billboard news

11 Apr 2024

Doja Cat at Coachella, Usher at Lovers & Friends, & More: 2024 Festival Lineup | Billboard News

Festival season is here! We’re breaking down the biggest musical festivals and their lineups for 2024.

Tetris Kelly:
Coachella. Shaky Knees. Lovers & Friends. With some of the music festivals set to heat up the season, we have your go-to guide on all the hottest lineups around the country.

From the Indio desert to Sin City and Queens, New York, crowds across the nation are gearing up to experience live tunes from different cultures and genres of music. Throw in major fashion moments, surprise onstage collaborations and new music, and you have a jam-packed festival season ahead.

Things kick into high gear with the always electric Coachella music festival on April 12 through 14 and April 19 through 21. Lana Del Rey, Tyler, the Creator and Doja Cat will take the stage. Oh, and did we mention a No Doubt reunion?

If you’re in the mood for some rock, the Shaky Knees Music Festival has you covered in Atlanta. From May 3 to 5, you’ll be able to witness Noah Kahan, Weezer, Foo Fighters and more.

For those who love throwbacks from the 2000s, Lovers & Friends takes over Sin City on May 4 with plenty of nostalgia. Usher, Janet Jackson, The Backstreet Boys, TLC and more will hit this stage.

Grab your shades, sunscreen and dancing shoes, because there’s a little something for everybody, especially at Governors Ball. From June 7 to 9, the New York City festival will welcome Post Malone, The Killers and Peso Pluma for a collision of both Millennial and Gen Z audiences.

Meanwhile, country superstars like Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson and Hardy will band together for Faster Horses Festival in Brooklyn, Mich., from July 19 to 21.

And on Aug. 31, the inaugural Fool in Love Festival will see a once-in-a-lifetime event as retro soul and R&B legends bring the groove to SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. We’re talking about Lionel Richie, Diana Ross and Santana. Need I say more?

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. For more on this season’s music festivals, head over to Billboard.com

Watch the full video above!

10 Apr 2024

Jason Derulo Speaks on Diddy’s Legal Woes, Don Toliver Reportedly Arrested & More | Billboard News

Jason Derulo gave his two cents on Diddy’s current legal woes and Jelly Roll recalls bailing on meeting the mogul. Don Toliver has reportedly been arrested for suspicion of DUI.

Tetris Kelly
Jason Derulo says, “Diddy is innocent for now,” as Jelly Roll says “Diddy was not the vibe” and Don Toliver was allegedly arrested. Here’s three things you need to know in Hip-Hop. Jason Derulo broke into the biz writing songs for Diddy and his artists. So when TMZ caught up with him he had this to say, “I believe in innocent before proven guilty for sure.” Jelly Roll, maybe not so much.

Jelly Roll
I did Kimmel. The day Diddy did Kimmel, where they said do you want to meet such and such? And I said yeah, and I started walking that way. And as I was getting down the hallway, this is a true story. I said, “Nah.” Better not. And went and got back in the car,

Tetris Kelly
He told the ‘Canceled’ podcast, vibes were off and a Diddy photo wasn’t it.

Jelly Roll
Very seldom does things rub me in a way where I was like I don’t even know if that’s a picture I want to have. Yeah.

Tetris Kelly
Also reported by TMZ, Don Tolliver was arrested for suspicion of DUI. They are saying they received a report from California Highway Patrol, noting the artists was pulled over for speeding near the valley in SoCal. They know that he was released in the field and cited not taken to jail as an officer said, “Tolliver was cooperating in full.”

10 Apr 2024

Rihanna Reflects on A$AP Rocky Grabbing Her Butt at VMAs, Offers ‘R9’ Update & More | Billboard News

Rihanna is an open book! The “Lift Me Up” singer talked about her relationship with A$AP Rocky, her thoughts on having more kids, the long-awaited ‘R9’ and more!

Tetris Kelly:
Rihanna unfiltered. She’s talking the moment A$AP rubbed up on her that had everyone talking, if she’s up for more kids and of course, the forever looming R9.

Rihanna has a whopping 14 No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hits, so when she speaks, we listen. While sitting down with Interview mag, the infamous moment came up where her man A$AP Rocky grabbed her butt while performing at the 2012 VMAs. “So when he grabbed my a– that night, everybody thought I was about to … my team was worried that I wanted to have his head on the f–king mantle, but I was like, ‘Ah, nah.’ That’s when everybody was like, ‘Oh my god, she likes him.’”

