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06 Jul 2023

Randy Rogers, Rodney Crowell, Aaron Watson & More Revamp ‘God Blessed Texas’ to Honor Song’s 30th Anniversary

Nearly three decades ago, on July 17, 1993, the group Little Texas released “God Blessed Texas,” what would become one of the band’s signature songs, reaching the top five on Billboard‘s Hot Country Songs chart.

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The tune, written by the group’s lead guitarist Porter Howell and keyboardist-vocalist Brady Seals, appeared on the group’s second album, Big Time. Tim Rushlow provided lead vocals on the track.

Now, a slate of artists from the Lone Star State are teaming up to celebrate the song’s 30th anniversary by offering a revamped version of the hit. Randy Rogers, Casey Donahew, Josh Abbott, Aaron Watson, Rodney Crowell, Kevin Fowler and Pat Green each contribute their own styles to the revised version of “God Blessed Texas.”

“This song made me proud to be from Texas,” Rogers said in a press release. “I discovered my love for country music right as this song was released, and I watched the video a thousand times. So this is truly a full circle moment for me.”

“Like many other Texans, this song is part of my DNA,” Donahew added. “I wish I had written it. What an honor to be asked to collaborate on the new version. I have toured all 50 states and I can say one thing for certain, God definitely blessed TEXAS!”

The new version of “God Blessed Texas” was recorded at The ER Studio in Nashville with musicians including Mark Matejka, Duane Propes, Corey Wright and Dane Bryant. 

The new version will be available Friday, July 14. Until then, check out the original Little Texas classic below:

06 Jul 2023

Nicki Minaj & Ice Spice’s ‘Barbie World’ Bursts Into Top 10 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart

Barely two months after they teamed up on “Princess Diana,” Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice again storm into the upper reaches of Billboard‘s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart as their second collaboration, “Barbie World” with Aqua, debuts at No. 3 on the list dated July 8.

“Barbie World,” a drill track that samples Aqua’s 1997 top 10 Billboard Hot 100 hit “Barbie Girl,” launches with 16.2 million official U.S. streams in the week ending June 29, according to Luminate. The sum sparks a No. 4 arrival on the R&B/Hip-Hop Streaming Songs chart. The collaboration also generates a splashy sales week, with 37,000 downloads sold in the same period. As the song hits No. 1 on R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales, Minaj banks her 22nd champ on the list, while Ice Spice nabs her second.

With “Barbie World,” Minaj secures a 41st career top 10 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and her third of 2023, following “Red Ruby Da Sleeze,” a No. 4 hit in March, and “Princess Diana,” which peaked at No. 2 in April. Ice Spice posts a second top 10 on the chart, after “Princess Diana.” It’s the first for Aqua.

Elsewhere, “Barbie World” begins at No. 3 on the Hot Rap Songs chart to become Minaj’s 46th top 10, while Ice Spice claims her third, after “Princess Diana” and her own “In Ha Mood,” which climbed to a No. 9 high in March. It’s the first top 10 on the list for Aqua. On the Hot 100, “Barbie World” enters at No. 7, matching the peak rank of Aqua’s “Barbie Girl” in 1997.

“Barbie World” will appear on the soundtrack to the feature film Barbie, which will be released alongside the movie on July 21. The soundtrack includes an array of hitmakers, including Dua Lipa, Lizzo, PinkPantheress, Karol G and more.

Pop and rhythmic radio have been the earliest adopters for “Barbie World,” with the track debuting at No. 36 on Rhythmic Airplay and the anchor slot, No. 40, on Pop Airplay. The collaboration did also generate some activity at Minaj and Ice Spice’s core format, R&B/hip-hop, but notably, both artists also have other active tracks there. On the latest Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, “Princess Diana” rises 21-17 through a 16% gain in plays. Minaj also climbs four spots with another hit collaboration – on Sexxy Red and Tay Keith’s “Pound Town,” which she joined for a remix – as it advances 23-19 with a 28% surge in plays in the latest tracking week.

06 Jul 2023

Bob Marley’s Meteoric Rise to Fame Documented in ‘One Love’ First Trailer: Watch

Bob Marley‘s story will come to life on the big screen with the forthcoming film Bob Marley: One Love. While fans of the late reggae legend will have to wait until 2024 for the movie to hit theaters, the first trailer — released on Thursday (July 6) — offers a first look at what to expect from the Reinaldo Marcus Green-directed film.

