Music
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P!nk has called off four upcoming concert dates on her Summer Carnival Tour. “Due to reasons beyond my control, we need to postpone our next four shows in Lincoln, Sioux Falls, Milwaukee, and Des Moines,” the pop star wrote in an Instagram post on Saturday (Oct. 19). She did not elaborate on what the reasons […]
Vice President Kamala Harris appeared with Lizzo on Saturday (Oct. 19) in the singer’s hometown of Detroit, marking the beginning of in-person voting and lavishing the city with praise after Republican nominee Donald Trump recently disparaged it.
“All the best things were made in Detroit. Coney Dogs, Faygo and Lizzo,” the singer joked to a rally crowd, pointing to herself after listing off the meat-on-a-stick and soda that the city is famous for.
She said it was time to “put some respect on Detroit’s name” noting that the city had revolutionized the auto and music industries and adding that she’d already cast her ballot for Harris since voting early was “a power move.”
Heaps of praise for the Motor City came after Trump, the former president, insulted it during a recent campaign stop. And Harris continued the theme, saying of her campaign, “Like the people of Detroit, we have grit, we have excellence, we have history.”
Arms wide open as she took the stage, Harris let the crowd see she was wearing under her blazer a “Detroit vs. Everybody” T-shirt that the owner of the business that produces them gave her during a previous stop in the city earlier in the week. She also moved around the stage during her speech with a hand-held mic, not using a teleprompter.
More than 1 million Michigan residents have already voted by mail in the Nov. 5 election, and Harris predicted that Detroit turnout for early voting would be strong.
“Who is the capital of producing records?” Harris asked when imploring the crowd to set new highs for early voting tallies. “We are going to break some records here in Detroit today.”
She slammed Trump as unstable: “Somebody just needs to watch his rallies, if you’re not really sure how to vote.”
“We’re not going to get these 17 days back. On Election Day, we don’t want to have any regrets,” the vice president said.
Lizzo also told the crowd, “Mrs. Commander-in-Chief has a nice ring to it.”
“This is the swing state of all swing states, so every last vote here counts,” the singer said. Then, referencing her song of the same title, Lizzo added, “If you ask me if America is ready for its first woman president, I only have one thing to say: It’s about damn time!”
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley said in a statement that Harris needed Lizzo “to hide the fact that Michiganders were feeling good under President Trump – real wages were higher, prices were lower, and everyone was better off.”
Talona Johnson, a product manager from Rochester, Michigan, attended Harris’ rally and said that Harris “and her team are doing the things that are required to make sure that people are informed.”
“I believe she’s telling the truth. She’s trying to help the people,” said Johnson, who said she planned to vote for Harris and saw women’s rights as her top concern.
“I don’t necessarily agree with everything that she’s put out, but she’s better than the alternative.”
In comments to reporters prior to the rally, Harris said she was in Detroit “to thank all the folks for the work they are doing to help organize and register people to vote, and get them out to vote today. She also called Detroit “a great American city” with “a lot of hard-working folks that have grit and ambition and deserve to be respected.”
The vice president was asked about whether the Biden administration’s full-throated support for Israel in its war with Hamas in Gaza might hurt her support in Michigan. Dearborn, near Detroit, is the largest city with an Arab majority in the nation.
“It has never been easy,” Harris said of Middle East policy. “But that doesn’t mean we give up.”
She will get more star power later Saturday when she holds a rally in Atlanta featuring another wildly popular singer, Usher.
Early voting is also underway in Georgia. More than 1.2 million ballots have been cast, either in person or by mail. Democrats hope an expansive organizing effort will boost Harris against Trump in the campaign’s final weeks.
Roderick Williams, 56, brought his three daughters to Harris’ Atlanta rally. His youngest daughter was born around the time former president Barack Obama entered office, and he hopes they can witness history again by seeing Harris become the first Black woman to be president.
“It’s important for them to see that anything’s possible,” Williams said.
Victoria Monét is excited to publish her first-ever children’s book.
The three-time Grammy winner announced on Monday (Oct. 14) that her debut children’s picture book, Everywhere You Are, will arrive on June 25, 2025. The publication will be released in English and Spanish-language editions through Putnam Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers.
