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Billboard Explains: Dua Lipa’s Radical Chart Achievements

From her evergreen “New Rules” to her endlessly danceable Barbie soundtrack smash, Dua Lipa has been the ultimate dancefloor soundtrack for nearly seven years and counting. With three Grammy wins from 10 career nominations and on-screen roles in both Barbie and Argylle under her belt, the pop princess is racking up impressive achievements and accolades across the entertainment scene.

Ahead of the release of her third studio album, Radical Optimism, Billboard explains the resounding chart success of the British dance-pop powerhouse.

Dua Lipa first debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 back in 2016 with “Blow Your Mind (Mwah),” a track from her eponymous debut studio album that reached No. 72 on Billboard’s primary all-genre singles chart. That album also housed the singles “IDGAF” and “New Rules,” the latter of which became Lipa’s first Hot 100 top 10 hit, peaking at No. 6. Lipa has since collected 23 career Hot 100 entries, including top 10 hits such as “Don’t Start Now” (No. 2), “Levitating” (No. 2) and “Cold Heart (PNAU Remix)” (No. 7, with Elton John).

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“Levitating,” which earned a remix with Hot 100-topping rapper DaBaby, ranked at No. 1 on the 2023 Year-End Hot 100. The irresistible nu-disco banger also stands as the longest charting song among women in Hot 100 history, with 77 total weeks. “Levitating” also boasts the most weeks in the Hot 100’s top 10 for a song by a woman (41 weeks).

Lipa’s success extends to the Pop Airplay chart, where she has notched 23 career entries. Five of those hits reached the ranking’s apex, including 2020’s “Break My Heart” (one week) and 2023’s “Dance the Night” (two weeks).

Over on the Billboard 200, both of Lipa’s studio LPs have reached the chart: 2017’s Dua Lipa (No. 27) and 2020’s Future Nostalgia (No. 3). She also reached No. 28 with Club Future Nostalgia, a remix album she released alongside The Blessed Madonna.

With Radical Optimism — which features the singles “Houdini,” “Training Season” and “Illusion” — on the way, Dua Lipa could very well add a slew of new Billboard chart achievements to her arsenal.

After the video, catch up on more Billboard Explains videos and learn about Peso Pluma and the Mexican music boomthe role record labels playorigins of hip-hop, how Beyoncé arrived at Renaissance, the evolution of girl groupsBBMAsNFTsSXSW, the magic of boy bandsAmerican Music Awards, the Billboard Latin Music Awards, the Hot 100 charthow R&B/hip-hop became the biggest genre in the U.S.how festivals book their lineupsBillie Eilish’s formula for success, the history of rap battlesnonbinary awareness in musicthe Billboard Music Awardsthe Free Britney movementrise of K-pop in the U.S.why Taylor Swift is re-recording her first six albumsthe boom of hit all-female collaborationshow Grammy nominees and winners are chosenwhy songwriters are selling their publishing catalogshow the Super Bowl halftime show is booked and more.

Beyoncé’s Name to Be Added to French Dictionary

Beyoncé is officially engrained into the French language.

The “Texas Hold ‘Em” superstar is one of 40 people to be included in the French encyclopedic dictionary Petit Larousse Illustré, according to U.K. publication The Times. Bey is listed as a proper noun in the dictionary, and her entry reads, “American singer of R&B and pop.”

Other people included in the 2024 entries are Cate Blanchett, LeBron James and Christopher Nolan, among others. The new entries “reflect concerns, developments or strong movements this year,” Carine Girac-Marinier, head of dictionaries and encyclopedias at Larousse, told French outlet Le Point.

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It’s been a massive year for Bey, who is fresh off the release of her long-awaited, country tinged album Cowboy Carter, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart (dated April 13). Cowboy Carter also launched at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums, Americana/Folk Albums and Top Album Sales charts. She’s the first Black woman ever to have led the Top Country Albums list, dating to its January 1964 inception. 

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Along with charting 23 songs from the album on the Billboard Hot 100 (dated April 13), she upped her career total from 85 entries to 106. As a result, she became the 17th artist — and only the third woman — to have logged 100 or more titles since the chart began in 1958.

