The Television Academy announced its rule changes for the upcoming 73rd Emmy Awards competition on Friday (Dec. 4) — and fans of NBC’s Saturday Night Live may not like the first one. Separate awards for variety talk and variety sketch series have been recombined into one category: outstanding variety series.

Saturday Night Live has won outstanding variety sketch series the last four years running. It was nominated the two years before that, but lost, in turn, to Inside Amy Schumer and Key & Peele.

By contrast, between 1976 and 2014, when SNL had to compete with talk and other variety shows in the overall outstanding variety series category, it won just twice: in its first season, 1976, and again in 1993. It was nominated a total of 19 times in that category in those years — impressive, but nothing like the torrid pace of the past four years.

The TV Academy decided that it would be better if there was more competition, so sketch series will again compete with talk shows, where the competition every year is intense. HBO’s Last Week Tonight With John Oliver has won in that category the last five years running, but it’s not for lack of competition. This year, the other nominees were The Daily Show With Trevor Noah, Full Frontal With Samantha Bee, Jimmy Kimmel Live! and The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.

Against competition like that, SNL will be doing good just to be nominated.

Here are other key category changes:

Short-form comedy/drama series and short-form variety series have been merged into one category: outstanding short-form comedy, drama or variety series

Again, the idea is to make this combined category more competitive. Carpool Karaoke: The Series has won the short-form variety series award the last three years.

Music composition for series and music composition for a limited or anthology series, movie or special will have a two-step voting process to determine nominations

The votes of the full music peer group will determine the top 15 vote-getters for music composition for a series and top 10 vote-getters for music composition for a limited or anthology series, movie or special.

These top vote-getters will be viewed by at-home panels made up of volunteers from the music peer group who will vote to pare down the top 15/top 10 to the requisite number of nominees. (The total number of nominees will be based on the number of submissions received in each category.)

A video upload of the achievement will be required at the point the submission is made.

Anthology series eligibility moved to limited series, creating new outstanding limited or anthology series category

Anthology series will now enter the Emmy competition with limited series, resulting in a new category: outstanding limited or anthology series. This year’s winner for outstanding limited series was HBO’s Watchmen.

Previously, an anthology series could enter the competition in either the comedy or drama series categories; or entrants could break up the series into individually entered, stand-alone movies.

New category: Outstanding stunt performance by an individual or team in a drama, comedy, limited series or movie

This new award will recognize stunt performers themselves; previously, there have only been stunt coordination categories. Team entries will be capped at four entrants.

Additional items and clarifications include:

To clarify the distinction between theatrical motion pictures and television movies during the ongoing pandemic, any non-documentary film placed on the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences’ viewing platform for Oscar consideration will be deemed a theatrical motion picture and thus ineligible for the Emmy competition.

Additionally, the previously announced rule will apply: Effective in 2021, any programs that have been nominated for an Oscar are no longer eligible to enter the Primetime Emmy Awards competition.

In regard to children’s programming, as previously confirmed on Nov. 2, the Television Academy and the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences have agreed to migrate all potential children’s programming entries previously submitted in the Primetime Emmys to the Daytime Emmys. In addition, children’s animated programs, which target an audience aged 6-12, will also migrate to the Daytime Emmy competition.

As the majority of children’s programming categories have historically been awarded in the Daytime Emmys, the decision eliminates confusion and streamlines the submissions process.

Daytime programming, children’s programming and animation peer groups will continue to vote on excellence in children’s programming for the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences’ Daytime Emmys.

Additional changes or clarifications were also approved. The complete list of awards changes for the 73rd Emmy Awards can be found at Emmys.com/rules/changes.

JoJo Siwa is the latest celebrity to share her experience with coronavirus.

“I did end up getting it, the big, dreaded COVID-19. It got through my whole family,” the 17-year-old told ET, noting that thankfully, symptoms were mild. “We had headaches, we were tired, we had shortness of breath, we had all the things. All my family actually lost their taste and smell, but all have it back. But I never did.”

She added that her brother and parents tested positive before she contracted the virus. “Everyone who gets this virus, it’s gonna affect them differently,” she said. “We were all, like, three days apart.”

Siwa also discussed her new festive album, JoJo’s Rockin’ Christmas. “I love the holidays, it’s such a fun time of the year!” she shared. “It’s fun because [there’s] always something happening. For us, it’s Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year — and you just always have something to look forward to!”

Coronavirus

Saweetie and Jhené Aiko send their men “Back to the Streets” on their hit single, and now it’s back on the Billboard Hot 100 this week (dated Dec. 5).

