Music
Sources say feds are searching the homes of Sean “Diddy” Combs as part of a sex trafficking investigation
NEW YORK (AP) — Two properties owned by music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs in Los Angeles and Miami were searched Monday by federal Homeland Security Investigations agents and other law enforcement agencies as part of an ongoing sex trafficking investigation by federal authorities in New York, two law enforcement officials told The Associated Press.
It is unclear whether Combs was a goal of the investigation. The officials weren’t authorized to publicly discuss details of the investigation and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.
In a statement, Homeland Security Investigations said it “has initiated law enforcement actions as part of an ongoing investigation, with the assistance of HSI Los Angeles, HSI Miami and our local law enforcement partners.”
A spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan declined to comment.
Messages to Combs’ lawyers and other representatives searching for comment weren’t immediately returned.
A police line was arrange around a Los Angeles home in the affluent Holmby Hills neighborhood near Beverly Hills. KABC-TV’s helicopter footage shows a group of agents wearing vests indicating they were from the Department of Homeland Security gathered in the backyard of a home near the swimming pool. A command post was arrange outside the home, and agents continued to come back and go several hours after the search began.
There were several of them sexual assault trials brought against Combs in recent months.
In February, the music producer filed a lawsuit alleging that Combs forced him to solicit prostitutes and pressured him to have sex with them. Combs’ attorney, Shawn Holley, said of the allegations that “we have overwhelming, irrefutable evidence that his claims are complete lies.”
She was Combs’ protégé and girlfriend R&B singer Cassie, sued him in November, alleging years of sexual abuse, including rape. The lawsuit said he forced her to have sex with male prostitutes while he filmed them. The case was settled the day after it was filed.
Combs’ other accuser was a woman who claimed the rap producer raped her twenty years ago when she was 17.
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The Associated Press doesn’t typically name individuals who say they’ve been victims of sexual abuse unless they arrive forward publicly, as Cassie did.
In a December statement, Combs said: “I did not do any of the terrible things I am accused of.”
Douglas Wigdor, a lawyer representing Cassie and one other woman who sued Combs, said in a statement Monday: “We hope this is the beginning of a lawsuit that holds Mr. Combs accountable for his depraved behavior.”
It is unclear whether the search is said to any of the allegations raised in the lawsuit.
Combs is one of the most influential hip-hop producers and executives of the last three a long time. Formerly known as Puff Daddy, he built one of hip-hop’s largest empires, leading the way with several entities associated together with his famous name. He is the founder of Bad Boy Records and a three-time Grammy Award winner who has worked with many top artists, including Notorious B.I.G., Mary J. Blige, Usher, Lil Kim, Faith Evans and 112.
Combs created the Sean John fashion clothing line, launched the music-focused television channel Revolt and produced the reality show “Making the Band” for MTV.
His latest album, “The Love Album – Off the Grid,” was released last 12 months, days after Combs was honored at the MTV VMAs. It was nominated for best progressive R&B album at February’s Grammy Awards, where the rap mogul was not in attendance.
In the years since stories about the movie mogul broke, the entertainment industry has been suffering from a regular stream of allegations of career-ending sexual misconduct Harvey Weinstein began the #MeToo movement in 2017. Weinstein and star of That ’70s Show. Danny Masterson each of them is serving prison sentences following rape convictions. Dozens of civil lawsuits have been filed against distinguished figures.
It’s not the music industry that has faced a reckoning as much as the singer and producer R. Kelly is serving a prison sentence for sexually abusing young fans, seven women sued the hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons claiming he raped them, and two women sued the Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler alleging sexual assault.
WeinsteinMasterson and Kelly are appealing their convictions, and Simmons has denied all charges against him. One lawsuit against Tyler was dismissed, and he’s contesting the other.
Music
Beyoncé will perform at halftime of an NFL game during the holiday game day
Beyoncé has yet one more trick up her sleeve for the holiday season. This week, the star announced that he will perform in his hometown of Houston at an NFL game on Christmas Day. During the Houston Texans vs. Baltimore Ravens game, Beyoncé will appear at halftime, where she will reportedly perform songs from her country-themed album “Cowboy Carter.”
Beyoncé is already aware of high-energy NFL halftime shows, having showcased her talents in two Super Bowl appearances. As the headliner of Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans in 2013, she reunited with fellow Destiny’s Child members Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams for a performance that became the second most-watched Super Bowl halftime performance in history. At Super Bowl XV in 2016, the megastar joined headliners Coldplay together with special guest Bruno Mars, where she performed her hit “Formation,” which garnered 115.5 million views.
The star’s upcoming performance, produced by Parkwood Entertainment and Jesse Collins Entertainment, will be her first live performance of songs from her Grammy-nominated album “Cowboy Carter.” While there aren’t many details about the show, the streaming platform says fans can expect special guests to look alongside the award-winning artist.
