Music

Drake and Kendrick Lamar Beef Granted Highest Possible Honor: ‘Jeopardy!’ Question

The beef that keeps on giving, just keeps on giving. Two weeks after Kendrick Lamar resolutely slammed the lid shut on his verbal takedown of Drake with the iconic “Not Like Us” music video, the two men were in the spotlight again on Tuesday night (July 16) when their bars brawl made it into a category on Jeopardy!

The $800 clue in the “Diss-Track-Tions” category was a lay-up for contestant Isaac when host Ken Jennings asked, “In May 2024, these 2 competitors went back and forth with tracks like ‘Family Matters’ and ‘Meet the Grahams.’” That was too easy for Isaac, who easily buzzed in with “Who are Kendrick Lamar and Drake?”

According to Rolling Stone, the category also touched on the long-running beef between Jay-Z and Nas with a $2,000 answer, “The title of this hate letter from Nas to Jay-Z that shares its name with an anesthetic drug now means ‘to insult publicly.’” Hip-hip heads immediately buzzed in with “What is Ether,” Nas’ 2001 answer to Jay-Z’s “Takeover.” Other clues in the run included looks back at famous beefs between 50 Cent and Cam’Ron, the Game and Eminem an, of course, the Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur.

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The timing was fortuitous, since the day before Lamar’s searing “Not Like Us” was back at No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200 chart following the premier of the official video. The bump-up marked the second time the song made it to the top of that chart after debuting at the summit nine weeks earlier. The song also bounced up from No. 3 to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 thanks to the video’s July 4th weekend premier, also nine weeks after debuting at the top of that chart.

Watch the Jeopardy! moment below.

A2IM Ushers-In New Era With 2024-2025 Board of Directors

The American Association of Independent Music (A2IM), the prominent non-profit organization that represents over 600 independent record labels, has unveiled its board of directors for the 2024-2025 term.

The announcement also includes new members of the executive committee and advisory board.

The newly elected board members for this term include Steven Hill, head of North American & Global Marketing at Warp Records; Terry McBride, CEO of Nettwerk Music Group; and Louis Posen, founder & president of Hopeless Records.

They join the returning board members: Tony Alexander, co-founder and president of Made in Memphis Entertainment; Nabil Ayers, president of Beggars Group; Dee Diaz, SVP marketing & digital at Reach Records; Wilson Fuller of Merge Records; Mary Jurey, chief business officer at Blue Élan Records; Tony Kiewel, president of Sub Pop Records; Hays Rudolph, general counsel and VP of business and legal affairs at Secretly Group; and Zena White, COO of Partisan Records.

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Mary Jurey will chair the new executive committee, with Tony Alexander serving as treasurer and Nabil Ayers as secretary.

A2IM also welcomes several distinguished industry professionals to its advisory board: Glen Barros, managing partner at Exceleration Music Partners; Kristin Epstein, operations director of Screenwave Media; Jana Herzen, president of Motéma Music; and Jason Peterson, chairman & CEO of GoDigital Music Group.

Dr. Richard James Burgess MBE, president and CEO of A2IM, said: “We are thrilled to once again have an incredibly talented, diverse, and dedicated group of individuals willing to serve on the 2024/25 board of directors for A2IM. Their expertise and passion for independent music will play a vital role in shaping the future of our organization and the industry.”

“With these new executive committee and advisory board members, we are confident in our ability to advocate for the needs and interests of independent artists and record labels. I am honored to work alongside this exceptional team to support and celebrate the power of independent music.”

Steven Hill shared his enthusiasm in joining the board, saying, “It is a true honor to have been selected by my peers to help represent our vital independent music community. I’m excited to contribute to A2IM’s mission and support an environment which enables successful artists at different scales to forge sustainable and healthy careers from their work.”

Terry McBride added, “I am honored to join the A2IM board and I look forward to the vibrant conversations at the board level over the advanced technologies that are reshaping the playing field.”

Louis Posen emphasized the importance of A2IM’s mission: “I believe we are in a time of significant opportunity and intense challenges in the music industry. There hasn’t been a more important time in history for A2IM to exist in order to keep our independent community working together towards our common goals.”

“I am beyond honored that the A2IM membership has again trusted me to represent their interests on the board. It’s a privilege to work alongside such an amazing group of people to make a difference together.”

The board of directors at A2IM plays a crucial role in the governance of the organization, advocating for member interests, and establishing strategic priorities.

Board members serve three-year terms, providing essential guidance to ensure the success of the independent music sector. Advisory board members serve one-year terms, contributing diverse perspectives.

