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14 Sep 2023

TikTok & Billboard Partner to Launch TikTok Billboard Top 50 Chart | Billboard News

On Thursday (Sept. 14), TikTok and Billboard announced the TikTok Billboard Top 50 chart — a new weekly chart that will track the most popular songs on the platform in the U.S. The chart is available to all TikTok users in the U.S. and on Billboard.com. Sexyy Red claims the first No. 1 spot on the chart with the song “SkeeYee.”

Tetris Kelly:
You’ve heard them on TikTok thanks to the hottest trends. They’ve even climbed to the top of Billboard‘s charts. And now, they’ve got a chart of their own.

Today, we’re launching the TikTok Billboard Top 50. It’s the first official Billboard chart for songs on TikTok. The chart is based on a combination of creations, video views and user engagement by the U.S. TikTok community. And the first artist to claim the No. 1 spot is SexyyRed with “SkeeYee.” I mean, who can resist the good skeeyee?

Every Thursday, Billboard will bring you the verified list of the hottest songs on TikTok by monitoring music discovery and engagement on the platform in the United States. To find the TikTok Billboard Top 50 each week, users can simply go to any sound detail page and tap the top right button to access the charts page.

This week Doja lands at No. 2 with “Paint the Town Red,” thanks to some quick feet and devil horns. And Taylor Swift’s Folklore track “August” has everyone running on the beach, landing her at No. 3.

For a full look at the TikTok Billboard Top 50, check in the app or on Billboard.com. Happy liking and posting, and we’ll see you on the charts.

14 Sep 2023

Fall Celeb Trends: 5 Shackets to Layer Up In Without Sacrificing Style

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.

Fall weather means it’s time to layer up! And one of the biggest trends celebs including Rihanna and Jennifer Lopez have been spotted wearing is the cozy yet chic shacket. Not every cool-weather day calls for an oversized white puffer jacket, and as much as a teddy coats boast coziness, sometimes you don’t want the added bulk.

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Incorporating a shacket into your outfit will not only help you bundle up, but won’t leave you sweating on a 60-degree day. As an added bonus, the style is celebrity-approved and comes in a variety of prints, fabrics and lengths, making it the ultimate versatile jacket to show off this season.

As you start collecting your new fall and winter wardrobe, make sure you add one (or three) of the highly sought-after layering piece to your cart.

Don’t want to wait the standard seven-day shipping time to try on styles? Amazon has a 30-day free trial, which will give you all the Prime membership perks including free next-day shipping and access to Prime Try Before You Buy.

Below, we picked a few of the best shackets to get you layered up and ready to hit the town warm, but in style.

model wearing brown, white and black shacket with black leggings

Amazon

Automet Casual Plaid Shacket

$32.99 $49.99 34% OFF

Nothing says fall more than a gingham pattern, and this plaid shacket is ready to provide all the autumn vibes. Not only is it a No. 1 bestseller on Amazon, but it comes in colors to choose from and has a mid-weight feel for added warmth.

model wearing red, white and purple shacket with white t-shirt

Walmart

Fantaslook Flannel Shacket

$27.99 $42.99 35% off% OFF

You’re bound to look fantastic in this Fantaslook Flannel Shacket that’s currently less than $30. It comes with a button-up design, and features a polyester fabric that aims to provide warmth, breathability and comfort.

model wearing black cropped corduroy shacket

Amazon

Gihuo Cropped Button Down Corduroy Shirt Jacket

$29.99

Ditch the length and instead, try this cropped shacket on for size. It comes with an above-the-wasit length and a corduroy material for added texture and comfort. Plus, the neutral colors mean you can wear that statement top without worry about your jacket stealing all the attention.

purple plaid shacket

Madewell

Brushed Jacquard Shirt Jacket

$109.50 $138 21% off% OFF

Make a statement in Madewell’s shacket featuring a bright purple plaid pattern you can pair with leather pants for the ultimate night out in elegance. The two front pockets will also help with storing a few small things like your spare lip gloss and phone.

brown shacket

Zara

Zara Soft Overshirt

$49.50

Keep things basic without looking basic in Zara’s version of a shacket. It comes in three neutral shades including beige, light pink and Ecru, and has a 100% polyester shell to keep you warm, whether you layer it under a denim jacket or over your turtleneck.

For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best affordable varsity jackets, Ugg boots and eco-friendly leggings.

14 Sep 2023

Matthew West to Receive ASCAP’s Golden Note Award

ASCAP will honor contemporary Christian singer-songwriter Matthew West with the Golden Note Award during ASCAP’s Christian Music Awards celebration on Oct. 2 in Nashville.

