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13 Feb 2024

Hot 100 First-Timers: BossMan Dlow Scores His First Chart Hit With ‘Get In With Me’

Up-and-coming rapper BossMan Dlow hits the Billboard Hot 100 for the first time with his breakthrough single, “Get In With Me.”

The song, released Jan. 19 on Alamo Records, debuts at No. 68 on the Feb. 17-dated chart with 8.4 million U.S. streams (up 89%) and 367,000 radio airplay audience impressions in the Feb. 2-8 tracking week, according to Luminate.

“The debut feels amazing,” the Florida native tells Billboard. “I’m still wondering how the hell a guy from Port Salerno made it this far and has a song on the Hot 100. I’m excited to see how far the song can go, and grateful for those listening.”

BossMan Dlow is new to Billboard’s charts. “Get In With Me” became his first overall chart entry last week when it debuted at No. 46 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. It jumps to No. 24 on the latest list, while beginning at No. 18 on Hot Rap Songs.

Social media has been a central factor in the song’s surging profile. The track originated as an impromptu freestyle on the Jacksonville, Fla.-based freestyle series Kreepin Through the Streetz. A clip of BossMan Dlow performing that freestyle went viral on his Instagram and TikTok pages, and that video has since soundtracked more than 130,000 clips on TikTok to date. The initial video of him freestyling has also garnered over 8 million views on the platform.

BossMan Dlow, 25, was born and raised in Port Salerno and broke through in the Florida hip-hop scene with his tracks “The Biggest” featuring YTB Fatt, “Phil Jackson” and “Rotation.” He has released two full-lengths: Too Slippery in January 2023, and its sequel 2 Slippery, Dec. 20. The latter marked his first release on Alamo.

The rapper also bounds from No. 34 to No. 16 on the Emerging Artists chart.

13 Feb 2024

Kanye West Escapes Copyright Lawsuit Over Viral Video Of Thanksgiving Speech

Kanye West is no longer facing a copyright lawsuit that claimed he illegally posted a 2021 viral video clip of a public speech about his then-wife Kim Kardashian, after his accuser dropped the case.

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The embattled Donda rapper (now legally named Ye) has been repeatedly sued over the past two years, and he might soon be hit with new lawsuits over allegations of illegal sampling from Ozzy Osbourne and Donna Summer. But at least one such lawsuit is now in the rearview mirror.

In court papers filed last week, videographer Elijah Graham agreed to voluntarily dismiss a lawsuit he filed against West last year. The case claimed the rapper had stolen Graham’s clip — which captured West speaking candidly about Kardashian and his kids while serving a Thanksgiving meal to homeless people on Skid Row in Los Angeles – and posted it to Instagram without permission.

“We’ve made mistakes. I’ve made mistakes. I’ve publicly done things that were not acceptable as a husband, but right now today, for whatever reason — I didn’t know I was going to be in front of this mic — but I’m here to change the narrative,” West says in the video, which went viral after he posted it.

In a complaint filed in October in Los Angeles federal court, Graham’s lawyers claimed that West’s post amounted to willful copyright infringement. But since filing the case, they have done little to move the case forward; in an order last month, the judge overseeing the lawsuit threatened to dismiss the case entirely because it was not being “prosecuted diligently.”

An attorney for Graham did not return a request for comment on why he was dropping the case. A rep for West did not immediately return a request for comment.

Graham’s case might be over, but Ye is still in legal hot water. He’s currently facing two separate lawsuits filed by employees at his Donda Academy over allegations of unsafe conditions and wrongful termination; he’s also defending against another copyright case that claims his “Life of the Party” illegally sampled a song by the pioneering rap group Boogie Down Productions.

And more copyright cases could be on the way. Last week, both Ozzy Osbourne and the estate of Donna Summer publicly accused West of using their songs without permission on his new album ‘Vultures 1’, even after they had specifically rejected his requests for licenses. In an interview with Billboard, Osbourne’s wife and manager Sharon said they had “been in touch with his team” about legal issues, while Summer’s estate directly alleged “copyright infringement.”

13 Feb 2024

Sony Music Publishing Opens Dubai Office

Sony Music Publishing, the world’s largest music publisher, is expanding its operations across the Middle East and North Africa with a new office in Dubai. The region will be led by managing director Dounia Chaaban, who will report to SMP senior vp of international Dan Nelson.

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Chaaban began her career at Anghami, the leading music streamer in the Middle East. After working there for seven years, serving as the Arabic indie community lead, Chaaban then became an artist relations manager at Believe Music. “I look forward to working hand in hand with the incredibly talented team at Sony Music Publishing to propel the MENA music industry to new heights,” says Chaaban of her new appointment. “Together, we will create an environment that nurtures creativity, fosters innovation, and unlocks the boundless potential of the region’s musical landscape.”

