Music

17 Apr 2024

Taylor Swift Announces New Music Video With Cryptic Clip Full of ‘Tortured Poets’ Easter Eggs

Taylor Swift announced Tuesday night (April 16) that her new music video is set to drop shortly after her 11th studio album The Tortured Poets Department arrives later this week — but she didn’t stop there. The pop star also posted a cryptic video on Instagram filled with what appears to be Easter eggs about her new era, leaving Swifties scrambling to decipher them in time.

The mysterious clip begins with an animated, first-person view of a room full of crumpled papers, colorful vinyls, photos and more items alluding to Swift’s most recent album, Midnights. It then simulates the viewer exiting the room, walking down a stark hallway and entering another wing labeled “The Tortured Poets Department,” in which a wall-hanging calendar reveals that the singer’s new visual will drop at 8 p.m. ET Friday (April 19), 20 hours after Tortured Poets arrives on streaming services.

The calendar doesn’t specify which of the 16 songs on Swift’s new record is getting the music video treatment, but it does provide a possible clue. Toward the bottom, someone jotted down 14 tally marks, potentially indicating that the song in question comes 14th on the tracklist, aka “The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived.”

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Or, it could be a reference to track one, “Fortnight” featuring Post Malone. (How many days are in a fortnight? That’s right, 14.)

The video comes as Swifties continue to pore over clues hidden at Spotify’s Tortured Poets library pop-up in Los Angeles, which is adorned with texts, dried flowers, figurines and more. Most enticing is a book of stationary on display in a clear case, the pages of which are turned on an unknown schedule to reveal one new lyric at a time. Recently, it bore the message, “One less temptress, one less dagger to sharpen.”

But fans may be remiss not to search for Easter eggs in Swift’s new animation, too, especially when it comes to what gets left behind in the Midnights room. Swiftie sleuths online have already begun concocting theories about the sunshine streaming in through the windows, the time displayed by a wall clock and the gel pens littered on the table (which tie back to something the pop star once said about how she mentally categorizes her songs).

See the clip, as well as a few Swiftie theories it’s inspired, below.

17 Apr 2024

SZA Shouts ‘Free Palestine’ at Australia SOS Tour Stop: Watch

SZA is always going to make her voice heard. During her last of three shows at Spark Arena in Auckland, New Zealand, as a part of her long-running SOS Tour, the Grammy-winning “Kill Bill” singer threw vocal support behind the Palestinian people.

In fan-captured footage from the Tuesday (April 16) concert, she proclaims, “Free Palestine!” while holding what appears to be the Palestinian flag. As soon as SZA completed the phrase, the crowd cheered uproariously as the superstar continued her onstage banter.

SZA joins a growing list of musicians expressing their support for a free Palestine, including fellow Grammy nominees Kehlani, Macklemore and Kid Cudi. During the first weekend of the 2024 edition of Coachella, several artists shared similar sentiments. Headliner Tyler, the Creator donned a pin of the Palestinian flag during his performance, “On My Mama” singer Victoria Monét called to “stop the genocide” during her performance and Jerusalem-born, Gaza-raised Palestinian rapper Saint Levant paused his set to remind the crowd of the “brutal occupation” his people are currently facing.

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Since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel, a devastating war has been raging across Gaza and the West Bank, killing and injuring untold thousands of civilians.

The “Saturn” singer’s support of Palestine comes a few years after she opened up about her Muslim roots to Muslim Girl’s TikTok live series in commemoration of Muslim Women’s Day.

“For me, Islamophobia really kicked in fresh after 9/11. I am from a small suburban town where people have good intentions, but they’re inherently maybe closed-minded and it’s not their fault,” shared SZA, who grew up Muslim. “I think that it’s a privilege to exemplify modesty in its forms and in a closeness to God and to explore different avenues of connection with the human form, with yourself and others. And I feel like it’s very bizarre, sometimes, the general misconceptions that come and go about Islam. Violence has no connection whatsoever.”

