Month: June 2022

Members of the LGBTQ+ community have a vast soundtrack of songs at their disposal to play every year when Pride Month comes around, but what exactly makes a songs a gay pride anthem? The latest episode of Billboard Explains dives in.

Much like the LGBTQ+ community itself, gay pride anthems are incredibly diverse and span a variety of genres and are performed by a range of musicians who inspire the courage to be your most authentic self.

One of the earliest hits emblematic of gay pride was Judy Garland‘s “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” As the 1970s rolled around, ABBA delivered “Dancing Queen” and Queen offered up “Somebody to Love,” which both deeply resonated with the LGBTQ+ community. And in the 1980s, Sister Sledge, Diana Ross and The Weather Girls gave way to the now-anthemic tracks “We Are Family,” “I’m Coming Out” and “It’s Raining Men,” respectively.

Of course, modern-day divas like Mariah Carey, Madonna, Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera are gay icons, but it isn’t just pop singers who soundtrack Pride Month — even Disney movies like Encanto and Frozen provide inspiration, as unconventional of a choice as it may seem.

Watch the latest episode of Billboard Explains above to learn more about pride anthems and their origins.

After the video, catch up on more Billboard Explains videos and learn about the evolution of girl groups, BBMAs, NFTs, SXSW, the magic of boy bands, American Music Awards, the Billboard Latin Music Awards, the Hot 100 chart, how R&B/hip-hop became the biggest genre in the U.S., how festivals book their lineups, Billie Eilish’s formula for success, the history of rap battles, nonbinary awareness in music, the Billboard Music Awards, the Free Britney movement, rise of K-pop in the U.S., why Taylor Swift is re-recording her first six albums, the boom of hit all-female collaborations, how Grammy nominees and winners are chosen, why songwriters are selling their publishing catalogs, how the Super Bowl halftime show is booked and why Olivia Rodrigo’s “Drivers License” was able to shoot to No. 1 on the Hot 100.

This week, Doja Cat notched yet another accomplishment with her blockbuster 2021 album Planet Her, with fifth official single “Get Into It (Yuh)” moving 13-7 on Billboard‘s Pop Airplay chart (dated June 25), becoming her fifth top 10 hit from the LP on the listing. It joins “Woman,” “Need to Know” and the SZA-featuring “Kiss Me More” — all of which topped the chart — and the Weeknd collab “You Right,” which peaked at No. 5. It also jumps to No. 33 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking her stunning sixth top 40 hit on the chart, following the four aforementioned singles and the briefly viral album cut “Ain’t S–t.”

However, even with all this single success, Planet Her has still yet to notch arguably the pinnacle pop achievement: a Hot 100 No. 1 hit. While her breakout Hot Pink smash “Say So” topped the listing in 2020 (greatly assisted by a remix featuring Nicki Minaj), none of the Planet Her hits have yet gotten higher than the No. 3 peak reached by lead single “Kiss Me More.” (The LP itself also has been thusfar denied the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 albums chart, held off in a close race during its first week by the debut of Tyler, the Creator’s Call Me If You Get Lost.)

Still, Doja is in excellent historical company: Here are 15 other massive sets from artists this century that racked up all kinds of achievements and accolades, without ever seeing a song climb to the top of the Hot 100.

Lil Wayne will perform on the 2022 BET Awards, the network announced on Thursday (June 23). Lil Wayne is an 11-time winner at the BET Awards, including five awards in the viewer’s choice category. He is also a five-time Grammy winner.

The show, hosted by Taraji P. Henson for the second year in a row, will air live on BET on Sunday, June 26, at 8 p.m. ET/PT from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. Sean “Diddy” Combs is this year’s lifetime achievement award recipient.

Several of this year’s performers have won BET Awards in recent years, including Lizzo, who won best female R&B/pop artist two years ago; Givēon, who won best new artist last year; Roddy Ricch, who won best new artist and album of the year two years ago; Chance the Rapper, who won best new artist five years ago; and Kirk Franklin, who is a five-time winner (including the last two years) for best gospel/inspirational artist.

This will be the third year in a row that Ricch has performed on the show; the second year in a row that Franklin has performed.

Chlöe, a three-time nominee this year, is also set to perform. Other performers include Latto, Jack Harlow, Babyface, Doechii, Ella Mai, Fireboy DML, Joey Bada$$, Maverick City Music, and Muni Long.

