Toni Braxton - Dance

Multimillion-selling R&B/pop pioneer and seven-time GRAMMY® Award-winner, Toni Braxton has released the official video for her latest single, “Dance,” today (Island Records). Directed by Mike Ho (Jennifer Lopez, Mary J. Blige, Nicki Minaj), the video encapsulates the single’s high energy  as Toni exudes confidence in her performance with her soulful vocals and sultry choreography. View the official video here. 

 

Braxton released “Dance” on Friday and the single was immediately heralded as “a shimmery slice of nu-disco” by Rolling Stone, “a feel-good disco stomper” by Variety, and Billboard described it as “a nu-disco club-ready banger that serves as an antidote for any heartbreak.” Along with Friday’s single release, Toni revealed her 10^th studio album, ‘Spell My Name,’ will be released on August 28^th. ‘Spell My Name’ is available for pre-order/save here and new exclusive merch bundles are available here.

Earlier this year, Toni released “Dance (Dave Aude Remix),” a remix of the new single, which went #1 on the UK’s Commercial Pop Club Chart. And last month, Braxton teamed up with the legendary Missy Elliot for a remix of her single “Do It.” which is currently building at #1 on the Billboard Adult R&B chart. “Do It” was the #1 most added song at Adult R&B radio after release and Braxton’s highest debut at the format. 

‘Spell My Name’ is Braxton’s follow up to her multi-GRAMMY® nominated album ‘Sex & Cigarettes.’ Released in 2018, the album features hit single “Long As I Live” which shot to #1 on the Billboard Adult R&B chart and top 10 on the R&B charts. Last year, Braxton embarked on her “Long As I Live” tour visiting 21 cities in addition to South Africa and for the first time in 22 years, the United Kingdom. In late 2019, Braxton graced the stage at the American Music Awards for a breathtaking performance of her iconic song, “Un-Break My Heart,” which marked the 25th anniversary of her first appearance on the show which become one of the most talked about moments from the evening.

Charli XCX to live-stream one off 'how i'm feeling now' event with Boiler Room

Charli XCX will live-stream a one-off live performance featuring a selection of tracks from her new Mercury Prize-nominated album "how i'm feeling now" on Boiler Room on Thursday 13th August from 3pm LA / 11pm LDN time. A digital-only experience, the event will combine live performance of the tracks for the first time, a conversation & a DJ set.

Access to the performance will be via a paid web portal. Tickets are $5, with all proceeds going to the LA Alliance for Human Rights, a US-based organisation tackling the homeless crisis in California. Tickets to the digital event go on sale at 5pm BST on Wednesday 05 August at: live.boilerroom.tv/

"how i'm feeling now" is Charli XCX’s latest work, which was written, recorded and released within 39 days during self-isolation earlier in the year. The album, a part-reaction to the global COVID-19 pandemic, has proven Charli to one of the most adaptable artists of the decade, with the Guardian naming the album “truly a work of its time”.

Rilo Kiley Announce Reissue Of Rare Self-Titled 1999 Debut Album

Rilo Kiley have announced plans to re-issue their extremely rare self-titled debut album from 1999. The recording, originally pressed only on CD and sold exclusively at the band’s early shows, has been out of print since its original pressing 21 years ago. Rilo Kiley will be made available on limited edition vinyl and digital DSPs on October 2nd via Little Record Company, the label started by Rilo Kiley’s own Pierre de Reeder. The vinyl package includes gate-fold and colored vinyl.

The Los Angeles four piece arrived on the music scene in 1998 with their very first show at Spaceland in Silverlake. In the audience was comedian Dave Foley who was so impressed with their performance that he introduced himself and immediately encouraged them to record some of their music. Recalls Foley of this first encounter with the fledgling Rilo Kiley:

“January 1998, I was a young man, young compared to now, hanging out in L.A’s alt. rock club scene. One night in particular, I found myself at Spaceland, at the bar drinking when a band started playing. They were good, so good that I stopped fighting for the attention of the bartender and turned to see who it was. On stage was a very young, delightfully unpretentious group named Rilo Kiley. Between songs they were charming, smart and funny. During songs they were brilliant. After the set I introduced myself and learned that this was their first public performance. I was astonished. They invited me back to their rehearsal space for Thai food and to hear some songs they didn’t have room for in the set. Dreamily, I filled my belly with noodles and my head with one great song after another. I was in a full on, pop music fan swoon. Having decided to force myself into their lives, I suggested (insisted) that I should fund a demo recording. They relented. I also tried to talk them into changing the band's name. They were unrelenting. A lot of years have passed. I remain proud to know Rilo Kiley and grateful that I had the opportunity and ability to be of some help”.

