Music News

31 Jul 2024

Shawn Mendes Announces New Album ‘Shawn,’ Teases Single ‘Isn’t That Enough’ With Trailer

Shawn Mendes is ready for his next musical era.

The pop superstar took to Instagram on Wednesday (July 31) to announce that his self-titled album, Shawn, will be arriving on October 18. He also revealed the 12-song tracklist, adding that the first two singles “Why Why Why” and “Isn’t That Enough” will be arriving on August 8.

Mendes also shared an album trailer, featuring the 25-year-old playing guitar in a forest, and at a campfire surrounded by friends singing “Isn’t That Enough.” He wrote in the caption, “Music really can be medicine. 2 years ago I felt like I had absolutely no idea who I was. A year ago I couldn’t step into a studio without falling into complete panic. So to be here right now with 12 beautiful finished songs feels like such a gift.”

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He continued his message, “Honestly thank god for my friends and family. Life can be brutal but having a small group of people you deeply trust to walk you through makes it so much better. I have no idea how I would have made it through the last couple years let alone make an album without you.”

After thanking his friends and family for sticking by his side, Mendes shouted out his fans. “And to you guys who have been so unbelievably supportive and patient and loving thank you from the bottom of my heart. I really hope you love this album, I do. I really really do. I hope it makes you feel warm and close to the earth like it does for me.”

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See the post and trailer here.

Shawn is the star’s fifth studio album and follows 2020’s Wonder as well as Mendes’ previous self-titled project, 2018’s Shawn Mendes. The album was written and co-produced by Mendes, along with collaborators Scott Harris, Mike Sabath, Nate Mercereau and Eddie Benjamin, with additional songs co-written by Amy Allen and Ethan Gruska.

The new album also marks Mendes’ first full-length release since he canceled his 2022 Wonder tour to focus on his mental health.

31 Jul 2024

Carrie Underwood Teams With Papa Roach for New ‘Leave a Light On’ Version for Suicide Prevention

Carrie Underwood has teamed with rock band Papa Roach to help shine a light on mental health awareness and suicide prevention. The Academy of Country Music entertainer of the year winner and the Grammy-nominated band will release a new version of Papa Roach’s song “Leave a Light On (Talk Away the Dark)” on Friday, Aug. 2.

“We were humbled that Carrie was open to our mission, and hearing the power of Carrie’s voice in that recording session we were blown away,” Papa Roach frontman Jacoby Shaddix said in a statement. “Not only is her vocal ability unequaled, but the impact of her voice brings a new meaning to our cause and will help people all over the globe. It’s an honor to have a ‘Rock Star’ bring life to this track with us.”

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“I’m such a huge fan of Jacoby and Papa Roach and was honored to be invited to record ‘Leave a Light On’ with them,” Underwood added. “It’s a beautiful song and the message behind it and the band’s mission to shine a light on suicide prevention and mental health awareness has never been more important.”

The song was recorded in Nashville, and both artists’ royalties generated from the track will aid the organization American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). The release also raises awareness for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline in the United State and Canada.

Papa Roach first performed “Leave a Light On” in concert last year with Shinedown and Spiritbox, and in each city, the song was preceded by a video PSA delivered by Shaddix, who also pledged to donate to the AFSP on behalf of each city’s attendees, which led to a $155,000 donation at the tour’s conclusion.

To further propel support for the AFSP, the band renamed the song “Leave a Light On (Talk Away the Dark),” to correspond with the AFSP’s “Talk Away the Dark” campaign. The song spent three weeks atop Billboard‘s Rock Airplay chart in February, and reached No. 11 on the Alternative Airplay chart. To date, the band’s efforts have raised more than $250,000 for the AFSP.

“Papa Roach’s ‘Leave a Light On (Talk Away the Dark)’ has tapped into a cultural moment in which people are eager and ready for the message the song contains: that we all go through difficult times and that we can all be there for each other,” said American Foundation for Suicide Prevention CEO Bob Gebbia. “We want to thank Carrie Underwood for joining with Papa Roach to record this new, inspiring duet version, which will reach even more fans and connect them to AFSP’s Talk Away the Dark campaign. We are also incredibly grateful to Papa Roach and Carrie Underwood for their commitment to providing those struggling with their mental health information and resources that can help. These amazing artists are educating the public about the importance of taking care of our mental health, and they are generously supporting AFSP’s mission of saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide.”

