Music News

14 Mar 2024

PartyNextDoor Releases ‘Real Woman’ Single: Stream It Now

PartyNextDoor released his new single “Real Woman” Friday (March 15) after finishing his headlining set at Billboard’s THE STAGE at SXSW in Austin, Texas.

And while closing out his set, Billboard‘s latest cover star revealed the news all of his fans have been waiting for: His forthcoming fourth studio album, PARTYNEXTDOOR 4, will be released on April 26 via OVO Sound. It marks his first full-length album in four years since Partymobile, which debuted at No. 8 on the Billboard 200 and peaked at No. 4 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.

The album also arrives 10 years after his debut album, PARTYNEXTDOOR 2. Its second single “Her Way” experienced a lot of success last year: The sped-up version of the song became 2023’s most popular TikTok song in Canada and third-most popular in the United States.

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Produced by Noah “40” Shebib, Eli Brown and Prep Bijan, “Real Woman” employs bright, twinkling synths, trap hi-hats and a backing choir for the hypnotic late-night anthem. The single follows “Resentment,” which debuted in the top 10 of Hot R&B Songs last July, and “Her Old Friends” from January 2023.

The R&B singer-songwriter and producer talked about his highly anticipated LP in his recent Billboard cover story. “This is the hardest I’ve ever worked on an album. This is the proudest I’ve felt,” he said. “I’m excited to grind even more for the next [one]. I’m in love with how hard you should work for it.”

Following his SXSW set, Party will perform at Rolling Loud California tonight before traveling to Australia next week for the five-date Souled Out festival.



14 Mar 2024

BTS’ V Unveils New Solo Single ‘FRI(END)S’: Stream It Now

BTS‘ V has officially shared his first project post-military enlistment — a new solo single titled “FRI(END)S.”

Released Friday (March 15), the R&B-infused track was written entirely in English. It follows V’s September 2023 EP Layover, which the K-pop star dropped just a couple months before beginning his mandatory service in the South Korean military alongside bandmates RM, Jimin, Jung Kook, Jin, J-Hope and Suga, who have also enlisted.

V previously confirmed that he had banked a few projects to release during his time away, writing in a December statement that he’d “prepared a lot of things” for the 18-month period. “I will miss you so much,” he penned at the time, as translated to English. “Actually, I’m really sad that I can’t make happy memories with my ARMY for the time being […] it’s the hardest not to see the ARMY.”

He added, “I’ll be back!”

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The boy bander first announced “FRI(END)S” on social media March 3, going on to share a number of concept photos and teaser videos ahead of the single. “The track, rooted in the pop soul R&B genre, delivers relatable and witty romance through lyrics,” read a statement from Big Hit Music at the time.

“The single artwork accompanying the announcement reveals the song title and release date against a vivid pink background that hints at the song’s sweet mood,” it continued.

As a soloist, V has notched three songs on the Billboard Hot 100. He reached his highest peak to date in 2023 with “Slow Dancing,” which debuted at No. 51 on the chart.

Stream “FRI(END)S” below.

14 Mar 2024

Cardi B Has Had ‘Enough’ on Fiery New Single: Stream It Now

Enough is enough — at least according to Cardi B. With the release of her brash new single “Enough (Miami)” on Friday (March 15), the Bronx rapper is getting a few things off of her chest.

“B—s is washed, soap on the dishes/ I apply pressure like boa constrictors/ One b—h, two b—h, old b—h, new b—h/ None of y’all b—s not gon’ do s—t,” she spits in the first verse of the confrontational OG Parker and Romano-produced track. If her Missy Elliott-nodding “Like What (Freestyle)” was a warning shot, “Enough” finds Cardi taking direct aim at her biggest opps.

Cardi first teased “Enough” through a video posted to her official TikTok page on March 7. Going for a stripped-down vibe with minimal makeup and a white tank top and sweats, Cardi rapped and danced along to the snippet in the clip. She also posted the clip on her official Instagram page with the same “15” caption, not so subtly alluding to the song’s March 15 release date.

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The new single arrives amid a flurry of new Cardi B music. In addition to “Like What” — which debuted at No. 38 on the Billboard Hot 100 and atop Rap Digital Song Sales (both charts dated March 16) — Cardi is also set to appear on “Puntería,” the opening track from Shakira‘s forthcoming Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran LP (March 22). Last year, she appeared on several Hot 100 hits, including Latto‘s “Put It on Da Floor Again” (No. 13), Offset‘s “Jealousy” (No. 55) and FendiDa Rappa‘s “Point Me 2” (No. 82) and “Bongos” (No. 14, with Megan Thee Stallion).

