Billboard

10 Jan 2025

BTS’ J-Hope Announces ‘Hope on the Stage’ Tour & Teases New Music | Billboard News

J-Hope teased new music, ‘The Beginning of a New Dream,’ and also announced his solo tour, ‘Hope on the Stage,’ for this year. Keep watching for all the updates!

Tetris Kelly:

He’s our hope. He’s J-Hope and he’s back. And you’re going to want to get those wallets ready. We’re talking about J-Hope’s music and tour comeback. BTS’ J-Hope is teasing brand-new music and it’s coming soon. ‘The Beginning of a New Dream’ is coming March this year. And that’s not it for our Hobi. He’s going on tour! His first solo tour titled “Hope on the Stage” is hitting Korea, the States, Mexico, Japan and so much more between February and June. If it’s anything like “Hobipalooza” we are in for a treat.

Some ticketing details are postponed due to the wildfires in LA, but get info and updates at Billboard.com.

10 Jan 2025

Billboard Reveals the Top Hot 100 Songs of the 21st Century | Billboard News

Billboard reveals the Top Hot 100 Songs of the 21st Century, and we’re sharing the top three that dominated the Hot 100 from January 1, 2000, through December 28, 2024. 

What’s your favorite song of all time? Let us know in the comments!

Tetris Kelly:

Billboard has ranked the top 100 songs of the 21st century. And while the list is full of your favs that have been killing it since year 2000, right now we’re giving you a taste of the top 3. At No. 3 The Kid LAROI and Justin Bieber with “Stay.” The team-up topped the Hot 100 for seven weeks in 2021, marking The Kid LAROI’s first No. 1 and Bieber’s eighth and most recent. At No. 2 is “Uptown Funk!” by Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars. Ronson and Mars’ hit ruled the Hot 100 for 14 weeks in 2015, the longest leading of Bruno’s nine career No. 1s. And at No. 1 is The Weeknd with “Blinding Lights.” The song led the Hot 100 for four weeks in 2020, among 90 weeks on the chart overall, the longest stay on the ranking of all-time for a soloist. Billboard’s top songs of the 21st century recap reflects performance on weekly charts dated Jan.1, 2000, through Dec.28, 2024. Find the complete top artist, top albums, and top songs list at Billboard.com.

10 Jan 2025

Megan Thee Stallion Granted Restraining Order Against Tory Lanez | Billboard News

Megan Thee Stallion was granted a civil restraining order against Tory Lanez that will bar him from any harassing conduct over the next five years. Keep watching for both of their testimonies, and for the full story.

Tetris Kelly:

Megan Thee Stallion has been granted a restraining order against Tory Lanez a month after Meg’s Lawyers filed a petition for a restraining order against Tory Lanez due to what her lawyers warned that Lanez has continued to “terrorize her” with a “campaign of harassment” even as he sits behind bars. At Thursday’s court hearing, Judge Richard Bloom granted Meg a civil restraining order that will bar Lanez from any harassing conduct for the next five years. This ruling comes after the “Roc Steady” rapper gave a tearful testimony via livestream, telling the judge that she hasn’t “been at peace since I was shot” and is “just tired of being harassed.” Meg continued: “it just seems like I have to relive it every day. The person who shot me won’t let me forget it.” She later added: “I’m scared that when he gets out of jail he’s going to still be upset with me” and then she said, “I feel like maybe he’ll shoot me again and maybe this time I won’t make it.”

Judge Bloom issued the order from the bench, saying that Megan had shown a “credible threat of violence.”

The order bars a wide range of conduct, including any contact or harassment through any means. At Thursday’s hearing, Lanez’s attorney Michael Hayden argued that his client was “not threatening the petitioner in any way.”

Keep watching for more.

10 Jan 2025

Ringo Starr’s New Country Sound With ‘Look Up’ Album | Billboard News

Ringo Starr is back with a fresh sound! The Beatles star tackled country music in his new album, Look Up, and he’s sharing the details on how he returned to the genre. 

What do you think of Ringo Starr’s new country sound? Let us know in the comments!

Ringo Starr:

They knew they just wanted to like rock. He didn’t want to hear his country sh*t, yeah. 

Melinda Newman:

But people want to hear your country sh*t. 

They do!  This sounds like me, and I love it.

Tetris Kelly:

Ringo Starr is back, and he’s got a brand new country album. The Beatles star talked with our very own Melinda Newman all about it, like, where his country roots began. 

I did a little country from before I was in the band. And we got plenty of it in Liverpool because of the lads who were in the merchant navy would bring, not only Rock and Roll over, but country. And when the country bands went on tour in England, they always played Liverpool. We always used to say, Liverpool is the capital of country music, you know, in England. 

Tetris Kelly:

And with his new single, he captured the country spirit. 

The wife’s left, the dog’s dead, and I don’t have any money for the Jukebox. 

A truck won’t start.

You know, well, if you listen to a lot of my songs, not only the country, the pop songs. The last verse is always an up, you know, just for me, that’s what I want to present. So, you know, there’s a break in the clouds and the light comes through. 

Tetris Kelly:

And he trusted producer T Bone Burnett to get it done.

