Music News

13 Feb 2025

Porter Robinson Covers Fontaines D.C.’s ‘Favourite’ for ‘Like a Version’

Porter Robinson has delivered a little bit of romance, just in time for Valentine’s Day.

The U.S. producer has shared his energetic, pop-influenced take on Irish outfit Fontaines D.C.’s 2024 single “Favourite” as part of his recent appearance on Like a Version, the long-running covers segment from Australian radio station triple j.

Recorded during Robinson’s Australia tour earlier this month but aired on the morning of Friday, Feb. 14 (Australian time), the cover was well-timed to coincide with Valentine’s Day, with the original track even closing out Fontaines D.C.’s Romance album last year.

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The cover is emblematic of Robinson’s recent stylistic shift, with 2024’s Smile! ? seeing him move away from his electronic roots and introducing sounds more aligned with the pop-punk and hyperpop genres. The change in sonic focus was a bold move for Robinson, and though the album became his first not to chart on the Billboard 200, it did peak at No. 10 on the Dance/Electronic Albums chart.

Fontaines D.C., meanwhile, also experienced something of a change in sound for their album Romance. While their previous efforts were more post-punk influenced, their fourth LP was somewhat more polished and aligned with the alternative rock genre.

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It was a commercially-successful change, however. It became the band’s first album to reach the Billboard 200 (hitting No. 97), and it earned them two Grammy nominations, including Best Rock Album and Best Alternative Music performance for lead single “Starburster”.

“’Favourite’ was, no pun intended, one of my favorite songs of the last year,” Robinson said in a post-performance interview with triple j. “It was the song that made me a fan of Fontaines D.C. I just love it. I love major-key music. I love music that’s extremely catchy and extremely hooky. And I love the way that this song feels like it’s constantly tumbling forward.”

Robinson’s Like a Version session also featured an original rendition of “Cheerleader”, and adds to a long history of memorable performances on the program. 

Having first launched in 2004, the series has gone from being a near-impromptu acoustic affair to featuring larger studio productions. Numerous artists have taken part over the past two decades, with the likes of Billie Eilish, Childish Gambino, Arctic Monkeys, and more reinventing classic tracks in the process. As Robinson explains, the history and impact of the segment was not lost on him.

“I was so nervous to do this [performance], because I really, really do consider it an institution,” he explained. “Like a Version is a musical institution, and I wanted to make sure I put my best foot forward on it, respected the format and gave something that was listenable.

“This isn’t just like a video that lives online, this gets heard and this gets played,” he added. “So I just wanted to respect the listener to be like, ‘Let’s make this as good as it can be’.”

13 Feb 2025

Mark Pritchard and Thom Yorke Unite for New Single, ‘Back in the Game’

Mark Pritchard and Thom Yorke are “Back in the Game”, with the pair joining forces once again for a new single.

Pritchard, who has spent more than 30 years as an electronic musician and producer, first teamed up with the Radiohead and The Smile frontman back in 2016, with Yorke providing guest vocals on “Beautiful People” for Pritchard’s Under the Sun record. Five years earlier, Pritchard had also shared a pair of remixes of Radiohead’s “Bloom”, with both versions (one of which was released under his Harmonic 313 alias) appearing on the TKOL RMX 1234567 album.

Much like their previous collaboration, “Back in the Game” sees Yorke’s vocals digitally distorted by Pritchard, this time by way of the H910 Harmonizer, the world’s first commercially-available digital audio effects device.

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The track has also been a staple of Yorke’s recent live sets, with the musician having debuted the song in Christchurch, New Zealand in October as part of his Everything solo tour and playing it at every show since.

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“Back in the Game” comes accompanied by a surreal, kaleidoscopic Jonathan Zawada-directed visual which combines both analog and digital techniques. In a statement, Zawada explained that an early demo of the track saw him envision a cocky, strutting John Travolta in the final scene of Staying Alive, albeit with a more sinister approach.

