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14 Jun 2023

Papa Roach on ‘Growing As People’ & Starting a Record Label: Behind the Setlist Podcast

Papa Roach’s music hasn’t softened in its nearly three-decade career, but the four-piece metal band from Northern California has become wiser with age and experience. “We’re growing as people,” guitarist Jerry Horton tells Billboard’s Behind the Setlist podcast, “and our music has matured as well.” The trick, he says, is “about “finding a way to grow up but not lose our edge.”

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The band rose to prominence with a rap-metal hybrid that rubbed elbows with Limp Bizkit, Slipknot and Korn at the turn of the century. Papa Roach gained popularity in 2000 with “Last Resort,” a song about suicidal ideation built around an instantly memorable guitar riff. That song sent the band’s Dreamworks Records debut, Infest, to No. 5 on the Billboard 200 albums chart.

“I use to bash the microphone into my head and just bleed,” says singer Jacoby Shaddix of the performing in the band’s early days. “I was burning myself with cigarettes just to get a reaction.”

“For the time period, for how old we were and that period of our lives, and also the type of music we were doing, all of that went hand in hand,” says Horton. “And I feel like for that time period, it wasn’t necessarily wrong. That’s just where we were. And pretty much all of our peers were mentally and stylistically — that’s just where everybody was at.”

The band’s latest album, Ego Trip, finds Papa Roach growing as businesspeople, too. After releasing albums for both major and independent labels, Papa Roach decided to release Ego Trip through its own New Noize imprint. “We always go back to something Davie Bowie said: ‘I had to become a better businessman to become a better artist.’,” says Horton. “It just kind of hit us in the face. We’re just like, this is what we need to do. Here it is, time to seize it.”

Launching a record label was a risk, but it felt right, says Horton. “It just feels like something we needed to do — whether we fell on our faces or not.” That means the buck stops with the band. “You can’t just say a bunch of shit,” says Shaddix. “It’s like, alright, let’s talk about how we’re going to create this and then let’s go find the people to do it, and then execute it.”

Listen to the entire interview with Shaddix and Horton at Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeart, Stitcher, Amazon Music and Audible.

13 Jun 2023

She’s ‘Popular,’ She’s ‘Vulgar,’ She’s Madonna: Queen of Pop Delivers Back-to-Back Bops

Thanks to The Weeknd’s new song “Popular,” Madonna is back where she’s been many times before: on the Billboard Hot 100.

“Popular” (also featuring Playboi Carti) from the new HBO series The Idol lands at No. 43 on this week’s Hot 100 — Madonna’s highest-charting song in more than a decade, since “Give Me All Your Luvin,” featuring Nicki Minaj and M.I.A., peaked at No. 10 in February 2012. Also thanks to “Popular,” Madonna now joins Cher as the only women to have debuted on the Hot 100 in five separate decades.

But that’s not Madonna’s only new music. On the new Billboard Pop Shop Podcast, we’re also talking about the Queen of Pop’s club-friendly collab with Sam Smith on “Vulgar.” Plus, Madonna is all over Christine and the Queens’ new album Paranoia, Angels, True Love too. What is it like for Keith and the rest of Madonna’s fans to get all this new material in the year 2023? Listen below.

Also on the show, we’re talking about the major Glee moments from Sunday’s Tony Awards, including Alex Newell (who played Unique Adams on the show) winning best performance by an actor in a featured role in a musical for Shucked and Lea Michele closing the show with “Don’t Rain on My Parade” from Funny Girl. Plus, we’ve got chart news on how there are a whopping six debuts in the top 10 on the Billboard 200 albums chart — and it’s the first time that’s happened in more than two and a half years. And over on the Hot 100 songs chart, Morgan Wallen’s “Last Night” hits double-digit territory at No. 1, as the song spends a 10th week in charge.

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.)

13 Jun 2023

Morgan Evans Opens Up on How Divorce From Kelsea Ballerini Inspired ‘Over for You’ & More | Billboard News

Country singer Morgan Evans opens up to Billboard’s Executive West Coast and Nashville editor Melinda Newman on how his divorce from Kelsea Ballerini inspired his song ‘Over For You’, the inspiration behind the cover art for his EP ‘Life Upside Down’, and more.

