News

13 Oct 2023

Queer Jams of the Week: New Music From Troye Sivan, Boygenius, Brittany Howard & More

With fall fully in effect, there’s no better time to cozy up with a new playlist of tunes from your favorite queer artists. Billboard Pride is proud to present the latest edition of Queer Jams of the Week, our roundup of some of the best new music releases from LGBTQ artists.

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From Troye Sivan’s long-awaited new album to Boygenius’ second act of 2023, check out just a few of our favorite new releases from this week below:

Troye Sivan, Something to Give Each Other

Troye Sivan is arguably best known for his ability to convey love and heartbreak into soft, intricate indie-pop track. That is, until now — on Something to Give Each Other, the Australian star’s latest LP, Sivan proves that he can bring the party just as well as any pop star currently working. Diving headfirst into dance-focused songs, Sivan tries out long distance love (“What’s The Time Where You Are?”), late night hookups (“Honey”), and experimentation with straight guys (on the fabulous album standout “One of Your Girls”). Once you make it through Something to Give Each Other, you’ll find that “something” is nothing short of unbridled queer euphoria wrapped in delectable dance-pop.

Boygenius, The Rest

After watching their debut album The Record received cultural and critical acclaim in early 2023, Boygenius — the trio comprised of Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus — figured they might as well thank their fans with a little more. The Rest, a 4-track EP of brand new songs, sees the trio embracing the complex themes they’ve been grappling with since their self-titled 2018 EP, be it untapped potential (“Black Hole”) or reevaluating your own worth (“Voyager”). Each of the three stars gets their own chance to show how much they’ve grown together in the last few months, and to reclaim their image in the way they see fit; if The Rest is a victory lap for one of the year’s most exciting groups, then it’s a well-deserved one that we’re more than happy to watch.

Brittany Howard, “What Now”

Simply put, Brittany Howard is done f–king around. On “What Now,” the lead single off her upcoming solo album of the same name, the former Alabama Shakes frontperson scorches the earth and gives her former flame a stinging kiss-off through blistering lyrics and a relentless melody. A syncopated groove beat and fuzzed-out guitar line perfectly compliment Howard’s raw voice as she bluntly lets her ex know that she’s “f–king up my energy,” and that she’s had enough. “If you want someone to hate then blame it on me,” she sneers on the scathing chorus.

Fred Again.. & Jozzy, “Ten”

What happens when you take one of the most in-demand Dj-producers on the scene and partner him with a criminally underrated songwriting superstar? You get “Ten,” the excellent new track from Fred Again.. and Jozzy. Throughout this laid-back, instantly catchy banger, both Fred and Jozzy flex their respective skills, with lyrics hitting at the feeling of out of place and a meandering beat and production that facilitate the journey back home.

Chelsea Cutler, Stellaria

Chelsea Cutler may have made a name for herself as a confessional singer-songwriter — but she’s never gone quite as far inward as she does on Stellaria. Throughout this contemplative new album, Cutler wrestles with her demons in full view of the world, whether she’s struggling with self-worth (“Loved by You”), her own communication skills (“Men on the Moon”), or the weight of the modern world’s constant disappointments (“Hunting Season”). Stellaria opens up a new world of inner reckoning for Cutler, making it one of her best works yet.

Billy Porter feat. Lady Blackbird, “Children (What Time It Is)”

If you’re in need of a pick me up heading into the weekend, allow Billy Porter to give you the boost you’re looking for. With a reimagined version of his song “Children (What Time It Is),” Porter effortlessly blends his worlds of entertainment and activism into a disco-pop banger meant to activate the fire inside you. With a new feature from Lady Blackbird punctuating Porter’s incredible voice, “Children” resonates with a renewed fervor, ready to get you running to the nearest dance floor in no time.

Check out all of our picks on Billboard’s Queer Jams of the Week playlist below:

13 Oct 2023

‘UFC Fight Night’: How to Watch Yusuff vs. Barboza Online Without Cable

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It’s finally happening! UFC Fight Night is back on Saturday (Oct. 14), and it features a matchup you don’t want to miss. The main card event will see No. 11 ranked featherweight Sodiq Yusuff go against No. 13 ranked Edson Barboza at 7 p.m. ET at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas.

