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29 Jul 2024

Justin Timberlake’s Lawyer Says He Was “Not Intoxicated” During DUI Arrest

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Justin Timberlake Booking Photo

Source: Handout / Getty

Justin Timberlake is trying to save his name anyway he can. His lawyer claims he wasn’t intoxicated during his recent DUI arrest.

As reported by Digital Music News, the musician is set to virtually appear at a hearing next week regarding his driving under the influence charges. But his attorney’s hope is that the case can be dismissed entirely. His attorney Edward D. Burke Jr. claims the the case is “procedurally defective” and says the “young, part-time” badge who booked the singer did not follow proper procedure.

After concluding a hearing on Friday, July 26, he detailed his stance further to reporters outside of the court. “The most important thing we have to say today is obviously that Justin should not have been arrested for driving while intoxicated,” he explained. “The police made a number of very significant errors in this case, and you heard the District Attorney try to fix one of those errors just this morning upstairs in court.” He went on to add that Justin Timberlake “cooperated with the police offers from the second he was ordered out of his car to the second he was discharged on June 18. But the facts remain: he was not intoxicated. I’ll say it again: Justin Timberlake was not intoxicated and we’re confident that charge — that criminal charge — will be dismissed.”

According to Sag Harbor Village Police Department, Justin Timberlake told the arresting officer “I had one martini, and I followed my friends home.” He then was asked to perform a field sobriety test to which he did “poorly.” The report states he appeared to be “in an intoxicated condition” and emitted “a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage.”

You can see his lawyer discuss the trial proceedings below.

29 Jul 2024

Watch Kevin Hart Quote ‘Not Like Us’ for Freestyle With Kai Cenat for AMP’s 2024 Freshman Cypher

Kevin Hart revived his Chocolate Droppa rap alter ego to make a surprise appearance as part of Kai Cenat’s AMP 2024 Freshman Cypher, which arrived Sunday (July 28). Hart grabbed the mic following Kai’s freestyle and channeled his inner-Kendrick Lamar by quoting a bar from Drake diss track “Not Like Us.”

“Sometimes you gotta pop out and show n—-s. I guess this is my pop-out,” he began. “Let’s get it!”

Move over Drake, Kendrick and J. Cole, because Chocolate Droppa has had enough of the “big 3” talk in the rap game. “All this talk about the Big 3, f–k that, them not me/ Goddamn, I’m mad/ Oh s–t, you sad/ Well, it’s time to get glad, ’cause I’m back and I’m really mad,” Hart raps.

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The comedian shows off his bilingual ability and is flanked by Cenat along with streamers JustFanum, Duke Dennis, Agent 00, ImDavisss and chrisnxtdoor while rapping on a rooftop.

Hart took the mic with him when finishing off his fiery verse and walking away for dramatic effect. “You don’t get the mic back after what I did to it. This mic gotta be burned,” he concludes. “B—h, I’ll do another freestyle right now!”

Per usual, Hart is staying busy as a multi-faceted entertainer. He’s co-hosting an Olympic Highlights show with Keenan Thompson, which is dropping multiple episodes per week recapping the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris on Peacock.

The 45-year-old also has a new movie on the way, with Borderlands set to hit theaters on Aug. 9. The film inspired by the video game of the same name pairs Hart with costars Jamie Lee Curtis, Haley Bennett, Jack Black, Cate Blanchett and Ariana Greenblatt.

As if that weren’t enough, once Borderlands is rolled out and the Olympics wrap up, Hart will get back on the road in August for his Acting My Age Tour, which will stop by Seattle, Kansas City, Portland and more.

Watch Kevin Hart’s freestyle below:

29 Jul 2024

Puma Taps Salehe Bembury To Run Their Basketball Division

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Givenchy : Photocall - Paris Fashion Week - Menswear Fall-Winter 2023-2024

Source: Marc Piasecki / Getty

Weeks after Crocs revealed their latest Salehe Bembury collaboration, it’s being reported that Bembury will continue to design even more footwear attire, but for an entirely different brand.

