Music News

20 Oct 2023

Here’s Why P!nk Doesn’t Care About ‘Popularity’ in the Music Industry

P!nk doesn’t care what you think about her — but she does care that fans feel safe at her shows.

The star sat down with Cecilia Vega for this weekend’s episode of 60 Minutes, and in an exclusive clip shared with Billboard ahead of the full interview, the “What About Us” singer opened up about how she feels about “never winning the popularity contest” in the music industry.

“We sold 3 million tickets in the last six months, but you don’t really hear about it unless you went,” she says of her impressively sold-out tours. “So at the end of the day, do I give a sh– who talks about me?”

She continued, “As long as the mom and the daughter, or the dad who’s in the pink T-shirt, as well as his daughter and her three friends, had a fantastic time, or the gay couple that came together and felt super safe at my show because no one heckled them — that’s what really matters.”

According to figures reported to Billboard Boxscore, P!nk’s recent Summer Carnival stadium tour has grossed an impressive $257.6 million and sold 1.8 million tickets across 41 shows. She played two shows at London’s Hyde Park on June 24-25, earning $20.9 million and selling 130,000 tickets. Just behind The Rolling Stones’ $22.4 million, it’s the biggest gross by an American act or by a soloist in the venue’s history. She just launched her Trustfall Tour this past weekend, but was forced to postpone four shows (two in Tacoma, Washington, and two in Vancouver, Canada) this week due to a respiratory infection.

The full 60 Minutes interview with P!nk will air this Sunday (Oct. 22) after NFL football at 7:30 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. PT on CBS and will also be available to stream on Paramount+. Watch Billboard‘s exclusive clip above.

20 Oct 2023

Blink-182, The Rolling Stones & More: Which Is Your Favorite Music Release of the Week? Vote!

The boys are back in town this week — literally, as this week’s new music Friday sees new album releases from the original Blink-182 lineup and The Rolling Stones, the latter of which marks the band’s first new music in nearly two decades.

Following a series of serious personal issues — namely Mark Hoppus’ 2021 cancer diagnosis, which he later overcame — Hoppus, Travis Barker and Tom DeLonge didn’t want to waste any more time separated and playing music without each other. The result is the group’s newest effort, One More Time..., which sees the trio taking a much needed look into their past and reflecting on how much they actually care about each other, now that they are mature enough to realize it. The sentimental moments on the record are cut between songs like early single, “Edging,” the album opener, “Anthem Part 3” and “Dance With Me,” showing that they still have the capability to make lightning strike in the same place twice.

The Rolling Stones’ last album, A Bigger Bang, arrived in 2005, making a total of 18 years since they’ve released new material. Hackney Diamonds doesn’t disappoint, and sees Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood serving up rock steady grooves and collaborative delights (see guest appearances from fellow veterans Paul McCartney and Elton John, as well as Lady Gaga) — a solid effort from the revered musicians, particularly in light of the loss of their fallen bandmates, Charlie Watts.

This Friday’s music offerings isn’t just for the boys, either. Charli XCX and Sam Smith have finally collaborated on a track together, months after teasing a team up for Charli’s high octane video for “Speed Drive.” The pair’s collaborative effort, “In the City,” sees the star delivering another upbeat party anthem, with Smith chiming in for an assist on the second verse, speaking of feeling protected by a guardian angel.

The Kid LAROI, Jung Kook and Central Cee teamed up for “Too Much,” 21 Savage enlisted d4vd for “Call Me Revenge,” and Anitta is back with “Mil Veces,” but which release is your favorite? Vote in our poll below. 

20 Oct 2023

Inside Green Day’s Las Vegas Club Gig Saluting 30 Years of ‘Dookie’: Best Moments

Green Day fans began to notice on Oct. 9 that something was up on the band’s Instagram. Longtime lovers of Easter eggs and secret tracks, the veteran rockers posted a photo of a concert bill depicting a zombie with two dates for Las Vegas’ When We Were Young Festival (Oct. 20 and 21) preceded by a third, crossed-out line.

A black-and-white video of a banner unfurling atop downtown Las Vegas’ Fremont Country Club dropped the following day. It read “Send out an S.O.S., it’s getting serious,” while the marquee of the venue teased “next show announcement Wednesday.”

