Jack Antonoff is opening his ears to the criticism — sike. After some fans slammed the producer online for what they perceived as him wearing earbuds to block out performances at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards — specifically Katy Perry‘s — the producer cleared the air with a series of satirical tweets written in the form of an apology Thursday (Sept. 12).

“i would like to tell you directly from me that i did in fact use earplugs the other night,” he began in his joking confession on social media. “they were blue ‘hearos’ brand and im mortified to admit that i’ve been using them for a long time as well as buying them in bulk.”

“that i do not only use them when in 100 plus DB environments,” he continued of his VMAs ear-wear. “it is humiliating to admit that i use them on planes and every night while sleep. there is nothing left to do but apologize … i’m sorry to those i let down and today i will not [be] going to work and instead thinking about my earplug use and everyone that has been affected by it.”

The Bleachers frontman added, “the band and i have decided to keep all dates as scheduled.”

The posts seemingly come in response to viewers accusing Antonoff of wearing Apple Airpods during Perry’s Video Vanguard Award medley performance, as captured by the VMAs’ live audience cam that was trained for long periods of time on the producer’s seat partner, Taylor Swift, with Antonoff in frame. One person on X called him “disrespectful” for wearing the plugs, while another fan tweeted, “jack antonoff putting on airpods during katy’s performance… what a disgusting man.”

Speaking of the “Anti-Hero” singer, Swift was dancing up a storm throughout the former American Idol judge’s performance, and sang every word to “Teenage Dream.” The Eras Tour headliner ended the night with seven new Moon People, including video of the year for “Fortnight,” which Antonoff produced.

Perry’s performance also had many more noteworthy moments beyond who did or did not wear earplugs during her time on stage. In addition to performing a slew of the songs that solidified her as Billboard‘s No. 25 greatest pop star of the 21st century — including “Dark Horse,” “Roar” and “ET” — the vocalist was also joined by Doechii to give their new single “I’m His, He’s Mine” a jaw-dropping live debut.

See Antonoff’s faux apology below.

that i do not only use them when in 100 plus DB environments. it is humiliating to admit that i use them on planes and every night while sleep. there is nothing left to do but apologize and thank those who have covered this story because although it’s an embarrassment to my-

— jackantonoff (@jackantonoff) September 12, 2024

the band and i have decided to keep all dates as scheduled.

— jackantonoff (@jackantonoff) September 12, 2024

New Music Latin is a compilation of the best new Latin songs and albums recommended by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors. Check out this week’s picks below.

Chencho Corleone, SOLO (Cero/Sony Music Latin)

The wait is over: Chencho Corleone has dropped his debut album SOLO, five years after parting ways from popular early 2000s reggaetón duo Plan B. “I know many doubted and bet against me, what will they say now, I wonder?/ My people didn’t bend, they trusted me, and now we are relaxing,” he opens up in the 37-second intro “Tirao Pa Tra” powered by dramatic violins. Home to 18 songs, the set stays faithful to Chencho’s sound, notably with a handful of futuristic perreos such as “Menta,” “Good Times” and “District.” The Puerto Rican artist also experimented with cumbia in “Lo Caro y Lo Bueno” and electronic music in the closing track “Himalaya.” 

“It took me many nights working without looking at the clock to finish this album that I’m sure will be one of your favorites,” he expressed in an Instagram post. “Thanks to all the artists and producers who collaborated with me, thank you!!! Thankful to all my fans for waiting that finally… the day has come !!! Enjoy SOLO just as I enjoyed creating it for you.” SOLO — which includes the previously-released single “Un Cigarrillo,” Chencho’s first solo No. 1 hit on the Billboard Latin Airplay chart — also includes star-studded collaborations with Peso Pluma, DJ Snake, Rauw Alejandro, Jowell & Randy, Bryant Myers and Jay Wheeler, the latter on the focus track “Cinco Estrellas.” — JESSICA ROIZ

Maria Becerra, “AGORA” (Warner Music Latina)

In “AGORA,” María Becerra, “La Nena de Argentina” (“Argentine babe”), takes a bold step by including Portuguese in her repertoire, fusing genres such as bossa nova and rap. With a delicate and seductive performance, Becerra explores the deep regret of a failed relationship, while searching for a second chance through her melodic singing in Portuguese and rap verses in Spanish. The black-and-white music video presents Becerra as a sensual and dangerous siren, with an elegant and mysterious visual aesthetic that perfectly complements the emotional duality of the song. — LUISA CALLE

