Gomez Among 24 Artists Featured on Orlando Shooting Charity Single “Hands”

Selena Gomez is lending her hands to help the victims of the Orlando Shooting.

The 23-year-old half-Mexican American singer/actress is among 24 artists featured on a new recording to raise money for the victims of the Pulse nightclub massacre.

Selena Gomez

The all-star release, entitled “Hands” — a charity single from Interscope Records with support from GLAAD — was conceived by hit songwriter Justin Tranter, co-writer of Justin Bieber’sSorry” and hits for Gomez, DNCE, Fall Out Boy and Gwen Stefani.

In addition to Gomez, the single also features Jennifer Lopez, who has worked on her own charity single with Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, Stefani, Jason Derulo, Meghan Trainor, Juanes, Pink, Mary J. Blige and Britney Spears.

The June 12 shooting at the gay nightclub in Orlando, which killed 49 people and injured 53, is the most deadly mass shooting in American history and the deadliest act of violence against the LGBT community.

Funds from the song will aid families with medical care, counseling and will also be used for education.

“Like the rest of the world I woke up to the news that morning and was horrified and sad and scared,” says Tranter, who has raised money and awareness for LGBT causes since coming out at age 14.

“Hands” is available on iTunes.

Proceeds will be distributed by Equality Florida Pulse Victims Fund, the GLBT Community Center of Central Florida and GLAAD.

The idea for the all-star project came together one day after the shooting.

L.A.-based Tranter and songwriting partner Julia Michaels had been on the road with Gomez writing songs aboard her tour bus in Miami the weekend of June 11 when news of the bloodshed prompted Tranter to switch course. That afternoon he signed on as a volunteer at The Center Orlando, the region’s chief LGBT community center.

“I called them and said, ‘If I fly up is there something for me to help with?'” he tells Billboard. “They say, ‘We need as many hands as we can possibly get.'”

“Hands” took hold the next day when Tranter met GLAAD CEO Sarah Kate Ellis who had arrived at the center from New York.

Beyond their immediate efforts — distributing food and water and GLAAD’s work with media — both were looking to make contributions that would have ongoing benefits. They point out that the massacre was also a profound attack on people of color, as that Saturday evening had been a popular “Latin Night” at Pulse. Most of the victims were of Latin heritage and Ellis says she does not want that point forgotten.

“When you hear the song it talks about hate being the driver here,” she says, “and that’s important because we have to be able to identify what’s driving these cruel acts in order to stop them. Artists using their platforms to accelerate acceptance is very powerful.”

Aligning with Interscope for the release, Tranter, GLAAD and Interscope president of A&R Aaron Bay-Schuck put the word out that a fundraiser was in the works. Within days artists from all spheres of the business had lined up — also among them Halsey, Ty Herndon, Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons, Adam Lambert, The Trans Chorus of Los Angeles, MNEK, Alex Newell, Mary Lambert, Prince Royce, Jussie Smollett, Nate Ruess and RuPaul — all recording separately from their homes, local studios, touring locations or wherever they happened to be at that moment.

“We assigned everybody what we thought would be the best part for their voice,” Tranter says, “and we asked them all to sing an additional part, just in case. But everybody got it done in time so we ended up with extra vocals.”

In Los Angeles “Interscope let us use their studio,” he notes. “Mary J. Blige recorded in New Orleans. Britney Spears in Thousand Oaks, I think. Pink in Santa Barbara. MNEK recorded at home in London. Selena recorded in her studio bus. Dan Reynolds recorded in his home. Adam Lambert was in Luxembourg. Ty Herndon the country star was in Spain. Kacey Musgraves, Nashville. Everyone just got it done.”

Another goal of the record, according to GLAAD, is to fund educational programs.

“This was an American guy who was born in Queens,” Ellis says of the gunman, Omar Mateen, 29, who was killed by police after a three hour stand-off. “He learned that hate here in America. This happened on American soil, against a particular community.”

While politicians and lobbyists have focused in recent weeks on Islamic terror and familiar narratives about gun ownership, Ellis, Tranter and others in the LGBT community want people to remember that this was a hate crime.

“I’m not educated enough to speak on the political details,” Tranter says. I’m a songwriter, not a politician. It could have been a million things but clearly, 100 percent, this was an attack on the LGBT community and people of color.”