While everyone continued to lose their minds in the comments, the details of a Green Day gig began to spread like a game of telephone through the city’s industry insiders. On Wednesday, a post revealed that there would be a surprise set to warm up for the festival with Ultra Q — frontman Billie Joe Armstong’s son’s band — opening for the punk rock legends.

A ticket link popped up in the GD Instagram stories with a call to action encouraging zombie attire. That day, the banner on the club switched to read “Eat at Chef Wong’s One Night Only” — a reference to the Bad Year blimp’s messaging on the Dookie album cover — and the marquee switched to “Green Day October 19.”

Tickets went on sale at 10 a.m. Thursday for the same-day show, and within minutes, there were more than 10,000 people in the queue for the 850-capacity club. As attendees arrived at Fremont Country Club, a “Welcome to Paradise, Enjoy the Show” sign got its turn.

Those lucky enough to score entry began filing in around 7 p.m. to take in the opener, many in full zombie makeup and attire, while ushers and other staff also completed the look. Green Day took the stage right before 9:30 p.m. and carved through a 29-song set that quaked the rafters.

Billboard was inside Fremont Country Club for the throwback to the band’s sweaty-thrasher roots. With Armstrong in top form, along with Mike Dirt, Tré Cool and three touring musicians — and the crowd living for it — all the buildup culminated in these major moments.

20 Oct 2023

Watch Operation Ivy’s Tim Armstrong & Jesse Michaels Reunite to Perform ‘Take Warning’

Tim Armstrong of Rancid and Jesse Michaels reunited as Operation Saturday (Oct. 14) to perform “Take Warning” during Musacks’s all-star celebration in Los Angeles. It was the second Musack reunion for the East Bay punk group that broke up in 1989, with fans hoping that a full scale reunion might materialize in 2024.

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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.

Specials members Horace Panter, Lynval Golding, Hannah Hu, Nikolaj Torp Larsen and Kenrick Rowe joined Armstrong and Michaels for the all-star performance, which also included Jesse Wagner of The Aggrolites, Nate Albert with Mighty Mighty Bosstones, JG Goetchius with Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Eitan Avineri from Western Standard and Rob Verdugo from Western Standard Ska Orchestra. The video provided by Josh Rousho of AntiCurrent Productions.


Guests were treated to beer from Musack’s sponsor, Fall Brewing Company, including their limited edition Enjoy Yourself IPA.

Oct. 14 featured live performances, including sets from Bite Me Bambi and Fishbone before an all-star set with surprise guest artist Tom Morello, who performed “The Ghost of Tom Joad.” A rotating all-star backing band led by JG (Mighty Mighty Bosstones) featured songs from The Specials, Fun Boy Three, and The Colourfield as well as the surprise Operation Ivy song.

Surprise performances have become a Musack tradition. A surprise Operation Ivy reunion from the 2022 Musack Rock n’ Roll Carnival saw the band performing “Sound System.”

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

20 Oct 2023

Best Musician Halloween Costumes: Harry Styles, Taylor Swift, Rihanna & More

While countless fans take Halloween as an opportunity to dress up as their favorite musicians, the holiday is a chance for those same A-listers to be somebody else just for a night.

That might be why so many pop stars love going all out on October 31 every year (well, that and disposable income they can use to invest in the best makeup and costumes). Many musicians even stage full blown photoshoots to show off their spooky season looks, much to the delight of their followers.

And, just like everyone else, famous musicians have different tastes in costumes. Some go for bold and sexy, some shoot for silly and punny, and some gravitate towards super scary over cute and sweet; some opt for simple and quick, and some think that the more detailed and elaborate, the better. The samples on this list alone range from hyperreal cartoon characters to politicians, horror movie figureheads to children’s book villains.

The best instances of musician-worn Halloween costumes, however, might just be the ones where celebrity singer-songwriters dress up as their own favorite artists, whether it’s a modern day peer or a legendary Hall of Famer. Ciara, for instance, has dressed up as everyone from Selena Quintanilla to Janet Jackson to Cardi B, while Harry Styles’ most iconic Halloween fit has to be his homage to Elton John’s Dodger Stadium look — but, more on both of them later.

