Music

10 Jul 2023

Kevin ‘Chief’ Zaruk, Simon Tikhman Launch The Core Records With UMG

Kevin “Chief” Zaruk and Simon Tikhman, co-founders of entertainment and talent management company The Core Entertainment (TCE), have partnered with Universal Music Group (UMG) to launch the global label venture The Core Records. The label venture will sign and develop new artists, working with UMG’s global network of labels.

Tikhman and Zaruk, who were both honored as part of Billboard‘s 2023 Country Power Players list, founded The Core Entertainment in partnership with Live Nation in 2019 as an independent entertainment collective with offices in Nashville and Los Angeles. TCE’s talent roster includes Billboard 2023 country rookie of the year winner Bailey Zimmerman, known for his Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit “Rock and a Hard Place,” which also spent six weeks atop the Country Airplay chart, in addition to his No. 1 Country Airplay chart hit “Fall in Love.” Also on the TCE roster are RIAA diamond-certified rock band Nickelback, “Whiskey on You” hitmaker Nate Smith, producer Austin Shawn, pop band Valley, rising UMG Nashville artists Dillon James and Josh Ross, country newcomer Rachel Wiggins and rising songwriter (and frequent Zimmerman collaborator) Gavin Lucas.

TCE specializes in talent management, innovative business and strategic partnerships, advancements in the music, technology, and lifestyle industries, as well as developing film and television projects and works with professional athletes.

UMG chairman and CEO Sir Lucian Grainge said in a press release, “We love building upon our entrepreneurial culture, and are so pleased to welcome Chief and Simon who have a reputation for identifying some of the industry’s most promising artists. We look forward to helping them grow their roster and drive global success for their artists.”

Tikhman added, “Our goal has always been to support artists on a global scale by creating new creative and commercial paths. We’d like to thank Sir Lucian for believing in our vision and for his commitment to developing and supporting artists and entrepreneurs.”

Zaruk added, “We’re excited for this next evolution in The Core and honored to work with Sir Lucian and the team at UMG to help us continue to guide artists to develop their careers and brands. We’ve had a great time building The Core over the past few years and are excited to create a home for new artists with the incredible resources and support from UMG.”

10 Jul 2023

Video Appears to Show Britney Spears Inadvertently Hitting Herself in Face During Wembanyama Encounter

No charges will be filed following a brief investigation of the altercation involving pop star Britney Spears, San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama and a member of the player’s security team, Las Vegas police said Friday after determining she inadvertently “hit herself in the face.”

Spears said she was struck by a security guard as she tried to approach Wembanyama near a restaurant in a Las Vegas casino complex on Wednesday night. Wembanyama said a person, who he later found out was Spears, grabbed him from behind.

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said Spears had actually struck herself when someone pushed her hand off Wembanyama as she reached up to tap the No. 1 overall pick.

In its investigation, which is now over, police determined that the security guard did not willfully or unlawfully use force or violence against Spears. No arrests were made and no one was cited, the report said.

In the report, police said surveillance footage of the event “showed Britney going to tap the Spurs player on the shoulder. When she touched the player (redacted) pushes her hand off of the player without looking which causes Britney’s hand to hit herself in the face.”

Spears filed a police report after the incident outside the restaurant, alleging battery. On Friday, she posted a reaction to Instagram with a caption that said “Either way I’m still a huge fan of the NBA player … it’s not his fault his security hit me.”

Wembanyama was making his NBA Summer League debut for the Spurs in Las Vegas on Friday night. The 7-foot-3 French teen was the No. 1 pick in last month’s NBA draft and is entering the league with as much acclaim as anyone since LeBron James in 2003.

The altercation happened Wednesday night; Spears said she recognized Wembanyama at another hotel earlier in the evening and when seeing him again entering a restaurant at the Aria Resort & Casino she “decided to approach him and congratulate him on his success.”

Spears said Thursday, “His security then back handed me in the face without looking back, in front of a crowd. Nearly knocking me down and causing my glasses off my face.”

