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ASCAP Celebrates Black History Month with Weekly Performances from Rising R&B Artists

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 The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) reveals plans to celebrate Black History Month with a series of weekly performances from rising ASCAP R&B artists and songwriters J Rome, Moxie Knox, Sha’Leah Nikole and Kadeem Nichols. Each week, the featured artist will cover one of history’s most powerful Black empowerment songs that was written or co-written by ASCAP members. The series kicks off Tuesday, February 7, with weekly performances through Tuesday, February 28. The performances can be viewed on ASCAP’s YouTube and @ASCAP and @ASCAPUrban Instagram.
  “ASCAP is committed to recognizing Black artists and songwriters who have made an impact on our history and the world through their music and meaningful lyrics,” said Nicole George-Middleton, ASCAP Senior Vice President, Membership and Executive Director, The ASCAP Foundation. “This year, our goal is to spotlight emerging ASCAP artists by giving them a platform to showcase their talent, while also paying homage to the pioneers who created songs to uplift, inspire and empower all in celebration of Black History Month.”
 
See below the lineup for ASCAP’s Black History Month performances:
Tuesday, February 7 
 
J Rome – “Lift Every Voice and Sing”     The music series begins Tuesday, February 7 with J Rome and a performance of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” Often referred to as the Black national anthem, the song was co-written by one of ASCAP’s founding members, James Weldon Johnson, along with his brother, J. Rosamond Johnson. J Rome is the winner of ABC’s singing competition Duets’ and also appeared on FOX’s I Can See Your Voice. The talented singer has performed alongside other artists and toured the world with Beyoncé, Jay-Z and Kanye West. Now working on his solo project, J Rome is an undeniable talent who has only just scratched the surface in his career.
 
Tuesday, February 14
 
Moxxie Knox – “Brown Skin”  
 
On Valentine’s Day, Tuesday, February 14, NYC-born Moxie Knox will deliver her take on Grammy Award-winning singer India.Arie’s song “Brown Skin,” an ode that celebrates melanated skin. Moxie Knox began her journey in entertainment as a dancer at the tender age of five, when she developed a passion for poetry and songwriting. This passion led her to begin studying song structure and interpreting lyrics. In 2019, her loyal fans put her on Sprite’s radar, resulting in two of her singles being selected out of 20,000 artist submissions for a spot on the SpriteWay Spotify playlists and her selection as the leading official SpriteWay Artist. She continues to inspire and work hard every day, collaborating with top names in the industry and personifying the tenacity of a true entertainer.
 
Tuesday, February 21
 
Sha’Leah Nikole – “Strange Fruit”     On week 3 of the series, South Central native Sha’Leah Nikole will deliver an inspirational take on Billie Holiday’s powerful “Strange Fruit,” which was written by Abel Meeropol and protested the lynching of Black Americans. Sha’Leah has fully embraced her passion for the arts and is generating buzz within the West Coast music scene. She has shared the stage and provided vocals on tracks with musical titans Beyoncé, Stevie Wonder and Elton John, among others. Most recently, the multidisciplinary artist took on the role of young Mahalia in the recently released film Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story on Hulu, starring Ledisi. Sha’Leah continues to use her voice to uplift, empower and inspire others.
 
Tuesday, February 28 
 
Kadeem Nichols – “Someday We’ll All Be Free”    
The series will conclude on Tuesday, February 28, with LA-based vocalist Kadeem Nichols performing a rendition of “Someday We’ll All Be Free,” originally performed and co-written by the legendary Donny Hathaway, along with Edward Howard. A songwriter, musician and producer born in Queens, New York, Kadeem began his journey playing multiple instruments at a very young age. His talent afforded him the opportunity to work with artists such as Kanye West, Davido and Hezekiah Walker, in addition to various organizations and companies. He has also appeared on television and talk shows including Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Late Late Show with James Corden and The Neighborhood. His most recent recording project, The Muse, is currently available on all digital streaming platforms.
 
Stay tuned to @ASCAP and @ASCAPUrban’s social media for details or visit https://www.ascap.com/bhm2023 for more information.

