Music News

Victoria Monét Says She Was Told It’s ‘Too Early’ in Her Career to Perform at 2023 VMAs

From Olivia Rodrigo and Nicki Minaj to Doja Cat and STRAY KIDS, the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards certainly weren’t short on performances. Nonetheless, there was one artist who some very vocal fans were hoping to see on the stage, but she says she was denied the opportunity to perform.

Grammy-nominated R&B singer-songwriter Victoria Monét took to X (formerly Twitter) to explain to inquiring fans why she did not perform at Tuesday night’s show, writing, “I see your advocation for me to have performed tonight and I’m so grateful to you!! Sincerely! My team was told it is ‘too early in my story’ for that opportunity so we will keep working!”

Monét is set to kick off her first headlining tour on Friday at Howard Theatre in Washington, D.C. The tour is in support of Jaguar II, her debut studio album, which became her highest-charting Billboard 200 entry upon release (No. 60). Jaguar II serves as the sequel to the original Jaguar EP, which debuted and peaked at No. 174 on the Billboard 200 back in 2020 and spawned singles such as “Moment” and “A– Like That.” The Jaguar Tour will feature a rotating cast of opening acts, including Alex Vaughn, Ambré, Kendra Jae, Lavish, Leon Thomas, Tanerélle and Tone Stith.

“I’m grateful for YOU, for my tour starting this Friday and for the ability to see some of my favorite people perform tonight and receive the love they so deserve!!!” Monét concluded her message.

Monét’s absence follows what some fans on social media perceived as a disregard for the R&B genre at the 2023 VMAs. No solo R&B artists performed during the nearly four-hour ceremony, and the only R&B category — best R&B, won by SZA’s “Shirt” — was not accepted by the artist during the telecast. (The best R&B category returned in 2019 after a 12-year hiatus from the show.)

Billboard reached out to reps for the MTV Video Music Awards for comment on Monet’s post.

Monét’s “On My Mama,” the breakout single from Jaguar II, recently became her first unaccompanied Billboard Hot 100 entry (No. 98) and the song’s ’00s Black South-tribute music video and Sean Bankhead-helmed choreography went viral across social media. She also is a three-time Grammy nominee thanks to her work with Ariana Grande (“7 rings”) and Chloe x Halle (“Do It”).

Monét’s writing credits include Diddy-Dirty Money, Coco Jones, Fifth Harmony, Brandy and BLACKPINK. She released her debut EP, Nightmares & Lullabies: Act 1, in 2014.

Read Monét’s tweet here:

Grateful Dead Members Announce Dead Ahead Festival in Cancun

This week, organizers with Playa Luna Presents announced the Dead Ahead Festival, an all-inclusive musical experience at the Moon Palace Resort in Riviera Cancún, Mexico, from Jan. 12-15, 2024, celebrating the Grateful Dead songbook with two nights of curated collaborations.

Dead Ahead Festival includes Grateful Dead alumni Bobby Weir and Mickey Hart, as well as frequent collaborators Jeff Chimenti, Oteil Burbridge, Don Was and Jay Lane, featuring Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi, Rick Mitarotonda, Margo Price and very special guest Sturgill Simpson.

Moreover, during the evening, Oteil & Friends and Lettuce will celebrate the music of the Jerry Garcia Band. Additional artist support will come from Orebolo, LP Giobbi, Sierra Hull, Brittney Spencer and Jaime Wyatt, plus a late-night rhythmic experience with Mickey Hart’s Noche de Ondas.

Dead Ahead will also feature daytime pool parties, curated activities throughout the resort and nightly concerts on the beach. Guests are encouraged to flex their weekend with tours of the Yucatan Peninsula’s natural beauty and rich Mayan culture through various off-site adventures. In the months leading up to the event, all lead guests will receive login details for their personal event Guest Dashboard. This is where lead guests can review package information, submit additional guest and flight details, as well as place proximity and hotel requests. Adventure reservations can also be made in advance via the Guest Dashboard.

