billboard news

Will besties Taylor Swift and Gracie Abrams go head to head on the Billboard 200 next week? Does Sabrina Carpenter have the qualifications to be nominated for a Grammy? Keep watching to find out!

Tetris Kelly:

There are some battles brewing in the music biz. Who could take the top spot on the Billboard 200? And who even qualifies for the Best New Artist Grammy? Let’s break it down. Gracie Abrams sophomore album, ‘The Secret of Us,’ is expected to secure a solid streaming debut, but it’s going to come down to sales to see if she can best her bestie collaborator, Taylor Swift, and her nine week run with ‘The Tortured Poets Department.’ With Gracie’s vinyl variants and Taylor’s CD variants, it’s anybody’s game. As for the Best New Artist Grammy there are many musicians that fans are pulling for, but who even qualifies for the award? Sabrina Carpenter currently owns the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100. She’s never been nominated for a Grammy and she hasn’t been entered in the Best New Artist competition three times. She’s been entered twice, in 2017 and 2024. So she’s fair game. The same can’t be said for Tate McRae. While she’s had a stellar year with “Greedy” topping the Global 200 and Global 200 excluding the US, she was entered for best new artists the last three years so she won’t qualify. We’ll know all the Grammy nominations on November 8.

After Justin Timberlake’s arrest a little over a week ago, he’s back online sharing his tour merch with fans. Britney Spears may or may not be reconciling with her kids and more.

Tetris Kelly:

Justin Timberlake is back online, J.Lo flies commercial like the rest of us, and Britney may or may not be reconciling with her kids. This is your millennial pop news update. Since Justin’s DWI arrest he’s been quiet on social media — until now. The pop king has continued his world tour and jumped online to show off the exclusive merch for his Madison Square Garden stop. Meanwhile, there was some good news hitting the net about his ex, Britney Spears. Brit had been upset that her kids cut contact with her and have been living in Hawaii. But Kevin’s lawyer told ET, “The good thing is that the boys saw their mom was doing well and have a desire to speak with her. There has been some telephonic communication between Britney and her sons, and we think that is a step in the right direction.” TMZ was quick to post that the boys and Spears have not reconciled and it was just a Mother’s Day call. Can they leave Britney alone? And Jennifer Lopez canceled her tour to spend time with family, and she’s apparently doing so affordably. Jenny From the Block was photographed in business class on an Air France flight from Italy to France. Short flight, but definitely a change from her private-jet lifestyle.

LISA, IVE, BABYMONSTER and KATSEYE are all set to release new music this week. Keep watching to see when the release dates are!

Tetris Kelly:
Who run the world? Girls. And for K-pop fans, mothers are keeping us well fed. Here are some upcoming releases from women in K-pop.

LISA has been teasing a solo project for some time, and now we’ve got visual takes. It would be the first release on her own label, LLOUD, and it’s yours tomorrow night.

On to the girl groups, IVE’s collabed with Pepsi for Summer Festa to help get the season started. BABYMONSTER’s got new tunes on the way, too. “Forever” marks a new era for the rookie group. And gearing up to make their debut is global girl group KATSEYE. Rejoice, EYEKONS: Their first ever track “Debut” is out Friday.

After the Head of Streaming at Geffen Records made dismissive remarks about Jimin’s much-anticipated “Smeraldo Garden Marching Band” release without addressing ARMY’s inquiries for streaming links, fans are now calling for a formal apology from the label. Keep watching for more! 

“Geffen apologize to Jimin” was trending on X and it has something to do with Taylor Swift? What is going on? Let the ARMY and I break it down for you. Jimin is on the way with new music. But the ARMY is having an issue with the labels rollout and promotion of the song. A fan @’ed Geffen on X and said, “Where are the iTunes pre-orders for Jimin’s “Smeraldo Garden Marching Band” out next week June 28?” One of Geffon’s SVP’s and Head of Streaming responded, “Song of the Year” with the link to Gracie Abrams and Taylor Swift’s new song, “Us.”

The people are just trying to buy the song. Unsure of why the SVP responded that way to them asking for the quote “bare minimum of promotion.” “Geffen apologize to Jimin” began trending on Twitter. Jimin’s “Like Crazy” became a historic Hot 100 No. 1 hit in 2023, the first for a South Korean solo. Geffen has posted a link to promote another Jimin track “Who.” Were Geffen’s SVP’s comments inappropriate? Let us know down below. Jim’s new album ‘Muse’ is available July 19.

BTS’ V has announced that his next project, TYPE 1, will be released on July 9. Katy Perry made a fashion statement at Paris Fashion Week by wearing a dress featuring the lyrics to her upcoming single, while Jade Thirlwall teased her first solo project and more!

Tetris Kelly:
Lyrics posters and snippets, oh my. Some of your favorites are giving you a taste of what’s to come. Katy Perry is in Paris for Fashion Week and gave a taste of her upcoming single’s lyrics as a fashion statement. She’s been teasing “Woman’s World” all over the place.

