Diddy was arrested in New York on Monday night (Sept. 16) after being indicted by a grand jury, Billboard has confirmed.

At the time, it was unknown what the charges were, but the indictment was unsealed Tuesday morning, revealing that Combs has been charged with federal sex trafficking and racketeering, the Associated Press reported. The music mogul had “engaged in a persistent and pervasive pattern of abuse toward women and other individuals,” according to the AP, citing the documents.

In a statement sent to Billboard on Monday night, Marc Agnifilo, attorney for Diddy (real name: Sean Combs), said: “We are disappointed with the decision to pursue what we believe is an unjust prosecution of Mr. Combs by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is a music icon, self-made entrepreneur, loving family man, and proven philanthropist who has spent the last 30 years building an empire, adoring his children, and working to uplift the Black community.”

The statement continued: “He is an imperfect person but he is not a criminal. To his credit Mr. Combs has been nothing but cooperative with this investigation and he voluntarily relocated to New York last week in anticipation of these charges. Please reserve your judgment until you have all the facts. These are the acts of an innocent man with nothing to hide, and he looks forward to clearing his name in court.”

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According to TMZ, Combs was taken into federal custody at the FBI’s Manhattan field office on Monday.

The rap mogul has been hit with at least eight civil lawsuits alleging sexual abuse over the past year, including the suit that started it all from ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura that was later followed by a video showing him assaulting her. Even before the video emerged, that suit was privately settled in under 24 hours. Combs is also facing an apparent federal criminal investigation after authorities raided his homes in March.

The most recent lawsuit against him comes from Danity Kane’s Dawn Richard, who filed a complaint last week in Manhattan federal court saying Diddy “manipulated” her into thinking that “abuse and exploitation were required for female artists to succeed in the music industry.” Richard claims she witnessed Combs abuse Ventura on multiple occasions – and that recent lawsuits from Cassie and others sparked her to speak out.

“As more women courageously come forward, plaintiff has been empowered by this collective strength and now adds her voice to the growing chorus of victims bravely sharing their harrowing stories,” lawyers for Richard write. “Together, they seek justice and stand in solidarity, as the latest victims of the # MeToo movement in the music industry.”

In a statement issued in response to Richard’s claim on Wednesday, Combs’ attorney Erica Wolff said her client was “shocked and disappointed” by the new allegations.

Tito Jackson, 70, one of the five founding members of the beloved Motown group the Jackson 5, died on Sunday (Sept. 15) of a suspected heart attack in Gallup, NM. Billboard contributor Fred Bronson interviewed Tito over three days in 2016 for his book, The Jacksons Legacy. Check out a few excerpts from their many hours together, including Tito talking about his brothers, signing to Motown, his missed chance to pursue a career in baseball and what he believed his legacy would be.

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Before there was a Jackson 5, it was just you, Jackie and Jermaine. Did you play ang gigs as a trio?

No, we weren’t doing any gigs. It was just us singing around the house, Jackie, Jermaine and me. Then we heard Michael sing at a school function, an elementary school play, and that’s when we put him in the band. Marlon said, “me too!” Both of them has been asking. We had been telling them they were too young. It was for big boys.

Did any of your sisters ask to be a part of your group?

No, the girls hung out with each other. They were around mama all the time. The five of us  worked out our harmonies, and with Michael singing songs, it started sounding even better. Father would tell us to be quiet, and our mother told him, “Joe, you need to listen to them. I think they really can sing. I think they have talent.” He would say, “Those boys don’t have any talent. Those boys can’t sing.” [She said] “No, Joe, I really think you should listen to them. They sound pretty good.” So one day, we sang for him and he was blown away. The next day when he got his paycheck, he bought all kinds of equipment. He rehearsed us every day. After school, we’d drop our books. He had the mics already set up, the amps on standby. The guitars were out already.

What do you remember about being signed to Motown?

We had heard that Motown wasn’t going to sign us because Stevie Wonder was on the label and there were a lot of laws about minors working. You could only work so long and then you had to take a break. If you are there longer than six hours, your day is over. You’ve got to go to school for an hour now. Producers hate it. With Stevie they only had one minor. There were five of us. 

But that didn’t stop from Motown signing you.

We did the audition for Berry, and he was there. Suzanne de Passe was there. [Motown artist] Bobby Taylor was there and Berry was in the corner, checking it out and listening, trying to not like it. But he really enjoyed it. He wanted us to sing at Diana Ross’s party that he was giving. He told us our first four or five records were going to go to No. 1. 

That party for Diana Ross was at Berry’s home in Detroit. I understand he offered you a hundred dollars to make a hole-in-one in his back yard.

He gave us the wrong iron. Some putter or something. We tore the yard up trying to do that.

Is that the first time you met Diana Ross?

Yes. That was the first time we met any of the stars. Marvin Gaye was there and Tammi Terrell. Some of the Four Tops and some of the Temptations. It was like a family. The Motown staff was very kind to us. They treated us like children. That’s what we were. Everybody was our father and mother. They were just very nice to us. We did our performance, singing their songs to them and watching their reactions, and they seemed to really like it. They told us, “You guys are great, but remember, don’t get a big head.” They would give us little tips like that, and we looked up to them, of course. I remember going back to Indiana, bragging to all of our friends that we signed to Motown and our friends were very supportive. 

Tell me about your relationships with your brothers.

Our relationships were always good because we did everything together. We hung out together. We stayed together. When we went on the road, we shared rooms. If we were going to the movies, we all went to the movies together. We made our own fun and had our little basketball team, the five of us. We also played a lot of baseball and softball.

Were you good at baseball?

That was my whole thing. I enjoyed playing the game, and I played about two years in Little League before the music took off. I could’ve done something with it if I had kept playing, but I stopped playing at a young age. I guess the music looked better to our father. Jackie was really good at baseball. But I learned when I got older that I was probably just as good, if not better. Especially if I had kept playing, because I was always trying to keep up with my oldest brother. 

After three bubblegum pop songs – “I Want You Back,” “ABC” and “The Love You Save,” your fourth single was very different. Tell me about “I’ll Be There.”

I think it was a good move to show the versatility in the group, that we weren’t just about up-tempo young songs. We could deliver love songs and “I’ll Be There” was perfect. It was an adult lyric, but it sounded good for the young voice of Michael with us doing the backgrounds. We didn’t know it was going to be a single. We just recorded the songs that they gave us and we would finish an album and the company chose the songs that it felt strongly about.

What does it mean to you to have been a part of the Jackson 5?

A person comes into this world and it’s what you leave behind, I don’t know if I left enough behind, because what I have left behind is music and if you can bring happiness to some people, that’s more than most people have brought. So I look at it in that context, but it’s not everything that I can leave behind. I’m always trying to do something that’s going to help myself or help society and make myself a better person. But to be a part of the Jacksons, to have that and bring smiles to people’s faces who enjoy the music, who enjoy the image or to name a kid after one of our family members is a good feeling. It means a lot. It means that you’ve done something with your life, other than just lived a life. At the end of the day, when we get called, it’s all about what we did with our time. I still have a lot to give as do the brothers, because the music just flows through our family. I think I was put here to do music.

Kevin Liles has announced his exit as chairman and CEO of 300 Entertainment, the Warner Music label he co-founded alongside Lyor Cohen, Todd Moscowitz and Roger Gold.

In an internal note to staff obtained by Billboard, Liles said he would be stepping down at the end of the month but staying on as a consultant through the year. Warner Music Group CEO Robert Kyncl called Liles an “extraordinary brand-builder, artist advocate, and champion of creative expression” in a memo, adding that the role would not be filled once Liles steps down.

Liles, Cohen, Moscowitz and Gold launched 300 in 2015 and quickly gained recognition for signing and developing future superstars including Megan Thee Stallion, Gunna, Migos, Fetty Wap and Young Thug, among others. In 2021, the label was acquired by Warner Music Group, which later incorporated it into the Atlantic Music Group through merging it with Elektra.

