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12 Jul 2023

Lil Yachty Checks Akademiks Over Playboi Carti Style Claims

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DJ Akademiks has to explain to himself yet again. Lil Yachty is calling him out for saying Playboi Carti got him to change his style.

As spotted on HipHopDX, the Quality Control Music talent is feeling a ways about the media personality. During a recent Twitch stream, the podcaster made some wild claims about Big Boat. “Lil Yachty in my studio told me, this is before he dropped ‘Poland’ and ‘Strike’ and all this other sh*t. N****a, he said he’s in the studio with Carti, and Carti made him change his entire style. Facts,” he stated. AK went on to add “Once I heard that, I was like, ‘Damn! Carti’s like that?!’ Sorry, I have nothing more to say. Carti’s that n***a.”

Naturally, the claims quickly landed on Lil Yachty’s radar. On Sunday, July 9, the “One Night” rapper took to Twitter to refute the allegations. “@Akademiks u r so insane, I didn’t tell u this at all. Stop drinking bro. I said tyler encouraged me to take that route. Wtf,” he wrote.

Earlier this year, Lil Yachty spoke to Billboard magazineduring his promotional run for Let’s Start Here. In the interview, he credited Tyler, The Creator as one of his biggest supporters to change his musical approach up. “I would love to do a project with Tyler [The Creator],” he said. “He’s the reason I made this album. He’s the one who told me to do it, just go for it. He’s so confident and I have so much respect for him because he takes me seriously, and he always has.”

You can see Lil Yachty’s response below. DJ Akademiks has yet to respond.

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12 Jul 2023

Britney Spears Says She Worked Really Hard on Her ‘Woman in Me’ Memoir: ‘So You Guys Better Like It’

The title of Britney Spears‘ hit 2013 single “Work Bitch” isn’t just a provocative call-to-arms. For the pop superstar it is also a personal mantra that could serve as the subtitle to her upcoming memoir, The Woman in Me.

“My book is coming out very, very soon. I worked my ass off for this book,” she told fans in a video posted on Tuesday night (July 11), just hours after the memoir was announced. “I had a lot of therapy to get this book done, so you guys better like it. If you don’t like it, that’s fine too.” Either way, she added cheekily, “I’m going to Bermuda, Bahama, come on pretty mama, Miyago, Machigo, baby why don’t we go,” she said before running out of sight after, kind of, singing the refrain from the Beach Boys’ beloved 1988 late-period hit single “Kokomo.”

Sliding back into frame wearing a pair of white sunglasses and continuing with the gibberish lyrics, she sang, “Koko, koko, masasees,” before a voice off camera said, “too much, too much.”

Fans are likely hoping for much more after Simon & Schuster imprint Gallery Books announced an Oct. 24 release date for the anticipated tell-all, which was described as a “brave and astonishingly moving story about freedom, fame, motherhood, survival, faith and hope.” The cover features a picture of a topless Spears, 41, wearing silver pants, with her arms covering her breasts.

“Britney’s compelling testimony in open court shook the world, changed laws, and showed her inspiring strength and bravery,” Gallery Books senior VP and publisher Jennifer Bergstrom said in a statement shared with Billboard. “I have no doubt her memoir will have a similar impact — and will be the publishing event of the year. We couldn’t be more proud to help her share her story at last.”

In a second, close-up video, Spears again relayed that she just finished writing the book and repeated her playful warning about liking it, as well as some more made-up “Kokomo” lyrics. She also posted the official book teaser trailer, which reads, “It’s coming… My story… On my terms… At last… Are you ready?”

The announcement got a thumbs-up from the Black Eyed Peas’ Will.i.am, who tweeted, “Congrats @britneyspears… I can’t wait to read your book… i know it’s going to inspire so many people… I’m #inspired already…”

The writing in The Woman in Me is described as having “remarkable candor and humor” in a “groundbreaking book” that “illuminates the enduring power of music and love — and the importance of a woman telling her own story, on her own terms, at last.”

Watch Spears’ book promo below.

12 Jul 2023

Gayle Says Taylor Swift Gave Everyone on the Eras Tour a Very Sweet Keepsake Gift: ‘She is Like a Big Sister To Me’

Taylor Swift has tried very hard to make every night of her Eras Tour memorable for fans. From the surprise song sections of each show to special guests and video premieres, the massive stadium outing has often had the feel of a much more intimate gathering.

That warm feeling has also extended to backstage where, according to opening act Gayle, Swift has been handing out a one-of-a-kind keepsake to the whole Eras team. The “abcdefu” singer told People that Swift has gifted everyone on the tour gold necklaces with the words “The Eras Tour” engraved on them.

The glittering souvenir is extra special for the 19-year-old singer since Swift has been such a huge influence on her life and career. “She is like a big sister to me,” Gayle told the magazine. “When you’re in music, there’s so many unknowns and there’s so many stresses. I’m a perfectionist, and not everything is going to be perfect all the time. There’s definitely been times where I’ve been able to talk about my insecurities and my fears and she’s been a very comforting person. She’s been such a light in my life.”

Swift has been such an inspiration for her that Gayle moved to Nashville when she was 10 to pursue music, much as Swift did when she was 13. “She has such an incredible work ethic. Ever since I was a little kid, I just aspired to be as good of a writer as her and work as hard as she does,” Gayle said. “I’ve just tried my best to do those things and she’s always been such an inspiration to me.”

The best part is that after sitting in the very “last row” of a stadium watching Swift’s 2018 Reputation Tour and dreaming about being up there, Gayle is now on the stage opening for Swift. “I never ever ever, ever, ever thought I’d be doing that, and so it’s amazing,” she said, noting that Swift also got her flowers and wrote a sweet letter welcoming her to the Eras outing.

Gayle is planning her own headlining tour later this year and is planning to release an as-yet-untitled full-length album to follow-up her trio of 2022 A Study of the Human Experience EPs. The Eras Tour will pull into Empower Field at Mile High in Denver on Friday (July 13) and Saturday (July 15) for a two-night stand with openers MUNA and Gracie Abrams.

12 Jul 2023

Australian Indie Band The Rions Sign Global Deal With Sony Music Publishing: Exclusive

SYDNEY, Australia — Indie rockers the Rions have struck a global publishing deal with Sony Music Publishing Australia, Billboard can exclusively reveal.

It’s full steam ahead for the Sydney band, whose debut EP Minivan is due out Aug. 11. Featuring fan fave “Scary Movies” and the title track, Minivan was recorded with producer Chris Collins (Matt Corby, Skeggs, Middle Kids) in the Byron Bay hinterlands.

“They’re a brilliant young band with a lot of heart and soul, writing great songs and we have no doubt they will be captivating audiences for a long time,” comments Sony Music Publishing managing director Damian Trotter, the publishing veteran who signed Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker.

Hailing from the Northern Beaches, the Rions was formed in 2016 by schoolmates Noah Blockley (lead vocals, bass guitar), Harley Wilson (guitar), Asher McLean (guitar) and Tom Partington (drums).

The lads got their break with first prize in Triple J’s 2021 Unearthed High competition, for their song “Night Light”. The track would land at No. 51 on triple j’s Hottest 100 countdown for 2021, and they’d follow it up with “Anakin,” which appeared at No. 64 in the national youth network’s annual countdown for 2022.

Support slots came with Lime Cordiale and Boy & Bear, then festival spots at Grapevine Gathering, Party In the Paddock and Festival of the Sun, and, more recently, a sold-out 10-date national tour in support of “Scary Movies.”

Coming up, a spot on the bill for the two-day Yours & Owls Festival 2023 this October, headlined by Bakar, Broods and Chet Faker.

