Music News

08 May 2023

ILLENIUM’s Self-Titled Set Debuts at No. 1 on Top Dance/Electronic Albums Chart

ILLENIUM bows at No. 1 on Billboard’s consumption-based Top Dance/Electronic Albums chart (dated May 13) with his self-titled set. ILLENIUM earned 17,000 equivalent album units, including 7,000 from traditional album sales, in the April 28-May 4 tracking week, according to Luminate.

It’s ILLENIUM’s second-best sales week yet, trailing only the debut frame of his first No. 1, Ascend (25,000 units; Aug. 31, 2019). ILLENIUM now owns three total No. 1s, as his new entry follows Fallen Embers (one week, 2021) and Ascend (eight weeks, 2019). All six of his chart entries have hit the top 10, a history that also includes Ascend (Remixes) (No. 5, 2020), Awake (No. 3, 2017) and Ashes (No. 6, 2016).

ILLENIUM’s start halts Beyoncé’s 24-week streak at No. 1, which began last November, with Renaissance (No. 2; 13,000 units, down 7%). Dating to the chart’s 2001 inception, no album has logged more consecutive weeks at No. 1 beginning with its debut week. Plus, 24 weeks in a row at No. 1 mark the most for any album, a feat also achieved only by Lady Gaga’s The Fame (December 2009-May 2010). The Fame leads all albums in total weeks at No. 1, with 175 since its 2008 release.

ILLENIUM yields nine new entries on the multi-metric Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart, led by “Eyes Wide Shut,” with Avril Lavigne and Travis Barker (No. 9). With those, all 16 ILLENIUM tracks have hit the chart, as the other seven tracks on the album debuted previously.

“Eyes,” however, is ILLENIUM’s first top 10 from the LP and the eighth in his career. It’s also his 57th total charted title since the chart originated in January 2013, tying him with Marshmello for the third-most, after David Guetta (78) and Kygo (62). “Eyes” marks the first appearance on the chart for Lavigne and the third (and first top 10) for Barker.

“Eyes” earned 2.2 million official streams and sold 500 downloads in the United States in the tracking week, also good for starts on the Dance/Electronic Streaming Songs (No. 18) and Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales (No. 11) charts.

08 May 2023

Lily-Rose Depp Says These Pop Superstars Inspired Her Role in ‘The Idol’

Lily-Rose Depp is readying for the premiere of The Idol by spilling the tea on which pop singers influenced her role as Jocelyn on the forthcoming HBO series.

“Of course I’m a Britney [Spears] fan!” the Hollywood progeny told W magazine of the stars she was channeling during her audition for the series. “Who doesn’t love Britney? But I was also thinking about Beyoncé, Mariah [Carey], and every huge pop star of our time. I wanted Jocelyn to be the kind of woman who can dominate a room, someone who doesn’t ever shy away from their sparkle.”

Depp nabbed the role by singing an a cappella rendition of the 1950s standard “Fever,” as made famous by Peggy Lee and covered by Madonna in 1993 — which led to her filming for the series inside SoFi Stadium packed with 70,000 fans ahead of The Weeknd‘s Los Angeles concert last fall.

“I was a nervous wreck,” she said. “I was praying to all my guardian angels. I knew we only had two takes at SoFi. I felt like I was going to my wedding — I was so dolled up and in white!” However, she ultimately nailed the scene and later confessed, “It was quite addicting. I didn’t want to leave.”

The Weeknd, who originally pitched the concept of The Idol to HBO, will also star in the seedy musical drama along with Suzanna Son, Rachel Sennott, Troye Sivan, Dan Levy, Mike Dean, Moses Sumney, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Hank Azaria, BLACKPINK’s Jennie and more. The show will also feature the likes of Hari Nef, Tyson Ritter of The All-American Rejects and the late Anne Heche.

Following extensive reshoots of the entire first season, The Idol is set to premiere June 4 on Max (previously HBO Max). Read Depp’s joint interview with The Weeknd here.

