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05 Sep 2023

A Timeline of Joe Jonas & Sophie Turner’s Relationship

From two weddings & two children to a divorce filing, here’s a look at the former couple’s relationship.

Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas

Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas attend the 2019 Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 1, 2019 in Las Vegas. 

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Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner are divorcing after four years of marriage and two children together. The Jonas Brothers singer filed for divorce on Sept. 5, Billboard confirmed.

In his petition, the musician said that his union with the Game of Thrones actress “is irretrievably broken,” according to the Today show, which obtained the filing.

News of their split came as a surprise, as the pair displayed no signs that their marriage was on the rocks, with the actress sharing photos with the musician backstage at Jonas Brothers concerts and playfully teasing him on social media. In the days after rumors of a split began to surface, the singer wore his ring onstage and even shared a photo of himself wearing his wedding band hours before news broke that he had filed for divorce.

Though their romance has come to an end, it wasn’t always tough times for Jonas and Turner. After getting engaged to Jonas — who first reached out to the actress via an Instagram DM in 2016 — Turner even admitted that she didn’t think she’d ever marry. “I was fully preparing myself to be single for the rest of my life,” she told Rolling Stone in March 2019. “I think once you’ve found the right person, you just know.”

From sliding into DMs to their two 2019 weddings (a surprise Vegas ceremony first, then an elegant affair in France) and welcoming two children, the former couple have shared many sweet moments together during their romance. Here’s a look back at the love story of Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner.

05 Sep 2023

Coldplay’s Former Manager Dave Holmes Sues Band For $12M

Coldplay’s former manager, Dave Holmes, is suing the band for more than £10 million ($12 million) in damages and outstanding payments, according to documents filed in the London High Court.  

Holmes managed Coldplay for more than two decades, helping the British group become one of the world’s biggest rock acts prior to being dismissed by them in late 2022.  

In legal papers filed in the U.K. courts, which have been viewed by Billboard, attorneys for Holmes say he is suing the four members of Coldplay — Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion and Chris Martin — for more than £10 million ($12 million) over the defendants’ “failure and refusal to comply” with the terms of their management contract. News of the lawsuit was first reported by Variety last month.

The dispute centers around a proposed contract agreement that Holmes says the band entered into with his California-based management company, DHMC, relating to Coldplay’s yet-to-be-released tenth and eleventh studio albums and related tours, which the former manager claims he is due unpaid commission on.

According to the lawsuit, filed Aug. 11 in the U.K. Business and Property Courts, Coldplay received an advance of £35 million ($44 million) for its tenth album from Warner Music Group-owned Parlophone Records. Holmes says he also negotiated advances of £15 million ($19 million) each for the group’s subsequent two studio albums as part of the extension of Coldplay’s recording contract with Parlophone, signed in June 2021. 

One month later, Holmes was paid £1.5 million ($1.9 million) by the band, representing his 10% commission fee from the initial £15 million advance payment Coldplay received from the label for its tenth album. Holmes was paid a further £1.5 million ($1.9 million) in October 2021 but says the band still owes him outstanding commission from the record company advances.

In addition, Holmes claims he is due payment for “extensive services” his company carried out relating to the prospective albums and touring schedules prior to his termination as manager.  

These services allegedly include scheduling, marketing, budgeting, sponsorship and ticket pricing for the U.S., Asia and Australia legs of the 2022/23 “Music of the Spheres” world tour, as well as work on the band’s next two releases, such as arranging writing and recording sessions in Jamaica and London and preparing promotional campaigns.  

Listed among the services Holmes says he and his team carried out for Coldplay’s as-yet-unscheduled tenth album are budgeting and marketing activities, clearing an instrumental sample from musician Hal Walker, arranging a recording session on a film set in Boston, and liaising with producer Max Martin’s manager to arrange recording and production sessions.   

Holmes also claims that preparatory work was carried out around possible touring scenarios in 2024/25, including meeting with promoters.

According to legal papers filed by Holmes’ attorneys, Coldplay argues that a contract agreement for the band’s tenth and eleventh albums was never concluded and that commission deals between Holmes and the group for any of its previous nine albums, including the group’s first two releases, expired at the end of last year.

Although the cause of the fallout between Holmes and Coldplay is not detailed in the lawsuit, court documents do reveal that Coldplay asked Holmes to step down from managing the band in June last year and instead become head of touring, whereby he would receive commission on touring and live performance revenue but forgo payment on recording or publishing revenue.  

According to the lawsuit, in September, Coldplay’s solicitors wrote to Holmes to inform him that the head of touring proposal was no longer on offer and his involvement with the band was to officially end Dec. 31, 2022. Since then, the band has been managed by long-term associates Phil Harvey, Mandi Frost and Arlene Moon.      

