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Chappell Roan, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis are slated to be honored at the Songwriters of North America’s upcoming Warrior Awards in October, Sona announced this week, alongside entertainment lawyer Dina Lapolt, Primary Wave CEO Larry Mestel and nonprofit organization Girls Make Beats.

Hit songwriters Bonnie McKee and Shane Stevens are co-hosting the awards, which will also feature performances from songwriting legend Desmond Child and Morgan Wade. The Warrior Awards will be held at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles on October 12, and pre-sale tickets for the event will go on sale for Sona members on August 8.

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Sona established the Warrior Awards back in 2021 as a vehicle to recognize those in the industry who use their platforms to advocate for the songwriter and composer class. Previous recipients have included Justin Tranter, Allee Willis and Raye,...

Questlove’s Sly Stone documentary Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius), out now on Hulu, features interviews with artists like D’Angelo, Q-Tip, and Andre 3000 talking about the Family Stone legend but doesn’t feature Stone himself reflecting on his legacy. During a Q&a for the documentary, producer Joseph Patel revealed why Stone was kept out of his own life story.

“We interviewed Sly for Summer of Soul in 2020. And he had just gotten clean, and he just, he doesn’t have the motor function,” Patel said...

Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius), the new film from Academy Award winner, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, is now streaming on Hulu and Disney+ in their streaming bundle. The documentary examines the life and legacy of Sly & The Family Stone, the groundbreaking band led by the charismatic and enigmatic Sly Stone. This film captures the rise, reign and subsequent fadeout of one of pop music’s most influential artists, but also shines a light on how Black artists in America navigate the unseen burden that comes with their success. Drawing from his own personal experience and relationships, Questlove tells an empathetic human story about the cost of genius, reframing the way we all engage with pop culture.

The film features notable guests such as Andre 3000, D’Angelo, Chaka Khan, Q-Tip, Nile Rogers, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, George Clinton, Ruth Copeland and Clive Davis. Additional guests include those closest to Sly,...

The highly anticipated follow-up to Summer of Soul, Questlove‘s Oscar-winning documentary, is coming to Hulu. Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius) examines the life and legacy of Sly & the Family Stone, the groundbreaking band led by the charismatic and enigmatic Sly Stone. The film debuts on the streamer on Feb. 13 and captures the band’s rise, reign, and subsequent fadeout while shedding light on the unseen burden that comes with success for Black artists in America.

In the exclusive clip below, the film looks at the impact of the band’s hit song “Everyday People.”

After hearing the lyric “we’ve got to live together,” music producer and songwriter, Jimmy Jam, states, “That’s the first time you hear that sentiment from a Black artist. There was a utopianism that people were ready to buy into. That female and male and Black and white can create another world.

The new documentary “Sly Lives, aka the Burden of Black Genius,” which focuses on the life and career of the brilliant but troubled musician Sly Stone and his group Sly and the Family Stone, is both a conventional documentary and an extremely unconventional one.

Like its predecessor, the Oscar and Grammy-winning “Summer of Soul” — which was also directed by the Roots’ Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson and produced by Joseph Patel — “Sly Lives” works to incorporate the main story with a larger theme, in this case, as the subtitle indicates, the pressures that come with being both Black and a genius — pressures that have brought down more than one such genius and have led many of them toward self-destruction. That subtitle isn’t saying that geniuses aren’t created equally — but what happens after that genius manifests itself can be very different for minorities, particularly Black people.

In the film, artists who...

Smokey Robinson celebrates Black History Month with specials featuring Otis Williams, Babyface, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, Berry Gordy, and Jeffrey Osborne. Listen on Smokey’s Soul Town (Ch. 74) and the SiriusXM app.

Smokey’s Soul TownClassic R&b hosted by SmokeyListen on the App

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In addition to Black History Month, February is also Smokey’s birthday month. Tune in for special programming on February 19 as Smokey celebrates his milestone 85th birthday.

Otis Williams

Founding member of The Temptations Otis Williams chats with Smokey Robinson and shares music and memories of his career.

Broadcast Schedule Friday, February 7 10pm Et Sunday, February 9 6pm Et Babyface

Grammy Award-winning singer and music producer Babyface joins Smokey Robinson to share stories of his life and career and explore his own music catalog.

Broadcast Schedule Monday, February 10 8pm Et Wednesday, February 13 3pm Et Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis

On a special edition of “Smokey’s Place,...

