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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: A surprise Kendrick Lamar album is good news for (almost) everyone, the original Wicked cast album keeps rising as the new movie soundtrack also becomes a huge hit and OMB Peezy scores a new-old viral hit.
Kendrick Lamar’s ‘GNX’ Sends Sampled Songs By Luther Vandross, SWV & More Streaming
In the least shocking news of the week, GNX, the surprise new album by Kendrick Lamar, has gotten off to a scorching start on streaming services after dropping out of the sky last Friday (Nov. 22). Through its first four days, GNX earned an eye-popping 242.3 million official on-demand U.S. streams, according to Luminate — never falling below 50 million daily streams through Monday. And the new album is also boosting Lamar’s back catalog aside from GNX, which earned 44.6 million streams from Nov. 22-25, a 10% increase from the same four-day period during the previous week.
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Meanwhile, some of the songs sampled across GNX have also enjoyed streaming gains, as listeners peruse the older material that was revived on Lamar’s new LP. With “Squabble Up” eyeing a major debut on the Hot 100 next week, for instance, “When I Hear Music,” the iconic 1984 electro single from Debbie Deb that’s prominently featured in the production, scored a huge boost: 225,000 streams from Nov. 22-25, up 76% from its total from Nov. 15-18 (127,000 streams).
Elsewhere, Luther Vandross’ version of “If This World Were Mine,” which serves as the connective tissue of Lamar’s new SZA collaboration “Luther,” more than doubled its streams from the weekend before GNX arrived (79,000 streams from Nov. 15-18) to last weekend (164,000 streams from Nov. 22-25). And SWV’s 1996 hit “Use Your Heart,” which gets flipped on “Heart Pt. 6,” was also up 25% in streams during those same periods, from 379,000 to 476,000 streams. – JASON LIPSHUTZ
After Bewitching the Global Box Office, Ariana Grande & Cyntha Erivo’s Wicked Soundtrack Soars on Streaming
Wicked – the Jon M. Chu-helmed film adaptation of the 2003 hit Broadway musical – debuted atop the domestic box office with the biggest opening weekend for a Broadway musical adaptation in history ($114 million). The film grossed $164.2 million globally in its first weekend (Nov. 22-25), with strong word of mouth and rave reviews going into Thanksgiving weekend.
Starring Cynthia Erivo (Elphaba) and Ariana Grande (Galinda), Wicked was already spurring streaming increases for the Broadway cast recording before it even hit theaters. In the weekend preceding the film’s release (Nov. 15-18) the original Wicked Broadway cast recording pulled 6.6 million official on-demand U.S. streams, according to Luminate. That number rose by 109% to 13.8 million streams during the film’s opening weekend (Nov. 22-25).
Of course, a new adaptation of Wicked means new interpretations of Stephen Schwartz’s timeless music. Alongside Erivo and Grande, fellow cast members Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Ethan Slater, Peter Dinklage and Michelle Yeoh all lend their voices to the soundtrack. “Defying Gravity,” the song that closes the first act of the musical, is easily the most widely known Wicked song, hence the impressive early performance of Erivo and Grande’s version. Streams for their “Gravity” take remained above one million, increasing with each passing day of the film’s opening weekend. On Monday (Nov. 25), the rousing duet collected 1.8 million official on-demand U.S. streams, marking a 30% increase in streaming activity from the day prior.
The entire new Wicked soundtrack has performed similarly; the set has remained above 7.7 million official on-demand U.S. streams each day since its Nov. 22 release. Monday (Nov. 25) marked the soundtrack’s biggest streaming day so far with over 10.43 million streams earned – a 34% boost from its Sunday streaming total (7.77 million).
As Wicked continues to enrapture audiences, expect the soundtrack to perform strongly as the film barrels towards the Oscars stage next March.
Dance Trend Spurs Revival OMB Peezy’s Seven-Year-Old OG Breakout Song
Back in 2017, Alabama-born, Cali-based rapper OMB Peezy started making major waves as his “Lay Down” single gained traction across the country. Seven years later, a TikTok dance trend has given the song a new life.
