Music News

20 Aug 2023

Burna Boy Leads in 2023 Headies Awards Nominations: Full List (Exclusive)

Burna Boy is the top nominee for the 2023 Headies Awards, which celebrates Pan-African and Afrobeats talent. Burna Boy received 10 nominations, including African artiste of the year, best Afrobeats album, best male artiste and song of the year. 

Asake received eight nods. Rema, who collaborated on the global smash “Calm Down” with Selena Gomez, receive five nods, as did Omah Lay, Victony, Simi, Kizz Daniel and Pheelz each received five nods. Oxlade tallied four nods, while Ruger had three.

Drake, Future, Gomez, Don Toliver and Ed Sheeran are vying for international artist of the year at the show, which will be held at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta on Sept. 3. The show will be streamed live on YouTube (U.S.) and HipTV (Africa) Network.

Sean “Love” Combs is slated to receive an International Artiste Recognition award. Youssou N’dour will receive a Hall of Fame award.

Bayanni, Khaid, Guchi, Bloody Civilian, Odumodublvck and Eltee Skhillz are competing for rookie of the year. The winner will receive not only glory, but also also a solar-powered, two-bedroom, fully furnished house.

This is the 16th edition of the Headies Awards. In the past year, three major, all-genre music awards shows have introduced Afrobeats or African music categories. The American Music Awards were the first major music awards show to add such a category. They added favorite Afrobeats artist at the show that aired Nov. 20, 2022. Wizkid was the inaugural winner, beating Burna Boy, CKay, Fireboy DML and Tems.

The MTV Video Music Awards added a new category this year — best Afrobeats. The front-runner is Rema & Gomez’s “Calm Down,” which is nominated in two other categories, best song and best collaboration.

The Grammys added a similar category, best African music performance, this year (for the awards that will be presented on Feb. 4, 2024). Grammy nominations will be announced on Nov. 10.

The Headies Awards, originally called the Hip Hop World Awards, were established in 2006 by the Hip Hop World Magazine of Nigeria to recognize outstanding achievements in the Nigerian music industry.

This will mark the show’s second year at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. It was held in Lagos or Nigeria every year from 2006 to 2021 (except 2017 and 2020, when there was no ceremony).

“We are so excited that The Headies will return to American soil once again,” Ayo Animashaun, CEO and founder of the Headies Awards, said in a statement. “We know that Afrobeats connects people all around the globe, and this year’s event exemplifies and celebrates the power of our culture. The Headies will be an evening not only of dynamic talent, but also memorable moments that will resonate with audiences worldwide.”

The eligibility period is January 2022 to March 2023.

For more details on the 16th Annual Headies Awards, visit theheadies.com.

Here is the full list of nominations for the 2023 Headies Awards.

International Artiste Recognition

Sean “Love” Combs

­Hall of Fame

Youssou N’dour

Special Recognition

Sound Sultan

International Artist of the Year

Drake

Future

Selena Gomez

Don Toliver

Ed Sheeran

Album of the Year

Love, Damini – Burna Boy

Mr Money With the Vibe – Asake

Rave And Roses – Rema

Boy Alone – Omah Lay

Outlaw – Victony

Timeless – Davido

Song of the Year

“Calm Down” – Rema

“Last Last” – Burna Boy

“Ku Lo Sa” – Oxlade

“Buga” – Kizz Daniel & Tekno

“Finesse” – Pheelz Ft. Bnxn

“Sungba Remix” – Asake Ft. Burna Boy

Best Female Artiste

Tems

Simi

Ayra Starr

Tiwa Savage

Best Male Artiste

Asake

Rema

Kizz Daniel

Ruger

Omah Lay

Burna Boy

Rookie of the Year

Bayanni

Khaid

Guchi

Bloody Civilian

Odumodublvck

Eltee Skhillz

Best Recording of the Year

“Alone” – Burna Boy

“Soweto” – Victony & Tempoe

“I’m A Mess” – Omah Lay

“Ku Lo Sa” – Oxlade

“Stand Strong” – Davido Ft. Sunday Service Choir

“No Woman, No Cry” – Tems

Producer of the Year

Magicsticks – “Sungba Remix” (Asake)

P.Prime, Tmxo & Pheelz – “Electricty” (Pheelz Ft Davido)

Andre Vibez & London – “Calm Down” (Rema)

Tempoe – “Soweto” (Victony & Tempoe)

Kel-P – “Kpe Paso” (Wande Coal & Olamide)

Rexxie – “Abracadabra” (Rexxie, Naira Marley, Skiibii & Wizkid)

