Music News

21 Jul 2024

Barbra Streisand, Cardi B, Cher & More Musicians React to Joe Biden Dropping Out of 2024 Presidential Race

Musicians and celebrities are reacting to President Joe Biden announcing that he is dropping out of the 2024 presidential race.

On Sunday afternoon (July 21), just weeks after a disastrous debate with former President Donald Trump, Biden shared a letter on social media noting that he is ending his bid for a second term in the White House and he will focus on fulfilling his duties as president for the remainder of his term.

“It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President,” Biden, 81, wrote in the letter addressed to “My Fellow Americans.”

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In another post minutes later, the embattled commander-in-chief, who is recovering from COVID, officially endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic Party’s new presidential nominee.

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In recent weeks, Biden has faced mounting pressure from Democratic leaders to drop out of the race. Up until Sunday, the president had insisted that he would remain in the race unless polling data showed him that a victory was impossible or that his health wouldn’t allow it.

Following the news, musical artists like Barbra Streisand, Cardi B, Cher, Lizzo, and many others took to social media to share their reactions.

“Joe Biden will go down in history as a man who accomplished significant achievements in his 4 year term,” Streisand, a longtime Biden supporter, wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “We should be grateful for his upholding of our democracy.”

Cardi B reposted a video of herself commenting on Biden’s dismal performance against Trump during a debate in Atlanta in late June.

“AHAHAHAHA LETS GOOOOO I TOLD YALLL KAMALA WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE 2024 candidate…..STOP F–IN PLAYIN WITH ME !!!!!!!” Cardi captioned the clip on X.

Cher, who released the song “Happiness Is Just a Thing Called Joe” in 2020, noted that Biden’s withdrawal from the upcoming presidential race was a wise move for the Democratic Party.

“I Believe Its Only Chance 4 [American flag emoji] 2 Remain DEMOCRACY. DEM PARTY MUST’REALLY,’ ‘REALLY’ THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX,” Cher wrote on X. “‘WINNING IS ALL’,DONT WIN CANT CHANGE ANYTHING & THE TIMES THEY MUST BE A CHANGIN.”

Other artists like Ariana Grande, Rosanne Cash and Kristin Chenoweth relayed their respect for the president’s decision on their respective Instagram Stories. See more artist reactions to Biden dropping out of the presidential race below.

21 Jul 2024

Eminem Achieves 11th No. 1 on Billboard 200 With ‘The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce)’

Eminem achieves his 11th No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 chart (dated July 27) as his latest studio album, The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce), debuts atop the list. The set launches with 281,000 equivalent album units earned in the U.S. in the week ending July 18, according to Luminate. It scores the largest week for any rap album in 2024.

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With an 11th No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, Eminem ties Bruce Springsteen, Barbra Streisand and Ye (formerly Kanye West) for the fifth-most No. 1s on the Billboard 200. Ahead of them are The Beatles (a record 19 No. 1s), Jay-Z and Taylor Swift (each with 14) and Drake (13).

Also in the top 10 of the new Billboard 200, three acts all debut with their highest-charting albums ever, as ENHYPEN, Clairo and Megan Moroney’s latest releases enter at Nos. 2, 8 and 9, respectively. Plus, after 12 consecutive weeks at No. 1, Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department spends its first week outside the top slot, falling to No. 4 in its 13th week on the list.

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The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week in the U.S. based on multi-metric consumption as measured in equivalent album units, compiled by Luminate. Units comprise album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). Each unit equals one album sale, or 10 individual tracks sold from an album, or 3,750 ad-supported or 1,250 paid/subscription on-demand official audio and video streams generated by songs from an album. The new July 27, 2024-dated chart will be posted in full on Billboard‘s website on July 23. For all chart news, follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both X, formerly known as Twitter, and Instagram.

Of The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce)’s 281,000 first-week units, SEA units comprise 164,500 (equaling 220.08 million on-demand official streams of the tracks on the streaming edition of the album; Death also debuts at No. 1 on Top Streaming Albums), album sales comprise 114,000 (all from digital downloads; it wasn’t available as a physical album) and TEA units comprise 2,500.

Death’s first-week sales mark the biggest sales week in 2024 for a rap album. It also nets the second-largest sales week this year for a digital download album, behind only the debut of Swift’s Poets with 274,000 downloads sold in its opening week.

Death was available to purchase only as a digital download and was issued widely in both clean and explicit editions, in addition to three further variants sold exclusively in Eminem’s official webstore. Of the latter three, two were sold as a pre-order for a limited time before the set’s release, and each came with their own exclusive bonus track — one with “Kyrie & Luka,” featuring 2 Chainz, and one with “Like My Shit,” featuring FIFTEENAFTER. A third webstore variant dropped on Wednesday (July 17), carrying both bonus tracks and an exclusive “Steve Berman” skit. The CD and vinyl editions of The Death of Slim Shady are due for release on Sept. 13 and Oct. 25, respectively.

