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Jamie Foxx, John Boyega Take On The Government In ‘They Cloned Tyrone’ Trailer

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They Cloned Tyrone

Source: Netflix / Netflixtyri

With the world awaiting Jamie Foxx’s triumphant return to the game following a terrifying health scare just a few weeks ago, the trailer for his latest Netflix film, They Cloned Tyrone has released and it’s looking like it’s going to be a helluva entertaining film.

Starring Jamie Foxx, John Boyega and Teyonah Parris, They Cloned Tyrone centers around three characters named Pimp Slick Charles (Foxx), Fontaine (Boyega), and Yo-Yo (Parris) who stumble upon a government conspiracy which has experiments going down in the Black community unbeknownst to the locals. After witnessing their friend Tyrone (Tyler Antonius) get kidnapped, the three spring into action to retrieve their comrade only to find a secret facility where residents of the neighborhood are being cloned.

With the neighborhood behind them, the three decide to take it to the man and shut down whatever Get Out-ish experiments they got going on in the hood. What ensues is hilarity and we for one can’t wait to indulge in this conspiracy theory.

The Juel Taylor-directed feature is set to release on July 21 on Netflix. Check out the trailer to They Cloned Tyrone below and let us know if you’ll be checking it out when it streams next month.



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Watch Harry Styles, Elton John, Daddy Yankee & More Race to the Top of Billboard’s Midyear Top Tours Chart

As previously reported, Harry Styles came out on top on Billboard Boxscore’s 2023 midyear Top Tours chart. But it wasn’t an easy win. Across the six-month tracking period, the No. 1 spot flipped six times, coming down to a margin of less than $500,000, or 0.3%. Take a look below at how the midyear 2023 Top Tours ranking took shape, from Nov. 1, 2022, through April 30, 2023.

For the first day of November, Elton John led via his Nov. 1 show at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium, earning $7.8 million, according to figures reported to Billboard Boxscore. But, temporarily, he gave way to Coldplay, in the middle of a 10-show run at Buenos Aires’ Estadio Unico Ciudad de La Plata.

It took two Argentinian shows for Coldplay to take over. But before that epic run could end, Sir Elton was back on top, continuing his mammoth stadium run in North America, including three sold-out shows at Los Angeles’ Dodger Stadium on Nov. 17 and 19-20.

John held the top spot into December, until being displaced by 2022’s overall champ, Bad Bunny. The Puerto Rican superstar wrapped World’s Hottest Tour, reaching a high of $67.9 million since the beginning of the ’23 tracking period. But just like that, Daddy Yankee, another Puerto Rican icon promoted by Cardenas Marketing Network, took over for the end of the calendar year, with $72.5 million.

Elton was back in January, playing shows in Oceania that not only gave him a third stint at No. 1, but cemented the Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour as the highest-grossing tour of all time.

But then came Harry. After many months, midyears and year-end rankings in the top five, Mr. Styles claimed the pole position, juiced up by shows in Australia and Asia in February and March. Ultimately, he earned $138.6 million between November and April.

And despite Elton’s last-minute run at the O2 Arena (and one show on April 27 at Munich’s Olympiahalle), Styles stayed strong. John inched towards the top but ultimately fell short by less than half of a percentage point.

While those men traded off on top, Ed Sheeran, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Dua Lipa, Kevin Hart, Luke Combs, SZA and many more came in as some of the top touring acts of the midyear tracking period. Check back later this year for a year-end update with some of the summer’s biggest stadium runs.

Songwriters Hall of Fame Honorees Post Malone, Teddy Riley, Gloria Estefan & More Share the Stories Behind Their Songs

Co-written with: Michael Jackson and Bernard Belle

Recorded by: Michael Jackson

Chart peak: No. 3, Hot 100, March 7, 1992

This record that was all about the hook: “Do you remember the time when we fell in love?” I put myself in that position with my fiancé at that moment, because we were falling out of love, and I always go back to that line. I was with Michael and he listened to four [of my] demos before that song, and we got to that fifth track — and after hearing it for like 16 bars, Michael said, “Stop.” I actually thought I was getting fired. And the next thing I know he said, ‘Can I talk to you in my office?’

And I go into the office, and I’m nervous as hell. This is my first time playing demos for him. And I see is this beautiful collage he was working on. I made him use that as the cover for the album, but that’s a different story. He said, “What is that first chord?” I said to him, “I don’t know. I can’t name the chord for you.” He gave a little laugh and said, “I’m not trying to put you on the spot, I just want you to know that you have blown me away with that chord. I’ve never heard it in my whole entire career.” It’s actually a C 7 augment. So you’re playing C, E, G, B flat, E flat. It’s a church chord.

