Billboard

Tyla Joins ‘Fortnite,’ Taylor Swift Rules at No. 1, Ariana Grande Back in the Studio, Drake & Kendrick Fight It Out on Hot 100 and More | Billboard News

It’s Monday, May 13, and Taylor Swift is still ruling at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Not only that, she’s set to feature on Gracie Abrams’ new album and will be part of the Bridgerton season 3 soundtrack. Ariana Grande posted on her IG story that she’s back in the studio. Are we getting more new music soon? ‘Fortnite’ revealed that they added Tyla as a new Challenge Emote with her song “Truth or Dare.” Katy Perry shares that her daughter calls her Katy Perry occasionally, and we have Katy’s reaction. Drake and Kendrick Lamar have been battling with diss tracks, but how will this shake up this week’s Billboard Hot 100? Keep watching to find out more! We were at the Gold Gala with Steve Aoki and Saweetie, and we give you an exclusive look into the afterparty we hosted. We sat down with Aitana and she shared how it went down with creating “Akureyri” with Sebastián Yatra and more!

Tetris Kelly
What update is shocking Ariana fans? Tyla goes digital and Katy Perry is Katy Perry, Kendrick and Drake’s beef tops the charts, more Taylor Swift on the way, we take you inside the Gold Gala with Sweetie and Steve Aoki, and Aitana shows us how it went down. Who likes Mondays? Well, we do when we’re Billboard News! Let’s dive in. Taylor spends a third week on top of the Billboard 200, but that doesn’t mean we can have more. If you thought you got a lot with 31 tracks from ‘The Tortured Poets Department,’ you’re getting even more. Gracie Abrams posted the tracklist to her upcoming album ‘The Secret of Us’ with one track featuring Taylor Swift. She talked about the song titled us on her IG stories saying, “All I can tell you for now is that some of the most fun I’ve had in my whole entire life was writing this song together.” And there’s more, Variety shared some of the soundtrack to season 3 of Netflix’s ‘Bridgerton’ episode 4 will feature a cover of Taylor’s “Snow on the Beach” with Lana Del Rey. The first four episodes will also have quartet covers of Billie Eilish’s “Happier Than Ever,” BTS’ “Dynamite,” and “Cheap Thrills” by Sia.

Watch the full video above!

Aitana On How She Made “AKUREYRI” With Sebastián Yatra | How It Went Down | Billboard

In today’s episode of ‘How It Went Down,’ Spanish star Aitana shares how she created her new song “AKUREYKI” and making the music video with her co-writer, Colombian star, Sebastián Yatra.

Aitana
Well the truth is this is my third song with Sebastián Yatra. We seem to understand each other quite well in the studio, that’s for sure. The truth is that I will tell you that “AKUREYRI” is the song we started in Iceland on a trip we both made in 2023 for the first time for my birthday and we bought a guitar. We went to buy a guitar and Sebastián started trying out different guitars I was recording at the little shop and he started with the chords to “AKUREYRI” then he started, I don’t know, like throwing some verse, I don’t know like some verses and then I came up with the melody…I have that recorded on a video, you know? Like literally and Sebastián said to me, that melody is very pretty and then we kind of said ah, let’s start a song. We took the guitar and started the song in a car and there they began the first verses and the first tunes for “AKUREYRI” and then later on we finished it in Mexico. It’s a song that took months, it’s not a typical song that you make in a day or a week, but it is a song that we gave a lot of time and in very different conditions. Sebastián is a very versatile artist. In other words, like he can really make a song that makes you dance, or a song that will make you cry for a whole week if you need to.

Mary J. Blige Announces Boot Collaboration With Giuseppe Zanotti: Shop the Limited Release

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Mary J. Blige’s boot game has always been official, and the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul is finally dropping the boot collaboration that fans have been wanting for years — just in time for Mother’s Day.

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See latest videos, charts and news

Blige joined forces with Giuseppe Zanotti for her very first boot collaboration, released on Sunday (May 12). The Mary J Blige statement boot ($1,295) is inspired by the custom boots that Blige wore to her Strength of a Woman Festival and Summit. The slouchy over-the knee boot features reflective, rose gold and are available in women’s sizes 6-12.

