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31 Jan 2023

The Kid LAROI to Embark on ‘Bleed For You’ College Tour: See the Dates

The Kid LAROI is going to college…kind of. On Tuesday (Jan. 31), the 19-year-old pop star announced that he will be hitting the road in 2023, with plans to make stops at university towns across the United States this spring.

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The Bleed For You Tour kicks off March 22 in Syracuse, N.Y. — home of Syracuse University — before paving through venues on the East Coast, the Midwest and the South. Two dates in April are marked off for LAROI’s Coachella sets at this year’s festival, followed by stops in Idaho, Colorado, Oklahoma and Missouri before closing out in Champaign, Ill.– home of the University of Illinois.

“We leveled up this time and I can’t wait for you too [sic] see what we’ve been working on,” LAROI wrote on Instagram in a post that featured the official tour poster for the trek.

The trek comes on the heels of the “Stay” singer’s first headlining tour, last year’s sold out End of the World Tour. He’ll perform tracks from his Billboard 200 No. 1 mixtape F*ck Love along with newly released songs from The First Time, his upcoming debut album.

Just four days prior to the tour announcement, the Grammy nominee dropped a new single titled “Love Again,” along with a corresponding music video. Before that came “I Can’t Go Back to the Way It Was (Intro),” the first taste fans got of The First Time.

Tickets for The Kid LAROI’s Bleed For You Tour will go on sale at 12 p.m. local time on Friday, Feb. 3, available for purchase on LAROI’s website. 

See the full list of dates, as well as LAROI’s tour announcement, below.

BLEED FOR YOU 2023 TOUR DATES

  • 3/22 – Syracuse, NY – Oncenter War Memorial
  • 3/24 – Kingston, RI – Ryan Center*
  • 3/25 – Bangor, ME – Cross Insurance Arena*
  • 3/27 – State College, PA – Bryce Jordan Center
  • 3/28 – Columbus, OH – Schottenstein Center
  • 3/29 – Ypsilanti, MI – EMU George Gervin GameAbove Center
  • 3/31 – Lexington, KY – Rupp Arena*
  • 4/1 – Charlottesville, VA – John Paul Jones Arena
  • 4/2 – Columbia, SC – Colonial Life Arena
  • 4/4 – Tallahassee, FL – Donald L Tucker Civic Center
  • 4/5 – Knoxville, TN – Thompson-Boling Arena
  • 4/7 – Madison, WI – Alliant Energy Center
  • 4/8 – Coralville, IA – Xtream Arena
  • 4/15 – Indio, CA – Coachella*
  • 4/22 – Indio, CA – Coachella*
  • 4/26 – Boise, ID – Extra Mile Arena
  • 4/28 – Loveland, CO – Budweiser Events Center
  • 4/30 – Oklahoma City, OK – Paycom Center
  • 5/2 – Springfield, MO – Great Southern Bank Arena
  • 5/3 – Champaign, IL – State Farm Center
  • *Not an Outback Presents show

31 Jan 2023

Dierks Bentley to Perform Pre-Race Concert at Daytona 500

Dierks Bentley will rally the crowd with a headlining set prior to the 65th Daytona 500 race on Feb. 19 at Daytona International Speedway.

“I’m ready to get back to Daytona with all the biggest NASCAR fans,” 14-time Grammy nominee Bentley said via a press release. “The energy there is unmatched and I know we will have a blast getting them ready for the race.”

Bentley has history with Daytona, previously performing at the 2011 Daytona 500 and during Speedweeks in 2009. He also played prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway in 2021.

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“We’re honored to welcome Dierks back to the World Center of Racing,” Daytona International Speedway president Frank Kelleher said via a statement. “Having an entertainer who knows how to start a party, preforming at the 65th DAYTONA 500 and kicking off NASCAR’s 75th anniversary season, is a combination fit for a fantastic Sunday.”

The concert will take place on pit road, and will be visible from the grandstands, but fans with a UNOH Fanzone Pass can watch Bentley’s set up close. A special VIP add-on is available for fans who want an exclusive view of the concert in an area next to the stage. The Fanzone Pass also grants access to driver and VIP appearances, a look into the NASCAR Cup Series garages, up-close access to driver introductions and more.

Bentley is also gearing up for the release of his 10th album, Gravel & Gold, on Feb. 24. The album includes his recent release, “High Note,” a collaboration with bluegrass-centric musicians including Billy Strings.

