Music News

14 Apr 2023

JO1’s ‘Tiger’ Rises to No. 1 on Japan Hot 100

JO1’s “Tiger” hits No. 1 on this week’s Billboard Japan Hot 100, rocketing from No. 84 on the chart dated April 12.

On the chart tallying the week from April 3 to 9, “Tiger” launched with 416,473 CDs and ruled sales while also dominating radio airplay and downloads. The 11-member boy band’s seventh single also came in at No. 31 for streaming and No. 61 for video views.

Veteran rock band BUMP OF CHICKEN’s new single “SOUVENIR” rises to No. 2 on the Japan Hot 100, powered by sales (58,799 singles sold in its first week, No. 2) and downloads (No. 19). The track is currently at No. 91 for radio and not yet charting in the top 100 for streaming and video, so how these metrics with room for improvement fare in the coming weeks is something to keep an eye on.

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Kenshi Yonezu’s “LADY” has been steadily improving in streaming, rising 23-18 for the metric with 4,222,153 weekly streams. The music video dropped this week and racked up 807,887 views to come in at No. 16 for the metric, so combined with strong radio and downloads, the track moves 7-5 on the Japan Hot 100 this week.

The Billboard Japan Hot 100 combines physical and digital sales, audio streams, radio airplay, video views and karaoke data.

For the full Billboard Japan Hot 100 chart, tallying the week from to Apr. 3 to 9, see here. For more on Japanese music and charts, visit Billboard Japan’s English Twitter account.

14 Apr 2023

Rich Paul Had an Adorable Moment With Adele While Livestreaming

Rich Paul was streaming on Twitch on Thursday (April 13), when he got a quick phone call from his girlfriend Adele.

The sports agent’s phone began ringing while he was live with content creator Kai Cenat, and when he answered the FaceTime, the “Easy on Me” singer is heard saying on the other end, “Hey baby!”

“I’m streaming, I’ll call you right back,” he told the superstar.

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The Grammy-winning superstar and the Klutch Sports Group founder took their relationship public in the summer of 2021, when they were seen watching a basketball game between the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns. In September, Adele shared a series of photos from another wedding — NBA star Anthony Davis and Marlen P’s — including a sweet photo booth snap of the couple.

During her One Night Only special with Oprah Winfrey, Adele opened about how happy Paul makes her. “He’s just hilarious. And very smart. It’s quite incredible watching him do what he does,” she told Winfrey also sharing that she’s experiencing the first time she’s ever “loved myself and been open to loving and being loved by someone else.”

14 Apr 2023

Sara Bareilles, Vanessa Williams, Ledisi & More in ‘Great Performances: Celebrating 50 Years of Broadway’s Best’

Sara Bareilles, Vanessa Williams and Ledisi are among the artists who will be featured on Great Performances: Celebrating 50 Years of Broadway’s Best, which premieres Friday, May 12, at 9 p.m. ET on PBS and the PBS app.

The program, which marks Great Performances’ golden anniversary, is a revue of milestone Broadway shows from 1973 to 2023. The special will feature a mix of original stars and up-and-coming talent. Hosted by two-time Tony winner Sutton Foster, the program was taped on March 23 at Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theater in New York.

Bareilles sings “She Used to Be Mine” from Waitress (for which she received a 2016 Tony nomination for original music score). Williams, who earned a 2002 Tony nod her performance in Into the Woods, performs a song from Kiss of the Spider Woman, which brought Broadway legend Chita Rivera her second Tony.

Other highlights of the special include Rivera performing her signature song “All That Jazz” from Chicago; André De Shields performing “So You Wanted to See the Wizard” from The Wiz; a tribute to A Chorus Line featuring Tony-winning original cast member Donna McKechnie joined by Robyn Hurder; and a tap number from Jelly’s Last Jam performed by Corbin Bleu.

Other performers on the show include Brian Stokes Mitchell, Jessie Mueller, Raúl Esparza, Shoshana Bean, Norm Lewis, Rob McClure, Patina Miller, Mamie Parris, Solea Pfeiffer, Britton Smith and Jessica Vosk.

The show features songs by such composers as Stephen Schwartz, John Kander & Fred Ebb, Fats Waller, Stephen Sondheim, Duke Ellington and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Great Performances: Celebrating 50 Years of Broadway’s Best is directed and choreographed by Tony winner Warren Carlyle with Patrick Vaccariallo as music director. The program was directed for television by David Horn, produced by Mitch Owgang and co-produced and written by Dave Boone.

