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27 Sep 2023

Chloe Bailey Blushes After Admitting Who Her Celebrity Crush Is

Chlöe Bailey‘s got a crush on one of the biggest stars in Hollywood.

The 25-year-old “Have Mercy” singer joined The Dotty Show this week, where she revealed that he celebrity crush is none other than Michael B. Jordan. “I’ve been saying that in interviews even, like, years ago,” she admitted.

When asked if she’s told Jordan her feelings, Chlöe said she hadn’t. “I don’t shoot my shot,” she explained. When host Dotty suggested that she might be “blocking her blessings” by not reaching out to the actor, Chlöe replied, “I’m big on blessings, but I’m like, ‘God will bring my blessings to me when they’re supposed to be here.’”

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Dotty then asked Chlöe what it is about Jordan that she likes, and the singer immediately blushed and began to giggle.

It has certainly been a year of blessings for the singer, who released her debut solo album In Pieces back in March via Parkwood Entertainment and Columbia Records. The 14-track project features previously released singles “Pray It Away” and “How Does It Feel,” featuring Chris Brown, and more collaborations with Missy Elliott (“Told Ya”) and Future (“Cheatback”).  In Pieces marks her first solo project apart from her sister duo Chloe x Halle.

Watch her gush over Michael B. Jordan below.

27 Sep 2023

Say ‘Howdy’ to Barbie & Wrangler’s New Pink-Themed Collection: Shop Here

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Greta Gerwig’s Barbie movie has officially resurrected Western wear while inventing its own trend: Barbiecore fashion. Now, the iconic doll is continuing its takeover of our closets in a new collaboration with Wrangler — the original Western style brand. The two have put together a Barbie x Wrangler collection that will complete your Barbie Halloween costumes and fall rotation.

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Starting Wednesday (Sept. 27), you can shop a range of pink-themed, cowboy-inspired styles, but with a Barbie twist. Think hot pink, flared pants, exclusive graphic T-shirts and, our personal favorite, a fringe pink jacket (perfect for twirling in). It’s available in mix-and-matching styles for women and girls with styles reminiscent of the 1970s.

Keep reading to shop pieces from the collaboration or check out the full collection here.

blue denim jacket with pink barbie patch

Wrangler

Zip-Front Denim Jacket

$114.99

This denim jacket gets a Barbie makeover in the best way possible. It features the classic Wrangler denim with a pink patch that reads “Barbie” on the back in her timeless font. The back sides of the jacket are also adjustable to customize to your preferences.

model wearing pink jeans with western graphic top

Wrangler

High-Rise Wrancher Pant

$74.99

Ditch the classic denim shades and add a pop of hot pink to your jeans collection. These Wrancher Pants come in a high-rise fit with belt loops that have Barbie’s “B” embroidered on the front two. You can easily pair these with a casual T-shirt or dress it up with a blouse.

model wearing pink denim dress with brown cowboy boots

Wrangler

Western Shirt Dress

$89.99

If Taylor Swift has taught us anything it’s that denim dresses are in this season. This Western Shirt Dress is ready to be added into your rotation as the relaxed fit is versatile and can be cinched with a belt or kept as is for a more loose look.

model wearing white and pink pullover

Wrangler

Relaxed Logo Sweatshirt

$69.99

Get cozy with your gal Barbie in the form of this logo sweatshirt featuring the famous doll’s name written across the front in a chenille material. On the back, you can expect Wrangler written across in the same font and material.

model wearing white and pink pullover with pink, blue, yellow and white striped pants

Wrangler

Wanderer High-Rise Flare Jean

Feeling groovy? These flared jeans will be a showstopper with its multi-colored striped pattern and high-rise waist you can tuck a top in and pair with a simple denim jacket.

pink sherpa jacket with barbie graphics

Wrangler

Western Sherpa Jacket

$54.99

This sherpa jacket just oozes cozy vibes — but without sacrificing fashion. The fluffy material is decorated with Western graphics all on a pink background you can layer on chilly fall days.

pink fringe denim jacket

Wrangler

Fringe Wrancher Jacket

$114.99

Mix up your fall jacket collection with a fun fringe jacket in Barbie’s classic pink shade. It comes with a fringe back and front and adjustable sides. As a bonus, the interior boasts a bandana patterned liner made from recycled polyester materials.

