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Country singer-songwriter Jamey Johnson was arrested on Sunday (Nov. 17) after he was pulled over for speeding by the Tennessee Highway Patrol, according to The Tennessean. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news He was charged in Williamson County with speeding and possession of drugs “with intent to […]
When Lola Young is on stage, all eyes in the room drift toward her like iron filings to a magnet. Look closely at online footage from the south Londoner’s recent North American tour, and you’ll notice hundreds of people crying, headbanging, screaming – enjoying moments of release, letting go of inhibitions with abandon. Young matches their energy, growling and belting her lyrics as though she’s feeling the pain of her songs for the very first time.
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Each time the 23-year-old performs live – she’s completed two stateside treks this year, and has dates in the U.K., Europe and Australia booked through early 2025 – she shares an emotional exchange with the crowd. After coming off the road last month, having played dozens of headline shows plus festivals such as Austin City Limits and Lollapalooza Chicago, the first thing Young did was “cry a lot,” as she told her 620,000 TikTok followers in a recent post.
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“I know you’re not my therapist,” she jokes to Billboard over a video call, “but it’s important to be honest and say that I’ve felt quite low. Leaving tour is like a big comedown. After being so active by performing my heart out every night and receiving so much love, it’s quite hard to adjust to reality again. It’s been difficult, but I am getting there – I’m on my way up.”
Young’s smoky voice and catalog of witty, elastic pop songs speak to something deep within her fanbase. There are the devotees who mimic her blush-heavy makeup, as well as the more casual listeners who have created so many clips featuring the glorious single “Messy” that her Spotify streams have increased tenfold in recent weeks, which, at the time of writing, currently stands at 12.7 million monthly listeners. Her debut LP This Wasn’t Meant for You Anyway, released in June via Island Records, was characterized by its brutal honesty: “I can dance in the mirror and feel seen without being watched by someone / Especially not no ugly man, or woman,” so goes its spoken-word outro.
Even with her camera off, Young stays true to form throughout our conversation. She laughs a lot. She swears a lot. She says “f–k” in nearly every sentence, eager to emphasize that she’s still coming to terms with how dizzying the past few months have been. Having chased her dreams since she started writing songs at 11, she’s now moved beyond ravenous early career ambition and is eyeing a new level of global superstardom.
“What I’m realizing about myself as an artist is that I’m not about the glitz and the glam — I don’t scream ‘Hollywood’,” she says. “For a long time, I wanted to represent this ideal of Westernized beauty – but then I realized I’m not that. I now choose to give realness and truth. I’ve got a bit of a belly out, I f–cking swear a bunch and I have fun. And that’s what people are resonating with.”
Young is dialing in from Paris, where she is in the studio already working on her next project. She has leveraged a tireless, laser-focused work ethic into an ascendant career: Beginning with 2023’s My Mind Wanders and Sometimes Leaves project, in the past 18 months she has drip-fed a slew of extended releases and one-off singles (from “Flicker of Light” to recent Lil Yachty team-up “Charlie”). This Wasn’t Meant for You Anyway comprised entirely new material, while her unique, wildly popular live performance clips have introduced her to a global audience via social media. With a vintage mic to hand, she has done everything from getting kicked out of a London Underground station to dancing gleefully in front of the Golden Gate bridge.
It’s this industrious spirit that has caught the attention of some of contemporary music’s most revered names. In the summer, Young briefly hit the studio and shared egg rolls with SZA, who regularly leaves flame emojis on her Instagram posts. “This is insane and I live for it,” commented the “Kill Bill” singer when Young shared the news of “Like Him,” her stunning feature on Tyler, the Creator’s recent Billboard 200-topping LP Chromakopia.
The rapper had previously praised Young via DM, and when he messaged asking if she would contribute vocals to his song, her response was an immediate, resounding yes. “When I first heard [Tyler’s] ‘Yonkers’, it totally changed the way I viewed music,” she adds.
Young’s gorgeously subtle, stirring delivery during the chorus heightens the song’s poignant mood, a meditation on complex familial bonds. “Like Him” peaked at No. 29 on the Billboard 100, further cementing Young’s fast-growing stature in the U.S: in October, she performed at L.A.’s 1,600-capacity Bellwether concert hall, twice the size of her April gig at the city’s Echoplex venue.
