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28 Feb 2024

You Care: Meek Mill & DJ Akademiks Beefing Thanks To Diddy Lawsuit, X Chimes In With Slander

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Casamigos at TAO x REVOLVE Desert Nights

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It’s 2024, and Meek Mill and DJ Akademiks are still beefing. The Philadelphia rapper and the pro-level online troll, respectively, are currently going back and forth on X, so of course social media users are taking in all the mess.

Not that it really matters at this point, but the brouhaha this go around seems to have started when Akademiks took to his Twitch to throw shots at Meek over the latest Diddy lawsuit. The suit claims that Diddy relayed to Lil Rod that he had sexual relations with Meek Mill—which for the record is totally unsubstantiated.

Of course, Meek caught wind. “The way you niggas coming on the sick now… I can’t wait to meet akademiks lol they know I drop tomar this they damage control this net getting too weird,” he tweeted in response to the clip of Ak setting the bait.

Then he eventually threatened Ak with the proper fade, kind of.

“Akademiks didn’t I tell you stop playing with my name… idk what ima do when I actually see you! It’s gonna have a combination to it tho!,” he tweeted (we’re never going to type or say x’d).

To this, and with Meek having engaged and thus falling into the trap, Akademiks responded in kind with the usual clown a rapper tropes involving being dropped from your label, allegedly, and plenty of homophobia. He’s also standing by the “Why are you mad at me when it’s the lawsuit that said you’re gay?” plea.

The blatant toxic masculity and homophobia is the nastiest of work. So of course all angles from the X app are chiming in; good, bad and extra ugly. See for yourself in the gallery, for archival purposes.

4. Andrew Tate?

Meek catching hell from all angles. 

6. What Ye got to do with this exactly?

7. It’s 2024, be you.

28 Feb 2024

Olivia Rodrigo’s Streams Rise Following Guts World Tour Kickoff — And Opener Chappell Roan’s Are Up Even More

Welcome to Billboard Pro‘s Trending Up newsletter, where we take a closer look at the songs, artists, curiosities and trends that have caught the music industry’s attention. Some have come out of nowhere, others have taken months to catch on, and all of them could become ubiquitous in the blink of a TikTok clip.

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This week: Olivia Rodrigo’s Guts World Tour kickoff leads to gains for both her and her opening act, the new Tyler Perry movie spurs streams for sexy R&B jams new and old, the latest viral country star takes off on TikTok and much more.

Olivia Rodrigo’s Guts Tour Kickoff Boosts Her Streaming Numbers — and Chappell Roan’s, Too



Last Friday (Feb. 23), Olivia Rodrigo set forth on her second career headlining tour, and first arena run, as the Guts World Tour kicked off at the Acrisure Arena in Palm Springs. Fans inside the arena and soaking up the online clips pored over her setlist choices, discussed her visual stylings and wardrobe changes, and bemoaned her lack of cover songs a la the Sour Tour (bring back some Veruca Salt, Olivia!); they also, naturally, listened to a whole lot of Rodrigo’s music, as well as that of the rising pop favorite opening on the first leg of the trek.

Trending on Billboard

Last weekend (Feb. 24-25), Rodrigo’s catalog earned 19.62 million official U.S. on-demand streams — up 24% from the prior weekend before the tour launch (15.78 million during Feb. 17-18), according to Luminate. Guts standouts “Bad Idea Right?” (which opened Rodrigo’s show) and “Get Him Back!” (which closed it out) enjoyed some of the biggest individual upticks, with “Idea” up 27% to 1.23 million streams last weekend and “Back” up 29% to 1.21 million, respectively.

Meanwhile, Chappell Roan, the innovative art-pop auteur opening for Rodrigo across North America over the next month, also saw increased interest in her music, as previously unfamiliar Rodrigo fans watched Roan take the arena stage. The 26-year-old’s streaming catalog enjoyed a 32% bump during the first weekend of the tour, from 941,000 streams during Feb. 17-18 to 1.24 million streams during Feb. 24-25. Opening acts don’t always experience such notable streaming gains as fans are filing in to their arena seats, but on a tour as in-demand as the Guts run, everybody wins. – JASON LIPSHUTZ

Tyler Perry’s Kelly Rowland-Led ‘Mea Culpa’ Spurs Streaming Boosts for Sultry Soundtrack Songs



Tyler Perry’s latest film, Mea Culpa, which stars Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper Kelly Rowland and award-winning actor Trevante Rhodes, hit Netflix last weekend (Feb. 23) amid a flurry of online chatter. Written and directed by Perry, the film follows Rowland as a criminal defense attorney tasked with representing a man accused of killing his girlfriend. With a soundtrack that plays on the film’s dark, sultry overtones, it’s no surprise that several Mea Culpa syncs have experienced significant streaming boosts.

