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Julien Baker and TORRES’ Send a Prayer My Way debuts at No. 5 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart (dated May 3), and also takes a bow in the top 10 on both the Vinyl Albums and Indie Store Album Sales rankings. The set – the first collaborative effort from the duo – was released April 18 and sold about 6,500 copies in the United States in the week ending April 26, according to Luminate.
Previously, Baker has placed two solo titles on Top Album Sales. Baker is also a member of the group Boygenius, which has notched a trio of titles on the list.
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Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart ranks the top-selling albums of the week based only on traditional album sales. The chart’s history dates back to May 25, 1991, the first week Billboard began tabulating charts with electronically monitored piece count information from SoundScan, now Luminate. Pure album sales were the sole measurement utilized by the Billboard 200 albums chart through the list dated Dec. 6, 2014, after which that chart switched to a methodology that blends album sales with track equivalent album (TEA) units and streaming equivalent album (SEA) units.
In addition to the No. 5 bow on Top Album Sales for Send a Prayer My Way, it also starts at No. 4 on Vinyl Albums, No. 6 on Indie Store Album Sales, No. 16 on Americana/Folk Albums and No. 34 on Independent Albums.
Elsewhere on Top Album Sales, Doechii scores her biggest sales week yet, and first No. 1, as Alligator Bites Never Heal reenters atop the chart with 14,000 sold. Until April 18, the set was only available to purchase as a download and in two vinyl variants. On April 19, it garnered a wider availability on vinyl, including two new vinyl editions (both color variants) exclusively available via Target and Urban Oufitters, along with a widely available CD.
A trio of former No. 1s are next up on Top Album Sales: Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet rises 7-2 (8,500; down 14%), Kendrick Lamar’s GNX climbs 8-3 (8,000; down 16%) and Lady Gaga’s MAYHEM ascends 14-4 (nearly 7,000; down 11%). Many titles on the chart vault up the tally with big positional climbs, but with declines in sales, as the chart adjusts back to normal following a crowded Record Store Day-infused chart a week ago.
Childish Gambino’s 2024 album Bando Stone and the New World reenters Top Album Sales at No. 6 with nearly 6,500 copies sold following its first physical release, on vinyl. It’s the best sales week and first week in the top 10 for the title.
Chappell Roan’s chart-topping The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess jumps 19-7 (5,500; down 20%), Elton John and Brandi Carlile’s Who Believes In Angels? steps 10-8 (just over 4,500; down 50%), Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours races 36-9 (4,500; down 3%) and Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard and Soft flies 38-10 (nearly 4,500; down 2%).
Beyoncé kicked off her Cowboy Carter Tour in L.A. at SoFi Stadium on Monday night, and we’re taking you inside the highlights of the night. From Rumi making her debut onstage to Beyoncé performing her classic hit “Crazy In Love,” keep watching for more! Were you at the opening night of the Cowboy Carter Tour? […]
With the release of Cowboy Carter last year, a lot of noise was made about whether Beyoncé was “country enough” to put out a country album. More than one year (and her first album of the year Grammy) later, the answer is: of course she was. And she’s further proving her genre prowess on the […]
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Source: Gilbert Carrasquillo / Getty / Terrence Howard
Terrence Howard isn’t open to playing gay roles in films.
Howard is an accomplished actor, but he will never live down fumbling the Marvel Studios bag, and he might have fumbled another one due to what many people on social media are describing as homophobia.
Terrence Howard revealed he almost took a role in the forthcoming biopic about the late legendary singer Marvin Gaye while speaking with Bill Maher on the comedian and Real Time host’s podcast, Club Random.
Howard told Maher that he believes he made the “biggest mistake” of his career, aside from fumbling the role of James Rhodes to Don Cheadle in the MCU, was passing up the starring role in the Smokey Robinson biopic.
But instead of taking on the role, he decided to entertain his longtime Empire collaborator Lee Daniels, revealing that he had a conversation with Daniels about playing Marvin Gaye in a different biopic.
Maher responded, saying that he believed that Howard made the right decision because Gaye’s life story was “much more interesting,” adding that he “would’ve been perfect as Marvin Gaye, and that is a story that needs to be told.”
Terrence Howard Passed On Marvin Gaye Role After Hearing Story About His Alleged Sexuality
Howard decided to go full Lucious Lyon and pass on the role because of a story he heard from the late Quincy Jones regarding Gaye’s alleged sexuality, and that he couldn’t kiss a man, saying he would cut his lips off.
Per Variety:
“I was over at Quincy Jones’ house and I’m asking Quincy, ‘I’m hearing rumors that Marvin was gay’ and I’m like, ‘Was he gay?’” Howard explained. “And Quincy’s like, ‘Yes.’”
After that revelation, Howard decided he “could not” star in the movie.
“They would’ve wanted to do that, and I wouldn’t have been able to do that,” he said of portraying a gay man in a movie.
Maher went on to ask, “You mean you couldn’t kiss a guy on screen in a movie?” Howard responded, “No. Because I don’t fake it.”
“That would fuck me,” Howard added. “I would cut my lips off. If I kissed some man, I would cut my lips off.”
