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Taylor Swift's The Tortured Poets Department has scored the biggest opening of an album in the U.K. in seven years, according to the Official Charts Company. The record is her 12th #1 album and her biggest opening ever in that country. It also set a new U.K. record for the amount of vinyl sales in a week by any album in the 21st century. She surpassed her own album, Midnights, to achieve the recognition.
Speaking of Taylor, she showed her support for boyfriend Travis Kelce's Kansas City Chiefs Thursday after Xavier Worthy was drafted by the team. Taylor liked an Instagram video the official Chiefs account posted welcoming their newest player to the team. "The moment @worthyyy became a Kansas City Chief," the video's caption reads.
After Day 3 of the NFL Draft concludes on Saturday, April 27, singer-songwriter Bazzi will take the stage and close out the 2024 Draft Concert Series. Taking place in Detroit, Michigan, the event will celebrate the city and shine a spotlight on the culture, music and community at play there. This includes the Michigan-born Bazzi, who will perform songs off his third album, Infinite Dream.
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Plenty of artists who have young fans don't seem to have a problem with using explicit language in their songs, including Olivia Rodrigo and Taylor Swift. But artists don't normally tell those young fans not to come see them in concert, where they'll be using that explicit language — until now.
On April 26, Doja Cat wrote on social media, "idk what the f*** you think this is but i don't make music for children so leave your kids at home motherf*****."
On her song "F*** the Girls," from her album Scarlet, Doja addressed this subject, talking about how people shouldn't see her as a role model for their kids. "Since when was y'all my bastard children? Go 'head and raise y'all self," she rapped. "Come get ya bada** kids."
Many fans agreed with Doja, pointing out that those explicit content labels are on her music for a reason. One fan claimed Doja wouldn't be anywhere without her young fans, while another one joked, "ok but what if my toddler f**** with the music tho? He just wanna crowd surf Doja come onnn."
Following two headlining performances at Coachella, Doja is now headed to the U.K. and Europe for headlining and festival appearances.
Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Read moreDoja Cat's message to parents: Keep your kids away from my concerts
It's New Music Friday, and The Chainsmokers are taking it literally. They've just released a new song called "Friday," which features a collaboration with R&B singer/songwriter Fridayy. The song is meant to be a sequel of sorts to the song that kicked off their career nearly 10 years ago: "Roses," featuring ROZES. There's also a video that shows the duo and Fridayy performing the song in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Jason Derulo has a history of collaborating with artists from around the world, and his new single is no exception: "Bumpa" is a collab between Jason and Indian pop star King. "King and I co-wrote the song, blending our languages and styles to ensure the vibe connects with listeners worldwide," Jason says. "I'm eager to see India and the rest of the world groove to our creation." There's also a video for the song, filmed in Barcelona and choreographed by Les Twins, best known for their work with Beyoncé.
Jessie Murph, who currently has a hit with Jelly Roll with the song "Wild Ones," has released a new single called "Cold." The singer will perform at the Governor's Ball, Boston Calling and BottleRock festivals this summer.
5 Seconds of Summer singer Luke Hemmings has released his seven-song solo EP, boy, as well as a single and video from it called "Benny," which Luke says is about guilt. He launches his solo Nostalgia For A Time That Never Existed tour on May 4. On May 7, he'll appear on The Kelly Clarkson Show.
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In the April 24 episode of her podcast Dumb Blonde, Jelly Roll's wife, Bunnie XO, said that Jelly had gotten "off the internet because he is so tired of being bullied about his f******* weight," adding, "It hurts him." But Jelly said that's not the only reason he's temporarily quit social media.
Speaking to Variety, Jelly said he's sure he'll be back on social media and shared his thoughts on the matter. "I probably shouldn’t elaborate on this because nobody on my team wants me to, but I don’t have a problem with social media. And it wasn’t just bullying that did it," he said.
"It was not only the toxicity of social media, but the addiction of it. I was becoming too busy to waste hours of my life scrolling. I can honestly say that I’ve been off social media for a few months now and I’ve never felt better or healthier mentally — never felt more clearheaded," he continued.
"I’ve also never had less of an idea what was going on in the world, but I tell you what, I’m definitely not coming back before the election," he quipped, adding, "Bad joke."
Meanwhile, Jelly, who plays the Stagecoach Festival on April 26, teases that he's got plenty of new songs that are "just screaming to get out."
"I’m calling my manager and label every day, like, when can we leak a song?" he continued. "I think I might have to go back to my 'ask for forgiveness, not permission' model."
Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Read moreJelly Roll says he left social media for more reasons than "bullying"
Four surprise bonus tracks from Teddy Swims’ new album, I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 1.5), are out now.
