Music

25 May 2023

Taylor Swift Calls on Ice Spice for Sleek ‘Karma’ Remix: Stream It Now

How can she lose if she already chose? Ice Spice is maintaining her reign over the music industry this year by hopping on a fun remix of fellow superstar Taylor Swift‘s Midnights fan favorite track, “Karma.”

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The new iteration of the song, released on Friday (May 26), features a brand new verse by the 23-year-old rapper, before Swift meets her with the anthemic, carefree chorus: “Karma is a god / Karma is the breeze in my hair on the weekend / Karma’s a relaxing thought / Aren’t you envious that for you it’s not?”

Swift announced the collaboration just two days prior to its release, setting the Internet into a frenzy when she shared a photo of the two standing on a platform amid a cosmic landscape, attached to the moon and Saturn through a glowing strings.  “Um. SO much to tell you. I’m a massive fan of this brilliant artist and after getting to know her I can confirm: she is THE ONE to watch,” the multi-Grammy winner wrote in the caption. “sweetest person ever thank u sm i love yuuuu,” Ice Spice wrote when she retweeted the post, adding a purple heart and hand heart emojis.

The song is featured on Swift’s Til Dawn edition of her 10th studio album, along with a new track called “Hits Different” and a second version of her Lana Del Rey collab, “Snow on the Beach.”

Listen to “Karma,” featuring Ice Spice, below.

25 May 2023

Taylor Swift Adds to ‘Midnights’ With ‘Til Dawn’ Deluxe Edition: Stream It Now

We got through Midnights, through 3AM and, now, we’ve arrived at dawn. Taylor Swift unveiled a second deluxe version of her 10th studio album on Friday (May 26), titled Midnights (Til Dawn Edition). This iteration of the project features a remix of “Karma” with Ice Spice, a different version of the Lana Del Rey collaboration “Snow on the Beach,” and a never-before-heard track called “You’re Losing Me.”

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“Um. SO much to tell you,” Swift wrote in a surprise message to fans just two days prior. “I’m a massive fan of this brilliant artist and after getting to know her I can confirm: she is THE ONE to watch. So delighted to say that Karma Featuring the incredible @icespice will be out TOMORROW night at MIDNIGHT ET as a part of the new Midnights (Til Dawn Edition) deluxe album that you can pre-order now at store.taylorswift.com!

“In addition to Karma Ft Ice Spice…,” she continued. “You asked for it, we listened: Lana and I went back into the studio specifically to record more Lana on Snow on the Beach. Love u @honeymoon ??☺️.”

The new song, “You’re Losing Me,” is available on the CD version of the album, which will be for sale on-site at Swift’s The Eras tour stops at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, this weekend. The new tracks come less than two months before Swift is set to unveil Speak Now (Taylor’s Version), her third re-recorded album in her six-album project, on July 7.

Listen to Midnights (Til Dawn Edition) below.

25 May 2023

Kelly Clarkson’s 8-Year-Old Daughter Makes a Cameo in ‘Favorite Kind of High (David Guetta Remix)’ Video

Kelly Clarkson‘s song of the summer got an additional dose of sunshine thanks to a beach club-ready remix from David Guetta.

Clarkson unveiled the new version of “Favorite Kind of High” on Wednesday (May 24), along with a lyric video featuring an adorable cameo. In the technicolor visualizer, the singer’s eight-year-old daughter River Rose takes Guetta’s place behind the DJ stand, mixing it up on the turntable with one hand on her headphones.

Clarkson shares River, as well as her seven-year-old son Remi Alexander, with ex-husband Brandon Blackstock.

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“You’re my favorite kind of high / Rushing through me like a fire / And I need you to know / I say I won’t but I do / When it comes to loving you / I have no control,” Clarkson belts along to the beat in the chorus.

“Favorite Kind of High” follows double singles “Mine” and “Me” off the superstar’s upcoming tenth studio album, Chemistry, out June 23 via Atlantic Records.

