Music

12 Mar 2023

The Weeknd Sweeps 2023 Juno Opening Night Awards: Full Winners List

The Weeknd swept four awards at the 2023 Juno Opening Night Awards, which was livestreamed from the Edmonton Convention Centre on Saturday (March 11). The Canadian superstar took artist of the year for a record fourth time; songwriter of the year for a record fourth time; single of the year for a record-tying third time for “Sacrifice”; and pop album of the year for the first time for Dawn FM.

The Weeknd is nominated for two more awards on the main Juno Awards telecast on Monday (March 13). The Opening Night Awards is analogous to the Grammys’ Premiere Ceremony, where the bulk of each year’s Grammys are presented. But the event was less well-attended than the Grammy Premiere Ceremony usually is, perhaps in part because it was two days before the main telecast rather than just several hours before, as the Grammy Premiere Ceremony is.

Several Juno winners have also done well in the U.S. market. These include Michael Bublé’s Higher (adult contemporary album of the year), Tenille Townes’ Masquerades (country album of the year), Kaytranada and Anderson .Paak’s “Twin Frame” (rap single of the year), and Rêve’s “CTRL + ALT + DEL” (dance recording of the year).

Harry Styles’ Harry’s House took the Juno Award for international album of the year. The blockbuster album has swept awards around the globe, including the Brit Award for British album of the year and the Grammy for album of the year.

Floria Sigismond, who directed the Sam Smith/KimPetras video for “Unholy,” won music video of the year. The award was presented by Lyor Cohen, global head of music for YouTube.

Serban Ghenea, whose credits included the aforementioned “Unholy” and Lil Nas X’s That’s What I Want,” was named recording engineer for the second time in three years.

Akeel Henry, whose credits include Giveon’s “For Tonight” and John Legend’s “Splash,” took the Jack Richardson producer of the year award.

The Arkells won group of the year for a record sixth time. They had been tied with Blue Rodeo with five wins each. (Oddly, neither of these groups has made much of a splash in the U.S.)

The event also recognized this year’s special award recipients including the Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award (Ron Sakamoto) and The MusiCounts Inspired Minds Ambassador Award (Broken Social Scene’s Kevin Drew).  

The livestream was ably co-hosted by Andrew Phung and Angeline Tetteh-Wayoe. Alberta pop singer Devon Cole, R&B sensation Dylan Sinclair, post-classical piano icon Jean- Michel Blais, sister trio The Bearhead Sisters performed. Corb Lund with The Sadies and Shannon Johnson from The McDades shared the stage for a collaborative performance of Ian Tyson’s “Four Strong Winds” during the In Memoriam segment. Tyson was among the Canadian talent who died in the past year, along with Ronnie Hawkins, Susan Jacks, Kerry Chater, Shirley Eikhard and more,

The Juno Awards broadcast will air live across Canada from Rogers Place in Edmonton at 8 p.m. ET/6 p.m. MT on CBC TV, CBC Gem, CBC Radio One, CBC Music, CBC Listen, and globally at CBCMusic.ca/junos and CBC Music’s Facebook, YouTube and Twitter pages. 

The ceremony had originally been scheduled for March 12, but was pushed back a day to avoid competing with the Oscars. Actor Simu Liu, star of the 2021 Marvel Cinematic Universe film Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, is hosting for the second year in a row.

Here’s the complete list of winners at the 2023 Juno Opening Night Awards.

Artist of the year

Avril Lavigne, Warner

Lauren Spencer-Smith, Island/Republic*Universal

Michael Bublé, Warner

Shawn Mendes, Island*Universal

WINNER: The Weeknd, XO*Universal

Group of the year

Arcade Fire, Columbia*Sony

WINNER: Arkells, Arkells Music*Universal

Billy Talent, Warner

Metric, Thirty Tigers

The Reklaws, Starseed*Independent

Single of the year

“Bite Me,” Avril Lavigne, Warner

“Flowers Need Rain,” Preston Pablo and Banx & Ranx, 31 East*Universal

“When You’re Gone,” Shawn Mendes, Island*Universal

“she’s all i wanna be,” Tate McRae, RCA*Sony

WINNER: “Sacrifice,” The Weeknd, XO*Universal

Music video of the year

“Fraud,” Emma Higgins, director; Jessie Reyez, Island*Universal

WINNER: “Unholy,” Floria Sigismondi director; Sam Smith and Kim Petras, Capitol*Universal

