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Chris Hemsworth is a music fan, just like the rest of us. So much so, that he once asked for a selfie with a major pop star. The Avengers actor joined The Late Show With Stephen Colbert this week, where he answered a series of deep-dive questions to get to know him better. One of […]
When Taylor Swift‘s The Tortured Poets Department dropped in April last year, fans were all but certain that a person mentioned in the album’s title track was supposed to be Lucy Dacus. And nearly one year later, the Boygenius star has finally officially confirmed that she was, in fact, the “Lucy” in question, revealing that the pop superstar actually reached out to her before its release to make sure the name drop was all right.
In an interview with People published Thursday (March 27), Dacus responded candidly when asked point-blank whether she was the “Lucy” referenced in the bridge of “The Tortured Poets Department.” “I think it’s fair game to say yes,” the “Night Shift” singer said. “She actually texted me and asked for my approval.”
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Widely believed to be about Swift’s short-lived romance with The 1975’s Matty Healy in 2023, “The Tortured Poets Department” finds the 14-time Grammy winner singing, “Sometimes I wonder if you’re gonna screw this up with me/ But you told Lucy you’d kill yourself if I ever leave/ And I had said that to Jack about you, so I felt seen/ Everyone we know understands why it’s meant to be.”
Fans determined at the time of the album’s release that the “Jack” referenced in the same stanza was likely Swift’s longtime producer, Jack Antonoff. Dacus and the Bleachers frontman aren’t the only stars who got shoutouts, though; a certain “See You Again” singer was also featured in the song’s lyrics, with the Eras Tour headliner proclaiming, “You smoked and ate seven bars of chocolate/ We declared Charlie Puth should be a bigger artist.”
According to Dacus, the ordeal of listening to The Tortured Poets Department — which spent a collective 17 weeks atop the Billboard 200 — and hearing herself referenced in the lyrics was “so crazy.” “This [was] the first Taylor record to come out since meeting her, and listening to a friend’s record feels so much different than a stranger’s record,” the Virginia native told People. “So I was like, ‘This is really weird. This voice that I’ve heard basically what feels like my whole waking life saying my name.’”
“It was definitely an experience,” she added. “I sat down and I was like, ‘Huh. Wow.’ But I think that that record of hers is super open-hearted, and I don’t know how many people at her level, if anyone is at her level, are writing from the heart that openly.”
The interview comes one day ahead of Dacus’ fourth studio album, Forever Is a Feeling. Earlier this month, the “Ankles” songwriter — who recently confirmed her long-rumored romance with Boygenius bandmate Julien Baker — spoke to Billboard about her most romantic LP yet.
“Once you focus on one thing and one person, it actually recontextualizes everything else,” she said. “You realize that every detail is its own universe.”
Posdnuos, founding member of hip-hop legends De La Soul, has the mind-set of a classic rock icon who continues to record and tour after most people that age opt for retirement.
Talking to Billboard‘s Behind the Setlist podcast after a session in the recording studio, Pos (born Kelvin Mercer) says that being mindful of his health is critical to the group’s longevity. “We’re in the gym, running, doing the cardio and staying healthy. I love to run around onstage like a fool. So I’m always in spin class and lifting weights so I can keep my cardio up, man. I want to be like [The Rolling Stones frontman] Mick Jagger, moving around until the grave.”
At this point, De La Soul is to hip-hop what British invasion bands are to rock & roll. The Stones’ debut album came out a quarter-century before De La Soul released its first album, 3 Feet High and Rising, in 1989. More than 35 years and eight more studio albums later, De La Soul is where The Stones were in 2000: respected elders and innovators with a historic catalog and an appetite to remain relevant.
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“I’m really happy that we have a brand that we can still put out there,” Pos says. “Whenever we raise the flag, people want to come in and partake in whatever we’re offering.”
De La Soul has remained busy since the death of bandmate Trogoy the Dove (born David Jolicoeur) in December 2023. After a long absence from digital platforms because of a legal dispute, the group’s celebrated catalog appeared at streaming services in 2023. “We carried on pretty well” while being absent from services such as Spotify and Apple Music, says Pos. “Did we not gain certain fans at a certain time? Definitely, because you gotta realize we missed the entire download era and streaming until about two years ago. But with us still putting out music, we saw how people were so engaged, and even younger people engaged in our music.”
