Tom Llamas to Take Over NBC Nightly News Anchor Duties This June

Posted on May 4, 2025 by Tom Castaneda

Tom Llamas is less than a month away from making history…

The 45-year-old Cuban-American journalist will officially take over the NBC Nightly News anchor desk from Lester Holt on Monday, June 2, becoming the first Latino to anchor a major network’s English-language evening news broadcast.

Holt‘s final evening in the anchor chair will be on May 30.

Holt announced in February that he’d be stepping down from his role after 10 years. He’ll remain with the network as full-time anchor of Dateline NBC.

Llamas, who returned to the network in 2021, will also serve as managing editor, as Holt did.

Llamas also will continue to anchor Top Story, NBC News Now’s signature nighttime show that runs from 7-8 p.m. ET.

World News Tonight with David Muir remains at the top of the ratings.

In naming Llamas to the role, NBC News noted that he helped introduce the network “to a new generation of viewers” on NBC News Now, which has a younger audience than the traditional network.

He’ll be the youngest anchor at any of a network evening news broadcast.

CBS switched anchors on CBS Evening News earlier this year, with John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois succeeding Norah O’Donnell.

The show also has taken a different approach to the traditional, headline-driven broadcast, placing more of an emphasis on correspondent storytelling. But the ratings have been down vs. a year ago.

Justina Machado Earns Her First-Ever Tony Awards Nomination for “Real Women Have Curves: The Musical”

Posted on May 2, 2025 by Tom Castaneda

Justina Machado has earned a career first…

The 78th annual Tony Awards nominations have been revealed, with the 52-year-old Puerto Rican actress earning her first-ever Tony nod.

Machado earned a nod in the Actress in a Featured Role (Musical) category for her work in Real Women Have Curves: The Musical.

She originated the role of Carmen Garcia in the Broadway musical production of Real Women Have Curves.

Joy Huerta has earned her first Tony Award nomination…

The 38-year-old Mexican Grammy-winning singer, songwriter and Jesse & Joy duo member is nominated in the Best Original Score category for co-writing the music and lyrics for Real Women Have Curves: The Musical alongside Benjamin Velez.

Marco Ramirez has earned a Tony Award nod in the Best Book of a Musical category.

The Latino television producer, screenwriter and playwright earned the nod for his work on Buena Vista Social Club, which earned 10 Tony Award nominations.

Former Miami City Ballet principal dancer Patricia Delgado has earned a Tony Award nod for Best Choreography.

The 44-year-old Cuban ballet dancer, répétiteur and teacher earned the nomination for her acclaimed work alongside her husband Justin Peck for Buena Vista Social Club.

Arnulfo Maldonado earned a nod in the Best Scenic Design of a Musical category.

The Latino scenic designer set and costume designer earned the nod for Buena Vista Social Club.

This year’s Tony Awards will return to Radio City Music Hall in New York City.

Hosted by Tony, Emmy and Grammy Award-winner and three-time Oscar nominee Cynthia Erivo,

The American Theatre Wing’s Tony Awards will broadcast live to both coasts on Sunday, June 8 on CBS, and streaming on Paramount+ in the U.S.

Here’s the complete list of Tony Award nominations:

Best Musical
Buena Vista Social Club
Dead Outlaw
Death Becomes Her
Maybe Happy Ending
Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical

Best Play
English
The Hills of California
John Proctor is the Villain
Oh, Mary!
Purpose

Best Musical Revival
Floyd Collins
Gypsy
Pirates! The Penzance Musical
Sunset Blvd.

Best Play Revival
Eureka Day
Romeo + Juliet
Thornton Wilder’s Our Town
Yellow Face

Actor in a Leading Role (Musical)
Darren Criss: Maybe Happy Ending
Andrew Durand: Dead Outlaw
Tom Francis: Sunset Blvd.
Jonathan Groff: Just in Time
James Monroe Iglehart: A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical
Jeremy Jordan: Floyd Collins

Actress in a Leading Role (Musical)
Megan Hilty: Death Becomes Her
Audra McDonald: Gypsy
Jasmine Amy Rogers: Boop! The Musical
Nicole Scherzinger: Sunset Blvd.
Jennifer Simard: Death Becomes Her

Actor in a Featured Role (Musical)
Brooks Ashmanskas: Smash
Jeb Brown: Dead Outlaw
Danny Burstein: Gypsy
Jak Malone: Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical
Taylor Trensch: Floyd Collins

