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29 Nov 2023

Billboard’s Power Players’ Choice Award: Vote for Music’s Most Impactful Executive (Nominations)

Billboard is bringing back its peer-voted Power Players’ Choice Award for 2024, asking members of the music industry across all sectors to honor the executive they believe had the most impact across the business in the past year.

Voting is open to all Billboard Pro members, both existing and new, with one vote per member per round.

The first round of voting for the Power Players’ Choice Award is now underway with an open call for nominees and will run through Dec. 10.

The Power Players’ Choice Award will run alongside Billboard’s annual Power 100 ranking of the music industry’s most influential executives, which will be announced in February.

Vote here:

Billboard launched its first Players’ Choice Award with the Power 100 list last January, followed by the Country Power Players’ Choice Award that concluded in June and the R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players’ Choice Award in August and the Latin Power Players’ Choice Award in September. In 2024, the peer-voted award will expand to also cover International Power Players and Top Music Lawyers.

The second round of voting will begin Dec. 11, in order to narrow down the top 20 nominees into the final five top executives and will run through Jan. 1.

The third round of voting will begin Jan. 2, to select the winner from that list. Voting concludes Jan. 14 at 11:59 p.m. EST.

29 Nov 2023

PinkPantheress’ Secret to Clear Skin Is a $17 Foaming Cleanser: Shop Here

All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

PinkPantheress is giving you a peek into her daily ritual as well as her thoughts on opening for Olivia Rodrigo’s GUTS Tour in a new Vogue video that walks through her skincare and makeup routine. One of her secrets for keeping clear skin includes the popular La Roche Posay foaming facial cleanser, which she’s been using for years.

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“My friend told me once that her sister had bad acne and then it dissolved as soon as she used this, and that’s why I’ve been using this since I was about 13 years old,” the “Mosquito” singer shared in the video.

Washing your face is integral to helping keep your skin clear and healthy, but the 22-year-old has another secret she learned from none other than supermodel Naomi Campbell.

“I view my forehead as a very complicated and sacred thing and I therefore won’t touch it. Someone told me that Naomi Campbell doesn’t put foundation on her forehead — that might be wrong — but ever since I heard that I haven’t let it go,” she explained.

La Roche Posay’s facial cleanser has built up a rating of 4.7 stars out of five stars and over 24,500 verified five-star reviews from shoppers who can’t get enough of the skincare essential. With Cyber Week deals still going on, you may be able to snag the highly praised foaming cleanser for a fraction of the cost.

Keep reading to shop the “Capable of Love” singer’s go-to cleanser.

blue bottle of cleanser

Target

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Facial Cleanser

$16.99

$18.39

$18.99

La Roche Posay’s foaming cleanser aims to be sensitive skin-friendly using a fragrance-free formula that also includes prebiotic thermal water, ceramide-3, niacinamide and glycerin. With each wash it’ll aim to clean and cleanse skin without removing your skin’s natural skin barrier or messing with your pH levels.

One shopper even commented, “I’ve bought this several times it doesn’t dry out my skin, it has no scent and my skin feels light and clean after use.”

That’s not all the singer uses in her skincare routine, we also put a few of the other celeb-loved beauty products below.

More of PinkPantheress’ Beauty Products

white container of skin cream

Amazon

Laneige Mini Cream Skin Toner & Moisturizer

Laneige’s toner also acts as a moisturizer giving you a two-in-one skincare product that’ll help cleanse and soothe your skin while providing a boost of hydration using ingredients like amino acid-filled white tea leaf water.

white and silver container of serum

Amazon

Sunday Riley Good Genes All-In-One Lactic Acid Treatment

$36.55

$43.00

15% off

While more of a splurge, PinkPantheress also uses Sunday Riley’s lactic acid treatment, which looks to brighten exfoliate and minimize the look of dark spots with just a simple pump.

white bottle of sunscreen

Amazon

Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen

$38.00

$38

$38

SPF is another skincare must-have for the popstar who opts for Supergoop’s Unscreen Sunscreen. It’s made with SPF 40 and has a lightweight formula that won’t leave a greasy residue on your face, while being sweat- and water-resistant for up to 40-minutes.

Check out the full beauty routine breakdown below.

For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best sunscreen, press-on nails and powder foundation.