Morgan Evans 0:00
I’ve got a couple of friends from Australia here that we’ve been on the water the last few days, which has been really nice here. Yeah. When you live in Nashville, it’s always nice. The waves are always better here than they are in Nashville. Right? Non-existent. Exactly. Yes. Yeah. Good day, it’s Morgan Evans and you’re watching Billboard News.

Melinda Newman 0:25
Hi, I’m Melinda Newman, executive editor for billboard. And we’re so happy to be here today with Morgan Evans. This baby this kid crazy. We’re the only stop between you in the airport and going back home. Are you excited to get back home?

Morgan Evans 0:43
I actually am pretty excited to get back home. I love it out here though, too. So I’ve been out here a few days. I’m ready to go back to my bed. Now. Let’s talk

Melinda Newman 0:50
Now. Let’s talk about what brought you out here you are out here on the Brett Young tour. Yep. You played the Greek theatre this past weekend. Talk about playing the Greek.

Morgan Evans 0:57
I said this on stage the other night actually. And growing up in Australia. It’s not like you know the names of many American venues. But you know, Madison Square Garden is one of those, Hollywood Bowl, one of those Red Rocks, one of those and the Greek theatre is one of those and it’s my first time getting to play there and it lived up. When the sun goes down. It’s just people. The words and music it’s unreal.

Watch the full interview above!

13 Jun 2023

Billboard 2022: The Covers

2022 was a big year for music, and it reflected on Billboard‘s magazine covers throughout the year.

Post Malone kicked off 2022’s covers by opening the doors to his Utah home, and the rest of the year featured intimate conversations with stars like SZA, Anitta, Sam Smith, Bad Bunny and many more.

To celebrate Women in Music, Christina Aguilera, Mariah Carey and Madonna were transformed into NFTs, and Billboard kept up with current events by diving into the Roe v. Wade overturn and Snapchat’s future.

Stray Kids also graced the cover in September, marking one of the year’s most popular issues. “What I can say is, we’re definitely trying to put on a good impression and be as genuine as we can for people who look up to us,” Bang Chan said in the accompanying feature of the group’s global superstardom. “Our goal ever since we debuted was to reach as many ‘stray kids’ as possible. To deliver our music and give strength to people who really need it.”

See below for Billboard‘s 2022 magazine covers.

13 Jun 2023

BTS Celebrates 10 Years, Hailey Bieber Defends Selena, Jennie’s Health Scare & More | Billboard News

Hailey Bieber took to Instagram to urge her followers to stop sending hate to Selena Gomez. BTS is celebrating its 10-year anniversary this month, BLINKS are sending messages of support after BLACKPINK’s Jennie had a health scare, Stray Kids react to ‘5-STAR’ going No. 1 on the Billboard 200, and Niall Horan scores his first No. 1 on the Hot Trending Songs chart. And more!

Tetris Kelly:
Haley Bieber defends Selena Gomez online. We catch you up on what’s going down in the K-pop world. Garth Brooks takes a stand. Morgan Evans turns heartbreak into hits. Hillary Scott fishes for some answers, and we run down the songs you’re talking about on Twitter.

Tetris Kelly:
Hey guys, I’m Tetris Kelly for Billboard News. It’s Tuesday, June 13. Let’s jump into your top story. Hailey Bieber has a message for her fans about hate toward Selena Gomez.

Tetris Kelly:
Hailey Bieber tells her fans to cut out the hateful comments on Selena’s social media. After Haliey liked one of Gomez’s pics, Bieber posted to her story, “If you’re leaving mean or rude comments on my behalf on anyone’s posts, just know that I don’t want that. Nor will I ever support or condone hateful mean or nasty comments. Doing that is not supporting me.” If you remember earlier this year, Selena had to tell her fans to leave Hailey alone after they thought her ex’s wife was dissing the pop star. All I gotta say is we love seeing queens supporting queens. Now y’all need to leave these women alone.

Watch the full video above!

13 Jun 2023

Hillary Scott Reveals Beyonce Was the Best Concert She’s Been to While Playing Fishing for Answers | Billboard Country Live

Lady A’s Hillary Scott plays Fishing for Answers at Billboard‘s Country Live event.

Hillary Scott:

Hi, I’m Hillary Scott, and I’m going Fishing for Answers with Billboard.

“Most embarrassing onstage moment?” We were playing a rodeo in Texas, it was in San Antonio, Lady A show and those have rotating stages. And at one point, Charles [Kelley] hits my arm. I think it was during “Need You Now,” maybe? And the mic hits my teeth, and my lip … and my lip starts bleeding. And so he said that I looked like someone who was in a boxing ring, like, the rest of the song because I had, like, blood on my teeth. And I’m pretty sure it was up on the big screens. So that was kind of embarrassing.

Let’s see the next one: “Recording or touring?” That’s a great question. I would have to say right now, it kind of changes depending on what season I’m in, I guess, but touring would have to be my favorite thing right now. The Request Line Tour that we’re doing is so up close and personal with the fans. It is giving me all the feels, so touring.

“What is your favorite album or country album of the year so far?” This is really hard. But just recently, I started listening to Jordyn Shellhart’s Primrose, and I cannot quit it. I was driving around town yesterday and just had it on repeat. Her voice is incredible. If you’ve not listened, you should. Love her.

“What is the most country thing you’ve ever done?” The most country thing I’ve ever done was on a family trip to visit my aunt and uncle and my cousins in South Carolina. I threw hay bales for a week. I got paid, but that’s probably the country-est thing I’ve ever done.

Oh, these are hard questions. OK, “the best concert you’ve ever attended?” The first thing that jumped out to me was the I Am Sasha Fierce, Beyoncé tour. I have the best memory of being in Dallas, Texas, at American Airlines Center with Miranda Lambert. She took us to that show and it was one of the best I’ve ever seen. Beyoncé!

12 Jun 2023

Idina Menzel Gives ‘Frozen 3’ Update, Talks Pride, Broadway Return, Music & More | Billboard News

Idina Menzel rocked the stage at WeHo Pride and chatted with Billboard News about the differences between her Broadway and Pride performances, the upcoming ‘Frozen 3,’ her new music, a potential return to Broadway and more!

Tetris Kelly:
Hanging out at WeHo Pride with the beautiful Idina Menzel. How are you?

Idina Menzel:
I’m good, thank you!

Tetris Kelly:
It was so great to watch you perform tonight, and now that “Move” is out in the world, how has your fans reaction been to the new single?

Idina Menzel:
I think it might be something people didn’t expect of me but once they hear it, I think they’ll think it’s a pretty organic transition. You know, big voices, great disco grooves.

Tetris Kelly:
We love the disco grooves and even watching your set tonight, I was like, this feels very queer-inspired. Am I right about that? Because I was feeling myself.

Idina Menzel:
Well, it’s Idina-inspired. Idina’s life maybe is synonymous with the queer-inspired stores. It’s about having to find my self-esteem and empower myself to get up every day and believe in who I am, and live my life authentically, which is honestly what I learned from all my friends in this community. And I probably wouldn’t be where I am today if I hadn’t learned how to conduct myself in this world, if it wasn’t for them.

Thank you all for showing up. Let’s let them hear our anger and our madness and our frustration.

Tetris Kelly:
Living your life authentically. I love that. You’re also performing at London Pride, and you’re here at WeHo Pride. So tell me what’s different about these shows versus the average Idina show.

Idina Menzel:
Everybody’s standing, which is really cool. No offense to Broadway or the theater, but everyone needs to sit and behave. Here, they don’t have to behave so much. They can stand, they can dance, they can scream, and that just feels really good.

Tetris Kelly:
I love that. And you know, the community has been under a lot of attack lately. The drag community, the trans community — have you ever been at like a drag show and been like “This is everything to me”? Because we’ve seen the “Let It Go” drag queens, like, tell me how have you been inspired by the drag community?

Watch the full video above.

12 Jun 2023

Bailey Zimmerman Plays Never Have I Ever | Billboard Country Live

Country singer Bailey Zimmerman plays a game of Never Have I Ever at the Billboard Country Live event.

Bailey Zimmerman:
What’s up, y’all? I’m Bailey Zimmerman, and this is Never Have I Ever.

Producer:
Never have I ever lied to get out of a speeding ticket.

Bailey Zimmerman:
I have, my first one. And it didn’t go good. I got a bigger ticket for lying.

Producer:
Never have I ever made a fake social media account.

Bailey Zimmerman:
Never. I’ve made a private one, but not a fake one.

