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Before Billie Eilish kicks off her global tour for Hit Me Hard and Soft on Sept. 29, the 22-year-old is giving fans a sneak peek of what to expect through Amazon Music‘s new docu-performance series Songline. The inaugural episode spotlights the “Lunch” singer and her brother Finneas as they perform songs, including “Birds of a Feather,” “Wildflowers” and “L’Amour De Ma Vie,” live. You’ll also get a more in-depth look at the making of the album as the two dive into the songwriting process for each hit.
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After one watch, you’ll be racing to buy last-minute tickets to the “Lunch” singer’s 2024 tour to go beyond watching her perform onscreen. For now, though, Prime members have the ability to tune into Amazon Music to watch the full episode uninterrupted.
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While Eilish and Finneas will kick off the series, each new episode will feature a new artist with a focus on demystifying the songwriting process. You can expect artists to provide a stripped-down version of their music as well as in-depth interviews that explore their “origins and cultural journeys,” according to a press release.
Keep reading to learn the streaming options available.
How to Watch Billie Eilish on Songline Online for Free
You can watch and Billie Eilish and new episodes of Songline exclusively through Amazon Music. You don’t need a Prime membership in order to get Amazon Music, but you will have limited access as a non-Prime member. It’ll be an ad-supported experience and you’ll only be able to listen to a selection of playlists and stations on compatible Alexa-enabled devices, which may not include Songline.
Amazon is offering a 30-day free trial for new users who sign up for Prime, which means you’ll get free access to Amazon Music including Songline in addition to other Prime-exclusive perks like Prime Video, free one-day shipping, grocery delivery and Prime Try Before You Buy. Once the free trial is over, you’ll be charged the regular membership fee of $14.99 a month or $139 a year.
Students can snag a student membership with a free six month trial and 50% off membership price while qualifying government programs can get you and EBT/Medicaid subscription, which comes with a 30-day free trial and half-off subscription fee.
While Amazon Music gives you access to more than 100 million songs and podcasts and selected offline listening, you can upgrade the experience and receive even more benefits through Amazon Music Unlimited. You’ll get everything in Amazon Music but in HD quality as well as Ultra HD when listening to songs. You can explore expert-crafted playlists and stations, vaults with music from your favorite artists and a catalog of Dolby Atmos spatial and 360 Reality Audio.
Prime members can get Amazon Music Unlimited for $9.99 a month or $99 a year on top of your Prime membership. Non-Prime members can access for $10.99 a month. Both options come with a 30 day free trial to test out the service before committing.
Eilish is known for surprising fans with special experiences tied to her music including hosting exclusive listening parties leading up to the release of Hit Me Hard And Soft as well as releasing a movie for her previous album Happier Than Ever.
Check below watch Billie Eilish perform Wildflowers live from Songline.
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Ciara celebrated the 20th anniversary of her debut album, Goodies, during a stop with Missy Elliott’s Out of This World Tour in her hometown of Atlanta on Saturday (July 27).
“I will forever cherish moments like this! 20th anniversary of the Goodies album celebration right here on stage, in my hometown of Atlanta! Grateful for each person that’s helped me along the way,” Ciara wrote on X on Sunday. “ATL is the city that made me. Thank you @jazzepha Phillana @johntalsr @DevyneStephens1 @SeanGarrettPen for being a part of this special moment! Forever grateful.”
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Ciara is currently on the Out of This World Tour with Missy Elliott, Busta Rhymes and Timbaland.
During the Atlanta concert, CiCi was presented with album plaques by her Goodies collaborators, including producer Jazzy Pha and Grammy-award winning singer-songwriter, Johnta Austin.
Goodies was released on Sept. 28, 2004. The hit album, featuring “1, 2 Step,” “And I,” “Oh” and the lead single “Goodies,” sold over five million copies and debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200.
Missy also shared a message thanking fans after the Atlanta show. “I’m so humbly grateful every night y’all pack out da place!!! And I see yall showing out for @ciara @BustaRhymes @Timbaland supporting these legends warms my heart because they have been in the game 20 plus years & still STANDING.”
The Out of This World Tour, Elliott’s first-ever headlining tour, kicked off at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, Canada on July 4. The tour lands in Orlando, Florida on Tuesday (July 30) and Baltimore on Aug. 1.
Elliot will bring the tour to her home state of Virginia for a show at the Hampton Coliseum in Hampton, Va. on Friday, Aug. 2.
Check out Ciara’s commemorative post below:
I will forever cherish moments like this! 20th Anniversary of Goodies Album celebration right here, on stage, in my hometown of Atlanta! Grateful for each person that’s helped me along the way. ATL is the city that made me! Thank you @jazzepha Phillana @johntalsr… pic.twitter.com/ucnozYLb9q— Ciara (@ciara) July 28, 2024
When Nate Bargatze set the attendance record at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena last year, the comedian quickly figured out how to ensure his milestone stood: “I stole one of the chairs from Bridgestone,” he told Jimmy Fallon. “I have the record, so if I take one of the chairs home, no one can break that record.”