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The invitation-only event celebrates the writers and publishers of ASCAP’s most-performed songs in Christian music over the past year. ASCAP’s Golden Note Award is presented to songwriters, composers and artists who have earned exemplary career achievements, with previous honorees including Garth Brooks, Michael W. Smith, Reba McEntire and Mary Mary.

“Matthew’s remarkable gift for lifting others up with his music transcends genre or format,” said ASCAP chairman of the board/president Paul Williams in a statement. “He is one of our most-lauded Christian songwriters and artists and from the start of his nearly two-decade career, stars from Christian, country, and pop music have brought his passionate and profound songs of hope and healing to audiences around the world. We congratulate him on this well-deserved award.”

West, a five-time Grammy nominee, has had his songs recorded by Rascal Flatts, Scotty McCreery, Michael W. Smith and Amy Grant, among others. Among the hits he’s co-written with and for other artists are Anne Wilson‘s “My Jesus,” Casting Crowns‘ “Thrive” and “Scars in Heaven,” Natalie Grant‘s “Something Beautiful” and Tasha Layton’s “Look What You’ve Done.”

As an artist, West has released 11 albums (including two that reached the pinnacle of the top Christian Albums chart) while earning 12 No. 1 Christian Airplay hits and six No. 1 Hot Christian Songs chart hits. In 2018, the GMA Dove Awards feted West’s songwriting by honoring him with its songwriter of the year accolade, marking his third win at the ceremony.

14 Sep 2023

A$AP Press Killers Sentenced To 20 Years To Life For 2016 Shooting

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A$AP Press

Source: Twitter / Twitter

Justice has been served for the killers of A$AP Mob member A$AP Press, who passed away in 2018.

According to HipHopDX, 37-year-old Chester Taylor and 37-year-old Darius Hastings were just sentenced to 20 years to life for shooting Pressie Taylor Jr. aka A$AP Press in the head in 2016. Though Press had initially survived the assault, he passed away in 2018 when he suffered a fatal seizure, which was caused by the injury. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced the sentencing of the two men Friday (Sept. 8).

“Chester Taylor and Darius Hastings shot and killed a young Harlemite with great ambitions, talent and a bright future,” said Alvin Bragg in a statement. “Although Pressie Taylor Jr. miraculously survived the shooting in its initial aftermath, his life was forever changed. He made a valiant attempt at resuming his life and music career, but unfortunately, he succumbed to the effects of his serious injuries, depriving his family and community of a promising star.”

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Bragg added, “Thanks to the jury’s careful review of the evidence, both defendants were found to be responsible for his murder, and I hope that the sentences imposed today bring the victim’s family some form of peace.”

Just a sad situation all around.

Members from the A$AP Mob have yet to publicly respond to the sentencing, but at least the family and friends of A$AP Press have some closure over the situation.

Rest In Peace, Press.

What do y’all think of the situation? Let us know in the comments section below.

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14 Sep 2023

Fabrice Morvan Tells His Side of the Story in ‘Milli Vanilli’ Documentary Trailer: Watch

Milli Vanilli‘s music career was marred by a multitude of highs and lows. And now, one half of the duo, Fabrice Morvan, tells his and former bandmate Robert Pilatus’ side of the story in the new trailer for the group’s self-titled Paramount+ documentary.

In the trailer — which arrived Sept. 14 — Morvan sits down for an interview, expressing his and Pilatus’ thought process behind going through their deal with record producer Frank Farian, who infamously revealed that Milli Vanilli did not sing on any of its records in 1990. “We thought, ‘OK, just one song. We do this and you’re out,’” he tells the camera. “We won’t say no to this powerful producer.’”

In another interview, Morvan recalled his disbelief at Farian insisting the duo lip-synch despite their desire to provide their own vocals on their records. “They didn’t want us to sing … what?” he asks incredulously.

Commentators throughout the trailer summed up Milli Vanilli’s rise on the charts, propelled by the duo’s first hit single, “Girl You Know It’s True” (No. 2 on Billboard Hot 100): “Them visuals were on point. They had it all,” one says in between archival footage of the group performing and the television coverage they received. Another adds: “One minute Milli Vanilli were there, the next minute they weren’t.”

Another pivotal moment featured in the documentary is Milli Vanilli’s press conference on Nov. 20, 1990, which came after the Recording Academy revoked the pair’s 1990 best new artist Grammy award following the duo’s lip-synching controversy.

Pilatus, who died in 1998 after an accidental alcohol and drug overdose, tells the reporters in the archival footage, “We were seduced, we were abused, and we’re happy that it’s over. You get something, but you make a pact with the devil.”