“Having chemistry with someone is an incredible, and overwhelming, feeling. It’s like you have no choice in the matter,” Clarkson said of the project in a press statement. “You are just drawn to each other. This can be good and bad. This album takes you down every path that chemistry could lead you down.”

Watch the “Favorite Kind of High (David Guetta Remix)” lyric video below.

25 May 2023

Dua Lipa Unveils Sparkling Barbie Track ‘Dance the Night’: Stream It Now

This Barbie is ready to “Dance the Night” away.

Just three days after she announced her new song “Dance the Night” off the Barbie: The Album, Dua Lipa unveiled the disco-tinged track on Thursday (May 25). “Watch me dance the night away / My heart could be burnin’ but you won’t see it on my face / Watch me dance, dance the night away / I still keep the party running,” she sings in the catchy chorus.

“This Barbie has a song coming this week… FRIDAY MIDNIGHT BST,” Lipa captioned a video on Instagram, in which she’s seen stepping out of a fluffy pair of heels, similar to the shot of Margot Robbie’s arched foot in the Barbie trailer, before blowing a kiss at the camera over the song’s gleaming, dance floor-ready beat.

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Lipa is also confirmed to be starring in Greta Gerwig’s highly anticipated Barbie live-action film, in which she’ll play a mermaid doll alongside Robbie’s Barbie and Ryan Gosling’s Ken.

Among the confirmed artists on the film’s Mark Ronson-executive produced soundtrack are Charli XCX, Lizzo, Nicki Minaj, FIFTY FIFTY, Dominic Fike, GAYLE, Ava Max, Karol G, Khalid, The Kid LAROI and more. Both Ice Spice and PinkPantheress are also credited, perhaps signifying that their hit “Boy’s A Liar” has a place on Barbie’s playlist. The full track list has yet to be revealed at the time of publication.

The soundtrack drops along with the Barbie film July 21. Listen to Dua Lipa’s “Dance the Night” below.

25 May 2023

BM’s ‘M. A. (Mejores Amigos)’ Returns to No. 1 on Billboard Argentina Hot 100

BM’s “M. A. (Mejores Amigos)” rebounds 2-1 on the Billboard Argentina Hot 100 chart (dated May 20). The remix, which features Callejero Fino, La Joaqui and Lola Índigo, first led the Argentina Hot 100 in April, becoming BM’s initial leader on the list.

“M.A” sends Ke Personajes, Big One, and FMK’s “Un Finde: Big One Crossover #2” to No. 2 after its four-week domination.

Meanwhile, Yng Lvcas and Peso Pluma get closer to the summit as “La Bebé” rises from No 4. to its No. 3 high. The song trades places with another Ke Personajes track: “Pobre Corazón,” with Onda Sabanera, dips 3-4 after three consecutive weeks at No. 3. Plus, Maria Becerra’s “Adios” closes the top five with a 8-5 hike.

The Hot Shot Debut of the week goes to Shakira’s “Acróstico” at No. 21. It’s her eighth career entry, after “TQG” with Karol G debuted and peaked at No. 2 in March.

Further, Feid and Sean Paul’s “Niña Bonita” takes the Greatest Gainer honor of the week as the song climbs 29 rankings, from No. 79 to No. 50.

Elsewhere, Yahritza Y Su Esencia check off a career achievement scoring their first Argentina Hot 100 entry as “Frágil,” with Grupo Frontera, bows at No. 61.

Three other songs debut this week, starting with Sebastián Yatra’s “Vagabundo,” with Beéle, Manuel Turizo, at No. 68, while Anuel AA, Mamob Kingz and DJ Luan’s “Mejor Que Yo” starts at No. 71.

Lastly, Pedro Capo captures his sixth entry with “La Fiesta” at No. 82.

25 May 2023

Harry Styles Made a Cheeky NSFW Joke About One Direction’s ‘Best Song Ever’

Harry Styles took to social media on Wednesday with a dirty, LOL-worthy joke referencing one of One Direction‘s biggest hits.