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Bargatze need not have resorted to such measures, joking or not, as he is seeing an attendance surge that has him breaking records and filling arenas across the country on the Be Funny tour, which started in January 2023 and has sold more than 1 million tickets.
In Billboard’s Mid-Year Boxscore Report, Bargatze’s outing ranked as the No. 1 comedy tour, ahead of those by fellow comics like Adam Sandler, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. For overall ticket sales, Bargatze came in at No. 12, narrowly behind such acts as P!nk, Coldplay, Madonna and U2. But he is likely taking home a much bigger percentage of the gross: Unlike music acts, who aim to net 30% of the gross, comedians in general have a much lower overhead and generally net between 50% and 60% of the gross, according to industry sources.
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As impressive as the numbers are, even more staggering is the rapid growth Bargatze, 45, is experiencing more than 20 years into his stand-up career. His 2023 shows averaged a gross of $240,000 from 3,612 tickets sold per show, according to Billboard Boxscore. As he progressed from theaters to arenas, his 2024 shows have averaged $781,000 gross from 11,429 tickets per show.
Bargatze is still digesting the boost in his popularity, which he attributes to social media, word of mouth, his specials on streaming services — including “Hello World,” which debuted last September on Amazon Prime Video — and, especially, hosting Saturday Night Live in October, which created “a giant, giant leap” in his career, he says. “It was my first kind of thing really on [a mainstream platform] and it just sent it to a completely new level.” (Bargatze’s “Washington’s Dream” sketch was the second most watched SNL sketch of the season, with more than 9.4 million views, according to NBC.)
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In an election year that feels increasingly mean and polarizing, Bargatze’s humor is decidedly apolitical, clean and relatable. His storytelling, delivered in a low-key, deadpan manner, is observational. If there’s a butt of the joke, it’s usually him and his feigned cluelessness.
The response he gets from the people who come to see his family-friendly shows assures him he’s on the right track. And for those times when he thinks “maybe I need to say something” or speak out on an issue, the appreciative feedback he gets from fans who feel uplifted by his gentle humor convince him he does not. “The world is serious. There’s plenty of people and information. You can go get whatever you want to go get. You do not need me to also add to that,” he says. “What I believe I need to do is be entertainment that you can go to as an entire family.”
In fact, he says some of his favorite moments are when he looks out into the audience and sees multiple generations sitting together. “I love when I can see a family sitting there, and if I start talking about my age, I can see the whole family look at the dad or look at the mom,” he says. “And when I talk about my parents, see them look at the grandparents. I love the connection that they’re like, ‘That’s you’ or ‘That’s me.’ That’s the best part.”
Appealing to a multi-generational audience is one of Bargatze’s greatest strengths, says Joe Schwartz, comedy touring agent at United Talent Agency, who has worked with the Brillstein Entertainment Partners-managed Bargatze for more than 10 years and handles his bookings with fellow UTA agent Nick Nuciforo. “The style of comedy that he’s doing lends itself to being so broadly appealing,” Schwartz says. “That gives him such a major advantage over a lot of the other stand-up comedians working today.”
As Bargatze hit new tipping points — such as the Amazon special or hosting SNL — UTA planned accordingly when rolling out tour announcements, knowing the exposures would bump up demand for tickets. But the demand has exceeded even their initial expectations, with Bargatze often playing every day of the week but Tuesday, and sometimes playing more than one show a day on the weekend. “We were holding additional dates where necessary, making sure the show times were at the hours that we knew would be best for that multigenerational audience,” Schwartz says. “We don’t do 10:00 p.m. shows in these arenas. We do shows at 4:00 p.m. after he sells out the 7::00 p.m. because we found that his audience prefers that.”
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Even during the COVID shutdown, Bargatze built his audience, first through drive-in shows and then 2021’s Netflix special, The Greatest Average American, which he taped outdoors (complete with the whirl of helicopters interrupting his set). He received his first Grammy nomination for the special’s comedy album companion.
Through it all, Bargatze has stayed focused on his craft, making incremental gains, preparing for when his big shot came. “You never know when all the eyes are going to switch over to you,” he says. “I’ve done this now for 21 years, so you just kind of keep doing what you’re doing — and then when the eyes end up hitting you, you need to be ready,” he says.
With an exhausting schedule, Bargatze also realized a number of years ago he needed to take better care of himself if he wanted to reach his goals. “I stopped drinking in 2018. I was starting to sell clubs out, and so we’re about to go to theaters [and] I wasn’t able to drink like a regular person.” he recalls. “I knew, ‘Alright, well, if I want to go to the level I want to go to, I have to get this out of my life or I’m not going to be able to get to that level.’ And I’ve seen that now, with even the training and the food.”