Keep reading to see Billboard‘s favorite musician Halloween costumes from the past few years, featuring Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Rihanna and more.

20 Oct 2023

Maluma Teased His Girlfriend’s Pregnancy With ‘ADMV’ During Tiny Desk Concert

Maluma is the latest artist to take on the NPR Tiny Desk for a concert full of his hits and even a tease of his girlfriend’s recent pregnancy announcement.

The Colombian superstar performed songs ranging from “Hawái” and “COCO LOCO” to “Felices los 4” and “Según Quién.” Before “ADMV,” Maluma shared that he wrote the song for a cryptic “someone,” and immediately began tearing up.

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The Colombian artist revealed that he and his girlfriend, Susana Gomez, are expecting their first child together via a new music video on Friday (Oct. 20). Titled “Procura,” the song’s clip documents the couple’s relationship with never-before-seen clips, the heartfelt moment they found out they were going to be parents and the lavish sex reveal, when they found out they will be having a girl. The couple also revealed she will be named Paris. 

“Music is the only way I can talk to my fans and I wanted to let them know that I’m having a baby,” he said in an interview with NPR Music‘s Alt.Latino. “It’s perfect timing with all of the things that I’m living. I’m looking for more personal experiences too […] I also want to grow as a human being, not only as an artist. This makes me feel so human, but at the same time, the more human I feel, the more artist I get.”

Watch his full Tiny Desk Concert below.

20 Oct 2023

The Revivalists Notch Second Straight Adult Alternative Airplay No. 1 With ‘Good Old Days’

The Revivalists score their second consecutive No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult Alternative Airplay chart with “Good Old Days,” which lifts to the top of the Oct. 28-dated survey.

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The track becomes the band’s fourth Adult Alternative Airplay No. 1. It follows two-week leader “Wish I Knew You” in October 2016; “All My Friends,” a three-frame No. 1 starting in September 2018; and “Kid,” which crowned the list for four weeks beginning this April. “Kid” and “Good Old Days” give the band two No. 1s in a single year for the first time.

Two other acts have multiple Adult Alternative Airplay No. 1s this year: Hozier (“Eat Your Young” and “Francesca”) and Phoenix (“Tonight,” which initially reached the top in December 2022 but still led in 2023, and “Odyssey,” a collaboration with Beck).

Concurrently, “Good Old Days” rises 32-31 on the all-rock-format, audience-based Rock & Alternative Airplay chart with 1.3 million audience impressions Oct. 13-19, according to Luminate. It reached No. 27 two weeks earlier; its predecessor single, “Kid,” reached No. 3 in May, buoyed by additional support at alternative radio, through which it rose to No. 2 on Alternative Airplay.

“Good Old Days” is the second single from Pour One Out Into the Night, The Revivalists’ fifth studio album and first with Concord. Released June 2, the LP reached No. 39 on the Top Current Album Sales chart has earned 22,000 equivalent album units to date.

All Billboard charts dated Oct. 28 will update on Billboard.com on Tuesday, Oct. 24.

20 Oct 2023

The 45 King, Producer for Jay-Z & Eminem, Dies at 62

The 45 King, a hip-hop producer well known for his work on hits such as Eminem’s “Stan,” Jay-Z’s “Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)” and producing Queen Latifah’s breakout album, All Hail the Queen, has died at 62, his rep confirmed to Variety and Rolling Stone on Thursday (Oct. 19).

Born Mark Howard James, the producer’s career kicked off from his Bronx, N.Y., hometown in the mid-1980s with the arrival of the hip-hop scene. He started off as a DJ, and his stage name came from his unique ability to cut samples and spin tracks out of obscure 45 RPM records. His began to take off in 1987 with the arrival of his signature track, “The 900 Number” — the song featured a sax solo from the 1968 tune “Unwind Yourself” by Marva Whitney. The track prompted his signing to Tuff City Records.  

The 45 King’s profile within the hip-hop scene rose after producing Latifah’s 1989 debut album, All Hail the Queen, which peaked at No. 6 on Billboard‘s Top Hip Hop/R&B Albums chart and topped out at No. 124 on the Billboard 200.

