Boston, Massachusetts, often dubbed America’s Walking City, comes alive during the summer with a vibrant array of outdoor music venues that cater to every musical taste and preference. Whether you’re into grand orchestral performances or intimate porch concerts, Boston offers a diverse range of experience set against its historic, picturesque backdrops. 

Fenway Concert Series

During the summertime, The Fenway Concert Series transforms the iconic baseball stadium into a lively music venue, where fans can enjoy performances with the famous Green Monster as a backdrop. After a successful 2023 Fenway Concert Series featuring the likes of Morgan Wallen and P!NK, Fenway Sports Group put together an impressive lineup of shows for fans to enjoy this summer. Artists like Noah Kahan, Foo Fighters, Green Day, and more will grace the Fenway stage this summer. 

Leader Bank Pavilion 

Leader Bank Pavilion is Boston’s premiere outdoor concert venue. Locally dubbed “The Pav” accommodates up to 5,000 guests and provides a unique concert experience with stunning views of the harbor. This summer, The Pavillion stage returns with a stellar lineup of diverse artists like Two Door Cinema Club, Young Miko, Black Pumas, Omar Apollo, and more.

Boston Public Library Courtyard

For those seeking a more intimate live music experience, the Boston Public Library Courtyard hosts classical music concerts and cultural performances that showcase Boston’s rich artistic heritage. This summer, fans can enjoy the Courtyard Series, running from June 5 through Friday August 30th with performances in the McKim Building Courtyard. 

Boston Public Library also offers a series of Friday lunchtime concerts throughout the summer featuring local musicians. The summer lineup was primarily curated via an application process overseen by staff with extensive musical backgrounds. Artists such as Patten Street Duo, LEX, and Ming Yang are slated to perform during the Friday lunchtime concert series. 

Porchfest

Porchfeset epitomizes Boston’s community spirit and love for music. Held in various neighborhoods across Massachusetts, Porchfest transforms residential streets into DIY stages where local musicians perform on porches, in yards, and even on sidewalks. This grassroots music festival celebrates creativity and individuality, offering a unique opportunity to discover emerging artists and connect with neighbors in a new way. 

Hatch Shell 

This outdoor amphitheater hosts the renowned Boston Pops Orchestra and a variety of other musical performances throughout the season. From classical symphonies to contemporary concerts, Hatch Shell provides a more intimate outdoor viewing experience along the Charles River Esplanade. This venue is best known for its annual Fourth of July celebration, but often hosts free concerts during the summer months. 

Whether you’re a visitor exploring Boston’s cultural offerings or a local looking to soak in the city’s summer vibes, these outdoor music experiences promise an unforgettable weekend filled with the magic of live music and community.

Ingrid Andress is leveling with her fan base after going viral Monday (July 15) for her televised performance of the national anthem at the Home Run Derby in Arlington, Texas, revealing in a statement posted the following day that she was drunk on the field and plans to voluntarily seek rehab treatment.

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“I’m not gonna bulls–t y’all,” she began in her post on X, written in stark white text layered over a black background. “I was drunk last night. I’m checking myself into a facility today to get the help I need. That was not me last night.”

“I apologize to MLB, all the fans, and this country I love so much for that rendition,” she continued. “I’ll let y’all know how rehab is I hear it’s super fun.”

“xo, Ingrid,” Andress signed off the note.

The message follows an outpouring of harsh criticism from viewers who saw the country star perform the “Star-Spangled Banner” moments before the baseball event kicked off. The rendition viewers saw was full of missed notes, pitchiness and questionable runs, and a few players appeared to be holding back laughter when cameras cut to them.

Billboard has reached out to Andress’ reps for additional comment.

Hours prior to her performance, the “More Hearts Than Mine” singer announced that she has a new song slated to arrive later this month. “Greetings to everyone that has a pulse,” she wrote. “I truly love you all so much. I’ve been absent for a minute, but I’m so stoked to announce that my new single ‘Colorado 9’ comes out on July 24th.”

See Andress’ statement below.

Less than nine months after Nikki Semin Han organized what the former SM Entertainment CEO called “the Avengers of the K-pop community joining forces to redefine the industry” in TITAN CONTENT, the newly-launched venture is officially beginning to roll out its first-ever artist.

Billboard can exclusively reveal the first details on TITAN CONTENT’s forthcoming girl group AtHeart, which is set to officially debut in the first half of 2025.

Beginning with the reveal of AtHeart’s first two members Sorin and Michi, the upcoming act will share all its members in the coming months as the future stars develop individual online presences and connect with fans while preparing for their K-pop debut via individual Instagram and TikTok accounts. TITAN CEO Katie Kang says, “The members will be sharing their daily lives and unique personalities through their social accounts, showcasing their journey to becoming AtHeart together. TITAN will reveal all members of AtHeart sequentially with special content this year.”

