Music

04 Apr 2023

Rosalía & Rauw Alejandro’s ‘Beso’ Makes Top 5 Debut on Hot Latin Songs Chart

Rosalía and Rauw Alejandro each add a new top 10 to their Billboard charts career history as “Beso” debuts at No. 4 on the Hot Latin Songs ranking dated April 8. The new achievement is their first as a couple, following five top 10s collaborative entries for Rosalía, and eight for Rauw Alejandro.

In total, “Beso” is Rosalía’s seventh top 10, and the 10th for Rauw Alejandro.

“Beso” is from the pair’s joint three-song release, RR, which arrived March 24 through Duars/Columbia/Sony Music Latin. The track, previously teased on Rosalía’s TikTok account on March 16, was accompanied by its music video, in which the couple announced their engagement.

The reggaetón-pop tune traces its high debut on the upper region on Hot Latin Songs — a blend of airplay, digital sales, and streaming activity– largely to 9.1 million official U.S. streams earned during the March 24-30 tracking week, according to Luminate. The sum makes for a No. 38 start on the all-genre Streaming Songs chart and a No. 4 on Latin Streaming Songs.

“Beso” also sold 2,000 downloads during the same period, making it the top-selling Latin song of the week with a No. 1 debut on Latin Digital Song Sales and a No. 36 on Digital Song Sales. On the former, it becomes Rosalía’s sixth No. 1 and Rauw’s fourth.

Radio, the third metric that contributes to Hot Latin Songs, also adds to “Beso’s” high start. The song registered 3 million in audience impressions in its third week. As such, it starts at No. 44 on the all-genre Latin Airplay chart.

“Beso” concurrently captures multiple top 10 entries across Billboard charts: No. 6 on Latin Pop Airplay, No. 10 on the Billboard Global 200, No. 7 on the Global Excl. U.S. chart. Plus, it makes its first chart appearance on Latin Rhythm Airplay at No. 17 and on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 tally, at No. 52.

04 Apr 2023

Hot 100 First-Timers: Lola Brooke & Billy B’s ‘Don’t Play With It’ Arrives, Sparked by Latto & Yung Miami Remix

Brooklyn rappers Lola Brooke and Billy B each score their first career entry on the Billboard Hot 100 chart (dated April 8), as “Don’t Play With It” debuts at No. 69.

Explore

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

The song, originally released in May 2021 via Team Eighty/Arista Records (and billed as by Lola Brooke featuring Billy B), opens with 17.1 million radio airplay audience impressions (up 19%), 5.7 million U.S. streams (up 124%) and 600 downloads sold (up 194%) March 24-30, according to Luminate.

Spurring the song’s latest gains is its new remix, released March 24, with Latto and Yung Miami (both credited as lead artists on the Hot 100; Billy B is billed as featured).

The track concurrently jumps 22-11 on Hot Rap Songs and 33-21 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.

Radio wise, the song rises 8-5 on Rap Airplay, 10-6 on Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay and 13-9 on R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay and holds at its No. 20 high on Rhythmic Airplay. On the all-genre-format Radio Songs chart, the song rises 48-44.

TikTok has been a factor in the song’s growing profile, as a portion of the track has been used in nearly 450,000 videos on the platform. Another version, a mash-up with 50 Cent’s “Candy Shop,” has been used in nearly 600,000 clips. (TikTok does not contribute directly to Billboard‘s charts.)

Brooke and Billy B are both newcomers to Billboard’s charts, as “Play” became both acts’ first entries.

Brooke has been releasing music since 2018, starting with her breakout single “Bipolar.” She also appears on a new remix, released March 17, of Hitkidd, Gloss Up, K Carbon, Slimeroni and Aleza’s “Shabooya,” which ranks at No. 15 on Rap Airplay, No. 17 on Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay, No. 19 on R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay and No. 24 on Rhythmic Airplay.

In December, Future brought out Brooke during his New Year’s Eve show at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, generating a viral clip during her hometown performance and earning a co-sign from Missy Elliott on Twitter. Brooke signed to Arista, in collaboration with Team Eighty Productions, the following week.

“Lola is the rare talent whose presence matches her message,” Arista CEO David Massey said at the time. “Her music is larger than life, but her vision is just as powerful.”

Billboard named Brooke its R&B/Hip-Hop Rookie of the Month in February.