Holmes is now asking the U.K. courts to determine if the so-called “Albums 10/11 Agreement” stands and for Coldplay to pay him any outstanding commission, as per its terms. Alternatively, his attorneys are asking that Holmes receive “reasonable remuneration in respect” of the services he carried out for the multi-million-selling British band. 

“Dave Holmes successfully managed Coldplay for more than 22 years, steering them to be one of the most successful bands in music history. Now, as the legal case shows, Coldplay is refusing to honor Dave’s management contract and pay him what he is owed,” says Holmes’ lawyer, Phil Sherrell, in a statement provided to Billboard.

Representatives for Coldplay confirmed with Billboard that Holmes’ management contract with the four-piece expired at the end of 2022 “at which point they decided not to start a new one. The matter is now in the hands of Coldplay’s lawyers and the claims are being vigorously disputed.” 

05 Sep 2023

Chloe Sings ‘Surprise,’ ‘Body Do’ & More ‘In Pieces’ Standouts for Tiny Desk Concert: Watch

Chloe Bailey is the latest star to stop by NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert series, appearing on the Monday installment to sing tracks from her debut studio album In Pieces.

The Praise This star mostly matched her band, who wore all black, though she opted for an army-green skirt to stand out. The singer kicked off the set with a soulful live rendition of her 2022 single “Surprise,” hitting several soaring high notes with ease, much to the delight of the listeners in attendance.

By the time “Body Do” rolled around in the setlist, Chloe — one-half of the duo Chloe x Halle, with her sister Halle Bailey — instructed the attendees to move their bodies to the beat of the track, which was infused with salsa and mambo instrumentation for its live version. Before launching into the lyrics, the singer finally introduced herself: “I’m Chloe — Miss Bailey if you nasty. I’m so happy to be here with you all. I have a question for you guys: Do you ever wonder who else is f—ing our man?”

Fleshing out the rest of the set were more tracks from In Pieces, including its title track, “I Don’t Mind,” “Worried” and “Cheatback.”

Chloe’s sister Halle could be slated for her own Tiny Desk concert in the coming months: In a recent feature with Cosmopolitan, The Little Mermaid star revealed that her debut solo LP will “definitely” be released “before the end of the year.”

Watch Chloe’s Tiny Desk concert in full in the video above.

05 Sep 2023

The 8 Best Moments From Beyoncé’s Birthday Concert at LA’s SoFi Stadium

From Diana Ross & Kendrick Lamar surprises to an A-list fan section, here are the most electrifying moments from Bey’s 9/4 B’Day show.

Beyoncé performs onstage during the

Beyoncé performs onstage during the “RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR” at SoFi Stadium on September 04, 2023 in Inglewood, California.

Kevin Mazur/WireImage for Parkwood

In the heart of Inglewood, California, on Monday evening, an unforgettable celebration unfolded. Beyoncé Knowles, the Queen Bey herself, rang in her 42nd birthday at SoFi Stadium with 70,000-plus adoring fans and an A-list roster of celebrity admirers in the crowd.

Beyoncé’s birthday concert transcended the boundaries of a typical Renaissance World Tour stop. It became an immersive experience that left a lasting impression on the fortunate attendees.

It was as if the crowd had received a golden ticket to Bey’s real-life birthday party — albeit, a little larger than a typical Carter family soiree. Beyoncé, known for her awe-inspiring stage presence, didn’t disappoint; she took her audience on an electrifying journey through her music, her soul and her message of empowerment to celebrate her big day.

It was a dance party fit for a queen, where the rhythm of Beyoncé’s music became the heartbeat of the stadium. The atmosphere was charged with excitement and anticipation hung in the air as fans eagerly awaited the surprises that Beyoncé had in store — and there were plenty of star-studded surprises (read more below).

Let’s dive into the electrifying details of Beyoncé’s 42nd birthday concert — the final concert of her sold-out three-night stand at the LA-area venue — for a night that was filled with love, freedom, acceptance and incredible surprises.

05 Sep 2023

B.G. Has Been Released From Prison, Birdman Among First To Greet Him

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B.G., a rapper who got his start with Cash Money Records, served over a decade behind bars. On Tuesday, the New Orleans rapper was freed from prison and his fomer label boss Birdman was among the first people to greet him.

B.G., real name Christopher Noel Dorsey, just celebrated his 43rd birthday on September 3 and shared a post on Instagram that it would be his last while incarcerated. It was understood that the rapper also known as Baby Gangsta would be seeing freedom after news went wide last week.

Birdman took to social media and shared the heartwarming moment between him and his one-time protege. Today, B.G. sports long locs and a much bulkier frame and appeared to be in good spirits as he embraced his label boss and friends.

