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06 Jul 2023

Ricky Martin & Jwan Yosef Are Divorcing After 6 Years of Marriage

Ricky Martin and Jwan Yosef are divorcing after six years of marriage, the pair announced in a joint statement on Thursday (July 6).

“For some time, we have considered transforming our relationship, and it is after careful consideration that we have decided to end our marriage with love, respect, and dignity for our children — preserving and honoring what we have experienced as a couple all of these wonderful years,” they wrote in a message posted to Instagram.

“Our greatest desire now is to continue having a healthy family dynamic and a relationship centered on our genuine friendship as we continue the joint upbringing of our children,” their statement continued. “As always, we thank you for all the love and support we received throughout our marriage. We are united in nurturing this new chapter of our lives.”

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Martin and Yosef share two kids: daughter Lucia, born in 2018, and son Renn, born in 2019. Before meeting Yosef, Martin welcomed twin sons Matteo and Valentino in 2008. The Puerto Rican superstar made their relationship official in 2016 when they walked the amFAR Inspiration Gala red carpet together. That same year, they announced they were engaged, and married in 2018.

Most recently, the “Tiburones” singer announced a new tour that he’ll be co-headlining with fellow hitmakers Enrique Iglesias and Pitbull. The North America Trilogy Tour is set to kick off Oct. 14 in Washington, D.C. The 19-date arena trek — produced by Live Nation — will make stops in major cities such as New York, Miami, Houston and Las Vegas before wrapping up Dec. 16 in Vancouver, B.C.

See Ricky Martin and Jwan Yosef’s joint statement posted to the singer’s Instagram account below:

06 Jul 2023

Nicki Minaj & Ice Spice Now Have 2 Shared Hot 100 Top 10s – How Rare Is That Historically Among Women?

The combination of Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice (and Barbie) has made for a rare achievement on the Billboard Hot 100.

As previously reported, Minaj and Ice Spice’s “Barbie World” with Aqua debuts at No. 7 on the Hot 100 dated July 8. The song, from the movie Barbie (due in theaters July 21), is the pair’s second shared top 10 after their “Princess Diana” debuted and peaked at No. 4 in April.

(Minaj now boasts 23 Hot 100 top 10s overall and Ice Spice, four.)

How rare is it for two women to have more than Hot 100 top 10 together, like Minaj and Ice Spice?

Over the Hot 100’s history, it’s an exclusive club, with Minaj boasting another partner, as she has also teamed up with Ariana Grande for two top 10s.

Similarly, Missy Elliott has two Hot 100 top 10s with both Ciara and Lil’ Kim.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the recipe for the achievement is a rapper teaming with a singer or another rapper, with the former mode seeking to maximize reach to both hip-hop and pop fans.

Below is a look at all the women that have teamed up for multiple Hot 100 top 10s together.

Notably, not on the list is another superstar duo: Beyoncé and Lady Gaga. Their “Telephone” hit No. 3 on the Hot 100 in April 2010, marking their second entry on the chart; “Video Phone” reached No. 65 the previous December.

Plus, Doja Cat and SZA have become a fearsome chart force: Doja Cat’s “Kiss Me More” featuring SZA climbed to No. 3 on the Hot 100 in July 2021. This April, SZA’s “Kill Bill” became her first No. 1 on the chart following the release of its remix with Doja Cat, although the latter was not credited on the survey, as the remix did not account for the majority of its consumption that week.

Meanwhile, male/female and male/male team-ups have yielded multiple Hot 100 top 10s, including Rihanna and Drake, and Rihanna and Eminem; Beyoncé and Jay-Z; and Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney.

06 Jul 2023

6LACK Partners With Endel to Release Alternate Wellness Versions of New Album

R&B singer 6LACK has partnered with Endel to create alternate versions of his latest album Since I Have A Lover that is specially formulated to promote “restorative rest and mental balance” as part of BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month. One alternate version is designed to promote sleep, out July 8, and the second will promote focus, out July 24.

To promote the collaboration, 6lack will host a live pre-listening session on the Endel app on July 6, and two in-person events will take place in LA and Berlin that same day.