04 Apr 2023

Taylor Swift’s Stealthy Way of Secretly Traveling to Stage on Eras Tour Confirmed by a Fan Video

Taylor Swift has a lot of tricks up her sleeve, but fans just figured out one of them. Since the Eras Tour kicked off a few weeks ago, Swifties have been wondering how the pop star travels from backstage to the spotlight without being seen before each show — and now, a fan video has seems to have cracked the case.

One concertgoer in attendance at the trio of Eras Tour shows in Arlington, Texas, over the weekend captured the “Anti-Hero” singer’s undercover entrance in a Monday (April 3) TikTok that shows Swift apparently hiding in a fake cleaning cart filled with mops as two crew members roll her inconspicuously to her starting spot underneath the stage. At the end of the video, a door on the side of the cart opens and Swift — unmistakable in her sparkly outfit and long blonde hair — appears to stride out.

“Not Taylor Swift popping out of the janitor cart,” the fan captioned the video.

Billboard has reached out to Swift’s rep for comment.

Fans have long suspected that the cart was actually carrying the night’s headliner instead of cleaning supplies, but now, they actually have proof. The fake-out is similar to a tactic believed to be used by Harry Styles for his Love On Tour shows, in which he appears to hide in a large equipment box rolled out right before his performance begins, with him magically appearing from underneath the stage.

The “Lavender Haze” musician just finished up her third weekend of Eras Tour shows, which kicked off in March in Glendale, Ariz., and was followed by sets in Las Vegas and Arlington. She’ll take this weekend off before returning with a trio of shows in Tampa on April 13, 14 and 15 at Raymond James Stadium.

See the video of Taylor Swift popping out of her faux janitor cart below:

04 Apr 2023

Man! Shania Twain Is Totally Down For a Possible Megan Thee Stallion Collab: ‘I Love Her Whole Mind’

After getting to know each other this weekend at the 2023 CMT Music Awards, country music legend Shania Twain said she’s totally down for a possible collaboration with rapper Megan Thee Stallion. The two got acquainted when Meg presented the Equal Play Honor to Twain at the show and Twain told ET Online that it got her thinking about how they might sound together.

“I love her… what a sweetheart!,” Twain said of the “Body” MC, who was seated near the country queen in the audience during the broadcast. She added that they got along “very well… I love her as a person.”

There is one question, however, Twain is very glad Megan didn’t ask her. “She is a great talent, I was just glad she didn’t ask me to twerk out there. I would had to have said no,” Twain said. “She was amazing and said so many sweet things and I was really flattered she was there for me.”

The bond was so immediate, Twain added, that she revealed she “was thinking” they might vibe in the studio as well. “I think that that would really work… I love her whole mind,” the singer said.

If it happens, it would mark a hip-hop crossover first for Twain, who has typically leaned into the country/pop vein in the past when it comes to sharing the mic, including songs with Orville Peck (“Legends Never Die”), Alison Krauss & Union Station (“I’m Gonna Get You Good”), Sugar Ray’s Mark McGrath (“Party For Two), her musical hero Anne Murray (“You Needed Me”), and, at this year’s Coachella, Harry Styles for a live run through her “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!”

It would also be a first for San Antonio-bred Megan, who has also mostly stayed in her lane, teaming up with Beyoncé for the “Savage” remix, Key Glock on “Ungrateful,” Juicy J for “Simon Says,” Dua Lipa for “Sweetest Pie” and, of course, Cardi B on their Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 smash “WAP.”

04 Apr 2023

Chartbreaker: Libianca Turned Tears Into Triumph on the Soul-Baring ‘People’

Libianca will always remember last year’s Friendsgiving — after all, she ran to the bathroom sobbing in the middle of it.

The former contestant on The Voice had recently quit her job as an independent living skills worker, and had been questioning her future as a professional singer. She was no longer interested in covering already established hits; she wanted to create a life-changing one of her own.

“I was talking to God, [thinking], ‘This life is so hard.’ I don’t know what the next step is, but I was working, working, and working, and not seeing anything in return,” she recalls over Zoom.

But the Friendsgiving breakdown left her inspired, and later in November, the embattled singer — who has been diagnosed with cyclothymia, a rare mood disorder that can cause extreme emotional highs and lows — chose to detail her pain through songwriting. She went on YouTube and found a beat that captured her discomfort, then recorded on Apple’s Logic Pro. Within a day, what began as a therapy session formed the foundation for “People,” the 22-year-old R&B-Afrobeats artist’s breakout hit and long-awaited ticket to stardom.

