Music

07 Sep 2023

Rihanna’s Back With a New Fenty x Puma Sneaker Design: ‘It’s a Bit of a Family Reunion’

Rihanna and Puma are back in business. After taking several years off as the shoe brand’s Fenty label creative director, the “Diamonds” singer has announced her return to the company with a brand new sneaker design dubbed “Avanti.”

The musician-mogul unveiled the new product, which becomes available for purchase Sept. 15, with a pair of chic, futuristic photos of Ri modeling the shoes. “we are back…,” she wrote in the caption. “reintroducing the Avanti. ⚽️ #FENTYxPUMA.”

Rihanna also posted a promotional video showing off two different pairs of Avantis. One of the styles features a black leathery material with Fenty x Puma’s logo emblazoned in gold at the top, while another is made out of a shimmering silver material. Both were inspired by past Puma shoes, specifically the King football boot and Easy Rider running shoe, according to Vogue.

Fenty’s collaboration with Puma dates back to 2015, with the two brands releasing several shoe and apparel designs over the course of the next two years. In 2017, however, their partnership was put on hiatus as Ri continued working on her Fenty Beauty and Savage x Fenty business ventures — and a lot has changed since then. For one, the nine-time Grammy winner is now a mom to two, whom she shares with A$AP Rocky.

“It’s a bit of a family reunion,” Rihanna told Vogue of the comeback. “Coming back to Puma as a mom, in a new space, allowed for new perspectives and ideas.”

One of those new perspectives is the range of sizes offered by the Avanti line. In addition to standard sizes, parents can find Avanti sneakers that fit their kids, preschoolers and infants. “This time around, we expanded our creations to kids, ’cause I selfishly want my boys in everything their dad and I wear or design,” added Rihanna.

According to the publication, a second Avanti drop is slated for sometime later this fall. Plus, the brands have several more launches in store for the future.

See Rihanna’s Puma announcements below:

07 Sep 2023

Will Doja Cat End Both Country’s Reign and Hip-Hop’s Top-Spot Drought on the Hot 100? 

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 Sept. 16), the last four singles to top the Billboard Hot 100 have all been led by country artists – and white guys – but both streaks may be coming to an end with the rise of a returning pop-rap star’s latest.  

Doja Cat, “Paint the Town Red” (Kemosabe/RCA): It feels almost quaint in 2023: A big pop release that makes a solid debut, and climbs from there. Doja Cat’s “Paint the Town Red” entered at a good-not-great No. 15 on the Hot 100 in August, but it has only grown since then, jumping into the top five last week and hitting a new peak of No. 3 this week. With the song still gaining on all three Hot 100 component charts – Streaming Songs (up 3-2 this week), Digital Song Sales (11-6) and Radio Songs (24-17) — it should be a threat to take the top spot on next week’s chart.  

If it does, it will be notable for reasons beyond becoming Doja Cat’s second career Hot 100-topper, following 2020’s “Say So” featuring Nicki Minaj. It would be the first non-country No. 1 on the chart since Jung Kook’s Latto-featuring “Seven” debuted atop the chart dated July 29, seven weeks earlier. In the time since, a record four consecutive country songs (defined as songs deemed eligible for Billboard’s Hot Country Songs ranking) have claimed the top spot: Morgan Wallen’s “Last Night,” Jason Aldean’s “Try That in a Small Town,” Oliver Anthony Music’s “Rich Men North of Richmond,” and this week’s new No. 1, Zach Bryan’s “I Remember Everything,” featuring Kacey Musgraves.  

A much longer streak would also be ended if “Paint the Town Red” hits No. 1: It’s now been 55 weeks since a rap song last ruled the Hot 100 (“Super Freaky Girl,” by Doja Cat’s “Say So” co-star Nicki Minaj), the longest such run since the turn of the century. While Doja’s rap bona fides have long been the subject of (often ridiculous) internet debate as she crosses further into the top 40 world, “Paint” has scaled Billboard’s Hot Rap Songs chart – currently sitting at No. 1 there for a second week – meaning the genre’s Hot 100 drought may soon be over.  

