Music News

21 Jun 2024

 YUNGBLUD Opens Up About His Struggles With Mental Health and New Single “Breakdown”

In the music world, vulnerability becomes art, and the spotlight has increasingly turned towards artists who bravely address mental health challenges. YUNGBLUD, the British sensation whose raw lyrics and electrifying performances have captivated audiences worldwide, recently made an appearance on Sound Mind’s signature video series, Unmasked. 

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This platform, known for its candid discussions on mental health, provided YUNGBLUD a stage to share his personal journey with depression and advocate for mental health awareness in the music industry.

Born Dominic Richard Harrison, YUNGBLUD has swiftly risen to prominence with his genre-bending music that defies conventions and deeply resonates with a generation grappling with its own set of anxieties and uncertainties. An appearance on Unmasked brings fans and viewers into his world, helping us gain a deeper understanding of the struggles behind his energetic persona. 

YUNGBLUD has always been vocal about his battles with depression and anxiety. Through his music, he channels these emotions into anthems that resonate with young listeners worldwide. Songs like “Medication” and “Loner” confront themes of mental health head-on, offering a sense of solidarity to those who may feel isolated in their struggles.

On Unmasked, YUNGBLUD opened up about the complexities of his journey, discussing how music became both a sanctuary and a means to connect with others facing similar challenges. He emphasized the importance of destigmatizing conversations around mental health, particularly within the music industry, where pressures and expectations can exacerbate existing issues. By sharing his personal experiences, YUNGBLUD encourages fans to prioritize their mental well-being and seek support when needed.

“This song was written as a message to myself to try and exist alongside my insecurities and my darkness by grounding myself and remembering what is real in life and that the world is so much bigger than me,” the artist explained about his latest track, Breakdown. “It’s about getting out of your head and noticing the world around you, the things and people. Connect with them, the chances are they probably feel the same.” 

Sound Mind’s Unmasked series provides a vital platform for artists like YUNGBLUD to share their stories authentically. By amplifying these voices, the series not only fosters understanding but also sparks meaningful conversations that challenge societal taboos surrounding mental health.

As YUNGBLUD himself aptly puts it, “Remember what is real. Help people, be kind, help the world, help yourself. You’re probably living more than you think.”

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If you or someone you know needs mental health support, information, or resources call the NAMI HelpLine at 1-800-950-6264, or text “helpline” to 62640, or chat at nami.org/help (M-F 10am – 10pm ET)

Teens and young adults can call the NAMI Teen & Young Adult HelpLine at 1-800-950-6264 and press 3, or text “friend” to 62640, or chat at nami.org/talktous (M-F 10am – 10pm ET)

21 Jun 2024

Chloe Bailey Says Her Music Is Categorized As R&B Because She’s Black: ‘That’s Just the Way It’s Always Been’

From Beyoncé‘s Cowboy Carter to Shaboozey‘s “A Bar Song,” 2024 has been a watershed year for Black artists excelling critically and commercially in genres that have traditionally tried to box Black artists out despite having a storied history of Black innovators. Conversations about the blurring of genre lines have dominated the music industry for years, and it’s a sentiment that Grammy-nominated singer-producer Chlöe Bailey is incredibly intimate with.

“Any music I do will easily and quickly be categorized as R&B because I’m a Black woman,” she told Nylon in her cover story. “If someone who didn’t have my skin tone made the same music, it would be in the pop categories. That’s just the way it’s always been in life.”

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As a part of the Chloe x Halle duo — which includes her Little Mermaid-starring younger sister Halle Bailey — Chlöe regularly traversed genres. On the duo’s two Billboard 200-charting Grammy-nominated studio LPs, 2018’s The Kids Are Alright (No. 139) and 2020’s Ungodly Hour (No. 16), the sisters dabbled in soul, electronica, house, hip-hop, alternative rock, contemporary pop, R&B and more. Chloe’s debut solo LP, In Pieces, featured a similar amalgamation of sounds, which helped her reach No. 119 on the all-genre albums chart. Despite releasing several pop-facing tunes, including April’s “Boy Bye,” Chlöe’s awards and chart success have primarily come in the R&B field. Of her five career Grammy nods, just one came from outside of the R&B categories — her 2018 best new artist nod as one-half of Chloe x Halle.