Tuesday’s show marked the first of four mini-residencies that comprise the Australian leg of SZA’s SOS Tour. The “Snooze” singer is set for two nights at Brisbane’s Entertainment Center (April 19-20), three nights at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena (April 23-26) and three final nights at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena (April 29-May 2). SZA launched the tour back in Feb. 2023 in support of SOS — her sophomore studio album which won three Grammys, spent ten weeks atop the Billboard 200 and spawned the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits “Kill Bill” (No. 1), “Snooze” (No. 2), “Good Days” (No. 9), “I Hate U” (No. 7) and “Nobody Gets Me” (No. 10).

Watch the fan-captured footage of SZA shouting “Free Palestine” below.

17 Apr 2024

Karol G’s Mañana Será Bonito Latin America Tour: Best Fashion Moments

Karol G has traveled across Latin America with her Mañana Será Bonito Tour, paying homage to the countries she’s performing in by wearing a special outfit that represents each country’s respective flag colors. It may be a simple wardrobe choice, but it’s thoughtful and attention to detail that really marks the difference.

Throughout her sets, she has a few outfit changes, from anime-inspired, schoolgirl mini-skirts paired with fuzzy snow boots to show-stopping sparkly long dresses with a flower on her hair as an accessory.  She’s also worn flowy cargo pants with cropped T-shirts and a tejano look with cowboy hat and all. The Colombian hitmaker has perfected an aesthetic for this tour that has become an extension of her artistry.

Karol G’s Latin America tour kicked off Feb. 8 in Mexico City, and has made stops in Colombia, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Venezuela and Perú, among other countries. “These last few days have been busy,” the Grammy-winning artist recently wrote on social media. “Between the tour, the recording studio and everything to come, but I feel infinitely happy and grateful for the moment of my life I’m going through!”

According to Billboard Boxscore, in 2023, Karol — who was honored with woman of the year at Billboard‘s 2024 Women in Music event — grossed $155.3 million and sold 925,000 tickets from 20 shows. She landed at No. 11 on the 2023 Year-End Boxscore Charts. The tour is named after her 2023 history-making album, which became the first Spanish-language album by a female artist that has topped the Billboard 200.

Her LatAm stint continues in countries like Chile, Brazil and Argentina before she heads out to Europe this summer.

Below are some of the best looks from Karol’s Mañana Será Bonito Tour in Latin America.

17 Apr 2024

Total Eclipse of the Charts: Soundgarden’s ‘Black Hole Sun,’ Bonnie Tyler & More Shine

Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun” leads a constellation of sun- and moon-related songs on Billboard’s charts in the wake of the solar eclipse seen across parts of North America April 8, ranking at No. 1 on the Hot Hard Rock Songs tally dated April 20.

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The track drew 4.2 million official streams earned (up 34%) and 2.5 million in radio airplay audience (up 19%) and sold 1,000 downloads (up 166%) in the U.S. April 5-11, according to Luminate.

The song becomes Soundgarden’s first No. 1 on the ranking, which began in 2020. (Older songs are eligible to appear on multimetric Billboard charts if ranking in the top half and with meaningful reasons for their resurgences; “Black Hole Sun” was released in 1994 on the band’s album Superunknown.)

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The track also appears at Nos. 13, 15 and 19 on the Hot Rock Songs, Hot Alternative Songs and Hot Rock & Alternative Songs surveys, respectively.

It flares 20-4 on Hard Rock Digital Song Sales, marking its best rank since 2017 (following the death of frontman Chris Cornell), and 14-5 on Hard Rock Streaming Songs, its first time in the top five since the list began in 2020.

“Black Hole Sun” was Soundgarden’s first No. 1 song on any Billboard chart, ruling Mainstream Rock Airplay for seven weeks in 1994.

It’s not the only eclipse-adjacent title on Hot Rock & Alternative Songs. Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Bad Moon Rising” reaches the chart at No. 24 via 3.3 million streams, 164,000 in radio reach and 1,000 sold, with boosts of 7, 88 and 118%, respectively. The song hit No. 2 for the John Fogerty-led act on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1969.

Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart” also rotates back onto the all-format Digital Song Sales chart at No. 5, its second week on the tally (which began in 2004); it ranked at No. 13 for a week in September 2017 – also following a solar eclipse that Aug. 21. It sold 6,000, a vault of 634%. The single, a No. 1 for four weeks on the Hot 100 in 1983, also bounded by 133% to 4.1 million streams and 47% to 3.2 million in airplay audience.

Bill Withers’ “Ain’t No Sunshine,” a No. 3 Hot 100 hit in 1971, boasts new chart activity, too. It debuts at Nos. 136 and 151 on the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S., respectively. It earned 13.3 million streams globally, up 33%, with 5.4 million from listeners in the U.S., up 25%. On the U.S. side, it returns to R&B Digital Song Sales at No. 4 with 1,000 sold, up 45%.

The Beatles’ “Here Comes the Sun” gets in on the action via the Rock Digital Song Sales survey, returning at No. 11 with 1,000 sold, up 114%. King Harvest’s “Dancing in the Moonlight” holds at No. 10 (2,000, up 23%) and Pink Floyd’s “Eclipse” re-enters at No. 14 (1,000, up 512%).

The Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales chart features a different version of “Total Eclipse of the Heart”: Nicki French’s, from 1995, new at No. 8 (1,000, up 830%).

Interest in the lyrics of eclipse-themed music drives Pink Floyd’s “Eclipse” onto Billboard’s LyricFind U.S. chart, at No. 18. It joins Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart,” which appeared on the previous ranking at No. 22 and jumps to No. 16.

According to LyricFind, “Total Eclipse of the Heart” snagged a 3,712% increase in lyric usages and searches, while “Eclipse” earned a corresponding 3,153% bump.

17 Apr 2024

Jorge ‘Clorofila’ Verdín, Ex-Member of Nortec Collective, Dead at 56

Jorge Verdín, artistically known as Clorofila and a former member of Nortec Collective, died on Tuesday (April 16) in Pasadena, Calif. He was 56 years old.

His death was confirmed by Nacional Records Static Discos, two labels Verdín worked with, and his former group Nortec.

Born in Los Angeles and raised in Tijuana, Mexico, Verdín was one of the pioneers of the Tijuana group Nortec Collective, from its inception in the late ‘90s. The ensemble disbanded around 2008, with Verdín and his fellow members opting to pursue individual projects. 

“Sad news. Gone is Jorge Verdín member of Nortec Collective Clorofila, we will remember him fondly,” tweeted Nortec Collective. “May he rest in peace. Key track: Olvídela Compa.”

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“RIP Jorge Verdín ‘Clorofila.’ One of the founders of the pioneering ‘Nortec Collective’ Padrinos [Godfathers] of electrónica music in Mexico and all of Latin America. The second artist I ever signed to Nacional Records 20 years ago. ‘Olvídela Compa’ was always one of my favorite Nortec songs. Respect!,” posted Nacional Records founder/CEO Tomas Cookman on social media. 

“Rest in peace Jorge Verdín a/k/a #Clorofila #TremoloAudio #ColectivoNortec,” tweeted Ejival, founder of Static Discos, with the hashtag #ShineOnYouCrazyDiamond.  

Cookman, who discovered the news this morning from another founding Nortec Member, offered Billboard Español a statement: “Nacional Records has been proud to be associated with Jorge Verdin (Clorofila). As a founding member of the Nortec Collective, he and the other members of Nortec were pioneers in electronica music in Mexico and Latin America and were ambassadors of their Tijuana roots around the world. Nortec was the second-ever signing to the label, and I still listen to his classic, ‘Olvidela Compa’ when the mood strikes.”

Comprised initially of Hiperboreal, Panoptica, Plankton Man, Terrestre, Bostich and Fussible (with the latter two maintaining the highest profile as a duo), Nortec achieved critical acclaim with releases such as Tijuana Sessions Vol. 1 (2001) and Tijuana Sessions, Vol. 3 (2005), the later was later released by Nacional Records. Vol. 3 earned them two Latin Grammy nominations, thrusting Nortec into the global spotlight. 

