Music News

26 Oct 2022

Taylor Swift ‘Anti-Hero’ Music Video’s ‘Fat’ Scale Scene Removed From Apple Music After Controversy

Following the release of Taylor Swift‘s highly personal “Anti-Hero” music video on Friday (Oct. 21), the star received some backlash, with critics accusing the pop star of being “fatphobic” due to a scene in which Swift steps on a scale that reads “fat.”

On Wednesday (Oct. 26), the scene was removed from the music video on Apple Music, as spotted by some eagle-eyed Swifties on Twitter. However, at the time of publication, the scene still remains on the YouTube version of the video.

Swift has yet to publicly comment on the change. Billboard has reached out to Apple Music, Swift’s rep and YouTube for comment.

Swift has previously spoken about her struggles with body image, including in her 2020 documentary Miss Americana. She has also opened up about personal nature of “Anti-Hero,” calling it “one of my favorite songs I’ve ever written,” as she’s never “delved this far into my insecurities in this detail before.”

“This song really is a real guided tour through all the things I tend to hate about myself; we all hate things about ourselves,” she explained in a video released ahead of Midnights‘ arrival.

Following the backlash, the hosts of The View came to Swift’s defense on Tuesday’s (Oct. 25) episode. Sunny Hostin noted of the critics, “They missed the point. For someone who’s an artist, she gets to have agency over her artistry. She was describing a personal experience, and quite frankly, it’s a personal experience a lot of women experience. I’ve experienced it, and men.”

Whoopi Goldberg added, “Why are you wasting your time on this? You all want to say something about Taylor Swift, leave her a– alone!”

Watch the YouTube version of “Anti-Hero” below:

26 Oct 2022

DJ Mighty Mouse Dead: Beloved House Producer Dies at 48

Matthew Ward, best known as house/disco producer DJ Mighty Mouse, died suddenly in his sleep at his home in Spain Oct. 20 at 48. According to a statement from his label, Defected Records, Ward’s passing was unexpected.

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“We are devastated to confirm that Matthew Ward aka Mighty Mouse, died suddenly last Thursday at his home in Spain,” read the statement. “Matthew died in his sleep from an aortic aneurysm. We are all lost without his enormous presence and talent. Our thoughts are with his partner, Ellen, and his Mum, Judy, as well as his wider family and many, many friends and fans.”

Though active for more than a decade as a DJ/producer and beloved for his Disco Circus remix series, Ward’s 2019 song “The Spirit” was his breakout anthem, released on Defected’s Glitterbox imprint and named Hottest Record in the World by BBC Radio 1 DJ Annie Mac’s show. His edit of ABBA’s “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!,” “Midnight Mouse (Revised),” also reached cult status after French DJ Folamour played it during his set at the FLY Open Air Festival in 2019.

Earlier this month, Ward released a remix of Ridney & Inaya Day’s “Like You,” saying in his final Instagram post that the track had “loads of support and it goes down really well in the club.”

Ward was slated to DJ a Halloween party at The Lofts in Newcastle-upon-Tyne on Saturday (Oct. 29).

See Defected’s statement, and some tributes from fellow DJs and British singer Rowetta, below.

26 Oct 2022

John Legend Says Daughter Luna Inspired a Team Legend Battle on ‘The Voice’

As season 22 of The Voice continues to heat up, coaches Blake Shelton, Gwen Stefani, Camila Cabello and John Legend have had to task members of their team to battle it out to songs of their choice. The final set of battles occurred on Tuesday night’s (Oct. 25) episode, which saw Legend pitting his team members Omar Jose Cardona and Lana Love against each other for a performance that, according to him, was inspired by his and Chrissy Teigen’s daughter, Luna.

As the pair rehearsed the track Legend chose for them — “Into the Unknown” from the Frozen 2 soundtrack — with Jazmine Sullivan as their celebrity advisor, he shared, “As a father of a 6-year-old girl, I’m very familiar. This one’s a classic.”

Come performance time, the pair did the theatrical Disney tune justice. They passionately sang the second verse in tandem: “Everyone I’ve ever loved is here within these walls/ I’m sorry, secret siren, but I’m blocking out your calls/ I’ve had my adventure, I don’t need something new/ I’m afraid of what I’m risking if I follow you,” Cardona and Love took turns belting, before launching into the titular chorus.

