Music
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One year after she agreed to a deal with Spanish authorities to settle her $15 million for tax fraud case, Shakira is telling her side of the story. In an over 1,000-word op-ed published in the Spanish newspaper El Mundo, the Colombian singer penned strong declarations about her war with Spain’s tax agency. “In 2023, […]
Taylor Swift believes in a thing called love, and The Darkness’ Justin Hawkins has the handwritten note to prove it. After a clip of the 34-year-old pop star and Travis Kelce belting out the rock band’s 2003 hit “I Believe in a Thing Called Love” at the U.S. Open went viral Sunday (Sept. 8), the […]
They say you can never go home again, but nobody told that to Wu-Tang Clan members Method Man, Raekwon and Ghostface Killah, were Shaolin-adjacent on Sunday when they performed a special set on a decommissioned Staten Island Ferry boat in honor of designer Tommy Hilfiger’s 2024 New York Fashion week show debuting the brand’s 2025 […]
Mötley Crüe are headed back to the start. The legendary metal band announced on Tuesday (Sept. 10) that they will support their upcoming new EP, Cancelled, with a return to their old 1980s stomping grounds on Los Angeles’ Sunset Strip as part of what they’re calling a Höllywood Takeöver.
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The three gigs were teased over the Labor Day weekend when flyers promoting the gigs at The Roxy, Troubadour and Whiskey a Go Go popped up all over L.A. Tickets for the gigs — Oct. 7 at the Troubadour, Oct. 9 at The Roxy and Oct. 11 at the Whiskey a Go Go — will go on sale to the general public on Saturday (Sept. 14) at 1 p.m. ET exclusively at the box offices of the three venues as hard tickets only; sales are limited to two tickets per person, with more information available here.
For reference, in July, the band headlined the 17,000-capacity Scotiabank Saddledome at this year’s Calgary Stampede festival, while the three L.A. club shows will top out at 500 Crüebadours each.
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The three gigs will be in support of the upcoming (Oct. 4) release of their three-song EP, which features the new songs “Dogs of War” and the title track, as well as their rocked-up cover of the Beastie Boys’ beloved 1986 Billboard Hot 100 No. 7 hit “Fight For Your Right.” Along with the club shows, the band will host a pop-up store with exclusive, band-curated merch slated to open on Oct. 6 at another iconic Sunset Strip joint, the Rainbow Bar and Grill; the store will remain open through Oct. 12 from 3 p.m.-midnight daily.
As part of their return to the rooms where they made their bones in the 1980s, the Crüe announced a new philanthropic effort, the Mötley Crüe Giveback Initiative, which will have them partnering with several non-profits close to their hearts, including the teen homelessness organization Covenant House. An auction for two pair of tickets to the Troubadour show opened on Tuesday — click here to bid — and will be followed by another auction beginning on Sept. 30 featuring rare, stage-played collectible instruments from each of the three club shows.
The band — singer Vince Neil, drummer Tommy Lee, bassist Nikki Sixx and newest member, guitarist John 5 — will also host a charity dinner at the Rainbow on Oct. 8, with proceeds benefitting Covenant House.
How long has it been since The Cure released new music? The last time we had fresh tunes from the goth rock godheads President Biden was just about to begin his first stint… as Vice President. So, a lifetime.
But fans of the long-running Robert Smith-fronted grand ministers of mope took heart this week when a small tweak to the band’s social media feeds renewed hope that the long-awaited follow-up to 2008’s 4:13 Dream album could be inching closer to reality. Eagle-eyed followers noted that the band swapped out their official logo for a new one featuring their name in white inside a black circle.
It was a small change, but when you’ve been waiting this long, anything feels just like manna from heaven. Take a peek at the comments on the Cure’s official Facebook page reacting to the tiny tweak for evidence. “A sign of things to come!!!!,” wrote one fan, accompanied by other excited reactions, including: “Here we go folks!,” “Come on, new album. I want to hear the studio version of those new songs you played in Leeds 2022,” “Album announcement? [prayer hands, black heart emoji],” “Please be planning on a tour, I got into your music this year and you’re already one of my top 5 favorite bands,” “Wrap it up & ship it out!” and “Please be real.”
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Though there was no official announcement about the Cure’s 14th studio album at press time, the logo update had followers excited that the LP they’ve been waiting for — reportedly titled Songs of a Lost World — could be on the horizon. The comment referring to Leeds referenced the time two years ago when the group debuted three new songs on tour, “A Fragile Thing,” “I Can Never Say Goodbye” and “Another Happy Birthday.”
