Music News

11 Dec 2024

Watch Timothée Chalamet’s Bob Dylan Harmonize With Edward Norton’s Pete Seeger in ‘A Complete Unknown’ Scene

The Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown is two weeks away from release, and Billboard is sharing an exclusive clip from the project.

In the video, Timothée Chalamet portrays the icon alongside Edward Norton’s Pete Seeger. The duo sit down together at a gathering with their guitars to perform Dylan’s 1964 hit “When the Ship Comes In,” harmonizing at the chorus: “And the sea will split/ And the ships will hit/ And the sands on the shoreline will be shaking.”

Earlier this month, Dylan himself took to X (formerly Twitter) to give the film his stamp of approval. “There’s a movie about me opening soon called A Complete Unknown (what a title!). Timothee Chalamet is starring in the lead role,” he wrote. “Timmy’s a brilliant actor so I’m sure he’s going to be completely believable as me. Or a younger me. Or some other me. The film’s taken from Elijah Wald’s Dylan Goes Electric – a book that came out in 2015. It’s a fantastic retelling of events from the early ‘60s that led up to the fiasco at Newport. After you’ve seen the movie read the book.”

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“Floored,” Chalamet, who is doing his own singing for the film, tweeted in response. “I am so grateful. Thank you Bob.”

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Also starring Boyd Holbrook, Dan Fogler, Norbert Leo Butz and Scoot McNairy, the biographical drama was inspired by Elijah Wald’s 2015 book Dylan Goes Electric. Director James Mangold revealed that the “Blowin’ in the Wind” artist personally gave feedback on the script.

Chalamet has said he’s been honing his portrayal of the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer for years, working with a movement coach, taking a “spirit-gathering” road trip to the Minnesota native’s early stomping grounds, as well as working with a harmonica coach for five years to nail the singer’s signature style.

A Complete Unknown is out Christmas Day (Dec. 25). Watch the Billboard exclusive scene above.

11 Dec 2024

Taylor Swift & Beyoncé Among Forbes’ 100 Most Powerful Women of 2024

As if the world needed any more proof of Taylor Swift, Beyoncé and Rihanna‘s power, Forbes has listed all three superstars on the publication’s year-end most powerful women ranking.

As unveiled Wednesday (Dec. 11), the “Anti-Hero” singer is the highest placing musician on the list, with the publication putting her at No. 23. Giving her an updated estimated net worth of $1.6 billion, Forbes cited Swift’s colossal Eras Tour and its influence on U.S. Congress as well as her musical catalog — valued at $600 million — as the reasons for her ranking.

Twelve spots behind her comes Bey at No. 35, with the publication highlighting her blockbuster musical catalog; the 2024 launch of her haircare brand, Cécred; and her record number of Grammys (32 total, more than any other artist). At No. 76 sits Rihanna with an updated estimated net worth of $1.4 billion, earned through her booming Fenty businesses.

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Also on the list this year are big names such as Oprah Winfrey and Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark.

“The women on the 2024 Power Women list define this moment,” Forbes explains. “It is determined by four main metrics: money, media, impact and spheres of influence. The result: 100 women across finance, technology, media and beyond who command a collective $33 trillion in economic power and influence more than 1 billion people.”

The Forbes ranking comes on the heels of Billboard‘s Greatest Pop Stars of the 21st Century series, which respectively ranked Beyoncé, Taylor Swift and Rihanna in the top three spots. Both celebrations of the three women’s massive successes come as their individual influences on culture have never been higher, with the “Break My Soul” musician gearing up to headline the Baltimore Ravens vs. Houston Texans game halftime show on Christmas Day, the “Karma” artist closing out her two-year Eras run over the weekend and Ri juggling multiple brands under her Fenty empire.

11 Dec 2024

The Weeknd Set to Perform at Spotify’s Billions Club Live Concert in L.A.

The Weeknd will perform at Spotify’s first-ever Billions Club Live concert in Los Angeles to celebrate having the most songs hit one billion streams on the platform.