“Slowly a version of that visual arose around a character wearing a kind of giant parade head with a fixed expression of mania stuck on their face, such that you couldn’t tell if their endless march was one of aggression or celebration,” Zawada explained. “The more I paid attention to the lyrics the more details began to fill themselves out and the overall concept began to form [a] parade of many characters marching past a building from within which everything was being thrown out of a window and into a giant bonfire.

“Ultimately the film for ‘Back in the Game’ ended up depicting a sort of blind celebration taking place as civilization slowly deteriorates around it, a kind of progression through regression. Overlaid onto this is an exploration of how and where we choose to place value in our collective cultural expression and how we collectively confront major cultural shifts in the 21st century.”

13 Feb 2025

Selena Gomez Teams Up With Fiancé Benny Blanco for ‘Scared of Loving You,’ Announces New Album ‘I Said I Love You First’

Selena Gomez is back to the pop star life, despite teasing that she might be done with music — and she’s bringing her superstar producer fiancé Benny Blanco along for the ride.

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“I always trick you guys,” Gomez wrote on Instagram, alongside a series of photos snuggling in a bedroom with Blanco. “my NEW album I Said I Love You First with my best friend @bennyblanco, is out on 3/21 ?Our first song, Scared of Loving You is out now on all streaming platforms. Merchandise and signed products for the album are available for pre-order now. We can’t wait to share this special project with you soon!”

See the post here.

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Gomez and Blanco have been teasing working on music together in the past few months. The “Rare” singer took to her Instagram Stories in January to share a video wearing headphones while sitting at what appears to be a studio desk, before grabbing the phone and turning it around to reveal the screen in front of her, blocking its contents with a red heart emoji.

In a previous TikTok video, the producer responded to a fan who commented on a previous video, “Benny please make some new songs for our queen.” Blanco walks into a home studio to show Gomez sitting on a couch and adjusting a microphone.

Gomez hasn’t released a full-length album since her 2020 third studio project Rare, which debuted atop the Billboard 200 and spawned her first-ever No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Lose You to Love Me.” In 2021, she unveiled a Spanish-language EP, Revelación. 

It’s hardly the first time Blanco and Gomez have worked on music together. Blanco coproduced “Kill Em with Kindness” and “Same Old Love” off Gomez’s 2015 album Revival, and the duo collaborated on 2019’s “I Can’t Get Enough,” alongside Tainy and J Balvin. Most recently, they worked on Gomez’s single “Single Soon.”

The couple began dating in June 2023, and got engaged last month. Gomez shared the happy news with a Dec. 11 Instagram carousel featuring her marquise-cut engagement ring, along with the caption, “forever begins now..”

13 Feb 2025

Sexyy Red Says WWE Offered Her More Permanent Role, But Couldn’t Find Time to Train

Sexyy Red could’ve been a wrestler in the WWE universe.

During a profile with Dazed, it was revealed that the St. Louis rapper was offered “a permanent role as wrestler.” However, Sexyy’s busy schedule didn’t allow for proper time to train and she ultimately settled for cameo instead. And when talking about the subject, she compared her current occupation with sports entertainment. “Rapping and wrestling are pretty much the same,” she explained. “It’s not quite acting, but it’s kind of acting too, right? Because when we go home and take off all our jewels and gold and remove the costumes we wear, we then have to go right back to reality with our families.”

Sexxy made her WWE debut last May when she hosted NXT where she unveiled the brand new NXT North American Women’s Championship belt and sang Shawn Michael’s iconic “Sexy Boy” theme song with the legend himself. She then hosted NXT Battleground in Nevada a couple months later.

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Elsewhere in the profile, she said what she would change if she became president and admitted to having around 600 pairs of True Religion jeans. “I would give all the hungry poor people free food,” she said. So they don’t have to steal it no more, because it’s too expensive right now. Food should be free! No one should ever be homeless.”

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Adding, “The people at the bottom are my favorite kind of people, period. I like people that wear True Religion jeans, even though they’re [seen as being] too ghetto. I’ve got like 600 pairs! I represent the people with no airs and graces.” 

