Music News

28 Sep 2023

Jung Kook & Jack Harlow Team Up for ‘3D’: Stream It Now

Even though his Latto-assisted “Seven” is still dominating music charts around the world, Jung Kook already has his eyes set on his next smash hit. On Friday (Sept. 28), the BTS member unleashed “3D,” a brand new collaboration with Grammy-nominated “First Class” rapper Jack Harlow.

Over a funky instrumental that evokes Justin Timberlake’s “Señorita,” Jung Kook croons “I wanna see it / In motion, in 3D.” The song’s suggestive lyrics make it smart follow-up to the sultry “Seven,” in which he sings, “You know night aftеr night / I’ll be f—n’ you right.”

In an official note on Weverse, BIGHIT Music revealed: “Jung Kook’s second solo single, ‘3D (feat. Jack Harlow),’ is a pop-R&B track with clever expressions of feelings toward an unattainable person from the perspectives of first, second, and third dimensions.”

The new song marks the first collaboration between Jung Kook and Jack Harlow, but it isn’t the first musical release of the year for either artist. As a part of BTS, Jung Kook snatch an additional Billboard Hot 100 with “Take Two” (No. 48), which the group released as part of their 10-year anniversary celebrations. The K-pop phenoms also released “The Planet,” an original song for the Bastions soundtrack.

Back in April, Jack Harlow dropped Jackman, a completely solo 10-track record that housed the single “They Don’t Know It,” which peaked at No. 54 on the Hot 100. Jackman debuted at No. 8 on the Billboard 200, becoming Harlow’s third consecutive top 10 title on the chart. The “What’s Poppin” rapper is currently preparing to embark on his 3rd annual No Place Like Home Tour — a series of six shows across his home state of Kentucky.

Steam “3D” and watch the flashy new music video.

28 Sep 2023

*NSYNC Reunites for New Single ‘Better Place’: Stream It Now

Fans have waited two decades for an *NSYNC musical reunion, and the day has finally arrived. Justin Timberlake, JC Chasez, Chris Kirkpatrick, Joey Fatone and Lance Bass came together on Friday (Sept. 29) for the release of their upbeat new single, “Better Place.”

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“I don’t mind that the world spins faster, faster, faster / Just let me take you to a better place,” the boy band sings in the song’s breezy chorus. Ahead of the track’s release, JT took to Instagram to share a behind-the-scenes look of the group in the studio recording together. “So many stars aligned and that’s why I hit y’all and was like, ‘Hey, something came up,’” Timberlake is heard telling his former bandmates in the clip. “If we do this song, it’s a love letter to our fans. I would be honored to have the group on this song.”

The song marks *NSYNC’s first musical release since 2002 (when the Neptunes remix of “Girlfriend,” featuring Nelly, arrived) and it comes just weeks after the group stepped onstage together at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards to present the award for best pop to Taylor Swift for “Anti-Hero.” The group last took the VMAs stage in 2013, for Timberlake’s Video Vanguard Award medley performance.

Listen to *NSYNC’s “Better Place” below.

28 Sep 2023

Ed Sheeran Welcomes the New Season With ‘Autumn Variations’ Album: Stream It Now

Autumn is here, and Ed Sheeran is getting fans into the spirit of changing leaves and colder air with his new album, Autumn Variations, released via his own Gingerbread Man Records on Friday (Sept. 29).

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“Last autumn, I found that my friends and I were going through so many life changes. After the heat of the summer, everything either calmed, settled, fell apart, came to a head or imploded,” Sheeran explained upon announcing the album. “When I went through a difficult time at the start of last year, writing songs helped me understand my feelings and come to terms with what was going on, and when I learned about my friend’s different situations, I wrote songs, some from their perspectives, some from mine, to capture how they and I viewed the world at that time. There were highs of falling in love and new friendships among lows of heartbreak, depression, loneliness and confusion.”

