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As the 2022 People’s Choice Awards reached its climax on Tuesday night (Dec. 6), Lizzo was named People’s Champion. With her acceptance speech, she proved just how deserving she is.
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The Detroit singer and rapper snagged a brace of trophies on the night, including song of the year for “About Damn Time,” which led the Billboard Hot 100 chart for two weeks in July and August. But it was her People’s Champion honor, and her inclusive comments that followed, that are resonating on social channels and with those who caught it.
“Imma be honest, when I first heard about this award, I was on the fence about whether I should accept,” she comments. “Because, if I’m the people’s champ, I don’t need a trophy for championing people. You know what I’m saying?”
Speaking without the benefit of notes, Lizzo remarked, “I’m here tonight, because to be an icon isn’t about how long you’ve had your platform. Being an icon is what you do with that platform. And ever since the beginning of my career I’ve used my platform to amplify marginalized voices.”
So, tonight, she continues, “I am sharing this honor. Make some noise for the people, y’all. These are all activists and people that I think deserve the spotlight.”
And with that, Lizzo urged the audience to raise to roof as she introduced to the stage a collection of human rights advocates, freedom fighters, artists, walking inspirations, each of whom she identified.
In the moment, Lizzo blasted the “senseless and despicable gun violence that has become far too common,” and called for organizers and onlookers to give the activists “their flowers.”
Lizzo concludes: “Power will always be to the people. Thank you so much People’s Choice. Follow them, follow them and support them.”
During the show, Taylor Swift won three awards – the female artist of 2022, the music video of 2022 (“Anti-Hero”) and the album of 2022 (Midnights, which has topped the Billboard 200 in five of its first six weeks).
BTS and Selena Gomez were among the multiple honorees at the ceremony, presented at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif. Kenan Thompson hosted the show, which aired on NBC and E!
Watch Lizzo’s speech in full below.
Taylor Swift, BTS, Lizzo, Selena Gomez and actress Elizabeth Olsen each won multiple awards at the 2022 People’s Choice Awards, which were presented Tuesday (Dec. 6) at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif. Kenan Thompson hosted the show, which aired on both NBC and E!
Swift won three awards – the female artist of 2022, the music video of 2022 (“Anti-Hero”) and the album of 2022 (Midnights, which has topped the Billboard 200 in five of its first six weeks).
BTS won two awards – the group of 2022 and the concert tour of 2022. In addition, BTS’ Jung Kook won the collaboration song of 2022 for his featured role on Charlie Puth’s “Left and Right.” That spunky collab debuted and peaked at No. 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 in July.
Lizzo won the song of 2022 for “About Damn Time,” as well as a previously announced honorary award, the People’s Champion award. “About Damn Time,” which topped the Hot 100 for two weeks in July and August, is nominated for both record and song of the year at the upcoming Grammy Awards.
Gomez won the comedy TV star of 2022 for her role in Only Murders in the Building and the social celebrity of 2022.
Olsen, the star of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, won the female movie star of 2022 and the action movie star of 2022.
Stranger Things was also a double winner. It was named the [TV] show of 2022 and also the sci-fi/fantasy show of 2022. Despite winning the top movie award – the movie of 2022 – Doctor Strange…, strangely, did not win as the action movie of 2022; that award went to Top Gun: Maverick.
There were some surprises in the music categories. Becky G beat Bad Bunny for the Latin artist of 2022. Carrie Underwood beat both Luke Combs and Morgan Wallen for the country artist of 2022. (That one probably shouldn’t rate as a surprise, given Underwood’s massive popularity.)
The Kelly Clarkson Show won as the daytime talk show of 2022 to the surprise of absolutely no one.
Shania Twain won a special award, the Music Icon award. She also performed a medley of her greatest hits as well as her new single “Waking Up Dreaming.”
Lauren Spencer-Smith, who was nominated as the new artist of 2022, but lost to Latto, performed her hit song “Fingers Crossed.”
Ryan Reynolds received the third previously-announced special award, the People’s Icon award.
Here’s a complete list of 2022 People’s Choice Awards nominees, with winners marked.