In her Nylon interview, the “Have Mercy” singer named Whitney Houston and Beyoncé as two artists she looks to for inspiration regarding standing firm in genre experimentation, specifically lauding the latter artist’s latest smash album. “That’s why I was really proud of Beyoncé doing Cowboy Carter,” she said, “because Black people originated country music. It’s just showing that possibilities are endless.”

The “Treat Me” singer also finds solace in knowing that her work is often ahead of the curve. “What I kind of love about my art is that it sneaks up on you,” she explained. “When In Pieces came out, not many people really got it. But now a year later, people are like, ‘Oh, it’s genius! It’s beautiful! It’s amazing!’ And if you think about it, that’s how it has been with me and my sister’s previous work as well. No one ever gets it when it first comes out.”

Chlöe is currently gearing up for the release of Trouble In Paradise, her sophomore solo studio album, which is slated to drop “later this summer.” The “Surprise” singer has released a pair of singles this year — “Boy Bye” and the moody R&B banger “FYS” — and she also used her Nylon interview to confirm some of the album’s collaborators, including Halle, Jeremih and Anderson .Paak. In Pieces — which she supported with 25-date North American and European tour — featured collaborations with Chris Brown, Missy Elliott and Future.

Chlöe made her official solo debut with 2021’s “Have Mercy,” a booty-praising hit that reached No. 28 on the Billboard Hot 100. To date, Chlöe has wracked up four Hot 100 hits, including “Treat Me” (No. 81), “You & Me” (No. 72, with Gunna) and the 2023 Amazon Music exclusive “Winter Wonderland” (No. 63).

See her cover and photos for Nylon below:

21 Jun 2024

Luke Combs Recalls Missing the Birth of Son Beau: ‘One of the Best & One of the Worst Days in My Life’

Luke Combs is opening up about what he calls “one of the best and one of the worst days in my life” during an interview with Zane Lowe of Apple Music 1 that aired Thursday (June 20).

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In August 2023, Combs and his wife Nicole celebrated the birth of their second son, Beau (the couple are also parents to 2-year-old son Tex), but the two-time CMA entertainer of the year winner wasn’t able to be present for the birth of his second child due to being on tour in Australia.

“I’ll never forget the craziest day, probably, in my life, close to it,” Combs told Lowe. “One of the best and one of the worst days in my life at the same time was, interestingly enough, and it’s so hard to wrap my mind around it,” Combs said, before detailing the day his son Beau was born.

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“So it’s Aug. 16. I wake up in the morning, I’m in Sydney, Australia, in a hotel room, and we’re on tour in Australia. I probably woke up at around 8 a.m. or something like that — Australia time — and I had a text from my wife and it said, ‘I’m so sorry, I really tried to not have the baby while you’re gone.’ And God, dude, it sucked.”

Combs grew emotional as he added, “It sucked because he was born on Aug. 15 in the States. I got to see him be born, which was awesome,” presumably implying that he watched via a video call. “He wasn’t born yet, but my wife went, she texted me on the way to the hospital, and he was two and a half weeks early and I was supposed to be home and I wasn’t. That was real hard to do and I haven’t really told anybody that.”

He added that two of his close friends also work as his guitar tech and personal assistant, so he had a support system. “God, it was a hard day, but I was so lucky that a lot of my closest friends now work for me. And so I had a really great support system. “I was able to be with them through that whole thing.”

Though Combs couldn’t be there in person, he said his wife also had “a really great support system” by her side at home in the States.

