Billboard

16 Dec 2024

Duki Talks Changes Argentine Trap, Creating ‘Ameri’ Album & First U.S. Tour | Billboard News

Duki has transformed Argentine trap music and is now headed to the U.S. for the first time on his Ameri World Tour. The singer discusses his creative process behind his latest album, Ameri, his recent hit “Barro,” his decision not to sign with a major label and more!

Leila Cobo:
Duki, welcome to Billboard! Well, there are many things going on, but let’s talk about the most important thing for me. In 2025, you have your first big tour in the U.S.

Duki:
Exactly. 

Are you nervous, excited, both? Do you feel like doing it? 

Last year, we had a very nice first tour. I had the chance maybe of going from gigantic stadiums to smaller places, and reconnect with my audience and know them as well because many people had never seen me or it was the first time for them to meet me. And well, this second tour …

Arenas. 

Yes, arenas, and I am a bit more nervous. I have to be up to the task. I am super excited, and well, as you know, I come from rap and trap, and being able to sound here and having shows here, where everything happened and was born, is a dream come true. 

Now, I saw you in Buenos Aires, playing at River Plate Stadium for 75,000 people, and with a very impressive and nice staging. You also had many friends on stage. You are used to doing these big things. Now, you go to arenas with a capacity for 15,000 people, so do you bring the same idea, but a little bit reduced? Or do you bring the same staging? Are you always thinking big no matter where you are?

Mm…

I don’t know if I am clear. 

Keep watching for more!

16 Dec 2024

Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 Countdown for Dec. 21, 2024 | Billboard News

Mariah Carey and Brenda Lee battle it out for No. 1.

Tetris Kelly:
This is the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 for the week dated Dec. 21. Down to 10 is “Squabble Up,” as is “Bar Song” to nine, “TV Off” to No. 8 and “Luther” to seven. “Die With a Smile” is up to six. “Holly Jolly” jingles to No. 5, while “Last Christmas” slips to four. “Jingle Bell Rock” jumps to three. Brenda Lee is still at two. And grabbing its 16th week at No. 1, tying for Mariah’s best is “All I Want for Christmas Is You.”

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16 Dec 2024

Dua Lipa’s Big Year In 2024: ‘Radical Optimism’ Is No. 1, Headlining Glastonbury & More | Global No. 1s

To kick off Billboard’s inaugural ‘Global No. 1s’ series,  Dua Lipa reps the UK as No. 1. She shares everything about her big year in 2024. From headlining Glastonbury to ‘Radical Optimism’ reaching No. 1 on the charts, she gives a rundown on her exciting year. Keep watching for all the details!

Billboard is launching its inaugural ‘Global No. 1s’ series, an initiative to spotlight top-charting artists from around the world. Billboard has partnered with its ten-plus global editions to showcase distinct voices topping their local charts around the world in exclusive interviews. Stay tuned throughout the week to discover who’s No. 1 in the UK, Brazil, Korea, and more!

Dua Lipa:

How do I like to toast when I hit No. 1 in the UK charts? Yeah, by getting absolutely sh*t faced. Collaborating with Charlie on the “Talk talk” remix with Troye was quite possibly the easiest thing I’ve ever done in my life. That’s my girl. I just sent her a voice note and that was it. Being the first British female artist in eight years to have headlined Glastonbury is absolutely unreal. Kind of feels crazy. Adele was the last one before me. I was there and I loved it, and I feel like my manifestation cults were turning at that point. But it feels crazy. I had no idea. The advice that I’d give to a first home Glastonbury headliner would be to make sure that you soak it all in. It’s such an unbelievable feeling, and it goes by so fast that you just want to make sure that you savor every moment. And actually, Adele messaged me, saying exactly the same thing, and she wasn’t wrong. It just passes you by, so you just got to make sure that you’re really in it. How did I feel to meet Adele? I just loved it. I loved it so much. I’ve always been such a big fan of hers, and meeting her and getting to chat to her a little, but was was just really sweet. Singing like with Elton every time is a pinching moment like it never gets old. It’s always so much fun. We have such great chemistry together, and so it’s always a blast.

Keep watching for more!