The male artist of 2022Bad BunnyCharlie PuthDrakeWINNER: Harry StylesJack HarlowKendrick LamarLuke CombsThe Weeknd
The female artist of 2022BeyoncéCamila CabelloDoja CatLady GagaLizzoMegan Thee StallionNicki MinajWINNER: Taylor Swift
The group of 2022WINNER: BTS5 Seconds of SummerBlackpinkColdplayImagine DragonsMåneskinOneRepublicPanic! At The Disco
The song of 2022WINNER: “About Damn Time” – Lizzo“As It Was” – Harry Styles“Break My Soul” – Beyoncé“First Class” – Jack Harlow“Hold My Hand” – Lady Gaga“Me Porto Bonito” – Bad Bunny & Chencho Corleone“Super Freaky Girl” – Nicki Minaj“Wait For U” – Future Featuring Drake & Tems
The album of 2022Dawn FM – The WeekndGrowin’ Up – Luke CombsHarry’s House – Harry StylesWINNER: Midnights – Taylor SwiftMr. Morale & The Big Steppers – Kendrick LamarRenaissance – BeyoncéSpecial – LizzoUn Verano Sin Ti – Bad Bunny
The country artist of 2022WINNER: Carrie UnderwoodKane BrownKelsea BalleriniLuke CombsMaren MorrisMiranda LambertMorgan WallenThomas Rhett
The Latin artist of 2022AnittaBad BunnyWINNER: Becky GShakiraKarol GRauw AlejandroRosalíaSebastián Yatra
The new artist of 2022ChlöeDove CameronGayleWINNER: LattoLauren Spencer-SmithMuni LongSaucy SantanaSteve Lacy
The music video of 2022WINNER: “Anti-Hero” – Taylor Swift“As It Was” – Harry Styles“Left and Right” (feat. Jung Kook of BTS) – Charlie Puth“Let Somebody Go” – Coldplay X Selena Gomez“Oh My God” – Adele“Pink Venom” – Blackpink“Provenza” – Karol G“Yet to Come (The Most Beautiful Moment) Official” – BTS
The collaboration song of 2022WINNER: “Left and Right” – Charlie Puth Featuring Jung Kook“Bam Bam” – Camila Cabello Featuring Ed Sheeran“Do We Have a Problem?” – Nicki Minaj X Lil Baby“Freaky Deaky” – Tyga X Doja Cat“Hold Me Closer” – Elton John & Britney Spears“Jimmy Cooks” – Drake Featuring 21 Savage“Party” – Bad Bunny & Rauw Alejandro“Sweetest Pie” – Megan Thee Stallion & Dua Lipa
The concert tour of 2022WINNER: BTS Permission to Dance on StageBad Bunny: World’s Hottest TourBillie Eilish: Happier Than Ever, The World TourDua Lipa Future Nostalgia TourEd Sheeran TourHarry Styles Love on TourLady Gaga: The Chromatica BallLuke Combs: The Middle of Somewhere Tour
The social celebrity of 2022Bad BunnyCharlie PuthDoja CatLil Nas XLizzoReese WitherspoonWINNER: Selena GomezSnoop Dogg
The movie of 2022Bullet TrainWINNER: Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of MadnessElvisJurassic World DominionNopeThe BatmanThor: Love and ThunderTop Gun: Maverick
The comedy movie of 2022Fire IslandHustleHocus Pocus 2Marry MeSenior YearWINNER: The Adam ProjectThe Lost CityTicket to Paradise
The action movie of 2022Black AdamBullet TrainDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of MadnessJurassic World DominionThe BatmanThe Woman KingThor: Love and ThunderWINNER: Top Gun: Maverick
The drama movie of 2022NopeDeath on the NileWINNER: Don’t Worry DarlingElvisHalloween EndsLuckiest Girl AliveScreamWhere the Crawdads Sing
The male movie star of 2022Brad Pitt – Bullet TrainWINNER: Chris Hemsworth – Thor: Love and ThunderChris Pratt – Jurassic World DominionDaniel Kaluuya – NopeDwayne Johnson – Black AdamMiles Teller – Top Gun: MaverickRyan Reynolds – The Adam ProjectTom Cruise – Top Gun: Maverick
The female movie star of 2022WINNER: Elizabeth Olsen – Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of MadnessGal Gadot – Death on the NileJennifer Garner – The Adam ProjectJennifer Lopez – Marry MeJoey King – Bullet TrainKeke Palmer – NopeQueen Latifah – HustleViola Davis – The Woman King
The drama movie star of 2022WINNER: Austin Butler – ElvisDaniel Kaluuya – NopeFlorence Pugh – Don’t Worry DarlingGal Gadot – Death on the NileHarry Styles – Don’t Worry DarlingJamie Lee Curtis – Halloween EndsKeke Palmer – NopeMila Kunis – Luckiest Girl Alive
The comedy movie star of 2022WINNER: Adam Sandler – HustleChanning Tatum – The Lost CityJennifer Garner – The Adam ProjectJennifer Lopez – Marry MeJulia Roberts – Ticket to ParadiseQueen Latifah – HustleRyan Reynolds – The Adam ProjectSandra Bullock – The Lost City
