Music News
In Record-Setting Fashion, Ukraine Rides Popular Sentiment to 2022 Eurovision Win
Ukraine’s rap and folk group Kalush Orchestra, riding a record number of votes from the public and a kinetic song that became an anthem for suffering mothers, overtook the United Kingdom, Sweden and Spain to capture the 66th Eurovision Song Contest in a nail-biter in Turin, Italy. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news While the oddsmakers, pundits and fans pegged Ukraine as the clear favorite to win going into Saturday’s final, it didn’t look good after the jury vote, when Ukraine was in fourth place with 192 points and the U.K. was in first with 283. The juries were not especially kind to Ukraine, with some countries, like the Netherlands, giving them no points at all. Poland, Moldova, Latvia, Romania and Lithuania — all countries that are c...
Kendrick Lamar Drops Striking New ‘N95’ Video: Watch
Kendrick Lamar has shared an explosive music video for his new song “N95.” On Saturday (May 14), the 34-year-old superstar rapper dropped the second visual from his just-released fifth album, Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers. The powerful clip, directed by Lamar and Dave Free, opens with the phrase “This S— Hard” flashing across the screen in red capital letters. From there, the rapper is seen hovering in a Jesus-like crucifix pose over crashing ocean waves while a young child looks on from the beach. The three-and-a-half minute video alters from color to black-and-white, as Lamar takes on several roles with striking imagery, including a piano player surrounded by beautiful women and a man doing an intense workout on the rooftop of a large building. Explore Explore See latest videos, char...
Britney Spears Shares on Instagram ‘We Have Lost Our Miracle Baby’
Just last month, Britney Spears announced she and her fiancé Sam Asghari were expecting their first child together. On Saturday (May 14), Spears took to Instagram to announce that the pair have lost their unborn child. “It is with our deepest sadness we have to announce that we have lost our miracle baby early in the pregnancy,” the post read. “This is a devastating time for any parent. Perhaps we should have waited to announce until we were further along however we were overly excited to share the good news. Our love for each other is our strength. We will continue trying to expand our beautiful family. We are grateful for all of your support. We kindly ask for privacy during this difficult time.” Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The po...
Travis Barker, Rick Ross, Murda Beatz & More Pay Tribute to Lil Keed: ‘Gone Too Soon’
On Saturday (May 14) rising Atlanta rapper Lil Keed died at the age of 24. He was signed to Young Thug‘s Young Stoner Life Records. Keed’s brother, Lil Gotit, first shared the news of his passing in an Instagram post: “Can’t believe I seened u die today bro I did all my cries I know what u want me to do and that’s go hard for Mama Daddy Our Brothers Naychur and Whiteboy.” Tributes soon poured in online, with friends, collaborators and admirers expressing condolences for the late rapper. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news “Damn RIP Keed,” Travis Barker wrote on Twitter. “So Talented Gone [Too] Soon,” Murda Beatz tweeted. Keed signed to YSL, an imprint of 300 Entertainment, in 2018. He released two projects on the label and worked with ...
Ukraine Favored at Eurovision Song Contest Amid War
Against the backdrop of war in Europe, the hugely popular Eurovision Song Contest entered its flamboyant climax Saturday night (May 14) as 25 bands performed in front of a live audience in the Italian city of Turin, while millions more watched on television around the world. The Ukrainian band Kalush Orchestra is heavily tipped to win by bookmakers, who are giving the group that mixes traditional Ukrainian rhythms, costumes and dance moves with contemporary hip-hop a 60% chance of winning. Despite Ukraine’s position as the oddsmakers’ and sentimental favorite, fans from Spain, Britain and elsewhere entering the PalaOlimpico venue from throughout Europe were rooting for their own country to win. Still, Ukrainian music fan Iryna Lasiy said she felt global support for her country in the war a...
Eurovision 2022: Ukrainian Band Kalush Orchestra Wins
Ukrainian band Kalush Orchestra won the Eurovision Song Contest in the early hours of Sunday in a clear show of support for the war-ravaged nation. The six-man band that mixes traditional folk melodies and contemporary hip hop in a purposeful defense of Ukrainian culture was the sentimental and bookmakers’ favorite among the 25 bands and performers competing in the grand finale. The public vote from home was decisive in securing their victory. The band’s frontman, Oleg Psiuk, took advantage of the enormous global audience to make an impassioned plea to free fighters still trapped beneath a sprawling steel plant in the southern port city of Mariupol following the six-man band’s performance. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news “I ask all of y...
