News

Needtobreathe & Jordan Davis to Team Up for ‘CMT Crossroads’ Performance


Rock and country will collide when Needtobreathe joins four-time Country Airplay chart-topper Jordan Davis for a special taping of CMT Crossroads ahead of the upcoming 2024 CMT Music Awards, where they will also collaborate live for a first-time performance on Sunday, April 7, at Moody Center in Austin, Texas. The CMT Music Awards will air on CBS and will stream live and on-demand on Paramount+.

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

The taping for CMT Crossroads: Needtobreathe + Jordan Davis will take place before a live audience at the UT Tower on the campus of UT Austin on Friday, April 5.

Trending on Billboard

Davis is set to potentially take home his first CMT Music Awards trophies this year, as his video for “Next Thing You Know” has earned him two nominations leading into the awards show, including male video of the year and video of the year. To date, his Country Airplay chart-toppers include “Singles You Up,” “Slow Dance in a Parking Lot,” “What My World Spins Around” and the Luke Bryan collaboration “Buy Dirt.”

Jordan Davis

Jordan Davis

Harper Smith

This isn’t Needtobreathe’s first CMT Music Awards performance; the group previously appeared on the show in 2021 to collaborate with Carrie Underwood on the song “I Wanna Remember.” The group has earned three No. 1 hits on Billboard‘s Top Rock Albums chart, including 2011’s The Reckoning, 2014’s Rivers in the Wasteland and 2016’s Hard Love. The band will delve deeper into the country space when Needtobreathe performs at the Country Calling festival in October.

Notably, though the taping will take place outdoors; guests to the CMT Crossroads taping will need to pre-register to attend. 

CMT Crossroads, which premiered in 2002, pairs country artists to collaborate onstage with performers from an array of different genres, as they deliver each other’s songs and meld their artistry on duets. The show has featured collaborations including Hozier with Maren Morris, Jimmy Buffett with Zac Brown Band, and Robert Plant with Alison Krauss, among other pairings.

Mac Miller’s Previously Unreleased Song ‘The Quest’ Finally Hits Streaming: Listen Now

Mac Miller’s spirit remains strong, even six years after his tragic death. Fans of his can now enjoy more unreleased music, courtesy of the late artist, in the form of “The Quest” after the track finally made its way onto streaming platforms on Friday (March 22). 

Fans may be familiar with “The Quest,” as the song was first released on the 10th anniversary vinyl of Miller’s Watching Movies With the Sound Off last year. Produced by the rapper, “The Quest” interpolates the his oft-collaborator Jon Brion’s track “Phone Call.” Brion and Miller partnered on the Pittsburgh MC’s final albums, including the Grammy-nominated project Swimming and the MC’s posthumous release Circles.

“I have this memory of him being really sweet, and he happened to mention that he really liked the music of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” recalled Brion in a 2020 piece with Vulture. “I was like, ‘Oh, that’s cool. That’s really nice.’ And honestly, it didn’t go a lot further than that.”

Trending on Billboard

While “The Quest” will quench the thirst for new music from Miller — who died in 2018 from an accidental overdose — questions still loom regarding his collaborative album with Madlib. Last year, during the elusive producer’s interview with Sway in the Morning, Madlib revealed his upcoming projects, which included the long-awaited joint effort with Miller. “Right now, I’m finishing up the Mac Miller album, the Planet Asia album and the Erykah Badu album,” he said at the time. 

Dubbed Maclib, Miller’s former producer Thelonious Martin told DJ Booth in 2019 that the album was ready to go between the two forces after hearing it during a studio session. 

“[Madlib] just randomly plays a Mac Miller joint. And I turn to him, I’m like, ‘There’s more of these, right?’ He’s said, ‘Oh, yeah, there’s a whole album. Maclib,’” Martin said at the time. “If Madlib decides to bless the world with that project, he should.” 

Listen to “The Quest” below. 



Group Backed by Spotify, Deezer Praises DOJ’s Antitrust Lawsuit Against Apple

A group of companies representing Spotify, Deezer, Epic Games and others, applauded the U.S. Department of Justice’s antitrust lawsuit filed against Apple on Thursday (March 21), calling it a “strong stand against Apple’s stranglehold” on mobile apps.

