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12 Dec 2022

James Reid Announces His First North American Tour: Exclusive

One of the Philippines’ breakout music stars is expanding his global reach via a new tour and growing team. Billboard can exclusively share that James Reid will kick off the new year by touring North America for the first time since hitting the entertainment scene more than a decade ago. The singer-songwriter’s LOVESCENE North American Tour takes its name from Reid’s latest album.

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Released in October, LOVESCENE has been promoted with two singles so far: “u & I” and its latest “Lie to Me,” which features California singer-songwriter Destiny Rodgers, also signed to Reid’s Careless indie label.

As part of Reid’s global team, Wasserman will handle the tour (Wasserman Music represents the singer for worldwide booking, minus the Philippines) and join previously announced management Transparent Arts (the company founded by Billboard Hot 100 chart-toppers Far East Movement that spotlights Asian talent on a global scale).

The trek kicks off in late January in Houston, and heads across the U.S. and Canada before closing in late February in Los Angeles. Tickets will be available for pre-sale through James Reid’s Bandsintown page on Dec. 14, and go on sale on Dec. 16. More information will be shared via James Reid’s social media.

See the full list of his concert dates below.

2023 James Reid LOVESCENE North American Tour Dates

  • Jan. 29, 2023 – Houston, TX – Downstairs at White Oak Music Hall
  • Feb. 1, 2023 – Richmond, VA – The Broadberry
  • Feb. 4, 2023 – Ashbury Park, NJ – Asbury Lanes
  • Feb. 5, 2023 – New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom
  • Feb. 7, 2023 – Toronto, ON – The Opera House
  • Feb. 9, 2023 – Chicago, IL – Lincoln Hall
  • Feb. 11, 2023 – Winnipeg, MB – Exchange Event Centre
  • Feb. 14, 2023 – Calgary, AB – AB – Bella Concert Hall
  • Feb. 16, 2023 – Vancouver, BC – Hollywood Theatre
  • Feb. 19, 2023 – Seattle, WA – The Showbox
  • Feb. 21, 2023 – San Francisco, CA -The Regency Ballroom
  • Feb. 24, 2023 – San Diego, CA – Music Box
  • Feb. 26, 2023 – Los Angeles, CA – Troubadour

12 Dec 2022

Maren Morris Defends Meghan Markle From ‘Profound Hatred‘ After ’Harry & Meghan’ Documentary

Maren Morris is weighing in. After seeing that Meghan Markle was getting quite a bit of vitriol online following the release of her and husband Prince Harry’s new Netflix documentary series, the 32-year-old country music star came to the Duchess of Sussex’s defense.

In a recent TikTok, Morris revealed that though she hasn’t yet watched Harry & Meghan, she has seen what she feels is a confusing amount of public disdain directed toward the former Suits star following the Dec. 8 release of the docuseries’ first three episodes.

“This profound hatred and annoyance at Meghan Markle specifically — mostly coming from women, I have to say — it’s unfathomable to me,” she said. “People are saying, ‘Oh a woman should never take a man away from his family.’ Have you seen this family?”

She went on to give examples of past royals whose relationship to the British monarchy became strained over romantic relationships, including former King Edward VIII, who abdicated the throne in 1936 so that he could marry American socialite and divorcée Wallis Simpson. “[Princess Margaret] did not leave the family, but I kind of wish she had,” Morris continued, referencing the princess’ forbidden love with Peter Townsend, a British Royal Air Force office.

“Apart from Diana, Princess Margaret’s story is one of the saddest,” she added. “And if we talk about Princess Di, she didn’t leave her children, but she left the family.”

Though the final three episodes of Harry & Meghan won’t be released until Dec. 15, the show’s first half has already drawn mounting criticism from viewers. Some were particularly bothered by a scene in which Markle reenacts a moment she awkwardly curtsied for Queen Elizabeth. And NPR London correspondent Frank Langfitt has attributed reviewers’ negative reactions to a perception that Harry & Meghan was “self-indulgent” of the Duke and Duchess to make.