Bargatze grew up in Nashville and honed his comedy skills living in Chicago, Los Angeles and New York before moving back to Tennessee several years ago.
The son of a clown-turned-magician, Bargatze absorbed show biz tactics, though he didn’t realize it at the time. “My timing definitely comes from my dad,” he says. “He was working on his magic all the time. Even at home, he was doing it. So, subconsciously, you’re taking it in, like, ‘Well, if you want to be great at something, you have to do this all day long.’”
Though doing magic didn’t appeal to him, stand up did. And once Bargatze began stand up, “I was pretty exposed to already be kind of obsessed with it,” he says. “If you want to get to a high level, I mean, you have to be obsessed with it — you can’t just kind of have your foot half in. The longer I do it, the more I realized how much it was good for me to see that through my father.” His dad often opens Bargatze’s shows and frequently travels with him on the road, as does his mom.
His singlemindedness has always been apparent, says Schwartz. “For as long as I’ve been working with Nate, he has been so driven and so singular in what he has wanted to do. He has just devoted all the time and effort to becoming a great stand-up comedian. He has truly mastered the craft.”
In conversation with Bargatze that devotion to his technique is obvious. He intensely and thoroughly talks about the contrast between playing arenas on this tour, where he can draw out the jokes for his one-hour set, and then having to get back into the late-night television mindset to prep for Saturday Night Live by practicing in New York comedy clubs to come up with his tight, 8-minute opening monologue.
When Bargatze first began playing arenas several months ago, he utilized a traditional setup, with the stage at one end — but quickly changed to an in-the-round configuration to have a closer connection to the audience.
With the stage at one end, “the [audience] is so far away from you and it’s very easy for them to feel disconnected. But the round really changed everything because I’ve cut the distance in half from the farthest person,” he says. He also increased the size of the screens and put TVs on stage so even when his back is to people sitting in the front, they can see his face. “Comedy can work in arenas,” he says. “Weirdly, it can even work better. In a 2000-seat theater, you can’t see my face that great. But in an arena, I play to the cameras.”
He also adjusts his cadence each night. “When you’re doing the arena, it’s like music. My timing is based off their laughter, and it changes according to where you’re at. Every night, it’s a little different,” he says. But he also likes the challenge: “To keep 20,000 people’s attention, I love it. I love how hard it can be. You’re on kind of a tightrope. You’ve got to keep them intrigued the whole time. It’s amazing.”
The Be Funny tour ends Oct. 18. A streaming special filmed April 13-14 at Phoenix’s Footprint Arena will premiere this fall, and a companion album will come out through Capitol Comedy. Bargatze is the first artist signed to the new comedy imprint started by Universal Music Group Nashville.
Bargatze will take several months off from the road while he works on developing other projects, though Schwartz promises he’ll be back in 2025 with “the biggest, most impressive tour he’s ever done.”
Much of Bargatze’s time off from touring will be spent building out The Nateland Company, the umbrella content company geared toward producing family-friendly entertainment that he launched in October. Already off the ground is The Showcase, a six-part YouTube series filmed at Zanies Comedy Club in Nashville featuring up-and-coming comics, as well as three full-length comedy specials directed by Bargatze. The Nateland Company also houses Bargatze’s The Nateland Podcast, which is in its fourth year, and Bargatze has his eye on developing scripted tv and film projects.
Ultimately, Bargatze is aiming for a career and a production company that builds on his nice guy, everyman stand-up image, where fans know what to expect no matter how big his universe expands and what roles he may take on next.
“I tried to do auditions at the beginning and it’s hard. I can [only really] be me. And so if you don’t want this, then it’s not going to completely work out,” he says. “I see Adam Sandler and [Sandler’s production company] Happy Madison … I love that, where Adam Sandler goes and he’s him. You know what you’re getting when you’re in his world. He did Uncut Gems, and he can do all that other stuff and maybe there will be stuff like that down the line, but I gotta get some stuff on the board. The only thing I’ve really had is Saturday Night Live as a thing outside of stand-up comedy. So, there’s a lot of things that I need to get on the board and get moving forward.”
As he builds the Nateland empire, Bargatze feels confident that the audiences he plays before every night prove there is great demand for the kind of humor he and his fellow like-minded comics provide. The proof of concept is there in his hundreds of sold-out shows around the country. “This direction is working, so I want to keep going in this direction,” he says. “I’m in every town in America, and I’m just telling you, it seems to be working.”
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Snoop Dogg is stepping out in style for the 2024 Summer Olympics. The Doggfather sported custom gold Skechers as he watched Team USA’s men’s swim team win its first gold medal at the Paris Olympics on Saturday (July 27).
The Team USA men’s team — comprised of Caeleb Dressel, Chris Guiliano, Jack Alexy and Hunter Armstrong — won the 4×100 freestyle relay. Snoop was seated with Dressel’s family as the team took home gold.
