Music
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As of Saturday (Jan. 4), Justin Bieber has unfollowed Scooter Braun on Instagram.
The two have been linked since 2008, when Braun started managing the then-13-year-old Bieber after discovering him on YouTube. But over the past few years, their relationship became rocky and in 2023, the superstar was “actively looking at how he might extract himself from [it],” Billboard reported at the time.
As of August 2023, Billboard reported that Bieber was still under contract for about four more years, following a series of amendments to his deal with Braun made in 2020. In the same report, sources familiar with Bieber’s business dealings said he was focused on resolving his predicament with Braun at the time.
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By June 2024, Braun announced his retirement from management (he maintains his role as CEO of HYBE America — the North American iteration of South Korean entertainment company HYBE). His news followed a string of headlines about artists leaving his SB Projects, including Ariana Grande, Demi Lovato and J Balvin.
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“23 years. That’s how long I have been a music manager,” Braun wrote in a statement posted to Instagram at the time. And while he shared several highlights from his management career, he dedicated a paragraph entirely to Grande and Bieber, writing: “Justin and Ariana were both young teenagers when I began with them. Justin a 13 year old kid busking in Canada and Ariana a young actress on Nickelodeon. To see them both come up to be the legends they are today will forever be one of my greatest honors. As we change our working relationships now, I will continue to root for them with the same passion that I did at each of their humble beginnings.”
In August 2024, Bieber and his wife Hailey Bieber welcomed their first child, Jack Blues Bieber. And in September, indie-rocker Mk.gee revealed to The New York Times that he’s been in studio sessions with Bieber, saying “he’s searching.”
Bieber’s last album, Justice, was released in 2021. It became his eighth No. 1 entry on the Billboard 200.
Brenton Wood, the soul singer best known for his 1967 hit “The Oogum Boogum Song,” has died at the age of 83.
Wood passed away on Friday (Jan. 3), at his home in Moreno Valley, Calif., surrounded by family and friends, according to his manager and assistant, Manny Gallegos, TMZ reports.
Gallegos confirmed to The New York Post that Wood died of natural causes. “He went in his sleep peacefully. The love that he gave us, God took him the same way,” Gallegos said.
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The manager also shared a final message from Wood to his fans: “He said, ‘Catch you on the rebound,’” referring to a 1967 song and the title of his final tour, which wrapped up over Valentine’s Day weekend in 2024. Wood began feeling ill shortly after the tour and was hospitalized last May.
Born Alfred Jesse Smith in Shreveport, La., Wood relocated with his family to San Pedro, Calif., in the 1950s. He later attended college in Southern California, where he began nurturing his passion for music, drawing inspiration from artists like Jesse Belvin and Sam Cooke. A self-taught pianist, Wood wrote songs and harmonized with neighborhood friends. He adopted the stage name Brenton Wood, drawing inspiration from the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles.
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After signing with Double Shot Records in 1967, Wood released three of his biggest hits that same year: “The Oogum Boogum Song” (which reached No. 34 on the Billboard Hot 100), “Gimme Little Sign” (peaking at No. 9 on the Hot 100) and “Baby You Got It” (hitting No. 34 on the Hot 100). “The Oogum Boogum Song” and “Gimme Little Sign” both peaked at No. 19 on the Billboard‘s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, while “Baby You Got It” reached No. 30 on that chart.
In 1972, he founded his own label, Prophesy Records, and later released music under Mr. Wood Records.
Over the years, “The Oogum Boogum Song” has reached new audiences through its inclusion in popular TV shows and movies such as The Umbrella Academy, Almost Famous and Don’t Worry Darling, among others.
“It’s hard to be in a bad mood after you hear the ‘Oogum Boogum Song,’” NPR wrote in 2023. “Probably not worth the effort.”
“It’s a silly title and has silly lyrics, too. But there’s something about the feeling. That almost playful falsetto, the drums bouncing along, the jangly guitar hits.”
During his career, Wood believed in “giving back” and frequently performed at schools and community outreach events throughout Southern California, according to his website. During these appearances, the musician would share his personal and professional challenges and successes, offering a message of empowerment with an emphasis on education and a “can do” attitude to inspire youth, the site states.
Wayne Osmond, the second-oldest of the legendary Osmonds, died on Jan. 1. He was 73 years old.
