Music

09 Feb 2024

Watch Meghan Trainor Star With Judge Judy in e.l.f Cosmetics Super Bowl Commercial

Meghan Trainor serves both glowy skin and her civic duty in e.l.f Cosmetics’ 2024 Super Bowl ad.

The beauty brand shared their game day ad this week on YouTube, featuring the “All About That Bass” singer sitting on the juror’s bench as a court correspondent while Judge Judy — who in this universe goes by “Judge Beauty” — presides over a faux case. The plaintiff and defendant are played by Suits‘ Rick Hoffman and Gina Torres, respectively.

When Torres’ character is found guilty for spending company funds on overpriced makeup — which “isn’t even cruelty-free,” as Trainor passionately points out — she is sentenced to use e.l.f’s halo glow liquid filter.

“Here are the eyes.lips.facts: Culture and community are what drive us down the field every
time,” said the company’s chief marketing officer, Kory Marchisotto, in a statement. “We’re leaning
into the true diversity of the Big Game and carving a path that proves beauty not only belongs
there, but everywhere. Our community trusts us to put them at the center of the conversation,
and this campaign is going to do just that.”

The ad also stars fellow Suits alum Sarah Rafferty, Jury Duty breakout star Ronald Gladden, RuPaul’s Drag Race star Heidi N Closet, comedian Benito Skinner and former NFL linebacker Emmanuel Acho.

This year’s Super Bowl kicks off Sunday (Feb. 11) at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium, where the Kansas City Chiefs will defend their title against the San Francisco 49ers. Following performances from Post Malone and Reba McEntire pre-game, Usher will take the stage to lead the halftime show.

Trainor’s album Takin’ It Back arrived in October 2022 and peaked at No. 16 on the Billboard 200. Its single “Made You Look” reached No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100.

See her in e.l.f’s new commercial below.

09 Feb 2024

SZA’s ‘Snooze’ Breaks No. 1 Record on R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay Chart

It has been more than a year since SZA’s SOS was released on Dec. 9, 2022, but the album continues to mine new records on the Billboard charts. Now, the album’s hit single “Snooze” earns an unprecedented 30th week at No. 1 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, the most by any song in the list’s 31-year history.

“Snooze” scores its record-breaking moment on the chart dated Feb. 17 through a 2% increase to 22 million in audience for the tracking week of Feb. 2 – 8, according to Luminate. With its 30th week atop R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay, the song breaks from a tie with Chris Brown and Young Thug’s “Go Crazy” to solely claim first place in the archives. “Go Crazy” dominated for 29 weeks in 2020-21.

As “Snooze” shuffles the leaderboard, here’s a recap of the songs with the most weeks at No. 1 on R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay, which launched in 1993.

Weeks at No. 1, Song Title, Artist, Date Reached No. 1
30, “Snooze,” SZA, July 1, 2023
29, “Go Crazy,” Chris Brown & Young Thug, Aug. 22, 2020
27, “No Guidance,” Chris Brown featuring Drake, Aug. 24, 2019
27, “Essence,” Wizkid featuring Justin Bieber & Tems, Sept. 4, 2021
23, “Adorn,” Miguel, Sept. 22, 2012
22, “Free Mind,” Tems, Nov. 12, 2022
18, “Leave the Door Open,” Silk Sonic, April 24, 2021
16, “Boo’d Up,” Ella Mai, June 23, 2018
15, “Be Without You,” Mary J. Blige, Jan. 7, 2006
15, “Hotline Bling,” Drake, Oct. 24, 2015

Notably, the top six tunes on the list above belong to RCA Records. The label has particularly shored up its ranks in recent years; “Snooze” marks the third time in the last four years that the record for most weeks at No. 1 has changed hands, though it has remained within the RCA family. After Miguel’s “Adorn” set a then-record 23 weeks atop the radio ranking in April 2013, it held until Brown’s “No Guidance,” featuring Drake, took the title in February 2020, before its own displacement, to “Go Crazy,” in April 2021.

As with most of the preceding titleholders, “Snooze” achieved the record through its cross-format strength at both mainstream R&B/hip-hop and adult R&B stations, whose combined audience totals are what makes up the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart . The single began a four-week, nonconsecutive run at No. 1 on Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay in July 2023 and has remained in the top five each week. At the same time, “Snooze” has been steadily climbing Adult R&B Airplay and is nearing the top slots, climbing 6-5 on the newest chart.

