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27 Aug 2024

Luis Fonsi Returns to No. 1 on Latin Pop Airplay With Carlos Vives Collab ‘Santa Marta’

Luis Fonsi is back at No. 1 on Billboard’s Latin Pop Airplay chart thanks to “Santa Marta,” his first collaboration with Carlos Vives, which climbs 3-1 to lead the Aug. 31-dated ranking. It’s the Puerto Rican’s 11th champ and Vives’ seventh.

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“It’s like an anniversary song,” Fonsi previously told Billboard of “Santa Marta,” which praises genuine love and empathy. The song — released May 17 as one of 12 songs on Fonsi’s 11th studio album, El Viaje, which earned the Puerto Rican his 15th entry on Latin Pop Albums in June — was written by Fonsi alongside Mauricio Rengifo and Andres Torres, also producers of the album.

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“Santa Marta” crowns Latin Pop Airplay after a 1% gain in audience impressions, to 3.3 million, earned in the U.S. in the tracking week of Aug. 9-15, according to Luminate.

As the song lands at the summit, Luis Fonsi manages his 11th No. 1 on Latin Pop Airplay and seventh through a collaboration. His first collaboration to hit No. 1 was “Despacito” with Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber, which ruled the tally for 18 weeks in 2017. All of his No. 1s since have been collaborations. His first four leaders were all solo No. 1s, unaccompanied by any other artist, including his first No. 1, the five-week champ “Nada Es Para Siempre” in 2005.

Vives, however, parked in the No. 1 slot for the first time in 1995 when “La Tierra Del Olvido” ruled for two weeks. The song, a core vallenato track, then made it to the pop radio ranking before it switched from a station-based tally to a genre-based survey. Since then, Vives has crowned Latin Pop Airplay six more times, his last through “Mujeres,” a collab with fellow country singer Juanes, for one week on top in December 2023.

“Santa Marta” places Luis Fonsi back at the lead on Latin Pop Airplay after almost three years, as the Puerto Rican last occupied the No. 1 spot with “Bésame,” with Myke Towers, in November 2021. He managed, though, three top 10s in between: “Vacaciones” with Manuel Turizo (No. 6 high in 2022), “Buenos Aires” (No. 10, September 2023) and “Pasa La Página “Panamá” (No. 6 high in January) The latter two (along with “Santa Marta”) are all from El Viaje.

Elsewhere, despite its 1% lift in audience impressions, “Santa Marta” dips to No. 32 on the overall Latin Airplay chart, after its No. 31 high (Aug. 31-dated list) during its nine-week run so far.

27 Aug 2024

How This Vinyl Pressing Plant Made It To a Major Milestone

While biking across Iowa this summer, Mark Michaels enjoyed a rare moment of reflection. “You’re riding about 80 miles a day among cornfields, and it gives you a lot of time to think,” the United Record Pressing chairman/CEO says. “I spent a lot of time while I was peddling thinking about United,” he adds of the oldest and largest American-owned, U.S.-based vinyl pressing plant in the world, which will celebrate its 75th anniversary this fall.

Michaels is speaking from his Nashville office, where he’s surrounded by signed records from Buddy Guy, Jack White and more of his icons, all expressing their thanks to him and his manufacturing team. (In 2014, White made history by recording, pressing and releasing a 7-inch of his single “Lazaretto” in under four hours, thanks to URP.) “It’s easy to forget those moments of euphoria and gratitude because you’re so focused on ‘How many records of this did we ship?’ or ‘What’s going on with that press?’ ” Michaels says. “But you don’t want too much life to pass by where you don’t stop and reflect.”

URP was founded as Bullet Plastics in Nashville in 1949, becoming Southern Plastics in the ’50s before landing on United Record Pressing in 1971. By the ’60s, a deal was signed for the plant to handle singles pressings for Motown, and in 1963, the first Beatles 7-inch, “Please Please Me”/“From Me to You,” was pressed, with a typo that spelled the band’s name as The Beattles.

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In 2007, a year before Record Store Day officially launched and just before the format was beginning its first-wave resurgence, Michaels bought the company — and helped sustain it through a particularly rough patch. As he recalls, half of URP’s output at the time was 12-inch singles created as promo records for DJs. “That was a lot of what we did, and shortly after I bought the company, the labels stopped doing that,” he says. “The DJs all got [music production software] Seratos, and the labels figured out that was a better business model. So all of a sudden, the health of the company was in serious jeopardy … We were doing everything to keep the lights on.”

