Music

11 Aug 2023

This Dedicated Taylor Swift Fan Made an Eras Tour Dress Entirely of Friendship Bracelets

One creative Swiftie has taken the friendship bracelet trend on the Eras Tour to a whole new level.

Taylor Swift fan Laura Petty has been on TikTok documenting her process making an outfit for the superstar’s sixth show at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium, sharing a series of viral videos in which she glued together hundreds of friendship bracelets — which fans exchange at Eras Tour shows — onto a gold dress to create a colorful gown weighing a whopping 13 pounds.

The dress is color coordinated by album era, with track lists and moments from each project appearing in beads on the bracelets in each section.

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Petty’s creation finally got its big moment on Wednesday (Aug. 9), when she wore it to the LA concert. To make it even more special, that show was where Swift announced that the re-recorded version of her 2014 album 1989 will be arriving on Oct. 27.

“To be perfectly honest,” Swift wrote on her social accounts after the show, “this is my most FAVORITE re-record I’ve ever done because the 5 From The Vault tracks are so insane. I can’t believe they were ever left behind. But not for long!”

1989 (Taylor’s Version) will be Swift’s fourth “Version,” since announcing her re-recording project in 2019. The previous three all logged time at No. 1 on the Billboard 200: Fearless (Taylor’s Version) with two weeks in 2021, Red (Taylor’s Version) with one week in 2021, and Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) with two weeks in 2023.

See Petty’s friendship bracelet dress below.

11 Aug 2023

Disturbed Scores 12th Mainstream Rock Airplay No. 1 With ‘Unstoppable’

Disturbed notches its 12th ruler on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart, as “Unstoppable” rises to No. 1 on the Aug. 19-dated tally.

It’s the David Draiman-fronted quartet’s first leader on the list since “Hey You,” which reigned for three weeks in September 2022.

In between “Hey You” and “Unstoppable,” the band reached No. 2 with “Bad Man” this March.

Disturbed first led Mainstream Rock Airplay in November 2006 with its cover of Genesis‘ 1980s classic “Land of Confusion.”

With 12 No. 1s, Disturbed moves into a four-way tie for the fifth-most toppers in the chart’s 42-year history, alongside Foo Fighters, Godsmack and Metallica. Shinedown leads all acts with 18 No. 1s.

Most No. 1s, Mainstream Rock Airplay
18, Shinedown
17, Three Days Grace
14, Five Finger Death Punch
13, Van Halen
12, Disturbed
12, Foo Fighters
12, Godsmack
12, Metallica
10, Tom Petty (solo and with the Heartbreakers)
10, Volbeat

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Concurrently, “Unstoppable” bullets at its No. 9 best on the all-rock-format, audience-based Rock & Alternative Airplay chart with 2.9 million audience impressions, up 7%, Aug. 4-10, according to Luminate.

On the most recently published, multi-metric Hot Hard Rock Songs tally (dated Aug. 12), “Unstoppable” re-entered at No. 23. In addition to its radio airplay, the song earned 230,000 official U.S. streams in the July 28-Aug. 3 tracking week.

“Unstoppable” is the third single from Divisive, Disturbed’s eighth studio album. The LP debuted at No. 1 on the Top Hard Rock Albums list last December and has earned 115,000 equivalent album units to date.

11 Aug 2023

The Weeknd Says He’s Done With Features — Unless This Group Gets Back Together

On Wednesday night, The Weeknd announced the “final feature” of his career during his Warsaw tour stop.

The Canadian-Ethiopian superstar born Abel Tesfaye performed his verse from “Another One of Me” at Poland’s PGE Narodowy. “This next song I’m about to perform is an unreleased record. I haven’t dropped it yet. It’s called ‘Another One of Me,’” he announced. “And I just wanna say that this is gonna be the last feature I ever do, ever in my career. So I wanna perform it for you guys tonight.”

While the other artist on “Another One of Me,” as well as the song’s release date, has yet to be revealed, The Weeknd did underline the only condition that would get him to do a feature one more time. “The final feature… unless daft punk ever get back together,” he wrote on socials.

The Weeknd and Daft Punk previously collaborated on the Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit “Starboy” as well as “I Feel It Coming” from the former’s 2016 album Starboy. But five years later, the beloved French EDM duo comprised of Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo broke up, marking the end of their 28-year musical career. “Those guys are one of the reasons I make music, so I can’t even compare them to other people. Their branding and how seriously they take their craft and image and everything — they’re almost not even real,” The Weeknd previously told Variety.

