Music News

Steve Aoki isn't letting a little thing like social distancing stop him from being a great human who helps out kids in need -- 'cause he's still doing exactly that ... just ask Juliana. The world-famous DJ and producer once again teamed up with the Kids Wish Network to make a sick child's dream come true -- this time, it was 12-year-old Juliana Goode ... who's an aspiring DJ herself. Juliana suffers from Cushing Syndrome -- an adrenal gland disease that produces an abnormal level of cortisol in the body -- and when KWN heard she saw Steve as an inspiration for her own career goals, they got in touch with him and, of course, he was on board to meet her. More importantly, he helped secure a sweet DJ setup for Juliana with the help of some of the top players in the game -- Denon DJ (which sells digital audio equipment) donated a DJ Prime Go portable console to Juliana, and Ion Audio provided her with some new speakers. Check out how the kid reacted when Steve revealed what he and the team had in store for her to help her go from computer DJ to a real-life one with her own mixer and soundboard ... pure joy. BTW, Juliana is a badass who knows her stuff. Watch ... she didn't hesitate to show off a bit. (TMZ)

Jay-Z once kicked other rappers off the set of a sultry Beyonce video. Jay-Z was protective of wife Beyonce long before they said "I do," according to Houston rapper Bun B. Solo artist and one half of legendary hip-hop duo UGK, Bun (born Bernard Freeman) recently recalled being booted from the music video set of Beyonce's 2005 single, "Check On It," over Jay's concern for other men witnessing Bey's revealing costumes and sultry dance moves. "We're on the set and we're filming the video, and if you look at the video, there's a lot of kind of skimpy outfits. Queenie [Bun B's wife] is there also, so it's not like I'm there salivating over another woman," Bun told Sama'an Ashrawi of "The Nostalgia Mixtape" podcast. "But we're like, 'Whoa, this is crazy. Beyonce's dancing in this short skirt and she's dancing in like a bikini,' type of thing, you know." "I think this is the scene with the chair, so it's like her and several other girls and they all have these short skirts on and they're all dancing seductively on the chair," he continued. "They've got a leg up on the chair so you can kind of see some thigh and maybe a little bit of butt if you're staring hard enough." The "Get Throwed" artist, 47, went on to say that Hov called one of Beyonce's assistants to pick up on the general vibe of the shoot, and was not happy. "He's like, 'Yeah, how's the video going, what's going good, are the guys there?' All the guys that are with us are the only men there. Well, let me say this: There were other men there, but they weren't straight," Bun related. "So they immediately come over to us and they kick all of us out to our dressing rooms and we're told to stay there until we have to shoot. We're not allowed to watch Beyonce dance anymore." Eventually, Bey herself approached the group to apologize. "'I'm so sorry you guys had to leave the room but Jay's not comfortable,'" Bun recalls her saying. "And we're all like, 'We understand fully, that's no problem, we're happy to be here.'" Jay featured UGK on his 2000 hit "Big Pimpin.'" "Check On It," while featured in 2006's "The Pink Panther" remake -- in which Bey co-starred as Xania -- was ultimately not included on the film's soundtrack. Jay-Z and Beyonce would go on to marry in 2008. (PageSix)