The R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay record furthers a major week for “Snooze,” following its Grammy Award win for best R&B song on Sunday (Feb. 4). The trophy was one of SZA’s three victories, with best pop duo/group performance for her “Ghost in the Machine,” collaboration with Phoebe Bridges and best progressive R&B album for SOS.

09 Feb 2024

Rickey Minor Returns as Music Director of 2024 Oscars

Rickey Minor will return as music director of the 2024 Oscars, set to air live on ABC on Sunday, March 10, at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood. Minor also served as music director last year.

Minor has received 15 Primetime Emmy nominations for outstanding music direction, winning twice. He has been nominated three times for his work on the Oscars, three times for The Kennedy Center Honors, twice for the Grammy Awards and twice for “Grammy Salutes” specials to the Bee Gees and Aretha Franklin. He has also been nominated for the following specials: Genius: A Night for Ray Charles, An Evening of Stars: Tribute to Chaka Khan, Smithsonian Salutes Ray Charles: In Performance at the White House, Taking the Stage: African American Music and Stories That Changed America and Celebrating America – An Inauguration Night Special.

The Oscars’ executive producer and showrunner is Raj Kapoor, who has been associated with the Oscars telecast for seven years. Kapoor has been one of three executive producers (along with Ben Winston and Jesse Collins) of the Grammy Awards the last three years. Kapoor won his first Primetime Emmy two years ago as an executive producer of Adele: One Night Only, which won as outstanding variety special (pre-recorded).

The Oscars’ director is Hamish Hamilton, who has directed the Grammys in three of the last four years. Hamilton won his first Primetime Emmy last month when he won outstanding directing for a variety special (along with Jay-Z) for The Apple Music Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show Starring Rihanna.

Kapoor and fellow executive producers Molly McNearney and Katy Mullan also announced other key members of their production team for the 96th Oscars, which Jimmy Kimmel is hosting for the fourth time.

Rob Paine returns as co-executive producer, and Taryn Hurd returns as talent producer. Producers Sarah Levine Hall, Erin Irwin and Jennifer Sharron and lighting designers Bob Dickinson and Noah Mitz also rejoin the team. The team also includes production designers Misty Buckley and Alana Billingsley.

The Academy announced that there will be 24 (count ’em) writers on this year’s Oscar telecast (so the show had better be funny). The platoon of writers includes Kimmel, so it probably will be.

09 Feb 2024

Camilo & Evaluna’s ‘PLIS,’ Los Ángeles Azules’ ‘La Cumbia Triste’ & More: Which Is Your Favorite New Latin Music Release? Vote!

This week, Billboard‘s New Music Latin roundup and playlist — curated by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors — feature fresh new releases from artists such as Camilo, Los Ángeles Azules in collaboration with Alejandro Fernández, Angélica Garcia and more.

After days of teasing, “PLIS,” a new collab with his wife Evaluna, Camilo not only released that track, but two more. “PLIS” “Gordo” and “No Se Vale” make up the Colombian singer-songwriter’s new EP, titled Un. The three-song set highlights the elegance of live instruments such as a saxophone, trumpets, trombones, conga, and güira with charming musical arrangements, writes Billboard Español‘s Luisa Calle.

“17 musicians got together to play at El Taller Creativo. When we counted ‘one, two, three, four’ we all did one thing. That ‘un’ (‘one’) that broke the silence aligned all the hearts that were there, recording music and video simultaneously, in the same take,” Camilo offered about the way the EP was recorded.

Separately, Camilo Lara’s Mexican Institute of Sound commemorates its 20-year anniversary with Algo-Ritmo: Mexican Institute of Sound Hits 2004-2024, a compilation that encapsulates Lara’s illustrious career. The collection features 24 songs, including new collaborations with Ceci Bastida, Esteman and Foudeqush.

The list of new releases includes two cumbias: “La Cumbia Triste” by Los Ángeles Azules with Alejandro Fernández — marking the first collab between the two acts — and Angélica Garcia’s “Juanita.” For Garcia, her cumbia track is about intentionality. “Many cumbias have lyrics about pain and longing … My intention was for the tension and confusion in the song to feel like remembering a past life. I wanted to capture what the shadow side of grief does to us,” she expressed in a statement.

What’s your favorite new Latin music release of the week? Vote below!

09 Feb 2024

Ozzy Osbourne Says ‘Antisemite’ Kanye West Sampled His Music Without Permission

Ozzy Osbourne has an urgent PSA. According to the 75-year-old rocker, his music was recently sampled by Kanye West without his approval — and he wants no part in it.