The “Blinding Lights” singer has also been hinting at his own retirement. In his cover story with W Magazine, he revealed that the album he’s currently working on, the follow-up to 2022’s Dawn FM, “is probably my last hurrah as The Weeknd. This is something that I have to do. As The Weeknd, I’ve said everything I can say,” he said at the time. “It’s getting to a place and a time where I’m getting ready to close the Weeknd chapter. I’ll still make music, maybe as Abel, maybe as The Weeknd. But I still want to kill The Weeknd. And I will. Eventually. I’m definitely trying to shed that skin and be reborn.”

11 Aug 2023

Demi Lovato Reimagines Daisy Jones & The Six’s ‘Let Me Down Easy’

Demi Lovato presented a convincing argument as to why they should join Daisy Jones & The Six when they unveiled their version of the fictional-turned-real band’s “Let Me Down Easy” on Friday (Aug. 11).

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The song features the same swinging guitars and harmonies as the original, complete with Lovato’s characteristically powerful vocals as they belt the chorus, “If you’re gonna let me down / Let me down easy.”

“Let Me Down Easy” originally appeared on the band’s debut album Aurora, co-written and produced by Blake Mills and released in March of this year. The record has since accumulated over 50 million times and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Soundtracks chart. The band, which was subject of the successful Prime Video series Daisy Jones & The Six, is comprised of fictional characters Daisy Jones (Riley Keough), Billy Dunne (Sam Claflin), Karen Sirko (Suki Waterhouse), Graham Dunne (Will Harrison), Eddie Roundtree (Josh Whitehouse) and Warren Rojas (Sebastian Chaon).

Lovato, meanwhile, is prepping a Revamped album featuring rocked-out versions of her biggest hits. The album is slated for a September 15 release and will feature the reimagined guitar-heavy versions of the previously released “Sorry Not Sorry (Rock Version),” “Heart Attack (Rock Version)” and “Cool For the Summer (Rock Version).”

Listen to Lovato’s “Let Me Down Easy” below.

11 Aug 2023

Jelly Roll’s ‘Need a Favor’ Is 6th Straight Multi-Week Country Airplay No. 1: ‘Radio Is Reflecting Demand’

Jelly Roll’s “Need a Favor” leads Billboard’s Country Airplay chart (dated Aug. 19) for a second week. His second No. 1, following “Son of a Sinner” for a week in January, drew 32.8 million impressions (down less than 1%) Aug. 4-10, according to Luminate.

For the first time since 2006-07, six consecutive songs have led Country Airplay for multiple weeks each, starting in February with Morgan Wallen’s “Thought You Should Know” (three weeks) and continuing with Luke Combs’ “Going, Going, Gone” (two), Bailey Zimmerman’s “Rock and a Hard Place” (six); Wallen’s “Last Night” (eight); Combs’ “Fast Car” (five); and “Favor” (two).

The last run of six such leaders began in December 2006 with Sugarland’s “Want To” and ran through March 2007, via Kenny Chesney’s “Beer in Mexico.”

So why now, 16 years later? Streaming – where country has surged this year – is key, say programmers.

“It’s clear that massive hits recently have been and continue to be massively consumed. Listeners want to hear them a lot and aren’t tired of them at all,” muses Audacy vp of programming Tim Roberts. “Fans are consuming these artists and songs, with [multiple] cuts from each of them getting streamed [and] being requested, and radio is reflecting that demand. Thus, the crossover onto pop, as we’ve also seen.”

“Mostly what I want from the chart is real data,” says Pamal Broadcasting vp of programming Kevin Callahan. “If a song deserves a multi-week No. 1, then it should have one. It raises the bar for great music. I’m also seeing the chart being more representative of what we see in research, with hit songs hanging out a lot longer. That makes the chart more in line with our listeners’ expectations. We want our format to have longevity, and for that to happen we want as many chart-toppers to also be audience favorites that transition into library cuts and songs on the radio for years to come.”

11 Aug 2023

Olivia Rodrigo, V, Karol G & More: What’s Your Favorite New Music Release of the Week? Vote!

This week’s New Music Friday includes tunes ready for an angst-filled dance party, thanks to new track and album releases from Olivia Rodrigo, Karol G, Trippie Redd and more.

Rodrigo continues to dial up the heat with the release of her new single “bad idea right?,” which serves as the second taste of her sophomore studio album GUTS. “bad idea right?” speaks directly to twentysomethings who have found themselves in a cyclical situationship, as well as people outside that age range who can look back at their messy behavior with a knowing smile. Rodrigo mixes riot-grrrl rock and new wave into a compact call-and-response that provides an equal parts fun and intoxicating listen.

