Music News

02 Aug 2023

Post Malone Opens Up About Childhood Bullies & Which Tattoos He’d Remove on ‘Call Her Daddy’

Before he was a chart-topping rapper-turned-rockstar, Post Malone was just a kid who got his alias from a rap name generator and was bullied throughout school for his “weirdo” personality.

On the latest episode of Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy podcast, the “Circles” singer opened up about his humble beginnings growing up in upstate New York, sharing he used to picked on quite a bit by his classmates. “I’ve always been kind of an introverted kid,” he explained. “I loved to express, I love making music forever, I love playing games. Weird, a little weirdo.”

“I moved when I was nine, and then I used to get bullied a whole bunch in school,” he continued. “I guess for dressing the way I did. We wore skinny jeans and all that stuff, and that was just kind of like a new deal. I don’t know. And people’d throw gum in my hair… Kids are mean.”

On another note, when asked which of his famous tattoos he’d remove, Post replied, “For my mommy, something on my face.”

The 28-year-old artist is fresh off the Friday (July 28) release of his new album Austin, named after his own real first name (Post is actually his legal last time, and as he shared with Cooper, “Malone” was suggested by an online generator). He’s currently in the middle of a global trek dubbed the If Y’all Weren’t Here, I’d Be Crying Tour. Just after recording his Call Her Daddy episode, he performed in Boston and brought out his “Dial Drunk” collaborator, Noah Kahan, for a surprise performance.

The “Sunflower” musician also touched on his relationship to alcohol and misconceptions that he’s on drugs, both of which he spoke about previously in a recent interview with Apple Music 1’s Zane Lowe. “Everybody thinks I’m on drugs,” he told Cooper. “I am not on drugs. People can see me on stage and they might take my dance moves, people are like, this is what meth looks like… like I’m not on meth.”

Listen to Post Malone’s full Call Her Daddy interview here.

02 Aug 2023

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck Among Stars Who Donated $1 Million or More to SAG-AFTRA

As the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes continue, some of the most influential names in the entertainment business are reaching into their pockets and gifting hefty donations to the SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s Emergency Financial Assistance Program. On Wednesday (Aug. 2), SAG-AFTRA Foundation President Courtney B. Vance announced that the Emergency Financial Assistance Program has raised more than $15 million in the past three weeks. The SAG-AFTRA foundation has served as an independent charity since 1985, and provides relief aid to eligible SAG-AFTRA performers in unexpected financial crises.

Among the top donors who have given $1 million or more are Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck, Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman and Deborra-lee Furness, Oprah Winfrey, Meryl Streep, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Julia Roberts, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively and Luciana and Matt Damon.

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson — whose Moana hit “You’re Welcome” debuted at No. 83 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2016 — was the first to donate a seven-figure sum, Vance previously announced in late July.

According to Vance, “The entertainment industry is in crisis and the SAG-AFTRA Foundation is currently processing more than 30 times our usual number of applications for emergency aid. We received 400 applications in the last week alone.”

While top-earning actors such as Lopez — who has had a successful career in music and film — and husband Affleck have ample economic security, this is not the case for the majority of working actors, hence their decision to strike. Vance continued, “Our Emergency Financial Assistance Program is here to ensure that performers in need don’t lose their homes, have the ability to pay for utilities, buy food for their families, purchase life-saving prescriptions, cover medical bills and more … For more than 38 years, the Foundation has been a safety net for our community during its most challenging times, and much like the COVID pandemic, this work stoppage magnifies the precarious living conditions and financial distress of many actors living paycheck to paycheck.”

Members of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA are demanding a larger share of streaming residuals, increased job security for writers, larger writers’ rooms and a limit on the use of AI in screenwriting and background acting among other negotiating points.

02 Aug 2023

Jason Aldean’s Wife Brittany Celebrates ‘Small Town’ Reaching No. 1: ‘That Sure Did Backfire, Didn’t It?’

As Jason Aldean‘s “Try That in a Small Town” tops the Billboard Hot 100, giving the country singer his very first No. 1 on the all-genre tally of his career, his wife Brittany Aldean took to social media to celebrate — and to clap back at critics on social media as the song and its video have been embroiled in controversy.

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Brittany shared the news of her husband’s chart-topping status on Tuessday (Aug. 1) with her 2.5 million Instagram followers, saying, “Well, yesterday was a monumental day for Jason Aldean. #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart!!…a career first. That sure did backfire, didn’t it?? The best fans EVERRRR,” followed with four heart emojis.