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“Gold shoes, gold medal,” Snoop told NBC Sports’ Mike Tirico after the big win. “We got our first gold medal! I felt good being there with the Dressel family, baby. All gold everything,” added Snoop while showing off his gold shoes and chains. “We’re trying to come home with everything this weekend man. “
“I’m still excited from the atmosphere,” Snoop explained of attending his very first live swimming event. “Just seeing them swim, seeing them tag on and off. The energy of hearing so many different national anthems, and then being able to finally hear mine? Oh my God.”
Snoop has been making the rounds at this year’s Olympics. He attended the U.S. Women’s Gymnastics competition on Sunday and debuted his one-of-a-kind sneakers from the Skechers x Snoop Paris collection while carrying the Olympic torch to its destination on Friday.
Made from a premium snake-embossed gold leather, the high-top sneaker features the French flag, gold laces, a Paris-inspired logo and the signature “S” logo on the outsole.
Skechers teamed with Snoop to craft an exclusive collection for him to wear while he covers the Paris Olympics. The five-piece collection of high-top sneakers features “carefully placed easter eggs” with design nods to the Olympic Games and Snoop’s West Coast roots.
Snoop Dogg x Skechers Paris Olympics
Courtesy of Skechers
Unfortunately, Snoop’s custom kicks aren’t for sale, but fans can shop the Skechers x Snoop Dogg: Low Slider collection, the latest drop from Snoop’s on-going collaboration with Skechers.
Snoop’s slides are made with the Skecher’s Luxe Foam midsole cushioning and available in various designs including paisley prints and Snoop’s NFT persona, Dr. Bombay.
The Low Sliders collection is available at Skechers.com and select retail stores.
While there was plenty to celebrate at the 2024 Olympic Opening Ceremony, Christians took issue with one particular section of the extravaganza.
In one moment of the hours-long parade, famed DJ Barbara Butch performed alongside a large group of drag queens (including Nicky Doll, the host of Drag Race France) and created a tableau in which all of them appeared to be seated behind a large, long table. Some viewers quickly drew comparisons between the tableau and Leonardo da Vinci’s iconic painting The Last Supper, which then drew ire from conservative Christians who called the performance disrespectful and even “blasphemous.”
One group who denounced the performance was the French Catholic Church’s conference of bishops, who described the moment as “scenes of derision and mockery of Christianity” and said that “our thoughts are with all the Christians from all continents who were hurt by the outrage and provocation of certain scenes.”
As the criticism was occurring online, the official X account for the Olympic Games shared some further photos from the performance for context, showing that the scene was meant to depict the feast of Dionysus, the Greek god of wine and revelry. “The interpretation of the Greek God Dionysus makes us aware of the absurdity of violence between human beings,” the statement read.
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In an interview with the Associated Press, the show’s artistic director Thomas Jolly defended the tableau, saying that he wanted the performance to represent the “the right to love each other, as we want and with who we want.” “My wish isn’t to be subversive, nor to mock or to shock. Most of all, I wanted to send a message of love, a message of inclusion and not at all to divide.”
Olympics spokesperson Anne Descamps answered a question during a Sunday press conference about the backlash to the performance, saying that neither the International Olympic Committee (IOC) nor Jolly had any “intention to show disrespect to any religious group.” Instead, she added, “We really did try to celebrate community tolerance. Looking at the result of the polls that we shared, we believe that this ambition was achieved. If people have taken any offense we are, of course, really, really sorry.”
See the Olympic Games’ tweet regarding the controversial performance below:
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George Strait is raising a glass to his upcoming 31st studio album, Cowboys & Dreamers, and to celebrate the new music, the King of Country has teamed up with his favorite tequila brand, Código 1530. The collaboration only makes sense as the 72-year-old is a co-owner of the alcohol brand, adding to the list of musician-backed tequila brands on the market. You can expect the limited-edition tequila to drop alongside his new album on Friday (September 6).
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“If it’s not your favorite, you haven’t tried it,” the 72-year-old told Billboard. His love for the beverage goes beyond tasting it too, Strait even dedicated a song to the brand with his 2019 single “Codigo.” And how does he prefer to take the tequila? The “Write This Down” singer’s favorite way to drink the beverage is on the rocks, claiming he “rarely mixes it with anything.”
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The Cowboys & Dreamers tequila will join the expanding collection of George Strait tequilas from Código 1530, which you can shop below.
Codigo 1530 George Strait Rosa Reposado Tequila
This Rosa tequila is considered one of the first pink tequilas for a more fruity note to your drink. The tequila was aged in Spanish Sherry wine barrels and comes with notes of cooked agave, cherry and citrus.