Born in Minnesota, Libianca Kenzonkinboum Fonji moved to Cameroon with her family when she was 4. There, she drew inspiration from her first babysitter, who enjoyed singing while cleaning around the house. Their relationship sparked Libianca’s initial love for singing, and by the age of 10, she began writing her own songs.

At 13, she moved back to Minnesota and joined a local choir, learning how to engineer, record and mix her vocals soon after. By her late teens, she was covering songs like SZA’s “Good Days” and Billie Eilish’s “Everything I Wanted,” the latter of which she also performed on The Voice in 2021.

Though she was ultimately eliminated after making the show’s top 20, her departure was soon followed by a string of independent one-off releases, including her cover of “Everything I Wanted” at the end of 2021 and a spin on Doja Cat’s “Woman” the following spring.

Libianca photographed on March 17, 2023 in Los Angeles.

Libianca photographed on March 17, 2023 in Los Angeles.

Liam Woods

Yet the original single “People” is the one that cut through — and is a shining example of how sourcing your pain can have impactful results. While the track bursts with Afrobeats flavor, poignant lyrics like the opening line “I’ve been drinking more alcohol for the past five days/Did you check on me? Now, did you look for me?” ground the song while addressing the impact of substance abuse on mental health.

Libianca played the song for her manager M3tro, whom she met five years ago during her time as a student at the University of Minnesota (the two creatives became fast friends, and eventually roommates). And while he raved about the record, he instantly became concerned while listening to the lyrics. “Once she played the song, I asked her, ‘I know something’s going on, but what’s up?’ ” M3tro remembers. “That’s when I was like, ‘I really have to pay more attention.’ ”

Several days after writing and recording the breakthrough hit, Libianca posted a teaser clip on TikTok in which she was holding a bottle of wine as a snippet of the song played in the background. According to M3tro, within 30 minutes of uploading the clip, likes and comments started flooding her notifications. “Waking up the next morning to so many people feeling so connected to the song [was special],” Libianca says. “I saw families sending me videos of their babies singing the song, and [had] women messaging me about the sh-t that they go through in their homes and how this song needs to drop ASAP because it’s calling to their hearts.”

To date, the viral clip has compiled more than 4.8 million views on TikTok. Less than a week after the initial post, she upped the ante with a live rendition of the track in front of a simple color backdrop. The DIY clip has since earned 1.3 million views on Instagram and 2.5 million on TikTok.

The buzz surrounding the unreleased track soon caught the attention of acclaimed U.K. producer Jae5, who quickly reached out in hopes of signing Libianca to his 5K Records label, and did so last December — just one month after her memorable Friendsgiving. Once the deal was done, Jae quickly mixed the record and helped with the song’s final arrangement before its official release on Dec. 6.

“When it comes to music, that man is my big brother for life,” says M3tro of Jae5. “Not only is he that, but he’s also humble and genuine. He comes in like, ‘How can the music be the best way it needs to be?’ And we applaud him for that.”

Libianca and M3tro photographed on March 17, 2023 in Los Angeles.

Libianca (left) and M3tro photographed on March 17, 2023 in Los Angeles.

Liam Woods

“People” debuted on the Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart in mid-December — where it has held at a No. 2 high since January — and has 288.7 million official on-demand global streams through March 30, according to Luminate. The song also became Libianca’s first entry on the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl U.S. charts. And in March, she dropped multiple remixes to maximize the crossover momentum, including one with fellow Afrobeats stars Omah Lay and Ayra Starr and another with Irish singer-songwriter Cian Ducrot.

“We were very particular about who else was gonna hop on this song, because the message is very crystal-clear,” says Libianca. “[‘People’] is very vulnerable, and anyone that comes on there has to be vulnerable as well in their own way.”

Libianca says that her next single, due later this month, will be about “a bunch of real sh-t we don’t like to talk about.” An EP will soon follow. “It doesn’t have to be sad, per se, but if it’s not something I can feel, I’m not gon’ release it,” she explains. “I want every single one of my songs to be an experience rather than just doing what I need to do to get the next check.”

A version of this story originally appeared in the April 1, 2023, issue of Billboard.