The changes at 300 follow the departure of longtime Atlantic leader Julie Greenwald and the announcement that Elliot Grainge will be taking over as CEO of the new-look label at the end of this month. Sources have told Billboard that other executive departures may also be in the works during this leadership transition as well.

“The cultural impact we created in 10 years when starting from scratch is simply unmatched in the modern era,” said Liles. “We transformed our value proposition – ‘mindset of independent, muscle of a major’ – into a model for the rest of the industry to chase in this new era of music. But if there’s one consistent in music and culture, it’s that change is inevitable.”

Read Liles’ full memo to staff:

A Celebration of Who We Are
 
Team, 
From the start, 300 was centered around the idea that when you intensely focus on servicing artists and the culture, good things happen. When we combined that intention with our fearlessness, creativity, and passion, it unlocked greatness and delivered impact.  Next month, 300 will be celebrating its tenth anniversary of greatness and impact. I wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude to our team and share some news.

A Decade of Influence
Throughout the past decade, we stayed true to our original vision and values. As we created the first ever label ecosystem in the industry, we celebrated Trap Queens, we Dripped Too Hard as a Lifestyle, and it was always a Hot Girl Summer, even on our Skis. We have leaders like the Bad and Boujee Rayna Bass who can switch between Pushin P and being Savage with No Promises other than excellence. Then there’s the Awwsome Selim Bouab who is Hot regardless of whether in Japan, The London, or From The D To The A. Our whole team is One of Wun. Our Bread & Butter was saying less and doing more – when others talked, we didn’t stop to ask Fukumean, we just said Good Morning Gorgeous and proved Boy’s A Liar. Whether Lydia, Kehlani, or 679 of Your Friends, we made fans evangelists. We Mixed Personalities, put in work like it’s First Day Out, and ran up Digits that made everyone Pick Up The Phone. 

Then when we became part of the WMG family and joined forces with Gregg Nadel and other brilliant minds and artists across Elektra Music Group, we continued to deliver Religiously and Right On Time. As 3EE, we had The Craving to always make it Bigger Than The Song, whether it felt like we were on Holiday or between a Rock And A Hard Place. 

The cultural impact we created in 10 years when starting from scratch is simply unmatched in the modern era. We transformed our value proposition – “mindset of independent, muscle of a major” – into a model for the rest of the industry to chase in this new era of music. But if there’s one consistent in music and culture, it’s that change is inevitable.  

As committed servants of the culture, we know growing and empowering the next generation of leaders is a responsibility, and when the time is right, we pass the torch. As I mentioned above, at 300 we have two of the most talented, home-grown young leaders in the entire music industry, Rayna Bass and Selim Bouab. On this tenth anniversary of 300, it’s their turn to lead our 300 team into the next decade of excellence. At the end of this month, I’ll be stepping aside and departing WMG, although to ensure a successful transition, I’ll continue to consult with the team through the end of the year.  

300 has never been about one person or one artist. It’s a movement united in belief in our culture and community. Personally, I’m looking forward to my next chapter where I will continue to Listen, Learn, Lead, and Love. Specifically, I will be continuing the fight to end the criminalization of hip-hop lyrics exemplified by the unjust prosecution of Jeffery Williams. And in the short-term, I’ll be dedicating all my other time to making history by electing Kamala Harris as the first African-American female President, as well as holding the Senate and winning back the House to make Hakeem Jeffries the first African-American Speaker. This chapter may be closing, but always remember: #jobnotdone.

I have full faith in the leadership of Rayna, Selim, and Gregg, and I want to extend a sincere thank you to Len and the senior leaders at WMG who have empowered our success, particularly Robert, Max, and Julie. 

Thank You and God Bless, 
Kevin

Surf Curse has been steadily releasing music for more than a decade and now, for the first time, the surf rockers debut on the Billboard Hot 100 with their five-year-old song “Disco.”

Released in June 2019 via Danger Collective and more recently picked up by Atlantic Records, the song starts at No. 91 almost entirely from its streaming sum: 5.4 million official U.S. streams (up 20%) in the Sept. 6-12 tracking week, according to Luminate. It also holds at No. 13 on Hot Alternative Songs and rises 18-17 on Hot Rock & Alternative Songs.

“Disco” has been surging lately thanks to a viral dance trend on TikTok in which pairs, usually couples, twist and groove in unison to the song’s chorus. That snippet of the audio has soundtracked over 1.6 million videos on the platform to date. It has also helped the song spend the past three weeks at its No. 2 high on the TikTok Billboard Top 50 chart.

“Disco” was released as the first single from Surf Curse’s third studio album, Heaven Surrounds You, released in September 2019. The band has released one album since then, Magic Hour, in October 2022. Previously, the group released Buds in 2013 and Nothing Yet in 2017.

This isn’t the first time that Surf Curse has benefited from a TikTok dance trend generating a chart hit. In 2020, the band’s breakthrough song “Freaks” became one of the most popular sounds on TikTok early in the COVID pandemic. The track was nearly a decade old when it initially took off, as it’s from Buds. “Freaks” reached No. 17 on the Hot 100’s Bubbling Under list in 2021 and rose to No. 9 on Hot Alternative Songs, No. 10 on Hot Rock & Alternative Songs and No. 15 on Alternative Airplay. The band subsequently released several remixes of the song, including one with Travis Barker.

Surf Curse hails from Reno, Nev., and is comprised of Henry Dillon, Noah Kohll, Nick Rattigan and Jacob Rubeck.

A decade ago, Midland’s Mark Wystrach, Jess Carson and Cameron Duddy holed up at the iconic Sonic Ranch studios in Tornillo, Texas, and made their initial recordings as a trio. They refined their simultaneously modern and retro sound, fused by their contrapuntal harmonies, in a process that was later highlighted with the release of their 2021 project The Sonic Ranch (and its corresponding documentary). That same year, Sturgill Simpson released his seminal, Dave Cobb-produced album Metamodern Sounds in Country Music.

“We were referencing a lot of stuff from the ‘70s and ‘80s,” Midland’s lead singer/guitarist Wystrach tells Billboard. “When we heard [Simpson’s] album, we felt like it was exactly, in so many ways, like what we were trying to capture to pay homage to the music we love, but in a modern and contemporary way.”

From that point, Cobb, also known for his work with Chris Stapleton and Jason Isbell, became an aspirational producer for the trio. They realize that ambition with their new, eight-song project Barely Blue, out Sept. 20 on Big Machine Records.

Though the two projects were recorded approximately 1,600 miles apart (Barely Blue was recorded Cobb’s Georgia Mae Studios in Savannah, Ga.) and are separated by 10 years of touring and recording, two top 5 Billboard Country Airplay chart hits in “Drinkin’ Problem” and “Burn Out,” and an ACM Award win for new vocal duo/group of the year, there are distinct similarities between the two projects.

“It completes a full circle back to our first album, where it was a fully immersive, experiential recording process, as opposed to going in with a set list of songs that we had to cut,” Wystrach says, adding, “I think he was probably the most fun we’ve ever had in the studio. Getting to work with Dave was one of the best musical experiences, I think collectively, of our lives.”

As much as Midland’s top-flight musicianship itself, the aura of Savannah is baked into the grooves of Barely Blue.

“It’s important for Dave to get you into the spirit and set the table,” bassist/vocalist Duddy says. “Because we were in his hometown, the first thing he did was we got in the car, and he drove us around the neighborhood. He’s very proud of Savannah and the culture. He was a great tour guide and historian for the city, so you feel like you’re part of the surroundings.”

“I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Johnny Mercer grew up right there and wrote [the lyrics to] ‘Moon River’ about that area,” adds lead guitarist/vocalist Carson. “It’s so storybook and picturesque, I think it comes through on the album, too.”

