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Brent Faiyaz’s Journey as an Independent Artist, Creating ISO Supremacy & More | Billboard Cover

Billboard cover star Brent Faiyaz paved the way for many other independent artists. With his success independently, he was driven to create a network where independent artists could thrive, which is how ISO Supremacy came to life. Brent Faiyaz talks about his journey as an independent artist, his advice to other independent artists, why ISO Supremacy’s mission is to support independent artists and more!

Brent Faiyaz:

I really like doing what I want to do. And then I like being able to say no to things that I don’t want to do. The main thing that comes with giving up a piece of your independence is not being able to say no. It really isn’t no deeper than that for me. So I think I just want to, I want to inspire people to not be OK with being told what to do. You can’t grow like this. How are you going to be constant? How are you gonna grow when mother—-ers constantly say no, no, stay down. So before people decide they want to do deals and they want to, they want to take these large amounts of money and they want to collab with this person, that person, I want people to really sit and think about like, you feel me, are they going to be okay with not being able to control the sh*t that they want to do? I was making money selling beats, like in high school, middle school. But that’s like a lot of how I got my friends like when I was young. Like it’d be like growing mother—-ers coming into the house like to get beats off me and sh–. And my parents are like, who are these grown adults coming by the house like to like what is thid going on, like bruh, people like my music.

Keep watching to learn more!

Billie Joe Armstrong Went to Taylor Swift’s Eras Show in France and Had No Notes: ‘Great Voice. Great Entertainer’

Billie Joe Armstrong knows a thing or two about what it takes to rock a stadium crowd. So when the Green Day singer/guitarist attended one of Taylor Swift‘s Eras Tour shows in Lyon, France at Groupama Stadium over the weekend he came away super-impressed by… well, all of it.

The punk veteran posted a pic from the pit on Instagram with the caption, “Just saw Taylor Swift eras tour in Lyon France ??!! Great production. Great voice . Great entertainer. Great songwriting. Crazy crowd.” He also showed off some of the bling he got from the show, bragging that some Swifties shared friendship bracelets with him.

In the picture, Armstrong proudly displayed his plastic party favors, with one reading “#sexybaby” and the other “#a–holeoutlaw.”

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Billie Joe is just the latest Swiftie convert to rave about the singer and her massive pop juggernaut tour. Boyfriend Travis Kelce’s barber, Patrick Regan, recently said that in addition to being a “really nice person,” the singer “doesn’t act like the most famous celebrity in the world.” Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan also heaped praise on Swift, calling her “one of the most gifted pop artists of all time.”

Green Day kicked off their Saviors world tour in Spain last month, with the first of four gigs in Germany slated to take place on Friday (June 7) at Zeppelinfeld in Nuremberg. Swift will play the first of three shows in Edinburgh, Scotland on Friday, followed by gigs on Saturday and Sunday with opener Paramore.

Check out Armstrong’s post below.

‘Outlander’ Star Sam Heughan Jokes Taylor Swift Will ‘Forget’ Travis Kelce Upon Meeting Him

Sam Heughan knows all about grand gestures. The star of the time-traveling romantic saga Outlander posted a video on Wednesday (June 5) in which he revealed that he and much of the costume drama show’s cast are planning to attend Taylor Swift‘s shows this weekend at the Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh, Scotland.

“We’re going to go see Taylor Swift play in Scotland and I think most of the cast is going,” Heughan, 44, said while dressed in his full throwback Outlander costume as Tay’s “Ready For It?” played in the background and he issued a jokey warning about his irresistible allure. “She obviously doesn’t know this, but when she comes to Scotland and she sees me in the audience, she’s going to forget all about … him [Travis Kelce] and fall for a man in a ginger wig.”

Smiling, Heughan teased, “How could she resist? You know, she’s gonna shake him [Kelce] off. and take me out instead. I’m really excited.” The star then threw up some heart hands in the post he captioned with the Outlander insider reference “JAMMF is a Swiftie,” a nod to his amorous character’s full name: James Alexander Malcolm Mackenzie Fraser.

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While Heughan’s post was all in good fun, three-time Super Bowl champ Kelce seems to have no worries, as evidenced by a teaser for a Good Morning America interview slated to air on Thursday morning (June 6). “I’m living the dream, baby,” the Kansas City Chiefs tight end told the show’s Will Reeve when asked how he’s doing.

