Ed Sheeran Releases ‘Shivers’: Stream It Now

Ed Sheeran got his fans moving when he dropped his latest single “Shivers” and its accompanying music video on Thursday (Sept. 9).

“I wrote this as soon as the Divide tour ended in a rented farm in Suffolk where we had set up a studio for a couple of weeks to see what happened. It was written over the course of 3 days which is very different for me, but I felt it was too special to get wrong,” he wrote in an Instagram post announcing the single. “It was originally meant to be the first single but I just didn’t see a world where ‘Bad Habits’ existed if it didn’t come out in the summer. Shivers always felt more autumnal. I hope you like it, I bloody love it.”

To hype up the new record, Sheeran channeled Elton John by donning feathers, sequins, fringe, rose-colored glasses and silver pants in new promo photos.

“Shivers” is the second single from Sheeran’s upcoming fourth studio album, =, which is due Oct. 29 via Atlantic Records. It’s the follow-up to “Bad Habits,” which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped both the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. tallies.

Sheeran will perform “Shivers” for the first time on live television during the 2021 NFL Kickoff Experience in Tampa Bay, Fla., which is airing nationally on NBC at 7 p.m. ET.

Watch the “Shivers” music video and stream it below.

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Phil Collins Is Touring Again With Genesis But Says He ‘Can Barely Hold a Drumstick’ Due to Health Issues

Phil Collins is hitting the road again with Genesis soon, but his ongoing health condition has already proven his ability to perform rather difficult.

The 70-year-old singer and drummer, alongside his bandmates Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford, sat down with BBC Breakfast for a new interview Thursday (Sept. 9) to discuss how they’re feeling before going back out on the road. First announced in March 2020 and later postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, the British prog-rock band’s reunion tour The Last Domino? Tour 2021 will begin this winter, marking their first tour in 14 years. Buy tickets via Ticketmaster here.

“I can barely hold a drumstick with this hand,” Collins told the reporter while looking down at his hand. “So there are certain physical things which get in the way.”

Collins has long suffered from nerve damage following a spinal injury in 2007, which has hindered his ability to play the drums and made him sit down while he’s singing.

Rutherford quoted Collins by saying the tour is the band’s way of “putting it to bed.” He continued in his own words, “We’ve been 50 years doing this sort of stuff, and it’s nice to sort of have a round like this.”

Genesis is set to travel across the U.S. and Canada this November and December with Nic Collins, Phil’s son, on drums and the band’s longtime lead guitar and bass player Daryl Stuermer. The Last Domino? North American Tour 2021 marks the first time the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers have performed stateside since 2007’s Turn It On Again: The Tour.

“I’m kind of physically challenged a bit, which is very frustrating ’cause, you know, I’d love to be playing up there with my son,” Collins said in the new interview. In 2018, the legendary musician said a Genesis reunion would only be possible if his son Nic was the one sitting behind the drums.

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Afrika Bambaataa Sued for Alleged Sex Abuse & Trafficking

An anonymous victim claims he was sexually abused and prostituted as a minor by hip-hop pioneer Afrikaa Bambaata in a lawsuit filed last month.

In the lawsuit, which was filed in New York on Aug. 9 and obtained by Billboard, the John Doe plaintiff claims that for four years beginning in 1991, when he was 12 years old, he was “repeatedly sexually abused and sex trafficked” at the hands of Afrikaa Bambaataa. Bambaataa, known for his influential 1982 single “Planet Rock” and for founding hip-hop organization Zulu Nation, is referred to in the lawsuit by his birth name, Lance Taylor. Metropolis newspaper first reported the news.

Billboard’s multiple attempts to reach Taylor for comment were unanswered at press time. Tanner & Ortega, the law firm representing Doe, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The lawsuit claims that after Doe attended Zulu Nation meetings, Taylor began inviting Doe to his apartment “several times a week” and encouraging him to use a gym on the premises, where Taylor “would comment about Plaintiff’s muscular body and would touch Plaintiff on the shoulders, biceps and torso.” At Taylor’s apartment, Taylor began touching Doe’s “private areas” and encouraging him to masturbate while watching pornographic videos together, the lawsuit alleges, and the “mutual masturbation” later “progressed to sodomy.”

