Music

25 Oct 2023

12 Musicians Who Have Cheered on Their Athlete Partners From the Stands

When artists are not busy working on music, promoting new projects or taking their concert experiences on the road, one way for them to kick back and relax is through watching sporting events — basketball, football, soccer and everything in between — and some of them are doing it live and in person to support their significant others.

Taylor Swift is one such musician. The pop super star, who is dating Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce,  first started attending games in September 2023 and has frequented multiple matches at Arrowhead Stadium since.

Swift, however, isn’t the only pop star who has made supporting her partner courtside or from the stands a regular thing. Ciara is a fan of football as well, and has been spotted at NFL games cheering on her husband, Russell Wilson, quarterback for the Denver Broncos. Shakira, while she was still dating Spanish soccer star Gerard Piqué (the pair ended their relationship in early 2023), was often spotted in the stands, sometimes taking their sons Milan and Sasha to watch their dad play.

From Carrie Underwood to Enrique Iglesias and more, Billboard takes a look at musicians who have supported their athlete partners at sporting events.

25 Oct 2023

Victor Thompson, Ehis ‘D’ Greatest & Gunna Top Hot Gospel Songs With ‘This Year (Blessings)’

Nigerian-based Victor Thompson and his brother and duo partner, Ehis “D” Greatest, top Billboard’s streaming-, airplay- and sales-based Hot Gospel Songs chart (dated Oct. 28) as “This Year (Blessings)” rises to No. 1 in its second week on the list.

The song, originally released in January, received a boost when rapper Gunna joined for a remix released Oct. 13. With a majority of the song’s consumption in the tracking week from the new version, Gunna is now also billed on the chart.

Sporting a 163% surge, “This Year (Blessings),” drew 3.1 million official U.S. streams Oct. 13-19, according to Luminate.

Concurrently, the track hits the top 10 on the Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs survey, jumping 11-3. It’s the first entry on each ranking for both the faith-based twosome and Gunna.

“God is so amazing,” Thompson tells Billboard. “It’s so exciting to know that people get the message of this song. I’ve always wanted to live an impactful life and I’m truly happy about this.”

Singer-songwriter and worship leader Thompson was born in Lagos, Nigeria, where he is currently based. Israel Ehinomen Okosun is popularly known as Ehis “D” Greatest and is also based in Nigeria.

Thompson says that the pair is currently working on a studio album due this year. The act is planning on touring the U.S. starting in early 2024.

‘Room’ for Maverick City Music

“In the Room,” by Atlanta-based collective Maverick City Music with Chandler Moore and Naomi Raine and featuring Tasha Cobbs Leonard, blasts onto Hot Gospel Songs at No.2. It simultaneously enters Hot Christian Songs at No. 13.

Released Oct. 13, the song drew 1.3 million official first-week streams and sold 3,000 downloads.

Maverick City Music adds its 25th Hot Gospel Songs top 10. For Moore and Raine, who are members of the group, it’s their 11th and 17th top 10 under their own names, respectively. Cobbs Leonard sends her 15th song to the tier.

25 Oct 2023

Meet WENDY: The Teen Band Taking the Rock World Head-On

The rock band WENDY consists of four members, all of them men, with an average age of 19. Ranging from age 18 to 20, the teen band overflows with youth and vitality.

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Last year, they performed at SUMMER SONIC 2022, following up this year with a performance at METROCK 2023. They also performed a solo show at Shibuya CLUB QUATTRO in August of this year. Their shows are attended by listeners of all ages who keenly seek out new music, and they have a growing throng of fans who love the passion they pour into their live shows.

WENDY is establishing a big presence in the live scene, and everyone who hears them says the same thing: “I can’t believe they’re in their teens.” If you listen to their music, which is highly influenced by 1970s and 1980s roots music and hard rock, you’ll hear a fierceness and edge seldom found among Japanese artists, or even bands in other countries. Their melodies and lyrics are peppered with the essence of what it is to be a teenager, so they fit right into the 2020s. The band pairs its own unique originality with a sense of universality.

WENDY is made up of vocalist and guitarist Skye McKenzie, guitarist Paul, bassist Johnny Vincent, and drummer Sena. It was formed in Setagaya, Tokyo, in October 2020. Skye’s parents are British and Japanese, and Paul’s are Russian and Japanese. Skye is a native English speaker, so all of their song lyrics are in English. However, that’s not the only reason that their songs are in English.

The other reason for this choice is that every member of WENDY has their sights set on the world. From the very start, the members have shared a common dream: global success. But what does that entail? Winning a Grammy? Playing shows in huge overseas venues? We’d love to talk to the band and find out more.