For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best couples Halloween costumes, Beyoncé disco cowboy hats and corset tops.

27 Sep 2023

BLACKPINK’s Lisa Just Broke a Guinness World Record With ‘Money’

Lisa is no stranger to breaking records — either with the members of her girl group BLACKPINK or solo. Now, the rapper adds yet another Guinness World Record to her list of achievements, thanks to her track “Money” hitting 1 billion streams on Spotify, the organization confirmed Wednesday (Sept. 27).

According to Guinness, “Money” earned Lisa the title of being the first K-pop track by a solo artist to reach 1 billion streams on Spotify. The song — released as the second track from her 2021 solo EP Lalisa — reached approximately 1,002,683,408 streams as of Sept. 21. The single additionally charted on the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 90 following its release.

With the new Guinness World Record, Lisa has a total of four solo achievements through the organization. Earlier this year, the “Lalisa” rapper earned solo placements after becoming the first solo K-pop winner at the MTV Video Music Awards in 2022. She also became the first solo K-pop winner at 2022’s MTV Europe Music Awards, after being nominated twice in the category due to a nod alongside BLACKPINK.

The third record Lisa earned in 2023 came from her social media following — she sits as having the most followers for a K-pop artist on Instagram, with a then total of 86.3 million Blinks eagerly waiting for her updates on the social media platform. (Since January, that total has skyrocketed to a total of 97.3 million followers on Instagram.)

With BLACKPINK, Lisa also holds world record titles for having the most subscribers for a band on YouTube (April 22, 2021) and for being the most streamed female group on Spotify (March 3, 2023), the first K-pop group to reach No. 1 on the U.K albums chart (female) (Sept. 29, 2022) and the first K-pop group to reach No. 1 on the U.S. albums chart (female) (Oct. 1, 2022), both with the group’s album, Born Pink.

27 Sep 2023

Music Groups Launch Year-End Push for Bill That Would Provide Tax Break for Music Creators

Proponents of the Help Independent Tracks Succeed (HITS) Act are making a renewed effort to get the bill through Congress.

On Wednesday (Sept. 27), the Recording Academy and the American Association of Independent Music (A2IM) sent a letter to House Ways and Means Committee chairman Jason Smith (R-MO) and ranking member Richard Neal (D-MA) urging them to add the bill to end-of-year tax legislation.

The HITS Act would provide an extra tax break to musicians, technicians and producers for recording sessions, allowing them to deduct 100% of recording expenses up to $150,000 on their taxes in the year they’re incurred. That would be a change from the current law, which requires music creators and labels to amortize those expenses over the economic life of a sound recording, a period that usually ranges between three and four years.

“The bill is designed and tailored to specifically incentivize independent artists, songwriters and labels to produce new music, sparking important creative investments in countless music small businesses across the country,” reads the letter, signed by Recording Academy chief advocacy and public policy officer Todd Dupler and A2IM president/CEO Richard James Burgess. “This targeted approach makes the HITS Act a fiscally responsible investment in the American creative economy.”

The letter goes on to point out that film, TV and live theatrical productions all enjoy the option of fully deducting production costs in the year they’re incurred and argues that music productions should get the same treatment. For independent creators and labels, being forced to amortize expenses “slows down their reinvestment in new projects that can fuel growth,” the letter adds.

Speaking to Billboard last year, Burgess put it in starker terms, noting that specifically for independents, “getting $150,000 per project [that can be] written off against your taxes in the year that you incurred it, could really make a difference between being able to make another record next year or not.”

The bipartisan HITS Act was first introduced in the House on July 31, 2020 (followed by a companion bill in the Senate on Dec. 3, 2020), though it failed to pass as part of the two pandemic relief packages or as part of the $3.5 billion budget reconciliation package known as Build Back Better, which was ultimately halved and renamed the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 before being signed into law in August 2022. A similar lobbying effort at the end of last year to pass the bill ahead of the changeover to a new, split Congress — Republicans took control of the House of Representatives in January while Democrats held the Senate — also failed.

