Pop
RAYE Shares Origins of New Track “Hard Out Here”: Exclusive
Our Origins feature series provides artists with a space to run through everything that went into their latest project. Today, RAYE shares insight into her powerful new single, “Hard Out Here.” To return with a new single that’s at once inspirational, orchestral, catchy, brutally honest, and uplifting isn’t an easy feat — but RAYE makes it seem so with her new track, “Hard Out Here,” out Friday, July 1st. It’s a song peppered with details but feels somewhat universal nonetheless, and is especially relatable for any woman who has ever overcome a man attempting to silence her and bounced back that much stronger. There’s a reality out there where we never got to hear this song, RAYE reveals. “The initial version of this song was created years ago — however, I wasn’t given permission from my l...
All 247 Songs Jack Antonoff Has Produced, Ranked From Worst to Best
This article originally ran in August 2021, but we’ll be updating it for years to come, because Jack Antonoff cannot be stopped. Jack Antonoff remains booked and busy. Antonoff, former member of fun. and current frontman of indie pop group Bleachers, is the most sought-after producer in the pop world right now, full stop. This, like any gust of fame, comes with a harsher magnifying glass. Antonoff has turned into a bit of a polarizing figure recently; many love the signature flourishes he adds to tracks, while others think he’s becoming formulaic. Wherever you stand when it comes to the Antonoff discourse, it’s worth highlighting his resume of contributions to modern pop. Not to mention his six Grammy Awards; he was nominated for Producer of the Year in 2020 and 2021, and won the category ...
Chelsea Cutler Has Her Eyes Wide Open
On March 22 in Pittsburgh, nine shows into the first leg of her When I Close My Eyes North American tour, Chelsea Cutler hit a wall. The Connecticut-born, New York-based artist had missed performing so much throughout the COVID-19 pandemic — deprived of the natural dopamine hit. But renewed adrenaline couldn’t compensate for a headache and strained vocal chords. Cutler finished her set at Stage AE and decided not to do her usual three-song encore. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news “And I remember just feeling so guilty for making that decision, because I felt so selfish,” Cutler says. “From that point of the tour onwards, I was like, ‘I can’t let people down like that. These shows aren’t about me.’ That flipped the switch in me, and I was...
Phoebe Bridgers, St. Vincent, and More Cover ’70s Pop Hits on Minions: Rise of Gru Soundtrack: Stream
Gru might not always make the best decisions, but at least he has pretty good taste in music. The original soundtrack for Minions: The Rise of Gru is out today, which — in addition to a few brand-new songs — comprises some of your favorite current musicians taking on some decades-old classics. Produced by Jack Antonoff, the Rise of Gru soundtrack includes Phoebe Bridgers taking on The Carpenters’ 1972 song “Goodbye to Love,” St. Vincent doing Lipps Inc.’s “Funkytown,” Tierra Whack taking on Santana’s 1970 classic “Black Magic Woman,” Thundercat covering Steve Miller Band’s “Fly Like an Eagle,” and canonically Los Angelean transplants BROCKHAMPTON putting their own spin on Kool & The Gang’s “Hollywood Swinging.” Brittany Howard, Kali Uchis, C...
j-hope Unleashes New Single “MORE”: Stream
BTS’s second chapter is moving full steam ahead with j-hope kicking off his next era of solo work with new single “MORE.” Known for his sunny disposition and optimistic energy, j-hope subverted expectations when he started rolling out teasers for the single ahead of his first full-length solo album, Jack in the Box, due later this month on July 15th. Promising a darker tone from the rapper and dancer, promotional photos for “MORE” echoed j-hope’s recent statement describing the new sides of himself that longtime listeners might not be expecting: “If I was going to convey the things I wanted to say, I would have to be darker. It’s something I’ve never done before, so I was excited to try something new,” he explained. The first single is a major departure from the vibrant, rainbow-hued ...
Mandy Moore Cancels Remaining 2022 Tour Dates Due to Pregnancy
Mandy Moore has canceled the remainder of her 2022 North American tour. In a statement, the singer-songwriter cited her recent pregnancy announcement as the reason for canceling her tour, which was slated to run through the end of July. “Friends, It is with a heavy heart and much consideration that I have to let you all know that I am cancelling my remaining show dates in 2022,” she wrote in an Instagram post. “It has been an honor and an absolute dream to return to the stage again this past month, performing for all of you.” Moore continued, “When we booked these shows, I wasn’t pregnant and although I truly thought I could power through, the way we are traveling (long hours on the bus and not getting proper rest) has caught up, taken its toll, and made it feel too challenging to pro...
