Author: Amanda Collins
As opposition to the $775 million acquisition of Downtown Music Holdings by Virgin Music Group heats up, Downtown CEO Pieter van Rijn says the controversial deal has attracted more attention because of the buyer’s owner, Universal Music Group (UMG), than it has for the benefits musicians would enjoy from the combination. In an open letter obtained by Billboard, which arrived as the European Commission investigates the acquisition’s potential effect on competition, van Rijn took aim at what he called “misinformation” aimed at “undermin[ing] our longstanding and trusted client relationships….It’s disappointing to see how quickly some parts of our industry closed…
Los Angeles-based, Hawaii-born singer and songwriter Kiki T shares her brand new single One Island Leads to Another, an island synth-pop anthem about wanderlust and the pull of freedom in a world that wants you boxed in. This catchy electro-pop cut finds the talented artist beautifully showcasing her sweet, expressive vocals and storytelling abilities over a synth-laden production that I find quite captivating and nostalgic. Out now on Bag of Dicks, One Island Leads to Another captures the fantasy of island-hopping, falling in love, and never settling for ordinary. This message is nicely conveyed through Kiki T’s delicate vocals which soar…
Yes, Julia Garner is still on to play Madonna in an upcoming biopic on the superstar, the existence of which has long been called into question due to a series of delays. The Weapons actress confirmed as much in an on-camera interview with W Magazine posted Wednesday (Sept. 3). When asked whether she’d for sure be starring as the Queen of Pop, Garner replied enthusiastically, “Yeah!” “I can’t say too much about it, but yes,” she continued. “It’s a work in progress.” Garner also shared some of her favorite Madonna songs. “Oh my god, I have so many,” she said,…
The Kelly Clarkson Show will be back with new episodes later this month, with production on season 7 starting next week at the show’s New York studio and the fall premiere set for Sept. 29. The new season’s musician guests include Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo, Clarkson’s fellow American Idol alum David Archuleta, Sarah McLachlan, Mark Ronson and current Idol judge Lionel Richie. Other guests set for season 7: Emily Blunt, Marion Cotillard, Colin Farrell, Scarlett Johansson, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Matthew McConaughey, Julia Roberts, Shonda Rhimes, Margot Robbie, Sylvester Stallone, Channing Tatum and Reese Witherspoon. The season 7 premiere…
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. Fall is here, which means it’s time to take a closer look at your bag collection and make some changes to fit the season. In our humble opinion, handbags are the cornerstone of any good outfit. They can make or break a look, taking any ensemble from drab to fab in an instant. Beyond the stylish aspect, a good bag should be functional too. Whether you’re…
Charli XCX has revealed that Clairo was also considered for her role in her upcoming independent film Erupcja. In October, news emerged that the ‘360’ singer had filmed the movie in secret in Warsaw during the height of ‘Brat’ summer. Director Pete Ohs confirmed that Erupcja, which means “eruption” in Polish, will tell the story of the combustible relationship between two women – a local Polish citizen played by Lena Góra and a tourist, to be played by Charli XCX. In a new interview with Filmmaker Magazine, Charli and Ohs have spoken about their chance meeting in New York bar Clandestino…
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. The newest Spike Lee “joint” was the toast of the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year, while it had a very limited run in theaters this summer. But now, Highest 2 Lowest, which stars Denzel Washington, Jeffrey Wright, Ilfenesh Hadera, A$AP Rocky, Ice Spice and others, is set to make its streaming debut starting on Friday (Sept. 5) on Apple TV+. It’s available to stream for…
Labor Day weekend has come and gone, which must mean that the final word is in on the Songs of the Summer. Billboard‘s official Song of the Summer listing closed with the chart dated Sept. 6, and unsurprisingly, tops is the song that topped the chart every week of the season: Alex Warren‘s 10-week Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 megaballad “Ordinary.” Behind it comes three straight Morgan Wallen-led smashes — “What I Want” (feat. Tate McRae, No. 2), “Just in Case” (No. 3) and “I’m the Problem” (No. 4) — with Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s “Luther” rounding out the top five. (A…
American producer/artist Mang shares his brand new single Don’t Leave, a chilled-out Contemporary R&B/Pop Rap song. Taken from his latest EP ON THE LOW, out now via daddy rabbit, Don’t Leave finds the talented artist pouring his heart out and pleading to someone not to leave him. A gentle and intimate love song, asking for guidance and for the other person to stay, which is nicely conveyed through his heartfelt vocals that are accompanied by a trap-infused beat, cool rhythms and rich textures that come together to create an overall warm, intimate atmosphere perfect for a laid-back weekend!
David Byrne has released his new single ‘What Is The Reason For It?’, featuring vocals from Paramore’s Hayley Williams – listen below. The former Talking Heads frontman is preparing to release his latest solo album ‘Who Is The Sky?’ this Friday (September 5) via Matador Records, which you can pre-order/pre-save here. It is his first solo record since 2018’s ‘American Utopia’ and he has already shared the singles ‘She Explains Things To Me’, ‘Everybody Laughs’ and ‘The Avant Garde’, and now he is back with the vibrant, danceable ‘What Is The Reason For It?’. The track sees acrobatic interplay between…