#MMVAs Release: EarnED It! 2015 MUCH MUSIC VIDEO AWARDS Winners Announced

Jun 22, 2015

The 2015 MUCH MUSIC VIDEO AWARDS stunned in a multi-channel super simulcast tonight, with this year’s biggest winner, Toronto’s own alternative R&B sensation and first-time MMVA performer The Weeknd, scooping up four awards for Video of the Year, Best Director, Best Pop Video, and Most Buzzworthy Canadian. The broadcast’s charming co-host Ed Sheeran scored two MMVAs for Best International Artist and Most Buzzworthy International Artist, with local duo, and Drake collaborator, Majid Jordan picking up Best MuchFACT Video for “Forever”. Fans went wild when Drake made a surprise appearance to help present P.Reign with the award for Best Hip Hop Video for “DnF” on which the Toronto rapper is featured.

The corner of Queen and John streets in Toronto lit up tonight with the MMVAs, one of the world’s biggest and most exciting street-level award shows. Global mega-star Ed Sheeran was in full command of the stage in his fourth annual MMVA appearance, his first as co-host, as he led a remarkable evening filled with some of the world’s biggest names in music and entertainment. Talent who graced the 2015 MMVA stage included performers such as Carly Rae Jepsen, Nick Jonas, Fall Out Boy, and Walk Off The Earth, and presenters such as International supermodel Gigi Hadid, E!’s SEX WITH BRODY star Brody Jenner, and GRAMMY-nominated rocker Adam Lambert.

In the Twitterverse, 10 MMVA related topics trended in Canada, including #MMVA, which also trended internationally. 2015 MMVA performers and presenters also joined in, with Nick Jonas and Carly Rae Jepsen both tweeting their thanks to Much, and Hailee Steinfeld tweeting “#MMVAs THAT WAS SO REAL.”

The two-hour music extravaganza encores tomorrow, Monday, June 22, at 7 p.m. ET, and again throughout the week on Much or on demand now at much.com.

Setting the tone for the 2015 MUCH MUSIC VIDEO AWARDS was Fall Out Boy with an energetic rendition of their latest single “Uma Thurman”, immediately followed by Canadian sweetheart Carly Rae Jepsen performing her infectious hit single “I Really Like You”. Co-host Ed Sheeran delivered with a performance of “Photograph”, complete with a string quartet, and later returned with an intimate performance of “Thinking Out Loud” surrounded by the ecstatic MMVA crowd. Newcomer Tori Kelly made her MMVA debut with a powerhouse performance of “Nobody Love”, followed by Canadian Scott Helman whose feel good performance of his single “Bungalow” had fans dancing. Four-time 2015 MMVA winner The Weeknd set the stage aglow with a medley of “Earned It” and “The Hills” – the first-ever broadcast performance of the single. Canadian artists kept the fans screaming, with Walk Off The Earth performing their new single “Rule The World”, winner of FAN FAVE Video, Shawn Mendes, singing “Stitches”, and Mia Martina delivering a red-hot version of her single “Beast” featuring Waka Flocka. Nick Jonas captivated fans with a sexy performance of his hit single “Chains”, and Jason Derulo, joined by dozens of dancers, closed the show with “Want To Want Me”.

“From the boundless energy of our devoted fans to the calibre of the talent – tonight’s show was one not to be missed,” said Tracey Pearce, Senior Vice-President, Specialty and Pay, Bell Media. “The spectacle on our stage, which featured some of the top names in music, and the conversation it created internationally via social media platforms such as Twitter, illustrates how the MMVAs continue to be a one-of-a-kind experience for our audience.”

“The MMVAs are unparalleled in the access they give to fans, and the experience they provide to the artists,” said Sheila Sullivan, Executive Producer, 2015 MUCH MUSIC VIDEO AWARDS. “A huge thank you to our captivating and generous co-host Ed Sheeran, as well as the show-stopping performers and presenters who helped make the 2015 MUCH MUSIC VIDEO AWARDS shine.

And the winners are…

FAN FAVE Video
Shawn Mendes – “Something Big”

FAN FAVE Artist or Group
Justin Bieber

FAN FAVE International Artist or Group
One Direction

Video of The Year
The Weeknd – “Often”

Best International Artist
Ed Sheeran

Most Buzzworthy International Artist or Group
Ed Sheeran

Best Pop Video
The Weeknd – “Earned It”

Best EDM/Dance Video
Grandtheft & Keys N Krates – “Keep It 100”

Best Hip-Hop Video
P. Reign f. Drake & Future – “DnF”

Best Rock/Alternative Video
Arcade Fire – “We Exist”

Most Buzzworthy Canadian
The Weeknd

Best MuchFACT Video
Majid Jordan – “Forever”

Best Director
The Weeknd – “Often”
Director: Sam Pilling

Best Post-Production
Zeds Dead f. Twin Shadow & D’Angelo Lacy – “Lost You”

Eddie Van Halen doesn’t listen to music.

