In 1978, after having sold millions of records and become one of the biggest international artists of the 1970s, Cat Stevens decided to step out of the rock star spotlight and walk away. That year, he was to release his final album under that name.

While Stevens’ legions of fans were saddened by the news, along with the musicians who had played with him on record and stage, the singer himself was exhilarated by the prospect of moving on. “It was like going back to my original nature,” he reflected at the time. “Back to wide-eyed childhood again.”

The appropriately-titled Back To Earth was his parting gift: an album that saw the London-born singer saying farewell to his fans, while obliquely explaining his decision to quit in songs such as ‘Last Love Song’ and ‘Just Another Night’.

“What’s going on behind the appearance of stardom or the stage itself can be a completely different world,” he says now, “and that’s what it was a lot of the time. I kept my sanity and I kept my eyes open.”

In 2019 Back To Earth is to be reissued in various formats on Cat-O-Log Records/BMG, including a deluxe boxset featuring the original album (remastered at Abbey Road), along with demos, unreleased tracks, and material from UNICEF’s 1979 Year Of The Child concert, the singer’s last live performance as Cat Stevens.
The release marks the first in a series of reissues and expanded editions that will cover Yusuf / Cat Stevens’ entire recording career, spanning a remarkable five decades.

Upon its original release, Back To Earth received rave reviews. “Cat has come up with the kind of quality album that originally made him a superstar,” declared the London Evening News. “Just one knockout song after another.” Billboard meanwhile applauded the album’s “tender, folksy ballads [and] up-tempo and spirited pop tunes”. Hot Press hailed it as “a lush and intricately woven tapestry of fine melodies…really a return to form.”

Cat Stevens had been thinking long and hard for some time about quitting his music career. Aside from general disillusionment with fame, the singer had experienced a spiritual epiphany after being caught in a rip current and nearly drowning when swimming in the Pacific Ocean three years earlier. Crying to the heavens, “If you save me, I’ll work for you,” he was rescued by a gentle wave which carried him back to the shore.

What he calls his “gradual awakening” and decision to become a Muslim in 1977, changing his name to Yusuf Islam, was sparked by his brother gifting the singer a copy of the Quran for his 27th birthday. “I had discovered a new way to view the universe,” he explained back then. “Like a kid who had travelled by spiritual rocket to an exciting new world.”

“There are many intriguing messages in the songs and lyrics of this album; ‘The Artist’ has no words, because I couldn’t find the word to praise the Creator of this incredible universe enough; ‘Daytime’ gives a sense of the innocence I’d rediscovered; finally, ‘Never’ is befittingly the last track and is justifiably full of hopeful feelings.”

Back To Earth was indeed a remarkable return to form, reuniting Stevens with Paul Samwell-Smith, the producer of his landmark, multi-platinum albums Tea For The Tillerman (1970) and Teaser And The Firecat (1971), as well as continuing his creative partnership with long-time guitarist Alun Davies.

Musically, the album was a blend of the acoustic balladeering and spiritually-questing style that had made the singer a worldwide star, along with more distant echoes of his years growing up as Steven Demetre Georgiou in London’s West End. Tracks such as ‘New York Times’ and ‘Randy’ recalled the influence upon him of the UK capital’s theatre land, and – since parts of the album had been recorded in New York City – Broadway.

“There was this other side of me which was the sort of musical composer,” he remembers.  “I loved musicals and I was surrounded by them where I lived.  So, I had Bernstein in my blood.”

Long overdue for re-evaluation, Back To Earth is a brilliant and fascinating album capturing Yusuf/Cat Stevens at a defining point in his life.

“Now,” as he said at the time of his departure from the music world, “I’ve come down from the stars.”

BACK TO EARTH: SUPER DELUXE EDITION

CD ONE: Back To Earth
The original 1978 album remastered from original analogue tapes to stunning effect at Abbey Road Studios

1.     Just Another Night
2.     Daytime
3.     Bad Brakes
4.     Randy
5.     The Artist
6.     Last Love Song
7.     Nascimento
8.     Father
9.     New York Times
10.  Never

CD TWO: Return To Earth: The Original 2001 Stereo Master.
1.     Just Another Night
2.     Daytime
3.     Bad Brakes
4.     Randy
5.     The Artist
6.     Last Love Song
7.     Nascimento
8.     Father
9.     New York Times
10.  Never

