Warner Music Japan has appointed Dr. Kenji Kitatani to the resurrected role of chairman of the label division, effective immediately. Dr. Kitatani will work closely with WMJ’s longtime president and CEO, Kazuyuki “Kaz” Kobayashi, to boost the company’s presence in the globe’s No. 2 music market.

Dr. Kitatani currently holds the title of chairman of DAZN Japan, a sports streaming platform, and he regularly writes for Forbes Japan and is a professor and director at the Institute for Content and Technology Integration at Kanazawa Institute of Technology. (His priors in academia also include faculty roles at Washington State University and Indiana University.) In the late 1990s and early 2000s, he held senior executive roles at Sony Corporation and between 2011 and 2017 acted as president of Avex International Holdings, the country’s largest independent music entertainment conglomerate.

Following his time at Avex Inc., Dr. Kitatani became executive vp of Asia and executive director for Japan at AEG, leaving in late 2021 before taking up a bevy of advisory roles at companies including Mitsubishi, NTTdocomo, InnoCan Pharma and FM Tokyo, among others.

“I am delighted to welcome Dr Kenji Kitatani to Warner Music and am pleased that such a distinguished executive has agreed to take on this challenge,” said Kobayashi. “We’ve achieved a lot in the last decade at Warner Music Japan, but our industry never stands still and we need to continue to adapt if we are to keep being the first choice for our country’s most exciting artists.”

Though technically not replacing anyone as chairman of Warner Music Japan, Dr. Kitatani is not the first executive to hold the vaulted title. The last person to occupy the position was industry veteran Kei Ishizaka, Kobayashi’s predecessor as CEO until Ishizaka’s departure in 2014.

“This is an exciting time in the Japanese music industry,” said Kitatani. “I am delighted to take up this new role at Warner Music, working with Kaz on the continuing evolution of the company as we build the most forward-thinking label in the Japanese market.”

Carole King is perhaps one of the most famous Taylor Swift fans in the world, and the iconic singer-songwriter joined the kickoff call for the Swifties for Kamala coalition on Tuesday night (Aug. 27).

“I am a Swiftie, and Taylor and I are actually friends. We have had conversations backstage and I see her as sort of my musical and songwriting granddaughter. We have a lovely relationship, and I’m so proud of her,” King told the thousands of listeners who tuned into the livestream, noting that her favorite song of Swift’s is “Shake It Off” from 1989.

“I’m excited about Kamala, because so many people are excited about Kamala, and I have met her. I admire her and the stars lined up, and Joe Biden did a really gracious, hard thing to do, and I’m so proud of him,” King continued. “But this is about you. I know you have your ways of communicating and social networking and organizing.”

King then encouraged Swifties to become in-person volunteers, and take part in door knocking and phone calling to rally voters. “I’ve been a political activist years. I’ve been a caller, I’ve been a door knocker, even as a famous person,” she explained, before giving the livestream tips on how to be a good door knocker. “I’m telling you all this because if any of you are thinking of volunteering to be door knockers or phone callers, but you’re a little nervous about what you might say, please believe me, you will be working with an organizer who will give you steps,” she said. “Don’t be afraid, because there is nothing to lose and everything to gain. […] There is too much at stake.”

To conclude, King shared that because Swift helped induct her into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2021 by performing the legend’s classic, “Will You Love Me Tomorrow,” she will return the favor. She then delivered a “surprise song” for the Swifties for Kamala by briefly singing the chorus of “Shake It Off.” “Cause the players gonna play, play, play, play, play/ And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate/ Baby, I’m just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake/ I shake it off, I shake it off,” she mused.

Swift has yet to endorse anyone in the 2024 presidential race between Trump and Harris. She is not affiliated with the group — which describes themselves as a “coalition of Swifties ready to mobilize Taylor Swift fans to help get Democratic candidates elected up and down the ballot” — but Swifties for Kamala have noted that the “I Can Do It With the Broken Heart” singer is “always welcome to show up to our party.”

Elsewhere in the Swifties for Kamala kickoff event, Sen. Elizabeth Warren spoke to the group, noting that her two favorite Taylor Swift songs are “Karma” and “All Too Well (Taylor’s Version) (10 Minute Version).” “What I love best about Swifties, you are resilient and you know how to take on bullies,” the politician explained. “You know how to be your most authentic, most joyful selves. You come together hand-to-hand, friendship bracelets on your wrists and you overcome pretty much anything that life throws at you. The Kamala Harris campaign is standing up for what’s right in the face of bullies like Donald Trump.”

