Some moviegoers in Southeast Atlanta likely encountered a surprise when they arrived at AMC Madison Yards on Monday evening (Aug. 11), as a few celebrity sightings accompanied their wait in line for popcorn.

Jermaine Dupri, 2 Chainz, Young Dro and others were at the theater for a screening of Starz’ Magic City: An American Fantasy docuseries. Attendees of the screening watched the first two episodes of the five-part documentary, which first premiered at SXSW in 2024 and chronicles the founding and impact of Atlanta’s most influential strip club.

Magic City is known to most people as a popular inspiration for the city’s hip-hop artists, and the docuseries zooms in on why. Cecil “DC, the Brain Supreme” Glenn – one half of the rap group Tag Team and a former DJ for the strip club – tells the story of how the group’s platinum single “Whoomp! (There It Is)” was inspired by Magic City. The music video featured dancers from the club, just like OutKast’s “B.O.B. (Bombs Over Baghdad).” 

Big Boi appears in the documentary to explain how the strip club was used as a testing ground for the record. “I think it’s more magical than Disney world,” the rapper says of the club at one point in the series. He appears in the production alongside many other celebrities, including rappers Killer Mike, 2 Chainz, Drake and Nelly, former athletes Shaquille O’Neal and Dominique Wilkins, and former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. 

Dupri and Drake are two artists who have openly celebrated the strip club, both in lyrics and interviews. They play a hands-on role in this production, too, with Dupri and Drake’s DreamCrew Entertainment serving as executive producers. Cole Brown, creator and executive producer of the series, acknowledged Dupri before the screening began, and expressed amazement over the fact that a conversation first had in the producer’s studio had given way to the documentary. Michael Mauldin, the former record executive and father of Dupri, was also in attendance, and served alongside his son as an executive producer on the series.

The series doesn’t solely focus on music — it also features current and past dancers, tracing back to the late ‘80s, as well as interviews with the club’s founder and former owner Michael “Mr. Magic” Barney and his family. While episode one chronicles Barney’s move from New Jersey to Atlanta and the founding of the strip club, it does so among the backdrop of Atlanta’s efforts to become a Black mecca. 

After the credits rolled and the lights came on in the dark theater, 2 Chainz and Young Dro could be seen standing and taking photos with Mr. Magic. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, neurosurgeon and CNN’s chief medical correspondent, stepped in to shake the strip club owner’s hand and praise the production. The celebration continued in the theater’s lobby, with food catered by Magic City before ending with an afterparty at the actual strip club, serving as a perfect curtain call for the night and the venue’s 40th anniversary. 

The first episode of the five-part documentary will air on the streamer starting Friday (Aug. 15) at 10 p.m., with subsequent episodes airing weekly on Fridays at 9 p.m.

Eve sat down with Billboard for a trip down memory lane, as the Philly native recalled some of the stories behind the hits in her decorated career.

The Gwen Stefani-assisted “Let Me Blow Ya Mind” is still Eve’s “favorite record to perform” to this day after peaking at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. “That is probably my favorite record,” she shares. “Obviously, Dre did the beat, Scott Storch on the keys. I’ve known Scott Storch since I was 14 in Philly.”

Eve knew it was Gwen Stefani or bust as a feature. “I did not want anyone else. I felt it had to be her because I could hear her voice on it,” she adds of the singer.

With Dr. Dre involved, Eve explains that he’s the ultimate producer who can take tracks to another level with his musical prowess. “As I was writing, it’s not so much that he jumps in to say this or that, but it’s how you say or deliver certain things and that makes a difference,” she says.

Eve returned the favor and scored another top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 with Stefani when the duo reunited for “Rich Girl” in 2004. “This was the first time I’d gone into the studio with a woman, especially in a different genre, to watch a different writing style,” she adds of working with the No Doubt singer.

Turning the clock back, “Who’s That Girl?” remains a staple of Eve’s catalog, as the 2001 Scorpion anthem peaked inside the Hot 100’s top 50. “I love that record. We kinda took over The Hit Factory, like Ruff Ryders,” she recalls. “We all kinda were like, ‘This is out of here.’ … That song takes me right back to Miami.”

Watch the full interview with Eve running through her Billboard chart history above.

Beyoncé is officially a Primetime Emmy winner. The Television Academy announced the winners of the 77th Emmy Awards in juried categories from animation, costume, emerging media programming and motion design on Tuesday (Aug. 12).

Related

Beyoncé won as a costume designer for her Netflix special Beyoncé Bowl in the category of outstanding costumes for variety, nonfiction or reality programming. She won alongside fellow costume designer Shiona Turini; assistant costume designers Erica Rice and Molly Peters; costume supervisor Chelsea Staebell; and head of workroom Timothy White.