Both 17 years old, Sorin and Michi hail from South Korea and Hawaii, respectively, and begin the structure of what TITAN describes as a girl group that “will appeal to audiences around the world.”

Simultaneously revealing a new K-pop group’s members and launching their individual social media accounts is unconventional in the Korean-entertainment industry. Most new-artist startups are kept secret — even if pre-debut social media accounts are launched for a group, individual member accounts tend to launch years after establishing themselves on the scene. (For example, BLACKPINK’s four members launched their individual accounts less than two years after debuting, but it took more than eight years for the BTS guys.)

However, as CEO Kang adds, the strategy is a part of the group’s overall vision toward more connected K-pop idols.

“The name ‘AtHeart’ speaks to this group’s genuine nature and the connection and love they will build with their fans by empowering them to be their authentic selves,” Kang tells Billboard. “TITAN has been scouting and holding global auditions since the beginning of 2024 and we were captivated by the incredible talent we discovered. These members are so uniquely charming and they embody the next generation of K-pop. I know fans around the world will resonate with their genuine personalities and I am so excited for all the global fans to listen to their songs and watch their performance.”

“As the first K-pop company established in the U.S., TITAN will take an innovative and disruptive approach to creating, marketing, and promoting the content and artists we produce,” adds Han, Chairman at TITAN. “Working with powerhouse executives, creators, and producers from both East and West, we will break the mold by targeting global markets simultaneously from the start.”

Chief Business Officer Dom Rodriguez describes the Los Angeles–based company as “an artist-first and fan-first company,” touting its prodigious goals can be met with TITAN’s deeper involvement in the musical and personal processes of developing K-pop stars.

“We are relentless in our pursuit of innovation and creativity,” the CBO adds. “We prioritize the needs of our artists, the exceptional songwriters and producers who are integral to our success, and the dedicated fans who drive the K-pop phenomenon. Our hands-on A&R process is meticulously designed to elevate the next generation of K-pop artists, maintaining the highest standards of musical greatness. Collaborating with accomplished writers and top music producers worldwide, we’re committed to upholding excellence and shaping the future of music.”

“AtHeart marks the beginning of an exciting journey built upon the connection between K-pop idols, their dedicated fans, and music, with a commitment to upholding everything that makes K-pop unique and special,” says TITAN Chief Visual Officer Guiom Lee. “Backed by a team of industry experts who share a profound love and understanding of the genre, we will display innovation across all facets of AtHeart, pushing the limits in today’s ever-changing digital landscape. From top-tier visuals and fashion to captivating musical performances, we are excited to unveil AtHeart to a global audience.”

As previously reported, the team making up TITAN has experiences with K-pop artists across generations, including chart-topping names like BoA, Super Junior, Girls’ Generation, EXO, TWICE, Monsta X, ITZY, The Boyz, and more. Beyond artist development and management, TITAN plans to produce music festivals and revealed plans to combine “traditional K-pop training and artist development with Web3 and metaverse innovation.” The company also announced today that it will soon open an upcoming platform where “AtHeart will communicate with global fans with new and diverse content through a K-pop fandom platform that combines various innovative technologies such as Web3 and AI.”

Get to know Sorin and Michi in these first-look images below and by following the future AtHeart members on social media. Look out for more from the group via its official website

sorin
Sorin
michi
Michi

On the new Billboard Pop Shop Podcast, Katie & Keith are opening up the mailbag to answer your burning questions – starting with a question about why radio is still important (and valuable) in the streaming age.

Listener “yaelkaa” asks: “I’m still unclear about the point of (a) radio-released single in the time of streaming.”

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We can start by looking at Billboard’s own charts to show how big of an imprint radio still has on American music fans. A few weeks ago, on the July 6-dated Radio Songs chart, the No. 1 song was Post Malone’s “I Had Some Help,” featuring Morgan Wallen, with 76.5 million audience impressions in the U.S., according to data tracking firm Luminate — meaning, it was estimated that song was heard 76.5 million times by people that week. Compare that to the same week’s No. 1 on the Streaming Songs chart, which was Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us,” with 45.4 million official streams in the U.S. And of course, that number includes repeated plays by the same person through the week. The numbers, at least that week, speak for themself: Radio is still very powerful when it comes to the sheer number of people that will hear a song.

