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Ariana Grande Is Cutting All Ties With Scooter Braun & HYBE

Last week, news broke that Ariana Grande had split with longtime manager Scooter Braun. This followed news that former SB Projects client Demi Lovato had parted ways with Braun. Since, we also confirmed that Idina Menzel has left the roster.

At first, a source familiar with the situation called news of Grande’s departure “rumors.” They continued to say, “Negotiations have been going on for several months as Scooter steps into his larger role as HYBE America CEO…” (In 2021, Braun sold SB Projects’ parent company, Ithaca Holdings, to the South Korean entertainment conglomerate HYBE. Braun is currently HYBE America’s CEO.) “Scooter’s team at SB Projects are still handling Ariana as they work through what this new structure looks like,” added the source.

But now, a source close to the situation tells Billboard, “Scooter’s team is spinning the story. Ariana is leaving both Scooter and HYBE. There is absolutely no truth to her staying.”

Last week, sources close to Grande said she was planning to part with Braun on friendly terms, more because she’s “excited to go in a different direction” and because she’s “outgrown him” than because of his C-suite distractions. But this week, Grande unfollowed Braun on social media.

Grande has been with Braun and his SB Projects since 2013, the year she released her breakthrough debut album, Yours Truly. On Friday, she released the 10th-anniversary deluxe digital edition of the album, which includes new live recordings of “Honeymoon Avenue,” “Daydreamin’” and more tracks.

Meanwhile, Braun’s other longtime client, Justin Bieber, remains in his deal. Despite having four years left in his contract, as Billboard reported, Bieber is actively looking at how he might end their relationship with the help of his new music lawyer David Lande.

Wilson Debuts Chic New Tennis Collection to Get You On the Court in Style: Shop Here

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The 2023 U.S. Open has made its debut, and to coincide with the ongoing matches, athletic brand Wilson launched a new tennis apparel collection and U.S. Open collaboration on Thursday (Aug. 24). If you watch the U.S. Open, you may recognize the brand as the official tennis ball for the tournament, which they’ve been for the past 45 years now.

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To celebrate the milestone anniversary, fans and tennis players have the opportunity to bring home styles inspired by the best of New York City tennis. U.S. Open competitor Marta Kostyuk even teased the new collection when she debuted the Midtown Tennis Dress on the court as the first head-to-toe ambassador for Wilson.

Colorways you can expect to stock up on include tennis-ball yellow (naturally), classic navy and field green. Outside of apparel, players can expect tennis equipment with U.S. Open branding and a limited-edition “Noir” collection for those who prefer their equipment in a sleek black shade.

Keep reading to shop the new collections.

model wearing yellow sleeveless tennis dress

Wilson

Midtown Tennis Dress

$118

Channel your inner tennis pro or embrace the look of the sport in this professional-approved dress that comes with a fitted waist and flowy skirt. The stretchy material will move with you while the moisture-wicking fabric helps to keep you cool, dry and comfortable.

model wearing navy blue and yellow tennis dress

Wilson

Unmatched Tennis Dress

$88

Embrace the contrasting-colors trend in this Unmatched Tennis Dress you can sport on or off the court. It comes with a fun side slit that peeps the built-in shorts underneath and has two color options you can stock up on.

model wearing green tennis shorts and white long sleeve tennis shirt

Wilson

All Day Tennis Shorts

$68

Don’t be surprised when your other athletic shorts get jealous of how often you wear these All Day Tennis Shorts. Not only do you have three colors to choose from, but it’s also made with breathable fabric and side pockets for storing your phone, keys and wallet.

model wearing white and blue crewneck that reads

Wilson

Millennium Crewneck

$88

Get cozy with the Millennium Crewneck that features the legendary brand’s logo on the front and is available in two colorways you can throw on as the temps cool down.

white, blue and red tennis racket

Wilson

U.S. Open Clash 100 V2 Tennis Racket

$269

Ditch the pickleball equipment and try this tennis rack on for size. Not only does it come with official U.S. Open branding, but it features a plant-based bumper and six sizes to choose from.

black and blue tennis bag that reads

Wilson

U.S. Open Tour 12 Pack

$109

This U.S. Open Tour 12 Pack will keep all your equipment stored safely without sacrificing style. The interior has enough space to fit up to 12 tennis rackets and comes with separate pockets for storing smaller pieces of equipment.