The lawsuit claims that Doe is also a sex trafficking victim, as Taylor allegedly transported Doe to other locations and offered Doe “for sex to other adult men” in exchange for money. During these encounters, Taylor “would watch as Plaintiff was sodomized by other adult men.”

Doe claims that he suffered “physical injury, severe and permanent emotional distress, mental anguish, depression and embarrassment” as a result of the alleged abuse, was “prevented from obtaining the full enjoyment of life” and “has been unable to keep a steady job.” This led to a loss of income and/or loss of earning capacity, the lawsuit states.

Doe did not speak of the alleged abuse until informing his mother while in his early 30s, according to the lawsuit, and filed the lawsuit under the New York Child Victims Act passed in 2019, which extends the statute of limitations for survivors of child sexual abuse in New York. The deadline to file such suits fell was Aug. 14. Doe is seeking compensatory and punitive damages.

The lawsuit also names Zulu Nation, Universal Zulu Nation and XYZ Corp., an entity believed to be affiliated with them, as defendants, accusing them of providing Taylor “with access to children, including Plaintiff, despite knowing that he would likely use their position to groom and to sexually abuse them.” Universal Zulu Nation cut ties with Taylor in 2016 after he was accused of sexual abuse by Ronald Savage, a music executive who was one of Taylor’s “crate boys” — kids who helped haul records for DJs. Taylor has denied those allegations, calling them a “cowardly attempt to tarnish my reputation.”

In a statement provided to Chicago’s Metropolis, the first publication to report on the suit, representatives for Zulu Nation said: “Nothing has changed since 2016 when these decades ago accusations first surfaced. This is a personal matter for Afrika Bambaataa and his lawyers to deal with and has absolutely nothing to do with the 10 year long UZN-DOCA mission, programs and projects which continue in the revolutionary legacy of both The Black Panther Party & The Young Lords Party to ‘Serve The People, Body & Soul.’”

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How to Watch Kacey Musgraves’ ‘Star-Crossed: The Film’

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Kacey Musgraves is finally releasing her long-awaited album Star-Crossed on Friday (Sept. 10), three years after the release of her popular 2018 project Golden Hour.

In celebration, Musgraves is also unveiling a cinematic accompaniment for the album, titled Star-Crossed: The Film, which Spacey Kacey fans can stream this week on Paramount+.

See below for how to watch Star-Crossed: The Film online, and how to see Kacey Musgraves live in concert.

How to Watch Kacey Musgraves’ Star-Crossed: The Film Online for Free

Star-Crossed: The Film will be available to stream on Paramount+ starting September 10.

If you don’t have a Paramount+ account, the streaming service offers a seven-day free trial for new customers, which allows you to watch Star-Crossed for free online the same day. After your first week, Paramount+ costs $4.99 a month for its Essential plan. The monthly Essential plan does include ads, but you can pay $9.99 for Paramount+’s Premium package, which also includes a seven-day free trial and is mostly ad-free.

Both plans include access to stream Kacey Musgraves’ Star-Crossed for free online as many times as you want, plus access to CBS shows, live news and NFL games.

Who Is in the Star-Crossed: The Film Cast?

The Bardia Zeinali-directed project also features work from Oscar-nominated cinematographer Matthew Libatique. The all-star cast for Star-Crossed includes Eugene Levy, RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Symone, Megan Stalter, Princess Nokia and You‘s Victoria Pedretti.

How to Buy Kacey Musgraves Tour Tickets

On Thursday (Sept. 9), tickets went on sale for Kacey Musgraves’ Star-Crossed headlining tour.

The 15-city tour includes a stop at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Feb. 11, 2022, and concludes Feb. 20 at Los Angeles’ Staples Center. Along the way, she’ll also visit Atlanta, Boston, Chicago and more. King Princess and MUNA will join as supporting artists.

Buy tickets here.

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Georgia Declares Otis Redding Day on Late Singer’s 80th Birthday

The late Otis Redding is being honored in a special way. On Thursday, Sept. 9 — what would have been the late Grammy-winning singer’s 80th birthday — the state of Georgia declared the day Otis Redding Day. Redding, the hitmaker behind 29 Billboard Hot 100 songs, was a Georgia native, born in the city of Dawson. He died in a plane crash on Dec. 10, 1967, at just 26 years old.

Otis Redding Day will be celebrated  at The Otis Redding Museum in Macon, Ga., where the museum will showcase a new collection of memorabilia chronicling Redding’s life and music legacy. The collection is set to include handwritten notes, unseen photos and more from the late star.

On Thursday at 8 p.m. ET, DJ D-Nice will host a virtual Club Quarantine party in honor of Redding, who was popularly known as the King of Soul. The virtual fundraiser will benefit the Otis Redding Foundation. The philanthropic organization, established by Redding’s widow Zelma in 2007, will honor D-Nice with the Award of Respect.

In a post D-Nice shared on Instagram Wednesday (Sept. 8), he wrote, “My friends, Club Quarantine returns tomorrow and I’m excited to celebrate what would have been Otis Redding’s 80th Birthday! I’m going to rock a special set inside of CQ for the Legendary King of Soul. I will also be receiving the ‘Award of Respect’ from his wife Zelma Redding for my dedication to uniting the world with music. This is truly an honor.”

D-Nice later added, “When Otis was in his 20s he was providing scholarships for underserved youth with college aspirations and hosting a summer camp for elementary aged youth at his 300 acre ranch, with plans to present the camp annually before his passing.”

In addition to his philanthropic work, Redding saw much success in his own music career. His iconic 1968 smash hit record “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” peaked at No. 1 on the Hot 100, making it the first-ever song to appear at No. 1 on the chart after the artist had died. The tune charted for 16 weeks.

In August 2011, JAY-Z and Kanye West released their fan-favorite track “Otis,” featuring vocals from the late Redding. The song peaked at No. 12 on the Hot 100 and charted for 20 weeks. It peaked at No. 2 on the Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay tally, where it charted for 20 weeks.

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G-Easy Teases New Album ‘These Things Happen Too’ with ‘The Announcement’ Video

G-Eazy has a new album on the way.

On Wednesday (Sept. 8), the hitmaker announced his fourth studio album, titled These Things Happen Too, expected to be released via BPG/RVG/RCA Records on Sept. 24.

Also Wednesday, the rapper dropped an album teaser video, appropriately titled “The Announcement.” In the clip, Eazy is seen walking through rooms while heading into a recording studio as a portion of his new music plays in the background.

“I know it’s been a long, long time,” he says over instrumentals. “But, crazy people do crazy things. It’s finally ready, I’ll see y’all on Sept. 24, let’s go.”

His all-new album These Things Happen Too comes as a sequel to G-Eazy’s 2014 album with a similar name, These Things Happen. The original LP peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, where it charted for 138 weeks.

In G-Eazy’s upcoming project, out later this month and featuring fellow artist Demi Lovato, G-Eazy reflects on the changes he’s experienced in both his personal life and career since the 2016 releases of his first-ever top 10 Hot 100 hit single “Me, Myself & I” featuring Bebe Rexha.

Also exciting for G-Eazy fans aiming to see him in person, the artist is set to perform at various festivals and events this fall — including BottleRock, Summerfest, Common Ground and Breakaway Festival among others.

Watch “The Announcement” promotional video for G-Eazy’s upcoming new album These Things Happen Too below:

 

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Justin Timberlake Celebrates 15th Anniversary of ‘FutureSex/LoveSounds’: ‘This Album Changed My Life’

Justin Timberlake is cherishing the 15th anniversary of his sophomore solo album FutureSex/LoveSounds on Wednesday (Sept. 8).

