World News
Africe To The World: Akon’s brother, “Bu” Thiam named executive vice president at Columbia Records

Abou “Bu” Thiam has been appointed executive vice president at Columbia Records. Reporting into chairman and CEO Ron Perry, Bu’s position will straddle A&R and strategic initiatives across all genres for the label that’s home to Lil Nas X, Harry Styles, Adele, the Kid Laroi and many others.
Thiam has been working closely with Perry and Columbia via a joint venture, Buvision, where he signed the artists KayCyy and Rican. “We all know breaking a new artist is very difficult, and to see the Columbia team be so committed in the early stages of KayCyy’s career — from marketing, strategic branding, his EP rollout etc. — was very impressive,” says Thiam. “Columbia’s culture is breaking New artists — like Fivio, Lil Nas X, Polo G, the Kid Laroi — and Ron is a true music man at heart, you don’t see that type of artist development anymore.”
Thiam is also known for managing Kanye West, with whom he will continue to work — “Always, that’s my brother,” says Thiam. His real-life brother is the singer Akon. When Akon was negotiating his first label deal, he insisted his younger sibling come on board as his A&R. As Akon became a multiplatinum R&B star, Thiam began branching out, playing a role in the early careers of Lady Gaga, Jeremih and T-Pain.
At 28, he was hired as vice president of A&R at Def Jam — the youngest person ever to hold that position — and from there he was introduced to West, when the label’s then CEO, Antonio “L.A.” Reid, brought him along to West’s Hawaii studio as he was recording “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.”
“It was a great experience; I was able to learn from one of the greatest music minds, L.A. Reid,” says Thiam, whose relationship with West continues through the Grammy Award-winning “DONDA” album. “L.A. threw me in the fire early on in my career by allowing me to A&R breakout albums such as Rihanna’s ‘Loud/Talk That Talk’ and Jay and Ye’s ‘Watch The Throne’ album. I oversaw multi-million-dollar recording budgets, marketing campaigns, and liaised with label personnel, producers and songwriters alike, to help ensure their success while mentoring a young cast of aspiring executives in the process.”
“I didn’t see myself inside a major label again,” Thiam continues. “But after working so closely with Ron and the Columbia team over the last few months, it was an opportunity I wanted to take on. Ron is one of the best leaders in the industry, we share a similar perspective on music and the business. … Columbia is forward-thinking and believes in the future of music. I am excited to join a winning and dedicated team to expand the company’s vision and introduce the world to tomorrow’s stars. I am looking forward to making an impactful contribution for years to come and I thank [Sony Music Group chairman] Rob Stringer and Ron Perry for giving my vision a home, at Columbia.”
Adds Perry: “Bu’s incredible musical instincts distinguish him as a great executive. His experience and success with some of the greatest artists of recent times make him a truly valuable addition to the Columbia team.”
World News
Atlanta’s very own Tony Shhnow releases new single “Keep In Touch”

Tony Shhnow, a staple in Atlanta’s underground hip-hop scene, has just released his new single and visual for “Keep In Touch” leading up to the release of his new project Reflexions, out 6/9. The suave new track showcases Tony’s glossy flows & braggadocios delivery over a silky smooth instrumental. The waining keys & understated electric guitar pair perfectly with Tony’s confident cadence, amounting to a track that seamlessly delivers Tony’s signature swagger and exceptional ingenuity. The vintage visual features Tony channeling his inner 90’s R&B star––rapping his boastful verse inside a low-lit bar alongside a pool table, all while sporting a classic leather jacket, gold-plated glasses & sleek white turtleneck. “Keep In Touch” serves as a perfect sampler for the unparalleled craftsmanship and forthright creativity he’ll be delivering with his forthcoming project Reflexions on 6/9.
If the past few years have taught us anything, it’s that trying to keep up with Tony Shhnow is impossible. In the span of 12 months, Tony dropped a whopping 7 successful projects, a feat that has truly separated him from the pack. As described by Pitchfork, “Tony’s consistent and overwhelming output has quickly made him a breakout of Atlanta rap’s underground.” Through the projects he’s dropped in 2021, including 48 Laws of Power, 48 Laws of Flower 2 (Art of Production), Authentic Goods, RPS N PLAN BS ll with 10kDunkin, Dis Should Hold You Over 2, and kicking off 2022 with Kill Streak 2 (Deluxe), Tony has been releasing music in the vein of Atlanta’s trap superstars of the 2010s and has no plans on stopping. Tony continued his hot streak in 2022 by hitting the road with budding Boston rapper Cousin Stizz for a multi-city tour this Spring. Earlier this month, Tony released “Last Chance” (feat. Zelooperz), the lead single for his forthcoming project Reflexions, out 6/9. Through his gripping visuals and non-stop work ethic, Tony has solidified himself in the next generation of Atlanta artists poised for stardom.
World News
MTV announces Düsseldorf as host city for MTV EMAs 2022