A loving yet tough-minded documentary about the legacy of Sly Stone, Questlove’s Sly Lives! (aka the Burden of Black Genius) has more on its mind than charting the rise and fall of another troubled icon. As its title suggests, the film wants to use Stone’s life and career as a jumping-off point for a larger examination of the double standards often levied by society against Black artists deemed “geniuses.” While Sly Lives! makes a strong argument for raising the question, it never fully grapples with the answer. Ultimately, though, it’s on firmer ground when painting a picture of its subject’s specific and one-of-a-kind genius.

Questlove’s rendering of Stone’s inspiring and tragic story is as vibrant and pulse-pounding as could be hoped for. An East Bay-raised music prodigy who could play almost every instrument and was arranging and performing in his family’s church at an early age,...

The song titles alone evoke a sense of joy, excitement, community: “Dance to the Music,” “Stand!”, “Everyday People,” “Sing a Simple Song,” “I Want to Take You Higher,” “Hot Fun in the Summertime,” “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin),” “Everybody Is a Star.” (That last one was also the headline of its creator’s Rolling Stone cover story.) You know every one of these tracks. Trust us. If you’re not automatically singing their hooks — “Diff-rent/Strokes!/For diff-rent/Folks!” or “I-i-i-i/Love Ev-ery-day/People!” — or humming their melodies while reading the above list,...

There’s a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment in Summer of Soul, Questlove’s rousing documentary about the Harlem Cultural Festival, when Sly Stone turns away from the microphone to look at his bandmates. It’s the late 60s and Sly & the Family Stone are performing their hit “Everyday People” to an enthused, multigenerational crowd. Attendees sway and clap, so attentive that they seem possessed. But there’s something particularly special about the way Sly spins around, faces his bandmates and starts dancing to their music. It’s as if they — the seven members of this dazzling funk group — are the only ones in the park and Sly, an exceptional artist tortured by fame’s unruly demands, can do anything.

That scene gains greater resonance after watching Sly Lives! (aka the Burden of Black Genius), Questlove’s admiring portrait of a generational talent. The doc, which like Summer of Soul premiered at Sundance,...

Questlove’s original documentary about funk pioneer Sly Stone will premiere on Hulu beginning February 13th, 2025, following its debut at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.

Titled Sly Lives! (aka the Burden of Black Genius), the film will feature a star-studded guest list including André 3000, D’Angelo, Chaka Khan, Q-Tip, Nile Rogers, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, George Clinton, Ruth Copeland, and Clive Davis.

Bandmates from Sly and the Family Stone and family members Sylvette Phunne Robinson, Novena Carmel, and Sylvester Stewart Jr. are also set to appear. Watch a brief teaser trailer below.

Questlove and Sly Stone previously worked together on the singer’s memoir. The drummer penned the foreword for Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin), which in October 2023 became the first book published on Questlove’s Auwa Books imprint.

Sly Lives! is Questlove’s latest documentary following his 2021 Oscar-winning debut, Summer of Soul. He’s next set to helm Ladies & Gentlemen…...

Questlove’s original documentary about funk pioneer Sly Stone will premiere on Hulu beginning February 13th, 2025, following its debut at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.

Titled Sly Lives! (aka the Burden of Black Genius), the film will feature a star-studded guest list including André 3000, D’Angelo, Chaka Khan, Q-Tip, Nile Rogers, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, George Clinton, Ruth Copeland, and Clive Davis.

Bandmates from Sly and the Family Stone and family members Sylvette Phunne Robinson, Novena Carmel, and Sylvester Stewart Jr. are also set to appear. Watch a brief teaser trailer below.

Questlove and Sly Stone previously worked together on the singer’s memoir. The drummer penned the foreword for Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin), which in October 2023 became the first book published on Questlove’s Auwa Books imprint.

Sly Lives! is Questlove’s latest documentary following his 2021 Oscar-winning debut, Summer of Soul. He’s next set to helm Ladies & Gentlemen…...

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Two new projects from Onyx Collective — the Disney Entertainment Television brand that curates stories by creators of color and underrepresented voices, all with a culturally specific point of view — have been given Hulu premiere dates.

More from TVLineThe Studio: Seth Rogen, Catherine O'Hara Mock Red Carpet Influencers in New Teaser for Apple TV+ Comedy - WatchTVLine Items: Shoresy Renewed, Wild Robot Gets Streaming Date and MoreDark...

‘Sly Lives!,’ the original documentary about legendary musician Sly Stone directed by Roots founder and Oscar-winning filmmaker Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, will premiere Thursday, Feb. 13, on Hulu.

Guests featured in the doc, which is subtitled “aka the Burden of Black Genius,” comes via Disney’s Onyx Collective, include Andre 3000, D’Angelo, Chaka Khan, Q-Tip, Nile Rogers, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, George Clinton, Ruth Copeland and Clive Davis. Other guest include his bandmates in Sly and the Family Stone — Jerry Martini, Greg Errico, Larry Graham and the late Cynthia Robinson — and family members Sylvette Phunne Robinson, Novena Carmel and Sylvester Stewart Jr.

