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05 Sep 2024

Teezo Touchdown Accepts the Rookie Of The Year Award | R&B Hip-Hop Power Players 2024

Teezo Touchdown accepts the Rookie of the Year award from Billboard’s Senior R&B/Hip-Hop/Afrobeats writer Heran Mamo at Billboard’s R&B Hip-Hop Power Players 2024.

Heran Mamo:

My name is Heran Mamo, the Senior R&B Hip Hop Afrobeats writer here at Billboard, and I’m very excited to present our next award this evening. This genre defying star embodies the emotional melodies of an r&b singer, the clever lyricism of a rapper and the instrumental intensity of a rock star, and he certainly nailed the look of one, too. He’s taken his signature rock and boom sound from Belmont, Texas to the biggest arenas and stadiums around the country, with stars like Tyler The Creator and Travis Scott. In the words of his manager, Amal Noor, Teezo is your favorite artist’s favorite artist. Just ask Drake, who described his debut album, ‘How Do You Sleep at Night?’ , which celebrates its first anniversary in just three days, some of the best music ever. He always performs with a mic hidden in a flower bouquet, but tonight I’m honored to give him his flowers on this stage. Please join me in a round of applause for Billboard’s 2024 R&B Hip Hop Rookie of the Year, American singer-songwriter, Teezo Touchdown.

Teezo Touchdown:

Thank y’all God. Firstly, I would love to thank God for the gift. Father God, I want to say thank you for my gift that has taken me from a small town in Beaumont, Texas to corners of the world that I couldn’t even imagine.

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05 Sep 2024

Playboi Carti Accepts the Artist Of The Year Award | R&B Hip-Hop Power Players 2024

Playboi Carti accepts the Artist of The Year award from Billboard’s Deputy Editorial Director Damien Scott at Billboard’sR&B Hip-Hop Power Players 2024.

Damien Scott:

My name is Damien Scott. I am the Deputy Editorial Director at Billboard. I’ve been here for a year now. This is the first Power Players, Hip-Hop Power Players I’ve been involved with. And when we started to think about what exactly a Hip-Hop Power Player is, I think, to me, it was somebody who exhibits a special quality, right? Someone who is able to control the game, control the genre, someone who is in the embodiment of hip-hop, and hip-hop, to me, as it probably is to a lot of you, is young, brash, innovative and honest. And the person who is getting this award right now has blazed a trail that has influenced a number of younger artists. He’s released a number of amazing tracks this year, and on top of that, he knocked his first Billboard Hot 100 hit with “CARNIVAL” earlier this year, and put his name in the record books with Ye, Ty Dolla $ign, and Rich The Kid. He’s gone from one of the most promising and exciting rappers in the game to one of the most forward thinking CEOs and one of the of the most powerful, exciting labels that we have right now, in Opium. What’s even crazier is that he’s just getting started, and I’m a huge fan of his. I know he’s someone who makes people think about what rap is supposed to be, and to me, that’s exactly what a rapper is supposed to do. Make everybody think what the hell is going on right here? What am I listening to? Is this good? Is this bad? And the fact of the matter is that it’s great. And it’s my honor to introduce the 2024 R&B Hip Hop Power Player Artist of the Year to Mr. Playboi Carti.

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05 Sep 2024

Rich Homie Quan Dies at 33 | Billboard News

Rich Homie Quan died today at the age of 33. His friends have taken to social media to commemorate the rapper. Keep watching for the full story.

Tetris Kelly:

Atlanta rapper Rich Homie Quan has died at the age of 33. Quan, who reached No. 12 on the Hot 100 in 2013 with his hit “Type Of Way,” died Thursday, September 5th. The Fulton County medical examiner confirmed with Billboard, but the rapper’s cause of death remains unknown. Billboard has reached out to Quan’s manager for more information. Many of his peers took to social media to share their condolences. Boosie Badazz shared on X, “JUST TALKED TO YOU BRA #tipQUAN Never go forget yo smile n the way talked n of course yo music.”

Jacquees, Playboi Carti and Quavo all shared memories with their friend, the latter sharing a pic with Quan and Takeoff saying, “May God be with US never saw this being part of our journey.”

Our thoughts are with Quan’s friends, family, and fans.

