Michael Che and Colin Jost (Photo by Mary Ellen Matthews/NBC)
Colin Jost and Michael Che, “Weekend Update” anchors and Emmy®Award-nominated co-head writers of NBC’s iconic and Emmy Award-winning late night franchise “Saturday Night Live,” have been named co-hosts of the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards. The telecast will be executive produced by “SNL” creator and executive producer Lorne Michaels.
The Emmys will air live coast to coast from the Microsoft Theater at L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles on Monday, Sept. 17 from 8-11 p.m. ET (5-8 p.m. PT) on NBC.
“NBC is thrilled to be the home of this year’s Emmy Awards and with Colin and Michael in the driver’s seat as hosts, along with surprise appearances by other cast members of ‘Saturday Night Live,’ I think we are in for one of the funniest awards shows in a long time,” said Robert Greenblatt, Chairman, NBC Entertainment.
Said Paul Telegdy, President, Alternative and Reality Group, NBC Entertainment: “We’re proud of our deep comedy roster at NBC, and Michael and Colin — along with the return of king of comedy producer Lorne Michaels — will make this the must-see comedy event of the year.”
“We are elated that Colin Jost and Michael Che will bring their hilarious collective talents to hosting this year’s Emmy Awards,” said Hayma Washington, Television Academy chairman and CEO. “They have an amazing onscreen rapport and we are delighted to begin working with them along with the entire NBC team.”
“We’re proud to be the first duo hosting the Emmys since Jenna Elfman and David Hyde Pierce, and somehow that’s a real fact,” said Jost and Che.
Jost and Che are Emmy-nominated co-head writers on “SNL” who began their tenure on “Weekend Update” in 2014. A four-time WGA Award winner and recipient of a Peabody Award, Jost started at “SNL” as a writer in 2005. Che, who was previously named on Variety’s 10 Comics to Watch list and Rolling Stone’s 50 Funniest People, joined “SNL” in 2013. Each was named as a co-head writer on “SNL” in 2017.
So far this season, “Saturday Night Live” is averaging a 2.82 rating in adults 18-49 and 9.405 million viewers in “live plus seven day” figures from Nielsen Media Research. This is the show’s #2 most-watched season at this point in 23 years. With the inclusion of projected 35-day non-linear ratings, “SNL” this season is averaging a 3.78 rating in 18-49.
Nominations for the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards will be announced Thursday, July 12 from the Television Academy’s Wolf Theatre at the Saban Media Center.
About the Television Academy
The Television Academy seeks to expand the horizons of television excellence. It strives to empower storytellers who shape the evolving television space through the programs, publications and events of the Academy and its Foundation. And it celebrates those who have led excellence by recording their stories and recognizing their achievements through accolades and awards, including television’s most coveted prize, the Primetime Emmy Award. For more information, please visit TelevisionAcademy.com.
Toyota Sienna Festivan Wonderland Presented by SiriusXM (Photo courtesy of Galpin Auto Sports)
Launching at Stagecoach Festival in Indio, California on April 27, Toyota Sienna Festivan Wonderland Presented by SiriusXM is a distinct festival destination inspired by the vibrant and wild atmosphere of Marfa, Texas. The experience is designed to provide festival guests a relaxing escape from the bustle of the festival and create opportunities to engage with SiriusXM’s in-vehicle discovery experience and embrace the #vanlife movement. The Toyota Sienna Festivan Wonderland Presented by SiriusXM will have a presence at a number of soon-to-be-announced popular music festivals throughout the summer and fall.
The Toyota Sienna Festivan Wonderland Presented by SiriusXM experience gives a nod to the mystic, avant-garde vibe associated with the small Texas town of Marfa, which has been established as a favored destination for artists and tastemakers alike. The experience transforms the original Swagger Wagon into the Swagger Wagon Festivan (“Festivan”) and features a specially designed creative space complete with four customized Siennas, each with their own “personality” attributed to Marfa, and fully ready for guests to interact and engage with:
Let’s Go Glamping – This Festivan will be modified to look and feel like a Marfa-inspired glamping camper featuring brightly colored wrapped front seats, string lights, and desert décor. The middle and rear seats will be removed to create a cozy lounge in the back complete with bed, sink, storage cabinets, pillows and blankets for the ultimate #vanlife relaxation zone, and even phone chargers available throughout for guests to charge up their mobile devices.
Marfa Lights – Inspired by the famous and mysterious Marfa Lights, this Festivan will feature blacked out windows and fiber optic lights woven into the ceiling of the Sienna to resemble stars slowly twinkling in dazzling colors. Guests will enter the Festivan for a one-of-a-kind photo experience, posing inside as a photo technician adds a light painting effect for a unique photo to share on social media.
Crystal Dreams – Guests will jump into the Crystal Dreams Festivan and spend a few minutes with an energy reader who will gift each person a crystal specific to their personal reading. Once guests receive their crystal, supplies on site will be available to craft a crystal necklace to bring positive vibes throughout the festival weekend.
Sienna Festivan Desert Studio – Inspired by the popular Prada popup store outside Marfa, this Festivan will feature a West Texas desert themed wrap complete with an overhead awning just like the iconic store front. To add to the perfect photo opportunity, there will be photo lighting and fans to create the wind-blown look amongst a desert backdrop.
In addition, The Toyota Sienna Festivan Wonderland Presented by SiriusXM experience will feature The Highway Diner, a desert themed pop up diner for guests to relax, grab delicious Texas breakfast tacos and refreshing aguas frescas, and will include iPads and JBL headphones for guests to check out demos of SiriusXM’s extensive programming on their streaming app.
“The Toyota Sienna Festivan Wonderland is a fun opportunity to highlight SiriusXM’s easy-to-use, in-vehicle discovery experience to the many people attending music festivals this year,” said Meredith Himelfarb, Senior Manager of Automotive Partnership Marketing for SiriusXM. “We are proud to present this experience, which brings together the best in new music discovery and live entertainment with Toyota’s innovation and creativity.”
“The Toyota Sienna Festivan Wonderland gives us a chance to have fun with a vehicle that’s not usually thought of in that way,” said Sarah Krysanick Huang, Vehicle Marketing and Communications, Toyota Motor North America. “We’re proud to partner with SiriusXM on this activation that allows festival goers the opportunity to enjoy music and food while interacting with four fun and unique Siennas that push the limit on the perception of minivans and embrace the #vanlife movement.”
About Toyota Toyota (NYSE: TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in the U.S. and North America for 60 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands. During that time, Toyota has created a tremendous value chain as our teams have contributed to world-class design, engineering, and assembly of more than 36 million cars and trucks in North America, where we operate 14 manufacturing plants (10 in the U.S.) and directly employ more than 47,000 people (more than 37,000 in the U.S.). Our 1,800 North American dealerships (nearly 1,500 in the U.S.) sold more than 2.7 million cars and trucks (2.4 million in the U.S.) in 2017 – and about 87 percent of all Toyota vehicles sold over the past 15 years are still on the road today.
