Music News

06 Jun 2023

GRiZ Announces Indefinite Hiatus From Touring & The GRiZ Project

GRiZ‘s upcoming summer shows will be the last time to see the producer for the foreseeable future.

Tuesday (June 6) on social media, the Michigan-born, Colorado-based artist announced that starting in October, he’s taking “a good amount of time off from touring and the GRiZ project.”

“Life is really good and I often make myself too busy to see where I am or how far this project has come,” he wrote. “I’m following my gut instincts so for now, I’m not going to put a hard time limit length on the break.” Read the complete statement below.

GRiZ is currently scheduled to play upward of 15 shows between now and late September, including festival sets at Bonnaroo, Shambhala, Breakaway, Moonrise, Secret Dreams, Bass Canyon and Vortex.

On Tuesday, he also announced that his annual Christmas charity event in Detroit, GRiZMAS, will not take place this year or next year, with the future of the event to be determined. The same goes for his annual Space Camp and New Year’s Eve shows. The post notes that the last GRiZ headlining show and curated event will be announced this week.

“Feels like yesterday that i was DJing to a room of no one at 9 p.m. for a free PBR or two,” the statement continues. “I dropped out of college at 21 and moved to Colorado where I’ve been living now for 10+ years working nonstop…so I’m going to make more time to nurture relationship with myself and to my fam and friends that far too often I’ve ignored in place of my relationship with work. I’m excited to take time to travel, find fresh inspiration, write music and to be in a new headspace. I also got myself a spot in Michigan which I’m excited to, in time, move back to for parts of the year.”

GRiZ, born Grant Kwiecinski, has become a titan of the electronic bass/funk scene over the last 10 years, rising out of Michigan to become a headliner at marquee events and venues including Electric Forest and Red Rocks. His GRiZMAS event has raised more than $400,000 for Detroit charities focused on music education for children.

06 Jun 2023

P!nk’s Best Swimsuit Moments

P!nk loves summer activities, as she’s often taking to social media to show fun family bonding moments with her husband Carey Hart and their two children, Willow and Jameson, as they enjoy time together by the water.

The “Trustfall” singer also never shies away from rocking a cool outfit, even when it comes to her swimwear. From pin-up looks to fun patterns, P!nk always has an envy-worthy swimsuit on as she delves into activities like wakeboarding, jet skiing, swimming or even just lounging.

Most recently, the star took to Instagram on Tuesday (May 30) to share some fun snapshots from her weekend with her family, the first being a selfie wearing a banana-printed bikini top. “Lake weekends and a new ridiculous bathing suit,” she captioned the post, before referring to the second photo, in which she’s is seen taking an outdoor shower.

“If you haven’t showered outdoors while your husband tries to scare you every five minutes you haven’t lived!!!!!!” she joked about Hart, whom she’s been married to since 2006.

She’ll surely get some more bathing suit content as she heads out on her upcoming Summer Carnival 2023 tour, where the longtime arena headliner will bring her hits to stadiums across North America, beginning July 24. 

See below for more great swimsuit moments from P!nk.

06 Jun 2023

10 Must-See Rising Stars at Governors Ball 2023: Ice Spice, Kim Petras & More

Get ready to party, New York City. The 2023 Governors Ball is right around the corner, with festivities kicking off Friday (June 9) and lasting throughout the weekend.

And, with three big stages in Queens’ Flushing Meadows Corona Park and three consecutive days to catch your favorite artists performing, this year’s lineup is packing some serious summer heat. Just take a look at the headliners: Lizzo will lead the charge on Day 1, Odesza is up next on Saturday (June 10) and Kendrick Lamar will take on the closing ceremony duties on Sunday (June 11). And, underlining those names on the marquee are other killer acts, including Lil Uzi Vert, Haim, Diplo, Lil Baby, aespa, Rina Sawayama, Lil Nas X and Giveon.

But while those big names are all no-brainers to catch, there are also dozens of artists who are worth seeing but might not be on your radar yet — even though they definitely should be. Grammy winners, flaming hot rising stars — hello, Ice Spice? — and indie acts who are sure to become your next obsession are all coming to Queens this weekend, and you’re definitely not gonna want to miss ’em.

So to help you get a better idea of who should definitely be on your Gov Ball itinerary, Billboard has rounded up some of this year’s most promising artists for your consideration. And whether you’ve never heard of them or know every one of their lyrics by heart, rest assured: They’re going to rock your world this weekend.