CD THREE: Distant Planets: Unearthed Gems.
Back To Earth live tracks, rare demos and two beautiful, completely unheard recordings.
1.     Toy Heart (Previously Unreleased)
2.     Butterfly (Previously Unreleased)
3.     Just Another Night (Demo) Previously Unreleased
4.     Last Love Song (Demo) Previously Unreleased
5.     Bad Brakes (Instrumental) Previously Unreleased
6.     New York Times (New Mix) Previously Unreleased
7.     Nascimento (Instrumental) Previously Unreleased
8.     Daytime (Live 2017)
9.     Just Another Night (Live 2016)
10.  Last Love Song (Live 2014)
11.  Never (Live 2013)
12.  Bad Brakes (Live 2011)

CD FOUR: Alpha Omega (A Musical Revelation)
Completion of the circle.  Yusuf helps his brother David realise his own musical ambition by producing the 1978 album Alpha Omega, featuring the much loved ‘Child For A Day’

1.     Universe
2.     I Who Am I
3.     Paradise
4.     Inventions
5.     I See That Face
6.     Child For A Day
7.     Sing, Love Is Everywhere
8.     Alpha Omega
9.     Music Is The 7th Wonder
10.  Dreamer
11.  World
12.  Listen To Me
13.  I Believe

CD FIVE: UNICEF Year Of The Child Concert at Wembley Arena 1979.
The last love song.  Yusuf performs, what he believes will be his final farewell at UNICEF’s 1979 Year Of The Child charity concert at London’s Wembley Arena.

1.     The Wind with introduction from Paul Gambaccini
2.     On The Road To Find Out
3.     Just Another Night
4.     Daytime/Where Do The Children Play?
5.     Father & Son
6.     Morning Has Broken (With The Belmont Junior School Choir)
7.     Peace Train
8.     Child For A Day (With David Essex And Richard Thompson)

Blu-ray ONE: UNICEF Year Of The Child Concert at Wembley Arena 1979 footage + High Res Original Album remastered

LP ONE: Original Album Remastered

LP TWO:  UNICEF Year Of The Child Concert at Wembley Arena 1979

+ 50-page hardcover book featuring all new interviews and liner notes by Tom Doyle with contribution from Paul Gambaccini
+ replica original press pack, photos, fanzine, posters and more

BACK TO EARTH: DELUXE EDITION

CD ONE: Back To Earth
The original 1978 album remastered from original analogue tapes to stunning effect at Abbey Road Studios
1.     Just Another Night
2.     Daytime
3.     Bad Brakes
4.     Randy
5.     The Artist
6.     Last Love Song
7.     Nascimento
8.     Father
9.     New York Times
10.  Never

CD TWO: Return To Earth: The Original 2001 Stereo Master.
1.     Just Another Night
2.     Daytime
3.     Bad Brakes
4.     Randy
5.     The Artist
6.     Last Love Song
7.     Nascimento
8.     Father
9.     New York Times
10.  Never
+ Plus four previously unreleased demos, live and unheard recordings

And page booklet with new liner notes by Tom Doyle, interviews and contributions from Paul Gambaccini

Standard CD and LP formats include original album remastered

Pre-order all formats including the super deluxe box set and 2 CD deluxe edition and other exclusive items here: https://yusufcatstevens.pmstores.co

Pictures here: https://we.tl/t-hDEoljxVwd

Rising UK stars Ward Thomas (24 year old twin sisters Catherine and Lizzy), begin 2019 by setting themselves and their fans the New Year’s Resolution challenge of taking time away from social media every Sunday.

The girls who have been outspoken on the subject of mental health and social media, which is a topic they also tackled on their upcoming album ‘Restless Minds’ (Out Feb) set the task to remove themselves from the addiction of scrolling to help with their peace of mind and creative process, whilst encouraging others to do the same.

“After experiencing our own levels of anxiety through our constant use of social media and the addiction to scrolling, we drew on these feelings in some of our new songs and consequently feel that it is important to practice what we preach”. Catherine said on the idea behind #NoScrollSunday, “Sometimes we have felt time just slips by as we are mindlessly scrolling, when instead we could have picked up our guitar, we could have gone for a walk, we could have sat in that moment and come up with a song idea”.

Lyrically the twins have tackled issues close to their hearts on ‘Restless Minds’, including pertinent observations on social media, the women’s movement, what ‘the truth’ means in 2018 and mental health. The girls address fakeness on their current single ‘No Filter’, which is a titular nod to one of Instagram’s most popular, often misused, hashtags. “We couldn’t help but address social media and the subconscious competition it creates,” says Lizzy. “There’s a fake reality that everyone our age is falling for right now. Scroll down, see my page, look at my perfect life!”

