Music News

06 Jul 2023

Britney Spears’ Husband Sam Asghari Calls Out Security Guard’s ‘Disregard for Women’ After Alleged Assault

After Britney Spears filed a police report claiming she was hit by a security guard for NBA rookie Victor Wembanyama on Wednesday night in Las Vegas, her husband Sam Asghari has shared his thoughts on social media.

TMZ broke the news Thursday (July 6), reporting that Spears and Asghari were having dinner at the Aria Hotel when she saw the San Antonio Spurs’ No. 1 draft pick and wanted to take a photo with him. When Spears tapped Wembanyama on the shoulder, Damian Smith, director of team security for the Spurs, reportedly pushed her, hitting her in the face and causing her to fall to the ground, Spears’ report claims.

“I am opposed to violence in any form, especially without justification in the defense of yourself or someone else who is unable to defend themselves,” Asghari wrote via Instagram Story on Thursday. “Self-defense can be unavoidable, but the defense of any woman, especially my wife, is not debatable. I consider my reaction subdued considering what occurred, and I hope the man in question learns a lesson and changes his disregard for women.”

Asghari ended the note with a message for Spears’ fans: “Thank you for the support.”

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department told Billboard when asked about the incident, “On July 5, 2023, at approximately 11 p.m., LVMPD officers responded to a property in the 3700 block of Las Vegas Boulevard regarding a battery investigation. The incident has been documented on a police report and no arrest or citations have been issued.”

Spears herself spoke out on Thursday as well, addressing Wembanyama’s claims after the fact that the pop star “grabbed me from behind” and “security pushed her away.”

“Traumatic experiences are not new to me and I have had my fair share of them,” Spears wrote on Instagram. “I was not prepared for what happened to me last night. I recognized an athlete in my hotel lobby as I was heading to dinner. I later went to a restaurant at a different hotel and saw him again. I decided to approach him and congratulate him on his success. It was really loud, so I tapped him on the shoulder to get his attention. I am aware of the players statement where he mentions ‘I grabbed him from behind’ but I simply tapped him on the shoulder. His security then back handed me in the face without looking back, in front of a crowd. Nearly knocking me down and causing my glasses [to fall] off my face.”

Billboard reached out to Spears’ camp and to the Spurs organization on Thursday and has not heard back as of press time.

06 Jul 2023

Drake Says This Childish Gambino Hit Is ‘Overrated & Over Awarded’

Drake is firing back at Childish Gambino — albeit subtly.

During the rapper’s It’s All a Blur tour kickoff with 21 Savage at Chicago’s United Center on Wednesday night (July 5), a series of headlines scrolled across the stage screens as Drizzy fittingly performed “Headlines.”

Among one of the news lines captured by a fan on TikTok read: “The overrated and over awarded hit song ‘This Is America’ was originally a Drake diss record.”

The blow at Donald Glover’s 2018 Childish Gambino hit actually has some truth to it. The headline seemingly came in response to an interview Glover had with GQ back in April, where the artist revealed that “This Is America” started out as a joke and, yes, a Drake diss track.

“I had the idea three years before,” he says in a video interview with GQ. “I told [director] Hiro [Murai] the idea, and he’s like, ‘I really want to do that.’ The idea for the song started as a joke. To be completely honest, ‘This is America’ — that was all we had was that line. It started as a Drake diss, to be honest, as like a funny way of doing it. But then I was like, this shit sounds kind of hard though. So I was like, let me play with it.”

Watch the TikTok featuring Drake’s “Headlines” performance below.

06 Jul 2023

Jessica Simpson Had One Thing to Say When Asked About ‘Newlyweds’ Resurgence

Amid the early aughts nostalgia that’s been going on over on TikTok in recent months, clips from the reality series Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica have been circulating on the platform.

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The show, which aired from 2003 to 2005, shared a glimpse into Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson’s relationship after they tied the knot in 2002. Their short-lived marriage ended in late 2005 and, at the time, Simpson received most of the scrutiny.

Now, TikTokers are seeing things differently, calling out the 98 Degrees member for actually being the show’s “villain.” In a new interview with Bustle, Simpson reflects on the relationship after the story’s journalist brought up a particularly viral Newlyweds scene in which Lachey is blaming Simpson for a home renovation project that didn’t go as planned.