On the Hot 100, Cardi B has earned five No. 1 singles, including “Bodak Yellow,” “Up,” and the Megan Thee Stallion-assisted “WAP.” Invasion of Privacy, her debut studio album, debuted and peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, and has since spent more than 220 weeks on the ranking.

Stream “Enough (Miami)” now.

14 Mar 2024

Justin Timberlake’s ‘Everything I Thought It Was’ Is Here: Stream It Now

Justin Timberlake is back, as the superstar unveiled his sixth studio album, Everything I Thought It Was, on Friday (March 15). The project is his first full-length album since 2018’s Man of the Woods.

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The album features previously released singles “Drown” and “Selfish,” which debuted at No. 19 on the Billboard Hot 100, earning Timberlake his highest debut in six years on the tally. The lead single from Everything I Thought It Was also marked Timberlake’s 29th top 40 hit as a soloist.

Notably, EITIW also includes a long-awaited reunion from *NSYNC, called “Paradise,” and the full band performed the track onstage at Timberlake’s one-night-only concert at The Wiltern in Los Angeles on Wednesday night (March 13).

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Timberlake had already hinted at more *NSYNC music last month, following the release of “Better Place” for the Trolls Band Together soundtrack in September. During an appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show, the star strongly hinted that he and bandmates JC Chasez, Lance Bass, Joey Fatone and Kirkpatrick are cooking up a follow-up to their comeback single. “That was fun,” he began, recalling how the guys reunited for “Better Place.” “It’s kind of crazy — there’s so much that picks up right where it left off as far as chemistry.” 

In support of his new LP, Timberlake is set to embark on a headlining North American arena tour. The tour will kick off April 29 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, B.C., and visit major cities such as Las Vegas (May 10-11), New York (Jun. 25-26) and Atlanta (Nov. 16), before concluding Nov. 20 at KFC Yum Center in Louisville, Ky.

Listen to Everything I Thought It Was below.

14 Mar 2024

Inside Luck Reunion: 5 Lessons Learned From Willie Nelson’s Iconic Festival

As fans at the off-site parking lot board a shuttle that will take them to their final destination — Willie Nelson’s coveted Luck Reunion — Noah Kahan’s “All My Love” plays from the bus’ speakers, setting a rallying and welcoming tone for the long day ahead. 

Celebrating its 12th year, the Luck Reunion offers a well-crafted lineup of known names and emerging talent, which this year includes the expected headliner of Willie Nelson and Family as well as Tyler Childers, Dawes with Lucius, the Red Clay Strays, Durand Jones and more. As for rising stars, Dylan LeBlanc, Madi Diaz, Ogi and more rounded out the lineup of over 40 acts.

Held at Luck Ranch, the expansive plot of land included all a festivalgoer could want or need: free beer; a well-selected variety of food vendors from Hattie B’s Hot Chicken to local BBQ, lobster rolls and more; vendors selling everything from vintage cowboy boots to custom western hats; plus an on-site Willie’s Reserve shop offering CBD and hemp products and more.

Earlier in the day, the legend and host himself announced his upcoming album The Border, out May 31 — just over a month after the singer-songwriter will turn 91. (On the Ranch, there was only one advertisement for the album, a poster of the album art near the entrance with a QR code to scan for more information.)

To coincide with the news, Nelson released the project’s lead single and title track, his take on Rodney Crowell’s “The Border,” co-written by Crowell and Allen Shamblin for the former’s 2019 album Texas.

Below, read on for five lessons learned after entering the sacred space of Luck Ranch.

14 Mar 2024

Kelly Clarkson Channels Her Country Roots With Chris Stapleton ‘White Horse’ Cover

Kelly Clarkson tapped into her country roots during The Kelly Clarkson Show on Thursday (March 14), when she took on Chris Stapleton’s “White Horse” during her popular Kellyoke segment.

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The Texas native performed the 2023 track backed by her instrumentalists, affectionately called My Band Y’All, dressed in tailored black pants, topped with a white button-down shirt and a silver vest. “If you want a cowboy on a white horse / Ridin’ off into the sunset / If that’s the kind of love you wanna wait for / Hold on tight, girl, I ain’t there yet,” she sings in the chorus.

