News

15 Jun 2023

John Williams Surprises Audience at ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’ Hollywood Premiere With Orchestral Performance

John Williams surprised the audience at Wednesday night’s (June 14) Hollywood premiere of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. According to Deadline, the five-time Oscar-winning 91-year-old composer was joined by a full orchestra for a performance of several movements from the movie, including the main title theme and “Helena’s Theme,” which he wrote for Phoebe Waller Bridge’s new character in what is reportedly the final chapter of Indy’s ride.

The unannounced mini-concert was introduced by Dial of Destiny executive producer and series architect director Steven Spielberg. “We have a tradition with Indiana Jones which is that Indy has his music in all the various moves that he has, and his action scenes and comedy, and so many modes, the music is always there,” Williams told the audience at the Dolby Theatre.

“The other part of the tradition is that we usually have a theme for the heroine or leading lady. In this film we have Phoebe Waller Bridge,” the composer continued of Waller Bridge’s character, who is Jones’ goddaughter. “You’ll see the most brilliant duet between Harrison and Phoebe as they do their wonderful witty dialogue and action and comedy and jeopardy which they do so wonderfully. Phoebe will be represented musically by a lyrical piece, reminiscent of the ’40s and ’50s and old Hollywood. This is ‘Helena’s Theme’. It’s all about Phoebe, not all parts of her, but a lot of it.”

Deadline reported that earlier in the evening star Harrison Ford, 80, said it is definitely his last run at the swashbuckling, adventure-loving archaeologist. “I always wanted to do a film about Indiana Jones towards the end of his life, and [director] Jim Mangold developed a script that got us to a point where I really had the best time making this film, it’s really been fun,” Ford told the site. Dial of Destiny hits theaters on June 30.

Listen to some of the concert below.

15 Jun 2023

Normani Talks ‘Candy Paint’ Preview & Partnering With Bose for Her ‘Next Chapter’

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Normani is entering her next chapter. The singer teamed with Bose to give fans a preview of her new single “Candy Paint” in a dance-themed commercial dropping Thursday (June 15).

“I’m really excited to partner with Bose, especially going into this new chapter,” Normani told Billboard during a phone interview on Wednesday (June 14). “In terms of my career and my music, I know the wait has been extensive but it’s definitely going to be worth it, and I just feel like the partnership couldn’t have come at a better time.

“It just felt like it was so in alignment with where I am musically and creatively,” she explained. “The Bose team [were] really hands on and allowed me to be hands on and take leadership in terms of the creativity. It just felt authentic and enjoyable, honestly. It was probably one of the most seamless experiences [for a partnership] thus far. It was fun! The energy was great the day of [the shoot] and it just felt easy.”

The Bose visual takes viewers on a trip through Normani’s creative process, from jotting down lyrics to recording and coming up with choreography — all while sporting Bose Quiet Comfort headphones and Quiet Comfort earbuds. In some of the more personal moments, Normani opens up about misconceptions people have about her and striving to be her most “authentic” self.

The visual will appear on Bose.com and the brand’s social media accounts.

“At Bose, we’re a community of music lovers, and we partner with artists to help showcase the power of sound during the moments in their career that matter the most,” said Jack Daley, VP, global media & partnerships at Bose. “Like her music, Normani is a force in the industry — we’re excited to premiere this track with her and for what our relationship will hold in the year ahead.”

Normani spoke further with Billboard about what she enjoyed most about the Bose collaboration, the inspiration behind “Candy Paint,” and what the next chapter looks like.

Billboard: What inspired ‘Candy Paint?’

Normani: It’s Texas, all the way! I really wanted to create a record that allowed me to show my personality. I feel like there’s a misconception; it probably has everything to do with my social media. [Laughs] I think that people think I’m so serious, which is the complete opposite [of me]. Anybody that really knows me knows that I’m really funny. I’m a goofball! I love to twerk. [Laughs] I’m just regular. I really wanted to create a record that encompassed that and allowed my personality to shine. It’s a performance record first, which I know my fans have been waiting for, for a very long time. It’s fun, energetic, bossy. It’s bold. It’s sassy but assertive, and yeah, I’m really excited to shoot the music video.

How long did it take to put together?

I would say it came pretty quickly. I had been working with Starrah, who I’ve been working very closely with just on the project overall, I feel like she knows me better than anybody. And the cool thing is we’re able to push each other. The idea came organically. I remember playing it at an event — my family and friends were there, and [my choreographer] was like, “Should we play it?” We ended up teasing it, and it was undeniable! We were like, “OK, this is it! This is the one!”

What I love about the Bose spot is that it feels very authentic to who you are.