The Love Is Blind host doubles down on his anger, telling Simpson, “You’re a spoiled brat. You’re a bratty girl.”

In response, Simpson simply told Bustle, “It’s amazing what publicity can do.”

Thankfully, Simpson has since found love with former NFL player Eric Johnson, and the duo got married in 2014. The couple share three children: 11-year-old Maxwell “Maxi” Drew, 10-year-old Ace Knute and four-year-old Birdie Mae.

“I’m still that person,” she joked about her “bratty” attitude to Bustle. “Honestly, if Eric told me I had to do all the laundry, I would still throw it over the banister and throw a hissy fit.”

06 Jul 2023

Carly Rae Jepsen Announces New Album ‘The Loveliest Time’

It was the loneliest of times and the loveliest of times — at least, according to Carly Rae Jepsen. On Thursday (July 7), the pop star announced her next project The Loveliest Time, the follow-up to her 2022 studio album The Loneliest Time.

“I got to know loneliness and discover the beauty in it,” the singer captioned a post of her sitting on the edge of a windowsill and looking at a dark night sky. “The loneliest time taught me that growth comes from being planted in darkness. But now the world has opened itself back up again and in turn so have we. It’s time for celebration and for all the lessons we have learned to burst into joyful action. The Loveliest Time…”

She continued, “At this point you know me so well that I won’t even tease about a b sides. It’s almost disrespectful because you know that it’s coming. And in fact this is the time to announce that it’s here. It’s done and a month from now The Loveliest Time will be all yours. I can’t really call it a b sides as if these were cast off ideas – it’s the completed set to a body of work that taught me so much about love and loneliness and myself.”

Jepsen’s post did not include an exact release date for The Loveliest Time.

Her previous release, The Loneliest Time, was released on Oct. 5. The set peaked at No. 19 on the Billboard 200 and became her fourth top 40 album on the chart.

See Jepsen’s announcement in full below.

06 Jul 2023

Britney Spears Speaks Out After Victor Wembanyama Incident: ‘Physical Violence Is Happening Too Much’

Britney Spears has spoken out after she filed a police report for allegedly getting struck by NBA star Victor Wembanyama’s security in Las Vegas.

“Traumatic experiences are not new to me and I have had my fair share of them. I was not prepared for what happened to me last night,” the pop superstar wrote on her Instagram page on Thursday (July 6). “I recognized an athlete in my hotel lobby as I was heading to dinner. I later went to a restaurant at a different hotel and saw him again. I decided to approach him and congratulate him on his success. It was really loud, so I tapped him on the shoulder to get his attention. I am aware of the players statement where he mentions ‘I grabbed him from behind’ but I simply tapped him on the shoulder. His security then back handed me in the face without looking back, in front of a crowd. Nearly knocking me down and causing my glasses [to fall] off my face.”

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Spears’ recollection of the events aligns with TMZ‘s initial reporting of the incident, which occurred on Wednesday (July 5) at Catch restaurant in the Aria Hotel, where Spears was dining with her husband Sam Asghari and two friends. The publication reported that when Spears tapped Wembanyama on the shoulder, the San Antonio Spurs player’s Director of Team Security Damian Smith pushed her, hitting her in the face as she fell to the ground.

In a statement shared by Associated Press, Wembanyama said that Spears “grabbed me from behind,” and that he didn’t know it was the “Womanizer” singer until hours later. “I just know the security pushed her away. I don’t know with how much force but security pushed her away. I didn’t stop to look so I could walk in and enjoy a nice dinner,” he said.

TMZ reported that Spears’ security team met with Smith, and the superstar ultimately decided to file a police report alleging battery.

“I get swarmed by people all the time,” Spears wrote in her statement. “In fact, that night. I was swarmed by a group of at least 20 fans. My security team didn’t hit any of them.”

She continued, “This story is super embarrassing to share with the world but it’s out there already. However, I think it’s important to share this story and urge people in the public eye to set an example and treat all people with respect.”

Spears concluded by thanking the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department for their work, adding: “Physical violence is happening too much in this world. Often behind closed doors. I stand with all the victims and my heart goes out to all of you!!! I have get to get a public apology from the player, his security or their organization. I hope they will…”

See her full statement below.