In terms of the classics, a pair of all-time covers — Issac Hayes’ “Walk on By” and Isley Brothers‘ “Hello, It’s Me” — both posted strong gains. Hayes’ track jumped 113% in streaming activity, from 30,000 on-demand U.S. audio steams during the weekend preceding Mea Culpa’s release (Feb. 17-19) to over 61,000 streams in the weekend following the film’s debut (Feb. 24-26), according to Luminate. Similarly, “Hello, It’s Me” collected 25,000 streams during Feb. 17-19, marking a 70% increase to 44,000 streams during Feb. 24-26.

As for the contemporary tunes, tracks from Sabrina Claudio and BANKS both earned eye-popping gains. During Feb 17-19, Claudio’s “Unravel Me” — which dropped back in 2017 – garnered 51,000 official on-demand U.S. streams. That figure jumped by 105% to 105,000 streams during Feb. 24-26. BANKS’ “And I Drove You Crazy” – a cut from the deluxe edition of Goddess, her acclaimed 2014 debut LP – posted an eye-popping 1,984% increase from 2,500 official on-demand U.S. streams (Feb. 17-19) to over 50,000 streams the following weekend (Feb 24-26).

Even if audiences and critics are less than enamored with Perry’s latest offering, they’re still running to stream the songs they encountered during their viewing experience. – KYLE DENIS

Tucker Wetmore Turns “Wine Into Whiskey” Into Viral Breakout


https://youtube.com/watch?v=d3juQkBq37U&version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-US&autohide=2&wmode=transparent

Morgan Wallen was one of the first country stars to successfully make TikTok teasing a major part of his marketing strategy, so it’s only fitting that his followers should experience their breakout moments the same way. After Bailey Zimmerman followed the Wallen game plan and sound to crossover success in 2022 and 2023, now comes Tucker Wetmore, a Washington-born singer-songwriter who also borrows a heavy dose of Wallen’s twang, trappy production and proclivity for alcohol-soaked laments – and now also may poised for similar virality.

Wetmore had been teasing new single “Wine Into Whiskey” since a December TikTok clip where he offered, “I’m a little hungover, but I just got this demo back for this song, and it goes…. so hard,” before lip syncing along to the song’s moody first minute. Nearly five million plays of the clip later, Wetmore finally released the song independently to DSPs and online retailers last Friday (Feb. 23). The response was immediate: “Wine” has already racked up over three million on-demand U.S. audio streams from Friday to Monday (Feb. 26), along with over 5,000 in digital song sales, according to Luminate – both eye-popping numbers for an artist with little established chart history.

The early consumption has “Wine Into Whiskey” poised to make a Hot 100 debut next week – and then it seems like only a matter of time before country radio wraps its arms around it. In other words, expect to hear a lot more of Wetmore in the months to come. – ANDREW UNTERBERGER

GC Eternal’s “Back It Up and Dump It” Sustains Sizable Streaming Gains Following A Pair of Viral TikTok Trends



The impact of stomp-and-shake cheerleading on TikTok dance trends has been overlooked for some time now, but the sustained virality of GC Eternal’s “Back It Up and Dump It” is pushing the Black cheerleading style to center stage.

According to Luminate, “Back It Up and Dump It (Dump Truck)” — which features Kinfolk Thugs – logged over 650,000 official on-demand U.S. streams during the week of Feb. 16-22. That’s a whopping 129% increase from around 435,000 streams two weeks prior (Feb. 2-8). Several dance trends have contributed to the song’s virality over the past few months. In fact, for the past two weeks the song has increased by over 50% in streaming activity.

Last fall, a two-step-rooted dance trend picked up steam on the platform to the first chorus of the song. More recently, a stomp and shake routine choreographed to the very beginning of the song has taken TikTok by storm. Created by TikTok user @mad0bout.miaaaaaaa, the latest “Dump Truck” dance has helped the song amass just under 300,000 posts on the platform. Mia’s routine – which has earned 1.7 million views and nearly 270,000 likes – errs more on the side of traditional stomp and shake than the current wave of Jersey-inspired TikTok dance combinations.

Although GC Eternal’s track is over ten years old, it’s still connecting with contemporary audiences through a combination of its catchy hook, groovy production, and focus on one of TikTok’s favorite pastimes: admiring a nice backside. – KD

Q&A: Todd Sherman, Director of Product Management at YouTube Shorts, on What’s Trending Up in His World

Can you walk us through the genesis of YouTube Shorts and how it’s become such a primary focus for the company?