“White Horse” appears on Stapleton’s 2023 fifth studio album, Higher, and was co-written with Semisonic’s Dan Wilson. The album was produced by Stapleton with Morgane Stapleton and Dave Cobb, and recorded at Nashville’s RCA Studio A. The 14-song album features work from Cobb (acoustic guitar, eclectic guitar), J.T. Cure (bass), Paul Franklin (pedal steel), Derek Mixon (drums), Morgane (background vocals, synthesizer, tambourine) and Lee Pardini (organ, piano). The album debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 albums chart.

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Stapleton will be heading to Saturday Night Live as musical guest on April 13, with Ryan Gosling as host, marking the third time he’s served as musical guest on the show.

Watch Kelly Clarkson perform Chris Stapleton’s “White Horse” for Kellyoke below.


https://youtube.com/watch?v=uyXZRs5RPo0&version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-US&autohide=2&wmode=transparent

14 Mar 2024

Emilia & Tini’s ‘La_Original.mp3’ Hits Top 10 on Latin Pop Airplay Chart

Emilia and Tini combine forces for their first collaborative top 10 on Billboard’s Latin Pop Airplay chart as “La_Original.mp3” rises 12-8 on the March 16-dated list.

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“La_Original.mp3,” released Nov. 2, 2023, via Sony Music Latin, is part of Emilia’s .mp3 album, released a day later, Nov. 3. The song enters the top 10 for the first time on Latin Pop Airplay, assisted by a 34% gain in audience impressions, to 2.4 million, earned in the U.S. in the latest tracking week ending March 7, according to Luminate.

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With “La_Original.mp3,” Emilia secures her first top 10 on a Billboard U.S. ranking, after reaching a No. 13 high on Latin Pop Airplay through “Bendición,” with Alex Rose, in 2021. Elsewhere, the newcomer has logged four No. 1s on the Billboard Argentina Hot 100 ranking, her last being “La_Original.mp3,” which topped the 100-deep tally for seven week starting the Nov. 18, 2023-dated lost.

Tini, meanwhile, picks up her second top 10 on Latin Pop Airplay. She earned an equal No. 8 high with “La Loto,” with Becky G and Anitta, in February 2023.

With “La_Original.mp3,” both Argentinian soloists link up for the first co-billed top 10 team-up by two female artists in 2024. Previously, Karol G and Shakira’s “TQG” took them to No. 1 for 14 weeks starting on the April 29, 2023-dated list.

14 Mar 2024

Stephen Colbert Says He Would ‘Murder’ for His ‘Queen’ Taylor Swift

Stephen Colbert is as loyal a Swiftie as they come. On a recent episode of The Late Show, the talk show host told his guest of the night, Paul Rudd, that he would go to life-or-death extremes to make Taylor Swift happy — all because she treated his daughter with kindness more than a decade ago.

Recalling how he took his daughter Madeline — who was 14 at the time — to the Grammys in 2008, Colbert gushed Wednesday night (March 13), “Taylor was so nice to her that, to this day, I would murder for her if she wanted me too.”

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“I’m like, ‘Whatever you want, my queen,’” he added. “‘I will murder for you.’”

The Colbert Report alum previously told the story of how he introduced Madeline to Swift at the Grammys in a 2022 clip from his late-night show. “She turns around and goes, ‘Pretty girl!’ and comes and puts her arms around her and goes, ‘Oh you look amazing!’” he recalled at the time, mimicking how the “Anti-Hero” singer wrapped his daughter in a big hug. “She just praises my daughter for how she looks for, like, 30 seconds.”

“I would jump off a cliff into a pit of spikes for that woman for how nice she was to my daughter,” he’d added. “You’ve got to remember that!”

On Wednesday’s episode, Rudd also opened up about his love for Swift, especially when it comes to her effect on the NFL since dating Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. “This whole thing is very exciting,” the actor, a longtime Chiefs fan, told Colbert. “I see those stories about the dads and their daughters, and their interests in watching the games together. I get all choked up watching it.”

In May, the Ant Man star attended one of the 14-time Grammy winner’s Eras Tour shows at MetLife Stadium, where he accepted friendship bracelets from fans and bumped into singer-songwriter Claud — who then invited him to star in the Phoebe Bridgers-backed artist’s music video after confessing they had another track coincidentally titled “Paul Rudd.”