Kim Loaiza, X Amor II (Space Music/Warner Music Latina)

In her latest release, X Amor II, Kim Loaiza ambitiously builds upon the foundations laid by her 2023 debut, X Amor. The Mexican singer and social media influencer keenly demonstrates her evolving artistry through an eclectic mix of genres ranging from reggaetón to música mexicana, peppered with other unexpected styles. The opener “5 Babys” is a powerhouse introduction to the expanding urbano movement, featuring an all-female lineup with Spanish MC Ptazeta, Mexican reggaetonera Bellakath, Argentine lyricist Yami Safdie, and Colombian rapper Fariana. Together, they set a bold tone with assertive, debaucherous lyrics (“Ando con cinco babys, y todas están duras,” who are “Todas están encendidas para el descontrol“).

Experiments with diverse genres are evident in tracks like “Perro” and “Se Mi Gato,” which display EDM tendencies while maintaining an undercurrent of Latin infectiousness. “QuesoXte,” an already-released single featuring Codiciado, offers a seamless transition into rowdy corridos. Meanwhile, “Antes de Dormir” and “Hentai” reverberate with the core sounds of reggaetón. In a different vein, “Me Dolió” presents an emotionally resonant strain of bachata-urbano, while “Los Besos Que Te Di” merges grupera and cumbia, illustrating her facility with traditional sounds wrapped in contemporary flair. Across 14 tracks, the Mexicali star does more than explore romantic narratives but encapsulates themes of empowerment, resilience and authenticity. With X Amor II, Loaiza solidifies her multifaceted ability to push expectations in Latin music. — ISABELA RAYGOZA

Arthur Hanlon, Yotuel & Darell, “Repetimos” (Sony Music Latin)

“Repetimos” is the new single by well-known pianist Arthur Hanlon in collaboration with Cuban rapper Yotuel and Puerto Rican urban artist Darrel. The saucy melting pot of rhythms fuses mambo, reggaetón, and a funky tumbao, all backed by Hanlon’s smooth and exquisite piano struts. Yotuel brings sensuality to the tune with his flavorful vocals, while Darell contributes with his raspier tones and hard-hitting rap bars. Lyrically, “Repetimos” (“let’s repeat”) is about reliving the fun moments of romance and excitement, emphasizing the idea that some experiences are always worth repeating.— INGRID FAJARDO

MARI, “Tonada Del Callejero” (AP Global Music)

Emerging artist MARI “La Carajita” offers a hypnotizing fusion of urban music and Venezuelan llanero music, subtly transporting us to the countryside through sustained falsetto verses like “the street is calling me,” and bringing us back to the city with forceful drum rhythms, rap and cuatro. “The street is calling me because I think she likes me/And that doesn’t bother me so much because I liked her too,” she sings in this exciting experiment. Within a wave of Venezuelan talent that has achieved international recognition in the last few years, MARI stands out for her originality and her mastery. — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS

Listen to more editors’ Latin recommendations in the playlist below:

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Charli XCX may have said goodbye to Brat summer, but Amazon Music wants the aesthetic to live forever with the launch of an official Charli XCX store featuring exclusive Brat merchandise.

The 32-year-old is gearing up for a busy end of year starting with co-headlining the Sweat tour with friend and fellow artist Troye Sivan. Fans have been debuting their best Brat-inspired outfits featuring ’90s and grunge-themed styles.

Whether or not you have tickets to see Charli XCX live in person, Amazon’s official store is stocking you up on T-shirts and accessories that you’ll be able to use 365 days a year. You can choose from a mix of T-shirts that were inspired by the album cover and deluxe edition with graphics in the famous all lowercase and slightly blurred text. The collection also includes an exclusive Amazon-only style that says “I ride for you Charli” that’s only $35.

In addition to apparel, the official store offers phones cases that dress up your tech in a Brat album green shade.

Prices range from $20 to $35, and all of the T-shirts come in an oversized, vintage aesthetic.

Keep reading to shop some of ShopBillboard‘s favorite pieces.

Amazon has continued to lean into offering fans a one-stop destination to shop their favorite artists’ official merch and exclusive tour gear, with Charli XCX being the latest addition. Alongside the “Talk Talk” singer, other musician merch includes Beyoncé’s Renaissance tour apparel, ATEEZ’s official store, Dua Lipa’s Radical Optimism gear, Megan Thee Stallion’s shop and Doja Cat’s Scarlet Red tour merch.

For more product recommendations, check out ShopBillboard‘s roundups of the best music posters, female musician memoirs and vinyl record player accessories.