Jun 22, 2015

Eddie Van Halen doesn’t listen to music.

This is not a fake-out or a misdirection, nor is it a seemingly straightforward statement that actually means its opposite. Eddie Van Halen does not listen to music. “I don’t listen to anything,” he tells me from a greenish couch inside 5150, the expansive home recording studio built on his seven-acre residence in Studio City, Calif. I’d just asked if he ever revisits old Van Halen albums, but his disinterest in those records is merely the tip of a very weird iceberg: Unlike every other musician I’ve ever met, he does not listen to any music he isn’t actively making. The guitarist maintains that the last album he purchased was Peter Gabriel’s So, when it came out in 1986. He’s not familiar with the work of Radiohead, Metallica or Guns N’ Roses. He appears to know only one Ozzy Osbourne song Randy Rhoads played on, and it’s “Crazy Train.” He scarcely listened to Pantera, even though he spoke at the funeral of the group’s guitarist and placed the axe from Van Halen II inside the man’s casket. He doesn’t listen to the radio in his car, much to the annoyance of his wife (“I prefer the sound of the motor,” he says). He sheepishly admits he never even listened to most of the bands that opened for Van Halen and worries, “Does that make me an asshole?” Sometimes he listens to Yo-Yo Ma, because he loves the sound of the cello. But even that is rare.

“It’s an odd thing, but I’ve been this way my whole life,” he continues. “I couldn’t make a contemporary record if I wanted to, because I don’t know what contemporary music sounds like.”

Via Billboard

What Paul McCartney and Rod Stewart Mean for Rap’s Future

Jun 22, 2015

The Rihanna-infused “FourFiveSeconds” raised some considerable questions about the intergenerational McCartney-West partnership, particularly among hip-hop fans. Had it not been for the more characteristic “All Day,” those concerns would’ve assuredly turned into declarations that West had fallen off, gone too far down some rock ’n’ roll rabbit hole.

So it was especially surprising when A$AP Rocky dropped a track with none other than Rod Stewart while announcing the release date for At.Long.Last.A$AP, his highly anticipated Danger Mouse-hemled follow-up to Long.Live.A$AP. Sampling the storied rock singer’s appearance on Python Lee Jackson’s largely forgotten gold nugget “In a Broken Dream,” “Everyday” also featured contributions from Miguel and Mark Ronson, the latter incidentally the stepson of Foreigner guitarist Mick Jones. A.L.L.A. followed not long thereafter, and multiple critics were quick to cite its psychedelic rock qualities. In press surrounding the release, Rocky even teased a joint mixtape with Stewart—described by Flacko as a “panty-dropper”—though he subsequently revealed that to have been a joke.

All kidding aside though, this season’s most essential rap accessory became a rock ’n’ roll geezer. And if we’re willing to speculate on this as an emerging trend, it’s probably just a matter of time before a second wave of copycats come through. Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young Thug? Aloe Blacc Sabbath? James Taylor Gang? While these scenarios sound like semi-clever responses to a jokey Twitter hashtag, all suddenly seem possible now in this burgeoning rap rock redux.

Via Complex

The Smashing Pumpkins Does The Gish Album In Under 6 Minutes

Jun 22, 2015

Gish is the debut album by The Smashing Pumpkins, released in May 1991 through Caroline Records. Frontman Billy Corgan described Gish as a “very spiritual album”.

Despite initially peaking at only number 195 on the Billboard 200 upon its release, Gish was eventually certified platinum (one million copies shipped) by the RIAA.

For the most recent tour, which he’s dubbed In Plainsong, Corgan promises setlists that touched on all eras of Smashing Pumpkins – and check this out – he did the entire album in under 6 minutes.

Trailer: ‘The Secret Life of Pets’, By The Makers of the ‘Despicable Me’ and ‘Minions’ Series

Jun 19, 2015

For their fifth fully-animated feature-film collaboration, Illumination Entertainment and Universal Pictures present The Secret Life of Pets, a comedy about the lives our pets lead after we leave for work or school each day.

