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27 Feb 2023

‘Daddy’s Home’: Usher Returns to Las Vegas Residency

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Usher is back in Sin City! The R&B star remixed one of his classics in a video teasing the return of his Las Vegas residency, which resumed on Friday (Feb. 24).

“It’s almost time for Vegas Part II. Ya’ll ready? Daddy’s Home,” the singer captioned a video of him being driven to his residency while a remix to his 1997 hit “You Make Me Wanna” plays in the background.

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Last week, Usher added an additional 15 dates to his sold-out My Way residency. The news shows will take place in June and October.

Tickets for the new dates went on sale Saturday (Feb. 25) at Ticketmaster and Live Nation. Fans can also score passes through Vivid Seats and StubHub.

Usher’s next performance is scheduled for Wednesday, March 1. Click the buy button below to purchase tickets for any of the dates that are still available (the show on March 8 has been canceled and will be refunded or rescheduled, according to Ticketmaster).

Usher My Way: The Vegas Residency

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In a recent interview with GQ magazine, Usher shared what he enjoys about the residency. “I like the idea of what I’ve found in Las Vegas,” explained the father of four. “It gives me an opportunity to settle. I have children now. I got a life, so [I like] being able to have a few days in certain places and being able to celebrate those places and enjoy them. At this age, you try to hold on to the moments.”

On the heels of teasing his return to Las Vegas, Usher debuted in a new campaign for Uber Reserve on Monday (Feb. 27). From photoshoots and interviews to being a dad, the video campaign takes fans through a chaotic day in the life of Usher and shows how Uber Reserve helps him get to destinations on time.

Usher is the latest singer to appear in an Uber commercial after Diddy’s Super Bowl commercial for Uber One featuring Kelis and Montell Jordan. The service includes discounted Uber rides and discounts on Uber Eats deliveries.

Click here for a full list of current Las Vegas residencies.

27 Feb 2023

Shawn Mendes & Sabrina Carpenter Photos Start a Twitter Frenzy: ‘If They Are Dating, The Internet Will Be Broken’

New photos of Shawn Mendes and Sabrina Carpenter walking together in Los Angeles had fans of both pop stars buzzing Monday (Feb. 27) on Twitter.

The pics are completely casual — with the pair walking down the street side-by-side, Mendes’ hands tucked into the pockets of his jean jacket and Carpenter wearing an oversize black sweatsuit — but they follow rumors from gossip Instagram account deuxmoi that they’ve been quietly dating.

As some tweets have pointed out, Mendes and Carpenter have known each other and crossed paths in the industry for years, but the timing of the photos following the deuxmoi rumors and with both stars reportedly single after high-profile relationships, fans are having a field day.

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“If they are dating the Internet will be broken,” one fan tweeted alongside a series of mind-blown emojis. “WAKE UP ITS CONFIRMED,” another account tweeted in all-caps, referencing the rumors.

Mendes previously dated Camila Cabello for two-plus years before they announced their breakup in late 2021. “Hey guys, we’ve decided to end our romantic relationship but our love for one another as humans is stronger than ever,” read a joint statement on their Instagram Stories signed “Camila and Shawn.” “We started our relationship as best friends and will continue to be best friends. We so appreciate your support from the beginning and moving forward.”

Carpenter was previously linked to High School Musical: The Musical: The Series star Joshua Bassett. Dating speculation reached a fever pitch due to Olivia Rodrigo’s breakout hit “Drivers License” in early 2021 allegedly addressing Carpenter and Bassett’s relationship.

See all the fan reaction to the photos below:

27 Feb 2023

Nyla XO Crowned Samsung NXT 2.0 Winner During Star-Studded Grand Finale

Five months in the making and the Samsung NXT 2.0 competition came to an end, crowning Nyla XO as the winner of the social media driven singing competition. 

On Friday, February 17, finalists Nyla XO, Julian King and Kyn Rose took to the El Rey Theater in Los Angeles to face off against each other in front of a jam-packed crowd of attendees and celebrity judges Natti Natasha, Eric Nam and Tinashe. Billboard’s Tetris Kelly helped spearhead the evening, which was livestreamed for fans on Billboard.com and Billboard Twitter account.

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Wes and Alex

During the showdown, fans were treated to two rounds from the contestants: the Covers Round and Original Song Round. For the batch of performances, the trio nodded to their challenge creatives by putting their own spin on three Billboard Hot 100 hits: “Golden Hour” by JVKE (Nyla), “Kill Bill” by SZA (King) and “Bad Habit” by Steve Lacy (Rose). Each performance was preceded by the premiere of an intimate mentorship documentary that the contestants filmed with their celebrity mentor: Flo Milli (Nyla), Mariah Angeliq (King) and BIBI (Rose). After a cumulative vote from the judges, in-theater attendees using the Samsung Galazy Z Flip 4 at voting stations and a Twitter poll, Kyn was eliminated from the competition. From there, Nyla and King brought their best as individual acts, performing two original songs, “Perfect View” and “Can We Go Back?” respectively.