And she’s down for more babies, saying, “I would go for more than two. I would try for my girl. But of course, if it’s another boy, it’s another boy.”

And of course she talked about music, and she’s apparently the opposite of Beyoncé. “My brain is working backward right now. I usually have the music first, and the music leads me into all these visual opportunities. And now I’m having all these visuals.”

Whatever comes first, RiRi, just feed us, please!

09 Apr 2024

Conan Gray Reveals What Made Him Realize ‘I Have to Live My Life’

Last week, pop star Conan Gray released his vibrant third album Found Heaven — and soon before, he stopped by Billboard News to discuss everything from falling in love for the first time to working with Max Martin to bring that feeling to life.

“It very much affected how I made the music,” says Gray, who also shares that “this whole album is highs and lows.”

He says he started the ideation process during his Superache Tour nearly two years ago. As he recalls, after each performance he would retreat to the basement “because there’s always a piano in the basement of these theaters I was playing… that’s when I would notice these different themes I was writing about.”

He later tapped the MXM songwriting and production crew of Max Martin, ILYA and Oscar Holter to help flesh those various themes out, saying they “really opened up my eyes and wings to all of the different sides of myself that I could try out. … They wanted to push me to do something that was the whole array of me.”

And while Found Heaven does boast power-pop hits like “Never Ending Song” and “Lonely Dancers,” the album also features more intimate songs like “Forever With Me,” album closer “Winner” and standout track “Alley Rose.” As Gray says, “When I first recorded [‘Alley Rose’], I recorded it in the same voice as the rest of the album, a bit more energetically. And then I was like, ‘Wait, I need to not do that. I need to sing it as calm and tender as possible — each song requires a different part of me. … I feel lucky that people give me the space to do both.”

Gray also opened up about the love that inspired much of this album — and the heartbreak he had to process soon after. As he tells it, after flying to London for their scheduled meet-up, he landed to a text ultimately ending the relationship. And yet, he wouldn’t change a thing about his experiences surrounding Found Heaven — and his necklace of a star cutout inside a teardrop is a reminder of exactly that.

“In all the things that make you cry, the happiest moments of your life and the saddest moments of your life, there is a magic in the fact that you even got to experience it at all,” says Gray. “I’ve spent so many years of my life hiding in my room and not doing anything and being so afraid of ever getting hurt or rejected or feeling bad, that I ended up living no life. I kept this on my neck the whole time I was making this album [as a reminder] that I have to live my life.”

To hear what else Gray said of his latest album, watch the full interview above.

09 Apr 2024

J. Cole Apologizes to Kendrick Lamar, Taylor Swift Teases Lyrics From ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ & More | Billboard News

Taylor Swift teases eclipse-themed lyrics from her upcoming album, ‘The Tortured Poets Department,’ while her ex Calvin Harris’ wife reveals she listens to Taylor Swift when the DJ isn’t around. J. Cole apologizes to Kendrick Lamar at Dreamville Fest after releasing “7 Minute Drill,” a response to Kendrick Lamar’s verse on “Like That.” JT has been fighting with everyone including her fellow City Girls member Yung Miami after trading blows with GloRilla. Bryson Tiller opens up about his new self-titled album, Billboard explains Future’s chart success ahead of his and Metro Boomin’s second collab album ‘We Still Don’t Trust You’ and Conan Gray tells us about his new album ‘Found Heaven.’

Tetris Kelly
We talk about Taylor’s new music and how her exes’ wife is listening. While Conan Gray chats Olivia Rodrigo with us. We sat down with Bryson Tiller, the City Girls are fighting while JT has her own beef with GloRilla and J. Cole responds to Kendrick’s diss and are going in depth on Future. This is Billboard News for Tuesday April 9th, here’s three things you need to know in Hip-Hop. Is everything okay with the City Girls? Miami called out JT online for sneak dissing her on solo songs she said, “For you to come on here and try to play the victim is crazy, Jatavia you have been sneak dissing me for the last couple of days a b*tch trying to kick me, while I’m down and play into these narratives is dangerous when I’ve been nothing but a friend to you.” JT responded “Oh Wow, you’re really losing it. If you thought this why not speak to me about it., attention seeking as usual,” but Miami eventually said she wants what’s best for JT and they hopped on the phone and both said “I love you” in a post on X. We love a happy ending. But will it be that for JT and GloRilla? Why did you feel the need to pop up on JT so hard? After releasing a track where she called for rap girls unity. JT called GloRilla corny, and so many exchanges went down with both of them calling each other “ugly” and Glo saying, “What you want me to say I didn’t slap you but I hit you with a purse instead.” But J. Cole is calling for peace after exchanges with him and Drake and Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole took to the stage with Amazon at ‘Dreamville’ Fest and ended it all.