After Legend’s fellow coaches provided their critique — which largely saw three other coaches marveling at how Broadway-ready Cardona and Love’s voices are — he provided his thoughts on the battle and gave his decision.

“Lana, I just love your passion, the way you move your body when you sing. And everyone’s right — you should be on Broadway right now. You have the voice for it,” the “All of Me” singer shared. “Omar, I’ve never heard anyone sing like you, dude. You’re not just singing, you’re giving the physical performance, you’re getting into it. I like the way you even toss the mic to yourself. You just felt confident, in control. Just know that both of you, it was phenomenal to watch and just inspiring for us, honestly.”

Fans will have to stay tuned to see who kept their spot on Team Legend. Watch Cardona and Love’s performance of “Into the Unknown” below.

26 Oct 2022

Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra Are ‘Sending Joy and Light’ for Baby Malti’s First Diwali

Love and light! Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra both took to social media to celebrate the Indian holiday of Diwali with their daughter Malti.

“Such a beautiful Diwali celebration with my ♥️. Happy Diwali everyone. Sending joy and light to you all. #diwali,” the Jonas Brothers singer captioned his slideshow on Tuesday (Oct. 25) while placing a heart over Malti’s face to protect the baby’s privacy.

The actress added well wishes with a post of her own a day later, writing, “Love, peace and prosperity to all. From a heart truly laden with gratitude, I wish you all a Happy Diwali. Sorry I’m a little late but decided to stay in the moment just a little bit longer..ॐ नमः शिवाय. From ours to yours. Love and light.”

In both carousels, the couple are wearing traditional Indian clothing in rich shades of cream, white and gold while performing a ceremony to Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of prosperity, wealth and good fortune.

Though they have yet to share baby Malti’s face with the world, both parents regularly post photos with their only child on social media, including sweet posts for Father’s Day and a summertime trip to the pool.

Next, Jonas and his brothers are slated to perform at the Salvation Army’s “Red Kettle Kickoff” halftime show during the Dallas Cowboys game on Nov. 24, just two weeks after they return to Las Vegas for three more dates of their residency at the Dolby Live at Park MGM.

Get a look at Jonas and Chopra’s heartwarming Diwali celebration below.

26 Oct 2022

Christina Aguilera Recreates ‘Stripped’ Look on TikTok

Christina Aguilera is giving fans some Halloween costume inspiration by throwing it back to her famous Stripped days.

The star took to TikTok this week to recreate a scene from her tour in support of her 2002 album, in which she’s telling a dancer onstage, “Just because my album’s name is Stripped, doesn’t mean that you can take my clothes off.”

2022 Xtina then shows off a Stripped-inspired look, complete with thick lashes and black and blonde streaked hair, as she struts around her house to a remix of her single, “Dirrty.”

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Last week, Aguilera took to social media to celebrate the 20th anniversary of her sophomore album. “My favorite memory was just, I mean, the freedom to finally do what I wanted to do,” the pop star reminisced over a montage of moments from the Stripped era on Twitter. “As an artist, telling my stories, my personal messages for the first time. It was so important to me on my sophomore album that I truly made music that represented who I was.”

She added, “Stripped gave me the strength and freedom as an artist to tell my story the way I wanted. Thank you to all of my fighters around the world for amplifying that strength and giving me the space to continue to share myself in my truest forms, #20YearsOfStripped more to come.”

Stripped — which included songs like “Beautiful,” “Fighter,” “Dirrty” and “Can’t Hold Us Down” — peaked at No. 2 on the all-genre Billboard 200 albums chart, and it spent an impressive 79 total weeks on the chart.

26 Oct 2022

Official HIGE DANdism’s ‘Subtitle’ Rises to No. 1 on Japan Hot 100

Official HIGE DANdism’s “Subtitle” rises 3-1 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100, dated Oct. 26, increasing streams by over 50 percent from the week before.

The theme of the Fuji TV drama series silent debuted at No. 3 last week with 9,905,2947 weekly streams and racked up 18,116,526 this week (No. 1 for the metric), jumping 54.7 percent to climb to the top of the chart. The track was also boosted by downloads (No. 2), video views and radio airplay (No. 4), while also coming in at No. 46 for Twitter mentions.