Actress in a Featured Role (Musical)
Natalie Venetia Belcon: Buena Vista Social Club
Julia Knitel: Dead Outlaw
Gracie Lawrence: Just in Time
Justina Machado: Real Women Have Curves: The Musical
Joy Woods: Gypsy

Actor in a Leading Role (Play)
George Clooney: Good Night, and Good Luck
Cole Escola: Oh, Mary!
Jon Michael Hill: Purpose
Daniel Dae Kim: Yellow Face
Harry Lennix: Purpose
Louis McCartney: Stranger Things: The First Shadow

Actress in a Leading Role (Play)
Laura Donnelly: The Hills of California
Mia Farrow: The Roommate
LaTanya Richardson Jackson: Purpose
Sadie Sink: John Proctor is the Villain
Sarah Snook: The Picture of Dorian Gray

Actor in a Featured Role (Play)
Glenn Davis: Purpose
Gabriel Ebert: John Proctor is the Villain
Francis Jue: Yellow Face
Bob Odenkirk: Glengarry Glen Ross
Conrad Ricamora: Oh, Mary!

Actress in a Featured Role (Play)
Tala Ashe: English
Jessica Hecht: Eureka Day
Marjan Neshat: English
Fina Strazza: John Proctor is the Villain
Kara Young: Purpose

Best Book of a Musical
Buena Vista Social Club: Marco Ramirez
Dead Outlaw: Itamar Moses
Death Becomes Her: Marco Pennette
Maybe Happy Ending: Will Aronson and Hue Park
Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical: David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson and Zoë Roberts

Best Original Score
Dead Outlaw: Music & Lyrics: David Yazbek and Erik Della Penna
Death Becomes Her: Music & Lyrics: Julia Mattison and Noel Carey
Maybe Happy Ending: Music: Will Aronson; Lyrics: Will Aronson and Hue Park
Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical: Music & Lyrics: David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson and Zoë Roberts

Real Women Have Curves: The Musical: Music & Lyrics: Joy Huerta and Benjamin Velez

Best Choreography
Joshua Bergasse: Smash
Camille A. Brown: Gypsy
Christopher Gattelli: Death Becomes Her
Jerry Mitchell: Boop! The Musical
Patricia Delgado and Justin Peck: Buena Vista Social Club

Direction (Play)
Knud Adams: English
Sam Mendes: The Hills of California
Sam Pinkleton: Oh, Mary!
Danya Taymor: John Proctor is the Villain
Kip Williams: The Picture of Dorian Gray

Direction (Musical)
Saheem Ali: Buena Vista Social Club
Michael Arden: Maybe Happy Ending
David Cromer: Dead Outlaw
Christopher Gattelli: Death Becomes Her
Jamie Lloyd: Sunset Blvd.

Best Scenic Design of a Play
Marsha Ginsberg: English
Rob Howell: The Hills of California
Marg Horwell and David Bergman: The Picture of Dorian Gray
Miriam Buether and 59: Stranger Things: The First Shadow
Scott Pask: Good Night, and Good Luck

Best Scenic Design of a Musical
Rachel Hauck: Swept Away (pictured)
Dane Laffrey and George Reeve: Maybe Happy Ending
Arnulfo Maldonado: Buena Vista Social Club
Derek McLane: Death Becomes Her
Derek McLane: Just in Time

Best Costume Design of a Play
Brenda Abbandandolo: Good Night, and Good Luck
Marg Horwell: The Picture of Dorian Gray
Rob Howell: The Hills of California
Holly Pierson: Oh, Mary!
Brigitte Reiffenstuel: Stranger Things: The First Shadow

Best Costume Design of a Musical
Dede Ayite: Buena Vista Social Club
Gregg Barnes: BOOP! The Musical
Clint Ramos: Maybe Happy Ending
Paul Tazewell: Death Becomes Her
Catherine Zuber: Just in Time

Best Lighting Design of a Play
Natasha Chivers: The Hills of California
Jon Clark: Stranger Things: The First Shadow
Heather Gilbert and David Bengali: Good Night, and Good Luck
Natasha Katz and Hannah Wasilesk: John Proctor is the Villain (pictured)
Nick Schlieper: The Picture of Dorian Gray

Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Jack Knowles: Sunset Blvd.
Tyler Micoleau: Buena Vista Social Club
Scott Zielinski and Ruey Horng Sun Floyd Collins
Ben Stanton: Maybe Happy Ending
Justin Townsend: Death Becomes Her

Best Sound Design of a Play
Paul Arditti: Stranger Things: The First Shadow (pictured)
Palmer Hefferan: John Proctor is the Villain
Daniel Kluger: Good Night, and Good Luck
Nick Powell: The Hills of California
Clemence Williams: The Picture of Dorian Gray

Best Sound Design of a Musical
Jonathan Deans: Buena Vista Social Club
Adam Fisher: Sunset Blvd.
Peter Hylenski: Just in Time
Peter Hylenski: Maybe Happy Ending
Dan Moses Schreier: Floyd Collins

Best Orchestrations
Andrew Resnick and Michael Thurber: Just in Time
Will Aronson: Maybe Happy Ending
Bruce Coughlin: Floyd Collins
Marco Paguia: Buena Vista Social Club
David Cullen and Andrew Lloyd Webber: Sunset Blvd.

Joy Huerta Earns Outer Critics Circle Awards Nomination for Co-Composing “Real Women Have Curves” Score

Posted on April 25, 2025 by Tom Castaneda

Joy Huerta is celebrating a Curves-aceous shout out!

The 38-year-old Mexican Grammy– and Latin Grammy-winning singer and songwriter – a vocalist of Jesse & Joy, a duo she forms with her older brother, Jesse Huerta – has earned a nomination for this year’s Outer Critics Circle Awards.

Huerta is nominated in the Outstanding Score (Broadway or Off-Broadway) for co-composing the music and wrote the lyrics for the Broadway musical Real Women Have Curves alongside Benjamin Velez,

The musical is based on the play and film of the same name.

But Huerta isn’t the only Real contender this year.

Wilberth Gonzalez has earned an Outer Critics Circle Awards nod for Outstanding Ciostume Design.

The Latino costume designer and illustrator earned the nomination for his work alongside Paloma Young for Real Women Have Curves.

The winners of the 75th Anniversary Outer Critics Circle Awards will be announced on Monday, May 12, 2025, followed by an awards ceremony on Thursday, May 22, 2025.

The Outer Critics Circle is the official organization of writers on New York theater for out-of-town, national, and digital news publications. The Circle awards trophies for both Broadway and Off Broadway productions.

Here’s a look at this year’s nominees:

2025 OUTER CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD NOMINATIONS

Outstanding New Broadway Play
Cult of Love
The Hills of California
John Proctor Is the Villain
Purpose
Stranger Things: The First Shadow

Outstanding New Broadway Musical
Boop! The Musical
Death Becomes Her
Maybe Happy Ending
Operation Mincemeat
Real Women Have Curves

Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical
The Big Gay Jamboree
Drag: The Musical
We Live in Cairo

Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play
The Antiquities Grangeville
Here There Are Blueberries Liberation
Table 17

John Gassner Award (new American play preferably by a new playwright)
Amy Berryman, Walden
George Clooney and Grant Heslov, Good Night, and Good Luck
Marin Ireland, Pre-Existing Condition
Lia Romeo, Still
Emil Weinstein, Becoming Eve

Outstanding Revival of a Musical
Cats: The Jellicle Ball
Floyd Collins
Gypsy
Once Upon a Mattress
Sunset Boulevard

Outstanding Revival of a Play
Beckett Briefs: From the Cradle to the Grave
Glengarry Glen Ross
Romeo + Juliet
Vanya
Yellow Face

Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Play
Kit Connor, Romeo + Juliet
Laura Donnelly, The Hills of California
Mia Farrow, The Roommate
Jon Michael Hill, Purpose
Louis McCartney, Stranger Things: The First Shadow

Outstanding Featured Performer in a Broadway Play
Kieran Culkin, Glengarry Glen Ross
LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Purpose
Francis Jue, Yellow Face
Mare Winningham, Cult of Love
Kara Young, Purpose

Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Musical
Darren Criss, Maybe Happy Ending
Jeremy Jordan, Floyd Collins
Audra McDonald, Gypsy
Jasmine Amy Rogers, Boop! The Musical
Nicole Scherzinger, Sunset Boulevard
Jennifer Simard, Death Becomes Her

Outstanding Featured Performer in a Broadway Musical
Danny Burstein, Gypsy
Jak Malone, Operation Mincemeat
Michele Pawk, Just in Time
Christopher Sieber, Death Becomes Her
Michael Urie, Once Upon a Mattress