29 Nov 2023

Spotify Wrapped’s Most Streamed Artists Through the Years: Taylor Swift, Drake & More

The end of November marks Spotify Wrapped season, the time of year when pretty much everyone is posting on social media about the artists and songs they listened to most this year.

Wrapped has quickly become a beloved tradition among music lovers since since its launch in 2014. Not only does the year-end review give you a glimpse at your friends’ music tastes (and guilty pleasures … looking at you, Glee cast), but it can also turn you on to new artists and genres you may never have found without seeing them listed on your sister’s friend’s cousin’s boyfriend’s Instagram Story.

But looking at (and maybe even secretly judging) people’s year-end Spotify configurations also gives you an idea of which artists were most popular that year, cropping up again and again in listeners’ top fives. Very few musicians earn millions, let alone billions, of streams per year on the platform — and only one of them gets to reign supreme come the end of each November.

In 2023, that prize goes to none other than Ms. Taylor Swift. The names before her may be ones you expect — Billboard Hot 100 chart-rulers such as Drake, Bad Bunny, Ed Sheeran and more — but did you know that only three artists have been Spotify’s top global artist more than once? And only one person has ever done it three years in a row?

The advent of streaming has made music more accessible to people around the world than was ever imaginable even a decade ago. Keep reading to see Spotify Wrapped’s most streamed global artists through the years, along with each of their year-end total stream counts, below:

29 Nov 2023

Kelsea Ballerini Reveals She & Chase Stokes Have Matching Tattoos: ‘We Can’t Break Up’

Kelsea Ballerini and Chase Stokes’ relationship has been cemented in ink. The “If You Go Down” singer appeared on the Wednesday (Nov. 29) episode of Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy podcast and revealed that she and the Outer Banks actor now have matching tattoos.

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“We have matching tattoos and we can’t break up,” she told the host as the pair drove in her car. “We have matching Virgos … we got them together.”

Though the pair’s tattoos match, they each got them for their own individual reasons; Ballerini shared that being a Virgo often led her to struggle for control throughout her life. “I used to really resent my Virgo-ness because to me it was very control freak, just needing power in a lot of situations in a relationship,” she explained. “And he’s a Virgo too, and he and I have just really allowed ourselves to just love that part of ourselves and each other. Just the need to communicate well and be loyal and all those things.”

After taking some time to gush about her relationship with the actor — the country star called Stokes the “most emotionally intelligent man I’ve ever met in my life” and noted that he’s “a man written by a woman” — Ballerini shed light on what it’s been like seeing Stokes have a working relationship with his ex-girlfriend and Outer Banks co-star Madelyn Cline.

The four-time Grammy nominee is not phased by Cline, and even thinks she’s a nice girl. “I met her and I talked to her and she’s lovely,” she said. “And I think she’s wildly talented. I think the Internet did its best to make it weird, and it didn’t work for them. I’m stoked to be on set. At the end of the day, I’m a girl’s girl, I don’t buy into the bullsh–. I think they have a beautiful working relationship. I don’t feel insecure about my relationship and I don’t feel insecure about myself. Everyone’s good.”

Watch Ballerini’s full Call Her Daddy episode in the video below.

29 Nov 2023

Jessica Simpson Planning a New Album & Tour

Jessica Simpson is going to be booked and busy in 2024, as the singer is in the process of preparing a new album and tour for next year.

Speaking with Footwear News for a story published Tuesday, Simpson shared that she’s been working on new material in Nashville after temporarily relocating her family there from Los Angeles last summer.

“It’s like a retreat for me,” she told the outlet, which is honoring Simpson as their 37th Icon Award recipient. “I get to just crawl up inside my head and embrace my heart. I feel so enlightened there. Writing music has become a beautiful therapeutic thing for me that I didn’t know was so natural, but it’s because I haven’t done it in so long. It’s just nice to know that I’m meeting myself back in this place, as a woman, and after going through everything that I’ve been through in my life. There’s a sense of freedom and empowerment.”

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The Dukes of Hazzard star’s next album would mark her first in more than 13 years. Her last release, Happy Christmas, was released on Nov. 22, 2010. Simpson’s last non-holiday release was 2008’s Do You Know, which peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard 200. She also released “Particles” as a one-off single in 2021.

The 2023 FN Achievement Awards — nicknamed the “Shoe Oscars” — will be held Wednesday night (Nov. 29) at Cipriani South Street in New York. Simpson will be honored as the Icon Award winner, the footwear industry’s highest honor, at the event.

