UAA Staff, Author at Universal Attractions Agency

GLAAD Brings Black Queer Joy to the American Black Film Festival

American Black Film Festival, February 13, 2025: Communities of Color and Media Team: Associate Director Julian J. Walker, Associate, Shiko Njoroge, Junior Associate, Tymia Ballard, and Senior Director, DaShawn Usher – Photographed by Jonathan Parham

The event wasn’t just a discussion. It was a call to action. From practical advice for aspiring creatives to thought-provoking insights about how Black LGBTQ+ stories can shift cultural narratives, Reel & Radiant served as a space of both affirmation and strategy. Attendees walked away inspired to reimagine what’s possible in media — and to push for it.

American Black Film Festival, February 13, 2025: Photographed by Jonathan Parham

GLAAD’s event coincided with a landmark year of queer inclusion at ABFF and stories made by Black queer filmmakers. Several standout films explored LGBTQ+ themes or featured queer-identifying creatives, including:

“Laundry” – Directed by Reel & Radiant panelist Okema T. Moore, this short film dives into the story of a husband struggling to save his marriage and himself after his son’s tragic accident, until a chance encounter at a laundromat shows him that even in grief, hope and healing can all come out in the wash.
“elle/elle” – featuring Black trans actress L’lerrét Jazelle and directed by Kelley Kali, this gripping short explores identity and marriage as a trans woman comes out to her gay husband.
“Demons” – Created by British-Nigerian queer filmmaker Emmanuel Imani, the film confronts the brutal realities of Afro-Queer life and anti-LGBTQ+ violence in Lagos.
“Graduation Day” – A heartfelt coming-of-age dramedy about a high schooler navigating a love triangle and queer identity in New York City.
“Black Women and Sex” – Directed by Godisamang Khunou, this documentary includes the story of a South African transgender woman, offering a deeply intersectional lens on Black womanhood and queerness. This film also won Best Documentary at this year’s Best of ABFF Awards.
“Love Brooklyn” – Directed by Rachael Abigail Holder, a queer Black woman, the film covers three longtime Brooklynites navigate careers, love, loss, and friendship against the rapidly changing landscape of their beloved city.
“Can You Stand the Rain” – Features Stephen Conrad Moore, an openly same-gender-loving Black actor, in the story of a group of lifelong friends reuniting after the sudden death of their childhood anchor, only to confront buried dreams, hidden tensions, long-held regrets, and the truth about who they’ve become… and who they still might be.
“The Late Night Creep” – Starring queer actor Jake Choi and Lori Lang, a Jamaican-American queer actress, tells the story of an unhappily married man sneaking out of the house to go on a date with his college crush and ends up having the night from hell.
“Love, Joy & Power: Tools for Liberation” – Directed by Daresha Kyi, a queer Black woman, the documentary explores the co-founders of the Black Voters Matter Fund, Cliff Albright and LaTosha Brown, the work they do to empower African American communities especially in the rural south, and the crucial role they played in flipping Georgia from red to blue in the 2020 Presidential election and the 2021 Georgia Senate Runoffs and the numerous threats they faced to do the work.

GLAAD’s impact extended throughout the festival with a vibrant vendor booth experience, where the organization not only RSVP’d attendees to the mixer but also partnered with renowned photographer LaQuann Dawson to offer free, professional portraits that captured the beauty and confidence of Black queer festivalgoers. These portraits stood as both personal mementos and powerful statements of joyful visibility.

Portraits of American Black Film Festival Attendees by LaQuann Dawson

Attendees were also invited to engage with GLAAD’s latest advocacy efforts, including this year’s Studio Responsibility Index (SRI), a comprehensive report analyzing the quantity, quality, and diversity of LGBTQ characters in films released by ten major studios in 2024. Festivalgoers were encouraged to consider how these statistics reflect broader patterns in representation and to envision what truly inclusive storytelling could look like.

Further enriching the experience, GLAAD activated a team of Black queer ambassadors made up of creatives, advocates, and voices from the HIV and entertainment space, who roamed the festival capturing and sharing moments of Black queer joy. As well as begin in-person sessions during the festival to begin conversations on HIV storytelling in entertainment and practical ways the entertainment industry could improve. Their content helped bring visibility to GLAAD’s mission, while offering real-time celebration and community engagement for festival audiences onsite and online.

