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12 Sep 2023

Here Are All the Musicians at New York Fashion Week

Check out photos of some of today’s biggest music stars at this year’s New York Fashion Week.

Leon Bridges, Hayley Williams and The Kid Laroi, New York Fashion Week

Leon Bridges, Hayley Williams and The Kid Laroi at the 3.1 Philip Lim Spring 2024 Ready To Wear Runway Show on September 10, 2023 in New York, New York.

Nina Westervelt for WWD

New York Fashion Week has once again taken over the Big Apple, and celebrities from around the world came together to celebrate the biggest designers’ new collections as they enjoyed runway shows, kickoff events, after parties and more.

From Ralph Lauren, Christian Siriano and Michael Kors to the Victoria’s Secret World Tour, musicians like Jennifer Lopez, Anitta, Doja Cat, Avril Lavigne, Hayley Williams, Suki Waterhouse and many more were photographed in chic looks as they posed on red carpets and watched the models on the catwalk.

Doja Cat, Ice Spice and Doechii were notably seen having fun at the Jean Paul Gaultier SSENSE Party on Sunday (Sept. 10), where they danced the night away and shared snaps to Instagram. “Come see us all on tour and central cee is a great dude also my pepperonis,” Doja captioned a photo set that also featured cameos from “Barbie World” producer RIOTUSA and U.K. rapper Central Cee, the artist behind the U.K. No. 2 hit “Doja.”

Ice Spice posted a similar photo dump, with hers featuring a few glimpses of “Sh– Me Out” rapper NLE Choppa. “Cench riot doechii doja,” Ice wrote in the caption.

Check out our gallery of all the musicians at 2023 New York Fashion Week below.

12 Sep 2023

John Mayer Announces Solo L.A. Show to Benefit Veterans

Before kicking off the fall leg of his solo acoustic tour, John Mayer announced Tuesday (Sept. 12) that he’ll play a one-off show at The Wiltern in Los Angeles next week with 100% of the proceeds going to his Heart and Armor Foundation for veterans.

Tickets — which start at $99 — will go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. PT on Ticketmaster ahead of the concert on Tuesday, Sept. 19. Fans have to register through the Verified Fan program to receive a code before buying tickets, and all tickets will be mobile-only and non-transferable. Fans who buy tickets and can’t attend can list their tickets on Ticketmaster’s Face Value Ticket Exchange.

Charity Auctions Today is currently auctioning off two pairs of pit tickets that will come with an autographed poster of the concert’s lineup and early access to the venue.

Mayer’s solo acoustic tour kicked off earlier this year, and he announced in March that he would be extending the run starting Oct. 3 in New York and wrapping Nov. 10 back in Los Angeles — but he’ll be playing the much larger Kia Forum for that date (17,000-plus capacity) versus the intimate Wiltern venue next Tuesday (around 2,000 capacity).

When he played the Kia Forum in April on the original run of dates, Mayer announced to the crowd: “This tour changed everything.”

“I thought this was a neat little thing,” Mayer said of the tour. “I was like, ‘Let’s go on tour and play acoustic, that’ll be fun!’ And then everything clicked. And because of you, you reminded me what these songs are to me, what they are to you and focused me right up.”

Mayer established the Heart and Armor Foundation in 2019 to support the health of veterans of war.

12 Sep 2023

U.K. Music Industry Calls for Government Protection From AI, Support To Fix Brexit Touring Crisis

Urgent action is needed to protect the United Kingdom’s longstanding success as one of the world’s biggest exporters of music, warns a new report from umbrella trade organization UK Music.

In particular, robust copyright laws must be put in place to ensure that creators and rights holders are shielded from the potential impact of artificial intelligence (AI), says the trade body’s “Manifesto for Music,” published Tuesday (Sept. 12), which calls for increased government support to grow the sector.

In 2021, U.K. music exports totaled £2.5 billion ($3.1 billion) — up 10% on the previous year, but still lower than 2019’s pre-pandemic figures — according to data from UK Music. Those export totals are made up of record sales, publishing revenue, overseas touring by British acts and tourism spending by international tourists attending live shows in the United Kingdom.

When it comes to recorded music, hit albums by Harry Styles, Glass Animals and Ed Sheeran helped British music exports climb to a record high of £709 million ($910 million) last year, maintaining the country’s long-held position as the second largest exporter of music globally after the United States, according to labels trade body BPI.

Overall, the United Kingdom is the world’s third biggest recorded music market, as per IFPI rankings, behind the United States and Japan. 