B.G.’s legal woes date back to 2009 after he was pulled over by police in New Orleans via a routine traffic stop. A search of the vehicle turned up three guns, two of which were reportedly stolen. B.G. was charged on an illegal weapons charge and entered a not guilty plea in 2010. However, due to other developments in the case involving other passengers in the vehicle, the prosecution brought an additional charge of conspiracy to obstruct justice.

One of the passengers attempted to take responsibility for the guns but it was determined by prosecutors that the affidavit signed by the passenger was false. That person was sentenced to 20 years in prison while the other passenger was hit with 30 months, according to what was found online

After pleading guilty to two counts of possession of a firearm and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice, B.G. was sentenced to 14 years on July 18. 2012.

As a member of the Hot Boys collectible with Lil Wayne, Turk, and Juvenile, B.G. saw fame on the charts early on. That same success was replicated on his third album Chopper City in the Ghetto, and Checkmate, his final under the Cash Money Records imprint.

On Twitter, images of B.G. and Birdman have been circulating with others chiming in with congratulations for the newly-freed rapper.

Check out those reactions below.

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Photo: Raymond Boyd / Getty

05 Sep 2023

Beyoncé’s Star-Studded LA Tour Stop, ‘Pink Friday 2’ Cover Art, Cardi & Megan’s New Song, More | Billboard News

It was a star-studded weekend at Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour stop at LA’s SoFi Stadium and it was extra special on Monday to celebrate the Queen B’s birthday. Nicki Minaj unveils the cover art for her highly anticipated ‘Pink Friday 2’ album, Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion announce a new song, Zach Bryan tops the Billboard 200 and Hot 100. We run down the top songs of the summer and talk to Afrobeats artist Asake on his Billboard chart success, his crazy live shows, the global growth of the genre and more!

Tetris Kelly.
You know Blue Ivy broke it down. Kris Jenner was at another show as well as Lizzo, Katy Perry and so many more. Kaytranada opened the night and Kendrick Lamar joined her for “America Has a Problem.” Wait, did I not mention the horse? I could go on about last night forever. But for now, I’ll just leave you with a little more Yoncé. And let’s keep going with the powerful women we got news from, including Cardi B and Nicki Minaj. Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s announcement is here and Nicki Minaj is giving us more info on ‘Pink Friday 2.’ Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion are following up their Hot 100 chart-topper “WAP.” And this time it’s “Bongos.” They both shared the deliciously colorful cover art for the new track, due out Friday, and they aren’t the only raptresses keeping us fed.

Watch the full video above!

05 Sep 2023

Hot Boys Star B.G. Released From Prison

B.G., a founding member of the popular ’90s rap group Hot Boys, was released from prison Tuesday (Sept. 6) after serving 12 years for gun possession and witness tampering, a Cash Money rep confirmed to Billboard.

Cash Money founder Birdman was on Instagram Live when he greeted his New Orleans comrade with a big hug, welcoming him home. He also came bearing gifts, and B.G. was overwhelmed with emotions upon his release.

In 2009, B.G. was arrested during a traffic stop where cops discovered three guns inside his vehicle, with two of them stolen. Two years later, he entered a guilty plea deal for two counts of firearm possession and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice. He received a 14-year federal prison sentence.

This past weekend, B.G. celebrated his 43rd birthday on Instagram, signaling his upcoming status as a free man. “After 12 winters and 13 summers, I see the end zone. It’s my last #Birthday being buried alive. This year I’m celebrating the whole Virgo cycle, matter of fact, from this year forward I’m living and celebrating like everyday is #MyBIRTHDAY,” he wrote.

“The main focus, is to stay focused,” the post continued. “I’m not letting nobody rob me of my productivity, prosperity, positivity and peace of mind. My dreams then got bigger and my vision is clearer. 13 years was more then enough time for me to change the reckless path I was on.”

B.G. helped construct The Hot Boys in the late ’90s, which featured Lil Wayne, Juvenile and Turk. The crew enjoyed success with their 1999 platinum album Guerrilla Warfare, which peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 and spawned the breakout hits “I Need a Hot Girl” and “We on Fire.” B.G.’s biggest win came from his fourth album, 1999’s Chopper City in the Ghetto, which birthed the phrase “Bling Bling” in the song of the same name, a No. 36 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.

05 Sep 2023

Diddy To Be Blessed With The Global Icon Award At The 2023 MTV VMAs

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It’s been three decades in the making, but P. Diddy is finally going to be receiving the Global Icon Award during this year’s MTV Video Music Awards.

Variety is reporting that the OG Bad Boy from Hip-Hop’s golden era will finally be receiving his flowers from MTV when the VMA’s airs live from the Prudential Center Tuesday (Sept. 12) at 8 p.m. ET. Aside from receiving the Global Icon Award, Diddy will also be taking the stage at the VMA’s to perform and show attendees and viewers around the world exactly why he’s being blessed with such a prestigious award.

