billboard news
Page: 94
The 2023 MAMA Awards are headed back to Tokyo and Billboard News has all the exclusive details! Tetris Kelly:K-pop’s biggest awards show is headed back to Japan and Billboard has all the latest. The 2023 MAMA Awards is headed to Tokyo and you can catch all the action live thanks to MNet. K-Pop’s biggest awards […]
After 25 years in the music industry, Mýa is showing no signs of slowing down. The pop-R&B star made her debut in 1998, when she put out her self-titled studio album via Interscope Records. The debut single from the album, “It’s All About Me” with Sisqó, reached No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and put the world onto Mýa’s sultry, angelic voice and cutting-edge R&B sound that infiltrated the mainstream pop market while drawing influences from hip-hop, dancehall, techno and more.
She revealed in a new interview with Billboard News that the outfit she wore in the “It’s All About Me” music video, which was inspired by the traditional red Chinese wedding dress, is her all-time favorite look. “I sketched that outfit on paper, drew the designs that I wanted and I saw it come to life,” she said. “But this is something that I’ve been doing for years. I have this whole sketchbook of outfits that I wanted to create before I signed my first deal. And so, that was one of them. The seamstress brought it to life, and that was an amazing experience for me as a brand new artist.”
[embedded content]
In June, she re-created the UNC jersey dress from her 2000 “Best of Me (Part 2)” video, featuring Jay-Z, while she was performing at Charlotte R&B Music Experience. (This reporter also re-created the UNC jersey dress look, as well as Mýa’s outfit from the 1999 “Take Me There” video with Blackstreet, Mase and Blinky Blink, due to endless claims that she resembles the singer. Decide for yourself in the video interview above!)
Aside from her iconic looks, pop-dancehall collaborations have been another constant in Mýa’s storied career. Over the years, she’s worked with Jamaican reggae and dancehall artists like Beenie Man (“Girls Dem Sugar,” “Lie Detector,” “Docta”), Sean Paul (“Things Come & Go”), Spice (“Take Him Out”) and, most recently, Bounty Killer, on her latest steamy single “Whine.”
“Funny story is I had a solo version of the video shot two years prior to reaching out to Bounty Killer,” she says. “And I’ve always wanted a feature on that record. And so we went back down to Jamaica two years later, to the same location, and put Bounty Killer in the video, inserted him, and it all looks cohesive now.”
[embedded content]
Of her pop-dancehall collaborations, Mýa says they feel like a family effort. “Every time I go down there, it’s usually for music. But then my associates, music friends, become like family over the years. We understand the beauty of independency but also working together. And so, that’s a big part of the culture, too,” she explains. “I think it’s important also to just be authentic for representation, so it was important for me to be in Kingston, in the heart of Jamaica, to capture the essence of the good vibes and the music, the culture and the people and the dance.”
Outside of her debut LP’s 25th anniversary this year, Mýa also celebrated the 20th anniversary of her third album Moodring, which peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and earned her another Hot 100 top 20 hit with “My Love is Like…Wo.” (Missy Elliott co-produced the track two years after working with her on the five-week No. 1, Grammy-winning smash “Lady Marmalade” with Christina Aguilera, P!nk and Lil’ Kim from the Moulin Rouge! soundtrack.)
Earlier this year, she collaborated with Interscope/UMe to release the digital deluxe 25th anniversary edition of Mya, the digital deluxe 20th anniversary edition of Moodring and the “25th Anniversary Remix” of “It’s All About Me,” accompanied by the Brian Friedman-directed choreography video. Come December, Mýa will ring in the 15th anniversary of her fifth album Sugar & Spice.
“I was a baby, I was a kid, everything was brand new. Working in the studio with Dru Hill for the first album was really like a family and a camp, so I had big brothers around me … I learned a lot from them, watching them,” she reflects. “It’s just a beautiful journey. I’m excited as well about what’s to come. I just love music, so it’s a blessing to just still be here 25 years later and still feel like it’s brand new.”
Watch the full video interview above.
Mýa sat down with her Billboard doppelgänger, Heran Mamo, and opened up about her album anniversaries, love for Jamaica and dancehall, the lessons she’s learned throughout the years and more!
Heran Mamo:I get told often that I look like you from, like, artists I interview to, like, random people at events.
Mýa:Oh my goodness! This is so on point, I thought that was me.