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According to the product description, Blige co-designed the statement boot, which “encapsulates the unique and celebrated styles” of the R&B icon and Giuseppe Zanotti.

She announced the collaboration during the 2024 Strength of a Woman Festival in New York on Saturday (May 11). “The Mary J. Blige boot is officially in the universe,” she says in a video after the concert. “Everybody’s been asking for it. The announcement was made on stage while I was wearing [them] with a f—ing fire outfit.”

Blige’s Strength of a Woman Tour Festival & Summit, hosted by The Breakfast Club co-host/comedian Jess Hilarious and entertainment journalist Gia Peppers, takes place from May 11-12 at Barclays Center in New York. The Mother’s Day Weekend event featured performances from Blige, 50 Cent, Jill Scott, Fat Joe, Jadakiss and Lola Brooke. The Clark Sisters will headline on Sunday (get tickets here.)

The “Good Morning Gorgeous” singer can now add boots to her growing brand, which includes Sun Goddess Wine, her Mary Can! children’s book and jewelry collaboration with Simone I. Smith.

Shop the Mary Boot below.

Giuseppe Zanotti

The Mary Boot

Megan Thee Stallion, Ice Spice & BTS’ RM Release New Music, ENHYPEN’s Fate World Tour Preview & More | Billboard News

It’s Friday, May 10, and the rap girlies are back in the game. Megan Thee Stallion & Ice Spice released new singles and BTS’ RM dropped his new song, “Come Back to Me.” Dhruv shares about what he’s looking forward to when performing at Head In The Clouds. We give you all access to ENHYPEN’s Fate Plus World Tour, and we even got to sit down with them to chat about how they feel about performing in the states. We take a look at how Stray Kids dominated U.S. & Global Billboard Charts just in time for the release of their new song with Charlie Puth, “Lose My Breath.” Camila Cabello & Lil Nas X teamed up to release their new single, “He Knows.” We had Wayne Brady, Deborah Cox, JaQUEL Knight and Amber Ruffin stop by the studio to talk about how they’re reviving and updating ‘The Wiz.’ Ryan Castro released his new album, ‘El Cantante del Ghetto,’ and he shares his journey to stardom, what to expect from his new music and more!

Tetris Kelly
New Music from Meg, Ice and RM we run down Stray Kids history making music take you to see ENHYPEN in LA, Head In The Clouds heads to New York and catch up with the cast of ‘The Wiz.’ Happy Friday, we’ve gotten tons to get into and today’s Billboard News starting with our Friday music guide.

Tetris Kelly
Megan Thee Stallion levels up on boa and is that a Gwen sample I hear? Ice Spice takes things higher with “Gimme me a Light.” I love festival season and this weekend is a good one in the clouds is going down in New York City and they’ve enlisted some epic acts from (G)I-DLE to Joji, Head In The Clouds is bringing the party back to New York City with a stacked lineup of Asian talent. Atarashii Gakko will take the stage again this weekend when Head In The Clouds returns to Forest Hills Stadium in Queens. In addition to them BIBI is set to make her NYC debut also making their NYC debut is Dhruv.

Stray Kids’ Chart Success on U.S. & Global Billboard Charts | Billboard Explains

Stray Kids are back and better than ever with new single “Lose My Breath,” a collaboration with Charlie Puth. The boy band has had several hits, so let’s take a look back at the K-pop group’s chart success on the Billboard Hot 100, Billboard 200 and Global chart with songs such as “LALALALA” and “Hellevator.”

Stray Kids:
Hello, everyone, we are Stray Kids!

Narrator:
They’re back with a new collaboration with Charlie Puth called “Lose My Breath.” To celebrate, we’re looking at their chart accomplishments. This is Billboard Explains: Stray Kids Chart Success.

Stray Kids made their U.S. Billboard chart debut with “Hellevator.” The song debuted on the World Digital Song Sales Chart back in November 2017. “Hellevator” was the first of their 27 top 10s on the chart, with four No. 1s: “Mixtape: OH” in 2021, and “MANIAC,” “CASE 143” and “LALALALA” all in 2023.

