Music News

17 Jan 2023

Harry Styles to Perform at 2023 BRIT Awards

Harry Styles has been added to the performer lineup for next month’s 2023 BRIT Awards. On Tuesday morning (Jan. 17) the singer was added to the roster for the broadcast where he is up for four awards; album of the year (Harry’s House), artist of the year, pop/R&B act and song of the year for his smash single “As It Was.”

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Styles joins previously announced performers Wet Leg and Sam Smith with Kim Petras at the show slated to take place on Feb. 11 at the O2 Arena in London. It will be Styles’ second solo performance at the BRIT’s, following his run through “Falling” at the 2020 awards. Slated for broadcast on ITV1 and ITVX, the show will be hosted by British comedian Mo Gilligan.

After recently wrapping the North American run for his massive Love on Tour outing, last week Styles announced a few more chances for fans to catch the show. After completing three rescheduled shows at the Forum in Los Angeles Jan. 26, 27 and 29, Styles announced on Friday (Jan. 13) that he will play two final nights at Acrisure Arena, Southern California’s newest 11,000-capacity world-class venue in Greater Palm Springs, on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1. Madi Diaz will serve as a special guest for the two dates.

Since launching Sept. 4, 2021, Styles has netted $338.9 million and sold 2.6 million tickets for the Live Nation produced, 120 show tour according to Billboard Boxscore. Love on Tour made many stops around the globe including North America, Latin America, Australia, New Zealand and Asia.

17 Jan 2023

Lisa Marie Presley Public Memorial to be Held at Graceland

A public memorial service for Lisa Marie Presley will be held next weekend at Graceland, the famed Memphis home of her father, Elvis Presley. The memorial for Lisa Marie Presley will be held on the front lawn of the mansion at 9 a.m. on Jan. 22, according to a representative of her daughter and actor Riley Keough. The general public is invited to attend, with details about the service available here.

Presley, 54, died Thursday, hours after being hospitalized for a medical emergency. It was previously announced that Presley will be buried at Graceland next to her son, Benjamin Keough, who died in 2020. Elvis and other members of the Presley family are also buried at Graceland.

A singer-songwriter herself, Lisa Marie did not live in Memphis, where she was born. But she made trips to the city for celebrations of her father’s birth anniversary and commemorations of his death, which stunned the world when he was found dead in Graceland at age 42 on Aug. 16, 1977.

Lisa Marie became the sole heir of the Elvis Presley Trust, which — along with Elvis Presley Enterprises — managed Graceland and other assets until she sold her majority interest in 2005. She retained ownership of the mansion itself, the 13 acres around it and items inside the home. A representative for Graceland told People magazine that following Lisa Marie’s death, the property, which is in a trust, will benefit her daughters, Riley, Harper and Finley.

She is survived by her mother, Priscilla Presley, and her three children. In lieu of flowers, the family is encouraging fans to make a donation to the Elvis Presley Charitable Foundation.

16 Jan 2023

Jennifer Lopez Dishes About ‘Emotional Transition’ of Blending Families With Ben Affleck

Jennifer Lopez opened up about blending families with Ben Affleck in a new interview on Monday (Jan. 16).

Appearing on the Today show to promote her upcoming rom-com Shotgun Wedding with Josh Duhamel, the superstar said, “We moved in together, the kids moved in together. So it’s been, like, a really kind of emotional transition. But at the same time, like, all your dreams coming true and it’s just been a phenomenal year. Like, my best year, I think, since my kids were born.”

J.Lo shares 14-year-old twins Max and Emme with ex-husband Marc Antony while Affleck’s three children — Violet, 18; Seraphina, 14, and Samuel, nearly 11 — come from his 10-year marriage to Jennifer Garner, which ended in 2015.

During the sit-down, Lopez revealed that her kids have recently become acquainted with her back catalog of films. “They’ve watched Maid in Manhattan and The Wedding Planner, funnily enough,” she said. “They haven’t gotten into, like, the Out of Sights or the… they saw Selena. It was kinda sweet ’cause I don’t think they realize that she passed away! And so at the end of the movie, they were like, ‘No!’ They were, like, really [terrified]. I was like, ‘Oh my God, I thought you knew!’”