“Hands” grew out of an unfinished piece that Tranter, Michaels and co-writer and producer BloodPop (formerly known as Blood Diamonds) had been working on and then shelved.

“The song didn’t ever finish itself and it didn’t ever feel right,” Tranter says of their initial efforts. “Now we know why.”

Mark Ronson also co-produced, while vocal engineer Benjamin Rice finessed the disparate tracks: “He helped us find the structure and make sense of it all.”

Warner/Chappell publishing executive Katie Vinten brought in numerous artists, among them P!nk, whom Tranter calls “a lifesaver,” adding, “Her vocal on the chorus is like from heaven directly.”

Spears opens the song with the plaintive line, “Can hold a gun or a hold a heart.” RuPaul is heard quietly toward the end, saying “take my hand baby.”

The songwriters had no specific plan as they entered the studio — only that they didn’t want the piece “to ever sound dated.”

“We didn’t want to have any trendy electronic elements,” Tranter notes. “We wanted it to sound classic, timeless and human. We want this anthem of positivity to be played for years to come.”

Download “Hands” here at iTunes.

Blacc to Appear as a Musical Guest on the New Season of “Sesame Street”

Can you tell Aloe Blacc how to get, how to get to Sesame Street?

The 36-year-old Panamanian American singer-songwriter is set to guest star on the long-running educational program for its upcoming 46th season, which premieres in January and has been revamped for HBO.

Aloe Blacc

Blacc is set to appear as a musical guest, performing the song “Everyday Hero.”

In addition to Blacc, this season’s musical guests on television’s most iconic street include Fifth Harmony, Gwen StefaniPharrell and Nick Jonas.

This season also promises a new set, new opening and closing songs and a new character named Nina.

It all begins on January 16 at 9:00 am ET on HBO. The new episodes also will air on PBS, although at a later date.

Here’s the full lineup of musical guests and their songs:

Gwen Stefani, “Be a Good Friend”
Pharrell, “B Is for Book”
Nick Jonas, “Check That Shape”
Fifth Harmony, “That’s Music”
Sara Bareilles, “Just Like Magic”
Ne-Yo, “You’ve Got a Body, So Move It!”
Aloe Blacc, “Everyday Hero”

Lovato to Perform with Alanis Morissette at the American Music Awards

Demi Lovato is ready for jagged little performance…

The 23-year-old part-Mexican American singer/actress will perform with Alanis Morissette at the American Music Awards on Sunday.

Demi Lovato

The collaboration was announced by Twitter Music, showing off the platform’s new emojis with a comic image for Morissette that shows up with the hashtag #AlanisAMAs.

There’s still no word on what Lovato and Morissette, who earned five Grammy awards for her album Jagged Little Pill, will perform during the awards show.

They join a long list of previously announced performers that includes host and performer, Jennifer Lopez, as well as sets from Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, Coldplay, Gwen Stefani, 5 Seconds of Summer, The Weeknd and a Star Wars performance from Pentatonix with a full symphony orchestra.

Aguilera Returning for Season 10 of NBC’s “The Voice”

Christina Aguilera will be spinning again soon…

The 34-year-old part-Ecuadorian American singer will join fellow coaches Adam Levine, Blake Shelton and Pharrell Williams for Season 10 of The Voice, NBC has confirmed.

Christina Aguilera

Aguilera, who helped launch the reality singing competition as the sole female coach, appeared in the first three seasons before taking a break for Season 4, with Shakira filling her seat.

The Burlesque star returned in Season 5, but then took a long hiatus for Seasons 6 (Shakira) and Season 7, with Gwen Stefani replacing Shakira.

Aguilera then returned for Season 8, before taking yet another break for the current installment (Season 9).

The Voice is currently averaging a 3.5 rating, 11 share in adults 18-49 and 12.6 million viewers overall in L+3 in weeks 1 and 2 of the current season, according to Nielsen and the network.

The Emmy-winning reality series also debuted with six-month time-period highs for NBC on both Monday and Tuesday.

The Voice hails from United Artists Media Group, Talpa Media USA and Warner Horizon Television. The series was created by John de Mol, who serves as executive producer along with Mark Burnett, Audrey Morrissey, Lee Metzger and Jay Bienstock.