Also, we can look at the financials of radio plays versus on-demand audio streaming plays. We dug into the numbers to estimate how much money was generated for the publishers and the songwriter for one major hit song, Noah Kahan’s top 10-charting Billboard Hot 100 hit “Stick Season.” How much would that have generated from radio plays and on-demand audio streams? Which of the two, radio or streaming, likely generated the bigger financial win? Listen to our special Ask the Pop Shop episode below to learn more about that and other questions.

The Billboard Pop Shop Podcast is your one-stop shop for all things pop on Billboard‘s weekly charts. You can always count on a lively discussion about the latest pop news, fun chart stats and stories, new music, and guest interviews with music stars and folks from the world of pop. Casual pop fans and chart junkies can hear Billboard‘s executive digital director, West Coast, Katie Atkinson and Billboard’s managing director, charts and data operations, Keith Caulfield every week on the podcast, which can be streamed on Billboard.com or downloaded in Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast provider. (Click here to listen to the previous edition of the show on Billboard.com.)

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.

It’s Prime Day, which means you can score some of the biggest tech deals and snag new gadgets for a fraction of the price. When we think of Alexa services, your first thought probably goes to the classic Echo Dot — but now, smart home devices don’t have to be confined to your home. Amazon’s Echo Auto brings Alexa on the road, giving you all the benefits of the AI from your car. Now, the device is on sale for just $25.

Whether you’re looking for directions or want to stream your latest car ride playlist, the second-generation Echo Auto has got you covered. It brings all the capabilities of the Alexa you know and love in your home and makes them mobile. Now you won’t have to be at home to indulge in her vast knowledge — especially when it comes to giving you directions to a concert venue.

Keep reading to shop the Prime Day deal below.

black amazon echo auto

Amazon Echo Auto (2nd Gen, 2022 release) | Add Alexa to your car

$24.99 $54.99 55% off

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This time around, Amazon has made the second generation Echo Auto a slimmer design for an easier mounting process to your dashboard. There’s also a five-mic built in that’ll allow Alexa to pick up your voice over the sound of the AC, radio and other road noises. And, for the days you forget to pack your portable charger, the Echo Auto comes with a fast car charger to juice up your phone on the go.


You’ll still be able to enjoy the classic capabilities, too, such as streaming your favorite playlists whether it’s through Apple Music, Amazon Music or Spotify. You can also use it to call for roadside assistance: Just say “Alexa, call roadside assistance” and you’ll be connected to an Amazon agent who can request help on your behalf. You can also control your other compatible smart home devices and call and message — all while you’re driving.

More than 2,000 Echo Autos have been purchased in the past month with shoppers praising its ability to work in “older cars” as well as newer models.

For more product recommendations, check out ShopBillboard‘s roundups of the Ring Dash Cam, a car purse holder that will make your life easier and the best record players and turntables.

Patrick and Brittany Mahomes probably aren’t the first couple to make a double date out of one of Taylor Swift‘s Eras Tour concerts — but they might be one of the rare few whose counterparts included the show’s star.

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Earlier this month, the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback and former soccer player attended the “Anti-Hero” singer’s performance in Amsterdam alongside Patrick’s teammate — and Swift’s beau — Travis Kelce. And in newly shared Instagram photos from Brittany, it looks like they all got together for a glamorous evening after the show, with the foursome posing for a fun group shot together.

The snap finds the Sports Illustrated model hugging the 14-time Grammy winner tightly around the waist, her black outfit and sparkly Prada handbag contrasting Swift’s heart-shaped red purse and blue sundress. Behind them stand Kelce and Patrick beaming at the camera, both of them wearing baseball hats.

Brittany also included a photo of just her and Swift, who wraps her friend in her arms and kisses her head. “London & Amsterdam, a time was had” she wrote in her caption.

The post comes about four days after the Mahomes couple announced that they’re expecting their third baby with an adorable video on Instagram, which Swift and Kelce both liked. The parents already share daughter Sterling Skye and son Patrick “Bronze” Lavon Mahomes III.

Swift has grown close with the Mahomes family since beginning her romance with the tight end last summer. She and Brittany often hang out inside and out of Chiefs games at Arrowhead Stadium, and the two couples enjoyed a few outings together during the 2023-24 NFL season (including a raucous Super Bowl afterparty in Las Vegas).

Since hanging out with Patrick and Brittany amid her three back-to-back shows in Amsterdam July 4-6, the “Fortnight” artist has taken her Eras trek to Zürich and, most recently, Milan. She’ll next set up shop in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, for three concerts at Veltins-Arena July 17-19.

“WOW. MILAN,” Swift wrote on Instagram following her tenure in Italy. “Those were truly 2 of my favorite crowds ever. The passion and generosity you showed us… it was a dream come true to perform for you … We’ll be back!! 🇮🇹 🫶”

Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” momentum cannot be stopped. The Drake-dissing anthem has officially received the video game treatment and is now available for those looking to smack around some owls.

