Music News

15 Apr 2023

New H.E.R. Music Featured on ESPN During 2023 NBA Playoffs

H.E.R. is teaming up with ESPN during the 2023 NBA Playoffs.

“The Journey,” a new, unreleased song by H.E.R. and songwriter Diane Warren, will be featured within various in-game ESPN production elements throughout the channel’s NBA Playoffs coverage, starting Saturday (April 15).

The artist will help to “tell the story of the 16 teams beginning ‘The Journey’ through the NBA Playoffs Presented by Google Pixel,” according to a press release from ESPN.

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Another unreleased H.E.R. song, “Glory,” will also be heard on ESPN, as well as “We Going Crazy,” DJ Khaled’s collab with the singer.

“As an NBA fan, I’m so grateful to be part of this year’s ‘Journey’ to the NBA Finals,” H.E.R. said in a statement.

“The NBA regular season is one long journey, and then you get to the NBA Playoffs, which is a journey of its own,” ESPN vp, production Tim Corrigan said. “All 16 teams have their own paths to accomplishing their goal of an NBA Championship. And, as the song says, ‘it’s a hell of a ride.’ We are honored that H.E.R chose to team up with ESPN to help introduce this song to the world. It’s another great example of what we can do at the intersection of sports and music.”

No official debut date for the song has been announced, but “The Journey” is set to be released “soon” by RCA Records.

Though they are now collaborators, H.E.R. and Warren competed in the Oscar race for best original song two years ago. H.E.R.’s “Fight for You” from Judas and the Black Messiah (which she co-wrote with Dernst Emile II and Tiara Thomas), won the award, beating Warren’s “Io Sì (Seen)” from The Life Ahead (which she co-wrote with Laura Pausini).

15 Apr 2023

Sept. 23 Is Bruce Springsteen Day in New Jersey, Gov. Murphy Proclaims

Bruce Springsteen’s birthday, Sept. 23, will be formally recognized as Bruce Springsteen Day in New Jersey. Phil Murphy, governor of the Garden State, made the announcement on April 15 at the inaugural American Music Honors, which were held at the Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music on the campus of Monmouth University in West Long Branch, N.J. The event was hosted by another favorite son of New Jersey, comedian Jon Stewart.

“Bruce Springsteen is one of the most recognizable, iconic and influential musicians – and New Jerseyans – of all time,” said Governor Murphy. “It is important that we recognize Bruce for all he has done and will continue to do, from giving us the gift of his music to lending his time to the causes close to his heart, including making the Archives and Center for American Music a repository that will inspire tomorrow’s songwriters and singers. We thank him for showing the world what it means to live our New Jersey values. I am both honored and proud to declare his birthday Bruce Springsteen Day in New Jersey.”

The official proclamation was studded with Bruce Springsteen lore and a fair number of Springsteen puns. A long litany of whereases concluded:

“WHEREAS, Bruce Springsteen will forever be remembered as the voice of the Garden State, signaling to the world that New Jerseyans were born to run;

“NOW, THEREFORE, I, Philip D. Murphy, Governor of the State of New Jersey, do hereby proclaim: SEPTEMBER 23 AS BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN DAY for creating the soundtrack to our glory days.”

In his remarks at the event, Murphy had more to say about Springsteen.

“Truth be told, I know my place in the hierarchy of New Jersey. After all, I may be the 56th individual to be called ‘governor,’ but there will ever only be just one ‘Boss.’”

“…So, to you, Bruce, thank you for all you have done, and will continue to do – from giving us the gift of your music to lending your time to the causes close to your heard, including making the Archives and Center for American Music a repository that will inspire tomorrow’s songwriters and singers.”

“Thank you for showing the world what it makes to live our New Jersey values.”

Many artists are called “national treasures,” but Springsteen has the facts to back it up. In 2009, he performed at Barack Obama’s historic presidential inauguration. That same year, he was awarded the Kennedy Center Honors, along with co-honorees Mel Brooks, Robert DeNiro, jazz great Dave Brubeck and opera singer Grace Bumbry. 

In 2016, Springsteen received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, from President Obama. In 2023, President Biden presented him the National Medal of Arts, the highest award given to artists and art patrons by the U.S. government.

