Music
Page: 6
Now in its third year, the Latin Grammy’s Best New Artist Showcase raised the bar for emerging talent, delivering a spectacular evening on Tuesday (Nov. 12) at Miami Beach’s Faena Forum. Hosted by Catalina García of Monsieur Periné, the event spotlighted this year’s contenders for the 25th Annual Latin Grammy Awards best new artist category, each proving why they deserved their place on this prestigious platform.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
The event featured a star-studded lineup of nominees, each bringing their own flavor to the stage: Agris, Kevin Aguilar, Darumas, Nicolle Horbath, Cacá Magalhães, Os Garotin, Íñigo Quintero, Sofi Saar, and Ela Taubert.
The performances spanned a gamut of genres and styles. Many artists — who each had the opportunity to sing two songs — chose to cover iconic renditions, a move that, while risky, paid off in some cases by highlighting their vocal prowess and interpretive skills.
Trending on Billboard
Kany García, who won the best new artist title in 2008, introduced Monterrey’s Sofi Saar, who captivated the audience with her “popteño” swagger, reflecting a much-needed female perspective in the genre. Her performance included her exciting original work followed by a cover of Selena’s “Si Una Vez,” a personal favorite of mine by the late Tejana legend.
Spanish sensation Íñigo Quintero, who previously topped the Billboard Global Excl. US chart, delivered a poignant performance with his trademark soft piano balladry. Brazil’s Cacá Magalhães and Mexico’s Agris both left strong impressions with their potent singing abilities — the latter artist sang the timeless hit “Paloma Negra” with a haunting but thrilling vocal quality.
US-based trio Darumas — comprising Aldana Aguirre, Ceci León and Vedala Vilmond who hail from Argentina, Cuba, and Haiti, respecively — kicked off with their mix of old-school funk, rock-infused R&B, and a dash of riot grrrl attitude. However, one of the standout moments of the show was when they impeccably sang one of the hardest songs to sing by the legendary Whitney Houston, “I Wanna Dance With Somebody.”
Ceci Leon, Vedala Vilmond and Aldana Aguirre from the band DARUMAS performs during the 25th Latin GRAMMY Awards – 2024 Best New Artist Showcase and CPI on November 12, 2024 in Miami, Florida.
Rodrigo Varela/Getty Images for The Latin Recording Academy
Hands down, a highlight of the night was Os Garotin’s performance. Composed of Anchietx, Cupertino and Leo Guima, the trio from Rio de Janeiro’s São Gonçalo amped up the vibe with their infectuous mix of funk, soul, and rap, which got the crowd to their feet and received a standing ovation. Their dance moves were also contagious which kept all eyes glued to them.
Though Barranquilla’s Nicolle Horbath delivered a competent rendition of 2024’s Person of the Year Carlos Vives’ “Fruta Fresca,” it was a relatively safe choice that nonetheless succeeded in engaging the audience. Missing in action was Mexico’s experimental rock troupe Latin Mafia — a personal disappointment, as they are one of my favorite emerging stars of the year — although an introductory video managed to cover their absence somewhat.
The showcase closed on a high note with the youngest nominee, 13-year-old Kevin Aguilar, whose old-soul voice and invigorating performance belied his young age. Accompanied by an accordion, he delivered an impassioned performance of the corrido “Cuando Te Cambian Por Alguien,” evoking comparisons to a young Christian Nodal at the onset of his career.
In an exhilarating turn, Aguilar then shifted gears to perform Luis Miguel’s “La Incondicional,” infused with a polka-styled norteña beat. His execution was flawless, hitting each note with precision and intensity that captivated and left the audience in awe, confirming his status as a standout performer of the night.
Kevin Aguilar performs during the 25th Latin GRAMMY Awards – 2024 Best New Artist Showcase and CPI on November 12, 2024 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by John Parra/Getty Images for The Latin Recording Academy)
Esteemed past winners and nominees such as Tiago Iorc, Joaquina, Juliana, Manuel Medrano, Nella, Mau y Ricky, and Nicole Zignago also graced the event as presenters of this year’s nominees.
