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Unpacking Taylor Swift’s Huge Debut & Grammy Album of the Year Chances
When Taylor Swift’s surprise album Folklore blasted in atop the Billboard 200 chart with the biggest week of the year for any album, she not only did it without the benefit of any pre-release promotion, but also while taking a sonic left-turn away from pure pop and into a more alternative soundscape. On the latest Pop Shop Podcast (listen below), the team discusses Swift’s epic chart feats achieved with Folklore and its single “Cardigan,” and speculates on if the album would have achieved such great heights if it had been a surprise-released customary pop effort. The Pop Shoppers also chat about on how Folklore may have brought in new fans to the Swift fold, thanks to her collaborations with alt-rock acts like Bon Iver and The National’s Aaron Dessner. And finally, could Folklore factor in...
Sony Picks Up Whitney Houston Biopic ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody’
Where do broken hearts go? To Sony Pictures. After a protracted bidding war, Sony and its TriStar division have won I Wanna Dance With Somebody, the musical biopic of singer Whitney Houston. A theatrical commitment was part of the deal, and Sony is setting a Thanksgiving 2022 release. Anthony McCarten, the writer behind the Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, will pen the screenplay, while Stella Meghie, who was behind the Issa Rae romance The Photograph, will direct. The project has the backing of Houston’s estate as well as music producer Clive Davis. Pat Houston will produce the movie on behalf of the Houston Estate, along with Davis, Primary Wave Music’s Larry Mestel, Denis O’Sullivan and McCarten. {“nid”:”9406510″,”type”:”post”,”title&...
DaBaby Drops ‘Peep Hole’ Music Video Alongside ‘Blame It On Baby’ Deluxe Album
DaBaby goes by “Billboard Baby” now, according to the intro track on the deluxe version of his Billboard 200 No. 1 album Blame It On Baby that arrives on streaming services today (Aug. 4). The chart-topping rapper’s latest braggadocious efforts come to life in his new music video for “PEEP HOLE,” which he released Monday (Aug. 3) ahead of the new 24-track LP. Dripping in head-to-toe designer outfits at a socially distant photoshoot, the 28-year-old rapper sports anything from an orange Gucci tracksuit to a casual Burberry snapback, T-shirt and shorts look. But as he holds onto this part of his lifestyle, he lets go of another, which he outlines bluntly in the chorus with a doorknock-like beat: “Baby, he don’t wanna be a player no more/ I was lookin...
‘Project Power’ Stars Jamie Foxx, MGK & Chika Urge America to Stand Behind Black Women
On Monday (Aug. 3), Billboard caught up with Jamie Foxx, Machine Gun Kelly and Chika for a Netflix roundtable discussion about their upcoming film, Project Power. Set to be released Aug. 14, Project Power is an action/adventure about an ex-soldier (Foxx), teenager (Dominique Fishback) and cop (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) forming a formidable trio to search for the source behind a dangerous pill plowing through the streets of New Orleans. If taken, the capsule will enable users to have superpowers for five minutes. During the discussion, Foxx, Chika and MGK each spoke on a poignant line delivered in the film by Foxx’s character to Robin — the movie’s protagonist played by Fishback — about Black women learning to overcome the system and maneuver with vigor. Chika, who has ...
Latin Songs Inspired by Social Media: Don Omar’s ‘Myspace,’ J Balvin’s ‘Snapchat’ & More
Many of today’s hottest Latin artists were discovered on social media, including Bad Bunny who began creating his tunes on Soundcloud and Lele Pons who rose from Vine to Latin music star. Spanish crooner Pablo Alborán, Brazilian sensation Anitta, and up-and-coming JD Pantoja all leaped to fame after kicking off their careers on YouTube. In addition, many Latin songs are getting on the radar fueled by their success on TikTok, including Juanfran’s “Como Llora,” Nio Garcia’s “La Jeepeta” in collaboration with Brray, Juanka, Anuel AA and Myke Towers, and Grupo Firme’s “El Guero” featuring Marca MP, which have all secured spots on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart this year. {“nid”:”9428752″,”type”:”post”,”title”:”20 Popular La...
A Principal Flipped ‘U Can’t Touch This’ Into a School Safety Anthem and MC Hammer Says It’s 2 Legit
In the age of coronavirus MC Hammer’s 1990 smash “U Can’t Touch This” has a whole new meaning. The keypad at the grocery story? Can’t touch this. Your face? Can’t touch this. Door handle at the bank? Can’t touch this. Water fountain at your high school? Definitely can’t touch that. Which explains why Dr. Quentin Lee, principal of Childersberg High School in Childersberg, Alabama, recently adapted the no-touch song for a slam-dunk parody aimed at getting his students ready for the school year. Rocking a mask and armed with a bottle of hand sanitizer in one hand and a thermometer in the other, Dr. Lee runs around the halls warning pupils and teachers to stay away from high-touch surfaces while reshaping Hammer’s lyrics for a COVID-19 worl...