Codigo 1530 Anejo George Strait Edition Tequila
This special-edition tequila is also a part of George Strait’s collection and has been aged 18 years for a smooth finish. You can expect flavors of fruit in addition to hints of oak, vanilla and spice.
As the King of Country, it only makes sense that Strait knows what true Western fashion is and as cowboy hats and boots continue to dominate style trends, he spoke on what he considers to be timeless pieces.
“I’ve been with Wrangler for around 40 years,” he says. “My thing is still starched Wrangler jeans, Justin Boots and my black Resistol hat.”
Shop some of his favorites below.
George Strait Cowboy Cut Original Jeans
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Wrangler’s collection of George Strait-approved pieces include these heavy duty cotton jeans that feature a straight-leg cut and five pocket style. Right now, the brand is also offering a BOGO offer that’ll get you half off another pair of jeans (but only when you purchase through Wrangler.com).
Justin Men’s Fireman Western Boot
These Western boots will carry you through your days with a cowboy twist. The material is waterproof allowing you to wear them even on rainy days while the rugged sole has traction to keep you sturdy on different terrains.
Resistol Men’s Sonora 4X Fur Felt Cowboy Hat Black
Complete you’re look with a black cowboy hat from Strait’s favorite brand. The design comes with a simple construction that includes a thin black belt around the perimeter and is constructed with high-quality felt. You’ll want to measure your head beforehand to make sure you grab the right size.
Besides an upcoming tequila partnership, Strait celebrated a successful tour, which included breaking an audience record and performing his hit duet with Chris Stapleton (that fans can look forward to on the new album).
“I cut a song that Chris wrote on the new record,” he says. “It is a duet and such a cool song. We’ve been doing it live and I love it, it’s a good old Honkytonker.”
For more artist product recommendations, check out ShopBillboard‘s roundups of Kelsea Ballerini’s favorite personalized gifts, Nelly Furtado’s style picks and Kane Brown’s must-have items on the road.
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. Beyoncé is feeling the Olympic spirit. The Cowboy Carter singer sported a Team USA Closing Ceremony Jacket in a series of […]
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Let the games begin! The 2024 Paris Summer Olympics launched with an extravagant Opening Ceremony, featuring performances from Lady Gaga and Celine Dion and a cameo from Beyoncé.
The Olympic games officially start on Saturday (July 27) with rugby, women’s volleyball, men’s basketball, cycling, surfing and swimming among the roster. Coverage of the Summer Olympics will air live on NBC and stream on Peacock.
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Below, find out ways to stream the Olympics online for free from anywhere around the globe.
Where to Watch the 2024 Summer Olympics
The Olympic games will broadcast live on NBC and stream on Peacock from July 26-Aug. 11. Olympics coverage will also air on USA Network — including men’s volleyball, water polo and fencing. Simulcast coverage will be available on E!, Telemundo, CNBC and Golf Channel.
NBC will air live coverage of the Olympics in the morning and afternoon. Primetime coverage starts at 8 p.m. If you need access to local channels like NBC or USA and other cable networks, you can stream them live with a free trial from DIRECTV, Hulu+ Live TV and Fubo.
Verizon Fios offers live TV and affordable internet plans, and ExpressVPN allows you stream internationally.
You can access these platforms from any compatible device — a TV, laptop, smart phone, etc.
How to Watch the Olympics on Peacock
The 2024 Summer Olympic games will stream exclusively on Peacock.
Plans start at $7.99/month for Peacock Premium, the ad-supported package with access to the 2024 Olympics, and thousands of hours of other sports and entertainment.
Peacock Premium Plus is $13.99/month to stream without commercials and live access to NBC.
Want to watch the Olympics in Spanish? Peacock will livestream coverage from Telemundo and Universo in addition to offering 50 hours of replays and other content in Spanish.
How to Watch the Olympics on DIRECTV
In the internet age, streaming is the easiest way to watch the Summer Olympics online. Thankfully, there are a few ways to watch the games without spending extra money up front. For example, you can subscribe to DIRECTV Stream and score a free trial for the first five days, plus access to NBC and other local channels: USA, ESPN, Bravo, E!, TBS, TLC and much more.
DIRECTV Stream
DIRECTV Stream plans start at $79.99 a month, plus you get free Max, Paramount+ Showtime and STARZ for three months when you subscribe to the Choice or Ultimate plan. Peacock is also available at a discount for DIRECTV subscribers.
How to Watch the Olympics on Sling TV
Sling TV offers cable channels such as USA, ESPN, TLC, Disney Channel and FX in addition to local channels in certain regions.
Sling’s Orange streaming packages start at $40/month. Sling Orange offers 34 channels, and Sling Blue has 46 channels. Sling also offers a combination of both tiers for $60 a month.
All three Sling TV packages include DVR storage and streaming from multiple devices. You can subscribe to Sling for as low as $20 for the first month, or secure a discount by prepaying Sling Blue two months in advance.
