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16 Aug 2024

Sphere Entertainment Shares Soar on Positive Quarterly Results, Besting All Music Stocks

Sphere Entertainment Co. shares spiked 22.3% this week after the company’s fiscal fourth-quarter earnings on Wednesday (Aug. 14) showed that the Las Vegas venue brought in $151 million in the quarter and $489 million in its first three full quarters of operation. Total revenue of $273 million — a figure that includes MSG Networks — was in line with analyst estimates while earnings per share beat estimates. 

During Wednesday’s earnings call, CEO James Dolan said the company is learning how to get the most out of the $2.3 billion venue with not just concerts but corporate and sporting events and Sphere’s current cash cow, motion pictures. “Our plan for Sphere is to create widespread demand for our offerings and drive utilization far in excess of traditional venues,” Dolan said. 

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After hosting residencies by U2, Phish and Dead & Company, Sphere will begin a string of concerts by the Eagles from September to November and will host its first EDM events in December with Italian producer Anyma. Dolan didn’t provide specifics about additional residencies but said to expect an artist in “the country category” in 2025. 

LiveOne’s shares rose 16.3% this week after the Los Angeles-based music streamer announced its fiscal first-quarter earnings on Tuesday (Aug. 13). A 29% increase in paid members, to 653,000, helped revenue improve 19% to $33.1 million from $27.8 million in the year-ago period. Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization jumped 31% to $2.9 million. 

The 20-company Billboard Global Music Index (BGMI) fell 0.7% to 1,780.54 despite most of the stocks gaining and the market enjoying one of its best weeks of 2024 thanks to a host of positive news. Driven by stronger-than-expected retail sales data on Thursday (Aug. 15) and encouraging inflation news earlier in the week, the tech-heavy Nasdaq rose 5.3% to 17,631.72 and the S&P 500 finished its best week of the year, gaining 3.9% to 5,524.25. 

The BGMI’s largest companies fell in the middle of the pack. Live Nation shares were up 3.2% to $95.18 and Universal Music Group rose 0.9% to 22.35 euros ($24.66). Among the losers were Warner Music Group, down 0.4% to $28.22, and Spotify, down 0.7% to $337.38.

Stock gains were seen globally. In the United Kingdom, the FTSE 100 rose 1.8% to 8,311.41. South Korea’s KOSPI composite index jumped 4.2% to 2,697.20. China’s Shanghai Composite Index edged up 0.6% to 2,879.43.  

Tencent Music Entertainment (TME) dropped 18.8% this week following its second-quarter earnings release on Tuesday (Aug. 13). TME revenues were 1.7% lower as gains in music were overshadowed by losses in social entertainment. Despite the sharp decline, TME shares are still up 16.9% year-to-date.

TME’s latest quarterly results weren’t unlike those that preceded it, with strong music subscription growth at music apps QQ Music, Kugou Music and Kuwo Music helping offset a decline at its karaoke business. While music average revenue per user grew 10% and TME finished the quarter with 117 million music subscribers, the company’s weak guidance on future subscriber growth likely caused its share price to fall. 

JYP Entertainment’s 11.3% decline following its second-quarter earnings results marked the second-worst performance for BGMI stocks. The K-pop company’s revenue dropped 37% due to an 82% decline in album sales. Other K-pop companies experienced lighter declines: HYBE fell 3.4%, SM Entertainment slipped 3.8% and YG Entertainment dropped 1.3%. Those losses deepened the K-pop companies’ already significant losses in 2024. Year to date, the four South Korean companies have lost an average of 34.8% while the KOSPI composite index has gained 1.6%.

16 Aug 2024

Bruno Mars Opens LA’s Intuit Dome With Lady Gaga Surprise & Star-Filled Crowd

On Thursday night, Bruno Mars was the first performer at the Intuit Dome arena in Inglewood, California — LA’s newest venue and the home of the Clippers.

The elusive musician is playing two nights, and the first was one for the books. He slid through all the hits and invited a very special guest onstage in front of all the fans and celebrities in attendance.