About ASCAP
The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) is a professional membership organization of songwriters, composers and music publishers of every kind of music. ASCAP’s mission is to license and promote the music of its members and foreign affiliates, obtain fair compensation for the public performance of their works and to distribute the royalties that it collects based upon those performances. ASCAP members write the world’s best-loved music and ASCAP has pioneered the efficient licensing of that music to hundreds of thousands of enterprises who use it to add value to their business – from bars, restaurants and retail, to radio, TV and cable, to Internet, mobile services and more. The ASCAP license offers an efficient solution for businesses to legally perform ASCAP music while respecting the right of songwriters and composers to be paid fairly. With more than 900,000 members representing more than 16 million copyrighted works, ASCAP is the worldwide leader in performance royalties, service and advocacy for songwriters and composers, and the only American performing rights organization (PRO) owned and governed by its writer and publisher members. Learn more and stay in touch at www.ascap.com, on Twitter and Instagram @ASCAP and on Facebook.
 

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GRAMMY AWARD-WINNING R&B SONGSTRESS BEE-B RELEASES NEW VIDEO “THAT GIRL”

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GRAMMY AWARD-WINNING R&B SONGSTRESS BEE-B RELEASES NEW VIDEO “THAT GIRL”

Just last week, 2X Grammy Award-winning recording artist Bee-B unveiled her uplifting anthem, “That Girl.” . Today, the multihyphenate shares the accompanying new visual that perfectly captures the importance of loving yourself, even when the world is judging you – encapsulating the meaning behind ‘That Girl.’ Watch



Directed by Christopher Felix (Reggie Becton, Mereba, BirdsOfParadise), “That Girl” is a remarkably candid visual anecdote about how to overcome feeling like you’re not enough. In the video, Bee-B hustles by day and dances by night. Letting go of her inhibitions, she transitions from concerned to confident, showing the power behind living up to your own beauty standard. And in return, the Compton crooner is fully immersed in a renewed sense of self-assurance.

“That Girl” arrives as the follow up to Bee-B’s acclaimed debut album Ghetto Feng Shui (Nov. 11 2022), which touts upwards of 200,000 streams and includes features from J. Ivy, Davion Farris, and Raheem DeVaughn. The defiant release capped a breakthrough 2022, but this creative entrepreneur’s reign in the industry didn’t end there. Continuing to advance her career, Bee-B is now the Music Supervisor for ALLBLK’s scripted dramedy series À La Carte – doubling back for season two after a successful run with season one.


As an accomplished songwriter, Bee-B has penned hits for the likes of Ledisi (taking home a Grammy win for 2017’s Let Love Rule LP), Queen Naija, Rotimi, Ann Marie, and Robert Glasper to name a few. The latter – Glasper’s Black Radio lll album – won Best R&B Album at the 2023 Grammy Awards. Further, she wrote the song “Love Language” on KeKe Palmer’s new album Big Boss (which arrived alongside a biographical short film of the same name).

It’s also important to note that Bee-B recently worked with Palmer as the Music Supervisor and A&R behind her aforementioned album, which made its debut at the Atlanta Film Festival earlier this month. KeyTV (Keke Palmer’s very own digital TV network) recently spotlighted Bee-B’s success as a Black indie as part of their Unlabeled Artist Spotlight series as well.

Beyond the accolades, the R&B singer-songwriter has been winning at life, too, and sharing the limelight with other aspiring artists. Last month (April 20), Bee-B spearheaded the return of her much-anticipated Sync Camp in L.A. with appearances from Dreamville rapper Cozz, hip-hop newcomer Torian Ball, and many more. 

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3 Doors Down Announces Away From the Sun Anniversary Tour

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March 20, 2023 – Los Angeles, CA) This summer, 3 Doors Down celebrates its sophomore album, Away From The Sun, by hitting amphitheaters in major markets across the US for the Away From The Sun Anniversary Tour, produced by Live Nation. The band will be playing all of the songs from the album throughout the performances, plus all of their biggest hits. Artist Presale and VIP Packages are available beginning March 21 at 10am local time. The general onsale for the tour begins Friday, March 24 at 10am local time and will be available HERE.

Away From The Sun features “Here Without You,” which reached No. 5 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and was certified 6x platinum in the US. The lead single, “When I’m Gone,” peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent seventeen weeks on the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, becoming one of the longest-running number-one singles.

