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12 Dec 2023

BTS Officially On Hiatus, Nicki Minaj’s World Tour, Ye’s Listening Party & More | Billboard News

BTS is officially on hiatus until 2023. Nicki Minaj announced her ‘Pink Friday 2’ World Tour and teamed up with 50 Cent for a new version of her track “Beep Beep.” Kanye West & Ty Dolla $ign hosted a listening party for their upcoming joint album ‘Vultures.’ Dove Cameron opened up to Billboard’s Rania Aniftos about creating her album ‘Alchemical: Volume 1,’ life after the success of her track “Boyfriend,” being vulnerable in her writing, and the lessons she learned from her Disney Channel days. Sarz, Asake and Gunna took us behind the scenes of the music video for their track “Happiness.” And more!

Tetris Kelly:
BTS is leaving us and we aren’t well. Kanye West has a jam-packed listening party full of A-list features, while Nicki Minaj grabs 50 Cent for a feature of her own. We go behind the video with Sars, Asake and Gunna and sit down with Dove Cameron.

It’s Tuesday, December 12th. I’m Tetris and this is Billboard News. Today’s show is pretty jam-packed so I won’t waste any time because this first story is gonna be hard for me to get through.

Say it ain’t so! The remainder of our men of BTS are heading to the military and their goodbye messages have us in pieces. No, seriously, where’s the tissue? BTS is officially on hiatus until 2025 and today is really hard, okay? A couple of days ago, RM touched ARMY in their souls with his letter stating in part “The day has come. I believe this will be some strange and new period of inspiration and learning for all of us. It’s scary, but during that vague time is there anything else that’s comforting? That’s probably your love.” Okay, I can get through this. I mean, Jin hilariously commented, “Welcome. It’s your first time in the military, right?” BTS’ youngest member Jung Kook said goodbye on Weverse, and you already know I was a puddle when Jimin also emotionally said goodbye with his clean-shaven look. Those two enlisted as buddies together. V posted a note to Weverse saying, “Actually I’m really sad that I can’t make happy memories with my ARMY for the time being. I’ll be back after 18 months of being healthy, so take care of your ARMY and if you’re looking for something to be happy about every day, cheers! I’m here!” BTS shared a photo of all seven members reunited before the big day. We’ll miss you guys but we’ll be right here when you’re back in 2025.

Watch the full video above!

12 Dec 2023

Get an Exclusive Behind-the-Scenes Look at Sarz, Asake & Gunna’s ‘Happiness’ Music Video | Billboard

Sarz, Asake and Gunna break down the new music video for their new song “Happiness’” exclusively for Billboard.

Jamar Hawkins:
Hey guys, this is a Billboard exclusive sneak peek.

Sarz:
Welcome, Billboard. This is Sarz, and you’re on my set for “Happiness” featuring Asake and Gunna.

Edgar Esteves:
Hey, what’s up! It’s Edgar Esteves. I’m the director today for Sarz, Asake and Gunna “Happiness.” Today, Billboard, we’re taking you behind the scenes of the music video.

Zev York:
The director today is Edgar Esteves, the GOAT!

Edgar Esteves:
So right here, we got Zev, the creative director. This music video concept is really just about, like, when you know life waters your seed and blossoms you into the flower that you are, bringing your own happiness to fruition — and through costume, wardrobe, through good energy, we can achieve that.

Taylor Webster:
Hi, Billboard. Thank you so much for coming. I’m the publicist on set. The video is about everyone coming together, all genders, bright colors, and really just, like, illustrating what happiness is.

Edgar Esteves:
Guys, this is Zayd. I shot a video with him about a few months ago and now we’re back.

Zayd Ezzeldine:
We’re back.

Alexa Perkins:
Hi, Billboard, what’s up? It’s Alexa from Empire. Today we are on site for Asake, Sarz and Gunna’s music video “Happiness” dropping Dec. 8. The video shoot is in the middle of beautiful Calabasas, Calif.

Edgar Esteves:
The song just reminds me of just, like, nature, Earth, smiles, sun flares and that’s why we came to the hills in Calabasas, Calif., to shoot everything, where we have these beautiful, you know brown and green hills that in post (post-production) we’re going to turn all green.

Watch the full video above!

