1. Taylor Swift Takes Early Lead at Billboard Music Awards

    May 19, 2013 7:30 PM EDT There may be a blue carpet out front, but the Billboard Music Awards already has "Red" all over it. Taylor Swift has jumped out with six awards, including Top Female Artist and Top Billboard 200 Artist, in a pre-telecast announcement f ...

  2. Billboard Music Awards 2013: Watch The Live Backstage Video Stream

    May 19, 2013 6:30 PM EDT While the awards are being given out on stage, our live cameras will be rolling backstage at the MGM Grand, bringing you all of the behind-the-scenes action of the 2013 Billboard Music Awards and you can watch it all HERE . Come back at 8PM ET o ...

  3. Billboard Music Awards Executive Producer Don Mischer Talks Sunday’s Show: ‘This Show Is Big’ (Q&A and Video)

    May 18, 2013 10:30 AM EDT LAS VEGAS — It’s Friday afternoon, around 50 hours from the beginning of the months-in-the-making Billboard Music Awards, and in the darkened MGM Grand Garden Arena rehearsals for Justin Bieber and Will.I.Am’s tag-team performance of “#ThatPower ...

  4. George Strait, Demi Lovato's New Albums Bound for Top Three on Billboard 200

    May 17, 2013 9:12 PM EDT Country icon George Strait is heading for a No. 2 debut on the Billboard 200 chart next week with his new album, "Love Is Everything." Meanwhile, Demi Lovato's fourth studio effort, "Demi," is aiming for a No. 3 bow. Acc ...

  5. Bubbling Under: Passenger's Worldwide Ride Continues

    May 17, 2013 12:57 PM EDT Each Friday, Billboard presents "Bubbling Under," a weekly look at new and noteworthy acts making their way toward Billboard chart success. Up this week: Passenger, A Great Big World, Dakota Bradley and Chrystian   Passenger All the Li ...

  6. Chart Moves: Mariah Carey Moves Up In R&B/Hip-Hop Songs History; Florida Georgia Line Sets Record; Jennifer Lopez Returns

    May 17, 2013 10:47 AM EDT As previously reported, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis tally a second week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with "Can't Hold Us," featuring Ray Dalton. Who else can hold their head high with noteworthy moves on the Hot 100 and other ...

  7. Chart Moves: Dixie Chicks' Natalie Maines Makes Solo Debut, She & Him Bows on Cassette

    May 17, 2013 9:30 AM EDT This week on the Billboard 200 albums chart, the top three were all debuts , as Lady Antebellum, "The Great Gatsby" soundtrack and the "Now 46" compilation moved in. Lady A's latest, "Golden," gave the country ...

  8. Superfly’s Plans To Improve This Weekend’s GoogaMooga Festival

    May 17, 2013 6:29 AM EDT The Great GoogaMooga is back for seconds. Superfly Present’s food-and-music festival is returning to Brooklyn’s Prospect Park tonight after an inaugural year that made more headlines for its problems than its successes—namely, bringing together ...

  9. Kanye West 'Aint No Muthaf---in Celebrity' at Adult Swim Upfront

    May 16, 2013 11:30 AM EDT "I ain't no muthafuckin celebrity," Kanye West said halfway through his nearly 90-minute set at the Adult Swim Upfront at New York's Roseland Ballroom Wednesday night. "There's one thing about me, I'm a terribl ...

  10. Billboard Music Awards Playlist and Collaborations Revealed

    May 16, 2013 9:00 AM EDT When superstars come together on a collaboration, the results can be electrifying. The 2013 Billboard Music Awards promise to be a highly-charged night, with confirmation that some of the biggest names in music will team-up to perform their bigg ...

  11. Lady Antebellum Scores Third No. 1 Album, 'Gatsby' Debuts Strong at No. 2

    May 15, 2013 1:54 PM EDT Country trio Lady Antebellum earns its third No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 chart as its new Golden debuts with 167,000 sold, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The album sold slightly better than initially forecast: A week ago, industry sources ...

  12. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis 'Hold' Atop Hot 100, Selena Gomez 'Get's First Top 10

    May 15, 2013 1:39 PM EDT Macklemore & Ryan Lewis'  "Can't Hold Us," featuring Ray Dalton, logs a second week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, Selena Gomez scores her first top 10 with "Come & Get It" and Mariah Carey debuts at No. ...

  13. Rock The Bells 2013: Ol' Dirty Bastard, Eazy-E Holograms Top Lineup

    May 15, 2013 11:56 AM EDT A little over a year after a projection of Tupac Shakur walked onstage (so to speak) next to Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg and the 2012 Coachella festival, two more hip-hop  holograms will be unveiled at the Rock The Bells 2013 festival. The annual rap ...