Restless Minds is the follow up to their 2016 No.1 charting major label debut ‘Cartwheels’ and firmly establishes Ward Thomas as leading exponents of new wave country tinged pop. ‘Restless Minds’ is available to pre-order now.

Ward Thomas play the following UK dates in 2019 with support coming from fellow Brits The Wandering Hearts.  For more info visit: wardthomasmusic.com/live/

February 2019
Sun 24th                           BEXHILL, De La Warr Pavilion
Mon 25th                           YORK, Barbican
Tues 26th                          GUILDFORD, G-Live
Wed 28th                           BRISTOL, O2 Academy
March 2019
Fri 1st                                CAMBRIDGE, Junction
Sat 2nd                               NORWICH, Open
Mon 4th                              CARDIFF, St David’s
Tues 5th                              LEICESTER, De Montfort Hall
Wed 6th                              MANCHESTER, Albert Hall
April 2019
Mon 1st                               BIRMINGHAM Institute
Tues 2nd                              SOUTHAMPTON, O2 Guildhall
Wed 3rd                               LONDON, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire
Fri 5th                                  GLASGOW, SWG3
Sat 6th                                 GATESHEAD, Sage

www.wardthomasmusic.com

Grammy-nominated, global superstar Avril Lavigne has announced that her highly anticipated sixth studio album, ‘Head Above Water’ will be released on February 15 via BMG. Alongside the announce, Avril has unveiled the album’s cover art, title and track listing and another sneak preview in the form of “Tell Me It’s Over” with the accompanying music video bring premiered exclusively on YouTube here.

Of the album Lavigne states, “I feel like I’ve really opened up on this record more than I ever have before. Each song tells a story that will hopefully inspire others to believe in themselves and stand up for what they know is right and what they truly deserve!”

“’Tell Me It’s Over’ is an anthem about being strong, finally putting your foot down and closing the door on a relationship that you know is wrong after time and time again of falling for their games.” says Lavigne of the new track. “If someone doesn’t treat you the way you deserve to be treated, don’t put up with it. It’s understandably so hard because in the past every time you saw them, they sucked you in and you fell right back into their web, but not anymore starting now!”

“The vocals and the lyrics are very vulnerable which is reflective of the feelings I had in relationships like these. I wanted to write something classic and have been inspired by some of the timeless queens I listen to everyday at home, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Aretha Franklin and Etta James. They represent women who stand up for women and aren’t going to put up with a man’s bullshit anymore!”

“Tell Me It’s Over” is the follow up to the singer’s critically acclaimed first single, “Head Above Water,” which has earned over 125 million global streams and marked her first new music in 5 years. Vogue Magazine praised the track “a fierce piano ballad that documents a culminating moment in Lavigne’s years-long struggle with Lyme disease,” and Rolling Stone proclaimed the song a “power ballad” with “Lavigne belting over a steady-building mix of piano, strings, synths and thunderous drums.”

HEAD ABOVE WATER TRACK LISTING:
1.    Head Above Water
2.    Birdie
3.    I Fell In Love With The Devil
4.    Tell Me It’s Over
5.    Dumb Blonde
6.    It Was In Me
7.    Souvenir
8.    Crush
9.    Goddess
10. Bigger Wow
11. Love Me Insane
12. Warrior

WATCH “TELL ME IT’S OVER” HERE: https://avrillavigne.lnk.to/TellMeItsOverVideoPR

PRE-ORDER “HEAD ABOVE WATER” HERE: https://avrillavigne.lnk.to/HeadAboveWaterAlbumPR

With his UK tour selling out fast, Jack Savoretti releases his stirring new single ‘Candlelight’ which impacts February 1st on BMG Records. The single is taken from his stunning new album ‘Singing to Strangers’, out March 15th. The album is the follow up to his two gold discs ‘Written in Scars’ (2014) and ‘Sleep No More’ (2016).

Produced by Cam Blackwood (George Ezra) and recorded in Rome at Ennio Morricone’s studio this summer, the 12 track album features Jack’s acclaimed live band: guitarists Pedro Vito and Sam Lewis; bassist Sam Davies, drummer Jesper Lind, Davide Rossi (Coldplay, Goldfrapp) on strings and musical director Nikolai Torp on keys.