Wayne, one of nine Osmond siblings, started a barbershop quartet in 1958 alongside his brothers Alan, Merrill and Jay. After getting discovered from a Disneyland performance, the boys were cast over a seven-year period on NBC’s The Andy Williams Show beginning in 1962. When brothers Jimmy and Donny joined the group, they became known as the Osmonds and were standout teen idols throughout the ‘70s.
The Osmonds formed in their hometown of Ogden, Utah. Their mother, Olive, reflected on their origin, born of their Mormon faith, in a 1976 interview, as recounted in Fred Bronson’s The Billboard Book of Number One Hits. “The church encourages talent, beginning with such things as singing, sports and speeches when the children are small,” she mused. “That’s how the four boys started singing together.”
The Osmonds charted four top 10s, among 10 top 40 hits, on the Billboard Hot 100, including the 1971 No. 1 “One Bad Apple.” Alan and Merrill Osmond co-wrote “Down by the Lazy River” (No. 4, 1972), the group’s biggest self-penned hit. The act achieved its top-charting album on the Billboard 200 with Phase-III, which reached No. 10 in 1972. The Osmonds tallied 13 titles on the tally through 2008.
Following 13 Hot 100 hits in 1971-76, the Osmonds disbanded in the summer of 1980. They reformed in 1982, minus Donny, and logged 11 entries on the Hot Country Songs chart, through 1986, led by their introductory hit at the format, the top 20-peaking “I Think About Your Lovin’.”
Amid the Osmonds’ chart dominance as a group, Donny scored solo success, earning five Hot 100 top 10s in 1971-73, including the three-week No. 1 “Go Away Little Girl,” which led seven months after “One Bad Apple.” After a 13-year-break from the chart, he returned and marched to No. 2 in 1989 with “Soldier of Love.”
Plus, Donny and sister Marie Osmond notched seven Hot 100 hits in 1974-78, including two top 10s. Marie forged her own successful career in country, running up four Hot Country Songs No. 1s in 1973-86.
On Jan. 2, Donny shared a heartfelt tribute on X, writing, “Wayne brought so much light, laughter and love to everyone who knew him, especially me. He was the ultimate optimist and was loved by everyone. I’m sure I speak on behalf of every one of us siblings when I state that we were fortunate to have Wayne as a brother.”
Below, browse the Osmonds’ 10 biggest career hits as a group on the Hot 100.
The Osmonds’ Biggest Billboard Hits chart is based on actual performance on the weekly Hot 100 chart from its Aug. 4, 1958, inception, through Jan. 4, 2025. Songs are ranked based on an inverse point system, with weeks at No. 1 earning the greatest value and weeks at No. 100 earning the least. Due to changes in chart methodology over the years, eras are weighted to account for different chart turnover rates over various periods.
“Goin’ Home”
Bono is among 19 individuals who will be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, President Joe Biden announced on Saturday (Jan. 4).
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In addition to the U2 frontman, other recipients include Hillary Clinton, NBA legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson, soccer icon Lionel Messi, Bill Nye the Science Guy, Vogue editor Anna Wintour, George Soros, designer Ralph Lauren, chef José Andrés and conservationist Jane Goodall.
“President Biden believes great leaders keep the faith, give everyone a fair shot, and put decency above all else,” the White House wrote in a statement. “These nineteen individuals are great leaders who have made America and the world a better place. They are great leaders because they are good people who have made extraordinary contributions to their country and the world.”
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The statement also noted that the Presidential Medal of Freedom is “presented to individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public or private endeavors.”
In honoring Bono, the White House highlighted the legendary Irish rocker as a “pioneering activist against AIDS and poverty,” noting his role in uniting politicians from opposing parties to create the U.S. PEPFAR AIDS program. Bono is also the co-founder of advocacy organizations ONE and (RED).
The Presidential Medal of Freedom will be presented at the White House on Saturday.
The announcement comes just weeks after U2 released How to Re-assemble an Atomic Bomb, a special edition celebrating the 20th anniversary of How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb with previously unreleased tracks from the 2004 album’s recording sessions. In September, U2 premiered V-U2: An Immersive Concert Film at Sphere Las Vegas, showcasing their historic residency at The Sphere in Sin City.
U2’s most recent album, Songs of Surrender, was released in March 2023 and reached No. 5 on the Billboard 200.