  14. Backbeat: SESAC Pop Music Awards Pop Off With Michelle Williams, Swizz Beatz, Mumford's Ben Lovett; Honor Daniel Glass, Rico Love

    May 14, 2013 6:12 PM EDT SESAC hosted its 17th Annual Pop Awards last night at the New York Public Library. Rico Love captured top honors at the event taking home both Songwriter of the Year and Song of the Year awards for his hit, "Heart Attack" as recorded b ...

  15. Shawn 'Pecas' Costner Named EVP of Def Jam Recordings

    May 14, 2013 12:00 PM EDT Shawn "Pecas" Costner has been promoted to EVP of Def Jam Recordings, it was announced today by Island Def Jam Music Group president and COO, Steve Bartels, in a statement. Costner will be responsible for coordinating release schedules ...

  16. Solange Signs With Sony For New Label, Phoenix Talk R. Kelly, ‘Very Special’ Fall Tour; More News From DC’s Sweetlife Festival

    May 14, 2013 10:53 AM EDT 2 1 0 0 It’s Saturday, May 11, and Jonathan Neman is gazing out across the lawn of Maryland’s Merriweather Post Pavilion as Solange slinks through a funky early-afternoon set.   It’s a venue he attended countless times as a music fan during his years in ...

  17. Aretha Franklin Unwell, Cancels Concerts

    May 14, 2013 12:12 AM EDT Aretha Franklin has canceled appearances in Chicago and Connecticut later this month under a doctor's recommendation. A Monday news release says Franklin will need treatment during the time period shows were scheduled with the Chicago Symph ...

  18. Christina Aguilera Could Snag $12 Million for 'Voice' Return

    May 13, 2013 10:01 PM EDT 1 0 12 0 0 Christina Aguilera is in talks to return to "The Voice," a source close to the singer tells The Hollywood Reporter . A source says Aguilera's payday is likely to be in the vicinity of $12 million. The Mark Burnett-produced NBC si ...

  19. Mariah Carey, Miguel Blast Onto Radio Charts With '#Beautiful'

    May 13, 2013 5:37 PM EDT Mariah Carey soars onto a host of Billboard's Nielsen BDS-based radio airplay tallies with "#Beautiful," featuring Miguel. The song starts on Mainstream Top 40 and Rhythmic at No. 22; Adult Contemporary (No. 23); Mainstream R& ...

  20. Daft Punk's Thomas Bangalter, Columbia's Rob Stringer On the Making of 'Random Access Memories'

    May 13, 2013 2:45 PM EDT This in-depth story on Daft Punk's "Random Access Memories" is from the May 18th edition of Billboard featuring a cover package on the Billboard Music Awards (airing Sunday, May 19 at 8:00 p.m ET on ABC) hosted by cover subject Tr ...

  21. Michael 'Sha Money XL' Clervoix Named EVP of Urban A&R for Epic Records

    May 13, 2013 1:04 PM EDT Michael "Sha Money XL" Clervoix, former SVP of A&R for Island Def Jam, has been named EVP of Urban A&R for Epic Records, it was announced today. Sha Money will oversee artist development and certain aspects of their recording p ...

  22. Billboard Music Awards Kick-Off Sunday With Prince, Madonna, Lil Wayne, Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, Bruno Mars, More

    May 11, 2013 4:03 PM EDT 46 31 1 0 There is nothing small about this Sunday night’s Billboard Music Awards at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena airing live on ABC at 8 ET hosted by “30 Rock”’s Tracy Morgan. Just consider for a moment the sheer star power of  those appearing: li ...

  23. TBS Orders Cee Lo Green Reality Series

    May 10, 2013 5:02 PM EDT The Voice's Cee Lo Green is heading to TBS. The Turner cable network has given a six-episode series order to an unscripted series featuring Green, it was announced Friday morning. "The Cee Lo Life" (working title) is expected to p ...

  24. Chart Moves: Selena Gomez 'Get's First Hot Digital Songs Top 10; Arianna Drives Onto Hot 100; Florida Georgia Line Dominates Country Airplay

    May 10, 2013 3:47 PM EDT As previously reported , Macklemore & Ryan Lewis log an historic No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 this week, as "Can't Hold Us" (featuring Ray Dalton) follows their "Thrift Shop" (featuring Wanz) to the top, making the ...

  25. Festival Sponsorship Spending Projected to Set Record in 2013

    May 10, 2013 2:33 PM EDT 79 68 119 6 0 Sponsorship for the live music business is up more than 15% in three years as more brands look to tap into fans’ passion This story below on the growth of branding at U.S. music festivals is from the May 18 edition of Billboard magazine feat ...