Eminem’s new album was preceded by two top 40-charting hits on the Billboard Hot 100, “Houdini,” which debuted and peaked at No. 2 on the June 15 chart, and “Tobey,” with Big Sean and BabyTron, which climbed to No. 27 on the July 20 chart.

ENHYPEN captures its highest-charting album ever, and fourth top 10, as Romance: Untold debuts at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 with 124,000 equivalent album units earned — the act’s largest week ever by units. Of that sum, album sales comprise 117,000 (the group’s best sales week ever; the set debuts at No. 1 on Top Album Sales), SEA units comprise 7,000 (equaling 9.53 million on-demand official streams of the album’s tracks) and TEA units comprise a negligible sum. The album’s sales were bolstered by its availability across 17 different CD variants, all containing collectible paper ephemera like photocards, stickers and a poster, as well as two vinyl editions.

Zach Bryan’s The Great American Bar Scene slips 2-3 in its third week on the list (88,000 equivalent album units; down 36%) while Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department falls 1-4 (82,000; down 50%). The latter spent its first 12 weeks on the chart at No. 1.

Morgan Wallen’s chart-topping One Thing at a Time dips 3-5 on the Billboard 200 with 66,000 equivalent album units earned (down 5%), Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard and Soft descends 4-6 with 57,000 units (down 2%) and Chappell Roan’s The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess falls 5-7 with 54,000 units (down less than 1%).

Clairo scores her highest-charting album ever, and first top 10, as Charm enters at No. 8 on the Billboard 200 with 47,000 equivalent album units earned — her best week ever by units. Of that sum, album sales comprise 32,000 (her best sales week ever), SEA units comprise 15,000 (equaling 19.78 million on-demand streams of the set’s tracks) and TEA units comprise a negligible sum. The set’s first-week sales was amplified by the album’s availability across eight vinyl variants and four deluxe boxed sets (containing branded merchandise and a CD). Vinyl sales comprise 15,000 of the album’s first week – Clairo’s best week ever on vinyl.

The album was preceded by the single “Sexy to Someone,” which has reached the top 20 of the Adult Alternative Airplay chart, and the top 30 of the Alternative Airplay and Hot Rock & Alternative Songs rankings.

Megan Moroney lands her first top 10-charting set on the Billboard 200 as her second full-length studio album Am I Okay? bows at No. 9 with 43,000 equivalent album units earned — the singer-songwriter’s largest week by units. Of that sum, SEA units comprise 30,000 (equaling 38.05 million on-demand official streams of the set’s tracks), album sales comprise 13,000 and TEA units comprise less than 500. The album was preceded by a trio of entries on the Hot Country Songs chart: “No Caller ID,” “28th of June” and “Indifferent.” The new album’s success follows Moroney’s chart breakthrough in 2023 with the single “Tennessee Orange,” from her debut full-length, Lucky (peaking at No. 38 on the Billboard 200 in 2023). “Tennessee” climbed to No. 10 on Hot Country Songs and garnered song of the year nominations at both the Country Music Association Awards and the Academy of Country Music Awards.

Closing out the top 10 of the new Billboard 200 is Noah Kahan’s Stick Season, slipping 7-10 with 40,000 equivalent album units earned (though up 4%).

Luminate, the independent data provider to the Billboard charts, completes a thorough review of all data submissions used in compiling the weekly chart rankings. Luminate reviews and authenticates data. In partnership with Billboard, data deemed suspicious or unverifiable is removed, using established criteria, before final chart calculations are made and published.

21 Jul 2024

Ryan Reynolds Reveals Story Behind Madonna Approving ‘Like a Prayer’ for ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’

Ryan Reynolds is opening up about how Madonna approved the use of “Like a Prayer” for use in Deadpool & Wolverine.

During an interview with Andy Cohen on SiriusXM on Friday (July 19), Reynolds shared the story of how he and co-star Hugh Jackman, along with director Shawn Levy, convinced the Queen of Pop to license her 1989 hit for the highly anticipated superhero flick.

“It did involve a personal visit to Madonna, where we showed Madonna the sequence where ‘Like a Prayer’ would be used,” Levy said.

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“Also, let’s preface it with the fact that they don’t license — that Madonna doesn’t just license the song, particularly that song,” Reynolds added. “It was a big deal to ask for it and certainly a bigger deal to use it. We went over and met with her and and sort of showed her how it was being used, and where, and why.”