Zach Bryan feat. Kacey Musgraves, “I Remember Everything” (Belting Bronco/Warner): The No. 1 debut that few saw coming last week should not be due for a particularly huge drop off in its second week. Zach Bryan‘s “I Remember Everything,” featuring Kacey Musgraves, has been holding fairly strong on both streaming (still No. 1 on Apple Music’s daily charts and No. 2 on Spotify) and sales (in the top five on iTunes) — and without any major debuts or gainers (aside from Doja) coming from behind it, it should still be in contention for one of the Hot 100’s top few spots this week.  

The question for “Everything” will be how much radio embraces it. Bryan’s American Heartbreak Hot 100 top 10 hit “Something in the Orange” ultimately elbowed its way into the top 20 on Country Airplay, but Bryan’s stardom has mostly come independently of radio and the Nashville machine, and it’s not clear yet if “I Remember Everything” will prove an exception. So far, the song is nearing the Country Airplay chart, with 272,000 audience impressions at the format Sept. 1-4, according to Luminate, up from 175,000 in its entire first week.

Luke Combs, “Fast Car” (River House/Columbia Nashville/Columbia): It’s probably an overstatement to say that you have to feel for Luke Combs – when he first decided to cover Tracy Chapman’s alt-folk classic “Fast Car,” he probably never expected to get anywhere near the top spot of the Hot 100 with it. At this point, though, the song has now spent eight weeks idling at No. 2, while seemingly every other male country singer-songwriter speeds just ahead of him – and it’s starting to look like it might not ever get there himself.

“Fast Car” does finally lead the Radio Songs chart this week – Combs’ first No. 1 on that listing – while still hanging in the top 10 of Digital Song Sales and Streaming Songs. But “Car” seems to have stalled on all three component charts, so if Doja zooms by it this week, it might be tough for it to catch up again.  

IN THE MIX 

Taylor Swift, “Cruel Summer” (Republic): Labor Day Weekend came and went without any final promotional efforts for Taylor Swift’s “Cruel Summer,” which remains at No. 4 on the Hot 100 this week, after reaching No. 3, but is nearing its peak at radio and might not be able to hold in streaming and sales to remain a true No. 1 contender for much longer. All that remains now is the potential boost from the already blockbuster-certified Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour movie – but with that film not due still for over a month, it’s likely that “Summer” will have cooled off too much by then anyway.  

Nicki Minaj, “Last Time I Saw You” (Young Money/Republic): Speaking of Minaj: It’s likely that she will have the week’s best Hot 100 bow with her much-hyped new single “Last Time I Saw You.” The song got off to a typically strong start in sales and streaming upon its Friday (Sept. 1) debut, but has already faded pretty quickly on the daily Spotify and Apple charts. Given the song’s top 40-friendly crossover sound, though, it might not be too long before radio starts picking up the slack there.

07 Sep 2023

50 Cent Trolls Ja Rule Over His Latest Performance: ‘Look at This S–t Head’

The ongoing feud between 50 Cent and Ja Rule has gained another layer: The G-Unit star mocked his adversary over his theatrical performance on Wednesday night at the 2023 BMI R&B / Hip-Hop Awards (Sept. 6).

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

In the video shared by 50 on Instagram, Ja is pinned to a wooden column, seemingly re-enacting the Flagellation of Christ while performing his song “One of Us.” Surrounded by singers in white robes, Ja Rule raps his verses emphatically as a projector screen showcasing a sunset plays behind them. “Look at this s–t head, is he supposed to be Jesus?” 50 lambasts Rule in the caption. “WTF you can’t make this s–t up. LOL so stupid!”

The heated skirmish between 50 and Ja dates back to 1999, when the Murder Inc. star alleged that 50’s associates robbed him. In the early 2000s, the two traded barbs on various diss tracks, including 50 Cent’s “Wanksta,” “Backdown” and a remake of Tupac’s 1996 song “Hail Mary” featuring Eminem and Busta Rhymes, while Ja returned fire on “Loose Change,” “Clapback” and more.