Endel is a start-up that creates what it calls “functional sound,” a form of ambient music that supports listeners day-to-day wellness needs, including sleep, meditation and focus. While Endel’s proprietary music-making technology is powered by artificial intelligence, Endel does not create new songs out of thin air. Instead, it generates ambient soundscapes by rearranging pieces of music provided by artists in ways that Endel says promotes specific wellness goals.

6lack joins the likes of other artists like Grimes and James Blake who have partnered with the soundscape start-up in the past, however, the alternate version of Since I Have A Lover is a new kind of partnership for the wellness brand because it is the first full album Endel has remixed and released on streaming services.

In March, Oleg Stavitsky, co-founder and CEO of Endel, told Billboard he felt this was a way for the soundscape company to help major labels evolve. “We can process the stems [the audio building blocks of a track] from Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue and come back with a functional sleep version of that album,” Stavitsky said, adding that Endel was in talks with all the major labels about trying this at the time.

Since then, Endel has partnered with UMG to do just that, and Since I Have A Lover marks the companies’ first attempt. Their partnership came as a surprise to some, given UMG chief Lucian Grainge‘s negative recent remarks about AI and functional music. Lamenting that functional music drives streaming dollars away from pop music and towards rain sounds, white noise, and other ambient recordings, he said in a memo to staff in January that “consumers are increasingly being guided by algorithms to lower-quality functional content that in some cases can barely pass for ‘music.’”

But at the time the partnership was announced, Michael Nash, UMG evp and chief digital officer, praised Endel for “utiliz[ing] their patented AI technology” to create ambient music because it is “anchored in our artist-centric philosophy” and “powered by AI that respects artists’ rights in its development.”

Endel’s ambient soundscapes have been on streaming services since 2019, thanks to UMG competitor Warner Music Group. Known to be bullish in its investment and partnership strategy with emerging music tech companies, WMG signed Endel to a 20-album distribution deal.

“This is about letting people experience my music in a new way,” 6LACK says of his collaboration with Endel. “These sounds can be for rest and relaxation, or for helping you feel inspired and creative. It’s for finding a sense of balance in life. Since I Have a Lover has plenty of magical sounds, and combined with Endel’s AI and science, it was easy to create something that felt healing.”

“Using AI to reimagine your favorite music as a functional soundscape, designed to help solve the biggest mental health challenges we’re facing as a species, is our mission. 6LACK’s openness to experimentation and his ability to let go and trust the process was crucial to the success of this project,” says Stavitsky. “We’re extremely proud of the result and can’t wait for millions of people to experience the healing power of these soundscapes.”

06 Jul 2023

Justin Trudeau Very Politely Asked Taylor Swift to Consider Booking Some Canadian Eras Tour Dates

Justin Trudeau wants to know why Taylor Swift is freezing out the Great White North. After Swift announced the expanded dates for the 2024 European leg of her Eras Tour, the Canadian Prime Minister commented on Taylor’s post with a playful plea to consider adding even more dates.

“It’s me, hi. I know places in Canada would love to have you,” Trudeau wrote. “So, don’t make it another cruel summer. We hope to see you soon.” Swift has been on the road in the U.S. on the massive tour since March. And while she is booked through next summer, to date she has not announced a single show in Canada, even as she recently expanded the American run to include a sixth night at L.A.’s SoFi Stadium next month.

Trudeau’s comment came after Swift announced on Wednesday that her old friend, Paramore‘s Hayley Williams, will be joining her for the whole run of the 2024 European Eras Tour. “Really can’t contain my excitement because… we’re adding 14 new shows to The Eras Tour,” Swift wrote. “And I get to travel the world doing shows with @paramore!! Hayley and I have been friends since we were teens in Nashville and now we get to frolic around the UK/Europe next summer??? I’m screaming???”

The addition of the 14 new dates pumps up Paramore’s opening slots on the Euro 2024 Eras tour to all 48 dates; the run kicks off on May 9 in Paris and wraps on August 17 with the last of six shows at Wembley Stadium in London.

Trudeau’s query does beg the question of why Swift has not yet announced any dates up North, though at press time a spokesperson for the singer had not returned Billboard‘s request for comment on whether any Canadian gigs might be added to the already bulging 100+ date routing. The last time Swift performed dates in Canada was on her 2018 stadium tour for Reputation.