Below, we’re breaking down our favorite moments from the night. 

Mars and Lady Gaga had been teasing their brand-new collaboration “Die with a Smile” all day, so of course it was the perfect time to live-debut the country collab. He surprised the crowd with the icon toward the end of the show and started by thanking her for having him on the song. Their voices blended perfectly, and the song sounded so good it felt like we were already listening to a classic. 

Gaga wasn’t the only musician there: Intuit Dome was packed with celebrities. We talked to Meghan Trainor on the red carpet, who said her family’s favorite Bruno track is “24K Magic”. Inside the club suites, we ran into Halle Bailey and DDG and their adorable baby. The coolest celeb moment of the night was catching Jennifer Lopez with her hands up and whipping her hair to Mars’ “Marry You”. You better live, J.Lo! 

Mars is a once-in-a-lifetime performer, and his skills were on full display during the show. He effortlessly executed high-energy choreography along with his band on songs like “Finesse.” You wouldn’t even notice because he’d then slip into a smooth ballad like “Versace on the Floor” and not sound even a bit winded. His belt was so loud you could feel his emotion all the way up to the top of the Dome. The mic was definitely on.

The Intuit Dome itself was a star. The paper and cashless venue was a marvel in technology. Each floor had bars and shops that operated so smoothly there were rarely lines. The club level had lounges for guests to mingle and eat before the show. The best part? Each seat had a charging port, so no more dead phones at concerts.

Mars’ fans were a vibe. They quickly ate up the exclusive merchandise for the commemorative evening. Blink and you would think you’re at Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour, because so many fans were dressed as Mr. Mars. The most popular look was his 24K Magic album cover.

Mars is set for one more night at Intuit Dome on Friday night (Aug. 16), followed by comedian Sebastian Maniscalco on Saturday night, Latin star Marco Antonio Solis on Sunday night, and two nights of Olivia Rodrigo’s GUTS Tour on Tuesday and Wednesday.

16 Aug 2024

Young Thug YSL Trial: Republican Competitor to D.A. Fani Willis Vows to End Case If Elected

Courtney Kramer, the Republican challenger to Fani Willis in the race for Fulton County District Attorney in Georgia, is vowing to end the long-running YSL RICO trial involving Young Thug if she’s elected, according to a statement issued by her campaign on Friday (Aug. 16).

“With no apparent justice in sight, I have become highly concerned and disappointed in the lack of prosecutorial oversight in this case,” Kramer said in the statement. “As time goes on, the public has witnessed a trial that is undoubtedly over prosecuted by attorneys who have repeatedly been admonished for lack of trial prepartion: a complete and utter waste of the court’s time.”

Kramer goes on to blast prosecutors in the case, noting that they were recently “condemned” by new judge Paige Reese Whitaker “for not following the ethical and legal duty to disclose exculpatory evidence that could prove fruitful for the defense, one of the most basic requirements in the courtroom.” She further contends that the case “was brought to bring fame” to Willis, “not to bring justice to the community,” and that it’s resulted in “endless amounts of taxpayer dollars” being spent “on a prosecution that is based almost entirely on witnesses with little to no credibility.”

“If I am elected as the next District Attorney of Fulton County, I promise to end this prosecution immediately,” said Kramer. “I challenge my opponent to do the same thing, the right thing, and end this prosection and release the accused in this case who are being held without bond.”

Representatives for Willis and Young Thug did not immediately respond to Billboard‘s requests for comment.

The YSL case was set into motion in May 2022 when Thug (real name Jeffery Williams) was indicted along with dozen of others over allegations that their YSL was not a record label called Young Stoner Life but a violent Atlanta street game called Young Slime Life. The group of defendants was charged under Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) law, with prosecutors claiming they operated a criminal enterprise that committed murders, carjackings, armed robberies, drug dealing and other crimes over the course of a decade.