One week later, on Friday, May 19, at 9 p.m. ET, Great Performances will air the Public Theater’s Free Shakespeare in the Park production of Richard III starring Danai Gurira (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, The Walking Dead) with Tony winner Ali Stroker (Oklahoma!) as Lady Anne. Tony nominee Robert O’Hara (Broadway’s Slave Play) directs this Shakespearean tragedy.

One week after that, on Friday, May 26, at 9 p.m. ET, there will be an encore presentation of Cole Porter’s classic 1934 musical Anything Goes, starring Foster (who won her second Tony for the 2011 Broadway production) as well as Tony winner Robert Lindsay. The show, restaged in London’s West End, was directed and choreographed by Kathleen Marshall. Featuring such classic songs as “I Get a Kick Out of You,” “You’re the Top” and the title song, the show first aired on PBS last year.

This is the season for Broadway programming. The 76th annual Tony Awards, hosted by Ariana DeBose, are set for Sunday, June 11. The show will be held at the United Palace in New York’s Washington Heights neighborhood.

Throughout its 50-year history on PBS, Great Performances has amassed 67 Emmy Awards and six Peabody Awards. The series is produced by The WNET Group. For Great Performances, Bill O’Donnell is series producer and David Horn is executive producer.

14 Apr 2023

SZA & Doja Cat, Post Malone & More: What’s Your Favorite Music Release of the Week? Vote!

Collaborations and potential summer smashes are afoot this new music Friday, with SZA and Doja Cat teaming up for a song, and Post Malone releasing a new track that’s primed for pop radio.

As if SZA’s “Kill Bill” wasn’t already a chart smash — the track is currently sitting at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, where it has spent a 17 weeks — the R&B singer’s past collaborator Doja Cat has hopped onto the song to give it another breath of fresh air. Doja, who has hinted at wanting to make a hip-hop album, opens up the track with a scintillating verse that details a run-in with her ex and his new girlfriend that turned violent, a perfect complement to SZA’s airy chorus in which she fantasizes about killing her own ex (and then actually doing it).

Post Malone’s “Circles” gives a glimpse at just how pop the rapper could go, but “Chemical” firmly proves that his pop hitmaking skills won’t end at his 2019 smash. Malone sings in his upper register for the track and laments the end of a relationship, but don’t let the song’s lyrical content content fool you — the driving beat and sunny guitar strums gives it a firm place on pop radio this coming summer.

Metallica‘s 72 Seasons arrives six and a half years after 2016’s Hardwired… to Self-Destruct, but the set is more than worth the wait. Kirk Hammett’s guitar skills are tight as ever, particularly on tracks “Lux Æterna” and “Shadows Follow,” while James Hetfield’s vocals rip through 77 minutes worth of tracks like it’s nothing, showing he hasn’t missed a step across a four-decade career.

There are also new tunes from Ice Spice with Nicki Minaj, as well music from Kelly Clarkson, Dominic Fike and Marshmello (with Farruko). Which new release this week is your favorite? Vote in our poll below.

14 Apr 2023

Calvin Harris Drops Hardwell Remix of ‘Miracle’ Ahead of His Coachella Performance

Calvin Harris, Ellie Goulding and Hardwell have collab’d for the very first time, with the latter producer’s new edit of Harris and Goulding’s “Miracle.”

The Dutch producer gives the trance throwback a characteristic big room treatment, taking the original’s heavy kick drum and adding about a thousand layers of synth, turning the anthem into a completely effective maximal mainstage banger.

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The original and the edit will likely make appearances in Harris’ set Saturday (April 15) at Coachella. The producer is playing the festival’s main stage after the headlining performance by BLACKPINK. Harris’ show marks the Scottish producer’s first time playing the festival since 2014, when he performed a headlining set that featured an appearance by Rihanna.

“Miracle” is currently in its fourth week on Dance/Electronic Songs, where it’s currently sitting at No. 8. Earlier this week the song also hit No. 1 on the U.K. singles chart, climbing 3-1, for its first stint at the summit.

The track marks Harris’ third collaboration over the last decade. Together, they hit No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 in August of 2013 with “I Need Your Love.” Coming from Harris’ all time classic LP 18 Months, the song spent 25 weeks on the chart and served as a key track of the EDM era. 2014’s “Outside” — from Harris’ Motion — reached No. 29 on the Hot 100 and spent 20 weeks on the chart.

Goulding was (and indeed remains) one of the genre’s most crucial voices, appearing on tracks by Harris, Skrillex, Major Lazer, Seven Lions and a flurry of other genre stars.