Nine Days to Celebrate 25 Years of ‘Absolutely (Story of a Girl)’ With Australian Tour

US pop-rock outfit Nine Days are heading to Australia for the first time this November to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their breakout single, “Absolutely (Story of a Girl),” and its parent album The Madding Crowd.

The Long Island band will perform three intimate shows on the East Coast, with dates locked in for Melbourne (Nov. 13 at Croxton Bandroom), Sydney (Nov. 14 at Caringbah Hotel), and Brisbane (Nov. 15 at The Back Room). Tickets will go on sale Thursday, June 26, via MRG Live, with pre-sale access starting a day earlier.

Originally released in 2000, “Absolutely (Story of a Girl)” reached No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 31 on the ARIA Singles Chart. The double-Platinum single has enjoyed a resurgence in recent years, thanks in part to its reimagining in the Oscar-winning film Everything Everywhere All At Once. To date, it has racked up more than 175 million streams on Spotify.

Frontman John Hampson says the band has long hoped to tour Australia: “We have been waiting 25 years for this opportunity! Over the years, fans from Australia have reached out to us wanting to know when we were going to make it there to play some shows. Well, now we can finally give them an answer – this November!”

In a nod to the band’s Aussie connection, Hampson recalled an exclusive CD single released only in Australia, featuring unplugged recordings from a Seattle session. “For some reason, this fascinated me,” he said.

While often labeled a one-hit wonder, Nine Days have released eight studio albums since 1995, including their most recent, Snapshots, in 2016. “Absolutely (Story of a Girl)” continues to be a generational anthem, earning spots on Rolling Stone’s list of the best one-hit wonders of the 2000s and Billboard’s top 10 songs of the summer from the same decade.

The upcoming shows promise to be a nostalgic celebration for longtime fans and a rare chance to hear a beloved track performed live by the band that wrote it.

Nine Days 2025 Australian Tour Dates:

Nov. 13 – Croxton Bandroom, Melbourne

Nov. 14 – Caringbah Hotel, Sydney

Nov. 15 – The Back Room, Brisbane

All-4-One brings hits to Hot Summer Nights

From the 90s to now, All-4-One brought 31 years of friendship and music to Sherman.

SHERMAN, Texas (KXII) – From the 90s to now, All-4-One brought 31 years of friendship and music to Sherman.

“The thing that always amazes us is no matter what country, no matter what state we go to, when we see people come out and we can see that our music has affected them in a positive way, for us that’s the blessing of being an artist,” the band said.

The group had high hopes for Thursday’s performance at Hot Summer Nights.

“We’re going to have a good time. We’re going to sweat together, we’re going to sing together, we’re going to have so much fun together, and we’re going to sing maybe one or two songs that you might remember… And we may even lose some weight together. I think I’m feeling the weight loss tonight.”

Concert goers said they loved the result.

“I love the band, I love the mix of R&B, and I just love the culture because it’s a different feel tonight from all the other nights.”

“I love the community aspect, all the families hanging out, coming together, listening to all the great music, and supporting all the local vendors.”

I Love the 90s & More to Perform on CNN ‘The Fourth in America’ Special: Full Music Lineup

Before you and the fam settle in to watch the fireworks on the Fourth of July, be sure to check out “The Fourth in America” concert special — with the performer lineup revealed exclusively on Billboard below.

The star-studded affair will not only feature performances from wide-ranging artists; CNN will also broadcast fireworks shows from across the country, including in Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Las Vegas, Nashville, Niagara Falls, New Orleans, New York City, Philadelphia, St. Louis, San Diego, Seward, Alaska and Washington, D.C. with CNN anchor/correspondent John Berman, CNN national correspondent Randi Kaye and CNN senior data reporter Harry Enten providing on-the-ground reporting from Nashville, Fort Lauderdale and New York City, respectively, as the United States celebrates its 249th anniversary of independence.

