Music News

16 May 2023

Hot 100 First-Timers: Kali Rings in With ‘Area Codes’

Kali scores her first appearance on the Billboard Hot 100 (dated May 20) thanks to her single “Area Codes.” The song launches at No. 54, as the chart’s Hot Shot Debut — the week’s highest new entry.

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The song, released March 17 via Trump Card/Atlantic Records, arrives on the list with 9.2 million official streams (up 146%) and 1,000 downloads sold (up 426%) in the United States in the May 5-11 tracking week, according to Luminate. It also debuts at No. 8 on Hot Rap Songs and soars 48-16 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. The song interpolates Ludacris’ 2001 hit “Area Codes” (featuring Nate Dogg), which reached No. 24 on the Hot 100.

Recent gains for Kali’s track are owed in part to two new remixes: one featuring Lil Kayla, titled the “415 Remix” (released May 4), and another featuring Kenzo B, the “718 Remix” (released April 27). She previously dropped a sped-up version March 31.

TikTok has been a significant factor in the song’s growing profile, as a portion of it has soundtracked over 475,000 clips on the platform to date. (TikTok itself does not contribute directly to Billboard’s charts.)

Kali — from Roswell, Ga. — is relatively new to Billboard’s rankings. She charted one song prior to “Area Codes,” as her breakthrough single “Mmm Mmm” featuring ATL Jacob, became a hit on multiple radio charts. It reached No. 18 on Rap Airplay, No. 21 on Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay and No. 30 on both R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay and Rhythmic Airplay in late 2021.

She has also self-released two mixtapes: This Why They Mad Now, in 2021, and Toxic Chocolate, in 2022. The latter includes collaborations with BIA, Latto, Moneybagg Yo, Muni Long and Yung Bleu.

16 May 2023

Pres. Biden to Celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month With Stars of Broadway’s ‘Parade’

President Joe Biden will host the stars of the Broadway revival of Parade at the White House on Tuesday (May 16) at an event that will mark Jewish American Heritage Month. According to the Associate Press, the gathering will also highlight the Biden administration’s efforts to combat the rising tide of antisemitism across the nation.

In addition to the performance from the Parade actors, the gathering will feature Biden celebrating the contributions of Jewish Americans and a reflection on how his decision to run for the White House in 2020 was partially inspired by the 2017 neo-Nazi march in Charlottesville, Va. that resulted in the killing of an anti-racist demonstrator at a supremacist rally that former Pres. Donald Trump blamed on “both sides.”

The White House event will feature performances from Ben Platt and Micaela Diamond, both 2023 Tony nominees for their performances in Parade; the musical tells the story of the early 20th century trial, imprisonment and lynching of Jewish American factory manager Leo Frank. The musical’s composer, Jason Robert Brown, will also attend.

During his 2020 run, Biden — who announced his intention to run for re-election two weeks ago — frequently made mention of the “Unite the Right” rally where clashes between white nationalists and counterprotesters resulted in the death of Heather Heyer, who was killed when a white nationalist ran her over her while plowing his car into the anti-racist protesters.

The AP said Biden was also expected to spotlight his appointment of America’s first-ever ambassador-level special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism, as well as increased federal funding to help secure synagogues, Jewish community centers and Jewish day school and convening a White House summit on combating hate-fueled violence.

16 May 2023

Taylor Swift & Matty Healy Exit a Recording Studio Together Amid Dating Rumors

Taylor Swift and Matty Healy aren’t going out of style anytime soon. With dating rumors reaching a fever pitch, the two singer-songwriters were spotted leaving Electric Lady Studios in New York City early Tuesday morning (May 16), marking the latest in a series of rendezvous that has left fans reeling in recent weeks.

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Hours after Healy was reportedly spotted near Swift’s Greenwich Village apartment, the two were seen exiting the famed recording studio close at each other’s sides.

The “Anti-Hero” singer was smiling in a purple NYU sweatshirt and a black miniskirt as she stepped out of the studio to face a sea of screaming fans. Healy followed close behind, gently touching her lower back to guide her into a car waiting for them outside.