According to GQ, Salehe Bembury has just been tapped to take his talents to Puma, where he’ll be tasked with breathing some new and stylish life into their basketball sneakers division as they’ve been struggling to get heads to take notice of their sports line for quite some time. Interestingly enough, the man won’t just be designing their next silhouettes. Apparently, he’ll also be recruiting professional talent to join the brand as he works on what they’ll be rocking on the basketball court.

Per GQ:

“Salehe has had unrivaled success of bringing to life the intersection of sport, culture and fashion through product design and storytelling,” said Max Staiger, global head of basketball for Puma. Together, the new partnership “will bring game-changing newness and excitement to basketball athletes.”

“My designs are a platform for storytelling and cultivating community; an opportunity to breathe new meaning into a product,” Bembury said in a statement. “While my work has been known to cater to the outdoor space, a space I recently developed an intimate relationship with, my partnership with Puma Hoops will allow me to tell a more deeply rooted personal story.” Bembury has spoken of his deep-rooted love of basketball that he cultivated growing up in New York City in the 1990s. “I’ve played basketball my whole life and have a deep history, emotion, and nostalgia for the sport,” he said. “I’m excited to leverage this collaboration as a catalyst to introduce an untold side of me and engage a new community.”

Man it looks like Bembury has his work cut out for him as athletes tend to gravitate towards the brands that have a Swoosh or three stripes on the side of their sneakers. Still, if you offer them a big enough bag with a dope silhouette you might be able to sway some big names to a lesser popular brand like Puma or even Under Armour.

Guess we’ll have to wait and see how this pans out and who’ll they’ll be able to sign to rock Salehe’s next creation on the court.

What do y’all think of Puma’s initiative here? Let us know in the comments section below.

29 Jul 2024

R&B/Hip-Hop Fresh Picks of the Week: TA Thomas, Skilla Baby & Bossman Dlow, RINI & More

If the air smells a bit different, that’s because Olympics season is in full effect. Every four years we rally around the best and most impressive athletes from our respective nations and cheer them on as they seek to dominate the literal world stage at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics. From Simone Biles and Katie Ledecky to LeBron James and Noah Lyles, Team USA is stacked — so it’s only right that they got Queen Bey to introduce them.

Reworking “Ya Ya” — a standout Cowboy Carter track that Billboard ranked as the album’s best song — Beyoncé introduced the premier athletes of our “big, bold, beautiful, [and] complicated” nation. Queen Bey’s surprise appearance helped kick off an Olympics that has already featured its fair share of hip-hop and R&B moments — including Flavor Flav‘s support for the U.S. women’s water polo team, Ye (Formerly Kanye West) and Jay-Z‘s “N—as in Paris” becoming an unofficial theme song, Snoop Dogg‘s affirmations with gymnast Suni Lee and gymnast Jordan Chiles’ Beyoncé-inspired floor performance routine.

Outside of the intersection of music and sports, the worlds of R&B and hip-hop remained as bustling as ever over the weekend. From Ice Spice to Rakim, superstar rookies and undisputed legends came through with new albums, and hip-hop stars (Swae Lee and Lil Pump among them) continued to give their opinions on the upcoming presidential election.

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With Fresh Picks, Billboard aims to highlight some of the best and most interesting new sounds across R&B and hip-hop — from TA Thoma’s sultry new ballad to Skilla Baby and Bossman Dlow’s latest link-up. Be sure to check out this week’s Fresh Picks in our Spotify playlist below.

Freshest Find: TA Thomas, “Angry”

Hailing from the Mississippi Delta, TA Thomas has been making impressive strides all year. The R&B singer-songwriter had a pair of knockout features with MaKenzie (“Maybe”) and The Amours (“Pick Me Up”) — both of which made the Fresh Picks column in previous weeks — and he’s been no slouch with his solo offerings. His latest single, the Ray Keys-helmed “Angry,” is an unapologetic ode to the lustful underbelly of purposely picking fights with the intention of turning that combative energy into a sexual release. Even outside of those carnal subtleties, “Angry” showcases the beauty of experiencing the full emotional spectrum with the person you love the most. “I’m just tryna push you the limit/ See how far it goes/ Tell me that you had enough/ But your clothes on the floor/ There you go choosing violence/ Girl, putting you hands on me,” he croons with a soulful, slightly tongue-in-cheek tone.