Far removed from the daily workhorse vibe of Nashville, the trio found a free-flowing creative spirit at Cobb’s studio. There, a process marked by recording time, followed by dinner, wine, relaxed conversations and more recording late into the evening, sparked what Duddy describes as “freedom to experiment, because there’s no ticking clock.”

The trio entered the studio with nearly 20 songs they were considering for the project, eventually trimming the slate to Barely Blue’s succinct set, constructing and deconstructing each song until it fit with the album’s overall vibe.

“It’s a way we’ve always wanted to record because when we read stories of how some of our favorite albums were made, like the Rolling Stones in France making Exile [on Main St.], they’re in this sort of live-in space and they have time on their hands to tinker with things. ‘Lucky Sometimes’ is a song that we recorded, listened back to, and went back and tore down to the studs. The original version of it had drums and it was just a very different-sounding song.”

“Dave was pretty opinionated when it came to the songs that he felt worked together,” Duddy recalls. “There’s a dark art to picking songs that work together, and sometimes you’re too close to the material to know what’s best for it. Dave was very instrumental in finding and threading those songs together.”

The members of the group contributed writing to seven of the album’s eight songs, including the slow-rolling romance of “Baby It’s You,” the tumbling harmonies of “Old Fashioned Feeling,” the languid swagger of “Lucky Sometimes” and the Carson solo write “Halfway to Heaven.”

The lone outside cut is “Vegas,” written by Ryan Beaver, Jeff Hyde, Jeremy Spillman and Ryan Tyndell. The song is the first the trio has recorded from outside writers, other than recording occasional cover songs.

“The work tape we had [for “Vegas,”] we really blew that up and made it something that felt like it fit into this puzzle we were constructing,” Wystrach says of the song that hinges on revamping the long-standing phrase “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.” “You can almost smell the heartbreak on that song, and the longing and nostalgia to it. It does really sound like a firsthand experience, and I think all of us have collectively kind of lived the story of that song — and it’s such a classic turn of a phrase that’s been part of the pop culture vernacular for so long.”

Wystrach, Duddy and Carson were joined in the studio by Cobb, keyboardist Philip Towns, percussionist Chris Powell, and multi-instrumentalist Leroy Powell for a recorded effort they feel captures the energy of their live shows for the first time in a long time, while still sounding radio ready.

“I think the three of us collectively feel the last three albums didn’t really reflect what we sound like live. I think all of our favorite albums sound kind of like the live show, and that’s something we wanted to pursue and incorporate in this album,” Wystrach said. “What people are hearing is a live-tracked album that is imperfect, human, it’s got a rawness to it.”

The UTA-booked group will take the new songs on the road when their The Get Lucky Tour launches Sept. 19 including stops at Red Rocks Amphitheater and at ACL Live. They’ll also return to Indio, California’s Stagecoach Festival in 2025.

In a world that is filled with over-saturation in so many facets, Midland adheres to the ethos of “keep people wanting more.”

“We certainly did that when it came to building our live show,” Duddy says. “We never tried to jump ahead and play into a venue that might’ve been bigger. We specifically tailored our live show to where it’s going to sell out. Not everybody can just walk up at the door and there might be some empty seats.

“That’s kind of way this album is — we wanted to really be able to spotlight each of those songs because we believed in them,” he continues. “We do feel like those eight songs are able to tell such a story and have such a landscape both through us and Dave.”

Over the past decade-plus, Illinois native Brett Eldredge has earned five No. 1 Billboard Country Airplay hits (including the two-week chart-toppers “Don’t Ya” and “Wanna Be That Song”) and has seen two of his albums rise into the top 3 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart.

Thanks to his velvety, timeless vocal delivery, his annual holiday-themed Glow concerts and two albums comprised of primarily classic holiday songs (2016’s Glow and 2021’s Mr. Christmas), he’s also earned a reputation as an essential artist to help usher in the spirit of the holiday season.

On Sept. 27, Eldredge will extend that reputation with his third holiday album, Merry Christmas (Welcome to the Family), an eight-song collection of original holiday songs. Eldredge, who is managed by Q Prime South, is also turning a new page professionally, as the album will be the first released on Eldredge’s own independent label, Warm and Cozy Records. Eldredge previously parted ways with his longtime label home, Warner Music Nashville.

“The run we had together at Warner was very special and it ended with respect and love,” Eldredge tells Billboard via email. “I am so grateful for the wonderful team of humans at Warner and the work and belief they always had for me. At the end of the day, I missed the feeling of betting on myself. That feeling when you first get to town, knocking on doors and playing anywhere they would let me in the doors with my guitar and an eager voice that wanted to be heard…I have that hunger to bet on myself and starting my own label felt like the perfect way to do that.”

According to Q Prime South’s Randi Tolbert, ADA will handle distribution for the label, with Q Prime South and Q Prime New York label services handling duties including marketing, press, radio and digital.

Asked if there are plans to sign additional artists to his Warm and Cozy label, Eldredge notes that at the moment, his sights are set on releasing his own music, and he’s immersed in “making music that I love by cutting out expectations or outside pressures and anything that would influence my creative spirit. I love the freedom of it all so far…I am going to focus on that for now, but who knows what the future holds!”

Among the original songs on the new album is “Sweet December,” a duet with Kelly Clarkson (the two previously collaborated on “Under the Mistletoe,” featured on Clarkson’s 2021 holiday album, When Christmas Comes Around).

“After singing ‘Under the Mistletoe’ together, I knew there was no one else in the world I wanted to sing this song with,” Eldredge says in a statement. “Kelly’s voice has this soulful retro feeling. I’ve never done a Christmas song in this style, and I really love it.”

Clarkson adds in a statement, “I’ve been fortunate enough to record songs with Brett, go see him live, and have him on my show! He has one of my favorite voices and I will sing with him anytime, anywhere! I hope people dig ‘Sweet December’ as much as we do!”

The vinyl edition of the upcoming album will be released Oct. 25, bolstered by Welcome to the Family: The Game, an exclusive board game printed onto the vinyl edition’s gatefold.

For Eldredge, seeing the growing success of his holiday-centered music is a fulfillment of the dreams and ideas he had as a young vocalist, inspired by the sounds of timeless holiday songs each season.

“I think the success of this Christmas business or any business is to dig into what sparked it before it mattered to anyone else but yourself,” he tells Billboard. “That’s how I feel about this whole Christmas dream that has blown up to a level I only used to dream about as a kid, sitting by the tree singing along to Nat King Cole and Bing Crosby. That whole feeling of, ‘What if one day I could make music classic and cool like this, with my own holiday original songs? What if I could make people feel the way I do right now just listening and dreaming?’ When it all gets overwhelming, which indeed any type of success or ‘business’ does, I like to imagine taking a seat next to that 12-year-old me and saying, ‘Can you believe we are doing this?’”

Eldredge also notes to Billboard that fans can likely expect to hear a variety of sounds from him in the future as he explores musical avenues.

“I love so many types of music and I am inspired that we now live in an era where there can be a home on different playlists for different styles,” he says. “It honestly makes the live shows more fun and expansive too. I have a lot of different styles and sounds in my bag of magic tricks that I can’t wait to get out to the world!”

See the tracklist for Merry Christmas (Welcome to the Family) below:

1          “Merry Christmas (Welcome to the Family)”

2          “It Must Be Christmas”

3          “Sweet December” (featuring Kelly Clarkson)

4          “Warm and Cozy”          

5          “The Night St. Nick Got Sick”

6          “Season of Lights and Wonder”

7          “Who Will You Be Kissing on New Year’s Eve?” (featuring Idarose)

8          “Welcome to the Family” (Reprise)

Two new Whitney Houston projects are coming soon — both marking the 30th anniversary of three concerts the Grammy Award winner performed in South Africa in 1994.  Arriving first: the limited worldwide theatrical release of Whitney Houston – The Concert for a New South Africa (Durban) set for Oct. 23 and 27. Coming Nov. 8: an accompanying live album, The Concert for a New South Africa (Durban), featuring the previously unreleased track “Love Is.”