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If you couldn’t score a travel deal or tickets to see the fight in-person, you can still catch the main card event as well as the preliminaries on ESPN+.

While Yusuff vs. Barboza will see who takes home the title, the co-main event will have former UFC title challenger and No. 9 ranked flyweight contender Jennifer Maia enter the ring against against No. 10 Viviane Araujo. It’s a particularly important match for Maia as, if she wins, she’ll secure not only another win, but the longest win streak of her fighting career.

Other fights you can expect to see include Jonathan Martinez vs. Adrian Yanez (bantamweight), Michel Pereira vs. Andre Petroski (middleweight), Edgar Chairez vs. Daniel Lacerda (catchweight) and Christian Rodriguez vs. Cameron Saaiman (bantamweight).

Keep reading to learn the streaming options for Yusuff vs. Barboza.

When & How to Watch UFC Fight Night: Yusuff vs. Barboza

Preliminary matches will begin at 4 p.m. ET on Saturday (Oct. 14), which you can watch anywhere ESPN airs including ESPN+. If you have cable, tune into whatever channel ESPN is on — just check your channel guide through your cable provider to find the channel.

Don’t have cable? You may be able to watch it through an HD antenna or you can use live TV providers including DirecTV Stream, Hulu + Live TV, SlingTV, Philo and fuboTV that have free trials and promos going on, which means you could watch the preliminary matches for free.

The main card event will be livestreamed exclusively on ESPN+ at 7 p.m. ET, which current ESPN+ subscribers can tune into for no additional cost.

Don’t have a subscription? ESPN+ doesn’t have a free trial, but it is one of the cheapest streaming platforms on the market at $10.99/month or you can save over 15% with an annual membership for $109.99/year.

Besides UFC Fight Night, a subscription will also give you access to exclusive live events, dozens of sports series, TV shows and groundbreaking originals from the top names in sports including The Captain, America’s Caddie, Man in the Arena With Tom Brady, More Than an Athlete With Michael Strahan, Our Time: Baylor Basketball, Al Davis vs. The NFL, Vick, Be Like Water, Breakaway, the entire 30 for 30 series and more.

For additional savings, consider bundling ESPN+ with Hulu and Disney+ or you can check out Hulu + Live TV for access to hundreds of channels including ESPN, Starz, Showtime and more.

13 Oct 2023

Publishing Briefs: UMPG Signs Fred Again.., WCM Extends RAYE

Primary Wave has signed an administration agreement with the estate of singer and “Soul Man” songwriter Isaac Hayes. As part of the deal, they will administer various publishing interests for Hayes. They will also be granted the opportunity to market the musician’s name, image and likeness.

Universal Music Publishing U.K. has signed electronic artist and producer Fred again.. to a worldwide publishing deal. He started his career as a producer but gained wide recognition for his artist project during the height of the pandemic after releasing his debut album Actual Life (April 14-December 17 2020). Over the course of his career, he has worked with Ed Sheeran, Brian Eno, Travis Scott, Skrillex, Young Thug, J Balvin and Burna Boy.

Artist and songwriter RAYE has renewed her publishing agreement with Warner Chappell Music, following a breakthrough year. Her debut album My 21st Century Blues was released in February and peaked at No. 2 on the U.K. Official Albums chart and its lead single “Escapism.” (featuring 070 Shake) went all the way to No. 1 in the U.K. She first signed to the publisher in 2016, and her extension covers both her catalog and future works.

All Clear Music and Fuji Music Group have acquired a 100% stake in the writer’s share of publishing for songwriter Will Jennings. The deal covers his entire catalog, which spans legendary artists Steve Winwood, Whitney Houston, Roy Orbison, B.B. King, Celine Dion, and Tim McGraw. His biggest hits include “My Heart Will Go On,” “Tears in Heaven,” “Higher Love” and “Up Where We Belong.”