In the early days of short-form video you could get the sense from Vine, Dubsmash and Musically that this format empowered new creators and also enabled viewers to watch video at times they might not have before. So to meet the needs of today’s increasingly mobile viewer and creator, four years ago we introduced YouTube Shorts, which make it easier to watch and create short-form content on the platform. And in just a few short years, we’ve seen creators and artists use them to drive fandom, subscribers and express themselves in new ways.

Today, YouTube Shorts is averaging over 70 billion daily views and the number of channels uploading Shorts has grown 50% year over year. That’s tremendous growth and something we’re really proud of. But we still consider ourselves at the beginning of this journey and we’re taking our learnings from nearly 20 years in the video business to make sure we do this right by our creators, artists, advertisers and fans.

You can now use Shorts to remix music videos. What have you noticed thus far with how users are playing around with these new tools?

It’s still early days, but one thing I’ve noticed is the sheer breadth of our music video library on YouTube for fans to play with and enjoy. Short-form video is often inherently creative, collaborative and interactive, so we knew the ability to Remix a Music Video would help fans unlock even more ways to connect and get creative with their favorite artists and their music on YouTube. Remix is available across all YouTube videos, not only Shorts. For the first time, fans can discover deep catalog cuts from their favorite artists and relive those moments by remixing them as their own.

Which songs/artists that are trending on Shorts are most intriguing to you?

So a few weeks back Karol G dropped her new single ”Contigo” — which of course, in itself is incredible — but she took it a step further and delivered her fans a special experience through Shorts and across the platform. The night started with the music video premiere, was followed by a Premium afterparty and then the first #KarolGContigo Short where she encouraged fans to celebrate and show LOVE. In the Short, participants show themselves alone, then as soon as “Contigo”’ sounds in the background, someone or something they love appears with them. We are really excited about the momentum we are seeing so far!

Now, I think what’s special here, and unique to YouTube, is that very real connection that lives on our platform between artists and their fans. This Short gave a way for her global fanbase to not only enjoy her new music video but also create something of their own to be part of her world and her moment. We always strive to build products that help people be their most creative so it’s amazing to see incredible artists like Karol G use them to connect with their fans.

Obviously YouTube is benefiting from having more licensed music available to use in clips, but what do you think is Shorts’ greatest strength as opposed to other short-form video platforms?

To me, the opportunity for artists on YouTube is clear: it’s the interconnected experience between all of the different video formats that allow them to connect with fans in bold new ways. This interplay between Shorts, longform, music and live immerses fans in the vibrant world across all formats. We want to bring fans along a journey of discovering music through Shorts, connecting them deeply to the artists’ music videos, official albums, and then turning them into engaged fans of your artists who lean in and participate. We’re still learning how best to deliver for artists and the industry, and this is an important area of focus for us this year, and we’re doing it in close collaboration with our partners.

What can we expect from the evolution of Shorts over the course of 2024?

We’re focused on making Shorts even more accessible and enjoyable to artists and their fans. YouTube is a place where people can come to build a business but also have fun, be creative, share and connect. So that means continuing to invest in creation tools that make that experience even more seamless, simple and delightful. We’re continuing to improve our recommendations including growing music trends that inspire people to participate. And when people are watching Shorts with music, we want to make it easier for them to connect with the song and artist they love.

We’re also working together with our partners to experiment with AI and its potential to make the creative process easier and more innovative. Overall we hope this work helps artists build a fanbase that feels connected to them in incredible ways. We believe that YouTube really is the best place for every music fan, and we want Shorts to be a part of that. – JL

28 Feb 2024

Will It Be a First for TWICE Atop the Billboard 200 Next Week?

The Contenders is a midweek column that looks at artists aiming for the top of the Billboard charts, and the strategies behind their efforts. This week (for the upcoming Billboard 200 dated Mar. 9), a star K-pop group aims to end Kanye West’s & Ty Dolla $ign’s two-week Vultures 1 reign on the albums chart. 

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TWICE, With You-th (JYP/Republic): They’ve been one of Korean pop’s biggest acts for over a half-decade now, with best-selling albums in their home country, worldwide arena and stadium tours, and even a couple entries on the Billboard Hot 100. But nine-piece girl group TWICE has yet to secure a No. 1 album on the Billboard 200: They’ve reached the top three with each of their last three efforts, but have still not gotten any higher than No. 2, achieved last March with Ready to Be (held off from the apex by Morgan Wallen’s blockbuster One Thing at a Time set in its second week).  

Next week, the runway may be clear for the nonet to finally take off to the spot. TWICE is the biggest-name contemporary outfit to release a new set last Friday (Feb. 23) — the EP With You-th — and with Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign’s Vultures fading in its third week, the bar for No. 1 should not be an unusually high one for the group to need to clear.  