Britney Spears is giving fans another glimpse into her special Christmas with her son, Jayden James Federline. On Friday (Jan. 3), the 43-year-old pop star shared a short video on Instagram featuring her 18-year-old son — whom she reunited with on Dec. 25 — opening a gift by a beautifully decorated Christmas tree. “Nice, nice, […]
From career milestones to new music releases to major announcements and those little important moments, Billboard editors highlight uplifting moments in Latin music. Here’s what happened in the Latin music world this week.
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Greeicy’s Dreamy NYE
Greeicy rang in the new year surrounded by her loved ones — including partner Mike Bahía and their son Kai — in Times Square, where she performed as part of Univision’s New Year’s Eve programming. The Colombian singer-songwriter shared a slideshow of photos from that special night on her social media where she also wrote a heartfelt message. “Suddenly the year ended as if it were a dream… a beautiful dream. I know that there were many people watching this moment where a dreamer lived something she could not even imagine… I know there were many and that excites me BUT what I felt when I looked in front and saw those people I love and respect THERE WITH ME???? In the rain with me!!! Seeing their eyes full of emotion and illusion made my end of the year unexplainable,” she expressed.
See the sweet post here.
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Daddy Yankee Wraps 2024 Feeling Grateful
Despite going through a rough moment in his life, Daddy Yankee is closing the year expressing gratitude. The Puerto Rican hitmaker, who in December announced he was divorcing his longtime wife — whom he later filed an injunction against claiming she withdrew $100 million without authorization — posted a video where he’s seen smiling from ear to ear, singing and dancing as he welcomes the new year. The caption is equally optimistic: “2024 was a year of learning, in which I came across a resilient character of my person that I did not know,” he wrote. “Believing in God and waiting on him, without understanding the processes, speaks to me of the growth I am experiencing, and I do not intend to give up. I live in gratitude for the good and the not so good, because I have learned that for those who love God, all things work together for good. To YOU who read me, I wish you health, prosperity, blessings and may JESUS truly be the center of your LIFE. HAPPY 2025!”
Bad Bunny Continues “Bonita Tradición”
Still in the holiday spirit, Benito held his annual “Bonita Tradición” gift giveaway in Puerto Rico as part of the Día de Reyes (Three Kings Day) celebrations. “I feel grateful to contribute my grain of sand for the children and youth of this country, so they know they are not alone in that dream that perhaps they see as unattainable,” Bad Bunny said in a statement. “This little boy came out of this neighborhood and look how he has raised the flag of Puerto Rico high in the whole world. With efforts like this I want them to be convinced that anything is possible and that they can be as great as they want to be.”
The Puerto Rican star is set to drop his new album, Debí Tirar Más Fotos, on Sunday (Jan. 5).
Bad Bunny
Cheery Viruet / Fundación Good Bunny
Rosalía Hints at New Album
Rosalía already has some clear goals for 2025. Among them, to release an album. Ringing in the new year, the Spanish superstar took to social media to share a long list of major accomplishments in 2024, including “surviving another year” and “leaving therapy.” The note also included goals for 2025, such as “to release new album.” Rosalía last dropped an LP in 2022 when she unleashed the Grammy and Latin Grammy-winning album Motomami.
See her post here.
Rauw Alejandro’s “Regalos Pa’ Los Míos” Initiative
Along with his sister and mother, Rauw Alejandro launched Fundación Proyecto PaMaRa, a non-profit organization “dedicated to empowering children, youth and families in the beautiful community of Puerto Rico,” according to a post on social media. To celebrate, Rauw and his family are hosting the fourth annual “Regalo Pa’ Los Míos” on Jan. 4 in San Juan, Puerto Rico that includes free activities and “surprises” for kids 4-12 years old. “Come with your families,” Rauw says in a video he posted on Instagram. “It’s a complete experience and there, you’ll learn more about our project PaMaRa.”
Footage of a 2024 traffic stop between Ice-T — born Tracy Marrow — and a New Jersey police officer surfaced earlier this week. The contentious exchange reportedly went down in May in Hudson County when bodycam footage showed the “Cop Killer” artist was stopped mere feet away from the Department of Motor Vehicles as he […]
Lorduy (real name: David Lorduy Hernández) announced he’s leaving Piso 21 after entering the Colombian group in 2019. Both the artist and the group shared the news on their respective social media accounts in two separate videos on Friday (Jan. 3). Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news “After […]
Long before Benny Blanco entered her life, Selena Gomez had her eyes on a handful of stars.