These juried awards will be presented at the 77th Creative Arts Emmy Awards, which will take place at the Peacock Theater at L.A. Live over two nights — Saturday, Sept. 6, and Sunday, Sept. 7. An edited presentation will air Saturday, Sept. 13, at 8 p.m. PT on FXX.

Juried category entrants are screened by a panel of professionals in the appropriate peer groups with the possibility of one, more than one or no entry awarded an Emmy. As a result, there are no nominees, but instead, a one-step evaluation and voting procedure. Deliberations include open discussions of each entrant’s work with a thorough review of the merits of awarding the Emmy.

Beyoncé is also nominated in two other categories for Beyoncé Bowl – outstanding variety special (live) (as performer/executive producer) and outstanding directing for a variety special (in tandem with Alex Rudzinski).

Beyoncé has won 35 Grammys, more than anyone else in history. She received an Oscar nomination for best original song in 2022 for co-writing “Be Alive” from King Richard with DIXSON.

Over the last decade, Afrobeats has made significant inroads in the global music industry, from invitations to conquer the biggest stages in the world to cross-cultural collaborations with Western superstars like Beyoncé, Drake and Ed Sheeran. And it’s earned institutional recognition. Billboard launched the U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart in 2022 that ranks the 50 most popular Afrobeats songs in the country every week, two years after the Official Charts Company launched the Official U.K. Afrobeats Chart that ranks the 20 most popular Afrobeats in the nation. Last year, The Recording Academy introduced the best African music performance category one year after the MTV Video Music Awards and two years after the American Music Awards presented the best Afrobeats video and favorite Afrobeats artist awards, respectively.  
 
And to commemorate the game changers of the genre, Billboard is ranking the 50 best Afrobeats songs of all time. This list is highlighting the foundational, influential and popular songs within Afrobeats with an s, not to be confused or conflated with Afrobeat, another genre from the 1960s that Fela Kuti pioneered, which fuses West African percussive rhythms and styles like fuji and highlife with American jazz and funk as well as unabashedly political lyrics and chanted vocals.

Emerging in the 2000s, Afrobeats is a popular style of West African music that employs polyrhythms and syncopation and draws inspiration from hip-hop, R&B, dancehall and more while incorporating romantic, celebratory and sociopolitical lyrics sung in Yoruba, Nigerian Pidgin and English. We didn’t include some popular songs that contain only some elements of Afrobeats, like Tyla’s “Water.” (Tyla herself has acknowledged that Afrobeats has paved the way for her international success as an African artist, but it’s not the hallmark attribute of her music). And we sprinkled in some alté to honor Nigeria’s alternative scene, as well as street-pop to represent the pivotal subgenres under the Afrobeats umbrella.  
 
Billboard staffers and contributors agreed on the following criteria: stylistic representation of the genre, local popularity, regional expansion, cultural impact and commercial success. Given the geographical makeup of this group of journalists – ranging from the U.S. to the U.K. to Nigeria – these 50 songs represent how Afrobeats gained momentum at home before migrating and making noise in different markets, echoing the rallying cry of “Afrobeats to the world!” The making of this list did not go without a few debates about which songs stayed and which ones didn’t. And even though a few heavy-hitters like the heralded “Big 3” – Wizkid, Davido and Burna Boy – have contributed numerous defining hits, the max number of songs one artist can have on the list is three, to ensure we capture the breadth of the music as best we can by making room for more artists.  
 
We’re rolling out this list 10 songs at a time, continuing Tuesday (Aug. 12) with the reveal of No. 20-11. Read No. 50-11 below, and stay tuned next week for the grand reveal of No. 10-1.

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.

Dyson is taking another shot at headphones, and they just might rival that of Apple, Bose and Sony. Dyson OnTrac headphones feature up to 55-hours of battery power, high-fidelity sound and customizable ear cushions and ear outer caps. The wireless headphones are officially available on Amazon.

The latest edition to Dyson’s growing lineup of luxury headphones are equipped with two, high-capacity lithium-ion batteries centered in the headband to even the distribution of weight. The battery takes up to three hours to fully charge and lasts up to two weeks, even with ANC (active noise cancelation) enabled. You can switch the ANC setting on and off by tapping on either ear cap, or on the top of the headband.

$259.99 $499.00 48% off

Buy Now On Amazon

The Dyson OnTrac headphones are on sale for $259.99 (reg. $499) on Amazon, while they’re cheaper than the Dyson Zone headphones. No air filter needed this time around, OnTrac offers a more traditional design with a custom ANC algorithm that utilizes eight microphones and cancels up to 40dB of unwanted noise along with 40mm drivers with “advanced audio signal processing,” and a speaker tilted at 13-degrees to “ensure that every note or word is delivered with precision,” according to Dyson.

