Radio 1 has been accused of ageism after snubbing 60-year-old Madonna's latest song release
SHE’S the Queen of Pop with a string of iconic hits over 40 years putting her among music’s all-time greats — but the message doesn’t seem to have filtered through at Radio 1.
Bosses at the BBC station — which still sees itself as the biggest force in British pop — have sparked fury among Madonna's fans by snubbing her comeback from its playlist.
New track Medellin, released last week, sees Madge team up with up-and-coming reggaeton star Maluma — and is as contemporary and sharp as anything else in the charts.
Station chiefs have been accused of ageism towards the 60-year-old superstar, with their decision meaning Madonna will not be played on the network at all.
Fans lambasted bosses online, with one blasting: “Blatant misogyny, ageism and above all, bull***t.”
Another added: “Ageism is as rude as racism — disgusting.” And hundreds more have commented below Madonna’s videos on YouTube.
One industry source told me: “It’s a sad reality that for some people in the music business it wouldn’t matter what Madonna released. They’d dismiss it because she’s 60.”
But the network hit back. A spokesman told me the decision was made “based on what the audience expects to hear, with no other criteria taken into consideration.”
Open-minded Radio 2 chiefs last night added the track to its playlist, despite it featuring 25-year-old Maluma, who is well outside its target audience.
Last night, Madonna was in London to unveil the video for the single, her first from upcoming album Madame X, her latest eye-patch-wearing alter-ego.
The promo premiered worldwide at 9pm — and didn’t disappoint with arresting imagery sure to get the pop world talking.
Maybe now Radio 1 will take their fingers out of their ears and listen . . .
Pal-mal's insta-wham
COLOMBIAN newcomer Maluma is emerging as one of the hottest names in pop right now – even if Radio 1 hasn’t noticed yet.
And although his name may not be familiar, you’ve probably heard his work before, as he has previously teamed up with Shakira and XXXTentacion.
He has also won two Latin American Music Awards and a Latin Grammy, along with nominations at the Billboard and MTV EMAs.
Maluma first found fame in 2010 and now boasts more than 41million Instagram followers and more than 19million subscribers to his YouTube channel.
After news of the release of his single with Madonna he told his fans: “Impossible to contain my tears and emotions after hearing this.
“You don’t know the happiness and what this represents in my life. It’s good to dream . . . I told you!”
She's b-hind you…
IT seems Geri Horner still can’t face Mel B after Scary spilled the beans on their one-night stand back in the Spice Girls' heyday.
Mel finally touched down in London yesterday after missing the first week of rehearsals for the group’s monster reunion tour, which kicks off in Ireland next month.
But while there were smiles all round, Geri couldn’t quite look Mel in the eye as they posed for snaps in a dance studio alongside Emma Bunton and Mel B.
Emma shared a video on Twitter of the group messing around before they got down to the serious business of polishing their dance moves.
To help whip the pop veterans into shape, each has been allocated five dancers who will perform with them on stage every night.
The four teams are dubbed House of Baby, House of Sporty, House of Ginger and House of Scary.
During the gigs, the dancers will wear their leader’s “house colours” and compete against one another, as well as dancing together to some of the band’s biggest hits, such as Wannabe and Mama.
There is just a month to go until the first of seven dates in the UK and Ireland, with Dublin’s Croke Park first up on May 24.
If Mel B can keep her mouth shut OFF-stage between now and the final show – at Wembley Stadium on June 15 – I’m sure Geri will forgive her.
Britney: Sam-one is lying
BRITNEY SPEARS has broken her silence after her fans started a #FreeBritney campaign over fears she was being held in a mental health facility against her will.
Britney’s team said she entered the treatment programme voluntarily to help her cope when her father Jamie fell seriously ill. But a small group of diehard fans have insisted otherwise.
The singer posted a video on Instagram and told her 21million followers: “My family has been going through a lot of stress and anxiety lately, so I just needed time to deal. Don’t worry I’ll be back very soon.”
Her video was accompanied by a lengthy caption admitting her family and team had been receiving death threats.
She also took aim at her ex-boyfriend Sam Lutfi, who was her manager between 2007 and 2008, and claimed rambling emails being circulated online from 12 years ago, had been created by him.
The caption read: “These fake emails were crafted by Sam Lutfi years ago. . . I did not write them.
