Music News

17 Apr 2024

YoungBoy Never Broke Again Arrested In Utah on Drug & Gun Charges Amid Yearslong House Arrest

YoungBoy Never Broke Again (aka NBA YoungBoy) was arrested Tuesday (April 16) in Utah, where he has been under house arrest for more than two years while awaiting trial on federal gun charges.

The rapper (real name Kentrell Gaulden) was arrested on seven charges ranging from drug and gun possession to identity fraud, according to inmate records from the Cache County Sheriff’s Office.

The charges include procuring or attempting to procure prescription drugs; possession of other controlled substances; and possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person; a “pattern of unlawful activity”; identify fraud; and forgery.

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The arrest came nearly two months after federal prosecutors accused YoungBoy of violating the terms of his house arrest by using unspecified drugs. In court documents, the feds said YoungBoy was “noncompliant” and told his supervising officers that he had “no intentions” of stopping.

Beyond the charges themselves, little else is yet known about the circumstances of YoungBoy’s arrest. His attorney, James P. Manasseh, declined to comment, and the Cache County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately return a request for comment. Bail has not yet been set, according to sheriff’s office records, and court records do not yet show a criminal case pending or an arraignment hearing set.

YoungBoy was indicted by federal prosecutors in March 2021 after he was allegedly found with two guns during a September 2020 incident in Baton Rouge, La. He was charged with violating a long-standing federal law that bans convicted felons from ever again possessing guns — a rule that applied to him because he had been convicted in 2017 of aggravated assault with a firearm.

The rapper had finally been set for a trial on those charges this July. But in a March ruling last month, a federal judge paused the case to await a Supreme Court ruling on a major gun-control case that could play a key role in YoungBoy’s efforts to avoid a conviction.

While awaiting trial, YoungBoy has been confined to his Salt Lake City mansion — a house arrest that has now lasted more than two full years. In October, his attorneys pleaded that the “long period of social isolation” was harming his mental health and asked that the judge loosen restrictions, including allowing him to travel to a recording studio to create new music. But that request was largely denied in November.

17 Apr 2024

2024 Tribeca Festival to Feature Docs on Avicii, Linda Perry, Liza Minnelli and Montreux Jazz Festival

The 2024 Tribeca Festival is just around the corner and this year’s selections feature a number of anticipated documentaries about musical luminaries from the rock, pop, country and EDM worlds.

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The festivities will kick-off on June 5 with the world premiere of Diane von Furstenberg: Woman in Charge, a profile of the life of the fashion designer and cultural icon directed by Tribeca alum Trish Dalton and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy.

Over the course of nearly two weeks (June 5-16) the fest will feature screenings of a number of important music docs, including They All Came Out to Montreux, a look at the half century-old annual jazz festival in Switzerland featuring Prince, Carlos Santana, Sting, Aretha Franklin and the Rolling Stones’ Keith Richards.

Attendees will also be able to check out Linda Perry: Let It Die Here, a look at the mega-successful former 4 Non Blondes singer-turned-songwriter-producer featuring Dolly Parton, Brandi Carlile and Christina Aguilera, as well as a film about late EDM superstar Avicci, Avicii – I’m Tim, featuring Coldplay’s Chris Martin and David Guetta. In addition to screening the doc Satisfied about actress/singer Renée Elise Goldsberry (Hamilton, Girls5eva), Goldsberry (and Perry) will perform after the world premieres of their respective films.

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Other music films will look at the careers of techno producer Carl Craig (Desire: The Carl Craig Story), civil rights activist/singer Harry Belafonte (Following Harry), Bruce Springsteen guitarist and actor “Little” Steven Van Zandt (Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple), performance artist/singer Genesis P-Orridge (S/He Is Still Her/e – The Official Genesis P-Orridge Doc) and 1990s alternative goddess Ani DiFranco (1-800-ON-HER-OWN), as well as a doc about the the new crop of country insurgents, Rebel Country, featuring Blanco Brown, Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson and BRELAND.