The post also included photos of the couple hugging, as well as a photo of Jason with the couple’s son Memphis and daughter Navy.

Aldean previously earned a Hot 100 top 10 song in 2011, with “Dirt Road Anthem.”

The country singer’s chart-topping moment is part of a history-making week on the Hot 100. With Aldean at No. 1, Morgan Wallen’s “Last Night” at No. 2 and Luke Combs’ “Fast Car” at No. 3, country hits take the Hot 100’s top three spots in a single week for the first time, dating to the Hot 100’s inception in August 1958.

“Try That in a Small Town” was released back in May, but garnered attention after the video — which featured footage of looting, carjackings, rioting and flags burning — was released. CMT soon pulled the clip from its video rotation, sparking both praise and backlash from music fans. Many social media commentators criticized the music video as racist, pro-gun, anti-Black Lives Matter and anti-protests.

Aldean later issued a statement regarding the controversy. “In the past 24 hours I have been accused of releasing a pro-lynching song (a song that has been out since May) and was subject to a comparison that I (direct quote) was not too pleased with the nationwide BLM protests,” his message on Instagram Stories and Facebook said. “These references are not only meritless, but dangerous. There is not a single lyric in the song that references race or points to it and there isn’t a single video clip that isn’t real news footage- and while I can try and respect others to have their own interpretation of a song with music- this one goes too far.”

The video was later edited to remove imagery of a Black Lives Matter protest and additional footage later in the video, shortening the clip by six seconds. Aldean’s label, BBR Music Group, noted the removal was due to clearance issues, according to ABC News.

See Brittany Aldean’s post below:

02 Aug 2023

Ice Spice & Nicki Minaj’s ‘Princess Diana’ Rules Rhythmic Airplay Chart

Ice Spice and Nicki Minaj’s “Princess Diana” reigns atop Billboard’s Rhythmic Airplay chart, as the single advances from No. 3 to rule the list dated Aug. 5. The track ascends to the summit after an 11% jump in plays that made it the most played song on U.S. monitored rhythmic radio stations in the week ending July 27, according to Luminate.

With “Princess Diana,” Ice Spice claims her second Rhythmic Airplay No. 1. Her first was also through a collaboration, as she joined PinkPantheress for “Boy’s a Liar, Pt. 2,” which led the chart for one week in May.

Minaj, meanwhile, secures her 10th visit to the Rhythmic Airplay penthouse. Thanks to her newest champ, she becomes only the third woman to crack the double-digit barrier. Rihanna was the first to the club, achieving her 10th champ with “Diamonds” in 2012, while Beyoncé followed in 2020 as her featured role on “Savage” became her 10th leader. Since then, both artists have increased their counts: Rihanna now sits at 17 No. 1s; Beyonce owns 12.

On the overall leaderboard, Minaj ties Post Malone for the ninth-most Rhythmic Airplay No. 1s among all artists since the chart began in 1992. Drake tops the count with 38 chart-toppers.

As Nicki Minaj reaches a milestone, here’s a recap of her 10 Rhythmic Airplay No. 1s:

Song Title, Artist (if other than Nicki Minaj), Weeks at No. 1, Date Reached No. 1

  • “Bottoms Up,” Trey Songz featuring Nicki Minaj, one, Nov. 30, 2010
  • “Super Bass,” one, Aug. 6, 2011
  • “Touchin, Lovin” Trey Songz featuring Nicki Minaj, four, Nov. 22, 2014
  • “Truffle Butter,” featuring Drake & Lil Wayne, one, March 28, 2015
  • “Hey Mama,” David Guetta featuring Nicki Minaj, Bebe Rexha & Afrojack, one, July 25, 2015
  • “Rake It Up,” Yo Gotti featuring Nicki Minaj, one, Nov. 4, 2017
  • “Big Bank,” YG featuring 2 Chainz, Big Sean & Nicki Minaj, one, Oct. 20, 2018
  • “Hot Girl Summer,” with Megan Thee Stallion & Ty Dolla $ign, one, Oct. 26, 2019
  • “Super Freaky Girl,” four, Oct. 1, 2022
  • “Princess Diana,” with Ice Spice, Aug. 5, 2023

“Princess Diana” was originally released as part of Ice’s Spice Like…? EP in January, before Minaj joined for a remix that dropped on April 14. (All versions of the song are combined for tracking and chart purposes.) In addition to its Rhythmic Airplay coronation, the song jumps into the top 10 on the Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, where it steps 11-9 following an 8% gain in plays in the latest tracking weeks.

