Music

16 Aug 2023

Ed Sheeran Reveals He & Taylor Swift Still Haven’t Re-Recorded Their ‘Reputation’ Track ‘End Game’

Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift both have a number of projects in the works at the moment, but re-doing their 2017 collaboration “End Game” for Swift’s imminent Reputation (Taylor’s Version) isn’t one of them. Not yet, anyway.

The ginger-haired pop star revealed in a recent interview on Andy Cohen’s Deep & Shallow SiriusXM podcast that he and Swift still haven’t reunited in the studio to take a second stab at “End Game,” which also originally featured Future and served as the third single from Reputation. “No, I haven’t,” he confirmed. “No. No. But 1989 (Taylor’s Version) is the next one coming out. That’s the next one.”

Swift has released three “Taylor’s Version” records so far, with 1989 set to become the fourth in October. That means that only her self-titled 2006 debut album and Reputation, the final album she released under her former record label Big Machine, are left for her to re-record. And while “End Game” is still on the to-do list, 2021’s Red (Taylor’s Version) did already bring along two Swift-Sheeran duets: “Everything Has Changed (Taylor’s Version)” and “Run,” a previously unreleased From the Vault track.

The “Anti-Hero” singer announced last week that 2014’s 1989 was next in line at her final U.S. leg 1 stop on the Eras Tour — which Sheeran says he’s hopeful he’ll be able to attend once the trek makes its way to Europe. “I would love to go and see Taylor’s show, but we’re all playing on the same dates every single weekend,” the “A Team” musician, whose currently embarked on his record-breaking Mathematics Tour, told Cohen. “I think there’s a chance next year when she’s in the UK…”

Sheeran himself is busy gearing up to release a new record of his own, which he confirmed to Cohen is coming soon. The revelation comes after the Grammy winner’s repeated “Autumn is coming” messages to fans on Instagram, which turned out to be teasers for the fall-themed LP he has in store.

Fans even recently pieced together a possible release date based on numbers printed on the jerseys Sheeran wore at a pair of recent concerts: 9/29, or September 29th. “It’s an album about Autumn and I kind of have no expectations for it,” Sheeran shared, not confirming the project’s release date. “It was the album I was trying to make, and then Subtract happened. So I kind of have finished it over the last year and, yeah, it’s ready to come out, so I’m gonna put it out.”

One thing’s for sure, though: You probably won’t ever catch Sheeran singing the new songs, or any of his music, for that matter, as a headliner at the Super Bowl. “I think it’s an American thing,” he explained. “I think I, I don’t have pizazz… I don’t, you watch Prince, you watch Michael Jackson, you watch Katy Perry, you watch Lady Gaga, you watch Rihanna, you watch Beyoncé. Like all of these amazing performers. I’m just not that, I’m not gonna have dancers on stage.”

Check out clips from Ed Sheeran’s interview with Andy Cohen below:





16 Aug 2023

Charli XCX’s ‘Speed Drive’ Finally Has a Music Video (With a Sam Smith Cameo)

Barbie summer isn’t over yet — not if Charli XCX has something to say about it. On Wednesday (Aug. 16), the “Beg For You” singer released her long-awaited music video for “Speed Drive,” nearly one month after the theatrical release of Great Gerwig’s Barbie.

The English pop star kept the visual somewhat simple, appearing alongside social media personality Devon Lee Carlson in a pink convertible car. Charli takes the passenger seat in a white onesie, pink feathered boa and sunglasses, while Carlson kicks the car into overdrive to do doughnuts in an abandoned parking lot. Just moments after getting out of the car to dance to the track, Charli’s phone rings — to the tune of her 2016 car-centric track “Vroom Vroom” — and she accepts a call from a special friend who also appears on Barbie: The Album.

“Did you have a chance to listen to the new mix, babe? What did you think?” Sam Smith asks her from a dressing room, wearing a satin pink robe. “I’m actually on set of a music video right now,” Charli tells the “Man I Am” singer. “Oh okay, sorry, it’s just that we gotta submit it so we can get it out,” they add, to which Charli suggests, “Maybe I can call you back right after and we can talk, is that good?” “Love it,” Smith replies.