05 Sep 2024

Travis Kelce’s Reps Slam Fake PR Plan for Taylor Swift Breakup | Billboard News

After a fake breakup plan for Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift went viral, Kelce’s rep slammed and denied the faux plan. Keep watching to see if his team is deciding to take legal action.

Tetris Kelly:

Some Swifties may have thought Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce may be breaking up. Here’s what we know. Taylor’s no stranger to the workings of the rumor mill, and the latest fan speculation is that she and Travis may be on the rocks. The rumors stem from photos initially posted to Reddit. The viral pics seem to show a document of a PR strategy on Full Scope PR letterhead, the agency that reps Travis, outlining a plan for the couple, should they break up, and how they are to handle Travis’ image following the news. The documents contain key messages and media strategy, including an official statement, planned media interviews and social media management. 

Full Scope PR denies the legitimacy of the viral documents in a statement to E! News, saying, “These documents are entirely false and fabricated and were not created, issued or authorized by this agency.” 

His agency also told People magazine they’re in contact with Reddit’s legal team “to initiate proceedings against the individuals or entities responsible for the unlawful and injurious forgery of documents.”

Billboard has reached out to Full Scope and Taylor’s team for comment.

05 Sep 2024

Megan Thee Stallion Stuns in New Pepsi NFL Ad | Billboard News

Megan Thee Stallion stars in a new ad for Pepsi promoting the first NFL game of the season. Keep watching to see some of our favorite moments!

Tetris Kelly:

Megan Thee Stallion has rocked our world. She stuns in a new Pepsi ad and we’re breaking down our favorite moments, and our favorite throwback that inspired it. Let’s dive in. The ad also features Meg running a Roman competition with four of your favorite NFL players, including Travis Kelce. But of course, Thee Stallion had to put her own twist on the Queen Classic, “We Will Rock You.” And I mean, can anybody enter a field like this? Well maybe some can? The ad hits the nostalgia button referencing a former ad of Britney Spears, P!NK and Beyonce. How do you feel about the ad? Let us know in the comments.

05 Sep 2024

Zara Larsson & Clean Bandit’s ‘Symphony’ Makes Waves on TikTok Billboard Top 50 | Billboard News

Can Sabrina Carpenter or Billie Eilish take over Zara Larsson and Clean Bandit’s reign at No. 1 on the TikTok Billboard Top 50? Keep watching to find out!

Tetris Kelly:
Zara Larsson and Clean Bandit continue their reign, while Billie EIlish and Sabrina Carpenter make multiple appearances on the chart. “Symphony” stays in the top spot on the TikTok Billboard Top 50 for the chart posting Sept. 5, and Zara’s got a great question about its success. 

Zara Larsson:
Do you think Beyoncé knows about me? It’s not impossible. It’s not impossible that she knows about the dolphins. Blue’s on TikTok scrolling and she’s like, “What the f–k is that? That’s a weird trend.”

Tetris Kelly:
Two other girls in pop are making their mark on the chart this week. Sabrina Carpenter rises nine to three with “Taste.” It’s one of three songs off her new album, Short ‘n Sweet, on this week’s chart. “Bed Chem” debuts at No. 18, while “Please Please Please” stays at 36, spending a 13th week on the chart.

Then there’s Billie Eilish. “Wildflower” grows to seven thanks to a trend where users ask how they earn aura points, and “Birds of a Feather” returns to round out the top 10.

Every Thursday, Billboard will bring you the verified list of the hottest songs on TikTok by monitoring music discovery and engagement on the platform in the United States. To find the TikTok Billboard Top 50 each week, users can simply go to any sound detail page and tap the top right button to access the charts page.

05 Sep 2024

Mike Will Made-It Shares 5 Things You Didn’t Know About Kendrick Lamar’s ‘DNA’ | Billboard

Mike Will Made-It shares five fun facts about Kendrick Lamar’s “DNA” and his album Damn. Keep watching to see what they are!

Mike Will Made-It: 
Hey, yo. It’s Mike Will Made-It, and these are five things you don’t know about “DNA.”

No. 1: I wrote that song, OK. I’m playing with you. Y’all didn’t know I made that in Swae Lee’s backyard. They had this little shed. I don’t know what that shed was for, you know what I’m saying, because it was real small, but we used to have, like, a little setup in there. When I made that beat, I was just thinking, like, man, this would be like a big performance record, like, Beyoncé, or, like, somebody big could do this, and whoever do arenas or stadiums. I never sent it to them. I only sent it to Kendrick. He ended up hearing the beat and liking the beat.

