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On the Road Again: Here Are All the Ways to See Willie Nelson Live

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Happy birthday, Willie Nelson! The country legend turns 90 on Saturday (April 29), and he’s planning to celebrate in a major way.

The singer-songwriter will take the stage for a 90th birthday concert celebration at the Hollywood Bowl Saturday and Sunday (April 30). The concert will feature performances from George Straight, Sheryl Crow, Beck, Dave Matthews, Snoop Dogg, Gary Clark Jr., Leon Bridges, Jack Johnson, Miranda Lambert, Neil Young, Norah Jones, The Chicks, The Avett Brothers, Tyler Childers and other special guests.

Chelsea Handler, Jennifer Garner, Owen Wilson, Woody Harrelson, Hellen Mirren, Gabriel Iglesias, Ethan Hawke will make an appearance at the concert. Click here to purchase tickets.

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Nelson will be touring all over the country until October, according to the dates listed on his website. After the Hollywood Bowl, he is billed to perform at the McGrath Amphitheater in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on May 17. The “On the Road Again” singer has eight shows booked for the month of May and five shows in June, including the Outlaw Fest and Summer Camp Music Festival.

This summer, Nelson will host the Willie Neilson 4th of July Picnic in Texas. The event, featuring the country star, Childers, Dwight Yoakam and Shakey Graves will be held at Austin’s Q2 Stadium on July 4. Tickets are priced at around $49-$57 and up at Vivid Seats, StubHub, Seat Geek and Ticketmaster.

Willie Nelson 4th of July Picnic

$57

Whether you plan on attending the Hollywood Bowl concert or 4th of July Picnic, there’s one item that’s perfect for outdoor concerts, festivals, tailgating, barbecues and more.

Last year, Nelson teamed with Igloo for a limited collection of Playmate coolers available in a larger, 14-quart size, and a miniature 7-quart cooler. The larger cooler ($59.99) sold out, but the smaller option ($39.99) is still in stock, along with the Willie Nelson Stainless Steel Coolmate, which is on sale for just $19.

Shop the Willie Nelson x Igloo Coolers collection below.

Igloo

Willie Nelson Playmate 7 Qt. Cooler

$39.99

Igloo

Willie Nelson Americana 12 Oz. Stainless Steel Coolmate

$19.99 $24.99 20% off

New Music Latin: Listen to Releases From Eslabon Armado, Monsieur Perine and More

New Music Latin is a compilation of the best new Latin songs and albums recommended by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors. Check out this week’s picks below.

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Eslabon Armado, Desvelado (DEL Records)

Eslabon Armado’s Desvelado couldn’t come at a better time. The group’s sixth studio album — which follows their five back-to-back No. 1s on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Albums chart — drops when the Mexican-American sierreño band’s “Ella Baila Sola” with Peso Pluma is No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200 (dated April 29). It’s the first regional Mexican song to top the tally, and it’s also the first one from that genre to enter the top five on the Hot 100. Of course, the track is found on Desvelado, and while that might be the song that will draw you to listen to this album, you’re going to stay for all the other gems that Eslabon delivers. Mostly written by frontman Pedro Tovar (who is currently No. 1 on the Hot 100 Songwriters Chart), Desvelado further cements Tovar’s ability to adapt the classic genre to Gen Z, with super-modern lyrics — like in the opening track, “Quién Es El?” where he sings, “Who is he, the one you’re posting on social media, hanging out in the same places I once took you and kissed you?”

Throughout the album, Eslabon sticks to the sad sierreño, guitar-driven sound that’s not only worked for them but marks a new generation of Mexican music hitmakers. The LP includes eight collabs, including the norteña-tinged cumbia “Quédate Conmigo” with Grupo Frontera (fresh off a Bad Bunny team-up) and the soon-to-be breakup anthem “Tomando Tequila,” with Jhayco’s raspy vocals taking center stage. Eslabon reels in artists the group has previously recorded with, including Junior H and DannyLux, for duets. If you’re barely discovering Eslabon Armado because you’ve listened to “Ella Baila Sola,” you’ve arrived just in time. This album is a treat to new and loyal fans alike. — GRISELDA FLORES

