Music News

27 Sep 2023

Ozzy Osbourne Wants to Release Another Album and Hit the Road One Last Time: ‘I Want to Take My Time With This One’

Ozzy Osbourne will not go gentle into that good night. Why start now? The metal legend who has been sidelined for much of this year due to ongoing issued tied to a neck injury told Metal Hammer in a new interview that he is working on another album. And, despite canceling his oft-delayed No More Tours 2 tour and announcing his retirement from touring, he is also hoping to be back on the road next year.

“I’ve done two albums fairly recently [2020’s Ordinary Man and 2022’s Patient Number 9, both produced by Andrew Watt], but I want to do one more album and then go back on the road,” Osbourne, 74, said. Osbourne said he’s set up a home studio at his house in the U.K. and would like to work with Watt (Rolling Stones, Justin Bieber) again. “I’m just starting to work on it now, and we’ll be recording in the early part of next year,” he said. “I want to take my time with this one!”

Though Ozzy has had several surgeries to deal with a nagging neck/spinal injury, Osbourne said he had his “final” one earlier this month and is feeling much better. “I’ve had all the surgery now, thank God. I’m feeling okay – it was just dragging on,” Osbourne explained of the procedure to help relieve pain from an injury he suffered after a late night fall in 2019. “I thought I’d be back on my feet months ago, I just couldn’t get used to this mode of living, constantly having something wrong. I can’t walk properly yet, but I’m not in any pain any more and the surgery on my spine went great.”

He’s feeling better, but Osbourne said he still can’t travel, so fans should not expect him to pop in for a guest appearance at the all-metal Power Trip festival in California’s Coachella Valley on Oct. 6-8; Judas Priest have stepped in to perform in Ozzy’s place. “It’s brilliant. [Priest singer] Rob [Halford]’s a great singer and they’re a very good band,” he said of the fellow Birmingham hard rock icon. “He’s been a very dear friend of mine and he’s one of the greatest rock singers of all-time.”

Despite his enthusiasm, Osbourne assured the magazine that he will not be there to see sets by AC/DC, Guns N’ Roses, Iron Maiden, Metallica or Tool. “If I can’t do the gig, I don’t really want to be there,” he said. “Plus I know they’ll just be like ‘go on, get Ozzy up’!”  

27 Sep 2023

Travis Kelce Jokes About ‘My Personal Life That Is Not So Personal’ After Taylor Swift Suite Visit

Travis Kelce knows exactly how this works. After 100% more people cared about football this weekend thanks to Taylor Swift showing up to cheer on the Kansas City Chiefs (and, of course, Kelce) on Sunday, the KC star teased that he might spill the beans on whether, as rumored, he’s the man in Tay’s life the on this week’s episode of his New Heights podcast with brother and fellow NFL player Jason Kelce.

Or not. Because as of Wednesday morning (Sept. 27) there were only 21 seconds of the pod to pore over like the Zapruder film until the full episode drops later in the day. “We’ve been avoiding this subject out of respect for your personal life – now we’ve got to talk about it,” older brother Jason teased.

“My personal life that is not so personal,” Travis joked about the intense scrutiny he’s been under since Swift donned the red and white and whooped it up in a skybox next to the Kelce’s mom, Donna. “I did this to myself Jason, I know this,” he added.

And though two-time Super Bowl winner and eight-time Pro Bowler Travis has plenty to brag about on the field, Jason knew exactly how to ding his little bro where it hurts. “Well Trav, how does it feel that Taylor Swift has finally put you on the map?” he asked.

Though neither Kelce nor Swift have publicly commented on rumors that they are dating, the singer’s presence at Sunday’s game has revved up a titanic hype machine, with breathless coverage from the sports press, mainstream media and even typically taciturn New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick to crack a joke about the reported romance.

“Travis Kelce has had a lot of big catches in his career — this would be the biggest,” he joked on The Greg Hill Show when asked about the new NFL “power couple.” In addition to getting her LFG on at the game, Swift was later seen leaving Arrowhead Stadium with Kelce, driving off in his convertible.

Kelce revealed in July that he went to Swift’s Eras Tour date at Arrowhead earlier this summer and tried unsuccessfully to slip her a friendship bracelet with his phone number on it. Not long afterwards, rumors emerged that the two were seeing each other, with brother Philadelphia Eagles center Jason jokingly last week in an interview that the dating rumors were “one hundred percent true.”