Maher responded by saying he wouldn’t go that far, but understands why Howard felt the way he did about the role. Howard further explained, “It does not make me homophobic to not want to kiss a man.”
The actor says it was more of a matter of him committing to the role.
“I can’t play that character 100 percent,” Howard told Maher. “I can’t surrender myself to a place that I don’t understand.”
Social Media Isn’t Buying What Howard Is Selling
Maher might understand where Howard is coming from, but social media, on the other hand, is not feeling what the Best Man star said about passing the role.
“Learning that Terrance Howard is a woman abuser, is homophobic & supports trump all in the same sitting… oh my…. Hustle & flow was NO ACT!,” one user on X, formerly Twitter, wrote.
Another user added, “Terrence Howard is a man with a criminal record and history of beating women. You lost your “man card” a long time ago.”
Well damn.
You can see more reactions in the gallery below.
At 20 years old, Mexican music star Xavi became the youngest artist to receive the ASCAP Latin Music Award for songwriter of the year on Tuesday (April 29). Meanwhile, Colombian singer Feid won songwriter/artist of the year for the second consecutive year, while the hit “QLONA” by Karol G and Peso Pluma was named Latin song of the year.
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See latest videos, charts and news
The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) celebrated El Premio ASCAP 2025, its top ASCAP Latin songwriters awards for the most performed Latin music songs of the past year.
Trending on Billboard
Xavi, known for his signature romantic tumbados and his unparalleled voice, has captivated a new generation of listeners with hits like “La Diabla” and “La Víctima.” The former topped Billboard‘s Hot Latin Songs chart for 14 weeks, while the latter reached No. 2. By the end of 2024, the Mexican-American singer-songwriter also became the first solo artist to hit No. 1 on the Regional Mexican Airplay chart with his first four songs in a single year, when “Flores” climbed from No. 3 to lead the ranking dated December 21.
Feid, whose Billboard Hot 100 hits include “Perro Negro” with Bad Bunny, “Revolu” with Rauw Alejandro, and “+57” with Karol G and other Colombian collaborators, boasts close to a dozen No. 1 hits on the Latin Airplay chart, including “Doblexxo” with J Balvin, “Si Sabe Ferxxo” with Blessd, and “Háblame Claro” with Yandel among his most recent.
“QLONA,” co-written by songwriter Dani Raw and published by Kobalt Music Publishing, won the ASCAP Award for Latin song of the year. Featured on Karol G’s album Mañana Será Bonito (Bichota Season), the track led Hot Latin Songs for five weeks and reached No. 28 on the all-genre Hot 100.
Among other winners, Universal Music Publishing Group was named publisher of the year for the third consecutive year, thanks to hits like “(Entre Paréntesis)” by Shakira and Grupo Frontera, “Adivino” by Bad Bunny and Myke Towers, “Alch Si” by Carín León and Grupo Frontera, “Gata Only” by Cris MJ and FloyyMenor, and “Igual Que Un Ángel” by Kali Uchis, to name a few.
Additionally, Daddy Yankee broke his own record by earning his 52nd Premio ASCAP as “Bonita” was recognized as one of the most-played songs of the past year.
El Premio ASCAP 2025 honored the songwriters and publishers of the most-performed songs of 2024 in Latin music. Winning songs were determined based on data for terrestrial and satellite radio, and for programmed and on-demand audio streams, all provided by Luminate Data LLC in accordance with ASCAP’s publicly available rules.
Check out a full list of winners on ASCAP’s website.
Don Toliver and Doja Cat are dropping their new collaboration “Lose My Mind” from the F1 movie soundtrack this week. The two are heard harmonizing on the hook “So why don’t we just lose my mind?” in the hi-tech video clip that was shared on Instagram by the Formula 1, F1 movie and F1 album […]
Los Ángeles Azules and Thalia unite for their first No. 1 on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Airplay chart, as “Yo Me Lo Busqué” flies 9-1 on the May 3-dated list.
“Yo Me Lo Busqué” ascends to the summit with the Greatest Gainer honors, awarded weekly to the song with the largest weekly gain in audience among the chart’s 40 songs. The song earned 6.4 million audience impressions, up 47%, in the U.S. in the week ending April 24, according to Luminate.
Trending on Billboard
“Yo Me Lo Busqué” was released January 18 via Promotodo. The Mexican label achieves its second No. 1 on the Regional Mexican Airplay chart, thanks to another collaboration featuring Los Ángeles Azules. Their previous hit, “Perdonarte Para Qué?” with Emilia, reached the top spot for one week in September 2024.
As “Yo Me Lo Busqué” takes over Regional Mexican Airplay, Thalia scores her first No. 1, besting her previous No. 5 high through “Tú y Yo” in July 2002.
With their latest chart-topper, Los Ángeles Azules secure their sixth No. 1 on Regional Mexican Airplay, among 17 career top 10 hits. The group’s breakthrough classic, “El Listón De Tu Pelo,” remains their longest-reigning No. 1, holding atop the list for seven weeks in 2000.