“Each year, the Tribeca Festival reflects our culture, capturing the essence of the present moment. We’re thrilled to showcase our 23rd edition, delving into captivating explorations of artificial intelligence with Demis Hassabis, thought-provoking discussions on the future of democracy, and so much more,” said Tribeca CEO/co-founder Jane Rosenthal in a statement. “Storytelling possesses a remarkable ability to bring us together, offering hope in these challenging times. We eagerly anticipate engaging with audiences on difficult yet timely subjects.”

Among the features on tap this year are a film about a young woman growing up on the Oglala Lakota reservation in South Dakota, Jazzy (Lily Gladstone), Daddio (Dakota Johnson, Sean Penn), the Brat Pack doc Brats (directed by Andrew McCarthy and featuring Demi Moore, Ally Sheedy, Rob Lowe, Molly Ringwald and Lea Thompson), Sacramento (Michael Cera, Kristen Stewart, Maya Erskine) and Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story featuring archival footage of Liza Minnelli.

Other films on tap include Group Therapy (Neil Patrick Harris, Mike Birbiglia, Tig Notaro), All That We Love (Margaret Cho, Jesse Tyler Ferguson) and a deep dive into the world of queer stand-up, Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution (Lily Tomlin, Wanda Sykes, Rosie O’Donnell, Hannah Gadsby and Joel Kim Booster).

According to a release, this year’s films “speak to today’s political moment and inform voters ahead of the upcoming election,” including the screening of Hacking Hate, a Simon Klose film that “questions the role of social media in amplifying hate speech and extremism.” Among the other politically charged films are McVeigh, an exploration of chilling modern implications of right-wing extremism directed by Mike Ott and America’s Burning, in which Michael Douglas narrates director David Smick’s look at the roots of hate and division.

The Cranes Call is a profile of war crimes investigators for the Clooney Foundation For Justice in which director Laura Warner gives a look at the brave staffers for the organization founded by George and Amal Clooney as they risk their lives traversing war-torn Ukraine to gather evidence for cases against Russian soldiers and commanders. There will also be a look into Russian dictator Vladimir Putin’s deadly, repressive regime (Antidote) and a doc about the daring rescue of animals trapped behind enemy lines in Ukraine, Checkpoint Zoo.

This year’s sprawling program will include 103 features from 114 filmmakers from 48 countries — out of a record 13,016 submissions — including 86 world premieres, two international premieres, six North American premieres and eight New York premieres; in addition, half of the films in competition were directed by women and 35% (36) were directed by BIPOC filmmakers.

Check out a 2024 Tribeca sizzle reel below.

17 Apr 2024

Travis Kelce Explains Why He & Taylor Swift Traded Coachella’s Backstage Area to Enjoy Pit With Fans

Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift‘s presence at the opening weekend of Coachella 2024 has been one of the buzziest parts of the festival so far, with fans online going wild over clips of the couple laughing, kissing, holding hands and dancing while enjoying the star-studded lineup together from the pit. And in the Wednesday (April 17) episode of his New Heights podcast, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end debriefed the outing for his older brother and co-host, retired Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce. 

“I absolutely love live music,” began Travis, who is also set to host of Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity. “I don’t get enough of it in my life. It was fun getting out there and seeing a few new bands that I really wasn’t that familiar with but became an absolute lover of their music because of how they performed and captivated the crowd. The Bleachers — our guy Jack Antonoff — absolutely ripped it. I had so much fun seeing him go nuts with his guitar and all his boys.” 

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Cameras captured Swift adorably kissing and dancing with Travis in what appeared to be a backstage area during her frequent collaborator’s set on Saturday (April 13). The couple also spent time with Antonoff and his band before their set and snapped a photo with some of the guys, which drummer Sean Hutchinson posted on Instagram a few days later. 

When it came to Ice Spice’s showcase later that night, however, the athlete and his superstar girlfriend opted to watch with the rest of the crowd from the pit. “I like to see it from the fans’ perspective, ‘cause I am, I’m a fan of music,” Travis explained. “I want to see it from the front of the stage.”  

