State Champ Radio Music News
Page: 691
Ye has dropped a futuristic music video for “Bomb.”
On Wednesday (Nov. 27), the superstar rapper — formerly known as Kanye West — unveiled on YouTube the post-apocalyptic visual, which features his daughters North and Chicago racing through a barren desert alongside monstrous creatures.
In the surreal clip, North, 11, and Chicago, 6, take the wheel of a Tesla Cybertruck, speeding past furry gremlin-like beasts that evoke the hot rod monster art of Stanley Mouse. Rapper Yuno Miles also makes a cameo, joining the high-speed chase while wearing a black mask.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
North, dressed in an oversized jacket with a furry hood, raps in Japanese, while Chicago, sporting cute buns, chimes in midway with the catchy lines: “I like to have fun/ I like to go to the beach/ I like the sun/ You know it’s Chi/ I only wave when I’m telling them ‘bye.’”
Proud mom Kim Kardashian reposted the video on her Instagram account, writing, “BOMB ft. North West & Chicago West.” Ye and Kardashian are also parents to sons Saint West, 8, and Psalm West, 5.
Trending on Billboard
“Bomb” is featured on Ye and Ty Dolla $ign’s Vultures 2, which was released in August and debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 albums chart.
In September, Ye brought all four of his children on stage for a performance of his shelved Vultures track “Everybody” during a concert at the Wuyuan River Sports Stadium in Haikou, China. Earlier this year, North joined Ye at his Vultures listening event in Paris, where she sang along to the track “Talking” from the album.
Watch Ye’s “Bomb” music video on YouTube below.
Cynthia Erivo is weighing in on whether movie-goers should sing along to Wicked in theaters.
In an interview (via TMZ) during the 2024 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday (Nov. 28), the 37-year-old actress and singer, who plays Elphaba in the live-action adaptation of the Broadway musical, shared her thoughts on the ongoing debate about fans singing along during the film.
“Have you weighed in on whether or not it’s OK to sing in the theater? ‘Cause a lot of people are singing in the theater,” Today Show co-host Hoda Kotb asked Erivo during their brief conversation on NBC.
“Good! I’m OK with it,” Erivo replied with enthusiasm. “We’ve spent this long singing it ourselves, it’s time for everyone else to join in. It’s wonderful.”
Trending on Billboard
The topic of theater etiquette recently made headlines after an AMC Theaters preshow advisory video raised the issue of audience behavior. “At AMC Theaters, silence is golden. No talking. No texting. No singing. No wailing. No flirting. And absolutely no name-calling. Enjoy the magic of movies,” the message read, according to The Independent.
Meanwhile, Wicked — which also stars Ariana Grande as Glinda — dominated the pre-Thanksgiving weekend box office, debuting at No. 1 with a global haul of $164.2 million. Since its release on Nov. 22, the Jon M. Chu-directed film has been met with widespread praise, particularly for the performances of its lead actresses in these iconic roles. The second part of the Wicked adaptation is scheduled for release in November 2025.
For those eager to belt out hits like “Defying Gravity” and “The Wizard & I,” a sing-along version of the film will hit theaters on Christmas Day. The special screenings are expected to play at roughly 1,000 theaters across North America, according to Variety. Exact locations and showtimes are yet to be confirmed.
These interactive screenings, which will allow audiences to sing along to Stephen Schwartz’s famous score, are modeled after similar events for other movie musicals like The Greatest Showman. The sing-along version of Wicked will be released just over a month after the film’s initial premiere on Nov. 22, following more than three years of production.
The two-part Wicked adaptation, based on both the Broadway musical and Gregory Maguire’s novel, began production in 2021. The film features live vocal takes of songs like “Popular,” “What Is This Feeling?” and “Dancing Through Life.”
In addition to Erivo and Grande, Wicked stars Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang, Peter Dinklage and Marissa Bode.
Kylie Minogue brought a ray of sunshine to the rainy 2024 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
On Thursday morning (Nov. 28), the Aussie pop icon lit up the 98th annual New York City event with a vibrant performance of a three-song medley featuring “Can’t Get You Out of My Head,” “Slow” and “Padam Padam.” Watch a fan-captured clip of the performance on X (formerly Twitter).