In the words of the Latin Recording Academy’s CEO, Manuel Abud: “The best new artist category is very special for us, because it is a reflection of the mission of The Latin Recording Academy, to support and promote new talent and open doors for them,” he said from the stage. “The guys are surely going to have several nominations and surely many awards, but nominated for best new artist, just this once. That makes it a very special moment and it’s also one in which we can influence and positively affect the artist’s life in a unique way. It is a turning point in their careers.”
Each performance echoed Abud’s sentiments during an evening that not only celebrated the current crop of new talent but also set a high standard for Latin music’s blooming future.
It will be a whale of a good time — for a good cause — when members of Mt. Joy, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Young the Giant, Needtobreathe, The Red Clay Strays and more perform a show benefiting endangered whales next month.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
This group of artists, along with other yet-to-be announced musicians, will perform as part of Whale Jam, an ongoing concert series benefiting The Whale & Dolphin Conservation, and North Atlantic right whales in particular.
Trending on Billboard
This upcoming edition of Whale Jam marks the event’s first time in New York City, with previous show happening in Boston since the event’s inception in 2022.
Happening Dec. 12 at Brooklyn Paramount, a 2,700-capacity venue that opened earlier this year, the night will feature Matt Quinn of Mt. Joy, Ela Melo of Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Sameer Gadhia of Young the Giant, Clyde and Grace Lawrence of Lawrence and others. See the current lineup below.
Tickets for the event are available now and start at $64, with proceeds directly benefiting the nonprofit Whale & Dolphin Conservation North America. Focused on stripped down sets and impromptu collaborations, Whale Jam’s last show this past May in Boston raised $75,000 for the organization.
Whale Jam is produced by Nantucket Crisps, a potato chip brand inspired by Nantucket, with flavors named after islands on the beach. The famed Massachusetts island is, of course, located in the North Atlantic ocean, where whalers in the 1800s hunted North Atlantic right whales to the brink of extinction. Nantucket was once the whaling capital of the world, a legacy that gave Nantucket Crisps co-founder Hayden Arnot a special interest in raising money for whale conservation.
“For our last show, Matt Quinn joined Taylor Meier for ‘Dreams’ by Fleetwood Mac, David Shaw of The Revivalists joined Jonathan Russell of The Head and The Heart for ‘Lost in my Mind’, and at the end of the show all of the artists joined on stage for a rambunctious version of Neil Diamond’s ‘Sweet Caroline’, very fitting for Boston,” Arnot tells Billboard. “It’s truly amazing seeing these eco-minded artists take the time out of their busy schedules for this cause; it’s a stars aligning moment every time. The North Atlantic Right Whale is a whale that is very near and dear to the heart of the Northeast.”
North Atlantic right whales — named so because whalers once considered them the “right whales” to hunt — are only found in North America and live on East Coast’s migratory corridor. According to the The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the North Atlantic right whale is one of the world’s most endangered large whale species. The whales have been listed under the Endangered Species Act since 1970, with roughly 370 of these whales currently remaining.
Their two biggest threats to these whales are strikes from water vessels and accidental entanglement in fishing gear. As such, money raised by Whale Jam directly benefits efforts to expand on demand fishing, which removes vertical line from fishing waters to prevent entanglement. Whale and Dolphin Conservation North America is also working to implement regulations that would require water vessels to go slower during whale migration periods. Money raised goes to purchase on demand fishing gear and to pay staff working to get regulations in place.
“In order for our oceans to be healthy, we need whales,” Whale & Dolphin Conversation’s deputy director Melissa Walker tells Billboard, explaining that the work whales to do circulate nutrients in the ocean plays a vital role in ocean health and its ability to absorb carbon and release oxygen.
Whale Jam
Courtesy of Whale Jam
A holiday gift is arriving early for Al Jarreau fans. A lost live album recorded by the Grammy-winning jazz/R&B/pop singer-songwriter at Washington, D.C.’s historic Childe Harold Club in 1976 is finally being released.