I’m really grateful that that’s how it was captured. Shout-out to the creative team, because you really get a peek into who I am — not only as the artist, but also me being able to wear so many different hats. I feel like a lot of people still know very little about me, and I think that through the [Bose] spot you get to know a little bit more.

I learned that you moved from New Orleans to Houston after Hurricane Katrina. I didn’t know that!

Yeah, I was 9 years old at the time. I was a baby.

It really speaks to your resilience.

Thank you. I’ve been through a lot, just in my personal life, you know? Even just talking about my parents and what they’ve been through on top of COVID and trying to get the project out I’ve just – I’ve had a lot up against me, but I always manage somehow to pull through as best as I can, and honestly that’s by the grace of God and him just giving me the strength to endure and persevere.

You also mention trusting yourself. How has that shaped your career thus far?

I started in a girl group [Fifth Harmony] when I was 15. I remember that being one of the lowest points for me in terms of my confidence. We’re young, we’re trying to figure out who we are on top of having to do that in front of the rest of the world, while they pit us against each other, and then the things that people project on you, you kind of start to believe. Not just musically, but in my personal life, it’s easy to let those things creep in and for you to allow everybody’s perception to become your identity. But I’ve worked so hard in my adult life [over] the last two to three years. It’s a daily fight. I can’t say that every day is the same, but I’m just really intentional. I speak words of affirmation to myself. I’ve gotten a lot closer to God and I know that through that I’m able to know who I am and who I’m called to be versus the things that people put on me.

I’ve been really intentional with my time. Spending a lot more time with myself and getting to know myself and doing things anyway — even if I’m afraid. I can wholeheartedly say that through a lot of my career I know that I’ve been afraid. And that’s a vulnerable moment for me to even be honest with you and express, but yeah, just leaning into it and doing it anyway and knowing that God has a plan and it’s all going to work for my good. It’s the moments that you feel uncomfortable, the moments that you’re unsure or maybe even moments of chaos that he’s able to do what he does best and make something out of nothing.

What would you title this next chapter?

“Transformative.” In the season of actually stepping into who I am called to be.

Check out a preview video below.

15 Jun 2023

Kid Cudi Announces Lineup For Second Annual Moon Man’s Landing Festival in Cleveland

Kid Cudi has announced the lineup for his second annual Moon Man’s Landing festival in his hometown of Cleveland. In an announcement on Wednesday, the “Solo Dolo” rapper revealed that Lil Uzi Vert, Coi Leray, $uicideboy$, Bashfortheworld, Siena Bella and Chelsea Pastel will join him on August 19 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

Fans can register now for access to passes for the AEG-promoted fest, with the presale slated to kick off at noon ET on June 21. Last year’s inaugural Landing featured Playboi Carti, HAIM, Toliver, Dominick Fike, Pusha T, Jaden and 070 Shake.

Cudi dropped the new single “Porsche Topless” earlier this month, the initial salvo from his upcoming INSANO album, which does not currently have a firm release date. The rapper is also slated to star in Knuckles, the Paramount+ Sonic the Hedgehog spin-off series. On Wednesday, Deadline reported that the series’ cast had gotten a major upgrade with the additions of Cary Elwes, Stockard Channing, Christopher Lloyd, Paul Scheer and Rob Huebel.

They join the previously announced cast led by Idris Elba as Knuckles and Adam Pally, who will reprise his role from the Sonic movie of Wade Whipple; other recurring cast members on board include Edi Patterson, Julian Barratt, Ellie Taylor and guests Ryan McCann and Tika Sumpter back as Maddie. A description of the live-action series says it will follow Knuckles on a “hilarious and action-packed journey of self-discovery as he agrees to train Wade as his protégé and teach him the ways of the Echidna warrior.”

Check out the event poster below.

15 Jun 2023

Brandi Carlile, Adam Lambert, Ciara, Kesha, Big Freedia to Perform at ‘Can’t Cancel Pride’ 2023 Concert

Thursday’s (June 15) “Can’t Cancel Pride 2023 — The Future Starts Now” concert will feature Brandi Carlile, Adam Lambert, Ciara, Big Freedia, Kesha and more. The fourth annual concert, hosted by JoJo Siwa “will focus on the LGBTQ+ community’s past achievements, the urgency of the present moment and hope for our future,” according to a statement on the event’s site.

Other acts slated to perform or appear at the show that will take place at 8 p.m. ET include: Billy Porter, Kayley Kioko, Fletcher and Kelsea Ballerini. In addition, Carlile will be presented with the 2023 Elton John Impact Award for her humanitarian work with the Looking Out Foundation, which amplifies the impact of music by funding and empowering frequently overlooked organizations.