Taylor Swift and Matty Healy

Taylor Swift and Matty Healy seen leaving ‘The Electric Lady’ studio in Manhattan on May 16, 2023 in New York City.

Robert Kamau/GC Images

The sighting comes days after Swift and the 1975 frontman were seen dining in NYC with mutual friend and collaborator Jack Antonoff. In photos, they looked to be holding hands. (Reps for Swift and Healy have not responded to Billboard‘s previous requests for comment.)

Healy has also been in attendance at several of Swift’s recent Eras Tour shows, sometimes joining Phoebe Bridgers as a guitarist during the “Motion Sickness” singer’s opening sets.

Many fans have been following Swift and Healy’s rumored love story since the very beginning, and Tuesday morning’s photos from Electric Lady are no exception. “Matty was going to electric lady studio after leaving Taylor’s apartment don’t text,” joked one Swiftie.

Others wonder if the musicians’ time at the studio means a collaboration is in the works. “Taylor Swift and Matty Healy leaving a studio together?? Their music together is gonna be unreal,” wrote another fan.

See more fan reactions to Taylor Swift and Matty Healy’s night out at Electric Lady below:

16 May 2023

Ed Sheeran Returns to No. 1 on Artist 100 Chart Thanks to ‘Subtract’

Ed Sheeran jumps from No. 10 to No. 1 on the latest Billboard Artist 100 chart (dated May 20), returning as the top musical act in the United States for a 15th total week on top, thanks to his new studio album, – (Subtract).

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The set debuts at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart with 112,000 equivalent album units earned in the May 5-11 tracking week, according to Luminate, becoming Sheeran’s sixth top 10.

Sheeran has two additional albums on the latest Billboard 200: former No. 1s = (Equals), from 2021, and ÷ (Divide), from 2017, rank at Nos. 91 and 92, respectively.

Sheeran also charts two songs on the Billboard Hot 100, both from Subtract: lead single “Eyes Closed” vaults 38-19 for a new high, marking his 15th top 20 hit, and “Curtains” debuts at No. 97 (becoming his 54th career entry on the chart).

With his 15th week at No. 1, Sheeran ties Ariana Grande for the sixth-most weeks spent at the summit in the survey’s nearly nine-year history.

Most Weeks at No. 1 on Artist 100:

  • 65, Taylor Swift
  • 37, Drake
  • 28, The Weeknd
  • 21, BTS
  • 20, Adele
  • 15, Ariana Grande
  • 15, Ed Sheeran
  • 14, Justin Bieber
  • 14, Post Malone
  • 13, Morgan Wallen

Elsewhere on the Artist 100, LE SSERAFIM re-enters at No. 6, a new best, thanks to the Korean pop group’s new LP Unforgiven. The set arrives at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 (45,000 units), becoming its first top 10.

The Artist 100 measures artist activity across key metrics of music consumption, blending album and track sales, radio airplay and streaming to provide a weekly multi-dimensional ranking of artist popularity.

16 May 2023

Post Malone Announces Fifth Album, ‘Austin,’ 2023 North American Tour Dates

Post Malone announced the title and release date for his upcoming fifth album, Austin, on Tuesday (May 16). The MC’s follow-up to 2022’s Twelve Carat Toothache will drop on July 28 and be preceded by the single, “Mourning,” which is due out this Friday (May 19).

Posty also revealed the dates for his upcoming If Y’all Weren’t Here, I’d Be Crying North American tour, which is slated to kick off on July 8 at Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville, Ind., and keep him on the road through an Aug. 19 gig at the Glen Helen Amphitheater in San Bernardino, Calif.

According to a release, the 24-date Live Nation-produced tour will give fans Post’s “signature exhilarating performance with music from his upcoming album as well as fan-favorites in a completely reimagined show. “I love y’all so very much and I’m so excited to get out and do some more shows for y’all. Help me put a baby through college and come on out. Some cool new production, new songs, and a very very handsome man up on stage. Sending love to you and yours,” the rapper said in a statement.