Megan Thee Stallion Announces Fiery Collab With This Female Rapper
Hot Girl Summer continues. Megan Thee Stallion took to Instagram on Monday (Aug. 3) to reveal a scorching new collaboration with Cardi B is on the way. “WAP” will be arriving this Friday (Aug. 7), and the announcement was accompanied by the song’s cover art, featuring Meg and Cardi in matching “WAP” gold hoops, with their hair entangled together into a flowing, curled bun. “WAP,” Meg captioned the post with a tongue out emoji and a water droplet emoji. “@iamcardib and The Hot Girl Coach this Friday !!!” View this post on Instagram WAP @iamcardib and The Hot Girl Coach this Friday !!! A post shared by Hot Girl Meg (@theestallion) on Aug 3, 2020 at 5:02pm PDT {“nid”:”9391344″,”type”:”post”,&...
Founding Molly Hatchet Guitarist Steve Holland Dies
Founding Molly Hatchet guitarist Steve Holland has died, his longtime friend, guardian and conservator John Pappas confirmed to Billboard. He was 66 years old. No cause of death was given for the guitarist born in 1954, who appeared on the band’s first five albums, including 1979’s breakthrough Flirtin’ With Disaster. Holland left the band in 1984 and later formed a group called Gator Country, named after the second track on Hatchet’s 1978 self-titled debut album, which featured fellow former Hatchet members guitarist Duane Roland, drummer Bruce Crump, bassist Riff West and singer Jimmy Farrar. The Gator County FB page also had a tribute to Holland announcing the passing of the last original member of MH. “It Is With GREAT SADNESS That I Announce The PASSING ...
What’s Been Your Favorite Dance Music Livestream of Quarantine? Vote!
2020 has seen a dance festival season like no other, with live events being wiped off the calendar and digital festivals becoming the new standard way of seeing your favorite DJs. With necessity still holding strong as the mother of invention, the past six months have seen incredible leaps in livestreaming capabilities, with festivals using technology, community and music to deliver engaging and in many cases truly unique experiences. Some events have indeed left lasting impressions, from the immersive digital world of Tomorrowland Around the World, to the IRL feel of Lightning In a Bottle’s DGTL LiB event, to the global effort of Beatport ReConnect to the all-star nature of Digital Mirage and the EDC Las Vegas Rave-a-Thon. {“nid”:”9425791″,”type”:...
Here Are All the Livestreams & Virtual Concerts to Watch During the Coronavirus Crisis: Week of August 3
Summer’s in full swing, and if it’s too hot for you outside, chill out this week with some cool livestream concerts. Most live events and large gatherings remain in hold throughout the country due to the coronavirus crisis, leading artists to continue the trend of livestreaming shows to connect with fans. With music venues still shut down from coast to coast, here’s your guide to the best live-streamed music content right now, for the week of Aug. 3. As additional events are announced for the week, we’ll add them to this list. {“nid”:”9386776″,”type”:”post”,”title”:”Here Are All the Rescheduled 2021 Tour Dates & Festivals (Updating)”,”relative_path”:”\/articles\/news\/93867...
Fans Pick Beyonce’s ‘Black Is King’ as This Week’s Favorite New Music
Music fans voted in a poll published Friday (July 31) on Billboard, choosing Beyoncé‘s stunning new visual album on Disney+ as their favorite new music release from the past week. Set to the music of Bey’s stellar The Lion King: The Gift album, released in 2019, Black Is King is a gorgeous, visually inventive piece of storytelling, exploring the themes of Black legacy and generational learning through the thin veil of The Lion King’s story. Black Is King brought in 76% of the vote this week, beating out new music by Billie Eilish, Sam Smith, A$AP Ferg, Dan + Shay and others. {“nid”:”9427689″,”type”:”post”,”title”:”Every Performance From Beyonce's 'Black Is King,' Ranked: Critic's Picks&#...
The Best Fan Reactions to Taylor Swift’s ‘Folklore’ Hitting No. 1 on the Billboard 200
Before Taylor Swift’s Folklore officially topped the Billboard 200, fans were waiting with bated breath for the numbers to come in. Swifties did their research and predicted that Swift’s seventh studio album might break some records. “Turn notifications on now!” one fan account alerted. Indeed, Folklore stood on its tallest tiptoes, spinning straight to No. 1. It debuted on the Billboard 200 albums chart with 846,000 equivalent album units earned in the U.S. in the week ending July 30, according to Nielsen Music/MRC Data. {“nid”:”9428290″,”type”:”post”,”title”:”Taylor Swift Achieves Seventh No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart & Biggest Week of 2020 With 'Folklore'”,”relative_p...
