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27 Jun 2023

Gracie Abrams Hits No. 1 on Emerging Artists Chart Thanks to ‘Good Riddance’ Vinyl Release

Gracie Abrams re-enters Billboard’s Emerging Artists chart (dated July 1) at No. 1, becoming the top emerging act in the U.S. for the first time thanks to her debut studio album, Good Riddance.

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The set, released Feb. 24 via Interscope/IGA, re-enters the Billboard 200 at No. 63 with 13,000 equivalent album units (up 773%) June 16-22, according to Luminate. Its re-entry can be attributed to the set’s vinyl release on June 16, as 10,000 of the album’s units total are from vinyl sales alone. The album debuts at No. 3 on the Vinyl Albums chart, and re-enters the overall Top Album Sales chart at No. 7, a new high.

Good Riddance debuted at its No. 52 best on the Billboard 200 in March.

The album’s single “I Know It Won’t Work” reached No. 20 on the Hot Alternative Songs chart and No. 28 on Hot Rock & Alternative Songs in March. This week, it stands at No. 35 on Pop Airplay, after reaching No. 32 a week earlier — it’s Abrams’ first song to chart at the format.

Elsewhere on the Emerging Artists chart, French singer-songwriter Jain debuts at No. 12 thanks to her viral hit “Makeba.” The song, originally released in 2015 (and which is an ode to iconic South African artist Miriam Makeba), jumps 68-41 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart and 89-55 on the Billboard Global 200 (20.4 million streams, up 18%, worldwide). The track has recently gone viral on TikTok, where one portion of it has been used in more than 800,000 clips, and another has soundtracked over 700,000.

“Makeba” also sold 3,000 downloads (up 71%) in the latest tracking week, as it jumps 50-17 on the Digital Song Sales chart, and tallied 3 million U.S. streams (up 24%).

The Emerging Artists chart ranks the most popular developing artists of the week, using the same formula as the all-encompassing Billboard Artist 100, which measures artist activity across multiple Billboard charts, including the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard 200. (The Artist 100 lists the most popular acts, overall, each week.) However, the Emerging Artists chart excludes acts that have notched a top 25 entry on either the Hot 100 or Billboard 200, as well as artists that have achieved two or more top 10s on Billboard’s “Hot” song genre charts and/or consumption-based “Top” album genre rankings.

For all chart news, you can follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both Twitter and Instagram.

27 Jun 2023

Usher, Miguel, GloRilla & More to Perform at iHeartRadio Living Black! 2023 Event

iHeartRadio is celebrating Black music and culture with the return of its Living Black! event. On Tuesday (June 27), iHeartMedia announced that Usher, Miguel, GloRilla, Coco Jones and NLE Choppa will be performing for the 2023 iteration.

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iHeartRadio Living Black! will take place on Aug. 2 at Market Street in Inglewood, Calif., a historic location for Black culture in the Los Angeles area. This year’s event largely draws inspiration from the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, as well as the history and innovation within the genre and Black culture. LL Cool J, Ty Dolla $ign, Roddy Ricch, Warren G, Chlöe, Lola Brooke, D Smoke, Kash Doll, SleazyWorld Go, DDG and more will also make special appearances at the annual celebration.

iHeartRadio Living Black! — which will be broadcast on iHeartRadio’s YouTube and Facebook, iHeartMedia Hip-Hop and R&B stations and the iHeartRadio app on Aug. 2 at 7 p.m. local time — will feature The Breakfast Club’s DJ Envy and Charlamagne Tha God, Angela Yee, Big Boy and Nyla Symone. The hour-long special is also an interactive block party with multiple themes, including artists reflecting on their journey in the music industry (In the Booth, Mic Drop) and iconic moments in hip-hop (Flip The Script: Big Boy’s Neighborhood) and mental health within the genre (FundaMENTAL).