The Rions are managed by Steve de Wilde at UNIFIED Artist Management. “We’re really excited to partner with Sony Publishing in the next phase of this incredible band’s career,” he enthuses. “Damian and the team have such an impressive track record, and I can’t wait to see what this pairing of creative minds can unlock on a global scale.”

11 Jul 2023

Actor Hill Harper Announces Michigan Senate Run, Twitter Has Mixed Feelings

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Author, and actor, Hill Harper is no stranger to the world of politics, and now he is looking to make a big splash in Michigan’s 2024 senate race.

The New York Times reports Harper hopes to add US Senator to his list of accomplishments after throwing his name in a Democratic Primary that will have plenty of people closely monitoring it.

Harper has pledged to run as progressive and hopes that will be enough to convince Michigan voters to choose him over Moderate Democrat Elissa Slotkin.

The actor best known for his roles on CSI: NY and The Good Doctor and now a first-time candidate is running on a campaign that will work towards expanding social security, making sure the people he hopes to represent will have access to affordable healthcare, addressing income inequality and tackling student debt.

He spoke about his campaign in an interview shared by the New York Times:

“It became clear to me that folks across Michigan don’t feel like they are being represented in Washington, D.C.,” he said, describing his conversations with people at farmers’ markets and union halls as he weighed his decision to run. The state’s Democratic leadership, which holds the governor’s office and both chambers of the Michigan Statehouse, he added, has “done a lot to move the state forward, but Washington is still broken.”

Harper Has Worked With Former President Barack Obama

Unlike some other celebrities, the 57-year-old actor isn’t new to politics. Harper was good friends with former President Barack Obama. The two men befriended each other while attending Harvard while playing basketball.

Obama would later appoint his friend to his President’s Cancer Panel in 2012, which worked alongside the National Institute of Health (NIH) that made recommendations to the Obama administration about cancer healthcare policies.

Hill Harper Isn’t Getting The Warm Announcement He Hoped He Would

Harper’s announcement is being met with a mixed reception. Some point to him misgendering Zaya Wade on her birthday while trying to push his book or for allegedly being transphobic.

Some people point out the Iowa native, who moved to Detroit in 2018, but barely stays in his home.

He also has some people excited about his Senate run. Actor Mark Ruffalo and Michael Skolnick both hit Twitter to support Mr. Harper’s run for the Senate.

You can see those reactions in the gallery below.

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Photo: Scott Olson / Getty

1. The Incredible Hulk approves

7. Well damn

11 Jul 2023

Bose’s Chic Noise-Cancelling Headphones Are $80 Off for One More Day

Amazon Prime Day is upon us and you’ll want to add this Bose headphones deal to cart. Right now, you can get the top-rated Bose Noise-Cancelling 700 Wireless Headphones for just $299 — an $80 discount off their regular price of $399+.

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This is the first discount of the season for these best-selling headphones and one of the best Bose Prime Day deals this year. Prime Day ends at midnight July 12 so you’ll want to hurry to claim this offer.

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Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700

$299.00 $379.00 21% OFF

These powerful noise-cancelling headphones use 11 levels of active noise cancelling to block out outside noise and distractions. What that means: you get a more focused, deep and immersive music experience without hearing outside chatter or traffic.

Bose is known for its superb audio quality, and these headphones deliver crisp highs, balanced mids and deep, resonating bass. A single charge gets you up to 20 hours of playtime on these wireless headphones, without needing to plug in.

Bose says it’s updated its technology to make these headphones great for taking calls too. The company says its “revolutionary microphone system adapts to noisy and windy environments so your voice always sounds crystal clear on calls.”

bose 700 deal

Amazon

Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700

$299.00 $379.00 21% OFF

Pair the Bose headphones to your phone with easy Bluetooth connectivity. You can also access voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant to scroll through your music, ask for the weather and more.

Everything is packed into a luxurious-styled package, with a lightweight stainless steel headband and cushy earcups tilted for the perfect fit.