Raleigh Music Publishing has acquired the song catalog of musical theater composer and lyricist Alan Jay Lerner. For his evergreen songs, Lerner has been a past recipient of the Johnny Mercer Award, the Songwriters Hall of Fame’s biggest honor. The deal includes 100% of Lerner’s share of US royalties for the following musicals, excluding writer performance royalties and grand rights: My Fair Lady, Camelot, Gigi, Brigadoon, The Day Before Spring, Love Life, On a Clear Day, Paint Your Wagon, What’s Up.

Concord Music Publishing has extended its publishing agreement with Richard ‘Biff’ Stannard. Over the course of his three decade career, he has written with the Spice Girls, U2, Sia, 5 Seconds of Summer, and Ellie Goulding. One of his longest running relationships is with Kylie Minogue — whom he has been writing with for twenty years and counting. His relationship with Concord began in 2020.

Seeker Music has acquired the publishing catalog of Plested, a top U.K. artist and songwriter who has written songs like “Before You Go” by Lewis Capaldi and “Leave Before You Love Me” by Marshmello, Jonas Brothers. In addition, he also has cuts with Kygo, OneRepublic, Niall Horan, The Chainsmokers, Anne-Marie, James Arthur and more.

Warner Chappell Music and Tape Room Music have renewed their global publishing agreement with country songwriter Hunter Phelps. Additionally, WCM is also acquiring the hitmaker’s catalog, which includes “wait in the truck” by HARDY ft. Lainey Wilson, “Thinking ‘Bout You” by Dustin Lynch and Mackenzie Porter, and “Drinkin’ Beer. Talkin’ God. Amen.” by Chase Rice and Florida Georgia Line.

Position Music has signed Chloe Copoloff to a worldwide publishing deal. The 25-year-old songwriter has worked with Salem Ilese, Alan Walker, Andi, Skydxddy, Sundial, Francis Karel, Holden Miller, and Cloudy June and has forthcoming cuts with VIVIZ, Ashley Sienna, Dia Frampton, Culture Code, Meg DeAngelis, Francis Karel.

Concord Music Publishing has wrapped its 11th annual sync camp in Nashville, where 90 songwriters worked together on songs for synchronization in films, tv shows, commercials and more. Since its inception, the Concord sync camp has garnered over 1500 placements in various forms of visual media, including placements in “All Rise,” “Big Shot,” “The Witcher,” “The Spanish Princess,” and “East New York.”

Outer Voice Music Publishing (OVMP) has signed a global administration deal with Downtown Music Publishing. Founded as a branch of the Outer Voice Company, a label launched by JAM and Philly in association with Converse, OVMP was created to sign and represent the work of South Asia songwriters across the diaspora.

13 Oct 2023

Friday Dance Music Guide: The Week’s Best New Tracks From Skrillex With Flowdan & Lil Baby, Fred again.., G Jones & More

The weekend’s in sight, and we’ve got the solace of the dancefloor on our minds. These are the best new dance tracks of the week.

Fred again.. & Jozzy, “ten”

The Label: Atlantic Records

The Spiel: Fred Gibson has established himself as a technician of music that’s simultaneously melancholy, peppy and entirely his own. The producer again flexes that ability on his latest, “ten.” Featuring shimmery vocals from Jozzy (a singer whose also got writing credits that include “Old Town Road”), the song is a tight, slightly somber affair about missing someone bad, with the percussion and tempo also imbuing it with a certain brightness, like that feeling of finally actually seeing them. The song — written by Fred, Jozzy and Jim Legxacy — comes in the midst of Fred’s three-night run at Forest Hills in New York this week, and ahead of a sold out eight-night residency at The Shrine in Los Angeles later this month.

The Artist Says: “This song is about missing home, which I have this year more than ever,” says Fred. “Jozzy and Jim are both f—in g’s and great friends from different sides of the world which I kinda love because it feels like one voice is coming from L.A. and another from London. But yeh foreal I wanna thank them for making this song wit me and also jus for bein my mates. Cos I guess that’s the thing that makes being away from home better? Its always the people innit.”