Trafalgar Releasing and Sony Music Entertainment, in partnership with The Estate of Whitney E. Houston, The Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation and Primary Wave Music, are helming the release of the fully remastered concert film. It will appear in nearly 900 cinemas in more than 25 countries on Oct. 23 and 27. Legacy Recordings, Sony Music Entertainment’s catalog division, is issuing the live album.

In a release announcing the news, Trafalgar Releasing CEO Marc Allenby stated, “We are pleased to continue our partnership with Sony Music and bring Whitney Houston’s legendary never-before-seen concert to audiences worldwide. The message of hope and unity from the Durban, South Africa performance is still as relevant today as it was 30 years ago, and fans are going to be blown away by how powerful this is on the big screen.” 

Watch the trailer:

The projects stem from a trio of Houston performances in South Africa in November 1994, which made her one of the first major U.S. stars to perform in the post-apartheid nation following Nelson Mandela’s history-making election to president. The three shows took place in Durban at Kings Park Stadium (Nov. 8), in Johannesburg at Ellis Park Stadium (also known as Emirates Airline Park) (Nov. 12) and in Cape Town at Green Point Stadium (Nov. 19), drawing a combined 200,000-plus attendees. At the time, a portion of the proceeds from the three shows benefited various local South African children’s charities through Houston’s foundation.

“I know that Whitney would have been filled with joy to know that this concert film will be released around the world to her fans,” commented Pat Houston, the film’s executive producer and executor of The Estate of Whitney E. Houston. “She loved South Africa; she loved the people and she loved Nelson Mandela. This concert is one of the most consequential concerts of her career. We’re thrilled that we can release this film not only to her fans, but to the people of South Africa and its new generation. More importantly, Whitney would be happy to know that her foundation continues to support one of the organizations she helped to provide financial support to 30 years ago.”

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Whitney Houston — The Concert for a New South Africa (Durban), a production of Cream Cheese films and distributed by Sony Music Vision, was directed and produced by Marty Callner. “Whitney was a dream to work with; I really loved her,” said Callner. “I directed her several times, but the Durban show was pure magic and the best performance I have ever witnessed. So thrilled the world finally gets to experience that special, special night.”

In addition to the previously unreleased “Love Is,” the live album also features memorable hits by the six-time Grammy winner including “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me),” “How Will I Know,” “I Have Nothing,” “Greatest Love of All” and “I Will Always Love You.” Rounding out the selections are classics such as “Amazing Grace” and “Home.” The album is  available for preorder on both CD and vinyl here.

Emmy Award winner Rickey Minor, Houston’s musical director for 25 years, noted, “Performing in Durban with Whitney was an amazing experience. It was my first time in South Africa, and I don’t think that I was truly prepared for how this trip would change me forever. The energy was electric, and the audience was incredible as we celebrated the end of apartheid. Whitney shared her love and shined her light.” 

Whitney Houston -- The Concert for a New South Africa (Durban)
Whitney Houston — The Concert for a New South Africa (Durban)

After more than 50 years of rocking, REO Speedwagon will permanently park the tour bus at the end of the year. The long-running soft rock band known for such 1980s hits as “Keep on Loving You,” “Take It On the Run” and “Can’t Fight This Feeling” announced on Monday (Sept. 16) that their upcoming U.S. dates will be their last due to intractable conflicts between the two longest-tenured members.

“Bruce has intended to be Back On the Road Again by now. If it were up to just him, he’d be back on tour… but it’s not up to just him,” read a statement from the group in reference to bassist Bruce Hall, who has been off the road recuperating from back surgery while the band was touring with Train this summer.

“The consensus opinion was that he had not recovered sufficiently to be able to perform at the level the fans have come to expect,” they continued. “Bruce respected that opinion and is grateful that [replacement bassist] Matt [Bissonette] has been around to keep the Wagon rolling through the summer tour. Bruce never had any intention of retiring or walking away from the band, fans, and crew he has loved for almost 50 years.”

The message also noted that singer Kevin Cronin also “never had any intention” of leaving the band, but that things came to a head over unexplained stressors, leading to the difficult decision to call it a road day.

“Due to this complex situation, irreconcilable differences arose between Bruce and Kevin. So, it is with great sadness that we announce REO Speedwagon will cease touring effective January 1, 2025,” they announced. “[Keyboardist] Neal [Doughty], Kevin, and Bruce thank their fans for all their years of loyal support and for giving back to the band such wonderful memories that will remain with each of them forever.”

Writing on Facebook, Hall wrote his own goodbye, telling fans, “Never ever thought it would end like this and I’m heartbroken. Please know Neal and I did everything in our power to try and keep the Wagon rolling. I am so appreciative of ALL the amazing love & support. You guys have been very vocal and clear in your wishes for me to return to the stage. Trust me…that’s all I wanted too. We all deserved a farewell tour.” He noted that he wanted to the band to continue touring as it was prior to his successful, planned back surgery.

Last week, the band had to cancel shows in Chula Vista, CA and Phoenix, AZ after Cronin was felled by an undisclosed illness. Train and REO Speedwagon launched their 44-date co-headlining Summer Road trip on July 8 and wrapped it up on Sept. 11; only Train peformed at the latter show in Phoenix due to Cronin’s illness. The group has a final round of headlining dates slated to kick off on Sept. 27 at the Agua Caliente Casino in Rancho Mirage, CA before playing what will now be their swan song on Nov. 23 at Rupp Arena in Lexington, KY.

After missing the final two shows, Cronin wrote a note from his hospital bed on FB over the weekend in which he reminisced about the great time on the road with Train this summer and his own future. “Lying here tethered to various beeping machines, makes a guy think. I have had plenty of free time this past week to appreciate the love in the eyes of my wife and kids, as they have gathered around me here every single day. I have so much more life to live, and have re-examined what I want to do with the rest of my time here, and who I want to be surrounded by while I do it,” he said.

“I need to be lifted by those around me, and in return, to lift them. I feel excited at the prospect of creating and playing the best music I have in me, with the best artists, musicians, and people who will have me. And I promise to continue giving my best, and appreciating the gift of music which has allowed me this life.”

REO Speedwagon formed in Champaign, IL in 1967 with an initial lineup featuring lead singer Terry Luttrell and a rotating roster of guitarists, releasing three albums with as many lead vocalists before Cronin joined in time for 1972’s R.E.O./T.W.O. LP; Cronin split before 1973’s Ridin’ the Storm Out album. After sitting out three additional studio albums, Cronin returned for 1976’s R.E.O., which set the stage for their breakthrough with 1978’s punny You Can Tune a Piano but You Can’t Tuna Fish.

The double platinum LP — the first to feature Hall on bass — finally broke them on radio and on the charts, hitting No. 29 on the Billboard 200 album tally and landing their first hit singles with “Time For Me to Fly” (No. 56 on the Billboard Hot 100) and “Roll With the Changes” (No. 58). But it was 1980’s High Infidelity that cemented their reputation as AOR radio soft rock gods thanks to Hot 100 charting hits “Keep On Loving You” (No. 1), “Take It on the Run” (No. 5), “In Your Letter” (No. 20) and “Don’t Let Him Go” (No. 24). The band released six more albums, including their final original studio effort, 2007’s Find Your Way Home; the holiday album Not So Silent Night… Christmas with REO Speedwagon was released in 2009.

See the band’s statement below.

For the second year in a row, Edgar Barrera leads the list of nominees for the Latin Grammy Awards. On Tuesday morning (Sep. 17), the Mexican hitmaker received nine nominations for the 2024 annual ceremony, including songwriter of the year and producer of the year.