In May, Netflix announced a landmark cope with the NFL, providing streaming rights to the sports league’s games on Christmas Day. Similarly, in 2019, the streaming platform signed a $60 million cope with Beyoncé, through which the two entertainment giants partnered to provide three projects.
Beyoncé shared the news about her upcoming NFL gig Instagramfeaturing a brief clip of him catching a football while standing on top of a automotive covered in red roses, equipped with horns. The show will be available to Netflix’s 283 million subscribers worldwide.
Music
NWA, Janet Jackson and George Clinton receive Songwriters Hall of Fame nominations
NEW YORK (AP) – Eminem, Boy George, George Clinton, Sheryl Wrona, Janet Jackson, Doobie Brothers, NWA and Alanis Morissette are among the many nominees within the competition’s 2025 category Songwriters Hall of Fame, an eclectic group of rap, rock, hip-hop and pop pioneers.
Bryan Adams joins them with such radio hits as “Summer of ’69” and “Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?” and Mike Love of the Beach Boys, who hopes to get in 25 years after band founder Brian Wilson. David Gates, co-leader of the pop group Bread, can be applying for admission.
Each yr, each performers and non-performers are invited to the Hall, and this yr’s category of the latter includes Walter Afanasieff, who helped Mariah Carey together with his hit “All I Want for Christmas Is You”; Mike Chapman, co-writer of Pat Benatar’s “Love Is a Battlefield”; and Narada Michael Walden, architect of Whitney Houston’s “How Will I Know” and Aretha Franklin’s “Freeway of Love.”
Eligible voting members have until December 22 to solid ballots to pick three nominees within the lyricist category and three within the performance songwriter category. The Associated Press obtained an early copy of the list.
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Several acts have one other probability to make an entry, including Clinton, whose Parliament-Funkadelic collective made a big impact with hits like “Atomic Dog” and “Give Up the Funk,” and The Doobie Brothers — Tom Johnston, Patrick Simmons and Michael McDonald — with classics like “Listen to the Music” and “Long Train Runnin.” Steve Winwood, whose hits include “Higher Love” and “Roll With It”, also participated within the voting earlier.
Hip-hop this yr is represented by Eminem – whose hits include “Lose Yourself” and “Stan” – and NWA members Dr. Dre, Eazy E, Ice Cube, MC Ren and DJ Yella. Hip-hop stars similar to Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg and Missy Elliot are already within the Hall. Tommy James, with hits like “Mony Mony,” “Crimson and Clover” and “I Think We’re Alone Now,” also earned a nod.
If Jackson, whose 1989 album “Rhythm Nation” was a breakthrough, gets into the Hall, it’ll be greater than 20 years after her late brother Michael. Canadian songwriter Morissette, whose influential song “Jagged Little Pill” won Grammy, Tony, Junos and MTV awards, would also join the ladies of rock within the Hall. (Glen Ballard, who helped produce and write the album, is already present.)
Like Crow, the “All I Wanna Do” and “Everyday Is a Winding Road” singer-songwriter is experiencing a renaissance after being introduced to the band Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2023. Boy George raises the flag for ’80s New Wave with Culture Club’s hits “Karma Chameleon” and “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me.”
Other nominees within the unperformed category include Franne Golde, co-writer of Selena’s “Dreaming of You”; Tom Douglas, who wrote country hits for Tim McGraw, Lady Antebellum and Miranda Lambert; Ashley Gorley, fresh off her co-written hit “I Had Some Help” with Post Malone and Morgan Wallen; and Roger Nichols, who co-wrote The Carpenters’ “We Only Just Begun.”
They join Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, who contributed to Brandy and Monica’s hit “The Boy Is Mine”; Sonny Curtis, former member of The Crickets, who wrote and performed the theme song to “The Mary Tyler Moore Show”, “Love is All Around”, and British composer Tony Macaulay, who wrote “Build Me Up Buttercup”.
The Songwriters Hall of Fame was established in 1969 to honor creators of popular music. A songwriter with a big catalog of songs is eligible for induction 20 years after the song’s first business release.
Some already in attendance include Carole King, Paul Simon, Billy Joel, Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora, Elton John and Bernie Taupin, Brian Wilson, James Taylor, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Lionel Richie, Bill Withers, Neil Diamond and Phil Collins. Last yr we saw REM, Steely Dan, Dean Pitchford, Hillary Lindsey and Timbaland introduced.
Music
Beyoncé leads 2025 Grammy nominations, becoming the most nominated artist in the show’s history
NEW YORK (AP) — Welcome to Beyonce country. When it involves Grammy Award 2025 nominations, “Cowboy Carter” rules the nation. She leads the rankings with 11 nominations, bringing her profession total to 99. This makes her the most nominated artist in Grammy history.
“Cowboy Carter” is up for album and country album of the yr, and “Texas Hold ‘Em” is nominated for record, song and country song of the yr. She also received nominations in multiple genres, including pop, country, Americana and melodic rap.