When we finally get to the studio to start recording vocals after we got the lyrics from my friend Bernard Belle — who I have to mention, because he just took new jack swing to the next level — Michael comes in and sings the first verse. And we all get excited. And then he takes a break, and we think he’s going to work out with his vocal coach Seth Riggs, and [he] keeps us waiting. So I go in the back and I say, “Seth, where is Michael?” He had slipped out the back. And then Michael calls me. He’s on a plane going to Switzerland. He didn’t mention it. This just gives the people an idea that creativity has no time. It’s whenever, whatever, however. I was just floored.

Jennie Apologizes for Leaving BLACKPINK Concert Mid-Show: ‘I’m Doing My Best to Recover’

Jennie has spoken out for the first time since she left a BLACKPINK concert mid-show due to health issues.

In Tuesday (June 13) post on Instagram Stories, the 27-year-old K-pop star personally apologized to fans for abruptly exiting the stage during a concert over the weekend in Melbourne, leaving bandmates Rosé, Lisa and Jisoo to finish out the show without her. “Dear Melbourne Blinks,” she wrote. “I’m so sorry i wasnt able to finish the show on Sunday.”

“I’m doing my best to recover [at the moment],” the Idol actress continued, her message written in simple white lettering over a black background. “Your understanding and support means the world to me. Thank you to everyone who came to our Melbourne show. Love you guys.”

During the Sunday (June 11) show at Australia’s Rod Laver Arena, Jennie was performing “Lovesick Girls” with her bandmates, making her way through the group’s signature four-part choreography. But then, she suddenly stopped mid-dance and walked off the stage, looking visibly weak.

The remaining three explained to fans that Jennie had been feeling unwell all day prior, and YG Entertainment afterwards released a statement on Weverse saying that she had been unable to continue performing “due to her deteriorating condition.” “JENNIE expressed her strong determination to carry on with the performance until the end,” read the statement. “However, following medical advice on site, we immediately took measures to ensure she receives ample rest and stability.”

“JENNIE has conveyed her regrets for not being able to stay with the fans until the end, and assures that she will recover as soon as possible,” the company added.

If she’s to appear at BLACKPINK’s next show, Jennie only has a few days to get her strength back up to performance ability. The artists are scheduled to play two shows at Qudos Bank Arena Friday (June 16) and Saturday (June 17) in Sydney.

Stray Kids Return to No. 1 on Artist 100 Chart Thanks to ‘5-STAR’ Album

Stray Kids surge from No. 97 to No. 1 on the Billboard Artist 100 chart (dated June 17), returning as the top musical act in the United States for a third total week on top, thanks to the group’s new album 5-STAR.

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The set, released June 2 via JYP/Imperial/Republic Records, debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 249,500 equivalent album units earned in the U.S. in the week ending June 8, according to Luminate. That’s the fourth-largest week, by units earned, for any album in 2023 so far.

Stray Kids earn their third Billboard 200 No. 1, after Oddinary and Maxident, both in 2022.

Of the new title’s 249,500 units, 235,000 were in album sales. Like many K-pop releases, the CD edition of 5-STAR was issued in collectible CD packages (18 total, including exclusives for Barnes & Noble, Target, Walmart and a signed edition in the group’s webstore), each containing a standard set of bonus items and randomized elements (photo cards, mini posters, sticker sets, photo books). There were also four alternative digital versions of the album, sold only in the act’s webstore, each containing the base song tracklist, but with alternative covers and bonus voice memos from individual members of the eight-member group, each selling for $6.99.

Dating to the Artist 100’s launch in 2014, Stray Kids are just the second K-pop act to spend at least three weeks at No. 1. BTS has logged 21 weeks on top (the fourth-most among all acts).

Elsewhere on the Artist 100, Jelly Roll jumps 15-4, reaching the top 10 for the first time thanks to his new LP Whitsitt Chapel. The set, released through Bailee & Buddy/Broken Bow/BMG/BBMG, debuts at No. 1 on Top Rock & Alternative Albums, No. 2 on Top Country Albums and No. 3 on the Billboard 200 (90,000 units), all career bests. The Billboard cover star previously spent a record 28 weeks on the Emerging Artist chart.

Plus, ENHYPEN re-enters the Artist 100 at No. 5, a new best, thanks to the group’s new EP Dark Blood. The set, released via Be:Lift Lab/Geffen/IGA, debuts at a career-high No. 4 on the Billboard 200 (88,000 units); the act previously hit the top 10 (No. 6) in August 2022 with the EP Manifesto: Day 1.