By the summer of 2009, a career-changing order came in: a 50th-anniversary pressing of Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue (a favorite of Michaels) — the plant’s biggest order to date. Michaels himself oversaw quality control, checking a record at random every 30 minutes. “I remember one night, it was two in the morning and I’m in my office listening to these records, and I thought, ‘This is crazy, but goddamn, I’m lucky.’ And it just gave me this boost of energy. The next month, we got another order of that size.” Since, URP has manufactured vinyl for every major artist, from Adele to Taylor Swift.

In the early 2020s, URP faced another challenging period: the coronavirus pandemic. “Demand for vinyl exploded” during lockdown, Michaels says, but the orders put an unprecedented pressure on pressing plants to keep up. He says that was the catalyst for URP to expand, resulting in an $11 million project that built new infrastructure and supporting equipment and added 26 new presses. “The challenge is you can’t do that overnight,” he says. And now, not only can URP meet demand, but “the plant runs better than ever.”

He and his team of approximately 130 employees — all of whom have been sporting anniversary T-shirts that detail the plant’s various logos over the years — are now ready to toast such a feat and storied history, with Michaels saying the energy “is palpable” at the plant these days. A forthcoming celebration will bring together partners, customers, vendors and “people who support the format … There’s a renewed sense of pride and interest in what we do.”

Already, Michaels is focused on how to maintain it for the next 75 years, doubling down on the honor he has in keeping the process — and workforce — in Music City. “Seventy-five-plus years of history gives you a lot of gas in your tank in terms of pride,” he says. “You don’t make the first Beatles record in America, you don’t make all these Motown records, you don’t accumulate all this history and know-how and not have something special. And I never want to lose that.”

This story appears in the Aug. 24, 2024 issue of Billboard.

27 Aug 2024

Post Malone Gushes Over Dolly Parton Friendship During Sweet Photo Shoot Hug: ‘My Heart’s Beating So Fast’

Sometimes a dream becomes a wish that comes true. That is clearly the case for Post Malone, who shared a video on Monday (August 26) in which he is playfully snuggled up with his duet partner: country icon Dolly Parton. “Don’t have the heart to break yours @DollyParton,” the rapper-turned-country-cronner labeled the X post accompanying a nine-second clip of the dynamic duo sharing smiles during a photo shoot.

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With the sound of the camera shutter clicking in the background, Malone, 29, strikes a silly arms-wide-open pose at first, as Parton, 78, leans her head into his chest, a broad smile on her face. “You are amazing, I’m so… I can’t believe it, my heart’s beating so fast,” Malone tells his musical hero Parton, who shifts positions, taking Posty’s hands and positioning them so that he’s hugging her around the waist from behind as the photographer breaks out in a loud laugh.

Parton posted an Instagram video from the meet cute two weeks ago, writing, “@postmalone’s always said nice things about me and I’ve always appreciated it. He’s got such a big heart.” In the video Malone tells Parton, “whatever you need from me in the whole world,, I’m there,” as the two joke around, with Dolly yanking on Post’s baseball hat and complaining that he’s too tall as he crouches down to meet her eye. Legendarily polite, Malone repeatedly says “yes ma’am” as the two make small talk, with Dolly remembering that she saw a picture of a custom suit Malone wore in 2019 covered in images of the country superstar.

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In the lyric video for the song, Malone flips through a bunch of Parton memorabilia, including a vintage 1979 Dolly pinball machine.

The look of sheer joy on Malone’s face in the pics (see below) in that moment is palpable and he has good reason to be elated. His debut country LP, F-1 Trillion, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 (dated August 31) with 250,00 equivalent album units earned in its opening week, according to Luminate; the album is also Posty’s first No. 1 on the Top Country Albums chart.

In addition, all 18 songs from the standard edition charted on the Billboard Hot 100 – including all 15 collaborations – led by former six-week No. 1 smash with Morgan Wallen, “I Had Some Help” at No. 2.

Check out the sweet moment between Malone and Parton below.

