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Miley Cyrus‘ ’Flowers‘ Just Broke Spotify’s One-Week Streaming Record

She can buy her own flowers and set her own records! Miley Cyrus broke the Spotify record for the most-streamed song in a single week on Thursday (Jan. 19) thanks to her latest hit “Flowers.”

After the streamer shared the news on its social channels, the superstar took to her own Instagram Stories and Twitter to react. “Thank you so much @Spotify and my amazing fans,” she wrote, using a red heart emoji to communicate her gratitude for all the support the song has received.

So far, the lead single off the upcoming Endless Summer Vacation has bowed at No. 1 on the ARIA Singles Chart in Australia and No. 2 on the U.K. Official Singles Chart. The song will make its official mark on the Billboard Hot 100 when the coming week’s charts are unveiled on Monday (Jan. 23), though Billboard readers already voted it as their favorite new release last week.

“Flowers” has also received a resounding stamp of approval from none other than Gloria Gaynor. “I’m in Nashville working on new music and just heard, ‘Flowers,’ for the first time @MileyCyrus,” the disco icon tweeted. “Your new song carries the torch of empowerment and encourages everyone to find strength in themselves to persevere and thrive. Well done Miley!”

In addition to flipping Bruno Mars’ 2014 single “If I Was Your Man” on its head, part of the song’s appeal comes from the litany of potential Easter eggs pointing to its narrative being about Cyrus’ relationship with ex-husband Liam Hemsworth, from her choosing to release the track on his 33rd birthday to a reference to the Woolsey Fire that burned down the couple’s Malibu home back in 2019 tucked into the lyrics.

Check out Spotify’s announcement of Miley’s new record and read her sweet reaction:

Queer Jams of the Week: New Music from Boygenius, Arlo Parks, Kim Petras & More

Has the weather got you feeling a little chilly? Let us help you warm up with some new tunes from your favorite queer artists. Billboard Pride is proud to present the latest edition of Queer Jams of the Week, our roundup of some of the best new music releases from LGBTQ artists.

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From Boygenius’s surprise return to Arlo Parks’ stunning new single, check out just a few of our favorite releases from this week below:

Boygenius, “$20,” “Emily I’m Sorry” & “True Blue”

When fans saw that Boygenius — a queer indie supergroup made up by Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker — would be a featured act at this year’s Coachella, whispers of a new album began materializing on social media. But nothing could have prepared fans for the release of three new singles, alongside an album announcement from the trio. Ahead of the long-awaited new set The Record, Boygenius returned with a Baker-led soft-punk anthem of resilience (“$20”), a Bridgers-led lovelorn apology to an ex (“Emily, I’m Sorry”), and a Dacus-led coming of age ballad (“True Blue”). Providing something for everyone with the promise of more to come, Boygenius made sure that their comeback was as triumphant as fans could’ve hoped.

Arlo Parks, “Weightless”

Ever since the release of Arlo Parks’ critically-lauded debut album Collapsed in Sunbeams, fans of the U.K. indie singer-songwriter have been waiting with bated breath for what comes next. This week, the singer delivered — alongside the announcement of the sophomore album My Soft Machine, Parks unveiled “Weightless,” a hypnotic, instantly thrilling new single off the project. Fans of Parks’ top-tier songwriting will be delighted to find it has only sharpened in the two years since Sunbeams; anyone eager to hear her sonic evolution will find themselves delightfully surprised by this chillwave, synth-pop dreamscape the singer has crafted around her. Put those together, and you have a song that magnificently reintroduces a must-listen artist to the world.

Kim Petras, “Brrr”

Time to dance, queers. Kim Petras is back at it again with “Brrr,” a hyperpop-infused pop track that sees Kim hopping back into the driver’s seat and begging her lover to prove why he thinks he’s “so cold.” With clattering production work from rising superstar ILYA, Petras sounds as good as fans would have hoped as she sings “You should pull me up closer/ Turn the heat up in your Rover/ Why don’t you take it out on me?”