“Have Mercy,” Karena Evans, director; Chlöe, Parkwood*Sony

“Different Than Before,” Mayumi Yoshida, director; Amanda Sum, Independent

“Remember Me for Me,” Sterling Larose, director;  SonReal and Lily Moore, Black Box*Fontana North/Warner

International album of the year

=, Ed Sheeran, Warner

WINNER: Harry’s House, Harry Styles, Columbia*Sony

Montero, Lil Nas X, Columbia*Sony

Midnights, Taylor Swift, Republic*Universal

Red (Taylor’s Version), Taylor Swift, Taylor Swift*Universal

Breakthrough group of the year

WINNER: Banx & Ranx, Universal

Harm & Ease, Cosmo Cat*Independent

Rare Americans, EMPIRE/Crooked City*AMPED

Tommy Lefroy, Independent*AWAL

Wild Rivers, Nettwerk*Amped

Songwriter of the year

WINNER: Abel Tesfaye, publisher: XO Music Publishing/Kobalt Music Publishing

Faouzia, publisher: Faouzia Music/Kobalt Music Publishing

Tate McRae, publisher: T8 Entertainment Inc/Sony Music Publishing

Tenille Townes, publisher: Year of the Dog

TOBi, publisher: Oluwatobi Ajibolade Publishing

Jack Richardson producer of the year

WINNER: Akeel Henry

Banx & Ranx

Kaytranada

Mike Wise

Murda Beatz

Recording engineer of the year

Derek Hoffman

George Seara

Gus van Go

Jason Dufour

WINNER: Serban Ghenea

Pop album of the year

In the Meantime, Alessia Cara, Def Jam*Universal

Love Sux, Avril Lavigne, Warner

The Loneliest Time, Carly Rae Jepsen, 604*Warner

i used to think i could fly, Tate McRae, RCA*Sony

WINNER: Dawn FM, The Weeknd, XO*Universal

Adult contemporary album of the year

Adventure Book, Francois, Klark Independent

Descendant, Jann Arden, Universal

He Sang She Sang, Marc Jordan & Amy, Sky Linus*Universal/IDLA

WINNER: Higher, Michael Bublé, Warner

A Tyler Shaw Christmas, Tyler Shaw, Sony

Rock album of the year

WINNER: Otherness, Alexisonfire, Dine Alone*The Orchard

Crisis Of Faith, Billy Talent, Warner

Get Rollin’, Nickelback, BMG*Warner/ADA

Outta Sight, The Sheepdogs, Warner

Explosions, Three Days Grace, RCA*Sony

Metal/hard music album of the year

Psychic Jailbreak, Cancer Bats, New Damage*The Orchard

Merciless Destruction, Get the Shot, New Damage*The Orchard

Paid In Full, Skull Fist, Atomic Fire*Fontana North/Warner

WINNER: Synchro Anarchy, Voivod, Century*Sony

Thought Form Descent, Wake, Metal Blade*Sony

Adult Alternative album of the year

Born Losers, Altameda, Pheromone*Fontana North

The Garden, Basia Bulat, Secret City*F.A.B.

Being Somewhere, Dan Mangan, Arts & Crafts*Universal

WINNER: Colder Streams, The Sadies, Dine Alone*The Orchard

How Is It That I Should Look at the Stars, The Weather Station, Next Door*Outside