Despite the rap prodigy and legend linking up for just the first time this year, the Ice Spice-Nicki Minaj partnership has already produced another Rhythmic Airplay hit with “Barbie World,” featuring Aqua. The song, from the soundtrack to the box-office blockbuster Barbie, pushes 19-14 on the newest chart after a 23% surge in weekly plays.

02 Aug 2023

The Microphone Cardi B Threw Is Up for Auction to Benefit Charities

The microphone Cardi B chucked into the crowd during a recent performance at Las Vegas’ Drai’s Beachclub — in retaliation against a fan who splashed water in her face — is now up for auction on eBay, and the highest bid is closing in on $90,000.

Posted on eBay as “Shure Axient digital Mic Cardi B threw at a person,” the piece of equipment is currently in the possession of Scott Fisher, owner of The Wave, the audio production company used by Drai’s. According to Fisher’s listing, proceeds from the sale — which had a starting bid of $500 — will be given to charity.

At the time of publication, the highest of 61 bids so far was an even $85,000, with the auction scheduled to close at 11:15 a.m. on Tuesday (Aug. 8).

Fisher told TMZ that the mic — which still works — originally cost $1,000, and was pretty easy to locate after Cardi tossed it because it still had tape across it that read “MAIN.” Fisher added that the money from the sale will go to Wounded Warrior Project and local non-profit Friendship Circle Las Vegas, which helps kids, teens and young adults with special needs.

The auction capitalizes on a viral incident that went down over the weekend, during which Cardi was performing for a gathering at Drai’s when a fan threw the contents of their cup at the rapper mid song. In response, Cardi hurled the mic she was using at the concertgoer.

Footage shared by TMZ shows that Cardi appeared to have asked the crowd to splash her with water to help cool her down in the summer heat. “Throw me some water here, b–ch, ’cause I’m hot,” she said cheerfully. “Woo! That s–t feel good.”

She took issue, though, when a fan later aimed and fired a cup of liquid, rather than just a little spritz, dousing Cardi’s face while she was in the middle of a song. A fan has since filed a police report alleging battery, claiming she was “struck by an item that was thrown from the stage.”

Las Vegas police did not mention Cardi by name when confirming a report had been filed, but the location of the alleged incident in the report matched the address of the venue at which the rapper was performing. In a Monday (July 31) statement, the police said that no arrest or citations had been issued, and that “no further details will be provided at this time.”

02 Aug 2023

Kylie Minogue Beats Path to No. 1 on Dance/Mix Show Airplay Chart With ‘Padam Padam’

Kylie Minogue rises to No. 1 on Billboard’s Aug. 5-dated Dance/Mix Show Airplay chart with “Padam Padam.”

The song gained 16% in plays July 21-27, according to Luminate. In all but one of its six chart weeks dating back to its July 1 debut, it has made double-digit percentage gains.

By climbing to the top, Minogue replaces Rita Ora’s “Praising You,” which features Fatboy Slim via a sample of his 1999 classic “Praise You.” That track had been No. 1 since before “Padam” entered the chart, beginning its six-week reign on the June 24-dated tally.

The two No. 1s before Ora’s were also collaborations, with David Guetta, Anne-Marie and Coi Leray teaming up on “Baby Don’t Hurt Me” (three weeks) and Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding on “Miracles” (two). On average, collaborations have ruled for three of every four weeks in the last three years (73% of the last 157 frames), with Minogue one of just nine solo women to get to No. 1 since summer 2020.

But Minogue is no stranger to the top spot, though it has been a while. She last led with “Red Blooded Woman,” for two weeks in May 2004. That track was sandwiched between her other top 10s: “Slow” reached No. 7 in 2003 and “I Believe In You” hit No. 4 in 2005 (marking her last top 10 until “Padam”).

“Padam Padam” is Minogue’s second Dance/Mix Show Airplay chart-topper and 10th chart entry, although her career pre-dates the list’s 2003 launch; she first reached rankings in 1988. She boasts five top 10s on the Top Dance/Electronic Albums chart, with Disco having become her first No. 1 in November 2020.

Meanwhile, being promoted to pop and adult radio, “Padam Padam” — the lead single from Minogue’s album Tension, due Sept. 22 — debuts at No. 40 on the Adult Pop Airplay chart. It’s her first entry on the chart since “Can’t Get You Out of My Head,” which reached No. 23 in April 2002. That song became her second of two top 10s, reaching No. 7, on the all-genre, multimetric Billboard Hot 100, after “The Loco-Motion” hit No. 3 in November 1988.