“We’re thrilled to celebrate iHeartRadio Living Black! in its third year, bringing together fans and superstar artists to honor Black culture and continue to celebrate the 50th anniversary of hip-hop,” Doc Wynter, president of hip-hop and R&B programming for iHeartMedia, said in a press release. “Living Black! is a true testament to the power and lasting influence of Black artists and the community they reflect. We’re excited to once again partner with some of the very best talent and celebrate the impact that Black lives have on American culture.”

27 Jun 2023

Killer Karen: No Murder Charge For Susan Lorincz In Ajike Owens Case

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Susan Louise Lorincz

Source: Marion County Sheriff’s Office / MCSO

A prosecutor in Florida has declined to pursue murder charges against Susan Lorincz, who shot and killed Ajike “AJ” Owens, who was unarmed.

On Monday (June 26th), State Attorney William Gladson publicly announced the criminal charges brought against Lorincz for Owens’ killing, and cited “insufficient evidence” as a reason that his office would not upgrade the charge of manslaughter to murder, claiming that they couldn’t establish that she showed “a depraved mind toward the victim at the time of the killing.” Gladson said that he had consulted with Owens’ family before the announcement. “My office will do all it can to seek justice for Ms. Owens and her family,” he said.

Pamela Dias, Owens’ mother, expressed that the family was “devastated” by the decision. “How do I explain to AJ’s children, my young grandbabies, that the loss of their mother’s life is still not being taken seriously?” she said to a local news network. “Only a living, breathing AJ would be true justice, and today’s charge could not be further from that.” Reverend Al Sharpton also blasted the decision in a statement: “The fact that this woman hurled insults including the N-word at her children and proclaimed, ‘this isn’t the underground railroad, slave,’ should be enough for the Justice Department to investigate this as a federal hate crime.

The mother of four, who is Black, had gone to Lorincz’s door in their Ocala neighborhood to confront her for taking an iPad that belonged to one of her children on June 2nd. Lorincz, a white woman who has a history of documented racist behavior, shot through the door striking Owens who was standing next to her 9-year-old son at the time. Owens died later at a local hospital. Lorincz wouldn’t be arrested until June 6th, after heavy public pressure about the case prevailed. The Marion County Sheriff’s Office claimed that the delay was due to investigating if the incident fell under the “Stand Your Ground” law, which would make it justified.

The 58-year-old Lorincz is being held on a $154,000 bond at the Marion County Jail on a charge of manslaughter with a firearm. Protests over the decision were scheduled for Monday evening. Owens’ family has also created a website where those concerned can take action in addition to a surging GoFundMe campaign, with one of those actions including a petition to repeal Florida’s controversial “Stand Your Ground” gun laws.

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27 Jun 2023

Lil Uzi Vert’s New Album ‘The Pink Tape’ Is Dropping Soon: Watch the Trailer

Lil Uzi Vert‘s long-awaited album The Pink Tape is coming sooner than you think. On Monday (June 26), the Generation Now artist announced that his third album would arrive this Friday (June 30), after unveiling the artwork and trailer. 

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The artwork is semi-patriotic as Uzi stands before a U.S. flag draped in pink versus the traditional red, white, and blue. Uzi’s signature spiked hair also appears as he dons a jacket matching the flag. As for the trailer, it’s an animated clip helmed by Gibson Hazard.

The amine-style visual finds Uzi in combat with a demon creature who initially bests him in their contentious showdown. The creature rips off Uzi’s pink diamond from his forehead and steals his powers. Upon having his diamond pulled out, Uzi reverts to human form, and is transported to a mysterious world. Seeking vengeance, Uzi races to retrieve the diamond and ends up in more action-packed battles. Proving to be the ultimate samurai, Uzi wins his early bouts before entering a rematch with the demon creature for his diamond. This time, Uzi is sharper and evades any attacks issued against him and retrieves his prized possession. 

The Pink Tape is the follow-up to his 2020 album Eternal Atake, with wich he dodged the sophomore slump when he netted his second Billboard 200 No. 1 album with EA. The celebrated project sold 288,000 copies in its opening week, and had three songs debut in the Billboard Hot 100 top 10, led by “Baby Pluto” at No. 6. 

