News

16 Mar 2023

‘Daisy Jones & The Six’ Success Boosts Real Hits and Fake Ones

Welcome to Billboard Pro’s Trending Up column, where we take a closer look at the songs, artists, curiosities and trends that have caught the music industry’s attention. Some have come out of nowhere, others have taken months to catch on, and all of them could become ubiquitous in the blink of a TikTok clip. 
 
This week: Fictional band Daisy Jones and the Six scores a breakout hit while also boosting the real-life Rock and Roll Hall of Famers that inspire them, Brent Faiyaz and Kali Uchis get different types of TikTok lifts, Halsey scores a valuable TV sync and much more.

Is Daisy Jones & The Six a Fake Band With a Real Hit on Its Hands?

Part of the fun of watching Daisy Jones & The Six, the Amazon Prime Video series based on Taylor Jenkins Reid’s best-selling novel, is hearing the fictional hits from the story’s fictional ‘70s rock band become very real as fully produced songs. “Look at Us Now (Honeycomb)” is used as a linchpin moment in the story of up-and-coming singer Daisy Jones and the Fleetwood Mac-inspired band that she’s about to join — a huge hit, but one that causes tension as its personal message gets warped for mass appeal. And with the soundtrack to the TV adaptation launching on Atlantic Records last month, fans of the book have finally been able to hear the song in full.

While episodes of Daisy Jones & The Six are still rolling out weekly, “Look At Us Now” has struck a chord with book readers, series watchers and music fans who simply stumbled upon the rollicking pop-rock track on a streaming playlist. Upon its mid-February release, the song earned over 84,000 U.S. on-demand streams for the week ending Feb. 16, according to Luminate. But once the show premiered and “Look at Us Now” was given a dramatic performance, those weekly streams grew 10 times in size — the song clocked 871,000 streams for the week ending Mar. 9.

“Look at Us Now (Honeycomb)” has the pedigree of a successful rock track: Marcus Mumford co-wrote the song, with artists like Blake Mills and Madison Cunningham contributed to the track, which features lead vocals by series stars Riley Keough and Sam Claflin. While a full series soundtrack — presented as a Daisy Jones & The Six album, Aurora — was released on Mar. 2, some of the songs have yet to appear in the show, and could receive streaming bumps in the coming weeks.

One wrinkle to the Daisy Jones & The Six story to keep an eye on: Reid has talked about finding inspiration for the series in Fleetwood Mac’s iconic 1997 performance of their song “Silver Springs,” as captured in their Billboard 200-topping live album The Dance. TikTok users have picked up on the connection between the show and the song, and streams of “Silver Springs” have also started to tick way up.

So, as a band invented as an homage to Fleetwood Mac eyes its first real hit, Fleetwood Mac — who returned to the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 in 2020 thanks to the TikTok revival of “Dreams” — may score another comeback as well. – JASON LIPSHUTZ

Booyah: “Jackie Brown” Viral Dance Is the Cherry on Top for Brent Faiyaz’ Breakout Album

Fitting that as news of Quentin Tarantino’s last (and reportedly final) upcoming movie begins to make the rounds, we also have a new hit named after one of his best movies: “Jackie Brown,” a highlight from R&B singer-songwriter Brent Faiyaz’s hit 2022 Lost Kids/Venice/Stem set Wasteland. That album charted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and spawned nine hits on the Hot 100 – none of which were “Brown,” which is now spiking on streaming thanks to a TikTok dance challenge.

The challenge sees users reacting to the newly hissing and snapping beat of a sped-up remix of the song (courtesy of TikToker Sturdyyoungin), doing different types of back-and-forth shimmies in between the song’s spaced-out opening lyrics (“Only been a few hours, but it feel like days…”) The increased visibility for the song has helped it explode from under 1.3 million official on-demand U.S. streams the tracking week ending Feb. 16 to over 3.4 million the week ending March 9 – a rise of 174%, according to Luminate – which has helped Wasteland rebound on the Billboard 200 dated March 25, as it climbs back to No. 54. – ANDREW UNTERBERGER

‘You’ Love to See It: Halsey’s ‘Bells in Santa Fe’ Gets Penn Badgley Bump

Halsey’s 2021 album If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power was a bold, often brilliant departure for the pop star, and while the Capitol alt-rock project (produced by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross) earned critical acclaim, it also failed to produce any hit singles for the top 40 mainstay, with only “I Am Not a Woman, I’m a God” reaching the Hot 100 (peaking at No. 64). Fortunately, one of the album’s most harrowing tracks, “Bells in Santa Fe,” is getting a streaming bump a year and a half after the album’s release, thanks to Netflix’s smash psychological thriller You.

