All stories by Jem Aswad on BroadwayStars

Friday, December 15, 2017

Lin-Manuel Miranda Announces the Hamildrops (the 'Hamilton' Mixtape Vol. 2) With 'Ben Franklin's Song,' Featuring The Decemberists (Listen) by Jem Aswad

On Friday morning, a press release arrived from "Hamilton" mastermind Lin-Manuel Miranda announcing The Hamildrops, which is basically a long-term mixtape, with unspecified "new 'Hamilton' c…

SOURCE: Variety at 10:40AM[SHARE]
Wednesday, November 29, 2017

Sony/ATV Announces Consultancy With Jay Landers for Film and Theater Projects by Jem Aswad

Sony/ATV Music Publishing has announced an exclusive consultancy with music industry veteran Jay Landers and his Lighthouse Company that will see him mining Sony/ATV's catalog of songs and d…

SOURCE: Variety at 06:08PM[SHARE]
Tuesday, November 28, 2017

It's Official: New York Mayor Bill de Blasio Signs Legislation Repealing Cabaret Law by Jem Aswad

As expected, on Monday evening, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio signed legislation into law that will repeal the 91-year-old “cabaret law” that has long bedeviled nightclub owners.…

SOURCE: Variety at 04:41PM[SHARE]
Monday, November 27, 2017

Bruce Springsteen Extends Broadway Run by Jem Aswad

Bruce Springsteen announced today that “Springsteen on Broadway,” his 16-week series of performances at Jujamcyn’s Walter Kerr Theatre will be extended, with additional sho…

SOURCE: Variety at 04:38PM[SHARE]
Monday, November 6, 2017

Marilyn Manson Issues Statement on Fake Assault Rifle: 'An Act of Theater in an Attempt to Make a Statement' by Jem Aswad

Marilyn Manson caused a fair amount of outrage in San Bernardino on Sunday when, on the day of yet another mass shooting " Sunday's in Texas, where 26 people were killed " he turned a fake g…

SOURCE: Variety at 04:40PM[SHARE]
Tuesday, October 31, 2017

Lawmakers Vote to Overturn New York's 91-Year-Old Anti-Dancing 'Cabaret' Law by Jem Aswad

Overturning a 91-year-old rule that has long bedeviled nightclub owners in New York, city lawmakers have voted Tuesday to repeal the "cabaret law,” according to The Associated Press. T…

SOURCE: Variety at 06:25PM[SHARE]

Bette Midler Says Bon Jovi Has Her Rock Hall of Fame Vote: 'I Love Him!' by Jem Aswad

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ballots were mailed out to 800 potential voters this week, and Bon Jovi already has one big supporter in their corner: Bette Midler. Speaking to Variety on the…

SOURCE: Variety at 01:54PM[SHARE]
Monday, October 30, 2017

Chance the Rapper, Tiffany Haddish to Host 'SNL' With Musical Guests Eminem, Taylor Swift by Jem Aswad

"Saturday Night Live" announced the lineup for two more November shows on Monday morning, and it includes a bounty of musical guests: Chance the Rapper will host on Nov. 18 " with Eminem as …

SOURCE: Variety at 12:00PM[SHARE]
Wednesday, October 25, 2017

'Thank You for Your Service' Director Talks New Bruce Springsteen Song Featured in Film by Jem Aswad

A new song by Bruce Springsteen is featured during the end credits of the new Miles Teller film, "Thank You for Your Service." The song, "Freedom Cadence," was written specifically for the m…

SOURCE: Variety at 05:03PM[SHARE]
Friday, October 20, 2017

Concert Review: Haim Light Up L.A.'s Greek Theatre With Homecoming Show by Jem Aswad

"We're three sisters from the Valley playing the Greek," marveled Este Haim, one-third of the sisterly trio bearing their last name. "I'm 'Stone Cold' Steven Austin when it comes to emotion,…