“[Apple] stifles competition and hurts American consumers and developers alike,” Rick VanMeter, executive director for The Coalition for App Fairness (CAF), said in a statement. “As this case unfolds in the coming years more must be done now to end the anticompetitive practices of all mobile app gatekeepers.”

Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Trending on Billboard

In its sweeping lawsuit filed in New Jersey federal court on Thursday, the U.S. Justice Department alleged that Apple violated antitrust laws by undermining apps and products that could compete with Apple or that could make customers less reliant on its iPhone systems, such as its digital wallet.

The U.S. case follows similar legal actions brought against Apple in the European Union, the United Kingdom and Asia, and it addresses some of the Apple policies that Spotify founder/CEO Daniel Ek has railed against for years.

“There’s global consensus that Apple’s abuses of its monopoly power have stifled innovation and threaten the digital economy,” Avery Gardiner, a lawyer and competition policy advocate for Spotify, wrote on X. “The DOJ case makes it clear that Apple harms the developers and creators who are hard at work to build the very best products and services for consumers.”

Both CAF and Gardiner acknowledged the DOJ’s case will take time to have any impact, and they urged Congress to pass The Open App Markets Act, a bill Ek has lobbied for since it was introduced in August 2021.

The Open App Markets Act would bar Apple, Google and other app stores with more than 50 million users from forcing app developers to use their payment systems as a condition of distribution. It would also block app store owners from punishing app developers if they extend deals to customers or offer their app for lower prices elsewhere.

Ek has argued that Apple and others act as anti-competitive gatekeepers because the terms required for inclusion in their app stores prevent Spotify and others from telling consumers about potentially cheaper bundle options, like Spotify’s duo and family plans. Currently, Spotify has to send customers to its website to sign up for those plans.

The Justice Department’s case also seeks for Apple to loosen restrictions on its messaging tools and to add features to the Apple wallet. Gardiner and CAF praised the case for what they described as an attempt to level the playing field.

“Competition is the foundation of innovation, and [this case] represents the latest step in the fight for a fair and competitive internet,” Gardiner wrote.

Olivia Rodrigo Says She’s ‘So Proud’ of ‘Guts’ Deluxe Tracks & Reveals Her Favorite

Olivia Rodrigo‘s Guts got a second wind Friday (March 22) with the release of her sophomore album’s deluxe edition featuring five additional tracks: “Obsessed,” “Stranger,” “Girl I’ve Always Been,” “Scared of My Guitar” and “So American.”

And though she says she’s “so proud” of all the new tunes, she did reveal on Instagram that one of them is definitely her favorite.

“GUTS (spilled) is out!!!!!” the pop star wrote, sharing photos from the “Obsessed” music video, which dropped just a few hours ahead of the deluxe album. “I made obsessed with @dan_nigro and @st_vincent almost 3 years ago (?) and I’m so stoked it’s finally out in the world. it’s always been one of my favorites and it’s been so fun to play live every night on tour.”

Trending on Billboard

“I’m so proud of the songs stranger, girl I’ve always been, and scared of my guitar as well and especialllyyy excited about so american,” she added. “hope you guys dig!!!!!! the GUTS have been spilled!!!!”

The “Drivers License” singer also posted a screenshot of “So American” on her Story and confirmed, “this one is my fav,” adding three winking emojis.

Why the winks? Fans have already come to the conclusion that “So American” is a love song about Rodrigo’s rumored boyfriend, English actor Louis Partridge. “I’d go anywhere he goes/ And he says I’m so American,” she sings on the track. “Oh God, I’m gonna marry him/ If he keeps this s–t up/ I might just be in love.”

The Grammy winner first confirmed that the Guts deluxe edition was coming at her Chicago Guts World Tour show, where she held up a piece of paper bearing the news during “Get Him Back!” Her backup dancers also held up signs displaying the titles on the extended tracklist.

Released in September, the original Guts set features 12 tracks, including the Billboard Hot 100-topping “Vampire.” The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.

See Olivia Rodrigo’s post about Guts‘ deluxe edition below:

J Balvin Gets 2 New Madame Tussauds Wax Figures: ‘Amazing How Dreams Come True’

Madame Tussauds New York and Las Vegas unveiled J Balvin’s two new wax figures on Friday (March 22).