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Skrillex, Flowdan & Lil Baby, “Pepper”

The Label: OWSLA/Atlantic

The Spiel: Skrillex brings the same tough-as-nails vibe that he started the year with into the close of 2023, with the producer again linking with Flowdan on “Pepper.” Their duo’s third collaboration of the year — after January’s scene-shaking “Rumble” and August’s similarly heavy “Badders” — “Pepper” is a glitchy, darkly stuttering and ironically cold-as-ice track that could very well be the close of a trinity of songs thematically focused on dominance, strength and winning over adversaries. This new one features Lil Baby, whose shimmery, melodic vocals counterbalance Flowdan’s sucker-punch delivery.

The Artist Says: “It’s inspired by being an underdog, not taking no for an answer, overcoming all odds, making sure you get that win,” Flowdan says.

G Jones, Paths

The Label: Illusory Recordings

The Spiel: The producer returns with his much-anticipated sophomore album Paths, the follow-up to 2018’s The Ineffable Truth. A experimental bass pioneer in his own right, the artist born Greg Jones has worked with legends including DJ Shadow, Amon Tobin and Eprom, and on Paths, he once again demonstrates why they’ve all sought him out. The album synthesizes sharp, sometimes challenging, often spare and occasionally explosive bass music that deftly maintains the celestial, cerebral and frequently ambient tone that’s part of his signature. Jones has developed a new live show for the album that he’s debuting at Red Rocks Amphitheatre this Sunday (Oct. 15).

The Artist Says: “I’ve been working on the Paths Live show all year, remixing and reformatting songs from Paths as well as the rest of my catalog for live performance, and also doing multi-day IRL work sessions with my team of visual collaborators, building this new show from scratch,” says Jones. “I can hardly contain my excitement about it all. I’ve been discovering so many new ways to perform my songs in a live context, and really believe that the audiovisual aspect of the show will be far beyond anything we’ve done before.”

REZZ & deadmau5, “Infraliminal”

The Label: mau5trap

The Spiel: REZZ and deadmau5 mark another milestone in their history as pals and collaborators with “Infraliminal,” an dual edit of deadmau5′ “Superliminal,” the opening track of his 2012 classic >album title goes here<. This new “REZZmau5” version maintains the same call-to-arms quality as the original while shaving off about two minutes, spending a little more time in the ambient section and adding more of REZZ’s signature bass crunch.

The Artist Says: “’Superliminal’ is my favorite deadmau5 track,” says REZZ. “That’s one of the key songs that stunned me and I immediately had to learn to produce music. I put my own lil spin on it, while Joel also did his own lil spin, and we combined it together for now called ‘Infraliminal.’”

Azzecca, “Tell That Boy”

The Label: Higher Ground

The Spiel: Chicago producer Azzecca has released “Tell That Boy” via Diplo’s Higher Ground label, with the the house track encompassing moments of spareness, heaviness and general acid-ness over the course of three-and-a-half minutes, and further establishing why she’s one to watch. Azzecca plays in Amsterdam next week during ADE before returning to the States for sets at Phoenix’s Body Language Festival, Austin’s Seismic Dance Event and EDC Orlando.

The Artist Says: “Thank you all so much for the support on this cheeky little acidy thing,” Azzecca says.

13 Oct 2023

New Music Latin: Listen to Releases From Sofia Reyes & Beéle, Pink Pablo & More

New Music Latin is a compilation of the best new Latin songs and albums recommended by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors. Check out this week’s picks below.