‘Candlelight’, co-written with Joel Potts (Athlete, Ezra), is an intoxicating rhapsody of strings, choral harmonies, sinuous bass and guitar, with Savoretti’s woody, heartfelt rasp perfectly woven in between. “The studio is in the basement of this huge church and the atmosphere in there was essential when recording ‘Candlelight’” says Jack “that track became the calling card of the album.”

Having recently appeared alongside Kylie Minogue on both Jonathan Ross and Michael Mcintyre performing their track ‘Music’s Too Sad Without You’,
Jack will play the following UK dates next summer:

May 2019
Thurs 23rd            O2 Academy Glasgow, UK
Sat 25th               The Limelight, Belfast, UK
Sun 26th               Olympia Theatre, Dublin, Ireland
Wed 29th            O2 Apollo, Manchester, UK
Friday 31st           The SSE Arena, Wembley, London, UK

Jun 2019
Sat 15th                 Westonbirt Arboretum, NR Tetbury, Glos

www.jacksavoretti.com

Rising UK stars Ward Thomas (24 year old twin sisters Catherine and Lizzy), release their jubilant new single ‘No Filter’ (available on all platforms from today), taken from their eagerly anticipated forthcoming album ‘Restless Minds’ out February 1st on WTW Music/Sony Music. The girls will also tour the UK in the new year.

Ward Thomas play the following UK dates with tickets on sale at 9am Friday 12th October with a special fan pre-sale starting at 9am on Wednesday 10th October. For more info visit www.wardthomasmusic.com.

February 2019
Sun 24th      BEXHILL, De La Warr Pavilion
Mon 25th    YORK, Barbican
Tues 26th    GUILDFORD, G-Live
Wed 28th     BRISTOL, O2 Academy
March 2019
Fri 1st         CAMBRIDGE, Junction
Sat 2nd        NORWICH, Open
Mon 4th      CARDIFF, St David’s
Tues 5th     LEICESTER, De Montfort Hall
Wed 6th      MANCHESTER, Albert Hall
April 2019
Mon 1st     BIRMINGHAM Institute
Tues 2nd    SOUTHAMPTON, O2 Guildhall
Wed 3rd    LONDON, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire
Fri 5th       GLASGOW, SWG3
Sat 6th      GATESHEAD, Sage

Lyrically the twins have tackled issues close to their hearts on ‘Restless Minds’, including pertinent observations on social media, the women’s movement, what ‘the truth’ means in 2018 and mental health. “We couldn’t help but address social media and the subconscious competition it creates,” says Lizzy. “There’s a fake reality that everyone our age is falling for right now. Scroll down, see my page, look at my perfect life!

Catherine and Lizzy will also feature in the forthcoming BBC Radio 1 documentary “Beyond Nashville”, presented by Scott Mills, exploring Country Music’s extraordinary success in the UK charts this year. The doc explores how the genre has changed and grown on both sides of the pond. Along the way Scott speaks to some of the biggest artists on today’s scene including Ward Thomas. “Beyond Nashville” and will be out on BBC Radio1’s iPlayer channel on 19th October and also on BBC red button.

Restless Minds is the follow up to their 2016 No.1 charting major label debut ‘Cartwheels’ and firmly establishes Ward Thomas as leading exponents of new wave country tinged pop. ‘Restless Minds’ is available to pre-order now.

www.wardthomasmusic.com

Rising stars Ward Thomas, twin sisters Catherine and Lizzy, release their new single ‘No Filter’ on Friday 7th December, one of the standout tracks on their wonderful forthcoming album ‘Restless Minds’ (on WTW Music/Sony Music) released on 1st February 2019. ‘No Filter’ is available on all platforms from today.

Written with frequent collaborators, Jessica Sharman and Rebekah Powell, ‘No Filter’ is a classic modern day anthem. “It’s all about being our true selves, and standing up for what we believe in. Instead of being shackled by the pressures to conform, the song is about having the courage to break free of them,” Catherine says.

Driven by dreamy piano, percussion and electronics before exploding into a huge ‘call to arms’ chorus, ‘No Filter’ was originally inspired by an awkward photo shoot. “We were lying on the floor, with people moving our arms and hair, touching up our make-up and tucking in our clothes to make us look slimmer,” says Lizzy, “Then they all stepped away and told us to look natural!”

“The song is about fake reality – the filter/selfie thing, but it could also be about women at work or even in a relationship. We know as female artists that if we put our foot down at work, we’re sometimes seen as being difficult. If a male artist does the same, it’s because he knows his own mind,” Lizzy adds.

