Music News

24 Oct 2023

Clive Davis Says Planned Documentary Will Take Viewers Inside His Pre-Grammy Party, Music’s ‘Hottest Ticket’

We’ve all heard the stories from inside Clive Davis’ pre-Grammy gala, held the Saturday night before the annual Grammy Awards. There was then-rookie artist Alicia Keys performing her most high-profile gig yet in 2001 — and then duetting with Aretha Franklin two years later. Also in 2003, Rod Stewart hit the stage with Lou Reed for an unexpected duet.

It’s always been a hot ticket for those in the industry and an impossible ticket for those who aren’t — until now. On the new Billboard Pop Shop Podcast, the legendary music industry executive tells Katie and Keith about plans to make a documentary out of previously unseen footage from the A-list party, starting with its inception back in 1976.

“I’m working with [film and TV producers] Jesse Collins and Rob Ford and others to go through the history of our pre-Grammy gala,” Davis says on the podcast. “It’s been the hottest ticket … because you never know whether it was Prince, whether it was [Paul] McCartney, whether it was Sly and the Family Stone, they’d be in the audience along with the tastemakers, along with the heads of every motion picture studio, every record company. … So it’s a unique audience. But it’s the music, seeing the artists together that you would never have seen anywhere in your life. And we’re going to put a documentary together and propose it to Netflix and Paramount+.”

Now, the four-time Grammy Award-winner and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee says he’s ready to pull back the curtain on the famously exclusive event. “It’s time to open the ball and reveal it, and you won’t be disappointed,” Davis promises. “They have been jaw-dropping.”

Also in the interview, Davis regales the Pop Shop team with stories about five of the biggest artists he’s worked with over the decades: Whitney Houston, Dionne Warwick, Prince, P!nk and Usher. The timing of the interview was perfect, because the Billboard staff just chose Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” as the No. 1 entry on our list of the 500 Best Pop Songs, so we got to celebrate the news with the man behind the song — and he also offered up a couple of personal picks for his favorite Whitney songs.

Davis also discussed how Dionne Warwick has stayed relevant over the years, from her hilarious social media presence to Doja Cat sampling “Walk On By” for the Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit “Paint the Town Red”; he recalled his spirited debates about the music business with late legend Prince; he traced P!nk’s evolution into a world-class live performer; and he chatted about why Usher is the right pick for the 2024 Super Bowl halftime show.

Also on the show, we’re celebrating the 10th anniversary this month of the Pop Shop Podcast, inviting back original co-host and pod founder Jason Lipshutz for the super-sized episode. We also have chart news on how Taylor Swift achieves her 10th No. 1 on the Hot 100 with a four-year old song, as “Cruel Summer” jumps 9-1, while Bad Bunny notches his third No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 with Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana.

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.)

24 Oct 2023

Dallas Cowboys Linebacker Says ‘Bad Girl’ Taylor Swift Gives Travis Kelce ‘An Extra Boost of Confidence’

If it seems like everyone has an opinion on Taylor Swift‘s reported romance with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce that’s because they do. Take, for instance, Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons.

On this week’s episode of his The Edge with Micah Parsons podcast the two-time Pro Bowler offered up his opinion on why the two-time Super Bowl champ Kelce and the once-again unstoppable 6-1 Chiefs are crushing the AFC West competition as they sit on the best record in .

And, go figure, it has something to do with Kelce’s No. 1 fan, Swift.

“Travis Kelce’s my boy, the best tight end in the league for like the past three, four years, so it’s obviously not Taylor Swift,” Parsons said of the Taylor Effect; it’s worth noting that the Chiefs have won all four games that Swift has attended so far, after dropping their season opener, in which Kelce did not play. “But I’m gonna tell y’all one thing. When there is a bad girl and she’s in attendance and she’s watching you, that gives you an extra boost of confidence.”

