Music

11 Sep 2023

Jennifer Lopez to Release First Solo Album In Nine Years Under New Partnership With BMG: Exclusive

Jennifer Lopez has inked a new recording and publishing partnership with BMG, Billboard can exclusively announce today (Sept. 11).

Under the global alliance, the award-winning singer and actress, better known as J.Lo, will release her forthcoming ninth studio album, This Is Me…Now—home to 13 tracks, released via Nuyorican/BMG.

The set will mark Lopez’s first studio album as a solo artist in nine years, following the 2014 release of A.K.A. on Capitol Records. That album, produced by RedOne, peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard 200 chart. In 2022, she and Maluma released the soundtrack to their film Marry Me under Universal Studios/ Sony Music US Latin.

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“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with her and her team to release her first album in nearly a decade,” said Thomas Coesfeld, BMG’s CEO in a statement, calling Lopez a “global superstar artist, entertainer… a phenomenon.”

Thomas Scherer, BMG’s president, repertoire & marketing, Los Angeles and New York, added: “We are both excited and proud to partner with Jennifer Lopez on this long-awaited sequel to ‘This is Me… Then.’ Clearly written with love and through experience, ‘This Is Me..Now’ is uplifting and inspiring. ‘Jenny From The Block’ is back at a point in her career when her message is bigger than ever.”

Produced by J.Lo, Rogét Chahayed, Angel Lopez, and Jeff “Gitty” Gitelman, This Is Me…Now was created during 2022 and 2023 at Lopez’s home studio in Los Angeles. Other songwriter-producers who worked on the album include songwriter-producers include Hitboy, Ink, Tay Keith, Yeti Beats, Carter Lang, Kim “Kaydence” Krysiuk, with BMG’s Brandon Riester serving as the album’s A&R.

According to the press statement, the upcoming set “is an exciting musical trilogy showcasing the triple-threat’s extraordinary talents.”

See the full This Is Me…Now tracklist below:

  1. “This Is Me…Now”
  2. “To Be Yours”
  3. “Mad in Love”
  4. “Can’t Get Enough”
  5. “Rebound”
  6. “not.going.anywhere.”
  7. “Dear Ben, Pt. II”
  8. “Hummingbird”
  9. “Hearts and Flowers”
  10. “Broken Like Me”
  11. “This Time Around”
  12. “Midnight Trip to Vegas”
  13. “Greatest Love Story Never Told”

11 Sep 2023

BTS’ V Performs ‘Love Me Again’ Live For First Time, Along with Solo Tracks ‘Rainy Days’ and ‘Slow Dancing’

BTS‘ V celebrated the release of his six-track debut solo album, Layover, last week by performing the latest single, “Love Me Again,” on Naver’s NPOP variety show. As part of a 12-minute mini-concert, V stood alone on a stage surrounded by a quartet of backup singers and large canvases with his image on them (a well as digitally shifting images from famous artworks) as he crooned “Love Me Again” over a lite jazz arrangement.

The special also featured a moody run through the album’s “Rainy Days,” which found V — dressed in white sweats and a matching white beanie — seated on a stage in front of a bank of computer screens crooning the ballad from on office chair as the set was slicked with digital precipitation.

Footage of waves rolled in during a short intro film to “Slow Dancing,” which opened with V swimming in the ocean before transitioning to the forlorn-looking singer crooning the low-key soul track on a fog-enshrouded stage. During the flue solo, V walked through a curtain to reveal a watery room filled with backup dancers who joined him in for some slow-motion choreo.

The singer’s debut solo album also features the songs “Blue” and “For Us,” as well as a bonus track piano version of “Slow Dancing.” V worked with NewJeans creative director/ADOR president Hee Jin Min on the album, with label BIGHIT also noting that Min oversaw the entire production of the collection, including music, choreography, design and promotion.

V is the latest member of the K-pop super band to release his own music as the group is in the midst of a pause as the singers pursue solo careers while the performers prepare to enlist in mandatory South Korean military service: to date, Suga, Jin and J-Hope have begun their service.

Watch V’s performances below.