Dyson On Trac Headphones

LOWEST PRICE EVER

Dyson OnTrac ANC Wireless Headphones

$259.99 $499 48% off

Buy Now On Amazon

$259.99 $499 48% off

Buy Now at Dyson


The Dyson OnTrac wireless headphones come in a few colorways, such as CNC Aluminum, while the headphones’ removable ear cushions and ear caps retail for $49.99 per pair. They come in several colors, including dark iron, ceramic blue and others.

“Dyson’s audio engineering mission is to preserve the integrity of the artist’s sound wave, free from interference,” Jake Dyson, the brand’s chief engineer, said in a statement. “We also wanted to create a set of headphones that people would cherish, be excited by, and be proud of. With over 30 years of experience in aeroacoustics, we’ve mastered sound physics. By reducing noise through in-house anechoic chambers and expert engineers, we’ve applied and further expanded our audio knowledge to develop the Dyson OnTrac headphones. Our first over-ear audio only headphones deliver best-in-class ANC, exceptional sound quality, and all-day comfort through unique materials, design and customization.”

ShopBillboard had the chance to test the Dyson OnTrac wireless headphones during a press preview in London and one of the most appealing features are the customizable ear cuffs, and the one-touch ANC feature. The headphones are incredibly comfortable — the cuffs are made from “ultra-soft microfiber and high-grade foam” per Dyson — and easy to use, but they can get sweaty when it’s hot, so I would recommend getting darker color ear cushions, if you’re going to be wearing them in the heat or during a workout.

$259.99 $499.00 48% off

Buy Now On Amazon

With more than 2,000 customizable color combinations, you can mix and match the OnTrac design to your liking. The outer caps and ear cushions are made from “ultra-soft microfiber” with “high-grade foam for superior comfort and acoustic seal,” per Dyson. Another feature that caught our interest was the multi- pivot gimbal arm design. We also like the idea of the battery being in the headband, which ensures balanced weight distribution.

The wireless headphones delivers from a sound perspective and comfort level, and even though we haven’t had a chance to test out the 55 hour battery (yet), but we have gone more than a week without wearing them and the battery is still charged, plus it’s easily one of the headphone’s most appealing features. For comparison, the battery on Apple’s AirPods Max lasts up to 20 hours, Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones offer up to 24 hours of battery life and Sony’s WH-100XM6 Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones lasts up to 30 hours.

On sale for $259.99 (reg. $499), the Dyson.com OnTrac wireless headphones are available on Amazon and Dyson — a nearly 50% saving.

$259.99 $499.00 48% off

Buy Now On Amazon

Want more? For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best Xbox dealsstudio headphones and Nintendo Switch accessories.

Festival organizers on Iceland’s Snæfellsnes Peninsula have unveiled plans for the 2026 Iceland Eclipse Festival, set for Aug. 12–15 — marking their first major outreach to the outside world.

Organizers will only make 3,333 tickets available to purchase to the intimate gathering of artists, scientists and even astronauts set to take place during the highly anticipated total solar eclipse with a program spanning music, art, space, tech and wellness. The Iceland Eclipse Festival will showcase Iceland’s dramatic landscape of waterfalls, remote beaches and volcanic craters with visits to the country’s geothermal hot springs and bottomless glacial caves.

The initial wave of music artists include headliners like Italian trio dance act Meduza3, Matisse-inspired house artist berlioz and Iceland electronic music band GusGus. Other headliners include Emilíana Torrini, Booka Shade, Vök, Zero 7, Nightmares on Wax, Dave Clarke, Ryan Crosson, RJD2, Shaun Reeves, Daði Freyr and more.

“Speakers include astronauts from NASA, ESA, Space for Humanity, SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Virgin Galactic,” a press release announcing the festival reads, along with “innovation leaders from the United Nations,” and “visionaries across science, wellness, art, and consciousness.”

The highlight of the festival will be the total eclipse that will sweep across Iceland’s Snæfellsnes Peninsula for two full minutes of darkness – making it one of the longest eclipse totalities in the world, due to it geographic position at the westernmost edge of Iceland. The next time this type of eclipse will return to Iceland: 2196.

The Iceland Eclipse Festival will also include a partnership with Cosmic Pineapple, a program that invites followers to connect through “earth based and esoteric practices like yoga, meditation, breathwork, indigenous wisdom teachings, Icelandic mythology, ceremony, nature connection, psychological exploration and sound healing.” The Cosmic Pineapple will feature nightly fire ceremonies “led by Icelandic and international wisdom keepers, with performances from renowned medicine musicians, offering shared moments of reflection and celebration around the sacred fire.”