Check out Uzi’s trailer and artwork for The Pink Tape below. 

27 Jun 2023

Jennifer Lawrence Addresses Rumors Liam Hemsworth Cheated on Miley Cyrus With Her

Jennifer Lawrence may have had a short-lived romance with Liam Hemsworth in The Hunger Games, but offscreen, she wasn’t playing any games. In her Monday (June 26) appearance on Watch What Happens Live, the No Hard Feelings star finally addressed speculation that she and Hemsworth hooked up while the actor was still in a relationship with Miley Cyrus.

Playing a round of “Plead the Fifth” on the talk show, host Andy Cohen cut right to the chase by asking Lawrence whether there was any weight to rumors that Cyrus subtly shaded her earlier this year by sporting a figure-hugging gold dress, similar to one worn by the actress at a Hunger Games red carpet premiere in 2012, in the “Flowers” music video. Some fans took the look as Cyrus calling out Lawrence for having a fling with the singer’s now ex-husband.

Suffice to say, Lawrence did not plead the fifth, instead eagerly cutting off Cohen before he’d even finished the question to respond.

“Not true,” she said, according to Entertainment Tonight. “I would love to [respond], it’s not true. Total rumor.”

The Don’t Look Up alum previously insinuated that she and Hemsworth had locked lips behind the scenes, which some fans took at the time as “proof” the two costars had an affair. But on Monday night, Lawrence insisted to Cohen that there was no overlap between their kiss and Hemsworth’s on again, off again romance with Cyrus.

“I mean, we all know that me and Liam, like, kissed one time,” said Lawrence, who’s now married and shares a son with art gallery director Cooke Maroney. “But it was years after they broke up.”

“So I just assume that was like a coincidence,” she added of Cyrus’ gold dress.

But while the gold dress may have been just that — a gold dress — there is a pretty compelling case to be made that Cyrus was shading Hemsworth with “Flowers.” For instance, the Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper was released not so subtly on the Last Song star’s 33rd birthday.

Anyway, during her appearance on WWHL, Lawrence also spoke about another female pop star: her friend Adele. When asked by fans calling in to the show to rate how drunk she was when she and the “Easy on Me” vocalist famously went out together in 2019 to Pieces, a gay bar in New York City, she replied: “10 out of 10 hammered.”

Watch J. Law talk about her night out with Adele on Watch What Happens Live below:

27 Jun 2023

Shakira Says Gerard Piqué ‘Betrayed’ Her While Her Dad Was In the ICU: ‘My Home Was Falling Apart’

Shakira has been very open and honest about the demise of her relationship with former professional footballer Gerard Piqué, and the “Hips Don’t Lie” singer is continuing her showcase of vulnerability.

In a new interview with People en Espanol published Monday (June 26), Shakira shared the extenuating circumstances that made the split even more devastating for her. “Everything was happening all at once, my home was falling apart,” she said. “I was finding out in the press that I had been betrayed while my father was in the ICU. I thought I wouldn’t survive so much.”

The former pair announced their split in June 2022 through a joint statement. “We regret to confirm that we are separating. For the well-being of our children, who are our highest priority, we ask that you respect our privacy,” the statement read. Shakira and Piqué were together for 11 years and have two children together: Milan, 9, and Sasha, 7.

Over the past year, many rumors around the end of the pair’s relationship have made the rounds — from cheating allegations to a jar of strawberry jam. For Shakira — who in April was named Billboard‘s Woman of the Year at the first Latin Women in Music — her father’s condition intensified the pain of the split. “The man that has loved me the most, my father, wasn’t by my side when I most needed him,” she told People en Espanol. “I couldn’t speak to him or receive the advice from my best friend that I so needed.”

Despite the drama of the breakup, Shakira has been pushing forward with a steady stream of new music releases. This year, she has already scored two top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100: the Bizarrap-produced “BZRP Music Sessions, Vol. 53” (No. 9), in which she takes aim at her former partner; and the Karol G duet “TQG” (No. 7).