In an all-caps Instagram post Friday (Feb. 9), Osbourne cut right to the chase. “@KAYNEWEST ASKED PERMISSION TO SAMPLE A [SECTION] OF A 1983 LIVE PERFORMANCE OF ‘WAR PIG’ FROM THE US FESTIVAL WITHOUT VOCALS,” he wrote.

The rocker continued to say that Ye was “REFUSED PERMISSION BECAUSE HE IS AN ANTISEMITE AND HAS CAUSED UNTOLD HEARTACHE TO MANY.”

“HE WENT AHEAD AND USED THE SAMPLE ANYWAY AT HIS ALBUM LISTENING PARTY LAST NIGHT,” Osbourne added. “I WANT NO ASSOCIATION WITH THIS MAN!”

The listening party in question went down Thursday night (Feb. 8) at Chicago’s United Center along with the release of “Talking / Once Again,” Ye’s single with Ty Dolla $ign featuring the “Donda” rapper’s 10-year-old daughter North. His much-delayed album Vultures was scheduled to drop the following day; however, there was no sign of the project on streaming services at press time.

Osbourne’s claims come more than a year after Ye’s initial controversies involving antisemitism and the slogan “White Lives Matter,” which led to his dismissal from many of his lucrative business partnerships and caused him to lose his billionaire status. In December, he extended an apology to the Jewish community for “any unintended outburst caused by my words or actions.”

“It was not my intention to offend or demean, and I deeply regret any pain I may have caused,” he wrote on Instagram at the time. “I am committed to starting with myself and learning from this experience to ensure greater sensitivity and understanding in the future. Your forgiveness is important to me, and I am committed to making amends and promoting unity.”

Billboard has reached out to West’s reps for comment.

See Osbourne’s post below:

09 Feb 2024

The Black Keys Lead Adult Alternative Airplay Chart With ‘Beautiful People’

The Black Keys return to the top of Billboard’s Adult Alternative Airplay chart for an eighth time with “Beautiful People (Stay High),” which reigns on the Feb. 17-dated survey.

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“Beautiful People” rules in its fourth week on the tally, sporting the quickest rise to the chart’s peak in 2024 so far and fastest since The Beatles’ “Now and Then” also took four frames in December 2023.

It’s the duo’s first No. 1 since “Wild Child” reigned for four weeks beginning in April 2022. Between “Wild Child” and “Beautiful People,” the band also appeared with “It Ain’t Over,” which peaked at No. 5 in September 2022.

The Black Keys first led with “Lonely Boy,” a seven-week topper beginning in December 2011.

With eight No. 1s, the band moves into a three-way tie for the fifth-most rulers in the history of Adult Alternative Airplay, which published its first chart in 1996, alongside Death Cab for Cutie and John Mayer. U2 leads all acts with 14 No. 1s.

Most No. 1s, Adult Alternative Airplay
14, U2
13, Coldplay
11, Dave Matthews (solo and with Dave Matthews Band)
11, Jack Johnson
8, Death Cab for Cutie
8, John Mayer
8, The Black Keys
7, Counting Crows
7, R.E.M.
7, Sheryl Crow

Concurrently, “Beautiful People” jumps 5-3 on Alternative Airplay and 30-26 on Mainstream Rock Airplay. On the all-rock-format, audience-based Rock & Alternative Airplay chart, the track bullets at its No. 3 peak with 5.3 million audience impressions, up 9%, according to Luminate.

“Beautiful People (Stay High)” is the lead single from Ohio Players, The Black Keys’ 12th studio album, scheduled for release on April 5. The band’s last album, Dropout Boogie, debuted at No. 2 on the Top Rock & Alternative Albums chart dated May 28, 2022, and has earned 146,000 equivalent album units to date.

All Billboard charts dated Feb. 17 will update on Billboard.com on Tuesday, Feb. 13.

09 Feb 2024

Russell Crowe Singing & More Highlights From Night 3 of Italy’s Sanremo 2024

The third night of the Italian song contest saw the new performances of 15 artists, introduced by the other 15 who performed the night before.

Russell Crowe

Russell Crowe singing “Let Your Light Shine” during the third night of Sanremo 2024 (Feb. 8).

Maria Laura Antonelli / AGF

The third night of Sanremo 2024 saw new performances by the 15 artists who had not sung in the second, presented by the other 15 together with main host and artistic director Amadeus.