Lanie Gardner joined TRACK Mgmt, the firm founded by music exec Tracker Johnson in January 2025 that’s home to HARDY, Dallas Smith, Jake Worthington and McCoy Moore. Gardner has had her music featured on soundtracks for Twister and Queen of the Ring and has collaborated with Thomas Rhett, Warren Zeiders and Dorothy. Her sophomore project, Faded Polaroids, will release Sept. 5. – Jessica Nicholson

ONErpm signed Daya and will release her second full-length album, Til Every Petal Drops, on Oct. 10. The company released the first single from the set, “Agnostic,” on Friday (Aug. 8). Under the deal, Daya will retain full creative control while taking advantage of ONErpm’s marketing, digital strategy, distribution and direct-to-fan capabilities.

Related

In other ONErpm news, the company announced two additional signings: long-running rock band G. Love & Special Sauce and Florida rapper Cochise. For the former, ONErpm will make the majority of the G. Love & Special Sauce catalog available across all platforms, including five albums — Back in the Day, In the King’s Court, Has Gone Country, Front Porch Loungin’ and Moonshine Lemonade — that will be available for the first time. The band is also set to release two new projects later this year, including Ode to R.L. — a tribute album to late blues artist R.L. Boyce, part of which was recorded with Boyce prior to his death in 2023 — and a live album from the band’s 30th anniversary tour last year. Additionally, the band will begin working on a new studio album. For Cochise, ONErpm has released a string of new singles, including “I LIE,” “BRACES” and “I THINK,” over the past couple of months.

Related

George Prajin and Peso Pluma’s Double P Management signed Los Hermanos Espinoza. Hailing from Texas, the rising regional Mexican duo is known for its soulful take on corridos while embracing norteño roots, crafting a sound that resonates with fans on both sides of the border. The duo joins Double P Management’s growing roster, which also includes Gabito Ballesteros and Paloma Mami. – Griselda Flores

Slayyyter signed with RECORDS/Columbia Records, which released her latest single, “BEAT UP CHANEL$,” on Aug. 1. The pop artist recently toured with Kesha and boasts more than 300 million streams globally, according to a press release. She released the album Starf–ker in 2023.

Related

Comedian and singer-songwriter Matt Mathews signed with WME for global representation. Mathews is currently on his Live Nation-promoted Boujee on a Budget Tour, which has sold more than 150,000 tickets to date, according to a press release. Next year, the multi-hyphenate is slated to release his debut self-titled music album produced by Stanton Edward. He previously released tracks including “What a War” and “Joke’s on Me.”

Nashville-based pop-punk singer-songwriter Taylor Acorn signed to Fearless Records, which will release her upcoming album, Poster Child. The LP is preceded by lead single “Goodbye, Good Riddance,” with a second single, “Hangman,” slated for release on Aug. 22.

Related

Position Music signed Toledo, Ohio-raised, L.A.-based alt-pop singer-songwriter Britton to a record deal. She already released the single “clawmarks” on the label on July 25.

Big Loud Records signed Timmy McKeever to its roster. McKeever, who just released the song “Hold You to It,” relocated to Nashville in June 2024 and released his debut album, Devils & Angels, in December. – Jessica Nicholson

Australian artist Stella Donnelly signed with Dot Dash Recordings/Remote Control Records, which released her new single “Baths” and its double A-side “Standing Ovation” on Wednesday (Aug. 6).

Related

Composer, visual artist, multi-instrumentalist and filmmaker Steel Beans signed a label deal with Anderson .Paak‘s APESHIT Records and EMPIRE, which released his latest single, “Big Dumb,” last month. More new music is slated for release later this year.

Parallel Vision, the label founded by Daniel Oakley, Darren Potuck and Cage the Elephant’s Brad Shultz, signed L.A.-based alt-rock band Common People in partnership with Big Loud Rock. The label released the Shultz-produced single “Thank You” last month.

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.

Gifting is hard, especially for your loved ones. There’s always so much pressure to snag that perfect piece for the special someone in your life that strikes a balance between sentiment and affordability. While we can’t all be as extravagant as Travis Kelce’s reported 35 bouquets of flowers gifted to his boo, Taylor Swift, or as interesting as Benny Blanco’s bathtub filled with nacho cheese for Selena Gomez, we can still make gifting choices that will, at the very least, make that special someone smile.

