Music News

16 Jun 2024

Taylor Swift Celebrates Her 100th Show on The Eras Tour: ‘Adventure of a Lifetime’

Taylor Swift is celebrating a milestone in her Eras Tour.

On Sunday (June 16), the pop superstar shared a touching message on social media following the 100th concert of her record-breaking The Eras Tour, which launched March 17, 2023, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.

“We played our 100th show on The Eras Tour (which feels truly deranged to say because this show feels new to me every time we play it),” Swift captioned a photo gallery on Instagram from her three-night run in Liverpool, England.

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Swift confirmed her final Eras Tour show during her first concert at the city’s Anfield Stadium on June 13.

“You know, this is actually the 100th show of the tour,” the singer told the Liverpool crowd. “That blows my mind. That doesn’t feel like a real statistic to me, because this has definitely been the most exhausting, all-encompassing, but most joyful, most rewarding, most wonderful thing that has ever happened in my life, this tour, these moments with you.”

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She continued, “You know, a lot of you were like, ‘Well, how are you going to celebrate the 100th show? And for me, the celebration of the 100th show means this is the very first time I’ve ever acknowledged to myself and admitted that this tour is going to end in December. Like, that’s it.”

The final scheduled concert of the Eras Tour — which will be the 152nd show, if no new dates are added — is set for Dec. 8 at Vancouver, Canada’s BC Arena.

In her Instagram post on Sunday, the “Anti-Hero” singer went on to thank her road crew, stage performers, and backing band for committing “hundreds of hours to putting on this show and giving their all on and behind that stage.”

“I can’t believe the work ethic, creativity and dedication I get to be surrounded with every day,” she added.

See Swift’s post on Instagram here.

16 Jun 2024

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Returns Key to New York City in Response to Cassie Attack Video

Sean “Diddy” Combs has returned his key to New York City after a request from Mayor Eric Adams in response to the release of a video showing the music mogul attacking R&B singer Cassie, officials said Saturday (June 15).

The mayor’s office said Combs returned the key after Adams sent letters to the embattled musician’s offices in New York and California on June 4 rescinding the key and asking for it to be sent back to City Hall. The city received the key June 10.

In his letter, Adams wrote he was “deeply disturbed” by the attack, adding “I strongly condemn these actions and stand in solidarity with all survivors of domestic and gender-based violence.”

Combs’ career has been derailed by numerous accusations of sexual abuse, as well as a federal criminal sex-trafficking investigation that led to raids of Combs’ mansions in Los Angeles and Miami.

In May, CNN aired security video of Combs attacking Cassie in a hotel hallway in Los Angeles in 2016. Combs has said he is “truly sorry” for the attack on Cassie and called his actions “inexcusable.” Cassie, whose legal name is Cassandra Ventura, sued Combs last year, setting off a wave of increased scrutiny on Combs. That case was settled a day after it was filed.

Adams awarded Combs with the key at a ceremony last year that coincided with the release of a new album.

Howard University this month rescinded an honorary degree awarded to Combs and ended a scholarship program in his name following the release of the video involving Cassie.

Combs, founder of Bad Boy Records, is one of the most influential hip-hop producers and executives in the last three decades, turning musical success into a business empire.

An email sent to a representative listed online for Combs was not immediately returned.

16 Jun 2024

Lalah Hathaway Returns with New Album, National Tour

Five-time Grammy winner Lalah Hathaway is back with a new album and a national tour that will kick off in August. 

VANTABLACK is the singer-songwriter’s eighth studio album — and first new set since 2017’s Honestly. Featuring guest turns by Common, Rapsody, MC Lyte, Michael McDonald and Willow, among others, the 16-track set has already spun off two tracks: vibrant first single “So in Love” and the latest, “I Am.” The project was released by Hathaway’s own Hathaway Entertainment in association with SRG-ILS Group (Virgin Music Group).

Hathaway uses the phrase “melting pot” in describing the mix of tempos and creative experimentation that frames her new album and its title track. “VANTABLACK … the word itself has so much weight on it,” notes Hathaway in a release announcing the album and tour.

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“What I thought were conflicting perspectives actually began to shape the concept of not only this album but also how I saw myself. I started reframing how I saw color — in terms of being the Blackest I’ve ever been. And even though I’m steeped in who I am, it doesn’t exclude the other things that make up the sum of me. Similar to how all the music around me informs the Black music that I create.” 

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And of uptempo anthem “I Am,” she noted, “I think people will be delighted to hear me with some tempo. I’m always trying to figure out how to apply these lush tones over dance music. How can i be featured on the subwoofer in your G Wagon? This is a four on the floor, full of positive affirmation … I may have cracked the code!”

The 17-date VANTABLACK tour in support of the album will launch in Fayetteville, Ark., on Aug. 28. It will stop in Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York and Atlanta before wrapping in Charleston, S.C. on Sept. 28. Click here for the full tour itinerary and additional information.

