Music News

13 Dec 2023

Oprah Says There Was Pressure to Cast Beyoncé or Rihanna in ‘The Color Purple’

As The Color Purple draws nearer, the film’s star-studded cast and production team are hitting the media circuit to promote their forthcoming movie musical. In a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Oprah — who serves alongside Steven Spielberg, Scott Sanders and Quincy Jones as one of the film’s producers — recounted the process of bringing the films to life, including some pressure to cast a star on the level of Beyoncé or Rihanna.

“To be completely honest about it, if you were doing this film for $30 or $40 million, the interest in the cast would be very different. Once the film moved to $90 to $100 million, then everybody wants us to bring Beyoncé,” Oprah said. “‘Can you get Beyoncé or can you get Rihanna?’ So we’re sitting in a room saying, ‘Listen, we love Beyoncé. We love Rihanna, but there are other actors who can do this job.’”

Of course, both Beyoncé (Dreamgirls, Obsessed, Austin Powers in Goldmember) and Rihanna (Ocean’s 8, Battleship, Home) have made plenty of crossovers into the film world, but The Color Purple cast came together without the two music titans. The Blitz Bazawule-helmed picture is led by 2024 Golden Globes nominee Fantasia Barrino, with fellow nominee Danielle Brooks, Taraji P. Henson, Halle Bailey, Colman Domingo, Corey Hawkins, Ciara, H.E.R. and Phylicia Pearl Mpasi rounding out the ensemble.

While Rihanna has been busy with partner A$AP Rocky and their new bundle of joy, Riot Rose, Beyoncé has been dominating theaters on her own. The “Break My Soul” singer recently topped the domestic box office with Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé, a documentary concert film that chronicles the creation and execution of Queen Bey’s Billboard 200-topping Renaissance album and its record-breaking world tour.

Clearly, the powers that be were aware that landing Queen Bey would be a tall ask. “I do remember conversations about, ‘Y’all, Beyoncé is going to be busy this year.’ It wasn’t even a negotiation, because you’re not getting Beyoncé,’” Oprah quipped.

The Color Purple is the film adaptation of the 2005 Tony Award-winning stage musical of the same name, which is, in turn, based on the 1982 Alice Walker novel and its accompanying 1985 Oscar-nominated film. On Dec. 15, The Color Purple (Music From and Inspired By) will hit DSPs, featuring original songs from Usher, Alicia Keys, Megan Thee Stallion, Coco Jones, Mary Mary, Jennifer Hudson, Mary J. Blige, Keyshia Cole, Black Thought, Jorja Smith and more.

13 Dec 2023

Jimmy Fallon & Meghan Trainor Dance Through a Winter Wonderland in Festive ‘Wrap Me Up’ Music Video: First Look

Jimmy Fallon and Meghan Trainor are unwrapping a brand-new music video for their festive Christmas duet “Wrap Me Up,” and Billboard is sharing an exclusive first look at the holly jolly clip.

In the video, Fallon and Trainor are dressed in their best red-and-green outfits, as the Tonight Show host asks the pop star what she got him for Christmas. “Is it a tie?/ An ugly sweater?/ Matching pajamas?/ So something better?” he sings, to which Trainor replies that she’s the gift by singing, “No, baby, you’re looking at it/ Come on, wrap me up/ In your arms this Christmas.”

The full music video will air on Wednesday night (Dec. 13) during The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on NBC at 11:35 p.m. ET.

“Wrap Me Up,” which was released in November, has already made its way to the Billboard charts, hitting the top 10 of Billboard‘s Adult Contemporary chart this week, as well as No. 2 on the Holiday Digital Song Sales chart and No. 5 on the Digital Song Sales chart.

“I’ve always wanted to do something with Meghan Trainor,” Fallon said of the song on his show when it was announced. “She’s an amazing performer and songwriter. Let me tell you something: She can sing. This song is a bop. This song is a banger. This song eats. This song slaps.”

Fallon and Trainor are gearing up for some more festive fun when they join Password‘s holiday special this month. The game show, hosted by Keke Palmer and starring Fallon, will feature Trainor and Extended Family actor Jon Cryer as they pair up with contestants to compete against Fallon and his teammate in a festive version of the word game. Catch the episode on Monday (Dec. 18) at 10 p.m. ET on NBC.