In a previous interview, Skye has stated that he wants to play at London’s Wembley Stadium. There have been some recent new developments that are sure to put a smile on the faces of these ambitious musicians hoping to take on the world. The songs “SCREAM” and “Chasing a song,” which are featured on their first album, Don’t waste my YOUTH, released on August 23, 2023, have appeared in many Spotify playlists in countries such as the U.K., the U.S., and France, and the number of Spotify monthly listeners is soaring. Monthly listener numbers have grown more than ten-fold compared to before the album’s release. More and more of the comments on their socials are from overseas listeners, and they’re starting to draw steady attention from the global rock scene.

Despite being their debut album, Don’t waste my YOUTH was produced by Marc Whitmore, whose past production credits include Jon Batiste’s We Are, winner of the Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards, and The Black Keys’ album Let’s Rock. In the “RECORDING MAKING with Marc Whitmore” feature of the album’s limited edition DVD, Marc has high praise for their musical sensibilities, saying, “They truly understand what rock and roll is, and that’s why they have to play it.”

In September, they performed in W24&WENDY: Rock n Roll is Back, a two group event at the Rollinghall club in Seoul, South Korea, playing alongside the up-and-coming K-pop band W24. This was their first overseas show, at a venue with a capacity of 500 people. However, the played their hearts out, undaunted, and Skye engaged with the audience in English, taking full command of the show’s tone.

Each show they put on, not only does the band get better at performing, but they also get better at confidently MCing. At the Korean show, the audience shouted and applauded as Skye talked, spurring them on. Their performance was a roaring success. With this show, WENDY has started building up a track record of success in their overseas performances. They’ve taken one step closer to being a global band.

However, WENDY is taking on the world through rock, and if you’ve looked at the music charts, you’ve seen that the rock genre has been struggling, not only in Japan but globally, as well. This is sure to be putting pressure on the band as they take the road of playing the kind of music they truly want to play, but you don’t get even the slightest sense of worry from the band members or their music. Perhaps the secret is hidden in the chorus of “SCREAM.”

————-

Don’t waste your time

Think about what people think of u

I don’t wanna be

Just a kid that sits around

I’ll scream out loud

You get a strong sense of their commitment to doing what they want to do, regardless of what others might think. When you listen to the song, it’s clear where their bold stance, their energetic live shows, and their repertoire comes from. But it isn’t just their strong wills. Their fundamental love of music, rock, and live shows shines through to listeners, and it might be what’s behind the excitement of the audience at their Korean show and their positions on overseas playlists.

That’s not enough for WENDY, though. They understand that they’re only at the starting line of their efforts to take the world head-on with rock music. They’ll be refining their live performances and polishing the quality of their music, because the world they’re aiming for is a huge one.

It’s a great joy to be able to see WENDY take on the world with their brave, confident style, and hopes are high for their future success in the Japanese and global rock scenes.

25 Oct 2023

No, Daft Punk Is Not Performing at the 2024 Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony

While the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympics often bring out the biggest musical stars of the Games’ host country, Daft Punk will not be among the French artists performing at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

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Yesterday, French outlet Le Parisien published a story saying that the duo had been contacted about getting involved in the Games’ opening ceremony, and that discussions with the pair had begun several months ago.

This story cites a France Inter conversation with Thomas Jolly, the artistic director of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. It in, Jolly said, “It would be very happy for them to be in this ceremony. We cannot not think of Daft Punk when we think at an international exhibition in France.” But later in the interview, he stated with a laugh that “I lied a little about Daft Punk.”

But in fact, a Daft Punk Olympics performance is not to be, as a representative for the duo confirmed to Billboard today (Oct. 25), that “this is just a rumor and not factual.”

Tres sad, to be sure, but there is new Daft Punk material on the horizon. On Nov. 17, the duo — who officially broke up in 2021 — will release a “drumless” edition of their 2013 album Random Access Memories as part of the album’s 10-year anniversary celebration. As the concept indicates, this new version will feature the original album, stripped of its percussion.

The 10-year anniversary has also included an interview series, Memory Tapes, with album collaborators including Julian Casablancas, Nile Rodgers and Pharrell.

The Paris Olympics, meanwhile, take place next summer, from July 26 to Aug. 11, 2024.

25 Oct 2023

Blink-182 vs. The Rolling Stones: Will It Be a Battle of the Bands Atop the Billboard 200? 