The track then picks up again, and — after a makeup, hair and wardrobe adjustment — Charli wildly dances to the song in a black overcoat and pink baseball cap as Carlson continues to whip around the parking lot. Charli later rejoins her for a drive, but they crash — likely a nod to the pop star’s 2022 album, Crash.

Following the release of Barbie: The Album, “Speed Drive” became Charli XCX’s first song since 2014 to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 73 on the all-genre tally. The track was featured prominently in Barbie during a scene in which the titular character escapes inept Mattel executives.

Watch the visual for “Speed Drive” in the video below.

16 Aug 2023

Skrillex, Boys Noize & Chris Lake to Play Friendship 2024: See the Complete Lineup

A boatload of party people will start next year off with a bang on the 2024 sailing of Friendship, the annual party cruise from Gary Richards.

Richards, who has long produced music as Destructo, has revealed the Friendship 2024 lineup on Wednesday (Aug. 16), with the bill featuring Skrillex, Bob Moses, Chris Lake, Chris Lorenzo, J. Phlip, Todd Edwards, Nina Las Vegas, Rusko, Mr Carmack and a flurry of other stars, in addition to rising artists including Mary Droppinz, NALA, QRTR and many more.

The ship will set sail from Miami on Jan. 6, 2024, cruising to Belize’s Harvest Caye, a site that will host 24 hours of shenanigans including a beachside set from Skrillex. This Harvest Caye trek will also include the first ever island iteration of Richards’ Sunrise Sermon event, which he started in downtown Los Angeles in his early rave promoting days. The boat returns to Miami on Jan. 11.

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Outside of music, Activities on the boats will include stand up comedy, skateboarding and a cabaret set from Dita von Teese. Friendship 2024 happens aboard the Norwegian Joy, which can hold 3,500 passengers. While the voyage is already largely sold out, a limited numbers of cabins remain.

“I’m always trying to push the envelope of new music by keeping things interesting and exciting,” Richards tells Billboard. “We have five full days, so I wanted to represent as many parts of the globe as possible to keep it spicy. We have artists from Africa, Russia, Brazil, New Zealand, Australia, England, Germany, Italy, Canada, and the good ole US of A.”

He continued, “Some fresh new highlights I’m digging right now include VTSS, Vigro Deep, Sun El Musician, Nitepunk, Raven, Mersiv, A Hundred Drums, Nala, QRTR, G-Rex, Mary Droppinz, Safety Trance, Enoo Napa, and Da Capo. And of course my BFFs as always Boys Noize, Skrillex, Chris Lake, Chris Lorenzo, Bob Moses plus, plus, plus all on a private island in Belize.”

Richards launched Friendship in 2018, with the concept echoing that of Holy Ship, the party cruise Richards launched in 2012 via HARD, the electronic festival production company he founded in 2007 and which was acquired by Live Nation in 2012. Richards departed HARD in 2017.

See the complete lineup for Friendship 2024 below.

Friendship 2023

Friendship 2023

Courtesy Photo

16 Aug 2023

Keke Palmer Takes a Jab at Darius Jackson in Usher’s ‘Boyfriend’ Music Video: Watch

Usher and Keke Palmer can’t stop stirring the pot. After teasing the collaboration 24 hours ago, the two stars have debuted the music video for the R&B legend’s new song “Boyfriend,” following some drama with the actress’ alleged ex-boyfriend, Darius Jackson.

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The Wednesday (Aug. 16) visual stars a glowing Palmer having a night out with her friends and hanging with Usher, who taunts in the song’s lyrics: “Somebody said that your boyfriend is looking for me, that’s cool/ He should know I’m pretty easy to find/ Just look for me wherever he sees you.”

Midway through, the video pauses to show the Nope star and her gal pals listening to Usher’s 2001 hit “U Remind Me” in an elevator, during which she exclaims, “I love this song… do you remember where you were when you first heard this?”

After a suave dance break in a casino led by Palmer, who lights up onscreen, the video cuts to her waking up in bed to answer a FaceTime call from (guess who?) Usher. That’s where she drops in the biggest diss toward Jackson: “S–t, I’m so tired… I am a mother, after all,” she says, winking at the camera.