“I thought, there’s so much support and love and positivity,” Rudd said of the concert. “To feel that feeling with that many people — it was incredible.”

Watch Colbert and Rudd discuss their Swiftiehood below.

14 Mar 2024

Fujii Kaze Drops New Single ‘Michi Teyu Ku (Overflowing)’ & Premieres Music Video

Fujii Kaze digitally released his highly anticipated new single called “Michi Teyu Ku (Overflowing)” on Mar. 15, a song written for the upcoming Japanese feature film April Come She Will. The 26-year-old artist also shared the accompanying music video for the new track helmed by the director of the movie, Tomokazu Yamada.

“When I was asked to write a song to accompany a love story about the absence of love, I was enthusiastic about writing a so-called love song for the first time in my life,” the singer says about the movie theme song. “But what I ended up with was an extension of what I’d been expressing all along. What has a beginning has an end. Love isn’t something you ask for, but something you already have. The more you give, the more it becomes ‘Overflowing.’”

Fujii is set to appear on the series premiere of NHK’s tiny desk concerts JAPAN program, to be aired Saturday, Mar. 16. The series produced by the country’s public broadcaster under license from NPR will be broadcast on the network’s general TV channel in Japan and globally on its international channel NHK WORLD JAPAN.

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The “Shinunoga E-Wa” hitmaker also announced additional shows for his U.S. trek in May and June, and will performing two concerts in Los Angeles and in New York, respectively. Fujii also has two major shows lined up for this summer at the Nissan Stadium in Japan, the biggest concerts of his career so far on Aug. 24 and 25, with details to be announced May 10 at 6 p.m. Japan time.

Check out Fujii Kaze’s “Michi Teyu Ku (Overflowing)” music video and his upcoming concert schedule below.

Fujii Kaze and the Piano U.S. Tour:

May 30 and 31 Los Angeles, United Theater on Broadway

June 2 and 3 New York, Apollo Theater

14 Mar 2024

Crowded House’s Neil Finn on New Single ‘Oh Hi’ & Its Joyous Videos

Crowded House‘s new single, the perky “Oh Hi,” is an ode to the possibility in children, the band’s co-founder and leader, Neil Finn, tells Billboard’s Behind the Setlist podcast. 

Finn’s lyrics — they begin with “Every child is a mystic, having visions of a new dawn” — were inspired by his experience with the nonprofit organization So They Can, which provides education for thousands of children in East Africa. “It’s sort of about the joy of observing children, being part of their story, creating a good environment for them, then actually getting a lot back [in return] from that,” he says.

The band released an official charity video for “Oh Hi” that features children from one of those schools, Aberdare Ranges School, dancing and singing along to the song. It’s one of 51 schools supported by So They Can in Kenya and Tanzania. The organization aims to support 500 schools and 400,000 students, the video’s YouTube page explains, and hopes to get 1 million people to donate $1 per month.

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“Oh Hi” also has a traditional, official video that’s quirky and equally joyous as the charity video. The video captures an anonymous child — with Finn’s singing head attached to his body — strutting and dancing around a New York City neighborhood. Finn got the idea watching his grandson’s “uncoordinated” dancing style. “It occurred to me that no adult would dance like that,” he says. “So there would be some good humor…to pop my head on [him].” 

Because Crowded House members reside across the globe, “Oh Hi” and the rest of Gravity Stairs (out May 31 through BMG) was recorded over the last few years during sessions fit into the band’s touring schedule. Bass player Nick Seymour lives on the west coast of Ireland. Finn’s son Elroy, the band’s drummer, lives in London. Guitarist and other son Liam Finn and keyboardist Mitchell Froom live in Los Angeles. Finn himself resides in his home country of New Zealand. “We’re testing the theory of how far apart you can be in a band and still be really united,” he says. 

In February, “Oh Hi” was transformed for a live performance, backed by an orchestra and background singers, on BBC 2’s Piano Room show. Rather than perform as a full band, only Finn and Seymour performed — with Finn on piano — to better complement the orchestra and the arrangement prepared by friend Victoria Kelly.

“It’s live and we only got to run through the thing with two rehearsals,” he says of the BBC 2 taping. “So you’re on the edge of your seat. But there was something really beautiful about it and I think it turned out well. Any song should be able to be redefined. That song is destined to be redefined quite a few times because I’m sure when we get on stage it’s going to be another transition.” 

Listen to the entire interview with Neil in the embedded player below or listen at Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeart or Amazon Music.