How to Watch the Olympics on Hulu + Live TV
Hulu + Live TV is another affordable streaming platform that comes with a free trial, and access to NBC, USA and other channels. The membership includes Hulu’s streaming library, over 90+ live channels, plus Disney+ and ESPN+.
2024 Summer Olympics Schedule: Basketball, Gymnastics & More
The Olympic games will feature archery, artistic swimming, badminton, basketball, 3×3 basketball, beach volleyball, boxing, breakdancing, canoeing, cycling, diving, equestrian, fencing, field hockey, golf, gymnastics, handball, judo, modern pentathlon, rhythmic gymnastics, rowing, rugby, sailing, shooting, skateboarding, soccer, sport climbing, surfing, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, track and field, trampoline, triathlon, volleyball, water polo, weightlifting and wrestling.
Simone Biles, Shakari Richardson, Katie Ledecky, LeBron James, Steph Curry and other star athletes will be competing for Team USA this year. If you want to catch Team USA Gymnastics featuring Biles, Jade Cary, Jordan Chiles, Suni Lee and Hezly Rivera, competitions start on Sunday, July 28.
The women’s gymnastics qualifications will be held from 3:30 a.m.-4:30 a.m ET on Sunday. The men’s gymnastics round was held on Saturday.
The men’s team final is scheduled for Monday, July 29, followed by the women’s final on Tuesday, July 30. The all-around finals for the men’s team will be on Wednesday, July 31, and women’s all-around finals will be on Thursday, Aug. 1.
Men’s basketball kicks off on Saturday with group stage matchups between Australia vs. Spain, France vs. Brazil, Greece vs. Canada and Germany vs. Japan.
On Sunday, Team USA will face off against Serbia in men’s basketball, while South Sudan will face Puerto Rico in the men’s group phase. Team USA men’s basketball returns to the court on July 31 against South Sudan.
Women’s basketball also starts on Sunday with Spain vs. China and Serbia vs. Puerto Rico. Team USA will play Japan on July 29 and Belgium on Aug. 1
Men’s and women’s first-round tennis matches will be held on Saturday and Sunday. The first, second and third round matches are scheduled for July 29-30. The men’s singles third round, women’s singles quarterfinals, men’s doubles semifinals, women’s doubles quarterfinals and mixed doubles quarterfinals are on July 31. The men’s singles quarterfinals, women’s singles semifinals, women’s doubles semifinals and mixed doubles semifinals are on Aug. 1.
Swimming starts Saturday and will be held each day through Aug. 4. The women’s 10K open water finals are slated for Aug. 8. The men’s 10K open water finals will be on Aug. 9.
Olympics track and field competitions will be held from Aug. 1-11.
If you’ve ever attended a K-pop concert, holding an artist’s official “light stick” is a crucial aspect of the viewing experience. At the Paris 2024 Olympics Games, Team Korea will embrace this special aspect of K-pop super fandom with its own light sticks, an official cheer song, and more in partnership with industry leader HYBE.
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Usually a handheld device with a plastic tubing and a glowing top, light sticks aren’t one-time-use glowsticks but are personalized for each act with specific colors, markers, and designs that become a way for fans and artists to enjoy the live experience together. BTS has an “ARMY BOMB” light stick with a black stand and clear globe atop that can represent said “bomb” and glow a spectrum of colors in rhythm to the group’s music thanks to Bluetooth technology. An artist revealing an official light stick is considered an important career step and signals upcoming concerts.
While HYBE just unveiled the light stick for one of its newest boy bands, BOYNEXTDOOR, less than six months ago, the company’s business unit, HYBE IPX, has been simultaneously in conversation with the Olympic Games to bring its technology to inspire similar fandom to Paris. The company will provide specially designed “Team Korea Light Sticks” to support South Korea’s national team competing in the games. Designed with inspiration from the Olympic torch and stadium, the light sticks utilize the same tech and expertise at HYBE artists’ concerts to change colors and glow in sync with chants.
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“Centralized control is the most outstanding technology that differentiates us from others,” explains Seung Suk Rhee, President of HYBE IPX, in an exclusive interview with Billboard. “Simply put, we can easily control light sticks dispersed in a large space from a centralized console box. We can make variations according to the occasion, starting from K-pop concerts to theme park rides.”
The newly unveiled light stick for Team Korea coordinates with this year’s official cheer anthem, “Fighting,” by SEVENTEEN’s BSS and Lee Young-Ji, which comes with its own accompanying challenge.
“It’s going to be incredibly moving to see the large crowd coming together with one spirit, singing our song in unison to cheer for the athletes,” BSS tells Billboard in a statement. “We’re very proud and honored that ‘Fighting,” featuring Lee Young-Ji, could contribute to the excitement for Team Korea athletes at such a historic sports festival.This is all thanks to [our fans] CARATs, who have shown so much love for the song since last year, and we’re once again filled with gratitude for our fans. Through the song’s energetic beat and fun lyrics boosting the passion and enthusiasm for cheering, we hope to pass on BSS’ positivity and energy to Team Korea athletes. We’re rooting for them all the way to enjoy their moment and achieve their goals with all our hearts.”