One of her Instagram Live comments while promoting the song (and gushing over her boyfriend Quavo’s designer gift to her) caught the internet’s attention when she said, “If he not getting you a Birkin, if he not paying for your bills, then throw that n—a back to the streets, OK?” Critics were quick to call her out for prioritizing material goods over genuine human connection when it comes to a relationship.

But she cleared the air during a Power 106 Los Angeles interview. “I feel like a Birkin symbolizes a gift of value. But what comes along with being valued? It comes with a healthy relationship. It comes with communication. It comes with getting gifts,” she said. “Women are magical creatures and we deserve to be treated like a queen. So that’s what I meant by that statement…. A Birkin is symbolic.”

Check out the lyrics and music video below.

Pull up in my hood best dressed (best dressed)
Next thing, upgrade, who’s next? (Who’s next?)
Rich boy got him on deck (on deck)
Good boy, tell that n—a fetch, I
Put my new man on a leash (on a leash)
Traded in my old n—a, he was just a lease
I ride around town ’til I leave
I gave the boy a round spin him back to the streets
Like la-da-dee-da-dee-da
Yeah, I spin him back to the streets
Like la-da-dee-da-dee-da (da-dee-da)
Back to the streets

So clean when I pull up to the scene
Big goals, and I put that on me
What you thinkin’? What’s good?
F— how you feel and I wish a n—a would
Had to hit the Heisman on ya homies
Steppin’ in here, bad bi—es only
My ex used to act like he owned me
Ain’t enough just to treat me like a trophy
I had that, passed that, knew I had to trash that
Bounced on his a–, turn that boy into a flashback
I’m a 5 star bi— with the price tag
Gotta find me somebody that could match that

My last one got on my last nerve
Made me go change my passwords
I hit the curve with bad swerve
You know I get the last word

Pull up in my hood best dressed (best dressed)
Next thing, upgrade, who’s next? (Who’s next?)
Rich boy got him on deck (on deck)
Good boy, tell that n—a fetch, I
Put my new man on a leash (on a lesh)
Traded in my old n—a, he was just a lease
I ride around town ’til I leave
I gave the boy a round spin him back to the streets
Like la-da-dee-da-dee-da
Yeah, I spin him back to the streets
Like la-da-dee-da-dee-da (da-dee-da)
(Yeah), back to the streets

Back to the streets, sent you back to your old hood
On hood, baby this is for your own good
I’m a player a– bi— and you knew it
Had a good time, now I’m ready for some new di–
Passed it to Saweetie, now you hit it, through with it
There it ain’t really nothin’ else to do with it
Yeah, you know I leveled up
I can’t be stuck
I wish you luck though
Consider yourself blessed
You got to f— with the baddest
You know that I can’t be capped, no, I gotta dip out

Pull up in my hood best dressed (best dressed)
Next thing, upgrade, who’s next? (Who’s next?)
Rich boy got him on deck
Good boy, tell that n—a fetch (yeah)
I put my new man on a leash (on a leash)
Traded in my old n—a, he was just a lease (ooh)
I ride around town ’til I leave (’til I leave, oh)
I gave the boy a round spin him back to the streets
Like la-da-dee-da-dee-da
Yeah, I spin him back to the streets
Like la-da-dee-da-dee-da
Back to the streets

La-da-dee-da-dee-da
Back to the streets
Ba-back to the streets
La-da-dee-da-dee-da
Yeah
Back to the streets

(Put my new man on a leash)
(He was just a lease)
(Ride around town ’til I leave)

Lyrics licensed & provided by LyricFind

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Written by: Aleicia Gibson, Diamonte Harper, Donny Flores, Frederico Vindver, Gino Borri, Jose Velaquez, Matthew Crabtree, Michael Suski, Sara Mitchell, Simon Plummer, Timothy Mosley

Chance the Rapper is being sued by his longtime manager Pat Corcoran, who accuses his former client of refusing to pay out over $3 million in unpaid commissions after his firing in April.

According to the complaint filed in Cook County Circuit Court of Illinois on Monday, Corcoran alleges that Chance the Rapper (real name Chancelor Bennett) ignored his professional advice in the lead-up to the release of his debut studio album, The Big Day, on July 26, 2019, and subsequently blamed Corcoran for the album’s mixed response, as well as poor ticket sales for the accompanying tour. After Bennett fired Corcoran, Corcoran alleges his requests for more than $3 million in unpaid commissions were denied, with Bennett’s father, Ken Bennett, instead offering a flat sum of $350,000.