According to Karol G, it’s officially Bichota Season: The Latin pop star released the expanded version of Mañana Será Bonito, which features high-profile and infectious collaborations with Kali Uchis and Peso Pluma, as well as an expended version of her previously released single “S91” that sounds even more grand with more material added to its length.

Trippie Redd also returned with an album on Friday, finally releasing A Love Letter to You 5 after delaying its arrival by a week. The setback was worth the wait, as Lil Wayne, Roddy Ricch and The Kid LAROI step up to the plate for a series of guest features on the 19-track record, but the album particularly shines where Redd’s ex-girlfriend, Skye Morales, is involved.

BTS’ V, DJ Khaled and The Hives also return with new music this week, but which release is your favorite? Vote in our poll below.

11 Aug 2023

Friday Dance Music Guide: The Week’s Best New Tracks From Anna Lunoe, Fred again.., HoneyLuv & More

This week in dance music: deadmau5 mourned the passing of his iconic cat Meowingtons, Transylvania festival UNTOLD collected thousands of pints of blood in exchange for free tickets and we talked to the author of a new academic study exploring why dancefloors foster such physical intimacy among strangers.

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And now, the week’s best new music to get intimate with your earholes.

Anna Lunoe, “Real Love”

The Label: NLV Records

The Spiel: Anna Lunoe’s first release of 2023 shifts gears seamlessly between house and garage, a foundation upon which the Australian fav layers up piano, siren-like synth stabs and — as the cherry on top — her own voice. These elements build to a tight three minutes of joyous fervor and fun that still demonstrate the depth suggested by the title.

The Vibe: 5 p.m. on a Friday bliss.

Fred again.. & Obongjayer, “adore u”

The Label: Warner Music

The Spiel: Our lowercase prince returns with some late summer sunshine in “adore u.” A collaboration with Obongjayer, “adore” samples a song the Nigeria-born, London-based singer wrote about his little brother (“I’m so proud, proud of all that you are,” he sings), with Fred’s take starting light before taking quick sharp turn into more percussive territory. The ever-prolific producer debuted the track during his set last weekend at Lollapalooza.

The Artist Says: “This is the first song of a whole new world to me,” says Fred. “One that I cant wait to show you more of. Very very much. Obongjayar made this song for his lil brother. I made it for my lil sister without knowing this. So to me it’s for siblings, in any way that manifests. Like, it doesn’t have to be blood brothers to me.”

The Vibe: Drunken dance party at your next family reunion.

HoneyLuv & Cakes da Killa, “Bring It Back”

The Label: Insomniac Records

The Spiel: “This thing is out of control,” New York City rapper Cakes da Killa declares on “Bring It Back” — and while the mood on HoneyLuv‘s latest certainly engenders a certain sort of dancefloor looseness, the producer herself keeps the production extremely tight. She layers in loads of percussion, smooth synths and Cakes’ rapidfire flow into a tech-forward heater that’s equally sophisticated and fun. Listen for it at HoneyLuv’s upcoming tour dates at Hï and Amnesia in Ibiza, Elements Music Festival, Life Is Beautiful in Las Vegas, EDC Orlando and many more.

The Vibe: Wild, but never messy.

FISHER & Kita Alexander “Atmosphere”

The Label: Catch & Release

The Spiel: FISHER once again demonstrates that he’s just got this thing figured out, delivering another undeniably infectious tech house anthem written in conjunction with the song’s vocalist, Australian singer/songwriter Kita Alexander. Together the pair deliver a song that swirls like its titular layers of gas themselves, creating an earworm tune both celestial and heavy like a black hole.

The Artist Says: “[This is] a song that I was really proud of because it sounded most like me”, says Alexander. “Luckily enough, Fisher agreed and loved the track. Turns out the fans also love it. I’m so excited to be featuring on a track with a friend and Aussie legend.”

The Vibe: Entering the orbit of someone you’re into.

Muzi, “EMTUNZINI”

The Label: Fool’s Gold Records

The Spiel: “Tell me, what’s the secret of looking so fly?” Muzi asks on his latest, “EMTUNZINI” –although the question feels largely rhetorical, given how insanely fly the South African producer/singer sounds on the track and looks in its corresponding video. A breezy four minutes of slick, effervescent house music, with a breezy melody sung in both English and Zulu, the song recounts the love story of Muzi’s parents and functions as the lead single from the artist’s forthcoming studio LP uMUZI, coming October 13th via Fool’s Gold Records.

