TV One will return its music-themed documentary series Unsung for its 15th season on March 3 with a new lineup of legendary artist profiles. 

The series, produced for TV One by A. Smith & Co., has chronicled the lives and musical careers of some of the most iconic R&B, hip-hop, and gospel music during its 15-season run, including Billy Preston, Mary Wells, Rick James, DeBarge, The Clark Sisters, Heavy D, and Bootsy Collins. 

The upcoming season will feature such artists as Bobby Caldwell, Blaque, Chingy, Chuckii Booker, and Donald Lawrence, according to the company. 

Unsung executive producer Kysha Mounia says Unsung’s success and longevity lies in its ability to take a nostalgic look at legendary music artists that resonate with the network’s targeted Black audience. 

“It’s the music that captures everyone, because when you hear a specific song you are automatically transported to a place and time where it means something to you,” she said. 

Click below to hear more of the interview with Mounia on the latest episode of the “Content Spotlight” podcast.

Iconic entertainer James Brown will be the focus of a new A&E documentary series debuting in February.

The two-night James Brown: Say It Loud documentary will air February 19 and 20, and will examine Brown's innovative and influential life through interviews, never-before-seen archival footage and his music catalog, according to A&E. 

Executive produced by Mick Jagger and Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, the series traces the trajectory of Brown’s life and career from a 7th grade drop-out to an entertainment legend whose groundbreaking talent and unique perspective catapulted him to become a cultural force, said the network. Featured throughout the documentary are interviews with Bootsy Collins, LL Cool J, The Rev. Al Sharpton, Chuck D, Dallas Austin, and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.

Along with Jagger and Thompson, James Brown: Say It Loud is executive produced by Tariq Trotter, Peter Afterman, David Blackman, Victoria Pearman, Bruce Resnikoff, Shawn Gee, Zarah Zohlman, Charlie Cohen, and Mari Keiko Gonzalez.

Singer Miley Cyrus will tout her upcoming album in a new Disney Plus special debuting March 10.

The special, Miley Cyrus -- Endless Summer Vacation (Backyard Sessions), will feature the former star of Disney Channel series Hanna Montana performing new music from her new album Endless Vacation, including her Billboard chart topping song Flowers. The special will also feature a special Cyrus performance with singer Rufus Wainwright, according to the streaming service.  

The special continues Cyrus's series of YouTube-based "Backyard Sessions" where Cyrus performs her songs in an intimate setting, according to Disney Plus. 

Cyrus will serve as executive producer for the The Disney Channel Branded Television special, which is produced RadicalMedia, HopeTown Entertainment, Crush Management and Columbia Records.■

Netflix drops a new adult animated special based on the music of Scott “Kid Cudi” Mescudi with the September 30 premiere of Entergalactic.

The special, produced by Mescudi and Kenya Barris (Black-ish), fuses animation with songs from Kid Cudi’s upcoming album of the same name, said the streaming service. Entergalactic follows the exploits of a young man who attempts to balance success and love when moves into his dream Manhattan apartment and falls for his next-door neighbor, Netflix said.

Also: 'The Crown' Season Five Arrives in November

Entergalactic’s cast features the voices of Mescudi, Jessica Williams, Vanessa Hudgens, Macaulay Culkin, Teyana Taylor, Ty Dolla $ign, Keith David and Timothée Chalamet. ■

A&E will examine the life and career of the R&B music icon James Brown as part of a four-part documentary series executive produced by Mick Jagger and Ahmir ‘Questlove’ Thompson. 

The four-part series, James  Brown: Say It Loud will explore the Godfather of Soul’s legacy as a musical force, cultural catalyst and dominant Black creative voice, said network officials. 

The documentary, which will air in 2023 and will be timed to what would have been Brown’s 90th birthday, details how Brown persevered through decades of personal demons, racial injustice and career setbacks to find redemption and become one of the most celebrated and influential artists of the 20th century.

 James Brown: Say It Loud will feature never-before-seen archival footage as well as exclusive interviews with friends, family, collaborators and proteges, said A&E.

Jagger and Questlove will serve as executive producers on the series along with Peter Afterman, David Blackman, Victoria Pearman, Tariq ‘Black Thought’ Trotter, Shawn Gee, Zarah Zohlman and Charlie Cohen. 