Parsons added, “You know what Kelce’s doing. I know what’s going on. He was already doing it, so now it’s like ‘Yeah, I’m gonna do it more now.’ Like it’s a swagger. It’s a confidence when those things happen. Y’all know how it goes.”

Even typically buttoned-up Chiefs coach Andy Reid joked afterwards that somehow 11-season veteran Kelce, 34, just keeps getting better with age, but that Swift is also welcome to keep showing up and doing her secret pump-up handshakes. “Kelce keeps getting better with time,” Reid said after Sunday’s game according to SI. “Taylor can stay around all she wants.”

Swift attended her first Chiefs game on Sept. 24, where she watched from a friends and family box alongside Trav’s mom, Donna Kelce, and the Chief’s beat Chicago 41-10. She was on hand again, with an A-list group of friends (Sabrina Carpenter, Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Hugh Jackman), at the Oct. 1 23-20 victory over the New York Jets, as well as KC’s Oct. 8 27-20 home win against the Minnesota Vikings, where she sis’d down with Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes’ wife, Brittany.

She was back in the box over the weekend with Brittany and the Kelce family for a 31-17 win over the Los Angeles Chargers, where Kelce finished with 12 catches for 179 years and two touchdowns. A stat that ran during Sunday’s game noted that Kelce has more than double the receiving yards per game (99) when Swift is in the house versus when he’s “left to his own devices” (46.5).

Last weekend, Swift and Kelce seemingly confirmed their long-rumored romance by holding hands on their way to the Oct. 14 SNL afterparty, just after they each made surprise cameos on the show’s season 49 premiere. The next day, they had dinner at a restaurant in the West Village, hand-in-hand again; to date neither Swift nor Kelce have confirmed their reported romance.

24 Oct 2023

Watch Jane Wiedlin From The Go-Go’s Perform ‘Our Lips Are Sealed’ at Musack Event

Jane Wiedlin from The Go-Go’s closed out Musack’s Celebration of The Specials‘ frontman Terry Hall on Oct. 14 with a performance of “Our Lips Are Sealed,” originally written by Wiedlin and Hall. The song served as the opening track on The Go-Go’s album Beauty and the Beat (1981) and was their debut American single in June 1981, hitting No. 20 on the Billboard Hot 100.

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Wiedlin performed the song with Donita Sparks from L7; Special’s members Horace Panter, Lynval Golding, Hannah Hu, Nikolaj Torp Larsen and Kenrick Rowe; along with Jesse Wagner from The Aggrolites

, Nate Albert from Mighty Mighty Bosstones and the set’s band leader, JG Goetchius of the Mighty Mighty Bosstones. The video is from Josh Roush with AntiCurrent Productions.

Musack’s event paid tribute to Hall, who died in December, with performances from members of The Specials, No Doubt with Tom Morello from Rage Against the Machine, Shepard Fairey, Tim Armstrong from Rancid and Operation Ivy, Jesse Michaels from Operation Ivy, L7, Fishbone and Bite Me Bambi. A rotating all-star backing band led by JG featured songs from The Specials, Fun Boy Three and The Colourfield, as well as a surprise Operation Ivy song. A video of Operation Ivy’s Take Warning can be found here.

Musack is a 501c3 that supports kid’s music programs across North America, founded by TV writer Donick Cary, whose credits include The Simpsons, Parks and Recreation and Have a Good Trip. Musack raises money through private concerts and silent auctions, including Saturday’s event, which paid tribute to the late Terry Hall of The Specials.

Guests were treated to beer from Musack’s sponsor, Fall Brewing Company, including their limited edition “Enjoy Yourself” IPA, and food from Nawal’s Levantine Kitchen.

The Specials’ last U.S. performance was at Musack’s 2022 event. Video of “Gangsters” from that show can be found here.

24 Oct 2023

‘The Voice’ Contestants Show Off Their ‘New Attitude’ in ‘The Voice’ Battle Rounds: Watch

The Voice battle rounds continue! On Monday night (Oct. 23), the contestants went head to head as the show whittled down the competition. CORii and Ms. Monét went up to the plate and battled it out to Patti LaBelle‘s hit “New Attitude.”