A2IM, a 501(c)(6) non-profit based in New York City, is dedicated to supporting and strengthening the independent recorded music sector.

Representing over 700 independently-owned American music labels, A2IM champions their interests in the marketplace, media, and on Capitol Hill. In 2016, independent labels collectively represented 37.32 percent of the U.S. recorded music sales market based on copyright ownership, making them the largest music industry sector.

Watch Richmond Police Officer’s Emotional Ed Sheeran Cover on ‘America’s Got Talent’

In an episode filled with stunning acts, it was police officer Mervin Mayo from Richmond, VA., who truly stole the spotlight on America’s Got Talent.

His heartfelt rendition of Ed Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud” left the judges and audience alike in awe, earning him four enthusiastic yeses and a standing ovation.

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Mayo, who has dedicated his life to helping at-risk youth, shared a deeply personal story before his performance. He recounted his challenging upbringing in the housing projects of Richmond and how a police officer named Curtis Simmons saved him from a life of crime.

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“I’ve seen more murders as a child than I have as a police officer,” Mayo revealed. The experience inspired him to become a police officer and mentor to at-risk youth, working tirelessly for 17 years to provide the same guidance he once received.

With the encouragement of his wife Michelle, the director of school counseling for Richmond Public Schools, Mayo decided to take a leap of faith and audition for America’s Got Talent. His performance of “Thinking Out Loud” was more than just a song—it was a tribute to his wife and the journey they’ve shared.

As Mayo sang, he frequently glanced toward the wings where Michelle was watching proudly, adding a layer of genuine emotion to his performance.

His smooth, soulful voice captured the essence of Sheeran’s romantic ballad, and his heartfelt delivery resonated with everyone in the room.

The judges were visibly moved by Mayo’s story and performance. “You really do have a good voice and everything you did was sincere,” praised Simon Cowell. Sofia Vergara echoed these sentiments, saying, “You guys are a beautiful couple and your voice is spectacular. Super romantic, how beautiful that you love her and you’re singing to her.”

Howie Mandel commended the couple’s dedication to their community, saying, “You are the people that allow us to be safe and people who are in our school system. You are both serving the community and that’s a wonderful thing.”

Heidi Klum summed up the judges’ feelings, “You sounded great up there. You felt right at home. I felt the love. It was beautiful.”

Ed Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud” achieved major success on the Billboard charts. Released in 2014 as part of his album x (Multiply), the song peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remained in the top 10 for 23 weeks.

It also became the first song to spend a full year in the Billboard Hot 100’s top 40. As well as this, “Thinking Out Loud” topped the Billboard Adult Pop Songs chart and earned Sheeran two Grammy Awards in 2016 for song of the year and best pop solo performance. In his homeland, “Thinking Out Loud” logged two weeks atop the Official U.K. Singles Chart.

To see how Mayo progresses in the competition, tune in to America’s Got Talent on Tuesdays at 8/7c on NBC, or catch it streaming the next day on Peacock.

Watch his full performance on America’s Got Talent below.


https://youtube.com/watch?v=Mfdile3PZIw&version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-US&autohide=2&wmode=transparent

Shape of Streams: Ed Sheeran Crowned U.K.’s King of Streaming

Ed Sheeran has emerged as the U.K.’s undisputed king of the streaming era in a musical landscape transformed by the digital age.

As the Official U.K. Charts mark a decade since embracing the streaming revolution, the ginger-haired troubadour from Suffolk, England stands tall atop a mountain of megahits and record-breaking achievements.

It’s hard to believe that just ten years ago, in July 2014, the U.K. charts took their first tentative steps into the world of streaming. Ariana Grande’s “Problem” featuring Iggy Azalea claimed the historic first No. 1 spot in this new era, setting the stage for a decade of the format’s dominance.

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But it’s Sheeran who’s truly stolen the show. His 2017 album Divide didn’t just break records – it shattered them. With a staggering 4.26 million chart units and the title of the most-streamed album of all time in the U.K., Sheeran’s musical juggernaut shows no signs of slowing down.

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And let’s talk about “Shape of You.” This earworm has burrowed its way into the nation’s collective consciousness, racking up a mind-boggling 6.29 million chart units and over 627 million streams.

It’s officially the biggest song of the streaming era, proving that Sheeran’s shape is the one we all want to be in.

But the streaming revolution isn’t just about one man. It’s transformed the very fabric of the music industry, opening up a world of unlimited choice for music lovers. Martin Talbot, chief executive of the Official Charts Company, puts it perfectly:

“We are delighted to be celebrating this exciting landmark for the Official Charts, 10 years since the way we measured music fandom changed forever. It feels like only yesterday that streams were ushered into the Official Singles Chart for the first time – and yet we seem to have enjoyed access to every track in music history, instantly, delivered like water through a digital pipe, for a lifetime.”