06 Jul 2023

NBA Rookie Victor Wembanyama Says He Was ‘Grabbed From Behind’ in Britney Spears Incident

LAS VEGAS (AP) — San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama said Thursday (July 6) he believes Britney Spears grabbed him from behind as he was walking into a restaurant at a Las Vegas casino, and that the security detail he was with pushed the pop star away.

Wembanyama said he wasn’t told that Spears was the person who grabbed him until hours later.

Spears filed a police report saying she was struck by a security guard while trying to get the attention of Wembanyama, a person with knowledge of the matter said Thursday. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the police report had yet to be released publicly.

Spears’ representatives did not respond to a request for comment and police officials did not immediately return a message seeking more details. Wembanyama said security advised him to not stop for anyone as he walked into the restaurant, mindful that pausing could cause a stir and allow a crowd to build.

“Something did happen, a little bit, when I was walking with some security from the team to some restaurant,” Wembanyama said. “We were in the hall. There was a lot of people, so people were calling [at] me, obviously. There was one person who was calling me but we talked before with security.

“I couldn’t stop. That person was calling me, ‘Sir, sir,’ and that person grabbed me from behind,” Wembanyama said. “I didn’t see what happened because I was walking straight and didn’t stop. That person grabbed me from behind — not on my shoulder, she grabbed me from behind. I just know the security pushed her away. I don’t know with how much force but security pushed her away. I didn’t stop to look so I could walk in and enjoy a nice dinner.”

TMZ first reported details of the event that took place Wednesday night near a restaurant at the ARIA hotel and casino. TMZ said Spears was in a group of four trying to enter a restaurant for dinner and that she “was swarmed by fans as she entered the casino.” TMZ said she noticed Wembanyama and tapped him on the shoulder in an effort to get his attention; Spears, the site said, wound up being struck in the face and having her glasses knocked off.

“I didn’t know for a couple hours, but when I came back to the hotel … I thought it was no big deal, and then security of the Spurs told me it was Britney Spears,” Wembanyama said. “At first, I was like, ‘You’re joking,’ but yeah, it turns out it was Britney Spears. I never saw her face. I just kept walking straight.”

He was unaware that the situation had made headlines until Thursday.

“I saw the news obviously this morning. I woke up to a couple of phone calls,” Wembanyama said.

Wembanyama will make his NBA Summer League debut with the Spurs on Friday night in Las Vegas against the Charlotte Hornets. He signed some autographs for fans at the ARIA on Wednesday night and did the same for a small number of onlookers as he entered a local high school for practice with the Spurs on Thursday morning.

06 Jul 2023

Above & Beyond Earn First RIAA Gold-Certified Record

Above & Beyond are going further than ever before, with the electronic trio earning their first RIAA Gold Record via their 2019 track “Don’t Leave.”

The song comes from the group’s 2019 ambient album Flow State, which was designed for use during yoga and meditation. The certification marks 500,000 units moved of the song, with the track’s success bolstered via Amazon Music, which has pushed yoga and meditation music over the past few years. Multiple tracks from Flow State appeared on ambient-oriented Amazon Music playlists, with more than 70% of the Amazon Music plays of “Don’t Leave” coming from such curated programming.

“Our wellness and meditation customers are incredibly discerning; if a song isn’t resonating with them, we see that quickly,” says John Farrey, dance & electronic lead at Amazon Music. “Above & Beyond put the same care into their work in the wellness space that they do for the dance floor, and it’s that attention that has led to the staying power of ‘Don’t Leave’ on Amazon Music.”

The success of “Don’t Leave” also marks the first RIAA Certification for Anjunabeats and Anjunadeep, the labels founded by Above & Beyond and the home of all their music. The album also marked the inspiration for the latest A&B-related label, Reflections, a home for ambient, downtempo and wellness-related music. Launched in 2022, Reflections averages one release per week and is designed to be a home for electronic producers to explore different facets of their sound.

The RIAA certification of “Don’t Leave” was celebrated last night in Brooklyn, where the trio’s Paavo Siljamaki and longtime collaborator Elena Brower (a contributor to Flow State) hosted a sunset yoga session on the roof of Amazon Music.

