Music News

10 Mar 2023

Miley Cyrus, TWICE & More: What’s Your Favorite New Music Release of the Week? Vote!

This week’s new music Friday is filled with brand new albums from Miley Cyrus and TWICE, a long awaited collaboration between dance powerhouse duo Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding, and more.

Cyrus has returned with Endless Summer Vacation, which sees her expanding and diving into elements from her multifaceted sound of past album eras, all while delivering danceable — and infectious — pop hits. Buoyed by lead single “Flowers,” Cyrus’ first Billboard Hot 100 chart topper in nearly a decade, the star gives fans a love letter to Los Angeles and a solid look at what’s ahead for her musically.

Women in Music Breakthrough Artist award winners TWICE are back with 12th mini album Ready to Be. The K-pop stars have supported the release through U.S. television performances, and are embarking on a world tour in April, which will allow ONCEs to hear the pop hits and strong hooks on the new EP. “Set Me Free” and “Blame It On Me” serve as clear standouts from the new set, while the previously released single, “Moonlight Sunrise,” continues to be a fresh, infectious listen.

Past collaborators Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding reunite on “Miracle,” the third from the pair since “I Need Your Love” in 2012 and “Outside” in 2014. The track is a clear showcase of trance sensibilities, with Goulding’s vocals serving as a warm vehicle to accompany the song’s instrumentals.

Lauren Daigle and Fever Ray also return with new material this week. With so much to choose from, we want to know: Which release is your favorite? Vote in our poll below.

10 Mar 2023

Lil Nas X Cozies Up to Elton John, Miley Cyrus & More at Star-Studded Versace Show

Lil Nas X took to social media on Thursday (March 9) to show off his star-studded day at the latest Versace fashion show in West Hollywood.

“I [heart] donatella,” the “Industry Baby” rapper captioned his slideshow from the event for the label’s fall/winter 2023 collection, which showed him decked out in a glittery fringed top, black skirt, boots and Versace underwear as he hung out with the likes of Elton John, Miley Cyrus, Dua Lipa and Anne Hathaway.

In one pic, he even got a big hug from Donatella Versace herself, who returned the love in the comments of his post, writing, “And I love you!!!!!!” Ice Spice also hyped up her fellow rapper, simply commenting, “stunning” on the high-fashion photos.

Of course, Lil Nas X already has connections to both Sir Elton (who joined him on Montero album cut “One of Me”) and Cyrus (who collaborated on album closer “Am I Dreaming”; her famous dad was also featured on X’s 2018 breakout hit “Old Town Road (Remix)”).

In February, the Grammy winner used a Twitter Q&A with fans to tease the possibility that the hotly awaited follow-up to his debut album could arrive as soon as this summer. “It’s mostly planning now. i could easily just release music but i have to build moments around this s–t. i have to go bigger than before!” he promised at the time.

Next, LNX is set to play the 2023 NCAA March Madness Music Festival later this month with fellow headliners Tim McGraw, Keith Urban and Little Big Town.

Check out Lil Nas rubbing elbows with all his famous pals at the Versace show on his Instagram post.

10 Mar 2023

Chris Brown Scores 18th Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay No. 1

Chris Brown earns his 18th No. 1 on Billboard’s Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, as “Under the Influence” lifts 2-1 on the March 11-dated list.

“Influence” becomes Brown’s first leader since “Go Crazy,” a co-billed track with Young Thug, led for six weeks in 2020.

With 18 No. 1s, Brown maintains the third-most rulers in chart history since the list launched in 1993. Drake leads all acts with 44 toppers.

Most No. 1s, Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay:

  • 44, Drake
  • 20, Lil Wayne
  • 18, Chris Brown
  • 16, Usher
  • 12, Beyonce
  • 11, R. Kelly
  • 10, Cardi B
  • 10, Jay-Z
  • 10, Rihanna

Brown first led the survey in 2006 as a featured artist on Bow Wow’s “Shortie Like Mine” alongside Johnta Austin. He earned his first as a lead act the next year with “Kiss Kiss,” featuring T-Pain.

The reign of “Influence” on Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay follows a lead for the song on Rhythmic Airplay for six weeks beginning last year.

“Influence” concurrently rises 4-2 on R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay, 15-13 on Pop Airplay and debuts at No. 28 on Adult R&B Airplay.

On the all-format Radio Songs tally, “Influence” jumps back into the top 10 (11-9) with 53.1 million audience impressions, according to Luminate.