14 Apr 2023

Halsey Announces String of Shows to Benefit LGBTQIA+ Organizations

Halsey is teaming up with Hard Rock live to perform reimagined versions of their songs for a good cause.

“i’m playing a handful of intimate venues with a string ensemble this summer,” she tweeted on Friday (April 14), adding that donations and proceeds for the show will benefit two LGBTQIA+ focused organizations. Outright International advocates for human rights and equality for LGBTQIA+ people, and invests in the community as well as allies around the world to produce cultural, social and legal change. Human Rights Campaign aims to ensure all LGBTQ+ people — and particularly those who are trans, people of color or HIV positive — are treated as equal citizens around the world. In addition, the events will also benefit Hard Rock Heals, which provides assistance to health and wellness, disaster relief, humanitarian causes and more around the world.

The three shows will take place on June 24 in Hollywood, Fla.; June 30 in Gary, Ind.; and on July 2 in Wheatland, Calif.

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Halsey’s exciting announcement comes amid a treacherous time in the music industry, where a few artists have been sharing transphobic responses to trans activist Dylan Mulvaney teaming up with Anheuser-Busch to promote the brand’s Easy Carry Contest, including Kid Rock and Travis Tritt.

Additionally, conservative politicians have been targeting trans people, drag queens and queer culture in recent weeks, leading to a surge in anti-LGBTQ bills surging through Republican-led legislatures, particularly in Tennessee.

14 Apr 2023

Timbaland Says ‘Fun’ Justin Timberlake Is Back on Upcoming ‘Bob-Your-Head’ Album

After flying his flannel and dipping into some country funk vibes on 2018’s Man of the Woods, Justin Timberlake is ready to dance, dance, dance on his next album. Longtime pal and producer Timbaland recently spoke to Variety about the just-wrapped sessions for JT’s sixth solo album.

Last week, Tim said he’d just left the studio where he and Timberlake were finishing things up and he said “everything sounds great. Now it’s really on him how he plans to wrap it up and how and when he envisions it to come out. With an artist of his caliber, everything has to be aligned, but it’s done and it’s coming.”

At press time a spokesperson for Timberlake had not returned Billboard‘s request for comment on the status of his next album.

The great news according to Timbaland is that the as-yet-untitled collection is a definitive return to “fun Justin.” The producer who has worked on some of JT’s most iconic tracks said the collection hearkens back to Justin’s beloved 2006 FutureSex/LoveSounds album, which featured the hits “SexyBack,” “My Love,” “What Goes Around… Comes Around” and “Summer Love.”

“But nothing too heavy, just giving you what you’d expect from us: not overthought, the lyrics are not so deep, it’s bob-your-head, dance-to-it music,” Timbaland said. “Music is a young sport, and you have to keep it fun — fun and young. We’ve both seen a lot of life, but you can’t overthink it because of that, you have to bring out the 13-year-old, 18-year-old again, you know? If not, you can get into the old-fogey stage real quick.[Laughs] That’s just the world we live in.”

He said the pair took them time on this one in order to make sure they were being “authentic and true to the art,” so when songs came up that were “too complicated” they picked tracks that were more along the lines of “‘FutureSex’ part two.”

As for the mixed response to Man of the Woods — which folded in folksy Americana vibes on songs such as the rural funk “Supplies” and country pop “Say Something” with country singer Chris Stapleton — Timbaland said the LP was part of a “statement” that JT wanted to make at the time. “When artists have a personal things that they want to do, I kind of back myself away. Because if I have a personal thing that I’m trying to get across, I have to at least try to get it out and deal with whatever happens from that point,” he said.

So as Justin’s friend, Tim said he tried to help make the best album they could together, teaming with another frequent sonic associate, Pharrell, to help execute the singer’s vision for the project. “I guess it’s kind of an autobiography album, ‘I’m from Memphis, I came from nothing, this is how I used to live my life in the South,’” he said of the album’s theme.

Understanding that without risk there is no reward, Tim said after Justin got what he needed to off his chest, “now were’ back to the essence.” At press time a title and release date for Timberlake’s sixth album have not been announced.

14 Apr 2023

‘Late Late Show’ Has Good News/Bad News About Those One Direction Reunion Rumors For Show’s Finale

James Corden has long had a soft spot in his heart for the men of One Direction. He’s hosted them and done bits with the beloved boy band’s members over the course of his eight years hosting the Late Late Show. So naturally given their affection for one another speculation has been running rampant that Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne and Louis Tomlinson would get the band back together to honor Corden’s final curtain call.