She also talked about the hardships of fame and how she’s still racially profiled when she goes back home. “Trying to live a normal life is difficult when you’re famous,” she admitted. “Sometimes y’all be so annoying. If you see me with my babies bagging up groceries, then get the f—k away from me. No photos!”

She continued by saying the more famous she gets, the more she feels unsafe. “I feel like with me, the more famous I get, the more people will see me as a threat,” she added. “As I get bigger and more viral, there’s going to be more and more people who want to harm me, 100 percent.”

Sexyy then brought up her dealing with law enforcement in her hometown. “The police in St. Louis just shot another Black kid dead the other day. That sh—t’s so wrong,” she said. “When I go back home, there are usually two outcomes [when I am stopped in traffic]: they either like your music and want to tell you about their kids being fans, or they choose to mess with you even more [now you’re this celebrity]! Sometimes they pick on me or just fuck with me for fun. They like to remind you of where you are. It’s all about reinforcing their position [of power].”

Her song with Bruno Mars “Fat Juicy & Wet” currently sits at No. 34 on the Hot 100 where it peaked at No. 17 and has been on the chart for two weeks.

13 Feb 2025

All of Maná’s No. 1 Hits on Hot Latin Songs Chart: ‘Mariposa Traicionera,’ ‘Labios Compartidos’ & More

Mexican superstars Maná have made history by being the first Spanish-language act to receive a nomination to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The band, composed of Fher Olvera, Alex González, Sergio Vallín and Juan Calleros, has left an indelible mark on music, not only in Latin America but globally, through their career spanning more than three decades.

Since their formation in Guadalajara, Jalisco, the quartet has captured the hearts and minds of millions with their lyrics full of passion and their sound that mixes rock, pop and pan-Latin rhythms. With this nomination, they celebrate a milestone not just in their career, but for music in Spanish too. (Fans can cast a vote for Maná’s induction into the Hall of Fame here.)

The band made their debut on the Billboard charts in 1994 with their seminal album Dónde Jugarán los Niños, which reached No. 2 on the Top Latin Albums chart. Their success continued to grow and, over the years, they have managed to position 10 of their songs at No. 1 on the Hot Latin Songs chart, including classics like “Mariposa Traicionera” and “Labios Compartidos.”

These tracks, along with other timeless hits not on this list — such as “Oye Mi Amor,” “Rayando el Sol” and “Clavado en un Bar” — have solidified the Mexican rockers as one of the most influential bands in Latin music. Although the Hot Latin Songs chart, which started in 1986, is the barometer of success in the Latin market — combining data from radio plays, streaming, and digital sales — their achievements go beyond certifications and accolades. They have connected with a worldwide audience through their philanthropic efforts aimed at social justice and peace.

“We want to share this recognition with all Latinos everywhere, especially the immigrants who are suffering right now,” frontman Fher Olvera said in a statement about their nomination. “Don’t lose faith. Our people always find a way. Maná loves you. We’ll always be here standing with you.”

In honor of their nomination to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Billboard Español has compiled their 10 songs that have topped the chart, in chronological order.

13 Feb 2025

Beyoncé Shares Photos of Destiny’s Child Reuniting for Kelly Rowland’s Birthday Party

Destiny’s Child reassembled this week for an important celebration: Kelly Rowland‘s 44th birthday.

In photos posted by Beyoncé on Instagram, Bey and Michelle Williams honored their former bandmate’s big day over a candlelit dinner. In one picture, the ladies — each of them modeling glamorous cocktail dresses — pose together in a row and smile at the camera. In another pic, Rowland looks emotional at the dinner table as the “Texas Hold ‘Em” singer beams in the seat next to her, while a third photo shows the two women pulling each other in for a hug.

“Birthday bestie,” Bey captioned the carousel, adding a birthday cake emoji.

The Mea Culpa star turned 44 on Tuesday, and two days later, Rowland wrote on Instagram, “THANK YOU ALL FOR THE BIRTHDAY LOVE, I took it all in and felt overwhelmingly BLESSED and seen by God!”