Watch the “Wrap Me Up” first look exclusively via Billboard below.


https://youtube.com/watch?v=b0GeTraEac0&version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-US&autohide=2&wmode=transparent

13 Dec 2023

Olivia Rodrigo Says She’s ‘Grown Out of Some’ of Her Older Songs

You could say that Olivia Rodrigo‘s love for her older material has soured a little.

In an interview with the Los Angeles Times published Wednesday (Dec. 13), the 20-year-old musician admitted that she’s not too fond of a few of the tracks on her 2021 debut album Sour. “Some of them I don’t really love so much anymore,” she told the publication in the midst of preparations for her 2024 Guts Tour.

Rodrigo didn’t divulge which tracks specifically she’s not a fan of — “People get so sad because it’ll be their favorite song” — but she did clarify that rehearsing her old music in recent weeks has helped her realize that she’s simply “grown out of some of them.”

Unlike the Grammy winner, however, millions of people are still fully loving Sour. The LP is still charting on the Billboard 200, coming in at No. 49 on the most recent ranking, more than two years after its release. In total, it’s spent 133 weeks on the chart so far and has spawned two No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100.

One of those No. 1s is still a hit in Rodrigo’s books. She confirmed that she still very much loves “Drivers License,” recalling, “I remember putting the song out, still super-heartbroken, and people would come up to me and say, ‘Wow, this takes me back to my first heartbreak.’ Now, I listen to it and I totally get it. It actually does transport me back to when I thought I was never gonna love anyone else.”

The “Vampire” singer also responded to a recent revelation from friend and fellow pop star Billie Eilish, who told the L.A. Times last month that the seven-time Grammy winner’s song “Goldwing” was partly inspired by Rodrigo. “I was just thinking about her when I was writing it,” Eilish told the publication at the time. “She was coming up, and she was younger than me, and nobody had ever been younger than me.”

“Olivia was getting big, and she was just, like, this little dainty child,” added the “Bad Guy” singer, noting she feels a “protectiveness” for the former Disney star. “I felt so nervous. I was worried about her.”

In the L.A. Times article, Rodrigo commented, “I thought that was so sweet.” “Billie is such a kind, wonderful girl, and I feel very lucky that it’s not about competition — that we’re just looking out for each other,” she continued. “I love that song.”

13 Dec 2023

Don Omar & Daddy Yankee End Longtime Feud: ‘There Will Always Be Room for Forgiveness’

Don Omar and Daddy Yankee have put an end to their years-long feud and rivalry, and have made peace.

In separate posts on social media, the two reggaeton titans expressed appreciation for one another and acknowledged the significant role each has played in globalizing the genre. Don Omar was the first to share a lengthy post on Instagram on Tuesday (Dec. 12), just days after Yankee gave his farewell show in Puerto Rico after announcing his retirement and that he was dedicating his life to Christianity.

“Today we close the book that kept the best chapters of our controversial rivalry,” the “Dale Don Dale” singer wrote. “Thank you for your words and for listening to mine that came from the heart as well. I wish you the best for you and your family. Thank you for your competitiveness and admirable discipline but even more thank you for what you did for our music.”

He continued: “Thank you for collaborating and for competing because I did it with a titan. I keep the good memories, the laughs, the dreams together and the desire for a last round with such a great adversary. We will meet again soon because I owe you a hug and thank you in person. In the meantime, long live King Daddy.”

Most recently, Don Omar announced his return to the stage with an ambitious U.S. tour. Back to Reggaetón, produced by CMN, is set to kick off in March. Shortly after Don Omar shared the post to his more than nine million followers, Yankee also offered heartfelt words toward the artist, with whom he had on-and-off feuds throughout his decades-long career.

“William, thank you for giving us both the opportunity to speak to each other from the bottom of our hearts,” Yankee began. “Don Omar, you have also done great things for this genre and within the rivalry as you rightly say that divided us, today I feel calm to know that that is behind us, and we are an example that we may have differences but there will always be room for forgiveness. You have also been a great adversary and I will never cease to recognize all that you have also done for our movement.”