The concert will be held exclusively for his top fans on Spotify Tuesday, Dec. 17, and his set list will include selections from his 24 total songs in the Billions Club:

  1. “Blinding Lights”
  2. “Starboy” with Daft Punk
  3. “Die for You”
  4. “The Hills”
  5. “Save Your Tears”
  6. “Call Out My Name”
  7. “Can’t Feel My Face”
  8. “I Feel It Coming” with Daft Punk
  9. “Earned It (Fifty Shades of Grey)”
  10. “Save Your Tears” with Ariana Grande (Remix)
  11. “Creepin’” by Metro Boomin with The Weeknd and 21 Savage
  12. “One of the Girls” with JENNIE and Lily-Rose Depp
  13. “Stargirl Interlude” with Lana Del Rey
  14. “Reminder”
  15. “I Was Never There” with Gesaffelstein
  16. “Often”
  17. “Heartless”
  18. “After Hours”
  19. “Or Nah” by Ty Dolla $ign feat. The Weeknd, Wiz Khalifa & DJ Mustard (Remix)
  20. “Die for You” with Ariana Grande (Remix)
  21. “Lost in the Fire” by Gesaffelstein with The Weeknd
  22. “Love Me Harder” by Ariana Grande with The Weeknd
  23. “Moth to a Flame” by Swedish House Mafia with The Weeknd
  24. “Popular” with Playboi Carti and Madonna

The Weeknd

Spotify

“When the idea first struck to bring the Billions Club to life, we knew we wanted to celebrate both the artist and the fans simultaneously. The Weeknd was the ideal choice – he’s the artist with the most songs in the Billions Club and has an unwavering global fanbase,” said Monica Damashek, Spotify’s head of artist and label partnerships, in a statement to Variety. “Our teams collaborated closely to ensure the concert was a reflection of our partnership over the years. … This is truly going to be a one-of-a-kind event that commemorates one of the great artists of our time and his impeccable catalog of hits.”

The Canadian-Ethiopian superstar (real name Abel Tesfaye) is set to release his sixth studio album, Hurry Up Tomorrow, on Jan. 24 via XO and Republic Records. The set will serve as the third and final installment of his latest trilogy, following 2020’s After Hours and 2022’s Dawn FM. Hurry Up Tomorrow has been preceded by three singles: “Dancing in the Flames,” the Billboard Hot 100 No. 3 hit “Timeless” with Playboi Carti and “São Paulo” featuring Anitta.

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He debuted these songs and more from Hurry Up Tomorrow during his one-night-only show at the Estádio MorumBIS in São Paulo, Brazil, in September before he took the stage at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena for the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Festival. In October, he performed a handful of shows at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium and Sydney’s Accor Stadium in Australia. And he’ll perform a one-night-only show at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Jan. 25, one day after Hurry Up Tomorrow drops. The concert will feature never-before-seen production, and the stage will take over the entire floor of the stadium.

11 Dec 2024

Movement 2025 Announces Phase 1 Lineup With John Summit, Jamie xx & More

Detroit’s annual house and techno festival Movement announced the phase one lineup for its May event on Wednesday (Dec. 11).

Leading the bill are John Summit, who will be playing a festival closing set on Monday, May 26, English favorite Jamie xx, techno titan Anfisa Letyago, techno pillar Carl Cox playing one of his hybrid live sets, U.K. drum and bass bosses Chase & Status, Detroit legend DJ Minx, white hot U.K. producer Sammy Virji, Detroit trio HiTech, Palestinian techno artist Sama’ Abdulhadi and many more.

“I’m stoked to be playing Movement for the third time and now, closing out the festival,” Summit said in a statement. “I’ve attended as a fan for years and the energy and support this city and crowd bring is always special. It’s an honor to be a part of such a legendary event.”

Movement 2025 will happen at its longtime home in Detroit’s Hart Plaza May 24-26. Tickets are on sale now.

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Movement is produced by the Detroit-based Paxahau, which took over the festival in 2006. The event is known for focusing on the city’s homegrown techno genre along with house music, and has long championed rising stars, especially local ones, from each genre.

“One of the great things about [Paxahau’s] culture is we aren’t goal-focused, but direction-focused,” Paxahau Founder Jason Huvaere told Billboard in 2023. “It’s always been about the trajectory, the journey, the emotion. It’s never been about, ‘I need to get this thing done,’ or ‘I need to get this thing acquired.’ For the future, I just want to preserve that.”