Speaking more about how the K-pop light stick made its way to the Olympics and where it can go next, read on for more with HYBE IPX President Seung Suk Rhee.
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When did the opportunity to create light sticks for Team Korea come about?
Starting early summer last year, with the Olympic Games Paris 2024 generating significant global momentum, we explored ways to integrate this event into HYBE. We decided that introducing light sticks would be ideal, as they represent the concept of “cheer” and “support” which is equally crucial for both music fans and sports enthusiasts. We approached the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee with this idea and found a mutual understanding to lead the cheering culture, setting sail on the light stick project.
The most crucial factor was the design. We couldn’t just create any light stick but had to come up with a design that symbolizes our country as the national flag, Taegeukgi, does. To maintain the unique shape of a light stick while making it instantly recognizable as a national flag, we incorporated motifs of a torch and a stadium into the final design.
The design is centered on a simple white aesthetic with a shape that echoes a torch or a flame. The light rays, which change colors or flash with each button press, are inspired by the Olympic symbols — including the five circles of blue, red, yellow, green, and black. Since black cannot be produced with light, we replaced it with white, the background color of the Olympic flag, and added a touch of gold, inspired by the logo of the Olympic Games Paris 2024. Considering a design that reflects the identity of the Olympics, we also ensured that it blends in with Team Korea’s official uniforms.
What should fans and viewers look out for when the light sticks are televised Opening Ceremony?
Personally, what makes it even more exciting, is that it will be the first time that HYBE’s light stick will be showcased in front of a worldwide audience of each and every nationality. Since Team Korea athletes will make an entrance to the Opening Ceremony holding Team Korea Official Digital Flag, we hope to contribute to spreading out the Olympic spirit, even if it is in the slightest way possible.
The light stick carried by Team Korea athletes features the Korean flag attached to the Team Korea Official Light Stick, standard version provided to the Korean audience. Firstly, we wanted to strengthen the connection between the athletes and their fans. Secondly, we aimed for it to represent the Taegeukgi in a new form rather than just being a light stick. That’s why we also named it the Team Korea Official Digital Flag.
What was the most challenging part of creating this opportunity?
All members part of my team have been working on this project with great gravity. Of course we’ve experienced pressure coming from the magnitude of the event, even with concerts hosted by HYBE artists in arenas. However, this is the first time that we will be putting out our light sticks in front of the world to see. Even more so, this will be the first time that Team Korea athletes will be holding a light stick instead of an ordinary national flag at the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games. We hope that our light sticks can contribute to igniting the Olympic spirit amongst Team Korea.
How did discussions to bring SEVENTEEN’s BSS and their song “Fighting” as the official cheer song for Team Korea come together?
BSS’ “Fighting,” featuring Lee Young-Ji, emits the most fitting message and the mood for a festive event, especially when the athletes need all the support that they can get. We wanted to keep the excitement going throughout the Olympic Games Paris 2024 for Team Korea, and make it a song that the fans will remember for years to come. We will be playing “Fighting” as one of the cheering anthems at Korea House in Paris, where the cheering event for Team Korea will take place.
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What does an opportunity like this say about K-pop and K-pop fandom?
At HYBE, we don’t see K-pop fans and sports fans as different. We believe that fandoms, whether they’re for sports, games, movies, anime, or theme parks, share a common core “passion.” While they may look different on the outside, they are all driven by the same heartfelt desire to cheer for and support something or someone they love. Whether sports fans wear jerseys and chant slogans, or K-pop fans wave light sticks, they are sending the same message: “I support you.” From this perspective, we realized that we could create a new form of cheering culture by introducing HYBE’s light stick to the sports world. We believe that fans are constantly evolving by actively participating and sending their energy to artists and athletes in various ways.
HYBE IPX first extended this tech beyond music with the Korean esports team T1 for the League of Legends Champions tournament this summer. How did this idea come to be?
It’s been long since we have been preparing for an outbound project that could showcase our light stick technology to a wider audience, even beyond the music industry. With this in mind, we’ve been discussing new opportunities with partners in various fields. We’re currently discussing various collaborations for a long-term partnership, the first of which is the T1 OFFICIAL LIGHT BAND that was first showcased at T1’s “Home Ground” event in late June. HYBE’s production team helped direct the light bands throughout the event.
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Can you share more about HYBE IPX and your role in the company?
HYBE IPX is a business unit that focuses on creating boundless opportunities based on artist IP and delivering fresh experiences to fans. We develop official merchandise for events like tours and birthdays, offer licensed products that bring artist characters and IP into everyday use, and host global pop-up stores that provide fans with unique and immersive experiences. HYBE’s light sticks, now expanding into sports and esports beyond music, are designed, produced, and supplied by HYBE IPX, the mastermind behind the light stick technology.