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Ivan Cornejo, “Donde Estás” (Interscope Records)

After introducing himself to fans with his sad sierreño ballad “Está Dañada” in 2021, Ivan Cornejo has since evolved his sound, fusing it with alternative rock. The Mexican-American artist, who recently joined Interscope Records’ roster, delivers his new track “Donde Estas” while remaining very much rooted in acoustic and moody guitars, and placing all bets on deep, mature lyrics about love and heartbreak. Cornejo’s raspy vocal delivery only adds to the already sentimental song, which starts with a dreamy synth before soothing harmonies take over. “I even started therapy sessions, I went out with a few [girls] and none of them are like you, they’re not like you, you have me at your feet,” he sings, palpably hurt. Cornejo is currently on the road with his U.S. Terapia Tour, and is set to release a new album next year. — GRISELDA FLORES

Jasiel Nuñez & DannyLux, “Corazón Frío” (Doble P Records)

Brimming with teary-eyed brilliance, “Corazón Frío” is a poignant ballad by Jasiel Nuñez and DannyLux, resonating through its steely guitar strums and luminescent synth sounds. This emotionally charged breakup song dives into profound heartbreak, using melancholic melodies and introspective lyrics to encapsulate the pain of loss and longing. “I’ve tried everything to make you stay by my side/ And nothing has worked, your heart is colder than ice cream,” the Guadalajara and Palm Springs-raised artists croon in Spanish, as they paint an evocative image of a cold, unresponsive heart. Their laid-back delivery and emotional resonance exemplify the powerful impact of sad sierreños, making “Corazón Frío” a stunning showcase of the duo’s artistic prowess. — ISABELA RAYGOZA

Pink Pablo, “no es culpa mía” (Pink Pablo)

Puerto Rican musician Pink Pablo delivers an electrifying new single in “no es culpa mia,” an infectious track that fuses classic rock elements with DnB. The song, written and produced by the artist and sprinkled with humor and some English, talks about ignoring negative comments and staying true to yourself: “What does it matter to you what I stop doing? They don’t know anything about me, they don’t have anything to do… I was born this way, así fue que yo nací,” goes part of the lyrics. “There are always hostile people that offer backhanded comments and unfounded judgments against us for doing things differently,” Pink Pablo explains in a press release. “As tempting as it is to take things personal and get sidetracked by the noise, situations like this become my muse.” The breakout star, whose most recent releases include “La Vibra” and “Veo Luces,” is currently working on what will be his debut EP. — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS

Sofia Reyes, Beéle, “Cobarde” (Warner Music Latina)

Instead of unleashing a dulcet pop song in one’s style or an infectious Afrobeat track in the other’s, in their first collaborative effort, Sofia Reyes and Beéle drop a sensual, urban-bachata fusion. In the heartfelt lyrics, the two artists sing about messing up in a relationship, learning from their mistakes and loving each other stronger than before. “I’m going to find you in every life/Like the ocean looks for the sand and salt/You were a coward who knew how to change/Because love is unconditional,” sings Reyes. “Hard to forget like a lunar eclipse/In its natural version it is something spectacular/I failed you so many times, I passed through every street/There I had to get lost to find myself,” responds Beéle. “Cobarde” is part of Reyes upcoming studio album, MILAMORES, expected to drop on Nov. 2. — JESSICA ROIZ

Musiko, Billy (Musiko Music)

Musiko has presented his most recent musical project, which bears his birth name, Billy. “The joy my heart feels is indescribable! After 3 years you will finally be able to hear what is definitely the best musical proposal I have created in my life!!” the Puerto Rican artist wrote on social media. The 11-song set, all collaborations, is a testament to his musical journey, from his life of faith to his collaborative spirit. On Billy, Musiko explores a wide range of musical genres –- from folk on “Si Puedes Creer” with Majo and Dan, to reggaeton dembow on “Malas Promesas” with Jinys, to ska on “Una Locura” with La Feria -– and imprints his characteristic urban style on all of them. He also features songs alongside Gabriel EMC, Omy Alka, CRYS, Kim Richards, Josh Gamez, Averly Morillo, Montesanto, and Funky. As a whole, Billy demonstrates Musiko’s versatility in adapting his voice and sound to different musical genres — and at the same time, it’s an open declaration of his love for God and the mark He has left on his life. — LUISA CALLE

13 Oct 2023

Megan Thee Stallion Says She’s Not Signed to a Label: ‘We Are in My Pockets, Hotties’

Megan Thee Stallion is taking her music back into her own hands amid a grueling legal battle with her record label 1501 Certified Entertainment.