“The coaches on The Voice continue to bring incredible energy, unrivaled musical expertise and a want-to-win attitude that makes for the perfect ingredients of a two-time Emmy-winning show,” said Paul Telegdy, President, Late Night and Alternative Programming, NBC Entertainment. “We can’t wait to see what season 10 will bring.”

The 10th season of The Voice will begin in February.

Gomez to Serve as an Advisor on NBC’s “The Voice”

Selena Gomez is heading to The Voice

The 23-year-old half-Mexican American singer/actress will help out aspiring vocalists on the upcoming season of NBC’s reality singing competition as an advisor on coach Gwen Stefani‘s team.

Gwen Stefani & Selena Gomez

People reports that the former Disney Channel star will be making her reality television debut on the show alongside fellow guest advisors Rihanna and Brad Paisley.

“I’m learning a lot being here. I’ve been in a transition period with my music, so it is, like [Gwen Stefani] said, inspiring,” she told Access Hollywood.

Gomez is preparing to release her next album, Revival, in October.

Garcia to Be Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame

Jerry Garcia legacy lives on…

The late part-Spanish American musician best known for his lead guitar work, singing and songwriting with the band the Grateful Dead, will be posthumously inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame this week.

Jerry Garcia

Garcia and his songwriting partner Robert Hunter, who will also be honored, first paired together as performers in a folk duo in the early 1960’s.  When Garcia formed the Grateful Dead in the mid-1960’s, he looked to Hunter for lyrics. Hunter became an official lyricist for the band, and when they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994, Hunter was inducted as a band member, the only non-performer ever honored.

Garcia wrote the music while Hunter penned lyrics for songs like “Casey Jones”, “China Cat Sunflower,” “St. Stephen” and “Truckin,’” which was recognized by the United States Library of Congress in 1997 as a national treasure.

With more than 35 million albums sold worldwide, other notable tracks include, “Dark Star,” which is listed as one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s “500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll” list, and was ranked #57 on Rolling Stone’s “100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time,” the 1987 single, “Touch Of Grey” which was also the band’s first music video and, “Friend of the Devil” from the 1970 album American Beauty, which has been covered by Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, The Counting Crows, Elvis Costello, Lyle Lovett and John Mayer.  In 2007, the Grateful Dead received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

The 46th Annual Induction and Awards Dinner will take place on June 18 at the New York Marriott Marquis.

The attendees will gather to celebrate the core of creativity that drives the music business: the craft of songwriting.

Other members of 2015 class of inductees: country hitmaker Bobby Braddock, late blues icon Willie Dixon, country star Toby Keith, ’80s pop chart-topper Cyndi Lauper and Linda Perry of 4 Non Blondes, who has written hits for Christina Aguilera, Alicia Keys, Gwen Stefani, James Blunt, the Dixie Chicks and others.

“Our 2015 lineup of inductees represents the rich diversity of American musical styles – Rock, Country, Blues and Pop – that have captivated the world over the past six decades,” said SHOF President & CEO Linda Moran.  “Each one of these brilliant music creators have written instantly recognizable classics, songs that are both of their time and timeless.  Our Annual Awards Gala is sure to be unforgettable.”

The evening’s lineup of performers and presenters includes Tony Bennett, Benny Blanco, Zac Brown, Michael Buble, Ledisi, Ne-Yo, Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland, Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi, Bernie Taupin and Paul Williams.

O’Brien to Host This Weekend’s Global Citizen 2015 Earth Day Rally

Soledad O’Brien is rallying for the planet…

The 48-year-old half-Cuban American broadcast journalist is set to host the free Global Citizen 2015 Earth Day rally alongside will.i.am.

Soledad O’Brien

The all-day Earth Day rally and concert will take place on Saturday, April 18 at the National Mall from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm ET near the Washington Monument.

Usher, Mary J. Blige, Gwen Stefani, Common and Train are scheduled to perform during the event.

Earth Day organizers also are announcing plans with developers of the popular Angry Birds game to create a new in-game experience about climate change. Angry Birds has been downloaded 2.8 billion times worldwide. The game’s climate change campaign will coincide with the United Nations General Assembly in September as world leaders tackle sustainability goals.

