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18 Aug 2023

UFC 292: How to Watch Sterling vs. O’Malley Online Without Cable

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Who’s ready to rumble? This weekend, Aljamain Sterling and Sean O’Malley finally face off against each other during the UFC 292: Sterling vs. O’Malley match occurring Saturday (Aug. 19) on ESPN+. Sterling, the bantamweight champion, will be defending his crown and title as O’Malley, a fast-rising challenger hopes to overthrow him. Women’s strawweight Zhang Weili will also welcome Amanda Lemos during the co-main event.

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The main card event along with preliminary fights will be taking place live at TD Garden in Boston. For fans who weren’t able to snag travel deals to see the fights live, you’ll have to rely on streaming options to catch all the action.

UFC is a pay-per-view event that will be livestreaming on ESPN+ for $80. Get the UFC 292 live feed here.

The main card event starts at 10 p.m. ET, with preliminary matches beginning at 8 p.m. ET. Other fights you can catch that night include Ian Machado Garry vs. Neil Magny (welterweights), Mario Bautista vs. Da’Mon Blackshear (bantamweights), Marlon Vera vs. Pedro Munhoz (bantamweights), Brad Tavares vs. Chris Weidman (middleweights), Gregory Rodrigues vs. Denis Tiuliulin (middleweights), Austin Hubbard vs. Kurt Holobaugh (lightweights) and more.

Keep reading to learn how to livestream the fight without cable.

How to Watch UFC 292: Sterling vs. O’Malley

Sterling and O’Malley will enter the ring at 10 p.m. ET on Saturday, and you’ll be able to catch every moment of it through pay-per-view on ESPN+. UFC 292 can be purchased through ESPN+ for $80 if you’re a current subscriber.

Not already subscribed? New subscribers can bundle UFC 292 with an annual ESPN+ membership and receive a 30% discount, which brings the total up to $124.98. The UFC 292 preliminary matches are available to watch through ESPN and ESPN+ at no additional cost.

UFC 292 PPV Stream

$80

Click here or the buy button to get the UFC 292 PPV feed for $80 to watch Sterling vs. O’malley live online.

A regular ESPN+ subscription starts at $9.99/month or you can snag an annual subscription for $99.99/year. Through your subscription, you’ll have access to exclusive ESPN+ content, including all UFC PPV preliminary matches, live games for other sports, NFL drafts, NFL playoffs, MLB games and exclusive on-demand videos, as well as access content from what was formerly known as ESPN Insider. ESPN+ also has original shows to stream on-demand including game recaps, NBA finals and analyses hosted by Peyton Manning, a shorter version of NFL Primetime, as well as full replays of historic NFL games and limited series such as Man in the Arena: Tom Brady and Derek Jeter’s documentary series The Captain.

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18 Aug 2023

Rapper Young Capone Dead at 35 After Being Reported Missing

Young Capone, known for songs “What It Iz,” “Lights, Camera, Action,” “Dope Boy Fashion” and more, has died at 35. The rapper’s death was confirmed dead by his publicist, Aleesha Carter, on Wednesday (Aug. 16) via Instagram.

“This is with a heavy heavy heart that I’m even posting this. We made magic when we strategically put out projects, always,” she wrote, sharing a series of videos from Capone’s career. “‘Young Capone, aka Dopeboy Ra, aka Rara, was one of my first Hip Hop/ Rap clients, and I can’t believe the news I just got of his unexpected passing! A friend…a client and just huge in East Atlanta. This is not the easiest post at all. Rest easy, RIP.”

The news comes after the rapper — a protegé of Jermaine Dupri — was reported missing, and was last seen in Chicago. No cause of death was shared in Carter’s statement.

After news broke of Young Capone’s death, Dupri shared a picture of the rapper on Instagram and captioned it with four dove emojis, tagging the late artist’s Instagram account. He also soundtracked the post with the rapper’s Daz Dillinger collab “I’m Hot.”

Capone, real name Rodriguez Smith, earned a name for himself in East Atlanta during the mid 2000s in the underground hip-hop scene, working with Daz Dillinger and Dupri on material before getting signed to Dupri’s So So Def record label. After his signing, he released 2006’s “Lights, Camera, Action.”

As Young Capone, he released two mixtapes: 2010’s Look Who’s Back and 2011’s Paper and Politics. Under Dopeboy Ra, he collaborated with T.I.’s Hustle Gang collective on its 2017 album We Want Smoke. Capone’s final release, SlumMade 2.0, was released in December.

