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A trailblazer in fan communication, Dear U has officially begun the expansion of its messaging platform, Bubble, into the Western market with J Balvin and Peso Pluma.
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Billboard can exclusively share that starting Sept. 30, the Latin music powerhouses will be the “first of many artists outside of Asia” to engage with fans through Dear U’s newly launched U.S. version of the platform. The duo joins a large number of K-pop artists using the Bubble platform (also known as “the bubble”) to share private messages, voice notes, video content, and behind-the-scenes moments with subscribers including chart-toppin acts like Stray Kids, (G)I-DLE, BLACKPINK‘s Jisoo and Lisa, as well as a handful of Korean actors, athletes and content creators.
Since launching its artist-to-fan messaging service in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic era of social distancing, Dear U’s various Bubble apps have become a top marketing and social tool in the K-pop and Asian entertainment industries, currently connecting more than 600 artists to communicate directly with some of their most dedicated fans. With the company reporting over 73 percent of its two million paid subscribers living outside of Korea, introducing these two chart-toppers mark a significant shift to expand its offerings to the Western landscape successfully.
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“While the entertainment market continues growing, the service industry leveraging fandoms has not received as much attention,” Chong-oh An, the CEO of Dear U, tells Billboard. “In Korea, where fandom culture is fully established, Dear U has built a business model to harness this culture. Our aim is to introduce a fresh perspective to the global entertainment landscape and bring new excitement to fans around the world.”
While platforms like HYBE’s Weverse launched services like Weverse DM as a paid messaging service in 2023, Bubble was first to market in 2020 in launching the service for a slate of artists under the SM Entertainment roster. Dear U’s major shareholders are SM Entertainment (home to groups and Bubble users like NCT, aespa and Lucas) and JYP Entertainment (J.Y. Park, TWICE and ITZY), with the companies also featuring some of their international acts like SM’s China-focused boy band WayV and JYP’s Japan-based girl group NiziU partaking in the platform.
With a combined 13 No. 1s on the Hot Latin Songs chart, 50 Billboard Hot 100 entries between them, as well as highly dedicated fan engagement across their social media accounts, J Balvin and Peso Pluma are seen as ideal partners for Dear U’s next phase with Bubble.
“For me, it has always been important to be connected to my fans, La Familia,” says current Billboard cover star, J Balvin, in a statement. “I love reading comments and conversations so it’s exciting to communicate with fans no matter what their first language might be. This is why the Bubble is the perfect platform to keep in touch.”
“Peso Pluma wouldn’t exist without our dedicated fans who have supported us since the very beginning,” the 25-year-old Mexican rapper-singer adds. “Even though we don’t speak the same language, our music is crossing borders and I’m always excited to find new ways, such as through this partnership with Bubble, to connect with them.”
Teasing that Bubble’s services will “continue expanding into different genres across Western markets with major superstars,” the international, U.S. app can be downloaded here or for Android here. Fans can subscribe to an artist’s Bubble platform, which costs $4.99 per month per artist. Read on for more insight into Bubble’s big moment from Dear U’s CEO Chong-oh An.
Billboard: Congratulations on the latest news about the expansion and new offerings with Dear U. What does this moment signify for the company?
Chong-oh An: This moment signifies Dear U’s global expansion to the Western market. While the entertainment market continues growing, the service industry leveraging fandoms has not received as much attention. In Korea, where fandom culture is fully established, Dear U has built a business model to harness this culture. Our aim is to introduce a fresh perspective to the global entertainment landscape and bring new excitement to fans around the world.
Why were J Balvin and Peso Pluma the right partners to kick off the expansion?
Both of these artists are extremely popular, beloved, and influential. But they also bring unique cultural significance and strong fan engagement to the table. J Balvin and Peso Pluma frequently interact with their followers on social media, creating a sense of community and loyalty that aligns perfectly with Dear U’s mission to enhance artist-fan communication.