In a tweet on Thursday afternoon (April 13) — over a screenshot of a British tabloid report claiming that the five-piece would reunite for the first time in 8 years for Corden’s swan song — the show stamped the words “FALSE ALARM” in red letters. “Nobody loves the boys more than us … but this story just isn’t true,” read the let-down message to anyone who believed that the quintet are getting the band back together to honor their pal one lasat time.

“What is true is we’ve got an absolutely brilliant 2 hour finale planned to celebrate 8 years of #LateLateShow at 10pm on April 27th,” the tweet added.

One Direction visited the Late Late Show in May 2015, shortly after Malik took leave from the group, with Styles, Horan, Payne and Tomlinson cramming into a minivan for a “Carpool Karaoke” segment. Over the years Payne has dropped by to do a “Boy Bands Vs. Solo Artists Riff-Off” with Corden and perform “Strip That Down,” while Horan has done his own “Carpool” segment, a “500 Miles” song parody, and, just last month, a musical pirate sketch.

Tomlinson popped in last year and performed “Bigger Than Me” — while proving game to talk about whether he was open to being kidnapped in another long-running 1D bit on the show — and also performed in a number of sketches over the years. Styles has allowed Corden to film a low-budget music video for him, done a week-long residency, played a very spicy “Spill Your Guts” with Kendall Jenner, guest hosted, shot his own “Carpool” trip and even a Crosswalk Concert over the years.

Check out the Late Late Show‘s tweet below.

14 Apr 2023

Karol G and Ana De Armas’ All-Spanish ‘SNL’ Promo Has Bowen Yang Proclaiming ‘Yo Soy La Playa’

Bowen Yang just wants to fit in during the promo for this weekend’s Saturday Night Live. Standing next to host Cuban/Spanish actress Ana de Armas (Blonde), Colombian musical guest Karol G and Cuban-Dominican SNL castmate Marcello Hernandez, Yang is the odd man out in the first all-Spanish language preview for the show.

The host does the usual intro, saying her name and welcoming Karol as the musical guest in Spanish, while Hernandez tells the singer that it’s going to be a “tremendous night” as he gushes about how much he loves her musical. After Karol says she’s delighted to be there, Yang, desperate to prove his funky bilingual bona fides, casually drops all the Spanish he learned in high school, adding, “yo soy la playa.”

“You are the beach?” Hernandez wonders. “Yes, I am the beach,” Yang concurs confidently, as de Armas confirms, “Bowen is the beach.”

One of the other bits setting up this weekend’s show finds Yang telling de Armas that he loved her as Marilyn Monroe in Blonde, as Karol G says she also loved the actress in Bond, — as in 2021’s No Time To Die — while Hernandez keeps the rhyme time going by saying he is “fond” of her work in the movie Ghosted. This time, however, Marcello is the one on the outside looking in, as he apologizes for his clumsy attempt to keep the rhyme going.

The Spanish-heavy promo was fitting as Karol G’s Mañana Será Bonito made her the first artist to land an all-Spanish language album by a female artist to debut atop the Billboard 200 album chart last month; it was also Karol’s first No. 1 album on the chart.

Saturday Night Live airs at 11:30 p.m. ET on Saturday (April 15) and then streams on Peacock after.

Check out this week’s SNL promos below.

14 Apr 2023

Drake Bell Posts First Message After Reported Disappearance

Drake Bell was reported safe on Thursday afternoon (April 13), just hours after police in Daytona Beach issued a missing person’s alert for the 36-year-old former Nickelodeon star. And while police have not released any information to date about where Bell (born Jared Bell) was before he was found or what caused them to issue a “missing and endangered” alert, the former Drake & Josh star broke his silence on Thursday evening with a jokey tweet about the incident.

“You leave your phone in the car and don’t answer for the night and this?,” he wrote along with a crying laughing emoji. At press time Bell had not further explained where he was or why the alert was issued and a spokesperson for the Tampa Bay Police Department had not returned Billboard‘s request for additional information on the search for the actor.

On Thursday morning, TBPD wrote on Facebook that, “He [Bell] should be traveling in a 2022 grey BMW and his last known location is potentially the area of Mainland High School… He is considered missing and endangered.” Hours later they sent out an update that read, “we can confirm law enforcement officials are in contact and Mr. Bell is safe.”

According to People magazine, Bell’s last public appearance before his brief disappearance was on April 11 when he was seen with his two-year-old son at SeaWorld in Orlando; Bell shares custody of the child with estranged wife Janet Von Schmeling, who the magazine reported in January had split with the actor/singer as he sought outpatient treatment for substance use issues.

See Bell’s tweet below.