Demi Lovato is (re)mixing things up for the summer….
The 29-year-old half-Mexican American singer/actor is readying to release a remix of their sultry 2015 hit, “Cool for the Summer.”
The star took to Twitter on Wednesday, March 30, to share the pre-save link for the “Sped Up Remix” of the song.
The release, of course, comes following the summery hit’s resurgence on TikTok, thanks to a hip-swaying dance challenge and a viral mashup with Ginuwine’s “Pony” from user@kuyamagik.
Upon its release, “Cool for the Summer” peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart dated September 19, 2015, and spent a total of 20 weeks on the chart.
Earlier this year, Lovato bid farewell to their pop music and welcomed a new, rock era. Lovato jokingly shared an image to their Instagram grid posing with both middle fingers up, joined by music executives from Island Records and manager Scooter Braun. Every person in the picture wore all black. “A funeral for my pop music,” Lovato captioned the brooding image.
Lovato then elaborated via their Instagram Story, with one of the label executives saying, “You put out whatever music you want, whenever you want to. Break the rules.”
Demi then shared two snippets of a new rock song in the following clips.
Lovato’s most recent album, Dancing With the Devil…The Art of Starting Over, primarily featured pop lyrics and production.
The album peaked at No. 2 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart. Fans were first given a taste of Lovato’s rock-inspired sound in their first two albums, Don’t Forget and Here We Go Again, under Disney’s Hollywood Records.
Jennifer Lopez is preparing for an Iconic performance…
The 52-year-old Puerto Rican superstar will perform on the 2022 iHeartRadio Music Awards, which will air live from The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on Tuesday, March 22.
Lopez, who is set to receive the Icon Award during the program, joins a list of performers that includes Megan Thee Stallion, Jason Aldean, John Legend, Charlie Puth and Måneskin.
The show’s host, LL Cool J, will also perform on the show.
LL Cool J and J.Lo previously collaborated on a pair of big hits – “All I Have” (No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks in 2003) and “Control Myself” (No. 4 in 2006) — but there’s no word if they’ll perform together during the show.
The 2022 iHeartRadio Music Awards will air on March 22 from 8:00 – 10:00 pm ET (live) and PT (tape-delayed) on Fox. The event also will be heard on iHeartMedia radio stations nationwide and on the iHeartRadio app.
Now in its ninth year, the iHeartRadio Music Awards will celebrate the most-played artists and songs on iHeartRadio stations and the iHeartRadio app throughout 2021, while also offering a preview of the upcoming hits of 2022.
iHeartRadio listeners have the opportunity to decide winners in nine categories. Fan voting will determine this year’s best fan army, best lyrics, best cover song, best music video, the social star award, favorite tour photographer, TikTok bop of the year and the first-ever TikTok songwriter of the year and best comeback album.
Social voting began on January 27 and will close on March 15 at 11:59 p.m. PT for all categories. Fans can vote on Twitter using the appropriate category and nominee hashtags or by visiting iHeartRadio.com/awards.
Additional categories include label of the year and individual winners for album of the year in nine formats — pop, country, alternative, rock, dance, hip-hop, R&B, Latin and regional Mexican.
MTV has teamed with TikTok and Pepsi on Becoming A Popstar, a first-of-its-kind music competition series that showcases artists originally discovered on TikTok, featuring the 25-year-old Mexican American singer/actress as a judge.
In addition to Becky G, the show’s other judges include Joe Jonas and Sean Bankhead.
Becoming A Popstar will premiere on Thursday, March 24 on MTV.
Produced by Jesse Collins’ Collins Entertainment and Velocity, Becoming a Popstar features eight up-and-coming artists originally discovered on TikTok who will showcase their talents to the judges, who are TikTok creators themselves.
One winner will walk away as a popstar with their very own Pepsi commercial set to premiere on television during the upcoming MTV VMAs.
In addition, Pepsi will provide funding and resources to support the winner’s career ambitions.
Becoming a Popstar will air across five episodes every Thursday at 10 PM ET, beginning March 24.
