By Michael Andor Brodeur, The Washington Post | There is perhaps no band closer to the president’s ear than the U.S. Marine Band, long known as “The President’s Own.” Founded in 1798 by an Act of Congress, it’s the nation’s oldest continuously active professional musical organization, with a stated, singular mission to “perform music for the President of the United States and the Commandant of the Marine Corps.”
The band’s repertoire, therefore, is subject to the president’s tastes, whims and, in the case of a May 4 concert that recently vanished from the schedule, executive orders.
Last week, “The President’s Own” quietly canceled a concert program originally billed as the “Equity Arc Wind Symphony.” The performance was to be the culmination of a “multiday music intensive with musicians from ‘The President’s Own,’” and high school musician fellows selected through auditions organized by the Chicago-based Equity Arc, a nonprofit organization that provides “specialized mentoring support for young BIPOC musicians” and “helps institutions take meaningful steps toward equity and inclusion.”
A spokesperson for the Marines confirmed in an email Tuesday afternoon that “the Marine Band’s participation in this event was canceled in accordance with recent Executive Orders.”
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Go here to read more about this unfortunate cancellation:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/following-executive-orders-the-president-s-own-marine-band-scraps-concert/
Photo: Marine Corps Band | On June 13, 2024, the Marine Band supported the funeral of Maj. Gen. Dennis J. Murphy, USMC (ret.), at Arlington National Cemetery
https://www.marineband.marines.mil/Photos/igphoto/2003602199/
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It’s Official: The 2025 CMT Awards Have Been Canceled
By Chase Sanders, Country Living | We don’t like being the bearer of bad news, but we think this is worth an explanation. In a major turn of events, the 2025 CMT Awards have officially been canceled—a blow to country music artists and us, their fans! Last year’s award show was hosted by none other than Kelsea Ballerini and we saw some of our favorite artists take home some of the night’s most coveted awards. We’re talking Jelly Roll taking home the award for video of the year, Lainey Wilson winning female video of the year, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to all the talent honored at the long-running award show.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the reason why this year’s CMT Awards show was put on pause is due to Paramount Global’s upcoming merge with David Ellison’s Skydance Media. As the parent company to other major televised events, unfortunately, the CMT Awards isn’t the only one being affected. The MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs), Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards Mexico, and MTV MIAWs— an event that honors Latin American music—were also put on pause due to this upcoming merger.
The news of the award show cancellations were obtained by The Hollywood Reporter through a memo sent to staff from Paramount Global executive Bruce Gillmer. In it he states that the company is looking to “reimagine and optimize [their] events slate going forward.”
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Read the full story here:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/entertainment/awards/it-s-official-the-2025-cmt-awards-have-been-cancelled/