The “4 Minutes” singer wound back the clock on Instagram by posting a throwback photo of JT dramatically gazing toward the camera from his chair perched by the disco ball from the album cover. He also shared snippets of the music videos that supported the project’s hit singles “Sexy Back,” featuring frequent collaborator and the album’s executive producer Timbaland; “My Love,” featuring T.I.; “What Goes Around… Comes Around;” and “LoveStoned / I Think She Knows” — all of which won Grammy Awards in different categories. Every song besides “LoveStoned” also hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 as well as Billboard’s Mainstream Top 40 chart. Timberlake also shared a video from one of his and Timbo’s old interviews where the two talked about their seamless collaborative efforts and hit-making success on FutureSex/LoveSounds that paralleled JT’s major hit “Cry Me a River” from his 2002 debut solo LP Justified.

“15 years ago today, I released my 2nd album… FutureSex/LoveSounds. This album changed my life. Every album is a different chapter and special to me but, this one??? I don’t even know if I have the words,” the pop superstar captioned the nostalgia-induced post. “I’m often asked what my favorite song on the album is but they’re all my babies so I can’t pick. But I do know this: album STILL HITS.”

FutureSex/LoveSounds, which was released on Sept. 8, 2006 via Jive, marks Timberlake’s critically acclaimed second solo album that he put out following his tenure with his boy band *NSYNC. The multi-platinum album reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts. FutureSex/LoveSounds earned several Grammy Award nods, including album of the year in 2007 and record of the year for “What Goes Around… Comes Around” in 2008.

Go back through JT’s FutureSex/LoveSounds era in his tribute post below.

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BMI’s Revenue Keeps Growing, Despite Pandemic Setbacks

Performing rights organization BMI released its annual report on Wednesday (Sept. 8), revealing record highs in both distribution to writers and publishers as well as domestic licensing revenue. Despite the ongoing effects of COVID-19, the PRO has reported increasing revenue in both 2020 and 2021. For the fiscal year, ending June 30, 2021, BMI totaled $1.361 billion in revenue — up nearly 4% from 2020 and 6% from 2019’s pre-pandemic earnings.

Much of this figure can be attributed to its total domestic licensing revenue which exceeded $1 billion for the first time this year. Citing the growth of several FAST (free ad-supported TV) services, subscription video-on-demand services, and newfound direct-to-streaming film premieres as bolsters of domestic licensing revenue growth, digital licensing accounted for 47% (or $423 million per the ASC 606 accounting guidance) of that revenue.

Although digital licensing peaked over the year, media and general licensing were dampened, in part by pandemic concerns, with general taking the greatest hit. Since fiscal 2019, which raked in an all-time high of $169 million in general licensing, revenue from general, public spaces like bars, restaurants, shops and concert venues — has dropped by 25%, and amounted to just $127 million in the past year.

Meanwhile media licensing, which accounts for cable and satellite television and radio, decreased by 11% from last year to a total of $472 million. This is the first time in recent years that media has taken a dip and may be indicative of a major upcoming downturn for traditional TV and radio. In 2020, the category made $527 million in revenue for BMI, up by 3% from the previous year.

The 2021 fiscal year, much like the year prior, is revealing of how deeply music consumption can be affected by circumstance. In the wake of shuttered venues, mask mandates and event cancellations, consumers adopted new, digital methods of entertainment and music listening — as evidenced by BMI’s shifting revenues. Over the year, the number of licensed musical works from BMI’s catalog grew by 10%, totaling now 18.7 million, and total performances grew by 13%. Notably, of the 1.98 trillion performances BMI documented during fiscal 2021, 1.95 trillion of them were digitally-based.

BMI also signed a number of notable new songwriters for their membership, like 5 Seconds of Summer and Saweetie, and welcomed renowned international talent Karol G and Rosalía as well. Overall, BMI affiliate membership grew by 11% this year and now totals to 1.2 million members.

