Music News

19 Jan 2023

Lewis Capaldi Pauses U.K. Concert After Fight Breaks Out in Crowd

Lewis Capaldi had to stop midway through his show at London’s O2 arena on Wednesday night after a scuffle erupted in the audience.

The Scottish crooner was reportedly partway through his 2019 single “Hold Me While You Wait” when two attendees in the pit started fighting. “They are scrapping in the crowd there. Erm, we are going to have to get them out. We can’t be fighting,” he said, according to NME, after signaling to the band to cut the music.

“What a weird song to fight to. Bizarre, bizarre,” Capaldi added once the audience members in question had been removed from the venue. At that point, he directed the action for the evening back to the stage by starting the song — which was a top five hit on the U.K. chart from his debut album Divinely Inspired to a Hellish Extent — over from the beginning.

Capaldi’s latest single, the deceptively romantic “Pointless,” is currently reigning over the U.K. Official Singles Chart (dated Jan. 13), where it eked out a narrow victory over former No. 1 “Escapism” by Raye and 070 Shake. (A margin of just 1,200 combined sales separated the top two tracks.)

Meanwhile, the track’s 2022 predecessor, “Forget Me,” was recently nominated for song of the year at the 2023 BRIT Awards, where it will face off in a crowded race that also includes Harry Styles’ “As It Was,” Ed Sheeran and Elton John’s “Merry Christmas,” Sam Smith and Kim Petras’ “Unholy” and more.

Check out fan-captured footage from Capaldi’s show below.

19 Jan 2023

David Crosby’s Death Mourned by Stephen Stills, Graham Nash, Melissa Etheridge & More: ‘He Leaves Behind a Tremendous Void’

An outpouring of love and reverence hit social media when the news broke that The Byrds and Crosby, Stills & Nash founder David Crosby had died at age 81.

Memories poured in from Crosby’s peers, including bandmates (and sometime adversaries) Graham Nash and Stephen Stills, with whom he formed CSN in 1968.

“It is with a deep and profound sadness that I learned that my friend David Crosby has passed,” Nash wrote on Facebook. “I know people tend to focus on how volatile our relationship has been at times, but what has always mattered to David and me more than anything was the pure joy of the music we created together, the sound we discovered with one another, and the deep friendship we shared over all these many long years. David was fearless in life and in music. He leaves behind a tremendous void as far as sheer personality and talent in this world. He spoke his mind, his heart, and his passion through his beautiful music and leaves an incredible legacy. These are the things that matter most. My heart is truly with his wife, Jan, his son, Django, and all of the people he has touched in this world.”

In a statement sent to Billboard, Stills shared: “I read a quote in this morning’s paper attributed to compose Gustav Mahler that stopoed me for a moment: ‘Death has, on placid cat’s paws, entered the room.’ I shoulda known something was up. David and I butted heads a lot over time, but they were mostly glancing blows, yet still left us numb skulls. I was happy to be at peace with him. He was without question a giant of a musician, and his harmonic sensibilities were nothing short of genius. The glue that held us together as our vocals soared, like Icarus, towards the sun. I am deeply saddened at his passing and shall miss him beyond measure.”

Crosby was also remembered by Melissa Etheridge, who asked the folk-rocker to be the biological father of her children in the ’90s. “I am grieving the loss of my friend [and] Beckett and Bailey’s biological father, David,” Etheridge wrote on Instagram. “He gave me the gift of family. I will forever be grateful to him, [son] Django, and [wife] Jan. His music and legacy will inspire many generations to come. A true treasure.”

Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson, Jason Isbell, Rosanne Cash, Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan, Lalah Hathaway and more famous friends and fans pay tribute to Crosby below:

19 Jan 2023

Recording Academy & CBS Plan Immersive Pop-Up Experience for Grammy Week

In the lead-up to the 65th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 5, the Recording Academy and CBS present “Grammy House: Where the Stars Align,” a pop-up experience for “music makers, culture creators and rising industry leaders.” The house will be open from Wednesday, Feb. 1, to Friday, Feb. 3. Programming includes an emerging artists showcase, a producer panel and the second annual #GrammysNextGen Party.

