Pop
Page: 107
Coca-Cola has worked with the International Olympic Committee for nearly a century, but for the first time in their 96-year relationship, the brand and the producers of the Olympic games have collaborated on a song that both organizations will use beyond the Paris 2024 Olympics, which start tomorrow (July 26).
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
The upbeat, unifying “Hello World,” written by Ryan Tedder with additional lyrics by Anderson.Paak and performed by Gwen Stefani and .Paak, was released by digital service providers around the world on Thursday (July 25). The video, available on the International Olympic Committee’s YouTube channel, features the two artists dancing in front of the iconic five Olympic rings, interspersed with electrifying footage from past Summer Olympics.
The song and video will be featured throughout the Games as the International Olympic Committee and the Coca-Cola Company will leverage the song across their marketing and communications programming during the two-week Paris competition, with the intention to use it in future Olympics Games as well.
Trending on Billboard
Instead of picking a specific artist or licensing an existing song for the project, Josh Burke, global head of music and culture marketing at the Coca-Cola Company, and Brian Monaco, Sony Music Publishing’s president/global marketing officer, met over dinner to discuss broader concepts.
“We were brainstorming ways to work more closely together, and I pitched the idea of creating an original song for the Olympics,” says Monaco. “We chatted over the next few weeks and decided to test out some demos to share with the Coca-Cola team and the International Olympic Committee. I called Ryan Tedder because he is an amazing songwriter and he and I have a solid track record working with some of the world’s top brands. We immediately started hashing out concepts for the song.”
The creative brief for Tedder was simple. “We wanted a song with broad appeal that would resonate worldwide, an uplifting and bright song that would inspire everyday greatness among athletes and music fans,” Burke says. “It was also important to us that we wouldn’t try to create a ‘brand’ song or ‘jingle’, and we’d have to give up some control, which is very difficult to do! We trusted Ryan and the process and that’s how “Hello World” was born.” Tedder has worked with Coca-Cola previously, including on Sprite’s Limelight 2023 program.
[embedded content]
“It’s not every day that you’re given the opportunity to write an official song in celebration of the Olympic Games, and I am grateful to be part of such an incredible collaboration,” Tedder tells Billboard. “The Games are an important way for all of us to come together and celebrate each other globally, and we wrote this song with that in mind. I grew up watching every Olympics since childhood, so this is a lifelong dream. I hope this song inspires and uplifts. I’m excited to share ‘Hello World’ with all of you, and I want to thank Brian Monaco, and the teams at Coca-Cola and IOC, for their partnership and support.”
Once Tedder finished the song, the search for the right artists began, landing on Stefani and .Paak, both of whom are repped by Full Stop Management. “Gwen & Anderson’s energy together is undeniable, and both have these incredibly unique and iconic voices that were a perfect blend this global track,” Burke says. “ We also loved that this was the first time Ryan, Gwen and Anderson have collaborated, and the story of two very different artists coming together is a nice nod to Coke’s legacy in music and the spirit of the Olympic Games.”
Coca-Cola and IOC worked hand in hand on the project. “The IOC were our partners every step of the way, from concept to execution, and they were incredible collaborators in this process,” Burke says. “Beyond the Olympic rings, the footage is from their archives and also features several athletes that Coca-Cola is collaborating with for our broader Olympic brand activity for Paris 2024.”
Coca-Cola has an existing partnership with Universal Music Group and worked with UMG’s Interscope Records, Stefani’s label home, to release the song. “It was crucial that we treated this release in the most authentic way possible,” Burke says. “And with the same care as any major single.”
Going forward, Sony Music Publishing will administer the majority of the song globally (.Paak’s portion is handled by Warner Chappell) and work with Coca-Cola and the IOC on future projects.
For .Paak, blending their different genres to create something “was the real magic of creating with Gwen and Ryan on our new song,” he said in a statement. “While we hope the song becomes an instant hit and gives listeners worldwide a new sound to groove to, we also hope to inspire fans and athletes to embrace the differences that make them unique as we celebrate the excitement of the Olympic Games.”