11 Sep 2023

Salt-N-Pepa Classic Album ‘Very Necessary’ Celebrates 30th Anniversary

Coinciding with the celebration of hip-hop’s 50th anniversary is the 30th anniversary of Salt-N-Pepa’s classic album Very Necessary. In honor of the occasion, Universal Music Enterprises (UMe) — the catalog division of Universal Music Group — is announcing the release of Very Necessary (30th Anniversary Edition) on Oct. 20 https://saltnpepa.lnk.to/VeryNecessary30th

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Originally released on Oct. 12, 1993, Very Necessary was the fourth studio album recorded by the pioneering, social activist trio of Cheryl “Salt” James, Sandra “Pepa” Denton and Deidra “DJ Spinderella” Roper. In addition to being available as a limited-edition deluxe double LP and a two-CD deluxe package, the album’s 30thanniversary rollout will include a digital deluxe version. 

In a statement to Billboard about the anniversary edition, Pepa said, “When we started out people questioned if hip-hop would even last. Here we are 30 years later, celebrating the anniversary of Very Necessary, ourselves as women and our contributions to the 50-year legacy of hip hop. It’s a beautiful thing! Thank you to all our fans for keeping Salt-N-Pepa alive and relevant all these years.” 

Very Necessary spun off three of the group’s memorable hits: “Shoop,” the group’s first top five single on the Billboard Hot 100, “Whatta Man” featuring En Vogue, top three on the Hot 100, and “None of Your Business.” The latter gave the group its first Grammy Award for best rap performance by a duo or group. The album, now certified quintuple-platinum, also reached the top five on the Billboard 200, peaking at No. 4.

The limited-edition deluxe double LP configuration of Very Necessary (30th Anniversary Edition) features four bonus tracks on blue vinyl, including “Emphatically No,” a remix of “Shoop” and two new remixes of “Whatta Man.” In addition to the latter, the two-CD deluxe and digital deluxe edition contain a total of 13 bonus tracks, ranging from the new original “Let’s Talk About AIDS” and “I Am the Body Beautiful” to various alternate mixes, a cappella versions and instrumental tracks. The two-CD deluxe also boasts liner notes on the making of “Shoop.”

11 Sep 2023

Oliver Anthony, Papa Roach Play Unplugged Parking Lot Sets After Blue Ridge Rock Festival Canceled Due to Extreme Weather

After severe weather resulted in the cancellation of the final two days of the Blue Ridge Rock Festival at the VIR Raceway in Alton, VA, some of the bands on the bill tried to make good with disappointed fans by playing acoustic sets. Among the acts taking to a makeshift stage on Saturday were Papa Roach, Shinedown and viral country star Oliver Anthony Music.

The event was originally scheduled to take place from Thursday (Sept. 7) through Sunday (Sept. 10), but due to high winds, rain and dangerous weather, multiple days were impacted, including the first night, when lightning, heavy rain, hail and strong winds forced the evacuation of the Raceway and the cancellation of that night’s sets, according to Loudwire. The weather reportedly moved in during Coheed and Cambria’s set just before 7 p.m.; Five Finger Death Punch, Staind, Evanescence and Rise Against sets were also called off due to the weather.

WDBJ reported that storms on Thursday caused severe damage to campground roads and attendees’ tents, after extreme heat earlier in the week impacting staff members felled by heat stroke; the station reported that the hot weather was so intense that even security search dogs needed IVs.

An emergency alert from the festival warned fans: “SEVERE WEATHER APPROACHING: Please exit immediately and seek shelter in your campsite, vehicle or our shuttle buses.” While the music was back on by Friday — including a surprise set from “Rich Men North of Richmond” singer Anthony, as well as performances from headliners Slipknot and Danzig — Saturday and Sunday’s lineups were wiped out when organizers called off the rest of event due to expected bad weather.

“With heavy hearts, due to this weekend’s continued severe weather, we must announce the cancellation of the final days of Blue Ridge Rock Festival,” organizers said in a statement. “Your safety and well-being are our foremost concerns. We understand the disappointment this brings, and we share immensely in your sadness. Please know that this decision was made with the utmost consideration for everyone involved and our focus now is on supporting those of you still on-site.”