“Luckily, my mother-in-law came up for the month while I was gone, because, obviously, we have a 1-year-old [Tex turned 2 on June 19] and my wife is essentially nine months pregnant at the time, so thank goodness she was there. My sister-in-law lives in Nashville as well. So my wife had a really great support system with her for that experience, which I’m very thankful for. That made it a lot easier. I had people with me, everything went great. No hiccups in the process or anything.”

He called the day “a defining moment in my life, for sure,” and said that the day highlights some of the less-than-rosy parts of being in the music industry. “The leaving, and your schedule’s crazy and you’re traveling all over the place. It’s not like I can drop everything I’m doing and fly 18 hours home.”

While his newly released album Fathers & Sons includes songs looking at fatherhood from different perspectives, he said, “I didn’t cover that too much in this album because it’s really hard for me to deal with.”

The dozen-song project includes the songs “The Man He Sees in Me” and “Remember Him That Way.”

21 Jun 2024

The Game Addresses Not Attending Kendrick Lamar’s Pop Out Concert

The Game went on Instagram Live to address his absence from Kendrick Lamar’s star-studded Pop Out concert.

The Compton rapper said in the video also posted to his IG grid Thursday (June 20) that he felt the need to clear the air after seeing the chatter online about him not being invited. Many believe he went against Compton and sided with Drake after he dissed Rick Ross. He started things off in the 17-minute clip by addressing the DMs he’s received and the noise in the blogosphere saying that he’s choosing sides.

“When the f—k you heard me say a motherf—n’ thing about who I’m sidin’ with and this and that?” he asked before alluding to industry playing a part as to why he wasn’t there.

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“There’s a lot of f–kery that goes on in this industry,” he added. However, he did big up the affair saying, “I ain’t have to be there to think that the s—t was motherf—ing cool and major.”

On his relationship with Drake, he referred to the Toronto rapper as his “brother,” saying, “As far as my relationship with Drake? Drake is my brother … And my loyalty is with motherf—ers that’s loyal to me.”

Most of the speculation that the Compton rapper was siding with Drake stems from two recent instances. First, he posted an Instagram Reel of the Toronto rapper’s 2015 song “Energy” playing on a screen with the caption, “I got rap n—s that I gotta act like I like.” Many questioned the timing of the since-deleted post because Drake’s “Like That” response “Push Ups” had been released a few days earlier.

Then a few weeks later, The Game took to his Instagram Stories to take shots at Rick Ross for trolling Drake after he released “The Heart Part 6” in response to Kendrick’s “Meet the Grahams” and “Not Like Us.” The West Coast rapper said, “It’s quiet today Wingstop must be closed on Monday’s [sic]” and then added, “It be the fat n—s with the skinny legs always running they mouth.” He then decided to join the 20 v 1 Rap Royal Rumble and dissed Rick Ross with the song “Freeway’s Revenge.”

He gave his reasoning on the Joe Budden Podcast afterward. “A n—a sitting around just trolling, n—a, keep that same energy, n—a,” The Game said. “You wann rap, you wanna troll? N—a, let’s do it. Bump heads with a n—a that really do this s—t.”

The Game is from the same city as Lamar and has collaborated with both him and Drake over the years.

21 Jun 2024

Snoop Dogg Crowns Kendrick Lamar ‘King of the West’ Following Pop Out L.A. Concert

Kendrick Lamar is riding high coming off the success of his Pop Out concert in Los Angeles. With the dust settling, Snoop Dogg is passing the torch to K. Dot and crowned him as the king of L.A. following the epic show.

Snoop took to his Instagram on Friday (June 21) from Canada and saluted what Kendrick was able to accomplish in unifying different sections of the West Coast under one roof at his Juneteenth show.

“Sending a big shout-out to K. Dot and all the homies from the West that stood together unified, organized in peace [and] love,” Snoop gushed. “That was fun to watch. Beautiful to see all my peoples come together.”

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It’s not exactly Jon Snow being deemed King in the North in Game of Thrones, but then came the coronation from Snoop: “K. Dot, you are the King of the West. That’s the kind of s–t kings do, we unite.”