During an Instagram Live on Thursday (Oct. 12), the rapper revealed that she’s not signed to a label and will be funding her own music projects moving forward, as seen in screen recordings shared by fans on social media. “This part of my album is very much so funded by Megan Thee Stallion because we’re trying to get off… Y’all know what’s the tea. But I have no label right now,” she explained. “We’re doing everything funded straight out of Megan Thee Stallion’s pockets. So, the budget is coming from me. Motherf—ing Hot Girl Productions! The next s— y’all about to see is all straight from Megan Thee Stallion’s brain and Megan Thee Stallion’s wallet. We are in my pockets, hotties, so let’s do our big one.”

Meg added that she’s “excited” to be releasing music on her own. “It’s really just me this go around until we sign to a new label. But I don’t want to sign to a new label right now because I just want to do it myself,” she shared.

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Billboard has reached out to Megan’s team for more information.

Megan Thee Stallion gives fans an update on her upcoming album; says she’s footing the bill while still fighting to get out of the record deal with 1501.

“I have no label right now, we’re doing everything funded straight out of Megan Thee Stallion’s pocket.” pic.twitter.com/5vOmVvLiLY

— Mílagro (@MobzWorld) October 13, 2023

The star rapper has been fighting with 1501 for more than two years, claiming the company duped a young artist into signing an “unconscionable” record deal in 2018 that was below industry standards. She filed the current case in February 2022, claiming 1501 had wrongly classified her Something For Thee Hotties less than an “album” — a significant distinction, as she owes a certain number of albums under her deal. Megan Thee Stallion filed a new complaint in August 2022 seeking more than $1 million in damages over claims that 1501 had “systematically failed” to pay enough royalties. 1501 then fired back with new accusations of its own, claiming it’s actually Megan Thee Stallion who owes “millions of dollars.”

13 Oct 2023

The Spooky Reboot You’ve Been Waiting for? Here’s How to Stream ‘Goosebumps’ for Free

A new chapter of Goosebumps drops on Friday (Oct. 13). The series, premiering on Disney+ and Hulu, is inspired by the bestselling novels from R.L. Stine.

Set in present day, Goosebumps centers around five high schoolers whose investigation into the 1993 death of a local teenager leads them on a “shadowy and twisted journey” that uncovers “dark secrets from their parents’ past.”

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Ana Yi Puig, Justin Long, Miles McKenna, Rachael Harris, Will Price, Zack Morris, Conor Welch and Pavun Shetty star series.

Read on for ways to stream Goosebumps for free.

How to Watch Goosebumps: Ways to Stream

The first five episodes of Goosebumps are streaming now on Disney+ and Hulu. Click below to launch your 30-day free trial to watch the show on Hulu.

If you’re a fan of the book series, you’ll probably recognize some of the episode titles: “Say Cheese and Die!” “The Haunted Mask” “Cuckoo Clock of Doom,” “Go Eat Worms” and “Reader Beware.”

The premiere episode, “Say Cheese and Die,” follows a star quarterback who finds an old camera “that causes his life to spiral,” per IMDB.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=sIiUwbBxZo8&version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-US&autohide=2&wmode=transparent

Ready to join Hulu? Plans start at $7.99/month and as low as $2/month with a student discount. Hulu subscribers can stream thousands of episodes of TV and movies including “Huluween” picks such as Monster: Inside America’s Most Extreme Haunted Houses, The Mill, Appendage and Living for the Dead (premiering Oct. 18).

To steam more of your favorite programs, bundle Hulu with Disney+ for $9.99/month ($14.99/month to include ESPN+), or subscribe to Hulu + Live TV to stream over 90 live channels. Disney+ subscriptions start at $7.99/month but no free trial.