See a new trailer for the film, which premieres at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, below.

Sly and the Family Stone formed in the San Francisco Bay area in 1966 and quickly became a pioneering group of the ‘60s, with a multi-racial, multi-gender lineup (rare for the time), an explosive fusion of pop,...

Event chair Barbara Davis and co-chair Dana Davis hosted the 38th Carousel of Hope Ball on Saturday, October 5 at The Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills benefiting the Children’s Diabetes Foundation and the Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes (Bdc).

The event, a Hollywood institution since 1978, honored Diane Warren with the “Inspirational Lifetime Achievement Award” and Jimmy Jam with the “Brass Ring Award.” Patrons of the event were entertained with show-stopping performances by Gladys Knight and Jason Derulo, a special appearance by Rylee Arnold, and additional performers Luke K. and MaKenzie. The Ball raised an incredible over $1.9 million this year alone, in addition to the more than $115 million that The Carousel Balls have raised to date.

This year’s Ball brought together leaders from the film, television, music and business industries to support increasing awareness for diabetes and raise funds for clinical care and diabetes research at the Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes.

“‘Go back to your computer and write about Jackie.'”

Such was the wisdom imparted by late music executive Clarence Avant to his author/producer daughter Nicole Avant following the tragic killing of her mother Jacqueline Avant in December 2021 during a home invasion in Beverly Hills.

“When everyone Googles, it’s just ‘home invasion, shot and dead’. No — that’s not her life,” says Avant, “I want people to learn her lessons, and they’re lessons on humanity.”

“I took my mother’s legacy and created an energy.”

Avant shared her family’s personal story as well as her latest memoir Think You’ll Be Happy: Moving Through Grief With Grit, Grace and Gratitude in a conversation with multi-Grammy winning songwriter producer and Recording Academy Chairman emeritus Jimmy Jam at a recent reception at her and her husband Netflix co-ceo Ted Sarandos’ LA home.

In the book, which is for...

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Usher closed out the L.A. run of his “Past, Present, Future” tour Wednesday with a star-studded finale, bringing out Lil Jon, Juicy J, Kevin Hart and Tommy Richman as surprise guests for his show at the newly-opened Intuit Dome. The biggest surprise though, came toward the end of the two-hour concert, when Usher welcomed Stevie Wonder to the stage, duetting with the music icon on “Overjoyed” and “Ribbon in the Sky.

Prince has been posthumously inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

The induction took place on Saturday, July 27th at a 40th anniversary screening of Prince’s Purple Rain at the Target Center in his native Minneapolis. His induction marks the second time the Songwriters Hall of Fame has awarded an artist posthumously after inducting the late Cindy Walker in April.

Prince was inducted by Gilbert Davidson, a longtime colleague of the musician, who then bestowed the award to Prince’s sister, Sharon Nelson. “You will always remember his songs,” Nelson told the crowd. “This is the award he wanted more than any other in life — to be known as a great songwriter.”

Prince was originally supposed to be inducted to the Songwriters Hall of Fame a few different times — the organization’s policy requires that the songwriter must attend both the annual induction and the awards gala to be officially inducted,...

The official YouTube channel for Japanese singer-songwriter Lmyk has begun streaming a music video for her fourth CD single song, "I Luv U 2." The moody tune is now featured as the ending theme for the summer 2024 TV anime Bye Bye, Earth . The clip slowly shows various natural landscapes on the earth, accompanied by Lmyk's smooth singing voice. Lmyk "I Luv U 2" Music Video Bye Bye, Earth Creditless Ending Movie Lmyk was born in Osaka, Japan to a German father and Japanese mother. She began making music in New York City while still in college. When Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, one of the world's leading music producer teams, heard her music and voice, they immediately offered to produce her songs. In November 2020, she debuted with "Unity," the theme song for the Japanese dubbed version of the Chinese animation film The Legend of Hei . "I Luv U 2" is her fourth Japanese TV anime theme song work,...

Event chair Barbara Davis and co-chair Dana Davis announced today that longtime supporter of the cause and renowned award-winning songwriter Diane Warren will be honored with the “Inspirational Lifetime Achievement Award” at The 38th Carousel of Hope Ball on October 5, 2024 at The Beverly Hilton.

Diabetes activist, songwriter and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Jimmy Jam will be honored with the “Brass Ring Award”. Presented by Dexcom, the global leader in real-time continuous glucose monitoring (Cgm) for people with diabetes, the biennial event will once again bring together the biggest names from the film, television, music, and business industries to support increasing awareness of type 1 diabetes, and raise funds for clinical care, prevention, and diabetes research at the Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes.