Young’s journey is a lesson in how, for newer artists, being given the space and time to find their footing can result in truly fresh, singular music. Yet her transatlantic success hasn’t come without its qualms. To an extent, she remains unfairly associated in some listeners’ minds with the commercial balladry of her early days, as well as the cover of Philip Oakley and Giorgio Moroder’s “Together in Electric Dreams” she recorded for the British retailer John Lewis’ 2021 Christmas advert. At age 16, she was a shy but ambitious finalist on the now-defunct reality television competition Got What It Takes.
“A lot of strings were being pulled when I was starting out. It all felt fake. It felt forced,” she says. Notably, in her live sets, she doesn’t perform any material from her 2019 EP Intro or its follow-up, Renaissance. “This isn’t about blaming anybody, but nothing was really clicking at the time. Now, I have creative control alongside an understanding of who I am and where I want to go.”
Young has survived her own trials in selfhood. Her anxieties, frustrations and pride now fuel her music. She says the light-bulb moment arrived when she started rocking a mullet two years ago, a look that has boosted her confidence “massively”. She has since explored themes of identity and self-destruction in her work, recovered from an operation on her vocal cords and spoken about her schizoaffective disorder diagnosis on Instagram.
When she talks about these experiences, Young affirms that she abides by the old adage that small actions can lead to big changes in one’s life. “I kept holding faith in the fact that if I cut my hair, the music would follow” she says, evidently thrilled that her own prophecy came true.
André 3000 is in a great creative space these days, so much so that he’s planning on dropping new music in 2025. While sitting down with Wayno at Camp Flog Gnaw over the weekend, Stacks was asked what his “vision board” looked like heading into the new year. “New music, for sure,” he answered. “New […]
Kehlani fans, rejoice. The R&B artist has announced a string of live shows to take place in early 2025, marking her first U.K. and European shows since 2022. The seven-date run will kick off at Amsterdam’s AFAS Live on Jan. 21, before the 29-year-old makes their way through Belgium, Austria, Germany, France and the U.K. […]
50 Cent and Big Meech may have more content in the works. The Queens rapper and filmmaker recently posted a picture with the newly-released street legend along with the caption, “GreenLight Gang. Ultimate Hustler edition. Camera speed, rolling and action. BMF Big Meech.” The two have a great working relationship, with Meech giving 50 Cent […]
Cherrytree Music Company is celebrating two decades with an exclusive one-night concert in Los Angeles. On Jan. 25, the record label, management firm and music publisher will celebrate its 20th anniversary with a benefit concert featuring performances by Sting, Shaggy, Mike Einziger of Incubus, Chance Emerson, Sophie Grey and surprise guests.
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The special event will take place at the Belasco Theater in downtown Los Angeles with net proceeds going to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
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Cherrytree was established in 2005 by Grammy-award songwriter/musician/producer, music executive and artist manager Martin Kierszenbaum. The company’s first artist signing was Feist, who released seminal album Let It Die that same year. Cherrytree went on to sign and release critically acclaimed and commercially resonant music by Feist, Robyn, Lady Gaga, Tokio Hotel, Far East Movement, LMFAO, The Police, Keane, Ellie Goulding, LaRoux, t.A.T.u., Disclosure and The Fratellis, as well managing global superstars Sting, Shaggy, and Mike Einziger from Incubus.
Cherrytree’s acoustic performance space, The Cherrytree House, yielded timeless live recordings by Robyn, Feist and Lady Gaga, whose Cherrytree House rendition of “Poker Face” was later sampled by Kid Cudi.
Kierszenbaum was nominated for two Grammy awards for his writing, performance and production work on Lady Gaga’s The Fame album and his writing, playing and production on Sting and Shaggy’s expectation-defying collaboration, 44/876.
The Cherrytree Music Company has also led the way in securing exposure for their artists via music synchronizations with massive Apple campaigns for Feist and The Fratellis, Super Bowl ads featuring Shaggy and LMFAO, as well as film and TV licensing for songs by LaRoux and Ivy Levan.
The music company has also launched several global tours including The Cherrytree Tour starring LMFAO and Far East Movement and, most recently, Sting’s triumphant North American STING 3.0 tour, which recently culminated in five sold-out shows at The Wiltern in Los Angeles.