Monsieur Periné, Bolero Apocalíptico (5020 Records/Sony Music Latin)

The Colombian duo of Catalina García and Santiago Prieto is one of the few acts around who can truly deliver eclectic albums that manage to sound like a cohesive full listen. Their newest, the intriguingly titled Bolero Apocalíptico (Apocalypic Bolero), as usual navigates whimsy (check out the reggae-infused “Mundo Paralelo” with Pedro Capó), musicality and multiple genres tinged with the unexpected, but always guided by strong melodies, making them outliers in the alternative world. Witness too how Monsieur can get signature acts to leave their comfort zone, as they do by inviting Ana Tijoux to do “Cumbia Valiente.” There’s sultry barroom fare and yes, an apocalyptic bolero to end it all, performed simply by Prieto and accompanied by guitar. — LEILA COBO

Mike Bahía, Contigo (Warner Music Mexico)

Latin Grammy winner Mike Bahía comes to full circle with the release of his new album Contigo — the third and final installment in the album trilogy that gave life to Navegando (2019) and Contento (2021). Together, the titles of these three albums form the phrase “Navegando Contento Contigo” (Sailing Happy With You), a name and concept that serve as a reflection of and dedication to the incredible journey that is his musical career and the people who have supported him thus far — including his team, his fans, and his family. Known as “The Captain of the Ship,” Bahía delivers a 12-track set packed with deep romance, pain, heartache, and vulnerability — as shown with the focus single “Corazón” which represents an open conversation with your heart in the purest way.

Produced and co-written by Keityn, along with the contributions of the team at La Creme, Contigo also includes the previously released singles “La Falta”; the powerful, statement-making release with regional Mexican star Carin León; the undeniably irresistible “El Egoísmo,” featuring Keityn and rising Colombian singer and songwriter Dekko; “De Qué Manera,” the salsa song with which Bahía pays tribute to his hometown of Cali, Colombia; and of course, “Mi Pecadito,” featuring Greeicy — the song in which he experiments with the sensual sounds of bachata, fusing the genre with the vibrant tropical rhythms that have come to define his work over the years. — INGRID FAJARDO

Jay Wheeler, Emociones 1.5 (Linked Music/Dynamic Records/EMPIRE)

Jay Wheeler is a happy newlywed, married to the love of his life, artist Zhamira Zambrano. But on his nine-track Emociones 1.5, he’s exactly that: emotional. In the first three tracks, “Intro,” “Te La Dedico,” and “For You” — all powered by ballad melodies and acoustic guitars — Wheeler stays faithful to his alter ego “La Voz Romantica” (the romantic voice) by pouring his heart out to melancholy lyrics. “Intro” is about disconnecting from a loved one; “Te La Dedico” comes from a man who has moved on; and “For You,” the only English track on the EP, is about nostalgia and change.

By the fourth track, Wheeler starts to step out of his comfort zone — both musically and lyrically — best represented in “Pacto” with newcomers Luar La L, Dei V, and Hades66 and “SOS.” In the former, he unleashes a sultry Latin trap about two people who have crazy sexual chemistry. In the latter, he taps into a fusion of alternative and 80’s new wave. One of the most notable tracks in Emociones is “Corazón Roto,” a playful punk rock tune that smoothly transitions into a traditional bachata beat towards the end. And amidst the mix of romantic reggaetón and hard-hitting perreo, Wheeler wraps up his EP with “2022,” his first-ever attempt at dropping a regional Mexican tune. — JESSICA ROIZ

Niña Pastori, Camino (Sony Music España)

The Spanish singer-songwriter Niña Pastori — and one of the greatest exponents of flamenco — launches her new album Camino this wekk. The 10-song collection is a mix of rhythms in which Pastori flaunts her vocal versatility and undeniable experimental essence — fusing, once again, her deeply rooted flamenco with other Latin musical genres. It includes everything from the more commercial pop of “Bon dia,” going through cheerful gypsy salsas like “Regoleta” and “Osú qué niña” (the first single released of the album), to bulerías like “De Repente” — full of cante, jaleo and roll of palms.

