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Welcome to Billboard Pro’s Trending Up newsletter, where we take a closer look at the songs, artists, curiosities and trends that have caught the music industry’s attention. Some have come out of nowhere, others have taken months to catch on, and all of them could become ubiquitous in the blink of a TikTok clip.
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This week: Shaboozey’s SNL appearance gets him that much closer to a second solo hit, an early MGMT clip helps one of their classic singles go viral again and a new dance trends revives a 2Pac Hot 100-topper.
“Good News” on a Saturday Night for Shaboozey’s Second Hit
Shaboozey has been nearly unavoidable in the past few months, with appearances at the CMA Awards and in the Grammy nominations and of course on the Billboard Hot 100, where his four-quadrant smash “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” reigned for a record-tying 19 weeks over the late summer and autumn. Now, he can add a Saturday Night Live stamp to his 2024 passport, as the country singer-songwriter made his debut on the weekly NBC comedy and live music institution on Nov. 30, performing both “A Bar Song” and his new single, “Good News” — the latter of which recently debuted at No. 71 on the Hot 100.
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As “Good News” aims to become Shaboozey’s second big crossover hit in a row, the boost it got from his emotional SNL performance should undoubtedly help. “Good News” was up a solid 13% in U.S. on-demand audio streams to 1.5 million across the Sunday and Monday following his appearance from the same period the week before, according to Luminate — but more notably, it was up 424% in sales to over 2,200 over that same two-day period. “A Bar Song,” which has led Digital Song Sales for 15 non-consecutive weeks already, was also up in sales over that timespan — rising 86% to nearly 2,600 across the two days — as the pair of Shaboozey singles claimed the top two spots on the real-time iTunes chart.
It may not boost “Good News” to a new Hot 100 peak next week, as the song struggles to get its head above the flood of holiday songs crashing onto the chart in recent weeks — but it bodes well for the song finding its way as a jukebox singalong in its own right by early 2025. — ANDREW UNTERBERGER
2Pac’s Former Hot 100 No. 1 Sees TikTok Resurgence
Two weeks after Kendrick Lamar’s GNX brought renewed attention to “Made N—az” (K.Dot flipped the 1997 track on “Reincarnated”), another 2Pac song is seeing notable streaming gains. Thanks to an infectious new dance trend featuring choreography from TikTok creators @roniahalynn_ and @donthurtemniaa, 2Pac’s K-Ci and JoJo-assisted “How Do U U Want It” is up over 102% in streaming activity over the past four weeks, according to Luminate.
Official on-demand U.S. streams for “How Do U Want It” were hovering around 900,000 before user @roniahalynn_ posted her version of the dance on Nov. 15. By the end of that week, “How Do U Want It” rose 14%, pulling over 1.02 million streams during the period of Nov. 15-21. User @roniahalynn_’s original clip has since collected over 1.9 million views on TikTok, and the sound she used now boasts over 209,000 posts. An additional unofficial sound using bits of 2Pac’s track plays in over 138,000 posts, while another unofficial sound plays in nearly 50,000 posts. The official “How Do U Want It” sound plays in just under 10,000 posts.
During the period of Nov. 22-28, streaming activity for “How Do U Want It” increased a whopping 44% to over 1.48 million streams. That figure rose a further 16% the following week (Nov. 29-Dec. 5), to over 1.7 million official on-demand U.S. streams. Notably, user @donthurtemniaa’s original dance trend is soundtracked by 22Daboat’s “Munyun.”
Already having entered the TikTok Billboard Top 50 at No. 16 (dated Dec. 7), expect 2Pac’s former Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper to continue rising in streams as the dance trend grows. – KYLE DENIS
MGMT Playing “Kids” as Kids: Old Footage Spurs New Streaming Gains
In 2003, Andrew VanWyngarden and Ben Goldwasser were students at Wesleyan University, performing tiny gigs on campus under the band name The Management. The duo would eventually re-brand as MGMT, become a defining group of the late-‘00s indie boom, score a best new artist Grammy nomination, and move on to a winding, often quite fruitful recording career, including this year’s album Loss of Life. But this week, the Internet is enjoying an unexpected look at those early college shows, thanks to some newly discovered footage of The Artist Eventually Known as MGMT performing their undeniable 2008 synth-pop single “Kids.”