Toyota partners with community, civic, academic, and governmental organizations to address our society’s most pressing mobility challenges. We share company resources and extensive know-how to support non-profits to help expand their ability to assist more people move more places. For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyotanewsroom.com.
About SiriusXM Sirius XM Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: SIRI) is the world’s largest radio company measured by revenue and has approximately 32.7 million subscribers. SiriusXM creates and offers commercial-free music; premier sports talk and live events; comedy; news; exclusive talk and entertainment, and a wide-range of Latin music, sports and talk programming. SiriusXM is available in vehicles from every major car company and on smartphones and other connected devices as well as online at siriusxm.com. SiriusXM radios and accessories are available from retailers nationwide and online at SiriusXM. SiriusXM also provides premium traffic, weather, data and information services for subscribers through SiriusXM Traffic™, SiriusXM Travel Link, NavTraffic®, NavWeather™. SiriusXM delivers weather, data and information services to aircraft and boats through SiriusXM Aviation™ and SiriusXM Marine™. In addition, SiriusXM Music for Business provides commercial-free music to a variety of businesses. SiriusXM holds a minority interest in SiriusXM Canada which has approximately 2.8 million subscribers. SiriusXM is also a leading provider of connected vehicles services, giving customers access to a suite of safety, security, and convenience services including automatic crash notification, stolen vehicle recovery assistance, enhanced roadside assistance and turn-by-turn navigation.
Fleetwood Mac has parted ways with longtime singer/guitarist Lindsey Buckingham. The band has hired former Crowded House singer/guitarist Neil Finn and former Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell to join Fleetwood Mac for the band’s 2018 tour, which is expected to launch in the autumn. According to Rolling Stone, Buckingham was let go from Fleetwood Mac over disagreements on when he would be willing to start the tour. Buckingham reportedly wanted the tour to be delayed to 2019. Fleetwood Mac’s last performance with Buckingham was at New York City’s Radio City Music Hall on January 26, 2018, when Fleetwood Mac was honored as MusiCares Person of the Year. Fleetwood Mac was the first band to receive this honor.
Buckingham and singer Stevie Nicks, who were previously the duo Buckingham Nicks, joined Fleetwood Mac in 1974, when the lineup consisted of original members drummer Mick Fleetwood, bassist John McVie and singer/keyboardist Christine McVie, who was John’s wife at the time. With Buckingham and Nicks in the band, Fleetwood Mac had an unbroken string of hit albums, starting with with the band’s self-titled 1975 album until 1987’s “Tango in the Night.” Fleetwood Mac’s Grammy-winning 1977 album, “Rumours,” which remains the band’s biggest hit, was recorded during the breakups of the romantic relationships of the McVies and Buckingham/Nicks. Over the years, Buckingham became Fleetwood Mac’s unofficial music director.
Buckingham, who launched a solo career in 1981, quit Fleetwood Mac in 1987, and rejoined the band in 1997 for the live reunion album “The Dance.” He sang lead vocals on the Fleetwood Mac songs that he wrote, such as “Go Your Own Way,” “Second Hand News,” “Tusk” and “Big Love.” In 2017, Buckingham and Christine McVie teamed up for an album titled “Lindsey Buckingham/Christine McVie” and toured in support of the album.
Fleetwood Mac issued this statement about Campbell and Finn joining the band: “We are thrilled to welcome the musical talents of the caliber of Mike Campbell and Neil Finn into the Mac family. With Mike and Neil, we’ll be performing all the hits that the fans love, plus we’ll be surprising our audiences with some tracks from our historic catalogue of songs. Fleetwood Mac has always been a creative evolution. We look forward to honoring that spirit on this upcoming tour.”
There’s no word yet if Campbell and Finn will record a studio album with Fleetwood Mac, which has not released a studio album of new songs since 2003’s “Say You Will.”
October 11, 2018 UPDATE: Buckingham has filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court against Fleetwood Mac, claiming he was wrongfully dismissed from the band. He is seeking millions in damages to compensate for the income he would have gotten from the band’s 2018 tour and other revenue sources, according to Variety. Fleetwood Mac’s publicist issued this statement to The Hollywood Reporter: “Fleetwood Mac strongly disputes the allegations presented in Mr. Buckingham’s complaint and looks forward to their day in court. The band has retained Dan Petrocelli to handle the case.”
December 8, 2018 UPDATE: The lawsuit between Buckingham Fleetwood Mac has been settled. In an interview with “CBS This Morning,” Buckingham said that his ouster from Fleetwood Mac “hurt” for few months after it happened. He also said he found out he was fired when Fleetwood Mac manager Irving Azoff called Buckingham up in a surprise phone call and allegedly screamed at him: “Stevie Nicks never wants to be on stage with you again!” Buckingham added that his current relationship with Nicks (who was his girlfriend for most of the 1970s) is “fragmented,” but that Fleetwood Mac keyboardist Christine McVie emailed him to say that McVie missed him and had nothing to do with the idea to kick him out of the band. Buckingham also claims that McVie also told him in the email that, deep down, Nicks misses Buckingham too, and eventually wants him back in the band. However, Buckingham said in the interview that it is doubtful that he will reunite with Fleetwood Mac.
The following is a press release from Life Is Beautiful:
Life is Beautiful Music & Art Festival unveils its highly anticipated and specially-curated 2018 music lineup. Now in its sixth year, the three-day immersive experience returns to Downtown Las Vegas on September 21–23, drawing musicians, artists and culinary masterminds from around the world.
Headlining this year is a group of talented chart-toppers who bring various genres of music together during the closeout of the fall festival season. Most notably, the infectious sounds of R&B and hip-hop are represented by The Weeknd, N.E.R.D., Tyler The Creator, Miguel,as well as Grammy-winning singerT-Pain, the unforgettable French Montana, A$AP Ferg and up-and-comers Daniel Caesar, Denzel Curry and Blackbear.And much like in year’s past, the festival balances out the rhythms with indie pop, rock, EDM and trap favorites welcoming Florence + the Machine, CHVRCHES, SOFI TUKKER, St. Vincent, Bastille, Santigold, Cold War Kids, Foster The People, DJ Snake, Galantis, RL Grime, Odesza, musical group Jungleand more to the Life is Beautiful stages.
Music and art merge as the signature Life is Beautiful bright colorways come to life by UK-based artist, Lakwena Maciver, who transforms the traditional lineup poster into a reimagined illustrative masterpiece. Focusing on the concept of eternity, Lakwena gives the poster a powerful makeover by designing it to be two-sided that’s both bold and futuristic. No matter how the posters are placed, there will be continuity. “This collaboration represents what Life is Beautiful means to me – a very powerful message of defiance, and a decision to seek out the glimpses of beauty in the transience of this life,” said Lakwena Maciver.
With Early Bird tickets selling out in just minutes last week, demand for this year’s Life is Beautiful Music & Art Festival is greater than ever. Tickets go on sale Thursday, April 26 at 10 a.m. PT. Regular three-day GA tickets are $295 + fees and three-day VIP tickets start at $655 + fees. The festival will again offer payment plans for GA and VIP purchases, allowing fans to pay for their tickets in four installments.