Check out Rilo Kiley’s very first video for “Frug” on 120 Minutes below.

OUT On Demand: House of Cardin

House of Cardin made its World Premiere at the Venice Film Festival, where it was nominated for the Queer Lion Award.  It went on to win the Lifetime Achievement, Best Fashion Feature Film, and Best Director of a Feature Fashion Film Awards at the Cinemoi Cinefashion Film Awards, and was also nominated for the Gold Q-Hugo Award at the Chicago International Film Festival.

The acclaimed documentary from husband directing duo P. David Ebersole & Todd Hughes (Room 237, Mansfield 66/67, Dear Mom, Love Cher) chronicles the incredible rise of 97 year-old French fashion designer Pierre Cardin, the figure behind the legendary brand. Naomi Campbell, Sharon Stone and Dionne Warwick are all featured in the film alongside many others including Jean-Paul Gaultier, who was discovered by Cardin himself.  

House of Cardin is releasing in late August with a digital and on-demand release on September 15th to coincide with New York Fashion Week.

Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film Festival moves to an online platform for its 30th edition

Inside Out, one of the largest LGBTQ film festivals in North America and single largest promoter and distributor of LGBTQ content in Canada, has announced today that they will be moving the 2020 festival to an online platform, following a great deal of consultation with Toronto Public Health, Public Health Ontario and its festival and venue partners. The festival will take place during the previously announced dates of October 1-11, 2020, and will be available to audiences across Ontario, effectively combining the festival’s annual Toronto and Ottawa festivals.

The first ever digital edition of Inside Out, coinciding with the organization’s 30th anniversary, will be hosted on the Cinesend platform - seamlessly incorporating festival films with live events, Q&As, and exclusive conversations with LGBTQ talent. The full festival lineup, including feature films and special events, will be released on September 8th, 2020. Details on individual tickets, all-access passes, and membership benefits will be released in the coming weeks.

“In postponing the festival this spring, we were optimistic that we might be able to gather safely in October to celebrate this exceptional year in queer film, and Inside Out’s 30-year milestone anniversary,” said Andria Wilson, Executive Director. “There is no denying the impacts of COVID-19 on our industry, our communities, and our artists, and Inside Out remains dedicated to providing support and building connections through all available means. We will keep innovating, keep imagining, and keep collaborating with our partners to deliver a digital festival experience that will reach LGBTQ2 audiences and allies across Ontario, while allowing us to stay connected with our loyal audiences in Ottawa and Toronto.”

“Although we are unable to gather in person to share what we’ve seen, and network with filmmakers in the ways we are used to, we remain committed to bringing you the best in queer cinema from our literal backyards and around the world,” said Andrew Murphy, Director of Programming. “We’ve been hard at work curating, tweaking, and securing exciting work for the online space and are thrilled to announce our short film programs well ahead of our October dates. In committing to our initial 16 programs, we continue our mission to invest in emerging queer artists, and we can’t wait to share more than 100 diverse fiction and non-fiction shorts with you across Ontario!”

Inside Out is proud to announce their robust line up of short films for the online October event. Spanning 16 shorts programs, including a mixed episodic program, 115 short films from Canada and around the world will be showcased. Four of these films - BING! BANG! BI!, BREAK IN, CRAZY and WERE YOU GAY IN HIGH SCHOOL? were recipients of Inside Out’s Re:Focus post production fund, and BODY SO FLUORESCENT, a world premiere, was funded through the Inside Out x ACTRA Queer Your Stories Short Film Competition.