In 2010, Clorofila debuted his solo career with Corridos Urbanos, an innovative mix of electronic and norteño (or norteño-techno) elements. This was years ahead of the global trend of corridos tumbados or corridos bélicos, a genre that marries traditional corridos elements with a street-savvy edge. Four years later, Verdín unveiled Ahorita Vengo, a grittier, industrial-infused album heavily reliant on analog sequencers and synthesizers.

Beyond his contributions as a musician and producer, Verdín expanded his creative reach into theater sound design and branding for corporations such as Honda, Kaiser Permanente, Los Angeles Magazine, Virgin Records and more, according to his LinkedIn. 

His artistic collaborations spanned various projects, including producing remixes for artists such as Beck, Tremor, Matias Aguayo, Rigo Tovar and Radiokijada, both as a member of Nortec Collective and as a solo artist.

Cookman adds: “We were also fortunate enough to release one of his solo albums. The Latin Grammys recently recognizing the genre with its own category is yet another proof of the legacy of electronica music originating in Latin America and pioneers such as Verdín and his Nortec Collective bandmates. Be it as a musician, songwriter or graphic artist, Verdín led a life filled with a love for the arts … and synths.”

17 Apr 2024

Jack Antonoff Mocks Ye During Impromptu Therapy Session With Jimmy Kimmel: ‘Your Diaper Is So Full’

Jack Antonoff is bringing his distaste for Ye (formerly known as Kanye West) to national television. Speaking to Jimmy Kimmel Tuesday night (April 16), the producer took shots at the rapper while indulging in a mock-therapy session with the late-night host, likening the “Donda” musician to a fussy baby with an overly full diaper. 

“There’s two people that I think are too oversensitive to even function, and it’s men and members of the music industry,” the Bleachers frontman explained on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, lying back in his chair while role-playing a patient in therapy. “The amount of sensitivity — it’s sort of like watching Kanye. If I saw Kanye, I’d run up to him and be like, ‘Your diaper is so full, we have to change your diaper. Your diaper needs to be changed, it’s a huge problem.’” 

“The truth is, I’m not that offended,” Antonoff added, touching on Ye’s history of antisemitism, which last year cost the rapper multiple brand partnerships and led to the loss of his billionaire status. “I’m offended, but I’m not that offended, so I don’t like to play this character of overly offended. I prefer to sort of up the trolling.” 

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It’s not the first time Antonoff, who is Jewish, has poked fun at Ye. In fact, it’s not even the first time he’s implied that the controversial figure is suffering from a loaded pull-up. In a February interview with the Los Angeles Times, the “Don’t Take the Money” singer quipped that the rapper “just needs his diaper changed so badly.” 

“It’s been a long time since I would’ve taken Kanye’s call,” he added at the time when asked whether he’d ever work with Ye in the future. “I’m so incredibly bored when someone doesn’t have the sauce anymore, so they go elsewhere to shock. It’s just a remarkable waste of space.” 

Aside from Ye’s hate speech, Antonoff has another big reason to oppose the hip-hop titan. The former Fun band member is a longtime friend and collaborator to Taylor Swift, whose tumultuous feud with Ye has been highly publicized over the years. 

In January, Antonoff also called the “Gold Digger” artist a “little cry baby b—h“in a tweet upon finding out that Ye’s album Vultures 2 was slated to arrive on March 8, the same day Bleachers dropped its self-titled record. Bleachers debuted at No. 62 on the Billboard 200, while the Yeezy founder’s project was delayed. 

Antonoff is fresh off his performance with Bleachers at the opening weekend of Coachella 2024, which was attended by Swift and Travis Kelce. The guitarist will take the Mojave Stage once again Saturday (April 20), when the festival resumes for a second weekend.  

Watch Antonoff’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! interview above. 