The nervy electro-pop song soundtracks a pivotal sequence in the new season of the Penn Badgley-starring hit, during a plot twist involving Marienne (Tati Gabrielle) in the eighth episode. Since the second half of You’s fourth season premiered on Mar. 9, daily U.S. on-demand streams of “Bells in Santa Fe” are way up — from around 9,000 streams per day prior to the new season being unveiled, to over 47,000 streams on Mar. 13, according to Luminate. Those streams will continue to accumulate as more fans of You reach the eighth episode and bust out their Shazam apps when they hear Halsey’s voice; meanwhile, Halsey will soon be onscreen herself, making their big-screen debut in the Sydney Sweeney-starring film Americana, which premieres at SXSW on Friday (Mar. 17). – JL

“Moonlight” Shines on Kali Uchís’ New LP

Rising R&B star Kali Uchis dropped the gorgeous slo-funk ballad “Moonlight” a week in advance of her March 3 Interscope album Red Moon in Venus, but the song is really taking off post-album release – with help, of course, from TikTok, where her breakthrough hit “Telepatía” first took off in 2021. Uchis has been promoting the song heavily on her account, even with an occasional wink: Her most popular video with “Moonlight,” with over 1.3 million likes, features her manually plastering posters advertising her new album onto an empty outdoor wall, with the caption, “‘You never promote your music’ im doing the best i can u guys.” 

In any event, her efforts are paying off: Since sagging in popularity after its first couple days of Red Moon’s release, “Moonlight” has been steadily rising in official on-demand U.S. streams from March 5 (562,000) to March 13 (867,000). It’s got a ways to go to match the breakout success of “Telepatia,” but it’s got the vibe, and it’s got the momentum – and a little promotional elbow grease goes a long way. – AU

Q&A: Michelle Rutkowski, operations manager of Milwaukee Radio Alliance, on What’s Trending Up in Her World

What’s been a trend in alternative that’s intrigued you thus far this year?

I don’t know if “intrigued” is the right word for it, but so far in 2023, the alternative chart looks like a time capsule. Some of the biggest records at the format so far this year have been from Linkin Park, Depeche Mode, Fall Out Boy, Weezer and All Time Low. While it’s great to have so much new music from heritage artists, the alternative format needs to provide balance by continuing to seek out, embrace and expose the next generation of superstars, in order to remain relevant to our audience.

As the music industry has evolved over the years, how have you seen your listenership and their interests change?

Now more than ever, our audience is looking for a way to connect to the music. The pandemic starved us of our ability to see live music, or to meet our favorite band. There is so much passion for alternative music, and providing our audience with meaningful experiences that bring them closer to the music is what it’s all about.  

What do you think is the most common misconception about alternative music today?

That it is defined by a singular sound! Great alternative stations find a way to weave in all of the textures and sounds that the genre encompasses. Folk, punk, rock, electronic — they all belong here, and they all can blend and flow together well with the right understanding of their nuances and the right musical connective tissue. 

Fill in the blank: the alternative trend that will define the rest of the year is ___________.

Lovejoy. seriously. That’s it. That’s the trend. At least I hope it is!! – JL

Season’s Gainings: We’ll Always Love Big Poppa

March 9 is a date burned into the mind of every hip-hop fan old enough to remember 1997, when Christopher Wallace, a.k.a. The Notorious B.I.G., was tragically shot to death in Las Vegas at age 24. The annual wave of nostalgia and remembrances for Biggie on the date of his passing is usually enough to produce a small-but-noticeable bump in his consumption, with official on-demand U.S. streams of his catalog up from just over 3 million to nearly 3.7 million that Thursday – a gain of 21%, according to Luminate – with his massive Ready to Die hit “Big Poppa” rising enough to even make an appearance on that day’s Spotify Daily Top Songs USA chart. – AU

16 Mar 2023

Kanye West Avoids Battery Charges After Snatching And Tossing Woman’s Cell Phone

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Ye aka Kanye West hasn’t been having the best run of luck since brands started dropping him after the Hip Hop legend and “white lives matter” advocate started going full Nazi whisperer for the world to see. But the man who has at least 99 problems can breathe easy knowing a battery charge ain’t one.

As previously reported, Ye was in Los Angeles in January when he was caught on video snatching a woman’s phone and tossing it to keep her from filming him. According to L.A. law enforcement, Yeezus was facing a battery charge behind the incident, but it looks like Ye is in the clear as the alleged victim has declined to press charges.

From TMZ:

A release from the Ventura Co. District Attorney’s Office Wednesday revealed the phone suffered minor damage — only affecting the $30 case around the device — and stated the female paparazzo declined to press charges against Kanye.

It was back in January when West was filmed taking and tossing the phone into the street close to a facility where his daughter, North, was playing basketball. Kanye had asked the paps in the video not to film him while he was trying to spend time with his kids.