The Contenders is a midweek column that looks at artists aiming for the top of the Billboard charts, and the strategies behind their efforts. This week (for the upcoming charts dated Nov. 4), new albums by rock greats Blink-182 and The Rolling Stones vie for the Billboard 200’s top spot, along with the last two albums to have topped the chart. 

Blink-182, One More Time… (Columbia): The latest album from pop-punk paragons Blink-182 is the 10th of the band’s career — counting 1994’s independently released Buddha, andfollowing 2019’s appropriately titled Nine. But it’s also the first since 2011’s California to feature guitarist and vocalist Tom DeLonge, who reconnected with the trio’s other two members after co-leader Mark Hoppus was diagnosed with cancer in 2021, undergoing successful treatment and recovery.  

Riding the excitement of the reunion of the group’s classic lineup, One More Time has already spawned a pair of Billboard Hot 100 hits in “Edging” and the title track, reaching Nos. 61 and 62 respectively – the group’s highest Hot 100 entries since 2004’s “I Miss You” (No. 42). The album is expected to sell well — helped by 11 different vinyl variants, standard CD and cassette editions, and a deluxe box set with a branded shirt and CD contained inside – and should get extra exposure from a recently announced 2024 U.S. tour, taking them to arenas and stadiums throughout next summer. (The trio also released a new digital edition of the album on their webstore on Wednesday, featuring two new bonus tracks.) 

The Rolling Stones, Hackney Diamonds (Geffen/Polydor): Though they’ve remained a consistent top-drawing live act and released the blues covers set Blue & Lonesome in 2016, this month’s Hackney Diamonds is the first album of originals from Rock and Roll Hall of Famers The Rolling Stones since 2005’s A Bigger Bang. Produced by contemporary pop-rock hitmaker Andrew Watt, who’s previously worked with rock legends Elton John and Ozzy Osbourne, Diamonds has been hailed by critics and fans as one of the group’s best later-period works. (John also plays on two of Diamonds‘ 12 tracks, with other huge-name guests on the album including Lady Gaga, Stevie Wonder and Sir Paul McCartney.)

Will it be enough to score the band their 10th No. 1 album on the Billboard 200? The Stones will certainly be giving fans plenty of options for purchase, with a whopping 30+ vinyl variants, as well as two deluxe box sets (with either a branded shirt or a hat, plus a CD), a digipack CD and a CD/Blu-ray box set. The band is fighting against their recent history a little, however, as they haven’t topped the chart since the classic Tattoo You in 1981. (Blink’s most recent No. 1 came in 2016 with California.) If the album hits the Billboard 200’s top 10, it will extend the band’s already-record-setting number of top 10 entries on the chart to 38.

Drake, For All the Dogs (OVO/Republic) & Bad Bunny, Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana (Rimas): The previous two No. 1s on the Billboard 200 (for the charts dated Oct. 21 & 28, respectively) are still putting up big streaming numbers on a daily basis, currently responsible for a combined 14 of the top 20 spots on the realtime Apple Music chart. Despite being the older release, Drake‘s For All the Dogs probably has the advantage between the two sets, with both a stronger across-the-board showing for its 24 tracks and the current No. 1 song on both the Apple Music chart and the Spotify U.S. Daily Top Songs listing, with the Yeat-featuring “IDGAF.” Dogs earned 164,000 equivalent album units in its second week, so it’s likely that Blink or the Stones will have to post a first-week number comfortably in the six digits to pass it in its third frame.  

IN THE MIX 

Tyler, the Creator, Wolf (Odd Future): The beloved rapper’s second album, 2013’s Wolf, received a 10th anniversary vinyl reissue pressing earlier this month. Given Tyler’s strong presence in the vinyl market – which helped return his Call Me If You Get Lost to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in April 2022, nine months after its initial debut, following its belated vinyl release – it should result in Wolf making a strong return to next week’s chart. The album initially debuted and peaked at No. 3 in April 2013.  

Fuerza Regida, Pa Las Baby’s Y Belikeada (Sony Music Latin/Street Mob/Rancho Humilde): One of the biggest names from the recent boom in regional Mexican music just released one of its biggest albums: Fuerza Regida’s new Pa Las Baby’s set is a whopping 30 tracks, featuring guest appearances from fellow música Mexicana hitmakers Chino Pacas, Gabito Ballesteros and Manuel Torizo, as well as American EDM star producer Marshmello. The set’s chart performance will come almost entirely through its streaming numbers, as the album does not yet have a physical release.  