Police interviewed security guards for the Spurs and Spears, both of whom said pushing a hand off someone’s shoulder is a standard response, according to the report. The security guard for the Spurs said he spoke with Spears afterward, identified himself and apologized. Spears’ security team said she also apologized, the police report said.

Spears’ attorney in Los Angeles, Mathew Rosengart, did not immediately respond to telephone and email messages Friday about the police report.

Spears said Thursday in posts on Twitter and Instagram that the run-in was “super embarrassing,” and denied grabbing Wembanyama, saying she only “tapped him on the shoulder to get his attention.” She also said that she was hopeful of getting an apology from the team or the security guard who she said was involved.

Wembanyama had a different account of the events. He said security advised him to not stop for anyone as he walked into the restaurant, mindful that pausing could cause a stir and allow a crowd to build. He said one person was shouting “sir, sir” to him, “and that person grabbed me from behind,” he said.

He was told hours later that person was Spears. He never saw her, he said, because he never turned around.

10 Jul 2023

Jamie Foxx Spotted Waving From Boat in Chicago Months Hospitalization For Undisclosed Medical Issue

Jamie Foxx made one of his first public appearances since being hospitalized with a mystery illness earlier this year over the weekend. The singer/actor was seen waving from the deck of a large boat during a cruise on the Chicago River on Sunday afternoon according to images obtained by TMZ. In the brief clip, Foxx was spotted sitting near the front of the boat and appeared to wave, smile and flash a peace sign as boaters on a nearby vessel shouted out that they were celebrating a birthday; Foxx did not appear to speak or stand up in the short video.

Foxx was accompanied on the boat by several unnamed people and at press time the star had not made any additional comments about his recovery.

The cause of Foxx’s hospitalization has not yet been disclosed by his family or team, who have also not offered any updates on his condition or recovery in the months since. Foxx’s daughter, Corinne, announced his hospitalization on April 12.

“We wanted to share that my father Jamie Foxx experienced a medical complication yesterday,” she wrote at the time. “Luckily due to quick action and great care he is already on his way to recovery. We know how beloved he is and appreciate your prayers. The family asks for privacy during this time.” 

On May 3, Foxx broke his silence and thanked fans in a note for their support. “Appreciate all the love!!! Feeling blessed,” Foxx wrote. The next day, friend Nick Cannon also gave an update on Foxx’s progress. “I gotta tell you, there would be no Nick Cannon if it wasn’t for Jamie Foxx,” said Cannon, who has stepped in to fill Foxx’s shoes on the set of the Fox game show Beat Shazam. “I love this brother and in a real family-type way, man. He looked out for me when I didn’t have a place to sleep as a teenager. This brother let me sleep on his couch…It was good times and those good times will continue ’cause I am expecting that my brother is gonna just recover fully.”

Check out the TMZ video here.

10 Jul 2023

Noel Gallagher’s Saratoga Concert Evacuated Following Bomb Threat

A bomb threat derailed a concert Saturday night (July 8) at Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC), shutting down the venue before the main act, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, could take the stage.

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According to multiple reports, Metric and Garbage completed their opening sets, but the High Flying birds got their wings clipped when the site was abruptly evacuated just ahead of their headline slot.

An announcement before 10 p.m. said the show would not go on due to “circumstances beyond our control,” according to a report from Jim Shahen of the Albany Times-Union.

Adds reporter Jon Campbell, who was in the room: “The stage was all set for Noel Gallagher. Then a guy came on stage and said: ‘Due to circumstances beyond our control, the show will not continue.’”

“We have no idea what happened tonight,” Garbage posted on its official Twitter channel. “We were just all evacuated and we were concerned for everyone !!! I’m sorry we have no real information. We were just told there was an emergency evacuation!!!!”

The situation now has clarity, with officials confirming the closure was in response to a “bomb threat.”

“Out of an abundance of caution, the concert at Saratoga Performing Arts Center was suspended ‪at 9:40 pm and concert attendees were evacuated without incident. K9s completed a sweep of the venue after the crowd exited, with negative results,” reads a statement from the NY State Park Police.

The venue, operated by Live Nation, had a particularly eventful weekend. Sunday’s performance of Kidz Bop was delayed due to “inclement weather in the area,” with organizers urging guests to “seek shelter in the venue.”