Watch the full video above!

09 Apr 2024

Conan Gray Talks New Album ‘Found Heaven,’ Olivia Rodrigo, Working With Max Martin & More | Billboard News

Conan Gray talks about his newly released third album, Found Heaven; how he shares Olivia Rodrigo’s love for pop punk; working with producers such as Max Martin, ILYA, Greg Kurstin and Shawn Everett; how falling in love and the heartbreak that followed served as inspiration for the album; why he decided to name one of his songs “Alley Rose” and more!

Conan Gray:
Everything has ups and downs in this whole album is highs and lows. Hey, y’all, it’s Conan Gray and you’re watching Billboard News.

Lyndsey Havens:
Hey, I’m Lyndsay Havens for Billboard News, and we are here with rising superstar singer-songwriter Conan Gray.

Your third album, the highly anticipated Found Heaven is out. Now let’s start by looking backwards a little bit: When exactly did you start the process? And how do you know that you are ready for a new album to begin?

Conan Gray:
So I started the like ideation of the album while I was on tour during the Superache tour. So a year and a half ago, almost two years ago, I would go, I’d finish the shows. And then I would go into the basement of all the venues that I would play because there’s always a piano in the basement because of like, the orchestra shows they do these theaters that I was playing. And I would play I would just write songs, like while they were loading up the vans, and play in the basement, like in the dark. And that’s kind of when the first … that’s when I started noticing, like, these different kinds of themes that I was writing about and realizing like, oh, maybe … maybe I am ready to start working on another album. And then the very first song that I wrote for the album was “Found Heaven” the song.

Watch the full interview above!

08 Apr 2024

Beyoncé’s ‘Cowboy Carter’ Debuts At No. 1 & Her Collaborators React, Morgan Wallen Arrested In Nashville | Billboard News

Morgan Wallen was arrested on April 7th after allegedly throwing a chair off a roof of a bar in Nashville. The incident reportedly took place at Eric Church’s Chief’s Bar. The CMT Awards 2024 were last night and we’re showing you is everything you missed. Beyoncé’s ‘Cowboy Carter’ debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and her collaborators are celebrating the news. And more!

Tetris Kelly
Morgan Wallen is arrested in Nashville. While the rest of country music was celebrated in Austin, we chat with Beyoncé’s ‘Cowboy Carter’ collaborators. We’re on tour with Larry June and reveal who’s on the top of the Hot 100.

Tetris Kelly
Happy Monday, y’all! It’s Billboard News for Monday, April 8th. We have such a show for you today. So let’s jump into our top story. Morgan Wallen was arrested last night on three felony charges. Here are the details.

Tetris Kelly
Just days after kicking off his 2020 ‘One Night At A Time’ tour, Morgan Wallen was arrested in Nashville on April 7, his attorney confirmed in a statement saying at 10:53pm Sunday evening,. Morgan Wallen was arrested in downtown Nashville for reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct. He is cooperating fully with authorities. They also confirmed his release from jail. According to WSNV the arrest warrant revealed that while in was at Eric Church’s Chiefs bar in Nashville on the opening weekend, when witnesses said he threw a chair off the roof of a six story building. The chair reportedly landed just three feet away from two Metro Nashville police officers who were standing outside of the bar on Broadway. After speaking with bar staff and witnesses offices reviewed security footage to confirm Morgan’s alleged action. According to WKRN a witness reportedly told officers they saw Wallen pick up the chair throw it over him, laughing afterwards, Morgan Wallen was charged with three felony counts of reckless endangerment and one misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct. He posted a $15,250 bond to secure his release. His next court date is scheduled for May 3rd the same day his tour is scheduled for Nashville.