Since his arrest, Thug remained in jail despite multiple calls for his release. On Aug. 8, Judge Whitaker denied requests by Thug’s attorneys to declare a mistrial over the explosive revelation of a secret “ex parte” meeting between the since-removed judge in the case, Ural Glanville, prosecutors and a key witness. Prior to that, she denied their renewed motion to release Thug on bond.

Notably, the trial, which began in January 2023 and resumed on Monday (Aug. 12), is now the longest in Georgia state history; with dozens of witnesses still set to testify, it’s estimated to run well into next year.

You can read Kramer’s full statement here.

16 Aug 2024

Inside Bruno Mars’ Opening Concert at the Intuit Dome | All Access | Billboard News

Bruno Mars is the first person to perform at the Intuit Dome, and he did so with a bang. Keep watching for a look into the night and some special sightings!

Tetris Kelly:

Bruno & Gaga premiere their song, JLo dances the night away and we hang with Meghan Trainor.

Meghan Trainor: 

I’m probably going to cry.

Tetris Kelly:

We’re taking you to the brand new Intuit Dome in Billboard All Access. Bruno Mars kicked off the opening of the new Clippers arena at the Intuit Dome. We were at the ribbon cutting before the doors opened for the first time and everybody was excited for the king. What’s your favorite Bruno Mars song?

Meghan Trainor:

Actually my son Riley, who’s three right now

Daryl Sabara:

I was photobombing you guys the whole entire time. 

Tetris Kelly:

We love you, come in. 

Meghan Trainor:

We play “24K,” that’s his favorite. He needs to watch the music video, too. 

He opened the show with that hit. Fans filled the new spot as we watched him dance, watched his vocals soar, and when he sang “Marry You,” JLo couldn’t help but be on her feet. But the moment of the night came when Bruno had Lady Gaga join him to sing their new song. “Die With A Smile.” A legend. Thank you Bruno & Intuit Dome for an epic evening. 

16 Aug 2024

Taylor Swift Performs ‘London Boy’ for the First Time on Eras Tour at Wembley Stadium

She may not love the “London Boy” anymore, but Taylor Swift made sure to fittingly perform the song at Wembley Stadium.

As part of her surprise songs section of the show on Friday (Aug. 16), the superstar told the London crowd that she loves “the English” before delving into the fan-favorite Lover track, presumed to be about her British ex-boyfriend, Joe Alwyn. To the Swifties’ excitement, she switched up a lyric in the final chorus to sing: “I enjoy playing Wembley.”

She followed up the track with two more surprise songs: Speak Now‘s “Dear John” and Red‘s “Sad Beautiful Tragic.” Fans on Twitter also speculated that the song choices might be a dig at Alwyn, pointing out the lyrics like “I’m shining like fireworks over your sad empty town” and “What a sad beautiful tragic love affair.”

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Alwyn and Swift broke up in April 2023 around the time the pop star launched her record-breaking The Eras Tour in North America. After a brief affair with The 1975’s Matty Healy, the “Fortnight” singer began dating Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce over the summer of that year, and the duo have been going strong ever since.

The New Heights host has been to more than a dozen Eras Tour concerts since he first came to one of her Kansas City shows last summer. Prior to Swift’s stops in Germany, he attended her concert in Amsterdam with Patrick and Brittany Mahomes, as well as made a surprise onstage cameo in London.

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The athlete made his Eras Tour stage debut at the start of “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart.” The Kansas City Chiefs tight end carried an exhausted Swift to the couch on set in the over-the-top final act of her Tortured Poets extravaganza.

16 Aug 2024

Alicia Keys’ ‘No One’ Becomes Her First Solo Diamond-Certified Record

Alicia Keys‘ 2007 hit “No One” becomes her first solo diamond-certified record by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), she announced on Friday (Aug. 16).

“A song that is there for us when we need it most. Singing this song, together, all over the world is magical each and every time. Thank you for loving ‘No One’ the way you do! Keep singing at the top of your lungs!!! We’re diamond status babbyyyyy!!!!!” she wrote on Instagram while sharing a snippet of the music video.