Their hopes were further boosted when guitarist Reeves Gabrels posted the new logo on his Instagram, with a reminder to go to the Cure’s official website to sign up for news, with the caption featuring the hashtag #songsofalostworld.
In the meantime, fans will have to make do with the upcoming release of live versions of two of those new songs on the live 12″ Novembre: Live in France 2022, due out on Oct. 1. The double A-side 12″ LP will have in concert versions of “And Nothing Is Forever” and “I Can Never Say Goodbye,” pressed on Eco-vinyl through Naked Record Club, with net profits headed to Brian Eno’s Earth Percent climate charity. Dreamy ballad “And Nothing Is Forever” was recorded at Montpellier Sud de France Arena on Nov. 8, 2022, while “I Never Can Say Goodbye” was laid down in Toulouse at Zénith on Nov. 13, 2022 on the French leg of the group’s 2022 Shows of a Lost World tour.
Longtime keyboardist Roger O’Donnell recently revealed that he was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of lymphoma in Sept. 2023. “In September last year I was diagnosed with a very rare and aggressive form of lymphoma. I had ignored the symptoms for a few months but finally went, and after surgery, the result of the biopsy was devastating,” O’Donnell wrote on X as part of Blood Cancer Awareness Month in a bid to urge fans to prioritize their health and get tested early.
Sabrina Carpenter is on course to secure her third consecutive week at No. 1 on the U.K. Official Singles Chart with her sweet single “Taste.”
According to the latest midweek chart blast, Carpenter continues to dominate the chart landscape, but Linkin Park is proving to be a formidable contender with their new single “The Emptiness Machine,” which currently holds the No. 2 position.
Should it hold on, “The Emptiness Machine” would mark Linkin Park’s highest chart position in the U.K., surpassing their previous peak of No. 6 with the 2007 single ‘What I’ve Done.’
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The track marks the band’s first release in seven years and introduces new vocalist Emily Armstrong alongside original members Mike Shinoda, Brad Delson, Phoenix, and Joe Hahn.
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In a recent interview with Billboard, Armstrong reflected on her newly-appointed position as co-vocalist for Linkin Park, saying, “There is so much to this band — this is a very, very important band to this world. And the integrity of the band was really helpful in keeping me grounded.”
“There were so many of those moments where it was like, ‘Holy s–t,’ when you talk about the size of the shows, stuff like that. I’m on cloud nine, but then it hits you that there’s a lot of work to be done.”
Linkin Park’s strong midweek performance has garnered attention, but Carpenter’s grip on the charts remains strong.
In addition to “Taste” at No. 1, her singles “Espresso” and “Please Please Please” are also holding firm in the Top 5, sitting at No. 3 and No. 4, respectively.
Elsewhere in the chart, Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ ballad “Die With A Smile” has made notable progress, climbing into the Top 5 for the first time, now sitting at No. 5. Meanwhile, Sonny Fodera’s dance anthem “Somedays” has seen a rise to No. 9, marking its first entry into the Top 10.
Despite Linkin Park’s impressive debut, it seems increasingly likely that Carpenter could secure another week at the summit of the U.K. Official Singles Chart, continuing her reign as a chart-topping pop star.
Stay tuned when all is revealed on the U.K. Official Charts on Friday, Sept. 13.
Ex-Pink Floyd singer and guitarist David Gilmour is on track to claim the No. 1 spot on this week’s U.K. Official Albums Chart midweek update with his latest release, Luck and Strange.
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If the album maintains its lead, this would be Gilmour’s third solo chart-topper, following Rattle That Lock in 2015 and On an Island in 2006.
As a member of Pink Floyd, Gilmour has already secured six No. 1 albums in the U.K. His return to the top of the charts with Luck and Strange would mark his first solo No. 1 in nine years.
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Speaking to Billboard last month, Gilmour commented that his new album is “the best album I’ve made since Dark Side of the Moon, since 1973.”
“The album feels like a solid body of cohesive work,” Gilmour explained. “It’s the cohesiveness of the whole thing — the writing, the work, the thrill it still gives me to listen to it all the way through as an album. There’s a consistency of thought and of feeling that runs through it that excites me in a way that makes me make those comparisons.”
Meanwhile, Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet holds its ground at No. 2 on the chart blast, eyeing a second consecutive week in that position. The pop sensation’s latest release continues to draw attention, remaining a strong contender in the U.K. charts.