Outstanding Lead Performer in an Off-Broadway Musical
Nick Adams, Drag: The Musical
Marla Mindelle, The Big Gay Jamboree
Nkeki Obi-Melekwe, Safety Not Guaranteed
Alaska Thunderfuck, Drag: The Musical
Taylor Trensch, Safety Not Guaranteed

Outstanding Featured Performer in an Off-Broadway Musical
Ali Louis Bourzgui, We Live in Cairo Paris Nix, The Big Gay Jamboree Eddie Korbich, Drag: The Musical
Elaine Marcos, Drag: The Musical Andre De Shields, Cats: The Jellicle Ball Henry Stram, Three Houses

Outstanding Lead Performer in an Off-Broadway Play
Caroline Aaron, Conversations with Mother
Murray Abraham, Beckett Briefs: From the Cradle to the Grave
Jayne Atkinson, Still
Adam Driver, Hold On to Me Darling
Anthony Edwards, The Counter
Paul Sparks, Grangeville

Outstanding Featured Performer in an Off-Broadway Play
Betsy Aidem, Liberation Sean Bell, The Beacon
Michael Rishawn, Table 17
Richard Schiff, Becoming Eve
Frank Wood, Hold On to Me Darling

Outstanding Solo Performance
David Greenspan, I’m Assuming You Know David Greenspan
Khawla Ibraheem, A Knock on the Roof
Sam Kissajukian, 300 Paintings
Andrew Scott, Vanya
Sarah Snook, The Picture of Dorian Gray

Outstanding Book of a Musical (Broadway or Off-Broadway)
Will Aronson and Hue Park, Maybe Happy Ending
David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson, and Zoë Roberts, Operation Mincemeat
Daniel Lazour and Patrick Lazour, We Live in Cairo
Bob Martin, Boop! The Musical
Marco Pennette, Death Becomes Her

Outstanding Score (Broadway or Off-Broadway)
Will Aronson and Hue Park, Maybe Happy Ending
David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson, and Zoë Roberts, Operation Mincemeat
David Foster and Susan Birkenhead, Boop! The Musical
Joy Huerta and Benjamin Velez, Real Women Have Curves
Julia Mattison and Noel Carey, Death Becomes Her

Outstanding Orchestrations (Broadway or Off-Broadway)
Will Aronson, Maybe Happy Ending
Doug Besterman, Death Becomes Her
Joseph Joubert and Daryl Waters, Pirates! The Penzance Musical
Daniel Lazour and Michael Starobin, We Live in Cairo
Andrew Resnick, Just in Time

Outstanding Direction of a Musical
Michael Arden, Maybe Happy Ending
Christopher Gattelli, Death Becomes Her
Robert Hastie, Operation Mincemeat
Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch, Cats: The Jellicle Ball
Jerry Mitchell, Boop! The Musical

Outstanding Direction of a Play
Trip Cullman, Cult of Love
Stephen Daldry and Justin Martin, Stranger Things: The First Shadow
Sam Mendes, The Hills of California
Phylicia Rashad, Purpose
Danya Taymor, John Proctor Is the Villain

Outstanding Choreography
Jenny Arnold, Operation Mincemeat
Warren Carlyle, Pirates! The Penzance Musical
Christopher Gattelli, Death Becomes Her
Shannon Lewis, Just in Time
Jerry Mitchell, Boop! the Musical

Outstanding Scenic Design
Miriam Buether, Jamie Harrison, and Chris Fisher, Stranger Things: The First Shadow
Rachel Hauck, Swept Away
Rob Howell, The Hills of California
Dane Laffrey, Maybe Happy Ending
Derek McLane, Death Becomes Her

Outstanding Costume Design
Gregg Barnes, Boop! The Musical
Wilberth Gonzalez and Paloma Young, Real Women Have Curves
Rob Howell, The Hills of California
Qween Jean, Cats: The Jellicle Ball
Paul Tazewell, Death Becomes Her

Outstanding Lighting Design
Kevin Adams, Swept Away
Natasha Chivers, The Hills of California
Jon Clark, Stranger Things: The First Shadow
Ben Stanton, Maybe Happy Ending
Justin Townsend, Death Becomes Her

Outstanding Sound Design
Paul Arditti, Stranger Things: The First Shadow
Adam Fisher, Sunset Boulevard
Peter Hylenski, Death Becomes Her
Peter Hylenski, Maybe Happy Ending
John Shivers, Swept Away

Outstanding Video/Projections
59, Stranger Things: The First Shadow
Nathan Amzi and Joe Ransom, Sunset Boulevard
David Bergman, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Hana S. Kim, Redwood
Finn Ross, Boop! The Musical

Special Awards
Patrick Hoffman, the recently retired curator of the Theatre on Film and Tape Archive at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, in honor of over three decades of service to the theater community, during which time he ensured the preservation of over 1,200 productions.