For an even more exclusive experience, three-day V+VIP tickets will also be available for $1,195 + fees, along with an “All In” three-day ticket priced at $2,495 + fees. For details on what each ticket level offers, please visit www.LifeisBeautiful.com/tickets.
The 2018 Life is Beautiful Music & Art Festival will include performances by:
The Weeknd
Jungle
Ravyn Lenae
Arcade Fire
T-Pain
Sam Feldt
Florence + The Machine
Blood Orange
Superorganism
Travis Scott
Cashmere Cat
Welshly Arms
DJ Snake
Wolfmother
Elohim
ODESZA
What So Not
Two Feet
N.E.R.D
Blackbear
Elderbrook
Death Cab For Cutie
First Aid Kit
Hinds
Tyler, the Creator
Gramatik
FLETCHER
Justice
Flight Facilities
Mt. Joy
Bastille
Sabrina Claudio
YUNGBLUD
Galantis
SOFI TUKKER
Amy Shark
Miguel
Lizzo
Mikky Ekko
CHVRCHES
LAUV
Wallows
RL Grime
3LAU
Chet Porter
Foster The People
Bazzi
Knox Fortune
St. Vincent
Lane 8
lovelytheband
French Montana
The Drums
Graves
Santigold
DVBBS
Harry Hudson
A$AP Ferg
The Presets
Brasstracks
Sylvan Esso
Robert DeLong
Morgan Saint
Cold War Kids
Tribal Seeds
Neil Frances
Daniel Caesar
AJR
Young Bombs
Alison Wonderland
Party Favor
The Dirty Hooks
The Neighbourhood
Denzel Curry
Mike Xavier
GoldLink
Sir Sly
O Wildly
*Please note, lineup subject to change without notice.
“Our focus is to give festival-goers a curated experience that is diverse yet united in our mission to bring people together. We’re fans, not only of the artists but of those who choose to be part of our community,” said Justin Weniger, CEO of Life is Beautiful. “The team is obsessed with creating moments that will be remarkable for both.”
Additionally, Life is Beautiful’s long-standing commitment to local artists and businesses continues to be a vital part of the overall programming, with performances by some of Las Vegas’ top entertainers. Since its inception, Life is Beautiful has welcomed Cirque du Soleil who will be returning to the main stage again this year.
For the past five years, the Life is Beautiful Music & Art Festival has provided a haven for creators and visionaries, a place where inspiration and beauty prevail. Some of the world’s greatest musicians, chefs, artists, thinkers and doers have performed at the event, including Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar, Halsey, Chance the Rapper, Muse, Gorillaz, Lorde, Blink-182, Haim, The XX, Duran Duran, Major Lazer, J. Cole, G-Eazy, and hundreds of many others. Check out the archive of past lineups here.
About Life is Beautiful Life is Beautiful is rooted in positivity, unity, inspiration and empowerment. Every September, thousands of inspired “creators” from all over the world come together for the three-day festival centered in music, art, taste and ideas. Eighteen blocks in Downtown Las Vegas are transformed into an open-air art gallery and a place of discovery, cementing imagination and initiative into our DNA. That gathering, by its very nature, becomes a platform in which positivity prevails, culture and creativity thrive and transformation occurs.
Now in its sixth year, Life is Beautiful Music & Art Festival (September 21–23, 2018) features marquee musicians, chefs, artists and speakers. Named “Music Festival of the Year” by Pollstar in 2017, Life is Beautiful attracted more than 175,000 attendees at last year’s sold out event. Past performers include Kanye West, Muse, J. Cole, Stevie Wonder, Foo Fighters, Major Lazer, Lionel Richie, Chance the Rapper, Gorillaz, Lorde, Blink-182 and many more, along with inspiring talks from powerful thought leaders such as Bill Nye, RuPaul and Pussy Riot. Globally recognized artists including Shepard Fairey, Banksy, Fafi and D*Face, to name a few, have permanently revolutionized the streets of Downtown Las Vegas. For the latest festival news, visit www.lifeisbeautiful.com, or connect with Life is Beautiful on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat (@LIBeautifulFest) and YouTube.
The following is a press release from Dick Clark Productions and NBC:
Dick Clark Productions and NBC today announced the first round of performers for the “2018 Billboard Music Awards.” Top New Artist nominee, Camila Cabello, UK’s hottest act, Dua Lipa, and multi-platinum selling singer/songwriter, Shawn Mendes, will all take the stage on a night filled with music’s biggest names!
Hosted by “The Voice” coach Kelly Clarkson, the “2018 Billboard Music Awards” will broadcast LIVE from MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, May 20 at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on NBC. The three-hour telecast will feature performances from this year’s hottest musical acts, unexpected collaborations and buzzworthy moments that celebrate 60 years of the Billboard Hot 100!
Talent fun facts include:
Camila Cabello is a four-time Billboard Music Award nominee this year with nods for Top New Artist, Top Female Artist, Top Collaboration for “Havana” featuring Young Thug and the fan-voted Billboard Chart Achievement Award. She started off her solo career with a bang, scoring a top 10 hit in 2016 on the Pop Songs chart with “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” her duet with Shawn Mendes. She followed it up with three more top 40 hits on the list, including the No. 1 “Bad Things” with Machine Gun Kelly. In 2017-18, she logged her biggest hit yet, as the single “Havana,” featuring Young Thug, spent seven weeks at No. 1 on the Pop Songs chart and became her first No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The track ushered in her debut album, Camila, which opened at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart and made her the first woman in three years to hit No. 1 with her debut full-length album.
The “2018 Billboard Music Awards” appearance will mark Dua Lipa’s first performance on an award show in the United States. The U.K. pop superstar has quickly ascended on the U.S. Billboard charts this last year, currently with her empowering anthem “IDGAF” rising on Billboard’s Top 40 chart following a trio of No. 1 hits on the Dance Club Songs chart: “Blow Your Mind (Mwah),” “Be the One” and “New Rules.” The latter track became a smash single for the pop singer-songwriter across multiple charts and radio formats as it sailed to No. 1 on the Pop Songs chart and No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 2018. “New Rules,” taken from her self-titled debut studio album, has gone on to earn more than 430 million on-demand streams in the U.S., according to Nielsen Music. Additionally, the video for the track has amassed 1.1 billion views on YouTube, making Dua the first female solo artist to reach 1 billion views on the platform.
At just 19-years-old, singer-songwriter Shawn Mendes has captured two No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200 chart, seven top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, and two No. 1s on the Pop Songs chart. He blasted onto Billboard’s charts in 2015 with his debut hit “Life of the Party,” and has continued to rack up smash singles. His most recent hit, “In My Blood,” has already hit the top 40 on the Hot 100 and top five on the Digital Song Sales chart. In total, Mendes’ albums have earned over 3 million equivalent album units in the U.S., according to Nielsen Music, and his catalog of songs have generated nearly 3 billion on-demand streams. This year, Mendes is nominated for the fan-voted Top Social Artist Award.