08 May 2023

The Weeknd Joins Bid for NHL’s Ottawa Senators: Report

The star-studded bidding war over the Ottawa Senators is heating up, as The Weeknd has reportedly thrown his hat into the ring to purchase the NHL team.

The “Blinding Lights” superstar joined a group led by Toronto billionaires Jeffrey and Michael Kimel of the Harlo Capital Group aiming to make the purchase, according to a report from Ottawa Sun. The publication added that the Toronto native (born Abel Tesfaye) is a longtime hockey fan and has personal ties to Ottawa, Canada. Billboard has also reached out to The Weeknd’s reps for more information.

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Snoop Dogg and another famous Canadian, Vancouver native Ryan Reynolds, have also previously joined separate groups bidding on the team, which hasn’t won a Stanley Cup since they joined the NHL in 1992. The bidding deadline is May 15. Reynolds and the Remington Group are reportedly preparing a $1 billion bid. According to Ottawa Sun, there are seven groups currently bidding for the purchase.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman revealed during a SiriusXM interview last week that having a celebrity as part of an ownership group in Ottawa could be beneficial for the team. “It can be a plus for the franchise going forward,” he shared. “But the bids are going to have to stand on their own merit.”

08 May 2023

This Ballad Is Ed Sheeran’s Favorite Song on His New Album ‘Subtract’

Ed Sheeran is fresh off the release of his vulnerable, 14-track new album Subtract, and the 32-year-old superstar sat down with Apple Music’s Matt Wilkinson along with his album collaborator, The National’s Aaron Dessner, to discuss their experience working on the project together.

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“It’s totally different to any way that I’ve worked before,” Sheeran explained of collaborating with Dessner. “He comes with a finished product and goes, ‘Write what you feel.’ And there’s no like, ‘Oh, that line sounds a bit weird,’ or this. You write brain to page and the song’s done. And then you go in and you basically form it. And if anything, we strip back more from the recordings that he sent.”

Dessner noted that the duo immediately “clicked,” adding, “There was like a little wildfire. When we got together, we thought we’d try a few things, and we ended up with 36 songs or something.”

With a slew of songs showcasing his masterful songwriting, it’s hard to imagine that Sheeran has a favorite song on Subtract. However, he has a special connection to the songwriting process of “No Strings,” which details an unconditional type of love. “It just came from Aaron being on piano and me singing. And then we put it down and it’s as if the song didn’t matter. And then coming back to it’s now my favorite song on the record,” he shared.

Listen to the full Apple Music interview with Sheeran and Dessner here.

08 May 2023

NewJeans Break Guinness World Record for Fastest K-Pop Act to Hit 1 Billion Spotify Streams

NewJeans and their Bunnies fanbase have a major achievement to celebrate.

Guinness World Records confirmed that the K-pop group — which consists of members Minji, Danielle, Hanni, Hyein and Haerin — has officially become the K-pop act (solo male, solo female or group) to hit 1 billion streams the fastest on Spotify, after just 219 days.

The feat comes less than a year after NewJeans made its formal debut in July 2022. The K-pop stars have a total of six songs on Spotify: “Attention,” “Hurt,” “Hype Boy,” “Cookie,” “Zero, “”Ditto” and “OMG,” with the last two charting at Nos. 82 and 74 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, respectively. “OMG” is currently the girl group’s most-streamed song on the platform, clocking over 320 million plays.

According to Guinness World Records, NewJeans has claimed the throne from BLACKPINK‘s Lisa, who previously held the title among all K-pop acts with a record of 411 days, starting from Oct. 26, 2022. (BTS‘ Jung Kook broke the solo artist record in 409 days on March 27.)

In addition to a performance at Lollapalooza this summer — which will make the quintet the first K-pop group to perform at the music festival, following BTS member J-Hope’s solo performance at last year’s fest — NewJeans are gearing up for a comeback this summer, which means new music for fans to devour.

