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20 Mar 2023

Liz Thiels, Former Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum Exec, Dies at 78

Liz Thiels, public Relations professional and former Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum executive, died on Sunday (March 19) following an extended illness. Thiels was 78.

Thiels was born in Alexandria, Louisiana in 1944. She attended the University of Southwest Louisiana in Lafayette, Louisiana, and Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, where she majored in advertising design. She later worked as a reporter at a daily newspaper in Louisiana, and served as press secretary for U.S. Congressman Speedy O. Long.

Thiels moved to Nashville in the late 1960s and worked as an account executive for Holder, Kennedy & Co. Public Relations. In the 1970s, Thiels became a partner in Nashville’s Exit/In music venue, helping to showcase artists including John Hiatt, Billy Joel, Steve Martin and Linda Ronstadt. In 1974, Thiels was named director of public relations at Sound Seventy Corporation, where she helped broaden the career of Charlie Daniels, as well as his annual Volunteer Jam concerts. In 1979, Thiels co-founded Network Ink, Nashville’s first PR firm specific to the city’s music industry. She became the company’s sole owner in 1985, representing artists including Clint Black, Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire, Kathy Mattea, Brooks & Dunn and Guy Clark.

In 1981, Thiels also started public relations efforts for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and was heavily involved in the capital campaign that helped finance the museum’s move to its current location in downtown Nashville. In 2001, she closed Network Ink to join the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum as its vice president of public relations; she retired as a key member of its executive team in 2015. Along the way, she helped raise the Country Music Hall of Fame’s profile and spearheaded numerous museum events, including the annual medallion ceremony, which is held to induct new members of the Country Music Hall of Fame.

In November 2008, Thiels was honored during the museum’s annual Louise Scruggs Memorial Forum, which honors music industry leaders who represent the legacy of music business manager Louise Scruggs. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has honored Thiels’ love of gardening by now including a fresh herb garden onsite, the Liz Thiels Hillbilly Garden, which provides ingredients for the museum’s restaurant.

“Liz Thiels elevated and enhanced the profile of country music in countless ways,” said Kyle Young, CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, in a statement. “She was the consummate music business publicist — heading her own firm (Nashville’s first to concentrate on music), and also expertly guiding public relations for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, first as a PR consultant and then as a staff member, for a total of more than three decades. A vital figure in the museum’s successful move in 2001 to downtown Nashville, she was instrumental in strategizing for our growth and crucial in positioning the museum as both a key fixture in Nashville’s music community and an institution of national stature. I can’t imagine where the museum would be without her many years of wise counsel.”

20 Mar 2023

BLACKPINK’s Rosé & Harry Styles Pose Backstage at Love on Tour in Seoul

Harry Styles took his Love on Tour to Seoul’s KSPO Dome on Monday (March 20) as part of the trek’s Asia leg, which found several K-pop musicians in attendance.

Before the show kicked off, fans in the arena were treated to K-pop hits on Styles’ pre-show playlist that included NewJeans’ “OMG,” STAYC’s “Teddy Bear,” BLACKPINK’s “Pink Venom” and BTS’ “Dynamite.”

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After the show began, BLACKPINK‘s Rosé shared footage of her and fellow group mate Jennie enjoying Styles’ set and singing along to 2022’s official Song of the Summer, “As It Was.” When the show wrapped, the “On the Ground” singer took a pic with Styles backstage at the event. The pair shared a one-armed embrace as he gave the camera a thumbs up and a wide smile. “Yayyy thank you @harrystyles for coming to Korea,” she captioned the photo on her Instagram Story.

Rosé and Jennie were far from the only K-pop stars in the audience; several BTS members appeared amongst the crowd, with the duo Taekook — Taehyung (V) and Jung Kook — trending on Twitter for energetically dancing while Styles performed One Direction’s “What Makes You Beautiful.” RM and Suga also were spotted in the audience, but sat in separate locations from V and Jung Kook.

ENHYPEN‘s Jay, Jake, Sunghoon and Ni-Ki took their spots among the audience, wearing face masks to conceal their identities, while MONSTA X‘s Hyungwon and Ateez‘s Wooyoung went to the concert, too. TWICE, Aespa, Super Junior and more also showed their support for the English pop star.

See Rose’s Instagram Story featuring Styles before it disappears here.

20 Mar 2023

Donald J. Trump & J6 Prison Choir’s ‘Justice for All’ Debuts at No. 1 on Digital Song Sales Chart

Donald J. Trump and J6 Prison Choir’s “Justice for All” enters Billboard’s Digital Song Sales chart (dated March 25) at No. 1. The recording sold 33,000 downloads March 10-16, according to Luminate.