Skilla Baby & Bossman Dlow, “Booby Trap on the River”

An ode to the famed 24/7 nude Miami strip club, Skilla Baby and Bossman Dlow toast to the 305’s Booby Trap on the River. “I’m in the yams at Booby Trap havin’ a ball,” Skilla boasts over the ominous piano-looped production. Dlow takes the baton and incorporates the Detroit native’s signature “Ha” ad-lib into his verse while Skilla returns the favor and pulls from Dlow’s “Get In With Me” anthem. “These Chanel shoes, these ain’t no Huaraches,” he raps. Bossman Dlow’s rookie of the year case just keeps getting stronger. 

Dajah Dorn, “Love U 4 Free”

Across a subdued, dembow-inspired beat, rising R&B star Dajah Dorn reiterates her priceless commitment to her lover. Needlz’s gentle production allows for the different textures of Daja’s voice to shine through. At times, she opts for a starry-eyed lovestruck tone, but by the time she reaches the hook, she injects a bit of huskiness into her voice to underscore how serious her commitment to the act of loving is. “I just need you to recognize/ No matter the moment/ I will always put you first/ Even love you at your worst,” she coos in the pre-chorus.

Denise Julia & Thuy, “Twin Flames”

A Filipina-Viet link-up leads to a baddie anthem. Denise Julia and Thuy mesh their silky vocals to serenade each other and celebrate sisterhood with the compassionate “Twin Flames.” The duo open their hearts and prove that besties can come in all different shapes and sizes with the succulent R&B bop. “But I’m all about it, ain’t no need to prove it/ ‘Cause I think I just found the one,” Julia sings in dazzling fashion. Following Denise’s robust debut project last year, the anticipation for the 22-year-old’s official debut LP just got turned up a few notches. 

RINI, “Matter to You”

There’s very little that can go wrong with a healthy dose of falsetto and a rousing guitar solo. With his latest single, Melbourne-raised R&B singer RINI absolutely nails that combo. “But I’ll admit it/ Lately I’ve been losing sight of our love/ All the little things that matter to you most,” he sings regretfully, laying bare that, despite the love that he has for his partner, he hasn’t shown up in the relationship the way that he knows he should. “Matter to You” is a very well-paced song, one that grows more intense with each passing second and eventually finds catharsis in that tear-streaked closing guitar solo, which finally moves away from the vocal restraint he displays on most of the track.

Ian & Lil Yachty, “Hate Me”

It was only a matter of time before Ian and Lil Yachty teamed up after hitting the stage together last month at Chicago’s Summer Smash festival. The 19-year-old puts his haters on blast while rapping with spatial awareness, but Ian may have unknowingly delivered a bar that every 9-5 worker can relate to: “I’m just praying I made it to Friday.” Boat promises his net worth is beating out any rapper in his generation and he’s putting his mom’s life on it. “Know I’m richer than your favorite rapper If I’m not, then, God, kill my momma, huh,” he declares. Ian continues to prove he’s not a fad, and has no plans of fading — as his “Magic Johnson” also continues to grow in popularity.

Ashoka, “PGA”

Rockland County, New York native Ashoka returns with his first release since his Dreamers Valley debut album last year. PGA might look familiar to golf enthusiasts, but this one is for the ladies with the “Pretty Girl Anthem.” Ashoka dubbed the swooning pluggnb track as a “modern-day love song” while doubling as the ultimate hype man for his girl. “You the prettiest in your friends, you the prettiest in this club, you the prettiest in this gym, you the prettiest in this party, you the prettiest on the Gram,” he croons.

29 Jul 2024

Jeon Somi Talks Preparing to Host KCON LA, Reveals the Music She’s Listening to & More | KCON LA 2024

Jeon Somi chatted with Billboard’s Tetris Kelly on the red carpet at 2024 KCON LA.

Tetris Kelly:
Tell me: What’s your KCON experience been like so far?

Jeon Somi:
So far, I was just at rehearsal because I’m hosting today. I went through all the scripts and I went through all the stages, and it was actually pretty good. It was amazing. It was nice.