The action movie star of 2022Chris Hemsworth – Thor: Love and ThunderChris Pratt – Jurassic World DominionDwayne Johnson – Black AdamWINNER: Elizabeth Olsen – Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of MadnessJoey King – Bullet TrainTom Cruise – Top Gun: MaverickViola Davis – The Woman KingZöe Kravitz – The Batman
The show of 2022Abbott ElementaryBetter Call SaulGrey’s AnatomyHouse of the DragonObi-Wan KenobiSaturday Night LiveWINNER: Stranger ThingsThis Is Us
The drama show of 2022Better Call SaulCobra KaiEuphoriaWINNER: Grey’s AnatomyLaw & Order: Special Victims UnitOzarkThe Walking DeadThis Is Us
The comedy show of 2022Abbott ElementaryBlack-ishOnly Murders in the BuildingWINNER: Never Have I EverSaturday Night LiveThe Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the WindowYoung RockYoung Sheldon
The reality show of 202290 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 DaysBelow Deck Sailing YachtJersey Shore: Family VacationLove & Hip Hop: AtlantaWINNER: The KardashiansThe Real Housewives of AtlantaThe Real Housewives of Beverly HillsSelling Sunset
The competition show of 2022America’s Got TalentAmerican IdolDancing with the StarsRuPaul’s Drag RaceThe BacheloretteThe Masked SingerLizzo’s Watch Out for the Big GrrrlsWINNER: The Voice
The male TV star of 2022Dwayne Johnson – Young RockEwan McGregor – Obi-Wan KenobiIce-T – Law & Order: Special Victims UnitJason Bateman – OzarkWINNER: Noah Schnapp – Stranger ThingsNorman Reedus – The Walking DeadOscar Isaac – Moon KnightSterling K. Brown – This Is Us
The female TV star of 2022Millie Bobby Brown – Stranger ThingsWINNER: Ellen Pompeo – Grey’s AnatomyKristen Bell – The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the WindowMaitreyi Ramakrishnan – Never Have I EverMandy Moore – This Is UsMariska Hargitay – Law & Order: Special Victims UnitQuinta Brunson – Abbott ElementarySelena Gomez – Only Murders in the Building
The drama TV star of 2022Ellen Pompeo – Grey’s AnatomyJason Bateman – OzarkMandy Moore – This Is UsWINNER: Mariska Hargitay – Law & Order: Special Victims UnitNorman Reedus – The Walking DeadSterling K. Brown – This Is UsSydney Sweeney – EuphoriaZendaya – Euphoria
The comedy TV star of 2022Bowen Yang – Saturday Night LiveDwayne Johnson – Young RockKenan Thompson – Saturday Night LiveKristen Bell – The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the WindowMaitreyi Ramakrishnan – Never Have I EverQuinta Brunson – Abbott ElementaryWINNER: Selena Gomez – Only Murders in the BuildingTracee Ellis Ross – Black-Ish
The daytime talk show of 2022Good Morning AmericaLive with Kelly and RyanThe Drew Barrymore ShowThe Ellen DeGeneres ShowThe Jennifer Hudson ShowWINNER: The Kelly Clarkson ShowThe ViewToday with Hoda and Jenna
The nighttime talk show of 2022Jimmy Kimmel Live!Last Week Tonight with John OliverLate Night with Seth MeyersThe Daily Show with Trevor NoahThe Late Late Show with James CordenThe Late Show with Stephen ColbertWINNER: The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonWatch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
The competition contestant of 2022Charli D’Amelio – Dancing with the StarsBosco – RuPaul’s Drag RaceGabby Windey – The BacheloretteMayyas – America’s Got TalentNoah Thompson – American IdolWINNER: Selma Blair – Dancing with the StarsTeyana Taylor – The Masked SingerWillow Pill – RuPaul’s Drag Race
The reality TV star of 2022Chrishell Stause – Selling SunsetGarcelle Beauvais – The Real Housewives of Beverly HillsKandi Burruss – The Real Housewives of AtlantaKenya Moore – The Real Housewives of AtlantaWINNER: Khloé Kardashian – The KardashiansKim Kardashian – The KardashiansKyle Richards – The Real Housewives of Beverly HillsMike “The Situation” Sorrentino – Jersey Shore: Family Vacation
The bingeworthy show of 2022BridgertonBel-AirWINNER: Dahmer-Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer StoryInventing AnnaSeveranceThe BearThe BoysThe Thing About Pam