See Trudeau’s tweet below.

06 Jul 2023

Harry Styles and Glass Animals Help Lift UK Music Exports to Record Highs

LONDON — Global hit records by Harry Styles, Glass Animals and Ed Sheeran, coupled with the popularity of U.K. acts in emerging markets like the Middle East and Africa, helped British music exports climb to a record high of £709 million ($910 million) in 2022, according to new figures released by labels trade body BPI.

The London-based organization says 2022’s export tally is the highest annual total since BPI began analyzing labels’ overseas income in 2000. Last year also marked the ninth consecutive year of growth in U.K. music export trade revenues, which slumped to just over £200 million ($254 million at today’s exchange rates) in 2007.

BPI, which represents over 500 independent labels, as well as the U.K. arms of Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment and Warner Music Group, says the consistent year-on-year rise puts the country’s record industry on track to exceed £1 billion ($1.27 billion) in annual music exports by the end of the decade.

Driving last year’s 20% growth was a combination of globally successful British artists and the strong value of the U.S. dollar and other foreign currencies against the pound sterling.

British singer-songwriter Harry Styles’ hit single “As It Was” was the world’s most-streamed song in 2022, according to Luminate data cited by BPI, while Glass Animals’ “Heat Waves” was number two. Other songs by U.K. artists in the year-end global top 10 included Elton John and Dua Lipa’s “Cold Heart (PNAU Remix)” and Ed Sheeran’s “Shivers.”

In total, around 450 U.K. artists accumulated more than 100 million global streams last year, up from almost 400 in 2021, BPI reports. That list includes Adele, Arctic Monkeys, Calvin Harris, Coldplay, Dave and Sam Smith, as well as veteran acts The Beatles, Pink Floyd and Queen. Overall, British artists claimed more than a quarter of the 50 most-streamed songs on Spotify in 2022.

Worldwide, consumption of British music increased in every region last year, says BPI, with export revenues rising 11% in Europe and up 28% in North America (equivalent trade values were not provided). The fastest-growing regions for U.K. music exports were Africa (up 48%) and the Middle East (up 59%).

On a country-by-country basis, all but one of the U.K.’s leading music export markets recorded a rise in export sales, including the U.S. – the leading international market for British acts – where revenues grew 28% to £292 million ($371 million). The second biggest country for U.K. music sales is Germany, where revenues climbed 4% to £58 million ($74 million), followed by France (up 15% to $54 million).

In line with the past several years, the U.K.’s share of the global recorded music market remains around 10%, reports BPI, despite the growing international popularity of music acts from Latin America and Asia, particularly South Korea.

In a statement, BPI interim chief executive Sophie Jones said the continued success of U.K. labels and artists overseas was “an exceptional achievement in the face of unprecedented competition on the global music stage, both from long-established and rapidly-expanding new music markets.”

The U.K. is the world’s third biggest recorded music market behind the U.S. and Japan with sales of just over $1.8 billion in trade value, according to IFPI’s 2022 Global Music Report.

06 Jul 2023

Olivia Rodrigo Posts Hilariously Sanitized Alternate Radio Edit ‘Vampire’ Lyrics

Olivia Rodrigo‘s “Vampire” almost had a very different kind of bite. In a TikTok video posted on Wednesday titled “dream crusher it is”, Rodrigo and producer Dan Nigro are in the studio working on the first single from the singer’s upcoming sophomore album, cooking up some pretty hilarious alternate lyrics for the track’s radio edit.

In the clip, Rodrigo and Nigro amuse themselves by replacing the more explicit line about a “Bloodsucker, fame f—er/ Bleeding me dry like a goddamn vampire” with more safe-for-work alternatives, including “tree hugger,” “fame hunter,” “whale blubber,” “Mark Zucker,” “fame lover” and “garlic butter.” The sanitized radio version out now has her singing “Bloodsucker, dream crusher.” After several takes Nigro can be heard laughing at the proposed replacement phrases, with both losing it at the mention of the Meta boss. It ends with Nigro confidently saying, “yeah, I think one of them will work.”