Springsteen and Obama have had a long-lived friendship and partnership. In 2021, they collaborated on an eight-episode podcast series for Spotify, Renegades: Born in the USA, which was turned into a book.

Springsteen’s countless awards and honors include 20 Grammys, an Oscar for “Streets of Philadelphia,” a special, non-competitive Tony for Springsteen on Broadway and three Emmy nominations. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999.

Stevie Van Zandt, Sam Moore, Darlene Love and Steve Earle were the inaugural recipients of the American Music Honors.

Located within Monmouth University, the Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music preserves Springsteen’s legacy and celebrates the history of American music and its diversity of artists and genres.

To see a copy of the proclamation, click here.

15 Apr 2023

Coco Palms Resort, Famous for Elvis’ ‘Blue Hawaii’ Movie, Will Be Rebuilt

Demolition will soon begin on a resort once favored by Elvis Presley and other Hollywood royalty before it was heavily damaged by a hurricane three decades ago.

The Coco Palms Resort on the island of Kauai will be torn down for a new 350-room hotel, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported.

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The resort is best known in movie lore as the location where Presley and Joan Blackman’s characters married in the 1961 movie Blue Hawaii.

It’s also the site of other key scenes in the movie, including the last where Presley sings the “Hawaiian Wedding Song” and holds Blackman’s hand while they board a raft to cross a lagoon.

In its heyday, it was famed for being frequented by other Hollywood stars like Frank Sinatra, Rita Hayworth and Bing Crosby.

The 46-acre grounds were also once home to Kauai’s last queen, Deborah Kapule, who died in 1853.

The resort opened in 1953 next to a historic coconut grove and an ancient Hawaiian fishpond. The property fell into disrepair after being damaged when the powerful Hurricane Iniki hit the island in 1992.

Several attempts to restore the property have failed over the years.

The $250 million project will take three years to complete, said Patrick Manning, a managing partner of Reef Capital Partners from Utah.

Reef Capital served as the lender to a previous developer and took over the property in 2018 when they defaulted on a loan. Manning said the plan was to sell the property, but that changed after he investigated its history.

“I called my partners, and I said, ‘This property is too important to sell,’” Manning said.

The new hotel and a cultural center to honor the property’s history will be built on about 10 acres of the property.

At one time, the community wanted the resort rebuilt, but those sentiments have changed, said Kauai Council Chairman Mel Rapozo. “They don’t want to see a resort built,” he added.

At a state Board of Land and Natural Resources meeting Friday, some spoke in opposition to the development, citing a number of ancestral bones buried on the property.

Cultural practitioner Joseph Kekaulike Kamai said his great-grandmother is buried there, and others are buried under the hotel, driveway and tennis courts.

“I really don’t want them to be digging anymore. I don’t want them grubbing our land,” Kamai said.

Manning said something needs to be done or the site will be an eyesore for another 30 years.

“Even though we know there are many that don’t want it rebuilt, we intend to be viewed and earn a reputation for doing everything we can to honor its past and respect the people of Kauai and guests of Kauai and how we manage its future,” Manning said.

15 Apr 2023

Offset Honors Takeoff With Full Back Tattoo

Offset is paying tribute to his cousin Takeoff with a prominent tattoo of the late rapper on his back.

The tattoo is an artistic representation of a photo of Takeoff, Offset’s family member and Migos bandmate who died on Nov. 1 of gunshot wounds in Houston.

Takeoff showed off the new ink in a pair of Instagram photos on Saturday (April 15).

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“Love you 4L & after,” Offset captioned the post.

After the 28-year-old’s untimely death, Offset wrote on Instagram, “The pain you have left me with is unbearable. My heart is shattered and I have so many things to say, but I can’t find the words. I’ve been going to sleep and waking up hoping that all of this is a dream, but it’s reality and reality feels like a nightmare.”

He lovingly referred to his cousin as “Take.”

Last month, Offset previewed a new song featuring a posthumous Takeoff verse on Instagram Stories.

The 56-second snippet had Icewear Vezzo and Takeoff exchanging bars before Offset burst through with fiery lines of his own.

See snapshots of Offset’s tattoo in honor of Takeoff below.

15 Apr 2023

Halsey and Capitol Records Part Ways

Halsey and Capitol Records have parted ways, a representative for the singer confirmed to Billboard.