Megan Moroney Reveals New Album ‘Am I Okay?’ Is Coming: ‘I Love These Songs So Much’

“Tennessee Orange” hitmaker Megan Moroney is set to release her upcoming album, Am I Okay?, on July 12 via Sony Music Nashville/Columbia Records. The project follows her 2023 major label debut album Lucky, which reached the top 10 on Billboard‘s Top Country Albums chart.

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On Instagram, Moroney wrote, “MY SOPHOMORE ALBUM ‘AM I OKAY?’ IS OUT JULY 12TH!!! wowowow i can’t believe it’s happening again already ? my debut album came out 362 days ago & i’ve spent the past year doing nothing but touring, writing this record & basically living in the studio getting it ready for y’all. i love these songs SO much & i can’t wait for you to hear them! you can pre-order the vinyl now on my website (signed copies are also available)… and in case you forgot, TRACK 6, INDIFFERENT, IS OUT TONIGHT ??????????????? OMGGG THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SUPPORTING ME & MY MUSIC I COULD CRY”

Moroney has already released two songs from the 14-song album, including “28th of June” and “No Caller ID,” with a third song, “Indifferent,” releasing tonight.

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Moroney also heads into the May 16th ACM Awards with six nominations, including female artist of the year and song of the year (“Tennessee Orange”).

“I’m also really proud of the song of the year, because I care so much about my songwriting and my songwriter friends,” Moroney previously told Billboard. “I think it’s all just insane. It is a dream to be nominated and to be the top female nominated this year, I’m just like, ‘What the heck?’”

Meanwhile, Moroney is set to appear at CMA Fest in downtown Nashville in June, and is opening shows for Kenny Chesney. Earlier this year, Moroney closed out the country radio-aimed New Faces Show during Country Radio Seminar in Nashville, where she gave radio programmers an early glimpse into new music from the project.

See her album announcement below:

Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Euphoria’ Name-Drop Gives Toronto Chinese Restaurant Major Boost

While some Toronto natives may be side-eyeing Kendrick Lamar’s “Euphoria,” one local business owner is reaping the benefits of K. Dot’s Drake diss.

That’s because on the scathing track, Lamar raps: “I be at New Ho King eatin’ fried rice with a dip sauce and a blammy, crodie.”

New Ho King is a Chinese restaurant located in Toronto’s Chinatown district, and is a well-known after-hours grub spot in the 6 that opened in 1975.

Toronto network CityNews caught up with Johnny Lu, the owner of New Ho King, who says business is boomin’ thanks to Kendrick’s name-drop, and a plethora of five-star reviews have poured in from fans of the Compton legend.

“This morning a lot of people texted me saying that’s your restaurant? I say, ‘Yes.’ They say, ‘Look at the song,’” he began. “He said good food and friend rice get more and more rice, the chef’s gonna be busy!”

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Lu continued: “I see, Kendrick’s a good guy. Oh my God!”

CityNews caught up with residents who are fans of Kendrick who made trips just to give the fried rice dish a try thanks to Lamar’s recommendation on the track.

“I came all the way from Markham just to see this fried rice,” one fan said. “Kendrick Lamar, man. You gotta pay respect to K. Dot, man. Ever since he dropped the diss track I was like, ‘I gotta visit this place.’”

Some fans believed that Kendrick was just playfully jabbing Drake about local Toronto slang, while others speculated it could be a sly reference to his 2009 armed robbery in the 6.

“I don’t think many people caught this bar on Kendrick’s diss Drake was allegedly robbed by rapper Sizzlac in 2010 Kendrick says ‘Dip sauce & blammy, crodie’ Sizzlac escaped (dipped) with the gun (blammy) he used to rob Drake,” a fan wrote to X.

Drake spoke about the robbery in 2010 with GQ, calling it a “set-up.” Robbers allegedly “banged on the car window with a gun and opened the door” while demanding the chain he got from Lil Wayne.

