Category Archives: Features

Alert: Electric Zoo: “The Big 10” Releases Day By Day Line-Up

Hey there my friends, just wanted to take a moment of your day post this Memorial Day weekend holiday and share the lineup rundown from the Electric Zoo “The Big 10” music festival that will be heading our way during the Labor Day holidays. Check it out if this kind of music is to your liking.

The Press Release:
New York’s electronic music festival-ELECTRIC ZOO: THE BIG 10-has announced its day-by-day lineup for its 10th birthday at Randall’s Island Park in New York City August 31, September 1 & 2. Single day tickets will become available this Thursday, May 31 by registering at http://presale.electriczoo.com.

Event organizers MADE EVENT have broken down its star-studded lineup into three days of the world’s finest DJs and most mind-melting production in the heart of the city that never sleeps. From titanic headliners to underground favorites and scene champions encompassing a wide range of styles from deep house and techno to trance, trap and future bass, ELECTRIC ZOO: THE BIG 10 features over 80 acts across four stages each day.

electric zoo the big 10, festival posters

Kicking off the festival on Friday, August 31, with their first trip to Electric Zoo will be Billboard Dance 100 #4 artist Marshmello and Porter Robinson’s new live project Virtual Self. Friday’s Sunday School Grove stage features a partnership with Anna Lunoe’s HYPERHOUSE and AC Slater’s Night Bass which will feature the hottest sounds that jackin’ and bass house music has to offer.
Continue reading Alert: Electric Zoo: “The Big 10” Releases Day By Day Line-Up

Image Comics Reveals Events/Signings For Book Expo/Book Con 2018

Both PiercingMetal.com and “The Chronicles” have been attending the Book Expo and Book Con for a couple of years now and an overview of last years adventure can be found on THIS LINK. The two conventions begin tomorrow (5/30) and one of the publishers in attendance are the fine folks from Image Comics. Earlier this morning, we received a press release with some of the exclusive events and signings that will be taking place over the course of the next five days. Check it out by clicking the logo below as this has been already posted on the PiercingMetal.com website.

Piercing Ken Thoughts: Sorry to send you over to the other site instead of re-posting here. I am quite wrapped up in getting a number of posts online to run while I am at these events. I’ll be exploring them as press and I look forward to presenting you some posts so stay tuned. Oh and before I go, if you are curious as to what the folks at Image Comics usually give away at Book Expo click on THIS LINK. See you soon.

Official Websites:
http://www.imagecomics.com
http://www.bookexpoamerica.com
http://www.thebookcon.com
http://www.reedpop.com

The Toy Insider Unveils “The Pop Insider”; A New Geek and Pop Culture Outlet

Hey there my friends, we recently received this news alert about a brand-new initiative that our friends over at The Toy Insider are spearheading. It’s called “The Pop Insider” and you can read all about it down below.

the pop insider logo

The Press Release:
From the experts who publish The Toy Insider, one of the toy industry’s most influential media outlets and a trusted go-to resource on toys and games for parents and gift-givers, comes a brand new cross-platform media title created for adults and collectors who love to geek out – The Pop Insider.

A daily pop culture news and review site, The Pop Insider multimedia publication lets superfans fuel their fandoms 24/7–whether they’re obsessed with Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, Marvel comics or The Bachelor. The site will be supported with a weekly e-newsletter, seasonal print magazine and ezine, and real-time updates and commentary across social media channels.

“Geek is chic and pop culture fanatics are incredibly loyal,” says Marissa DiBartolo, co-editor-in-chief. “They want to be the first to know and own every single thing that’s coming out—that’s where The Pop Insider comes in!”

Adds co-editor-in-chief Ali Mierzejewski, “For the past 13 years, The Toy Insider has helped grown-ups discover the hottest toys and games to buy for their kids. We thought, ‘Wait, what about us?!’ We want to offer the same expert reviews and news scoops for adults out there hunting for hot collectibles, limited edition toys, merch and fun party games for themselves – that’s what The Pop Insider is all about.”
Continue reading The Toy Insider Unveils “The Pop Insider”; A New Geek and Pop Culture Outlet

Here’s The Winners Of The 2018 Billboard Music Awards

billboard music awards logo

In keeping up with the presentation of assorted award shows, I’m sharing the winners of last nights Billboard Music Awards that aired last night and were hosted by the first American Idol Kelly Clarkson. I’ve listed the nominees as well so you can see who didn’t quite make the cut according to the voting powers that be. Let’s go.

