Music News

25 Jun 2024

‘Broadway Bares’ Raises Record $2.3 Million for Charity

Once again, the annual Broadway Bares charity burlesque benefit show not only raised temperatures, but also raised a bevy of money for a good cause.

Over two sold-out shows on June 23 at New York’s Hammerstein Ballroom, more than 200 dancers strutted their stuff and helped generate $2,259,134 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA) – the most a Bares event has raised since the show’s launch in 1992.

Explore

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

The 2024 installment of Broadway Bares had a Las Vegas theme, dubbed Hit the Strip, and showcased 223 dancers and performers from 19 Broadway and off-Broadway shows from this season. More than 600 volunteers and 38 stage managers helped bring the event to life, where 3,000 audience members were in attendance for each of the night’s two shows. The production was directed by Kellen Stancil, and produced by BC/EFA.

Trending on Billboard

Broadway Bares: Hit the Strip cashed in with its Sin City theme, as the show staged numbers with a Vegas flair, including vignettes inspired by the film Showgirls and Vegas icons Elvis Presley and Liberace.

Broadway Bares: Hit the Strip

Broadway Bares: Hit the Strip

Michael Hull

The collected installments of Bares have raised $28.7 million over the years for BC/EFA.

According to BC/EFA, the organization has awarded more than $300 million for essential services for people with HIV/AIDS and other critical illnesses across the United States. BC/EFA also supports the social services programs at the Entertainment Community Fund, has provided annual grants to more than 450 AIDS and family services organizations in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C., and has awarded one-time humanitarian grants to provide emergency aid across the U.S. and around the world.

Aydin Eyikan and Jimin Moon in Broadway Bares: Hit the Strip

Aydin Eyikan and Jimin Moon in Broadway Bares: Hit the Strip

Michael Hull

25 Jun 2024

Paul McCartney! Tom Cruise! Prince William! Taylor Swift’s London Eras Tour Stop Dominates the News Cycle

Did you know Taylor Swift played three shows in London over the weekend?

Chances are good that you did, because you likely heard about one of her A-list audience members (Paul McCartney, Tom Cruise and Hugh Grant, to name a few); her boyfriend Travis Kelce’s onstage Eras Tour debut (in a tuxedo and top hat, no less); her surprise-song collaborators (Paramore’s Hayley Williams and Gracie Abrams); or her royal backstage selfie with Prince William (and two of his three kids).

On the new Billboard Pop Shop Podcast, Katie & Keith are talking about Swift’s buzzy trio of Eras Tour shows — and how she still has five more Wembley Stadium concerts coming in August.

Trending on Billboard

Also on the show, we’ve got chart news on how Sabrina Carpenter captures her first No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart as “Please, Please, Please” rises 2-1 in its second week on the chart. Plus, how Swift continues to dominate the Billboard 200 albums chart with The Tortured Poets Department for a ninth straight week; will anything stop Taylor’s run at No. 1?

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.)

25 Jun 2024

From Disney Darling to Trendsetter, Here’s Sabrina Carpenter’s Style Evolution

Sabrina Carpenter is not only one of today’s biggest pop stars, but she’s also quickly turning into a style icon — with her colorful outfits and chic makeup looks having fans compare her to a real-life Polly Pocket or Bratz Doll.

Most recently, Carpenter made her runway debut at the Vogue World 2024: Paris on June 23. Dressed in a red-and-white striped bathing suit with a matching kerchief and sarong by Jacquemus, paired with bright red shoes, the singer gave off perfect, “Espresso”-style beachy vibes as men on either side of her waved billowing blue fabric to mimic ocean waves around her.

The superstar is fresh off her first-ever Hot 100 No. 1 hit as “Please Please Please” tops the tally dated June 29, a week after it debuted at No. 2. The track, along with “Espresso,” which sits at No. 4 on the Hot 100 a week after reaching No. 3, introduces Carpenter’s album Short n’ Sweet, due Aug. 23.

To celebrate, we’ve put together a gallery of Carpenter’s style evolution, from her Disney days to modern times. Check out the photos below.

25 Jun 2024

Lainey Wilson, Luis Fonsi & More to Perform at Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Show

Independence Day is just around the corner, and Macy’s has officially announced the performance lineup for its annual Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks show.

Lainey Wilson, Luis Fonsi, Tanner Adell and The War And Treaty are set to take the stage ahead of the famous fireworks display against the New York City backdrop. Mickey Guyton and Access Hollywood‘s Zuri Hall will serve as hosts.