In the Internet age, De La Soul is never more than a Google search away. The group found a new wave of admirers after collaborations with Gorillaz that produced the hit song “Feel Good Inc.” in 2005 and “Crocadillaz” in 2023. Thanks to an abundance of metadata about music, people curious about the musicians on the tracks could easily find information about group — although they got to know him as Kelvin Mercer. “I’m a government name with young people,” says Pos.
The interview focused on De La Soul’s Jan. 16 show at Lincoln Center in Manhattan and also covered the group’s album and EP reissues. Listen to the entire conversation with Posdnuous using the embedded Spotify player below or go to Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeart, Amazon Music, Podbean or Everand.
FKA Twigs has reunited with North West to release a music video for their collaboration, “Childlike Things,” and they’ve also called on Kevin Smith and Jake Shane to guest star. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news In the clip, Smith and Shane act as music industry executives as […]
After a string of standout collaborations, Atlanta rapper Anycia is back with “Never Need” — a bold anthem that celebrates independence, confidence, and the power of women standing strong in their own light. Featuring fellow female MCs GloRilla and Karrahbooo, the track promises to resonate with listeners who know their worth and aren’t afraid to own it.Out March 28, “Never Need” marks the first single from Anycia’s upcoming Gangsta Grillz mixtape with DJ Drama, Grady Baby,set for release later this spring. Produced by the Spaceboy duo EJ Stellar and jetsonmade — known for their space-themed production style — the track highlights Anycia’s signature chant-along style. It also features an interpolation of the beat from Khia’s 2002 hit “Don’t Trust No N-—a,” featuring DSD.
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Anycia shares that the inspiration behind the track was “simple” yet profound. “I wanted to make something that really spoke to women standing on their own, not just in relationships but in every part of life,” she explains. This theme of unapologetic self-worth is echoed throughout “Never Need,” as the three artists combine their unique styles to create a song that is as fierce as it is empowering.
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“Man, I said, ‘Let’s find me the most disrespectful women I could find to get on this track with me!’” Anycia says admiringly of her collaborators. The chemistry between the three is palpable, and their combined force makes this an unmissable track. “They made it even more raw and unapologetic,” she adds, reflecting on how their individual energies elevated the song.
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The behind-the-scenes video for “Never Need” further complements the track’s message, as Karrahbooo and Anycia exchange praise and uplift each other throughout. Anycia spends a decent part of the video explaining and displaying why she’s a “bad b—ch,” bringing the theme of independence to life in a visual form. “We wanted to show that independence isn’t just about not needing a man—it’s about owning who you are, moving how you want, and doing it with confidence,” She explains.For Anycia, “Never Need” is more than just music; it’s a statement of empowerment, especially for women. “I just want people — especially women — to feel empowered when they hear it,” she says. “Like, ‘Yeah, you got this on your own, you don’t need validation from nobody.’” It’s a celebration of knowing your worth and moving accordingly.”
She also emphasizes how sharing this moment with her fans means everything to her, declaring, “This one is for us.”
For Anycia, the track’s most powerful lyric is: “I ain’t never need a n-—a for a goddamn thing.” It’s a line that carries deep significance for the artist, who credits the women in her life for shaping her into the person she is today. “Literally since I was born, the most powerful people in my life were women. I literally never needed a n-—a for a goddamn thing,” Anycia shares.
Behind the scenes, the collaboration between the three women went beyond the music. Anycia recalls a memorable moment during the video shoot when GloRilla was “sick as f—k” but “still came and delivered like a trooper. That’s a hard-working girl!”
Watch the exclusive behind-the-scenes video for “Never Need” below.
Suge Knight openly criticized Ye (formerly Kanye West) for his comments about Jay-Z and Beyoncé’s kids earlier this month during an explosive X tirade. Knight joined the Art of Dialogue podcast earlier this week, where he targeted West and put the embattled Chicago rapper on blast for his flagrant remarks about Jay and Bey’s seven-year-old […]
BEAT Music Fund, the dance music investment company from Armada Music Group, acquired the rights to “a large portion” of masters from DJ, producer and Turbo Recordings founder Tiga. The deal includes Tiga’s “Sunglasses at Night,” “Bugatti,” “You Gonna Want Me,” “Let’s Go Dancing” and “HAL” featuring Kölsch. BEAT previously signed catalog deals with Kevin Saunderson, Markus Schulz, Robbie Rivera, Jax Jones, Amba Shepherd, VIVa MUSiC, Sola Records, King Street Sounds, Chocolate Puma and others.