“I have attended the Carousel of Hope Ball many times and am honored and flattered to have been selected to receive the ‘Inspirational Lifetime Achievement Award’ and to...

BET is apologizing to R&b singer Usher after accidentally muting a portion of his Lifetime Achievement award acceptance speech during Sunday’s live BET Awards telecast.

“Celebrating global icon Usher on our stage with a star-studded tribute and having him accept his award with a heartfelt speech was an honor,” a BET spokesperson tells TVLine. “Due to an audio malfunction during the live telecast, portions of his speech were inadvertently muted. We extend our sincere apologies to Usher as we couldn’t be more grateful for his participation in Culture’s Biggest Night. Fans can catch his full uninterrupted...

Usher was honored with the lifetime achievement award Sunday night at the 2024 BET Awards with an all-star tribute performance, followed by a speech heavy on self-reflection that emphasized forgiveness and fatherhood.

Legendary producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis came onstage to present the tribute, which started with a video showing a montage of Usher’s career, which began in his early teens and included an energetic performance at the Super Bowl earlier this year. The video featured praise from the likes of Kevin Hart, Toni Braxton, L.A. Reid, Jermaine Dupri, Janelle Monáe and Jennifer Hudson.

Following the video, Childish Gambino — the alter ego of Donald Glover — kicked off a performance tribute with a slowed-down rendition of “U Don’t Have to Call.” Keke Palmer then joined him onstage as the song picked up the tempo. Palmer then segued into “You Make Me Wanna….”

Summer Walker followed Palmer, performing “Good Good,...

The Beach Boys (Disney+)

This documentary follows the group’s family beginnings as their songs epitomizing the California dream drive their rising fame. It features never-before-seen footage and interviews with resident Beach Boys erratic genius Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, David Marks and Bruce Johnston and includes input from Janelle Monáe, Lindsey Buckingham, Ryan Tedder and Don Was. The Beach Boys was directed by Frank Marshall and Thom Zimny and written by Mark Monroe.

The Greatest Night in Pop (Netflix)

On Jan. 25, 1985, a group of music icons got together to create the renowned pop song “We Are the World.” This film, directed by Bao Nguyen, features new interviews with many of the artists involved in the making of the song, including Lionel Richie, Bruce Springsteen, Huey Lewis, Dionne Warwick and Cyndi Lauper. The anthem was written by Richie and Michael Jackson for African famine relief and also features Kenny Rogers,...

“I didn’t think I was going to get that far,” admits Thelma Houston, the legendary Grammy-winning diva who placed third on “The Masked Singer” as Clock. “There have been some other divas out there that we know well that didn’t get quite that far, so I said, ‘Well, as long as I can do as good as they did that would be great.’ To go this far was just a surprise to me. It was one of the most challenging things I have ever done, trust and believe.”

The 81-year old revealed in one of her clue packages that she skipped the 1978 Grammy Awards because she never though she’d win for her classic Motown hit “Don’t Leave Me This Way.” She explains, “Two years prior to that I had been nominated for a Grammy before. When Aretha [Franklin] is on there you can just forget about winning.

The historical significance and impact of the “Godfather of Soul” are explored in James Brown: Say It Loud which airs February 19 & 20 on A&e. The four-part documentary chronicles the singer’s roots from middle school dropout and juvenile delinquent to music legend and cultural icon. Archival footage and images along with exclusive interviews help tell the story of a multi-dimensional, often controversial figure. Among those featured in the doc are Mick Jagger, Questlove, Bootsy Collins, LL Cool J, Rev. Al Sharpton, Chuck D, Dallas Austin, Jimmy Jam, and Terry Lewis. Brown’s kids Larry Brown, Dr. Deanna Brown Thomas, and Dr. Yamma Brown also reflect on their dad they knew beyond the bright lights and Apollo Theater and other grand stages. Here Deanna and Yamma open up about being part of the project. What does it mean for you to see this multi-part documentary made on your dad, especially during Black History Month?...

With the Grammys approaching this weekend, on Sunday, Feb. 4, the music industry and nominees are buzzing alike, in anticipation of a week filled with parties, panels, masterclasses and brunches during Grammy week.

Related: Grammy Awards: Taylor Swift Makes History With Album Of The Year Win As Women Dominate – Complete List

Grammy week kicked off with We Are Moving the Needle, the organization founded by Emily Lazar, a Grammy Award-winning mastering engineer. Honorees included Alanis Morissette, Corinne Bailey Rae, Caroline Polachek, Catherine Marks, Laura Sisk, Jennifer Decilveo, Michael Goldstone, and Christine Thomas at the first Annual Resonator Awards recognizing women in production and engineering roles.