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“Every person who took the time, to send me B-Day love, I thank you, from the bottom of my heart!!” she added.

The ladies’ reunion comes just a couple of days after Williams shared details about the Destiny’s Child group chat during an appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show. After gushing that the thread’s vibe is “pure, it’s friendship, it’s all of those things,” the Broadway star revealed who in the group is the most talkative — and it’s a toss-up.

“Who’s the most talkative? Surprisingly me,” she said, laughing, before adding: “I don’t know, Kelly, now … Kelly can talk!”

It’s also not the first time the “Bootylicious” women have reunited for the sake of an important birthday. Last year, the trio assembled to celebrate Bey’s mom, Ms. Tina Knowles, and her 70th turn around the sun. The group even sang for the businesswoman, after which Knowles wrote on Instagram, “I just got spoiled to death this weekend! I even got serenaded by Destiny’s Child! How amazing is that?!”

13 Feb 2025

Boza & Greeicy Join Forces on ‘Todavía’: Stream It Now

After the global success of Boza‘s hit song “Orion,” featuring Elena Rose — which peaked at No. 2 on Billboard‘s Latin Airplay chart and remained on the tally for more than 17 weeks — the Panamanian artist is back with an exciting new musical venture. He has teamed up with Colombian singer Greeicy to release “Todavía,” a vibrant Afrobeat song filled with catchy melodies.

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The exquisite blending of Boza’s rich, deep vocals with Greeicy’s soaring, higher tones creates a stunning musical dynamic. Together, they bring to life a poignant narrative as Greeicy pours out her emotions, expressing the pain of letting go of a love she believed would endure forever. The production is filled with intricate melodies that enhance the overall feel of the track, making it not just a song, but an immersive experience that beautifully captures the complexity of love and heartbreak.

For this collaboration, Greeicy was the perfect choice. “I invited Greeicy to join this track because she’s Greeicy. There’s no one like her. I love her voice, the way she delivers—everything,” Boza shares.

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The official music video for “Todavía,” skillfully directed by Andrés Gonzalez, showcases stunning visuals captured in two dynamic locations: Panama and the lively sunsets of Miami’s nature. The cinematography beautifully highlights the unique aspects of each setting, creating a cohesive and immersive visual experience that resonates with the song’s theme.

Check out an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the video here:

Watch the video premiering exclusively on Billboard here:

13 Feb 2025

Here’s What Young Thug Attorney Brian Steel Has to Say About Drake & PartyNextDoor Naming a Song After Him

Drake and PartyNextDoor are dropping their joint album $ome $exy $ongs 4 U on Thursday night, and one song title on the recently revealed track list stuck out: The duo named the project’s ninth track “Brian Steel” after the attorney who represented Young Thug during his much-publicized RICO trial.

New York Times reporter Joe Coscarelli reached out and posted a screenshot of Steel’s response on his X account, and while the lawyer said he was “unaware” of the song, he had nothing but nice things to say about Drake.

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“I have had the honor and pleasure of meeting with Mr. Graham,” Steel wrote. “He is so kind, considerate, generous, inspirational, intelligent—a true leader and great model for our community.”

Brian Steel’s name was originally misspelled when the track list first surfaced, but it looks like that mistake was fixed, as per the updated list Drake posted on his Instagram.

Before Young Thug was released from Fulton County Jail in the fall, he tried to settle things between Drake, Metro Boomin and Future after the latter duo helped set off the Kendrick Lamar and Drake battle that popped off last year. “@Drake @1future @MetroBoomin we all bruddas. Music aint the same without us collabin,” Thugger posted on X in October.

According to Akademiks, Drake apparently went to see Thug after his release and hit him with a bag of money. “When Thug gets let out of jail, the talk is this: They say two hours afterward, Drake flew to Thug and allegedly gave him a [million dollars],” the streamer said.

Billboard reached out to Brian Steel’s law office for additional comment.

