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22 May 2023

Dua Lipa Teases ‘Barbie’ Single ‘Dance the Night’: Here’s When It Arrives

This Barbie is a mermaid … AND a singer! Dua Lipa announced the release date for her new song “Dance the Night” off the Barbie: The Album on Monday (May 22).

“This Barbie has a song coming this week… FRIDAY MIDNIGHT BST,” the pop star wrote on Instagram. In the accompanying video, she steps out of her fluffy heels, mimicking the instantly iconic shot of Margot Robbie’s arched foot in the Barbie trailer, before blowing a kiss at the camera over a gleaming disco groove that offers just a single tantalizing lyric: “Just come along for the ride!”

British Standard Time is a full five hours ahead of the East Coast, which means the Barbie track will arrive on our shores ahead of the New Music Friday at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.

The recent 2023 Met Gala co-chair’s announcement got plenty of love on social media, with the official Barbie Instagram account writing, “Can’t wait” with three heart-eyes emojis, and Donatella Versace adding, “She’s a Versace Barbie” with a wink and a butterfly. Mark Ronson also left a series of alternating pink heart and fire emojis in the comments — possibly hinting at his involvement behind the boards on the track.

Dua will also be featured onscreen in the upcoming live-action Barbie film, which stars Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Simu Liu, Issa Rae and a plethora of other famous faces as Barbies and Kens and is set to premiere in theaters nationwide on July 21.

Check out Lipa’s flirty tease for “Dance The Night” below.

22 May 2023

Peso Pluma on Why Being the First Regional Mexican Artist in Spotify’s RADAR Program Is ‘Big for the Country, the Genre and the Industry’

A medley of sounds erupts as soon as the doors of the Spotify studio swing open. All at once, trumpets climb up and down scales, guitars are tuned before being fervidly strummed, and a tololoche player’s fingers dance across the strings of an upright bass like tiny bolts of lightning, making it impossible to look away. All the while, the group of men responsible crack jokes in Spanish, an air of excitement swirling through the dimly-lit room before the Spotify RADAR shoot kicks off. 

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At the center of this eclectic flurry of instruments lives regional Mexican music. At the center of today’s regional Mexican music, lives Peso Pluma. 

For many, the 23-year-old phenom appeared de la nada. “Ella Baila Sola,” Eslabon Armado’s smash hit with Peso Pluma, was as explosive a collaboration in the Spanish-language music space as the Hot 100-topping “Boy’s a Liar Pt. 2” was for the English market. Like drill princess Ice Spice, Peso Pluma became the de facto face of a movement overnight, much to his own surprise. 

“I knew this was gonna happen, but I didn’t know at what level and what speed,” he says today. “I knew I was gonna do good in Mexico and the Spanish-speaking countries, but this went worldwide [so fast]. I’m thankful for that.”

For his early fans, Peso Pluma has been creating earworm collaborative anthems for a handful of years, through early hits like “El Belicón” alongside Raúl Vega  – which went viral on social media and brought in 10 million views on YouTube in a single month – and projects including his debut set, Ah y Qué?

To date, “Ella Baila Sola” has secured a number of firsts, most notably becoming the first regional Mexican song to reach the top 10 of the Hot 100 chart — peaking at No. 5 – and the first to top Billboard‘s Streaming Songs chart in its 10-year history.

Peso Pluma and Eslabon Armado also broke a number of Spotify records, becoming the all-time most-streamed música mexicana track in one day globally and the most streamed Latin track in the U.S in one single day last month. 

“Música mexicana is no longer regional – it’s global,” says Spotify head of U.S. Latin artist partnerships Eddie Santiago, noting the genre’s growth of 431% over the last five years. “It’s been incredible supporting Peso Pluma’s meteoric rise, and look forward to this next phase of his career.”

The Spotify RADAR program – dedicated to spotlighting and supporting emerging artists at all stages of their development – has provided a platform for artists across the globe, including The Kid LAROI, Zach Bryan, Doechii, Quevedo, PinkPatheress, and over 500 others since its start in in 2020. 

While the effect of “Ella Baila Sola” has led to unprecedented global attention on the regional Mexican space, it’s important to note that the regional Mexican genre isn’t exactly a genre. Encompassing an array of unmistakably Mexican styles of music, including norteño, corridos, banda, rancheras, mariachi and more, regional Mexican serves as an overarching umbrella term for a set of genres that had never before been afforded nuance on a mainstream level. 