All-inclusive packages for Dead Ahead Festival 2024 will go on sale to the public on Friday at 1 p.m. ET on deadaheadfestival.com. Previous Playa Luna guests will be invited to return to the beach via a special pre-sale, starting Thursday at 1 p.m E.T.

After Selena Gomez’s Sour Reaction to Chris Brown VMA Nomination Goes Viral, She Wonders ‘Who Cares?’

Selena Gomez does not appear to be fan of Chris Brown, and she isn’t apologizing for it.

The “Calm Down” singer attended the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards on Tuesday night and later made the rounds on social media for making a sour face as the nominees for best R&B were announced.

In the category, Chloe Bailey and Brown’s “How Does It Feel” — from the Chloe x Halle singer’s debut solo album In Pieces — made the cut, and as a clip of the duo’s video rolled and Brown’s name was called, Gomez was spotted scrunching up her face at his name and then smiling and clapping for the other artists in the category.

iHeartRadio Australia grabbed video of the moment and shared it on Instagram with the caption: “@selenagomez reacts to @chrisbrownofficial being nominated.”

The Rare Beauty founder flippantly responded in the comments, “Who cares lol.”

Gomez also seemingly addressed the moment going viral via her Instagram Story, writing in simple text, “I will never be a meme again. I’d rather sit still than be dragged for being myself. Much love.”

Gomez’s on-camera reaction to Brown’s name likely stems from the R&B singer’s 2009 assault of then-girlfriend Rihanna ahead of that year’s Grammy Awards. Brown pleaded guilty to a felony and was sentenced to five years’ probation and domestic violence counseling.

For his part, not long after the show aired, Brown wrote on his Instagram Story: “Let me mind my business.”

In addition to reuniting with her bestie Taylor Swift at Tuesday’s show, Gomez also took home best Afrobeats for her featured spot on Rema’s “Calm Down,” which recently hit 1 billion streams on Spotify.

See Gomez’s response in the Instagram post below.

Beyonce Sends Flowers & Congratulatory Note to Coi Leray: ‘I Love Watching You Grow’

Beyoncé stays supporting her fellow female artists.

Coi Leray took to Instagram on Tuesday (Sept. 12) to share a series of photos of a stunning white floral arrangement sent to her by Queen Bey herself. In the flowers was a sweet note that reads, “I’m a fan of yours and I love watching you grow. You’re a very talented young lady. Love, Beyoncé.”

“The queen has spoken .. Thank you for inspiring all of us not only with music but just how you carry yourself with such grace,” Leray captioned the post along with a string of pink heart emojis. “Thank you thank you thank you ??”

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

The 26-year-old rapper has had an impressive 2023 so far, heating up the charts with song like her hit “Players,” which peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100. “When I found out I was on the top 10 U.K. charts, and then the top 20 pop charts and then the top 20 Billboard [Hot 100],” she told Billboard before her set at Rolling Loud earlier this year. “That was a big stepping stone for me because my dream was to cross over. Of course, I love Billboard. I look up to you guys. You guys are watching me grow, so I can’t wait to show you how much more I have for you.”

See the sweet gift from Bey below.

Adam Sandler Announces I Missed You Tour: Here Are the Dates

You might be so not invited to Adam Sandler‘s daughter’s bar mitzvah, but the comedian is giving his fans ample opportunity to see him live this fall. On Wednesday (Sept. 13), Live Nation announced that Sandler is set to embark on a 25-date North American trek titled the I Missed You Tour.

Produced by Live Nation, the tour will commence on Oct. 12 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, BC, and make stops in Las Vegas, Memphis, Toronto and more before closing in Denver at Ball Arena on Dec. 12. The I Missed You Tour marks Sandler’s second major trek of the year. In March, the three-time Grammy-nominated comedian and actor added seven more shows to his Adam Sandler LIVE tour.

The new tour comes on the heels of several acclaimed films from the five-time Emmy nominee. This year, Sandler produced and starred in You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah alongside Tony winner Idina Menzel, wife Jackie Sandler and daughters Sadie and Sunny Sandler. Last year, he acted opposite Academy Award nominee Queen Latifah in the sports dramedy Hustle, for which he won the People’s Choice Award for The Comedy Movie Star of 2022. Back in 2019, Sandler flaunted his dramatic chops in the award-winning thriller Uncut Gems.