The sci-fi/fantasy show of 2022House of The DragonLa BreaMoon KnightObi-Wan KenobiShe-Hulk: Attorney at LawWINNER: Stranger ThingsThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of PowerThe Umbrella Academy
The social star of 2022Addison RaeBrent RiveraCharli D’AmelioJay ShettyKhaby LameMikayla Jane NogueiraWINNER: MrBeastNoah Beck
The comedy act of 2022Amy Schumer: Whore TourChris Rock Ego Death World Tour 2022David Spade: Nothing Personal (Netflix)Jo Koy: Live from the LA ForumWINNER: Kevin Hart: Reality CheckSteve Martin & Martin Short You Won’t Believe What They Look Like TodayWanda Sykes – Stand Out: An LGBTQ+ Celebration (Netflix)Whitney Cummings – Jokes (Netflix)
The game changer of 2022Chloe KimLeBron JamesMegan RapinoeNathan ChenRafael NadalRussell WilsonWINNER: Serena WilliamsSteph CurryThe pop podcast of 2022Anything Goes with Emma ChamberlainWINNER: Archetypes: Meghan MarkleArmchair Expert with Dax ShepardCall Her DaddyConan O’Brien Needs a FriendNot Skinny But Not FatSmartLessWhy Won’t You Date Me? with Nicol
Shania Twain proved just what makes her a Music Icon when she accepted that prize and performed a medley of her hits at Tuesday’s (Dec. 6) People’s Choice Awards.
One of the highlights of her performance — which included her breakthrough 1995 Billboard Hot 100 hit “Any Man of Mine,” her crossover late-’90s pop smashes “That Don’t Impress Me Much” and “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!,” and her latest single “Waking Up Dreaming” — is when the pink-haired singer swapped the famous spoken-word “Brad Pitt” line from “Impress” for a fellow Canadian star.
“OK, so you’re Ryan Reynolds!” she said sassily as the cameras cut to the surprised Deadpool star, who was on hand to accept the People’s Icon award later in the evening. Reynolds mouthed, “Oh my God, me?!” from the audience.
In addition to the performance, Twain also gave a heartfelt acceptance speech as she accepted the Music Icon award from her friend, actor Billy Porter.
“Am I dreaming? I really am, I think,” she said to start. “Thank you so much for presenting me with this award and for highlighting my work as having a significant impact. I’m not sure if that’s the right thing to say, but that’s always my wish: to inspire people with my music. I always miss my mother right now at these moments in life. She would have loved watching her little girl living this moment right now. But my fans, my friends, my team – you are the ones who really fill that space. Not my mother’s space, but you’re here with me and you’re celebrating, we’re celebrating together, and you’ve made me feel loved and special my whole working life. And I will always be grateful for that, thank you.
“From a very young age, I turned to songwriting as a form of escapism,” she added. “This is my go-to place. It never occurred to me how powerful lyrics can become when you’re able to record them and share them with the whole world. It’s a great honor to be respected as a songwriter. But the biggest honor for me is knowing people have found strength and inspiration in what i have to sing, in my work. So thank you, I love you for that.”
She also highlighted her role as a fashion icon, noting that early in her career, she was just piecing outfits together with what she had. “I just went to my closet and picked out whatever I had, or went to a department store and picked out the budget things, because I didn’t have a big budget. With that, a sharp pair of scissors and a big imagination, i just cut and pulled and chopped … and hoped for the best.”
Twain ended the speech with some words of inspiration for her young fans. “I just want to say: Giddy-up, kids. Embrace your individuality and your crazy ideas. Just be brave. Let’s remember, there is power in numbers, we are in this together, love is love, and when a door slams in your face, take a freaking run and leap at your door and kick it down! You won’t regret it.
