Media

12 Apr 2024

Sheryl Crow on New Album ‘Evolution,’ Performing With Olivia Rodrigo & More | Billboard News

Sheryl Crow talks about performing “If It Makes You Happy” with Olivia Rodrigo at her Nashville show and releasing a new album Evolution, after announcing that Threads would be her last album in 2019. On the album, she tackles issues she’s passionate about, most notably, artificial intelligence and how it’s going to change the music industry. She opens up about the collaborations with Peter Gabriel on “Digging in the Dirt,” Tom Morello from Rage Against the Machine on the title track, the past collabs she’s most proud of, her favorite Sheryl Crow cover and more!

Sheryl Crow:
I sent him a broken record, which nobody wanted to touch. Everybody I played it for was like, I mean, he was like, “Oh man, you gotta let me do this song. You gotta let me do that song.” Hi, I’m Sheryl Crow, and this is Billboard News.

Rebecca Milzoff:
Hi, everyone. I’m Rebecca Milzoff. I’m the executive magazine editor here at Billboard, and I am so psyched to be here today with Sheryl Crow, one of my personal heroes. Happily, contrary to what you told us four years ago, she did not put out her last album in 2019. And she has an amazing new album Evolution coming.

Sheryl Crow:
Yes, thank you. I know, I know better than to open my mouth and make such statements. But I keep saying that this is not an album. It’s more a playlist of neutral postpones.

Rebecca Milzoff:
What’s the difference between an album and a playlist?

Sheryl Crow:
I’ll tell you. And I am kind of joking about that. But, but not really. An album for me typically has been an artistic statement with a beginning, a middle and end. It’s been curated, you know, certain songs didn’t make it. And people would listen to it as a full body of work.

Watch the full video above!

11 Apr 2024

Nicki Minaj Surprises Fans on Her ‘Pink Friday 2’ Tour, Ice Spice Makes Acting Debut & Megan Thee Stallion Talks About Her Third Album | Billboard News

It’s Thursday April 11th  and welcome to Gag City! Nicki Minaj surprises her fans with multiple special guests at the Boston stop of her ‘Pink Friday 2’ world tour, Ice Spice will make her acting debut as she joins Spike Lee and Denzel Washington’s upcoming film ‘High and Low,’ Megan Thee Stallion talks about how her third album will be a “rebirth” for her as she continues her next era of music, we talk about all the festivals you should be going to from Coachella to Lovers and Friends, Keith Urban shares 5 things you didn’t know about his new song “Straight Line,” Hozier and Jojo Siwa make noise on the TikTok Billboard top 50, Billboard looks back at when Lady Gaga, TLC and Elton John’s “Pokerface,” “No Scrubs” and “Bennie and The Jets” went to No. 1 on the Hot 100.

Tetris Kelly:
Nicki’s girls, Meg’s album and Ice’s movie. We tell you what’s going down this festival season. Keith Urban breaks down his new song. We see who’s on top of the TikTok chart and take a look at past Hot 100 topics. It’s Thursday, April 11, and welcome to Billboard News. I am itching to get to the desert, but it’s only Thursday and we’ve got news to cover so let’s run it down. Nicki’s guests, Meg’s new music and Ice’s acting debut there’s a lot going on with the women in rap.

Nicki Minaj surprised fans at the Boston stop of her Pink Friday 2 world tour, where she brought out the queen mix girls doing “Super Freaky Girl.” JT, BIA, Katie Got Bandz, Akbar V and Malibu Mitch all took the stage to rap their verses. One of Nicki’s other collaborators is about to make her big screen debut. Ice Spice is headed to the movies. She joins Spike Lee and Denzel Washington’s fifth film. The film is a remake of the 1963 Japanese hit, “High and Low.” And we’re getting even more from the women of rap. Megan Thee Stallion describes her new album as a rebirth. She told Women’s Health that after being shot by Tory Lanez and the public’s reaction to the trial, she went through a dark time and found therapy. Now she says “I was inspired to create this album about rebirth because I am becoming a new person, physically and mentally.”

Watch to find out more!

11 Apr 2024

Keith Urban Shares 5 Things You Didn’t Know About New Song ‘Straight Line’ | Billboard

Country star Keith Urban shares 5 things you didn’t know about his new song “Straight Line.”

Keith Urban
Hey, Billboard, it’s Keith Urban here. These are five things you didn’t know about my new song “Straight Line.”

Keith Urban
This song was originally recorded with just drum machine and no real drums and we finished out the whole song. And for whatever reason, we just felt like it was linear and not going anywhere. And so we decided to put real drums on it. And when we did, it changed the whole thing in a big way. So shout-out to all the real drummers out there. When we started writing, the song was written in a stream of consciousness. … We had a groove and we kept singing, “Late night lover, late night lover.” And when one of the other writers was singing it, I thought he was saying straight line lover, and I thought that was more interesting. And then we were wondering what “straight line lover” meant and so we just trimmed it down to “Straight Line.”