  26. How Three Upstarts Derailed Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, And Tyler, the Creator’s Branding Deals: Guest Post by Dan Charnas

    May 10, 2013 12:14 PM EDT Dan Charnas (@dancharnas ) is the author of The Big Payback: The History of the Business of Hip-Hop (Penguin) and Def Jam: The First 25 Years of the Last Great Record Label (Rizzoli). Billboard.biz welcomes responsible commentary -- contact jem. ...

  27. T.I. Talks '$200 Million' Major Label Deal & 'G.D.O.D.' Mixtape

    May 10, 2013 10:44 AM EDT Not too long ago, T.I.'s Grand Hustle imprint wasn't living up to its name. The Atlanta rapper spent the better part of 2009 through 2011 behind bars, first for weapon charges and then again for a probation violation stemming from drug ...

  28. Chart Moves: Fleetwood Mac Returns After 10 Years, Lindsey Stirling Hits New Chart High

    May 10, 2013 8:30 AM EDT 1 13 25 0 0 This week on the Billboard 200 albums chart, Kenny Chesney roped his seventh No. 1, as "Life on a Rock" arrived atop the list with 153,000 sold, according to Nielsen SoundScan. It was one of just two debuts in the top 10 this week, a ...

  29. What's Next for Randy Jackson After 'American Idol'? (Analysis)

    May 09, 2013 9:19 PM EDT 1 3 11 0 0 The goal of “American Idol,” a dozen seasons ago when it started, was to create stars out of unknowns. It did so for Simon Cowell, perhaps the most famous A&R man on the planet, who has surrounded himself with television and music projects ...

  30. Selena Gomez and PSY Rebound on Social 50 Chart

    May 09, 2013 6:40 PM EDT The Social 50 ranks the most popular artists on YouTube, Vevo, Facebook, Twitter, SoundCloud, Wikipedia, Myspace and Instagram. The chart's methodology blends weekly additions of friends/fans/followers along with artist pageviews, song play ...

  31. Jennifer Lopez Signs With RedOne's 2101 Records

    May 08, 2013 6:09 PM EDT After a successful collaboration on 2011’s “On the Floor,” which reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, among other hit tracks from the album Love? , Jennifer Lopez and producer RedOne are reteaming for future business together. Lopez has signe ...

  32. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' 'Can't Hold Us' Tops Hot 100, Sets Chart Record

    May 08, 2013 1:15 PM EDT The act becomes the first duo in the chart's five-decade history to send its first two singles to No. 1. Plus, Florida Georgia Line's 'Cruise' sails back into the top 10 Macklemore & Ryan Lewis'  "Can't Hol ...

  33. Kenny Chesney Logs Lucky Seventh No. 1 Album On Billboard 200

    May 08, 2013 11:02 AM EDT Country king Kenny Chesney grabs his seventh No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 chart as Life on a Rock debuts atop the list. The set sold 153,000 copies in its first week, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Among country acts with the most No. 1s on ...

  34. Lauryn Hill Sentenced to Three Months in Prison

    May 06, 2013 6:08 PM EDT Grammy-winning singer Lauryn Hill was sentenced Monday to three months in prison and an additional three months in home confinement for failing to pay taxes on about $1 million in earnings. Lauryn Hill Settles Tax Bill Ahead of Sentencing Hill, ...

  35. Lauryn Hill Settles Tax Bill Ahead of Sentencing

    May 06, 2013 8:57 AM EDT Lauryn Hill's attorney says the Grammy-winning singer has paid her overdue taxes ahead of her scheduled sentencing for tax evasion. Lauryn Hill Confirms Sony Deal, Calls Reports ‘Inaccurate’ Hill is due in federal court in Newark on Monday afternoon. ...

  36. 'Boston Strong' Concert Organizer: 'This Town Can't Be Brought Down'

    May 03, 2013 8:52 PM EDT With the Boston Marathon bombings now firmly in the rear-view mirror, it’s time to look ahead to the future of the victims and the city itself -- reason enough for New Kids on the Block to organize and recruit acts for an all-star benefit concer ...

  37. PepsiCo Cuts Ties With Lil Wayne Following Emmett Till Lyric Controversy

    May 03, 2013 6:00 PM EDT NEW YORK (AP) -- PepsiCo is cutting its ties with Lil Wayne after the rapper made a crude reference to civil rights martyr Emmett Till in a song. Lil Wayne, one of the biggest stars in pop music, had a deal to promote the company's Mountain ...

  38. How Trey Songz's Fan Club App Earns More Than $50K a Month

    May 03, 2013 2:01 PM EDT 9 94 219 3 0 This story on Trey Songz "Reinventing The Fan Club" is from the May 11 edition of Billboard and featues a cover package on the passing of the late, great country legend George Jones as well as looks at Anheuser-Busch's massive ...