Alternative album of the year

WINNER: Blue Rev, Alvvays, Celsius Girls*Universal

Duality, Luna Li, AWAL

Sewn Back Together, OMBIIGIZI, Arts & Crafts*Universal

The Unraveling of Puptheband, PUP, Little Dipper*Universal

Tongues, Tanya Tagaq, Six Shooter*Universal

Dance recording of the year

“Afterglow,” Bob Moses and Kasablanca, Astralwerks*Universal

“Shinigami Eyes,” Grimes, Columbia*Sony

“These Nights,” Loud Luxury feat. Kiddo, Armada*Sony

WINNER: “CTRL + ALT + DEL,” Rêve 31, East*Universal

“Spiral,” Rezz, RCA*Sony

Underground dance single of the year

“Debonair,” Bensley, mau5trap*Independent/AWAL

“Aye Aye,” Blond:Ish and Cameron Jack, Abracadabra*Above Board

“The Time Is (Now),” Fred Everything, Lazy Days*Prime Direct/Paradise

WINNER: “I Knew Techno,” Greg Gow, Restructured*The Orchard

“Easy,” Tiga, Turbo*!K7

Electronic album of the year

Not OK, Mecha Maiko, NewRetroWave*HHV/Believe

Spectrums, Odonis, Odonis Felte*Secretly

Nightmare on Rezz Street 2 Mix, Rezz, HypnoVizion*Universal

Synthetic Season One, Rich Aucoin, We Are Busy Bodies*Redeye

WINNER: Interior, Teen Daze, Independent*Believe

Traditional R&B/soul recording of the year

“Please Do Not Lean,” Daniel Caesar feat. BadBadNotGood, Republic*Universal

“Palisade,” Jon Vinyl, Vinyl Recordings*Foundation

“All I Need,” Safe, RCA*Sony

WINNER: “Last One,” Savannah Ré feat. Dylan Sinclair, Universal

“How to Make Love,” Thehonestguy, Independent*Believe

Rap single of the year

“Alejandro Sosa,” 6ixbuzz and Pengz, Warner

“Been Himma,” Dom Vallie, Natalus*The Orchard

“Wrath,” Freddie Dredd, RCA*Sony

WINNER: “Twin Flame,” Kaytranada and Anderson .Paak, RCA*Sony

“Wrong Decisions,” XO*Universal

Country album of the year

Way Back, High Valley, Cage Free*The Orchard

Honkytonk Revival, Jade Eagleson, Starseed*Independent

Bronco, Orville Peck, Columbia*Sony

WINNER: Masquerades, Tenille Townes, RCA*Sony

Good Ol’ Days, The Reklaws, Starseed*Independent

Reggae recording of the year

“Water,” Ammoye, Lulaword*Symphonic

“Like a Star,” Celena, Independent

“Jah Love,” Exco Levi, Independent

“In the Streets,” Kairo McLean, Soul Survival*Independent

WINNER: “Reggae Party,” Kirk Diamond, Kairo McLean and Finn, Independent

Contemporary roots album of the year

O Glory, Blackie and The Rodeo Kings, Divine*Warner

That Was You and Me, Fortunate Ones, Sonic *Warner

Hold on to Love, Shakura S’Aida, Independent

WINNER: Come Morning, The Bros. Landreth, Birthday Cake*The Orchard

House of Dreams, The East Pointers, Nettwerk*Amped

Traditional roots album of the year

Hurricane Clarice, Allison de Groot & Tatiana Hargreaves, Free Dirt*AMPED/MNRK

20 printemps, Le Vent du Nord, La Compagnie du Nord*IDLA

Narrow Line, Mama’s Broke, Free Dirt*AMPED/MNRK

WINNER: Tell ‘Em You Were Gold, Pharis & Jason Romero, Smithsonian Folkways*AMPED/The Orchard

The Empress, The McDades, Independent

Blues album of the year

WINNER: Long River, Angelique Francis, Independent

Midnight Blues, Crystal Shawanda, True North*Universal/IDLA

Thanks for Tomorrow, Harrison Kennedy, Electro-Fi*Isotope Music/The Orchard

Preach to My Soul, Spencer Mackenzie, Gypsy Soul*Warner

Live at the King Eddy, The Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer, Fontana North*The Orchard

Contemporary Christian/gospel album of the year

Into The Wild, Dan Bremnes, CURB | Word*New Day

Trust, Daniel Ojo, Psalmist*Independent

WINNER: Jordan St. Cyr, Jordan St. Cyr, BEC*The Orchard

Only Ever Always, Love & The Outcome, CURB | Word*New Day

The Church Will Rise, Tehillah Worship, Independent*Wings

Global music album of the year

In the Footsteps of Rumi, Ghalia Benali, Constantinople, Kiya Tabassian, Glossa*Naxos

WINNER: Thieves of Dreams, Lenka Lichtenberg, Sunflower*Independent

José Louis and the Paradox of Love, Pierre Kwenders, Arts & Crafts*Universal

Vox.Infold, Ruby Singh, Independent

Tradisyon, Wesli,WUP/Disques Les Nuits d’Afrique/Cumbancha*Believe

Vocal jazz album of the year

WINNER: Featuring, Caity Gyorgy, La Reserve*The Orchard

Blue, Diana Panton, Independent*The SRG/ILS Group

Venez donc chez moi, Laura Anglade and Sam Kirmayer, Justin Time*F.A.B./Nettwerk

Nikki By Starlight, Nikki Yanofsky, MNRK

The Ostara Project, The Ostara Project, Cellar*The Orchard

Jazz album of the year (solo)

Joy, Ernesto Cervini, TPR*A-Train

A Little Louder Now, Lauren Falls, Independent

El Tinajon, Luis Deniz, Modica*Believe

Rumba, Rafael Zaldivar, Effendi*Propagande/Naxos

WINNER: Kinds of Love, Renee Rosnes, Smoke Sessions*The Orchard

Jazz album of the year (group)