27 Aug 2024

How to Watch the 2024 Paralympic Games: All the Ways to Stream the Games Online Free

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Although it’s been nearly a month since the Summer Olympics 2024 concluded with its Closing Ceremony, the 2024 Paralympic Games is set to begin, with more than 4,400 athletes from all around the world gathering in Paris.

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The Paralympic Games’ Opening Ceremony takes place at the Place de la Concorde and the Champs-Elysées. Check out a complete schedule of the events here.

When Do the Paralympic Games Start?

The Paralympic Games start on Wednesday, Aug. 28, at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT. It ends on Sunday, Sept. 8, at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT, or during NBC’s primetime coverage at 9 p.m. ET/PT, daily.

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Men’s and women’s Paralympic events are available to watch live and stream on-demand. The events broadcast across NBC, USA Network and CNBC, as well as streaming on the streaming service Peacock.

How to Watch Paralympic Games on Peacock

Can you stream the Paralympic Games on Peacock? Yes, Peacock goes for $7.99 per month for the Premium plan and $13.99 per month for the Premium Plus plan — both plans include coverage of all events.

Unfortunately, Peacock isn’t offering any deals at the moment, but you can get a discount if you subscribe to the annual plan starting at $79.99 per year (12 months for the price of 10). The streaming service also has discounts for students and teachers with prices starting at $1.99 per month.

Where to Watch the Paralympic Games for Free

If you’re a cord-cutter, then there are a number of ways to watch the Paralympics without cable — especially if you want to watch for free. DirecTV Stream has a five-day free trial, while others such as Fubo and Hulu + Live TV offer free trials too. This is a good way to watch E! and NBC without spending money up front.

Keep reading for more details on how to watch Paralympic Games on NBC, USA Network and CNBC with DirecTV Stream, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV and others.

How to Watch Paralympic Games on DirecTV Stream

A subscription to DirecTV Stream gets you access to live TV, local and cable channels, starting at $49.99 per month with the streamer’s current deals. The service even offers a five-day free trial to watch for free, if you sign up now.

You can watch local networks such as NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox and PBS, while you can also watch cable networks including E!, FX, AMC, A&E, Bravo, Cartoon Network, ESPN, FS1, VH1, Fuse, CNN, Food Network, Lifetime, CNBC, BET, MTV, Paramount Network and many others.

How to Watch Paralympic Games on Fubo

Fubo starts at $79.99 per month with nearly 200 channels — including local and cable — that are streamable on smart TVs, smartphones, tablets and on web browsers. And with a seven-day free trial, you can watch for free, if you act fast and sign up now.

The services gets you live access to local broadcast networks including NBC, ABC, CBS and Fox, while it also has dozens of cable networks, such as E!, FX, Bravo, TLC, ESPN, FS1, MTV, CMT, ID, Ion, OWN, Paramount Network, TV Land, VH1 and much more.

How to Watch Paralympic Games on Hulu + Live TV

The networks NBC, USA Network and CNBC are available to watch with Hulu + Live TV too. Prices for the cable alternative start at $76.99 per month, while each plan comes with Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN+ at no additional cost.

Hulu + Live TV might be best for those who want all of these streaming services together in one package. It also features many other networks, like E!, CBS, ABC, Fox, BET, CMT, Disney Channel, ESPN, Hallmark Channel and more.

More Ways to Watch

Viewers who want to stream the Paralympics internationally can use ExpressVPN, NordVPN and PureVPN to access several streaming platforms.

Meanwhile, if you’re an Xfinity subscriber, you can also save on Peacock. Subscribers to Xfinity’s StreamSaver and Internet plan and watch Peacock, Netflix and Apple TV+ bundled together for $35 per month. In addition, Xfinity Diamond and Platinum rewards members can get Peacock free of charge via rewards points.

Paralympic Games broadcasts on NBC, USA Network, and CNBC starting on Wednesday, Aug. 28, at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT. Peacock and DirecTV Stream are the best ways to watch the event.

Want more? For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best Xbox deals, studio headphones and Nintendo Switch accessories.

27 Aug 2024

Watch Luke Bryan Honor Toby Keith by Performing One of His Hits During NBC Tribute Special

Luke Bryan was among the dozens of country artists honoring the late Toby Keith during a Nashville taping at Bridgestone Arena in July as part of the two-hour NBC concert special Toby Keith: American Icon, which will air Wednesday (Aug. 28) from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET/PT, and Billboard has an exclusive look at the performance before it airs.