Lalah Hathaway,

Lalah Hathaway, “Vantablack”

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16 Jun 2024

Fans Choose Magneto’s ‘Prender El Fuego Otra Vez’ as This Week’s Favorite New Music Latin

Magneto‘s latest single, “Prender El Fuego Otra Vez,” has topped this week’s new music Latin poll.

In a poll published on Friday (June 14) — in support of the weekly New Music Latin roundup and playlist, curated by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors — music fans voted for the Mexican boy band’s latest track as their favorite music release of the week.

“Prender El Fuego Otra Vez” generated more than 45% of the vote, beating out other new releases that dropped this week, including Ángela Aguilar’s mariachi ballad “Gotitas Saladas,” Mario Bautista’s new regional Mexican album Fenix, Chino Pacas‘ latest single “Mami Chula,” Santa Fe Klan and Dímelo Flow’s “Ya Valió,” and Zhamira Zambrano’s “Bienvenida,” with which she announced her pregnancy. Coming in second place is Paulo Londra’s “Paracaídas” with 32% of the votes.

Composed of Elías, Mauri, Alan, Tono, and Alex, the legendary band made its long-awaited comeback after 25 years of not releasing new music. “Prender El Fuego Otra Vez (Light the Fire Again),” a tropical ballad that blends urbano beats with vallenato accordions, marks the beginning of their soon-to-be-released EP and accompanying tour. Penned by Puerto Rican singer-songwriter Pedro Capó alongside Frank Santofimio, Gabriel González-Perez, Héctor Montaner Jr, Rafael Regginalds (Reggi El Auténtico), the track shares a message of new beginnings and second chances.

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Last week, music fans voted for Feid’s latest single “Sorry 4 That Much” as their favorite music release. The song generated more than 65% of the votes.

See the final results of this week’s new music release poll below.

15 Jun 2024

George Strait Breaks Attendance Record With Largest Concert Ever Held in The U.S.

“What’s going on everybody?” country legend George Strait said to a record crowd of 110,905 ticket-buying fans gathered tonight (June 15) at Kyle Field at Texas A&M in College Station. “We got some Aggie’s out there? Oh yeah! I’m ashamed to say this, but this is my first time to ever be in Kyle Field… damn! Just invite me back, I’ll come!” 

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Minutes ago, the Texas native set an all-time attendance record  for a ticketed concert in the United States, previously held by The Grateful Dead who had 107,019 fans in attendance at their 1977 show at Raceway Park in New Jersey. Strait’s show also and a new record for Texas A&M Kyle Field for a single event (previously recorded on October 11, 2014, at 110,633, for a Texas A&M game against Ole Miss)with 110,905 fans in attendance for George Strait: The King at Kyle Field with special guests, fellow Lone Star natives and MCA labelmates, Parker McCollum and Catie Offerman.

George Strait has set many records in his illustrious career: the most No. 1 singles of any artist in any genre, the only artist to chart a Top 10 hit every year for 30 years, and the most No. 1 albums, gold albums, and platinum albums in the history of country music including 20 of his massive 60 No. 1 hits.  

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Prior to the show, Strait debuted two new songs “MIA in MIA” and “The Little Things,” both off his forthcoming album, Cowboys And Dreamers, his 31st album for MCA Nashville that will be released on Sept. 6.

Strait’s remaining 2024 concert dates can be found below. Learn more at georgestrait.com.

6/29 Rice-Eccles Stadium  Salt Lake City, UT
7/13 Ford Field   Detroit, MI
7/20 Soldier Field   Chicago, IL
12/7 Allegiant Stadium  Las Vegas, NV

15 Jun 2024

Top K-Pop of the Week: NAYEON, ATEEZ, Kim Jae Joong, EVERGLOW & More — Vote!

With groups celebrating anniversaries, like Super Junior and INFINITE, alongside solo superstars like NAYEON, XIA, Sunmi and BOL4, which new song gets your vote?

Nayeon

Nayeon

JYP Entertainment

Every week, the Korean music scene delivers outstanding songs across various genres and styles, and the past week was no exception, with a heavy-hitting selection of hits with global and crossover potential, satisfyingly nostalgic duets and some of 2024’s most promising new artists.

A slew of major solo stars have returned to the scene lately, with NAYEON of TWICE dropping her sophomore solo effort, NA, Friday (June 14), hoping to make history again after becoming the first-ever K-pop soloist to score a Top 10 album on the Billboard 200 with 2022’s IM NAYEON. Meanwhile, Kim Jae Joong and XIA — who come from legendary groups TVXQ! and JYJ — signaled exciting returns to the industry with their new tracks, while Sunmi, SAAY, BOL4 and GISELLE of aespa all have new material for fans.

