Media

04 Nov 2024

Quincy Jones, Producer of Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller,’ Dead At 91 | Billboard News

Quincy Jones, the Grammy-winning music legend and producer of Michael Jackson’s Thriller, has passed away at the age of 91. Watch to see what his family said and to learn about the legacy he has left behind.

Tetris Kelly:
Music legend Quincy Jones has died at 91. We look back on the life of the Grammy-winning producer. His family said in a statement: “Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones’ passing. Although this is an incredible loss for our family, we celebrate the great life that he lived and know there will never be another like him. We take comfort and immense pride in knowing that the love and joy, that were the essence of his being, was shared with the world through all that he created.”

Quincy was behind Michael Jackson’s Thriller, the bestselling studio album of all time, according to RIAA certifications. He also produced the soundtrack for The Wiz starring Jackson and Diana Ross, and accomplished things like being the first African-American to be named musical director and conductor for the Oscars.

We share our condolences with Quincy’s family and fans.

04 Nov 2024

Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 Countdown for Nov. 9, 2024 | Billboard News

Tyler, the Creator makes a splash on the Hot 100.

Tetris Kelly:
Tyler, the Creator is making a splash on the charts, and we’re letting you know where he lands. This is the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 for the week dated Nov. 9. “Noid” is up from 43 to 10. “Taste” is still at nine. Morgan’s new one falls to eight. Tyler and Daniel Caesar debut at seven with “St. Chroma,” “Lose Control” is up to six, as are Post and Morgan to five. “Espresso” is up to No. 4, while Billie holds at three. Gaga and Bruno move up to two. And returning to No. 1 for a 16th week is Shaboozey.

If you want more Billboard, make sure you hit the subscribe button and ring the bell to be notified on all our latest videos.

04 Nov 2024

Billboard Artist Series Launches With Spellbinding New Photos of NewJeans

In October, NewJeans starred in the first edition of Billboard Artist, a new series of collectible art books produced by Billboard Korea. The inaugural edition tells the girl group’s story through a visual lens, showcasing the members’ style and fashion while incorporating interview highlights as well. NewJeans was honored as Group of the Year at Billboard’s 2024 Women in Music awards show.

Billboard Korea launched in August with a star-studded event in Seoul — the K-Power 100 — bringing together the leaders of all of South Korea’s major music companies and featuring performances by some of the region’s most exciting talent. Billboard Artist, an initiative led by Billboard Korea creative director Woo Lee, is available for purchase on Weverse and through various other retailers.

Below, Lee explains all about the new print series.

What is Billboard Artist?

Billboard Artist is a large-format, unbound visual art book designed for people to enjoy each page like a poster. This unique book showcases the inspiration and impact of musicians through photography, art, essays, and illustrations. Unlike traditional magazines, which have a limited life, Billboard Artist is a timeless collectible, featuring content in English and Korean. It is also available in select bookstores worldwide.

Why did you launch Billboard Artist? 

In a pre-smartphone era, magazine titles like Hero, Muse, and Icon portrayed stars as distant, untouchable figures. The world once craved stars who exuded perfection and mystique — think of David Bowie or Prince. But now, stars openly share details of their everyday lives — who they travel with, what books they read, the ideologies they hold — making them more relatable to the public. Musicians express their creativity across multiple realms beyond music, including fashion, visual arts, documentaries, and acting. Their multifaceted creativity serves as a major source of inspiration for all of us. We wanted to capture this in a tangible art book that showcases their diverse artistry and impact.

Describe the way you work with artists to create these books.

We choose an act and use their sound, history, personality and aesthetic as a source of inspiration, while also drawing from social issues, history, politics, humanities, science or mythology of significance to the artists. This might result in a fashion collaboration, an essay or poetry collaboration with a writer, a visual art collaboration with a digital artist, a beauty portrait with beauty and scent, or a short film produced with a videographer. All of this is developed freely and flexibly in conversations with the featured artists — their participation and creativity is key to the process.

Will Billboard Artist exclusively feature K-pop musicians because it’s produced by Billboard Korea?