“After eight great years the decision to leave Capitol is bittersweet, but we are excited about exploring a new partnership and sharing new music with fans,” Halsey’s managers, Anti-Pop’s Jason Aron and Anthony Li, said in a statement provided on Saturday (April 15).

Capitol had not yet responded to Billboard‘s request for comment at press time.

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Variety published a statement from the label on the split, which was first reported by Hits: “Everyone at Capitol poured their hearts and souls into helping Halsey achieve their dreams and present their music to the world. We are incredibly proud of all we accomplished together and wish Halsey the very best in all their future endeavors.”

Halsey publicly spoke out against Capitol in May 2022, alleging that the label refused to release their next single, “So Good,” without a viral TikTok campaign attached to it. When her TikTok explaining the situation actually went viral, the artist grew more frustrated that the song wasn’t immediately given a firm release date.

The pop star had said, “My record company is saying that I can’t release it unless they can fake a viral moment on TikTok … Everything is marketing and they are doing this to basically every artist these days. I just wanna release music, man. And I deserve better tbh.”

A Capitol Music Group spokesperson responded to Halsey’s posts at the time in a statement sent to Billboard: “Our belief in Halsey as a singular and important artist is total and unwavering. We can’t wait for the world to hear their brilliant new music.”

After the rocky road to release, “So Good” officially debuted in June 2022.

Most recently, in February, Halsey released a solo version of the Post Malone collab “Die 4 Me.”

Halsey’s latest full-length studio album, 2021’s If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power, peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. Her previous efforts all reached No. 1 or 2 on the chart: 2015’s Badlands (No. 2), 2017’s Hopeless Fountain Kingdom (No. 1) and 2020’s Manic (No. 2)

15 Apr 2023

Taylor Swift Is Changing the Surprise Songs Rule on Her Eras Tour

Taylor Swift is making a caveat to her previous rule about the surprise songs portion of her Eras Tour concerts.

The 33-year-old pop superstar announced to concert-goers in Tampa, Fla., on Friday (April 14) that she will now allow herself to perform certain songs as many times as she likes during the mini acoustic set of her upcoming stadium shows.

“Basically when I started the tour, I was like, ‘In the acoustic section, I am never repeating a song. I’m never doing songs more than once.’ But now I’m like, ‘There are so many songs I want to do more than once,’” Swift said in a fan-captured clip from Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium.

She added, “So, I’m making a little caveat to the rule, which is that if [a song] is on Midnights, I can do it however many times I want, because Midnights is the most accurate picture of my life to date.”

During the surprise songs segment of her Tampa concert on Friday, Swift delivered the live debuts of the Midnights (3am Edition) track “The Great War,” alongside frequent collaborator Aaron Dessner, and the Midnights song “You’re on Your Own, Kid.” The songs peaked at No. 26 and No. 8, respectively, on the Billboard Hot 100 in November 2022.

Swift first revealed her intentions for the acoustic section of her long-awaited live show at the March 17 launch of her Eras Tour in Glendale, Ariz.

“The plan, the goal, would be to play different songs every single night and never repeat one. Right? So that when you heard one on this tour, you would know it’s the only time that I was going to play it in the acoustic set, unless — caveat — unless I mess it up so badly,” the star said with a small laugh, “that I have to do it over again in some other city. Send your best wishes towards me that I don’t do that.”

See the full list of surprise songs Swift has performed so far on her Eras Tour here.

15 Apr 2023

Depeche Mode Bristles With Vitality While Facing Mortality on ‘Memento Mori’ NYC Tour Stop

Memento Mori, the name of Depeche Mode’s latest album and current world tour, means “remember you must die” in Latin — a fitting enough title considering that the long-running band has been reduced to a duo following last year’s death of co-founder Andy Fletcher.

But Dave Gahan and Martin Gore, whose sublime synth-pop has been fueled by pessimism and darkness for decades, bristled with vitality while facing mortality head-on during a Friday night (April 14) show at New York City’s Madison Square Garden.

From a bedazzled skull spinning on a video screen during classic Violator cut “Enjoy the Silence” to Gore’s harrowing lead vocal on “Soul With Me” (a quiet ballad on the new album which finds him gently preparing for the hereafter), the Reaper might as well be the silent third member of the band; even so, there’s nothing grim about what Depeche Mode delivers in 2023.