Top Artist:
Drake
Kendrick Lamar
Bruno Mars
Ed Sheeran — WINNER
Taylor Swift

Top New Artist:
21 Savage
Camila Cabello
Cardi B
Khalid — WINNER
Kodak Black

Billboard Chart Achievement Award:
Camila Cabello — WINNER
Cardi B
Drake
Sam Hunt
Ed Sheeran

Top Male Artist:
Drake
Kendrick Lamar
Bruno Mars
Post Malone
Ed Sheeran — WINNER

Top Female Artist:
Camila Cabello
Cardi B
Halsey
Demi Lovato
Taylor Swift — WINNER

Top Duo/Group:
The Chainsmokers
Coldplay
Imagine Dragons — WINNER
Migos
U2

Top Billboard 200 Artist:
Drake — WINNER
Kendrick Lamar
Ed Sheeran
Chris Stapleton
Taylor Swift

Top Hot 100 Artist:
Imagine Dragons
Kendrick Lamar
Bruno Mars
Post Malone
Ed Sheeran — WINNER

Top Streaming Songs Artist:
Cardi B
Drake
Kendrick Lamar — WINNER
Post Malone
Ed Sheeran

Top Song Sales Artist:
Imagine Dragons
Kendrick Lamar
Bruno Mars
Post Malone
Ed Sheeran — WINNER

Top Radio Songs Artist:
Halsey
Imagine Dragons
Bruno Mars
Charlie Puth
Ed Sheeran — WINNER

Top Social Artist:
Justin Bieber
BTS — WINNER
Ariana Grande
Demi Lovato
Shawn Mendes

Top Touring Artist:
Coldplay
Guns N’ Roses
Bruno Mars
Ed Sheeran
U2 — WINNER

Top R&B Artist:
Chris Brown
Khalid
Bruno Mars — WINNER
SZA
The Weeknd

Top R&B Male Artist:
Khalid
Bruno Mars — WINNER
The Weeknd

Top R&B Female Artist:
Beyonce
Rihanna
SZA — WINNER

Top R&B Tour:
Bruno Mars — WINNER
Lionel Richie
The Weeknd

Top Rap Artist:
Drake
Kendrick Lamar — WINNER
Lil Uzi Vert
Migos
Post Malone

Top Rap Male Artist:
Drake
Kendrick Lamar — WINNER
Post Malone

Top Rap Female Artist:
Bhad Bhabie
Cardi B — WINNER
Nicki Minaj

Top Rap Tour:
J. Cole
JAY-Z — WINNER
Kendrick Lamar

Top Country Artist:
Kane Brown
Luke Combs
Sam Hunt
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton — WINNER

Top Country Male Artist:
Sam Hunt
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton — WINNER

Top Country Female Artist:
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Maren Morris — WINNER

Top Country Duo/Group Artist:
Florida Georgia Line — WINNER
Old Dominion
Zac Brown Band

Top Country Tour:
Luke Bryan — WINNER
Florida Georgia Line
Tim McGraw & Faith Hill

Top Rock Artist:
Imagine Dragons — WINNER
Linkin Park
Portugal. The Man
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
twenty one pilots

Top Rock Tour:
Coldplay
Guns N’ Roses
U2 — WINNER

Top Latin Artist:
J Balvin
Daddy Yankee
Luis Fonsi
Ozuna — WINNER
Romeo Santos

Top Dance/Electronic Artist:
The Chainsmokers — WINNER
Calvin Harris
Kygo
Marshmello
ODESZA

Top Christian Artist:
Elevation Worship
Hillsong UNITED
Hillsong Worship
MercyMe — WINNER
Zach Williams

Top Gospel Artist:
Anthony Brown & group therAPy
Travis Greene
J.J. Hairston & Youthful Praise
Tasha Cobbs Leonard — WINNER
Tamela Mann

Top Billboard 200 Album:
Drake, More Life
Kendrick Lamar, DAMN. — WINNER
Post Malone, Stoney
Ed Sheeran ÷ (Divide)
Taylor Swift, reputation

Top Selling Album:
Kendrick Lamar, DAMN.
P!nk, Beautiful Trauma
Ed Sheeran, ÷ (Divide)
Chris Stapleton, From A Room: Volume 1
Taylor Swift, reputation — WINNER

Top Soundtrack:
Black Panther
The Fate of the Furious: The Album
The Greatest Showman
Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2: Awesome Mix Vol. 2
Moana — WINNER

Top R&B Album:
Khalid, American Teen
Bruno Mars, 24K Magic — WINNER
SZA, CTRL
The Weeknd, Starboy
XXXTentacion, 17