In an Instagram Story, the heartthrob posed oh-so-innocently next to a turquoise and gray portable restroom with a cheeky sign posted on the door reading “Best Schlong Ever” in all-caps letters. Wearing a shiny teal and pink running suit and framing his face with his hands, the pop star smiled widely at the naughty reference to his former band’s 2013 single “Best Song Ever.”

Though the snap has since expired, it was thankfully captured by a fan account, who promptly shared it to Twitter and garnered reactions from dozens of Harry’s fans. “HE NEEDS TO BE STOPPED LMFAO,” one wrote, followed by a series of laughing and crying emojis. Another declared, “THIS IS HILARIOUS,” while a third jokingly chided, “‘This is a family show.’”

Released in July 2013, the meta “Best Song Ever” served as the lead single from Harry and the gang’s third album Midnight Memories as well as a precursor to their documentary concert film One Direction: This Is Us. In the song’s music video, which tied into the movie’s theatrical release and was co-written by James Corden, each of the 1D guys played dual roles as themselves and another character from the movie studio — with Styles nerding out as Marcel the Marketing Guy and flirting with Zayn Malik’s Veronica the Sexy Assistant.

The song bowed at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 upon its release and was followed in the album cycle by fellow singles “Story of My Life,” “Midnight Memories” and “You & I.”

Check out Styles’ NSFW “Best Song Ever” joke below.

25 May 2023

Grupo Marca Registrada Makes ‘Magic’ With First Top 10 on Top Latin Albums Chart

Grupo Marca Registrada nabs its first entry and top 10 on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart, as Don’t Stop the Magic debuts at No. 9 on the May 27-dated ranking. The group is just the second act to start in the top 10 in its first visit with a regional Mexican album in 2023, after Yng Lvcas’ LPM (La Perreo Mixtape) bowed at No. 8 on the list dated April 8.

The full-length dropped May 12 via RB/Interscope, the quartet’s first album release after the regional Mexican indie label RB Music, home to Grupo Marca Registrada, teamed up with Interscope last October. The top 10 arrival concurrently gifts RB Music its first Top Latin Albums appearance and its first top 10 there. Interscope, meanwhile, returns to the ranking’s upper region following the No. 1 debut of Selena Gomez’s Revelación EP in March 2021.

Don’t Stop the Magic starts with 8,000 equivalent album units earned in the U.S. in the week ending May 18, according to Luminate. Streaming powers most of the set’s debut. That sum equates to 13.1 million official on-demand streams of the album’s songs.

On the multimetric Top Latin Albums chart as measured in equivalent album units, each unit equals one album sale, or 10 individual tracks sold from an album, or 3,750 ad-supported or 1,250 paid/subscription on-demand official audio and video streams generated by songs from an album.

As mentioned, Grupo Marca Registrada captures its first top 10 on any albums chart. Plus, Magic also arrives at No. 4 on Regional Mexican Albums, likewise securing the Sinaloans a first top 10 on their maiden chart visit there.

Magic includes a bevy of regional Mexican artists, including the partnership with Grupo Frontera, “Di Que Sí,” which conceded Registrada a first top 10 on Latin Airplay – currently on its second week at its No. 3 high. With the album cut, the group also secured a first No. 1 on Regional Mexican Airplay on the April 29-dated list, leading for three consecutive weeks.

Further, Registrada makes its Billboard 200 debut, with Magic’s start at No. 187.

25 May 2023

Learn From the Experts: How to Take Guitar & Piano Lessons Online

All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

It doesn’t take fancy, expensive lessons to turn yourself into a musician. Artists including Paul McCartney and Elton John were self-taught, meaning with a little time and dedication you can start strumming along to your favorite songs — or maybe write some originals yourself.

No matter what your skill level or goal is, there are online music lesson sites that can teach you how to play the guitar, piano, drums and more. You don’t even have to leave your house either! It’s done completely online from the comfort of your own space.