Drizzy appeared to reference the incident on Dark Lane Demo Tapes‘ “From Florida With Love.” “Weezy played that s–t for me and Kobe on the bus/ Went and got a chain for me, I had to give it up/ N—as had they pistols loaded pointed at my truck/ And you know that lesson stuck,” he raps.

Lamar turned the heat up a few notches on Tuesday (April 30) with his eviscerating six-minute “Euphoria” diss in response to Drake’s “Push Ups.” The ball now bounces back to the 6 God as fans await his next move.

Watch the CityNews clip regarding New Ho King below.



BTS’ RM Unveils Concept Photos for Upcoming Solo Album ‘Right Place, Wrong Person’

RM‘s second solo album Right Place, Wrong Person is still a few weeks away, but the BTS star is giving fans a visual sneak peek at the project ahead of time.

The K-pop star shared a batch of concept photos Thursday (May 2) teasing the aesthetics of his upcoming 11-track LP, which drops May 24. In the snaps, which have an aesthetic that resembles images taken on a disposable camera, RM poses in simple locations in Tokyo — a parking lot, in front of a tree, a swing set on a play ground — and staring into the camera, occasionally smiling.

In one snap, he leans back in a desk chair in a messy, colorful office space. In another picture, he holds his shoes while standing in the ocean at night, the bottoms of his jeans soaked by the water.

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According to a release, the artwork is meant to capture RM, born Kim Namjoon, as an “ordinary individual in relatable, everyday settings, enjoying moments of freedom — a departure from the glamorous persona he embodies on stage.” The concept holds true to the material on Right Place, Wrong Person, which captures the singer-dancer’s feelings of “being an outsider who doesn’t fit in,” as noted in Weverse’s album announcement last month.

The new photos were taken by Takahiro Mizushima and follow two days after RM premiered the album’s first set of concept images, taken by Wing Shya. Fans can expect a third batch of pictures teasing Right Place, Wrong Person on May 17.

See RM’s new concept photos below.

Here’s How Lainey Wilson Responded to Jelly Roll’s Praise Regarding Her Work Ethic

Lainey Wilson and Jelly Roll, who earned a multi-week No. 1 Country Airplay hit with their collaboration “Save Me,” have a friendship that extends beyond simply being collaborators and labelmates: They are also solid supporters of each other.

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Jelly Roll previously told the Taste of Country Nights podcast bout seeing Wilson after she won the Country Music Association’s most coveted honor, entertainer of the year, back in November. “When I seen her, I could tell she was a little frazzled. I said, ‘You OK?’ She’d just pulled up, she was running late. She was like, ‘Man, I had to wake up at 5 o’clock this morning to catch a flight, and had a layover at such and such for five hours. I leave here and I got a 4 a.m. flight tomorrow to do a corporate show at 3 in the afternoon, then I gotta fly to another city to do Luke Combs.’ These were commercial flights. This girl was running on fumes. Her work ethic is next level.”

Jelly Roll, of course, picked up the new artist of the year win at November’s CMA Awards. In February, Wilson won a Grammy for best country album (Bell Bottom Country), while Jelly Roll was nominated for best new artist and they were both nominated for best country duo/group performance for “Save Me.”

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Speaking more recently with Taste of Country Nights, Wilson accepted her labelmate’s praise, but also commended Jelly Roll’s work ethic as well.

“I’ll take it. But I will say, you know, if Jelly Roll don’t beat me with the whole work ethic thing, I think he comes in a close second,” Wilson said. “Cause, he’s always somewhere. I’m like, ‘Man, I thought I was the only one running around,’ and he’s like, ‘I been running around, too.’”

Wilson has two upcoming shows in Norway and Sweden before she is set to perform during the Academy of Country Music Awards on May 16, where she has five nominations heading into this year’s show. Wilson will headline two show in Nashville May 31-June 1 as part of her current Country’s Cool Again headlining tour, before joining CMA Fest in Nashville on June 8.

The “Wildflowers and Wild Horses” singer noted that she is happy with the pace. “It’s fun, this is what we asked for, and I feel so blessed and lucky to be a part of what’s happening right now.”