Related: Grammy Awards Viewers Question If Taylor Swift Snubbed Celine Dion After Album Of The Year Win

Black Music Action Coalition (Bmac) Music Maker Dinner hosted by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis took place on Wednesday, in support of the economic empowerment of Black music entrepreneurs, artists,...

With the biggest night in music just around the corner, artists, executives and other industry creatives are celebrating with parties spread throughout the week. A-listers from Lenny Kravitz to Kelsea Ballerini and Ice Spice are among the many making appearances and performing at various events across Los Angeles.

The 66th annual Grammy Awards, hosted by Trevor Noah, will air live on CBS from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Feb. 4. The event will also stream live and on demand on Paramount+.

Some of the celebrations happening this week include Warner Music Group’s party to honor the label’s 2024 Grammy-nominated artists and songwriters, Clive Davis’ annual pre-Grammy gala and Universal Music Group’s after party. Below is a roundup of what’s to come in the days surrounding the 2024 Grammys.

Tuesday, Jan. 30

Hollywood & Mind Grammy Week Spotlight on Mental Health in the Music Industry

The London, 1020 N San Vicente Blvd.

Photograph courtesy of A&e Networks A&e will premiere the two-night documentary event “James Brown: Say It Loud” delving into the immeasurable musical and cultural impact of the entertainment icon. Directed by Deborah Riley Draper (The Legacy of Black Wall Street, Versailles ’73: American Runway Revolution) and executive produced by legendary artist Mick Jagger, Academy Award® winner Ahmir ‘Questlove’ Thompson, Tariq ‘Black Thought’ Trotter, Peter Afterman, David Blackman, Victoria Pearman, Bruce Resnikoff, Shawn Gee, Zarah Zohlman, Charlie Cohen, and Mari Keiko Gonzalez, the documentary examines Brown’s incredible life that was as innovative as it was influential. The special examines Brown’s legacy through exclusive interviews, never-before-seen archival footage and his beloved music catalog. “James Brown: Say it Loud” premieres Monday, February 19 and Tuesday, February 20 at 8Pm Et/Pt on A&e. Across four hours, “James Brown: Say it Loud” traces the incredible trajectory of Brown’s life and career from...

Top musical talent is coming together to help support the next generation of songwriters and bring music education to young people as part of the third annual Holiday Auction for The ASCAP Foundation, a charitable organization dedicated to supporting music creators.

In the past year alone, ASCAP Foundation programs benefited more than 300,000 people, including 60,000 students from 700 schools.

A range of A-list artists and songwriters from all corners of the music world have contributed items for bid including hip-hop icons Dr. Dre + Snoop Dogg and Big Daddy Kane, pop stars such as Olivia Rodrigo, Selena Gomez and Reneé Rapp, renowned DJs Steve Aoki and Martin Garrix, indie luminaries Cigarettes After Sex and mxmtoon, rockers Travis Barker (Blink-182), Tenacious D, Papa Roach, Richie Sambora (Bon Jovi guitarist), Chicago and Josh Klinghoffer (former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist), songwriting legends like Paul Williams, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Desmond Child and Poo Bear,...

In the middle of August this year, three legends of the music industry died within 72 hours of each other: founder of A&m Records Jerry Moss; music lawyer Abe Somer; and my father, the “Black Godfather” himself, Clarence Avant. These three men helped define the recording industry of the past six decades, and what’s more, they were inseparable best friends.

Somer, Moss, and Avant met in New York City in the early 1960s, and in the six decades since, never left one another’s side, never once let their “soul contract” expire.

Several high-profile songwriters including Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis and Desmond Child will take to Capitol Hill this week to push lawmakers to protect musicians’ copyrights amid the rapidly developing rise of artificial intelligence.

Part of the performing rights organization ASCAP’s’ “Stand with Songwriters” advocacy day, the writers’ push — expected Thursday morning — marks the latest effort from the industry to rein in AI and ensure that recording artists’ and musicians’ well-being is prioritized as the technology advances.

“We would like to see lawmakers show the well deserved respect to the...

Clarence Avant, the judicious manager, entrepreneur, facilitator and adviser who helped launch or guide the careers of Quincy Jones, Bill Withers and many others and came to be known as the “Black Godfather” of music and beyond, has died. He was 92.

Avant, inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2021, died Sunday at his home in Los Angeles, according to a family statement released Monday.