Last July, Ja Rule addressed his issues with 50 in an interview with Math Hoffa, claiming their feud initially began as a way for the G-Unit rapper to gain popularity.

“Chump s–t, wack s–t,” said Ja. “I’m a real artist, n—a. … To me, that’s not a real artist. That’s not a real man. It’s not a real n—a. You know what I’m saying? To want to pull down other n—as to pull yourself up? That ain’t my style. If you a real n—a, go make your records and shine.”

Check out 50’s post below.

07 Sep 2023

Morgan Wallen, Miranda Lambert, Eric Church to Headline 2024 Stagecoach Festival

Morgan Wallen, Miranda Lambert and Eric Church will headline the Goldenvoice-produced Stagecoach Festival when it returns to the Empire Polo Club in Indio, Calif., on April 26-28, 2024.

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

Church will spearhead the Friday, April 26, lineup, joined by Jelly Roll, Elle King, Dwight Yoakam, Hailey Whitters, Carin Leon, Paul Cauthen, Zach Top and more.

Lambert will lead the Saturday, April 27, slate of performers, joined by Post Malone, Willie Nelson & Family, Leon Bridges, Ernest, Charley Crockett, Luke Grimes, Allison Russell, Tenille Townes, Asleep at the Wheel and Kylie Morgan.

The three-day festival’s final evening will wrap with headliner Morgan Wallen on April 28. Also on the lineup that day are HARDY, Bailey Zimmerman, The Beach Boys, Megan Moroney, Clint Black, Pam Tillis, Charles Wesley Godwin, The War and Treaty, Brittney Spencer, Sam Barber, Miko Marks and Ashley Cooke.

“I can’t wait to get back to the desert to play Stagecoach in 2024,” Church said in a statement. “It’s going to be one hell of a party.” 

Lambert also shared her excitement. “There is something so special about playing music when the sun goes down in the middle of the desert. The fans, the setup, the location — there really is no other festival like it,” she said in a statement. “My band and I have had the chance to experience the magic that is Stagecoach a few times now, and we can’t wait to be back in 2024!”

STAGECOACH 2024 lineup

Courtesy Photo

Wallen added, “Stagecoach is such a legendary festival, and I am honored to be headlining the final night. I have so many friends who never miss it and I know this will be a monumental weekend for all of us. Can’t wait to see everybody there.”

Also returning for a fifth year is fan-favorite Guy Fieri’s Stagecoach Smokehouse, which will reveal new chefs, pit bosses and barbecue vendors. The Compton Cowboys will return for a third consecutive year, as a crew of 10 Black horseback riders share the story of their community, and their Richland Farms, located in Compton, Calif.

As is Stagecoach Festival tradition, the party will continue long into the evening at the Palomino stage, as Friday night will feature Nickelback, Saturday will feature the return of Diplo, while Sunday evening will feature Wiz Khalifa.

Festival passes go on sale Friday, Sept. 15, at 11 a.m. PT.

07 Sep 2023

Charlie Puth Announces Engagement to Brooke Sansone: ‘I Love You Endlessly Forever and Ever and Ever’

Charlie Puth is off the market. The “Light Switch” singer announced in an Instagram post on Thursday morning (Sept. 7) that he popped the question to fiancée Brooke Sansone and, of course she said yes.

“I flew to New York to ask my best friend to marry me, and she said yes. I am the happiest, best version of myself and it is all because of you Brookie,” Puth wrote in the post in which a smiling Sansone sits next to her beloved as they toast the good news with a glass of wine while seemingly sharing their joy with someone on the phone. “I love you endlessly forever and ever and ever,” Puth added in the post that also casually featured a close-up snap of Sansone grabbing a slice of NY pizza while showing off her impressively sized teardrop-shaped diamond. The couple made their red carpet debut at the Clive Davis pre-Grammy party in Los Angeles in February.