Throughout her career, Underwood has regularly dabbled in the rock arena, including covers of songs including Guns N’ Roses’ “Sweet Child o’ Mine” and “Paradise City,” Joan Jett’s “I Hate Myself for Loving You” and INXS’ “Never Tear Us Apart.” She also teamed with Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler during the 2011 ACM Awards to perform a mashup of her own “Undo It” and Aerosmith’s “Walk This Way.”

If you or anyone you know is in crisis, call 988 or visit the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s website for free, confidential emotional support and resources 24/7.

31 Jul 2024

Ye & Ty Dolla $ign’s ‘Vultures 2’ Receives Its Third Release Date

There appears to be some clarity regarding the much-delayed Vultures 2 project from Ye (formerly Kanye West) and Ty Dolla $ign. West’s YZY website provided an updated message explaining on Wednesday (July 31) that all orders have been fulfilled and shipped out, and V2 is set to arrive on Friday (Aug. 2).

Billboard has reached out to reps for Ty Dolla $ign.

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“ALL ORDERS FULFILLED VULTURES 2 COMING AUGUST 2ND,” the website’s homepage reads. Other than that message regarding the project and clothing orders, the white background features only the current date and time.

Fans were sent into a frenzy as word began to spread about the imminent release date. Some on social media were buying the hype, while others said they would believe it when they see, it as Ye has made a habit out of missing targeted release dates.

“Not believing it until the 15th listen,” one fan tweeted, while another echoed the sentiment, saying, “We’ve been through this a million times man.”

One person even updated the meme to add the alternate Vultures cover art to the collection of mythical Ye projects that never found their way to an official release on streaming.

Once upon a time, Vultures 2 was supposed to arrive on March 8 before being pushed to May 3, and then the sequel project became delayed indefinitely.

However, Ty Dolla $ign revealed in his cover story with Billboard in June that V2 was pretty much done, but they were deciding how to properly roll out the album.

“We got all the songs. Basically, it’s just like, ‘How can we get it there? How can we go bigger than the first album?’” he said at the time. “Certain people will probably expect you to just do the same exact sound. But that sound’s already out.”

A pair of Vultures listening experiences are on the calendar for August, with Ye and Ty set to head to South Korea (Aug. 23) and Taiwan (Aug. 25) next month — and fans are hoping new music is coming with them.

Ye and Ty Dolla $ign haven’t made any statements regarding a potential Friday release date for Vultures 2.

31 Jul 2024

Kehlani Gets Emotional During Career-Spanning NPR Tiny Desk Show: ‘It’s Been a Long Time Coming’

Kehlani‘s been waiting for this moment for a long, long time. After easing the audience in with the smooth R&B of “Nights Like This” from their 2019 mixtape While We Wait, the Oakland-bred vocalist — backed by a full live band and three back-up singers — told the public radio audience crammed in around her about the journey to this special moment.

“Hi everyone. Thank you for coming and tuning in to my Tiny Desk. It’s been a long time coming. I definitely know I’m overdue for doing this so thank you for making sure I was able to get here this far along in my process,” they said before easing into the 2016 Grammy-nominated jazzy slow jam “Distraction” from her debut album, SweetSexySavage.

Next up was the sexy soul burner “Can I” the fourth single from Kehlani’s second album, 2020’s It Was Good Until It Wasn’t, on which she sings, “This s–t’s so good, should be illegal/ Need round two, I need a sequel/ Hit the backboard like a free throw/ You next level, you a cheat code.” Taking a break to chat up the gathered NPR staffers, Kehlani stumbled over their words, admitting they were “naturally shy” and kind of nervous — which is why it took so long to pull up to the Desk — as they made a political statement.

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“I want to take a second to say: Free Palestine. Free Congo. Free Sudan. Free Yemen. Free Hawaii. Free Guam,” said the vocalist who announced in June that she’d raised more than $555,000 in aid for the Palestinian people and citizens of war-torn Sudan and Congo with the sale of shirts from her “Next 2 U” single. “Beyond a cease fire we need an end to the occupation. It’s deeper than this. I need everybody that’s here right now, everybody that’s watching, to step up, to use their voices.” 

The set then came to close with the jaunty “After Hours” from Kehlani’s most recent album, CRASH.

Watch Kehlani’s Tiny Desk Concert below.

31 Jul 2024

Selena Gomez Addresses Whether Her Younger Self Would’ve Dated Benny Blanco

It’s impossible to know for sure whether Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco ever would’ve gotten together a decade ago, but the pop star does have some thoughts on the matter.

