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08 Mar 2023

Jenna Ortega Reluctantly Does the ‘Wednesday’ Dance for ‘SNL’ Promo

Jenna Ortega got talked into doing the viral Wednesday dance to Lady Gaga‘s “Bloody Mary” on Wednesday (March 8) for her Saturday Night Live promo.

“Honestly, this is really well-written, I just don’t feel like I want to do the Wednesday dance for promo because we’ve seen so much of that already and I think it’s time to do something new,” the actress says in the clip before the camera pans to the Please Don’t Destroy guys decked out in their best Wednesday Addams cosplay.

“We didn’t want to do the dance either,” Ben Marshall insists before Ortega points out the trio’s lacy, gothic, all-black ensembles. (“Is this from your television program?” John Higgins hysterically deadpans. “Wednesday Addams? More like Thursday Jones, I don’t even know what that is.”

After Higgins swears doing the TikTok challenge with Ortega totally “wouldn’t be a dream come true” for the three comedians — don’t even worry, Martin Herlihy “barely knows it” — the You alum is finally guilted into relenting.

While the “Bloody Mary” trend has gone absolutely viral on TikTok in the months since Wednesday‘s debut on Netflix — with everyone from SEVENTEEN and Madonna to even Mother Monster herself taking part in the challenge — Ortega revealed after the hit series’ premiere that she actually had COVID while filming the original dance sequence to “Goo Goo Muck” by The Cramps.

Ortega is set to make her debut in Studio 8H by hosting the Saturday (March 11) episode of SNL with musical guest The 1975.

Watch Ortega make the Please Don’t Destroy guys’ dreams come true below.

08 Mar 2023

Bad Bunny Was Spotted Kissing Kendall Jenner & Fans Have a Lot to Say About It

Rumors that the two could be dating began swirling last month, when Jenner and the Puerto Rican rapper were seen leaving the same restaurant.

Bad Bunny

Bad Bunny performs onstage during the 65th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on Feb. 5, 2023 in Los Angeles.

Emma McIntyre/GI for The Recording Academy

Bad Bunny and Kendall Jenner seem to have confirmed buzzing romance rumors on Tuesday night (March 7) when they were spotted kissing outside of Sushi Park in West Hollywood, California.

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The duo were out with a group of friends, including Kendall’s sister Kylie Jenner, and the model put her arms around the reggaetón superstar to say goodbye, before she looked to have leaned in for a kiss, as seen in photos posted by TMZ. It isn’t confirmed if the two locked lips, but that didn’t stop fans from sharing the photo all over Twitter.

Rumors that the two could be dating began swirling last month, when Jenner and the Puerto Rican rapper — who recently moved to Los Angeles — were seen leaving the same restaurant. Bad Bunny (real name Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio) was previously dating singer and jewelry designer Gabriela Berlingeri since 2017.

Fans who saw the new photos pop up online were understandably jealous of Jenner, who was out and about with one of the hottest artists in the current music scene. See below for some of their best reactions.

08 Mar 2023

Earth, Wind & Fire Sues To Stop Rival ‘Legacy Reunion’ Band From Using Similar Name

Famed funk act Earth, Wind & Fire is suing a rival group that’s been performing under the name “Earth Wind & Fire Legacy Reunion,” calling them imposters who are infringing the band’s trademarks to “mislead the ticket-buying public.”

In a lawsuit filed Tuesday (March 7) in Florida federal court, the company that owns the band’s intellectual property argued that Legacy Reunion’s only claim to the name is a few “side musicians” who briefly played with Earth, Wind & Fire many years ago.

Despite that allegedly spurious link, the lawsuit says the rival group’s organizers “hatched a scheme to falsely imply in advertising that this new group was the real Earth, Wind & Fire.”

“Defendants did this to benefit from the commercial magnetism and immense goodwill the public has for plaintiff’s ‘Earth, Wind & Fire’ marks and logos, thereby misleading consumers and selling more tickets at higher prices,” the group’s lawyers wrote.

According to the lawsuit, the allegedly phony group is directly competing with the “real” Earth Wind & Fire, which has continued to tour since founder Maurice White died in 2016. Led by longtime members Philip Bailey, White’s brother Verdine and Ralph Johnson, the band operates under a license from Earth Wind & Fire IP LLC, a holding company owned by White’s sons.

