State Champ Radio Music
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Donald Trump recently launched into online rants targeting not one, but two of the world’s biggest musicians, and the American Federation of Musicians International isn’t letting it slide.
Hours after Trump wrote that Taylor Swift isn’t “hot” anymore while calling Bruce Springsteen “dumb as a rock” in posts Friday (May 16) on Truth Social, AFM International President Tino Gagliardi issued a statement condemning the “attacks” on two of the labor union’s members.
“The American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada will not remain silent as two of our members — Bruce Springsteen and Taylor Swift — are singled out and personally attacked by the President of the United States,” Gagliardi began.
“Bruce Springsteen and Taylor Swift are not just brilliant musicians; they are role models and inspirations to millions of people in the United States and across the world,” the statement continued. “Whether it’s Born in the U.S.A. or the Eras Tour, their music is timeless, impactful, and has deep cultural meaning. Musicians have the right to freedom of expression, and we stand in solidarity with all our members.”
The “Anti-Hero” singer and E Street Band leader are just two of tens of thousands of musicians who are part of the AFM, which “negotiates fair agreements, protects ownership of recorded music, secures benefits such as health care and pension, and lobbies for musicians and the rights of workers,” according to the union’s website. Swift is a member of her local Nashville branch, while Springsteen is part of chapters in both Los Angeles and his home state of New Jersey, per the AFM’s statement.
The organization’s defense of the two stars counters Trump’s tirade against both of them earlier on Friday. Starting with Swift, the politician had written, “Has anyone noticed that, since I said ‘I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT,’ she’s no longer ‘HOT?’”
The remark comes eight months after he first posted that he hated the 14-time Grammy winner on Truth Social following her endorsement of his opponent, Kamala Harris, in the 2024 election. Trump has a long history of directing barbed comments at Swift, previously making fun of her for getting booed by Philadelphia Eagles fans at the Super Bowl in February.
Shortly after name-dropping the Eras headliner, Trump turned his attention to The Boss. In response to Springsteen slamming the billionaire’s “corrupt, incompetent and treasonous administration” at a concert in Manchester, England, two days prior, Trump wrote, “Never liked him, never liked his music, or his Radical Left Politics and, importantly, he’s not a talented guy — Just a pushy, obnoxious JERK, who fervently supported Crooked Joe Biden … Sleepy Joe didn’t have a clue as to what he was doing, but Springsteen is ‘dumb as a rock.’”
At press time, neither Swift nor Springsteen had addressed Trump’s latest comments, but both have been vocal in their opposition to the Republican Party leader. In addition to backing his opponents in both of the past two elections, the “Karma” artist has criticized his policies on a number of occasions. And in 2020, the “Dancing in the Dark” rock star called Trump a “threat” to democracy, telling The Atlantic, “He simply makes any kind of reform that much harder … These are all existential threats to our democracy and our American way of life.”
Carín León is the latest Latin star to perform his very own Tiny Desk concert for NPR Music. The Mexican superstar went all out for his set, which included a 16-piece band that helped him bring to life “Ese Vato No Te Queda,” “Lado Frágil,” “El Amor de Mi Herida” and “Por la Suave.” León […]
This week, Rihanna dropped her first song in three years, Morgan Wallen did some self-reflection on new album I’m the Problem, and JIN of BTS unveiled his second solo EP — and those are just a few of several high-profile new music releases closing out the second full week of May. And of all the […]
Lola Young’s “Messy” makes a clean sweep across three Billboard airplay charts, tying a regal hit from more than a decade earlier for a rare achievement. “Messy” rises two places to No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult Pop Airplay chart (dated May 24). The song tops a third individual-format radio ranking, after it led Pop Airplay […]
Lizzo dished on her reaction to being mentioned in Beyoncé‘s “Break My Soul — The Queens Remix” on the May 15 episode of Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen.
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After confirming she had absolutely no idea the name-drop was coming (“Beyoncé don’t give nobody no heads up! She is the queen of surprise drops!”), the singer revealed that she was actually on vacation in a “pretty remote” location when the track was released back in the summer of 2022.
“I thought somebody was messing with me,” Lizzo said about receiving the news via text. “And then, I was like, ‘OK, it’s in a song, maybe it’s quick’…And then when I found out what it actually was, it was her paying homage to all of the women who inspire her, that really moved me.
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“And she put me in the family! I’m next to Kelly [Rowland], I’m next to Solange,” she continued, referencing her name being sandwiched between Queen Bey’s younger sister and her lifelong bestie and Destiny’s Child bandmate in the spoken word bridge.
Elsewhere in the track, which samples Madonna’s classic 1990 No. 1 hit “Vogue,” the Cowboy Carter icon shouts out everyone from trailblazers like Bessie Smith, Nina Simone, Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Grace Jones to contemporaries like Michelle Williams, Alicia Keys and Rihanna.
“And by the way, it’s not like she just used me ’cause she needed someone — she said Grace Jones twice. That means she really wanted to say my name,” Lizzo concluded before launching into the hook of Destiny’s Child’s 1999 hit she’d just inadvertently referenced. “I’m very, very honored to this day. I love her very, very much. And, yeah, I’m still gooped and gagged.”