Note on Eligibility
The following productions were considered in previous seasons, with only new elements eligible during this cycle: Buena Vista Social Club; Dead Outlaw; English; Hold On to Me Darling; Job; and Oh, Mary!. The following productions were not eligible for awards this season: All In: Comedy About Love, and Ben Platt: Live at the Palace.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Launches ‘México Canta’ Binational Contest Aimed at Creating Music That Doesn’t Glorify Violence or Drugs

Posted on April 10, 2025 by Tom Castaneda

Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum is hoping to change the musical narrative…

The 62-year-old Mexican politician, scientist and academic, the 66th president of Mexico a and first woman to hold the office, is hoping to encourage young artists — especially those in the trending genre of corridos tumbados — to create songs that don’t glorify violence or drugs.

This week Sheinbaum announced México Canta, a binational contest aimed at shifting the focus of Mexican music to themes like “love, heartbreak and peace.”

This is the first initiative launched by the Mexican government to use music as a way to counteract the glorification of violence and the fascination some young people have with joining criminal groups, drawn by the promise of a flashy, luxurious lifestyle — all happening amid the wave of violence affecting certain regions of the country.

“While the contest won’t solve this issue overnight, and we’re not neglecting the underlying causes — for that, there’s a whole national security program — we felt it was important to create creative spaces through culture for Mexican and Mexican-American youth who are passionate about music,” explains Claudia Curiel de Icaza, Mexico’s Secretary of Culture, to Billboard Español.

In her opinion, many young Mexicans see their dreams of breaking into the music industry crushed, because they don’t have instruments or professional recording equipment.

“Organized crime takes advantage of this situation and starts funding musicians,” says the official. “No one hires you if you don’t have a solid music production to stand out. This program aims to provide that professional support.”

The presidential initiative is backed by a segment of the country’s music industry, including major players like Virgin Music Group and Fonovisa/Universal, the Mexican Society of Authors and Composers (SACM), the Mexican Association of Producers of Phonograms and Videograms (AMPROFON), among others.

Registrations will be open at mexicocanta.gob.mx from April 28 to May 30.

The grand finale will take place on October 5 in the Mexican state of Durango.

Who can participate?
All young Mexican and Mexican-American performers between the ages of 18 and 34.

How can you participate?
With songs or performances in genres like mariachi, norteño, banda, corrido, tropical, duranguense, campirano, bolero, among others, as well as fusions with rap, rock, pop, and hip-hop. Participants can perform in indigenous languages, Spanish, or Spanglish, with original songs up to 3 minutes long.

In which cities will participants be selected?
In the U.S.: Chicago, Houston, and Los Angeles.
In Mexico: Tijuana, Mexico City, and Oaxaca.

Where can the contest be followed?
On the Mexican government’s public channels and official social media platforms.

What are the prizes?
Regional winners will receive mentorship from a group of specialists.
For Best Song, the prize is a contract with a national, international, or independent record label.
The Best Performer will be awarded a record deal and the opportunity to record an album.
The winner of the Jury Prize will receive a record deal and the opportunity to record an EP (6 songs).

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “Hamilton” Cast Album Added to Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry

Posted on April 9, 2025 by Tom Castaneda

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s smash Broadway musical has earned a place in the Registry.

The 45-year-old Puerto Rican award-winning actor, composer, lyricist, producer, director and playwright’s cast album for his Tony Award-winning Broadway sensation Hamilton: An American Musical is among this year’s 25 additions to the National Recording Registry, which is administered by the Library of Congress.

This year’s selections span 102 years, from 1913 (a recording of “Aloha ‘Oe” by Hawaiian Quintette) to 2015 (Miranda’s Hamilton cast album).

Hamilton (2015) is the first Broadway cast album that was released since Sweeney Todd in 1979 to be selected.