Sandler has charted five titles on the Billboard 200, peaking with 1999’s Stan and Judy’s Kid at No. 16, while his “Chanukah Song” peaked at No. 80 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1999. Earlier this year, Sandler was honored with the 2023 Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.

Through a Live Nation presale, fans will be able to purchase tickets to the I Missed You Tour beginning Thursday at noon local time. The general sale starts Friday at noon local time.

Here are all the dates for Adam Sandler’s I Missed You Tour:

Thu. Oct. 12 — Vancouver, BC — Rogers Arena
Fri. Oct. 13 — Seattle, WA — Climate Pledge Arena
Sat. Oct. 14 — Portland, OR — Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Sun. Oct. 15 — Nampa, ID — Ford Idaho Center Arena
Mon. Oct. 16 — Spokane, WA — Spokane Arena
Wed. Oct. 18 — San Jose, CA — SAP Center at San Jose
Thu. Oct. 19 — Stateline, NV — Tahoe Blue Event Center
Fri. Oct. 20 — Fresno, CA — Save Mart Center
Sat. Oct. 21 — Palm Desert, CA — Acrisure Arena
Mon. Oct. 23 — Anaheim, CA — Honda Center
Tue. Nov. 7 — Toronto, ON — Scotiabank Arena
Wed. Nov. 8 — Rochester, NY — Blue Cross Arena
Thu. Nov. 9 — Washington, DC — Capital One Arena
Sat. Nov. 11 — Milwaukee, WI — Fiserv Forum
Sun. Nov. 12 — Minneapolis, MN — Target Center
Mon. Nov. 13 — Des Moines, IA — Wells Fargo Arena
Wed. Nov. 15 — Indianapolis, IN — Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Thu. Nov. 16 — Memphis, TN — FedExForum
Sat. Dec. 2 — Las Vegas, NV — Michelob ULTRA Arena
Sun. Dec. 3 — Salt Lake City, UT — Delta Center
Thu. Dec. 7 — San Antonio, TX — AT&T Center
Fri. Dec. 8 — Thackerville, OK — WinStar Casino
Sat. Dec. 9 — Oklahoma City, OK — Paycom Center
Sun. Dec. 10 — Wichita, KS — INTRUST Bank Arena
Tue. Dec. 12 — Denver, CO — Ball Arena

Nick Jonas Tells Fans to ‘Stop’ Throwing Objects Onstage During Concert

Nick Jonas is taking a stand against fans throwing objects onstage at concerts.

In a video shared to TikTok, Nick is seen performing “Rollercoaster” with the Jonas Brothers in Sacramento, Calif., as he dodges what looks like bracelets being thrown at the stage. At one point, he looks at the fan throwing the objects and shakes his head, telling them repeatedly to “stop” before he continued performing.

His reaction to the flying objects come amid a string of instances in which artists have been hit — and sometimes injured — by things being thrown onstage. Drake, Harry Styles, Bebe Rexha, Lil Nas X and Kelsea Ballerini are among the slew of artists who have recently had their shows interrupted by the launching of various objects including phones, a sex toy and bracelet. Most recently, Maluma caught a crutch which was hurled at him from the audience in the midst of his 2023 Don Juan World Tour. Instead of stopping the song and calling out the fan, Maluma laughed it off and used the crutch as a prop for his performance.

Explore

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

Adele even addressed the dangerous trend during one of her recent Las Vegas residency shows. “Have you noticed how people are, like, forgetting f–king show etiquette at the moment, people are throwing s–t on stage? Have you seen that?” she’s heard saying in a clip posted to social media. The “Easy on Me” singer, while striding across the stage holding a t-shirt gun, then added, “F–king dare you. I dare you to throw something at me.”

See Nick Jonas’ reaction below.

Mylon LeFevre, Mylon and Broken Heart Singer, Dies at 78

Mylon LeFevre, the founding member of Mylon and Broken Heart whose 1987 album Crack the Sky earned him a Grammy award for best gospel performance by a duo, group, choir or chorus, died at 78 on Friday, Sept. 8 from complications with cancer, his wife Christi LeFevre revealed in a statement posted to Facebook.