The news arrives one month after Keys earned her first-ever diamond-certified record with her and Jay-Z‘s “Empire State of Mind,” which the duo performed in their NYC hometown for the first time since 2016 at the 2024 Tony Awards. “Still going Diamond in 2024,” commented her husband Swizz Beatz. “Congrats this is the 2nd one in the past month let’s goooooooooo.”

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“No One” was the lead single from Keys’ third studio album As I Am, and it spent five weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 and reached No. 1 on three more charts: Pop Airplay (five weeks), Mainstream Top 40 Recurrents and Rhythmic Airplay. “No One” won best R&B song and best female R&B vocal performance at the 2008 Grammy Awards.

Keys was recently featured on Billboard‘s 25 Greatest Pop Stars of the 21st Century: Honorable Mentions list: “It’s hard to imagine the first half of the 2000s without her Songs in A Minor and The Diary of Alicia Keys and their respective show-stopping singles; subsequent albums squeezed out singalongs for the heavy-hearted for well into the next decade, as she upped her always-welcome presence in film and TV.”

16 Aug 2024

5 Liquid Eyeliners That’ll Quickly Complete ‘Clean Girl’ Makeup Looks

All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

Makeup trends come and go, but there are some beauty tools that will always be an essential — and that includes liquid eyeliners. The cat eye dates all the way back to ancient Egypt and can be seen on Cleopatra who outlined her eyes with the tiny flick. Since then, the makeup look has become a staple that is still seen across red carpets and makeup tutorials — meaning the trend isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

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Just like Taylor Swift says, a liquid eyeliner is a must if you plan on crafting a “cat eye sharp enough to kill a man.” Not only that, but the beauty product helps provide the finishing touches to all makeup looks whether you’re looking to do a bold blue eyeshadow look or something casual with all-day hold for the office.

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Besides helping to shape your eyes just how you want them, liquid eyeliner has quickly become a multipurpose tool. In addition to highlighting your eyes, you can also use the makeup tool as a freckle pen to give yourself a more sun kissed appearance.

Before you start practicing your next night out look, you’ll need to make sure you have the best liquid eyeliner that’s not only waterproof, but won’t easily smudge (which is especially important for beginners) and has all-day staying power. ShopBillboard also chatted with celebrity makeup artist Michael Anthony who has put together looks for Ariana Grande, Doja Cat, Katy Perry and even Tyla to for tips on how to use the product.

Keep reading to learn more.

What Are the Best Liquid Eyeliners?

Rather than do the research yourself, we scoured the reviews to find the most top-rated and bestselling liquid eyeliners you can shop below.

wet n wild liquid eyeliner

Target

editor’s pick

Wet n Wild Megalast Breakup-Proof Liquid Eyeliner

Consider this Wet n Wild liquid eyeliner the ultimate tool to have in your makeup arsenal. Not only is it under $10, but reviewers can’t stop raving over how “pigmented” the formula in addition to how easy it is to apply thanks to the thin brush. It’s also waterproof and can last up to 16 hours after application.

pink too faced liquid eyeliner

Target

smudge-proof pick

Too Faced Better Than Sex Easy Glide Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner

$26

$19

$22.99

17% off

$26

Anthony’s favorite liquid eyeliner is Too Face’s Better Than Sex as it features a handy brush tip that he says gives him a sharp line every time. He’s used the liquid eyeliner for live shows “and into the after party” without any smudging occurring. He also notes that using a good sealing agent or setting spray will help further prevent smudging, “but a really good waterproof liner is usually a stand alone type of product that you can rely on.”

brown tube of stila liquid eyeliner

Amazon

waterproof pick

Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner

$22.80

$24

5% off

$24

$24

Stila’s liquid eyeliner is another fave for its long wear formula and precision tip. Application is practically seamless as it glides onto your eyelid with no smudging. Reviewers are also a fan of the product with more than 1,000 Amazon shoppers purchasing it in the past month. And as for how waterproof it is, one Amazon reviewer claimed it “stays put even through crying eyes or humid weather.”