Semantics, Andrew Rathbun Quintet, SteepleChase*Stateside/The Orchard

Talk Memory, BadBadNotGood, People’s Champ*Stem

The History of Us, Carn Davidson 9, TPR*Independent

WINNER: Desert Bloom, Florian Hoefner Trio, Alma*Universal

The Dragon’s Tail, Mark Kelso & the Jazz Exiles, Independent

Instrumental album of the year

Canadiana, Canadian Brass, Linus*Universal/IDLA

WINNER: Everything Was Forever Until It Was No More, Esmerine, Constellation*Secretly

Iguana, Hard Rubber Orchestra, Redshift*Independent

Aubades, Jean-Michel Blais, Arts & Crafts*Universal

Lionheart, Stephan Moccio, Decca*Universal

Francophone album of the year

medium Plaisir, Ariane Roy, La maison fauve*Universal

Mercure en mai, Daniel Bélanger, Secret City*F.A.B.

Pictura De Ipse : Musique directe, Hubert Lenoir, Simone*The Orchard

WINNER: Crash, Les Louanges, Bonsound*Sony/The Orchard

Chiac Disco, Lisa LeBlanc, Bonsound*Sony/The Orchard

Children’s album of the year

Nice to Meet You, Beppie, Platoon

Say Hello, Jeremy and Jazzy, Hidden Pony*Universal

I Am Love, Splash’N Boots, Independent*The Orchard

WINNER: Walk off the Earth & Romeo Eats, Vol. 2, Walk off the Earth and Romeo Eats, Golden Carrot*The Orchard

Maestro Fresh Wes Presents: Julia the Great, Young Maestro and Keysha Freshh, Independent

Classical album of the year (solo artist)

Winner of the 18th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition Warsaw 2021, Bruce Liu, Deutsche Grammophon*Universal

Prokofiev: Piano Sonatas, Vol. 1, David Jalbert, ATMA*Universal

La Zingarella: Through Romany Songland, Isabel Bayrakdarian, AVIE*Naxos

Bach: Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin, James Ehnes, Onyx*PIAS America/The Orchard

WINNER: Fables, Philip Chiu, ATMA*Universal

Classical album of the year (large ensemble)

Clara – Robert – Johannes: Lyrical Echoes Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra, conducted by Alexander Shelley, Analekta*F.A.B./The Orchard

Handel: Messiah, HWV 56, Ensemble Caprice, Ensemble Vocal Arts-Quebec, conducted by Matthias Maute, featuring Karina Gauvin, Leaf Music*Naxos

Richard Strauss: Metamorphosen – Arvo Pärt: Symphonie No. 4, “Los Angeles,” I Musici de Montréal, conducted by Jean-Marie Zeitouni, ATMA*Universal

WINNER: Viola Borealis, Orchestre de l’Agora, conducted by Nicolas Ellis, featuring Marina Thibeault, ATMA*Universal

Radiant Dawn: Music for Advent and Christmas, The Elora Singers, conducted by Mark Vuorinen, Independent

Classical album of the year (small ensemble)

Nagamo, Andrew Balfour and musica intima Redshift*Independent

Hemsi: Chamber Works, ARC Ensemble Chandos*Naxos/PIAS

Vagues et ombres, collectif9 Alpha*Independent

WINNER: Early Italian Cello Concertos, Elinor Frey and Rosa Barocca, conducted by Claude Lapalme, Analekta*F.A.B./The Orchard

De la cour de Louis XIV à Shippagan! Chants traditionnels acadiens et airs de cour du XVIIe Siècle, Suzie LeBlanc, Marie Nadeau-Tremblay, Vincent Lauzer, and Sylvain Bergeron, ATMA*Universal

