Music News

08 Sep 2023

Matt Rife Comedy Special ‘Natural Selection’ Coming to Netflix

Missed out on tickets to Matt Rife‘s ProbleMATTic World Tour? Fans are in luck, as Netflix announced Friday (Sept. 8) that the comedian is getting his own hourlong special on the platform titled Matt Rife: Natural Selection, set to air later this year.

The special will be filmed during the Sept. 22 & 23 stops of his tour at the DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. Natural Selection marks Rife’s first project to be picked up by a streamer and follows previous specials Only Fans and Matthew Steven Rife, both released via his YouTube channel in 2022 and this past April, respectively.

In addition to the announcement, Netflix also celebrated the 27-year-old’s birthday, coming up this Sunday, with a billboard placed outside The Laugh Factory in L.A. Rife posed in front of the billboard for a photo, which Netflix shared to Instagram on Friday.

Speaking with Deadline, Rife hinted at what fans of his comedy can expect from Natural Selection, which Netflix said will see him leaving “no topic untouched — from crystals to social media trolls — and no audience member spared.”

“The first half of it is so silly and ridiculous and fun, and the second half is some stuff I actually got to pour some thought into, which, if you’ve watched either of my previous specials, I kind of like to end the last of it with something people can think about, and put some thought behind, and give some real perspective on something I genuinely am passionate about, as well as making it funny with a fun story,” he told Deadline. “I’d say it’s my most fun hour yet. I think people are really going to like it. There’s something in there for everybody.”

See Netflix’s Instagram post below.

08 Sep 2023

Zach Bryan Mugshot Is the New Spotify ‘Outlaw’ Country Playlist Cover

Not many people can say that they’ve earned a Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 single, a Billboard 200 No. 1 album and a mug shot all in the same week — but most people aren’t Zach Bryan.

The Grammy-nominated country/rock powerhouse was arrested Thursday evening in Oklahoma for obstruction of investigation, according to the Craig County Sheriff’s Office. On Friday (Sept. 8), the cover of Spotify’s “Outlaw” country playlist was changed to Bryan’s brand-new mugshot. While there is still no explanation for the change in playlist artwork, the move is equal parts timely and clever.

Billboard has reached out to Spotify for comment.

“Today, I had an incident with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol,” Bryan wrote in a social media post. “Emotions got the best of me, and I was out of line in the things I said.” The sheriff’s office where Bryan was booked and photographed is in Vinita, Oklahoma —an hour northeast of Tulsa, where he currently lives.

This week has been one of the biggest in Bryan’s professional music career. He earned his first Hot 100 chart-topper, alongside Grammy-winning country star Kacey Musgraves, with “I Remember Everything,” and that song’s parent album, an acclaimed self-titled effort, concurrently debuted atop the Billboard 200, marking his first No. 1 album in the United States. All 16 songs from the album debuted on the Hot 100, and he also earned the largest streaming week for a rock album in history.

Prior to the seismic success of his newest album, Bryan previously reached the Hot 100’s top 10 earlier this year with “Something in the Orange” (No. 10), his Grammy-nominated breakthrough hit that appears on American Heartbreak, his first Billboard 200 top ten album (No. 5).

Click here to see the updated Outlaw playlist cover.

08 Sep 2023

Watch ‘Masked Singer’ Duets From Michelle Williams & Rumer Willis, Joey Fatone & Bow Wow Ahead of Season 10 Kick-Off

The Masked Singer is back! Before season 10 officially premieres on Sept. 27, everyone’s favorite mystery singing competition will return with a special kick-off episode at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday night — and Billboard has exclusive previews of two very special duets below.

The first duet combines an eight-time Grammy-nominated boy band alum with the rapper behind the hits “Like You” (with Ciara) and “Let Me Hold You” (with Omarion): *NSYNC’s Joey Fatone and Bow Wow belt their hearts out while covering The Jackson 5’s “ABC,” which topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 1970.