Tickets for The Cherrytree Music Company 20th Anniversary Concert go on sale Friday (Nov. 22) at 10 a.m. PT. Head to the Live Nation website for more details.
Prince Harry needed a favor from Jelly Roll, and he paid the price.
In a hilarious new promo video posted Tuesday (Nov. 19), the royal agrees to get a tattoo from the country star in exchange for a performance at the 2025 Invictus Games — taking place February in Vancouver, B.C. — but for all the ink Jelly boasts on his face, he didn’t prove to be as experienced behind the needle as Harry would’ve probably hoped.
The clip opens with the Spare author waiting in a tattoo parlor to discuss the performance with the musician, who eventually bursts into the room and says, “I could not believe it when they called me and told me Prince Harry wanted to get a tattoo today, and he wanted me to give him his first tattoo!”
A confused, somewhat terrified Harry then clarifies, “I came here to ask you to do the Invictus Games, there’s no tattoo in this.” But the “Son of a Sinner” singer cuts him a deal: “I’ll play the Invictus Games, [if] you just let me give you your first tattoo.”
Harry’s response? “All right, screw it” — famous last words. Jelly proceeds to ink “I am Jelly Roll” in enormous letters on the Duke of Sussex’s neck, which doesn’t go over well. “Dude, it’s enormous!” shouts Harry as Jelly books it out of the room. “You put your name on my neck? Are you serious? Oh, s–t.”
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But while the prince’s skin will never be the same, nor will the 2025 Invictus Games now that Jelly is locked in as the event’s headliner. Founded by Harry in 2014, the weeklong event supports the recovery journeys of international wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women.
The announcement comes the same day as the news that Jelly will be joining Post Malone for a North American stadium tour kicking off in April. The Tennessee native also recently picked up two new Grammy nominations, for best country solo performance and best country song for “I Am Not Okay” off his Billboard 200-topping album Beautifully Broken.
And now, he has one more milestone under his belt. “How many people can say they tatted a Prince y’all?” Jelly wrote on Instagram, sharing the video.
Watch Jelly tattoo Prince Harry above.
Candace Owens is giving her two cents on Beyoncé. The conservative commentator responded on her Candace podcast to an Instagram post by Bey’s mother, Tina Knowles, refuting claims that the “Texas Hold ‘Em” singer was paid to speak at Vice President Kamala Harris’ rally in Houston, Texas, last month. “Beyonce did not receive a penny […]
Loe Shimmy is officially a Billboard Hot 100-charting artist, as his single “For Me,” with Brent Faiyaz, debuts on the Nov. 23-dated list, becoming the former’s first career entry. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Released in March on Loe Shimmy’s album Zombieland 2 (without Faiyaz), the […]
This article was created in partnership with Live Nation
Billboard’s highly anticipated Live Music Summit made its grand return after a 5-year hiatus. This year marked the return of the Live Music Summit, which had been on hiatus since 2019, in response to high demand to refocus on the thriving touring industry.
Attendees experienced a dynamic mix of panel discussions, live performances, workshops, and industry mixers, all culminating in the Touring Awards Ceremony. Among the star-studded panel lineups were Olivia Rodrigo, John Summit and top industry executives. It was an invaluable opportunity for those in the music business to gain insights from industry leaders while celebrating the milestones many touring artists have achieved this year.
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Olivia Rodrigo closed out the eventful day with her Superstar Q&A, during which she discussed the GUTS Tour, her most recent Billboard cover and received the award for 2024 Touring Artist of the Year. See highlights from the panel, presented by Live Nation and moderated by Billboard Deputy Editor Lyndsey Havens, below.
Olivia Rodrigo Takes Center Stage at the Live Music SummitRodrigo captivated the audience as she reflected on her successful 2024 GUTS World Tour. The “Vampire” singer’s GUTS Tour, launched in 2024 in support of her critically acclaimed sophomore album SOUR, marking a pivotal moment in the evolution of modern touring and the music industry. The tour showcased her ability to seamlessly blend introspective storytelling with electrifying live performances, resonating with audiences of all ages.