Classical composition of the year

“An Overall Augmented Sense of Well-being,” Anthony Tan, Independent

WINNER: “Bestiary I & II,” Bekah Simms, Centrediscs*Naxos

“The Black Fish,” Keyan Emami, Centrediscs*Naxos

“Prayers for Ruins,” Nicole Lizée, Analekta*F.A.B./The Orchard

“Supervillain Études,” Vincent Ho, Navona*Naxos

Contemporary indigenous artist or group of the year

“Watin,” Aysanabee, Ishkōdé*Universal

WINNER: “Zhawenim,” Digging Roots, Ishkōdé*Universal R&B

“Code Red,” Indian City, Rising Sun*Warner

“Beyond the Reservoir,” Julian Taylor, Howling Turtle*Warner

“The Crossing,” Susan Aglukark, Aglukark*Universal/IDLA

Traditional indigenous artist or group of the year

kâkîsimo ᑳᑮᓯᒧᐤ, Cikwes, Nehiyaw Soul*Bigstone Cree Nation

Katajjausiit, Iva & Angu, Independent

Mikwanak Kamôsakinat, Joel Wood, Independent

Ôskimacîtahowin: A New Beginning, Northern Cree, Independent

WINNER: Unbreakable, The Bearhead Sisters, Independent

Comedy album of the year

Let Me Hold Your Baby, Courtney Gilmour, Comedy Records*Independent

Splash Pad, Jackie Pirico, Independent

WINNER: A Person Who Is Gingerbread, Jon Dore, Howl & Roar*Independent

Here Live, Not A Cat, Matt Wright, Chillybrain

Things Black Girls Say – The Album, Zabrina Douglas, Howl & Roar*Independent

Album artwork of the year

Emy Storey (Art Director, Designer, & Photographer), Becca McFarlane and Pamela Littky (Photographer); CRYBABY – Tegan and Sara, Mom+Pop*Redeye

WINNER: Ian Ilavsky (Art Director & Designer), Maciek Szczerbowski (Illustrator); Everything Was Forever Until It Was No More – Esmerine, Constellation*Secretly

Jud Haynes (Art Director & Designer); Kubasongs – Kubasonics, Independent

Kee Avil (Art Director), Lawrence Fafard (Photographer); Crease – Kee Avil, Constellation*Secretly

Lights (Art Director & Illustrator), Virgilio Tzaj (Designer), Matt Barnes (Photographer); PEP – Lights, Fueled By Ramen*Warner

11 Mar 2023

Billy Joel & Stevie Nicks Duet on ‘Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around,’ ‘And So It Goes’ at Stadium Tour Opener: Watch

Billy Joel and Stevie Nicks joined forces for a pair of songs during their co-headlining stadium tour opener at SoFi Stadium near Los Angeles on Friday (March 10).

The first duet between the iconic musicians arrived during Nicks’ set when the Piano Man took on Tom Petty‘s vocal part on the Billboard Hot 100 hit song “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around.” The pair reunited again during a performance of Joel’s ballad “And So It Goes.” Watch the team-ups here and here.

Elsewhere during the concert, dubbed Two Icons – One Night Only, Nicks delighted audience members with her first performance of “Fall From Grace” in more than a decade, Rolling Stone reports. She also delivered a rendition of Fleetwood Mac‘s “Sara,” marking her first solo performance of the track since 2008.

Nicks also paid tribute to her late Fleetwood Mac bandmate Christine McVie with an emotional delivery of the band’s “Landslide.” McVie died in November 2022 following a short illness. Watch Nicks’ heartfelt performance here.

“I have to imagine she’s still here,” a teary-eyed Nicks told the crowd. “It’s all I can do.”

Joel and Nicks’ co-headlining stadium tour continues on April 8 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. From there, the pair will visit Nashville (May 19); Philadelphia (June 16); Columbus, Ohio (Aug. 5); Kansas City, Mo. (Aug. 19); Foxborough, Mass. (Sept. 23); Baltimore (Oct. 7); and Minneapolis (Nov. 10).

11 Mar 2023

Hailey Bieber Marks 1-Year Anniversary of Her Mini-Stroke: ‘A Life-Changing Event’

Hailey Bieber is reflecting on her “life-changing” mini-stroke in 2022.

The 26-year-old model, who is married to Justin Bieber, took to her Instagram Story on Friday (March 10) to mark the one-year anniversary of a medical emergency that landed her in the hospital with stroke-like symptoms. Doctors later determined that she had Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO), a hole in the heart that didn’t properly close at birth.

“Can’t believe it’s been one year since I suffered a mini stroke that led to my PFO diagnosis,” Bieber wrote in her Instagram Story alongside a nearly year-old YouTube video of herself discussing the condition.

She continued, “Given that it’s the 1 year mark from such a life changing event, I wanted to share all the information I’ve learned about PFO and share resources to donate.”

In a follow-up post, the Rhode skincare founder shared information from UCLA Health about PFO, noting that it’s “the most common congenital heart defect” and affects “20% of all people.” The post explained that PFO has a “60% occurrence among 1st degree relatives” and that “60% of people who have a stroke without a known cause are likely to have a PFO.”