Avant’s achievements were both public and behind the scenes, as a name in the credits, or a name behind the names. Born in a segregated hospital in North Carolina, he became a man of lasting and wide-ranging influence, in part by minding two pieces of advice from an early mentor, the music manager Joe Glaser: Never let on how much you know, and ask for as much money as possible, “without stuttering.”

“He exemplified a certain level of cool and street smarts...

A myriad of notable Hollywood stars and figures are remembering the late Clarence Avant.

Known as the “Godfather of Black Music,” Avant died at the age of 92 on Sunday at his home in Los Angeles, his family announced in a statement.

“Clarence leaves behind a loving family and a sea of friends and associates that have changed the world and will continue to change the world for generations to come,” the Avant/Sarandos family said. “The joy of his legacy eases the sorrow of our loss.”

His death came 20 months after his wife of 54 years, philanthropist Jacqueline Avant, was shot and killed by an intruder in their Beverly Hills home in the early morning hours of Dec. 1, 2021.

The recording industry insider inspired multiple generations of artists and executives. Among the notable names he advised are Quincy Jones, David Geffen, Jay-Z, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Pharrell Williams, Whitney Houston, Antonio “L.

Clarence Avant, the music executive and film producer who was known unofficially as “The Godfather” of Black entertainment, died on Sunday in his Los Angeles home. He was 92.

“It is with a heavy heart that the Avant/Sarandos family announce the passing of Clarence Alexander Avant,” a statement from his children, Nicole and Alexander, as well as his son-in-law Ted Sarandos read. “Through his revolutionary business leadership, Clarence became affectionately known as ‘the Black Godfather’ in the worlds of music, entertainment, politics and sports. Clarence leaves behind a loving family and a sea of friends and associates that have changed the world and will continue to change the world for generations to come. The joy of his legacy eases the sorrow of our loss.”

Avant began his music industry career in the 1950s as a manager of Teddy P’s Lounge in Newark, New Jersey. He would later go on...

Clarence Avant, the veteran music and entertainment executive known as the “Black Godfather” who was hailed for his influence and guidance by Quincy Jones, Pharrell Williams, Snoop Dogg, Whitney Houston, and others, died at home in Los Angeles on Sunday. He was 92.

Avant’s death was announced Monday through a statement shared by his family. “It is with a heavy heart that the Avant/Sarandos family announce the passing of Clarence Alexander Avant,” the statement read. “Through his revolutionary business leadership, Clarence became affectionately known as ‘The Black Godfather’ in the worlds of music,...

Clarence Avant, the trailblazing record executive known as the “Godfather of Black Music,” has died at the age of 92.

Avant passed away on Sunday, August 13th, according to a statement from his family. “It is with a heavy heart that the Avant/Sarandos family announce the passing of Clarence Alexander Avant. Through his revolutionary business leadership, Clarence became affectionately known as ‘The Black Godfather’ in the worlds of music, entertainment, politics, and sports. Clarence leaves behind a loving family and a sea of friends and associates that have changed the world and will continue to change the world for generations to come. The joy of his legacy eases the sorrow of our loss.”

The North Carolina native rose the ranks to become one of the preeminent Black executives in music. After managing local jazz musicians in New Jersey, he relocated to Los Angeles to assist clients in the increasing lucrative field of movie soundtracks.

Clarence Avant, who was dubbed the “Godfather of Black Music,” died Sunday in Los Angeles, his family has confirmed. He was 92.

A statement provided by his family including son-in-law Ted Sarandos, Netflix’s co-ceo, announced Avant’s passing “with a heavy heart,” and said he had “passed away gently.”

“Through his revolutionary business leadership, Clarence became affectionately known as ‘the Black Godfather’ in the worlds of music, entertainment, politics, and sports,” the statement said. “Top artists and executives like Quincy Jones, JayZ, Whitney Houston, Pharrell Williams, Lionel Richie, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Sean Combs, L.A. Reid, Suzanne de Passe, Kenny ‘Baby Face’ Edmonds, Jon Platt, Irving Azoff, Snoop Dogg Reginald Hudland, Benny Medina and Queen Latifah all credit Avant for his inspiration and guidance.”

The news comes almost two years after the shooting death of his wife, Jackie Avant, during a break-in at the family’s Beverly Hills home...

Clarence Avant, the beloved recording industry insider whose work as an executive, label owner, dealmaker and mentor earned him the nickname the “Godfather of Black Music,” has died. He was 92.

Avant died Sunday at his home in Los Angeles, his family announced in a statement. His death came 20 months after his wife of 54 years, philanthropist Jacqueline Avant, was shot and killed by an intruder in their Beverly Hills home in the early morning hours of Dec. 1, 2021.