For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best earbuds, commuter gadgets and portable chargers.

Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour Movie, Victoria’s Secret World Tour, 50 Cent Concert Assault & More | Billboard News

Taylor Swift is releasing “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour” concert film, and it’s coming to a movie theater soon. Victoria’s Secret reveals its promo for their Victoria’s Secret World Tour featuring models Hailey Bieber, Gigi Hadid and Honey Dijon as well as Victoria’s Secret Angels Candice Swanepoel, Adriana Lima, Lily Aldridge and more. Doja Cat is set to headline the event. Ellie Goulding experiences a mishap at her concert, and 50 Cent throws a microphone into the crowd at his recent show. We look through the top songs of the summer of 2022. Mexican pop group RBD is featured on Billboard’s cover, as they talk about their highly anticipated reunion and more!

Rania Aniftos:
Taylor Swift is bringing her Eras Tour to the big screen. Ellie Goulding dodges pyrotechnics while a 50 Cent fan couldn’t dodge his mic. Victoria’s Secret brings back their fashion show with some star power. RBD graces the cover of Billboard, and we look back at last year’s songs of the summer.

I’m Rania Aniftos for Billboard News. It’s Thursday, August 31st and you’re getting a new opportunity to see one of this year’s biggest tours. If you missed your chance to see Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, you’re in luck. It’s hitting the big screen. The concert film will hit AMC Theaters starting on October 13th, with adult tickets going for $19.89 — her next album — and child tickets going for, you guessed it, $13.13. Taylor tweeted the trailer for the film saying in part “Eras attire, friendship bracelets, singing and dancing encouraged.”

You can catch the film in the U.S., Canada and Mexico and will even be screening on IMAX and Dolby Cinema at AMC, but you won’t be able to use your AMC A-list so make sure you get your tickets ASAP.

Speaking of concerts, they can be a dangerous spot not only for the artists but for the fans too. Ellie Goulding and a 50 Cent fan get added to the long list of people getting assaulted at concerts. Ellie Goulding got quite the surprise in this viral video when performing her song “Miracle” during the Victorious Festival.

Watch the full video above!

Beyonce Reacts to Being Honorary Mayor of Santa Clara: ‘Today Is Special’

Beyoncé took the stage at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Wednesday night (Aug. 30), not only as a superstar performer, but also as the city’s honorary mayor.

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“I’m so happy to be on this stage,” Bey told the crowd in a fan video posted to TikTok. “Y’alls faces are so beautiful. You know today is special because today I am the mayor.”

After smiling at the crowd, who cheered at their mayor of the day, the “Break My Soul” singer continued, “This is my gratitude tour. I don’t take any of this for granted. I know after 25 years I’m still able to do what I love because of your loyalty, because of your prayers. I’m so grateful for y’all.”

The Santa Clara City Council voted on Tuesday night (Aug. 29) to name Bey honorary mayor for the day and present her with a key to the city, according to The Mercury News. “The city of Santa Clara is excited about Beyonce’s upcoming visit to the world-renowned Levi’s Stadium,” Santa Clara spokesperson Michelle Templeton told the publication. “Her concerts will certainly bring a great deal of energy and excitement.”

According to figures reported to Billboard Boxscore, The Renaissance World Tour earned $127.6 million over 11 shows between July 8-30, claiming the largest one-month sum for any artist since the Boxscore archives began in the mid-1980s. Meanwhile, when her five-show run at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium grossed $42.2 million, it was noted that it was the highest grossing engagement ever by a woman, a Black artist, or any American artist.

UK Music CEO Jamie Njoku-Goodwin Stepping Down To Work for the Prime Minister

UK Music chief executive Jamie Njoku-Goodwin has announced he is stepping down after three years at the helm of the British music industry trade body to become director of strategy for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.  

A date has yet to be announced for Njoku-Goodwin’s exit from the organization, although it is expected to take place imminently. UK Music Deputy chief executive Tom Kiehl will take over from Njoku-Goodwin while the search for a new CEO is underway.