Wes and Alex

Wes and Alex

Wes and Alex

To help crown the winner, inaugural Samsung NXT champ Bronze Avery returned to the stage to help our host and the judges crown the NXT 2.0 winner. Using the same voting mechanism, Kelly pulled out Samsung’s newest Galaxy S23 Ultra to reveal Nyla as the victorious champ of the competition. And it wouldn’t be a grand finale event, without a celebratory selfie at the end of the end of the show.

“I feel so seen in this moment,”  Nyla said in a statement about her win. “I’ve walked away with the validation that people see me, the hard work I’ve put in over the years, my heart when I perform, and how my music makes them feel. To be recognized in this way as an artist is incredible!

Wes and Alex

Congratulations to Samsung NXT 2.0 winner Nyla XO, who is going to land on the cover of a special digital issue of Billboard, a meeting with a record label, funding for a music video, and tickets to the 2023 Billboard Music Awards.

27 Feb 2023

Mount Westmore “Motto,” Boosie Badazz “Black & Beautiful” & More | Daily Visuals 2.27.23

HipHopWired Featured Video

This generation of Hip-Hoppers may not appreciate the legends that paved the way for their favorite artists today, but we do and we’ll show love every chance we get cause that’s how we’re built.

That’s why we’re leading Daily Visuals with Mount Westmore’s black-and-white visuals to “Motto” which features icons Snoop Dogg, E-40, Ice Cube and Too $hort stylin’ and profilin’ with some thick young women who are young enough to be their granddaughters (no shots), while they show and prove they still got a lot of gas left in their pen game. Salute!

Back in the South, Boosie Badazz comes through with a positive message for a change and in his clip to “Black & Beautiful,” Boosie showcases some beautiful Black women and gives them their flowers as only he can as he tries to belt out melodies that makes Ja Rule sound like Luther Vandross. Just sayin.’

Check out the rest of today’s drops including work from YoungBoy Never Broke Again, G Perico and DJ Drama, and more.

MOUNT WESTMORE – “MOTTO”



BOOSIE BADAZZ – “BLACK & BEAUTIFUL”



YOUNGBOY NEVER BROKE AGAIN – “NEXT”



G PERICO & DJ DRAMA – “ASK G4”



MACK 10 – “KING OF CHEVYS”



KENTHEMAN – “NOT MY N*GGA”



PAYROLL GIOVANNI – “EX DEALER FLOW 2”



FINESSE2TYMES – “OUT OF STATE”



27 Feb 2023

J Balvin Gets Candid: Why He Took a Social Media Break & Plans of Making a Comeback

J Balvin’s most recent Instagram post is from September, when he’s all smiles at home with his baby boy Río, whom he had with his longtime partner, Argentine model Valentina Ferrer. The last single he released was the Ryan Castro-assisted “Nivel de Perreo” in June. 

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Though he’s been spotted at events such as Paris Fashion Week and the Super Bowl, there’s a reason why the Colombian artist has decided to take a break from social media and from making music.

“Really right now, I’ve been focused on my family,” he tells Billboard. “I left social media to be connected to my reality and to my family. That has taught me a lot. To live more in the present. Obviously, I miss my fans, but when the time is right, I’ll be back.” 

In spring 2022, Balvin postponed his 25-date José U.S. tour, which was scheduled to kick off April 19 in San Antonio, Texas, citing “unforeseen production challenges” due to COVID-19. That summer, he unveiled a seven-day “Niño Soñador” stint across South America, which made stops in Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Peru and Paraguay. In August, he performed the reggaeton-heavy “Noche de Perreo” at the MTV Video Music Awards, and in September, he dropped his latest sneakers, the Air Balvin Jordan 2. Not that long ago, he reclaimed his crown as the artist with the most videos in YouTube’s Billion Views Club (he now ties with Ozuna with 12 entries each). 

The year prior, the artist born José Álvaro Osorio Balvín captured his fourth No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart with his ultra-personal set José (Sueños Globales/Universal Music Latino/UMLE). But despite his recent achievements, Balvin is not quite ready for a comeback.

“I have made music to have a good time as always, but I don’t have a concept or an album to make yet,” he says. “But it’s because I want to have a clear, different and fresh concept. Possibly these days, the muse arrives and the concept comes to me, and from there, an album is born. It may be this year, it may be the next.” 