“LALALALA” was also the group’s first Hot 100 hit, peaking at No. 90.

Stray Kids have had big success on the Billboard 200. All four of their charting projects have debuted at No. 1. 2022’s Oddinary: EP and Maxident, and 2023’s 5-Star and ROCK-STAR. The group was the first act to have their first four charting albums all reach No. 1 since Alicia Keys achieved that feat in 2007.

Over on the Billboard Global 200, Stray Kids have had seven songs make that chart, with “LALALALA” reaching the highest peak — No. 10 in 2023.

We can’t wait to see where Stray Kids goes next on the Billboard charts.

Cardi B Apologizes After Met Gala Backlash, Megan Thee Stallion & Ice Spice Tease New Singles, Shaboozey in TikTok Chart Top 3 & More | Billboard News

It’s Thursday, May 9, and Cardi B issued an apology after receiving backlash from her Met Gala interview where she forgot her designer’s name and just stated he was Asian. Meanwhile,  Kendrick Lamar’s back catalog is up 49% following a weekend full of beef, while Drake’s is down by 5%. Ice Spice teases her new single “Gimme A Light,” Megan Thee Stallion announced her new song “BOA” and Jermaine Dupri posted a sneak peek at a possible remix with one of Mariah Carey’s songs. Ryan Castro talks new music with us and what to expect from his new album, ‘El Cantante del Ghetto’  Cover star Lainey Wilson teases new music and some of the challenges she’s had with stardom. Will Lay Bankz be able to hold on to her top spot on the TikTok Chart? SEVENTEEN takes us behind the scenes of their music video for “Maestro” and more! 

Tetris Kelly
Kendrick’s music is up with Drake’s down, three big teases in new female Hip-Hop tracks, and Cardi B is clearing the air. We go behind the video with SEVENTEEN, chat new music with Ryan Castro find out who’s on top on TikTok and Lainey Wilson is on Billboard’s Country Power Players issue. You’ve got another very exciting episode of Billboard News, let’s jump in. Here’s three things you need to know any apart. With all the distracts between Drake and Kendrick Lamar fans are wondering if Kendrick’s “Not Like Us” is going to top the charts. But when it comes to both rappers catalogs a winner in the battle is clear. Kendrick Lamar’s back catalogue is up 49% following the weekend of beep, while Drake is down 5%. Dang Drake’s Hotline ain’t blinging no more, we’ll have to see if we’re getting a new king of the charts and new music is coming. Ice Spice has teased “Gimmie A Light” out Friday.

Ryan Castro Talks New Album ‘El Cantante del Ghetto’ & His Journey to Stardom | Billboard News

Ahead of the release of his album, ‘El Cantante del Ghetto,’ Ryan Castro shares his struggles to get to where he is today and more!

Ryan Castro:

I never thought one day as I was waiting to sing on the bus, all sweaty with my mic, that in a few years I was going to be at the same bus stop, but in an interview with Billboard.

Tetris Kelly:

Colombian superstar, Ryan Castro, sat down with Billboard for an interview ahead of the release of his new album to talk about how far he’s come. 

Ryan Castro:

I had more needs. I believe that that need also made me do crazier things to get what I wanted. And nowadays I am more mature, I think about the actions I take so I can stay out of trouble or to avoid making bad moves.

Tetris Kelly:

His latest dream is this album featuring some big collaborations including Arcángel on the focus track. 

Ryan Castro:

To be able to say that I have a song like that is a triumph, like being able to say that I have a song with Arcángel and for it to be the focus of my album, for me it is a real triumph and it says that my career and my music is getting the respect I dreamed of. 

Tetris Kelly:

The album fittingly called, ‘El Cantante del Ghetto,’ or ‘The Ghetto Singer,’ is inspired by his humble upbringing in Medellín as he reflects on what the streets taught him. 

Ryan Castro: 

I learned to control my time and emotions. I learned not to skip the process. I learned that singing on a bus.

Keep watching to learn more!

