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Acclaimed composer Hans Zimmer has reflected on his inability to add another Academy Award to his shelf thanks to Dune: Part Two, noting his disqualification was simply due to a “a stupid rule.”
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The German composer has spent more than 35 years working on crafting scores for Hollywood films, with his efforts resulting in two Academy Awards for his efforts. From 12 nominations at the Oscars, Zimmer has taken home the best original score award just twice, once in 1995 for The Lion King, and again in 2022 for his work on Dune.
With director Denis Villeneuve releasing Dune: Part Two in March 2024, many fans could have expected Zimmer to add another feather to his cap thanks to the nascent entry in the franchise. However, in October, Variety reported that Zimmer’s score for the film was deemed ineligible for submission to the Academy Awards due to “surpassing the Academy’s limit on pre-existing music.”
According to the Academy’s rule: “In cases such as sequels and franchises from any media, the score must not use more than 20% of pre-existing themes and music borrowed from previous scores in the franchise.” Due to Zimmer’s score for Dune: Part Two incorporating elements and key cues from the Oscar-winning score to 2021’s Dune, it was therefore deemed ineligible for submission.
Though Villeneuve and the film’s team were undeterred in their efforts for Zimmer to be recognized for his work, the score was ultimately disqualified and did not appear on the ballot for consideration. The film did however receive a total of five nominations, taking home best sound and best visual effects at the ceremony on March 2.
In a new interview with the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Zimmer reflected on the small controversy when host Josh Horowitz asked if the disqualification was a “sore point” for the composer.
“It’s not really a sore point. It’s just such a stupid point – how can it be a sore point?” Zimmer asked. “I got disqualified because I was using material from the first movie in the second movie, but it’s not a sequel. It is the completion of the arc, both movies are one arc.
“So was I supposed to go and take all the character themes away and write new character themes and develop them?” he added. “It’s just a stupid rule. What I didn’t want to do is go and bitch about it.”
Zimmer’s recent comments also continue on from what he told Variety back in October, stating his belief that Dune: Part Two is simply a continuation of the narrative begun in the first film.
“It’s called Dune: Part Two, not Dune 2,” he explained. “The story starts the second we finish the first movie. We are still within that story, those characters, and it would be foolish and completely uncinematic to go and write new themes for the characters instead of enlarging the theme.”
Zimmer is planning to return for Villeneuve’s next film in the series, with Dune: Messiah reportedly set to begin filming in mid-2025.
An unexpected appearance by Ms. Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean was just one of the many riveting moments at the celebration of life honoring the legendary Roberta Flack inside Harlem, New York’s Abyssinian Baptist Church on Monday (March 10).
Among the additional stars, executives, friends and family lifting up their voices in tribute to the pioneering singer-songwriter-musician-activist were Stevie Wonder, Valerie Simpson, Phylicia Rashad, Dionne Warwick, Alicia Keys, India.Arie, Peabo Bryson and Clive Davis. Flack died on Feb. 24 at age 88.
Before segueing into a beautiful and measured take on the Flack classic “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” an emotional Hill sniffled her way through reflections about her late idol. “We weren’t formally asked to do this because I think they were a little shy in asking us to attend,” Hill began. “So we kind of bum-rushed the service because it really wouldn’t be possible for us to just stand by and not participate.
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“The artistry of Ms. Roberta Flack was beyond trailblazing,” Hill continued in part. “Like Nina Simone, she carved out for me a pathway of soulful Black intellectual sublime beauty that not only spoke to Black resistance directly in lyric and statement, but was Black resistance to racism, bigotry and limitations by virtue of its existence. … She didn’t just write about the beauty; she was the beauty. She didn’t just write about resistance; her existence was a form of resistance. She wrote our stories in forms the established authorities of the time could not deny; compositions wrapped with graceful classical forms and nuances that would not nor could not be dismissed. … I thank my parents for introducing me to her masterful music. Thank you to our Father in Heaven, to our God on high for blessing and enriching all of our lives with her presence and undeniable gifts. Roberta Flack is legend.”