The destination features a dedicated space, Universe of Hip-Hop, an exhibit celebrating 50 years of hip-hop music and culture through the lenses of photographers who were there, including Janette Beckman, Michael Lavine, Danny Clinch, B+ (Brian Cross), Greg Noire and Gunner Stahl.

Designed and curated by artist Cey Adams — the founding creative director of Def Jam Recordings — the space will feature iconic imagery from dozens of artists, including Run-D.M.C., five-time Grammy host LL Cool J, The Notorious B.I.G., 2Pac, Kendrick Lamar and 21 Savage.

Grammy House Programming is curated in partnership with The Revels Group and Coup D’Etat Music.

Celestial Sessions

Emerging artists showcase featuring artists Stephen Sanchez, Oxlade, JELEEL!, Jenevieve, Lakeyah and TiaCorine, with guest host, social comedy star Desi Banks.

Date: Wed, Feb. 1

Time: 6-8 p.m.

#GrammysNextGen Power Brunch

Inaugural brunch for a new class of over 25 official #GrammysNextGen ambassadors and advisors.

Date: Thurs, Feb. 2

Time: Noon-2 p.m.

Starmaker Studio

Panel featuring prolific producers in hip-hop today, including Jozzy, Tommy Parker, Tommy Brown, Ojivolta and Murda Beatz.

Date: Thurs, Feb. 2

Time: 2-4 p.m.

#GrammysNextGen Party

Second annual #GrammysNextGen Party for leading young artists, tastemakers and the next generation of music executives.

Date: Fri, Feb. 3

Time: 4-7 p.m.

All events are invitation-only.

19 Jan 2023

Snoop Dogg & Pete Davidson Hitting the Field as 2023 NFL Pro Bowl Games Captains

After joining Dr. Dre’s Super Bowl halftime show last year, Snoop Dogg is returning to the gridiron this year for the NFL Pro Bowl Games.

The “Gin and Juice” rapper was announced as a captain for this year’s NFL Pro Bowl Games alongside former quarterback Peyton Manning on Thursday (Jan. 19). The rapper will represent the AFC with retired NFL star, while Pete Davidson — also a captain this year — will join Peyton’s fellow quarterback brother Eli Manning with the NFC.

The 2023 NFL Pro Bowl Games will take place one week before Super Bowl LVII, on Feb. 5 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The games — which have run under the names National Football League All-Star Game (1939–1942) or Pro Bowl (1951–2022) — is an annual event held by the NFL that features several of its star players going head to head in a series of both football and non-football tests of athleticism.

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The Feb. 5 event will feature a series of four tests: Best Catch presented by Uber Eats (in which participants will show off their best pigskin reception skills), a Gridiron Gauntlet (side-by-side relay race), Move the Chain (weighted wall pull to test strength), and Kick Tac Toe. Fans can purchase tickets to the 2023 NFL Pro Bowl Games here.

As for the 2023 Super Bowl, the game will air Sunday, Feb. 15. Rihanna is scheduled to perform at the Apple Music Halftime Show (see our dream setlist for her performance here).

19 Jan 2023

David Crosby: Life in Photos

David Crosby, the influential folk-rock icon behind The Byrds and Crosby, Stills & Nash, has died at 81, Billboard confirmed Thursday (Jan. 19).

His career began in 1964 with The Byrds, with whom he earned two Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hits in “Mr. Tambourine Man” and “Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season).”

In 1968, he joined forces with Buffalo Springfield’s Stephen Stills and The Hollies’ Graham Nash to form Crosby, Stills & Nash. The trio released their self-titled debut album in 1969 and earned the best new artist award at the Grammys — which remains Crosby’s lone Grammy win, of 10 nominations. Neil Young joined the group for a series of live performances and recordings, with that iteration called Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.

In his lifetime, Crosby earned 22 top 40-charting albums on the Billboard 200 through his solo and collaborative work, including 10 top 10s and a trio of No. 1s, all with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (1970’s Deja Vu, 1971’s 4 Way Street and 1974’s So Far).

Crosby was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, for his work with The Byrds and with Crosby, Stills & Nash.

He was MusiCares’ inaugural person of the year recipient in 1991 and is one of only two individuals in Grammy history to have received two nominations for best new artist. He was nominated for that award as part of The Byrds (1965) and won as part of Crosby, Stills & Nash (1969). The only other individual to be twice-nominated in that category is Carl Palmer, who was nominated as part of Emerson, Lake & Palmer (1971) and again as part of Asia (1982).