Songwriter of the Year

Simi Kosoko, Godsfavour Chidozie, Kosoko Adekunle, Marcel Akunwata – “Loyal” (Simi)

Stanley Didia, Adebajo Adebanjo – “I’m A Mess” (Omah Lay)

Tems, Ludwig Goransson, Robyn Rihanna Fenty, Ryan Coogler – “Lift Me Up” (Rihanna)

Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, Austin Jnr Iornongu Iwar, Peace Oredope, Ludwig Goransson – “Alone” (Burna Boy)

Daniel Benson “In My Mind” (Bnxn)

Fuayefika Maxwell – Earth Song (Wizard Chan)

Best R&B Single

“For My Hand” – Burna Boy Ft. Ed Sheeran

“Mmadu” – Ckay

“Just 4 U” – Dami Oniru

“Red Wine” – Preye

“Hard To Find” – Chike – Ft. Flavour

“Loyal” – Simi Ft. Fave

Best Rap Single

“Hustle” – Reminisce

“Big Energy” – Ladipoe

“Back In Uni” – Blaqbonez

“Bando Diaries” – Psychoyp

“Declan Rice” – Odumodublvck

“My Bro” – Jeriq Ft. Phyno

Best Alternative Song

“Earth Song” – Wizard Chan

“Final Champion” – Cruel Santino

“The Traveller” – Basketmouth Ft The Cavemen

“In A Loop” – Boj Ft Moliy & Mellissa

“Game Changer” (Dike) – Flavour

“Tinko Tinko” – Obongjayar

Best Vocal Performance (Female)

Niniola – “Memories”

Simi –  “Loyal”

Waje – “In Between“

Liya – “Adua Remix”

Preye – “Red Wine”

Dami Oniru – “Just 4 U”

Best Vocal Performance (Male)

Oxlade – “Ku Lo Sa”

Ric Hassani – “My Only Baby”

Magixx – “Love Don’t Cost A Dime”

Chike – “Spell Remix”

Praiz – “Reckless”

Wande Coal – “Kpe Paso”

Best Music Video

Blaqbonez & Perliks – “Back In Uni” (Blaqbonez)

Tg Omori – “Pbuy” (Asake)

Director Pink– “Spell Remix” (Chike & Oxlade)

Tg Omori – “Bandana” (Fireboy & Asake)

Director K – “Common Person” (Burna Boy)

Director K – “Calm Down” (Rema)

Best Collaboration

Asake Ft. Burna Boy – “Sungba Remix”

Bnxn Ft. Kizz Daniel & Seyi Vibez – “Gwagwalada”

Pheelz Ft. Bnxn – “Finesse”

Spyro Ft. Tiwa Savage – “Who’s Your Guy Remix”

Pheelz Ft. Davido – “Electricity”

Wande Coal Ft. Olamide – “Kpe Paso”

Best Street-Hop Artiste

Rexxie Ft. Naira Marley & Skiibii – “Abracadabra”

Seyi Vibez – “Chance (Na Ham)”

Asake – “Joha”

Zlatan Ft. Young Jonn – “Astalavista”

Poco Lee & Hotkid – “Otilo”

Mohbad – “Peace”

Afrobeats Single of the Year

“Last Last” – Burna Boy

“Rush” – Ayra Starr

“Buga” – Kizz Daniel & Tekno

“Finesse” – Pheelz Ft Bnxn

“Who’s Your Guy?” – Spyro

“Asiwaju” – Ruger

Headies’ Viewers’ Choice

Ruger – “Asiwaju”

Victony & Tempoe – “Soweto”

Fireboy Dml & Asake – “Bandana”

Ayra Star – “Rush”

Asake – “Terminator”

Mavins – “Overloading (Overdose)”

Crayon – “Ijo (Laba Laba)”

Oxlade – “Ku Lo Sa”

Kizz Daniel & Tekno – “Buga”

Pheelz & Davido – “Electricity”

Best West African Artiste of the Year

­Gyakie (Ghana)

Black Sherif (Ghana)

The Therapist (Liberia)

Camidoh (Ghana)

Best East African Artiste of the Year

Zuchu

Diamond Platinumz

Rayvanny

Eddy Kenzo

Hewan Gebreworld

Best North African Artiste of the Year

Marwa Loud – Morocco

Wegz – Egypt

El Grande Toto – Morocco

Soolking – Algeria

Best Southern African Artiste of the Year

Aka (South Africa)