The Colombian hitmaker’s New York figure is dressed in his 2021 Moschino Met Gala ensemble, which consists of an embellished floral three-piece suit replicated by Madame Tussauds to match the original set. Rocking Balvin’s bleach blond buzz cut, the figure pays tribute to the singer’s Met Gala debut.

Meanwhile, the Las Vegas wax figure wears an authentic GUESS outfit provided by Balvin himself, originally worn during his 2019 Coca Cola Fest performance in Mexico City. The number is paired with his J Balvin x Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG “Colores Y Vibras” sneakers from his collaboration with Nike.

The “Mi Gente” artist shared his reaction to his new likenesses in a video posted to Instagram. “Amazing how dreams come true seldom you find yourself face to face with yourself and it’s not a reflection in a mirror hehehehe Triple JoSSSe,” he captioned the clip. “Keep dreaming and believe it yourselves ⚡️ Go see it and take a picture with me Thanks @madametussaudsusa PA LA CULTURA”

In the video, he walks up to his wax figures with a few demands and questions for them. “I was looking for my chains, give them back,” he begins. “You owe money, will you pay me back or not?”

Trending on Billboard

Finally, he asks on behalf of his fans: “When is the album coming? Tell me. We’ve been waiting two years.”

According to a press release, visitors will step into a “mini ultra-lounge busting with electrifying colors and oversized pop imagery, transforming the space into an unforgettable club experience” when visiting Balvin’s figure in Las Vegas.

J Balvin

J Balvin

Madame Tussauds

“J Balvin’s wax figures at Madame Tussauds New York and Madame Tussauds Las Vegas epitomizes his indelible influence on music and culture,” said Matthew Clarkson, head of marketing at Madame Tussauds USA. “With our newly renovated Music experience in New York and the brand new Club T in Las Vegas, his presence adds another dimension to the immersive experiences we offer. It’s a testament to his enduring impact and our dedication to creating dynamic experiences that resonate with visitors worldwide.”

J Balvin is set make his grand return to Coachella since first performing at the festival in 2019 (although he appeared as a special guest for Karol G’s set in 2022). He’ll perform on April 14 and April 21.

See Balvin’s reaction to his two new wax figures below:

Paul Rudd Doesn’t Just Take His Daughter to Taylor Swift Shows, He’s Also a Hard-Core Swiftie: ‘I Think She’s Great’

Paul Rudd has proudly talked about being a good dad and taking his teenage daughter Darby to see Taylor Swift‘s Eras Tour last summer. During an interview with MTV this week to promote his starring role in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, Rudd was asked if he was a true Swiftie, or just a Swiftie “by proxy” due to his unabashed love for Taylor’s favorite NFL team — as well as his own — the Kansas City Chiefs.

“No, I think she’s really very good. I think she’s great,” said Rudd, one of many celebs who has pulled up to stadiums to check out the Eras spectacle. When the question came up about whether Rudd joins in on the mass sing-alongs that are the staple of any Swift show, he said, well yeah, of course. “Yeah. I am [singing along] on a lot of those,” he said. Which songs does he like singing to the most? “Mastermind” from Midnights, as well as “Cruel Summer,” he added, “like everyone else.”

The list kept going, with Rudd shouting out 2019’s Lover track “The Archer,” as well as “August” from the pandemic Folklore album. “I’m just going through the A’s now,” Rudd joked.

Trending on Billboard

While Rudd is on happily on the Taylor train, during a visit to The Late Show last week, host Stephen Colbert one-upped him on Swiftian allegiance. Remembering the time he took his daughter Madeline — 14 at the time — to the Grammys in 2008, Colbert said, “Taylor was so nice to her that, to this day, I would murder for her if she wanted me too… “I’m like, ‘Whatever you want, my queen. I will murder for you.’”

Though Rudd didn’t profess to being murderously loyal, he told Colbert that the fact that Swift is dating KC tight end Travis Kelce and putting the world’s attention on his lifelong favorite NFL team is definitely a bonus. “This whole thing is very exciting,” Rudd said. “I see those stories about the dads and their daughters, and their interests in watching the games together. I get all choked up watching it.”

Watch Rudd’s Taylor talk (beginning at 11:52 mark) below.



Friday Music Guide: New Music From Future & Metro Boomin, Shakira, Olivia Rodrigo and More

Billboard’s Friday Music Guide serves as a handy guide to this Friday’s most essential releases — the key music that everyone will be talking about today, and that will be dominating playlists this weekend and beyond. 