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Last week’s No. 1 song, Kenshi Yonezu’s “KICK BACK,” slips to No. 2. While the Chainsaw Man opener also increased streams (from 12,556,627 to 15,735,232, up by 25.3 percent, No. 2) this week and topped downloads, it couldn’t overcome the difference between “Subtitle” with the other metrics of the chart’s methodology: No. 5 for radio, No. 6 for Twitter, No. 92 for karaoke, No. 100 for video.

This week saw a number of titles launching with high CD sales, with four songs bowing in the top 10 of the Japan Hot 100. AKB48’s “Hisashiburi no Lip Gloss” topped sales with 429,419 copies sold and THE RAMPAGE from EXILE TRIBE’s “Tsunagekizuna” followed with 142,364 copies sold. “Lip Gloss” came in at No. 7 for look-ups — the number of times a CD is ripped to a computer — No. 9 for Twitter, and No. 70 for radio, while “Tsunagekizuna” topped radio and came in at No. 2 for Twitter, No. 45 for look-ups and No. 64 for streaming. The latter managed to flip the difference in physical sales with the total points gained from other metrics, debuting at No. 3 on the Japan Hot 100 while “Lip Gloss” followed at No. 4.

The Billboard Japan Hot 100 combines physical and digital sales, audio streams, radio airplay, Twitter mentions, YouTube and GYAO! video views, Gracenote look-ups and karaoke data.

See the full Billboard Japan Hot 100 chart, tallying the week from Oct. 17 to 23, here.

26 Oct 2022

Kanye West Products Dropped by TJ Maxx After His Antisemitic Comments

Another company is saying adios to Kanye West and his products. As of Wednesday (Oct. 26), TJ Maxx has joined brands such as Adidas and Balenciaga in severing ties with the rapper following a flurry of antisemitic comments he made in social media posts and in subsequent interviews this month.

“At TJX we do not tolerate discrimination, harassment, or hate of any kind,” read a statement shared by the retailer with CNN. “We have instructed our buying teams not to purchase this merchandise for sale in any of our stores globally.”

Billboard has reached out to West for comment.

TJ Maxx is merely the latest domino to fall in the line of businesses dropping the artist, who now goes by Ye. One day prior, Adidas announced it would be ending a nearly decade-long partnership with the “Donda” artist, which spawned the creation of his massively successful Yeezy shoe line. Gap and Foot Locker also confirmed Tuesday (Oct. 25) that they’d be removing Ye’s products from their shelves.

Before that, Ye was discharged from his professional relationship with Balenciaga on Friday (Oct. 21), and dropped as a client from Creative Artists Agency on Monday (Oct. 24).

The fallout first began Oct. 3, when Ye featured shirts printed with the phrase “White Lives Matter” in his Paris Fashion Week show. Just days later, he was suspended from Twitter and Instagram for posting anti-Jewish hate speech, which he continued to spew in later appearances on Cuomo, Drink Champs and other interviews.

It’s not just companies that are condemning Ye’s recent antics. Stars such as Ariana Grande, John Legend, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jack Antonoff, Sarah Silverman and more have all publicly spoken out against the Yeezy founder’s hate speech in the past few weeks. As recently as Monday night (Oct. 24), Harry Styles replaced his usual Adidas footwear with Vans for one of his concerts, something fans believed to be a small act of protest against the brand before it severed ties with Ye. The loss of the Adidas partnership was a move that cost the rapper his status as a billionaire, according to Forbes.

26 Oct 2022

Wynonna Judd to Welcome Brandi Carlile, Kelsea Ballerini & More for The Judds: Love Is Alive Concert Special

Wynonna Judd is set to pay tribute to a special concert moment she shared with her mother and The Judds partner, Naomi Judd, during The Judds 1991 Farewell Tour.

The Country Music Hall of Fame member will welcome Ashley McBryde, Brandi Carlile, Kelsea Ballerini, Little Big Town and Martina McBride on Nov. 3 when she headlines The Judds: Love Is Alive – The Final Concert in Murfreesboro, Tenn., at Middle Tennessee State University’s Murphy Center, the same venue where the Judds played their final show together on Dec. 4, 1991, as part of their farewell tour that year. The concert was filmed for a pay-per-view show.

