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19 Feb 2025

A$AP Rocky Found Not Guilty in Shooting Trial | Billboard News

A$AP Rocky has been found not guilty in his 2021 felony shooting case, and the rapper expressed his gratitude with Rihanna. Keep watching for the full story.

What do you think of A$AP’s reaction with Rihanna? Let us know in the comments.

Tetris Kelly:

A$AP Rocky is not guilty. The rapper’s trial is over and we have his girl Rihanna’s reaction and all the details. In viral videos, A$AP Rocky was full of emotions on Tuesday the moment a jury ruled he was not guilty in his 2021 felony shooting case — so much so in a beautiful moment he leapt straight over a courtroom barrier into the arms of the first person he wanted to celebrate with: Rihanna. She posted to IG: “THE GLORY BELONGS TO GOD AND GOD ALONE! THANKFUL, HUMBLED BY HIS MERCY!” 

The two share two young sons. The Harlem native and his team have maintained that the gun used in the incident was a prop weapon throughout the courtroom proceedings. For more on the story, head to billboard.com.

19 Feb 2025

BLACKPINK Announces World Tour Dates | Billboard News

BLACKPINK has officially announced the dates to their world tour, and we have all the details. Keep watching to see what the girls had to say about their upcoming tour together!

Are you going to snag tickets for their concert? Let us know in the comments!

Tetris Kelly:
How ya like that? BLACKPINK announced their world tour and we have the details.

Jisoo:
I love our members’ confidence.

BLACKPINK has announced their long-awaited comeback to the stage with a massive 10 city world stadium tour. They are hitting London, Tokyo, L.A., New York, Paris, Barcelona and so much more. Jennie told us this about the tour in her cover story. She said:

Jennie:
“It’s going to be the most powerful [versions] of ourselves that anyone has seen.”

Tetris Kelly:
And Jisoo said this to me when we chatted.

Jisoo:
Yeah, I think last year, as each member focused on individual activities, we all grew a lot. We listened to a lot of music and tried doing things on our own, gaining experience. Now as we come together for this year, I feel like we’ll be able to return with an even bigger and more spectacular presence. Everyone’s excited about it, and we’ve been sharing ideas. We’ve already done a lot of preparations for this year!

Tetris Kelly:
We can’t wait. I was at both the Coachella shows for you guys, so I’ll be at this tour to scream in the front row, you got to look for me. The tour kicks off on July 5.

Are you getting tickets? Let us know in the comments.

18 Feb 2025

Backstreet Boys Taking ‘Millennium 2.0’ to Las Vegas Sphere Residency | Billboard News

The Backstreet Boys are taking over the Sphere in Las Vegas with their ‘Into the Millennium’ residency and their anniversary album ‘Millennium 2.0.’ Keep watching to see what fans can expect at their show and more!

Are you excited for their residency? Let us know in the comments!

Backstreet Boys: 

One incredible experience, sensory overload. You know you’re gonna get to hear the entire ‘Millennium’ album from start to finish, as well as some of our greatest hits and our new single. There might be some new adaptations of things. And oh, we haven’t told them about — we haven’t told them about that yet, but yes, well, make sure you pack something all white.

Tetris Kelly:

The Backstreet Boys are heading to the iconic Vegas Sphere in July, and we were lucky enough to chat with the fellas about their new single and album and what they’re bringing to the futuristic venue.

Backstreet Boys: 

Us, our families and our friends, lots of fans. One incredible experience, sensory overload. Yeah, we, you know, doing the ‘Millennium’ tour back in ’99 was such a like incredible moment to be in the round, to do a show like that, that no one had really ever done before, to now being in the most state-of-the-art, advanced, sonically overwhelming, visually outstanding venue on the planet, and to be the first pop band to be in there as well, and to commemorate 25 years of our biggest record, you know, you’re going to get to hear the entire ‘Millennium’ album from start to finish, as well as some of our greatest hits and our new single “Hey.” 

Keep watching for more!

18 Feb 2025

Karan Aujla & Ryan Tedder Exclusive: New “Tell Me” Collab Revealed | Billboard News

Karan Aujla & Ryan Tedder exclusively reveal to Billboard that they’ve been working together and have a new single, “Tell Me,” dropping on February 27th. Keep watching to see what they said about their new song together!

Are you excited for the new single? Let us know in the comments!

Karan Aujla:

Why did you want to work together?  Hey guys, it’s your boy Karan Aujula. It’s a Billboard exclusive. My new song with One Republic is coming, and you are the first to know. 

Tetris Kelly:

Karan and Ryan Tedder dropped the exclusive to Billboard about their new track when it’s released, and why Ryan jumped on. 