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The pair infused the track with soul, adding soaring high notes, whistle tones and impressive vocal runs to their rendition, often boosting each other up during the larger moments of the song.

“I’m feeling good from my hat to my shoe/ Know where I am going and I know what to do/ I’ve tidied up my point of view/ I’ve got a new attitude/ I’m in control My worries are few/ ‘Cause I got love like I never knew/ Ooh oh ooo oh/ I’ve got a new attitude,” CORii and Ms. Monét soulfully sing on the chorus.

Following the pair’s performances, the coaches gave their feedback and shared moments during the showcase that stood out to them. Niall Horan went first, saying, “CORii, why did I not turn? The minute you opened your mouth, I was like, ‘So why did I face the wall for two minutes?’ To be honest, I do remember pitch issues in the blind auditions, but this was night and day, different level to where you were last time.”

Gwen Stefani complimented Monét’s stage presence and CORii’s improvement. “I’m so literally blown away by you. You are masterful, and you were being all swaggy up there,” she said of Monét. “I was like, ‘OK, she is literally slaying.’ But then CORii, you somehow started to lock into your voice. It was like, ‘Wow, she has range and power.’ You both have incredible stage presence and character.”

Ultimately, the decision was up to Reba McEntire, who had to choose between the two. The country icon praised both of the budding stars, even saying they “could go on the road as a duet right now.” After struggling to come to a conclusion, McEntire kept Monét on her team. CORii, meanwhile, was surprised by getting stolen by both Horan and Stefani, and chose the latter coach to guide her through the rest of the competition.

Watch CORii and Ms. Monét battle it out to LaBelle’s “New Attitude” below.

24 Oct 2023

Britney Spears Felt ‘Clinically in Shock’ After Justin Timberlake Broke Up With Her

Britney Spears has been through a lot, from her 13-year conservatorship to her strained relationships with estranged family members. But one of the most difficult times in her life was her breakup with Justin Timberlake, as revealed in her new memoir The Woman In Me.

The pop star and *NSYNC band member dated from 1999 to 2002, until Timberlake allegedly broke things off with Spears via text message. The time immediately after was dark for the “Toxic” singer, who writes in her memoir she “barely left the house” following the couple’s split.

“When Justin began making his first solo album, Justified, he started being very standoffish with me,” Spears recalled in her autobiographical book, released Tuesday (Oct. 24). “I think that was because he decided to use me as ammunition for his record, and so it made it awkward for him to be around me, staring at him with all that affection and devotion.”

“Ultimately, he ended our relationship by text message while I was on the set for the video for the ‘Overprotected’ remix by Darkchild,” she continued. “After seeing the message as I sat in my trailer between takes, I had to go back out and dance.”

Spears added that the breakup left her “devastated.” “When I say, devastated, I mean, I could barely speak for months,” she wrote. “Whenever anyone asked me about him, all I can do is cry. I don’t know if I was clinically in shock, but it felt that way.”

In her long-awaited memoir, the “Sometimes” artist dropped quite a few bombshells about her high-profile romance with her former Mickey Mouse Club castmate, beyond the depression she faced following their split. While they were together, for instance, she said she got an abortion because Timberlake wasn’t ready for fatherhood; she also admitted to having cheated on her then-boyfriend once with choreographer Wade Robson after finding out about the “Cry Me a River” singer’s alleged affairs with other women.

Those struggles didn’t stop Spears from loving Timberlake, though — even after they called it quits. While she was still grieving the relationship, Timberlake brought her a framed handwritten letter that she still keeps under her bed, the Princess of Pop shares in her book. “And at the end it said — it makes me want to cry to think about it — ‘I can’t breathe without you.’ Those are the last words in it,” she writes.