Each week, contestants will create original themed songs and accompanying one-minute music videos on air, that will first be available on TikTok. With episode themes like ‘The Duets’, contestants will be paired off to create an original song and visual performance.
Contestants will be critiqued by the celebrity judges, with eliminations occurring each week until two final artists are chosen to battle it out in a finale special.
After each episode airs on MTV, fans at home will be able to vote for their favorite artist videos of the week by searching #MTVPopstar on TikTok. Voting opens immediately following the episode and stays open until 48 hours before the next episode premieres. The winning artist each week will score a cash prize from Pepsi on top of the eventual grand prize. Winners of the previous week will be announced during a live pre-show on @MTV on TikTok that will include exclusive content and opportunities for fans to connect and engage with judges and talent.
Becky G is a multi-platinum singer, songwriter, actress, and activist, noted for her contributions to the Latin music world and impact on the Hispanic community.
Jonas and Becky G will also serve as executive producers on the series.
Camila Cabello is celebrating her birthday with a special announcement…
Om Thursday, March 3, the Cuban & Mexican singer and former Fifth Harmony member celebrated her 25th birthday by announcing that her third studio album, Familia, will be released next month on April 8.
“2 facts: it’s my birthday and this album is my whole f–king heart,” Cabello wrote on Twitter and Instagram, with a photo of the album’s cover art attached — an intimate snap of her in a sequined black dress with a multicolored ruffled skirt, holding a smiling young girl in her arms. “FAMILIA. Out April 8.”
In addition to the cover art, the singer shared a link for fans and followers to pre-save the album on Spotify and Apple Music.
The news of Familia‘s release date comes after the three-time Grammy nominee started teasing the release of her forthcoming single, “Bam Bam” featuring Ed Sheeran, via TikTok and Instagram.
2 facts: it’s my birthday and this album is my whole fucking heart.
The single is preceded by “La Buena Vida,” “Don’t Go Yet” and “Oh Na Na” with Myke Towers and Tainy, though it is unclear if the collaboration is part of the album.
Speaking with Billboard News in November about the forthcoming album release, Cabello said Familia “means community, I guess the opposite of you on your own.” She continued, “It’s more you with other people land sharing in that joy and success, whatever that means. Interdependence realizing how important everybody is in your life. A lot of it is inspired by my relationships: My relationships to my family, my relationship to my friends, my relationship to my partner … it’s all about connections with other people, hence, Familia.”
The 21-year-old part-Puerto Rican singer/actress, who rose to acclaim after voicing the lead character in Disney’s Moana, has earned a spot in YouTube’s coveted Billion Views Club.
Cravalho entered the club with the official video for “How Far I’ll Go,” her signature power ballad for the acclaimed animated film.
According to a statement from YouTube, an impressive number of people have been watching Cravalho’s beloved character embark on her big sea adventure in the past 12 months, with the video averaging more than 350,000 views a day.
With its new milestone, “How Far I’ll Go” now matches the billion views status of fellow Moana track “You’re Welcome,” performed by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s cocky but lovable demigod, Maui.
The world has loved the music of Moana since it came out six years ago: “How Far I’ll Go” — which is performed by Alessia Cara — peaked at No. 56, while “You’re Welcome” reached a high of No. 65 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2017.
After teasing new music on TikTok, the 33-year-old part-Spanish English singer-songwriter, record producer, dancer, video director and actress has officially announced plans to release her upcoming mixtape Caprisongs on January 14.
“CAPRISONGS is my journey back to myself through my amazing collaborators and friends,” FKA twigs wrote in her January 6 social media post, noting inspirations from London, Hackney, Los Angeles, New York and Jamaica.
FKA twigs was generous, also revealing the track list and features, including “Tears In the Club” featuring The Weeknd, and other songs featuring the likes of Jorja Smith, Daniel Caesar, Pa Salieu, Rema, Shygirl, Dystopia and Unknown T.
The project will mark FKA twigs’ first release since 2019’s Magdalene, which debuted at No. 54 on the Billboard 200.