Lopez also took a moment in the interview to tease her upcoming studio album, This Is Me… Now, and its connection to 2002’s This Is Me… Then and her first engagement to Affleck. “The last time Ben and I were together to this album, it’s been such a journey,” she said. “The thing that I think I’ve been wondering about my whole life is like, ‘Is love real? Does true love exist?’ It’s two people kind of coming together and saying, you know, ‘I’m gonna be here no matter what and we’re gonna get through it together.’”

Watch Lopez reminisce over Ben and their newly blended family below.

16 Jan 2023

Amy Grant Slams Homophobic Backlash Over LGBTQ+ Niece’s Wedding: ‘I Love Those Brides’

An aunt and an ally. Amy Grant shut down trolls criticizing her decision to host her LGBTQ+ niece’s wedding on Monday (Jan. 16).

“I never chase any of those rabbits down the rabbit hole,” the Christian pop singer said to People of outcry from homophobic critics on social media. “I love my family, I love those brides. They’re wonderful, our family is better, and you should be able to be who you are with your family, and be loved by them.”

Grant also revealed that her niece’s nuptials took place at the very same place she and Vince Gill were married back in 2000. “I own a farm that I bought back in the ’90s and they were just looking for a beautiful place to get married,” she said. “So, she and Sam got married on the same hillside where Vince and I got married.”

“Honestly, from a faith perspective, I do always say, ‘Jesus, you just narrowed it down to two things: love God and love each other,’” Grant added in a Washington Post interview back in November to explain her perspective on balancing her well-documented faith with her support of the LGBTQ+ community. “I mean, hey — that’s pretty simple.”

This weekend, Grant — who received Kennedy Center Honors in 2022 — opened the long-awaited Los Angeles concert honoring A&M Records co-founder Jerry Moss, performing her now-classic 1991 ballad “I Will Remember You” before Peter Frampton, Rita Coolidge, David Foster, Herb Alpert, Dionne Warwick and Sting each took the stage.

16 Jan 2023

Dua Lipa Spends ‘24hrs in Madrid,’ Including a Meet-Up With Director Pedro Almodóvar

Dua Lipa took to social media on Sunday to share the day she spent traveling in the city of Madrid, Spain.

The superstar’s whirlwind trip to the Spanish capital included a visit with none other than director Pedro Almodóvar. “24hrs in Madrid,” she captioned a carousel of snapshots on Instagram that included a selfie taken with the filmmaker, in which both she and Almodóvar are grinning from ear to ear.

“Pedroooooo,” one fan gushed in the comments section while another wrote, “Puma for Pedro…too cute” using two orange hearts and two raised-hands emojis.

The slideshow also featured shots of the “Cold Heart” singer posing theatrically on an outdoor deck wearing a head-to-toe leather ensemble, chunky gold jewelry and platform heels as well as a second, menswear-inspired outfit made up of a long, gray Gucci blazer, blue button-up, trousers and thick, black-framed sunglasses tinted orange.

Last month, Lipa closed out 2022 by hosting Almodóvar as a guest on the second season of her podcast, Dua Lipa: At Your Service. “Simply put, Pedro Almodóvar is one of the world’s best directors. Pedro’s movies are camp, but emotionally resonant; glossy, but powerful; queer and comedic but grounded and tragic,” the singer said to introduce the mind behind the likes of 1988’s Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, 2004’s Bad Education, 2006’s Volver and 2021’s Parallel Mothers. From there, she welcomed the director in Spanish, and shared that she’s been in the process of learning the language.

Check out more from Dua’s 24-hour stop in Madrid below.

16 Jan 2023

Rihanna Ushers In ‘Heartbreaker Szn’ for Savage X Fenty Valentine’s Day Drop With Steamy New Pics

Rihanna gave fans a red-hot preview of Savage X Fenty’s upcoming Valentine’s Day collection on Sunday.

“Heartbreaker szn,” the superstar captioned one round of photos, which feature her posing in a lacy black bodysuit in a neon-lit room of pinks, blues, purples and reds. In another series of photos, she wears an orange and purple, psychedelic print set while perched on top of a glass table, her long black hair trailing down to her backside accented by a stream of tiny braids. “#savageXfentySPORT V-DAY drop,” she teased, hinting that the latest line will be available by mid-February.