Gahan seemed tapped into a supernatural energy throughout the evening, twirling and prowling about the stage like a sensual, vampiric Elvis, wiggling his hips one moment and spreading his arms like the demon perched atop Bald Mountain in Fantasia the next. Vocally, there was no faulting him — from the high notes he trotted out on “Precious” to the grit he brought to “John the Revelator,” Gahan’s voice remains an inexhaustible treasure. And on “World in My Eyes,” the evening’s explicit tribute to Fletcher, Gahan’s delivery felt especially resonant.

Depeche Mode is hardly the first band to solider on following the death of a core member. But while most bands in a similar position tend to isolate their onstage mourning, performing one poignant tribute song before pivoting back to a high-octane set, DM’s entire Memento Mori concert felt like a meditation on the inevitable end that awaits us all. Which isn’t to say the concert was in any way depressing — if anything, the band’s brush with the undiscovered country has left it focused and present. “Remember you must die” is a phrase that might lead some to despair, but for Depeche Mode, it’s seemingly a catalyst to make every moment count.

15 Apr 2023

Metro Boomin Enlists The Weeknd, Diddy & More All-Star Avengers in Superhero (and Villain) Coachella Performance

Super-producer Metro Boomin embarked on a star-studded hero’s (and villain’s) journey during his Coachella performance Friday night (April 14).

Metro feels like he naturally sits at the intersection of Marvel and music, inviting his interconnected web of friends (who are chart-topping rappers) into a comic book world of his own design. “In this life, we all must make a choice, to be a hero or a villain. But let this be a warning: When Metro appears, you better know damn well which side you’re on,” narrated Morgan Freeman, with comic illustrations of Coachella and Metro’s thrilling arrival projected on the screens before plumes of smoke cleared them and descended on the stage.

It’s no wonder he was tapped to work on the soundtrack for the forthcoming film Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. But across festival grounds at the Sahara Tent, Metro assembled his own Avengers for his self-proclaimed “Trochella,” and even saluted the ones who couldn’t physically be there like A$AP Rocky, whose pre-recorded audio of him officially introducing Metro boomed from the speakers. He emerged from a black cloak at the top of the stage, a full orchestra accentuating his sinister presence. But Metro’s not the villain in this story, as he brought out Future for a haunting yet victorious rendition of “Superhero (Heroes & Villains).” 

Future zoomed through his hits — including “Wicked” and “Mask Off” — before Metro sent Young Thug a remote moment of hope in the midst of his RICO trial in Atlanta by playing “Metro Spider.” Don Toliver then graced the stage while donning sunglasses that resembled a mask, playing into the motif of Metro’s latest Billboard 200-topping album, Heroes & Villains, and playing “I Can’t Save You (Interlude),” “Too Many Nights” and “Around Me” off the project. 

Thick clouds of smoke covered the stage once more, creating even more mystique around Metro’s set. “Legendary s— only!” he bellowed while praising fellow producer Mike Dean on the synths. He rolled out the red carpet for his beloved collaborator 21 Savage as they ran through fan favorites from their Savage Mode days and other beloved 21 tracks, such as “Bank Account” and “Knife Talk.” But there was one person who received a special dedication from him. 

“Long live my mom Leslie Wayne… She with me right now, Lord Jesus, she with me right now,” he bellowed before leading the rowdy crowd in a sobering moment of silence in honor of his late mother, who died last June. 

Suddenly, Dean cued the chaos back up with a dizzying array of green strobe lights before a faint, yet very famous falsetto caused an uproar for none other than The Weeknd. He performed “Faith,” “Escape from LA” and “Heartless,” which were all produced by Metro from The Weeknd’s fourth album, After Hours. With help from his close collaborator Dean, The Weeknd executed the same genius transition from “Heartless” to “Low Life” he debuted at Coachella just last year, when he co-headlined with Swedish House Mafia. Now, he comfortably assisted a billed act and shared the spotlight with other A-listers like Future, who joined him for “Low Life.” But when he got a moment to himself again, The Weeknd treated fans by performing a brand new song. 

“Temperature rising, bodies united, now that I tried you in my arms. No need to fight it, no need to hide it, now that I’ve seen what’s in your heart,” he sang before letting his vocal runs synch up with the electrifying synths and Dean’s sexy saxophone.