Sam Smith, “Gloria”

With every new release off of their forthcoming album, Sam Smith has been giving fans a little taste of something new. With the album’s title song “Gloria,” Smith ditches the sweaty, club-ready jams that have come out of their last two singles, instead going for something soft and sweet. Joined by a full choir, this chorale of self-confidence sounds less like a pop song and more like a religious hymn to yourself, as Smith and their fellow voices resolve to “be yourself so loud tonight, they’ll hear you from the stars.” Glory to “Gloria.”

Kelela, “Contact”

With Kelela’s long-awaited new album Raven due out in a few short weeks, she wants to make sure that you’re ready for what’s coming. “Contact,” the latest single off the new project, simultaneously manages to hypnotize and fire up the listener all at once, as the pounding club beat plays perfectly off of Kelela’s sultry vocals. Things heat up quickly, as the songstress makes her intentions perfectly clear: “I’m floatin’ away, far and away/ You tryna stall and delay, but I wanna play.”

Mazie, “It’s Not Me (It’s U)”

There’s nothing worse than hearing your partner reach for the cop out when they try and end things, saying, “honestly, it’s not you! It’s me!” Turns out indie pop singer Mazie is sick of hearing it, too — on “It’s Not Me (It’s U),” the psychedelic singer dips even further into her hazy bedroom pop sound to tell her lover exactly where they can shove their fake humility. If you’re feeling a little bitter and need a song that’ll validate your anger, look no further.

Cub Sport, “Keep Me Safe”

Cub Sport has always thrived when it comes to front-facing, emotionally resonant indie pop songs. So it’s no surprise that their latest single, “Keep Me Safe,” is exactly what you want to hear from them and more. This tender, gorgeous love song immediately takes hold of your feelings with the opening chords, as a distorted voice sings about driving forever. By the time lead vocalist Tim Nelson comes in with a stirring story of forbidden romance, you’re already caught up in the song’s sonic web — and by the time it’s over, you’ll be reaching for the replay button.

Khai Dreams, “Panic Attack”

There’s something idiosyncratic about writing a song called “Panic Attack” and making it sound as calm and collected as Khai Dreams’ new single does — or at least that’s what you might think for the first few moments of the track. But as this delectable new single keeps chugging along, the production and the lyrics slowly pick up the pace, before eventually you find yourself in a chaotic chorus about bad dreams, irrational fears and intrusive thoughts — and you’re feeling exactly what Khai is talking about. “Panic Attack” won’t simulate the experience of a real-life bout with anxiety, but it will give you a fun and catchy insight into what’s flooding someone’s mind while it’s happening.

Check out all of our picks on Billboard’s Queer Jams of the Week playlist below:

First Country: New Music From HARDY, Dolly Parton, Chapel Hart, Jordan Davis & More

First Country is a compilation of the best new country songs, videos & albums that dropped this week.

HARDY, The Mockingbird & The Crow

HARDY, the reigning ACM songwriter of the year, has earned a reputation as one of Nashville’s top songsmiths, writing hits for everyone from Florida Georgia Line to Morgan Wallen, and leading the radio charts on songs like “One Beer.” His latest album, a half country/half rock project, out via Big Loud/Big Loud Rock, is a norm-busting, unbridled 17-track set that finds HARDY in full, centered possession of his musical range. His considerable country songcraft on tracks like “Happy” and “Wait in the Truck” crashes into the unrestrained grunge of “Sold Out” and “I Ain’t in the Country No More.” There’s no mistaking the artistic defiance in “Radio Song,” featuring Jeremy McKinnon, which punches back at industry restrictions (“Do this, do that/ That shirt, this hat/ Don’t forget to smile/Kiss the ring once in a while…Well f**k that and f**k you”). He wraps the album with the anthemic “The Redneck Song,” a country melody espousing trucks covered in mud, dip spit on a collar and Earnhardt shirts from Walmart, intertwined with a surging, arena-ready chorus.