J Balvin and Peso Pluma are huge names in the Latin market and community. Was there a specific reason you wanted to team with Latin artists after primarily focusing on Asian and K-pop talent?
Our goal is to help connect artists with their loyal fans around the world, regardless of genre or market. Latin music has truly gone global over the past few years, and we are providing a platform to connect these passionate fanbases. J Balvin’s contributions to the global reggaeton movement and Peso Pluma’s fresh influence in regional Mexican music will help the platform cater to not only a large number of fans, but also a wide array of music tastes, languages, and cultural backgrounds. They will help us break barriers with fan connection.
Dear U’s story is interesting because it launched Bubble in 2020 when the digital conversation was so prevalent, yet the company continues to expand today. What did the pandemic teach you?
The pandemic required us to create innovative ways to connect artists and fans that we’ve continued to use today. Because artists have fans across the world and can’t always be physically present to engage with them, we’re proud to help bridge that gap and create connection.
In your opinion, what’s a very special or highly engaging moment an artist can have on their Bubble compared to traditional social media platforms?
Artists see their bubble subscribers as true superfans. With bubble, they can share intimate moments – from behind-the-scenes photos, selfies, and audio messages to polls about dinner or outfit choices. Even during [professional] breaks, artists can maintain this closeness by sharing personal snapshots, like photos from family trips. More than public social media, this exclusive content fosters a more personal and intimate connection, allowing fans to feel included in their favorite artist’s life.
As we await the only vice presidential debate of the 2024 campaign, a showdown between Democratic nominee Tim Walz and Republican nominee JD Vance on Tuesday (Oct. 1), let’s look back on the only No. 1 hit on the Hot 100 that was written or co-written by a future VP.
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The hit was Tommy Edwards’ “It’s All in the Game,” a philosophical romantic ballad which topped the Hot 100 for six weeks in the fall of 1958. Charles Gates Dawes, a self-taught pianist, flutist and composer, composed the melody in 1911 under the title “Melody in A Major.” Dawes later became an American diplomat and Republican politician, a Nobel Peace Prize winner and a TIME magazine cover subject. He served as the 30th VP of the U.S. from 1925-29 under Calvin Coolidge.
Dawes’ melody was not a major hit under its original title, but noted lyricist Carl Sigman remembered it and 40 years later added lyrics to it, transforming it into “It’s All in the Game.” Sigman’s most memorable lyric: “Once in a while he won’t call/ But it’s all in the game.” Edwards first recorded the song in 1951, the same year Sigman added lyrics to it. His pretty, but unremarkable, recording reached No. 18 on Billboard’s Disk Jockey and Best Sellers charts.
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The great Nat “King” Cole included the song on his 1957 album Love Is the Thing, which topped the Billboard 200 for eight consecutive weeks.
In 1958, Edwards re-recorded the song, giving it a light doo-wop flavor which made it compatible with pop playlists — which by that point included a lot of doo-wop and rock and roll. Leroy Holmes was the orchestra leader on both versions. Both versions were released on the same label (MGM Records). But the differences are stark. The earlier version is awash in strings; the update is leaner. And Edwards doesn’t rush through the lyrics. Inserting pauses on two key lines (“You have words/ With him” and “And he’ll kiss/ Your lips”) adds considerable drama.
A re-release of the 1951 “traditional pop” version would likely not have succeeded in 1958 – music had changed a lot in the intervening seven years – but the re-recording was a smash. It reached No. 1 on the Hot 100 in seven weeks, bumping Domenico Modugno’s “Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blue (Volare)” (which went on to win Grammys for record and song of the year) from the top spot in September 1958. “It’s All in the Game” remained on top for six consecutive weeks, before being replaced by Conway Twitty’s “It’s Only Make Believe.”
Unfortunately, Dawes died in April 1951, shortly before Sigman added lyrics to his tune, so he never knew that the little ditty he wrote 40 years earlier was about to become a hit, and later, a timeless classic.