In its lawsuit on Tuesday, attorneys for that company claimed that the organizers of Legacy Reunion (Substantial Music Group LLC and Stellar Communications, Inc.) have misled not only ticket buyers but resale websites like StubHub.

“The [Stubhub] ticket listing combines concerts by the real Earth, Wind & Fire with the band defendants’ promote, and the tickets offered for concerts by the band Defendants promote have nothing to do with the real Earth, Wind & Fire.”

Tribute acts – groups that exclusively cover the music of a particular band — are legally allowed to operate, and they often adopt names that allude to the original. But they can get into legal hot water if they make it appear that they are affiliated with the original. In 2021, ABBA filed a similar trademark lawsuit against a band that had been touring under the name ABBA Mania, calling it “parasitic.”

In the current case, Substantial Music Group allegedly used “Legacy Reunion” in listings (seemingly a reference to the former EWF members) but often in a separate font or in a different part of a logo. The group later allegedly changed the name to “Legacy Reunion of Earth Wind & Fire Alumni,” but the lawsuit claims the changes weren’t enough to avoid confusion.

Among other things, the lawsuit cited alleged examples of angry consumers who mistakenly bought tickets for the wrong band, including one that read, “This was not Earth Wind and Fire. NO Philip Bailey or Verdine White. It was just a band playing Earth Wind and Fire music. I purchased 3 tickets and I was very disappointed. It was truly false advertisement. I want my money back!!!!!”

In a statement to Billboard on Wednesday in response to the lawsuit, Substantial Music Group founder Richard Smith called the trademark complaint “disappointing.”

“It is sad that a greedy corporation has chosen to use trademark law to attempt to pass judgment on which historic members of Earth, Wind & Fire are worthy of being called alumni of the band,” Smith said. “I was personally a member of the band for five years and performed on two tours and one album.  I’m proud to be an alumnus of the musical group and the corporation’s dismissiveness of my and others’ contributions Earth, Wind & Fire is hurtful.  We will not be erased.”

Read the entire lawsuit here:

08 Mar 2023

Outside Lands 2023 Tickets Are On Sale Now, Kendrick Lamar, Foo Fighters & More Among Headliners

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2022 Outside Lands Music And Arts Festival

Outside Lands makes its return this summer in 2023, celebrating 15 years of music, cannabis, and culture in the Bay Area region. Taking place again at Golden State Park in San Francisco and passes for Outside Lands are now on sale with a newly announced GA+ tier.

Earlier this week, the festival lineup was officially shared and features the likes of Kendrick Lamar, Foo Fighters, and ODESZA. The addition of ODESZA makes them the first EDM act to rock the main stage.

The pass types are 3-Day GA at $449, 3-Day GA+ at $674, 3-Day VIP at $1,029, and Golden Gate Club are $4,899. Payment Plan options for 3-Day GA start at $99 down, 3-Day GA+ start at $159 down, and 3-Day VIP starts at $199 down and include 3 additional payment installments. Taxes and fees apply for all price levels and payment plans.

The GA+ tier offerings include expedited entry, an exclusive GA+ lounge with access to flushable bathrooms, refillable water stations, and complimentary soft drinks, plus a full-service bar and food for purchase.

Outside Lands 2023 will take place over the course of three days, August 11 through 13. Additional performers announced include Megan Thee Stallion, J.I.D., Lil Yachty, Lana Del Rey, The 1975, and more.

The full lineup can be viewed below. Click here to purchase your passes and learn more.

Outside Lands 2023

Source: Outside Lands / OSL

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Photo: Tim Mosenfelder / Getty

08 Mar 2023

Wellness Tools: 10 Self-Care Items to Pamper Yourself & Relieve Stress

All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

Wednesday (March 8) is International Women’s Day, and while the middle of the work and school week seems like an odd day to think about relaxing, it’s a perfect time to stock up on self-care must-haves.

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From body scrubs to scented candles, we’ve put together a short list of 10 self-care essentials to help you wind down and relieve stress no matter where you are.

See the list below and click here for more product recommendations.

Kopari

Kopari Exfoliating Crush Scrub with Brown Sugar and Fine Coconut Shells, 8 oz.

$39

Don’t be surprised if you end up “crushing” on this cult-favorite skincare product. Kopari’s Exfoliating Crush Scrub is packed with natural exfoliants like brown sugar, along with fine Tahitian coconut shells (to smooth the skin) and organic coconut oil to soften and nourish the skin. You can find this best-selling scrub at Kopari.com and major retailers such as Ulta Beauty, Amazon, Revolve and Nordstrom.

