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20 Nov 2024

Here Are the Best Red Carpet Photos From the 2024 Billboard No. 1s Party

The second annual Billboard No. 1s Party kicked off the upcoming 2024 Billboard Music Awards on Tuesday night (Nov. 19), and the star-studded event took over The h.wood Group’s Keys nightclub on Los Angeles’ Sunset Strip.

Among the A-list attendees included AJ McLean and Howie Dorough from Backstreet Boys, A$AP Ferg, Bella Poarch, K-pop group BEWAVE, Flavor Flav, FloyyMenor, Jake Shane, Tiffany Haddish and Zedd, among others. Ferg was also in attendance, fresh off the release of his new album Darold.

Tres Generaciones Tequila is the official tequila of Billboard and the 2024 Billboard Music Awards, and the bash included specialty curated cocktails, including Trespresso Martini, The Tres ‘73 and Tres Generaciones Añejo.

Information about the 2024 Billboard Music Awards will be announced in the coming weeks. To celebrate, we’ve compiled some of the best photos from the red carpet at the Billboard No. 1s Party. Check them out in our gallery below.

15 Nov 2024

Billboard Live Music Summit Photos: Olivia Rodrigo, John Summit, Louis Messina & More Touring Titans

The information-packed day concluded with a Superstar Q&A with Billboard cover star Olivia Rodrigo.

Olivia Rodrigo at the Billboard Live Music Summit at 1 Hotel West Hollywood on November 14, 2024 in West Hollywood, California.

Olivia Rodrigo at the Billboard Live Music Summit at 1 Hotel West Hollywood on November 14, 2024 in West Hollywood, California.

Christopher Polk

On Thursday (Nov. 15), the Billboard Live Music Summit returned after a four-year hiatus. Taking over the 1 Hotel in West Hollywood, Calif., the day of programming took place in collaboration with AEG Presents and Live Nation.

After kicking things off with an opening panel titled Trends in Ticketing: The Latest In Innovation and Tools, sponsored by AXS, Billboard‘s Katie Bain moderated the first of two artist-focused conversations. During a discussion titled Inside the Rise of John Summit, Bain spoke with the fast-rising DJ and his manager, Holt Harmon, about how Summit’s ability “to be like a chameleon” has aided in his take-off. “It allows him to do different things and not get pigeonholed,” said Harmon.

Other highlights included the packed Agents Power Panel: A New Era of Uncertainty, moderated by Billboard‘s Jason Lipshutz; a conversation between Live Nation’s Arthur Fogel and Lady Gaga’s manager Bobby Campbell titled Inside Global Touring Today; The Power Players conversation with Executive of the Year Louis Messina, moderated by Billboard‘s Melinda Newman; and The Life and Times of Disco Donnie: A Live Retrospective, moderated by Billboard‘s Dave Brooks. Plus, L-Acoustics sponsored a panel titled The Immersive Experience: The Future of Sound, Visual and Interactive Programming at Festivals.

The information-packed day concluded with a Superstar Q&A with Billboard cover star Olivia Rodrigo, who was crowned Touring Artist of the Year for her sensational Guts World Tour, which sold over 1.4 million tickets and brought in $184.6 million dollars – making it one of the biggest pop tours of the decade. In her conversation, she spoke about how she made her second album GUTS with a live show in mind, saying she knew she wanted to deliver rock-inflected songs prime for screaming along to. Because of that, a favorite of hers to perform on the tour has been “All-American Bitch,” which famously includes a mid-song howl that Rodrigo described as “cathartic.”

Rodrigo also discussed her Fund 4 Good, which supports girls’ education and women’s health, and teased her post-tour plans, of which she said: “I’m so excited to just rot on the couch and eat so much food.”

Below, find photos from the 2024 Billboard Live Music Summit.

04 Nov 2024

Quincy Jones: His Life in Photos

Musical powerhouse Quincy Jones died on Sunday (Nov. 3) at 91 years old.

“Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones’ passing,” his family said in a statement. “And although this is an incredible loss for our family, we celebrate the great life that he lived and know there will never be another like him.”

“He is truly one of a kind and we will miss him dearly; we take comfort and immense pride in knowing that the love and joy, that were the essence of his being, was shared with the world through all that he created. Through his music and his boundless love, Quincy Jones’ heart will beat for eternity.”

Among his family’s survivors are his seven children, including actress Rashida Jones.