He appears in the main categories of album of the year, as a songwriter on Carín León’s Boca Chueca, Vol. 1; record of the year, as Karol G’s “Mi Ex Tenía Razón” co-producer; and song of the year as co-writer of three hits — Karol G’s “Mi Ex Tenía Razón,” Shakira and Grupo Frontera’s “(Entre Paréntesis),” and Maluma and Carín León’s “Según Quién.” He also has two nods for best regional song as a songwriter.

Barrera is followed by superstars Karol G and Bad Bunny, who got eight nominations each. Benito also competes for record of the year, with “Monaco,” while Karol is also nominated to album of the year for Mañana Será Bonito (Bichota Season), the follow up to her Latin Grammy winning set of 2023 Mañana Será Bonito.

On its 25th anniversary, the Latin Grammy Awards are incorporating a new field of electronic music, and two new categories: best Latin electronic music performance, and best contemporary Mexican music album. Nominees for the former include Ale Acosta, Valeria Castro, Vikina, Deorro, Bizarrap and Shakira, among other. For the latter, the contenders are an impressive group of artists and creators who have contributed to the rise of the genre: Natanael Cano, DannyLux, Grupo Frontera, Carín León, Michelle Maciel and Peso Pluma.

The nominees for the coveted best new artist prize are Agris, Kevin Aguilar, Darumas, Nicolle Horbath, Latin Mafia, Cacá Magalhães, Os Garotin, Iñigo Quintero, Sofi Saar y Ela Taubert.

“As we approach the 25th edition of the Latin Grammys our awards process is more robust than ever, with our membership evaluating over 23,000 entries this year,” says Manuel Abud, CEO of The Latin Recording Academy, in a press release. “The Latin Grammys have grown in an amazing way to become a fundamental platform for music and culture. We are proud to share this year’s nominees, an international and diverse group of creators representing the richness and vastness of today’s Latin music.” 

Other big contenders this year: Keityn, with six nods; Juan Luis Guerra with five; and Feid, Kany García, Carín León and Kali Uchis with four each. Among those with three nominations are Camilo, Jorge Drexler, Fonseca, Mon Laferte, Nathy Peluso, Residente, Peso Pluma, Shakira and Elena Rose. While with two are Pepe Aguilar, Anitta, Marc Anthony, Rubén Blades, Mau y Ricky, Danny Ocean, Nicole Zignago and more.

The 25th annual Latin Grammy Awards will air live from Miami on Thursday, Nov. 14 beginning at 8 p.m. ET/PT (7 p.m. Central) on Univision, Galavisión and ViX. Preceding the telecast will be the Latin Grammy Premiere, where the winners in most categories will be announced.

Check out the complete list of nominees for the 2024 Latin Grammys below.

General Field

Record of the year

“Mil Veces,” Anitta

“Monaco,” Bad Bunny

“Una Vida Pasada,” Camilo & Carín León

“Catalina,” Cimafunk & Monsieur Periné

“Derrumbe,” Jorge Drexler

“Con Dinero y Sin Dinero,” Fonseca & Grupo Niche

“Mi Ex Tenía Razón,” Karol G

“Mambo 23,” Juan Luis Guerra y 4.40

“Tenochtitlán,” Mon Laferte

“Igual Que Un Ángel,” Kali Uchis & Peso Pluma

Album of the year

Bolero, Ángela Aguilar

Cuatro, Camilo

Xande Canta Caetano, Xande De Pilares

Mañana Será Bonito (Bichota Season), Karol G

García, Kany García

Radio Güira, Juan Luis Guerra 4.40

Autopoiética, Mon Laferte

Boca Chueca, Vol. 1, Carín León

Las Letras Ya No Importan, Residente

Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran, Shakira

Song of the year

“A Fuego Lento,” Daymé Arocena & Vicente García, songwriters (Daymé Arocena & Vicente García)

“A La Mitad” (Banda Sonora Original De La Serie “Zorro”), Julio Reyes Copello & Mariana Vega, songwriters (Maura Nava)

“Caracas En El 2000,” Marvin Hawkins Rodriguez, Jerry Di, La Pichu, Danny Ocean & Elena Rose, songwriters (Elena Rose, Danny Ocean & Jerry Di)

“Derrumbe,” Jorge Drexler, songwriters (Jorge Drexler)

“(Entre Paréntesis),” Edgar Barrera, Kevyn Mauricio Cruz, Manuel Lorente Freire, Lenin Yorney Palacios & Shakira, songwriters (Shakira, Grupo Frontera)

“Mi Ex Tenía Razón,” Edgar Barrera, Andres Jael Correa Rios, Kevyn Mauricio Cruz Moreno, Karol G & MAG, songwriters (Karol G)

“Según Quién,” Edgar Barrera, Kevyn Mauricio Cruz, Luís Miguel Gómez Castaño, Maluma, Lenin Yorney Palacios & Juan Camilo Vargas, songwriters (Maluma & Carín León)

“Te Lo Agradezco,” Rafa Arcaute, Kany García, Carín León & Richi López, songwriters (Kany García & Carín León)

“313,” Leo Genovese, Residente & Silvia Pérez Cruz, songwriters (Residente, Silvia Pérez Cruz & Penélope Cruz)

Best new artist

Agris

Kevin Aguilar

Darumas

Nicolle Horbath

Latin Mafia

Cacá Magalhães

Os Garotin

Iñigo Quintero

Sofi Saar

Ela Taubert

Field 1: Pop

Best pop vocal album

Tofu, Caloncho

.mp3, Emilia

El Viaje, Luis Fonsi

Hotel Caracas, Mau y Ricky

Orquídeas (AOP), Kali Uchis

Escrita, Nicole Zignago

Best traditional pop vocal album

Obras Maestras, Diego El Cigala

García, Kany García

Mar Adentro, Juliana

Aún Me Sigo Encontrando, Gian Marco

Almas Paralelas, Laura Pausini

Best pop song

“A La Mitad” (Banda Sonora Original De La Serie “Zorro”), Julio Reyes Copello & Mariana Vega, songwriters (Maura Nava)

“A Las 3,” Paty Cantú, Ángela Dávalos, León Leiden & Saibu, songwriters (Paty Cantú & León Leiden)

“Ahora,” David Bisbal, Pablo Preciado & Carlos Rivera, songwriters (David Bisbal & Carlos Rivera)

“Amor,” José Andrés Benitez, Christian Bermudez, Richard Bermudez, Rodney Kumbirayi Hwingwiri, Juan Diego Linares, Luis Alejandro Márquez, Anibal Morin Diaz, Danny Ocean & Rafael Salcedo, songwriters (Danny Ocean)

“Dime Quién,” Lagos, songwriters (Lagos)

“Feriado,” Rawayana, songwriters (Rawayana)

“Igual Que Un Ángel,” Carter Lang, Manuel Lorente Freire, Kali Uchis & Dylan Wiggins, songwriters (Kali Uchis & Peso Pluma)

Field 2: Electronic

Best Latin electronic music performance

“La Ceniza,” Ale Acosta, Valeria Castro

“Drum Machine,” Alok

“Pedju Kunumigwe,” Alok, Guarani Nhandewa

“Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53 (Tiësto Remix),” Bizarrap, Shakira

“BAMBOLE,” Vikina Featuring Deorro

Field 3: Urban

Best urban/fusion performance

“Nadie Sabe,” Bad Bunny

“Corazon Vacío,” Maria Becerra

“Young Miko: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 58,” Bizarrap Featuring Young Miko

