Music

13 Dec 2023

Olivia Rodrigo Says She’s ‘Grown Out of Some’ of Her Older Songs

You could say that Olivia Rodrigo‘s love for her older material has soured a little.

In an interview with the Los Angeles Times published Wednesday (Dec. 13), the 20-year-old musician admitted that she’s not too fond of a few of the tracks on her 2021 debut album Sour. “Some of them I don’t really love so much anymore,” she told the publication in the midst of preparations for her 2024 Guts Tour.

Rodrigo didn’t divulge which tracks specifically she’s not a fan of — “People get so sad because it’ll be their favorite song” — but she did clarify that rehearsing her old music in recent weeks has helped her realize that she’s simply “grown out of some of them.”

Unlike the Grammy winner, however, millions of people are still fully loving Sour. The LP is still charting on the Billboard 200, coming in at No. 49 on the most recent ranking, more than two years after its release. In total, it’s spent 133 weeks on the chart so far and has spawned two No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100.

One of those No. 1s is still a hit in Rodrigo’s books. She confirmed that she still very much loves “Drivers License,” recalling, “I remember putting the song out, still super-heartbroken, and people would come up to me and say, ‘Wow, this takes me back to my first heartbreak.’ Now, I listen to it and I totally get it. It actually does transport me back to when I thought I was never gonna love anyone else.”

The “Vampire” singer also responded to a recent revelation from friend and fellow pop star Billie Eilish, who told the L.A. Times last month that the seven-time Grammy winner’s song “Goldwing” was partly inspired by Rodrigo. “I was just thinking about her when I was writing it,” Eilish told the publication at the time. “She was coming up, and she was younger than me, and nobody had ever been younger than me.”

“Olivia was getting big, and she was just, like, this little dainty child,” added the “Bad Guy” singer, noting she feels a “protectiveness” for the former Disney star. “I felt so nervous. I was worried about her.”

In the L.A. Times article, Rodrigo commented, “I thought that was so sweet.” “Billie is such a kind, wonderful girl, and I feel very lucky that it’s not about competition — that we’re just looking out for each other,” she continued. “I love that song.”

13 Dec 2023

Don Omar & Daddy Yankee End Longtime Feud: ‘There Will Always Be Room for Forgiveness’

Don Omar and Daddy Yankee have put an end to their years-long feud and rivalry, and have made peace.

In separate posts on social media, the two reggaeton titans expressed appreciation for one another and acknowledged the significant role each has played in globalizing the genre. Don Omar was the first to share a lengthy post on Instagram on Tuesday (Dec. 12), just days after Yankee gave his farewell show in Puerto Rico after announcing his retirement and that he was dedicating his life to Christianity.

“Today we close the book that kept the best chapters of our controversial rivalry,” the “Dale Don Dale” singer wrote. “Thank you for your words and for listening to mine that came from the heart as well. I wish you the best for you and your family. Thank you for your competitiveness and admirable discipline but even more thank you for what you did for our music.”

He continued: “Thank you for collaborating and for competing because I did it with a titan. I keep the good memories, the laughs, the dreams together and the desire for a last round with such a great adversary. We will meet again soon because I owe you a hug and thank you in person. In the meantime, long live King Daddy.”

Most recently, Don Omar announced his return to the stage with an ambitious U.S. tour. Back to Reggaetón, produced by CMN, is set to kick off in March. Shortly after Don Omar shared the post to his more than nine million followers, Yankee also offered heartfelt words toward the artist, with whom he had on-and-off feuds throughout his decades-long career.

“William, thank you for giving us both the opportunity to speak to each other from the bottom of our hearts,” Yankee began. “Don Omar, you have also done great things for this genre and within the rivalry as you rightly say that divided us, today I feel calm to know that that is behind us, and we are an example that we may have differences but there will always be room for forgiveness. You have also been a great adversary and I will never cease to recognize all that you have also done for our movement.”

Yankee ended by saying he felt “calm and at peace” knowing that they were leaving behind the controversies that often pitted the two against each other. “I hope that our last round will be against the enemy of souls, battling together in the army of the Lord! I wait for you on this side! God bless you, your family and all your faithful followers.”

