Billboard https://www.billboard.com Music Charts, News, Photos & Video Thu, 23 May 2024 09:20:01 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.4 200641670 Oasis Announce ‘Definitely Maybe’ 30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/oasis-definitely-maybe-30th-anniversary-deluxe-edition-1235599033/ Thu, 23 May 2024 09:16:11 +0000 https://www.billboard.com/?p=1235599033 " on Aug. 31.]]>

No, they’re not reuniting, and a tour is off the cards, but Oasis will celebrate the 30th anniversary of their debut album with a deluxe edition.

The Britpop-era Manchester rock heavyweights will release the special, expanded editions of Definitely Maybe on Aug. 31, featuring “unheard” versions from Monnow Valley Studio, near Rockfield, versions and outtakes from Sawmills Studios in Cornwall, where the LP was re-recorded.

The collection will be available on deluxe 4xLP, 2xCD, colored vinyl, cassette and digitally with new artwork and sleeve notes, reads a statement.

Discovered and signed by Creator Records founder Alan McGee, Oasis went on to become one of the most successful bands to emerge from the U.K., amassing eight No. 1 album, including all seven studio recordings. Definitely Maybe, with its top 40 hits “Supersonic,” “Shakermaker,” Cigarettes & Alcohol,” and the all-time classic “Live Forever,” was the album that started it all. The recording spent just one week at the chart summit, but has logged 541 weeks on the tally — and counting.

By the time Oasis dropped their third album, Be Here Now, the band was virtually untouchable in their homeland. That LP broke sales records following its release in 1997, shifting 696,000 units in just three days, and 813,000 across its first full week.

Oasis is no longer an active group due to ongoing friction between the Gallagher brothers, Noel and Liam, though their legacy was recognized with a nomination for the Rock Hall class of 2024.

Long-suffering fans got a taste of what they were missing with the 2021 live recording of Oasis’ legendary Knebworth Festival concerts, presented on Aug. 10–11, 1996. Knebworth 1996 opened at No. 4 on the Official U.K. Albums Chart, and was accompanied by a documentary film, directed by Jake Scott.

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Dolly Parton Is Virtually Hitting the Road for Symphonic ‘Threads’ Production https://www.billboard.com/music/country/dolly-parton-virtual-symphonic-threads-production-1235689704/ Thu, 23 May 2024 06:09:24 +0000 https://www.billboard.com/?p=1235689704

Dolly Parton is virtually coming to a concert hall near you.

The Rock Hall-inducted country legend isn’t backing down on her decision to quit full-scale touring, though she has green-lit a new, traveling experience that will take her music around the world.

Dolly Parton’s Threads: My Songs in Symphony is said to be an “innovative multimedia experience” featuring Dolly on screen, and giving audiences a “visual-musical journey of her songs, her life, and her stories.”

That project will get underway Thursday, March 20, 2025 at Schermerhorn Symphony Center, with the Nashville Symphony. Guest vocalists and musicians selected by Parton will perform at that show, and others. Schirmer Theatrical and Sony Music Publishing are co-producers, and more cities with local orchestras will be announced in due course.

Expect to hear the classics “Jolene,” “Coat Of Many Colors,” and “I Will Always Love You,” plus Dolly’s “personal favorites” and an as-yet unreleased selection from her upcoming Broadway musical.

Parton, now 78, isn’t cutting down on her workload, which includes recordings, book release and projects for the small and big screens, though in 2022 she revealed that full-fledged touring was a thing of the past. “I do not think I will ever tour again, but I do know I’ll do special shows here and there, now and then. Maybe do a long weekend of shows, or just a few shows at a festival. But I have no intention of going on a full-blown tour anymore,” Parton told the Pollstar. (Billboard independently verified the news.)

Parton’s most recent tour was her 2016 Pure & Simple Tour, which included 60 shows in the United States and Canada.

Before Dolly Parton’s Threads hits the road, the country icon will release Good Lookin’ Cookinon Sept. 17, a cookbook on which she’s partnered with her sister, Rachel Parton George.

On the music side of the Dolly empire, her 49th and latest solo studio album Rockstar blasted in at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart last year, for her first leader on the 32-year-old tally. The star-studded collection was promoted as Parton’s first rock album, and its recording was inspired by Parton’s induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022. The 30-track collection also debuted at a career-high No. 3 on the all-genre Billboard 200, surpassing Parton’s previous high of No. 6 for 2014’s Blue Smoke.