“Influence” bullets at No. 18, after rising as high as No. 12 in January, on the multi-metric Billboard Hot 100 while also appearing at No. 5 on Hot R&B Songs and at No. 7 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. In addition to its radio airplay, the song earned 10 million official U.S. streams and 1,000 downloads in the Feb. 24-March 2 tracking week.

Originally released in 2019 via Brown’s album Indigo, “Influence” caught a second wind in 2022 thanks to virality on shortform video platforms such as TikTok, leading to the song being worked to radio formats for the first time.

Parent album Indigo has earned 2.7 million equivalent album units since its release.

10 Mar 2023

Jason Mraz to Kick Off Grammy Museum’s ‘Sunday Brunch With…’ Series

Jason Mraz will kick off The Grammy Museum’s “Sunday Brunch With…” series, a fundraiser for the museum’s Grammy in the Schools education programs.

The inaugural event will be held on Sunday April 2 at VERSE LA, a restaurant in Los Angeles’ Toluca Lake neighborhood. Guests will eat a three-course brunch while listening to music performed by a jazz trio assembled by a Grammy in the Schools education program alumni. Following the meal, Mraz will perform for 45 minutes. The brunch begins at noon, Mraz’s performance begins at 1:30 p.m.

Tickets, priced at $350, include open bar and three-course brunch (vegetarian, vegan, gluten free and dairy free options available) and complimentary valet parking. Tickets are tax deductible.

This inaugural event is presented by Union Bank and supported by VERSE LA, which is owned by long-time Grammy Museum supporter and 11-time Grammy-winning mixer, Manny Marroquin.

Marroquin won a Grammy for record of the year on Feb. 5 for his work on Lizzo’s “About Damn Time.” He won album of the year last year for his work on Jon Batiste’s We Are. He has won two awards each for work with Lizzo and Alicia Keys and one award each for work with Mary Mary, Kanye West, John Legend, John Mayer, Bruno Mars, Rihanna and Batiste.

Mraz is a two-time Grammy winner. He won both awards on the 2010 telecast – best male pop vocal performance for “Make It Mine” and best pop collaboration with vocals for “Lucky,” a collab with Colbie Caillat.

The Grammy Museum’s music education programs annually impact more than 35,000 K-12 students and teachers across the U.S.

VERSE L.A. is located at 4212 Lankershim Blvd, Toluca Lake, CA 91602. Tickets and more info here.

10 Mar 2023

Megan Thee Stallion Will Return to Houston For First Concert of 2023

Megan Thee Stallion is returning to the stage. The “Sweetest Pie” rapper will be headlining AT&T Block Party as part of the 2023 NCAA March Madness Music Festival. Slated to take place in Megan’s hometown of Houston, the three-day weekend will begin March 31 during NCAA Men’s Final Four and continue until April 2, with Megan’s headlining performance leading the way.

Held at Houston’s Discovery Green Park, AT&T will use its Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra smartphones to film the concert through multiple camera angles. Fans can register for the show and live-stream the event here. “There’s no place I’d rather be for my first performance of the year than my hometown of Houston,” Megan said in a statement. “The AT&T Block Party Concert is gonna be such a vibe, and I can’t wait to get back on stage in the city where it all began. I’m looking forward to seeing my Hotties and putting on an unforgettable show for them.”

The rest of the weekend will include more superstar performances — day two will feature Lil Nas X and Maggie Rogers while day three will offer Tim McGraw, Keith Urban, Little Big Town and Mickey Guyton.

December 2022 served as the conclusion to the Megan Thee Stallion-Tory Lanez saga, when the Canadian rapper was found guilty on three charges from a July 2020 shooting in Los Angeles. The jury convicted Lanez on the following charges: assault with a semiautomatic firearm, carrying a loaded unregistered firearm in a vehicle and discharge of a firearm with gross negligence.

10 Mar 2023

deadmau5 Expects to Retire the mau5head by the Time He’s 50

Time flies when you’re headlining global mainstages. Fifteen years after releasing their collaborative classic “I Remember,” deadmau5 and Kaskade have come back together as Kx5.

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Ahead of their debut album coming next Friday (March 17) and their performance at Billboard Presents The Stage at SXSW on March 18, the pair sat down for our latest cover story to talk about life as two of EDM’s elder statesmen.

In the piece, deadmau5 shares that “I don’t think I’m going to be f–king donning a mau5head in my 50s,” referring to his signature helmet and his plans to retire it in the next decade. (deadmau5 is 42, while Kaskade is 51.) deadmau5 adds that he’s considering managing acts from his indie label, mau5trap, as he gets older and tours less.

Noting that he and Kaskade broke through “right at the turning point” when EDM was the world’s most lucrative genre, deadmau5 says their respective businesses have developed so that most of their revenue is currently “in ancillary goods — tangible items [like merchandise], appearances, shows, production.”