“All I have to say is: Be the queen of you,” she concluded, tipping a cowgirl hat to her upcoming sixth studio album, Queen of Me, due Feb. 3, 2023.
The Billboard charts are getting ever more festive in the march to Christmas.
On the Billboard Hot 100 songs and Billboard 200 albums charts (both dated Dec. 10), the lists are looking very merry and bright. On the Hot 100, Mariah Carey’s evergreen chart-topper “All I Want for Christmas Is You” vaults to No. 2 and Michael Bublé’s former No. 1 album Christmas jingles up the Billboard 200 into the top five. Christmas was released in 2011 and spent five weeks atop the list late that year and in early 2012 and has returned to the top 10 in every subsequent holiday season.
Speaking of Bublé, earlier this year on the Billboard Pop Shop Podcast, he joined hosts Katie and Keith to discuss his then-new album Higher (a recent Grammy Award nominee for best traditional pop vocal album). Well, the latest Pop Shop Podcast (listen below) has a special unheard moment from that interview, where Bublé was asked about his Christmas album and what it means to know that the ever-popular set has become a favorite in homes around the world each year, soundtracking family gatherings.
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“Well, can you imagine how lucky I feel to be invited into all of that?” Bublé tells the Pop Shop Podcast. “I mean, I knew what I was doing when I made the record. I had high hopes. I was quite ambitious. Because I really genuinely love the songs. I never had any idea that it would be like this ever, ever.”
“And it’s funny, years ago, I would complain about it [the album’s success], and I would say [exasperated] ‘Well, you know, they keep talking about the Christmas album,’” he recalled. “But it was when my son got sick, I remember sitting in the hospital, and I just remember thinking how lucky I was. I just remember thinking so clearly, you know, how wonderful this is, that this is a part of your legacy. …
“What’s interesting, too, is it’s become less about what religion you are and it’s become about just a time when us human beings might need a bit of a break. And there’s a little more empathy and kindness. And I thought, man, to be connected to something so beautiful, there are much worse things in life.”
Also on the latest Pop Shop Podcast, Katie and Keith discuss the death of singer-songwriter Christine McVie and the pop sensibility she brought to her work with Fleetwood Mac. Plus, the Pop Shop team chats about Amber Riley (spoiler alert!) winning The Masked Singer and what it could mean for her career in the future. They also talk about her Dec. 5 guest appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show, where Riley and Hudson duetted on “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” from Dreamgirls.
The Billboard Pop Shop Podcast is your one-stop shop for all things pop on Billboard‘s weekly charts. You can always count on a lively discussion about the latest pop news, fun chart stats and stories, new music, and guest interviews with music stars and folks from the world of pop. Casual pop fans and chart junkies can hear Billboard‘s executive digital director, West Coast, Katie Atkinson and Billboard’s senior director of charts Keith Caulfield every week on the podcast, which can be streamed on Billboard.com or downloaded in Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast provider. (Click here to listen to the previous edition of the show on Billboard.com.)
TikTok has proven its success at renewing widespread interest around old songs countless times over the past several years. 2022 was no exception, as the short-form video platform announced Swedish Sadboy rapper Yung Lean’s 2013 track “Ginseng Strip 2002” was its most popular track of the year thanks to a trend of users singing along for about 10 seconds and then kissing at the end.
The nearly decade-old track was used in almost 11 million videos across the app in 2022, and while TikTok royalties are notoriously low to music rights holders, the upside proposition has been established that a viral hit there will drive streaming elsewhere. With “Ginseng Strip 2002,” that was most certainly true.
Since the “Ginseng Strip 2002” TikTok trend started to take off around the turn of the new year, its impact is relatively easy to compare year-over-year. And it’s considerable. As of Dec. 1, the track had been streamed more than 71 million times on-demand in 2022 in the U.S. That’s a 780% increase from the full year prior, and up over 1,070% when compared to the same 48-week period (Jan. 1-Dec. 1). To date, the track has over 206 million global streams on Spotify.
The viral success has undoubtedly been a pleasant surprise payday for Lean as well as his label, Swedish indie YEAR0001, and publisher Sony Publishing. Based off U.S. streams alone, the different rights holders have earned about $350,000 so far in 2022. Split up, that’s about $260,000 for the master recording to the label and artist, and $62,900 to the publisher and co-writers Yung Lean and Yung Gud, based on Billboard‘s estimates.