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The trailer kicks off with Kingsley Ben-Adir as the Jamaican singer-songwriter preparing to play a concert in Jamaica with the help of background singers and instrumentalists. Scenes then flash of Marley’s star rising, from recording in the music studio to having international meetings in England and brushing shoulders with Mick and Bianca Jagger in nightclubs.

Meanwhile, tensions back home in Jamaica are running high as political parties clash. In a conversation, Marley asserts, “There’s a war going on. You can’t separate the music and the message.” The person replies, “And what is the message?” to which the icon simply replies, “Peace.”

The clash comes to a head when rebels shoot up Marley’s home. “Bob, they tried to kill you and your wife, and now you’re choosing to return home to Jamaica to play a peace concert? Don’t you fear for your life?” a person inquires. Later in the trailer, Marley’s views become clear: “My life is not for me. My life is for people.”

According to the official synopsis for the film, One Love “celebrates the life and music of an icon who inspired generations through his message of love and unity” and tells the tale of the singer-songwriter “overcoming adversity and the journey behind his revolutionary music.”

The movie — produced in partnership with the Marley family — will be released in theaters on Jan. 12, 2024.

Watch the trailer in full in the video above.

06 Jul 2023

Fall Out Boy, Falling in Reverse Cover Their Way to Top of Alternative Digital Song Sales Chart

Remakes take the top two spots on Billboard’s Alternative Digital Song Sales chart dated July 8.

Falling in Reverse’s “Last Resort (Reimagined),” the band’s rendition of Papa Roach’s song, debuts at No. 1, while Fall Out Boy’s updated version of Billy Joel’s “We Didn’t Start the Fire” begins at No. 2.

“Last Resort” leads the list with 5,000 downloads earned in the June 23-29 tracking week, according to Luminate, despite being released four days into the tracking period on June 26.

It’s Falling in Reverse’s second No. 1 on the survey, following the one-week reign of “Watch the World Burn” in February.

In addition to its sales, the song earned 2 million official U.S. streams. In all, those metrics are hefty enough to send the song to a No. 21 debut on the multimetric Hot Rock & Alternative Songs tally.

The song is a largely orchestral take on Papa Roach’s 2000 original. It became a breakthrough hit for the Jacoby Shaddix-led band, crowning the Alternative Airplay chart for seven weeks beginning in August 2000 and peaking at No. 57 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Concurrently, the original “Last Resort” sports a 3% boost in streams to 2.5 million June 23-29.

Meanwhile, Fall Out Boy’s rendition of “We Didn’t Start the Fire” bows on Alternative Digital Song Sales with 4,000 downloads.

While a cover in melody and via its chorus, Fall Out Boy’s version updates Joel’s verses to reference world happenings that occurred since the 1989 release of the original, a two-week No. 1 on the Hot 100 in December 1989.

Fall Out Boy’s cover racked up 767,000 streams in addition to its sales. All told, the song starts at No. 44 on Hot Rock & Alternative Songs, with a higher position likely following its first full week of tracking running June 30-July 6 (after the song was released June 28).

Joel’s original, meanwhile, scored a 5% jump in streams to 1.8 million.

06 Jul 2023

AFROJACK Signs With Moe Shalizi & The Shalizi Group for Management

Dutch producer AFROJACK has signed with Moe Shalizi and The Shalizi Group for management.

The Grammy-winning electronic artist joins a stacked dance roster that includes Alesso, Jauz and Marshmello, witih Shalizi guiding the career of the latter artist from unknown producer to global brand.

“Moe Shalizi’s past work speaks for itself, excited to see where we can take our collaboration in our long-term future,” the artist tells Billboard.

AFROJACK is a longstanding figurehead of the global dance scene, having played every major festival in the world while clocking hits including the EDM era defining hits “Take Over Control,” “Hey Mama” (with David Guetta), “No Beef” (with Steve Aoki) and tk. He was also the co-writer on Guetta’s enduring “Titanium.” In 2011 he and Guetta won a Grammy for best remixed recording, non classic for their edit of Madonna’s “Revolver.” The producer, born Nick van de Wall, has also earned three additional Grammy nominations. His catalog has earned 388 million on-demand official U.S. streams, according to Luminate.