Nasty C – South Africa

Costa Titch – South Africa

Uncle Waffles – South Africa

Focalistic – South Africa

Dj Tarico – Mozambique

Best Central African Artiste of the Year

Fally Ipupa – Democratic Republic of Congo

Gaz Mawete – Democratic Republic of Congo

Matias Damasio – Angola

Emma’a – Gabon

Libianca – Cameroon

Best R&B Album

Home – Johnny Drille

The Brother’s Keeper – Chike

Reckless – Praiz

Waje 2.0 – Waje

Matter of Time – Dami Oniru

To Be Honest (Tbh) – Simi

Best Alternative Album

Horoscopes – Basketmouth

Gbagada Express – Boj

Some Nights I Dream of Doors – Obongjayar

Subaru Boys: Final Heaven – Cruel Santino

Heart of the Heavenly Undeniable – Somadina

Native World – Native Sound System

Best Rap Album

Fly Talk Only – Payper Corleone

Palmwine Music Vol 3 – Show Dem Camp

Young Preacher – Blaqbonez

Ypszn3 – Psychoyp

Teslim: The Energy Still Lives in Me – Vector

Billion Dollar Dream – Jeriq

Next Rated

Young Jonn

Seyi Vibez

Asake

Victony

Spyro

African Artiste of the Year

Rema (Nigeria)

Burna Boy (Nigeria)

Marwa Loud (Morocco)

Black Sherif (Ghana)

Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)

Lyricist on the Roll

Ladipoe – “Clowns”

Vector – “Clowns”

Payper Corleone – “Fly Talk Only”

Alpha Ojini – “Vigilante Bop”

A-Q – “Family First”

Tec (Sdc) – “Live Life”

Best Inspirational Single

“Stand Strong” – Davido Ft Sunday Service Choir

“Jireh (My Provider)” – Limoblaze, Lecrae & Happi Music

“This Year” – Victor Thompson & Ehis ‘D’ Greatest

“Eze Ebube” – Neon Adejo

“Tobechukwu” – Nathaniel Bassey And Mercy Chinwo

“I Get Backing” – Victoria Orenze

Digital Artiste of the Year

Burna Boy

Ayra Starr

Rema

Omah Lay

Kizz Daniel

Asake

20 Aug 2023

Travis Scott’s ‘Utopia’ Notches Third Straight Week Atop Billboard 200

Travis Scott’s Utopia scores a third total and consecutive week atop the Billboard 200 albums chart (dated Aug. 26), as the album earned 185,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. in the week ending Aug. 18 (up 26%), according to Luminate. With three total weeks at No. 1 (the set debuted atop the tally), Utopia has the most weeks at No. 1 for a rap album in nearly two years, since Drake’s Certified Lover Boy spent five nonconsecutive weeks at No. 1 (Sept. 18-Nov. 6, 2021, charts). Plus, Scott ties his longest Billboard 200 reign, among his three No. 1s; Astroworld led for three weeks in 2018.  

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Also in the top 10 of the Billboard 200, Karol G logs her second top five-charting set of 2023 (and of her career), as Mañana Será Bonito (Bichota Season) launches at No. 3. The new effort follows the similarly titled Mañana Será Bonito, which debuted at No. 1 on the March 11-dated list. (Though they have nearly the same title, the albums’ tracklists are different.)

The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week in the U.S. based on multi-metric consumption as measured in equivalent album units, compiled by Luminate. Units comprise album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). Each unit equals one album sale, or 10 individual tracks sold from an album, or 3,750 ad-supported or 1,250 paid/subscription on-demand official audio and video streams generated by songs from an album. The new Aug. 26, 2023-dated chart will be posted in full on Billboard‘s website on Aug. 22. For all chart news, follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both Twitter and Instagram.

Of Utopia’s 185,000 equivalent album units earned in the week ending Aug. 17, album sales comprise 99,000 (up 169%), SEA units comprise 86,000 (down 22%, equaling 124.13 million on-demand official streams of the streaming set’s 19 songs) and TEA units comprise a negligible sum (down 38%).

Utopia’s album sales grew in the set’s third week thanks in part to a promotional offer in Scott’s official webstore, which discounted the Utopia vinyl LP from $50 to only $5 for a limited time. Of Utopia’s 99,000 sales for the week, vinyl accounted for 93,000. That sum marks Utopia’s best week on vinyl yet, the seventh-largest sales week on vinyl for any album since Luminate began tracking sales in 1991, and the biggest week for an R&B/hip-hop or rap album on vinyl in that same period.

Morgan Wallen’s chart-topping One Thing at a Time is a non-mover at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, with 94,000 equivalent album units earned (up 2%).