Cuban-born singer/songwriter Camila Cabello (Epic Records / SYCO) released her debut solo album, CAMILA, in January 2018 to rave reviews. It debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart the same week that her single “Havana” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The RIAA platinum-certified album, CAMILA, launched its debut at No. 1 on over 100 iTunes charts around the world, breaking the record for most No. 1 positions for a debut album in iTunes history. Beginning her official solo career after four years in Fifth Harmony, Cabello released her RIAA 5x-platinum smash hit “Havana,” in August 2017, which later obtained the No. 1 spot on the Billboard’s Pop Songs chart, marking her second No. 1 as a solo artist. Furthermore, “Havana” hit No. 1 on the iTunes overall top songs chart, No. 2 on the Spotify Global chart and hit No. 1 in 80 countries around the world. “Havana” is the first song by a female artist to reach No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary, Pop Songs and Rhythmic Songs charts in 22 years, has earned 736 million on-demand U.S. streams, according to Nielsen Music, and attained the longest run at No. 1 on Pop Songs for any song by a female artist since 2013. Her next single, “Never Be The Same,” was released in January 2018 and is currently No. 2 on Pop Songs and inside the top 15 of the Billboard Hot 100. Cabello had already earned a chart-topping smash with the recent double platinum-certified hit “Bad Things” with Machine Gun Kelly. The track generated over 350 million on-demand streams and a result of its success, she became the fifth female artist to hit #1 on the Pop Songs chart with and without a group.
With the release of her self-titled debut album, London-born, Kosovo-raised Dua Lipa has won over the hearts of fans and press alike. The songs on Dua Lipa announce the arrival of a new force in pop—irresistible on the dance floor, thoughtful under closer inspection, constantly discovering creative possibilities. Her critically acclaimed debut has made several “best of” lists, from The FADER, Rolling Stone and TIME. Her powerful anthem “New Rules” reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Pop Songs chart and No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100, and its viral video made her the youngest female solo artist to reach 1 billion views on YouTube. Dua continues to find herself on the top of the charts, consistently being one of the top-streamed female artists in the world on Spotify and reaching No. 1 on the Top 40 chart. Most recently, Dua made BRIT Award history, becoming the first woman artist to pick up five nominations, taking home the awards for British Breakthrough Act and British Female Solo Artist.
Shawn Mendes recently released new tracks “In My Blood” and “Lost In Japan” from his highly-anticipated third album. Both tracks have already experienced massive success, soaring to Nos. 22 and 64, respectively, on the Billboard Hot 100, No. 1 and No. 2 on the overall iTunes chart in the U.S, Top 5 on iTunes in 50 countries, and holding the No. 1 and No. 2 spots on Spotify’s “New Music Friday” playlist. The tracks have received critical acclaim from outlets including Rolling Stone, Billboard, Idolator, Variety and Paste, with “In My Blood” topping TIME magazine’s “5 Songs You Need to Listen to This Week” and The New York Times’ “The Playlist.” “In My Blood” and “Lost In Japan” are the first new songs released by Shawn since his 3x Platinum hit “There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back” in April 2017. The track scored Shawn his second No. 1 single on Billboard’s Pop Songs chart, joining 6x Platinum single “Stitches.” With “There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back,” Shawn also became the first artist to ever have three No. 1 singles on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart before the age of 20. Throughout his career, Shawn has achieved two No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200 with Handwritten (2015) and Illuminate (2016), two Platinum albums, and seven consecutive Platinum and multi-Platinum singles. Worldwide, he has sold over 10 million albums, 100 million singles, and has amassed over 11 billion song streams and 4 billion YouTube views. Shawn has completed two sold-out world tours with over one million tickets sold, selling out legendary arenas including NYC’s Madison Square Garden, Toronto’s Air Canada Centre, and London’s O2 Arena in minutes. He topped Billboard’s “21 Under 21” in 2017 and has been featured on Forbes “30 Under 30,” Spotify’s “25 Under 25,” and Time Magazine’s “Most Influential Teens” for 4 consecutive years. In February 2018, ROI Influencer Media recognized Shawn as the #1 Most Influential Artist and #1 Most Influential Teen across all social media platforms.
Starting with today’s announcement, the first set of BBMAs performer GIPHY stickers is available. Custom stickers for Camila Cabello, Dua Lipa and Shawn Mendes can be found within Instagram Stories by clicking the GIF button and searching for “BBMAs.”
Nominations for the “2018 Billboard Music Awards” were announced earlier this month on NBC’s “TODAY Show” and on a livestream from Billboard’s NY office. Kendrick Lamar, Bruno Mars and Ed Sheeran tie for the most nominations this year with 15 each.
Voting for the two fan voted categories, Billboard Chart Achievement Award and Top Social Artist, will open in the coming weeks and additional details will be available soon.
“Billboard Music Awards” nominees are based on key fan interactions with music, including album and digital song sales, streaming, radio airplay, touring and social engagement, tracked by Billboard and its data partners, including Nielsen Music and Next Big Sound. The finalists and award winners are determined using data reflecting a 12-month tracking period. The awards are based on the reporting period of April 8, 2017 through March 31, 2018. Since 1940, the Billboard charts have been the go-to guide for ranking the popularity of artists, songs and albums, and are the ultimate measure of success in music.
For the latest Billboard Music Awards (BBMAs) news, exclusive content and more, be sure to follow the BBMAs on social media and join the conversation by using the official hashtag for the show, #BBMAs. Facebook:FB.com/TheBBMAs Twitter:@BBMAs Instagram: bbmas Snapchat: thebbmas
The “2018 Billboard Music Awards” is produced by dick clark productions. Allen Shapiro, Mike Mahan, Mark Bracco, Barry Adelman and Robert Deaton are Executive Producers.
The “2018 Billboard Music Awards” are sponsored by T-Mobile.
About Billboard
Billboard is the world’s largest voice in music, built on the most complete and well-respected database of charts across all music genres. The Billboard charts define success in music. From the iconic Billboard magazine to Billboard.com, the ultimate consumer-facing destination for millions of passionate music fans, to the industry’s most elite conference series and influencer events including the Power 100 and Women in Music – the Billboard brand has unmatched authority among fans, artists and the industry alike. Billboard has a social media footprint of 16.4 million social followers across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube, and creates more than 200M cross-platform video views per month. Billboard magazine has published major news-generating covers recently including Travis Scott, Zayn, Lorde, Marshmello, Demi Lovato, Cardi B, Selena Gomez, Eminem, DJ Khaled, Charlie Puth, and an open letter to Congress signed by 180+ of the music industry’s biggest stars and executives. In December 2017, the Billboard Women in Music ceremony, which honored Selena Gomez as Woman of the Year, was live-streamed globally on Twitter. In 2016, The Hollywood Reporter-Billboard Media Group acquired SpinMedia’s storied music assets Spin, Vibe, and Stereogum, establishing the world’s largest music brand by digital traffic, social reach, and audience share. The combined entity of music and entertainment properties now reaches 47 million unique visitors and one in every three U.S. millennials.