On Nov. 7, TikTok user @rahdboss posted a clip of himself living his best video vixen life and dancing to “Lay Down.” In the following weeks, the clip amassed over 4.8 million views and over half a million likes; the user’s moves quickly captured the attention of other TikTokers, and hundreds of similar videos began to populate the official “Lay Down” TikTok sound, which now boasts nearly 56,000 posts.
During the first week of the month (Nov. 1-7), “Lay Down” earned over 95,000 official on-demand U.S. streams, according to Luminate. That number exploded by 329% to over 408,000 streams earned during the following week (Nov. 8-14). Last week (Nov. 15-21), that figure once again rose, this time by 142% to over 987,000 official on-demand U.S. streams. Over the past two weeks, “Lay Down” has jumped nearly 940% of streaming activity a whopping seven years post-release. A fire track will always find its audience!
Q&A: Chris Jordan, Music Agent at UTA, on What’s Trending Up in His World
As we approach the end of 2024, what has been your main takeaway from the hip-hop live space this year?
The days of mediocrity are over — fans are paying closer attention to where they spend their money, raising their expectations for high-quality live events.
How would you describe the evolution of hip-hop festivals (and the presence of hip-hop at all-genre festivals) this year?
Hip-hop festivals were once limited, with few options available. However, in recent years, they have grown significantly in both number of festivals and size. They even compete with mainstream festivals in terms of acts, talent bookings, and ticket grosses. As a result, mainstream festivals have started paying more attention, curating a certain percentage of their bookings of hip-hop artists.
Which artist that you work with do you expect to have a breakthrough 2025 as a live performer?
Fortunately, I have an eclectic roster of amazing artists. I feel that all of my artists are going to put forth great material to then be able to create a great tour. With that said, I feel that Jordan Ward is set to have a tremendous 2025.
Fill in the blank: the hip-hop touring industry needs to think more about _________.
Mental health in relation to the conditions of being on the road can be a strenuous and tenuous challenge. Artists, touring teams, and production staff are often away from their loved ones for long periods, which can lead to unhealthy mental states for everyone involved. This is an issue we cannot afford to ignore. – J.L.
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During your post-Thanksgiving turkey (or Tofurky) hangover, you can watch one of ‘s oldest and most heated rivalries go head-to-head for bragging rights and glory in the Big Ten Conference.
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The Michigan Wolverines (6-5) take on the Ohio State Buckeyes (10-1) at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, on Saturday, Nov. 30.
When Does Michigan vs. Ohio State Start?
The Michigan vs. Ohio State game broadcasts live, with kickoff at noon ET/9 a.m. PT. The college football rivalry game airs on Fox.
Where to Watch Michigan vs. Ohio State for Free
For cord-cutters, there are a few ways to watch Michigan Wolverines vs. Ohio State Buckeyes, if you don’t have cable — especially if you want to watch for free. DirecTV Stream has a five-day free trial, while other streaming services — such as Hulu + Live TV and Fubo — also offer free trials, so you can watch Fox for free.
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Keep reading for more details on how to watch the Michigan-Ohio State game with DirecTV Stream, Hulu + Live TV and Fubo.
How to Watch Michigan vs. Ohio State with DirecTV Stream
A subscription to DirecTV Stream — which comes with Fox for Wolverines vs. Buckeyes — gets you access to live TV, local and cable channels, starting at $74.99 per month. The service even offers a five-day free trial to watch for free, if you sign up now.
You can watch local networks such as NBC, CBS, ABC, and PBS, while you can also watch many cable networks, including ESPN, FS1, Lifetime, FX, AMC, A&E, Bravo, BET, MTV, Paramount Network, Cartoon Network, VH1, Fuse, CNN, Food Network, CNBC and many others.
How to Watch Michigan vs. Ohio State with Hulu + Live TV
The Michigan Wolverines vs. Ohio State Buckeyes on Fox is available to watch with Hulu + Live TV too. Prices for the cable alternative start at $82.99 per month, while each plan comes with Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN+ at no additional cost.
Hulu + Live TV might be best for those who want all of these streaming services together in one bundle. It also features many other networks, including ESPN, CBS, Hallmark Channel, BET, CMT, Disney Channel, NBC, Fox Sports and more.
