Month: September 2024

Travis Scott is breaking records with his decade-old mixtape as “Days Before Rodeo” which officially reached the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200. The project is now the highest-selling rap album of 2024 and marks Scott’s highest-selling vinyl release of his career. Days Before Rodeo also marks Scott’s fourth consecutive No. 1. following 2023’s Utopia, 2018’s Astroworld, and 2016’s Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight.

“Days Before Rodeo,” was initially released for free on Aug. 18, 2014; it was re-released on all digital streaming platforms for the first time this year on August 23rd to celebrate its 10th anniversary, debuting at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 on September 7th with 361,000 units. In its fourth week of release, the album jumped to No. 1 (after its vinyl editions shipped to customers who had pre-ordered the album before its release). The vinyl, which was sold exclusively in Scott’s webstore, accounts for 149,000 of its 150,000 traditional album sales, making it the top-selling album of the week and becoming the biggest week on vinyl for a rap album since Luminate began tracking in 1991.

“Days Before Rodeo” knocked Sabrina Carpenter’s “Short N’ Sweet” down to No. 2 after three weeks on top of the chart. Chappell Roan’s “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess” remained at No. 3 with 64,000 equivalent album units, followed by Post Malone’s “F-1 Trillion and Morgan Wallen’s “One Thing at a Time” in spots No. 4 and 5.

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Benson Boone and RAYE have been added to the already star-studded line-up for the 2024 Global Citizen Festival in New York’s Central Park on September 28th.

Boone and RAYE join the previously announced lineup of artists including Post Malone, Doja Cat, Jelly Roll and Rauw Alejandro. The festival, hosted by Global Citizen Ambassador Hugh Jackman, will also feature special appearances by primatologist Dr. Jane Goodall and Coldplay singer Chris Martin.

Boone in a statement: “Ending extreme poverty is a responsibility we all share. I’m grateful to be involved in Global Citizen’s mission by helping those who are living in extreme poverty. I hope we can all come together to take action and make a real difference in the world.”

As part of its portfolio of environmental sustainability efforts, this year’s event will also become one of the first major U.S. festivals to be powered entirely by hybrid energy. According to a release, the Central Park stage will be powered by the same kind of SmartGrid battery system used to power Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres world tour, including all audio, lighting, video and stage production. Working with Showpower Global B.V. and CES Power, Global Citizen Fest will become one of the first major U.S. festivals to move away from using diesel generators in order to reduce the event’s carbon emissions.

Global Citizen is once again offering fans the opportunity to earn free tickets the the festival by removing trash and marine debris from the shores of Jamaica Bay and documenting the year’s “Dirty Dozen” most commonly found trash items; click here to register and for more information.  Head to the Global Citizen app or on the organization’s site here in an effort to defeat poverty, defend the planet and demand equity.

Official Global Citizen 2024 merch is available now, with responsibly sourced items made in collaboration with Doja Cat, Alejandro, Aviator Nation and more; click here to see the items.

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NBC has set its initial round of guest hosts for the first five episodes of Saturday Night Live Season 50, posting on its socials: “first five shows!!! #SNL50”. The series airs on NBC at 11:30 p.m. ET and streams on Peacock.

Jean Smart is set to host for the first time, kicking-off the season on Sept. 28 with musical guest Jelly Roll. Smart is fresh off her third Emmy win for the Max comedy “Hacks,” while Jelly Roll is to release his new album, “Beautifully Broken,” on Oct. 11.

The Oct. 5 episode will be hosted by comedian Nate Bargatze, with Coldplay serving as musical guest. Bargatze returns to the “SNL” stage after hosting in 2023, while Coldplay will be making it’s eighth appearance as musical guest. Coldplay will release its 10th album, “Moon Music,” on Oct. 4.

Ariana Grande will host “SNL” for the second time on Oct. 12 with musical guest Stevie Nicks. Grande’s film adaptation of the Broadway musical “Wicked” debuts in theaters Nov. 22, while Nicks returns to “SNL” after performing in 1983.

For the Oct. 19 episode, Michael Keaton will host along with musical guest Billie Eilish; Keaton stars in “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” currently, with his next film, “Goodrich” coming to theaters Oct. 18.  Eilish marks her fourth stint as “SNL” musical guest.

Comedian John Mulaney (and former ‘SNL’ writer from 2008-2013) will host on Nov. 2, with first-time musical guest, Chappell Roan. Mulaney will host for the sixth time, and will star in the Broadway play “All In: Comedy About Love,” opening Dec. 11. Roan is currently rocking the pop music world with her hit songs “Good Luck, Babe!” and “Hot to Go!”

“Saturday Night Live” will also celebrate its 50th season with a live primetime special on Feb. 16.

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Halle Bailey returns with her second solo single of 2024 with “Because I Love You,” co-written by RAYE.

The music video, directed by Allie Avital, features Halle, 24, and co-star RJ Cyler. In the clip, Halle confronts her lover (Cyler), who steps outside of their relationship with a new woman (also played by Halle).

Bailey shares of the song: “‘Because I Love You’ is a song for anyone who has ever been deeply in love. It’s an anthem that tells the story of all of the beautiful passion and euphoria you can feel with that person. The video dives deeper into how vulnerable it makes you feel. I hope people enjoy listening and thinking of the person they love the most.”

Watch Halle Bailey’s music video for “Because I Love You” – HERE.

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Dua Lipa has announced the North American leg of her “Radical Optimism World Tour,” marking Dua’s third concert tour and serving as support of her third studio album, Radical Optimism, which was released in May 2024.

The Radical Optimism World Tour officially kicked off in June 2024 with a run of shows in Europe, as well as a headlining appearance at the Glastonbury Music Festival in June.  The 20-date arena North American leg launches in September 2025, with dates at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto; United Center in Chicago; TD Garden in Boston; Madison Square Garden in New York; Kaseya Center in Miami; Kia Form in Los Angeles; and Chase Center in San Francisco, and more.

Dua Lipa will also be headlining the Austin City Limits Music Festival in Austin, Texas on October 5th and October 12th, 2024.

Tickets to Dua Lipa’s 2025 North American tour are on sale now via Ticketmaster.

Editorial credit: Fred Duval / Shutterstock.com