“It’s my stubborn caprisun a– telling me to work thru my pain by delivering at work, don’t think just go studio and create, my saggi moon being the enigmatic temptress craving the club, to dance and to be social and my pisce venus hot mess disastrous heart falling in love all over again but this time with music and with myself,” she added about her upcoming release.
In 2021, Twigs was in the spotlight thanks to her collaboration with The Weeknd, which marked her first release under Atlantic Records, and her “cellophane” music video serving as an inspiration for Lil Nas X’s “Montero (Call Me By Your Name).”
While the avante-garde creator infuses myriad genres throughout her music, Caprisongs features mostly R&B and hip-hop artists, which may be telling of the project’s direction.
Noted Twigs, “i made you a mixtape, because when i feel you, i feel me and when i feel me, it feels good.”
At the beginning of each year, Shazam uses its data to predict five artists to watch, and this year the song-identifying app used a combination of its “uniquely predictive data and algorithms,” as well as some selections from its parent company Apple Music’s global editorial team, to pick five “artists to watch” in 2022, including the Mexican-American singer.
DannyLux, whose real name is Daniel Balderrama, is well-known by fans of trio-turned-duo Eslabon Armado. The rising singer is featured on “Jugaste y Sufrí,” which holds the honor of being this year’s most Shazamed Regional Mexican track.
Although it was released at the end of 2020, TikTok embraced the song, helping to rocket songwriter DannyLux to new levels of acclaim.
He’s part of a wave of young artists reinventing corridos for a new generation and only stands to reach more listeners in the coming year.
Here are the five selections, and Shazam’s accompanying explanations:
Ayra Starr Ayra Starr’s rise this year was largely mounted on her breakout track “Bloody Samaritan,” which had its first Shazam in Lagos. It was released as the lead single of the Nigerian singer-songwriter’s debut album 19 & Dangerous, but took on a life of its own as listeners were drawn in by an alluring violin melody that drops into contagious Afropop magic. An undeniable jam, “Bloody Samaritan” was the most Shazamed song by a local female artist in Nigeria this year—an impressive accomplishment considering it came out only in July.
DannyLux Fans of trio-turned-duo Eslabon Armado probably need no introduction to DannyLux. The rising Mexican American singer is featured on “Jugaste y Sufrí,” which holds the honor of being this year’s most Shazamed regional mexicano track. Though it was released at the end of 2020, TikTok embraced it, helping to rocket songwriter DannyLux to new levels of acclaim. He’s part of a wave of young artists reinventing corridos for a new generation and only stands to reach more listeners in the coming year.
Lyn Lapid Singer-songwriter Lyn Lapid is no stranger to viral success—her song “Producer Man” helped jump-start her career in 2020. With “In My Mind,” a mellow but soulful anthem for the quiet kids, she struck gold again. It became her most Shazamed song, charting in six countries, including Brazil, Indonesia, and the US. Though this one strikes a slightly different chord from her breakout, it only further highlights the many tools Lapid has in her arsenal, ready to be deployed as she takes on the new year.
Sad Night Dynamite Mixing up a hypnotic blend of electronica, hip-hop, and Britpop, duo Sad Night Dynamite has a style that’s hard to define but captures the ear no less. Their eponymous debut mixtape, from February, ping-ponged between genres, but it was their latest single “Demon” that seemed to especially resonate. “Demon,” which features South African musician Moonchild Sanelly, is industrial and ominous, earning a spot on the FIFA 22 soundtrack. It also brought the pair their biggest Shazam success, with their all-time daily Shazams peaking soon after its release.
STAYC In April, K-pop girl group STAYC released an effervescent ball of bubblegum pop titled “ASAP.” And every day since then, the single has remained on the South Korean Shazam chart. Pulled from the group’s second single album STAYDOM, “ASAP” has powered their rise as they continue to hone their Technicolor melodies and natural pop proficiency.
Check out a playlist with even more predictions here.
The 27-year-old Puerto Rican Grammy-winning reggaeton and Latin trap singer recently deleted all of the posts from his official Instagram account, which boasts 36.8 million followers, including fellow artists like Drake, Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez and Lil Nas X.