The producer’s shift in management follows his 2022 signing with UMG’s Virgin Records Germany and Universal Music Netherlands under a partnership that encompasses the producer’s longstanding label Wall Recordings. This past May, construction completed on the new WALL Recordings headquarters, a compound in the Belgian countryside featuring multiple studios, sleeping and office spaces and content creation areas.

Working with artists across the dance and hip-hop spaces, The Shalizi Group specializes in gaming, television, technology, consumer goods, fashion and digital marketing.

“We are very excited to be working with Nick and look forward to the future,” Shalizi tells Billboard.

This summer and fall AFROJACK is on the lineups for events including this weekend’s Ultra Europe in Croatia, Tomorrowland in Belgium, Lollapalooza and EDC Orlando.

06 Jul 2023

Live Nation Launches Mindfulness App For Artists and Music Professionals

Live Nation’s next venture is less about staging rock, pop and hip-hop extravaganzas, and all about mindfulness.

The live entertainment giant today (July 6) launches the Mindful Nation app, an online space where music meets meditation for a necessary mental health break.

Mindful Nation goes wide with over 1,000 meditation classes featuring special beats curated by leading producers and independent artists, including Janax Pacha, Mose Musica and Chris IDH.

According to LN, users of the app can expect to tap into daily trainer-led classes tuned to “various vibes, on-demand classes for mind, sleep, and day-to-day life, music playlists” and “breathe with the beat” exercises. 

Noel Gallagher, leader of the British rock outfit the High Flying Birds and Oasis co-founder, has tested the app and given it a resounding thumbs-up.

“Writing music and albums is one kind of meditation,” the legendary Manchester artist explains, “you have to go into a particular state to do it. Music is meditation to me so for Niamh to create Mindful Nation makes so much sense. Music is the gateway to finding that higher place of peace and this platform will allow for more people to access meditation in a way that makes sense to them. It’s really cool.”

The mindfulness platform is the brainchild of Niamh McCarthy, a former artist manager who worked for Madonna and U2’s management team at Maverick. McCarthy, like so many others in the business, experienced burnout on the road. She unlocked some of the solutions through meditation, breathwork, and yoga, and “made it her mission” to share those self-help gifts with the wider music industry.

The in-app classes “are like a timeless album, never out of date,” she explains. “Users can keep going back to these resources again and again to support themselves through the highs and lows of life.”

Mindful Nation is part of LN’s commitment to supporting mental health for music industry professionals, many of whom work long hours, well after dark, and spend long stretches on the road – a long way from their comfort zones. Factor-in the pandemic, and it’s a business that can take a toll.

“We first launched Mindful Nation as a program for our employees,” says Michael Rapino, CEO and president of Live Nation, “and it’s great to see Niamh now bringing the benefits of mindfulness to touring artists and crew across our industry, as well as music fans.”

Live Nation has also invested in mental health support for the broader industry, including Music Industry Therapist Collective and Tour Support, and by raising money for Support Act, Australia’s music industry charity.

Download the app via the Apple App Store.  

06 Jul 2023

Hot 100 First-Timers: Edgardo Nuñez & Los Dareyes de la Sierra Arrive With Peso Pluma Collab ‘VVS’

Edgardo Nuñez and Los Dareyes de la Sierra are both officially Billboard Hot 100 hitmakers thanks to their new collaboration with Peso Pluma, “VVS.”

The song, released June 22 via Double P Records on Peso Pluma’s new album Génesis, debuts at No. 54 on the July 8-dated Hot 100 with 8.7 million U.S. streams earned in the June 23-29 tracking week, according to Luminate.

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It starts at No. 10 on Hot Latin Songs, where it’s Nuñez’s first top 10, as well as No. 69 on the Billboard Global 200 and No. 186 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart.

Nuñez, who is based in Phoenix after growing up in Sinaloa, Mexico, first appeared on Billboard’s charts in August 2022 with his collaboration with Fuerza Regida, “Billete Grande.” The track reached No. 16 on Hot Latin Songs. In November, he scored his second chart entry — “Loco Enamorado” with Junior H (No. 30 peak on Hot Latin Songs).

Nuñez has released eight solo LPs, dating to 2018. He dropped his most recent set, No Ando Solo, in April through Genesis Records.