Earth Day Network president Kathleen Rogers says the game and celebrity power will help more people focus on solving climate change.

The rally is a joint initiative with the Global Poverty Project to end extreme poverty and coincides with meetings at the World Bank and International Monetary Fund in Washington. Top officials from the World Bank and United Nations are expected to speak at the rally.

Eliminating poverty will require solving climate change, Rogers said. So advocates on both issues are collaborating to push for sustainable international development.

“Whether it’s the big migrations we expect to see or soil depletion or emptying the oceans, loss of species, loss of timberland — all these things are creating poverty at the same time that they are also creating climate change issues,” Rogers said.

While Earth Day is officially on April 22, the Saturday rally will ask participants to commit to making environmentally friendly “acts of green” this year. Organizers also are asking attendees to sign petitions for a U.N. conference on climate change planned for Paris in December.

Lopez Wins Triple Threat Prize at People Magazine Awards

Jennifer Lopez is the People (magazine’s) choice…

The 45-year-old Puerto Rican actress/singer and American Idol judge received the Triple Threat prize at the inaugural People Magazine Awards.

Jennifer Lopez

Lopez, a Grammy and Golden Globes nominee, earned the award for her acclaimed work as an actress, singer and producer.

“Whether its acting, singing or producing, I feel so blessed,” said Lopez as she accepted her award. “I love to entertain. We have to cherish every moment. I feel like it’s just the beginning.”

Ryan Guzman, who plays Lopez’s onscreen hookup in the upcoming psychological thriller Boy Next Door (out Jan. 23), presented her with the award.

The star-studded event included performances from Gwen StefaniPharrell Williams5 Seconds of Summer and Maroon 5.

The two-hour special, hosted by Nick Cannon, was broadcast live on Thursday (Dec. 18) on NBC from the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

Here’s the list of winners:

Movie Performance of the Year – Actor
Michael Keaton

Triple Threat
Jennifer Lopez

Hero of the Year Award
Nora Sandigo

On Screen TV Couple of the Year
Mindy Kaling and Chris Messina

Breakout Star of the Year
Billy Eichner

Style Icon
Gwen Stefani

Movie Performance of the Year – Actress
Jennifer Aniston

PEOPLE’s Sexiest Woman
Kate Upton

Role Model
Kate Hudson

Television Performance of the Year – Actor
Jon Hamm

Next Generation Star
Chloe Grace Moretz

Television Performance of the Year – Actress 
Lisa Kudrow

Comedy Star of the Year
Kevin Hart

Gomez Signs with Interscope Records

Forget Forever,” Selena Gomez has a new label…

The 22-year-old half-Mexican American singer/actress has signed with Interscope Records.

Selena Gomez

Gomez shared the news through her Instagram account over the weekend by showing a photo of her face next to what appears to be her new contract.

“Guess who’s officially an Interscope artist #thisiswhatdreamsaremadeof,” Gomez wrote in the photo caption.

The “Love You Like a Love Song” singer was previously signed to Hollywood Records, the pop division of Disney Music Group.

Her final release on the label was the best-of album, For You, which hit retailers and online music outlets on November 24. It features her latest single “The Heart Wants What It Wants,” which was inspired by her on-and-off relationship with Justin Bieber.

Interscope’s current roster of artists includes Aloe Blacc, Fergie, Jessica Sanchez, Scotty McCreery, Gwen Stefani, Madonna and Lady Gaga.

Aguilera Returning to NBC’s “The Voice” for Season Eight

Christina Aguilera’s ready to return to her swiveling red chair…

The 33-year-old half-Ecuadorian American singer and original The Voice coach, who has taken off two consecutive seasons, is coming back for the NBC reality singing competition’s next installment.

Christina-Aguilera-Voice

Since Aguilera last sat in the famous red leather chair, she got engaged to Matt Rutler earlier this year and gave birth to their daughter, Summer Rain Rutler, in August 2014.

When Aguilera returns to The Voice for its eighth season, she’ll rejoin longtime coaches Blake Shelton and Adam Levine — but this will be the first season she’ll compete against Pharrell Williams.

Shakira and Gwen Stefani filled in for Aguilera during her hiatus from The Voice, both earning critical acclaim.