From Adele’s record-breaking 24 million streams in a single week for “Easy On Me” to the surprising dominance of “Baby Shark” in video streams, the past decade has been a wild ride.

We’ve seen Meghan Trainor make history with the first streaming-only U.K. top 40 hit, and watched as total U.K. audio streams surpassed the trillion mark.

As we raise a glass (or perhaps a pair of headphones) to ten years of streaming, one thing is clear: the way we consume music may have changed, but our love for it is stronger than ever. Here’s to another decade of chart-topping hits, unexpected viral sensations, and the thrill of discovering your next favorite song with just a click.

And to Ed Sheeran? Well, as Talbot says, “What a decade it has been for the Suffolk-raised superstar. Congratulations Ed!”

ENHYPEN’s ‘Romance : Untold’: Every Song Ranked

The K-pop crusaders latest full-length includes contributions from “Hitman” Bang Si-Hyuk, Cirkut, Slow Rabbit, JVKE, Mike Daley and more.

Since ENHYPEN debuted in 2020 while the world was deep in the COVID-19 pandemic, the HYBE and BELIFT GROUP boy band embraced a dark sound and concept, driven by a larger vampire theme and lore that permeated their album releases and an accompanying webtoon series. But with the release of their second full-length Korean album, Romance : Untold, the septet are beginning what they describe as their new “Romance” series to share “the story of seven boys who vow to protect their love at all costs.”

To begin this story, ENHYPEN deliver eight tracks of fresh genres to explore with a range of top K-pop and pop hitmakers. Lead single “XO (Only If You Say Yes)” includes composition work from HYBE chairman “Hitman” Bang Si-Hyuk (who has worked with ENHYPEN since their debut single “Given-Taken”) but also is co-produced by Billboard Hot 100 hitmaker JVKE (who also features on an English version of the track). There is a breakbeat percussion and punk-rock influences in “Paranormal,” and “Brough the Heat Back” is a sweet, swirly mix of electro-pop and dance styles.

But beyond the new genres embraced, the themes within Romance: Untold show a group looking to be the ideal idol boyfriends not just to their most devoted fans but to the world in general. “XO” acts as a consent anthem, and all the members contribute to the comforting cut “Highway 1099.”

While “XO (Only If You Say Yes)” is the lead single, nearly every track feels like it could have a single on Romance : Untold. Here’s our ranking of the songs on ENHYPEN’s latest full-length album Romance : Untold.

Drake’s Toronto Mansion Appears to Be Flooded Amid Record Breaking Storm

A violent storm has rumbled through the Toronto metro area and left over 100,000 citizens without power on Tuesday (July 16), per BBC.

Even Drake’s mansion was caught in the line of fire. The 6 God posted a video to his Instagram Story from his Toronto estate with at least one floor completely flooded.

At times, we have to laugh to keep from crying and the OVO boss had a light-hearted reaction to what looks like will be an expensive bill to fix the damages made by the record-breaking torrential downpour. He joked about the water’s brown tint and compared it to one of his cocktails of choice.

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“This better be Espresso Martini,” he captioned the clip, which features another person trying to keep the doors to another room shut while Drake walks around barefoot with a broom that probably won’t be helping too much.

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The hits continue to come for Drake as fans had some fun at his expense on social media. “OVO tears done flooded the house,” one person wrote to X after seeing the misfortune. Another quipped: “Bro got the rap game against him, AND NOW MOTHER NATURE?!?!?”

Environment Canada reported that nearly four inches of rain fell in Toronto due to the combination of three separate storms, which broke the city’s rainfall record that stood since 1941.

However, the worst of it seems to be finished as no more significant rain is expected to accumulate the rest of Tuesday.

“We had 25 percent more rain in three hours than we’d have normally in the whole month of July with all the thunderstorms and systems that moved through,” said local meteorologist Dave Phillips.

Authorities have had to reportedly make at least 14 rescues as of press time and continues to assess the highway and property damages due to flooding.

Hopefully, Drake and the rest of the city can stay Canada Dry as the storm begins to subside.

Karol G Becomes Second Solo Woman to Rule Tropical Airplay on Her Own This Decade

Three weeks after Karol G’s “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido” debuted at No. 2 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs, the song rolls 3-1 on the Tropical Airplay chart (dated July 20), for the Colombian’s first No. 1 there. It’s the second track by a female soloist, unaccompanied by another act, to rule the tally in the 2020s.