In addition to performing on the show, Harlow is a nominee for best male hip-hop artist. Lil Nas X, Harlow’s partner on the smash hit “Industry Baby,” wasn’t nominated in that category (or any other). LNX loudly protested the snub, which many observers with no self-interest also found hard to understand.

Up-and-coming artists GoGo Marrow and OGI will perform on the BET Amplified Stage. Last year, Tone Stith and Mereba performed on that stage, which BET sees as a launching pad.

Idris Elba, a two-time BET winner for best actor, will serve as a presenter. So will Daniel Kaluuya, who won an Oscar for best supporting actor two years ago for playing Fred Hampton in Judas and the Black Messiah.

MC Lyte returns as the ceremony’s announcer. DJ Diamond Kuts returns as the house DJ.

BET will kick off the celebration with BET Awards ’22: Red Carpet Live! on Sunday starting at 6 p.m. ET/PT. Hosted by Terrence J, the pre-show will include performances by Capella Grey, Fast Life Yungstaz, Juvenile, Pheelz, Saucy Santana, and Victoria Monet. The pre-show will feature red carpet correspondent Pretty Vee, DJ Jae Murphy, and more. Affion Crockett will host the BET Awards red carpet Twitter live stream show.

Of the 14 artists who received three or more BET Awards nominations this year, Chlöe is the only one who has been announced as a performer.

Doja Cat is this year’s top nominee with six nods. Doja is this year’s only artist, male or female, to be nominated in both R&B/pop and hip-hop categories, a sign of her broad-based appeal. Ari Lennox and Drake are runners-up, with four nods each.

Baby Keem, Silk Sonic, Chlöe, Future, H.E.R., Jazmine Sullivan, Ye (formerly Kanye West), Kendrick Lamar, Lil Baby, Mary J. Blige and Tems each received three nominations.

The BET Awards is among the most-watched awards shows on cable television. BET calls the awards, now in their 22nd year, “the ultimate platform to showcase the best, brightest, and most beautiful aspects of the Black experience – celebrating Black music’s present and future, and elevating the culture and being a driving force for social change.”

Connie Orlando, BET’s executive vice president, specials, music programming, music strategy, and news will oversee the annual show, along with Jamal Noisette, VP, specials, music programming & music strategy, who will serve as co-executive producer for BET. Jesse Collins Entertainment is the production company for the show with Collins, Dionne Harmon, and Jeannae Rouzan-Clay serving as executive producers.

The BET Awards 2022 will simulcast on BET, BET Her, Comedy Central, Logo, MTV, MTV2, Pop, TV Land, and VH1. Internationally, the show will simulcast on BET Africa, BET France and will be available to watch on My5 and Sky On-Demand in the UK, as well as BET Pluto in the UK and Brazil.

For the latest BET Awards 2022 news and updates, including details on audience selection and eligibility, visit BET.com/bet-awards.

Here are all the main-stage performers:

• Babyface
• Chance the Rapper
• Chlöe
• Doechii
• Ella Mai
• Fireboy DML
• GIVĒON
• Jack Harlow
• Joey Bada$$
• Maverick City Music x Kirk Franklin
• Latto
• Lil Wayne
• Lizzo
• Muni Long
• Roddy Ricch

Here are the BET Amplified Stage performers (for newer artists):

• GoGo Morrow
• OGI

Here are all the presenters:

• Big Freedia
• Bleu
• Carl Anthony Payne II
• Crystal Hayslett
• Daniel Kaluuya
• Ebony Obsidian
• Eva Marcille
• Idris Elba
• Irv Gotti
• Janelle Monáe
• Keke Palmer
• KJ Smith
• Luke James
• Marsai Martin
• Mignon
• Nene Leakes
• Ne-Yo
• Novi Brown
• Ray J
• Sanaa Lathan
• Serayah
• Tamar Braxton
• Terrence J
• Tisha Campbell
• Will Packer

Chris Daughtry suffered great losses in a very short period of time last year. After first saying goodbye to his mother, who died of cancer in November, then his stepdaughter, who died by suicide a few days later, the former American Idol star is opening up on The Kelly Clarkson Show about the complicated feelings he’s been experiencing in the months since.

Speaking with Kelly Clarkson in a Thursday (June 23) appearance on her daytime talk show, the 42-year-old musician discussed what it was like to lose both his mother, Sandra, and Hannah, the daughter of his wife Deanna, in the span of days. “I dealt with both differently, processed both losses very differently,” he shared. “The common denominator in both is the guilt. The ‘I wish I would have said this. I wish I would’ve done this. I wish I would’ve called more.’”