Now in its fifth year, CNN’s The Fourth in America has built on the success of CNN’s New Year’s Eve programming, making it a yearly destination during the Fourth of July as families across the country tune in after a day of barbecuing and chasing kids around.

CNN’s The Fourth in America special will broadcast live on CNN and CNN International, and will stream live for pay TV subscribers via CNN.com, CNN connected TV and mobile apps on Friday (July 4) with coverage set to begin at 7 p.m. ET on CNN and ending at 1 a.m. ET.

Josh Ross & Akon Drop Wild New Video for “Drunk Right Now (Na Na Na)”

Akon, Josh Ross │ Vevo

Produced by COMING OF AGE and directed by Mattias Russo-Larsson & Lewis Atallah, the official music video captures the essence of the track and amplifies its no-regrets energy. Since its release last month, “Drunk Right Now” has racked up millions of streams and sparked viral dance clips on TikTok. The video aims to take that momentum global with a visual that’s as addictive and unexpected as the track itself.

“Akon’s music was always a huge part of my life growing up,” Ross shared when the track released in May. “Having two older siblings, his songs were always playing—his sound, his hooks, everything about it just stuck with me before I even knew what the words meant. I’ve always been a fan. About a year ago, I was messing around in the studio and reimagined his song ‘Right Now,’ just for fun. We started playing it before our shows and the crowd went nuts—it turned into this wild country party anthem.”

“I ended up sending it to him, not really expecting anything… and he actually loved it,” he continued. “He said he wanted to jump on it, and suddenly it turned into a real collab. It’s one of those full-circle moments I never saw coming and I’m truly grateful to have a summer party anthem.”

Amazon Prime Day TV Spot, ‘What’s Next?’ Song by Young MC featuring LeBron James

LeBron James is weighing his retirement options before the press when he gets an alert on his phone. It’s Prime Day over at Amazon and with all the deals going on, it will be easy to set himself up with the right tools for any job. Whether it’s hibachi chef (he accidentally makes a customer choke), barber (a bit of a one trick pony with his crown hairstyles), or even an out of tune bar singer as he tried to belt out Phil Collins’ classic “In the Air Tonight.” Finally he seems to settle on being a scout leader, but an overly ambitious rain of marshmallows from his backpack invites a horde of very evil raccoons to the campfire and he and the kids need to book it! Back to reality, LeBron finally answers the question of what’s next. “Whatever it is,” he says, “it’s gonna be a big deal.” Amazon invites you to find your next thing during this year’s Prime Day!

Latin Legacy Tour- One Sheet

LAtin Legacy Tour
CASINO EXCLUSIVE

Latin Legacy Tour
Starring
Baby Bash, Lil Rob, MC Magic
Three Stars, On Stage Together
Collaborative Show!

The Legends Behind the Legacy

MC Magic
From Nogales, Mexico, MC Magic is known for blending smooth R&B with Latin vibes. With hits like “Lost in Love” and “Sexy Lady,” and a Billboard-charting album Magic City, he’s built a loyal fanbase through heartfelt lyrics and bilingual artistry that bridges cultures.

Baby Bash
Vallejo-born Baby Bash rose to fame with Platinum hits like “Suga Suga” and “Cyclone.” His fusion of hip-hop, R&B, and Latin rhythms has made him a staple in the genre, with chart-topping albums and collaborations that showcase his signature melodic style.

Lil Rob
A pioneer of Chicano rap, Lil Rob has represented West Coast Latinx culture since the ’90s. Known for “Summer Nights” and “Bring Out the Freak in You,” his laid-back flow and authentic storytelling have earned him lasting respect in the Latin hip-hop scene.

Why the Latin Tour is a Must-See

The LATIN LEGACY TOUR isn’t just a concert—it’s a celebration of Latin music, culture, and the artists who helped shape it. MC Magic, Baby Bash, and Lil Rob each bring their signature sound, from romantic ballads to party anthems and West Coast classics, creating a night full of energy, nostalgia, and pride.

This tour honors their lasting impact and the unity they inspire in the Latin community. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to their music, this is your chance to experience three legends live.