13 Dec 2024

Key Album Genre Charts Evolve & Expand in 2025

Beginning in January, Billboard will roll out updates to some of its weekly album charts.

Commencing with the Billboard charts dated Jan. 18, 2025 (reflecting the Luminate tracking week ending Jan. 9), six longstanding album genre charts will transition from sales-only rankings to consumption-based tallies, and expand their depths. Plus, three album genre charts that were already consumption-based will also increase their depths.

Consumption-based album charts rank the most popular titles of the week by equivalent album units earned, as compiled by Luminate. Units comprise album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). Each unit equals one album sale, or 10 individual tracks sold from an album, or 3,750 ad-supported or 1,250 paid/subscription on-demand official audio and video streams generated by songs from an album.

The first Billboard album chart to transition from a traditional album sales-based ranking to a consumption-based tally was the overall all-genre Billboard 200 in December 2014. The bulk of Billboard’s album genre charts migrated to a consumption-based ranking in January 2017. (With the January 2025 updates, essentially all of Billboard‘s genre album charts will have migrated to consumption-based ranking.)

Lastly, the Heatseekers Albums chart, which ranks the week’s most popular albums by new and developing acts, will be retired, beginning with the Jan. 18, 2025-dated list. Billboard will continue to chart new and developing acts on its weekly Emerging Artists chart, which launched in 2017. The Emerging Artists chart ranks the most popular developing artists of the week, using the same formula as the all-encompassing Billboard Artist 100, which measures artist activity across multiple Billboard charts, including the Hot 100 and Billboard 200. (The Artist 100 lists the most popular acts, overall, each week.) However, the Emerging Artists chart excludes acts that have notched a top 25 entry on either the Hot 100 or Billboard 200, as well as artists that have achieved two or more top 10s on Billboard’s “Hot” song genre charts and/or consumption-based “Top” album genre rankings.

Here’s a recap of the changes to Billboard’s album genre charts beginning with the charts dated Jan. 18, 2025:

Bluegrass Albums – Transitions from a 10-position album sales-only chart to a 15-position consumption-based chart, ranking albums by equivalent album units.

Blues Albums – Transitions from a 10-position album sales-only chart to a 15-position consumption-based chart, ranking albums by equivalent album units.

Cast Albums – Transitions from a 10-position album sales-only chart to a 15-position consumption-based chart, ranking albums by equivalent album units.

Classical Crossover Albums – Transitions from a 10-position album sales-only chart to a 15-position consumption-based chart, ranking albums by equivalent album units.

Traditional Classical Albums – Transitions from a 10-position album sales-only chart to a 15-position consumption-based chart, ranking albums by equivalent album units.

Kid Albums – Transitions from a 15-position album sales-only chart to a 25-position consumption-based chart, ranking albums by equivalent album units.

New Age Albums – Expands from 10 to 15 positions, remains a consumption-based chart, ranking albums by equivalent album units.

Tropical Albums – Expands from 20 to 25 positions; remains a consumption-based chart, ranking albums by equivalent album units.

World Albums – Expands from 15 to 25 positions; remains a consumption-based chart, ranking albums by equivalent album units.

As with all genre consumption album charts, the rankings for the above album genre charts will be inclusive of both current and catalog titles.

13 Dec 2024

‘Mufasa:’ Lin-Manuel Miranda & More on the Soundtrack, Working With Blue Ivy | MYSK | Billboard News

‘Mufasa’ is coming to theaters on December 20th, and we had the opportunity to sit down with Lin-Manuel Miranda, Seth Rogan, Barry Jenkins, and Billy Eichner ahead of the release to get the inside scoop on what it was like to create the soundtrack for the film, work with Blue Ivy, and more!

Tetris Kelly:

Hey, it’s Tetris with Billboard News here at San Diego Safari Park at Press Day for ‘Mufasa.’ I’m talking to the cast and creators about the roaring prequel. This was director Barry Jenkins, first time with a musical, and he linked up with Disney favorite, Lin Manuel Miranda.