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Watch Bizarrap Premiere ‘Vol. 60’ Live with Lismar at Debut New York Headline Show https://www.billboard.com/music/latin/bizarrap-bzrp-music-sessions-vol-60-lismar-terminal-5-new-york-recap-1235690639/ Thu, 23 May 2024 04:20:26 +0000 https://www.billboard.com/?p=1235690639

On Wednesday night (May 22), Bizarrap electrified Terminal 5 with his debut headlining performance in New York City. Commanding the stage from behind the decks, the Argentine sensation wowed the audience with his dynamic show. Highlighting the momentous night, he surprised attendees by introducing Dominican rapper Lismar to perform their newest collaboration, “Lismar: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 60,” live.

“I just released a song a few minutes ago. Are you ready to hear it for the first time live or not?!” shouted Biza to the ecstatic crowd. “I brought a special guest. Her name is Lismar from the Dominican Republic. We didn’t just release one song, we released two!” Donning his signature BZRP-emblazoned black cap, his sunglasses and an Adidas windbreaker jacket, he launched into the whirling melody to “Vol. 60.”

The newcomer made her way to the main stage sporting a white strapless crop top paired with black sparkly-net long sleeves and baggy cargo pants. Bizarrap’s Run DMC-esque hip-hop beat filled the air as Lismar spat her rapid-fire rhymes to the roaring crowd. Meanwhile, the song’s music video, illuminated with Biza’s staple blue-hued lighting in his studio, played in the backdrop.

“She is only 18, she is the future,” the Argentine producer said at the end of their song. Right away, they premiered their second song “Subió La Temperatura,” a funky rap jam with riveting breakbeats accompanied by a quirky video game-styled visual.

Other standout songs performed included “Vol. 53,” famously featuring Shakira, whose lyrics the crowd sang word-for-word. Villano Antillano, Quevedo, Residente, Snow Tha Product, Peso Pluma, and Arcángel where also among the mega hits the Latin Grammy-winning producer also spun.

On Saturday (May 18), Bizarrap unveiled his newest collaboration in the form of a sci-fi-themed seven-minute short film. On May 25, he will also perform at the Sueños Music Festival in Chicago, IL.

Watch Bizarrap and Lismar perform “Vol. 60” at Terminal 5 below:

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Kings of Leon Scores Sixth Top 10 on Album Sales Chart With ‘Can We Please Have Fun’ https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/kings-of-leon-top-10-album-sales-chart-can-we-please-have-fun-1235690848/ Thu, 23 May 2024 02:07:34 +0000 https://www.billboard.com/?p=1235690848

Kings of Leon scores its sixth top 10-charting effort on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart, as the band’s latest studio release, Can We Please Have Fun, bows at No. 3 on the May 25-dated tally. The set also makes a splash on a number of other rankings, including top 10 debuts on Top Rock & Alternative Albums, Top Alternative Albums, Top Rock Albums, Top Current Album Sales, Indie Store Album Sales and Vinyl Albums.

Can We Please Have Fun sold 14,000 copies in the U.S. in the week ending May 16, according to Luminate.

Also in the top 10 of the new Top Album Sales chart, Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department holds atop the list for a third nonconsecutive week, Knocked Loose scores its best sales week ever and highest charting album with the No. 2 debut of You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To, and Scotty McCreery’s Rise & Fall starts at No. 6 – marking his sixth top 10 set.

Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart ranks the top-selling albums of the week based only on traditional album sales. The chart’s history dates back to May 25, 1991, the first week Billboard began tabulating charts with electronically monitored piece count information from SoundScan, now Luminate. Pure album sales were the sole measurement utilized by the Billboard 200 albums chart through the list dated Dec. 6, 2014, after which that chart switched to a methodology that blends album sales with track equivalent album units and streaming equivalent album units. For all chart news, follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both Twitter and Instagram.

Swift’s Poets captures a third nonconsecutive weeks at No. 1 on Top Album Sales (41,000; down 19%), while Knocked Loose logs its best sales week and highest charting effort yet, as You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To enters at No. 2 with 18,000 sold.

SEVENTEEN’s SEVENTEEN Best Album ‘17 Is Right Here’ slips 3-4 with 11,000 (down 78%), Swift’s chart-topping 1989 (Taylor’s Version) is a non-mover at No. 5 (8,000; up 9%), McCreery’s Rise & Fall bows at No. 6 (7,000), Swift’s former leader Lover is stationary at No. 7 (nearly 7,000; up 7%), Dua Lipa’s Radical Optimism falls 1-8 in its second week (6,000; down 89%) and Swift’s chart-topping Midnights motors 11-9 (just over 5,000; up 4%).