The new Valentine’s-themed pieces aren’t the only looks RiRi has been readying as of late, either. Earlier this month, the “Needed Me” singer modeled her limited-edition Savage X Game Day collection in anticipation of her upcoming Super Bowl halftime show, when she’ll take the stage on Feb. 12 at Glendale, Arizona’s State Farm Stadium to mark her first major musical performance in six years.

The sporty drop includes a number of crop-top varsity jerseys, hats, hoodies, tube tops, sweatpants, beanies and even cotton boxers patterned with tiny footballs. One oversize white tee playfully has the words “RIHANNA CONCERT INTERRUPTED BY A FOOTBALL GAME, WEIRD BUT WHATEVER” emblazoned across the front in giant block letters.

Ahead of the recent Golden Globes attendee‘s long-awaited comeback, Billboard also mapped out our dream setlist for the halftime show — from “Don’t Stop the Music” and “Rude Boy” to “We Found Love” and (fingers crossed!) a new track from the ever-elusive R9.

Get a look at Rihanna’s new Savage X Fenty Valentine’s Day snapshots below.

16 Jan 2023

C.J. Harris, ‘American Idol’ Alum, Dies at 31

C.J. Harris, a singer who competed on the 2014 season of American Idol, died Sunday at age 31.

The Jasper, Alabama, native was reportedly rushed to a local hospital after suffering a medical emergency, according to Variety, and the Walker County Coroner’s Office later confirmed his death. However, no other details, including cause of death, were given as of press time.

Harris competed on season 13 of the singing competition, initially auditioning for judges Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick Jr. in Salt Lake City with a rendition of The Allman Brothers Band’s “Soulshine.” After making it through the Hollywood round, the hopeful was voted a Wild Card by the public in the semifinals and earned his way into the live shows with a soulful performance of Sam Cooke’s “Bring It On Home to Me.”

Some of Harris’ most memorable musical numbers during season 13’s live shows included “Radio” by Darius Rucker, Tom Petty’s “Free Fallin’” and both “Waiting on the World to Change” and “Gravity” from John Mayer’s 2006 album Continuum. Eventually, the guitarist came in sixth place, being eliminated during Rock ‘n’ Roll / Country Week with dual performances of the Guess Who’s “American Woman” and Zac Brown Band’s “Whatever It Is.”

Harris toured with the rest of the season 13 finalists after Caleb Johnson was crowned that year’s winner over runner-up Jena Irene, and he released his debut single, titled “In Love,” back in 2019. Just weeks ago, Harris kicked off the new year by promising new music was “coming soon” with a smiling selfie on his Facebook page.

The American Idol Instagram account shared a Stories tribute to the late singer on Monday (Jan. 16), writing, “C.J. Harris was an incredible talent, and the news of his passing deeply saddens us. He will be truly missed.”

16 Jan 2023

Jared Leto, Fall Out Boy & More: 7 Things You Didn’t See Backstage at iHeart ALTer EGO 2023

The iHeart ALTer EGO 2023 show descended upon L.A.’s Kia Forum over the weekend, and Billboard was backstage to bring you every exclusive moment.

In-between sets by Fall Out Boy, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Phoenix and Jack White, Billboard social media coordinator Lucy Blonstein chatted up the likes of Jared Leto, CHVRCHES and more on Saturday night. Below, we’ve rounded up seven moments you have to see from backstage.

Leto revealed backstage that out of all the bands on the lineup, he’d want to collaborate with Muse if his band, 30 Second to Mars, ever got the chance. “Because we’ve toured together before, we love them. Great guys, and I think we’d be an interesting, interesting pairing,” he said, standing in front of a giant portrait of Katy Perry. “Yeah, Muse.”

Billboard was also on the ground to catch Fall Out Boy headed backstage after their nostalgia-fueled set, which included classic hits like “Sugar We’re Goin’ Down,” “This Ain’t a Scene, It’s an Arms Race,” “My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark (Light Em Up),” “Thnks Fr the Mmrs” and more, and even caught a candid Pete Wentz whistling as he made his way through the backstage throngs, his long, bleach-blonde hair tied up in a bun and wearing the band’s own merch.