Below, find photos throughout Crosby’s life and career, from the mid-1960s to now.

19 Jan 2023

David Crosby, The Byrds and Crosby, Stills & Nash Founder, Dies at 81

Two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Famer David Crosby, has died, sources confirm to Billboard. He was 81. Cause of death is unknown.

Crosby was a seminal figure in the folk-rock scene for more than six decades as a member of The Byrds,  Crosby, Stills & Nash and then Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. He also had a prolific solo career, especially in recent years, releasing new music at an almost frenetic pace. 

Crosby, a Los Angeles native and son of Academy Award-winning cinematographer Floyd Crosby, joined the Byrds in 1964 and in 1965, the band, known for its jangling guitars and layered harmonies, took two songs to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100: the Bob Dylan-penned “Mr. Tambourine Man” and “Turn!Turn!Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season).”

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Due to infighting with his bandmates Roger McGuinn and Chris Hillman,” Crosby left the Byrds in 1967. In 1968, after meeting Stephen Stills and Graham Nash, the trio formed Crosby, Stills & Nash, appearing at Woodstock in August, 1969, for only their second gig. 

Their self-titled debut album spawned two top 40 Hot 100 hits — “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes” (No. 21) and “Marrakesh Express” (No. 28) — and the trio won the Grammy for best new artist in 1969. Neil Young was an informal fourth member for occasional live performances, when the group would go by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. The core trio stayed active through 2016.

In 2019, Cameron Crowe produced a documentary about the cantankerous rock icon called Remember My Name. In an interview about the warts-and-all doc, Crosby explained to Billboard why it made sense that his Byrds bandmate Roger McGuinn called him “insufferable.”

“I can be contentious. Opinionated. I’m comfortable with that,” Crosby conceded. “When you’re in a relationship like that in a band, it’s like a marriage… you start out, you love each other, you love each other’s music. You’re thrilled that you’re doing this, and every time you play music, you feel brotherhood with the other guys. In CSNY with Neil [Young] and Graham [Nash] and Stephen [Stills], we were a competitive band. Not cooperative/competitive. We were also very shitty to each other over and over and over again, unkind and disloyal.”

Crosby earned 10 Grammy nominations in his lifetime — including a best music film nod for Remember My Name — but the CSN best new artist prize was his lone win.

19 Jan 2023

Kelly Clarkson Is ‘Looking for a Little Romance’ in Chris De Burgh Kellyoke Cover

Kelly Clarkson started the Thursday (Jan. 19) episode of her talk show with a rendition of Chris de Burgh‘s “The Lady in Red.”

Backed by her house band Y’all, the singer belted the overly earnest love song, singing, “Never seen you looking so lovely as you did tonight/ Never seen you shine so bright/ Never seen so many men ask you if you wanted to dance/ They’re looking for a little romance, given half a chance/ I have never seen that dress you’re wearing/ Or the highlights in your hair catch your eyes, I have been blind/ Lady in red/ Is dancing with me, cheek to cheek.”

Released as the second single from de Burgh’s 1986 album Into the Light, the ballad served as the British-Irish artist’s international breakthrough and hit No. 1 throughout the world, though it ultimately topped out at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the spring of ’87.

After singing the track, Clarkson invited Bryan Cranston to the couch, where she promptly played a recently unearthed video dating service ad the Breaking Bad star filmed sometime in the 1980s. Then, Rita Wilson joined the pair to dish on the “sing for your supper” parties she throws with Tom Hanks for their celebrity pals.

Other Kellyoke numbers Clarkson has chosen to cover recently include Joji’s “Glimpse of Us” (with not one, but two pianos!), The Offspring’s “Come Out and Play (Keep ‘Em Separated),” Blink-182’s “All the Small Things” and Duran Duran’s “Ordinary World.”

Watch Clarkson power through “The Lady in Red” below.

19 Jan 2023

Madonna Adds 13 New Dates to Celebration Tour

Madonna is booked and busy. On Thursday (Jan. 19), the pop star announced the addition of 13 dates to the North American leg of The Celebration Tour due to popular demand.