Titled WOW!, the rediscovered project is being released by Resonance Records. Recorded two years before a then-emerging Jarreau began his platinum-selling ascent, the 10-track set presages the late artist’s string of jazz-, R&B- and pop-vibed hits, such as “We’re in This Love Together,” “Mornin’” and the theme from the popular ‘80s television series Moonlighting. In another WOW! bonus, the set also boasts five songs never included before on a live Jarreau recording, among them: James Taylor’s “Fire and Rain,” Count Basie’s “Shiny Stockings,” plus early renditions of “Take Five” and “You Don’t See Me.”
It was Grammy-nominated producer Zev Feldman who discovered the lost recording. In an announcement about the live album’s upcoming release, Feldman recalls, “When I met Al in the early 2000s, I happened to be living in D.C., and we struck up a conversation where he told me the very first show he ever played there was at a place called the Childe Harold. Well, six months ago, I was at the home of the former operations director for WHFS radio, and he had this tape of Al’s D.C. debut — professionally recorded, mixed and mastered. It’s a tour de force. He’s absolutely swingin’ for the fences and has the audience in the palms of his hands. I can’t believe that after Al told me about this particular show all those years ago, we found the actual recording — an amazing set of circumstances!”
Trending on Billboard
At that time in August 1976, as his vocal dexterity was gaining critical and fan acclaim, Jarreau had also released his sophomore album Glow for Reprise Records. And it was during that album’s release week that he performed in Washington, D.C., home to one of his budding fanbases thanks to local freeform FM station WHFS. For that live performance, Jarreau was backed by a trio led by his longtime collaborator, keyboardist Tom Canning. In an interview about WOW!, Canning notes, “Al was irresistibly funny, very upbeat all the time and a force of nature onstage. Above all, he was totally confident being Al Jarreau.”
Among the additional artists sharing their reflections on Jarreau’s vocal prowess and overall legacy are Dee Dee Bridgewater, Nile Rodgers, Earth, Wind & Fire’s Philip Bailey and Dionne Warwick. “Al’s legacy is his music and his musical ability,” says Warwick. “I’ve never met or heard anyone like Al — a consummate instrument above everything else.”
Resonance will release WOW! as a limited-edition two-album set on Nov. 29 as part of Record Store Day’s Black Friday event. A deluxe CD and digital download will become available on Dec. 6. The deluxe edition features an overview written by acclaimed music writer A. Scott Galloway.
Six-time Grammy winner Jarreau, who died in 2017, is the only singer to win the statuette in the jazz, R&B and pop categories. WOW! also brings to seven the total number of live albums that he recorded. Those six prior live albums are: Look to the Rainbow: Live in Europe (1977), In London (1985), Tenderness (1994), Live at The Half/Note 1965 with George Duke, Vol. 1 (2011), Al Jarreau and The Metropole Orkest Live (2012), and Live at Montreux 1993 (2016).
Caitlin Clark had a blast at the Eras Tour. The breakout Indiana Fever WNBA star was recently spotted taking in Taylor Swift‘s global outing, which just wrapped its U.S. dates with a trio of gigs in Indianapolis. The baller, who just finished her rookie season with the Fever, attended the first night of the Indy […]
Lady Gaga is readying the antidote to her “Disease.” In an Instagram post early Wednesday morning (Nov. 13), the singer revealed that she is releasing a live version of her recent single dubbed “Disease (The Antidote Live).” The track, and an accompanying video, are slated to drop at noon ET on Wednesday. At press time […]
Earlier this year, Coldplay’s ongoing Music Of The Spheres tour was named as the largest-ever rock tour by Billboard Boxscore as it surpassed $1 billion in grosses. Now it’s about to expand even further as Coldplay have announced a show in Ahmedabad, India with that the band are calling their “biggest-ever” concert.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
The show will take place on Jan. 25, 2025 at the city’s Narendra Modi Stadium, which can host up to 132,000 attendees, and will feature a “mystery guest” to be announced soon. Tickets for the show will go on sale at 12 p.m. IST (India Standard Time) on Saturday (Nov. 16) here. The band previously announced three shows to take place at Mumbai’s D Y Patil Stadium in the same week.
