JUSTIN BIEBER EARNS HIS FIRST-EVER CMA NOMINATIONS: Justin Bieber’s collaboration with country/pop duo Dan + Shay has paid off in multiple nominations for the CMA Awards. The trio’s hit single, “10,000 Hours,” has received three nods: Single of the Year, Music Video of the Year – the video co-starred all three men’s wives – and Musical Event of the Year, which honors recordings by artists who don’t normally work together. Maren Morris scored five nominations, most of which are for her hit song, “The Bones.” It’s up for Single of the Year, Song of the Year and Musical Event of the Year – the latter nomination is for the remix of the song, which features Hozier. Maren is also up for Female Vocalist of the Year. Gabby Barrett, whose song “I Hope” has become a crossover pop hit thanks to a remix with Charlie Puth, is up for New Artist of the Year. The 54th Annual CMA Awards will air live on ABC on November 11th.
SARA BAREILLES ANNOUNCES NEW ALBUM WITH MUSIC SHE WROTE FOR ‘LITTLE VOICE’ TV SERIES: Sara Bareilles announced that she will be releasing an album featuring her performing the music that she wrote for the Apple TV+ series Little Voice. The teaser video Sara shared includes clips of her in the recording studio and you can hear her sing the opening line of the song “More Love.” The album will be called More Love: Songs from Little Voice Season One and will be released soon.
ERICK MORILLO DIES: Erick Morillo has died at age 49. The famed DJ – best known for his 1993 smash hit, “I Like To Move It” – was reportedly found dead in Miami Beach, Florida, on Tuesday. Law enforcement sources say the DJ and music producer’s body was found on Tuesday morning, though the circumstances surrounding his death are currently unclear. Erick was best known for his work in international house music, and released “I Like To Move It” – which became an even bigger hit when it was used in the Madagascar film franchise under the stage name Reel 2 Real. He was a three-time winner of the DJ Awards’ Best House DJ and a three-time winner of Best International DJ, with his most recent win coming in 2009. Morillo’s death comes a few weeks after he was arrested in Miami on sexual battery charges. The alleged victim claims she and Morillo went to his place after they were both DJing. She alleges she resisted his sexual advances, and then went to sleep at his place, but woke up nude with Morillo standing next to her, also nude. Erick turned himself in on August 6th, and was due to appear in court on Friday.