Gallagher is touring in support of his band’s latest album Council Skies, which last month debuted at No. 2 on the Official U.K. Albums Chart, denied the crown by Foo Fighters’ But Here We Are. The Foos ended Gallagher’s record streak of 10 consecutive No. 1 studio albums dating back nearly three decades, including all seven LPs with Oasis and the previous three with High Flying Birds.

10 Jul 2023

Olivia Rodrigo’s ‘Vampire’ Flies High on U.K. Chart

Olivia Rodrigo’s “Vampire” (via Geffen) sinks its fangs into the U.K. singles chart.

Arriving at No. 2, the pop-rock number becomes Rodrigo’s fifth U.K. top 10 appearance, a collection that includes two leaders.

When Rodrigo announced her arrival to the pop music world with 2021’s Sour, she set a stack of records. With the release of “Good 4 U,” Rodrigo became, at 18 years and three months, the youngest solo artist in history to snag the Official U.K. Chart double.

The Grammy Award winner’s debut also broke the U.K. record for most first-week streams ever for a debut album, and she’s the first female solo artist to score three simultaneous U.K. top 5 singles with “Good 4 U,” “Deja Vu” and “Traitor” (Rodrigo’s “Drivers License” also led the survey).

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“Vampire” blasts to No. 1 in Australia and is the first release from Rodrigo’s sophomore album Guts, due out Sept. 8. Its predecessor, Sour, spent five weeks at No. 1 in the U.K.

After a tight chart race, the Official Charts Company reports, Dave and Central Cee’s “Sprinter” (Live Yours/Neighbourhood) finds the legs to outpace “Vampire” for its fifth consecutive title.

“Sprinter” accumulates a market-leading 8 million-plus streams, according to the OCC. Completing the top 3 is J Hus and Drake’s “Who Told You” (Black Butter/OVO/Republic), down 2-3.

Taylor Swift’s “Cruel Summer” (EMI) continues to heat up on the U.K. chart, four years after its initial release. The Lover album track cracks the U.K. top 10 for the first time, rising 12-6. It’s the 22nd U.K. top 10 for Swift, who will return to these parts in June 2024 when her The Eras Tour passes through.

Meanwhile, DJ Peggy Gou’s dance number “(It Goes Like) Nanana” (XL Recordings) continues to climb, up 9-7, while D-Block Europe and Clavish’s collaboration “Pakistan” bolts to a top 10 start. “Pakistan” debuts at No. 10, the third top 10 appearance for D-Block and Clavish’s second.

10 Jul 2023

Nothing But Thieves Nab U.K. Chart Crown With ‘Dead Club City’

Nothing But Thieves swipe the U.K. chart title for the first time as Dead Club City bows at No. 1.

Formed in Essex, England, the five-piece indie-rock band enjoyed top 10 appearances with each of their previous three albums: 2015’s self-titled debut (peaking at No. 7), 2017’s Broken Machine (No. 2) and 2020’s Moral Panic (No. 3).

“How’s this happened then?!,” reads a message on the band’s socials. “It’s a synth based concept record with too many guitar solos. This is all to say that despite our best efforts of self sabotage, it’s only gone and got Number 1. It can still happen.”

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Completing the podium on the Official U.K. Albums Chart, published July 7, is Elton John’s hits collection Diamonds (Universal/UMC), which holds at No. 2 as the pop veteran winds-up his record-setting final tour; and the Weeknd’s The Highlights (Republic Records/XO), up 6-3.

Further down the list, London singer and songwriter Olivia Dean blasts to No. 4 with Messy, her full-length debut LP.

Also arriving in the top 10 is Lil Uzi Vert’s Pink Tape, new at No. 7. That’s the second top 10 for the U.S. rapper, singer and songwriter, after 2020’s Eternal Atake peaked at No. 3. Lil Uzi Vert also impacted the U.K. chart with 2017’s Luv Is Rage 2 (No. 14), and Pluto x Baby Pluto (No. 39), his 2020 collaborative release with Future.