“It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of my beloved Mentor DJ Mark the 45 King!” the rapper said in a statement to Variety. “He believed in me before anyone else. He touched every life he encountered. I’ve never met someone like him; he wanted everyone around him to win. His spirit was magic and will certainly live forever.”

By the ’90s, The 45 King continued his production credits by working with Jay-Z on 1998’s “Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)” — which sampled the original cast album for Broadway musical Annie — and Eminem’s 2000 hit, “Stan.” The tracks peaked at Nos. 15 and 51 on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively. The producer also worked with Madonna, Rakim, MC Lyte, Gang Starr, Craig Mack, Salt-N-Pepa and more

Both Jay-Z and Em paid tribute to the producer after news of his death broke. Eminem took to X, formerly known as Twitter, and shared, “Legends are never over. #RIP Mark Howard James aka The 45 King … I’m 4ever grateful!!!”

In a statement to Rolling Stone, Jay-Z said, “Thank you, Mark. Your instrumentals, namely ‘The 900 Number,’ were more memorable than our whole albums. You gave me a canvas to have a conversation with the world!! You changed my life. Even when the life is short, the art is long!!”

20 Oct 2023

Britney Spears Says She ‘Still’ Loves Justin Timberlake in Upcoming Memoir

As the release of Britney Spears‘ upcoming tell-all memoir, The Woman in Me, gets closer, more details from the long-awaited book are getting revealed.

Earlier this week, People revealed a shocking excerpt of the book in which the pop superstar had an abortion after an unexpected pregnancy with then-boyfriend Justin Timberlake. In an extended excerpt published by The Associated Press, Spears went into further detail. “I’m sure people will hate me for this, but I agreed not to have the baby. Abortion was something I never could have imagined choosing for myself, but given the circumstances, that is what we did,” she writes. “It was important that no one find out about the pregnancy or the abortion, which meant doing everything at home.”

She adds of the pain from the medication abortion was “excruciating.” “I kept crying and sobbing until it was all over,” she writes. “It took hours, and I don’t remember how it ended, but I do, twenty years later, remember the pain of it, and the fear.”

In a copy of the memoir obtained by Billboard, after describing her abortion experience, Spears added that she still has love for her ex-boyfriend, who she began dating in 1999 until their split in 2002. “After that, I was messed up for a while, especially because I still love Justin so much,” she writes. “It was insane how much I loved him, and for me, it was unfortunate.”

In the earlier excerpt published by People, Spears said that the pregnancy was a “surprise,” even thought she always “expected” to start a family with Timberlake. “But Justin definitely wasn’t happy about the pregnancy. He said we weren’t ready to have a baby in our lives, that we were way too young,” she wrote, adding, “To this day, it’s one of the most agonizing things I have ever experienced in my life.”

The Woman in Me arrives Oct. 24.

20 Oct 2023

Britney Spears Says Her Memoir’s ‘Purpose Was Not to Offend Anyone’

From the bottom of her heart, Britney Spears insists her upcoming memoir, The Woman in Me, isn’t meant to upset anyone.

“My book’s purpose was not to offend anyone by any means,” the pop star wrote in an all text Instagram post on Friday (Oct. 20) of her upcoming tome, which is set for release on Tuesday (Oct. 24). “My book’s purpose was not to offend anyone by any means !!! That was me then … that is in the past !!!”

She went on to note that most of the tales within its pages are from 20 years ago, and that she has since moved on.

“This is actually a book I didn’t know needed to be written … although some might be offended, it has given me closure on all things for a better future !!!” she added. “Hopefully I can enlighten people who feel particularly alone in most cases or hurt or misunderstood !!! Again, my motive for this book was not to harp on my past experiences … I have moved on since then !!!”

Excerpts from the book have revealed that the Grammy winner has written about some sensitive topics. Among them are the abortion she went through while dating Justin Timberlake (“If it had been left up to me alone, I never would have done it … Justin was so sure that he didn’t want to be a father,” she wrote); what it was like to live under her restrictive conservatorship for 13 years; reflections on her “passionate” fling with Oscar-nominated actor Colin Farrell, and more.

See her full message below: