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21 Aug 2023

Ariana Grande Parts Ways With Manager Scooter Braun

Ariana Grande has split with longtime manager Scooter Braun, sources close to the situation tell Billboard.

Grande has been with Braun and his SB Projects since 2013, the year she released her breakthrough debut album, Yours Truly. News of the split comes the same day Billboard learned that Demi Lovato, who signed with SB Projects in 2019, had parted ways with Braun. It is unclear whether Grande is severing all business ties with Braun outside of management.

The split was first reported by Puck‘s Matthew Belloni on X (formerly known as Twitter).

Representatives for Grande and Braun declined to comment.

The relationship between Grande and Braun spans the entirety of Grande’s post-Nickelodeon career — a period during which the singer released a total of six albums, all but one of which has hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Also during that time, she has notched 20 top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, seven of which went to No. 1.

Grande, who hasn’t released an album since 2020’s Positions, is currently ramping up for the 10th anniversary of Yours Truly, which will include the release of a deluxe digital release of the album on Friday (Aug. 25), as well as newly recorded live performances of “Honeymoon Avenue” and “Daydreamin’.” Additional live performances and merch drops will follow. Outside of music, she was a coach on The Voice in 2021 and will star in the two-part film adaptation of musical Wicked, the first part of which is slated to debut in November 2024.

SB Project’s artist roster currently includes longtime client Justin Bieber. Following a report Friday (Aug. 18) that Bieber was looking to leave SB, reps for both parties told Billboard that such “rumors” were “not true.”

J Balvin, who also signed with Braun in 2019, left in May and is now managed by Roc Nation.

21 Aug 2023

Love to Read? You Can Join Kindle Unlimited for Free for Up to Two Months

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.

Love to read? Let Kindle Unlimited jumpstart get your summer reading list with a limited promo that lets you subscribe to the service for free for up to two months.

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Amazon’s First-Ever Kindle for Reading & Writing is On Sale for Prime Day 2023: Shop the…

What is Kindle Unlimited? A digital reading subscription featuring more than four million digital titles including best sellers, popular series, classics and other must-read titles in addition to audiobooks, magazine subscriptions and Great on Kindle e-Books. Kindle Unlimited is offering subscribers a 30-day free trial or two months for the price of one.

Kindle Unlimited Free Trial

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The second option allows you to subscribe for half the price for two months, but you’re not locked into a contract either way. And if you’re a student, Kindle Unlimited is free for two months with Amazon Prime Student.

Keep reading for more details on Kindle Unlimited.

Kindle Unlimited: Pricing, Books & How to Sign Up

No Kindle needed! Although Kindle Unlimited works on all Kindle devices, you don’t need a Kindle to access the platform (but if you’re in the market for a new Kindle, they’re on sale at Amazon). Kindle Unlimited works on your smart phone, computer, tablet and other devices via the Kindle app.

With Kindle Unlimited, you can barrow up to 20 books, audiobooks or comics at a time and choose from millions of titles from the Kindle library. Audio narration is available on thousands of Kindle Unlimited titles as well (check for the headphones icon next to the Kindle logo to make sure that its available).

How much does Kindle Unlimited cost? The subscription is $11.99/month, but if you join under the second prom deal, it cuts the price down to $4.99/month for two months. The monthly plan will renew at $11.99/month after the two-month promo ends and you can cancel anytime.

Browse Kindle Unlimited Books for a list of titles to download or save to your reading list. Click below to launch your free trial for 30-days or 58% discount for two months.

Kindle Unlimited Deal

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With Kindle Unlimited you can enjoy bestsellers such as The Housemaid: An Absolutely Addictive Psychological Drama, Red, White & Royal Blue, The Summer I Turned Pretty, Things We Hide from the Light and other titles including Kindle Short Reads and popular memoirs and biographies including If You Tell: A True Story of Murder, Family Secrets and Unbreakable Bond of Sisterhood by Gregg Olsen and Sinead O’Conner’s Rememberings: Scenes from My Complicated Life.

21 Aug 2023

Nas “Black Magic,” Lil Durk “F*ck U Thought” & More | Daily Visuals 8.21.23

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Nas

Source: Bernard Smalls / @PhotosByBeanz83

With the release of his latest project, Magic 2, Nas continues to solidify himself as one of the most illustrious Hip-Hop artists in the history of the game and in 2023 the man continues to entrance his fans with spellbinding bars and lyrical wizardry.