Watch the New Heights teaser below; the full episode is slated to drop at 9:30 a.m. ET

 

27 Sep 2023

‘The Sound of Music’ Soundtrack Due for Deluxe Expanded Reissue: Exclusive 

The chart-topping film soundtrack to Rodgers & Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music will be reissued on Dec. 1 in an array of new expanded, remixed and remastered formats. Among them: a lavish Super Deluxe Edition boasting over 40 previously-unreleased tracks – 11 of which are never-before-heard alternate takes from the 1965 blockbuster movie.

One of those alternate takes is an unreleased rendition of the film’s opening number “Prelude / The Sound of Music,” by the film’s star Julie Andrews, and cast. The song is now available to stream and download (Sept. 27) — listen below.

And, for the first time, all of the Academy Award-winning film’s music – including every musical element from the movie – will be included on the Super Deluxe Edition of the album. Among those classic songs: “My Favorite Things,” “Do-Re-Mi,” “Edelweiss,” “Sixteen Going on Seventeen” and “Climb Ev’ry Mountain.”

The Sound of Music soundtrack spent two weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart in 1965 and was a near-constant presence in the top 10 from the spring of 1965 through the spring of 1967. It spent a staggering 109 weeks in the top 10 – the most of any soundtrack in the chart’s history. In 2015, Billboard ranked The Sound of Music as the most successful soundtrack of all time on the chart.

The Super Deluxe Edition of The Sound of Music will be available as either as a four-CD/one-Blu-ray audio boxed set or as a digital download album. The Blu-Ray audio disc contains the film’s full score in hi-resolution audio, as well as a new Dolby Atmos mix of the original 16-track soundtrack released in 1965.

The boxed set features new liner notes written by film historian and preservationist Mike Matessino, who remixed and remastered the album from the original multi-track tapes.

The Super Deluxe Edition is one of multiple new iterations of The Sound of Music that Craft Recordings will release on Dec. 1. (Craft is the catalog label for Concord.) The Sound of Music will also be reintroduced in a Deluxe Edition (on two-CDs) and a three-LP vinyl collection (including a “Picnic Meadow Green”-colored vinyl pressing limited to 500 copies worldwide). A standard edition of the album will also be refreshed, where the original 16-track 1965 soundtrack will be reissued digitally in standard digital, HD digital and in a Dolby Atmos mix. (The standard digital album will also be available in multiple non-English-language editions, including Spanish, German, French and Italian).

“It’s been wonderful to collaborate across all of Concord’s divisions to help bring this historic and culturally significant reissue to light,” says Sig Sigworth, president, Craft Recordings and chief catalog officer, Concord, in a statement. “This deluxe edition has been years in the making, with Craft Recordings working in concert with Concord Publishing and Concord Theatricals (home of The Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization). We’re delighted that The Sound of Music fans around the world, old and new, will be able to enjoy the iconic soundtrack in a brand new listening experience, more than a half century after its original release.”

Imogen Lloyd Webber, SVP at Concord Theatricals on behalf of The Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization adds: “This reissue of The Sound of Music, lovingly—and painstakingly—curated by the team at Craft with collaboration from so many at Concord, alongside Mike Matessino, is a landmark moment in the history of the title. It is a truly fitting tribute to the last of the Rodgers & Hammerstein musicals and one we hope fans across the world will treasure for years to come.”

For a full recap of the tracklists for each variant of the album, visit the Craft Recordings website. A summary of the new iterations is below:

The Sound of Music Soundtrack 2023 Reissues:

Super Deluxe Edition (4-CD/1 Blu-Ray boxed set)
100 tracks on the CDs, 62 tracks on the Blu-Ray audio disc.

Super Deluxe Edition (Digital Download Album)
84 tracks

Deluxe Edition (2-CD)
46 tracks

Deluxe Edition (3 vinyl LPs, plus a “Picnic Meadow Green” color variant triple LP limited to 500 copies worldwide)
46 tracks

Original 1965 Release (Standard Digital [inclusive of multiple international language versions such as Spanish, German, French and Italian] & HD Digital)
16 tracks

Original 1965 Release (Dolby Atmos)
16 tracks (all in 2023 Stereo Mixes)

26 Sep 2023

Is Usher the Right Headliner for 2024 Super Bowl Halftime? Hell ‘Yeah!’

When Usher was announced as the 2024 Super Bowl halftime show headliner over the weekend, the conversation on social media was a mixture of excitement and surprise — with some questioning whether it’s been too long since the R&B/pop superstar had a hit.

While his last Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit was more than a decade ago (“Scream” peaked at No. 9 in 2012), it’s impossible to argue with the man’s overall legacy. He’s racked up nine No. 1s on the Hot 100 and 18 top 10s; he’s scored eight Grammys from 23 nominations; and in the years since that last top 10 hit, he’s been a frequent visitor to Billboard‘s R&B charts and has mounted two beloved Las Vegas residencies.