31 Jan 2023

Feid, Grupo Firme, Wisin y Yandel & Nicky Jam to Headline Sueños 2023

The lineup for the second edition of Sueños Music Festival was revealed on Tuesday (Jan. 31), featuring headliners Wisin y Yandel, Grupo Firme, Feid, and Nicky Jam, who will grace the stage on the weekend of May 27 and 28 in Chicago’s Grant Park.

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The exclusively all-Latin music festival — which highlights regional Mexican and urbano powerhouse performers in the same roster — will also host reggaeton icon Ivy Queen, as well as Becky G, Eladio Carrion, Chencho Corleone, Junior H, Gera MX, Ryan Castro, Young Miko, Pao Pao and more.

In March, Ivy Queen will be honored with the Icon award at Billboard’s Women in Music. 

From the founders of Mexico’s Baja Beach Fest, Sueños made its debut in 2022 with headlining acts J Balvin, Ozuna, and Farruko. Returning acts include Puerto Rican rapper Myke Towers, Dominican dembow purveyor El Alfa, as well as reggaeton pioneers Wisin y Yandel who will be headlining for a second year in a row. 

“We’re thrilled to be coming back to Chicago for our second annual Sueños festival,” Aaron Ampudia and Chris Den Uijl, co-founders of Sueños, told Billboard Español in an email. “Last year was such a moment, you could feel the energy and excitement from fans no matter where you were at in the festival. It just felt like we were meant to be there, celebrating Latin music and culture with Chicago’s thriving Latino community – and this year we’re bringing even more.”

Wisin y Yandel kicked off their farewell tour La Última Misión last year, while showcasing their latest 2022 album of the same name. In December, the dynamic duo broke their own record at Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot (a.k.a. El Choli) with a series of 14 homecoming shows, which included a New Year’s Eve performance, the first time ever the iconic venue held a show on said date. 

Colombian rapper-songwriter Feid, who entered the Billboard 200 chart in October for his successful (and leaked!) LP Feliz Cumpleaños Ferxxo: Te Pirateamos el Álbum, is poised to make an impact in 2023. Late last year, Feid embarked on his first headlining U.S. tour, produced by Live Nation, selling out numerous dates.

The Mexican band Grupo Firme, who has been elevating norteña music to higher grounds, made a splash at last summer at Baja Beach Fest in Rosarito when the group surprised audiences with its performance of “Cada Quien” alongside Medellín superstar Maluma.

“We can’t wait to see what Grupo Firme, Wisin Y Yandel, Feid, Nicky Jam and all the phenomenal artists on the lineup bring to the Sueños stage this Memorial Day Weekend!” added the founders.

Early access tickets go on sale Feb. 2. For more info, visit SuenosMusicFestival.com.

31 Jan 2023

Tori Amos Embarking on Ocean to Ocean 2023 U.S. Summer Tour

Tori Amos is coming to your town. The singer announced her 2023 Ocean to Ocean U.S. summer tour on Tuesday (Jan. 31), titled in honor of her 2021 album of the same name. The 28-date swing is slated to kick off on June 17 at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach, Florida and hit New Orleans, Atlanta, Nashville, New York, Boston, Indianapolis, St. Louis, Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco before winding down at an as-yet-unannounced venue in Seattle, Washington on July 28.

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“I am truly excited to be coming back to the U.S. on the Ocean to Ocean Tour this summer with my amazing bandmates [bassist] Jon Evans and [drummer] Ash Soan,” the singer said in a statement. “We are so looking forward to playing iconic venues once again such as The Greek in LA, Red Rocks and especially Wolf Trap, where I saw so many shows growing up in neighboring Maryland.”

Ocean to Ocean, Amos’ 16th album, debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard current alternative albums chart; click here for ticketing information for the tour. Amos recently released the graphic novel Little Earthquakes: The Graphic Album in celebration of the 30th anniversary of her breakthrough 1992 debut studio album; the collection features 24 stories inspired by the album’s 12 tracks and the 12 b-sides that accompanied the album.