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“Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido,” on Bichota/Interscope/ICLG and released June 21, advances to No. 1 on Tropical Airplay –as the Greatest Gainer of the week– with 7.6 million audience impressions during the July 5-11 tracking week, according to Luminate: that’s a 27% gain from the week prior.

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While “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido” gives Karol G her first champ on Tropical Airplay, the singer-songwriter previously achieved a No. 8 high through “Casi Nada” in 2016, before the chart became genre-based.

The track, produced in partnership with Coke Studio, makes Karol G the second solo woman, unaccompanied by any other act, to lead Tropical Airplay this decade, after Rosalía hit No. 1 with “Despechá” in 2022. Prior, La India ruled with “Dímelo” for one week in 2016.



Notably, only six women have seated atop Tropical Airplay in the ‘20s with or without collaborators: Natti Natasha, La India, Rosalía, Maria Becerra, Shakira and now, Karol G. Out of those, Rosalía has successfully managed three champs, while Becerra, two. Here is their collection of No. 1s:

Title, Artist, Peak Date, Weeks at No. 1
“La Mejor Versión de Mí,” Natti Natasha & Romeo Santos, Oct. 26, 2019, 15 (seven of its weeks at No. 1 were in 2020)
“Victimas Las Dos,” Victor Manuelle & La India, May 29, 2021, one
“La Fama,” Rosalía Featuring The Weeknd, May 14, 2022, two
“Te Espero”, Prince Royce & Maria Becerra, May 28, 2022, four
“Despechá”, Rosalía, Oct. 1, 2022, four
“Monotonía,” Shakira & Ozuna, Dec. 3, 2022, nine
“El Pañuelo,” Romeo Santos & Rosalía, Feb. 4, 2023, four
“Así Es La Vida,” Enrique Iglesias & Maria Becerra, Dec. 9, 2023, eight
“Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido,” Karol G, July 20

Over on Hot Latin Songs, “Si Antes” remains at its No. 2 debut and peak for a third week. Meanwhile, advances 5-2 on the overall Latin Airplay list.

Sexyy Red Has Joint Tape With Chief Keef on the Way: ‘We Be Workin”

During an interview with Viper magazine at London’s Wireless Festival this past weekend, Sexyy Red revealed that she has a project with Chief Keef in the works.

“That’s my boo… We droppin’ an album soon. Yeah, for sure. We be workin’,” she responded after being asked if the two rappers were an item or just “musical friends.” She was also asked to describe what the album sounds like and she answered, “We just be on some money sh—. Some car sh—, fast cars. F—k these h—s. Buy some clothes. And keep your hair done [Laughs.]”

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The midwest duo have already collaborated on three songs. Sexyy featured on Keef’s “Grape Trees” and “Damn Shorty” from the two projects he’s dropped this year, and the Chicago rapper appeared on “Bow Bow Bow (F My Baby Dad).”

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They’ve also been in the news as they’re apparently involved in a love triangle with the late King Von’s sister Kayla B.

Kayla posted a picture of her kissing Keef with the caption, “Let’s be a familyyyyyy @sexyyred.” Sexyy responded by saying, “Wya we finna come get chu!!” and then posted pics of herself in bed with one of Keef’s pendants. However, it all turned out to be fun and games with Sexyy posting a carousel of pictures on Instagram with the caption, “dis just my favorite brudda.”

Sexyy Red has an upcoming tour slated to kick off in August and had to shoot down rumors about low ticket sales. “My fans are buying tickets we’re doin just fine we not cancelling no tour dis cancelling sh— all cap,” she replied to a tweet claiming only 37.11 percent of the 85,217 tickets have sold.

50 Cent Praises Eminem’s New Album ‘The Death of Slim Shady’: ‘S— Is Crazy’

50 Cent may be a close friend of Eminem‘s, but he’s also a fan. And following the release of the latter’s The Death of Slim Shady last week, the former sang the project’s praises in a congratulatory Instagram post Monday (July 15).

“?Yo @eminem s–t is crazy,” the “In Da Club” rapper wrote, sharing a snippet of Em’s track “Evil.” “It takes me a while to understand the details of this one. ?”

On the song, which comes fifth on his new LP’s track list, the Detroit musician sings: “I’m so evil/ Rotten to the core, a f–kin’ twisted cerebral/ I’m so evil, so evil/ It’s obvious that I am not like other people.”