“My precious, strong and courageous husband laid hold of eternal life last night. When we discussed heaven through the years, Mylon was most excited about receiving the soul winner’s crown. With his contemporary Christian rock band, Mylon and Broken Heart, he had the privilege of leading over 250,000 youth to Jesus,” she wrote. “He cherished all the years of music ministry and the countless lives touched through his songs but his greatest joy was teaching the Word of God, especially through our broadcast, On the Road to Freedom.”

“My love, you are finally enjoying in this moment what you affectionately referred to as ‘the first day of forever.’ It has been my highest honor and privilege for God to trust me with you these past 25 years.
All my love, Christi,” she concluded her post.

LeFevre was born into the southern gospel family group The LeFevres, and started singing and performing with them from an early age. The late musician’s solo singing career formally kicked off at age 17, when he wrote his first song “Without Him.” After singing the track at the National Quartet Convention in Memphis, Tenn. while in the army, LeFevre was noticed by Elvis Presley, who was impressed enough by the track that he later recorded it for his 1967 album, How Great Thou Art. LeFevre released his debut solo album, New Found Joy in 1964, and followed it up with Your Only Tomorrow in 1968.

In the the 1970’s and ’80s, LeFevre recorded and performed with stars like The Who, Elton John, Geroge Harrison, Duane Allman, Eric Clapton, Berry Oakley, Little Richard and Billy Joel. In 1981, LeFevre formed Mylon and Broken Heart after stepping back from secular music; the band recorded 10 of Lefevre’s 22 albums, and in 1988 received the rock album of the year GMA Dove Award for Crack the Sky. LeFevre was inducted into the Gospel Hall of Fame in 2005.

Read the post LeFevre’s wife wrote announcing his death below:

Ally Brooke, Macy Gray, Chet Hanks & More Join MTV’s ‘The Surreal Life’ Cast

The Surreal Life is returning to MTV, and the network announced its diverse cast for the upcoming season on Wednesday (Sept. 13).

R&B/soul singer Macy Gray, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson’s son Chet Hanks, former Fifth Harmony member Ally Brooke, rapper O.T. Genasis, TV personality Kim Zolciak, figure skater Johnny Weir and influencer and model Josie Canseco are all set to appear on the iconic series, which is scheduled to start production this month.

The Surreal Life records celebrities as they live in a Hollywood Hills mansion for two weeks, as viewers at home get to see group activities as well as developments of personal relationships between the castmembers. Last season, which aired on VH1, included a lineup including Dennis Rodman, August Alsina, CJ Perry, Frankie Muniz, Kim Coles, Manny MUA, Stormy Daniels and Tamar Braxton.

Explore

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

The show is is executive produced by Adam Gonzalez for A Game Productions with MTV Entertainment Studios and by Samuel Duque for Telecolombia International Studios. For MTV Entertainment Studios, executive producers include Tolani Holmes, Elena Diaz and Camilo Valdes with Matthew Parillo as executive in charge of production. 

While the upcoming season is underway, you can catch up on the previous season on Paramount+. The streamer offers a free trial for the first week, plus a 50% discount on its annual plans. The limited deal means you can subscribe to the Essential plan for just $30, or $60 for Paramount+ with Showtime.

Taylor Swift Reveals Exclusive Bonus Track on Tangerine ‘1989 (Taylor’s Version)’ Vinyl

Taylor Swift is continuing the rollout for 1989 (Taylor’s Version), which is set to release on Oct. 27, and the star announced on Wednesday (Sept. 13) that an exclusive bonus track will be available on the tangerine edition of the vinyl.

Explore

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

The vinyl and three Deluxe Poster Edition CDs with unique photos inside will be available for purchase only at Target and is available to pre-order here.

The announcement of the Tangerine Edition vinyl comes just a few weeks following a string of other non-Target exclusive vinyl announcements, including aquamarine green and yellow “Sunrise Boulevard” versions.