Comedy superstars Louis C.K., Eric Stonestreet and Kevin Hart make their animated feature-film debuts in The Secret Life of Pets, which co-stars Ellie Kemper, Lake Bell, Jenny Slate, Bobby Moynihan, Hannibal Buress and Albert Brooks. Illumination founder and CEO Chris Meledandri and his longtime collaborator Janet Healy produce the film directed by Chris Renaud (Despicable Me, Despicable Me 2), co-directed by Yarrow Cheney and written by Brian Lynch and Cinco Paul & Ken Daurio. The film is in theatres July 8, 2016.

Join Ringo Starr For Worldwide #PeaceandLove Celebration at Noon on July 7

Jun 19, 2015

Ringo Starr will celebrate his birthday Tuesday, July 7, 2015, in Los Angeles. Ringo and his wife Barbara will join family, friends and fans in front of the Capitol Records Tower in Hollywood and share a “Peace & Love” salute at Noon. The now traditional Peace & Love celebration is open to the public and Ringo invites everyone everywhere to think or say Peace & Love or share #PeaceandLove, at Noon their local time, on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

This idea was born in 2005 when Ringo was asked what he would like for his birthday, and his reply was “more Peace & Love.” Ever since, he has invited the public to join him wherever he is on his birthday and extends the ask to “everyone everywhere to think, say or do #PeaceandLove at Noon their local time.” So the Peace & Love moment moves over the planet starting at Noon in New Zealand to Noon in Hawaii and everywhere in between.

Beyonce Posts Moving Video In Response To Charleston Church Shootings

Jun 19, 2015

Beyonce just posted a moving video in response to Wednesday night’s mass shooting at a church in Charleston.”My heart is with the families, loved ones, and all of those affected by the senseless tragedy in Charleston. May they rest in peace,” Beyonce wrote alongside the video.

My heart is with the families, loved ones, and all of those affected by the senseless tragedy in Charleston. May they rest in peace.

A video posted by Beyoncé (@beyonce) on Jun 18, 2015 at 9:32pm PDT

The Evolution of the Hipster 2010—2015

Jun 19, 2015

Ah, the hipster. The term seemed to come out of nowhere and take over youth subculture as we knew it. While many will argue that the hipster is a thing of the past, the term has gotten so broad that it seems to point to more of an evolution. Back in 2009, Paste took a look at the inaugural ten years of the hipster, and, now, they’re looking at the past six. Yes, times have changed a lot since 2000s guyliner wearing, soulful emo guy.

Lorde and Lena Dunham talk sexuality in the music business

Jun 19, 2015

ena Dunham: I was thinking about questions and I really wanted to make sure that, even though it’s the Girls Rule the World issue, we talk about more things than being a girl. The first thing I wanted to know was if you feel, as I do, that a lot of your interviews end up being exclusively about being female and being young in a way that you find exhausting.

Lorde: (laughs) Yeah, I mean… There are only so many times you can answer those questions. People always want to know if it’s ‘hard being a girl in this industry’ and it’s kind of like, ‘Well, it is hard sometimes. But also, I’m good, you know?’

Lena Dunham: Totally! You’re like, ‘I’m also a young person who’s really enjoying her career and having the career that she wants.’

Lorde: Yeah. I think people like hearing the horror stories about old male executives having the wrong idea (about my music), which happens, but, you know…

Lena Dunham: It’s not like you’ve come into this as a Disney star, or had lots of people trying to commodify your sexuality. It feels to me, as an outsider, like you’ve been able to keep control of your work in a very important way.

Lorde: I sometimes get asked, ‘Did people try to sexualise you early on in your career?’ But I came into this with such a strong viewpoint – even when I was 13 or 14, my sense of self felt too permanent for anyone to fuck with. You know, whenever there was a makeover suggestion or like, ‘Do you wanna try this push- up bra?’ I think I freaked enough people out – or intimidated enough people – that it didn’t happen. But also, does that still happen these days? Is that a thing? I feel like people think more of teenage girls than that.

Via Dazed

You’ll Never Guess Where Soul-Man Leon Bridges’ Signed His Record Contract

Jun 19, 2015

While most people visiting the Fort Worth branch of office suppliers Staples last December probably just needed envelopes or boxes for last-minute Christmas presents, Leon Bridges’ visit was somewhat more life-changing.

That Yuletide, he made use of the stationery giant’s ‘Office On The Go’ facilities to sign and fax back a contract to Columbia Records. When he left the store he was Bob Dylan’s labelmate. “I was thinking about that on the way home,” laughs the quietly-spoken 26-year-old. “It felt like a dream. I didn’t really know what to make of it! We did have some champagne afterwards though, for sure.”

Via MOJO Magazine