In his illustrious, more than 70-year career, Jones won 28 Grammys and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. He has worked with icons from Ray Charles and Frank Sinatra to Michael Jackson, for whom he produced the best-selling albums Off the Wall, Thriller and Bad. After he took over the A&R sector at Mercury Records in 1961, Jones became the first African-American to serve as a VP at a major label. He was also the first Black composer to receive name recognition for his film work.

To honor Jones’ successful life and career, we’ve compiled a gallery photos from his musical journey. See them below.

04 Nov 2024

Billboard Artist Series Launches With Spellbinding New Photos of NewJeans

In October, NewJeans starred in the first edition of Billboard Artist, a new series of collectible art books produced by Billboard Korea. The inaugural edition tells the girl group’s story through a visual lens, showcasing the members’ style and fashion while incorporating interview highlights as well. NewJeans was honored as Group of the Year at Billboard’s 2024 Women in Music awards show.

Billboard Korea launched in August with a star-studded event in Seoul — the K-Power 100 — bringing together the leaders of all of South Korea’s major music companies and featuring performances by some of the region’s most exciting talent. Billboard Artist, an initiative led by Billboard Korea creative director Woo Lee, is available for purchase on Weverse and through various other retailers.

Below, Lee explains all about the new print series.

What is Billboard Artist?

Billboard Artist is a large-format, unbound visual art book designed for people to enjoy each page like a poster. This unique book showcases the inspiration and impact of musicians through photography, art, essays, and illustrations. Unlike traditional magazines, which have a limited life, Billboard Artist is a timeless collectible, featuring content in English and Korean. It is also available in select bookstores worldwide.

Why did you launch Billboard Artist? 

In a pre-smartphone era, magazine titles like Hero, Muse, and Icon portrayed stars as distant, untouchable figures. The world once craved stars who exuded perfection and mystique — think of David Bowie or Prince. But now, stars openly share details of their everyday lives — who they travel with, what books they read, the ideologies they hold — making them more relatable to the public. Musicians express their creativity across multiple realms beyond music, including fashion, visual arts, documentaries, and acting. Their multifaceted creativity serves as a major source of inspiration for all of us. We wanted to capture this in a tangible art book that showcases their diverse artistry and impact.

Describe the way you work with artists to create these books.

We choose an act and use their sound, history, personality and aesthetic as a source of inspiration, while also drawing from social issues, history, politics, humanities, science or mythology of significance to the artists. This might result in a fashion collaboration, an essay or poetry collaboration with a writer, a visual art collaboration with a digital artist, a beauty portrait with beauty and scent, or a short film produced with a videographer. All of this is developed freely and flexibly in conversations with the featured artists — their participation and creativity is key to the process.

Will Billboard Artist exclusively feature K-pop musicians because it’s produced by Billboard Korea?

No. Billboard Artist does not limit its scope by nationality, language, or territory. Billboard’s 130-year legacy of credibility and influence has always transcended borders. But there’s a reason why this project began with Billboard Korea. The Korean music industry prizes powerful storytelling, visual impact and fan engagement, and has a symbiotic relationship with the fashion and beauty sectors. That unique Korean perspective informs our vision.

Why was NewJeans chosen for the first edition?

The first question for us is always: “Who is the most talked-about musician right now?” We wanted to feature an artist who resonates in the present while evoking the past and inspiring thoughts of the future. NewJeans was the perfect choice because their music, fashion, and aesthetics blend ’80s nostalgia with a modern, forward-looking appeal. This 56-page art book captures the group’s charm, fusing elements of 1980s Italian youth culture, traditional Korean hanok houses, and the symbolism of birds in contemporary art into a poetic visual narrative.

How often will new editions of Billboard Artist be released?

Unlike a magazine, Billboard Artist doesn’t follow a fixed release schedule. When an artist is selected, there could be two editions in a month or just one in two months. For this year, a single edition will be released as a year-end treat, with more editions planned for 2025.

Where can people currently purchase the NewJeans edition?

Online pre-orders have closed, and we’re now in the second print run. Starting in mid-November, it will also be available at select bookstores. Updates will be posted on Billboard Korea’s Instagram.

A version of this story appears in the Oct. 26, 2024, issue of Billboard.

01 Nov 2024

Halloween 2024: See What Musicians Are Dressing Up As

It was a graveyard smash on Halloween this year, as musicians did the monster mash nationwide while showing off their creative and elaborate costume ideas.

