Media

05 Jul 2023

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

Austin Mahone reveals five things you didn’t know about him.

Austin Mahone:
Hey, I’m Austin Mahone, and here are five things that you may not know about me.

The first thing is that you should know is that I’m country. I’m from San Antonio, Texas. I grew up, you know, going to every single rodeo that I could. My first concert I ever went to was Kenny Chesney, and I just love country music.

And the second thing you may not know about me is that everything that you saw in my “Kuntry” music video was real — it’s from my family. That’s just what they love to do in their spare time is get their friends and their friends’ trucks together and go mudding and drink beer and scream at the top of their lungs and shove people in the muddy water. It’s just a good time.

The third thing that people may not know about me is I’m 6 feet tall, so just know.

The fourth thing is I have a film account. I like to shoot film pictures. So if you want to see my work, it’s in my bio, just click the link in there.

The fifth thing is I grew up with two dogs and two cats, and I think I might prefer cats over dogs.

I’m Austin Mahone. And those are five things that you may not have known about me

05 Jul 2023

Lily Rose Reveals Her First Celebrity Crush While Playing Fishing for Answers | Billboard Country Live

Lily Rose plays Fishing for Answers at Billboard’s Country Live event.

Lily Rose:
What’s up, y’all? I’m Lily Rose, and I’m going Fishing for Answers with Billboard.

First celebrity crush? I think it would have to be Nick Jonas. In a crazy turn of events, it’s Nick Jonas.

The best concert I’ve ever attended? I’m not gonna lie, I went to see Taylor Swift last month, and it was three and a half hours of the best production and audio I’ve ever heard. So, Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour.

What’s the craziest thing that’s happened to you live on stage? I had to kick a group of people out and it took, like, eight security guards to get this one woman out, and she ended up releasing herself on her pants while they were leaving. It was all crazy.

Who was my style icon and why? Actually, one of the people that really influenced me to start wearing jeans and boots this way was the old goalkeeper for the U.S. women’s soccer team, Ashlyn Harris. She just does such a cool line of really masculine clothing and integrates men’s clothes into her wardrobe. And I love that!

Most embarrassing onstage moment? Oh my gosh. So my favorite artist of all time in country is Sam Hunt. When I got invited to open for him on tour last year, I was so stoked. It was my first arena and I forgot the words to “Villain” when I asked everyone to sing it back, and that’s my only hit, so I should probably know one!

Who’s made me the most starstruck? I was in the same room as Chance the Rapper about two weeks ago, and that was pretty wild. We’re used to seeing a lot of country people and pop, but one of my favorite rappers … that was pretty cool. He told me I have a cool voice and then I blacked out, so it’s great.

What is my guilty pleasure food? Queso and guacamole. All day long, baby.

04 Jul 2023

XG Play How Well Do You Know Your Bandmates? | Billboard

XG test their knowledge and see how well they actually know each other!

XG:
Hi, we’re XG!

Maya:
And we’re gonna see how well we know each other! Let’s go!

Who’s the best dancer?

XG:
3, 2, 1…

Maya:
Jurin!

Jurin:
No!

Juria:
I can’t choose but…

Maya:
What? No! I chose her because she’s the dance leader. She’s the leader of everything, you know?

Who takes the most selfies? Well, everyone does but I see her take it the most. Juria!

Juria:
Oh, thanks!

Maya:
Juria chose herself, guys! Juria! Everyone chose!

Juria:
Me, me, me. I admit it. I also think so too!

Maya:
She admits it!

XG:
Harvey! Cocona!

Maya:
Wait, what? I chose Cocona!

Jurin:
What? Why, Cocona?

Cocona:
No, no, no.

Maya:
Right? Right?

Cocona:
Harvey! Harvey!

Maya:
Okay, wait…

Harvey:
No, you too!

Maya:
Both of them!

Cocona:
Okay!

Maya:
Okay, let’s go!

XG:
3, 2, 1…

Jurin:
Me!

Maya:
What? You? Hinata chose herself!

Jurin:
Oh, Hinata! So many Hinata’s! I’m probably in there too, I think…

Chisa:
Cocona is all mine. Oh, no kidding!

Jurin:
Why? What’s the story?

Maya:
Story! Do you guys have a story?

Juria:
No! There’s no story, but it just feels very Hinata-chan!

Maya:
This whole question suits her well!

Jurin:
I actually have some anecdotes about myself. During the preparation for this Heads in the Clouds, Cocona and I did something new with the rap content of Nothin. But for some reason, I couldn’t memorize this one phrase, so I’m reflecting on that a bit.

Watch the full video above!