Wilson also gave a shout-out to some other artists she says are like brothers to her, including collaborators Hardy (“Wait in the Truck”) and Cole Swindell (“Never Say Never”).

“Hardy, I mean Hardy is more like my twin brother, ya know? I have so many friends in the industry and a lot of them treat me like I’m their little sister. Even Cole Swindell, they all kind of treat me that way. Which I love because they fight for me, and I fight for them.”

Stevie Wonder, Misty Copeland to Receive George Peabody Medal for Outstanding Contributions to Music & Dance in America

Stevie Wonder and Misty Copeland will receive the George Peabody Medal for Outstanding Contributions to Music and Dance in America, the highest honor bestowed by the Peabody Institute. In addition, Wonder and Copeland will deliver addresses for the Peabody Conservatory’s 2024 graduation ceremonies on Wednesday, May 22.

Copeland, the first dancer to receive the George Peabody Medal, will address undergraduates at the morning ceremony; Wonder will speak at the afternoon ceremony for graduate students. The following day, Johns Hopkins University will present an honorary doctorate to Wonder at its universitywide commencement ceremony.

Other recent Peabody winners include Herbie Hancock, Renée Fleming, Tori Amos, Leon Fleisher, Yo-Yo Ma and Jessye Norman.

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Wonder is a 25-time Grammy winner. He won album of the year with three consecutive studio albums in the 1970s, a feat that has yet to be duplicated. In 1999, he received the Kennedy Center Honors.

“Stevie Wonder and Misty Copeland have dedicated their lives to making art and to lifting up others through music and dance, inspiring audiences and setting powerful examples for generations of younger performers,” Peabody dean Fred Bronstein said in a statement.

“By any measure, Stevie Wonder has been one of the most influential artists of his time, a remarkable artistic personality born of Motown but destined to exceed what even that juggernaut has meant to the world of music,” Bronstein added. “At the same time, he has been a leading voice in important social and civic causes, connecting his art with social justice to create a legacy of activism closely intertwined with his truly outsized impact in music.”

“Misty Copeland has broken new ground throughout her career, as the first African American woman to be promoted to principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre,” Bronstein said. “By excelling as a Black woman in ballet, she has led change in the art form, and inspired countless younger dancers, performers, athletes, and audience members — in the process, elevating the power and relevance of dance as a medium for expression.”

This year marks the Peabody Conservatory’s 142nd graduation exercises. The undergraduate ceremony is set to begin at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 22, with a second ceremony for graduate degrees to follow at 2 p.m. Both ceremonies will take place in Miriam A. Friedberg Concert Hall on the Peabody Institute’s Baltimore campus, and will be available to view via livestream. In-person attendance is ticketed and reserved for graduates and their families and guests. Additional details are available at the Peabody Institute’s website.

Fat Joe Starts Relief Fund to Aid Haiti Amid Political Unrest: ‘My Heart Goes Out to All the Haitians’

Fat Joe, a long-time advocate for humanitarian causes, on Thursday (May 2) announced a new partnership with international charity Food for the Poor to create a new relief fund to uplift Haiti, which is currently undergoing political and economic strife due to the surge in violence within the country. 

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“My heart goes out to all the Haitians that are suffering because of this humanitarian crisis. Many of my close friends are Haitian, so we’ve been watching this tragedy unfold and exploring the most efficient and effective ways to provide meaningful support,” Fat Joe tells Billboard. “All relief items and financial contributions will go directly to Food for the Poor so they can safely distribute the donations directly to the families in need.”

Titled Fat Joe & Friends Relief for Haiti, relief items needed include new and unused portable mattresses, pillows, blankets, diapers, underwear, soap/body wash, shampoo, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, combs/brushes, solar-powered lanterns, fuel-efficient cooking stoves, mosquito nets, reusable water containers and more.

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Since early March, armed gangs have taken over the country, burning down police stations and closing down the airport and the capital, Port-au-Prince. Both the airport and port remain closed during this time. In addition, the armed gangs raided two of the country’s biggest prisons, freeing more than 4,000 inmates. Through late March, 1,500 people were killed and 800 injured during these vicious attacks. In addition, according to the United Nations, more than 50,000 people have fled the country because of the rampant attacks. 