Elsewhere during the show, the “Still Bad” songstress threw shade at an unnamed celebrity who treated her differently after she achieved success on the Billboard charts and even spilled some flirty bedroom secrets with host Andy Cohen.
Watch Lizzo recall the moment she found out about Beyoncé’s surprise name-check below.
Snoop Dogg‘s ready to make it clear that he’s got no beef with Kendrick Lamar.
During a recent appearance on The Breakfast Club, Snoop was asked about his thoughts on being mentioned on the intro track to Lamar’s GNX album, when the Compton rapper spit, “Snoop posted ‘Taylor Made,’ I prayed it was the edibles/ I couldn’t believe it, it was only right for me to let it go.”
After Breakfast Club co-host Charlamagne Tha God asked Snoop if he spoke to Dot after hearing his name on “wacced out murals,” the West Coast legend replied back, “For what? What’s there to talk about?”
The West Coast legend continued, reiterating that his repost of “Taylor Made Freestyle” was simply a mistake and that Lamar had every right to feel the way he did. “That’s my lil’ homie. He spoke his mind. He said what he said,” Snoop continued. “When I got wind of it, naturally, I reach out to nephew and let ’em know, ‘My bad, I didn’t mean that.’ And naturally, he responded the way he responded.”
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He then explained that when family is involved, situations like that tend to be resolved quickly. “We family You can’t have a spat or misunderstanding with your brother or your cousin? That’s how it supposed to be,” he said. “It ain’t supposed to get no bigger than that, it’s supposed to be understood … See, a big dawg could get checked, if it’s by the right person if he got the right intellect. There’s nothing wrong with getting properly put in place if you out of place. That’s what’s wrong with half of us — that we feel like the young generation can’t tell us nothin’.”
In other Snoop news, he also stopped by Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen and was asked to react to the news that Rihanna and A$AP Rocky are expecting a third child to which he responded, “That’s what love makes you do.”
Snoop also shared an interesting story about smoking with Ed Sheeran and Russell Crowe in Australia. “Yes, me, Ed Sheeran and Russell Crowe was in Australia,” he began after being asked by a fan if the story was true. “I took them to a place no one has ever been to before and brother Ed forgot how to sing, he forgot how play instruments. But, I mean, I love doing things like that. I love to get people high.
Watch Snoop Dogg’s full appearance on The Breakfast Club below:
The Weeknd may have dropped out of high school, but he found his way onto a college campus on Thursday (May 15). The “XO” singer and Jimmy Fallon surprised a group of graduating seniors at Fordham University in The Bronx and Abel blessed the students with a performance of a pair of his biggest smash […]
Josh Freese announced on social media Friday (May 16) that he’s been abruptly removed from the Foo Fighters‘ lineup after two years drumming for the band.
“The Foo Fighters called me Monday night to let me know they’ve decided ‘to go in a different direction with their drummer.’ No reason was given,” he wrote, punctuating the news with an old-fashioned sad-faced emoticon. “Regardless, I enjoyed the past two years with them, both on and off stage, and I support whatever they feel is best for the band.
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“In my 40 years of drummer of drumming professionally, I’ve never been let go from a band,” Freese continued, adding that he’s “not angry—just a bit shocked and disappointed” by the decision.
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Still, his message ended on a cheerful note that showed the musician seems to be taking the cryptic dismissal in stride. “I’ve always worked freelance and bounced between bands so, I’m fine,” he concluded before promising, “Stay tuned for my ‘Top 10 possible reasons Josh got booted from the Foo Fighters’ list.”
Before taking up the mantle left by Taylor Hawkins’ tragic and sudden passing in 2022, Freese spent his decades-long career drumming with everyone from The Zappas, The Vandals and Devo to Guns N’ Roses, Sting, Nine Inch Nails and Weezer.
He’s also worked extensively as a studio musician for the likes of The Offspring, Lostprophets and the Replacements, and contributed drums to hit albums like Avril Lavigne’s Let Go, Kelly Clarkson’s Thankful, Good Charlotte’s The Young and The Hopeless, Katy Perry’s Teenage Dream and Lana Del Rey’s Norman F–king Rockwell.
Meanwhile, the Foo Fighters booked their very first show of 2025 earlier this week by announcing they’ll be performing at the Singapore F1 Grand Prix in October — just months after frontman Dave Grohl hit the stage at Coachella with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
Representatives for the Foo Fighters declined Billboard’s request for comment. Read Freese’s full statement about his firing here.
Joey Bada$$ batlle with the West Coast doesn’t appear to be losing steam anytime soon. On Thursday (May 15), the Brooklyn rapper and actor clapped back at Ray Vaughn’s recent diss track “Hoe Era” after Joey mentioned the TDE signee as he stood next to his labelmate Ab-Soul and Big Sean during their Red Bull […]
This week in dance music: DJ Snake graced the cover of Billboard France ahead of his giant stadium show in Paris last weekend. “With all humility, I don’t claim to represent France,” the producer said in the story. “I represent a guy from Paris, who’s Franco-Algerian, and I just try my best to do interesting […]