Amazon

Gua Sha & Massage Stick Face Roller for Face – Certified Jade Natural Healing Crystal Self Care Gifts

$9.99 $16.99 41% OFF

Incorporating self-care products doesn’t have to break the bank. The jade facial roller and gua sha set — which is on sale for just $9.99 — is designed to cool, tighten and relax your face but it also works for your body, eyes and neck. This particular facial massager earned a 4.6/5-star rating on Amazon garnering positive reviews for the cooling jade, which promotes relaxation. Not interested in jade? Check out the YouthLab radiance roller ($26.99).

Amazon

Under Eye Patches (20 Pairs) – Gold Under Eye Mask Amino Acid & Collagen, Under Eye Mask for Face Care, Eye Masks for Dark Circles and Puffiness, Under Eye Masks for Beauty & Personal Care

$13.97 $19.97 30% OFF

From cucumber slices to under-eye patches, the skin under our eyes requires special care. Brightening creams, retinols, hyaluronic acid and Vitamin C serums help hydrate the skin to reduce the appearance of dark circles while promoting healthier, brighter skin. Under-eye patches work similarly in de-puffing and helping to lighten dark circles, and they’re relaxing. Kick up feet your, pop on your eye patches and chill for a few minutes — but don’t wear them longer than the suggested usage.

Amazon

HEETA Hair Shampoo Brush, Scalp Care Hair Brush with Soft Silicone Scalp Massager (Purple)

$8.98 $12.73 29% OFF

You might not consider a scalp brush a self-care item, but it’s definitely qualifies! This shampoo brush cleans and massages your scalp and naturally enhances blood circulation — which can stimulate hair growth. The scalp massager is designed for different hair types and available in several colors including purple, pink, green, black and blue.

Nordstrom

NEOM Wellbeing Pod Mini Essential Oil Diffuser

$66

Aromatherapy is a quick way to help you relax! If you’re on the go, this portable, essential oil diffuser goes where you do. Featuring three intensity settings that deliver an intermittent scent, the mini diffuser is small enough to fit in tight spaces like a car, office, bedroom or bathroom, plus it’s battery-operated, so you don’t have to worry about plugging it into an outlet. It also comes with a USB charging cable and can last for up to 50 hours on a single charge. Looking for something more affordable but less mobile? The best-selling Dukya 500ml Oil Diffuser is on sale for $21.97.

Amazon

The Republic of Tea – Calm Health and Happiness Tea Set, 3 Tin Gift Box

$47.99

Relax. Rest. Focus. Calm and The Republic of Tea released a gift set to help you slow down, relax and get better rest. The trio includes rooibos, dandelion and citrus tea for relaxation; chamomile, lemon balm and lavender tea for rest and green tea with peppermint for focus. Click here for an array of tea sets.

Amazon

BEST 100 Daily Meditation Cards | Anxiety Relief Item for Relaxation

$17.99

Nothing says self-care like mindfulness. If you’re ready to take a step beyond positive affirmations, these Meditation Cards feature 100 mindfulness exercises for stress management, anxiety, equanimity, calmness, self-love, wellness and more.

Homesick

Homesick Evening Unwind Candle

$28 $

Constructed with relaxation in mind, Homeschool’s Evening Unwind Candle features a soothing blend of green tea and lavender, with medium notes of  melon, blue lavender, lemon extract and base notes of moss, neroli and sugared musk to lull you into a state of calm. If $38 is a little too steep for your candle budget, this Serenity + Calm candle from Yankee Candles retails for just $13. Find additional scented candle options here.

Amazon

RENPHO Eye Massager with Heat, Bluetooth Music Heated Eyeris 1 Massager for Migraines, Relax and Reduce Eye Strain

$69.99 $129.99 46% OFF

Slip into relaxation mode anywhere, anytime with this electronic eye massager. The Renpho Eye Massager is equipped with built-in heating pads to help relax the eye, reduce eye strain, puffiness and dry eyes. The heating pads provide a temperature between 104-107 degrees.

Sharper Image Hydro Spa Plus Foot Bath

$99.99

Soaking your feet is one of the best parts of a pedicure, so why not bring that feeling home? The hydro foot spa massager from Sharper Image features heated rollers with an LDC display screen, and you can add essential oils or a scented foot scrub to get even more relaxed.