CMT and Sandbox Productions will film the upcoming concert, with plans to air it as a television special in March 2023 on CMT. Additional special guests are still to be announced.

The event will also mark the largest concert to take place at the Murphy Center since The Judds held their final show together at the venue nearly 31 years ago. Tickets for the event go on sale Wednesday (Oct. 26) beginning at 2 p.m. CT.

“Stepping onstage at the Murphy Center for the first time since Dec. 4, 1991, will be so surreal for me. It was an emotional night over 30 years ago, and will be an emotional night — for different reasons — now,” Wynonna said in a statement. “I can’t wait to lean into the nostalgia with the artists who have made this tour so special, and recreate one of the most iconic nights in Judd ‘Herstory!’”

“It’s serendipitous magic on so many levels to be able to capture Wynonna’s return to the Murphy Center, almost exactly 31 years to the date. And it’s especially meaningful as an MTSU alum to produce such a landmark event, working hand in hand with the university’s faculty and staff to have their students actively participate in the production in its entirety,” said Margaret Comeaux, CMT’s executive producer & senior vp of production, music & events. “We are also extremely excited to collaborate once again with our amazing partners at Sandbox to present a true Judds event spectacular that has been decades in the making, and continue to tell the next chapter in Wynonna’s story.”

“I remember when I was 15 years old, watching The Judds 1991 Farewell Concert on repeat when it first came out on Pay-Per-View. This is such an incredible, full circle moment to reproduce that same iconic special with Wy, and having her joined by all the powerhouse women she has brought with her on tour,” said Sandbox Productions’ Jason Owen, executive producer. “I’m so excited for everyone to watch – and for the incredible legacy of The Judds to live on forever.”

“What is most compelling about the Judds’ music is that it captures the love between two women. The Murphy Center event will allow us all to celebrate that love. After all, it was love that built a bridge between the Judds and their audience,” added Beverly Keel, dean of the college of media and entertainment, MTSU. “It is love that connects the family of country music females and strengthens them as they work to make their voices heard.”

Earlier this week, it was revealed that The Judds: The Final Tour will extend into 2023, with a slate of additional shows, welcoming McBryde, Carlile, Ballerini, Little Big Town and McBride on select dates. The tour will visit Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Friday, Oct. 28, featuring McBride and Trisha Yearwood.

Wynonna’s mother and The Judds partner Naomi died in April at age 76, just one day before The Judds were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

26 Oct 2022

Blink-182’s ‘Edging’ Already No. 1 on Rock & Alternative Airplay Chart

After just its first week-and-a-half of availability, Blink-182‘s “Edging” is No. 1 on Billboard‘s Rock & Alternative Airplay chart.

The song tops the Oct. 29-dated ranking with 5.7 million audience impressions in the Oct. 17-23 tracking week, according to Luminate. It debuted at No. 2 the week before with 3.9 million in audience, tallied from its release Oct. 14 through Oct. 16.

It’s the trio’s first No. 1 on the chart, which began in 2009. Its previous best, “Bored to Death,” peaked at No. 2 in 2016.

With a two-week chart trip to No. 1, “Edging” is one of just 10 songs to crown the list in two frames or fewer. It’s the second song to complete such a sprint in 2022, following Red Hot Chili Peppers‘ “Black Summer,” which also took just two weeks in February.

“Edging” is currently a standalone single and Blink-182’s first release with Tom DeLonge on vocals and guitars since he departed the band in the mid-2010s. Alkaline Trio‘s Matt Skiba filled in on guitar and vocals for the group’s two most recent albums, 2016’s California and 2019’s Nine; the former spent a week at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, while the latter debuted and peaked at No. 3.

Concurrently, “Edging” soars 12-2 on Alternative Airplay, Blink-182’s best rank since “She’s Out of Her Mind” peaked at No. 2 in 2017. The band boasts three No. 1s on the chart: “All the Small Things” in 1999, “I Miss You” in 2004 and “Bored” in 2016. The group first reached the chart in 1997 with “Dammit,” which hit No. 11 the next year.

“Edging” also jumps 33-22 on Mainstream Rock Airplay.

