Pop

07 Jul 2023

Madison Beer Says She Couldn’t ‘Comprehend’ Lana Del Rey Shoutout: ‘She’s Just Incredible’

Madison Beer is gearing up to release her sophomore album Silence Between Songs on September 15, and the singer-songwriter sat down with Billboard‘s Rania Aniftos to discuss the inspiration behind her upcoming project.

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“I got started really young doing this, and I feel like I’ve had a very busy 12 years or so in the industry and I kind of convinced myself that the moments where I was making music and when I was on tour and when I was my busiest was when I was growing,” she shared of the metaphorical album title. “As I’ve gotten a little bit older, I realized it’s actually been the moments that I’ve been able to tune out the noise and I’ve been able to be alone, really reflect and be more isolated where I’ve grown the most. So, it’s the silence between songs and when the noise is turned off is when I feel like I’ve learned who I am the most.”

Over the course of her career, Beer has grown a loyal fanbase and even some famous supporters including Lana Del Rey, who expressed how much she enjoys the 24-year-old’s music at Billboard’s Women in Music event back in March.

“She’s so cute and sweet that I was the first person she thought to name,” Beer expressed. “It’s just not something that I think I can comprehend. I think it also goes back to feeling conditioned that no one likes me and I’m not good enough and whatever. Having someone like her validate that I am, and that she’s in any semblance a fan is crazy. Not only do you know who I am, you’ve listened to my music. It’s wild. She’s just incredible. I could gush over her forever.”

Watch Billboard‘s full interview with Madison Beer above.

07 Jul 2023

Danielle Jonas Says She Sometimes Feels ‘Less Than’ Sisters-in-Law Priyanka Chopra & Sophie Turner

Danielle Jonas got vulnerable while appearing alongside husband Kevin Jonas in a new episode of the LadyGang podcast this week, in which she opened up about comparing herself to Joe Jonas and Nick Jonas’ wives, Sophie Turner and Priyanka Chopra, respectively.

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“The two boys married somebody who, they’re actresses, they’re out there, everyone knows them. And I feel like I’m Danielle, and it’s hard,” she explained to the podcast’s hosts Keltie Knight, Jac Vanek and Becca Tobin, before telling Kevin, “It’s also that I’m out there celebrity-wise because I’ve married you.”

She continued, “And that’s where it’s like, ‘Oh, I wanna have something else to my name too.’ So that it feels … I don’t know, more than or like the other girls. ‘Cause then when I’m with the other girls, I feel just less than sometimes. It’s weird.”

Kevin was quick to assure his wife that he feels the same around his younger brothers. “I feel the same way with Nick and Joe, right? Like solo careers, movies, all this stuff. It’s like everyone has to find their place,” he said, “No matter the situation, right?”

36-year-old Danielle and the 35-year-old Jonas Brothers singer first met on a vacation in the Bahamas back in 2007. They tied the knot two years later at Oheka Castle in Long Island, NY, and have been going strong ever since. The longtime couple share two daughters: nine-year-old Alena and six-year-old Valentina.

07 Jul 2023

Is Taylor Swift’s ‘When Emma Falls in Love’ About Emma Stone & Andrew Garfield? Swifties Think So

Back when Taylor Swift was writing Speak Now, she wasn’t afraid to use some cryptic references to her real life experiences — “Dear John” being the prime example.

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So when Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) arrived on Friday (July 7), Swifties immediately began analyzing the six new “From the Vault” songs, previously unreleased tracks that were cut from the original album.

Among the new songs, “When Emma Falls in Love” immediately stood out to Swifies, as they began to speculate who the Emma in the song could be. The most popular fan theory is that the song is about Emma Stone, who met her ex-boyfriend Andrew Garfield in 2010 (the same year Speak Now was released). The couple dated for five years before ultimately breaking up in 2015.

“When Emma falls in love, she calls up her mom / Jokes about the ways that this one could go wrong / She waits and takes her time / ‘Cause Little Miss Sunshine always thinks it’s gonna rain,” Swift sings in the track, which fans thought could be referring to Stone for a number of reasons.