In 2016, the two sat down — for the first time ever — for a Mano a Mano panel at the Latin Music Week conference. While there was little interaction between the two, Don and Yankee were polite to each other and took turns answering questions from Billboard‘s Leila Cobo.

Despite the rivalry and all, the pair still collaborated with each other throughout the years. In 2003 they released “Gata Gangster” and “La Noche Está Buena” with Hector “El Father.” Two years later, they unleashed “Yo Soy de Aquí” and, in 2020, the “Hasta Abajo Remix.” In 2016, duo also went on a co-headlining tour together.

13 Dec 2023

Taylor Swift Steps Out With Selena Gomez, Miles Teller & Keleigh Sperry in NYC: Photos

Taylor Swift was out and about with a trio of famous friends on the eve of her birthday, meeting up with Selena Gomez, Miles Teller and his wife, actress-model Keleigh Sperry, for a night out in New York City Tuesday (Dec. 12), just hours before she turned 34. 

The foursome went to Zero Bond in Manhattan, where the “Anti-Hero” singer sported a chic tan trench coat and heeled black booties. In a few paparazzi photos from the evening, she holds hands with the Only Murders in the Building actress, her longtime bestie. The Tellers have been friends with Swift since co-starring in the musician’s “I Bet You Think About Me” music video in 2021.

The outing comes a few days after Swift and Gomez attended a Ramy Youssef comedy show together in NYC, shortly after the “Calm Down” singer made headlines for confirming her relationship with producer Benny Blanco in a spree of Instagram comments. “He is my absolute everything in my heart,” Gomez wrote of Blanco at the time, also sharing a photo on her Story of a letter “B” ring on her finger. 

Swift celebrated her 34th birthday on Dec. 13 by making her Eras Tour concert film available for rent and purchase on streaming services, complete with extended footage of her performing the songs “Long Live,” “The Archer” and “Wildest Dreams.” In a Wednesday (Dec. 13) post about the film on Instagram, the 12-time Grammy winner wrote, “PS troll me all you want about my excessive and literal millennial emoji use but A) no one’s prouder to be a millennial and B) it’s my bday and today I am exempt! ?” 

See photos of Swift, Gomez and the Tellers below: 

Miles Teller, Keleigh Sperry and Taylor Swift

Miles Teller, Keleigh Sperry and Taylor Swift are seen on the streets of Manhattan on Dec. 12, 2023 in New York City.

James Devaney/GC Images

Selena Gomez and Taylor Swift

Selena Gomez and Taylor Swift are seen on Dec. 12, 2023 in New York City.

Raymond Hall/GC Images

13 Dec 2023

Beyoncé Close to Billionaire Status After Massive ‘Renaissance’ Tour Haul

Thanks to the massive haul from her Renaissance world tour, Beyoncé is on the cusp of becoming a billionaire. According to a new estimate from Forbes magazine (paywalled), the singer’s net worth has ballooned by nearly $300 million this year to $800 million.

Back in June, Queen Bey, 42, came in at No. 48 on the financial magazine’s annual ranking of the richest self-made women in America with a then-estimated worth of $540 million. The boost in the singer’s bottom line was attributed to Beyoncé’s 2023 earnings, specifically the estimated $100 million (post-tax) she pulled in from the Renaissance tour.

Forbes estimated that the rest of the financial windfall was a result of the magazine’s adjustment of their previous estimate of her music catalog and art collection; Forbes estimated that the singer’s catalog is now worth around $300 million. The remainder of her net worth comes from a combination of the personal assets Bey shares with husband Jay-Z and business holdings in her Parkwood Entertainment company.

Forbes said that the couple’s real estate portfolio is worth an estimated $320 million, including a $200 million Malibu, CA mansion they bought in June, which is believed to be the most-expensive home in California history.

Citing Billboard figures, Forbes reported that the major bump to Beyoncé’s net worth came from the tour, which ran from May to October and hit 39 cities in 17 countries, with $579 million in revenue, making it one of the highest-ever grossing tours. Another stream that contributed was the recently released Renaissance: A Film By Beyoncé, which she wrote, directed and produced. Like Taylor Swift, Bey struck a direct deal with AMC Theaters that worked around studio participation and allowed for a direct split of revenue; final box office figures are not yet available, but the movie grossed more than $27 million worldwide in its opening frame.