SEVENTEEN Takes Billboard Behind the Scenes of Their ‘MAESTRO’ Music Video | Behind the Video

Billboard and the members of SEVENTEEN — S.Coups, Jeonghan, Joshua, Jun, Hoshi, Wonwoo, Woozi, The8, Mingyu, DK, Seungkwan, Vernon and Dino — take fans the behind the scenes of their latest music video for new song “MAESTRO.”

SEVENTEEN:
We are SEVENTEEN!

Vernon:
We are here on the set of our brand new music video for “MAESTRO.”

Joshua:
Are you ready to set off for this exclusive behind-the-scenes look?

SEVENTEEN:
Let’s go!

Dongyeon Kang:
Hi, Billboard, we are the music video director of SEVENTEEN’s “MAESTRO” music video.

Mingyu:
When you think of the word “maestro,” it sounds classic with elements associated with conducting, but SEVENTEEN’s “MAESTRO” is a bit more futuristic.

Vernon:
This video is set in a world where everything can be created with A.I., including music, and this technology threatens SEVENTEEN, but in the end, we embrace the technology and become one.

Jihoon Jeon:
I feel like we’re living in an era where creation is becoming easier and easier due to the advancement of technology. We wondered what the role of an artist would be in this era, and wanted to portray SEVENTEEN as artists who are conducting the art of creation in this music video.

Kim Hyodahm:
What I like most is the dystopian look in the first verse, which involved items like black hoodies and balaclavas, because this is a new style that SEVENTEEN hasn’t tried often before.

Joshua:
I was actually conducting the skateboarders that were riding on a halfpipe, and what was really funny was that the halfpipes, they’re colored as pianos, so I felt like I was really conducting.

Watch the full video above!

Tommy Richman Lands in Top 3 of TikTok Billboard Top 50 Chart, Is Lay Bankz Still No. 1? | Billboard News

Will Lay Bankz be in the No. 1 spot for the third week in a row on the TikTok Billboard Top 50 chart? Or will she be usurped by Tommy Richman or Shaboozey? Keep watching to find out?

Tetris Kelly:
Lay Bankz continues to reign, while two new faces debut in the top 10. “Tell Ur Girlfriend” spends the third week at No. 1 on the TikTok Billboard Top 50 for the chart posting May 9. Debuting at No. 2 is Tommy Richman with “Million Dollar Baby.” He claims the same spot on the Hot 100 as well.

Country legend Johnny Cash’s “The Chicken In Black” debuts at No. 6 thanks to a trend involving pets. Climbing into the top 10 is Laila!’s “Like That!” at No. 4, and “Pedro” by Jaxomy, Agatino Romero and Raffaella Carrà rises to No. 8.

Every Thursday, Billboard will bring to 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.

Lainey Wilson on Her First Grammy Win, The Meaning Behind ‘Bell Bottom Country,’ New Music & More | Billboard Cover

Country superstar and Billboard cover star Lainey Wilson talks about how she felt winning her first Grammy for her last album ‘Bell Bottom Country,’ how she came up with the name ‘Bell Bottom Country,’ the career challenges she’s faced, what it was like to grow up in Louisiana, how she feels about the country music revival, her inspiration for songwriting, style icons and more!

Lainey Wilson
Hey y’all, it’s Lainey Wilson. Welcome to my Billboard cover shoot.

Lainey Wilson
I’m on the set of my Billboard cover shoot here in Pasadena. We are so excited to get me all done up. I just got off of a 15-hour plane ride from Sydney, Australia. So they’re covering up some jet lag, but it’s gonna be a fun day and this is a dream come true.

Joelle Grace Taylor
Today with Lainey, she’s such a beautiful, flamboyant country star. We really wanted to give her kind of a spin on that we were thinking like, let’s elevate it to this kind of LA ‘Boogie Nights,’ pool party vibe. So she’s basically like, welcome to my villa. I look amazing. Would you like some lemonade?

Cherie Kilchrist
The pieces I pulled, I took from Lainey’s personal style. … She’s always looking for an exaggerated leg, bell sleeves, kind of like this Cavalli look here is a very standard Lainey pant that people recognize her for. So I tried to stay true to that while still doing the vibe of the shoot.

Watch the full video above!