Watch the No Filter lyric video here.

In keeping with their strong opinions, Ward Thomas recently launched their new YouTube series ‘Restless Voices’, a filmed panel discussion with other artists, personalities, activists, and influencers. Episodes so far include discussions about social media and mental health with British songwriters Ed Drewett and Rachel Furner and mindfulness and the power of positive thinking with Frances Quinn, winner of 2013’s Great British Bake Off. Watch ‘Restless Voices’ here.

Ward Thomas have also just announced that UK Country/Americana act Wandering Hearts will join them as support on their recently announced 2019 UK Tour which kicks off on 24th February.

www.wardthomasmusic.com

Ryan Bingham has announced the release of his highly anticipated sixth studio album. AMERICAN LOVE SONG, out Feb 15th via Axster Bingham Records; pre-orders are available now. Co-produced with renowned guitarist/artist Charlie Sexton (Bob Dylan), the LP was recorded at Arlyn Studios and Public Hi-Fi in Austin, TX with additional recording at Matter Music in Los Angeles.

Ryan Bingham’s first new LP in four years, AMERICAN LOVE SONG, finds one of American Music’s most distinct voices, honing in on both the personal and the cultural on songs such as the rocking “Jingle and Go” and the stripped down, acoustic “Wolves,” which deals with the painful memories of his youth. But it’s also a sympathetic response to the high school students turned gun-control activists, in the wake of the school shooting in Parkland, Florida, contending with men and women questioning their integrity on social media. Throughout the album, Bingham combines autobiographical reflection with a bittersweet celebration of the collective American spirit in the face of enduring difficulties.

Ryan – who is currently on a completely sold out solo acoustic tour in the US – will tour Europe in 2019, first solo acoustic, including a date at the Union Chapel April 26th   and later with his full band to play a string of festivals in June.

Bingham never really set out to be a musician. He grew up in New Mexico and Texas, riding bulls on the local rodeo circuit.  His mother bought him a guitar when he was 16 years old, and a neighbor taught him a mariachi tune. When he grew tired of playing the only song he knew, Bingham began penning his own music, discovering the writing process to be a therapeutic coping mechanism for dealing with the tumultuousness of his upbringing. His first performances were informal affairs in the backseats of cars with friends on the way to rodeos, where he was competing professionally on the weekends. Before he knew it, he had more gigs playing guitar than riding bulls.

After making his recording debut on Lost Highway Records (UMG) and touring hard across the US on his first couple of albums, Bingham was actually in the back of a van in North Dakota when he wrote ‘The Weary Kind,’ a song that became the centerpiece of the 2010 film ‘Crazy Heart’ starring Jeff Bridges. It earned him an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, and a Grammy, and skyrocketed him into the spotlight. Amidst the incredible success, though, he was also dealing with the tragic deaths of his mother, an alcoholic, and his father, who took his own life.

The losses put Bingham in a dark tunnel, and it took a while to crawl his way out. With the help of his wife, Anna Axster, and some inner soul-searching, Bingham has come back into the light. “American Love Song,” the third studio album from the Axster-Bingham indie label (after 2012’s “Tomorrowland” and 2015’s “Fear and Saturday Night”), takes all his influences – both musical and experiential – and unites them in Ryan Bingham’s best, most fully realized record to date.

AMERICAN LOVE SONG full tracklisting:

1.Jingle and Go
2. Nothin’ Holds Me Down
3. Pontiac
4. Lover Girl
5. Beautiful and Kind
6. Situation Station
7. Got Damn Blues
8. Time for My Mind
9. What Would I’ve Become
10. Wolves
11. Blue
12. Hot House
13. Stones
14. America
15. Blues Lady

Ryan Bingham will play a solo acoustic tour in Europe this spring (dates below) and will return in the summer with his full band to play Black Deer Festival.  More dates to follow.

April
Fri 26th       London, Union Chapel
Sun 28th    Glasgow, Oran Mor
Mon 29th    Berlin, Heimathafen Neukoelln
May
Wed 1st      Cologne, Gloria
Thu 2nd      Munich, Freiheit
Fri 3rd         Zurich, Plaza
Sat 4th        Chiari (Italy), Auditorium Toscanini
Mon 6th       Brussels, AB Club
Tue 7th        Amsterdam – De Duif

RYANBINGHAM.COM

The 14 tracks effort boast plenty of Killers-esque New Wave rockers, but also show Keuning indulging a long simmering fascination with electronic sounds, keyboards and drums.’- Rolling Stone Magazine

Keuning, founding member and guitarist from The Killers has released his new single ‘Boat Accident’, taken from Keuning’s debut album Prismism (released January 25th on Thirty Tigers).
Listen to ‘Boat Accident’ HERE

‘Boat Accident’ is a combination of infectious guitars and ethereal synths creating a contagious sound which resonates with the listener long after the song has come to a close. The track follows his debut solo song, ‘Restless Legs’, and title track, ‘Prismism’.