Keep reading to see Billboard‘s top 10 must-see artists at this year’s Gov Ball.

06 Jun 2023

Behold These Exclusive Desert Hearts 2023 Sets From DJ Minx, Dusky, Melè, Mary Droppinz & More

A last minute location pivot couldn’t hinder Desert Hearts 2023. The SoCal festival was meant to take place 90 minutes outside of Los Angeles in May, but announced a location change five weeks in advance that brought the festival to the concrete jungle of downtown L.A. on May 5-6.

No bother. Taking place at the The Torch at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Desert Hearts still delivered a barrage of house and techno to ravers who, according to organizers, didn’t actually mind the move at all.

“Not going to lie, leading up to the festival with a venue change a month out from the event, there was a lot of skepticism amongst our beloved community,” Desert Hearts co-founder Porky wrote on social media after the show. “Despite all the hurdles, we remained optimistic, yet determined to not let this bring us down as it was basically our only option…Thank you DH fam for always being the real MVPs and showing up when we all [needed] to rejoice this community back together. Each of you played an inaugural role in making this the best party we’ve ever thrown in L.A.”

Whether you were there for it or not, you can get into the mix of the festival with these seven exclusive Desert Hearts 2023 sets from Detroit house queen DJ Minx, U.K. favorite Melé, Desert Hearts mainstay Lubelski, London duo Dusky, house duo Catz & Dogz and Nebraska-born, L.A.-based Mary Droppinz and a b2b from the Desert Hearts co-founders.

Transport yourself to the best party Desert Hearts has ever thrown in L.A., below.

DJ Minx

Melé

Lubelski

Dusky

Catz & Dogz

Mary Droppinz

Desert Hearts Crew

06 Jun 2023

Hot 100 First-Timers: Chief Wuk Scores First Entry Thanks to Lil Durk Collab ‘Big Dawg’

Chief Wuk notches his first entry on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, thanks to his featured appearance on Lil Durk’s “Big Dawg.”

The song, released May 26 on Lil Durk’s new LP Almost Healed (on Alamo Records), debuts at No. 67 on the survey dated June 10 with 7.4 million official streams in the United States in the May 26 – June 1 tracking week, according to Luminate.

“Big Dawg” isn’t just Chief Wuk’s first entry on the Hot 100, but his first charted title on any of Billboard’s charts. It also debuts at No. 15 on Hot Rap Songs and No. 22 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs this week.

Chief Wuk (real name: Vontrell Voker), from Chicago, is a long-time collaborator of Lil Durk’s. The pair teamed on the track “Turkey Season,” on Durk’s 2021 compilation album Only the Family – Lil Durk Presents: Loyal Bros, plus the album’s “I Ain’t Lying,” with EST Gee. In 2022, Chief Wuk recorded a track on the follow-up set, Lil Durk Presents: Loyal Bros 2: “Thug Life,” with doodie lo and featuring Icewear Vezzo.

But Chief Wuk isn’t the only artist on “Big Dawg” having a huge week — Lil Durk saw 15 of the 21 tracks off Almost Healed land on the Hot 100 this week, while the album hit No. 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and No. 3 on the Billboard 200.

Both albums are credited to Only the Family (OTF), Lil Durk’s Chicago-based drill rap collective and label. In addition to Durk and Chief Wuk, the group includes Icewear Vezzo, Booka600, Lil Zay Osama and, formerly, the late King Von.

06 Jun 2023

Good 4 Us: Olivia Rodrigo Teases Post-‘Sour’ Era, But What Can We Expect?

Olivia Rodrigo had one of the splashiest arrivals in recent pop history, with her eight-week Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper “Drivers License” and her five-week Billboard 200 No. 1 album Sour culminating in her best new artist win at the 2022 Grammys. We haven’t heard any new music from Rodrigo since she released her blockbuster debut album back in spring 2021 — but that might be about to change.

Last week, fans spotted a countdown clock on Rodrigo’s website ticking down to June 30 — but what is coming at the end of the month? On the new Billboard Pop Shop Podcast, we discuss the possibilities (Song? Album? Tour?) as well as all the pressure on the young star to recapture the magic of her first project.

Also on the show, we’ve got chart news on how Morgan Wallen’s One Thing at a Time surrenders the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 after 12 weeks in a row as a familiar face returns to the top of the list: Taylor Swift, whose former No. 1 Midnights jumps back to No. 1 for a sixth nonconsecutive week. Plus, Swift’s latest single, the Midnights track “Karma” — freshly remixed with new featured guest Ice Spice — surges up the Hot 100, jumping 27-2, a new peak.