  39. T.I. Signs With United Talent Agency

    May 03, 2013 12:43 PM EDT Tip “T.I.” Harris has signed with United Talent Agency in all areas except music. Harris began his career in hip hop, releasing eight studio albums and winning three Grammys. In 2006 he starred in his first film, Warner Bros.’ "ATL," w ...

  40. LMFAO Takes Ex-Manager to the California Labor Commissioner

    May 03, 2013 11:37 AM EDT At a trial starting on Monday, LMFAO will be shouting "TAA" at RPMGR LMFAO is the Los Angeles-based electronic pop duo of Stefan Kendal Gordy (RedFoo) and Skyler Austen Gordy (SkyBlu). RPMGRP is the chart-topping duo's former mana ...

  41. Exclusive: Tyler, the Creator Talks Mountain Dew Controversy: 'It's Not Gonna Change My Art in Any Way'

    May 02, 2013 10:02 PM EDT 2 839 2.112 k 13 0 On Wednesday, PepsiCo removed an online ad for Mountain Dew developed by Odd Future rapper Tyler, the Creator after accusations surfaced that it portrayed racial stereotypes and made light of violence toward women. In the 60-second spot ...

  42. Billboard Taps SonicBids for Music Awards Post-Party Talent Search

    May 02, 2013 9:28 PM EDT After a night including performances from Prince, Taylor Swift and Lil Wayne, Billboard is looking for one act to take the Billboard Music Awards from the party to the after-party. One group will get to follow the evening of superstar acts with ...

  43. Chart Moves: The Neighbourhood Debuts, Van Halen's '1984' Returns After 20-Plus Years

    May 02, 2013 8:22 PM EDT This week on the Billboard 200 albums chart, Michael Buble achieved his fourth No. 1 album with "To Be Loved," as the pop singer's latest started with 195,000 copies sold, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Meanwhile, Fantasia scored ...

  44. Chris Brown, Wu-Tang Clan, Miguel & More To Perform At 2013 Summer Jam

    May 02, 2013 6:39 PM EDT Hot 97 has announced the line-up for this year's Summer Jam event. Chris Brown, Wu-Tang Clan, Kendrick Lamar, 2 Chainz, Fabolous, A$AP Rocky, Wale, Miguel, Joe Budden and French Montana will all be performing. Summer Jam XX will take place ...

  45. Overdose Suspected in Death of Kris Kross' Chris Kelly

    May 02, 2013 4:53 PM EDT The mother of rapper Chris Kelly told authorities in Atlanta her son became sick after taking cocaine and heroin on the night before he died, according to a police report. Kelly, half of the 1990s teen rap duo Kriss Kross, was found dead Wednesd ...

  46. Jay-Z Joins Group Hoping to Renovate Nassau Coliseum

    May 02, 2013 3:37 PM EDT MINEOLA, N.Y. (AP) — Jay-Z is part of a group trying to renovate Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum outside New York City. The rapper and music mogul attended a meeting Thursday on Long Island, where the media was briefed on four proposals to ren ...

  47. Jermaine Dupri Calls The Late Kris Kross Rapper Chris Kelly 'Son I Never Had'

    May 02, 2013 12:30 PM EDT To famed producer Jermaine Dupri, who turned a pair of backwards pants-wearing teens from Atlanta into the hit-making force Kris Kross, the death of Chris "Mac Daddy" Kelly was like losing a son. Dupri released his first statement sinc ...

  48. Kris Kross: A Billboard Chart History

    May 02, 2013 12:21 AM EDT While Kris Kross' chart star burned relatively quickly in the early- to mid-'90s, it burned brightly, with the duo scoring one of rap's, and the entire rock era's, biggest hits with its debut single, "Jump."   The p ...

  49. Superstars, Industry Leaders Unite for Global Citizen Ticket Initiative

    May 02, 2013 12:15 AM EDT Some of the most powerful touring artists in the world -- Beyoncé, Black Sabbath, Dixie Chicks, Foo Fighters, Jay-Z, Kings Of Leon, Nine Inch Nails, No Doubt, Pearl Jam, Bruce Springsteen, Kanye West, Neil Young and dozens more -- will unite beh ...

  50. Chris Kelly of Kris Kross Dead at 34

    May 01, 2013 10:10 PM EDT 4 137 65 1 0 Rapper Chris Kelly of the group Kris Kross was found dead at his Atlanta home this evening, a rep for the Fulton Country Medical Examiner confirmed to Billboard. He was 34. Officials told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Kelly was found ...

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