Regularly $379.99+, the Bose Noise-Cancelling 700 Bluetooth Headphones are on sale right now for just $299 on Amazon, no promo code needed. The deal gets you the Bose headphones in black or silver, a travel case and all the charging cables. Shop the deal here.

11 Jul 2023

Courtney Barnett Sets Instrumental Album ‘End Of The Day,’ Calls Time on Milk! Records

Courtney Barnett’s next release won’t feature any vocals.

End Of The Day is due out Sept. 8, and is said to be an instrumental affair, a “meditative, slow-burning and beautiful record,” reads a statement, “prioritizing atmosphere, tone and texture over traditional song structures and melodic hooks.”

The collection spans 17 tracks, originally created as part of the score to Danny Cohen‘s documentary Anonymous Club. Three cuts arrive early on streaming services, “Start Somewhere,” “Life Balance” and “First Slow,” accompanied with a visual shot by filmmaker Claire Marie Vogel.

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Barnett’s instrumental improvisations took shape in May 2021 with collaborator and producer Stella Mozgawa, who had worked on the Aussie singer and songwriters’ third studio album, Things Take Time, Take Time, released that year.

End Of The Day will arrive via Milk! Records, and will be one of the final releases on the label, which will wrap-up at the end of 2023.

The label was established by Barnett and Jen Cloher in 2012 as a vehicle for the release of Barnett’s debut EP, I’ve Got a Friend Called Emily Ferris. The label’s roster would grow to include Cloher, Liz Stringer, East Brunswick All Girls Choir, Loose Tooth, Hachiku, Tiny Ruins, The Finks, Hand Habits, Bachelor and Sleater-Kinney, releasing over 70 albums, compilations and collaborations.

Based in Melbourne, Milk has won the AIR Award for best independent label on two occasions, in 2015 and 2018.

“It has been one of the great honors of my life to be a part of this incredible community and to work alongside so many amazing artists,” says Barnett of the Milk closure. “Thank you to every single person who has been part of the Milk! Records journey, it wouldn’t be the same without you.”

Barnett has been one of Australia’s leading indie exports of the past decade. Her debut full-length album from 2015, Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit, peaked at No. 4 in Australia, No. 16 in the United Kingdom and No. 20 in the United States, and won the Australian Music Prize, a trio of ARIA Awards and a nomination for best international female at the BRIT Awards. Her solo follow-up cracked the top 10 in the United Kingdom, led several Billboard charts and peaked at No. 22 on the Billboard 200.

A collaborative project with Kurt Vile, 2017’s Lotta Sea Lice, hit No. 5 in Australia, No. 11 in the U.K., and No. 51 in the U.S.

“End Of The Day” tracklist:
Start Somewhere
Life Balance
First Slow
A to B
(Electricity)
Two Circles Reflecting
End Of The Day
Floating Down
Spring Ascends
Intro
B to C
Like Water
Gold Room
Sun Through
River
Get On With It
Eternity Repeat

11 Jul 2023

TOMORROW X TOGETHER Reflect on the ‘Sense of Pride’ Collaborating With Jonas Brothers for ‘Do It Like That’

TOMORROW X TOGETHER‘s highly anticipated entrance into the music industry in 2019 generated immense interest as the latest addition to the esteemed roster of Big Hit Entertainment (now BIGHIT MUSIC), whose strong music history was laid by pop icons BTS, influential singer-songwriter Lee Hyun and ballad-focused boy band 2AM.

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Meanwhile, a cornerstone of TXT’s musical story has been the array of worldwide collaborators including global hip-hop stars (Coi Leray, iann dior, pH-1, Woodie Gochild), rising singer-songwriters (Salem Ilese, Seori, Lilas Ikuta), punk-rock icons (ModSun), EDM heavy-hitters (Alan Walker) and more. With TXT’s prime-for-pop-crossover smash “Do It Like That” alongside the Jonas Brothers, fans saw how the process goes beyond music.

Ahead of the July 7 release of “Do It Like That,” the K-pop stars shared a series of teaser videos to piece together their biggest Top 40 moment yet. Amid the U.S. leg of TXT’s Act: Sweet Mirage world tour, the quintet jetted off to meet OneRepublic frontman Ryan Tedder in the studio. While the super-producer behind multiple Hot 100 No. 1s already pumped some mainstream magic into the track, adding TXT’s Republic Records label mates in the JoBros expanded the song’s appeal to a broader generation of boy-band fans for maximum pop appeal.

With nearly 20 million views on YouTube since its release, the song is beginning to connect worldwide in its quest to become—as TXT’s eldest member Yeonjun describes it—”the perfect summer track” for 2023.

TOMORROW X TOGETHER’s Yeonjun, Soobin, Beomgyu, Taehyun and HueningKai‘s took a moment to delve into the collaboration with Billboard to share behind-the-scenes anecdotes, aspirations for the song, who would make the best TXT/JoBros sub-unit and the latest message to their fans, affectionately known as MOAs.

Billboard: Tell us more about how TOMORROW X TOGETHER and the Jonas Brothers came together for “Do It Like That.” Have you ever previously connected with Jonas Brothers, or was anyone a longtime fan?

YEONJUN: It was our first time meeting Jonas Brothers for this collaboration and I had personally been a fan of their music growing up and even practiced with their music as a trainee, so it felt surreal to be working with them. “Do It Like That” seemed like the perfect summer track and when Jonas Brothers also expressed their interest in the single, we met up in the States during the U.S. leg of our world tour in May to make this collaboration happen.

TOMORROW X TOGETHER has collaborated with several artists, but we got to see you meet, interact and record fun content before the song release. What was the vibe like? Any fun stories from the day?

TAEHYUN: From recording the track to shooting content, this collaboration was such a fun project. Jonas Brothers were even cooler in person and their friendliness helped us work together in a chill environment. 

BEOMGYU: Jonas Brothers were incredibly welcoming from the moment we met. They were just as enthusiastic as we were about shooting content, which we really appreciated.

YEONJUN: We gifted Jonas Brothers our most recent album The Name Chapter: TEMPTATION! We shot a lot of content together, and I remember being pleasantly surprised by how good they were at filming TikTok videos. 

Do you want fans to look out for anything specific in the music video?

HUENINGKAI: Viewers will be able to see how much fun we had on the set if they pay attention to TOMORROW X TOGETHER and Jonas Brothers’ facial expressions and gestures within the music video!

Fans loved Jonas Brothers’ sharing “concept photos” in the style of TOMORROW X TOGETHER on social media. Did you enjoy?

HUENINGKAI: We thought their concept photos turned out really well and felt a sense of pride seeing the positive reactions from fans. 

In what ways do TXT and Jonas Brothers have similarities, and in what ways are they different?

TAEHYUN: I’d say TOMORROW X TOGETHER and Jonas Brothers are both artists who have a jam-packed discography with quality music. We, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, are not related by blood like Jonas Brothers, but the five of us are a band of brothers too and a family nonetheless. 

What are your personal and professional goals with this single?

SOOBIN: It would be amazing to achieve good results on the Billboard charts with “Do It Like That,” but more importantly we hope that this single acts as a window for more people to discover TOMORROW X TOGETHER and get to know us.

Sometimes K-pop groups split into “sub-units” for certain performances or albums. What would be the best combination if one member of TXT and Jonas Brothers formed a duo?

BEOMGYU: I think HUENINGKAI and Nick Jonas would make the perfect duo because their vocals complement each other very well. 

TOMORROW X TOGETHER has a lot of big things coming up: Headlining Lollapalooza 2023, a Disney+ documentary, of course this new single. What’s your message to fans as you roll it all out?

SOOBIN: We can’t spoil too much, but including our new single, we have a lot of exciting plans coming up for the rest of the year beyond what you mentioned. It’s a busy time for us, but we’re thankful and working hard to put our best foot forward for the many opportunities to meet our MOA. As always, we would appreciate our MOAs’ excitement and support every step of the way!

11 Jul 2023

Firefighter Trent Toney Sings Smoldering Song to his Ex-Wife on ‘AGT’: Watch

Trent Toney puts out fires for a living.

No, not like the IT support in your office. The 30-year-old from Hillsborough, Oregon, close to Portland, is a legit firefighter.

For his audition Tuesday night (July 11) on America’s Got Talent, Toney turned his hand to singing, songwriting and playing the keys.

His day job, however, was never far from the conversation. When Heidi Klum awkwardly asked why he didn’t present to the AGT nation in his firefighter outfit, he immediately put out that fire.

Toney told his backstory, specifically, his split from his wife Faith.

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“I think we were immature,” he explained, “we were both made a lot of mistakes. But I don’t think getting married to her was one of them.”

Does he want her back? Oh yes, that fire still burns. “Yesterday,” he remarked. “I’m still in love with her.” He proved it by performing an original song, written for his ex.

Matters took a different route when, before Toney could sing a note, the crowd bayed for him to call her. Which the judges obliged, dialing up Facetime. Faith took her time to pick up, but when she did, Klum handled the conversation and placed the phone on the judges’ desk, facing the stage.

After stifling some sniffles, Toney got going at the electronic keyboard for a performance of “Always and Lately,” a ballad that would sit nicely on most AC radio playlists.

The crowd loved it, the judges loved it.

“I think you’re so handsome, so lovely, you have the best smile, and a beautiful voice,” remarked Klum.
“It was great, it was heartfelt, your voice is amazing you look amazing, it was the perfect audition,” added Sofia Vergara.

“I thought that was very brave, actually,” commented Simon Cowell. “I mean, to tell us all of that. I wouldn’t. I seriously wouldn’t. You know what, people I think are going to like you and I think you’ve got a really, really good voice. This is one of those auditions people are certainly going to about.”

Howie Mandel enthused, “You could feel the emotion in your voice, and I could tell just by looking at her and see how she was reacting to it, that was absolutely beautiful.”

It was four yeses from the judges.

Klum had the final word. As she congratulated the contestant with a hug, she quipped, “if this works out and you have a girl, it better be called Heide, okay.”

As for Faith, and whether the spark is still there, we’ll have to wait and see.

Watch below.


https://youtube.com/watch?v=gCArnr-3uOs&version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-US&autohide=2&wmode=transparent

11 Jul 2023

We Can See What Taylor Swift Was Up To With Her Crafty ‘I Can See You’ Video Casting

We always knew Taylor Swift was a mastermind, but she really outdid herself with the music video for her Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) “From the Vault” track “I Can See You.”

Late Friday, Swift surprised Eras Tour concertgoers in Kansas City when she was joined onstage by the top-secret cast from the new visual: 2011 “Mean” video co-stars Joey King and Presley Cash (who were 12 and 14, respectively, when they acted in that clip) and Swift’s ex-boyfriend Taylor Lautner, the alleged inspiration behind Speak Now hit single “Back to December.” In the new video, directed and written by Swift, the trio conspires to rescue the music superstar from a (literal) vault, thereby reuniting all her Speak Now songs with their rightful owner.

On the new Billboard Pop Shop Podcast, Katie & Keith are talking all about Swift’s latest re-recorded album, as well as “I Can See You,” its buzziest “From the Vault” track. Listen below:

Also on the show, we’ve got chart news on how there are new No. 1s on both the Billboard 200 albums and Billboard Hot 100 songs chart — and by two different artists! Plus, could Swift surpass a longstanding record held by Barbra Streisand next week on the Billboard 200 with Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)? We’ve got all the details in the podcast above. Also, Madonna shared her first message to fans since her hospitalization last month and also updated ticket-holders on the status of her postponed Celebration Tour, and we’re talking about all that too.

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.)