“A&E has a long legacy as a home for bold, insightful, and engaging storytelling that pushes boundaries and bring viewers deeper into the lives and worlds they thought they knew,” said Elaine Frontain Bryant, Executive Vice President and Head of Programming for A&E in a statement. “We are honored to partner with executive producers Mick Jagger, Questlove, Black Thought, the teams at Inaudible Films, Jagged Films, Two One Five Entertainment, Polygram Entertainment, and director Deborah Riley Draper to continue this tradition with James Brown: Say It Loud to provide audiences with an in-depth look, not only into the extraordinary life of the Godfather of Soul, but also his immeasurable influence as a cultural force in American society.” 

Jagger said of Brown: “He was a brilliant performer who inspired me from the beginning and was deeply committed to the Civil Rights movement. I have always admired James and learned so much from him. I look forward to bringing  the series to life.”

The announcement comes on the heels of A&E and Lifetime's January Janet Jackson four-part documentary. It also follows a 2014 HBO documentary, Mr. Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown.■ 

CNN Films has secured rights to the music documentary Dionne Warwick: Don't Make Me Over and will debut it on upstart streaming service CNN Plus when it launches this spring.

The documentary chronicles the life of the iconic R&B singer, from singing in her grandfather's church to her rise to music superstardom, to standing up to discrimination in America and across the world, according to the company. 

“There have been many words to describe Dionne Warwick, however, for me, it comes down to one word: ‘genius,’”  said Dionne Warwick: Don't Make Me Over director/executive producer Dave Wooley, in a statement. "Her extraordinary voice is a gift that she uses for her art, and always also as an instrument for creating positive change, compassion, and social justice, wherever she is.” 

Also: Now What for CNN Plus Amid Jeff Zucker's Hasty Departure? 

R&B singer Bobby Brown will be the subject of two A&E-based programming events debuting in May.

Brown, a member of the musical group New Edition and ex-husband of the late Whitney Houston, will be chronicled in a two-night, A&E documentary series Biography: Bobby Brown, debuting May 30. The documentary will offer an up-close and personal look at Brown’s journey to stardom and the fallout from his personal struggles with sobriety and the tragic deaths of Houston and two of his children, A&E said. 

Biography: Bobby Brown will feature interviews with such music personalities as Usher, Jermaine Dupri, Keith Sweat, Babyface and New Edition’s Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, Ronnie DeVoe and Johnny Gill, as well as his family and  friends, according to the network.

On May 31, A&E will debut Bobby Brown: Every Little Step, a 12-part docuseries which will follow Brown as he focuses on new business ventures while performing with New Edition during the group’s 2022 reunion tour, said A&E representatives.

Brown was the subject of 2005 Bravo reality series Being Bobby Brown, as well as a 2018 BET scripted movie, The Bobby Brown Story. ■ 

Amazon Prime will stream a new music documentary featuring R&B superstar Mary J. Blige on June 25, the streaming service said. 

Mary J. Blige’s My Life, traces the singer’s inspiration in creating her signature 1994 album My Life, which propelled her from the soul-crushing world of New York’s housing projects to international stardom, according to Amazon. As part of the documentary, Blige will perform the album live for the first time, said the service.

Mary J. Blige’s My Life is executive produced by Blige, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, Tara Long, Mark Ford, Kevin Lopez, Jeffrey Harleston and Jody Gerson.

AXS TV will bring back its unscripted series The Big Interview With Dan Rather for its ninth season in April with a focus on musical families, the network said Friday.

The series, which features the veteran newsman as he profiles a diverse slate of artists and entertainers, debuts its six-episode season on April 14 featuring interviews with country music band Lady A’s Hillary Scott and her husband Chris Tyrrell, said AXS TV. The season’s focus on musical families also includes interviews with the Beastie Boys’s Adam Horovitz and wife Kathleen Hanna and with Creedence Clearwater Revival founder John Fogerty and his children, Shane, Tyler and Kelsy. 

The six-episode season also features profiles of Grammy winners Jason Isbell and wife Amanda Shires as well as rapper Lil Jon and his son Slade and R&B singer Michelle Branch and husband Patrick Carney.

Rather said in a statement: “It is a privilege and a pleasure to bring The Big Interview back for a ninth season. Doing this new slate of episodes was particularly interesting to me, as we got to explore the relationships inside musical families—from fathers and children, to husbands and wives. There are differences in generations and genre, but their passion for music and each other is deep, thought-provoking—and yes, sometimes inspiring.”