08 Mar 2023

Gorillaz & Godsmack Go No. 1 on Rock Album Charts

Gorillaz and Godsmack lead Billboard’s rock album charts dated March 11 with the new sets Cracker Island and Lighting Up the Sky, respectively.

Gorillaz’s Island bows at No. 1 on the Top Rock & Alternative Albums, Top Rock Albums and Top Alternative Albums tallies with 64,000 equivalent album units earned, according to Luminate. A total of 49,000 of those units are via album sales.

It’s the virtual band’s third No. 1 on Top Rock & Alternative Albums and first since 2017’s Humanz. Prior to that, Plastic Beach ruled in 2010. (The chart began in 2006.)

Concurrently, Island crowns Top Album Sales, becoming the act’s second leader (after Humanz) and tops Vinyl Albums with 32,000 sold on vinyl.

On the all-genre Billboard 200, as previously reported, Island starts at No. 3, marking Gorillaz’s sixth top 10 and best rank since Humanz reached No. 2.

Seven songs from Island reach the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart dated March 11, led by “Tormenta,” featuring Bad Bunny, at No. 9, thanks to 5.1 million official U.S. streams and 1,000 downloads sold. It’s followed by current radio single “New Gold,” featuring Tame Impala and Bootie Brown, up 42-22 (2.8 million streams, 1.1 million radio audience impressions). “Gold” currently rises to No. 16 on Alternative Airplay.

Thanks to “Tormenta,” Bad Bunny scores his first entry and top 10 on Hot Rock & Alternative Songs. He boasts a record 59 top 10s on Hot Latin Songs.

Meanwhile, Godsmack’s Lighting Up the Sky launches at No. 1 on Top Hard Rock Albums on the strength of 21,000 units (18,000 in album sales).

The Sully Erna-fronted band boasts four No. 1s dating to the chart’s 2007 inception, including three in a row, with Sky following 2018’s When Legends Rise and 2014’s 1000Hp. The group first led with The Oracle in 2010.

Sky also begins at No. 3 on Top Rock & Alternative Albums. On the Billboard 200, it opens at No. 19, marking the band’s 11th entry, dating to its initial appearance with its self-titled set in 1999.

The new album’s lead single, “Soul on Fire,” enters Hot Hard Rock Songs at No. 17 (883,000 streams; 478,000 airplay audience impressions) and starts at No. 30 on Mainstream Rock Airplay.

08 Mar 2023

Ruff Ryders to Honor DMX With ‘Ryde Out’ Event in NYC

On Tuesday, Ruff Ryders announced they would honor DMX’s legacy with a special “Ryde Out” event celebrating the second anniversary of his death. Slated for April 9 in New York City, the label will gather friends, family and fans “for a day full of food, fun, games and music.”

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DMX was the go-to star for the revered East Coast label after a seismic debut in 1998. It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot and 1999’s Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood helped X earn hip-hop supremacy as he notched two Billboard 200 No. 1 albums within a one-year period. Later on in his decorated career, X netted three more chart-topping albums. After he died in 2021 from a heart attack at age 50, he earned a top 10 release with this posthumous effort EXODUS. The album debuted at No. 8 on the Billboard 200, and its standout collaboration “Bath Salts,” featuring Jay-Z and Nas, secured a Grammy nomination the following year for best rap song. 

“He made music with raw passion,” recalled X’s Ruff Ryders cohort Swizz Beatz during the 2021 Billboard Music Awards. “He spoke to the streets, he spoke to the world, [and] he prayed for others before he could pray for himself. He loved others before he would love himself. His music is iconic magic to the world. Following Tupac, he is the second rapper to have two No. 1 albums in one year. His legacy will forever be remembered.”

Last month, Swizz Beatz connected with Lil Wayne for “Kan’t Nobody,” posthumously featuring DMX. See the Ruff Ryders’ post for their “Ryde Out” event below. 

08 Mar 2023

Kelsea Ballerini Jokes About Rumors Her Romance With Chase Stokes Is ‘Probably PR’

Kelsea Ballerini is laughing off rumors about her relationship with Chase Stokes.