Explore

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

This week, Future and Metro Boomin make magic together, Shakira is still on fire, and Olivia Rodrigo has a few more bangers for the faithful fans. Check out all of this week’s picks below:

Future & Metro Boomin, We Don’t Trust You 



Allow the early headlines about We Don’t Trust You, the new collaborative album from Future and Metro Boomin, to focus on Kendrick Lamar’s guest verse on “Like That,” which features some house-torching bars and some thinly veiled shots aimed at the J. Cole-Drake partnership. That’s understandable, and deserved. Yet don’t overlook the fact that We Don’t Trust You features Future’s most complete end-to-end performance on a project in a half-decade: with Metro’s all-star run of cinematic beats stretching longer, Future sounds reinvigorated, lurking underneath heavy bass at moments and pouncing on his doubters over widescreen drums.

Shakira, Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran 



Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran marked one of Shakira’s most successful eras even before its release, thanks to a bevy of hit singles, from the Internet-smashing “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53” to the blockbuster Karol G collaboration “TQG,” both of which returned the icon to the top 10 of the Hot 100. The album is divided into two halves — the first is fully new material, the second is the slew of recent releases — but that opening eight-song run includes plenty of exciting new tunes, including “Puntería,” a Cardi B team-up in which Shakira locks in on the production shimmer and scoops up another undeniable melody.

Trending on Billboard

Olivia Rodrigo, GUTS (spilled) 



Olivia Rodrigo has already scored major hits, competed at the Grammys and kicked off an arena tour in support of sophomore album GUTS, limiting the incentive to unveil more new songs as part of a deluxe edition of the album — but the five new tracks comprising the GUTS (spilled) release are a hearty thank-you to her many fans, and include plenty of moments worthy of her top-notch second LP. “So American” is a jittery rock jam that builds upon the guitar alchemy of “Bad Idea Right?,” while “Obsessed” features a Rodrigo vocal take dripping with attitude, and deserves to be another radio staple.

Tyla, Tyla 



Tyla’s smash hit “Water” was another commercial win for the Afrobeats and amapiano sounds that have helped define global pop this decade, but Tyla represents something even more meaningful — a front-to-back excellent full-length that should immediately rank among the strongest crossover bids that those coalescing movements have ever produced. The South African star knows exactly how to blend American pop and R&B into amapiano, resulting in breathtaking tracks like “Truth or Dare” and “ART” that sound unique to Tyla’s skill set while also bridging continents and generations.

Pearl Jam, “Running” 



Listen to the way Eddie Vedder absolutely howls in the final 25 seconds of “Running” — his voice quivering with emotion, his words possessed with repetition, until he (and the song) seemingly collapse. Urgent moments like that have defined Pearl Jam’s towering discography, and showcase that Vedder and co. are still going strong all these years later: “Running,” which previews next month’s Dark Matter, is a mangy rocker with a galloping pace, like a more menacing version of “The Fixer” with a bigger payoff.

Editor’s Pick: Matt Champion, Mika’s Laundry 



Brockhampton has produced a fair amount of notable solo releases since the groundbreaking rap collective splintered, but Mika’s Laundry, the debut full-length from Matt Champion, sounds less like an offshoot than its own galaxy, an expansive look at the talented multi-hyphenate’s prodding worldview. Champion croaks out hooks at some points, and lets his voice soar at others; he mumbles rhetorical questions over collapsing production, then speeds up into pop warmth (like on the JENNIE collaboration “Slow Motion). Whatever he’s up to, Mika’s Laundry depicts an artist working through a mountain of ideas in provocative, engrossing fashion.

Carnival Cruise Line Brought Celebration Key to Life During Billboard’s The STAGE at SXSW

At SXSW 2024, Billboard returned to Moody Amphitheater to host The Stage – 3 nights of concerts spanning 3 different genres. Billboard and Carnival Cruise Line teamed up for the final night to deliver an unforgettable experience for music fans at The Stage. 

Explore

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

Carnival Cruise Line brought a taste of what fans can expect from their exclusive destination on Grand Bahama, welcoming guests in 2025. SXSW attendees were introduced to the unique Celebration Key experiences only Carnival can provide. 

Ranging from custom treats at the Paradise Bar, taking a selfie on the “beachside” swing, to grabbing a tropical popsicle from the Celebration Key cart, Carnival set the scene for a fun night in Austin. 