 Music service Stingray Group Inc. has launched several free, ad-supported TV channels with eleven major distributors globally, the company said Wednesday.

U.S. Distributors receiving the ad-supported music channels include Comcast Xfinity, DistroTV, Freebie TV, Freecast, MX Player, Peacock, Redbox, Samsung TV Plus, STIRR, and Vizio Watch Free (US). These distribution agreements grow Stingray’s potential reach by over 200 million viewers, said the company.

“What attracts the world’s biggest entertainment content providers to Stingray’s music services is our expert curation and adaptability to many platforms as technologies and audience needs evolve,” said Eric Boyko, President, Co-founder, and CEO of Stingray in a statement. “I am thrilled to launch our free, ad-supported TV channels with new and existing partners to drive organic revenues and connect with an even bigger audience. With these new distribution agreements, we have grown our potential worldwide reach by over 200 million viewers.”

A&E Network will produce a new Biography special revolving around female musical group TLC, the network said Thursday. 

The documentary special, Biography: TLC, will chronicle the journey of the top-selling female American female group of all-time, said network executives. The special, which will air in 2021, will document the Atlanta-based TLC group members Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas and Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes' journey and survival against all odds, said A&E. 

Roger Ross Williams (The Apollo) will serve as executive producer of the series, said the network. 

“The Biography banner has always focused on telling the stories of remarkable people who have had a major impact on our collective culture,” said Elaine Frontain Bryant, executive vice president and Head of Programming, A&E Network in a statement. “As a revolutionary group that broke boundaries and influenced an entire generation, TLC falls directly into that category and we are honored to tell their incredible story as it has never been told before.”

AXS TV will develop a new documentary series that will look into questions surrounding some of history's greatest musical artists. 

The six-episode series, Music's Greatest Mysteries, will debut later this fall and will investigate infamous myths which have come to define the music industry throughout the decades. The series will look into such questions as Why Did Michael Jackson And Prince Feud?, Was Elvis A Narc?, and Is Avril Lavigne Really Dead?, as well as addressing The Conspiracies Of Backmasking, The Myths Of  KISS, and The Sad Story Of “Friends In Low Places,” according to network officials. 

“As AXS TV continues to evolve and expand, we are committed to creating new and original reality and lifestyle music programming,” said Sarah Weidman, Head of Original Programming, Development and Multi-Platform Content for AXS TV in a statement. “Music’s Greatest Mysteries gives viewers an in-depth look at the myths and legends that have rocked the industry. Featuring some of the biggest names in music, packed with expert commentary, and exploring compelling stories both known and unknown, Music’s Greatest Mysteries promises to reveal new tales to even the most seasoned music fans. I am excited to share this new series with our viewers when it debuts later this year.”

Music superstar Alicia Keys will host a June Nick News special that tackles the issues of racial injustice.

The one-hour Nickelodeon special, Kids, Race and Unity: A Nick News Special, debuts June 29 and will feature the leaders of the Black Lives Matter movement answering questions from kids as well as offering tools for families to have constructive conversations about race and inclusivity, said the network. The special, which will also highlight teen activists who are fighting racial injustice, is the first of a series of Nick News specials that will air on Nickelodeon in the coming months.

The special will simulcast across Nickelodeon, TeenNick, and Nicktoons, and be available on Nickelodeon YouTube, Nick On Demand, the Nick App and the Nick Pluto TV channel following the premiere.

"Talking about race can be sensitive and uncomfortable; and sometimes we try to protect our children from racism they are already experiencing ... but honestly, there is no way around this topic if we want to move forward in any kind of meaningful way," Keys said in a statement. "This is such an important, vulnerable, honest and beautiful conversation, and I know many families may be searching for the right way to enter it. Let’s really deep dive together.”

BET is going ahead with plans to produce its annual BET Awards event this June featuring live and taped segments.

The BET Awards, which celebrates the brightest stars across music television, film, sports and philanthropy, will feature a mixture of live and taped segments to showcase musical performances and awards presentations amid the COVID-19 pandemic, BET executive VP specials, music programming & music strategy Connie Orlando told Multichannel News. The BET Awards is perennially one of the network’s highest-rated events.

“The heart of the BET Awards will still be there and it will still be a big show with big names and performances,” Orlando said. “People may miss being in the audience for the show, but viewers will still enjoy the same big event experience.”