Njoku-Goodwin took over as CEO of UK Music in September 2020, succeeding Michael Dugher. Prior to joining the London-based organization, Njoku-Goodwin worked in politics, serving as a special adviser to former cabinet minister Matt Hancock and the department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.  

The first two years of Njoku-Goodwin’s time at UK Music, which represents all sectors of the United Kingdom’s music industry, coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic and saw him campaign for government funding to help prop up the business at a time of national lockdowns and the shutdown of live shows.  

In conjunction with other music trade groups, UK Music also lobbied the government to remove barriers to touring in Europe brought about by the country’s exit from the European Union. Those barriers — many of which still exist — include new restrictions for U.K. artists and crews entering Europe (and vice versa for European acts playing the United Kingdom) and increased production costs due to cabotage, carnets, visa and work permit charges.   

A recent focus for UK Music has been ensuring that creators and rights holders receive effective protection from artificial intelligence’s (AI) transformative impact on the industry.

Last year, Njoku-Goodwin strongly criticized what he referred to as “dangerous and damaging” plans by the British government allowing AI developers to freely use copyright-protected works, including music, to train their systems without the need for creators and rights holders to provide permission.  

Speaking out against the proposals, which were met with a fierce backlash from across the music and creative industries, Njoku-Goodwin — who sits on the board of the London Philharmonic Orchestra — said they “would give the green light to music laundering.”  

After further consultation with representatives of the music and media industries, the government announced that it was shelving the proposed text and data mining exceptions in February.   

Other issues that UK Music has campaigned for in the past three years include music education and improving diversity and inclusion throughout the industry. The organization has also continued to regularly produce reports on the health of the U.K. music business, including last month’s “Here, There and Everywhere” assessment of the country’s live sector.

“The U.K. music industry is one of this country’s great national assets, and it’s been a privilege to represent it for the past three years,” said Njoku-Goodwin in a statement announcing his departure. “I’m delighted our sector is in much better shape now to take on the challenges and opportunities it faces in the future.”  

Paying tribute, UK Music chairman Lord Watson said Njoku-Goodwin had “played a key role” in helping the industry get back on its feet after the struggles of the pandemic and called him “a passionate advocate for our sector.”  

Everything We Know So Far About Taylor Swift’s ‘Eras Tour’ Concert Film

Missed the Eras Tour when it came through your city? Don’t worry, you still have a chance to catch it — but this time, on the big screen.

Taylor Swift announced on Aug. 31 that she’d be bringing her massively popular global trek to AMC theaters all across North America, following the conclusion of its first U.S. leg earlier this month. Sharing an 80-second trailer jam-packed with shots from Swift’s career-spanning stage show, the 33-year-old pop star took to social media to announce the exciting news.

“The Eras Tour has been the most meaningful, electric experience of my life so far,” she wrote. “I’m overjoyed to tell you that it’ll be coming to the big screen soon ? Eras attire, friendship bracelets, singing and dancing encouraged.”

Just like with the Eras Tour tickets, anticipation for the concert film is so high, Swifties brought down the ticketing app — in this case, the AMC app instead of Ticketmaster — with Swifties tweeting about wait times, and some noting that they couldn’t even get the app to load. Ahead of the concert announcement, the company had even upgraded its website so that it could handle more than five times thelargest ticketing traffic it previously experienced.

“AMC is … aware that no ticketing system in history seems to have been able to accommodate the soaring demand from Taylor Swift fans when tickets are first placed on sale,” the company had said in a statement announcing the concert film, which also warned fans of possible delays and outages of its website.

Keep reading to see everything Billboard knows so far about the Eras Tour concert film, below:

Tinashe Reveals ‘BB/ANG3L’ Album Cover & Track List: Here’s When It Arrives

It’s about to be peak Tinashe season. After treating fans to a pair of sultry pre-release singles, Tinashe has revealed the track list and release date for her forthcoming sixth studio album.