Sheeran went on to note that his father and brother introduced him to a composer named Elgar and his Enigma Variations album, which featured 14 compositions inspired by a different friend. “This is what inspired me to make this album,” he shared. “When I recorded Subtract with Aaron Dessner, we clicked immediately. We wrote and recorded non-stop and this album was born out of that partnership. I feel he has captured the feeling of autumn so wonderfully in his sonics and I hope everyone loves it as much as I do.”

Autumn Variations follows Sheeran’s Subtract, which debuted and peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 albums chart upon its release earlier this year. 

Listen to Autumn Variations in full below.

28 Sep 2023

Toby Keith Offers Health Update at People’s Choice Country Awards After Cancer Diagnosis: ‘You Just Have to Dig In’

Toby Keith, who received the Country Icon award at the first ever People’s Choice Country Awards on Thursday night (Sept. 28), shared an update on his battle with stomach cancer, which he was diagnosed with in 2021.

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“I’ve walked some dark hallways. Almighty’s riding shotgun. But I feel pretty good, you know? You have good days and bad days. It’s a little bit of a roller coaster. I’m doing a lot better than I was this time last year,” he told Extra on the red carpet. To keep strong, the 60-year-old star keeps it simple. “Just my faith. I’ve always rode with a prayer. As long as I have Him with me, I’m cool. You just have to dig in. You don’t have a choice.”

Keith revealed his diagnosis in June 2022. “Last fall I was diagnosed with stomach cancer,” Keith began his tweet. “I’ve spent the last 6 months receiving chemo, radiation and surgery. So far, so good. I need time to breathe, recover and relax.”

The singer added, “I am looking forward to spending time with my family. But I will see the fans sooner than later. I can’t wait.”

During the People’s Choice Country Awards, Keith performed “Don’t Let the Old Man In,” which he wrote for Clint Eastwood’s The Mule, but the song had a more harrowing feeling in light of the diagnosis. “And I knew all of my life / That someday it would end / Get up and go outside / Don’t let the old man in,” he sings on the reflective track.

Watch the interview below.

28 Sep 2023

Kelsea Ballerini Thinks Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce Are a ‘Vibe’

Kelsea Ballerini is on the Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce train.

“I love Travis. We did SNL together. I love Taylor. We were close for many years. I want happiness for everyone, so vibe,” the country star told Extra on the red carpet at the first People’s Choice Country Awards.

Ballerini was also discussed Swift’s rumored romance by Access Hollywood, with the interviewer asking, “Do you ship this?”

“I ship happiness!” Ballerini responded. “Whoever is happy with whoever is what I ship. I adore Taylor. I adore Travis. So if they’re happy, I ship it. Period.”

She also opened up a bit about her relationship with Outer Banks star Chase Stokes, noting that she attended the show solo because the actor is in Los Angeles. “He was here for rehearsals. It was his first time at the Opry, so it was fun showing him around when it was much calmer. He’s doing his thing and I’m doing mine.”

Ballerini also noted that Stokes is, in fact, a country fan. “He grew up in Georgia, so I got me a country boy, don’t worry,” she gushed.

The singer is performing at the inaugural awards show, hosted by Little Big Town. Brothers Osborne will present the Country Champion award to Wynonna Judd. Blake Shelton will present the Country Icon award to Toby Keith.

Watch Ballerini’s red carpet interviews below.

28 Sep 2023

Marilyn Manson Settles Rape Lawsuit

A week before trial was set to start, Marilyn Manson has reached a settlement with a woman who sued him for rape, Billboard can confirm.

Adam Wolf, the attorney for the woman known only as “Jane Doe,” filed the notice of settlement in Los Angeles court on Wednesday (Sept. 27). The lawyer will submit a request to dismiss the case within 45 days.

“Brian is pleased that, just as previous lawsuits were abandoned without payment or settled for pennies on the dollar, this plaintiff has now agreed to drop her suit in exchange for an insurance payment representing a fraction of her demands and far less than the cost to Brian of proceeding to trial,” Manson’s attorney Howard King shared in a press statement.