Hey, I’m Mýa, and you’re watching Billboard News!
Heran Mamo:Well, thank you so much for coming today! I’m super excited to interview you!
Mýa:Thank you for having me! Excited to be here!
Heran Mamo:I have to congratulate you first because you’ve spent 25 incredible years in the music industry, and I’m curious: What is the biggest lesson and the biggest blessing of it all?
Mýa:The biggest blessing — I’ll start there — is to, of course, help others to be in a position to. Traveling is always beautiful, experiencing new places, cultures, food. I’m a foodie. Lessons … you know to remain a student — that’s the biggest one because there’s always something to learn, a position to learn, a new skill set to learn for anything in life, and staying humble will keep you a student and then eventually a master so you can help others. Yeah.
Heran Mamo:I think you were recently in Jamaica, right? For the music video for your new single “Whine” with Bounty Killer. Tell me about that new single.
Mýa:Funny story is I had a solo version of the video shot two years prior to reaching out to Bounty Killer and I’ve always wanted a feature on that record. And so we went back down to Jamaica two years later and you know, to the same location and put Bounty Killer in the video, inserted him, and it all looks cohesive now.
Watch the full video above!
Megan Thee Stallion talked to Billboard about her partnership with Cheetos, what it was like working with Cardi B again and going viral with Justin Timberlake. Music powerhouse Mýa sat down with her Billboard doppelgänger Heran Mamo and opened up about her album anniversaries, love for Jamacia and dancehall, the lessons she’s learned throughout the years and more. Christina Milian addresses Jennifer Lopez feud rumors over Jennifer’s track “Play.” And more!
Tetris Kelly:Megan Thee Stallion talks about Cardi B and Justin Timberlake. Christina Milian addresses feud rumors with Jennifer Lopez. Zach Brian collabs with Noah Kahan and Bon Iver. Mya drops by our studio and we learned five things about ITZY.
Welcome to Billboard News. I’m Tetris Kelly, it’s Tuesday, September 19th and we’re starting off today with Megan Thee Stallion, straight from the horse’s mouth.
Cheeto Commercial Extras:FU, Megan.
Megan Thee Stallion:FU!
Cheeto Commercial Extras:FU!
Megan Thee Stallion:FU, all the way!
Tetris Kelly:Megan Thee Stallion is giving out scholarships with Cheetos and she’s talking to Billboard about Cardi B and Justin Timberlake. Let’s talk about the Hotty!
Megan Thee Stallion:Welcome to Flaming Hot University, where we teach you everything about the flaming hot lifestyle.
Tetris Kelly:It’s Flaming Hot University and Megan is the official Hot Girl Dean of Admission for a partnership that gives back with scholarships, a curriculum and, of course, merch. But she talked with Billboard about so much more!
On her recent “Bongos” collaborator, Cardi B, she stated, “She literally just let me do me. This is the second time she sent me a song and I’ll be like, “friend, can I do whatever I want to do on the beat? I’m gonna put two verses on here. Alright?” She always let me do whatever I want to do creatively.” They performed the track at the VMAs, where a video went viral where it looked like Meg cussed out Justin Timberlake backstage.Watch the full video above!
The numbers are in for this week’s Hot 100! Did Doja Cat hold on to No. 1? Is country music still reigning over the charts? Plus, Katy Perry sold her music catalog to Litmus for a whopping $225 million. The deal includes rights to the singer’s five chart-topping songs off ‘Teenage Dream.’ BTS’ Jung Kook […]
Litmus Music, a catalog rights company backed by private-equity giant Carlyle Group LP, said on Monday (Sept. 18) it acquired the rights to Katy Perry’s five studio albums released for Capitol Records, including her Grammy-nominated Teenage Dream.
According to sources, Litmus paid $225 million for Perry’s stake in the master recording royalties and music publishing rights to her five albums released between 2008 and 2020—One of the Boys, Teenage Dream, PRISM, Witness and Smile. Litmus declined to comment on the deal terms.
Perry’s catalog sale, finalized earlier this year, follows other 2023 music rights deals like Justin Bieber’s $200-million sale to Hipgnosis Songs Capital, demonstrating that household name artists can still command top dollar even as high interest rates moderate investors’ appetites for song rights.
