Pop
BTS Members RM and Jin Test Positive for COVID-19
Two more members of BTS have tested positive for COVID-19. Following yesterday’s news of Suga’s diagnosis, the group’s management company, Big Hit Music, has now revealed that RM and Jin have also received positive test results. Similar to Suga, RM is asymptomatic at the moment. However, Jin is experiencing flu-like symptoms, including a fever. Related Video All three members of BTS received their second COVID vaccination in August, and are currently self-quarantining in their respective homes, according to Big Hit. Advertisement “Our company will continue to provide support for the rapid recovery” of the group’s members, Big Hit added, “placing our highest priority on the health and safety of our artists. We will continue to cooperate fully with the requests and guidelines of healthcare a...
Suga of BTS Tests Positive for COVID-19
Suga of BTS has tested positive for COVID-19. According to a statement from the group’s management company, Big Hit Music, the 28-year-old musician had tested negative prior to leaving the US for South Korea following the group’s recent run of concerts at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium. However, while self-quarantining upon his return to South Korea, Suga received a positive result after taking a PCR test. Big Hit Music said Suga received his second COVID-19 vaccination in August, and is currently experiencing no symptoms. The company also stressed that he has had no contact with the other members of BTS — RM, Jin, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook. Related Video Earlier this week, Suga became the first Asian pop musician to debut at No. 1 on Billboard Digital Song Sales chart after his posthumous...
Chris Martin: Coldplay Will Stop Making Music After 2025
Chris Martin has announced that Coldplay will stop making music after 2025, prompting thousands of Facebook and Twitter users to post in unison, “They weren’t making music before.” Via i News, Martin made the announcement in a conversation with BBC Radio 2 presenter Jo Whiley. The interview will air Thursday, but Whiley teased a clip when she appeared on Wednesday’s The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show. “He’s always very funny and I’m never quite sure if he’s joking or being deadly serious,” Whiley said. “Towards the end of the time we spent together he shared something pretty honest and pretty intimate which was a huge revelation.” In the clip, Martin said, “Well I know I can tell you: Our last proper record will come out in 2025 and after that I think we will only tour.” He ad...
TOMORROW X TOGETHER Drop Surprise Christmas Song “Sweet Dreams”: Stream
With Christmas just a mere few days away, now’s the time to soak in all the holiday spirit you can. Thankfully, K-pop “It” boys (and December Artist of the Month) TOMORROW X TOGETHER are here to help spread the cheer with their surprise carol song, “Sweet Dreams.” Produced by Slow Rabbit, “Sweet Dreams” is a mellow R&B jam, tailored for yuletide festivities with a jazzy piano riff and plenty of sleigh bells. With TXT members Yeonjun and Hueningkai co-writing the melody, and Soobin, Taehyun, and Hueningkai handling the song’s bilingual lyrics, the track is billed as a gesture of gratitude to the TXT fandom (aka MOA) for their persistent support and love in spite of a tumultuous couple of years. But most importantly, “Sweet Dreams” is TOMORROW X TOGETHER’s invitation to relax amid a part...
Grace Gaustad Unlocks the “Black Box” of Mental Health
Listen via: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Pandora | Stitcher | Google | Pocket Casts | Radio Public | RSS Singer-songwriter Grace Gaustad joins the Going There podcast to unlock that “black box” of mental health, particularly when it comes to the lasting effects of anti-LGBTQ+ bullying. Speaking with Dr. Mike, Gaustad describes how she was bullied because of her sexuality, and how that triggered her becoming severely depressed. Related Video The BLKBX: wht r u hding? musician explains how she started the non-profit organization the BLKBX Project in conjunction with her new album release. This organization focuses on teen mental illness, and addresses the fact that most people face stressful and traumatic issues such as bullying and mental illness in isolation. It’s not uncommon to struggle in...
Jamie Spears Asks Britney to Pay Legal Fees He Incurred Keeping Her from Her Own Money
Jamie Spears, who unsuccessfully fought to keep Britney Spears separated from her own money under his conservatorship, is now asking his daughter to pay his legal fees. The 27-page petition obtained by Variety reads like a blackmail note. “Prompt payment on account of Jamie’s attorneys’ fees is necessary to ensure the Conservatorship can be wound up quickly and efficiently to allow Britney to take control of her life as she and Jamie desire,” it says with the air of someone twirling a mustache. You know that nice freedom you’re looking forward to? Sure would be a shame if someone slowed it down. Spears’ attorney Matthew Rosengart called the request an “abomination.” “Mr. Spears reaped many millions of dollars from Britney as a conservator, while paying his lawyers millions m...