Corcoran is suing for breach of contract, violation of the Illinois Sales Representative Act and unjust enrichment, among other counts. He is additionally asking the court to order an accounting of all amounts earned by the Bennetts beginning in Feb. 2013 — the date Corcoran says that Bennett agreed to pay him 15% commission on all touring, merch and album sales, among other income streams — as well as to enforce a sunset clause that will entitle him to future commissions for a three-year post-termination period ending Apr. 25, 2023.

The complaint names as defendants Chance the Rapper, LLC as well as the rapper’s merchandise and touring companies Cool Pop Merch and CTR Touring.

The 20-page suit (read in full here) narrates Corcoran’s years-long relationship with Bennett and his instrumental role in building the rapper’s career beginning in 2012 — a journey that culminated in Bennett’s rise to superstardom and Grammy win for best rap album in 2017 for his mixtape Coloring Book. Throughout, Corcoran asserts his influence in steering Bennett towards eventual fame and fortune, including encouraging the rapper to continue building his brand independently despite overtures from record labels — most notably Sylvia Rhone at Epic Records/Vested in Culture — after Bennett sold out his first headlining show at Lincoln Hall in June 2012. Ultimately, the suit paints a portrait of a dedicated manager frustrated by his superstar client’s alleged self-sabotaging behavior, as well as the eventual implosion of his first proper album release and national tour.

Among the many deals highlighted in the complaint, Corcoran emphasizes his key role in negotiating Coloring Book’s exclusive release on Apple Music for a two-week period in 2016 — all while allowing Bennett to retain control of his masters. Not only characterized as a savvy deal where “Corcoran and Bennett were able to secure the funds necessary to clear the album,” which included features from Kanye West, Justin Bieber, Young Thug and others, and they were not required to pay any royalties to Apple, the suit also signals it as a “paradigm shift for the music industry” that led to a flood of independent artists carving out successful careers free of label influence.

The complaint additionally draws out Corcoran’s role in building out a mammoth independent merchandising operation for Bennett. Included is the deal Corcoran struck with New Era Cap Company for a Chance the Rapper-branded hat that went on to become one of the best-selling non-sports caps in New Era’s history, resulting in “massive profits” for Bennett and his associates.

Explains the suit: “In a standard merchandising agreement, the artist would simply receive a percentage of sales of the merchandise as a royalty. Corcoran instead negotiated a deal with New Era in which Cool Pop Merch, LLC purchased the hats wholesale and sold them exclusively on chanceraps.com. This approach resulted in increased upfront risk for the business, but also resulted in massive profits when demand for the hat skyrocketed. The Chance ‘3’ hat, quickly became and still remains one of New Era’s best-selling hats ever produced that is not affiliated with a major sports team.”

The relationship between Bennett and Corcoran began to show cracks in Feb. 2019, when Corcoran alleges the rapper failed to consult him before publicly announcing he would be releasing The Big Day that July. He claims Bennett subsequently ignored his reservations about producing an album in such a short amount of time (particularly in light of Bennett’s upcoming wedding scheduled for that March) and instead forged ahead with recording sessions that Corcoran describes as “unproductive and undisciplined.”

“Procrastination and lackadaisical effort, perpetuated by various hangers-on uninterested in the hard work of writing and recording, resulted in a freestyle-driven product of sub-par quality, a complete deviation from the meticulous writing process the brought Bennett fame for his wordplay and wit,” the complaint reads.

Though The Big Day ultimately debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and received mixed-to-positive reviews from critics, the complaint characterizes the album as a disappointment overall, citing it as “Chance’s least popular project to date” that “deliver[ed] a blow” to Corcoran and Bennett’s reputations.

It is that cool reception from fans, the suit claims, which ultimately led to the cancellation of a 30-city tour Corcoran had planned behind the much-anticipated album. Estimated to gross between $25 and $35 million early on, low ticket sales and poor attendance projections eventually led Corcoran to recommend that Bennett cancel the tour and “use the time to regroup and refocus.” Bennett postponed the tour just days before it was set to kick off in Sept. 2019 before canceling it altogether that December.

A chunk of the complaint is dedicated to Corcoran’s fraught relationship with Bennett’s father and brother, Ken and Taylor Bennett, who exerted increasing influence over the direction of the rapper’s career around The Big Day’s release. Corcoran states that while a merch strategy had been in place “for months” prior to the album’s release, it was thwarted at the last minute by Taylor, who put the brakes on the rollout and thereby halted the production and fulfillment of pre-sale orders.