To help you along your gifting journey, we at ShopBillboard have compiled a list of products to shop for your girlfriend, although these gifts are great for just about anyone, and we’re hoping you’ll get inspired at the very least. Keep reading to shop our favorite picks from top brands such as Baggu, Jellycat, FP Movement, Ouai and Beats, among a slew of others.

Best Gifts for Girlfriends: A Gift Guide

Jellycat Amuseables Coffee-to-Go Bag Charm

A plushie keychain.


Jellycats are so popular in fact that they launched their own Amazon storefront. Their little faces and plushie texture are a fan-favorite for adults and kids alike. This little coffee to-go cup bag charm is a coffee lover’s dream, and it doubles as a bag charm, so it’s great for sprucing up any old totes or carry-ons. Decorative and cute. What could be better than that?

Best Gifts for Girlfriends: A Gift Guide

Grace & Stella Under Eye Mask 48 Pairs

$29.95 $46 35% off

Buy Now On Amazon

A pack of 48 pairs of under eye masks.


If your girlfriend or partner is obsessed with beauty, then these eye masks will be a hit. Retailing for $29.95, these gilded eye masks from Grace & Stella are not only fancy, but they work, too. The pack of 48 masks is formulated with niacinamide that works to brighten and hydrate the thin skin of your under eyes, improving the overall complexion for a more awake look. If you haven’t slept your allotted seven hours, these will make you look like you did and then some. Pro tip: Pop these masks in the fridge and put them on cold for a de-puffing effect.

Best Gifts for Girlfriends: A Gift Guide

LEGO Botanicals Japanese Red Maple Bonsai Tree Building Kit

A LEGO kit for adults.


This LEGO Botanicals Japanese Red Maple Bonsai Tree is better than a bouquet because it won’t die after a week. Retailing for $59.95, this interactive building kit comes with a red and amber-colored bonsai tree with detailed bark bricks, smooth decorative elements and a buildable pot for display. Work solo or with your partner to build the blossoming tree for a relaxing date night at home.

Best Gifts for Girlfriends: A Gift Guide

Dimmable Flower Candle Warmer Lamp

A floral lamp and candle warmer in a green hue.


This Dimmable Flower Candle Warmer Lamp is a functional decorative lamp that works similarly to a wax melter, except it’s more aesthetically pleasing. Retailing for $27.99, this floral-inspired piece uses heat to melt the candle and wax from top to bottom without lighting the wick. This means the candle will melt evenly, making the fragrance last twice as long as your traditional burning candles. The lamp itself is fixed with a wooden base with a metal body and a glass lampshade made to look like a lotus flower. If the green hue isn’t your thing, Walmart has the same silhouette in gold, pink and purple. Walmart also has an alternative lampshade shaped like a tulip.

Best Gifts for Girlfriends: A Gift Guide

Baggu Flat Pouch Set

Three colorful pouches from Baggu.


Organization doesn’t have to be boring, and Baggu has proven that. The brand’s Flat Pouch Set retails for $36 and comes with three bags in varying sizes and whimsical prints. The three-pack is great for travel, but can also be used to organize your daily tote or work bag. You can store everything from makeup products, chargers, change and even medicine in these pouches. While we think the Night Orchard color scheme is great, the Sea Creature and Get Ready With Me colorways are just as cute, too.

Best Gifts for Girlfriends: A Gift Guide

FP Movement Victory Set

A lounge set with a pullover and biker shorts.


The best thing you could give your significant other is comfort. This FP Movement Victory set is the epitome of just that. Retailing for $148, this two-piece comes with an oversized pullover and coordinating high-rise slim-fit biker shorts. While this set looks great together, the pieces can also be worn separately to create even more versatile looks. The pullover is just as slouchy and cozy as a blanket, while the biker shorts are made of stretchy and breathable fabric that allows for effortless movement, no matter where the day may take you. From a yoga sesh to lounging on the couch, this set will get you through.

Best Gifts for Girlfriends: A Gift Guide

Glow Recipe Fruit Babies Skincare Kit

A skincare kit with Glow Recipe’s Ceramide Facial Cleanser, BHA Toner, Vitamin C Eye Cream, Hyaluronic Acid Cream and Niacinamide Dew Drops.


Got a partner who’s skincare obsessed? This Fruit Babies Skincare Kit from Glow Recipe has all your skincare must-haves in one place. You’ve got five products: Glow Recipe’s Ceramide Facial Cleanser, BHA Toner, Vitamin C Eye Cream, Hyaluronic Acid Cream and Niacinamide Dew Drops, all for $42. Each step of your routine is covered, from your cleanser to your toner and even moisturizer. Five products for the price of one? Sign us up.

Best Gifts for Girlfriends: A Gift Guide

Patterned Daily Planner

A printed daily planner.