As for the boys of BTS, Jimin is not the only one teasing new tunes. V shared a shirtless poster with his name, Kim Tae-hyung, for his next project TYPE 1, which is due July 9.

Finally, Jade Thirlwall of Little Mix is teasing her first solo project. She created an account on Spotify, dropping her last name and sharing some ideas for her solo music. We’ll just have to wait and see what’s to come.

Shifty Shellshock, the lead singer of Crazy Town, has died at the age of 49. He was found dead in his L.A. home. Keep watching for more.

Tetris Kelly:
Crazy Town frontman Shifty Shellshock has died at the age of 49. Seth Benzer — aka Shifty — was found dead in his Los Angeles home, according to the LA County Medical Examiner. The cause of death is still pending investigation.

Crazy Town is most known for their chart topping hit, “Butterfly.” The song was released October 2000 and climbed to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, where it stayed on top for two weeks. Another member of Crazy Town, Adam Goldstein, also known as DJ AM, died of an accidental overdose back in 2009. Shifty was open about his struggles with substance abuse on multiple VH1 shows.

We wish his fans, family, and friends the best.

Tiffany Haddish shares details about her new single “Woman Up” and working with Dianne Warren on her upcoming musical project. She also talks about how she was able to get a role in ‘Bad Boys: Ride or Die,’ seeking advice from some of her peers including Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Queen Latifah and more!

Tiffany Haddish:

She plays this song for me, she plays a few more. And I’m like, Girl, we recording all of these. So we recorded three songs.

Rania Aniftos:

No way! 

Tiffany Haddish:

And so this is just the first of a trilogy, if you will. Hi, I’m Tiffany Haddish and this is Billboard News.

Rania Aniftos:

Congratulations on your brand-new song “Woman Up.” Working with Diane Warren, she’s one of the most prolific songwriters in general, but also has such an affinity for female artists having a song about empowerment, written by Diane Warren. How did it feel?

Tiffany Haddish:

It felt amazing. First of all, Diane Warren slid in my DMs back in 2017. I had no idea because I decided to stay out of the DM’s because it was too many D pics coming through and I was just shocked. 

Rania Aniftos:

Happens, happens to the best of us.

Tiffany Haddish:

You know, I can’t stand it and I kind of stayed out of the DM’s and then I ran into her at a party. And she’s like, ‘I was in your DM’s you never responded.’ I’m like, ‘I didn’t know you were in my DM’s! Oh my gosh, we need to work together.’ She’s like, ‘I want to work with you. I love your voice.’ I’m like, ‘You heard my voice? You know my voice?’ And so we’re going back and forth talking. I’m telling my team like, ‘Set me up with Diane Warren.’

Keep watching to learn more!

St. Vincent stunned on the cover of Billboard’s Digital Exclusive Pride Issue with custom Bose Ultra Open Earbuds designed by Maggi Simpkins. Keep watching to see the details of her look!

Tetris Kelly:

St. Vincent graces the cover of Billboard’s Digital Exclusive Pride Issue. In a custom pair of Bose Ultra Open Earbuds designed by esteemed jewelry designer, Maggi Simpkins. Simpkins also recently designed another custom pair of Ultra Open Earbuds for Kenzie Ziegler’s Billboard Women In Music outfit. Ziegler’s custom earbuds received high praise from artists and media outlets alike, so Billboard and Bose had Simpkins design a new pair for St. Vincent’s cover shoot. For St. Vincent, identity and performance have always been linked. She spoke to Billboard about her experience as a queer musician, new album, ‘All Born Screaming,’ and more. These unique earbuds not only deliver impeccable sound quality, but also showcase a vibrant rainbow design. The earbuds are set in 14 karat yellow gold with a yellow barrel center stone surrounded by sapphires, emeralds and amethyst. For more on the St. Vincent cover shoot, visit billboard.com

Presented by Estrella Jalisco in partnership with Billboard, The RUMBAZO Festival, coming back this September in Las Vegas, is set to have Nicky Jam, Arcángel and more as headliners. Keep watching for more details on what the festival will include!

Tetris Kelly: 

Nicky Jam, Arcángel and more are set to light up Las Vegas. In partnership with Billboard and presented by Estrella Jalisco, the RUMBAZO Festival is back September 13 and 14th and we have the details. It’s the third year for the Latin music festival happening at the Downtown Las Vegas Event Center. Luis R Conriquez and Codiciado are just a couple of the other headliners joining the jam-packed weekend. Latin Billboard Hall of Fame inductee, Nicky Jam, and Arcángel are also set for the Mexican Independence Day weekend celebration that features two days filled with top artists and incredible food lineup, celebrating local Latin cuisine and experiences in fashion, art and more. With the festival organizers saying the partnership with Billboard will make it the best year yet. Ticket info will be announced soon. For more on Rumbazo hit billboard.com.