News

12 Sep 2023

*NSYNC Together Again, For One Night Only: What’s Next After MTV VMAs Moment?

*NSYNC returned to a stage that they know well on Tuesday night (Sept. 12), making an unannounced appearance at the MTV Video Music Awards to present an award to Taylor Swift.

There was a lot of buzz ahead of the awards show about what the group’s reported appearance could entail. Some fans wondered whether they might perform a new song from Trolls Band Together, the upcoming threequel in which Justin Timberlake’s character has a storyline about his brothers reuniting their teenage boy band.

On the new Billboard Pop Shop Podcast, we’re talking all about the highly anticipated reunion and what could lie ahead for the blockbuster boy band after this VMAs moment.

Also on the show, we’ve got chart news on how Doja Cat secures her second No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart as “Paint the Town Red” jumps 3-1; how Zach Bryan locks in another week at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, becoming the first rock album in seven years to spend its first two weeks at No. 1; and how Dua Lipa logs her fifth No. 1 on the Pop Airplay chart as her Barbie soundtrack song “Dance the Night” shimmies to the top of the chart.

The Billboard Pop Shop Podcast is your one-stop shop for all things pop on Billboard‘s weekly charts. You can always count on a lively discussion about the latest pop news, fun chart stats and stories, new music, and guest interviews with music stars and folks from the world of pop. Casual pop fans and chart junkies can hear Billboard‘s executive digital director, West Coast, Katie Atkinson and Billboard’s managing director, charts and data operations, Keith Caulfield every week on the podcast, which can be streamed on Billboard.com or downloaded in Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast provider. (Click here to listen to the previous edition of the show on Billboard.com.)

12 Sep 2023

Wyclef Jean on Presenting Shakira With The Video Vanguard Award, Upcoming Fugees Tour & More | 2023 MTV VMAs

By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy.
We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. // This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

12 Sep 2023

French Montana Talks The Devastating Earthquake in Morocco, Diddy Receiving The Global Icon Award & More | 2023 MTV VMAs

By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy.
We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. // This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

12 Sep 2023

Nicki Minaj Drops a ‘Pink Friday 2 Exclusive’ During 2023 MTV VMAs Performance

As the host of the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards, Nicki Minaj knew it was her job to maintain the audience’s attention on Tuesday (Sept. 12) — and during her performance, she made sure to do just that.

Taking to a sparse stage after an introduction from a very enthusiastic Billy Porter, Minaj kicked things off with an emotional, stripped-down performance of her ballad “Last Time I Saw You.” Dressed in a massive black cloak and standing on a triangular platform in the center of the stage, Minaj let her gorgeous vocals shine through. “I wish I’da hugged you tighter the last time that I saw you,” she belted out on the song’s chorus. “I wish l didn’t waste precious time the night when I called you.”

As the number began to wind down, Minaj suddenly dropped her cloak to reveal a black sheer bodysuit underneath, eyeing the audience. “MTV,” she growled as the lights slowly changed from soft pink to dark red. “It wouldn’t be right if I didn’t give y’all a Pink Friday 2 exclusive.”

With a beat kicking in, Minaj launched into a brand new, unnamed single off of her hotly anticipated new album. Spitting bars about how “you b—hes look up to me,” Minaj made sure to flex her skills as the Queen of Rap before resuming her hosting duties for the evening. “It’s a big difference between me and you,” she rapped. “I ain’t nothing like you, you, you or you.”

Minaj was just one of a star-studded set of performers at the ceremony, which included Olivia Rodrigo, Cardi B, Nicki Minaj and many more. The rapper was also nominated for six trophies, including both video and artist of the year.

12 Sep 2023

Doja Cat Holds a Lesson for Her Demons in 2023 MTV VMAs Performance

Doja Cat took the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards stage on Tuesday (Sept. 12) ready to “Paint the Town Red” — and that she did.

The star took the stage at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., in a teacher-inspired outfit surrounded by red-toned, devilish dancers as she performed a medley of tracks including her Billboard Hot 100 chart-toppers “Red” and “Attention,” as well as new single “Demons.” The songs are set to be featured on her fourth studio album, Scarlet, which will arrive on Sept. 22.

