Music

01 Nov 2023

Bad Bunny Turns Into Nosferatu For Creepy ‘Baticano’ Music Video: Watch

The Nosferatu, a vampire so iconic in the annals of horror, it ranks right up there in the rogues’ gallery alongside Frankenstein’s Monster, Michael Myers, and Jason, has just had an update — thanks to Bad Bunny.

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Just in time for Halloween, the Puerto Rican superstar gets his creep on for “Baticano,” lifted from Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana, his third and latest No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart.

Directed by Stillz, the music video has all the angles, shadows and hallmarks of the 1922 version of Nosferatu, a benchmark in German Expressionism filmmaking. Steve Buscemi plays the father figure/mad scientist, who tells the pointy-eared creature, “they’re not ready for you in this world. But you are beautiful. Remember that. You are too perfect for this world.”

Bad Bunny is following in some mighty footsteps. Max Schreck’s performance in that early film was so compelling, Willem Dafoe reprised the role for 2000’s Shadow of the Vampire, which posited that, just maybe, Schreck was an actual garlic-hating, sunshine-avoiding vampire. Werner Herzog helmed the 1979 remake of Nosferatu the Vampyre, with Klaus Kinski, in the lead role, creepier than a box of spiders. Robert Eggers directs an update on the blood-sucking count, due out in 2024.

All 21 songs from Bunny’s new album (which translates to “Nobody Knows What Is Going to Happen Tomorrow”) went on to enter the Billboard Hot 100, including “Baticano,” which bowed at No. 78 last month. It’s his fifth solo studio album, following last year’s blockbuster Un Verano Sin Ti. His 2022 album spent 13 weeks atop the Billboard 200 albums chart and topped the year-end Billboard 200 as well — the first Spanish-language album to do so.

Following its release, Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana was confirmed by Spotify as the platform’s most-streamed album in a single day in 2023 so far.

Watch the music video for “Baticano” below.

31 Oct 2023

Oliver Tree Talks Curating His Artistic Persona, Reveals Upcoming Antarctica Show

Oliver Tree is fresh off the release of his third studio album, Alone in a Crowd, and he sat down with Billboard’s Rania Aniftos to discuss how he created a unique presence in the music industry.

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“This is really a collection of all my favorite styles and selected works and highlights of what I like and different styles, but also still be a component that’s a thread through of a concept album,” he said of his new project. “The thing that also ties it together nicely is I produce on every single song and I’m the one who mixes so from the beginning of the conception, through the mixing process, I’m hands on.”

As for his goofy persona, Oliver said that it was somewhat of an unexpected journey for him. “I’d already spent the bulk of my existence on Earth making music and no one was listening to it,” he recalled. “No one cared. And I was like, ‘Wow, this actually working. This is bigger than my music.’ All I did was just show up looking stupid, and I think it’s a mirror that I was setting up of society, and how dumb things have gotten in a lot of ways but also experimentation is kind of the birth of invention and trying to make something that hasn’t been done a million times.”

The “Miss You” singer also revealed exclusively to Billboard that he’s planning a concert in Antarctica for the end of the year. “It’s finally happening at the end of this year. I get to finally go to Antarctica and I can’t say too much about it, but I will say that I’m finally making the dream come to life. It’s a long time coming,” he said.

Watch the full interview with Oliver Tree above.

31 Oct 2023

Archive of Contemporary Music Desperately Seeks Funding for New Home

The ARChive of Contemporary Music (ARC), which houses more than three million recordings and millions of historic materials, is searching urgently for a new home. 

ARC, which B. George founded in 1985 in a lower Manhattan loft, has stored its collection for the past three years in a facility in Duchess County, N.Y. that was donated by hotelier Andre Balazs, but zoning laws imperil its existence. “The space we have now is zoned for agricultural storage and not for offices,” George tells Billboard. “We could be forced to move at any time.” 

ARC shuttered its New York City location in Tribeca in 2020 because of skyrocketing rents and a lack of space. “Equally important, after more than 30 years in lower Manhattan, there was no help offered by the City of New York,” George says. 

Among its treasures, ARC houses Keith Richards’ 18,000-piece blues collection, which it says is one of the most extensive collections of blues and R&B recordings in the world. It also contains Brazilian magnate Zero Freitas’ Brazilian music collection, the late director Jonathan Demme’s Haitian music collection and late producer/label owner Jeep Holland’s collection of more than 125,000 classic rock and pop recordings. Artists including David Byrne, and renowned critics like the New York Times’ Jon Pareles and John Rockwell, have also donated recordings, books and papers.