Swift will play the first of three shows in Edinburgh on Friday (June 7), followed by gigs on Saturday and Sunday with opener Paramore.

Watch Heughan shoot his shot below.

Jelly Roll Reveals Where His Sweet Stage Name Came From in National Donut Day PSA

Jelly Roll is celebrating National Donut Day by revealing where he got his sweet stage name.

In a new PSA for Dunkin’ timed with Friday’s (June 7) holiday, the country star born Jason Bradley DeFord answers the question that “everybody always asks me”: How did he get the name Jelly Roll?

“Believe it or not, truth is, it’s because of these little guys right here,” the singer/songwriter says as he selects a jelly roll out of a box of a dozen Dunkin’ donuts. “Growing up, doughnuts were truly my kryptonite. My mama used to tell me all the time I was so sweet, I could open up my own Dunkin’.”

Jelly also demonstrates his personal favorite doughnut-dunking techniques in the spot (“I love to dunk ’em, but you got to be careful they don’t turn into mush”), including the “Bunnie Dunk” — named after his wife Bunnie XO — which involves bunny-hopping a doughnut all the way to a cup of coffee. Next up is the violent “Nash Smash,” which Jelly calls a “nod to my Nashville” roots (and fans definitely shouldn’t try at home). He even shares a bit of doughnut with his dog Bussie.

The cute PSA wraps up with the singer letting viewers know: “Life’s better with a little Jelly in it, baby.”

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To celebrate National Donut Day, Dunkin’ will offer a free doughnut with the purchase of any beverage on Friday (June 7). The fast-food chain is also dropping a new merch collection (available starting at noon ET on Friday) at ShopDunkin.com, including a pink “Jelly” hoodie.

Watch Jelly’s Dunkin’ video below:

Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello, Billie Joe Armstrong, Rancid & Many More To Appear on Jesse Malin Tribute Album

A superstar group of rock icons will be featured on an upcoming tribute album honoring Jesse Malin as the beloved punk troubadour continues his recovery from a spinal stroke he suffered last year that left him partially paralyzed. Silver Patron Saints: The Songs of Jesse Malin is due out on Sept. 20 and will feature Bruce Springsteen, Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong, late MC5 guitarist Wayne Kramer (with the Kills’ Alison Mosshart), Lucinda Williams, Elvis Costello, Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello and many more.

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In a statement, D Generation singer and solo performer Malin, 57, said, “As always in my songs, the themes are all there — transcendence, positivity and global unity through music. This is what I love to do, and I’m going to do everything I can to keep doing it.” All proceeds from the album will go to Malin’s Sweet Relief artist fund.  

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The album honoring the New York punk stalwart whose gutter poetry songwriting acumen has long made him a favorite among fellow songsmiths will also feature contributions from the Hold Steady, the Replacements/GNR’s Tommy Stinson, Counting Crows, Dinosaur Jr., the Wallflowers, Spoon, the Bangles’ Susanna Hoffs, Frank Turner and Rancid.

Malin revealed that. he suffered a spinal cord stroke while out to dinner with a friend in New York’s East Village in May 2023 that left him paralyzed from the waist down. When his insurance did not cover the significant medical bills he incurred, a Sweet Relief fundraiser was started to help with long-term care.

The album’s first single, the Bleachers’ “Prisoners of Paradise,” is out now and you can pre-order the album here. “Prisoners” originally appeared on Malin’s third solo studio album, 2007’s Glitter in the Gutter, which featured contributions from Springsteen, Wallflower’s Jakob Dylan, Queens of the Stone Age’s Josh Homme and Foo Fighters’ Chris Shiflett.

In an Instagram post, Malin said the song has always been one of his favorites, describing it as being about “new beginnings and rebirth… letting the past crumble and starting fresh.”

In a video update from Malin posted in March, the singer said he’d been receiving treatment and undergoing extensive physical therapy in Buenos Aires, Argentina for several weeks and that the doctors “are seeing some progress and I push forward every single day nonstop.” At the time he said he really missed playing music and was hoping to get back to it this fall. “It has been the hardest thing I’ve ever gone through to say the least . You guys take care of each other please and don’t forget me,” he wrote.

A full track listing for the album has not yet been released.

Watch the “Prisoners of Paradise” visualizer below.



Kenya Grace to Receive Global Impact Award at ASCAP London Event

Singer-songwriters Kenya Grace and Cian Ducrot will be honored at ASCAP London Celebrates, an invitation-only celebration of top U.K.-affiliated songwriters and composers taking place in London on June 18.