See Carter’s statement below:

18 Aug 2023

AI-Generated Works Aren’t Protected By Copyrights, Federal Judge Rules

A federal judge ruled Friday (Aug. 18) that U.S. copyright law does not cover creative works created by artificial intelligence, weighing in on an issue that’s being closely watched by the music industry.

In a 15-page written opinion, Judge Beryl Howell upheld a decision by the U.S. Copyright Office to deny a copyright registration to computer scientist Stephen Thaler for an image created solely by an AI model. The judge cited decades of legal precedent that such protection is only afforded to works created by humans.

“The act of human creation — and how to best encourage human individuals to engage in that creation, and thereby promote science and the useful arts — was … central to American copyright from its very inception,” the judge wrote. “Non-human actors need no incentivization with the promise of exclusive rights under United States law, and copyright was therefore not designed to reach them.”

In a statement Friday, Thaler’s attorney Ryan Abbot said he and his client “disagree with the district court’s judgment” and vowed to appeal: “In our view, copyright law is clear that the public is the main beneficiary of the law and this is best achieved by promoting the generation and dissemination of new works, regardless of how they are created.”

Though novel, the decision was not entirely surprising. Federal courts have long strictly limited to content created by humans, rejecting it for works created by animals, by forces of nature, and even those claimed to have been authored by divine spirits, like religious texts.

But the ruling was nonetheless important because it came amid growing interest in the future role that could be played in the creation of music and other content by so-called generative AI tools, similar to the much-discussed ChatGPT. The question of copyright protection is crucial to the future role of AI since works that are not protected would be difficult to monetize.

“Undoubtedly, we are approaching new frontiers in copyright as artists put AI in their toolbox to be used in the generation of new visual and other artistic works,” the judge wrote. “The increased attenuation of human creativity from the actual generation of the final work will prompt challenging questions.”

The current case, however — dealing with a work that was admittedly created solely by a computer — “is not nearly so complex,” the judge wrote. Given the lack of any human input at all, she said, Thaler’s case presented a “clear and straightforward answer.”

Though Friday’s ruling came with a clear answer, more challenging legal dilemmas will come in the future from more subtle uses of AI. What if an AI-powered tool is used in the studio to create parts of a song, but human artists add other elements to the final product? How much human direction on the use of those tools is needed for the output to count as “human authorship”?

Earlier this year, a report by the U.S. Copyright Office said that AI-assisted works could still be copyrighted, so long as the ultimate author remains a human being. The report avoided offering easy answers, saying that protection for AI works would be “necessarily a case-by-case inquiry,” and that the final outcome would always depend on individual circumstances.

Read the full opinion here:

18 Aug 2023

Drake Debuts Thugnificent Hairstyle, Social Media Plats On The Jokes

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Drake & KD Thought The Lens Run

Source: @throughthelens / Twitter

At this point, Drake is trolling us all. The 6 God debuted a hairstyle similar to the one worn by legendary, and fictional, rapper Thugnificent in The Boondocks.

The jokes truly write themselves. Drake was photographed (he also showed off his do on social media) at a workout that included NBA stars Kevin Durant and Trae Young. But while Drizzy continues to amaze with his deft at being buddies with talented ballplayers, it was his hair that may have been getting the most attention.

There’s Drake sporting his mane parted down the middle with pink clips holding the bunes in place. We’re not going to dabble in any homophobia because it’s 2023, and dude’s body list is brolic anyway. But we are going to document that jokes and slander for Drizzy yet again sporting a flagrant hairstyle, with a Fubu tee no less, though.

And the Thugnificent steez is just uncanny.

We’re just the messenger, peep some of the best reactions in the gallery.

2. Bruh…

18 Aug 2023

Madonna Says It’s ‘Great to Be Alive’ After European Birthday Celebration

Madonna celebrated her 65th birthday this week, and the Queen of Pop is bouncing back better than ever after her recent hospitalization.

The iconic pop star took to Instagram on Friday (Aug. 18) to share a montage of clips from her birthday celebration in Portugal. “It’s great to be Alive………… .. and Amazing to Be able to put on my dancing shoes and Celebrate my Birthday!” she captioned the post. “I’m So Grateful. Thank you Lisbon and to all who made it possible!”

“I’m going to wreck the place with my jewels. Be in my background, live in my background, stay in my background,” Madge tells the camera in the video, rocking big diamond-encrusted sunglasses before a montage of her luxurious birthday activities rolls to the tune of her 1990 classic, “Vogue.” She’s seen with her friends enjoying a boat day, riding horses on the beach, dancing, having dinner and singing to Elton John’s “Your Song.”

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See the post here.

In June, Madonna spent several days in the hospital due to a bacterial infection. The hospitalization has forced the star to put her massive, career-spanning Celebration tour on pause, though rescheduled dates have already been announced.