Keith Urban
I wrote this song with my bass player, Jerry Flowers, the guy called Chase McGill. And a great producer/ songwriter called Greg Wells, a great musician, the four of us had never written together. We had two days to write. And the very first day we wrote a song and the very second day we wrote “Straight Line.” Both of the songs we wrote will be on this album.

Watch the full video above!

11 Apr 2024

Hozier Lands in Top 3, JoJo Siwa Outside Top 10 With ‘Karma’ on TikTok Billboard Top 50 | Billboard News

On ‘TikTok Billboard Top 50,’ chart Hozier’s “Too Sweet” jumps into Top 3, and JoJo Siwa lands just outside the Top 10 with “Karma.” Alek Olsen remains at No. 1 with “Someday I’ll Get It.”

Tetris Kelly:
One song holds on, one reaches a new peak, while another returns to the Top 10. Alek Olsen “Someday I’ll Get It” holds on to the top spot on the TikTok Billboard Top 50 for the chart posting April 11. While Hozier’s “Too Sweet” leaps up to No. 3. People are using it for any, and all kinds of videos. It’s doing well on the Hot 100, too, landing at No. 4. At six, Bakar’s “Hell N Back” returns to the chart three months later, thanks to a feature by Summer Walker. Where users pretend to hard launch their relationships, and landing just outside the Top 10 is JoJo Siwa’s “Karma.” Everyone can not stop talking about the new release. 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.

11 Apr 2024

Chart Rewind: Lady Gaga’s ‘Poker Face’ Hits No. 1 on the Hot 100 In 2009 | Billboard News

Today’s episode of Billboard‘s Chart Rewind looks back at when Lady Gaga, TLC and Elton John hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Pokerface,” “No Scrubs” and “Bennie and the Jets.”

Tetris Kelly:
This week on Chart Rewind, we have three very different No. 1 hits to celebrate from three very different artists. Let’s start 50 years ago, heading all the way back to 1974 when Elton John put out his sensational hit “Benny and the Jets,” which hit No. 1 on April 13, 1974. At the time, it was his second No. 1 after “Crocodile Rock.”

Next we leap forward 25 years to April 10, 1999. TLC had the third No. 1 Hot 100 here with “No Scrubs.” It stayed there for four weeks.

And finally, Lady Gaga in 2009. Her second Hot 100 No.1 was “Poker Face.” It made it to the top on April 11, 2009, just a few months after her first Hot 100 hit “Just Dance.”

11 Apr 2024

Doja Cat at Coachella, Usher at Lovers & Friends, & More: 2024 Festival Lineup | Billboard News

Festival season is here! We’re breaking down the biggest musical festivals and their lineups for 2024.

Tetris Kelly:
Coachella. Shaky Knees. Lovers & Friends. With some of the music festivals set to heat up the season, we have your go-to guide on all the hottest lineups around the country.

From the Indio desert to Sin City and Queens, New York, crowds across the nation are gearing up to experience live tunes from different cultures and genres of music. Throw in major fashion moments, surprise onstage collaborations and new music, and you have a jam-packed festival season ahead.

Things kick into high gear with the always electric Coachella music festival on April 12 through 14 and April 19 through 21. Lana Del Rey, Tyler, the Creator and Doja Cat will take the stage. Oh, and did we mention a No Doubt reunion?

If you’re in the mood for some rock, the Shaky Knees Music Festival has you covered in Atlanta. From May 3 to 5, you’ll be able to witness Noah Kahan, Weezer, Foo Fighters and more.

For those who love throwbacks from the 2000s, Lovers & Friends takes over Sin City on May 4 with plenty of nostalgia. Usher, Janet Jackson, The Backstreet Boys, TLC and more will hit this stage.

Grab your shades, sunscreen and dancing shoes, because there’s a little something for everybody, especially at Governors Ball. From June 7 to 9, the New York City festival will welcome Post Malone, The Killers and Peso Pluma for a collision of both Millennial and Gen Z audiences.

Meanwhile, country superstars like Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson and Hardy will band together for Faster Horses Festival in Brooklyn, Mich., from July 19 to 21.

And on Aug. 31, the inaugural Fool in Love Festival will see a once-in-a-lifetime event as retro soul and R&B legends bring the groove to SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. We’re talking about Lionel Richie, Diana Ross and Santana. Need I say more?

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. For more on this season’s music festivals, head over to Billboard.com

Watch the full video above!

10 Apr 2024

Jason Derulo Speaks on Diddy’s Legal Woes, Don Toliver Reportedly Arrested & More | Billboard News

Jason Derulo gave his two cents on Diddy’s current legal woes and Jelly Roll recalls bailing on meeting the mogul. Don Toliver has reportedly been arrested for suspicion of DUI.

Tetris Kelly
Jason Derulo says, “Diddy is innocent for now,” as Jelly Roll says “Diddy was not the vibe” and Don Toliver was allegedly arrested. Here’s three things you need to know in Hip-Hop. Jason Derulo broke into the biz writing songs for Diddy and his artists. So when TMZ caught up with him he had this to say, “I believe in innocent before proven guilty for sure.” Jelly Roll, maybe not so much.