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“It was a big deal to ask for it and certainly a bigger deal to use it,” the Deadpool actor continued. “We went over and met with her and and sort of showed her how it was being used, and where, and why.

During the visit, Reynolds joked that he had to ask one of Madonna’s team members how to appropriately address the iconic singer.

“Like am I allowed to just say, ‘Madonna?’” he said. “Like, ‘Hello Madonna, I’m Ryan.’”

Madonna ended up granting them permission to use “Like a Prayer” — which spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1989 — and even provided some ideas on how to use the classic track in the film.

“She gave a great note,” Reynolds said. “She watched it, and I’m not kidding, [she said], ‘You need to do this.’ And damn it, if she wasn’t like spot on.”

“We literally went into a new recording session within 48 hours to do this note,” Levy added. “It made the sequence better.”

Deadpool & Wolverine opens in theaters on July 26.

Watch a clip from Reynolds’ SiriusXM interview here.

21 Jul 2024

Lady Gaga Pays Tribute to Tony Bennett on 1st Anniversary of His Death: ‘Miss You’

Lady Gaga is paying tribute to her beloved friend and musical collaborator Tony Bennett one year after his death.

On Saturday (July 20), the 38-year-old pop superstar and actress shared a heartfelt message on social media about the late crooner, who passed away on July 21, 2023, in his hometown of New York City of undisclosed causes after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2016. He was 96.

“It’s been one year since Tony passed away,” Gaga wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of herself with Bennett. “This picture says it all. I’m so grateful for my continued friendship with his wife Susan — the legacy of jazz music he left — and for the community of jazz musicians I still work with who all knew and loved Tony. We’re gonna keep on swingin’. Miss you … life is a beautiful thing.”

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The black-and-white photo shows Gaga posing for a tuxedo-wearing Bennett as he sketches a notebook drawing for their 2021 collaborative album, Love for Sale. A video from that year shows Gaga crying after the drawing is revealed to her.

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Bennett’s family first shared his Alzheimer’s diagnosis publicly in 2021. That same year, the iconic singer announced that he was retiring from touring and performing after one last show with Gaga at Radio City Music Hall, titled One Last Time: An Evening with Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga.

In addition to Love for Sale, Gaga and Bennett recorded the full-length jazz standards albums Cheek to Cheek in 2014. The project debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.

Following his death last year, the “Million Reasons” singer paid loving tribute to her good friend on social media.

“I will miss my friend forever. I will miss singing with him, recording with him, talking with him, being on stage together,” she wrote alongside an Instagram photo of Bennett giving her a warm hug. “With Tony, I got to live my life in a time warp. Tony & I had this magical power. We transported ourselves to another era, modernized the music together, & gave it all new life as a singing duo. But it wasnt an act. Our relationship was very real.”

Gaga added Bennett taught her about music, showbiz and life, but she said he also showed her how to “keep my spirits high and my head screwed on straight. ‘Straight ahead,’ he’d say. He was an optimist, he believed in quality work AND quality life. Plus, there was the gratitude … Tony was always grateful. He served in WWII, marched with Martin Luther King Jr., and sang jazz with the greatest singers and players in the world. I’ve been grieving the loss of Tony for a long time. We had a very long and powerful goodbye.”

See Lady Gaga’s recent tribute to Bennett on Instagram here.

21 Jul 2024

Tye Tribbett, Jekalyn Carr Win Big at 2024 Stellar Gospel Music Awards

Less than six months after winning his third Grammy Award (best gospel album for All Things New: Live in Orlando), Tye Tribbett swept the 2024 Stellar Awards, winning six awards, including artist of the year and song of the year for “Only One Night Tho (Live).” The Motown Gospel artist also received the James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Icon Award.

The 39th annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards show taped on Saturday (July 20) at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. TV personality and comedian Loni Love and radio/TV personality and comedian Rickey Smiley co-hosted the show.

Jekalyn Carr was runner-up in the awards count with four awards, including the Albertina Walker female artist of the year award. Melvin Crispell III, Ricky Dillard and Lisa Knowles-Smith & The Brown Singers each won two awards.

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Despite his sweep, Tribbett did not win male artist of the year. That award went to Crispell, who also took traditional male artist of the year.

Kim Burrell received the Aretha Franklin Icon Award.

Performers included Chandler Moore, Kierra Sheard, Anthony Brown and group therAPy, Da’ T.R.U.T.H, Israel Houghton, Karen Clark Sheard, Kelontae Gavin, Koryn Hawthorne, Lisa Knowles-Smith, Mali Music, Melvin Crispell III, Rich Tolbert Jr., Tasha Page-Lockhart, Ricky Dillard and Tamela Mann.