A video uploaded by the YouTube user Rad Scientist on Nov. 28 features VanWyngarden and Ben Goldwasser playing an outdoor daytime gig for their friends in front of a brick wall, running around and sprawling across the ground when they’re not presenting an early (but mostly intact) version of the song that would become “Kids.” The clip went viral last week, and the unexpected trip down memory lane helped “Kids” grow by 60% in weekly U.S. on-demand streams, from 1.11 million in the week ending Nov. 28 to 1.78 million the following week, according to Luminate. The streaming uptick will likely last a few weeks, but who knows? Indie nostalgia is a powerful thing — maybe we get unearthed footage of Vampire Weekend performing “Campus” on campus next. – JASON LIPSHUTZ
Eminem is going from the stage to the golf course! During an appearance on The Dan Patrick Show last week, Adam Sandler revealed that the rapper makes a cameo in the upcoming, long-awaited Happy Gilmore 2 film. “Eminem was cool, he came by, he was great,” Sandler raved of Em, adding, “I’ve known Eminem for […]
Wham!’s “Last Christmas” sleigh-rides from No. 18 to No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 (dated Dec. 14), as the 1984 classic by the British duo of Michael, who died in 2016, and Andrew Ridgeley hits a new high on the survey, surpassing its prior No. 4 peak.
The chestnut, written and produced by Michael (and serviced on Sony Music’s Columbia Records/Legacy Recordings), tallied 34.3 million official streams (up 57% week-over-week), 17.9 million in radio airplay audience (up 20%) and 2,000 sold (up 75%) in the United States Nov. 29-Dec. 5, according to Luminate.
‘I’m delighted that Wham!’s festive classic has reached its highest-ever chart placing in the U.S.A.,” Ridgeley tells Billboard via email. “It is a testament to the enduring appeal of one of George Michael’s songwriting masterstrokes that ‘Last Christmas’ seems to have become woven into the very fabric of Christmas. I’d like to thank Wham!’s U.S. fans, the American public at large, Sony Music, Netflix all the DSPs and media who continue to support Wham! and ‘Last Christmas.’ Thank you and Merry Christmas everyone!”
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“It seems barely credible that ‘Last Christmas’ was first released 40 years ago,” Michael’s estate shares in a statement. “It means so much to all of us that this quintessential Christmas song continues to resonate with so many people across the generations. Thank you to all Wham! fans across the United States who have made this incredible chart position possible. We should also thank Andrew Ridgeley for all he has done – it has been a privilege to work alongside him on all Wham! projects.
“We say this every time a new landmark is achieved, but we truly know just how proud and moved George would have been that his music continues to mean so much to so many people. Thank you all.”
To date, “Last Christmas” has drawn 3.66 billion in radio reach and 1.16 billion official on-demand streams and sold 1.1 million downloads in the U.S. The song reached No. 1 on the Official UK Singles chart in 2021 at last, while its pop culture impact has extended to the 2019 film of the same name.
Meanwhile, six of Wham!’s seven Hot 100 top 10s have now reached the top three, with the act having previously notched top-three placements in 1984-86 with “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go,” “Careless Whisper” (each No. 1 for three weeks), “Everything She Wants” (No. 1, two weeks), “Freedom” and “I’m Your Man” (each No. 3). The pair’s other top 10, “The Edge of Heaven,” hit No. 10 in 1986.
Upon the 40th anniversary of “Last Christmas” this Yuletide season, four physical versions – on CD and on black, “snowflake white” and zoetrope 12-inch vinyl – were put up for pre-order Oct. 24, and are set for release Friday (Dec. 13).
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Fashion is having a hot girl moment — literally. The mini shorts and hot pants trend has returned with a vengeance, turning up the heat on runways, red carpets, and street style alike.
If you search your favorite celebrity or fashion influencer chances are they’ve been rocking a version of a hot pants look. Think Keke Palmer, Tokyo Styles, Kelly Rowland, Fantasia, Kandi Burruss, and more.
While the trend has been around for some time, it’s clear that it’s not going anywhere soon. Once thought to be a spring and summer staple, fashionistas, from celebrities to HB writers, are making it work for fall, winter, and beyond.
The trend is bold and for baddies only. So, let’s talk about how to make it your own.
1. Tights, Please: Layer with Tights for Cold Weather Realness
Hot pants and tights are a match made in fashion heaven – especially in the fall and winter. Layering tights under mini shorts adds warmth, edge, and dimension.