See the complete phase one lineup below.

Movement 2024

Movement 2024

Courtesy Photo

11 Dec 2024

50 Cent Reacts to ‘Drake Opps’ List & Says ‘God’s Plan’ Rapper Had More Kendrick Lamar Diss Tracks Ready

50 Cent has been one of the rare vocal supporters of Drake during his feud with Kendrick Lamar. The G-Unit boss stopped by Big Boy’s Neighborhood on Monday (Dec. 9), where he broke down the 6 God’s current position in the industry with what feels like the world against him.

While it isn’t exactly the Mean Girls Burn Book, at one point during the interview, 50 — who is known for his trolling — held up a sheet of paper featuring a list of all of Drake’s alleged opps, including names such as TDE affiliates such as Ab-Soul to Kendrick Lamar, Ye and even hoopers such as LeBron James and DeMar DeRozan. According to Vibe, the list is a printout of a 2023 post made by a Drake fan account.

“This is the opp page,” 50 said. “He was just winning consistently more than everybody else in the culture and then these people start to turn into people that feel like they’re opps. All over the page because they keep watching him win. Then you going, ‘I want this thing forever, man.’ I’m not sure you can have it forever.”

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50 Cent explained this further during an interview with Billboard in October, during which he went into detail about how the rap game only wants to see you win for so long.

“I didn’t see where what [Drake] did was wack at any point,” he stated. “They giving [Drake] the, ‘Oh you wack, you finished.’ I’m like, ‘Nah, come on.’ That’s the system trying to make some sort of resistance and it’s from the consistency. When you win consecutively, that part of the hip-hop demographic wants you out of there. I started to feel the resistance for the Curtis album.”

50 also told Big Boy that he knows Drake had more material ready to go, but held back after Lamar didn’t respond to “The Heart Part 6” and “Not Like Us” began to form the tidal wave that would crash the entire rap game.

“They was loaded again. Drake was loaded ready to go again,” he continued. “I know they had new material ready to go again. There’s no way you stop and you losing? Nah, I gotta fix it.”

The Queens icon isn’t one to mince his words, so in addition to the Drake-Kendrick feud, he also talked about Drizzy’s legal action against Universal Music Group and plenty more. Watch the full interview below.

11 Dec 2024

Beyoncé Gears Up for ‘A Cowboy Carter Christmas’ in Texas in New NFL Halftime Show Teaser: Watch

Fans just got their first taste of what a Cowboy Carter Christmas will be like, with Beyoncé dropping a new teaser for her upcoming NFL Halftime Show performance Wednesday (Dec. 11).

In the 30-second clip, Bey — dressed in an all-white outfit of cowboy hat, furry jacket and boots — steps into a snowy landscape and hangs an ornament on a locationally appropriate cactus in lieu of a Christmas tree. As the lights strung around it magically turn on, the “Break My Soul” artist holds up finger guns, blows invisible smoke off the barrel and winks at the camera.

“HALFTIME SHOW,” reads a title card at the end of the video, which was shared to Bey’s YouTube channel. “THIS CHRISTMAS HOUSTON, TX.”

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The teaser comes exactly two weeks ahead of the 32-time Grammy winner’s highly anticipated hometown performance at NRG Stadium, before and after which the Houston Texans and Baltimore Ravens will play some football on Christmas Day. The spectacle will mark Bey’s first time performing since the release of her Billboard 200-topping album Cowboy Carter.

The NFL first announced that Bey would be performing mid-November, sharing a similar teaser that showed the Destiny’s Child alum standing atop a rose-covered vintage car and effortlessly catching a football that someone throws at her from offscreen. Cowboy Carter opening track “Ameriican Requiem” plays over the video, possibly hinting at what her setlist will entail.

The Christmas Day doubleheader will begin with the Kansas City Chiefs facing off against the Pittsburgh Steelers at 1 p.m. ET, followed by the Texans vs. Ravens game at 4:30 p.m. ET. Both games — and Bey’s halftime performance — will stream live on Netflix, with regional broadcasts and mobile access via NFL+.