Jelly Roll
I did Kimmel. The day Diddy did Kimmel, where they said do you want to meet such and such? And I said yeah, and I started walking that way. And as I was getting down the hallway, this is a true story. I said, “Nah.” Better not. And went and got back in the car,

Tetris Kelly
He told the ‘Canceled’ podcast, vibes were off and a Diddy photo wasn’t it.

Jelly Roll
Very seldom does things rub me in a way where I was like I don’t even know if that’s a picture I want to have. Yeah.

Tetris Kelly
Also reported by TMZ, Don Tolliver was arrested for suspicion of DUI. They are saying they received a report from California Highway Patrol, noting the artists was pulled over for speeding near the valley in SoCal. They know that he was released in the field and cited not taken to jail as an officer said, “Tolliver was cooperating in full.”

10 Apr 2024

JoJo Siwa On Creative Process Behind “Karma” Lyrics & Music Video | How It Went Down | Billboard

In today’s episode of ‘How It Went Down,’ JoJo Siwa talks about the different versions of “Karma” she had to create before finding the perfect one, why she isn’t fazed about the public’s opinion on the music video and more.

JoJo Siwa:
Hey everybody, my name is JoJo Siwa and this is how it went down with my new song and music video “Karma.”

This song is so special and I knew that I wanted this song to be, not only a part of my life, but part of my life in such a massive way in such a big picture. Originally, I was scared of the lyrics. I was 18 years old, I didn’t want to say b*tch, I didn’t want to say I was a bad girl because I wasn’t a bad girl. So then we did some versions of the song you know, we did a version where it was “You were a bad girl. You did some bad things.” And then we did “she was a bad girl. She did some bad things.” And I was like, well, why are we making it specific to girls? “They were bad.” Okay, that doesn’t work. We tried all the versions and then nothing was as strong as “I was a bad girl.”

We actually recorded “Karma” six different times. I had six sessions on “Karma,” a couple of times with different vocal producers. That was really just because it’s such a massive song with so many elements. If you listen to the first version of “Karma,” a whole different song, the bridge, a whole different bridge, the bridge basically the whole time was one note and it was really cool.

Watch the full video above!

10 Apr 2024

Rihanna Reflects on A$AP Rocky Grabbing Her Butt at VMAs, Offers ‘R9’ Update & More | Billboard News

Rihanna is an open book! The “Lift Me Up” singer talked about her relationship with A$AP Rocky, her thoughts on having more kids, the long-awaited ‘R9’ and more!

Tetris Kelly:
Rihanna unfiltered. She’s talking the moment A$AP rubbed up on her that had everyone talking, if she’s up for more kids and of course, the forever looming R9.

Rihanna has a whopping 14 No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hits, so when she speaks, we listen. While sitting down with Interview mag, the infamous moment came up where her man A$AP Rocky grabbed her butt while performing at the 2012 VMAs. “So when he grabbed my a– that night, everybody thought I was about to … my team was worried that I wanted to have his head on the f–king mantle, but I was like, ‘Ah, nah.’ That’s when everybody was like, ‘Oh my god, she likes him.’”

And she’s down for more babies, saying, “I would go for more than two. I would try for my girl. But of course, if it’s another boy, it’s another boy.”

And of course she talked about music, and she’s apparently the opposite of Beyoncé. “My brain is working backward right now. I usually have the music first, and the music leads me into all these visual opportunities. And now I’m having all these visuals.”

Whatever comes first, RiRi, just feed us, please!

09 Apr 2024

Billie Eilish Leading the Way in Sustainability Efforts — How Could It Change the Industry?

Billie Eilish is about to hit fans with her most sustainable release yet.

On the new Billboard Pop Shop Podcast, Katie & Keith are joined by Billboard deputy editor Lyndsey Havens, who has interviewed Eilish twice ahead of the announcement of her third full-length studio album Hit Me Hard and Soft, out May 17. Both of Havens’ interviews — one for Billboard‘s sustainability issue last month and one to speak specifically about making Hit Me her most eco-friendly album yet — focused on the efforts Eilish and her mother, Maggie Baird, have made and are making to prioritize the environment in Billie’s career.

Below, listen to the new episode, where we discuss what’s next and whether other pop stars might follow suit.

Trending on Billboard

Also on the show, we’ve got news about Beyoncé’s huge week on the charts — with her Cowboy Carter album topping both the Billboard 200 and Top Country Albums chart, how 23 songs from the album are on the Billboard Hot 100, and how her total count of entries on the Hot 100 now surpasses 100.

The Billboard Pop Shop Podcast is your one-stop shop for all things pop on Billboard‘s weekly charts. You can always count on a lively discussion about the latest pop news, fun chart stats and stories, new music, and guest interviews with music stars and folks from the world of pop. Casual pop fans and chart junkies can hear Billboard‘s executive digital director, West Coast, Katie Atkinson and Billboard’s managing director, charts and data operations, Keith Caulfield every week on the podcast, which can be streamed on Billboard.com or downloaded in Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast provider. (Click here to listen to the previous edition of the show on Billboard.com.)