Responding to a recent fan TikTok claiming “she would never date benny blanco” back in her “IT GIRL era” in the 2010s, Gomez simply wrote, “Kinda makes me laugh because I was so depressed back then lol.”

The video also featured slow-motion papparazzi footage of a younger Sel strutting through camera flashes, looking stunning in a sleek black dress. “I know and so do you that at the time she would never have gotten engaged to Benny, she was in her IT GIRL era,” the fan captioned the clip, which just so happened to be paired with Gomez’s ex Justin Bieber’s 2015 hit “Company.”

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Regardless of the past, 2024 finds the Rare Beauty founder happily in love with the producer. She recently celebrated her 32nd birthday with her boyfriend at her side, calling him the “love of my life” in a post on Instagram Stories. Later, she posted a carousel of cute couple’s photos she snapped with Blanco and wrote, “Thank you for sharing your life with me today and everyday ?”

Gomez has set more than one person straight on TikTok in the past few days. She also recently commented on a post that sparked speculation about whether she’d ever gotten plastic surgery or any other cosmetic procedures on her face, writing, “Honestly I hate this.”

“I was on stripes because of [a] flare up,” she added at the time. “I have Botox. That’s it. Leave me alone.”

See the TikTok Gomez commented on below.

31 Jul 2024

Megan Thee Stallion Jokes She’s Kamala Harris’ ‘New Head of Security’ After Atlanta Rally Performance

Megan Thee Stallion is ready to be Kamala Harris’ body-ody-ody-ody-ody-ody-ody-ody guard.  

After performing at the politician’s campaign rally in Atlanta Tuesday (July 30), the rapper — dressed to impress in a blue pantsuit — posted a video backstage with her backup dancers doing the viral TikTok choreography to her song “Mamushi.” In her caption, she jokingly declared that she’s joined the cause as “Thee new Head of Security ????.” 

Also posting the clip on Instagram, Meg coined a new phrase for the sitting VP’s campaign: “#hottiesforharris.” 

“Mamushi” was one of a few songs the Texas native performed on the stage at the Georgia State Convocation Center, along with her 2020 hit “Body,” which reached No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. ”Now I know my ladies in the crowd love their bodies,” she said before diving into the latter track. “If you want to keep loving your bodies, you know who to vote for.” 

Behind the scenes, Meg also filmed a video with Harris for the presumptive Democratic nominee’s TikTok account, which has accumulated more than 3 million followers the few days since it was launched. “What’s up, hotties? This is Megan Thee Stallion, aka the Hot Girl Coach, reporting live with the future president of the United States!” the musician says, filming the clip selfie-style as Harris smiles at the camera. “What do you have to say to the American people?” 

“We are not going back,” the former senator replies. 

Thee Stallion is one of several stars who’ve voiced support for Harris since the VP announced she was running for president in place of Joe Biden, who dropped out of the race July 21 before quickly endorsing his second-in-command for the role. Migos’ Quavo spoke at Harris’ Atlanta event, while Cardi B, Lizzo, Ariana Grande, John Legend and more have all posted in support of the campaign. 

Watch Meg’s posts from the rally below. 

31 Jul 2024

50 Cent Says He Doesn’t ‘See a Loss for Drake’ Following Kendrick Lamar Feud

50 Cent is a savant in the art of war. With the litany of feuds 50’s been engaged in throughout his decorated career, the G-Unit mogul knows how to shrewdly navigate in battle, and he’s just about seen it all in hip-hop.

As part of his The Hollywood Reporter cover story published on Wednesday (July 31), Fiddy dished on the dust settling on the Kendrick Lamar and Drake feud, which he doesn’t chalk up as a loss for the 6 God.

“This is hip-hop. I think it’s competitive to a degree, obviously. Even Drake, his position and the attitude and his choices, those are 50 Cent choices,” he began. “‘F–k it, everybody got to get it then.’ When it becomes Drake versus Kendrick, it’s because it’s the only thing you can put up against Drake’s success.”

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When an artist has a successful run as long and dominant as Drake’s, 50 believes other rappers are waiting to see him fall from the top so they could have a shot at the throne. The Queens legend thinks it came to the point that people were poking holes in Drake’s artistry that really weren’t there.

“Look, our culture loves to see you go up because it’s confirmation that they can go up,” he added. “But when you stay up — ‘I want this s–t forever, man’ — they go, ‘Well, goddamn. When you going to come down? If you don’t come down, I ain’t going to have my chance to go up.’ And then it’s these clouds that come over you, and that cloud is doubt, a shadow of doubt that doesn’t come from material or your work ethic.”