“It was actually yesterday that they finished recording for the new album that is scheduled to be released this summer,” Min Hee Jin, executive producer/CEO of NewJeans’ label ADOR, told Billboard in early April. “I wanted to break the stereotype that only certain styles of music would be able to succeed in the so-called mainstream industry. In the albums going forward, NewJeans will continue to strive to present something new and unique to exceed the expectations of their fans. NewJeans members keep growing and growing, and we can’t wait to surprise the world again.”

08 May 2023

Chris Brown Responds to Video of Backstage Scuffle at Lovers & Friends Festival: ‘Keep Ya Narrative’

After making headlines over an allegedly heated altercation backstage at the Lovers & Friends festival in Las Vegas, Chris Brown took to the comments section to tell his side of the story.

“Yall been geeked all weekend, y’all dragging it now,” the R&B singer commented on a post showing fan-captured footage from the festival. “It was mad people backstage and security was trying to clear everyone off the stage. People started pushing back.. I INTERVENED To let them know MY CHILD WAS BACK THERE. So y’all can keep ya narrative.”

In the video, Brown can be seen shouting at multiple men who appear to be security guards as members of his entourage attempt to hold him back and de-escalate the situation. While he didn’t specify which child was with his at the festival, the star shares three kids with three different women: 8-year-old daughter Royalty, 3-year-old son Aeko Catori and 1-year-old daughter Lovely Symphani.

Fans replied to Brown’s Instagram comment in support of the “Under the Influence” singer’s reaction, with one writing, “You shouldn’t even have to explain! But you said your peace. Let them have it. They are literally trying anything [at this point]. Y’all really need to let him live his life! He’s not what y’all are continually trying to make him out to be! The real ones know the changes he’s made.” Another commented, “I don’t even see what was so ‘crazy’ about your behavior,” followed by a couple of shrugging emojis, while a third added, “It actually looks as if he is the one de-escalating the situation.”

Others, however, saw the footage in a different light, with one commenter pointing to Brown’s 2009 assault of then-girlfriend Rihanna: “Chris Brown has anger management issues and until he gets it under control he’s going to continue to be violent. We should know this from when he beat up Rihanna.”

Watch the footage and read Brown’s response in the post below.

08 May 2023

10 Cool New Pop Songs to Get You Through The Week: aespa, Alison Goldfrapp, GAYLE & More

Looking for some motivation to help power you through the start of another work week? We feel you, and with some stellar new pop tunes, we’ve got you covered.

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These 10 tracks from artists including aespa, Alison Goldfrapp, GAYLE and more will get you energized to take on the week. Pop any of these gems into your personal playlists — or scroll to the end of the post for a custom playlist of all 10.

Q, “Incapable Heart” 

Mononymous singer Q dropped his debut album, Soul, PRESENT, last Friday, and the sparkling 10-song effort is brimming over with ethereal, romantic delights that draw on synth-pop, ‘80s funk, Quiet Storm and more. The smooth “Incapable Heart” even throws in a bit of reggae skank for good measure as Q (the son of dancehall legend Steven “Lenky” Marsden) delivers a sound both familiar and forward-thinking – not unlike those first The Weeknd mixtapes that set the Internet on fire in the early 2010s. — JOE LYNCH

MisterWives, “Nosebleeds” 

After a detour to Fueled by Ramen, MisterWives reteamed with original label Photo Finish to create their own imprint, Resilient Little Records, which will house their upcoming LP. New single “Nosebleeds” — with its woozy synths, chugging guitars and a relentless backbeat – is anything but little in its sonics, but it certainly captures the resilience that propelled the NYC-based rockers forward over the last near decade. – J. Lynch  

Amaarae, “Co-Star”

Ahead of her new album Fountain Baby out June 9, Afropop star Amaarae has shared the project’s second single, “Co-Star.” The astrological track is both bouncy and twinkling, aligning with the singer’s goal of crafting “something cute and flirty for the summer.” As Amaarae said in a statement: “Astrology is such a huge part of our youth culture, it felt like a missed opportunity to not lean into that and give the girls an anthem that reads and celebrates them all at once!” — LYNDSEY HAVENS

Kiss Facility, “In My Room”

The quietly enticing “In My Room” is just as intriguing as its creator, newcomer Kiss Facility. Coated in nuanced nonchalance, “In My Room” sounds just as intimate as the title suggests, with the as-of-yet unknown artist captioning the cover art on Instagram, “It’s a very personal song that I put all my emotions into.” — L.H.