In another snap, the happy couple — who made it Instagram official in December on Charlie’s 31st birthday — share a piece of pepperoni pie at Lucali’s in Brooklyn, Lady and the Tramp-style. Back in October, Puth told Howard Stern that he was “definitely” in love with someone from his past, telling the SiriusXM host that he was “with somebody now.” At the time, Puth said that his girlfriend was “someone that I grew up with” in New Jersey.

“As my life gets more turbulent and I travel everywhere,” Charlie told Stern, “it’s nice to have someone close to you that you’ve known for a very long time.” Puth didn’t say much about his beloved at the time, but he did tell Stern that if he decided to get engaged he’d probably keep it on the down low. “If I do certainly the media won’t know about it,” he said. “And I’ll go out of my way to make sure that they don’t know about it because it becomes too much.”

Puth dropped “Lipstick,” the first single from his upcoming studio album in August; the follow-up to 2022’s Charlie does not yet have a release date.

Check out the engagement pics below.

07 Sep 2023

Doja Cat Explains Those Cryptic Neck Brace Photos: ‘I’m Literally Fine’

Is it a crime to want a little bit of “Attention?” After sharing photos of herself in neck brace in a pair of Instagram posts on Wednesday (Sep. 6), Doja Cat has revealed that her neck is perfectly fine.

“So, my friend here, my date, my lovely date got whiplash and he takes it off sometimes and I stole it from him. I’m literally fine. Completely fine, my neck is great,” Doja explained to Entertainment Tonight on the red carpet for The Victoria’s Secret World Tour Wednesday night. In a way, the “Say So” rapper was honest from the start — she originally shared those pictures with the caption “I’m fine my neck is fine.”

On Aug. 3, Victoria’s Secret announced that Doja Cat will be headlining The Victoria’s Secret World Tour, which marks the company’s return to TV since its last televised runway show in 2018. The part fashion show, part documentary is set to air on Prime Video on Sept. 26. The Tour ’23 is just one major performance on the horizon for the “Kiss Me More” singer.

On Sept. 12, Doja Cat will take the stage at this year’s MTV Video Music Awards. The Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper boasts six nominations at this year’s ceremony, including artist of the year, video of the year (“Attention”) and song of the summer (“Paint the Town Red”). In 2021, she served as the show’s host and won two Moonpeople.

These two high-profile performances are in support of Scarlet, Doja’s forthcoming fourth studio album. The follow-up to 2021’s Grammy-winning Planet Her, Scarlet boasts a trio of pre-release singles. In addition to “Attention,” which peaked at No. 31 on the Hot 100, Doja also released “Paint the Town Red,” the album’s current radio single, which reached a new peak of No. 3 on the Hot 100 this week (chart dated Sep. 9), and a promotional single titled “Demons,” which features a music video starring Emmy-nominated Yellowjackets actress Christina Ricci.

Doja’s trolling antics come amid an album campaign that has largely been characterized by her testy relationship with fame, media, fans and controversy. In May of this year, she said her two recent albums — Planet Her and 2019’s Hot Pink — were “cash grabs” featuring “mediocre pop,” before taunting, “yall fell for it.” There was also an erratic since-deleted Threads spree lambasting her fanbase, which cost her nearly 300,000 followers. “My fans don’t get to name themselves s–t,” she allegedly said. “If you call yourself a ‘Kitten’ or f–king ‘Kittenz’ that means you need to get off your phone and get a job and help your parents with the house.”

By Aug. 31, Doja revealed an updated album cover for Scarlet after changing the artwork once fans noticed that German hardcore band Chaver also used the same spider on the artwork for their upcoming album cover.

Scarlet is currently slated for a Sep. 22 release.

Watch Doja explain her neck brace pics here:

07 Sep 2023

SiriusXM’s ‘Billboard #2 Countdown Channel’ Celebrates Runner-Up Hot 100 Classics

These songs are two good. Over the Billboard Hot 100’s history, which dates to 1958, more than 500 songs have peaked in the No. 2 spot. Despite never having reigned as the biggest hit of any single week, their legacies endure.