Growing up on artists like Ariel Camacho, Peso Pluma, born Hassan Laija, developed his love for música mexicana as a kid spending his early years growing up in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. Later, the influence of hip-hop and reggaeton also found their way into the songs he’d write. Today, he painstakingly stitches together 19th century Mexican sounds with modern genres, bringing both to the Spotify stage ahead of his upcoming debut album, and a single that he’s been teasing on social media. 

After his performance, Peso Pluma sat down to talk with Billboard about what the Spotify look means to him, his recent wins on U.S. platforms, his Doble P Tour and his hopes for the future.

What does it mean to you to be selected as Spotify’s RADAR artist?

It’s pretty big to me because I’m the first Mexican artist to do this. I’m so proud and very thankful. It’s big for the country, the genre and the industry in general. We’re doing pretty good and we’re going to keep working to share our music. 

Have you had fans from countries that surprise you?

I have a lot of fans all over the world, but the most surprising was one time I was shopping and a Chinese family came [up to me]. I never thought they’d listen to corridos in China.

What are the genres that have influenced you?

When I was a teenager, I listened to a lot of hip-hop, rap, and reggaetón. Rap culture just got into me, and I think I’m picking a little bit from every genre in the corridos I do and that’s why people like it, because it has a lot of different cultures in it. Reggaetón is the most iconic genre in my life. Since I was a kid, I liked it a lot. Daddy Yankee, Don Omar, Tego Calderon.

I like Bad Bunny a lot, I listen to him all day, every day. I listen to my friend Natanael Cano, 21 Savage, Shoreline Mafia. Feid, Anuel, Karol G. I listen to everything.

What’s a genre you like that people might be surprised you listen to?

Reggae. I like Bob Marley. 

You recently played Coachella, how did that come about?

I got invited by Becky G — shoutout to Becky. She’s been too kind to me in my career, and done a lot for me. And she knows she has a friend [in me]. They got in touch like a week before, I was so excited and pretty shocked. It was so good, [the crowd] accepted us. People did scream a lot, it was a surprise for them. 

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced along your path so far?

The biggest thing I’m dealing with right now is not being with my family. Being on tour non-stop. That’s what people don’t see. They think I’m a working machine, but I’m not. But it’s part of what I like to do — it’s part of my character. 

How do you deal with those moments?

When I feel like that, I just talk to my mom and my family and that keeps me motivated. They’re pretty proud of me and thankful. 

You also did Jimmy Fallon recently, how was that?

It was awesome for me and my whole group. It was a new thing for us because it was our first time on TV and it was Jimmy Fallon. I think it went well, everyone watched it and wanted to see me perform, and I’m just thankful for Jimmy for inviting me to the show. 

You recently broke a record along with Eslabon Armado, becoming the first regional Mexican song to top Billboard’s streaming songs chart. 

That’s pretty amazing. But that doesn’t mean anything, because tomorrow I could be gone. We don’t know. I’m just gonna keep working to get where I wanna get. There’s a long way to go. 

You’ve had a lot of big collaborative moments — what’s the role of collaborations in your journey?

Collaborations have been so important in my career. I’m just thankful to too many artists who have been supporting my project, ideas and thinking and what we have to do for the genre. My album is coming too and I have a lot of solo songs coming, and that’s what people want to hear, so that’s what I’m giving them on this album. 

You’re heading out on tour soon, but so much has changed since your tickets went on sale. Are you looking for bigger venues?

Yes. Everything changed and I’m looking forward to what’s gonna happen. And my team is looking for venues. I’m sure I’m gonna do good if I do small or big venues. The tour sold out the first day, like 95 percent [of tickets] in two hours. We’re pretty excited. 

Looking ahead, what’s something you hope to accomplish in your career?

I just wanna go to the Grammys and win something, you know? There’s too many things I wanna accomplish. I want to have my album be welcomed by the people, I want it to have the same streams as singles do. I’m showing another part of la doble p to people.

I know this is far in advance, but as someone who grew up between Texas and Mexico, where do you see yourself settling down when it’s all said and done?

I don’t know. I mean, Peter Parker is from NYC and I’m in L.A. right now. Guadalajara will always be my home. That’s where my family is, and Sinaloa too. But I feel pretty good here in L.A. And if life says, “Go to Miami in a year,” I’ll go to Miami. 