No. Billboard Artist does not limit its scope by nationality, language, or territory. Billboard’s 130-year legacy of credibility and influence has always transcended borders. But there’s a reason why this project began with Billboard Korea. The Korean music industry prizes powerful storytelling, visual impact and fan engagement, and has a symbiotic relationship with the fashion and beauty sectors. That unique Korean perspective informs our vision.

Why was NewJeans chosen for the first edition?

The first question for us is always: “Who is the most talked-about musician right now?” We wanted to feature an artist who resonates in the present while evoking the past and inspiring thoughts of the future. NewJeans was the perfect choice because their music, fashion, and aesthetics blend ’80s nostalgia with a modern, forward-looking appeal. This 56-page art book captures the group’s charm, fusing elements of 1980s Italian youth culture, traditional Korean hanok houses, and the symbolism of birds in contemporary art into a poetic visual narrative.

How often will new editions of Billboard Artist be released?

Unlike a magazine, Billboard Artist doesn’t follow a fixed release schedule. When an artist is selected, there could be two editions in a month or just one in two months. For this year, a single edition will be released as a year-end treat, with more editions planned for 2025.

Where can people currently purchase the NewJeans edition?

Online pre-orders have closed, and we’re now in the second print run. Starting in mid-November, it will also be available at select bookstores. Updates will be posted on Billboard Korea’s Instagram.

A version of this story appears in the Oct. 26, 2024, issue of Billboard.

01 Nov 2024

What Role Have Hip-Hop Artists Played in the 2024 Election? | Billboard Unfiltered

In this episode of ‘Billboard Unfiltered,’ Billboard staffers Carl Lamarre, Trevor Anderson, Kyle Denis and Damien Scott discuss the significant role hip-hop artists have played in the upcoming election by being vocal about their endorsements. They also react to Tyler, the Creator’s ‘CHROMAKOPIA,’ Lil Durk’s arrest, and the reasons more rappers are ending up in jail, and more!

Carl Lamarre:

I know you’ve said he’s in your Big 3. I think this has solidified it. 

Kyle Denis:

I mean, last two albums won Grammys, he’s going to probably lock up another No. 1, hopefully, with this one. 

Carl Lamarre:

I don’t think Ari got that kind of time or the patience to really try to play this indie game.

Trevor Anderson:

You really trying to put somebody away for, you know, charges that are going to be murder. You know it’s got to be multi-decade sentences, life sentences. All these kinds of things. 

Damien Scott:

It really feels like rap kind of gave up this election. We kind of sat this one out. 

Carl Lamarre:

Hey guys what’s going on and welcome to another episode of ‘Billboard Unfiltered.’

Damien Scott:

What’s good?

Carl Lamarre:

Gentleman!

Trevor Anderson:

What’s up?

Kyle Denis:

Yo, yo, yo. 

C

And we’re back again, let’s close out this week in a good way. We got some music on Monday from a certain cat called Tyler, the Creator. His seventh studio album, ‘CHROMAKOPIA.’

Damien Scott:

I enjoyed the Monday release. I enjoyed the Monday morning-

Carl Lamarre:

It feels good right? 

Damien Scott:

I enjoyed going to work, listening to a new album in the morning, on a Monday morning, starting the week with new music. I liked that, we should try more of that. 

Kyle Denis:

If more releases are as good as this one, I am all for Monday’s. 

Carl Lamarre:

You know, we could be on to something.

Keep watching for more!

01 Nov 2024

Cardi B, GloRilla & More Support Kamala Harris | Billboard News

As the election approaches next Tuesday, the list of women in music backing Kamala Harris grows. Keep watching to see who supports Kamala’s bid for president.

Tetris Kelly:

Cardi B and GloRilla are about to roll up on presidential hopeful Kamala Harris, and this is after so many superstar women have thrown in their support. We have the info. Madonna recently stated that she was flying home from Paris to vote for Kamala. And after a comedian made a harmful joke about Puerto Rico, Jennifer Lopez took the stage to introduce the current VP and let’s not forget Hotties for Harris. Now Milwaukee is getting the female hip hop queen treatment. Grammy-winning rapper Cardi B is set to speak in Wisconsin as GloRilla will be hitting the stage to perform. We’ll be posting all about it, so keep it locked on Billboard’s socials.