Dressed in a sleek black and red zip-up outfit and surrounded by dancers in similar attire, Minogue delivered her high-energy set in front of Macy’s iconic Herald Square flagship store. The performance was part of the annual tradition, broadcast live on NBC and simulstreamed on Peacock.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
“Macy’s, what just happened? OK, that was fun, that was fun singing and dancing in the rain,” Minogue laughed on her Instagram Story after the performance. “Thanks for having me. I’m going to go dry off.”
Trending on Billboard
This marked Minogue’s second appearance at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade; she previously performed in 2010, when she sang “Get Outta My Way” from her Aphrodite album.
The pop legend is currently promoting her latest album, Tension II, ahead of a major global tour in 2025.
In addition to Minogue, the parade featured nearly two dozen iconic balloons, including Snoopy, Bluey, Minnie Mouse, Marshall from Paw Patrol, Ronald McDonald, Pikachu, and newcomers Gabby, Goku, and Spider-Man.
Other performers included Jennifer Hudson, T-Pain, Chloë Bailey, Idina Menzel, Dan + Shay, Billy Porter, and Wicked star Cynthia Erivo, among many others.
The 2024 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade also showcased 34 floats, 11 marching bands, seven “balloonicles” and 28 clown crews, filling the streets with holiday cheer as the event wrapped up at noon ET.
Salford Lads Club has confirmed it will remain open, after the historic Greater Manchester venue faced the threat of closure earlier this year.
Last month, it was reported that the club was struggling financially due to rising maintenance costs and a drop in grant funding. To remain open, it was forced to try and raise £250,000 by mid-November, and called out for support from the wider music community.
By offering sports and creative activities six days a week, the venue serves as a safe space for young people from some of the city’s most deprived communities, and was opened by Scouting founder Robert Baden-Powell in 1904. The cover of The Smiths’ iconic third studio album, The Queen Is Dead, was famously shot outside Salford Lads Club.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
In an update shared to Instagram earlier Thursday (Nov. 28), the owners have now confirmed that the club has reached its fundraising goal and can move forward with operating as usual.
“We did it! Salford Lads and Girls Club is officially saved. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our supporters, we’ve smashed our £250,000 target, ensuring the doors of this iconic building remain open for our young people and the community,” the post began.
Trending on Billboard
“From historic concerts to changing lives through youth work, this club has stood as a beacon of hope, culture, and connection. This funding ensures we can continue to make an impact for generations to come,” it added.
“A heartfelt thank you to every individual, business, and partner who stepped up to help us keep the lights on. This is your victory as much as ours. Together, we’ve shown what’s possible when a community rallies together.”
Morrissey, Graham Nash and Noel Gallagher were among those who donated or raised funds. The former reportedly donated £50,000 to a public GoFundMe page, having previously provided financial support in the past when essential maintenance work was required for the building.
Legendary songwriter Nash, meanwhile, joined over 1,000 online donors by contributing £10,000 to the cause, having spent his childhood in Salford. Gallagher auctioned a guitar and helped create an Oasis exhibition at the club to raise funds to keep the site open.In October, The Guardian reported that Salford Lads Club’s income for 2023 reached £160,000 ($202,574) with outgoings adding up to approximately £394,700 ($499,725). Last year, the club faced insurance and utility bills of a combined £43,000 ($5444).
Tame Imapala mastermind Kevin Parker has further diversified his role within the music industry, this time launching a new musical “ideas machine”.
Dubbed Orchid, the new device is less of an instrument and more of a digital polysynthesizer designed for musicians and producers to explore new ideas.
Per a press release, the way Orchid works is “by employing a unique chord logic system, combined with a multitude of ways to shape and alter the chords to maximize creative musical expression”.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
“All this is brought into sonic existence by a lush and powerful 16-voice polyphonic synth engine with onboard ambience and modulation FX, plus a separate bass synth engine solely for bottom end,” it continues.
Designed by Telepathic Instruments co-founder Ignacio Germade, Orchid largely operates as a chord generating system. A ’70s-styled product video shows Orchid in action and illustrates how an operator can choose a root note from its single-octave keyboard, and utilise a its eight “chord-type selecting and chord modifying keys”.
Trending on Billboard
Put simply, hitting the ‘E’ on the keyboard and the ‘Minor’ chord modifying key will provide an E minor chord, with the ability to modify it further.