“We probably could’ve finessed it that way,” he continued, referring to the more secluded locations from which he and Swift could’ve viewed the rapper’s performance. “But I think it’s that much more of an experience if you’re in the pit, if you’re in the madness with all the fans.” 

Travis isn’t kidding when he says he’s a big live music guy — the Ohio native is set to host his second-ever Kelce Jam festival in May, featuring a self-curated lineup led by Lil Wayne, 2 Chainz and Diplo. “Live music is something I never pass up on,” he told Billboard earlier this month. “The list just goes on, and the genres vary everywhere. I’m a real music lover.” 

The brothers also took a moment to thank Swift for supporting their podcast with her Coachella outfit, which featured a baseball cap from the Kelces’ New Heights merch store. “Sold out of the green hat real quick,” Jason said, noting that the accessory has since been restocked on their website. 

“It’s a good color, green,” mused Travis. “She’s supporting the New Heights!” 

Watch Travis talk about Coachella on New Heights below. 

17 Apr 2024

Barbra Streisand Records New Song ‘Love Will Survive’ For Peacock Series ‘The Tattooist of Auschwitz’

More than six decades into her storied career, Barbra Streisand is still finding ways to challenge herself. The legend has recorded a new song, “Love Will Survive,” for the upcoming Sky/Peacock original series The Tattooist of Auschwitz.

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The track recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra (conducted by William Ross) was composed by two-time Oscar-winner Hans Zimmer in collaboration with Emmy-nominee Kara Talve (Prehistoric Planet) and Grammy-winning producer/songwriter Walter Afanasieff (Mariah Carey); the song’s lyrics were penned by Grammy and Golden Globe nominee Charlie Midnight; Afanasieff and Peter Asher produced the track.

“Because of the rise in antisemitism around the world today, I wanted to sing ‘Love Will Survive’ in the context of this series, as a way of remembering the six-million souls who were lost less than 80 years ago,” Streisand said in a statement. “And also to say that even in the darkest of times, the power of love can triumph and endure.”

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The song, Streisand’s first-ever recording for a TV series, will be released by Columbia Records on April 25, a week before the series launches globally on streaming on May 2. Zimmer also composed the original score for the six-part limited series starring Harvey Keitel, Melanie Lynskey, Jonah Hauer-King, Anna Próchniak and Jonas Nay.

The series tells the story of a Slovakian Jewish man, Lali (Hauer-King), who in 1942 was deported to the Nazi death camp where more than one million Jews were murdered during the Holocaust. According to a summary, the drama series follows Lali as he is made one of the camp’s Tätowierer (tattooist), whose job it is to ink identification numbers on the arms of fellow prisoners. It then follows Lali as he falls for fellow prisoner, Gita (Próchniak), “leading to a love that defied the horrors around them.”

The story shifts 60 years into the future to find the now 80-something recently widowed Lali meeting an aspiring writer, Heather Morris (Lynskey) to whom he tells his improbable story of finding love in the “darkest of places.”

“Barbra Streisand is one of the most renowned artists in the world, and we are deeply honoured to be working with her,” Synchronicity Films executive producer Claire Mundell said in a statement. “Barbra and her team have crafted the most beautiful song, based on Hans’ and Kara’s main theme for the show, and it sums up the key message of the series – love will survive. Recording the song with Barbra’s iconic vocals and William Ross conducting the LSO at Abbey Road Studios was an unforgettable moment and a memory I will treasure forever. We are thrilled to be able to honour the memory of Lali and Gita in this way, with this beautiful original piece of music.”

The series will be available beginning May 2nd on Sky Atlantic and the NOW streaming service in the UK and Ireland, Italy, Germany, Austria and Switzerland, as well as Peacock in the U.S. and Stan in Australia.