Lin-Manuel Miranda:

Barry’s a musical storyteller. I mean, you feel the music in ‘Beale Street.’ You feel it in ‘Moonlight.’ So his notes always made my songs better. He was very clear about what he wanted. And so I signed on because I knew I’d learn a lot from him. 

Tetris Kelly:

And of course, you’re so you know, known in the Broadway world. And now, of course, Disney with ‘Moana,’  ‘Encanto.’ So do you approach the Disney music differently than, say, Broadway? How do you change? 

Lin-Manuel Miranda:

I think the only difference is, and someone pointed this out to me I didn’t even realize it, all my stage musicals take place in New York. So Disney’s kind of my passport, you know, with Moana, I got to go to, you know, learn about the beautiful Pacific Island culture. With ‘Encanto,’ I got to go down to Colombia, learn all these different music forms that are down there. And then with this, you know, we got, I got to work with the great Lebo M on his incredible choral harmonies and his voice being, you know, really present in the music and and play with these incredible African rhythms. 

Keep watching for more!

13 Dec 2024

Taylor Swift, Drake, Sabrina Carpenter & More Top Billboard’s Top 10 Artists of 2024 | Billboard News

Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, Zach Bryan and more fill up the remaining five spots in Billboard’s Top 10 Artists of 2024. With hits dominating the Hot 100 throughout 2024 along with albums that have reigned the Billboard 200, each artist has earned their well-deserved slot. 

Do you agree with the top five? Let us know what you think in the comments below!

Tetris Kelly:

All week we’ve been counting down the year’s biggest acts on Billboard’s Top Artists chart for 2024 and now we’ve made it to our top 5. Starting us off, coming in at No. 5? Sabrina Carpenter! What a year it’s been for Sabrina Carpenter on the Billboard charts. She landed her first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 with ‘Short N’ Sweet’ and notched a dozen top 40-charting songs on the Hot 100 – including her first top 40 hit with “Feather,” her first top 10 with “Espresso” and first No. 1 with “Please Please Please.” Next up, coming in at No. 4 on the year’s biggest acts on Billboard’s Top Artists chart for 2024 is Drake. It wouldn’t be a year-end top 10 top artist ranking without Drake. During the 2024 chart year, Drake charted nine albums on the weekly Billboard 200. Over on the Hot 100 chart, Drake logged 37 charting songs, with four spending time in the top 10. Holding down the No. 3 spot is Zach Bryan. Zach was crushing it on the Billboard charts this year. Over on the Billboard Hot 100 during the 2024 chart year, Bryan logged 23 titles, including a pair of top 10-charting tunes: “I Remember Everything,” and “Pink Skies,” which debuted and peaked at No. 6 in June.

Keep watching for more!

13 Dec 2024

Behind the Scenes of Teddy Swims’ BBMAs Performance | Billboard Music Awards 2024

A behind-the-scenes look at Teddy Swims’ BBMAs performance for the 2024 Billboard Music Awards.

Patrick Adair:
Hi, I’m Patrick Adair. I’m the art director for Teddy Swims. Teddy and his team really were the ones who guided this from the beginning. It’s totally their vision, his vision, and I think we’ve done a great job bringing it to life.

Teddy Swims:
We kind of got the creative for, I guess, the whole album and the performances I was really obsessed with, like this, retro futurism, this, this old movie, A Clockwork Orange.

Patrick Adair:
A ton of work goes into planning a performance like this, and it all happened within the period of a week.

Jairus “JJ” Hardge:
This particular performance I’m very excited about. We’re gonna have people standing behind us and surround again, almost like a 360 setup, and the energy is gonna be crazy, and just super excited about doing these songs for you guys. I’ve been working with Teddy 13-14, years. He’s my brother. It’s not work. We love music. I love his heart, his passion, and he recognizes mine as well. And because of that, we’re able to come together and just make it gel so, yeah,

Teddy Swims:
You guys are making me nervous.

Christian Stroble:
Honestly, I think he’s one of the rawest, truest talents that we’ve had in a long time. So I was psyched when he was like, “Yes, I want to work with you.” He just transcends from another space and time honestly, and so I wanted to elevate him to the next level within the wardrobe, but keeping it natural and cool and just feeling fresh.