22 May 2023

Niall Horan Is Taking ‘The Show’ on the Road With 2024 Tour Dates

Niall Horan is getting ready to hit the road next year. The Voice season 23 coach revealed a full set of 2024 tour dates on Monday (May 22) that will seeing him touring across the United Kingdom, Europe and North America starting in February.

“I am beyond thrilled to announce The Show Live On Tour 2024 ! It’s been far too long and I can’t wait to see your beautiful faces,” he tweeted. “Tickets go on sale Friday, June 2 at 10am local. There are still a couple more dates coming so if you don’t see a show near you listed, stay tuned. Album pre-order and Citi/AAdvantage presale begins May 30 Newsletter presale begins May 31 TikTok presale begins June 1.”

The Twitter post also included a handwritten letter from the former One Direction member, which shared his hopes for the upcoming concert dates. “I want to add this, I really want my show to be a place of pure joy and somewhere you can come to escape and let loose. A place you can truly be yourself,” he wrote, adding that Asia, Mexico and South America dates can expect dates soon.

The Show Live On Tour will kick off in Belfast, Ireland, on Feb. 21, and will continue throughout the U.K. and Europe until March 27. Horan will then embark on the Australia and New Zealand leg of the tour between April 16 to May 3, before heading to the U.S. on May 29, starting with a stop in Hollywood, Fla. Horan will make stops in Philadelphia, New York, Nashville, Toronto and more before concluding the tour in Phoenix on July 31.

The Show will be released on June 9. See the official tour poster and Horan’s message about The Show Live On Tour below.

NIALL HORAN – “The Show” LIVE ON TOUR 2024
2/21/24 – Belfast, UK – SSE Arena Belfast
2/23/24 – Dublin, IE – 3Arena
2/27/24 – Birmingham, UK – Resorts World Arena
3/1/24 – London, UK – OVO Arena Wembley
3/4/24 – Cardiff, UK – Cardiff International Arena
3/5/24 – Manchester, UK – AO Arena
3/7/24 – Antwerp, BE – Lotto Arena
3/8/24 – Paris, FR – Zénith
3/11/24 – Berlin, DE – Mercedes-Benz Arena
3/12/24 – Copenhagen, DK – Royal Arena
3/15/24 – Stockholm, SE – Hovet Ice Hall
3/18/24 – Lodz, PL – Atlas Arena
3/20/24 – Munich, DE – Olympiahalle
3/21/24 – Milan, IT – Mediolanum Forum
3/23/24 – Madrid, ES – WiZink Center
3/26/24 – Düsseldorf, DE – PSD Bank Dome
3/27/24 – Amsterdam, NL – Ziggo Dome
4/26/24 – Auckland, New Zealand – Spark Arena
4/28/24 – Brisbane, Australia – Brisbane Entertainment Centre
5/1/24 – Sydney, Australia – Quodos Bank Arena
5/3/24 – Melbourne, Australia – Rod Laver Arena
5/29/24 – Fort Lauderdale, Fla. – Hard Rock Live
5/31/24 – Tampa, Fla. – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
6/3/24 – Nashville, Tenn. – Bridgestone Arena
6/7/24 – Raleigh, N.C. – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
6/8/24 – Bristow, Va. – Jiffy Lube Live
6/11/24 – Philadelphia, Penn. – Mann Center for the Performing Arts
6/14/24 – New York, N.Y. – Madison Square Garden
6/15/24 – Mansfield, Mass. – Xfinity Center
6/18/24 – Bridgeport, Conn. – Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater
6/19/24 – Bangor, Maine – Maine Savings Amphitheater
6/21/24 – Saratoga Springs, N.Y. – Saratoga Performing Arts Center
6/22/24 – Buffalo, N.Y. – Darien Lake Amphitheater
6/25/24 – Cincinnati, Ohio – Riverbend Music Center
6/26/24 – Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio – Blossom Music Center
6/28/24 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena
7/7/24 – St. Paul, Minn. – Xcel Energy Center
7/9/24 – Tinley Park, Ill. – Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre
7/10/24 – Clarkston, Mich. – Pine Knob Music Theatre
7/12/24 – Maryland Heights, Mo. – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
7/16/24 – Kansas City, Mo. – Starlight Theatre
7/17/24 – Rogers, Ark. – Walmart AMP
7/19/24 – Denver, Colo. – Ball Arena
7/20/24 – Salt Lake City, Utag – USANA Amphitheatre
7/23/24 – Auburn, Wash. – White River Amphitheatre
7/24/24 – Ridgefield, Wash. – RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater
7/26/24 – Mountain View, Calif. – Shoreline Amphitheatre
7/27/24 – Inglewood, Calif. – The Kia Forum
7/30/24 – Chula Vista, Calif. – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
7/31/24 – Phoenix, Ariz. – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre

22 May 2023

Ice Spice Brutally Curving A Fan In Her DMs Goes Viral

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The 2023 Met Gala Celebrating

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Shoot your shot at Ice Spice at your own risk. A video went viral last week of a response that “The People’s Princess” shot back at a fan who slid in her IG inbox. 

“Hey mama,” the young fan wrote. “Small ass dreads and no Nike tech [skull emojis],” she allegedly wrote back. The fan shared the exchange with friends who clowned him for the interaction and uploaded the video of them laughing to social media. 

While the clap back was brutal, some fans are praising the young fan for taking the chance. 

The “Munch” rapper is known for curving fans and their romantic gestures. In February, she laughed off a fan who got on one knee and presented her with a bunch of roses during New York Fashion Week. 

The starlet rose to fame with the single, “Munch (Feelin U)” followed by the singles “Bikini Bottom” and “In Ha Mood” before dropping her debut project, the Like..? EP, in January, which cracked the top 40 on the Billboard 200.

She recently collaborated with Nicki Minaj on the song, “Princess Diana.” The song debuted at No. 4 on the Hot 100 and became the first No. 1 on Hot Rap Songs by two co-billed women in its 34-year history.

“The first time I met her, I knew she was special. I got that tingling feeling [I get] every time when you meet that [kind of] artist,” says Michelle Jubelirer, CEO/chair of Capitol Music Group, according to Billboard. “I knew she was a global superstar in the making.” 

She signed a label deal with 10K Projects and Capitol Records earlier this year. 

22 May 2023

Lizzo Sends Love to Nebraska Fans After Anti-Trans & Anti-Abortion Bills Passed: ‘You Are Valid’

Just hours after the Nebraska senate voted to further restrict access to abortion and gender-affirming care for minors, pop superstar Lizzo had something to say about it.

Performing at Omaha’s Chi Health Center on Friday (May 19), Lizzo paused the show for a moment to talk about the news of the day, according to a fan-captured video of the moment. “There have been some anti-trans laws passed, some anti-abortion laws passed,” a visibly upset Lizzo told her crowd. “And anybody who comes to a Lizzo show should know that I am for people to have the right to healthcare, reproductive and gender-affirming.”

The bill, which is expected to be signed into law by Gov. Jim Pillen later this week, restricts access to abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy, and bans gender-affirming surgical procedures for anyone under the age of 19. The bill also stipulates that the state’s chief medical officer will create “limitations” on other forms of gender-affirming care — including hormone therapy and puberty blockers — for minors.

During her speech, Lizzo made it clear that she felt a responsibility to speak out for those who were being directly affected by these bills. “There’s times where I get very political, and as adults, we feel it. But there’s children here tonight,” she said, fighting back tears. “It really breaks my heart that there are young people growing up in a world that doesn’t protect them.”

Shouting into her screaming crowd, Lizzo called out directly to her young fans. “Let me be your safe space tonight and just tell you young people, don’t let anybody tell you who you are. Don’t let any laws tell you who you’re not … You are who you are, OK?” she said. “I see you. You are valid, you deserve to be here in every form. You contain multitudes. These laws are not real — you are what’s real, and you deserve to be protected.”

Watch the full moment from Lizzo’s concert below:

22 May 2023

Taylor Swift Reacts to Malfunctioning Ghostly Piano During Eras Tour Show: ‘Is That Happening?!’

You could say that Taylor Swift‘s piano at the latest Eras Tour Show was Speak Now‘s track 12 — “Haunted.”

The pop star was left open-mouthed in shock Sunday (May 21) when, upon sitting down to perform that night’s second surprise song, her acoustic piano started playing out notes without her touching them, as if a phantom player had started banging on the keys. “Do you hear that?!” Swift asked fans at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., looking aghast. “Is that happening for you, too?”