The new songs from the “Lose Control” singer are called “Hammer to the Heart,” “Tell Me,” “Apple Juice” and “Growing Up is Getting Old.”
“I’ve Tried Everything but Therapy (1.5) is an extension to Part 1 of the album — this whole album is just me being honest,” Swims said in a statement. “You know, I’ve been touring, writing, and continuing to work on myself over the past 8 months and wanted to share something like a real-life check-in. These songs represent where I’m at and I didn’t want to wait till I had the whole part 2 done — so here you go.”
Additionally, Teddy’s newly announced fall tour dates are on sale now. His I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy tour is currently making its way through a sold-out run in the U.K. and Europe.
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Fantasia Barrino says she’d love to replace Katy Perry as a judge on American Idol.
In an interview with Entertainment Tonight released Thursday, April 25, Fantasia said she wasn’t aware Katy was exiting the singing competition show at the end of this season, but she would be up to replace her on the panel.
“I'm gonna be honest, I would love to,” Fantasia, who won season 3 of the series 20 years ago, said. “I think that those kids, when they're coming into the game, I think that they need somebody to come in and not only show them how to sing a song, but how to handle the business because it's a lot.”
Fantasia continued by explaining how exactly she’d help the contestants strike that balance.
“Just having somebody to say, ‘Hey, make sure you have this, make sure you have that. OK, sing this song, sing that song.’ Getting to know them, their upbringing, what makes you want to sing, why do you love this, why do you want this? So, I would love to do it. I would be up for it,” Fantasia said.
Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Read moreFantasia Barrino would love to replace Katy Perry as 'American Idol' judge
The last time Taylor Swift performed The Eras Tour, she had not released her 11th studio album, The Tortured Poets Department. Now that the surprise double album and all 31 of its tracks are out in the world, Swifties are wondering if the pop superstar will add the new era to the set list when the tour resumes on May 9 in Paris, France.
In a new YouTube Shorts video Taylor posted on Thursday, April 25, she is seen rehearsing for The Eras Tour. The 15-second clip is set to her new single “Fortnight” and features a brief shot where Taylor stands next to a silver railing. Fans immediately noticed that the railing was in the shape of The Tortured Poets Department logo, and speculation ran rampant.
“A fortnight til Paris ... Brought to you by YouTube Shorts #ForAFortnightChallenge,” the video’s description reads.
Additionally, it seems Taylor's wearing the same shoes she dons in the “Fortnight” music video in the short clip. There also looks to be new choreography and costumes on display. Taylor’s background dancers are seen wearing top hats and dancing with canes, which have not been featured during the concert previously.
If Taylor does add the The Tortured Poets Department era to the set list, this would mark the first major change to The Eras Tour since it began in March 2023.
While Taylor has switched out a few songs here and there — namely changing the folklore section's opener from “invisible string” to “the 1” and adding “Long Live” to the Speak Now section after her version of the album was released last summer — this would be the first time she has added an entire new section to the show.
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Normani’s new single, “1:59,” is finally here.
The singer dropped the sultry track, featuring Gunna, as the first taste of her debut album, Dopamine, which comes out June 14.
"When I get you alone/boy what you gon' do with it?” she sings on the chorus. “Don't talk too much, just do this sh**/Boy, what you gon' do with it?"
In a new interview with ELLE, Normani says Dopamine is a “representation of my resilience.”
“Dopamine represents the highs and the lows I’ve endured,” she says. “It’s been such an emotional roller coaster … I really wanted to have a title that felt like it definitely encompassed everything that I feel I’ve been through in my journey to get to the point that I’m in right now.”
She also addressed the “false narrative” that because her album took so long to come out, that means she doesn’t care. “Nobody wants this project to come out more than me,” she says. “I think that at the end of the day, if I stand behind this wholeheartedly, it doesn’t matter what the world thinks.”
(Video contains uncensored profanity.)
Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Read moreNormani drops new single “1:59,” talks debut album, 'Dopamine'
If you weren’t able to catch Louis Tomlinson on his last two world tours, he’s released a surprise live album to share some of his favorite tour performances.
Louis Tomlinson: Live features 15 tracks recorded in 15 cities, including London, Buenos Aires, Nashville and Paris. The songs include the singles “We Made It” and “Walls” off his debut solo album, Walls, as well as tracks from his sophomore album, Faith in the Future.
“I’ve been lucky enough to spend the last 3 years touring the world twice over, the feeling I get sharing those live moments will be with me forever,” the former One Direction member wrote on social media. “To be able to record these songs from all over the world and put them out as an album like this feels so special, and a real tribute to the fans who make each and every show feel unique and incredible. Thank you! Enjoy!”
The digital version of the album is out now, while physical editions — CD and vinyl — will be out August 23.
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