Of the song’s sales in the tracking week, 39% occurred March 11, when its official video premiered on online video sharing platform Rumble.

All charts dated March 25 will update on Billboard.com Tuesday, March 21.

“Justice for All” is a recording of former U.S. President Trump and a group of men imprisoned for their involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. In the song, he recites the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance, mixed with the J6 Prison Choir singing “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

According to CNN, and as reported by Variety, the J6 Prison Choir requested that Trump be part of the song. He agreed and recorded his audio at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Fla. Per Forbes, the prisoners recorded their vocals by phone and the track was “reportedly produced by a major recording artist who [has] not [been] identified.”

On Jan. 6, 2021, a joint session of Congress was held at the U.S. Capitol during which electoral college votes were to be counted formalizing the victory of President-elect Joe Biden. Starting at 12 p.m. ET that day, at a rally at The Ellipse in Washington, Trump repeated his debunked allegations of voter fraud and urged his supporters to take action: “If you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore,” and that, “I know that everyone here will soon be marching over to the Capitol building to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard.” There has been no evidence of widespread voter fraud or other irregularities during the 2020 election.

Subsequently, more than 2,000 reportedly breached barricades and entered the Capitol. That afternoon, Trump took to Twitter to say that he was “outraged by the violence, lawlessness and mayhem that occurred” and to tell supporters to “go home in peace.”

Five people died during the event or shortly before or after, with 138 police officers, among others, injured.

By early Jan. 7, the counting of electoral votes was completed and then-Vice President Mike Pence announced Biden President-elect and Kamala Harris Vice President-elect.

An impeachment of Trump, charged for incitement of insurrection in the attack, was held Jan. 13, 2021. He was acquitted in the February Senate trial, resulting in a 57-43 vote in favor of conviction, short of the 67 needed.

Nearly 1,000 people have been charged with federal crimes related to the attack on the Capitol in the over two years since it occurred.

The song’s video on Rumble is sourced to conservative commentator Ed Henry, who, according to Forbes, reportedly joined Trump to oversee the song’s creation, with recipients of funds, per Forbes, to be “vetted to make sure proceeds do not benefit families of people who assaulted a police officer.”

20 Mar 2023

Post Malone Heads to Trial in Lawsuit Filed By Artist Who Claims He Co-Wrote Smash Hit ‘Circles’

When musician Tyler Armes first heard Post Malone’s “Circles” in 2019, he claims he immediately texted Dre London, Malone’s manager. In the texts, Armes claimed he had been in the studio on the August 2018 night the song had come together – and that he believed he had played a key role in creating it.

“I was not just someone hanging out in the room,” Armes texted, according to later legal documents. “I was part of the writing process. The entire song (minus the lyrics other than ‘circles’) was laid down that night with the 3 of us in the room together, working together.” A few days later, London allegedly responded: “Just showed Posty the message. He said he remembers. U played a tune on the bass then he played more of it after.”

“Circles” later became a smash hit. The song, “backed by sunny acoustic guitars, swirling percussion and infectious melodies,” reached the top spot on the Hot 100 for three consecutive weeks in November 2019 before ultimately spending 61 weeks on the chart.

But now, four years after those texts, Armes and Malone are headed to a Los Angeles federal courthouse this week for a closely-watched jury trial over that fateful night. Expected to feature testimony from the star himself, the trial will pose tricky questions to jurors – about who’s technically in charge during a studio jam session, and who exactly gets the resulting songwriting credits.

Lawyers for Armes say he clearly did enough to own part of the copyright to “Circles,” and that Malone’s “bad faith refusal” to grant him credit has severely harmed his music career. Malone’s lawyers, meanwhile, say the allegations are “utterly baseless” – and that Armes is just the latest plaintiff to “come out of the woodwork” seeking an “unearned windfall” from a hit song.

“Significant Contributions”

Armes, best known as a member of the Canadian rap rock band Down With Webster, filed his lawsuit in April 2020, seeking a ruling that he was the rightful co-creator of “Circles.” In addition to naming Malone (Austin Richard Post) as a defendant, the lawsuit also named “Circles” collaborator Frank Dukes and Universal Music Group.

In his complaint, Armes claimed he had gone to the studio that night at the urging of Malone’s people, and that Malone at one point had said explicitly: “Let’s write a tune!”