Swift, who attended the London premiere of the Renaissance film, also had a banner year, with Forbes estimating in October that Taylor had passed into billionairedom thanks to her $190 million net (post-taxes) from her massive Eras Tour. In her TIME Person of the Year cover story, Swift paid tribute to Beyoncé’s acumen and inspiration, telling the magazine that she is, “a great disrupter of music-industry norms… She taught every artist how to flip the table and challenge archaic business practices.”

13 Dec 2023

Billboard’s Greatest Pop Stars of 2023: No. 6 — Karol G

For this year’s update of our ongoing Greatest Pop Star by Year project, Billboard is counting down our staff picks for the top 10 pop stars of 2023 all this week. At No. 6, we remember the year in Karol G — who reached new heights as a recording and touring artist and confirmed herself as one of the biggest stars on the planet.

Karol G’s progress towards global domination was on display at her two-day “Mañana Será Bonito” Festival, held in December at Estadio Atanasio Girardot in her native Medellín, Colombia — where she performed for a sold-out crowd of more than 40,000 fans each day. Far beyond just giving the ultimate fan experience to those in attendance — including a carnival, live music and special guests such as Romeo Santos, Feid, Young Miko and DJ Tiesto — the festival was the admirable result of a music career that began in 2006 and has now achieved global recognition in 2023.  

Billboard’s Greatest Pop Stars of 2023:
Introduction & Honorable Mentions | Rookie of the Year: Peso Pluma | Comeback of the Year: Miley Cyrus | No. 10: Drake | No. 9: Doja Cat | No. 8: Bad Bunny | No. 7: Olivia Rodrigo

“My home is the place where the dream began, the desire, the motivation, where we took the first step […] Who said that no one is a prophet in their own land when Colombia has given me everything?” she expressed on Instagram prior to her Dec. 1st and 2nd shows. “It brings tears to my eyes to know that my year ends at home, in the city where I was born, and which believed in me before any other place.”  

As the MSB Festival indicated, 2023 has been nothing but life-changing and historic for Karol.  Fresh off her 2022 successes — such as the Becky G-assisted “MAMIII” and “Provenza,” both which hit No. 1 on the Hot Latin Songs chart, and her $trip Love U.S. arena tour, which grossed $72.2 million and sold 424,000 tickets — the Colombian hitmaker was ready to conquer the new year, setting even bigger goals.  

Karol G

Courtesy Photo

Karol G

Lea Colombo

Her first release of 2023 was “X Si Volvemos,” a sultry reggaeón collaboration with Romeo Santos , which arrived on Feb. 2 and marked the third preview of her fourth studio album (following her 2022 one-offs “Cairo” and “Gatubela” with Maldy). On Feb. 24, she officially unleashed the entire set, entitled Mañana Será Bonito (Tomorrow will be Beautiful), with 14 other tracks that showcased her musical evolution and versatility. The artist born Carolina Giraldo Navarro did not shy away from experimenting with bossa nova (“Carolina”), banda (“Gucci Los Paños”), dembow (“Ojos Ferrari”) and even punk rock (“Tus Gafitas”), but it was the set’s lyrical content that resonated most with fans — one that showcased a happier, healthier, and healed Karol for 2023.  

The album’s reception was so massive that it made history as the first Spanish-language album by a female artist to reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Moreover, the set’s focus single “TQG” with Shakira—a dramatic urban pop song where the two artists successfully blossomed after their respective public celebrity breakups — debuted at No. 1 on both the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. charts, while also crowning six other Billboard listings and becoming Karol’s first top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. 

In celebration of her historic production, the 32-year-old singer took over Puerto Rico’s Hiram Bithorn Stadium for three back-to-back concerts in March. It was then — due to fans chanting all her new material just days after its release — that the idea of embarking on her first-ever stadium tour was born. 