Rounding out the top 10 is Hozier’s Wasteland, Baby!, which jumps 16-10 with 5,000 (up 30%), following the recent release of a new Amazon-exclusive vinyl edition of the album.

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Top K-Pop of the Week: ENHYPEN, aespa, ZEROBASEONE, Ryu Su Jeong, Sorn & More – Vote! https://www.billboard.com/lists/top-kpop-of-week-enhypen-aespa-zerobaseone-ryu-su-jeong-sorn-vote/ Thu, 23 May 2024 02:00:48 +0000 https://www.billboard.com/?post_type=pmc_list&p=1235690751

Every week, the Korean music scene delivers outstanding songs across various genres and styles, and the past week was no exception, with a heavy-hitting selection of hits with global potential, satisfyingly nostalgic duets and some of 2024’s most promising new artists.

Internationally adored groups like aespa and ENHYPEN both dropped new singles to tide their ravenous fanbases over while they await their next full-length projects. Meanwhile, K-pop fans were treated to duets with special meanings as Lovelyz members Ryu Sujeong and Yein teamed up for a collaboration (co-produced and written by Hot 100 artist XYLØ, nonetheless) while Sorn and Hongseok also duetted for a new track showing an ongoing bond even after both departed their former label, Cube Entertainment. Alongside newcomers like DXMON and Yungin, embracing a range of unique genres and concepts to connect with audiences, there’s also K-pop sensations ZEROBASEONE and their new single “Feel the POP” that pairs perfectly with the warming weather.

As the K-pop industry moves at a rapid pace, it’s important to pause and appreciate the innovation and diversity it offers across its different acts. Last week, Billboard readers chose Stray Kids’ “Lose My Breath” as their top K-pop pick of the week but fans of Lim Young Woong, Yook Sungjae, BM and D.O all came through with major support.

Take a moment to explore these nine new gems that embody the spirit of the scene and deserve a permanent spot on your playlist. Then cast your vote in our poll for the top of K-pop for the past week.

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12 Beauty & Skincare Brands to Support for AAPI Heritage Month & Beyond https://www.billboard.com/culture/product-recommendations/beauty-brands-asian-american-pacific-islander-1235078696/ Thu, 23 May 2024 02:00:00 +0000 https://www.billboard.com/?p=1235078696

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.

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! As the month of celebrations continues, we’ve collected a list of beauty and skincare brands to shop for AAPI month and beyond. From vegan and cruelty-free skincare products to pimple patches, nail lacquer and makeup essentials, see below for a roundup of a dozen AAPI-owned companies that should be on your radar.

12 Beauty Brands to Shop for AAPI Month & Beyond

Three Ships Brighter Day Red Algae + Avocado Biodegradable Eye Masks


Set sail with Three Ships! Founded by Connie Lo and Laura Berger, this natural skincare brand carries a range of vegan products made for various skin types. The Brighter Days Red Algae + Avocado Biodegradable Eye Masks featured above is designed to de-puff, brighten and hydrate due your skin. It’s packed with ingredients like red algae extract for hydration and “upcycled” avocado extract to help brighten the skin, and lessen the appearance of dark circles and puffiness.

12 Beauty Brands to Shop for AAPI Month & Beyond

Peach & Lily Glass Skin Refining Serum


It’s been more than a decade since Alicia Yoon founded, Peach & Lily — an eco-friendly skincare line of serums, cleansers, toner, acne dots and amore. The K-Beauty brand features a range of toxin-free, vegan, gluten-free and fragrance-free products including bestsellers such as Glass Skin Refining Serum ($39), Acne Spot Dots ($4.99) and Matcha Pudding Antioxidant Cream ($43).

12 Beauty Brands to Shop for AAPI Month & Beyond

Hero Cosmetics Mighty Patch™ Original Patch – Hydrocolloid Acne Pimple Patch for Covering Zits and Blemishes, Spot Stickers for Face and Skin (36 Count)


Hero Cosmetics began in 2017 after founder Ju Rhyu had a pimple emergency. Because of her sensitive skin, Rhyu created the Mighty Patch, a gentle hydrocolloid patch that she first found in South Korea. The XL face patches pictured above are built to tackle breakouts in your T-zone, cheeks, chin, etc. The product is recommended for oily/combo skin. Hero houses over 30 different products including Rescue Balm ($12.99) and the Sensitive Skin Trio ($36) .