She continued, “With Kamala Harris, it’s all very different. Under a Kamala Harris presidency, our future is bright. Kamala will sign abortion protections into law. She’ll take on big corporations that are screwing you over. I’m looking at you Ticketmaster on this one, and she will help level the playing field for all people. So here’s the deal. We’ve got 70 days until the election, and I’m just going to be blunt, it is going to be a tough fight ahead. We have a lot to do, and dang, there are only 24 hours in a day, or 144 ‘All Too Well (10 Minute Version)’s. But here’s the thing, just like you’ve done every time before, we will push this boulder up the hill, and we will win in November. So with that, I am looking forward to the era of the first woman president. So please get in the fight, knock on doors, make phone calls, and let’s elect Kamala Harris the next President of the United States. Swifties, you can get this done.”

Watch the full Swifties for Kamala kickoff call below.

“Die With a Smile,” which enters the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 3 this week, is the 14th collaboration involving Lady Gaga and/or Bruno Mars to reach the top 10 on Billboard’s flagship singles chart.

The honor roll of their past collabs includes an Oscar winner for best original song (“Shallow” by Gaga & Bradley Cooper) and two Grammy winners for record of the year (“Uptown Funk!” by Mark Ronson featuring Mars and “Leave the Door Open” by Silk Sonic – a.k.a. Mars and Anderson .Paak).

Mars’ longest-charting Hot 100 hit to date, “Uptown Funk!” (56 weeks), is a collaboration. Likewise, Gaga’s two longest-charting hits to date, “Just Dance” featuring Colby O’Donis (49 weeks) and “Shallow” (45 weeks) are collabs.

Their collaborators on these top 10 hits include some of the biggest stars of our time (Beyoncé, Ariana Grande, Cardi B, Snoop Dogg) and a few artists whose time in the pop spotlight was comparatively brief (O’Donis, Travie McCoy, B.o.B).

Mars and Cardi B have teamed for two top 10 hits: “Finesse” and “Please Me.” Mars has also had two top 10 hits as half of Silk Sonic. Gaga has yet to land a second top 10 hit with any of her collab partners, though she and Beyoncé, her partner on the No. 3-peaking “Telephone,” landed a second Hot 100 hit, “Video Phone” (which reached No. 65).

Here’s a list of all collaborations involving Gaga and/or Mars that have reached the top 10. The songs are listed in alphabetical order by title. The year shown is the year they peaked on the Hot 100. Now it’s over to you: Which is your personal favorite?

All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

Sun, fun and savings. With Labor Day right around the corner and the unofficial end of summer looming, we did a little digging to find a special offer that will put money back in your pocket.

Having too many subscriptions can take a huge bite out of your bank account, that’s why it’s good to bundle and save when you can. For a limited time, Sam’s Club memberships are on sale for just $25 for the entire year.

What do you get with a Sam’s Club membership? Free shipping, same-day delivery and curbside pickup to name a few.

Being a Sam’s Club member means exclusive savings, discounted gas prices, free tire changes, cash back on purchases and a complimentary membership that you can share with someone in your household.

See below for more details.

Sam’s Club Membership Deal: How to Redeem the Discount

The basic Sam’s Club Membership costs $50 per year, but if you want more bang for your buck, Sam’s Club Plus ($110/year) offers more perks including free shipping, early shopping, free curbside pickup, savings on pharmacy and optical discounts such as 20% off one pair of eyeglasses and free shipping on contacts.  

How can you get a Sam’s Club membership for 25? Purchase your Sam’s Club membership through Groupon to save 50% off (the limited deal applies to the Club and Club Pro memberships). With Groupon’s discount offer, you’ll pay just $25 for the Club membership or $70 for the Pro membership.

The purchase includes a 12-month Club of Club Plus Membership and a complimentary membership that you can share. The offer is valid for new Sam’s Club members only and does not apply for current members and membership renewals.

Don’t feel like waiting in line? Sam’s Club members have the option of skipping the checkout line and using the Scan & Go feature on the app. Other membership benefits include 2 percent cash back on qualifying purchases (up to $500 per year) and 3 percent cash back when you use the Sam’s Club Mastercard.

In addition to a membership discount, shoppers can enjoy savings on furniture, appliances, electronics, beauty essentials, clothing, accessories and more during the Sam’s Club Labor Day Savings Event. The sale ends on Sept. 11.

All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

Labor Day doesn’t just mean an extended weekend, the holiday also a slew of sales and deals on everything from fashion to everyday essentials. Most importantly, furniture and home items are at some of their lowest prices of the year and to prove it, Wayfair is turning their website into practically one big clearance section with up to 85% off couches, cookware, bedding and more.