“Vampire” is the first new music from Rodrigo since her 2021 debut, Sour, which featured her Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hits “Drivers License” and “Good 4 U,” as well as “Deja Vu” and “Brutal.” The song is slate to appear on Rodrigo’s upcoming second album, GUTS, which is due out on Sept. 8.

As you might expect, the search is on among fans for the identity of the vampiric protagonist in the song, with Rodrigo having some fun recently with the “who is it about?” parlor games her fans have been taking part in. Just days after the single dropped, Rodrigo, 20, hopped on TikTok to offer some blood red herrings to her followers. While pretending to sip blood from a fake hospital-grade “Type A” blood bag while listening to the song, Rodrigo paused and said, “Wait, is this f—ing play about us?,” while lip synching along to a scene from Euphoria.

Next to her in the video was TikTok comedian Jake Shane wearing a vampire cape and also drinking fake blood, whom Rodrigo joked in the caption was actually the subject of her new lyrics. “for everyone asking… vampire is about @Jake Shane,” she wrote. “I am the vampire in question,” Shane confirmed in the comments.

Check out the TikTok below.

06 Jul 2023

Watch Exclusive Footage From ODESZA’s ‘The Last Goodbye Cinematic Experience’

On Friday, ODESZA‘s concert film/biopic The Last Goodbye Cinematic Experience will have its one-night run in more than 700 theaters worldwide.

The movie, directed by the Seattle-based duo’s longtime friend and creative director Sean Kusanagi, captures the grandeur of the pair’s recent tour behind their 2022 album, The Last Goodbye, while also unpacking the backstory behind ODESZA’s rise and the team behind the project.

The film emphasizes the incredible amount of work and attention to detail that went into the live show, for which the guys and their team took the album they’d just finished then completely revamped it for the tour, crossing the new music with older material and figuring out how to best present the ODESZA catalog in spectacle of lights, lasers, confetti and a drum line.

In an exclusive clip of the film below, the pair’s Harrison Mills and Clayton Knight hash out some of the most granular details of the show. The clip finds the guys parsing out details in the studio, with Mills acknowledging the high stakes to what they’re doing given the time that’s passed since their last tour.

“I’m a little nervous for sure,” Mills says, “it’s been three years.”

The Last Goodbye Cinematic Experience works for both old and new fans of ODESZA, with the movie composed of stunning, inventively shot concert footage from the Last Goodbye Tour that offers new views of the show even to those who’ve seen it. This footage is interspersed with the making of the show and archival material going back to the earliest days of ODESZA.

“Our long-time friend Sean Kusanagi has been with us from day one of ODESZA and it’s incredible to see what footage he pulled together from the past ten years of our careers,” Mills and Knight tell Billboard.

Highlights of the movie include the guys returning to the dilapidated basement of the college house where they began the ODESZA project, the older footage that demonstrates the friendships at the heart of the project, new material that reveals more of the emotion and psychology behind The Last Goodbye (try not to cry in the scene where Mills talks with him mom about the death of her parents), and the impact this music has had on fans.

“We wouldn’t be where we are today without our fans,” Mills and Harrison add. ‘That’s why we are extremely excited to share this film… to give those who have been with us a look behind the curtain for the first time and to let them know how grateful we are for their support over the years.”

Ultimately, The Last Goodbye Cinematic Experience functions in the same way as ODESZA’s previous output, providing a massive show with emotional punch. The 27-date tour after which the film is named hit arenas and amphitheaters across North America, grossing $25.6 million and selling 395,000 tickets, according to numbers provided by Billboard Boxscore.

06 Jul 2023

Nick Jonas Talks Jonas Brothers’ Tour Strategy as He Takes the Stage for U.S. Army’s ‘Salute to Summer’

The military has always had a special place in Nick Jonas‘ heart, as a number of his family members — including his grandfather Gerald Miller — have selflessly served the United States of America.

That’s why the superstar jumped at the opportunity to headline NBCUniversal’s Salute to Summer concert event at Universal Studios Hollywood, which also celebrated the U.S. Army with a series of physical challenges and one-of-a-kind installations that inspire viewers to push beyond their boundaries.