Cher, Cher Christmas (Warner): Cher’s first-ever Christmas album includes covers of holiday standards like “Santa Baby” and “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home),” as well as the set-leading original “DJ Play a Christmas Song,” and guest appearances from fellow stars Michael Bublé, Cyndi Lauper, Stevie Wonder and (of course) Tyga. The album is currently available through four CD variants (each with different covers), though its vinyl issue isn’t expected until later this year. If the album reaches the top 40 – possible for either next week or following its vinyl release – it would give the pop icon a seventh straight decade of charting at least one solo album in the Billboard 200’s top 40, dating back to the 1960s.   

25 Oct 2023

Alex Rodriguez Jokes He ‘Certainly Can’t’ Give Travis Kelce Advice on Dating Taylor Swift

Alex Rodriguez knows a thing or two about dating a major star, but that doesn’t mean he has advice on the matter.

The former New York Yankees athlete sat down with People this week, when he was asked if he has anything to share with Travis Kelce amid his budding romance with Taylor Swift — as A-Rod was previously engaged to a fellow superstar, Jennifer Lopez. “I certainly can’t give anyone advice about that,” Rodriguez joked of dating in the limelight.

“For me, of all the things that I’ve been able to experience in my life, there’s nothing [else] besides the birth of both of my girls,” A-Rod told People of his current priorities.

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Rodriguez and Lopez first began dating in 2017 and revealed their engagement in 2019. They spent the first part of the pandemic at home with their blended family, made up of the “On the Floor” singer’s twins Maximilian “Max” David and Emme Maribel — whom she shares with ex-husband Marc Anthony — and Rodriguez’s daughters Ella and Natasha with ex-wife Cynthia Scurtis. In 2021, the couple announced that they’d broken off their engagement, issuing a joint statement to Today, noting that they “realized we are better as friends and look forward to remaining so.” 

The Marry Me star has since rekindled an old romance and tied the knot with Ben Affleck, while Rodriguez is currently dating Canadian fitness instructor Jaclyn Cordeiro.

25 Oct 2023

Sakurazaka46’s ‘Shoninyokkyu’ Rises to No. 1 on Japan Hot 100

Sakurazaka46’s “Shoninyokkyu” hits No. 1 on this week’s Billboard Japan Hot 100, dated Oct. 25, ending Ado’s consecutive reign atop the list at four weeks.

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The girl group’s seventh single — the title means “esteem needs” —  features second-gen member Hikaru Morita in center position of the choreography, and is the last song including first-gen member Mizuho Habu, who is set to leave the group in November.

The song launched with 545,944 CDs, surpassing the group’s own record set by the previous single (“Start Over!,” 523,606 first-week copies) to rule physical sales. Streaming for the new single also surpassed its predecessor by 25 percent, racking up 7,882,683 streams to hit No. 5 for the metric. The track is at No. 13 for downloads (3,343 units) and No. 51 for radio.

Ado’s “Show” slips to No. 2 after holding at No. 1 for four straight weeks. But the song racked up 14,227,857 weekly streams (up approximately 1.17 percent from the previous week) to hold at No. 1 for the metric, while also continuing to rule downloads and video views. It also rises 18-14 for karaoke. Ado collaborated with Universal Studios Japan for its Halloween event “Halloween Horror Nights” for this track, featured as the theme for the event’s dance show “Zombie de Dance” continuing through Nov. 5. With Halloween less than a week away, the song still could return to the top spot on the Japan Hot 100.

MAZZEL’s “Carnival” debuts at No. 4. The rising boy band’s second single hits No. 2 for sales with 52,448 copies sold, surpassing its debut single “Vivid,” which launched with 43,340 copies. The eight-member group also hits No. 4 for downloads with 9,289 first-week units — also performing much better than its predecessor (2,682 units) — and is at No. 3 for radio.

Fujii Kaze’s “Hana” rises 11-7 this week, breaking into the top 10 on the Japan Hot 100. The theme of the new TV series Ichiban Sukina Hana that premiered Oct. 12 moved 55-12 for streaming after points for the track increased by about 111 percent from the previous week. Points for video also jumped 77-21 with a 71 percent increase.

The Billboard Japan Hot 100 combines physical and digital sales, audio streams, radio airplay, video views and karaoke data.

See the full Billboard Japan Hot 100 chart, tallying the week from Oct. 16 to 22, here. For more on Japanese music and charts, visit Billboard Japan’s English Twitter account.

25 Oct 2023

10 First-Timers on Billboard’s Charts This Week: Marc Rebillet, Aliyah’s Interlude, Brigitte Calls Me Baby & More

Billboard has more than 200 different weekly charts in its menu, encompassing numerous genres and formats.