The cheeky line pokes fun at Jackson, with whom Palmer shares a six-month-old son. Last month, Jackson took to Twitter to call out Palmer for a sheer outfit she wore to Usher’s Las Vegas concert, lamenting: “We live in a generation where a man of the family doesn’t want the wife & mother to his kids to showcase booty cheeks to please others & he gets told how much of a hater he is. This is my family & my representation. I have standards & morals to what I believe. I rest my case.”

Reposting a clip of Usher dancing with a swooning Palmer during the show, Jackson also wrote in a now-deleted tweet: “It’s the outfit tho.. you a mom.”

Neither Palmer nor Jackson have commented on the status of their relationship since. Regardless, Palmer seems to be living her best life, taking to Instagram following the music video’s release to thank Usher for “encouraging me and seeing me as the entertainer I am.”

“I know I’m a gUrL but when I watched your videos, I never wanted to be the girl in them, I wanted to be YOU,” she added in her post. “Thank you for making a dream come true.”

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16 Aug 2023

Kid Cudi Strips Down For Steamy, Shirtless Calvin Klein Campaign: See the Pics

Whether it’s day or night, nothing gets between Kid Cudi and his Calvins. On Tuesday (Aug. 15), the Billboard Hot 100-topping rapper debuted his steamy new Calvin Klein campaign on Instagram.

“Vibes in my Calvins,” Cudi captioned a promotional clip of him modeling various Calvin Klein ensembles — from a matching-jeans set with a blond wig to black boxer briefs inside of a pool. Soundtracked by T. Rex’s “Cosmic Dancer,” the video makes sure to showcase a healthy dose of shirtless shots; the “Day’N’Nite” rapper flaunts his ripped abs and biceps both underwater and inside a photo studio.

In two subsequent posts, Cudi gushed about the opportunity to participate in a Calvin Klein campaign as he posed in front of a billboard promoting the photoshoot. “I always walked past this billboard and dreamed of being up there one day. This is unreal,” he wrote. “I remember I mentioned I realllly wanted this billboard at the shoot and they told me, ‘we’ll see.’ Thank u @calvinklein for makin another dream of mine come true.”

American fashion house Calvin Klein also shared a series of photos on their official Instagram page. “@kidcudi indulges in a flash of personalities,” they captioned one post. In the caption for their post of the same video clip, they wrote, “Dance through day and night. @kidcudi is a creative force at play.” Other celebrities tapped for the latest Calvin Klein campaign include Euphoria star Alexa Demie, The Idol star and BLACKPINK member Jennie Ruby Jane, BTS powerhouse Jung Kook and American model Kendall Jenner.

Kid Cudi has earned 27 entries on the Billboard Hot 100, including the top ten hits “Day’N’Nite” (No. 3) and “The Scotts” (No. 1, with Travis Scott). On the Billboard 200, the Grammy winner has scored five top ten titles from nine overall chart entries, including 2013’s Indicud and 2020’s Man On The Moon III: The Chosen One (both No. 2).

Check out Kid Cudi in all of his Calvin Klein glory here:

16 Aug 2023

10 First-Timers on Billboard’s Charts This Week: Ez Mil, Malcolm Mays, Crypta & 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 acts who appear on surveys for the first time on the Aug. 19-dated charts.

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Ez Mil

The Filipino-American rapper (full name: Ezekiel Miller Sapiera) scores his first Billboard chart appearance with his new collaboration with Eminem, “Realest.” The track, released Aug. 4 on FFP/Shady Records/Aftermath Entertainment, debuts at No. 3 on both the Rap Digital Song Sales and R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales charts, and No. 10 on the all-genre Digital Song Sales chart with 4,000 downloads sold in its first week (Aug. 4-10), according to Luminate. Ez Mil also starts at No. 16 on Emerging Artists. Ez Mil has released four LPs: Act 1 and Resonances (both in 2020), DU4LI7Y (2022) and DU4LI7Y: REDUX (Aug. 11; it includes “Realest”). The rapper was born in Olongapo City, Philippines, and now lives in Las Vegas.