Dolly Parton, “Don’t Make Me Have to Come Down There”

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A danceable melody pairs with Parton’s effervescent-yet-motherly vocals on the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer’s latest. The song details a dream Parton had, of seeing a higher power looking down on the world in despair, and seeking greater reconciliation, love and peace (“Why can’t you learn to listen and learn to love and share?”), even as the world rages with wars, pandemics, politics and hate. The song ends with a quirky chorus that builds Parton’s airy, angelic voice into its own circle of harmonies.

Jordan Davis, “No Time Soon”

Davis’ “Buy Dirt” (featuring Luke Bryan) won song of the year at the 2022 CMA Awards, and Davis sits atop Billboard‘s Country Airplay chart this week with “What My World Spins Around.” He turns up the heat on his latest, a sensuous song shot through with romantic fervor, as Davis’ voice builds with anticipation on lines like “My heart’s like a matchbook and your kiss is a fuse.” Davis’s upcoming album, Bluebird Days, will be released Feb. 17.

Mandi Sagal, “One Less Broken Heart”

“If you would’ve faced your demons in the dark/ This world would have one less broken heart,” Sagal states here, her tenderly bruised vocal soaring over acoustic guitar as she details the pills, smoke and whiskey her ex turned to instead of doing the hard work of healing. Instead, she’s the one spilling to strangers seated across from her and working through the relationship’s emotionally tattered aftermath, as she deadpans, “Guess I’m doing all the work you wouldn’t do.”

Chapel Hart, “Glory Days”

On the familial trio’s latest, “Glory Days” — written by the group’s sisters Danica and Devynn Hart and cousin Trea Swindle (along with songwriter Jim Beavers) — they return to the positivity and sass found on some of their earlier releases, along with their signature earthy, smooth harmonies. The new track chronicles the countless miles, concerts, rejections and breakthroughs they’ve faced on their journey to this point and showcases the spirited determination and gratitude for music that has taken them to stages including America’s Got Talent and the Grand Ole Opry.

Meghan Patrick, “She’s No Good for Me”

This swirling, peppy track bubbles with youthful energy, but draws listeners into Patrick’s space of self-examination and emotional evolution. Here, she looks back on the girl she used to be, grateful that her reality is no longer one of repeated heartbreaks and endless nights fueled by “Smoking Marlboro Lights, running up my tab again,” only to end up “passed out, makeup on, stained my pillow case.” Another strong outing from this Canada native, who has taken home multiple Canadian Country Music Association awards.

Caitlyn Smith, “Lately”

This lush piano ballad showcases Smith’s beguiling, peerless vocals, as she conveys the myriad ways she attempts to distract herself from thoughts of her absent lover. The song’s cozy, unhurried production only elevates the feelings of longing and loneliness the lyrics encapsulate. Smith is well-known as a top-shelf song crafter and engaging performer, and this song is yet another testament to her ineluctable talents. Smith’s High & Low album is due April 14.

Willie Nelson, “Busted”

On his upcoming album, I Don’t Know a Thing About Love, the legendary singer-songwriter honors another gifted writer, Harlan Howard, with performances of 10 Howard compositions — including this tale of a poor farmer fretting over various financial hardships, while still retaining hope. Written by Howard in 1962, the song has previously been recorded by Johnny Cash with the Carter Family, Ray Charles and John Conlee. Nelson himself has history with this song, having previously performed a live rendition of it with Charles, which was included on the 2005 duets project Genius & Friends. Here, on this solo rendition, his voice is spright and weathered at all the right moments, and right at home among this sparse, honky-tonk amalgam of guitars, harmonica and bluesy rhythms.

‘Outlander’: How to Watch & Stream the Series Without Cable

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There’s good news and bad news for Outlander fans. The hit series starring Caitríona Balfe and Sam Heughan has been renewed for an eighth and final season, Starz announced on Thursday (Jan. 19).