Read the full letter below.

Dear Chairman Smith and Ranking Member Neal:

On behalf of independent music makers and record labels we call on the Committee of Ways and Means to advance into law the bipartisan and bicameral Help Independent Tracks Succeed (HITS) Act (H.R. 1259) as part of any tax policy package considered before the end of the year. The HITS Act is a low-cost and commonsense modification to existing U.S. tax law that will incentivize the production of new sound recordings and songwriter demos by allowing qualified productions to deduct 100% of their costs upfront. With an annual deduction limit of $150,000, the bill is designed and tailored to specifically incentivize independent artists, songwriters and labels to produce new music, sparking important creative investments in countless music small businesses across the country. This targeted approach makes the HITS Act a fiscally responsible investment in the American creative economy.

The HITS Act also brings much-needed parity to the tax code for all creative industries. Currently, under Sec. 181 of the Internal Revenue Code, qualified film, television, and live theatrical productions may elect to fully deduct new production costs in the year they are incurred. Music production, which occurs in every state and congressional district, deserves the same treatment. Instead of being able to fully deduct production expenses in the year they occur, independent music makers must currently amortize production expenses for tax purposes over the full economic life of their creation. For small creators and the small businesses that invest in their careers, this timing difference slows down their reinvestment in new projects that can fuel growth. The HITS Act harmonizes the tax code and ensures that all the major creative industries are treated similarly.

As you consider how to best craft comprehensive tax legislation this year, the music community strongly urges you to include the HITS Act in any vehicle. It represents exactly the type of bipartisan, bicameral, and non-controversial economic investment that Congress should be proud to support. Passage of H.R. 1259 is a smart and simple step that will make a lasting difference for countless independent music creators and music small businesses.

Thank you for your consideration.

Signed,

Dr. Richard James Burgess
President and CEO
American Association of Independent Music (A2IM)

Todd Dupler
Chief Advocacy and Public Policy Officer
Recording Academy

27 Sep 2023

Megan Thee Stallion ‘Will Never Stop Screaming’ About Performing With Beyonce at Houston Hometown Shows

Megan Thee Stallion is proof that dreams do come true. The rapper, who has been vocal about her life-long love for Beyoncé, took the stage with the singer to perform their “Savage (Remix)” track during the Renaissance Tour stops in their native Houston, and shared how it all went down — as well as all the tears she shed as a result — in a TikTok on Tuesday.

In Megan’s famous voice-over style, she rapidly gushed about the weekend being a surreal one for her, set to video clips of her getting ready to hit the stage, excitedly performing the track and the fun shenanigans that ensued after checking off a major goal from her list.

“Y’all don’t know how many times I cried this weekend. Y’all don’t understand — Beyoncé is my idol, like I genuinely love Beyoncé with my whole f—ing heart. I got on this camo because I will f—ing go to war behind Beyoncé,” she said in the TikTok. “She was like ‘Shake that, queen. Look at how that thing moving. The thang is thangin’, cousin.’ Me and my momma are such huge fans of Beyoncé. My whole life, I was like, ‘I wanna be the rap Beyoncé,’ and to get the opportunity to go onstage with the woman that I love, the woman that it is the woman of all womens…I was up with Beyoncé, y’all got me f—ed up!”

The love for the “Alien Superstar” singer continued in the TikTok’s caption, which also revealed that Megan’s happy tears were so intense, it threatened to separate her wig from her head.

“Y’all I have been ugly crying with my lace lifting all weekend lol i will never stop screaming about this moment! I have loved @beyonce MY WHOLE LIFE this means EVERYTHING TO ME!!! I love you … thank you thank you thank you for everything,” she wrote.

Bey’s Renaissance World Tour — which kicked off in Stockholm on May 10 — is slated to come to a close with its next two dates: starting with a stop Wednesday (Sept. 27) at New Orleans’ Caesars Superdome before concluding Oct. 1 at Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium.

See Megan’s TikTok below.