The news arrives just a day after Universal Music Group announced the opening of a new Capitol Studios location in the UAE as part of a collaboration with DGMC, a local music organization. The two say they will work together to build a “Music City” that will serve as a regional hub for local and global recording artists and songwriters in the MENA region.

Other music companies have also expanded more into the MENA region in the last year. In October, Warner Music announced its investment in HuManagement, a Dubai-based talent agency; In the last twelve months, Reservoir Media joined with PopArabia to acquire Lebanese music company Voice of Beirut, Egyptian label 100COPIES, and Saudi Arabian label Mashrex; In May, BMI partnered with Music Nation, a UAE music rights management organization.

Billboard also expanded into the region with the launch of Billboard Arabia in June. A partnership with media giant SRMG, Billboard Arabia is a region-specific editorial site, featuing two new global charts to track the success of music from the MENA region.

Nelson says: “We are excited to welcome Dounia to the Sony Music Publishing team. Dounia’s extensive experience working with local talent will be invaluable as we expand opportunities for new and established songwriters and artists across the region. There couldn’t be a more opportune moment to launch our business, and we look forward to growing our presence in the MENA region.”

13 Feb 2024

Taylor Swift Accidentally Partied With Her Parents After Chiefs’ Super Bowl Win, And She Liked It

Forget all the pre-game fretting about whether Taylor Swift would be able to jet across the ocean from her Eras Tour shows in Japan to make it to Las Vegas in time for Sunday’s Super Bowl LVIII. The real headline from the Kansas City Chiefs’ victory over the San Francisco 49ers was that Taylor and boyfriend K.C. tight end Travis Kelce hit the club afterwards… with her folks.

In a TikTok video featuring Ludacris’ raunchy 1999 hit “What’s Your Fantasy” blasting in the background at the Zouk nightclub, Swift captured the always excitable Kelce sticking out his tongue and turning up. The on-screen caption revealed, however, that it was definitely a family affair. “It’s a friends and family party they said,” it read. “Bring your parents they said,” it added, as the camera swung around to Tay’s mom and dad, Andrea and Scott, sitting on a couch as her pops tipped up a cold one and the singer pointed the camera at herself as she comically winced.

The video’s caption said it all: “accidentally going clubbing with your parents is something everyone should try at least once in their life.”

It wasn’t all totally awkward mom and dad time, though. Swift and Kelce also danced and sang along to two of her own hits, “Love Story” and “You Belong With Me” at an afterparty, with Taylor smiling and wrapping her arms around the three-time Super Bowl champ’s neck and kissing him while mouthing the lyrics “it’s a love story, baby just say yes.”

The party followed the Chiefs’ second Super Bowl victory in a row, in which they bested the Niners 25-22 at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium. Swift, of course, attended the game with her usual star-studded group of friends – Blake Lively, Ice Spice, Lana Del Rey and Miles Teller, among others – and joined Kelce on the field immediately after KC earned their third Lombardi Trophy in the past five years. There, she watched No. 87 make an emotional speech, and scream “Viva Las Vegas” before kissing him in front of NFL cameras. 

Check out Swift’s video below.

13 Feb 2024

Jason Kelce Meeting Ice Spice Was The Super Bowl’s Hottest Meme

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Super Bowl LVIII - San Francisco 49ers v Kansas City Chiefs

Source: Ezra Shaw / Getty

The Bronx continues to influence pop culture. A photograph of Jason Kelce chatting with Ice Spice is the Super Bowl’s hottest meme.

As reported by Time Magazine Super Bowl LVIII was filled to the brim with interesting moments from NFL coaches making some statements that would make Cam’ron say “AYO” to fans questioning Alicia Keys letting Usher grab her from behind. Before the game Jason Kelce, brother of Travis, was spotted meeting Ice Spice for the first time in Taylor Swift’s sky box. While the moment seemed very innocent the image lent itself to some pretty incredible memes. Some of the standouts included the former football center mistaking the rapper for orphan Annie or making an awkward reference to her songs.

The former football center first met Taylor Swift during the AFC divisional match up between the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills. After his brother scored a touchdown he took off his shirt in excitement. On his New Heights podcast he detailed the moment with the “Shake It Off” pop star. “I want to make my best first impression, and this was my best chance” he said.

Ice Spice’s rise to stardom has included what seems to be a genuine friendship with Taylor Swift. The two collaborated on “Karma” and have been buddy buddy ever since. You can see some of the best Jason Kelce meeting Ice Spice reactions below.