Organizers said they are working to provide refund details for attendees and said information will be available early this week. “This has been an agonizing turn of events for what was to be such a special weekend,” the statement continued. “There will be more much that we unveil over the next few days. Rest assured, we will take care of you despite these difficult circumstances. 

The call-off of Sunday’s lineup meant Limp Bizkit, Pantera, Lamb of God, Babymetal, Pierce the Veil, Chevelle and others never got a chance to play. Unrelated, Rammstein singer Till Lindemann’s solo set was canceled due to a reported illness. A statement about the final day’s cancellation noted that heavy storm activity was expected, including high winds and rain, with the festival asking campers to check out by 2 p.m. and those whose vehicles were stuck or disabled offered rides to safety.

A number of acts tried to make it up to drenched fans, with video showing Papa Roach doing an acoustic version of “Scars” as fans sing along, Shinedown singing “Second Chance” (with Anthony singing backing vocals) and Anthony strumming his trusty acoustic for a run through his Billboard No. 1 hit “Rich Men North or Richmond.”

Watch the surprise acoustic set and see the full event statement below.

11 Sep 2023

Royal Blood Crowned on U.K. Chart With ‘Back to the Water Below’

Royal Blood reigns over the U.K. albums chart as Back to the Water Below (Warner Record) enters at No. 1.

The leader at the midweek stage, when it held an imposing 2-to-1 advantage over its nearest rival, Back to the Water Below keeps the duo’s perfect U.K. chart streak alive.

The Worthing, England formed rock act, comprising Mike Kerr and Ben Thatcher, now boast four consecutive No. 1 studio albums, starting with their eponymously-titled debut from 2014, 2017’s How Did We Get So Dark and 2021’s Typhoons.

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Back to the Water Below was the week’s best-seller on vinyl, with physical sales accounting for over 85% of the first week total, the Official Charts Company reports.

Completing the top three this week is Travis Scott’s former leader Utopia (RCA), up 5-2, while the 1975’s self-titled debut LP (via Dirty Hit/Polydor) rebounds to No. 3, thanks to the release of a 10th anniversary edition, issued in multiple formats.

Burna Boy’s history-setting new album I Told Them… (via Atlantic) continues to perform well in its second week, dipping 1-4. The Nigeria-born artist (real name: Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu) is a stadium headliner in the U.K.  With I Told Them…, he made history as the first international Afrobeats artist to snag a U.K. No. 1 album.

British shoegaze veterans Slowdive enjoy a career-high and first-ever top 10 appearance with Everything Alive (Dead Oceans). It’s new at No. 6 on the Official U.K. Albums Chart, published Friday, Sept. 8.

Prior to Everything Alive, the Reading, England-raised band impacted the top 40 on two occasions, with 1991’s Just for a Day (No. 32) and their 2017 comeback effort Slowdive (No. 17).

Finally, Icelandic post-rock band Sigur Rós bags a sixth top 40 LP with Átta (BMG). It’s new at No. 30, following its release on physical formats. Átta is the group’s eighth studio album, and first in 10 years.

10 Sep 2023

Doja Cat Pounces For Her First U.K. No. 1

Doja Cat is crowned on the U.K. chart for the very first time with “Paint the Town Red,” which completes its coronation in its fifth week.

Lifted from the U.S. artist’s forthcoming fourth album Scarlet, “Paint the Town Red” (via Kemosabe Records/RCA Records) hangs on after claiming pole position at the midweek stage. “Paint the Town Red” had led on the chart blast the previous week, before being overtaken in the final stages by Olivia Rodrigo’s “Vampire” (Geffen).

Doja Cat has 15 U.K. top 40 singles, including top 10s with 2020’s ”Say So” (No. 2 peak), 2021’s SZA collaboration “Kiss Me More” (No. 3) and her 2021 team-up with “You Right” with the Weeknd (No. 9).

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Meanwhile, Taylor Swift’s “Cruel Summer” (EMI) improves 4-2 for a new best. It’s an unusual journey for a song which first appeared on Swift’s 2019 chart-topping album Lover, and was liberated in June of this year as an official single release.

Rodrigo’s “Vampire” dips 1-3 on the Official U.K. Singles Chart, published Sept. 8.