MTV today announced the “MTV EMAs” 2022 will take place in Düsseldorf at PSD Bank Dome, marking the annual global music celebration’s sixth time in Germany. The ‘EMAs’ will broadcast live on MTV in more than 170 countries on November 13th and feature show-stopping performances and appearances from the world’s biggest stars.
“There is no other event like the ‘MTV EMAs’ which connects audiences in every corner of the world to their favorite artists,” said Raffaele Annecchino, President & CEO, International Networks, Studios, & Streaming, Paramount. “We can’t wait to head back to Germany to bring today’s biggest stars, young changemakers and superfans together for the ultimate global music celebration.”
“As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of MTV Germany, we’re excited to return to the incredible country where we hosted our first ‘EMAs’ back in 1994 in front of Berlin’s iconic Brandenburg Gate,” said Bruce Gillmer, President of Music, Music Talent, Programming and Events, Paramount, and Chief Content Officer, Music, Paramount+. “Düsseldorf is a vibrant, multicultural city and the perfect setting for an epic night celebrating today’s top artists and the incredible power of music to cross borders and unite us.”
Host, nominees, performers, and presenters to be announced later.
Previous ‘EMAs’ held in Germany were Berlin (1994 & 2009), Frankfurt (2001 & 2012), and Munich (2007).
The “2021 MTV EMAs” were held live from the Papp László Budapest Sportaréna in Hungary and saw Nigeria’s Wizkid recognized as the ‘Best African Act’. Hosted by rap superstar Saweetie, the epic event featured electrifying performances from Ed Sheeran, Maluma, Imagine Dragons, Kim Petras, Måneskin and honoured some of the world’s biggest artists while also celebrating music, love, and equality. For the first time, the “MTV EMA Generation Change Award” recipients were recognized during the main show and MTV honored five young changemakers furthering equality and love.
World News
Eminem Releases 20th Anniversary Expanded Edition Of Iconic Album ‘The Eminem Show’

World News
Kourtney Kardashian Reveals She Was Told to Drink Travis Barker’s Semen to Help With Fertility

Kourtney Kardashian was instructed by a doctor to drink Travis Barker’s semen “four times a week.” Bible. (more…)
World News
OKX reveals $10 million mystery box giveaway

World News
Sting, Black Eyed Peas, Pitbull, Stone Temple Pilots, Mod Sun & More To Particpate In Atlantis Concert For Earth