However, the growth of streaming in emerging territories such as Latin America, the Middle East and South Korea has eaten into the United Kingdom’s share of the global music market, which has fallen from a peak of 17% in 2015 to 12% in 2022. To arrest that decline, UK Music has published a five-point plan to boost exports, protect venues and studios, and promote diversity.

Among the trade group’s recommendations is the enforcement of strong copyright protections against generative AI systems, including clear labeling and a requirement for AI developers to keep and disclose records of any music works used for training purposes.

UK Music is additionally asking policymakers to introduce specific personality and image rights into the British legal framework — and ensure that AI-generated music is clearly distinguishable from human-created works. 

Last month, a U.K. Parliament committee issued its own report on regulating the use of AI technology in the music and creative industries. One of the committee’s key recommendations was for the British government to commit to abandoning plans for a proposed (and since shelved) new text and data mining (TDM) exception that would allow AI companies to freely use copyright-protected works for commercial purposes.

“It’s critical that we ensure AI enables and supports human artistry and creativity, and does not damage it,” said UK Music interim chief executive Tom Kiehl, echoing the committee’s request to rule out any new TDM exceptions.

“Strong copyright and intellectual property protections must be at the center of any approach when it comes to AI,” said Kiehl.  

Other recommendations in UK Music’s manifesto include the introduction of a new tax credit — similar to what’s in place in other European markets and some U.S. states — encouraging new music production in the country.

The trade group, which recently saw chief executive Jamie Njoku-Goodwin exit the London-based organization to work for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, is also calling for increased investment in music education and for the government to secure a post-Brexit cultural touring agreement with the European Union that would reduce costs for U.K. acts touring Europe.

“Without action, the U.K. risks being overtaken by countries who are more proactive and ambitious in promoting their music sectors,” said Kiehl.

The United Kingdom’s moves to police the rapidly evolving AI sector come as other countries and jurisdictions, including the United States, China and the European Union, explore their own paths toward regulating the nascent technology. 

12 Sep 2023

Erica Mena Says Sorry After Getting Booted From ‘Love & Hip-Hop: Atlanta,’ Claims She Wasn’t Being Racist

HipHopWired Featured Video

Erica Mena Apologizes After Calling Spice A Monkey On 'LHHATL'

Source: Albert L. Ortega / Getty / Erica Mena

Former Love & Hip-Hop: Atlanta star Erica Mena is now apologizing after she got the boot from the reality TV series for a disgustingly racist comment she made about cast member Spice.

Spotted on TMZ, Erica Mena is singing a different tune after VH1 fired her.

Speaking exclusively with the celebrity gossip site, Mena says she is sorry for calling Spice a monkey on a past episode of the popular VH1 reality series.

She insists there was no racist intent behind her words.

Per TMZ:

The ex-‘Love & Hip Hop’ star — who was booted from the show for hurling the word — tells TMZ … “I deeply regret my insensitive comment and want to humbly apologize to anybody I hurt or offended by my thoughtlessness. My choice of words was wrong, and I take full responsibility for what I said.”

She adds, “I am committed to listening to the voices of those affected and will work toward making amends. As a woman of color and the mother of two black children, I want to make it clear that my use of that word was not in any way racially driven.”

Erica ends with this … “That said, I do understand the gravity of what I said and want to use my platform to promote inclusivity and equality.”

A Recap of Erica Mena’s Heada** Behavior

The reality television star and struggle musician who identifies as “Afro-Latina” was let go immediately after the episode aired where she and Spice got into a heated exchange.Mena was not happy with Spice hanging out with her ex-husband Safaree, and things went wrong when she mentioned Mena’s son does not like her, causing her to lose it and call her a “monkey” out of anger.

Viewers immediately called for VH1 to fire Erica Mena for using the slur, and they got their wish.

We shall see if Mena’s apology is enough to regain her job. We won’t be shocked if VH1 decides to bring her back on.

—

Photo: Albert L. Ortega / Getty

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12 Sep 2023

Olivia Rodrigo Wows in Dua Lipa x Versace Butterfly Dress: Shop Similar Looks Here

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

Olivia Rodrigo is having a great end of summer after releasing her newest album GUTS. Not only did the singer take over the Billboard Hot 100 with lead single “Vampire,” but she’s also made a case for letter rings and the increasingly popular sheer dress trend in a minidress from Dua Lipa x Versace’s La Vacanza collection.

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In all the excitement of her new album being out, the “drivers license” singer took to Instagram to commemorate the big moment with a series of photos giving us a peek at her style and writing process. “4 days since I spilled my GUTS,” the caption read, followed by a fourth picture showcasing Rodrigo in the black butterfly-embellished minidress from the pre-fall collection.