“WOW!! I’m super excited to announce my first picture book, Everywhere You Are, illustrated by Alea Marley,” Monét wrote on Instagram alongside a photo gallery that included the book’s cover. “I wrote this book in honor of hard working parents wanting to offer a consoling reminder to their children that even when a loved one isn’t right next to us, the love you have for each other still carries so much presence!”
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Everywhere You Are “is a lyrical and heartwarming picture book to comfort children experiencing separation anxiety while offering solace to hardworking parents,” according to a news releasing announcing the forthcoming book. The book, which is inspired by Monét’s experiences as a working parent, follows “a gentle moon as it comforts a young star when they part ways at dawn.”
Monét said in a statement, “This book means so much to me! I love many types of writing from poetry to music, and eventually script and it has always been a special dream of mine to write children’s books. It brings so much joy to know that families will share moments of reflection, understanding and quality time while reading this book for generations to come! I’m passionate about the subject of the book and explaining it in a way that is digestible for a child. I can’t wait to share it.”
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Everywhere You Are can be pre-ordered here.
Earlier this year, Monét won her long overdue first Grammy for the coveted best new artist trophy at the 66th annual Grammy Awards. The singer-songwriter also took home best R&B album for Jaguar II and best engineered album, non-classical. The Atlanta native boasts nine top 40 Billboard Hot 100 chart hits as a songwriter, with seven recorded by Ariana Grande, including the No. 1s “Thank U, Next” and “7 Rings” in 2018-19. Plus, her co-write “Ice Cream,” by BLACKPINK and Selena Gomez, reached No. 13 in 2020.
See Monét announcement for her first children’s book on Instagram below.
Zayn Malik is pushing back his first-ever headlining tour following the death of his former One Direction bandmate Liam Payne.
On Saturday (Oct. 19), the “Pillowtalk” singer announced on social media that he is delaying the U.S. leg of his Stairway to the Sky Tour, which was scheduled to launch Oct. 23 at San Francisco’s Bill Graham Civic Auditorium and wrap Nov. 3 at New York’s Hammerstein Ballroom.
“Given the heartbreaking loss experienced this week, I’ve made the decision to postpone the US leg of the STAIRWAY TO THE SKY Tour,” Malik wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “The dates are being rescheduled for January and I’ll post them as soon as it’s all set in the next few days. Your tickets will remain valid for the new dates. Love you all and thank you for your understanding.”
The former One Direction singer announced his Stairway to the Sky Tour during The Tonight Show in mid-September. The trek — which will also visit similar-sized venues in Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. — marks his first-ever solo outing. According to his website, Malik was still scheduled at press time to play U.K. shows in Edinburgh, Leeds, Manchester, London, Wolverhampton and Newcastle, beginning in late November through early December.
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Zayn will have four solo albums of material to choose from during the tour: his 2016 debut, Mind of Mine, 2018’s Icarus Falls, 2021’s Nobody Is Listening and this year’s Room Under the Stairs.
Malik’s tour postponement arrives three days following the death of his former 1D bandmate and “brother” Payne. Zayn honored Liam in a heartfelt post on Instagram shortly after the tragic news.
“I can’t help but think selfishly that there was so many more conversations for us to have in our lives,” Malik wrote alongside a photo of himself laying in Payne’s lap as the two then-teenagers take a nap. “I never got to thank you for supporting me through some of the most difficult times in my life. When I was missing home as a 17 yr old kid you would always be there with a positive outlook and reassuring smile and let me know you were my friend and I was loved.”
Malik’s statement came in addition to one from Louis Tomlinson and a joint message by the surviving members of One Direction, in which they noted that they are “completely devastated by the news of Liam’s passing.” The group statement continued, “In time, and when everyone is able to, there will be more to say. But for now, we will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly. The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever.”
Payne died on Wednesday (Oct. 16) after sustaining multiple traumas and hemorrhages after falling from the third floor of his hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, a recent preliminary autopsy confirmed. Local authorities believe he was not sober at the time and found substances that appeared to be narcotics and alcoholic drinks in his room after they arrived at the scene.
