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12 Sep 2023

Megan Thee Stallion No Longer Part of 2023 Global Citizen Fest Lineup

Megan Thee Stallion is no longer part of the 2023 Global Citizen Festival lineup.

“Due to an unforeseen scheduling conflict, Megan Thee Stallion will no longer be available to perform at the 2023 Global Citizen Festival,” a source tells Billboard. At press time, a representative for the rapper had not returned Billboard’s inquiry about her performance status as part of Global Citizen Festival.

In early July, the Grammy-winning, Billboard Hot 100-topping rapper was announced as one of the fest’s headliners alongside Red Hot Chili Peppers and Ms. Lauryn Hill; down the road, Anitta was announced as an additional headliner, with Jung Kook of BTS joining Global Citizen as a co-headliner just last week. But it seems a scheduling conflict will prevent the Houston MC from hitting the stage on Sept. 23 at New York’s Central Park. But attendees will still be able to enjoy sets from the aforementioned headliners in addition to performances from Conan Gray, D-Nice, Sofia Carson and Stray Kids.

The Global Citizen Fest takes place in New York City’s Central Park on Saturday, Sept. 23, as a free, ticketed event; people can earn tickets by taking action to help end extreme poverty via the Global Citizen app and on the organization’s website. With this fall concert, Global Citizen is urging world leaders gathered in New York for the UN General Assembly to tackle climate crisis, equity for women and girls and the global hunger crisis.

Megan Thee Stallion will be hitting the stage at New Jersey’s Prudential Center on Tuesday (Sept. 12) night with Cardi B to give their collab “Bongos,” which dropped last week, its live debut at the 2023 MTV VMAs.

12 Sep 2023

George Strait, Chris Stapleton Extend Run of Stadium Shows Into 2024

For more than four decades, Country Music Hall of Famer George Strait has proven himself as one of country music’s most dependable, elite entertainers. In 2023, Strait’s stadium shows — featuring Chris Stapleton and Little Big Town — have set new attendance records in several stadiums, including ones in Seattle, Milwaukee and Columbus, OH.

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Now, Strait, eight-time Grammy winner Stapleton and special guests Little Big Town are extending their record-setting slate of stadium shows into 2024, adding nine new dates.

The new shows are set for May, June, July and December of next year and will visit cities including Indianapolis, Detroit and Chicago, in addition to setting the 37th installment of the Strait to Vegas show, with a Dec. 7 gig booked at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium.

“I’ve always said we have the best fans in the world, and to see so many of them show up for these shows just makes us want to keep bringing them more,” Strait said in a statement. “I’ve also missed performing in Las Vegas during NFR, so I’m happy to see that show come together in 2024. See you soon!”

Tickets to most shows go on sale on Sept. 22 at 10 a.m. local time via GeorgeStrait.com, with tickets to the Jacksonville show on sale on Oct. 20 at 10 a.m. local time. American Express® Card Members can purchase tickets before the general public beginning Friday (Sept. 15) at 10 a.m. local time through Sept. 21 at 10 p.m. local time.

See the full list of stadium shows below:

May 4 — Indianapolis, IN @ Lucas Oil Stadium

May 11 — Jacksonville, FL @ EverBank Stadium

May 25 — Ames, IA  @ Jack Trice Stadium

June 1 — Charlotte, N.C. @ Bank of America Stadium

June 8 — East Rutherford, N.J. @ MetLife Stadium

June 29 — Salt Lake City, UT @ Rice Eccles Stadium

July 13 — Detroit, MI @ Ford Field

July 20 — Chicago, IL @ Soldier Field

Dec. 7 — Las Vegas, NV @ Allegiant Stadium

12 Sep 2023

Drake Teases ‘For All The Dogs’ Single Release Date

Drake season is quickly approaching, as the 6 God nears the release of his forthcoming album, For All The Dogs. Slated to drop on Sept. 22, the OVO general announced during his Austin tour stop on Monday (Sept. 11) that the project’s first single will drop this week. 