Camino is full of emotions, embodied in positive and optimistic songs like “Bon dia,” soundtracks to getting off on the right foot in the morning. Her voice is passionate, intense and emotional in each of her tracks. But it is not the only thing that stands out from the new project. In the San Fernando, Cadíz, Andalusia native’s lyrics, she also includes life reflections — as in “Caminante,” in which she talks about social realities such as homelessness and childhood famine, and invites you with her song to be part of the change: “Come leave your mark with love… This will be a better world.” Camino is a delight, whether you are having a cup of coffee in Barcelona, or just hoping to take an authentic journey through Spanish folklore through Niña Pastori’s contribution to flamenco — which she’s been making for over 25 years. — LUISA CALLE

Alex Anwandter feat. Buscabulla, “Mi vida en llamas” (5 AM)

With an insatiable and unmatched knack for crafting the perfect pop hook, Alex Anwandter returns with another swoon-worthy single, “Mi Vida En Llamas.” This time, the Chilean artist enlists Puerto Rican indie pop duo Buscabulla, where Anwandter and Raquel Berrios trade off their heavenly voices to create a whirling sensation of bliss in technicolor. Although euphoric, the heavy-hearted pop song details the feeling of your body going up in flames, amid pandemic uncertainty — “when the world and our respective love lives seemed to be going up in flames,” explains the singer-songwriter/producer in a press release. “Overall, it’s a positive song about how the world might be a bad place, but life, in spite of all, is pretty wonderful.” The grooving single is from his upcoming album, El Diablo en el Cuerpo, out May 26. — ISABELA RAYGOZA

Get tickets to the first-ever #BBMujeresLatinas on May 6 in Miami: billboardmujeresenlamusica.com

Country’s Streaming Boom: How Morgan Wallen & Others Beat Pop at Its Own Game

In 2015, before Luke Combs had broken through, his manager, Chris Kappy, gave fans a merchandise discount at concerts for showing they paid to subscribe to Spotify or Apple Music. “I was trying to push people into the digital age as quickly as I could,” he says. “And the fastest way I knew I could do it was giving them $1 off a T-shirt.”

Combs was one of the first country superstars who built his career digital-first. Though most of the recorded-music industry has been streaming-focused for over a decade, until recently country music — and its fans — have remained driven by radio play and album sales. Thanks to artists like Combs, Morgan Wallen, Zach Bryan and others, from 2019 to 2022, country audio streaming jumped 58%, according to Luminate, outpacing the industry’s 48.5% growth and increasing faster than every other genre besides Latin music. In early March, Wallen’s No. 1 album One Thing at a Time racked up 483 million audio streams in its debut week, according to Luminate — the fifth-largest streaming week ever, after albums by Drake, Taylor Swift and 21 Savage. Later that month, Combs’ Gettin’ Old hit 83.5 million streams.

“Finally! Thank God,” says Tim Foisset, senior vp of commercial partnerships for Warner Music Nashville, which represents Bryan. “The A&R’s really good right now, and it appears to be really sticky with a younger audience.”

New stars who are digital natives — and have careers rooted in the digital world — are one key reason for country’s streaming boom. Combs started out on Vine, and Kappy boosted his profile through a Facebook fan group; one of Wallen’s breakthroughs was 2020’s “Heartless,” with EDM star and social media wizard Diplo; Bryan recorded songs on his iPhone and posted them to YouTube. Whereas pop, dance and hip-hop tracks took off at streaming as early as 2011, the country tipping point from physical to digital didn’t start until roughly 2017, shortly before Wallen released his debut, If I Know Me.

“It was the perfect storm of incredible music, the younger demographic that was already gravitating to Morgan at that time and the audience shifting mediums,” says Patch Culbertson, GM and senior vp of Big Loud Records, Wallen’s label. “That rocket exploded, and he carried that audience with him. We’ve seen a massive move onto streaming.”

Another reason for the growth of country streaming is the COVID-19 pandemic, which pulled older fans and digital holdouts away from terrestrial radio and CDs. “Some of the more mature demographics of country weren’t in their cars, they weren’t going to the office, and they used that time to say, ‘OK, I’m going to figure out what streaming is all about,’” says Randy Goodman, CEO of Sony Music Nashville, which represents Combs. “And there are no more boundaries, genrewise. Kids are listening to Kendrick Lamar and to Morgan. It’s a younger demographic we’re appealing to.”