As we reported, it was only a few weeks after the phone incident when Kanye was seen outside the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Department … proceeding inside to ask deputies to take care of the paparazzi following him. The photogs were not causing harm.

I suppose even an attention-addicted egomaniac like Ye should be allowed to protect his children from media vultures. I mean, it’s not like his kids are MAGA hat-bearing Nazi sympathizers after all.

Still, hopefully, Ye will think twice before he puts himself in a position to catch a charge again. Not that thinking has really been his strong suit lately.

16 Mar 2023

Stanford Employee Lied About Black Men Raping Her, Twice

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A woman who works for Stanford University has been charged with lying about being sexually assaulted by Black men on two occasions last year.

According to reports, Jennifer Ann Gries was arrested and charged on Monday (March 13th) with two counts of perjury among other offenses by the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office. Gries, an employee at Stanford Housing Services, claimed she was sexually assaulted by a Black man in a garage on campus last August. Another claim followed this that she was again attacked by a Black man in a storage closet two months later. Gries would state that the first attack left her pregnant with twins.

The claims triggered safety alerts on a campus-wide level. Gries had also applied to obtain money from the California Victim of Crimes Board (CalVCB), a public fund claiming the attacks forced her to have a miscarriage. The results from her sexual assault examination kits were found to be inconsistent with her story, and there was no presence of male DNA found in them. 

Police officers still investigated the allegations, which led them to discover that the 25-year-old woman had a grudge against a Black male co-worker for “false intention” and made the claims out of anger. Detectives uncovered text messages Gries sent to another co-worker.  “Can’t I just make his life a living hell myself,” Gries wrote. “I need to start standing up for myself…. I am so annoyed…. I’m coming up with a plan. That way he’s shitting his pants for multiple days”. The co-worker denied having any sexual or romantic contact with Gries and stated to investigators that he felt  “scarred” over the accusations. “This is disgusting. I don’t feel human. I don’t feel human at all.”, he said.

Gries wrote a letter of apology to the victim during an interview with an investigator in January of this year. She is currently facing incarceration if convicted. “This is a rare and deeply destructive crime,” District Attorney Jeff Rosen said in the press release. “Our hearts go out to the falsely accused. Our hearts go out to students who had to look over their shoulders on their way to class. Our hearts go out to legitimate sexual assault victims who wonder if they will be believed.” Stanford University is dealing with the aftermath, still reeling after the infamous case of Brock Turner, a swimmer at the school who only received a six-month sentence in 2016 after sexually assaulting a woman at the campus. Judge Aaron Persky, who handed down the sentence, would be recalled by voters statewide in 2018.

16 Mar 2023

Why Morgan Wallen Scores a Historic Takeover of the Billboard Global 200 — But Is Much Harder to Find on the Global Excl. US Chart

There are 29 debuts on the March 18-dated Billboard Global 200 and 25 of those come from Morgan Wallen. The hit parade doesn’t stop there, with Wallen breaking ground among country – and all – artists on Billboard’s flagship global chart.

On top of Wallen’s 25 debuts, he adds five re-entries. More, four of his tracks hold over from last week’s chart. All of that adds up to 34 placements on this week’s Global 200, more than any artist has ever simultaneously charted in the list’s two-and-a-half-year lifespan. Taylor Swift previously held the record, with 31 songs on the Nov. 27, 2021, list in the wake of the release of her country-pop rerecording Red (Taylor’s Version).

Wallen’s total streaming figure and record-breaking hold on the chart are unqualified triumphs for any artist and especially so for country acts. Since launching in September 2020, the Global 200 has had 125 instances of an artist charting 10 or more songs at once, but only three of those belong to a current core country artist – in each case Wallen. He landed 19 songs on the Jan. 23, 2021-dated tally and 10 the following week. His new album, the Billboard 200-topping One Thing at a Time, sparks his latest chart haul, just as the arrival of his prior LP, Dangerous: The Double Album, yielded his big weeks on the Global 200 two years ago.

To find a full-on country act other than Wallen with a noteworthy robust one-week sum, we arrive at Luke Combs, who totaled six songs on the Nov. 7, 2020-dated Global 200. There have been 591 counts of an artist with six or more titles on the Global 200, spread among 65 distinct acts, but just 11 by two artists – 10 by Wallen and one by Combs – among country artists.

Country music has long struggled to find crossover success internationally. The genre is native to the United States, headquartered in Nashville and driven in large part by U.S.-based country radio, while often honoring authenticity above all else. That means that hometown (and in the case of these charts, home-country) pride goes a long way and could make exporting to Asia, Europe, South America and beyond difficult.