@theestallion

Yall ive been ugly crying with my lace lifting all weekend lol i will never stop screaming about this moment! I have loved BEYONCE my WHOLE LIFE this means EVERYTHING TO ME! I love you BEY ??? thank you for everything

♬ original sound – Megan Thee Stallion

27 Sep 2023

Latin Music Revenue Reaches Record High of $627M at Mid-Year 2023, RIAA Reports

U.S. Latin music revenue increased 15% to a record high of $627 million in the first half of 2023, according to the RIAA’s mid-year Latin music report released Wednesday (Sept. 27). The new milestone for the genre follows Latin music revenue hitting an all-time high last year, exceeding the $1 billion mark with 24% growth that outpaced the overall market.

According to the report, streaming continued to drive an “overwhelming” portion of the genre’s growth, accounting for 98% of revenue. Latin music’s share of overall U.S. recorded music revenue grew from 7.1% in the first half of 2022 to a new pinnacle of 7.5% in the first half of 2023.

“U.S. Latin music revenues reached an all-time high in 2022, and the growth has continued mid-year into 2023. This has been driven by both the vitality of classic hits and chart-topping new releases that have influenced broader culture and society,” said RIAA senior vp of public policy & industry relations Rafael Fernandez in a statement.

Latin music’s growth over the past two years has been driven by the success not only of Bad Bunny — who ended 2022 as the most streamed artist in the United States and around the world — but also artists such as Karol G, who earlier this year made history with Mañana Será Bonito. In March, the 17-track set became the first all-Spanish language album by a Latin female artist to top the Billboard 200.

A new wave of música mexicana acts such as Peso Pluma, Fuerza Regida and Eslabon Armado have also helped usher in a record year for regional Mexican music. Earlier this year, Billboard reported that consumption for the genre jumped 42.1% through May 25, according to Luminate. 

The RIAA’s mid-year report further explains that ad-supported on-demand music streaming revenue (from services like YouTube, the free version of Spotify and social media platforms) continued to make up a larger percentage of revenue for Latin music (23%) than for U.S. recorded music overall (10%).

Meanwhile, revenue from digital and customized radio services (such as Pandora, SiriusXM and internet radio services) grew 13% to $36 million — rebounding from a 5% decrease in 2022 — making up 6% of total Latin music revenue. However, physical formats totaled less than 1% of revenue at $4.7 million, resulting in a 37% decline from the first half of 2022.

Purchase tickets to 2023 Billboard Latin Music Week here.

27 Sep 2023

Little Big Town on Hosting Inaugural People’s Choice Country Awards: ‘It Will Feel Like a Party, Connecting the Past and Present’

Hitmaking vocal group Little Big Town will host the inaugural, fan-voted People’s Choice Country Awards when it premieres on tomorrow (Sept. 28) on NBC and Peacock from Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House.

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“It’s going to feel like a really good party, but also a feeling of coming back home — connecting with the past and the present and all those things I think we are kind of missing and needing right now,” LBT member Phillip Sweet tells Billboard via Zoom.

“We are lucky enough to be Grand Ole Opry members, so we will be the gatekeepers of the Grand Ole Opry stage that night,” LBT member Kimberly Schlapman adds of the group’s 2014 induction into Grand Ole Opry membership. While this will mark the first People’s Choice Country Awards to be held on the Grand Ole Opry House stage, the Opry House has a venerable history of awards shows, previously serving as the home to the CMA Awards ceremony from 1974 (when Johnny Cash served as host of the show) through 2004.

Though the People’s Choice Awards began in 1975, and has regularly honored country artists in its all-genre ceremony, this marks the first time they have launched a specifically country music-centered awards show.

Little Big Town will guide a show whose slate of nominees includes Morgan Wallen (11 nominations), Luke Combs and HARDY (nine nominations each), Jelly Roll (eight nominations), Lainey Wilson (seven nominations), Zach Bryan and Kane Brown (six nominations each) and Megan Moroney (five nominations).

Blake Shelton, Kane Brown, Toby Keith, HARDY, Jelly Roll, Dan+Shay, Kelsea Ballerini, Carly Pearce and Little Big Town are among the evening’s performers. Shelton will honor Toby Keith with the Country Music Icon award, while Wynonna Judd will be honored with the Country Champion award, saluting her longtime commitment to social causes and philanthropy.