Prismism is the result, a collection of 14 tracks – with all the instruments, save some drum parts, played by Keuning himself – which, like the title says, sees things from all sides, focusing on details without missing the big picture. The album examines our basic relationships and interactions, with family, friends and co-workers, how one can feel trapped by their surroundings, as well as those that rely on them, emotionally and/or professionally. The album is inspired by the very thing that brought him here in the first place – the music.

“The lyrics speak for themselves,” Dave says of the first single. “’Got restless legs/And a restless heart,’ that’s just what came pouring out of me. It was all I could think of… No other subjects came to mind. It was all I had. The beauty of the words is they’re open-ended enough that you can relate them to your own situation.”

Following years of touring the UK with one of the world’s best live bands The Killers, Keuning plays his debut solo UK shows next month showcasing his brand new material, with a date at Manchester’s Night & Day on 9th December and London’s Dingwalls on 10th December. Tickets on sale now

Dave Keuning plays the following UK dates:

December
Sun 9th    Manchester, Night and Day
Mon 10th  London, Dingwalls

More than 17 years have passed since Iowa transplant Dave Keuning placed an ad in the local Las Vegas Weekly looking to form a band, mentioning Oasis as one of his faves.  An eager 20-year-old named Brandon Flowers, who shared Keuning’s love of groups like New Order and the Cure, answered it, only to have Dave promptly hand him a TASCAM-recorded four-track demo of “Mr. Brightside.” The result was the formation of The Killers, who have released five consecutive chart-topping albums and toured the world thanks to a songwriting partnership which molded such hits as “Somebody Told Me,” “When You Were Young,” “Read My Mind,” “A Dustland Fairy Tale,” “The World We Live In” and “Spaceman,” among others.

“Brandon was definitely the best one to respond,” laughs Keuning, who, while still officially a member of The Killers, hasn’t been a part of the touring band since performing with them at Lollapalooza in Chicago last August, choosing not to follow the group for the Wonderful, Wonderful World Tour which ended this past September. “That decision was one of the hardest I’ve had to make in my whole life,” admits Dave. “On the other hand, I knew I just couldn’t do that amount of touring, nor ask them to cut down on the dates.”

https://keuningmusic.com/

On the heels of releasing several collaborative hit tracks this year, today, five-time Grammy Award-winning artist and producer Mark Ronson returns with a brand new single of his own “Nothing Breaks Like A Heart” featuring Miley Cyrus.  CLICK HERE to listen/watch the accompanying video available now everywhere.

“Nothing Breaks Like A Heart” was co-written by Ronson with RCA label mate Miley Cyrus, along with Ilsey Juber, Thomas Brenneck, The Picard Brothers, and Conor Rayne Syzmanski. The track was produced by Ronson and co-produced by the Picard Brothers, with additional production by Jamie XX and recorded at Rick Rubin’s Shangri La Studios.

“Nothing Breaks Like A Heart” is the first single from Mark Ronson’s forthcoming studio album coming next year.

The high-energy video was filmed in Kiev, Ukraine and directed by WAFLA (We Are From LA) and executive-produced by Romain Gravas (M.I.A, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Jamie XX), a two-time MTV Video Music Awards recipient. You can view it here!

“Nothing Breaks Like A Heart” is Ronson’s first pop single as a recording artist since “Uptown Funk” which became a cultural and musical phenomenon. “Uptown Funk” won two Grammy Awards in 2015 including “Record of the Year.” Its video has been streamed over 3 billion times, and the single held the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart for 14 consecutive weeks, and is the highest-ranking song of this century and the 4th highest track of all time on the Billboard Hot 100. “Uptown Funk” is also the 10th song in music history to achieve diamond sales status according to the RIAA.

In this year alone, Mark Ronson has worked on a handful of hit releases. He co-wrote the #1 song “Shallow” performed by frequent collaborator Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, featured in Cooper’s directorial debut A Star Is Born. Ronson, as a member of supergroup Silk City with Diplo, released “Electricity” with Dua Lipa, a Top 5 single on the UK charts and nearing Gold sales status in the U.S.