Ryan Tedder:

A). I like the music. Obviously rule number one. B). We have multiple, multiple mutual friends, and people tell me about you so that that alone was like, oh this is probably meant to be. And then three, I thought, if we do something and it’s hot,maybe that could give me a ticket back to India, literally, if I’m being fully honest, like any reason to go back. Eat some more food. Spend some more time in India. So that’s… 

Karan Aujla:

There you go. You heard it here first. 

Tetris Kelly:

“Tell Me” is out on February 27th. Find more on billboard.com.

18 Feb 2025

Banda Los Sebastianes De Saúl Plata Rises to No. 1 on Regional Mexican Airplay With ‘Voy a Levantarme’

Banda Los Sebastianes De Saúl Plata wins big this week achieving its seventh No. 1 on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Airplay chart (dated Feb. 22), as “Voy a Levantarme” climbs 4-1 for its first week atop the ranking following a 10-week run in the top 10.

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“My people, we are very happy to be No. 1 on Billboard with ‘Voy a Levantarmé,’ how cool, honestly!” Armando “Choco” Celis, one of Los Sebastianes vocalists, tells Billboard. “Excited and happy, really, thank you for sharing our music, because this entire song is symbolic, about personal improvement.”

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“Voy a Levantarme” advances to the summit on Regional Mexican Airplay despite a 5% dip in airplay in the U.S. — that’s 5.8 million audience impressions logged in the tracking week of Feb. 7-13, according to Luminate. The song unseats Gerardo Coronel’s “CHSM El Hígado” from the lead. The latter manages to remain in the top 10 despite a 37% decline in plays. It drops to No. 9 with 4.1 million impressions across regional Mexican stations.

“Voy a Levantarme,” released Sept. 13, 2024, on Fonovisa/UMLE, gives Fonovisa its first win of 2025. So far, Universal Music Latin’s sublabel has reached a No. 9 high through Banda El Recodo de Cruz de Lizárrga’s “Coqueto Tazo Dorado” (chart dated Feb. 8). Fonovisa last secured a No. 1 when Los Tigres del Norte’s “Aquí Mando Yo” ruled Regional Mexican Airplay for one week last August.

As mentioned, Banda Los Sebastianes achieves its seventh No. 1 on Regional Mexican Airplay. Before the latest coronation, the Sinaloans placed one champ in 2024. The collaboration with Edgardo Nuñez, “El Humo de Mi Gallo,” held at No. 1 for one week in 2024. The reigning champ became the group’s only win through a co-lead billing.

“We love you very much and all this work is for you,” adds Javier Larrañaga, the group’s second vocalist. “Thank you very much for everything. We’re on!”

18 Feb 2025

Latin Artist Spotlight: Shakira’s Global Influence | Billboard News

Shakira is shaking up 2025 with her tour Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran, and we’re highlighting her success in our series of highlighting Latin artists.

Tetris Kelly:
Shakira is a global icon, and as we take this month to highlight Black and Latin artists, we are putting the spotlight on the Colombian musician. Happy birthday, Shakira. Thanks for chatting with Billboard. We wished Shakira a happy birthday right before she lit up the stage at the 2025 Grammy Awards and won best Latin pop album. 

Shakira:
You are loved. You are worth it, and I will always fight with you. 

Tetris Kelly:
Continuing with the music on tour and the images from the massive stadium show has the world ready to grab tickets. 

Shakira:
I’ll see you guys on tour in May here. 

Tetris Kelly:
Yes, I’ll see you then. 

Shakira: 
Starting in two weeks in Rio, we’re gonna start in Brazil, Latin America, first home. 

Tetris Kelly:
And she has plenty of hits to perform, like her Billboard Hot 100 No. 1  hit “Hips Don’t Lie” and “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53.” And as she continues to always slay, we say we love you, Shakira.

18 Feb 2025

G-Eazy on ‘Breakdown’ With Demi Lovato, Britney Spears, Rediscovering Himself & More | Billboard News

G-Eazy is entering a new chapter and finds himself rediscovering who he is with new music on the way. He talks about finding a kindred spirit with Demi Lovato, working with Britney Spears, his upcoming tour and more!

Are you excited for G-Eazy’s return? Let us know in the comments!

Michael Saponara:
You guys ready to play a little Beat the Buzzer? So in this game, jeez, he’s gonna have 60 seconds and to answer as many questions as he can in rapid fire style. I think he’s ready for it. 

G-Eazy:
Let’s go. 

Oakland or New York City?

Man, it’s always gonna be Oakland, but I do love living in New York. 

Blonde or brunette? 
Both. 

Kanye or Jay-Z?

Both. Watch the Throne.

