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BRISBANE, Australia — Mike Shinoda, co-founder of Linkin Park, the nu metal favorites fresh from reigning over several Billboard charts, is now part of the lineup for Bigsound 2023.
In March of this year, Linkin Park’s “Lost” saw the band return to No. 1 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart for the first time in almost nine years, and hit the summit of the Alternative Airplay chart for the first time in nearly a decade.
“Lost” features vocals from Chester Bennington, who died in 2017, and was featured on the 20th anniversary release of Meteora, which led the Billboard 200 for two weeks following its original release, and is one of the group’s six leaders on the all-genres albums chart.
Away from the studio and stage, Shinoda, a music industry innovator in the NFT space, was tapped last year by Warner Recorded Music (WRM) to help shape the major’s “artist-centric approach” to Web3.
Also part of the third-wave of announcements is Christine Anu, who appears in the capacity as an official Bigsound headline speaker. One of the country’s most recognizable voices, Anu’s performance of Neil Murray’s “My Island Home” is a solid-gold classic, earning entry in APRA’s list of Top 30 Australian songs, published 2001, just one year after she performed it during the closing ceremony of the Sydney Olympic Games.
Organized by trade body QMusic, Bigsound will boast more than 100 speakers, from international and national buyers, agents, music supervisors, bookers and “industry decision makers.”
Speakers at this year’s summit include Simon Napier-Bell, the celebrated author, filmmaker and artist manager, who guided the careers of Rock Hall inductee George Michael and Wham, English composer Simon Franglen, Cockenflap Festival promoter Cora Chan, artists Ziggy Ramo, Kate Miller-Heidke, Georgia Maq, and more.
Also, upwards of 140 emerging acts from around the globe will play the showcase program, which adds Zheani, Full Flower Moon Band, Dean Brady, FELIVAND, Loren Ryan and others.
This year’s edition will be held Sept. 5 – 8 in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley.
Earlier in the year, the Palaszczuk state government announced funding for Bigsound to the tune of nearly A$4 million over four years, a boost that comes as the Queensland capital gears-up for the 2032 Olympic Games.
Bigsound 2023 is presented by Brick Lane Brewing and independent ticketer Oztix, and supported by national youth broadcaster triple j.
Visit bigsound.org.au for more.
Too much, too often, is too bad. Just ask Post Malone, who reckons his mental acuity isn’t what it once was, thanks to overdoing it with hallucinogens.
The singer and rapper still digs mushroom, of the magical variety, but not with the same appetite as he once had.
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“Yeah, I’ll take shrooms. I like shrooms,” he admits in a recent interview with Zane Lowe for Apple Music. “Not as much as I used to. It really affected my short-term memory.”
For his sitdown with the New Zealand-born broadcaster, Malone reflects on an earlier “stint of habitual overuse, like daily” which may have contributed to the fog. “Now I take a little bar of (mushroom) chocolate with my buddies, a little square of chocolate and just laugh and laugh and laugh.”
Nothing is off-limits, as Malone reflects on youthful indiscretions, including bad experiences with pharmaceuticals drugs. But never the hard stuff. “I shouldn’t have to really justify anything to anyone, but I appreciate the concerns that people (have about his health),” he adds, “but then the rumor starts that I’m doing hard drugs, which I’ve never done in my entire life.”
Malone also talks about his newfound priorities as a parent, and the early mornings that come with it. “The schedule just keeps getting fuller, and now that I’m a dad, the schedule only got more full,” says the singer and rapper, a known late-riser.
That schedule continues to gets “fuller and fuller” with the release of new music. That’s the case with Posty’s fifth and latest studio album Austin, which dropped last Friday, and will be supported with another major world tour. Austin is the followup to 2022’s Twelve Carat Toothache, which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart, and became Malone’s fourth studio album to chart within the top five. It’s currently at No. 3 on the midweek U.K. chart. “I’m definitely more tired. I was always tired before (children), but now I’m more tired.”