Another thing you probably didn’t know that me and Kendrick were already cool for seven years, but we just never had a song. We never landed a song. Probably gave him 1,000 beats before. I gave him beats for Good Kid, m.A.A.d City, To Pimp a Butterfly and then Damn. It’s, like, he ended up calling me and told me, like, “Yo, I’ve been going in.” He sent me, like, a little snippet video. “I’m like, damn bro, I’m about to be in L.A. in like, a week. Like, Imma pull up on you,” and he’s, like, “Call me when you get there.” So I came to the studio, and then he let me hear “Humble,” he let me hear “DNA.” He let me hear “XXX.” 

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05 Sep 2024

Billboard Live Music Summit & Awards to Return to Los Angeles in November

Billboard is bringing back its highly anticipated Billboard Live Music Summit and Awards, taking place on Nov. 14 in Los Angeles.

After a four-year break, the event returns in collaboration with AEG Presents and Live Nation, marking its first occurrence since 2019.

The one-day event will feature a series of panels and thought leadership discussions, followed by the prestigious Billboard Live Music Awards, all programmed by Billboard’s Dave Brooks, Senior Director of Live Music and Touring.

“We’re excited to bring this program back to the epicenter of the concert business,” said Brooks. “This summit is a marketplace for ideas and brings together some of the biggest names in the business. This year, we will explore the industry’s challenges and opportunities, as well as celebrate how far we have come since 2019.”

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The event is expected to attract executives across artist representation, management, concert promotion, and the experiential sector, providing a unique platform for collaboration with top-charting artists. Topics will include the current landscape of the live music industry, strategies for navigating its evolving challenges, and insights into future opportunities.

Further details on the summit, including panelists and award categories, will be revealed in the coming weeks. For additional information, visit billboardlivemusicsummit.com.

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Billboard Live Music Summit and Awards follow in the footsteps of other notable events such as the Billboard Music Awards, Billboard Women in Music, and Billboard Latin Music Week, which connect the industry’s top talent and key players with music fans worldwide.

04 Sep 2024

Lainey Wilson Nabs First Top 10 on Billboard’s Album Sales Chart With ‘Whirlwind’

Lainey Wilson scores her first top 10, with her best sales week ever, on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart (dated Sept. 7) as her fifth studio album Whirlwind arrives at No. 3 with 34,000 copies sold in the U.S. in the week ending Aug. 29, according to Luminate. The set is the follow-up to her breakthrough album Bell Bottom Country, which was her only other charting set on Top Album Sales, peaking at No. 15 in November 2022.

Whirlwind also arrives in the top 10 across an array of Billboard album charts, including Independent Albums (No. 1), Top Country Albums (No. 3), the Billboard 200 (No. 8), Vinyl Albums (No. 3) and Indie Store Album Sales (No. 10).

Trending on Billboard

Also in the top 10 of the latest Top Album Sales chart, Travis Scott’s Days Before Rodeo charges in at No. 1 with the second-largest sales week of 2024, Sabrina Carpenter notches her biggest sales week ever – and the year’s second-largest for a vinyl album – with the No. 2 bow of Short n’ Sweet, Thomas Rhett achieves his seventh top 10 with the No. 5 debut of About a Woman, and FONTAINES D.C. land its first top 10 – and best sales week – with the No. 8 start of Romance.

Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart ranks the top-selling albums of the week based only on traditional album sales. The chart’s history dates back to May 25, 1991, the first week Billboard began tabulating charts with electronically monitored piece count information from SoundScan, now Luminate. Pure album sales were the sole measurement utilized by the Billboard 200 albums chart through the list dated Dec. 6, 2014, after which that chart switched to a methodology that blends album sales with track equivalent album units and streaming equivalent album units. For all chart news, follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both X, formerly known as Twitter, and Instagram.

Whirlwind begins with 34,000 copies sold, and of that sum, physical sales comprise 22,000 (16,000 on CD and 6,000 on vinyl) and digital download album sales comprise 12,000.

The set’s first-week sales were bolstered by its availability across eight vinyl variants, three CD editions (including a signed edition sold in Wilson’s webstore, and a Walmart-exclusive CD containing a branded patch and a bonus track), a standard digital download album, and a deluxe digital album variant with four bonus “worktape” recordings (sold via Wilson’s webstore).