Wallen’s own chart entries perhaps prove that point. His song titles alone are specifically American, referencing Ford trucks (“F150-50”), Tennessee (“Tennessee Numbers” and “Tennessee Fan”) and the particulars of a certain baseball team’s near-championship run from 25 years ago (“’98 Braves”). Those songs, and most others from his latest album, storm the Global 200 powered by domestic streams but miss out on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart.

Of Wallen’s 34 Global 200 entries, just one appears on Global Excl. U.S., where “Last Night” debuts at No. 103. It’s his first song to ever hit that tally, and though it’s a debut worth celebrating, it’s dwarfed by the track’s No. 5 rank on this week’s Global 200 (and No. 1 status on the U.S.-based Billboard Hot 100, where Wallen achieves his first leader). Further, it’s just the second song by a country act (excluding Swift), to appear on Global Excl. U.S.. The other was Combs’ “Forever After All,” which hit No. 105 for one week before falling off, while peaking at No. 4 on the Global 200 in the first of 38 weeks on the chart.

Among songs on both of this week’s global charts, the average streaming breakdown is 25% domestic and 75% international. Wallen’s “Last Night” is all the way at one end of that spectrum, with 84% U.S., well more than three times the average and distinctly separated from even the next highest-U.S. share, Nicki Minaj’s “Red Ruby Da Sleeze,” with 65%. One Thing at a Time’s 36 songs go even further, averaging out to 88%. Hip-hop has its own noted difficulty spreading outside the U.S., making Wallen’s more extreme lack of international streaming even more stark.

Wallen’s drastically stateside lean falls in line with the near-total lack of country consumption outside the U.S., but there are small caveats. “Last Night” is on two of Billboard’s Hits of the World charts, at No. 6 on Australia Songs and No. 10 on New Zealand Songs. Oceania has historically been a friendly non-U.S. market to country acts, even supplementing Morgan’s top 10 appearance with Zach Bryan’s “Something in the Orange” at No. 23 on the former chart. Next week, Wallen will play two arena shows each in Sydney and Melbourne alongside ERNEST, Hardy, and Bailey Zimmerman, before returning to North America for a supersized stadium tour.

Like Wallen, most country acts don’t play many concerts outside of North America. Australia and London have been welcoming, but barring major pop crossover stars like Swift or Shania Twain, genre artists remain focused on honing their U.S. fan bases. As the premier country superstar of the streaming era – a democratized and globalized evolution of a previously segmented music industry – Wallen’s ballooned presence on Billboard’s global charts could be the foot in the door for Bryan, Combs, Zimmerman, and others to test the boundaries of international music consumption.

16 Mar 2023

Ariana Grande Is Loving That Clip of Bad Bunny Singing ‘Break Free’

As if Bad Bunny wasn’t charming enough, he had fans swooning with his adorable Carpool Karaoke segment on The Late Late Show With James Corden.

The Puerto Rican superstar and the talk show host drove around Los Angeles singing along with a number of his own hits including “Dakiti,” “Tití Me Pregunto” and “I Like It.” Bunny also jammed along to two covers: Harry Styles‘ “As It Was” and Ariana Grande‘s Zedd collaboration, “Break Free.”

When the 2014 My Everything song began to play, Bad Bunny gets visibly excited, and begins passionately singing along. “This is the English song that I most know the lyrics,” the 29-year-old explained. “I listen to English music, I like it but I never –” he says before hilariously cutting himself off to belt the chorus as loud as he can.

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Grande herself saw the clip on Thursday (March 16) and even reposted it to her Instagram Stories, along with a series of crying face emojis. See her post before it disappears here.

Elsewhere in the 15-minute video, the hip-hopper also discussed his love of drawing and wrestling. He demonstrated it, at one point enticing Corden into the ring with WWE wrestler Rey Mysterio.

Watch the full Carpool Karaoke segment with Bad Bunny below.

16 Mar 2023

Lewis Capaldi Shines in Trailer for Netflix Documentary ‘How I’m Feeling Now’

Netflix unveiled the trailer for its new Lewis Capaldi documentary, Lewis Capaldi: How I’m Feeling Now, on Thursday (March 16).

The film promises a behind-the-scenes look at the Divinely Inspired to a Hellish Extent singer’s meteoric rise to fame with his No. 1 hit “Someone You Loved,” as well as the impact the success as taken on his mental health.

“I think I’ve never been more insecure in my life than I am now,” he admits in the supercut. “And I think that’s got worse the more successful I’ve got.”

Later, the singer confesses he felt a remarkable amount of “tension all the time” to deliver a worthy follow-up to his 2019 breakout album. (“You get your whole life to write your first album, and a year or six months to write your second … The clock’s ticking,” he points out.)