Trending on Billboard

With You-th‘s sales should be considerable, thanks in part to its availability in 14 different CD variants (including exclusives for Barnes & Noble, Target, Walmart and the act’s webstore, all with branded paper merch inside the packages as well as randomized merch), as well as three additional vinyl variants (all picture discs, one being a Target exclusive). Streaming numbers may not be quite as robust for the set, given its six-track length, but in a slower release week it may not need much activity there to secure the top debut.  

French Montana, Mac & Cheese 5 (Coke Boys/gamma): It’s been a little while since French Montana was one of the biggest names in mainstream rap – his only appearance on the Billboard Hot 100 so far this decade came alongside Diddy, The Weeknd and 21 Savage on the No. 87-peaking “Another One of Me.” But he remains an industry fixture, as evidenced by the guest list on his new mixtape Mac & Cheese 5, which includes appearances from such A-list names as Rick Ross, Lil Baby, Lil Durk and even a pair of appearances from current Billboard 200-topper Kanye West.  

He may provide some competition for his chart-topping collaborator on the 200 this week. Mac & Cheese 5 may not be a major streamer – the set will be helped by its features and its length (21 tracks in its standard edition, 22 in its deluxe, and a staggering 126-track Versions edition with clean, explicit, a cappella, instrumental, sped-up and slowed-down versions of each track), but it has yet to produce a real runaway hit there. It should sell pretty well, however — given its availability in three different CD and vinyl variants (all discounted to $5), as well as three signed-CD variants for $10 each, all for sale exclusively via Montana’s Coke Boys webstore.

Le Sserafim, Easy (Source/YG Plus/Geffen): TWICE aren’t the only major Korean girl group to have a new EP out this week: Hitmakers Le Sserafim are also back on the scene with their new five-track set Easy. Their set also should post good sales, boosted by a number of available variants – 14 CD versions, including exclusives for Barnes & Noble, Target and Walmart, all with branded paper merch inside the packages as well as randomized merch. The quintet may also have something of a breakout hit from the set in its title track, which debuts at No. 73 on the Global 200 this week, and is still hanging around the Spotify Daily Top Songs USA chart.  

IN THE MIX 

Olivia Rodrigo, Guts (Geffen): Olivia Rodrigo’s acclaimed sophomore effort – our staff’s No. 1 album of 2023 — already topped the Billboard 200 for a week last September, and has lingered not too far from the top ever since, landing at No. 23 on this week’s listing. It may get a good bump next week, thanks to the start of her Guts World Tour, which kicked off in southern California over the weekend and continues through Texas this week – not only electrifying fans in those locations, but also tantalizing potential attendees from all over the country, who have been devouring clips of Rodrigo’s first-ever arena headlining dates on social media.  

Ace Frehley, 10,000 Volts (MNRK): The Spaceman is back. Guitar legend Ace Frehley did not appear with KISS on their End of the Road World Tour – supposedly the group’s final-ever live trek, ending in December 2023 – but he returns this week with his first album of originals since 2018. The 11-track set, released amidst back-and-forth swiping between Frehley and his former bandmates, is available in at least 11 vinyl variants, as well as a standard CD digipack and jewel case, and a Walmart exclusive with a lenticular cover.  

28 Feb 2024

UMG Says TikTok Is Not a ‘Material Part’ of Global Music Promotion

Universal Music Group chairman/CEO Lucian Grainge addressed the company’s ongoing licensing dispute with TikTok in its latest earnings call on Wednesday (Feb. 28), saying: “there must not be free rides for massive global platforms such as TikTok that refuse to meaningfully address issues around AI platform safety or pay their fair share for our artists’ and songwriters’ work.”

Boyd Muir, UMG’s CFO and executive vp, also revealed during the earnings call that UMG would “focus on accelerating [its] partnerships” with Meta, Snap, YouTube and more competing social platforms and that it would make more announcements about this “in the coming weeks.”

At the end of January, UMG, the world’s largest music company, opted to let its licensing agreement with TikTok expire, citing that the short-form video app refused to pay the “fair value” for music. It also cited other concerns around artificial intelligence. “TikTok proposed paying our artists and songwriters at a rate that is a fraction of the rate that similarly situated major social platforms pay,” UMG wrote in a letter to its artists. Within hours, TikTok fired back at UMG in reply, saying that the major music company “has put their own greed above the interests of their artists and songwriters.”

Trending on Billboard

Since then, the companies’ negotiations have been seemingly stuck at a standstill and millions of UMG-controlled recordings have been removed from the platform. Starting Tuesday (Feb. 27), the takedowns went even further, including the removal of any recording that features one or more Universal Music Publishing Group-signed songwriters for the first time. This impacts such major recording artists as Beyoncé, Harry Styles and Bad Bunny, even though they don’t record for UMG.