Explore

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

This year’s custom 25-minute musical score is going to celebrate season with summertime classics, and the score will be produced by Grammy and Emmy Award winner Jason Howland. Guyton, Amber Mark and Brandy Clark “will reimagine and remix iconic American tunes across a variety of genres and decades, interweaving patriotic anthems with contemporary hits,” per a press release.

“Year after year, this telecast never fails to inspire and awe, lighting up the New York skyline with a fireworks display that’s unmatched,” said Jen Neal, executive VP of live events and specials for NBCU Entertainment, in a press statement. “It’s this type of live programming event that brings us together as a nation, highlighting the distinctiveness of both our NBC and Peacock brands.”

Trending on Billboard

Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks will take place on Thursday (July 4) at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC and Peacock. An encore presentation will air at 10 p.m. ET/PT on NBC.

25 Jun 2024

André 3000 Announces Another ‘New Blue Sun’ Tour

If you missed André 3000‘s first New Blue Sun tour earlier this year, fret not.

The rapper turned flautist is hitting the road again and this time he’s hitting more North American cities besides NYC, Detroit, Chicago, San Francisco, Atlanta and Los Angeles.

New Blue Sun, released in November, is co-produced by the legendary emcee and multi-instrumentalist Carlos Niño, and features the playing of Nate Mercereau, Surya Botofasina, Deantoni Parks, Diego Gaeta, Matthewdavid, V.C.R, Diego Gaeta, Jesse Peterson, and Mia Doi Todd.

Explore

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

The fully instrumental album debuted in the top 10 of multiple Billboard charts like New Age Albums and Top Alternative Albums. He also broke a Hot 100 record for longest song with the 12-minute, 20-second opus “I Swear, I Really Wanted to Make a ‘Rap’ Album But This Is Literally the Way the Wind Blew Me This Time.”

Trending on Billboard

Carlos Niño, Nate Mercereau, and Surya Botofasina with Deantoni Parks will accompany Stacks for these special run of shows. As of right now, André is still touring and is about to embark on a string of dates internationally.

Andre was a special guest performer at the Roots Picnic a few weeks back and he killed it.

So, expect some of those same vibes whenever you decide to hit one of the dates below.

Sept. 19 – New Orleans, LA – Orpheum Theater
Sept. 21 – Dallas, TX – AT&T PAC – Winspear Opera House
Sept. 22 – Austin, TX – ACL Live at The Moody Theater
Sept. 25 – Houston, TX – The Hobby Center For The Performing Arts
Sept. 27 – Albuquerque, NM – Kiva Auditorium
Sept. 28 – Mesa, AZ – Mesa Arts Center
Oct. 1 – San Diego, CA – Humphreys By The Bay
Oct. 2 – Los Angeles, CA – The Greek Theatre
Oct. 4 – Santa Barbara, CA – Arlington Theatre
Oct. 5 – Oakland, CA – Fox Theater
Oct. 9 – Seattle, WA – Paramount Theater
Oct. 11 – Vancouver, BC – Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Oct. 14 – Portland, OR – Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
Oct. 16 – Salt Lake City, UT – Eccles Theater
Oct. 17 – Denver, CO – Ellie Caulkins Opera House
Oct. 19 – Minneapolis, MN – Northrop
Oct. 21 – Chicago, IL – The Salt Shed
Oct. 22 – Detroit, MI – Masonic Cathedral Theatre
Oct. 25 – Brooklyn, NY – BAM Howard Gilman Opera House
Oct. 30 – Boston, MA – Boch Center Wang Theatre
Nov. 1 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met Philadelphia presented by Highmark
Nov. 2 – Akron, OH – Akron Civic Theatre
Nov. 8 – Richmond, VA – Altria Theater
Nov. 9 – Washington, DC – The Kennedy Center
Nov. 12 – Durham, NC – DPAC
Nov. 14 – Atlanta, GA – Fox Theatre

You can get more info on his website.

25 Jun 2024

Lil Durk Attempts to Recruit LeBron James & His Son to Chicago Bulls: ‘I’ll Pay You If I Got To’

Lil Durk wants to see LeBron James suit up for his hometown Chicago Bulls, and he’s willing to even put up his money to sweeten the deal.

The Windy City resident hopped into King James’ DMs on Instagram to test the waters on seeing if LeBron would welcome a change of scenery to the Midwest alongside his song, Bronny James, who is looking to hear his name called at the NBA Draft this week.

“You and bronny come to Chicago bulls s–t I’ll pay you if I got to,” he wrote to James.

