bbnews
Page: 4
Lil Wayne and Drake’s “She Will” has been crowned No. 1 on this week’s TikTok Billboard Top 50, but the top 10 is filled with a roundup of new hits. Keep watching to see what they are! Tetris Kelly:A new leader climbs to the top while the rest of the top 10 sees some major […]
After the devastating Eaton and Hurst fires impacted the community of Altadena in California, local residents share their firsthand stories of how the fires burned their homes down, how they’re trying to rebuild and more.
Keep watching this Billboard News special to learn more about those impacted.
Julian Perry:Just seeing around, like the waves of black smoke coming over the houses and looking down the street, and I can’t even see down the street, but I can see the house over there. You know, it was fully engulfed in flames.
Adam Clingmon:I lived here for 40 years. This was just my community. This is where I grew up, my neighbors, my friends, we got the emergency text around 6:30, maybe little earlier than that. Then we saw it on TV that there was a fire in Eaton Canyon. And maybe 15 minutes after that, we get another text saying that we have to evacuate.
The Edwards Family:Every house, except for three on our street, burned down. And then she lives pretty far. I remember … Yeah, one mile, far in the sense of a fire, but yeah, she lives exactly one mile away, west of it.
Julian Perry:Hearing the loud explosions and the pops and that crunch of the wood was, you know, was terrifying.
Adam Clingmon:Most people are freaking out. I’m staying calm thinking, like, “You know, we’ve had these before, it’ll be all right.” And so we start packing stuff up. My mom, my sister, my nephew, they evacuate. My dad wants to stay. So I was like, “I’m gonna stay as long as my dad stays.” But then around 8:39 o’clock, the power goes out, and that’s when it gets scary. And then we go outside, and we can see a huge glow on the mountain, a huge glow. That’s when I got scared.
Keep watching for more.
Gelo became an overnight rap sensation when “Tweaker” dropped, and today, he exclusively reveals to Billboard the star feature on the “Tweaker” Remix. He shares how his hit came to life, why he chose to sign with Def Jam, debuting on the Hot 100, album plans and more!
Michael Saponara:
So we gotta talk about “Tweaker” here. It’s going crazy out here, walk me through how this came together. What was… When you started writing for it and then recording it? Paint that whole picture for us.
Gelo:
I had to, like, I always get, like, a little itch to write. If I feel like that, I go make some songs. Well, I wrote it in the garage, but I was feeling like, a certain way, and then I just got to thinking and writing and sh–. That’s what I came up with, though. But at the end of that, like, I knew that sh– was gonna be great. Like, I was like, wow.
So you’re like, “This is a hit here.” Right?
I played it all the way home. I’m like, yeah, “This goes hard.” Like, it’s gonna be it.
So were you sending it out? Does LaVar get to hear it? Does LaMelo hear it? Does Lonzo hear it?
I sent it to Melo and Zo, like, two of my friends, like, nothing. It’s not going to be spreading like that.
Gotcha. And they all thought it was out of here too?
I do that with all my music, though. I got other songs I like more than “Tweaker,” but it’s coming.
And how long, I guess, before we heard it? Did you write the record and record it?
I wrote that, like three weeks ago.
Oh, wow, so this is all fresh.
Keep watching for more!
Ahead of the Super Bowl this upcoming Sunday, Travis Kelce shared his thoughts on President Donald Trump attending the big game. What do you think about his response? Let us know in the comments! Travis Kelce: Doesn’t matter who the president is, I know I’m excited. Tetris Kelly: Travis Kelce is honored to play the […]
After the devastating Hurst fire impacted the community of Altadena, Calif., in January, The Game heads out to the community of Altadena where he interviews first responders, local high school coaches and more about their survival stories from the Hurst fire.
Keep watching this Billboard News special to learn more about those impacted.
The Game:
This is some serious… It’s serious business, man, and after this experience, now, when I hear a fire truck coming down the street, I’m pulling over and I’m not annoyed because usually it’s like “agh I got to pull over.”
Firefighter 1:
Over there we have our kitchen.