The Colombian music icon is looking to her father as “the biggest example of resilience.” Speaking of her parents’ relationship, the “Waka Waka” singer mused to the publication, “They have both been a reflection of that dream that didn’t come true for me. But I hope they are role models for my kids of love, of patience in relationships, of absolute devotion and zest for life.”

27 Jun 2023

Kesha Settles With Dr. Luke, RIAA Cracks Down On AI & More of the Week’s Biggest Legal Stories

This is The Legal Beat, a weekly newsletter about music law from Billboard Pro, offering you a one-stop cheat sheet of big new cases, important rulings and all the fun stuff in between.

This week: Dr. Luke and Kesha end their long-running lawsuit with a settlement just weeks before trial; the RIAA takes legal action against a popular message board centered on artificial intelligence-driven voice mimicry; Kanye West aims to dismiss a lawsuit accusing him of illegally sampling a legendary hip hop group; and much more.

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THE BIG STORY: Dr. Luke v. Kesha Ends With Settlement

After nearly a decade of bitter litigation between Kesha and Dr. Luke, in which she accused him of rape and he accused her of defaming him by doing so, the lawsuit will end not with a blockbuster trial, but with joint statements wishing each other well.

Just weeks before the case had been set to go to trial, the two sides announced that they had reached a settlement to resolve the long fight, which kicked off in 2014 after Kesha accused her former producer of drugging and raping her after a 2005 party.

The start of the lawsuit pre-dated the #MeToo movement, but it foreshadowed many of the themes that would characterize much of the litigation arising from that cultural reckoning. Dr. Luke claimed her “vengeful” allegations had been designed to “extort” him into releasing her from her record deal; Kesha claimed he was using the court system to silence and bully a victim who spoke out.

It’s not hard to speculate why Dr. Luke settled rather than test his defamation claims before a jury. Ten days before the deal was reached, New York’s top appeals court finally weighed in on key issues that had long delayed the case, and the result wasn’t good for the producer. The court not only said he was a “public figure” – a designation that makes it extremely hard to win libel cases in American courts – but also that Kesha could potentially recoup her legal bills if she won at trial.

But with or without a courthouse showdown, Dr. Luke appears to have gotten some of what he wanted. In their joint statement, Kesha said that “only god knows what happened that night” and that she “cannot recount everything that happened.” In the same joint statement, Dr. Luke was unequivocal: “I never drugged or assaulted her and would never do that to anyone.”

Go read the full statements, and the long backstory of the case, in our story on the big settlement.

Other top stories this week…

FLORIDA DRAG LAW BLOCKED – A federal judge barred Florida from enforcing its recently enacted restrictions on drag performances, ruling that the law likely violates the First Amendment. Proponents of the statute, including presidential hopeful Gov. Ron DeSantis, claimed it was needed to protect children from “lewd” performances, but the judge said the vague new rules were “dangerously susceptible to standardless, overbroad enforcement which could sweep up substantial protected speech.”

RIAA’S AI CRACKDOWN – Lawyers for the industry group moved to shut down a popular Discord server centered on artificial intelligence and voice models called “AI Hub,” obtaining a federal court subpoena to reveal the identities of its users and sending takedown request demanding that Discord shut down the entire channel. The RIAA’s actions are the latest effort by music companies to rein in the disruptive new technology.

NO SCOTUS FOR GENIUS – The U.S. Supreme Court said that it would not take up a lawsuit claiming Google stole millions of song lyrics from Genius, the popular music database that lets users add and annotate lyrics. Genius claimed Google free-rode on the site’s work, but multiple lower courts had ruled that the site couldn’t sue over copyrighted lyrics it didn’t actually own.

SUMMERTIME SETTLEMENT – Lana Del Rey reached a settlement to end a copyright lawsuit claiming her 2012 music video for “Summertime Sadness” featured 17 seconds of material lifted directly from a short film by a director named Lucas Bolaño. The agreement came weeks after a federal judge denied a motion to dismiss the case filed by Del Rey’s lawyers, who argued that the case was filed well after the statute of limitations.

