Rob LeDonne

Netflix
On a typical Sunday afternoon when the director Martin Scorsese was growing up on Elizabeth Street in the Little Italy neighborhood of New York, the family apartment was filled with both the aroma of a simmering sauce and music from the popular Italian-American crooners of the day.
“Aside from Sinatra, Tony Bennett was the authority in that sense,” the filmmaker recalled in a recent interview. “He had such an extraordinary range and was top of the line. And of course, Dean Martin and ...

An interview with the most famous drummer in the world

When Lin-Manuel Miranda was in rehearsals for his breakout theatrical production In the Heights, he—along with his cast and crew—would break up the grueling schedule by sneaking off and improvising, spitting bits of rhymes and jokes. “We did it as a fun way to blow off steam,” Miranda says. His colleague Anthony Veneziale, who had an extensive improv background, suggested they perform it in front of people.
So they did.

Huge congratulations to Kansas ’— uh, we mean, Missouri’s — Kansas City Chiefs! But despite taking home their first Super Bowl trophy in a half century, the real winner was us, the viewers, because we all know that the best thing about the Big Game is always the commercials (and that halftime show). Fortunately this year’s group of ads were rife with instant classic spots heavy on equal parts humor, star power (Bill Murray! Martin Scorsese!), and general razzle-dazzle. Having said that, there...

AWARDS
It was a little over an hour after the conclusion of the Grammy ceremony at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles when guests started congregating at Republic Records’ afterparty, held at the 1 Hotel in West Hollywood, a brisk 20-minute ride from the venue thanks to the sweet serenity of light Sunday night traffic on otherwise unforgiving highways. As attendees began lining up on the stairs lined with black candles by 10 p.m., the crowds were promptly credentialed and let inside.
...

NEWS
"When I watch it, it still gives me goosebumps," Cedella Marley tells Billboard of brand-new project ahead of what would have been her dad's 75th birthday.
With the sun beaming over a stunning view of the city of Los Angeles by day and glistening skyline at night, West Hollywood’s 1 Hotel has become a hotbed of music industry events since its opening in May. On this particular Friday morning inside its bright and airy eatery Juniper, a group of industry dignitaries has gathered in honor ...

As Super Bowl LIV draws ever closer, the companies who shelled out the big bucks for ad time cleverly “leak” their spots ahead of the big game in order to get the most bang for their buck (which costs a reported $5.6 million of them this year).
As a result, here’s an overview of some of the commercials you’ll feast your drunk eyes on Sunday night, from explorations in space courtesy Olay and Sodastream, to major celebrities (Jimmy Fallon, Bryan Cranston, Taraji P. Henson) and regular folks li...

Michael D. Ratner lets MTV News into the making of the philanthropic video and Bieber's 'Seasons' docu-series
By Rob LeDonne
When director Michael D. Ratner first met with Justin Bieber, Ratner had no idea he would soon become “as close to being in his shoes as possible for an extended period of time.”
Collaborating with the ubiquitous pop superstar on a string of viral projects, Ratner had an intimate look at the highs and lows of the 26-year-old’s life, including his relationship with his w...

As the longtime host of his namesake MSNBC show Morning Joe, Joe Scarborough and a colorful cast (which includes wife Mika Brzezinski) extrapolate the day's news, which lately has been bogged down in a tangled web of political controversies.
Over time, Scarborough has learned to funnel his headline stress into a passion for songwriting and performing, which he dove into during a "life's too short" moment when he turned 50 in 2013.

An interview with the director's longtime music supervisor about his new movie, Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood.

POP
A song nearly 30 years in the making that deftly combines an iconic voice with a contemporary star, Whitney Houston and Kygo’s cover of Steve Winwood’s 1986 No. 1 “Higher Love” recently became the legend’s first posthumous Billboard Hot 100 hit. Produced by the Norwegian DJ utilizing vocals recorded in 1990, it’s part of a larger push by Houston’s sister-in-law and estate executor Pat (with help from music and marketing company Primary Wave) to remind fans why they fell in love with Whitn...

Thanks to her roof-shattering soprano, impeccable comedic charm, and artistically adventurous spirit, Kristin Chenoweth has become not only one of Broadway's most beloved stars but a favorite onscreen as well -- winning a Tony for You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown and an Emmy for her supporting role in Pushing Daisies.
Her latest project: a “female empowerment record,” aptly dubbed For the Girls.

The claim: Loftie renders smartphone alarms moot. The sleek, analog clock plays meditations, bedtime playlists, breathwork tracks, and more to help you fall asleep and wake up phone-free. If you do want to stay connected, Loftie's app allows you to schedule specific sounds and multiple alarms.

Delaney's take: “I like the ability to set your alarm remotely to remove technology from the bedroom. Loftie's other features like sound baths and white noise are a nice addition. As someone who uses hi...

NEWS
This past February inside a cavernous Los Angeles soundstage, Brockhampton's Kevin Abstract was waltzing through a studio full of 3,000 poppy flowers as Nina Simone echoed throughout the space. "It was a beautiful moment," says director Jonas Lindstroem. "A lot of what we shot had a theatrical quality on set. You almost felt like you were in a play or opera."
Lindstroem was capturing Abstract as part of Calvin Klein's viral global brand campaign dubbed I Speak My Truth in #MyCalvins, whi...