While many fashion lovers choose black, opaque tights for a sleek classic look – like HB fashion editor Lauren Evette – there are other options to try. Consider bold patterned tights or fishnets for a little “that girl” energy.
Pro Tip: Take it further with statement tights in jewel tones (think emerald green, deep purple, or ruby red) to add a pop of color beneath your neutral shorts.
2. Suited Up: Turn your Mini Shorts Look into a Power Suit
One way to upgrade your hot pants is with a suited look. Wearing them with an elongated jacket adds a grown and sexy finish.
A matching tailored blazer or a long trench coat works perfectly. The coordinate lets you keep things a little covered up (until you don’t want to be). We’re talking talking totally CEO vibes like Big Boss Keke Palmer.
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3. Sheer Genius: Pair Hot Pants with a Sheer Top
Make your hot pants even more daring with a sheer top. A mesh, chiffon, or lace blouse adds a layer of elegance while still giving that peek-a-boo effect. Style your sheer shirt with a bralette or bandeau of the same color underneath.
Style Tip: Opt for monochromatic looks to give it that polished, runway-ready feel. A black sheer blouse and black leather hot pants, as HB’s Managing Director Shamika Sanders wore on a recent date night, is chef’s kiss.
4. Making Hot Pants Even Hauter: Play with Bold Colors, Fringe, and Metallics
If you are a baddie who loves to stand out, this tip is for you. Make your hot pants even more the star of the show with funky fabrics, fringe details, or vibrant colors. We’re talking fringe that dances while you move, bold colors that make people stare, and metallics that are simply iconic.
Kelly Rowland wore a version of funky hot pants while attending the Book of Clarence LA premiere earlier this year. Wowing on the red carpet, she stunned in a black and gold metallic body suit with a matching jacket.
Pro Tip: The key to this style is to let the pants be the statement. Keep other jewelry, hair, and beauty details simple.
Ready to try the hot pants trend this winter?
Sis, you should be! From day parties to date nights, these little statement-makers are versatile, bold, and endlessly fun to style. Whether you’re pairing them with sheer tops, tights, boots, or bold textures, this trend is all about owning your confidence.
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Are You A Hot Girl? 4 Ways To Wear The Hot Pants Trend
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Since Taylor Swift kicked off The Eras Tour on March 17, 2023, the global trek has dominated the touring industry and given fans endless moments of joy, from surprise guests (from openers like Gracie Abrams to a certain NFL star named Travis Kelce) to rerelease announcements — Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) and 1989 (Taylor’s Version) — and so much more. As Swift said of the tour’s impending end during a June stop in Liverpool, England: “[It] feels so far away from now, but then again, it feels like we just played our first show on this tour because you have made this so much fun for us.”
And yet, on Dec. 8, 2024, the outing did indeed come to a close, after 149 shows that spanned five continents. While the night included no major surprises, she did, of course, sprinkle some special moments for fans throughout the set, especially during the acoustic surprise song “era” of the show.
For her final surprise song of the tour, Swift performed a mashup of “Long Live” and “New Year’s Day” with an added bit of “The Manuscript,” singing: “I re-read the manuscript, but the story isn’t mine anymore.”
And yet, it was a lyric from “Long Live” that mustered up the most emotion, as Swift sang: “It was the end of an era, but the start of an age,” cleverly changing the words from the recording, on which she says “end of a decade.”
And while there really was no way to sum up such an experience into words, Swift tried her best, saying earlier in the show while she introduced “All Too Well”: “The lasting legacy of this tour is that you’ve created such a space of joy and togetherness and love…. You’re why this is so special, and you supporting me for as long as you have is why I get to take these lovely walks down memory lane every single night — because you’ve cared about every era of my entire life that I’ve been making music.”
Image Credit: Kevin Mazur/TAS23/Getty Images
Onstage with Ice Spice in East Rutherford, N.J., in May 2023.
Image Credit: Gareth Cattermole/TAS24/Getty Images
A June 2024 concert at Wembley Stadium in London featured Gracie Abrams.
Image Credit: Kevin Mazur/TAS24/Getty Images
In May 2024, while in Paris, Swift debuted the Tortured Poets Department section of the show.
Image Credit: John Shearer/TAS23/Getty Images
In May 2023, she announced the release of Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) in Nashville.