Modi Stadium, which opened in 2020, typically hosts sporting events including cricket, as well as political events; it is named after the country’s Prime Minister, who has held the position since 2014.
Trending on Billboard
It will mark the latest show in Coldplay’s Music Of The Spheres tour which first began in 2022 and is set to run through 2025. The British group recently released their 10th studio album Moon Music, which simultaneously charted at No.1 on the Billboard 200 and the U.K’s Official Albums Chart, becoming the first British group to do so since 2016.
In recent weeks the band have been touring through Australia, and their 2024 dates will conclude on Saturday in Auckland, New Zealand. The dates will resume in Abu Dhabi on Jan. 9.
During a show at the Accor Stadium in Sydney over the weekend, the band briefly covered Travis Scott’s “Goosebumps” in their set, which frontman Chris Martin called “his favorite” song by the “Sicko Mode” rapper. Scott responded to the shout-out and cover saying that the band “totally got it”.
Elsewhere, Martin had a mishap in an earlier tour stop in Melbourne when he fell through a hole in the stage, though laughed off the matter.
Next year’s run of shows will include a string of summer dates in North America, and is currently set to conclude with a 10-night stand at London’s Wembley Stadium in August 2025.
A new version of Band Aid’s “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” has been announced to celebrate the song’s 40th anniversary.
The charity single, first released in 1984, has become a festive staple over the years and the Band Aid Charitable Trust has raised over £140 million ($178 million) for causes such as poverty in Africa. The song was first written and organized by Bob Geldof and Ultravox’s Midge Ure following a BBC report into famine in Ethiopia, and became one of the best-selling singles of all-time in the U.K. and beyond.
Now the “Do They Know It’s Christmas? 2024 Ultimate Mix,” due out on Nov. 25, will combine voices from the four existing versions of the track. The song was re-recorded in 1989, 2004 and 2014 with new contemporary singers. A new music video directed by Oliver Murray — who worked on the visuals for The Beatles’ AI-assisted song “Now and Then” — will be released on the same date; watch the trailer below.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
The confirmed vocal takes will include: Sting, Boy George and George Michael from the 1984 version; Bananarama from 1989’s edition; Sugababes, Chris Martin and Robbie Williams from 2004’s re-record; Harry Styles, Ed Sheeran and Sam Smith from 2014’s version, among others. U2’s Bono – who has appeared on multiple versions of the single – will appear as a vocalist three times in the new version.
Trending on Billboard
The Band Aid house band fuses instrumental takes over the years from Paul McCartney, Phil Collins, Thom Yorke, Paul Weller, Damon Albarn and more. The song has been produced by Trevor Horn, whose credits include The Buggles’ “Video Killed The Radio Star” and work by Spandau Ballet and the Pet Shop Boys.
Upon release, the single became the fastest-selling U.K. Single of all time, until it was toppled by Elton John’s “Candle In the Wind” in 1997. Every version of the song has hit No.1 on the Official Singles Chart in the U.K., while the song peaked at No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The success of the song spawned several events including Live Aid in 1985 which first took place at London’s Wembley Stadium and Philadelphia’s John F. Kennedy Stadium. The song and music video’s depiction of Africa, however, has drawn criticism over the years with Moky Makura, executive director of non-profit organization Africa No Filter writing in The Guardian that “[Live Aid’s] portrayal of Africa triggered the birth of a patronizing industry whose mission it was to ‘save Africa.’”
Duran Duran frontman Simon Le Bon was honored with an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for his contributions to music and charity at a ceremony held at Windsor Castle on Nov. 12.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
The award, presented by William, Prince of Wales, recognizes Le Bon’s lasting influence on music as well as his dedication to charitable causes.
Le Bon shared his excitement and gratitude for the award, calling it “incredible and totally unexpected.” Reflecting on the honor back in June, he stated, “It is fitting that the honour has been awarded not just for my role in music, but also for the work I’ve been fortunate to be involved with outside the band for some of the causes I believe in.”