Tetris Kelly:
I was about to say, does it feel easier now that you’re here?

Jeon Somi:
Yeah, it does. It does because I was here eight years ago, and then it’s my first time ever since. So I thought things might be a little bit different.

Tetris Kelly:
But you aced it!

Jeon Somi:
But it’s the same or even better. I feel comfortable, confident — it’s nice.

Tetris Kelly:
Perfect. And what’s been some of your music obsessions lately?

Jeon Somi:
Music obsessions … emo rock.

Tetris Kelly:
Emo rock?

Jeon Somi:
Emo rock, indie rock, I’m really into.

Tetris Kelly:
OK! Name a artists. Who should I be listening to?

Jeon Somi:
You should listen to a song called “ican’tbelieveiletyougetaway.”

Tetris Kelly:
OK.

Jeon Somi:
My go-to these days.

Tetris Kelly:
I’m gonna check it out.

Jeon Somi:
Yeah, but it has no space bars. No space bars. “ican’tbelieveiletyougetaway.”

Tetris Kelly:
All one word.

Jeon Somi:
Yup!

Tetris Kelly:
OK. Thank you so much, have fun!

Jeon Somi:
Thank you, thank you! Have fun!

Watch the full video above!

29 Jul 2024

As Nashville’s United Record Pressing Celebrates 75 Years, a Look Back at 15 Essential Vinyl Pressings

According to 2023 Year-End data from the Recording Industry Association of America, revenues from vinyl records grew 10% to $1.4 billion, and accounted for 71% of physical format revenues last year. 2023 also marked vinyl’s 17th consecutive year of growth.

As vinyl’s vital place in music’s ecosystem continues, Nashville-based United Record Pressing also celebrates 75 years of pressing vinyl for artists including Taylor Swift, Michael Jackson, Dolly Parton, Adele and Stevie Wonder and numerous other artists.

“The sustained growth of the vinyl record market has been going for nearly 20 years at this point in the U.S., but particularly cool is how the medium has evolved into the people’s art object, and a creative opportunity for artists to tailor their records to reinforce aesthetics, inspiration, ideas or cultural touchpoints for more curious fans,” Cam Sarrett, United Record Pressing’s head of sales and marketing, tells Billboard in a statement. “Plus, it impactfully benefits artists big and small at the merch table on tour and bolsters community at independent record stores, a vital culture all its own.”

URP has been a central contributor to vinyl sales since 1949, when the company was formed by John Dunn, Joe Talbot and Ozell Simpkins. The pressing plant was an offshoot of Bullet Records, one of Nashville’s first indie record labels. In 1949, the same year that RCA created the first 45 and seven-inch records became popular in jukeboxes across America, Bullet Records earned a massive hit with Francis Craig’s song “Near You,” which spent 17 weeks atop Billboard’s pop charts. They opened Southern Plastics (which would later become United Record Pressing) to keep up with the demand for the song. By 1962, the company had moved operations to Nashville’s Chestnut Street. The company’s founder Ozell Simpkins also designed the building and URP’s machines.

United Record Pressing:

John Dunn and Ozell Simpkins

Courtesy of United Record Pressing

By the 1960s, Southern Plastics had established a deal to handle singles record pressings for Motown Records. Given that there were few accommodations available to Black artists, producers and executives in the South during that time, the company also created what would become known as the “Motown Suite,” a space to host Black artists, producers and executives when they visited Nashville. Today, that space has been preserved and is used to host special events, such as album release parties.

In the 1970s, Southern Plastics was renamed United Record Pressing. As in-house labels began shuttering their in-house pressing operations, soon URP became the foremost independent record pressing plant in the Southeast. Two decades later, URP acquired Dixie Record Pressing, which allowed the plant to begin pressing 10-and 12-inch records in addition to their 7-inch records. As vinyl began to reemerge and surge in popularity, especially in the mid-2000s, URP began pressing new versions of albums from Johnny Cash, Jimmy Hendrix and Bob Dylan as well as new vinyls from contemporary artists including Adele, Swift, Harry Styles and Kendrick Lamar.