Lorde Searches for Serenity in ‘Leader of a New Regime’ Video: Watch
Lorde released a new music video for “Leader of a New Regime” on Tuesday morning (Dec. 21). In the clip, the New Zealand native appears alone on a tropical island, her hair plaited in a complicated dual braid as two young women ride a pair of horses out of the sea. “Wearing SPF 3000 for the ultraviolet rays/ Made it to the island on the last of the outbound planes/ Got a trunk full of Simone and Céline, and of course, my magazines/ I’m gonna live out my days,” she declares in harmony with herself on the track as she wanders the isle’s rocky shores and wades in tide pools. Coming in at just 1:33, “Leader of a New Regime” is a near-interlude from the pop singer’s 2021 album, Solar Power. The surprise visual, which arrived with little to no fanfare ahead of its unveiling, follows videos for s...
Nandi Bushell Covers Billie Eilish’s “Happier Than Ever”: Watch
Nandi Bushell blew up with her hard-hitting covers of rock classics, but the 11-year-old musician goes for modern hits as well. In her latest cover, Bushell took on Billie Eilish’s “Happier Than Ever.” “I will love Billie and Finneas forever more!!!” Bushell captioned the cover, which she posted to Instagram. While she didn’t perform the full song, the clip — which focuses on the end of “Happier Than Ever,” when Eilish’s ballad explodes with firecracker drums — shows off Bushell’s skills like the best of them. She stomps along to the breakup kiss-off for about a minute before ending with her famous scream. Check it out below. “Happier Than Ever” isn’t really a strange choice for rocker Bushell. Eilish all but confirmed her status as a rock singer with her own performance of the song on Sat...
Kate Bush Backs NHS Worker Pay Raises in Christmas Message
Reclusive art-pop singer Kate Bush emerged today to share a Christmas message posted to her official website, in which she touched on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and advocated for UK National Health Service (NHS) workers to receive pay raises for their heroic efforts. “It’s been a terrible time of loss for so many. I want to say a big thank you to all the people on the front line and in the NHS,” she wrote. “I have such huge respect for all the nurses and doctors who’ve already been working flat out for nearly two years. These caring people are showing such extraordinary acts of kindness to others. Let’s hope they get the pay rises they rightly deserve.” Back in March, Prime Minister Boris Johnson came under fire for offering a puny 1% increase in wages to doctors and nurses....
The Story Behind Crowded House’s “Hey Now, Hey Now” Anthem “Don’t Dream It’s Over”
Listen via Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Pocket Casts | RSS Crowded House’s “Don’t Dream It’s Over” is one of the most memorable tunes of the ’80s, and the band’s Neil Finn explores that lasting legacy on the latest edition of The Story Behind the Song. Crowded House helped launch a new post-New Wave era in pop music in 1986, creating beautifully simple, earthy melodies driven by guitars rather than synths. Lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter Neil Finn founded the band after the demise of Split Enz (a Kiwi band out of New Zealand with several iconic songs of its own.) Over the years, the band has somewhat quietly sold over 15 million albums worldwide and continues to release new music; just earlier this year, the band rele...
Harry Styles’ Pre-Orange Bowl Concert Canceled Amid COVID Surge
It looks like Harry Styles won’t be headed to Florida for the Capital One Beach Bash after all. On Monday (Dec. 20), Capital One announced that the free concert, which was meant to kick off the pre-game fun at the Orange Bowl in South Beach, has been canceled due to the current spike in COVID-19 cases. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news “Due to increasing logistical and production challenges related to the pandemic and after consultation with the artists and their production teams, we have jointly made the difficult decision to cancel the Capital One Beach Bash originally scheduled for December 30, 2021 on South Beach at Lummus Park,” reads a statement from Capital One. “While we are disappointed to not host the concert, we are excited for a great...
What’s Your Favorite K-Pop Song of 2021? Vote!
As the year winds to a close, it’s a great time to look back on all the incredible music fans were gifted with this year, and the realm of K-pop is no exception. From BTS‘ “Butter”-y domination to long-awaited solo singles from Blackpink‘s Rosé (“On the Ground,” “Gone”) and Lisa (“Lalisa,” “Money”), some of the genre’s biggest stars continued to reach new career highs throughout 2021. Meanwhile, idols like TOMORROW X TOGETHER, TWICE and Seventeen celebrated well-earned breakthrough moments on the Billboard charts. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news So now, Billboard wants to know: Which K-pop hit was your favorite release of 2021? Did you prefer a boy band like NCT Dream (“Hot Sauce”) or CIX (“Cinema”)? What about a solo star like IU (“Lilac”...