Morris, however, clearly disagrees. “Now, I don’t know these people, and neither do you, but I do have a moderate fascination with the monarchy and the royals,” the 2023 Grammy nominee said, noting that she’d watched Netflix’s The Crown. “But I don’t understand this very specific hatred to Meghan herself. I just don’t — I never have.”

“This all feels very pointed at one woman, as it mostly always has in history,” she concluded.

Watch Maren Morris come to Meghan Markle’s defense below:

12 Dec 2022

Billboard’s Greatest Pop Stars of 2022: No. 10 — Nicki Minaj

For this year’s update of our ongoing Greatest Pop Star by Year project, Billboard is counting down our staff picks for the top 10 pop stars of 2022 all this week. At No. 10, we remember the year in Nicki Minaj — who topped the Hot 100, owned the VMAs, and generally reasserted her dominance in 2022.

The presence of women in hip-hop has surged over the last decade, but Nicki Minaj never lost her ‘Queen of Rap’ title. Throughout 2022, Billboard’s 2019 Game-Changer honoree skillfully demonstrated prestige in music, from occasional guest features to being lauded by MTV for her iconic evolution. Over a decade on from the release of her 2010 debut album Pink Friday, the 40-year-old remains a force to be reckoned with.

Four years after dropping her fourth LP Queen, 2022 kicked off the era of Minaj’s long-awaited comeback. Post-Queen, Minaj had spent the earlier part of the decade surprising her dedicated Barbz with standalone singles (“Megatron,” “Yikes”) and hit collaborations with Doja Cat, BIA, Ty Dolla $ign and others, while also re-releasing her fan favorite mixtape, 2009’s Beam Me Up Scotty, to DSPs. The Queens-raised artist – who continued her musical impact over the past three years without so much as a full-length solo project – powered into the new decade laser-focused on being a versatile rap mainstay.

In February of this year, Minaj and Atlanta rhymesayer Lil Baby teamed up for the ruthless trap anthem “Do We Have a Problem?” The track ruled Billboard‘s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, while also debuting at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. After the birth of her son in 2020, Minaj’s re-emergence was sealed as she followed that up a week later with second Lil Baby collaboration “Bussin,” also reaching the chart’s top 20.

The following month, Minaj went deep into her fashion bag, becoming the face of Marc Jacobs’ Spring 2022 “Heaven” collection, donning edgy couture and colorful wigs reminiscent of her early mainstream career. Also in March, Minaj passed the rap torch to Trendsetter artist Coi Leray, featuring on Leray’s fiery “Blick Blick,” which reached No. 10 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. The “Blick Blick” rollout was slightly chaotic, as Leray’s father, rapper Benzino, prematurely revealed the collaboration on Clubhouse, sending Minaj to nearly pull her verse. 

Keeping her appearance on “Blick” – even popping up in the technicolor music video – Minaj went full steam ahead, tapping Fivio Foreign for the one-off single “We Go Up.” The five-minute braggadocious drill rap cut would eventually receive a gritty music video filmed in Foreign and Minaj’s NYC hometown, and exclusively appeared on Minaj’s greatest hits compilation Queen Radio: Volume 1. “We Go Up,” which landed at No. 15 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, would be the fourth collaborative single under Minaj’s belt in 2022. The momentum she built on features resembled her 2010s phase, where the rapper could make any song her own with a knockout verse, and would later help her explode on her first solo Hot 100 chart-topper. 

But before that, in May, Minaj appeared arm-in-arm with fashion designer and Burberry chief creative officer Ricardo Tisci at the 2022 MET Gala. After gracing the red carpet with a memorable all-black Burberry ensemble and body embellishments from British makeup artist Pat McGrath, Minaj would also embark on a new business deal that month, announcing her new role as creative director of Maxim. The venture would also place Minaj as MaximBet’s special advisor for licensed sports betting and iGaming. Burgeoning as a tastemaker in music and entrepreneurial moves, Minaj utilized 2022 as a year to flex her transcendent influence over the new generation of female rap.