Other highlights include Sundance favourite BUCK, SXSW titles BANANAS, DIRTY, VERT, and KEYBOARD FANTASIES: THE BEVERLY GLENN-COPELAND STORY, Lena Waithe’s AT&T Hello Lab titles ADELINE, THE GREAT and POSTMARKED, Iris Prize winner BLACK HAT, Robin Cloud’s 2 DOLLARS, Drew Denny’s MOMSTER starring Brianna Hildebrand, and CANDIS FOR PRESIDENT starring Candis Cayne.

Perennial favourite programs return for 2020. Local Heroes offers a showcase of Toronto’s best emerging queer talent. THRIVE, a program curated by Nik Redman and Scott Smart, centres stories of trans experience. BOLD, a program curated by Allia McLeod, explores the complexities of the queer Black experience in all its diversity. All other programs were curated by Programming Committee members Andrew Murphy, Jenna Dufton, Jacob Crepeault, Ferdosa Abdi, Rasheed Bailey, Katherine Connell, Ferrin Evans, Scott Ferguson, Zeinah Kalati, and Claire Jarvis.

Although Inside Out won’t be able to host its annual Youth Day in person, a quality program of short films geared towards youth will be available online as well as other special titles highlighted for youth and educator engagement. Details forthcoming.

In addition to the full program of films and special events, the online festival will also include the Canadian Micro-Budget Finance Forum, a new stream of Inside Out’s LGBTQ Feature Finance Forum which held its international edition online in May. The Canadian program will support ADOLESCENT (Director: Kyle Reaume, Producer: Sam Rosati), PINK CARNATIONS (Director: Adam Myatt, Producer: Lisa Buchanan), DEAR STRAIGHT MEN (Director: Santana Doran, Producer: Sam Sorrenti) and MOKA (Directors: Emily Gioskos, Laura Bornacelli, Producer: Moka Dawkins). All projects will participate in exclusive professional development and mentorship sessions that will kick-off during the October festival.

Drag Race Franchise Grows with Drag Race Holland

World of Wonder, broadcaster RTL and Vincent TV have announced that a Dutch version of the multiple award-winning RuPaul’s Drag Race, will be coming to viewers later this year.

Viewers in the Netherlands will be able to watch the series exclusively on RTL's SVOD plaform Videoland. Day-and-date with the Holland airing, Drag Race Holland will be available on World of Wonder’s owned-and-operated SVOD platform, WOW Presents Plus, which is available in 160 territories and will exclusively carry the series for international audiences, including those in the US. The series will be available on the platform with English, Spanish, and Portuguese subtitle options.

The series will feature ten incredible Dutch drag queens who take part in weekly challengs, where the bottom two face-off against each other in a legendary lip-synch battle for a chance to remain in the competition. The judges and guest judge line-up will be announced in the weeks to come.

Produced by World of Wonder since 2009, the Drag Race franchise has become a global phenomenon, and is available in 193 countries through network partners and World of Wonder's streaming service WOW Presents Plus. The series has won a record number of Emmy Awards including Outstanding Reality-Competition Program, won critical praise and launched several live events including DragCon in the US and UK.

Announcing the series via a special RuMail video message, RuPaul said; “I am proud to announce that my beloved Drag Race is coming to you. And with a brand-new host...More info coming soon, so you better watch!”

Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, World of Wonder Co-Founders said: “We firmly believe in charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent and can’t wait to welcome these 10 talented queens into the Drag Race family. It’s fantastic to work with RTL and Vincent TV on launching a Dutch version of the franchise, but it’s also a privilege to be able to bring this brilliant new series to an international audience too, via our own SVOD Platform WOW Presents Plus. We know fans won’t be disappointed.”

Ellen van den Berghe, Head of programming of RTL’s Videoland:“This outstanding, urgent and groundbreaking Emmy Award-winning program fits seamlessly into the values and ambition of Videoland. We are very proud we have achieved to commission a Dutch version of Drag Race as we know there are a lot of Drag Race-fans in Holland. But mostly we are proud we can show our subscribers the art and diversity of the program and the Dutch queens. Together with the producer Vincent TV and the support of World of Wonder we can’t wait to make a success of Drag Race Holland.”