Indie favorite Rex Orange County is also making waves, with his new album The Alexander Technique currently sitting at No. 5. This marks his third Top 5 entry, following the success of Pony (2019) and WHO CARES? (2022).
Veteran new wave band The The is making a significant comeback with Ensoulment, their first album in 25 years.
The record is tracking to debut at No. 6, potentially becoming their highest-charting album since Dusk peaked at No. 2 in 1993. South London’s Fat Dog is set to make an impressive debut with WOOF, their first full-length release, currently positioned at No. 7.
Fred again.. is aiming for a Top 10 debut with ten days, which is tracking at No. 8, while Ultravox’s 40th-anniversary edition of Lament is also set to re-enter the charts at No. 11.
Linkin Park’s greatest hits collection Papercuts is climbing to No. 13, while their classic debut Hybrid Theory is seeing a resurgence, currently at No. 45 midweek.
Katy Perry is making a return with her latest single and video, “I’M HIS, HE’S MINE,” featuring rapper Doechii, set to drop on Friday, Sept. 13.
Perry announced the news on social media on Sept. 10, teasing fans with a sneak peek of the song, which serves as the latest release from Perry’s upcoming dance-pop album 143, dropping Sept. 20.
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The collaboration news comes following controversy surrounding Perry’s previous single “Woman’s World,” which was produced by Dr. Luke, who has been involved in legal battles over accusations of sexual misconduct, most famously with Kesha.
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In a Sept. 4 episode of Call Her Daddy, Perry addressed the controversy and acknowledged that the collaboration “started a lot of conversations.”
“He was one of many collaborators that I collaborated with,” she continued of Dr. Luke, who helped craft “California Gurls,” “Teenage Dream” and several more of her biggest hits over the years.
“But the reality is, it comes from me. The truth is, I wrote these songs from my experience of my whole life going through this metamorphosis, and he was one of the people to help facilitate all that. One of the writers, one of the producers.”
“I am speaking from my own experience,” Perry added. “When I speak about ‘Woman’s World,’ I speak about feeling so empowered now as a mother, as a woman, giving birth, creating life … I’m still a matriarch and feeling really grounded in that. That’s where I’m speaking from. So I created all of this with several different collaborators, people that I’ve collaborated with from the past, from the ‘Teenage Dream’ era, all of that.”
Perry first skyrocketed to fame with her 2008 album One of the Boys, propelled by the massive success of “I Kissed a Girl,” which became her first Billboard Hot 100 No. 1.
Perry’s third album, Teenage Dream (2010), marked a historic moment as it produced five consecutive No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100, a record previously held only by Michael Jackson. Iconic hits such as “Firework,” “California Gurls,” and “E.T.” helped shape Perry’s reputation as a global pop powerhouse.
Her follow-up albums, including Prism (2013) and Witness (2017), continued her chart success, with “Roar” and “Dark Horse” both reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Over her career, Perry has amassed nine Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 singles, 14 Top 10 hits, and several accolades, including being named Billboard’s Woman of the Year in 2012.
Linkin Park’s return with new vocalist Emily Armstrong has sparked controversy, with Chester Bennington’s son, Jaime Bennington, accusing Mike Shinoda of “quietly erasing my father’s life and legacy in real time.”
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Jaime aired his grievances on social media following the band’s Sept. 5 livestream event, where Armstrong, formerly of Dead Sara, was introduced as the band’s new co-lead vocalist.
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The announcement followed weeks of speculation as Linkin Park teased fans with a countdown before revealing Armstrong as their new singer. They also released a new track, “The Emptiness Machine,” from their upcoming album From Zero, which debuted at No. 24 on the Rock & Alternative Airplay list.
Armstrong joins the band following the passing of Chester Bennington in 2017.
While many fans welcomed the band’s new chapter, others expressed concerns about the band’s new volcalist’s past ties to Scientology and her previous association with convicted rapist Danny Masterson.
In response to the backlash, Armstrong issued a statement on Sept. 6 via Instagram to address the controversy.
“Several years ago, I was asked to support someone I considered a friend at a court appearance and went to one early hearing as an observer. Soon after, I realized I shouldn’t have. I have never spoken with him since,” she wrote. “To say it as clearly as possible: I do not condone abuse or violence against women, and I empathize with the victims of these crimes.”
Despite Armstrong’s explanation, Jaime Bennington was deeply critical of Shinoda’s decision to bring her into the band.
He said via Instagram on Sept. 9, “You hired your friend of many years, Emily Armstrong, to replace Chester… knowing Emily’s history in the church and her history as an ally to Danny Masterson.”