But before hitting the road again in the summer, Karol made important career moves. In April, she made her Saturday Night Live debut, where she performed songs from her new album and was part of a sketch alongside Cuban-born actress (and that episode’s host) Ana de Armas. In June, she signed an ambitious deal with Interscope Records that included her owning all her masters and releasing music under her own imprint, Bichota Records. And in July, she dropped “Watiti” with Panamanian artist Aldo Ranks, a playful reggaetón single with EDM influences that marked the second single from the Barbie motion picture soundtrack. Not only did forming part of the biggest movie of the summer further prove her tremendous star power but it was also the only Spanish-language track on the star-studded set, which also included songs by Dua Lipa, Sam Smith, Bilie Eilish and more huge names.  

And because one album was not enough for her prolific 2023, Karol surprised fans with Mañana Será Bonito (Bichota Season) — a brand new set with nine tracks, including her norteño hit “Mi Ex Tenía Razón” and the Peso Pluma-assisted “QLONA” — that not only earned her another top five entry on the Billboard 200, but officially kicked off her U.S. stadium tour.  

The 15-date stint, which included a pair of sold-out shows at the New York-area MetLife Stadium in September, gathered fans of all ages, dressed in pink wigs and their best summer fits as they chanted along to all of Karol’s biggest hits. The trek grossed $138.4 million and sold 759K tickets across 15 shows in the U.S. between Aug. 11 and Sept. 28, landing Karol at No. 1 on the Billboard Year-End Latin Tours chart and later winning her top Latin touring artist, in addition to top Latin female artist, at the 2023 Billboard Music Awards in November.  

Then, after being one of the very few Latin acts to dominate a massive stadium tour, Karol was ready to sweep awards season. In September, she made her MTV Video Music Awards debut, where she not only performed a sultry medley of “Oki Doki” and “Ta OK,” but also nabbed the best collaboration award for “TQG.” In October, she won five Billboard Latin Music Awards, in addition to the Spirit of Hope Award for her philanthropic work supporting women through her Con Cora Foundation. And in November, she nabbed three Latin Grammys, including the coveted album of the year trophy for Mañana Será Bonito. She also became the first woman to take home the urban album of the year award.  

“How cool is it for a woman to win this?” she said during her acceptance speech. “This album changed my life, and it’s incredible that it’s changed the life of so many people.”  

Meanwhile, amid touring life and collecting well-deserved accolades, Karol’s light shined on social media. Often times she’d send voice messages on her Telegram group, she’d do an Instagram Live to show what a day off looks like for her back home, and on TikTok, she’d share adorable videos of her baby niece or jump on viral trends. It all further demonstrated why, beyond connecting and falling in love with her persona and charm, fans practically consider her family.  

Next year, the Colombiana is ready to take her Mañana Será Bonito Tour to Latin America, where she will visit countries such as Mexico, Costa Rica, Chile, Brazil, and Argentina, and her acting lessons will also come into play when she makes her Netflix debut on the drama series Griselda, starring Sofia Vergara, in January. Though Karol has ascended to global superstardom in 2023, it’s safe to say that Bichota Season should stretch well into 2024. 

13 Dec 2023

Tyla’s ‘Water’ Cruises to No. 1 on Rhythmic Airplay Chart

The widespread radio success of Tyla’s “Water” spills over to Billboard’s Rhythmic Airplay chart, where the single tops the list dated Dec. 16. “Water” rises from No. 2 to rule the chart after a 15% jump in plays that made it the most played song on U.S. monitored rhythmic radio stations in the week of Dec. 1–7, according to Luminate.

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With its advance, “Water,” released on FAX Records/Epic Records, pushes last week’s champ, Drake’s “Rich Baby Daddy” featuring Sexyy Red and SZA, to No. 2 after its one week in charge. The latter’s coronation yielded Drake’s record-extending 39th No. 1 on the radio ranking.

“Water,” the breakthrough single for 21-year-old South African singer Tyla, has evolved into a radio smash in the past few weeks. Beyond its Rhythmic Airplay reign, the track sits at No. 1 for a third week on the Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, where it added 1% in plays in the last tracking week, and repeats at No. 3 on R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay for a second term thanks to a 4% boost in weekly audience to 18.3 million in listenership.

Plus, the single is making waves in the pop sector, holding at No. 19 for a second week on Pop Airplay with an 18% swell in weekly plays. Combined strength from rhythmic, R&B/hip-hop and pop radio powers “Water” 8-6 on the all-genre Radio Songs chart, where it added 11% in audience to reach 48.5 million.