Both Sony’s Goodman and Warner’s Foisset say radio remains “incredibly important,” but add that country hits now often start on streaming, then take off at radio instead of vice versa. In 2019, Goodman explains, “the world began to change,” and country stars followed their pop, hip-hop and EDM counterparts into YouTube, TikTok and Spotify virality long before radio took notice. “From a record-company perspective, we realized we had to make these shifts,” he says.

Wallen has led this transformation: Dangerous: The Double Album racked up 3.6 billion audio streams in 2021, hitting No. 1 in overall consumption that year, outpacing Olivia Rodrigo, Drake and Adele. Last September, tracks by Wallen, Bryan and Combs hit the top 10 on Billboard’s Streaming Songs chart, the first time at least three non-holiday country songs reached the milestone. That week, 13 of the chart’s 50 songs were country; on the chart dated April 15, Wallen has three tracks, and Bryan’s “Something in the Orange” is No. 14. And there’s more to come: Foisset notes that some of country’s biggest young stars, including Cole Swindell, Bailey Zimmerman and Jelly Roll, are scheduled to release albums in 2023.

Country streaming-music fans are unusually dedicated. According to a new Digital Media Association survey, they spent about 1,270 hours per year listening to music annually, about 1.6 times more than country music fans who do not stream. Which is not surprising to Emily Cohen Belote, principal music curator for Amazon Music. The service has emphasized country for years through Country Heat, including a playlist and an online radio station and hit 13 billion streams in 2021. “We’ve been doing this for a while, and it’s not just a flash in the pan,” she says. “Country music is happening in streaming in a really big way.”

Billboard Explains: Women in Reggaetón

Did you know Karol G’s album ‘Mañana Será Mas Bonito’ became the first all-Spanish language album by a female artist to reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album charts? And it’s a reggaeton album? Reggaetón has grown in popularity over the years. But what is reggaetón and why is it considered a male-dominated space? Which female artist broke barriers in the genre? And who are the women taking over? This is Billboard Explains: Women in Reggaetón.

Taylor Swift Sings About ‘Falling Back in Love’ on The National Collab

Taylor Swift teamed up with The National on their new song “The Alcott” on Friday (April 28), and the collab immediately had Swifties buzzing over its lovelorn lyrics.

The downtempo cut off the band’s new album First Two Pages of Frankenstein finds the pop star’s voice melding perfectly with frontman Bryce Dessner’s as they wistfully intone, “And the last thing you wanted is the first thing I do/ I tell you my problems, you tell me the truth/ It’s the last thing you wanted, it’s the first thing I do/ I tell you that I think I’m falling back in love with you” on the chorus.

Swift’s ardent fandom flooded the Instagram comments of her official fan club’s posts announcing the track with reactions to the song, with one writing, “Taylor remember he’s dreamy, but you’re the sun in your universe!!! Thank you for allowing us to look directly in the sun when we see our lives reflected in your poetic music!”

Others were quick to compare the track to Folklore‘s “Exile” featuring Bon Iver and earlier The National collab “Coney Island” from Evermore. “It’s so exile im crying,” one commented; another opined, “This is literally Coney Island and exile’s love child and I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT.”

Recently, Swift brought out The National’s Aaron Dessner out during her Eras Tour stop in Tampa, Fla. to perform Midnights bonus track “The Great War” as one of the tour’s many surprise songs.

Stream Swift and The National’s “The Alcott” and check out Swifties’ reactions to the song on social media below.

John Legend Challenges Young Voters to Make 2024 Election History at Global Citizen Now

John Legend was on hand Friday morning (April 28) to advocate for voter turnout at the second day of Global Citizen Now’s two-day summit for activists and change-makers in New York City.