Image Credit: Kevin Winter/TAS24/Getty Images
While performing in Inglewood, Calif., in August 2023, she announced 1989 (Taylor’s Version).
Image Credit: Gareth Cattermole/TAS24/Getty Images
With Travis Kelce at Wembley Stadium in June 2024.
Image Credit: John Shearer/TAS23/Getty Images
Phoebe Bridgers joined her onstage in Nashville in May 2023.
Image Credit: Mat Hayward/TAS23/Getty Images
Swift rocked out with HAIM during a July 2023 Seattle date.
Image Credit: TAS24/Getty Images
In October 2024, Florence Welch guested during a show in Miami Gardens, Fla.
Image Credit: Kevin Mazur/TAS23/Getty Images
Jack Antonoff also shared the stage with Swift in East Rutherford in May 2023.
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In April 2023, Aaron Dessner handled the keys in Tampa, Fla.
Image Credit: Kevin Winter/TAS23/Getty Images
Swift contemplated “Champagne Problems” during an August 2023 Inglewood show.
Victoria Monét puts her own groovy spin on Christmas classics on her new holiday album, A Jaguar II Christmas: The Orchestral Arrangements, which she released on Wednesday (Dec. 11) via Lovett Music and RCA Records. The eight-track project reimagines her fan-favorite tracks such as the Grammy-nominated hits “On My Mama” and “How Does It Make […]
Country Radio Broadcasters (CRB) has revealed the rising country music newcomers to be featured as part of the 2025 New Faces of Country Music showcase during next year’s Country Radio Seminar, slated for Feb. 19-21 at the Omni Hotel in downtown Nashville. Announced Wednesday (Dec. 11), the showcase will highlight Drew Baldridge (Lyric Ridge/BMG/Stoney Creek), […]
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President Joe Biden has named 40 Black women to become federal judges, shattering records and creating a new legacy on the bench.
In the final days of his administration, President Joe Biden is following through on one of his campaign promises to make the federal judiciary more diverse, appointing 40 Black women to the bench. That mark was reached when the United States Senate confirmed Tiffany Johnson on Monday (Dec. 9), to replace U.S. District Judge Steve Jones in the Northern District of Georgia.
The appointment means that Biden has named more Black women to the federal judiciary in history, more than the 26 confirmed during the two terms of President Obama. This also includes his nomination of Ketanji Brown-Jackson, the first-ever Black woman named to the Supreme Court. During President Donald Trump’s administration, there were only two Black women who were among the 234 judicial appointees confirmed, making it seven Black people overall. The numbers are highly significant as Trump is making his return to the White House in January, determined to dismantle government agencies such as the Department of Education and the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division. Having Black women judges means that “there is a different kind of voice that can come from the Black female from the bench,” said John Jay College of Criminal Justice Professor-emeritus Delores Jones-Brown.
Having this many Black judges on the federal level is also highly important due to their “cultural presence” in places such as the South. “There are still courts in the Southern states that still don’t look like … the people they serve because Republican senators have blocked all kinds of diverse nominees, or any nominee from the Democratic president,” said Alliance For Justice Vice President of Communications Carolyn Leary Bobb. The confirmation of Johnson makes her the fifth federal judge in the state of Georgia.
Among the 40 Black women federal judges, there is also the first openly LGBTQ judge, Melissa R. DuBose, who will serve the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island, and Cristal C. Brisco who will be the first Black judge to serve on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana. “Those very district court judges are usually the first ones to hear cases, and they hear many, many, many more than our circuit courts,” said legal scholar Lena Zwarensteyn, who noted that even their dissenting opinions carry so much weight.
Watch Mustard and Amirah test each other’s knowledge on one another in a game of Switching Gears, exclusively for Billboard and Honda Stage. Mustard:What’s up? It’s Mustard. Amirah:Hey, it’s Amirah. Mustard:And we are gonna play a rapid match. Amirah:When did I start playing music? Mustard:12? Amirah:No, 3! Mustard:What is Mustard’s go-to studio snack? Amirah:Churro cookies. […]
In 2024, radio gained a massive star: Shaboozey. Thanks to an ambitious five-format strategy by the EMPIRE label to break “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” to the widest possible audience, the singer-songwriter’s signature track hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in July and remained there for a record-tying 19 weeks, making radio history along […]