On the new Billboard Pop Shop Podcast, Katie & Keith are talking about all the reasons the R&B/pop superstar makes total sense for next year’s big game — from his precise choreography to his overall showmanship to his undeniable nearly 30 years of hits.

Also on the show, we’ve got chart news on how Drake lands his 12th No. 1 song on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Slime You Out,” his new collaboration with SZA. Plus, Rod Wave becomes only the second artist with a new No. 1 album in each of the last three years on the Billboard 200, as Nostalgia debuts atop the list. And finally, music icon Willie Nelson adds a new chart accolade to his very deep list of achievements, as he notches his first No. 1 on Billboard’s Bluegrass Albums chart. You might be surprised by how many other genre charts Nelson has visited over the years — tune in for our full recap.

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.)

26 Sep 2023

Michael Bibi ‘Tired But Happy’ as He Leaves Hospital: ‘My Fight Against Cancer Is Not Over’

Michael Bibi is temporarily out of the hospital amid his ongoing cancer treatment, the British producer announced Tuesday (Sept. 26) on social media.

“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 Ibiza’s DC10, with a flurry of other European festival dates on his schedule.

In the months since announcing his cancer diagnosis, Bibi has given intermittent updates on his treatment progress. In June, he posted that his first round of treatment was complete and his tumor size was reduced by 40%. On July 18, he wrote that “after 10 weeks in a hospital bed, I’ve been released for a short break as my treatment is continuing to go well. Thank you for all of your love, it really has given me strength. I have good days & I have bad days…Today is a good day.” A post from Aug. 30 states “Fk you cancer, you picked the wrong one.”

Bibi’s latest update has received a wave of support in the comments section from fellow DJs/producers including Felix Da Housecat, Fatboy Slim, Amelie Lens, The Martinez Brothers, Mochakk, Fisher, Black Coffee, Carlita, Gordo and many more. The profile section of Bibi’s Instagram page provides an email, cancersupport@michaelbibi.com, for those that might “have info that can help Michael’s situation.” 

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.”

26 Sep 2023

Black Pumas’ ‘More Than a Love Song’ Hits No. 1 on Adult Alternative Airplay Chart

More than three years after their first No. 1, Black Pumas return to the top of Billboard’s Adult Alternative Airplay chart with “More Than a Love Song,” which tops the list dated Sept. 30. The track crowns the chart following a 15% swell in plays that made the song the most-played title on U.S. monitored adult alternative airplay (triple A) stations in the week ending Sept. 21, according to Luminate.

With “More Than a Love Song,” Black Pumas achieve a second No. 1 on Adult Alternative Airplay, after “Colors” ruled for one week in 2020. Unlike the first champ, which needed 18 weeks to arrive at the top slot, “More than a Love Song” sprints to the summit in just four frames. The tear is the fastest run to No. 1 by any song on the list in more than a year, since Death Cab for Cutie’s “Here to Forever” wrapped its four-week journey in August 2022.

Elsewhere, “More than a Love Song” holds at its No. 29 high on the Rock & Alternative Airplay chart for a third straight week. Despite no movement in rank, the track picked up a 1% gain to 1.4 million in audience in the latest tracking week.

“More than a Love Song” is the lead single from Black Pumas’ forthcoming studio album, Chronicles of a Diamond. The set, expected Oct. 27 through ATO Records, is the follow-up to the act’s 2019 self-titled effort; that project’s deluxe edition was nominated for a Grammy Award for album of the year.

26 Sep 2023

Dove Cameron Shines in Coach’s New Metallic Collection: Shop Here

All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

Coach is entering a new era, and singer and actress Dove Cameron is at the center of it. In the brand’s newest campaign titled “Wear Your Shine,” the star shows off a range of shiny, metallic purses, accessories and apparel, everything from your oversized white puffer jackets to pleated skirts will be begging to show off.

Cameron now joins Jennifer Lopez as an ambassador for the brand as they represent people Coach think “shine brightly in fashion and in life,” according to a press release. The luxury apparel retailer hopes to encourage us to live authentically and confidently — especially with one of their chic statement pieces on hand.

Dove Cameron

Dove Cameron Explains Why She Almost Didn’t Release Her Hit ‘Boyfriend’

The new line officially dropped Sept. 12 and features a range of silver metallic handbags, card holders, shoes and clothing, as well as bold shades of purple and green to add to your rotation. The brand took to X to post videos showing off the collection and campaign — including one featuring the “Breakfast” singer battling her “inner self.”