The Lion King star’s return to an NFL halftime stage comes over a decade after her 2013 Super Bowl performance, where she reunited with Destiny’s Child. In 2016, she joined Coldplay and Bruno Mars mid-game.

Watch Bey’s A Cowboy Carter Christmas teaser above.

11 Dec 2024

Shaboozey, Eric Church, Lainey Wilson & More Added to ‘New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash’ Lineup

The performers lineup for CBS’ New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash is getting packed with even more musical talent. The special, which will be headlined by Kane Brown, Keith Urban and Jelly Roll, will also feature performances from Shaboozey, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Tyler Hubbard, Miranda Lambert, Post Malone, Brittney Spencer, Chris Stapleton, Lainey Wilson and Zach Top.

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Jelly Roll, Urban and Brown will headline from Nashville’s Bicentennial Park, while Parker McCollum will perform from the Brooklyn Bowl, with special guests SiriusXM and CMT host Cody Alan, and SiriusXM host Caylee Hammack.

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The special will be hosted by four-time Grammy winner Urban and Entertainment Tonight‘s Rachel Smith. Shaboozey has seen his smash hit “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” rule on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 for 19 weeks this year, while Eric Church and Luke Combs aided those impacted by Hurricane Helene earlier this year by teaming up with artists including Billy Strings, Urban and James Taylor for the all-star Concert For Carolina in October. Bryan, Lambert, Post Malone, Top and Wilson all released new projects in 2024.

The five-hour celebration will air live on Dec. 31 (8-10 p.m. ET/PT, 10:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. ET/PT) on the CBS and streaming on Paramount+. Set in Music City, the special will feature more than 40 performances, while Nashville counts down to midnight with the East Coast, and continues the festivities through midnight Central Time with the city’s signature Music Note Drop at the Bicentennial Mall stage.

New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash is executive produced by Robert Deaton and Mary Hilliard Harrington in partnership with Music City Inc., the foundation of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. The special will be directed by Sandra Restrepo.

11 Dec 2024

From Selena to Sly Stone: Music Docs Take the Spotlight at Sundance Film Festival 2025

The Sundance Film Festival is marking its 40th anniversary in 2025 with a lineup that highlights music’s transformative role in storytelling.

Running from Jan. 23 to Feb. 2 in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah, the festival will feature 87 feature films and six episodic projects, selected from nearly 16,000 submissions across 156 countries. For music lovers, this year’s festival offers a slate of documentaries and narratives that delve into the lives and legacies of iconic artists and groundbreaking genres.

Among the highly anticipated entries is Selena y Los Dinos, a documentary that honors Selena Quintanilla, the Queen of Tejano Music. With hits like “Como La Flor” and “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom” gracing the Billboard charts, Selena’s impact transcended music. Using never-before-seen footage from her family’s archive, the film offers an intimate look at her rise from family celebrations to stadium-filling performances.

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It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley provides an evocative portrait of the late singer-songwriter whose debut album, Grace, remains a touchstone in music history. Featuring rare footage and personal accounts, the documentary illuminates Buckley’s artistry and the lasting resonance of his work, such as Billboard 100 charting entries “You And I” and “Sketches For My Sweetheart The Drunk”.

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In Move Ya Body: The Birth of House, audiences will explore the cultural revolution ignited by house music. Tracing its roots from Chicago’s underground dance clubs to its global influence, the film examines house music’s enduring presence.

Questlove’s SLY LIVES! (aka The Burden of Black Genius) offers an in-depth look at Sly & The Family Stone, whose trailblazing hits like their Billboard No. 1 “Everyday People” and No. 2 “Hot Fun In The Summertime” left a major mark on the Billboard Hot 100. The documentary sheds light on the pressures and challenges faced by Black artists navigating the music industry’s complexities.

Adding to the mix is One to One: John & Yoko, a documentary exploring a transformative period in the lives of Beatles legend John Lennon and Yoko Ono. Set during 18 pivotal months in the early 1970s, the film examines the couple’s time living in Greenwich Village, New York City, when their personal and creative worlds collided.