How to Watch Michigan vs. Ohio State with Fubo
To watch Wolverines vs. Buckeyes on Fox, Fubo starts at $49.99 per month (the streamer’s current deal) with nearly 200 channels — including local and cable — that are streamable on smart TVs, smartphones, tablets and on web browsers. And with a seven-day free trial, you can watch for free, if you act fast and sign up now.
The service even gets you live access to local broadcast networks including NBC, ABC and CBS, while it also has dozens of cable networks, such as ESPN, Bravo, CMT, ID, TV Land, VH1, TLC, E!, FS1, MTV, FX, Ion, OWN, Paramount Network and much more.
Who Is Performing During Michigan vs. Ohio State Halftime Show
Since the game is at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, the Ohio State Buckeyes marching band is set to perform at halftime. In fact, the rivalry between Michigan and Ohio State is so heated that even their marching bands get into it with playful trolling.
How to Buy Michigan vs. Ohio State Tickets Online
Want to attend the rivalry game in person? There are still last-minute tickets to Michigan vs. Ohio State available via Vivid Seats (get $20 off purchases of $200 and over with code BB2024), SeatGeek (your first purchases can get $10 off ticket order $250 and with code BILLBOARD10), StubHub and GameTime (score $20 off ticket orders of $150 and over with code SAVE20). Prices vary depending on the city and seats available.
Moreover, you can save $150 off when you spend $500 with promo code BILLBOARD150, or $300 off when you spend $1,000 with promo code BILLBOARD300 at TicketNetwork.com.
Starting at 12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT, Michigan Wolverines vs. Ohio State Buckeyes broadcast on Fox, while it’s also available to livestream with DirecTV Stream on Saturday, Nov. 30.
Want more? For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best Xbox deals, studio headphones and Nintendo Switch accessories.
11/27/2024
Our new GPS21C episode covers an artist who has done things in pop music that we have never seen or heard before.
11/27/2024
Jessi Uribe is back atop Billboard’s Regional Mexican Airplay chart as “Si Ya Me Voy” jumps 2-1 to lead the Nov. 30-dated list. The single, written in collaboration with Joss Favela, is his first champ as a soloist, and second overall.
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“Being No. 1 on Regional Mexican Airplay is a dream,” Uribe tells Billboard. “I let life surprise me. I am a man of short dreams and let in these gifts from God. It’s also a gift from all my fans.”
For the Nov. 15-21 tracking week, “Si Ya Me Voy,” released via Mano de Obra, earned 6.5 million audience impressions in the U.S., according to Luminate, down 6% from the week prior. Despite that dip in impressions, the single still registered enough audience to land atop Regional Mexican Airplay. It sends Eden Muñoz’s “Traigo Saldo y Ganas de Rogar” to No. 3, after the latter’s one-week reign, with a 20% decline, to 6.1 million impressions.
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“Si Ya Me Voy” becomes Uribe’s first single as a soloist, unaccompanied by any other act. The singer-songwriter scored his first ruler when “Si Ya Hiciste Mal,” with Luis R. Conriquez, ruled for one week in November 2022. It marked his first No. 1 on any Billboard chart.
“I know there are people that are just discovering my music, learning about this guy who sings of heartbreak and love. Grateful for my team, for all of those who listen to my music and request my songs to radio. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, I am here for you. How I always say, ‘¡repítelo!’”
Previously, “Te La Debo,” with Edwin Luna y La Trakalosa de Monterrey, took the Colombian to a No. 5 high in July. In sum, with the new champ, Uribe has placed five top 10s, encompassing his complete Regional Mexican Airplay career.
Further, Uribe becomes just the fifth soloist to secure a No. 1 on Regional Mexican Airplay in 2024. He follows Eden Muñoz and Xavi, who both placed three champs, Pepe Aguilar, two, and Gerardo Ortiz, one No. 1 this year.
Beyond the new No. 1, “Si Ya Me Voy” holds steady at its No. 5 high on the overall Latin Airplay chart, continuing as Uribe’s highest charting song to date.
In addition to the new No. 1, Uribe is celebrating his recent Grammy award nomination for best música Mexicana album.