Fatone competed in the first season of The Masked Singer. As Rabbit, he performed songs such as Bell Bev DeVoe’s “Poison” and finished fourth. In 2020, Bow Wow competed on the third season of The Masked Singer as Frog; he finished in third place and delivered memorable covers of Imagine Dragons’ “Whatever It Takes” and Naughty by Nature’s “Hip Hop Hooray.”


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As for the other duet, Grammy-winning Destiny’s Child member and chart-topping gospel artist Michelle Williams joins forces with Dancing With the Stars victor Rumer Willis for a rousing rendition of “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” which was a top 10 hit for Aretha Franklin on the Hot 100 in 1967. As the two ladies belt and harmonize over the tasteful arrangement, the judges’ panel — which includes Ken Jeong, Robin Thicke, Jenny McCarthy and Nicole Scherzinger — sing along in awe.

Willis finished fifth in the first season of The Masked Singer; the actress competed as the Lion, and her final performance was a rendition of Stevie Wonder’s “Don’t You Worry ‘Bout a Thing.” In 2019, Williams competed as Butterfly on season 2 of The Masked Singer. Three years later, she competed as Rockhopper on season 3 of the British version of The Masked Singer. Later that year, she appeared on season 4 of The Masked Singer Australia as Microphone — making her the first celebrity to compete in three versions of the show.


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The treats don’t stop there: In addition to the two duets, NBA star Victor Oladipo (Thingamajig on season 2), Barry Zito (The Rhino, season 3) and judge Scherzinger will team up for a trio performance. And The Masked Singer also revealed the special mystery guest who will perform and be unmasked on Sunday’s episode: ANONYMOUSE.

08 Sep 2023

Jimmy Buffett Will Keep the Party Going With Final Album ‘Equal Strain on All Parts’

As fans continue to mourn the loss of Jimmy Buffett, the “Margaritaville” singer is leaving one last gift in the form of a new album. Buffett, who was signed to Sun Records before his death on Sept. 1, will have his final album, Equal Strain on All Parts, released later this year on Nov. 3.

A press release for the album reveals that Equal Strain on All Parts was recorded this year and was co-produced by Coral Reefers, Michael Utley and Mac McAnally. The album contains a total of 14 tracks and includes features from Emmylou Harris, Lennie Gallant, Angelique Kidjo, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band and Paul McCartney — the latter of whom remarked on two of the album’s tracks, “Bubbles Up” and “My Gummie Just Kicked In” (both released on Friday, Sept. 8) in his Sept. 2 tribute message to Buffett.

“I was very happy to have played on one of his latest songs called ‘My [Gummie] Just Kicked In’. We had a real fun session and he played me some of his new songs. One, in particular, I loved was the song, ‘Bubbles Up’. And I told him that not only was the song great but the vocal was probably the best I’ve heard him sing ever,” McCartney shared on X, formerly known as Twitter. “He turned a diving phrase that is used to train people underwater into a metaphor for life when you’re confused and don’t know where you are just follow the bubbles – they’ll take you up to the surface and straighten you out right away.”

A third single from Equal Strain on All Parts, “Like My Dog,” was also released Friday.

The album news comes after the “Margaritaville” singer’s daughter, Sarah “Delaney” Buffett, took to Instagram with a touching tribute message to her father on Wednesday, in which she wrote to him, “I will love you forever, and I will always keep the party going (responsibly, of course).”

Buffett’s death, a result of skin cancer, was revealed via his official website and social media accounts. “Jimmy passed away on the night of September 1st surrounded by his family, friends, music and dogs,” read the statement. “He lived his life like a song till the very last breath and will be missed beyond measure by so many.”

Listen to “Bubbles Up,” “My Gummie Just Kicked In” and “Like My Dog” below.





08 Sep 2023

Olivia Rodrigo, Cardi B x Megan Thee Stallion, Tyler Childers & More: What’s Your Favorite Music Release of the Week? Vote!

Olivia Rodrigo returned with one of the most anticipated album releases of the year, while Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion attempt to recreate their “WAP” magic with a new collab, and Tyler Childers throws another country release into this mix for this week’s batch of new music drops.