black rare beauty liquid eyeliner

Sephora

beginner pick

Rare Beauty Perfect Strokes Matte Liquid Liner

Selena Gomez has captured beauty lovers with her makeup brand and this liquid eyeliner has become an instant favorite. First time liquid eyeliner users will wan to pick up this formula as reviewers note the rounded handle gives you “more control” when you’re crafting your cat eye. Others also rave over the pigmentation saying it “lasts all night.” It’s also made with a vegan formula and bristles.

black tube of revlon liquid eyeliner

Amazon

everyday pick

Revlon ColorStay Liquid Liner

$8.29

$4.49

$9.29

52% off

$7.48

The last thing you want is for your eyeliner to disappear after a couple of hours, which is where Revlon’s ColorStay Liquid Liner comes in. The formula can last up to 16 hours and comes with a thin felt tip that can go from thin precise lines to bold and thick looks with just a change in hand pressure. Amazon shoppers are labeling it a “holy grail” of an eyeliner saying it’s easy to apply and really does “last all day long.”

How to Use Liquid Eyeliner, According to a Celebrity Makeup Artist

Anthony has found that the best way to apply liquid eyeliner is to sketch the shape you’re going for with a brow pencil first. This will provide you with a map that you can easily follow when you go in with the liquid eyeliner. Though if you want to really lengthen the makeup look, then he has a different technique to achieve professional-grade quality.

“If you’re looking to try a longer cat eye liner, try starting with the very end of the eye and stamp the liner against the tail end of the eye on its side instead of trying to draw a line,” he explains. “This will deposit the product and then you can drag it out with a brush or the tip of the pen.”

And, if you’re just starting out, don’t expect perfection right away.

“Something to remember is you’re going to want ‘play time’ meaning a bit of time before the liner sets so that you can adjust the shape and length,” he says.

You’ll also want to look out for liquid eyeliners with an easy applicator like a felt tip of brush end as that will help with precision.

“I think the flow of product is also important,” he notes. “If you’ve ever used a liner pen that gushes ink you’re probable familiar with how tricky that can be, so look for a liner that has controlled product delivery. I avoid liner pens that you need to click to get product out as they tend to get leaky and messy.”

For more product recommendations, check out ShopBillboard‘s roundups of the best setting spray, at-home manicure sets and online makeup courses.

16 Aug 2024

evian Partners With Pharrell Williams’ Humanrace For Tennis Collection

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evian x Humanrace Tennis Collection

Source: Laura Jane Coulson / Laura Jane Coulson

Pharrell Williams continues to create with purpose. His Humanrace brand has partnered with evian for a tennis collection.

evian x Humanrace Tennis Collection

Source: Hadda / Hadda

As reported by Blavity, the Virginia Beach native has yet another co-branded effort to add to this resume. This week, his Humanrace brand announced a limited-edition drop inspired by tennis with evian, the official water of the US Open. Their intention was to celebrate the sport while injecting the spirit of New York City, where the tournament has been hosted since 1987. Included in the drop is a quarter zip sweater, shorts, t-shirt, caps, and an expandable carry-all bag. All the pieces are made from 100% natural fibers and are manufactured in the United States.

Pharrell explained his vision for the initiative in a formal statement. “Every piece in this line reflects my belief that being well is a lifestyle,” he said. “Water’s the essence of life, right? We can’t live without it. So it’s only natural for Humanrace and evian to come together for this collaboration. It’s all about celebrating what keeps us connected, mindful, and moving.”

The water brand also detailed why this co-branded effort made was a no brainer. “The collaboration between evian, Pharrell and Humanrace encapsulates the spirit of our ‘Live Young’ ethos,” said Leeni Hämäläinen, marketing director for evian in North America. “Whether sporting the sleek tenniscore collection around town, celebrating with the local community at the US Open or sipping on our natural spring water from the French Alps, we want to inspire people to embrace joy and wellbeing – both physically and emotionally.”

