Pop
iHeartRadio Music Awards Cancelled For 2020 — But Winners Will Still Be Announced
Eight months will have elapsed between the announcement of the nominees and the revelation of the winners. The 2020 iHeartRadio Music Awards, originally scheduled to take place March 29 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, with Usher hosting, were officially cancelled on Monday (Aug. 24). But fear not, awards fans: The winners will still be announced over the Labor Day weekend (Sept. 4-7) on 840 iHeartRadio stations nationwide and via iHeart’s social platforms. The chain will even include acceptance speeches from the winners. This year’s nominations were announced on Jan. 8, which means eight months will have elapsed between the announcement of the nominees and the revelation of the winners. Billie Eilish and Shawn Mendes were this year’s top nominees, with seven nods each. Taylo...
Beyoncé’s ‘Brown Skin Girl’ Video Is Now Available Outside of ‘Black Is King’: Watch
The visual features appearances from Naomi Campbell, Lupita Nyong’o, Kelly Rowland and Blue Ivy Carter. Ring the alarm! Just weeks after unveiling Black Is King, Beyoncé has gifted the wider world with the stunning video for “Brown Skin Girl.” On Aug. 24, the superstar uploaded the celebratory clip as a standalone visual on YouTube. (Previously, the video for the fan favorite track had only been available to Disney+ subscribers as part of Beyoncé’s most recent musical film, which dropped exclusively on the streaming service July 31.) In the video, Beyoncé enlists (and name drops) the likes of Naomi Campbell, Lupita Nyong’o and former Destiny’s Child bandmate Kelly Rowland to help laud and pass down the ideals of Black identity, heritage and beauty to fut...
BTS Break Major YouTube Record With ‘Dynamite’
“Dynamite” is blowing up on YouTube. The new music video from BTS counted 101.1 million views within 24 hours of its release, YouTube confirms to Billboard, making it the music video with the biggest first-day debut to date. The visual for “Dynamite,” the new English-language track from the K-pop superstars, dropped with a bang at midnight on Aug. 21. More than 3 million concurrent viewers immediately tuned in at premiere time. BTS first teased the new single back in July. “We are preparing an album for the second half of this year,” they said at the time, on Korean broadcasting app V Live, “but decided to first release a single because we wanted to reach our fans as soon as possible. Due to COVID-19, people around the world have been going through...
ACLU Offers Britney Spears Support Amid Conservatorship Extension
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is publicly reaching out to Britney Spears, following a ruling this week by a Los Angeles judge to extend her conservatorship until Feb. 1, 2021. “People with disabilities have a right to lead self-directed lives and retain their civil rights,” the nonprofit organization tweeted earlier in the week, on Aug. 19. “If Britney Spears wants to regain her civil liberties and get out of her conservatorship, we are here to help her.” On the afternoon of Aug. 23, they shared an article published on aclu.org, titled “How Conservatorship Threatens Britney Spears’ Civil Rights.” “Conservatorships can result in serious financial, physical, or emotional abuse,” the ACLU tweeted alongside the link. Conservatorship &...
Is Justin Bieber’s ‘Squishy Cute’ Newborn Niece Giving Him Baby Fever?
Bieber fever might be making way for baby fever. Justin Bieber got to meet his very new — and very adorable — niece, Iris Elle Aronow, and the pictures are proof that he’s smitten. The pop star shared a series of snuggly Instagram photos with Iris, Alaia Baldwin and Andrew Aronow’s baby who was born on Aug. 17. “My baby niece iris .. scroll through and whitness the most squishy cute gumdrop ever!! Love you @alaiabaldwin and @andrewaronow ! She’s so precious!” Bieber wrote Sunday (Aug. 23). Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson left a winky-face comment on the post: “This image pretty much seals the deal. Fully expect you and H to have a baby in 2021.” Bieber’s wife, Hailey Baldwin, posted a snapshot on her Instagram ...
Brandy & Monica Will Face Off in a Sure-to-Be Iconic ‘Verzuz’ Showdown
Queue up “The Boy Is Mine”: It’s Brandy vs. Monica in the next Verzuz battle. “Get ready for the queens!” the official Verzuz Instagram teased Saturday night (Aug. 22), with a sleek split image of the singers’ faces. Brandy and Monica will go head-to-head on Monday, Aug. 31 at 8 p.m. ET on Instagram and Apple Music. “#History,” Brandy wrote on her account. “Thank you @monicadenise and @verzuztv for making this happen. Let’s celebrate!!!!” “This will be historical,” Monica agreed with her own post about the upcoming event. “It’s an honor @brandy.” Monica then encouraged fans to start chiming in with their requests: “What songs would you all like to see us bring to @verzuztv !! Celebratin...