21 Savage eventually returned for the first live performance of “Creepin,” which is No. 4 on the April 15-dated Billboard Hot 100. The remix’s guest Diddy made for another major surprise guest on the already star-filled night, which could very well have been just an average day in the studio for Metro Boomin. 

15 Apr 2023

Blink-182 (Finally) Reunite Onstage to Deliver an Epic Hits-Filled Coachella Set

It had all the makings of a headlining set: the reunion of a beloved band, a hits-filled discography and thousands of fans all belting along. 

And yet, the highly anticipated set from Blink-182 filled the sundown slot at a much-too-small stage. It made it all the better.

On Thursday evening (April 13), when Coachella finally revealed on Instagram its weekend one set times, the caption read: “Take off your pants and jacket.” Fans of the band immediately knew it signaled the good news that Blink had been added to the lineup at the last minute. 

In October, the legendary pop-punk band announced it would reunite with its original lineup of Mark Hoppus, Travis Barker and Tom Delonge. On Friday (April 14), the band delivered its first show since. (Blink was originally scheduled to kick off a South American tour in March, but had to cancel due to Barker’s finger injury).

The band fittingly entered to the Star Wars theme song (with noted U.FO. researcher DeLonge wearing a shirt that read, “To the stars”) and selected “Family Reunion” as their celebratory opening song. As DeLonge basked in the roars for his return to the band, he couldn’t help but smirk as he held up a middle finger, later telling the crowd how much they’re loved.

After performing “Anthem, Part Two,” Hoppus said something so simple yet staggering: “Hi, we’re Blink-182 … Welcome to Coachella 2023.” The fact that the ’90s-formed act is just as much of a force today as in its heyday is a testament to its catalog and staying power — particularly at a time when pop-punk has returned to center stage. And in the case of Blink, the band brought its boyish sense of humor along for the ride, with Hoppus and DeLonge trading quips about everything from UTIs to testicles throughout the set.

As Barker’s wife, Kourtney Kardashian-Barker, and her sister Khloe watched from the stage, the band tore threw hits like “Rock Show,” “Feelin This” and “What’s My Age Again,” which welcomed a sing-along worthy of the Guinness World Records as a mosh pit formed. And before live debuting their newest single “Edging,” which arrived with the original lineup’s reunion announcement, DeLonge confessed with a laugh, “There’s a lot of testosterone in this s—.”

Minutes past the set’s scheduled end time, Hoppus noted that the band had blown right past it — and that they weren’t about to stop. He said there were three more songs to get through, and they were naturally some of the bands biggest hits to date, closing with an epic hat trick of “I Miss You” into “All the Small Things” into “Dammit,” for which Hoppus interpolated a bit of TLC’s “No Scrubs” for good measure.

But it was Hoppus’ Instagram post that summed up the experience better than any one song could. “Chemo to Coachella,” he captioned a photo of himself on stage with the soon-to-be-packed field behind him. “Very much in my feelings today.”

15 Apr 2023

The Weeknd Live Debuts New Song During Metro Boomin’s Coachella 2023 Set

The Weeknd creeped in a performance of a brand new song toward the end of Metro Boomin’s Coachella set Friday night (April 14).

With Metro’s blessing and an assist from frequent collaborator Mike Dean, who whipped out the saxophone, The Weeknd treated fans to a new track he had previously teased on Instagram. In the 17-second clip, he and Dean were in the studio prepping an orchestral arrangement. “THE IDOL VOL. 1. coming soon (double fantasy & jealous guy just a taste),” read the caption, leading fans to believe the new song The Weeknd performed just two days later could be called “Double Fantasy.”

For the live debut, Dean’s saxophone rumbled through the Sahara Tent while the crowd was blinded by The Weeknd’s fluorescent, all-white ensemble, along with the lights he once sang about. “Temperature rising, bodies united, now that I tried you in my arms. No need to fight it, no need to hide it, now that I’ve seen what’s in your heart,” he sang before letting his vocal runs synch up with the electrifying synths.

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The Weeknd also united with Future for “Low Life” from the latter’s 2016 album EVOL and later joined the rest of Metro’s all-star avengers — 21 Savage and Diddy — for the first live performance of “Creepin.” The song, from the producer’s Billboard 200-topping album Heroes & Villains, is currently No. 4 on Hot 100.