Milli Vanilli — which features commentary from Billboard‘s contributing writer Gil Kaufman — arrives on Paramount+ Oct. 24.

Watch the trailer above.

14 Sep 2023

Catch Megan Thee Stallion in the New ‘Big Mouth’ Season 7 Trailer

Big Mouth is getting the Hot Girl treatment.

The animated Nick Kroll show Big Mouth returns to Netflix for its seventh season next month, and a new trailer was released on Thursday (Sept. 14) featuring none other than Megan Thee Stallion as a hormone monstress. “It’s a big motherf—ing deal that they got me on the show,” her voluptuous character says in the 47-second teaser, before she breaks into a twerk.

Alongside series regulars Kroll, John Mulaney, Maya Rudolph and Fred Armisen, the upcoming season will feature a slew of guest stars in addition to the “Savage” rapper, including Lupita Nyong’o, Zazie Beetz, Randall Park, Chloe Fineman, Zach Galifianakis, Mark Duplass, Brian Tyree Henry and more. 

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In other Meg news, the rapper is fresh off a high-intensity performance at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards on Tuesday (Sept. 12), where she took the stage with her collaborator Cardi B to deliver a debut performance of their new song, “Bongos.” The pair’s new single marks their first teamup since the blockbusting “WAP” in 2020. 

Big Mouth season 7 hits Netflix on October 20. See the trailer below.

14 Sep 2023

Fulton County Drops RICO Defendant YSL Polo Charges After Conviction

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Georgia Secretary Of State Raffensperger Testifies In Federal Court

Source: Megan Varner / Getty

Prosecutors in the YSL racketeering trial have dropped charges against one defendant who was recently convicted of murder for the second time.

On Tuesday (September 12th), Fulton County prosecutor Adriane Love informed the judge that the office would “nolle pros” the two RICO charges in their case against Cordarius Dorsey, also known as YSL Polo. This was prompted by his conviction by a jury for the murder of Xavier Turner last week. It marks the second time Polo has been convicted of murder in less than a year. He was sentenced to life in prison on the first conviction.

The murder of the 44-year-old Turner took place at the Old National Village Discount Mall in College Park, Georgia. Video evidence showing the incident was used in this case to convict Dorsey. Video evidence also played a role in the conviction for the 2019 armed robbery and murder of Sulaiman Jalloh, a 39-year-old husband and father of six at a gas station in October 2019.

Young Thug had petitioned the court to sever his case from YSL Polo’s. “Jeffery Williams, by and through undersigned counsel, hereby files this motion to sever parties in the above-referenced case,” wrote his attorney Brian Steel in a motion. “In support of this Motion, Mr. Williams shows as follows. Mr. Williams is innocent of all charges in the above-referenced indictment. Mr. Dorsey, a co-indictee, has displayed unprofessional and unacceptable conduct in Court, in the presence of this Honorable Court, as announced on the Record on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023.”

The move now leaves seven defendants in the sweeping racketeering trial including Young Thug. The case originally involved 28 people who were indicted in what Fulton County District Attorney Dani Willis called “havoc” caused in the city of Atlanta dating back to 2015. Since then, most including Gunna have accepted plea deals or have had their cases severed from the main case. There is no date set for opening statements in the RICO trial, as jury selection – which started in January – is still ongoing.

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14 Sep 2023

Here Are 5 Things You Didn’t Know About The Warning | Billboard

The Warning reveals five things you didn’t know about them to Billboard at the 2023 MTV VMAs.

The Warning:
Hi! We are The Warning, and these are five things you didn’t know about us.

Alejandra Villarreal:
We are three sisters.

Dany Villarreal:
We are Mexican — viva Mexico!

Paulina Villarreal:
We’ve been a band for 10 years, which is, like, more than half of our lives. Another thing …

Dany Villarreal:
… This is our first time at the VMAs.

Alejandra Villarreal:
We just released our new single called “More,” so go check it out.

Watch the full video above.

14 Sep 2023

Here’s What 98 Degrees Was Almost Called

From Stray Kids to the recently reunited *NSYNC, 2023 has been the year of the boyband — both past and present. In an interview with Us Weekly, ’90s heartthrobs 98 Degrees revealed the other names the band almost went with when they were first putting the group together.

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“Spontaneous Combustion was a personal favorite,” bandmember Justin Jeffre mused. Nick Lachey, however, opten to memorialize a different option, saying “I still stand by Inertia.” Unlike other boybands in their peer group, 98 Degrees formed themselves independently before earning a record deal. Thus, there was no coordinated label-backed effort to find the perfect name for the band’s burgeoning brand, just a lot of luck. 98 Degrees formed in 1995 and signed to Motown Records.