Game designer Richie Branson unveiled Not Like Us: The Game on Monday (July 15), which appears to find users playing as Kendrick Lamar wielding a wooden baseball bat, tasked with hitting owls in various directions (with the word “wop” appearing each time you do), while an 8-bit version of the smash-hit song plays in the background.

Each level gets progressively harder as there’s less time to locate the owl. “I intentionally made the game spike in difficulty above 17, so any score 18 and above should be celebrated,” Branson wrote on X.

In the game’s credits, Branson describes himself as “just a random brotha who designed games for Bleacher Report and worked for Epic Games as a game designer on a little game called Fortnite. This game is a free love letter to video games and hip-hop.”

Fans seemed to be enjoying the game. “This is so cool! reminds of those early flash game’s I grew up playing as a kid. Great work man you really are a jack of all trades,” one person replied on X.

Another gamer chimed in: “Now make one where drakes running away from the cops like temple run or subway surfers lol (Love the game tho this is dope so simple AND ADDICTIVE WOP WOP WOP WOP)”

The game’s mission is seemingly inspired by the “Not Like Us” visual, which features Kendrick gearing up to take a swing at an owl piñata. Although, Bransons said he came up with the idea while recovering from a case of food poisoning.

With a boost thanks to the Dave Free-directed music video, “Not Like Us” returned to the top of this week’s Billboard Hot 100. It’s now Lamar’s first multi-week No. 1 hit. The Mustard-produced banger also vaulted back to the apex of the Global 200 from No. 6.

Play Not Like Us: The Game here.

The atmosphere at Brooklyn’s Mercury Store was electrifying on Saturday (July) thanks to a fierce rap competition. At Red Bull Batalla‘s regional qualifier, New York’s AdonYS emerged as the victor, spitting punchline after punchline alongside other MCs with an eye on the Red Bull Batalla USA National Final, to be held in Miami in October. For the first time, fans will be able to watch the New York regional battle tonight (July 16) at 7 p.m. ET.

The event highlighted the exceptional talent gathered from across the country, with 16 aspiring Latin MCs — including 4ases, Eckonn, El Dømi, La Eminencia, Zkart, Kingkique and others — battling through incendiary rounds. Their exuberance and linguistic prowess confirmed the deep-rooted connection and evolving style of the Spanish freestyle community.

“Every time I rap, I take you in waves/ You’re spoiled, you don’t know how to even rub a gun/ This is rap, tomorrow vacilón, this is hip-hop and also a sensation,” AdonYS spat in Spanish against Freites, a Venezuelan lyricist from Orlando, Florida, who the Dominican New Yorker eventually defeated. Both advanced to the national finals, along with Raiiden and Metricoh Flowster.

The battles were adjudicated by a panel of three judges: rappers El Dilema, Snow Qlq and Latin Grammy nominee J Noa, the latter of whom the audience got to see in action on the mic at the close of the Batalla night.

J Noa
J Noa

Red Bull Batalla, now entering its sixth year in the United States, has grown throughout the Spanish-speaking world. The first Batalla (initially known as “Batalla de los Gallos”) was held in Puerto Rico in 2005, following the success of the Eminem-starring blockbuster 8 Mile. The event has established itself as one of the largest Spanish-speaking freestyle competitions in the world, resonating with the battle-rap community and receiving more than 8,000 applications annually from hopefuls around the world.

The 2023 World Final in Bogota captivated more than 12,000 attendees, underscoring the broad appeal of the event. Looking ahead, the excitement builds toward the 2024 World Final set for Madrid’s Wizink Center on November 30, which sold out within a week of ticket release.

With each passing year, Red Bull Batalla continues to establish itself as a cultural phenomenon, pushing the boundaries of freestyle rap and showcasing the talent that Spanish-speaking communities harbor.

Below, watch AdonYS win the regional title in New York, and more than a dozen rappers compete for the crown. The video will begin streaming at 7 p.m. ET.

The date for the Red Bull Batalla USA National Final in Miami in October to be announced soon.

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.

It can feel as though there aren’t enough hours in the day to get all your work done, go to the gym, make dinner and still have time to relax. Using an under-desk treadmill, though, can upgrade your work from home setup by allowing you to incorporate some movement into your workday as you check off your to-do list — especially if you’re normally tied to a desk for long hours.

The best under-desk treadmills offer a compact design that can easily slide under your workspace, allowing you to work out while you write up a report or prepare for a meeting. Rather than spend hundreds of dollars to upgrade your WFH space, Prime Day 2024 has a limited-time deal that gets you the popular Redliro under desk treadmill for a steal at 40% off.