Mariah Carey

MasterClass Brings Back 2-for-1 Offer: Here Are 11 Musical Courses to Take From Mariah Carey, John…

Regardless of your budget or preference, we scoured the Internet to see what was offered and compiled a list of the best online piano and guitar lessons. These sites aren’t just limited to piano and guitar either; most of them teach a variety of skills and instruments. So once you master one instrument, you can just move on to the next.

Take a look below to see our list of the best online music lessons to get you twinkling those keys or strumming chords at your own pace.

Udemy

Act fast! Right now, Udemy is offering classes for just $9.99. With some classes costing $60, that means you can score over 80% off with this limited promo!

Udemy

$Starting at $9.99

The deal ends Friday night (May 26), which means you don’t want to sleep on it. Classes are taught from experts around the world, with one even claiming to teach you guitar in just 21 days — and they aren’t limited to instruments. You can learn photography, marketing, business and more.

MasterClass

MasterClass has garnered attention for its library of classes taught by notable experts, including electric guitar lessons from Rage Against the Machine‘s Tom Morello, jazz piano teachings by Herbie Hancock and even vocal lessons from Christina Aguilera.

MasterClass

$Starting at $15/month

There are three plans for MasterClass, with the individual one being $15/month, which gives you access to the library of over 180 classes. There’s also a duo plan for $20/month that allows you to use two devices on one account and a family plan for $23/month, where you can use six devices on one account.

Skillshare

Skillshare is a membership-based learning platform that offers more than 27,000 classes (including around 2,000 free options) whether you’re looking to pick up an instrument or a cooking utensil.

Skillshare

$168/year after 30 days

Currently, you can get 30 days free before paying as low as $32/month (which equates to around $168/year).

Coursera

For those looking to get educated at the university level, Coursera Plus has over 5,800 courses, professional certificates and degrees from universities and companies.

Coursera

$59/month after 7-day trial

Classes include guitar basics and music theory for anyone looking to gain a deeper understanding of the art. You can join for free — though the free membership has a limited library, whereas Coursera Plus will provide unlimited access.

ArtistWorks

ArtistWorks is having a Memorial Day promo with an additional 35% off their monthly plans with the code MEMDAY — meaning you can save more money on your music endeavor.

ArtistsWorks

$From $23.25/month 35% off% OFF

Through your membership, you’ll receive step-by-step lesson paths, personalized feedback, play-along tracks and more, with teachings by Grammy-nominated rock guitarist Paul Gilbert, renowned pianist Christie Peery and many others. Plans are based on a 3-month, 6-month and 12-month subscription.

For more music-related product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best record players and turntables and the best speakers.

25 May 2023

Sueños Music Festival Gives Back to Chicago Organizations: ‘These Places Are Doing Great Work For the Community’

Sueños Music Festival is all about having a lasting impact on the community of Chicago, and not just by producing an all-Latin music festival in the Windy City. Sueños, produced by C3 (Lollapalooza) and La Familia (Baja Beach Fest), is committed to giving back to local organizations across the city that serve predominantly Latino neighborhoods.

On Thursday (May 25), just days ahead of the second edition of Sueños — which will be headlined by Wisin Y Yandel, Feid, Nicky Jam and Grupo Firme — the two-day music event has announced $50,000 donations to four organizations, including the Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center (SRBCC), one of the city’s longest-standing cultural centers that celebrates Puerto Rican and Afro-Latino traditions offering percussion classes, dance and culinary lessons and community workshops to both children and adults.

It’s the second year Sueños donates $50,000 to SRBCC. Last year, the money donated went towards the newly-renovated youth media center that includes a recording booth, radio and podcasting studio, and two performance spaces for music and dance programs. The center provides Latin youth access to instruments, recording tools, film equipment and performance space at little or no cost. This year, the donation will go to the center’s performing arts theater.

“This donation allows us to dream big,” Omar Torres Kortright, executive director of Segundo Ruiz, said during the presentation of the new $50,000 donation. “We’re always trying to get the attention of corporate donors to support this very important work but many times we’re invisible. We don’t speak the same language as the big corporations but Sueños did their homework. They found us.”