The relationship only grew more strained from there, with Corcoran claiming that Ken and Taylor (“despite having little or no experience in the music industry”) began steering Bennett’s career in a direction that conflicted with the manager’s vision. Instead of following Corcoran’s advice to keep a lower profile and focus on songwriting and recording, under the direction of the Bennetts, the rapper instead made “monetizing every available promotional opportunity” a priority, including appearances on talk shows such as Ellen, Good Morning America and The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. “These appearances only served to exacerbate the failure of The Big Day,” Corcoran concludes.

Following the tour’s cancellation — and after Ken and Taylor allegedly “eroded” Bennett’s confidence in Corcoran — the manager says Bennett blamed him for the relative failure of the Big Day album and tour “rather than accept that his own lack of dedication had doomed the project.” Corcoran was ultimately fired on Apr. 27, 2020 after eight years.

After “months of contentious interactions” with the Bennetts over unpaid commissions, Corcoran says he eventually presented them with a list of all commissions owed from streaming and sales of album releases and singles as well as proceeds from touring and merchandise. He claims that in response, Ken Bennett offered a lump sum of $350,000, in violation of Corcoran and Bennett’s longstanding agreement giving Corcoran a 15% commission on net profits.

“Despite months of outreach and efforts at reconciliation,” the complaint concludes, “Bennett has refused to pay Corcoran the amounts Corcoran is fairly owed under the parties’ long-standing agreement and well-settled course of conduct.”

A representative for Bennett did not respond to Billboard’s request for comment.

Chance The Rapper vs. Pat C… by Billboard

The Jonas Brothers called on their fans on Thursday (Dec. 3) to help put on an interactive virtual concert, during which the sibling trio performed old and new hits like “Lovebug,” “Sucker,” “SOS,” “Only Human” and more.

Throughout the Lenovo’s Yoga and Intel Evo’s For All Creators performance, fans voted on the setlist by dropping suggestions in the comments section, and used custom hashtags to launch visual effects on their screens.

Despite all the cool features, viewers were just excited to see the Jonas Brothers perform in 2020 (even if it was virtually). See below for some of the best reactions to the online concert.

Justin Bieber has had enough of comments comparing his wife Hailey Bieber to ex-girlfriend Selena Gomez.

“Hailey Baldwin is going to do a Live, right?” a fan is seen saying in a video the singer posted to his Instagram Stories on Thursday (Dec. 3), in reference to the model’s Instagram Live with Bare Minerals and Dendoll. “Where she’s talking about herself, 20 questions with Justin Bieber. This is the time where they will not be turning off comments, so we need to fucking bombard that shit with Jelena and how Selena is better. Go after, please, let’s all go after her.”

In a lengthy follow-up post, Justin wrote, “This sad excuse of a human just encouraged people on video to literally go after my wife telling people to say that my previous relationship was better so on and so fourth [sic]. I just wanted to share this so people get an idea of what we face on a day to day.”

He continued by noting that it is “extremely hard to choose the high road” when people are constantly trying to “bully” his wife, before asking his supporter to “lift us up in prayer. We need prayer and support as we continue to put ourselves out there.”

The “Intentions” crooner then encouraged his fans to “uplift and add value to people,” writing, “After watching that I could easily let it steal my joy, but then I think about her life and how miserable she must be to want to spend her life trying to make others feel small.”

Hailey reposted her husband’s sentiment, and added her own take on the situation in order to “protest myself and my mental.”

“It has truly gotten to a level of anger and hate that is shockingly unhealthy and sad,” she wrote. “I would never in a million years wish for someone to be treated this way and I will never condone this kind of hateful behavior. I want only to support, uplift, and encourage other women in this industry and wish them nothing but love and success and I wish for all of my followers and supporters to do the same!!”

She concluded by “wishing the young woman in that video all the best, I hope she finds love, peace and happiness in this life!”

See via fan page below.

 

 

Miley Cyrus compares a toxic relationship to being trapped like a “Prisoner” in her collaboration with Dua Lipa from her latest album Plastic Hearts.

In an interview with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe on her 28th birthday last month, Cyrus discussed how emotions can only gnaw at you if you let them. “I mean, we’re just trapped in our emotions right now. I mean, really me, there’s no escaping it. It’s like, ‘Locked up, can’t get you off my mind,’” she said. “It’s like anything that you’ve tried to suppress or compartmentalize at that point, it’s coming up. It’s yours to own, to own it or release it.”

Check out the lyrics and music video below.

Prisoner, prisoner
Locked up, can’t get you off my mind, off my mind
Lord knows I tried a million times, million times
Oh-whoa, why can’t you
Why can’t you just let me go?