Black Eyed Peas, Pitbull, Stone Temple Pilots, Bush, Mod Sun, Girlfriends and more are set to headline the first-everAtlantis Concert for Earth, a nonprofit concert and global conservation celebration taking place July 22-23, 2022 in partnership with and from the Azores Islands, Portugal. Sting will provide a special virtual performance. Nicole Scherzinger will also be performing as well as hosting. The event will feature performances, both live and virtual, from iconic artists and showcase the incredible solution-driven work of leading conservationists and organizations from around the world – the true ‘Rockstars for Earth.’ Featured organizations include Re:wild, Sea Legacy, Blue Azores, The Ocean Cleanup, Innerspace, Juccce, The White Feather Foundation—founded by Concert for Earth Ambassador Julian Lennon, Grounded, Earth Uprising— founded by Concert for Earth Ambassador Alexandria Villaseñor, Earth Percent and more. The event will inspire individuals to take action and become Rockstars for Earth themselves. Select artist performances will be livestreamed worldwide for free on Saturday, July 23rd via Veeps: HERE. In-person tickets are available to those local to the Azores HERE.
The zero- to low emission hybrid event is financially made possible by Atlantis Entertainment co-founder, Steven Schuurman. Any remaining carbon emissions from the event will be calculated, reduced, and where possible removed with support from A Greener Festival (AGF), a not-for-profit company committed to helping events, festivals and venues around the world become more sustainable and to reduce environmental impacts.
“Nature is the true headliner at the Atlantis Concert for the Earth,” said will.i.am of Black Eyed Peas. “It is a surreal other-worldly experience to perform on the rim of an extinct volcanic crater to celebrate the Rockstars of Conservation while using music as a megaphone to call attention to the need for global conservation.”
“Biodiversity, from wildlife to ecosystems, underpins the existence of life on Earth,” said Wes Sechrest, chief scientist and CEO of participating partner Re:wild. “We are excited to be a part of Concert for Earth, a celebration of the symphony of life on our unique planet and an invitation to come together to protect and restore nature for the benefit of biodiversity, the climate, and all of us”.
To spread the message of conservation and celebrate the inspirational stories and work of the Rockstars of Conservation, Atlantis Concert for Earth will be livestreamed via Veeps, a premium concert streaming service, for free to people worldwide. Viewers can access the content on Veeps.com or via the Veeps app on Apple TV, Roku, iOS, and Android. The livestream will be executive produced by Fortress Entertainment Group.
Embracing Concert for Earth’s inclusive mission to create awareness, educate and inspire action, there will be a ‘Click to Donate’ option during the livestream. 100% of donations from viewers will go directly to supporting the inspirational, solution-driven work of the festival’s conservation partners.
“I love Concert for Earth’s inclusive mission of finding balance with our planet and leaning into our passions and superpowers to inspire people to become Rockstars For Earth! The world is changed by our actions and not our opinions,” said Nicole Scherzinger
Atlantis Concert for Earth is taking place in Sete Cidades, in Azores, Portugal. The pristine venue is a natural amphitheater, nestled along two lakes inside an ancient volcano crater. With breathtaking 360-degree views, Atlantis Concert for Earth is the only concert for planet Earth with a location as visually stunning as this ecologically rich setting.
Atlantis Concert for Earth was created by Atlantis Entertainment, a full-service media, tv & film production company and record label founded by some of the most successful names in the music, film & television and tech industries, who also share a passion for conservation. The event was conceptualized by Atlantis Entertainment CEO and co-founder Nuno Bettencourt, an Azorean-born and Grammy-nominated multi-platinum artist, songwriter and producer known for his work with Extreme, Rihanna, Robert Palmer, Perry Ferrell and Janet Jackson, along with fellow co-founders Rene M. Rigal, an award winning television, film and content producer and the former Chief Creative Officer of Virgin Produced and President of State Street Pictures (Fox), and Steven Schuurman high-tech entrepreneur and philanthropist, co-founder of Elastic (NYSE: ESTC). With an all-star lineup booked by music industry veteran and talent booker, Scott Igoe, the concert will make “Earth the Headliner” by inspiring action and hope to bring humans back into balance with Earth.
“These days, words Climate and Climate Crisis trigger so many different emotions from all walks of life,” said Bettencourt, who has been working for over a decade to bring Concert For Earth to fruition. “It shouldn’t matter who you voted for, we don’t judge what your political color is internationally or, here in the U.S. if you are Republican, Democrat, Black, white, Hispanic, rich or poor. Because whatever we are, whether we like it or not, we share the same air, the same water and the same soil. We have all heard about the urgency, but fear is not the answer. Instead, together during Concert for Earth we are taking our universal language and power of music to celebrate the Conservationists and Entrepreneurs from around the world who are game changers leading the way with real, tangible solutions to flip the current narrative of climate and conservation from blame, anger, and doom; to positivity and hope by shining a light on inspirational SOLUTIONS to get us back in balance with our planet. It’s time to stop telling everyone how we are all going to die, but instead show them how we’re all going to live.”
More details and line-up announcements to be made soon. For more information and to keep up with the latest on Atlantis Concert for Earth, please visit: WEBSITE
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