In addition, Ronson is the Grammy-winning, go-to producer who has worked with iconic artists such as Amy Winehouse, Paul McCartney, Lady Gaga, Adele, Lorde, and so many more.

Miley Cyrus is one of the most influential artists in pop culture. Her sixth album, Younger Now, which was released in 2017, exceeded 1.7 billion streams worldwide. She has five #1 albums including her 2013 GRAMMY-nominated album Bangerz, which went Platinum in the U.S., five sold out world tours and 36 million digital tracks sold in the US alone.   She also recently served as a coach on NBC’s hit show, The Voice.

In addition to her success in music and television, Cyrus founded the non-profit organization The Happy Hippie Foundation to rally young people to fight injustice. Since launching, the foundation has provided direct support to thousands of homeless and LGBTQ youth across the country.

Cyrus is currently working on new music.

Mark Ronson and Miley Cyrus will be appearing on the graham Norton Show December 7th and on Saturday Night Live on December 15th.

Fox has given a script commitment to Sunny D, a single-camera comedy inspired by Dane Baptiste’s BBC series of the same name. It hails from Saladin K. Patterson (The Last O.G.), In Living Color creator Keenen Ivory Wayans, Eric and Kim Tannenbaum’s The Tannenbaum Company (Two and a Half Men) and Lionsgate TV, where The Tannenbaum Co. is under a deal.

Written by Patterson and Wayans, with Wayans set to direct, the adaptation centers on Dane, a 30-year-old man who is creative, erudite and in touch with his feelings. Unfortunately, to his Caribbean-born, old-school dad, that translates to “You need a real job,” “I should’ve sent you to public school,” and “Are you crying again?” As Dane lives at home with his demanding father, doting mother and twin sister who has been trying to get rid of him since they shared the same womb, he will try to figure out what manhood means to a black millennial not quite ready to face the real world on his own.

Patterson and Wayans executive produce with Kim and Eric Tannenbaum via The Tannenbaum Co., Scott Schwartz via his new management/production company Schwartz Management and Dane Baptiste will executive produce. Jason Wang is co-executive producer. Fox co-produces with Lionsgate TV and The Tannenbaum Co.

BBC Studios in Los Angeles will also be involved in the project, whose sale to Fox comes on the heels of Lionsgate and BBC launching a joint venture for scripted programming. Exec Producers for BBC Studios are Emma Strain, Angie Stephenson, Matt Loze.

Dane Baptiste’s Sunny D, created by and starring the critically acclaimed comedian, aired for one season in 2016 on BBC Three.

Patterson most recently has served as executive producer/showrunner on TBS’ The Last O.G. He previously was a co-executive producer on hit The Big Bang Theory. His series credits also include Two and a Half Men, Psych, The Bernie Mac Showand Frasier.

Wayans created, wrote and starred in the influential Emmy-winning Fox sketch comedy series In Living Color, which broke racial barriers with scathing social humor while introducing other household names including Damon Wayans, Jamie Foxx, Jim Carrey, and Jennifer Lopez. He also was behind the 2011 revival. On the film side, Wayans directed the successful Scary Movie franchise.

Baptiste is repped worldwide by David Geli and Pollyanna McGirr of UTC Artist Management with George Davis in the U.S. David Geli and Pollyanna McGirr will also co produce.

http://danebaptiste.co.uk/

Grammy-nominated, worldwide multi-platinum selling singer-songwriter and producer Mike Posner (“I Took a Pill in Ibiza,” “Cooler Than Me”), follows up the recent show-stopping performance of his current single “Song About You” on CBS’s The Late Late Show with James Corden, with the news that A REAL GOOD KID, his long-awaited third album will be released on January 18, 2019, via Island Records.  Pre-order is available now here and includes newly revealed track “Stuck In The Middle.”

“Song About You,” the first track released off the upcoming album, strikes a recognizable chord inside everyone who’s had their own unique thermonuclear meltdown of the heart: “I think I miss something I never had,” Mike sings.   The track has already amassed over 20 million streams and hit the charts on three radio formats (Top 40, Alternative, Hot AC).

The creation and completion of A REAL GOOD KID encompassed an extraordinary two year-plus period for Mike as he moved back into the house outside Detroit where he grew up, in order to stay with his terminally ill father during his final months.  The album, which tells his story, deals heavily with love, loss and eventually acceptance.