Taylor Swift’s 'folklore' Surpasses Sales of Over 2 Million Worldwide

Seven days ago, Taylor Swift surprised fans with the unexpected release of her critically-acclaimed 5 star album, folklore. Since its release, folklore has cemented itself as the top selling album of 2020.

folklore stands out as the #1 album in the world with global sales over 2 million worldwide and over half a billion total streams on audio and video in just one week. It has reached #1 on iTunes in more than 85 countries. The album marks the biggest UK debut for a female artist in 2020 and becomes her most streamed album in it’s first week in the UK.

The stunning lead single from the album, “cardigan,” debuted #1 on the Global Spotify chart, claiming the most daily Spotify streams in 2020. It also reaches #1 on iTunes song chart and was the most added song at Top 40 and Hot AC radio airplay charts nationwide. The song was also added straight to the A list on BBC Radio 1 in the UK.

Taylor Swift is the only female artist to have seven albums each sell at least 500,000 copies in a single week (Fearless, Speak Now, RED, 1989, reputation, Lover and folklore). She is the first and only female artist in the 21st century to score five #1 studio albums in the UK. folklore marks the biggest first week album streams by a female artist in the UK in 2020 and biggest first week album streams of Taylor Swift’s career in the UK.

These latest achievements follow a series of records set by folklore. Last week, it shattered the global record for first day album streams on Spotify by a female artist with 80.6 million streams and delivered the most-streamed pop album on Apple Music in 24 hours with 35.47M streams. Additionally, folklore set the U.S. and Worldwide Amazon Music Indie/Alternative Streaming Record.

folklore is the ten-time GRAMMY® Award-winning, record-breaking superstar’s eighth album. In addition to all the incredible success of folklore this week, Taylor received five 2020 MTV Video Music Award nominations. “The Man” received nominations in top categories including “Video Of The Year” and “Best Direction” – which marks Taylor’s first award nomination in a directing role. Taylor also received nominations in categories including “Best Pop,” “Best Art Direction,” and “Video For Good.”

PLATONIC - A Digital Series on Modern Dating

Set in a memory of New York City just before the pandemic, PLATONIC follows Olive (a gay Brooklynite) and Billy (her straight best friend) as they look for love and document their search via voicemail messages to each other. This 10-episode series juxtaposes the radical intimacy and hazy boundaries of non-romantic relationships with the sexual fluidity and emotional ambiguity of modern dating.

Launching exclusively on YouTube on August 12.

Apple Music Launches Series of Exclusive Live-Stream Listening Parties

Apple Music today announced a series of virtual listening parties that lovingly harken back to the album listening parties of yore but now with almost unlimited, ways for artists to treat their biggest fans to something special before releasing new music to the world. Acting as an eventized extension of some of Apple Music's most popular and influential playlists, these virtual listening parties could include everything from unreleased tracks, to special guests and surprise performances and will also give fans the opportunity to chat live with their favorite artists.

The series kicks off on Thursday, August 6, at 8pm PT with Today's Hits Presents Victoria Monét. Leading into the release of her critically acclaimed new project "JAGUAR", the wildly talented singer/songwriter will spend the evening with 1,000 of her closest Apple Music super fans. Today's Hits Presents Victoria Monét on Apple Music will give fans the opportunity to hear new music from the project before it drops, learn more about the inspiration for each song and chat directly with Monét in real time during a live Q&A moderated by Apple Music host, Nadeska.

Tickets for Today's Hits Presents Victoria Monét are available on a first come first serve basis and space is limited. Fans can sign up HERE beginning today.

Logo set to air virtual 31st Annual GLAAD Media Awards on Monday, August 3

Logo will air the 31st annual GLAAD Media Awards virtual ceremony on Monday, August 3 at 8PM ET/PT. The awards will honor media for fair, accurate, and inclusive representations of LGBTQ people and issues. Since its inception in 1990, the GLAAD Media Awards have grown to be the most visible annual LGBTQ awards show in the world, sending powerful messages of acceptance to audiences globally.