In response to the publishing takedowns, TikTok said in a statement on Wednesday, “[UMG’s] actions not only affect the songwriters and artists that they represent, but now also impact many artists and songwriters not signed to Universal. We remain committed to reaching an equitable agreement with Universal Music Group.”

UMG’s earnings call on Wednesday focused largely on TikTok during the the question and answer portion, as well as other core development for the company like its new deal with Chord Music Partners.

While UMG has previously said TikTok only makes up about 1% of the company’s total revenue, chief digital officer and executive vp Michael Nash said he believes that’s not necessarily all a loss amid the negotiation standoff. “In general, if consumption shifts from TikTok to other short video platforms like Reels or YouTube Shorts, we believe we can, in fact, recapture some lost revenue,” he said during the call. “Keep in mind, over half of TikTok monthly active users already also use other short video services. In some markets, that percentage is as high as 70%. These are services that monetize engagement at a much higher rate, so revenue positive consumer migration is easily foreseeable.”

Nash also said that UMG has been “providing notices to effectuate the muting of million of videos every day for the last two weeks” on TikTok to aid in the takedown process, which started earlier this month. “And that’s the recorded music content. Keep in mind that our publishing copyrights are just now starting to be enforced on the platform.” He noted that the company has seen “no discernible negative impact” on its “broader digital business’ by leaving TikTok to date but added that “that’s qualified by the fact that we’re very early on in the process… In fact, we’ve seen a slight uptick in terms of frontline consumption and catalog consumption over this short period of time.”

In response to one question about TikTok, Grainge responded, “I’m also not prepared to compromise the future of social category by doing something that completely undermines the economics for us and for everybody else.” One of UMG’s key concerns among the licensing discussions has been that if it were to accept a diminished royalty from TikTok, then other social media platforms could request the same.

But Grainge vowed that UMG likes “to be friendly.” He said, “We are friendly. My phone is open, unfortunately, 24 hours a day. We hope that we can find a solution… we like win-win situations. We’ve laid out what’s important to us, and I believe important to our industry.”

When an investor asked if this remark indicated that UMG was waiting for TikTok to call them and reengage on a deal structure [UMG has] previously presented,” Nash said “we’re not going to comment on the status of discussions with TikTok for obvious reasons.”

At the end of the call, Grainge downplayed TikTok’s impact on music marketing: “I mean, let’s put this into perspective,” he said. “Apple, Amazon, Spotify, YouTube, all the social categories, the fitness categories, digital radio, Sirius, Pandora, iHeart… [TikTok is] one, it’s not a material part of the multidisciplinary jigsaw, where we promote and market our music globally”

28 Feb 2024

Ludacris, Channel Tres, The Blessed Madonna & More Join Movement 2024 Lineup

Movement 2024 has rounded out its lineup with a flurry of new acts, announced today (Feb. 28.) Artists joining the previously announced phase one lineup include Atlanta rap icon Ludacris, Los Angeles-based producer/rapper Channel Tres and techno legend Richie Hawtin, along with The Blessed Madonna, Chris Lake, Masters At Work, Carl Craig and Robert Hood, LTJ Bukem, Paul Woolford performing under his Special Request alias and many more.

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These artists join previously announced names including Fatboy Slim, James Blake, Solomun, Goldie (who will play a second festival set, per today’s announcement), Honey Dijon, Gorgon City, LP Giobbi, Sama’ Abdulhadi, Indira Skream, Mount Kimbie, DJ Minx, Boys Noize b2b VTSS and others. 

Trending on Billboard

See the complete Movement 2024 lineup below.

Movement 2024 will take place at the festival’s longstanding home in Detroit’s Hart Plaza on May 25-27. Tickets are on sale now and start at $289.

The annual festival is produced by Detroit-based Paxahau, which launched in 1998 as an underground party promoter. The dance-focused company has produced Movement for the past 18 years, helping it gain global renown as one of the world’s premiere techno festivals. Paxahau is run by a team of 15 year-round, full-time employees across four departments: marketing and communications, production, talent and creative. During Movement, they bring in an event staff of 350 to help bring the event to life. 

“This is a labor of love that all of us clustered around since we were young,” Paxahau Founder Jason Huvaere told Billboard in 2023. “Detroit techno culture is what we committed to years ago, it’s second nature.”

Movement Festival 2024 lineup

Courtesy Photo

28 Feb 2024

Ramón Ayala Announces Retirement With Farewell Tour El Principio De Un Final

Ramón Ayala, affectionately known as the King of the Accordion, announced the curtain call on his remarkable 60-year career with the El Principio De Un Final (The Beginning of an End) tour on Tuesday (Feb. 27).