Yankee ended by saying he felt “calm and at peace” knowing that they were leaving behind the controversies that often pitted the two against each other. “I hope that our last round will be against the enemy of souls, battling together in the army of the Lord! I wait for you on this side! God bless you, your family and all your faithful followers.”

In 2016, the two sat down — for the first time ever — for a Mano a Mano panel at the Latin Music Week conference. While there was little interaction between the two, Don and Yankee were polite to each other and took turns answering questions from Billboard‘s Leila Cobo.

Despite the rivalry and all, the pair still collaborated with each other throughout the years. In 2003 they released “Gata Gangster” and “La Noche Está Buena” with Hector “El Father.” Two years later, they unleashed “Yo Soy de Aquí” and, in 2020, the “Hasta Abajo Remix.” In 2016, duo also went on a co-headlining tour together.

13 Dec 2023

Taylor Swift Steps Out With Selena Gomez, Miles Teller & Keleigh Sperry in NYC: Photos

Taylor Swift was out and about with a trio of famous friends on the eve of her birthday, meeting up with Selena Gomez, Miles Teller and his wife, actress-model Keleigh Sperry, for a night out in New York City Tuesday (Dec. 12), just hours before she turned 34. 

The foursome went to Zero Bond in Manhattan, where the “Anti-Hero” singer sported a chic tan trench coat and heeled black booties. In a few paparazzi photos from the evening, she holds hands with the Only Murders in the Building actress, her longtime bestie. The Tellers have been friends with Swift since co-starring in the musician’s “I Bet You Think About Me” music video in 2021.

The outing comes a few days after Swift and Gomez attended a Ramy Youssef comedy show together in NYC, shortly after the “Calm Down” singer made headlines for confirming her relationship with producer Benny Blanco in a spree of Instagram comments. “He is my absolute everything in my heart,” Gomez wrote of Blanco at the time, also sharing a photo on her Story of a letter “B” ring on her finger. 

Swift celebrated her 34th birthday on Dec. 13 by making her Eras Tour concert film available for rent and purchase on streaming services, complete with extended footage of her performing the songs “Long Live,” “The Archer” and “Wildest Dreams.” In a Wednesday (Dec. 13) post about the film on Instagram, the 12-time Grammy winner wrote, “PS troll me all you want about my excessive and literal millennial emoji use but A) no one’s prouder to be a millennial and B) it’s my bday and today I am exempt! ?” 

See photos of Swift, Gomez and the Tellers below: 

Miles Teller, Keleigh Sperry and Taylor Swift

Miles Teller, Keleigh Sperry and Taylor Swift are seen on the streets of Manhattan on Dec. 12, 2023 in New York City.

James Devaney/GC Images

Selena Gomez and Taylor Swift

Selena Gomez and Taylor Swift are seen on Dec. 12, 2023 in New York City.

Raymond Hall/GC Images

13 Dec 2023

Beyoncé Close to Billionaire Status After Massive ‘Renaissance’ Tour Haul

Thanks to the massive haul from her Renaissance world tour, Beyoncé is on the cusp of becoming a billionaire. According to a new estimate from Forbes magazine (paywalled), the singer’s net worth has ballooned by nearly $300 million this year to $800 million.

Back in June, Queen Bey, 42, came in at No. 48 on the financial magazine’s annual ranking of the richest self-made women in America with a then-estimated worth of $540 million. The boost in the singer’s bottom line was attributed to Beyoncé’s 2023 earnings, specifically the estimated $100 million (post-tax) she pulled in from the Renaissance tour.

Forbes estimated that the rest of the financial windfall was a result of the magazine’s adjustment of their previous estimate of her music catalog and art collection; Forbes estimated that the singer’s catalog is now worth around $300 million. The remainder of her net worth comes from a combination of the personal assets Bey shares with husband Jay-Z and business holdings in her Parkwood Entertainment company.

Forbes said that the couple’s real estate portfolio is worth an estimated $320 million, including a $200 million Malibu, CA mansion they bought in June, which is believed to be the most-expensive home in California history.