Three icons. One stage. One unforgettable night. Get your tickets now!

Ticket Counts

February 15, 2025- Bakersfield, CA

The Historic Fox Theatre (SOLD OUT)

Sold: 1500 | Gross: $99,000

November 2, 2024- Wichita, KS

The Cotillion

Sold: 1125 | Gross: $66,250

August 24, 2024- Riverside, CA
Riverside Municipal Auditorium (SOLD OUT)

Sold: 1800 | Gross: $81,000

July 20, 2024- Houston, TX

House of Blues (SOLD OUT)

Sold: 1200 | Gross: $54,000

July 19, 2024- Dallas, TX

House of Blues (SOLD OUT)

Sold: 2500 | Gross: $112,500

June 29, 2024- Colorado Springs, CO

Sunshine Studios (SOLD OUT)

Sold: 1100 | Gross: $49,500

September 30, 2023- San Antonio, TX

Aztec Theatre (SOLD OUT)

Sold: 1500 | Gross: $90,000

July 8, 2023- Waco, TX

The Backyard (SOLD OUT)

Sold: 1000 | Gross: $42,500

July 2, 2023- Kyle, TX

The Railhouse (SOLD OUT)

Sold: 1100 | Gross: $88,000

June 24, 2023- Detroit, MI

Majestic Theatre (SOLD OUT)

Sold: 1000 | Gross: $60,000

April 14, 2023- Albuquerque, NM

Villa Hispania Pavilion

Sold: 2500 | Gross: $150,000

February 5, 2023- Garden Grove, CA

Garden Amp (SOLD OUT)

Sold: 1000 | Gross: $42,000

Social Media Analytics
TOTAL FAN BASE: 5.6M+

Baby Bash
Total Fanbase: 2.4 Million

Lil Rob
Total Fanbase: 1.2 Million

MC Magic
Total Fanbase: 2 Million

Lil Rob - "Summer Nights"

MC Magic ft. Brianna Rose - "Lost in Love"

Baby Bash- "Suga Suga"

Jen and Zac Affleck Have ‘Full Circle’ Moment with Chippendales Backstage at MomTok Live Show (Exclusive)

‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ stars invited Chippendales star Jayson Michael to host their Unholy Tea event in Las Vegas

Chippendales at MomTok's "Unholy Tea"

The stars of ‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ post with Chippendales.Credit : Jimmy Smith/TheActivity.org

NEED TO KNOW

The cast of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives hosted their first-ever live show in Las Vegas on June 7. They invited Chippendales star Jayson Michael to host their Unholy Tea show
In photos exclusively shared with PEOPLE, the reality stars can be seen hugging and bonding with the dancers. The husbands even put on the Chippendales’ signature accessories for a shirtless dance performance on stage
Michael tells PEOPLE that he’s enjoyed getting to know the MomTokers, especially Jen and Zac Affleck, who almost broke up over her attendance at the Vegas performance back in season 1

The cast of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives just reunited with their favorite male dancers, and the photos don’t lie: It’s all love between MomTok and the Chippendales!

Taylor Frankie Paul, Jennifer Affleck, Mayci Neeley, Mikayla Matthews, Jessi Ngatikaura and Layla Taylor joined together for a live show at the Venetian Resort in Las Vegas on Saturday, June 7. Their Unholy Tea — as the Sin City event was so fittingly dubbed — welcomed fans to participate in games and a Q&A session.

But the reality stars weren’t about to visit Vegas without adding yet another chapter in their Chippendales saga. This time, MomTok asked the Chippendales’ Jayson Michael — who appeared during the Halloween festivities featured on the show’s season 2 — to host their Unholy Tea at the Palazzo Theater. Michael was assisted by fellow performer Alejandro.

Chippendales at MomTok's "Unholy Tea" — Layla Taylor and Chippendales star Jayson Michael at ‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ Unholy Tea. Jimmy Smith/TheActivity.org

The live show audience was treated to an extra special surprise when the husbands of the group stepped out on stage for some shirtless, Chippendales-inspired dancing. Michael tells PEOPLE that the performance was actually DadTok’s idea in the first place.