Plume and Point of Pride Partner to Grant Gender-Affirming Care to Trans Folks Across America

Plume, the first health tech company built for the transgender community, in partnership with Point of Pride, a nonprofit dedicated to providing resources to underserved trans youth and adults, announced today the Point of Pride HRT Access Fund established to award free care for 12 months to trans folks seeking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in cities across the US.

Last month, Plume partnered with #YouAreEssential to launch the Plume x #YAE campaign to raise funds in support of Black trans lives, some of the most vulnerable within the trans community. Funds raised through the Plume x #YAE campaign will be the first to be distributed to Black trans folks in need of hormone replacement therapy through the Point of Pride HRT Access Fund.

Plume provides safe, expert, and affirming hormone replacement therapy through the convenience of a smartphone guided by a team that is mostly trans themselves. Recipients of the grants will receive free hormone replacement therapy through Plume for one year, including personal consultations, lab monitoring, and letters of support. The cost of prescriptions will be covered by the HRT Access Fund. Recipients will be awarded microgrants on a rolling basis throughout the year.

"We know that access to quality gender-affirming care is precarious at best," said Soltan Bryce, Head of Growth at Plume. "With Plume, access to HRT is immediate. Our shared goal with Point of Pride is to help make the HRT journey accessible, affordable and affirming for trans people who don't have easily or readily available care. We look forward to continued partnership with Point of Pride to raise funds and access for those in our community who need it most."

Live today, the inaugural application cycle of the Point of Pride HRT Access Fund is open until September 30, 2020. All interested trans folks seeking HRT can apply at pointofpride.org/hrt-access-fund. The first recipients of the grants will be notified beginning in October.

"In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Point of Pride launched the COVID-19 Emergency Fund to help our community face urgent challenges head-on. We have awarded micro grants to 240+ recipients so far, helping the most impacted members of our community afford short-term health and wellness expenses, but the need for sustained support continues to grow," said Aydian Dowling, Board of Directors President at Point of Pride.

"Even before loss of coverage associated with COVID-19 unemployment, we knew through our work that there are a number of factors that prevent community members from receiving high-quality, affirming care -- including explicitly exclusionary policies and regulations, or even something as seemingly simple as a lack of knowledgeable, trained healthcare providers available to a trans individual. We've seen the impact lack of access has on individuals for years, which is why we are so excited to partner with Plume."

This is the first #YouAreEssential campaign in partnership with Plume where funds will directly go to supporting Black trans lives.

"Gender affirming care is life-saving, and #YouAreEssential is proud to partner with Plume and Point of Pride in saving Black trans lives," said Ashlee Marie Preston, Founder of #YouAreEssential. "When a Black trans person's identity is affirmed, it inspires perseverance in the face of racial and gender-based injustices that impede our ability to thrive."

Decades after San Francisco closed its gay bathhouses, they can now reopen as part of the city’s COVID-19 economic recovery

On Tuesday, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously approved legislation authored by District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman requiring the San Francisco Department of Public Health to remove current regulations requiring the monitoring of patrons’ sexual activities and prohibiting private rooms in bathhouses and commercial adult sex venues.

“In the midst of the current COVID-19 pandemic, we are reminded that our best public policy decisions will be driven by data, science and facts, not by panic or political pressure,” said Mandelman. “The closure of the bathhouses in San Francisco, and the decades-long perpetuation of policies requiring invasive patron monitoring and the ban on private rooms, have no scientific justification today.”

In 1984 at the height of the AIDS crisis, the City and County of San Francisco filed a lawsuit against the operators of bathhouses, citing them as a public health nuisance. The court issued an order allowing the businesses to remain open on the condition that they employ monitors to prevent unsafe sex from occurring and remove most of the doors to individual video cubicles, booths, or rooms. Although the bathhouses technically could have remained open under the rules established by the court, all of them closed. In 1997, the Department of Public Health adopted minimum standards codifying the court order. These minimum standards remain in effect today.