Keep watching for more!

10 Jan 2025

Breaking Down LiAngelo Ball’s ‘Tweaker’ Rise in Hip-Hop & More | Billboard Unfiltered

In this episode of Billboard Unfiltered, Billboard staffers Trevor Anderson, Kyle Denis, Damien Scott, Carl Lamarre discuss LiAngelo Ball’s rapid rise in the hip-hop world leading with his “Tweaker” track. They also break down Drake’s “Fighting Irish Freestyle,” his alleged fake DMs with UMG, Lil Baby’s new album WHAM, and his career, and more.

Trevor Anderson:

So if you don’t drop that by like Valentine’s Day, you’ve got to save it. I can’t see Drake waiting that long to drop something that’s going to be bad.

Damien Scott:

All you hear from every spot is the BBL. That’s all you hear. The Young Thug track is here, the GloRilla song is over here. 

Carl Lamarre:

Numbers, freakin’ “Tweakers” is at 3 million on YouTube and it was surpassing some tracks on Lil Baby’s album 

Damien Scott:

Alright, let’s relax. 

Carl Lamarre:

I mean on YouTube that’s the way it’s going. 

Damien Scott:

That’s a lie. 

Carl Lamarre:

Yo, yo, yo what’s going on welcome to a fresh episode of Billboard Unfiltered. Gentlemen.

Kyle Denis:

Happy New Year.

Carl Lamarre:

Happy f*cking New Year.

Trevor Anderson: 

2025 folks.

Carl Lamarre:

Somebody decided to bring in the chaos of 2024 into 2025, Mr. Aubrey Graham. 

Kyle Denis:

Surprise, surprise.

Carl Lamarre:

Drizzy Drake Rogers kicked off 2025 with a conductive freestyle, “Fighting Irish Freestyle.” Three minutes long, some bars in there I would like to say. “Social media went into a tizzy. Had some choice words. A lot of people pointed a finger thinking he may be going after LeBron James.”

Damien Scott:

Clearly going after LeBron James.

Carl Lamarre:

I mean, we don’t know. 

Damien Scott:

Who else played for the Fighting Irish?

Keep watching for more!

10 Jan 2025

A New Musical Theater Label Launches — Emphasis on ‘New’ (Exclusive)

Cast recordings are a crucial part of supporting a musical’s life, during its initial run on or off-Broadway, as well as far beyond that. While a show is running, a recording available on streaming platforms can reach a wide ticket-buying audience and thus potentially help increase its performing lifespan; the recording is also often the way that regional theaters first discover shows they might produce — which proves especially important to shows that have shorter lives on Broadway.

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But while shows have ample platforms for releasing their original cast recordings — from boutique labels specializing in theater to major labels getting in on the next big hit — a trio of journeyman theater musicians noticed a gaping hole in the market for a new kind of label: one that would support a show from its earliest writing stages all the way through is fully realized production.

That new label — aimed at amplifying new voices in musical theater as well as individual solo performers — is Joy Machine Records, co-founded and run by Ian Kagey, Sonny Paladino, Brian Usifer and Will Van Dyke.

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The quartet have musical theater bonafides in spades. Kagey is a Grammy-winning engineer and mixer who has engineered numerous Broadway cast recordings in addition to working in TV, film, and with artists including Bruce Springsteen and Paul McCartney; Paladino is a seasoned arranger and producer who most recently was music supervisor, arranger, orchestrator and conductor for Neil Diamond bio-musical A Beautiful Noise; Usifer is an orchestrator, arranger, music director, pianist, producer and composer who recently worked on the acclaimed (but short-lived) Swept Away and Huey Lewis’ The Heart of Rock and Roll musical; and Van Dyke is a Grammy-nominated producer, songwriter, music supervisor, orchestrator and arranger who was music director of Swept Away and is music supervisor/orchestrator/arranger for the long-running off-Broadway hit Little Shop of Horrors.

“Our approach comes from our experience being on many sides of the table in that process, and understanding what it takes to see a show from inception through opening night and beyond,” says Usifer. “We approach every project with not only a high bar musically but an emphasis on kindness and transparency throughout the process.”

Joy Machine, which will be distributed by The Orchard, is launched as a full-service record label which will offer what it calls “three tiers of support for musical development.” As Van Dyke explains, “from the first piano/vocal demos through fully produced tracks,” Joy Machine’s team will “help producers think about budgeting for these recordings from the jump. That kind of awareness will also help teams build a cast recording into their budget to be able to fully preserve their final product.”

The label’s current and upcoming client roster includes The Avett Brothers’ original Broadway cast recording of Swept Away; Huey Lewis’ OBCR of The Heart of Rock and Roll; and solo projects with Joy Woods (currently starring as Louise in Gypsy on Broadway), composer Joe Iconis (Be More Chill), Corey Cott (a star of The Heart of Rock and Roll) and more.

Thus far, the team has recorded at Kagey’s own Renaissance Recording in New York for demos and smaller concept albums, and at the storied Power Station studios for original Broadway cast albums. (“They really know how to make a cast album and make it a seamless and un-chaotic experience,” says Usifer of the latter). Joy Machine is currently working on a concept album for the new musical Joy, meant to give audiences an insight into the show’s music before it ventures to Broadway.