The Game:
You know I like to eat. Is he a good cook?
Firefighter 2:
The best!
The Game:
So you guys went up?
Firefighter 1:
I mean, I was here the day that everything happened.
The Game:
Wow.
Firefighter 1:
It was myself and one of the partners. But unfortunately, he’s not here.
The Game:
How was that?
Firefighter 1:
It was one event where we thought that something was gonna happen and it just led to something way out of our hands.
The Game:
My like, my hat’s on, but it’s off to you guys, man.
DeAnthony Langston:
These guys are personal friends of mine. They’re high school coaches here. This is actually Tony’s crib that he grew up in right now. His mom’s crib right there, but all of them have their unique stories about how they were devastated about that right there. But this was a predominantly African American neighborhood, and just to see this is terrible man, and you coming out says a lot about you, man. And so I’d like everybody to introduce themselves and tell them what school you coach at.
Tim Tucker:
Not only were these fires big for our basketball program, two of our players lost their homes, but I also have residential treatment centers for kids. So I have group homes for kids. And we lost our girl’s house.
Keep watching for more.
Nicky Jam sits down with Billboard to share details about changing record labels, a new album on the way and more!
Are you excited for Nicky’s new music? Let us know in the comments!
Nicky Jam:This new album is like a new Nicky Jam.
Tetris Kelly:Nicky Jam has changed his record label, and we have the exclusive interview and announcement.
Leila Cobo:Nicky, you are switching record labels after a long time with Sony. So where are you going, first of all?
Nicky Jam:I’m going to Virgin Records. I went with my gut. I thought it was the best move to do. I have too much respect for AFO, the president of Sony Records, Sony Latin Records. It’s just sometimes you feel like you have to move. You know, it’s nothing personal, you know, it’s a mix of business and something that I just felt in my gut that it was the best move to do. I’m very spontaneous, and it’s just the way I am. I could say just, you know, I’m a bohemian. You know, I take my luggage and I go wherever I have to go, and it’s just the way I am.
Leila Cobo: What were they offering you that you liked, or what did they bring to the table?
Nicky Jam:A lot of things, man, family wise, their whole team and the creative part. This corporate way of coming out with music, to kill the buzz of the music, the momentum of the music, you have to wait four, five, six months to come out with a single. With these people at Virgin, I don’t have to wait. If I feel that a song’s gonna be a hit in a moment. They are not gonna mess with my creative part. And they’re gonna say, go ahead and come out. And that’s the way Bad Bunny works.
Keep watching for more!
Ye speaks up about his take on the Kendrick Lamar vs. Drake beef, and he’s telling the crowd to not count Drake out. Keep watching to see what he had to say! Do you think Drake still has a shot at redemption? Let us know in the comments below! Ye: Or at least he took […]
On the Grammys 2025 red carpet, Mustard, Kehlani, Zedd and more predict who will win the Super Bowl LIX this upcoming Sunday, Feb. 9.
Who do you think will win? Let us know in the comments!
Tetris Kelly:
Eagles or Chiefs?
Mustard:
I’m gonna go Chiefs. Man, I’m gonna go Chiefs. I’m a 49ers fan, but I like Cheifs for this game.
Rich the Kid:
Eagles.
Tetris Kelly:
Okay, just making sure,
Zedd:
Okay, I was rooting for somebody who’s no longer in, so I don’t know. Okay, part of me does not want the same team to win this many times in a row, but the other team knocked out the team I was rooting for it. As you can tell, I’m not naming anyone, right?
Tetris Kelly:
He’s being very specific.
Rania Aniftos:
We could deduce.
Zedd:
But I’m rooting for a really good game.
Rania Aniftos:
Period.
Tetris Kelly:
Safe answer, are you a politician Zedd? You got any skin in the game, you know, Chiefs? Eagles?
Durand Bernarr:
So I just started going… No, I’ll go to football games like in person, but like, you know that’s where the energy is.
Rania Aniftos
Yeah, I agree.