Over the course of the long TV show there were a few notable moments. The performance of the pianist Paolo Jannacci with the writer Stefano Massini was touching, that of Russell Crowe was a pleasant surprise (with a final dig at John Travolta’s “Chicken Dance” of the night before).

This time, Amadeus’ co-host was the popular Italian comedian Teresa Mannino. She tried to liven up the festival routine with her humor, but her final monologue was too subdued.

The top five of the ranking (voted by radio stations and the general public) is as follows: from first to last, Angelina Mango, Ghali, Alessandra Amoroso, Il Tre and Mr.Rain.

Here are some highlights of Night 3 on Thursday (Feb. 8).

09 Feb 2024

Justin Timberlake Adds 15 Shows to His Forget Tomorrow Tour: See the New Dates

Justin Timberlake is in high demand. Following the positive response to his Forget Tomorrow World tour, the 43-year-old superstar has announced an additional 15 dates to the fall leg of his North American trek.

Timberlake first unveiled the upcoming leg of new tour running April-July in January, hours after dropping his new single “Selfish.” He later announced a second leg of performances slated for October, November and December, to which he’s now added an additional 15 performances.

The newly added stops include showings in Montreal, Detroit, Orlando, Charlotte, Louisville, Dallas, Nashville, Pittsburgh and a hometown appearance in Memphis. Tickets will go on presale for eligible buyers Feb. 12 before becoming available to the general public Feb. 15 on Timberlake’s website.

Fans have been waiting for the “SexyBack” singer to unleash a new solo era for quite some time. Timberlake hasn’t released an album since 2018’s Man of the Woods, which debuted atop the Billboard 200 . His sixth LP Everything I Thought It Was is officially due out March 15.

See the dates for Justin Timberlake’s 2024 Forget Tomorrow World Tour, including the 15 newly added shows, below.

Mon Apr 29 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena

Thu May 02 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena — SOLD OUT

Fri May 03 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena

Mon May 06 – San Jose, CA – SAP Center at San Jose — SOLD OUT

Tue May 07 – San Jose, CA – SAP Center at San Jose

Fri May 10 – Las Vegas, NV – T-Mobile Arena — SOLD OUT

Sat May 11 – Las Vegas, NV – T-Mobile Arena

Tue May 14 – San Diego, CA – Pechanga Arena San Diego — SOLD OUT

Fri May 17 – Inglewood, CA – Kia Forum — SOLD OUT

Sat May 18 – Inglewood, CA – Kia Forum — SOLD OUT

Tue May 21 – Phoenix, AZ – Footprint Center — SOLD OUT

Wed May 29 – San Antonio, TX – Frost Bank Center

Fri May 31 – Austin, TX – Moody Center

Sat Jun 01 – Austin, TX – Moody Center

Tue Jun 04 – Fort Worth, TX – Dickies Arena — SOLD OUT

Thu Jun 06 – Tulsa, OK – BOK Center — SOLD OUT

Mon Jun 10 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena — SOLD OUT

Wed Jun 12 – Raleigh, NC – PNC Arena — SOLD OUT

Fri Jun 14 – Tampa, FL – Amalie Arena — SOLD OUT

Sat Jun 15 – Miami, FL – Kaseya Center

Fri Jun 21 – Chicago, IL – United Center — SOLD OUT

Sat Jun 22 – Chicago, IL – United Center — SOLD OUT

Tue Jun 25 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden — SOLD OUT

Wed Jun 26 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden — SOLD OUT

Sat Jun 29 – Boston, MA – TD Garden — SOLD OUT

Sun Jun 30 – Boston, MA – TD Garden — SOLD OUT

Wed Jul 03 – Baltimore, MD – CFG Bank Arena — SOLD OUT

Thu Jul 04 – Hershey, PA – Hersheypark Stadium

Sun Jul 07 – Cleveland, OH – Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse — SOLD OUT

Tue Jul 09 – Lexington, KY – Rupp Arena — SOLD OUT

Tue Oct 04 – Montreal, QC – Bell Centre – JUST ADDED

Mon Oct 07 – Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center

Tue Oct 08 – Newark, NJ – Prudential Center

Sun Oct 13 – Washington, DC – Capital One Arena

Thu Oct 17 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena — SOLD OUT

Fri Oct 18 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena

Mon Oct 21 – Buffalo, NY – KeyBank Center

Wed Oct 23 – Columbus, OH – Nationwide Arena

Fri Oct 25 – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena – JUST ADDED