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For his tribute, two-time CMA entertainer of the year winner Bryan donned a cowboy hat that had been given to him by his sister (who passed away in 2007) as he delivered Keith’s debut hit, “Should’ve Been a Cowboy.” 

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“This hat has been hanging in my closet for probably 15 years,” Bryan said prior to the performance, recalling his pre-Nashville years when he was playing bars in his home state of Georgia and performing “about 10 Toby Keith songs a night.” “I used to wear this hat every night, and ever since I lost my sister, I hadn’t put this hat [on] onstage in a lot of years. I was walkin’ out the house, and I said, ‘You know what? I’m just an old country boy from Georgia, but Toby Keith certainly made me want to be a cowboy.’ I’m going to be a cowboy tonight … This is for you, Toby.”

“Should’ve Been a Cowboy” spent two weeks at No. 1 on Billboard‘s Country Airplay chart in 1993. Keith would go on to notch 20 No. 1 hits on that chart during his career, including “I Love This Bar,” “American Soldier,” and “I’m Just Talkin’ ‘Bout Tonight.”

Keith died in February at age 62 following a battle with stomach cancer. He will be posthumously inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame later this year

Watch Billboard‘s look at Bryan’s performance of “Should’ve Been a Cowboy” below:

27 Aug 2024

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Fights Producer’s ‘Lurid’ Sex Abuse Lawsuit: ‘Blatant Falsehoods’

Sean “Diddy” Combs wants a federal judge to end one of the several sexual abuse cases he’s facing, arguing that the “salacious” lawsuit is filled with “blatant falsehoods” designed to force him into a settlement.

In a motion filed Monday in Manhattan federal court, attorneys for the star ask a judge to dismiss a case filed in February by Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones, who claims Combs sexually assaulted, drugged and threatened him while he worked as a producer on the rapper’s 2023 The Love Album.

Though they say the case is really nothing more than a “run of the mill commercial disagreement,” Combs lawyers claim Jones’ lawyer added “meaningless allegations and blatant falsehoods” in order to “generate media hype and exploit it to extract a settlement.”

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“Running to nearly 100 pages, it includes countless tall tales, shameless celebrity namedrops, and irrelevant images,” Combs’ lawyers write. “Yet, despite all its hyperbole and lurid theatrics, the [complaint] fails to state a single viable claim against any of the Combs defendants.”

The filing took personal aim at Jones’ attorney Tyrone Blackburn, citing a recent ruling in a separate case in which a federal judge sharply criticized the lawyer for filing suits designed to “garner media attention” and “embarrass defendants.”

Once one of the most powerful men in the music industry, Diddy has been hit with at least seven civil lawsuits alleging sexual abuse over the past year, including claims by ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura that were followed by a video showing him assaulting her. The hip-hop mogul is also facing an apparent federal criminal investigation after authorities raided his homes in March.

Though the rapper has denied the legal allegations against him, he issued an apology in May over his conduct captured on the video of the Ventura attack: “My behavior on that video is inexcusable. I take full responsibility for my actions in that video.”

Jones sued in February, accusing Diddy not just of sexual assault but also of operating a sweeping conspiracy that violated the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act — the federal RICO statute that’s more often used in criminal cases against mobsters and drug cartels. He also accused Combs and others of violating federal sex trafficking laws.

In Monday’s motion to dismiss the case, attorneys for the rapper argued that Jones had fallen well short of showing that he could sue under RICO.

“Because litigants frequently attempt to transform garden-variety fraud or breach of contract cases into RICO claims, the civil provisions of RICO are the most misused statutes in the federal corpus of law,” Combs’ lawyers write, quoting from earlier rulings. “Thus, courts strive to flush out frivolous RICO allegations at an early stage of the litigation.”

Combs lawyers also asked the judge to dismiss the other claims in the case. They argued that the claim of sexual assault is spelled out in “two vague paragraphs” in which Jones “fails to allege essential facts, such as the where, when, and how of the purported misconduct, or even any conversation about, report of, or witness to any particular occurrence.”