Miley Cyrus Shares Touching Tribute to Her Late Grandma: ‘You Will Forever Be My Inspiration’
Miley Cyrus is mourning the death of her beloved grandmother Loretta Finley. On Saturday (Aug. 22), the 27-year-old pop star shared an emotional tribute to her maternal grandma, whom she lovingly referred to as “Mammie,” on Instagram. Her post included a gallery of past photos and videos, including a clip of Finley on the red carpet and a snapshot of her cuddling with baby Miley. “Even though you are gone…. NOTHING has or ever will change. You will FOREVER be my inspiration and fashion icon,” Cyrus captioned the post. “Even more than that the ultimate model of being a true LIGHT in a dark world. You are sunshine. Everyday I wake and see that fiery ball in the sky I will see your face. Then say a prayer thanking heaven above for giving me the best grandmo...
LA Judge Extends Britney Spears Conservatorship Until 2021
POP 8/21/2020 by Claudia Rosenbaum Los Angeles Judge Brenda Penny ruled after a sealed hearing on Thursday (Aug. 19) to extend Britney Spears conservatorship till Feb. 1, 2021. The virtual hearing was attended by Spears’ court appointed attorney, Samuel Ingham, her father James Spears, Lynn Spears, and their respective attorneys. In addition, Spears current temporary conservator Jodi Montgomery. Penny also made some findings and orders under seal. In the interim she set a time table for Britney’s attorney to file a petition by Sept. 18 and to have it set for a hearing in her court on Oct. 14th. Any objections in the case are to be filed by Oct. 2, according to Penny. The hearing came two days after Ingham filed a court paper on the singer’s behalf declaring that she does not want her fathe...
TWICE Drop First English Single ‘More & More’
TWICE have officially dropped the English version of their latest mini-album’s title track “More & More.” The new rendition keeps the fun, dance-y elements of the original. “Don’t look away, look in my eyes / Show me your heart do not disguise / You can run but you cannot hide,” the girl group sings in the pre-chorus, before chanting the infectious hook. “We prepared the English version of “MORE & MORE” as a gift to our ONCE around the world,” said TWICE in a group statement. “We wish them happiness, and hope that they enjoy the song.” The song’s release marks the first time the group has recorded a full track in English. TWICE is currently recording material for a new album, with more details to be revealed in the comi...
Conan Gray Transforms Into the Girl His Crush Loves in Thought-Provoking ‘Heather’ Video
On the topic of love, it really, really sucks when your crush doesn’t love you back. Even worse, it sucks more when they love someone else. Conan Gray explores those feelings of envy and yearning in his wistful new “Heather” video. “Why would you ever kiss me? I’m not even half, as pretty / You gave her your sweater / It’s just polyester, but you like her better / I wish I were Heather,” he sings in the chorus, as the clip shows the 21-year-old singer-songwriter at home, slowly dressing himself and styling his hair to how Heather might. “When I was in high school, I had a crush on the same one person all four years. But that one person did not love me back, instead my crush liked a girl named heather,” Gray said in a press statemen...
Glass Animals Score First Top Rock Albums No. 1 With ‘Dreamland’
The set is also their first Billboard 200 top 10. Glass Animals nab their first No. 1 on Billboard‘s Top Rock Albums chart, as Dreamland bows atop the list dated Aug. 22. Dreamland debuts with 60,000 equivalent album units earned in the tracking week ending Aug. 13, according to Nielsen Music/MRC Data. Of that sum, 43,000 units were via album sales. The England-based band previously reached a No. 2 high on the chart with Dreamland‘s predecessor, How to Be a Human Being, in September 2016. The new LP’s count of 17,000 streaming equivalent units is the best for a rock album since the chart dated Feb. 29, when Tame Impala‘s The Slow Rush opened with 30,000 of its overall 110,000 units from streaming. Dreamland also starts at No. 2 on Alternative Albums, equaling How to...
Taylor Swift Supports Indie Record Stores with Free Signed Copies of folklore
Taylor Swift has surprised independent record stores around the country with signed copies of her new album folklore. Many shops reported unexpectedly receiving a package of 30 autographed CDs, and have been posting pictures with the hashtag #recordstorefolklore. folklore is a self-consciously “indie” effort, created with The National’s Aaron Dessner and featuring Bon Iver. It’s also the top-selling record of the year, released by one of the most famous people on the planet. With this gesture — hand-signing hundreds of CDs and shipping them all around the states — Swift may have given herself arthritis, but she’s also given these record stores her time and the power of her colossal celebrity. It worked — several stores reported selling out the whole stock of CDs in less than an h...