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With more than 50 concerts across arenas and auditoriums on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border, the tour is set to launch at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on March 9, and will wrap up at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif., on Nov. 30, according to a press release. The Monterrey musician will also perform in U.S. cities such as Atlanta, Chicago and Las Vegas.

In tandem with his final tour, he is poised to release a new single titled “El Retén” on March 8.

Trending on Billboard

Ayala’s trajectory from his early days with Los Relámpagos del Norte to the zenith of his career with Ramón Ayala y sus Bravos del Norte helped reshape the norteño music landscape, propelled by his riveting and virtuosic accordion skills. He’s widely recognized for crafting timeless norteño classics such as “Mi Piquito De Oro,” “Que Casualidad” and “Tragos Amargos.”

Throughout his career, Ayala has influenced great artists such as Grupo Frontera and Intocable. “The first song I fell in love with the accordion was ‘Mi Piquito de Oro’ by Ramón Ayala. I was sold,” Ricky Muñoz, Intocable’s leader and accordionist, told Billboard Español earlier in February.

His albums Antología De Un Rey (2004) and Arriba El Norte (1991) have reached No. 1 on the Regional Mexican Albums chart, and 12 of his songs have entered the Hot Latin Songs tally, including “Del Otro Lado Del Portón” at No. 12 and “Quémame Los Ojos” at No. 19.

As the four-time Grammy-winning artist prepares for his swan song, his partnership with Fundación Hermes Music through the Guitarras Por La Paz (Guitars for Peace) campaign will continue to underline the Monterrey artist’s dedication to harnessing music as a vehicle for peace. This initiative sees the distribution of guitars and educational materials to various charitable organizations, ensuring his impact extends beyond the stage.

See his Instagram announcement below:

28 Feb 2024

Justin Timberlake Confirms *NSYNC Collab on Upcoming Album

Buckle up, *NSYNC fans! There’s more new music on the way.

It all started earlier this week when Justin Timberlake took to TikTok to show fans the vinyl packaging for his upcoming album, Everything I Thought It Was, which will arrive on March 15. While displaying the cinema-inspired cover art and all the goodies that come inside, eagle-eyed fans noticed that the track list on the back of the sleeve seemed to show that the track “Paradise” will feature Timberlake’s former boy band, *NSYNC.

Timberlake noticed the comments, and ended up responding to one in a coy follow-up video shared on Wednesday (Feb. 28). “Blink twice if *NSYNC is on a song called Paradise,” one fan commented with an eyes emoji. In response, the “Mirrors” singer dropped down his sunglasses and very deliberately blinked twice, confirming the news.

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To make it even more obvious, fellow *NSYNC member Chris Kirkpatrick commented on the post with two more eyes emojis.

Trending on Billboard

Timberlake had already hinted at more *NSYNC music last month, following the release of “Better Place” for the Trolls Band Together soundtrack in September. During an appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show, the star strongly hinted that he and bandmates JC Chasez, Lance Bass, Joey Fatone and Kirkpatrick are cooking up a follow-up to their comeback single. “That was fun,” he began, recalling how the guys reunited for “Better Place.” “It’s kind of crazy — there’s so much that picks up right where it left off as far as chemistry.” 

“We’ve been in the studio,” he continued in the clip. “So there may be a little something in the future.” 

Watch Timberlake’s TikTok below.

28 Feb 2024

John Fogerty Is ‘Bewildered’ Over Canceled Country Fest Queensland Set: I’m ‘Ready & Willing to Do This Show’

John Fogerty is continuing to speak out about the mysterious cancelation of his performance at this year’s Country Fest Queensland in Australia. 

Chatting with Billboard on Wednesday (Feb. 28), the Creedence Clearwater Revival founder says that he’s still “in total shock” over the festival’s Tuesday (Feb. 27) announcement that his performance was canceled due to “unforeseen circumstances.”  

“I’m bewildered,” he says, sounding jovial but confused. “I still remain able and ready and willing to do this show. I take the commitment of playing for the fans very seriously. Throughout my career, practically my whole life, there’s hardly ever been a cancelation.”  

Trending on Billboard

The performance, which had been scheduled for the weekend of March 30, would have marked Fogerty’s first show in Australia in more than a decade. According to the singer and his rep, Country Fest Queensland alerted his agent Friday (Feb. 23) that he’d been removed from the lineup without explanation, but continued to sell tickets with his name attached to the event for four days afterward, up until announcing the the cancellation of his performance to the public on Tuesday. (Country Fest Queensland did, however, offer refund options to ticketholders no longer interested in attending in light of Fogerty’s “non-appearance.”) 