While established artists often compete for a spot on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart and Billboard 200 albums ranking, which track the most popular songs and albums of the week, respectively, up-and-coming talents typically start off on genre-specific lists.

Here’s a look at 10 artists who appear on surveys via first entries on the Oct. 28-dated charts.

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Marc Rebillet

The electronic musician and YouTuber is officially a Billboard-charting artist, thanks to his viral hit “Your New Morning Alarm.” Rebillet first released the 57-second song on April 1, 2021, on his YouTube, Instagram and TikTok accounts, but released an official version on streaming and digital retail services Oct. 13, via Bored Certified Records. The song debuts at No. 1 on the Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales chart with 1,000 downloads sold, according to Luminate. It also garnered 124,000 U.S. streams. The original YouTube video has raked in over 32 million views – his most-viewed clip on the platform – since its 2021 posting.

Rebillet, whose nickname “Loop Daddy” is a nod to his improvised electronic and funk live-looping technique, has been churning out music for nearly a decade. He released his debut six-track EP Loop Daddy in 2018, and has since dropped its sequel, Loop Daddy II, in 2019, as well as three studio albums: Marc Rebillet (2018), Europe (2019) and Loop Daddy III (2020).

Rebillet is from Dallas and now based in New York City. He often performs pop-up concerts on street corners around New York, livestreaming the events on YouTube and Twitch for his “We Outside” series.

In June 2020, Billboard reported about Rebillet’s string of sold-out drive-in concerts around the country during the COVID-19 pandemic. The 12-concert run, which ranged from 350 to 600 cars (or about 1,000 fans) per show, earned over a half-million dollars. Before those shows, he expanded his audience that spring with livestreamed performances from his apartment wearing, simply, a bathrobe and boxer shorts.

Aliyah’s Interlude

The Atlanta-based influencer, model and artist (real name: Aliyah Bah) debuts at No. 36 on Billboard’s Emerging Artists chart, marking her first chart appearance, thanks to her breakout viral song, and only official release, “It Girl.” Released Sept. 30 on Interlude Records, along with a sped-up version, it tallied a combined 3.3 million U.S. streams in the tracking week (up 60%).

TikTok has been a contributing factor in the song’s growing profile, as a portion of the sped-up mix has been used in over 515,000 clips on the platform to date. Plus, a piece of the original version has soundtracked over 20,000 videos. (Activity on TikTok is not included in Billboard’s charts except for the newly-launched TikTok Billboard Top 50.) The original version has also been used in over 40,000 Instagram Reels.

Aliyah initially rose to prominence on social media in 2020 after posting videos of her outfits. Earlier this year, the New York Times reported on her fashion aesthetic, which fans have shared online using the hashtag #AliyahCore.

Brigitte Calls Me Baby

The Chicago-based band arrives on Billboard’s charts for the first time with its breakout single “Impressively Average.” The song, released Oct. 3 on ATO Records, debuts at No. 40 on Adult Alternative Airplay (up 107% in plays Oct. 13-19). The song was produced by Dave Cobb, the nine-time Grammy Award-winning producer/songwriter/engineer behind hits by Brandi Carlile, Jason Isbell, Sturgill Simpson, Chris Stapleton and others.

Outside of “Impressively Average,” the group has released the song “Eddie My Love,” in January. Both tracks are set to appear on the act’s five-song debut EP, This House Is Made of Corners, due Nov. 3. The band comprises Wes Leavins (vocals), Jack Fluegel (guitar), Trevor Lynch (guitar), Devin Wessels (bass) and Jeremy Benshish (drums).

Brake

The singer-songwriter, recognizable by his long, bright orange hair, scores his first Billboard chart hit, thanks to his new single “Cigarettes & Black Lipstick.” The song, released Oct. 13 on Bananabeat Records, debuts at No. 3 on Alternative Digital Song Sales and No. 6 on Rock Digital Song Sales with 1,500 downloads sold in its first week. The track also sparks his No. 42 debut on the Emerging Artists chart.

The song was produced by Cisco Adler, the musician/producer behind Shwayze’s two Hot 100-charting songs, “Buzzin’ ” (on which he’s also featured) and the top 25 hit “Corona and Lime,” in 2008.

Brake (real name: Blake Bidigare) has released 10 additional songs on streaming services, dating to “Mine” and “Halloween in Summertime” in 2020.

Ren

The Welsh musician, from the Isle of Anglesey, lands on Billboard’s charts for the first time with his new studio album, Sick Boi. The set, released Oct. 13 via The Other Songs, debuts at No. 137 on the Billboard 200 with 9,000 equivalent album units earned in its opening week. It also starts at No. 2 on Heatseekers Albums, No. 11 on Top Current Album Sales and No. 13 on Top Album Sales. The set also helps him reach No. 4 on the Emerging Artists chart.