Who doesn’t like to be organized? This daily planner from Urban Outfitters brings cuteness to the mundane, making your days a bit brighter. It’s both functional and aesthetically pleasing, with 380 pages to keep your to-do lists and yourself in check. The cover is made of a linen fabric printed with a tiled cottagecore-esque design. Each page can be bookmarked with a little ribbon strip, helping you keep your place. While we like the Porto Tile colorway, this planner comes in more than 11 other variations.

Best Gifts for Girlfriends: A Gift Guide

Ouai Mini St. Bart’s Body Set

A set three body products from Ouai, including a cream, cleanser and body mist.


Feeling and smelling your best go hand in hand. Ouai Mini St. Bart’s Body Set comes with three Ouai products for $35: St. Barts Body Crème, St. Barts Body Cleanser and St. Barts Hair & Body Mist. The cream nourishes the skin, the body cleanser helps wash away dirt and grime, and the mist offers a dragon fruit, orange, musk and tuberose scent to the hair and body. In short, this set will make you feel like you’re on vacation.

Best Gifts for Girlfriends: A Gift Guide

Sacheu Peel Off Liner STAY-N Bundle

A set of three lip liner stains.


Lip liner is always the first to go after eating, drinking or just being. Sacheu has got the girlies covered. The brand’s trending peel-off liner leaves a stain that doesn’t budge even after your lip products have all faded away. Utilized by the likes of Billie Eilish, the stain is applied wet and lifts once dry, so the user can peel off the residue, leaving a stain behind. This three-pack is perfect for the curious makeup lover looking to try the stain without breaking the bank on three single shades.

Best Gifts for Girlfriends: A Gift Guide

Women’s Low Slung Barrel Rider™ Jean in Going Forward

On-trend dark wash barrel jeans.


Love ’em or hate ’em, barrel jeans are here to stay. While the silhouette can be tricky to style, these from Lee are an approachable wash and composition. Like a diet barrel jean, the silhouette is less bulbous, offering a baggy feel without looking misshapen. The dark wash also grounds the style, creating a versatility that other barrel jeans lack because of the head-turning silhouette. We’d style these with a cozy cardigan and sneakers or ballet flats. For a more formal look for the office or date night, slingbacks and a blouse should do the trick.

Best Gifts for Girlfriends: A Gift Guide

Threshold Iridescent Round 100ml Diffuser

A iridescent diffuser in a round shape.


There’s nothing better than making your space smell good. If your partner likes to get cozy at home, then this diffuser can help make the experience a 10 out of 10. Retailing for $20, this decorative diffuser from Target is round with an iridescent design. The diffuser runs for up to five hours and utilizes ultrasonic vibration humidification with simultaneous misting that diffuses scents evenly into the open air. To make this gift even sweeter, we’d recommend buying a few fancy fragrance oils to go with it.

Best Gifts for Girlfriends: A Gift Guide

Lululemon Women’s Restfeel Slide in Lavender Frost

$49 $58 16% off

Buy Now at lululemon

Cushy lavender slippers.


These Lululemon Restfeel Slides will have your partner feel like they’re walking on air. Retailing for $49, the footwear is designed for those casual days at home, and is crafted of cushy foam with a dual-density midsole that balances comfort and function. The straps are equally plush, keeping the slides in place. Finally, the rubber outsoles offer the style a non-slip feel. If the Lavender Frost hue isn’t your favorite, the Restfeel silhouette comes in two pastel variations we’re sure your girlfriend will love.

Best Gifts for Girlfriends: A Gift Guide

QUQIYSO Coffee Maker 304 Stainless Steel French Press

$15.68 $17.89 12% off

Buy Now On Amazon

A stainless steel french press with attachments.


If your girlfriend is a coffee lover and an espresso machine isn’t in your budget, a French Press is truly the next best thing. Retailing for $15.68, this stainless steel offering is heat-resistant, durable and, most important, easy to clean. Don’t know how a French Press works? You steep coarse-ground coffee in hot water, much like tea. You then separate the grounds from your freshly brewed coffee using a mesh filter attached to a plunger. The plunging action separates the grounds from your brew, leaving you with a damn good cup of coffee.

Best Gifts for Girlfriends: A Gift Guide

Beats Solo 4 Bluetooth Wireless On-Ear Headphones in Cloud Pink

Pink wireless headphones.


Give the gift of quality music with these Beats Solo 4 Bluetooth On-Ear Headphones. Retailing for $99.99, this model comes equipped with custom acoustic architecture and updated drivers for crisp and clear sound every time. You’ve also got 50 hours of battery life, so you’ll never be without your tunes. Beyond their impeccable sound quality, these headphones are also lightweight and comfortable on the head. If all that wasn’t enough, these headphones come in a range of alluring colors, although Cloud Pink is our favorite.