Warner Chappell Music has signed a global publishing agreement with hitmaking songwriter John Ryan. With six writing and production credits on Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet and cuts with Thomas Rhett, Teddy Swims, Harry Styles, Benson Boone, Maren Morris, Maroon 5, Niall Horan and more, WCM president of North America, Ryan Press, calls Ryan “a pop powerhouse.”

Primary Wave has partnered with the estate of Ric Ocasek on the late Cars songwriter’s publishing catalog as well as his name, image and likeness rights. The terms of the deal will see the publishing company work with all the songs from his time with the “Magic” band and his songs as a solo artist.

Audius, a decentralized music streaming service and community platform, has signed a global licensing agreement with Kobalt. The deal provides a new revenue stream for Kobalt’s roster of songwriters, and it creates a pathway for the music fans who use Audius to support their favorite artists with direct U.S. dollar payments. This is the latest in a string of deals Audius has made this year with the music business establishment to ensure proper licenses are in place and that musicians can get paid from the platform. This includes new agreements with ASCAP, BMI, SESAC and GMR.

UMPG UK has signed producer and writer James Ford to a global publishing administration deal. Though he is best known as a creative collaborator of top acts like Arctic Monkeys, Depeche Mode via Foals, Florence and The Machine, Haim, Gorillaz and Jessie Ware, Ford also recently launched his own solo project with the 2023 album The Hum.

Savan Kotecha, renowned for his work with The Weeknd, Ariana Grande and One Direction, has joined forces with major Indian talent management company REPRESENT to launch Outwrite, India’s first incubator for songwriters. With Outwrite, Kotecha hopes to start a global hub for songwriters, producers, musicians, and engineers, offering end-to-end solutions for everything related to music creation and supervision, and to bring more Indian musical talent into the top writing rooms.

Big Yellow Dog Music has signed Trent Tomlinson to a global music publishing deal. Tomlinson is best known for penning hits like “Damn Strait” by Scotty McCreery and “In Case You Didn’t Know” by Brett Young as well as other artists like Lainey Wilson, George Strait, Chris Young, and Sara Evans.

Sony Music Publishing has signed an exclusive worldwide co-publishing agreement with hit songwriter and producer Jeremy Stover, covering his future works. As part of the deal, Sony has also acquired several of Stover’s songs, including hits by Tim McGraw and Justin Moore, underscoring its ongoing creative partnership with RED Creative Group. Stover, known for his current singles like Justin Moore’s “This Is My Dirt” and Ashley McBryde’s “The Devil I Know,” continues to work with major artists such as Luke Combs, Priscilla Block, and Travis Denning.

Position Music has signed Erik Ron to a worldwide publishing deal. A go-to collaborator in the rock and alternative space, Ron has worked with the likes of jxdn, Bad Omens, Huddy, Ellise, Charlotte Sands, Maggie Lindemann, Loveless, Jack Harris, MOD SUN, Emei, Sueco, Neoni, grandson, nothing,nowhere., Papa Roach and more.

Position Music has signed Fabio Aguilar to a global publishing deal in collaboration with Grammy-winning producer Keanu Beats. The news arrives on the heels of Auilar’s BMI Hip Hop Award win for co-producing “HOTEL LOBBY (Unc & Phew)” by Quavo and Takeoff. Just 22, Aguilar is a producer, loop specialist, beatmaker, and instrumentalist, he is also known for working with the likes of Lil Baby, Jack Harlow, NLE Choppa, Roddy Ricch, Denzel Curry and Logic.

Downtown Music Publishing (DMP) today announces a global music publishing deal with PDU, the record label and publishing company from iconic Italian singer Mina. Under this new agreement, DMP will provide global publishing administration and sync services for Mina’s prestigious catalog.

Campbell Connelly, part of Wise Music Group, has signed an exclusive songwriter agreement with Josephine Stephenson. The deal further cements Stephenson’s relationship with Wise Music Group. (Her concert repertoire is published by Leduc through Wise’s offices in Paris.) A composer, arranger, and performer, Stephenson has worked as an arranger or performer with Damon Albarn, Radiohead, Arctic Monkeys and Daughter.

ESMAA, an Abu Dhabi-based rights management entity representing global music stakeholders in the Gulf and Middle East, and Anghami, a top music streaming platform in the Middle East and North Africa region, have agreed on a new music licensing agreement on behalf of independent music publishers. The deal marks the resolution of a legal dispute between ESMAA (representing PopArabia and Reservoir) and Anghami.