Tori Amos 2023 U.S. Ocean to Ocean summer tour dates:

June 17 — West Palm Beach, FL @ Kravis Center
June 18 — Clearwater, FL @ Ruth Eckerd Hall
June 20 — New Orleans, LA @ Mahalia Jackson Theater
June 22 — Birmingham, AL @ Alabama Theatre
June 23 — Atlanta, GA @ Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
June 24 — Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium
June 26 — Charlotte, NC @ Ovens Auditorium
June 28 — New York City, NY @ Beacon Theatre
June 29 — New York City, NY @ Beacon Theatre
July 1 — Boston, MA @ Leader Bank Pavilion
July 2 — Red Bank, NJ @ Count Basie Center for the Arts
July 5 — Vienna, VA @ Filene Center at Wolf Trap
July 6 — Hershey, PA @ Hershey Theatre
July 8 — Lewiston, NY @ Artpark Mainstage Theater
July 9 — Rochester Hills, MI @ Meadow Brook Amphitheatre
July 11 — Indianapolis, IN @ Murat Theatre at Old National Centre
July 12 — Louisville, KY @ The Louisville Palace
July 14 — St. Louis, MO @ Stifel Theatre
July 15 — Omaha, NE @ Orpheum Theater
July 17 — Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre
July 18 — Albuquerque, NM @ Kiva Auditorium
July 19 — Mesa, AZ @ Mesa Arts Center
July 21 — Los Angeles, CA @ Greek Theatre
July 22 — Paso Robles, CA @ Vina Robles Amphitheatre
July 23 — San Diego @ Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay
July 25 — Saratoga, CA @ Mountain Winery
July 26 — San Francisco, CA @ The Masonic
July 28 — Seattle, WA @ TBD
 

31 Jan 2023

Quevedo Earns His First Top 10 on a Billboard Albums Chart With ‘Donde Quiero Estar’

Quevedo drives his Spanish rap to Billboard Latin charts as his maiden studio album, Donde Quiero Estar (which translates to Where I Want to Be) starts at No. 9 on the Latin Rhythm Albums chart and at No. 12 on Top Latin Albums chart (dated Feb. 4). The 16-track set becomes his first entry on any albums chart.

Donde Quiero Estar was released Jan. 20 via Taste the Floor Records, and begins with more than 5,000 equivalent album units earned in the U.S. after its first tracking week ending in Jan. 26, according to Luminate. As mentioned, the album’s arrival gives Quevedo his first top 10 on any albums chart, with its No. 9 start on Latin Rhythm Albums.

As with most Latin rhythmic albums, most of the set’s opening sum derives from streaming activity. The set’s songs generated 7.3 million on-demand official streams in the tracking week.

On both Top Latin Albums and Latin Rhythm Albums, each unit equals one album sale, or 10 individual tracks sold from an album, or 3,750 ad-supported or 1,250 paid/subscription on-demand official audio and video streams generated by songs from an album.

The album’s top 10 debut is another achievement for the Spaniard, who broke through in 2022 with the No. 1 global hit “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 52” with Bizarrap. The track concurrently earned both artists their first top 10 on the multimetric Hot Latin Songs charts (a blend of airplay, digital sales, and streaming data) last November, and on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 (August 2022).

Donde Quiero Estar includes collaborations with Myke Towers, Ovy on the Drums, and others, including a spoken intro by Spanish rapper Cruz Cafuné.

Quevedo’s debut album was preceded by three songs on the global charts. On the Billboard Global 200, “Punto G” ascends 72-66, “Playa del Inglés,” with Myke Towers, soars 170-120, while “Vista al Mar” peaked at No. 114 last Oct. (rebounds 198-136 on the current chart). Meanwhile, over on Billboard Global Excl. U.S., “Punto G” rises 40-33, “Vista” climbs 116-76, while “Playa” rallies 107-77. Plus, “Ahora Qué” also debuts at No. 122 on the latter.

Elsewhere, Donde Quiero Estar bows at No. 12 on Top Latin Albums, also Quevedo’s first appearance there.

31 Jan 2023

Taylor Swift Drops Eras Merch Collection Ahead of Her Tour

She wants your Midnights and and every era that came before it! On Monday (Jan. 30), Taylor Swift unveiled her latest merch collection in honor of all 10 of her album eras.

The latest Eras drop includes sweatshirts, T-shirts, hoodies and crewnecks emblazoned with the superstar’s name and illustrated versions of her from every album cycle from her 2006 self-titled debut and 2008’s Fearless to 2020 sister albums Folklore and Evermore and her latest smash studio set featuring “Anti-Hero” and “Bejeweled.” (The miniature Taylors also come in packs of car decals and temporary tattoos.)

