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Niall Horan’s ‘The Show’ Set For U.K. No. 1

Niall Horan welcomed fans to The Show (via Capitol). Now he’s set to be rewarded with the U.K. chart title.

The Irish pop singer’s third solo album leads the midweek U.K. chart race, piloting an all-new top 5 featuring new releases from McFly, James, Christine & The Queens and Extreme.

If it holds its course, The Show will give the former One Direction star his sixth leader overall and second solo No. 1, following 2020’s Heartbreak Weather. Horan’s debut solo effort Flicker peaked at No. 3 in 2017.

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As a member of 1D, Horan landed four U.K. No. 1 albums and as many leaders on the national singles survey.

Arriving at No. 2 on the Official Chart Update is McFly’s Power to Play (BMG), which is set to become the pop-punk band’s seventh top 10 release.

The podium at the midweek stage is completed by Britpop-era Manchester band James, with Be Open to the Wonderful (Nothing But Love Music). James has ten U.K. top 10 albums, including a No. 1 for 1998’s The Best Of.

French alternative pop outfit Christine & The Queens could net a third U.K. top 10 with Paranoia, Angels, True Love (Because Music). The three-part LP is new at No. 4 on the midweek chart.

Close behind at No. 5 is veteran U.S. rock band Extreme with Six (Ear Music), which set to become the “More Than Words” act’s first U.K.-charting album since 1995’s Waiting for the Punchline (No. 10 peak). Six could be Extreme’s third top 10 release.

Further down the midweek tally is Tears For Fears’ 40th anniversary reissue of their debut album The Hurting (Mercury), which originally led the chart in 1983. The Hurting is poised to return at No. 7.

And finally, English singer, producer and rapper King Krule could bag his first top 10 LP with Space Heavy (XL Recordings), new at No. 8 on the chart blast.

All will be revealed when the Official U.K. Albums Chart is published Friday (June 16).

Cardi B Accuser Agrees to Repay $350K She Spent on Lawyers In His Failed Lawsuit Over Tattoo Image

A man who unsuccessfully sued Cardi B after his giant back tattoo was unwittingly photoshopped into one of her album covers has agreed to repay a whopping $350,000 in legal bills that the superstar spent defeating his lawsuit.

Months after a jury rejected Kevin Brophy’s case against Cardi, his lawyers told a federal judge Monday (June 12) that he would not only reimburse the money that the rapper had dropped on her attorneys but also voluntarily end his efforts to revive the case and waive any chance at a future appeal.

Why would he do all that? Possibly because Cardi’s lawyers were gearing up to formally demand that he repay her attorneys’ fees — a prize to which she was potentially eligible after beating his accusations in court. Under that process, Cardi and her pricey team of lawyers could have won even more than $350,000.

“The parties now have reached an agreement avoiding the necessity of defendants’ motion for attorney’s fees and application to tax costs,” the two sides wrote in Monday’s filing, hinting at the looming threat of such a fee motion from Cardi’s team.

Attorneys for both sides declined to comment on the agreement when reached by Billboard on Monday.

Brophy sued Cardi in 2017 for millions in damages, claiming he was “devastated, humiliated and embarrassed” by the cover of Cardi’s Gangsta Bitch. The image featured the then-rising star taking a swig of a large beer, staring directly into the camera with her legs spread wide and holding a man’s head while he appears to perform oral sex on her.

The actual man in the image was a model who had consented to the shoot, but a giant tattoo on the man’s back belonged to Brophy. Unbeknownst to Cardi, a freelance graphic designer had typed “back tattoos” into Google Image Search, found one that fit (Brophy’s) and superimposed it onto the model’s body.

Brophy’s lawsuit claimed Cardi and others involved in the cover had used his likeness without his consent and also violated his right to privacy by casting him in a “false light” that was “highly offensive.” Cardi’s lawyers called the allegations “sheer fantasy” and “vastly overblown,” arguing that nobody would have recognized a relatively unknown man based merely on his back.