At each Eras show, the musician has been playing two different surprise songs plucked randomly from her 10-album discography, one on guitar followed by one on piano. But the ghostly mixup made the usual routine impossible Sunday night. “I’m just gonna do another song on guitar — that’s insane,” Swift said after playing “I Think He Knows” from Lover.

Before proceeding to play an unplanned guitar rendition of surprise song No. 2, “Red,” the 12-time Grammy winner explained what she believed to be the cause of the malfunction: “So it rained a lot last night, like a monsoon.”

“Literally, it was like a water park under the stage,” she continued, recalling that her fingers were so pruned, it was difficult to play guitar the night before. “This has clearly broken my keyboard. It was literally underwater — I don’t know how any of the instruments were working last night.”

Indeed, Swift and her fans at Saturday night’s (May 20) show in Gillette Stadium endured ceaseless rainstorms throughout the three-hour show. But while her piano may have caught a cold as a result, the downpour didn’t stop Swift from having an excellent time. The singer shared that night that she’d “never been this happy in my life” and penned a tribute to the rain show afterward on Instagram.

“Last night we all danced together in the rain for THE ENTIRE 3.5 HOUR SHOW in foxy Foxborough MA!!” she posted the next day. “We’ve had rain shows at Gillette Stadium before but this was a full on deluge that never let up, I just want to thank that iconic crowd!! Love you so much you have no idea.”

Watch Taylor Swift react to her haunted keyboard before playing “Red” on guitar below:

22 May 2023

Terrace Martin Partners With BMG for Jazz Album Series

Terrace Martin — the artist, producer, and multi-instrumentalist known for working with Kendrick Lamar, Snoop Dogg, and Robert Glasper, among others — announced a partnership between BMG and his Sounds of Crenshaw label on Monday (May 22). The results will be six jazz albums, with the first of which is due out this summer. According to the label, Martin will perform on each release.

“Terrace is an extremely talented, influential, and highly respected creator and protector of the Culture,” Tim Reid, BMG svp of repertoire & marketing, said in a statement. “There is an authenticity and attention to detail in his creative approach that is undeniable.” Fred Casimir, BMG’s evp of global repertoire & marketing, added that Martin is a “true master of his art. We are proud to be his partner on this exciting journey.”

Martin said simply, “it feels great to be in business with a family that understands my vision.” He released his 2021 album Drones with BMG.

Martin’s father was a jazz drummer, and he’s maintained a close connection to jazz — working with luminaries like Herbie Hancock, for example — even as he’s built his profile in both hip-hop and R&B. Casual listeners probably know Martin best for his contributions to Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly; he has also been nominated for Best Progressive R&B Album (twice) and Best R&B Album.

In 2020, Martin teamed up with 9th Wonder, Kamasi Washington, and Robert Glasper on a group called Dinner Party, which released an eponymous album that year and a follow-up, Engimatic Society, in April. “A lot of musicians have so many fucking rules in their heads that they limit themselves,” Martin told The Fader. “They know so fucking much, they don’t know anything.”

22 May 2023

Maluma Announces U.S. Dates for 2023 Don Juan World Tour

Maluma is hitting the road this year, unveiling the 2023 dates for the North American leg of his Don Juan World Tour.

On a recent Instagram post, the Colombian artist shared a set of steamy shirtless, poolside photos and let his 63 million followers know he was “calentando pa’ la gira” (warming up for the tour). On Monday (May 22), it was officially announced that he will embark on a 30-city stint across the U.S.

Produced by CMN (Cardenas Marketing Network), the Don Juan U.S. Tour — named after his upcoming studio album — will kick off Aug. 31 at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., and wrap on Nov. 14 in Miami’s Kaseya Center. In between, he will make stops in Las Vegas, Houston, New York, Chicago, Boston, Atlanta and Orlando, to name a few. 

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“I am so excited to return to arenas around the U.S. this fall,” the artist born Juan Luis Londoño Arias said in a press statement. “I took a year off from touring to focus on perfecting what I feel is the best album of my career, Don Juan. I can’t wait to perform the new songs from the album for my fans for the very first time alongside my greatest hits in what I consider to be my most ambitious concert production yet. I’ve waited to give my fans a music and concert experience unlike any other and I expect the Don Juan U.S. Tour to be an exhilarating experience that they’ll never forget!” 