29 Nov 2023

Sabrina Carpenter Responds to Catholic Church Controversy: ‘Jesus Was a Carpenter’

Sabrina Carpenter is feeling lighter like a feather amid recent controversy surrounding her “Feather” music video.

Earlier this week, it was revealed that a Catholic priest who allowed a scene from the clip to be filmed inside Our Lady of Mount Carmel-Annunciation Parish in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, had been relieved of his administrative duties, according to the New York Times. In the music video scene, Carpenter dances around the church, wearing a short black tulle dress and veil and posing with religious items at the alter, including a coffin that reads “RIP B—-.”

“We got approval in advance,” the pop star told Variety of the shoot on Wednesday (Nov. 29), “and Jesus was a carpenter.”

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In an apology posted to the church’s Facebook page, the priest, Msgr. Jamie J. Gigantiello, revealed that he approved the filming in September after not finding anything negative about Carpenter online in an “effort to further strengthen the bonds between the young creative artists who make up a large part of this community.” He also told NYT that he was presented the video shoot idea as a funeral scene, but the result in the music video was “not what was initially presented to me.”

“Feather” is the latest song off Carpenter’s July 2022 album Emails I Can’t Send to get the music video treatment, following “Nonsense,” “Because I Liked a Boy,” “Fast Times” and “Skinny Dipping.” Upon its release, the album debuted at No. 23 on the Billboard 200, marking the rising pop star’s highest peak on the chart to date.

29 Nov 2023

Beyoncé, Post Malone, Eagles & More: The Top-Grossing Concerts of 2023, State-by-State

The 2023 year-end Boxscore charts go live on Thursday (Nov. 30), but before reviewing the ranked lists of the biggest tours, venues and promoters in the world, Billboard is taking a zoomed-in look at the U.S., highlighting the highest-grossing concert engagements in each state.

The figures displayed here are based on figures officially reported to Billboard Boxscore, covering a tracking period of Nov. 1, 2022 – Sept. 30, 2023. That means that Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour is not included, as representatives for her tour did not report. Click to read more about Billboard’s Swiftian projections.

Beyoncé dominates the map, leading in 11 states. Major-market stadium shows on the Renaissance World Tour took top honors in California, Georgia, Illinois and New Jersey, while hometown shows in Houston add another ring for Texas.

Morgan Wallen follows, winning eight states. Also in stadiums, he takes the gold in country-minded Midwest and southern states like Mississippi, Missouri and Ohio. His March release One Thing at a Time finished at No. 1 on the year-end Billboard 200 albums chart, while its second track, “Last Night,” is No. 1 on the year-end Billboard Hot 100 songs ranking.

P!nk and Post Malone are two peas in a pod, both with three regions to their name. The former wins in the District of Columbia, Nebraska and North Dakota, while the latter is tops in Connecticut, New Mexico and Utah.

P!nk’s win in Washington D.C. comes from a Aug. 7 show at Nationals Stadium, with $7.2 million in the bank. Just five miles east, Beyoncé’s concert at FedEx Field in Landover, Md. cleared the path for P!nk to take D.C., though Beyoncé’s Maryland show generally served the same touring market.

Seven other artists doubled up, from Zach Bryan in Kansas and Oklahoma to Karol G in Florida and Puerto Rico. Another 12 acts appear on the map, ranging from comedians like Kevin Hart and Sebastian Maniscalco to rock veterans like Journey and Phish, and relative newcomers like Jelly Roll and Noah Kahan.

29 Nov 2023

BTS Docuseries Trailer, Taylor Swift Reacts to New Travis Kelce Record & More | Billboard News

Taylor Swift took to social media to celebrate her boyfriend’s new Chiefs record. Travis Kelce also scores his first No. 1 with his new track ‘Fairytale of Philadelphia’ that he sings with his brother, Jason Kelce. A trailer for BTS’ new docuseries has dropped. The eight-part series will debut on Disney+ on Dec. 20th. Selena Gomez and award-winning chefs get in the mood for the holidays in a new special coming to the Food Network called ‘Selena + Chef: Home For The Holidays.’ And more!