“I’m so grateful to celebrate in the setting of the concert to kick things off, but I also love the ideology behind all this to inspire young people to be the absolute best they can be and find opportunities within the ecosystem of the military to find themselves,” Jonas tells Billboard of performing at the event, which will stream on Peacock starting Friday (July 7).

Staff Sgts. Lamar Riddick (L) and Nicholas Feemster (R)

While he’s fresh off the release of Jonas Brothers‘ recent project The Album, Nick says he enjoys a chance to perform solo tracks every once in a while “to keep it fresh,” like in the case of Salute to Summer.

However, Nick was still thrilled to reflect on the sibling trio’s recent release, which peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 albums chart when it dropped back in May. “Approaching this album-making process, it was really apparent to all of us that we needed to meet each other where we were at, which is very different than it was even four years ago when we released Happiness Begins,” he shares, before noting that his, Joe and Kevin Jonas’ experiences as fathers also shaped how the album turned out.

“Our experiences have grown quite a bit, and the biggest one of those is the lessons of parenthood,” he explains. “I think ‘Waffle House’ does a good job of teeing up what built the foundation for us as a family to be able to have open, honest communication, even in tough moments. That’s something I think all of us want to bring into the way we build our families and I’m so thrilled with the reaction to that song and the people really resonating with the message of the song and what it means for them.”

Speaking of growth, Nick adds that becoming comfortable with themselves and maturing in their relationship allowed him and his brothers to create music they’re truly proud of. “Anytime we tried to do something that some gatekeeper or executive said would work usually ended up not working,” the 30-year-old says with a laugh. “What’s been incredible as an artist is watching, over the last couple of years, the power that the consumer has to be their own gatekeeper. That goes for everything from streaming to creators online and also how we consume content and music and everything else. For us, that’s a plus because it seems that when we’re being true to ourselves and what’s relevant to us and what’s truly authentic, then it seems to resonate with our fans, which means the world to us.”

The JoBros will see their fans in person soon, as they’re slated to kick off their North American tour in support of The Album on Aug. 12. The ambitious Five Albums. One Night. The Tour. is set to be a celebration of the group’s decadeslong career. While Nick says trying to navigate putting five albums worth of songs into one setlist is a “monster” to figure out, he’s excited to bring the idea to life.

“I think all of us really love the idea of challenging ourselves not only to remember all the lyrics but to also dig in and walk down memory lane in a way that felt celebratory and not overly nostalgic, like some sort of weird victory lap towards the end of a career,” Jonas explains, “Because this is truly the start of the next chapter. We all feel ready to get out there and play some shows for our fans here in the U.S. and then eventually, probably top of next year, overseas.”

Check out the Jonas Brothers’ full list of tour dates here, and catch Nick Jonas’ Salute to Summer performance on July 7 via Peacock, which you can sign up for here.

06 Jul 2023

Eagles Announce Initial Dates for ‘The Long Goodbye’ Final Tour

After more than half a century of criss-crossing the globe to spread the warm smell of colitas, the Eagles announced the dates for their final tour on Thursday (July 6). Dubbed “The Long Goodbye,” the trek will feature fellow Rock and Roll Hall of famers Steely Dan opening up the shows, which are slated to kick off on Sept. 7 at Madison Square Garden in New York.

“The Eagles have had a miraculous 52-year odyssey, performing for people all over the globe; keeping the music alive in the face of tragic losses, upheavals and setbacks of many kinds,” read a statement from the group. “Credit and thanks go to our longtime management team, our dedicated road crew, and our exceptional backup musicians for providing skilled and steadfast support, throughout these many years. We know how fortunate we are, and we are truly grateful.”

At press time only the first 13 dates had been announced, with tickets slated to go on sale on July 14 at 10 a.m. local time for the tour that will feature Don Henley, Joe Walsh, Timothy B. Schmit as well as Vince Gill and Deacon Frey playing “as many shows in each market as their audience demands,” according to the statement; the tour is expected to run into 2025. Country Music Hall of Fame member Gill began playing with the Eagles in 2017 alongside Deacon, son of late Eagles guitarist Glenn Frey, who died in 2016.