The Vibe: May we all be even just slightly as fly.

COBRAH, “MANIC”

The Label: Atlantic

The Spiel: “I’m not dramatic; I just get a little manic,” Swedish experimental electronic artist COBRAH announces on her latest single. She nonetheless keeps the track at a low simmer, with an insistent kickdrum and waves of rumbling synth creating the foundation for COBRAH to deliver rapid-fire lyrics about “getting into the frantic” in her unmistakable baby voice, which juxtaposes the heaviness of the lyrics with the purr with which she delivers them. The pristinely shot and slightly NSFW video finds the artist relishing in the BDSM realm that’s a signature of her general aesthetic. The song comes from her forthcoming EP, SUCCUBUS, coming October 13.

The Vibe: Yes, maybe slightly deranged — but also delicious.

11 Aug 2023

New Music Latin: Listen to Releases From Banda MS, Karol G, Rauw Alejandro & More

New Music Latin is a compilation of the best new Latin songs and albums recommended by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors. Check out this week’s picks below.

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Banda MS & Yahritza y Su Esencia, “Solo Que Lo Dudes” (Lizos Music)

It’s the first time Yahritza Y Su Esencia has recorded a song with Banda MS — but it’s not the first time the two acts have united forces. Back in June, the sibling trio joined the legendary band onstage in Los Angeles to sing “Mi Mayor Anhelo,” which is around when they teased they were working on a collab. “Solo Que Lo Dudes” is a rhythmic tuba-powered cumbia that puts both Yahritza’s and Alan’s (from Banda MS) powerful and distinctive vocals at the forefront, as they sing about an “amor bonito,” or genuine love. “More than I could’ve ever imagined, stay with me, stay by my side. No one can stop this pretty love, let’s love each other slowly … I need you,” they declare. This new cumbia song comes on the heels of Yahritza Y Su Esencia’s other cumbia single, the Grupo Frontera-assisted “Frágil,” peaking at No. 1 on the Regional Mexican Airplay chart. It’s the trio’s first leader on any Billboard ranking. — GRISELDA FLORES

Rauw Alejandro, “Hayami Hana by Raúl”



Rauw Alejandro pens a heart-wrenching love letter to Rosalía in “Hayami Hana,” a ballad set over keyboards, where he raps and croons about the difficulties of their breakup, revealing that he never thought they would part ways. The track — whose title in Japanese could be translated as “flower of rare beauty,” and for now is only available on Rauw’s YouTube and SoundCloud accounts — comes less than a month after the couple announced that they’d ended their relationship after nearly four years together. Its moving lyrics are a testament of Rauw’s deep love and respect for his ex-fiancée, both as a person and as an artist. “What will come next? I don’t know/ But I know that for you it will be all the Grammys, hey/ They will study your art over time/ When they plan, I know that they always take you as an example,” sings Rauw. And in one of the most heartbreaking moments he laments, “I’ll finish our little house in case you feel like coming back/ Today I stop writing you, not loving you.” It made me tear up without realizing it. — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS

Estevie & Cuco, “El Paso” (Nice Life Recording Company/Interscope Records)

Wearing her heart on her sleeve, Mexican-American singer Estevie (born Sarah Silva) is reviving the spirit of vintage borderland cumbia. On her latest single “El Paso” — already an irresistible cut punctuated by a gripping accordion riff over a savory güiro rhythm — the SoCal star delivers a heartwarming romance, described as “A Chicano love story,” alongside indie pop sensation Cuco, who comes in a minute and a half later to offer his bu tender croon. In the visual, Cuco shines like the sun (literally), while Estevie travels far and wide in search of her soulmate. “El Paso” is the final single leading to Estevie’s debut EP, Cumbialicious, out at the end of September. — ISABELA RAYGOZA

Karol G, Mañana Será Bonito (Bichota Season) (Bichota Records/Interscope Records)

Karol G is so excited about making history with her 2023 album Mañana Será Bonito, and kicking off her first-ever stadium tour this week, that she has released even more new music. Mañana Será Bonito (Bichota Season) is not a deluxe or remix album, but rather a sequel to February’s Mañana — one that shows a more experimental Karol, and one who’s healed and matured, and is both in love and empowered as ever.

The set kicks off with the hard-hitting drill/rap fusion “BICHOTAG,” where she chants about being the ultimate bichota — no ifs, ands, or buts. It then navigates to tracks such as “OKI DOKI” and “Mi Ex Tenía Razón,” the set’s focus track, where the Colombian artist delivers a dulcet cumbia/Tex-Mex track à la Selena Quintanilla (one of Karol’s favorite artists). The set also includes several high-profile collaborations, with Karol reeling in fellow Colombiana Kali Uchis (“Me Tengo Que Ir”) as well as newcomers Peso Pluma (“QLONA”), Dei V (“Gatita Gangster”), and Young Miko (“Dispo”).