Edwards returned to the top 20 on the Hot 100 three times by 1960, with “Love Is All We Need,” “Please Mr. Sun” and “I Really Don’t Want to Know.” He died in 1969 at age 47 due to complications from cirrhosis of the liver.
“It’s All in the Game” has returned to the top 30 on the Hot 100 twice. British pop singer Cliff Richard took it to No. 25 in 1964. Motown greats the Four Tops took it to No. 24 in 1970. In addition, Eddie Holman featured the song as the B-side of “Hey There Lonely Girl,” a No. 2 Hot 100 hit in 1970.
The Four Tops’ recording made the top 10 on what was then called Best Selling Soul Singles. The song was also a big country hit, making it a true multi-format smash. Tom T. Hall’s single reached No. 12 in 1977 on what was then called Hot Country Singles.
Numerous other artists have recorded the song, including Barry Manilow, on his Billboard 200-topping album The Greatest Songs of the Fifties (2006), and George Benson on his double-live album Weekend in L.A., which made the top five in 1978. The song also appeared on top 10 albums by pianist Roger Williams, bandleader Lawrence Welk and actor/singer George Maharis (a regular on Route 66).
Donny & Marie Osmond recorded the song in 1975. Earlier that year, they had a top 10 hit on the Hot 100 with “Morning Side of the Mountain,” which was Edwards’ first chart hit in 1951, right before “It’s All in the Game.”
Other artists to have recorded “It’s All in the Game” include Ricky Nelson, Keely Smith, Robert Goulet, Andy Williams, The Lettermen, Sandy Posey, Bobby Vinton, Bing Crosby, Brook Benton, Freddy Fender, Van Morrison, Issac Hayes, Glenn Jones, Merle Haggard & the Strangers and Johnny Mathis & Take 6.
In addition to being the only future VP to have written or co-written a No. 1 Hot 100 hit, Dawes is one of just two people credited with writing or co-writing a No. 1 hit who have also won a Nobel Prize. He shares that distinction with Bob Dylan, whose many hits include “Mr. Tambourine Man,” a No. 1 for The Byrds in 1965. Dawes was a co-winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1925 for his work on the Allied Reparations Commission, where he helped formulate the Dawes Plan to aid the struggling German economy. Dylan won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2016.
Sigman, the lyricist of “It’s All in the Game,” wrote many famous songs over the course of his long career, including “Pennsylvania 6-5000,” “Crazy He Calls Me,” “Ebb Tide,” “What Now My Love,” “You’re My World” and “(Where Do I Begin) Love Story.” He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1972 and died in 2000 at age 91.
CBS Evening News anchor Norah O’Donnell and Margaret Brennan of CBS’ Face the Nation are set to moderate Tuesday’s VP debate.
Chris Martin has been a longtime supporter of the Global Citizen Festival. Over the weekend, the Coldplay singer was slated to once again curate the New York festival, but the rain-soaked fans who turned up to see headliners Post Malone, Jelly Roll and Rauw Alejandro got way more than they expected at the event aimed […]
BTS‘ Suga has reached a resolution in his drunk scootering incident. According to Reuters, the K-pop superstar was fined 15 million won ($11,500) by a South Korean court for driving an electric scooter while intoxicated after previously having his license suspended over the incident.
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A judge in the Seoul Western District Court issued the fine in a summary judgement last week after the case against the singer born Min Yoon-gi, 31, was referred to the prosecution, a court official revealed on Monday (Sept. 30). A summary indictment is used to discharge minor offenses through court fines or confiscation without going to a full trial. The singer was questioned by police after they reportedly observed him falling off his electric scooter in the Hannam neighborhood in the Yongsan district on August 6.
Days after the DWI stop, Suga confirmed that his license had been revoked and posted a pair of heartfelt apologies on Weverse, explaining that at first he didn’t realize he couldn’t ride the electric two-wheeled scooter after having drinks at dinner earlier in the evening. “In the process of setting up an electric kickboard at the front door of the house, I fell alone, and there was a police officer around me, so I took a breath test,” he wrote in the Aug. 7 post, apologizing to “everyone who was hurt by [his] careless and wrong actions.”