During a four-day trial in October, Cardi took the stand to defend herself. When examined by Brophy’s attorney, A. Barry Cappello, things repeatedly got heated between the two — so much so that at one point the judge cleared the jury, told Cappello he had “totally crossed the line” and threatened to declare a mistrial.

At the end of the trial, the jury agreed with the superstar’s defenses, clearing Cardi of all Brophy’s claims. Brophy later asked the judge to throw out the verdict for a lack of evidence, but the judge denied that motion in December. Brophy then filed a motion in January seeking a new trial, arguing that the star “engaged in theatrics” on the witness stand and deprived him of a fair trial.

Under Monday’s agreement, that motion will be withdrawn, and Brophy will “waive and irrevocably relinquish” any chance to challenge the verdict on appeal. In return, Cardi’s attorneys will similarly waive their right to file a motion formally seeking an award of attorneys’ fees.

Idina Menzel Gives ‘Frozen 3’ Update, Talks Pride, Broadway Return, Music & More | Billboard News

Idina Menzel rocked the stage at WeHo Pride and chatted with Billboard News about the differences between her Broadway and Pride performances, the upcoming ‘Frozen 3,’ her new music, a potential return to Broadway and more!

Tetris Kelly:
Hanging out at WeHo Pride with the beautiful Idina Menzel. How are you?

Idina Menzel:
I’m good, thank you!

Tetris Kelly:
It was so great to watch you perform tonight, and now that “Move” is out in the world, how has your fans reaction been to the new single?

Idina Menzel:
I think it might be something people didn’t expect of me but once they hear it, I think they’ll think it’s a pretty organic transition. You know, big voices, great disco grooves.

Tetris Kelly:
We love the disco grooves and even watching your set tonight, I was like, this feels very queer-inspired. Am I right about that? Because I was feeling myself.

Idina Menzel:
Well, it’s Idina-inspired. Idina’s life maybe is synonymous with the queer-inspired stores. It’s about having to find my self-esteem and empower myself to get up every day and believe in who I am, and live my life authentically, which is honestly what I learned from all my friends in this community. And I probably wouldn’t be where I am today if I hadn’t learned how to conduct myself in this world, if it wasn’t for them.

Thank you all for showing up. Let’s let them hear our anger and our madness and our frustration.

Tetris Kelly:
Living your life authentically. I love that. You’re also performing at London Pride, and you’re here at WeHo Pride. So tell me what’s different about these shows versus the average Idina show.

Idina Menzel:
Everybody’s standing, which is really cool. No offense to Broadway or the theater, but everyone needs to sit and behave. Here, they don’t have to behave so much. They can stand, they can dance, they can scream, and that just feels really good.

Tetris Kelly:
I love that. And you know, the community has been under a lot of attack lately. The drag community, the trans community — have you ever been at like a drag show and been like “This is everything to me”? Because we’ve seen the “Let It Go” drag queens, like, tell me how have you been inspired by the drag community?

Watch the full video above.

Diddy To Be Honored With Icon Award At The Apollo Theater

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Sean Diddy Combs

Source: Bernard Smalls / @PhotosByBeanz

Diddy is about to make a grand homecoming to Harlem. He will be honored with the Icon Award at The Apollo Theater.

As spotted on HipHopDX the Bad Boy Entertainment mogul is about to be receive a distinction very close to his heart. On Monday, June 12 Diddy will be the recipient of this year’s Icon Award at their 2023 Spring Benefit. As expected the “Act Bad” rapper took to social media to ensure the culture knows he is back in New York City. “Wassup Harlem, I’m coming Home,” he in a since delete Instagram video. “Monday, I’ll be there, getting that Apollo Icon Award. And you know it’s up. So if you in the city all the Harlemites, ya’ll know I ain’t got everybody’s number but I plan on seeing you, and drinks is on Diddy.”