From Thursday (Sept. 7) through Sept. 21, you can listen to revered runner-up Hot 100 hits on SiriusXM’s Billboard #2 Countdown Channel, an exclusive limited-run channel on the SiriusXM App (channel 14).

The Hot 100’s No. 2-peaking songs range from the first – Perez Prado and His Orchestra’s “Patricia,” which reached the rank on the inaugural survey (dated Aug. 4, 1958) – through hits from 2023 by Drake and 21 Savage (“Search & Rescue”), Lil Durk featuring J. Cole (“All My Life”) and Taylor Swift featuring Ice Spice (“Karma”).

Among other songs that put the “best” in second-best are multiple No. 2 Hot 100 hits each by The Beatles, Justin Bieber, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Michael Jackson, Elton John, Dua Lipa, Madonna, Elvis Presley, Prince and Stevie Wonder.

The Billboard #2 Countdown Channel marks the latest partnership between SiriusXM and Billboard. Previously, the Billboard Top 500 R&B Countdown highlighted hits for Black Music Month, the Billboard Women of Pop 1000 Countdown honored Women’s History Month, the Cupid Countdown made Valentine’s Day even sweeter, the Billboard Top 112 Songs of Christmas Countdown dashed through the sounds of the season and the Billboard Top 500 Summer Hits recapped the biggest summer songs in the Hot 100’s history.

Additionally, SiriusXM’s Big 40 Countdown, on ’80s on 8, and the Back in the Day Replay, on ’90s on 9, are based on historical weekly Hot 100 charts, while the Prime 30, on Prime Country, time-travels back through Billboard‘s Hot Country Songs chart.

(The Billboard #2 Countdown Channel recap is based on actual performance on the weekly Hot 100 chart. Songs are ranked based on an inverse point system, with weeks at No. 2 earning the greatest value and weeks at No. 100 earning the least. To ensure equitable representation of the biggest hits from each era, certain time frames were weighted to account for the difference between turnover rates from those years.)

07 Sep 2023

‘Christmas at Graceland’ Will Open Up Elvis Presley’s Home for Holiday Live Music Special

It doesn’t have to be a “Blue Christmas” this year: NBC is set to celebrate Elvis Presley with the upcoming live music special Christmas at Graceland, executive produced by Elvis’ granddaughter Riley Keough, Billboard can exclusively announce.

The special will air Wednesday, Nov. 29, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on NBC and will be simulcast on Peacock.

“My family and I are elated to open the doors to Graceland in this first-of-its-kind special,” said Christmas at Graceland EP Keough; the Daisy Jones & The Six actress is the daughter of Lisa Marie Presley, who died in January at age 54. “With intimate musical performances drawing inspiration from my grandfather Elvis’s cherished Christmases in Memphis, viewers will be invited to experience firsthand the magic that is Christmas at Graceland.”

According to a press release, Christmas at Graceland — which will air immediately after NBC’s Christmas in Rockefeller Center on Nov. 29 (8 p.m. ET/PT) — will “feature music’s biggest stars celebrating the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, his music and his favorite time of year, in an unprecedented holiday special live from his iconic home, Graceland.”

Performers will be announced closer to the air date.

“To celebrate the holidays at Graceland, and be a part of the King’s legacy, is both an honor and absolute dream come true,” said Jen Neal, executive vice president, live events and specials, NBCUniversal Media Group. “We thank Riley and her family for allowing all of us to visit her grandfather’s iconic home and share an intimate musical experience that Elvis would’ve truly loved.”

Presley has a legendary catalog of Christmas music, with two hits on the 2011-launched Holiday 100 songs chart: “Blue Christmas,” which peaked at No. 11 in 2013, and “Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane),” which hit No. 22 in 2015. His album It’s Christmas Time (a 1985 reissue of Presley’s 1957 release Elvis’ Christmas Album) reached No. 2 on Top Holiday Albums in 2015 — his highest-charting project on the tally; it also peaked at No. 2 on the Top Country Albums chart in 2018.