Durk amplified the message to his Instagram Story on Tuesday (June 25) and doubled-down on his idea of paying half of James’ salary. “idc if I got to go half @ChicagoBulls it’s time lol,” he added.

Trending on Billboard

LeBron didn’t respond publicly to Durk’s offer, but he’s got plenty to decide as far as his own future goes. He’s mulling a $51.4 million player option with the Los Angeles Lakers, or he can opt-out of his contract and become an unrestricted free agent this summer.

The major wrench thrown into this negotiation happens to be LeBron’s son as a possible bargaining chip for opposing teams.

James hasn’t been shy about wanting to finish his career playing alongside his son, so whatever franchise drafts Bronny James this week may be able to entice LeBron to come with him, even if it’s down the line.

If the Bulls — who haven’t won a playoff series since 2015 — want to get into the James sweepstakes, they’ll have to trade with the Lakers for LeBron since they don’t have the necessary cap room to sign him as a free agent.

It should all come together fairly quickly with the draft taking place on Wednesday (June 26) and Thursday (June 27) while free agency starts on Sunday (June 30).

Find Lil Durk’s message to LeBron below.

25 Jun 2024

Lil Nas X Says Upcoming Single Is the ‘Best Song of All Time’: ‘I’m Coming Around to Myself Again’

Lil Nas X is starting to feel better about his creative process, and the 25-year-old star shared his feelings of positivity in a new Instagram post promoting his upcoming single “Here We Go!,” which arrives on Friday (June 28).

Explore

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

“so excited to release the best song of all time this friday! also sorry I’ve been so scared with my art lately. I’m coming around to myself again. I will make you guys very proud,” he wrote alongside the single’s cover art, which features a detective’s badge with Lil Nas X’s photo inside. See the post here.

Nas’ “He Knows” collaborator, Camila Cabello, shared support for her pal in the comments, writing, “nature has seasons and so do we. there is no spring without winter. it’s your time to bloom baby!!!”

Trending on Billboard

“Here We Go!,” which samples Axel F’s 2005 hit, “Crazy Frog,” will serve as an original song for the Eddie Murphy-led film Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, which arrives on Netflix July 3. The news comes a few weeks after the streaming platform unveiled the trailer for Axel F, which is directed by Mark Molloy and serves as the fourth installment in the Beverly Hills Cop franchise. Murphy first played the titular Detroit detective Alex Foley in 1984, and last filled his shoes in 1994’s Beverly Hills Cop III.

“Here We Go!” will mark the Lil Nas’ first solo release since “Where Do We Go Now?,” which appeared in his 2023 documentary Long Live Montero. He also recently teamed up with Camila Cabello on the single “He Knows,” which followed his duet “Tennessee” with Kevin Abstract.

25 Jun 2024

Taylor Swift Calls Herself a ‘Long Time Hugh Grant Stan’ After Actor Praises Eras Tour

If you look for it, you’ll find that love actually is all around — especially between Taylor Swift and Hugh Grant.

Over the weekend, the 63-year-old actor was one of many stars in attendance at the 34-year-old pop star’s Eras Tour shows in London, where he watched from a VIP tent alongside Tom Cruise, Greta Gerwig, Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis. On Sunday, Grant took to X to sing Swift’s praises, writing, “Thanks so much from one ageing London boy, wife and thrilled 8 year old #halfgirlhalfbracelet.”

It also seems as though the Notting Hill heartthrob — who shares three kids with his wife, producer Anna Eberstein — got some quality time with the 14-time Grammy winner’s beau, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, at the concert. “You have an incredible show, an amazing and v hospitable team and excellent if gigantic boyfriend,” he added in his tweet. “#tequilashots.”

The next day, Swift responded to the Golden Globe winner’s post to say that his feelings are very much mutual. “As a long time Hugh Grant stan this tweet is very important to my culture,” she quipped Monday.

Trending on Billboard

Grant and his tentmates attended the second of the musician’s three nights at Wembley Stadium, to which Swift will return for five more Eras shows in August. Prince William and his children Prince George and Princess Charlotte were present for opening night, while Sir Paul McCartney was spotted dancing and trading friendship bracelets with Swifties on closing.

Swift’s tenure at the venue was filled with surprises, including acoustic duets with Paramore’s Hayley Williams and Gracie Abrams. Most notable, however, was Kelce’s hilarious on-stage cameo in between “The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived” and “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart” on night three, during which he carried his superstar girlfriend in his arms and playfully coached her on her dancing.