“It almost felt like I was suffocating,” she adds, “like I couldn’t breathe after all that happened. The thing is, though, even after I saw him and read the letter, I didn’t come out of the trance. He did all that, he came there to see me and I still couldn’t talk — to him or to anybody.”

24 Oct 2023

Duran Duran Give Talking Heads’ ‘Psycho Killer’ a New Wave Chill on Spooky ‘Danse Macabre’ Cover

Your perfect Halloween soundtrack has just arrived courtesy of Duran Duran. The veteran new wave group dropped their delightfully devilish cover of the Talking Heads’ 1977 classic “Psycho Killer” on Tuesday (Oct. 24).

The song — which features bass from Måneskin’s Victoria De Angelis — appears on their upcoming 13-song Dance Macabre album, which features some spooky originals (“Nightboat,” “Black Moonlight,” “Love Voudou,” “Secret Oktober 31st,” “Confessions in the Afterlife”) alongside covers of songs by Billie Eilish (“Bury a Friend”), the Rolling Stones (“Paint It Black”), Siouxsie and the Banshees (“Spellbound”), The Specials (“Ghost Town”) and others.

The band make the song their own, thanks to bassist John Taylor’s funky, elastic bass lines, Andy Taylor’s quick-strum guitar and singer Simon Le Bon’s signature yearning — in this case somewhat haunted — vocals.

Speaking about the album in a press release, keyboardist Nick Rhodes said it “gathers together an unusual mix of cover versions, reworked Duran Duran songs and several new compositions. The idea was born out of a show we played in Las Vegas on October 31st, 2022. We had decided to seize the moment to create a unique, special event…the temptation of using glorious gothic visuals set to a dark soundtrack of horror and humor was simply irresistible.”

In a statement, De Angelis described the origins of her collaboration with the “Rio” legends. “I got a call from John [Taylor]…saying he was working on a cover of ‘Psycho Killer,’ and he wanted to ask me first about playing on it,” De Angelis said. “It was insane being asked by one of the greatest bass players ever to play one of my favorite songs with Duran Duran. Absolutely insane.”

Danse Macabre is out on Friday (Oct. 27).

Listen to Duran Duran’s “Psycho Killer” cover below.

24 Oct 2023

Chuck D, John Oates Joins Speakers Lineup For SXSW 2024

Hip-hop heavyweight Chuck D of Public Enemy and Hall & Oates co-founder John Oates are among the big names added to the lineup for South by Southwest (SXSW) 2024, set to take place March 8-16 in its traditional home of Austin, TX.

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The Rock And Roll Hall of Fame-inducted artists ride the second wave of featured speakers for the 38th annual gathering, announced today (Oct. 24), with AMD Lisa Su chair and CEO confirmed as the first keynote speaker.

For the 2024 edition of SXSW, Chuck D will participate in the daytime session Def Jam Renewed: The Hip-Hop Legend’s Next 40 years, which includes speakers Tunji Balogun (chairman and CEO of Def Jam Recordings), Bryan Biniak (president of Songtradr and GM of Bandcamp) and rapper Lady London, for an exploration of the iconic hip-hop label’s roots, the decisions that have “propelled it to global recognition for its creativity, quality, and authenticity,” and more.

Also, Oates will discuss Fame, Fortune, and Managing A Hit Music Career, in a Q&A with Alex Heiche, founder and CEO of music finance firm Sound Royalties, which will trace the singer and songwriter’s hitmaking career.

“Every year at SXSW, we’re privileged to host leaders and trailblazers who have risen to the top of their fields through hard work, thought leadership, and passion for their craft,” comments Hugh Forrest, co-president and chief programming officer.

AMD’s Su is “an innovator who continues to pioneer advancements in the chip industry and new ideas that will accommodate the needs of quickly developing AI-related technologies.”

The 2024 SXSW Conference is organized into 24 programming tracks, including advertising & brand experience, artificial intelligence, climate change, creating film & TV, creator economy, culture, design, energy, music & tech, music careers, psychedelics and more.