Christmas at Graceland will be produced by Done + Dusted, Authentic Studios and Felix Culpa, a production company co-founded by Keough and Gina Gammell. Executive producers from Done + Dusted are Raj Kapoor, Katy Mullan and Ian Stewart. Colin Smeeton, Matthew Gross and Marc Rosen will serve as executive producers on behalf of Authentic Studios. Felix Culpa’s Keough and Gammell will also executive produce alongside Graceland’s Joel Weinshanker. Done + Dusted’s Patrick Menton will co-executive produce.

07 Sep 2023

2023 CMA Awards Nominations: Snubs & Surprises

The final nominees for the 57th annual Country Music Association Awards were revealed Thursday morning (Sept. 7), with this year’s slate of nominees reflecting the chart dominance of an array of artists, but leaning heavily on giving recognition to relative newcomers whose starpower is surging — including Lainey Wilson, Jelly Roll, HARDY and Jordan Davis.

Over the past year, Morgan Wallen’s “Last Night,” Luke Combs’s rendition of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car,” and Zach Bryan’s “Something in the Orange” have been among the songs gaining traction on the Billboard Hot 100, and those artists are among those who have earned top honors heading into the CMA Awards this year.

As she did in 2022, “Heart Like a Truck” singer-songwriter Wilson again leads the pack, with nine nominations — followed by “Need a Favor” hitmaker Jelly Roll (five nominations), and both Combs and HARDY with four nominations. Meanwhile, several artists, writers and/or producers earned a trio of nods each, including Davis, Ashley McBryde, producer/mix engineer Joey Moi, “wait in the truck” songwriter/producer Jordan Schmidt, Chris Stapleton, Wallen and musician/producer Derek Wells.

The eligibility period for the 2023 show is July 1, 2022-June 30, 2023. According to CMA rules, “singles, albums, music videos and qualified music products for the annual show must have been released or reached peak national prominence during the eligibility period.”

The 57th Annual CMA Awards, hosted by Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning, broadcasts live from Nashville Wednesday, Nov. 8 (8:00 – 11:00 PM/EST) on ABC. Here are some of the biggest snubs and surprises from Thursday’s nominations.

07 Sep 2023

Olivia Rodrigo Celebrates Summer’s End (And Her ‘Guts’ Album) With Jeni’s Ice Cream Weekend Takeover

You wouldn’t know it from the triple-digit temperatures that are still broiling across the country, but Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream and Olivia Rodrigo have teamed up to celebrate summer’s end with a special ice cream stunt this weekend. The sweet treats company announced on Wednesday (Sept. 6) that it’s rolling out an Olivia Rodrigo cone takeover this Friday (Sept. 8) through Sunday (Sept. 10) in all its shops across the U.S.

“This weekend only! We’re turning all Buttercrisp Waffle Cones & Bowls purple to celebrate @oliviarodrigo’s new album GUTS (drops Friday, 9/8),” read an Instagram post announcing the promotion that feature special purple cones; click here to find a Jeni’s near you. The ice cream company teased the collab earlier this week in an Insta post featuring purple batter being poured into a waffle iron while promising a “super-special, shop-only collab this weekend.”

Rodrigo’s second album, Guts, is due out on Friday, more than two years after her Grammy-winning debut, Sour, made the Bizaardvark and High School Musical: The Musical: The Series into a chart superstar thanks to her debut single “Drivers License,” as well as hits “Deja Vu” and “Good 4 U.” The singer has previewed Guts with the singles “Vampire” and “Bad Idea Right?”

Rodrigo recently tamped down talk that the lacerating “Vampire” could be about Taylor Swift after fans speculated that the song about a “bloodsucker, famef—er” might be aimed at one of Olivia’s childhood music idols. “How do I answer this?” Rodrigo reportedly whispered to Guardian journalist Laura Snapes, when the question about “Vampire” arose during an interview ahead of the Sept. 8 release of Guts.

“I mean, I never want to say who any of my songs are about,” she said. “I’ve never done that before in my career and probably won’t. I think it’s better to not pigeonhole a song to being about this one thing. I was very surprised when people thought that.”

Check out Jeni’s post about the Rodrigo special event below.