“From approximately 2:00 a.m. on August 8, 2018 until 9:00 a.m. that morning, Armes, Post and Dukes worked together in the studio,” his lawyers wrote in their complaint. “Armes and Dukes co-wrote the chords for the song on the keyboard, and Armes co-wrote and had significant input in the bassline for the song. Armes also had input on the guitar parts in the song, including co-writing the guitar melody which is played in the introduction to the song and which repeats throughout the song.”

After the song was released and Armes reached out, he says Malone offered to give him a 5 percent share of the publishing royalties. But when he tried to negotiate for a better deal, he says the star’s people revoked the offer and refused to give him anything.

“Defendants’ refusal to credit Armes … has resulted in significant harm to Armes’ reputation, career and cost him a host of opportunities,” his lawyer wrote. “Songwriters and composers work their entire lives to create a commercially successful and critically acclaimed song like [‘Circles’].”

Read Armes’ entire complaint here.

“Unearned Windfall”

On the same day that Armes filed his lawsuit, Malone sued him right back – asking a federal judge for a ruling that Armes “did not write or author any portion of the ‘Circles’ composition, and he is not entitled to any of the revenue from the ‘Circles’ composition.”

Malone’s lawyers admitted that Armes had been in the room that night, but said he had not made any serious contributions to the song. And they pointed out that the star and other writers then held subsequent sessions in which they continued to work on the song without Armes present.

“It is an age-old story in the music business that when a song earns the type of runaway success that ‘Circles’ has garnered, an individual will come out of the woodwork falsely claim to take credit for the song, and demand unwarranted and unearned windfall profits from the song,” Malone’s lawyers wrote. “This lawsuit arises from such a story.”

In later motions seeking to end the case without a trial, Malone’s attorneys argued more specifically about the “fatal flaws” in Armes’ allegations. They said his contributions to the song were merely commonplace musical building blocks like chord progressions, meaning they were not sufficiently “original” to be protected by copyright law. And they said that he had not exercised enough “control” over the studio session to count as a co-author.

“Armes admitted he had no control over whether any of his creative suggestions would be incorporated by Post and Dukes into the ‘Circles’ composition,” Malone’s lawyers wrote. “Armes’s contention that because he was present for one early session while Dukes and Post were creating the ‘Circles’ composition … and because he played some instruments there and offered some verbal musical suggestions, he is entitled to joint authorship, is simply incorrect under governing law.”

Read Malone’s entire argument here.

“Shared Equal Control”

Those arguments didn’t sway the judge. In April 2022, U.S. District Judge Otis D. Wright declined to end the case and instead sent it to trial, ruling that Armes might ultimately be able to persuade a jury that he deserved to own a piece of “Circles.”

As for the originality of Armes’s creative contributions, the judge said a jury might look beyond simple individual elements and instead analyze the song more broadly: “A reasonable juror could conclude that all three collaborators took part in these decisions and that the combination of these decisions created something that is not stock or commonplace, despite the fact that it may contain stock or otherwise uncopyrightable building blocks.”

And, just as importantly, the judge said it was unclear whether Malone and Dukes had sole control over what had been included in the song.

“While Dukes may have controlled the laptop, nothing suggests that he or Post possessed any special veto or decision-making power that Armes did not,” Judge Wright wrote in his ruling. “Armes’s evidence, if credited, supports the finding that the three musicians shared equal control in the session, making nonhierarchical contributions to a unitary whole.”

Read Judge Wright’s entire decision here.

“Make Swiss Cheese of Copyrights”

Ahead of the upcoming trial, Malone’s attorneys have sharply disputed one unusual aspect of Judge Wright’s ruling last year. 

In the decision, the judge said the upcoming trial would technically only deal with the ownership of an unfinished “session” song created that August night, and not with the final “commercial” version of “Circles.” But he stressed that a verdict for Armes would still entitle him to substantial royalties from the hit song, since the final version was based on that earlier jam session tune.

A month later, Malone’s lawyers argued that Judge Wright’s approach was simply not how the creation of a copyrighted work is supposed to be analyzed. A final song is a final song, they said, and any earlier versions are merely part of the artistic process – not their own copyrighted creations.

“Splintering a single, final integrated work into many different ‘works’ at its various stages of creation would impermissibly make Swiss cheese of copyrights,” Malone’s lawyers wrote, quoting from a legal precedent that used that analogy. “Characterizing a single musical composition as derivative of its successive writing sessions preceding its final form raises the specter of an endless series of derivative works within one song.”

Lawyers for Armes argued back that the judge’s approach was just fine, and Judge Wright later brushed aside such critiques. But the “Swiss cheese” issue could very well arise again in the courthouse during this week’s trial – and, if Malone loses, will almost certainly serve as a key avenue for him to challenge the verdict at a federal appeals court.

The Courtroom Fight Ahead

The trial, taking place at the U.S. federal courthouse in downtown Los Angeles, will kick off with jury selection on Tuesday morning. It’s expected to run for four days, meaning we could expect a verdict on Friday or early next week.

Though a witness list hasn’t been published, it will likely include Armes, London, Dukes and various others involved in the events of the case, who will testify about what they recall about the session and the days surrounding it. Both sides will also call expert witnesses to testify about complicated technical questions about music and industry practices.

Malone himself will also be there. Back in August, during back-and-forth over potential trial dates, his lawyers confirmed that star will take the witness stand to help defeat Armes’ allegations: “He fully intends to appear to refute plaintiff’s claims.”

The star will be represented by David A. Steinberg, Gabriella N. Ismaj, Christine Lepera and Jeffrey M. Movit of the law firm Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp, an elite music litigation team whose members have defended Katy Perry, Dua Lipa, Jay-Z and other stars in similar cases.

Armes will be repped by Allison S. Hart and Kelsey J. Leeker from the law firm Lavely & Singer, a well-known Hollywood litigation boutique that has represented a slew of A-listers in defamation cases, contract disputes and other legal battles.

20 Mar 2023

Tekashi 6ix9ine Kicked Out Of WBC Game After Having A Beer Thrown At Him

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Philipp Plein show, Runway, Spring Summer 2019, Milan Fashion Week, Italy - 21 Sep 2018

Source: WWD / Getty

Tekashi 6ix9ine is finding out the hard way that being a world famous snitch is an unfavorable label that will follow you wherever you go, even at a baseball game.

During last Friday night’s World Baseball Classic game between Puerto Rico and Mexico, the “Gummo” rapper was actually in attendance. (Front row no less.) After rooting for his team and waving a large Mexican flag, another baseball fan in attendance tried to baptize the government witness with a can of beer. Another two flipped him off during the interaction.

Interestingly enough, Tekashi was escorted out of the Miami Marlins ballpark afterwards due to being heavily intoxicated and causing too much of a ruckus throughout the game. A source told Page Six that Snitch9ine was removed from the stadium shortly after having the beer chucked at him due to his belligerent behavior.

“He was drunk, he was inebriated and he was out of control,” the eyewitness adds. “There were a lot of families there last night and he was bothering people.”

Sounds about right.

Even when Tekashi is sober he’s known to rub people the wrong way and get under their skin. We can only imagine how annoying and disruptive an inebriated Tekashi can get. In an IG post, you can see a drunken Tekashi sitting in the front row of the baseball game acting a fool and blocking the view of attendees in the seats directly behind him.

Things got to the point that security officials had to ask Tekashi to leave as he was causing too much of a disturbance. Though the men accompanying Tekashi tried to intervene, officials had had enough of the Brooklyn rapper’s behavior.

The “Gooba” rapper eventually gave in and walked out of the stadium, while still waving his large flag and greeting fans.

We’re told the incident occurred toward the end of the game, so Tekashi had been a nuisance for several innings.

Unfortunately for 6ix9ine, he wasn’t able to stick around to see Mexico secure the dub as they went on to beat Puerto Rico 5-4. Though we don’t know if Mexican players would’ve wanted to be seen celebrating the win with one of the most hated men in Hip-Hop. Then again, people are still voluntarily hanging out with him in public, so you never know.

20 Mar 2023

Murder Convictions for 3 in Killing of XXXTentacion

Three men were found guilty Monday of the 2018 killing of star rapper XXXTentacion, who was shot outside a South Florida motorcycle shop while being robbed of $50,000.

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Michael Boatwright, 28, Dedrick Williams, 26, and Trayvon Newsome, 24, were all found guilty of first-degree murder and armed robbery by a jury that deliberated a little more than seven days. They will receive mandatory life sentences at a later date.

The defendants showed little emotion as each stood and was handcuffed by a bailiff.

During the monthlong trial, prosecutors linked the men to the June 18, 2018, shooting outside Riva Motorsports in suburban Fort Lauderdale through extensive surveillance video taken inside and outside the store, plus cellphone videos they took that showed them flashing fistfuls of $100 bills hours after the slaying.

Prosecutors also had the testimony of a fourth man, Robert Allen, a former friend of the defendants who said he participated in the robbery. He pleaded guilty last year to second-degree murder. He has not been sentenced pending the conclusion of this trial. He could get anywhere between time served, meaning he could soon be released, and life, depending partly on how prosecutors perceive his assistance.

Defense attorneys accused Allen of being a liar motivated by avoiding a life sentence. They also said prosecutors and detectives did a poor investigation that didn’t look at other possible suspects, including the Canadian rap star Drake; he and XXXTentacion had an online feud.

Twice this week, the jury asked to review text messages from Boatwright, whom prosecutors identified as the shooter, from the day of the shooting. A printout from prosecutors shows that from the time he woke up about 10:30 a.m. until 3 p.m., about an hour before the shooting, he sent 17 to various people, including one about getting a car. Prosecutors say the SUV used in the shooting was rented from a woman through a phone app. He then stopped texting for about two hours.

About an hour after the shooting, he sent a text saying, “Tell my brother I got the money for the new phone.” Minutes after that, he sent someone a screenshot of a news story saying XXXTentacion had been shot.

XXXTentacion, whose real name was Jahseh Onfroy, had just left Riva Motorsports with a friend when his BMW was blocked by an SUV that swerved in front.

Surveillance video showed two masked gunmen emerging and confronting the 20-year-old singer at the driver’s window, and one shot him repeatedly. They then grabbed a Louis Vuitton bag containing cash XXXTentacion had just withdrawn from the bank, got back into the SUV and sped away. The friend was not harmed.

Newsome was accused of being the other gunman. Williams was accused of being the driver of the SUV, with Allen also inside.

Allen testified that the men set out that day to commit robberies and went to the motorcycle shop to buy Williams a mask. There they spotted the rapper and decided to make him their target. Allen and Williams went inside the shop to confirm it was him. They then went back to the SUV they had rented, waited for XXXTentacion to emerge and ambushed him, according to testimony.

The rapper, who pronounced his name “Ex ex ex ten-ta-see-YAWN,” was a platinum-selling rising star who tackled issues including prejudice and depression in his songs. He also drew criticism over bad behavior and multiple arrests, including charges that he severely beat and abused his girlfriend.

Associated Press reporter Terry Spencer contributed to this report.

20 Mar 2023

Three Men Found Guilty Of Murdering XXXTentacion

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XXXTentacion Funeral & Fan Memorial

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On Monday, March 20, three men were found guilty of the 2018 murder of XXXTentacion. The three killed the rising Florida rapper during a botched robbery.

The jury reportedly took 27 hours of deliberation to find Michael Boatwright, 28, Trayvon Newsome, 24, and Dedrick Williams, 26, guilty. Prosecutors argued that Boatwright and Newsome were the gunmen while Williams was the getaway driver, and the organizer of the robbery.

There was a fourth man, who dropped dime on the murderous caper after a plea deal, while cell phone data pointed fingers at their scheme.

Reports the New York Times:

Surveillance video played in court showed the rapper’s BMW being blocked by an S.U.V. as he tried to leave a motor sports store in Deerfield Beach, Fla., leading to a confrontation with two masked assailants, who escaped with $50,000 in cash.

The trial turned largely on the jury’s interpretation of testimony from a fourth man present that day, Robert Allen, who pleaded guilty to second-degree murder last year and testified against his alleged co-conspirators. The Broward County prosecutors also relied on surveillance video from the store that showed two of the men inside, seemingly observing XXXTentacion (born Jahseh Onfroy), as well as cellphone and Bluetooth data tying the men to the location and the S.U.V.

The assailants also did themselves no favors after the murder.

The evidence also included videos that prosecutors said showed the defendants dancing and posing with cash hours after the killing.

During more than 27 hours of deliberations across eight days, jurors had asked to review more than 1,000 text messages, along with photos and videos, seized from the cellphones of two of the defendants, including a picture of a news story about the shooting.

All the aforementioned men are facing life in prison, which are mandatory sentences.

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20 Mar 2023

Megan Moroney Reveals 2023 Dates for The Lucky Tour

As her song “Tennessee Orange” reaches the top 20 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart, Megan Moroney is gearing for the release of her debut major label album, Lucky (May 5). Plus, she’s set to follow her recent Pistol Made of Roses tour (and an upcoming summer slot opening for Brooks & Dunn) with a headlining tour of her own.

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In a nod to her album, the Sony Music Nashville/Columbia Records artist will launch her 22-city The Lucky Tour in September, starting with a Sept. 20 show at New York City’s The Bowery Ballroom. The trek will also include Moroney’s first headlining stops in Chicago (Joe’s on Weed St.), Los Angeles (Troubadour), New Braunfels, Texas (Gruene Hall) and a tour-wrapping concert at Buckhead Theatre in Atlanta on Nov. 10.

Tickets and VIP packages will go on sale Friday, March 24 at 10 a.m. local time at meganmoroney.com. Additionally, in select cities, Moroney’s fan club will have access to an exclusive presale beginning Wednesday (March 22) at 10 a.m. local, with the code JACKPOT.

See the dates for The Lucky Tour below:

SEPTEMBER
20 | New York City, NY – The Bowery Ballroom
21 | West Springfield, MA – The Big E
22 | Philadelphia, PA – Theatre of Living Arts
23 | Washington, D.C. – The Hamilton
28 | Saint Louis, MO – Delmar Hall
29 | Indianapolis, IN – 8 Seconds Saloon
30 | Chicago, IL – Joe’s on Weed St.

OCTOBER
13 | Los Angeles, CA – Troubadour
14 | Bakersfield, CA – Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace
19 | Denver, CO – Bluebird Theater
20 | Salt Lake City, UT – The Grand at The Complex
21 | Grand Junction, CO – Warehouse 25 Sixty-Five
25 | Phoenix, AZ – Crescent Ballroom
26 | San Diego, CA – Moonshine Beach
27 | Las Vegas, NV – Stoney’s Rockin’ Country

NOVEMBER
2 | New Braunfels, TX – Gruene Hall
3 | Houston, TX – Warehouse Live Ballroom
4 | Dallas, TX – The Studio at The Factory

DECEMBER
7 | Nashville, TN – Brooklyn Bowl
9 | Charlotte, NC – Coyote Joe’s
10 | Atlanta, GA – Buckhead Theatre

20 Mar 2023

Harry Styles Helps Fan With Marriage Proposal During Singapore Love on Tour Stop

Harry Styles’ Love on Tour is a popular destination not only for fans ready to enjoy the star’s hits-filled catalog, but also for lovebirds to kick off engagements. During the “Watermelon Sugar” singer’s set at Singapore’s National Stadium on Friday (March 17), a fan proposed to his girlfriend with a little help from the Grammy album of the year winner.

“Kenneth asked for some help. Can I get some romantic music, please? After you, Kenneth,” Styles said, which prompted the fan to get down on one knee in front of his girlfriend.

When the couple were shown on a giant screen, fans in the stadium went wild with applause. “She said yes! Kenneth and Kimmy, everybody!” Styles added, later joking that the fan stole his thunder. “Kenneth, hear me, you both seem wonderful. I wish you a life of happiness. Congratulations. Make some noise, everybody.” Billboard has reached out for comment.

The proposal during the Asia leg of Love on Tour is far from the first one that Styles has experienced or facilitated — in August, the European leg of the global trek concluded with a fan going onstage to serenade his girlfriend with Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” He then got down on one knee, and asked her in front of the entire arena, “Will you marry me?” The girlfriend said yes. And, for a bit of history, Styles also helped facilitate a fan’s #1DProposal during a 2014 One Direction concert in Georgia. (The woman said yes, too.)

Styles’ Love on Tour recently broke a Billboard Boxscore record. The singer’s 15 shows at Madison Square Garden in 2022 grossed $63.1 million and sold 277,000 tickets, making it the highest grossing headline engagement in Boxscore’s three-decade-plus history.

See videos from the Singapore proposal in the TikToks below.

20 Mar 2023

Get Inspired To Make Your Next Viral Video With This Creator-Approved Playlist

Later this week, the Samsung Galaxy Creator Collective takes over Dallas for its second iteration. The event, which takes place from March 21 through March 22, aims to serve as an inviting and inclusive learning environment where creators both new and more established can learn trade secrets and tips from some of the best in the business to further grow their followings across all social media platforms. Featuring music-making demonstrations, keynote speeches, panel discussions, and live performances, this year’s Samsung Galaxy Creator Collective puts audio at the forefront showcasing how creators can best utilize music to elevate their offerings. 

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To round out the weekend’s festivities, Billboard asked several major player creators to collaborate on a playlist that will serve as the soundtrack during the final morning of the Samsung Galaxy Creative Collective. Featuring TikTok creator Tefi, the respective winners of Samsung and Billboard’s NXT 1.0 and 2.0 Bronze Avery and Nyla XO, TikTok artist DJ Habi Beats, among others, this Coffee Hour playlist will represent an eclectic mix of the top artists and songs encompassing the diversity of the attendees themselves. 

For those who can’t attend in person, the Samsung Galaxy Creator Collective will be available to watch via livestream beginning on March 21 at 9 a.m. CT/10 a.m. EST on Samsung’s Twitch and YouTube channels. And for those looking for an immediate jolt of musically creative inspiration, check out the full creator-approved playlist below. 

Tefi 

Justin Nozuka – “Nova”

For Tefi’s first pick, TikTok’s best friend opted for the smooth nature of “Nova,” which hears Nozuka express some tender infatuation over a lover and he’s not afraid to shoot his shot. With his silky falsetto, the track shapes up as a go-to soundtrack for all the optimistic romantics and the perfect addition for our coffee hour. 

Kwaku Asante – “Feel Something”

“Feel Something” injects warm R&B into the mix, courtesy of Tefi’s second pick by Kwaku Asante. The cut hears the rising singer/songwriter walk a thin line of old school R&B with elements of neo-soul sprinkles throughout, leaving listeners with nothing but some feel-good energy. And yet, it’s so effortless and versatile that it could fit into the mix of a dancefloor. 

Bronze Avery

Holly Humberstone, “Overkill”

The first of Bronze Avery’s picks is “Overkill” by Grantham, England-bred sing-songwriter Holly Humberstone. Much like Avery’s highly emotional output, “Overkill” sees Humberstone singing  about the universal phenomenon of oversharing to a new romantic partner. The track’s video, which was filmed by Holly’s sister Eleri, sees the artist traipsing through the forest outside of her childhood home at dusk, with Holly stating that “it was basically my version of a 5k run.”

Bronze Avery, “SOFTSHELL”

For his second pick, Avery chose to highlight his own track, “Softshell.” Fresh off the artist’s 2022 debut album SOFTMETAL, the penultimate single sees the 28-year-old multihyphenate and inaugural Billboard NXT winner creating lush and longing alternative pop music that makes for a perfect backdrop, whether you’re cruising with the top down at sunset or wistfully staring out a rain-drenched window.

Nyla Xo

Lianne La Havas, “Unstoppable (FKJ Remix)”

For her first pick, NXT 2.0 winner Nyla XO steps up to the plate with the playful and bubbly remix of the Lianne La Havas track “Unstoppable” courtesy of French-multi instrumental and remixer French Kiwi Juice (or FKJ for short). The uplifting and highly danceable tune sees La Havas’s vocals perched above a beautiful melange of sunny piano chords and synth flourishes. 

Nyla XO, “Summer Days”

For her second pick, Nyla XO turns the focus back on herself, celebrating her 2020 single “Summer Days.” The song and its corresponding video – which was shot, edited, and directed by Nyla herself – both serve to celebrate the healing and rejuvenating qualities of nature during a year when many across the world prioritized getting back to the great outdoors for the very first time. 

Marilyn Hue 

PinkPantheress, “Break It Off”

Photographer and creator-at-large Marilyn Hue knows how to set a mood. Take her first pick; “Break It Off” by Kent, England’s PinkPantheress. At under two minutes, the energetic, seductive, and extremely catchy DnB-infused pop banger is the perfect way to inject just a little bit of fun and hyperpop into any day’s shoot schedule. 

TV Girl, “Cigarettes Out The Window”

Continuing on her moody streak, Hue chose “Cigarettes Out The Window” by Los Angeles indie rock act TV Girl. The third track off of band’s 2016 album Who Really Cares, “Cigarettes Out The Window” makes use of vintage as well as contemporary samples to create a song that is as timeless as it is evocative.

Drex Lee

Lana Del Rey, “Gangsta’s Paradise x Jealous Girl” (SicKick Remix TikTok)

Smartphone-centric film director Drex Lee knows all about setting a scene and how to contrast disparate elements to come to an end result that is bigger than the sum of its parts. Take, for instance, Lee’s first song choice, the SicKick mashup of Lana Del Rey’s “Jealous Girl” and Coolio’s “Gangsta’s Paradise.” While this pairing may not seem like a fit on paper, in practice, the songs work well to build upon shared themes of longing and violence. 