About dick clark productions
dick clark productions (dcp) is the world’s largest producer and proprietor of televised live event entertainment programming with the “Academy of Country Music Awards,” “American Music Awards,” “Billboard Music Awards,” “Golden Globe Awards,” “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest” and the “Streamy Awards.” Weekly television programming includes “So You Think You Can Dance” from 19 Entertainment and dcp. dcp also owns one of the world’s most unique and extensive entertainment archive libraries with over 60 years of award-winning shows, historic programs, specials, performances and legendary programming. dcp is a division of Valence Media, a diversified media company with divisions and strategic investments in premium television, wide release film, specialty film, live events and digital media. For additional information, visit www.dickclark.com.
Filmmaker Ari Fitz and model Ralph Souffrant at the opening of Moxy Amsterdam Houthavens, the brand’s first hotel in The Netherlands. (Photo courtesy of Marriott International, Inc.)
The following is a press release from Marriott International:
TV personality Koen van Dijk, actress Holly Mae Brood and world-class Dutch DJLa Fuente were among the faces joining Moxy Hotels, Marriott International’s experiential hotel brand, on April 19, 2018, when they hosted an irreverently nautical Coming Out Party to celebrate the brand’s entrance to The Netherlands. Inspired by the city’s waterways and the hotel’s dockside location in the regenerated Houthavens area, a former lumber yard and still a working dock, the Moxy Crew lowered the gangplank and hosted around 400 guests who walked the plank and ‘Played On’ #atthemoxy.
The party for Moxy Amsterdam Houthavens brought out the playful character of both Amsterdam and the Moxy brand through a series of Land & Sea-inspired experiences including ‘playrooms’ where guests were encouraged to leave their inhibitions at the door and indulge their rebellious side.
Land truly met sea in the entranceway where guests were invited to hop aboard a boat filled to the brim with Amsterdam’s famous florals. In the ‘Wet and Wild’ adult-only pool party, the area was transformed into a secret satellite bar with Moxy lifeguards serving guests in the pool. Meanwhile, the ‘Into the Woods’ playroom lured guests into a lumberjack-inspired lair through a tunnel of branches and vines revealing a ‘tableau vivant’ immersive performance.
“Through bold programming and fun local partners that speak to the dynamism of the location, Moxy created an unforgettable party that spoke perfectly to modern travelers and the local creative community,” said John Licence, VP Premium and Select Brands, Europe at Marriott International. “Amsterdam is renowned for its irreverent and playful spirit, making it an ideal destination for Moxy Hotels to make a splash.”
DJ Wantigga got the party started with his electronic hip-hop tracks whilst headliner DJ La Fuente kept guests and local VIPs dancing into the early hours. Local distiller Bols served guests cocktails with cheeky Amsterdam twists including the Red Light Negroni, a nod to the city’s risqué side, which was served in an actual light bulb.
Also unveiled at the party was the latest edition of #BlankCanvas, Moxy’s global brand programme that calls on international emerging artists to submit works for the opportunity to debut their art at new Moxy hotels. Artist Kristel Steenbergen was on hand to present her winning mural – The Amsterdam Jungle. Kristel brings the bustling capital to life by illustrating the fashionable and modern culture of Amsterdam juxtaposed as a jungle. The design moves left to right, from day to night, to tell the story of a day in the life of the many personalities residing in Amsterdam, portrayed by different animals. For those looking for a lasting reminder of the #BlankCanvas mural and their Moxy experience, local tattoo parlour Ink District was on hand to ink guests with designs taken directly from Kristel’s artwork.
“Amsterdam is a city that pushes boundaries—it’s a city after our own heart as Moxy throws the traditional hotel rulebook out the window,” said Vicki Poulos, Global Brand Leader, Moxy Hotels. “Our Coming Out party is our way of signaling to travelers and local Amsterdammers that when you come to Moxy, your experience will be a true flavour of the spirit and edginess of the city you are in.”
Moxy’s fun, inclusive and playful spirit is reflected in the combination of bold design and edgy style where communal engagement is at the center of the experience. The Moxy Amsterdam Houthavens experience kicks-off with a bright, airy and buzzing lobby. The full-service bar is the hub of activity in the lobby doubling as the hotel’s physical check-in desk, where guests are greeted with a complimentary ‘Got Moxy’ cocktail upon arrival.
The Living Room is another center of activity, giving guests ways to work and play hard. Sealed concrete floors, walls lined with intriguing art referencing local culture creates a high-energy yet cozy space for fun gatherings, special events or cocktails. The hotel’s event space on the top floor features panoramic views of the Houthavens dock yard and cheeky design touches.
The 24/7 B&F (Beverage & Food) self-service concept gives guests access to what they want, whenever they want it, in a smart and fun way. The Grab’n’Go station offers lots of options for food and drink including fresh juices, coffee, paninis, and salads.
Many of the 120 contemporary bedrooms have sweeping views of Amsterdam’s famous waterways and offer a functional, flexible and uncluttered design as well as 43″ flat-screen TVs, complimentary Wi-Fi, abundant USB ports, and MUK toiletries.
Guests looking to re-energize can head to the hotel’s gym, The Athletic Club, offering everything from retro pink punching bags and gymnastic rings to modern fitness equipment as well as an array of training sessions led by experts in strength and conditioning, kickboxing, yoga, Pilates, and more. The Athletic Club also features a swimming pool, sauna and wellness centre.
Moxy Amsterdam Houthavens marks the brand’s debut in The Netherlands. The Moxy brand continues to advance its strong presence with plans to expand into more than 40 new destinations in both fast-growing and established markets in Europe in the next three years, as well as multiple destinations in the U.S. and Asia.
About Moxy Hotels Moxy Hotels is Marriott International’s new experiential, design-driven, brand that debuted September 2014 in Europeand has since introduced locations in Berlin, New Orleans, the United Kingdom, Vienna, etc. A boutique-hotel concept for the modern traveler, Moxy is a fresh and innovative brand combining stylish design and approachable service at an affordable price point. With tech-enabled rooms, vibrant lobby spaces and warm service, Moxy aims to surprise travelers with a playful, spirited and fun guest experience. To learn more about Moxy Hotels, visit www.MoxyHotels.com.
The following is a press release from Live Nation:
Live Nation announced ‘National Concert Week’ will take place April 30 through May 8 with an exclusive $20 all-in ticket offer for fans to celebrate the kickoff to its biggest summer season. The deal will include over 1.5 million tickets to 2,000+ shows across Live Nation’s roster of summer tours including Comedy, Country, Hip-Hop, Latin, Metal, Rock, Pop, and more.
For one week only, fans can get their hands on the $20 all-in tickets Monday, April 30 at 8:00 am local time at NCW.LiveNation.com, through Tuesday, May 8 at 11:59 pm local time.
DJ Khaled shared his excitement about the ticket offer from 45,000 feet, encouraging music fans to nab their tickets to the hottest summer shows. Watch the video HERE.
Produced by Live Nation, National Concert Week is a time for artists and fans to celebrate their love of live music. To launch the week, Live Nation will hold a special media event in New York featuring dozens of their touring artists.