In April 2022, Bieber shared a 12-minute video breaking down the “very scary incident” that began while she was sitting at breakfast with her pop star husband. After being taken to the hospital following stroke-like symptoms, medical scans showed a small blood clot in her brain caused by a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA). It was later discovered that she had a “grade 5 PFO,” meaning the blood clot traveled to her heart. She later underwent a procedure to close the PFO.

The model revealed earlier this year that she had been struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following the incident.

“I struggled with a lot of anxiety after. I struggled with a little bit of PTSD of just, like, the fear of maybe it was gonna happen again,” Bieber said on The Run-Through with Vogue podcast in January. “It was just a feeling that I was, like, I never want to experience that ever again. It was so terrifying, so jarring, so discombobulating in every single way that you could imagine.”

See Bieber’s post on her Instagram Story here.

11 Mar 2023

Shakira’s First Listen of Bizarrap-Produced ‘Vol. 53’ Reminded Her of Depeche Mode

Shakira and Bizarrap brought their chart-topping collab to The Tonight Show.

The Colombian star and Argentine DJ paid a visit to Jimmy Fallon on Friday (March 10) to promote their global hit “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53,” which has officially broken 14 Guinness World Records.

Prior to giving a sensational live performance of the dis track, which peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100, Shakira sat down with Fallon and recalled hearing Bizarrap’s “Vol. 53” beat for the first time in Barcelona.

“It reminded me of Depeche Mode,” the 46-year-old songstress remembered. “The song, if you listen to it, it’s got a little bit of that sort of, like, cool, dark undertone. I love Depeche Mode. It’s my favorite.”

The superstar added that she immediately knew the song would be a hit.

“I started to feel it in my body, you know. I usually have this visceral sort of physical reaction to music,” Shak explained. “If you see me, you know, two-stepping, things are not right. You know? I know when a song works because then I suddenly start moving, like, getting these small contractions from my tailbone to my iliac bone, and then it just results into, you know, hip movements.”

In “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53,” which also reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart, Shakira is more unapologetic and empowered than ever, spitting diss verses to ex-boyfriend Gerard Piqué and even throwing a jab at his new love interest.

Watch Shakira and Bizarrap’s Tonight Show appearance in the videos below.

11 Mar 2023

No Verdict Yet in Trial of XXXTentacion’s Accused Killers

Jurors in the trial of three men accused of murdering rapper XXXTentacion outside a motorcycle dealership nearly five years ago failed to reach a verdict Friday (March 10), meaning they will resume next week.

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The jury deliberated for about five hours Friday, bringing the total to about 10 hours since getting the case late Wednesday. The panel of 12 will return to court Monday.

They made their first request of Circuit Judge Michael Usan on Friday, asking to see a transcript of the statement alleged ringleader Dedrick Williams gave detectives after his arrest. None was presented at trial, so they were told to rely on their recollection of what detectives testified about it.

Accused shooter Michael Boatwright, 28, Williams, 26, and accused second gunman Trayvon Newsome, 24, are all charged with first-degree murder and armed robbery. They all face mandatory life sentences if convicted. Prosecutors did not seek the death penalty.

A fourth man, 26-year-old Robert Allen, pleaded guilty last year to second-degree murder and testified against his former friends.

XXXTentacion, whose real name was Jahseh Onfroy, had just left Riva Motorsports in suburban Fort Lauderdale with a friend on June 18, 2018, when his BMW was blocked by an SUV that swerved in front.

Surveillance video showed that two masked gunmen emerged and confronted the 20-year-old singer at the driver’s window, and one shot him repeatedly. They then grabbed a Louis Vuitton bag containing $50,000 that XXXTentacion had just withdrawn from the bank, got back into the SUV and sped away. The friend was not harmed.

Allen testified that the men set out that day to commit robberies and went to the motorcycle shop to buy Williams a mask. There they spotted the rapper and decided to make him their target. Allen and Williams went inside the shop to confirm it was him.

They then went back to the SUV they had rented, waited for XXXTentacion to emerge and ambushed him, according to testimony. Prosecutors say surveillance video from the dealership and cellphone data ties the men to the scene. They also showed jurors videos the men allegedly posted on social media that night of themselves flashing fistfuls of $100 bills.

The men’s attorneys said Allen is lying and that their DNA was not found on the artist. Attorneys for some of the men said that while the money-flashing videos were “stupid,” they don’t prove their clients were actually involved in the shooting and robbery.

The rapper, who pronounced his name “Ex ex ex ten-ta-see-YAWN,” was a platinum-selling rising star who tackled issues including prejudice and depression in his songs. He also drew criticism over bad behavior and multiple arrests, including charges that he severely beat and abused his girlfriend.