11 Dec 2023

Cardi B Confirms Split From Offset, 2024 Golden Globe Nominations & More | Billboard News

Cardi B confirms her split from Offset and says she’s “been single for a while.” Olivia Rodrigo performs hit songs from her album ‘Guts’ on ‘Saturday Night Live’ and ‘Tiny Desk.’ Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez, Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa, Ryan Gosling and more get nominated for the 2024 Golden Globes. Brenda Lee continues to top the Hot 100 chart and more!

Tetris Kelly:
Cardi B says she’s single, while Offset shuts down wild rumors. Some of your favorite artists get nominated for the Golden Globes. Olivia Rodrigo gives epic performances over the weekend. And we revealed this week’s top 10 for the Billboard Hot 100. I am Tetris Kelly, welcome to another week of Billboard News. It’s Monday, December 11, and we’re kicking today off by setting some rumors to rest coming straight from Cardi B and Offset themselves.

Cardi B:
I have been single for a minute now but I have been afraid to like, not afraid, I just don’t know how like to tell the world.

Tetris Kelly:
Okay, girl, you better let them know. Cardi B says her and Offset are done, as Offset is coming at Blueface for saying he slept with Chrisean Rock. I was not expecting all this on my Monday morning, but let me break it down for you.

Cardi B:
I want to start 2024 like fresh, open. I don’t know, I’m curious for new life, for a new beginning.

Tetris Kelly:
You heard it from Cardi. She’s been single for a while and didn’t know how to tell us but she’s also referencing the drama surrounding Offset. Blueface fired off several tweets about his baby mama Chrisean, with one saying, “So you ain’t Cardi husband November 10th at 4am at their house in LA? I’m making this up.?” Offset responding to one of the tweets saying, “I never talked or touched that lady. Real talk man, you need some help.” Does Cardi believe all this?

Cardi B:
When it comes for today’s events and stuff, I don’t know if it’s — I don’t think it’s true. I don’t care to find out.

Tetris Kelly:
Wishing all of them the best in figuring this out. Onto some Olivia Rodrigo. She had a busy weekend and I was obsessed with every moment.

Watch the full video above!

11 Dec 2023

Hot 100 Chart Reveal: Dec.16 | Billboard News

Christmas music continues to take over our charts. Wham!, Mariah Carey and Brenda Lee battle it out for the top spot this week, but who will get the No. 1 spot? Watch the full video to find out.

Tetris Kelly
This is the Hot 100 top 10 for the week dated December 16th. Slipping two spots to No. 10 is “Paint the Town Red.” Holding tight at No. 9 is “Snooze.”

Tetris Kelly
Two spots “It’s The Most Wonderful Time of The Year,” still at No. 7 is “Cruel Summer.” Keeping it “Holly Jolly” at No. 6 is Burl Ives. Jack Harlow falls to No. 5. While Wham! climbs to 4, “Jingle Bell Rock” moves up to No. 3. And Mariah keeps the spirit at No. 2 and for her second week at the peak is the evergreen Brenda Lee.

08 Dec 2023

David Foster & Katharine McPhee on Creating ‘Christmas Songs’ Album, Their Relationship Advice & More | Billboard News

David Foster and Katharine McPhee talk about how they were inspired to create their ‘Christmas Songs’ album, Foster’s secrets to making great Christmas music, how they make their relationship work, their favorite family holiday traditions and more.

David Foster:
Oh, I thought that you’re taking your ring off! And furthermore, I don’t want to be married anymore.

David Foster:
Hi, I’m David Foster.

Katharine McPhee:
And I’m Katharine McPhee

David Foster:
And this is Billboard News.

Rania Aniftos:
Hey everybody, welcome back to Billboard News. I am Rania Aniftos and I am so honored because we are here today with David Foster and Katharine McPhee.

David Foster:
Let’s hear it, folks!

Katharine McPhee:
Live studio audience!

Rania Aniftos:
We’re finally in the Christmas spirit. You guys have your Christmas album, your second Christmas album together. Tell me a bit about why you decided to give it another go?

Katharine McPhee:
It’s not really a second Christmas album. The way we look at it is that it’s like one complete album. Most albums have, what? Thirteen tracks on it.

David Foster:
Right.