Following the news, Doe told Rolling Stone in a statement, “I was fully prepared for trial and never in a million years thought I would ever settle, but over the past two-and-a-half years I have silently endured threats, bullying, harassment and various forms of intimidation that have intensified over the past few weeks.” She noted that Manson attended her deposition and that she was “forced to answer seven hours of aggressive questioning with him staring at me from across the table.” She continued, “I’ve been told that this almost never happens, as it’s cruel, and that a main reason for it would be to intimidate and inflict emotional distress on a victim.”

“I never cared about money and only ever wanted justice, but if we had gone to trial, I could have lost my right to anonymity and been victim-blamed on a large and public scale,” she added. “Most importantly I could have risked losing the freedom to tell my story, and that is worth more than anything in the world.”

Doe initially filed a lawsuit against Manson (real name Brian Warner) in June 2021 for allegedly raping and torturing her in 2011. In the complaint, she claimed that for 10 years, she had repressed memories of being raped by Manson and only recovered them in February 2021 when other women stepped forward with accusations against him.

The woman’s complaint further claimed that following the alleged assault, Manson threatened to kill her, saying he would “bash her head in.” It went on to state that he said he would “get away with it” because he was a “celebrity who had contacts with the police.” She also alleged that Manson kept in almost constant contact with her and deprived her of food, claiming he told her “that because she was his girlfriend, she needed to lose weight because her weight embarrassed him.” 

In September 2021, however, the lawsuit was dismissed by Judge Gregory Keosian, who stated that the accuser’s claims of repressed memories were “not sufficient” to overrule the two-year statute of limitations. While Keosian stated that the claim of repressed memories “is common for sexual assault victims,” he ruled that more was needed to invoke California’s “delayed-discovery” rule. The rule effectively postpones the start date of the statute of limitations if the plaintiff can prove that they first became aware of the injury within two years of filing their complaint, regardless of when the incident itself took place. The judge gave her 20 days from the ruling to amend and refile her complaint, and it was refiled eight days later with more information about her repressed memories.

Over the past two years, Manson has been hit with sexual assault lawsuits by multiple women, including Game of Thrones actress and former girlfriend Esme Bianco, his former personal assistant Ashley Walters and ex-girlfriend Ashley Morgan Smithline. The lawsuits filed by Walters and Smithline have since been dismissed, while Manson settled with Bianco in January. Smithline later recanted her accusations and claimed that Manson’s former girlfriend, Evan Rachel Wood — whose initial allegation of sexual abuse by Manson in February 2021 opened up a tidal wave of similar claims against the singer — had pressured her to make the claim, which Wood later denied. Smithline’s recantation tied in with a March 2022 defamation lawsuit Manson had filed against Wood that accused the actress of launching an “organized attack” against him, but a judge dismissed much of that lawsuit this past May.

Stories about sexual assault allegations can be traumatizing for survivors of sexual assault. If you or anyone you know needs support, you can reach out to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN). The organization provides free, confidential support to sexual assault victims. Call RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE) or visit the anti-sexual violence organization’s website for more information. 

28 Sep 2023

Michael Bibi Plays Surprise Set in Ibiza Days After Leaving Hospital Amid Cancer Treatment

Michael Bibi played a surprise set Thursday (Sept. 28) at DC-10 in Ibiza, marking his first show back following the June announcement of his cancer diagnosis.

Taking place at the closing party for Bibi’s Solid Grooves label at the famed club, the surprise set was streamed live via Bibi’s Instagram, with the British producer playing for a packed crowd and appearing to break down in tears at one point during the performance. Watch footage from the show below.

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Earlier Thursday, the producer indicated such a set might happen after tweeting “one life, live it.” The message came after Bibi’s Tuesday announcement that he was temporarily out of the hospital amid his ongoing cancer treatment.

