Backstage Pass

“The X Factor” is now offering free tickets to its upcoming audition shows at Nassau Coliseum from June 19 to 21.

The shows will feature the full judging panel – Simon Cowell, Demi Lovato and new judges Kelly Rowland and Paulina Rubio – evaluating those singers who received “golden tickets” from the open call that drew 16,000 contestants at the Coliseum in April.

There will be two separate...

Beyonce has gotten pretty good at keeping her still-untitled album project from springing any leaks. Today, however, “Grown Woman,” the song from her Pepsi commercial that debuted last month, has emerged in full, though, as usual, there aren’t many details available.

No confirmation on whether the song will be on the new album or if it’s her new single. It’s a catchy track, reportedly produced...

It was an off night for “The Voice.”

Maybe it was the news of the deadly tornadoes in Oklahoma, home to coach Blake Shelton and contestants The Swon Brothers, that set the show on edge. Maybe it was the insistence of Adam Levine that Judith Hill pay homage to her mentor Michael Jackson, even though it clearly still makes her uncomfortable for a variety of reasons. Or maybe after a season of...

Um, Yeezus.

Kanye West unveiled a new rebellious, political side with the two new songs from his upcoming “Yeezus” album on “Saturday Night Live” that have already guaranteed that ‘Ye will have controversy on his hands when it arrives on June 18.

He actually debuted the video for “New Slaves” Friday night when it was shown on the sides of buildings around the world – from the Prada store...

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers take over the Beacon Theatre this week with a string of shows that feature their greatest hits, rarities and some choice covers.

Intro brings you the week’s hottest videos and shows every Monday. To catch up on all the Intros and watch classic Long Island music scene videos, check out Newsday Music’s YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/newsdaymusic.

THE...

Backstreet’s back, all right.

The Backstreet Boys – featuring all five original members, including Kevin Richardson who officially returned to the fold last month – have finished a new album “In a World Like This,” due out July 30, and will start a tour Aug. 2 to celebrate their 20th anniversary. The tour, featuring Jesse McCartney and DJ Pauly D as openers, will stop at Nikon at Jones Beach...

Beck and Frank Ocean lead the pack with two nominations in the O Music Awards, which award the best in the intersection between music and technology.

Beck got nominations for best interactive music video and analog genius, while Ocean was nominated as “Must Follow Artist on Twitter” and in the “Too Much Ass for TV” category, which celebrates NSFW music videos. (Does anyone really stand a chance...

Hey, “American Idol” had a good finale!

Both Candice Glover and Kree Harrison performed well and the choice is in the “Idol” voters’ hands now. (And the judges didn’t get to talk much, so it was even more enjoyable than usual.)

Who will win? Well, if this was purely a singing competition, it would be Candice, who was both bolder with her vocal choices and a stronger singer overall. But...

This is probably the toughest of “The Voice” performance shows because there is so little time for all 12 contestants to perform. It’s the one show of the season where “The Voice” becomes very much like “American Idol” — without, you know, all the dysfunction.

The show is also the first one where mentors can no longer save their teams — only votes determine who moves forward. It’s also the...

Yeah Yeah Yeahs kick off a big Great GoogaMooga weekend at Prospect Park Friday.

Intro brings you the week’s hottest videos and shows every Monday. To catch up on all the Intros and watch classic Long Island music scene videos, check out Newsday Music’s YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/newsdaymusic.

THE LIST YEAH YEAH YEAHS, “Mosquito.” At Great GoogaMooga at Prospect...