The network will not move ahead with its three-day BET Experience event that typically leads into the BET Awards, according to Orlando. 

Showtime will profile iconic rock bands New Order and Duran Duran as part of two new documentaries airing Dec. 27.

The special, New Order: Decades will follow the band’s preparations in the re-staging of their collaboration So It Goes with the artist Liam Gillick and the 12-piece synthesizer orchestra that captured the headlines during Manchester International Festival 2017, said the network.

Duran Duran: There’s Something You Should Know, chronicles the four-decade career of the group, including previously unseen footage and intimate conversations with the group’s original lineup -- singer Simon Le Bon, bassist John Taylor, drummer Roger Taylor and keyboardist Nick Rhodes. 

Showtime will partner with Grammy winning artist Alicia Keys on an untitled music-themed drama series, the network announced Wednesday.

The series -- to which Oscar, Grammy and Tony Award- winning duo Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (La La Land) will contribute original music -- will interweave events from modern-day and 1959 Detroit that center around a mystery uncovered by a young musician who moves back to her childhood home, said network officials.

Keys will serve as executive producer of the series along with Kyle Jarrow, Marc Platt, R.J. Cutler and Adam Siegel. Fox 21 Television Studios (Homeland, The Chi) will produce the series, according to Showtime.

“We have always been intrigued by the prospect of doing a Showtime musical series, but only if the songs could add to the depth and complexity of a great character drama,” said Gary Levine, president of entertainment for Showtime Networks Inc. in a statement. “Nobody does that better than Pasek and Paul and Marc Platt … so when they came to us along with a global superstar like Alicia, a talented writer like Kyle, and excellent producers like Adam and R.J., we were all in.”

Netflix on Nov. 20 will premiere a new animated series, Motown Magic, which looks to introduce iconic songs from the Detroit-based R&B music company to a new generation viewers.

The series, which follows a young boy who uses is magic paintbrush to bring to life the street art decorating his city, will feature classic Motown hits in each episode to help inform the story line.

Emmy-winning producer Josh Wakely, who created Netflix’s animated series Beat Bugs – inspired by the music of the Beatles -- serves as creator and executive producer of Motown Magic, with Motown legend Smokey Robinson serving as executive music producer.

I recently spoke to Wakely about the origins of Motown Magic along with his mission to keep classic songs alive for future generations. An edited version of the interview appears below.

What was the appeal for you of creating an animated, kids-targeted series around the Motown library of songs?

Motown has always held a special place for me as it has for the world. When I was eight years old Stevie Wonder came to Australia, and my mom took me to his concert. I remember it being the most celestial and amazing music ever, and I’ve never really changed that point of view. Even before I did the show Beat Bugs on Netflix I wanted to do something around the Motown catalog. I was convinced it was the most extraordinary music formed for families because it was melodically engaging enough for the children’s mind, but also had some often-challenging social messages.

How do you translate the Motown sound to a new generation of viewers who may not ever heard of Motown?

I think 100 years from now people will still be talking about the fact that [Motown] made that many number ones in a fairly condensed period of time, and the architecture of the songs are so advanced. I think this is my small part in imparting that to a younger generation. The music is still perfect, so we’re doing [Motown Magic] to make it more accessible to a modern era. We have the latest animation techniques and technologies, so I thought the alchemy of bringing this timeless music from the 60’s with cutting edge animation would be a good combination for viewers. Everybody knows that Motown music is good, but I don’t think they realize that in 100 years a Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder or Smokey Robinson song is going to sound just as amazing as it did in the 1960s. Each episode uses the narrative of an iconic Motown song, which serves as the platform and inspiration for the story.

What role does Smokey Robinson play in the development of the series, and how was it to work with him on the project?

Working with him was the best thing ever! There would be days when we were working on the show, and Smokey would turn to me and say “how do you want to chart this song?’ In what world does Smokey Robinson ask me that question? He was a great collaborator – I wouldn’t have done it unless I had his blessing. I gave him the first couple of scripts and he really loved it.

Along with Motown Magic, Beat Bugs returned to Netflix this month for its third season. Are you surprised by the success of that show?

I was relieved by it (laughs). After three years of securing the rights and three years of working on it I was glad to see it launch. I remember 48 hours before it came out it suddenly occurred to me that it might not be a success, but now that it has had some success it's not my show anymore; it's the audience’s show. To see people talking about it; to see people dressing up as the characters for Halloween; to see toys based on the show in stores; and to see the live shows is both energizing and exciting. With Beat Bugs and with Motown Magic I owe a lot to the fact that the music [in the shows] is some of the best music of all time, and that people want that in their lives.