TROY AVE SHOOTER SENTENCED – Hip-hop podcaster Taxstone was sentenced to 35 years in prison following his conviction earlier this year on manslaughter charges over his 2016 fatal shooting of rapper Troy Ave’s bodyguard during a T.I. concert at a New York City venue. His attorneys told Billboard they would appeal: “Justice wasn’t served.”

BOOSIE RELEASED ON GUN CHARGE – Rapper Boosie Badazz was ordered released on bond on his federal gun charge, after a judge rejected a request by prosecutors to keep him behind bars even longer. The charge follows a May 6 traffic stop in which the feds say the New Orleans rapper was found with a handgun — an alleged violation of a federal law prohibiting former felons from possessing firearms.

KANYE RIPS SAMPLING LAWSUIT – With Kanye West facing a lawsuit for allegedly using an uncleared sample from the pioneering rap group Boogie Down Productions, his lawyers made an unusual argument: That BDP founder KRS-One had “emphatically” stated in a 2006 documentary that “my entire catalogue is open to the public” and “you will not get sued if you sample.”

27 Jun 2023

Taylor Swift Adds 9 More Eras Tour Shows: See the New Dates

Taylor Swift still isn’t done adding shows to her ever-expanding Eras Tour stops. Just days after announcing that she’d be bringing her U.S. and Latin America trek to Europe, Asia and Australia, the 33-year-old pop star has now unveiled an additional nine dates — one in Los Angeles, and eight across Europe.

The news comes in the form of an official announcement from Taylor Nation Tuesday (June 27), revealing via updated Eras Tour posters that Los Angeles, Paris, Stockholm, Zürich, Hamburg, Munich, Warsaw, Vienna and London would each be getting bonus shows added to Swift’s previously announced runs in each city. “Another 9 #TSTheErasTour shows go up in lights like diamonds in the sky,” the announcement read, a reference to Swift’s Red (Taylor’s Version) track “The Lucky One.”

The announcement also prompted Swifties to visit the “Anti-Hero” singer’s website for more information on how to secure tickets.

Swift currently has six more U.S. cities — including Los Angeles — to visit before the Eras Tour’s U.S. leg comes to a close mid-August. Later that month, she and supporting act Sabrina Carpenter will embark on a Latin America leg running through November.

In February of 2024, Swift will pick up again with a string of shows in Japan before jet-setting around Australia, Europe and more parts of Asia. These global dates, which are set to run through August of next year, were announced just one week prior to Tuesday’s nine-show addition. Before that, the Latin America leg was announced at the top of this month.

See the announcement and full list of new upcoming Eras Tour dates below:

27 Jun 2023

Taylor Swift Becomes First Artist to Spend 70 Weeks at No. 1 on Artist 100 Chart

Taylor Swift spends a record-extending 70th week at No. 1 on the Billboard Artist 100 chart (dated July 1) thanks to nine albums on the latest Billboard 200 and three songs on the Billboard Hot 100.

On the Billboard 200, Swift’s 2022 LP Midnights ranks at No. 4 with 60,000 equivalent album units, according to Luminate, after spending six weeks at No. 1.

Here’s a recap of her current Billboard 200-charting titles:

Rank, Title:

  • No. 4, Midnights
  • No. 10, Lover
  • No. 14, Folklore
  • No. 18, 1989
  • No. 23, Reputation
  • No. 25, Red (Taylor’s Version)
  • No. 38, Fearless (Taylor’s Version)
  • No. 39, Speak Now
  • No. 40, Evermore

Swift scores nine titles in the Billboard 200’s top 40 for a fourth time, after achieving the feat on charts dated May 20 and 27 and June 3. No other artist has earned the honor (dating to August 1963 when the survey became a combined stereo and mono album listing.)

Notably, Speak Now rises 42-39 ahead of its new re-recorded Speak Now (Taylor’s Version), due July 7.