Grace, a British singer-songwriter and producer, who was born in South Africa, will receive the ASCAP Global Impact Award. Grace is best known for her 2023 hit “Strangers,” which topped the Official U.K. Singles Chart and Billboard’s Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart; reached No. 42 on the Billboard Hot 100; was nominated for song of the year the Brit Awards; and won dance song of the year at the iHeartRadio Music Awards.

Grace merges R&B melodies, soulful stylings and electronic influences. Her distinctive fusion of sleek, club-ready pop and dynamic drum and bass has won her fans across the globe.

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Irish indie-pop singer-songwriter Ducrot will receive the ASCAP Vanguard Award, which recognizes artists whose innovative work is helping to shape the future of music. Having kickstarted his career with the viral TikTok hit “All for You” in 2022, Ducrot released his debut album Victory last year; it reached No. 1 on both the U.K. and Irish charts. Ducrot, 26, recently completed a four-date U.K. tour supporting Ed Sheeran.

“Kenya Grace is at the forefront of a new wave of dance-driven pop music,” Paul Williams, ASCAP chairman of the board and president, said in a statement. “As the sole writer and producer of her self-recorded songs, Kenya possesses a DIY style that is staggeringly innovative and has made her a favorite with the dance music community. … A multi-faceted songwriter, Cian Ducrot is quickly becoming one of the industry’s most promising talents with his brilliant voice and heartfelt lyrics.”

Previous British ASCAP award recipients include Charli XCX, Dua Lipa, MNEK, Lewis Capaldi, Dev Hynes and Becky Hill.

Ludwig Göransson, Brian Tyler & More Win Multiple Awards at the 2024 BMI Film, TV and Visual Media Awards

Swedish composer Ludwig Göransson, who won an Oscar, a Grammy and a BAFTA Award earlier this year for Oppenheimer, added to his trophy haul with multiple awards at the 40th annual BMI Film, TV and Visual Media Awards, which was held on June 5 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in in Beverly Hills, Calif.

Icelandic composer Atli Örvarsson received six crystals, more than anyone else this year, for his work on hit TV shows.

Other multiple winners included Brian Tyler and Mike Post, both of whom are previous BMI Icon Award recipients, Sean Callery, Sherri Chung, Tom Howe, Deana Kiner, Kevin Kiner, Sean Kiner, John Murphy and Blake Neely.

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Scores from the most successful films, the highest-rated series on TV, cable and streaming services, and for the first time in the ceremony’s history, the most popular video games of the previous year were honored. The inaugural winners in the new video game category were Stephen Barton, Chuck E. Myers “Sea,” J Scott Rakozy, Ted Reedy, and Inon Zur.

The event was co-hosted by BMI president and CEO Mike O’Neill and BMI vice president of creative, film, TV & visual media, Tracy McKnight.

As previously announced, composer Ramin Djawadi received the BMI Icon Award for his body of work across film, television and video games. Following a video tribute highlighting his successful career, Djawadi thanked his team and mentors Hans Zimmer and Klaus Badelt. He then brought his son and daughter to the stage and thanked his wife for being a driving force in his family’s life, saying “you are our icon.”

Previous BMI Icon Award recipients include (in addition to Tyler and Post), Terence Blanchard, Mychael Danna, Alexandre Desplat, Harry Gregson-Williams, James Newton Howard, Christopher Lennertz, Thomas Newman, Rachel Portman (PRS), Alan Silvestri and John Williams.

Djawadi, who was born in what was then known as West Germany, won back-to-back Primetime Emmy Awards in 2018-19 for outstanding music composition for a series (original dramatic score) for Game of Thrones.

For a complete list of winners, visit www.bmi.com/award-shows/film-tv-2024/.

The event was held one night after the BMI Pop Awards, at which Taylor Swift won pop songwriter of the year, the Miley Cyrus megahit “Flowers” was named song of the year; and Sony Music Publishing won publisher of the year.

Jelly Roll Says He’s Having Trouble Booking International Tour Due to Past Felonies

Jelly Roll is hoping to bring his high-energy stage presence overseas, but he’s overcoming some “legal puzzles” first.

The “Need a Favor” superstar sat down with Jon Bon Jovi for a wide ranging Interview Magazine discussion, where he shared that he’s hoping to tour internationally. “It’s funny, America has finally agreed to let me leave and give me a passport, but some countries won’t let me come because of my felonies,” he explained. “We’re working on that. I think it’s going to work in my favor.”