The “In Da Club” rapper continued: “It’s doubt from the artist community, where they say, ‘I don’t know, his new s–t is cool, but it’s not his first s–t.’ They do that to you and Drake’s just experiencing what you experience as a backlash from success, from the consistency he’s delivered over and over. I don’t see a loss for Drake. The people who bought Drake material are going to buy Drake material when his next song comes out.”

While 50 is confident Drake will bounce back, because of his own antics in battle, his enemies didn’t suffer the same fate. “Now, the s–t that I do, it ruins your whole f—ing career,” he gravely declared.

Kendrick and Drake’s back-and-forth came to a close in early May, and the fan consensus is that the winner was Lamar, with which Billboard agreed.K. Dot’s “Not Like Us” is still simmering and holding strong on the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 3 on the Aug. 3 dated tally.

50 and Drake actually linked up earlier in July, and the Power creator teased a collaboration on the TV side from the duo. He shared a photo of the two together on Instagram and wrote, “Brainstorming last night me and @champagnepapi gonna get the [camera emoji] rolling biggest ting on your TV.”

31 Jul 2024

Post Malone’s Mom Told Him Blake Shelton’s ‘Austin’ Was Written About Him: ‘He Said He Believed It’

If you were born Austin Richard Post and you heard a song called “Austin” by one of your mom’s favorite country singers, and she said it was about you, chances are you’d believe her. At least that’s what Post Malone told Blake Shelton.

Speaking to American Songwriter, Shelton said that when the men were working on their new joint single “Pour Me a Drink” from Posty’s upcoming star-packed debut country album, F-1 Trillion, Malone told him that he thought Blake’s 2001 debut single was written in his honor.

“Post’s real name is Austin, and he told me that when he was a kid, his mom told him that that song was written about him,” Shelton said of the 29-year-old rapper-turned-country crooner who would have been a first grader when Blake released his self-titled debut album. “That’s what he told me, and he said he believed it. His mom was, I guess, the country music fan in the family, and his dad was the rock guy. So, I guess that’s how Post Malone was created.”

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In the chorus of the twangy ballad about a lost love who moves to the Texas town, Shelton sings in the voice of his former girlfriend, crooning, “And by the way, boy, this is no machine your talkin’ to/ Can’t you tell, this is Austin, and I still love you.”

Malone and Shelton seem like they’re having a blast on “Pour Me a Drink,” a party tune about tipping one (or four) up with your pals and forgetting about your mistakes. “Guess I really went and messed it up again Now, my baby’s goner than the Tulsa wind/ Judgin’ by the stone-sober state I’m in/ Need to crack one wide open,” Shelton sings, with Malone adding on the chorus: “Somebody pour me a drink, somebody bum me a smoke/ I’m ’bout to get on a buzz, I’m ’bout to get on a roll.”

Shelton said he had a great time recording the song with Texas-bred Malone and now that they’ve hung out he can understand why his new pal is such a mega-selling/streaming artist. “I didn’t because at the end of the day, I just, for whatever reason, he asked me to do it—I’m proud,” Shelton said. “I’m proud of that record. I’m proud to have worked with him. I think he’s an incredibly talented guy. Now that I’ve spent some time with him, it’s no mystery to me that he’s as huge as he is as an artist and successful as he is because he’s just somebody that you just love being around. He’s just so much fun.”

Malone’s F-1 Trillion (August 16) is slated to feature a number of other A-list collaborations, including songs with Dolly Parton (“Have the Heart”), Morgan Wallen (Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 smash “I Had Some Help”), Tim McGraw (“Wrong Ones”), Brad Paisley (“Goes Without Saying”), Lainey Wilson (“Nosedive”), ERNEST (“Devil I’ve Been”), Chris Stapleton (“California Sober”) and Billy Strings (“M-E-X-I-C-O”), as well as Hank Williams Jr., Luke Combs, Jelly Roll and Sierra Ferrell.

The singer recently previewed some of the songs at his Bud Light “A Night in Nashville” show at Music City’s Marathon Music Works, where he played his collaboration with HARDY (“Hide My Gun”) and with Ferrell (“Never Love Again”), as well as the previously-released “Pour Me a Drink” alongside Shelton.