“Our music has always been about getting in touch with, and understanding and accepting our emotions,” says Siljamaki. “After those amazing yoga sets, we realized that there is a bigger place for this more reflective music within our little universe. With the Flow State project, we want to help bring people’s attention and focus towards helping themselves find better mental fitness and overall happiness in life.”

06 Jul 2023

Drake Gets Hit By Phone Thrown Onstage During Tour Kickoff

The string of artists getting hit by objects onstage continues, as Drake fell victim to the ridiculous, dangerous trend on Wednesday night (July 5).

The rapper took the stage at Chicago’s United Center for the opening night of his long-awaited It’s All a Blur Tour with 21 Savage, when he was hit in the arm by a cell phone.

In a TikTok video capturing the moment, Drizzy was Ginuwine’s “So Anxious” when the phone hit him. Drake then looked at his hand, before continuing the performance like a pro.

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, respectively, a phone, a sex toy and bracelet.

Ava Max was also slapped by a fan who rushed the stage, and another concertgoer threw their mother’s ashes onto the stage during P!nk’s performance at BST Hyde Park in London on June 25.

Adele even addressed the concerning 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.”

06 Jul 2023

Blur Earns First Airplay Chart Top 10 Since 1997, With ‘The Narcissist’

For the first time since 1997, Blur is in the top 10 of a Billboard airplay chart.

“The Narcissist,” the lead single from the Damon Albarn-fronted band’s upcoming album The Ballad of Darren, rises to No. 8 on the Adult Alternative Airplay list dated July 8.

It’s Blur’s first time within the top 10 of an airplay tally since the July 19, 1997, edition of Alternative Airplay, when “Song 2” ranked at No. 9.

In between “Song 2” and “The Narcissist,” Blur reached Alternative Airplay once, peaking at No. 22 in April 2003 with “Crazy Beat.”

“The Narcissist” is Blur’s fourth song to hit the top 10 of a Billboard airplay survey. In addition to “The Narcissist” on Adult Alternative Airplay and “Song 2” on Alternative Airplay, the band boasts the No. 4-peaking “Girls & Boys” (July 1994, Alternative Airplay) and No. 5 hit “There’s No Other Way” (November 1991, also Alternative Airplay).

Concurrently, “The Narcissist” lifts 32-30 on Alternative Airplay. On the all-rock-format, audience-based Rock & Alternative Airplay chart, the song pushes 42-39 with 883,000 audience impressions, up 9%, in the June 23-29 tracking week, according to Luminate.

The song is Blur’s first to appear on the Adult Alternative Airplay chart, which began in 1996.

Frontman Albarn has achieved a variety of airplay top 10s with his other band, Gorillaz, including one Alternative Airplay ruler in “Feel Good Inc.” in 2005.

The Ballad of Darren, Blur’s first full-length since 2015’s The Magic Whip, is due July 21. The set’s “St. Charles Square” has also been released ahead of the LP.

06 Jul 2023

Britney Spears Allegedly Hit by NBA Player Victor Wembanyama’s Security

Britney Spears has filed a police report after she was allegedly struck by NBA star Victor Wembanyama’s security in Las Vegas on Wednesday (July 5).

According to TMZ, who first reported the news, Spears was having dinner with husband Sam Asghari and two friends at Catch at the Aria Hotel when she saw the San Antonio Spurs athlete and wanted to take a photo with him. When she tapped Wembanyama on the shoulder, Director of Team Security for the Spurs Damian Smith reportedly pushed her, hitting her in the face and she fell to the ground.

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Smith then reportedly apologized to Spears, as he did not recognize the pop star at the time of the incident, and the “Piece of Me” singer accepted the apology. TMZ reports that Spears’ security team then met with Smith, and the superstar ultimately decided to file a police report alleging battery. Law enforcement has since checked the Aria Hotel’s security footage, and it reportedly shows Smith pushing Spears’ hand away from Wembanyama, and that caused her own hand to strike her in the face and fall down.

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department told Billboard when asked about the alleged incident and for the report, “On July 5, 2023, at approximately 11 p.m., LVMPD officers responded to a property in the 3700 block of Las Vegas Boulevard regarding a battery investigation. The incident has been documented on a police report and no arrest or citations have been issued.”

Billboard has reached out to Spears’ team for confirmation and more information.