CHVRCHES, meanwhile, shared their “quite boring” pre-show rituals with Billboard, which happen to include vocal and instrument warm-ups, a couple of cocktails made by touring drummer Jonny Scott and listening to music to “get in the ‘zone’,” as singer Lauren Mayberry said. “And that’s about it,” she added. “But yes, no Satanic rituals yet. Maybe on album five.”

Billboard‘s December 2022 Chartbreaker Rosa Linn was also at the big show, where she performed “WDIA (Would Do It Again),” “Never Be Mine” and TikTok breakthrough “Snap.” The Eurovision competitor posed for our camera after leaving the stage, showing off “#ARtSAKH” painted on the sleeve of her jacket to bring attention to the ongoing blockade between Artsakh and Armenia.

Other famous faces we caught up with backstage included Phoenix, Jack White and Beach Weather. Check out exclusive photos and videos from backstage at iHeart’s ALTer EGO show below.

Jared Leto Shares His Dream Collab

Pete Wentz & Our Backstage POV of Fall Out Boy

Pete Wentz backstage at iHeart ALTer EGO 2023 at L.A.’s Kia Forum

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CHVRCHES Share Their Pre-Show Rituals

Jack White Backstage

Jack White backstage at iHeart ALTer EGO 2023 at L.A.’s Kia Forum

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Phoenix Backstage

Phoenix backstage at iHeart ALTer EGO 2023 at L.A.’s Kia Forum

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Rosa Linn Backstage

Rosa Linn backstage at iHeart ALTer EGO 2023 at L.A.’s Kia Forum

Wes and Alex

Beach Weather Backstage

Beach Weather backstage at iHeart ALTer EGO 2023 at L.A.’s Kia Forum

Wes and Alex

15 Jan 2023

Yukihiro Takahashi, Yellow Magic Orchestra Co-Founder, Dies at 70

Legendary Japanese drummer, YMO co-founder and music producer Yukihiro Takahashi passed away Jan. 11 at 5:59 a.m. Japan time. He was 70.

According to an announcement from his management, Takahashi had been diagnosed with a brain tumor in the summer of 2020, and had been in and out of hospital repeatedly after surgery while undergoing rehabilitation.

The pioneering musician had been recuperating at home since November, but his condition deteriorated at the end of the year and he passed away from aspiration pneumonia associated with his brain disease.

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Takahashi was born in Tokyo in 1952. He began his career as a studio musician in high school, and after playing in Sadistic Mika Band, he formed Yellow Magic Orchestra in 1978 with co-founders Haruomi Hosono and Ryuichi Sakamoto.

As a solo artist, he released 23 original albums, from Saravah! in 1978 to Life Anew in 2013. Along with his solo career, he also played in The Beatniks with Keiichi Suzuki, Sketch Show with Hosono, and pupa with Tomoyo Harada, Hiroshi Takano, and others. He was also known as a fashion designer.

A special concert celebrating Takahashi’s 50th anniversary in music took place in September last year, and while the iconic singer-songwriter had been scheduled to perform, he was unable to do so due to his illness.

Following Takahashi’s death, a wave of musicians have paid tribute online including Orbital, Sparks, Erol Alkan, Junior Boys, Mouse on Mars, and 808 State.

A ceremony celebrating his life will be held at a later date.

15 Jan 2023

Fans Choose Miley Cyrus‘ ’Flowers’ as This Week’s Favorite New Music

Miley Cyrus‘ new single “Flowers” has topped this week’s new music poll.

Music fans voted in a poll published Friday (Jan. 13) on Billboard, choosing Cyrus’ uplifting track as their favorite new music release of the past week.

“Flowers” brought in more than 59% of the vote, beating out new music from Bizarrap and Shakira, Sam Smith and more.

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The dance-ready, midtempo pop track is the first taste of Cyrus’ upcoming album Endless Summer Vacation, and it’s all about being more than comfortable on her own — and in her own skin — after a breakup.

“I can buy myself flowers, write my name in the sand/ Talk to myself for hours, yeah, some things you don’t understand/ But I can take myself dancing, yeah/ I can hold my own hand/ Yeah, I can love me better than you can,” she sings.

Trailing behind the pop star’s “Flowers” on the fan-voted poll is Bizarrap and Shakira’s “Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53,” with 36% of the vote.

See the final results of this week’s poll below.