Malcolm Mays

The actor-filmmaker-musician earns his first placement on Billboard’s charts thanks to “Not Lucky,” featuring Lil Baby. The song, released in June on Mays’ second EP, Street Journal Vol. 1, debuts at No. 39 on the Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart (up 26% in plays). Mays self-released his debut EP, the five-track Red Flags, in June 2022. Before that, he released three songs: “Ruthless,” in 2016, “Who You Fuckin Wit” (2018) and “Dramatik” (2021). As an actor and filmmaker, Mays has landed roles in the films Southpaw, The Day Shall Come, and Covers (which he also wrote and directed).

Crypta

The Brazilian death metal band, from São Paulo, notches its first chart appearance, thanks to its second studio album, Shades of Sorrow. Released Aug. 4 on the Austrian label Napalm Records, the set debuts at No. 71 on the Top Current Album Sales chart with 1,000 sold. The band released its first LP, Echoes of the Soul, in 2021. The group also enters at No. 41 on the Emerging Artists chart. Crypta comprises Tainá Bergamaschi (guitar), Luana Dametto (drums), Jéssica di Falchi (guitar) and Fernanda Lira (bass/vocals).

Designer Disguise

The nu-metalcore band, from Seattle, reaches Billboard’s charts for the first time with its cover of Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz’s classic hit (featuring Ying Yang Twins), “Get Low.” The remake, released in February on InVogue Records, debuts at No. 25 on the Hard Rock Digital Song Sales chart. The original “Get Low” reached No. 2 on the Hot 100 in 2003. The band has also released crunchy covers of other classic 2000s and ’10s hits, including Hilary Duff’s “Come Clean,” LMFAO’s “Sexy and I Know It,” Ludacris’ “Move Bitch” and Sia’s “Chandelier.” Outside of cover singles, Designer Disguise has released two LPs: Surface in 2017 and Elsewaer this January.

9lives

The artist hits Billboard’s charts for the first time thanks to his team-up with Odetari, “I Love You Hoe.” The song, released July 12, debuts at No. 20 on the Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart with 1.6 million U.S. streams. The same day, 9lives and Odetari released two other collabs: “Ice Spice HMU” and “Reassure Me.” On Aug. 7, the pair released sped-up and slowed and reverbed mixes of the three tracks. Beyond his collaborations with Odetari, 9lives has released two solo LPs: #exclusive in 2022 and 33.1FM this February.

Tashi

The actress and singer (full name: Tashiana Washington) makes her first Billboard chart appearance with her song with Samuel Mancini, “Soak.” Released Aug. 4 through Eric West Management Group, it starts at No. 7 on R&B Digital Song Sales and No. 19 on R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales (1,000 downloads sold). The track was boosted by three additional versions: radio, a cappella and radio a cappella mixes. Tashi released three songs before “Soak”: “Shut Up,” in 2021, “1/2 Way” and “In My Head” (both in 2022). As an actress, she has landed roles in Amazon’s Harlem, HBO’s Betty, HBO’s Random Acts of Flyness and the films Ice Age: Continental Drift and Straight Outta Compton.

Humanity’s Last Breath

The Swedish metal band debuts on Billboard’s charts for the first time with its new LP, Ashen. The set, released Aug. 4 on Unique Leader Records, debuts at No. 94 on Top Current Album Sales with 1,000 copies sold. The band dropped its first two EPs, Reanimated by Hate and Structures Collapse, in 2010 and 2011, respectively, and added the full-lengths Humanity’s Last Breath (2013), Abyssal (2019) and Välde (2021). Humanity’s Last Breath comprises Klas Blomgren, Fili Danielsson, Tuomas Kurikka, Buster Odeholm and Calle Thomer.

Robert Jon & The Wreck

The five-piece from Southern California arrives on Billboard’s charts with its new LP, Ride Into the Light. Released Aug. 4 via Journeyman Records, the set debuts at No. 9 on the Blues Albums chart. The group comprises Robert Jon Burrison (lead vocals, guitar), Jake Abernathie (keyboards), Andrew Espantman (drums, background vocals), Warren Murrel (bass) and Henry James Schneekluth (lead guitar, background vocals). The band has a string of U.S. and European tour dates lined up through December.