Spanning 95 dates across multiple continents, Rodrigo became a global phenomenon in 2024. Tickets for the sophomore tour sold out almost instantly across all markets, underscoring the immense demand for her live performances. She kicked off her performances in the United States and Canada during the Spring before touring Europe and the UK this summer and making her debut in Asia, and Australia this fall. The response was overwhelming, particularly in Asia and Australia, where the demand exceeded expectations, leading to multiple sold-out shows in every city – especially in Australia where she performed four sold-out nights in both Sydney and Melbourne, a testament to her skyrocketing popularity.
The GUTS Tour was not only a commercial triumph but also a cultural event, as it brought Rodrigo’s blend of heartfelt lyrics and powerful performances to new corners of the world, further establishing her as a defining voice of her generation.
Olivia Rodrigo speaks onstage at the Billboard Live Music Summit at 1 Hotel West Hollywood on November 14, 2024 in West Hollywood, California.
Christopher Polk
Connection to Her Fans
Rodrigo’s career trajectory has been anything but conventional. Her debut album SOUR was released during the COVID-19 pandemic, and from the outset, she knew exactly what she wanted for her second album and accompanying tour.
Reflecting on her first experience on the road, the singer-songwriter shares, “After going on the first SOUR Tour, I learned so much about touring and learned how playing songs like ‘Brutal’ and ‘Good 4 U’ were so much fun on stage and with that information in my back pocket, I went on to make GUTS.”
For her second tour, Rodrigo sought to create a deeper connection with her audience. “Connecting with the audience and bringing them into your world was something that I wanted to achieve on this tour,” she shared, aiming to reach not only fans in the front row but also those in the back and higher up in the arenas. As part of her vision, she incorporated an innovative element into her live show: Rodrigo would be suspended in a purple crescent moon, flying above the crowd during her performances. This unique moment allowed her to wave to fans, particularly those moved to tears, offering a sense of intimacy and shared experience throughout the sold-out tour.
To make each show feel unique for her fans, Olivia and her team collaborated to create a new, city-specific phrase for her final outfit of every tour stop. Rodrigo reflects, “My team bought a machine where we should screenprint tank tops…and it became a fun creative outlet in itself.” Fans would eagerly anticipate the new phrase on her shirt each night, making it a special way to highlight each city on the tour.
A main takeaway from the GUTS Tour was the growing necessity of fan engagement in live shows. Many venues incorporated immersive experiences, digital interactivity and intimate moments that made each concert feel personalized specifically to them. Additionally, GUTS represented a new wave of tour strategies, emphasizing sustainability and creative, genre-blending setlists.
Olivia Rodrigo at the Billboard Live Music Summit at 1 Hotel West Hollywood on November 14, 2024 in West Hollywood, California.
Christopher Polk
Olivia Rodrigo’s Commitment to Social ChangeIn addition to her musical success, Rodrigo launched her global initiative, Fund 4 Good, which is dedicated to building a more equitable future for women and girls. Through Fund 4 Good, she directly supports community-based nonprofits that focus on girls’ education, reproductive rights and the prevention of gender-based violence. “It was really meaningful to me to learn more about these organizations and support them,” she shared, “and I’m excited to do more in the future.” The Grammy Winning Artist recounted her experience on the Phillipines leg of her world tour – “I’m part Filipino and that was the first time I’ve been in the country. I wanted to give back to the community who supported me throughout my career”. Her show in the Philippines was her largest show on the tour – with 55,000 seats at the Philippine Arena in Manila, all priced at $27 USD/1,500 Philippine pesos to ensure affordability for the half-Filipino singer’s fans.
Rodrigo also introduced the Silver Star Ticket program, offering a limited number of affordable $20 USD tickets (or local equivalent) to make her concerts accessible to more of her fans. Inspired by Coldplay’s Infinity Tickets, this initiative allowed fans to attend her shows at an affordable price, reinforcing Olivia’s and Live Nation’s commitment to inclusivity and fan engagement. This approach influenced the touring industry, encouraging other artists to offer similar exclusive packages. The Silver Star tickets demonstrated how fan loyalty and personalized experiences could drive both engagement and revenue in the modern live music landscape.
With a careful balance of commercial success and artistic integrity, Rodrigo’s latest tour reshaped how artists approach live performance in an era where streaming, viral moments with special guests, and social media heavily influence an artist’s connection with their audience.