Swift announced 1989 (Taylor’s Version) during her last show at Los Angeles SoFi Stadium on August 9. The album was originally released in 2014 and topped the Billboard 200 albums chart for 11 weeks.

1989 (Taylor’s Version) will be Swift’s fourth “Version,” since announcing her re-recording project in 2019. The previous three all logged time at No. 1 on the Billboard 200: Fearless (Taylor’s Version) with two weeks in 2021, Red (Taylor’s Version) with one week in 2021, and Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) with two weeks in 2023.

In other Taylor news, the star won a whopping nine awards at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards on Tuesday night (Sept. 12), bringing her career total to 23, second only to Beyoncé (30 wins) on the all-time VMAs leaderboard.

10 First-Timers on Billboard’s Charts This Week: Kenya Grace, Britney Manson, Tim Montana & More

Billboard has more than 200 different weekly charts in its menu, encompassing numerous genres and formats.

While established artists often compete for a spot on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart and Billboard 200 albums ranking, which track the most popular songs and albums of the week, respectively, up-and-coming talents typically start off on genre-specific lists.

Here’s a look at artists who appear on surveys for the first time on the Sept. 16-dated charts.

Explore

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

Kenya Grace



The British singer-songwriter makes her Billboard chart debut thanks to her breakthrough song “Strangers.” Released Sept. 1 via KGJ/Major Recordings/Warner Records, the track debuts at No. 5 on the Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart with 3.3 million streams and 1,000 downloads sold in the U.S. its opening week, according to Luminate. It also opens at No. 4 on Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales, No. 20 on the Hot 100’s Bubbling Under ranking, No. 56 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart and No. 79 on the Billboard Global 200. In her home country, the song starts at No. 20 on the Official UK Singles chart.

TikTok has been a major factor in the song’s growing profile, as a portion of the audio has been used in more than 200,000 clips on the platform. (TikTok does not presently contribute directly to Billboard’s charts.) One such video, on Grace’s profile, has logged more than 12 million views. Grace has released five other songs: “Venus” with Homebodi, “Someone Else” with 3STRANGE, “Oranges,” “Afterparty Lover” (all in 2022) and “Meteor” (May).

Britney Manson



The Russian-Estonian model and performer is now a Billboard-charting artist thanks to her song “Fashion.” The track, which she self-released Aug. 11, debuts at No. 41 on Hot Dance/Electronic Songs with 677,000 U.S. streams (up 39%). TikTok, where she boasts over 1 million followers, has been instrumental in the song’s growth, as a portion of it has been used in more than 30,000 clips on the platform, many of which soundtrack Manson’s videos teaching followers how to walk a runway like famous supermodels such as Kendall Jenner and Shalom Harlow. The song’s latest streaming bump was perhaps boosted by hype leading up to New York Fashion Week (Sept. 7-13). On Aug. 25, Manson also released slowed-down and sped-up versions of the song.

Manson has released two other tracks: “Everyone (I’m Stuck)” and “MODE-L,” both in 2022. “I would describe my walk the same way I’d describe my personality,” she recently told Vogue, which also reported that she signed to Elite Models NYC. “The ‘Britney’ part is feminine, reminiscent of the 2000s, and sexy: That’s why I rock my hips up and down. But I’m also ‘Manson’ – I’m a rebel to the core. That’s why the top of my body is always leading, and I’m serving you a strong face from the 2010s.”

Tim Montana



The singer-songwriter scores his first chart appearance with his breakout single “Devil You Know.” The song, released Aug. 30 via Music Knox/BMG/Broken Bow Records, debuts at No. 36 on Mainstream Rock Airplay and No. 47 on Rock & Alternative Airplay (664,000 audience impressions, up 197%). Montana, from Butte, Mont., and currently based in Nashville, has been releasing music for more than a decade, including three LPs: Tim Montana and the Shrednecks (2016), American Thread (2020) and Long Shots (2021). He also released the EPs Get Em Up and Reno in 2021 and 2022, respectively.