Jelly Roll has been open about his past incarcerations, and uses his platform to help others overcome similar journeys. The star has been to jail dozens of times for various drug charges, stemming all the way back to his first arrest at age 14. Two years later, he was arrested for aggravated robbery and was charged as an adult, leading him to serve more than a year in prison and seven years’ probation. “I never want to overlook the fact that it was a heinous crime,” he previously recalled to Billboard. “This is a grown man looking back at a 16-year-old kid that made the worst decision that he could have made in life and people could have got hurt and, by the grace of God, thankfully, nobody did.”

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The star added that the birth of his daughter Bailee inspired him to change. At 23, while incarcerated for drug dealing, he recalled, “May 22, 2008. A guard knocks on my cell door midafternoon during lockdown. He goes, ‘You had a kid today.’ I’ve never had nothing in life that urged me in the moment to know that I had to do something different. I have to figure this out right now.”

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Since then, Grammy-nominated Jelly Roll has catapulted into superstardom. He’s notched three Billboard Country Airplay chart-toppers to date with “Son of a Sinner,” “Need a Favor” and his Lainey Wilson collaboration “Save Me.” He will also perform a headlining set at Nissan Stadium during CMA Fest in Nashville on Saturday.

Vado ft. Dave East & D. Weathers “Chinese Spot,” A$AP Twelvyy “Bronx Zoo” & More | Daily Visuals 6.5.24

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Vado’s really been going hard as of late with the new work and new visuals that he’s been dropping off on the weekly and today he links up with a fellow Harlemite who’s on the same G sh*t that the violence and drugs only rapper has been on for quite some time.

In the visuals to “Chinese Spot,” Vado connects with Dave East and D. Weathers at, well, the Chinese spot where they’re joined by a gang of people who get turnt, poured up, and ultimately order some grub from the Chinese spot they’re chilling in front of. Remember when you could get chicken wings and French fries drowned in ketchup for $5? Those were the days.

Keeping the scene in New York (kinda), A$AP Twelvyy shows love to the Boogie Down but for his clip to “Bronx Zoo” the A$AP Mob member heads to Japan where he takes in the night life and cool environment that’s pretty close to that of Times Square in the Big Apple.

Check out the rest of today’s drops including work from Sauce Walka, Valiant, and more.

VADO FT. DAVE EAST & D. WEATHERS – “CHINESE SPOT”



A$AP TWELVYY – “BRONX ZOO”



SAUCE WALKA – “MADE RICH BY GOD”



VALIANT – “GODFADA”



JASONMARTIN & DJ QUIK FT. CURREN$Y, BUN B & JAY WORTHY – “SINCE I WAS LIL”



DON TRIP – “TATTOO TEARS”



DYCE PAYSO – “5AM IN THE BRONX”



RODDY RICCH – “SURVIVORS REMORSE”



Influencer-Turned-Singer Yeri Mua Signs With Sony Music Mexico

Mexican influencer and singer Yeri Mua has signed a contract with Sony Music Mexico for the recording of her first album. The signing, exclusively announced by Billboard Español, comes after Mua released four songs in the last year that positioned her among the most influential urban artists of the moment.

Previously known for her fashion, lifestyle and makeup content, Mua rose to prominence as a musician after the release of the 2023 track “Chupón,” on which she appeared with El Gudi, Jey F, Alan Dazmel and Oviña.

“I have never been afraid of cameras; that was very important to move from that content to music. Since I was a child, I wanted to be an artist,” says the extravagant and extroverted singer of neoperreo, who in recent months has also collaborated with stars like Kenia Os and Uzielito Mix.

“I have many ideas for the album,” Mua (real name Yeri Cruz Varela) continues. “I needed someone to tell me that all my crazy ideas can be materialized. I love music and I will never be simple; not in my outfits or the way I am made up. I am that type of artist who gets involved even in the lighting.”

Mua says that while she received other label offers, Sony met all her expectations.

“I want Mexican perreo and reggaetón to level up,” she says. “To see the change, a progression with high-quality material. I will do many more collaborations with artists I admire as part of this new stage in my career. With my new home, Sony, we are going to do very cool things.”

According to a press release, Mua’s solo music and collaborations have accumulated more than 600 million streams. Additionally, she has 11 million followers on Facebook and more than 12 million views on TikTok.