Citing Billboard figures, Forbes reported that the major bump to Beyoncé’s net worth came from the tour, which ran from May to October and hit 39 cities in 17 countries, with $579 million in revenue, making it one of the highest-ever grossing tours. Another stream that contributed was the recently released Renaissance: A Film By Beyoncé, which she wrote, directed and produced. Like Taylor Swift, Bey struck a direct deal with AMC Theaters that worked around studio participation and allowed for a direct split of revenue; final box office figures are not yet available, but the movie grossed more than $27 million worldwide in its opening frame.

Swift, who attended the London premiere of the Renaissance film, also had a banner year, with Forbes estimating in October that Taylor had passed into billionairedom thanks to her $190 million net (post-taxes) from her massive Eras Tour. In her TIME Person of the Year cover story, Swift paid tribute to Beyoncé’s acumen and inspiration, telling the magazine that she is, “a great disrupter of music-industry norms… She taught every artist how to flip the table and challenge archaic business practices.”

13 Dec 2023

Blake Shelton, Trace Adkins, Morgan Wallen & More Added to ‘New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash’

A star-studded assembly of performers has been added to help Nashville count down the minutes to 2024 on New Year’s Eve in the music-spotlighting way that only Nashville provide, as part of the CBS special New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash.

Trace Adkins, Grace Bowers, Kane Brown, Jackson Dean, HARDY, Cody Johnson, Parker McCollum, Megan Moroney, Brothers Osborne, Jon Pardi, Carly Pearce, Blake Shelton, Trombone Shorty, Morgan Wallen and Bailey Zimmerman are all slated to perform as part of the event, which will air live on Sunday, Dec. 31 (7:30-10 p.m. ET/PT and 10:30 p.m.-1:05 a.m. ET/PT), on the CBS Television Network and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the special airs).

They join previously announced performers Old Dominion, Elle King, Thomas Rhett, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Lainey Wilson. Television and radio host Cody Alan and CBS anchor Lonnie Quinn will be corresponding from New York City’s Times Square, along with Dustin Lynch, who will also perform.

The five-hour broadcast will highlight more than 50 performances, all from Music City. Nashville will count down with the East Coast at midnight, and will continue the festivities through midnight Central Time with Nashville’s Music Note Drop on the Bicentennial Mall stage.

New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash, is executive produced by Robert Deaton and Mary Hilliard Harrington in partnership with the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp. The special will be directed by Sandra Restrepo.

13 Dec 2023

Tyla’s ‘Water’ Cruises to No. 1 on Rhythmic Airplay Chart

The widespread radio success of Tyla’s “Water” spills over to Billboard’s Rhythmic Airplay chart, where the single tops the list dated Dec. 16. “Water” rises from No. 2 to rule the chart after a 15% jump in plays that made it the most played song on U.S. monitored rhythmic radio stations in the week of Dec. 1–7, according to Luminate.

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With its advance, “Water,” released on FAX Records/Epic Records, pushes last week’s champ, Drake’s “Rich Baby Daddy” featuring Sexyy Red and SZA, to No. 2 after its one week in charge. The latter’s coronation yielded Drake’s record-extending 39th No. 1 on the radio ranking.

“Water,” the breakthrough single for 21-year-old South African singer Tyla, has evolved into a radio smash in the past few weeks. Beyond its Rhythmic Airplay reign, the track sits at No. 1 for a third week on the Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, where it added 1% in plays in the last tracking week, and repeats at No. 3 on R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay for a second term thanks to a 4% boost in weekly audience to 18.3 million in listenership.

Plus, the single is making waves in the pop sector, holding at No. 19 for a second week on Pop Airplay with an 18% swell in weekly plays. Combined strength from rhythmic, R&B/hip-hop and pop radio powers “Water” 8-6 on the all-genre Radio Songs chart, where it added 11% in audience to reach 48.5 million.

“Water,” which is nominated for a Grammy for best African music performance, also leads the streaming and sales-based U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart for a ninth consecutive week. The global hit will appear on Tyla’s forthcoming self-titled debut album, which will be released on March 1, 2024. To preview the project, the singer released three new cuts on Dec. 1: “Butterflies,” “On and On” and “Truth or Dare.”