To everyone’s surprise, Bichota Season is also home to “Una Noche en Medellín (Remix,)” alongside rising Chilean artist Cris MJ and Ryan Castro (the remix was slated for a 2022 release). The track, about enjoying the night life in Medellín, was originally released by Cris MJ last year, and performed live for the first time during Karol’s set at the 2022 Viña del Mar festival. The album closes with the previously released “Provenza (Remix)” by Tiesto, which debuted at the 2022 Tomorrowland Festival. — JESSICA ROIZ

Check out more editor’s picks in the weekly playlist below!

11 Aug 2023

Remy Ma, Busta Rhymes, Fat Joe & Bia Celebrate 50 Years of Hip-Hop With Jam-Packed Performance

It was the 50th anniversary of hip-hop on Friday (Aug. 11), and Good Morning America celebrated the milestone during its Summer Concert Series.

Fat Joe and Remy Ma took the stage together to perform their smash hit “All the Way Up,” before Busta Rhymes took over to deliver a medley of fan-favorite tracks, including “I Know What You Want,” “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See” and “Look at Me Now” — as well as his new song “Beach Ball” featuring BIA.

The live broadcast in Central Park also featured a fashion show hosted by senior vice president of fashion for Bustle Digital Group Tiffany Reid and journalist and stylist Joe Zee. The two discussed looks worn by hip-hop tastemakers Missy Elliott, Run-DMC, Lil Kim and Busta Rhymes over the years that ultimately influenced fashion for years to come.

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Later in the evening, New York City will continue its celebration of the genre with Hip-Hop 50 Live, where a slew of the genre’s most decorated stars, including Run-D.M.C., Lil Wayne, Snoop Dogg, and Ice Cube, will take center stage inside the legendary Yankee Stadium to celebrate hip-hop’s origin. Emmy Award-winner, BASSic Black Entertainment CEO Adam Blackstone and producer and keyboardist Omar Edwards will be the concert’s creative music directors. 

Watch the Summer Concert Series performances below.

11 Aug 2023

Post Malone’s ‘Austin’ Arrives at No. 1 on Top Rock & Alternative Albums Chart

Post Malone’s alternative-leaning new album Austin becomes his first to reach No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Rock & Alternative Albums and Top Alternative Albums charts, debuting atop both lists dated Aug. 12.

Austin bows with 113,000 equivalent album units earned July 28-Aug. 3, according to Luminate. Of that sum, 34,000 units are via album sales, with the bulk from streaming equivalent units (78,000).

That 113,000-unit count is the fourth-biggest on Top Rock & Alternative Albums in 2023 (and the most for a solo male), behind, among all acts, only Metallica’s 72 Seasons (146,000, April 29), Melanie Martinez’s Portals (142,000, April 15) and Lana Del Rey’s Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd (115,000, April 8). It’s also the third-largest on Top Alternative Albums this year, trailing only the aforementioned Martinez and Del Rey LPs.

Post Malone makes his first appearance on both charts; although he has logged hits in a featured role on multiple rock- and alternative-focused song charts, none of his albums was classified fully as alternative before Austin.

Concurrently, Austin begins at No. 2 on the all-genre Billboard 200. It’s his second straight title to debut at No. 2, following Twelve Carat Toothache in 2022, and his fourth total within the top two (following Beerbongs & Bentleys in 2018 and Hollywood’s Bleeding in 2019, both No. 1s).

Ten songs from Austin appear on the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs survey, paced by “Enough Is Enough,” which debuts at No. 5 with 9.9 million official U.S. streams, 80,000 airplay audience impressions and 2,000 downloads sold. The song also leads a collection of Austin tracks on Alternative Streaming Songs, bounding in at No. 3.

The album’s lead single, “Chemical,” peaked at No. 13 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 dated April 29 (and concurrently ranks at No. 35 on the latest list). It reached Nos. 6 and 8 on Pop Airplay and Adult Pop Airplay, respectively, in June, while also achieving highs of No. 16 on Adult Contemporary, No. 24 on Alternative Airplay and No. 25 on Rhythmic Airplay. Latest radio single “Mourning” this week places at No. 11 on Rhythmic Airplay, after hitting No. 8, and rises to No. 18 on Pop Airplay.