“Our long run has lasted far longer than any of us ever dreamed. But, everything has its time, and the time has come for us to close the circle,” the band continued in its announcement, noting that the farewell run is still in the planning stages, with more dates to be announced at a later time. “We want to give all our fans a chance to see us on this final round… The difficulties of booking venues for multiple nights may require us to return to certain cities, depending on demand.  But, we hope to see as many of you as we can, before we finish up. Most importantly, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for embracing this band and its music. At the end of the day, you are the reason we have been able to carry on for over five decades. This is our swan song, but the music goes on and on.”

Presale and VIP ticket packages for the Live Nation-produced tour will go on sale on July 12 for all announced shows, with the general on sale beginning on the 14th. Earlier this year, the band announced an additional run of shows featuring a full performance of their signature 1976 album Hotel California along with their greatest hits.

Check out the first announced dates for The Long Goodbye tour below.

Sept. 7 — New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden

Sept. 11 — Boston, MA @ TD Garden 

Sept. 16 — Newark, NJ @ Prudential Center

Sept. 20 — Belmont Park, NY @ UBS Arena

Oct. 5 — Denver, CO @ Ball Arena

Oct. 9 — Indianapolis, IN @ Gainbridge Fieldhouse

Oct. 13 — Detroit, MI @ Little Caesars Arena

Oct. 17 — Cleveland, OH @ Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse

Nov. 2 — Atlanta, GA @ State Farm Arena

Nov. 7 — Charlotte, NC @ Spectrum Center

Nov. 9 — Raleigh, NC @ PNC Arena

Nov. 14 — Lexington, KY @ Rupp Arena

Nov. 17 — St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center

06 Jul 2023

TikTok Launches New Music Streaming Service in Brazil, Indonesia

TikTok is launching a new “social music streaming service” in Indonesia and Brazil, the company announced Thursday (July 6).

TikTok Music is a premium-only service that users will be able to synch with their existing TikTok accounts in order to listen to, share and download the tracks they discover on TikTok. The service is available starting now in both countries; all new TikTok Music users will be offered a one-month free trial.

TikTok Music will launch with a “full catalogue of music from thousands of labels and artists,” according to a press release. That includes Sony Music, whose catalog hasn’t been available on TikTok’s existing streaming service, Resso, since September. The release adds that Sony’s catalog will become available on Resso again beginning Thursday.

Following Thursday’s launch, Resso — which launched in March 2020 in India and Indonesia before later being made available in Brazil — will cease operating in both Indonesia and Brazil on Sept. 5. Existing Resso users will be invited to transfer their accounts to TikTok Music “with the click of a button,” the release states.

TikTok’s pivot to a subscription-based streamer began in May, when its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, announced that Resso would become a premium-only service.

Among other features, TikTok Music subscribers will have the ability to swipe up and down on the app to explore personalized music recommendations; connect with “like-minded” music fans; sing along to real-time lyrics; co-create collaborative playlists with friends; import their music libraries from external playlists; and search for lyrics to discover songs, according to the press release. The service will include uninterrupted ad-free listening and a download function allowing users to listen to music offline.

“We are pleased to introduce TikTok Music, a new kind of service that combines the power of music discovery on TikTok with a best-in-class streaming service. TikTok Music will make it easy for people in Indonesia and Brazil to save, download and share their favourite viral tracks from TikTok,” said Ole Obermann, global head of music business development at TikTok, in a statement. “We are excited about the opportunities TikTok Music presents for both music fans and artists, and the great potential it has for driving significant value to the music industry.”

For more than a year, ByteDance has been signaling its intention to launch a music streaming service that would compete with Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music and YouTube. In spring 2022, the company registered the handles @TikTokMusic on both Twitter and Instagram; that May, it also filed a trademark application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for a service under the same name. In October, Billboard confirmed that ByteDance was in conversations with all major music rights holders to launch its music streaming service in additional countries in Latin America, Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand.

The launch of TikTok Music is a potential game-changer for the music industry, as rights holders have pressured the company to embrace a subscription model over an ad-supported one. Streaming subscriptions are a primary driver of music industry revenue, with paid subscription streaming revenue surpassing $10 billion in the United States for the first time last year, according to the RIAA. It accounts for 77% of all streaming revenue and nearly two-thirds of total revenue.