Teddy Swims:
My favorite part about performing live is this try to create a safe place for myself and other people to feel that we’re, you know, in the same room together. You know, honored to be doing the best job in the world, my best pal, so it’s the best ever you.

13 Dec 2024

Behind the Scenes of Megan Moroney’s BBMAs Performance | Billboard Music Awards 2024

A behind-the-scenes look at Megan Moroney’s BBMAs performance for the 2024 Billboard Music Awards.

Jessica Candage:
The vibe on set has been such a buzz. People are really excited to be here with Megan, being outside of the city of Nashville, just kind of seeing it from a distance is really beautiful, and seeing her just be a big star with the city behind her, it’s really, really cool.

Megan Moroney:
I guess I’m the only artist performing in Nashville, so we’ve got the skyline in the back. Broadway is not too far away, so we might get into that later.

Jessica Candage:
When we heard she was gonna be on the Billboard Awards, we immediately started putting our heads together on creating the perfect glam look to go with the rhinestone red, and we knew it just had to be all about like a shimmery red lip, and not to compete too much with the rhinestones. So I think we found the perfect balance for Meg.

Megan Moroney:
So I kind of really wanted to bring one of my live shows to the Billboard Music Awards, and I wanted it to feel like it feels on tour, and so it’s gonna be really interactive with the crowd, and just kind of bring you some of my live show to a music award performance.

13 Dec 2024

Billboard Latin Artist on the Rise: Óscar Maydon Reveals What Convinced Him to Pursue a Music Career

As Billboard Latin Artist on the Rise, Óscar Maydon talks about what convinced him to invest in his music career. Watch the singer reflect on his rising star. 

Keyword: JohnnieWalkerLMW2024

Óscar Maydon:

What’s up, guys? It’s your friend, Óscar Maydon. And I am the Billboard Artist Latin… What’s up, guys? It’s your friend, Óscar Maydon. And I’m Billboard’s Latin… Billboard’s? Let’s see, just one more, one more, one more, one more. What’s up, guys? It’s your friend, Óscar Maydon. And I’m Billboard’s Latin Artist on the Rise. My first introduction to music was during the pandemic. I wanted to earn money because I was used to working and they closed everything down. I said, “Now, what do I do to survive?” I started with friends and colleagues. I would say, “I’ll sell you a corrido! Do you want a corrido? I’ll make you a corrido.” It was there that the love for the composition of a song was born. And I grabbed a guitar and started to make corridos for different people. Then, my first song came out, which was “De La Nació.” I sold it to a friend and that’s where my world begins in music, to really make music because I have always like music, but I never actually created it. I never had that intuition or knew that I could do it. I grew up with my grandparents and I remember we did vacation trips in June, July for our long vacations. I was listening to… I was born and raised with norteño, with all of regional Mexican like Joan Sebastian, Juan Gabriel, Los Muecas.

13 Dec 2024

Behind the Scenes of Fuerza Regida’s BBMAs Performance | Billboard Music Awards 2024

A behind-the-scenes look at Fuerza Regida’s BBMAs performance for the 2024 Billboard Music Awards.

Manny Bonilla:
Dick Clark Productions contact me to direct this multi-cam performance of Fuerza, and it’s pretty big deal.

Janeth Briceno:
The movement was created for Manny, our director, and he talked about 360s everything like bird eyes, they want dancing around the audience. So everything like a big party.

Manny Bonilla:
She’s the one. I’m ready. I’m ready. This is the Mayan Theater. It’s a gorgeous theater. We trimmed it on its head. We put the stage right in the middle of the pit, and we shot back into the audience.

Janeth Briceno:
Well, the idea was, he thought about a video like, something very sexy. They want dancers around him. He said, “Just, I want something sexy.”

Manny Bonilla:
I’ve always had fun working with dancers the problem solving of, “Hey, this is a problem.” And then you show to them. They’re like, “Oh.” And then they go do something else. These dancers that we had here were absolutely phenomenal. I think they absolutely crushed it. Janeth is unbelievable. We’ve been working together for like, 25 years. I didn’t know she was on this project, and I saw her face on a Zoom call, and I was just like, yeah, Janeth!