GAYLE, “Don’t Call Me Pretty”

“Don’t Call Me Pretty” is the first song GAYLE has debuted since joining Taylor Swift on her Eras tour, and ahead of hopping aboard P!nk’s upcoming stadium run; the “abcdefu” singer-songwriter clearly has shout-along anthems on the mind, and her latest contains plenty of opportunities for crowds of thousands to embrace her words. The chorus spirals up and the post-hook “ooo-ooo-ooo” crooning is effective, but most importantly, GAYLE sounds downright soulful on “Don’t Call Me Pretty,” with a heft that gives her message even more power.— JASON LIPSHUTZ

Alison Goldfrapp, “Love Invention”

Everything pre-release from The Love Invention has shown promise for Alison Goldfrapp’s debut solo outing after seven albums as the leader of Goldfrapp, but the title track possesses a little extra electro-pop oomph that suggests a summertime dance floor heater. Goldfrapp’s ethereal voice dips in and out of sounding hyper-processed (“Is this real or not?,” she sings), but the production never flags, all cascading synths and percussion that keeps pushing forward. — J. Lipshutz

Bruno Major, “We Were Never Really Friends”

“This doesn’t have to be the end,” Bruno Major pleads on “We Were Never Really Friends,” a classic spoil-the-friendship jam that masquerades as a piano ballad before blooming into a lighters-up rock sing-along, complete with a stringy guitar solo. Major’s patience stands out here: the British singer-songwriter never presses too hard in any direction on the song, letting the full instrumentation and the slight quiver in his voice carry home his first new music since 2020. — J. Lipshutz

Coach Party, “All I Wanna Do is Hate”

Isle of Wright quartet Coach Party opened up for Wet Leg last fall and will support Queens of the Stone Age on tour later this year, but great new single “All I Wanna Do is Hate” sounds closer to bands like Elastica and Metric — sharp-elbowed pop-rock with readily deployed chiming guitars and synth riffs. The song walks a fine line between lyrical aggression and zipped-up production, resulting in a song that’s fully realized and invites plenty of fist-pumps. — J. Lipshutz

aespa, “Thirsty”

Aespa’s new mini album, Welcome to My World, sees the girl group — which consists of Giselle, Karina, NingNing and Winter — dabbling into the many facets of its sound, which includes everything from simmering bangers to lush pop ballad showing off the members’ vocal range. But album cut “Thirsty” really shows off the K-pop stars’ strength in R&B. The infectious chorus combines subtle trap-inspired beats with soft vocals, and gives a subtle wink to the object of the girls’ affections, as Giselle teases: “So tell me what you wanna, wanna do, boy?” — STARR BOWENBANK

Cosmo Pyke, “What Can I Do?”

A collective sigh of relief can be heard from Cosmo Pyke’s fans, as the British artist has delivered the new EP Curser’s Lament. “What Can I Do?” from the set shows off Pyke’s talent with jazz melodies, while catering to fans of his more introductory, alternative and indie-leaning work featured on 2017’s Just Cosmo. The musician cleverly splits the song into three separate parts, first drawing in the listener with drum heavy instrumentation, leading in with up tempo guitar licks before a soulful finish. — S.B.

08 May 2023

Lizzo Reveals She’s Battling Strep Throat: ‘Still Hurts to Speak, But It Really Hurts to Cancel’

Lizzo hopped on social media Monday (May 7) to let fans know that she’s in the midst of battling a nasty case of strep throat.