See Zayn’s tour postponement announcement on X below.
Given the heartbreaking loss experienced this week, I’ve made the decision to postpone the US leg of the STAIRWAY TO THE SKY Tour. The dates are being rescheduled for January and I’ll post them as soon as it’s all set in the next few days. Your tickets will remain valid for the…— zayn (@zaynmalik) October 19, 2024
The 2024 Billboard Latin Music Week officially wrapped on Friday (Oct. 18) with a star-studded concert featuring Ana Mena, Belinda, Elvis Crespo, Floyymenor, Tito Double P and Young Miko.
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The evening was hosted by Venezuelan comedian George Harris, who entertained the packed Fillmore Miami Beach with relevant music jokes, and even had a salsa karaoke sesh with the crowd.
Shortly after, Spanish artist Ana Mena kicked off the Billboard Latin Music Week 35th Anniversary Celebration with her sugary pop-dance tunes that included her viral hit “Madrid City” — and yes, a handful of people were spotted doing the ponytail trend during her performance.
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Straight from Chile, Floyymenor then took center stage to perform three of his tracks that are creating all the buzz on social media: “Peligrosa,” “Apaga El Cel,” and “Gata Only.” The latter of the three — which spent 14 nonconsecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Hot Latin Songs chart — is a three-time finalist at the 2024 Billboard Latin Music Awards airing Sunday (Oct. 20) on Telemundo.
Belinda, who earlier in the week formed part of the women’s panel at Latin Music Week, arrived wearing a baby blue satin dress and white knee-high boots. And while she oozed pop princess, the Mexican artist flaunted her fierce bélica era on stage, performing “Cactus,” “300 Noches” (her collab with Natanael Cano), and “La Mala.”
With just an acoustic guitar, Tito Double P (who earlier in the week sat down with Peso Pluma for a panel on the new Mexican music movement) helmed an intimate stripped-down performance that left the crowd wanting more. During his set, the corridos breakthrough star sung a couple of his hits, including “Escápate,” part of his debut album, Incómodo, which bowed at No. 2 on the Top Latin Albums and Regional Mexican Albums charts, and No. 20 on the all-genre Billboard 200.
The evening continued with the highly-anticipated performance by Young Miko, who pumped up the crowd with bangers such as “offline,” “Classy 101” and “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 58.” The Puerto Rican rapper and artist formed part of a Superstar Q&A at Latin Music Week, where she discussed her rising success. “In reality, if you think about it, social media growth is so abrupt, fast, and global that it can definitely seem like an overnight thing, social media-wise. But indeed, we have been making music since 2018, 2019, and about three years ago is when Young Miko really started to gain a lot of momentum,” she said at the panel.
Closing off the 35th anniversary celebration was global merengue star Elvis Crespo, who, joined by a live band and group of dancers, had the entire venue of all ages on their feet. Crespo performed timeless tropical tunes such as “Luna Llena,” “Nuestra Cancion” and “Tu Sonrisa.”
“I want to thank Billboard because in February of 1998, the people at Sony presented me for the first time at this conference. I’m enjoying this moment to the max, 26 years later. It’s an incredible path where through my dream and my passion for music, I have managed to develop stories of many people I meet on the street,” Crespo said, also thanking Billboard’s Leila Cobo for all the support, before finalizing with the all-time party classic “Suavemente.”
Liam Payne‘s sister Ruth Gibbins is breaking her silence following the singer’s death.
On Saturday (Oct. 19), Gibbins shared a heartbreaking tribute to her brother three days after he passed away at the age of 31.
“I don’t believe this is happening. Many times I have poured my heart out publicly with pride about Liam but never much about life as his sister,” Gibbins began her lengthy statement on Instagram. “Liam is my best friend, [no one] could ever make me laugh as much as him, doing his impressions always had me creasing and he loved seeing how much of a laugh he could get.”
The grieving sister went on to explain that Payne “moved out when he was 17 to chase his dreams” and that she would visit him during his stint on The X Factor, the U.K. talent show he appeared on before hitting it big with One Direction.
“I would regularly drive to have tea with him after I finished work, just to sit around,” she wrote. “One month the hotel was right by a wagamamas and I swear he had it morning, noon and night!”