As previously reported, British indie band Dry Cleaning, New York punk rockers Bodega, and Swedish alternative act Waterbaby lead the first round of showcasing artists tapped for the South by Southwest Music Festival 2024.

SXSW 2024 is sponsored by Porsche, C4 Energy, and The Austin Chronicle. The SXSW Schedule will launch online Oct. 31, providing a complete rundown of 2024 programming.

Established in 1987 in the Lone Star State, SXSW is both a conference and festivals extravaganza that celebrates the convergence of tech, film and television, music, education, and culture.

Today’s announcement closely follows the conclusion of the inaugural SXSW Sydney. Held Oct. 15-22, SXSW Sydney is a collaboration with TEG, the NSW Government and Destination NSW, and is the brand’s official Asia Pacific leg.

SXSW signed a “lifeline” deal with P-MRC, a joint venture between Penske Media Corporation and MRC, the companies announced in April 2021, making P-MRC a stakeholder and long-term partner with the Austin festival. P-MRC is the parent company of Billboard.

Visit SXSW.com for more.

24 Oct 2023

Thomas Rhett, Dierks Bentley, Billy Strings Lead Inaugural Big as Texas Festival Lineup

Thomas Rhett, Dierks Bentley and Billy Strings will spearhead the music lineup for the inaugural Big as Texas Festival slated for May 10-12, 2024, at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds in Conroe, Texas, just outside of Houston.

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In addition to Bentley, Strings and Rhett, the lineup also includes 49 Winchester, Anne Wilson, Clay Walker, Amanda Shires, Dwight Yoakam, Hannah Dasher, Maddie & Tae, Midland, Morgan Wade, Tracy Byrd, Julia Cole and Warren Zeiders.

The three-day festival will feature more than 26 hours of live music from 35 artists. The curated performance lineup also nods heavily to the festival’s Texas stomping grounds; one-third of the artists set to perform hail from the Lone Star State.

“We are stepping out in grand fashion for our inaugural year, and I couldn’t be more excited about the stellar music lineup we have curated for next May. It’s ultimately meant to be representative of the many facets of country and Americana music because we like to think there is something for everyone at Big as Texas Fest,” Big as Texas’ co-executive producer and talent buyer Steve Said noted in a statement.

“With an incredible lineup secured for year one, my team and I now turn our attention to curating all of the major aspects of the festival-going experience for fans — from the food and drink to the nonprofit partnerships to the immersive activations. We already have a lot of amazing plans in store for our fans, and I’m hopeful Texans will show out in major form to support our independent locally owned festival,” added Big As Texas’s co-executive producer Trey Diller, a lifelong resident and community advocate based in the Conroe community.

Beyond music, the festival will offer activities including custom car shows, equestrian exhibitions, art installation and camping.

Additionally, the festival aims to give back by focusing on raising awareness around mental health issues and suicide prevention. Festival organizers will invite local experts, doctors, therapists and more to join onsite in May. In addition to offering resources during the festival, organizers will donate 10 percent of net ticket proceeds from each individual ticket sold to 501 (c)(3) nonprofits that promote suicide prevention in Montgomery County and across Texas.

Three-day general admission passes are on sale now at bigastexasfest.com.

24 Oct 2023

Taylor Swift Extends Artist 100 No. 1 Record, TOMORROW X TOGETHER & Offset Hit Top 10

Taylor Swift spends a record-extending 82nd week at No. 1 on the Billboard Artist 100 chart (dated Oct. 28), thanks to nine albums on the Billboard 200 and three songs on the Billboard Hot 100, including her newly-crowned No. 1 song, “Cruel Summer.”

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Leading Swift’s titles on the Billboard 200 is her 2019 set Lover at No. 8, with 52,000 equivalent album units earned Oct. 13-19, according to Luminate, followed by Midnights at No. 9. The latter spends a 52nd consecutive week in the top 10, encompassing its entire chart run. It becomes Swift’s second album to log its first full year in the top 10, after 1989, which spent its first 53 weeks in the region in 2014-15 (among 60 weeks in the top 10 total).