“S91,” Karol G

“Tranky Funky,” Trueno

Best reggaeton performance

“Perro Negro,” Bad Bunny Featuring Feid

“Un Preview,” Bad Bunny

“Triple S,” J Balvin Featuring Jowell & Randy & De La Ghetto

“Byak,” Alvaro Diaz Featuring Rauw Alejandro

“Qlona,” Karol G Featuring Peso Pluma

“Labios Mordidos,” Kali Uchis Featuring Karol G

Best urban music album

Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va A Pasar Mañana, Bad Bunny

Sol María, Eladio Carrión

Sayonara, Álvaro Díaz

Ferxxocalipsis, Feid

Mañana Será Bonito (Bichota Season), Karol G

El Último Baile, Trueno

Best rap/hip hop song

“Aprender A Amar”, Pablo Drexler, Alberto Escámez López & Nathy Peluso, compositores (Nathy Peluso)

“Bendecido”, Eladio Carrión, compositor (Eladio Carrión)

“Blam Blam”, Al2 El Aldeano & Vico C, compositores (Vico C Featuring Al2 El Aldeano)

“La Sabia Escuela”, Akapellah, Leonardo Daniel Díaz, Jose Gonzalez Ollarves, Marlon Luis Morales Santana, Luis Jacinto Muñoz Hernandez & Pedro Elias Querales, compositores (Akapellah Featuring Canserbero & Lil Supa)

“Teléfono Nuevo”, Bad Bunny & Luar La L, songwriters (Bad Bunny Featuring Luar La L)

“Thunder y Lightning”, Bad Bunny & Eladio Carrión, compositores (Bad Bunny Featuring Eladio Carrión)

Best urban song

“Bonita”, Daddy Yankee, compositor (Daddy Yankee)

“Columbia”, Quevedo, compositor (Quevedo)

“El Cielo”, Feid, Nicolás Jaña Galleguillos, Gabriel Mora Quintero, Andres David Restrepo Echavarria, Sky Rompiendo & Myke Towers, compositores (Sky Rompiendo, Feid, Myke Towers)

“La Falda”, Julio Emmanuel Batista Santos, Carlos Alberto Butter Aguila, Orlando J. Cepeda Matos, Ralph Jemar Milln Calderon, Jose Reyes, Myke Towers & Siggy Vazquez Rodriguez, compositores (Myke Towers)

“Luna”, Feid, compositor (Feid Featuring Atl Jacob)

Qlona, Karol G, Daniel Esteban Gutiérrez, Ovy On The Drums & Peso Pluma, compositores (Karol G Featuring Peso Pluma)

Field 4: Rock

Best rock album

El Dorado (En Vivo), Aterciopelados

Diáspora Live Vol. 1, La Vida Bohème

Herencia Lebón, David Lebón

Alicia En El Metalverso, Mägo De Oz

Mi Mejor Enemigo, Viniloversus

Best rock song

“Algo Bueno Tenía Que Tener (Bogotá)”, Diamante Eléctrico & Andrés Kenguan, compositores (Diamante Eléctrico)

“Animal Temporal”, Viniloversus, compositores (Viniloversus)

“Camaleónica”, Ali Stone, compositora (Ali Stone)

“No Me Preguntes (Live)”, Jesús Quintero & Draco Rosa, compositores (Draco Rosa)

“Qué Más Quieres”, Anton Curtis Delost, Shaun Lopez, Kathryn Ostenberg, Monica Velez & The Warning, compositores (The Warning)

Best pop/rock album

Cuando Ella Me Besó Probé A Dios, Bruses

Jet Love, Conociendo Rusia

Jay De La Cueva, Jay De La Cueva

Reflejos De Lo Eterno, Draco Rosa

Adentro, Francisca Valenzuela

Best pop/rock song

“Acapulco,” Emmanuel Horvilleur, Siddhartha & Rul Velázquez, songwriters (Siddhartha Featuring Emmanuel Horvilleur)

“Afilá,” Ali Stone, songwriter (Ali Stone)

“Blanco y Negro,” Christian Mauricio Aloisio Zavala, Lagos & Elena Rose, songwriters (Lagos Featuring Elena Rose)

“5 Horas Menos,” Conociendo Rusia & Natalia Lafourcade, songwriters (Conociendo Rusia Featuring Natalia Lafourcade)

“Diciembre,” Los Mesoneros, songwriters (Los Mesoneros)

Field 5: Alternative

Best alternative music album

Por Cesárea, Dillom

Híper, Hello Seahorse!

Nica, Nicole Horts

Autopoiética, Mon Laferte

Pandora, Ali Stone

DESCARTABLE, WOS

Best alternative song

“Cabecear”, J Noa, Jeffrey Peñalva “Trooko” & Skai, songwriters (J Noa)

“Déjalo Ir,” Francisco Rojas & Francisca Valenzuela, songwriters (Francisca Valenzuela)

“El Día Que Perdí Mi Juventud,” Devonté Hynes & Nathy Peluso, songwriters (Nathy Peluso)

“Insomnia,” Goyo, Illmind, Omar Isaiah Lupuku, Don Mills, Carlos Santander & Telly, songwriters (Goyo)

“Lloro,” Nicole Horts, Camilo Velez & Maria Vertiz, songwriters (Nicole Horts)

Field 6: Tropical

Best salsa album

Yo Deluxe, Christian Alicea

Muevense, Marc Anthony

Siembra: 45° Aniversario (En Vivo en el Coliseo de Puerto Rico, 14 de Mayo 2022), Rubén Blades and Roberto Delgado & Orquesta

Joyas Que Bailan, Ronald Borjas

Coexistencia, Luis Figueroa

Best cumbia/vallenato album

‘Ta Malo, Silvestre Dangond

De La Uno A La 1000 (Primera Temporada), Omar Geles

Se Agradece, Los Ángeles Azules

Vallenatos Pa Enamorar, Osmar Pérez & Geño Gamez

La Sociedad De La Cumbia (Big Band Live), Puerto Candelaria

Best merengue/bachata album

Radio Güira, Juan Luis Guerra 4.40

Agradecido Live!, Eddy Herrera

Superhéroe Merengue, Magic Juan

Lo Tengo Todo, Oscarito

Llamada Perdida, Prince Royce

Best traditional tropical album

Rodando Por El Mundo, José Alberto “El Canario”

Tengo Algo Que Decirte, Luis Fernando Borjas

Voces De Mi Familia, Alex Cuba

Los Mismos Negros, Yelsy Heredia

A Mis Ancestros, Yeisy Rojas

Best contemporary tropical album

Epílogo: La Clave Del Tiempo, Jeremy Bosch

Cuatro, Camilo

Tropicalia, Fonseca

Monte Adentro, Gusi

La Fiesta, Ilegales

Best tropical song

“Baila y Goza”, Renesito Avich & Rafael “Pollo” Brito, compositores (Renesito Avich Featuring Rafael “Pollo” Brito)

“Con Dinero y Sin Dinero”, Jorge Luis Chacín, Fonseca & Miguel Yadam González Cárdenas, compositores (Fonseca & Grupo Niche)

“Hasta Que Aguante El Cuerpo”, Jorge Luis Piloto, compositor (Dayhan Díaz & Pupy Santiago)

“Llorar Bonito”, Luis Figueroa & Yoel Henríquez, compositores (Luis Figueroa)

“Mambo 23”, Juan Luis Guerra, compositor (Juan Luis Guerra 4.40)

Field 7: Singer-Songwriter

Best singer-songwriter album

Compita Del Destino, El David Aguilar

Scratch De Versos, El Riqué

Pausa, Leonel García

De Magia Imperfecta, Nicolle Horbath

El Abrazo, Rozalén

Best singer-songwriter song

“Antes Que O Mundo Acabe,” Tiago Iorc, songwriter (Tiago Iorc)

“Derrumbe,” Jorge Drexler, songwriter (Jorge Drexler)

“Entonces,” Rozalén, songwriter (Rozalén)

“García,” Kany García, songwriter (Kany García)