Kyle Denis
Taylor Swift is proud of her man Travis, the guys of BTS drop a teaser for their docu-series, Selena Gomez is home for the holidays, we learned five things about Jharrel Jerome and Lola Brooke takes us behind the photo. What’s good, y’all. I’m Kyle Dennis. It’s Wednesday, November 29. And I’m here bringing you the news from New York City. Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are the relationship goals we never knew we needed. If you think Taylor doesn’t know about football and what her boo Travis was accomplishing, then you thought wrong, and she proved it on the gram while he gets his first music No. 1. Taylor might be on the bleachers, but she knows what’s up. The official Chiefs account shared news of Kelce’s latest record his game 27 yards second quarter catch sent him over the 11,000 yards mark and his 154th game, surpassing Hall of Famer, Tony Gonzalez’s previous record.Fans were quick to notice the posts are in a double tap from Ms.Swift with many flooding the comments to point out her stamp of approval and, congrats are in order for Travis and his brother Jason as their holiday bop “Fairytale Of Philadelphia” tops Rock Digital Song Sales and Holiday Digital Song Sales.

Watch the full video above!

29 Nov 2023

Kanye West Song “Vultures” Ripped By Jewish Groups As Antisemitic

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Ye aka Kanye West performed a new song over the weekend in Dubai, which has earned him the ire of Jewish groups citing his degrading and antisemitic lyrics.

Ye was spotted in Dubai taking the stage during a show featuring Lil Durk at BLU Dubai nightclub Sunday (Nov. 26) where he was joined by Ty Dolla $ign. The trio then performed a new song featuring Ye called “Vultures.” The club had posted clips of the performance through its Instagram Stories, with one featuring the rapper saying, “How I’m antisemitic? I just f*cked a Jewish b*tch.”

That line sparked outrage online, with Jewish advocacy groups leading the charge against the controversial rapper. “At a time of rising antisemitism worldwide, it’s disgusting to see Kanye once again use his platform to spew Jew-hatred,” a spokesperson for the Anti-Defamation League said to a representative for TMZ.

“To fuel the flames of antisemitism and promote such bile to his millions of followers, especially at this fraught and dangerous time for the Jewish community, is unforgivable,” said Richard Hirschhaut, a spokesperson for the American Jewish Committee, adding that while this isn’t new behavior for Kanye West, this time around “seems particularly pathetic and sad.”

According to reports, “Vultures” (which apparently is Ye’s first official release since July of last year) was first aired to the public on Chicago radio station Power 92 on Nov. 17. The song hasn’t made it to streaming platforms yet. The controversy over the lyric adds to the bevy of antisemitic remarks that Ye has engaged in ever since making a post on X, formerly Twitter, last October.

That led to the “Father Stretch My Hands” rapper being kicked off the platform (he would be reinstated after Elon Musk bought the company), having his deals with adidas and Gap terminated and costing him his billionaire status. It only got worse in December when he appeared on conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ Infowars show and praised Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler.

29 Nov 2023

Which Is Your Favorite Song From Spotify Wrapped’s Most Streamed Tracks of 2023? Vote!

It’s officially that time of year! Spotify unveiled its 2023 Wrapped results for users of the streaming service on Wednesday (Nov. 29), and provided insight into fans’ listening data over the past year.

In addition to providing individual, data-driven results for the users — which now includes fun segments such as Me in 2023, which sums up the way fans listen to music; Sound Town, which matches your taste to a specific city in according to their “listening and shared artist affinity”; and video messages from listeners’ top artists of the year — Spotify also revealed the most listened to tracks of 2023.

The 50-song playlist included several Billboard chart-toppers from the past 12 months. Miley Cyrus‘ “Flowers” was the most streamed track globally, accumulating 1.6 billion streams across the world since its release in January. Bad Bunny, who snagged the title of the second most streamed artist of the year, appeared in the playlist solo with “WHERE SHE GOES” (No. 40) and alongside Grupo Frontera and Chenco Corleone with their collaborative tracks, “un x100to” (No. 16) and “Me Porto Bonito” (No. 47), respectively.

Morgan Wallen and Taylor Swift were also present on the tally, with Wallen’s Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit “Last Night” securing the No. 28 spot on Spotify’s year-end playlist. Swift — the platform’s top artist of the year — had a total of three tracks on the list, including her two No. 1s “Anti-Hero” (No. 10) and “Cruel Summer” (No. 6), as well as “Blank Space” (No. 38).

Which track on Spotify 2023 most streamed songs list is your favorite? Listen to the playlist and vote in our poll below.