As usual, Heidi Klum hosted her annual Halloween Party, this year presented by Butterfinger, Mattel, and Prime Video at New York City’s The Venue on Music Row. Known for her costumes that make her unrecognizable, the supermodel opted for an E.T. inspired look this year with prosthetics that made her, her husband Tom Kaulitz and daughter Leni Klum look exactly like the lovable aliens from the iconic 1982 film.

Some of the star-studded attendees of the bash included Violet Chachki and Gottmik dressed as Squidward and SpongeBob SquarePants, Questlove as the Mad Hatter, Charli D’Amelio as the Black Swan, Chase Stokes and Kelsea Ballerini as Grease‘s Danny Zuko and Sandy Olsson, Ice-T and Coco Austin as scary clowns and more.

Meanwhile, down in Atlanta, Georgia, Nelly threw a joint Halloween and birthday bash as the “Ride Wit Me” star turns 50 on Saturday (Nov. 2). For the occasion, Nelly and his celebrity friends including T.I., Jermaine Dupri, Blanco Brown, Chingy and more dressed ready for the wild, wild west to fit the cowboy theme.

Even though spooky season has officially come to a close, check out this year’s Halloween get-ups from musicians in the gallery below.

30 Oct 2024

The Best 2024 Halloween Costumes From Janelle Monáe, Selena Gomez, Tyla & More

This is Halloween! This is Halloween — and today’s biggest stars weren’t afraid to go all out for their costumes this spooky season.

Couples costumes were strong this year, with Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco kicking things off in whimsical Alice in Wonderland-inspired costumes. The Rare Beauty founder rocked a blonde wig and light blue dress as Alice and the music producer opted for full makeup as Johnny Depp’s Mad Hatter from Tim Burton’s 2010 movie adaptation of the book.

As usual, celebrities also did some major photoshoots to accompany their costumes, as Janelle Monáe showed off her photo-realistic costume as the alien E.T. from the iconic 1982 film. Dressed in a full-body recreation of the original puppet from the film, Monáe modeled a number of looks from the movie.

Megan Thee Stallion channeled a fan-favorite animated character by portraying Starfire from DC Comics. Khalid also continued the cartoon character theme with two costumes, Brock from the Pokémon franchise and Gerald from Hey Arnold!. Additionally, Lizzo showcase her self-described “LizzOzempic” outfit, inspired by a recent episode of South Park.

Halle Berry was an inspiration for music artists this year, with Tyla, Halle Bailey and Coi Leray dressed up as Sharon Stone from 1994’s The Flintstones,  “Jinx” in 2002’s James Bond flick Die Another Day and Patience Philips in Catwoman, respectively. “And they all crushed it,” Berry wrote in response on X. “The girls know how to make my day.”

Below, find the best costumes from musicians and celebrities, including some perfect musician-themed ideas, including Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos dressing up as Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce at the U.S. Open in September. See all the photos below, updating through Halloween (Oct. 31).

24 Oct 2024

From Harry Styles to Paris Hilton, Check Out These Celebs Who Dressed as Musicians for Halloween

Halloween is just around the corner, and that means celebrities will be pulling out all the tricks and treats to impress fans with their costume choices.

Over the years, A-listers have proven their passion for the holiday by showing off impressive costumes, embodying their favorite characters, creepy-crawly creatures and more with wigs, custom outfits and spooky makeup — just like all other Halloween lovers. However, many stars often dress as fellow stars, particularly musicians.

Most notably, Heidi Klum hosts her annual Halloween bash, where she usually arrives in an over-the-top costume that often makes her unrecognizable. In 2017, she rocked a werewolf suit, a varsity jacket and blue jeans to portray Michael Jackson in his iconic “Thriller” music video.

Klum is hardly the only person to dress up as a musician at her famous spooky season parties. Mariah Carey dressed as an 80s Hair Metal guitarist one year, while Shanina Shaik portrayed Rihanna.

Another popular Halloween bash is the annual Casamigos party in Los Angeles, where stars continue the trend of dressing up as famous musicians. Paris Hilton channeled her pal Britney Spears, Nina Dobrev dressed as Billie EIlish, Harry Styles as Elton John, Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly portrayed Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee and many more.

To celebrate celebrity Halloween costumes and the artists who inspired them, see below for a gallery of stars who dressed as musicians on Oct. 31.