While Rodrigo’s first album, Sour, is a formidable force to reckon with — the 2021 album had four top 10 hits, with breakthrough single “Drivers License” and “Good 4 You” both hitting No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 — the singer’s new release, Guts, appears capable of holding its own. Lead single “Vampire” and follow-up “Bad Idea Right?” have peaked at Nos. 1 and 10 on the Hot 100, but “Ballad of a Homeschooled Girl,” “All-American Bitch” and “Get Him Back!” show that the Disney Channel alum has even greater potential outside of her debut. (Read Billboard‘s list of every track ranked here.)

With “Bongos,” Cardi and Megan prove that summer doesn’t have to end after Labor Day. The colorful track, infused with beats reminiscent of Latin dance music, sees Cardi flexing her sexual prowess, beauty and financial success, with Megan backing her up for a verse and eye-catching choreography in its summery music video that acts as a fun farewell to the season.

A new EP release from Childers comes at the right time, as country has broken chart records in the past few months. Rustin’ in the Rain EP will keep fans of his and the genre happy, particularly with rollicking track “Love” and the cover of Kris Kristofferson’s “Help Me Make It Through the Night.”

BTS’ V, The Rolling Stones, d4vd, and Marshmello and Dove Cameron team up on a track, but which release is your favorite? Vote in out poll below.

08 Sep 2023

Here’s What Fans Think of Rihanna & A$AP Rocky’s Second Son Reportedly Being Named After a Rocky Song

When A$AP Rocky rapped “Luxe balm up in my palm / New collab’ with my baby mom” on “RIOT (Rowdy Pipe’n)” back in July, fans didn’t realize that he might have been teasing the name of his second child with Rihanna.

According to The Blast, who claims to have obtained the birth certificate, Rihanna and Rocky’s new baby boy is named Riot Rose Mayers. The name completes the alliteration of the rest of the family’s name: A$AP Rocky (né Rakim Athelaston Mayers), Rihanna (née Robyn Rihanna Fenty), and older brother RZA Athelston Mayers.

Billboard has reached out to Rihanna and A$AP’s rep for comment.

The birth certificate also reportedly confirms that Rocky and Rihanna’s new bundle of joy was born on August 1, 2023 at Cedar Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, California, at 7:41 a.m.

On February 12, 2023, during her headlining Super Bowl LVII halftime show performance, Rihanna revealed her second pregnancy. She confirmed that she was expecting through a British Vogue cover story featuring her family, which was released days after the Super Bowl performance.

Naturally, the news of the baby’s name has elicited a wide range of reactions from fans. “Riot Rose is a superior name and only Rihanna could think of some s–t like that. You mfs could never,” tweeted one user. “Riot Rose is a superstar name,” said another. Of course, not everyone is on the Riot Riose train yet. “Were they both high or something?” asked one X user. Another dismayed fan tweeted, “Riot Rose Mayers… oh A$AP you will be dealt with.”

See what fans are saying about Rihanna and A$AP Rocky’s reported name choice for the second son below:

08 Sep 2023

Ayron Jones Notches Second Mainstream Rock Airplay No. 1

Ayron Jones is back atop Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart with “Blood in the Water,” which reaches No. 1 on the Sept. 16-dated survey.

The song is Jones’ second No. 1, following the four-week leader “Mercy” beginning in June 2021.

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In between “Mercy” and “Blood in the Water,” Jones reached Mainstream Rock Airplay with three titles, paced by the No. 2-peaking “Supercharged” in November 2021.

Jones is the second soloist to top Mainstream Rock Airplay in 2023 following Jelly Roll, whose “Need a Favor” led in July. It’s the continuation of a slight uptick in songs by solo artists ruling Mainstream Rock Airplay in recent years; in 2022, Ozzy Osbourne, Jelly Roll and Nita Strauss topped the ranking, while Jones was the lone soloist in 2021, and both Corey Taylor and Chris Cornell led in 2020. 2019 saw Osbourne rule, but that followed a five-year respite back to 2014, when Slash’s “World on Fire,” featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators, reigned.