Met with resounding applause, cheers and a standing ovation inside the packed church, Hill and Jean — accompanied by a pianist and three backing vocalists — launched into a sing-along of the Fugees’ hit reinterpretation of the Flack gem “Killing Me Softly With His Song.” Adding an extra touch to the performance: Wonder standing in the church aisle playing the harmonica.
Following next on the program, Wonder prefaced his musical contribution with insightful comments that touched on Flack’s artistry as well as her commitment to activism. “The great thing about not having the ability to see with your eyes is the great opportunity in being able to see even better with your heart,” he shared. “So I knew how beautiful Roberta was. I celebrate that because I see that so much of the world and yes, this nation too, must be blind at this point … and it breaks my heart. And Roberta, I want to just say to you in spirit, I thank you for letting me hear your voice, letting me know your spirit, letting me know your heart and letting me be able to share with you songs that I was writing.”
One of those songs was “If It’s Magic.” Accompanied solely by a harpist, Wonder delivered a piercing take on the track, which is featured on his award-winning double album Songs in the Key of Life. Joined afterwards by the harpist and a conga player as he sat at the piano, Wonder performed a song that he wrote for Flack, “I Can See the Sun.” Noted Wonder at the end, “She spread love all over this world.’
Songwriter Hall of Fame member Valerie Simpson (along with late husband Nick Ashford) also sat down at the piano for an improvised take on one of Ashford & Simpson’s signature hits “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing,” in salute to Flack’s artistic authenticity. Among the other memorable performances was famed backing vocalist Lisa Fischer’s searing and soaring version of “Somewhere (There’s a Place for Us)” from West Side Story. Also sharing their reflections and memories were actress Phylicia Rashad, Flack’s cousin Carol Flack, Flack’s longtime manager/friend Suzanne Koga and family friend Santita Jackson. Jackson, a singer who once toured with Flack, said her father Rev. Jesse Jackson wanted her to remind attendees of one important fact: that Flack “was the perfect blend of soul and science; she put her ego to the side and just sang the song. A pure genius.”
Rounding out Flack’s celebration of life were video clips featuring reflections from a diverse range of artists and industry personages such as Clive Davis (“There will never be another Roberta Flack”), Oprah Winfrey, Alicia Keys, India.Arie, Peabo Bryson, Dionne Warwick, Les McCann and Yoko Ono. Letters from former vp Kamala Harris and Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr. were read as well. Rev. Al Sharpton delivered the eulogy; presiding over the memorial service was Abyssinian Baptist Church’s Rev. Dr. Kevin Johnson. The celebration program also noted that donations in Flack’s memory can be sent to the RobertaFlackFoundation.org.
When we say j-hope is comfortable on the stage, we mean from his head all the way down to his fuzzy feet. On Monday night’s (March 10) episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the BTS star will make his solo debut performance on the late-night show, joined by R&B singer Miguel for their […]
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J Balvin and Feid’s “Doblexxo” snags the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Latin Airplay chart as the song climbs 6-1 for its first week atop the March 15-dated list. The song lands at the summit in its 13th week.
“I feel super excited to know that our fans have embraced this song in such a way,” Balvin tells Billboard. “Feid’s talent is undeniable and our chemistry when it comes to making music has always been amazing. I can’t wait to sing ‘Doblexxo’ live during my upcoming Rayo tour.”
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In the tracking week ending March 6, “Doblexxo” pulled 8.4 million audience impressions earned in the U.S., according to Luminate; that’s a 32% gain from the week prior when the song generated 6.1 million.
With “Doblexxo,” Balvin achieves his record-extending 37th No. 1s since the Latin Airplay chart began in 1994, opening a wider gap from his next competitor (Ozuna, 34 champs). Feid bags his ninth ruler. The latter last reached the top with “Si Sabe Ferxxo,” with Blessd, which spent a week at No. 1 in June 2024.