In the 2010 film Easy A, one of the most memorable scenes was Stone’s character dancing around to Natasha Bedingfield’s hit, “Pocketful of Sunshine.” The sun reference also came up in a later interview with Garfield, who likened the actress to “sunlight.”

However, some fans don’t think the timeline adds up, as Speak Now was released in October 2010, after Stone and Garfield had met but weren’t publicly dating. At the time, Stone was actually dating Kieran Culkin.

See below for fan theories about “When Emma Falls in Love.”

07 Jul 2023

Taylor Swift Reveals the ‘Saddest,’ ‘Most Scathing’ & ‘Most Wistfully Romantic’ Songs She’s Ever Written

Taylor Swift unveiled Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) on Friday (July 7) and the superstar kept the nostalgia for her 2010 third studio album alive with a moving prologue reminiscent of her original Speak Now liner notes that remain popular among Swifties.

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“When I look back at the Speak Now album, I get a lump in my throat. I have a feeling it will always be this way, because this period of time is so violently aglow with the last light of the setting sun of my childhood,” she began her message, which fans who bought the album have taken to social media to share. “I made this album, completely self-written, between the ages of 18 and 20. I’ve spoken about how I feel like those ages are the most emotionally turbulent ones in a person’s life. Maybe when I say that, I’m really just talking about myself.”

Throughout the prologue, Swift recalls the Speak Now era of her life, which was complete with publicized romantic relationships, criticisms surrounding her musical abilities and, of course, the infamous VMAs scandal with Kanye West. “I wanted to get better, to challenge myself, and to build on my skills as a writer, an artist, and a performer,” she shared of her mindset at the time.

The superstar also revealed that three songs on Speak Now stick out to her even after all these years. “It was an album that was the most precious to me because of its vast extremes. It was unfiltered and potent. In my mind, the saddest song I’ve ever written is ‘Last Kiss.’ My most scathing is ‘Dear John’ and my most wistfully romantic is ‘Enchanted.’” she shared.

Read the full prologue on Reddit here.

07 Jul 2023

Victor Wembanyama Guard Won’t Be Charged in Alleged Britney Spears Incident, Police Say

The Las Vegas Police Department has concluded its investigation into the alleged incident between Britney Spears and a member of NBA rookie Victor Wembanyama’s security team. In a statement to Billboard on Friday (July 7), the LVMPD said it had wrapped up its probe into the alleged battery that took place on Wednesday in Las Vegas and concluded that “no charges will be filed against the person involved.”

Spears filed a police report after she claimed that she was stuck by a member of Wembanyama’s security team while trying to greet the player in a Las Vegas hotel.

According to TMZ, which first reported the news, Spears was having dinner with husband Sam Asghari and two friends at Catch at the Aria Hotel when she saw the San Antonio Spurs No. 1 pick and wanted to take a photo with him. When she tapped Wembanyama on the shoulder, Director of Team Security for the Spurs Damian Smith reportedly pushed her, hitting her in the face and causing the singer to fall to the ground.

Smith then reportedly apologized to Spears, saying he didn’t recognize the pop star at the time of the incident, with the “Piece of Me” singer reportedly accepted the apology. Afterwards, however, Spears decided to file a police report alleging battery. TMZ reported that law enforcement checked the Aria Hotel’s security footage, which reportedly showed Smith pushing Spears’ hand away from Wembanyama, causing her own hand to strike her in the face before she fell.

Billboard reached out to Spears’ team and the Spurs for additional information and comment on the incident, with neither responding at press time.

On Thursday Spears posted a note on her Instagram explaining her side of the story. “Traumatic experiences are not new to me and I have had my fair share of them. I was not prepared for what happened to me last night,” she wrote. “I recognized an athlete in my hotel lobby as I was heading to dinner. I later went to a restaurant at a different hotel and saw him again. I decided to approach him and congratulate him on his success. It was really loud, so I tapped him on the shoulder to get his attention. I am aware of the players statement where he mentions ‘I grabbed him from behind’ but I simply tapped him on the shoulder. His security then back handed me in the face without looking back, in front of a crowd. Nearly knocking me down and causing my glasses [to fall] off my face.”