02 Aug 2023

Beyoncé Appears to Omit Lizzo Shoutout During ‘Break My Soul’ Performance

Beyoncé’s captivating Renaissance World Tour features a setlist that spans the entirety of her 25-year career, including her most recent Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper, “Break My Soul.” During the show, Beyoncé combines the original solo version of “Break My Soul” with the Madonna-assisted “Queens Remix,” in which she shouts out several influential Black women in music across genres and generations. Lizzo and Erykah Badu are among the names that appear in the remix, but Beyoncé delivered those lines a bit differently at her show in Boston Tuesday night (Aug. 1).

The studio version of “The Queens Remix” boasts the lyric “Betty Davis, Solange Knowles/ Badu, Lizzo, Kelly Rowl’.” At Tuesday’s show, Beyoncé did not say Lizzo’s name, and instead chanted “Badu” four times. Both Badu and Lizzo’s names appeared on the screen behind Beyoncé. It should be noted that Beyoncé does not always sing every name in the verse during each rendition of the song.

Beyoncé’s reps have not yet responded to Billboard’s request for comment.

The apparent omission of the “Special” singer’s name did not go unnoticed by fans who shared video from the concert. Just earlier in the day, news broke that Lizzo is being sued by three of her former tour dancers, who claim that they were subjected to sexual harassment and a hostile work environment.

As for Badu, the Grammy-winning neo-soul icon seemingly shaded Beyoncé on Monday (July 31) over perceived similarities between the hats the two artists wear onstage. “I guess I’m everybody stylist,” she wrote in a since-expired Instagram Story.

Watch some clips of Beyoncé’s Boston “Break My Soul” performance below:

@skyealiciaa

her career ended in that moment and my jaw DROPPED! she deserves the shame from the queen and everything else too! beyonce beyhive renaissance renaissanceworldtour renaissancetour boston lizzo ballroom

♬ original sound – skye✿

02 Aug 2023

Grammy Museum at L.A. Live Presents Taylor Swift Pop-Up Exhibit

In celebration of Taylor Swift’s six sold-out SoFi Stadium shows in the Los Angeles area starting this week, the Grammy Museum presents a special pop-up exhibit, “I Can See You (Taylor’s Version) (At Grammy Museum),” open now through Sept. 18.

The exhibit, which is on display in the museum’s fourth floor theater gallery, immerses the visitor into the world of Swift’s recent “I Can See You (Taylor’s Version) (From the Vault)” music video, with a display of 11 costumes and two instruments from the video. The costumes were all worn during Swift’s original Speak Now era.

The music video features actors Joey King and Taylor Lautner breaking Swift out of a museum vault while Presley Cash waits in the getaway car. This is said to be a symbolic representation of how it has felt for Swift to have her fans help her reclaim her music through their support of her first three “Taylor’s Version” re-recordings, all of which have entered the Billboard 200 at No. 1. Swift wrote and directed the music video, with help from director of photography Jonathan Sela, ASC.

“Taylor Swift is about to make history in Los Angeles by setting the SoFi stadium record for the most performances as a headliner,” Jasen Emmons, chief curator and vice president of curatorial affairs at the Grammy Museum, said in a statement. “We’re thrilled to honor this achievement by creating an immersive space for her fans and our community to continue celebrating her all month long.”

Swift’s Speak Now album topped the Billboard 200 for six weeks in 2010-11. The album spawned five top 20 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 – “Mine” (No. 3), “Back to December” (No. 6), “Mean” (No. 11), “Sparks Fly” (No. 17) and “Ours” (No. 13). The album received a Grammy nomination for best country album, but was passed over for an album of the year nod. “Mean,” which Swift wrote in response to her critics, won two Grammys – best country solo performance and best country song.

Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) spent its first two weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. It is the first of the “Taylor’s Version” re-releases to accomplish that feat.

For more information regarding ticket reservations for the exhibit, visit the Grammy Museum’s website.

Exhibit highlights include 13 artifacts, all of which were worn or played by Swift during her original Speak Now era. The first nine artifacts listed here are from the Speak Now tour:

  • Swift’s vintage lace dress from her Speak Now Tour
  • Swift’s Eric Winterling dress from her Speak Now Tour
  • Swift’s custom REEM ACRA dress from her Speak Now Tour
  • Swift’s Valentino gown from her Speak Now Tour
  • Swift’s Jenny Packham dress from her Speak Now Tour
  • Swift’s Susan Hilferty dress from her Speak Now Tour
  • Swift’s Jenny Packham dress from her Speak Now Tour
  • Swift’s Gibson Les Paul red sparkle top guitar from her Speak Now Tour
  • Swift’s Deering banjo from her Speak Now Tour
  • Swift’s Zara dress from her “Mine” music video
  • Swift’s Temperley dress from her “Mean” music video
  • Swift’s vintage flapper-style dress from her “Mean” music video
  • Joey King’s Monsoon white dress and wig from Swift’s “Mean” music video

02 Aug 2023

Francia Raisa Says Kidney Donation to Selena Gomez Came From the ‘Kindness of My Heart’: ‘No One Forced Me’

No, Francia Raisa wasn’t forced to donate her kidney to Selena Gomez — something the actress felt the need to clear up in the Aug. 1 episode of Josh Peck’s Good Guys podcast.

“Never in my life did I picture this,” Raisa began on the show, touching on the speculation that she and Gomez are no longer friends, or that the How I Met Your Father star was somehow forced to give up her kidney to the pop musician in 2017. “I know she and I both went public with our situation years ago … press got ahold of the story and we wanted to tell it.”

“I just felt it in my heart, and I knew, I knew I was a match,” she continued, reflecting on the organ donation process. “No one forced me to do anything. It came out of the genuine kindness of my heart.”

Raisa donated her kidney to Gomez six years ago after the Rare Beauty founder suffered organ damage caused by Lupus. However, the pair of friends seemed to drift apart in the years that followed.

Things came to a head last year when Raisa didn’t appear to take too kindly to a comment Gomez made in an interview with Rolling Stone, during which the singer-actress said Taylor Swift was just about her “only friend in the industry.”

“Interesting,” Raisa commented on a post sharing the quote, to which Gomez replied, “Sorry I didn’t mention every person I know.”

Since then, Raisa has faced an onslaught of hate comments from Gomez’s fans, not unlike the bullying Hailey Bieber says she faced earlier this year regarding her marriage to the “Lose You to Love Me” singer’s ex-boyfriend Justin Bieber. Gomez jumped on Instagram Stories in March to discourage fans from bombarding Hailey with negativity. And, just this week, Gomez seemed to squash feud rumors with Raisa by publicly wishing her happy birthday on Instagram, posting several photos of their friendship through the years.

Still, Raisa says she doesn’t like to read her social media comments because of how severe the negativity is. “I can’t read the comments because I don’t do well with that,” she told Peck. “I really don’t. People are so mean, and they hit you like, right there. Someone said, ‘Oh, you’re just looking for attention because your career is a flop.’ And I’m like, ‘Is it a flop?’ But guys, there’s no beef.”

Watch Francia’s Good Guys interview above.

02 Aug 2023

Beyoncé Honors Dancer Who Was Fatally Stabbed While Vogueing to ‘Renaissance’

Black queer dancer O’Shae Sibley was fatally stabbed outside of a New York City gas station on July 29 while vogueing to Beyoncé’s Renaissance album, according to The New York Times. Now, Queen Bey is paying tribute to the late dancer on her website.

“Rest in power, O’Shae Sibley,” she wrote in all caps.

Sibley, a professional dancer, was also allegedly subjected to a barrage of homophobic slurs before he was murdered, police told CNN. NYPD is currently investigating his death as a possible hate crime. CNN also reports that law enforcement is searching for a 17-year-old whom they believe to be the one who stabbed the dancer.

Renaissance, Beyoncé’s blockbuster Billboard 200-topping seventh solo studio album, is largely informed by Black queer culture, the ballroom scene and dance music, a genre which owes much of its foundation to the toil of Black LGBTQIA+ artists and creatives. The record won four Grammys and spawned the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits “Break My Soul” (No. 1) and “Cuff It” (No. 6). The album featured a number of queer collaborators ranging from Big Freedia and Syd to Ts Madison and Honey Dijon.

Sibley’s death has garnered much attention. “Heartbroken and enraged to learn about O’Shae Sibley’s death this weekend in New York. Despite homophobes’ best efforts, gay joy is not crime,” wrote New York State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Signal on Twitter (July 31). “Hate-fueled attacks are.”

Both GLAAD and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Foundation’s Ailey Extension, of which Sibley was a student, released statements. GLAAD stressed that Sibley’s death is part of a “disturbing rise in violence and harassment” that “cannot continue,” and Ailey Extension fondly remembered Sibley as “a cherished and devoted student [that] had incredible energy in the studio and was loved by instructors and fellow classmates.”