In a 2014 appearance on the short-lived daytime talk show Bethenny — which was hosted by reality TV star Bethenny Frankel — bandmember Jeff Timmons revealed that the band’s name actually came from someone outside of the group. “We could not come up with a cool name,” he said, naming New Issue and Just Us Issue as names were floated. “Our manager, believe it or not, had a really hot girlfriend. She was like, ‘Why not call yourselves 98 degrees?’ And we were like, ‘Bingo!’”

The name 98 Degrees refers to both what was the then-commonly accepted number for the temperature of the average human body and the steamy nature of the group’s R&B-indebted music. “We voted on it,” bandmember Drew Lachey said. “We wanted something that represented the mood and tone.”

On Thursday night (Sept. 14), bandmates Timmons, Jeffre, Drew Lachey, and Nick Lachey will reunite for the first show of their 25-year anniversary tour at Premier Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, CT. The tour will make stops in Florida, New York and Pennsylvania before coming to a close at The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park in San Diego, Calif.

98 Degrees has earned four top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including the No. 1 hit “Thank God I Found You” (with Mariah Carey & Joe). On the Billboard 200, the boyband has earned six entries, peaking at No. 2 with 2000’s Revelation.

14 Sep 2023

Here Are the Performers & Presenters for the 2023 Americana Honors & Awards

Margo Price, Allison Russell, Bonnie Raitt and The War and Treaty are among the artists set to perform at the 22nd annual Americana Honors & Awards, to be held at the fabled Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on Sept. 20.

All are nominees this year. Price is vying for artist of the year, album of the year and song of the year. Russell is up for artist of the year and song of the year. Raitt is competing for song of the year for “Just Like That,” for which she won a Grammy for song of the year in March. The War and Treaty is up for duo/group of the year, which they won last year.

Other nominees who are set to perform on the show include Angel Olsen, Brandi Carlile, Hermanos Gutiérrez, Nickel Creek, Adeem the Artist, Sunny War and William Prince. The latter three artists are nominated for best emerging act.

The Avett Brothers, Bettye LaVette, Patty Griffin and Nickel Creek, all of whom are set to receive honorary awards on the show, will also perform. (The fifth recipient of an honorary award this year is George Fontaine Sr., co-founder and owner of New West Records.)

Presenters include CBS News correspondent Anthony Mason, comedian Sarah Silverman and performers Jessi Colter, Lyle Lovett and William Bell.

Buddy Miller will again serve as musical director for the Americana All-Star Band, featuring Brady Blade, Catherine Popper, Fred Eltringham, Jen Gunderman, Jim Hoke, Larry Campbell and The McCrary Sisters.

The 2023 Honors & Awards show will stream live via Circle Network’s YouTube channel and Americana Music Association’s Facebook page Wednesday, Sept. 20, at 7:30 p.m. ET/6:30 CT, while live audio simulcasts of the show will be available via SiriusXM’s Outlaw Country and on Nashville area terrestrial radio stations WRLT (100.1 FM), WSM (650 AM) and WMOT (89.5 FM).

Additionally, the program will be broadcast in the Austin City Limits time slot in November.

Tickets to the Americana Honors & Awards are on sale now. Tickets range from $90 (obstructed view) to $225.

The ceremony is the hallmark event for the 23rd annual AMERICANAFEST, held across 48 venues throughout Nashville during the week of Sept. 19-23. For more information on the association or to purchase passes to AMERICANAFEST, go here.

Here’s a complete list of performers and presenters for the 2023 Americana Honors and Awards.

Performers

  • 49 Winchester
  • Adeem the Artist
  • Allison Russell
  • Angel Olsen
  • The Avett Brothers
  • Bettye LaVette
  • Bonnie Raitt
  • Brandi Carlile
  • Brandy Clark
  • Hermanos Gutiérrez
  • Logan Ledger
  • Margo Price
  • Marty Stuart
  • The Milk Carton Kids
  • Nickel Creek
  • Noah Kahan
  • Patty Griffin
  • Rufus Wainwright
  • S.G. Goodman
  • Sunny War
  • The War And Treaty
  • William Prince

Presenters

  • Anthony Mason
  • Dom Flemons
  • Jessi Colter
  • Jim Lauderdale
  • Jonathan Taplin
  • Lyle Lovett
  • Pete Muller
  • Sarah Silverman
  • Shovels & Rope
  • Silas House
  • Steve Jordan
  • Teddy Thompson
  • Warren Zanes
  • William Bell