04 Jul 2023

Olivia Rodrigo Takes a Bite Out of Sophomore Slump With ‘GUTS’-y Lead Single ‘Vampire’

It had been more than two years since we’d heard new music from Olivia Rodrigo, but that all changed first thing Friday when she released “Vampire,” the lead single from her Sept. 8-scheduled sophomore album GUTS.

In a tight, under-four-minute package, the melodramatic new song transitions from a “Drivers License”-style piano ballad to a My Chemical Romance-indebted popera, telling the story of a life-sucking user who won’t be satisfied until their victim is bled dry. On the new Billboard Pop Shop Podcast, Katie & Keith are talking all about Rodrigo’s new era, how she’s making deft maneuvers to avoid the dreaded sophomore slump, and why it’s exciting to see the young pop star turn a song (and its artsy music video premiere) into a big event.

Listen below:

Also on the show, we’ve got chart news on Morgan Wallen’s continued domination on the Billboard 200 (and how he’s now blocked 11 different albums from hitting No. 1) and how Nicki Minaj, Ice Spice and AQUA have teamed up for a new top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Barbie World.” Plus, we’re discussing the scary news out of Team Madonna last week, when the Queen of Pop was hospitalized for a serious bacterial infection and forced to pause the start of her upcoming Celebration Tour.

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.)

03 Jul 2023

Rufus Wainwright Opens Up on Being One of the First Openly Gay Major-Label Artists, His New Album & More | Billboard News

Rufus Wainwright opens up about being one of the first openly gay major-label artists to succeed, the thinking behind his new album ‘Folkocracy’ and more!

Tetris Kelly:
What do you want to be remembered as?

Rufus Wainwright:
A great beauty? Hi. This is Rufus Wainwright and you’re watching Billboard News.

Tetris Kelly:
It’s Tetris with Billboard news. How you doing Rufus? Thanks for hanging out with us.

Rufus Wainwright:
Thank you for having me.

Tetris Kelly:
You got big things to celebrate. It’s been 25 years since you released your self titled debut, man. How’s it feel? 25 years later?

Rufus Wainwright:
It feels awful! No, no, I’m very proud and excited to be alive. And still making music and, and happy. And that first record I made has proven to have lasted and I worked very hard on it. It took me three years to make that first record. It costs a lot of money. It was with DreamWorks Records at the time who had a lot of money to pay for that kind of thing. It’s built to last perhaps.

Tetris Kelly:
You made changes to it. You’re re-releasing it? What’s gonna be different about the rerelease?

Rufus Wainwright:
We remastered it and then we also released some bonus material, other songs I did at the time. I think what’s interesting about the record is that it was made in the mid to late 90s. And it really was part of the last breath of sort of the grand record company/artist relationship where they would sort of just write all the checks and kind of let you do whatever you wanted to do. And they really didn’t expect you to be popular until your third or fourth album.

Watch the full interview above!

03 Jul 2023

Bailey Zimmerman Reveals His Favorite Small-Town Slang | Billboard Country Live

Bailey Zimmerman is revealing his favorite small-town slang!

Bailey Zimmerman
What’s up, y’all? I’m Bailey Zimmerman. And here’s my favorite small-town slang. I kind of started this thing … it didn’t stick around for too long, but we had this thing and we said “Coolin.” Like, “Hey, do you want to go to B-Dubs later and get chicken?” And they will say, “Coolin.” Like, yeah, I’m in or I’m game or whatever. So “coolin” was a word for a while. I feel like bet is a normal thing now, but I’ve been saying bet for years since junior high. We’ve been saying bet and it’s more like, same thing as coolin — “Let’s go to lunch.” “I’m in, bet,” whatever. So in my hometown, we would say hand we’d call people hand, you’re either an operating hand or you’re a string in hand or you’re a laboring in hand, whatever it is. And so when we go to Casey’s in the morning at 6am 5am, you walk up and see your buddy. “What’s up, hand” or “What’s going on, hand,” and it’s just like, “What’s up bro?” Or “what’s going on, man?” But you call them hands like, what’s up, hand? Yeah, it’s like country sh*t.

03 Jul 2023

Here Are 5 Things You Didn’t Know About Lauren Alaina | Billboard Country Live

Country artist Lauren Alaina reveals five things you didn’t know about her at the Billboard Country Live event.

Lauren Alaina:
I’m Lauren Alaina, and here are five things you may not know about me.

Lauren Alaina:
I don’t have any secrets. I’m … OK. Let me think I have the gene for having twins. So please pray about that for me.

I have a freckle between my pinky toe and my second toe on my right foot. That was the weirdest thing I’ve ever said out loud.

I didn’t know that was, like, an impressive thing, but I can change a tire. In Chicago, I had to change tires for two men because there was glass in the street, and I hit it, and I had to change the tires.