04 Apr 2023

Omar Apollo Tops Emerging Artists Chart Thanks to Vinyl Release of ‘Ivory’

Singer-songwriter Omar Apollo hits No. 1 on Billboard’s Emerging Artists chart (dated April 8), leading for the first time thanks to his debut studio album, Ivory.

Originally released in April 2022 via Warner Records, the set re-enters the Billboard 200 chart at No. 74 with 13,000 equivalent album units earned (up 265%) March 24-30, according to Luminate, exceeding its original No. 128 peak. The album’s vinyl edition arrived March 24, sparking 9,000 sold on vinyl in the tracking week.

Explore

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

Ivory concurrently debuts at No. 3 on the Vinyl Albums chart, and re-enters Top Album Sales at No. 12, a new best.

The set contains Apollo’s breakout single “Evergreen,” which reached No. 51 on the Billboard Hot 100 in October (becoming his first career entry), as well as No. 6 on Adult Alternative Airplay and No. 33 on Pop Airplay.

Elsewhere on Emerging Artists, South Korean group NMIXX debuts at No. 2 thanks to its debut EP Expergo. The set debuts at No. 122 on the Billboard 200 (10,000 units), plus No. 5 on World Albums and No. 13 on Top Album Sales.

The Emerging Artists chart ranks the most popular developing artists of the week, using the same formula as the all-encompassing Billboard Artist 100, which measures artist activity across multiple Billboard charts, including the Hot 100, Billboard 200 and the Social 50. (The Artist 100 lists the most popular acts, overall, each week.) However, the Emerging Artists chart excludes acts that have notched a top 25 entry on either the Hot 100 or Billboard 200, as well as artists that have achieved two or more top 10s on Billboard’s “Hot” song genre charts and/or consumption-based “Top” album genre rankings.

For all chart news, you can follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both Twitter and Instagram.

04 Apr 2023

Jimin Becomes First BTS Member to Rule Artist 100 Chart Solo, Thanks to ‘FACE’ & ‘Like Crazy’

Jimin jumps from No. 10 to No. 1 on the Billboard Artist 100 chart (dated April 8), becoming the top musical act in the United States for the first time, thanks to his new solo album, FACE, and its breakout track, “Like Crazy.”

The set, released via BigHit Music/Geffen/Interscope Records, debuts at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 with 164,000 equivalent album units, according to Luminate. The last artist to debut as high with a first charting effort was Olivia Rodrigo, whose LP Sour debuted at No. 1 in June 2021.

The new album’s “Like Crazy” concurrently blasts in at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming Jimin’s first solo No. 1 outside BTS, which has scored six leaders.

Jimin also becomes the first South Korean soloist top the Hot 100.

All seven members of BTS have scored solo Hot 100-charting songs, with Jimin the first to reach No. 1. Here’s a look at every entry on the chart by a BTS member so far, listed chronologically:

Artist Billing, Title (Peak Position, Date):

  • J-Hope feat. Becky G, “Chicken Noodle Soup” (No. 81; Oct. 12, 2019)
  • Agust D (Suga’s alternate billing), “Daechwita” (No. 76; June 6, 2020)
  • Juice WRLD & Suga, “Girl of My Dreams” (No. 29; Dec. 25, 2021)
  • V, “Christmas Tree” (No. 79; Jan. 8, 2022)
  • Jung Kook, “Stay Alive” (No. 95; Feb. 26, 2022)
  • PSY feat. Suga, “That That” (No. 80; May 14, 2022)
  • Charlie Puth feat. Jung Kook, “Left and Right” (No. 22; July 9, 2022)
  • J-Hope, “More” (No. 82; July 16, 2022)
  • J-Hope, “Arson” (No. 96; July 30, 2022)
  • JIN, “The Astronaut” (No. 51; Nov. 12, 2022)
  • RM with Youjeen, “Wild Flower” (No. 83; Dec. 17, 2022)
  • TAEYANG feat. Jimin, “Vibe” (No. 76; Jan. 28, 2023)
  • J-Hope with J. Cole, “On the Street” (No. 60; March 18, 2023)
  • Jimin, “Set Me Free, Pt. 2” (No. 30; April 1, 2023)
  • Jimin, “Like Crazy,” (No, 1; April 8, 2023)

Jimin is the first solo member of BTS to hit No. 1 on the Artist 100, and is the only member of the group to have reached the chart.