Watch the full video above!

08 Apr 2024

Larry June Takes Fans Behind the Scenes of His Rolling Loud LA Set | Billboard News

Billboard followed Larry June as he prepared for his electrifying set at Rolling Loud LA. He gave us an inside look at his trailer, wardrobe and tour must-haves. We see him interact with his fans prior to the show, be interviewed backstage and more!

Larry June:
What up, Billboard? It’s Larry June, and welcome to my Tour Stop. Good job, Billboard! Numbers, man. Numbers, baby. Sock it to me. Sock it to me. Good job, Billboard. Sock it to me. Sock it to me. For real. Sock it to me.

Let me show ya’ll this trailer real quick. Sipping this alkaline water and s–t. Something light. See right here is the trailer. They always give us good gifts, stuff, Zig-Zags, you know what I mean. Stiiizy came through and blessed us.

Drew (Larry June’s manager):
Alright, we’re here at Rolling Loud 2024. We got a couple of interviews.

Larry June:
Deez nuts.

Drew:
He’s doing some interviews with his lunch. We’re doing interviews with Rolling Loud and we’re gonna do one for Power 106.

Speedy:
Ten-year anniversary of Rolling Loud and I’m joined by someone from California.

Keats:
The best artist in my opinion on the set, my favorite artist, Larry June.

Larry June:
We gotta have the backup. You know what I’m saying? We must stay fresh. We ain’t playing no motherf–king games. After this s–t, they gotta call me Billboard Larry.

Got my son. He ain’t drinkin, you know what I’m saying. No organic. What is you doing? Not organic.

Watch the full video above!

08 Apr 2024

Billboard Hot 100 Countdown For April 13th | Billboard News

Tetris Kelly:
With ‘Cowboy Carter’ finally out, can Beyoncé top Future and Metro Boomin to return to the top?

This is the Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 for the week dated April 13th.

“Type Shit” falls to No. 10.

Ariana is up a spot to No. 9. “Lovin On Me” slips down to No. 8.

And ‘Cowboy Carter’s “JOLENE” debuts at No. 7.

Beyoncé and Miley grab No. 6 with “II MOST WANTED.”

Teddy Swims is at No. 5.

“Too Sweet” moves up to No. 4 as Benson Boone stays locked at No. 3.

“TEXAS HOLD ‘EM” is back in the top 10 at No. 2.

And for a second week, Future, Metro Boomin and Kendrick Lamar are at No. 1.

Watch the full video above!

06 Apr 2024

Kelsea Ballerini On Hosting The CMT Awards Again, First CMT Memory With Keith Urban & More | Billboard News

Kelsea Ballerini shares how she’s having fun hosting the CMT Awards again this year, her first CMT Awards memory being getting to meet Keith Urban, her different fashion looks award show, performing an updated version of one of her first hits “Love Me Like You Mean It” 10 years after it’s been released and more!

Kelsea Ballerini
When I was in high school I had just moved to Nashville. We waited outside the barricade at the CMT Awards when they were still in Nashville. We just waited for artists to come over because we wanted to take pictures and meet them and, I remember Keith Urban came over and I have a picture with him as a fan. Just like one of the craziest moments of my life. It feels very full circle obviously to go from, like the kiddo outside the barricade to now being the host of the show.

Tetris Kelly
From fan to host Kelsey Ballerini is the queen of the CMTs.

Kelsea Ballerini
It’s springtime and it’s it’s a party it’s a party that’s what it’s supposed to feel like a big celebration so the clothes definitely mirror that and, I’m a girly girl and like part of hosting is having fun with the fashion and playing and doing the quick changes and all that so I think all in there’s seven looks.

Tetris Kelly
You know when Kelsey hits the stage and Austin she’s gonna bring the looks but she’s not just blessed the stage with fashion she’s gonna give a throwback performance to remember.

Kelsea Ballerina
Someone was like hey “Love Me” is a decade old next summer and I was like that doesn’t feel real.

Kelsea Ballerina
I wanted to find a way to say thank you and also challenge myself to to like reconstruct it as a 30 year old. How I would sing it now sounds very different than how 19 year old me recorded it and it was really fun to to figure that out and I’m proud of it and it’s also very much so a reflection of the new music to come.

Tetris Kelly
It all goes down Sunday on CBS