Survivors include their daughter, Nicole Avant, a producer, former U.S. ambassador to the Bahamas and the wife of Netflix co-ceo and chief content officer Ted Sarandos, and their son, Alexander, a producer (Dad Stop Embarrassing Me!) and talent rep.

“Clarence leaves behind a loving family and a sea of friends and associates that have changed the world and will continue to change the world for generations to come,” the Avant/Sarandos family said.

The first thing that grabs your attention about Teezo Touchdown is his look — especially when his hair is draped with actual nails. When you delve into his music, you might come across a pop-punk ballad, followed by a contemporary hip-hop track. Before you know it, you’re yearning to know more about him. You won’t be alone there: Teezo’s highly unorthodox approach has proved irresistible to some of music’s boldest names, from Tyler, the Creator (who featured him on Call Me If You Get Lost) to Madonna...

Three months from now, the Weeknd might just have an Emmy to place alongside his four Grammys and his Oscar nomination.

That’s because he joins a dozen other music superstars — including Dolly Parton, Common, Ryan Tedder, “Weird Al” Yankovic and Meshell Ndegeocello — who have entered work in this year’s Emmy competition.

Voting began yesterday in the seven music categories. Approximately 550 members of the Academy’s music branch will cast ballots, although viewing the hundreds of entries before voting ends on June 26 is an impossible task, Academy officials privately concede.

The Weeknd, aka Abel Tesfaye, is among the 19 entries in the Music Direction category. He submitted “The Weeknd Live at Sofi Stadium,” an HBO special that aired in February. If nominated, he’s likely to be up against such past winners as Adam Blackstone and Rickey Minor (“The Oscars”).

Most of the big-name performers have entered the song category...

“The story itself is just so compelling… it’s all about healing,” shares Caroline B. Marx about what drew her to the new Hulu series “UnPrisoned,” which centers on a daughter attempting to reconcile with her father after his 17-year prison sentence. The costume designer appreciated that the show is “based on reality” — it draws inspiration from the life of creator Tracy McMillan — and that it is “socially relevant.” Watch our exclusive video interview above.

Kerry Washington stars as Paige, a relationship therapist who welcomes her father Edwin (Delroy Lindo) into her home despite the effects his incarceration had on her as a child. Marx collaborated closely with the actress to pick the color palate of Paige’s fashion, which McMillan had described to her as “Minneapolis but by way of Brooklyn.” The creator conceived of Paige as a “hipster but she’s adulting now,” but Tracy herself “doesn’t wear color at all,...

Thirty years ago when Robin Thicke was 16, he recorded his first album with R&b star Brian McKnight. But the music wasn’t epic.

“[The label] was willing to put it out, but there wasn’t going to be a lot of promotion money behind it, so I said, ‘Let’s shelve it,’” he recalls.

While still recording his own music, he went on to develop his musicality by writing and producing for others, including Michael Jackson, Usher, Christina Aguilera, Pink, Jordan Knight, Brandy, Raven-Symoné, 98 Degrees, Marc Anthony, Mya, Color Me Badd, Guy Sebastian, Brownstone, Will Young, Kevon Edmonds, Ron Keating, Chante Moore and others.

But he needed to get back to making music for himself, so the early twentysomething decided he wouldn’t cut his hair until he heard his song on the radio.

“My hair grew down to my shoulders, and I ended up meeting Andre Harrell, who changed...

Los Angeles hosted the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2022 induction ceremony on Saturday night. It was an eclectic group of artists being honored, including Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo, Duran Duran, Eminem, Eurythmics, Dolly Parton, Judas Priest and Lionel Richie. Eminem was elected on his first year of eligiblity (25 years after a first record release), but all of the others have been waiting for many years to be chosen.

HBO will premiere the event on Saturday, November 19. Below is a complete list of every performer, presenter and songs performed at the Microsoft Theater. While all of these were seen by the live audience in the order listed below, some of these might not be on the final edited ceremony for HBO.

SEEDuran Duran: 20 best songs ranked

Duran Duran — inducted by Robert Downey, Jr. Songs were “Girls on Film,” “Hungry Like the Wolf” and “Ordinary World.” Original band member Andy Taylor...

When Dolly Parton learned she was going to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, her first reaction was to tell her supporters not to vote for her since she saw herself as strictly a country artist. But when she walked onstage near the end of the induction ceremony Saturday night at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, after witnessing an incredible evening of music by artists as diverse as Eminem, Judas Priest, Lionel Richie, and Duran Duran, a beaming Parton had a very different take on the situation.

Father’s Day and Juneteenth overlap this year, and there is no shortage of programming on television for the latter holiday, which celebrates the day in 1865 when Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas, and delivered the news that all enslaved people were free. The Emancipation Proclamation arrived two years later on Jan. 1, 1863.