Producer:
Never have I ever dumped someone over text.

Bailey Zimmerman:
I def have. I definitely have dumped somebody over text. And if it was you, I’m so sorry.

Producer:
Never have I ever forgotten lyrics on stage.

Bailey Zimmerman:
I have, almost every night. I get so into the music that I get so into just seeing people just cry and scream and I’m having so much fun that I sometimes forget what I’m singing. But it’s fine. It’s a good time.

Producer:
Never have I ever dated two people at one time.

Bailey Zimmerman:
Never. I’ve never done that — and I will never do that. That sounds awful. Could you imagine trying to keep, oh my gosh, that’d be awful. I don’t do that.

Producer:
Never have I ever seen a ghost.

Bailey Zimmerman:
I want to say I have never seen a ghost, but man, that makes me so scared because what if I do see one now because I said I haven’t?

Producer:
Never have I ever overdrafted my bank account.

Bailey Zimmerman:
Oh, I’m sure I have. I’m sure I have. My bank was just so small town that they never told me about it. They just let it kind of slide, but I’m sure I’ve been over before. Oh yeah. Everybody has! Who hasn’t been red in the bank account? Of course!

Watch Bailey Zimmerman play Never Have I Ever in the video above!

09 Jun 2023

Billboard 2023: The Covers

2023 was a year of rising stars, Latin domination and breaking the mold, and Billboard’s cover stories reflected just that.

The year of Billboard covers kicked off with Paramore, who had just reunited as a band to release their first album together in six years, This Is Why.

Over the course of the year, superstar rappers like Youngboy Never Broke Again, Lil Yachty, 50 Cent have graced the cover, as did rising rap sensation Ice Spice. Over on the dance front, Kaytranada posed for the Pride issue, while Kaskade and deadmau5 appeared on the SXSW issue.

It was also a big year for Latin couples, as both Lele Pons and Guaynaa as well as Rosalia and Rauw Alejandro showed their love for a Billboard cover story. Women also dominated the scene, as the 2023 Woman of the Year SZA and all of the Latin Women in Music honorees were featured on covers this year.

Billboard‘s Pride cover featured a special shoot featuring Maren Morris dressed as Willie Nelson, posing alongside drag supesrtars Sasha Colby, Eureka O’Hara, Landon Cider and Symone.

See below for Billboard‘s 2023 magazine covers.

09 Jun 2023

Kaytranada: Photos From the Billboard Cover Shoot

In February, when Kaytranada’s stage manager, Tamir Schlanger, texted him to ask if he had a vision for his Coachella performance, the artist responded with screenshots of the giant metallic head from The Wiz, the 1978 musical film featuring Michael Jackson and Diana Ross. He wondered: Could Schlanger replicate it, but with his own head?

Out of context, the images were menacing — the almighty wizard, spewing smoke and lasers — but funny, too; one featured Richard Pryor’s character, a failed politician from New Jersey named Herman Smith, peeping up sheepishly through the hole in The Wiz’s eye. All smoke and mirrors. Was the 30-year-old producer-DJ commenting on the steely facade of celebrity? Was the production meant to highlight the dichotomy between Louis Kevin Celestin, the shy kid born to Haitian immigrants who grew up in a quiet Montreal suburb, and the Grammy-winning musical wiz better known as Kaytranada?

“There really was no thought process at all, honestly,” Kaytranada admits about a month after his performance, emphasizing that the decision was purely aesthetic: He was just a fan of the movie and noticed his own physical resemblance to The Wiz’s face. “I just wanted to make something iconic,” he says.

Prior to his Coachella performance, there was little disputing Kaytranada’s accomplishments behind the scenes, where he had cultivated a reputation as a personally reserved but musically boisterous tastemaker. Over the course of two albums, 2016’s 99.9% and 2019’s Grammy-winning Bubba, he established himself as a go-to producer and deft collaborator, a singular artist able to adapt his sound to the strengths of everyone from hip-hop stars like Chance the Rapper to experimental R&B singers like Kelela while still maintaining his distinct style: a feel-good blend of dance, R&B, Afrobeats, disco and hip-hop. In the process, he also became one of the biggest gay Black artists in a genre of increasingly influential music founded by gay Black artists.

Read the full Kaytranada Billboard cover story here.