Karol G collects her second top five-charting album of 2023, as Mañana Será Bonito (Bichota Season) debuts at No. 3 with 67,000 equivalent album units earned. Of that sum, SEA units comprise 49,000 (equaling 68.26 million on-demand official streams of the streaming set’s 10 tracks), album sales comprise 17,000 (it was available as a digital download album, CD and vinyl LP) and TEA units comprise 1,000.

The Barbie soundtrack dips 3-4 on the Billboard 200 with 65,000 equivalent album units earned (down 12%).

Taylor Swift’s former No. 1 Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) falls 4-5 with 61,000 equivalent album units earned (up 1%). It’s the first of four Swift albums in the top 10. It’s joined by former leaders Midnights (5-6 with 58,000; up 3%), Lover (6-7 with 54,000; up 6%) and 1989 (13-9 with 45,000; up 13%). The lattermost album, which debuted at No. 1 in 2014, returns to the top 10 for the first time since early 2016. It surges up the list thanks to publicity and consumption generated by Swift’s announcement on Aug. 9 that 1989 would be her next re-recorded album, and that it will be released on Oct. 27. Swift holds four albums in the top 10 for a fourth time, having become the first living artist to achieve the feat in nearly 60 years last month.

Rounding out the top 10 of the new Billboard 200, Peso Pluma’s Génesis is stationary at No. 8 (46,000 units; down 1%), while Wallen’s chart-topping Dangerous: The Double Album sits still at No. 10 (nearly 44,000 units; up 2%).

Luminate, the independent data provider to the Billboard charts, completes a thorough review of all data submissions used in compiling the weekly chart rankings. Luminate reviews and authenticates data. In partnership with Billboard, data deemed suspicious or unverifiable is removed, using established criteria, before final chart calculations are made and published.

20 Aug 2023

Bronco Brings Grupero Glory to UBS Arena in New York City: 5 Best Moments

Legendary Mexican band Bronco made a stop in New York’s UBS Arena on Saturday (Aug. 19) to deliver their signature grupera swagger with a heady repertoire that spanned decades.

With a storied career that has garnered them an ardent international following, their concert was an electrifying spectacle that blended nostalgia with contemporary energy, a todo color.

Indeed, as part of their U.S. 2023 tour, dubbed ¡En Vivo y A Todo Color!, the Nuevo León quintet delivered all-time genre favorites like “Adoro,” “Que No Quede Huella” and the accordion-led ballad “Nunca Voy a Olvidarte,” famously covered by Cristian Castro. The iconic regional Mexican music band also showcased their heart-rending ballads, energetic cumbia, and, of course, their synth-driven grupera classics.

Composed of frontman José Guadalupe “Lupe” Esparza, who also plays the bass, guitarist José Adán Esparza, drummer Javier Cantú, bassist René Guadalupe Esparza, and keyboardist/accordionist Arsenio Guajardo, the electrifying troupe rocked the stage for nearly two hours. 

Neon lights bathed the UBS Arena in a kaleidoscope of colors, while fans from diverse Latin backgrounds and generations came together to show off their swaggering Norteño gear, with plenty of them equipped with their cowboy hats and boots to celebrate the enduring legacy of Bronco.  

Here are the five best moments from Bronco’s ¡En Vivo y A Todo Color! performance in NYC.

20 Aug 2023

Jack Antonoff & Margaret Qualley Marry in Star-Studded Ceremony Attended by Taylor Swift, Lana Del Rey & More

Congratulations are in order for Jack Antonoff and Margaret Qualley, who married over the weekend in New Jersey.

The music producer and Bleachers frontman, 39, exchanged vows with the Maid actress, 28, on Saturday (Aug. 19) in a star-studded ceremony attended by celebrities including Taylor Swift, Lana Del Rey, Channing Tatum, Zoë Kravitz, Cara Delevingne and the bride’s mother, Andie MacDowell, People reports.

The happy couple, who got engaged in May 2022, said “I do” at Parker’s Garage in Long Beach Island, N.J., according to TMZ. Antonoff was spotted in a slick black-and-white suit while his lovely bride donned a beautiful white gown.

Antonoff’s longtime friend and music collaborator Swift was front-and-center at the wedding, sporting a gorgeous light blue lace dress. The pop superstar also attended the couple’s rehearsal dinner Friday at Beach Haven’s Black Whale Bar & Fish House, where spectators gathered in the streets to catch a glimpse of the “Cruel Summer” singer.

Antonoff and Qualley have been romantically linked since being spotted locking lips in New York in August 2021. Their first public appearance together arrived during the 2022 Critics Choice Awards.