Here’s a look at their collection of No. 1 hits since the chart’s inception in 1994:
Title, Artist, Peak Date, Weeks at No. 1“El Listón De Tu Pelo,” Feb. 5, 2000, seven“Nunca Es Suficiente,” featuring Natalia Lafourcade, Jan. 26, 2019, three“Túi Y Tú,” with Cazzu & Santa Fe Klan, May 20, 2023, one“La Cumbia Triste,” with Alejandro Fernández, April 13, 2024, one“Perdonarte Para Que?” with Emilia, July 20, 2024, one“Yo Me Lo Busqué,” with Thalia, May 3
Notably, as “Yo Me Lo Busqué” also takes the lead on the Latin Pop Airplay chart –where it jumps 2-1 with a 39% increase in audience, to 7.2 million– Los Ángeles Azules and Thalia swap successes in new chart achievements. While Thalia scores her first-ever No. 1 on the Regional Mexican Airplay chart, Los Ángeles Azules claim the top spot on the Latin Pop Airplay chart, marking their first No. 1 there. It’s the third No. 1 for Thalia on Latin Pop Airplay, who in addition to her new airplay achievement, has also secured No. 1s on Tropical Airplay, twice, in 2000 and 2002.
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Getty Images / Elon Musk / Diablo IV
Elon Musk has once again been trolled for video gaming skills, or lack thereof.
Musk, who recently claimed he was cutting back his time with DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) because his company, Tesla, is flopping due to his involvement in ruining people’s lives, decided to share another video of himself playing Diablo IV.
The billionaire is still desperate to prove that he is the ultimate gamer, but in the process, he only invited trolls to clown him once again. Musk’s skills came under scrutiny when he was accused by gamers, including the popular problematic streamer Asmongold, of paying someone to play Path of Exile 2 for him or “fraudmaxing.”
Being the petulant manchild he is, Musk unfollowed Asmongold, stripped him of his verified status, and shared the DMs they exchanged with each other.
Musk would eventually admit to cheating in both Diablo IV and Path of Exile 2, but his lame behavior hasn’t stopped. He shared another stream of himself playing Diablo IV on his X account, but this time he disabled his comments, only allowing his closest friends to reply to the post, because people were once again clowning his skills.
This latest moment also follows Musk’s “rage quitting” when trolls took over his comment section during a test of his Starling service on his private plane, which United Airlines allegedly wants to use on its fleet of commercial aircraft.
Elon Musk’s Gaming History
Musk takes his gaming very seriously; he is so into it that he had a gaming rig installed in his DOGE office to get in some gaming time between laying off hard-working Americans.
It doesn’t sound very efficient, if you ask us; in fact, that sounds like a complete waste of government time and money.
Well, we hope Musk continues to get trolled; he deserves every bit of it.
After sparking romance rumors for more than a year, Lucy Dacus finally confirmed that she and Boygenius bandmate Julien Baker were dating in March — but there’s still one thing about sharing her relationship publicly that makes the “Night Shift” singer “uncomfortable,” she says.
While speaking to The Forty-Five in an interview published Monday, Dacus began by talking about how her new album, Forever Is a Feeling, started out as a gift to her girlfriend, with the Virginia native initially confessing her feelings for the guitarist through some of the songs on the LP. “It was like, ‘OK, feelings are on the table, and we ought not touch them, because our relationship is too important, and I support what you want for your life,’” Dacus reflected.
“Or like, ‘Wow, what a surprise that we’re saying this out loud,’” she continued. “‘But let’s ultimately just say that we matter to each other and move on.’ That was real. That’s how I felt.”
Trending on Billboard
Now that they’re together, however, Dacus says she isn’t exactly excited about the fact that fans will now be combing through the lyrics on Forever Is a Feeling for clues about her relationship with Baker. “In a way, that’s the bit that makes me feel uncomfortable,” she told the publication.
“The lore of it all – people treating our lives like a Marvel Universe,” added the songwriter. “But then again, what is lore if not the story? Some parts of my story I keep for myself, but this is the story that defines my life. So what am I gonna do?”
The interview comes a full seven years after Dacus, Baker and Phoebe Bridgers first established Boygenius, debuting the supergroup in 2018 with a self-titled EP. The trio reunited in 2023 to drop their first full-length album as a group, with The Record winning three Grammys at the following year’s awards show.
When finally addressing her relationship with her bandmate for the first time publicly last month, Dacus said in an interview with The New Yorker, “It’s been interesting, because I want to protect what is precious in my life, but also to be honest, and make art that’s true … Maybe a healthier way to think about it is that [my relationship]’s not actually fragile.”
She later told People, “It’s funny to just say it so plainly, because I feel like there’s all of this tension of people guessing.”
“I don’t know, we just talked about it kind of recently, and we were like, ‘What is actually at risk for people knowing this?’” she continued. “We wanted to be protective because it matters so much. I hope to God people knowing won’t make it a less true or pleasant experience … She’s ready to be telling people, too. So, from us to you, we are in love.”
Latto headlined Syracuse University’s Block Party 2025 over the weekend, and she got around to posting some pictures from her time on the central New York campus on Tuesday (April 29). While she’ll always be Big Mama, Latto went by Big Daddy in Syracuse as she rocked a throwback ‘fit that went diamond in the […]