For the time being, Balvin, who helped propel the careers of artists such as Bad Bunny, Karol G, Rosalía and Feid, is excited about the new generation of Latin urban artists — most notably La Gabi, a young Dominican rapper he signed. 

“I am totally in love with what she does,” he says. “In the future, I would like to work with her, but I want her to work hard to earn her space [in the industry]. I really love what Blessd and Ryan Castro are doing with Colombian reggaeton too, but at this moment, La Gabi interests me a lot. I will continue to see what other new artists come out, because I love collaborating and elevating that.”

27 Feb 2023

Leslie Fram Reunites With Steve Barnes to Relaunch 99X Atlanta Morning Show

CMT/Paramount senior executive Leslie Fram will reunite with Steve Barnes as co-host of the relaunched 99X Atlanta morning show, now known as The Morning X With Barnes and Leslie. The radio broadcast had its original success via Atlanta’s alternative rock station from 1994 until 2003, and will now air from 6-10 a.m. ET each weekday.

Fram will also retain her role at CMT/Paramount.

In 1994, Brian Philips, now chief content officer at parent company Cumulus Media, paired Barnes and Leslie on the original Morning X With Barnes, Leslie and Jimmy (Baron). The show earned acclaim in the Atlanta market and beyond, while the team was named Billboard‘s national major market morning show in 1996, and Radio and Records’ national major market morning show in 1999.

In October 2022, the launch of the 99X “museum” website to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the station’s founding led to an outpouring of fan interest and passion. Cumulus Media acquired the station’s classic call letters and relaunched 99X WNNX in Atlanta in December. The station’s ratings doubled in its first month on the air. Barnes has hosted the revamped program since January.

The popular podcast The Pop Culture Show, which the duo founded at the onset of the pandemic, is now rebranded as The Morning X With Barnes & Leslie and joins the Cumulus Podcast Network. Episodes will release each weekday, featuring both new programming and classic material from the legendary radio show.

“This ‘new original 99X’ was destined to be — it is a passion project, a labor of love. None of us has ever stopped being friends, loving the same music, or laughing at the same jokes,” Philips said via a statement. “The audience demanded the return of the station via a social explosion of affection and nostalgia. Only in Atlanta could the will of the loyal 99X audience make the impossible happen. It’s unprecedented to be able to entirely rebuild a classic station with members of its original cast.”

“99X was my home for 17 years and will forever be in my DNA. Those years prepared me for my current role at CMT – understanding a loyal fanbase of music lovers who truly lead the way,” Fram added via a statement. “You only have to glance at the comments from 99X listeners reminiscing about their favorite music and memories to appreciate the role this radio station played in their lives. The Foo Fighters sang, ‘If everything could ever be this real forever, if anything could ever be this good again’ … and it turns out it can. I am psyched to be working with some of my lifelong friends and colleagues on 99X again and thankful to my Paramount/CMT family for letting me continue to put my rock hat on with Cumulus during my off hours.”

“It’s a thrill to come back ‘home’ to The Morning X and 99X,” added Barnes. “It’s mind blowing that the fans asked for our return to the Atlanta airwaves and Cumulus gave us the chance to put our team back together to rebuild this franchise.”

27 Feb 2023

‘Ted Lasso’ Season 3 Trailer Is Soundtracked by a Rolling Stones Classic: Watch

Ted Lasso is getting ready to come back to Apple TV+ next month, and a new trailer for the comedy-drama series is using a classic track by The Rolling Stones to drum up anticipation for its highly anticipated return.

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On Monday (Feb. 27), the season 3 trailer premiered set to the tune of The Stones’ 1969 classic “You Can’t Always Get What You Want.”

The trailer kicks off with AFC Richmond coach Ted Lasso, played by Jason Sudeikis, gearing up for a new football season. The coach, however, has a series of obstacles ahead this season, thanks to a few bumps in the road.

The official summary of the season, per Apple TV+, reveals that “AFC Richmond faces ridicule as media predictions widely peg them to finish last in the Premier League,” and to make matters worse, Nate (Nick Mohammed), a former Richmond assistant coach, is lending his skills to Rupert (Anthony Head) at West Ham United. As Lasso deals with his personal issues and life back home in the States, the outlook for Richmond appear to be bleak, but of course, “Team Lasso is set to give it their best shot anyway.”

“You Can’t Always Get What You Want” — included on The Rolling Stones’ 1969 album Let It Bleed — sets the tone for the trailer, and features Mick Jagger’s melancholy vocals, singing, “You can’t always get what you want/ But if you try sometime you’ll find/ You get what you need.” The track peaked at No. 42 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1973.

Watch the trailer for Ted Lasso season 3, premiering March 15 on Apple TV+, above.