“Water,” which is nominated for a Grammy for best African music performance, also leads the streaming and sales-based U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart for a ninth consecutive week. The global hit will appear on Tyla’s forthcoming self-titled debut album, which will be released on March 1, 2024. To preview the project, the singer released three new cuts on Dec. 1: “Butterflies,” “On and On” and “Truth or Dare.”

13 Dec 2023

Beyoncé Celebrates 10th Anniversary of Surprise Self-Titled Visual Album: Watch the Video Montage

It’s been 10 years since Beyoncé dropped her self-titled visual album, and even the notoriously quiet Queen Bey had to acknowledge the momentous occasion. When the clock struck midnight on Dec. 13, Beyoncé took to her official Instagram page to share a brief video montage commemorating her critically acclaimed, career-shifting fifth studio album.

“I still get scared with every album release,” Beyoncé says in the background of the reel. “I’m constantly searching for the deeper purpose of my art.” The “Cuff It” singer’s reel is a compilation of behind-the-scenes footage previously seen in her five-part Self-Titled documentary, performance clips, pieces of the album’s 17 music videos, media clips and vintage fan reactions on that fateful night of Dec. 13, 2013.

With the release of Beyoncé, Queen Bey unleashed a 14-track visual album in the middle of the tracking week with absolutely no pre-release announcement or promotion. The album proved to be a commercial smash, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with just three days of sales. At the time, Beyoncé was the fastest selling album in iTunes history.

The record — which spawned the Billboard Hot 100 No. 2 hit “Drunk in Love” (with Jay-Z), as well as “7/11” (No. 13), “Partition” (No. 23), “Flawless” (No. 41) and “XO” (No. 45) — also won three Grammys and landed on several year-end and decade-end album lists. The record-breaking LP found Beyoncé at her most experimental and political at the time, proudly wearing the “feminist” label on the MTV VMAs stage and heavily incorporating trap into her R&B base for the first time.

Most of the reel’s narration is taken from the first episode of the album’s accompanying Self-Titled documentary, but Beyoncé did record a new message. At the very end of the clip, she sweetly says, “Happy tenth anniversary.”

Now, 10 years after her iconic visual album, fans await the elusive visuals for Queen Bey’s Renaissance album — which is currently blasting in movie theaters around the world thanks to her box office-topping Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé concert documentary film.

Celebrate 10 years of Queen Bey’s industry-revolutionizing self-titled album by watching Beyoncé’s commemoration reel below:

13 Dec 2023

Taylor Swift Declares ‘No One’s Prouder to Be a Millennial’ on Her 34th Birthday

Taylor Swift has no shame about acting her age. On the singer’s 34th birthday, she marked the occasion with a tongue-in-cheek post on Instagram announcing the release of her new Eras Tour film’s extended cut and jokingly defending her “millennial” posting habits. 

In her Wednesday (Dec. 13) post, Swift shared a video of her performing the Speak Now fan favorite “Long Live” on her iconic blue koi fish guitar during a stop on her blockbuster Eras trek this year. “I had the time of my life fighting dragons with youuuu,” the pop star captioned her post, referencing her own “Long Live” lyrics. “Celebrate 34 with me by watching The Eras Tour (Extended Version) including ‘Long Live’ ? ‘The Archer’ ? and ‘Wildest Dreams’ ? at home!” 

“PS troll me all you want about my excessive and literal millennial emoji use,” she added. “But A) no one’s prouder to be a millennial and B) it’s my bday and today I am exempt! ?” 

The 12-time Grammy winner’s movie became available for rent and purchase on streaming services Wednesday in honor of her birthday. Shot over the course of three performances at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour opened in theaters in October and raked in more than $92.8 million, becoming the top-grossing concert film in history after just one weekend. 

Swift’s proud declaration of her millennial status also comes shortly after fans poked fun at her for certain phrases she used while being interviewed for TIME, the cover of which she graced earlier this month as the publication’s 2023 Person of the Year. In one example, the “Anti-Hero” artist was quoted as saying Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, now her boyfriend, initiated their relationship by putting her “on blast on his podcast, which I thought was metal as hell.” 