“I’m even going to say something tonight in Austin, Texas I haven’t said yet,” Drake said from the stage of the Moody Center. “I know y’all excited to hear the album. I know it’s, like two weeks out. I’m a drop a song for y’all this week. Yeah, yeah. What a time, what a time. I appreciate y’all. Deeply, by the way, I do. It’s a lot of love in Texas.” 

Last week, Drake announced the once-elusive release date for For All The Dogs via Instagram. He posted an archival clip of his father, Dennis Graham, from the early ’90s, singing alongside a blues band on the local Toronto TV show Stormy Monday With Danny Marks. 

From a collaboration standpoint, Drake has given out a few nuggets, including a feature from his Young Money counterpart, Nicki Minaj. Minaj briefly spoke about the upcoming track during an Instagram Live session. “The song I did with Drake recently definitely put me in the feels, like when we used to be doing Nicki Minaj TV on the Lil Wayne tour and stuff,” she recalled. “Fun times, right?”

For All The Dogs will be Drake’s eighth studio album and his first solo offering since his 2022 dance-centric project Honestly, Nevermind. Last November, he partnered with 21 Savage for Her Loss. Both releases bowed at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. 

Check out Drake’s post below. 

12 Sep 2023

Blake Shelton Executive Produces New Sawyer Brown Documentary: Watch the Trailer

Sawyer Brown was one of the most popular country groups of the ’80s and ’90s, charting such country No. 1s as  “Step That Step,” “Some Girls Do” and “Thank God for You” — and now, it’s getting a Blake Shelton-produced documentary.

As the band turns 40, the country star looks at Sawyer Brown’s compelling story in Get Me to the Stage on Time, a documentary Shelton executive produced that examines how the group left its mark on country music, despite reservations by the genre’s gatekeepers. Shelton has long professed his love for the band, noting the first concert he ever attended was by Sawyer Brown, and among the first singles he purchased was the group’s cover of George Jones’ “The Race Is On.”

The Joel Kraus/Madison Miller-directed movie, which will debut Oct. 1 at the Nashville Film Festival in Franklin, Tenn., features interviews with Shelton, Dolly Parton, Dierks Bentley and Mac McAnally, among others. As the title suggests, it also reflects on Sawyer Brown Band’s propulsive live performances, led by frontman Mark Miller.

“It’s pretty surreal to watch your life and memories and music play out in a film, but Get Me to the Stage On Time does an amazing job of capturing what this ride has been like,” Miller says in a statement to Billboard. “I think the film shows not only what it took to get our career going, but also what it took to keep the wheels from coming off a couple of times. It also shows why it means so much to us to be where we are now, still playing shows, with new music on the horizon. It’s a look at what it means to never give up, no matter what.”

The ACM Award-winning vocal group of the year’s journey started with winning Star Search in 1983, in an era before television talent competitions such as American Idol and The Voice became commonplace launching pads for country stars such as Carrie Underwood and Scotty McCreery. Though a fan favorite renowned for its live shows, even after a slew of hits, Sawyer Brown remained a polarizing force in Nashville and at country radio with some put off by their non-traditional, colorful presence.

In the trailer — which Billboard is premiering above — the band recounts being turned down by every label in Nashville before storming the Star Search stage with its high-octane performances. Even after winning and signing with a Nashville label and experiencing multiple hits, “the industry couldn’t really figure out why are these guys still here,” says Sawyer Brown keyboardist Gregg “Hobie” Hubbard. But the audience understood as the group played up to 250 concerts a year, entertaining fans with its vastly energetic show. The documentary attempts to answer “how a band turned 15 minutes of fame into 40 years.” For Miller, it simply boils down to “when you get us in front  of a live audience, we win.” 

Following the documentary’s premiere, Sawyer Brown, who are working on a new album produced by Shelton, will perform at the Franklin Theater. Distribution plans for the film are still pending.