In a since-expired Instagram Story from Tuesday (March 7), the country star joked about her romance by posting a photo hand-in-hand on the Outer Banks actor’s lap backstage at Saturday Night Live, quipping, “idk seems staged. probably pr.” (Earlier in the week, she had shared another snap with her new love from Studio 8H, writing simply, “Hi chase stokes” — a cheeky reference to his Instagram handle.)

On the March 4 episode of NBC’s late-night sketch series, Ballerini performed two songs — “Blindsided” and “Penthouse” — off her new divorce-centric EP Rolling Up the Welcome Mat and its companion short film, which tell the singer’s side of her split from ex-husband Morgan Evans.

In the wake of that divorce, Ballerini revealed in a sit-down with the Call Her Daddy podcast that she met Stokes the old-fashioned millennial way: by sliding into his DMs. “I was ready to open back up,” she said. “I just felt, why not? I’ve never really dated; I don’t know how it works. I’m like, ‘Let’s just put ourselves out there — let’s just vibe.’ And it’s been fun.”

For his part, her ex recently addressed the former couple’s split with his own song “Over for You,” which Ballerini called “really opportunistic” in the same interview. “I felt really used in that moment,” she said at the time. “And again, his healing journey is his healing journey, I respect that. But publicly exploiting it feels a little nasty to me, before it’s final.”

Ballerini has previously addressed speculation that her romance with the actor is for publicity. The singer mentioned the rumor on TikTok by showing a screenshot of a message sent to gossip account DeuxMoi claiming her recent appearance with Stokes at a college football game a “PR play.”

“I know, I know. Stop reading, stop looking,” Ballerini says in her TikTok, gesturing to the message. “But what is happening, guys? What? Let’s not do this, you know?”

08 Mar 2023

BLACKPINK Is the Most Streamed Female Band on Spotify 

BLACKPINK keeps on taking over the music scene. The four-piece girl group is officially the most-streamed female band on Spotify, according to a report by Guinness World Records on Wednesday (March 8).

Their songs have an incredible 8,880,030,049 individual streams.

The newest accomplishment is just the latest milestone for the quartet of Lisa, Jennie, Rosé, and Jisoo, who have been collecting history-making firsts throughout their careers. Four years after becoming the first K-pop girl group to play Coachella, the festival announced in 2023 that BLACKPINK would be returning to headline the annual music event, making the quartet the first Asian act to do so. The group is set to headline on April 15 and 22.

BLACKPINK also debuted atop the Billboard 200 dated Oct. 1 (released Sept. 25) with their sophomore album Born Pink. The eight-song set is the first by an all-female group to top the all-genre chart since Danity Kane’s Welcome to the Dollhouse launched at No. 1 on the April 5, 2008, tally.

“It’s very surprising to us. All the records are the results of our fans, BLINKs, and their unconditional support,” Jennie told Grammy.com of their success in September 2020. “Every day we try to acknowledge how grateful we are, but more than the pressure, we are ready to give them back as much as they gave us. It just gives us more motivation to go further than we ever dreamed of.”

08 Mar 2023

2 Americans Are Back Home After Deadly Kidnapping In Mexico

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MEXICO-US-CRIME-VIOLENCE-KIDNAPPING

Source: STR / Getty

Two United States citizens are lucky to be alive, but two are deceased. A pair of Americans who were kidnapped in Mexico are back on home soil.

As spotted on CBS News some Myrtle Beach, South Carolina natives experienced a harrowing nightmare during a recent trip to Mexico. On Friday, March 3, four Americans, one woman and three men, crossed the border in a Chrysler Pacific minivan.

While in the city of Matamoros their vehicle was hit by another car at an intersection and an unidentified man opens fire. Suddenly, a white pick up truck arrives and more armed individuals force the four passengers onto the bed of their truck. Sadly a local Mexican woman was also killed in the crossfire.

As per BBC on Tuesday, March 7 the Americans were eventually found being held hostage in a wooden shack. Unfortunately, two of the hostages passed away while one of the survivors was wounded. According to Mexican officials, the hostages were moved around to several different locations to “create confusion and avoid efforts to rescue them”. The survivors were identified as Latavia “Tay” McGee and Eric James Williams.

The two deceased have been identified as Zindell Brown and Shaeed Woodard. McGee and Williams were escorted by heavily armed Mexican convoy back through the border. Reportedly, the trip was scheduled in order for Latavia to undergo a tummy tuck medical procedure.

Both McGee and Williams are currently recuperating in hospitals. Obviously, questions are still being asked.