The .MUSIC registry announced on Wednesday (Nov. 27) two new tools to help music creators and professionals manage their digital identities: SmartBadge and SmartPage.
The SmartBadge, a digital badge similar to a blue checkmark seen on social media profiles, uses an embedded watermark QR code that helps protect identities by only linking back to verified, legitimate .MUSIC profiles and content. The SmartPage provides artists with a branded page where they can post an official biography and verified links to social media and the artist’s music at various digital service providers.
“With .MUSIC’s SmartBadge and SmartPage, we are setting a new industry standard for authenticity, security, and connection within the global music industry,” Constantine Roussos, the founder/CEO of .MUSIC, said in a statement. “This is a significant leap in the digital music identity space, providing the music community with enhanced brand protection and promotion opportunities, while fostering trust and transparency across the entire music ecosystem.”
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“I have seen the industry change a lot over the years, but this .MUSIC thing? It is next level,” said Fred Durst, frontman of Limp Bizkit. “It is not just about stopping fraud. It is also about creating a trusted space where we can connect with fans without worrying about imposters or scams. It is a game-changer for artists at every level.”
In her own statement, songwriter and recording artist Skylar Grey said she’s attracted to .MUSIC’s potential to help musicians receive the royalties they are due. “It always bums me out that I do not own SkylarGrey.COM,” Gray said. “Now, a verified .MUSIC feels more official than a .COM. I am excited to see how having a verified MusicID can also be used by the global music industry to help musicians get paid and solve the problem of unclaimed black box royalties.”
“Finally, artists can get their verified music identity and be trusted,” added Elliott Taylor, a recording artist and songwriter for artists such as Celine Dion and Eminem. “.MUSIC is much needed because it guarantees that an artist’s identity is truly and undeniably authenticated.”
After a lengthy process to win industry support and beat out other interested parties such as Google and Amazon, .MUSIC began offering top-level domains in October. Unlike the familiar .com domain, .MUSIC domain names are available exclusively to the music community, just as.gov and .edu domains are reserved for proper entities in government and education, respectively. Artists, songwriters, producers, other industry professionals and music companies all have the option of acquiring .MUSIC domains.
Another feature offered by .MUSIC is a single sign-on to access the .MUSIC ecosystem and other digital service providers. Using a secure set of credentials is meant to enhance security for creators, reduce the chance of data breaches and make on-boarding easier for music organizations, collection societies, digital service providers and distributors.
You can check out Limp Bizkit’s SmartBadge and SmartPage for examples of the new products.
Charles Goldstuck‘s GoldState Music is quietly bulking up thanks to two back-to-back catalog acquisitions in the last six months.
According to sources, GoldState has laid out some $200 million to acquire portfolios of music publishing and recorded music royalty income streams from two boutique music asset investment firms: CatchPoint Rights Partners in a deal that sources say closed in the last month; and AMR Songs, whose catalog GoldState acquired earlier this year.
The CatchPoint portfolio includes stakes in songs like Kanye West‘s “Flashing Lights,” Sheryl Crow‘s “If It Makes You Happy” and Panic! At The Disco‘s “I Write Sins Not Tragedies,” along with slices of songs and/or recordings by the likes of Brantley Gilbert, Smash Mouth, Avril Lavigne and others.
Meanwhile, the AMR catalog includes John Sebastian’s writer’s share of all of his The Lovin’ Spoonful songs, including “Summer In the City,” “Daydream” and “Do You Believe In Magic,” as well as all rights from Sebastian’s solo catalog, which includes “Welcome Back.” AMR has also made investments in SOJA’s catalog, from the band’s inception through 2020 — covering music publishing and artist royalties and various master recordings — as well as stakes in songs by the likes of Macy Gray and Ivan Neville.
While the above list includes artist names, the two firms have also invested in co-writer shares of songs or producer points on artist royalties — and their websites don’t always specify, when citing song and recording investments, which assets have been acquired.
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All told, the two firm’s catalogs each had about $7 million in annual income, or a combined $14 million, in a combination of music assets that split about 50/50 active and passive income, sources say. (Passive income would be the writer’s share of a song owned and controlled by a publisher or an artist’s royalty income stream from a master recording owned by a label. Active income would be ownership of the song publishing and/or the master recordings.)