This is actually the second time “Ginseng Strip 2002” has gone viral. The casually hedonistic track that came together by accident during a microphone sound check, according to producer Yung Gud, first took off on YouTube in 2013. That quick success on YouTube caused Yung Lean some anxiety, as he told Beats 1 Radio in 2017. “I was kinda scared at one point that it was just gonna be a couple million views and some viral hit, and there wasn’t going to be anything else,” he said. “I was just trying to figure out my place and everything. I didn’t want to be a one-hit wonder.”
Yung Lean and YEAR0001 had not responded to a request for comment for this story at the time of publishing.
MSG Sphere, the long-awaited, globe-shaped venue under construction in Las Vegas, has been promised to revolutionize the concert-going experience. Before it even opens, however, MSG Sphere is transforming the corporate structure of its creator.
On Monday, MSG Entertainment announced new plans for an upcoming spin-off that will separate MSG Sphere, the next-generation music venue being built in Las Vegas, from the rest of its live music business.
The latest version of the proposed transaction results is a pure-play music company under the corporate name MSG Entertainment that includes venues such as Madison Madison Square Garden, Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, the Beacon Theatre and The Chicago Theatre. MSG Entertainment would also include the entertainment and sports booking business, the Radio City Rockettes and the Christmas Spectacular production, and long-term arena license agreements with New York Knicks and New York Rangers, which play their home games at Madison Square Garden.
The first iteration of the spin-off paired the live music business with MSG Networks, a regional sports network that carries live games of the Knicks, Rangers, New York Giants, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders and Buffalo Sabres. That would have put the company’s two most mature divisions under one roof, separate from MSG Sphere and Tao Group Hospitality, the operator of restaurant and nightlife properties. MSG Entertainment would, however, combine the financially risky Sphere project with the more stable revenues of MSG Networks, which generated $608.2 million of revenue and $131 million of operating profit in the year ended June 30, 2022. The new plan “is optimal for maximizing shareholder value, while providing both companies with enhanced strategic and financial flexibility to drive long-term growth,” the company said in a statement.
The new spin-off plan puts MSG Networks with MSG Sphere and Tao Group Hospitality. The spin-off company will take the name MSG Sphere Corp and “would have enhanced flexibility to execute its business strategy and pursue global growth opportunities,” executive chairman and CEO James L. Dolan said in a statement.
The proposed transaction would be structured as a tax-free spin-off to all MSGE shareholders. Owners of MSGE Class A and Class B shares would receive a pro-rata distribution expected to amount to about a two-thirds economic interest in MSG Entertainment, the live entertainment company. The parent company, MSG Sphere, would retain approximately a one-third interest in MSG Entertainment.
The $1.8 billion MSG Sphere at The Venetian is slated to open in 2023 with a U2 residency. The spherical venue will provide a multi-sensory experience of audio and visuals for 20,000 standing spectators or 17,500 seated guests. It includes 160,000 square feet of video viewing space and an exterior exosphere with programmable LED technology.
Apple Music users will soon be able to sing along to their favorite hits right inside the app.
On Tuesday (Dec. 6), Apple announced the launch of a built-in karaoke function on the streaming service, which will be available to all Apple Music subscribers worldwide later this month. Dubbed Apple Music Sing, the feature will be accessible on iPhone, iPad and the newest model of the Apple TV 4K, with tens of millions of songs available at launch.
Apple Music Sing is similar to a typical karaoke player, highlighting the streamer’s onscreen lyrics beat by beat. Additional functionality includes the option to adjust a song’s vocal levels; the separation of background vocals from main vocals to make the lyrics easier to follow; and a “duet view” that places lyrics from multiple vocalists on opposite sides of the screen to make multi-singer tracks easier to navigate.
Along with the new feature, Apple Music will additionally be launching a suite of more than 50 thematic Apple Music Sing playlists grouping songs together by genre, decade and more.
“Apple Music’s lyrics experience is consistently one of the most popular features on our service,” said Oliver Schusser, vp of Apple Music and Beats, in a statement on the launch. “We already know our users all over the world love to follow along to their favorite songs, so we wanted to evolve this offering even further to enable even more engagement around music through singing. It’s really a lot of fun, our customers are going to love it.”