Kirk Franklin, Erica Campbell, and Angel Taylor also made special appearances.

The two-hour show will premiere on the Stellar Network on Aug. 3 at 8 p.m. and repeat at 11 p.m. ET. It will also air in broadcast syndication from Aug. 10-Sept. 8. In addition, BET will air the show on Aug. 4 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

The 39th Stellar Gospel Music Awards show was executive produced by Don Jackson with Jennifer J. Jackson serving as producer and executive in charge of production; Michael A. Johnson as producer and director, Erin Johnson as talent producer and Daniel Moore as music director.

Here’s a complete list of nominations for the 39th annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards, with winners marked:

Artist of the year

Donald Lawrence; Donald Lawrence Presents Power: A Tribute to Twinkie Clark; RCA Inspiration

Erica Campbell; I Love You; My Block Inc.

Pastor Mike Jr.; Impossible; Blacksmoke Music Worldwide

WINNER: Tye Tribbett; All Things New (Live Album); Motown Gospel

Song of the year

“Able” ft. Marvin Winans; Jonathan McReynolds, Major Johnson Finley, Marvin Winans & Demetrius Terrell Wilson; MNRK

“Feel Alright (Blessed)”; Erica Campbell, Warryn Campbell, Marvin L. Winans, Juan Winans & William Weatherspoon; My Block Inc.

“It’s Morning”; Latrice Pace; Latrice Pace

WINNER: “Only One Night Tho (Live)”; Tye Tribbett; Motown Gospel

Male artist of the year

Jonathan McReynolds; My Truth; MNRK

WINNER: Melvin Crispell III; No Failure; RCA Inspiration

Pastor Mike Jr.; Impossible; Blacksmoke Music Worldwide

Tye Tribbett; All Things New (Live Album); Motown Gospel

Albertina Walker female artist of the year

Erica Campbell; I Love You; My Block Inc.

WINNER: Jekalyn Carr; JEKALYN; Waynorth Music

Kierra Sheard; All Yours; RCA Inspiration/Karew Entertainment

Maurette Brown Clark; He Loves Me; Nettie’s Child Music/MNRK

Duo/chorus group of the year

Anthony Brown & group therAPy; Affirmations; Key of A/Tyscot/FairTrade

JJ Hairston; Believe Again Vol II; Tribl Records

Maverick City Music; The Maverick Way Complete; Tribl Records

WINNER: The Walls Group; Four Walls; My Block Inc.

New artist of the year

Adam Blackstone; A Legacy Christmas; BASSic Black Entertainment Records/Anderson Music Group/Empire

Jevon Dewand & The Trapstarz; The Change Experience; Blacksmoke Music Worldwide

WINNER: Jovonta Patton; Established; Newton Street Entertainment/MNRK

Rudy Currence; Stained Glass Windows; Mike Chek / MNRK

Album of the year

WINNER: All Things New (Live Album); Tye Tribbett; Motown Gospel

Choirmaster II; Ricky Dillard; Motown Gospel

Impossible; Pastor Mike Jr.; Blacksmoke Music Worldwide

My Truth; Jonathan McReynolds; MNRK

Choir of the year

B. Chase Williams & Shabach; CHASing the Next Chapter; Mellie’s Boy Muzic Group

WINNER: Ricky Dillard; Choirmaster II; Motown Gospel

Vincent Bohanan & SOV; Live in Dallas; HezHouse Entertainment

Zak Williams & 1AKORD; Revisited; Enon Music Group

Producer of the year

Donald Lawrence; Donald Lawrence Presents Power: A Tribute to Twinkie Clark; RCA Inspiration

Pastor Mike Jr. (Michael McClure Jr.) & Jevon Hill; Impossible; Blacksmoke Music Worldwide

Tye Tribbett, Joseph Bethea, and assisted by Shante Tribbett; All Things New (Live Album); Motown Gospel

WINNER: Warryn Campbell; I Love You; My Block Inc.

Contemporary duo/chorus group of the year

WINNER: Anthony Brown & group therAPy; Affirmations; Key of A/Tyscot/FairTrade

Housefires; How to Start a Housefire (Pt. III); Housefires Music

Pastor Dalton Hill & The Tabernacle Singers; Rejoice (Live from Boston); Beulah Tabernacle/Bean House Productions

The Walls Group; Four Walls; My Block Inc.