A week ago, he became the seventh member of the septet to rule the Emerging Artists chart. (He graduates from the survey this week, due to his new Billboard 200 and Hot 100 success, per chart rules).

Jimin is also the first South Korean soloist to crown the Artist 100. The South Korean groups to lead the list: BTS (21 weeks), BLACKPINK, Stray Kids (two each), SuperM, TOMORROW X TOGETHER and TWICE (one each).

Among other Artist 100 chart moves, Lana Del Rey vaults 29-5 thanks to her new album, Did You Know There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd, which opens at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 (115,000 units), marking her ninth top 10. Fall Out Boy re-enters at No. 8 thanks to its new LP So Much (For) Stardust, which starts at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 (64,000 units), becoming the act’s seventh top 10.

The Artist 100 measures artist activity across key metrics of music consumption, blending album and track sales, radio airplay and streaming to provide a weekly multi-dimensional ranking of artist popularity.

04 Apr 2023

Lizzo, BTS, Harry Styles & More Nominated for 2023 Webby Awards

Lizzo was nominated for a Webby Award on Tuesday (April 4) for her hit show Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls. The star won her first Primetime Emmy in September for her work on the Amazon Studios show. Her Webby nod is in the category of best web personality/host, performances and craft (video).

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

Nominations for the 27th Annual Webby Awards, which recognize quality work on the internet, were announced by the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences (IADAS).

Post Malone, Romeo Santos, Sublime, Disturbed, Future featuring Drake, Muse and Christina Aguilera are among the nominees in the music categories. Other music stars nominated in various categories include Selena Gomez, Harry Styles, Doja Cat, BTS, BLACKPINK, Megan Thee Stallion and RuPaul.

All nominees are eligible to win two awards: The Webby Award, selected by the Academy, and The Webby People’s Voice Award, voted on by the online community. Voting for The Webby People’s Voice Awards is open now on the Webby Award’s website through Thursday, April 20, at 11:59 p.m. PT.

“The Webbys is in a unique position – every year we have the opportunity to see pivotal industry trends play out through our nominees,” Ciel VanderVeen, managing director of The Webby Awards, said in a statement. “This year was no exception; not only were we blown away by the creativity and quality of the work, but we were inspired by the teams that created new innovations with AI technologies, built new responsible products, and so much more.”

Reflecting the industry’s focus on Artificial Intelligence, this year’s Webby Awards nominees include work from the world’s leading AI companies including OpenAI, The New Bing, DeepMind: The Podcast, RoboKiller and Adobe.

The Webby Awards introduced a new suite of dedicated honors this year recognizing work in responsible technology as part of a new initiative to inspire the community of creators and innovators to build more responsible and inclusive digital ecosystems. These inaugural categories recognize work from Mozilla, Consumer Reports, Google, Human Rights Watch and more.

Organizations receiving the highest number of nominations this year were Apple (22), MTV (15), National Geographic (14), Netflix (14), Audible (13), CNN (12), HBO (12), The Washington Post (12), Google (11), Meta (11), Amazon (10), Amazon Music (9), WaitWhat (9), ESPN (8), Paramount (8), Spotify (8) and Wondery (8).

Winners for the 27th Annual Webby Awards will be announced on Tuesday, April 25, and celebrated at an in-person award show on Monday, May 15, at Cipriani Wall Street. Fans will be able to watch special moments and the signature five-word speeches from all the winners on May 15 by following @TheWebbyAwards across YouTube, Instagram and TikTok.

The Webbys report that there were nearly 14,000 entries this year from more than 70 countries and a record number of social entries.

Here are highlights from the nominations, with a focus on music personalities. For a complete list of nominees and to vote for the People’s Voice Awards, visit WebbyAwards.com.