Talent in attendance talking about their upcoming summer tours will include Paramore, Lindsey Stirling, Bush’s Gavin Rossdale, Jeff Beck, Counting Crows’ Adam Duritz, Ann Wilson of Heart, Evanescence’s Amy Lee, Foreigner’s Mick Jones, 3 Doors Down, Bad Company and Free’s Paul Rodgers, Coheed and Cambria, Collective Soul, Pentatonix, O.A.R., Poison, Soul Asylum, Stone Temple Pilots, Styx, Taking Back Sunday, The Cult, The Offspring, Whitesnake, and more.
Nationally Touring Artists With Live Nation’s $20 All-In “National Concert Week” Ticket Offer: 311 / The Offspring
3 Doors Down / Collective Soul
5 Seconds of Summer
Alan Jackson
Arcade Fire
Avenged Sevenfold / Prophets of Rage
Backstreet Boys
Beck
Bon Jovi
Brad Paisley
Breaking Benjamin / Five Finger Death Punch
Bush / Stone Temple Pilots / The Cult
Charlie Puth
Chicago / REO Speedwagon
Chris Brown
Coheed and Cambria / Taking Back Sunday
Counting Crows / LIVE
David Blaine
Dead & Company
Def Leppard / Journey
Dierks Bentley
Dwight Yoakam / Lucinda Williams / Steve Earle
Enanitos Verdes / Hombres G
Erasure
Foreigner / Whitesnake / Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening
Game of Thrones
G-Eazy
Godsmack / Shinedown
Gov’t Mule / The Avett Brothers
Hall & Oates / Train
Halsey
Imagine Dragons
Janet Jackson
Jason Aldean
Jeff Beck / Paul Rodgers
Joe Biden
Juanes / Mon Laferte
Keith Urban
Kesha / Macklemore
Kevin Hart
Kid Rock
KIDZ BOP LIVE 2018
Kygo
Lady Antebellum / Darius Rucker
Lindsey Stirling / Evanescence
Logic
Luis Miguel
Luke Bryan
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Maroon 5
Miranda Lambert / Little Big Town
Ms. Lauryn Hill
NEEDTOBREATHE / JOHNNYSWIM
Niall Horan
ODESZA
Ozzy Osbourne
Paramore
Pentatonix
Poison / Cheap Trick
Post Malone
Rascal Flatts
Ray LaMontagne
Rise Against / AFI
Rob Zombie / Marilyn Manson
Rod Stewart / Cyndi Lauper
Shakira
Shania Twain
Steely Dan / The Doobie Brothers
Styx / Joan Jett and the Heartbreakers
The Smashing Pumpkins
Thirty Seconds To Mars
Vans Warped Tour
Weezer / Pixies
Zac Brown Band
For a full list of participating artists, please visit NCW.LiveNation.com.
To see a complete list of Live Nation’s summer tours and festivals, please visit livenation.com.
About Live Nation Entertainment: Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) is the world’s leading live entertainment company comprised of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, and Live Nation Media & Sponsorship. For additional information, visit www.livenationentertainment.com.
The following is a press release from the Tony Awards:
The Tony Awards Administration Committee announced today that Tony Award winning actress Chita Rivera and Tony Award winning composer and producer Andrew Lloyd Webber will be the 2018 recipients of the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre.
“The cultural impact that Chita and Andrew have had on the international theatre community and on theatre education, has been immeasurable,” said Heather Hitchens, President & CEO of the American Theatre Wing and Charlotte St. Martin, President of the Broadway League. “They are groundbreakers, they are inspirations and we are truly honored to recognize these two incredible legends with the Tony Awards for Lifetime Achievement.”
“My performing aspirations began with ballet training as a child in Washington, DC. When I came to New York and auditioned for George Balanchine, who gave me a scholarship to the School of American Ballet, I could never have imagined the amazing journey I have had in the theatre,” said Chita Rivera. “I would not trade my life in the theatre for anything as the theatre IS life. I am deeply honored to be recognized with the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre this year.”
“I am completely overwhelmed as a Brit to be honoured by the Broadway community at the Tonys, particularly at the time when musicals are flying higher in their spiritual home New York than they have for two generations,” said Andrew Lloyd Webber.
An accomplished and versatile actress/singer/dancer, Chita Rivera has won two Tony Awards as Best Leading Actress in a Musical and received eight additional Tony nominations for an exceptional 10 Tony nominations. She recently starred in The Visit on Broadway and in the Broadway revival of The Mystery of Edwin Drood, the Broadway and touring productions of The Dancer’s Life, and the revival of the Broadway musical Nine with Antonio Banderas.
Ms. Rivera trained as a ballerina, from the age of 11, before receiving a scholarship to the School of American Ballet from legendary choreographer George Balanchine. At 17-years-old Chita made her first appearance as a principal dancer in the national tour of Call Me Madam. Her electric performance as Anita in the original Broadway premiere of West Side Story brought her stardom, which she repeated in London. Her career is highlighted by starring roles in Bye Bye Birdie, The Rink (Tony Award), Chicago, Jerry’s Girls, Kiss of the Spider Woman (Tony Award), and the original Broadway casts of Guys and Dolls, Can-Can, Seventh Heaven and Mr. Wonderful. On tour: Born Yesterday, The Rose Tattoo, Threepenny Opera, Sweet Charity, Kiss Me Kate, Zorba, Can-Can with The Rockettes.
Chita was awarded The Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama in 2009 and received the coveted Kennedy Center Honor in 2002. In November, 2016 she headlined at Carnegie Hall and in 2015, Great Performances aired their special Chita Rivera: A Lot of Livin’ To Do, a retrospective of her extraordinary life and career nationally on PBS. Her current solo CD is entitled And Now I Swing.
Andrew Lloyd Webber is the composer of some of the world’s best-known musicals including Cats, Evita, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Phantom of the Opera and Sunset Boulevard. When Sunset Boulevard joined School of Rock – The Musical, Cats and Phantom of the Opera on Broadway in February 2017 he became the only person to equal the record set in 1953 by Rodgers and Hammerstein with four shows running concurrently.
He is currently represented on Broadway by Phantom of the Opera, which recently celebrated its historic 30th anniversary, and School of Rock. On the road, he is represented by touring productions of Love Never Dies, Phantom of the Opera and School of Rock with an upcoming national tour of Jesus Christ Superstar to launch next year.
His awards, both as composer and producer, include seven Tonys, seven Oliviers, a Golden Globe, an Oscar, the Praemium Imperiale, the Richard Rodgers Award for Excellence in Musical Theatre, a BASCA Fellowship, the Kennedy Center Honor and a Grammy Award. He owns seven London theatres including the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane and the London Palladium. He was knighted by Her Majesty The Queen in 1992.
He is passionate about the importance of music in education and the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation has become one of Britain’s leading charities supporting the arts and music. In 2016 the Foundation funded a major new national initiative which endowed the American Theatre Wing with a $1.3 million, three-year grant to support theatre education opportunities for underserved young people and public schools across the United States.