Wembanyama issued a statement to the Associated Press in which he claimed that Spears “grabbed me from behind,” and that he didn’t know it was the singer until hours later. “I just know the security pushed her away. I don’t know with how much force but security pushed her away. I didn’t stop to look so I could walk in and enjoy a nice dinner,” he said.

Spears added in her statement that, “I get swarmed by people all the time. In fact, that night. I was swarmed by a group of at least 20 fans. My security team didn’t hit any of them. This story is super embarrassing to share with the world but it’s out there already. However, I think it’s important to share this story and urge people in the public eye to set an example and treat all people with respect.”

07 Jul 2023

Friday Music Guide: New Music From Taylor Swift, TOMORROW X TOGETHER & Jonas Brothers and More

Billboard’s Friday Music Guide serves as a handy guide to this Friday’s most essential releases — the key music that everyone will be talking about today, and that will be dominating playlists this weekend and beyond. 

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This week, Taylor Swift unveils her latest re-recording, TOMORROW X TOGETHER creates summer fun with Jonas Brothers, and new albums from Rauw Alejandro and Dominic Fike are ready to be fired up. Check out all of this week’s picks below:

Taylor Swift, Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) 

Speak Now (Taylor’s Version), the newly released re-recording of Taylor Swift’s 2010 album, reanimates a country-pop masterpiece that was solely written by Swift as her teens gave her to her twenties. Speak Now showcased Swift’s aesthetic command and solidifying point of view during a period of personal growth — and along with revisiting one of the most complete projects of her career, the six “From The Vault” songs on Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) are of a piece with that growth.

Click here to read more about all six “From The Vault” songs on Speak Now (Taylor’s Version).

TOMORROW X TOGETHER & Jonas Brothers, “Do It Like That” 

Shortly after offering a sparkling summer jam with “Waffle House,” Jonas Brothers have joined forces with TOMORROW X TOGETHER to faithfully provide fans with more fodder for their cookout playlists: “Do It Like That” is a no-frills jam from a pair of collectives whose brands of pop fit together quite easily. Much of the song’s immediate appeal comes from its percussive bounce, snaps and pops and found-sound clanging piquing eardrums, but the JoBros and TXT ride those drums admirably, offering plenty of charm over “Do It Like That’s” short run time.

Rauw Alejandro, Playa Saturno 

The cover of Rauw Alejandro’s new album Playa Saturno features the Puerto Rican superstar alone on a desolate planet, lounging in a beach chair under an umbrella; the implication is that, no matter what the environment, Alejandro will be ready to unleash summery pleasures. The best moments of Playa Saturno find Alejandro enhancing the kinetic grooves that he previously explored on hits like “Todo De Ti” and “Party” with Bad Bunny; “Si Te Pegas,” featuring Miguel Bosé, is saved for the final minutes of the full-length, but may be the most joyful distillation of Alejandro’s formula in recent memory.

Dominic Fike, Sunburn 

Florida is the beating, complicated heart of Sunburn, Dominic Fike’s second studio album, which examines the singer-songwriter’s upbringing as he refines his singular approach to emotionally honest pop. Songs like “Mona Lisa,” “Sick” and the Weezer collaboration “Think Fast” carry a hangdog appeal on top of more serious issues, as Fike pivots from rapping to crooning over fuzzed-out guitars with aplomb while prodding at the many issues in the past and present of his home state.

FendiDa Rappa feat. Cardi B, “Point Me 2” 

Cardi B’s year of blessing rising women in rap with scorching-hot guest verses continues: after hopping on GloRilla’s “Tomorrow 2” and Latto’s “Put It On Da Floor Again” — and sending both songs charging up the charts — the superstar has linked up with Chicago MC FendiDa Rappa on “Point Me 2,” scooping up the ominous beat as her own while also giving her new collaborator ample room to shine. Each of these guest verses have shown Cardi in smash-the-world mode, and here, she rips into lines like “I blow fifty racks in Target, on some stupid shit” with enough force to flatten a city block.