Goldstuck has a long history in the music industry, having held senior executive positions at such labels as Arista Records, Capitol Records, J Records and RCA before becoming president/COO of the Bertelsmann Music Group. More recently, he was co-chairman of Hitco Entertainment, which was sold to Concord. Moreover, Goldstuck is the founder of The Sanctuary At Albany, which is described as a state-of-the-art recording studio in the Bahamas, and is also currently the executive chairman of TouchTunes Interactive Networks, the digital jukebox company with over 80,000 locations, according to his LinkedIn profile.
The GoldState Music website says Goldstuck founded the GoldState investment firm in 2022 and lists Flexpoint Ford, Pinnacle Financial Partners and Regions as its financial backers. The website also lists TouchTunes, The Sanctuary at Albany and Create Music as part of the GoldState Music growth portfolio. In June, GoldState Music participated in Flexpoint Ford’s $165 million funding round to Create Music Group, although the amount it invested was undisclosed.
Prior to making its latest catalog acquisitions, Goldstuck began by acquiring music intellectual property rights on its own, including by buying — based on the GoldState website — the rights of music by recording artists such as EDM DJ/artist Alan Walker, Christian group Anberlin, pop singer Daya, punk band Dead Kennedys and legendary soul singer Sam Moore, among others. The company’s website doesn’t specify which rights of those artists it has acquired.
In moving on to bigger acquisitions like its recent CatchPoint portfolio and AMR Songs deals, Goldstate so far appears to be eschewing iconic songs and catalogs that trade for frothy prices and multiples and instead has chosen to buy the catalogs of two firms, which separately on their own pursued niche genres and name artists — but not superstars — whose music rights assets produce steady income streams that trade at more reasonable price points.
CatchPoint was founded in 2020 by former BMI executive Rich Conlon, Wall Street executive Patrick Riordon and PJ Miklus, a business executive with a background in finance and the music industry. Sources suggest that CatchPoint sold its portfolio of songs to GoldState as a proof-of-concept to potential investors. Sources add that the firm didn’t sell all of the music assets in its catalog and has funding for further music asset acquisitions.
Meanwhile, AMR was founded by Tamara Conniff, a former music publishing executive at such firms as Roc Nation and Artist Publishing Group, and Wall Street private equity executive Steve Reinstadtler. According to the GoldState website, Conniff and some of her team have joined the GoldState staff.
Executives at GoldState, Catchpoint and AMR either didn’t return phone calls seeking comment or declined to comment on the transactions.
Every month, Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors spotlight a group of rising artists whose music we love. Think “diamantes en bruto,” or “diamonds in the rough.” These are newcomers who have yet to impact the mainstream — but whose music excites us, and who we believe our readers should make a point to discover.
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Our latest edition of On the Radar Latin includes a wave of emerging artists, who we discovered either by networking or coming across their music at a showcase, and beyond. See our recommendations this month below:
Artist: DFZM
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Country: Colombia
Why They Should Be On Your Radar: Hailing from Buenaventura (a coastal city in Colombia), DFZM first caught our attention on Mike Bahía’s salsa tune “Cali Buenaventura,” an homage to the hometown of both artists. At only 18 years old, the artist born Dylan Zambrano can easily navigate from a potent freestyle to an enchanting chanteo — all backed by his smooth, deep vocals. In 2023, he signed with Seven Music, Inc. and also forms part of Keityn’s management hub, La Creme. As a singer-songwriter, the newcomer has two verses on “+57,” the recent hit helmed by Karol G, Feid, J Balvin, Maluma, Ryan Castro, and Blessd, and produced by Ovy on the Drums. The song’s virality earned DFZM his first Billboard chart entries across Hot Latin Songs, Billboard Hot 100, Billboard Global 200, and Global Excl. U.S. — JESSICA ROIZ