SOURCE: Variety at 04:57PM[SHARE]
Thursday, October 19, 2017

Lin-Manuel Miranda on Trump and Puerto Rico: 'I Don't Run Well on Anger' by Jem Aswad

"Hamilton" mastermind Lin-Manuel Miranda has been among the most vocal agitators raising awareness about the devastation Hurricane Maria has wreaked upon Puerto Rico. He's been outspoken in …

SOURCE: Variety at 01:30PM[SHARE]

Little Steven on His Soulful Solo Act, the '60s and 'Springsteen on Broadway' by Jem Aswad

While his "boss," Bruce Springsteen is lighting up Broadway with an acclaimed one-man show, E-Street Band guitarist/consigliere Little Steven Van Zandt is rocking the Sunset Strip 3,000 mile…

SOURCE: Variety at 10:00AM[SHARE]
Tuesday, October 17, 2017

Concert Review: Evanescence Amp Up the Drama With 20-Piece Orchestra at L.A.'s Greek Theatre by Jem Aswad

Evanescence lead singer Amy Lee made the leap from goth-rocker to opera diva last night, as she and the band led a 20-piece orchestra through a sold-out performance at the Greek Theater Sund…

SOURCE: Variety at 01:59PM[SHARE]
Thursday, October 12, 2017

Theater Review: 'Springsteen on Broadway' Is an Intimate, Living Autobiography by Jem Aswad

As Bruce Springsteen began the last verse of "The Promised Land" on Tuesday night, he wandered away from the microphone but kept singing, and his voice carried, purely under its own power, t…

SOURCE: Variety at 07:57PM[SHARE]
Friday, October 6, 2017

Concert Review: The War on Drugs Channel Tom Petty at L.A.'s Greek Theatre by Jem Aswad

Walking in to this most iconic of music venues, under a full harvest moon, concert-goers were greeted by a digital billboard of Tom Petty and the stark message, “1950-2017.” So i…

SOURCE: Variety at 08:13PM[SHARE]

Lin-Manuel Miranda and Artists for Puerto Rico Release Hurricane-Relief Song, 'Almost Like Praying' (Listen) by Jem Aswad

"Hamilton" mastermind Lin-Manuel Miranda has collaborated with an all-star lineup of artists to release "Almost Like Praying," a hurricane relief single in support of Puerto Rico. Proceeds f…

SOURCE: Variety at 09:33AM[SHARE]
Wednesday, October 4, 2017

Bruce Springsteen Takes Us on a Tour of His iTunes Playlist by Jem Aswad

During the course of Variety's cover-story interview with Bruce Springsteen, we asked who some of his favorite contemporary songwriters are. "Let me get my computer and get it for ya," he re…

SOURCE: Variety at 09:00AM[SHARE]
Tuesday, October 3, 2017

Bruce Springsteen Posts Touching Tribute to Tom Petty, His 'Long Lost Brother' by Jem Aswad

While they were unquestionably kindred spirits, Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen never really collaborated, apart from sharing stages at events like the 1979 “No Nukes” concert, a…

SOURCE: Variety at 03:27PM[SHARE]

Bruce Springsteen on Broadway, His Next Album, and Loving New Jersey by Jem Aswad

This is part one of Variety’s two-part cover story with Bruce Springsteen. For part two, click here.  The woodsy rolling hills and vivid green pastures of central New Jerse…

SOURCE: Variety at 10:00AM[SHARE]

Bruce Springsteen Talks Politics, Marriage, and Why He Won't Write an 'Anti-Trump Diatribe' by Jem Aswad

This is part two of Variety’s two-part cover story with Bruce Springsteen. For part one, click here.  If you ran for governor of New Jersey, you'd win " is that ever a temp…

SOURCE: Variety at 10:00AM[SHARE]
Sunday, October 1, 2017

Bruce Springsteen Plays Two Songs With Bryan Adams at Canada's Invictus Games (Watch) by Jem Aswad