Aespa Makes U.S. Late Night Debut With ‘Life’s Too Short’
Everyone’s talking about aespa right now, and with good reason. The singers made a splash last fall with their EP Savage – The 1st Mini Album, which blasted into the Top 20 of the Billboard 200, one of the highest entries for a K-pop girl group’s debut. TIME named aespa to “The Next Generation Leaders, Class of 2022” and the foursome was named Apple Music Up Next Artist. Next up, the EP Girls – The 2nd Mini Album, which is due out on July 8. Girls features “Life’s Too Short,” the group’s first English-language single, which got its debut at Coachella 2022. “Life’s Too Short” is a “reminder to all our MYs to stay true to yourselves and spread love because life is too short for hate,” aespa explains in a statement. The girls spread the love Wednesday night (June 29) when they made their U.S....
Shawn Mendes Recreates ‘Illuminate’ Album Cover 6 Years Later
It’s been nearly six years since Shawn Mendes unveiled his Billboard 200 chart-topping sophomore album, Illuminate, and the singer paid tribute to the fan-favorite LP with a sweet recreation. While on tour supporting his 2020 album, Wonder, the star stopped by the ShawnAccess experience at Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena. He took a photo with a backdrop that replicated his 2016 album, holding his guitar on a chair just like he did in the original cover art. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news “back in time,” he fittingly captioned the photo. Illuminate was originally released on September 23, 2016 via Island Records and Universal Music Group. The record marked Mendes’ second No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 albums chart following&...
Tayla Parx Demands Her “Flowers” on New Single: Stream
Over the past decade, Tayla Parx’s work as both a solo artist and a hitmaking songwriter for the likes of Ariana Grande and BTS has earned her the right to demand recognition. That’s the concept of her new single, “Flowers,” out today, June 29th, via her own TaylaMade Records. The uptempo track is brimming with confidence and demonstrates Parx’s talent for simple, yet effective pop songwriting. “I go Aretha when I get my respect,” she pronounces. “So if you’re coming for me, know you better come correct/ I’m big on promises, it’s never a threat.” “‘Flowers’ is about living your life in the present and showing your loved ones, including YOURSELF, how much they mean to you in the now instead of waiting until it’s too late,” said Parx in a statement. “Flowers represent life and living, and th...
For the Record: When Is a Hiatus Not a Hiatus? When BTS Says So
Earlier this month, Billboard and many other publications were attacked online by BTS fans for reporting in a way that upset them that the group was taking a “hiatus.” “Billboard you really love making articles with such a non consistent [sic] details,” wrote one reader on Facebook. “BTS is not even on break as clarified by HYBE and BTS members.” Another comment: “Oh can you shut up about ‘hiatus’ stuff?” Some of this bile may have been inspired by BTS rapper RM, who wrote the day after the group said it was taking a break that “it feels bitter” to see “provocative keywords” like “hiatus.” His implication is that the word was used to boost online traffic. The word “hiatus” came from subtitles written in English on a video message that BTS itself released on June 14. Soon after the video ra...
This Is the One Song Avril Lavigne Wishes She’d Written
Avril Lavigne sat down for a new radio interview to talk about touring with Machine Gun Kelly and more, and she ended up revealing the one song she wishes she had in her own catalog. “If there’s a song I wish I wrote, it’s ‘Bitch’ by Meredith Brooks,” the Canadian superstar told Mix 104.1’s Gregg, Freddy, & Danielle on a stop in Boston after playing Boston Calling. The “Love It When You Hate Me” singer also noted that while she’s never covered the 1997 hit, she’s definitely eager to. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Brooks’ irreverent song spent four weeks atop the Pop Airplay chart — despite some DJs not even being able to say the title on air, as Gary Trust noted — and peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, stuck behind Puf...
Carly Rae Jepsen on New Music, Rostam, and Kate Bush
Listen via Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Amazon Podcasts | Stitcher | Pocket Casts | Radio Public | RSS Carly Rae Jepsen joins Kyle Meredith to talk about her latest single, “Western Wind,” and more new music. Advertisement Related Video The Canadian artist discusses taking stock of her life over the past couple years and how that’s led into this latest set. She also touches on the single having its thematic ties back to her upbringing and family, as well as the the Kate Bush-inspired music video. Jepsen also gives some love to producer Rostam, tells us the backstory on the lockdown-written “Me and the Boys in the Band” single, and previews her upcoming “So Nice Tour,” which has some proceeds going to...