Except for 2024, Balvin has placed at least one champ every year during his decadelong No. 1 chart career, dating back to “6AM,” featuring Farruko (May 2014). He completed his most lucrative period in 2022, placing nine No. 1 hits between February and October then. The year before, Balvin reached his second-best run, with six No. 1s in 2019.
Good reception across Latin rhythmic stations also spurs its coronation on the Latin Rhythm Airplay chart, where “Doblexxo” jumps 3-1. There, Balvin also stands firmly ahead of the rest, with 37 No. 1s. (Daddy Yankee follows with 35.)
The song’s 13-week climb to No. 1 marks a longer stride to the top than Balvin and Feid’s past pair-up, “Porfa” — where Maluma, Nicky Jam, Sech and Justin Quiles are also part of the billing — as it ruled after eight weeks in August 2020.
“Doblexxo” is the fourth radio promoted single from Balvin’s sixth studio album Rayo, which debuted and peaked at No. 5 on Latin Rhythm Albums last August.
All charts (dated March 15, 2025) will update on Billboard.com tomorrow, March 11. For all chart news, you can follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both X, formerly known as Twitter, and Instagram.
Kendrick Lamar’s GNX returns to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 for a third nonconsecutive week on top. The set climbs 3-1 (on the March 15-dated chart) with 90,500 equivalent album units earned in the U.S. in the week ending March 6 (down 15%), according to Luminate. GNX debuted atop the chart dated Dec. 7, 2024, and returned to the top on the Feb. 22-dated chart in the wake of its physical release and Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX halftime show (Feb. 9).
Meanwhile, the lone debut in the top 10 is LISA, whose first full-length studio album, Alter Ego, enters at No. 7. She becomes the second member of the chart-topping group BLACKPINK to notch a solo top 10 effort, following ROSÉ.
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The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week in the U.S. based on multi-metric consumption as measured in equivalent album units, compiled by Luminate. Units comprise album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). Each unit equals one album sale, or 10 individual tracks sold from an album, or 3,750 ad-supported or 1,250 paid/subscription on-demand official audio and video streams generated by songs from an album. The new March 15, 2025-dated chart will be posted in full on Billboard‘s website on March 11. For all chart news, follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both X, formerly known as Twitter, and Instagram.
Of GNX’s 90,500 equivalent album units earned in the latest tracking week, SEA units comprise 73,000 (down 15%, equaling 103.14 million on-demand official streams; it holds at No. 3 on Top Streaming Albums), album sales comprise 16,500 (down 13%; it’s a non-mover at No. 2 on Top Album Sales) and TEA units comprise 1,000 (down 18%).
PARTYNEXTDOOR and Drake’s chart-topping $ome $exy $ongs 4 U holds at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 with 90,000 equivalent album units earned (down 24%; while it holds at No. 1 on Top Streaming Albums for a third week).
Tate McRae’s So Close To What falls to No. 3 with 87,000 equialent album units (down 51%) after debuting atop the chart a week ago.
Nos. 4-6 on the latest Billboard 200 are all former chart-toppers, and non-movers, as SZA’s SOS is No. 4 (74,000 equivalent album units; down 10%), Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet is No. 5 (64,000; down 16%) and Bad Bunny’s Debí Tirar Más Fotos is No. 6 (56,000; down 11%).
LISA has the top debut of the week as her first full-length studio effort, Alter Ego, enters at No. 7 with 45,500 equivalent album units earned. Of that sum, album sales comprise 28,000 (it debuts at No. 1 on Top Album Sales), SEA units comprise 16,500 (equaling 23.12 million on-demand official streams of the set’s songs; it debuts at No. 31 on Top Streaming Albums) and TEA units comprise 1,000.
During the album’s release week, LISA performed on the Academy Awards (March 2), taking part in a tribute to the music of the James Bond film series, where she performed Wings’ “Live and Let Die.” She recently made her acting debut in the third season of HBO’s The White Lotus (which premiered on Feb. 16).