“For nearly a decade Outlander has won the hearts of audiences worldwide and we’re pleased to bring Claire and Jamie’s epic love story to a proper conclusion,” Kathryn Busby, president of original programming for Starz said, per Variety. “But before we close this chapter there is plenty of their passionate story to tell over the course of 26 new episodes and even more to explore of this dynamic world and its origin story. We’re thrilled to continue to partner with Matthew, Maril and Ronald and can’t wait to see where their alluring storytelling takes us next.”

P-VALLEY

‘P-Valley’ Is Back: Here Are All the Ways to Watch Season 2 from Any Device

Luckily, fans don’t have to say goodbye just yet. In addition to announcing the end of Outlander, Starz greenlit a 10-episode prequel series, Outlander: Blood of My Blood, which will center around Jamie’s (Heughan) parents.  

Outlander, which premiered in 2014, incorporates romance, science fiction and history into one series. The show follows the story of a fictional nurse named Claire Randall (Balfe) who — after ending her stint as a World War II British Army nurse — gets transported from the year 1945 back in time to 1743 Scotland. After being forced to marry Scottish warrior, Jamie Frasier (Heughan), Claire’s heart gets torn between two men with vastly different lives.

The cast of Outlander includes Sophie Skelton, Richard Rankin, Caitlyn O’Ryan, Simon R. Baker, Mark Lewis Jones and Glen Gould.

Season 6 premiered on Starz in March 2022 after being delayed for two years because of the pandemic. Season 7 will premiere this summer with 16 episodes and will feature returning characters along with new additions to the cast.

How to Watch Outlander on Starz

Want to catch up on Outlander? Stream the series online with this limited deal from Starz. Right now, new and returning subscribers can join for just $5 for the first month. That means you can binge watch Outlander and tons of other shows and movies for less than what you would normally pay for lunch.

Starz Subscription

$5 for 1 month

For those who already have cable, satellite or TV via internet provider, Starz is available on Prime Video, Sling, Direct TV and DirectTV Stream, AT&T, Verizon Fios, Cox, Spectrum, Hulu, Xfinity, Dish and more. See a full list of partnered providers here.  

What time does Outlander usually come on TV? New episodes typically air on Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on Starz and drop at midnight on the Starz app.

With the Starz app, viewers can binge watch previous seasons along with the upcoming season when it arrives this summer. And you can stream from your TV, smart phone or another compatible device via the Starz app (use ExpressVPN to watch Starz internationally). After the promo deal ends, Starz will cost $8.99 a month and you can cancel anytime.

How to Get a Free Trial to Starz

Looking for a free trial? Your best bet is to go through another provider such as Hulu, Prime Video or YouTube TV. Find discount deals on sites like Groupon and check with cable or streaming providers to see if they offer free previews of Starz.  

Starz features a selection of original shows and limited series such as Gaslit, Shinning Vale, P-Valley, BMF, High Town, Heels, Blindspotting, The Spanish Princess, The Serpent Queen, Power Book II: Ghost, Power Book III: Raising Kanan and Power Book IV: Force.

Watch a teaser for Outlander Season 7 below.

Selena Gomez Shoots Down The Chainsmokers‘ Drew Taggart Dating Rumors: ’I Like Being Alone Too Much’

You might not want to start workshopping ship name combos for Selena Gomez and Drew Taggart (Drewlena? Gogart?) just yet. A couple days after rumors began to swirl that the Only Murders in the Building star was dating the Chainsmokers musician, Gomez took to her Instagram Stories to set the record straight.

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“I LIKE BEING ALONE TOO MUCH,” she wrote Thursday (Jan. 19), according to Entertainment Tonight. “#iamsingle.” The 30-year-old “Rare” singer had written the message over a black and white hilltop nature landscape, though she reportedly deleted the post quickly after uploading it.

Before Gomez shut it down, speculation over her possible courtship with the “Closer” musician had started making rounds a few days prior, when the pair was spotted bowling together in New York City. Photos of the bowling alley hangout were published on Page Six, which reported that the two had been seen “making out” and interacting with fans.