Over the decades, ARC, whose board members have included the late David Bowie, Nile Rodgers, Martin Scorsese and Q-Tip, has proved an invaluable resource. It provided research and music for such films as Goodfellas, That Thing You Do, Philadelphia and Ken Burns’ Baseball documentary, as well as supplying publishing information to BMI and the Harry Fox Agency. In recent years, ARC has focused on digitizing its collection.

ARC has already received an anonymous donation of $1 million to fund the move, though George estimates it needs $10 million to relocate. He would like to stay in the area. “Access is important,” he says, “so near the Hudson or Harlem train lines.”

George says ARC has not solicited record companies, even though Atlantic chairman/CEO Craig Kallman is on the board of trustees, and many major and independent labels have contributed material to the collection. “We wish to remain independent. Our collection and focus is on all forms of popular music from every culture and nation,” he says. “Beyond rock, we have the largest collections of Brazilian, Asian Indian, Caribbean and Latin Music in North America. To better understand the history of popular music means trying to save everything that happened.”

Ideally, a capital campaign will raise the $10 million and allow ARC to open a new facility, The Center for Popular Music, which would greatly expand its public offerings and allow students, educators, historians, musicians, journalists and fans to access the archives. “The goal is to be a free, welcoming place for research,” George says. “We will develop public programming and events including movie nights, concerts, class courses, exhibitions, listening parties, conferences, seminars, lectures, workshops, record sales, record release parties — activities that support our mission and engage the community. Our mission will always remain preservation.”

31 Oct 2023

Who Has Won the Most CMA Awards This Century?

You may be aware that Brooks & Dunn and Vince Gill are tied for the most CMA Awards wins with 18 each. But Brooks & Dunn won most of their awards, and Gill won all of his, in the last century. So who leads for the most awards won in this century? We have prepared a list of everyone who has won five or more CMA Awards since 2000.

The 57th annual CMA Awards are set to air Wednesday, Nov. 8, on ABC. Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning will co-host the show for a second year in a row. It will be held at its usual home, Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.

Lainey Wilson — who won two awards, including new artist of the year, last year — is this year’s top nominee, with nine nods. If she wins just three of them, she’ll join this list of artists who have won five or more CMA Awards in this century.

We’ll get to the list, we promise, but first, to tease you just a bit more, we have four lists of all-time CMA winners: The five acts with the most wins are Brooks & Dunn and Vince Gill (18 each), George Strait (17), Alan Jackson (16) and Chris Stapleton (15).

The six female solo artists with the most wins are Miranda Lambert (14), Dolly Parton and Taylor Swift (nine each), Loretta Lynn (eight), and Alison Krauss and Carrie Underwood (seven each).

The five groups with the most wins are The Chicks (10), Alabama and The Statler Brothers (nine each), Little Big Town (eight) and Rascal Flatts (seven).

The five duos with the most wins are Brooks & Dunn (18), The Judds (nine), Brothers Osborne (six), Sugarland (five) and Florida Georgia Line (four).

OK, you’ve waited long enough. Here’s an updated list of everyone who has won five or more CMA Awards in this century.

31 Oct 2023

SZA Worried Drake Was Trying to ‘Sabotage’ Her After Using ‘Slime You Out’ First-Take Vocals

Drake and SZA‘s first ever collaboration, “Slime You Out,” became a hit for both musicians following its release, debuting at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100. While the track earned the musicians another highlight on the chart, SZA revealed she was initially unhappy with the rapper for using her first take of the song, going as far to say in her Tuesday (Oct. 31) interview with WSJ. Magazine that it felt as if he was trying to “sabotage” her.

SZA noted that the feeling of sabotage wasn’t exclusive to just Drake. “If you accept my first draft, I won’t trust you,” she told the outlet.

The Grammy winner added, “I just handed in the first draft to Drake, and he’s putting it on his album. I’m scared because I handed in second vocals, and he didn’t use that. And now I’m like, ‘Are you trying to sabotage me?’ I know that’s not true. I literally know that’s not true, but that’s how bad I feel about my first draft. When things come from an effortless space, I almost can’t enjoy it.”

Following the release of “Slime You Out,” the track was embroiled in somewhat of a controversy, after Drake used a photo of actress Halle Berry getting slimed at the 2012 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards for the cover art. Berry shared an Instagram post that read “Sometimes you have to be the bigger guy … even if you’re a woman!” She later revealed that Drake “didn’t get my permission. That’s not cool I thought better of him !”

In response to a separate comment, she added, “hence my post today. When people you admire disappoint you you have to be the bigger person and move on !”

Read SZA’s interview in full here.

31 Oct 2023

Matt McGinn’s Publisher Severs Ties Following Felony, Misdemeanor Charges

Nashville music publishing company Boom Music Group has severed ties with SESAC Nashville Music Awards’ 2020 songwriter of the year Matthew McGinn, after felony and misdemeanor charges were filed against him on Oct. 28 in Davidson County, Tenn.