Traditional duo/chorus group of the year

JJ Hairston; Believe Again Vol II; Tribl Records

Kevin Vasser & BLVRS; I Believe; KTV Music

WINNER: Lisa Knowles-Smith & The Brown Singers; Live in Memphis 2; EvoWorld Entertainment, Inc

Ron Summers; God Can; Emanuel Media Group/Ron Summers Music

Contemporary male artist of the year

Jonathan McReynolds; My Truth; MNRK

Jovonta Patton; Established; Newton Street Entertainment/MNRK

Pastor Mike Jr.; Impossible; Blacksmoke Music Worldwide

WINNER: Tye Tribbett; All Things New (Live Album); Motown Gospel

Traditional male artist of the year

John P. Kee; Tribute to a Legend: Rance Allen; Kee Music Group/Tyscot Records

Kelontae Gavin; Testify; RCA Inspiration

WINNER: Melvin Crispell III; No Failure; RCA Inspiration

Ricky Dillard; Choirmaster II; Motown Gospel

Contemporary female artist of the year

WINNER: Kierra Sheard; All Yours; RCA Inspiration/Karew Entertainment

Latrice Pace; Exodus: The Journey of Obedience, Vol 2; Latrice Pace

Lena Byrd Miles; Brand New; My Block Inc.

Naomi Raine; Cover the Earth; Tribl Records

Traditional female artist of the year

Eartha Edwards; It All Belongs to God; Blockbuster Records/Javel Music

WINNER: Jekalyn Carr; JEKALYN; Waynorth Music

Lucinda Moore; Lord, I Hear You; Nalah Music Group/New Day Distribution/The Orchard

Maurette Brown Clark; He Loves Me; Nettie’s Child Music/MNRK

Contemporary album of the year

WINNER: All Things New (Live Album); Tye Tribbett; Motown Gospel

I Love You; Erica Campbell; My Block Inc.

Impossible; Pastor Mike Jr.; Blacksmoke Music Worldwide

My Truth; Jonathan McReynolds; MNRK

Traditional album of the year

Choirmaster II; Ricky Dillard; Motown Gospel

Donald Lawrence Presents Power: A Tribute to Twinkie Clark; Donald Lawrence; RCA Inspiration

WINNER: JEKALYN; Jekalyn Carr; Waynorth Music

No Failure; Melvin Crispell III; RCA Inspiration

Urban single or performance of the year

“Feel Alright (Blessed)”; Erica Campbell; My Block Inc.

WINNER: “Only One Night Tho (Live)”; Tye Tribbett; Motown Gospel

“Trusting God”; James Fortune & Monica; FIYA World/MNRK

“Witness”; Dexter Walker and Zion Movement; Indieblue Music

Music video of the year

“All Things”; West Webb and Jalen Turner; Fo Yo Soul Recordings/RCA Inspiration

WINNER: “Feel Alright (Blessed)”; Rich Laru; My Block Inc.

“I Will Wait”; Avery Henley; Tyscot

“Look at God”; Damien Sandoval; RCA Inspiration

Traditional choir of the year

Kevin Lemons & Higher Calling; Destined for Greatness; HezHouse Entertainment

WINNER: Ricky Dillard; Choirmaster II; Motown Gospel

Vincent Bohanan & SOV; Live in Dallas; HezHouse Entertainment

Zak Williams & 1AKORD; Revisited; Enon Music Group

Traditional artist of the year

WINNER: Jekalyn Carr; JEKALYN; Waynorth Music

Lisa Knowles-Smith & The Brown Singers; Live in Memphis 2; EvoWorld Entertainment, Inc

Melvin Crispell III; No Failure; RCA Inspiration

Ricky Dillard; Choirmaster II; Motown Gospel

Special event album of the year

Destined for Greatness; Kevin Lemons & Higher Calling; HezHouse Entertainment

WINNER: Donald Lawrence Presents Power: A Tribute to Twinkie Clark; Donald Lawrence; RCA Inspiration

Joy Is Here; JJ Hairston; JamesTown Music/MNRK

Tribute to a Legend: Rance Allen; Various Artists; Kee Music Group/Tyscot Records

Rap/hip hop gospel album of the year

WINNER: Emanuel; Da T.R.U.T.H.; Mixed Bag Entertainment

His Glory Alone II; KB; RCA Inspiration/Provident Label Group LLC

Pray for Atlanta; 1K Phew & Zaytoven; Reach Records

The Change Experience; Jevon Dewand & The Trapstarz; Blacksmoke Music Worldwide

Youth project of the year

AMG Kidz; The Kidz Interlude; AMG Kidz/Anderson Music Group

Nina Symmone; Just Smile; AMG Kidz/Anderson Music Group

Noah Alexander; Lots of Love; AMG Kidz/Anderson Music Group

WINNER: Shout Praises Kids; Joy to the World; Integrity Music

Quartet of the year

WINNER: Lisa Knowles-Smith & The Brown Singers; Live in Memphis 2; EvoWorld Entertainment, Inc

Paul Porter & The Christianaires; Miracle EP; Porterboy Music Group/Trin Records

The Williams Singers; Reel Quartet; Deznell Music Group/Anderson Music Group

Young Men 4 Christ; Our Testimony; Independent

Recorded music packaging of the year

Brand New; JP Designs Art; My Block Inc.