“Hello Hartford, it is me,” the pop star said in an audibly croaky voice while cozied up in a fleece hoodie and silk sleeping cap. “As you know, I canceled my Montreal show ’cause I was experiencing extreme flu-like symptoms. I tested for COVID and it’s negative. However, I did test positive for strep throat. Though I’m feeling stronger, my body, my throat is still extremely raw and swollen. My lymph nodes are swollen, and the doctors say that it would not be wise to sing while my throat is like this.

“In the past, I have pushed myself because I always want to bring you guys an incredible show. And I want to bring you guys the best of me,” she admitted. “And I’m realizing as I mature that this is not the best of me. I need to heal so that I can be the artist that you guys deserve and maintain my body. Still hurts to swallow, still hurts to speak, but it really hurts to cancel.”

Lizzo reiterated in her caption that all tickets for her planned show at Hartford, Conn.’s XL Center will be honored for a rescheduled date, adding, “I’m sorry Hartford…I’ll be back stronger and better, I hope you can be there too.”

Before she came down with strep, the singer wowed the A-list crowd as the entertainment for the 2023 Met Gala, and even got the chance to duet on the flute with her longtime idol James Galway.

Watch Lizzo painfully deliver the news of her strep throat below.

08 May 2023

Thirty Seconds to Mars Announces New Album, Unveils Lead Single ‘Stuck’

Thirty Seconds to Mars is back. The group, consisting of brothers Shannon and Jared Leto, revealed on Monday (May 8) that their upcoming sixth studio album, It’s the End of the World But It’s a Beautiful Day, is set for release this September via Concord Records.

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To celebrate the announcement, the band unveiled the album’s lead single, a powerful, high-energy track called “Stuck.” The accompanying, Jared-directed music video is inspired by the human form and combines high fashion with art for a sleek, minimalistic result.

“Thanks to my incredibly creative mother, my brother and I were instilled with a love for art and photography from a very young age,” Jared said in a press statement. “The video for ‘Stuck,’ our first new song in five years, is a love letter to some of my favorite photographers. Artists who made a very deep impact on me like Richard Avedon, Irving Penn, Robert Mapplethorpe, Diane Arbus, Herb Ritts and more. Artists whose work changed the way I saw things and showed me new possibilities at every turn.”

“Stuck” marks Thirty Seconds to Mars’ first new music in five years, and It’s the End of the World follows the group’s 2018 album, America. Later this month, Thirty Seconds to Mars will be taking the main stage at BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend and, in August, the band will be making their return to Lollapalooza for the first time since 2006. They’re also set to perform at When We Were Young Festival in Las Vegas in October.

Watch the “Stuck” music video below.

08 May 2023

‘The Little Mermaid’ Gives a Sneak Peek of ‘Kiss the Girl’ Scene During MTV Movie & TV Awards

Sha-la-la-la-la-la, my oh my! Fans got to enjoy a first look at the iconic “Kiss the Girl” scene from the upcoming live-action remake of The Little Mermaid during the MTV Movie & TV Awards on Sunday night (May 7).

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In the nearly one-minute clip, Ariel and Prince Eric, played by Halle Bailey and Jonah Hauer-King float around in a row boat, surrounded by an enchanted forest scene, as Sebastian (Daveed Diggs), Flounder (Jacob Tremblay) and Scuttle (Awkwafina) try to convince the young Prince to kiss the mermaid princess. As a result, the spell put on Ariel by villain Ursula (Melissa McCarthy), in which she traded her voice for human legs, would be broken.

“Sha-la-la-la-la-la / Float along / And listen to the song / The song say kiss the girl,” the group sings, as the scene looks almost identical to the original 1989 animated movie.

“I’m a little bit nervous just because this has been so long in the making. I mean, I auditioned for this film when I was 18, and I turned 23 this year,” Bailey previously shared of the highly anticipated film release in an interview with Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1. “Now that it’s finally here, I’m like, whoa, I can’t believe it. And it’s a very, very big pinch-me moment. I’m so excited. And I just can’t wait for people to see what we did to this film.”

The Little Mermaid hits theaters on May 26. Watch the new preview below.