“Boom Music Group is extremely saddened about the reprehensible events that transpired this weekend with Matt McGinn,” the company said in a statement provided to Billboard. “We have zero tolerance for this behavior and have severed ties with him, effective immediately.”

McGinn was arrested on two felony charges and one misdemeanor charge, according to a Metro Nashville Police Department police report obtained by Billboard. The felony charges are for kidnapping and attempted aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, while the misdemeanor charge is for violation of an order of protection. McGinn’s girlfriend Carly Strickland filed the charges following an alleged argument that escalated at McGinn’s Nashville-area residence, according to a copy of an order of protection filing obtained by Scoop Nashville. McGinn was released on a $12,500 bond.

McGinn had only recently signed with Boom Music Group (in partnership with Cinq Music Group), according to an announcement made in September. Cinq Music Group has not responded to a request for comment from Billboard.

McGinn, who was also SESAC Nashville Music Awards’ songwriter of the year in 2018, wrote such Country Airplay chart toppers as Kane Brown’s “Heaven,” “Bury Me in Georgia” and “Like I Love Country Music,” as well as Tim McGraw’s “7500 OBO,” which reached No. 4. McGinn also co-wrote all 10 songs on rock group Staind’s latest album.

According to the filing, McGinn’s court appearance is set for Nov. 7.

31 Oct 2023

Jason Aldean & Wife Brittany Dress as Donald Trump & Joe Biden in Halloween Presidential Debate Video

Jason Aldean and Brittany Aldean took the political route for their Halloween costumes this year, taking to Instagram on Tuesday (Oct. 31) to share a skit in which they acted as Donald Trump and Joe Biden during a presidential debate.

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In the nearly four-minute clip, Brittany takes on the role of Biden, depicting him as disoriented and senile. Meanwhile, the “She’s Country” singer played Trump, entering the stage to Village People’s “Y.M.C.A.” and wearing handcuffs, as the former president was booked at the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta back in August on felony charges related to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

“Happy Halloween, America,” the couple captioned their joint Instagram post. “Here’s to 2024.” See the full video here.

Back in 2021, Brittany came under fire for her political beliefs after she posted a photo on Instagram wearing a shirt that reads “Anti Biden Social Club,” while another picture showed the couple’s children, 6-year-old son Memphis and 4-year-old daughter Navy, wearing black shirts emblazoned with the message “Hidin’ From Biden.” Though Aldean himself was not pictured wearing anti-Biden clothing during in the photos, he did comment on a photo of his son wearing one of the shirts, writing, “My boy!”

The country star then took to Instagram to defend his family and his beliefs. “I will never apologize for my beliefs or my love for my family and country,” Aldean wrote Thursday alongside a photo of his silhouette in front of an American flag. “This is the greatest country in the world and I want to keep it that way. #unapologetic #phoenixwasfire”

31 Oct 2023

Reneé Rapp & Lizzy McAlpine Suprise Fans With ‘Wicked’ Duet as Glinda & Elphaba: Watch

Wicked — the wildly successful Broadway musical about the story of Elphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West) and Glinda (Glinda the Good Witch) — celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, and rising pop stars Reneé Rapp and Lizzy McAlpine are getting in on the festivities.

At the first New York stop of her Snow Hard Feelings Tour, Rapp invited McAlpine onstage to perform an emotional rendition of “For Good,” one of the standout duets on the Wicked soundtrack.

Fan-captured footage via TikTok finds the two singers enrapturing the audience as they assume the roles of Glinda and Elphaba atop a neon-green-lit stage. Rapp choosing to perform “For Good” for the first of her four New York tour stops is unsurprising considering her Broadway roots. In 2019, The Sex Lives of College Girls star enjoyed a brief run as Regina George in the Tony-nominated Mean Girls musical. She is set to reprise her role in the forthcoming film adaptation of the musical, which is set to hit theaters Jan. 12, 2024.

The first part of the two-film adaptation of Wicked, meanwhile, is slated to hit theaters on Nov. 27, 2024. The film’s star-studded cast includes Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang and more.

Rapp’s musical theater background echoes across her music, including Snow Angel, her debut studio LP. The record, which helped Rapp land a pair of MTV Video Music Award nominations this year, debuted at No. 44 on the Billboard 200 with 18,000 units shifted — the biggest first-week total for a debut album by a female artist in 2023. On Tuesday (Oct. 31), Rapp will head to Brooklyn’s Kings Theatre for a special Halloween show where fans are encouraged to attend in costume.