SEVENTEEN are hitting the road for a global tour this year. On Wednesday (July 24) the 13-member K-pop group announced that they are planning to hit the road in the fall for their Right Here world tour, which will feature gigs in the U.S., South Korea, Asia and Japan. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts […]
While some people think pranks are the pinnacle of the comedic arts, Billie Eilish just hates them. They make her anxious and uncomfortable, so naturally she agreed to participate in Elle Magazine’s “Phoning It In” segment, where she called up her famous friends and label team just to totally mess with them.
“I am filled to the brim with anxiety right now,” she says at the beginning of the 10-minute segment. After passing on Zoe Kravitz for logistical reasons, first up was Barbie star Margot Robbie, whom Billie called with a pretend ask about using the actress’ home for a video shoot after a previous location fell through. “Please don’t pick up, please don’t pick up,” Eilish whispered to herself anxiously as the phone rang.
Using her pop juggernaut powers to bust through Robbie’s airplane mode while the star had her phone shut down on set and laughing as Margot praised Billie’s Hit Me Hard and Soft album (“dead, dead dying”), an embarrassed Eilish was even more rattled asking the for the fake favor. “I ordinarily would say f–k yeah, but we are packing up our house tomorrow,” Robbie said sweetly as Eilish squirmed in her chair.
Trending on Billboard
Doubling down while looking for a back-up, Eilish casually mentioned that there would be 200 extras coming along, requiring a lot of inside and outside space. Eilish could not keep up the facade, though, falling apart and admitting the joke as Robbie laughed and said she was seriously “racking my brain” to find a solution. “I hate pranks so much, I don’t even know Margot like that!” she told Robbie, who laughed off the bit with good humor.
Next up on Eilish’s “most embarrassing day” ever, was a call to her Darkroom label CEO Justin Lubliner to casually pretend she’s quitting music, a bit that made her want to “throw up right now” as she noted that “my body is a temperature it’s never been.” Trying her best to play it straight, Billie revealed, “I can’t do this anymore, like I am going to quit music and I’m not doing this anymore.” Lubliner was concerned about her first of all, asking if she was okay, while Eilish had to keep doubling-down on the fake news and saying there was nothing he could do to change her mind.
“Forget business for a second, can you tell me what’s going on?,” Lubliner said as Eilish could not hold it in anymore and revealed the joke. A shook Lubliner said, “that really hit me deep… you sounded really upset. I was about to pull up to wherever you are and give you a hug. That’s where my head went.”
Shaking, she called up pal Tyler, the Creator with a bit she came up with about messing her pants. “Okay Tyler, you’re not gonna believe what just happened to me and I need help so bad,” she told the rapper. “Dude, I’m on a date. I’m in the bathroom and I s–t my f–king pants.” Tyler’s response was, naturally, “Fire. Honestly? Fire. You deserve it!” Eilish said she was close to his house and wondered if she could swing by to change.
“I’m in Atlanta!” Tyler explained, as Eilish asked if she could still swing by his L.A. home for a shower and clothes. Tyler said no problem, but then had questions, like, how did it happen? “I thought it was a fart and then it just kept going,” Billie explained as she giggled at the phone and Tyler tried to figure out how she didn’t know she was passing more than gas.
Once she told him the truth, the singer said the silence from the MC who had his own prank-adjacent show called Loiter Squad was perfect. “That’s the content that they’re doing for journalism now?” he asked. “Nice, look, I sharted like two months ago,” he added.
Amazed at how nice everyone was being, Eilish pressed on, calling her friend Dakota Johnson to see if the Madame Web star had any advice on playing a baby in a movie. Wondering if it’s a good script and asking pertinent questions, Johnson sweetly tried to help when Eilish inquired about a good dialect coach for making baby sounds. “That’s the question?” Johnson wondered. “I was gonna ask you if it was a prank!” Johnson added shortly after of the ridiculous query, dispensing with what her actual question was going to be: “don’t you have enough money already?” The segment ended with Johnson threatening to get Eilish back twice as bad.
Eilish is slated to kick off the Hit Me Hard and Soft tour on Sept. 29 in Quebec at the Centre Videotron.
Watch Eilish prank her pals below.