I hate coconuts with everything in me. If you put it underneath anything — 1,000 flavors — and there was just a teeny tiny little bit of coconut, I would still not like whatever you cooked me. Do not do the coconut.

I am a certified scuba diver.

And those are five very interesting things you did not know about me

30 Jun 2023

Nicki Minaj Delays ‘Pink Friday 2,’ New Music From Olivia Rodrigo, XG, Lil Uzi Vert & More | Billboard News

It’s Friday, and we have new music from XG, Olivia Rodrigo, Lil Uzi Vert and more! Nicki Minaj announces that her upcoming album will be titled ‘Pink Friday 2’ but also delays the release. Megan Thee Stallion reveals that she is not ready to release new music. During a tour stop, SZA opens up about her ex cheating on her. Lizzo re-creates Beyonce and Blue Ivy’s iconic Renaissance tour dance. And more!

Tetris Kelly:

Women in R&B and hip-hop are making moves. Lil Nas X is killing the fashion game. We’re learning five things about Megan Moroney. Drag queen Eureka O’ Hara is letting us know her music inspiration. We’ve got a ton of new music, and our Friday Music Guide.

Tetris Kelly:

Yes, it’s Friday! But before you head out to happy hour, Billboard News has your top stories for June 30th. Let’s start with new music. XG is entering their new era with ‘GRL GVNG.’

Tetris Kelly:

It’s the first single from their debut mini album coming soon, and there are so many more bops to get through in the rest of the show. But for now, let’s talk new Nicki Minaj. She named the album but postponed it. Megan Thee Stallion isn’t ready for new music either. SZA says her ex cheated on her on tour, while Lizzo gave a tribute to Beyoncé at her tour. Let’s talk about Nicki Minaj: She’s naming her new album ‘Pink Friday 2’ after her iconic debut, but we have to wait a little longer due to “some really exciting news that I’ll share with you guys at a later time. I’ve shifted the album date just a tad bit. Trust me it’ll be well worth the wait.” She added that the album will be released November 17th with a tour first quarter of 2024. In a hilarious day in the life video, Meg says she’s not releasing new music soon, adding, “Don’t ask me about no d*mn music.” 

Watch the full video above!

30 Jun 2023

Eureka O’Hara on Learning About Drag, Her Love for Jessie J and Tim McGraw, & More | Billboard Cover

RuPaul’s Drag Race star Eureka O’Hara opens up about learning about drag for the first time, her love for Jessie J and Tim McGraw, and more for our Billboard Pride Cover with Maren Morris.

Eureka O’Hara:
I’ll never forget at my sister’s graduation: My dad saw my mom and was like, “Holy cow, you look like a drag queen.” I was like, “What’s a drag queen?” And then literally like that’s how I learned what a drag queen was. I was like, “Oh, I love this!”

Eureka O’Hara on she got into drag:
You know, honestly, like, I I feel like I always was doing some kind of drag as a young child. When I was really young, I started playing with my mom’s clothes and I would duct tape towels to my head and, like, dance around to music. So without me even knowing what drag was, I think I was getting into drag really early. I would love doing my mom’s makeup, but I would always make it really dramatic.

Eureka O’Hara on the first song she ever performed in drag:
It’s actually a song no one knows, I don’t even remember the words to it, but that was called “Pedestal” by Fergie. Literally can’t tell you the words, and I will never forget I walked out on stage with my purse on, and was so scared I didn’t even move. I was, like, barely lip-syncing, looking at the ground. But the whole crowd cheered for me anyway, you know, and it was, like, that weird support and love that, like, gave me this natural adrenaline and happiness that made me just want to keep doing it. I got addicted.

Watch the full video above to see what she says about her love for Jessie J and Tim McGraw, and more!

30 Jun 2023

Here Are 5 Things You Didn’t Know About Megan Moroney | Billboard Country Live

Country singer Megan Moroney reveals five things you didn’t know about her at the Billboard Country Live event.

Megan Moroney:
What’s up, y’all? I’m Meghan Moroney, and here are five things you probably don’t know about me.

I still drive my high school car. It’s a 2010 white Mustang, and she’s very well loved.

So right now I’m on tour with Brooks & Dunn, and sometimes, instead of getting catering, I go to the bus and make myself the 83-cent ramen because it’s my favorite meal.

One unfortunate fact about me is that I’m allergic to dogs, but I still love them, and I just take allergy medicine.

One random fact is that I love rum and Cokes. That seems very freshman in college of me, but I love them.

The last one is that I still style myself, so I don’t have a stylist, and I kind of just … whatever I’m feeling that day, that’s what we’re wearing!

Watch the full video above!