11 Mar 2023

LALI Makes History at the Velez Sarsfield Stadium in Argentina & More Uplifting Moments In Latin Music

From career milestones and new music releases to major announcements and more, Billboard editors highlight the latest news buzz in Latin music every week. Here’s what happened in the Latin music world this week.

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LALI makes history

Argentine singer-songwriter LALI made history on March 4 with a sold-out concert at the Velez Sarsfield Stadium in Buenos Aires in front of more than 45,000 people. She becomes the first singer to sell out a show at that soccer stadium. The show was part of her Disciplina Tour. “It’s impossible to express what I feel after this sold-out show,” she wrote on social media. “Thanks to all who vibed with me. I am so proud of my dream team that is always by my side and made this happen. I’m also proud of myself for working hard to give you the best of me. A dream, that was once just a dream, came true.”

Motomamis Unite

Women took the streets across the globe on March 8 to rally for reproductive rights, a key topic in the U.S. after the Roe v. Wade U.S. abortion ruling was overturned last year and, in Latin America, where women also demanded accountability and more action for the unsolved killings of women and girls. Armed with protest signs, Rosalía’s empowering Motomami concept was a clear inspiration for those who had something to say. The Spanish star shared a handful of signs that read “Una Motomami Cuida a Otra Motomami (One Motomami Takes Care of Another Motomami),” “Yo Soy Muy Mía Yo Me Transformo. (I Am My Own. I Transform)” and “Ya No Soy Ni Voy a Ser Tu Bizcochito (I Am Not Nor Will I Be Your Bizcochito).”

All about girl power

In honor of International Women’s Day, Billboard compiled 21 powerful collabs between Latin women artists. The list includes unapologetic bangers, such as iLe and Ivy Queen’s latest track “Algo Bonito” and Ptazeta and Villano Antillano’s “Mujerón,” as well as ultimate breakup songs, such as Becky G and Karol G’s “MAMIII,” and of course Karol’s Shakira-assisted “TQG.” There’s also a couple of joints that are all about reflection and finding your self-worth after a toxic relationship, such as Kany García and Mon Laferte’s “Se Portaba Mal” and India and Goyo’s “Nubes Negras.” 

Check out the full list here.

Karol G is No. 1

Karol G scored her first No. 1 on Billboard’s Latin Songwriters chart (dated March 11), becoming just the second woman to rule the ranking. The only other woman to have hit No. 1 on Latin Songwriters is regional Mexican up-and-comer Yahritza Martinez, who tallied four weeks on top in April 2022 thanks to Yahritza y Su Esencia’s breakthrough single, “Soy El Unico.”

The Colombian star leads for the first time thanks to a whopping 16 songwriting credits on the latest Hot Latin Songs chart, all via songs on her new LP Mañana Será Bonito.

Anitta to make international actoral debut

The Brazilian superstar and Élite Netflix revealed on social media that she will be joining the Élite cast in its upcoming seventh season. “A girl from Rio you may already know… is about to make an entrance at Las Encinas. @Anitta is joining the #Élite7 cast,” read the post, referring to the Spanish series’ fictional elite high school. 

The caption is accompanied by photos of the artist in her new role showing a pensive yet potent look in her eyes and wearing a cropped grey sweater, red bra, and braids.

10 Mar 2023

Why Xscape Was Initially ‘Cautious’ About ‘Queens of R&B’ TV Show With SWV

Xscape is currently on a television screen near you! The ’90s girl group — Kandi Burruss, Tameka “Tiny” Harris and Tamika Scott — sat down with Billboard News to detail what fans can expect from their new Bravo television show, SWV & Xscape: The Queens of R&B, which premiered this past weekend.

“The Queens of R&B show, which is SWV and Xscape, it’s showing the ins and outs of our lives personally and collectively and as a group. And we’re trying to do something that we’ve never done with another ’90s group, the SWV girls,” Harris told Gail Mitchell, Billboard executive director of R&B/Hip-Hop. “You’re gonna see a lot of back-and-forth with our own group, and we have moments, and Xscape and SWV are not going to always be getting along. You’ll see a different side of us and everybody on this new Bravo show.”

Scott revealed that she and the rest of the group were initially hesitant to do the show with SWV because friendship does not always translate to a positive working relationship.

“One main reason we were really cautious going into this with our friends … because we know how hard it is with us already. We’ve known each other since we’ve been 15,” she said. “Sometimes it’s hard to do business with friends and family because you have to have different hats. You got to know when to take off the sister hat and put on the boss hat.”