13 Feb 2025

Issa Rae Cancels Kennedy Center Show to Protest Donald Trump’s Board Takeover

Issa Rae has canceled her sold-out show at the Kennedy Center following Donald Trump’s board takeover, with the actress calling the president’s actions an “infringement on the values” of the cultural organization.

In a statement posted to Instagram Stories on Thursday (Feb. 13), Rae thanked fans for buying tickets to her event titled “An Evening With Issa Rae” before writing, “Unfortunately, due to what I believe to be an infringement on the values of an institution that has faithfully celebrated artists of all backgrounds through all mediums, I’ve decided to cancel my appearance at this venue.”

Noting that all tickets would be refunded, the producer added, “Thank you so much for understanding, and I hope to see you soon.”

Rae’s announcement comes shortly after Trump gutted much of the Kennedy Center’s historically nonpartisan board of trustees and appointed his own supporters in their places. Naming himself chairman, the twice-impeached POTUS also fired the institution’s longtime president, Deborah F. Rutter; the board has replaced her with interim president Richard Grenell, who served as ambassador to Germany during Trump’s first term in the White House.

The Barbie actress is just one of multiple people in the entertainment industry distancing themselves from the Kennedy Center amid the changes. Ben Folds has left his position as adviser to the National Symphony Orchestra, while Shonda Rhimes has resigned as treasurer of the center’s board.

Philadelphia rock band Low Cut Connie has also followed Rae’s lead, with frontman Adam Weiner announcing Wednesday that the group would be pulling out of its scheduled March 19 concert at the iconic Washington, D.C., venue. “Our little rock n roll act stands for diversity, inclusion and truth-telling,” the musician wrote in a message announcing the cancelation on Instagram. “Maybe my career will suffer from this decision, but my soul will be the better for it.”

Trump first announced his plans to overhaul the Kennedy Center leadership team last Friday (Feb. 7), writing on Truth Social, “I have decided to immediately terminate multiple individuals from the Board of Trustees, including the Chairman, who do not share our Vision for a Golden Age in Arts and Culture.”

Specifically condemning the center’s inclusion of drag shows in its past programming, the politician added that performances “targeting our children” will come to an end under his supervision. “The Kennedy Center is an American Jewel, and must reflect the brightest STARS on its stage from all across our Nation,” he concluded. “For the Kennedy Center, THE BEST IS YET TO COME!”

13 Feb 2025

Jimmy Kimmel Names Kanye West ‘Adolf Twitler’ Amid Antisemitic Comments

Jimmy Kimmel is calling out Kanye West after the rappers string of hate speech over the past week.

During the monologue kicking off his late night talk show on Wednesday night (Feb. 12), Kimmel called Ye a “Nazi.” He added, “In the wake of his antisemitic spinout this weekend, Adolf Twitler was cut by his talent agency,” in reference to Ye’s former agent, 33 & West founder and partner Daniel McCartney, cutting ties with him “effective immediately” earlier in the day.

“How about effective two years ago? How about effective Friday when [Kanye] wrote, ‘I am a Nazi’ on Twitter?” Kimmel said. “You needed the weekend to think that one through?”

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Elsewhere in the monologue, Kimmel called Donald Trump “Kanye East.”

Ye went on a four-day hate spree on X beginning last Friday (Feb. 7), in which he posted dozens of all caps screeds every hour that included homophobic, misogynistic ableist and antisemitic slurs, also calling for the freedom of Diddy and praising Hitler.

During Super Bowl LIX, Ye aired a commercial in several markets, promoting Yeezy and encouraging fans to shop the marketplace. He shot the spot on an iPhone while sitting in a chair at the dentist. “What’s up, guys? I spent all the money for the commercial on these new teeth,” he says in the clip while showing off his diamond-encrusted teeth. “So, once again, I had to shoot it on the iPhone. Um … go to Yeezy.com.”

When viewers visited the site, they saw it was selling only one product: a white t-shirt featuring a swastika. The website was taken down shortly after.