Watch the interview below.
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Lil Wayne talks about inspiring the next generation of rappers, how he discovers new talent with Young Money records, ‘Carter VI” and more on the cover of Billboard. Lizzo is facing a lawsuit from three tour dancers who claim that they were subjected to sexual harassment and a hostile work environment. Dua Lipa and Warner Music Group are facing another copyright lawsuit over “Levitating.” And more.
Tetris Kelly:Did Beyonce shade Lizzo as she’s getting sued? Hip-hop legend Lil Wayne is on our cover. Dua Lipa is “Levitating” back to court, as Ludacris is generous and Nate Smith teaches us hometown slang. I’m Tetris, it’s Billboard News and it’s Wednesday, August 2nd. This show is juicy and sweet so let’s start with the artists behind “Lollipop,” it’s Lil Wayne.
Gail Mitchell:What’s been your secret to longevity?
Lil Wayne:Me? I don’t have a secret. I just work and I never stop. I don’t do nothing but my music. In my mind, every single time I say the word “work”, I ask God to forgive me because I know this has never been a job. It’s just a dream come true so that’s why I’ve never stopped.
Gail Mitchell:I’m excited by the growing ranks of female rappers right now. I wanted to get your thoughts on that. I started a Billboard in 99′ and it was, you know, you had your Roxanne Shanté, (Lil’) Kim’s, and Queen’s (Latifah) and MC Lyte and stuff, and then there’s nothing and then Nicki pops up. Why is this happening, now? What’s your thoughts on that?
Lil Wayne:I think that it just wasn’t- it wasn’t interesting to women. You know, it wasn’t as interesting, you know, as the way Nicki and Meg and others have. It looks like, you know, it’s awesome. I don’t think it was just, you know, I don’t think they viewed it as something that they wanted to do and actually make a living from it.
Gail Mitchell:Right and it seems maybe the industry is a little more open-minded.
Lil Wayne:Oh, definitely. Now? Oh, what? Yeah, definitely.Watch the full video above!
Rafael “Rafa” Madroñal has been promoted to vp of business development for Sony Music U.S. Latin. In his new, expanded role, Madroñal leads a team that negotiates multi-million-dollar partnerships that increase Sony Music U.S. Latin’s income and audience. Madroñal also supervises the label’s new business and sponsorship strategy and department, working with a stable of […]
We’ve all got to start somewhere. For 19-year-old Summer Rios, a native of Brunswick, Ohio, that start is the pizza trade. Not everyone can go somewhere with music, however. For Rios, an impressive audition on America’s Got Talent might’ve wedged that door open.
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Currently, the teen is a manager at a Pizza Hut. “I make pizzas for a living,” she admits, regularly working morning-to-closes trying to pay bills and keep her head above water. “I hope this will get me out of pizza cutting and pizza making.”
Rios has been singing since the age of four, she explained, “but I haven’t really performed.” There’s no time like now, or quite like the AGT stage. She’s “trying to make music a thing, and try to put myself out there and not have so much anxiety.”
After displaying some of those nerves, which manifested as giggles, Rios set about showing the nation her true talents with a performance of Zach Bryan’s “Something in the Orange.”
Her performance married depth with power and a touch of grunt, without a hint of those early nerves.
She was visibly thrilled when the audience stood for an ovation, as did Heidi Klum and Sofia Vergara. Read those lips: “Oh my god” she said to herself.
“You know Summer, I think you should be doing this more than slicing pizza,” remarked Howie Mandel. “I feel like we’ve just got a peak at what you can do. And you needed to open this door a crack and you’ve opened it more than a crack to just take off.”
“I loved it,” praised Klum. “To me it sounded a little bit like you swallowed Rihanna. You have a beautiful, beautiful tone in your voice. I think it was absolutely incredible.”
“Your voice is spectacular,” remarked Vergara. “You belong on a stage. Don’t waste more time, live your best life. Don’t be scared anymore.