Best Web Personality/Host, Performances & Craft (Video)

 Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls – Amazon Studios

 Recess Therapy – Doing Things Media

 Oh Hell No! With Marlon Wayans – Jesse Collins Entertainment

Trevor Noah – Between the Scenes – The Daily Show with Trevor Noah – MTV Entertainment Studios & Paramount Media Networks

Jimmy Fallon – The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

Best Individual Performance, Performances & Craft (Video)

Uprooted – Atmosphere Dance

 Famous Wedding Show (Full) 2022 – Quick Style – Mantis Management

 Gretta Ray – One Day Like This (Amazon Original) (Live Version) – Mude

 Moonlight Sonata by Santa Baby Composer Philip Springer – Tamir Music

 AirPods – Silhouettes x Harry Styles – TBWAMedia Arts Lab

Music, General Video (Video)

Post Malone – Twelve Carat Toothache Listening Experience | Amazon Music – Amazon Music

Gap Years – Mercury Studios

Romeo Santos: King of Bachata – Sony Music US Latin

Spotify RADAR Presents: Ayra Starr – Spotify

Sublime – Behind the Cover: 40oz To Freedom – Universal Music Enterprises

Music, Music Video (Video)

Disturbed – “Bad Man” – Doomsday Entertainment

Future featuring Drake – “Wait For U” – Fela

Muse – “Compliance” – Left

Hot Chip – “Eleanor” – Partizan Entertainment LLC

Christina Aguilera – “Beautiful” (2022 Version) – Sony Music Entertainment

Variety, Video Series & Channels (Video)

The Daily Show with Trevor Noah – MTV Entertainment Studios & Paramount Media Networks

 Rolling Stone on Twitch – Rolling Stone

 Street You Grew Up On – Simpson Street

 The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Youtube – The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

 Letterman YouTube Channel – Worldwide Pants Incorporated

Best Community Engagement, Features (Social)

#Hanguponit – MRM New York

Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez – Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez

Sing It Right with Spotify Lyrics – TBWA Singapore Pte Ltd

Lil Mbappé – Wieden+Kennedy Amsterdam

My BTS Story – YouTube

Celebrity/Fan, General Social (Social)

My Pokémon Journey (the Voice of Ash Ketchum Reflects on 17 years) – Cat Robot Inc

Lupita Nyong’o – ID

Jennifer Garner (& Pretend Cooking Show series) – Jennifer Garner

The Muppets of Sesame Street on Twitter – Sesame Workshop

Stephen Colbert is @StephenAtHome – The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Best Partnership or Collaboration, Features (Social)

Lego Masters: Tap to Build Content Series – FOX Entertainment

JW Marriott — Lily Kwong x JW Garden – Marriott International

I.T. Squad – MediaCom

Metallica x Stranger Things – Netflix

#PinkVenomChallenge – YouTube Shorts x BLACKPINK – YouTube

Interview/Talk Show, Social Content Series (Social)

Amazon Music Live Social Campaign – Amazon Music

Anthony Padilla’s “I Spent A Day With…” – Dave Kim PR

Songwriter Saturday – Hoff Studios

LinkedIn News’ This is Working with Editor-in-Chief Dan Roth – LinkedIn

Roller Coaster Interview – Netflix

Fashion & Beauty, General Social (Social)

InStyle Social Programming, 2022 – Dotdash Meredith

Gucci Vault enters Discord – First Luxury Brand to adopt a new form of community building – Gucci

Levi’s TikTok Channel – IMGN Media

Jacob&Co Social Presence – Brand – Jacob&Co

Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez – Rare Beauty

TV, Film & Entertainment, Social Campaign (Social)

Generational Anxiety – ALL ARTS

House of the Dragon – HBO

The Wilds Season 2 – Laundry Service

Adult Swimming – Movement Strategy

RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 7 Queen Ruveal – MTV Entertainment Studios & Paramount Media Networks

Best Partnership or Collaboration, Advertising Campaign (Advertising, Media & PR)

FIFA 23 x TED LASSO – Apple

Doja Cat x Taco Bell: A “Contractual” Partnership – Deutsch LA

High Valyrian Lessons – Duolingo

The Coors Light – Mischief @ No Fixed Address

Mind Ordering – WorkInProgress

Best Performance, Metaverse & Immersive Features (Metaverse, Immersive & Virtual)

AmazeVR Megan Thee Stallion VR Concert – AmazeVR

Eli Roth’s HAUNTED HOUSE: Trick-VR-Treat – Crypt TV

The Notorious B.I.G. Sky’s The Limit: A VR Concert Experience – Hyperreal

Post Malone’s Twelve Carat Toothache: A VR Experience – Media.Monks B.V.