The dating rumors were ill-timed, however, as they surged just days after Taggart and his Chainsmokers bandmate Alex Pall raised eyebrows with a revelation that they had joined in on threesomes together in the early days of their career. “They were never planned,” Pall recalled of those days on Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy podcast.

“It was also the days when we used to have to share hotel rooms,” he continued. “In Europe they have the two beds, they don’t even split them apart … so it’s almost by force that we were forced into these scenarios.”

Though she may not be dating anyone at the moment, it’s not like Gomez doesn’t have anything going on right now — she’s started working on season three of Only Murders and recently teased that her new album is in the works.

Inside the Wide-Open 2023 Grammy Race for Best Musical Theater Album

Unlike seven years ago, when Hamilton’s Grammy win for best musical theater album was a foregone conclusion, this year’s contest appears to be wide-open.

The award could go to the cast album from the latest revival of one of Stephen Sondheim’s most beloved musicals, or to the album from a musical that celebrates the legacy of pop legend Michael Jackson or to the album from a show (A Strange Loop) that has already won a Pulitzer Prize and two Tony Awards, including best musical.

The Grammys have presented an award for best musical theater album every year since they started in 1959 (though the name of the category has changed over the years). This year, 42 albums were entered and eligible in the category, from which six were nominated.

Four of the nominated cast albums are from newly-produced shows – MJ: The Musical, Mr. Saturday Night, Six and A Strange Loop. The other two are from revivals – Into the Woods, which first opened on Broadway in 1987, Caroline, or Change, which first opened on Broadway in 2004.

Voters in this category are asked to focus on the cast album, not their memories of the show. (The Rules and Guidelines handbook for the 65th Annual Grammy Awards states: “This award honors excellence in the performances(s) in and production of musical theater recordings. Elements of the corresponding stage production should not be considered in evaluating the recording.”) 

The award is presented to the principal vocalist(s) and to the album producer(s) of 50% or more of the playing time on the album. The lyricist(s) and composer(s) of 50% or more of a score of a new recording are eligible if no previous recording of said score has been nominated in this category. Caroline, or Change had not previously been nominated in this category, so its composer, Jeanine Tesori, and lyricist, Tony Kushner, are eligible. Into the Woods had been, so its composer/lyricist, Sondheim, is not. 

A few category quirks: Recordings of revues that reflect a dramatic theme are eligible, but benefit/tribute concerts featuring performances of various musical show songs are not. Non-musical theater performance albums are likewise not eligible.

Let’s take a closer look at the six nominees:

Rebecca Milzoff and Keith Caulfield assisted in preparing this list.

Here’s Fall Out Boy’s Plan to Fill Guitarist Joe Trohman’s Slot During His Break: Exclusive

As Fall Out Boy gear up to promote their upcoming eighth studio album, So Much (For) Stardust (March 24), the veteran emo rockers are down one crucial member. Following this week’s announcement that co-founding guitarist Joe Trohman is taking an indefinite hiatus due to mental health issues, the group performed as a power trio.

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During Wednesday night’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! appearance to play the album’s first single, the supercharged “Love From the Other Side,” singer Patrick Stump played electric guitar alongside bassist Pete Wentz and drummer Andy Hurley, with Trohman’s bouncy, high-energy presence noticeably missing; the band has played without Trohman on stage before when the guitarist suffered a back injury. Though no tour dates have been announced yet for the band’s Stardust era, a source close to FOB tells Billboard that there is tentative plan in place to deal with Trohman’s absence.

As of now, the source says that Trohman’s longtime guitar tech will be “filling in and providing support” for any promotional appearances and any yet-to-be-determined future tour dates. In fact, the tech has already appeared with FOB whether you realized it or not, playing some of Trohman’s parts offstage during recent promo gigs.

Trohman plays on the new album but will not participate in promotion around the project. The guitarist has been with the band since its early 2000s formation in the suburbs of Chicago, alongside singer Stump, Wentz and Hurley. In an Instagram post on Wednesday he said, “Without divulging all the details, I must disclose that my mental health has rapidly deteriorated over the past several years. So, to avoid fading away and never returning, I will be taking a break from work which regrettably includes stepping away from Fall Out Boy for a spell.” 

