The 2017 CMT Music Awards were held in June with Keith Urban as the top nominee and taking home the coveted Video of the Year and Male Video of the Year for Blue Ain’t Your Colour and Collaborative Video of the Year for The Fighter alongside Carrie Underwood. Other big wins of the night included:
• Female Video of the Year: Carrie Underwood – Church bells• Duo Video of the Year: Florida Georgia Line – H.O.L.Y.
• Group Video of the Year: Little Big Town – Better man
• Breakthrough Video of the Year: Lauren Alaina – Road less traveled
• CMT Performance of the Year: Jason Derulo & Luke Bryan – Want to want me
Following the horrific bombing at the Manchester Arena in May, Ariana Grande returned to Manchester but this time to the Old Trafford Cricket Ground in order to pay tribute to her fans who died in the blast. She did not come alone as guest artists included Miley Cyrus, Black Eyed Peas, Justin Bieber, Take That, Coldplay, Katy Perry, Little Mix, Niall Horan, Pharrell Williams, Liam Gallagher and Robbie Williams. Proceeds from the event which exceeded £12 million went to the We Love Manchester Emergency Fund established by the Manchester City Council and the British Red Cross. The funds were to help the victims and their families.
The Summertime Ball returned to the Wembley Stadium in London on June 10, for the eighth consecutive year headlined by Bruno Mars and Little Mix. All the contemporary megastars took center stage as Clean Bandit, Sean Paul, Julia Michaels, Stormzy, Dua Lipa, Ed Sheeran, Charlie Puth, Shawn Mendes, Louisa Johnson, Olly Murs, Zara Larsson etc. with guest appearances from Hailee Steinfeld, Craig David, Imani Williams and Ella Eyre.
Sir Paul McCartney, Emeli Sandé and Ed Sheeran have been recognized in Her Majesty the Queen’s Birthday Honours’ List which will see the artists receive the prestigious MBE for their contributions to the arts and society.
It is the end of the Black Eyed Peas as we know it as Fergie has officially left the Hip-Hop group. Although not in the original line-up Fergie’s addition saw the group rising to new heights and making a massive breakthrough into the mainstream Pop, Rap and Hip-Hop industry. Her powerful vocals gave the group the much needed sync with the rapping of will.i.am, apl.de.ap and Taboo. All in all Black Eyed Peas will never be the same, and her last contribution was to the fittingly reworked #WHEREISTHELOVE which is a charity song the proceeds of which was to will.i.am’s non-profit foundation i.am.angel, which funds educational programs and college scholarships.
Boyzone are to celebrate their 25th anniversary next year with an arena tour. They have also teased about new music, although it is unclear whether they will release a new album with fresh music or a greatest hits compilation with a few new singles.
Moving onto chart news, in the US, Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber’s Despacito continued at the top of the charts throughout the month, with no competition whatsoever. There was hardly any activity at the top of the charts during the month with Miley Cyrus’ Malibu and Post Malone featuring Quavo’s Congratulations being the only two songs to crack the top 10.
In the UK too, Despacito reigned supreme until the cover of Bridge of Troubled Water by Artists for Grenfell peaked in the final week. The latter song was a charity single released to raise funds for the families of the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire. During the month Liam Payne featuring Quavo’s Strip That Down, Niall Horan’s Slow Hands, David Guetta featuring Justin Bieber’s 2U, Little Mix featuring Stormzy’s Power and Jonas Blue featuring William Singe’s Mama all entered the top 10.
Other songs which became popular during the month were:
1. DJ Khaled ft. Rihanna & Bryson Tiller – Wild thoughts
2. Katy Perry ft. Nicki Minaj – Swish swish
3. Fifth Harmony ft. Gucci Mane – Down
4. Olly Murs & Louisa Johnson – Unpredictable
5. Imagine Dragons – Thunder
6. Selena Gomez – Bad liar
At Ease!!!