Such is the case for his visuals to “Black Magic,” in which Nastradamus hosts two beautiful young women in his home where he entrances them before he himself goes on a supernatural trip and floats off the ground and becomes one with nature. Must’ve been some good ass weed, b.

Back in Chicago, Lil Durk continues to shine like it’s a sport and in his clip to “F*ck U Thought,” Durk politics in the studio with his peoples where they count stacks of blue Benjamins and show off blocks of ice that keep them cool during this summer heatwave.

Check out the rest of today’s drops and some joints you might’ve missed over the weekend including work from Ciara and Lil Baby, Peewee Longway, and more.

NAS – “BLACK MAGIC”



LIL DURK – “F*CK U THOUGHT”



CIARA & LIL BABY – “FOREVER”



PEEWEE LONGWAY – “WHO AM I”



BRENT FAIYAZ – “JACKIE BROWN”



CURREN$Y FT. VICO – “PURPLE PICASSO”



JESSIE REYEZ FT. MIGUEL – “JEANS”



SHORDIE SHORDIE – “COMPLIMENT”



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21 Aug 2023

HHW Gaming: Xbox Announces New ‘Starfield’-Themed Series X Console Wraps

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Xbox Series X Console Wraps

Source: Xbox / Xbox Series X Console Wraps

Xbox has been rolling out the custom Xbox Series X and Series S consoles that were exclusive and not available for purchase. Now, Xbox is giving Series X owners a way to add some flavor to the big black box.

Monday, August 21, Xbox decided to take a page out of PlayStation’s book by allowing Xbox Series X owners to finally add a bit of a personal touch to their consoles.

Like the PS5 custom plates, there are now Xbox Series X Console Wraps, but they are much easier to put on your console.

Per Xbox:

The wraps were designed specifically for Series X and have a custom, precision fit. Every detail was taken into consideration to ensure your console performance is preserved– vents are all clear, and small feet were added to the bottom of the wraps to ensure air can flow freely through the console.

Made with solid core panels that are layered with high-tech fabric finishes, the wraps are folded around your console and secured with a hook and loop enclosure. The interior of the wraps are printed with silicone designs that keep the wrap in place.   

Xbox Series X Console Wraps

Source: Xbox

Celebrating the forthcoming launch of Starfield, the first Console Wrap will take its cues from the Bethesda title and the Xbox exclusive and compliment the already launched Starfield Xbox Headset and controller.

How Much Will The Xbox Series X Console Wraps Cost?

The Starfield Xbox Series X Console Wrap will release in the US, Canada, and Europe on October 18 for $49.99 and is available for pre-order right now via the Microsoft Store.

If Starfield isn’t your jam, and we understand if it isn’t, Xbox is rolling out two other Console Wraps.

Series X can look forward to Artic and Mineral Camo Console Wraps launching in the US and Canada on November 10 for $44.99, and they are also available for pre-order right now.

Xbox Series X Console Wraps

Source: Xbox / Xbox Series X Console Wraps

As expected, Xbox gamers are excited about the news; you can peep the reactions in the gallery below.

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Photo: Xbox / Xbox Series X Console Wraps

21 Aug 2023

Longtime NPR Programming Executive Anya Grundmann to Step Down

Longtime National Public Radio (NPR) programming executive Anya Grundmann will leave the network after nearly 30 years, the media organization announced Monday (Aug. 21). Grundmann will step down from her post as senior vp of programming and audience development at the end of the year.

“It’s been the best kind of roller coaster ride,” Grundmann told NPR in a statement. “I’ve especially loved it when the sparks are flying, when we’ve imagined new ways we can lean into our enormous potential while staying true to our public service mission.”

Grundmann stepped into her current role at NPR in 2015 and went on help make the iconic Tiny Desk concert series a household name. She also oversaw many of NPR’s podcasts and worked throughout music, entertainment and talk shows at the organization.

NPR credits Grundmann for her part in creating its daily podcast Up First, which is based on top news stories in its morning show, Morning Edition. Additional podcast content developed under Grundmann includes Planet Money spinoff The Indicator, Code Switch and No Compromise, which won a Pulitzer Prize in 2021 for audio reporting.

“She’s really legendary in the world of public media,” NPR chief executive John Lansing told the outlet. Grundmann, he says, “led the podcasting revolution in many ways, and has been just an invaluable partner for me in my four years here.”

Lansing expressed that Grundmann’s decision to leave the network was entirely her own. In March, NPR cut 10% of its staff and stopped production on several podcasts. Lansing told NPR at the time, “We literally are fighting to secure the future of NPR at this very moment by restructuring our cost structure. It’s that important.”

Grundmann has impacted several facets of NPR’s business since she reportedly began at the network as an intern in 1994. Prior to her current role, Grundmann also served as the founding executive director of NPR Music. In 2013, she landed on the Billboard Power 100 list, an annual list of the most powerful executives in the music industry.

NPR has not yet named a successor.

21 Aug 2023

Taylor Swift, Channing Tatum, Gigi Hadid & More Stars Go Head-to-Head at Questlove’s UNO Game Night

It’s been a month since Questlove hosted his massive, star-studded game night, and the Grammy winning producer took to Instagram over the weekend to share his “final” photos from the event.

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“@UNO Wild Is Hard As HELL!!! Locks you in so long like jail!!” Questlove captioned a series of photos that included snaps of Taylor Swift, Channing Tatum, Gigi Hadid, Cara Delevingne, Jason Sudeikis, Trevor Noah, Common and more celebrities facing off in a huge UNO tournament, while they also enjoyed champagne, desserts and lots of delicious food. “Nerves Are frail!!! Everybody in this mug except for Mel!!!! (Sing to ‘Rock The Bells’) Once again, it’s not game night….unless I say it’s game night.”

See Questlove’s posts here, here, here and here. Sadly, he did not reveal the winner of the celebrity UNO tournament.

In other Swiftie news, the “Anti-Hero” singer revealed that limited edition, aquamarine green vinyl of her upcoming 1989 (Taylor’s Version) album is available to pre-order on her website here for just 48 hours. 1989 (Taylor’s Version) is out on Oct. 27, which Swift announced during her last show at Los Angeles SoFi Stadium on August 9.

1989 (Taylor’s Version) will be Swift’s fourth release since announcing her re-recording project in 2019. The previous three all skyrocketed to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart: Fearless (Taylor’s Version) with two weeks in 2021, Red (Taylor’s Version) with one week in 2021, and Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) with two weeks in 2023.

21 Aug 2023

Sha’Carri Richardson Wins World Championships 100m, Sets Record #ShaCarriRichardson

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ATHLETICS-WORLD-2023

Sha’Carri Richardson took to the track Monday (August 21) at the World Athletic Championships with the odds stacked against her and everyone seemingly counting her out. The Dallas native shocked everyone but herself by not only winning the gold medal in the 100-meter race but also setting a championship record in the process.

As NBC Sports reported, Sha’Carri Richardson, 23, faced off against favorites Jamaicans Shericka Jackson and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, in her first world championship race. The pressure she undoubtedly endured was hardly present as a focused but loose Richardson was the first one to take the field and enter her outside lane.

As the commentators kept hammering home, Richardson needed to have an almost perfect start to have a chance. Even with everything going as planned, it was clear from the commentary that Jackson or Fraser-Pryce were the expected winners as the Jamaican team is typically dominant in this event.

History and records aside, Richardson beat the field, coming in at 10.65 seconds. Jackson earned a silver medal with a time of 10.72, and Fraser-Pryce won bronze with a time of 10.77. With this win, Richardson is the world’s fastest woman on the track and field scene.

After crossing the finish line, Richardson reacted in disbelief and appeared to be in shock. When the moment was confirmed on overheard screens and on the track, Richardson finally allowed herself to take an American flag, draped herself in the flag and celebrated with glee.

The epic win comes two years after Richardson was hit with a positive marijuana test disqualification for her Olympic Trials 100m win. From there, it was a slow climb back into the good graces of the track and field community but Richardson doesn’t seem to desire the world’s adoration after betting on herself. In her post-race commentary, Richardson once again repeated that she isn’t racing for the world’s approval and that the support of her family is all she needs.

Day 3 - World Athletics Championships Budapest 2023

Amen to that.

Congratulations to Sha’Carri Richardson on the big win. Keep scrolling to watch the race and read reactions from X, formerly known as Twitter.