Red hot producer and DJ Fred Again snags his first top 10 single as a solo artist with “adore u” (Atlantic) featuring Nigerian vocalist Obongjaya. The track rises 13-9, for a new peak position. The Mercury Prize-nominated creator has produced works with Ed Sheeran, Stormzy, Little Mix, Rita Ora and others.

The U.K.’s decades-long love affair with Kylie Minogue continues to blossom as “Tension” (BMG), the title track from her forthcoming 16th studio album, lands at No. 19. That’s the highest debut this week and it’s the U.K.’s best-selling single for the latest cycle. “Tension” gives the Aussie pop veteran her 53rd U.K. top 40, and her second this year after “Padam Padam” cracked the top 10 (peaking at No. 8).

Close behind is Kenya Grace’s “Strangers” (FFRR), which enters the chart at No. 20. The viral number is the English singer and songwriter’s major label debut, and her first appearance on the national survey.

Finally, Troye Sivan is in a rush on the U.K. chart. The Australian pop artist’s “Rush” (Polydor) powers 33-22, following the release of a new remix featuring PinkPantheress and Hyunjin of K-pop group Stray Kids.

10 Sep 2023

Who Is Anonymouse? Pop Star Is Revealed on ‘The Masked Singer’ Season 10 Kick-Off

The Masked Singer returned, and it all started with a mouse. Anonymouse, that is. The mystery singing competition show aired a special kick-off episode Sunday night (Sept. 10) ahead of season 10’s official premiere on Sept. 27.

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The highlight of The Masked Singer kick-off: special mystery guest Anonymouse, dressed as a rock star rodent and serving killer vocals on a cover of “What About Love?” — which Heart had a Top 10 hit with on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1985.

The confident Anonymouse, wearing a cute red dress, a leather jacket and a bow tied around her ears, commanded the stage and blew away the panelists with her rendition of the song.

After her performance, Anonymouse was introduced: She said she started working at a young age and had her big break as a singer, but “struggled with demons on the inside.” Images of Nick Jonas and the state of Texas were shown. When asked to give everyone a “clue to nibble on,” she replied, “Well, just like Michelle Obama, Oprah and Angelina Jolie, I’m on one special list: Time‘s 100.”

Another hint? “This is a literal, concrete clue,” Anonymouse said. “My acting career has cemented me as one talented mouse.”

The removal of Anonymouse’s mask revealed (spoiler alert!) … former Disney star and current pop icon Demi Lovato, flashing a wide grin as everyone in the room shrieked and cheered her on. “This has been so much fun,” she said.

Watch Lovato, aka Anonymouse, perform “What About Love?” and get unmasked in the video clips below.


https://youtube.com/watch?v=jl7pjcTaj64&version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-US&autohide=2&wmode=transparent





10 Sep 2023

Maxwell and SiR Fire Up Fans at the Hollywood Bowl

Artists Kelly Rowland and Goapele, actors Tichina Arnold, Keith Robinson and Tasha Smith and talk show personality Tavis Smiley were among the celebs spotted enjoying a double dose of generational soul at Maxwell’s Hollywood Bowl: Fireworks Finale concert Saturday evening (Sept. 9). The sold-out show, featuring opening act SiR, was the second in Maxwell’s three-night stint at the Bowl.

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Wearing a red suit with a double-breasted jacket adorned with sparkling jewels on one shoulder down to its sleeve, and an ear-to-ear smile, Maxwell told the audience, “Thank you for selling out this night, it’s nuts! I’m getting a little less nervous up here. The alcohol is kicking in. But thank you for 27 years.”

Starting the proceedings with one of his signature gems, “Sumthin’ Sumthin’” — accented by a sexy two-step that had the ladies screaming — Maxwell continued to smoothly transport the audience back down a memory lane of hits and fan faves. The setlist included “Dancewitme,” “Fortunate,” “Off,” “Fistful of Tears,” “Lake by the Ocean,” a searing cover of the 1977 Heatwave hit “Always and Forever,” encore closer “Whenever Wherever Whatever” and “Stop the World.” The latter was accented by a churchy organ solo and a cheeky ad-lib, “I’ma tear that ass up tonight,” that sparked cheers and applause.