Sun Oct 27 – Chicago, IL – United Center

Sat Nov 02 – Grand Rapids, MI – Van Andel Arena – JUST ADDED

Fri Nov 08 – Sunrise, FL – Amerant Bank Arena* – JUST ADDED

Sat Nov 09 – Orlando, FL – Kia Center – JUST ADDED

Thu Nov 14 – Charlotte, NC – Spectrum Center – JUST ADDED

Sat Nov 16 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena

Tue Nov 19 – Knoxville, TN – Thompson-Boling Arena – JUST ADDED

Wed Nov 20 – Louisville, KY – KFC Yum Center – JUST ADDED

Sat Nov 23 – Memphis, TN – FedExForum – JUST ADDED

Wed Dec 04 – Houston, TX – Toyota Center* – JUST ADDED

Thu Dec 06 – Dallas, TX – American Airlines Center – JUST ADDED

Tue Dec 10 – Little Rock, AR – Simmons Bank Arena – JUST ADDED

Thu Dec 12 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena – JUST ADDED

Sat Dec 14 – Pittsburgh, PA – PPG Paints Arena – JUST ADDED

Mon Dec 16 – Indianapolis, IN – Gainbridge Fieldhouse – JUST ADDED

09 Feb 2024

The Ultimate Playlist to Forget El Toxico: Shakira, Ivy Queen, Grupo Firme & More

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and if celebrating the romantic holiday is not your thing —especially if you just got out of a relationship — then it’s time to turn to music.

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Ahead of Galentine’s Day (held traditionally on Feb. 13), Billboard compiled the ultimate Latin playlist to forget “el toxico” or “la toxica” (aka your toxic ex) because let’s face it — music heals the soul. More than 50 songs form part of our empowering and unapologetic playlist that includes all-time classics such as Paquita La Del Barrio’s “Rata de Dos Patas,” Selena Quintanilla’s “Que Creias” and Cafe Tacvba’s “La Ingrata,” as well as reggaeton anthems such as Nio Garcia & Casper’s “Te Boté,” Bad Bunny and Sech’s “Vete,” and Ivy Queen’s “La Vida es Asi,” to name a few.

But it doesn’t stop there. Kicking el toxico or la toxica to the curb comes in every genre.

Grupo Firme, for example, can make you sing at the top of your lungs with their Billboard Hot 100 hit “Ya Superame.” Another música Mexicana classic is Alicia Villareal’s “Te Quedo Grande la Yegua” “Hector Acosta’s “Me Voy” is the ultimate divorce bachata track, and El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico sings all about being freed from a bad relationship in their salsa tune “Me Libere.”

Some recent anthems? Becky G and Karol G’s first-ever collab “Mamiii” and Shakira’s “BZRP Music Session, Vol. 53” with Bizarrap, both are part of the mix.

Listen to this year’s Galentine’s playlist below to celebrate new beginnings.

09 Feb 2024

Which Is Your Favorite New Music Release of the Week? Vote!

It’s New Music Friday, Super Bowl weekend edition, and fans are getting a slew of new songs to enjoy as game day approaches, including a whole new album from the 2024 Super Bowl Halftime Show headliner Usher.

The R&B star shared his ninth studio record Coming Home Friday (Feb. 9), just two days before he’s set to take the stage at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium between the second and third quarters of the Kansas City Chiefs vs. San Francisco 49ers showdown. The 20-track effort features a star-studded list of collaborators, including Burna Boy, Summer Walker and 21 Savage, H.E.R. and BTS’ Jung Kook.

Both Noah Kahan and Kacey Musgraves are spinning new tunes this week, too. While the former artist’s “Forever” celebrates the closing out of his breakthrough Stick Season era, the latter star’s “Deeper Well” signifies the start of something new. On the same day she released the single, Musgraves announced that her album of the same name will arrive March 15.

Maggie Rogers is also back and better than ever with her first solo release since her sophomore album Surrender. One year after teaming up with Zach Bryan for their hit “Dawns,” the 29-year-old singer-songwriter has returned with her new single “Don’t Forget Me.”

Plus, Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton have released their latest husband-and-wife duet. “Purple Irises” follows the couple’s previous collaborations on 2019’s “Nobody But You,” 2021’s “Happy Anywhere,” 2023’s “Love Is Alive” and more.

Which of this week’s new music releases is your favorite? Check out our Friday Music Guide here, and let us know by voting below.