The American Theatre Wing’s 72nd Annual Tony Awards, hosted by Sara Bareilles and Josh Groban, will air on the CBS Television Network on Sunday, June 10, 2018 (8:00-11:00 PM, ET/delayed PT) live from Radio City Music Hall in New York City. The Tony Awards, which honors theatre professionals for distinguished achievement on Broadway, has been broadcast on CBS since 1978. The Tony Awards are presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing.
The official eligibility cut-off date will be Thursday, April 26, 2018, for all Broadway productions opening in the 2017-2018 season. Productions which meet all other eligibility requirements and open on or before the eligibility date are considered eligible for 2018 Tony Award nominations.
The Nominations for the 2018 Tony Awards will be announced live, by Leslie Odom, Jr. and Katharine McPhee on Tuesday, May 1, 2018, from the New York City Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center.
Follow the Tony Awards on Twitter and Instagram for real-time updates on the nominees as they are announced (@TheTonyAwards). The entire announcement will also be available on TonyAwards.com after the event.
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About the Tony Awards
The American Theatre Wing’s Tony Awards are presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing. At The Broadway League, Thomas Schumacher is Chairman and Charlotte St. Martin is President. At the American Theatre Wing, David Henry Hwang is Chair and Heather A. Hitchens is President & CEO. Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss of White Cherry Entertainment are the Executive Producers of the 2018 Tony Awards. Mr. Weiss will also serve as Director of the 2018 Tony Awards.
Sponsors for the 2018 Tony Awards include: IBM – develops, designs, and hosts the official Tony Awards digital experience anchored by TonyAwards.com; Carnegie Mellon University – the first-ever, exclusive higher education partner; Grant Thornton LLP – official accounting services partner; City National – official bank of the Tony Awards and presenting sponsor of the Creative Arts Awards; Nordstrom – official sponsor of the Red Carpet; Sofitel New York – the official hotel of the Tony Awards; Rainbow Room – official partner of the Tony Nominee Luncheon; United Airlines – the official airline of the Tony Awards for the last 18 years and People/Entertainment Weekly – official magazine partners of the Tony Awards.
CinemaCon, the annual convention for the National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO), will be held April 23 to April 26, 2018, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. About 5,000 people attend the event, which gives movie studios the chance to showcase what they expect to be their biggest hits of the year.
Movie studios scheduled to give their presentations at the event are Sony Pictures Entertainment on April 23; Walt Disney Studios, STX Films and Warner Bros. Pictures on April 24; Entertainment Studios, Universal Pictures, Focus Features and Paramount Pictures on April 25; and 20th Century Fox, Amazon Studios and Lionsgate on April 26.
One of the highlights of CinemaCon 2018 will be the 2018 Pioneer of the Year Award Dinner on April 25. The event will honor Tom Cruise, the first actor to ever receive the award. Tony-and-Grammy-Award-winning “Hamilton” star Leslie Odom Jr. will perform at the event, which will include a special presentation from Cruise’s “Jack Reacher” director Christopher McQuarrie, who also directed Cruise in 2015’s “Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation” and 2018’s “Mission: Impossible – Fallout.”
CinemaCon culminates with the CinemaCon Big Screen Achievement Awards ceremony, which will take place April 26.
Here are the announced winners of the awards:
CinemaCon Lifetime Award Jodie Foster
Jodie Foster (Photo by Paul Drinkwater/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
Jodie Foster has been one of the most critically acclaimed actors in movies since made her big-screen debut in 1972’s “Napoleon and Samantha.” Her most famous movies include 1976’s “Taxi Driver,” 1997’s “Contact” and 2002’s “Panic Room.” She has two Oscars for Best Actress: for 1988’s “The Accused” and 1991’s “The Silence of the Lambs.” In 2018, her thriller film “Hotel Artemis” is set for release. Foster has also become a respected director and producer, having helmed several feature films, including 1991’s “Little Man Tate,” 1995’s “Home for the Holidays,” 2011’s “The Beaver” and 2016’s “Money Monster.”
CinemaCon Icon Award Samuel L. Jackson
Samuel L. Jackson (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures)
In a career spanning more than 45 years, Oscar-nominated Samuel L. Jackson has appeared in more blockbusters than any other actor. His hit films include 1993’s “Jurassic Park,” 1994’s “Pulp Fiction,” “Star Wars” Episodes I II and III, 2004’s “The Incredibles,” 2012’s “Django Unchained” and several Marvel Studios films, such 2010’s “Iron Man 2,” 2011’s “Captain America; The First Avenger,” 2012’s “The Avengers,” 2014’s “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” 2015’s “The Avengers: Age of Ultron.” The prolific Jackson has several movies scheduled for release. In 2018, his movies include “The Last Full Measure,” “Incredibles 2” and “Life Itself.” In 2019, he has three movies that are predicted to be big hits: “Glass” (the hybrid sequel to 2000’s “Unbreakable” and 2017’s “Split”), “Captain Marvel” and a remake of “Shaft.”
CinemaCon Visionary Award Jack Black
CinemaCon Vanguard Award Jonah Hil
Jack Black and Jonah Hill (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Grey Goose Vodka)
Jack Black and Jonah Hill are co-stars in 2018’s “Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot.” Although they have appeared in dramas, they are mostly known for their comedic roles. Black’s biggest hits include 2017’s “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle,” the “Kung Fu Panda” movies, 2003’s “School of Rock” and 2005’s “King Kong.” His other 2018 movie is “The House With a Clock in Its Walls.”
Hill, who received Oscar nominations for supporting roles in 2011’s “Moneyball” and 2013’s “The Wolf of Wall Street,” has appeared in a number of hit movies, including 2007’s “Superbad,” 2012’s “21 Jump Street,” 2013’s “This Is the End,” 2014’s “22 Jump Street” and the “How to Train Your Dragon” movies. He’s also reunited with his “Superbad” co-star Emma Stone in the Netflix series “Maniac.” In 2019, “How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World” is due out in cinemas.
CinemaCon Award of Excellence in Acting Felicity Jones
Felicity Jones (Photo by Christopher Polk)
Felicity Jones had carved out a niche in independent films (usually dramas) before she was nominated for an Oscar for her supporting role in 2014’s “The Theory of Everything.” Since then, her career has grown by leaps in bounds, including starring roles in 2016’s biggest blockbuster, “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” and 2016’s “Inferno.” In 2017, she starred in the critically acclaimed “Breathe.” She plays U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in 2018’s “On the Basis of Sex.”
CinemaCon Male Star of the Year Benicio Del Toro
Benicio Del Toro (Photo by Richard Foreman Jr.)
Benicio Del Toro won an Oscar for his supporting role in 2000’s “Traffic.” He has developed a reputation for playing brooding, often mysterious characters in critically acclaimed movies that range from ,ow-budget independent films to major blockbusters. Del Toro’s best-known movies include 1995’s “The Usual Suspects,” 2013’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” and 2015’s “Sicario” and 2016’s “Star Wars: The Last Jedi.” His movies set for release in 2018 are “Sicario: Day of the Soldado” and “Avengers: Infinity War,” which is expected to the biggest box-office hit of the year.