31 Jul 2024

Go Backstage With ‘Voice’ Newbies Snoop Dogg & Michael Buble as They Join Reba & Gwen for First Coach Quartet

The Voice season 26 is just around the corner, and the newest group of coaches recently teamed up for a high-energy performance of Four Tops’ 1966 hit “Reach Out I’ll Be There.”

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In a new clip shared exclusively with Billboard on Wednesday (July 31), fans get a behind-the-scenes look at the coaches’ playful banter and connection as they gear up for the performance.

“Out of all the people you thought would become a superband, this wasn’t it,” Michael Bublé said of himself, Snoop Dogg, Reba McEntire and Gwen Stefani. He added, “If you were wondering, ‘Can Snoop Dogg sing?’ Yeah, he can sing.”

It was announced back in May that Snoop will be sliding into one of the signature spinning chairs on the singing competition show alongside fellow newcomerBublé. The panel for this fall’s season 26 will be rounded out by returning coaches McEntire and Stefani, with the former notching her third consecutive season on the series and No Doubt singer and solo star Stefani adding yet another notch with her eighth go-round.

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Bublé isn’t a total stranger to the Voice stage, as the Canadian singer previously appeared as an advisor to Team Blake in season 3. Snoop also has Voice bona fides, thanks to his gig as a Mega Mentor in season 20.

Watch the behind-the-scenes clip below, and catch season 26 of The Voice when it premieres Sept. 23 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.


https://youtube.com/watch?v=1_KWkZbYBhU&version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-US&autohide=2&wmode=transparent

31 Jul 2024

Bill Maher Calls Taylor Swift ‘Tacky,’ Says Travis Kelce Is Going to ‘Dump Her’

Bill Maher made the bold choice of dissing Taylor Swift on his Club Random podcast this week, picking on everything from the 34-year-old pop star’s Eras Tour to her romance with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. 

While speaking to guest Haliey Welch — better known as the viral “Hawk Tuah” girl — on his Sunday (July 28) episode, the 68-year-old comedian was the first person to bring up Swift. “I liked her more when she was country,” he said. “I love ‘Sparks Fly.’ I love it.” 

That was pretty much where the flattery stopped, though. “I’m sure she’s a lovely person, but the whole thing with the football player … it just felt like 35 is a little old to be like, ‘My boyfriend’s a football player, and I wear his jersey to the game with his number on it,’” Maher continued, referencing the 14-time Grammy winner’s high-profile visits to Arrowhead Stadium during the 2023-24 NFL season. “Right? I mean, come on.” 

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The political commentator went on to say frankly that Kelce is “gonna dump her.” “With her, it’s like the Gatorade at the Super Bowl,” he added. “You know you’re gonna get dumped — you just don’t know when.”  

Welch then remarked that Swift’s next album would be next-level if a Tayvis breakup did occur — “It won’t be f–k John Mayer no more, it’ll be f–k Travis” — to which Maher questioned, “Is she still singing about [Mayer]?”  

“Her tour is the Eras Tour… it must’ve had the songs about all the people that she wrote songs about,” the Real Time host continued, agreeing with Welch that it’s “very tacky” for Swift to still be singing about her past exes. “You can’t control what the muse dictates to you — she’s a songwriter. I can’t fault her for that. But [her breakups] seem like such a recurrent theme.”  

That’s when Maher ended the Swift discussion with a pretty outdated joke: “At some point, you just want to say, maybe you should write a song called, ‘Maybe It’s Me.’”  

Billboard has reached out to Swift’s rep for comment. 

Though Maher apparently dislikes that the musician performs her older music on the Eras Tour, millions of Swifties would probably beg to differ. In 2023, the Eras Tour generated approximately $900 million in ticket sales — a number that’s no doubt significantly higher when factoring in the four months she’s been touring in 2024 since it was calculated.  

Swift has also been open about how quips about her dating life and songwriting topics affect her. When the Netflix series Ginny & Georgia included the line, “You go through men faster than Taylor Swift” in 2021, for instance, she was quick to put it on blast. 

“Hey Ginny & Georgia, 2010 called and it wants its lazy, deeply sexist joke back,” she tweeted at the time. “How about we stop degrading hard working women by defining this horse s–t as FuNnY.” 

As for the “Karma” singer’s relationship with Kelce, the couple appears to be doing just fine (although some of Maher’s comments do echo complaints from NFL fans who didn’t like seeing Swift on their TV screens during Chiefs games). Now going on a year of dating, they were most recently spotted at the star’s Eras show in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, July 18, cozying up next to each other as they exited the backstage area. 

Watch Maher discuss Swift below.