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BTS’ record label, BigHit, also issued a statement, apologizing “for the disappointment caused by the artist’s inappropriate behavior.” “As a social service agent during his military service, he is prepared to accept any disciplinary actions from his place of work for causing a social disturbance,” the label added. “We will take greater care to ensure that such incidents do not happen again in the future.”
In a second apology later in the month, Suga took responsibility for his actions again, writing to fans, “It’s all my fault. My carelessness is giving everyone who cares about me a hard time. I will try not to do anything wrong again and live with repentance. Due to this incident, I have greatly damaged the precious memories I made with the members and fans and put a lot of pressure on the name of the BTS.”
At press time a spokesperson for Suga had not returned Billboard‘s request for comment.
BTS have been on hiatus for two years as the members complete their mandatory South Korean military service and according to AFP, Seoul’s Military Manpower Administration said that Suga will be punished according to traffic laws, not military law, because the incident took place outside of the singer’s official military working hours.
Sabrina Carpenter has done it again. Her latest hit, “Taste,” has claimed the No. 1 spot on the U.K. Official Singles Chart for the fifth consecutive week, marking 17 total weeks at the top in 2024.
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This chart domination is thanks to her three standout singles: “Espresso,” which spent seven weeks at No. 1, “Please Please Please,” with five weeks at the summit, and now “Taste,” with five weeks and counting. Her success with the catchy pop single is no small feat, showcasing her consistent appeal in a hugely competitive market.
Elsewhere on the chart, Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars are inching closer to the top spot with their collaborative track “Die With A Smile,” which now sits at No. 4. Rising stars are also making their mark, with Chappell Roan’s kitschy camp hit “HOT TO GO!” sashaying its way up to No. 7, and Lana Del Rey-inspired “Pink Pony Club” by Roan also trotting, reaching No. 15.
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In other highlights, Sonny Fodera, Jazzy, and D.O.D.’s “Somedays” has cracked the Top 10, moving to No. 9, while Gigi Perez’s viral track “Sailor Song” has jumped two spots to No. 11. Teddy Swims’ “The Door” and Gracie Abrams’ “I Love You, I’m Sorry” also saw boosts, landing at Nos. 13 and 17, respectively.
TikTok continues to be a breeding ground for chart hits, as UK rapper NDOTZ celebrates his first Top 20 entry with “Embrace It,” climbing 16 places to No. 20. Billie Eilish’s “Wildflower” blooms with a new peak at No. 23, while Coldplay’s “feelslikeimfallinginlove” rebounds to No. 31.
Addison Rae also makes her Top 40 debut with “Diet Pepsi,” entering at No. 37. Meanwhile, BTS’s Jimin sees a resurgence with “Who,” re-entering the chart at No. 40 after a six-week absence.
With this chart success, Sabrina Carpenter has proven that 2024 is undeniably her year, and with new releases on the horizon, she might not be done dominating just yet.
Lana Del Rey wore a custom-designed dress for her wedding with Jeremy Dufrene, Billboard can confirm.
The dress Del Rey wore on her wedding day was “a custom CINQ gown made specifically for her,” designer Macye Wysner tells Billboard.
No further details were provided, out of respect for the singer’s privacy.
Both a music idol and a style icon, the artist born Elizabeth Grant is known for weaving American nostalgia into her songwriting and fashion aesthetic. Curiosity about what Lana Del Rey would wear as a bride set in when reports of her wedding ceremony in Des Allemandes, Louisiana, circulated, with paparazzi photos taken from a distance published by The Daily Mail.
People confirmed the entertainer tied the knot with airboat captain and swamp tour guide Jeremy Dufrene on the bayou on Sept. 26. At press time, Del Rey has not publicly commented on their relationship or the private Louisiana celebration.