The singer-songwriter shared the news on her Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) pages on Thursday (Aug. 31). Her new album, BB/ANG3L, is currently slated for a Sept. 8 release with a seven-song track list that includes the pre-release singles “Talk to Me Nice” and “Needs.” The album’s artwork finds a blond Tinashe gazing into the camera, while the track list graphic features a borderline-incomprehensible font (“Girl, I can’t read this. Let me go put my contacts in,” joked one Instagram commenter).

Tinashe has already announced a tour in support of her new album. She is set to hit the road with Shygirl and Uniiqu3, starting Oct. 28 in Chicago. The tour will conclude Nov. 18 in Oakland, California. BB/ANG3L will be the follow-up to 2021’s 333, Tinashe’s most recent LP. That album peaked at No. 175 on the Billboard 200; spawned the singles “Pasadena” (with Buddy) and “Bouncin’”; and housed additional collaborations with Jeremih, Kaash Paige, Absolutely, Wax Motif, Channel Tres and more. There will be no featured artists on BB/ANG3L.

Tinashe has earned four entries on the Billboard Hot 100 over the course of her career. She reached her highest peak on the chart in 2014 with the ScHoolboy Q-assisted “2 On.” On the Billboard 200, she has notched five entries, reaching as high at No. 27 with 2014’s Aquarius. She has also climbed as high as No. 41 on the Artist 100.

HHW Gaming: Sony Is Jacking Up PlayStation Plus Subscription Prices, Gamers React On X

PlayStation Plus Subscription Price Is Going Up, Gamers React

Source: PlayStation / PlayStation Plus

Yesterday’s price is not today’s price for the PlayStation Plus subscription service.

Sony announced that the price of a PlayStation Plus is going up. An annual Essential plan jumps from $60-$80, the Extra plan goes from $100 to $135, and the Premium plan from $120 to $160.

Brace yourselves. The new prices for the tiers go into effect on September 6.

Those still locked into their current subscriptions won’t experience the price hike until November 6, but if you make any changes “such as upgrades, downgrades, or buying additional time,” you will have to pay the extra money for the new subscription price.

As for the reason for the price hike, Sony says it will allow the company to “continue bringing high-quality games and value-added benefits” to the service.

Basically, if you want them to continue to drop those great games free to subscribers, the price has to go up. Sony also adds that yearly plans continue to come at a discount and are a better value than month-to-month or three-month subscriptions.

New PlayStation Plus was Sony’s answer to Xbox’s subscription service, Game Pass, and offered its users free titles every month, and for the most part, there were plenty of bangers.

Hilariously, the news of the price hikes comes on the heels of the very mid Saints Row coming to the PlayStation Plus service as the month’s free title. It is a rare miss for Team PlayStation regarding its monthly offerings.

Gamers React To The PlayStation Plus Price Hike

As expected, gamers have been sounding off about the news, and no one is happy about the price hike.

“I just saw that PlayStation plus is going up so they can provide us with better games each month and the first month of the price hike is saints row. What a world we live in,” One X user wrote.

Another user noted in an X post, “No dedicated Sony multiplayer games No Day 1 first parties No extra incentives or perks PlayStation: “We’re gonna increase the prices of plus.”

Welp.

You can see more reactions in the gallery below.

Photo: PlayStation / PlayStation Plus

2. Good times

3. Interesting

Texas Drag Restrictions Blocked By Federal Judge, Who Says They’re Likely Unconstitutional

A federal judge in Texas ruled Thursday that the state’s new law restricting drag performances was likely unconstitutional, issuing a temporary restraining order blocking the statute from going into effect on Friday.

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Following similar rulings by federal courts on such laws in Tennessee and Florida, U.S. District Judge David Hittner ruled that Texas’ statute, called Senate Bill 12, likely violated the First Amendment by restricting free speech.

“The Court finds there is a substantial likelihood that S.B. 12 as drafted violates the First Amendment of the United States Constitution under one or more of the legal theories put forward by the plaintiffs,” the judge wrote.

The ruling went in favor of a group of drag performers, drag production companies and non-profits that challenged the law. Represented by the American Civil Liberties Union, they argued that that S.B. 12 “criminalizes and restricts an enormous swath of constitutionally protected activity.”