01 Nov 2024

The Rise of Regional Mexican Music: Peso Pluma, Becky G & More Change the Genre | Billboard News

Presented by Lexus, proudly celebrating Latin Music, this episode dives into how Regional Mexican music has been transformed by artists like Peso Pluma, Becky G, Selena, and more. We discuss how the newer generation is putting a modern twist on a classic sound.

Isabela Raygoza:

Let’s talk about the Rise of Regional Mexican Music. 

Leila Cobo:

La música mexicana is traditional Mexican music, it’s just being done with new voices, it’s modernized, it has a new attitude, it has new swagger. And thanks to this new generation making the music, the music has a bigger, broader, audience. Música mexicana comes from Mexico obviously, and it’s a mix of folk sounds from Mexico blended with a lot of European influences. So you have a lot of influence from Spain, you also have a lot of influence from German immigrants. You have guitars, and then you have tubas. Musica mexicana is broken down into many many many subgenres. First of all there’s mariachi, it uses a lot of strings and trumpets, beautiful uniforms and a lot of violins. 

Paola Jara:

I think that if I go to Mexico, we also have some great representatives of the artists I grew up with, who have influenced me since I was a child. Juan Gabriel, Ana Gabriel, Vicente Fernandez. 

Pipe Bueno:

I had the pleasure of touring with him on his farewell tour for 13 shows and getting to know closely such a person, such a giant star of the genre that I love, which is vernacular music, mariachi, regional music. Banda is completely a brass instrumentation. Bandas are big groups, they’re 10 people or more, and they’re all playing tubas, trumpets, and the music is very danceable but it can also be very romantic. 

Keep watching for more!

01 Nov 2024

JC Chasez’s ‘Playing With Fire,’ *NSYNC Reunion, ‘Bye Bye Bye’ Resurgence | Billboard News

JC Chasez is back with Playing With Fire 20 years after his debut album. The singer talks about how the concept of his latest work was built out, a possible *NSYNC reunion, duetting with Christina Aguilera in the future and more! 

Rebecca Millzoff:
I’m Rebecca Millzoff. I’m the executive magazine editor here at Billboard, and I’m here with JC Chasez today. 

JC Chasez:
Hi. 

He has an album out today, Playing With Fire on Center Stage Records. It is not what you might expect from JC. 

It’s a different kind of thing. Playing With Fire is a musical that I’ve co-written with my writing partner, Jimmy Harry. When you’re making a musical, it takes quite a bit of time, and we decided to release a concept record of the music from the musical, and it’s all based on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. We were kind of wondering what we were going to work on next. We were kind of trying to come up with ideas. You know, what would be interesting? We knew we wanted to write a musical, but we just didn’t know what about yet, we came across a piece of work, actually, that Jimmy’s mother wrote. Her name is Barbara Fields, and she wrote a play that went on in the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis called Playing With Fire.

A major off-Broadway theater for people who don’t know. 

Yeah, I got to look at the material that he shared with me, and I was totally blown away by the way she framed Mary Shelley’s story, the architecture that she put in place to communicate some of the themes and the emotions we talked about. And we said, well, why don’t we just start with a song and see if there’s anything there, and from there, we wrote the first song, which is, “How Do You Sleep.” 

Keep watching for more!

01 Nov 2024

Halloween 2024: See What Musicians Are Dressing Up As

It was a graveyard smash on Halloween this year, as musicians did the monster mash nationwide while showing off their creative and elaborate costume ideas.

As usual, Heidi Klum hosted her annual Halloween Party, this year presented by Butterfinger, Mattel, and Prime Video at New York City’s The Venue on Music Row. Known for her costumes that make her unrecognizable, the supermodel opted for an E.T. inspired look this year with prosthetics that made her, her husband Tom Kaulitz and daughter Leni Klum look exactly like the lovable aliens from the iconic 1982 film.