09 Jan 2025

Billboard Ranks the Top 200 Albums of the 21st Century | Billboard News

Billboard is ranking the Top 200 Albums of the 21st Century, and we’re sharing our some albums in the top five and how they broke records on the Billboard 200.

What’s your favorite album of all time? Let us know in the comments!

Tetris Kelly:

Billboard has ranked the Top 200 albums of the 21st century. And while the list is full of your faves that have been killing it since the year 2000, right now we’re giving you a taste of the top 5. At No. 5 is ‘Hamilton: An American Musical.’ The show soundtrack peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, after the show’s Disney+ premiere, becoming the highest-charting cast recording since 1969, when ‘Hair’ spent 13 weeks at No. 1. At No. 3 is Taylor Swift’s ‘Fearless.’ T-Swift’s first No. 1 on the Billboard 200, topped the chart upon its debut in 2008 and tallied 11 weeks in the spot and became the first of 14 No. 1 albums for the superstar – the most of any act in the 25-year span. And at No. 1 Morgan Wallen’s ‘Dangerous: The Double’ album. After debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in January 2021, it remained on top through March 27, becoming the first album to spend its first 10 weeks atop the list since Whitney Houston in 1987. Billboard’s Top Albums of the 21st century recaps reflect performance on weekly charts dated Jan.1, 2000, through Dec.28, 2024. Stay tuned for the top songs coming at you tomorrow on Billboard socials.

09 Jan 2025

Tyler, the Creator’s ‘Sticky’ Reaches Top 10 of TikTok Billboard Top 50 | Billboard News

The TikTok Billboard Top 50 has a new No. 1 after the holiday season. Tyler, the Creator, M.I.A. and more battle for the top spot. Keep watching to see who is No. 1 this week!

Tetris Kelly:
A new year means a bunch of new top 10 hits and a return to No. 1. M.I.A.’s “Paper Planes” spends a second non-consecutive week on top of the TikTok Billboard Top 50 for the chart posting Jan. 9. Sam Austins’ “Seasons” climbs 16 to 7 thanks to some year-end posts, while Tyler, the Creator, GloRilla, Sexyy Red and Lil Wayne jump from 17 to 9, of course thanks to a dance trend taking over. Our final top 10 hit comes courtesy of the Mufasa movie. “I Always Wanted a Brother” debuts at 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.

09 Jan 2025

L.A. Wildfire Updates: Rod Wave’s Canceled Concert, Harbor Studios Destroyed & More | Billboard News

The Los Angeles wildfires have wreaked havoc throughout the county, and we have updates on how the music industry has been affected. Keep watching for more details.  

Tetris Kelly:
Iconic studios fall and concerts are canceled as wildfires wreak havoc in L.A. Los Angeles is currently rushing to contain an outbreak of massive wildfires across the city from the Palisades to Pasadena to the Hollywood Hills, bringing with it concert cancellations and a lot of property damage. On Wednesday, the “Westside Connection” rapper Rod Wave shared via Instagram that his concert at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood is canceled due to the ongoing wildfires. 

Rod posted on his IG story a clip of an L.A. County newscast along with the caption that reads, “Concert Tonight Cancelled By Gov. Officials. I Hope Everyone Stays Safe.”

Intuit Dome’s social accounts also shared the cancellation news. There’s no word yet on whether the concert will be rescheduled for a later date. 

In some sad news, the famed Malibu studio Harbor Studios was destroyed in the Palisades wildfires. The studio was the place where many stars recorded hit albums and chart-topping singles. Nicki Minaj recorded her iconic Pink Friday 2 album at the studio. And pop superstar Doja Cat recorded some of her Scarlet album at the legendary studio as well. Studio founder Zach Brandon revealed the studio’s demise in a heartfelt post on Instagram. 

Keep watching for more.

09 Jan 2025

JENNIE: An Exclusive Look Into Her World | Billboard Cover

Billboard cover star and global sensation, JENNIE, takes us behind the scenes of her shoot and into her world. The star shares her favorite place to be in Seoul, when she decided that she wanted to release a solo album and more!

JENNIE:

Hi, I’m JENNIE. I’m here in Seoul shooting for the cover for Billboard. We’re here in Seoul. It feels super nice to be back home. I’ve been traveling a lot, so I appreciate being back in my city, and also the weather. It is really perfect right now, it’s nice to be walking around outside anywhere. This is top secret, I would recommend people to walk along the Hangang. It’s one of my favorite places, and with this weather, it would be perfect. I feel very powerful right now, I think I look like a football player with how my shoulder looks right now, I’m loving this energy. Yeah, I think it’s a fun look with my sleek hair, my makeup, my nails. We wanted to portray elegance and beauty. What better color to convey that than black? I feel like a strong, independent woman right now. My whole life, I think ever since the day I started in this music industry, which was 15, releasing a full solo album, has been on my list. I do have a song that makes me feel like a boss, and it’s in my album, so make sure to check what song that is. I try to get as much as sleep. I love taking a bath. I love eating Korean food. 

Keep watching for more!