Madonna released her first statement after her hospitalization in July, thanking fans for their positive energy and assuring that she’s feeling better. “I have felt your love. I’m on the road to recovery and incredibly grateful for all the blessings in my life,” wrote the 65-year-old singer

18 Aug 2023

Amazon Music’s Tim Hinshaw Launches Own Free Lunch Agency

Tim Hinshaw, Amazon Music’s head of hip-hop and R&B, will be exiting the company after five years to launch his own agency, Free Lunch.  Free Lunch’s first client is Amazon Music. Before Hinshaw officially opens the agency, he will remain at Amazon in his current role through November. 

“Tim and the Rotation team have established Amazon Music as a powerhouse in hip-hop and R&B,” said Ryan Redington, vp of music industry for Amazon Music, in a release announcing the news. “We’re incredibly supportive of Tim realizing his dream of launching his own agency, and we’re thrilled to continue to work together on developing the most impactful campaigns for artists and our customers.”

According to the release, Free Lunch’s principal focus will be to “authentically connect brands with artists and culture through bespoke storytelling and in real-life experiences.” The agency derives its name from the free lunch programs offered by public schools and parks in underserved communities across the country.

“Free Lunch is an ode to my youth and the dreams I had as a child, which have now blossomed into a beautiful reality,” said Hinshaw, who grew up in Compton. “My work throughout my whole career and especially at Amazon Music has always been a reminder that where you come from doesn’t have to dictate where you end up. I look forward to continuing to work with my incredible colleagues at Amazon Music and building a company that will open doors for people with backgrounds like mine.”

Hinshaw has served as Amazon Music’s head of hip-hop and R&B since 2018. In helming the company’s industry strategy and partnerships for the genres, he also works closely with the streaming service’s global flagship brand, Rotation. Launched in 2019, Rotation presents new and emerging artists through playlists like Rap Rotation and R&B Rotation. Sharon Bako, Rochelle Balogun, Jane Shin and Andrew Sexton initially comprised the Rotation team.

Under Hinshaw’s leadership, Rotation has expanded in recent years. Sierra Lever joined Sexton to oversee label relations while Josh Peas leads artist relations. Stephanie Harris became a member of Balogun’s team, which curates Amazon Music’s hip-hop, R&B and Afrobeats programming. Melanie Mercedes came aboard in 2022 to lead Rotation’s social media presence. Hinshaw, Balogun, Lever and Peas are 2023 Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players honorees, with Hinshaw recognized as executive of the year in 2022.

“I want to thank Steve Boom [Amazon Music vp] and Ryan Redington for believing in me,” added Hinshaw. “When we initially discussed this idea, neither of them flinched and that meant the world to me and my family. Black executives have oftentimes gotten the short end of the stick after giving their all in this industry. I can name so many. It’s not often you see this type of support from major corporations for executives like myself and that should be celebrated. This is not only a win for me, it’s a win for hip-hop culture, a win for creative executives and a win for the Westside of Compton. Free lunch for the youth forever.”

18 Aug 2023

Normani Teams With Bose for Her Very Own QuietComfort II Earbuds: Get Them While They’re Still in Stock

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.

Two months after announcing her partnership with Bose and teasing her upcoming single “Candy Paint,” Normani is expanding into product design. The singer teamed with Bose to release a custom version of the QuietComfort Earbuds II on Thursday (Aug. 17).

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The Normani x Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are an ode to her upcoming “Candy Paint” single with a metallic purple colorway that channels a candy paint job on car. Normani also put a clue about her upcoming album on the back of the charging case.

“There’s a little Easter egg on the back,” she says in a video debuting the limited-edition earbuds. “It’ll all make sense in the grand scheme of this body of work, which I’m really excited about.”

Bose’s QuietComfort Earbuds II features touch control, 11 levels of adjustable noise cancellation, Custom Tune technology that personalizes sound to the shape of your ears and six hours of battery life.

Additionally, Bose QuietComfort II Earbuds have an Adjustable EQ setting located in the Bose Music app to controls bass, mid-range and treble. QuietComfort II earbuds are IPX4 rated moisture resistant, which means that they can withstand sweat, splashes and sprays.

In June, Normani announced her Bose collaboration with a video previewing her “Candy Paint” single. “The Bose team [were] really hands on and allowed me to be hands on and take leadership in terms of the creativity,” she told Billboard at the time. “It just felt authentic and enjoyable, honestly. It was probably one of the most seamless experiences [for a partnership] thus far.”