13 Feb 2024

BLACKPINK’s Lisa Joins All-Star Season 3 Cast of ‘White Lotus’

The all-star cast of season 3 of The White Lotus has added some musical heft in the form of BLACKPINK‘s Lisa. According to Variety, the K-pop star will be credited on the show under her real name, Lalisa Manobal, when production is slated to begin this month in and around Koh Samui, Phuket and Bangkok, Thailand.

At press time a spokesperson for BLACKPINK did not return Billboard‘s request for confirmation on the casting and HBO has not officially confirmed the addition to the show’s ensemble or any production details; a spokesperson for HBO had also not returned a request for comment at press time.

As with the previous two seasons, the upcoming White Lotus series is expected to follow a new group of guests staying at a resort property, with another wide-ranging cast that will include: Leslie Bibb, Dom Hetrakul, Jason Isaacs, Michelle Monaghan, Parker Posey, Tayme Thapthimthong, Christian Friedel, Julian Kostov, Morgana O’Reilly, Lek Patravadi, Shalini Peiris, Carrie Coon, Scott Glenn, Francesca Corney, Nicholas Duvernay, Arnas Fedaravičius, Natasha Rothwell, Walton Goggins, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Aimee Lou Wood, Sarah Catherine Hook, and Sam Nivola.

The White Lotus booking represents Lisa’s first official acting gig, following on the heels of bandmate Jennie — credited as Jennie Ruby Jane — stealing scenes in her acting debut on the critically panned HBO music drama from The Weeknd, The Idol, last summer.

Back in December, the members of BLACKPINK, Jennie, Jisoo and Rosé, split with YG Entertainment for all solo endeavors, while signing an extension of their contract with the management group for their group activities. In September, Lisa’s solo single “Money” broke a Guinness World Record after it hit 1 billion Spotify streams, making it the first K-pop solo track to hit that peak.

13 Feb 2024

Super Bowl LVIII Scores Highest Ratings Since Moon Landing

Whether it was the Taylor Swift effect or not, Sunday’s Super Bowl LVII made history. Only the second overtime championship game ever, it delivered one of the biggest ratings in history. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Kansas City Chiefs’ 25-22 victory over the San Francisco 49ers averaged 120 million viewers on CBS.

Add in the simulcasts on Nickelodeon, Univision, Paramount+ and other digital platform and you have a total of 123.4 million, which bests any broadcast in American history as measured by Nielsen. CBS said the game was the most-streamed ever, with Univision averaging about 2.2 million viewers for its Spanish-language broadcast, also a record for a Spanish Super Bowl broadcast.

The gaudy 123.4 million is based on fast ratings from Nielsen, with final numbers due out on Tuesday morning (Feb. 13). Sunday’s ratings were up by 7% over last year’s game, which drew 115.1 million on Fox for the previous title of most-watched broadcast in U.S. TV history. That means three-time MVP K.C. quarterback Patrick Mahomes has now played in the two highest-rated Super Bowls ever.

How big was it?

THR reported that the estimates for the 1969 Apollo 11 moon landing across ABC, CBS and NBC ranged from 125 million to 150 million viewers, with the bigger number representing almost 3/4 of the entire U.S. population at the time. At press time there were no break-out numbers on Usher’s halftime show.

While most viewers likely tuned in for the football, there was obviously quite a bit of attention lavished on Taylor Swift’s globe-hopping trip to see boyfriend K.C. tight end Travis Kelce hoist his third Lombardi trophy. And while it sometimes seemed like all anyone was talking about was Traylor, according to football analyst and data cruncher Jayson Pauley, the cameras were on Swift for .36% of the Super Bowl, for a total of 54 seconds of screen time.

13 Feb 2024

Katy Perry Is Leaving ‘American Idol,’ Hints at New Music

Katy Perry is ready to close the door on American Idol, and open another chapter in her music career.

Idol will premiere on ABC this Sunday (Feb. 18), marking the TV talent show’s 22nd overall season. It’ll be Perry’s seventh and final season as a judge.

Perry broke the news when she stopped by Jimmy Kimmel Live on Monday night (Feb. 12). “I love the show so much,” she tells the host, “but I want to go see the world and maybe bring new music.”

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The “Firework” singer has been a judge on alongside Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan since it was revived by ABC in 2018.

“I think this will probably be my last show, my last season for Idol,” she continues. “I love Idol so much. It’s connected me with the heart of America, but I feel like I need to go out and feel that pulse to my own beat.”

Perry is buzzed about visiting Brazil this September to perform at the Rock In Rio festival. “It’s really exciting. It’s a big deal,” she says of her spot on the bill.

By leaving her regular gig on Idol, “let’s just say I’m creating space for my new wingspan.”

Perry can spread those wings far and wide. Last year, Litmus Music, a catalog rights company backed by private-equity giant Carlyle Group LP, said it acquired the rights in five studio albums released for Capitol Records, including her Grammy-nominated Teenage Dream.

