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21 May 2024

‘The Voice’ Crowns Season 25 Champion

Asher HaVon is the champion of The Voice 2024.

The Selma, Alabama native emerges at the very top of his class in this 25th season of NBC’s singing contest, winning Tuesday night’s (May 21) all-star finale.

Team Reba’s singer impressed through the season with his powerful, honey-laced vocals, flair and big-game instincts.

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Along the way, he delivered a commanding performance of Sia and David Guetta’s “Titanium” during the Playoffs, which had Shay Mooney of Dan+ Shay enthuse, “this felt like a Grammy moment for you, man.”

John Legend likened that effort to a religious experience. “There are certain things about you that remind me of Whitney Houston. She would take these songs that weren’t written for a soul singer and have that restraint and regal presence on the sound but also throw in a dope run that you would hear in church,” Legend said. “In church, we save a descriptor for certain vessels, we say they’re anointed. I just felt that anointing on you. That was divine.” Legend will be smarting right now; he’s the only coach who didn’t turn during HaVon’s Blind Audition.

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HaVon’s resume includes a spot singing for Barack Obama during one of the former POTUS’ hometown’s Civil Rights commemorations, and now the spoils for The Voice 2024.

21 May 2024

JoJo Siwa Celebrates 21st Birthday at Disney World, Eminem Continues to Tease Fans With Upcoming Album & More | Billboard News

It’s Tuesday, May 21st, and JoJo Siwa celebrated her 21st birthday at Disney World by “drinking around the world.” Eminem continues to tease fans with Slim Shady’s demise by posting a cryptic message on X. Victoria Monét cancels her performances at Governors Ball and two other festivals due to ongoing health issues. Confused about the Kendrick Lamar & Drake feud, Tom Hanks asks his son to break it down to him. We caught up with some of your favorites at the Gold Gala and asked them who their favorite Asian artists are. Who’s another independent artist that should be on your watch? Keep watching to find out!

Tetris Kelly: 

Tom Hanks has his son break down Kendrick versus Drake. Victoria Monét has to cancel several shows, and Eminem sends a cryptic text about Slim Shady’s death. JoJo Siwa gets lit for the most magical birthday ever. We highlight independent artist Russ and go to the Gold Gala to discover new Asian artists. It’s Tuesday at Billboard News, and we’re starting with the top story. Happy 21st birthday to one of our faves, JoJo Siwa, and she celebrated exactly as I would at Epcot in Walt Disney World, and we’re showing you all the best moments.

So if you didn’t know, Disney’s Epcot Park is divided into 11 countries, and some adults, myself included, like to grab a drink in each country and drink around the world. That’s exactly what JoJo did, and it was documented by so many guests. She was seen having drinks with fans in her epic park ‘fit. One of the best moments was her going back and forth with a group finishing the lyrics to the iconic “Karma.” And of course the “Karma” dance said hello. And this moment where she wished the fan with an interesting name happy birthday too. My only request is invite me next time, JoJo!

Here’s three things you need to know in rap. “Big Main, can you explain the Drake/Kendrick Lamar feud to me?” Yeah, that’s the way Tom Hanks asks his son, Chet, for a rundown. 

Keep watching to learn more!

21 May 2024

Russ’ Rising Stardom as an Independent Artist | Billboard News

Russ started as an independent artist who released 11 mixtapes before signing with Columbia Records.  Later he would become 100% independent again, and he shares what’s needed to make it as an independent artist and more!

Tetris Kelly:

When it comes to being an independent artist, perhaps nobody is as loud and proud as Russ. This smooth and talented emcee is no stranger to the game and truly believes in it because he came back. The do it yourself rapper released 11 mixtapes independently before signing with Columbia and releasing ‘There’s Really a Wolf.’ He released two more projects with the label and then in June 2020, he announced on IG he was 100% independent again. He’s been super honest about the hustle at one point even posting his weekly earnings, where fans can see hundreds of 1000s of dollars he made. He told us about it back in 2020 after his Top 40 hit, “HANDSOMER.” A guy that’s never afraid to call out the Grammys and yes, even the Charts if you’re gonna be independent, believe in it like Russ.

21 May 2024

Two Songs Top 70 Million Weekly U.S. Streams for the First Time

For the first time, two songs have at least 70 million official U.S. streams in a single chart week.

Post Malone’s “I Had Some Help,” featuring Morgan Wallen, earned 76.4 million in the May 10-16 tracking week, according to Luminate. The same frame, Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” tallies its second week of 70 million-plus streams, with 72 million, a 2% jump from 70.9 million in the May 3-9 frame.

As a result, “I Had Some Help” debuts at No. 1 on Billboard‘s Streaming Songs chart dated May 25, pushing “Not Like Us” down to No. 2.

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That’s the first time two songs have had at least 70 million weekly official U.S. streams since Billboard incorporated streaming data into its charts, with the Streaming Songs tally beginning in 2013. The closest any week had previously come was on the Aug. 22, 2020, survey, when Cardi B’s “WAP,” featuring Megan Thee Stallion, reigned via 93 million streams, followed by Drake’s “Laugh Now Cry Later,” featuring Lil Durk, with 69.8 million.

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And that’s before one brings Tommy Richman’s “Million Dollar Baby,” the May 25 Streaming Songs chart’s No. 3 song, into the equation. It ranks with 66.3 million streams, up 14%. You can probably see where this is going: the May 25 rundown is the first time three songs have accrued 60 million streams or more in a single week.

“I Had Some Help” reigns in its first week, having been released May 10. It’s Post Malone’s fourth No. 1 on Streaming Songs and second in a row, following his rule as a featured artist on Taylor Swift’s “Fortnight” earlier in May. His other No. 1s were “Rockstar,” featuring 21 Savage, in 2017 and “Sunflower (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse),” billed as a co-lead with Swae Lee, in 2019.

Wallen, meanwhile, boasts his second No. 1, following a long rule for “Last Night” last year. As “Last Night” rose to No. 1 rather than debuting there, “I Had Some Help” becomes his first entry to premiere atop Streaming Songs.

Lamar’s “Not Like Us” achieves an additional distinction of being the first song in the chart’s history to actually rise in streams after first accruing 70 million since chart calculations began including only official streaming content in September 2020. That said, Lamar’s first week (May 3-9) was with a partial week of data, as “Not Like Us” was released May 4.

Going back to that week in September 2020, the new May 25, 2024, chart contains three of the seven biggest streaming weeks since. “I Had Some Help” is the biggest, while “Not Like Us” achieves the fourth largest in its latest frame, while “Million Dollar Baby” boasts the seventh largest.

Biggest Streaming Weeks Since Sept. 19, 2020:

  • “I Had Some Help,’ Post Malone feat. Morgan Wallen, 76.4 million (May 25, 2024)
  • “Fortnight,” Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone, 76.2 million (May 4, 2024)
  • “Drivers License,” Olivia Rodrigo, 76.1 million (Jan. 23, 2021)
  • “Not Like Us,” Kendrick Lamar, 72 million (May 25, 2024)
  • “Not Like Us,” Kendrick Lamar, 70.9 million (May 18, 2024)
  • “Way 2 Sexy,” Drake feat. Future & Young Thug, 67.3 million (Sept. 18, 2021)
  • “Million Dollar Baby,” Tommy Richman, 66.3 million (May 25, 2024)
  • “Good 4 U,” Olivia Rodrigo, 62.7 million (June 5, 2021)
  • “Flowers,” Miley Cyrus, 59.8 million (Feb. 4, 2023)
  • “Anti-Hero,” Taylor Swift, 59.7 million (Nov. 5, 2022)

Of the above, all were the No. 1 songs of the week on the Streaming Songs chart, aside from “Not Like Us” and “Million Dollar Baby” via the May 25 chart.

Concurrently, as previously reported, “I Had Some Help” reigns on the multimetric Billboard Hot 100, followed by “Not Like Us” and “Million Dollar Baby” at Nos. 2 and 3, respectively.

21 May 2024

Agnez Mo, Sammy From The Rose & More Reveal Who Their Favorite Asian Artists Are | Billboard News

We caught up with some of your favorites at the Gold Gala and asked them who their favorite Asian artists are, including Saweetie, Olivia Rodrigo, Mitski and more!

Rania Aniftos:
Is there an Asian artist that you would recommend for people to listen to? 

Kim Chi:
Oh my god there’s so many.

Agnez Mo:
I love love love Jhené Aiko. Obviously my cancer sister, Saweetie.

Bella Poarch:
Beabadoobee, I love her.

Kim Chi:
I’m a K-pop junkie. Stan ARTMS, Loossemble and ZEROBASEONE. 

Rania Aniftos:
Besides yourself, is there any Asian artist that you’re loving that you would recommend to other people? 

Towa Bird:
Definitely not Towa Bird. Hate that b—h.

Rania Aniftos:
I would say Towa Bird, that’s my suggestion.

Towa Bird: 
My friend, Deb Never. She’s awesome, I love her music. I love Mitski, Japanese Breakfast.

Lucy Liu:
Olivia, who’s incredible. I also really love K-pop and I think it’s like infiltrating American culture. And I hope it keeps going. We need a tsunami to hit.

Sammy from The Rose:
There’s this group called KARD, and in KARD, there’s a guy named BM. He’s just came out with his solo album. I think people should check that out.

21 May 2024

Billie Eilish Bolts to U.K. Chart Lead With ‘Hit Me Hard And Soft’

Billie Eilish won’t be beaten to the U.K. chart crown.

Based on sales and streaming data captured by the Official Charts Company, Eilish’s latest LP Hit Me Hard And Soft (Interscope) is outselling the rest of the top 5 combined.

It would be Eilish’s third consecutive U.K. No. 1 album. Her debut When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? bowed at No. 1 in 2019 and stayed there for three weeks, while Happier Than Ever opened at the summit in 2021, where it logged a single week.

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In a distant second place on the chart blast is Zayn’s Room Under The Stairs (Republic Records), his fourth solo album and first in eight years. It’s set to become the former One Direction singer’s second solo top 10 album in the U.K., after 2016’s chart-topping debut effort Mind of Mine.

Taylor Swift’s former chart champion The Tortured Poets Department (EMI) is predicted to complete the podium, down 2-3.

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Meanwhile, Guns’N’Roses star Slash could snag a U.K. top 5 debut with his all-star collection Orgy Of The Damned (Gibson), new at No. 4 on the Official Chart Update. The guitar hero previously cracked the top 10 with three solo albums featuring Myles Kennedy — 2014’s World On Fire (No. 7), 2018’s Living The Dream (No. 4) and 2022’s 4 (No. 5).

Portishead singer Beth Gibbons is eying a U.K. top 10 with Lives Outgrown (Domino Recordings), her first solo record. It’s new at No. 5 on the chart blast. As a member of Bristol, England electronica act Portishead, Gibbons has three U.K. top 10 appearances.

Also on track for a top 10 berth is Michael Head & The Red Elastic Band, with Loophole (Modern Sky). Its set to arrive at No. 6, for the Liverpool, England act’s second top 10 appearance after 2022’s Dear Scott peaked at No. 6.

Finally, new releases from Kerry King (From Hell I Rise at No. 15 via Reigning Phoenix Music), Jack Savoretti (Miss Italia at No. 16 via Universal Music Italia), Bright Light Bright Light (Enjoy Youth at No. 23 via YSKWN), Ferocious Dog (Kleptocracy at No. 35 via Graphite), New Kids On The Block (Still Kids at No. 37 via BMG) and Clavish (Chapter 16 at No. 38 via Polydor) could snag top 40 spots.

All will be revealed when the Official Chart is published late Friday, May 24.

20 May 2024

Sabrina Carpenter Conquers U.K. Chart For Third Week With ‘Espresso’

Nothing is as hot in the U.K. right now as Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso” (via Island).

The U.S. singer and actor’s breakthrough pop hit holds at No. 1 on the Official U.K. Singles Chart, published Friday, May 17, for a third consecutive week.

“Espresso” pours in a market-leading 8.5 million streams during the seven-day cycle, the Official Charts Company reports.

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Country music is on a tear in the U.K. at the moment, a point Post Malone and Morgan Wallen prove on the latest chart. Posty and Wallen’s country-tinged collaboration, “I Had Some Help” (Republic Records), opens at No. 2 on the national tally, fewer than 2,000 chart units behind Carpenter’s leader.

That’s Malone’s ninth U.K. top 10 single and a first for Wallen.

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“I Had Some Help” is one of three U.S.-originated country cuts in the U.K. top 10 right now, ahead of Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” (down 3-4 via American Dogwood/Empire) and Dasha’s “Austin” (down 9-10 via Warner Records).

Rising U.S. artist Tommy Richman completes the podium with “Million Dollar Baby” (ISO Supremacy/Pulse), up 7-3.

Meanwhile, Kendrick Lamar continues to climb with his diss track “Not Like Us” (Interscope), gaining 10-6 for a new peak position. It’s one of the west coast rapper’s eight U.K. top 10 hits.

New York-based singer and songwriter Mark Ambor is eyeing his first ever U.K. top 10 appearance with “Belong Together” (Hundred Days). The viral artist’s single lifts 13-11, a new high in its ninth week on the survey. Close behind is Luton, England artist Myles Smith with his debut top 40 entry “Stargazing” (via RCA), new at No. 12.

Finally, a trio of 2024 Eurovision Song Contest entrants crack the top 40, led by Switzerland’s winner Nemo with “The Code” (via Island) new at No. 18. Also, Croatia’s rep Baby Lasagna appears at No. 36 with “Tim Tim Tagi Dim” (Universal Music Croatia) and the Netherland’s controversial act Joost’s “Europapa” (Joost Klein) is one spot behind at No. 37.

20 May 2024

Diddy Issues Apology After Release of Assault Video, Sabrina Carpenter’s Performances on ‘SNL,’ Post Malone in Hot 100 Top 10 Twice | Billboard News

It’s Monday, May 20, and Diddy shared an apology video after CNN obtained a video of him physically assaulting former girlfriend Cassie Ventura in 2016. Katy Perry said goodbye to ‘American Idol’ after being a judge for seven years. Sabrina Carpenter performed her latest hit “Espresso” on ‘SNL.’ As Lana Del Rey headlined Hangout Fest, she surprised guests and brought out Jelly Roll, Benson Boone and Nessa Barrett. On the Hot 100, Post Malone has a stronghold in two top 10 spots, but which one of your favorites took No. 1 this week? We give you an exclusive look into EDM’s hottest festival of the year, EDC. What indie artists should you be on the lookout for? We tell you who and more!

Tetris Kelly: 

Lana is twerking with Sexy and singing with Benson and Nessa. Katy is slinging pizza on ‘Idol,’ and Sabrina gets nasty on ‘SNL.’ Diddy says sorry — do you believe it? We’re going in-depth with Tinashe as she has a viral smash, taking you to EDC and revealing the Billboard Hot 100.

Happy Monday, it’s Billboard News. Let’s jump into our top story. Diddy has released a video apologizing for his behavior after a video obtained by CNN of him assaulting his then-girlfriend Cassie in 2016 went viral. 50 Cent has something to say. Are the words enough as Sean “Diddy” Combs apologizes only after the gruesome video of him and ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura has been made public? 50 Cent was one of the first to comment, posting, “This is not going to work, who is advising him right now? SMH bad move.” He had originally posted saying, “This is why they put that tape out, they know they can’t charge him with what we saw, but they know we can’t un-see what we saw.” What happens in the video was part of the an assault allegation Cassie made in a now-settled lawsuit she filed against the hip-hop mogul in November. And it’s the beginning of the week, so you know there’s more. Here’s three things you should know today. Sabrina Carpenter was perfection as she took over ‘Saturday Night Live’ over the weekend giving them a taste of “Espresso.”

Keep watching to learn more!

20 May 2024

Tinashe Is Finding Her Own Success With ‘Nasty’ | Billboard News

Tinashe is finding her own success with “Nasty” from her new album ‘QUANTUM BABY,’ now that she’s an independent artist. We share her transition from girl group, to a solo artist, to going independent and more.

Tetris Kelly:

Tinashe may be a name you know, but as an indie artist? She’s thriving. As a teenager, Tinashe was part of a girl group called The Stunners. She would later go solo when she signed to RCA. After three albums with the label, it was announced that she and RCA had parted ways. She told Billboard, “At the time I made the decision because I was following my gut instinct and it was telling me that relationship wasn’t productive anymore.” Since then, Tinashe’s released three albums on her own with another on the way. The lead single off of ‘QUANTUM BABY,’ “Nasty,” is blowing up in part thanks to a meme on TikTok. She says, “Going indie has been extremely rewarding, especially spiritually and emotionally in terms of how I view myself as a creative.”

19 May 2024

Abi Carter Wins ‘American Idol’ 2024

Take a bow Abi Carter.

The 21-year-old Indio, CA native wins the 2024 edition of American Idol, joining a list of previous champs that includes Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard and Carrie Underwood.

Carter held her nerve during Sunday night’s (May 19) three-hour finale, winning ahead of Jack Blocker, a 25-year-old from Dallas, TX, and Will Moseley, a 23-year-old from Hazelhurst, GA.

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The budding musicians performed “Bed of Roses” by Jon Bon Jovi, “Somewhere” from “West Side Story”, “River” (with Bishop Briggs) and the original song “This Isn’t Over”.

It sure wasn’t over. When America voted, Carter came out on top.

Carter reigned over a season 22 finale that saw Rock And Roll Hall of Famer Jon Bon Jovi participate as guest mentor, plus special performances from Nick Fradiani, New Kids On The Block, Jason Mraz, Hootie And The Blowfish, Cece Winans, James Bay, Wynonna Judd, Seal, Bishop Briggs and Cody Johnson.

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Speaker to Billboard when the top 10 was announced, Carter said, “I want to be an artist. I’ve never felt so passionately about something. I went to school and got a psychology degree because I figured if I can’t express my emotions through something artistically, maybe I can just help other people express their emotions. I was going to be a family therapist.”

As one Idol is crowned, one queen of the reality TV show departs — Katy Perry. The U.S. pop superstar completes her stint on the panel, and has announced that her future plans include new music.