As for McAlpine, the “For Good” duet comes on the heels of an exciting year for the fast-rising folk-pop singer. This year, McAlpine enjoyed the rise of “Ceilings,” which became her very first Billboard Hot 100 hit (No. 54), as well as collaborations with Noah Kahan (“Call Your Mom”) and Niall Horan (“You Could Start a Cult”).

Watch Rapp and McAlpine deliver a gorgeous “For Good” performance below:

31 Oct 2023

Taylor Swift Extends Artist 100 No. 1 Record, Blink-182 & The Rolling Stones Return to Top 10

Taylor Swift spends a record-extending 83rd week at No. 1 on the Billboard Artist 100 chart (dated Nov. 4), thanks to nine albums on the Billboard 200 and two songs on the Billboard Hot 100, including her latest leader, “Cruel Summer.”

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Pacing Swift’s titles on the Billboard 200 is her former six-week No. 1 Midnights at No. 6, with 52,000 equivalent album units earned Oct. 20-26, according to Luminate. The 2022 release notches a 53rd consecutive week in the top 10, encompassing its entire chart run – and matches Swift’s 1989 as her only albums to spend their first 53 weeks in the region; 1989 logged 60 total weeks in the top 10, its first 53 consecutively in 2014-15.

Here’s a recap of Swift’s current Billboard 200-charting albums.

Rank, Title:
No. 6, Midnights
No. 7, Lover
No. 12, Folklore
No. 15, 1989
No. 20, Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)
No. 21, reputation
No. 25, Red (Taylor’s Version)
No. 26, Evermore
No. 48, Fearless (Taylor’s Version)

Swift is slated to have another massive week on next week’s charts with her latest re-recorded album, 1989 (Taylor’s Version). According to initial reports to Luminate, the set has earned more than 550,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. through its first three days of release (Oct. 27-29), of which more than 370,000 are in album sales. In terms of total equivalent album units earned, 1989 (Taylor’s Version) already has the second-largest week of the year, trailing only Swift’s Speak Now (Taylor’s Version), which bowed with 716,000 units in July.

On the Hot 100, “Cruel Summer” tallies a second week at No. 1, after it became Swift’s 10th leader. With the resilient track from her 2019 album Lover, Swift joined 10 other acts with double-digit No. 1 totals. Meanwhile, Swift’s former eight-week No. 1 “Anti-Hero” ranks at No. 20 and has now spent 53 weeks on the chart, extending its run as her longest-charting hit.

Blink-182 re-enters the Artist 100 at No. 2, thanks to the trio’s new LP One More Time… The set debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 125,000 units, becoming the band’s third leader, after 2001’s Take Off Your Pants and Jacket and 2016’s California.

Plus, the Rolling Stones return at a new No. 3 Artist 100 high, thanks to the band’s new album Hackney Diamonds. The Rock & Roll Hall of Famers’ first album of all-new material since 2005 arrives at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 (101,000 units), becoming their record-extending 38th top 10. They also become the first act with newly-charted top 10s in each decade since the 1960s.

The Artist 100 measures artist activity across key metrics of music consumption, blending album and track sales, radio airplay and streaming to provide a weekly multi-dimensional ranking of artist popularity.

31 Oct 2023

Christina Aguilera Revisits ‘Burlesque’ With Cher Halloween Costume

Christina Aguilera gave fans all the nostalgic feels this Halloween when she dressed up as Cher in Burlesque, the 2010 film they starred in together.

“Tess & Ali 4EVER,” she captioned a video on Tuesday (Oct. 31), referencing the duo’s onscreen character names, before lip-syncing along to a scene in which Cher’s Tess tells Xtina’s Ali to perform the “Wagon Wheel Watusi” dance routine. For her costume, Aguilera perfectly recreated Cher’s long black curls and skin-tight leather leotard.

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In a follow-up post on Instagram, Aguilera shared snaps from a photoshoot in her costume, and delved into why she chose to honor the “OG trailblazer.” She wrote, “Cher’s message through her music and style has left a permanent mark on the world and to this day, I still can’t believe I had the opportunity to work with such a legend!!!!”

Aguilera continued, “No one could ever fill the shoes of the great & powerful Cher. The love and respect I have for you is endless.” See her Instagram post here.

Burlesque marked Aguilera’s first leading role in a film, as well as Cher’s first musical performance on screen. In the movie, Aguilera plays Alice Marilyn, a.k.a. Ali, an aspiring singer who leaves her small hometown in Iowa to chase her dreams in Los Angeles. See soon becomes a dancer and cocktail worker at a struggling burlesque lounge owned by Tess Scali, played by Cher.

At the 2011 Golden Globe Awards, the film’s “You Haven’t Seen the Last of Me,” written by Diane Warren and performed by Cher, won best original song. Another track from the film, “Bound to You” performed by Aguilera, was nominated for the same award that year.