12 Sep 2023

Signed: Kehlani to Wasserman Music, While K-Pop Group RIIZE Rolls With RCA

Kehlani signed with Wasserman Music for global representation, with agents Brent Smith and Eli Gelernter serving as her representatives at the company. The signing follows the singer-songwriter’s extensive world tour supporting her most recent album, Blue Water Road.

K-pop group RIIZE signed with RCA Records via a partnership between the U.S. label and Korea’s SM Entertainment. The group’s first release under the new deal is the single “Get A Guitar,” released on Sept. 4.

Rising country star Zach Top signed with independent label Leo33. Top is managed by Bob Doyle and Associates with booking representation courtesy of Jay Williams at WME.

Lay Zhang, a popular Chinese artist, producer, actor and dancer, signed to Warner Music China. Zhang, who debuted as a member of Korean-Chinese boy band EXO before launching a solo career, is managed by Zhang Yixing Studio.

Warner Music Central Europe signed its first digital artist, Noonoouri, and released her debut single, “Dominoes” featuring German DJ Alle Farben, on Sept. 1. Noonoouri’s voice, based on a human singer’s voice, was created using artificial intelligence. The songwriters and producers on “Dominoes” will receive royalties and publishing splits, according to the announcement of the signing in The Independent.

Chrysalis Records signed several new artists: British singer-songwriter Liz Lawrence, better known as one-half of electro-pop duo Cash + David, who is set to release her first EP on the label on Sept. 29; New York art-punk band Bodega, which will release a new album early next year; British vocal harmony group The Wandering Hearts, who will also release a new album next year; pop artist Gia Ford, who just released her new single, “Alligator,” and will put out her debut album on Chrysalis next year; and British singer-songwriter Marika Hackman, who released her latest single, “No Caffeine,” on Wednesday (Sept. 6) and will also put out an album in 2024.

Kyle Dion — whose music is described in a press release as a “blend of heartfelt R&B soul-pop” — signed a global label deal with Position Music. His latest single, “Boyfriend Jeans,” was released by Position on Aug. 25. Dion is represented by Brandon Hughes of Revel Talent Agency for booking and Lauren Camp of On Camp for management.

Alt-punk band 408 signed a multi-album deal with Los Angeles-based alternative label Big Noise, which will release the group’s next single, “Break Up With Your Girlfriend,” on Sept. 29. The band is managed by Nick Bailey, with booking representation by Jason Parent; it was previously signed to Regime Music Group.

Fievel Is Glauque, a group centered around American keyboardist Zach Phillips and French singer Ma Clément, signed to Fat Possum Records, which released its new singles, “I’m Scanning Things I Can’t See” and “Dark Dancing,” on Aug. 15. The band is managed by lucas@abusiness.company and Adam Ogushwitz at UTA for booking.

MNRK Music Group signed Los Angeles-based songwriter-producer Shawn Mackey, aka Pressplayy, to its producer and songwriter management roster. Pressplayy has collaborated with artists including Jeremih, Jadakiss, Quavo, Chris Brown, E40, Jeezy and more. He also boasts a producer partnership with Mally Mall; together, they’ve produced hits for artists including Justin Bieber, Akon and Roy Woods. Pressplayy most recently collaborated on a gospel album for the late rapper DMX.

San Francisco Bay Area singer-songwriter Maria BC signed to Sacred Bones, which will release their sophomore album, Spike Field, on Oct. 20. The label released Maria BC’s dual single, “Amber/Watcher,” on Aug. 29. Maria BC is represented for booking by Maxwell Cann at Anniversary Group in the United States and Guillaume Brevers at Hometown Talent in the United Kingdom and Europe. They were formerly signed to Father/Daughter Records.

Comedy/music duo Austin & Colin signed to BMG/BBR Music Group, which released the duo’s new track, “Guilt Tippin’,” on Sept. 1. Austin & Colin is managed by Peter Strickland and Craig Campbell at Marathon Talent.

Country-folk artist Colby T. Helms, who hails from the Blue Ridge/Appalachian Mountains region, signed with Photo Finish Records. The label will release Helms’ debut single, “Higher Ground,” on Wednesday (Sept. 13). He is represented by Ramseur for management and New Frontier Touring for booking.