Choirmaster II; Nathan Blaine; Motown Gospel

WINNER: JEKALYN; Octavia’s Holmes; Waynorth Music

Lord, I Hear You; BMO Designs & Blair Monique Walker; Nalah Music Group/New Day Distribution/The Orchard

Praise and worship album of the year

Believe Again Vol II; JJ Hairston; Tribl Records

Chapter X: See the Goodness; VaShawn Mitchell; V Man Entertainment/Tyscot/FairTrade

WINNER: The Journey; Todd Dulaney; DulaneyLand/MNRK

The Maverick Way Complete; Maverick City Music; Tribl Records

Praise and worship song of the year

“Always”; Jovonta Patton; Newton Street Entertainment/MNRK

WINNER: “Holy Forever”; CeCe Winans; Red Alliance Media

“I Just Wanna Praise You”; Maurette Brown Clark; Nettie’s Child Music/MNRK

“It’s Working ft. Hezekiah Walker”; Todd Dulaney; DulaneyLand/MNRK

Rap/hip hop song of the year

“Amen Right There” (ft. Canton Jones & Everett Drake); Emcee N.I.C.E.; Gypsy City Music

“MIA” ft. 1K Phew; Jor’Dan Armstrong; Jor’Dan Armstrong Music

“Miracles” ft. Lecrae; KB; RCA Inspiration/Provident Label Group LLC

WINNER: “Your Power” ft. Tasha Cobbs Leonard; Lecrae; Reach Records

James Cleveland lifetime achievement award

WINNER: Tye Tribbett

Aretha Franklin Icon Award

WINNER: Kim Burrell

Top market of the year

WBGX 1570 AM, Chicago

WINNER: WNZN 89.1 FM, Cleveland

WPRS Praise 104.1, Washington, DC

WPZE – MyPraise 102.5, Atlanta

Medium market of the year

WINNER: KOKA 980 AM 93.3 FM, Shreveport

KZTS 1380 AM, Little Rock

WEHA 88.7 & 100.3 FM, Atlantic City

WJYD JOY 107.1 FM, Columbus, OH

Small market of the year

WBZF-98.5 FM, Florence-Myrtle Beach

WWLD-HD2 98.3FM, Tallahassee

WINNER: WXHL 89.1 FM, Wilmington

WXOK 1460 AM, Baton Rouge

Internet station of the year

WINNER: GODRadio1.com, https://streams.radio.co/sf6241e689/listen

Sound Gospel Radio, https://soundgospelradio.com/live/

Waycrosspraise/Power 89.1, https://www.waycrosspraise.org/

WVTC Gospel Radio Network, http://www.wvtcradio.com

Syndicated gospel radio show of the year

Early Morning Praise Party, Sherry Mackey & Dre Monie

WINNER: Get Up! Mornings with Erica Campbell, Erica Campbell & Arlen “Griff” Griffin

The Nightly Spirit, Darlene “McCoy” Jackson

Willie Moore Jr Show, Willie Moore Jr & Dwight Stone

Gospel announcer of the year

Destiny Diggs, – WXHL 89.1 FM

Neiko Flowers, WPZE – MyPraise 102.5

WINNER: Cheryl Jackson, WPRS Praise 104.1

Trey Nickelson, WBZF-98.5 F

21 Jul 2024

Fans Choose Lasso & Sofia Reyes’ ‘Siempre Llegas Tarde’ as This Week’s Favorite New Music Latin

Lasso and Sofía Reyes‘ “Siempre Llegas Tarde,” a fusion of cumbia and pop, has topped this week’s new music Latin poll.

In a poll published on Friday (July 19) — in support of the weekly New Music Latin roundup and playlist, curated by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors — music fans voted for the Venezuelan artist’s team-up with Reyes as their favorite music release of the week.

“Siempre Llegas Tarde” generated over 48% of the votes, beating out other new releases that dropped that week such as Ivan Cornejo’s highly anticipated new album MIRADA, Rauw Alejandro’s new single “Déjame Entrar” and Maria Becerra and Gloria Trevi’s first collab “Borracha.” Coming in closely behind in second place was DOMELIPA and Ozuna’s first-ever collab, titled “Ese Vato,” which raked in 37% of the votes.