Los Dareyes de la Sierra, a norteño group from Navojoa, Sonora, Mexico, has been charting on Billboard since 2005. The act first reached a Billboard list that November with “El Jabali,” which hit No. 21 on Regional Mexican Airplay.

The group’s second chart entry, “Hasta El Dia De Hoy,” spent 11 weeks at No. 1 on Regional Mexican Airplay in 2008. It also climbed to No. 3 on Hot Latin Songs, becoming the group’s first entry on that tally. The band has charted 11 songs on Regional Mexican Airplay, two others of which have reached the top 10: “Sufre” (No. 3, 2009) and “Ensename a Olvidar” (No. 5, 2011).

On Hot Latin Songs, Los Dareyes de la Sierra have logged eight appearances. Before “VVS,” the group last charted with “Malas Rachas (En Vivo),” with Tony Aguirre and Luis R Conriquez (No. 37 peak, February). Before that, they had last debuted on Hot Latin Songs in 2011 with “Ensename a Olvidar” (No. 11).

Plus, Los Dareyes de la Sierra have notched five entries on Regional Mexican Albums, including three top 10s: Con Banda (No. 3, 2008), Una Copa Mas (No. 3, 2009) and Me Gusta Lo Bueno (No. 5, 2010). Seven of the group’s albums have hit the all-Latin-encompassing Top Latin Albums chart.

The group is comprised of José Darey Castro, Miguel Enrique Razcón and Juan Vázquez.

06 Jul 2023

‘Business’ As Usual: Young Thug Debuts at No. 1 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart

It’s business as usual for Young Thug on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, where the rapper claims a third consecutive No. 1 – and fifth overall champ. His new album, Business Is Business, opens atop the list dated July 8 through 89,000 equivalent album units earned in the U.S. in the week ending June 29, according to Luminate.

In line with nearly every rap album, streaming supplies most of Business’ bottom line. Eighty thousand units of the starting sum derive from streaming, equaling 106.32 million official on-demand streams of the album’s songs. Of the remaining 9,000 units, album sales contribute 8,500 while track-equivalent albums comprise the last 500. (One unit equals the following levels of consumption: one album sale, 10 individual tracks sold from an album, or 3,750 ad-supported or 1,250 paid/subscription on-demand official audio and video streams for a song on the album.)

Young Thug and Business Is Business executive producer Metro Boomin announced the new album only hours before its release on June 23. The news drew extra attention, given that Young Thug is currently incarcerated and awaiting trial on racketeering charges.

With Business Is Business, Young Thug collects his fifth No. 1 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. He first led with Super Slimey, a collaborative album with Future in 2017, and followed with So Much Fun (2019), Young Stoner Life: Slime Language 2 and Punk (both 2021). Thanks to his 2021 efforts and Business Is Business, the rapper links a third consecutive No. 1 for his catalog.

Elsewhere, Business Is Business opens at No. 1 on the Top Rap Albums chart and yields Young Thug’s sixth leader (all five of his Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums No. 1s and 2016’s Slime Season 3). It also begins at No. 2 on the all-genre Billboard 200.

Young Thug’s new album also does big business on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, with 13 debuts from the set. “Oh U Went,” featuring Drake, is the highest arrival, at No. 9, and gives Young Thug his 14th career visit to the top 10, while Drake adds a record-extending 119th trip to the top tier. “Oh U Went” is the most-streamed Business In Business song in the album’s debut week, with 15 million official U.S. streams, and, with 1,000 copies sold, is second among the album’s best-selling songs, after “Money,” featuring Juice WRLD and Nicki Minaj (2,000 sold).

Here’s a recap of all Young Thug’s placements on this week’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart:

  • No. 9, “Oh U Went,” featuring Drake
  • No. 11, “Parade on Cleveland,” featuring Drake
  • No. 16, “Cars Bring Me Out,” featuring Future
  • No. 18, “Wit Da Racks,” featuring 21 Savage, Travis Scott & Yak Gotti
  • No. 20, “Want Me Dead,” featuring 21 Savage
  • No. 26, “Hellcat Kenny,” featuring Lil Uzi Vert
  • No. 29, “Money on the Dresser”
  • No. 31, “Uncle M”
  • No. 39, “Abracadabra,” featuring Travis Scott
  • No. 40, “Gucci Grocery Bag”
  • No. 42, “Jonesboro”
  • No. 44, “Mad Dog”
  • No. 47, “Went Thru It”

06 Jul 2023

Publishing Briefs: Deadmau5 Regains Catalog; Influence Buys Logic’s ‘1-800-273-8255’

Deadmau5 has regained control of back catalog recordings in North America from his former label, Ultra Records. The term of this deal, which includes the classic LPs Random Album Title from 2008, For Lack of a Better Name from 2009, 4×4=12 from 2010 and >album title goes here< from 2012, was always limited. Ultra and deadmau5 remain on good terms.