Lipa co-signed Rodrigo’s look on her Instagram Story, sharing her fellow pop star’s sheer-dress pic with the caption: “angel girl @oliviarodrigo in our #LaVacanza collection.”

Rodrigo isn’t the only celebrity who’s been seen rocking the Dua Lipa x Versace collection: At the end of June, Selena Gomez dazzled in a chic butterfly-printed ensemble, which she showed off on Instagram. “A little Versace/Dua moment,” the caption said underneath a photo of the “Single Soon” singer wearing a black-and-white polka dot miniskirt and matching cropped long-sleeve shirt.

The exact pieces Rodrigo and Gomez showed off are not currently available, but you can still shop in-stock pieces from the collaboration on Nordstrom, Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Off Fifth, Bloomingdale’s and the Versace website.

Don’t have the budget to drop on the designer brand? Don’t worry! We did the digging and found some similar styles that will have you channeling your inner-pop star — while avoiding the total cost at checkout.

Keep reading to shop the looks for less below.

model wearing black dress with multi-colored butterflies

Anthropologie

Maeve 3-D Butterfly Spaghetti-Strap Dress

$230

Flutter on over to Anthropologie to score this butterfly dress featuring 3D butterfly decals on the front and back. The dress is designed with a bodycon fit and comes with a zip closure for a more snug feel.

model wearing black and silver butterfly dress

Amazon

YODNBUK Butterfly Cami Bodycon Dress

$20.99

Feeling more glam? This cami bodycon dress is designed with a polyester and velvet-like material that aims to be soft to the touch. It also comes in four shades including black, purple, red and navy and is decorated with flat, sparkly butterflies that’ll have you dazzling on the dance floor or during date night.

model wearing sheer mini dress with tie straps

For Love & Lemons

For Love & Lemons – Alexandria Dress

$199.98 $270 26% off% OFF

At less than $200, you can pair this Alexandria Dress with a bodysuit and get ready to take on the dance floor. It comes with a sheer skirt and padded to paired with adjustable straps you can customize to your liking.

model wearing backless sheer lingerie dress

Amazon

Avidlove Lingerie Babydoll Lace Dress

$20.99 $21.99 5% OFF

This babydoll lace dress features a butterfly pattern and sheer skirt you can layer over everything from jeans, bike shorts and more. The back is also open to give it a fluttering effect you can sport in the bedroom or for a night on the town.

And for a set similar to Gomez’s Verasce look, we put a couple options below to shop.

model wearing black and white polka dot long sleeve top

Zara

Zara Linen Blend Polka Dot Shirt

$45.90

Zara combines chic style and comfort with this polka dot shirt. Not only does it come with a button-up design you can adjust to your preferences, but you can style it cropped or tucked depending on if you’re going to get drinks or headed to the office for the day.

model wearing black and white polka dot mini skirt

Revolve

Free People Gobi Skirt

$64 $68 6% off% OFF

A mini skirt is basically a capsule wardrobe essential as you can dress it up or down depending on your needs. This style comes patterned with white polka dots and has a bunched up side for added trendiness.

For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best corsets, varsity jackets and platform heels.

12 Sep 2023

Range Media Launches Music Publishing Division Led by Casey Robinson

Range Media Partners has launched a music publishing division and tapped Casey Robinson to lead it, the company announced Tuesday (Sept. 12).

Robinson arrives at Range Media from Hipgnosis Songs Group, where he served as executive vp of A&R and led the company’s pop division, working with artists and songwriters including Monsters & Strangerz, John Ryan, Julian Bunetta, Normani, Teddy Geiger, Imad Royal, Dan Wilson, Joe London and Steph Jones. He joined Hipgnosis following the company’s 2020 acquisition of Big Deal Music Group, where he served as co-president/partner. Robinson also previously worked as senior director at BMI, where he signed Imagine Dragons.

Other employees of Range’s new publishing division include director of A&R and publishing Sam Drake, director of A&R Federico Morris and manager and vp of A&R Jared Cotter. The division has already signed songwriter Geoff Warburton, known for his work with artists including Shawn Mendes, Demi Lovato, Keith Urban and Elle King.

“Casey and the team believe there is a tremendous opportunity to launch a boutique publishing company inside of the Range ecosystem,” said Range Music founding partner/Range Media Partners co-founder Matt Graham in a statement. “The connectivity to our management roster, label, film/TV relationships and music supervisors provide a fertile ground for developing writers and producers … His experience as a builder at Big Deal and Hipgnosis is essential to getting our strategy and culture honed to ensure maximum opportunity for our talent. We couldn’t be more excited about what we can create together.”