Kaskade’s manager Ryan Henderson also notes that the pair put major money into Kx5 live performances, with their record-setting show last December at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum costing “almost seven figures to design and over seven figures to execute.”

But while such investments affect the Kx5 bottom line, so too does the pairing feed each artist’s residual revenue streams, with Henderson adding that Kaskade just signed a three-year, eight-figure Las Vegas residency deal. “I’m not saying the Kx5 brand contributed to that,” Henderson notes, “but it definitely didn’t hurt it.”

And with the pair having influenced the next generation of dance artists, the story also reveals that current scene phenom John Summit, who opened for Kx5 at the Coliseum show, will release the first-ever official remix of “I Remember” later this year.

10 Mar 2023

Here’s Why Fans Think Miley Cyrus Accused Liam Hemsworth of Cheating on ‘Muddy Feet’

Some fans think Liam Hemsworth’s fingerprints — or should we say, footprints — are all over Miley Cyrus‘ new album Endless Summer Vacation, which dropped midnight Friday (March 10).

More specifically, many have speculated that track nine on the album, “Muddy Feet,” calls out Hemsworth for being unfaithful during their relationship. “You smell like perfume that I didn’t purchase,” Cyrus sings on the record, a collaboration with Sia. “Now I know why you’ve been closing the curtains/ Get the f–k out of my house.”

Later on the song, she sings, “Always questioning my questioning/ Get thе f–k out of my head with that s–t.”

Of course, Cyrus doesn’t mention the Hunger Games actor by name; however, her former romance with Hemsworth is objectively the musician’s longest and most well-known public relationship. The two first met in 2009 on set of The Last Song, and dated on and off for the better part of a decade. In 2018, they got married before promptly splitting a few months later in 2019.

The length and rockiness of the former couple’s relationship has led fans to connect much of Cyrus’ new music to Hemsworth, including her Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 Endless Summer Vacation lead single. On “Flowers,” the Hannah Montana star confidently sings about her ability to love herself better than her former partner, believed by many to be Hemsworth, ever could.

There’s also the not-so-subtle fact that Cyrus literally released “Flowers” on Jan. 13 this year, aka Hemsworth’s 33rd birthday. So, there’s that.

Check out some of the best reactions to Miley Cyrus potentially confirming Liam Hemsworth cheated on her below.

10 Mar 2023

With ‘Die for You,’ The Weeknd Matches Michael Jackson for Hot 100 History: Ask Billboard

Submit questions about Billboard charts, as well as general music musings, to askbb@billboard.com. Please include your first and last name, as well as your city, state and country, if outside the U.S.

Or, tweet @gthot20.

Let’s open the latest mailbag (and Instagram feed …)

The Weeknd Matches Michael Jackson for Hot 100 History

The Weeknd is correct! With “Die for You” soaring to No. 1 on the latest, March 11-dated Billboard Hot 100, he joins Jackson as the only male soloists with multiple leaders on the chart from three albums.

(The feat is based on counting “Die for You” from Starboy, on which it was originally released in 2016, six-plus years before its new remix, with Ariana Grande, sparked its coronation. For Billboard’s charts, all versions of the song roll up into one chart listing.)

Overall, the club of acts with multiple Hot 100 No. 1s originally released on three, or more, albums, is exclusive – just seven members, with The Weeknd its newest since 2001. Two of those acts have notched multiple leaders from more than three albums each: Mariah Carey, the leader with six, and The Beatles, with four.

Let’s recap each act’s impressive haul of multiple Hot 100 No. 1s from three or more albums each (with details, similar to the journey of “Die for You,” regarding songs with notable release histories beyond the albums listed below).

The Weeknd

  • Starboy: “Starboy” (feat. Daft Punk), 2017; “Die for You” (with Ariana Grande), 2023
  • After Hours: “Heartless,” 2019; “Blinding Lights,” 2020; “Save Your Tears” (with Grande), 2021
  • Beauty Behind the Madness: “Can’t Feel My Face,” “The Hills,” 2015

Janet Jackson

  • All for You: “Doesn’t Really Matter,” 2000 (originally released on the Nutty Professor II: The Klumps soundtrack); “All for You,” 2001
  • janet.: “That’s the Way Love Goes,” “Again,” 1993″
  • Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814: “Miss You Much,” 1989; “Escapade,” “Black Cat,” 1990; “Love Will Never Do (Without You),” 1991