LiAngelo or Lonzo Ball?

Oh, man, LiAngelo, man. He got that song going. That song is really good. I’ll say … I would say him, yeah. I mean, if Lonzo played more, yeah, but like, you know, it’s tough. 

You’re going with Gelo. 

The best ability is availability.

Right. Jalen Brunson or Steph Curry? 

Steph all day. Come on, man. 

Airbnb or hotels?

Hotels. I’m banned from Airbnb.

Recording at home or in the studio?

I’ll often like, record at home, get an idea done, and then like, like, cut it through in the studio. 

Bacon, egg and cheese or chop cheese?

Sausage, egg and cheese. 

‘90s or 2000s?

Oh, man, 2000s. 

All right, vanilla or chocolate? 

I’m a vanilla baby.

Shout-out, missionary Jack. I had a few questions. I had about “Freak Show” I wanted to get into. You talked about being raised by ‘Pac, Amy, Bob Dylan, Jay-Z and Wayne. I know you have a record with Wayne already, but out of the other ones, if you could choose to collaborate with any of those, who would you have gone with?

Keep watching for more!

18 Feb 2025

Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 Countdown for Feb. 22, 2025 | Billboard News

Kendrick Lamar takes over the top 10 of the Hot 100, but will he hit No. 1 again?

Tetris Kelly: 
The Grammys followed by the Super Bowl see some influence on the charts. This is the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 for the week dated Feb. 22. SZA and Kendrick are up to 10, “Pink Pony Club” also makes its top 10 debut. Shaboozey is down to eight, as is “APT.” to seven, and “Birds of a Feather” to six. “”Squabble Up” is back up to five while last week’s No. 1 is at four. “TV Off” jumps to three, as “Luther” rises to a No. 2 peat. And returning to No. 1 is Kendrick Lamar with “Not Like Us.”

If you want more Billboard, make sure you hit the subscribe button and ring the bell to be notified on all our latest videos.

18 Feb 2025

Taylor Swift Crowned IFPI’s Global Recording Artist For Record Fifth Time

It’s official: Taylor Swift owned the year 2024, we were just living in it.

Swift creates history by being named as the IFPI’s Biggest-Selling Global Recording Artist of the Year for the fifth time, and for the third consecutive year.

With her latest crown, which recognizes the top artist across physical sales, downloads and streaming, Swift is the outright No. 1 recording artist on the planet.

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Announced today, Feb. 18, Swift finished at the top of the podium, ahead of Canadian rapper Drake and K-pop sensation SEVENTEEN, respectively.

This year’s victory follows Swift’s wins in 2014, 2019, 2022 and 2023. No one comes close to her record. Now in its 12th year, just two other acts have led the IFPI’s Global Recording Artist Chart on multiple occasions – Drake (in 2016 and 2018) and BTS (2020, 2021).

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The artist award and chart is the first and only ranking to accurately capture the popularity of artists across streaming channels, doing so alongside digital and physical album and singles sales on a global basis, across the calendar year.

Also, the IFPI reports, TayTay does a Swift Sweep on the Federation’s various year-end tallies.

With her all-conquering release The Tortured Poets Department, the pop superstar leads the IFPI’s Global Album Chart, Global Vinyl Album Chart, Global Streaming Album Chart and Global Album Sales Chart.

“We are immensely proud to award the IFPI Global Recording Artist of the Year Award to Taylor Swift for the fifth time, as she continues to redefine the limits of global success,” comments Victoria Oakley, CEO, IFPI.

“This has been a huge year for Taylor, and it has been incredible to see the extent to which fans all over the world are connecting with her superb catalog of music.”

With her record smashing The Eras Tour filling stadiums around the globe in 2024, economists and analysts coined the expression “The Taylor Swift Effect,” which explains the broader cultural and economic impact when her shows come to town.

A product of that phenomenon can be seen in the IFPI’s charts as fans, hyped up by her live performances, boosted her entire catalog on streaming platforms.

Swift was also a juggernaut on wax in 2024. According to the IFPI, 1989 (Taylor’s Version) (from 2023), Midnights (2022), folklore (2020), evermore (2020) and Lover (2019) all appeared in the top 20 of the trade body’s 2024 Global Vinyl Album Chart.

In other takeaways from the IFPI’s Global Charts, Zach Bryan and Sabrina Carpenter crack the top 10 of the Global Recording Artist Chart, whilst Noah Kahan, Benson Boone, Chappell Roan and Teddy Swims locked onto the Global Streaming Album Chart for the first time.

On the Global Album Sales Chart, K-Pop once again led the way. Meanwhile, Chinese artist Zhou Shen and Japan’s Snow Man impact the top 20 of the albums tally, which is based on unit sales across physical and download formats.