Thursday’s order came as a temporary restraining order, which will only be in effect until the judge can issue a full written ruling. But the wording of the order indicates that he will likely strike down the law whenever he issues the more detailed decision.

Such a TRO, which can only be issued if a plaintiff proves they will suffer “irreparable harm” without one, was necessary because the law was set to go into effect on Friday.

“The court considers the impending infringement on the plaintiffs’ constitutional rights sufficient irreparable harm to warrant enjoining S.B. 12 while a final judgment is drafted,” Judge Hittner wrote.

Following the ruling, Paige Willey, spokeswoman for the Attorney General of Texas, told Billboard: “The people of Texas were appalled to learn of an increasing trend of obscene, sexually explicit so-called “drag” performances being marketed to families with children. The Office of the Attorney General will pursue all legal remedies possible to aggressively defend SB 12, the state law that regulates such performances to protect children and uphold public decency.”

A spokesperson for the ACLU did not immediately return a request for comment.

Passed by Texas lawmakers in May and signed by Gov. Greg Abbott in June, S.B. 12 expands criminal restrictions on public performance of sexual conduct. The original bill included explicit references to drag shows, but they were removed in response to criticism. Instead, the final version bans sexual gestures that use “accessories or prosthetics that exaggerate male or female sexual characteristics.” Violators can face up to a year in jail, and businesses hosting events can be fined $10,000 for each violation.

Critics say such statutes, proposed or passed in states across the country over the past two years, are a thinly-veiled attack on the LGBTQ community. The new laws have been closely-watched by the music industry, over concerns that aspects of concerts could run afoul of broad new restrictions.

The ACLU filed its lawsuit earlier this month, arguing that – despite the changes to the wording – the new statute “unconstitutionally singles out drag.” They said it was also “sweepingly overbroad and vague and fails to give adequate notice of what it proscribes.”

“In its zeal to target drag, the Legislature also passed a bill so yawning in scope that it criminalizes and restricts an enormous swath of constitutionally protected activity, including theater, ballet, comedy, and even cheerleading,” the group wrote.

The suit was filed on behalf of nonprofit LGBTQIA+ organizations The Woodlands Pride and Abilene Pride Alliance; drag entertainment companies Extragrams, LLC and 360 Queen Entertainment LLC; and drag performer Brigitte Bandit.

Earlier this week, Judge Hittner held a two-day trial-like hearing on the arguments from both sides. A final ruling is expected early next week.

Taylor Swift Fans Crash AMC App From Buying ‘Eras Tour’ Film Tickets

The Swifties’ support for Taylor Swift is so strong, they crashed an entire app.

After the “Anti-Hero” singer surprised fans by announcing her Eras Tour concert was turned into a movie, fans flooded the AMC app attempting to buy tickets, which led to a site crash. According to Collider, the app shared a message noting that online reservations were temporarily unavailable due to high volume, and that that anyone looking to purchase tickets should visit their local AMC Theatre in person.

Billboard has reached out to AMC for more information. “AMC is also aware that no ticketing system in history seems to have been able to accommodate the soaring demand from Taylor Swift fans when tickets are first placed on sale. Guests wanting to be the first to buy their tickets online may experience delays, longer-than-usual ticket- purchase waiting-room times and possible outages. AMC is committed to ensuring any delays or outages are addressed as quickly as possible,” the company told The Hollywood Reporter earlier in the day.

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According to a release, beginning October 13, every U.S. AMC Theatre location will run the movie at least four times per day on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sundays, with tickets for priced at $19.89 plus tax for adults and $13.13 for children and seniors plus tax (except for AMC’s branded premium large-format screens.) The film will be available in AMC theaters in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, with tickets on sale now here and here.

Swift herself also posted a trailer for the film, writing, “The Eras Tour has been the most meaningful, electric experience of my life so far and I’m overjoyed to tell you that it’ll be coming to the big screen soon. Starting Oct 13th you’ll be able to experience the concert film in theaters in North America! Tickets are on sale now at http://taylor.lnk.to/TSTheErasTourFilm…. Eras attire, friendship bracelets, singing and dancing encouraged. 1, 2, 3 LGB!!!! (iykyk).”