In the low-resolution glimpse of Del Rey’s attire for the occasion, she appeared to wear a white or ivory gown with a romantic ruffle neckline, a fitted bodice and a full skirt. Her hair was styled over her shoulder in loose curls, fastened to the side with a powder blue ribbon.
The silhouette of her dress has a resemblance to that of The River gown by CINQ, which has a scalloped lace ruffle neckline and silk tulle skirt.
As Del Rey’s design from CINQ was custom, her gown might have been loosely inspired by The River — but it presumably featured elements personal to the bride.
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CINQ, with heirloom designs that combine vintage silhouettes and modern details, “was created for the bride that connects on an emotional level to her gown,” the Los Angeles-based bridal collection states on its website. “It’s not just the dress .. it’s a precious, fleeting moment in time.. it’s the feeling when she’s wearing it.. it’s the moment of reflection.”
Del Rey crossed paths with Dufrene in 2019 on one of his boat tours, which are known to feature alligator encounters, and the couple seemingly reconnected and began dating earlier this year. (As Del Rey sings on the sweet ballad “Margaret,” penned for Jack Antonoff and Margaret Qualley ahead of their 2023 wedding, “When you know, you know.”)
She hinted at a relationship when she tagged Dufrene as “my guy” in an Instagram post in May, before the pair were seen holding hands at U.K. festival Reading & Leeds in August. Earlier this month, Del Rey and Dufrene were photographed hand-in-hand attending Karen Elson and Lee Foster’s wedding at New York City’s Electric Lady Studios.
Following 2023’s Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd, the singer-songwriter is next expected to release an album titled Lasso. The project was first announced as a country record, but as she noted in an interview last month, “All my albums are somewhat rooted in Americana.” She said of Lasso, “I don’t think it will be a heavy departure.”
“If anything, it will just be a little lighter lyrically, and more pointed in a classic country, American or Southern Gothic production — which again, so many of my songs already are,” said Del Rey.
Brat summer isn’t over just yet.
During the season 50 premiere of Saturday Night Live on Sept. 28, cast member Bowen Yang hilariously portrayed British pop star Charli XCX in a political-themed talk show featuring her current tourmate Troye Sivan (played by SNL‘s Sarah Sherman) as the DJ.
The nearly five-minute sketch opened with Yang’s Charli introducing her Talk Talk Show, a nod to one of the singer’s song titles, and moving into a segment called “brat or nat,” in which she ran through a handful of recent news topics, including Hunter Biden’s laptop (deemed “brat”) and Mark Robinson’s search history (“nat”).
Yang’s Charli — who sported a black wig, dark sunglasses and stylish dress — then welcomed her guests: club legend Susanne Bartsch (played by SNL host Jean Smart), CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins (Chloe Fineman) and Rep. Jasmine Crockett (Ego Nwodim).
“Have you ever done ketamine?” Yang’s Charli asked to Fineman’s Collins, who responded with frustration over not being asked current political events.
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The talk show’s background was appropriately colored the same lime green as the cover of Charli XCX’s latest album, Brat, which reached No. 3 on the Billboard 200 chart in late June. The singer is currently on the road with her Sweat Tour, which visits U.S. arenas through the end of October.
Saturday’s SNL season premiere also featured musical guest Jelly Roll, making his debut on the long-running NBC sketch comedy show. The country star performed “Liar” and “Winning Streak,” which will appear on his upcoming album, Beautifully Broken, set for release on Oct. 11.
The next SNL on Oct. 5 will see comedian Nate Bargatze returning as host for a second straight season with Coldplay back as musical guest for an eighth time on the long-running show. The Chris Martin-fronted band first performed on the show in 2001, and their most recent appearance was in 2023.
Watch SNL‘s “Charli XCX Talk Show” sketch below. For those without cable, the broadcast streams on Peacock, which you can sign up for at the link here. Having a Peacock account also gives fans access to previous SNL episodes.
Doja Cat delivered a powerful message at this year’s Global Citizen Festival.