Diversity remains a cornerstone of Sundance’s mission, with nearly half of this year’s films directed by women and 45% by filmmakers identifying as people of color. Notably, 96% of the lineup will premiere globally at the festival, further cementing Sundance’s reputation as a launchpad for innovative cinema.

Single Film Tickets for in-person and online screenings go on sale January 16 at 10 a.m. MT. Members have access to a Single Film Ticket pre-sale, and limited quantities of passes and packages remain on sale.

For those unable to attend in person, Sundance is expanding access by offering a selection of films online from Jan. 30 to Feb. 2. Individual tickets go on sale Jan. 16, with passes available now at festival.sundance.org.

11 Dec 2024

Big Freedia Among SXSW’S 2025 Showcasing Artists

South by Southwest will be returning to Austin, Texas, in the spring, and the event announced its next lineup of showcasing artists on Wednesday (Dec. 11).

Big Freedia, Tamanaramen, Heal, Jasmine.4.t, Steve Wynn, Aiko, Freak Slug, Steam Down, Master Peace, Sweet Spine and Total F—ing Darkness will all be performing at SXSW.

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“The SXSW Music Festival lineup provides a unique opportunity to discover artists from around the world,” said James Minor, VP of Music Festival. “The magic comes from a diverse and carefully-curated program that’s designed to help you find your next favorite act. For our second reveal, we continue down that path with an abundance of inspiring musicians who will be heading to Austin next March.”

The second round of acts hail from countries including Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Czechia, Denmark, Ecuador, England, Finland, Germany, Ghana, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Northern Ireland, Paraguay, Scotland, Spain, Ukraine, and Wales.

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Founded in 1987 in Austin, SXSW has grown to encompass tech, film and TV, music, education and culture. The entirety of the 2025 conference and festival will run from March 10-15.

11 Dec 2024

Ariana Grande Was One of the First People to Congratulate Selena Gomez on Golden Globe Noms

Ariana Grande and Selena Gomez are in each other’s corners. While at the Academy Women’s Luncheon Tuesday (Dec. 10) in Los Angeles — where the Rare Beauty founder sat next to the “Yes, And?” singer — Gomez revealed to Variety that Grande was one of the first people to message her after they both received Golden Globes nominations in the best supporting actress category the day prior.

“Ariana texted me and it was the sweetest note and it was about six in the morning,” the Only Murders in the Building star said, noting that boyfriend Benny Blanco also sent congratulations around the same time. “We sent each other voice messages. It was very exciting.”

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Grande also told the publication that she’s “always adored” Gomez. “I respect her so much,” said the R.E.M. Beauty mogul. “I was really happy for her to see us on that list together. It was very special.”

“I really love watching this moment happen for Selena,” Grande added. “I know how hard she’s worked and how long she’s waited. I recognize that because it resonates with me, so I know that feeling. So when you can reach out to your friends in the industry and say, ‘Great work, congratulations,’ why not do it? I don’t know Selena as well as I wish I did, so I’m excited to sit next to her today.”

While sitting next to each other at the luncheon, which celebrated women in Hollywood, Gomez also shared a photo on Instagram Stories of their hands — recognizable from their respective tattoos — and called Grande an “angel on earth.” The Wizards of Waverly Place alum is nominated for best supporting actress at the 2025 Globes for her performance in Emilia Pérez, while the “We Can’t Be Friends” artist is up for the award for Wicked. The two women share the category with Gomez’s costar Zoe Saldana, The Brutalist‘s Felicity Jones, The Substance‘s Margaret Qualley and Conclave‘s Isabella Rossellini.

It’s an exciting moment all around, especially as Gomez has long been a fan of Grande’s. In January, the former was one of the first stars to react to the latter’s new-music tease: “FINALLY,” the Only Murders in the Building star excitedly commented on pictures of Grande in the studio. And earlier this year, while serving as a guest DJ on SiriusXM Hits 1, Selena queued up “7 Rings” and gushed, “I cannot do anything fun without listening to Ariana.”

“I feel so empowered, and I think she is incredible, and I just have so much fun,” she added at the time. “I’m the girl that’s playing Ariana all the time, and I think people kind of notice that, but I love it! I think she’s amazing.”