Jones’ attorney, Blackburn, did not immediately return a request for comment from Billboard. But in a statement to Deadline, Blackburn called the motion to dismiss “nothing more than a billing exercise by Sean Combs’ latest set of lawyers.”

“It is a weak attempt to fill their pockets before he is indicted, and they decide to haul ass, just like his five previous lawyers did,” Blackburn told the outlet.

Jones’ case initially named Universal Music Group (UMG) and CEO Lucian Grainge as defendants, claiming they “aided and abetted” Combs in his alleged misconduct and were members of the RICO conspiracy. But Jones later dropped them from the case, with Blackburn admitting there had been “no legal basis for the claims and allegations that were made against the UMG defendants.”

Read the entire motion filed by Combs’ lawyers here:

27 Aug 2024

Keanu Reeves’ Shadow Steals The Show In First Trailer For ‘Sonic The Hedgehog 3,’ X Is Losing Its Rings

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Shadow Gets Busy In First Trailer For 'Sonic The Hedgehog 3'

Source: Paramount Pictures / SEGA / Sonic The Hedgehog 3 / Shadow

FINALLY, the first trailer for Sonic the Hedgehog 3 has arrived, and it did not disappoint in building hype for the third film in the Sonic movie trilogy.

Fans have been patiently waiting to get their first glimpse of Shadow in action after his tease at the end of Sonic The Hedgehog 2.

To get fans even more hype for the popular anti-hero, Paramount Studios revealed that Keanu Reeves would lend his signature voice to help bring Shadow The Hedgehog to the big screen.

After months of speculation, the first trailer for the film has arrived, and it does not disappoint.

In Sonic The Hedgehog 3, Team Sonic, comprised of the titular character, his trusty sidekick Tails, and new buddy Knuckles (Idris Elba), is an official task force working with the government to tackle threats they can’t handle.

Sonic The Hedgehog 3

Source: Paramount Pictures / SEGA / Sonic The Hedgehog 3

The trio of color and extremely fast heroes meet their match in Shadow, who shares a story similar to his blue counterpart’s, but instead of finding a family, he only endures pain and loss.

Shadow uses those emotions, plus his impressive abilities, to gain the upper hand on Team Sonic, forcing them to enlist the help of Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey), who now looks like Dr. Eggman more than ever, sporting his signature mustache, big stomach, and bald head.

Sonic The Hedgehog 3

Source: Paramount Pictures / SEGA / Sonic The Hedgehog 3

Since Robotnik can no longer take over the world, he decides to help it, but rest assured, he will be up to some nefarious shenanigans because he meets his long-lost father.

Sonic The Hedgehog Fans Are Excited

As expected, Sonic The Hedgehog fans are losing their rings after watching the first action-packed trailer for the third highly anticipated film in what has been one of the solid video game movie franchises.

We hope we also get a Shadow spinoff series.

You can catch Keanu Reeves as Shadow in Sonic The Hedgehog 3 when it speeds into theaters on December 20.

You can see more reactions in the gallery below.

1. Sounds accurate to us

2. A moment indeed

4. Yes, yes he does

6. Let’s goooooooo

27 Aug 2024

Country Artist Kassi Ashton Signed Her Record Deal a Near-Decade Ago — Here’s Why Her Debut Is Just Coming Out

Nearly a decade ago, as a college senior, rising country singer Kassi Ashton signed a record deal with Universal Music Group Nashville (UMGN)/Interscope Records. Now 30 — and following the success of her highest-charting single to date — the California, Mo. native will finally release her anticipated debut album, Made From the Dirt, on Sept. 20.

Foundation

Singer-songwriter Ashton is a study in contrasts: a motorcycle enthusiast who designs and crafts many of her stage and red-carpet outfits from scratch (including for this year’s Academy of Country Music Awards, where she was nominated for new female artist of the year). As a child, she competed in pageants mostly as a vessel for showcasing her music. Even then, her vocal prowess was apparent, thanks to influence from vocalists including Adele, Aretha Franklin and (later) the country-soul of Chris Stapleton. Ashton soon started writing original songs, enrolling at Nashville’s Belmont University to study commercial voice and music business.