Jaime did not hold back, accusing Shinoda of ignoring the impact this decision might have on the band’s fanbase, particularly those affected by sexual violence.
“You quietly erase[d] my father’s life and legacy in real time… during international suicide prevention month and refuse to acknowledge the impact of hiring someone like Emily, without so much as a clarifying statement on the variety of victims that make up your core fan base,” Jaime said.
His criticisms didn’t stop there. He added, “You betrayed the trust loaned to you by decades of fans and supporting human beings including myself. We trusted you to be the bigger, better person. To be the change. Because you promised us that was your intention. Now you’re just senile and tone deaf.”
At the time of writing, neither Shinoda nor the band has publicly responded to Jaime Bennington’s comments.
Chester, who joined the band in 1999, became an icon with the release of their debut album Hybrid Theory in 2000, followed by the highly successful Meteora (2003). His sudden death in 2017 left a deep void, both in the band and among fans.
In a recent cover interview with Billboard, Shinoda spoke about the challenges of moving forward without Chester.
“Emily was always going to be able to hit the notes and scream the parts,” Shinoda said, but he also recognized that the change would take time for fans to accept. “It’ll be a question of, ‘How does it land with people?’ And I don’t know how it will. But I know that, when I hear it, I love it.”
Shinoda reflected on the band’s journey to creating their upcoming album, From Zero. “We didn’t know how far we would get in our efforts. This has been years of struggling to understand what it can and should be.”
From Zero will mark the band’s first album One More Light, released two months prior to Bennington’s death. The set launched at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Rock & Alternative Albums chart in June 2017 and has earned 1 million equivalent album units to date.
Linkin Park’s first performance with Armstrong is scheduled for Sept. 11 in Los Angeles. As From Zero is set to be released on Nov. 15.
Pepe Aguilar rockets to No. 1 on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Airplay chart (dated Sept. 14) with “Mira Quién Lo Dice,” as the song flies 18-1. That’s the biggest jump to the top in 2024, earning Greatest Gainer honors, awarded weekly to the song with the largest gain in audience.
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“Mira Quién Lo Dice” registered 5.8 million in audience impressions, up 104%, on U.S. monitored regional Mexican stations during the Aug. 30-Sept. 5 tracking week, according to Luminate. That audience swell arrives from Univision stations WOJO-FM (Chicago), KSCA-FM (Los Angeles) and KLNO-FM (Dallas) during the tracking period.
The new leader gives Aguilar his third champ on Regional Mexican Airplay spanning over 26 years of career entries, since the No. 2-peaking “Por Mujeres Como Tú,” earned him a first top 10 in 1998.
Prior to “Mira Quién Lo Dice,” two other songs landed at the summit. Earlier, a collab with his son Leonardo Aguilar on “Bandido de Amores” gave the San Antonio, Texas-born singer-songwriter his second No. 1 (chart dated July 6). And in 2021, “Tus Desprecios” with El Fantasma, secured Aguilar his first ruler.
Among Aguilar’s three champs, “Mira Quién” endured the longest wait to the top, a 12-week canter, four weeks longer than his previous slowest, “Bandido,” which wrapped an eight-week run to No. 1 in July.
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As “Mira Quién” rallies to the summit on Regional Mexican Airplay from No. 18, it scores the biggest jump to No. 1 in 2024, and the second-biggest this decade, trailing Maná and Eden Muñoz’s 18-rank climb to No. 1 last November.
In total, “Mira Quién” is the fourth of 407 champs on the 1994-launched Regional Mexican Airplay chart to jump from No. 18 or lower directly to No. 1. Here’s the recap:
Position Change, Song Title, Artist, Date Reach No. 128-1, “Poema De Amor,” Renan Almendarez Coello, Dec. 2, 200021-1, “Volé Muy Alto,” Los Huracanes del Norte, Nov. 24, 200719-1, “Amor Clandestino,” Maná & Eden Muñoz, Nov. 11, 202318-1, “Mira Quien Lo Dice,” Pepe Aguilar, Sept. 14, 2024
Beyond its Regional Mexican Airplay coronation, “Mira Quién” also vaults 31-4 on the overall Latin Airplay tally, for Aguilar’s 13th top 10 there.
The radio achievement follows Aguilar’s performance of “Mira Quién Lo Dice” on Jimmy Kimmel Live and The Kelly Clarkson show in July.
All charts (dated Sept. 14, 2024) will update on Billboard.com tomorrow, Sept. 10). For all chart news, you can follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both X, formerly known as Twitter, and Instagram.