The album, like the musical, has been a best-selling phenomenon, receiving Diamond certification (meaning 10 million copies sold) from the RIAA in 2023.

Produced by The Roots members Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson and Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter, the album preserves the musical’s original Broadway cast, and released September 25, 2015, via Atlantic Records.

Freddy Fender’s country/pop smash “Before the Next Teardrop Falls” (1975) has also been added to the Registry.

The late Mexican American singer’s song is one of three songs on the Registry to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

“Before the Next Teardrop Falls” topped that chart for two weeks.

The single — which features verses sung in both English and Spanish — broke boundaries in the music industry by becoming a crossover hit, reaching No. 1 on both the Hot Country Songs chart and the Billboard Hot 100.

Fender’s emotive performance and heartfelt delivery turned the song into a classic, showcasing the power of Latin voices in country music — a genre that initially had limited representation from Hispanic artists.

Vicente Fernández’s enduring ranchera classic “El Rey” (1973), one of the most recognizable songs in Regional Mexican music, joined the roster of Latin recordings in the Registry.

The late Mexican singer and actor’s iconic song appears on his 1973 album, El Ídolo de México, and it was written by José Alfredo Jiménez in 1971.

With its kingly themes of resilience and pride, “El Rey” has become emblematic of Chente’s enduring legacy, even inspiring a 2022 Netflix bioseries of the same name that celebrates his life and career. The mariachi singer — who died in 2021 — remains one of Mexico’s most celebrated musical figures, and his induction into the Registry further solidifies his enduring legacy.

More than 2,600 nominations were made by the public this year.

Under the terms of the National Recording Preservation Act of 2000, the Librarian of Congress, with advice from the National Recording Preservation Board, selects 25 titles each year that are “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”

Recordings become eligible for the Registry 10 years after release, compared to 25 years for the Grammy Hall of Fame. (Which means the Hamilton cast album won’t be eligible there for another 15 years.)

“These are the sounds of America – our wide-ranging history and culture,” Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden said in a statement. “The Library of Congress is proud and honored to select these audio treasures worthy of preservation.”

Industry veteran Robbin Ahrold serves as chair of the National Recording Preservation Board. “This year’s National Recording Registry list is an honor roll of superb American popular music from the wide-ranging repertoire of our great nation,” he said in a statement.

These 25 recordings bring the number of titles on the Registry to 675. This represents just a tiny fraction of the Library’s vast recorded sound collection of nearly four million items.

Here’s the complete list of 2025 additions to the National Recording Registry. They are listed in chronological order by release date.

“Aloha ‘Oe” – Hawaiian Quintette (1913, Victor)
“Sweet Georgia Brown” – Brother Bones & His Shadows (1949, Tempo)
“Happy Trails” – Roy Rogers and Dale Evans (1952, RCA Victor)
Radio Broadcast of Game 7 of the 1960 World Series – Chuck Thompson (1960)
Harry Urata Field Recordings (1960-1980)
Hello Dummy! – Don Rickles (1968, Warner Bros.)
Chicago Transit Authority – Chicago (1969, Columbia)
Bitches Brew – Miles Davis (1970, Columbia)
“Kiss An Angel Good Mornin’” – Charley Pride (1971, RCA Victor)
“I Am Woman” – Helen Reddy (1972, Capitol)
“El Rey” – Vicente Fernández (1973, CBS)
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road – Elton John (1973, MCA)
“Before the Next Teardrop Falls” – Freddy Fender (1975, ABC/Dot)
I’ve Got the Music in Me – Thelma Houston & Pressure Cooker (1975, Sheffield Lab)
The Kӧln Concert – Keith Jarrett (1975, ECM)
Fly Like an Eagle – Steve Miller Band (1976, Capitol)
Nimrod Workman Collection (1973-1994)
Tracy Chapman – Tracy Chapman (1988, Elektra)
My Life – Mary J. Blige (1994, Uptown/MCA)
Microsoft Windows Reboot Chime – Brian Eno (1995)
“My Heart Will Go On” – Celine Dion (1997, 550 Music/Epic)
Our American Journey – Chanticleer (2002) (album, Warner Classics International)
Back to Black – Amy Winehouse (2006 album, Republic/Universal Music)
Minecraft: Volume Alpha – Daniel Rosenfeld (2011 album, self-released)
Hamilton: An American Musical – Original Broadway Cast Album (2015 album, Atlantic)

Pabllo Vittar to Perform at This Year’s Outloud Music Festival in West Hollywood

Posted on March 22, 2025 by Tom Castaneda

Pabllo Vittar is outloud and proud,,,

The 31-year-old Brazilian drag queen and singer will perform in West Hollywood’s Outloud Music Festival as part of the city’s Pride Month celebrations.