Here’s a recap of Swift’s current Billboard 200-charting albums.

Rank, Title:

  • No. 8, Lover
  • No. 9, Midnights
  • No. 14, Folklore
  • No. 18, Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)
  • No. 19, 1989
  • No. 21, Reputation
  • No. 24, Red (Taylor’s Version)
  • No. 26, Evermore
  • No. 43, Fearless (Taylor’s Version)

On the Hot 100, “Cruel Summer” jumps from No. 9 to No. 1, becoming Swift’s landmark 10th leader. The coronation of the song – from Lover and promoted as a single this year – was helped by new mixes released during the latest tracking week, which also began with the Oct. 13 wide release of the concert film Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour. Swift joins 10 other acts with double-digit No. 1s, and ties Janet Jackson and Stevie Wonder for the ninth-most in the list’s history.

She also becomes just the third act in history to earn at least 10 No. 1 songs on the Hot 100 and 10 No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200, after the Beatles and Drake.

Meanwhile, Swift’s former Hot 100 No. 1 “Anti-Hero,” at No. 25, has now spent 52 weeks, or a full year, on the chart, becoming her first song to reach the milestone. It reigned for a personal-best eight weeks.

TOMORROW X TOGETHER re-enters the Artist 100 at No. 2, thanks to its new album The Name Chapter: Freefall. The set arrives at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 with 114,000 units, marking the act’s fourth top 10.

Plus, Offset re-enters the Artist 100 at No. 9 – marking his first week in the top 10 outside of Migos– powered by his new solo project, Set It Off. The album debuts at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 with 70,000 units, becoming his third solo top five set (apart from his output as a member of Migos). He also debuts two songs on the Hot 100: “Say My Grace” featuring Travis Scott (No. 48), and “Worth It” with Don Toliver (No. 92).

The Artist 100 measures artist activity across key metrics of music consumption, blending album and track sales, radio airplay and streaming to provide a weekly multi-dimensional ranking of artist popularity.

24 Oct 2023

Jason Kelce Is ‘Really Happy’ About Brother Travis’ Romance With Taylor Swift, But He Has Concerns

Jason Kelce is just like any other big brother: simultaneously supportive and protective of his younger sibling. In a recent interview, the Eagles offensive lineman opened up about his feelings regarding Travis Kelce‘s blooming romance with Taylor Swift, revealing he feels both happy and concerned for his baby bro.

“On one hand, I’m happy for my brother that he seems to be in a relationship that he’s excited about, that he is genuine about,” Jason told NBC Sports’ Peter King in a conversation published Monday (Oct. 23). “But there’s another end of it where it’s like, ‘Man, this is a lot.’”

The Philly star also touched on the media’s unrelenting obsession with Travis now that the Chiefs tight end is dating one of the biggest superstars in the world, be it the NFL‘s much criticized Swift-centric coverage or the now-constant paparazzi on Travis’ tail.

“There’s paparazzi talking about him fueling his car before the game today and I’m like, ‘Is that really necessary information to share?’” Jason continued. “This is another level of stardom that typically football players don’t deal with. And so on one hand, really, really happy for my brother and where he’s at in his current situation with Taylor, but on the other hand, there’s some, I think, alarms sometimes with how you know, over-in-pursuit people can be.”

“Overall, he can deal with some of this,” he added. “As long as it’s not, you know, becoming a threat to his safety and things like that.”

Jason’s comments come at the end of a week of “firsts” for Swift and the Kansas City player. The “Anti-Hero” singer and New Heights podcaster were photographed holding hands for the first time as they arrived at SNL afterparty for the season premiere Oct. 15; then, after Sunday’s (Oct. 22) Chiefs game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Swift is seen kissing the younger Kelce on the cheek in a photo shared by Chariah Gordon, who is dating Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman.