This Weekend Gallery Does Light Housework
If the music-biz professionals in these industry trade shots were on our ballot, we’d vote for them all. Sadly, they are not, and we have to wade through 789 state measures where, like, if these two pass but this one gets more votes, then the other one is nullified, or something. Maybe more bong hits will help.
Newly inked Mercury artist John Mayer, whose deal with the label includes the establishment of JV imprint Sob Rock Records, relished the opportunity to pose with Mercury boss Tyler Arnold. Later, Tyler reminded John that per an ironclad company policy, major seventh chords were strictly forbidden.
Since Tate McRae’s new single, “Housewife,” is now the #1 song in the galaxy, we thought we’d revisit this charming photo from waaaaaaay back in 2025. Seen before realizing they’d been soaking their hands in Palmolive are, from left, Sony Music ruler Rob Stringer, McRae and RCA’s John Fleckenstein and Peter Edge.
Backstage after Atlantic Outpost artist Cameron Whitcomb's sold-out show at The Wiltern in L.A., during which he debuted "Set Me Free," from the newly released Nobody Wants This Season 3 soundtrack, team members presented him with gold plaques for his singles "Quitter" and "Medusa." Seen thinking if “this” means “an appearance on our website” they definitely don’t want it are Atlantic’s Michael Hirschhorn and Laurel Cass, Atlantic Outpost’s Lucy Bartozzi, The Core’s Tim Gonzalez-Crane, Atlantic’s Drew Maniscalco and Tony Talamo, Atlantic Outpost’s JJ Jones, Atlantic’s Adam Grossman, Whitcomb, The Core’s Kevin “Chief” Zaruk and Simon Tikhman, Atlantic Outpost/Atlantic’s Ian Cripps, The Core’s Dan Dymtrow and Atlantic Outpost/Atlantic’s Jeff Levin. Phew. (James Baker)
Now that Chappell Roan’s two-night “Super Graphic Spectacular” has wowed L.A. (and chatter continues that she might be releasing new music soon), we return to this comparatively austere 2024 pic of the Island star with trusty collaborator Daniel Nigro at L.A.’s Grammy Museum. Harvey Mason Jr., we’re delighted to report, was a vision in head-to-toe pink. (Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for the Recording Academy)
And here’s Chappell with Interscope’s Olivia Rodrigo on the set of the “expectations (remix)” video, a puckish throwback to the game shows of yore. And by “yore,” we mean, like, 25 years before either star was born. The pair’s new version of the O-Rod track is now [checks notes] bigger than sliced bread.
Warner singer-songwriter Ryan Peter Murphy (second from left) has been hailed in some circles as the “Gen Z Sinatra,” and his “Christmas in New England,” which has been selected for Hallmark’s holiday campaign (previously featuring acts like Brad Paisley, Jennifer Hudson and Cher), could have the makings of a new yuletide classic, or so say the merry gentlemen pictured here, who are clearly unbiased. But if RPM (whose Xmas album is out now) is the new Sinatra, are Gregg Nadel, Aaron Bay-Schuck and manager Pete Galli the new Don Rickles, Joey Bishop and Peter Lawford? Nah.
Legends! Our own Karen Glauber, out to see Jimmy Webb, spotted the great photographer and lovely man Henry Diltz and demanded a photo with him. Henry, of course, has shot album covers for CSN, the Eagles, The Doors, America and countless other canonical bands, and if you ask nicely, he’ll tell you who had the best weed. Later, someone left a cake out in the rain, which did not prevent us from having a couple three slices.
At the L.A. premiere of the documentary film Black Sabbath: Back to the Beginning, rocker Billy Morrison presented Sharon Osbourne with Ozzy Osbourne’s Official Charts award for the Top 10 vinyl picture disc of “Gods of Rock N Roll,” the collaborative track released in 2025 by Morrison with Ozzy and Steve Stevens. Ozzy’s final recorded performances were on this track and another collab with Morrison and Stevens, “Crack Cocaine.” Later, goat was thrown. Later still, Sauvignon Blanc was served. (John Fenton)
Backstage at newly signed Warner Latina artist Aria Vega’s show at L.A.’s Roxy, the Latin Grammy nominee for Best New Artist retained her stage attire for this photo op, and WME’s Rob Markus secretly breathed a sigh of relief—because he almost showed up in the same outfit. Seen just before meeting a hair-metal guitarist next door at The Rainbow who turned out to be a ghost are, from left, manager and Lionfish CEO Rebeca Leon, Markus, Vega and WME’s Daniel Molina.
On the eve of the NBA season opener, Team UTA squeaked their sneakers onto the floor of the Miami Heat’s home-court Kaseya Center for a Latin Music Week party. Seen seconds before tying the all-time NBA record for missed free throws are, from left, Sydney Wilke, Maca Litman, Zach Iser, Jbeau Lewis, Nigel Meijoas, Joe Wohfeld and (kneeling) Liza Roca and Kirk Taboada. Note: Gabe Tesoriero insisted we use the word “ballers” somewhere in this caption. You’re welcome, Gabe.
“So, which Penske rag is doing this thing?” country darling Megan Moroney asked UTA CEO David Kramer. “It’s either The Hollywood Reporter or Practical Sheep, Goats and Alpacas; I can never remember,” he replied. “Who cares? There’s tacos.” We kid, of course—the occasion was THR’s Creator A-List party. Later, an influencer took a selfie with another influencer, then the two had a good laugh after realizing they were both AI-generated.
Country up-and-comer Kameron Marlowe, having opened for Ella Langley at L.A.’s Greek Theatre, was subsequently treated to some local hospitality, which included a hearty meal of farm-sourced flax seeds and sprouts and a tantalizing recycled-cardboard dessert slathered in cashew butter. Seen longing for seconds are, from left, Sony Music Nashville’s Fred Rubenstein, Nathan Thomas, Margaret Tomlin and label boss Taylor Lindsey, Marlowe, SMN’s Ken Robold, Red Light’s Kaitlin Madewell, and SMN’s Meg Kehoe and Alaina Vehec.
At Austin City Limits, the BMI Stage was a hotbed of new-artist activity, whereas the BMI Lounge was noteworthy as the only Texas locale where Ken Paxton hadn’t been indicted. Seen yearning for a Shiner Bock are (back, from left) BMI’s Mitch Ballard, Tim Pattison and Gabriella Natali, (middle) Clay Bradley, Kristen Townsend, Kelsey O’Neill, Anna Cui and Marché Butler and (front) Alex Bostelman and Lyndsey McFail, Cage the Elephant’s Matt Shultz and BMI’s Nina Carter. (Frankie Vergara)
Multimedia supergenius Lin-Manuel Miranda clutches his 2026 iHeartRadio Corazón Latino Award, which will sit proudly on his shelf next to his Foie à la Française trophy and his Deutsche Bauchspeicheldrüse statuette. Seen enjoying the organ recital are, from left, Enrique Santos Morning Show co-host Dayanara Torres, Miranda and iHeartLatino President/iHeartRadio personality Enrique Santos.