[embedded content]
It’s a whole new ballgame for Katy Perry, as the “Roar” singer is confirmed as the headline performer for the AFL Grand Final.
The U.S. pop star will perform this September at the imposing Melbourne Cricket Ground, the venue for the ’s showpiece event.
On Thursday, July 25 the league announced her appearance at the grand final, confirming weeks of speculation.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
“The sound of millions of Aussies roaring at the same spectacle, I’d like to hear that,” she says in a promo, a reference to the code’s “I’d Like to See That” campaign in the ‘90s. “100,000 passionate fans roaring at the mighty MCG,” says adds in the clip posted by the AFL, “I can’t wait to hear that.”
The AFL’s big day is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 28.
Trending on Billboard
It won’t be the first time Perry has performed at the MCG for a major sporting event. In March 2020, just days before the pandemic shut borders and venues everywhere, Perry sang at the final of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, an abbreviated format of cricket.
Whether she wraps her head around Aussies rules’ unique gameplay and terminology remains to be seen.
Perry is, of course, on the musical comeback trail. Earlier this month, she dropped “Woman’s World,” her first new music since 2020’s Smile, which reached No. 5 on the Billboard 200.
The song serves as the lead track to her upcoming, long-awaited dance-pop album, 143, which is code for “I love you” and is due to arrive on Sept. 20. “Woman’s World” hasn’t set the charts on fire. The track bowed at No. 63 on the Billboard Hot 100, one of her 36 appearances on the tally, and No. 47 on the Official U.K. Singles Chart.
She may have only released her Joyride EP, but Kesha is now gearing up for what could be the most defining release of her career, hinting at a new album released on Kesha Records that she claims features “the best songs, I think, of my entire career”.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
In a recent interview with Paper Magazine, the singer opened up about the significance of her upcoming album – her first as an independent artist following her legal battle with Kemosabe Records founder Dr. Luke, whom she accused of sexual, physical, and emotional abuse in 2014.
The producer has consistently denied Kesha’s allegations and sued her for defamation, but the two settled the case before it went to trial last year.
Trending on Billboard
Now, fresh off the release of her Joyride EP on July 4, which included her independently released single of the same name, Kesha is reveling in her newfound creative freedom ahead of another album release. “This is the first album I’m making where I’m 100% in control of everything,” she told Paper. “It feels like it’s my first album.”
“It feels divine; it feels like it stands for a lot. It’s really beautiful, and I cannot wait to share it. It’s maybe the most beautiful time of my entire life! I am so excited I got to work with the people I did and capture this moment in time, and put it onto something other people can listen to.”
“It’s been deeply life-changing and profound to make this album, but it’s also the most fun I’ve ever had in my life. If you thought Animal was fun, just fucking wait.”
The “TiK ToK” hitmaker also drew parallels between her current creative state and the mindset that produced Animal, her 2010 debut that stormed to No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
“This is the first time in my life I’ve felt similarly to how I did in that point in my life, when I was making music from a purely joyful place,” Kesha explained.
“It’s all really 100% me. That feels really good, just to step into my own worth, and my own power and not have anything in my mind or the external world say it’s anything but me. It’s pretty unavoidable that whether people like or hate ‘Joyride,’ it’s all me.”
“Joyride” peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Dance/Electronic Streaming Songs chart and No. 6 on the Billboard Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart.
07/24/2024
His choices of onstage friends and cover versions made his decade-long MSG run a celebration of pop music history.
07/24/2024
Karlie Kloss is still a Swiftie. The model sat down for an interview with Yahoo! News recently, nearly a year after she surprised fans by attending Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour in Los Angeles, despite longtime rumors of a feud between the two former besties. When asked by the publication about her favorite song from Swift’s […]
Cher‘s life has been so epic that one volume won’t suffice. The singer posted the cover of her upcoming two-part memoir on her Instagram on Wednesday (July 24), revealing a throwback pic from early in her six-decade career and her name splayed in color-shifting font just above.