On the Hot 100, Swift charts with current Midnights single “Karma,” featuring Ice Spice (up 9-7), former eight-week leader “Anti-Hero” (holding at No. 12), and Lover cut, and new promoted single, “Cruel Summer” (39-18). “Cruel Summer” surpasses its original No. 29 peak in 2019 and becomes Swift’s 69th career top 20 hit, the second-most in the chart’s history, after Drake’s 116.

“Cruel Summer” is the Hot 100’s top Sales Gainer, as it bounds 32-10 on Digital Song Sales (3,000 sold, up 71%), to become Swift’s record-extending 84th top 10.

ATEEZ re-enters the Artist 100 at No. 3, a new high, thanks to the act’s new set The World EP.2 : Outlaw. The project debuts at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 (105,000 units), becoming the group’s highest charting album, and No. 1 on Top Album Sales.

Gunna re-enters the Artist 100 at No. 5, as his new LP — A Gift & A Curse — arrives at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 (85,000 units), becoming his fifth top 10. Eleven songs from the album land on the latest Hot 100, led by “Fukumean” and “Back to the Moon” at Nos. 16 and 29, respectively.

Plus, Queens of the Stone Age re-enter the Artist 100 at No. 7, returning to the chart for the first time since 2017, thanks to the group’s new LP In Times New Roman… The album debuts at No. 9 on the Billboard 200 (40,000 units), becoming the band’s fourth top 10.

The Artist 100 measures artist activity across key metrics of music consumption, blending album and track sales, radio airplay and streaming to provide a weekly multi-dimensional ranking of artist popularity.

27 Jun 2023

’90s Trends: 5 Belly Chains That’ll Step Up Your Accessory Game

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It’s no secret that ’90s and Y2K fashion have made a comeback, and the latest trend to hit social feeds is belly chains. In the past, stars including Christina Aguilera and Aaliyah were known to sport the sparkly accent piece with corset tops and cropped tanks. Just look back at the 2001 MTV music awards when Aguilera used it to elevate her winning ‘fit.

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Thanks to stars such as The Little Mermaid‘s Halle Bailey and Rihanna now sporting the accessory, 2023 is proving it’s still just as fashionable.

With summer in full swing, there is no better time to elevate your outfit than with a belly chain above your denim, or paired with your crochet bikini. Bailey even sported a bright green version with some athleisure back in April, which she shared with fans on Instagram.

No matter what your budget or style is, the best belly chains will instantly add color, elegance or flair to your outfits, whether you’re looking for festival gear or a luxe beach ‘fit. To help you find the trendiest pieces, we rounded up the most fashionable picks below.

Keep reading to shop our picks.

model wearing delicate gold belly chain

Amazon

PEARLADA Minimalist Beach Bikini Body Chain

$11.99 $13.99 14% OFF

Minimalists will be praising this simplistic body chain, as it features a single layer of gold chain with little crystal beads for added style. The chain is adjustable to fit to your preferences depending on if you want a fitted look or something more loose and casual.

model wearing 10 colorful beaded belly chains with black bikini

Walmart

Give yourself some options with Autrucker’s waist beads, which comes with 10 variations to choose from. You can even layer them on top of one another or sport a single chain, depending on your mood. And did we mention it’s all under $10?

Free People – Sparks Belly Chain

$38

Free People’s belly chain boasts beach vibes as it’s made with a braided rope chain and colorful seashells. You can’t help but want to throw on your swimsuit and catch some waves once you tie this on.

pink, white and gold beaded belly chain

Aerie

Aerie Beaded Belly Chain

$13.46 $17.95 25% off% OFF

Get two for the price of one — and then some! Aerie’s Beaded Belly Chain is not only on sale, but comes with two chains to style to your liking. Whether you’re feeling gold and glamorous or want some beaded color, this chain is here to provide — and all for under $15.

gold and crystal belly chain

Nordstrom

Ettika Crystal Charm Belly Chain

$65

Ooze glamorous vibes once you add Ettika’s Crystal Charm Belly Chain to your outfit. It comes as a single layer with a gold chain and crystal charms hanging off for a more chic look. You can even adjust the chain to fit your liking.

For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best sunscreen, sticky bras and bucket hats.