“Luz De Cabeza,” El David Aguilar, songwriter (El David Aguilar)

Field 8: Regional-Mexican

Best ranchero/mariachi album

Mariachi y Tequila (Deluxe), Majo Aguilar

Que Llueva Tequila, Pepe Aguilar

Te Llevo En La Sangre, Alejandro Fernández

Romances Eternos, Mariachi Sol de México de José Hernández

Best banda album

Presente, Julión Álvarez y Su Norteño Banda

Yo Te Extrañaré, Luis Angel “El Flaco”

Diamantes, Chiquis

Best Tejano album

Imperfecto, El Plan

Siempre Gabriella, Gabriella

Ganas (Deluxe), Vilax

Best Norteño album

El Comienzo, Grupo Frontera

Modus Operandi, Intocable

LNDT, Los Nietos de Terán

Te Amaré, Pesado

Terca, Sofi Saar

Best contemporary Mexican music album

Nata Montana, Natanael Cano

Evoluxion, DannyLux

Jugando A Que No Pasa Nada, Grupo Frontera

Boca Chueca, Vol. 1, Carín León

Trastornado, Michelle Maciel

Génesis, Peso Pluma

Best regional song

“Aquí Mando Yo,” Héctor Guerrero, songwriter (Los Tigres Del Norte)

“Canción Para Olvidarte,” Mango, Nabález, Chris Zadley & Nicole Zignago, songwriters (Majo Aguilar)

“El Amor De Su Vida,” Edgar Barrera & Kevyn Mauricio Cruz, songwriters (Grupo Frontera, Grupo Firme)

“Por El Contrario,” Edgar Barrera, Kevyn Mauricio Cruz & Elena Rose, songwriters (Becky G Featuring Angela Aguilar & Leonardo Aguilar)

“Tienes Que Ser Tú,” Salvador Aponte & Yoel Henríquez, songwriters (La Energía Norteña)

Field 9: Instrumental

Best instrumental album

Impronta, Omar Acosta

Claude Bolling Goes Latin – Suite For Flute And Latin Music Ensemble, Carlomagno Araya, Jose Valentino & The Latin Music Ensemble

Capriccio Latino, Alexis Cárdenas

Encontro Das Águas, Yamandu Costa & Armandinho Macêdo

Tembla, Hamilton De Holanda & C4 Trío

Field 10: Traditional

Best folk album

Canto y Río, Martina Camargo

C4 Suena a Navidad, C4 Trío

Raíz Nunca Me Fui, Lila Downs, Niña Pastori, Soledad

Paisajes, Ciro Hurtado

Bullerengue y Tonada, Tonada

Best tango album

El Cantor de Tangos, Guillermo Fernández Featuring Cristian Zarate

Tangos Cruzados, Franco Luciani, Fabrizio Mocata

¿Y El Fin Del Amor?, Mariana Mazú

Apiazolado, Diego Schissi Quinteto

Ya Está En El Aire, Ullmann Cuarteto

Best flamenco album

Andenes del Tiempo, Vicente Amigo

Rumberas, Las Migas

Historias De Un Flamenco, Antonio Rey

Field 11: Jazz

Best Latin jazz/jazz album

Collab, Hamilton De Holanda & Gonzalo Rubalcaba

Searching For A Memory (Busco Tu Recuerdo), Sammy Figueroa Featuring Gonzalo Rubalcaba & Aymée Nuviola

My Heart Speaks, Ivan Lins

Pra Você, Ilza, Hermeto Pascoal & Grupo

El Arte Del Bolero, Vol. 2, Miguel Zenón & Luis Perdomo

Field 12: Christian

Best Christian album (Spanish language)

Necesito De Ti, Jesús Israel

No Yo, Sino Cristo, Majo y Dan

Maverick, Redimi2

Kintsugi, Un Corazón

Tu Iglesia, Marcos Witt

Best Portuguese language Christian album

Ele É Jesus – Ao Vivo, Bruna Karla

Deixa Vir – Vol II (Ao Vivo), Thalles Roberto

In Concert (Ao Vivo), Rosa de Saron

Vida (Ao Vivo), Eli Soares

Temporal, Vocal Livre

Field 13: Portuguese Language

Best Portuguese language contemporary pop album

Afrodhit, Iza

Super, Jão

Amaríssima, Melly

Os Garotin De São Gonçalo, Os Garotin

Escândalo Íntimo, Luísa Sonza

Best Portuguese language rock or alternative album

Erasmo Esteves, Erasmo Carlos

No Rastro de Catarina, Cátia de França

Me Chama de Gato Que Eu Sou Sua, Ana Frango Elétrico

Ontem Eu Tinha Certeza (Hoje Eu Tenho Mais), Jovem Dionisio

Lagum Ao Vivo, Lagum

Best Portuguese language urban performance

“Joga Pra Lua,” Anitta Featuring Dennis & Pedro Sampaio

“Cachimbo da Paz 2,” Gabriel O Pensador, Lulu Santos, Xamã

“Da Braba,” Gloria Groove Featuring Ludmilla & Mc Gw

“Carta Aberta,” Mc Cabelinho

“Fé nas Maluca,” Mc Carol, Iza

“La Noche,” Yago Oproprio Featuring Patricio Sid

Best samba/pagode album

Alcione 50 Anos (Ao Vivo), Alcione

Xande Canta Caetano, Xande De Pilares

Iboru, Marcelo D2

Tardezinha Pela Vida Inteira (Ao Vivo), Thiaguinho

Subúrbio (Ao Vivo), Tiee

Best MPB (Musica Popular Brasileira)/MAPB (Música Afro Portuguesa Brasileira) album

D Ao Vivo Maceió, Djavan

Se o Meu Peito Fosse o Mundo, Jota.Pê

Portas (Ao Vivo), Marisa Monte

Outros Cantos, Milton Nascimento, Chitãozinho & Xororó

No Tempo da Intolerância, Elza Soares

Best Sertaneja music album

Boiadeira Internacional (Ao Vivo), Ana Castela

Paraíso Particular (Ao Vivo), Gusttavo Lima

Cintilante (Ao Vivo), Simone Mendes

Raiz Goiânia (Ao Vivo), Lauana Prado

Luan City 2.0 (Ao Vivo), Luan Santana

Best Portuguese language roots album

Mariana e Mestrinho, Mariana Aydar, Mestrinho

Aguidavi do Jêje, Aguidavi Do Jêje, Luizinho Do Jêje

De Norte a Sul, João Gomes

Night Clube Forró Latino (Volume I), Marcelo Jeneci

Faróis do Sertão, Gabriel Sater

Best Portuguese language song

“Alinhamento Milenar,” Jão, Pedro Tófani & Zebu, songwriters (Jão)

“Ata-me,” Junio Barreto, songwriter (Alaíde Costa)

“Chico,” Bruno Caliman, Carolzinha, Douglas Moda, Jenni Mosello & Luísa Sonza, songwriters (Luísa Sonza)

“Esperança,” Criolo, Dino D’Santiago, Amaro Freitas & Nave, songwriters (Criolo, Dino D’Santiago, Amaro Freitas)

“Ouro Marrom,” Jota.Pê, songwriter (Jota.Pê)

Field 14: Children’s

Best Latin children’s album

Navidad de Norte a Sur: Cantoalegre Big Band (En vivo), Cantoalegre, Orquesta La Pascasia

Cantemos Juntos, Claraluna

¡A Cantar!, Danilo & Chapis

Dun Dun Dara, Payasitas Nifu Nifa

Todos Podemos Cantar 2024, Todos Podemos Cantar

Field 15: Classical

Best classical album

Aire, Aire… No Puedo Respirar, Ricardo Jaramillo, director; Ricardo Jaramillo, Jefferson Rosas & Marcela Zorro, productores