Furniture is an investment but through Wayfair’s Labor Day sale, you can score top-rated and big ticketed items for more than half off. You can find furniture and decor for practically every aesthetic whether you’re a fan of a rustic look, industrial vibe or are a minimalist at heart.

These deals will make turning your home vision board into a reality — especially when you can snag a farmhouse-inspired TV stand for under $300. And, if you’re looking to transform your bedroom into a hotel-grade oasis, everything from mattresses to throw pillow covers are on sale.

Wayfair’s Labor Day deals are only going on until Sept. 3, which means you won’t want think too long before adding your most-wanted pieces to your cart. Already, bestselling items are flying out of stock and time is running out on scoring the best deals available.

Keep reading to learn more.

What Are the Best Wayfair Labor Day Deals?

If you’re feeling stuck on what to shop from the sale, ShopBillboard made a list of the 10 best Wayfair deals you can shop now below.

Wade Logan Latrissa Moroccan Rug

$155.99 $1,030 85% off

Buy Now

Treat your feet to this Wade Logan rug that was handmade with a Moroccan-inspired pattern for a more boho look. You furniture can rest on the wool fibers that will help tie your room together while giving your feet a soft yet cozy place to rest on.

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Mercury Row Bowdoin Upholstered Wingback Platform Bed

$165.99 $719.96 77% off

Buy Now

Bring a pop of color to your bed without having to change your sheets with Mercury Row’s platform bed. No box spring is required and it also includes a headboard and footboard to rest your mattress in. The brand also says it’ll take around 30 minutes to build.

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AllModern Kody Upholstered Bar & Counter Stool (Set of 2)

$89 $300 70% off

Buy Now

Nothing encourages gathering together like a set of counter stools — especially when they’re 70% off. You’ll receive two chairs that come with a cozy polyester blend seat and metal legs for added sturdiness. You can also choose from 15 colors depending on your preferences.

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The Twillery Co. Santos Down Alternative Soft Stomach Sleeper Pillow (Set of 4)

$45.99 $129.99 65% off

Buy Now

Ditch your flat pillow for a set of four fluffy styles for under $50. The pillows are hypoallergenic and come with a polyester gel filling that mimics the feel of down. They’re also machine washable making them keep crisp and fresh.

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Cuisinart Chef’s Classic 7-Piece Stainless Steel Cookware Set

$99 $300 67% off

Buy Now

Cuisinart is treating you to 67% off a 7-piece cookware set, giving you quality cookware for under $100. You’ll receive three lids, a stock pot, two saucepans and a frying pan. Each piece is also made from stainless steel materials that are durable and aim to evenly cook food.

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Union Rustic Admir Cotton Printed Curtain Panel

$36.99 $69.99 47% off

Buy Now

Cover your windows in these elegant curtains that are currently discounted down to a whopping $37. Using a cotton material, the curtains will present a more light and airy feel tied together with a geometric pattern for added texture. In addition to the patterned pieces, you’ll also receive two liners for more privacy and room darkening.

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Laurel Foundry Modern Farmhouse Chessani TV Stand

$219.99 $575.63 62% off

Buy Now

Bring some rustic themes to your living room with the help of this modern farmhouse TV stand. You can enjoy built-in storage including two cabinets and four shelves as well as a flat surface that can fit TVs up to 72-inches.

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Madison Park Tuscany Scalloped Edge Quilt Set

$49.32 $109.99 55% off

Buy Now

Snuggle up with a delicate quilt set that doesn’t just come made with a soft microfiber material, but has curved edges for a more cottagecore aesthetic. Since the quilt is reversible, you’ll basically be getting two blankets for lower than the price of one. Each set includes up to two shams and the coverlet.

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Everly Quinn Metal Arch Mirror

$79.99 $99.99 20% off

Buy Now

Small spaces scan use this arched floor mirror to give the illusion of a larger space. It stands at 64 inches tall and uses a metal frame that’s minimalist-approved and can be mounted to your wall. The tall length also makes allows you to capture your entire outfit for any OOTD pics.

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Sand & Stable Tristen Solid Wood Bench

$92.99 $400 77% off

Buy Now

Bring a contemporary touch to your entryway with a simple wooden bench. When placed against your wall, the decor can support you as you put your shoes on as well as be a cozy welcoming for your guests when they walk in.

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For more product recommendations, check out ShopBillboard‘s roundups of the best comforters for hot sleepers, accent pillows and dorm essentials.