Six-time NBA champion  Kareem Abdul-Jabbar will also be awarded the Impact Award. In honor of the 50th anniversary of Hip-Hop, there will be special appearances from trailblazers including rapper and formidable actress MC Lyte, three-time Grammy award winning artist, producer and writer Wyclef Jean, and for a mainstage set and to helm the DJ booth at the event’s infamous afterparty will be DJ D-Nice. Musician, composer and producer Ray Chew returns to the Apollo stage as Music Director for the 12th year.

All proceeds will support the non-profit organization’s year-round, world-class artistic, education, and community programs, as well as its commitment to articulating and projecting the African American narrative using arts and culture, and creating a 21st century performing arts canon. The Apollo has been a place of dynamic energy and forward motion for more than 89 years. This season’s programmatic theme is aptly themed “The Next Movement!” and has presented signature programs, audience favorites, and exciting new works from artists pushing the boundaries of their art forms – from music and dance to fashion and film, and beyond.

Photo: Bernard Smalls

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Teddy Riley Defends Donald Trump Amid Indictment: “Can Do Something Amazing For Us”

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New Edition Legacy Tour 2023 - Atlanta, GA

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Legendary producer Teddy Riley must have decided he didn’t publicly embarrass himself enough during his painfully awkward Verzuz session with Babyface, so he decided to one-up himself by going out of his way to show support for the former commander-in-orangey-white-nationalism Donald Trump, who was recently indicted by the Department of Justice on a multitude of charges relating to the mishandling of classified government documents.

Trump posted a video to Instagram where he gave another whiny “everybody is corrupt but me and they’re all just a bunch of Trump haters” speech while, as usual, making weird motions with his tiny hands.

“I AM AN INNOCENT MAN. THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS TOTALLY CORRUPT,” Trump captioned the video. “THIS ELECTION INTERFERENCE & A CONTINUATION OF THE GREATEST WITCH HUNT OF ALL TIME. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

Teddy Riley, for whatever sunken place reason, decided to respond to Trump’s post by essentially giving the ex-president another excuse to deflect from his own racism by saying, “Look at my African American over here!

From HipHopDX:

Responding to the post, Teddy Riley hit the comments section with a series of strong arm emojis. Immediately, fans chimed in with their discord. “Seriously Teddy? You are on here agreeing with this dude? [face palm emoji],” one user wrote.

According to The Shade Room, Riley’s reason for showing love to Trump is because he owes the controversial politician and businessman a solid for releasing his older brother Lou Hobbs — who was serving a double life sentence — from prison.

The Harlem native went on to claim that the 45th President of the United States has taught him “how to be a free man of this country.” Further, the “No Diggity” crooner claimed “[Trump] can do something amazing for us, because he did it for Africa while he was in office,” while maintaining that everyone has their own beliefs, and this is solely what he believes.

*sigh*

First of all, really, Riley? Trump taught you how to be free? There was a whole multi-decade civil rights era full of Black leaders who fought for Black freedom, but you learned how to be free from the guy who defends Confederate monuments like he erected them himself.

Secondly, I’m not sure what great deeds Riley is referring to that Trump supposedly did for Africa while he was in office besides continuing U.S. policies in the continent that already existed before he was president. (Other presidents might have done it without referring to African nations as “sh*thole countries” though.)

Trump is also not the first president to grant pardons to federal prisoners, but sure, lets big up the guy who essentially started the war against critical race theory and diversity initiatives, condemned Black Lives Matter, and tried to disenfranchise largely Black voters through “stop the steal” propagandabecause he also occasionally freed the homies.

Yeah, Riley really could have kept this one to himself.

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Nino Man & Jim Jones “Thug It Out,” Hit-Boy & Big Hit “Show Me” & More | Daily Visuals 6.12.23

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Jim Jones

Source: Bernard Beanz Smalls / Bernard Beanz Smalls,

While Cam’Ron’s been doing his sports commentator thing down in Miami, Jim Jones has been carrying that Dip Set legacy out on these streets on his broad shoulders and he continues to keep that Harlem flame burning.

Linking up with Nino Man for the visuals to “Thug It Out,” Jones and Man hit the block with a gang of thugged out shorties while they shoot some dice, sip some syrup and floss some icey bolders. Remember the Dip Set Sizzurp? Some wild times, b.