On the group front, beloved acts like Super Junior and INFINITE are celebrating important milestones with anniversary singles. Meanwhile, A.C.E, ATEEZ and WayV are all proving how universal their latest releases are with new singles in multiple languages and/or getting different treatments through new remixes.

As the K-pop industry moves at a rapid pace, it’s important to pause and appreciate the innovation and diversity it offers across its different acts. Previously, Billboard readers rallied behind ONEUS’ “Now” as the top K-pop pick of the week as well as Jung Kook’s “Never Let Go” as their favorite new music in all genres last week.

Take a moment to explore these 13 gems that embody the spirit of the scene and deserve a spot on your playlist. Then, cast your vote in our poll for the top of K-pop for the past week.

15 Jun 2024

Taylor Swift Presents ‘The Murder Mashup’ With ‘Carolina’ & ‘No Body, No Crime,’ Plus the Live Debut of ‘The Manuscript’

Taylor Swift was in storytelling mode with two surprise song mashups in Liverpool, England, Saturday night (June 15).

At the third of three shows at the city’s Anfield Stadium, Swift got creative with her acoustic set, weaving together crime mysteries for one mashup, and telling the story of an affair from the Red era with the other.

“This is what it all really comes down to, for me, in the show,” said Swift, strumming her guitar. “It’s just the most amount of, like, ‘Don’t mess this up. Don’t mess this up,’ ’cause it’s also my favorite part of the show.”

“This one, I’m gonna,” she started telling the crowd, but her voice trailed off. After pausing for a few seconds, Swift announced, “I’m gonna call this ‘The Murder Mashup.’”

She gave Liverpool the live debut of “Carolina,” the haunting song she wrote for the soundtrack of the 2022 film adaptation of Delia Owens’ murder mystery Where the Crawdads Sing — playing it alongside parts of Evermore‘s “No Body, No Crime.”

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“Carolina creeks running through my veins/ Lost I was born, lonesome I came/ Lonesome I’ll always stay/ Carolina knows why for years I roam/ Free as these birds, light as whispers/ Carolina knows,” Swift sang, continuing with the film ballad up until “there are places I will never, ever go/ And things that only Carolina will ever know.”

And then, to shrieks from around the stadium, she switched over to “He did it,” bringing “No Body, No Crime” (originally recorded with Haim) into what is now officially known as “The Murder Mashup.”

Following that pairing, the songstress softly begin playing “The Manuscript,” the contemplative closer of her 31-song The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology album, at her piano.

“She thought about how he said since she was so wise beyond her years, everything had been above board,” sang Swift, recalling a “torrid affair” with an older man in her younger years, of which she quietly reflects on in the Tortured Poets track. “She wasn’t sure.”

Swift then connected 2024’s “The Manuscript” to the bridge from 2012’s “Red”: “Remembering him comes in flashbacks and echoes/ Tell myself it’s time now, gotta let go/ But moving on from him is impossible/ When I still see it all in my head/ In burning red … Loving him was red.”

“The story isn’t mine anymore,” the closing line of “The Manuscript,” ended the piano number.

Watch clips from both of Swift’s surprise song mashups below. Stay up-to-date with her entire list of Eras Tour surprise songs here. The tour resumes in Cardiff on Tuesday, June 18, and then arrives for in London for the weekend on Friday, June 21.

15 Jun 2024

Jeremy Tepper, Program Director of SiriusXM’s Outlaw Country, Dies at 60

Jeremy Tepper, a musician, journalist and the program director of SiriusXM’s Outlaw Country channel, has died. He was 60.

Tepper passed away on Friday (June 14) from a heart attack at his home in New York City, according to a social media post by his wife, singer-songwriter Laura Cantrell.

“Lost my good friend Jeremy Tepper last night,” Steven Van Zandt, guitarist in Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band and founder of Underground Garage, wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “An incredibly tragic loss so young. He ran my Outlaw Country station on SiriusXM brilliantly. It is actually quite a complicated format and he made it look easy. Our deepest love and condolences to Laura and his family and friends.”

Born in 1963, the New York native graduated with a degree in journalism from NYU and served as the frontman for the band World Famous Blue Jays.

During his career, Tepper founded independent country label Diesel Only Records and held A&R and marketing positions for CDuctive and eMusic.com. He was also a journalist, having previously served as editor of The Journal of Country Music and as a country music critic for Tower Records’ Pulse! magazine.

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In 2004, he joined Sirius as format manager of the radio giant’s Outlaw Country channel, which was created by Zandt, who served as its executive producer. The channel mixes music by country and Americana artists such as Waylon Jennings, Dale Watson, Dwight Yoakam, Johnny Cash and Lucinda Williams with rockers Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and the Band.

Tepper’s two-decade run with Sirius also found him working on the Willie’s Roadhouse and Road Dog Trucking channels.