The one-hour concert, which will stream on iHeartRadio’s YouTube and Facebook pages, will also be available on demand through June 30 on iHeartRadio’s Facebook and YouTube pages, Revry, the Roku Channel and the Advocate Channel.

“This year we shine a spotlight on how far we’ve come and how much more there is to do to fuel equality and inclusion in support of these important organizations making the world better for the LGBTQ+ community everyday around the nation,” said Gayle Troberman, chief marketing officer for iHeartMedia, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The event began during the COVID-19 pandemic and has raised more than $11 million to date for the six participating charitable organizations: GLAAD, The Trevor Project, National Black Justice Coalition, SAGE, Centerlink and OtRight International.

“I’m proud that Can’t Cancel Pride has raised over $11 million dollars to help fund organizations that offer critical support, from youth services to elderly care, and to continue to partner with some of the world’s best and brightest LGBTQ+ and ally performers to support and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community,” said Brent Miller, Can’t Cancel Pride co-founder and P&G senior director, global LGBTQ equality & inclusion.

See the event poster below.

15 Jun 2023

Rammstein’s Till Lindemann Investigated Following Sexual Assault Claims: Reports

German prosecutors are reportedly investigating Till Lindemann, frontman of German industrial-metal outfit Rammstein, after multiple women came forward with allegations of sexual assault.

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“Preliminary proceedings have been initiated against Till Lindemann on allegations relating to sexual offences and the distribution of narcotics,” reads a statement from the Berlin public prosecution’s office, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reports.

The probe follows a wave of sexual misconduct accusations posted online, and includes one woman’s claim that she had been drugged and propositioned by Lindemann at a backstage party in Vilnius, Lithuania.

Waving the right to anonymity, Shelby Lynn, from Northern Ireland, told the BBC she she was recruited and “groomed” for sex with the singer after the concert in May. Lynn claimed her drink was spiked at the show, but says she wasn’t sexually assaulted.

Lindemann has denied the allegations, with lawyers for the 60-year-old rocker calling the accusations “without exception untrue”.

When the allegations emerged earlier this month, the band members issued a statement to say they took them “extremely seriously” and condemn all forms of abuse, adding that the band’s fans should feel safe “in front and behind the stage” at shows. Also, the band asked that they “not be pre-judged.”

Prosecutors in the capital are said to have launched the investigation “on the basis of several criminal complaints filed by third parties,” or people not directly involved with the case.

As a result, authorities said that the band’s planned aftershow parties for upcoming concerts in Berlin next month would be canceled, the AFP reports.

As news broke of the allegations and subsequent investigation, German Families Minister Lisa Paus weighed in, calling for an “alliance against sexism” and safety from abusive behavior. Paus told the news agency, “young people in particular need to be better protected from attacks here.”

Forming in 1994, Rammstein has consistently been one of Germany’s most popular — and controversial — rock music exports.

The band’s explosive concerts and pyrotechnics have landed them on festival headline slots around the globe, and, at times, put them at odds with health and safety officials. A planned 2001 concert at former central London venue Astoria was scrapped “due to significant restrictions to their stageshow and pyrotechnics”– in other words, authorities were concerned the venue would catch fire.

The group has also courted controversy with its lyrical content and music videos, which have included a hardcore pornographic promo for the 2009 single “Pussy”, and the clip for 2019’s “Deutschland” which was blasted as tasteless and unacceptable by Jewish organizations for its depiction of band members as concentration camp inmates.

In 2019, Rammstein’s untitled seventh studio LP debuted at No. 1 on the album charts in 14 countries, according to Universal Music.

Rammstein’s current tour rolls into the Swiss capital, Bern, this weekend.

14 Jun 2023

BTS Take Fans ‘Beyond The Journey’ With New Book

BTS is turning the page with Beyond The Story, a special book to mark the K-pop superstars’ 10th anniversary.

Beyond The Story is slated for release July 9, to coincide with “ARMY day,” and unwraps around interviews with BTS, according to BigHit Music.

The book “demonstrates their effort, hardship, and growth starting from the band’s first gathering to becoming the 21st century pop icons,” reads a statement. “The changes and progress in the K-pop industry are also discussed in it.”

To build the buzz, BigHit Music shares an official trailer which breaks down the band’s journey in seven chapters: “Seoul”, “Why We Exist”, “Love, Hate, Army”, “Inside Out”, “A Flight That Never Lands”, “The World Of BTS”, and “We Are”.

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Watch to the end and you’ll spot seven glowing lines, symbolizing the seven-strong band — RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook.

The book will be published in 23 languages including Korean, English, with pre-orders now open.