Keep reading to learn more.

model walking on under desk treadmill

Redliro Walking Pad Treadmill Under Desk

$149.99 $249.99 40% off

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For less than $200 you can score Redliro’s under desk treadmill, which comes with customizable speeds and the ability to pause and go as you please. It weighs a little over 50 pounds and was built with a five-layer running belt and shock absorption to help provide comfort and support as you walk.


This under desk treadmill goes a maximum of 4 miles per hour and has attached wheels, so you can move it from place-to-place easier. The model is rated 4.4 stars with more than 100 of the exercise equipment purchased in the past month. Verified shoppers have described it as “perfectly compact” and “lightweight,” making it apartment- and small-space friendly.

Remote workers can take advantage of its versatility as it allows you to wear your go-to running shorts or leggings to walk and work simultaneously in comfort. Plus, during the cold months, you can skip having to go for a run in the cold and incorporate your workout into your workday.

For more product recommendations, check out Billboard‘s roundups of the best shoes for travel, winter running gear and men’s sneaker deals.

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.

Amazon’s popular Fire TVs is on sale for $99 during Prime Day 2024 — that’s 50% off the list price.

Amazon introduced a series of new Fire TVs last year, including the retail giant’s most affordable model yet, plus three other sizes of the Fire TV Omni QLED series and they’re all currently on sale for Prime Day, plus you’ll get a six-month free subscription to MGM+ with the purchase of any Fire TV.

Amazon Fire TV 32″ 2-Series HD smart TV with Fire TV Alexa Voice Remote, stream live TV without cable

$99.99 $199.99 50% off

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The deepest discount among the bunch is the Fire TV 2-Series, which is available in 32-inch and 40-inch, and on sale starting at $99.99 for Prime Day, which will be held from July 16-17.

The 32-inch Fire TV 2-Series is equipped with 720p resolution while the 40-inch features 1080p resolution (on sale for $169.99). Both TVs include support for HDR 10, HLG, Dolby Digital Audio and an Alexa Voice Remote. If you’re looking a higher resolution, Amazon’s Fire TV Omni QLED Series TVs are now available in 43-inch, 50-inch and 55-inch screens and usually range in price from $449 to $599 — but they’re on sale right now for $360 and up.

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“We knew we could build a better experience for the living room,” Daniel Rausch, vice president of Amazon Entertainment Devices and Services said in a news release announcing the lineup last year. “Televisions are the fastest growing segment in the Fire TV business. When customers love something, we double down.”

Last fall, Amazon announced upgrades to its Fire TVs including enhanced searching capabilities with the help of AI. Per Amazon, “the new Fire TV search experience enhances search, browse, and recommendations by combining generative AI with Fire TV’s extensive entertainment content and app library—enabling customers to find and discover content in a natural, contextual, and conversational way. Customers will be able to ask Alexa nuanced or open-ended questions about TV shows and movies, helping them find what they’re looking for using natural and conversational language.”

See below for more deals to shop.

Amazon Fire TV Deals: Up to 30% Off

Amazon’s Omni QLED TVs feature Fire TV Ambient Experience and 4K Quantum Dot Technology to deliver an immersive cinematic experience with built-in, far-field microphones, so that you can easily access Alexa from anywhere in the room.

fire tv

Amazon Fire TV 43″ Omni QLED Series 4K UHD smart TV, Dolby Vision IQ, Fire TV Ambient Experience, hands-free with Alexa

$359.99 $449.99 20% off

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Use voice control to open and operate apps hands free, discover new shows, manage playback and control the Ambient Experience to display calendars, reminders, Sticky Notes and more.

Watch and stream sporting events such as WNBA games, Thursday Night Football when it returns later this year, music concerts and more than 1 million movies, documentaries and TV episodes from Netflix, Max, Paramount+, Disney+, Prime Video and other streamers including Prime Video exclusives such as The Boys, Divorce in the Black, Red, White & Royal Blue, Daisy Jones & The Six, Swarm, The Summer I Turned Pretty, Reggie, The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power, Wheel of Time, Reacher and tons of other content, stream music, watch videos on YouTube and more.

Amazon’s new Fire TV Omni QLED TVs was released in May 2023. The 43-inch and 55-inch TVs are on sale for up to 30% off. Shop the 55-inch Amazon Fire TV below.

Amazon Fire TV 55″ Omni QLED Series 4K UHD smart TV, Dolby Vision IQ, Fire TV Ambient Experience, local dimming, hands-free with Alexa

$419.99 $599.99 30% off

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