Thursday, February 22, 2024

NKOTB signs with BMG for their new album and more updates!

I was just about ready to publish this post and some late breaking news just came in! This is from Billboard.com

New Kids on the Block Set New Album With BMG: ‘New Label, Big Tour’

NKOTB will release their first new studio album in more than a decade, and support it with a "big" tour.

New Kids on the Block sign with BMG. L to R: Jared Paul, Faculty Management; Joey McIntyre, Jordan Knight, BMG’s Cyndi Lynott and Dan Gill; Donnie Wahlberg, Danny Wood, Jonathan Knight. Photo credit: Lior Grunberg

New Kids on the Block are back. The legendary boy band is all grown up and ready for another release cycle, this time through a new global recording agreement with BMG.

Through the new deal, which Billboard can exclusively confirm, NKOTB will release an eighth studio album, their first new studio LP in more than a decade, and support it with a “big” tour.

“We’re super excited to partner with our new label home BMG,” the pop group enthuses in a joint statement. “We promise 2024 is going to be a big year for NKOTB and our blockheads. New label, big tour, we are just getting started! Much more to come. Very soon. And we couldn’t have asked for a better partner than BMG to usher in this new era.”

The label deal follows a buzz of activity, which included the announcement of NKOTB’s Magic Summer 2024 tour, a trek that features guests Paula Abdul and DJ Jazzy Jeff and serves as a re-imagination of the Boston group’s sold-out 1990 tour of the same name.

Soon after, the quintet celebrated the 15th anniversary of their reunion album, The Block, with special edition The Block Revisited, including remixes and guest collaborations.

Blockheads were left wondering if fresh music was on the horizon. With today’s announcement, that question is answered.

The as-yet untitled album is the followup to 2013’s 10, which peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard 200, one of the group’s six top 10 appearances on the tally, a list that includes two leaders, 1988 sophomore effort Hangin’ Tough and 1990’s Step By Step. Career album sales top 80 million, according to BMG.

Formed in 1984 and featuring Boston natives Jonathan and Jordan Knight, Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg and Danny Wood, NKOTB has landed 13 songs on the Billboard Hot 100, including nine top 10 appearances and a hattrick of No. 1s: 1989’s “I’ll Be Loving You (Forever),” 1989’s “Hangin’ Tough” and 1990’s “Step By Step.”

“New Kids on the Block are trailblazers in the music world – creating a blueprint for not only pop music, but pop culture,” comments Cyndi Lynott, BMG senior VP, marketing, in a statement unveiling the new recording deal.

“It is an honor to be able to work with this iconic group and deliver brand new music to their passionate fanbase. BMG is full of blockheads, and we could not be more thrilled.”

~*~*~*

Ok back to the rest of the post... the guys sent out a message to Block Nation members last night announcing their new hotline: 1-806-NEW-KIDS. If you were not able to listen, here's a recording posted by "Angie from In the Six"



The Official New Kids on the Block social media accounts have been posting silhouettes of the guys all week starting with Danny on Monday, Joe on Tuesday, Jonathan on Wednesday, and Donnie today. So of course, we expect Jordan tomorrow. Now the question is, once they post Jordan's will they reveal what this is all about tomorrow too, or will they make us wait? Speculation is these silhouettes are from the cover for their upcoming album!

Joey and Donnie posted theirs to their stories with some comments: 



Donnie has left a few somewhat cryptic notes on his Instagram over the last few days...

Joey has been a little more straight to the point (which I appreciate) in his latest posts!


He posted this story about "in the lab":

Then yesterday he posted a reel of him in said "lab", and he showed us a notebook with lyrics (and some of Griffin's old homework). Interesting that he said he said he was writing songs for himself - for a "certain band". I'm pretty sure Donnie said they already turned in the new album for New Kids on the Block a few months ago, so maybe Joe is already planning ahead for even more music from the guys, or the band he is referring to is a completely different band. 


Gabe Lopez posted this photo of Joe last week. Not sure if they were just hanging out together or if Gabe has been helping him with song writing.
 
Always great times hangin’ tough with my pal @joeymcintyre! Such a kind and generous guy. Love ya, Joe! ✨😀💫💫 #joeymcintyre #nkotb @nkotb #newkidsontheblock

Donnie flew (I think from Chicago to New Jersey) yesterday. Here are some highlights from his stories that he shared including him singing along to the "Yacht Rock" song "I'd Really Love to See You Tonight" by John Ford Coley. Then he and his assistant, Tara, singing "On the Road Again" as they walked through the airport. After landing he announced to everyone sitting near Gate C75 that he arrived safe and sound. Then he found a piano and played a few bars of "I Need You". 

Interesting that Donnie changed the lyrics in "On the Road Again" and said he was "going to make sweet music with all of my friends". So maybe they are still recording?


And in case you missed it, here are a few more things from the NBA All-Star game that he posted since my last update:

Donnie teaching Bam Adebayo how he thinks he should wear his sweatband:



And here are Donnie and Jenny with Daryll Simmons, Babyface and Fat Joe:

Photo from @donniewahlberg
Just hanging out. All Star Game fun. ❤️
#love #happy #goodtimes #friends

Boston TV station WBZ shared this clip of Donnie promoting Blue Bloods:


Here is a photo of Donnie with Thalia when they were on the Kelly Clarkson Show together: 


Donnie also posted this (and if you read this post, you already knew about it). 


Sharon Knight posted that Jonathan "jetted off to North Carolina" for the filming of the "100 Day Hotel Challenge" on February 16! And on Monday, Sarah Baeumler posted this photo!

Happy Sunday! Busy day on set with @mikamakesmoves and @mrbreakingground as they go head to head in a brand new showdown! Looking forward to having some fun on set with this crew & sharing it on @hgtv this summer... stay tuned!

Kristina also posted this in her stories last week (it's probably from Farmhouse Fixer since they were posted on February 15): 


And it's hard to believe, it's been a year since Jon and Harley adopted Oliver: 

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