Netflix has set a Nov. 20 date for its new Motown-themed animated series Motown Magic, the streaming service said Friday.

The series, inspired by music of Motown, follows a wide-eyed eight-year old who uses his magic paintbrush to bring the street art decorating of his city to life, according to Netflix. The series will feature 52 newly-recorded versions of songs made famous by such iconic artists as Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, The Jackson 5, Lionel Richie, the Supremes and the Temptations.

The series will be executive produced by creator Josh Wakely, with Smokey Robinson serving as executive music producer. 

Singer/songwriter and actress Demi Lovato is arguably one of the top performers in the entertainment industry today. Along with being a Grammy-nominated singer, Lovato is also familiar to television viewers, appearing in such shows as Glee, as well as serving as a judge on the music competition series The X Factor.

As a teen actress, Lovato starred in Disney Channel's successful original movie franchise Camp Rock in the late 2000s. In this 2009 video, a then 17-year old Lovato talked about her preference for music over acting.

Revolt TV announced Monday it has named Robyn Lattaker-Johnson as the network's head of content.

Lattaker-Johnson will oversee all aspects of programming, original development, content acquisitions, physical production and post-production for the Sean "Diddy" Combs-owned music-themed service, reporting directly to Revolt TV CEO Roma Khanna.

Most recently Lattaker-Johnson managed a roster of production companies, EP/show runners, multi-camera directors, casting producers, composers and unscripted content creators. 

Prior to her management and consulting business, Lattaker-Johnson served as vice president of alternative programming at Syfy from 2010 – 2014. 

“Robyn’s track record of developing and creating compelling formats featuring authentic voices and diverse stories is exactly what Revolt needs as we build our voice in content as the definitive home of Hip Hop and the global leader in the culture,” said Khanna in a statement. 

HBO said Wednesday that it has decided to cancel its high-profile series Vinyl, four months after renewing the series for a second season.

The Mick Jagger/Martin Scorsese drama starring Bobby Cannavale and Ray Romano was renewed for a sophomore season this past February days after the show's premiere on the channel, but in subsequent weeks the series, which chronicled the 1970's rock music scene, failed to drive ratings for the network.

Overall, Vinyl averaged 4.3 million viewers across multiple plays and screens, according to HBO.

HBO officials said in a statement: “After careful consideration, we have decided not to proceed with a second season of Vinyl.  Obviously, this was not an easy decision.  We have enormous respect for the creative team and cast for their hard work and passion on this project.”

MTV opened its glitzy upfront presentation in New York early Thursday evening by recognizing the death of musical icon Prince.

Viacom Music and Entertainment Group president Doug Herzog addressed the large crowd of advertisers and journalists by praising the life and work of Prince, who died suddenly Thursday at the age of 57.

Describing himself as MTV’s oldest employee and its biggest Prince fan, Herzog said the network couldn’t start its upfront without acknowledging the unimaginable passing of “one of the greatest artists in music history.”  

He added that Prince had been synonymous with MTV since the very beginning of both MTV and his career. “Even though we’re still processing the news and remembering the enormity of his legacy, I think it’s clear to remember what he was - -a once in a lifetime artist whose music touched all of us and will be missed dearly by everyone around the world,” Herzog said.  

RELATED:Prince Tribute Specials Continue To Pour In | Upfronts 2016: MTV Turns Up the Volume

MTV’s Aug. 30 Video Music Awards hit a sour note, according to most industry observers, posting a double-digit ratings decline from its 2014 version.

The show, once among cable’s biggest audience draws of the summer, averaged only 5 million viewers in its live run on MTV, down from the 8.2 million viewers the extravaganza generated last year.

That’s a major drop even in an environment where most cable shows and networks are losing audiences.

But the Miley Cyrus-hosted show struck a positive chord with the network’s target millennial audience on social media, where those viewers talk about the content they most want to see.

Performances, speeches and word wars by the likes of Nicki Minaj, Taylor Swift, The Weeknd and Justin Bieber – not to mention Kanye West’s 2020 presidential bid proclamation – helped drive a record 21.3 million tweets around the show, according to Nielsen’s Twitter TV ratings.