By July, the summer music festival season saw a Minaj takeover, as the artist headlined New Orleans’ Essence Music Festival and London’s Wireless Festival. Her return to festivals since making a surprise guest appearance during Ariana Grande’s Coachella set in 2019, Minaj hit the New Orleans’ Caesars Superdome as a seasoned virtuoso. 75,000 fans clamored over Minaj’s extensive catalog during an hour-long set, rapping along to classics both of her own (“Beez In the Trap,” “Super Bass,” “Chun-Li”) and in a supporting role (Beyoncé’s “Flawless (Remix),” BIA’s “Whole Lotta Money (Remix)”, A$AP Ferg’s “Plain Jane (Remix)”).

Although Barbz were disappointed that Essence Fest opted not to livestream Minaj’s set at the last minute, more festival pandemonium ensued as the rapper went across the pond for Wireless Festival. Coordinating multiple outfit changes for the show at London’s Finsbury Park – which experienced a 30-minute delay. Minaj closed out her energetic Wireless Festival set as rap royalty. The Queen of Rap even attempted to hold a meet and greet with fans at Camden’s Cafe Koko following her Sunday performance, but police officials shut down the event as crowds flooded nearby roads.

In the weeks following Minaj’s festival sets, she promised a six-part docuseries and new music under a “Nick James” alter ego, teasing lustful single “Super Freaky Girl,” which sampled Rick James’ 1981 funk smash “Super Freak.” “Super Freaky Girl” played as a near-spinoff to Minaj’s 2014 “Baby Got Back- sampling hit “Anaconda,” which made the song a viral sensation on TikTok. In August, Minaj, Drake and Lil Wayne held a triumphant Young Money reunion during the first “October World Weekend” of Toronto’s OVO Fest, where Minaj debuted “Super Freaky Girl” on the Budweiser Stage. 

Contributing to the recent sample and interpolation trend in pop music, “Super Freaky Girl” made a massive debut atop the Billboard Hot 100 following its full August release , marking Minaj’s first No. 1 single as a solo artist. “Super Freaky Girl” was also just the second solo single by a female rap artist to top the chart since Ms. Lauryn Hill’s 1998 song “Doo Wop (That Thing).” Accompanied by a Barbie and Ken-inspired music video directed by Joseph Kahn, Minaj continued to support the chart-topper by reviving her zany alter ego Roman Zolanski on “Super Freaky Girl (Roman Remix).”

Minaj kept the heat scorching near summer’s end, releasing Queen Radio Volume 1 and delivering a career-spanning Video Vanguard Award performance at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards. The artist, who co-hosted the 2022 VMAs with fellow Queens native LL Cool J and Jack Harlow, made her telecast awards show comeback, offering a 10-minute set with self-referential easter egg nods for longtime Barbz. Minaj opened her set in a plastic box replica of her 2007 mixtape Playtime Is Over, while the Head Barb reimagined her dominatrix Roman Zolanski role in Kanye West’s 2010 “Monster” music video. The camera then panned out to reveal that Minaj was her own Barbie Dreamhouse, with one section resembling Queens nail salon Poly Nails, where Minaj filmed her 2007 music video for Playtime Is Over cut “Wuchoo Know.” Without missing a beat, Minaj ended her incandescent performance with “Super Freaky Girl” fun, turning the VMAs into a full-blown celebration of her legacy.

After accepting the Video Vanguard Award, Minaj was off to more “Super Freaky Girl” promotion, partnering with restaurant chain Chili’s in September for ‘Barbz Day’ and cranberry-flavored $5 Barbaritas. Minaj also curated a third “Super Freaky Girl” official remix, an all-star “Queen Mix” featuring JT of City Girls, BIA, Maliibu Miitch, Akbar V and Katie Got Bandz, where the femcees repped their respective cities. Also on the Queens Radio compilation was a remix to “Likkle Mix” by dancehall artist Skeng, and in late-September, Minaj would co-star in the song’s graffiti-music video. “Likkle Mix” would ultimately nab a “Fine Nine” remix to make the “Super Freaky Girl (Remix)” look modest by comparison. Minaj and Skeng recruited eight women from across dancehall and rap, including Spice, Lisa Mercedez, Lady Leshurr, London Hill, Patrice Roberts, Destra Garcia, Pamputtae, and Dovey Magnum.