Madame Tussauds Dubai has a new “Mastermind” added to their gallery. The company revealed on Tuesday (Dec. 6) that its wax figure of Taylor Swift is the latest celebrity to join its star-studded lineup.
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According to Time Out Dubai, the figure marks the first international addition to Madame Tussauds Dubai since it opened in October 2021. The handcrafted statue featured Swift in a Folklore-style low chignon bun, holding an acoustic guitar. The wax figure is dressed in a red sequined turtleneck top tucked into a pair of high waisted khaki pants.
The new Swift wax figure comes a little more than a month after the Grammy-winning superstar unveiled her 10th studio album, Midnights. The album logs a fifth week atop the Billboard 200 albums chart (dated Dec. 10). The last Swift album with more weeks at No. 1 is Folklore, which notched eight nonconsecutive weeks atop the list in 2020. Since then, she’s claimed four more chart-topping albums: Evermore (four weeks at No. 1 in 2020-21), Fearless (Taylor’s Version) (two weeks, 2021), Red (Taylor’s Version) (one week in 2021) and Midnights (five weeks so far).
And while the wax figure comes at a celebratory time in Swift’s career, fans had mixed feelings about the new installation at Madame Tussauds, unsure if the new piece bears a proper resemblance to the “Anti-Hero” singer. See some reactions below.
Why is it so difficult to get Taylor’s wax figures to actually look like her? I mean this one’s not bad compared to others but still.— Conny | Midnight sharp 🕰 (@connychiwa_) December 6, 2022
somebody stop please them from making wax figures😭— Ananya (TV) (@ANANYAPANDEY151) December 6, 2022
Marking The Boyz‘s official debut onto the K-pop scene, Dec. 6 is always a special day for the K-pop band. Still, their milestone fifth anniversary is particularly worth celebrating this year.
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The 11-member boy group released the new single “All About You” today, Dec. 6, to mark five years since entering the K-pop scene with their debut EP, The First, in 2017. Releasing a single to commemorate their anniversary in December has become a tradition for the group with seasonal releases like “White,” “Christmassy!” and “Candles,” but the newly released acoustic-pop cut has the universal message of full-fledged, no-hold-bars love.
The accompanying music video is celebratory as we see the 11 Boyz studying in school, writing music, practicing basketball and hanging solo or in pairs before coming together to toast to five years.
Notably, “All About You” also marks the return of youngest member Eric, who had been on hiatus from the group since March due to health reasons.
After a period of rest at his home in the United States, where he was unable to participate in the group’s latest Korean and Japanese albums from this year, nor performances like KCON Los Angeles or their special “Last Man Standing” video shoot, Eric’s back. With his return, the 21-year-old co-wrote “All About You” alongside his members Juyeon, Q and Sunwoo. In late August, Sunwoo had also taken a hiatus for rest but was announced, along with Eric, to be soon re-joining the group by mid-September.
Celebrate with The Boyz below:
Kid Harpoon has become one of the most in-demand producers in pop music in the last year and on Tuesday (Dec. 6), he spilled the tea about working with Harry Styles on “As It Was” in a new interview with Apple Music.
“Do you know what is funny about that song is how quickly it came together,” the British musician born Tom Hull told Apple Music 1’s Zane Lowe. “That’s my favorite thing about it because it’s not like ‘Watermelon Sugar,’ for example. That song was written in half a day…and then it was this really s—-y sounding demo and we all loved it and no one else quite got it. And then it took us months and months and months of just chipping away and getting it right.
“And then people weren’t quite sure it was going to be a single. Harry was like, ‘This is a single,’ and then it became the single. So it was this whole real labor of love to prove a point,” he continued. “I’ve learned so much from working with him because he understands how to follow his instincts.”
As for the Harry’s House hit’s mind-blowing success — including spending 15 nonconsecutive weeks atop the Hot 100 — Kid Harpoon chalked it up to being “the right artist, the right time, the right song, the right lyric, the right production.”
“There’s so much that has to align and one thing can be off and it’s not ‘As It Was,’” he concluded. “That’s why it’s an anomaly compared to a lot of music.”
The budding superproducer also dished in the interview about working with the likes of Lizzo, Maggie Rogers and Florence Welch, revealing the “About Damn Time” singer is “obsessed with Radiohead” and saying the Florence + the Machine frontwoman “works harder” than any of her contemporaries in the studio.