“Taylor saying Travis talking about her on the podcast is ‘metal as hell’ IS SO MILLENNIAL OF HER,” tweeted one Swiftie after the interview went live. 

“’metal as hell’ you will never beat the hardcore millennial allegations taylor swift,” wrote another. 

Other Swifties fondly chided the musician for comparing her Taylor’s Version re-release projects to “collecting horcruxes” and “Infinity Stones.” “Saying that she is collecting re recordings like horcruxes is so millennial of her I’m here for it,” tweeted one fan. 

See Swift’s birthday post below: 

13 Dec 2023

The Ultimate Christmas Gift Guide for the Latin Music Lover

The holiday season is in full effect — and not to startle anyone, but Christmas Eve and Day are less than two weeks away. If you have yet to buy your family and friends a gift, Billboard has come to the rescue, with the ultimate Christmas gift guide for the Latin music lover in your life. 

The list includes a variety of options ranging from collector’s items, limited-edition merch, and overall, fan must haves. Sneaker and artist collaborations, for example, were popular this year — as artists such as Bad Bunny, J Balvin, and Eladio Carrion, all dropped unique collections. In his ongoing collab with Adidas, Bunny dropped his brown “Response CL” shoes; Balvin also unleashed the “Sunset” Air Jordan 3, inspired by the vibrant afternoons in his native Medellín; and Carrion presented his first-ever sneaker collab with New Balance. 

A handful of female pop stars, on the other hand, also showcases their entrepreneurial side. On the list, you will find one-of-a-kind makeup collections from artists such as Becky G (Tresluce Beauty), Selena Gomez (Rare Beauty) and Kenia Os, who recently founded her very own K Os Beauty with products available in Mexico and the U.S.

And of course, what music junkie doesn’t love a good concert? Our Billboard gift guide also includes all the information you need to the Latin U.S. tours making the rounds in 2024 including Don Omar’s Back to Reggaetón Tour, Bad Bunny’s Most Wanted Tour, and Fey’s first U.S. tour in 10 years. 

See all of the Christmas gift ideas below:   

13 Dec 2023

Phoebe Bridgers Says Dave Grohl ‘Slept Through’ a Studio Session for Boygenius’ Album

Releasing a groundbreaking debut album, touring the world and racking up a whopping six Grammy nominations are just a few of the accomplishments achieved by indie rock group Boygenius in 2023. But as band member Phoebe Bridgers tells it, there was nearly one other crowning achievement for the trio that didn’t quite pan out.

In a new interview with NME published Monday (Dec. 11) — where the outlet named The Record as its album of the year — the band reflected on getting to collaborate with Foo Fighters’ frontman Dave Grohl during their talked-about Halloween set at the Hollywood Bowl.

“I made friends with Dave backstage at a Billie Eilish show,” Bridgers said. “I was texting the boys, being like, ‘I met Dave Grohl, and he exceeds every expectation of how a rock star can be in the world’. I think we, as a group, look for that a lot — like, who is living their life the way that we want to get old and live our lives?”

But Bridgers went on to reveal that working with Grohl ended up being a “full circle moment,” since there were originally plans to have him feature on The Record. “We also have a friend who knows him and toured with Foo Fighters, and there was this missed connection where Dave was actually going to come to the studio and play on [The Record],” she said. “Then he slept through it or whatever, and we didn’t end up meeting.”

It’s not the first time that the group has name-checked Grohl in public. Speaking to Billboard after earning six Grammy nominations earlier this year, the band made a sarcastic vow about their prospects in the rock categories. “I think we’re gonna have to fight Dave Grohl in the parking lot,” Bridgers said, before Lucy Dacus quickly shut her down. “I’ve seen in-person how hard he hits the drums,” Dacus said. “I’m not gonna fight Dave Grohl. His arms are something else.”

Elsewhere in the group’s NME interview, the band spoke about the future of the supergroup, saying that they enjoyed the uncertainty surrounding what comes next. “I like having this band be something that, because it’s more ephemeral or whatever, it’s not concretely tied to one of us or a person we have to live in every day,” Julien Baker said. “It’s something we can revisit when we feel motivated to, or it’s a place we can retreat to.”