Recent advances in HIV prevention strategies have reduced HIV transmission and minimized the adverse community and individual health impacts of HIV. These include the broad availability of PrEP (preexposure prophylaxis) to prevent HIV infection, rapid access to antiretroviral therapy for people newly diagnosed with HIV, and increased viral suppression among people living with HIV in San Francisco through increased retention in care. According to the San Francisco Department of Public Health, in 2018 the number of new HIV diagnoses in San Francisco dropped to 197, marking a 58% decrease as compared to the number of new HIV diagnoses in 2011.

“Bathhouses symbolize freedom for many in the queer community, and the ability for them to once again operate in San Francisco represents the tremendous advances our city has made in ending HIV transmissions,” said Joe Hollendoner, CEO of San Francisco AIDS Foundation. “Whether it be breakthroughs like PrEP or U=U, members of our community now have more prevention options than when bathhouses were closed, and it is time for these outdated restrictions to be revised. We thank Supervisor Mandelman for his leadership on this ordinance, and look forward to working with the health department to ensure that bathhouses are a safe place to experience sexual liberation.”

COVID-19 has resulted in the closure of many small businesses and record unemployment in San Francisco and around the country. Among the many businesses lost to closure during the pandemic are two prominent Bay Area gay adult businesses, Watergarden, a bathhouse in San Jose and Blow Buddies, an adult sex venue in San Francisco’s South of Market neighborhood.

“During the 1970s and early 80s bathhouses were a focal point of gay social life in San Francisco and were important community meeting places where friends would gather to share stories, dance to the latest disco hits or watch a live show,” said Mandelman who is gay and represents the Castro District. “With many businesses closing due to COVID-19, I hope this legislation will make the operation of adult sex venues more feasible and will encourage the opening of new businesses that will aid in our economic recovery when it is safe to do so.”

Taylor Swift 'folklore' Exceeds 1.3 Million Sold Globally in 24 Hours

In under 24 hours, Taylor Swift’s 5 Star album folklore sold over 1.3 million copies around the world. It also shattered “the global record for first-day album streams on Spotify by a female artist” with 80.6 million streams and delivered “the most-streamed pop album on Apple Music in 24 hours” with 35.47M streams. Additionally, folklore set the U.S. and Worldwide Amazon Music Indie/Alternative Streaming Record.

folklore is the ten-time GRAMMY Award-winning, record-breaking superstar’s eighth album. folklore arrives as Taylor's highest rated critically acclaimed album on Metacritic, currently ranked 96.5.

UNHhhh Is Back! Trixie and Katya Return For More Season 5 on August 5th

Oh honeyyyy! World of Wonder's hit series 'UNHhhh' is returning for more wig-snatching episodes from season five with your favorite co-hosts Katya Zamolodchikova and Trixie Mattel Wednesday, August 5th on WOW Presents Plus.

Each week, the best friends chat through any and all hot topics from relationships to health and answer your burning questions - all while socially distanced. You won’t want to miss the iconic duo serving fresh, new lewks and hilarious conversations. Preview a clip HERE.

Perfume Genius Performs On The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon

Last night, Perfume Genius (Mike Hadreas) performed the single “On The Floor,” from his recent release “Set My Heart On Fire Immediately,” on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon. The performance was shot in the empty music venue,The Lodge Room in Los Angeles, CA. In addition to the televised performance, Hadreas also shared an online-only performance of his ballad “Jason,” a stunning and relatable retelling of a one night stand. Hadreas was backed by a band of notable performers including his long time collaborator Alan Wyffels and Hand Habits’ Meg Duffy.

Perfume Genius recently released his new album, Set My Heart On Fire Immediately on Matador Records to worldwide critical acclaim. The album was produced by GRAMMY-winning producer Blake Mills and features contributions from musicians Jim Keltner, Pino Palladino, Matt Chamberlin and Rob Moose. It was recorded in Los Angeles, where Perfume Genius settled in 2017 with longtime partner and musical collaborator Alan Wyffels. The album explores and subverts concepts of masculinity and traditional roles, and introduces decidedly American musical influences.