12 Sep 2023

P!nk Slams Troll’s Hateful Birthday Message, Which She Shared With Her Daughter: ‘It Was a Good Lesson in Ignorance’

P!nk turned 44 over the weekend and while many fans offered up sweet, thoughtful birthday messages, as always, there were some haters who took the opportunity to throw shade. And, as usual, the singer met their haterade with a sharp lesson in tolerance and dignity.

After someone posted a birthday wish accompanied by a photograph of trans British comedian/actor Eddie (Suzy) Izzard in a striped dress on a red carpet in what appeared to be an attempt to troll the singer, P!nk shot back with a pointed response.

“Thank you so much. I just showed my 12-year-old daughter your post,” she wrote of her eldest child Willow Sage Hart. “I explained to her that I’ve never met you, I don’t know you, and I have no idea why you would go out of your way to be hateful. It was a good lesson in ignorance. Thank you. I still don’t know you. Congrats. You’re no one.”

In a follow-up, she added, “MOST IMPORTANTLY -what a wasted opportunity here. There are so many pictures you could’ve chosen that were actually me that were worse than this picture, you nameless f–ko. At least be creative next time dum dum.”

The singer, who has long been a fierce ally of the LGBTQ community and a powerful voice against bullying, offered up one more thought in an early morning tweet on Tuesday (Sept. 12), writing, “I post these things to show the kids I know- my own kids as well, that we are all occasionally treated badly. I show them because they know me, and they know that my self-esteem does Not rely on the opinions of others. Nor does it rely on how many tickets I sell. Good/bad. Whatever. I love Me. Now I shall Sleep really really Well.”

When a fan offered that they were shaking their head at people who are “the worst,” P!nk agreed that “some” are, slamming cowards who try to throw bombs from the shadows. “What these kind of people are anonymous, lonely,” she said. “And Miserable. But Most people are smart, good, and rad.”

The singer’s Summer Carnival tour marches on on Friday (Sept. 15) with a show at Piedmont Park in Atlanta, GA.

12 Sep 2023

Cardi B Talks Madonna Love, Possible Lil Kim Collab and Reveals What Her ‘Real Housewives’ Tagline Would Be

Cardi B stopped by to chop it up with Andy Cohen on Watch What Happens Live on Monday night (Sept. 11), and, as always, the “Bongos” rapper didn’t hold back when it came to everything from her disappointment in the work ethic of today’s strippers to whether she’d say yes if tapped to perform at the SuperBowl and which famous person has slid into her DMs.

First things first, though, during the call-in segment, a fan asked if Cardi will finally collab with her hero Lil Kim on her upcoming, as-yet-untitled sophomore album. “I really do want one. I’m going through my songs right now,” Cardi said of the long-teased follow-up to smash 2018 debut studio album Invasion of Privacy.

“My thing is, like, everybody be like, ‘If you guys love each other so much why you guys still don’t have a collab?’,” she said in a mocking voice. The truth, Cardi revealed, is that she wants a potential team-up to be so great and undeniable that nobody can judge it and be harsh on them. “I want to make sure that it’s like, the greatest song. But I would love, love, love to do a song with Lil Kim.”

For the record, Cardi said her next album will be finished this year, released next year and might feature some male rapper collabs and will be followed by a tour.

Asked to dream up what her tagline would be if she joined Cohen’s Real Housewives universe, Cardi wasted no time coming up with the perfect, ripped-from-the-headlines quip: “The only thing I throw harder than mics is shade,” she said in reference to the microphone she hurled at a fan who’d tossed a drink on her in Las Vegas earlier this summer.

After turning down a chance to perform at the 2019 Super Bowl with Maroon 5 because of her desire to “stand behind” ex-NFL player Colin Kaepernick, a fan asked if Cardi would reconsider if asked again. “Now I would say yes,” Cardi said. “Things change.”