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In conversation with Tamron Hall in an onstage panel before industry leaders and members of the press, Legend stressed the importance of making voter registration more accessible — or automatic, when possible — and fighting against politicians interfering in the voting process. Having recently become a father of three in January, when he and Chrissy Teigen welcomed their daughter Esti, the “All Of Me” singer said that voting in favor of reproductive healthcare, LGBTQ rights and student debt relief has become increasingly important to him as he hopes to create better circumstances for his kids’ generation.

“I’ve always cared deeply about the future, I’ve always cared deeply about the world we are building for our children,” he said. “But every time I think about all the love we pour into our own kids, and all we want for their future, I think about the parents who don’t have the resources we have.”

“We want a democracy that’s open to everybody and that encourages our leaders to do what’s right because they know they answer to the people,” he continued.

After praising President Biden’s student debt relief efforts and climate action legislation, Legend left off on a challenge: make the 2024 election go down in history for having the highest youth voter turnout ever. “We as young people,” the 44-year-old musician began, before laughing: “I still count myself as young. That’s a stretch…we have to make sure that we are reaching out to our friends and encouraging them to get out and vote.”

Also on the docket for Friday’s event were discussions on climate change, abortion access, protecting protesters in Iraq and Kenya and workplace equality for women. Katie Holmes helped introduce the summit by encouraging viewers to spread awareness of Global Citizen Now’s message via social media, Dawson’s Creek actress Busy Philipps called for more inclusion of reproductive health storylines in entertainment and the reinstatement of Roe v. Wade, and French President Emmanuel Macron joined in via video chat for a conversation on including poor and emerging countries in implementing global sustainability policies, for which he thinks collaboration between China and the U.S. — the No. 1 and No. 2 biggest greenhouse gas emitters, respectively — is essential.

When Morning Joe anchor and guest mediator Joe Scarborough joked during a brief break in the event’s live telecast that “if anyone at MSNBC is listening, we have the president of France so you can stop talking about Tucker Carlson,” Macron, waiting on standby, couldn’t help but let out a genuine laugh. Carlson was recently fired by Fox News, the longtime home of the highly controversial, right-wing program Tucker Carlson Tonight.

Sinan Aral, director of MIT’s Initiative on the Digital Economy, weighed in during a conversation on the need for ethical regulations in the world of tech, particularly where artificial intelligence is involved. If people were freaking out about the bizarre success of the viral fake Drake and The Weeknd duet earlier this month, Aral says the world isn’t prepared for how “very dangerous” booming AI technology could become if weaponized during upcoming elections.

“The misinformation of the 2020 election is child’s play compared with what is possible for deepfake video and audio,” he said.

See more details about Global Citizen Now here.

Grupo Marca Registrada Nabs First No. 1 on Regional Mexican Airplay Chart With Grupo Frontera Collab ‘Di Que Si’

Grupo Marca Registrada expands its winning streak across Billboard charts thanks to “Di Que Sí,” its first collab with Grupo Frontera, which conquers the Regional Mexican Airplay chart dated April 29.

The new coronation arrives a week after the song cracked the top 10 barrier on the all-genre Latin Airplay ranking (dated April 22) at No. 5, where it climbs to No. 3 on the current chart.

“Honestly, we did not expect such a great reaction from the audience,” Fidel Castro, leading member of Grupo Marca Registrada, tells Billboard. “This is a collab that we enjoy very much, and it certainly won’t be the last one!”

“Di Que Sí,” written by Edgar Barrera, jumps 2-1 on Regional Mexican Airplay with a 6% increase in audience impressions, to 8.4 million, earned in the U.S. during the April 14-20 tracking week. It evacuates Calibre 50’s “Dirección Equivocada” from No. 1 after two weeks in charge.

“Di Que Sí,” released Feb. 3 through Interscope/RB, takes over the chart in its sixth week. Regional Mexican Airplay sees both Interscope at the summit for the first time, in its third chart appearance, following Enrique Iglesias’ “Ritmo Total” which debuted and peaked at No. 22 in Dec. 1999.

Notably, the Marca Registrada and Frontera collab returned the label to the ranking following two decades and a half of absence when it debuted at No. 20 on the March 25-dated list.

Meanwhile, RB also secures its first leader in its fourth try. The label last scored a No. 21 high with Pancho Barraza’s “Al Sabor del Champagne” in Oct. 2022.