Hit-Boy meanwhile keeps on dropping off new work featuring his righthand man, Big Hit and in their clip to “Show Me,” Hit and Big keep the house party going in which they’re the guests of honor and the women in attendance get to seduce them with their voluptuous frames.

Check out the rest of today’s drops and some joints you might’ve missed over the weekend including work from Desiigner, Jaden (Smith), and more.

NINO MAN & JIM JONES – “THUG IT OUT”



HIT-BOY & BIG HIT – “SHOW ME”



DESIIGNER – “MAFIA WATER”



JADEN – “I DON’T WANNA CRY”



DING DONG – “CLEAN”



DOE BOY & DON TOLIVER – “DEEP END”



LAH PAT FT. FLO MILLI – “RODEO”



ZZZ. & TRIPPIE REDD – “SAD AND ALONE”



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Cardi B Shows Off Her Booty to Celebrate ‘Put It on da Floor’ Success

Cardi B is fresh off the release of putting her spin on a remix of Latto‘s “Put It On Da Floor,” and now she’s shaking what her mama gave her to celebrate.

The “Bodak Yellow” rapper took to Twitter on Monday (June 12) to share a brief video in which her bottom is seen on full display underneath a minidress, as she spanks herself a few times. “YALL DID THAT !!! Put it on the floor then !!” she captioned the post.

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While Cardi didn’t specify what the video is in reference to, “Put It on da Floor Again” earned an impressive 3.92 million U.S. on-demand streams last Friday, a 554% increase from the previous day’s streams, according to Luminate. 

The Grammy-winning rapper has been bringing the heat to social media in recent weeks, as she took to Instagram last week to welcome summer with a sizzling series of photos, in which she’s seen rocking a sleek white one-piece swimsuit with cut outs on the sides. She also recently teased some exciting things on the way. “You guys can expect a lot from me this summer,” she told Rolling Stone, which added that Cardi was specifically referring to music and other projects. “I promise,” she added. A new album would mark her first full-length project since her 2018 debut, Invasion of Privacy.

See Cardi’s bootylicious post below.

Shawn Mendes Says ‘What the Hell Are We Dying For?’ Came From a Place of ‘Struggling’ Musically

Shawn Mendes released his new single “What the Hell Are We Dying For?” within 24 hours of making it, and the pop star sat down with Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1 to discuss the inspiration behind the heartbroken track.

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“I feel like over the last year and a bit, I’ve just been really struggling in the studio to find my voice and to find myself musically and to even have the courage just to be in the room with writers or step into the booth and sing,” he explained. “I was upstate New York and just on the back end of feeling a lot of things about relationships, about my career, about the environment. I was in the studio and this moment of just deep frustration came over me and I finally started to feel this inspiration come. Honestly, in that moment, it felt like it was the first time I felt that in a year and a half in the studio.”

He continued, “I think I had this feeling of urgency, this feeling of honestly excitement, this feeling of connection — this feeling of this is me right now, this is how I feel right now. […] I think we were up there in New York, the sky was orange, the air was thick and the words were flowing and this happened. In hindsight, it was scary. I woke up in the morning and I was like, “Wow, what did I do?” I think it was a good thing for me to do for myself. I had to dive into the deep end. Otherwise, I would’ve sat there for years questioning myself… and I think it wraps around to just, what is it that we care about in life? Who do we care about? What’s worth it? Why do we show up the way we do?”

As the song came on the heels of smoke in the New York skyline due to Canadian wildfires, Mendes revealed upon the song’s release that he’s donating to the Canadian Red Cross to provide relief those impacted.

The song marks his return to music after Mendes postponed, then cancelled a planned 2022 North American/European tour to focus on his mental health. “If I’m being completely honest, I feel a little confused about everything still,” Mendes explained of his current mindset. “I think a little bit, just all over the place. I feel aware of how people are receiving the song. I feel aware of the fact that I did it on a whim and I’m proud of it. But most of all, honestly, if I’m being real, I’m just happy that I broke through that horrible wall of writer’s block and I’m creating again. I’m just happy about that. And I’m just going to keep going, keep making some songs because I really think that there’s something in here.