Beyond The Story gives fans something tangible to remember the lads by, news of which arrives during a burst of activity.

To celebrate their milestone 10th anniversary, the Bangtan Boys gifted ARMY a live performance music video on Tuesday, June 13 for their latest single “Take Two,” which dropped last week. “Take Two” serves as BTS’ second musical release of the year; on May 12, the boys released “The Planet,” a single for the Bastions soundtrack.

Also, the BTS 10th Anniversary FESTA will kick off on June 17 in Seoul, South Korea. The event, which will be open to the public and held on Yeouido, is set to turn the entire country purple — from Dongdaemun Design Plaza to the Lotte World Tower.

Since exploding out the blocks a decade ago, BTS has emerged as one of the most popular groups of their generation. Along the way, they’ve smashed recorded and earned six No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100, including the Grammy-nominated singles “Dynamite” and “Butter.” On the Billboard 200, the group has scored six No. 1 titles in just five years.

Watch the Beyond The Story trailer below.

14 Jun 2023

Gangsta Boo’s Cause of Death Revealed

According to Memphis news reports, former Three 6 Mafia rapper Gangsta Boo‘s cause of death was an accidental overdose.

The rapper (born Lola Mitchell) — who was found dead at age 43 on New Year’s Day at her home in Memphis — overdosed on fentanyl, cocaine and ethanol (alcohol), according to an autopsy report seen by NBC’s Action News 5 and Fox 13 on Wednesday (June 14).

Boo was born in the Whitehaven section of Memphis on Aug. 7, 1979. She joined local hip-hop collective Three 6 Mafia — founded by DJ Paul, Juicy J and Lord Infamous — at age 15 in 1994. That same year, she recorded “Cheefa Da Reefa,” her first solo song with the group. The pioneering Southern female rapper later unveiled her most popular hit “Where Dem Dollas At?,” from her 1998 debut album Enquiring Minds.

After the news of her death on Jan. 1, DJ Paul and Juicy J both shared tributes to their former bandmate on Instagram. DJ Paul shared a captionless photo of the late rapper, while Juicy J posted a snapshot of the pair accompanied by a broken-heart emoji. “Man we was jus together three weeks ago,” Lil Jon commented on DJ Paul’s post. “Rest well queen.”

Drake, Missy Elliott and more hip-hop luminaries also shared their condolences, and Boo’s recent collaborator, fellow Memphis MC GloRilla, felt compelled to share the messages the veteran rapper sent her when she was coming up. “I normally don’t post screenshots but the fact that she reached out to me before anybody else had a clue who I was … she always supported me & the girls way back before we blew up,” Glo wrote via Instagram on Jan. 3. “A REAL LEGEND there will never be another Gangsta Boo.”

14 Jun 2023

Jessie Ware on Her Friendship With Kylie Minogue, Upcoming Tour & More | Billboard News

Jessie Ware performed at WeHo Pride and chatted with Billboard News about her relationship with her fans, upcoming That! Feels Good! Tour, friendship with Kylie Minogue, love for “Padam Padam’,” performing at her first Pride and more!

Tetris Kelly:
Hanging out with Jessie Ware at WeHo Pride! So, your album is out. It’s so exciting. Tell me how the fan reaction has been to everything.

Jessie Ware:
Overwhelming. I mean, I thought it was amazing the “What’s Your Pleasure?” reaction but this has been, I don’t know. I feel like my fans and I have this understanding and I made it, of course, not for myself, but for them, and hopefully I delivered in their thrills. It’s just gonna be a party from here on … you know what I mean?

Tetris Kelly:
We love a party. And what is so special about that connection between you? What do you think makes it legitimate?

Jessie Ware:
I think they’ve given me the confidence to kind of push myself and to take more risks and be more myself … and push things creatively. Like, they’re my sounding board, rather than like music execs, you know what I mean? I started out as it being a thing you defer to these suits. But you know, I’ve grown a fan base, I’ve done five records now. People have stayed with me. Some people have joined to come along for the ride.

Tetris Kelly:
Sometimes, honestly, I say fans are better than the executives because if you go on Twitter, everybody’s probably telling you how your music should sound.

Jessie Ware:
I know what the next single should be because my fans have told me what it should be. So that’s fine.

Watch the full video above to see what she says about Kylie Minogue, touring and more!

14 Jun 2023

CTS Eventim’s Market Value Fell by Over $1B Following German Satirist’s Critiques

German television personality Jan Böhmermann appears to have single-handedly knocked more than 1 billion euros ($1.15 billion) from the market value of CTS Eventim after he criticized the concert promoter and ticketing company on his late-night talk show ZDF Magazin Royale on German public television on Friday.