In 2017, URP consolidated operations into a new, larger facility on Allied Drive in Nashville, in order to keep up with demand for the company’s vinyl pressing services. In 2021-2022, the company added nearly 50 presses and added approximately 15,000 square feet to its facilities.

United Record Pressing:

United Record Pressing

Tennessean/USA Today

Today, URP’s more than 120 staff members oversee 64 on-site pressing machines, with the capacity to press over 80,000 records per day.

Beth Proctor, United Record Pressing’s longest-standing employee, has been with the company for approximately four decades.

“I came to United in the ‘80s, and quickly learned there rarely is a dull moment pressing vinyl records. I fell in love with the owners, employees and the family environment,” Proctor told Billboard via a statement. “Then, [with] our customers, a lot of whom have become great friends over the years.”

Here, as URP celebrates 75 years of providing vinyl for consumers, we look at 15 distinct recordings that the company has pressed over the decades, ranging from the 1940s through to the 2020s.

29 Jul 2024

‘Captain America: Brave New World’: Giancarlo Esposito Villainous Role Revealed, Harrison Ford’s Red Hulk & Adamantium In The MCU

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'Captain America: Brave New World' Shines At SDCC

Source: Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty / Captain America: Brave New World

We know even more about the upcoming film Captain America: Brave New World, and it sounds like this should be a win for Marvel Studios.

Over the weekend, Kevin Feige and Marvel Studios triumphantly returned to Hall H at San Diego Comic-Con to discuss their upcoming slate of movies coming to the MCU.

Coming off its first trailer, Captain America: Brave New World is Sam Wilson’s (Anthony Mackie) first feature-length film as the titular hero after taking over the mantle from Steve Rogers (Chris Evans).



New Footage Confirms Plenty of Speculation About The Film’s Plot

During the panel, fans saw new footage from the film featuring President Thunderbolt Ross (Harrison Ford) finally talking about the giant elephant in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the dead Celestial just chilling in the middle of the Indian Ocean.

Ross addresses world leaders during the Celestial Island Summit, revealing the now-dead Celestial, Tiamut, whose body is made of Adamantium, which now replaces Vibranium as the strongest metal on the planet.

The new U.S. President, who didn’t care for the Avengers in Captain America: Civil War, wants Wilson to help form and lead a new Avengers squad.

The new footage also gave attendees an even better look at Ford as the Red Hulk, who was revealed to be the villain behind the destruction of the White House in the trailer.

Fans were happy to see Harrison Ford hit the stage and even reenact what he looked like “Hulking out” while filming.

2024 Comic-Con International: San Diego - Marvel Studios Panel

Source: Matt Winkelmeyer / Getty

Giancarlo Esposito finally revealed who he would play in the film, and it’s not who many thought it was. Initially, theories had Esposito playing G.W. Bridge, but, of course, they were wrong.

Esposito will play playing Sidewinder, the King of the Serpent Society.

Captain America: Brave New World arrives in theaters on February 14, 2025.

Other Big Announcements

High on the energy that Deadpool and Wolverine have injected into the Disney-owned studio, Feige happily announced that The Russo Brothers, who gave us easily the best films in the MCU, are back to direct the next two Avengers movies, Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars.

We also learned Robert Downey Jr., the man who helped build the MCU as we know it as Tony Stark /Iron Man, will be back, but this time as Victor Von Doom, who happens to like the Infinity Saga’s hero or an evil variant aka the Infamous Iron Man.

Downey Jr.’s version of Doctor Doom will also allegedly be from the Fantastic 4: First Steps timeline, which introduces Marvel’s first family of superheroes to the MCU.

Footage of the film starring Pedro Pascal (Reed Richards /Mr. Fantastic), Vanessa Kirby (Sue Storm/Invisible Storm), Joseph Quinn (Johnny Storm/ The Human Torch), and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Ben Grimm/ The Thing) was also shown during the panel and gave attendees their first look at the planet devourer, Galactus, played by Ralph Ineson.

It is starting to feel like the MCU is back.

Just saying.

29 Jul 2024

P1Harmony on Cultural Appropriation in K-Pop, Their Current Music Obsessions & More | KCON LA 2024

P1Harmony chatted with Billboard’s Tetris Kelly on the red carpet at 2024 KCON LA.