Trending on Billboard

The night opened with a set from DJ sober, who brought the energy to the Celebration Key DJ Booth. Canadian producer Fairline followed up with a unique DJ set full of remixes featuring his own live guitar solos over many of the tracks he played. 

Ahead of Illenium’s headlining set, fans enjoying Carnival’s Paradise Bar inspired by Celebration Key’s Suncastle, had their tickets upgraded to watch the show up close from the Paradise Zone. 

Around 9:30 pm, the Paradise Zone was packed with eager fans in Illenium jerseys ready to see their favorite artist. The legendary electronic producer and DJ delivered an unforgettable set full of his Billboard-charting hits like “Takeaway” and “Rush Over Me.”

Social media influencer and podcast host Jenna Palek was in attendance to share the Celebration Key experience with her fans on TikTok. 

If you weren’t able to join us in Austin, check out Jenna’s TikTok to see what Celebration Key is all about and stay tuned for more from Billboard at SXSW.

Rhiannon Giddens Slams ‘Problematic’ Backlash to Beyoncé’s ‘Cowboy Carter’: ‘That’s Just Racism’

Beyoncé‘s forthcoming Cowboy Carter LP is already much talked about — and it’s not even out yet. Slated to hit digital streaming platforms at midnight on March 29, the superstar’s new set marks the culmination of her foray into country music. Ahead of the album’s release, “Texas Hold ‘Em” banjo player Rhiannon Giddens joined IMPACT x Nightline to talk about racism in country music, pop crossovers in the genre and the backlash against Cowboy Carter in the episode airing March 28, and Billboard has an exclusive sneak peek.

Giddens — a singer and scholar who has dedicated her life to extolling the Black history of the banjo and country music — believes Cowboy Carter is a massive step toward genuine mainstream recognition of the genre’s roots.

Trending on Billboard

“It’s been really interesting,” Giddens tells IMPACT x Nightline‘s Janai Norman of the resounding success of catchy country-pop track “Texas Hold ‘Em,” which Beyonce dropped during the 2024 Super Bowl alongside the rousing, reflective ballad “16 Carriages.” “I have been on … a slight roller-coaster ride of … exposure of my music, TikToks being danced to my banjo sound– that’s been really, really, really amazing. It feels like a real pure moment of discovery.”

“Texas” has experienced notable commercial success: It not only topped the Billboard Hot 100, but has appeared on nine different Billboard airplay charts and earned Beyoncé the distinction of being the first Black woman to top Hot Country Songs and the first Black woman to summit the Hot 100 with a country song. Despite that, the superstar faced considerable backlash for her hard pivot into country music. One Oklahoma radio station initially refused to play “Texas” (it later reversed its decision), and, upon revealing the Cowboy Carter album cover, Beyoncé was immediately embroiled in discourse surrounding the intricacies of the dynamic between Black Southern identities and Americana imagery.

In Giddens’ conversation with IMPACT x Nightline, the musician — who is a time-time Grammy winner — stresses that Cowboy Carter is more about Beyoncé exploring her family’s roots than crossing over for the sake of crossing over. “People can do what they wanna do,” she points out. “They wanna make a country record? Make a country record. Nobody’s askin’ Lana Del Rey, ‘What right do you have to make a country record?’ You know what I’m sayin’? Everybody has the opportunity to explore their roots, to go back there, like, ‘This is my life too. I wanna … I wanna do this.’”

“The ‘Stay in your lane,’ the, ‘Well, that’s not real country,’ that’s just racism,” argues Giddens. “People don’t wanna say it’s because she Black. You know? But they use these … these coded terms, you know? And that’s problematic.”

The March 28 episode of Impact x Nightline will examine Beyoncé’s Hoston roots, and features interviews with Giddens and fellow Houstonian and previous collaborator Bun B. The show will also hear from rising Black country artists within the Nashville machine, such as Adell, for their thoughts and enthusiasm on Beyoncé’s impact on contemporary country music.

Watch Billboard’s exclusive clip of the Cowboy Carter-centric IMPACT x Nightline episode above. Stream the full episode when it arrives on Hulu March 28.

Davido and Lila Iké Perform ‘Flex My Soul’ for Honda Stage and Billboard

By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy.
We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. // This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.