Tickets for the tour will go on sale beginning with a Citi presale beginning Wednesday (May 17) at 10 a.m. local time, with additional presales taking place throughout the week ahead of the general onsale, which begins on Friday (May 19) at 10 a.m. local time here.

Before he hits the road, Posty is slated to receive the Hal David Starlight Award at the 2023 Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Dinner on June 15 in New York.

Check out Post Malone’s 2023 North American tour dates below.

  • July 8 – Noblesville, IN @ Ruoff Music Center
  • July 9 – Cincinnati, OH @ Riverbend Music Center
  • July 11 – Detroit, MI @ Pine Knob Music Theatre
  • July 12 – Burgettstown, PA @ The Pavilion at Star Lake
  • July 14 – St. Louis, MO @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre 
  • July 15 – East Troy, WI @ Alpine Valley Music Theatre
  • July 17 – Buffalo, NY @ Darien Lake Amphitheater
  • July 19 – Toronto, ON @ Budweiser Stage
  • July 22 – Mansfield, MA @ Xfinity Center
  • July 23 – Hartford, CT @ XFINITY Theatre
  • July 25 – Camden, NJ @ Freedom Mortgage Pavilion
  • July 26 – Bristow, VA @ Jiffy Lube Live
  • July 29 – Charlotte, NC @ PNC Music Pavilion
  • July 31 – West Palm Beach, FL @ iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre
  • August 1 – Tampa, FL @ MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
  • August 3 – Atlanta, GA @ Lakewood Amphitheatre
  • August 5 – Dallas, TX @ Dos Equis Pavilion
  • August 8 – Houston, TX @ The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
  • August 10 – Albuquerque, NM @ Isleta Amphitheater
  • August 12 – Phoenix, AZ @ Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
  • August 13 – San Diego, CA @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
  • August 15 – Wheatland, CA @ Toyota Amphitheatre
  • August 16 – Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre
  • August 19 – San Bernardino, CA @ Glen Helen Amphitheater

16 May 2023

Faith Hill Planted a ‘Kiss’ at No. 1: Country Chart Rewind to 1998

On May 16, 1998, Faith Hill’s “This Kiss” began a three-week reign on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. It became her fifth of nine leaders on the list, among 24 top 10s.

The song was penned by Beth Nielsen Chapman, Robin Lerner and Annie Roboff. Hill co-produced it with Byron Gallimore.

“This Kiss” was released as the lead single from Hill’s LP Faith, which hit No. 2 on Top Country Albums, marking her third of nine top 10s. She boasts four No. 1s on the survey.

The track became a huge crossover hit, climbing to No. 7 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, as well as No. 3 on Adult Contemporary.

The song became Hill’s second of five Hot 100 top 10s and followed her duet with husband Tim McGraw, “It’s Your Love,” which likewise reached No. 7, in 1997. It dominated Hot Country Songs for six frames.

Hill rose to a No. 2 Hot 100 personal best in 2000 with subsequent country and pop hit “Breathe.” Despite just missing the weekly chart’s apex, the ballad ruled as the list’s No. 1 song for the entire year.

Born in Ridgeland, Miss., in 1967, Hill began a romance with McGraw in 1996 while she toured with him as the opening act on his Spontaneous Combustion trek. They wed in October 1996.

In 2017, the superstar couple released its first collaborative set, The Rest of Our Life, which arrived at No. 1 on Top Country Albums. The album’s “Speak to a Girl” hit No. 6 on Hot Country Songs.

Starting in December 2021, Hill and McGraw starred together on the Paramount+ series 1883, a prequel to the Kevin Costner-starring Yellowstone.

16 May 2023

Maren Morris Dunks on ‘Recently Unemployed’ Tucker Carlson Again at 2023 GLAAD Media Awards

Maren Morris is not ready to make nice. The country star took another swipe at her ultra-conservative nemesis, Tucker Carlson, on Saturday night during the 2023 GLAAD Media Awards, where she drew loud cheers from the room packed with LGBTQ rights supporters while accepting the Excellence in Media Award.