Added Robinson, “I’m thrilled to be joining the creative team at Range. Since the company’s creation just a few years ago, I’ve admired its spirit, culture and dynamic growth. Range’s curated approach to identifying and fostering talent across genres will serve as a blueprint for how we build the publishing company, which will be dedicated to long-term career growth for both artists and writers.”

Launched in September 2020, Range Media is led by managing partners Graham, Jack Minihan, Tyler Henry, Melissa Ruderman, Chris Thomas, Evan Winiker, Cory Litwin and Shawn McSpadden, as well as partners Michele Harrison, Greg Johnson, Rachel Douglas, Ace Christian and Joel Zimmerman.

12 Sep 2023

Gunna’s ‘Fukumean’ Tops Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop & Rap Airplay Charts

Gunna scores his first non-collaborative No. 1 on Billboard’s Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart as “Fukumean” crowns the list dated Sept. 16. The new champ jumps from No. 3 after a 11% surge in plays that made it the most-played song on U.S. monitored mainstream R&B/hip-hop radio stations in the week ending Sept. 7, according to Luminate. Thanks to the swell in weekly plays, “Fukumean” grabs the Greatest Gainer tag, awarded each week to the title with the largest play increase.

While “Fukumean” is Gunna’s first time atop Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay without any other acts, it’s the rapper’s second No. 1 in total – “Drip Too Hard,” with Lil Baby, reigned for four weeks in 2019. Prior to “Fukumean,” Gunna’s best solo showing was the No. 17 high for “Banking on Me” in July 2022.

In addition to the Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay victory, “Fukumean” also tops the Rap Airplay chart. The single climbs from No. 2 through an 12% boost in weekly audience and likewise captures the Greatest Gainer prize. Gunna nabs his second career champ there, following the two-week rule of “Drip Too Hard.”

Elsewhere, “Fukumean” steps 6-4 on Rhythmic Airplay with a 6% gain in plays and pushes 3-2 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, which combines audience totals from adult R&B and mainstream R&B/hip-hop stations. There, the track rallies to 17.3 million in audience, up 19% from the previous frame, and again, enough to seize the chart’s Greatest Gainer prize. Fueled by those formats, “Fukumean” rises 21-18 on the all-genre Radio Songs chart with 28.6 million in total audience, a 13% week-over-week improvement.

“Fukumean” appears on Gunna’s latest studio album, A Gift & a Curse, which was released June 16. The track was the album’s highest debut on the Billboard Hot 100, and as streams increased in the following weeks, the single became Gunna’s first No. 1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and reached a No. 4 best on the Hot 100.

12 Sep 2023

Oliver Anthony’s Knoxville Show Canceled After Disagreement Over Ticket Prices

Oliver Anthony is standing firm on affordable ticket prices.

The singer had a disagreement with a Knoxville, Tenn., music bar called Cotton Eyed Joe, where he was scheduled to perform later this month, leading to the show getting canceled and the the venue expressing some choice words on social media.

Ticket prices were listed at $99, and a meet and greet costed $199, which upset Anthony, who recorded a video posted to Instagram to deter fans from paying that price. “I had to pull off on the side of the road and make this video. My adrenaline’s pumping, man,” he says in the clip. He continued in the caption, “Don’t buy $90 Cotton Eyed Joe tickets or $200 for a meet and greet. That’s not acceptable. Just saw the Facebook post and lost my s—. Miscommunication with my friend booking shows and I. My shows should never cost more than $40, ideally no more than $25. Hell, out of the 4 shows we have currently done, 2 of them have been completely free. This will get straightened out tonight. Hold off on buying tickets for now.”

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However, Cotton Eyed Joe took to Facebook to explain that Anthony had agreed to play a 60-minute set at the Knoxville bar for $120,000, which would allow the bar to “break even and bring our customers a show we thought would be fun.” The bar then added a bit of shade by referencing Anthony’s Hot 100 chart topper, concluding their message: “To our talent agency and promotor friends that follow us… be careful booking the North Man of Richmond.”

See the post here.

“I am not pointing fingers at Cotton Eyed Joe, I don’t know where the miscommunication took place. I’m just upset seeing those prices,” Anthony responded on Facebook, adding that he’ll be more involved in upcoming bookings.

The 31-year-old’s breakout viral hit “Rich Men North of Richmond” unexpectedly debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart. Among other chart achievements for the singer-songwriter, he’s the first artist ever to launch atop the list with no prior chart history in any form. His success story began when a now-viral video of Anthony, posted by radiowv, began circulating around the Internet, showing the singer offering an acoustic performance of “Rich Men North of Richmond,” vocalizing the pain and angst of the working class at the hands of greedy rich men. The song takes on high taxes, abuse of welfare and selfish politicians.