Top Rap Album:
Drake, More Life
Kendrick Lamar, DAMN. — WINNER
Lil Uzi Vert, Luv Is Rage 2
Migos, Culture
Post Malone, Stoney

Top Country Album:
Kane Brown, Kane Brown
Luke Combs, This One’s For You
Thomas Rhett, Life Changes
Chris Stapleton, From A Room: Volume 1 — WINNER
Brett Young, Brett Young

Top Rock Album:
Imagine Dragons, Evolve — WINNER
Linkin Park, One More Light
Panic! At The Disco, Death of a Bachelor
Portugal. The Man, Woodstock
U2, Songs of Experience

Top Latin Album:
Nicky Jam, Fenix
Christian Nodal, Me Deje Llevar
Ozuna, Odisea — WINNER
Romeo Santos, Golden
Shakira, El Dorado

Top Dance/Electronic Album:
Avicii, AV?CI (01)
The Chainsmokers, Memories…Do Not Open — WINNER
Calvin Harris, Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1
Kygo, Stargazing
ODESZA, A Moment Apart

Top Christian Album:
Elevation Worship, There Is A Cloud
Hillsong UNITED, Wonder
Hillsong Worship, Let There Be Light
Alan Jackson, Precious Memories Collection — WINNER
MercyMe, Lifer

Top Gospel Album:
Anthony Brown & group therAPy, A Long Way From Sunday
Travis Greene, Crossover: Live From Music City
J.J. Hairston & Youthful Praise, You Deserve It
Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Heart. Passion. Pursuit — WINNER
Marvin Sapp, Close

Top Hot 100 Song:
Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber, “Despacito” — WINNER
Kendrick Lamar, “Humble.”
Bruno Mars, “That’s What I Like”
Post Malone ft. 21 Savage, “Rockstar”
Ed Sheeran, “Shape Of You”

Top Streaming Song (Audio):
Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber, “Despacito”
Kendrick Lamar, “Humble.” — WINNER
Lil Uzi Vert, “XO Tour LLIF3”
Post Malone ft. 21 Savage, “Rockstar”
Post Malone ft. Quavo, “Congratulations”

Top Streaming Song (Video):
Cardi B, “Bodak Yellow (Money Moves)”
Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber, “Despacito” — WINNER
Lil Pump, “Gucci Gang”
Bruno Mars, “That’s What I Like”
Ed Sheeran, “Shape of You”

Top Selling Song:
Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber, “Despacito” — WINNER
Sam Hunt “Body Like A Back Road”
Imagine Dragons “Believer”
Imagine Dragons “Thunder”
Ed Sheeran “Perfect”

Top Radio Song:
The Chainsmokers & Coldplay, “Something Just Like This”
Imagine Dragons, “Believer”
Bruno Mars, “That’s What I Like”
Charlie Puth, “Attention”
Ed Sheeran, “Shape of You” — WINNER

Top Collaboration:
Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug, “Havana”
The Chainsmokers & Coldplay, “Something Just Like This”
Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber, “Despacito” — WINNER
French Montana ft. Swae Lee, “Unforgettable”
Post Malone ft. 21 Savage, “Rockstar”

Top R&B Song:
Childish Gambino, “Redbone”
DJ Khaled ft. Rihanna & Bryson Tiller, “Wild Thoughts”
Khalid, “Young Dumb & Broke”
Bruno Mars, “That’s What I Like” — WINNER
Bruno Mars ft. Cardi B, “Finesse”

Top Rap Song:
Cardi B, “Bodak Yellow (Money Moves)”
DJ Khaled ft. Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance The Rapper & Lil Wayne, “I’m The One”
French Montana ft. Swae Lee, “Unforgettable”
Kendrick Lamar, “Humble.”
Post Malone ft. 21 Savage, “Rockstar” — WINNER

Top Country Song:
Kane Brown ft. Lauren Alaina, “What Ifs”
Sam Hunt, “Body Like A Back Road” — WINNER
Dustin Lynch, “Small Town Boy”
Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line, “Meant To Be”
Brett Young, “In Case You Didn’t Know”

Top Rock Song:
Imagine Dragons “Believer” — WINNER
Imagine Dragons “Thunder”
Linkin Park ft. Kiiara “Heavy”
Portugal. The Man “Feel It Still”
The Revivalists “Wish I Knew You”