This is her first time receiving nominations in the country and the Americana category.
If Beyoncé wins album of the yr, she’s going to turn out to be the first black woman in the twenty first century. Lauryn Hill last won in 1999 for “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill,” joining Natalie Cole and Whitney Houston as the only black women to win a significant Grammy award.
Post Malone also received his first-ever nominations in the country categories this yr, releasing his debut country album “F-1 trillion”in August. The song is nominated for Best Country Album, and “I Had Some Help,” a collaboration with Morgan Wallen, is nominated for Country Song and Country Duo/Group Performance. This is Wallen’s first-ever Grammy nomination.
Malone is just behind Beyoncé with seven nominations, together with Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar and Charli XCX, who earned her first nominations as a solo artist.
Lamar the ubiquitous diss track released during his feud with Drake, “Not Like Us” is nominated in the categories of album and song of the yr, rap song, music video and best rap performance. In the latter category, he had two simultaneous entries, which is a primary for his profession: Future & Metro Boomin featuring Lamar. “Like That” is nominated for best rap performance and best rap song.
This is his third time receiving two simultaneous nominations for best rap song.
Taylor Swift and first-time nominee Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan each can boast six nominations.
Last yr, female artists dominated essential categories. This yr the situation continues, but the essential trend appears to be species diversity. In the album of the yr category, together with “Cowboy Carter” were latest age André 3000, alt-jazz “New Blue Sun” and “Djesse Vol.” multi-instrumentalist Jacob Collier. 4.” Rising pop stars Carpenter and Roan round out the album with “Short n’ Sweet” and “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess,” respectively, in addition to Swift’s “The Tortured Poets Department,” Eilish’s “Hit Me Hard and Soft” and “Hit Me Hard” and Soft” by Eilish. and Charlie XCX ready for the rave “BROTHER”.
Eilish is the only artist whose first three albums have been nominated for Album of the Year.
Last yr Fast won Album of the Year for “Midnights”, breaking the record for most wins in this category (4). This yr, she becomes the first woman in history to earn seven nominations in this category.
“The breadth and diversity of genres represented in the overall field feels new and truly exciting,” says Recording Academy CEO and President Harvey Mason Jr. a developing electoral body for his success. “We were very conscious about our membership and tried to balance it. So not just gender or people of color, different races, but also genre equality and trying to make sure all types of music from different regions and locations are represented in every way possible.”
Only recordings commercially released in the U.S. between September 16, 2023 and August 30, 2024 were eligible for nomination. The final round of Grammy voting to find out the winners will happen from December 12 to January 3.
In the best latest artist category, Carpenter and Roan will go head-to-head, alongside Benson Boone, Doechia, Khruangbin, RAYE, Shaboozey and Teddy Swims.
Beyoncé was joined in the song of the yr category by Eilish for “Birds of a Feather,” Swift and Post Malone for “Fortnight,” “Good Luck, Babe!” Roan, “Please Please Please” by Carpenter, “Not Like” by Lamar Us,” “Die With A Smile” by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars, and “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” by Shaboozey.
Shaboozey she can also be a first-time nominee. His “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” is the biggest song of the yr, spending more weeks at primary on the Billboard Hot 100 than some other – it is so popular that a remix of the song can also be up for a remix recording.
Additionally, Shaboozey is nominated in the Melodic Rap Performance category for his feature on Beyoncé’s “SPAGHETTIA.” The song also features Linda Martell, the country’s first black musician to realize business success and likewise earned the 83-year-old artist her first Grammy nomination.
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In the Record of the Year category, “Texas Hold ‘Em” will compete with Swift and Post Malone’s “Fortnight,” Eilish’s “Birds of a Father,” Lamar’s “Not Like Us,” and “Good Luck, Babe!” Roan, Carpenter’s “Espresso.” “, “360” by Charli XCX and the last latest Beatles song, powered by artificial intelligence “Now and Then”.
“We strive to keep up with how music creators and our community use technology. In this case, the AI corrected that record and allowed him to qualify in the categories in which he qualified,” Mason Jr. explains.
So what’s missing? Like last yr, there is a big dearth of Latin music – fastest growing streaming genre in the United States – overall and without representation in major categories. There are only 4 entries in the Best Música Mexicana Album category, although it is usually one in every of them the fastest growing species.
There doesn’t appear to be any K-pop either. There aren’t any nominations for BTS members who released solo material this yr: RM’s “Right Place, Wrong Person” J-Hope’s “Hope on the Street” Vol. 1” and “Muse” by Jimin. As a boy band, BTS has received five nominations in their profession.
“I definitely see room for improvement in many genres and we continue to invite people to be a part of the academy” – Mason Jr. says. “Without proper representation, we will not get the right results. When I say “appropriate”, I mean reflective and representative of what’s going on in music today. So the work continues.”
The 2025 Grammy Awards will air on February 2 survive CBS and Paramount+ from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
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