Orchird also utilises a patent pending voicing system which uses a rotary encoder to “re-pitch and re-position chords”, ultimately expanding the chords’ potential outside of the 12 keys found on the unit. The Strum, Slop, Arpeggiator, Pattern and Harp performance modes also add versatilty to the way the aforementioned chords are ‘played’ by the user as well.
“While other chord generators deliver a static and rigid outputting platform, Orchid paints a new landscape,” the press release adds.
Orchid is set to be released in December, with 1,000 units made available to US buyers at a cost of $549. A wider launch will follow in 2025.
Parker’s Tame Impala project last released an album in 2020, with The Slow Rush peaking at No. 3 on the Hot 100 – one position higher than its Platinum-selling predecessor, 2015’s Currents.
The surviving members of the Grateful Dead have revealed that plans for a special 60th anniversary reunion were in the works prior to Phil Lesh’s recent passing.
Lesh, who was the founding bassist of the California rock outfit, passed away on Oct. 25 at the age of 84. Five days following his passing, bandmates Bob Weir, Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart sat down for a previously-planned interview with CBS This Morning which was intended to include Lesh as well.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Now, the interview has aired, with the surviving members noting a reunion project for the Grateful Dead‘s 60th anniversary had been in the works, with plans for the four members to get together and jam once more.
Trending on Billboard
“We were going to see where it goes,” Weir said. “But we were just going to play the four of us. And now there’s only three of us.”
“I was hoping that we could play with him again one more time,” added Kreutzmann. “So that was my sadness on that one, ’cause I know he wanted to play with us again, too.”
“We were kickin’ it around,” Weir continued. “In fact, we were gonna get together and kick some songs around tomorrow.”
The Grateful Dead first formed in 1965 and performed for 30 years with various lineups until their split following the passing of lead guitarist and vocalist Jerry Garcia in 1995.
While various reunion projects would form over the years (including The Other Ones, which featured Lesh, Weir, Kreutzmann and Hart at different points), the four musicians reunited for the 50th anniversary Fare Thee Well concert in 2015. Complemented by Trey Anastasio, Bruce Hornsby and Jeff Chimenti, the concerts were a direct precursor to the ongoing Dead & Company group, which did not feature Lesh as part of its membership.
In 2024, Dead & Company embarked upon their final tour, though have left the door open for future performances and projects.
Next month, Lesh, Weir, Kreutzmann and Hart will be saluted as part of the 2024 Kennedy Center Honors, with 2023 recipient Queen Latifah hosting.
After more than 60 years in the music industry, Cher has claimed her forthcoming record will “probably” be the last album she releases.
Per U.K. publication The Sun, Cher made her recent comments while at London’s Lyceum Theatre in support of her recently-released biography, Cher: The Memoir, Part One. While discussing the first of her two-volume release, she turned her attention to her forthcoming 28th album.
“This is probably my last album that I’m gonna do,” she admitted. “I’m really excited. They are great songs and I’m just really excited that I’m doing it.”
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Though no specific details have been announced as yet, Cher confirmed her intentions to make a new record while speaking to Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show. A new record of entirely original material would be her first since 2013’s Closer to the Truth, though some new compositions arrived on 2023’s Christmas, which topped the Top Holiday Albums chart.
Trending on Billboard
“I’m really excited to be doing anything now,” Cher told the English crowd. “I’m older than dirt now, OK? I’m the oldest person I meet in almost every room unless I’m in an old folks’ home.”
Releasing her first album in 1965 as one half of duo Sonny & Cher with then-husband Sonny Bono, Cher launched a solo career that same year, and embarking upon a journey which would eventually see her crowned the ‘Godess of Pop’.
In October, Cher was honored with an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in a ceremony which also saw Mary J. Blige, A Tribe Called Quest, Peter Frampton, and others inducted.
During her well-received speech at the ceremony, Cher recalled the advice that she had been given by her mother from a young age that guided her career to where it is today. “She said to me, ‘You might not be the prettiest, you might not be the smartest, you might not be the most talented, but you’re special,’” she said. “She kept instilling it into me: ‘If you’re down and you’re out, you get up again.’”