Concurrently, “Blood in the Water” leaps 11-5 on the all-rock-format, audience-based Rock & Alternative Airplay tally with 2.5 million audience impressions Sept. 1-7, according to Luminate. It becomes Jones’ top-charting song there, eclipsing the No. 8 peak of “Supercharged.”

“Blood in the Water” is the second single from Jones’ album Chronicles of the Kid, released in June. Lead track “Filthy” reached No. 18 on Mainstream Rock Airplay in November 2022. The LP has earned 7,000 equivalent album units to date. It’s Jones’ second set, following 2021’s Child of the State, with both released via Big Machine/John Varvatos.

All Billboard charts will update Tuesday, Sept. 12, on Billboard.com.

08 Sep 2023

Noah Kahan & Post Malone’s ‘Dial Drunk’ Tops Alternative Airplay Chart

For the first time for each, Noah Kahan and Post Malone lead Billboard’s Alternative Airplay chart as “Dial Drunk” lifts to the top of the survey dated Sept. 16.

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The song has far surpassed Kahan’s previous best on Alternative Airplay, set by “Stick Season,” which reached No. 21 in February.

Malone previously peaked as high as No. 23 on Alternative Airplay with “Circles” in February 2020.

Kahan and Malone are the first solo artists to reign on Alternative Airplay in over a year. The last was BoyWithUke, who led for a week in July 2022 with “Toxic.” In between, 16 songs by groups reigned.

“Dial Drunk” concurrently rules Adult Alternative Airplay for a second week. It’s Kahan’s first No. 1 there; the version predominantly played on adult alternative radio is the original featuring only Kahan.

On the all-rock-format, audience-based Rock & Alternative Airplay tally, “Dial Drunk” remains at its No. 3 best with 3.6 million audience impressions, Sept. 1-7, according to Luminate.

On the most recently published multimetric Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart (dated Sept. 9), “Dial Drunk” ranked at No. 18, following its No. 3 debut and peak in June. In addition to its radio airplay, the song earned 8.9 million official U.S. streams and 2,000 downloads in the Aug. 25-31 tracking week.

“Dial Drunk” is on the deluxe edition of Kahan’s album Stick Season, which arrived June 9 after the standard version was released in October 2022. It has earned 727,000 equivalent album units to date.

All Billboard charts dated Sept. 16 will update on Billboard.com Tuesday, Sept. 12.

08 Sep 2023

Baby, Come Over: ‘Hairspray’ Actress Goes Into Labor During Beyoncé’s ‘Renaissance’ Birthday Show

Beyoncé‘s Renaissance World Tour birthday show was easily one of the biggest events of the year — from a surprise appearance from the legendary Diana Ross to Hairspray actress Sarah Francis Jones going into labor at the sold-out concert.

“Beyonce induced my baby,” read a video shared by Jones and her partner, The Neighborhood actor Marcel Spears. The clip, which they posted on Instagram, finds a very pregnant Jones having the time of her life at the Renaissance World Tour at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. The montage then cuts to Jones delivering and breastfeeding her new baby.

“We thought it was just Braxton hicks or gas,” she wrote in the caption of another video. “Turns out we were having a whole baby at @beyonce bday show.” Not only does Jones’ bundle of joy share a birthday with Queen Bey, Jones also went into labor on Labor Day.

The Sep. 4 show was the last night of Beyoncé’s three-date mini-residency at SoFi Stadium. The “Cuff It” singer is gearing up for the final few shows of the North American leg of her blockbuster tour. According to figures reported to Billboard Boxscore, Beyoncé earned $141.4 million on the first 12 Renaissance shows in the U.S. and Canada, selling 553,000 tickets. That puts the tour’s overall figures at $295.8 million and 1.6 million tickets (as of Aug. 1), making it Beyoncé’s highest-grossing tour yet, passing 2016’s The Formation World Tour ($256.1 million) and 2018’s On the Run II Tour alongside Jay-Z ($253.5 million).

In addition to a fashion movement based on silver and chrome designs, the Renaissance World Tour has also spawned the “Everybody On Mute Challenge” — a hilarious competition to see which stadium can actually remain completely quiet when she sings the line “Look around/ Everybody on mute” from Renaissance album cut “Energy” (with BEAM). It turns out that even Jones’ baby wanted to participate. “And it was at that moment that my contractions started,” Jones wrote in the caption of a video of the moment. “Baby wanted to be part of the mute challenge so bad!”

Sarah Francis Jones portrayed Janetta in the 2007 film adaptation of the 2002 Broadway musical Hairspray. Her other credits include Honey (2003), Jump In! (2005), Camp Rock (2008), Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010), Descendants 3 (2019), Julie and the Phantoms (2020) and the Emmy-nominated HBO sci-fi drama The Last of Us (2023).

Check out Jones’ video below.

08 Sep 2023

Life’s a Candy-Colored Beach in Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s Eye-Popping ‘Bongos’ Video: Watch

The calendar says September, but Megan Thee Stallion and Cardi B are clearly not ready to give up their Hot Girl Summer in the new video for their latest joint single, “Bongos.” The Technicolor extravaganza that dropped on Friday (Sept. 8) is filled to bursting with a rainbow of high-fashion looks, shoes so impossibly stacked that even Lady Gaga would have trouble balancing in them and, of course, lyrics that will keep censors working overtime.

For their first collab since 2020’s Billboard Hot 200 No. 1 smash “WAP,” the pair tapped Ukrainian director Tanu Muino (Lil Nas X, Lizzo, Harry Styles), who kicks things off with a shot from behind of dancers in brightly colored bathing suits bouncing along to the song’s hypnotic “bong, bong, bong” refrain as they balance on beachside chaise lounges on geometrically shaped high heels.

After a quick glimpse of Cardi laying in the sand in a purple and pink bikini with a gigantic furry matching hat, the “Jealousy” rapper struts her stuff in Carnival-like blue, pink and yellow flamingo headdresses and matching bathing suits for a mansion full of men in bikinis as she busts out the song’s provocative first verse. “N—a eats this a– like a plum/ This p—y tight like a nun/ Better chew it up like it’s gum/ Then wipe your mouth when you’re done,” she raps over the song’s insistent beat.

“I’m hot like Nevada/ P—y get popped, piñata/ B–ch, I look like money/ You could print my face on a dollar,” Cardi adds before the “Beat it up (bong bong bong bong)” refrain comes around and Cardi twerks in front of an open fridge while rocking a burgundy string bikini and matching cascading braids.

Cardi warned fans in a preview DJ Whoo Kid interview that fans shouldn’t expect the “Bongos” video to serve up the same energy she and Meg brought in the eye-popping “WAP” clip, but the two definitely share a similar high-fashion, all-the-colors-of-the-rainbow aesthetic, minus the latter’s celeb (and big cat) cameos, of course.

Cardi kicks off the second “Bongos” verse modeling one of her wildest outfits ever, a body-hugging paisley bodysuit that matches the pattern on a couch she grinds her hips on while dissing unnamed “dusty-a– hoes.” After Cardi’s surfside hip-swiveling routine with a half dozen dancers, Megan gets her spot, entering the action in a provocative green monokini and matching headdress while posing on a diving board.

“This a– sit like the stallion/ All these wannabes my lil’ ponies/ These hoes camped out in the comments/ Always talkin’ like they know me/ Thick b—hes in the black truck, packed in,” Meg raps before busting out her own routine on a swim-up platform in front of a massive mansion while bragging about a purse so big “had to treat it like a person.”

And while Cardi promised Whoo Kid the video was “intricate [and] beautiful” and that it had a “different theme” than the “WAP” visual, don’t worry, there are still plenty of be-thonged butts shaking throughout, as well as a Bollywood-style section where Cardi, Megan and their dancers rock the sand in bright, gauzy outfits featuring billowing material on their hips fanned out like wings.

Along the way the pair pose provocatively on a strip-club-worthy oceanside jungle gym before Cardi steals the show with a final, over-the-top look that includes a flowing curly copper wig, enormous orange and purple earrings and foot-high chunky heels that would make an acrobat topple over.

Watch the “Bongos” video below.