Little Big Town’s breakthrough 2005 single “Boondocks” first demonstrated the quartet’s show-stopping vocal power, as well as its enviable artistic range. Together, Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild, Schlapman, Sweet and Jimi Westbrook are capable of delivering Fleetwood Mac-inspired rock harmonies, light-hearted pop-country fare and sultry ballads such as “Girl Crush.” They’ve earned three Grammys and have been named the CMA Awards’ vocal group of the year six times. They also won a People’s Choice Award trophy for favorite country group in 2017.

The People’s Country Choice Awards’ inaugural moment comes as country music has experienced an elite year on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, with artists like Morgan Wallen, Luke Combs, Jason Aldean and Zach Bryan surging to the upper echelons of the chart.

“It’s a unique situation, the fact that we’re the ones that connect the dots with fans and bring all this history together with the modern age of where country music is at the top of the charts right now,” Sweet says. “To see the unbelievable level of superstars we have in our genre that are just ruling all of music and it’s a special night, we jumped at the opportunity to be a part of it. We love hosting. We always have so much fun.”

“You look at a song like ‘Fast Car’ that Tracy Chapman wrote,” Fairchild says. “I love the original and I love Luke [Combs]’s version, and seeing such a lyrically substantive song. I love that Luke didn’t change any of the lyrics, and I think it was something his father had played for him growing up. So to watch that be at the top of the Billboard charts along with a lot of other country people right now is pretty epic.

“I also think it speaks to how people listen to music today,” Fairchild continues. “They’ll go to a Lil Baby show or a SZA show, then see Morgan Wallen, or Kane Brown, or Kelsea Ballerini. It’s the way people are streaming, listening and spending their money on shows.”

Given the precedent in country music of longtime hosting gigs held by artists including Vince Gill (who hosted the CMA Awards from 1992 to 2003), Reba McEntire (who hosted the ACM Awards 16 times), and the duo of Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley (who co-hosted the CMA Awards for 11 years), Little Big Town’s members say they would be open to a similar long-running gig — and they’ve appreciated the work done by their fellow artists who have held hosting roles.

“The longest stretch we hosted was probably a four- or five year-run of CMA Fest. It’s fun to get into a rhythm with writers and a network that wants to do fun things,” Fairchild says. “Luke [Bryan], Dolly, Reba, they’ve all been great hosts; it’s a lot to live up to.”

“I think Vince [Gill] was incredible. He had such a relaxed feeling at the CMAs for so many years,” Fairchild says. “And I thought Brad and Carrie were always so funny with their delivery as hosts.”
Westbrook notes that as much fun as fans are having in the main Opry House, artists just might be having even more fun backstage: “It’s always so special seeing everyone and that’s where we have the most fun, great memories.”

Among the artists the group is looking forward to reconnecting with is Blake Shelton. “We haven’t seen him in a long time. And Wy [Wynonna],” Schlapman says.

“And Kelsea [Ballerini]’s performances lately have just been blowing my mind. It’s always exciting to see what she will come up with. And I kind of already know what she’s going to do,” Fairchild adds with a coy smile.

Sweet is excited to see Jelly Roll: “He’s such a sweet guy and I met him a few months back, and he’s having such a huge moment,” he says.

Following its hosting duties, coming up for Little Big Town is collaboration with “My Boy” hitmaker Elvie Shane, although they were scant on details. “We cut an incredible song, and hopefully fans will get to hear that soon,” Fairchild says.

27 Sep 2023

Shrek’s Swamp House Is on Airbnb: How to Book Your Stay for Halloween

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Roll out the green carpet: Shrek’s Swamp House is on Airbnb!

Starting next month, fans of the green ogre will be able to rent his “moss-covered, murky-watered swamp” located in the hills of the Scottish Highlands, Airbnb and DreamWorks announced on Tuesday (Sept. 26).