In addition, HYBE IPX spearheads the planning and execution of collaborative IP projects with multiple labels and other business units within HYBE, including BTS 10th Anniversary FESTA in 2023 and “THE CITY” projects…SEVENTEEN ‘FOLLOW’ THE CITY BANGKOK in 2023, with another exciting edition coming soon in August at ENHYPEN World Tour “FATE PLUS” THE CITY JAKARTA. Brand ambassadorships, commercials, and various partnerships involving HYBE artists are also part of our business.
As the leader of the organization responsible for these various initiatives and projects, I’m fully committed to ensuring that fans have an exceptional experience with the artists they love, as well as creating opportunities for them to connect and enjoy memorable experiences together.
HYBE said, “With this original light stick system, HYBE aims to extend the K-pop-originated innovations to festivals and arenas worldwide.” Can you explain this more?
I’m sure you’ve been to concerts hosted by K-pop artists or labels. The moment you step foot in the arena, you’ll see fans waving light sticks to support their favorite artists. It is a special culture and technology nurtured within the K-pop industry. “Superfans,” which may be the most trending keyword in the music industry these days, are not limited to the music industry, but they also exist in other industries such as sports, esports, and animation. We’ve witnessed K-pop fans crying, laughing, cheering in happiness [while] raising their light sticks up high. We wish to extend this stirring moment to worldwide fans, no matter who their favorites are.
From the executives interested in this technology to the fans who buy and use light sticks, what else do you want readers to know at this time?
At HYBE, we believe that light sticks are more than just a tool for cheering. It is a way that fans use to show their support for their favorite artists, and athletes, and a medium to create a sense of fellowship with other fans and a “fan culture” that has ripened over time. It’s also a way for fans to take part in stage performances or events and interact with other fans as well as the artists who are on stage. Cherishing the value, we will continue to make efforts to further expand the K-pop originated light stick culture to various areas.
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Two top-teir welterweight fighters face off against each other as the main event during UFC 304. British fighter Leon Edwards (22-3-0) defends his UFC Welterweight Championship against Palestinian Belal Muhammad (23-3-0) in a title fight re-match on Saturday, July 27.
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UFC 304: Edwards vs. Muhammad 2 happens at Co-op Live, Manchester, England, with a start time of 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT. The main card is expected to begin at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
Want to watch UFC 304 online? This event is streaming on ESPN+ with pay-per-view access, which goes for $79.99 for subscribers only.
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If you’re not a subscriber, you can get PPV access and an ESPN+ monthly subscription — which is $10.99 per month — for $90.98 in total, or pick up an ESPN+ annual subscription for $134.98. The annual subscription bundle is the best deal because it saves you nearly 30% overall instead of going month-to-month.
Check out the full UFC 304 fight card below, and PPV livestream here.
Main Card, 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT
Leon Edwards (c) vs. Belal Muhammad (Welterweight) — Main Event
Tom Aspinall (c) vs. Curtis Blaydes (Heavyweight) — Co-Main Event
King Green vs. Paddy Pimblett (Lightweight)
Christian Leroy Duncan vs. Gregory Rodrigues (Middleweight)
Arnold Allen vs. Giga Chikadze (Featherweight)
Prelims Card, 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT
Nathaniel Wood vs. Daniel Pineda (Featherweight)
Molly McCann vs. Bruna Brasil (Women’s Strawweight)
Jake Hadley vs. Caolán Loughran (Bantamweight)
Modestas Bukauskas vs. Marcin Prachnio (Light Heavyweight)
Early Prelims Card, 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT
Michelle Waterson-Gomez vs. Gillian Robertson (Welterweight)
Oban Elliott vs. Preston Parsons (Welterweight)
Muhammad Mokaev vs. Manel Kape (Flyweight)
Sam Patterson vs. Kiefer Crosbie (Welterweight)
Mick Parkin vs. Lukasz Brzeski (Heavyweight)
Shauna Bannon vs. Alice Ardelean (Women’s Strawweight)
Subscribers to ESPN+ can livestream the early prelim and prelim portions of UFC 304 for free. In fact, the prelims card air on the cable network ESPN2, so it’s available to stream on DirecTV Stream and Fubo. Both streaming services offer free trials — for five days and seven days, respectively — for new subscribers.
Moreover, Sling TV and Hulu + Live TV — which offers a three-day free trial — come with ESPN as well.
You can also get the Disney Trio — which comes with ESPN+, Hulu and Disney+ — starting as low as $14.99 per month.
UFC 304: Edwards vs. Muhammad 2 is streamable on ESPN+ on Saturday, July 27, starting at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT, with the main card beginning at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
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