17 Apr 2024

Myke Towers Surprises Winner of Rockstar Energy Drink Performance Contest

Myke Towers made a dream come true by giving the winner of his Rockstar Energy-hosted contest a surprise visit in a recording studio and, let’s just say, she could not believe her eyes. 

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During her appearance at Miami-based recording studio House of Hits, Gilmarie “GiL” Villanueva, the winner of “Rockstar Energy Presents: Mic Check con Myke Towers” was excited to sit down for an interview with Billboard, but the budding star was in store for so much more. “[Myke] has inspired me in a big way because I also grew up in the barrio,” she told the cameras, adding, “[He] has a different energy.” Towers, who was on the sidelines of the interview, brought the star to tears when he walked onto the set and surprised her with a visit. 

“I came here to officially congratulate you in person because you’re the winner. Come on and give me a little hug but don’t cry!” he told a teary-eyed GiL. “You’re going to make me cry.” 

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“Rockstar Energy Presents: Mic Check con Myke Towers” saw aspiring Latin urban musicians submit an original song for a chance to be the opening act for the star. After sifting through submissions, GiL was handpicked by Towers and will receive the star-studded treatment from Rockstar Energy, with ongoing preparation and an artist development fund to help her journey into the limelight.

During her time with the chart-topper, GiL received advice from Towers about the rookie mistake to avoid in order to shine on the big stage and in her career. “Stay focused and give the people what you know they’re waiting for. You have the responsibility to give the best version of yourself,” he urged.

What GiL wasn’t prepared for, though, was Towers’ invitation to hit the recording booth and flex her skills. With the superstar behind the mixing board, the singer put her talents at the forefront, singing her latest single, “Tu X,” while he encouraged her from the outside and gave notes on the song. To culminate their experience, the two turned to what brought them together in the first place, sharing a toast with the new Rockstar Focus in-hand. 

Stay tuned for more on the Rockstar Energy Presents: Mic Check con Myke Towers!

Mauricio Candela

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17 Apr 2024

Kid Cudi Added to Second Weekend of 2024 Coachella: ‘INSANO BOY IS COMIN’

Kid Cudi is headed to Indio. The Coachella Festival announced on Tuesday (April 16) that Cudder will join the lineup for the second weekend of the fest on Sunday (April 21) for a 40-minute set at the Sahara Tent kicking off at 5:10 p.m. PT.

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“INSANO BOY IS COMIN,” Cudi posted Tuesday night along with a picture of himself looking pensive along with the updated schedule for the final day of this year’s festival, along with the tease, “Who’s coming?? @coachella.” The day’s lineup will also include headlining sets from Doja Cat, Lil Yachty, Jhené Aiko and J Balvin, as well as spots from Reneé Rapp, Bebe Rexha, The Rose, Victoria Monét, Diplo and Tems.

Cudi last performed at Coachella in 2019, during which he ended his set with a run through the 2009 Man on the Moon: The End of Day track “Pursuit of Happiness,” which he dedicated to Mac Miller and Nipsey Hussle. That year’s set also included some of Cudi’s most beloved hits, including “Up Up & Away,” “Erase Me,” “Memories,” “Day ‘N’ Night” and “Mr. Rager.” Not for nothing, in announcing this weekend’s lineup, the official Coachella Instagram account captioned their post, “On the pursuit of happiness.”

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The rapper is gearing up for the world tour in support of his ninth album, Insano, which will feature support from Pusha T, Jaden and Earthgang. The outing is slated to kick off on June 28 at the Moody Center in Austin, TX and keep him on the road through a March 2025 gig at the O2 Arena in London.

Watch Cudi’s announcement below.

17 Apr 2024

Kelly Clarkson Recalls Scary Hospitalization During Pregnancy, Calls Arizona’s Near-Total Abortion Ban ‘Backwards’

Kelly Clarkson got emotional on Monday (April 15) when talking to former First Lady Hillary Clinton about the challenges she faced during her two pregnancies and the shocking recent decision by Arizona’s Supreme Court to set the stage for a near-total abortion ban in the state based on a law from 1864.