During the interview, Normani also shared that she prefers earbuds to headphones. “I’m definitely an earbuds girl. Especially in rehearsals with [choreographer] Shaun [Bankhead]. He’s going to give me an eight count, OK?! I cant help but go full out. I just feel supported [in earbuds] and not limited.”

Normani’s Bose earbuds are still available online at Bose.com, but stock is extremely limited, which means they won’t be available for long. Shop the Normani x Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II below.

Bose x Normani QuietComfort Earbuds II

$349

18 Aug 2023

Anitta, Mon Laferte & More: What’s Your Favorite New Latin Music Release? Vote!

This week, our New Music Latin roundup — a compilation of the best new Latin songs, albums, and videos recommended by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors — is powered by new music from Mon Laferte, Maluma, RBD, Ha*Ash and Anitta, to name a few.

Chilean singer-songwriter Mon Laferte delivered a slow, deep, sad song about a young woman who leaves her hometown to pursue her dreams and promises her mother to come back for her, as described by the singer herself. “This story is my story,” she explained in a press statement. “I juggled through a lot to be here in Mexico for years. Just a year after my grandmother died, things started to go well for me, so I was never able to fulfill that promise.”

The cumbia track, which was leaked ahead of time, is the first single off her upcoming album.

Separately, Anitta has unleashed her carioca funk trilogy: Funk Generation: A Favela Love Story. On the three-track release, the Brazilian superstar brings all back to her foundations with “Funk Rave,” “Casi Casi” and “Used To Be” for the ultimate trifecta.

Other notable releases this week include Ha*Ash and Reik’s first collaborative effort in “Te Acuerdas,” Maluma and Carin Leon’s “Según Quién,” Carlos Vives and Juanes’ new anthem “Las Mujeres” and RBD’s “Cerquita De Ti” — the group’s new single, which drops ahead of their tour kicking off Aug. 25.

Last week, Karol G’s “Mi Ex Tenía Razón” won the reader poll with more than 57 percent of the votes. What’s your favorite new Latin music release of the week? Vote below!

Purchase tickets to the 2023 Billboard Latin Music Week here.

18 Aug 2023

Nas on Women In Hip-Hop, His Favorite Up-and-Coming Artists & More | R&B Hip-Hop Power Players Live 2023

Nas shares his thoughts on female trailblazers such as Queen Latifah, Roxanne Shanté, MC Lyte and the up-and-coming female artists he thinks are the ones to watch.

Nas:
I can’t believe I’m here. Fifty calling in 50 years. I’m just happy to be here to witness it as a fan, to be honored. It’s like, “No, it’s no joke to me.” It’s like, “Wow is this real?”

I remember they were acts like Latifah, Shanté and MC Light. What does it feel like to be in a male dominated rap game and how come female rappers are not happening? Just you guys. They held it down strong. It took years, but it’s just their time. They’re not going to be held back — it’s their strength, it’s their power, it’s their talent, it’s their beauty. It’s everything wrapped in one that’s just supposed to dominate right now.

Coming up, there’s Latto, Ice Spice, Coco Jones. Then there’s a few others you know that I like.

18 Aug 2023

New Music Latin: Listen to Releases From Maluma & Carin Leon, Ha*Ash, Los Ángeles Azules & More

New Music Latin is a compilation of the best new Latin songs and albums recommended by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors. Check out this week’s picks below.

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Maluma & Carin Leon, “Según Quién” (Sony Music Latin)

For his new regional Mexican song, Maluma is joined by Carin Leon, a leading force in the música mexicana realm. “Según Quién” highlights the fusion of two genres, creating pop-norteño with acoustic guitars and a trumpet that accentuates the song’s lyrics. Produced by Edgar Barrera, this new collab was co-written by Maluma, Barrera, Keityn, Lenin Yorney Palacios “Lexus” and Luis Miguel Gómez Castaño “Casta.” The song is a dedication to someone who mistakenly believes you still love them. “Tell the one who is informing you that you are being misinformed, and for them to inform you well,” Maluma croons. The track will be part of the Colombian star’s next album Don Juan, which is set to be released Aug. 25. — INGRID FAJARDO

Ha*Ash feat. Reik, “Te Acuerdas” (Sony Music México)

Both Ha*Ash and Reik are known for their power ballads and heart-wrenching lyrics. A collab between the two powerhouse pop acts had been a long time coming, and today, they join forces to deliver “Te Acuerdas,” a soulful romantic song that stays true to their essence. The stripped-down track, powered by a piano and guitars, puts Hanna, Ashley and Jesús Navarro’s striking and evocative vocals at the forefront, as they sing about not being able to let go of a past lover. “Remember you loved me, do you remember, because I do,” they declare.