The Don Juan World Tour follows his successful Papi Juancho World Tour, which traveled across the United States, Europe, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East from 2021 to 2022. The also CMN-produced trek, where the “Felices Los 4” singer serenaded fans from the in-the-round or 360-style stage, grossed $24,488,668, landing at No. 14 in Billboard’s Top Tours of 2021 list. 

Pre-sale tickets for the 2023 Don Juan Tour begin at 10 a.m. (local time) on May 25; general tickets are at 10 a.m. (local time) on May 26 via www.cmnevents.com.  

See the confirmed dates and cities below:

DON JUAN WORLD TOUR

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22 May 2023

Lauren Daigle on Topping the Christian Albums Chart: ‘I Found Myself Coming Alive Making This Record’

On May 12, singer-songwriter Lauren Daigle released her new 10-song self-titled album. Ten more tracks are due later this year, rounding out its bonus edition.

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The set launches at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Christian Albums chart (dated May 27) with 25,000 equivalent album units, including 20,000 in album sales, in the United States May 12-18, according to Luminate. It becomes Daigle’s fourth leader on the list. The project bows at No. 21 on the Billboard 200.

The album, which pairs Daigle with new producer Mike Elizondo, is also her first with Atlantic Records. She signed with the pop label in January in a partnership with her longtime label, Centricity Music.

The LP’s lead single, “Thank God I Do,” tops the streaming-, airplay- and sales-based Hot Christian Songs chart for a second week, having become Daigle’s sixth No. 1. It is No. 13 and climbing on the Adult Contemporary chart. 

Daigle’s new set marks her first new music since Look Up Child, which opened at the Top Christian Albums summit in September 2018 and proceeded to ring up a record 102 frames at the summit. It was bolstered by the crossover smash “You Say,” which dominated Hot Christian Songs for an also unprecedented 132 weeks starting in July 2018.

On Christian Airplay, “You Say” reigned for 18 weeks. It also crossed over, crowning Adult Contemporary for two weeks.

Billboard caught up with Daigle at her management’s offices in Nashville about her new album and some of its recent achievements.

Congratulations on the new album. With 10 songs now and another 10 later this year, is it finished, and why did you decide to release it this way?

Yes, it’s mastered and completed, and we’ll definitely get it out there this year. As far as why, I was in a listening session with some of my team and we heard all 20 songs top to bottom … and it’s a long session! One of them says, “OK, it’s your baby and it’s like asking Van Gogh to cut [The] Starry Night in half, but would you be open to splitting this into two releases?” At first, I was like, “What? … no.” But then thinking about it more and more, I didn’t want listeners forced to skim, say, tracks 14 to 20, because they’re fatigued. So, that’s why.

You’re a big believer in the album format as a cohesive piece of work, aren’t you?

Yeah, it’s a streaming-driven world right now, but I’m an album purist at heart. I love getting in the car, jumping on a road trip and listening to records from start to finish. And something else that makes this fun: I’ve not released an album in five years, so for loyal longtime fans they can get excited about two albums instead of one.

It’s your fourth studio album, yet it’s self-titled. Why did you make that choice? 

First of all, working with Mike Elizondo was a dream, and a dream I didn’t know I had until we started recording together. He’s so collaborative, so I was able to speak into a lot of the creative elements like melodies that I may have held back on before.

Do you mean in the actual recording process?

Yes. We did this old-school, all the musicians on the floor at the same time. I was in the room with the whole band and we all tracked together. Plus, we did as much in one take that we could possibly get. Don’t get me wrong – there’s some overdubs and things like that, but it’s cohesive for the most part. That’s what made the process liberating. It made me feel like I was part of a method that for the most part doesn’t exist anymore.

You have a new label involved in Atlantic, and there has to be some pressure to have a hit as big as “You Say.” How do you not let that consume you?

So, whenever [you’re] creating under rules of comparison to something you’ve done previously, then you’re not really creating from a blank canvas. Essentially, when those questions come up, it’s noise. I have to block out the noise. That way I can stay in the present. If I am going to compare to an earlier song, like “You Say,” it inhibits me from going forward.

Listening to your album as a fan, or even as a former program director, there are many options for hit singles. Why did you come with a ballad as your first single, “Thank God I Do.”