According to The Hollywood Reporter Cher: The Memoir, Part One, is due out on November 19 through Dey Street Books, an imprint of the William Morrow Group at Harper Collins. “After more than seventy years of fighting to live her life on her own terms, Cher finally reveals her true story in intimate detail, in a two-part memoir,” the publisher wrote in a statement about the book that will chronicle the 78-year-old singer’s childhood and tumultuous marriage to late partner Sonny Bono. “With her trademark honesty and humor, Cher: The Memoir traces how this diamond in the rough succeeded with no plan and little confidence to become the trailblazing superstar the world has been unable to ignore for more than half a century.”
The second part of the anticipated autobiography is slated for release in 2025.
Trending on Billboard
The singer cemented her pop icon credentials further in December when she earned a No. 1 hit on the Billboard songs chart with “DJ Play a Christmas Song,” tying her with the Rolling Stones as the only acts to have at least one new No. 1 on a Billboard songs chart in each of seven decades from the 1960s through the 2020s.
The road to the memoir has been a long one, with the Cher tweeting in 2018 that the first part of the book would drop in 2020, while also hyping a biopic whose details have not yet been confirmed; in 1998, Cher released a memoir entitled The First Time, a collection of essays that recounted a number of the major first-time events in her life.
Then, on the Tonight Show in November, Cher told Jimmy Fallon that she wasn’t quite ready to share her full story with her fans, saying she didn’t have a title for the book at the time. “I just totally chickened out. I didn’t put in some things that need to be in, and they’re not comfortable,” she told Fallon. “But they need to be put in, so I have to go back and man up… I’ve lived too long and done too much, and so it’s like it should be the encyclopedia.”
The Oscar, Grammy, Emmy and Golden Globe-winning singer/actress who rose to fame in the 1960s as part of the duo Sonny & Cher with Bono is best known for their signature duet “I Got You Babe,” as well as solo hits “Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down),” “Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves,” “If I Could Turn Back Time” and “Believe,” and acting in films such as Silkwood, Mask, Moonstruck and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.
Check out the cover of Cher: The Memoir, Part One below.
Put your hands up, they’re playing her song — a billion times and counting. Miley Cyrus‘ smash “Party in the U.S.A.” has surpassed the nine-zeros mark on YouTube, marking her second music video to reach the milestone. Uploaded in September 2009, the Chris Applebaum-directed video finds the then-16-year-old pop star, well, partying in the U.S.A. […]
If you’re on the couch with your popcorn just aching for some more drama between pop singers, do not invite Paramore singer Hayley Williams to your party, because she’s not interested. In an Instagram Story recorded after a show in Hamburg on Tuesday (July 23), Williams hopped on camera to give her no-holds-barred take on the attempts by some to pit female pop stars against each other.
Sliding off screen to change, Williams gave a two-minute treatise on why she hates the internet, but also on the irrational focus on competition between artists. “Something I’ve been thinking about a lot, and why I don’t really love it [the internet]… Especially in the music world, like when it comes, to like, music, whether it’s the pop girls or any scene, really. People only give a f–k about numbers now, and stats. And that is so lame. It’s very fun, don’t get me wrong. It’s sick. We’ve had a #1 album and top this and that albums, yes. That s–t is great…,” she said.
After a quick change into sweatshirt, Williams continued, “But I just remember a time when that was not so important, and that also wasn’t like a gotcha for a stan-war type of situation. Anyway, I just think it’s really f–king annoying… My side of the internet, which is basically not really the internet. Where I just get to support all the pop girls. Maybe that’s privilege. because I’m not a pop girl, but I just think everyone should cool it and let people make really great music and s–t… I’m over it.”
Trending on Billboard
With just the top of her head visible as she hung upside down in the frame to give a view up her nostrils, Williams concluded that she is, “over it.” (Watch the whole video here.) As noted by Stereogum, the Story has since disappeared, but a residual tile remains on which Williams added, “witnessing stan wars makes me so happy pmore is not really in the pop world. i just get to enjoy the good s–t thats come out this year and im sorry some of yall cant thats gotta be tough damn.”
Paramore’s great summer adventure opening for Taylor Swift rolls on tonight (July 24) with the final show in Hamburg, Germany, before the outing moves on to Munich’s Olympiastadion for gigs on Saturday(July 27) and Sunday (July 28). The group will stay touring with Swift through a fifth and final gig at Wembley Stadium in London on August 20.