Here’s a look at BMI’s 2021 fiscal year by the numbers:

  • Distribution and administration totaled $1.335 billion to its affiliated songwriters and publishers this year, up by 8% from last year ($102 million)
    • Distributions from domestic and international royalties totaled $1.25 billion
    • Direct deals administered by BMI on behalf of its publisher and digital service provider clients totaled $85 million, up from $14 million last year
  • Total domestic licensing revenue totaled over $1 billion for the first time
    • Digital licensing revenue increased by 47% from last year, totaling $423 million
    • Media licensing revenue decreased by 11% from last year, totaling $472 million
    • General licensing revenue decreased by 2% from last year, totaling $127 million. From 2019 to 2020, general licensing revenue decreased by 23%
  • International revenue totaled $339 million, a 4% increased from last year
  • Membership grew 11%, totaling 1.2 million with almost 120,000 new writers, composers and publishers
  • Total performances grew to 1.98 trillion, up 13% from last year.
    • 1.95 trillion of them were digitally based
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Maluma Talks ‘Being Brave’ During Papi Juancho Tour in the Midst of a Pandemic

Earlier this year, Maluma announced his Papi Juancho tour, becoming the biggest and most ambitious 2021 tour announced post-pandemic in the United States, for any genre.

But amid the COVID-19 and Delta variant spikes, the Colombian superstar admits it was challenging to return to touring. “It was kind of hard and difficult to go back on stage during COVID,” he tells Billboard. “You have to be brave to announce a tour after all the things that happened, but I feel good right now. I feel like people are excited. They want to go out and enjoy the shows. Everyone is just looking forward to feeling normal and I feel that this type of concert will give that back to them. For me, it’s amazing to spend this time with my fans, I miss them so much.”

The Papi Juancho tour, produced by Cardenas Marketing Network (CMN), kicked off on September 2 at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., and will wrap up on Oct. 24 at Allstate Arena in Chicago, Ill.

With a 360-degree stage, Maluma assures his show is “totally new” with great visuals and lighting but that he’s “keeping my dancers who have accompanied me on tour through the years.”

It’s also the first time that Maluma will perform his hit single “Hawái” live in concert, calling it the “biggest hit of my career yet.” And he will take the stage with his latest track “Sobrio,” which comes with a star-studded music video featuring Scott Disick, Saweetie, and more.

“Maybe in the near future I’ll do a remix with a global star like I did with The Weeknd [on ‘Hawái’],” he says. “The song is just starting to grow. People love it just the way it is.”

Up next, Maluma will perform at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif. on Sept. 9, followed by shows in New York, Atlanta, Miami, and other major cities. See the remaining tour dates below:

Thursday, September 9: San Jose, CA – SAP Center
Saturday, September 11: Ontario, CA – Toyota Arena
Sunday, September 12: San Diego, CA – Pechanga Arena
Saturday, September 18: Seattle, WA – WaMu Theater
Thursday, September 23: Phoenix, AZ – Phoenix Suns Area
Friday, September 24: El Paso, TX – Don Haskins Center
Saturday, September 25: Odessa, TX – La Hacienda Event Center
Sunday, September 26: San Antonio, TX – AT&T Center
Thursday, September 30: Bridgeport, CT – Webster Bank Arena
Friday, October 1: New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
Saturday, October 2: Washington DC – Capital One Area
Sunday, October 3: Greensboro, NC – Greensboro Coliseum Complex
Thursday, October 7: Atlanta, GA – StateFarm Arena
Friday, October 8: Orlando, FL – Amway Center
Saturday, October 9: Miami, FL – American Airlines Arena
Sunday, October 10: Fort Myers, FL – Hertz Arena
Thursday, October 14: Dallas, TX – American Airlines Center
Friday, October 15: Laredo, TX – Sames Auto Arena
Saturday, October 16: McAllen, TX – Payne Arena
Sunday, October 24: Chicago, IL – Allstate Arena

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NFL Opening Weekend 2021: How to Watch Football and Ed Sheeran’s Performance Online

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Ed Sheeran is helping to kick off the 2021-22 football season this week with a special performance at the NFL’s 2021 Kickoff Experience, ahead of the season-opening game between the Dallas Cowboys and defending Super Bowl champs, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The party will begin at noon ET tomorrow, September 9, at Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park in Tampa, and will be open to in-person attendance from fans. Portions of Sheeran’s performance will air on NBC during the NFL Network’s pregame coverage starting at 7pm EST which you can stream with a free trial to Hulu + Live TV here.