12 Beauty Brands to Shop for AAPI Month & Beyond

ONE/SIZE Ultimate Blurring Setting Powder


One/Size is a beauty brand for “all the curvy women, skinny boys, drag queens, thick guys, girly girls, beauties with disabilities, gender nonconforming icons, runway models, and makeup lovers.” Founded by makeup artist and beauty influencer, Patrick Starrr, the AAPI and LGBTQ+ owned brand produces high-performing, viral products including One ‘Til Dawn Setting Spray ($32), Ultimate Blurring Setting Powder ($34) and Cheek Clapper 3D Blush Palette ($38).

12 Beauty Brands to Shop for AAPI Month & Beyond

Tatcha The Water Cream 1.7 oz.


Tatcha Skincare was founded by Taiwanese-American entrepreneur Vicky Tsai, who, after a decade of working in corporate America, quit her job and found herself in Koyoto, Japan. There, she encountered a cultural harmony that healed her skin and soul, and inspired her to launch the beauty brand. Some of Tatcha’s most popular products are The Water Cream ($70), Dewey Skin Cream ($70) and Rice Polish Classic Foaming Enzyme Powder ($65).

12 Beauty Brands to Shop for AAPI Month & Beyond

Glow Recipe Niacinimide Dew Drops Serum (Mini)


Christine Chang and Sarah Lee launched Glow Recipe in 2014. The brand uses clean yet gentle ingredients such as “antioxidant-rich fruit extracts and clinically proven actives” designed to make your skin glow.

12 Beauty Brands to Shop for AAPI Month & Beyond

Rovectin Trio Set

$63 $75 16% off
Buy Now at rovectin


Rovectin is a Korean beauty brand rooted in “love and resilience.” The brand was developed to help cancer patients restore skin severely damaged from chemotherapy and has become one of Korea’s most trusted skincare brands among patients, dermatologists and hospitals, plus it’s popular in the states. Some of Rovectin’s products include Conditioning Cleanser ($20), Aqua Activating Serum ($36) and Barrier Repair Oil for Face & Body ($27).

12 Beauty Brands to Shop for AAPI Month & Beyond

Em Cosmetics Color Drops Serum Blush in Rose Milk


Em Cosmetics is affectionately known as a “big sister” in beauty. The beauty brand, whose name is derived from the Vietnamese word “younger sibling,” carries a range of products such as eyeshadow, eyeliner, foundation, setting powder, lip crème and blush priced from $22 and up.

12 Beauty Brands to Shop for AAPI Month & Beyond

CTZN Cosmetics Nudiversal 2-in-1 Lipstick and Lipgloss


Aleena, Aleezeh and Naseeha Khan noticed a lack of South Asian and Middle Eastern representation in the beauty world but they’re helping to change that. The sisters, who were born and raised in Los Angeles, launched CTZN Cosmetics, a mission-driven, vegan beauty brand is “committed to redefining inclusivity” in 2019. The brand is known for its selection of nude lipsticks, red lipsticks and lip liners designed for various skin tones.

12 Beauty Brands to Shop for AAPI Month & Beyond

Patrick Ta Major Sculpt Creme Contour & Bronze Powder Duo


Having grown up surrounded by women such as his mother, sisters and best friend, makeup artist Patrick Ta created a beauty brand that “make women feel comfortable and beautiful in their own skin just as women have made me feel.” Patrick Ta’s product lineup includes lipstick, lip gloss, mascara, eyeshadow, blush, brow gel.

light blue bottle of face cleanser

Tula The Cult Classic Purifying Face Cleanser


Founded by gastroenterologist Dr. Roshini Raj, Tula Skincare is a built on “the power of probiotic extracts and superfoods.” One of the hottest products in the Tula family is the Cult Classic Purifying Face Cleanser ($24) pictured above. It deeply cleanses, and gently purifies, improving skin texture and leaving skin feeling refreshed thanks to natural ingredients like tumeric, white tea & blueberry and chicory root. Additional Tula Skincare products include the Hydrating Day & Night Treatment Eye Balm ($38) and the Brightening Treatment Drops Triple Vitamin C Serum ($48).