“Maybe I felt a little badass taking Tucker Carlson’s calling me a lunatic for standing up to transphobia, turning it into a T-shirt and raising $150,000 for LGBTQ+ charities,” Morris said while accepting the award that recognizes allies who have “made a significant difference in promoting acceptance of LGBTQ people” in their work. “That made me feel a little cool, but I don’t want to gloat. I would never insult the recently unemployed.”

According to The Huffington Post, the swipe at the former Fox News prime time host known for his xenophobic and homophobic rants inspired the crowd to erupt in applause. Carlson was unceremoniously fired, reportedly with little warning, last month in the wake of the conservative network’s $787 million loss in the Dominion Voting lawsuit.

“The crowds at my shows are a sea of diversity, from race, identity to age,” Morris added in her GLAAD acceptance speech. “It is a loving, safe space for my band, crew, venue staff and most notably, my fans. This community stood up for me and made me feel safe when I felt alone and I’ll never be able to repay them, but I hope I get to spend the rest of my life and career settling up.”

Morris’ ding of Carlson was a reference to the host dubbing her a “lunatic” and a “fake country music person” last year when “The Bones” singer was in the midst of a public spat with Jason Aldean’s wife, Brittany Aldean, after the latter posted comments deemed offensive to the transgender community. “I’d really like to thank my parents for not changing my gender when I went through my tomboy phase. I love this girly life,” Brittany Aldean wrote in a makeup video. Morris initially reacted to Carlson’s firing in late April by posting an Instagram Story in which she wrote “Happy Monday, MotherTucker.”

Morris decided to turn Carlson’s haterade into sweet tea last fall by selling t-shirts with Tucker’s “lunatic” insult that raised more than $150K for Trans Life and GLAAD’s Transgender Media Program. Morris wasn’t done after that, either, going on to join the loud chorus of stars denouncing Tennessee’s anti-drag legislation during a performance at March’s Love Rising benefit concert for LGBTQ causes in Nashville.

Check out a portion of Morris’ speech below.

16 May 2023

Travis Scott Previewed His ‘Utopia’ Album in the Houston Astros Locker Room

Travis Scott knows there’s more than one way to support the hometown team. He proved it on Monday night (May 15) when he gave the members of the Houston Astros a sneak peek listen to his anticipated 2018 Astroworld album follow-up, Utopia.

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According to Fox 26, the Houston native paid a visit to Minute Maid Park last night and hung out with the team before their showdown with the Chicago Cubs. As he was sliding on his Air Jordan 1 Low “Black Phantom” sneakers, Scott told the network’s sport director, Mark Berman, that he was “fresh from Utopia… it’s on the way now, Mark,” adding “I had to come here to play Utopia for the boys down in the locker room. Had to get them right for the game.”

For the record, it seems to work, since the Astros topped the Cubs 6-4.

Scott made it sound like he’s rounding third on the album, but at press time a release date has not yet been announced for the rapper’s first new album in five years. Trav has been teasing the collection for years and back in Nov. 2021 he dropped two songs, “Mafia” and “Escape Plan” in advance of his tragic Astroworld Festival, where 10 people died and nearly 5,000 were injured in a crowd crush that has spawned a $750 million class-action lawsuit.

In April 2022, cryptic Utopia billboards went up around Southern California teasing the album and last August Scott teased a return to the studio to put in further work on the collection. Scott is slated to take the stage in July at Rolling Loud Miami, where he’ll perform alongside A$AP Rocky, Playboi Carti, Lil Uzi Vert, Lil Yachty, 21 Savage and more.

Check out Scott in the Astros dugout below.

16 May 2023

Striking Hollywood Writers Vow Not to Picket 2023 Tony Awards, Opening Door to Some Kind of Show

Striking members of the Writers Guild of America have said they will not picket next month’s Tony Awards telecast, clearing a thorny issue facing show organizers and opening the door for some sort of Broadway razzle-dazzle on TV.