As an artist who’s just about seen it all in his three decades in the music business, Snoop understood how special it was to have Kendrick Lamar preach a message of unity and have peace in L.A., even if it was just for one night.

Kendrick electrified the Kia Forum crowd with his first show since feuding with Drake. Lamar’s victory lap saw the live debut of tracks such as “Euphoria,” his verse on Billboard Hot 100-topper “Like That” and the Mustard-produced “Not Like Us,” which he performed five times in a row.

Drake beef aside, Kendrick Lamar appreciated just being able to bring gang members from different sets and various Los Angeles luminaries with him on stage. “It ain’t got nothing to do with no back-and-forth records,” Kendrick said during his show. “It’s got everything to do with this moment right here. That’s what this s–t was about. To bring all of us together.”

It’s fitting for Snoop to crown K. Dot as the king of the West after he passed the torch to him back in 2011 following the release of Section.80. “I’ma say this and I’ma mean this. N—a, you got the torch,” Snoop said at the time. “You better run with it, n—a, because it’s yours.”

Listen to Snoop Dogg champion Kendrick below.

21 Jun 2024

Gracie Abrams Shares Hilarious Footage of Taylor Swift Extinguishing Apartment Fire After Writing ‘Us’

Taylor Swift and Gracie Abrams pulled on our collective heartstrings when they worked together on “Us,” featured on the latter’s 13-track sophomore studio album The Secret of Us that was released on Friday (June 21).

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Upon the release of the project, Abrams took to Instagram to share a video of the duo playfully creating the song while pulling an all-nighter during a girls’ night, calling the evening “some of the most fun I’ve ever had in my life.”

She also included a video of Swift extinguishing an apartment fire as the duo broke out into hysterical laughter. “Now we know how to use a fire extinguisher. I love you,” Abrams wrote.

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Abrams previously told Billboard that the talented duo heard the candle fall over earlier in the evening, but Taylor had thought it was one of her cats making noise. Swift put out the fire with the extinguisher before anyone was hurt.

“She was such a legend,” she recalled. “I don’t know how at this hour or in our state she knew what to do.”

She added, “We both had an insane cough from the fire extinguisher fumes for weeks.”

The 24-year-old Abrams spent the summer opening for Swift’s The Eras Tour, a role she’ll reprise on select dates in North America later this fall. She’ll head out on her very own headlining tour of theater-sized venues across the United States, starting Sept. 5 in Portland.

The Secret of Us features the previously-released tracks “Risk” and “Close to You,” which debuted at No. 49 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and it’s the followup to Abrams’ debut record Good Riddance, which arrived February 2023, peaking at No. 52 on the Billboard 200.

21 Jun 2024

Monica Gushes Over Ariana Grande’s ‘Boy Is Mine’ Remix: ‘As Soon As I Heard This Version, I Fell In Love’

The boy is theirs! As fans across generations delight in Ariana Grande‘s new “The Boy Is Mine” remix with Brandy and Monica, the Grammy-winning “So Gone” star is opening up about how the star-studded collaboration sparked true healing for her and Brandy.

“The process of the new collaboration did a lot of closing the gaps,” Monica told Entertainment Tonight. “When you properly communicate, something — you can find not only the resolutions and solutions to problems — but sometimes you find that there weren’t ever problems, just consistent miscommunications.”

Brandy and Monica teamed up for the original “The Boy Is Mine” back in 1998, spending 13 weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 and winning a Grammy together in the process. During the song’s reign and in the years that followed, the two R&B icons were long-rumored to be beefing, with their rocky relationship becoming a key part of the song’s lore. Now, more than 25 years after “The Boy Is Mine” first entered the contemporary American pop canon, the two singers have found a way to move forward and preserve their friendship.

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“We recognized that the key was to keep other people out of our relationship, both business and personal, and let it be between she and I, and that has changed everything. It’s changed the trajectory of it in its totality,” the “Angel of Mine” singer said. “My son was in the hospital the other day and she was who I was speaking to while he was there, so I think that is what Ariana has done that she may not even realize.”