Sources told Billboard that Litmus paid $225 million for Perry’s stake in the master recording royalties and music publishing rights to her five albums released between 2008 and 2020 — One of the Boys, Teenage Dream, PRISM, Witness and Smile.

Perry remains the first woman and only second artist ever (after Michael Jackson) to send five songs from the same album to the summit of the Hot 100, which she did with 2010’s Teenage Dream (“California Gurls,” “Firework,” “E.T.,” “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)” and “Teenage Dream”).

2020’s Smile peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 chart, and is Perry’s last full-length studio album.

During her late-night TV stint, Perry also discusses Usher’s Super Bowl performance (“he was awesome”), singing at King Charles’ Coronation, and lodging at Windsor Castle (her mother tagged along. “That’s like the best gift you could ever give your mom”).

Watch the full interview below.

13 Feb 2024

Noah Kahan’s ‘Stick Season’ Set For Seventh Week Atop U.K. Chart

Noah Kahan’s “Stick Season” (via Republic Records) is sticking around in the U.K., where it’s predicted to notch a seventh consecutive week at No. 1.

Based on midweek sales and streaming data published by the Official Charts Company, “Stick Season” is the clear favorite, accumulating double the tally of its nearest competitor.

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That distant rival is Teddy Swims’ “Lose Control” (Atlantic) which is primed for a new peak position, lifting 3-2 on the Official Chart Update.

There’s a chance Kahan could snag his first chart double. His Stick Season LP rises to No. 2 on the midweek albums tally — an all-time high — with Declan McKenna and his third album What Happened To The Beach? (via Columbia) the only objects currently blocking his path.

Meanwhile, Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s 2001 hit “Murder on the Dancefloor” (Polydor) continues to feel the Saltburn bump, dipping 2-3 on the singles chart blast.

Meanwhile, Benson Boone’s “Beautiful Things” (Warner Records) is poised to do something it has never done before; it’s set to gain 8-4 for a new peak position. The 21-year-old Washington native currently leads the Billboard Global 200 chart with his rock ballad.

Ella Henderson and Rudimental’s “Alibi” (Atlantic) scaled a new peak last week, rising 24-16 in its fourth week. The only way is apparently up for “Alibi,” which is poised for a No. 12 spot on the national chart.
“Alibi” samples the late Coolio’s hit “Gangsta’s Paradise” (which in turn sampled Stevie Wonder 1976 single “Pastime Paradise”), a 1995 hit which logged two weeks at No. 1 and finished the year as the U.K.’s second biggest-selling single.

Finally, Norwegian producer Kygo and U.S. singer Ava Max are expected to crack the U.K. top 20 for the first time with “Whatever” (Columbia/Kygo), improving 28-19 on the chart blast.

The EDM tune samples “Whenever, Wherever,” is the lead single from Shakira’s debut English-language studio album, Laundry Service, from 2001.

All will be revealed when the Official U.K. Singles Chart is published late Friday, Feb. 16.

13 Feb 2024

Pearl Jam Unleashes ‘Dark Matter,’ Sets New Album

Pearl Jam is back, and they’ve returned to heavy.

After throwing a listening party last month for a new album that frontman Eddie Vedder described as their “best work,” fans everywhere can now test that theory.

The Rock Hall-inducted Seattle legends unleash “Dark Matter,” a muscular romp of power chords, in-your-face bass, drum fills and a late solo that could cut a can in half.

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“Dark Matter” leads the way for the album of the same name, due out April 19.

That twelfth studio LP is the followup to 2020’s Gigaton, which peaked at No. 15 on the Billboard 200 chart and was described by some devotees as their most experimental album yet.

Based on the three-and-a-half minutes of “Dark Matter,” this next phase will rock. Stream it below.

One of the great bands to emerge from the grunge era, Pearl Jam has landed 12 top 10s on the Billboard 200, including five No. 1s. Vedder and Co. were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in 2017, joining Journey, Electric Light Orchestra, Yes, Tupac Shakur, Joan Baez and Nile Rodgers.

Vedder, lead guitarist Mike McCready, and bass player Jeff Ament premiered the album at a listening party in West Hollywood last month, attended by few hundred family, friends, industry professionals and reporters, the Associated Press reported.

“You all get together as a group as we’ve been doing for 30-plus years and you say, ‘Let’s try it again,’” Vedder reportedly told guests from the stage as he introduced the album. “No hyperbole, I think this is our best work.”

Producer Andrew Watt reportedly recorded the LP at Rick Rubin’s Shangri-La studio in Malibu, California.

“We made this record like a year ago,” Ament told onlookers at the listening party. “We’ve been sitting on it.”