Those looking to donate to the fund can go here.

Selena Gomez Explains Why She Disabled Her Instagram Comments

Selena Gomez continued her mental health advocacy work at the third annual Rare Beauty Mental Health Summit in New York City Wednesday (May 1), opening up about her personal journey and the steps she’s taken to protect her headspace in discussion with Today‘s Hoda Kotb. 

One of those steps, she revealed, has been reeling back her online presence — even if she is the most-followed woman on Instagram. “I disabled all my comments on my photos on Instagram for only my friends,” she told Kotb. “So I think I’ve created boundaries to help me. Obviously people fussed about it. They fuss about everything.” 

“I felt empowered by doing that,” she added, “by saying, ‘This is just for me.’”  

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The “Love On” singer also emphasized the importance of keeping positive people in her circle, including boyfriend Benny Blanco, who, she told Kotb, is “wonderful.” “It’s all about, at the end of the day, for me, owning my power,” she said. “And I am who I surround myself with.” 

Speaking of Blanco, the producer was quick to share his support on Instagram after Gomez posted photos and videos from the panel on her profile. “i’m so proud of u bb,” he commented on her post. “u inspire me.” 

“Our 3rd annual @rarebeauty Mental Health Summit has me leaving inspired by the next generation, filled with so much hope, and grateful to each of you for being on this meaningful journey with us,” the Only Murders in the Building star had written in her caption. “Mental health means so much to me and I’m honored we get to share this mission with the world together.” 

Also in attendance was U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murth, who’s been working with Gomez for years to address mental-health-related challenges facing young people in the U.S. At the summit, the duo celebrated the Rare Impact Fund’s success over the past year in raising $7 million for the beauty company’s charitable partners, which largely focus on providing kids and teenagers with wellness resources, suicide prevention efforts and more. 

“I will always be working on my mental health, and I will always evolve,” Gomez said at the event. “I’m not better or worse than anyone. I’m simply just a person living and surviving every day.” 

Madison Beer’s ‘Make You Mine’ Tops Dance/Mix Show Airplay Chart: ‘Truly a Dream Come True’

Madison Beer ascends to No. 1 on Billboard’s Dance/Mix Show Airplay chart dated May 4 with “Make You Mine.”

The song marks her second leader on the list, after “All Day and Night,” with Jax Jones and Martin Solveig, reigned for two weeks in July 2019 – and becomes her first No. 1 on any Billboard chart on her own.

Beer also boasts two collaborative No. 1s on the World Digital Song Sales chart: “Pop / Stars,” credited to K/DA with Beer, (G)I-DLE and Jaira Burns, and “More,” by K/DA with Beer, (G)I-DLE, Lexie Liu, Jaira Burns and Seraphine.

“Words can’t express the excitement and honor it is to have a No. 1 hit on the Billboard dance chart,” Beer says. “Thank you to everyone that’s listening and enjoying this record. Being a lover of dance music for so many years, this is truly a dream come true. Can’t wait to create more!”



“Make You Mine,” on Sing It Loud/Epic Records, concurrently holds at its No. 30 high on the Pop Airplay chart, up 8% in plays April 19-25, according to Luminate. It’s Beer’s fourth entry on the survey, following “Reckless” (No. 38, 2021), “Hurts Like Hell,” featuring Offset (No. 26, 2019), and “Home With You” (No. 22, 2018).

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“Make You Mine” is currently a stand-alone single, with its official Jennifer’s Body-themed video having premiered April 24. It has also hit No. 8 on the TikTok Billboard Top 50 chart (dated April 20). Beer’s most recent LP, Silence Between Songs, debuted a career-best No. 16 on the Top Album Sales chart last September and received a nomination for best immersive audio album at this year’s Grammy Awards.

The Jericho, N.Y., native first broke through in 2012 after Justin Bieber posted a link to her music (to which Beer replied). She initially reached Billboard’s charts in 2015, debuted on Emerging Artists in 2018 and hit a No. 3 high on the ranking in September. She’s currently on her The Spinnin Tour, which runs through June.