Cardi — who did time as an exotic dancer before pivoting to rap — also weighed in on what she sees as a lack of work ethic among strippers these days. “What I don’t like is, I feel like back then strippers, like, used to dance a little harder,” she said. “Like now, the girls won’t even climb the pole.” When Cohen wondered if strippers today are phoning it in, Cardi said, “They’re lazy. They’re lazy and I be spending like racks.”

The host and guest then bonded over their mutual love of Madonna, with Cardi explaining that her devotion was born out of her mom’s love for the pop legend. “Growing up I always listened to Madonna, Madonna, Madonna,” she said. “In fact, I asked Megan [Thee Stallion] what is her favorite to-do love song… well, she said she likes to hear yer own ass clappin’… but mine, when I’m a little bit drunk and I’m in there, in there, I like to listen to ‘Erotica,’” she said.

Cardi also shared what her go-to karaoke song is: Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You,” while busting out a few whispery bars of the iconic ballad and confessing that the most famous name to slide into her DMs was tennis champ Serena Williams.

Some other tidbits we learned:

— Cardi’s first concert, and the only one she attended before getting famous, was by Bronx-bred bachata group Aventura, which she went to when she as eight-years-old because her dad knew someone who worked at the venue.

— While playing “Plead the Fifth,” Cardi said out of her nine Grammy nominations, the one she feels most robbed about losing was for best rap song and best rap performance for her breakthrough hit “Bodak Yellow” at the 60th annual ceremony in 2018.

— Since she got her start on Love & Hip-Hop, a fan asked if Cardi would ever do a reality show with husband Offset. “Yeah I wouldn’t mind, but I kind of mind,” Cardi said. “I feel like I would get cancelled every day.”

Cardi also played a round of “Fashion, or Trash, Hun,” running down some of her best and worst red carpet looks, while howling at a few of her weirdest, wildest and most on-point outfits.

Watch Cardi on WWHL below.













12 Sep 2023

Olivia Rodrigo Chases Doja Cat For U.K. Singles Chart Crown

Doja Cat is on pace for a second week at No. 1 on the U.K. singles chart with “Paint The Town Red” (via Ministry of Sound), though she faces a real challenge from Olivia Rodrigo.

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Last Friday, Sept. 8, Doja Cat’s latest hit leaped to the top of the Official U.K. Singles Chart, for her first-ever leader in that territory.

According to the Official Charts Company, “Paint The Town Red” maintains a slim advantage at the midweek point – a little over 1,000 chart units.

Rodrigo’s collects positions No. 2 and No. 3 on the chart blast with “Vampire” and “Bad Idea Right”, respectively. Another, third track from her sophomore album is set to enter the top 10, “All American Bitch”. The Guts (Geffen) cut starts at No. 9 on the Official Chart Update, and is set to become the week’s highest debut. If it holds its spot, “All American Bitch” will give Rodrigo a seventh top tier effort in the U.K.

Guts, meanwhile, is streaking to No. 1 on national albums survey. As previously reported, the new release crushes the midweek U.K. albums chart with more sales and streams than the rest of the top 10 combined.

Based on sales and streaming data published by the OCC, Fred Again and Obongjayar’s “Adore U” (Atlantic) could climb 10-6, for a new high.

Kenya Grace cracked the U.K. chart for the first time last week with her viral number “Strangers” (FFRR), which entered at No. 20. “Strangers” is on the up, rising to No. 14 on the midweek survey.

Finally, Leigh-Anne should nab her second top 40 with the Afrobeats-influenced single “My Love” (Warner Records) featuring Ayra Starr. It’s new at No. 21 on the chart blast.

As a member of Little Mix, Leigh-Anne landed five U.K. No. 1 singles and a chart-topping album. Her debut solo single “Don’t Say Love” peaked at No. 11 on the national tally earlier this year.

12 Sep 2023

Olivia Rodrigo’s ‘Guts’ Mounts Massive Lead on Midweek U.K. Chart

Olivia Rodrigo’s Guts (via Interscope) will be near-impossible to catch in the race to the U.K. chart title.

Based on midweek sales and streaming data published by the Official Charts Company, Guts is currently outselling the rest of the top 10 combined.

At the halfway mark, Guts had accumulated over 33,000 chart units, the OCC reports. It’s virtually assured top spot when the Official U.K. Albums Chart is published late Friday, Sept. 15.

The followup to Sour, Rodrigo’s history-making debut from 2021, Guts has already yielded her third U.K. No. 1 single, “Vampire,” and a sixth top 10 hit, “Bad Idea Right?”

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Rodrigo holds a stack of U.K. chart records. When Sour and “Good 4 U” reached No. 1 in the same week in May 2021, she became the youngest solo artist in history to nab the chart double, aged 18 years and 3 months.

Sour also set a U.K. benchmark for the most first-week streams for a debut album. The following month, in June 2021, Rodrigo became the first female solo artist to claim three simultaneous U.K. top 5 singles with “Good 4 U,” “Déjà vu” and “Traitor.” And when “Vampire” summited this year, she was anointed as the female solo artist with the most U.K. No. 1 singles this decade.

Guts isn’t the only new release on track to impact the U.K. top 10.

Former Moloko singer Roisin Murphy is set to start at No. 2 with Hit Parade (Ninja Tune), her sixth solo studio album. If it holds its course, it would give the Irish artist her first solo top 10 appearance.

Meanwhile, the Coral’s 11th album Sea Of Mirrors (Modern Sky/Run On) is close behind at No. 3 on the Official Chart Update. The Wirral, England band should add to their six U.K. top 10 appearances. A second entry from the indie act is approaching the top 10, Holy Joe’s Coral Island Medicine Show, set to arrive at No. 13.

Electronic dance music veterans the Chemical Brothers could capture a 10th U.K. top 10 with For That Beautiful Feeling (EMI), new at No. 4 on the chart blast, while BTS singer V could complete an all-new top 5 with solo release Layover (Interscope), new at No. 5 on the midweek tally.

Finally, The xx’s Romy could land at No. 6 with her solo debut Mid-Air (Young), and Fleetwood Mac’s newly released concert recording from 1977, Rumours Live (Rhino), could score the Hall of Famers a 14th top 10 collection. It’s new at No. 9 on the chart blast.

12 Sep 2023

Graham Davies Named CEO of the Digital Media Association

The Digital Media Association (DiMA), the trade group representing digital music streaming services, has tapped Graham Davies, CEO of U.K. songwriters advocacy group The Ivors Academy, to become its next president and CEO beginning this fall.

“Graham has long championed initiatives that bring the music industry together through collaborative discussion and action,” DiMA’s board of directors said in a statement. “His demonstrated track record of working constructively across diverse stakeholders – and across borders – for the betterment of creators and the music ecosystem as a whole resonated with us…We look forward to building upon and expanding the positive work DiMA has already undertaken to champion the beneficial impact of streaming for fans, artists, and songwriters, and are excited about Graham’s vision to advocate and engage around an improved music industry.” 

Davies served as CEO of The Ivors Academy from 2018 to 2023, during which he strengthened that organization through a number of initiatives, including Credits Due and the Fix Streaming Campaign, which helped lead to a U.K. government inquiry and subsequent reform of some aspects of the music streaming marketplace. Prior to that, Davies, who is also a musician, held a senior executive position with PRS for Music, the U.K. collective society.

“DiMA has taken a forward-leaning approach to initiatives that benefit the entire music industry and the brightest future for music is one where key players work together,” Davies said in a statement. “As streaming services have powered the resurgence of music from dark economic days, it’s critical that we accelerate industry dialogues that reward creativity and ensure fans can continue to legally access music anytime, anywhere. In my new post, I look forward to listening, engaging in conversation, and looking at ways continued innovation can create new opportunity.”

Davies replaces Garrett Levin, who has helmed DiMA since 2019 and was awarded a new three-year contract in 2022 but resigned to move to Europe with his family. Davies, who resides in the United Kingdom, will relocate to the United States to take on the role.