Hannah’s death was particularly shocking, with the 25-year-old having been found dead in her Tennessee home by her boyfriend. Afterward, Daughtry released a statement that read: “I just recently in the last week lost my mother to cancer but I was blessed with the chance to say goodbye and I was processing it privately. We never got to say goodbye to our precious Hannah and it’s another huge hit to our family … Hannah, I love you and I miss you. I wish I could hold you. This hurts so deeply.”

“Those moments of the guilt is the hardest because you can’t do anything about it,” he continued to Clarkson. “There’s always going to be reminders of what you could’ve done or whatever, and I tend to beat myself up a lot over it.”

The Daughtry frontman also bonded with Clarkson over their shared American Idol roots. The former came in fourth place on the singing competition show’s fifth season, meanwhile Clarkson famously won its very first year.

Watch Daughtry’s interview below:

If you or anyone you know is experiencing suicidal ideation, reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 (or dial 988) for free, confidential support 24/7.

On TikTok, Ryan Castro’s “Mujeriego” sound has nearly two million video creations. People of all ages and parts of the world have connected with the vibrant merengue fusion that ultimately put Castro on the map. But 14 years ago, he was singing on local buses trying to make a living for himself.

“My story begins in my humble barrio of Pedregal (located in northern Medellín),” Castro tells Billboard. “Since I didn’t have enough resources for my studies, I began singing at bus stops and on the buses. That’s how I was able to buy my own clothes and support my household.”

A dreamer who was highly influenced by hip-hop biopics, such as Eminem’s 8 Mile and 50 Cent’s Get Rich or Die Tryin,’ Castro said his first supporters were his friends from el barrio, who baptized him as their very own “cantante del ghetto” (singer from the ghetto).

His strategy back in the day consisted of uploading his music to YouTube and SoundCloud with no actual marketing plan. As his music got around locally, he landed on the radar of renowned Colombian artist Kevin Roldan, who he credits as being the first artist to “support my music and be involved in my project.”

It was then, about four years ago, that he decided to take his music career seriously and built a team. Now, with a strategic plan behind all of his releases, Castro has positioned his music internationally, with singles such as “Mujeriego” and “Jordan” entering both the Billboard Global 200 and Global Excl. U.S. charts.

“‘Jordan’ is the song that everyone identifies me with,” he elaborates. “I feel it’s my biggest hit because it relates to urban street fashion and my personal flow. ‘Mujeriego,’ on the other hand, shows my versatile and explorative side. A lot of artists are criticized for taking the risk of doing other genres but I’ve gotten a lot of support from even the biggest merengue artists.”

Ryan Castro

Castro’s career has catapulted within the last year or so, not only establishing a friendship with Karol G but also opening up her “Bichota” show at the Estadio Atanasio Girardot in Medellín and nabbing the 2022 Heat Latin Music Award for best new artist. He’s also a two-time nominee at the forthcoming Premios Juventud for best male artist of the new generation and best social dance challenge for “Jordan.” In August, he will continue with his first-ever U.S. tour, presented by BC Management, which has already made successful pit stops in Miami, West Palm Beach, and Orlando.

As for an artist who derives from the barrios in Medallo and is Colombia’s breakthrough star of the moment, Castro owes it all to two things: dedication and support: “It’s the discipline I’ve had with my career,” he notes. “I work on the daily for my projects, dreams, and fans. I believe it’s a team effort of my audience and Ryan Castro as an artist.”

Learn more about this month’s Billboard Latin Artist on the Rise below:

Name: Bryan Castro

Age: 28

Recommended song: “Jordan”

What’s one thing we should know about the music scene in Medellín? “There’s a lot of talent in the streets of Colombia. So many of them don’t even have social media or have the desire to become famous but they are very good singers and producers. I want people to know that emerging artists in the country are working hard with a lot of love and respect. There’s no war between the artists, on the contrary, we’re united, collaborating together so that the genre in our country can grow. I know one day they’ll have the same opportunities as I do.”

Major accomplishment: “I would have to say both of my tours in the U.S. and Europe. It’s so important for me to take my music outside of Colombia.”

What’s next: “I’m working on my first album called ‘El Cantante del Ghetto.’ I want it to have a lot of collaborations, especially with artists I grew up listening to. I’m putting a lot of love into it and I hope it marks the beginning of many beautiful things in my career.”