Fogerty and his team maintain that they have not been made aware of any reason for the sudden change. Billboard has reached out to Country Fest Queensland for comment.

“I really don’t know a lot,” Fogerty tells Billboard. “I was happy to be coming down to Australia to play. It sounded like a really fun event.” 

Soon after Country Fest announced that Fogerty was no longer part of the billing, the “Old Man Down The Road” singer posted a statement on Instagram. “I was ready to celebrate with you all for my one and only show this year in Australia when the Country Fest Queensland blindsided me yesterday by canceling my appearance,” it read.  

“It was posted that I would not be appearing due to unforeseen circumstances,” his statement continued. “Well, I can tell you, my friends, I was not the reason for the ‘unforeseen circumstances.’” 

Country Fest has since shared a follow-up statement claiming that negotiations with Fogerty’s team “did not reach a final outcome” and ceased on Friday (Feb. 23). “The matter is now subject to court proceedings in the Supreme Court of Queensland,” it continued, adding that the festival does not “intend to comment further” until the case is heard mid March. 

However, neither Fogerty nor his rep know of any details regarding the “court proceedings” mentioned by Country Fest Queensland, they tell Billboard. They also expressed confusion over the festival’s assertion that negotiations had never been finalized; according to Fogerty, his contract was signed and fully agreed upon in mid-January. 

“My wife Julie and I and our people … we started making all the usual preparations to arrive at the showplace on the show date and, you know, do my show,” he tells Billboard. “Everything was normal as far as I knew.” 

What’s most important to Fogerty now is that his Aussie fans know how much he wants to perform for them. On Tuesday night, he posted a video dedicated directly to them, in which he plays an acoustic rendition of CCR’s “Bad Moon Rising.” 

“It’s a big disappointment what’s going on right now,” he says in the clip before diving into the song, sitting in a chair with his golden retriever lying at his feet. “A shock, actually. Sometimes things get complicated, beyond my grasp anyway.”  

“I’d certainly never cancel for convenience, or for [the sake of being] – what do you call those – a diva,” he tells Billboard. “There were some people that were going to travel quite a distance. I just feel really bad about it. As far as I’m concerned, the fans come first.” 

28 Feb 2024

On The Radar Latin: Alessandra Aguirre, Marcelo Rubio & More Artists to Discover

Every month, Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors spotlight a group of rising artists whose music we love. Think “diamantes en bruto,” or “diamonds in the rough.” These are newcomers who have yet to impact the mainstream — but whose music excites us, and who we believe our readers should make a point to discover.

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Our latest edition of On the Radar Latin includes a wave of emerging artists, who we discovered by scrolling on social media, networking, or coming across their music at a showcase, for example. See our February 2024 recommendations below.

Artist: Alessandra Aguirre

Trending on Billboard

Country: Peru

Why They Should Be On Your Radar: Ever since she was a little girl, Alessandra Aguirre has been honing her vocal and songwriting skills by being part of competition shows like Perú Tiene Talento and American Idol. Most recently, she graduated from the Berklee College of Music. Her had work has paid off: The pop artist, who has an impressive vocal range, signed with indie label PJ Records (founded by duo Periko & Jessi León) last year. With synth-pop as her canvas, Aguirre’s mature and deep vocals take centerstage expressing a sense of urgency to get a message across in each of her songs. Her latest single “Contravía” is no exception: In it, the Miami-based singer-songwriter sings about giving it all in a relationship where the other person was not reciprocal. — GRISELDA FLORES

Song For Your Playlist: “Contravía”



Artist: La Mau

Country: Venezuela

Venezuelan indie artist La Mau brings a sweet take to urban pop, with clean, romantic lyrics that nevertheless have personality. Signed to Swag Records and distributed by Glad Empire, La Mau sometimes is reminiscent of Karol G in sound and charm, but veers more romantic. With her girl-next door looks and disarming, down to earth videos, she is immediately relatable. — L.C.