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‘Shrek’ Crocs Are Finally Here & They’re Swamp-Stomping Ready: Shop…

Donkey will host guests at Shrek’s cabin while he’s out of town. “Shrek’s Swamp is lovely. Just beautiful. The perfect place to entertain guests,” Donkey said in a statement. “You know what I like about it? Everything. The overgrown landscaping, the modest interiors, the nice boulders, all of it. I can’t wait for guests to experience this muddy slice of paradise for themselves.”

Booking starts Oct. 13 at 1 p.m. ET via Airbnb.com/shrek. Guests can request to book a two-night stay for up to three guests – free of charge.

Shrek’s Swamp House Booking Starts on Oct. 13

The stay will take place between Oct. 27-29 (just in time for Halloween). You’ll have to cover your own travel accommodations, but based on the photos, staying at Shrek’s house seems like a priceless experience. Plus, you can find flight deals through sites like Skyscanner, Expedia, Orbitz, Kayak and the Hopper travel app.

Like Shrek’s cottage in the movies, the Airbnb rental has a “Beware Ogre” sign planted in the front along with signs that read: “Danger” and “Stay Out”. There’s also lots of yard space and greenery all around, and the bathroom is a stand-alone facility located 65 feet from the cottage.

Inside the modest house, guests will find a wooden bed, two nightstands, a green chair and a modest dining area — with just enough room for Donkey to join you for dinner.

Shrek’s Swamp House is the latest movie-themed rental to hit Airbnb. Barbie’s DreamHouse landed on Airbnb in June (stream the Barbie movie here) and Gwyneth Paltrow listed her guesthouse on Airbnb last month.

See photos of Shrek’s house below.

27 Sep 2023

Gwen Stefani Gushes About Husband Blake Shelton: ‘He’s Changed My Life’

After two years of marriage, Gwen Stefani is still in the honeymoon phase with husband Blake Shelton.

The Voice coach gushed about her country singer husband in a new cover story for People, saying that the love she’s experienced with Shelton is unlike any other she’s ever had.

“I didn’t see any of this coming with Blake. This was just a big old ‘What?’ It was an amazing gift to experience love like that for the first time,” Stefani recalled of falling in love with Shelton, whom she met in 2014 after her first appearance on The Voice. She sweetly added, “He’s changed my life … when I [started dating] Blake, that’s when I felt home, like, ‘Oh, this is where I’m supposed to be, with this guy.’”

The country singer has also changed up the type of environments Stefani likes to spend her time in. The No Doubt star — who currently resides in Shelton’s native Oklahoma, along with her three boys Kingston, Apollo and Zuma — has grown to appreciate nature now. “I am not really a dirt person, a bug person, I don’t like that much humidity,” Stefani explained. “But it’s so beautiful [in Oklahoma], and you kind of feel like you’re going into this vortex. Nature — and God — is all right there.”

Stefani is coaching for The Voice this season following her husband’s departure after 23 seasons. While it was initially bittersweet seeing him go, especially due to the role the show has played in their relationship, she is now taking the responsibility in stride.

“I was really weirded out like, ‘What’s it going to be like without Blake?’ But we are having so much fun,” she said. “At the end of the day, coaching these humans who are so gifted … I love it.”

Read the interview in full here.

27 Sep 2023

A Timeline of Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce’s Relationship

Here’s everything that has gone down between the Grammy-winning pop star and the Kansas City Chiefs tight end.

Travis Kelce, Taylor Swift

Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on September 24, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri.

David Eulitt/Getty Images; Jason Hanna/Getty Images

Travis Kelce must have taken some notes from Taylor Swift’s Midnights track, “Mastermind,” because after just two months of shooting his shot with the multi-Grammy winning superstar, the “Anti-Hero” singer was spotted cheering on the Kansas City Chiefs tight end at his football game.

While the duo haven’t confirmed whether they’re dating or not, fans are loving the unexpected pairing, and Swifties have even started a hilarious trend on TikTok telling their male partners that Swift put Kelce “on the map.”

However, for the casual entertainment consumer, the potential coupling between Swift and Kelce seems random, but Billboard has got you covered. We’ve compiled a full timeline of the duo’s relationship, from the football player trying to get a friendship bracelet to Swift during her Eras tour, to the singer attending his football game with his mother and beyond.

See below.