Katharine McPhee:
So now we just combined the two last year…

David Foster:
We did seven and seven. Seven last year, seven this year.

Katharine McPhee:
Yeah, so it’s like one big album. So you can now get the whole thing in one sort of bundle and

David Foster:
It’s called ‘Christmas Songs.’ You know why?

Rania Aniftos:
Why?

David Foster:
“Hey Siri, play Christmas songs.”

Rania Aniftos:
To be fair, it probably doesn’t hurt that algorithm, right? The SEO to get it up at the top

David Foster:
Smart girl.

Watch the full interview above!

08 Dec 2023

Nicki Minaj, Tate McRae & Sabrina Carpenter Release New Music, Akon & Sammy Wilk’s New Merch, More | Billboard News

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.

Nicki Minaj releases her highly anticipated ‘Pink Friday 2’ album. After success with her single “Greedy,” Tate McRae has released her album ‘Think Later.’ Sabrina Carpenter releases more holiday music with her ‘Fruitcake’ EP, featuring the single “santa doesn’t know you like I do.” Katharine McPhee and David Foster talks about their new Christmas album ‘Christmas Songs’ and what makes their relationship work. Billboard All Access shows some of the biggest Latin artists across the globe. Sammy Wilk and Akon show off their new merch on Billboard Live Shopping Week with talkshoplive and more!

Tetris Kelly
We’ve got albums from Nicki Minaj, Tate McRae and The Killers. Katherine McPhee and David Foster help us get in the holiday spirit. We celebrate the Queen of Rap’s birthday with a look back at her legacy. We’ve got your ticket to the hottest shows coast to coast. Plus our Billboard Live Shopping Week with talkshoplive continues. I’m Tetris Kelly, it’s Friday, December 8th, and it’s almost the weekend. We’ve got some Billboard News to get through first, starting with our Friday Music Guide. Tate McRae has already charted two songs on the Hot 100 in her latest era, and now we have the full project ‘Think Later’

Tetris Kelly
We’ll have more new music for you throughout the show. But first we’ve got a very special birthday girl to celebrate.

Evan Burke
Only an icon can give out gifts on their birthday. And that’s the Queen of Rap Nicki Minaj

Evan Burke
And from her “Boom Ba Da Doom Bass” to it being Pink Friday yet again, we’re celebrating Nicki’s 41st birthday in this week’s Pop Culture Rewind.

Evan Burke
It’s a monster moment in pop culture we’ll never forget. Nicki Minaj was killing the features early in her career, but her first album ‘Pink Friday’ was full of massive hits.

Evan Burke
None bigger than “Super Bass.”

Watch the full video above!

08 Dec 2023

Akon & Sammy Wilk Send Love to Their Fans With New Merch on TalkShopLive | Billboard News

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.

Akon reveals the renaming of his merch line to Konvict Kulture and Sammy Wilk announces autographed merch along with upcoming meet-and-greets for Billboard Live Shopping Week.

Tetris Kelly:
Along with TalkShopLive, we’ve been bringing you the best gift ideas from your favorite artists for Billboard Live Shopping Week. On Thursday, Akon brought out his Superfan gear with autographed merch and special-edition pieces.

Akon:
Konvict Kulture is pretty much what we’re at now, I realized that Konvict Music was more than just music; it really became culturalized globally so we changed the name from Konvict Music to now Konvict Kulture.

Tetris Kelly:
We also linked up with Sammy Wilk, who made available autograph merch and chances for meet-and-greets.

Sammy Wilk:
This is my sending you love merch. I made the design with my buddies.

Rania Aniftos:
I love that.

Sammy Wilk:
It has an abstract hand on the back

Rania Aniftos:
So cute.

Sammy Wilk:
And it’s holding a heart and saying ‘sending you love’ and really I’m trying to simplify my life.

Rania Aniftos:
I love that.

Sammy Wilk:
I feel like if I’m all over the place, my whole life is all over the place and I always say “Sending you love” so let me just make a piece out of it.

Rania Aniftos:
I think it’s a simple sentiment that can be applied to a lot of situations.

Sammy Wilk:
Yes.

Rania Aniftos:
Like life can just be put down to sending love.

Sammy Wilk:
Yes.