Hook, the AI-powered platform that allows users to legally remix songs by top artists while earning income from those remixes, closed an additional $3 million in funding, bringing the startup’s total funding to $6 million. This round includes new investments from Khosla Ventures, Kygo‘s Palm Tree Crew, and The Raine Group. Continued support came from existing investors including Imaginary Ventures, Steve Cohen‘s Point72 Ventures, KSHMR and Edgar Bronfman, Jr.‘s Waverley Capital. The investment will help accelerate Hook’s marketing efforts and hiring, with a focus on user acquisition.
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Japanese record label Teichiku Entertainment signed a distribution partnership with Believe for Japan and the rest of the world. Through the deal, the companies aim to expand Teichiku’s digital footprint by leveraging Believe’s global DSP network, technology and digital-first expertise to bring Japanese enka, kayōkyoku and pop music to a wider audience globally.
Indian record label and music publisher Times Music acquired Indian regional record labels Symphony Recording Co. and ARC Musicq. These are Times Music’s first acquisitions since Primary Wave Music invested in the company to speed up its growth worldwide. Symphony, described in a press release as “the undisputed leader of Tamil spiritual and devotional music,” has a catalog of more than 350 audio and 100 video albums and boasts YouTube views of nearly 2 billion, with revenue on the platform doubling in the past four years, according to the release. ARC Musicq, which has been distributed by Times Music since 2017, is a label specializing in Indian folk music and film soundtracks within the Kannada music market. ARC also boasts more than 2 billion views on YouTube, with revenue quadrupling in the last three years, according to the release.
Independent U.S.-based K-pop label hello82 struck a partnership with One Hundred Label, the Korean entertainment company behind THE BOYZ. Under the deal, hello82 is serving as the exclusive physical distributor for the group’s album Unexpected, which was released on March 17. To support the release, hello82 is erecting immersive fan experiences at its brick and mortar fan spaces in Los Angeles and Atlanta, and at pop-up shops in major markets including New York, Chicago and San Diego throughout March. Hello82 previously signed similar deals with KQ Entertainment (ATEEZ, hikers) and FNC Entertainment (P1Harmony).
Ninja Tune struck a licensing partnership with Reactional Music, the music personalization platform allowing real-time interactive music integration in gaming, automotive and digital environments. With the deal, Ninja Tune’s labels and publishing division, Just Isn’t Music, have licensed the rights to tracks from its catalog for use in Reactional’s music personalization engine and music delivery platform. Ninja Tune’s labels include Brainfeeder, Counter Records, Technicolor, Big Dada and Foreign Family Collective, which have collectively released music by Thundercat, Bonobo, Little Dragon, Run the Jewels, ODESZA, Peggy Gou and others. Reactional’s platform is now live on Unity and Unreal Engine. It is being used by developers and creators in Europe, the United States, China and Southeast Asia.
ADA, the independent music distribution and artist services arm of Warner Music Group (WMG), acquired music tech startup RSDL.io, which provides automated accounting and a simplified view of multiple revenue streams for artists and labels. Founded by tech executives Mike Holmes, Jim Sella and Bill Sella and music industry players Alex Brahl (S7 Management) and songwriter-producer Shep Goodman, RSDL.io lets users facilitate payments and manage splits and recoupments and “allows for multi-level artist and contributor payout functionality and insights,” according to a press release.
EMPIRE struck a multi-year partnership with sound separation and lyric transcription technology company AudioShake under which the San Francisco-based label will use AudioShake’s stem and lyric separation technologies to create stems and lyrics for its catalog. EMPIRE will use AudioShake’s AI to produce stems for use in synch licensing, immersive formats and new music licensing models.