The Artist 100 measures artist activity across key metrics of music consumption, blending album and track sales, radio airplay and streaming to provide a weekly multi-dimensional ranking of artist popularity.

Additional reporting by Keith Caulfield.

BTS’ 60 Best Songs: Critics’ Picks

The band celebrates its ten-year anniversary June 13, 2023.

BTS celebrates its 10th anniversary on Tuesday, June 13, 2023, ringing in an entire decade of historic accomplishments at the milestone anniversary.

In an industry marked by imminent expiration dates, 10 years is considered unheard of for many pop groups—no matter where they call home. But BTS have risen far above any short, rise-and-fall arc, as they continue to reach new heights even in their current “Chapter Two” by balancing solo careers alongside their group activities. Both as a septet and on their own, members RM, Jin, J-Hope, Suga, Jimin, V and Jung Kook keep breaking their records after remapping an entirely new future for South Korean crossover success in the States.

Formed in 2013 by Big Hit Entertainment (the humble record label that eventually had a corporate rebranding into today’s HYBE), all seven members used to share one bedroom. The image of the group handing out flyers to a Los Angeles concert in 2014 was immortalized in their show, American Hustle Life. But now, the K-pop phenoms are living comfortably in luxury apartments, selling out stadiums in minutes and earning recognition from the industry’s most prominent artists and awards shows.

To continue the celebrations for BTS’ annual Festa, Billboard updated its critics’ list of top tracks and extended it to a clean 60 songs. The initial Top 50 created for BTS’ fifth anniversary in 2018 sees new BTS classics (including their several Hot 100 No. 1s) join the list as well as beloved B-sides (scroll through to see where tracks like “Blue & Grey” or “Run BTS” land). For the purposes of this list, the only songs considered were those released by the group or credited to BTS, and not solo releases—those solo songs could make their own stacked Top 60 as well. 

Happy birthday to Bangtan and here’s to all the hits “Yet to Come.”

ASCAP Launches New Initiatives to Navigate the Future of AI

ASCAP has announced a number of new initiatives designed to help its members protect their copyrights and plan for the future of artificial intelligence.

The events start later this month, on June 21, with The ASCAP Experience, the performing rights’ organization’s annual event. As part of its full day of programming, ASCAP will include the panel Intelligently Navigating Artificial Intelligence, created to act as a state of the union for music AI, covering both how the technology could change music creation and consumption and how ASCAP is working to address these changes. Panelists include Lucas Cantor (composer, ASCAP Member), Rachel Lyske (CEO of DAACI) and Nicholas Lehman (Chief strategy and digital officer, ASCAP).

On July 19, ASCAP will host a half-day AI Symposium in New York City to dive even deeper into challenges and opportunities. Details of the event’s speakers will be announced soon.

In addition to the summer’s educational initiatives, the PRO is continuing ASCAP Lab Challenge, a fund started in 2019 to power innovation in music. In the past, ASCAP Lab has run an accelerator program in partnership with the NYC Media Lab, led by the NYU Tandon School of Engineering, exploring new technologies such as the metaverse, augmented reality, spatial audio and computer vision and helping to incubate more than a dozen startups and university research projects.

This year, ASCAP Lab Challenge is focusing on AI, funding five startups that are looking to change the music industry in a positive way. As part of its investment, ASCAP will work alongside these recipients for 12 weeks to guide the development of their products and ensure they can benefit music creators.

Included in the 2023 Lab Challenge class is DAACI, a generative AI model that composes and arranges scores, particularly for video games and virtual reality; Infinite Album, a generative AI company that creates copyright-safe video game music that can react to game play in real time; Overture Games, a company which creates video games designed to encourage musicians to practice and avoid burnout using AI-powered pitch detection and visual feedback, gamifying the music education experience; Samplifi, which isolates auditory information for the benefit of hearing-impaired musicians; and Sounds.Studio, created by Never Before Heard Sounds, a browser-based music production platform that uses AI to help musicians create faster with tools like stem splitting, vocal conversion, timbre transfer and more.

JoJo Siwa Says Social Media Helped Her Come Out: ‘It Gave Me a Safe Space’

JoJo Siwa is a child of the Internet. From her reality TV roots to her booming TikTok career, the two-time Emmy-nominated composer and choreographer has ridden social media to staggering new heights. Now, Jojo is opening up about how social media helped her with her coming out journey.

“Just getting social media for me, it actually gave me a safe space when I came out,” Jojo reflected in a recent interview with E! News. “I knew that even if everyone around me didn’t support, me that there was gonna be people online that did.”