Variety reports:

The Global Icon Award, originally from MTV’s Europe Music Awards (EMAs), celebrates an artist or band whose unparalleled career and continued influence have achieved a unique level of global success in music and beyond. Diddy also hosted MTV Europe Music Award 2002 at the Palazzo Sant Jordi, Barcelona, Spain.

 

This set will be Diddy’s first solo album since he released “Press Play” in 2006 but follows a recent slate of singles from the hitmaker. In the last year, he recruited Bryson Tiller for “Gotta Move On” — which received remixes from Ashanti, Yung Miami, Tory Lanez and more — along with the PartyNextDoor-featuring “Sex in the Porsche.” He most recently released “Act Bad” with the City Girls and Fabolous and also dropped a remix of Metro Boomin’s “Creepin’.

Real random, but where the heck has PartyNextDoor been this whole time? Just sayin’.

While Diddy is set to hit the stage in celebration of his award, we wouldn’t be surprised if a few guest stars joined him on stage as he’s helped launch the careers of multiple Hip-Hop and R&B stars such as The Lox, Faith and many others. Don’t expect Total to come out of nowhere though.

What do y’all think of Diddy being blessed with MTV’s Global Icon Award? Sound off in the comments section below.

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05 Sep 2023

JAY-Z To Host 007 Themed Blackjack Party With $1M Pot For Charity

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JAY-Z is about to double down on his commitment to criminal reform. He is hosting a 007 themed party that will raise funds for those fighting the system.

Page Six is exclusively, and allegedly, reporting that the Brooklyn, New York native is planning yet another super exclusive charity event this year. Later this month he will host a party in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Players will have to pony up $100,000 dollars to buy in to the blackjack game where the winner will win a million dollars. Non players will have to pay $50,000 dollars to for general entry. It is rumored that the “99 Problems” MC got the inspiration from Michael Rubin’s yearly all white fourth of July party in The Hamptons.

While the invite list has not been publicly released some of the rumored attendees include Beyoncé, Kim Kardashian, Tom Brady, Travis Scott,  DJ Khaled, Emily Ratajkowski, Megan Thee Stallion, several athletes, high profile CEO’s, hedge fund managers and more. Kevin Hart to serve as the emcee with Robert Kraft, Michael Rubin and Meek Mill are set to co-host. The party is said to be happening Saturday, September 30 at Ocean Casino Resort.

JAY-Z’s event will raise funds for REFORM Alliance; which aims to transform probation and parole by changing laws, systems and culture to create real pathways to work and wellbeing. You can read more about organization here.

Photo: Kevin Mazur

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05 Sep 2023

NCT 127, Aespa & More SM Entertainment Artists Are Joining HYBE’s Weverse

WeVerse, the social media platform owned by K-pop company HYBE, will add 13 artists from SM Entertainment on Sept. 12, the companies announced Tuesday (Sept. 5). That opens the platform to such artists as NCT 127, Red Velvet, Girls’ Generation, Super Junior, RIIZE and aespa. The partnership was announced in April. 

“With this momentous occasion, we hope SM artists and their dedicated global fans will enjoy an unparalleled and seamless fan experience through various content and services available on Weverse,” said Joon Choi, Weverse president, in a statement. “The addition of SM artists will further accelerate the global expansion of Weverse, which has already exceeded 100 million downloads and recorded 10 million monthly active users.”

HYBE, which owns nearly 9% of SM shares, decided to partner with SM after its failed bid take take control of the company. After HYBE acquired a 15% stake in SM from the company’s founder, Lee Sio-Man, in February, a bidding war erupted between HYBE and South Korean tech company Kakao to take a controlling stake in SM. Kakao emerged the winner and has a 40% stake in SM. HYBE retained an 8.8% stake in SM and sold the remainder to Kakao, according to a March 28 public filing — making HYBE the second-largest single shareholder after Kakao. 

SM artists have been using Kwangya Club, a similar social platform launched by SM in 2022. Weverse has become a crucial element of HYBE’s multi-faceted business for e-commerce, promoting its artists and building relationships with fans. HYBE has invested in foreign language translation tools and a new payments system for the platform called Weverse Jelly to purchase digital and physical goods at the Weverse Shop. In addition, HYBE runs an annual live event, Weverse Con Festival.

“We’re preparing to integrate Weverse and Weverse shop to offer seamless experiences for fans to stay on the platform and purchase artists, albums and official merch,” HYBE CEO Park Ji-won said during the company’s Aug. 8 earnings call. “We are striving to enhance customer satisfaction including ongoing discussions with various overseas local delivery companies to improve global shipping service quality.”