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“Did you ever think in your lifetime we would see that happen?” Clarkson asked Clinton of the situation in Arizona that has drawn widespread criticism from abortion rights supporters for its lack of exceptions for rape and incest. “It’s just insane to me, the thinking that went on in 1864. It’s a very different world. We know a lot more now. We are going backwards.”

Former Sec. of State Clinton was on The Kelly Clarkson Show to promote her new Broadway musical about the woman’s suffrage movement, Suffs, which she co-produced. “It is horrifying. I feared it would happen but I hoped it wouldn’t happen,” Clinton said of the latest fall-out from the conservative majority Supreme Court’s striking down of Roe v. Wade two years ago. “Now here we are in the middle of this very difficult period for women in about half the states of our country, who cannot get the care that they need.”

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In the wake of the Roe decision, 21 states have enacted laws to either ban or severely restrict abortion earlier in a pregnancy than the standard set by the law that codified abortion protection in 1973.

Clinton noted that the Arizona law — which was codified before Arizona was even a state — has no exceptions for rape or incest and serves as a potential danger to women. “And the danger to women’s lives as well as to our right to make our own decisions about our bodies and ourselves is so profound,” said Clinton. “And there’s another element to it, which I find so troubling. I mean, there’s a kind of cruelty to it. No exceptions for rape, incest, really?”

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Clarkson got emotional when talking about her two pregnancies, during which she said she was hospitalized and feared for her life. “I literally asked God, this is a real thing, to just take me and my son in the hospital for the second time, because I was like, ‘It’s the worst thing,’” Clarkson said, apologizing for being overcome with emotion while discussing the difficult births of daughter River Rose, 9, and son Remington Alexander, 7, who she shares with ex-husband Brandon Blackstock.

“It was my decision and I’m so glad I did it, I love my babies, but to make someone …” Clarkson added. “And you don’t realize how hard it is. The fact that you would take that away from someone, that can literally kill them. The fact that if they’re raped by their family member and they have to — it’s just like insane to me.”

Speaking to the former 2016 presidential candidate, Clarkson then encouraged her viewers to get involved in the upcoming 2024 presidential election, saying it’s sometimes uncomfortable to keep hammering away at the importance of voting, but fearing that things could dramatically escalate over subjects we should be able to agree on.

“It’s hard to preach at someone that you have to care about something but at the same time, I feel like we’re going to end up in some kind of — not to sound dramatic but — some kind of civil war over things that I feel like we shouldn’t be divided on,” Clarkson said. Clinton agreed and said “all you can do” is try to inform people and let them know that, for instance, the Arizona legislature had a vote to try and repeal the 1864 law.

“So that there could be a much more sensible approach. It lost. It matters who is representing you,” Clinton counseled, urging viewers that voting is “your superpower — and it may not seem like it but it really is.”

The conversation had some lighter moments as well, including Clinton talking about her early days dating husband former President Bill Clinton and why Clarkson would never, ever write a memoir.

Watch Clinton and Clarkson below.

17 Apr 2024

Blink-182’s Tom DeLonge Unveils Signature Fender ‘Starcaster’ Guitar

For his next project, Tom DeLonge combines his twin passions for electric guitar and expanding the mind – a new signature instrument with Fender.

The Blink-182 founding member and U.F.O. researcher unveils the Tom DeLonge Starcaster, a semi-hollow, offset guitar, embedded with Seymour Duncan SH-5 pickups.

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DeLonge made several changes to the Starcaster, originally released in the 1970s, and roadtested the guitar on Blink-182’s current global tour in support of One More Time… the pop-punk band’s ninth studio album from 2023.

“I love this guitar, I really do. It’s the coolest guitar ever made. Firstly, it is called a Starcaster—that’s the most important thing. It goes to space and expands your mind,” DeLonge comments in a statement.