Mariah Carey

  • The Emancipation of Mimi: “We Belong Together,” 2005; “Don’t Forget About Us,” 2005-06 (added to the album’s Ultra Platinum Edition rerelease)
  • Rainbow: “Heartbreaker” (feat. Jay-Z), 1999; “Thank God I Found You” (feat. Joe & 98 Degrees), 2000
  • Butterfly: “Honey,” 1997; “My All,” 1998
  • Daydream: “Fantasy,” 1995; “One Sweet Day” (with Boyz II Men), 1995-96; “Always Be My Baby,” 1996
  • Music Box: “Dreamlover,” 1993; “Hero,” 1993-94
  • Mariah Carey: “Vision of Love,” “Love Takes Time,” 1990; “Someday,” “I Don’t Wanna Cry,” 1991

Whitney Houston

  • I’m Your Baby Tonight: “I’m Your Baby Tonight,” 1990; “All the Man That I Need,” 1991
  • Whitney: “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me),” “Didn’t We Almost Have It All,” 1987; “So Emotional,” “Where Do Broken Hearts Go,” 1988
  • Whitney Houston: “Saving All My Love for You,” 1985; “How Will I Know,” “Greatest Love of All,” 1986

Michael Jackson

  • Bad: “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” (with Siedah Garrett), “Bad,” 1987; “The Way You Make Me Feel,” “Man in the Mirror,” “Dirty Diana,” 1988
  • Thriller: “Billie Jean,” “Beat It,” 1983
  • Off the Wall: “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough,” 1979; “Rock With You,” 1980

The Beatles

  • Let It Be: “Get Back” (first released as a non-album single), 1969; “Let It Be,” “The Long and Winding Road,” 1970
  • Hey Jude: “Paperback Writer,” 1966; “Hey Jude,” 1968 (both first released as non-album singles)
  • Magical Mystery Tour: “Penny Lane,” “Hello Goodbye,” 1967 (both first released as non-album singles)
  • Help!: “Ticket to Ride,” “Help!,” 1965

The Supremes

  • The Supremes Sing Holland–Dozier–Holland: “You Keep Me Hangin’ On,” 1966; “Love Is Here and Now You’re Gone,” 1967
  • More Hits by The Supremes: “Stop! In the Name of Love,” “Back in My Arms Again,” 1965
  • Where Did Our Love Go: “Where Did Our Love Go,” “Baby Love,” “Come See About Me,” 1964 (all first released as non-album singles)

The Weeknd doesn’t only become the latest artist with at least two Hot 100 No. 1s from three or more albums. As previously reported, “Die for You” also makes him and Grande the sixth pair of artists with two No. 1s together.

There’s even more to The Weeknd and Grande’s latest success …

An Achievement to ‘Die For’

Hi Gary,

The Weeknd and Ariana Grande score a first on the latest Hot 100: Thanks to “Die for You” and “Save Your Tears,” they are the first artists in the elite category of acts with two shared No. 1s each with top billing on both of their hits. All the others – Drake and Future; Drake and Rihanna; Eminem and Rihanna; Nelly Furtado and Timbaland; and Jennifer Lopez and Ja Rule – included featured billings on their No. 1s together.

Meanwhile, here are a few star collaborators that have nearly each pulled off a pair of Hot 100 chart-toppers, each missing by just one position:

  • Michael Jackson & Paul McCartney: “The Girl Is Mine” (No. 2, 1982) and “Say Say Say” (No. 1, 1984)
  • Beyoncé & Jay-Z: “Crazy in Love” (No. 1, 2003) and “Drunk in Love” (No. 2, 2014)
  • Rihanna & Jay-Z: “Umbrella” (No. 1, 2007) and “Run This Town (No. 2, 2009)
  • Drake & 21 Savage: “Jimmy Cooks” (No. 1) and “Rich Flex” (No. 2, both 2022)

Also, a darkly fun coincidence: No. 1 on the Hot 100 is “Die for You” and No. 100 is “Die 4 Me,” by Halsey. Honestly, what are the chances? I don’t know, for the life of me.

Pablo Nelson
Oakland, Calif.

Thanks Pablo. Plus, the titles at Nos. 2 and 99 on the latest Hot 100: “Flowers” and “The Color Violet.”

Also, the debuts at Nos. 89 and 88: “Joe” and “Dirt.” If we have a callback to an early 2000s film in “Kill Bill,” why not another?

An ’80s Hit That ‘Ties’ Into This Week

Hi Gary,

With “Die for You” hitting No. 1 on the Hot 100 after a six-year-plus wait, the second-longest from a debut on the chart, I thought of a song that should be noted among those that took long routes to the top: “At This Moment” by Billy Vera & The Beaters. The ballad peaked at No. 79 its first time out, as a live version, in 1981 and, thanks to a newer studio recording, hit No. 1 over five years and four months later, in January 1987.