As for whether he plans to return, the 38-year-old guitarist said, “Absolutely, one-hundred percent. In the meantime, I must recover which means putting myself and my mental health first.”

‘Women, Power, Freedom’: Hear a New Electronic Compilation From 12 Iranian Female Producers

Since Iranian uprisings against the country’s oppressive regime began last fall, one silver living is that the music of Iranian artists is being noticed and listened to by a global audience.

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Two of these artists, producers AIDA and Nesa Azadikhah, have curated Woman, Life, Freedom, a 12-song compilation of original electronic music from female Iranian artists released on Friday (Jan. 20) via Apranik Records, founded in 2022 as a response to the protests.

“Woman, Life, Freedom” is the slogan for this movement, which began upon the murder of 22-year-old Iranian woman, Mahsa Amini, by the country’s morality police on Sep. 16, 2022. The global outpouring from around the globe in the wake of these protests have has found its way into all art forms, with music arguably at the forefront.

The Islamic Republic of Iran’s punishment of its people through imprisonment, sentences and executions — including that of high-profile individuals such as rapper Toomaj Salehi — is motivating artists to create. Featuring female Iranian producers TK SarrSew, MENTRIX and Sharona Lico as well as AIDA and Azadikhah, Woman, Life, Freedom ranges in style from electro to breaks to techno, ambient and experimental. The tracks are bold and unapologetic, with topics and inspiration wholly tied to the current situation in Iran.

AIDA and Azadikhah represent the far ends of the Iranian population spectrum. AIDA is an Iranian producer living abroad, with her international perspective and strong roots to her ancestral country both reflected in her music. A DJ/producer who’s equally skilled in playing traditional Iranian instruments, Azadikhah lives in the capital city of Tehran, creating within the confines of a regime which believes in the silencing of women, particularly in song.

“The theme of this collection is power, defiance, and ferocity and can be heard across all of the tracks,” AIDA and Azadikhah share in a statement. “This is the energy with which Iranian women continue to push for freedom. We dream of a future where women and girls can openly and safely practice, grow, and shine within arts, especially electronic music.”

Proceeds from the not-for-profit compilation will benefit charities aimed at helping women who are struggling in Iran. The first of these Iran-based organizations specifically aids women and children recovering from domestic violence, addiction, homelessness and societal distress.

Listen to and purchase Woman, Life, Freedom via Bandcamp.

Suspects Arrested For Teen Beaten Unconscious For His Air Jordan 1s

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Two weeks ago, a 16-year-old in Harlem was beaten unconscious by a group of teens and robbed of his Air Jordan 1 “Lost and Found” sneakers, and now police are saying they’ve nabbed two suspects in connection with the assault and robbery.

The New York Daily News is reporting that Dijon Sellers, 18, and a 14-year-old suspect whose name was not released due to him being a minor were taken into custody Wednesday (Jan. 18) after police received a tip about their involvement in the Jan. 7 jux. After being booked, both Sellers and the minor were hit with robbery and gang assault charges.

The victim was standing in front of a McDonald’s on Broadway near W. 145th St. when a crew of muggers ran up and jumped him about 9:15 p.m., police said.

He was punched and kicked unconscious before the attackers ran off with the sneakers off his feet, police said.

The victim was taken by medics to Harlem Hospital, where he was treated and released.

The assault was the talk of the sneaker community as the Air Jordan 1s taken are one of the most highly coveted sneakers out on the streets today. Question is, who amongst the crew that perpetrated the assault is going to be the one taking the sneakers home? How’d they know they’d even fit any of them? Were they going to resell them? What exactly was the thought process before they decided to risk their freedom for a single pair of sneakers?

None of the suspects arrested have any priors, but don’t be surprised if names get named after this is all said and done because once kids start looking at jail time over something like this, fear begins to set in and lips begin to loosen. Just sayin.’