Cher continued her speech by ensuring the women in the audience were paying attention to her words. “The one thing I have never done, is I never give up. And I am talking to the women, okay — you guys are on your own,” she offered. “We have been down and out, but we keep striving, and we keep going and we are somebody. We are special, as my mother would say.”
It’s probably too early to know if Kelly Clarkson’s 8-year-old son Remy inherited his mom’s talent, but he’s definitely got her charm and confidence. As his mom recounted on The Kelly Clarkson Show on Wednesday (Nov. 27), “[He] just walked right in today and said, ‘Who do I need to speak to to sing my […]
Jon Batiste scores his first No. 1 on Billboard’s Classical Albums chart, as his new project, Beethoven Blues, debuts atop the list dated Nov. 30. It’s the first in a planned series of solo piano albums, and on this release, Batiste interprets familiar works by composer Ludwig van Beethoven. Beethoven Blues also bows at No. 1 on Billboard’s Classical Crossover Albums chart, another first for Batiste.
The Grammy- and Academy Award-winning entertainer also sees Beethoven Blues bow at No. 9 on the Top Album Sales chart, with 13,000 copies sold in the U.S. in the week ending Nov. 21, according to Luminate. That marks his biggest sales week ever. (Keep reading for a full recap of the week’s top 10-selling albums.)
Batiste has previously notched seven top 10-charting sets on both the Traditional Jazz Albums and overall Jazz Albums charts, including one No. 1, Social Music, in 2014. Beethoven Blues is his first title to chart on any of Billboard’s classical albums charts.
Trending on Billboard
On the all-genre Billboard 200, Beethoven Blues enters at No. 64, landing Batiste’s highest-debut ever, and fifth charting effort in total.
The album’s first-week sales were aided by its availability across four vinyl variants (including two signed editions), two CD variants (one signed) and a digital download album. In support of the project, Batiste appeared on The Kelly Clarkson Show (Nov. 11) and The Jennifer Hudson Show (Nov. 18), and had a significant profile in The New York Times on Nov. 19.
Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart ranks the top-selling albums of the week based only on traditional album sales. The chart’s history dates back to May 25, 1991, the first week Billboard began tabulating charts with electronically monitored piece count information from SoundScan, now Luminate. Pure album sales were the sole measurement utilized by the Billboard 200 albums chart through the list dated Dec. 6, 2014, after which that chart switched to a methodology that blends album sales with track equivalent album units and streaming equivalent album units.
The Classical Albums chart ranks the most popular classical albums of the week, ranked by equivalent album units. The Classical Crossover Albums chart ranks the top-selling classical crossover titles of the week. Jazz Albums and Traditional Jazz Albums rank the week’s most popular jazz and traditional jazz albums, respectively, by equivalent album units earned.
As for the rest of the latest Top Album Sales chart’s top 10: ATEEZ’s GOLDEN HOUR: Part.2 debuts at No. 1 (179,000; the act’s best sales week ever), Linkin Park’s From Zero debuts at No. 2 (72,000), Jin’s Happy debuts at No. 3 (66,000), ENHYPEN’s chart-topping Romance: Untold jumps 26-4 (51,000; up 1,473% after a deluxe reissue), MF Doom’s MM..Food re-enters at a new high of No. 5 (27,000; up 2,875% after a deluxe reissue), TOMORROW X TOGETHER’s former leader The Star Chapter: SANCTUARY falls 1-6 (17,000; down 82%), Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet fall 4-7 (15,000; though up 24%), Shawn Mendes’ Shawn debuts at No. 8 (nearly 14,000) and Gwen Stefani’s Bouquet debuts at No. 10 (11,000).