Also streaming on Hulu: Only Murders in the Building, The Kardashians, Reservation Dogs, The Bear and other Hulu Originals, plus most new episodes from your favorite network TV and cable shows one day after they air.

The latest Goosebumps show is a reboot of the 1995 television series, which ended in 1998. For the ’90s babies who grew up reading (and watching) Goosebumps, we’ve rounded up a couple collectible books sets that you can’t pass up.

Shop below.

Goosebumps 25th Anniversary Retro Set

This 25th anniversary set includes five of the bestselling Goosebumps novels packed in a retro tin. The collection features Monster Blood, Why I’m Afraid of Bees, A Night in Terror Tower, The Beast From the East and Legend of the Lost Legend.

The Classic Goosebumps Series: 20 Book Collection

If you really want to give yourself “goosebumps,” get a bigger box set! This set features 20 books including Stay out of the Basement, The Ghost Next Door, Revenge of the Lawn Gnomes, The Haunted Car, Let’s Get Invisible, The Scarecrow Walks at Night, The Curse of the Mummy’s Tomb, Night of the Living Dummy, The Werewolf of Fever Swamp, Return of the Mummy, The Haunted Mask, Vampire Death, Please Don’t Feed the Vampire and Attack of the Graveyard Ghouls.

13 Oct 2023

Joe Hisaishi’s ‘Symphonic Celebration’ Sets Modern-Era U.S. Vinyl Sales Record for a Classical Album

Joe Hisaishi and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra’s A Symphonic Celebration: Music From the Studio Ghibli Films of Hayao Miyazaki makes a splash on Billboard’s album charts, and sets a modern-era single-week U.S. sales record for a classical album on vinyl.

First released on June 30 via digital download, CD and through streaming services, the album was issued on vinyl on Sept. 29. In the week ending Oct. 5, the album sold a total of 12,500 copies in the U.S. according to data tracking firm Luminate, with 12,000 of that sum on vinyl. The latter figure marks the single biggest sales week for a classical album on vinyl since Luminate began electronically tracking music sales in 1991.

The Symphonic album’s vinyl sales were bolstered by its availability across five different vinyl variants. All were double-LP sets – a standard black vinyl, a picture disc set, and three color variants: clear, yellow and sky blue.

In total in the week ending Oct. 5, Symphonic earned 13,000 in equivalent album units*, of which 12,500 were in traditional album sales. That marks the second-largest week for a classical album released in 2023, in both units earned and pure album sales, following the debut frame of Def Leppard’s Drastic Symphonies (16,000 units; of which 15,000 were in album sales; June 3-dated charts).

The new Symphonic Celebration album surveys composer Hisaishi’s work with film director Hayao Miyazaki and his many animated films for Studio Ghibli. Hisaishi teamed with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra to present symphonic arrangements of familiar music he created for such films as Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle and Princess Mononoke.

A Symphonic Celebration returns for a second week at No. 1 on Billboard’s Classical Albums chart (jumping 11-1, with 13,000 equivalent album units earned; up 1,418%) after it debuted atop the list dated July 15 (following its initial digital download, CD and streaming release). On Traditional Classical Albums, it also bumps back to No. 1 for a second week (rising 2-1), after debuting at No. 1 (July 15). The two charts rank the week’s most popular overall classical albums (by equivalent album units) and traditional classical albums (by pure album sales), respectively.

A Symphonic Celebration also debuts in the top 10 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales (No. 4), Vinyl Albums (No. 2) and Tastemaker Albums (No. 9), and re-enters at No. 4 on Top Current Album Sales (a new peak). The four charts rank, respectively, the week’s top-selling albums overall, the top-selling vinyl releases, the top-selling albums at independent and small chain record stores, and the top-selling current albums (not catalog, or older titles).

Finally, on the overall, all-genre Billboard 200 chart, A Symphonic Celebration bows at No. 74. The Billboard 200 ranks the week’s most popular albums, overall, across all genres, by equivalent album units.

*Equivalent album 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.