Clips from the VMAs drew more than 100 million loops on millennial-dominated online video-sharing service Vine and generated 64 million interactions on Instagram, where young people gravitate to discuss and view things that most interest them.

Unfortunately for MTV, the current content advertising distribution model – including accurate multiplatform audience measurements – have not caught up to the continued migration of viewers accessing and watching content on non-traditional platforms; otherwise, we might be viewing the performance of the Video Music Awards in a different light.

Some observers believe the MTV VMAs are no longer relevant given the show's declining ratings. But it just might be that traditional TV is no longer relevant to the VMAs or its audience.

Latino boys from across the U.S. will soon have the opportunity to convince a panel of judges that they’re the next Ricky Martin or Robi Draco Rosa.

On July 1, online entries will be available to talented (and likely visually appealing) Hispanic boys between 10 and 15 who will be given the chance to land one of five spots in the newest incarnation of Menudo.

Menudo rose to global fame in the early 1980s, making Martin and Rosa into heartthrobs in nearly every Spanish-speaking nation. In New York, their fame was so strong that an English-language single released in summer 1984, “If You’re Not Here (By My Side),” earned airplay on Top 40 giant Z100 despite the song’s failure to reach the national charts.

Martin is now one of the world’s most recognizable Latin male vocalists, while Rosa has enjoyed a highly successful career as a songwriter and performer with an impressive fan base in Puerto Rico.

Newly launched digital music entertainment discovery platform Showpitch.com is leading the quest for the five individuals who will ultimately be offered a slot in the new Menudo. The rules allow prospective contestants, boys age 10-15, to build their own “Talent Stage” microsite and upload a three-minute video that showcases their singing and dancing moves.

While the competition is open to any boy, regardless of ethnicity, the online registration page first asks to select Spanish or English as their preferred language — a hint that band members will be Hispanic. For legal reasons, the parent or legal guardian of the potential contestant must complete and submit the required forms on behalf of their child.

Once the online entry process is complete, their “Talent Stage” will then be shared with Showpitch.com’s Twitter and Facebook feeds, allowing fans to vote for their favorite would-be Menudo member. Of the total contestants, the 25 with the most social media votes will be selected following August 30 as finalists and flown to Miami, where they will perform before a panel of judges for the chance to become the newest Menudo member.

While nearly every component of the search will be conducted online and through social media, Telemundo Station Group is playing a key role in what’s being dubbed “Menudo — En Busca de la Nueva Generación.” Viewers will be able to “fully engage and join in this unique production” by visiting the local websites for Telemundo O&Os across the U.S., TSG senior vice president of sales Mike Chico said.

“The Telemundo Station Group has a robust digital offering that allows our viewers to connect and engage with our local stations while they are on the go to get the latest news and information they need or learn about exciting new offerings, such as this presentation,” Chico notes.

On the website for Miami Telemundo station WSCV,  a promotion video with Spanish narration appeared on the top left-hand side of the page and began playing.

While relaunching the iconic Menudo brand is noteworthy in and of itself, it is interesting to note that Telemundo is putting its muscle behind an initiative that won’t lead to TV programming for the Telemundo broadcast network, TeleXitos multicast network, or the NBC Universo cable platform — at least for now. That hasn’t deterred at least one sponsor, the Local Honda Dealer Association, from signing on.

Telemundo owns TV stations in Los Angeles, New York, Miami-Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Chicago, San Antonio, San Francisco, Phoenix, Harlingen, Fresno, Denver, Philadelphia, Las Vegas, Boston, Tucson and Puerto Rico.

Apple is taking aim at subscription music services such as Spotify and Rhapsody with Apple Music, a new music app/streaming service that will feature a 24/7 live radio station called Beats 1.

The service, to launch in more than 100 countries on June 30, will fetch $9.99 per month for an individual subscription, and $14.99 per month under a family-friendly tier that will provide access to as many as six members. Apple Music will initially be offered on iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, and PC starting June 30, and will be available on the Apple TV and Android phones sometime this fall, the company said.

Apple will prime the pump for Apple Music with a three-month free membership. Users will get to pair music purchased or ripped from CDs at the iTunes Store alongside Apple Music service’s new streaming library, which features a catalog of more than 30 million songs. The service will also include a curated “For You” playlist and tight integration with Siri.