The rest of the trailer follows Capaldi on the journey to improve his mental health, all as he feels the weight of everyone depending on him to continue his career. “You can only be the next best thing for, like, a year,” he says. “Of course there’s pressure … I’ll probably f–k up, but we’ll have a good time while we do it.”

Earlier this month, the Scottish crooner was forced to postpone a pair of shows in Zurich and Milan due to a doctor’s orders that he take at least three days rest to recover from a case of bronchitis.

Lewis Capaldi: How I’m Feeling Now is slated to premiere on Netflix on April 5. Watch the full trailer below.

16 Mar 2023

5 Women in Regional Mexican Music Share Their Experiences in a Man’s World

The relevance and recent growth of regional Mexican music has become undeniable, and today, the genre holds a preponderant place within the industry. However, few women have been able to stand out and survive in a mostly male-dominated world.

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The problem is not only onstage, where few women — such as Lola Beltrán, Selena or Jenni Rivera — have made ‘her’story, but also at the level of programmers, entrepreneurs and executives. Fortunately, that reality seems to be improving, thanks in part to the changes that technology has brought to the industry, and the pioneering women who have helped to pave the way.

In celebration of Women’s History Month, five women who have made their way in regional Mexican, including executives, publicists, songwriters and singers, answer five questions about the industry and its future from Billboard.

María de Jesús Lizárraga (Doña Chuyita), CEO of LGA Entertainment

María de Jesús Lizárraga

María de Jesús Lizárraga (Doña Chuyita)

Felipe Osuna

After the 1995 death of her husband Don Cruz Lizárraga, founder of Banda El Recodo, María de Jesús Lizárraga, known in the industry as “Doña Chuyita,” took the helm of the pioneering regional Mexican group. She created LGA Entertainment and boosted the achievements of her artists, taking them not only to the top of the charts but also to international stardom. The company run by Doña Chuyita employs around 200 people, and countless artists mention her and her bands (she also has Banda Los Recoditos) as an influence, and inspiration.

How can a woman stand out in a world of mostly men?

First of all, by having lots of discipline to get the job done. Secondly, handling yourself with a lot of respect towards the people you deal with. In the music business, and in particular in the regional Mexican business, keeping and honoring your word is one of the most important things. Lastly, I believe that things should be done with infinite love.

Who was your biggest inspiration to get into regional Mexican?

My husband Don Cruz Lizárraga, of course. He shared with me this love for Banda El Recodo and that passionate way of working. Because he loved his work and his band, he was and continues to be my best example and our greatest inspiration.

What can be done so that more women achieve their dreams within regional Mexican?

I believe that more spaces for women have to be created in all areas of regional Mexican, not only on stage, but also in executive positions. Women are prepared to develop and excel in any area.

What has been your worst experience as a woman in regional Mexican?

Sometimes we weren’t paid what was agreed for a show, but in reality, they have always respected me.

And the best?

Getting Banda El Recodo to be a pioneer since the movement was called grupero. There was a time when we always set the tone in everything, which is an honor but also a commitment that we keep to this day.

Sara Eva Pérez, public relations specialist for Mexico and the U.S.

Sara Eva Perez

Sara Eva Pérez

Jorge Pena

A journalist by profession, Sara Eva Pérez has been forging her career as a public relations professional within the regional Mexican music industry in Mexico and the U.S. for three decades. Her foray as an executive with companies like Fonovisa Music, Univison Music and Universal Music led her to work with artists such as Los Tigres del Norte, Marco Antonio Solís, Banda El Recodo and Los Tucanes de Tijuana. Today, she is one of the most respected public relations professionals in the genre due to her mastery of both territories, and for seven years she has been responsible for the image and media liaison of Banda MS, the genre’s most successful group in recent years.

How can a woman stand out in a world of mostly men?

The first thing is to be authentic, the second is to have freshness in the music, to know where you want to go and have very clear objectives of what you want to do. Forget that you are a man or a woman, just do things well. The most important thing, which unfortunately happens to many singers, is that they fall into doing the same thing over. You have to make different proposals, and this applies to everyone in general, not only to women. When a proposal is fresh and different, there are many more opportunities to gain a place in this industry.

Who was your biggest inspiration to get into regional Mexican?

Definitely someone who must be recognized for her work in the genre is María de Jesús Lizárraga, Doña Chuyita. When I got to work with Banda El Recodo, I admired a woman with clear objectives who has managed to run a company that’s comprised mostly of men. Everyone respects her. She has a very important place in the industry and I think she’s an inspiration for any woman who works behind the scenes.

What can be done so that more women achieve their dreams within regional Mexican?