Ren (full name: Ren Gill) initially rose to popularity as a member of the groups The Big Push and Trick the Fox before going solo. Prior to Sick Boi, he released his debut LP Freckled Angels in 2016 and the EPs Demos (Do Not Share) Volumes 1 & 2 in 2020.

Haley Heynderickx

The singer-songwriter, from Portland, Ore., debuts at No. 25 on Billboard’s Emerging Artists chart, thanks to the vinyl re-issues of her 2018 debut studio album and sole chart entry, I Need to Start a Garden. The set, released via Mama Bird Recording Co., sold 2,000 copies in the latest tracking week, all on vinyl. (After its initial release, the album ranked among the top 25-selling Americana/folk albums.)

Outside of Garden, Heynderickx has released three EPs: Fish Eyes (2016), Unpeeled (Banana Stand) (2017) and Among the Horses III (2018).

Kaylee Bell

The singer-songwriter, from Canterbury, New Zealand, is a Billboard-charting act, thanks to her breakthrough tribute to Keith Urban, “Keith.” Her first charted track ranks at No. 12 on Country Digital Song Sales with 2,000 downloads sold (up 92% after debuting last week). Bell sang the song as a contestant on The Voice Australia last year – when Urban was a judge – and the subsequent performance went viral. Bell initially self-released the song in February 2019. The single also helps her debut at No. 41 on Emerging Artists.

Bell reminisced about performing the song in front of Urban in an Oct. 9 clip she shared on TikTok. “Still pinch myself that i got to share this moment with you,” she said in the clip’s caption.

Bell has been recording music for over a decade and has released two studio LPs: Heartfirst (2013) and Silver Linings (2021). She has also supported Ed Sheeran, Brad Paisley and Morgan Evans on tour.

Jacob Lusk

The singer-songwriter, and member of gospel/R&B trio Gabriels, earns his first solo appearance on Billboard’s charts, thanks to his featured appearance on The Blessed Madonna’s “Mercy.” The song, released in June on Margeverse/Warner Records, debuts at No. 8 on the Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales chart.

Lusk, from Compton, Calif., competed in the 10th season of American Idol in 2011, alongside fellow Billboard-charting acts Scotty McCreery (who won that season), Lauren Alaina, Haley Reinhart and James Durbin. Lusk finished in fifth place.

Gabriels have sent one song onto Billboard’s charts: “Love and Hate in a Different Time” reached No. 38 on Adult Alternative Airplay in 2021.

Billy Gillies

The DJ and electronic producer, from Northern Ireland, notches his first entry on Billboard’s charts with “DNA,” featuring Hannah Boleyn. The track, released in July on Big Beat/Atlantic Records, debuts at No. 37 on Dance/Mix Show Airplay (up 17% in plays). Billy Gillies has previously collaborated with Aly & Fila, Armin van Buuren and Andrew Rayel, among others.

Kenai

The Puerto Rican singer (real name: Joel A. Lopez) claims his first Billboard chart hit, thanks to “Ultimo Capitulo.” The song, released Aug. 23 via YO SOY LA VOZ INC, debuts at No. 6 on the Latin Digital Song Sales chart. Kenai has released two solo LPs so far: Mi Antesala in 2014 and Icono in 2017.

25 Oct 2023

On the Radar Latin: J Luna, Venesti, Paulina, & More Artists to Discover

Every month, Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors spotlight a group of rising artists whose music we love. Think “diamantes en bruto,” or “diamonds in the rough.” These are newcomers who have yet to impact the mainstream — but whose music excites us, and who we believe our readers should make a point to discover.

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Our latest edition of On the Radar Latin includes a wave of emerging artists, who we discovered during the 2023 Billboard Latin Music Week last month either by networking or coming across their music at a showcase. See our recommendations below.

Alfonso Terán

Country: Venezuela

Why They Should Be On Your Radar: Alfonso Terán is a 37-year-old independent singer and songwriter who has been releasing music as a solo artist since 2015, when he debuted with the heartfelt pop ballad “Mi Único Adiós.” His career, however, began formally years earlier in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he joined a country band with which he played over 350 shows around the U.S.