Keep reading to shop some of Cameron’s looks or check out the full collection here.

silver metallic handbag

Coach

Tabby Shoulder Bag 20

$395

For an everyday purse you can throw all the essentials in, carry the Tabby Shoulder Bag 20. It comes in the bold silver metallic shade with the classic Coach logo on the front and a small strap you can carry in your hands or over your shoulder.

purple purse

Coach

Penn Shoulder Bag In Signature Leather

$250

Make a statement with this bold shoulder bag featuring a vibrant hot purple shade decorated with Coach’s logo. The strap is adjustable and can be taken off depending on your needs.

silver top handle metallic purse

Coach

Sammy Top Handle 21

$495

Consider this top handle purse the ultimate splurge as it not only features the trendy metallic colorway, but has a smooth leather material for added style and cute latch decorated with the Coach logo for added style and security.

For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best unique-shaped bags, sunglasses deals and bucket hats.

26 Sep 2023

Kim Petras, Bebe Rexha, Omar Apollo & More: Photos From Life Is Beautiful 2023

Another Life Is Beautiful festival is in the books. The 2023 iteration of the annual festival — which celebrates music, art and food — took place in downtown Las Vegas for the final weekend of the summer (Sept. 22-24) and saw some of the music industry’s biggest and brightest stars hitting various stages for impressive showcases. This was a special year for the festival, as it celebrates the 10th anniversary since its inception.

This year’s headliners hailed from rap, rock and dance, with Kendrick Lamar, Odesza, Flume and The Killers — who are from Las Vegas — performing large sets during the festival’s three days. Khalid, The 1975, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Omar Apollo, Kim Petras and more also performed on the Life Is Beautiful stages this past weekend.

The festival also paid homage to its background in larger-than-life entertainment, with Vegas staples like the high-flying Cirque du Soleil group, inaugural America’s Best Dance Crew winners Jabbawockeez, Blue Man Group, Magic Mike Live, Piff the Magic Dragon and Tape Face performing and making appearances during the event.

Billboard was on the ground at the festival, taking pictures of the artists both on and off stage for portraits or performance shots. Bebe Rexha dazzled during her set — literally and figuratively — performing her confessional track “I’m a Mess” and surprising fans with Florida Georgia Line’s Tyler Hubbard for a performance of “Meant to Be.” Petras, meanwhile performed all tracks from her Slut Pop EP, before closing out with the No. 1-charting track “Unholy” (without Sam Smith in attendance).

See more photos from Life Is Beautiful 2023 below.

A majority stake of Life Is Beautiful is owned by Billboard’s parent company, Penske Media Corporation.

26 Sep 2023

StarKid, Captain America & ‘Oklahoma!’ Meet Atop Billboard’s Cast Albums Chart

It’s a busy week on Billboard’s Cast Albums chart (dated Sept. 30), as the original cast recordings of StarKid’s Nerdy Prudes Must Die., Disney and Marvel’s Rogers: The Musical and the world-premiere complete studio cast recording of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! debut at Nos. 1, 2 and 8 respectively. Meanwhile, New York, New York: A New Musical re-enters at No. 4 (a new peak) after its release on CD.

With the arrivals at Nos. 1, 2 and 8 on Cast Albums, it’s the first time at least three albums have debuted in the top 10 in the same week in more than four years. It last happened on the June 22, 2019-dated list, when the original Broadway cast recordings of Beetlejuice and Tootsie launched at Nos. 2 and 6, while the 2019 Broadway cast recording of Kiss Me, Kate! bowed at No. 8.

Billboard’s Cast Albums chart ranks the top-selling musical cast recordings of the week in the U.S., based on traditional album sales, as tracked by Luminate.

Nerdy Prudes Must Die. is “a teen slasher comedy about a group of geeks and their ghostly tormentor.” The show, with music and lyrics by Jeff Blim, had a brief run at the El Portal Theater in North Hollywood, Calif. in February. It’s the third No. 1 on the Cast Albums chart for the StarKid production team, following Black Friday (in 2020) and Starship (2011). In total, Nerdy Prudes is the 17th charting effort on Cast Albums from StarKid, with 13 having reached the top 10. StarKid’s first entry on the tally was Me and My Dick, which peaked at No. 11 in 2010.

Rogers: The Musical – an abridged version of the life of the first Avenger, Captain America (aka Steve Rogers) – had a limited run at Disney California Adventure Park’s Hyperion Theater in Anaheim, Calif. from June 30-Aug. 31. Rogers’new original songs were written by composer Christopher Lennertz, with lyrics by Jordan Peterson, Lennertz and Alex Karukas. The new tunes were joined by earlier-penned songs like “Save the City” (music by Marc Shaiman and lyrics by Shaiman and Scott Wittman) and “Star-Spangled Man” (by Alan Menken and David Zeppel).