In his first post on Saturday (Jan. 1), the artist holds up a large mug on the morning after what appears to be a celebratory night of partying on New Year’s Eve with his girlfriend Gabriela Berlingeri.
“2022, the ‘damned’ part is just out of love, I know you will be a good year,” Bad Bunny captioned the clip, which references lyrics to his song “Si Veo a Tu Mama,” heard playing in the background.
Bad Bunny was not only Billboard’s Top Latin Artist of the year, but also Spotify’s most streamed artist globally in any genre.
In 2021, he scored a threepeat thanks to chart-topping albums YHLQMDLG, Las Que No Iban a Salir and El Último Tour del Mundo— all peaking at No. 1 on the Top Latin Albums chart.
Additionally, El Conejo Malo placed the No. 1 song, “Dákiti” with Jhay Cortez, on the year-end Hot Latin Songs chart.
Kali Uchis is preparing to tik the New Year to the next level…
TikTok has announced the lineup for its TikTok New Year’s Eve livestream, including a headlining performance by the 27-year-old Colombian American Grammy-winning singer.
Uchis joins a roster of headlining acts that includes Charlie Puth and Rico Nasty.
“Celebrate the New Year with @KALIUCHIS, @charlieputh, @Rico_nastyy, host @Avgfashionblog and special guests as they say goodbye to 2021 and hello to 2022,” TikTok tweeted to reveal the December 31 special.
The trio of musicians will be joined by TikTok creators Tyshon Lawrence, Cristian Dennis, Tracy Joseph, Billy and Scarlet May, while Courtney Parchman — otherwise known as Average Fashion Blogger to her nearly one million TikTok followers — will serve as the evening’s host.
The livestream is set to kick off at 9:00 pm ET/6 pm PT on New Year’s Eve.
Uchis earned her first No. 1 hit atop Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart in March with “Telepatía,” thanks in large part to the Spanish-language single going viral on TikTok.
Since then, she has also collaborated with the likes of SZA (“Fue Mejor”) and Ozuna (“Another Day in America.”)
The 44-year-old Colombian superstar will be fronting a new dance competition format for NBC.
The network has ordered Dancing with Myself, inspired by the millions tuning in to watch the latest dance crazes on social media sites like TikTok.
Shakira, who has sold more than 300 million albums and went viral last year with her Girl Like Me dances, will star and executive produce the series.
It hails from Irwin Entertainment, the production company run by John Irwin, and Universal Television Alternative Studio.
Family-friendly competition series Dancing with Myself will see a group of dancers compete each week in a series of high-energy dance challenges designed and demonstrated by the show’s celebrity creators, including Shakira.
Isolated in their own pods, contestants have a short time to learn the new routines, add their unique flare and then perform their hearts out in front of a live audience. As each round of the competition progresses, Shakira and her judging panel provide instant feedback and encouragement, but, ultimately, it’s the studio audience that decides who is named best dancer of the night and gets to take home the cash prize.
Irwin, who created the series, will exec produce with Dave Kuba, Eli Frankel and Ben Thursby-Palmer, as well as Shakira and her manager Jaime Levine.
NBCUniversal Formats, a division of Universal Studio Group, will license the format internationally.
“I’m excited to be a part of a dance competition that places such a high value on creative movement and how it translates into personal expression, not to mention how it contributes to a sense of community,” Shakira said. “I’ve personally been blown away by some of the talent I’ve seen thanks to people having access to their own platforms through social media. Dance has been an incredibly potent force throughout my life, and I’m eager to show the world how transformative, empowering and fun it can be.”
“Shakira is one of the most influential icons in the industry with an incredible presence and platform to inspire her devoted fanbase to incorporate dance into their lives,” added Irwin. “The series amplifies the familiar, much-loved format with a fresh twist as it’s the first ever to leap into today’s Internet dance craze. Dancing with Myself is sure to be a universal experience that moves viewers of all ages, everywhere.”