Born to a Mexican mother and Venezuelan father, he spent a few years in Mexico and a couple more in Miami before moving to Nashville in early 2023 to continue developing his career. With a sweet, raspy voice in singles like “Tú,” “Blanca Navidad” with Manuel Gamez, and “Libertadores” — the latter dedicated to those who lost their lives in political demonstrations in Venezuela — Terán has shown his ability to address various topics with empathy and sensitivity. His most recent release is “Como Yo,” a pop song in which he reminisces over a former lover, and whose music video he also directed. — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS

Song for Your Playlist: “Como Yo”

ERRE

Country: Mexico/U.S.A.

Why They Should Be On Your Radar: A sad boy at heart, ERRE (real name: Eduardo Granados Rojas) is a Mexican-American singer-songwriter, who was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. I came across ERRE’s moody tunes and heartfelt requintos at the Billboard En Vivo “A Night of Mexican Music” showcase (presented by Sonidos Mexicanos Promotores Unidos, Zamora Group and Rancho Humilde), where he opened up the night. His acoustic set, which included singles “Solo,” “Me Olvidaste,” and “Te Extraño,” was enough proof that he’s a real hidden gem in the música Mexicana realm. The former is a collaboration on Eslabon Armado’s 2022 album Nostalgia. Inspired by acts such as Ariel Camacho y Los Plebes del Rancho, ERRE learned to play the guitar at the age of 11 and is currently crooning fans with his sierreño sounds meshed with jazzy chords and MIDI drum patterns. — JESSICA ROIZ

Song For Your Playlist: “Vete”

J Luna

Country: Mexico

Why They Should Be On Your Radar: J Luna is no stranger to the local Miami scene (I’ve come across him at various industry events), but I was excited to see him network and mingle at his first Billboard Latin Music Week. The Mexican-born, Miami-based artist, also known on social media as “J Luna P’al Mundo” (J Luna for the world), has been following his passion for more than a decade now — but it wasn’t until 2020 that he officially launched his career with his debut single “El Protagonista.” With his sultry yet crisp and sugary vocals, Luna can easily perform everything from infectious reggaetón (“El Delicioso,” “Conmigo Estas Mejor”) to feel-good cumbia (best heard in his latest release “Happy Final”). With his new musical era, Luna plans to continue along the lines of música Mexicana, most notably fusing norteño with his distinct urban sound. — J.R.

Song For Your Playlist: “Happy Final”

Jay Music

Country: Guatemala

Why They Should Be On Your Radar: Born in Guatemala to a Guatemalan mother and Argentinean father, Jay Music has become a rising phenomenon in his country and across Latin America with his catchy pop-reggaetón beats. Inspired by artists such as Daddy Yankee, Jay realized he had an artistic gift when he was invited to collaborate with a fellow colleague in 2015. He officially launched his singing career in 2020 with his debut single “Besame Lento.” Bringing to the forefront the urban movement in the Central American country, Jay released an eight-track EP called Supremo in 2022 and is currently making the rounds with his innovative ranchero-trap single “Compa, Qué no haría?” in collab with Javier Garistu. — J.R.

Song For Your Playlist: “Primero fue Lunes que Martes”

Karen Báez

Country: Mexico

Why They Should Be On Your Radar: It was through a mariachi potpourri titled “La Tequilera” in 2020 that Karen Báez presented herself to the world. Since, singles like “Ya Nunca Más,” “Al Modo,” and “Amor de Hermanos” (the latter in collaboration with her talented brother, Brandon Báez) have showcased her powerhouse vocals and the fiery passion she brings to the regional Mexican genre, most notably in mariachi and banda. Hailing from Sinaloa, Mexico, Báez is signed to indie record label Gruindag Music and has already released one studio album, Por Amor a México (2021), and two EPs: La Pareja Ideal with Banda Selective and Mejor Como Amigos, both this year. — J.R.

Song For Your Playlist: “No La Rigues Otra Vez”

Mery EMe

Country: The Dominican Republic

Why They Should Be On Your Radar: With a powerful, melodious voice perfect for the tropical genre, Mery EMe released in May This Is What Merengue Is All About (Gash Music,) an 8-track album with songs ranging from “Pa’ Qué Ninguna” (written by Ramón Orlando Valoy) and “A La Que Vive Contigo” (a female version of maestro Armando Manzanero’s “A Ese Que Vive Contigo”), to a bilingual version of Miley Cyrus’ hit “Flowers.” More recently, the Dominican singer released in September the single “Ni Me Debes, Ni Te Debo” feat. El Jeffrey, a merengue song about heartbreak to dance the sorrows away.

“I wanted to honor my land, my people and my culture with merengue, to take it to different latitudes and say with pride that I am from the Dominican Republic,” says the artist, who at 15 moved to Boston and now is based in Miami. Mery Eme captivated me at Latin Music Week with her good vibes and cheerful personality. She is currently working on an upcoming album in which she promises to incorporate elements of regional Mexican and urbano music, as well as getting involved in songwriting. — S.R.A.