“Paint the Town Red” rose from No. 3 to No. 1 in its fifth week on the Hot 100 this week. It becomes the rapper-singer’s second career leader, following “Say So” featuring Nicki Minaj in 2020. The achievement marks the first rap Hot 100 No. 1 in over a year, ending the longest break for the genre atop the chart since 2001.

Explore

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

Doja Cat is nominated for six awards at this year’s show, including song of the summer for “Paint the Town Red”; best direction, best art direction and video of the year for “Attention”; artist of the year and best collaboration for “I Like You (A Happier Song)” with Post Malone.

Among this year’s other performers are Anitta, Cardi B, Demi Lovato, Diddy, Doja Cat, Fall Out Boy, Karol G, Kelsea Ballerini, Maneskin, Megan Thee Stallion, Metro Boomin (featuring Future, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, Swae Lee and NAV), Nicki Minaj, Olivia Rodrigo, Peso Pluma, Shakira, Stray Kids and TOMORROW X TOGETHER.

12 Sep 2023

2023 MTV VMAS: Performance Photos, Backstage Pics & More

The 2023 MTV Video Music Awards took over the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on Tuesday (Sept. 12) night.

The 2023 VMAs were a huge night for music, with iconic boy band *NSYNC — yes, all of them, Justin Timberlake, JC Chasez, Joey Fatone, Lance Bass and Chris Kirkpatrick — reuniting on stage to present a VMA Moon Person, which just happened to go to global superstar Taylor Swift.

“I had your dolls!” Swift told the group incredulously after winning the best pop VMA for “Anti-Hero.” “You’re pop personified, so to receive this from your golden pop hands is really too much.”

They were far from the only stars present. Nicki Minaj was on hand to emcee and perform a medley at the event and Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion swung through to give their collab “Bongos” its live debut. Additionally, Demi Lovato rocked the hell out, Shakira gave a jaw-dropping, career-spanning performance ahead of receiving the video vanguard award, and Olivia Rodrigo pulled off a fake-out stage malfunction.

Anitta, Stray Kids, Diddy, Lil Wayne, Peso Pluma, Metro Boomin (with friends) were also present, as was a coterie of hip-hop royalty who helped celebrate the 50th anniversary of hip-hop on the VMAs stage with a multi-performer medley — one of many events this year commemorating #HipHop50 — honoring the genre’s roots, history and impact.

Check out some of the best photos from the 2023 VMAs here — everything from backstage shots to performance pics to onstage snaps of presenters and more.

12 Sep 2023

Anitta Brings Favela Funk Vibes to the 2023 MTV VMAs With ‘Used to Be’ & ‘Funk Rave’

Bem-vindos à Funk Generation. Anitta electrified the crowd at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., as she graced the stage at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards on Tuesday (Sept. 12).

The trilingual powerhouse performer set the scene by showcasing a pair of songs off her latest release, the three-track Funk Generation: A Favela Love Story, a sweltering carioca funk collection.

Opening up with “Used to Be” surrounded by six dancers, the singer wore a vibrant sequined multi-patterned leotard and black shorts, matching with her dancers. The seven women proceded to sway in unison, with some slick perreo-style moves. Then the scene goes to street-style block party with a dozen more dancers amid neon-hued crates.

Anitta then brings it all back to her favela foundations, unleashing a no-holds-barred fête, performing banger “Funk Rave.” Bolstered by an arresting baile funk beat, the Portuguese-language cut sees the Brazilian singer in a playful phase as she teases with flirty verses.

“Being an international artist is not only about being famous wherever you go, because the world is so big,” Anitta told Billboard last year. “It’s about being able to impact culturally different areas at the same time.” 

Four of the artists featured in this year’s awards ceremony hail from Latin America, illustrating the global influence of Latin pop in recent years. Shakira and Karol G are from Colombia, trilingual force Anitta represents Brazil and Peso Pluma is from Mexico, showcasing the storied tradition of músia mexicana. 

The MTV Video Music Awards were telecast live and emceed by Nicki Minaj.