Special guest Candlebox will be supporting 3 Doors Down on the Away From The Sun Anniversary Tour for what is slated to be the band’s last US tour to promote the 30th anniversary of the band and their final farewell studio album being released later this year by Round Hill Records.

Candlebox will also perform at 3 Doors Down’s 18th Annual “The Better Life Foundation Concert” this fall. The event will take place at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort in Cherokee, NC, on October 21. To date, The Better Life Foundation has donated over $3 Million to veterans, children, women, and humanitarian relief efforts domestically and around the globe. For more information about The Better Life Foundation, click HERE.

Away From The Sun has always been a personal favorite of mine because of how much it resonated with our country’s service members,” shares 3 Doors Down’s Brad Arnold. “We are so blessed to be able to celebrate these significant milestones because we were very young making these albums, and we still have so much more life to give our fans.” Arnold continues, “The show we are planning will be next level this year. It’s going to be incredible to have Candlebox on tour with us. I’ve been  a fan of theirs since I was a teenager..“ 

3 Doors Down will also star in Season IV of television’s most successful nationally syndicated music-driven series, THE SONG, on March 25. THE SONG takes a quintessential look at the indelible legacies of celebrated recording artists and the music that made them famous. THE SONG airs on major network affiliates in 150 markets across the country. Click HERE for more information. 

AWAY FROM THE SUN ANNIVERSARY TOUR DATES  
**Not a Live Nation Date 

06.14  Baltimore, MD   Pier Six Pavilion

06.16  Indianapolis, IN   TCU Amphitheater at White River State Park

06.17  Tinley Park, IL   Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre

06.21  Sterling Heights, MI  Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill

06.23**  Dubuque, IA   Q Casino

06.24**  Prior Lake, MN   Mystic Lake Casino Hotel

06.28  Holmdel, NJ   PNC Bank Arts Center

06.30  Gilford, NH   Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion

07.01  Bridgeport, CT   Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater

07.05**  Traverse City, MI  Cherry Festival

07.07**  Huber Heights, OH  Rose Music Center 

07.08**  Grantville, PA   Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course

07.13**  Wheatland, CA   Hard Rock Live Sacramento

07.15**  Costa Mesa, CA  Orange County Fair

07.16**  Las Vegas, NV   Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino Resort

07.18  Phoenix, AZ   Arizona Financial Theatre

07.20  Salt Lake City, UT  USANA Amphitheatre

07.21**  Fort Hall, ID   Shoshone-Bannock Casino

07.23**  Great Falls, MT   Voyagers Stadium

07.25  Denver, CO   Fillmore Auditorium

07.27  Airway Heights, WA  BECU Live at Northern Quest

07.28  Bend, OR   Hayden Homes Amphitheater

08.04  Corbin, KY   The Corbin Arena

08.05  Tuscaloosa, AL   Tuscaloosa Amphitheater

08.09   Rogers, AR   Walmart AMP

08.11  Southaven, MS   BankPlus Amphitheater at Snowden Grove

08.12**  Sedalia, MO   Missouri State Fair

08.16  Orange Beach, AL  The Wharf Amphitheater

08.18  Nashville, TN   Ascend Amphitheater

08.19  Atlanta, GA   Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park

08.23  New Orleans, LA  Champions Square

08.25  Virginia Beach, VA  Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach

08.26  Raleigh, NC   Red Hat Amphitheater

08.30  Simpsonville, SC  CCNB Amphitheatre at Heritage Park

09.01  Charleston, SC   Credit One Stadium

09.02  Charlotte, NC   Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre

09.06  Kansas City, MO  Starlight Theatre

09.08  North Little Rock, AR  Simmons Bank Arena

09.09  Brandon, MS   Brandon Amphitheater

09.13  Jacksonville, FL   Daily’s Place

09.15  Tampa, FL   MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre

at the FL State Fairgrounds

09.16  Boca Raton, FL   Mizner Park Amphitheater

09.20  Austin, TX   Moody Amphitheater

09.22  Irving, TX   The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory

09.23  Sugar Land, TX   Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land

10.21**  Cherokee, NC    Harrah’s Cherokee

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Lola Brooke Unveils Fiery “So Disrespectful” Official Music Video Out Now