Strung out on a feeling, my hands are tied
Your face on my ceiling, I fantasize
Oh, I can’t control it, I can’t control it
(I can’t control it)
I try to replace it with city lights
I’ll never escape it, I need the high
Oh, I can’t control it, I can’t control it
(Oh)

You keep makin’ it harder to stay
But I still can’t run away
I gotta know, why can’t you
Why can’t you just let me go?

Prisoner, prisoner
Locked up, can’t get you off my mind, off my mind
Lord knows I tried a million times, million times
Oh-whoa, why can’t you
Why can’t you just let me go?
Prisoner, prisoner
Locked up, can’t get you off my mind, off my mind
Lord knows I tried a million times, million times
Oh-whoa, why can’t you
Why can’t you just let me go?

I tasted heaven, now I can’t live without it
I can’t forget you and your love is the loudest
Oh, I can’t control it, I can’t control it
(Can’t control it)

You keep making it harder to stay
But I still can’t run away
I gotta know why can’t you
Why can’t you just let me go?

Prisoner, prisoner
Locked up, can’t get you off my mind, off my mind
Lord knows I tried a million times, million times
Oh-whoa, why can’t you
Why can’t you just let me go?
Prisoner, prisoner
Locked up, can’t get you off my mind, off my mind
Lord knows I tried a million times, million times
Oh-whoa, why can’t you
Why can’t you just let me go?

(Prisoner)
Can’t get you off my mind
Why can’t you just let me go?
(Million times)
Million times
I wanna know why can’t you, why can’t you?
I wanna know why can’t you, why can’t you?
I gotta know why can’t you
Why can’t you just let me go?

Lyrics licensed & provided by LyricFind

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

Written by: Jon Bellion, Stefan Johnson, Marcus Lomax, Jordan K. Johnson, Miley Cyrus, Dua Lipa, Alexandra Tamposi, Andrew Wotman

Bad Bunny and Daddy Yankee’s “La Santa” hits No. 1 on the Latin Airplay chart (rising 5-1 on the chart dated Dec. 5). The song is one of 20 tracks from Benito’s YHLQMDLG, his second-longest charting title at No. 1 on Top Latin Albums (35 weeks and counting).

“La Santa” reaches No. 1 in its 14th week with a 57% gain in audience impressions, rising to 11 million in the week ending Nov. 29, according to Nielsen Music/MRC Data.

With the jump, Daddy Yankee breaks away from a tie with Ozuna and becomes the act with the third-most leaders since the chart’s inception in 1994, with 22. Bad Bunny, meanwhile, clocks his 12th No. 1, which dates back to his featured role in Becky G’s “Mayores,” his first entry and first leader in February 2018.

Meanwhile Bad Bunny’s latest single “Dákiti,” with Jhay Cortez, enters Latin Airplay’s top 10 for the first time at No. 8 (up six spots from is previous peak of No. 14), thanks to a 33% increase in audience, to 7 million. While Bad Bunny collects his 17th top 10, Cortez secures his second.

“Dákiti” is Bad Bunny’s first single from El Ultimo Tour Del Mundo, his third studio album released in 2020. The set dropped Thursday, Nov. 26, at 11 p.m. ET and bows at No. 20 on Top Latin Albums after just one hour of activity. (The sales and streaming tracking week for the Top Latin Albums chart runs Friday through Thursday each week.)

“Dákiti” continues strong on the airplay-, streaming- and digital sales-blended Hot Latin Songs chart, holding at No. 1 for a fourth week.

Over on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 chart, it drops 9-15.

Earlier this week, Noah Cyrus took to her Instagram Stories to defend Harry Styles after conservative commentator Candace Owens slammed his Vogue cover, in which he’s seen rocking a dress.

“he wears this dress better than any of u nappy ass heauxz,” the youngest Cyrus wrote alongside a photo from Styles’ shoot. The “July” singer was then met with criticism over her use of the racially charged word “nappy,” which historically was used disparagingly in reference to African hair texture.

Cyrus’ post had an added layer of insensitivity, as Owens herself is Black. The 20-year-old singer took to her Instagram Stories again on Thursday (Dec. 3) to apologize for her post, writing, “i am mortified that i used a term without knowing the context and history, but i know now and am horrified and truly sorry.”

“i’ll never use it again,” she continued. “thank you for educating me. i in no way meant to offend anyone. i am so so sorry.”

A private investigator who spent years probing disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein is suing Miami Herald reporter Julie K. Brown, claiming she stiffed him out of money from lucrative book and … Click to Continue »