Take care!

Ron Raymond, Jr.

Thanks, Ron. Great observation. The song hit No. 1 at last sparked by its synch in NBC’s Family Ties. “I am grateful to have written a standard that will live long after I’m gone,” Vera said in an in-depth 2021 interview that chronicles the song’s comeback.

The only reason that it isn’t considered among the songs with the longest climbs to No. 1 on the Hot 100 from a debut is that when it returned to the chart, it was treated as a debut, not a re-entry, as it was, as you point out, an entirely new recording, as opposed to a remix, and on a different label (Rhino Records, marking its first leader) than when it was first released.

The song also wasn’t the only one to return in a new form, and as a debut on the Hot 100, during that era. The Righteous Brothers’ “Unchained Melody” likewise charted as a new entry, thanks to a re-recording, on Curb Records (as a cassette single), and hit No. 19 in November 1990.

Meanwhile, the duo’s original version, on Verve/Polydor (on vinyl), re-entered, after reaching No. 4 in 1965, and rose to No. 13 in October 1990.

So, two versions of the classic charted on the Hot 100 simultaneously. Or, put another way, and to reference a movie from the early ’90s this time, ditto.

10 Mar 2023

Jonas Brothers Say ‘The Album’ Will Be Inspired By ’70s Influences’

Jonas Brothers opened up about the sound of their upcoming album, The Album, in a new interview on Wednesday (March 8).

“We’re taking the roots of what our sound is, but also going back to our roots and pulling from those ‘70s influences we grew up listening to,” Nick Jonas teased at Spotify’s Stream On event to E! News.

Joe Jonas jumped in to add: “A lot of things happened obviously in the last couple of years, so we never got the time to just connect, stay in one room and work on new music. To be able to do that and have that outcome that we had, we are so thrilled.”

Among the references the siblings point to on The Album include sounds from the 1970s like the Bee Gees, Boston and Stevie Wonder.

Kevin Jonas also teased the Brothers’ plans to hit the road later this year to promote the studio set. “We haven’t announced the tour, but it will be coming very soon,” he said. “We are going to be doing a bunch of shows leading up to the album release as well. A lot of exciting things this year and the years to come.”

Prior to The Album‘s May 12 release, Joe, Kevin and Nick will also be taking over the Marquis Theater in New York City for a five-night residency on Broadway. Each night starting next Tuesday (March 14), they’ll highlight one of of their past albums — from 2007’s Jonas Brothers to 2019’s Happiness Begins — before performing their new album live for the first time. This week, they also announced a one-night-only show at London’s Royal Albert Hall set for April 14.

10 Mar 2023

Rancho Humilde Executives Meet With U.S. Senator Alex Padilla to Discuss Immigration & Voting Rights

Led by CEO Jimmy Humilde, indie label Rancho Humilde executives traveled to Washington, D.C., on March 1 to meet with U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.).

Joined by the label’s co-founding partners José Becerra and Roque Venegas, the meeting, requested by Humilde, focused on discussing key issues that affect the Latin community in the U.S., such as a path to citizenship for the millions of undocumented immigrants living in the country. The last time the U.S. immigration system was meaningfully reformed was in 1986, when then President Ronald Reagan signed the Immigration Reform and Control Act.

Additionally, Humilde expressed his “desire for U.S. consulates and embassies to create panel discussions and educational programs that enable the discovery of hidden talents that can be developed in the U.S. market,” according to a press release. The label executives also met at the White House with President Joe Biden’s senior advisory team to “assess possible ways for the Latin community to participate more in important voting processes at the national level.”

While the discussions in Washington have yet to lead to any sort of reform or the introduction of any new policies, Humilde and his L.A.-based team have been active on a local level. Most recently, Rancho Humilde and its artist Fuerza Regida made a joint donation of $20,000 to the organization Inclusive Action for the City, whose work is promoting the legalization of street vending.

“Street vending should be recognized in the city as an honest trade,” Humilde said in a statement. “It is not only a source of job creation, but it’s also a sector that boosts consumption in the city. I understand their hardships and concern, because at one point it was there where I found my living and that of my family.”

In February, Humilde hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Latin Producers chart (dated Feb. 4) for the first time, thanks to nine production credits on the Hot Latin Songs survey. Rancho Humilde, whose roster includes artists such asIvonne Galáz, Junior H and Fuerza Regida, finished at No. 4 on Billboard’s 2022 year-end Hot Latin Songs Labels recap.