Gibbins added that “Liam loved 1D” and referred to the group’s Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan as his “brothers.” She also noted that Payne “knew he could call me anytime” and that she would often help her sibling work through his issues.
“Liam, My brain is struggling to catch up with what’s happening and I don’t understand where you’ve gone,” she continued, addressing her brother directly. “I just want to drive to your house and walk in to music blasting and find you sat there writing a song.”
Gibbins added that Liam possessed a great “kindness” and had the “ability to make me laugh.” She also noted “how proud I am to call you my brother and my best friend.”
“I don’t feel this world was good enough or kind enough to you, and quite often over the last few years, you’ve had to really try hard to overcome all that was being aimed at you,” she wrote. “You just wanted to be loved and to make people happy with your music. You never believed you were good enough, I hope you can now see this outpouring of love that you never received in your time.”
She concluded her post, “I’m sorry I couldn’t save you. Love you, oh how my heart misses you, Ru xxx. One last thing I need to know, I’m here if you need anything, I’d drive to the end of the universe to bring you back.”
Gibbins’ emotional post was accompanied by numerous photos, including a snapshot of the brother and sister on her wedding day and other pics of the pair spending time together.
The former One Direction star died on Wednesday (Oct. 16) after suffering a fatal fall from the third floor of his hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Investigators believe that he was potentially under the influence of substances when he fell, but they are still waiting for further toxicology reports.
See Gibbins’ tribute to Payne on Instagram below.
Otis Williams had a confession.
Asked whether he was a baseball fan, the 82-year-old founder of The Temptations coughed and said in a low, sing-song voice: “Dodgers.”
Sixty years after its debut, The Temptations’ “My Girl” has become a hit at Citi Field since New York Mets star Francisco Lindor began using it as his walk-up song in late May. Fans continue singing the lyrics even after Lindor’s plate appearance is underway.
The Temptations detoured to New York on an off day from their tour to perform “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “My Girl” before the Mets beat Los Angeles 12-6 on Friday night (Oct. 18) and closed to 3-2 in the NL Championship Series.
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“It’s the highest compliment you can get,” Williams said in a green room behind home plate.
Wearing blue tuxedos with orange pocket squares, the five singers stood on the warning track behind home plate and sang an a cappella version of the national anthem that highlighted their harmonic excellence as Lindor watched from the foul line behind first base and sang along.
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They then donned Mets jerseys and sang “My Girl” with music backing them on the sound system as Lindor warmed up with sprints on the outfield grass, smiling widely and bobbing his head. He reached the dugout by the end and exchanged his special pregame handshake with with teammate Pete Alonso.
“Most players, they pick a walk-up song just because that’s how they feel in the moment but they also want the fans to vibe to to the song,” Lindor said. “Whenever you see the whole crowd getting into it, I think it’s pretty cool.”
Released on Dec. 21, 1964, “My Girl” became the group’s first No. 1 hit the following March and has been streamed 1 billion times on Spotify. The song’s impact became clear to Williams during a 1965 concert at Harlem’s Apollo Theater.
“We went out on the stage and we did the show without ‘My Girl.’ They damned near called us every name except the child of God,” he said, “so we know we can never, ever take that the song out.”
Lindor picked the song because of his wife Katia and daughters Kalina and Amapola. He didn’t anticipate the reaction.
“Last year I changed the song every single day,” he said. “I changed it because it was the song I was vibing to at the moment and it took off. I don’t know if it’s because I started hitting or because we started winning or because the song is good.”
“My Girl” was written and produced by Smokey Robinson and Ronnie White.
“Smokey saw us perform in Detroit at a place called the 20 Grand and he said then, ‘I got a song for you guys’ and he pointed to Davey Ruffin,” Williams recalled, referring to a lead singer for the group in the 1960s.
“So we went in the studio and we put the vocals down and I said: ‘Smokey did another great song for us.’ But when Paul Riser edited the strings and horns, I said, ‘Oh, oh, this is a different kind of song.’ So I went in the control room. I said, ‘Smokey, I don’t know how big a record this is going to become, but this is going to be something big.’”