Top Latin Song:
J Balvin & Willy William Ft. Beyonce, “Mi Gente”
Becky G ft. Bad Bunny, ”Mayores”
Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber, “Despacito” — WINNER
Maluma, “Felices Los 4”
Wisin ft. Ozuna, “Escapate Conmigo”

Top Dance/Electronic Song:
The Chainsmokers & Coldplay, “Something Just Like This” — WINNER
Cheat Codes ft. Demi Lovato, “No Promises”
Clean Bandit ft. Sean Paul & Ann-Marie, “Rockabye”
Kygo & Selena Gomez, “It Ain’t Me”
Zedd & Alessia Cara, “Stay”

Top Christian Song:
Elevation Worship, “O Come To The Altar”
Hillsong Worship, “What A Beautiful Name” — WINNER
Lecrae ft. Tori Kelly, “I’ll Find You”
MercyMe, “Even If”
Zach Williams, “Old Church Choir”

Top Gospel Song:
Anthony Brown & group therAPy, “Trust In You”
Travis Greene, “You Waited”
J.J. Hairston & Youthful Praise, “You Deserve It” — WINNER
Tamela Mann, “Change Me”
Charlie Wilson, “I’m Blessed”

*** end of list ***

Piercing Ken Thoughts: Another long list but once again one that doesn’t pay any mind to the primary genre that I love so much and support in earnest over on PiercingMetal.com – oh well, what can you do. For those who wonder about how these awards come to pass, according to their Official Wikipedia entry “the Billboard Music Awards finalists are based on album and digital songs sales, streaming, radio airplay, touring, and social engagement. These measurements are tracked year-round by Billboard and its data partners, including Nielsen Music and Next Big Sound”. Considering the lack of Heavy Music presented or any of the tours that I knew were sold out at each and every stop, I guess the fans of those events aren’t in the tabulations. Oh well. I didn’t watch the broadcast and since I know so few of what the winners ended up being am kind of glad that I bypassed it. What about you folks who listen to much different stuff from my Metal side? Did some of your favorites win or were they cheated out of the prize? Chime in down below in the comments since that is what they are here for after all. Congrats to Ed Sheeran and Kendrick Lamar who seem to have brought home the bacon with this years awards.

Official Website: http://www.billboard.com

Check Out The “All-American Summer Concert Series” 2018 Lineup

fox news, all-american summer concert series

The Scoop:
All-American Summer Concert Schedule has released their rundown of the free concerts that will be taking place on the FOX News Plaza on 48th Street just off the Avenue Of The Americas and its a wide gamut of stellar performers. Not only are these performances free of charge but they also serve up some BBQ ribs and chicken (unless I’m mistaken). There might even be beer which considering the time is kind of weird but here is the list of shows for you to begin marking down as interest items on your mobile device of choice or one of those handy dandy day planners that use pen and paper. I think its awesome that they do this kind of thing and wish there were more events like them.

The Concerts:
May 25: Lee Greenwood
June 1: Thompson Square
June 8: Mercy Me
June 15: 3 Doors Down
June 22: Lynyrd Skynyrd
June 29: Tobymac
July 6: Phil Vassar
July 13: Phillip Phillips
July 20: Dee Snider
July 27: Coming Soon
Aug 3: For King & Country
Aug 10: Cody Johnson
Aug 17: Scotty McCreery
Aug 24: Lee Brice
Aug 31: Scott Stapp

Piercing Ken Thoughts: Right off the bat I see a few that I am very interested in but I should admit something to you readers since we are close and all. Despite my efforts to be a part of more of these special showcases, I’ve only managed to catch the one that the legendary Alice Cooper did a few years ago. As they are free, its open to the general public and everyone records every moment of them for their Facebook, Instagram and whatevmer the hell else they opt to chronicle their world on so space is very limited. If you come in as a civilian you are among the crowd even if you decide to blog about it or post your pictures to a branded account like I would do. Now, folks in the unaware should know that these events start super early in the morning which is not always an easy thing for me if I’ve been at a late ending concert or event the night before. Some friends of mine go to these concerts right before their regular workday and I guess its pretty safe to use the excuse that the MTA caused you to be late since their overall services sucks so bad these days. Oh come on now you know I am right about that. So let close this up by asking you which shows you find most interesting and that you would like to attend. You can share your scoop down in the comments section below. Also, be aware that I will be listing every single one of these shows on our Events Calendar and the most topical ones from this list will be featured on the PiercingMetal.com Calendar. Ciao for now.

Official Website: http://www.foxnews.com/category/shows/fox-friends/all-american-summer-concert-series.html