SWV & Xscape: The Queens of R&B premiered Sunday on Bravo. The series will feature five more parts, and will follow both groups as they prepare a joint concert experience.

Watch Xscape’s interview on Billboard News in the video above.

10 Mar 2023

No, Shania Twain Still Has Not Met Brad Pitt: ‘I Think He’s Avoiding Me’

Back in 1997, Shania Twain confidently declared that movie star Brad Pitt was nothing special in her hit track, “That Don’t Impress Me Much.” However, 26 years after the playful diss, the country superstar and the Once Upon a Time in Hollywood actor have still never come face-to-face.

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In a new episode of Amelia Dimoldenberg’s popular Chicken Shop Date YouTube series, the 29-year-old host asks Twain if she’s ever met a rocket scientist, in reference to another verse of the same song. “No. I wrote about Brad Pitt, I never met Brad Pitt,” she replied.

“You still haven’t met Brad Pitt?” Dimoldenberg asks in disbelief, to which Twain jokingly responds, “I think he’s avoiding me honestly.”

Elsewhere in the interview, it is revealed that Twain has Harry Styles‘ phone number, as she performed “Man! I Feel Like a Woman” and “You’re Still the One” with him at Coachella in 2022. “It was really great. Harry’s sweet. He’s a lovely, lovely guy,” Twain gushed, before Dimoldenberg suggested that the singer should give her Styles’ digits.

“No, I couldn’t. I’m too loyal,” Twain responded, after a convincing amount of nudges from the host. “I’d like to, but I can’t. I like you, but I can’t give you Harry’s number. I could, but then I’d feel bad about it. I’m too loyal and he gave it to me in confidence.”

Twain is fresh off the release of her sixth studio album, Queen of Me. Watch her episode of Chicken Shop Date below.

10 Mar 2023

Watch Will Smith Rap ‘Just the Two of Us’ With 10-Year-Old Bass Player

Will Smith has found a new bandmate. The Emancipation actor took to Instagram on Thursday (March 9) to share a video duetting 10-year-old bass player Ellen Alaverdyan.

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In the clip, Alaverdyan plays the smooth base line of Smith’s 1997 track, “Just the Two of Us,” while the 54-year-old raps the lyrics over the melody. “Wow!! @ellenplaysbass, this is FANTASTIC. You are the Sweetest!” he captioned the post, tagging his musician friends Jac Ross and ELEW to add their spins on the track.

“@willsmith THANK YOU FOR THIS MAGIC [red heart emojis],” the 10-year-old budding star captioned a repost of Smith’s video, and also left a sweet comment on his original post, writing “[red heart emojis] THANK YOU WILL [star emoji].”

In a recent sit-down with David Letterman for his Netflix series, My Next Guest Needs No Introduction, Smith discussed how he felt about the “soft” reputation surrounding his 1980’s pop rap duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, though he never faced pressure to quit music. “Not pressure as much as it was always that I was soft. I hated that, being called soft.”

Watch Smith rap along with Alaverdyan’s bass line below.

10 Mar 2023

GAYLE Had ‘No Clue’ What to Do Next When ‘Icon’ Taylor Swift Came Calling for The Eras Tour

GAYLE is just one week away from opening for Taylor Swift‘s The Eras Tour, and in a new interview, the singer-songwriter opened up about just how much the superstar’s invitation to join her on tour meant.

“Taylor has been such an icon, period, but especially in Nashville,” the 18-year-old told Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1 on Friday (March 10). “She’s done so much for women in pop music for Nashville and for songwriters. And the fact that she can look at me in Nashville and just be like, ‘You, come with me.’

“It just means the world to me and it just was really validating for me, and especially at a very overwhelming time,” she continued. “I had no clue what I was going to do this year. I was like, ‘Oh my God, I had the best year of my life. What am I going to do next year?’ And she was like, ‘Here’s something to add to your calendar.’”

Memorably, GAYLE first crossed paths with her new tourmate at the Nashville Songwriter Awards last September, where she took the stage to perform her breakout hit “abcdefu.” Swift, meanwhile, was honored at the ceremony as the NSAI Professional Songwriter Members’ Songwriter-Artist of the Decade.

Since that meeting, GAYLE actually competed against Swift for song of the year at the 2023 Grammy Awards.

Swift’s The Eras Tour is set to kick off March 17 with two back-to-back shows at State Farm Arena in Glendale, Ariz. Along with GAYLE, Paramore, Beabadoobee, Phoebe Bridgers, Girl in Red, MUNA, HAIM, Gracie Abrams and more are all set to open on select dates across the U.S.