Credo For Orchestra, Choir And Five Soloists, Iván Cardozo, Fernando Escalona, Claudio González, Jhoxiris Medina & Grace Terán; Christian Vásquez, director; Maria Beatriz Cárdenas, Eugenio Carreño & Eduardo Martínez Planas, productores (Orquesta Sinfónica Simón Bolívar de Venezuela, Coro Nacional Simón Bolívar)

Fandango, Anne Akiko Meyers & Gustavo Castillo; Gustavo Dudamel, director; Dmitry Lipay, productores (Los Angeles Philharmonic)

Fantasies of Buenos Aires, Lincoln Trio; Daniel Binelli & Ted Viviani, productores

The Latin Rites, Josep Vicent, director; Fernando Arias, productor (Adda Simfònica Alicante)

Best classical contemporary composition

“Caribbean Berceuse,” Paquito D’Rivera, composer (Barcelona Clarinet Players, Paquito D’Rivera, North Texas Wind Symphony, Eugene Migliaro Corporon (director))

“Fandango,” Arturo Márquez, composer (Los Angeles Philharmonic, Gustavo Dudamel, Anne Akiko Meyers)

“La Minerva – III. Himno A La Mujer,” Juan Pablo Contreras, composer (Juan Pablo Contreras, Orquesta Latino Mexicana, Angélica Olivo)

“Meditation No.1,” Julien Labro, composer (Takács Quartet, Julien Labro)

“Sueño Austral,” Daniel Freiberg, composer (Barcelona Clarinet Players, Freiburger Blasorchester, Miguel Etchegoncelay & Daniel Freiberg)

Field 16: Arranging

Best arrangement

“Sueño Austral,” Daniel Freiberg, arranger (Barcelona Clarinet Players, Freiburger Blasorchester, Miguel Etchegoncelay & Daniel Freiberg)

“Night In Tunisia,” Hilario Durán, arranger (Hilario Durán And His Latin Jazz Big Band Featuring Paquito D’Rivera)

“Fuego De Noche, Nieve De Día,” Julio Reyes Copello, arranger (Ricky Martin, Christian Nodal)

“Linha de Passe,” Nailor Proveta, arranger (Orquestra Jazz De Matosinhos, Gabi Guedes, Kiko Freitas)

“Rapsodia Aérea,” Andrés Soto, arranger (Andrés Soto, Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Costa Rica, Carl St. Clair)

Field 17: Recording Package

Best recording package

En Vivo – 100 Años de Azúcar, Nelson Albareda, Sebastian Aristizabal, Kemelly Figueroa-Mouriz, Omer Pardillo-Cid & Albertico Rodríguez, art directors (Celia Cruz)

Figurantes, Boa Mistura, art director (Vetusta Morla)

Karma, Carlos Ortiz, art director (Diana Burco)

Realismo Mágico, Carlos Sadness, art director (Carlos Sadness)

Tekoá, Leonardo Macias, art director (Jair Oliveira)

Field 18: Songwriter

Songwriter of the year

Edgar Barrera

Yoel Henríquez

Manuel Lorente Freire

Horacio Palencia

Pablo Preciado

Field 19: Production

Best engineered album

Analu, Tó Brandileone, engineers; Daniel Musy, mixer; André Dias, mastering engineer (Analu Sampaio)

Era Uma Vez, Pedro Peixoto & Matheus Stiirmer, engineers; Pedro Peixoto, mixer; Fili Filizzola, mastering engineer (Mobi Colombo)

Os Garotin De São Gonçalo, Uiliam Pimenta, Julio Raposo & Pepê Santos, engineers; Bernardo Martins, mixer; Felipe Tichauer, mastering engineer (Os Garotin)

Quem É Ela?, Túlio Airold, Alex Dos Reis Silva & Gianlucca Pernechele Azevedo, engineers; João Milliet, mixer; Fili Filizzola, mastering engineer (Mariana Nolasco)

Se o Meu Peito Fosse o Mundo, Thiago Baggio, Will Bone, Leonardo Emocija, Rodrigo Lemos & Felipe Vassão, engineers; João Milliet, mixer; Felipe Tichauer, mastering engineer (Jota.Pê)

Producer of the year

Edgar Barrera

Eduardo Cabra

Nico Cotton

Juan Luis Guerra, Janina Rosado

Julio Reyes Copello

Field 20: Music Video

Best short form music video

“Ale Ale,” Marc Anthony; Carlos Pérez, director; Joanna Egozcue, producer

“Baticano,” Bad Bunny; Stillz, director

“Oliveira Dos Cen Anos,” C. Tangana; C. Tangana, director

“Sálvanos,” Leonel García; Nuno Gomes, director; Nuno Gomes, producer

“Glock,” Mau y Ricky; Daniel Duran, director; Alegna Espinoza & Maricel Zambrano, producers

“313,” Residente Featuring Penélope Cruz & Silvia Pérez Cruz; Residente, director; Carolina Wolf, producer

Best long form music video

Beautiful Humans Vol 1. Documental, Alemor; Wismer Jimenez, director; Alemor & Wismer Jimenez, producers

Meu Karma, Jovem Mk; Kaique Alves, Gabriel Avelar & Beto Galloni, directors; Rodrigo Castello, Mariê Nunes & Eduardo Saraiva, producers

Hotel Caracas, Mau y Ricky; Daniel Duran, director; Alegna Espinoza & Maricel Zambrano, producers

Grasa (Album Long Form), Nathy Peluso; Agustín Puente, director

Nacimos Llorando, Rubio; Fernando Cattori, director; Luis Betances, Fernando Cattori, Josep Pardo, Jaume Rigual, Ana Laura Solis, Aura Solis & Joe Solis, producers

After giving birth to her third child earlier this month, Cardi B says the public pressure on performers to quickly shed baby weight is both unrealistic and unfair. On Monday (Sept. 16), the “Bongos” rapper reacted to a fan who commented on Cardi’s post from the day before featuring footage of the MC’s first postpartum workout. “It’s barely been a week. Yoh, the pressure women in the industry are under? Insane,” the person wrote.

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The comment came after Cardi shared a [since timed-out] video on Instagram Stories on Sunday in which she hit the gym for 30 minutes of hard late night cardio on a StairMaster, just two weeks after giving birth on Sept. 7 to her third baby, a girl, with estranged husband rapper Offset. “This is my third baby and postpartum is a little different from my first two… I’m not doing heaving lifting, no muscle straining, squatting none of that… just cardio,” Cardi wrote.

“Sometimes to avoid postpartum depression you gotta keep your mind busy and for me that’s work and staying active… but you know what’s funny?? Y’all dragged me down when I gained 15 pounds because I was 5 months pregnant but now yall fake concerned and wanna talk about pressure???” she added. “Y’all said I was pregnant to avoid working now that you see I’m still at it it’s something else?? So yeah I’m taking this personal but its FOR ME because either way y’all are gonna have something to say.”

The fan quickly clarified that she didn’t “mean any harm” with her tweet and did not intend it as an indictment on Cardi, “but rather society’s expectations of women and ‘snap back’ culture. Cardi said it was all good, responding, “Totally babe!! And I do agree about society and pressure…I just was never the type to care about snap back after birth. I don’t know what it is about this time around but I have this burst of energy where I want to do EVERYTHING… It’s like I want to complete all my goals in one day.”

On Monday Cardi also posted some home movies from the hospital in which she and Offset spend quality time with their baby girl, whose name has not yet been revealed. In the TikTok clip we see Cardi breastfeeding and snuggling with her third bundle of joy, as well as Offset enjoying some skin-to-skin contact as their two other kids together, Kulture, 6 and Wave, 3, meet their new sibling.

Cardi, who filed for divorce from Offset for the second time earlier this summer, has been hard at work on her long-awaited follow-up to her 2018 debut studio album, Invasion of Privacy, whose release date has not yet been announced.