Things got a little reckless at the Invictus Games in Toronto when Bruce Springsteen and Bryan Adams got together for an onstage jam Saturday night (Sept. 30). Springsteen " who performed hi…

SOURCE: Variety at 11:26AM[SHARE]
Friday, September 22, 2017

Bruce Springsteen Joins Jackson Browne and Little Steven Onstage at Laid Back Fest (Watch) by Jem Aswad

The Laid Back Fest in New Jersey was anything but mellow Thursday night when Bruce Springsteen jumped onstage to jam with headliners Jacksone Browne and Little Steven and the Disciples of So…

SOURCE: Variety at 10:24AM[SHARE]
Wednesday, September 6, 2017

Dave Matthews Band, Justin Timberlake, Ariana Grande to Perform at 'A Concert for Charlottesville' by Jem Aswad

In response to the racial-related violence in their hometown of Charlottesville, VA, Dave Matthews Band will host an evening of music that will be free for members of the Charlottesvil…

SOURCE: Variety at 09:15AM[SHARE]

See John Legend Perform 'Penthouse Floor' From the 'Live From the Artists Den' Season Premiere (EXCLUSIVE) by Jem Aswad

The 12th season of 'Live From the Artists Den' premieres this week, and Variety is exclusively premiering John Legend's performance of "Penthouse Floor" (from his most recent album, "Darknes…

SOURCE: Variety at 09:00AM[SHARE]
Wednesday, August 30, 2017

Bruce Springsteen Broadway Tickets Go on Sale " and Immediately Hit the Secondary Market for Thousands of Dollars by Jem Aswad

Tickets for Bruce Springsteen’s eight-week run of Broadway shows went on sale at 10 a.m. ET Wednesday (Aug.30), and despite the efforts of Ticketmaster's "Verified Fan" program, the…

SOURCE: Variety at 01:28PM[SHARE]
Thursday, July 20, 2017

Chester Bennington and Linkin Park: A Musical Legacy of Darkness and Hope by Jem Aswad

The loss of Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington, found dead of an apparent suicide at his home in a Southern California coastal community, leaves a hole in the hearts of family, friends…

SOURCE: Variety at 08:16PM[SHARE]
Tuesday, July 11, 2017

Is Lady Gaga's Las Vegas Dive Bar Tour Stop Postponed? by Jem Aswad

Just days before the first date of her second Bud Light-sponsored Dive Bar Tour, Lady Gaga has postponed it, a source tells Variety. The tour was scheduled to begin Thursday in Las Vegas at …

SOURCE: Variety at 12:57PM[SHARE]
Wednesday, June 21, 2017

Guns N' Roses to Play New York's Intimate Apollo Theater for SiriusXM July 20 by Jem Aswad

SiriusXM announced Wednesday that Guns N' Roses will perform at Harlem's world famous Apollo Theater for a special invitation-only concert for SiriusXM subscribers on Thursday, July 20…

SOURCE: Variety at 09:30AM[SHARE]
Friday, June 16, 2017

Is Bruce Springsteen Headed for Broadway? by Jem Aswad

Move over, “Dear Evan Hansen”: Bruce Springsteen may be heading to the Great White Way this fall. The New York Post reports Springsteen is set to play an eight-week run at the…

SOURCE: Variety at 03:12PM[SHARE]
Tuesday, June 6, 2017

Warner Announces Arts Music Division for Classical, Musical Theatre, Jazz, More by Jem Aswad

Warner Music Group on Tuesday announced the creation of a new division called Arts Music, a repertoire center that will focus on signing, developing and marketing artists and releases …

SOURCE: Variety at 10:00AM[SHARE]
Tuesday, May 30, 2017

Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, More to Perform at 'One Love Manchester' Benefit Sunday by Jem Aswad

Ariana Grande will return to Manchester to headline a special “One Love Manchester” benefit concert on Sunday to honor and raise vital funds for the victims and families who were…

SOURCE: Variety at 11:44AM[SHARE]

All that Chat