13 Dec 2023

Beyoncé Celebrates 10th Anniversary of Surprise Self-Titled Visual Album: Watch the Video Montage

It’s been 10 years since Beyoncé dropped her self-titled visual album, and even the notoriously quiet Queen Bey had to acknowledge the momentous occasion. When the clock struck midnight on Dec. 13, Beyoncé took to her official Instagram page to share a brief video montage commemorating her critically acclaimed, career-shifting fifth studio album.

“I still get scared with every album release,” Beyoncé says in the background of the reel. “I’m constantly searching for the deeper purpose of my art.” The “Cuff It” singer’s reel is a compilation of behind-the-scenes footage previously seen in her five-part Self-Titled documentary, performance clips, pieces of the album’s 17 music videos, media clips and vintage fan reactions on that fateful night of Dec. 13, 2013.

With the release of Beyoncé, Queen Bey unleashed a 14-track visual album in the middle of the tracking week with absolutely no pre-release announcement or promotion. The album proved to be a commercial smash, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with just three days of sales. At the time, Beyoncé was the fastest selling album in iTunes history.

The record — which spawned the Billboard Hot 100 No. 2 hit “Drunk in Love” (with Jay-Z), as well as “7/11” (No. 13), “Partition” (No. 23), “Flawless” (No. 41) and “XO” (No. 45) — also won three Grammys and landed on several year-end and decade-end album lists. The record-breaking LP found Beyoncé at her most experimental and political at the time, proudly wearing the “feminist” label on the MTV VMAs stage and heavily incorporating trap into her R&B base for the first time.

Most of the reel’s narration is taken from the first episode of the album’s accompanying Self-Titled documentary, but Beyoncé did record a new message. At the very end of the clip, she sweetly says, “Happy tenth anniversary.”

Now, 10 years after her iconic visual album, fans await the elusive visuals for Queen Bey’s Renaissance album — which is currently blasting in movie theaters around the world thanks to her box office-topping Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé concert documentary film.

Celebrate 10 years of Queen Bey’s industry-revolutionizing self-titled album by watching Beyoncé’s commemoration reel below:

13 Dec 2023

Taylor Swift Declares ‘No One’s Prouder to Be a Millennial’ on Her 34th Birthday

Taylor Swift has no shame about acting her age. On the singer’s 34th birthday, she marked the occasion with a tongue-in-cheek post on Instagram announcing the release of her new Eras Tour film’s extended cut and jokingly defending her “millennial” posting habits. 

In her Wednesday (Dec. 13) post, Swift shared a video of her performing the Speak Now fan favorite “Long Live” on her iconic blue koi fish guitar during a stop on her blockbuster Eras trek this year. “I had the time of my life fighting dragons with youuuu,” the pop star captioned her post, referencing her own “Long Live” lyrics. “Celebrate 34 with me by watching The Eras Tour (Extended Version) including ‘Long Live’ ? ‘The Archer’ ? and ‘Wildest Dreams’ ? at home!” 

“PS troll me all you want about my excessive and literal millennial emoji use,” she added. “But A) no one’s prouder to be a millennial and B) it’s my bday and today I am exempt! ?” 

The 12-time Grammy winner’s movie became available for rent and purchase on streaming services Wednesday in honor of her birthday. Shot over the course of three performances at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour opened in theaters in October and raked in more than $92.8 million, becoming the top-grossing concert film in history after just one weekend. 

Swift’s proud declaration of her millennial status also comes shortly after fans poked fun at her for certain phrases she used while being interviewed for TIME, the cover of which she graced earlier this month as the publication’s 2023 Person of the Year. In one example, the “Anti-Hero” artist was quoted as saying Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, now her boyfriend, initiated their relationship by putting her “on blast on his podcast, which I thought was metal as hell.” 

“Taylor saying Travis talking about her on the podcast is ‘metal as hell’ IS SO MILLENNIAL OF HER,” tweeted one Swiftie after the interview went live. 

“’metal as hell’ you will never beat the hardcore millennial allegations taylor swift,” wrote another. 

Other Swifties fondly chided the musician for comparing her Taylor’s Version re-release projects to “collecting horcruxes” and “Infinity Stones.” “Saying that she is collecting re recordings like horcruxes is so millennial of her I’m here for it,” tweeted one fan. 

See Swift’s birthday post below: