Culture
How Greg Spero’s Jump From Tech to Music Inspired Him to Put the Artist First
The pandemic was a blow to any artist who loves to perform live – and Greg Spero was no exception. The 37-year-old Los Angeles-based musician had spent the better part of the last two decades recording and playing live, including a four-year run touring with Halsey – in which he played a sold-out Madison Square Garden and performed at Coachella – and leading the jazz band Spirit Fingers. But when everything came to an abrupt halt in March 2020, he quickly pivoted: instead of being a full-time performer, he focused on finding a new way to help performers earn money. That desire pushed him to launch Pitch (formerly known as Weebid), a startup he describes as the “first fan-initiated crowd-funding platform.” The concept is simple: When a music artist joins Pitch, their fans are able to head t...
MAC Announces ‘Stranger Things Collection’ Ahead of Show’s Season 4 Premiere
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. MAC is teaming up with Netflix for a transformative new collection inspired by Stranger Things. Announced on Thursday (May 12), the MAC x Stranger Things Collection will take your from Hawkins High to the Upside Down. The two-part collection retails for $20 to $45, and features contrasting hues with subtle statement pieces made to immerse makeup lovers in the cult-favorite series. The limited-edition packaging is inspired by the show, and the collection features head-turning shades named after characters and locations such as the Hawkins Class of 1986 and Th...
Holland Speaks Out After Suffering Homophobic Attack in Seoul: ‘I Want People to Recognize the Pain & the Courage’
To an online following of millions of fans, Holland is the slender, soft-spoken singer-songwriter whose experiences of growing up gay in South Korea have created a musical safe space as rare visibility for LGBTQ people in the K-pop scene. But to one man in Seoul, his existence ignited a homophobic hatred that elicited an attack in one of Seoul’s most foreigner-friendly areas. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Late on May 5 local time, Holland shared through Instagram and Twitter that a stranger physically attacked him and called him “a dirty gay” in Seoul’s Itaewon area, primarily known for having a large foreigner population and a handful of gay bars. Writing, “this is obviously a hate crime,” Holland, who is not fluent in English, refle...
Lady Gaga’s Haus Labs Enters New Chapter at Sephora: ‘The Future Is Beautiful’
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. Lady Gaga is inviting fans along as she embarks on the next chapter of Haus Labs. An all-new Haus Labs is slated to launch next month with an improved lineup of products that will be available at HausLabs.com and in select Sephora stores as well as online, the superstar announced on Sunday (May 8). Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news “I’m extremely excited to announce that we are bringing brand new supercharged clean artistry makeup to the world, through a place that has inspired me for years,” Gaga tweeted. ...
Love Adele? This Concert Tribute Offers a Unique Way For Fans to Experience Her Biggest Hits
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. Adele has yet to announce new dates for her Las Vegas residency, and if you’re a fan who has been yearning to experience her music in a budget-friendly live concert setting, this candlelight tribute concert might be perfect for you. Tickets are almost sold out for Fever’s Candlelight: A Tribute to Adele, a one-night only event featuring Adele’s music performed by a live orchestra, which will take place on Wednesday (May 11) at Ovation Square in Long Beach, Calif. The concert will include a show at 6 p.m., followed by a 9 p.m. performance. Tickets are priced ...
Love Adele? This Concert Tribute Offers a Unique Way For Fans to Experience Her Biggest Hits
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. Adele has yet to announce new dates for her Las Vegas residency, and if you’re a fan who has been yearning to experience her music in a budget-friendly live concert setting, this candlelight tribute concert might be perfect for you. Tickets are almost sold out for Fever’s Candlelight: A Tribute to Adele, a one-night only event featuring Adele’s music performed by a live orchestra, which will take place on Wednesday (May 11) at Ovation Square in Long Beach, Calif. The concert will include a show at 6 p.m., followed by a 9 p.m. performance. Tickets are priced ...
Dennis Waterman, ‘The Sweeney’ Actor and ‘I Could Be So Good For You’ Singer, Dies at 74
Dennis Waterman, a stage and screen actor best known for The Sweeney and Minder, has died. He was 74. The actor’s manager Derek Webster told The Hollywood Reporter that Waterman’s wife Pam called with news of his death on Sunday, noting that Waterman died at a hospital in Spain. A cause was not given. The actor was born in 1948 in Clapham, London, and educated at the Corona Theatre School. He began his screen career as a child in 1960 in the drama Night Train for Inverness. In 1962 at the age of 14, Waterman took the role of William Brown in the BBC TV series William, which was based on the Just William books by Richmal Crompton. He followed this up with recurring roles in CBS comedy Fair Exchange and family series The Barnstormers, and films such as Peter Collinson’s Up the Junction and P...
‘American Idol’ Contestant Fritz Hager Tests Positive For COVID-19, Shines With Original Song
Mother’s Day wasn’t all hugs and roses for two American Idol contestants, as the final seven contestants were narrowed down to just five. Idol didn’t miss the opportunity to create a moment around every mom’s special day, as the Top 7 performed songs popularized on TikTok. Guest mentor Will.I.Am was on hand Sunday (May 8) to lend advice to the remaining few, who are fighting for their lives in the competition and doing so in front of a live TV audience. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news One of the standouts was Fritz Hager, the 22-year-old Tyler, TX native, who shone with a performance of his own song “All My Friends,” despite battling with the effects of COVID-19. Hager and Noah Thompson both tested positive for the novel coronavirus, which kept...
UFC 274: When & How to Watch the ‘Oliveira vs. Gaethje’ Fight Online
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. UFC fighters Charles Oliveira and Justin Gaethje are preparing to face off this weekend, but only one of them will have a chance at the lightweight title. The UFC 274: Oliveira vs. Gaethje main card event will air live from the Footprint Center in Phoenix on Saturday (May 7) at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV. Oliveira, a UFC Lightweight Champion, could win his 11th consecutive fight when he squares off against the No. 1 ranked Gaethje. However, Oliveira missed weight following two attempts on Friday, according to USA Today Sports. Oliveira weighed in at 155.5 pound...
Lil Nas X Celebrates Getting A New BB Gun With Song Teaser: Listen to the Clip
It’s been less than a year since Lil Nas X dropped his debut album Montero, and yet the rapper keeps on offering up teasers of new tracks for his fans — and his latest tease comes along with a cheeky video. In a Twitter post on Friday (May 6), Lil Nas shared a video of himself dressed in full camouflage hunting garb, smiling at the camera with his hands behind his back. He eventually pulls out a tan pellet gun and aims it at the camera … before immediately breaking into a dance. “Guess who got a new bb gun,” he wrote in the caption. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Of course, the more important highlight from the video came from the music playing in the background. Throughout the 13-second clip, a snippet of an upcoming Lil Nas song...
Beyoncé Invests in Lemon-Flavored Water Brand: ‘It Was an Easy Decision’
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. Beyoncé wants you to stay hydrated, and if anyone knows about the power of lemons, it’s Mrs. Carter. The multiplatinum-selling superstar became a key investor in the Atlanta-based flavored water brand Lemon Perfect, the company announced last week. “I don’t typically enjoy drinks without added sugar, but Lemon Perfect is delicious,” Beyoncé shared in a statement on the Lemon Perfect website. “It was an easy decision to invest in something that not only tastes great and is healthy, but also, and most importantly, allows choosing a healthier lifestyle to be af...
How to Stream ‘Girls5eva’ Season 2 Starring Sara Bareilles, Renée Elise Goldsberry & More
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. Season two of the Emmy-nominated series, Girls5eva, officially hit Peacock on Thursday (May 5). Sara Bareilles, Ashley Park, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Paula Pell and Busy Philipps star in the eight-episode comedy about a one-hit-wonder girl group from the ’90s who try to give their revive their careers after their song gets sampled by a young rapper. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The reunited girl group gets into “album mode” for season two, but they only have six weeks to put the project together. N...