But three songs in particular garnered rapturous sing-alongs — and further underscored Maxwell’s still-supple tenor and hypnotizing falsetto: “Bad Habits,” “Pretty Wings” and his 1996 hallmark “Ascension (Don’t Ever Wonder).” Referencing the string of “oohs” in the latter song’s intro (“What do you know about the ‘oohs’?”), the Grammy winner soon had the audience matching him “ooh” for “ooh” before shifting into full sing-along mode. At one point, just before a dazzling display of fireworks erupted above the Bowl’s shell, an emotional Maxwell said, “This song is as old as some of you in the house tonight.” 

Maxwell’s simpatico opening act was SiR. Strolling onstage to enthusiastic yells, the Inglewood, Calif., native kept the audience engaged from start to finish with his soulful tenor that carries a pleasing hint of roughness. Sharing relatable stories about love and life, SiR (who possesses sinuous dance moves of his own) kicked off with “John Redcorn” and then followed with selections from a catalog that includes three studio albums, the most recent being 2019’s Chasing Summer. Among the other crowd-pleasers: “Nothing Even Matters,” “Ooh Nah Nah,” his latest single “Satisfaction,” “Hair Down” and “D’Evils.” Assisting on background vocals: SiR’s mother, Jackie Gouche-Farris, whom he introduced and thanked onstage, and whose backup credits include Michael Jackson and Anita Baker.

Maxwell wraps his three-night Hollywood Bowl run Sunday night (Sept. 10) with opening act Raveena. The series commenced on Friday (Sept. 8) with Pink Sweat$. Maxwell’s upcoming performance slate includes a four-night stand (Oct. 11-14) at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

10 Sep 2023

Charlie Robison, Country Singer-Songwriter, Dies in Texas at 59

Charlie Robison, the Texas singer-songwriter whose rootsy anthems made the country charts until he was forced to retire after complications from a medical procedure left him unable to sing, died on Sunday. He was 59.

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Robison died at a hospital in San Antonio after suffering cardiac arrest and other complications, according to a family representative.

Robison launched his music career in the late 1980s, playing in local Austin bands like Two Hoots and a Holler before forming his own Millionaire Playboys. In 1996, he released his solo debut, Bandera, named for the Texas Hill Country town where his family has had a ranch for generations.

When he was approached by Sony in 1998, Robison signed with its Lucky Dog imprint, which was devoted to rawer country. His 2001 album Step Right Up, which peaked at No. 27 on the Top Country Albums chart, produced the top 40 country song “I Want You Bad.” The single reached No. 35 on the Hot Country Songs chart.

In 2018, Robison announced that he had permanently lost the ability to sing following a surgical procedure on his throat. “Therefore, with a very heavy heart I am officially retiring from the stage and studio,” he wrote on Facebook.

Robison served as a judge for one year on USA Network’s Nashville Star, a reality TV show in which contestants lived together while competing for a country music recording contract.

He is survived by his wife, Kristen Robison, and four children and stepchildren. He had three children with his first wife, Emily Strayer, a founding member of the superstar country band The Chicks. They divorced in 2008.

Memorial services are pending.

10 Sep 2023

Fans Choose V’s ‘Layover’ as This Week’s Favorite New Music

V‘s Layover tops this week’s new music poll.

Music fans voted in a poll published Friday (Sept. 8) on Billboard, choosing the BTS member’s new solo collection as their favorite music release of the past week.

ARMY showed up: Layover brought in an impressive 96% of the vote. It beat out new music from Olivia Rodrigo, Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion, The Rolling Stones and more.

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The K-pop star’s six-track album includes the songs “Rainy Days,” “Blue,” “Love Me Again,” “Slow Dancing,” “For Us” and a piano version of “Slow Dancing.”

BIGHIT suggests playing tracks in order from Nos. 1-5, noting that “Slow Dancing” is the focus number of the collection, describing it in a press release as a “1970s romantic soul style track [that] exudes a laid-back and free-spirited feeling.”

Trailing behind Layover on the poll is Rodrigo’s Guts album and Cardi and Megan’s “Bongos” collab.

See the final results of this week’s poll below.