The Billboard Pop Shop Podcast is your one-stop shop for all things pop on Billboard‘s weekly charts. You can always count on a lively discussion about the latest pop news, fun chart stats and stories, new music, and guest interviews with music stars and folks from the world of pop. Casual pop fans and chart junkies can hear Billboard‘s executive digital director, West Coast, Katie Atkinson and Billboard’s managing director, charts and data operations, Keith Caulfield every week on the podcast, which can be streamed on Billboard.com or downloaded in Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast provider. (Click here to listen to the previous edition of the show on Billboard.com.)

06 Jun 2023

BTS’ ‘Take Two’ Rules Hot Trending Songs Chart Ahead of Release

BTS’ “Take Two” is already No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Trending Songs chart, ruling the June 10-dated list despite not yet being available commercially.

Billboard’s Hot Trending charts, powered by Twitter, track global music-related trends and conversations in real-time across Twitter, viewable over either the last 24 hours or past seven days. A weekly, 20-position version of the chart, covering activity from Friday through Thursday of each week, posts alongside Billboard’s other weekly charts on Billboard.com each Tuesday, with the latest tracking period running May 26-June 1.

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“Take Two” is scheduled for release June 9. It was announced May 30 and will help commemorate the band’s 10th anniversary; the group debuted on June 13, 2013.

Once released, the song will mark BTS’ second song of 2023, following “The Planet,” which appeared on multiple Billboard charts dated May 27, including Digital Song Sales, where it bowed at No. 6.

“Take Two” is BTS’ fourth No. 1 on Hot Trending Songs since it began in 2021 and first since “Yet to Come” in June 2022.

“Take Two” reigns over “The Teacher” from Foo Fighters’ new album But Here We Are. “The Teacher” premiered May 30, ahead of the album’s June 2 debut, and the 10-minute track reaches Hot Trending Songs at No. 2.

Stray Kids’ “Youtiful,” meanwhile, appears at No. 3 ahead of the group’s June 2 premiere of new album 5-Star, and Baby Keem and Kendrick Lamar’s new collaboration “The Hillbillies” reaches No. 4. NCT DREAM’s “Rewind” bows at No. 5.

Keep visiting Billboard.com for the constantly evolving Hot Trending Songs rankings, and check in each Tuesday for the latest weekly chart.

06 Jun 2023

Kristin Chenoweth & Josh Groban to Present at 45th Annual New York Honors Gala

The T.J. Martell Foundation has announced a new set of presenters for the 45th Annual New York Honors Gala scheduled to take place on June 13. Kristin Chenoweth and Josh Groban join the lineup, and will serve as guest presenters for the night, the foundation announced on Tuesday (June 6).

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In addition, Omar Apollo is set to perform, just days after his set at Governors Ball Music Festival. The night will also feature previously announced presenter Ryan Coogler, as well as performances from singers Coco Jones and Brandy Clark. John Esposito, Tunji Balogun, Aaron Bay-Schuck, Robert Carlton, Steve Gawley, Laura Swanson and Julie Swidler will host.

This years honorees will include Warner Records co-chairman and COO Tom Corson, who will receive the lifetime music industry award; chief creative officer and evp at Def Jam Recordings Archie Davis, who will receive the rising music superstar award; and songwriter-producer Shane McAnally, who will receive the spirit of music award. 

The gala will take place in New York City on June 13 at Cipriani’s 42nd street location. The event is the T.J. Martell Foundation’s main fundraiser of the year, and supports the foundation’s goals to fund cancer research and find a cure.

Those interested in attending this year’s gala or purchasing a table at the event can do so on the foundation’s website.

06 Jun 2023

Jelly Roll Reveals 5 Things You Don’t Know About Him | Billboard Cover

Jelly Roll reveals five things you didn’t know about him.

Jelly Roll
What’s up, y’all? This is Jelly Roll. Here are five things you don’t know about me.

No. 1: I used to work at a radio station as an intern when I got out of jail across the street of 106.7, The Blaze. Taz Daddy was the afternoon MC. I was the worst intern in the history of the company and he tells that story every time we’re around each other.

No. 2: Y’all are gonna make fun of me — I can see in the comments. I played football, basketball and soccer. When I was in middle school, I was absolutely mediocre at all three of them.