Lil Keed, YSL Records Rapper, Dies at 24
Lil Keed, an up-and-coming Atlanta rapper signed to Young Thug‘s Young Stoner Life Records, has died. He was 24. Keed’s brother, Lil Gotit, first shared the news of the rapper’s passing in an Instagram post early Saturday morning (May 14). “Can’t believe I seened u die today bro I did all my cries I know what u want me to do and that’s go hard for Mama Daddy Our Brothers Naychur and Whiteboy,” Gotit wrote alongside a photo of the siblings. The cause of Keed’s (real name: Raqhid Render) death was not known at press time. Billboard has reached out to the artist’s representatives for further information. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Gotit shared another post on his Instagram Story on Saturday, writing, “@lilkeed Whyyy bra whyyy u leave ...
The Chainsmokers’ New Studio Album ‘So Far So Good’ Is Here: Stream It Now
The Chainsmokers are back with their first new album in three years, So Far So Good. Out today (May 13) via Disruptor Records/Columbia Records, the 13-track album — the duo’s fourth studio LP — follows its already out singles “High,” “iPad” and “Riptide.” It also follows the duo’s 2019 LP, World War Joy. But as The Chainsmokers’ Drew Taggart and Alex Pall recently told Billboard, this new project was made under vastly different circumstances than much of their past work. Whereas the duo often built albums while on the road, releasing one track at a time between tour stops, at the end of 2019 they announced they were going on an extended hiatus to give themselves real time to focus on music. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news This creative ...
Heavily Favored Sweden and Poland, and Eight More Countries, Advance to Eurovision Grand Final
Sweden and Poland, both among the favorites to win this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, joined eight other countries advancing to the Grand Final on Saturday (May 14) in Turin, Italy. Also moving on after the second semi-final on Thursday were Finland, Serbia, Azerbaijan, Australia, Estonia, Romania, Belgium and the Czech Republic. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Failing to make the grade were Israel, Georgia, Malta, San Marino, Cyprus, Ireland, North Macedonia and Montenegro. The latest reports from the bookmakers who take bets on who will win Eurovision each year shows that Ukraine has a 57% chance of victory, followed by the United Kingdom with an 11% chance, based on averaging the odds from 13 different companies. That portends a high showi...
Kelly Osbourne Is Pregnant, Expecting First Child With Slipknot’s Sid Wilson: ‘I Am Ecstatic!’
The Osbourne family is getting an expansion. On Thursday (May 12), Kelly Osbourne announced via Instagram that she is expecting her first child, and she is beyond excited to become a mother in the coming months. “I know that I have been very quiet these past few months so I thought I would share with you all as to why… I am over the moon to announce that I am going to be a Mumma,” she captioned a picture set of her holding her ultrasounds photos. “To say that I am happy does not quite cut it. I am ecstatic!” Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Osbourne is currently in a relationship with Sid Wilson, the turntablist for Slipknot, who commented with a string of heart emojis underneath his girlfriend’s big announcement. The television personality — wh...
Ultra Music Festival Will Stay in Miami’s Bayfront Park Through 2027
There’s no place like home for Ultra Music Festival. On Thursday (May 12), the dance fest announced that it will stay at Miami’s Bayfront Park through at least 2027, following the City of Miami Commission unanimously passing an agreement between the festival and the Bayfront Park Management Trust. This Trust manages the 32-acre park, which is located in the heart of downtown Miami on Biscayne Bay. The longstanding music festival has happened at Bayfront Park for much of its 23-year history, returning to the site this past March after a much-maligned outing at Miami’s Virginia Key in 2019 and two years off due to the pandemic. The 2019 edition of the festival in Virginia Key experienced myriad noise complaints and major transportation issues, including — as Billboard reported in 2019 — “ten...
Kelly Clarkson Takes Us to Neverland With This Kelsea Ballerini Hit: Watch
Kelly Clarkson took the second star to the right on Wednesday (May 11), performing Kelsea Ballerini‘s “Peter Pan” to open The Kelly Clarkson Show. Accompanied by just her pianist, the multi-hyphenate pared Ballerini’s 2016 country hit down to a tender ballad, singing, “You’re just a lost boy with your head up in the clouds/ You’re just a lost boy, never keep your feet on the ground/ You’re always gonna fly away just because you know you can/ You’re never gonna learn there’s no such place as Neverland/ You don’t understand, you’ll never grow up/ You’re never gonna be a man, Peter Pan.” Released as the third single from Ballerini’s 2015 debut album The First Time, the track completed the young country singer’s hat trick atop the Country Airplay chart following fellow No. 1s “Love Me Like You...