Gavin Rossdale on Wanting to Impress His Kids with His New Music: They 'Inspire Me to Be Better'. "I don't want them to play my records to their friends and say, 'What happened to my dad?'" the Bush frontman tells PEOPLE in this week's issue. While on tour with David Bowie in the '90s, Gavin Rossdale got a piece of advice from the late rock legend that he'll never forget: "Outlive your critics." With the Bush frontman, 54, and his bandmates' new album The Kingdom -- the eighth to be released in the nearly three decades since the band formed in 1992 -- out Friday, he realizes he's done just that. "The people who slagged me off are retired and gone," Rossdale tells PEOPLE in this week's issue, on newsstands Friday. "I was like, 'I did it!'" These days there are really only four critics Rossdale cares about, anyway: his kids. While writing and recording The Kingdom, he had his sons Kingston, 14, Zuma, 11, and Apollo, 6, whom he shares with ex-wife Gwen Stefani, and his daughter Daisy Lowe, 31, whom he shares with ex Pearl Lowe, on his mind. "I don't want them to play my records to their friends and say, 'What happened to my dad?'" he says. "I want them to be like, 'My dad's on fire.' They inspire me because I want them to like what I do. They inspire me to be better." Now that his eldest son Kingston is showing a similar passion for music, Rossdale says he's been trying to introduce him to some greats in the punk rock genre, including the Sex Pistols and Gang of Four. "We're trying all these different bands along with bands from his generation," he says. "Young kids that are making music now, it's cool, but I was like, 'Why don't we look at the beginning? See where it came from.' He's just a joy because when he's playing guitar, all he wants to do is wear my clothes. He comes out looking better than me, generally. Basically all three boys, all my kids, they're just better versions of me. I gave them my strengths." A benefit of life under lockdown amid the coronavirus pandemic for Rossdale has been the extra time he's gotten to spend with his boys, who have been splitting their time between their dad's home in Los Angeles and their mom's boyfriend Blake Shelton's ranch in Oklahoma. (Rossdale's daughter Daisy lives in London.) "We've been making a lot of ice cream," he says. "This morning I was playing some PS4 nonsense. I was getting heavily told off for not using controls correctly, but it's good fun. It's important how we hang out and spend time together." As a father, Rossdale says he's "really tough on matters and how you deal with people." "I don't like if they're lazy -- if they don't read a book, don't talk," he adds. "I'm seen as a bit soft in some regards because I don't want to be annoying, you know? So I respect them and I listen to them and I learn from them as to what they need, but I don't try to be a cool dad. I don't try to be their friend." With The Kingdom, Rossdale hopes it can serve as a soundtrack to the current uprising against police brutality. "It really feels like this record is a statement about how we can be better people," he says. "If you listen to the song 'Bullet Holes,' it talks about race wars. The Kingdom, which is the title track, could be the music to the peaceful protests. I can't wait for people to hear it." Overall, Rossdale feels extremely thankful to still be a "working musician." "My whole goal in my life was to get a record deal," he says. "That's what I thought was the most incredible thing. And that was enough. So to have a record deal and a life and a career is just like, oh my Lord, that's probably why we work so hard. We don't want it to end. We don't want it to go away. We're basically in the dance competition of life, and please don't tap us on the shoulder." "It's a great life," he adds. "It just blows me away how I still get to do what I love so much." For more from Gavin Rossdale on fame and fatherhood, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday. (People)

A Fan Asked Cardi B Where the New Music Is And... It's Definitely Not Where You Think. It's been 831 days since Cardi B dropped her smash debut studio album Invasion of Privacy and the Cardi Nation is itching for news on what she's cooking up for the follow-up. So, it was exciting on Wednesday morning (July 15) when a fan asked the simple question, "Girl where's the music" and Cardi got right back with a very on-brand response. "Inside the silicone on my left tittie," Cardi quipped, bringing the jokes, but no actual update on when we'll hear fresh tracks. Last month, Cardi responded to a diss (since deleted) with her signature humor, but also another little bit of daylight about the album. "Why you more thirsty about my music then my fans?," she wrote. "You must be the biggest fan cause you the first comment on this post... The music coming sweety... It's comin. Its going to hit too!!!" We most recently heard her join Anuel AA, Secreto, Black Jonas Point and Liro Shaq on the remix of "Le Bebe," but at press time a spokesperson could not be reached for comment on her next project. (Billboard)

