive Order Targeting Ticket Scalpers And Resellers

President Trump Signs EO Targeting Ticket Scalpers And Resellers

Donald Trump

Executive Orders

Kid Rock

This year’s nominees for the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/music">Rock &amp; Roll Hall of Fame</a> were announced on Wednesday and included a mix of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/music-industry">genres</a>, from country to rock, pop, punk, and others. 
To become eligible, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/entertainment">performers</a> must have released their first commercial recording at least 25 years ago. About half of the nominees will be inducted based on who gets the most votes. Ballots are sent to more than 1,000 &#8220;rock experts&#8221; who evaluate the candidates and decide which names on the list deserve to be added.
&#8220;These remarkable nominees have each created their own musical style and attitude impacting generations of music lovers and contributing to the ever-evolving sounds and continued growth of rock &amp; roll,&#8221; said John Sykes, the Rock &amp; Roll Hall of Fame Foundation&#8217;s chairman, in a statement shared with <a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/02/12/nx-s1-5293515/rock-roll-hall-of-fame-2025-nominees">NPR</a>. 
Voting begins now and the finalists will be revealed in April, with a ceremony to follow in the fall. The full list of nominees is as follows: 
<ul>
<li>Bad Company</li>
<li>The Black Crowes</li>
<li>Mariah Carey</li>
<li>Chubby Checker</li>
<li>Joe Cocker</li>
<li>Billy Idol</li>
<li>Joy Division/New Order</li>
<li>Cyndi Lauper</li>
<li>Maná</li>
<li>Oasis</li>
<li>OutKast</li>
<li>Phish</li>
<li>Soundgarden</li>
<li>The White Stripes</li>
</ul>
BBC News noted that the British pop band Oasis was also nominated last year but ultimately didn’t get inducted. The band’s lead singer Liam Gallagher spoke harshly about the Hall of Fame at the time, telling potential voters, &#8220;Don’t waste your time&#8230; as much as it’s appreciated it’s all a load of bollox.&#8221;
&#8220;I don’t need some w**k award by some geriatric in a cowboy hat,&#8221; Gallagher <a href="https://www.musicradar.com/news/liam-gallagher-oasis-rock-hall-of-fame">added</a>.
Mariah Carey was also nominated and not inducted last year and is on the ballot once again. “My thoughts are: I didn’t get in,&#8221; she said at the time. &#8220;My lawyer got into the Rock &amp; Roll Hall of Fame before I did,” the pop star quipped, referring to entertainment lawyer Alan Grubman, who was inducted in 2022.
Last year’s inductees included Cher, Foreigner, Ozzy Osbourne, Dave Matthews Band, Mary J. Blige, Peter Frampton, Jimmy Buffett, Dionne Warwick, A Tribe Called Quest, and Kool and the Gang.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Nominees Announced: See The List

Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Nominees Announced: See The List

Rock and Roll

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