Priscilla Tsai founded Cocokind to “change the status quo of the beauty industry and break the cycle of ‘aspirational beauty.’” Tsai struggled with skin issues in the past and knows how blotches and blemishes can affect your self-esteem, so she created a vegan and cruelty-free skincare line that features cleanser, serum, eye cream and sunscreen.

Want more beauty recommendations? Check out our picks for new beauty releases to shop for spring and summer and best makeup bags for travel.

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Live Nation Antitrust Lawsuit Expected to Be Filed by DOJ on Thursday https://www.billboard.com/business/touring/live-nation-lawsuit-department-of-justice-thursday-1235690821/ Thu, 23 May 2024 01:24:20 +0000 https://www.billboard.com/?p=1235690821

A Department of Justice lawsuit against Live Nation for violating U.S. antitrust laws is imminent and could be filed as soon as Thursday (May 23), a source with knowledge of the DOJ’s plans tells Billboard.

The lawsuit is rumored to charge that Live Nation has a monopoly on event ticketing through Ticketmaster and that it illegally uses its monopoly power to grow its business and stifle competition. The DOJ has been investigating Live Nation for more than two years. With that investigation now wrapped, company president Joe Berchtold recently said he was that he was hopeful his company would avoid a legal showdown with the DOJ’s top antitrust lawyer, Jonathan Kanter.

“These are always serious discussions. We wouldn’t get to this point if they didn’t have concerns, but the good news is we’re still talking and they’ve said they have an open mind,” Berchtold told attendees at the J.P. Morgan Global Technology, Media and Communications conference in Boston on Tuesday (May 21).

“Without getting into the real details of the conversation, I think it’s fair to say I continue to believe that we fundamentally have business practices that are fully defensible,” Berchtold added, before continuing: “We’re also open to figuring out common ground in order to get this settled and moved on. But we don’t know exactly what they want at this point still.”

Live Nation declined to comment for this story.

The Department of Justice’s case is believed to be centered around Ticketmaster’s use of exclusive ticketing contracts when signing up venues for its ticketing services. Typically, Ticketmaster pays venues an advance on the revenue that it generates from the fees it charges consumers as part of the ticket-buying process. The longer the contract, the larger the advance Ticketmaster can pay out.

DOJ officials don’t like the practice, arguing that it locks out new companies from competing in the ticketing space. Ticketmaster officials, however, argue that they are open to working with non-exclusive contracts — both the Greek Theatre in Hollywood and Red Rocks in Denver are open facilities where promoters use the ticketing provider of their choice — but that venues often rely on exclusive deals to meet their capital needs.

While Ticketmaster holds more exclusive ticketing contracts than any other company, it isn’t the only one to make use of them: Every major competitor pays upfront advances in exchange for exclusive ticketing agreements with venues and sports teams.

That includes SeatGeek, which reportedly paid $10 million in 2021 for exclusive rights to ticket events at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn for a seven-year term. Two years into the agreement, Billboard reported at the time, Barclays Center and BSE Global chief executive Sam Zussman threatened to publicize SeatGeek’s tech problems and breaches of contract if it didn’t immediately agree to terminate the deal.

SeatGeek eventually agreed to wind down its relationship with Barclays Center and was replaced by Ticketmaster. DOJ officials reportedly scrutinized the incident during its investigation of Live Nation.

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‘The Masked Singer’ Winners: Which Mystery Musician Won Each Season? https://www.billboard.com/lists/the-masked-singer-winners/ Thu, 23 May 2024 01:10:00 +0000 https://www.billboard.com/?post_type=pmc_list&p=1235142639 The Masked Singer.]]>

Fox’s The Masked Singer wrapped season 11 on May 22, so Billboard is going back through every winning artist who unmasked themselves for the grand reveal.

Hosted by Nick Cannon, the singing competition series premiered on Fox in 2019 as a way for celebrity contestants to perform anonymously in head-to-toe costumes while clues about their real identity are given throughout the competition before they’re unmasked one by one.

Judges-turned-detectives Ken Jeong, Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg, Nicole Scherzinger and Robin Thicke have used clue after clue to get closer to uncovering who’s hiding behind each mask, but the final reveals always leave their jaws on the floor.

Over 11 seasons, a wide variety of celebrities have competed on the reality contest, from sports superstars to comedians to actors and beyond, but when it comes to the winners, they’ve all been musicians too. The very first winner was hip-hop crooner T-Pain, who left his trademark Auto-Tune behind to show off his pipes au naturel.