Song For Your Playlist: “Cali Buenaventura,” Mike Bahía & DFZM
Artist: DREILU
Country: Ecuador
Why They Should Be On Your Radar: “From Guayaquil to the world,” as he describes on his YouTube channel, DREILU (real name: Omar Quiz) is an independent artist based in Miami with an accessible vocal delivery and an interesting combination of genres such as bomba, Afropop and urban rhythms, with lyrics that reflect his personal experiences. This month he presented his debut EP, titled 999, which includes the previously released singles “No Soy de Aquí” and “Barcelona.” Committed to his art, he has new releases scheduled for the coming months. — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS
Song For Your Playlist: “Contando Estrellas”
Artist: Nia Skyfer
Country: Cuba
Why They Should Be On Your Radar: You’ve heard the work of Cuban-American Nia Skyfer (real name Stephanie Concepción) in songs written for the likes of CNCO, Young Miko and Kim Loaiza. And you’ve heard her powerful vocals on the 2022 season of The Voice, when she made part of John Legend’s team. Now, the Miami-based Bresh DJ is steadily releasing her solo fare, a mix of pop and R&B augmented by a pathos-filled voice that can go from ethereal to commanding. Check our her latest single, the mid-tempo rock track “Mejor no contesto,” with more singles planned for steady release in the next year. — LEILA COBO
Song For Your Playlist: “Mejor No Contesto”
Artist: Os Garotin
Country: Brazil
Why They Should Be On Your Radar: When it comes to burgeoning talent in Latin music, Os Garotin is swiftly carving out their niche. I first stumbled upon this dynamic trio at the Latin Grammy’s Best New Artist Showcase 2024 in Miami, and they were nothing short of electrifying. Hailing from São Gonçalo in Rio de Janeiro, Os Garotin — comprised of Anchietx, Cupertino, and Leo Guima — bring a refreshing blend of funk carioca, soul and rap to the stage, coupled with infectious dance moves. In May, they introduced themselves to the world with their debut album, Os Garotin de São Gonçalo, which encapsulates their energetic essence and plenty of passion. This Latin Grammy-nominated group is undoubtedly a must-watch for any music enthusiast looking to infuse their playlist with fresh, spirited tunes. — ISABELA RAYGOZA
Song For Your Playlist: “Garota”
Artist: Sofi Saar
Country: Mexico
Why They Should Be On Your Radar: Sofi Saar got on my radar during Latin Grammys Week in Miami, Fla. earlier this month, where she was a two-time nominee. With her sweet-girl aura and stoic attitude, the Monterrey-based artist is turning her personal stories into healing music. Once engaged to get married, Saar — who kicked off her career in the pandemic — used the wedding money to invest in recording studio time when she broke up with her ex-fiancé. The songs born during that era gave life to her debut album, Terca (“Stubborn”), earning her the Latin Grammy nomination for best norteño album. Her popteño fusion and relatable lyrics also made her a best new artist nominee. — J.R.
Song For Your Playlist: “Qué Perro Aguante (Emperrada)”
Artist: Yetsi
Country: Venezuela
Why They Should Be On Your Radar: With releases including “Wow,” “Lofi” and “Cuchi Baby” in the last year alone, Yetsi — a Caracas native currently based in Miami with a sweet, powerful voice — has demonstrated a unique ability to fuse rhythms while showcasing her vocal prowess. Her most recent release is “LPC,” an infectious reinterpretation of Amanda Miguel’s classic “Las Cosas Pequeñas” to the rhythm of drum-n-bass. Yetsi, who has also directed some of her own music videos, is a well-rounded artist with a global sound. — S.R.A.
Song For Your Playlist: “Cuchi Baby”
The TikTok Billboard Top 50 has a new No. 1! But will NLE Choppa, The Marias or GloRilla take the throne? Keep watching to find out! Tetris Kelly: More than half the top 10 are fresh faces, with a new No. 1. GloRilla and Sexyy Red’s “WATCHU KNO ABOUT ME” takes the top spot on […]
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Source: Jon Kopaloff / Getty / Adam22
Felon 47, aka Donald Trump, has not taken office yet. Still, podcaster/pornstar/culture vulture Adam22 is already down for the incoming circus that will be the Trump administration and future press briefings adding podcasters to the mix of reporters.