“Your #TSTheErasTour look has arrived at store.taylorswift.com! Shop your new favorite #TSErasCollection styles for 72 HOURS or while supplies last,” the official Taylor Nation social accounts shred alongside previews of the clothing. This is the second time Swift has updated the fan-favorite design, which she first released after surprising the world with Folklore at the height of the pandemic.

Naturally, Swifties flooded the comments of the Instagram post with excitement, with one suggesting, “WE NEED AN ERAS CARDIGAN” and another writing, “This feels like the right era to get ERAS merch in but what is the ERAS TOUR merch gonna look like ?!??! oh god.” Another poor Swiftie had a more pressing purchase in mind, though, commenting, “Listen I’m just trying to get tickets to the tour.”

The merch primed for Taylor’s upcoming The Eras Tour arrives just days after the 11-time Grammy winner premiered the music video for her latest Midnights single, “Lavender Haze.”

Check out Swift’s new Eras merch drop below.

31 Jan 2023

Boygenius, Steve Lacy & LCD Soundsystem to Headline New Re:SET Outdoor Concert Series

Attention, music lovers: Get ready for a brand new approach to the summer festival season. As announced Tuesday (Jan. 31), AEG is bringing fans an all-new concept for live music with an artist-curated concert series dubbed Re:SET, featuring headliners Boygenius, Steve Lacy and LCD Soundsystem.

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The idea behind Re:SET was to offer an artist- and fan-friendly alternative to the standard summer live music scene. Each of the three headliners have personally curated a lineup of supporting acts that will perform full sets on the same day as their respective main acts, all on the same stage. Supporting acts for Boygenius include Clairo, Dijon and Bartees Strange; Steve Lacy will be assisted by James Blake, Toro Y Moi and Fousheé; and LCD Soundsystem will share the stage with James XX, Idles, Big Freedia and L’Rain.

“The concept provides artists a respite from the cookie-cutter summer itinerary of sheds and amphitheaters, while fans get a leisurely day that features full sets from every artist, on one stage with no conflicts,” reads a release for the event.

The series will take place over the course of four weekends in June. Each concert day will see three mini-festivals (one for each headliner and their respective supporting acts) happening simultaneously across three host cities in the same region. The three headliners will rotate through each of the region’s host cities on consecutive days each weekend, meaning fans in all 12 cities — Atlanta, Bay Area, Boston, Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, L.A., Nashville, New Orleans, New York, San Diego and Washington, D.C. — will have the chance to see every artist on the lineup.

Re:SET also promises to provide a unique, community-focused experience for fans who attend, with each venue set to feature food and drinks from local restaurants, bars and breweries. “We challenged ourselves to conceive an event that would give both the artists and the fans a different experience,” said Gary Gersh, president of global touring and talent at AEG Presents, in a statement.

“At the end of the day, they both want the same thing: great locations, incredible sound, fantastic sightlines, and the best local options for food and drinks. Re:SET is a very fairly priced, artist-driven weekend where you can hang with friends and enjoy an evening of amazing music.”

Fans can register now the ticket presale, which will begins Tuesday, Feb. 7, and runs through Thursday, Feb. 9. Public onsale starts Friday, Feb. 10, at 10 a.m. local time. To sign up for the presale, visit the registration page for the concert series.

To see all the concert dates or to find more information, visit Re:SET’s website. See the trailer posted by Boygenius below:

31 Jan 2023

Bravo Drops First Trailer for ‘SWV & Xscape: The Queens of R&B’

Comin’ at ‘cha! Bravo unveiled the first look at its upcoming series SWV & Xscape: The Queens of R&B on Tuesday (Jan. 31), and Billboard has the supertease below.

Premiering March 5 at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT on Bravo, the six-episode limited series will follow rival ’90s girl groups Xscape and SWV as they join forces and gear up for a special one-night-only concert event. A release promises that the two acts will “take viewers on the ultimate fan experience to explore the inner workings of putting on a live concert performance and expose the discord and complex dynamics of sisterhood within singing groups.”

According to the explosive two-and-a-half-minute preview (watch below), tensions are high among the seven women as they navigate who will be considered the “headliners” of the night and old dramas over money and family feuds boil over.