12 Sep 2023

Stray Kids Nab a VMA, Share Message With Fans About the Future

Tuesday (Sept. 12) evening proved a big night for STAY when Stray Kids nabbed a Moon Person for best K-pop at the 2023 MTV VMAs.

Stray Kids were nominated for the VMA for alongside aespa, BLACKPINK, Fifty Fifty, Seventeen and TOMORROW X TOGETHER. When sisters and social media stars Charli and Dixie D’Amelio announced that the South Korean boy band had won the best K-pop VMA (for their song “S-Class”) at New Jersey’s Prudential Center, the octet didn’t quite seem to believe it for a minute; the group paused before leaving their seats as if to make sure the winner was announced correctly (or perhaps they just wanted to STAY in their seats).

When the group did hit the stage, Jeongin held the iconic MTV award while Chan and Felix shared the group’s thanks.

“Hello! We are Stray Kids we want to thank the VMAs for inviting us,” said Chan. “We’ve been making our music ever since the start of our career, but to receive this award just really means a lot to us.” Nodding to his bandmate, he added, “Felix has something to say as well.”

“We just want to thank our label, JYP division 1, and we want to thank Republic Records. And also we want to thank our fans, our STAYs, for being so supportive. Please. We have so much to show you guys so please look forward to the future.”

“S-Class” hails from the group’s 5-STAR album, which debuted atop the Billboard 200 in June.

12 Sep 2023

Coco Jones on Working With Justin Timberlake, the Princess Tiana Comparisons & More | 2023 MTV VMAs

By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy.
We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. // This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

12 Sep 2023

MTV Sets ‘Rock the Bells Festival’ Special to Salute 50 Years of Hip-Hop

Tributes to the 50th anniversary of hip-hop continue with MTV announcing its upcoming special presentation “The Rock The Bells Festival – Celebrating 50 Years of Hip-Hop.”

Explore

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

Premiering Sept. 19 (11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT), the one-hour special will feature performances from a host of hip-hop pioneers. The lineup includes Big Daddy Kane, Method Man & Redman, Monie Love, Queen Latifah, Rakim, Run-D.M.C., Salt-N-Pepa, Swizz Beatz and LL COOL J.

The performances are culled from the 2023 Rock the Bells Festival that took place Aug. 5 at Forest Hills Stadium in Queens, New York. The legendary lineup for the second annual festival also boasted rap trailblazers such as The Roots, Ludacris, De La Soul, Slick Rick, Fabolous, MC Lyte, Yo-Yo, Roxanne Shanté, Brand Nubian and the Lost Boyz. 

LL COOL J

LL COOL J

Rock The Bells

“This was a special year for the culture and for Rock the Bells in curating this experience, bringing together the icons of hip-hop,” LL COOL J tells Billboard. “It’s always a privilege to play for my hometown crowd in New York City. We really loved putting on this year’s second annual Rock the Bells festival to a sold-out crowd in Queens. Through this special airing on MTV, we’re excited for fans at home around the world to be able to feel some of the great energy from that day.” 

Here’s the list of performances for MTV’s “The Rock the Bells Festival – Celebrating 50 Years of Hip-Hop”:

Big Daddy Kane – “I Get the Job Done”

LL COOL J – “Mama Said Knock You Out,” “4,3,2,1” and “Rock the Bells”

Method Man & Redman – “Da Rockwilder” and “Method Man”

Monie Love – “It’s a Shame”

Queen Latifah – “Ladies First”

Rakim – “Eric B Is President” and “Microphone Fiend”

Run-D.M.C. – “Down with the King” and “It’s Tricky”

Salt-N-Pepa – “Push It”

Swizz Beatz – “Party Up”

Co-founded by LL COOL J and Geoff Yang in 2018, the Rock the Bells global platform includes LL COOL J’s Rock the Bells Radio on SiriusXM (channel 43), the Rock the Bells Festival and the Rock the Bells Cruise. In partnership with the firm Sixthman, the cruise will make its inaugural sailing from Miami to the Bahamas on Nov. 13-17, 2023. Along the way, attendees will be treated to performances by Rick Ross, Lil Jon, Big Boi, DJ Jazzy Jeff and DJ Spinderella, among others.