Media

21 Sep 2023

Shakira Looks Back on Her Career, Talks No. 1 Songs, Collaborations & More | My Chart History | Billboard Cover

Global superstar Shakira takes a look back at her chart history and talks through some of her most iconic musical moments, from No. 1 songs to her most memorable collaborations in her Billboard cover video.

Shakira:

Hey everyone, I’m Shakira and this is my Billboard Chart History.

“Donde Estás Corazón” was my international hit. It brought me to many different countries other than my own country and I was only 18 so that was a very exciting moment of my life.

“Ciega, Sordomuda,” I think it was my homage to Mexican music. I came up with the horn line and the lyrics and I co-wrote the music with Estéfano. It was super exciting at the time because not too long after the song was published, we did the MTV Unplugged, and we brought in a mariachi group, so I got to sing that song in its purest form, Mexican style.

“Whenever, Wherever” is definitely one of my most beloved songs and personally represents a big deal because it was the first single off Laundry Service. It was the album that allowed me to cross over to general markets in the U.S. It was like my biggest hit until that date in the U.S. and still to this day it’s one of the highlights of my shows when I’m on tour.

On “Underneath Your Clothes”:

It was my first ballad in English. It was a very personal song that I wrote when I was very much in love. Yeah, it’s one of those very iconic songs that when I perform it live, people sing along from beginning to end. Never gets old and never fails. It’s one of those songs that puts a big smile on my face when I perform.

Watch the full video above.

20 Sep 2023

Taylor Swift’s ‘1989’ Vault Tracks & Travis Kelce Rumors, 98 Degrees Get Real About *NSYNC Reunion & More | Billboard News

Calling all Swifties! There is a ton of Taylor Swift news to update you on. The singer announced the names for four out of the five vault tracks from her upcoming album ‘1989 (Taylor’s Version),’ Travis Kelce’s brother Jason Kelce jokingly confirms those Taylor and Travis romance rumors and more. 98 Degrees opened up about how the *NSYNC reunion at the VMAs “stole their thunder.” Rosalía reveals five things you didn’t know about her, and more!

Tetris Kelly:
Swifties are solving puzzles to learn more about Taylor’s next album and her love life. 98 Degrees says *NSYNC “stole their thunder.” We learned five things about Mya and Rosalia and we got a Latin Music Week update straight from Miami.

I’m Tetris with Billboard News. It’s Wednesday, September 20th, and we’ve got a whole lot of Taylor Swift to talk about.

Taylor Swift has a new athletic man? A family member jokingly confirms as she drops her ‘1989 (Taylor’s Version)’ track list and is seen on the town with Joe Jonas’ ex. Buckle up, Swifties. We have a lot to unpack today.

Taylor Swift:
Oh, look! You did it! You unlocked the ‘1989 (Taylor’s Version)’ vault.

Tetris Kelly:
Taylor Swift broke Google yesterday after getting her fanbase to decipher 33 million puzzles to reveal the track list of ‘1989 (Taylor’s Version)’ vault tracks, and I for one know these songs like “Is It Over Now?” and “Suburban Legends” will be my entire personality.

And Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner are headed for divorce and Taylor knows a thing or two about being Joe’s ex. The two ladies were spotted around New York City on a girls’ night out. But Taylor might not be single.

Watch the full video above!

20 Sep 2023

Exclusive: 2023 MAMA Awards to Return to Japan | Billboard News

The 2023 MAMA Awards are headed back to Tokyo and Billboard News has all the exclusive details!

Tetris Kelly:
K-pop’s biggest awards show is headed back to Japan and Billboard has all the latest. The 2023 MAMA Awards is headed to Tokyo and you can catch all the action live thanks to MNet. K-Pop’s biggest awards show will take place at the Tokyo Dome on November 28th and 29th, with groundbreaking performances and iconic show moments.

The MAMAs is the awards show for K-pop music. Last year in Osaka, J-Hope, IVE, Stray Kids and so many more took home trophies, and this year is bound to be just as exciting. Of course Billboard will be on the red carpet talking to all your favorite artists.

NewJeans:
Hi, we’re NewJeans. It is an absolute big honor for us to be able to have been invited in participate to in MAMAs 2022.

Tetris Kelly:
For all your mama’s updates, make sure you check out Billboard.com

Watch the full video above!

20 Sep 2023

Here Are 5 Things You Didn’t Know About Mýa | Billboard

Mýa reveals five things you didn’t know about her to Billboard.

Mýa:
Hey, it’s Mýa! And here are five things you don’t know about me.

First job: First hustle — graffiti art.

Insomniac.

I do my makeup very well. I love doing makeup!

I did my hair today. Aren’t you proud of me?

The last thing you don’t know about me: I can throw down in the kitchen. My signature dish is vegan crab cakes. Yes.

And those are five things you didn’t know about me.

Watch the full video above!

19 Sep 2023

Mýa Meets Her Doppelgänger, Talks Album Anniversaries, Bounty Killer Collab & More | Billboard News

Mýa sat down with her Billboard doppelgänger, Heran Mamo, and opened up about her album anniversaries, love for Jamaica and dancehall, the lessons she’s learned throughout the years and more!