Gorillaz Presents – Nexus Studios

04 Apr 2023

Alanis Morissette, LCD Soundsystem, Leon Bridges to Headline Second Art, Music & Tech FORMAT Festival

The second-annual FORMAT Festival will return to Bentonville, Arkansas on Sept. 22-24 with headliners Alanis Morissette, LCD Soundsystem and Leon Bridges. The event — whose name stands for “music art and technology” — will also feature sets from Modest Mouse, Jamie XX, Tash Sultana, Big Wild, Little Simz, Bob Moses, Poolside, Channel Tres, Paul Cauthen and more.

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

Situated on the private Sugar Creek Airstrip, the fest in the heart of the Ozarks will once again incorporate unique performances, installations and art experiences from artists including Guerrilla Girls, JR’s Inside Out Project, Jeremy Deller, Ragnar Kjartansson, and Kameelah Janan Rasheed.

Ticket presale will begin Thursday (April 6) at 11 a.m. ET; fans can sign up for a presale code to get first access to three-day and one-day tickets and find out more about the art installations here.

Among the other acts on this year’s lineup are: Digable Planets, Madeline Edwards, Kari Faux, Theon Cross, Green Velvet, The Pharcyde, Nikki Lane, Sudan Archives, Franc Moody, Serpentwithfeet, Digitalism, Clasixx, Pedrito Martinez and Francois K, among others.

FORMAT takes place on a 250-acre of green space just minutes from downtown Bentonville, with two conventional music stages, as well as a number of unusual settings for performances with names including The Cube, Drag Me to the Disco, Next Door/Nova Heat and Smokey’s. There will also be underground discos and stages in the surrounding forest amid the art installations, as well as a Bizarre Bazaar with curated food, vendors, retail and experience booths, experimental light shows and therapeutic workshops according to a release.

Check out the full lineup below.

04 Apr 2023

Travis Kelce Says Booking Former Neighbor Machine Gun Kelly For Kelce Jam Festival Was a ‘No-Brainer’

After earning his second Super Bowl ring earlier this year, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce just found the perfect way to celebrate his championship. The high-energy baller announced on Tuesday (April 4) that he’s behind the first-ever Kelce Jam, a music festival slated to take place on April 28 in Kansas City, Mo., with a lineup he curated from acts that have personal meaning for him.

Topping the bill is one of his old childhood neighbors who also happens to have blown up into a superstar, Machine Gun Kelly, who grew up down the street from Kelce in Cleveland.

“[I’ve] been following his success from the start of his career,” Kelce tells Billboard about of the “Emo Girl” rocker. “It’s been amazing to see a hometown hero selling out stadiums. So for me, MGK was a no-brainer and I personally drafted some of my favorite artists in the world alongside him.”

Those other acts include Loud Luxury, Rick Ross and special guest Tech N9ne. “Loud Luxury is one of the biggest DJ duos out there right now. Everyone loves [the pair’s 2020 single] ‘Body’ and they bring the energy, and I have no doubt they will get the crowd rocking,” the football star tells Billboard. Kelce also says that Ross is, of course, “the boss, a true legend,” and that there was no way he could throw a party in KC without one of the city’s hometown heroes, rapper Tech N9ne.

As for why he’s hopping into the already crowded festival space, Kelce says he wanted to time his event around the 2023 NFL draft, which will take place at Union Station in KC from April 27 to 29. “With the NFL Draft headed to Kansas City and as the perfect way to continue celebrating our Super Bowl victory, I am launching one of KC’s most unique festivals to date!” says the 33-year-old. “I really wanted to bring the whole city together and what better way to do so than with fire music, great food, tons of football attractions, interactive brand activations and so much more.”

Pre-sale opens on Friday (April 7) at 11 a.m. ET, with the general on-sale following at 1 p.m. ET. Check out the Kelce Jam website for more details on the show. “KC has supported me in immense ways throughout my career, and I wanted to throw a city wide celebration that truly represents the energy and people of this great city,” Kelce adds. “We are excited to grow this into one of KC’s biggest entertainment events with 20,000 attendees and who knows where we will bring it next!”

Kelce has teamed up with event producer Medium Rare, the company behind a number of pre-Super Bowl events, including Shaq’s Fun House with Shaquille O’Neal, Gronk Beach with Rob Gronkowski and Guy’s Flavortown Tailgate with Guy Fieri.

kelce jam

Courtesy Photo

Additional reporting by Anna Chan.