Alter Ego was preceded by a trio of charting songs from the album on the Billboard Hot 100 chart: “Rockstar” (No. 70 peak in July 2024), “New Woman” (featuring Rosalía; No. 97 in August) and “Born Again” (featuring Doja Cat and RAYE; No. 68 in February).
Alter Ego was issued as a standard 12-song album (on streamers, and to purchase as a digital download, CD and vinyl), a 15-song set (with three bonus tracks, on streamers and as digital download) and a 19-track set (with three additional remixes and a voice note from the artist, sold as a digital download exclusively on LISA’s official webstore). The set was issued across nine CD variants (including a signed edition; with all containing collectible paper ephemera such as randomized photocards), six deluxe CD boxed sets (each containing a copy of the album on CD and a branded piece of clothing) and two vinyl variants (including one signed edition).
LISA is a member of the Billboard 200-topping quartet BLACKPINK, who saw its last album, BORN PINK, debut atop the chart dated Oct. 1, 2022, after the act’s The Album became its first top 10 (No. 2, 2020). LISA is the second member of the group to notch a top 10-charting solo effort on the Billboard 200, following ROSÉ, whose rosie debuted and peaked at No. 3 on the Dec. 21, 2024-dated chart.
Rounding out the rest of the top 10 on the latest Billboard 200: Chappell Roan’s The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess is a non-mover at No. 8 (43,000 equivalent album units earned; down 8%), Morgan Wallen’s chart-topping One Thing at a Time is steady at No. 9 (42,000; up 2%) and The Weeknd’s former leader Hurry Up Tomorrow falls 7-10 (40,000; down 19%).
Luminate, the independent data provider to the Billboard charts, completes a thorough review of all data submissions used in compiling the weekly chart rankings. Luminate reviews and authenticates data. In partnership with Billboard, data deemed suspicious or unverifiable is removed, using established criteria, before final chart calculations are made and published.
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An activist who was a key organizer of the pro-Palestinian student protest movement at Columbia University was arrested by ICE over the weekend.
The effort to detain and deport student activists by President Donald Trump took a new turn as federal authorities arrested an activist who helped organize pro-Palestinian student protests at Columbia University. Mahmoud Khalil, a graduate student at the university until last December, was detained by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents last Saturday evening at his university-owned apartment. According to his lawyer, Amy Greer, Kahlil is a legal green card resident of the United States. They also threatened to arrest his wife, an American citizen who is eight months pregnant.
Department of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin confirmed Khalil’s arrest on Sunday night to the press. “Khalil led activities aligned to Hamas, a designated terrorist organization,” she said. “ICE and the Department of State are committed to enforcing President Trump’s executive orders and to protecting U.S. national security.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio went further in a post on X, formerly Twitter, linking to another article covering the arrest and writing: “We will be revoking the visas and/or green cards of Hamas supporters in America so they can be deported.”
“We will vigorously be pursuing Mahmoud’s rights in court, and will continue our efforts to right this terrible and inexcusable — and calculated — wrong committed against him,” Greer said in a statement, adding that Khalil’s arrest “follows the U.S. government’s open repression of student activism and political speech.” Greer said that they were unsure of his “precise whereabouts,” stating that they were told that he was being held in an immigration detention facility in Elizabeth, New Jersey, but when his wife arrived to visit she was told he wasn’t there. She speculated that he could be as far away as Louisiana.
Khalil had served as a negotiator between students who erected encampments at Columbia and university officials last spring. It made him a target for pro-Israel figures who labeled him as antisemitic, including Columbia University professor Shai Davidal who openly called for him to be deported. The arrest has sparked outrage from several civil liberties groups. Columbia Law School immigrant rights director Elora Mukherjee said that revoking Khalil’s green card with no criminal offense “in retaliation for his public speech, that is prohibited by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution,” expressing it was a rare situation.