Editor’s Pick: NewJeans, “Super Shy”

While songs like “OMG” and “Ditto” have helped NewJeans mount their position as one of K-pop’s most exciting new acts, their new single expands their boundaries even further, simply by locating a type of bubblegum wonder that fans of any strain of popular music can happily chew. “Super Shy” sports rapidly shuffling beats, subtle synth work and the NewJeans members seamlessly weaving in and out of rap breakdowns and melodic yearning, as they try to combat their bashfulness together and achieve one of the summer’s most undeniable pop tracks.

07 Jul 2023

Harry Styles Invited Three Ukrainian Refugees to His Show in Poland

Harry Styles brought a little ray of sunshine to a trio of Ukrainian refugees who fled their embattled country last year just months after the launch of Russia’s unprovoked war on its neighbor. The singer teamed with the International Rescue Committee (IRC) to invited the women to his Love on Tour show in Warsaw, Poland’s PGE Narodowy Stadium on Sunday.

According to a post from the humanitarian aid organization, 13-year-old Daria, her mother Maryna and their friend Daria Kathina fled their hometown of Mykolayiv, Ukraine in July 2022 — more than four months after Russia’s Vladimir Putin launched the war — and have rebuilt their lives in Sosnowiec, Poland.

“I’m so grateful to Harry Styles and to the IRC, which has supported me to pursue my dream career in Poland, for giving us the chance to forget our worries for a night and sing and dance at the concert,” said Maryna in a statement on IRC’s Instagram page. The IRC thanked Styles for donating the tickets and for his continued support of the organization.

In addition, Maryna told the IRC, “Since being forced to leave our home in Ukraine last year, it’s been a challenge adjusting to life in a new country – especially for my daughter, Daria, and my 10-year-old son. I’m so grateful to Harry Styles and the IRC, which has supported me to pursue my dream career in Poland, for giving us the chance to forget our worries for a night, and sing and dance at the concert.” 

In an accompanying video the three women are seen attending the show loaded down with bulging Styles swag bags and enjoying the gig from their primo seats.

The IRC also noted that Maryna has been participating in the IRC’s Step to Work project for Ukrainian refugees in Poland and is pursuing her dream of being a tram driver. The three women are among the nearly 6 million Ukrainians who’ve been forced to flee their homes, including more than 94,000 who’ve landed in Poland.

The next stop on Styles’ tour is in Vienna, Austria on Saturday (July 8), with the European leg of the trek slated to wind down on July 22 in Reggio Emilia, Italy at the RCF Arena.

Check out the IRC’s post below.

07 Jul 2023

Taylor Swift Posts Patriotic July 4th Party Pics With Haim, Selena Gomez

Taylor Swift might be in the midst of her massive Eras Tour and as you surely know she just released Speak Now (Taylor’s Version). But in keeping with her time-honored tradition of celebrating the 4th of July with a few of her closest A-list friends, the singer spent Tuesday chilling out with pals including the members of Haim and longtime bestie, Selena Gomez.

“Happy belated Independence Day from your local neighborhood independent girlies,” Swift captioned a series of photos she uploaded on Friday (July 7). In the first pic, Swift sticks out her tongue while hanging in the grass in her bikini surrounded by her pals Este, Alana and Danielle Haim — who have opened some dates on her Eras Tour — with Gomez laying down in the middle of the cuddle pile along with the singer’s longtime bestie Nashville stylist Ashley Avignone and brother Austin’s reported girlfriend, Sydney Ness.

A second slide is made up of four Polaroids, including one in which Tay hugs a smiling Gomez from behind, wrapping her arms around Selena’s shoulder and a second where the pair prepare to share a red, white and blue bomb pop. The two other snaps appear to show the women singing karaoke in the kitchen and piling up for a group hug. The final pic is a solo shot of Taylor sitting on a wall overlooking the water in an off-the-shoulder black and white dress.

Swift has hosted a 4th of July blowout for years, with her crew of models, actors and singers making the trek to Tay’s Rhode Island mansion for pool parties and pics. Over the years guests have included her exs, Calvin Harris, Tom Hiddleston and Joe Jonas, as well as Ed Sheeran, Nick Jonas, Gigi Hadid, Lena Dunham, Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Martha Hunt, Serayah, Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, St. Vincent, Karlie Kloss, Cara Delevingne and many more.