As I push forward, I also don’t want to leave people behind. That’s really imperative. I’m talking about the fans that have been here the entire time. With “Thank God I Do,” to a degree there’s familiarity. Leading with that might feel a little like home.

I was talking to a young fan of yours recently – she’s about 20, a student – and when she started explaining how much “You Say” meant to her, she started tearing up. How do you talk to people like that? They’re not in the record industry; they’re fans and it seems like they’re the most important component.

You’re right, they are the most significant. As an artist, when you have all of these different voices coming at you, these folks have to be the loudest voice. With so many people vying for attention — contracts, appearances, interviews, etc., which is just part of the process, that’s all fine – as long as those fans maintain the loudest voice. I think maintaining that helps keep you grounded.

When I hear about one of these stories, maybe it’s about grief. I try to internalize it, write about it, and in effect, give language and voice to their story that maybe they’ve always longed to say but just didn’t know how. That exchange is the greatest gift that I can ever be a part of.

When we talk about not leaving people behind, does that also include Christian radio? Some of those programmers have been with you since the beginning. 

Christian radio is really vital, and that’s where we launched “Thank God I Do.” As I had my first success in the mainstream, a lot of Christian programmers celebrated that, even cheering me on. That was really beautiful. Another thing that we’re really conscious about is that just because pop stations may be supporting my music, that does not mean we’re leaving any of our early supporters behind. Plus, with streaming such a big part of the puzzle, it’s better for radio in general if they stay united.

Finally, what do you want fans both old and new to take from this album?

I love carrying messages of hope. That’s what inspires me. It’s the thing that motivates me to get up every morning. You never know the moment when someone needs a message or a song to be lifted up. I truly hope that people gain new elements of encouragement from this album. I found myself coming alive making this record, after all that we have been through during the pandemic. I hope that my listeners feel that, too. If they’ve been overwhelmed, overcome, this album is something they too can find strength in.

22 May 2023

Recording Academy’s Black Music Collective & Amazon Music Select 2023 Scholarship Recipients

The Recording Academy’s Black Music Collective (BMC) and Amazon Music selected five students as the recipients of the Your Future Is Now scholarship, designed to give students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) the opportunity to learn and explore all facets of the music industry.

The scholarship, first launched in February 2021, offers students the chance to receive $10,000 for the 2023-24 school year and the opportunity to be part of an immersive rotation program with Amazon Music and Recording Academy department leads, providing each student a detailed look at their particular field of work within the music industry.

The five students chosen are Joseph Michael Abiakam (Norfolk State University), Langston Jackson (Hampton University), Kennedi Amari Johnson (Clark Atlanta University), Courtney Roberts (Texas Southern University), and Caleb Wilkerson (Florida A&M University).

“We are immensely proud to collaborate with Amazon Music in renewing this exceptional scholarship program for the third consecutive year,” Ryan Butler, vp of DEI at the Recording Academy said in a statement. “The imperative of Black representation in the music industry cannot be overstated, and this scholarship is a tangible manifestation of our unwavering commitment to promoting the aspirations of future Black music leaders.”

“The Your Future Is Now scholarship was created to foster an inclusive environment where Black creators can realize their career objectives,” Phylicia Fant, head of music industry and culture collaborations at Amazon Music, said in a statement. “…This year’s class of students represents the next generation of Black musicians and executives, and it’s an honor to play a part in their development as individuals and future leaders.”

The BMC and Amazon Music will also award two HBCUs a $10,000 grant each for equipment for their music programs to be announced later this summer.

In addition, as part of Your Future Is Now, Amazon Music, The Same House and the Recording Academy are coming together to host the Your Future is Now Business Development Seminar for select members of the 2023 graduating class of Morris Brown College. Revealed this past weekend at Morris Brown’s commencement by the Recording Academy’s chief DEI officer, Zing Shaw, this new, half-day music business seminar taking place on June 17 will offer professional development expertise in music business, publishing and music production. Facilitators at the event will include Recording Academy’s Atlanta chapter president Justin Henderson and Frankie Yaptinchay of Amazon Music.

Following the music business seminar, graduates will be treated to a suite experience at State Farm Arena in Atlanta for the annual ATL Birthday Bash Concert where they will have the opportunity to network with representatives from the Recording Academy and Amazon Music, as well as other key music industry executives.

For more information on the Black Music Collective and the Your Future Is Now scholarship, visit here.