“I’m still cracking up/swooning over @killatrav’s Eras Tour debut,” Swift later wrote on Instagram. “Looking out into crowds of 90,000 fans each night and hearing that VOLUME… Those were some of the loudest crowds I’ve ever heard … Never going to forget these shows.”

See Grant and Swift’s tweets — plus footage of the former enjoying the latter’s show — below.

25 Jun 2024

Kali Uchis Reacts to ‘Igual Que Un Angel’ With Peso Pluma Topping Latin Airplay & Latin Pop Airplay Charts

Kali Uchis and Peso Pluma add a new No. 1 to their Billboard Latin Airplay chart count as “Igual Que Un Ángel” ascends from No. 3 to lead the June 29-dated ranking.

“Thank you to everyone for your support, for believing in this song,” Uchis tells Billboard. “Thank you!”

Trending on Billboard

“Igual Que Un Ángel” puts the Colombian-American singer/songwriter back at No. 1 after almost three years, when “Telepatía” climbed 5-1 on the survey dated July 3, 2021, for her second champ on the overall Latin Airplay ranking. Peso picks up his fourth ruler, and second in 2024, following the one-week coronation of “Qlona,” with Karol G (March 2-dated tally).

In the tracking week of June 14-20, “Ángel” registered 7.93 million audience impressions, with a 13% increase from the week prior, according to Luminate. Thanks to that sum, the collab lands at No. 1 in its 11th week. The chart’s previous No. 1, El Fantasma’s “Sabor a Michelada,” falls to No. 10 with a 36% decline in audience, to 5.5 million.

“Ángel” takes the lead on Latin Airplay 23 weeks after it debuted atop the multi-metric Hot Latin Songs, Latin Streaming Songs and Latin Digital Song Sales charts (dated Jan. 27). On the latter, it dominated for four consecutive weeks. The song also made its run across multiple Billboard charts. Here’s the recap:

Peak Date, Chart Peak Postion, Weeks at No. 1
Jan. 27, Billboard Global 200, No. 9
Jan. 27, Hot Latin Songs, No. 1, one
Jan. 27, Latin Streaming Songs, No. 1, one
Jan. 27, Latin Digital Song Sales, No. 1, four
Feb. 3, Billboard Global Excl. U.S. No. 10
Feb. 3, Billboard Hot 100, No. 22
March 30, Rythmic Airplay, No. 35
June 29, Latin Airplay, No. 1
June 29, Latin Pop Airplay: No. 1

With “Ángel,” Peso Pluma switches genre gears and lands his first No. 1 on Latin Pop Airplay with his firt chart entry, with a 2-1 lift. (He’s previously charted No. 1s on both Regional Mexican Airplay and Latin Rhythm Airplay.) Uchis, meanwhile, loges her second No. 1 on Latin Pop Airplay, also three years after “Telepatía” took charge for one week in March 2021. In between, “No Hay Ley,” her second and last entry as a soloist unaccompanied by any other artist, reached No. 11 high in Feb. 2023.

Elsewhere, thanks to its radio pull, “Ángel” moves 19-16 on Hot Latin Songs, despite a 2% dip in streaming activity, with 2 million official U.S. streams during the tracking week.

25 Jun 2024

Katy Perry Reveals ‘Woman’s World’ Lyrics on Dress Train in Paris

Throughout her career, Katy Perry has never shied away from a big fashion moment, and the superstar is celebrating her upcoming single with a stunning red dress in Paris.

Explore

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

In a clip circulating social media, the pop star is seen coming out of a limousine to head into Paris’ Vendôme for Fashion Week. Her one-shoulder dress featured an incredibly long train that featured the lyrics to her comeback single, “Woman’s World.”

“She’s a winner, champion/ Superhuman, number one/ She’s a sister, she’s mother,” the lyrics read. “Open your eyes, just look around and you’ll discover/ You know/ It’s a woman’s world and you’re lucky to be living in it.”

Perry recently revealed that the first single from her upcoming sixth album, “Woman’s World,” will drop on July 11.

Trending on Billboard

At press time, no additional information was available on the title of Perry’s sixth full-length studio album, the follow-up to 2020’s Smile. Perry began ramping up excitement for her next era last month when, after finishing her seven-year run on American Idol, she changed her social media profile pic to a sleek, futuristic silver logo with her shiny initials floating inside a pair of parentheses.

Last August, during a show on her Las Vegas residency, Perry told the crowd, “If you can’t love me at my Witness and Smile era, then you can’t love me in my KP6 era.”