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The original, 35-date tour has expanded to include second shows in Seattle, Chicago, Toronto, Montreal, Boston, Miami, Houston, Dallas, Austin, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Las Vegas, as well as a third show at New York City’s Madison Square Garden.

The North American leg of the tour will kick off Saturday, July 15, at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver and will make additional stops in Phoenix, Detroit, Atlanta, Toronto, Montreal and more before concluding at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Oct. 8. The tour’s European leg will pick up with a pair of dates at The O2 arena on Oct. 14-15 and will make stops in Paris, Barcelona, Milan, Berlin and more before concluding in Amsterdam on Dec. 1 at the Ziggo Dome. As previously announced, Bob the Drag Queen will be a special guest on the tour.

Tickets for the new concert dates will go on sale starting this Friday, Jan. 20, at 10 a.m. local time. Phoenix, Denver, St. Paul, Cleveland, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Washington and Atlanta will go on sale Friday, Jan. 27, at 10 a.m. local time, with Citi cardholders getting earlier access to tickets starting Tuesday, Jan. 24, at 10 a.m. local time through Thursday, Jan. 26, at 6 p.m. local time.

In a recent feature with Vanity Fair, Madonna discussed her creative process and return to the stage, as well as her biopic in the works. “I’m about to create another show, and I’ve been working for several years on the screenplay about my life,” the singer told the magazine. “This is a good time for me — I’m gathering ideas, getting inspired, hanging out with creative people, watching films, seeing art, listening to music.”

See the full list of dates, with the newly added ones bolded, below.

THE CELEBRATION TOUR NORTH AMERICAN DATES: 

Sat Jul 15 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena
Tue Jul 18 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena
Wed Jul 19 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena – JUST ADDED
Sat Jul 22 – Phoenix, AZ – Footprint Center
Tue Jul 25 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena
Thu Jul 27 – Tulsa, OK – BOK Center
Sun Jul 30 – St. Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center
Wed Aug 02 – Cleveland, OH – Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse
Sat Aug 05 – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena
Mon. Aug 07 – Pittsburgh, PA – PPG Paints Arena
Wed Aug 09 – Chicago, IL – United Center
Thu Aug 10 – Chicago, IL – United Center – JUST ADDED
Sun Aug 13 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena
Mon Aug 14 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena – JUST ADDED
Sat Aug 19 – Montreal, QC – Bell Centre
Sun Aug 20 – Montreal, QC – Bell Centre – JUST ADDED
Wed Aug 23 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
Thu Aug 24 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
Sat Aug 26 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden – JUST ADDED
Wed Aug 30 – Boston, MA – TD Garden
Thu Aug 31 – Boston, MA – TD Garden – JUST ADDED
Sat Sep 02 – Washington, DC – Capital One Arena
Tue Sep 05 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena
Thu Sep 07 – Tampa, FL – Amalie Arena
Sat Sep 09 – Miami, FL – Miami-Dade Arena
Sun Sep 10 – Miami, FL – Miami-Dade Arena – JUST ADDED
Wed Sep 13 – Houston, TX – Toyota Center
Thu Sep 14 – Houston, TX – Toyota Center – JUST ADDED
Mon Sep 18 – Dallas, TX – American Airlines Center
Tue Sep 19 – Dallas, TX – American Airlines Center – JUST ADDED
Thu Sep 21 – Austin, TX – Moody Center
Fri Sep 22 – Austin, TX – Moody Center – JUST ADDED
Wed Sep 27 – Los Angeles, CA – Crypto.com Arena
Thu Sep 28 – Los Angeles, CA – Crypto.com Arena – JUST ADDED
Mon Oct 02 – Sacramento, CA – Golden 1 Center
Wed Oct 04 – San Francisco, CA – Chase Center
Thu Oct 05 – San Francisco, CA – Chase Center – JUST ADDED
Sat Oct 07 – Las Vegas, NV – T-Mobile Arena
Sun Oct 08 – Las Vegas, NV – T-Mobile Arena – JUST ADDED

THE CELEBRATION TOUR EUROPE DATES: 