Both stars have remained quiet about their engagement, but the actress wore an engagement ring at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2022, where she was attending the premiere of Stars of Noon. She also subtly confirmed the upcoming nuptials in a since-deleted Instagram post featuring her engagement ring with a caption that read, “Oh I love him.”

20 Aug 2023

Oliver Anthony Brings ‘Rich Men’ Hit to Weekend North Carolina Show

Over the past couple of weeks, singer-songwriter Oliver Anthony Music (real name: Chris Lunsford) has seen his name recognition surge as his song “Rich Men North of Richmond,” which criticizes various issues including greedy politicians, high taxes, low pay, and issues surrounding the welfare system. A performance video, posted by radiowv on Aug. 7, has earned over 25 million views, while the song itself has topped the iTunes country chart and the Spotify Top 50-USA chart and seems to be a contender for the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart when it arrives on Monday (Aug. 21).

Anthony brought his live show to fans in North Carolina over the weekend. On Saturday (Aug. 19), he spearheaded a free show at Eagle Creek Golf Club and Grill in Moyock, N.C., a tight-knit community just south of Norfolk, Va., with a population of just over 5,000 people (as of the 2020 census).

Attendees began showing up to the venue around 11 a.m., as lawn chairs and blankets proliferated across the grounds, and people packed in close to the stage, standing shoulder to shoulder prior to the singer-songwriter’s afternoon set. Some members of security estimated the day’s attendance roughly between 6,000 and 8,000 attendees.

Prior to his set, a drone could be seen flying over the crowd, while camera operators filmed crowd footage, noting it was intended to be used for an upcoming music video. A merch stand featured T-shirts emblazoned with Anthony’s name, with some of the shirts also bearing crosses or scriptures. A few lawn signs emblazoned with “Oliver Anthony 2024” were scattered across the lawn, while some children were sporting “Oliver Anthony for President” shirts.

The “Rich Men From North of Richmond” hitmaker took the stage, which was decorated with American flags, and began his afternoon set in a unique fashion; not with crashing cymbals or jangly guitar rhythms, but with prayer. The crowd stayed quiet as Anthony followed by reading a biblical scripture.

He began his set with “I Want to Go Home,” before offering up “Ain’t Gotta Dollar,” “’90 Some Chevy,” “I Gotta Get Sober” later performing his main draw, “Rich Men From North of Richmond.” No pyrotechnics, no flashy stage lights, no choreography; Anthony primarily stayed close to the microphone, playing a set heavy on mid-tempo songs. Though he noted at one point that his grizzled voice was a bit tired, he sounded strong as he rolled through a slate of songs he’s released over the past year or so.

Though some conservative-leaning media personalities were among the many sharing the song, initially helping it to gain traction, the artist himself made no political statement during the show, keeping his music front and center. He kept his comments to the crowd brief, primarily thanking them for their support of his music. At one point, the crowd began chanting “USA! USA!” and at another moment, a crowd member attempted to begin a “Let’s Go Brandon” anti-president Biden chant that quickly fizzled, even drawing criticism from some attendees seated farther from the stage. Other attendees held up American flags during the performance.

Though Jamey Johnson previously showed up as a surprise guest during one of Anthony’s previous shows; the Moyock show had no special guests, but the artist did reprise a performance of Johnson’s “In Color,” welcoming one of the day’s opening acts to the stage.

Here, we look at five standouts from the day:

19 Aug 2023

Dealer Gets 10 years in Prison in Death of Michael K. Williams

A New York City drug dealer was sentenced Friday (Aug. 18) to 10 years in prison for providing The Wire actor Michael K. Williams with fentanyl-laced heroin, causing his death.

Irvin Cartagena, 40, of Aibonito, Puerto Rico, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams. Cartagena had pleaded guilty in April to conspiring to distribute drugs.

Williams overdosed in his Brooklyn penthouse apartment in September 2021. He died hours after authorities said he bought the heroin from Cartagena on a sidewalk in Brooklyn’s Williamsburg neighborhood in a deal recorded by a security camera.

Williams famously portrayed Omar Little, the rogue robber of drug dealers, in HBO’s The Wire, which ran from 2002 to 2008. In addition to his work on the critically acclaimed drama, Williams also starred in films and other TV series such as Boardwalk Empire.

Cartagena faced a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and could have faced up to 40 years behind bars.

“I am very sorry for my actions,” he said before the sentence was announced. “When we sold the drugs, we never intended for anyone to lose their life.”