A number of tracks on the album – “Stuck In the Middle,” “How It’s Supposed To Be,” “Move On,” “One More Song” – find Mike coming to terms with the circumstances that real life sent his way.  Mike emerges as a musician and storyteller, finding in his melodies and lyrics that beginnings always do hide themselves in ends.

Since 2009, multi-platinum pop singer and songwriter Mike Posner has quietly become one of the world’s most inescapable and recognizable voices.  In 2010, his debut, ‘31 Minutes to Takeoff’, yielded the double-platinum “Cooler Than Me” and platinum-certified “Please Don’t Go” and “Bow Chicka Wow Wow.”

In between tours with artists such as Justin Bieber, Mike became one of the industry’s most sought after hitmakers.  He’s the man behind a string of smashes including Maroon 5’s six-times platinum “Sugar,” Justin Bieber’s triple-platinum “Boyfriend,” and Labrinth ft. Emeli Sandé ‘s “Beneath Your Beautiful,” in addition to songs for everybody from Pharrell, Wiz Khalifa, and Big Sean to T.I., Snoop Dogg, and Avicii.

In 2016, Mike’s second full-length album, ‘At Night, Alone’, included the ubiquitous RIAA 4x-platinum smash “I Took A Pill In Ibiza”—which has amassed 3 billion worldwide streams, went Top 10 in 85 countries, held #1 on Top 40 for two weeks straight, made history as “one of Spotify’s Top 10 Most Streamed Songs of All Time,” and earned Mike a 2017 Grammy® nomination for “Song of The Year.”

Along the way, Mike performed on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Conan, Ellen, Late Night with Seth Meyers, Live with Kelly, and Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve. Industry pundit Bob Lefsetz described his Grammy Museum show as “the most meaningful gig in memory.” Mike has also received comprehensive features from CBS This Morning, NPR, Billboard, Los Angeles Times, New York Times, and many more.

‘Stuck In The Middle’ Full Tracklisting:
January 11th, 2017
Wide Open
Song About You
Move On
Drip
Staring at the Fire
Perfect
Amen
Stuck in the Middle
One More Song
How It’s Supposed To Be

http://mikeposner.com/

Today Metallica, the All Within My Hands Foundation and its contributors commemorate Giving Tuesday with the launching of the pre-order for the limited edition vinyl release of Helping Hands…Live & Acoustic at The Masonic. The double album, mixed by Greg Fidelman and newly mastered for vinyl by Reuben Cohen at Bernie Grundman Mastering, documents the inaugural Helping Hands Benefit Concert held in San Francisco on November 3rd.

Helping Hands…Live & Acoustic at The Masonic features rare acoustic renditions of hits and deep cuts spanning the Metallica catalogue (as well as covers of Deep Purple, Nazareth, Bob Seger and Blue Oyster Cult classics), captured on 140g colored vinyl with proceeds donated to the band’s All Within My Hands Foundation. Helping Hands…Live & Acoustic at The Masonic continues AWMH’s mission to fight hunger and to assist in creating sustainable communities through workforce education.

The album will be available February 1, 2019 at independent and digital retail around the world, all streaming services that feature Metallica’s music, and can be pre-ordered in the Metallica Store  and in Europe.  All copies will include a download card.

In addition to the vinyl pre-order, Metallica’s Giving Tuesday offerings will include a limited-edition etched glass featuring the iconic Pushead artwork for “One,” with all net proceeds donated to AWMH.

The first ever All Within My Hands Helping Hands Concert and Auction raised more than $1.3 million. Those resources will fund AWMH’s efforts with partners at Feeding America and the American Association of Community Colleges.

The Metallica family and the All Within My Hands Foundation board members are committed to running an organization of the highest integrity where expenses are kept to a minimum and are paid for entirely by the band, the board, and friends who have worked with the band over many years. As such, 100% of all donations from fans and third parties go to the organizations AWMH supports.

For more info and/or to make a donation, visit allwithinmyhands.org.

The track listing for Helping Hands…Live & Acoustic at The Masonic is below.

Disc One / Side A
1. Disposable Heroes
2. When A Blind Man Cries
3. The Unforgiven

Disc One / Side B
1. Please Don’t Judas Me
2. Turn the Page

Disc Two / Side C
1. Bleeding Me
2. Veteran of the Psychic Wars
3. Nothing Else Matters

Disc Two / Side D
1. All Within My Hands
2. Enter Sandman
3. The Four Horsemen
4. Hardwired

https://www.metallica.com