During her headlining set on Saturday (Sept. 28), the superstar rapper paused to speak out against injustices happening around the world.
“Right now, millions of men, women and children in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, the Congo and all across the world, are suffering. In times like this, it is important to remember that we have the power to bring change, love light and hope to those who need it most,” Doja told the crow gathered on the Great Lawn in New York’s Central Park.
“I join forces with Global Citizen to help people in areas of conflict and crisis, and I know so many of you join me in taking action to earn your tickets to be here tonight. But we can’t stop now,” she continued. “Please keep using your voice to help those fleeing violence get the food, shelter and education they need and very, very much deserve. There is a beauty in strength in all of you who are watching this, and who choose to be here tonight. This is our time to put it into what matters most, and that is life.”
During her Global Citizen Fest set, Doja also subtly addressed rumors that she got engaged to actor Joseph Quinn. While performing her Billboard Hot 100 chart hit “Agora Hills,” she is seeing saying, “I’m not married,” as the microphone is lowered. Last week, the “Paint the Town Red” rapper flashed a ring on her left hand while performing at Las Vegas’ iHeartRadio Music Festival, leaving many fans wondering if she got engaged to the Stranger Things actor. “no, im not engaged its a David Yurman ring with no rocks in it,” she later wrote and deleted on X (formerly Twitter).
The festival, hosted by Global Citizen Ambassador Hugh Jackman, also featured performances by co-headliners Post Malone, Jelly Roll and Rauw Alejandro. Global Citizen is the world’s leading organization seeking to end extreme poverty. Similar to past years, the fest once again offered fans free tickets, which were earned by taking action on the Global Citizen app or on the organization’s site here in an effort to defeat poverty, defend the planet and demand equity.
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In addition to live performances, Saturday’s concert also included appearances from UN Messenger of Peace, Jane Goodall Institute founder and legendary primatologist Jane Goodall, and Coldplay singer Chris Martin, who served as the event’s curator.
LISA got on the floor to premiere a song called “Moonlit Floor” at Global Citizen Festival 2024 in New York City’s Central Park on Saturday night (Sept. 28). The BLACKPINK singer debuted her latest solo track ahead of its official release, set for Oct. 3, and clips from Global Citizen Fest’s livestream soon popped up […]
Dionne Warwick‘s put decades of hard work into building her career in music. It’s no surprise she doesn’t put up with any nonsense.
The singer rated several popular songs in a segment with NPR titled “Nobody Asked for This (But I’m Gonna Tell You Anyhow),” which she shared on Twitter Friday (Sept. 27).
Giving each track a score between one and five Dionnes, Warwick weighed in on songs from Chappell Roan, Charli XCX, Kendrick Lamar and Sabrina Carpenter.
Roan’s “Good Luck, Babe!” — which Warwick pointed out has “almost an ABBA feeling” — got four-and-a-half Dionnes. “She’s got her own thing going on. That’s a wonderful thing,” she said of The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess breakout star.
Charli’s “Guess” got a respectable rating of four, and although Warwick was unfamiliar with Brat Summer, she decided she might be brat herself. “I possibly am,” she said.
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Then the next track played, Lamar’s “Not Like Us,” with Warwick showing some kind of exasperated expression.
“This is the look of ‘why’?” Warwick said of the Drake diss track, and probably their feud in general. “I don’t think that this should be a public thing.”
“So as far as I’m concerned, I’m not going to rate this one,” she added.
Next up, “Please, Please, Please” got another four-and-a-half out of five rating from Warwick — but Carpenter’s summer smash “Espresso” didn’t quite hit the spot. When asked if the lyric “I’m working late ’cause I’m a singer” resonates with her, she looked away and shook her head.
“That does not resonate with me,” Warwick, a veteran in the industry, quipped.
Make a mental note to plan for an early cutoff time if you’re booking an actual icon to sing in your presence at a super-late-night event.
Watch “Nobody Asked for This” with Dionne Warwick below.