24 Oct 2024

How Olivia Rodrigo Went Above and Beyond to Give Her Fans Unique ‘GUTS’ Tour Merch — Including These Posters

In 2024, the average merchandise campaign consists of 50 pieces of artwork that can easily be adapted for use on varied tour and direct-to-consumer items, says Matt Young, president of Bravado, Universal Music Group’s merch and brand management company. But for Olivia Rodrigo’s GUTS campaign, he says, “I think we’ve done at least 375 unique pieces of art.”

Rodrigo’s singular vision for her first arena tour extended to the products sold at its kiosks. As the album rollout and tour details came together last year, the pop star coordinated with management, Bravado and label partners to ensure that each piece of merch “felt cohesive to the greater GUTS world,” says Michelle An, Interscope Geffen A&M president/head of creative strategy.

The number of items kept ballooning as Rodrigo leaned into the creative process, with a literally hands-on approach to identifying opportunities — from concocting mood boards to helping create color palettes to touching fabrics to ensure T-shirt quality. “This was Olivia saying, ‘I think this could be more. How do we do it?’ ” Young recalls.

Some highlights of Rodrigo’s GUTS merch line include unique jewelry (silver crescent moon rings and star necklaces, a nod to the tour’s set design), a butterfly design on tote bags and pool floats, an elastic bandage tin to store “vampire”-ready Band-Aids and, ahead of Netflix’s Oct. 29 release of her tour film, a set of five GUTS popcorn boxes, perfect for a premiere-night group hang. Along with the souvenirs that are now widely available at Rodrigo’s online shop, Young also points out that her various retail partners, ranging from global fashion chains to suburban Targets, also featured their own exclusive items: “The Zara in Europe has to have something different than the Hot Topic in the U.S.”

And just as Rodrigo ended each show sporting a tank top with a cheeky message customized for each city, every GUTS tour stop with multiple shows offered customized merch, including city-­specific T-shirts and unique concert artwork designed in conjunction with local female artists. Rodrigo and Bravado approached the posters (shown below) as the ultimate collectible item — and once word got out about them early in the live run, fans started arriving to shows hours early to hit the merch booth.

“Is it logistically challenging? Sometimes, yes,” Young admits. “But it’s offset by the passion. You’re helping build a relationship with a fan in a way that they can’t really get anywhere else.”

This story appears in the Oct. 26, 2024, issue of Billboard.

23 Oct 2024

SEVENTEEN Kicks Off U.S. Tour in Chicago: See the Photos From Opening Night

SEVENTEEN has touched down in the United States. The superstar K-pop group kicked off the U.S. leg of their [RIGHT HERE] world tour at the Allstate Arena in Chicago on Tuesday night (Oct. 22), marking their first time onstage in the nation in more than two years.

The three-hour show was jam-packed with 22 songs across their discography, including their most recent album, Spill the Feels, which arrived earlier this month. U.S. fans were treated to their first onstage performance of the DJ Khaled-assisted single, “LOVE, MONEY, FAME.”

SEVENTEEN also treated fans to a mini-musical inspired by their YouTube series, Going Seventeen.

“Thank you so much for showing us endless love and support even if we’re not able to see each other often. We’ll definitely be back here soon so just wait for that. We love you,” Joshua told the crowd full of CARATs at one point, before S.COUPS added, “Until the thirteen of us are together again, let’s stay together and protect each other while enjoying ourselves.” 

The group is set to perform once again in Chicago on Wednesday night (Oct. 23), before the group continues their tour across the U.S., making stops in New York (Oct. 25 and 27), San Antonio (Oct. 31 and Nov. 1), Oakland (Nov. 5 and 6), and Los Angeles (Nov. 9 and 10). See the full list of tour dates and ticket information here.

To celebrate SEVENTEEN’s U.S. tour kickoff, we’ve compiled some of the best photos from the high-energy show. Check them out in our gallery below.

18 Oct 2024

BOYNEXTDOOR: Exclusive Photos of the October 2024 K-Pop Rookie of the Month

Meet RIWOO

Riwoo
Image Credit: JoongSan Yang

“When we learn the choreography for the first time, we usually learn choreography that is almost complete, but I feel like we have to include our own style,” RIWOO says of his creative specialty in the group. “If our members want to show something, I want to make sure we can express it and edit it a little so that it’s more BOYNEXTDOOR.”