Sat Oct 14 – London, UK – The O2
Sun Oct 15 – London, UK – The O2 – JUST ADDED
Sat Oct 21 – Antwerp, BE – Sportpaleis
Tue Oct 24 – Copenhagen, DK – Royal Arena
Sat Oct 28 – Stockholm, SE – Tele2 Arena
Wed Nov 01 – Barcelona, ES – Palau Sant Jordi
Mon Nov 06 – Lisbon, PT – Altice Arena
Sun Nov 12 – Paris, FR – Accor Arena
Mon Nov 13 – Paris, FR – Accor Arena
Wed Nov 15 – Cologne, DE – Lanxess Arena
Thu Nov 23 – Milan, IT – Mediolanum Forum
Tue Nov 28 – Berlin, DE – Mercedes-Benz Arena
Fri Dec 1 – Amsterdam, NL – Ziggo Dome

19 Jan 2023

After Taylor Swift Donation, Tennessee Animal Shelter Names 4 Puppies After Her Songs

Taylor Swift got a sweet shout-out from a Tennessee animal shelter this week in the form of four puppies named after some of her latest tunes.

“We recently received a generous donation from legendary singer-songwriter Taylor Swift,” the Williamson County Animal Center wrote in a touching Facebook post. “While all Swifties know Taylor loves cats, we hope she won’t mind that we named our newest adoptable puppies after her songs: ‘Carolina,’ ‘Bejeweled,’ ‘Midnight Rain’ and ‘Willow.’”

The Franklin-area center, based just outside Nashville, went on to share that two of the black-and-white, mixed breed pups — who all happen to be female —have already been adopted by local families, but that 3-month-old Carolina and Bejeweled were both still available as of Tuesday.

“We are very grateful for Taylor’s support of our shelter, which serves the pets of Williamson County through adoption, spay & neuter, enforcement, microchips, rabies clinics, and paw pantry,” WCAC concluded in its post.

Swift’s latest smash hit, “Anti-Hero,” just became her longest-running leader on the Billboard Hot 100 as it marked an eighth non-consecutive week at No. 1 on the chart dated Jan. 21.

Last week, the singer made a surprise appearance at The 1975’s tour stop at London’s O2 arena to perform “Anti-Hero” for the first time, and her live cover of the band’s “The City” caused its streaming numbers to spike. Next, she’s set to collaborate on a track, titled “The Alcott,” from The National’s upcoming album First Two Pages of Frankenstein.

Get a look at the adorable Swift-named pups below.

19 Jan 2023

Five Finger Death Punch Ties for Most Top 10s in Mainstream Rock Airplay History

Five Finger Death Punch moves into a tie for the most top 10s in the history of Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart, as “Welcome to the Circus” rises 11-10 on the Jan. 21-dated ranking.

“Circus” is the band’s 29th top 10, equal to the totals of Foo Fighters and Shinedown for the most since the tally began in March 1981.

Five Finger Death Punch first hit the top 10 with the No. 9-peaking “The Bleeding” in March 2008.

Most Top 10s, Mainstream Rock Airplay

  • 29, Five Finger Death Punch
  • 29, Foo Fighters
  • 29, Shinedown
  • 28, Tom Petty (solo and with the Heartbreakers)
  • 27, Godsmack
  • 26, Van Halen
  • 25, Disturbed
  • 25, Metallica

All of the band’s charting songs have hit the Mainstream Rock Airplay top 10 dating to “Lift Me Up” in 2013; “Circus” extends the streak to 20.

The Ivan Moody-led group is currently riding a record run of No. 1s: nine in a row, dating to 2018’s “Sham Pain.”

“Circus” is the third single from AfterLife, Five Finger Death Punch’s ninth studio album, to reach Mainstream Rock Airplay. The title track reigned for four weeks beginning in June 2022, while “Times Like These” ruled for three frames starting in October.

Concurrently, “Circus” lifts 25-24 on the all-rock-format, audience-based Rock & Alternative Airplay chart with 1.4 million audience impressions, up 7%, according to Luminate.

“Circus” also ranks at No. 14 on the multi-metric Hot Hard Rock Songs list after peaking at No. 4 last June. In addition to its airplay, the song earned 577,000 official U.S. streams in the Jan. 6-12 tracking week.

AfterLife bowed at No. 1 on the Top Hard Rock Albums chart last September and has earned 134,000 equivalent album units to date.