Following its first week of streams and sales, “Edging” opens at Nos. 4, 6 and 7 on the streaming-, airplay- and sales-based Hot Alternative Songs, Hot Rock Songs and Hot Rock & Alternative Songs charts, respectively. In addition to its radio airplay, which totaled 7.5 million impressions across all formats Oct. 14-20, the song drew 6.1 million official U.S. streams and sold 9,000 downloads in its first seven days.

The song also enters the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 at No. 61, becoming Blink-182’s highest ranking song since “I Miss You” peaked at No. 42 in 2004.

Consumption of the rest of Blink-182’s catalog, which includes eight studio albums beginning with 1995’s Cheshire Cat, also rose Oct. 14-20, sparked by the new single as well as the announcement of the band’s new tour, its first since DeLonge rejoined the band. In that span, Blink-182’s music received 30.2 million official on-demand U.S. streams, up 57% over Oct. 7-13. Excluding “Edging,” the numbers remain striking: 24.1 million streams, a 25% vault.

Even more substantial: the band’s three-week gains, from Sept. 30 through Oct. 20, encompassing the DeLonge reunion announcement Oct. 11 and the release of “Edging” Oct. 14:

Blink-182 Official On-Demand U.S. Streams

  • Sept. 30-Oct. 6: 11.9 million
  • Oct. 7-13: 19.2 million, up 62%
  • Oct. 14-20: 30.2 million, up 57% (24.1 million, up 25%, without “Edging,” released Oct. 14)

The band’s catalog surged 154% Oct. 14-20 as compared to Sept. 30-Oct. 6, or 103% when removing “Edging.”

Additionally, “All the Small Things” re-enters the Oct. 29 Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart (where older titles are eligible to appear if in the top half and with a meaningful reason for their returns). The song, which topped Alternative Airplay for eight weeks and hit No. 6 on the Hot 100 in 1999-2000, ranks at No. 22 on Hot Rock & Alternative Songs with 3.1 million streams, up 16%.

Other Blink-182 classics with sizable streaming gains Oct. 14-20 include “I Miss You” (2.5 million, up 14%), “What’s My Age Again?” (2.3 million, up 23%) and “First Date” (1.5 million, up 35%).

“Edging” additionally bounds in atop Rock Digital Song Sales and Alternative Digital Song Sales with its 9,000-download count, Blink-182’s first No. 1 on both charts. It’s also Nos. 7 and 8, respectively, on Rock Streaming Songs and Alternative Streaming Songs.

On the Top Rock & Alternative Albums chart, the band’s 2005’s Greatest Hits collection pushes 23-13 with 12,000 equivalent album units earned, up 26%. The set also returns to the all-genre Billboard 200‘s top half, jumping 117-64, its first time in that region since February 2006.

26 Oct 2022

Rihanna Fans Are Losing It Over ‘Lift Me Up’ Announcement: ‘We Made It Out the Drought!’

Rihanna had the Internet lit up when she announced her official return to music. While RiRi didn’t share plans for her highly anticipated ninth studio album, the singer is set to unveil her new single “Lift Me Up” from the upcoming Marvel sequel Black Panther: Wakanda Forever on Friday (Oct. 28).

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The upcoming song was written by Tems, Oscar winner Ludwig Göransson, Rihanna and Panther director Ryan Coogler as a tribute to the late Panther star Chadwick Boseman, who died in August 2020 at age 43. The track will be released on the Ri’s Westbury Road label in partnership with Roc Nation/Def Jam Recordings/Hollywood Records. 

“After speaking with Ryan and hearing his direction for the film and the song, I wanted to write something that portrays a warm embrace from all the people that I’ve lost in my life. I tried to imagine what it would feel like if I could sing to them now and express how much I miss them,” said Tems in a statement. “Rihanna has been an inspiration to me so hearing her convey this song is a great honor.”

The “Love on the Brain” singer hasn’t released an album since Anti dropped six years ago, and spent two weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. Her break from live shows is also slated to end on Feb. 12, 2023, when she headlines the 2023 Super Bowl Halftime Show.

As expected, Ri’s fans, affectionately called the Navy, took to Twitter to share their excitement over the news. See some of the best fan reactions below.