Musical AI, the AI rights management platform for music and audio, is partnering with Nashville-based artist-model platform and VST plugin First Rule to build fully-licensed AI agents and models designed to support music makers. Through the deal, Musical AI will provide licensed training data to First Rule, which will use the data to train musical agents and models aimed at assisting artists and producers. Musical AI will also provide attribution technology and payment processing “to ensure First Rule can prioritize rightsholder consent, credit, and compensation,” according to a press release. Using this data, First Rule will train its proprietary models to ensure they are able to produce high-quality results. This will allow artists and producers to train their own “Musical Essence or M.E Models on their distinctive style and approach,” then license those models to others to use in First Rule’s Co-Writer, a generative AI-powered VST plugin the company is currently building that will work in any digital audio workstation.
Sony Music Entertainment India and Tiger Baby — the Indian production company formed by filmmakers Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti — formed Tiger Baby Records, a joint-venture music label dedicated to fostering emerging talent. For one of its first projects, the new label has partnered with jewelry brand Tanishq for a wedding song composed by Abhishek-Ananya and performed by Poorvi Koutish. It also recently released the soundtrack for Superboys of Malegaon, a film based on the life of filmmaker Nasir Shaikh, that was composed by Sachin-Jigar and written by Javed Akhtar. Tiger Baby Records will additionally release original music curated by Ankur Tewari that will spotlight emerging artists and launch a “City Sessions” initiative with Mumbai’s Island City Studios in which singer-songwriters will be offered the opportunity to refine their craft, collaborate with established artists and more.
Universal Music Group (UMG) and HEAT — a new marketplace connecting animators, game developers and 3D artists with a trove of motion data and music — formed a collaborative initiative involving Lil Wayne and CG5 that will make licensed tracks from both artists available to game developers for the first time. Beginning May 1, Lil’ Wayne tracks “Uproar” and “GO DJ” and CG5 tracks “I See A Dreamer,” “Sleep Well,” “Let Me In” and “Dancin’” will be available through the HEAT platform, allowing game creators to integrate those tracks into their projects.
Secretly Distribution struck a global distribution deal with Invada Records, a U.K.-based independent label co-owned by musician, producer and composer Geoff Barrow (Portishead, BEAK >) and his longtime business partner Redg Weeks. Invada has released music by artists including DROKK, The KVB, Jeremy Gara (Arcade Fire), BEAK >, Divide And Dissolve, Anika, Billy Nomates, Gazelle Twin, Colin Stetson, Sleafords Mods, TVAM, Benefits and Julian Cope. It has additionally released scores for films, TV shows and video games including Stranger Things, Drive, Ex Machina, Solaris, Red Dead Redemption 2, Hannibal, Dark, Annihilation and Black Mirror.
Sweet Relief Musicians Fund and Sweetwater launched The Hearing Health Fund at Sweet Relief Musicians Fund, which will provide support for the growing number of music professionals who face hearing-related challenges, including hearing loss and tinnitus. According to research cited in a press release, seven in 10 music venue staff are exposed to noise levels above the daily recommended limit, while only 15% reported using hearing protection on a regular basis. Through the fund, professionals can receive a free, three-part hearing screening with a certified audiologist and free Etymotic Research ER-20XS High Fidelity Earplugs. Music pros can navigate here to apply for the Hearing Health Fund.
Music technology company Audoo partnered with German performing rights society GEMA on GEMA’s music impact study, which aimed to quantify the commercial value of background music in gastronomy and retail spaces. The study used Audoo’s audio meters — or music recognition hardware — that the company had installed in hundreds of venues. Overall, it found that the use of background music increased retail sales by an average of 8% and gastronomic sales by an average of 5.4%. More information on the research can be found here.
Rhino Staging, which provides stagecraft and rigging crews across the U.S., acquired ROC Rigging, a provider of special event rigging services for entertainment, corporate and private events in the Palm Springs, Calif., area. Matt Talley, the founder/CEO of ROC Rigging, along with the company’s management team, will remain in place as the company integrates with Rhino.
UnitedMasters partnered with The Coca-Cola Company for an event to be held this month in São Paulo celebrating Brazil’s independent music scene. The two companies have also selected independent artist Alee to perform at Coke Studio at Lollapalooza Brasil, in addition to Zudizilla, who will perform on the main stage.