Lil Xan Ends Social Media Silence With Harrowing Story About Health Scare. It's been several months since Lil Xan posted anything on his social feeds and on Wednesday (July 15) he explained to fans why he's been silent. "About 2 months ago I suffered from multiple seizures," the rapper (born Nicholas Diego Leanos), 23, tweeted on Tuesday alongside a smiling picture. "This was my second time in the last year I've been hospitalized for having seizures. I decided it was best for me, my friend's, family and supporters that I quit all prescriptions pills. The doctor's wanted me to wean off the pills but I went cold turkey and although it has been the toughest time in my life I'm happy to say that that I've been sober from all prescription pills since the scare." The rapper, who hasn't released an album since March 2019's Heartbreak Soldiers Pt. 2 mixtape, said this period of sobriety is the first time in a long time that he's felt "alive," promising that he plans to continue his journey to better himself. "I want to be an example for everyone that it's never too late to get your life back on track and you are not alone on this journey." The message, in which he urges his fans to "Stay Safe. Be Healthy. Never Give Up," includes a thank you to God for giving him a second chance at life. He also thanked his supporters and promised not to let them down, promising that new music is coming and that it is "the best music of my life and [I] can't wait to share with you all the things I have in store for the future." A spokesperson for Xan could not be reached for further comment on the rapper's condition or the release date for his new music. Back in Dec. 2018, Xan reportedly entered a rehab facility to deal with his opioid addiction. (Billboard)

Bigsound Will Go Ahead In 2020 With COVIDSafe Format. Bigsound is back on the industry calendar. While the health crisis wrecks the touring industry around the globe, Australia's main music industry conference and showcase is set for a return to Brisbane's Fortitude Valley in 2020 at a later date than usual, and in a condensed, COVIDSafe format. The announcement this week caught the industry by surprise. The southern state of Victoria and its capital Melbourne, widely regarded at the country's cultural mecca, has just entered a second lockdown to try curb a worrying spike in coronavirus cases. And there are worrying signs of an outbreak or two in New South Wales. The Bigsound show, however, will go on. Originally announced for Sept 1- 4, this year's event will be reduced to a two-day, two-night event from Oct. 21. All activities will follow social distancing and safety protocols, with a compact program of conferences, workshops, facilitated conversations, live festival showcases, secret shows and official parties, according to a statement issued by organizers. Artist live showcase applications are now open, and application fees have been waved this time, due to the event's condensed size and capacity. Billboard understands 13 venues are currently signed up to participate in Bigsound 2020. "We feel like we're looking after an event that's owned by the industry," says Angela Samut, CEO of QMusic, which produces the event. The numbers will be reduced to meet those health and safety regulations, but "we're definitely forging ahead," Samut tells Billboard. Many elements of the daytime programming will take place in a virtual sense. "It's an export event," notes Samut. Since its inauguration 18 years ago, "that's our point of difference." Tourism Minister Kate Jones said Bigsound would play an important role as the state enters the next phase of economic recovery. "Major events like this pump millions of dollars into the local economy and support local jobs," Jones said. "Because Queenslanders have done such a great job fighting COVID-19, we can now start welcoming tourists back to our state. This festival will deliver a great boost for local businesses at a time when everyone is doing it tough. It's great news for the industry." Speakers and performers will be announced in due course. Visit Bigsound.org.au for more. (Billboard)

Maroon 5's Mickey Madden Takes Leave of Absence After Arrest: Reports. Mickey Madden of Maroon 5 has taken a leave of absence from the band, according to several published reports. The bass player steps away from the Los Angeles pop-rock outfit just weeks after his arrest for alleged domestic violence. "I have some things that I need to deal with and address right now and so I have decided to leave Maroon 5," Madden said in a statement to Rolling Stone. "During this time," the statement continues, "I do not want to be a distraction to my bandmates. I wish them the absolute best." As previously reported, Madden was arrested on June 27. The LAPD provided the charge as "273.5(a)," which, according to the California penal code, is ""any person who willfully inflicts corporal injury resulting in a traumatic condition upon a victim." Madden posted a $50,000 bond and was released, ahead of his court date which is scheduled for Sept. 29. The victim of the assault was not identified. Earlier this week, Maroon 5 announced a string of 2021 North American tour dates, including shows at New York City's Madison Square Garden and Boston's Fenway Park. The band started the year hot with "Memories," the lead single from their forthcoming seventh studio album. "Memories" peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and made history atop Billboard's Adult Pop Songs radio airplay radio chart. (Billboard)

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