CinemaCon Female Star of the Year Dakota Johnson
Dakota Johnson (Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures)
Coming from from a family of famous actors (her parents are Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith; her maternal grandmother is Tippi Hedren; and her former stepfather is Antonio Banderas), Dakota Johnson has forged her most recognizable identity in movies as the star of the “Fifty Shades” trilogy. She has four very different movies in 2018: S&M-themed romantic drama “Fifty Shades Freed,” the horror movie “Suspiria” and the thriller “Bad Times at the El Royale.”
CinemaCon Director of the Year Ryan Coogler
Ryan Coogler (Photo by Han Myung-Gu/Getty Images)
After directing just three feature films (2014’s “Fruitvale Station,” “2015’s “Creed” and 2018’s “Black Panther”), Ryan Coogler has become one of the hottest filmmakers in Hollywood, thanks to the blockbuster success of “Black Panther,” which broke the record for the highest-grossing film to open in February. The movie also earned rave reviews from critics, and “Black Panther” is set to be in the Top 5 of the highest-grossing movies of 2018.
CinemaCon Breakthrough Producer of the Year Gabrielle Union
Gabrielle Union (Photo courtesy of BET)
Gabrielle Union is not new to making movies (she’s starred in 2000’s “Bring It On” and 2012’s “Think Like a Man, among other films), but she is relatively new to producing movies. Union was an executive producer of her 2016 comedy film “Almost Christmas,” and she’s a producer of her 2018 thriller “Breaking In.”
CinemaCon Action Star of the Year Taron Egerton
Taron Egerton (Photo by Larry Horricks)
Taron Egerton is best known to movie audiences as the star of the “Kingsman” movies: 2014’s “Kingsman: The Secret Service” and 2017’s “Kingsman: The Golden Circle.” His 2018 movies are the big-screen version of the true-crime drama “The Billionaire Boys Club” and as the iconic title character in “Robin Hood.” Egerton is also set to star as Elton John in the biopic “Rocketman,” whose release date is to be announced.
Cinema Spotlight Award Anna Kendrick
Anna Kendrick (Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures)
Anna Kendrick is best known for starring in the “Pitch Perfect” comedy/musical movies, but she is equally adept at doing dramas, such as her Oscar-nominated turn for her supporting role in 2009’s “Up in the Air.” Her 2018 movie is “A Simple Favor,” a mystery thriller
CinemaCon Female Star of Tomorrow Award Tiffany Haddish
Tiffany Haddish (Photo by Michele K. Short)
Tiffany Haddish is a longtime stand-up comedian, but she had a major breakthrough in movies with her much-talked-about role in the 2017 comedy smash “Girls Trip.” Since then, her career has been on a hot streak, with starring role in TV and movies, including four films due out in 2018: “Uncle Drew,” “Night School,” “The Oath” and “Nobody’s Fool.”
CinemaCon Breakthrough Performer of the Year LilRel Howery
LilRel Howery (Photo by Jason Lubin)
LilRel Howery made movie audiences stand up and take notice as the wise-cracking TSA worker in the 2017 horror blockbuster “Get Out.” It was a small but memorable role for the actor who was previously known on screen for starring as Bobby Carmichael in “The Carmichael Show.” Howery’s 2018 movies are the comedy “Uncle Drew” and the sci-fi thriller “Birdbox.”
CinemaCon Comedy Star of the Year Kate McKinnon
Kate McKinnon (Photo by Adam Rose/ABC)
Kate McKinnon has already won multiple Emmys for her work on “Saturday Night Live,” but she has also made her mark on the big screen, with scene-stealing roles in 2016’s “Ghostbusters” remake, 2017’s “Rough Night” and 2017’s “Ferdinand.” In 2018, her comedy movies set for release are “Irreplaceable You” and “The Spy Who Dumped Me.”
Other awards that will be given at the ceremony:
CinemaCon International Filmmaker of the Year Award: J.A. Bayona, director of 2018’s “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom”
CinemaCon Passpartout Award: Kurt Rieder, 20th Century Fox International executive VP for theatrical in the Asia Pacific region
NATO Marquee Award: Alejandro Ramírez Magaña, Cinépolis CEO/general director
Career Achievement in Exhibition Award: Robert Carrady, Caribbean Cinemas president
Swedish DJ/producer Avicii (whose real name was Tim Bergling) died in Muscat, Oman, on April 20, 2018, his publicist has announced. Avicii was 28. The cause of death has not yet been revealed or determined.*
The Associated Press reported that this statement was issued from Avicii’s publicist: “It is with profound sorrow that we announce the loss of Tim Bergling, also known as Avicii. The family is devastated and we ask everyone to please respect their need for privacy in this difficult time. No further statements will be given.”
Born in Stockholm, Avicii was considered one of the top stars of electronic dance music. He may not have been the type of star who was a household name, but he carried considerable influence in the music industry, having had numerous chart-topping hits with various artists and as a solo act. His best-known songs were “Levels” and “Wake Me Up.” The latter song was a No. 1 hit in several countries, and reached No. 4 in the U.S., where “Wake Me Up” was certified six-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. He released two albums (2013’s “True” and 2015’s “Stories”) and four EPs. Avicii’s most recent collection of music was the EP “Avīci (01),” which was released in August 2017. The documentary film “Avicii: True Stories” was released in October 2017.
Avicii’s cause of death has not been publicly revealed yet, but he had been suffering from health problems, including pancreatic disease from alcoholism, which he talked about in many interviews. In 2016, he announced that he was retiring from touring for health reasons.
He is survived by his parents Klas Bergling and Anki Lidén.
*April 26, 2018 UPDATE: A statement released by Avicii’s family reveals that he committed suicide. He also reportedly left a suicide note, but the content of the note had not been revealed. His family’s statement reads:
“Our beloved Tim was a seeker, a fragile artistic soul searching for answers to existential questions. An over-achieving perfectionist who travelled and worked hard at a pace that led to extreme stress. When he stopped touring, he wanted to find a balance in life to be happy and be able to do what he loved most — music. He really struggled with thoughts about Meaning, Life, Happiness. He could not go on any longer. He wanted to find peace. Tim was not made for the business machine he found himself in; he was a sensitive guy who loved his fans but shunned the spotlight. Tim, you will forever be loved and sadly missed. The person you were and your music will keep your memory alive.
We love you,
Your family”
March 26, 2019 UPDATE:
The following is a press release from the Avicii estate:
A year after his passing on April 20, 2018, the Tim “Avicii” Bergling family are starting a foundation – the Tim Bergling Foundation – in his memory. The foundation will be everlasting. It will initially focus on supporting people and organizations working in the field of mental illness and suicide prevention. Other areas in which it will be active are climate change, development assistance, nature conservation and endangered species. The foundation’s objectives may be pursued both in Sweden and abroad.
Tim wanted to make a difference – starting a foundation in his name is our way to honour his memory and continue to act in his spirit.