“When I first came into hospital I was barely able to walk,” Bibi wrote on Instagram along with a photo of himself standing outside the hospital smiling. “Today I walk out with a smile having completed my main treatment. Tired but happy…My fight against cancer is not over…but for now a break & some extra time to enjoy life.”

In June, Bibi’s management agency announced that the producer was undergoing treatment for CNS Lymphoma, a rare form of cancer, and that he wouldn’t be playing any shows for the “foreseeable future.” At the time, he’d been in the midst of his Solid Grooves residency at DC-10, with a flurry of other European festival dates on his schedule.

According to Cancer.gov, primary central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma is “a disease in which malignant [cancer] cells form in the lymph tissue of the brain and/or spinal cord.” The lymph system is part of the immune system, which is made up of lymph, lymph vessels, lymph nodes, the spleen, thymus, tonsils and bone marrow.”

28 Sep 2023

Willie Nelson Expands Collection of No. 1 Albums With ‘Bluegrass’ Debut

Music legend Willie Nelson may be best known for as a country superstar, but some might not realize he’s visited many other Billboard album genre charts outside of the Top Country Albums chart — where’s racked up a record 53 top 10s, with 18 of them hitting No. 1. Over the years, Nelson has placed high-charting efforts on these genre-specific album rankings: Blues Albums, Kid Albums, Reggae Albums, Traditional Jazz Albums, Jazz Albums, Americana/Folk Albums and Top Christian Albums.

Now, Nelson’s new Bluegrass album, released on Sept. 15, appropriately debuts at No. 1 on Billboard’s Bluegrass Albums chart (dated Sept. 30), marking his first appearance on the 21-year-old tally. On the album, Nelson reinterprets a dozen of his older songs, joined by a bluegrass ensemble. Billboard’s Bluegrass Albums chart ranks the top-selling bluegrass albums of the week in the U.S., based on traditional album sales, as tracked by Luminate. In the week ending Sept. 21, Nelson’s Bluegrass sold 3,000 copies.

Below is a recap of Nelson’s history on Billboard’s major album genre charts, aside from Top Country Albums. (In addition, Nelson has logged 83 entries on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart.)

Chart Name
Album Title, Peak Position, Peak Date

Blues Albums
Milk Cow Blues, No. 2, Oct. 7, 2000

Kid Albums
Rainbow Connection, No. 7, June 30, 2001

Reggae Albums
Countryman, No. 1 (nine weeks at No. 1), July 30, 2005

Traditional Jazz Albums
Two Men With the Blues (Nelson and Wynton Marsalis), No. 1 (four weeks), July 26, 2008
Here We Go Again: Celebrating the Genius of Ray Charles (Nelson & Wynton Marsalis featuring Norah Jones), No. 1 (five weeks), April 16, 2011
Summertime: Willie Nelson Sings Gershwin, No. 1 (five weeks), March 19, 2016
My Way, No. 2, Sept. 29, 2018
That’s Life, No. 1 (two weeks), March 13, 2021

Jazz Albums
Two Men With the Blues (Nelson and Wynton Marsalis), No. 1 (four weeks), July 26, 2008
Here We Go Again: Celebrating the Genius of Ray Charles (Nelson & Wynton Marsalis featuring Norah Jones), No. 2, April 16, 2011
Summertime: Willie Nelson Sings Gershwin, No. 1 (three weeks), March 19, 2016
My Way, No. 2, Sept. 29, 2018
That’s Life, No. 1 (two weeks), March 13, 2021

Americana/Folk Albums
Last Man Standing, No. 1, May 12, 2018
Ride Me Back Home, No. 1, July 6, 2019
First Rose of Spring, No. 1, July 18, 2020
The Willie Nelson Family, No. 12, Dec. 4, 2021
A Beautiful Time, No. 3, May 14, 2022

Top Christian Albums
Just As I Am: 18 Hymns and Gospel Favorites (Willie Nelson and Bobbie Nelson), No. 37, Aug. 27, 2022

Bluegrass Albums
Bluegrass, No. 1, Sept. 30, 2023

28 Sep 2023

Here Are the 2023 People’s Choice Country Awards Winners (Updating Live)

The very first People’s Choice Country Awards are going down live from Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House on Thursday night (Sept. 28).