A few months after the release, Williams said he received congratulatory telegrams from the Supremes and the Beatles, proudly proclaiming: “I have that at the house.”
The Temptations were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1989 for a catalogue including “Just My Imagination,” “Get Ready” and “Papa Was a Rolling Stone.” They’ve had 14 No. 1 hits and 42 in the top 10.
Sujata Murthy, Universal Music Enterprises’ executive vice president of media and artist relations, took notice of Lindor’s use of the song and contacted the Mets. The group was in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, for a concert last weekend and diverted to New York ahead of performances this weekend at North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and Durham, North Carolina.
Williams, who turns 83 on Oct. 30, is the last original member of the group. He has no intention of retiring.
“I tell people I’m going to ride the hell out of the horse,” he said. “When I get off the horse, it’s going to be bald. That’s a lot of rides when you ride the horse bald.”
Williams grew up in Detroit, but the Motown baseball team did not get his allegiance.
“Tigers is flimflam,” he said. “But the Lions now, they got promise. They got hope. I love the Lions. I’m still a Detroiter at heart, even though I’m in LA.”
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From new outfits to new surprise songs, Billboard rounds up the eight best moments from the first of three sold-out nights at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium.
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Shawn Mendes paid tribute to Liam Payne at his show Friday night (Oct. 18) at the Brooklyn Paramount Theater. Speaking from the stage, an emotional Mendes told the crowd he had met Payne “a couple of times” and described his impressions of the late One Direction member, who died at age 31 after falling from […]
“That’s my best friend, that’s my best friend,” Young Thug repeats on his 2015 Slime Season standout “Best Friend.” Even while behind bars, Thugger has kept up with the feuds in hip-hop this year and he’s looking to restore the peace.
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Thug took to X from jail on Friday (Oct. 18) hoping to play peacemaker and end the feud between Drake against Future and Metro Boomin. Thugger believes rap music as a whole will suffer without them teaming up again.
“@Drake @1future @MetroBoomin we all bruddas. Music aint the same without us collabin,” he wrote to X.
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The reclusive Future didn’t offer up a response, but he did retweet Thug’s message, which fans took as an olive branch that Pluto’s open to ending the beef with the 6 God.
“Future retweet????? Nah they gotta give Thug the Nobel Peace Prize,” A Thugger fan account replied.
“Young Thug just brought back a legendary duo,” one fan said. Another chimed in: “All along Thug was keeping everyone together.” Others pointed out that Kendrick Lamar was noticeably missing from Thug’s initial tweet.
Young Thug remains in prison while fighting for his life on the YSL RICO trial. There still doesn’t appear to be any end in sight as the case has strung out to become the longest in Georgia’s history.
Thugger saw an opportunity to squash the feud between Drake, Future and Metro as a neutral party in the battle. Drizzy, Pluto and Thug have teamed up plenty of times in the past including when they joined forces for Certified Lover Boy‘s “Way 2 Sexy,” which topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 2021.
Last week, Drake showed love to Young Thug when he posted to social media rocking Thugger’s Sp5der clothing brand and suggested he’s supporting Thug’s funds while fighting the case.
“I ain’t talking to talk man I really put up [bread emoji] on the [briefcase emoji] 3 Jeff,” Drake posted to his Instagram Story, per Complex.
Metro Boomin actually spoke on the Drake and Kendrick Lamar feud during an appearance at a Forbes Under 30 Summit in September.
“I feel like the competition is great for the game,” he said. “Hip-hop has always been a competitive genre. Even if just keeping it on music it’s not serious how everybody tries to make it,” he said. “Also with hip-hop, there’s a lot of ego involved. You’re supposed to feel like you’re the best.”
Metro continued: “When two of the top dogs in the game and you both feel like you’re the best, it’s like, ‘OK, now we gotta have a showdown.’ We saw it with Jay-Z and Nas before. I feel like more today it’s more stan culture makes it kind of weird. Back in the day, Jay-Z and Nas went at it, I was a fan of both of them. Most people were. It was like, ‘OK, it’s OK.’ It’s not like, ‘I had this side. I hate this side.’ The internet makes it a little too wild now.”