Michael Daughtry

The singer-songwriter scores his first chart appearance with his single “Nothing Special.” The song, which he self-released June 16, debuts at No. 28 on Adult Contemporary (up 10% in plays). Daughtry has released four other songs: “What If I,” in 2019, “Save Me Some” (this February), “Paid in Dogs,” with Gail Gallagher, and “Starting Line” (both in July).

Random Acts of Kindness

The act reaches Billboard’s charts for the first time with “Free To Roam.” Released April 28 on Better World Records, the track debuts at No. 29 on Adult Contemporary (up 49% in plays). The act, led by Ken Freirich, describes the song as “about liberation, freedom, self-expression and empowerment. It’s about breaking free from the chains of a challenging life situation, overcoming adversity, following your dreams and passions and living life to its fullest on your own terms.” Random Acts of Kindness have released one additional song: “Healthcare Workers Rock!,” in 2020.

16 Aug 2023

Sean Paul Returns to No. 1 on Latin Airplay With Feid Collab ‘Niña Bonita’

Sean Paul is back at No. 1 on Billboard’s Latin Airplay chart following a six-year break with the Feid team-up, “Niña Bonita,” which rises 4-1 to lead the Aug. 19-dated list.

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It’s the second Spanglish collab that takes Sean Paul to No. 1 on Latin Airplay. The dancehall singer-songwriter crowned the overall Latin radio ranking for one week through his featured turn on Enrique Iglesias’s “Súbeme La Radio” in 2017. Feid, meanwhile, picks-up his fourth champ, three which have arrived in 2023.

“Niña Bonita” trades places with Bad Bunny’s “Where She Goes,” which dips 1-4 after its one-week lead, boosted by a 10% gain in audience impressions, to 9.5 million, registered in the U.S. during the Aug. 4-10 tracking week, according to Luminate. “Goes” falls to No. 4 with 8.1 million impressions, a 12% cut from the week prior.

Between his two chart-topping singles, “Contra La Pared,” with J Balvin, took Sean Paul to a No. 8 high in 2019, to become his third top 10 on Latin Airplay then. His first arrived in 2006 as the all English-language “Temperature” peaked at No. 10 in its sixth week.

Further, “Bonita” is the Jamaican’s second Spanglish partnership in 2023. He was recruited by Karol G for her single “Karmika,” also with Bad Gyal, which rose to No. 25 on the multi-metric Hot Latin Songs in March. The track is one of 17 songs on Karol G’s No. 1 album Mañana Será Bonito.

As mentioned, “Bonita” gives Feid his fourth No. 1 on Latin Airplay among 10 career entries and five top 10s. It follows the four-week ruler “Yandel 150,” with Yandel (April-May). Prior, he crowned for one week through his featured role on Ozuna’s “Hey Mor” in March. The Colombian earned his first ruler with “Porfa,” with the all-star team comprising J Balvin, Maluma, Nicky Jam, Sech, and Justin Quiles, in 2020.

Elsewhere, “Bonita” rises 3-1 to capture its first week atop Latin Rhythm Airplay as the Greatest Gainer. It’s concurrently Sean Paul’s first hit since 2017 for a total of three No. 1s, while Feid secures his fifth champ there.

16 Aug 2023

Lauren London Honors Nipsey Hussle With Touching Birthday Tribute: ‘I Love You’

Lauren London took a moment to honor Nipsey Hussle on what would have been his 38th birthday. On Tuesday (Aug. 15), the actress shared a photo to Instagram of the late rapper holding up prayer hands and looking into the camera, with an array of gold chains draped around his neck.

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“Honoring the day you blessed the Earth with your presence. Forever more,” London wrote, adding “I love you” and a blue heart emoji to the end of her message.

Hussle died on March 31, 2019 after being fatally shot by Eric Holder Jr. following an altercation that took place outside of the rapper’s store in Los Angeles. In February, Holder Jr. was sentenced to 60 years to life in prison after being convicted of murdering the rapper. Hussle is survived by his and London’s six-year-old son Kross, born in 2016.