The union last week denied a request by Tony organizers to have a waiver for their June 11 glitzy live telecast. It reiterated that in a statement late Monday (May 15), saying the guild “will not negotiate an interim agreement or a waiver for the Tony Awards.”

But the guild gave some hope that some sort of Tony show might go on, saying organizers “are altering this year’s show to conform with specific requests from the WGA, and therefore the WGA will not be picketing the show.” What is being altered was not clear, but it may be to allow a non-scripted version of the Tonys to go on; Ariana DeBose was slated to host the show for a second year in a row.

The strike, which has already darkened late-night TV shows like The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Late Show With Stephen Colbert and Saturday Night Live and delayed the making of scripted TV shows, was jeopardizing theater’s biggest night, one that many Broadway shows rely on to attract interest with millions of people watching.

The union — representing 11,500 writers of film, television and other entertainment forms — has been on strike since May 2, primarily over royalties from streaming media. While the guild doesn’t represent Broadway writers, it does represent writers who work on the Tonys telecast.

Tony organizers faced a stark choice after the request for a waiver was rejected: either postpone the ceremony until the strike ends or announce winners in a non-televised reception that would ask nominees to cross picket lines. The decision Monday means the possibility of a third way: A non-scripted show that leans heavily on performances.

That is largely what happened during the 1988 awards, which were broadcast during a Writers Guild of America walkout. Host Angela Lansbury and presenters speaking impromptu and with performances from such shows as A Chorus Line and Anything Goes.

Before the Writers Guild of America decision, a two-part Tony ceremony had been planned, with a pre-show of performances streaming live on Pluto, and the main awards ceremony broadcasting live on CBS and streaming live to premium-level Peacock members.

The big first awards show during the current strike was the MTV Movie & TV Awards, which had no host and relied on recycled clips and a smattering of pre-recorded acceptance speeches. The strike has also disrupted the PEN America Gala and the Peabody Awards, which celebrate broadcasting and streaming media, on Monday canceled its June 11 awards show.

15 May 2023

Ed Sheeran’s ‘Subtract’ Scores No. 1 Debut on Top Album Sales Chart

Ed Sheeran scores his fifth No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart (dated May 20) as – (pronounced Subtract) debuts in the top slot. Further, it does so with his largest sales week since 2017 – thus bigger than any week posted by Sheeran’s last two albums (2021’s Equals and 2019’s No. 6 Collaborations Project).

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Subtract starts with 81,000 copies sold in the United States in the week ending May 11, according to Luminate. It’s the 10th-largest sales week of 2023 for any album, and the fifth-largest for a non-K-pop title.

Subtract’s sales were aided by its availability in both a standard 14-track and 18-track edition (digital download, CD and vinyl). The set was also available in nine vinyl variants (including exclusives for Amazon, Barnes & Noble, independent record stores, Target, Urban Outfitters and Walmart) and multiple CD iterations in collectible packages (including a signed CD, a version with a lenticular cover, a “textured sand” cover and a “Zine” CD package).

Also in the top 10 of the new Top Album Sales chart, LE SSERAFIM’s Unforgiven debuts at No. 2, the Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3: Awesome Mix Vol. 3 soundtrack bows at, appropriately, No. 3, and The Smashing Pumpkins’ ATUM: A Rock Opera in Three Acts enters at No. 8.

Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart ranks the top-selling albums of the week based only on traditional album sales. The chart’s history dates back to May 25, 1991, the first week Billboard began tabulating charts with electronically monitored piece count information from SoundScan, now Luminate. Pure album sales were the sole measurement utilized by the Billboard 200 albums chart through the list dated Dec. 6, 2014, after which that chart switched to a methodology that blends album sales with track equivalent album units and streaming equivalent album units. The new May 20, 2023-dated chart will be posted in full on Billboard‘s website on May 16. For all chart news, follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both Twitter and Instagram.