Vittar joins a list of special musical guests for the festival that includes Rebecca Black, Kim Petras, Honey Dijon, Paris Hilton, Shygirl, Empress Of and more.

Taking place May 31 and June 1 at WeHo Pride, the annual festival will feature Lizzo and Lil Nas X as the weekend’s headliners.

“At a time when our rights and visibility continue to be challenged, it’s more important than ever for the LGBTQ+ community, allies, organizations, and advocates to come together in solidarity,” Jeff Consoletti, OUTLOUD’s founder and executive producer, said in a statement. “This festival is a place where we celebrate and empower queer artists on a massive scale. As we continue to grow, so does our impact in bringing the LGBTQ+ community to the forefront of entertainment.”

The news comes amid Lizzo’s big comeback — with the releases of her latest song “Still Bad” and the announcement of her forthcoming album Love in Real Life, Lizzo recently declared that she wants to “make real music with radical joy” in the coming months, while also claiming the allegations of sexual harassment leveled at her in 2023 were “supposed to destroy” her. “It has only set me free,” she wrote on X. “Now I know none of this is real. The only thing that’s real is the love that I share with my family, my friends, nature, my fans, in Real Life.”

Lil Nas X, meanwhile, has been hard at work releasing new music off his forthcoming album Dreamboy. After releasing five new songs in a row in mid-March, the rapper dropped his latest single “Lean On My Body” on Friday. The fan-favorite track was first teased by Lil Nas all the way back in 2022, a fact he reminded his fans of when he reposted the original clip on his X.

Pitbull to Perform at the 2025 NCAA March Madness Music Festival

Posted on March 12, 2025 by Tom Castaneda

Pitbull is embracing the madness this month…

With March Madness right around the corner, the NCAA and TNT Sports Live Events have announced that the 44-year-old Cuban American rap superstar is among the star-studded line-up of artists performing at 2025 NCAA March Madness Music Festival in conjunction with the Division I Men’s Final Four.

The three-day event will take place at Tower Park in San Antonio, Texas.

To kick things off, on April 4, Pitbull will headline the AT&T Block Party, following performances by Billboard Woman of the Year Doechii and R&B star Ravyn Lenae.

On April 5, Jelly Roll will take the stage at Coca-Cola Live!, in addition to performances by T-Pain and Willow Avalon.

Finally, on April 6, Chris Stapleton will headline Capital One JamFest. Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats as well as Brothers Osborne are also set to take the stage at the event.

For more details about the weekend and streaming availabilities, fans can stay up to date by visiting ncaa.com/marchmadness/musicfest.

To tune in to the March Madness fun, CBS Sports and TNT Sports will also provide live coverage of all 67 games from the 2025 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship across four national television networks – TBS, CBS, TNT and truTV – as well as NCAA March Madness Live.

Games airing on CBS will also stream live on Paramount+, and games airing on TBS, TNT and truTV will also stream live on Max.

The Final Four will air on CBS, beginning with the National Semifinals on Saturday, April 5, and the National Championship on Monday, April 7.

Selena Gomez to Serve as Presenter During This Year’s Academy Awards Show

Posted on February 19, 2025 by Tom Castaneda

Selena Gomez has a date with Oscar…

The 31-year-old Mexican American actress is among the latest additions to the presenters list for the 97th Oscars on March 2.

Gomez, who stars in the Oscar hopeful Emilia Perez, appears on the new additions list alongside Oprah Winfrey, Ben Stiller, Sterling K. Brown, Willem Dafoe, Ana de Armas, Lily-Rose Depp, Goldie Hawn, Connie Nielsen and Joe Alwyn.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences also said today that Nick Offerman will serve as the announcer for the ceremony.

Previously announced presenters include Halle Berry, Penélope Cruz, Elle Fanning, Whoopi Goldberg, Scarlett Johansson, John Lithgow, Amy Poehler, June Squibb and Bowen Yang.

Raj Kapoor is the Oscarcast executive producer and showrunner, and Katy Mullan also is executive producing.