Grande originally released “The Boy Is Mine” from her Billboard 200-topping Eternal Sunshine LP earlier this year, with the track instantly becoming a fan-favorite. Upon the album’s debut, “The Boy Is Mine” entered the Hot 100 at No. 16. This week (chart dated June 22), the song re-entered the Hot 100 at No. 64, following the release of its Catwoman-inspired Penn Badgley-starring music video. The cinematic clip also featured cameos from Brandy and Monica, giving fans a little Easter egg for the new remix. Grande’s track is inspired by Brandy and Monica’s original duet — which Billboard named the greatest karaoke duet of all time — but the remix does interpolate elements from the hook of the 1998 chart-topper.

“I’ve always said that the song should not be touched, right? And I said that because I felt that it did not need to be redone in the idea of, let’s say, actually doing it the exact way that it was,” Monica explained. “But Ariana and [producer] Max Martin — as soon as I heard this version, I fell in love with it.”

According to Monica — who recently headlined the inaugural Blavity House Party in Nashville — Grande sent her flowers and a note. The “We Can’t Be Friends” singer also hopped on FaceTime with Monica, Brandy and their respective families. “What I am so amazed by is her humility, her compassion,” Monica gushed. “Everything has been directly from her chest and, for me, authenticity, humility, all of those things are key.”

The new remix marks the Grande’s second re-imagining of an Eternal Sunshine track. Earlier this year, the Grammy-winner linked up with Mariah Carey for a new version of her house-steeped Hot 100 chart-topper “Yes, And?”

21 Jun 2024

Exploring The Boston Music Institutions Shaping the Sound of the City

In the heart of Boston’s vibrant cultural landscape lies a rich tapestry of musical diversity, connected by people from all walks of life, nationalities, and backgrounds. 

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From the hallowed halls of the Boston Symphony Orchestra to the prestigious New England Conservatory and the innovative Berklee College of Music, the city’s music scene resonates with the voices of many different cultures, each adding its unique flavor to the symphony of sounds that defines Boston’s musical identity.

The Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO), one of the oldest and most revered orchestras in the United States, stands as a beacon of excellence and inclusivity. Comprising musicians from over 25 countries, the BSO embodies the essence of diversity, blending the classical traditions of Europe with the rhythms and melodies of the world. From the passionate strings of Eastern Europe to the soulful brass of South America, each member brings their cultural heritage to the forefront.

Similarly, the New England Conservatory (NEC) serves as a nurturing ground for musical talent from around the globe. With a student body representing over 40 countries, NEC fosters a community where students learn not only from their professors but also from each other’s unique musical perspectives. 

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Whether mastering the intricacies of Bach or exploring the improvisational artistry of jazz, students at NEC are encouraged to celebrate their cultural heritage while embracing new forms of expression, creating a dynamic exchange of ideas that fuel innovation and creativity.

At the forefront of contemporary music education, lies Berklee College of Music. With students hailing from over 100 countries, Berklee offers a melting pot of musical styles and genres, from jazz and rock to hip-hop and electronic dance music. Berklee College of Music boasts an impressive group of alumni who have made significant contributions to the music industry. 

From Billboard chart-topping artists, to renowned composers and producers, Berklee alumni can be found in all facets of the music world. Some notable Berklee College of Music Alumni include Grammy-winning artists like John Mayer and Quincy Jones, renowned film composer Alan Silvestri, and jazz pianist Diana Krall. 

In a world often divided by barriers of language, nationality, and ideology, music serves as a universal language that transcends boundaries and brings people together. Boston’s world-class institutions will continue to nurture the talents of aspiring musicians alongside a community of thriving venues & festivals. The city’s music scene remains a cornerstone of its identity, weaving together threads of diversity and creativity that define the essence of Boston.

21 Jun 2024

Nothing More Returns to No. 1 on Mainstream Rock Airplay Chart With ‘If It Doesn’t Hurt’

For the first time since 2017, Nothing More has a No. 1 song on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart.