“They were the ones who kind of brought forth wanting to do a Chippendales number within the show,” the host says. “They are fully there, supporting their wives … going along for the ride, and I think it’s very cool how supportive and great they are.”

In backstage photos shared exclusively with PEOPLE, the cast can be seen bonding yet again with the dancers. They posed for sweet group photos with the women and showed them some love with hugs and laughs.

Michael tells PEOPLE that he’s had “an amazing experience” getting to know the reality moms over the course of two seasons.

“It’s so wonderful to see how true and humble they really are behind the camera as well,” says the Chippendales star. “You know, sharing your life like that on a public platform can’t be easy, but for them to still remain so kind and so sweet, I think it is very admirable.”

The relationship between the dance show and the Hulu show started back in season 1, with MomTok’s infamous girls’ trip to Las Vegas. Their attendance and backstage access at a Chippendales performance nearly split up Jen and her husband, Zac, who are currently expecting their third child together.

In the episode, Jennifer took a tearful, tense phone call with Zac. The season 1 cameras also captured her telling Neely, “I literally will be a divorced woman. I’m not even kidding. I’m not even just jokingly saying that. I’m literally telling you Zac would literally divorce me over something like this.”

While the couple continues to prove they moved past the conflict by playfully referencing the drama — and in March, they both returned to Vegas to make TikToks with the Chippendales — Jen recently admitted to PEOPLE that their initial rift is still hard to think about.

“Obviously it’s still traumatizing to think about actually what we went through regarding Chippendales,” she said last month. “Can’t seem to run away from it.”

That said, Michael says it was “really great” to see Jen and Zac again, especially now that their due date is even closer than it was last spring. “It’s been so wonderful being able to connect with them and really develop and grow our friendship outside the show behind the cameras,” the professional performer tells PEOPLE.

“They’re already great parents, and I know they’re going to continue that pattern,” adds Michael, who also made a cameo in The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives‘ season 2, when he traveled to Utah to take part in MomTok’s Halloween festivities.

Plus, Zac was able to further embrace the Chippendales spirit by sporting their signature accessories for his Unholy Tea appearance. Michael was actually the one to help the reality dad try on his cuff and collar. “I think it’s totally safe to say it’s a full circle moment,” Michael adds.

Story of a Song

Howie Day’s emotionally resonant lyrics and inventive melodies have earned him both critical praise and a legion of devoted fans.

Detroit Gospel Legends

The world-renowned gospel icons of Detroit are coming together for an unforgettable experience.

Author: UAA Staff

Nine Days 2025 Australian Tour Dates:

From the 90s to now, All-4-One brought 31 years of friendship and music to Sherman.

The I Love the 90’s Tour with Vanilla Ice, Young MC, Rob Base & Tone Loc will also perform on the live Independence Day special.

LAtin Legacy Tour CASINO EXCLUSIVE

Latin Legacy TourStarringBaby Bash, Lil Rob, MC MagicThree Stars, On Stage TogetherCollaborative Show!

The Legends Behind the Legacy

Why the Latin Tour is a Must-See

Ticket Counts

Social Media AnalyticsTOTAL FAN BASE: 5.6M+

Baby BashTotal Fanbase: 2.4 Million

Lil RobTotal Fanbase: 1.2 Million

MC MagicTotal Fanbase: 2 Million

Lil Rob - "Summer Nights"

MC Magic ft. Brianna Rose - "Lost in Love"

Baby Bash- "Suga Suga"

The stars of ‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ post with Chippendales.Credit : Jimmy Smith/TheActivity.org

NEED TO KNOW

Layla Taylor and Chippendales star Jayson Michael at ‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ Unholy Tea. Jimmy Smith/TheActivity.org

Jennifer Affleck hugs one of the Chippendales at ‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ Unholy Tea. Jimmy Smith/TheActivity.org

Zac and Jen Affleck with a Chippendale at ‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ Unholy Tea. Jimmy Smith/TheActivity.org

Jayson Michael helps Zac Affleck wear the signature Chippendales collar. Jimmy Smith/TheActivity.org

CONTACT US

COMPANY

TALENT