While speaking to W for the publication’s best performances issue published Friday (Jan. 3), the 32-year-old singer-actress shared that she “probably had too many crushes” when she was younger. “Jesse McCartney — when ‘Beautiful Soul’ came out — that was just life-changing for me,” Gomez said, giving one example.
“I loved Chad Michael Murray from One Tree Hill,” she continued. “I also just had crushes more in real life than on actors or musicians.”
Speaking of crushes, the Rare Beauty founder also opened up about her first kisses — on screen and off. Gomez has previously said that her very first smooch was technically with Dylan Sprouse during a guest stint on The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, about which she told W: “It was really funny because both of us were so young. We were figuring out how to kiss. I had never done it, and I was so scared.”
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But of her first kiss without cameras present, Gomez recalled, “My real-life one would probably be with a boy named Juan, and I was 14.”
The “Lose You to Love Me” singer’s W cover comes in honor of her performance in Jacques Audiard’s musical drama Emilia Pérez, for which she recently nabbed a Golden Globes nod for best supporting actress. Her costar in the film, Zoe Saldaña, as well as Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Zendaya, Paul Mescal and more also posed for the publication’s best performances package.
When Gomez did her interview for the issue, she wasn’t yet engaged to a certain pop-music hitmaker. Now, Blanco is poised to be the Wizards of Waverly Place alum’s forever celebrity crush after he popped the question in December.
The pair had, however, celebrated Halloween 2024 together before Gomez spoke to W, with the Spring Breakers star dressing up as Alice from Alice in Wonderland while her then-boyfriend went all out for a Mad Hatter tribute. “He used prosthetics!” Gomez gushed to the publication.
“Until this year, I hadn’t dressed up for Halloween since I was a kid,” she added. “We were invited to a party, so I had a reason to dress up … I think it’s safe to say we won best costume at the party.”
See Gomez on the cover of W below.
Three Days Grace notches its 18th No. 1 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart – and its first featuring vocals from original frontman Adam Gontier since “Misery Loves My Company” in 2013 – as “Mayday” lifts two spots to the top of the Jan. 11-dated tally.
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The band moves to within one spot of the all-time No. 1 record on Mainstream Rock Airplay, which began in 1981, behind only Shinedown’s 19 leaders.
Most No. 1s, Mainstream Rock Airplay:
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19, Shinedown
18, Three Days Grace
15, Five Finger Death Punch
14, Foo Fighters
14, Metallica
13, Godsmack
13, Van Halen
12, Disturbed
11, Linkin Park
Of Three Days Grace’s 18 Mainstream Rock Airplay No. 1s, 11 have been with Gontier, the group’s original lead singer, beginning with “Just Like You” in 2004. Following his departure in 2013, succeeding frontman Matt Walst racked up six rulers as the band’s sole vocalist, starting in 2014 with “Painkiller.”
“Mayday” is the first single since Gontier rejoined the band, with the singers trading vocals.
Meanwhile, “Mayday” rules in its sixth week on Mainstream Rock Airplay, completing Three Days Grace’s swiftest rise to No. 1 since “Chalk Outline” wrapped a four-week sprint in 2012.
Concurrently, “Mayday” ascends 37-36 on Alternative Airplay, marking the band’s highest charted entry since “The High Road,” which peaked at No. 24 in 2013. On the all-rock-format, audience-based Rock & Alternative Airplay chart, “Mayday” leaps 6-2 with 3.9 million audience impressions, up 6%, in the week ending Jan. 2, according to Luminate. That’s the band’s highest spot in the standings since “The Good Life” was No. 1 for six weeks in 2010.
On the most recently published multimetric Hot Hard Rock Songs list (dated Jan. 4, reflecting data tracked Dec. 20-26, 2024), “Mayday” ranked at No. 4, after debuting at its No. 2 best on the Dec. 7-dated survey. In addition to its radio airplay, the song earned 871,000 official U.S. streams.
“Mayday” is currently a standalone single, with Three Days Grace recording its eighth studio album and first since 2022’s Explosions. The new set will mark Gontier’s first with the band since 2012’s Transit of Venus.
All Billboard charts dated Jan. 11 will update on Billboard.com Tuesday, Jan. 7.