Jennifer Lopez to Co-Headline This Year’s WorldPride Music Festival in Washington, D.C.

Posted on February 18, 2025 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a Pride-ful moment for Jennifer Lopez…

The 55-year-old Puerto Rican superstar will perform at this year’s WorldPride, which returns to the United States for the first time since 2019.

Lopez will co-headline the event alongside Troye Sivan for the Washington, D.C.-bound festival.

Taking place on June 6 and 7 at the RFK Festival Grounds, the WorldPride Music Festival is also set to feature breakout performances from stars including Raye, Tinashe, Kim Petras, Rita Ora, RuPaul, Galantis, Grimes, Marina and more.

In a statement released with the news, the festival’s executive producer Jake Resnicow said that the semi-annual event promised to be “a moment the world will remember” thanks to their roster of artists. “With legendary artists and our global community coming together, we’re creating an electrifying celebration that unites, uplifts, and amplifies LGBTQ+ voices like never before,” he said. “Hosting this festival in our nation’s capital makes it even more powerful — it’s not just a party, it’s a global movement.”

J..Lo comes to the festival just one year after she canceled her own This Is Me … Live Tour just one month before it was set to begin in May 2024.

“I am completely heartsick and devastated about letting you down,” she wrote at the time. “Please know that I wouldn’t do this if I didn’t feel that it was absolutely necessary. I promise I will make it up to you and we will all be together again.”

Sivan, meanwhile, is coming off a huge 2024, where he toured the U.S. with breakout superstar Charli XCX on their co-headlining, sold-out Sweat Tour. The “Rush” singer was also teased as a special guest for Charli’s headlining set at Primavera Sound in Barcelona on June 5, just one day before the 2025 WorldPride Festival begins.

Tickets for 2025’s WorldPride Music Festival go on-sale Friday, February 21 on WorldPride’s website.

Gabito Ballesteros Partnering with Anuel AA for Special Pre-Super Bowl LIX Video on FOX Deportes

Posted on February 5, 2025 by Tom Castaneda

Gabito Ballesteros is lending his voice to this year’s Super Bowl coverage…

The 25-year-old Mexican singer, songwriter and record producer – considered a rising star in the corridos tumbados movement – will be part of the Super Bowl LIX broadcast on Sunday, February 9.

Ballesteros will appear in a video singing alongside Puerto Rican urban star Anuel AA just prior to the game on FOX Deportes.

“It’s Mexican music and Latin culture within this great event that is seen by millions of people,” Ballesteros tells Billboard Español. “Thank God they will know our music, our history, and it fills us with pride to be here.”

It has not been specified exactly which song they’ll perform.

The video will serve as the opening for the channel’s broadcast of the most anticipated sporting event of the year in the U.S.: the NFL Super Bowl. This year, it’s the Kansas City Chiefs vs. the Philadelphia Eagles at the Caesars Superdome stadium in New Orleans.

According to FOX Deportes, the collaboration between Ballesteros and Anuel AA was recorded in December in Mexico City and “maintains the tradition of connecting with diverse audiences through music, culture and sports.”

In the past, other prominent Mexican figures — such as Los Tucanes de Tijuana, Los Tigres del Norte and Banda MS — have similarly inaugurated the channel’s Super Bowl telecast.

About his participation alongside Anuel AA, Ballesteros says he was “excited to be able to share this experience with these type of people who are an important part of Latin music” — adding, “I felt a great connection with him, and I look forward to something in the future.”

When asked if he was a fan of American football, he replied that he was a big fan of all sports and the discipline that comes with being an athlete.

“In general, I admire all the teams. I look up to them and I know they will offer a great game,” he says.

Originally from the Mexican state of Sonora, Ballesteros has topped the charts with hits such as “Lady Gaga” with Peso Pluma and Junior H, and “AMG” with Peso Pluma and Natanael Cano, two songs that made it onto the Billboard Hot 100 across all genres in 2023. Last year, he debuted on multiple charts with his album The GB.

Most recently, he signed with George Prajin‘s Double P Management.

Emmanuel Gazmey, better known as Anuel AA, rose to stardom in the reggaetón, rap and trap genres.

Among other chart achievements, four of his albums have reached No. 1 on Top Latin Albums, including Real Hasta la Muerte (2018), Emmanuel (2020), Los Dioses (2021) with Ozuna and Las Leyendas Nunca Mueren (2021).

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