Top 20 IFPI Global Recording Artist Chart 2024:

Position Prior Year Artist
1 1 Taylor Swift
2 4 Drake
3 2 SEVENTEEN
4 Re-entry (2022) Billie Eilish
5 3 Stray Kids
6 16 Zach Bryan
7 5 The Weeknd
8 14 Eminem
9 Re-entry (2022) Kendrick Lamar
10 NEW Sabrina Carpenter
11 Re-entry (2021) Ariana Grande
12 19 Post Malone
13 6 Morgan Wallen
14 NEW ENHYPEN
15 17 Travis Scott
16 18 Kanye West
17 10 Lana Del Rey
18 Re-entry (2016) Beyoncé
19 NEW Linkin Park
20 9 Bad Bunny

14 Feb 2025

Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars’ ‘Die With a Smile’ Lands Top Gabb Music Songs No. 1

The first Top Gabb Music Songs chart of 2025 continues a trend that started with the inaugural ranking for October 2024: a new No. 1 each month.

This time around, it’s Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ “Die With a Smile” that tops the tally, debuting at No. 1 on the January 2025 survey as the most-played songs on Gabb Wireless phones that month.

Billboard has partnered with Gabb Wireless, a phone company for kids and teens, to present a monthly chart tracking on-demand streams via its Gabb Music platform. Gabb Music offers a vast catalog of songs, all of which are selected by the Gabb team to include only kid- and teen-appropriate content. Gabb Music streams are not currently factored into any other Billboard charts.

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Despite premiering in August 2024, “Die With a Smile” had not taken off on Gabb until January, becoming both acts’ first No. 1 on the monthly tally. The previous rulers include Benson Boone’s “Beautiful Things,” KSI’s Trippie Redd-featuring “Thick of It” and Jelly Roll’s “Run It.”

Concurrently, “Die With a Smile” rose to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 in January and has reigned for five weeks total, including on the most recent (Feb. 15-dated) list.

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It assumes the lead over former No. 1s “Thick of It,” “Run It” and “Beautiful Things” at Nos. 2-4, respectively. Juice WRLD’s “Face 2 Face” rounds out the top five at a new peak, rising 6-5.

Mars appears in the top 10 of Top Gabb Music Songs twice, as his ROSE collaboration “APT.” appears at No. 6, while Myles Smith’s “Stargazing” is the only other new entrant in the top 10, rising 12-9.

Other debuts aside from “Die With a Smile,” meanwhile, include “I Always Wanted a Brother” from the 2024 Disney film Mufasa: The Lion King (No. 22), Paul Russell’s “Lil Boo Thang (No. 24) and SZA’s “Saturn” (No. 25).

See the full top 25 below.

Top Gabb Music Songs

  1. “Die With a Smile,” Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars (debut)
  2. “Thick of It,” KSI feat. Trippie Redd (=)
  3. “Run It,” Jelly Roll (-2)
  4. “Beautiful Things,” Benson Boone (=)
  5. “Face 2 Face,” Juice WRLD (+1)
  6. “APT.,” ROSE & Bruno Mars (-3)
  7. “Ain’t No Love in Oklahoma,” Luke Combs (-2)
  8. “Slow It Down,” Benson Boone (+2)
  9. “Stargazing,” Myles Smith (+3)
  10. “Please Please Please,” Sabrina Carpenter (-1)
  11. “Deja Vu,” Olivia Rodrigo (-3)
  12. “God’s Plan,” Drake (+2)
  13. “Popular,” Ariana Grande (-6)
  14. “Too Sweet,” Hozier (+4)
  15. “Love Somebody,” Morgan Wallen (+1)
  16. “Butterfly Effect,” Travis Scott (-1)
  17. “Bones,” Imagine Dragons (+5)
  18. “Let You Down,” NF (+3)
  19. “Defying Gravity,” Ariana Grande feat. Cynthia Erivo (-8)
  20. “Wildflower,” Billie Eilish (=)
  21. “Enemy,” Imagine Dragons (+2)
  22. “I Always Wanted a Brother,” Braelyn Rankins, Theo Somolu, Aaron Pierre & Kelvin Harrison Jr. (debut)
  23. “Stressed Out,” Twenty One Pilots (-4)
  24. “Lil Boo Thang,” Paul Russell (debut)
  25. “Saturn,” SZA (debut)

DROPS FROM DECEMBER 2024: JVKE, “Golden Hour”; “What Is This Feeling,” Ariana Grande & Cynthia Erivo; “Eyes Closed,” Imagine Dragons; “Jealousy, Jealousy,” Olivia Rodrigo