Below is a complete list of which mystery musician unmasked themselves to reveal the winner at the end of each season.

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Goldfish Not Returning to Music, But Loved Swimming to ‘Masked Singer’ Win: ‘I Will Always Have It in My Back Pocket’ https://www.billboard.com/culture/tv-film/vanessa-hudgens-goldfish-win-masked-singer-season-11-interview-1235689970/ Thu, 23 May 2024 01:01:00 +0000 https://www.billboard.com/?p=1235689970

Spoiler alert: This story contains the identity of the winner and runner-up unmasked on Wednesday night’s (May 22) season finale of The Masked Singer.

It was a fierce scramble for the golden mask on Wednesday’s (May 22) season 11 Masked Singer finale in an action-packed battle that pitted powerhouse male vocalist Gumball against season-long favorite Goldfish.

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When the confetti fell at the end of the night, though, it was veteran singer/actress Vanessa Hudgens who triumphed over her former Bandslam co-star Scott Porter (aka Friday Night Lights‘ Jason Street). 

To recap, former High School Musical movie star Hudgens got her perfect run off to a killer start early on in the season with a fierce take on fellow High School Musical universe alum Olivia Rodrigo’s “Vampire,” throwing down the gauntlet that this was a performer with killer pipes and casually cool stage moves. The singer, who released two albums on Hollywood Records early in her career, showed off her performance chops throughout by expertly ruling the stage in the peach-colored costume with a towering mohawk and diaphanous gills.

She continued to swim upstream all season with a smooth-as-butter cover of Player’s 1977 AM radio classic “Baby Come Back” and further proved her arena-ready bona fides with a Broadway-worthy take on Queen’s “The Show Must Go On.”

The flawless march kept going with a showstopping run through Nat King Cole’s “Unforgettable” — which again showed off her impressive range — as well as last week’s fierce rumble through Alanis Morissette’s “You Oughta Know” that had Robin Thicke jumping on the judges’ table for a standing ovation.

On Wednesday, before her reveal, Hudgens, 27, confessed that she was never good at expressing herself as a young girl, but has lately been on a “journey of self-discovery” that allowed her to express herself “so freely” on the show. And while she said music has taken a “back seat” as she’s focused on film for the past 15-plus years — appearing in Second Act, Bad Boys for Life and Tick, Tick… Boom!, as well as the upcoming Bad Boys: Ride or Die — her victory-sealing covers of Blondie’s “Heart of Glass” and Elton John’s “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” proved her pipes are as strong as ever.

The judges were close in their guesses but didn’t quite nail it, with Rita Ora suggesting former Glee star Lea Michele or Vampire Diaries star Nina Dobrev; Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg guessing Selena Gomez, Vampire Academy star Sarah Hyland or Julianne Hough; and Thicke going with Hilary Duff. Always-wrong Ken Jeong missed it by a mile once again, tossing out such wildly disparate suggestions as Carly Rae Jepsen, Kristen Stewart and former panelist Nicole Scherzinger.

Billboard spoke to Hudgens before her elimination about why this was the right time to dip back into singing, how she managed to move like such a pro in her costume, and why her “witch” powers were the key to giving the expectant first-time mom something special to share with her baby. Check out her answers below.

You’ve been a guest judge on So You Think You Can Dance and RuPaul’s Drag Race, but never really a contestant on a singing show. Why now?

This opportunity came up at a really interesting time when we [actors] were on strike and this was a category I could actually work in and my fans had been asking for more music, more singing, anything of that sort. I was like, “This would be a really fun and interesting opportunity to give my fans what they want and see who the real ones are.”

People complain about the size and sweatiness of the costumes, but you seemed to be able to move with no problems. What was your secret?

Reckless abandonment? [Laughs] It definitely had its own challenges because I couldn’t see straight ahead because the eyeholes were so far apart. If I wanted to see straight ahead, I had to turn my head one way or another and I was really using a live mic and holding it up to the little opening in my mask. So I had to split my vision and look sideways out of one eye and then look down with the other in the mic hole to see the ground. I just went for it and left it all out there. They would be like, “You’re kind of here and then walk over there and if you want to maybe do a verse there and move over here.” I just really let it fly and they gave me the freedom to play, and play I did.

Which performance meant the most to you and why?