Best Gifts for Girlfriends: A Gift Guide

Boy Smells Mist Me With That Trio

$64 $72 11% off

Buy Now at boy smells

A fragrance trio.


Picking out a fragrance, especially for someone else, can be rather tricky. Boy Smells is illuminating that problem with help from its Mist Me With That Trio. Retailing for $64, the bundle comes with three spritzers: Fruity Lips, Cream Dream and Lycheelicious, which are scented with florals and fruit, giving buyers the option to mix and match their scents to create their very own long-lasting fragrance.

Best Gifts for Girlfriends: A Gift Guide

Personalized Women’s Waffle Robe

$31.49 $34.99 10% off

Buy Now at etsy

A waffle textured robe with customized monogrammed detailing.


Comfort has never looked so good. Etsy currently has a waffle-textured robe that you can get customized and monogrammed for that special someone for just $31.49. You have the option to choose the color — there are 11 colors in total — and the placement of your embroidery. The waffle texture provides the robe both breathability and absorbency post-shower.

Taylor Swift gave fans the best news they could possibly ask for on Tuesday (Aug. 12) — that she has a new album on the way.

Related

After launching a mysterious countdown on her website and sending Swifties into an anxious frenzy, the pop star finally confirmed through a teaser for boyfriend Travis Kelce’s upcoming New Heights podcast episode that after months of dropping Easter eggs — the orange Eras Tour outfits, the 12 letter I’s in her letter about reclaiming her masters, the 12 Taylor Nation pictures — her 12th studio LP, The Life of a Showgirl, is coming soon. And though the title of the album is the only known detail so far, Swift’s fanbase is overflowing with excitement and predictions for the hitmaker’s next era.

“can’t wait for taylor to release my new favorite taylor swift album to go along with my other favorite taylor swift albums,” one person wrote on X.

A second fan rejoiced, “HALLELUJAH WE ARE CLOWNS NO MORE! WELCOME HOME THE LIFE OF A SHOWGIRL.”

“finding out that a new taylor swift album is coming out is a feeling that i can only describe as the same as drinking 17 brown sugar shaken espressos,” a third person added.

Several fans mentioned feeling like they were experiencing Swiftie “zoomies” in reaction to the news — “Taylor Swift zoomies are at an all time high rn y’all I’m watching the eras tour and RUNNING around my apartment trying to make the time go faster,” one person shared — while one listener declared that she was “bouncing around my room like a feral cat” with excitement. Many Swifties wasted no time in theorizing about the possible sound and subject matter of The Life of a Showgirl, which will mark the hitmaker’s first LP since 2024’s 17-week Billboard 200-topping effort The Tortured Poets Department.

“going from TTPD, an album about fame and vulnerability and the toll it takes on her personhood and mental health to The Life Of A Showgirl, which is another angle on fame,” one fan mused. “(and maybe a more empowering angle?) I’m SOOOOO excited to hear what she has to say in these songs.”

“the life of a showgirl makes me feel like she’s aboutta bust out of the TTPD insane asylum with the most insane stories and she’s gonna be loud about em,” agreed another Swiftie.

“All I know is that Taylor is about to treat us to an incisive retrospective on her entire life as a ‘showgirl,’” one listener wrote. “The loss of her innocence, the loves and lives she sacrificed to scrutiny, and the weight of being a woman in the public eye. Looks like TTPD was only the beginning.”

But it wasn’t just the average Swifties who were excited about the upcoming project. King Swiftie himself (aka Flavor Flav), shared the pop superstar’s image of the sparkly orange vinyl with the matching lock on Instagram, while New York City’s Empire State Building’s Instagram account shared a photo of the landmark lit up in the same orange, captioning the post, “Onto the next era.”

Though fans are clearly well and truly hyped for The Life of a Showgirl, Swift still has a lot to reveal about the project. She’s expected to share more details in her full guest episode of New Heights — which drops Wednesday evening (Aug. 13) — but for now, all Swifties have to go off of is a clip posted to the podcast’s social media accounts.

“I wanted to show you something,” she says in the video, carefully taking out a blurred vinyl from a “T.S.” brief case. “This is my brand new album, The Life of a Showgirl.”

Nashville’s songwriters could be metaphoric role models for country publicists, as shifts in the marketplace, accelerated by the pandemic, have made it more difficult to gain media attention. Journalists are buried in a larger volume of pitches and press releases, spurred in part by developments during the work-from-home years.