Further, “Di Que Sí” concurrently gives Marca Registrada its first chart entrance, at No. 99 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 tally. Frontera secures its fifth visit. In addition to its radio boost, the track registered 5.1 million official U.S. streams in the U.S. during the same period.

Luis Figueroa’s “La Luz” Arrives: Elsewhere on the Latin charts, Puerto Rican Luis Figueroa captures his sixth top 10 on Tropical Airplay as “La Luz” ascends 11-9 in its fifth week. The track was released onMarch 16 via Magnus/ Sony Music Latin. It’s Figueroa’s first single from his upcoming EP Voy a Ti (to be released later this year).

“La Luz” enters the upper region on Tropical Airplay with 2.4 million in audience impressions, up 18%, earned during the same tracking week.

In total 19 songs have hit the top 10 on Tropical Airplay so far in 2023. Out of those, eight by solo artists, unassisted of a collaborator. As “La Luz” rises to No. 9, Figueroa becomes the only artist to place two top 10s, as a soloist, unaccompanied by any other act, in 2023. Here’s a look at those tracks:

Artist, Title, Peak Date, Peak Position

Manuel Turizo, “La Bachata,” Aug. 6, 2022, No. 1

Rosalía, “Despechá,” Oct. 1, 2022, No. 1

Luis Figueroa, “Fiesta Contigo,” Feb. 4, 2023, No. 4

Prince Royce, “Otra Vez,” Feb. 11, No. 6

Tommy Torres, “Mi Secreto,” Feb. 4, No. 10

Romeo Santos, “Solo Conmigo,” March 18, No. 3

Victor Manuelle, “Esta Noche Te Conviene,” April 1, No. 9

Luis Figueroa, “La Luz,” No. 9, April 29

Further, “La Luz” grants Figueroa a sixth entry on the all-genre Latin Airplay chart, at No. 46. It’s his best debut after “Todavía Te Espero” launched at No. 45 in May 2022. The track later entered the top 20, at No. 15.

Billboard’s Top 5 Songs of 2003 | Billboard News

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Billboard Takes A Look At The Artists That Made Their Debuts In 2003 | Billboard News

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Smokey Robinson Spills Tea About Affair With Diana Ross

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In an interview, Smokey Robinson reveals that he and fellow Motown Records legend Diana Ross became involved with each other despite him being married.

The singer was the subject of a lengthy interview while doing a promotion for his latest album. Gasms. As the conversation turned to how Robinson met his first wife, Claudette Rogers, he was first asked if he ever had a fling with Aretha Franklin who he grew up with in the same Detroit, Michigan neighborhood. When he responded no, he was asked about Diana Ross and he confirmed that they had an affair for “about a year”.

“I was married at the time,” Robinson said. “We were working together and it just happened. But it was beautiful. She’s a beautiful lady, and I love her right till today. She’s one of my closest people. She was young and trying to get her career together. I was trying to help her. I brought her to Motown, in fact. I wasn’t going after her and she wasn’t going after me. It just happened.”

The “Cruisin” singer then detailed how the two split. “After we’d been seeing each other for a while, Diana said to me she couldn’t do that because she knew Claudette, and she knew I still loved my wife’ Robinson said. “And I did. I loved my wife very much.” He and Rogers would remain married until 1986. Representatives for Ross didn’t respond to requests for answers.“I learned that we are capable of loving more than one person at the same time. And it has been made taboo by us. By people,”

The 83-year-old went on to say how the situation helped him gain a greater perspective on love. “I learned that we are capable of loving more than one person at the same time. And it has been made taboo by us. By people. It’s not because one person isn’t worthy or they don’t live up to what you expect – it has to do with feelings,” he said.

Robinson’s dalliance with the “Inside Out” singer was also motivation for a funny moment in the interview, where he’s told about a rumor that he and Ross were the actual parents of the late superstar Michael Jackson. “They say Diana Ross and I had Michael? Oh my God! I never heard that one, man! That’s pretty good. That’s funny! That’s funny!” When asked if Ross has heard it, Robinson said he would call her and ask.