Song For Your Playlist: “Ni Me Debes, Ni Te Debo” (feat. El Jeffrey)

Paulina

Country: Puerto Rico (U.S.A.)

Why They Should Be On Your Radar: During the first day of Billboard Latin Music Week, I had the pleasure of briefly meeting Paulina Fuentes. She introduced herself in an enchanting, sweet, and humble manner while discussing her project. At that moment, I didn’t know how beautiful her voice was and how talented she indeed was. Her music is a fusion of alternative pop with soft and dreamy vocals. It combines the passion, dreams and motivation of an independent artist filled with creativity, making her a true gem in the industry. She released her latest single, “Sin Rumbo,” in September and is currently working on her debut EP titled Instantes.— INGRID FAJARDO

Song For Your Playlist: “Dejalo Ir” (feat. Rigoazulado)

Pía Vasquez

Country: Ecuador

Why They Should Be On Your Radar: With her debut album Mi Mundo, which was released in 2008, the talented singer and songwriter Pía Vásquez made her entry into the music scene of her native Ecuador. After a period of ten years away from music, the Ecuadorian relaunched her artistic career earlier this year with the single “Ahora Lloras”, a powerful song about heartbreak that radiates the perspective of an empowered woman, fully aware of her worth and ready to turn the page. This single was followed by her most recent release, “Hasta Que Salga el Sol.” Vásquez fuses the Latin pop genre with captivating urban elements, which is complemented by colorful video clips full of energetic dances and choreography. — LUISA CALLE

Song For Your Playlist: “Ahora Lloras”

Venesti

Country: Colombia

Why They Should Be On Your Radar: Hailing from the vibrant city of Medellín, Colombia, Venesti bursts into the Latin music scene, boasting remarkable vocal finesse. His combination of sultry Afrobeat rhythms and soulful vocals catapulted the rising star into the spotlight, achieving his first No. 1 spot on Latin Airplay and Latin Rhythm Airplay for the charts dated October 21 with the single “Umaye.”

Born Faiber Stiven Caicedo Castro, Venesti is surprising the music industry with his infectious and refreshing songs, drawing inspiration from a myriad of rhythmic influences including dancehall, tropical, and urbano, among others. His debut album, De La Nada, released Sep. 28, received widespread critical acclaim. Billboard‘s Jessica Roiz wrote, “Off the bat, [Venesti] is showcasing his versatility, delivering infectious reggaetón, bossa nova/trap fusions, and even an electronic-bachata.” The artist also had the honor of performing at this year’s Billboard Latin Music Week during the En Vivo concert series, where he took center stage at the official kickoff party, presented by AP Global Music. — ISABELA RAYGOZA

Song For Your Playlist: “Umaye”

25 Oct 2023

LMFAO’s ‘Sexy and I Know It’ Shuffles to One Billion YouTube Views

Defunct dance duo LMFAO hit a hard-partying high mark this week when the video for their 2011 electropop anthem “Sexy and I Know It” hit the one billion views mark on YouTube. The song that ran up to the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks in January 2012 is the second video from Redfoo and Sky Blu to reach that pinnacle, following on the heels of “Party Rock Anthem,” which has 2.3 billion views and counting.

“Sexy and I Know It” appeared on the duo’s 2011 Sorry For Party Rocking album, which also featured “Party Rock Anthem” and “Sorry For Party Rocking.” The “Sexy” video was filmed in Venice Beach, CA and it encapsulates the pair’s party-all-the-time ethos, as Redfoo makes his way down the famous boardwalk, dancing through a series of cameos from z-list stars (Simon Rex, Wilmer Valderrama, MMA fighter Alistair Overeem, porn star Ron Jeremy and their mascot, Shuffle Bot) in a clip firmly focused on a party below the mankini.

Redfoo (the youngest song of Motown Records founder Berry Gordy) and Sky Blu (Gordy’s grandson) announced in Sept. 2012 that they were going on an indefinite hiatus, from which they have yet to return.

“Party Rock Anthem” hit No. 99 on Billboard’s recently revealed list of the Best Pop Songs of All Time, with the writer praising it for perfectly marrying all the popular musical calling cards of the day: “the bass drop of EDM, the (almost) cleverness of pop-rap, and a built-in dance craze good enough to rival the Wobble, the Cupid Shuffle” and the Dougie.”

Watch the “Sexy and I Know It” video below.