Discovery

In 2016, as college graduation neared, Ashton signed a management and publishing deal with Nashville-based Creative Nation. By 2017, she scored a label deal with UMGN in partnership with Interscope. But the ensuing years were spent refining her sound and weathering setbacks, with none of her singles promoted at radio — and no debut album. “I never felt like I should quit,” she says. “When I signed, they wanted me to go straight to radio. I said no because I didn’t have a song I wanted to sing for the rest of my life.” Her first full-length was also delayed by the pandemic in 2020, but in 2022, she finally issued her debut country radio single, “Dates in Pickup Trucks,” followed by “Drive You Out of My Mind.” The two songs built momentum, but this year’s “Called Crazy” has resonated most, rising to No. 32 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart. “It came so easy,” she says. “I felt like I was finding a pillar.”

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Future

Nearly a decade after inking her label deal, Ashton will release her long-awaited debut album, Made From the Dirt, on Sept. 20. She teamed with longtime collaborator Luke Laird, as well as Oscar Charles, to craft an eclectic mix of uptempo jams (“I Don’t Wanna Dance”), grungy rock gems (“Son of a Gun”) and a heartfelt tribute to her late grandmother (“Juanita”). “I couldn’t have made this album at 23,” Ashton says. “It would have been rushed and not steady with who I am as a person. I can’t wait to see how what I’ve put energy, time and tears into is connecting.”

A version of this story appears in the Aug. 24, 2024, issue of Billboard.

27 Aug 2024

Shawn Mendes, Anitta & More Set to Perform at 2024 MTV VMAs

Shawn Mendes, Anitta, Karol G and LL Cool J are joining the roster of stars slated to perform at the 2024 MTV VMAs live on Wednesday, Sept. 11, at 8 p.m. ET/PT from New York’s UBS Arena.

Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, Camila Cabello, GloRilla and Rauw Alejandro were the first artists slated to perform at the awards; they were announced on Aug. 12. Benson Boone, Halsey, Lenny Kravitz and LISA were added to the lineup on Aug. 21. Megan Thee Stallion is set to host the show. Katy Perry will receive the Video Vanguard Award and also perform on the show.

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Latin music will be heavily represented on the show, with three performers from the genre (Anitta, Karol G and Alejandro) and a fourth (Cabello) with Latin roots.

Cabello and Mendes performed “Señorita” on the VMAs in 2019 when they were pop’s most photogenic couple, dating until 2021 and briefly reuniting in 2023. This year, they are set to perform separately.

Ahead of the release of his fifth studio album, Shawn, on Oct. 18, Mendes will make a return to the MTV stage for the first televised performance from the album. Mendes has a streak to protect: His first four studio albums all reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200.

Mendes performed on the VMAs three years running: “There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back” (2017), “In My Blood” (2018) and “If I Can’t Have You” and “Señorita” (2019). Most recently, he performed “Summer of Love,” his collab with Tainy, in 2021. Mendes is a two-time VMA winner.

Anitta is set to bring her signature Brazilian funk to the MTV stage for a third consecutive year with a medley of “Savage Funk” and “Alegria” plus the world premiere of “Paradise” with guest appearances by Fat Joe, DJ Khaled and Tiago PZK. Last year, she graced the stage twice: first with a medley of her Funk Generation hits “Used to Be,” “Funk Rave” and “Grip,” followed by a genre-bending K-pop/Latin crossover performance with TOMORROW X TOGETHER on “Back for More.” In 2022, she performed a medley that included “Envolver,” “Bola Rebola” and “Vai Malandra.” The first Brazilian artist to win at the VMAs in 2022 – best Latin for “Envolver” – Anitta is vying for her third consecutive best Latin win this year.

Karol G is also set to make a return to the MTV stage. Last year, the Colombian star won her first Moon Person – best collaboration alongside Shakira – and made her VMAs debut with a sultry rendition of “Oki Doki” / “Tá Ok.” This year, she’s poised to take home her second Moon Person and her first win in the best Latin category. Karol G’s Mañana Será Bonito World Tour became the highest-grossing Latin tour by a woman in Billboard Boxscore history. Her album Mañana Será Bonito made her the first woman, and only the second artist ever, to top the Billboard 200 with an all-Spanish-language album. Her many awards include a Grammy, five Latin Grammys and the title of 2024 Billboard Woman of the Year.