13 Oct 2023

She’s Not Done: Jada Pinkett Smith Reveals Her Late Bestie, 2Pac, Proposed To Her During Prison Stint

HipHopWired Featured Video

28th Screen Actors Guild Awards - Arrivals

Source: Variety / Getty / Jada Pinkett Smith

If you hoped Jada Pinkett Smith was done talking, we are sad to report she is not.

Jada Pinkett Smith is currently on her whirlwind book tour for her memoir, Worthy, coming October 17, and recently stopped by the All The Smoke podcast to speak with hosts and former NBA hoopers Matt Barnes, and she had even more juicy nuggets to share, specifically about 2Pac.

Following the recent revelations that she and her husband, Will Smith, have been separated for years, Pinkett Smith revealed that her late bestie, 2Pac, asked for her hand in marriage during his 1995 prison stint.

Pinkett Smith believes that Pac would have kicked her to the curb the first chance he got out of prison.

Per HipHopDX:

“When I wrote about that in the book and when I had to talk about it, speak my words for the Audible version of the book, that was probably one of the more painful parts,” she said. “Seeing him there, the condition that he was in and having to leave him there. He was in bad shape. And so, when he asked me to get married, he was at Rikers [Island].

“I knew at that time that he needed somebody to do time with him, which I was gonna do anyway. He didn’t have to marry me to do that. I’m here. He needed a rock. Because of our friendship and everything we had been through together, he just wanted to feel that solidified foundation.”

She continued: “I promise you, he would’ve married me and divorced me as soon as his ass got out [of prison]. He would’ve! […] I just think it was the mind state that he was in. He wrote me this long letter, and even before ‘Pac went to jail, he was starting to shift in a certain manner. Good, really good.

“And I think that for him, he just felt like, ‘Okay, if I can tether myself, it’ll keep me on a trajectory.’ But trust me, he would’ve divorced me as soon as he — one thing he wouldn’t want me as is a wife. I know that for a fact! But I think just being at Rikers, it just kinda shook him a little.”

Jada Pinkett Smith Reveals Her & 2Pac Were Not On Speaking Terms

During their conversation, Pinkett Smith told Barnes and Jackson that she and 2Pac, whom she called her “soulmate” in a recent interview with Rolling Out, were not on speaking terms because of a heated argument.

It was only after his murder that she realized that holding onto past disputes was insignificant and that you “don’t hold on to bullsh-t. It’s not worth it.”

Welp.

You can fully expect more details to drop leading up to her memoir’s release.

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Photo: Variety / Getty

13 Oct 2023

Bad Bunny Launches ‘Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana’ at Puerto Rico’s Coliseo: Photos

Can an album listening party with 16,000 guests feel cozy? Special? Evidently, yes. Last night, Bad Bunny made that happen as he debuted his new LP, Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana.

Held at the iconic Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot (a.k.a. El Choli) in San Juan, the event itinerary was a mystery when announced. Would Bad Bunny show up? Or would fans simply hear the album track-by-track without him? Nobody knew. Still, tickets sold out within two hours of going on sale.

But Bad Bunny did show up, and in spectacular fashion. In the center of the arena floor, surrounded by clamoring fans, a souped-up vintage Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow — the same car used in the video for “Where She Goes,” and in his 2023 Billboard Latin Music Awards performance — slowly lowered from the ceiling. Fans screamed. Bad Bunny was in the driver’s seat.

Encircling the car below were a dozen or so dancers, all of them clad in black with faces totally covered by something akin to a balaclava, but with eyes sealed for an alien-like look. Bad Bunny wore the same, with a checkered handkerchief resting atop his head.

The album kicked off in chronological order with “Nadie Sabe.” El Conejo nodded along subtly, matching the pensive tone of the track, in which he reflects on his trajectory. He started making music as a young teen 10 years ago, and today he’s almost 30, with five full-length albums and heaps of EPs and singles. Bad Bunny seems to grapple with his continuously spiking celebrity and the corresponding loneliness it apparently brings.

See the best photos from the event in the gallery below, and read Billboard‘s full review of the listening party here.