The actress spoke about what it has been like living without Nipsey in a January appearance on People‘s Every Day podcast, stating that she doesn’t, “want to give a misconception that I’m at peace and I’m walking around on a cloud.” She continued, “I have to wake up with the intention of this every day because there are days I don’t want to, and I’m like angry about it. And that’s what healing is. It is up and down, side to side, all over the place. You know what I mean? And with each new level, there’s something else.”

See London’s birthday tribute to Nipsey on Instagram below.

16 Aug 2023

Is Oliver Anthony the Greatest Threat to Morgan Wallen Making Hot 100 History?

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 August 26), Wallen’s “Last Night” is just three more weeks at No. 1 from tying the Billboard Hot 100’s all-time record – but his position is growing more precarious, thanks to growing hits from Luke Combs and Taylor Swift, and a runaway viral hit from Oliver Anthony Music.  

Morgan Wallen, “Last Night” (Big Loud/Mercury/Republic): Wallen secured his 16th week at No. 1 this week (chart dated Aug. 19) with “Last Night,” moving the song into a three-way tie with Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men’s “One Sweet Day” and Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee’s Justin Bieber-featuring “Despacito” for the second-longest reign atop the Hot 100 in chart history, and the longest for any unaccompanied artist. From there, it’s just three weeks away from matching “Old Town Road” (by Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus; 19 weeks in 2019) for the all-time mark.  

However, “Last Night” continues to slip in its footing, as the song again falls in all three chart factors this week – down 11% to 59.6 million radio airplay audience impressions, down 2% to 26.3 million streams and down 22% to 5,000 downloads in the Aug. 4-10 tracking week, according to Luminate. Its numbers are still impressive – and it even rebounds to No. 1 on Streaming Songs this week, with Travis Scott’s Utopia song entries receding in their second frame – but it’s no longer totally out of reach for the songs beneath it.  

Oliver Anthony Music, “Rich Men North of Richmond” (DistroKid): Two weeks ago, you might not have heard of West Virginia singer-songwriter Oliver Anthony, but chances are pretty good he’s made your radar since, as his “Rich Men North of Richmond” has taken off with a velocity rarely seen for new artists. After going viral on social media and earning endorsements from conservative-leaning public figures such as Matt Walsh, Laura Ingraham and John Rich – as well as backlash from prominent critics who view its pro-working class but anti-welfare message as hypocritical and problematic – the song has improbably launched itself into the crowded race for the Hot 100’s No. 1 spot.  

“Rich Men,” which is officially credited to Oliver Anthony Music, jumped to the top of the iTunes chart on Friday, and since officially arriving on streaming services over the weekend, has risen to the top three on both Spotify and Apple Music’s daily tallies. Though its radio play is minimal, if its sales and streams totals stay that robust, Anthony’s breakout hit will certainly be a contender to topple “Last Night” at No. 1 – and as debate over the song and its creator continues rising to a fever pitch, it’s unlikely to fall off anytime too soon.  

Taylor Swift, “Cruel Summer” (Republic): A rising tide lifts all boats, and the good ship “Cruel Summer” has benefited over and over again from spikes of interest in Taylor Swift the past few months. Most recently, it’s been the (temporary) end of her Eras Tour – which wrapped up the final U.S. dates of this current leg in Los Angeles last Wednesday (Aug. 9) — and the concurrent announcement of her upcoming 1989 (Taylor’s Version) that have once again sent Swifties scurrying to streaming services. 

“Cruel Summer” doesn’t come from 1989 – rather, from Lover, two albums later, in 2019 – but it doesn’t seem to matter much: Swift’s streams are up across her whole catalog, and “Summer” in particular has been rising, topping Spotify’s Daily Top Songs USA chart for the first time on Monday (Aug. 14). Fans also perhaps seem to sense that the song is within reach of No. 1, as sales of “Summer” rose 85% last week to 7,000.

With airplay also still growing – the song climbs 5-3 on Radio Songs this week – “Summer” is currently performing at its peak so far. Whether it will be enough to both pass a fading “Last Night” and fend off a surging “Rich Men North of Richmond” remains to be seen.  