One online reporter told Quartz Hill Music Group vp of publicity Natalie Kilgore that he receives as many as 8,500 emails a day. Most of those are surely unopened and/or unanswered.

Related

“We have to write a hook the same way a songwriter has to write a hook,” Kilgore says. “Except I think we have less time and less attention to get that hook across.”

The life of a publicist changed dramatically from early 2020 to 2022, thanks to a slew of adjustments made by the fan base, the media and the artists. 

Developments include:

  • The continued downsizing of traditional media.
  • A dramatic uptick in country fans’ use of digital platforms, particularly social media and streaming services.
  • The rise of Zoom as a marketing and communication tool.
  • Shuttering of some media offices in favor of home-based work force.
  • The increased clutter in journalists’ in-boxes.
  • A greater emphasis on individual songs over albums.
  • A reevaluation of personal priorities and work/life balance among many participants in the music media ecosystem, including the journalists, the artists and the publicists themselves.
  • The explosion of podcasts.
  • Shrinking attention spans.

That attention span has been shortened in the digital age. News notifications and social media more easily distract the average adult. A Microsoft study indicated that the typical attention span had declined from 12 seconds in 2000 to about 8 seconds in 2013, and many media decision-makers believe it has been reduced since then. 

“Not too long ago, we focused on 60- to 90-second video content,” MCA vp of media Ailie Birchfield says, “but now it’s more about 15-second clips or less.”

That helps keep the consumers’ focus, but Kilgore suggests that slimmer pitches are similarly required to maximize media interest. 

“Back in the day,” she explains, “the publicity teams basically put every single talking point in an email tailored to the outlet and told the life story of a project in order to land a pitch. Today, nobody has the time to read that. So everything needs to be short, sweet and basically written.”

Related

That’s partially a result of an explosion in competition. Since radio is no longer the only audio medium that builds hits, a new tier of artists is breaking out through satellite radio and streaming, and most of those acts publicize their accomplishments the same way that artists on terrestrial radio do. Plus, each focus track leading up to the release of an album tends to get its own press release, meaning more artists are touting more product more often. Publicists are challenged to find novel ways to make their artists’ projects stand out.

“Releasing new music no longer guarantees media attention,” Birchfield suggests. “A song or album release needs additional layers — whether it’s a unique promotion or accompanying story — to really gain traction.”

Some of the traditional methods to garner traction with consumers have disappeared, beginning with a segment of outlets geared specifically to the genre’s most ardent fans.

“We used to have Country Weekly, we had People Country print, which now is peoplecountry.com,” observes Sweet Talk Publicity president Jensen Sussman. “There used to be GAC Headline Country, and now, with all the changes over at CMT, it feels as if our core country outlets have been getting smaller.”

Subscribe to Billboard Country Update, the industry’s must-have source for news, charts, analysis and features. Sign up for free delivery every week.

The outlets are less likely to attend events, too. One publicist, speaking on background, said gatherings that used to draw 30 or more reporters, producers and talent bookers now typically attract fewer than 10. It’s not a reflection on the genre — country is in the midst of a boom.

Instead, it’s a confluence of factors that emerged — or were enhanced — during the pandemic: fewer journalists, most of them working from home instead of offices that are convenient to Music Row, with the prospect that they can avoid a hairy commute and parking hassles. They now often repurpose a press release about the event, if they cover it at all. Especially since most stories won’t explore much detail beyond the basics.

“There’s less platforms with the longer-format stories,” Sussman says. “You saw a shift where news would be a punchier short story. And so when you have an artist and you’re trying to tell a very emotional or deep story, you’re looking for very specific outlets for that.”

Related

However, publicists have seen an expansion in one part of the post-pandemic media puzzle, thanks to the widespread acceptance of remote video. National TV shows are more receptive to artists doing “tape and release” appearances, where they play for cameras locally and send the performance to the channel in another city. It saves travel time and cuts costs that can frequently run $10,000 to $20,000. Plus, the pandemic-related rise of Zoom lets artists to meet the media without either party having to leave their base of operations. It also created new tour press options, as some local TV stations now conduct remote interviews that were previously limited to rare, in-person conversations the day of the show.

“Once artists started doing interviews on Zoom, this opened the doors where, a month ahead of a tour stop in another city, the artist could hop on their laptop, [use] good lighting and a solid background, and do the interview,” Sussman notes. 

In the big picture, post-pandemic publicity offers a wider variety of options through newer media platforms, but fewer opportunities through some historically essential outlets. It means more work to craft a campaign full of short hits, usually for a narrower audience. That means getting to the hook faster in their pitches.

“It’s a brave new world,” Kilgore says, “and we all have to adapt.”