The Eras Tour resumes on Friday night (July 7) with the first of two shows at Kansas City, MO’s GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.

See Swift’s post below.

07 Jul 2023

BTS’ Jung Kook to Kick Off ‘Good Morning America’s Summer Concert Series 2023: See the Lineup

Jung Kook is about to bring the fire and set the summer alight! Good Morning America announced on Friday (July 7), that the BTS member is set to kick off the long-running show’s annual Summer Concert Series this year.

“Get ready to dance!” Jung Kook tells ARMY with a smile in a brief video message during the announcement. The performance, which will be his solo debut on GMA — will take place July 14 in New York’s Central Park. That happens to be the same day that Jung Kook is dropping his solo single “Seven,” which he announced on June 29, so there’s a strong chance fans will get the live debut of his song during the performance.

Also slated for the Summer Concert Series are Carly Rae Jepsen, Hozier, and Fitz and the Tantrums, who will be performing live in the Times Square studio. And to celebrate the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, there will be a special set featuring Busta Rhymes, Fat Joe, Remy Ma and BIA, which will also take place in Central Park. On the country front, Tim McGraw and Sam Hunt are scheduled to perform in Central Park.

Tickets for all the performances in the park will be available beginning at noon today via GMA‘s website. The sets in Times Square will not have live audiences.

See GMA‘s complete Summer Concert Series lineup below:

  • July 14: Jung Kook, Central Park
  • July 28: Fitz and the Tantrums, Times Square studio
  • Aug. 10: Carly Rae Jepsen, Times Square studio
  • Aug. 11: Fat Joe, Remy Ma, Busta Rhymes and BIA, Central Park
  • Aug. 18: Hozier, Times Square studio
  • Aug. 25: Tim McGraw, Central Park
  • Sept. 1: Sam Hunt, Central Park

Watch Good Morning America‘s announcement video below:


https://youtube.com/watch?v=6fKdReggLhY&version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-US&autohide=2&wmode=transparent

07 Jul 2023

Ice Spice Considers Taylor Swift a Mentor: ‘She Gives Me So Much Advice’

Ice Spice has dominated the year with a slew of star-studded collaborations, but success on the Billboard Hot 100 is not the only thing she has gleaned from these tracks. In an interview with The Guardian published Friday (July 7), the “Munch” rapper opened up about how both Taylor Swift and Nicki Minaj have become mentors to her.

According to Ice, Swift — who tapped the rapper for a much-discussed “Karma” remix — had been listening to her Like..? EP during rehearsals for her Eras Tour. “I was like, ‘You f–k with my project? Like, what?’” Ice said. “She’s so sweet – I was so obsessed with how humble she was and willing to work. She gives me so much advice – we talk all the time and she’s so funny. … But I can’t say what she be telling me.”

The “Karma” remix peaked at No. 2 on the Hot 100, tying “Lavender Haze” as the second-highest charting single from Midnights.

The idea for the collaboration came from Ice Spice, according to the rapper — she “reached out through her team, just kind of saying, ‘Hey, Ice has been a big fan of Taylor’s since she was a little kid, would love to collaborate if that was ever something that came about.’” As with so much of her career already, Ice manifested the collaboration into existence and soon performed the remix to a sold-out stadium alongside Swift at the New Jersey Eras Tour stops.

Aside from Swift, Grammy-nominated rap icon Nicki Minaj has been another key collaborator for Ice Spice this year. The two New York rappers have teamed up for a pair of Hot 100 top 10 hits: “Princess Diana” (No. 4) and the AQUA-assisted “Barbie World” (No. 7). In the interview, Ice expressed how much she has learned from spending time with the “Red Ruby Da Sleeze” rapper.

“She be telling me to learn from her mistakes – just watching her in general, if you pay close enough attention, you gonna see what you should do,” Ice said. “I love to talk to her about things that I can’t talk about publicly – it just means so much to be able to have somebody like her.”

In addition to “Karma,” “Princess Diana” and “Barbie World,” Ice Spice has also sent a fourth song to the top 10 of the Hot 100 this year: the Jersey-inflected PinkPantheress duet “Boy’s a Liar, Pt. 2” (No. 3).