12 Sep 2023

Hank Williams Jr. Gets Married in Alabama

Congratulations are in order for Grammy-winning country star Hank Williams Jr. On Monday, via his official Facebook page, the singer-songwriter announced that he tied the knot.

“Please congratulate Mr. And Mrs. Hank Williams Jr!” the post reads. “Hank and Brandi were married on Sept 9, 2023 at Enon Baptist Church in Banks, Alabama in front of a small group of family and friends. A reception followed at Kendall Hall in Troy, Alabama. They had gotten engaged earlier this year on Mothers Day. The bride and groom have known each other and been friends since 2003.”

This is the fourth marriage for Williams. He was married to Gwen Yeargain from 1971-1977 and to Becky White from 1977-1983. In March 2022, Mary Jane Thomas, Williams’ third wife, unexpectedly died. According to People, the autopsy listed Thomas’ cause of death as “pneumothorax due to perforated parietal pleura during liposuction with autologous fat reinjection procedure.”

“38 wonderful years she gave me. Her kind spirit and beautiful and endearing love carries on in the hearts of our son, Sam, grandsons Beau and Tennyson, and granddaughter Audrey Jane,” Williams wrote on Instagram weeks after her death. “Of course, she will be missed and loved by so many forever.”

On Tuesday (Sept. 12), Williams posted a wedding picture of Brandi and himself with the caption “Mr. and Mrs. Hank Williams Jr.” He limited the comments on both his Instagram and Facebook posts.

Last year, Williams Jr. released Rich White Honky Blues, a Dan Auerbach-produced album of blues covers and original tracks.

Hank Williams Jr. has earned three entries on the Billboard Hot 100: 1964’s “Long Gone Lonesome Blues” (No. 67) and “Endless Sleep” (No. 90), as well as 2000’s “A Country Boy Can Survive” (No. 75, with Chad Brock & George Jones). On the Billboard 200, he has notched 39 career entries, reaching as high as No. 12 with 2012’s Old School New Rules. He’s the son of Hank Williams, one of the most celebrated country singer-songwriters in American history.

Click here to see Hank Williams Jr.’s wedding pictures and check out his big announcement here:

12 Sep 2023

Rosalía Signs With New Manager

Rosalía has a new manager.

The Spanish superstar has signed with Jaime Levine of Seven Mantles for global management, sources tell Billboard. Rosalía was previously managed by Rebecca León of Lionfish Entertainment, with whom she parted ways this past February after a five-year relationship.

Levine spent over a decade managing global superstar Shakira but recently transitioned from management into a senior advisor role for the Colombian star on ongoing projects, sources say. By all accounts, the two continue to have an amicable professional and personal relationship. Shakira, who was named Billboard’s Woman of the year during the first-ever Billboard Latin Women In Music event in May, is currently recording a new album and planning a new tour for 2024. She is slated for a star Q&A at Billboard’s upcoming Latin Music Week.

Rosalía’s albums have earned a combined 747,000 equivalent album units in the United States, according to Luminate, with 880 million on-demand official streams across her catalog, 84,000 albums sold and 98,000 song downloads.

She also has seven entries on the Billboard Hot 100, the latest of which — “Beso” with Rauw Alejandro — is her highest-charting there, peaking at No. 52. She also has 21 entries on Hot Latin Songs, including seven top 10s; 10 entries on Latin Airplay, of which eight reached the top 10 and seven hit No. 1. Her 2022 release, Motomami — her third studio album — ruled Latin Pop Albums for 25 weeks, making it the longest-leading Latin Pop set this decade. The album earned Rosalía her first and only entry on the Billboard 200, debuting and peaking at No. 33 in April 2022; it also received the Latin pop album of the year award at the Billboard Latin Music Awards.

Rosalía was poised to launch her international tour at the time of her split with León, with stops at major festivals including Coachella and Lollapalooza Chile and Argentina. The Spanish star continued successfully with her touring plans, amidst much speculation about who would eventually take over as her manager.

Rosalía’s Motomami tour, her first-ever global trek, included 66 performances in 21 countries across three continents. The “Saoko” singer performed to nearly two million people around the world, according to a press statement. The tour ended with a July 22 performance at Lollapalooza Paris, where Rosalía gave an emotional speech.

“The blessings that Motomami has given me are endless,” she told a crowd during the tour. “Many of you discovered me thanks to this project, thanks to this album. I’m so thankful to all of you. I don’t know what the next chapter will look like, there are some ideas but I don’t know. Only God knows.”