Meanwhile, Fontaines D.C. frontman Grian Chatten bags a debut solo top 10 appearance with Chaos For The Fly (Partisan). The best-seller this week on wax, Chaos For The Fly takes off at No. 10.

Olivia Rodrigo is back with “Vampire,” and her fans can’t get enough of the U.S. pop star. Rodrigo’s chart-topping debut album from 2021, Sour (Geffen), blasts 32-16 in its 110th week on the tally.

Finally, Madonna enjoys a “get well soon” message from her U.K. fans as Finally Enough Love (Rhino) rises on the chart. The Queen of Pop’s 2022 hits collection reenters the chart at No. 27 following the release of six-LP “Rainbow Edition” boxset.

The American pop legend recently spent several days in the ICU after she developed a serious bacterial infection, a development that pressed pause on her massive, career-spanning Celebration tour. Finally Enough Love originally peaked at No. 3 in the U.K. following its release in 2022.

09 Jul 2023

Fans Choose TOMORROW X TOGETHER & Jonas Brothers’ ‘Do It Like That’ as This Week’s Favorite New Music

TOMORROW X TOGETHER and the Jonas Brothers‘ “Do It Like That” has topped this week’s new music poll.

Music fans voted in a poll published Friday (July 7) on Billboard, choosing the collaboration between the K-pop group and the sibling trio as their favorite new music release of the past week.

“Do It Like That” brought in nearly 89% of the vote, beating out new music by Taylor Swift (Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)), NewJeans (“Super Shy”), FendiDa Rappa featuring Cardi B (“Point Me 2”), Rauw Alejandro (Playa Saturno), and others.

Produced by Ryan Tedder, the prolific creative behind such hits as OneRepublic’s “Counting Stars” and Beyoncé’s “Halo,” “Do It Like That” is the first team-up between TXT and the JoBros.

Accompanied by percussive bounce, snaps and pops for the song’s instrumentals, the groups find themselves marveling in the excitement of a new romance that keeps on surprising them. “Yeah, oh, my God/ Don’t know how you do it like that/ Blow my mind/ Then somehow you bring it right back,” they take turns singing on the chorus.

Trailing behind “Do It Like That” on the poll is Swift’s Speak Now (Taylor’s Version), the newly released re-recorded version of her 2010 album, with almost 9% of the vote.

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

09 Jul 2023

Coldplay Gives Elton John Emotional Send-Off at Final Concert of Farewell Tour: ‘We Are So Grateful’

Coldplay paid tribute to Elton John during the final stop of the legendary singer’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour in Sweden.

As John’s five-decade live career came to a close at Stockholm’s Tele2 Arena on Saturday (July 8), Chris Martin and Co. — who were simultaneously performing in Gothenburg, Sweden — appeared onscreen through a live video broadcast at John’s show to honor the musical icon.

After performing a moving cover of “Rocket Man” alongside his band, Martin gave a heartwarming speech about John’s remarkable career.

“Elton, from all of us here, from all the bands and all the artists that you’ve loved and inspired and helped, we just love you so much,” Martin said. “We are so grateful for everything you’ve done for us, everything you’ve done for the AIDS Foundation. Every time you’ve been kind to anybody.”

He continued, “For everything you’ve done for LGBTQ. Everything you’ve done for fashion and eyewear. Everything you’ve done for sexiness, and love and dressing gowns. Everything you’ve done for music, everything Bernie has done for lyrics, everything your band has done over the thousands of shows you’ve done. We love you so much, happy retirement, and we’re going to miss you so much.”

John’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour launched in September 2018 in North America and went on to play 330 concerts around the globe. In January, it became the highest grossing tour in Billboard Boxscore history, passing Ed Sheeran’s The Divide Tour. As of dates reported to Boxscore through June 18, the Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour had now grossed $910.4 million, making it the first tour to ever break the $900 million barrier. Last month, John received an award from Billboard for having the top-grossing tour of all time.

Prior to launching into “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” the final song of Saturday’s show in Sweden, John took a moment to look back on his spectacular body of work.