Abrams noted that those who knew Cartagena said that he was “helpful and humble and hard working” when he was not using drugs himself.

“I’m hopeful that with treatment, … it will help you move forward on a more productive and law-abiding path,” the judge said.

In a statement, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams noted that those who participated in the sale of drugs to Williams already knew that someone else had died from drugs they were peddling.

Prosecutors said Cartagena and others continued to sell fentanyl-laced heroin in Manhattan and Brooklyn even after Williams died, although Cartagena eventually fled to Puerto Rico, where he was arrested in February 2022.

In a defense submission prior to sentencing, Cartagena’s lawyer, Sean Maher, said his client was paid for his street sales in heroin to support his own use.

“In a tragic instant, Mr. Cartagena was the one who handed the small packet of drugs to Mr. Williams — it easily could have been any of the other men who were there or in the vicinity selling the same drugs,” Maher wrote. “Sentencing Mr. Cartagena to double digits of prison time will not bring back the beautiful life that was lost.”

Prosecutors in a presentence submission had requested a sentence of at least 12 years while the court’s Probation Department had recommended a 20-year term after citing Cartagena’s 14 prior convictions for drug-related crimes, including burglary, robbery and prison escape.

Abrams, though, said the recommendations were “simply too high.”

“This sentence, while severe, is sufficient but not greater than necessary,” she said.

19 Aug 2023

Drake Impressively Catches Copy of His Poetry Book Hurled by Fan at S.F. Concert: Watch

Drake showed off his lightning-quick reflexes during the Bay Area stop of his It’s All a Blur Tour.

On Friday (Aug. 18), during his first of two concerts at the Chase Center in San Francisco, the 36-year-old rap superstar effortlessly avoided being struck in the head by a copy of his new poetry book, Titles Ruin Everything: A Stream of Consciousness.

In a fan-captured video from the show, Drizzy is seen impressively catching the all-blue paperback book, which he wrote alongside his friend and songwriting collaborator Kenza Samir. After the save, the Toronto MC was quick to point out the person who hurled the book.

“You lucky I’m quick. Would’ve had to beat your a– if that hit me in the face,” Drake sternly told the fan.

Titles Ruin Everything, a book of lyrics, poems and one-liners, dropped earlier this summer through the “Rich Flex” rapper’s merchandise store drakerelated.com and other select retailers, including publisher Phaidon.

Drake isn’t a stranger to random objects being thrown at him during live performances. In recent months, the artist has fended off everything from bras and vapes to cell phones. He’s the latest victim of a dangerous trend in which musicians are being struck by random items at concerts. 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 items, including a phone, sex toy and bracelet, respectively.

Drake will be on the road with his joint It’s All a Blur Tour with 21 Savage through early October, visiting U.S. and Canadian arenas before closing out with a final show in Columbus, Ohio. The trek marks Drake’s first North American tour in five years, following 2018’s Drake & The Three Migos Tour. In 2019, he toured through Europe with support from recently imprisoned rapper Tory Lanez and Radio 1 DJ Tiffany Calver.

19 Aug 2023

Ariana Grande Celebrating ‘Yours Truly’ 10th Anniversary With Deluxe Digital Release, Live Performances & More

Ariana Grande has big plans for the 10th anniversary of Yours Truly.

The 30-year-old pop star and actress announced through social media on Saturday (Aug. 19) a week’s worth of surprises to celebrate her 2013 debut album, which bowed at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.

In a video post on Instagram featuring a mix of past and present footage, the Wicked star revealed that the rollout begins on Friday (Aug. 25) with a deluxe digital release of Yours Truly, along with newly recorded live performances of “Honeymoon Avenue” and “Daydreamin’.”

On Saturday (Aug. 26), Grande will drop the first part of a Q&A and a merch capsule, followed by a live performance of “Baby I” on Sunday (Aug. 27). The festivities continue on Monday (Aug. 28) with an unspecified vinyl pre-order, along with part two of the Q&A. Tuesday (Aug. 29) brings two more live performances (“Tattooed Heart” and “Right There”).

The celebration concludes Wednesday (Aug. 30) — marking the 10th anniversary release date of Yours Truly — with a live performance of “The Way” and “some behind the scenes stuff we found,” the singer writes.

Grande took to her Instagram Stories to specify that the deluxe digital release of Yours Truly will feature “the Live from London, updated versions of the songs we performed from” the album. The “7 Rings” singer added, “I can’t wait for you to hear them. This was such a healing and special project to do.”

Released Aug. 30, 2013, through Republic Records, Yours Truly served as the world’s proper introduction to the pint-sized star with major pipes who, up until then, had only been familiar to tweens as the star of Nickelodeon’s Victorious, its spinoff Sam & Cat and Broadway’s 13.

See Grande’s post on Instagram below.

19 Aug 2023

Oliver Anthony’s Co-Manager on the Viral Success of ‘Rich Men North of Richmond’ and Singer’s Mission: ‘God has Chosen to Speak Through Oliver’: Exclusive

In his first major interview, Oliver Anthony’s co-manager Draven Riffe talked to Billboard about the whirlwind that has surrounded the Virginia country singer over the past week-and-a-half since his everyman anthem “Rich Men North of Richmond” went viral and record labels have clamoring to sign him. 

On Saturday (Aug. 19), near a playground in front of the venue before Anthony’s afternoon show at Eagle Creek Golf Club and Grill in Moyock, N.C., Riffe explained how he met the singer-songwriter and why Anthony’s newly assembled team is “taking it slow” when it comes to weighing the multitude of offers coming his way, even those from high-profile artists. During the conversation, thousands of fans flocked to a nearby outdoor stage surrounded by a few food and beverage trucks, waiting for Anthony, whom Riffe said was saving his voice and, therefore, declined to speak with Billboard.  

Riffe only became aware of Anthony (whose real name is Christopher Anthony Lunsford; his stage name is in honor of his grandfather, Oliver Anthony) within the past month. A Missouri friend of Riffe, from the manager’s days as a touring musician, sent him Anthony’s music. Riffe knew it was perfect for radiowv, the YouTube page Riffe co-launched in 2018 that highlights unsigned Americana and country musicians from the Virginia/West Virginia region. 

“I listened to Oliver’s music and I just knew he was special,” Riffe tells Billboard. “Normally, it’s ‘OK, this person has a good song and I want to help them out and get them on the channel.’ With Oliver, I called on my friends and family and, on my way to record him and also on my way back, to tell them how special [he was].”

Riffe recorded Anthony outside on his farm in Virginia, where both had the feeling they were embarking on something bigger than just posting the artist’s music. “Personally, I feel like God had a hand in Oliver’s music,” Riffe says. “Me and him, we prayed before the session. Me and him together. We both prayed before we recorded ‘Rich Men North of Richmond.’ We both had an interesting experience the whole weekend. We just  felt like it was for a purpose that was way bigger than us, just two old regular dudes, you know what I mean?”

“Rich Men North of Richmond,” which takes on politicians, taxes, welfare and other issues from a struggling working man’s perspective, exploded after radiowv posted it Aug. 7 and has since garnered more than 24 million views on radiowv’s YouTube page. By Aug. 11, the song had reached No. 1 on the iTunes Country chart, outpacing the former chart leader, Jason Aldean’s controversial track “Try That in a Small Town.” The song is a contender to debut at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 that arrives Monday (Aug. 21). Other songs from Anthony, who has been recording music since 2021, also climbed up iTunes and Spotify’s charts, including “Aint Gotta Dollar” and “I’ve Got to Get Sober.” 

“In our opinion, God has chosen to speak through Oliver and to speak to all Americans through his music, all around the world,” Riffe says. “We’ve gotten comments from Zimbabwe, every country you could think of.” 

Riffe, who manages Anthony with businessman Brian Prentice, says the push has been organic.

“There was not a whole lot of planning involved,” he says. “We just knew if we got the video out there people were going to  love the song and it would resonate with a lot of folks. There wasn’t some big massive planning team around this. I had a few friends who helped us push the song out there, like my friend Josh [Baer], who has a page called Country Central. We all coordinated and Oliver’s following as well, we just tried to push it out there all at once with our little group of friends and that’s how it happened.”

Almost immediately, social media jumped on the song. Even though Anthony said in a video that “I sit pretty dead center down the aisle on politics and always have,” among those amplifying the song were right wing pundits and politicians, including Joe Rogen, Matt Walsh, Breitbart and Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, through posts on X (formerly Twitter) and other outlets. Anthony’s followers have also soared, reaching 743,000 on Instagram and nearly 400,000 on X. 

High-profile artists — including John Rich, who offered to produce his music, and Jamey Johnson joined him onstage last weekend at a free show in North Carolina — have also provided support. 

“There have been other artists who have reached out, honestly just to be a mentor,” Riffe says, namechecking Brent Smith of Shinedown, Jelly Roll, Ryan Upchurch and Randy Travis’ team. Johnson, who Riffe says showed up unprompted last weekend, meant a great deal to Anthony. “He got to talk to Jamey, which was sentimental to Oliver because he grew up burning the speakers up on his vehicle listening to Jamey, so to get up there [on stage] your first time — that was special to Oliver.”

Riffe says, “We’re literally open to working with everybody,” but that no decision has been made as to when and with whom he will enter the studio. 

Similarly, though record labels and booking agents have aggressively chased Anthony — one label head told Billboard, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like this before” — Anthony posted on Facebook on Thursday (Aug. 17) that he was in no rush to sign a deal. “People in the music industry give me blank stares when I brush off 8 million dollar offers,” Anthony wrote.

Riffe affirms that Anthony plans to do as much as he and his team can themselves. “As far as taking things slow, people act as if it’s so complicated, but really, it doesn’t have to be,” Riffe says. “He could play a stadium show tomorrow, but it’s about the music and it’s about making sure it’s right… we just want to take things slow and we’ve  built a tight-knit team.”

Taking it slow entails booking their own shows, including an Oct. 7 concert at Big River Outdoors Campground in Irondale, Mo. From Anthony’s standpoint, the idea is to lift other artists and friends as his own star ascends.

“Oliver’s very passionate, not just about getting his message out, but helping a lot of other musicians [get] their message heard,” Riffe says. “That’s a key part of it. Yes, he can play some big shows with big musicians, but he’s very passionate about bringing other unknown, unheard musicians up and helping them get their music out as well.” 

Riffe says that help extends to providing jobs for those in Anthony’s community. “We’re doing all the booking ourselves,” he says, adding the Anthony is booked through the end of the year. “We’re trying to keep everything in-house as much as we can… If we could have a hand in helping get a person a job they’ll love then we want to do that rather than contracting it out to something that we don’t even know where the money is going.”

Though Anthony is in no hurry to sign any major label deals, that doesn’t mean more music isn’t coming. Riffe says there are five more acoustic videos to roll out from the sessions radiowv recorded at Anthony’s farm that will hit radiowv’s YouTube page and streaming platforms soon.

“That way they’ll get to see the actual live performance and then a more cleaned up version of the song that they get to listen to that’s from the video they’ve seen,” he says.

Assistance provided by Melinda Newman

19 Aug 2023

Britney Spears Breaks Silence Amid Sam Asghari Divorce: ‘I Couldn’t Take the Pain Anymore’

Britney Spears is opening up following her split from Sam Asghari.

On Friday night (Aug. 18), the 41-year-old pop superstar took to Instagram to break her silence after the fitness instructor and actor, 29, filed for divorce earlier in the week.

“As everyone knows, Hesam and I are no longer together … 6 years is a long time to be with someone so, I’m a little shocked but … I’m not here to explain why because its honestly nobody’s business !!!” Spears wrote alongside a video of herself dancing to Janet Jackson’s 1993 hit “If.”

“But, I couldn’t take the pain anymore honestly !!! In some sort of telepathic way I have been receiving so many messages that melt my heart from friends and I thank you !!! I’ve been playing it strong for way too long and my Instagram may seem perfect but it’s far from reality and I think we all know that !!! I would love to show my emotions and tears on how I really feel but some reason I’ve always had to hide my weaknesses !!!”

Asghari filed for divorce from the pop star on Wednesday (Aug. 16) in Los Angeles Superior Court, per documents obtained by Billboard. The filing notes that the couple separated on July 28, with Asghari citing irreconcilable differences as the reason for divorce. He also seeks spousal support from Spears.

The “Hold Me Closer” singer and Asghari began dating after they met on the set of her “Slumber Party” music video in 2016. After dating for five years, the couple got engaged in September 2021 and soon tied the knot in a star-studded Los Angeles wedding ceremony in June 2022. Just a month before their wedding, Spears revealed that she suffered a pregnancy loss.

“If I wasn’t my dad’s strong soldier, I would be sent away to places to get fixed by doctors !!! But that’s when I needed family the most !!! You’re supposed to be loved unconditionally … not under conditions !!!!” Spears continued in her Instagram post. “So I will be as strong as I can and do my best !!! And I’m actually doing pretty damn good !!! Anyways have a good day and don’t forget to smile !!!”

A day after filing for divorce, Asghari posted a statement on his Instagram Stories. “After six years of love and commitment to each other, my wife and I have decided to end our journey together,” he wrote. “We will hold onto the love and respect we have for each other and I wish her the best always. S— happens. Asking for privacy seems ridiculous so I will just ask for everyone including media to be kind and thoughtful.”

See Spears’ post on Instagram below.