TMZ exclusively caught up with the host of the No Jumper Podcast on Tuesday near Van Nuys Airport, and they asked him about Trump considering bringing right-wing podcasters like the Nelk Boys into the mix during White House Press Briefings when he and his mockery of a presidential cabinet officially take over.
Being that we already saw what a sh*t show press briefings were during Trump’s first disastrous four years as POTUS, the idea of adding a bunch of Trump-friendly podcasters is already a bad idea, but Adam22 is down with the idea.
He also used the opportunity to get some glazing in, saying Trump masterfully used the internet and podcast circuit to his advantage, especially in his sitdown with Joe Rogan.
Per TMZ:
Adam22 says the election already showed Trump knows how to use the podcast circuit and the power of the internet to his advantage … saying the views Trump got on Joe Rogan alone outshine anything Kamala Harris did with traditional news outlets.
As a result, Adam22 says it makes perfect sense for Trump to go back to the well and bring content creators to the White House to shake up his press briefings and get his message out.
Streamers like Kai Cenat, who made it clear that he wants nothing to do with politics, and Adin Ross, whom Trump has spoken with, were also suggested, but Adam22 feels they are not what Sweet Potato Mussolini needs.
We feel the first press briefing will be off the rails and full of lies.
In his Broadway debut, Sebastián Yatra delivers a solid vocal performance and demonstrates an enjoyable stage presence as the charming, corrupt lawyer Billy Flynn in Chicago. Here, he is not the same singer of Latin pop chart-topping hits; he is a conscious cast member committed to the requirements of this type of show.
The Colombian star began his four-week engagement in the long-running musical on Monday (Nov. 25), where he shares leading roles with Broadway veterans Bianca Marroquín and Kimberly Marable, who play Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly, respectively.
The singer-songwriter, known for No. 1 hits on the Billboard Latin Airplay chart like “Tacones Rojos,” “Un Año” (with Reik) and “Robarte un Beso” (with Carlos Vives), makes the leap to the theater mecca two years after making his acting debut in the miniseries Once Upon a Time… Happily Never After.
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Although at 30 he is younger (and sweeter) than other actors who have played Billy Flynn — Jerry Orbach was 40 in the original 1975 production, and Richard Gere was 52 in the 2002 film adaptation — on Tuesday (Nov. 26 ), in only his second performance, Yatra shone, showing new vocal registers and singing classics like “Razzle Dazzle” and “We Both Reached for the Gun” in English. While dancing is not considered his forte, he followed the choreography without issue and stood out with his bearing and likability.
“Everyone in Chicago is excited and proud of him,” Marroquín, who shares several scenes with Yatra in the performance, told Billboard Español on Tuesday as she left the theater. “He has done an exceptional job. He arrived super disciplined with everything memorized, very committed, very responsible, and on top of that he is a sweetheart. Being backstage with him is divine. He is a very beautiful soul. So I love having that connection because, besides, Roxie and Billy have a lot to do with each other in the show. We have created a beautiful friendship, a bond, a very nice chemistry.”
Set in the 1920s, Chicago —the longest-running American musical on Broadway after almost three decades— is a scathing satire of how show business and the media make celebrities out of criminals. With a book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander and lyrics by Ebb, it includes killer songs like “All That Jazz,” “Cell Block Tango” and “Mr. Cellophane.”
With Yatra, the role of Billy Flynn now receives some Latin and contemporary flavor. “Latinos have something special even when we are speaking English, there is a lot of love within us, a lot of passion,” Yatra told Billboard Español in September, upon the announcement of his Broadway debut. “I think I can offer a perspective from someone who is living in 2024 at almost 30, how he sees that world, also knowing that I could have perfectly been a lawyer and could be that person standing there. Thank God Billy and I don’t share the same values, because that would be messed up!” he added with a laugh.
Over the years, Chicago has invited various Latin stars to join the musical for brief runs. Yatra joins a list that includes Colombian actress Sofia Vergara, who in 2009 played Matron “Mama” Morton, and Mexican singer and actor Jaime Camil, who in 2016 portrayed Billy Flynn.
Chicago is presented at the Ambassador Theatre (219 W. 49th St.) For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the Broadway musical’s site.