Influence Media Partners has purchased Logic‘s catalog, including hits like “1-800-273-8255” and “EVERYDAY.” Influence’s deal includes all music released by the rapper from his 2013 mixtape Young Sinatra: Welcome to Forever to 2021’s Bobby Tarantino III. Logic has retained his rights to his last two projects, Vinyl Days and College Park.

Anthem Entertainment has extended its publishing deal with multi-platinum songwriter and artist Chris Janson. Janson’s relationship to the top indie publisher began in 2016 and news of the deal quickly follows the release of Janson’s The Outlaw Side of Me, which was released via Big Machine and features Dolly Parton and Slash.

Spirit Music Group has signed Autumn Rowe to a worldwide publishing agreement. The Grammy-nominated songwriter has written with artists like Dua Lipa, Diana Ross, Pitbull, Zendaya, Ava Max, FKA Twigs, Jon Batiste and Leona Lewis, and has appeared on The X Factor and America’s Got Talent, where she acted as the show’s only vocal coach for five years. She also serves on the board at Songwriters of North America (SONA).

Warner Chappell Music and TurnTable Music have signed Jon Robert Hall to a global publishing deal. A versatile singer-songwriter whose work spans TV/film, Broadway, pop and country music. Most recently, he co-wrote Morgan Wallen and HARDY’s “In The Bible.”

Warner Chappell Music and Space Colonel Publishing have jointly signed Beau Bedford to a publishing agreement. A producer, writer, guitarist, and pianist, Bedford marks the first signing for Space Colonel, a management company and publisher founded by Adam Barnes and J.R. Denson. Bedford has written with Orville Peck, Diplo, Tanner Usrey, Zella Day, and Shane Smith & The Saints and has a longstanding creative partnership with Paul Cauthen.

06 Jul 2023

Kim Kardashian Falls Apart Over Kanye West’s Antisemitic Rants: ‘I’m So Angry, But I’m Also So Sad’

When Kanye West embarked on a tirade of antisemitic comments last year, Kim Kardashian remained quietly stoic. Hesitant to speak out against her ex-husband and the father of her children, she refrained from addressing the rapper by name and instead posted in support of the Jewish community — all while Ye continued his hate-speech crusade in interviews and on social media, losing his partnerships with seemingly every brand under the sun in the process.

But now, Hulu’s The Kardashians has revealed how Kardashian truly felt about the situation, showing her breaking down in tears on the latest episode. “It’s really confusing for me that it’s so different than the person that I married because that’s who I loved and that’s who I remember,” the mogul shared in the Thursday (July 6) installment, filmed last year. “I’ll do anything to get that person back.”

“I feel so bad for him,” she continued, sobbing next to her sister Khloé. “I don’t even think he feels bad for himself because I don’t even know if he knows how. I just feel so bad.”

The reality star also revealed that she hadn’t spoken to Ye throughout the controversy, fearing that “he’ll probably go off on me.” “I feel guilty that I posted something in support of the Jewish community, then people dropped him today,” she added. “Is that my fault? That I posted that? And did that push them? And I should have just kept quiet? But I’m vocal about everything else … I never know what to do.”

The SKIMS founder was married to West from 2014 to 2022, and the pair welcomed four kids together: North, Saint, Chicago and Psalm. While speaking on the “Donda” artist’s social downfall, Kim emphasized that her biggest concern was how Ye’s actions will affect their children.

“I’m so angry, but I’m also so sad,” she told the camera on the latest The Kardashians episode. “Your instinct wants to be like, ‘Wow, I can never talk to this person again,’ but then you think of your babies. I’m having a hard time figuring it out.”

“It’s such a helpless feeling because me watching Ye is like watching a car crash in slow motion,” Khloé added. “None of us share these antisemitic views. We think it’s gravely irresponsible. We’re all very aware of the following that Kanye has, and how his words can be used to rile people up.”