“It was a collaboration that we knew our fans were waiting for,” sisters Hanna and Ashley (Ha*Ash) said in a statement. “We had been wanting to do something with our little brothers from Reik for a long time. We’ve shared a record label for a long time and we’ve practically grown up together. We wanted a song that represented both of us and ‘Te Acuerdas’ is one of those heartbreaking songs that both their fans and ours love.” — GRISELDA FLORES

Mon Laferte, “Te Juro Que Volveré” (Universal Music Group México)

It wasn’t supposed to be the first release of Mon Laferte’s next album, but “Te juro que volveré” became an unanticipated new single in recent days when it was leaked. Narrated by an unknown voice, which could be her own (just distorted), the “simple” cumbia — as the Chilean-born artist describes it — is a slow, deep, sad song about a young woman who leaves her hometown to pursue her dreams, and her promise to her mother to go back for her as soon as she could.

“This story is my story,” says Mon Laferte in a press release, noting that, in her case, her mother was actually her grandmother. “I juggled through a lot to be here in Mexico for years. Just a year after my grandmother died, things started to go well for me, so I was never able to fulfill that promise.” The song is accompanied by a captivatingly dark visualizer in which Laferte, wrapped in what a appears to be the flags of her native and adoptive countries, sings from her own grave while being honored with a cholo dance and flowers. — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS

Carlos Vives & Juanes, “Las Mujeres” (Sony Music Latin)

Colombian superstars Carlos Vives and Juanes come together in a folkloric tribute to women on the song “Las Mujeres”. In this new vallenato-pop version of the classic vallenato authored by “El Cantor de Fonseca” Carlos Huertas, the compatriots celebrate the beauty and plurality of all the races and subcultures that make up the Colombian idiosyncrasy. The theme — which was created to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Vives Clásicos de la Provincia album released in 1993 and included in the sequel to volume II in 2009 — incorporates the rock touch of Juanes, who opens the song with his electric guitar and in the video, the two of them sitting enjoying a cup of coffee. “What can we do with women, because they finished me off,” highlights the very Colombian expression in the chorus.

The video shows women of different races, ages, and professions, from indigenous people from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta like the talented accordionist Ati, to the Vallenato singer Lupe with her accordion, “the queen of BMX” Mariana Pajón, models, doctors, pilots, dressmakers, and philanthropists. It also highlights the coffee line of the renowned Juan Valdez brand “Mujeres Cafeteras” in a true tribute to the diversity and power of Colombian women. Recorded on a stage that represents typical Colombian towns, it ends with a colorful mural in honor of “Las Mujeres,” created throughout the song by the talented graffiti artist Ledania. — LUISA CALLE — LUISA CALLE

Anitta, Funk Generation: A Favela Love Story (A Republic Record / UMLE)

Picking up steam from her viral “Funk Rave” reverie, Anitta arrives with a sweltering carioca funk trilogy: Funk Generation: A Favela Love Story. On the three-track release, the Brazilian superstar brings all back to her favela foundations, unleashing a no-holds-barred fête with two new bangers, “Casi Casi” and “Used to Be.” Bolstered by an arresting baile funk beat, the former trilingual cut sees the Brazilian singer in her most playful phase as she teases with flirty verses while the street party stays lit, as shown in the kitschy new music video. Meanwhile, “Used to Be” sees Anitta reminiscing on her adventurous, pleasure-seeking journey. The visual for the latter track will drop August 24. Bem-vindos à Funk Generation. — ISABELA RAYGOZA

Los Ángeles Azules & Maria Becerra, “El Amor De Mi Vida” (Seitrack/UMG Recordings)

In a first-ever collaboration, Los Ángeles Azules and Maria Becerra deliver “El Amor de mi Vida” (the love of my life). Produced by the group’s Jorge Mejía and Rodolfo Lugo, Becerra starts off showcasing her powerhouse vocals, backed by soft accordion and guitar melodies, before transitioning into an infectious cumbia sonidera and cumbia villera fusion. Composed by Becerra alongside Horacio Palencia, Andy Clay Cruz and Nina Mínguez, the track narrates the story of a person who’s all-in with love. “Let’s go far away/baby, tell me yes/I’m ready to love you, if not, forget about me/give you my kisses all night/and tell you, if you didn’t know, I want to make love but make you the love of my life,” the Argentine singer chants.

The music video was filmed in Argentina and stars Becerra’s actual family members. “They [Los Ángeles Azules] have been the soundtrack of my house and family parties, and that is what we wanted to reflect in the video with my family being part of it because we feel that it is the essence of the song,” Becerra says in a press statement. — JESSICA ROIZ

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Purchase tickets to the 2023 Billboard Latin Music Week here.