Trending on Billboard
After receiving the prestigious accolade, Le Bon told the Press Association: “It’s the most immediate and essential aspect of our job, getting up and singing a song or making some music in front of a crowd.”
“I used to be a very nervous performer. I was terrified, and slowly I’ve been able to overcome that fear and I don’t get it anymore. I just walk out there and it feels natural to me.”
Beyond his musical achievements, Le Bon has been an active advocate for several organizations, including the Blue Marine Foundation, which focuses on ocean conservation, and the Tall Ships Youth Trust, providing seafaring opportunities to disadvantaged youth across the U.K. Le Bon’s love of sailing also led him to support the Air Ambulance Service.
Known for Billboard Hot 100 hits like “Hungry Like the Wolf,” “Rio,” and “Girls on Film,” Duran Duran’s journey spans the glam and grit of the 1980s New Romantic scene to present-day stardom.
Their career has seen them earn numerous accolades, including a Brit Award for Lifetime Achievement, two Ivor Novello Awards, two Grammys, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2022, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame finally inducted Duran Duran.
In 2023, the band’s Halloween-themed album Danse Macabre became a top 10 hit on the Top Album Sales chart and peaked at No. 4 on the U.K. charts, marking another high point for the band. This Halloween, they followed up with a sold-out show at Madison Square Garden in New York and released an extended edition of Danse Macabre, accompanied by the concert film Secret Oktober.
From the early ’80s through today, Duran Duran has amassed a legion of fans with hits like “The Reflex,” “A View to a Kill,” and ’90s staples “Ordinary World” and “Come Undone.”
Their presence in pop culture remains undeniable—William’s late mother, Princess Diana, famously adored the band and was able to meet them at Prince’s Trust concert in 1983 and again at the 1985 premiere of the James Bond movie A View to a Kill.
“She and I used to go to the same fitness club — Chelsea Harbour in London,” Simon Le Bon once told The Times of the late princess.
“One day I was on the running machine. I jumped off because one of my shoelaces had come undone, and she wolf-whistled at me across the room, and yelled, like a brickie, ‘Nice legs! I’d recognize that bum anywhere!’ I was quite taken aback, actually, and quietly got back on the machine with a red face.”
On the 10th anniversary of Diana’s death in 2007, Prince William and Prince Harry staged a memorial concert for her at Wembley Stadium, booking artists like Elton John, Kanye West, Lily Allen, Tom Jones, Bryan Ferry, Rod Stewart, Pharrell, and Duran Duran.
CKY’s Chad I Ginsberg is speaking out about the recent drama with Alien Ant Farm’s Dryden Mitchell that got the West Chester rockers booted off their joint U.K. tour.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Just hours before the tour kicked off at Margate’s Dreamland on Nov. 9, the Alien Ant Farm frontman announced CKY’s removal following an alleged altercation, accusing Ginsberg of “treating multiple crew members and opening band members like trash” and claiming that things culminated in Ginsberg allegedly punching him in the face.
Taking to social media on Nov. 9, Mitchell wrote, “Chad from CKY hasn’t figured out how to cohabitate with others after all these years.”
Trending on Billboard
“They will no longer be on the Alien Ant Farm Tour through the rest of the UK shows after Chad punched me in the face earlier today,” Mitchell added. “I’ve watched him treat multiple crew members and opening band members like trash through the Europe shows and cause general drama around our camp.”
Later in the statement, he explained, “Today we still had business things to square away and I told his manager what a problem Chad was being, verbally, as well as f–kin up the bus with all of his messes every day for other people to clean up… Well he punched me in the face and pretty much ran away like I imagine he’ll do for all of his future problems.”
“I would love these shows to continue and apologize to all the CKY fans for Chad’s behavior. We have zero hard feelings for Jess and Elvis in CKY and are gutted to see them go, but I will never knowingly put myself in volatile situations so this had to end.”
Mitchell concluded the lengthy post by claiming that if Ginsberg seeks therapy, “maybe in 25 years… we can shake hands.” CKY’s appearance on the U.K. tour has since been replaced by bands such as INME, Rat’s Nest, The Fear and The Nocturnal Affair.
Ginsberg initially responded to the allegations with a scathing message, urging fans to get their money back: “U.K. CKY fans get your money back!!! I had NO choice and GOOD reason for what happened. I will always defend myself. You know me much better than that!”
He added, “More info to come. Apologies to the fans.”
Now, Ginsberg has again taken to social media to elaborate on his side of the story, describing the incident as “self-defense.” In a series of Instagram stories, Ginsberg told fans, “Nothing wrong with defending yourself from a bad guy. If you are attacked or feel truly threatened, have no fear and stop the threat however you can.”
He continued: “I had to protect myself. It was a split second reaction to a very angry guy muttering then yelling #*%! at me from 10ft away charging at ME, into my personal space! Coming at me. He was attacking me! I felt a physical threat and had I not tried to avoid the attack, I would have been assaulted. For f—- sake.”
“I could say so much more. But situation sucks for all! I’d like to stop. Rather not get all into all. It’s no one’s biz. This is not news. as unfortunate as the situation is all together.”
Alien Ant Farm continues with the rest of the tour, while CKY fans hold out hope for future shows. Both bands are lined up to play at Download 2025, though it’s not yet known if they’ll perform on the same day.
Despite the alleged incident, the band’s Australian tour, which is currently scheduled to take place in February, is reportedly still set to go ahead, according to promoters.
“We are aware of the altercation between a member of Alien Ant Farm and a member of their support act, CKY,” promoters The Phoenix wrote in a statement on Nov. 10. “We have spoken at length with the representative of both artists this morning. “At this point it is best to let tempers cool and believe a solution/compromise can be found in the next few days that enables the shows (all of which are selling out rapidly) to proceed as planned.”
The Phoenix also responded to claims that the incident between Ginsberg and Mitchell would affect the Australian tour, noting, “We are working with both bands to calm things down and keep the tour intact. In the words of The Offspring, we may have to keep them separated…”
Just in time for the 47th anniversary of their sole album, handwritten lyrics for songs on the Sex Pistols’ Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols are up for auction.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Penned by frontman John Lydon (aka Johnny Rotten), the lyrics are for the songs “Holidays in the Sun”, which opened the band’s 1977 debut, and “Submission”, which appeared as a standalone single with the record, and was included in later editions.
Though influential, Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols was not a chart success in the U.S, ultimately peaking at No. 106 on the Billboard 200 after 12 weeks on the chart.
Trending on Billboard
The lyrics are penned in green and black ballpoint pen on both sides of the 8 x 13 sheet, which feature the full lyrics to “Holidays in the Sun” (written as “Holiday in the Sun”) on one side, along with the opening line, “A cheap holiday in other peoples misery”, added in pencil. The other side features green ballpoint lyrics for “Submission”, though Lydon had not yet added the title at the time of writing.
The sheet is presented in “fine condition, with three folds and general light handling wear”, and features a signed letter of authenticity, and one from music journalist Jon Savage, from whose personal collection the lyrics are derived from.
The letter notes that the lyrics were “collected during the research of England’s Dreaming, now regarded as the classic book on Punk Rock and that period (1975-79) in British social and political life”, and that “it was most likely written when the Sex Pistols signed a publishing deal with Warner Brothers in autumn 1977 and is an original from the collection of Jamie Reid that came into my possession during 1980”.
The lyrics themselves have been on loan to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland since 1996, where it has been “prominently displayed in the Museum’s Punk exhibit”, and has also been show at London’s Hospital Exhibition in 2004, and at the ‘PUNK: Sex, Seditionaries & the Sex Pistols’ exhibition at Manchester’s Urbis building in 2005.
The auction is scheduled to close on Nov. 21, and though 14 bids at the time of writing have seen the price reach $30,800, it is estimated to exceed $80,000 by the time the hammer falls.