Listen to the full interview here.

Peso Pluma Sings Dembow in ‘Plebada’: Here’s How El Alfa Made It Happen

Peso Pluma has managed to take over the Billboard charts with his signature corrido sound. Very few times has he done it stepping out of his realm like in Yng Lvcas’ reggaeton hit “La Bebe (Remix).” Now, he’s also experimenting with dembow in El Alfa’s “Plebada.” 

The track, named after the Mexican slang word for a group of friends, is mainly an infectious dembow that later fuses traditional Regional Mexican trombone rhythms. Both Alfa and La Doble P throw around words and phrases that are popular in their respective countries — The Dominican Republic and Mexico — such as “morras” (girls) and “teteo” (party).

The surprising collaboration began when Peso was vacationing on the Caribbean island. “He was five days in The Dominican Republic and he loved it,” El Alfa told Billboard exclusively at the 2023 Heat Latin Music Awards (Premios Heat).

“The first time Peso Pluma saw a rainbow was here and I am happy that I shared it with him,” he continued when they met in person. “Immediately he told me ‘Do you have anything? What [songs] do you have to do?’ and the [collaboration] was born. Peso Pluma added the trombone in the song.” 

On Instagram, the rising Mexican act said: “Long live the culture. Latinos controlling the world.” 

For now, El Alfa only has plans of promoting “Plebada,” performing for the first time at Rolling Loud and hitting the road with his La Leyenda del Dembow U.S. Tour—including a sold-out show at the coveted Madison Square Garden in New York on October 21.

“The tour is the most important thing. I’m very happy, it’s selling a lot of tickets. We’ve already sold over 3,000 tickets for every show,” he notes. “I’m going through the best moment of my career, I continue to climb the level.”

Golden Globes Acquired by Dick Clark Productions and Eldridge

Dick Clark Productions (DCP) and Eldridge have acquired all the Golden Globes’ assets, rights and properties from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA). The transaction will result in the wind-down of the HFPA and its membership. The proceeds from the transaction, plus the existing resources of the HFPA, will transition into a newly-formed Golden Globe Foundation that will continue the HFPA’s legacy of entertainment-related charitable giving.

As part of the transaction, DCP and its partners will plan, host and produce the annual Golden Globe Awards show and pursue commercial opportunities for the Golden Globes across the globe. The 81st Annual Golden Globe Awards is set to take place on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024.

“We are excited to close on this much anticipated, member-approved transaction and transition from a member-led organization to a commercial enterprise,” said former HFPA president Helen Hoehne.

“Today marks a significant milestone in the evolution of the Golden Globes,” Eldgridge chairman Todd Boehly said in a statement. “My partners at DCP and I are grateful to Helen and team for their commitment to the successful implementation of a robust approach to governance, the expansion of the diverse and international voting body, implementing a professional, safe, and accountable environment, and trusting new ownership with a new direction for the Globes.”

“As stewards of the Golden Globe Awards, our mission is to continue creating the most dynamic awards ceremony on live television viewed across the world,” Jay Penske, CEO/chairman/founder of Penske Media and CEO of DCP, said in a statement. “We have a great team in place to grow this iconic brand and captivate new and existing audiences to celebrate the very best in television and motion pictures.”

The Golden Globe Awards will be controlled by DCP, the world’s largest producer and proprietor of televised live event entertainment programming.

A premier entertainment award since 1944, the annual Golden Globes honors achievements in both television and film. Over the last three decades, licensing fees from the ceremony have enabled donations of more than $55 million to entertainment-related charities including scholarship programs, film restoration projects and humanitarian efforts. This funding has also supported diverse programs in partnership with advocacy groups aimed at promoting greater access in Hollywood for underserved communities.

Penske Media Corporation, Billboard‘s parent company, is a part-owner of dick clark productions and has a partnership with Eldridge.