There’s something very important: you must be consistent with who you are and what you sing. You must have principles, you must respect the public. I say this because currently, and it is somewhat sad, there are singers in regional Mexican who go on stage to speak nonsense and use vulgar language and images because they think that’s a part of regional Mexican, and I totally disagree. You need to have a clean image. There’s Ángela Aguilar, who by making different music and being very focused on her objectives has managed to take a big step forward and is proof that women do have a place in regional.

What has been your worst experience as a woman in regional Mexican?

On one occasion, I had to face a group of businessmen because an artist did not show up to their event. At that time they didn’t respect me because I was a woman. However, I asserted myself and did things the way that had to be done, and that resulted in earning the respect not only from them, who are used to dealing with men, but also from their team and from the regional Mexican industry.

And the best?

I definitely think I’m living my best moment in regional Mexican right now. The experience I have gathered over the years has allowed me to work with the most important band today. It’s not because I work with them, but I think they have achieved what very few have, and by that I mean permanence. It’s very easy to get there, staying is what’s hard. I have learned many things that I didn’t know before, my horizons have broadened.

Alhe Romo, vocalist of the group Vilax

Alhe Romo

Alhe Romo

Pablo Regalado

In 2021, during the Latin Grammy Awards, Vilax, a regional Mexican band led by 24-year-old singer Alhe Romo, attracted attention thanks to a nomination for best Tejano album with their debut, Un Beso es Suficiente. It’s something that had not been seen since Alicia Villarreal debuted with Grupo Límite in the ’90s. Universal Music/Fonovisa recently signed the group from Torreón, Coahuila, which joins the movement that has empowered Grupo Frontera and unites music from northern Mexico and the southern United States.

How can a woman stand out in a world of mostly men?

Never cease to struggle, but above all, be aware that we must work for our dream, and we must do it with values. It is possible if you do it with great perseverance, with lots of passion and with the desire to do it well.

Who was your biggest inspiration to get into regional Mexican?

My greatest inspiration have always been great women and music legends like Selena, Rocío Dúrcal, Alicia Villarreal. When you learn their history, you realize how much they fought to have a place in the industry. Having the support of my family, especially my mother, has been very important; she is a great woman, too. The wave of emotions that comes to me when I’m on stage, getting to touch hearts with my voice, is something that inspires me to continue on this path that isn’t really easy, but a dream can be achieved if you fight and work for it.

What can be done so that more women achieve their dreams within regional Mexican?

Personally, I think that we need to get out of our heads that we have fewer opportunities for being women, because if you believe it, you can make it happen. Sadly, in many aspects of life, we must make ourselves strong alone and not let anything move us from the path in which we are always tracing with constant effort and, above all, self-esteem.

What has been your worst experience as a woman in regional Mexican?

I’ve had a brief career, and fortunately I have not had a bad experience that has marked me yet.

And the best?

In 2021, along with my colleagues from Vilax, we were nominated for the Latin Grammy for best Tejano album, and that year I was the only woman among the finalists. I hope life allows me to do it again.

Erika Vidrio, songwriter

Erika Vidrio

Erika Vidrio

Ernesto Huerta

For 13 years, Erika Vidrio was a well-known broadcaster in the Los Angeles area. In 2018, she decided to focus on her music career, and today she is the most recorded female songwriter within regional Mexican. Now she has a Latin Grammy nomination, several BMI Awards and 350 songs recorded by artists such as Christian Nodal, Banda MS, Julión Álvarez and many more. “Fíjate Que Sí”, “Borracho De Amor”, “Quién Es Usted” and “40 y 21” are just some of the charting hits she has written.

Concerned about the inclusion and exposure of female composers in regional Mexican music, she created Las Compositoras, a space in networks and platforms, including a podcast, in which she shares her knowledge and provides tools for those who are just starting out in this profession.

How can a woman stand out in a world of mostly men?

The same way men excel, by working. I mean, not only working hard but also knowing how the music medium works, bonding, networking, so that you find opportunities; working from all points, not just creating beautiful songs locked in your house. To excel, you need to see well beyond that. In songwriting, equality between women and men is still unbalanced, but I think we are making progress, there are more and more female composers in regional.

Who was your biggest inspiration to get into regional Mexican?

I grew up with deep-rooted ranchero music: my grandparents played José Alfredo Jiménez, Vicente Fernández and Hermanos Záizar, so my influence comes from visceral ranchero music. As a teenager I got to see Selena, Alicia Villarreal with Grupo Límite, and I realized that women could also excel in the genre.

What can be done so that more women achieve their dreams within regional Mexican?

We must support each other and understand that there’s not only one space, that we can all excel in our own styles. We need a history; forget what they say, that a woman’s enemy is another woman. In regional Mexican in particular, I’ve had great female allies who have supported me. So let’s start by turning our backs on those archaic ideas that we are enemies. This way we can generate interest among people in the industry and get them to see women’s projects. It all starts with us.