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Photo: Getty

21 Aug 2023

Vol. 2: Rihanna Welcomes New Baby Boy

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Celebrity Sightings In New York City - August 13, 2022

Source: Robert Kamau / Getty

Rihanna gave birth to a new baby boy. It’s the Bajan singer’s second child, and second son, with Harlem rapper A$AP Rocky.

Apparently, it’s news to the rest of the world since TMZ reports that Rihanna actually gave birth earlier this month.

According to “sources,” the new bundle of joy arrived on August 3rd while Rihanna was in Los Angeles. No word on the child’s name beyond that it starts with an R. His big bro’s name is RZA Athelston Mayers (he was born May 13, 2022) while dad’s born name is Rakim, so let the guessing games begin as far as whether or not it’s a legendary rapper’s namesake. Russell in honor of the Ol’ Dirty Bastard, maybe? Or just plain Rakim Junior?

We’ll have to wait and see. So far, no confirmation in the proud parent’s socials.

Congrats to Rihanna and A$AP Rocky.

This story is developing. 

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21 Aug 2023

Britney Spears Speaks Out Amid Divorce, Everything You Missed at KCON LA 2023 & More | Billboard News

Britney Spears speaks out on social media following the news of her divorce from Sam Asghari. Travis Scott stays on top of the Billboard 200 with his latest album ‘Utopia’ for the third week in a row, while Oliver Anthony Music’s viral song “Rich Men of Richmond” goes to No. 1. Everything you missed this weekend at KCON LA 20223. We learn five things about Jon Batiste. Get to know Pedro Capó a little more through a game of Never Have I Ever. And more!

Tetris Kelly
Britney’s bouncing back after divorce drama. We’ve got a new leader on top of the charts. Billboard takes you inside KCON LA. We learned five things about Jon Batiste, and Pedro Capó plays Never Have I Ever. Things are drying up here in LA, and we’ve got a brand-new episode of Billboard News. I’m Tetris Kelly, it’s Monday, August 21st, and let’s get things started with a Britney update. Britney Spears hears you talking and she doesn’t care. Almost divorced Britney is living her life and still releasing her book. Britney is truly free and we like what we see. Last week, news broke that Britney Spears and Sam Asghari were headed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences, Sam posted he wishes her the best and Brit posted herself, “Six years is a long time to be with someone so I’m a little shocked, but I’m not here to explain why because it’s honestly nobody’s business.”

Tetris Kelly
Well, Britney, we want more and she gave us more. Our queen was not happy after paparazzi photos of her leaked. So she had a night out, posting, “When you go to meet up with a so-called friend then you have to wait in the car and need to use the bathroom. I knew paps were tipped off. So what does a bi— like me do? I put my green dress on and show up at my friends. I invited my fav boys over and played all night.” Play with me, Britney! And will her book change after the divorce news? TMZ is reporting there won’t be any changes made to the memoir to reflect Britney’s divorce, and the book will be released as it is. ‘The Woman In Me’ is available October 24.

Watch the full video above!

21 Aug 2023

Hoobastank Music Video Hits 1 Billion Views on YouTube & ‘The Reason’ Is You

Hoobastank is officially a member of the Billion Views Club, as the band’s music video for its 2004 track “The Reason” just reached the milestone Monday (Aug. 21) on YouTube.

The visual for the track, which features current members Doug Robb, Chris Hesse, Dan Estrin as well as original bassist Markku Lappalainen, centers on a woman who continually gets hit by a car. Each time the woman gets hit, the members of the group try various tactics to prevent the traumatic event from happening over and over again, until ultimately she’s able to get up and walk away unscathed by the incident.

“When we wrote this song, and later shot the video, never in our wildest dreams could we have predicted the reach, longevity and connection it would have with you, our fans and listeners around the world,” the group captioned a video of them pretending to be unimpressed by the milestone. “We hope it continues to reach people, old and new, for years to come. A billion views is incredible. On to the next billion. Thank you all. Every single one of you.”

“The Reason” was released in 2004 as the second single from Hoobastank’s sophomore album of the same name. The track became the group’s first and only top five hit on the Billboard Hot 100. It spent a total of 38 weeks on the chart peaked at No. 2 on the all-genre tally. The track additionally hit No. 1 on Alternative Airplay.

Revisit the video for “The Reason” above, and see Hoobastank’s celebratory post below.