I feel so lucky in that I got to work really closely with my producer and pick songs that meant something to me, from the cheeky nod to High School Musical singing “Vampire” by Olivia Rodrigo to “Baby Come Back,” which I sang at 16 as a cover song for my first single [2006’s “Come Back to Me”]. “The Show Must Go On” for a vulnerable, special performance to “Unforgettable,” which I’d wanted to sing from jump because I just want to sing jazz all the time, to a female empowerment moment with Alanis Morissette.

Did singing “Vampire” make you long for the good old days?

I just think [Rodrigo]’s really great and I really vibe with her. It’s always great to support a fellow Filipina, and it was just a cute, cheeky nod to how things always end up being connected.

It looked like you came to play from jump. How badly did you want to win the golden mask?

You know, it wasn’t really about winning, honestly. I am my own worst critic and I will always be my hardest critic in the room at all times. I just wanted to have fun, and it was a really freeing experience for me to be anonymous and have nothing to do with my name or fame or celebrity. It was a really special experience.

You said your run surprised you and allowed people to really see you for who you are and what you do. Might you go back to music after this?

No. I always say life is about priorities, and that is not a priority right now. I feel like it’s something I will always have in my back pocket.

You said winning would be the “ultimate pat on the back” and really mean a lot to you because you always thought of yourself as an actor first and singer second. Did you give people the “music moment” you hope for?

I think I got to give myself the music moment I was hoping for and in turn my supportive fans got to enjoy it as well. I got to show up every day and put my best foot forward, and I was so uplifted and supported by such an amazing team over there and I got to work on my voice every day with someone who helped me expand my horizons.

On tonight’s show, you said you couldn’t wait to have kids so you could tell them, “Look at mommy go!” Did you know when you taped the show that you were expecting? [Hudgens revealed in March on the Oscars red carpet that she’s expecting her first child.]

No! I’m just a witch! [Laughs] I’ve always worked in a way that kept people guessing and gave me something to show my kids at every stage of my life. That’s always been important to me.

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RBD’s Projects ‘On Hold’ Amid Financial Dispute With Ex-Manager Guillermo Rosas https://www.billboard.com/business/legal/rbd-projects-on-hold-financial-dispute-ex-manager-1235690718/ Thu, 23 May 2024 00:05:38 +0000 https://www.billboard.com/?p=1235690718

In the wake of a falling out between RBD and its ex-manager and business partner Guillermo Rosas — a split made public in January when Billboard reported that the two had parted ways — the Mexican band has shared an official statement addressing the ongoing dispute.

In a statement issued Wednesday (May 22), RBD responded to previous claims made by Rosas and his company, T6H, to People En Español that there was “no financial mismanagement” tied to the band’s ultra-successful Soy Rebelde Tour. Hitting back at that characterization, RBD members Anahí, Christopher Von Uckermann, Dulce María, Christian Chávez and Maite Perroni claim that there were in fact “significant irregularities” revealed in a forensic accounting investigation led by Critin Cooperman, alleging that nearly $1 million remains unaccounted for after T6H began receiving funds related to the tour in December 2022.

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According to the official statement issued by RBD’s lawyers and shared with Billboard, T6H and Citrin Cooperman — a services firm that acted as a business manager for the tour and also conducted the financial audit — were the “only entities responsible for the tour payments.” None of RBD’s members “had access to manage the money or make payments,” the band claims.

Furthermore, the band says, T6H has “hindered the process” by not signing “key” documents necessary for the resolution of payments and the tour, which marked RBD’s grand return to touring after splitting in 2008.

Billboard reached out to T6H for comment but did not hear back by press time.

“Given the considerable amount of money involved and the discrepancies found, all our projects are currently on hold. We have had to pause this shared dream with you, including a possible continuation of the tour,” the statement continues. “Our goal has always been to resolve these discrepancies professionally. We remain committed to cooperating with all parties involved to achieve a fair and transparent resolution. Our integrity and the trust of our fans are paramount, and we will not rest until these matters fully resolve.”

In December, RBD wrapped its massive world tour, which, as of Nov. 30, had grossed $197.1 million since launching in August. Rosas also worked with the band as a concert promoter from 2006 to 2008.

Under a new business model designed for RBD’s comeback tour, the five members and Rosas were deemed equal partners in a new joint venture. The deal had the band splitting all new revenue, including for music, with Rosas, who in 2020 helped clear the rights to the group’s catalog. He also brought Live Nation on board as the promoter for the reunion tour and CAA for global representation of the band.  

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