Of Subtract’s 81,000 sold, physical sales comprise 59,000 (45,000 on CD, 14,000 on vinyl – Sheeran’s largest sales week on vinyl – and a couple hundred on cassette) and digital download sales comprise 22,000. Subtract also enters at No. 1 on the Vinyl Albums chart, his third leader on that list, as well as No. 1 on Tastemaker Albums and Top Current Album Sales. Vinyl Albums tallies the top-selling vinyl albums of the week. Tastemaker Albums lists the week’s top-selling albums at independent record stores. Top Current Album Sales lists the week’s best-selling current (not catalog, or older albums) albums by traditional album sales.

Korean pop girl group LE SSERAFIM debuts at No. 2 on Top Album Sales with Unforgiven, selling 38,500 copies in the week ending May 11. It’s the second top 10, highest charting effort, and best sales week for the act. The album was released to digital retail on May 1 and sold less than 500 copies in the week ending May 4. Its debut on Top Album Sales was prompted by its CD release on May 5.

Like many K-pop releases, the CD edition of Unforgiven was issued in collectible CD packages (11 total, including exclusives for Target, Walmart and the Weverse webstore), each containing a standard set of bonus items and randomized photocards. Effectively all of Unforgiven’s album sales in the week ending May 11 were CDs, with a negligible sum generated by digital download album sales. The set was not available in any other retail format (such as vinyl or cassette).

The Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3: Awesome Mix Vol. 3 soundtrack bows at No. 3 on Top Album Sales, with 29,000 copies sold. Of that sum, vinyl sales comprise 11,000 (enabling its debut at No. 2 on the Vinyl Albums chart).

The multi-artist Guardians soundtrack (comprised entirely of previously released pop and rock songs) also debuts at No. 1 on Billboard’s Soundtracks chart and Top Rock Albums tally. All three of the Guardians theatrical film soundtracks have reached No. 1 on both the Soundtracks chart and the Top Rock Albums chart.

Soundtracks and Top Rock Albums ranks the week’s most popular soundtracks and rock releases, respectively, by equivalent album units.

A quartet of former No. 1s is next on Top Album Sales, as SEVENTEEN’s SEVENTEEN: 10th Mini Album: FML falls 1-4 in its second week (27,000; down 80%), Agust D’s D-Day dips 2-5 (14,000; down 46%), Taylor Swift’s Midnights is a non-mover at No. 6 (12,000; up 7%) and Metallica’s 72 Seasons descends 5-7 (10,000; down 20%).

The Smashing Pumpkins’ ATUM: A Rock Opera in Three Acts debuts at No. 8 on Top Album Sales, selling 9,000 copies. Of that sum, vinyl sales comprise 4,000 – and the set bows at No. 8 on the Vinyl Albums chart. On Top Album Sales, ATUM marks the eighth top 10-charting effort for the rock act, and first since 2012’s Oceania debuted and peaked at No. 4.

Rounding out the top 10 of the new Top Album Sales chart is Swift’s chart-topping Lover (13-9 with 7,000; up 17%) and Lana Del Rey’s Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd (12-10 with nearly 7,000; up 2%).

In the week ending May 11, there were 2.021 million albums sold in the U.S. (up 10.6% compared to the previous week). Of that sum, physical albums (CDs, vinyl LPs, cassettes, etc.) comprised 1.661 million (up 12%) and digital albums comprised 360,000 (up 4.5%).

There were 737,000 CD albums sold in the week ending May 11 (up 3.5% week-over-week) and 914,000 vinyl albums sold (up 19.8%). Year-to-date CD album sales stand at 12.673 million (up 5.7% compared to the same time frame a year ago) and year-to-date vinyl album sales total 17.972 million (up 27.9%).

Overall year-to-date album sales total 37.554 million (up 10.7% compared to the same year-to-date time frame a year ago). Year-to-date physical album sales stand at 30.842 million (up 17.6%) and digital album sales total 6.713 million (down 12.7%).