Every month, Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors spotlight a group of rising artists whose music we love. Think “diamantes en bruto,” or “diamonds in the rough.” These are newcomers who have yet to impact the mainstream — but whose music excites us, and who we believe our readers should make a point to discover.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Our latest edition of On the Radar Latin includes a wave of emerging artists, who we discovered either by networking or coming across their music at a showcase, and beyond. See our recommendations this month below:
Artist: DFZM
Trending on Billboard
Country: Colombia
Why They Should Be On Your Radar: Hailing from Buenaventura (a coastal city in Colombia), DFZM first caught our attention on Mike Bahía’s salsa tune “Cali Buenaventura,” an homage to the hometown of both artists. At only 18 years old, the artist born Dylan Zambrano can easily navigate from a potent freestyle to an enchanting chanteo — all backed by his smooth, deep vocals. In 2023, he signed with Seven Music, Inc. and also forms part of Keityn’s management hub, La Creme. As a singer-songwriter, the newcomer has two verses on “+57,” the recent hit helmed by Karol G, Feid, J Balvin, Maluma, Ryan Castro, and Blessd, and produced by Ovy on the Drums. The song’s virality earned DFZM his first Billboard chart entries across Hot Latin Songs, Billboard Hot 100, Billboard Global 200, and Global Excl. U.S. — JESSICA ROIZ
Song For Your Playlist: “Cali Buenaventura,” Mike Bahía & DFZM
Artist: DREILU
Country: Ecuador
Why They Should Be On Your Radar: “From Guayaquil to the world,” as he describes on his YouTube channel, DREILU (real name: Omar Quiz) is an independent artist based in Miami with an accessible vocal delivery and an interesting combination of genres such as bomba, Afropop and urban rhythms, with lyrics that reflect his personal experiences. This month he presented his debut EP, titled 999, which includes the previously released singles “No Soy de Aquí” and “Barcelona.” Committed to his art, he has new releases scheduled for the coming months. — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS
Song For Your Playlist: “Contando Estrellas”
Artist: Nia Skyfer
Country: Cuba
Why They Should Be On Your Radar: You’ve heard the work of Cuban-American Nia Skyfer (real name Stephanie Concepción) in songs written for the likes of CNCO, Young Miko and Kim Loaiza. And you’ve heard her powerful vocals on the 2022 season of The Voice, when she made part of John Legend’s team. Now, the Miami-based Bresh DJ is steadily releasing her solo fare, a mix of pop and R&B augmented by a pathos-filled voice that can go from ethereal to commanding. Check our her latest single, the mid-tempo rock track “Mejor no contesto,” with more singles planned for steady release in the next year. — LEILA COBO
Song For Your Playlist: “Mejor No Contesto”
Artist: Os Garotin
Country: Brazil
Why They Should Be On Your Radar: When it comes to burgeoning talent in Latin music, Os Garotin is swiftly carving out their niche. I first stumbled upon this dynamic trio at the Latin Grammy’s Best New Artist Showcase 2024 in Miami, and they were nothing short of electrifying. Hailing from São Gonçalo in Rio de Janeiro, Os Garotin — comprised of Anchietx, Cupertino, and Leo Guima — bring a refreshing blend of funk carioca, soul and rap to the stage, coupled with infectious dance moves. In May, they introduced themselves to the world with their debut album, Os Garotin de São Gonçalo, which encapsulates their energetic essence and plenty of passion. This Latin Grammy-nominated group is undoubtedly a must-watch for any music enthusiast looking to infuse their playlist with fresh, spirited tunes. — ISABELA RAYGOZA
Song For Your Playlist: “Garota”
Artist: Sofi Saar
Country: Mexico
Why They Should Be On Your Radar: Sofi Saar got on my radar during Latin Grammys Week in Miami, Fla. earlier this month, where she was a two-time nominee. With her sweet-girl aura and stoic attitude, the Monterrey-based artist is turning her personal stories into healing music. Once engaged to get married, Saar — who kicked off her career in the pandemic — used the wedding money to invest in recording studio time when she broke up with her ex-fiancé. The songs born during that era gave life to her debut album, Terca (“Stubborn”), earning her the Latin Grammy nomination for best norteño album. Her popteño fusion and relatable lyrics also made her a best new artist nominee. — J.R.
Song For Your Playlist: “Qué Perro Aguante (Emperrada)”
Artist: Yetsi
Country: Venezuela
Why They Should Be On Your Radar: With releases including “Wow,” “Lofi” and “Cuchi Baby” in the last year alone, Yetsi — a Caracas native currently based in Miami with a sweet, powerful voice — has demonstrated a unique ability to fuse rhythms while showcasing her vocal prowess. Her most recent release is “LPC,” an infectious reinterpretation of Amanda Miguel’s classic “Las Cosas Pequeñas” to the rhythm of drum-n-bass. Yetsi, who has also directed some of her own music videos, is a well-rounded artist with a global sound. — S.R.A.
Song For Your Playlist: “Cuchi Baby”