Song For Your Playlist: “Solo Tú”



Artist: Marcelo Rubio

Country: Venezuela

Why They Should Be On Your Radar: Venezuelan singer-songwriter Marcelo Rubio brings back that Latin singer-songwriter vibe of the likes of Ricardo Arjona and Alejandro Sanz, but with a contemporary lexicón that is delightful to listen to. In breakout track “Conversación Con Mi Ex,” a brooding, mid-tempo pop jam set over synth and keyboards, he chats with an ex girlfriend with earnest, beautiful language that also incorporates pop culture references seamlessly, and makes you sit up and listen. This is very impressive stuff for a 20-year-old — and labels agree; Rubio just inked a deal with Sony Music Latin. — LEILA COBO

Song For Your Playlist: “Conversación Con Mi Ex”



Artist: Noreh

Country: Venezuela

Why They Should Be On Your Radar: This 26-year-old singer and songwriter is already a rising star in his native Venezuela, but he’s an emerging artist beyond his hometown. In the albums he’s relesaed so far — including his debut LP Asocial (2020), the live album Nada Íntimo (2021)and Mucho TXT (2023) — he offers an eclectic taste that ranges from urbano music and ballads to bolero, salsa and bossa nova. Noreh has collaborated with established names such as Jay Wheeler, Nacho, CNCO, and Servando & Florentino, and is now starting his path to an international career. In mid-February he gave his first U.S. concert, in Miami, with fellow Venezuelans Joaquina and Ricky Montaner (from Mau y Ricky) among the attendees. On March 7 he’ll release BALADAS TATUADAS VOL. 1, an EP with songs that combine romantic and urban music, while he plans his next shows in the U.S. — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS

Song for Your Playlist: “El Día Que Me Odies”

Artist: Reyna Tropical

Country: Mexico

Why They Should Be On Your Radar: Dripping with succulent electronic textures, carefully plucked guitar, and hushed vocals, Reyna Tropical emerges as the project of guitarist, producer and singer-songwriter Fabi Reyna. Recent singles “Conocerla” and “Cartagena” serve as captivating harbingers of the project’s studio album debut, Malegría, out March 29 on Psychic Hotline. This title, a poignant blend of “mal” (sorrow) and “alegría” (joy), expresses the complex emotions of celebrating life amidst mourning the death of band member Nectali Díaz, known as Sumo.

Initially a collaboration between the two Mexican expats since 2018, the act has transitioned into one-woman endeavor. Rooted in the “duality between bad and good, bitter and sweet, grief and love, and death and rebirth,” like the press release says, Malegría claims a modern homage to diverse cultural legacies; weaving themes of queer identity, sensuality and love with Congolese, Peruvian, and Colombian rhythms. Drawing inspiration from Chavela Vargas and Manu Chao, Reyna’s artistry shines through her recent work. Earlier this year, the artist signed with WME for global representation in all areas. — ISABELA RAYGOZA

Song For Your Playlist: “Conocerla”

28 Feb 2024

Almost Out of Stock! This ‘Cute & Stylish’ Cropped Puffer Is Selling Fast – Get It While You Still Can  

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.

Eyeing the Alo Yoga Gold Rush Puffer? You’d better grab one now before it goes out of stock.

Aesthetically, the coat couldn’t be cuter. It features a cropped fit, drawstring waist, snap-front closure, zippered pockets and a tall collar to keep your neck warm when it gets chilly.

The viral Gold Rush Puffer ($198) is made from weather-resistant recycled ripstop and nylon with a “warm puff filling,” per the product description.

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Best Cropped Puffer: Alo Yoga's Gold Rush Coat Is Almost Sold Out

Alo Yoga Gold Rush Puffer

Spring is around the corner, but that doesn’t mean your winter shopping has to end, and Alo Yoga’s celeb-approved puffer can take you from one season to the next. The puffer pairs perfectly with leggings and sweatpants, in addition to jeans, skirts and other clothing.

Trending on Billboard

What do shoppers love about the Gold Rush Puffer? It’s “perfect cropped length” and “goes with everything” are a couple of reasons why shoppers can’t stop buying the stylish coat.

“Absolutely gorgeous and it gets so many compliments! Perfect cropped length with adjustable waistline,” reads one customer review. “The small fits great and is true to size. Very warm and goes with everything.”

“Very cute and warm,” wrote one shopper, while another added “cute and stylish.”

“Awesome jacket! Perfect fit and super soft and comfy,” wrote someone else.

The Gold Rush Puffer is currently stocked in black, espresso and cherry cola, in sizes ranging from XS (2-4) to L (12-14), however, only select sizes are available for some of the more popular colors such as the black puffer worn by Kendall Jenner. The black coat is almost sold out, but you can find it in sizes large and x-small.

Other colors are selling fast as well, like the navy puffer, which is officially out of stock, while colors such as espresso, toasted almond and cherry are stocked only in a couple different sizes.  

Alo Yoga is one of the hottest brands for workout gear and loungewear. Top sellers include the 7/8 High Waist Airlift Leggings ($128), Airlift Intrigue Bra ($64), Accolade Crew Neck Pullover, Accolade Sweatpants ($118), in Motion Vest ($108) and the Clubhouse Jacket ($138).

For more shopping recommendations, read our roundups of the best sales on women’s sweaters and best beanies for cold weather.