Heran Mamo:
I get told often that I look like you from, like, artists I interview to, like, random people at events.

Mýa:
Oh my goodness! This is so on point, I thought that was me.

Hey, I’m Mýa, and you’re watching Billboard News!

Heran Mamo:
Well, thank you so much for coming today! I’m super excited to interview you!

Mýa:
Thank you for having me! Excited to be here!

Heran Mamo:
I have to congratulate you first because you’ve spent 25 incredible years in the music industry, and I’m curious: What is the biggest lesson and the biggest blessing of it all?

Mýa:
The biggest blessing — I’ll start there — is to, of course, help others to be in a position to. Traveling is always beautiful, experiencing new places, cultures, food. I’m a foodie. Lessons … you know to remain a student — that’s the biggest one because there’s always something to learn, a position to learn, a new skill set to learn for anything in life, and staying humble will keep you a student and then eventually a master so you can help others. Yeah.

Heran Mamo:
I think you were recently in Jamaica, right? For the music video for your new single “Whine” with Bounty Killer. Tell me about that new single.

Mýa:
Funny story is I had a solo version of the video shot two years prior to reaching out to Bounty Killer and I’ve always wanted a feature on that record. And so we went back down to Jamaica two years later and you know, to the same location and put Bounty Killer in the video, inserted him, and it all looks cohesive now.

Watch the full video above!

19 Sep 2023

Maren Morris Is ‘Righteously Angry’ & Leaving Country Music: So What’s Next?

Maren Morris has been a country hitmaker since her 2016 breakthrough “My Church.” But last week, she released a pair of new songs — “The Tree” and “Get the Hell Out of Here” — along with a mission statement that makes it clear she’s no longer interested in playing by the rules of country music.

“These two songs are incredibly key to my next step because they express a very righteously angry and liberating phase of my life these last couple of years, but also how my navigation is finally pointing towards the future, whatever that may be or sound like,” Morris said in a press release. “Honoring where I’ve been and what I’ve achieved in country music, but also freely moving forward.”

On the new Billboard Pop Shop Podcast, Katie & Keith are looking at other recent examples of stars working outside country — Taylor Swift’s explicit pop pivot, Kacey Musgraves bypassing the establishment, Zach Bryan charting his own course — and how they’ve all found their own lanes beyond the genre. Morris herself has already found success outside country, with her Billboard Hot 100 top five hit “The Middle” with Zedd and Grey (also a seven-week No. 1 on Pop Airplay) and her crossover hit “The Bones,” which topped the Adult Contemporary and Adult Pop Airplay charts.

Listen below:

Also on the show, we’ve got chart news on how Olivia Rodrigo doubles up at No. 1 on both the Billboard 200 albums chart and the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart with her new GUTS album and its single “Vampire,” how Fleetwood Mac is back on the Billboard 200 with a new archival live album, how friend of the podcast Josh Groban can be heard on a new No. 1 album on our Cast Albums chart, and how rising jazz star Laufey makes a splash on the Billboard 200 and atop our jazz charts with the largest debut for a jazz album in nearly two years.

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.)

19 Sep 2023

Megan Thee Stallion Talks Going Viral With Justin Timberlake, Christina Milian Addresses Jennifer Lopez Feud Rumors & More | Billboard News

Megan Thee Stallion talked to Billboard about her partnership with Cheetos, what it was like working with Cardi B again and going viral with Justin Timberlake. Music powerhouse Mýa sat down with her Billboard doppelgänger Heran Mamo and opened up about her album anniversaries, love for Jamacia and dancehall, the lessons she’s learned throughout the years and more. Christina Milian addresses Jennifer Lopez feud rumors over Jennifer’s track “Play.” And more!

Tetris Kelly:
Megan Thee Stallion talks about Cardi B and Justin Timberlake. Christina Milian addresses feud rumors with Jennifer Lopez. Zach Brian collabs with Noah Kahan and Bon Iver. Mya drops by our studio and we learned five things about ITZY.

Welcome to Billboard News. I’m Tetris Kelly, it’s Tuesday, September 19th and we’re starting off today with Megan Thee Stallion, straight from the horse’s mouth.

Cheeto Commercial Extras:
FU, Megan.

Megan Thee Stallion:
FU!

Cheeto Commercial Extras:
FU!

Megan Thee Stallion:
FU, all the way!

Tetris Kelly:
Megan Thee Stallion is giving out scholarships with Cheetos and she’s talking to Billboard about Cardi B and Justin Timberlake. Let’s talk about the Hotty!

Megan Thee Stallion:
Welcome to Flaming Hot University, where we teach you everything about the flaming hot lifestyle.

Tetris Kelly:
It’s Flaming Hot University and Megan is the official Hot Girl Dean of Admission for a partnership that gives back with scholarships, a curriculum and, of course, merch. But she talked with Billboard about so much more!