It’s one of 19 tracks on The Death of Slim Shady, which arrived July 12 a full four years after Eminem’s last album, 2020’s Billboard 200-topping Music to Be Murdered By. His latest project also features lead single “Houdini,” which dropped in May alongside a superhero-themed music video that featured 50 as well as Snoop Dogg, Pete Davidson and more of the “Not Afraid” artist’s famous friends.

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Em and 50 have been in each other’s lives since the former signed the latter to his Shady Records. In the 20 years since, the pair has collaborated on songs such as “Gatman & Robbin,” “My Life” and “Is This Love.” 

During Billboard cover story last year, 50 spoke about how their relationship has evolved over the years. “Em’s not going to say the s–t the way I say it because it just is what it is,” he recalled. “There’s his humble nature — he’d call me and ask to do him a favor and rap with him on a song. Like, ‘You know I’m on your label, right? Yeah, whatever you need me to do.’ He would always ask me, ‘Could you do me a favor? I always thought it would be dope if we did this together.’ I’m like, ‘All right.’”

See 50’s post praising Eminem’s new album below.

Fuerza Regida Announces New Album With Pop-Up Murals: ‘This Is the Album We’ve Invested the Most In’

Mexican music powerhouse Fuerza Regida has always delighted in coming up with unexpected stunts to promote their music and shows, from an impromptu concert on the 210 freeway near Los Angeles to a performance alongside street musicians on the Tijuana border.

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This past April, when the band announced its current, 37-date arena tour – Pero No Te Enamores — the drumbeat started with the band wearing jerseys emblazoned with the number 12, and with a recurring logo of a heart with a line drawn over it popping up in Fuerza’s social media posts. On April 12 (see the number connection now?) the band announced their tour, and also unveiled a mural of the crossed-out heart, painted on the black wall of a liquor store in San Bernardino, the city where frontman Jesús Ortiz Paz, better known as JOP, grew up.

“It’s a liquor store where my father goes to buy his beer,” says JOP. “I went and asked the owner, and he said yes, como si nada.

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Engagement on social media following the mural unveiling was so high, that JOP started toying with the idea of expanding the concept for other major announcements.

Fast forward to today (July 16), when the band has unveiled 15 murals in six cities – Miami, Phoenix, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and San Bernardino, of course — to announce their upcoming new album, also titled Pero No Te Enamores (which translates to But, Don’t Fall In Love). Like the original mural in San Bernardino, which has been retouched for the occasion, the murals feature a giant crossed-out heart drawn inside a circle, similar to a traffic signal, with the album’s release date, July 25, and a parental warning on the side, all against a black backdrop.

Fuerza Regida

Fuerza Regida

Courtesy of Street Mob Records

“It’s a heart with the ‘Not allowed zone.’ The ‘No love zone,’” laughs JOP, speaking to Billboard about his marketing strategy. “They’ll see the murals and say, ‘S–t, he has an album and it has no love.”

That, he adds, is the whole theme of the upcoming set: “Don’t fall in love. I want to say, don’t feel comfortable where you are in life. If you have a job, don’t fall in love with that. Want more. Don’t fall in love with that drug you’re addicted to, or with whatever it is.”

While JOP wouldn’t provide details on the album itself, he says it will be radically different from anything the group has done before. “It’s not your typical Mexican music album with guitar, tololoche. We’re getting into something different, something new, something risky. That’s why we took our time to really market this, we invested money,” says JOP, noting that “this the album we’ve invested the most money on — in marketing, producing it and making it.”

This week’s murals will go up in tandem with Spotify-supported billboards in Los Angeles and Mexico that will reveal a snippet of lyrics to one of the album’s songs.

Fuerza Regida

Fuerza Regida

Courtesy of Street Mob Records

Interestingly, this is the first time Fuerza tries its out-of-the-box stunts far from California. Prior to these efforts, the group — which made history by becoming the first Latin band to top Billboard‘s Top Artists, Duo/Group Year-end Chart in 2023 — had amplified its actions on social media, but never actually done marketing actions on the ground in other cities to promote their music. But in February, after the group released the EP Dolido Pero No Arrepentido, they managed to place seven songs in the top 10 on Apple’s Latin Top Songs chart.

“I never imagined achieving that,” said JOP. “It was always one or two. When I saw seven up there, I was happy, but I also said, ‘Oh, shit. I have to do something different.”

Beyond the murals, a “crazy album release party” is also in the works, along with “lots of crazy s–t” that should shift Fuerza’s stunt-meter into high gear.

“We really pushed this album to the max,” says JOP. “But what I really like about these murals is we put them in mom and pop businesses owned by regular people. And as soon as this rolls out, our fans are gonna come and look and them and bring business to these people.”