Tetris Kelly:
Hanging out with my friends P1harmony at KCON! What’s up, fellas!

P1Harmony:
Hello, we are P1Harmony! Thank you so much for having us!

Tetris Kelly:
I’m so happy to be here. So it’s been a Brat summer, I feel like.

P1Harmony:
It sure has!

Tetris Kelly:
I’ve seen you doing the Tiktok a couple of different times. So tell me: How has it been to, like, have fun this summer, and what’s your summer been like so far?

P1Harmony:
You know, the summer has been so amazing. I was just about to say the weather outside today is so nice and the guys are saying it too, you know, as we were walking around. The weather is so nice, it’s not too hot, it’s not too cold. It’s like the perfect in between so we’re super excited to just be in L.A. to feel the weather first off, and also just enjoy the summer with our fans out here in L.A.

Tetris Kelly:
Nice. What have you been listening to? Are you listening to Charli XCX? So what are you guys vibing with?

P1Harmony:
Definitely, you know, it is a Brat summer. I think we all have very distinct and very different tastes in music. Oh, yeah. Destin Conrad, “It’s Only You.” I heard this song at the Govenors Ball. It’s “Espresso.”

Tetris Kelly:
Oh, that’s a banger!

P1Harmony:
Yeah! Sabrina Carpenter.

Watch the full video above!

29 Jul 2024

Dolly Parton’s Dollywood Theme Park Hit by Flash Flooding During Thunderstorm

Dolly Parton‘s Dollywood Parks & Resorts experienced flash flooding on Sunday (July 28) as a heavy thunderstorm hit the area in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., over the weekend.

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The park released a statement saying, “This afternoon, Sunday, July 28, a strong thunderstorm caused flash flooding at Dollywood. With the assistance of Pigeon Forge Police and Fire Departments, park personnel directed guests to safety during the storm. At this time, one minor injury has been reported.”

The statement continued, “Dollywood is supporting guests whose vehicles were affected by this weather event, and cleanup crews have been deployed. The park is currently scheduled to open at noon on Monday, July 29. Park officials will continue to assess conditions and updates will be posted to our social media pages as additional information becomes available.”

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Billboard has reached out to Parton’s representatives for comment.

Video footage posted to social media showed the conditions at the park as attendees made their way out of Dollywood to their cars, with many walking through nearly waist-deep water. Other footage showed floodwaters running through the park’s main walkways.

Some news outlets reported that north of 4.5 inches of rain fell in the region in a short period of time, leading to the flooding at Dollywood. On Sunday, the Pigeon Forge Police Department noted that McCarter Hollow Road at the Dollywood entrance was briefly closed due to a road collapse.

Since 1986, Dollywood has drawn visitors from across the globe to experience the theme park rides, music shows and exhibits. The entertainment park has origins reaching to 1961, when Rebel Railroad first opened; the park then expanded and grew to become Dollywood. In 2023, Dollywood earned five Golden Ticket honors, with wins for best park, best guest experience, best kids area, best family coaster (for Big Bear Mountain) and best Christmas event (for Smoky Mountain Christmas).

See Dollywood’s statement about the flooding at the park below:

29 Jul 2024

Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade & Industry Publishes Report on the Current State of Music Industry

Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) has published a report on its music industry.

The report is part of the Japanese government’s “Grand Design and Action Plan for a New Form of Capitalism 2024.” 

In this plan, several strategies for revitalizing the industry are listed, including “strengthening command structures within content creation industries,” “expansion of a global presence, as well as encouraging the creation and distribution of content that resonates with a global audience,” and “the development of an environment where creators can consistently focus on their work.”

Emphasizing the impact of digital transformation, METI’s 80 page report delves into shifts in consumer behavior, evolving distribution structures, and revenue models within the music industry. It also points out current issues the industry faces, such as lacking adequate personnel with digital marketing skills, and touches on the need for data that can accurately show the economic value of Japanese content, such as Billboard JAPAN’s “Japan Songs excl.Japan” chart.

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In addition, the report states that working in conjunction with other Japanese industries such as anime, fashion and cuisine, as well as foreign countries, is crucial for revitalizing the industry.