“Jeremy Tepper, a beloved member of SiriusXM, profoundly influenced us with his unwavering dedication to music and innovative spirit,” SiriusXM wrote on X. “His contributions, in shaping Outlaw Country and Willie’s Roadhouse, are beyond measure. Our thoughts are with his loved ones during this time.”

Tepper is survived by his wife, Cantrell, and their daughter, Bella.

15 Jun 2024

Billie Eilish Becomes the 3rd Artist to Reach 100M Monthly Spotify Listeners — and Does It With Just 82 Songs

Billie Eilish should be happier than ever: She’s become the third artist to surpass 100 million monthly listeners on Spotify, the music streaming platform confirms — and she did it with just 82 songs.

The two-time Oscar winner follows behind only The Weeknd, who has 107 million monthly listeners, and Taylor Swift, who boasts 102 million; both have more than double the songs on the streamer than Eilish. And at just 22 years old, this makes the “Lunch” singer the youngest yet to have reached the 100 million listeners milestone.

“Spotify has been a part of Billie’s story from the start. Ever since ‘Ocean Eyes,’ she has continuously grown her fan base around the world,” Jeremy Erlich, Spotify’s global head of music, tells Billboard. “What she and [brother-collaborator] Finneas have achieved since 2016 is quite remarkable … and all this by the age of 22.”

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The singer-songwriter currently has eight songs in the streamer’s Billions Club: “Lovely” with Khalid (2.8 million plays to date), “Bad Guy” (2.5 million), “When the Party’s Over” (1.8 million), “Everything I Wanted” (1.6 million), “Ocean Eyes” (1.4 million), “Happier Than Ever” (1.3 million), “Idontwannabeyouanymore” (1.09 million) and “Bury a Friend” (1.01 million).

Eilish’s debut single, “Ocean Eyes,” arrived on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2018 and peaked at No. 84 the following year. Since then, she has landed 42 more songs on the all-genre tally, with six of those reaching the top 10, including 2019’s “Bad Guy,” which topped the chart in August that year.

Her third album, the 10-track Hit Me Hard and Soft, dropped in April and debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. First album When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? and sophomore set Happier Than Ever both topped the chart for three weeks.

15 Jun 2024

Joe Alwyn Breaks Silence About Taylor Swift Breakup & ‘The Tortured Poets Department’

Joe Alwyn is opening up for the first time about his split from Taylor Swift.

In an interview with The Sunday Times Style Magazine, published Saturday (June 15), the 33-year-old actor, who stars in Yorgos Lanthimos’ upcoming film Kinds of Kindness, broke his silence about his breakup with the pop superstar in April 2023.

Alwyn, who dated Swift for six years, called their relationship “long, loving” and “fully committed.” The “Anti-Hero” singer, 34, has not yet publicly commented on the breakup, but many believe that her latest album, The Tortured Poets Department, was inspired by the split.

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Earlier this year, fans speculated that the title of Tortured Poets — which has spent seven weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 — resembles a group chat between Alwyn and fellow actors Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal called “The Tortured Man Club.”

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When asked if he’s listened to his ex-girlfriend’s new album, Alwyn told the Times, “In thinking on what I was going to say, I would think and hope that anyone and everyone can empathize. … This isn’t a direct answer to your question, but just thinking about what I want to talk about.”

He continued, “I would hope that anyone and everyone can empathize and understand the difficulties that come with the end of a long, loving, fully committed relationship of over six and a half years. That is a hard thing to navigate.”

Alwyn and Swift broke up in April 2023 around the time the pop star launched her launched her record-breaking The Eras Tour in North America. The Conversations With Friends actor reflected on aftermath of the split, saying, “What is unusual and abnormal in this situation is that, one week later, it’s suddenly in the public domain and the outside world is able to weigh in.”

“So you have something very real suddenly thrown into a very unreal space: tabloids, social media, press, where it is then dissected, speculated on, pulled out of shape beyond recognition,” he told the Times. “And the truth is, to that last point, there is always going to be a gap between what is known and what is said. I have made my peace with that.”

Alwyn noted that he and Swift “mutually” agreed to “keep the more private details of our relationship private.” He added, “It was never something to commodify and I see no reason to change that now.”

Swift and the Favourite actor first started dating in 2016, and mostly kept a low profile. During their six years together, they rarely made public outings. They did, however, speak lovingly about each other in occasional interviews, and the 12-time Grammy winner opened up about falling in love with Alwyn in her Netflix documentary, Miss Americana.

Alwyn told the Times that he’s been doing well following the breakup. “Look, this is also a little over a year ago now, and I feel fortunate to be in a really great place in my life — professionally and personally. I feel really good,” he said.

After ending things with Alwyn, Swift started dating Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce last summer. The athlete is another rumored Tortured Poets muse, with fans suspecting that “The Alchemy” and “So High School” were both written about him.