Scott’s 2014 mixtape Days Before Rodeo roars at No. 1 on Top Album Sales with 331,000 copies sold – the second-largest sales week of 2024 and Scott’s best sales week ever. (The year’s largest sales week remains the debut frame of Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department, with 1.914 million copies sold.) Days was released on Aug. 23 commercially and widely through streaming services for the first time. Digital download album sales comprise 300,000 of Days’ first-week sum, while CD sales account for the remaining 31,000.

Days’ first-week sales figure was aided by its availability across eight digital album variants, seven of which included bonus tracks (ranging from unreleased studio cuts, to live tracks, to remixes), and most were sold exclusively via Scott’s official webstore. The album’s CD sales were generated by a stand-alone CD, as well as a CD that was part of a deluxe boxed set containing a branded hat – both of which were exclusive to Scott’s webstore.

In the coming weeks, the album will profit from two vinyl variants that are yet to ship to customers, in addition to two deluxe boxed sets containing the vinyl LP and branded merchandise – all of which are exclusive to Scott’s webstore.

Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet starts at No. 2 on Top Album Sales with 184,000 sold – her biggest sales week and the fifth-largest sales debut week of 2024.

Short n’ Sweet’s sales were enhanced by its availability across nine vinyl variants, five CD editions, two cassettes and four digital album download variants (three of which were exclusive to her webstore). Vinyl sales combined totaled 105,000  – Carpenter’s best week on vinyl and the second-largest sales week of the year for a vinyl album. Short n’ Sweet also debuts at No. 1 on the Vinyl Albums chart. (The largest vinyl sales week in 2024 for an album is owned by the debut week of Swift’s Poets, with 859,000.)

As for the rest of Short n’ Sweet’s first-week sales, it sold 33,000 on CD; 45,000 digital download albums; and 2,000 cassettes.

Chappell Roan’s The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess is pushed down 3-4, despite a 20% gain in sales to 18,000 sold for the week.

Thomas Rhett racks up his seventh top 10-charting effort on Top Album Sales as his latest studio album, About a Woman, arrives at No. 5 with 13,000 sold. Of that sum, nearly 4,000 were from vinyl LP sales – Rhett’s best vinyl sales week ever. Its sales were helped by its availability across more than a dozen vinyl variants.

Post Malone’s F-1 Trillion falls to No. 6 after debuting atop the list a week ago. It sold 12,000 copies in its second week (down 84%). Stray Kids’ former No. 1 ATE dips 4-7 with 12,000 sold (down 17%).

FONTAINES D.C.’s Romance starts at No. 8 with nearly 9,000 sold – the first top 10 and best sales week for the act. The set was available across six vinyl variants (which sold a combined 6,000 – the act’s best week on vinyl).

Closing out the Top Album Sales’ top 10 are EHYPEN’s chart-topping Romance: Untold (moving 5-9 with 8,000; down 19%) and Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard and Soft (7-10 with 7,000; down 9%).

04 Sep 2024

Ranking Beyoncé’s Top 5 Songs | Billboard News

In honor of Beyoncé’s 43rd birthday today, we take you through her Billboard hits and rank them. Leave your favorite song in the comments below!

Tetris Kelly:

Happy birthday Queen Bey! It’s Beyoncé’s 43rd birthday and Billboard is celebrating by counting down her Top 5 biggest Hot 100 Hits. Starting off at No. 5 is one of Beyoncé’s most iconic songs “SIngle Ladies (Put A Ring On It).” The song peaked at No. 1 on the Hot 100 in 2008 and stayed there for four weeks. No. 4 helped spawn some of Beyoncé’s most iconic music video fits, 2005’s “Check On It.” The song peaked at No. 1 in 2006 on the Hot 100 and it stayed there for four weeks. At No. 3 is one of Beyoncé’s most well known songs, “Crazy In Love” featuring Jay-Z. The song peaked at No. 1 in 2003 and stayed there for eight weeks. At No. 2 is one of Beyoncé’s longest running No. 1’s “Baby Boy” featuring Sean Paul. The song peaked at No. 1 in 2003 where it stayed for nine weeks. The song peaked at No. 1 in 2006 and it stayed there for 10 weeks. What is your favorite Beyoncé song, share it in the comments down below. Don’t forget to hit the subscribe button on YouTube and ring the bell to be notified on all our latest videos.