In January 2021, after a series of videos in which she lip-synched to Lady Gaga’s Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 single “Born This Way” and chronicled hangouts with TikTok collective Pride House LA, Siwa subtly came out by wearing a “Best Gay Cousin Ever” T-shirt in a TikTok. The 20-year-old Dance Moms alum identifies as pansexual.

The four-time Kids’ Choice Award winner added, “And I knew that I was gonna find those people and I was really excited about that. I always told myself it was gonna be easier to come out online than it was in person. And I do believe that’s very true.”

Her TikTok account has since become a space for her to bond with fans, forge a sense of community between her and her queer followers and reconcile her child-star past with her present as an out-and-proud creator. “It’s been fun to be able to figure out what ways I get to be a part of that,” she said.

Siwa has landed three titles on Billboard’s Kid Album chart: a pair of 2019 EPs titled D.R.E.A.M. The Music (No. 22) and Celebrate (No. 12), as well as 2020’s Jojo’s Rockin’ Christmas (No. 17).

Keith Urban Apologizes For Exposing Phoebe Bridgers’ and Bo Burnham’s Romance at Taylor Swift Eras Show: ‘I Felt Bad’

It’s one thing if you and your wife get caught on a Kiss Cam at the stadium. But it’s a whole other thing if your video accidentally outs a not-yet-official fellow celebrity couple. That’s the situation Keith Urban apologized for after the singer’s May 15 TikTok video — in which he was dancing with wife Nicole Kidman at a Taylor Swift Philly Eras Tour — also included a brief glimpse of Phoebe Bridgers making out with comedian Bo Burnham in the background.

Speaking to Entertainment Tonight, Urban was apologetic about breaking the celebrity romance bro code. “Yeah, oh, I found out,” Urban laughed about the reverberations of his accidental reveal. “Phoebe, I’m so sorry… It felt very awkward. I felt bad. I was just digging on the concert! You never know what’s gonna happen.” The couple have reportedly been dating since earlier this year but have so far not confirmed their romance or commented on Urban’s clip slip.

In the video, Urban and Kidman danced with joy as Swift performed her 1989 hit “Style.” Eagle-eyed fans, however, zoomed in on the Boygenius singer and Burnham — she covered his Inside song “That Funny Feeling” in 2021 — as they cuddled in the background. At one point, Eras Tour opener Bridgers appeared to turn around and kiss the comedian as Swift sang, “We never goin’ out of style/ We never goin’ out of style” from the stage, which sent fans into a social media freakout.

Urban joined Tanya Tucker, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, HARDY and surprise performer Jelly Roll at Friday night’s CMA Fest mega-concert at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium on Friday night.

Snoop Dogg Defers His Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction Until 2024

Just two days before the 2023 Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Dinner, the organization announced that “for personal reasons,” Snoop Dogg has deferred his induction. However, the artist born Calvin Broadus Jr. intends to be inducted with the class of 2024 on June 13, 2024.

Snoop is the second of the seven songwriters who were originally announced as inductees on Jan. 13 to back out. Sade Adu also withdrew, with the SHOF saying only that she will be inducted with a future class.

The five other inductees who were announced five months ago – Glen Ballard, Gloria Estefan, Jeff Lynne, Teddy Riley and Liz Rose – are still onboard. In addition, Tim Rice will be honored with the Johnny Mercer Award, the organization’s highest honor. Post Malone will receive the Hal David Starlight Award, which “was established to honor gifted songwriters who are at an apex in their careers and are making a significant impact in the music industry via their original songs,” according to the SHOF.

The 52nd annual Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Dinner is slated for Thursday at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City.

The SHOF also announced that Louis Bell, Jacob Dickey, Emilio Estefan, Sasha Estefan, Doug E. Fresh, Myles Frost, Heather Headley, Alan Menken, Valerie Simpson, Keith Sweat and Joe Walsh, among others, will either present and/or perform at the event.

Menken and Rice shared an Oscar for best original song and a Grammy for song of the year for their ballad “A Whole New World” from Aladdin. Emilio Estefan is Gloria Estefan’s husband. Sasha is their 10-year-old grandson. Frost won a Tony last year for his performance as Michael Jackson in MJ. Riley worked with the superstar on such tracks as “Remember the Time.” Riley also worked with Keith Sweat on his 1992 hit “Why Me Baby?” (featuring LL Cool J). 

Many of the other presenters and performers also have ties to the inductees and honorees.

There are approximately 400 inductees in the Hall of Fame. A songwriter with a notable catalog of songs qualifies for induction 20 years after the first commercial release of a song.