08 Dec 2023

Pop Culture Rewind: Celebrate Nicki Minaj’s Birthday by Looking Back at the Road That Led to ‘Pink Friday 2’ | Billboard News

Nicki Minaj celebrates her 41st birthday with the release of her much anticipated album Pink Friday 2, and Billboard is taking a look back at everything Nicki achieved when she broke through and released her debut album Pink Friday.

Evan Burke
Only an icon can give out gifts on their birthday. And that’s the queen of rap Nicki Minaj

Evan Burke
And from her “boom ba da boom bass” to it being Pink Friday yet again, we’re celebrating Nicki’s 41st birthday in this week’s pop culture rewind.

Evan Burke
It’s a monster moment in pop culture we’ll never forget. Nicki Minaj was killing the features early in her career, but her first album Pink Friday was full of massive hits.

Evan Burke
None bigger than “Super Bass.”

Evan Burke
A pop culture moments if we ever saw one.

Evan Burke
The album went No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and spawned the follow up Pink Friday…Roman Reloaded, another No. 1. Is the third time also a charm for Nicki’s December 8th birthday? She’s releasing Pink Friday 2 and as teased us with track “Last Time I Saw You.” The rapper has three Hot 100 No. 1 hits “Say So” with Dojo Cat, “Trollz” with 6ix9ine and her solo hit “Super Freaky Girl.”

Evan Burke
Which chart will her loyal Barbs help her top as a birthday gift back? We can’t wait to see. We’ll have another huge moment for you next week in our Pop Culture Rewind.

07 Dec 2023

Ice Spice & Doja Cat Open Up in New Podcast Episode, Karol G Billboard Cover & More | Billboard News

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.

Ice Spice and Doja Cat discuss a wide variety of topics in a new episode of Instagram’s podcast ‘Close Friends Only,’ Billboard reveals their latest cover star, Colombian superstar Karol G, the Billboard Español and Latin staffs rank the best Latin pop songs of the 21st century, Playboi Carti once again tops the TikTok Billboard top 50 with “Sky,” Angela Simmons shows off her vegan Angela Cakes and Jordin Sparks shares her favorite holiday gifts from Walmart and more!

Tetris Kelly
Karol G graces the cover of Billboard. We break down the top Latin pop songs of the 21st century. Doja Cat and Ice Spice launch a podcast, we’ve seen who’s dominating our TikTok Billboard Top 50 and our TalkShopLive week continues with Jordin Sparks. Welcome back to Billboard News, I’m Tetris Kelly, and it’s Thursday, December 7th. I can’t wait to get to our latest cover start but first, let’s get into Doja Cat and Ice Spice’s new podcasts.

Ice Spice
What do you consider as flirting on IG? Hyping up in comments, liking your story

Doja Cat
leaving a comment on every single photo

Ice Spice
Oh my god, not me flirting with you. I comment on everything.

Tetris Kelly
Doja Cat and Ice Spice are giving us everything we need over on IG and we’re breaking down some of their best moments. Instagram has treated us to a special edition podcast called ‘Close Friends Only’ and it features our queens Doja Cat and Ice Spice in their first ever sit down. They talked memes, fashion, beauty trends and yes, one day we could have the chance to be on Ice Spice’s close friends.
Doja Cat
How would someone make the cut for your close friends list? What’s the checklist?

Ice Spice
The checklist would have to be we’ve met in person at least once. Okay, yeah, that’s about it.

07 Dec 2023

Angela Simmons on Angela’s Cakes & Jordin Sparks’ Top Walmart Gifts:  TalkShopLive | Billboard News

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.

Angela Simmons shows off Angela’s Cakes during day three of Billboard’s Live Shopping Week and Jordin Sparks shares her top gifts from Walmart for the holiday season.

Tetris Kelly:
All week long we are here helping you with your holiday shopping by partnering with TalkShopLive. Yesterday we teamed up with Jordin Sparks and Walmart to bring you gift ideas for both children and adults. We were also joined up with Angela Simmons for a peek into the world of her ‘Angela’s Cakes.’

To shop any of the items featured use the link below.

Shop Angela Cakes or Jordin Sparks’ top gifts from Walmart: https://talkshop.live/watch/7S5oXCi3Agld, https://talkshop.live/watch/FgH25lMxGbCK