Going into the show, Morgan Wallen led all nominees with 11 nods, trailed by Luke Combs and HARDY with nine nods each; Jelly Roll with eight; Lainey Wilson with seven; Zach Bryan and Kane Brown with six each; and Megan Moroney with five.

But who will be the night’s big winner? Follow along with Billboard’s full winners list below:

The People’s Artist of 2023

Blake Shelton

Kane Brown

Kelsea Ballerini

Lainey Wilson

Luke Combs

Morgan Wallen

Old Dominion

Zach Bryan

The Male Artist of 2023

Bailey Zimmerman

Blake Shelton

HARDY

Jelly Roll

Kane Brown

Luke Combs

Morgan Wallen

Zach Bryan

The Female Artist of 2023

Ashley McBryde

Carly Pearce

Carrie Underwood

Elle King

Kelsea Ballerini

WINNER: Lainey Wilson

Megan Moroney

Miranda Lambert

The Group/Duo of 2023

Brothers Osborne

WINNER: Dan + Shay

Lady A

Little Big Town

Maddie & Tae

Old Dominion

Parmalee

The War and Treaty

The New Artist of 2023

Bailey Zimmerman

Corey Kent

ERNEST

Ingrid Andress

Jelly Roll

Megan Moroney

Priscilla Block

Zach Bryan

The Album of 2023

Bell Bottom Country – Lainey Wilson

Different Man – Kane Brown

Gettin’ Old – Luke Combs

One Thing at a Time – Morgan Wallen

Religiously. The Album. – Bailey Zimmerman

Rolling Up the Welcome Mat – Kelsea Ballerini

the mockingbird & THE CROW – HARDY

Whitsitt Chapel – Jelly Roll

The Song of 2023

“Fast Car” – Luke Combs; Songwriter: Tracy Chapman

“Last Night” – Morgan Wallen; Songwriters: Ashley Gorley, Jacob Kasher Hindlin, John Byron, Ryan Vojtesak

“Love You Anyway” – Luke Combs; Songwriters: Dan Isbell, Luke Combs, Ray Fulcher

“Need a Favor” – Jelly Roll; Songwriters: Austin Nivarel, Jason DeFord/Jelly Roll, Joe Ragosta, Rob Ragosta

“Tennessee Orange” – Megan Moroney; Songwriters: Ben Williams, David Fanning, Megan Moroney, Paul Jenkins

“Thank God” – Kane Brown, Katelyn Brown; Songwriters: Christian Stalnecker, Jared Mullins, Jaxson Free, Josh Hoge, Kyle Fishman

“Thinkin’ Bout Me” – Morgan Wallen; Songwriters: Ashley Gorley, John Byron, Ryan Vojtesak, Taylor Phillips

“wait in the truck” – HARDY feat. Lainey Wilson; Songwriters: Hunter Phelps, Jordan Schmidt, Michael Hardy, Renee Blair

The Collaboration Song of 2023

“Beer With My Friends” – Kenny Chesney & Old Dominion; Songwriters: Bryan Simpson, David Lee Murphy, Shy Carter

“Cowgirls” – Morgan Wallen feat. ERNEST; Songwriters: Ashley Gorley, Ernest Keith Smith, James Maddocks, Milan Modi, Rocky Block, Ryan Vojtesak

“red” – HARDY feat. Morgan Wallen; Songwriters: Michael Hardy, Rhett Akins, Ben Hayslip, Jacob Rice

WINNER: “Save Me” – Jelly Roll with Lainey Wilson; Songwriters: David Ray, Jason DeFord/Jelly Roll