According to various media reports, Böhmermann, in a 23-minute news-styled feature, bemoaned the company’s dominant market position in promotion and ticketing and a lack of transparency about the fees added to tickets. “Eventim is practically the German event industry,” the satirist said (as translated to English) He singled out the company’s re-sale platform, fanSale, which allows ticket holders to sell tickets at a premium to their face values. “Why fight the black market when you can earn money yourself?” he asked.

Böhmermann also said that CTS Eventim received 15 million euros ($16 million) of COVID-19 economic aid from the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media. In total, the company received 272 million euros ($295 million) in economic aid from Germany and elsewhere from 2020 to 2022, according to the company’s financial statements. He noted that a director, Juliane Schulenberg, is the daughter of CTS Eventim founder and chairman Klaus-Peter Schulenberg. She has been a member of the CTS Eventim’s supervisory board since May 2016, according to the company’s website.

“Unfortunately, many facts are twisted and not the truth,” a CTS Eventim spokesperson told Billboard in an email. While Böhmermann suggested Juliane Schulenberg influenced COVID-19 aid received by CTS Eventim, the company’s spokesperson says she “had no professional position in this regard and therefore no influence.”

ZDF Magazin Royale made a significant impact when the market opened after the weekend. Shares of CTS Eventim fell 8.9% on Monday and another 7.5% on Tuesday, bringing the two-day decline to 15.7% — a 1.07 billion euros ($1.15 billion) decline in market capitalization. After a 0.8% gain on Wednesday, shares of CTS Eventim were up 1.3% year to date.

CTS Eventim is the largest concert promotion and ticketing company in Europe and had revenues of 1.9 billion euros ($2 billion) and sold 69 million tickets online in 2022. Its portfolio includes EDM promoter ALDA Germany; the Rock am Ring and Rock im Park festivals; numerous ticketing brands; EMC Presents, a partnership with U.S. tour promoter and producer Michael Cohl; and Eventim Live Asia, a partnership with former Live Nation executive Jason Miller based in Singapore.

U.S. audiences will recall a similar segment about the country’s dominant ticketing company, Ticketmaster, by comedian John Oliver on his HBO show Last Week Tonight in 2022. Oliver touched on the same themes brought up by Böhmermann: market dominance, rising ticket fees and ownership of a secondary market that profits from in-demand tickets’ re-sale values. Oliver had a negligible effect, however, as the share price of Ticketmaster’s parent company, Live Nation, dropped just 0.5% the day after the episode aired. A chance of government intervention has given Live Nation investors pause on numerous occasions, however, such as politicians’ criticism of Ticketmaster’s Taylor Swift pre-sale in November and a 2018 New York Times article about Live Nation’s alleged anticompetitive business practices.

Just as Live Nation and Ticketmaster are under constant scrutiny in the U.S., CTS Eventim routinely falls into the crosshairs of consumer advocates and government regulators. In February, more than 1,500 consumers in Germany had joined a model declaratory judgment against CTS Eventim filed by the Federation of German Consumer Organizations. The consumer advocacy group alleges the company did not refund ticketing fees for cancelled events. In 2018, CTS Eventim’s share price fell as much as 10% after Germany’s Federal Supreme Court ruled the fees charged for printing out tickets ordered online were illegal. Also in 2018, the German Federal Cartel Office banned CTS Eventim from having exclusive ticketing agreements with promoters and box offices. In 2017, the Cartel Office blocked CTS Eventim from acquiring promoter and booking agency Four Artists, which a German court upheld the following year.

14 Jun 2023

Machine Gun Kelly & Doe Boy “Killa Cam Freestyle,” Juice WRLD “Glo’d Up” & More | Daily Visuals 6.14.23

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Universal Music Group's 2023 After Party Celebrating The GRAMMYs Presented by Merz Aesthetics' Xperience+ and Coke Studio

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Jack Harlow crowning himself the best white rapper ever after Eminem must’ve really set a fire under Machine Gun Kelly’s ass because that man has been going hard with his rap bars after a brief stint on the pop-rock music scene.

Once again using a backyard for the setting to his lyricist lounge-ish environment, MGK links up with Doe Boy for the cipher visuals to “Killa Cam Freestyle” where DB and MGK drop all the metaphors and similes that helped MGK hand Eminem what many consider the very first battle L of his career.

Juice WRLD’s estate meanwhile is keeping the artist’s memory alive and released a posthumous clip for “Glo’d Up” we witness a young Juice WRLD going through the motions in his high school days and working on the craft that made him a worldwide music star. Rest In Power, homie.

Check out the rest of today’s drops including work from Moneybagg Yo, DaBoii, and more.