Outside of his solo work, Montana has appeared on Billboard’s charts as a songwriter. He co-wrote Kid Rock’s “Tennessee Mountain Top,” and “Greatest Show on Earth,” which hit Nos. 10 and 39, respectively, on the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart in 2017. He has also collaborated with Colbie Caillat and Billy F Gibbons, among others.

Moon Fever



The Seattle-based group lands its first Billboard chart entry with “Getting Loud.” The song, released in April via Astro Recordings, debuts at No. 37 on Mainstream Rock Airplay (up 28% in plays). The act released its debut EP Payphone Blues in 2021 and followed with the songs “Live Fast Die Young” and “I’m Gone” in 2022 and “Nothing Left to Lose” earlier this year. The band is comprised of vocalist Cody Jasper, guitarists Mitch Micoley and Joe Perez, bassist Gabe Maska and drummer Greg Garcia.

RSCL, Repiet & Julia Kleijn



All three artists arrive on Billboard’s charts for the first time with their collaboration “Echo.” The track, released Aug. 11, debuts at No. 40 on Dance/Mix Show Airplay (up 17% in plays). RSCL (pronounced “rascal”; real name Franklin van Beek) has been releasing house music since 2020; Repiet began releasing tunes in 2019; and Julia Kleijn, who provides vocals on “Echo,” has released four additional songs: “Messed Up Calls” with Repiet, “Goodbye” with Siik and Kocmo (both in 2021), “I Don’t Know Why” with Repiet and Jobsen (2022), and “In the Dark” with EnzoGasi (2023).

Supermassive & Ben Boas



Both acts debut for the first time with their collaboration “Rockstar,” billed as by Supermassive featuring Ben Boas. The song, released in June, debuts at No. 33 on Dance/Mix Show Airplay (up 9% in plays). Supermassive is a French duo comprised of Simon Aubert and Edgar Joly. The pair has been releasing music since 2017. Supermassive and Boas also teamed up on the track “Deep Inside,” released Sept. 1.

E.G. Kight



The Chicago-based artist from Dublin, Ga., is now a Billboard-charting act thanks to her new album Sticks & Strings. The set, released Sept. 1 via Blue South, debuts at No. 10 on the Blues Albums chart. Kight has been recording and releasing music since the 1980s and has collaborated with dozens of well-known acts, including Merle Haggard and B.B. King.

Ellis Hamilton



The musician, composer and recent Berklee College of Music graduate reaches Billboard’s charts with his song “My Heart to Yours.” The track debuts at No. 27 on Smooth Jazz Airplay (up 6% in plays). In addition to the alto saxophone, Hamilton plays the bass clarinet, drums, flute, piano, tenor and soprano saxophone and vibraphone.

Lefty SM & Neto Peña



The late Mexican rapper Lefty SM (real name Juan Carlos Sauceda) debuts on Billboard’s charts for the first time posthumously with his song “Por Mi México (Remix)” with Santa Fe Klan and featuring Dharius, C-Kan, MC Davo and Neto Peña. The song enters the Hot Latin Songs chart at No. 44 with 1.4 million U.S. streams Sept. 1-7. The track also earns rapper Peña, from Mexico, his first chart entry. He has also collaborated with acts including A.B. Quintanilla III and Gera MX. Lefty SM also debuts on the Regional Mexican Digital Song Sales chart with “Ahogandome En Alcohol” with Luis R Conriquez at No. 12.

Lefty SM was shot and killed Sept. 2 in Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico. He was 31 years old.

Yeruza



The late Puerto Rican drill artist reaches Billboard’s charts with his LP Coda. The set, posthumously released Aug. 31 on La Ruta del Dinero/SONAR, debuts at No. 41 on the Top Latin Albums chart with 3,000 equivalent album units earned. Yeruza (real name Julián Enrique Ramos Carbia) died in November 2020 during a shootout in Levittown, Toa Baja, Puerto Rico. He was 22. Coda includes collaborations with fellow Latin rappers Blessd, Eladio Carrión, Dei V, Bryant Meyers, Mambo Kingz and Omar Courtz, among others. Yeruza released one studio LP: La Ruta del Dinero, also posthumously in 2021.