From her breakout single “I Kissed A Girl” in July 2008 to the five chart-topping songs from 2010’s Teenage Dream, Perry has notched a total of nine No. 1s on the Billboard Hot 100. During a musical era that saw major hits from other female pop stars like Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Taylor Swift, and Adele, Perry remains the first woman and only second artist ever (after Michael Jackson) to send five songs from the same album to the summit of the Hot 100. Those songs are “California Gurls,” “Firework,” “E.T.,” “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)” and “Teenage Dream.”
In addition to releasing 2017’s Witness and 2020’s Smile, Perry is winding down a blockbuster Las Vegas residency that she started in late 2021.
The “Roar” singer’s professional relationship with Dan McCarroll, Litmus co-founder and chief creative officer, dates back to 2010 when McCarroll was president of Capitol Records, the company said.
“Katy Perry is a creative visionary who has made a major impact across music, TV, film, and philanthropy,” McCarroll said. “I’m so honored to be partnering with her again and to help Litmus manage her incredible repertoire.”
Launched in August 2022 with a $500-million-investment from Carlyle’s Global Credit Platform, Litmus has acquired publishing and recording rights of artists from a range of genres, including Keith Urban‘s master recordings and a package of publishing and performance copyrights from super producer benny blanco.
Hank Forsyth, Litmus co-founder and chief executive officer, called Perry’s “essential” songs “part of the global cultural fabric.”
“We are so grateful to be working together again with such a trusted partner,” said Forsyth, an industry veteran previously of Warner Chappell and Blue Note.
“We believe this is a testament to the team’s ability to partner with the world’s top artists. Katy’s iconic songs have not only achieved outstanding commercial success but have significantly influenced popular culture,” said Matt Settle, managing director at Carlyle.
Vic Mensa talks about his sophomore album, Victor, the Black Star Line festival in Africa, working and collaborating with other artists such as G-Eazy, Common and Chance the Rapper, his cannabis brand 93 Boyz and more!
Vic Mensa:We broke out the sage.
Tetris Kelly:Oh, of course!
Vic Mensa:Or the palo santo! And just like, “Yeah, so what you thinkin’?” What’s up, y’all? I’m Vic Mensa, and you’re watching them Billboard News.
Tetris Kelly:It’s Tetris with Billboard News. A lot of swag just hit the couch. What’s up, Vic?
Vic Mensa:How are you doing, man?
Tetris Kelly:Let’s talk about this music. You got your sophomore album coming, and I feel like your name has been around so long. It’s crazy this is only your second offering. So tell me how’s it feel to put your second piece of work out?
Vic Mensa:I’m very excited about it. It’s really a story of redemption and triumph, and spirituality and love and pain and struggle — human experience. That’s the place I write from. That’s what I aim to communicate and to convey. And I’m just so excited to open that conversation with any and everyone who listens to this album.
Tetris Kelly:We’ve got some great collaborators G-Eazy, Common, Ty Dolla $ign. Love Ty. So how do you go about deciding who you want to bring into a project?
Vic Mensa:I think first and foremost, it’s like, the relationships as a human being, as a man with those brothers in particular, like those are people that have long-standing personal relationships with so as I’m creating music, and I hear a voice to do something — Common, for example, is my favorite MC since being a little kid. When I made this song called “Southside Story” that is featuring Common, immediately I knew it’d be crazy to have his voice on here, and his paintbrush, his texture.
Watch the full interview above!
BTS’ V becomes the first K-pop idol to perform on NPR’s international version of their hit ‘Tiny Desk’ series, ‘Tiny Desk Korea’; his bandmate SUGA debuts new merch in collaboration with the NBA called the “Dynamite” capsule collection from Mitchell & Ness; Zach Bryan and Noah Kahan are working in the studio together; Billboard gives […]
The guys of *NSYNC are dropping a new track, 21 years after their last release, Drake & SZA are teaming up, and Sia’s new track “Gimme Love” is the first single off her upcoming album ‘Reasonable Woman.’ Madonna thanked Pepsi for airing a canned 1989 ad during the 2023 MTV VMAs. We are taking a […]
On Thursday (Sept. 14), TikTok and Billboard announced the TikTok Billboard Top 50 chart — a new weekly chart that will track the most popular songs on the platform in the U.S. The chart is available to all TikTok users in the U.S. and on Billboard.com. Sexyy Red claims the first No. 1 spot on […]