LL Cool J will return to the MTV stage to perform new music from his upcoming album The FORCE, due Sept. 6. Last year, LL was part of the show-closing all-star 50th-anniversary salute to hip-hop – during which he performed his hits “I’m Bad” and “Mama Said Knock You Out.” It was his first VMAs performance in more than 25 years. LL, the 1997 Video Vanguard recipient, performed “Mama Said Knock You Out” on the 1991 show. He also took home his first Moon Person – best rap – for that same hit.

This year will mark the first time the show has been held on 9/11 since the terrorist attack in 2001 made that date infamous. In observance of the 23rd anniversary of 9/11, MTV will again support the nonprofit 9/11 Day, which organizes the September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance, and Tuesday’s Children, which serves the families of 9/11.

The 2024 show will be held just three days shy of the 40th anniversary of the inaugural VMAs at Radio City Music Hall, where Madonna stole the show.

Taylor Swift leads the nominations for the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards, with 10 nods. Her “Fortnight” collaborator Post Malone is second, with nine nods – eight in tandem with Swift plus one for his hit “I Had Some Help,” featuring Morgan Wallen. They are followed by Ariana Grande, Eminem and Carpenter (six nods each); Megan Thee Stallion and SZA (five each), and LISA, Olivia Rodrigo and Teddy Swims (four each).

Other artists with multiple nominations are Anitta, Benson Boone, Bleachers, GloRilla, Dua Lipa and Tyla, with three each; and Bad Bunny, Billie Eilish, Roan, Charli XCX, Coldplay, Drake, Jelly Roll, Jessie Murph, Jung Kook, Latto, Alejandro, Sexyy Red, Tate McRae, Usher and Victoria Monét, with two each.

Fans can vote for their favorites across 15 gender-neutral categories by visiting vote.mtv.com through Friday, Aug. 30. Voting for best new artist will remain active into the show on Wednesday, Sept. 11. Nominations in social categories will be announced at a later date.

Bruce Gillmer and Den of Thieves co-founder Jesse Ignjatovic are executive producers for the 2024 VMAs. Barb Bialkowski is co-executive producer. Alicia Portugal and Jackie Barba serve as executives in charge of production. Wendy Plaut is executive in charge of celebrity talent. Lisa Lauricella is music talent executive.

27 Aug 2024

Former Warner Music Chief Edgar Bronfman Jr. Drops $6 Billion Bid for Paramount

The merger between entertainment giant Paramount and media company Skydance is set to go ahead after Edgar Bronfman Jr. withdrew a competing offer.

Bronfman, executive chairman of streaming service Fubo, told Paramount’s special committee of directors Monday night that he would not proceed with his bid.

“While there may have been differences, we believe that everyone involved in the sale process is united in the belief that Paramount’s best days are ahead,” he said.

Bronfman, the former chairman and CEO of Warner Music, had intitially offered $4.3 billion for Shari Redstone’s National Amusements, the controlling shareholder of Paramount, according to multiple media reports. He then upped that bid to $6 billion.

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Paramount agreed last month to a merger deal with Skydance that will inject desperately needed cash into a legacy studio that has struggled to adapt to a shifting entertainment landscape.

Since then, during what’s known as a “go shop” period, a special committee of Paramount’s board had reached out to more than 50 third parties to determine whether they were interested in making offers. The go shop period was extended for Bronfman, but has now closed.

Shari Redstone’s National Amusements has owned more than three-quarters of Paramount’s Class A voting shares through the estate of her late father, Sumner Redstone. She had battled to maintain control of the company that owns CBS, which is behind blockbuster films such as “Top Gun” and “The Godfather.”

The deal signals the rise of a new power player, Skydance founder David Ellison, the son of billionaire Larry Ellison, who founded the software company Oracle.

Skydance, based in Santa Monica, California, has helped produce some major Paramount hits in recent years, including Tom Cruise films like “Top Gun: Maverick” and installments of the “Mission Impossible” series.

The proposed combined company of Paramount and Skydance is valued at around $28 billion. The deal is expected to close in September 2025, pending regulatory approval.

Paramount, founded in 1914 as a distributor, is one of Hollywood’s oldest studios and has had a hand in releasing numerous films — from “Sunset Boulevard” and “The Godfather,” to “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and “Titanic.”