With “Siempre Llegas Tarde” (you’re always late), Lasso showcases a versatility that goes beyond the Latin pop ballad realm. Produced by Andres “Chano” Guardado, Lasso and Reyes immerse themselves in cumbia. “You’re always late, tell me where you are?/ Every time that I feel lonely and need you more/ You’re never here,” they sing in the chorus. The catchy cumbia-pop tune narrates a story about a couple who loves and cares for each other but simply doesn’t understand each other.

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Last week, music fans voted for TIMØ’s “Superpoder,” which won the poll with more than 40% of the votes. See the final results of this week’s new music poll and check out Lasso and Sofía Reyes “Siempre Llegas Tarde” below.

20 Jul 2024

Watch Luke Combs Shotguns Beers With Glen Powell & ‘Twisters’ Co-Stars at NJ Concert

Luke Combs‘ recent concert featured beer-guzzling cameos by the stars Hollywood’s latest blockbuster.

During his Growin’ Up and Gettin’ Old tour stop at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium on Friday (July 19), the country singer was joined onstage by Twisters cast members Glen Powell, Daisy Edgar-Jones and Anthony Ramos.

In fan-captured footage posted on social media, the actors are seen carrying beer cans as they walk onto the stage in front of thousands. After reaching Combs, they shotgun the suds alongside the “Cold Beer Calling My Name” singer and then toss the empty containers into the cheering crowd. Edgar-Jones seemed to have trouble finishing the beverage, but handed it off to Powell, who quickly drank it down.

“So this happened,” Edgar-Jones captioned a video of the incident on her Instagram Story, tagging Combs and her Twisters co-stars. Ramos reposted the clip, adding the line, “The most legendary moment.”

Combs also joined in on the fun, sharing a video of the beer chugging on his X (formerly Twitter) account. “Hey Twisters cast, what you say we shotgun one?!” he captioned the post.

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The epic moment was in celebration of the theatrical release of Universal Pictures’ Twisters, which is the sequel to classic 1996 film Twister. The new summer flick is already off to a huge start at the box office, with forecasters predicting a domestic opening of of $74.6 million, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The Twisters cameos at Combs’ N.J. was fitting being that the county star’s original song “Ain’t No Love in Oklahoma” is featured on the movie’s soundtrack. The muscular track is already No. 10 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart after only nine weeks. Other country music heavyweights featured on the collection include Miranda Lambert, Kane Brown, Lainey Wilson, Shania Twain and Jelly Roll.

Combs’ manager says the singer was enthusiastic about taking part in the soundtrack. 

“We wanted to do this because it wasn’t a remake of a classic, but a continuation of the narrative of the film, and we felt the movie was going to be an epic moment to be a part of,” Chris Kappy tells Billboard. “The team at Atlantic and Universal were very professional and fun to work with, and gave Luke full creative control on the song and trusted him — so that makes it easier to let the artist create.”

See Combs chug a beer with the Powell and his Twisters co-stars below.

20 Jul 2024

Katy Perry Previews New Song ‘Lifetimes’ Ahead of ‘143’ Album Release: Listen

Katy Perry continues to tease new music ahead of her upcoming album.

On Friday (July 19), the 39-year-old pop superstar shared a 30-second snippet on YouTube of the dance-pop track “Lifetimes,” which will appear on her long-awaited new release, 143.

“I know you feel it/ Can you believe it?/ I’m gonna love you ’til the end and then repeat it,” Perry sings on the Dr. Luke-produced track. “For life/ For life.”

In addition to the YouTube teaser, the singer also shared a brief video of herself dancing along to “Lifetimes” with fans during what appears to be an album preview event.

“143 IS A PARTY AND EVERYONE’S INVITED: SOUND ON,” Perry captioned the clip on Instagram.

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143, which is code for “I love you,” is scheduled for release on Sept. 20 through Capitol Records. The forthcoming set marks Perry’s first album since 2020’s Smile, which reached No. 5 on the Billboard 200.

Last weekend, Perry appeared to respond to a wave of criticism for the music video of 143‘s lead single “Woman’s World,” sharing behind-the-scenes clips to explain her intentions for the visual that mixes feminist tropes and lyrics with lots of cheeky visuals.

“YOU CAN DO ANYTHING! EVEN SATIRE!” Perry captioned her Instagram post.

Between criticism that Perry’s song misfired in its attempt to be a feminist anthem and her team-up with track co-producer Dr. Luke — who was accused of sexual misconduct by Kesha before the singer and producer settled a bitter, nine-year legal battle in 2023 before it went to to trial — “Woman’s World” did not appear to land the way the singer intended.