Apple said Beats 1 will broadcast live to over 100 countries, and will be lead up by DJs Zane Lowe in Los Angeles, Ebro Darden in New York and Julie Adenuga in London.

Apple Music Connect, another element of the service, will provide an avenue for artists and fans to connect via the service, enabling artists can share lyrics, backstage photos, videos or even release songs. Fans, in turn, can comment on what artists have posted and share via Messages, Facebook, Twitter and email.

Apple also used its Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco to preview iOS 9, which will bring some new multitasking features, including a new Slide Over feature that lets user work in a second app without leaving the first. iPad users will also have access to a new picture-in-picture capability that enables them to resize the video window. During the event, Apple demonstrated the feature using the WatchESPN app.

Apple has released the iOS 9 beta software and SDK to developers, and will follow with a public beta program in July. iOS 9 will be available this fall as a free software update for iPhone 4s and later, iPod touch 5th generation, iPad 2 and later, iPad mini and later.

Apple also showed off the next software release for the new Apple Watch, watchOS 2, noting that it will support native applications. It’s due out this fall as a free update to the Apple Watch.

Apple CEO Tim Cook also shared a new milestone, noting that the Apple App Store has surpassed 100 billion app downloads.

Centric will unveil a new logo and on-air graphics package Sunday as it re-positions its brand to foucus on African-American female viewers.

The re-branding effort begins Nov. 30 with the telecast of the network’s 2014 The Soul Train Awards, which honors R&B's most talented artists, according to according to Paxton Baker, executive vice president and general manager of Centric.

The awards special, which will be hosted by talk show personality Wendy Williams, will feature appearances by Chris Brown, Trey Songz, Boris Kodjoe and Jodeci.

Baker hopes the show will top the 4.1 million viewers the network drew during last year's telecast.

“The Soul Train Awards is a classic brand that grew out of the African-American experience and helped define the African-American experience on television on a weekly basis,” said Baxter, referring to the iconic Soul Train series, which aired from 1971 to 2006.

Beyond the Soul Train Awards, Baker said the network in the coming months will look to tweak its programming lineup to appeal to an African-American female audience that already represents 60% of Centric’s viewing base. Overall Centric averaged 74,000 viewers in primetime during third quarter 2014, down 6% form the same period in 2013, according to Nielsen.

Paxton said the network has several new shows in development for 2015 but would not provide specific details. The network next year will air the fourth season of the Queen Latifiah-produced show Single Ladies, which was cancelled by VH1 this past March.

Baker also said the network’s Being documentary series will profile more female entertainers and it enters its fourth season. The network will also revamp its morning lineup of music video and concert programming to feature more celebrity-hosted blocks of music fare.

Several general entertainment networks including WEtv and Oxygen are also creating programming to appeal to African-American female viewers, who watch more than seven hours of television a day -- the most of any group, according to Nielsen. Baker said however, that no other network outside Centric targets that audience on a 24-hour basis.

“No one has really claimed that space, and we see opportunity over opposition,” Baker said.

BET has cancelled its long-running daily music show 106 & Park and will offer the series online, network executives said.

The show, hosted by Keshia Chante and Bow Wow (pictured) that showcased top hip hop and R&B music videos, will officially leave the air Dec. 19 after a 14-year run on the African-American targeted channel, said Stephen Hill, president of music programming and specials in a post on BET.com. The network will air 106 & Park specials, including a New Year’s Eve telecast on Dec. 31.

“Now it’s time for 106 & Park, as a daily TV entity, to take a bow and exit,” Hill said. “It’s been a great 14-year run as America’s top music/variety show on cable. And now that very valuable brand is going to take its talents to the digital realm. It’ll be very exciting to connect with the millions of people that are already engaged with 106 & Park and other BET digital and social media entities and bring content that will further evolve the 106 & Park brand — and enhance the overall BET Networks brand.”

News/pop culture network Fusion said it will offer a multichannel livestream feed of this weekend’s Lollapalooza music festival.

Fusion will carry Red Bull TV’s digital broadcast of the three-day festival beginning tonight across all of its digital platforms. The multi-channel livestream event will feature 100+ live performances from Chicago’s Grant Park, as well as behind-the-scenes access, exclusive interviews, unique camera angles, and 200+ hours of exclusive content, said network officials.

Performers scheduled to appear during the Aug. 1-3 festival include Eminem, Outkast, Kings Of Leon, Lorde and the Avett Brothers.