“I promise I’m doing what’s best at this moment.”
Sam hit back on Twitter: “I can unequivocally state that I never wrote nor had access to her email.”
I think the best way to #FreeBritney is to let her get better in her own time.
Cheryl on track
THERE will be a mini Girls Aloud reunion on Cheryl Tweedy's next song as close friend Nicola Roberts is contributing.
Her follow-up Love Made Me Do It is set to be released next month after she hinted about the release on her Instagram.
Nicola said: “Cheryl has her next record out very soon, but I can’t say when. It’s one I worked on.
“As a songwriter and an artist, I don’t like to take any credit because it’s their record and it’s their baby and I just step back.
“It’s not frustrating because I worked with songwriters in the past on my records and I understand the process.”
Cheryl’s comeback track in November peaked at No19 in the UK Singles Chart. Hopefully, this new tune will be more Girls Aloud than Cheryl.
Sole Star Perrie
LITTLE MIX’s Perrie Edwards has put her best foot forward – and won a deal to be the new face of shoe firm Superga’s spring- summer ad campaign.
She will plug the shoes with model Alexa Chung, and the girls are also developing their own brands.
Perrie, who last week spoke of her battle with anxiety, knows how to keep the Superga folks happy.
She said: “It’s a brand I’ve loved and worn for a while as I love the style and fit of the shoes.”
Biz meter
- MARVEL Studios has confirmed it will honour Stan Lee by creating a special film which collates all of the late comic book legend’s movie cameos. His final appearance, in Avengers: Endgame, will be included in the short – which will also feature his fleeting roles in the Spider-Man and Thor films.
- MARK RONSON is hoping his pal Miley Cyrus will ask him to join her for her set at Glasto on June 30. On ZOE BALL’s Radio 2 breakfast show, the producer said: “I’d love to make myself available for Miley’s Sunday set. “I’m keeping the schedule clear in case she texts me back.”
- DAVID HASSELHOFF will play a very generous Scrooge this December in an arena tour of Charles Dickens’ Christmas story. The ex-Baywatch star will appear at Cardiff, Birmingham and Nottingham and will hand £3,000 to an audience member each night. Check out scroogearena.com.
- BEYONCE’s dad Mathew Knowles is creating a stage show. Survivor: The Destiny’s Child Musical will launch in her hometown of Houston in 2020. Speaking about the show, based on the career of his daughter and bandmates Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams, he said: “I want to pull the curtain back.”
Biz Bits
- NETFLIX can continue to compete at the Oscars, despite director STEVEN SPIELBERG’s campaign for its films to be ineligible. The gongs’ board said they had to change with the times so would not ban movies created by streaming services.
- JOHNNY DEPP is dating a Russian go-go dancer believed to be in her mid-twenties. The actor, 55, was seen kissing Polina Glen in Belgrade, Serbia. He was first seen with her last May as he toured Moscow with his band THE HOLLYWOOD VAMPIRES. Depp’s next movie might be a remake of From Russia With Love.
- BASTILLE’s DAN SMITH is running the London marathon. He’s raised more than £20,000 for Breast Cancer Care in tribute to his mum, who is now in remission. See keeponrunning.co if you fancy sponsoring him
Not heard of 'em Ivor
ARCTIC MONKEYS, Rudimental and George Ezra are some of the few recognisable nominees at this year’s Ivor Novello Awards, announced yesterday.
The Sheffield rock band are up against Ben Howard and Hozier for Best Song Musically at Grosvenor House in London next month.
George’s megahit Shotgun will be competing with JAX JONES’ Breathe and Rudimental’s These Days for PRS For Music Most Performed Work.
Grime artist Ghetts, Jorja Smith and The 1975 are up for Best Contemporary Song.
And little-known Idles, Let's Eat Grandma and Young Fathers are nominated for Best Album. No, me neither.
2019 NOMINATIONS
Best Song Musically And Lyrically
Four Out Of Five – Arctic Monkeys
Nica Libres At Dusk – Ben Howard
Nina Cried Power – Hozier
Best Contemporary Song
Black Rose – Ghetts Ft Kojey Radical
Blue Lights – Jorja Smith
Love It If We Made It – The 1975
Best Album
Cocoa Sugar – Young Fathers
I’m All Ears – Let’s Eat Grandma
Joy As An Act Of Resistance – Idles
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