“Thank God” – Kane Brown, Katelyn Brown; Songwriters: Christian Stalnecker, Jared Mullins, Jaxson Free, Josh Hoge, Kyle Fishman

“wait in the truck” – HARDY feat. Lainey Wilson; Songwriters: Hunter Phelps, Jordan Schmidt, Michael Hardy, Renee Blair

“We Don’t Fight Anymore” – Carly Pearce, Chris Stapleton; Songwriters: Shane McAnally, Carly Pearce, Pete Good

“You, Me, and Whiskey” – Justin Moore, Priscilla Block; Songwriters: Brock Berryhill, Jessi Alexander, Cole Taylor

The Crossover Song of 2023

“Dawns” – Zach Bryan feat. Maggie Rogers; Songwriters: Maggie Rogers, Zachary Lane Bryan

“Just Say I’m Sorry” – P!nk, Chris Stapleton; Songwriters: Alecia Moore, Chris Stapleton

“Life Goes On” – Ed Sheeran feat. Luke Combs; Songwriter: Ed Sheeran

“Seasons” – Bebe Rexha, Dolly Parton; Songwriters: Bebe Rexha, Ido Zmishlany, Sarah Solovay

“Texas” – Jessie Murph feat. Maren Morris; Songwriters: Alex Niceforo, Amy Allen, Jessie Murph, Warren “Oak” Felder

“That’s Not How This Works” – Charlie Puth feat. Dan + Shay; Songwriters: Jordan Reynolds, Charlie Puth, Dan Smyers

“UNHEALTHY” – Anne-Marie feat. Shania Twain; Songwriters: Anne-Marie Nicholson, CASTLE, Connor McDonough, Riley McDonough

“Wasted” – Diplo feat. Kodak Black & Koe Wetzel; Songwriters: Bill K. Kapri, Richard Cook Mears IV, Ropyr Wetzel, Thomas Wesley Pentz

The Music Video of 2023

“In Your Love” – Tyler Childers

“Need a Favor” – Jelly Roll

“Tennessee Orange” – Megan Moroney

“Thank God” – Kane Brown, Katelyn Brown

“Thought You Should Know” – Morgan Wallen

“wait in the truck” – HARDY feat. Lainey Wilson

“Where We Started” – Thomas Rhett, Katy Perry

“You Proof” – Morgan Wallen

The Concert Tour of 2023

Blake Shelton: Back to the Honky Tonk Tour

Carrie Underwood: Denim & Rhinestones Tour

Chris Stapleton’s All-American Road Show Tour

Kenny Chesney: I Go Back 2023 Tour

Luke Combs World Tour

Morgan Wallen: One Night at a Time World Tour

Shania Twain: Queen of Me Tour

Zach Bryan: The Burn, Burn, Burn Tour

The Social Country Star of 2023

Bailey Zimmerman

WINNER: Blake Shelton

Carrie Underwood

Dolly Parton

Kelsea Ballerini

Luke Combs

Morgan Wallen

Shania Twain

28 Sep 2023

2023 People’s Choice Country Awards: Photos From the Red Carpet

The inaugural People’s Choice Country Awards have arrived!

Lainey Wilson, HARDY, Kelsea Ballerini, Lady A, Brothers Osborne and more country stars hit the red carpet outside Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House.

Little Big Town were also in the house, as the night’s first performers and hosts. Ahead of the show, LBT’s Phillip Sweet told Billboard why the country quartet wanted to take the reins for the first iteration of the fan-voted country awards show.

“It’s a unique situation, the fact that we’re the ones that connect the dots with fans and bring all this history together with the modern age of where country music is at the top of the charts right now,” Sweet said. “To see the unbelievable level of superstars we have in our genre that are just ruling all of music and it’s a special night, we jumped at the opportunity to be a part of it. We love hosting. We always have so much fun.”

All Thursday night (Sept. 29), you can follow along with Billboard‘s coverage of the PCCAs from home, and below, find an updating gallery of country’s finest on the red carpet.