Cowell wrapped things up. “Summer, what a great choice of song. I think every single person in this room wanted you to do well. Yeah, we all like you,” he said with a hint of emotion in his voice.
It was four yeses from the judges. Onwards, upwards.
Watch below.
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America’s Got Talent is back on our screens, back in our lives. And for one AGT contestant, Gabriel Henrique, everything is golden.
Henrique, a 27-year-old from Brazil, on his first trip to the U.S. of A., auditioned for Tuesday night’s episode (Aug. 1) and made the very most of it.
Speaking with the assistance of an interpreter, Henrique admitted he spoke only “a little bit” of English, and he’s “just trying.”
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No matter, music is the universal language. And he’s fluent.
Putting aside some early nerves, Henrique threw himself into a cover of Whitney Houston’s “Run to You,” with enough energy and high notes to power a small town.
A standing ovation ensued, including all four AGT judges.
“If Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey had a baby, it would be Gabriel,” quipped Heidi Klum. ”Wow, you are incredible.”
“I did not expect that voice to come out of you. You sound like the best and finest pop diva that ever was,” Howie Mandel enthused. “You’re amazing.”
Simon Cowell went next. “People are going to really like you. You’re just so interesting,” he claimed. “I can tell that you’ve sang in church and you don’t know how good you are. It was amazing.”
Sofia Vergara had the last comment, and action. “I don’t have words, that was so perfect, spectacular. Your voice is beautiful. Your energy, who you are. It was perfect.” That performance was “something I was waiting for, something very beautiful and very heartfelt.”
Before the panel had time to vote, Vergara put a halt to proceedings and triggered the golden buzzer.
Watch below.
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On Tuesday (Aug. 1), Travis Scott announced a new concert in Rome, Italy, for Aug. 7, titled “Circus Maximus.” “Circus Maximus” resides on Scott’s fourth studio album, Utopia, which dropped on Friday (July 28) and doubled as a film that premiered at select AMC theaters. Scott and five directors doled out the visual to accompany the project that […]
“Jealousy,” Offset’s new collaboration with Cardi B, debuts at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Trending Songs chart, powered by Twitter, dated Aug. 5.
Billboard’s Hot Trending charts, powered by Twitter, tracks global music-related trends and conversations in real-time across Twitter, viewable over either the last 24 hours or past seven days. A weekly, 20-position version of the chart, covering activity from Friday through Thursday of each week, posts alongside Billboard’s other weekly charts on Billboard.com each Tuesday, with the latest tracking period running July 21-27.
“Jealousy” was premiered in full on July 28, but its release was first teased on with a video posted to Offset’s social media on July 24 starring Jamie Lee Curtis. Two days later on July 26, its title – and Cardi B’s involvement – was revealed.
It’s Cardi’s second No. 1 on Hot Trending Songs, which began in 2021, after she was also featured on Latto’s “Put It On Da Floor Again” this April. Meanwhile, it’s Offset’s first solo appearance on the survey.
“Jealousy” reigns over a variety of songs from Travis Scott’s newly released album Utopia, which came out July 28, after the tracklist was revealed July 27. “Skitzo” leads the pack at No. 2, followed by “Meltdown” at No. 3, and “Modern Jam” joins the group in the top 10 (No. 6).
Gucci Mane’s “Woppenheimer” also premieres within the top five, bowing at No. 4. Much like the rest of the aforementioned songs, it was released July 28, but its existence was teased during the July 21-27 tracking week following a viral tweet promoting a fake Woppenheimer mixtape from the rapper around the release of the film Oppenheimer. Gucci Mane quote-tweeted the post, adding the eyes emoji and the hashtag #woppenheimer on July 26, with the song following two days later.
Keep visiting Billboard.com for the constantly evolving Hot Trending Songs rankings, and check in each Tuesday for the latest weekly chart.
Four key marketing executives are elevated at Interscope Geffen A&M (IGA), the Universal Music Group-division headquartered at Santa Monica, CA.
Among those enjoying promotions, announced today (Aug. 1), are Ramon Alvarez-Smikle, who rises to executive vice president/head digital marketing; Laura Carter, who is named as executive vice president/head of urban marketing; Chris Mortimer, who is upped to executive vice president/head of digital marketing; and Daniel Sena, promoted to executive vice president/head of strategic marketing at the label.
Each of these executives “has built teams that create consistent opportunities for our artists to build and nurture their fan bases,” comments Steve Berman, vice chairman of Interscope Geffen A&M, in a statement. The promotions, he continues, “reflect how important their work is as we continue to build upon our platform to move culture through music.”
Alvarez-Smikle, who most recently served as SVP, head of urban digital marketing at Interscope, will continue to oversee digital marketing efforts across all of Interscope’s hip-hop and R&B artist roster.
Carter, who is promoted from SVP, head of urban marketing at Interscope Records, will continue to oversee marketing across Interscope’s roster of hip-hop and R&B artists.
Meanwhile, Mortimer will continue to oversee digital marketing campaigns for Interscope’s pop and rock roster of artists. Most recently, he served as SVP, head of digital marketing at Interscope.
And Sena, who most recently served as SVP, head of strategic marketing at Interscope, will continue to oversee brand partnerships across Interscope’s artist roster.
The umbrella label group was unified in 1999 and is a powerhouse in rock, pop, hip-hop and alternative. IGA finished 2020 as the Top Label on Billboard’s year-end charts for the first time since 2013. At the same time, Interscope reigned as the top Billboard Hot 100 Label, and IGA was named as the top Billboard 200 Label.
This marks the second round of promotions in as many weeks, after four of IGA’s top-level executives were promoted into new roles in late July.
As Barbiemania sweeps the nation, Billie Eilish’s lowkey Barbie cut “What Was I Made For?” (via Interscope) is challenging for the U.K.’s chart crown.
Eilish’s latest hit sits at No. 2 on the midweek chart, having trailed the leader, Dave and Central Cee’s “Sprinter” (Live Yours/Neighbourhood), by just 1,500 combined units with the publication of this week’s earliest chart blast.
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“Sprinter” has been unbeatable in its chart run, clocking eight consecutive weeks at No. 1.
Travis Scott could be living his best life with Utopia (via Epic), which is well placed in the national albums chart race. The followup to 2018’s Astroworld, Utopia could yield three top 10 singles, led on the midweek chart by “Meltdown” (No. 7), “Fein” (No. 9) and “Hyaena” (No. 10). Scott has already notched four top 10 appearances.
Further down the list is Calvin Harris and Sam Smith’s latest collaboration “Desire” (Columbia), poised for a No. 17 bow. If it holds its position, it would mark Harris’ 41st top 40 single and Smith’s 22nd. The pair previously teamed up on 2018’s “Promises,” which led the national chart for six weeks.
Meanwhile, Sinead O’Connor’s tragic death on July 26, aged 56, is fueling interest in the Irish singer’s biggest hit, “Nothing Compares 2 U” (Chrysalis). The Prince-penned classic from the early ‘90s bounces to No. 19 on the Official Singles Chart Update, dipping from No. 12 on the First Look chart, which ranks tracks based on sales and streaming activity from the first 48 hours. Powered by its emotionally-charged music video, the single led the chart for four weeks following its release in 1990.
Finally, the legendary leftfield electronic music producer Aphex Twin is tuning-up for his highest-ever peak in the U.K. with “Blackbox Life Recorder 21F” (Warp). It’s new at No. 29 on the midweek chart, and could mark the artist’s (real name: Richard David James) first appearance on the singles chart since 1999’s “Windowlicker,” which achieved his career-best peak of No. 16.
All will be revealed when the Official U.K. Singles Chart is published late Friday, Aug. 4.