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Among the tweaks, “I’ve streamlined the electronics, added the ‘70s headstock to round out the weight, and chose the matte finish with black hardware, so its look matches its modern feel. This guitar shows my evolution as a player but also has the hallmarks of where I came from and what I’m about.”

It’s stocked in four finishes, and priced at US$1,199.99.

The Starcaster marks the second time DeLonge was worked on a six-string with Fender, following the 2002 rollout of the Tom DeLonge Stratocaster, which was rereleased when the classic lineup reunited in 2022 due to “unprecedented demand,” reads a statement from Fender.

One More Time… is Blink-182’s first album with the group’s longtime lineup of drummer Travis Barker, vocalist/bassist Mark Hoppus and DeLonge, since he departed the trio in 2015 for seven years, and the first studio effort from that founding lineup since 2012’s Dogs Eating Dogs EP. The album blasted to No. 1 on the Billboard 200, joining Blink-182’s 2016’s California (with the lineup of Barker, Hoppus and guitarist/vocalist Matt Skiba) and 2001’s Take Off Your Pants and Jacket.

During his time away from the band, DeLonge’s decades-long U.F.O. studies and efforts to publicize sightings finally got acknowledgement when the U.S. Navy officially released three of the clips he had been brought to attention.

Blink-182’s North American touring schedule continues from late June, followed with shows in the U.K. and Europe in August.

16 Apr 2024

Olivia Rodrigo, Billie Eilish & Beyond: Coachella 2024 Could Have Built an Alternate Lineup Out of Surprise Guests

While the headliners of Coachella 2024 are Lana Del Rey, Tyler, the Creator and Doja Cat, a pack of fellow A-listers also showed up on stages across the Empire Polo Ground over weekend one, with surprise performances from Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo, Justin Bieber, Shakira, A$AP Rocky, Lauryn Hill, 21 Savage, David Guetta, Childish Gambino and even Will Smith.

On the new Billboard Pop Shop Podcast, Katie tells Keith all about her return to the desert festival for her first time in 14 years and what it was like to see so many unannounced guests pop up throughout the weekend.

Listen to the full show below:

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Also on the show, we’ve got chart news on how Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter is her first multi-week No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart in over a decade, how Hozier’s “Too Sweet” jumps to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart (could it become his first No. 1?), and how Future, Metro Boomin and Kendrick Lamar’s “Like That” is the first song to spend three weeks in a row at No. 1 on the Hot 100 in more than nine months.

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.)

16 Apr 2024

Billboard President Mike Van Celebrates Launch of Billboard Korea

Billboard is gearing up to launch its first print issue of Billboard Korea, and to celebrate, Billboard U.S. President Mike Van held a press conference in Seoul, South Korea, on Monday (April 15) to commemorate the expansion and express excitement over highlighting the flourishing Korean music scene.

“At Billboard, we recognize the significance of K-pop and K-music as not just musical genres, but as cultural movements that continue to transcend borders and redefine the landscape of the global entertainment industry,” Van said during his speech. “With our dedicated team of journalists and music enthusiasts from both the U.S. and Korea, we are poised to further amplify the beauty of K-music through Billboard’s industry-leading platforms and content. From our industry-leading online platforms to engaging live events, Billboard Korea will serve as a cultural ambassador and the destination for all things K-pop, K-music, and K-culture.”

Billboard Korea Volume 1 is scheduled for release in June, which will amplify 100 K-pop stars selected by Billboard.

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“This inaugural volume will serve as a platform to showcase K-pop stars not only in Korea, but also worldwide,” said Yuna Kim, publisher and CEO of Billboard Korea, during the press conference. “Additionally, as part of our launch efforts, we are planning to host one of the many events organized by the headquarters in Korea this year. Currently, we are collaborating with the headquarters’ content team and editors to brainstorm various ideas. We plan to publish monthly digital covers featuring K-pop stars in collaboration with the headquarters.”

Billboard Korea adds to the list of the publication’s international editions, including Billboard Japan, Billboard Arabia, Billboard Español, Billboard Brasil and others.