What has been your worst experience as a woman in regional Mexican?

Certain humiliations, seeing my work discredited just for being a woman, not getting even the opportunity to show my song. Personally, the most difficult thing for me was gaining the respect, the credibility. The fact that at first they said that I didn’t write my own songs was very hard on me, mentally. I think it’s been one of the biggest obstacles I’ve had to overcome.

And the best?

Being able to make a living of what I’m passionate about. That’s a very nice feeling. I think it’s a blessing.

Diana Reyes, singer with 25 years of experience

Diana Reyes

Diana Reyes

Courtesy of DR Promotions

Diana Reyes is known as the Queen of the Pasito Duranguense. Born in Baja California Sur, the singer marked one of the most splendorous periods of the regional genre with that musical movement in which only she and Los Horóscopos de Durango had a place. For over two decades, she has ventured into ranchera and banda music, becoming a model for many women who enter the genre. Jenni Rivera considered her one of her inspirations, and together, they recorded the song “Ajustando Cuentas” before the Diva de la Banda died in a plane crash in 2012.

Reyes is the creator of Mujeres del Regional, a group of talented singers who have encountered more obstacles than opportunities and who together a first-class show, making their own way.

How can a woman stand out in a world of mostly men?

I believe that the best way to keep moving forward is by not losing track of what we want to achieve and not giving up, because unfortunately we have to continue working to demonstrate our capabilities.

Who was your biggest inspiration to get into regional Mexican?

Without a doubt, my taste for music began with my father; watching him sing encouraged me to sing, too. My inspiration to delve into this music were Mrs. Lola Beltrán, Chayito Valdez and Joan Sebastian.

What can be done so that more women can reach their dreams within regional Mexican?

The music industry is very difficult, even more for a woman, but this should not prevent us from doing what we like. We should not limit ourselves to making use of what we have been accustomed to for so many years, such as radio and television; today, we should take advantage of all the tools that technology offers, such as social media and platforms. In addition to not stopping working, it’s also very important to stick together, as men do.

What has been your worst experience as a woman in regional Mexican?

On one occasion, a businessman assaulted me physically and they had to take me to a hospital.

And the best?

I don’t think this is specifically because I am a woman, but my best experience has been achieving things I did not imagine, despite how difficult it is to reach success in this career. But I have dreamed of them and I have worked to achieve them, so it’s clear to me that even if I’m a woman, nothing is impossible.

16 Mar 2023

Blink-182, Def Leppard Funko Pops & More: Here’s What’s on Sale for Walmart’s Collector Con 2023

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Calling all collectors! Walmart Collector Con kicks off on Thursday (March 16) and continues until Friday (March 17).

The two-day event features dozens of epic figurines and other collectibles for fans of Star Wars, Marvel, Funko, LEGO, Barbie, Pokemon, WWE and more, including pre-orders, new releases and Walmart Exclusives.

For LEGO lovers, Walmart Collector Con curated a list of affordable and splurge-worthy building kits such as LEGO Stars Wars and Marvel items ranging from around $15 up to $600.

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The lot of collectibles featured on the first day includes LEGO Marvel Thanos Mech Armour Avengers Set ($14.90), Star Wars The Razor Crest Ultimate Collector’s Series Starship Model Kit ($599) and LEGO Marvel Black Panther T’Challa Model Building Kit, which is on sale for $299 (regular $349.99).

Music fans can get their hands on cool exclusives such as the Funko! Pop Album Deluxe: Def Leppard Vinyl Set and the Blink-182 Funko Pop! Album Deluxe: Blink-182 Enema of The State Vinyl Figures (2022 Limited Edition Walmart Exclusive), which are on sale for $25.

Other music-related collector’s items include the best-selling Tina Turner Barbie ($109), the Barbie Signature Elvis Presley Doll ($46.99) and a Barbie Rewind ’80s Edition Doll ($26.10), which comes complete with a hot pink boom box, translucent keytar and microphone.

Purchase the Walmart exclusive, Blink-182 and Def Leopard Funko Pop! collectible sets below. Click here for additional product recommendations.

Walmart

Funko Pop! Album Deluxe: Blink-182 Enema of The State Vinyl Figures (2022 Limited Edition Walmart Exclusive)

$25 $49.88 50% off% OFF

The Enema of the State Pop! Albums Deluxe collectible commemorates the 1999 release of Blink-182’s chart-topping album and features mini figurines of band members Mark Hoppus, Travis Barker and Tom DeLonge. The vinyl figurines measure approximately 4-inches tall and stand on platforms around a record-backdrop next to a replica of the Enema of the State album cover. This collectible comes in a prepackaged case (measuring 23.5 wide x 12.25-inches tall and a 3.75-inch depth) that can be hung on the wall or displayed in your music collection.