Luke Combs, “Fast Car” (River House/Columbia Nashville/Columbia): Prior to the debut of “Rich Men,” Combs’ Tracy Chapman cover seemed to have the inside track for the No. 1 spot, as the song right below “Last Night” on the Hot 100 since the beginning of July. Perhaps sensing that the top spot was now within its grasp, Combs’ team released the official live version of “Fast Car” — previously available only as a YouTube video – to all streaming services on Friday (Aug. 11). 

Will it still have a chance to reach No. 1 next week? Potentially, but its numbers have also been trending in the wrong direction, with both its streams and sales declining last week – though its airplay continues to rise, with the song hitting the Pop Airplay top 10 for the first time. It will need another big jump in airplay, as well as a rebound in streams and possibly sales, to have a real chance of becoming Combs’ first No. 1 next week.  

IN THE MIX 

Olivia Rodrigo, “Bad Idea Right?” (Geffen/Interscope): In a less-packed week, we might be talking about the second single from Olivia Rodrigo’s upcoming album Guts – which debuted on Friday — as more of a contender for the top spot, as the song ranked No. 1 on Spotify’s Daily Top Songs USA chart for most of the week. But “Bad Idea Right?” has already started to fade a little on streaming, hasn’t yet been officially promoted to radio and isn’t selling as well as predecessor (and radio focus track) “Vampire” — without the CD release that single had – so it will likely have to settle for being the Hot 100’s second-highest debut this week.  

Barbie: The Album (Mattel/Water Tower/Atlantic): As the phenomenon that is Barbie continues to envelop the globe, it has also swept through the Hot 100, with three of its singles occupying spots in this week’s top 15: Dua Lipa’s “Dance the Night” (No. 7), Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice’s Aqua-featuring “Barbie World” (No. 8) and Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?” (No. 14). None of them are necessarily on pace to mount a true charge for the top, as the set’s streaming growth has finally stalled in its fourth week, but airplay may still give the songs an extra boost – particularly “Barbie World,” which zooms 33-21 on this week’s Radio Songs chart. 

16 Aug 2023

Doja Cat Opens Up About Being in a ‘Committed’ Relationship and Plans to Pause Music to Pursue Acting

Doja Cat has love in her heart and Hollywood on her mind. In the 27-year-old superstar’s new Harper’s Bazaar cover story — one of three “Icons” issues by the publication this month — she opened up about her transition from being a “serial dater” to falling in love with her partner and shared plans to pause her music career someday in order to pursue acting.

“I love love,” confessed Doja, who’s reportedly dating comedian and Twitch streamer J. Cyrus.

“I’m possibly a serial dater,” she continued. “I definitely have had that in me a little bit. But right now I’m in a different place in my life where I am very committed and very much in love in a different way than before. I think I’ve evolved… I feel like a woman who is coming into her own.”

The “Kiss Me More” artist, who’s threatened to quit music altogether multiple times in the past, went on to share her dreams of taking a break from her current occupation to dip her toes into acting — and possibly stand-up comedy. “[Stand-up] is something I’ve definitely considered,” she told the publication. “I actually went onstage recently with Craig Robinson. He’ll get on a piano and just play songs, but he’ll do it in his own Craig Robinson, funny-ass way.”

“I would love to do movies that I believe in,” Doja continued. “I would have to stop the music for a minute. But I would be down to immerse myself in acting for a certain period of time. I love comedies and action films. I want to learn martial arts and be in a film like John Wick.”

Doja is fresh off the release of her second single of 2023, “Paint The Town Red.” The track debuted at No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 and is expected to appear on the star’s upcoming fourth, as-yet-untitled album, along with June’s “Attention.”

She also touched on what’s to come with her next musical project for the Harper’s Bazaar “Icons” trilogy, which also featured cover stars Paul Mescal and Kendall Jenner. “This new album is more introspective, but I’m not leaning so hard into that to where it becomes boring,” Doja revealed.

“So I want to give stories and bops. It’s a nice mixture of both,” she added. “I think this project is a really fun canvas for me to play with my rap skills and talk about what’s going on in my life. But I’m not abandoning who I was and what I know about pop and singing and that aspect of music.”

See Doja Cat grace the cover of Harper’s Bazaar below:

Doja Cat, Harper's Bazaar

Mario Sorrenti