On her recent “Bongos” collaborator, Cardi B, she stated, “She literally just let me do me. This is the second time she sent me a song and I’ll be like, “friend, can I do whatever I want to do on the beat? I’m gonna put two verses on here. Alright?” She always let me do whatever I want to do creatively.” They performed the track at the VMAs, where a video went viral where it looked like Meg cussed out Justin Timberlake backstage.

Watch the full video above!

19 Sep 2023

Here Are Five Things You Didn’t Know About ITZY | Billboard

ITZY reveals five things you didn’t know about them.

ITZY:
Hey! This is ITZY!

Lia:
And these are five facts that you might not know about us.

Chaeryeong:
Let’s talk about it!

Ryujin:
Go on, Yuna.

Yuna:
Oh, actually…

Ryujin:
You’re hesitating.

Yuna:
I really really love our fans.

ITZY:
Actually?

Ryujin:
Do you have to put “actually” in front of it?

Yuna:
Yep, that’s true!

Lia:
Actually, I gained weight after coming here because there was so much delicious food everywhere so yeah, definitely enjoying this time.

Chaeryeong:
Me too!

Yeji:
Actually, I don’t like coffee-

Yuna:
Everyone knows!

Yeji:
But this day, I like coffee.

ITZY:
Oh!

Chaeryeong:
I ordered an acai bowl for an hour later.

Ryujin:
Later? It will come?

Chaeryeong:
Yes.

Ryujin:
Today in the morning I ate an M Morning. It was so delicious. On the top and the bottom was the pancake.

Lia:
We’re ITZY and these are some facts that you might not know about us.

Chaeryeong:
Bye!

Ryujin:
Thank you!

Watch the full video above!

18 Sep 2023

Jung Kook Misses BTS, Suga’s Enlistment Date, Halle Berry Slams Drake & More | Billboard News

The numbers are in for this week’s Hot 100! Did Doja Cat hold on to No. 1? Is country music still reigning over the charts? Plus, Katy Perry sold her music catalog to Litmus for a whopping $225 million. The deal includes rights to the singer’s five chart-topping songs off ‘Teenage Dream.’ BTS’ Jung Kook talks about missing his bandmates and Suga has revealed his military enlistment date. And more!

Tetris Kelly:
Olivia Rodrigo is the queen of the charts. Jung Kook says he misses BTS as Suga prepares for military duty. Drake allegedly crosses Halle Berry. Katy Perry made bank selling her catalog and we learned five things about Renee Rapp.

I’m Tetris with Billboard News. Hope you had a great weekend! It’s Monday, September 18th, and we have a huge update for our charts.

On the Billboard 200, Olivia Rodrigo’s sophomore album Guts debuts at No. 1, making her the first female artist to debut their first two entries at No. 1 since Ariana Grande. But that’s not it for her or us. Today, we launched our Hot 100 in a brand new way for the first time on video and I couldn’t be happier to deliver you the goods. Let’s run it down!

This is the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 for the week dated September 23. Down from its No. 6 peak is “Dance the Night.” Gunna falls to No. 9. SZA’s “Snooze” is just shy of its No. 7 peak. But good idea, right? Olivia is up from No. 26. “Last Night” falls again to No. 6. Taylor’s “Summer” is still going at No. 5. “Fast Car” slows down to No. 4. And Zach Bryan is at No. 3 in his third week. Down from her first solo No. 1 last week, Doja Cat. And back at No. 1 for the first time since July… “Vampire.”

Watch the full video above!

18 Sep 2023

Here Are 5 Things You Didn’t Know About Reneé Rapp | Billboard

Reneé Rapp reveals five things you don’t know about her.

Reneé Rapp:
Hey, what’s up? My name is Reneé Rapp and these are five things that you might not know about me — and if you do, you pay much too attention to me.

I played golf my whole life and I started on the boy’s golf team in middle school. And they were all super rude to me, for the most part. And I have a distinct memory of someone hitting me in the back of the head with a golf ball. So I hope you rot.

I have a good one… oh, I’m a fake vegan. I was vegan, actually, in real life for two years. And now I just tell people, I’ll be like, “yeah, sorry, I’m a vegan,” and then they’ll be like, “Oh my God.” And I’ll be like, “yeah” and then like, one of my friends will usually be like, “she’s not a vegan. I don’t know why she’s lying to you.”

I used to, when I was a kid, I used to dress my little brother up, putting him in little like skirts and bows, and he looked absolutely stunning. For a while, my little brother was Kylie to me, my younger sister.

I was in Student Council, but not just Student Council, I was actually on the State Board for North Carolina Student Council. I don’t remember exactly what that title was but it was something advisor. And it was a big f—ing deal.

My legal middle name is not Mary Jane. It’s actually just Jane, but my grandmother’s name, who my middle name is after, is Mary Jane and I loved Spider-Man. And I thought MJ was super hot. I got really pissed that nobody put Mary Jane as my legal name and I started just calling myself Reneé Mary Jane Rapp, and now it’s stuck.

Watch the full video above!