“If It Doesn’t Hurt” climbs to the top of the June 29-dated ranking, becoming the Texas rockers’ second ruler. The band first led with “Go to War” for one week in December 2017.

In between “Go to War” and “If It Doesn’t Hurt,” Nothing More reached Mainstream Rock Airplay with five entries, including three top 10s, led by the No. 5-peaking “Tired of Winning” in 2022. The band first made the list in 2014 with the No. 2-reaching “Ballast.”

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Concurrently, “If It Doesn’t Hurt” leaps 14-10 on the all-rock-format, audience-based Rock & Alternative Airplay survey with 2.6 million audience impressions, up 2%, in the week ending June 20, according to Luminate. It’s the band’s first top 10, exceeding the No. 12 peak of “Go to War.”

On the most recently published multimetric Hot Hard Rock Songs chart (dated June 22, reflecting data over June 7-13), “If It Doesn’t Hurt” ranked at No. 12 (after debuting at its No. 8 high in February). In addition to its radio airplay, the song earned 550,000 official U.S. streams.

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“If It Doesn’t Hurt” is the lead single from Carnal, Nothing More’s seventh studio album, due June 28. Two other songs from the LP, “House on Sand” (featuring Eric Vanlerberghe) and “Angel Song” (featuring David Draiman), reached Nos. 11 and 15, respectively, on Hot Hard Rock Songs upon their debuts. Carnal is Nothing More’s first album since 2022’s Spirits, which bowed at No. 14 on the Top Hard Rock Albums tally and has earned 48,000 equivalent album units to date.

All Billboard charts dated June 29 will update on Billboard.com Tuesday, June 25.

21 Jun 2024

Hozier Notches His First Alternative Airplay Chart No. 1 With ‘Too Sweet’

Nearly a decade after his first appearance on Billboard’s Alternative Airplay chart, Hozier achieves his first No. 1 as “Too Sweet” lifts to the top of the June 29-dated ranking.

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Hozier first reached Alternative Airplay with his breakthrough single “Take Me to Church,” which debuted at No. 38 on the July 5, 2014, survey. The song eventually peaked at No. 2 that November.

Since “Take Me to Church,” Hozier had appeared on Alternative Airplay with two tracks prior to “Too Sweet.” “Nina Cried Power,” featuring vocals from Mavis Staples, peaked at No. 31 in 2018, and “Eat Your Young” reached No. 13 last year.

Concurrently, “Too Sweet” continues its reign on Adult Alternative Airplay, ruling for an eighth week. It’s Hozier’s longest running No. 1 among six on the survey and the chart’s longest leading hit since Death Cab for Cutie’s “Here to Forever” dominated for eight weeks in August-October 2022.

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“Too Sweet” also lifts to No. 1 on the all-rock-format, audience-based Rock & Alternative Airplay tally thanks to 6.9 million audience impressions, up 5%, in the week ending June 20, according to Luminate. It’s likewise Hozier’s first leader; “Take Me to Church” peaked at No. 3 in 2014.

“Too Sweet” is the first song to top all three lists since The Killers’ “Boy” in September-October 2022. As “Boy” did not lead all three simultaneously, “Too Sweet” is the first to accomplish that particular feat since The Black Keys’ “Wild Child” in May 2022.

A multiformat hit, “Too Sweet” also rises to No.1 on Adult Pop Airplay, becoming Hozier’s second leader, following “Church” for a week in 2015, while ruling Pop Airplay for a second week. It also became his first No. 1 on the most recently published all-genre Radio Songs chart (dated June 22, reflecting data June 7-13) via 70.5 million audience impressions.

“Too Sweet” is from Hozier’s four-song EP Unheard, which debuted at No. 3 on the Top Rock Albums and Top Alternative Albums rankings dated April 6 and has earned 277,000 equivalent album units since its release.

All Billboard charts dated June 29 will update on Billboard.com Tuesday, June 25.