Minaj continued to hop from one genre to the next, featuring on Yung Bleu’s “Love in the Way” and 2022 FIFA World Cup anthem “Tukoh Taka” with Colombian vocalist Maluma and Lebanese singer Myriam Fares. The rapper didn’t ease up on dominating festival stages, headlining New York’s Powerhouse and Rolling Loud New York at Queens stadium Citi Field. Minaj would also rack up additional awards, from MTV Europe Music Awards’ best hip hop artist and best song and the American Music Awards’ favorite female artist – rap/hip-hop. She would also later get into an all-out Twitter spat with Atlanta rapper Latto over the 2023 Grammy nominations – Minaj was upset that her own crossover hit was moved from the rap categories to the pop ones while Latto’s was allowed to stay. But it would be Latto’s Hot 100 top five hit “Big Energy” that scored a best melodic rap performance nomination, while “Super Freaky Girl” received none.

“Say So” collaborator Doja Cat protested the Grammy slight, but let 2022 show that Minaj can’t be phased. In separate features with Interview and i-D – conducted by actress Jada Pinkett Smith and City Girls’ JT, respectively – the year’s digital songs best-selling rap artist talked up her fifth solo album, teasing that her best work has yet to come. With her eyes on the future, Minaj’s year as a hip-hop luminary has positioned the artist back at the top of her game.

12 Dec 2022

Shaquille O’Neal Unveils ‘Shaq-tacular Spectacular’ New Year’s Eve VR Experience

Shaq is throwing an appropriately large New Year’s Eve event in the VR world.  

Retired NBA great Shaquille O’Neal will host “The Shaq-tacular Spectacular,” an immersive VR countdown special featuring guest spots from Cardi B, Killer Mike, Ludacris, Lil Yachty, Rob Gronkowski and Camille Kostek.

“This year we’re ringing in 2023 with new experiences and connections. I’m excited to celebrate with some of my favorite artists and athletes in a way that you can enjoy with friends and family in VR across the world,” the basketball superstar, broacaster and DJ says in a statement.

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“From music, laughs and much more, we’re celebrating New Year’s Eve and welcoming 2023 with a spectacular party you won’t want to miss.”

The 19-year pro, who won four titles in the NBA and is regarded as one of the most dominant big men of all time, will spin tunes for a virtual DJ Diesel set, filling it up on a main stage that’s said to be “filled with a marching band, cheerleaders, pro roller skaters, basketball players” and more.

As the clock counts down to 2023, the one-hour special will premiere in VR in Meta Horizon Worlds and on Meta Quest TV, as well as on O’Neal’s Facebook and Instagram pages and Messenger’s Watch Together.

It is being produced by Westbrook Media, Media.Monks and Shaquille O’Neal’s Jersey Legends Productions, with the action tipping off from 6:30pm ET on Saturday, Dec. 31. Shaq has thrown his considerable frame behind several music ventures, including Shaq’s Fun House festival — a part festival, part carnival brand.

As DJ Diesel, he’s partial to massive, heavy-hitting bass music, a genre he says saved him and gave him purpose after retiring from the NBA in 2011. “The whole genre is energy,” O’Neal told Billboard earlier this year. “I missed that once retiring. Bass music was the vice I was missing and desperately needed.”

Since launching the DJ Diesel project, O’Neal hasn’t sat on the bench. He’s played many prestige clubs and festivals including Electric Zoo, Lollapalooza and Tomorrowland.

12 Dec 2022

Priscilla Block, Jelly Roll & Jackson Dean Among CRS New Faces of Country Music Show Performers

Every year, country radio personnel vote on the artists who are most likely to become future country radio mainstays. The top five vote-getters perform during the New Faces of Country Music Show, which serves as the culmination of the annual Country Radio Seminar, putting the newcomers in front of numerous influential country radio industry members.

This year’s includes UMG Nashville singer-songwriter Priscilla Block, who broke through with “Just About Over You,” as well as Big Machine Label Group artist Jackson Dean, who earned a hit with “Don’t Come Lookin’,” and Sony Music Nashville newcomer Nate Smith, who is surging with “Whiskey on You.”

They join BBR Music Group artist and “Country’d Look Good on You” singer Frank Ray, as well as BMG’s Jelly Roll, who has a Billboard top 10 Country Airplay chart hit with “Son of a Sinner” and played a triumphant sold-out hometown arena show in Nashville on Dec. 9.

The 2023 New Faces of Country Music Show will take place March 15, concluding the 2023 Country Radio Seminar slated for March 13-15 at Omni Nashville Hotel.

CRB New Faces Committee Chairman Chuck Aly said via a statement, “The radio and streaming partner constituencies of CRS have spoken and, word is, the future of country music is bright. This year’s New Faces class comprises artists with admirable creative depth and burgeoning commercial impact. Translation: Don’t miss it!”

The first New Faces of Country Music show was held in 1970 and featured Jack Barlow, Jamie Kaye, Karen Kelly, Wayne Kemp, Lynda K. Lance, LaWanda Lindsey, Dee Mullins and Norro Wilson. Since then, a who’s who of country artists have performed on the show early in their careers, including Lefty Frizzell, Eddie Rabbitt, Vern Gosdin and Gene Watson. Reba McEntire, Alabama and Sylvia were among those on the 1980 lineup, while George Strait, Rodney Crowell and Ricky Skaggs performed at the event in 1982. Randy Travis and Marty Stuart were among the 1986 lineup, while Keith Whitley, Dwight Yoakam, Holly Dunn and Lyle Lovett were on the bill a year later.

Tim McGraw met his wife, fellow country singer Faith Hill, during the 1994 New Faces of Country Music Show; that year’s lineup also included Toby Keith, Lari White, Clay Walker and John Berry. Keith Urban and Brad Paisley shared the 2000 lineup, while Miranda Lambert and Eric Church were on the 2007 bill, and Taylor Swift and Luke Bryan were on the same bill in 2008.

12 Dec 2022

From ‘Dos Corazones’ to ‘El Ultimo Beso,’ Here Are All of Vicente Fernandez’s Biggest Billboard Hits

It’s been one years since the death of Mexican legend Vicente Fernández, who passed away on Dec. 12 in his native Guadalajara at 81 years old. With family, fans and fellow musicians remembering and honoring his legacy today, Billboard is remembering the ranchera titan with his biggest Hot Latin Songs hits. 

On the Billboard charts, the iconic singer and actor placed 40 entries on Top Latin Albums, including 25 top 10s and six No. 1s. On Hot Latin Songs, he logged a total of 61 entries, from 1987 to 2013, including 20 top 10s and one No. 1.

Fernández holds the record for the most entries on Hot Latin Songs for a regional Mexican solo act, with 61, the record for the most entries on Regional Mexican Albums, with a total of 52, and the record for the most No. 1s for a regional Mexican solo act on Regional Mexican Albums, with a total of 17.

His career totals in the U.S., according to MRC Data (which began in 1991), stand at 23.4 billion in cumulative radio audience for all his songs; 5.5 billion on-demand streams; and 9.2 million albums sold.

Fernández’s cause of death was due to complications following surgery for a cervical spine injury after a serious fall last August. The ranchera singer had remained hospitalized since then in stable but serious condition but in the last 24 hours, his condition deteriorated.

“It was an honor and a great pride to share with everyone a great musical career and to give everything for his audience,” reads a statement on his official Instagram account. “Thank you for continuing to applaud, thank you for continuing to sing.”

Below, see all of Chente’s greatest hits to enter the Top 10 on Hot Latin Songs.

“Dos Corazones” peaked No. 10 on chart dated Feb. 6, 1988

“Aunque Mal Paguen Ellas” peaked at No. 4 on chart dated Aug. 26, 1989

“Por Tu Maldito Amor” peaked at No. 10 on chart dated Dec. 2, 1989

“Que Sepan Todos” peaked at No. 6 on chart dated June 1, 1991

“Yo Quiero” peaked at No. 9 on chart dated July 25, 1992

“Aca Entre Nos” peaked at No. 8 on chart dated Oct. 31, 1992

“La Fiesta” peaked at No. 8 on chart dated Feb. 20, 1993

“Lastima Que Seas Ajena” peaked at No. 3 on chart dated Sept. 25, 1993

“Miseria” peaked at No. 6 on chart dated Sept. 24, 1994

“No, No y No” peaked at No. 8 on chart dated Dec. 17, 1994

“Aunque Me Duela El Alma” peaked at No. 2 on chart dated June 24, 1995

“No Te Vayas” peaked at No. 5 on chart dated July 6, 1996

“Nos Estorbo La Ropa” peaked at No. 4 on chart dated Nov. 1, 1997

“Me Voy a Quitar De En Medio” peaked at No. 4 on chart dated March 27, 1999

“Borracho te Recuerdo” peaked at No. 8 on chart dated Jan. 13, 2001

“El Ayudante” peaked at No. 9 on chart dated Sept. 29, 2001

“Estos Celos” peaked at No. 3 on chart dated Oct. 20, 2007

“La Derrota” peaked at No. 7 on chart dated June 14, 2008

“Para Siempre” peaked at No. 2 on chart dated Aug. 16, 2009

“El Ultimo Beso” peaked at No. 1 on chart dated Feb. 21, 2009

12 Dec 2022

The 20 Best Pride Albums of 2022: Staff Picks

2022 was good for a lot of things — in the music world, artists like Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, Bad Bunny and more had blockbuster years worthy of recognition. But when it came to the continued fight for LGBTQ rights, 2022 proved to be more of a backslide. In the United States alone, queer and trans folks spent the year working tirelessly against more than 300 anti-LGBTQ bills in state legislatures (including Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill and Arkansas’ ban on gender-affirming care for young people), threats towards gender diverse kids and their families, a fatal shooting at a gay nightclub, and countless more tragedies and setbacks. Around the world, people struggled to support the biggest sporting event in the world being held in a country where being queer is a crime, while anti-LGBTQ sentiment and hate crimes continued to rise around the world.

Despite the onslaught of negative sentiment and oppressive ideals, queer artists showed up to represent and support their community in 2022. The methods they employed through their albums were often varied — some aimed for sheer escapism, creating new sonic worlds for their fans to luxuriate in; others looked their circumstances dead in the eye, using their music to channel the rage they felt at a world that was seemingly set against them. Either way, LGBTQ artists made their voices heard through some of their best works to date in 2022.

So, which of those albums stood out among the rest? Below, check out Billboard‘s picks for the 20 best albums by LGBTQ artists released in 2022:

12 Dec 2022

Tory Lanez Heads to Trial Over Alleged Shooting Of Megan Thee Stallion

Tory Lanez and Los Angeles prosecutors on Monday will finally kick off a closely-watched jury trial over whether he shot Megan Thee Stallion in the foot, with a potential 22-year prison sentence looming for Lanez if convicted.

After a week of jury selection, prosecutors will make opening statements in their effort to convict Lanez (real name Daystar Peterson) of three felony charges over the July 2020 incident, in which the rapper allegedly shot Stallion in the foot during an argument after a pool party in the Hollywood Hills.

Lanez has maintained his innocence, pleading not guilty to all three charges – and publicly implying that Stallion is lying about the shooting. Stallion (born Megan Pete) has been steadfast against such pushback, writing in a New York Times op-ed that “even as a victim, I have been met with skepticism and judgment.”

The trial will center on the early morning of July 12, 2020, when Stallion, Lanez and Stallion’s friend Kelsey Harris were driving in an SUV following a party at Kylie Jenner’s house. According to prosecutors, after an argument broke out, Megan got out of the vehicle and began walking away, then Lanez shouted, “Dance, bitch!” and began shooting at her feet.

Lanez has suggested on social media that he was romantically involved with both women, which led to the altercation. Stallion has strongly denied this.

Immediately after the incident, Stallion initially told police officers that she cut her foot stepping on broken glass, but days later alleged that she had suffered a gunshot wound. After media outlets reported that Lanez had fired the gun, Stallion directly accused him in an August 2020 Instagram video.

In October 2020, Lanez was charged with one count of assault with a firearm and another gun possession charge. At a December 2021 hearing, a Los Angeles judge allowed the case to move forward to a trial. A new charge, discharging a firearm with gross negligence, was added last week. Lanez has pleaded not guilty to all three counts.

The upcoming trial will feature testimony from a number of high-profile witnesses, including from Stallion herself and Kelsey Harris. Also taking the stand could be Jenner and Corey Gamble, Kris Jenner’s boyfriend who was also allegedly at the party. Peterson might take the stand himself, but putting a defendant on the stand is always a gamble for defense attorneys.

The government is expected to wrap up its case by Friday and turn over the proceedings to Lanez’s attorneys. The trial is expected to run into next week.

For the government, prosecutors Kathy Ta and Alexander Bott will handle the case. Though Lanez has been represented by celebrity attorney Shawn Holley throughout the case, attorney George Mgdesyan handled last week’s proceedings and appears to be set to take lead at the trial.

12 Dec 2022

Selena Gomez Subtly Responds to a TikTok About Her Weight When She Dated Justin Bieber

Selena Gomez‘s 2019 breakup ballad “Lose You to Love Me” may now have a new layer of meaning for some fans. The 30-year-old pop star on Sunday (Dec. 11) responded to a TikToker’s claim that she was “always skinny” when she dated on-again, off-again ex-boyfriend Justin Bieber, who fans already believe her hit song is about.

The TikTok, posted Nov. 29, features a reel of throwback photographs of Gomez, several of them showing her in athletic wear, appearing to have just hit the gym. It ends with a screenshot of what is allegedly an old Instagram comment left by the Only Murders in the Building actress in response to a fan who’d said “Jelena forever” and “love you both.”

“No love,” the comment allegedly left by Gomez reads. “He’s rather models. I’m just too normal.”

In addition to thousands of fans, Gomez chimed in on the TikTok, leaving a simple downcast, sad face emoji.

The “Rare” singer and Bieber dated on and off for most of the 2010s, beginning in 2011 and ending their romance for good in 2018. Just a couple months after that final breakup, Bieber got engaged to Hailey Bieber. By the end of September that year, he and the model were married.

Showing that there is no bad blood, Selena and Hailey were recently photographed embracing each other at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Gala in October. And in the Wizards of Waverly Place star’s November documentary My Mind & Me, she said that her split from the “Peaches” singer was “the best thing that ever happened to me.”

The sad face emoji may just be Gomez’s way of expressing general disapproval for the TikTok and its discussion of her figure. She’s been open in the past about how her weight fluctuates as a result of her Lupus, as well as how body-shaming comments aimed at her have affected her mental health over the years.

12 Dec 2022

How Taylor Swift, Beyoncé and Bad Bunny All Found Space to Thrive In 2022

When the 2023 Grammy Award nominations were announced in mid-November, the Big Four categories included a slew of household names: Beyoncé, Adele, Harry Styles, Taylor Swift, Kendrick Lamar, Bad Bunny, Doja Cat, Lizzo. None of them were surprises. The Grammy noms were star-studded to reflect the past year in popular music: Following a pandemic-stricken period in which pop’s upper tier mostly held off on releasing new projects, 2022 was dominated by the A-listers, many of whom made good on the commercial promise of their returns and added new hits to their impressive résumés.

“We’ve had almost every global superstar release music within a 12- to 18-month span,” says Joe Hadley, Spotify global head of artist partnerships and audience. Some of that overabundance of big names can surely be chalked up to coincidence: Artists like Adele, Beyoncé and Lamar had been dormant as recording artists for over five years before finally having new albums ready within an eight-month span, for instance. Yet their respective returns were combined with prolific artists like Swift, Drake, Doja Cat and Jack Harlow releasing new material this year after an active 2021; bankable names like Styles, Bad Bunny, BTS, Lady Gaga and The Weeknd headlining a crowded touring field; and reliable hit-makers like Lizzo, Post Malone, Sam Smith and Nicki Minaj collecting more top 10 Billboard Hot 100 hits, making 2022 feel like a nonstop star parade.

“Anytime we have superstars putting out music, it’s good for the fans, for radio, for streaming,” says Mark Medina, program director for WHTZ (Z100) New York. (Indeed, recorded-music revenue in the United States grew 9% in the first half of 2022 compared with the same period in 2021, according to the RIAA.) Most of the major projects were spaced out across the calendar year, from Adele’s 30 last November to Styles’ Harry’s House in May to Swift’s Midnights in October, which gave each artist ample room to dominate listener attention and the cultural conversation. Even when their hits competed on the Billboard charts, streaming playlists and radio, as Medina says, “The more the merrier. You could never have too much good music from megastars, and we’ll always find a way to make that work.”

Part of the reason why pop music was so top-heavy this year is simple: The biggest artists delivered hits that matched their statures. Adele is no stranger to the peak of the Hot 100, but by spending 10 nonconsecutive weeks at No. 1, “Easy on Me” matched the longest chart reign of her career. Later, Beyoncé scored her first solo Hot 100 chart-topper in 14 years when “Break My Soul” powered to No. 1 upon the July release of Renaissance. And after folk-leaning singles like “Cardigan” and “Willow” summited the Hot 100 in 2020, Swift returned with the ultra-catchy “Anti-Hero,” which has spent its first six weeks at No. 1 and, Medina says, has “big, big mass appeal” at pop radio.

Meanwhile, Styles and Bad Bunny scored the biggest years of their respective careers thanks to chart-topping albums, multiple top 10 hits and mega-selling tours. For Styles, whose 2019 album, Fine Line, unlocked his potential at pop radio, “As It Was” spending a whopping 15 weeks at No. 1 — the longest leader by a solo artist in Hot 100 history — demonstrated just how inescapable the former One Direction member has become on his own. “With Harry, it all rolled out together: He had this career growth from album to album, a great pop record, streaming and research [numbers], celebrity,” says Medina. “Everything was there.”

And just as Styles’ studio output fueled 15-night residencies at venues like New York’s Madison Square Garden and Inglewood, Calif.’s Kia Forum, Bad Bunny’s massive Un Verano Sin Ti album — which has spent 12 nonconsecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 this year, the most of any project — helped the Puerto Rican star graduate from arenas to stadiums. He finished 2022 as the year’s top touring act, crushing his own record for highest-grossing Latin tour in Billboard Boxscore history as his World’s Hottest Tour grossed $373.5 million from 1.8 million tickets across 65 shows. “Bad Bunny absolutely leveled up on the road in a way that was pretty unique,” says Jesse Lawrence, founder and president of TicketIQ.

The end of 2022 doesn’t necessarily mean that pop’s biggest superstars are about to go into hibernation, though: With stadium tours from Swift, Bruce Springsteen, P!nk and Ed Sheeran on the books for next year, Lawrence believes that 2023 will be more significant for top-level tours than 2022 has been. “This time last year, there was still uncertainty about the pandemic dragging on into 2022, and there was too much risk for some of the megatours, which we’ll see in 2023,” says Lawrence. Plus, there’s one superstar whom Medina is “most interested in watching, as a fan and as a programmer,” for a potentially massive 2023: Rihanna, who will headline the Super Bowl halftime show in February and hopefully follow up the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever No. 2 single “Lift Me Up” with more new music.

Even if 2023 isn’t quite as jam-packed with new releases from A-listers, Hadley believes that some of the budding stars who broke through in 2022, including Steve Lacy and Zach Bryan — both of whom also recently scored Grammy noms — are poised to join that upper-class conversation. “I’m [always] thinking about superstar releases,” he says, “but I also think it’s a really exciting time for the next generation of superstars.” 

This story originally appeared in the Dec. 10, 2022, issue of Billboard.