17 Apr 2024

Tina Knowles Says Zendaya Reminds Her of Beyoncé: ‘She Is Just the Most Gracious, Beautiful Girl’

Zendaya might have two Emmys to her name, but she may have received her highest honor at the Challengers premiere in Los Angeles Tuesday (April 16) — and it came from Ms. Tina Knowles.

During a conversation with Variety on the red carpet, Knowles — who recently appeared in an Essence cover shoot in support of Beyoncé‘s Cécred haircare line — gushed over the Euphoria actress and her evolution from child star to leading lady.

“I love Zendaya!” she said. “The first time I saw her, I used to watch her in the Disney series with my grandson [Solange‘s son Julez Smith] and she just reeked of stardom. She is just the most gracious, beautiful girl, and she reminds me of my daughter — she’s a Virgo like my daughter [Beyoncé]!”

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Zendaya, of course, is a card-carrying member of the Beyhive. She appeared in Queen Bey’s 2016 Lemonade film, paid tribute to her iconic “Crazy In Love” Versace look at the 2021 BET Awards and attended her blockbuster 2023 Renaissance World Tour alongside boyfriend Tom Holland.

Challengers, helmed by Academy Award nominee Luca Guadagnino, finds Zendaya starring as Tashi Duncan, a former tennis prodigy turned coach who must balance both a love triangle and the quest to break her husband’s losing streak as he prepares to play against his former best friend (who happens to be her ex-boyfriend). Co-starring award-winning actors Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist, Challengers opens in theaters April 26 with a score crafted by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.

The film’s tennis themes also offer another bridge between Beyoncé and Zendaya. In 2022, the “Texas Hold ‘Em” singer earned her first Oscar nomination for “Be Alive,” an original song she co-wrote with DIXSON for King Richard, the Will Smith-starring biopic of Venus and Serena Williams‘ father and coach, Richard Williams.

No stranger to the music world, Zendaya has landed several entries across the Billboard charts. On the Billboard Hot 100, the thespian has logged six entries including 2013’s “Replay” (No. 40), 2016’s Chris Brown-assisted “Something New” (No. 93) and 2022’s “I’m Tired” (No. 53, with Labrinth). Over on the Billboard 200, Zendaya’s 2013 self-titled debut album debut and peaked No. 51.

Watch a clip of Ms. Tina Knowles praising Zendaya below.

17 Apr 2024

Charli XCX & Troye Sivan Are Gonna Make You ‘Sweat’ With Co-Headlining Tour: See the Dates

They took you back to “1999” and flung you forward to “2099.” Now, Charli XCX and Troye Sivan want to make you sweat in the present tense.

On Wednesday (April 17), the pop star duo announced their co-headlining arena tour, Charli XCX & Troye Sivan Present: Sweat, set to kick off this fall. The 21-date excursion will start at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Mich., on Sept. 14, with the pair heading through Toronto, New York City, Boston, Chicago, Miami, Dallas and plenty more stops, before wrapping up with a final show at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle on Oct. 23.

Sharing the stage with special guest Shygirl, Charli and Sivan will transform arenas into raves throughout the Sweat tour, with a press release adding that the show will be “not only a celebration of their individual successes, but it is also a testament to their commitment to inclusivity and diversity within the music industry.” Fans can sign up for the advance presale until April 25 at the tour’s official website.

The news comes on the heels of Charli announcing the official dates for her own international arena tour in support of her forthcoming album Brat (due out June 7 via Atlantic), with shows set to start on June 1 in Barcelona. Sivan, meanwhile, will embark on his long-awaited European tour supporting his 2023 LP Something to Give Each Other starting in May.

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In an interview with Billboard in March, Charli teased that fans can expect her new album to sound “aggresive and confrontational,” while also remaining “conversational and personal.” Speaking about the writing, she said, “I’m over the idea of metaphor and flowery lyricism and not saying exactly what I think, the way I would say it to a friend in a text message. This record is all the things I would talk about with my friends, said exactly how I would say them.”