Juneteenth has gained more awareness in recent years, finally becoming recognized as a federal holiday in 2021.

Programming celebrating Black music, culture and more will run all weekend, culminating in the holiday itself on Sunday, June 19.

Below, check out our Juneteenth viewing guide to watch to watch on TV and streaming this weekend.

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Country singer Jimmie Allen will host an hourlong segment recognizing the influence of Black artists in music. The special will run on ABC on Friday, June 18 starting at 8pm Eastern and Pacific time. The “Sound of Freedom:...

The number and range of superstars vying for Emmys this year – everyone from Kanye West and 50 Cent to Mick Jagger and Imagine Dragons – is staggering.

More than 600 entries in the seven Emmy music categories were unveiled today as voting began for the nominations round. Nominations will be announced by the Television Academy on July 12.

The most star-studded category is that of best song. “Euphoria” star Zendaya and composer Labrinth, who won Emmys for the series in 2020, have entered two songs from this past season as co-writers and could score again given the huge popularity of the HBO series. Labrinth has also entered in the series-score category.

Country stars Keith Urban and Miranda Lambert are up for songs in “Nine Perfect Strangers” and “Queer Eye,” respectively. Music docs are included too, as Sheryl Crow has entered a song from the new Showtime documentary on her life and Mary J. Blige...

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When it comes to sheer magnitude of impact, few pop artists have come close to the legacy of the Janet Jackson. And while her story is certainly well-known in many aspects, the throughline of her life has left room for much speculation and heresy. For THR Presents, powered by Vision Media, Benjamin Hirsch and Rick Murray, the director and executive producer of Lifetime’s new four-part docuseries Janet Jackson, opened up about the years-long process of telling Jackson’s story in the right way.

The two British filmmakers are hardly an obvious choice for spearheading the telling of Jackson’s life. “I mean, do we look like your usual Janet fans? Two white guys from the U.K.?” asked Murray. “Janet was, in our country, as well as the U.S., a megastar, an icon. I sort of closely followed her career and...

As Hollywood events return to full force in New York and Los Angeles amid the coronavirus pandemic, here’s a look at the week’s biggest premieres, parties and openings, including Colin in Black and White, Spencer, Last Night in Soho and The Shrink Next Door.

Love Life season two premiere

Paul Feig unveiled the second season of his HBO Max anthology series at a Tribeca Fall Preview event on Sunday, in which William Jackson Harper takes over as the main character of the show from Anna Kendrick. “This main character is from such a different walk of life; it’s such a different lens, but it still has that inherent relatability,” Kendrick, who is staying on this season as guest star and executive producer, told THR on the red carpet. “There’s so many moments of the season that just make me go like, ‘Oh my God, I’ve been exactly there,...

Three of this year’s Oscar nominated tunes were penned by Black songwriters: Celeste reaped a bid (along with Daniel Pemberton) for “Hear My Voice” from “The Trial of the Chicago”; D’Mile, recent Grammy champ H.E.R. and Tiara Thomas collaborated on “Fight for You” from “Judas and the Black Messiah”; and supporting actor nominee Leslie Odom Jr. was cited with Nashville based singer/songwriter Sam Ashworth for “Speak Now” from “One Night in Miami.”

The first Black tunesmith to contend for Best Original Song at the Oscars was Quincy Jones who was nominated in 1967 (alongside lyricist Bob Russell) for “The Eyes of Love” from the long-forgotten “Banning.” (Jones earned the first of his four score Oscar nominations that same year for “In Cold Blood.”) He and Russell reaped another bid the following year for the title tune from “For Love of Ivy.” His last nomination to date was in 1985 for...

Legendary producers and songwriters Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis join host Brian Hiatt for a career-spanning interview on the latest episode of our Rolling Stone Music Now podcast, discussing their stint working with Prince as members of the Time, their multi-decade collaboration with Janet Jackson, the birth of their collaborative style, the stories behind some of their greatest hits, and much more.

They also explain why, after originally intending to release a debut Jam and Lewis LP circa 1987, they’ve finally gotten around to working on their own album, which...

SiriusXM has announced a series of limited-run stations dedicated to artists like Prince, David Bowie, Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Fleetwood Mac, and others, with many of the channels featuring exclusive content from the respective artists. The channels will debut on the satellite-radio company’s app beginning May 1st.

In the case of the Prince Channel, a previously unheard two-hour demo of a radio special Prince conceived prior to the release of his 2006 LP, 3121, will air for the first time. Recorded by Prince in 2005, the special “features songs from his unparalleled catalog,...