Some of the star-studded attendees of the bash included Violet Chachki and Gottmik dressed as Squidward and SpongeBob SquarePants, Questlove as the Mad Hatter, Charli D’Amelio as the Black Swan, Chase Stokes and Kelsea Ballerini as Grease‘s Danny Zuko and Sandy Olsson, Ice-T and Coco Austin as scary clowns and more.

Meanwhile, down in Atlanta, Georgia, Nelly threw a joint Halloween and birthday bash as the “Ride Wit Me” star turns 50 on Saturday (Nov. 2). For the occasion, Nelly and his celebrity friends including T.I., Jermaine Dupri, Blanco Brown, Chingy and more dressed ready for the wild, wild west to fit the cowboy theme.

Even though spooky season has officially come to a close, check out this year’s Halloween get-ups from musicians in the gallery below.

01 Nov 2024

Mariah Carey Declares ‘It’s Time!’ With 30th Anniversary Deluxe Vinyls | Music You Should Know | Billboard News

Mariah Carey has officially announced that it’s time for the holiday season as she celebrates 30 years of “All I Want For Christmas Is You” with deluxe goodies. Keep watching to see her announcement!

Tetris Kelly:
Mariah has declared it Christmas season, and we talked to her about the “It’s Time” moment ahead of the new Addams Family themed video, and she’s got new releases to go with the season. This is Music You Should Know: It’s Time. Wednesday Addams would be pleased as Mimi closed out Oct. 31 in black before grabbing a snowman and singing her signature “It’s Time.” But does the Christmas Queen really think people wait on her to kick off the holidays?

Mariah Carey:
I don’t know if everybody listens to that.

Tetris Kelly:
I do.

Mariah Carey:
You do?

Tetris Kelly:
You’re the queen of Christmas, right?

Mariah Carey:
I think it’s an amazing thing that just happened that I never could predict it.

Tetris Kelly:
And girl, I really do listen, it’s time. The hitmaker is celebrating 30 years of “All I Want for Christmas Is You” and her iconic Christmas album. The MC30 collection has a new deluxe vinyl package of the album along with new festive editions and even single vinyls with new, but familiar, cover art. Get in the spirit at MariahCarey.com. It’s time!

01 Nov 2024

Young Thug Released From Jail After Pleading Guilty | Billboard News

After pleading guilty to possession of drugs and firearms in his YSL RICO case and being in jail for more than 700 days, Young Thug has been released from jail. Keep watching to see the hip-hop community’s reaction and more about the case.

Tetris Kelly:
After more than 700 days behind bars, Young Thug is going home. And the hip-hop community is celebrating. Travis Scott was among the first of Thug’s peers to welcome the Atlanta rapper home on social media “My brudda on the way home,” as did T.I.: “Welcome Home lil bruddah, It’s been too long… Time to get back to it!!!”  

Even Sexyy Red chimed in and wrote “THEY LET TWIN OUT!!!” in reference to their physical resemblance. Judge Paige Reese Whitaker sentenced Thug to 15 years of probation with no time to be served in prison.  

Judge Paige Reese Whitaker:
I know you’re talented, and even if you choose to continue to rap, you need to try to use your influence to let kids know that is not the way to go. 

Tetris Kelly:
Prior to the court’s ruling, Thugger addressed Judge Whitaker. 

Young Thug:
I’m sorry. Through these last two years of my life, you are really, truly, honestly, the best thing that has happened to me. You have made everything fair for me and everybody involved on both sides. I’m sorry to everybody for just having to put extra time in. I know y’all get paid more money, but I’m sorry for y’all having to put the extra time in away from y’alls family, and I just hope, you know, that you find in your heart to allow me to go home.

Tetris Kelly:
Thug was arrested back in May 2022 alongside 27 others in a sprawling 56-count indictment for violations of Georgia’s RICO Act. He remained behind bars in the two-plus years since in what became the state’s longest-ever criminal trial.  

Keep watching for more.