Artist presale for Charli XCX & Troye Sivan Present: Sweat begins Thursday, April 25, at 10 a.m. local time, with the general on-sale beginning Friday, April 26, at 10 a.m local time on Live Nation’s website. Check out the official dates for the tour below:

Troye Sivan and Charli XCX

Troye Sivan and Charli XCX

Courtesy Photo

17 Apr 2024

Travis Kelce Explains Why He & Taylor Swift Traded Coachella’s Backstage Area to Enjoy Pit With Fans

Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift‘s presence at the opening weekend of Coachella 2024 has been one of the buzziest parts of the festival so far, with fans online going wild over clips of the couple laughing, kissing, holding hands and dancing while enjoying the star-studded lineup together from the pit. And in the Wednesday (April 17) episode of his New Heights podcast, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end debriefed the outing for his older brother and co-host, retired Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce. 

“I absolutely love live music,” began Travis, who is also set to host of Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity. “I don’t get enough of it in my life. It was fun getting out there and seeing a few new bands that I really wasn’t that familiar with but became an absolute lover of their music because of how they performed and captivated the crowd. The Bleachers — our guy Jack Antonoff — absolutely ripped it. I had so much fun seeing him go nuts with his guitar and all his boys.” 

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Cameras captured Swift adorably kissing and dancing with Travis in what appeared to be a backstage area during her frequent collaborator’s set on Saturday (April 13). The couple also spent time with Antonoff and his band before their set and snapped a photo with some of the guys, which drummer Sean Hutchinson posted on Instagram a few days later. 

When it came to Ice Spice’s showcase later that night, however, the athlete and his superstar girlfriend opted to watch with the rest of the crowd from the pit. “I like to see it from the fans’ perspective, ‘cause I am, I’m a fan of music,” Travis explained. “I want to see it from the front of the stage.”  

“We probably could’ve finessed it that way,” he continued, referring to the more secluded locations from which he and Swift could’ve viewed the rapper’s performance. “But I think it’s that much more of an experience if you’re in the pit, if you’re in the madness with all the fans.” 

Travis isn’t kidding when he says he’s a big live music guy — the Ohio native is set to host his second-ever Kelce Jam festival in May, featuring a self-curated lineup led by Lil Wayne, 2 Chainz and Diplo. “Live music is something I never pass up on,” he told Billboard earlier this month. “The list just goes on, and the genres vary everywhere. I’m a real music lover.” 

The brothers also took a moment to thank Swift for supporting their podcast with her Coachella outfit, which featured a baseball cap from the Kelces’ New Heights merch store. “Sold out of the green hat real quick,” Jason said, noting that the accessory has since been restocked on their website. 

“It’s a good color, green,” mused Travis. “She’s supporting the New Heights!” 

Watch Travis talk about Coachella on New Heights below. 

17 Apr 2024

2024 Latin Grammy Awards Set to Take Place in Miami

The 2024 Latin Grammys are set to take place in Miami on Nov. 14, the Latin Recording Academy announced on Wednesday (April 17) during a press conference. The 25th Annual Latin Grammy Awards will be held in Miami at the Kaseya Center, in partnership with Miami-Dade County and the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB).

After being held in Seville, Spain, last year, the ceremony returns to the United States to take place only for the third time in Miami. The first time it was held in that city was in 2003, and the second time in 2020, when the show was closed to the public due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.

“Since our first awards presentation in the year 2000, the Latin GRAMMYs have provided an international spotlight for Latin music second to none and provided iconic performances that have become part of global music and pop culture history. We are thrilled to celebrate our 25th anniversary in Miami,” Manuel Abud, CEO, The Latin Recording Academy, said in a statement. “Miami has evolved to become the epicenter of Latin entertainment and we are grateful for the community support and enthusiasm we have received.”

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The three-hour telecast will be produced by TelevisaUnivision, and will air live on Univision beginning at 8 p.m. ET, preceded by a one-hour pre-show starting at 7 p.m. ET. The first round of voting for the peer-selected awards will take place between July 24 and Aug. 5, with nominations set to be announced Sept. 17. The final round of voting begins Sept. 27 and wraps Oct. 10.