Durand Bernarr:
You gotta let me know who’s, you know, team I’m rooting for, so I can coordinate with my outfit.
Rania Aniftos:
I agree, I’m the same!
Omarion:
I’m looking forward to Kendrick Lamar’s performance.
Dan Nigro:
You can’t ask me that. You look in the crowd, I might be at the game.
Kehlani:
Oh, football.
Tetris Kelly:
That’s how I feel, too, don’t worry about it.
Kehlani:
I’m like, touchdown go! I’m so sorry. Um Kendrick!
Tetris Kelly:
Okay, there we go.
Will Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars “Die With A Smile” still take No. 1 this week? Tetris Kelly: There’s a brand new No. 1 on the charts. This is the Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 for the week dated February 8. Still at 10, Morgan Wallen, and down to nine is Gracie Abrams. “DtMF” slides […]
SYDNEY, Australia — As Groovin the Moo disappears from the events calendar for the second successive year, a call for urgent assistance from the federal government.
Last Friday, Jan. 31, news broke of GTM’s decision to sit out its second successive year, joining Splendour In The Grass from the sidelines.
“It’s disappointing to see that Groovin the Moo, one of Australia’s longest-running touring festivals, will not be going ahead in 2025,” reads a statement from Olly Arkins, managing director of the Australian Festival Association, which counts GTM among its members.
Trending on Billboard
Regional festivals like GTM “play a vital role in connecting audiences with live music outside of major cities, providing opportunities for artists, local businesses, and festival workers,” the statement continues.
“But like many events across the country, the rising costs of production and ongoing challenges in the industry have made it increasingly difficult to operate.”
AFA’s Arkins says now is the moment for government to pump much-needed funds into “Revive Live,” part of the government’s National Cultural Policy, Revive, which launched in 2023.
The cancelation “highlights the urgent need for the Federal Government to extend Revive Live funding to ensure festivals of all sizes can continue to thrive. Festivals are essential to Australia’s cultural and economic landscape, and we look forward to seeing Groovin the Moo return in the future.”
Last Friday, festival producers Fuzzy shared the news no one wanted to hear. “Groovin The Moo won’t be happening in 2025,” reads a statement posted on social media, “while we work on finding the most sustainable model for Australia’s most loved regional touring festival.”
The message continues, “We will really miss seeing the smiling faces of all our beloved Moo Crew – and that means YOU! In the meantime, which artist would you most like to see on a GTM lineup?”
It was a similar story a year earlier, when organizers canceled the 2023 show due to poor ticket sales. That fest had been announced with a bill featuring Alison Wonderland, DMA’S, Jet, Armani White, GZA & the Phunky Nomads, the Jungle Giants and more.
GTM’s point of difference is in its route around the country, visiting primarily regional centers and bypassing Australia’s big three east coast cities (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane). The 2023 run was scheduled to start April 25 at Adelaide Showground, then visit sites in Canberra, Bendigo, Newcastle, Sunshine Coast and wrap up May 11 in Bunbury, Western Australia.
Established by Cattleyard Promotions, GTM’s first festival was held on April 2005 in Gloucester, New South Wales.
Through the years, a who’s who of edgy rock, pop, hip-hop and electronic music have graced its stages, from Vampire Weekend and Silverchair to Disclosure, The Darkness and many more.
GTM made international headlines in 2018 when its Canberra leg trialed pill testing, a first in Australia. A second trial was conducted in 2019, with more than 230 festival-goers reported to have used the pill-testing service, and seven substances were found to contain the potentially lethal n-ethylpentylone.
Researchers said the trial worked, and similar models are being rolled out at festivals in other states.
When the pandemic shut borders, grounded travel and social distancing became the norm, the festival brand halted its 2020 and 2021 events.
Australia’s colorful festivals marketplace is struggling under the weight of pressures coming at every angle, from the cost-of-living crisis, to the soaring price of securing talent and crew, changing ticket-buying behavior and more. Bluesfest director Peter Noble has described the troubles punishing the festivals industry as an “extinction event” – not everyone will survive, but life will go on and evolve.