“I’ve had the most wonderful career, beyond belief,” he told the audience. “Fifty-two years of pure joy playing music. How lucky am I to play music? But you know, I wouldn’t be sitting here and talking to you if it wasn’t for you. You bought the singles, the CDs, the albums, the cassettes, but more importantly, you bought the tickets to the shows. You know how much I love to play live. It’s been my lifeblood to play for you guys. You’ve been absolutely magnificent.”

John continued, “I will never be touring again, but I may do something in the future — a one-off thing — but that’s miles away. I want to appreciate my family, my sons, my husband, everything. I’ve earned, it. And I don’t regret it tonight. I want to thank the band, the crew, everybody. I will miss you guys so much, but I’ll see you much sooner than you think. I love you guys!”

Watch John’s performance of “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” at his final concert here.

09 Jul 2023

Taylor Swift Forgets the Lyrics to ‘Last Kiss’ — Not Once, But Twice — During Eras Tour Concert in KC

Taylor Swift was having a bit of trouble remembering her song lyrics during her Eras Tour stop in Kansas City, Mo., on Saturday (July 8).

During the acoustic section of her set at Geha Field at Arrowhead Stadium, the 33-year-old pop star hilariously forget the words — not once, but twice — to her sorrowful 2010 Speak Now track “Last Kiss.”

After effortlessly singing the first two lines of the opening verse, Swift accidentally skipped ahead to the “July ninth” portion of the second verse before pausing to acknowledge her mistake.

“Oh my God, the words… We have this rule on this tour where if I mess up a song that I have to play it again some other time on the tour so that I can avenge myself,” she explained to the crowd. “I got too excited, I got too excited. Will you allow me the honor of starting over?”

Swift then restarted the tune, getting through the first three lines without a hitch, before halting once again to second-guess herself.

“Oh my God! No, those are the right lyrics,” Tay said, repeating the opening lines. “I swear that I will not mess this up again! Oh my God! This one, I love this one. Why am I doing this to this song?”

The third time was a charm, as the songstress effortlessly delivered the Speak Now track without further interruption.

Prior to performing “Last Kiss,” Swift reminded the sold-out crowd of the date, which plays an important role in the song. “I don’t know if you noticed what the date is today, but it’s July 8th,” she said. “Soon it will be July 9th. You know what time it is, Kansas City. It’s time to play ‘Last Kiss’ and cry.”

“Last Kiss” reached No. 71 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2010. In the prologue included in the vinyl edition of Speak Now (Taylor’s Version), the newly released re-recorded version of her third album, Swift called it “the saddest song I’ve ever written.”

Watch Swift’s performance of “Last Kiss” in Kansas City here.

09 Jul 2023

Harry Styles Hit in the Face by Flying Object at Concert in Vienna

Harry Styles was struck in the face by an unknown object during his concert in Vienna, Austria, on Saturday (July 8).

As seen in a fan-captured video, the 29-year-old British pop star struts down the stage at Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadion when a mysterious object pelts him near the eye. The “As It Was” singer then winces in pain as he bends over, covers his eye and continues walking off stage.

The former One Direction member, who is close to wrapping his epic Love on Tour outing, had not commented about the incident on social media at press time.

This isn’t the first time Styles has been hit by objects during his shows. Last year, the crooner had to take a brief pause in Chicago after getting struck in the groin by something thrown by a fan. He’s also had Skittles and chicken nuggets hurled at him while performing.

Styles is the latest victim of a dangerous trend in which artists are being struck by random items at concerts. Bebe Rexha, Lil Nas X and Kelsea Ballerini are among the slew of artists who have recently had their shows interrupted by the launching of various objects, including a phone, sex toy and bracelet, respectively.

Ava Max was also slapped by a fan who rushed the stage, and another concertgoer threw their mother’s ashes onto the stage during P!nk’s performance at BST Hyde Park in London on June 25.

Adele even addressed the concerning trend during one of her recent Las Vegas residency shows. “Have you noticed how people are, like, forgetting f—ing show etiquette at the moment, people are throwing s— on stage? Have you seen that?” she’s heard saying in a clip on social media.

Watch Styles get struck in the face at his Vienna concert on Twitter below.