Steve Lacy, “Bad Habit”

Next up from Drex Lee, the breakout single from Odd Future affiliate and The Internet member Steve Lacy. Off his critically acclaimed sophomore solo album Gemini Rights, “Bad Habit” is a video creator favorite where the SoCal crooner waxes poetically about a failed love interest where slick guitar chords and vocal harmonies, featuring singer-songwriter Fousheé, serve to cushion any fall.

Tetris Kelly

Meghan Tranior, “Mother”

While Billboard News Host Tetris Kelly’s life might look like a dream, it most definitely sounds the part when soundtracked by his first pick, Meghan Tranior latest single “Mother.” With sonic nods to the 1954 track “Mr. Sandman” by girl group The Chordettes, the Kris Jenner-starring video plays with ideas of the fantastical to create the perfect accompaniment to any head in the clouds fantasy you might be trying to conjure. 

Taeyang feat. Jimin “Vibe”

Up next from Kelly, “Vibe” from former Big Bang member Taeyang with an assist from BTS’s Jimin. The song – a dance pop bop with equal nods to K-Pop, R&B, and New Jack Swing – is the perfect soundtrack for anyone with hearts in their eyes, whether it’s for a new crush or even if you are simply just admiring somewhere for their unique aura and vibe.

James Dinh

Taylor Swift, “Lavender Haze”

The first pick from Billboard’s James Dinh is also the first Taylor Swift song to grace the playlist, and it sure does pack a punch. “Lavender Haze” takes the best techniques of pop, ambient house, R&B, and electro and combines them all in an earworm worthy of syncing up with your end of night dance party or, for the more health conscious set, your most triumphant gym routine. 

Catching Flies, “Let Your Hair Down”

Continuing on this moody streak, Dinh’s second pick is the welcome refresh of “Let Your Hair Down” by London-artist Catching Flies. Somewhere between hip hop, trip hop, hip house, and downtempo, “Let Your Hair Down” invites you to do just that, whether you are relaxing after a long day or perhaps even savoring a meditative moment before you embark on your next adventure. 

Sarah Lombard

Niall Horan, “Heaven”

Ahead of his hotly anticipated third studio album entitled The Show, former One Direction-member Niall Horan graces us with its first single, “Heaven.” The first of Billboard staffer Sarah Lombard’s picks, “Heaven” is a crooning pop rock anthem about living life on your own timeline. 

Reneé Rapp, “Bruises”

The second of Lombard’s picks comes in the form of actress and singer Reneé Rapp’s “Bruises.” A song about vulnerability, “Bruises” provides the perfect soundtrack for any content aiming for introspection or deep hearted soul searching.

Quincy Green

Doechii feat. SZA, “Persuasive”

Up first for Billboard’s own Quincy Green, we see Tampa, Florida-bred Doechii’s 2022 banger, “Persuasive.” An uptempo hip house track with a vocal assist from none other than SZA, “Persuasive” will have you feeling yourself within seconds, perfect for any video content that speaks to renewed feeling of self-worth. 

KAYTRANADA feat. H.E.R., “Intimidated”

Up next from Green is KAYTRANADA’s 2021 track, “Intimidated.” Off the EP of the same name and featuring vocals from H.E.R., “Intimidated” sees Kaytranada effortlessly blending soul, house, and hip hop into pop music perfection that somehow feels both futuristic and like a cherished throwback. 

Steven Levine 

Coi Leray, “Players”

Speaking of throwbacks, next up we have Billboard’s Steven Levine with Coi Leray’s Grandmaster Flash-indebted “Players.” With bars that speak to female bravado and a beat you won’t be afraid to blast at the club or even a family cookout, “Players” is a perfect cherry on top for any good day.

PinkPantheress, Ice Spice, “Boy’s a liar Pt. 2”

Up next from Levine we have “Boy’s a liar Pt. 2” from PinkPantheress and Ice Spice. These two burgeoning superstars pack a song of the summer anthem in under three minutes, proving that good things can truly come in small packages. 

Olive Mannella

Dermot Kennedy, “Something To Someone”

First from Billboard’s Olive Mannella, we have pop country in the form of Dermot Kennedy’s “Something To Someone.” Whether you are embarking on a cross country road trip or simply miss seeing the stars in your big city environment, “Something To Someone” will help you feel a little closer to home. 

Taylor Swift, “Invisible String”

Finally from Mannella, we have a pop folk ballad from the princess of pop Taylor Swift. A mellower, more sentimental side of Swift, “Invisible String” is the perfect soundtrack for mending up any wounds, lacing up your shoes, and continuing charting your own path, wherever your life may be taking you.