“We’re kind of just having fun being a bit sarcastic with it, it’s very slapstick, and very on the nose,” she says in the first half of the video that seemed to anticipate some potential backlash. “With this set, it’s like, ‘We’re not about the male gaze but we really are about the male gaze,’ and we’re really overplaying it and on the nose because I’m about to get smashed, which is like a reset, a reset for me, and a reset for my idea of feminine divine, and it’s a whole different world we go to after this.”

Watch Perry’s “Lifetimes” preview posts on Instagram and YouTube below.

20 Jul 2024

Sean Kingston and His Mother Indicted on Federal Charges in $1M Fraud Scheme

Sean Kingston and his mother have been indicted in South Florida on federal charges of committing more than $1 million worth of fraud.

Kingston, 34, and his mother, 61-year-old Janice Turner, made their first appearances Friday (July 19) in federal court, according to court records. A Miami grand jury returned an indictment earlier this month accusing Kingston and his mother of participating in a scheme to defraud victims of high-end specialty vehicles, jewelry and other goods through the use of fraudulent documents.

Kingston was booked into the Broward County jail on similar state charges last month following a May 23 arrest at Fort Irwin, an Army training base in California’s Mojave Desert where he was performing. Turner was arrested the same day as her son, when a SWAT team raided his rented mansion in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

According to the federal indictment, Kingston and Turner falsely claimed that they had executed bank wire or other monetary payment transfers for high-end items when no such transfers had taken place. Investigators said Kingston and Turner then kept over $1 million worth of fraudulently purchased items despite not paying for them.

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The warrants for the state charges say that from October to March, they stole almost $500,000 in jewelry, more than $200,000 from Bank of America, $160,000 from a Cadillac Escalade dealer, more than $100,000 from First Republic Bank and $86,000 from the maker of customized beds.

The Jamaican American performer had a No. 1 hit with “Beautiful Girls” in 2007 and collaborated with Justin Bieber on the song “Eenie Meenie.”

Robert Rosenblatt, an attorney for Kingston and his mother, didn’t immediately respond to a message seeking comment from The Associated Press. He previously said they looked forward to addressing the charges and were “confident of a successful resolution.”

Kingston, whose legal name is Kisean Anderson, was already serving a two-year probation sentence for trafficking stolen property.

His mother pleaded guilty in 2006 to bank fraud for stealing over $160,000 and served nearly 1.5 years in prison, according to federal court records.

20 Jul 2024

Taylor Swift Is ‘Completely Blown Away’ by ‘Tortured Poets’ Spending 12 Weeks at No. 1 on Billboard 200

Taylor Swift is celebrating her recent success on the Billboard charts.

On Saturday (July 20), the 34-year-old pop superstar thanked Swifties for helping her latest album, The Tortured Poets Department, reign for 12 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart.

“I also wanted to say to everyone who’s supported The Tortured Poets Department, I am completely blown away by what you’ve done,” Swift wrote on Instagram alongside a gallery of recent Eras Tour photos. “It stayed at #1 for the first 12 weeks of its release and that’s never happened to an album of mine before, not even close!! You’re just the greatest.”

Earlier in the week, Swift’s 31-track collection surpassed Whitney Houston’s 1987 album, Whitney, to become the only album by a woman to spend its first 12 weeks atop the Billboard 200. It also marked a career-best for Swift, whose 1989 and Fearless releases spent 11 weeks each at No. 1. Only two other albums have spent at least their first 12 weeks at No. 1: Morgan Wallen’s One Thing at a Time and Stevie Wonder’s Songs in the Key of Life.

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Swift’s celebratory social media post arrived after her trio of Eras Tour concerts at Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, from July 17-19.

“Those 3 Gelsenkirchen crowds were AMAZING, and so thoughtful??? There were signs and paper hearts, the ‘betty’ wave, and tons of DIY “willow” orbs made out of balloons + phone flashlights. Thank you!!!” Swift wrote on Instagram.

The “Anti-Hero” singer’s boyfriend, Travis Kelce, has been in the audience for all of her performances in Germany. Fans spotted the Kansas City Chiefs tight end dancing along to the concert and proudly filming his superstar girlfriend singing “So High School” at her opening night in Gelsenkirchen, and escorting her out from the backstage area at night two.

Next up, Swift will travel to Hamburg for two concerts at the city’s Volksparkstadion from July 23-24 and Munich’s Olympiastadion from July 27-28. Paramore will open on each of the dates. Once the European leg of her Eras trek is over, she’ll return to the U.S. and Canada for one final victory lap in November and December.

See Swift’s post on Instagram here.