Sueños Festival

Christian Duran

“When we were coming out to Chicago with the festival, the plan was always to be involved in the community,” Aaron Ampudia, co-founder of Sueños, tells Billboard. “We want to have a positive impact, it’s not just about the festival. It really comes from the heart and the desire to want to help these places that are doing great work for the community, especially for the youth because they are the future of these communities.”

As Ampudia spoke to Billboard, one of the students was already busy in the recording booth working on new beats. “The kids love it,” Torres Kortright says about the new media center. “Everything that we can do to have them spend more time here is huge for us. It keeps their imagination going. It helps them find their voice. They know there’s a place that will use their resources to take them to the next level.”

Sueños Festival

Christian Duran

Christian Duran

Other local organizations that will benefit from the donations, each will get $50,000 according to festival organizers, are The National Museum of Mexican Art, Pilsen Neighbors Community Council and the Puerto Rican Arts Alliance.

The lineup for the Sueños Music Festival — which will take place over Memorial Day Weekend (May 27-28) in Chicago’s Grant Park — will also host reggaeton icon Ivy Queen, as well as Becky G, Eladio Carrion, Chencho Corleone, Junior H, Gera MX, Ryan Castro, Young Miko, paopao and more. 

25 May 2023

How Adriel Favela Turned Rebellious Corridos Into Introspective Mariachi on ‘Solo Muere Si Se Olvida’

On Sólo Muere Si Se Olvida — which loosely translates to “only dead if forgotten” — Adriel Favela steps away from his signature corridos that have been his core sound for a decade.

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The Mexican singer, known for his top 10 hits on Billboard’s Latin Airplay and Regional Mexican Airplay charts such as “Tomen Nota” and “Con un Botecito a Pecho,” most recently released the six-track EP via Fonovisa/Universal.

Recorded at the Sonic Ranch studios in Tornillo, Texas, Favela collaborates with artists such as Kiko Cibrián, who is in charge of vocally directing the singer in his debut with rancheras, and Favela’s leading producer, Daniel Valenzuela. It also includes the EP’s first single “En Este Amor” and the sweet title track “Sólo Muere Si Se Olvida,” featuring romantic pop singer Kurt.

“This project has been about letting me flow, it has nothing to do with musical trends,” says Favela. “Right now I’m not in a violent wave of corridos. I’m no longer living as before, it’s a personal growth and I believe that it is valid to live in both”.

The 30-year-old musician recently spoke with Billboard Español about his new set, which also include songs “Buscando el Olvido,” “Niña Bonita,” “Mi Condena” and “Amor Real”.

Below, Favela breaks down each of the tracks on his new EP in the order in which they appear:

“En Este Amor”

A “very significant” ranchera ballad, according to Favela, because it represents his “debut” with mariachi. “In this love, things were unbalanced/ For my part, I gave up what I didn’t have/ On the other hand, you gave nothing/ In this love, it’s my turn to be the one to forget you,” he sings.

“Buscando el Olvido”

The perfect combination of country music and mariachi, this song is the “most fun” one on the album, according to Favela. “It takes too much to erase the memories / For lovesickness there is no other remedy / Drunk, I don’t think about her kisses / I forget how much I love her,” he sings.

“Niña Bonita“

A love ballad with a music video was filmed in Paris. “It was very special for me to be there and see my mariachi wearing charro suits away from Mexico,” he says excitedly.

“Mi Condena”

A heartbreak track in which he was accompanied by Ismael de la Rosa and Yerai Cortés, who give mariachi a twist with their powerful flamenco performance.

“Amor Real”

Another beautiful ranchera ballad of heartbreak created out of “the personal need to send a positive message in these times”, says Favela. “I wanted to take my fans and those who have joined me to the depths of my heart.”

“Sólo Muere Si Se Olvida”

Dedicated to his late grandmother, the song is about how “we want to transcend [and] how we want to be remembered”, he explains. Adding that recording it with Kurt was a “very special” experience. “I have always been honest with what I sing and live,” concludes the artist. “Today I’m enjoying life in a totally different way.”