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Lola Brooke
March 10, 2023 (NEW YORK, NY) – Today, rap superstar in-the-making Lola Brooke quells an eagerly awaited demand for new music with the release of her latest track, “So DISRESPECTFUL,” out now via Arista Records/Team Eighty Productions. The roaring, bass-heavy new music release from flourishing rap phenom is met with a cinematic music video available to watch via YouTube
March 10, 2023 (NEW YORK, NY) – Today, rap superstar in-the-making Lola Brooke quells an eagerly awaited demand for new music with the release of her latest track, “So DISRESPECTFUL,” out now via Arista Records/Team Eighty Productions. The roaring, bass-heavy new music release from flourishing rap phenom is met with a cinematic music video available to watch via YouTube/VEVO HERE. Listen to “”So DISRESPECTFULHERE.
 
Within the first seconds of the Reefa Music [Lola Brooke “Here I Come,” “Back To Business”] and Gyard [Lil Durk] produced track “So Disrespectful,” listeners are met with an intimidating, grim beat that encapsulates the presence of Lola’s ‘Big Gator’ energy. Lola floats over the base-knocking track on wax like the heavyweight champ she has proven to be in music and more. Her punchlines and adlibs taillies up more victories as she reminds you that she’s always ready for war and wins—it’s Gator Season. The lyrically-stacked “So Disrespectful” music release made its debut today with an accompanying music video, directed by BenMarc [NLE Choppa, BIA, Moneybagg Yo,] that sharply displays the energy Lola continues to be known for in vivid color. 

Within the last year, Lola Brooke’s rise in music has soared to astronomical heights. Her single “Don’t Play With It,” still setting a tone as a breakout hit, has amassed 77M+ worldwide streams to date. The track has recently earned placements on flagship Hip Hop playlists like Spotify’s “RapCaviar,” Apple Music’s “Rap Life,” and Amazon Music’s “Rap Rotation.”
 
This past weekend, Lola concluded the North American leg of her first tour with A Boogie wit da Hoodie via the ‘Me vs. Myself Tour.’ Lola brought efforts home as she performed at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, in front of a sold-out show with over 19,000 concert-goers in attendance. The Brooklyn native took to social media to share her gratitude and fulfillment for the night via Instagram HERE. The night of celebration at Barclays also included a heavy-hitting preview performance of today’s latest release, “So DISRESPECTFUL,” which incited cheers and chills the moment Lola voiced the first line. 
 
Moreover, on the touring and live-performance front, Lola will perform in Austin, TX, at SXSW on Billboard’s ‘The Stage at SXSW’ on March 16. For more information, visit HERE. Lola will also visit the U.K. in London, Manchester, and Birmingham later this month via A Boogie with da Hoodie’s ‘Me v. Myself Tour.’ Rounding up the first half of the year, as it stands, the 2023 artist to watch will be embarking on an entire string of festival show dates via Broccoli City Festival in Washington D.C, Openair Frauenfeld taking place in Switzerland, Wireless Festival in Finsbury, London & Roling Loud Germany, Rolling Loud Portugal and Rolling Loud Rotterdam. 
 
This latest in strides for the one-to-watch artist Lola Brooke arrives on the heels of Lola being deemed ‘one of eleven artists set to make it big in 2023’ via Rolling Stone, ‘one of twenty rappers to watch in 2023’ via Complex along with several other artist to watch spotlight profiles from iHeartPop SugarGeniusHHDX and Vogue. In the same breath, for the month of February, the Bed-Stuy native held the title of Rookie of the Month for Billboard and BET Amplified Artist of the Month. Renowned footwear brand Timberland® last month unveiled their latest campaign with Lola celebrating the 50th anniversary of Hip Hop and the Original Timberland Boot, both formed in 1973. This past Sunday, Lola made with acting debut via the hit CBS series East New York for episode fourteen, ‘Family Tithes.’
 
More to come from The Face of New York, Lola Brooke, as she dominates in global success. 
Shutherspeed (photo credit) / Chaz Morgan (art creative credit)
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