The Queens of R&B will be Xscape’s second foray into the Bravoverse following 2017’s Xscape: Still Kickin’ It, which itself was greenlit on the network thanks to Kandi Burruss’ fame as the reigning veteran on The Real Housewives of Atlanta. That four-episode series documented the Hummin’ Comin’ at ‘Cha quartet — which also includes Tameka “Tiny” Cottle (wife of T.I.) and sisters LaTocha Scott-Bivens and Tamika Scott — reuniting for the first time in more than a decade to perform at both the 2017 BET Awards and Essence Festival.

In 2021, Xscape and SWV faced off in a Mother’s Day Verzuz battle with help from resident MCs DJ Spinderella and DJ AOne. (Ultimately, Cheryl “Coko” Gamble, Tamara “Taj” George and Leanne “Lelee” Lyons won out over their R&B contemporaries by a margin of 13 to 11.) Most recently, Burruss and co. were honored with the Lady of Soul Award at the 2022 Soul Train Awards.

On the Billboard charts, both girl groups have made their mark, with Xscape scoring six top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, while SWV scored four top 10s, including two-week No. 1 “Weak” in 1993.

Watch the trailer for SWV & Xscape: The Queens of R&B and check out the former’s official cast photo below.

SWV

SWV

Kristen Sard

31 Jan 2023

Lil Wayne Plots Welcome to Tha Carter North American Tour: Here Are the Dates

Weezy is coming to a city near you in 2023. Lil Wayne announced on Tuesday (Jan. 31) that he will be embarking on the Welcome to Tha Carter tour, which will see him travel across 28 cities in North America in early spring.

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Presented by Young Money and Rolling Loud, the tour will see the “A Milli” rapper kicking off the tour on April 4 at The Fillmore in Minneapolis. The trek will include stops in Boston, New York, Atlanta, Toronto and Detroit before concluding on May 13 at The Wiltern in Los Angeles.

Tickets for the Welcome to Tha Carter Tour will go on sale Friday, Feb. 3, via Ticketmaster. A series of pre-sales are also available: an artist pre-sale, in addition to an Official Platinum pre-sale, will make tickets available starting on Tuesday at 12 p.m. ET and ending on Thursday, Feb. 2, at 10 p.m. ET. Live Nation and Ticketmaster pre-sales start on Wednesday, Feb. 1, at 10 a.m. local time, and also concludes on Thursday, Feb. 2, at 10 p.m. ET.

See the full list of tour dates, as well as Wayne’s announcement, below.

31 Jan 2023

Jake Basden Named President of Sandbox Entertainment

Music public relations veteran Jake Basden has been named president at the Jason Owen-led Sandbox Entertainment Group. The news was first reported by Variety.

In his new role, Basden will champion a roster of artists that includes Kacey Musgraves, Kelsea Ballerini, Little Big Town, Midland, Faith Hill, Dan+Shay and actress-singer Kate Hudson. He will also work with Sandbox’s various media and entertainment entities, including the Broadway musical Shucked, which premieres this spring.

“Jake is the sort of star executive who recognizes this is not a business of boxes and lanes,” said Owen, Sandbox founder and CEO, via a statement. “He is beloved by all and brings elevation to everything he touches. From conceptualizing events to executing campaigns, there’s no one [else] whose vision can see a project from conception through to not just success, but the highest awards recognition for whatever arena they’re in. Sandbox’s incredible team was formed as an entertainment firm whether it meant movies, television, touring or career direction. Jake excels in all of those spaces.”

“There is so much more to a successful launch, whether it’s an artist’s project, a Broadway show or long-term development,” Basden added via a statement. “Perception can define reality, but you have to back it up with solid strategy and execution. The opportunity Jason has provided allows me to both stretch and take topflight people, TV and motion picture platforms to new places. That thrills me because I believe that marketing done as a well-thought-out strategy yields exponential returns. The Sandbox team is comprised of the highest caliber executives whom I have long admired, and I am grateful for the opportunity to join them.”

Basden previously spent 12 years spearheading publicity efforts at Big Machine Label Group, championing artists including Thomas Rhett, Tim McGraw, Lady A, Glen Campbell and former Big Machine artist Taylor Swift. Basden was named senior vp of global communication for BMLG in 2017. He announced his departure from the label group earlier this month.

Basden, a University of Oklahoma graduate, joined Big Machine from the New York offices of public relations firm Edelman, where he served as a director in their sports and entertainment division. Basden’s career accolades to date include being named Country Music Association (CMA) publicist of the year. He was also named PRWeek‘s Young PR Professional of the Year, and was honored as one of the magazine’s “40 Under 40” in 2019.