Other big opening weekend performers include One Republic, who will help welcome fans to LA’s brand new SoFi Stadium, when they perform at halftime of the Los Angeles Rams vs. Chicago Bears game on Sunday, September 12. You can watch the Rams vs. Bears online with a free trial to Peacock here. Grab the trial to the NBC Universal streaming service to stream Sunday Night Football online for free.

Here’s how to watch the rest of the 2021-22 NFL season on TV and how to stream NFL games online this year.

How to Watch the NFL on TV

The opening game of the 2021-22 NFL season will air on NBC. Subsequent games will be spread out across NBC, ABC, CBS and FOX, with select games airing on NFL Network and ESPN.

If you have a cable package (like this one from Verizon), you’ll be able to watch all the NFL games on TV from home. You can also pick up a digital antenna (we like this one from Amazon), which will pick up NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX and all your local channels within a 250-mile range. Similar to those bulky external antennas our parents grew up with, these indoor antennas tuck easily behind your TV unit and can get all the main channels in up to 4K quality. Purchase it once and then watch the NFL on TV for free after that.

This Gesobyte digital TV antenna is a #1 best-seller on Amazon, with a 4.3-star (out of five) review from more than 37,000 reviewers online. Get it now on Amazon and have it in time for the weekend to watch the NFL on TV.

How to Stream the NFL Online Free

If you want to stream all the NFL games online you’ll need a live TV streaming service that gets you CBS, NBC, FOX and ABC, as well as the NFL Network and ESPN.

1. Watch Football on Hulu + Live TV

The best live streaming service for football is Hulu + Live TV, which lets you stream NFL games on NBC, CBS, FOX, ESPN, and NFL Network. With a subscription to Hulu + Live TV, you can watch NFL football games live, or use the DVR function to record the games to watch later.

Hulu is currently offering a 7-day free trial that you can use to stream football online free. Your subscription renews at $54.99/month after that. That’s a $10 discount from the regular Hulu + Live TV price of $64.99, and this is a limited-time offer that expires at the end of October. See more at Hulu.com.

2. Watch Football on fuboTV

Another great way to watch the NFL online is through fuboTV. Fubo gets you all the major cable networks, plus the NFL Network and ESPN. Your fuboTV deal also includes NBCSN and FOX Sports for post-game analysis.

A subscription to fuboTV also gets you 500+ hours of Cloud DVR Plus, to record any games or shows you want to re-watch. Fubo currently has a 7-day free trial offer that you can use to stream the NFL online for free. Plans start at $64.99/month after that, and includes more than 100 other channels for sports, news and entertainment. See more at fubo.tv.

How to Watch the 2022 Super Bowl: Date, Performers

The 2022 Super Bowl is set to take place on February 13, 2022, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California (the home of the Los Angeles Rams). Super Bowl LVI (or Super Bowl 56) marks the first time SoFi Stadium is hosting the big event and the eighth time the NFL championship game will be held in Los Angeles.

While The Weeknd headlined last year’s Super Bowl Halftime Show, performers for this year’s Halftime Show have yet to be announced. However, many artists have been rumored to be in contention for the Halftime Show performance slot, including Megan Thee Stallion, BTS and Drake. Vote for who you think should perform at Super Bowl LVI here.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the defending Super Bowl Champions and will be looking to repeat as NFL champs this year, though oddsmakers have the Kansas City Chiefs as favorites.

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