The evian x Humanrace capsule collection will available starting Aug. 24 on Humanrace.com.

evian x Humanrace Tennis Collection

Source: Laura Jane Coulson / Laura Jane Coulson

16 Aug 2024

YG Returns With ‘Just Re’d Up 3’ Album Featuring Saweetie, Ty Dolla $ign & More

YG is spinning the block a third time as he returns with his anticipated Just Re’d Up 3 album on Friday (Aug. 16) before summer expires.

The Compton rapper delivers his first solo effort since 2022’s I Got Issues. Just Re’d Up 3 boasts a double-disc of 19 tracks featuring a few friends like Ty Dolla $ign, Saweetie, Lil Yachty, Mozzy, Larry June, Babyface Ray and frequent collaborator Mustard.

The first Just Re’d Up arrive to much acclaim in 2011 with the sequel following two years later. Now, over a decade since the second installment, YG heads back to the well for Just Re’d Up 3.

YG has had a busy summer which kicked off with him joining Kendrick Lamar and other West Coast dignitaries on stage for his “Not Like Us” Juneteenth Pop Out concert in Los Angeles at the Kia Forum in June.

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He’s been on the road for the Just Re’d Up Tour, which concludes this weekend with a final show on Saturday (Aug. 17) in Hawaii. YG will head back out in November with a handful of dates in Boston, New York City, Houston, Denver and more.

This tour marks YG’s first headlining trek since 2019’s Stay Dangerous Tour, which he launched in support of his 2018 LP of the same name. 

The 34-year-old’s most recent solo album, I Got Issues, reached No. 18 on the Billboard 200. He also teamed up with Tyga for their Hit Me When U Leave the Klub: The Playlist joint effort in 2023.

Listen to the album below.

16 Aug 2024

Trump Campaign Leaks Unpublished, Journalist Questions Why

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Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump Holds News Conference In Bedminster, New Jersey

Source: Adam Gray / Getty

A former writer for Politico has publicly wondered why their outlet and many others haven’t published leaked info from Donald Trump’s campaign.

According to reports, at least three major news outlets – the New York Times, the Washington Post, and Politico – all received leaked internal documents from Donald Trump’s presidential campaign earlier in the week. None of them have published information from them, which has former Politico senior writer Marc A. Caputo perplexed enough to question why. “It may be that the Times, the Post, and Politico are all working to ensure that no erroneous material was deliberately inserted,” he wrote in his Bulwark newsletter. “But that is not the explanation they have offered so far for why they are holding off.”

Caputo would write that the information contained in the 271 pages of leaked documents includes vetting information gathered for Ohio Senator JD Vance, which the Trump campaign team apparently used to determine whether to pick him to be the former president’s running mate. Caputo writes that it’s “baffling” that the outlets wouldn’t publish that information, as “what a campaign thought about its own vice presidential candidate is inherently newsworthy.”

Caputo would then cite the internal emails from Hilary Clinton’s presidential campaign spokesman John Podesta being hacked by someone named “Guccifer” in 2016, who then sent them to Wikileaks. That led to heavy coverage of the information in those emails, with the New York Times doing most of it in the lead-up to the 2016 presidential election. Caputo also spoke about the stories concerning Hunter Biden and the laptop he left behind in a computer-repair shop being part of the news landscape before the 2020 election. He noted the extreme caution by editors then, saying, “that episode showed that journalists had overlearned their lessons from four years prior.

“Maybe, in the wake of 2016, these outlets formulated a more stringent policy concerning the use of hacked materials,” Caputo writes. “But whatever the case, they ought to be transparent about their thinking. If the New York Times, Politico, and the Washington Post have decided that some considerations prevent them from publishing this authenticated and newsworthy information, then the least they could do is explain to the public what those considerations are.” He stressed that bringing the information in the leaks is important so people don’t feel there’s partisanship being practiced. “It’s important to start adopting clearer standards—because it’s easy to see this occurring over and over,” he concludes.