Brian Austin Green is putting MGK (formerly Machine Gun Kelly) on blast. The Night They Came Home actor took to his Instagram Stories this week, where he shared a screenshot of a DM with the “Bloody Valentine” singer, according to People. “Stop asking when our child is gonna be born. you the FEDS ??♂️,” Kelly […]
With her bubbly charm, dazzling aura and universal appeal, Selena Quintanilla revolutionized the Tejano genre in the ‘80s and ‘90s by lacing her authentic Mexican roots with bold new sounds such as R&B, pop, dance and rock. Known as the Queen of Tejano, she shattered ceilings in a genre that was dominated by men, and made history along the way. After earning four of her eventual seven No. 1 Hot Latin Songs hits in 1994 — “Donde Quieras Que Estes,” “Amor Prohibido,” “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom,” and “No Me Queda Más” — the Mexican-American powerhouse was well on her way to a major mainstream crossover before she was tragically shot dead on March 31, 1995, at the age of 23.
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However, her music has stood the test of time — and, throughout the years, she’s influenced a new generation of hitmakers, making her a bona fide Latin icon in pop culture 30 years later. As a testament to her enduring legacy, Mexican-American artist Becky G speaks with Billboard about her love and admiration for Selena, and how she’s influenced her own career. Read her heartfelt as-told-to essay below:
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I was born in 1997. That was two years after Selena’s passing.
My mom actually remembers when they were doing the casting calls for the movie…she actually wanted to audition. Everyone loved Selena and identified with her. Having such a young mom, she naturally played for me the music she would listen to. I may not have vivid memories of Selena, but this is the way she was introduced to me. I even have baby videos listening to her music. She’s always been a part of my life.
She’s influenced my career in so many ways. As a performer, she represented so much more than just herself. She started building a bridge for the 200 percenters like myself, who [are] no eran de aqui ni de alla (neither from here nor from there). Growing up, that identity crisis used to feel like such a curse for me. I felt that I wasn’t enough, and I felt that I had to sacrifice parts of myself to be accepted on this or that side. What Selena embodied was authenticity. She was so authentic in her sense of humor, the dreams that she had, and the way she connected with her family and fans. That’s something that we, as fans, crave today from our favorite artists, but it’s a lot easier said than done.
At Coachella in 2023, I decided to pay tribute to her. A part of me does it for Little Becky, because I think what Little Becky saw in Selena was that dreams can come true, and it’s almost a celebration of being here and of her. First and foremost, I think it’s important that we recognize who came before us, and for me, it’s a beautiful thing to pay respect to the people you know you wouldn’t be here without. I truly feel that I wouldn’t be here without Selena.
Throughout the years, I’ve been very blessed to have had many, many loving interactions with the Quintanillas. Suzette even became a pretty good friend of mine. This last tour that I was on, she came to see it, and she’s always been super supportive. I actually met [her] mom and dad at the Fiesta de la Flor Festival in Corpus Christi, and I’ll never forget that her dad couldn’t believe that I was going to perform without a band. I was just getting started! It’s always one of those things that he would tease me about. It’s been really cool to keep up with them. They’re truly dedicated to continuing her legacy, and I admire that about them.
Now, going back to the word authenticity, she represents something that still resonates and is relevant today, which is that 200 percent identity. You should always be yourself no matter what, pochos and all! I feel that from the way she showed up in interviews to the way she did some of her most iconic performances to personal stories you hear from her loved ones, there was a common thread: it was her genuine kindness.
As an artist, you are overworked, you are depleted of your energy… but when you’re meant for it, you really do it with gratitude. Selena lived in abundance and was always giving back to the community, and always had the best of intentions. So many artists throughout the years since her passing may have reminded us of her essence, but there will never be another Selena. She was one of a kind — and that’s what makes a true superstar. Selena’s legacy is to admire, to respect, and to continue protecting, because she’s a light to so many of us.
Uncle Luke has something to say about Southern rap music. The 2 Live Crew frontman celebrated 40 years of Miami hip-hop by giving fans a history lesson on his Instagram account about the group’s early struggles to be taken seriously by fellow rappers from New York, specifically Run-D.M.C., Salt-N-Pepa, Kid ‘N Play, Eric B. & […]