Rogers: The Musical is the first cast recording from a Disney Parks-presented stage show to chart on Billboard’s 17-year-old Cast Albums ranking. Previous musical shows staged at the Hyperion include Frozen: Live at the Hyperion (2016-20) and Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular (2003-16). (The Broadway versions of Aladdin and Frozen saw their companion cast recordings hits Nos. 1 and 2 on the Cast Albums chart.)

Both Nerdy Prudes Must Die. and Rogers: The Musical were only available to purchase as digital download albums. The third debut in the Cast Album chart’s top 10, the new studio cast recording of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!, was available as a download and on CD and vinyl.

The studio cast recording of Oklahoma! was released by Chandos Records and is the first recording to boast the complete score performed with Robert Russell Bennett’s original orchestrations. Oklahoma! was the first musical written by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, and it premiered on Broadway in 1943. It was later adapted into a film in 1955, which won two Academy Awards and launched a soundtrack that spent four weeks atop Billboard’s Best Selling Popular Albums chart in 1956. Oklahoma! has been revived on Broadway four times, most recently in 2019, when it won two Tony Awards, including best revival of a musical.

Finally, the original Broadway cast recording of New York, New York: A New Musical, re-enters Cast Albums at No. 4, having previously spent one week on the list at No. 7 (on the July 8-dated chart). The album returns to the list following its Sept. 15 release on CD, as the set was only previously available to purchase as a digital download. New York, New York played for three months at the St. James Theatre in New York earlier in 2023 and garnered nine Tony Award nominations, winning one for best scenic design of a musical.

26 Sep 2023

Lauren Daigle Makes History With Second 20-Week No. 1 on Hot Christian Songs Chart

Lauren Daigle’s “Thank God I Do” reaches its 20th week atop Billboard’s streaming-, airplay- and sales-based Hot Christian Songs chart (dated Sept. 30). With its latest week at the summit, Daigle becomes the first soloist with two No. 1s to have reigned for at least 20 weeks each; her crossover smash “You Say” dominated for a record 132 frames beginning in July 2018.

Daigle’s current No. 1 becomes one of seven hits to have led Hot Christian Songs for at least 20 weeks since the list launched in June 2003.

Longest-leading Hot Christian Songs No. 1s:

132 weeks, “You Say,” Lauren Daigle, beginning in July 2018

61 weeks, “Oceans (Where Feet May Fail),” Hillsong United, beginning in June 2013

37 weeks, “What a Beautiful Name,” Hillsong Worship, beginning in February 2017

26 weeks, “Something in the Water,” Carrie Underwood, beginning in October 2014

24 weeks, “In Jesus’ Name (God of Possible),” Katy Nichole, beginning in March 2022)

23 weeks, “Word of God Speak,” MercyMe, beginning in August 2003

20 weeks (to date), “Thank God I Do,” Lauren Daigle, beginning in May 2023

Notably, six of the seven longest-leading Hot Christian Songs No. 1s feature female lead singers. In addition to Daigle, Underwood and Nichole’s titles, Hillsong United’s “Oceans” sports lead vocals by Taya Smith and Brooke Ligertwood is out front on sister act Hillsong Worship’s “What a Beautiful Name.”

“Thank God I Do” awarded Daigle her sixth Hot Christian Songs No. 1, the most among women. (Overall, MercyMe leads with 13 No. 1s.)

The song tallied 5.3 million in all-format airplay audience, 2.2 million official streams and 1,000 downloads sold Sept. 15-21, according to Luminate. It dominated Christian Digital Song Sales for 23 weeks, Christian Streaming Songs for 10 weeks and Christian Airplay for one frame.

Daigle co-authored the piano ballad with Jason Ingram, while Jeff Bhasker, P!nk and Nate Ruess are also credited as writers, as the song contains elements of P!nk’s “Just Give Me a Reason,” featuring Ruess (which the three co-penned), a three-week No. 1 on the all-genre multi-metric Billboard Hot 100 in 2013.

Cortez Crowns Gospel

On Gospel Airplay, Zacardi Cortez rolls up his sixth No. 1 with “Lord Do It for Me (Live in Memphis).” The song, which he co-wrote, increased by 6% in plays during the latest tracking week.

Cortez, based in Houston, last led the chart with “You’ve Been Good to Me” for three weeks starting in November 2022. He first reigned as featured, with Shawn McLemore, on James Fortune & FIYA’s 19-week No. 1 “I Believe” in 2010-11.

Cortez ties for the sixth-most No. 1s on Gospel Airplay, which began in 2005. Kirk Franklin and Tamela Mann lead with 10 apiece.