No. 3: When I was in elementary school, I would walk to school and my dog would walk me to school without a leash and walk itself back. That’s a true fact.

No. 4: I went to community college when I first got out of jail in the state of Tennessee — you have options when you’re on probation or parole. You can either get a job or be a student. I knew I wasn’t going to work a job, so I went and enrolled at Ball State Community College and I’m like, a couple hours away from having one of them, like, associate degrees.

No. 5: My guilty pleasure is golf. I love golf because people drink early in the morning. I, too, like things that involve drinking early in the morning when that’s possible. It’s like a little sanctuary, man. It’s awesome.

Those are five things you probably didn’t know about me.

06 Jun 2023

Queens of the Stone Age Announce The End is Nero 2023 North American Summer/Fall Tour

Queens of the Stone Age announced the dates for their upcoming summer/fall 2023 North American tour, which the band has dubbed The End is Nero. The 28-date outing is slated to launch of August 3 at the Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill in Sterling Heights, MI and includes stops in Toronto, Pittsburgh, Portland, Atlanta, Nashville, Minneapolis, St. Louis, Denver, Portland and Vancouver before winding down with an Oct. 8 show at Aftershock in Sacramento.

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The East coast portion of the tour will feature support from Phantogram and The Armed, while Viagra Boys and Jehnny Beth will be on board for the Midwest and West coast shows. “The End Is Nero tour is an invitation from Joshua Homme, Troy Van Leeuwen, Michael Shuman, Dean Fertita and Jon Theodore to come celebrate the end of the world, which we hear is ‘in a month or two,’” read a statement from the band announcing the shows. “They would like to encourage the obscene and the clean, the outcasts and the weirdos, and anyone and everyone in between to attend, this is where you belong. Leave your judgment at the door, bring anything and everything else.”

The tour is in support of the group’s upcoming eighth full-length studio album, In Times New Roman…, the follow-up to 2017’s Villains. The album drops on Matador Records on June 16 and according to a release, on the eve of release QOTSA have invited fans to attend their MIDNIGHT CLUB parties at record shops and pubs in 23 countries. The parties start at 11 p.m. on June 15 and will feature giveaways, exclusive merch including limited-edition colored vinyl and in a few select locations signed merch and ticket giveaways; click here for locations of CLUB events.

Citi pre-sales began Tuesday morning (June 6) and run until 10 a.m. local time on Thursday (June 8), with the public on-sale kicking off on Friday (June 9) at 10 a.m. local time.

Check out The End is Nero dates below:

August 3 – Sterling Heights, MI @ Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill*

August 4 – Toronto, ON @ Budweiser Stage*

August 5 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE Outdoors*

August 7 – Bridgeport, CT @ Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater*

August 8 – Philadelphia, PA @ TD Pavilion at the Mann*

August 9 – Washington, DC @ The Anthem*

August 11 – Portland, ME @ Cross Insurance Arena*

August 12 – Queens, NY @ Forest Hills Stadium*

August 15 – Raleigh, NC @ Red Hat Amphitheater*

August 16 – Asheville, NC @ Rabbit Rabbit*

August 18 – Atlanta, GA @ Fox Theatre *

August 19 – Nashville, TN @ Ascend Amphitheater*

Sept. 16 – Chicago, IL @ Riot Fest

Sept. 17 – Minneapolis, MN @ The Armory**

Sept. 19 – Omaha, NE @ Steelhouse**

Sept. 20 – Kansas City, MO @ Starlight Theatre**

Sept. 22 – Indianapolis, IN @ TCU Amphitheater at White River State Park**

Sept. 23 – St. Louis, MO @ Saint Louis Music Park**

Sept. 24 – Louisville, KY @ Louder Than Life

Sept. 26 – Rogers, AR @ Walmart AMP**

Sept. 27 – Oklahoma City, OK – The Criterion**

Sept. 29 – Denver, CO @ Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre**

Sept. 30 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Great Saltair**

Oct. 2 – Portland, OR @ Veterans Memorial Coliseum** 

Oct. 3 – Vancouver, BC @ Pacific Coliseum**

Oct. 4 – Seattle, WA @ Climate Pledge Arena**

Oct. 6 – San Francisco, CA @ Bill Graham Civic Auditorium**

Oct. 8 – Sacramento, CA @ Aftershock 

*Phantogram and The Armed support

**Viagra Boys and Jehnny Beth support