Walmart

Funko Pop! Album Deluxe: Def Leppard Hysteria Vinyl Figures (2022 Limited Edition Walmart Exclusive)

$25 $49.88 50% off% OFF

Rock out with this collection of Def Leppard Pops! Joe Elliott, Rick Allen, Rick Savage, Steve Clark and Phil Collen are featured in the Hysteria Pop! Albums Deluxe collectible honoring the 1987 release of the best-selling Hysteria album. The 4-inch figurines stand on platforms centered around a record-backdrop and a recreation of the Hysteria album cover. Like the Blink-182 collectible, Def Leppard Hysteria vinyl figures are designed to hang on the wall or display on a bookshelf, table, desk and other flat surfaces.

16 Mar 2023

Young M.A Reveals She Was Dealing With Numerous Medical Scares, Says “She Is Good”

HipHopWired Featured Video

Young M.A Says Reveals She Was Dealing With Health Scares

Source: Prince Williams / Getty / Young M.A

Fans of Young M.A were showing concern after a video featuring the rapper went viral, and she did not look to be in good health. Speaking exclusively with TMZ Hip Hop, she confirmed she was dealing with health issues.

The “OOOUUU” rapper told the celebrity gossip site without getting into specifics that she was dealing with some health scares, but she is bouncing back and will fill us in with her new music.

Per TMZ Hip Hop:

M.A tells us, “As many of my supporters know I’ve been dealing with various personal health issues the last few years. I recently was hospitalized and was successfully treated for several conditions. I’m doing better now, will take some time but I’m on the road to recovery and look forward to the future!!!”

She continues, “Rest assured I’m in good spirits and everything will be explained in the MUSIC … plus a documentary. Love y’all MAB! Don’t worry I’m good!”

The rapper became a trending topic on Twitter when a video shared by her barber apparently showing the Hip-Hop star slurring her words and yellow eyes.

Young M.A’s & Her Barber Shut Down Earlier Criticism

After the video hit the net, M.A’s barber, Fatsdabarber, felt Twitter’s wrath. “That barber is completely f*****g wrong and unethical,” one person wrote on Twitter.

Fatsdabarber went to his IG Stories to address the criticism, “Y’all got so much to say as if I’m trying to embarrass my dawg. If she didn’t want me to record, she would’ve told me. Y’all don’t know our bond nor our friendship.”

He continued, “What y’all need to do is just send your prayers for her, and that’s that she didn’t have a haircut in a month, and she wanted me to bring her haircut back to life, which I did. Thank you for coming, sis, and rocking with me like always. Love ya.”

Young M.A reposted the video on her IG Stories writing in response, “We blessed don’t let that get to you blooda, And I told you it was like 4 months.”

Another video had fans wondering if the original video was the victim of altering. In a second clip, the rapper looks perfectly okay.

Whatever is going as long as Young M.A says she is good, that’s the information we are going with.

—

Photo: Prince Williams / Getty

16 Mar 2023

Taylor Swift Reveals She’s Dropping 4 Previously Unreleased Songs Ahead of The Eras Tour

Taylor Swift announced on Thursday (March 16) that she’s giving Swifties a major surprise in the form of four new songs ahead of her tour kickoff.

“In celebration of The Eras Tour I’m releasing 4 previously unreleased songs tonight at midnight,” she revealed on her Instagram Stories. The four tracks include re-recordings of Swift’s dual contributions to the 2012 soundtrack to The Hunger Games — “Eyes Open” and “Safe & Sound” featuring Joy Williams and John Paul White — as well as “If This Was a Movie (Taylor’s Version)” and never-before-heard song “All of the Girls You Loved Before.”

Remarkably, the superstar’s re-recording of her Hunger Games collab with The Civil Wars marks the first time Williams and White have appeared on record together since the duo’s contentious 2014 breakup.

“If This Was a Movie” was originally released as a bonus track on the deluxe version of Speak Now, perhaps lending credence to the rampant fan theories that the 2010 album will be the next re-recording Swift plans to drop following both Fearless (Taylor’s Version) and Red (Taylor’s Version) in 2021.

The Eras Tour is set to begin on Friday (March 17) with back-to-back shows in Glendale, Ariz., which has temporarily been renamed Swift City in honor of Swift’s imminent arrival.

Ahead of Tay’s wildly anticipated trek, Billboard staffers ranked her 100 best songs for the very first time in Billboard history — from “Look What You Made Me Do” (No. 100) and “Death by a Thousand Cuts” (No. 74) to “White Horse” (No. 34), “The Last Great American Dynasty” (No. 17) and beyond.