From *NSYNC’s first song back in over 20 years to Ed Sheeran’s new album ‘Autumn Variations,’ we’re breaking down the week’s biggest music drops. Lizzo has asked the judge to throw out the harassment lawsuit brought on by three of her former dancers. Becky G stopped by the Billboard News studio to talk about her new album ‘Esquinas.’ And more!
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MusicTranscript
00:00 - Mizzle fights back in the harassment lawsuit against her.
00:02 Becky G drops by our studio for a chat.
00:05 We explain the rise of regional Mexican music.
00:07 Billboard takes you to the hottest shows
00:09 in LA, New York, and Paris.
00:11 And we've got bops from some of your favorite artists.
00:14 - Welcome to Billboard News for Friday, September 29th.
00:20 I'm Tetris, and kicking off our episode today
00:22 is our Friday Music Guide.
00:25 ♪ Take you to a better place, yoo-hoo ♪
00:28 - We said, "I want you back," and they delivered.
00:31 Instinct dropped their first new music in over 20 years,
00:34 and it's called "Better Place"
00:35 from the new movie "Trolls Band Together."
00:38 New Jay-Z ad-libs?
00:39 I can't.
00:41 ♪ I'm gonna make you kiss the sky tonight ♪
00:45 - We'll have more new music throughout the show,
00:47 but let's get to some news.
00:49 Lizzo is asking the judge
00:50 to toss out the harassment lawsuit
00:52 brought against her by her former dancers.
00:55 ♪ Truth hurts me, that's something I'm always fighting ♪
00:58 ♪ Bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum ♪
01:01 - Lizzo is requesting the court dismiss her case,
01:03 and if the court declines to dismiss it,
01:05 the singer is requesting a jury trial.
01:07 A new document filed this week by Lizzo's lawyers
01:09 lays out more than 30 defenses
01:11 to dancers' complaints of sexual harassment
01:13 in a hostile work environment.
01:15 A spokesperson for Lizzo said in a statement,
01:18 "This is the first step of a legal process
01:20 "in which Lizzo and her team will demonstrate
01:22 "that they have always practiced what they preach,
01:24 "whether it comes to promoting body positivity,
01:27 "leading a safe and supportive workplace,
01:29 "or protecting individuals from any kind of harassment.
01:32 "Any and all claims to the contrary are ridiculous,
01:35 "and we look forward to proving so in a court of law."
01:38 In response to the new filing,
01:39 the dancers' attorney released
01:40 the following statement in part.
01:42 "Lizzo's answer merely consists of boilerplate objections
01:45 "that have nothing to do with the case.
01:47 "That said, the key takeaway is that Lizzo is agreeing
01:49 "to our client's demand for a jury trial.
01:52 "We look forward to presenting our case in court."
01:55 From one boy band to one of our faves from another,
02:00 Jungkook keeps delivering collaborations
02:02 for his solo efforts.
02:03 And from Lotto to now Jack Harlow,
02:05 BTS' youngest member is carving his lane.
02:09 ♪ And if you're like ♪
02:09 ♪ I wanna see it ♪
02:11 ♪ In motion, in three ♪
02:13 - I love my girl Becky G from Inglewood.
02:16 She came through and was the sweetest as always.
02:18 Check it out.
02:19 - I feel like that essence of me being Chicana,
02:22 born and raised in Inglewood,
02:23 and obviously being very proud of being my Mexican roots,
02:27 I think it's always been there.
02:29 Two years ago when I lost my papi,
02:32 my abuelito Miguel, que descansa en paz,
02:34 he was kind of the catalyst as to why I decided
02:37 it was time to do the project,
02:38 'cause it was a dream of mine.
02:39 I definitely feel like it's a part of my soul
02:42 when I sing musica regional.
02:44 I think I've always felt like I'm not
02:47 this side of the streets that raised me
02:48 or this side of the streets.
02:49 I am literally la esquina.
02:51 I'm at la esquina where those cross streets are
02:54 of like I always say, those two languages,
02:56 those two flags, the two cultures.
02:58 It's a very intentional body of work
03:00 from all the visuals and all the song selections
03:03 and all of the collaborators.
03:06 Edgar Barrera is like family to me
03:08 and he really helped kind of create a sound
03:10 that I think represents me in this space.
03:12 And so it's been a lot of hard work,
03:16 but I feel like you can really hear me
03:18 and see me in this album.
03:21 I worked with Peso y estuvimos en el estudio.
03:23 Like we didn't really have intentions.
03:25 It was just to introduce to each other,
03:27 what are you working on?
03:28 This is some of the music I've been working on.
03:30 And you know, somebody with Edgar whips out a guitar
03:33 and next thing you know, we wrote the song
03:34 in like 45 minutes.
03:35 Así de la nada.
03:36 It was, you know, instant chemistry between Peso and I
03:40 and same with like, it was really sweet.
03:42 One of my favorite memories is working with Ivan Cornejo
03:44 on our song for the album.
03:46 He almost canceled the studio session
03:48 'cause le tocó nervios and he's like,
03:50 "No, it's just I feel really a little bit of pressure.
03:53 "I wanna do a really good job.
03:54 "You know, I'm gonna be going on my first tour
03:55 "and I just don't wanna let you down."
03:57 And I was like, "Bro, you can literally come
03:58 "and we can eat in and out and just like hang.
04:01 "Like we don't have to write anything.
04:02 "We don't have to do anything.
04:03 "Like let's just vibe."
04:04 And then one thing leads to another
04:05 and you start creating these beautiful friendships, you know?
04:08 - The full interview is on Billboard.com.
04:11 Looking for some harmony?
04:12 Ally Brooke is delivering new pop gold titled "Gone to Bed."
04:16 ♪ Shoulda left you in my head ♪
04:18 ♪ Yeah, I really shoulda gone to bed ♪
04:22 - Billboard staff stays busy.
04:24 Like me, I just landed from Paris last night
04:26 and I saw Usher.
04:28 Let's take you to some hot music events from this week.
04:31 - Rock legends and Mexican superstars
04:33 to hip hop chart toppers
04:35 and even a Super Bowl preview in Paris.
04:38 Billboard All Access is going global.
04:40 Juez de Veguida brought the house down
04:43 at the Prudential Center in New Jersey last Friday.
04:46 (singing in foreign language)
04:50 Performing for a packed audience
04:52 with their regional Mexican flair and high energy hits.
04:55 They had to pause the show for a little crowd control.
04:58 - Hey, I'ma get the (beep) out of here.
05:00 You guys keep on fighting, man.
05:01 - But got back to the fun in no time.
05:03 (singing in foreign language)
05:07 The week prior, Becky G celebrated
05:09 Mexican Independence Day performing in New York City.
05:12 Even getting a little emotional thanks to the crowd's love.
05:16 - So now I'm crying.
05:17 Oh my God, I see you guys crying here.
05:19 (crowd cheering)
05:21 - But she didn't let that stop her from turning up
05:24 only in the way that Becky G can.
05:26 - Come on!
05:28 (singing in foreign language)
05:30 - New York was the place to be for dance music too.
05:33 (singing in foreign language)
05:37 Purple Disco Machine turned out the Brooklyn Mirage
05:39 with their banging beats.
05:41 (singing in foreign language)
05:46 Bob Dylan made a surprise performance
05:48 at Willie Nelson's Farm Aid Festival in Indiana,
05:51 taking the stage without introduction 38 years
05:54 after coming up with the idea for the festival at Live Aid.
05:57 Here in Los Angeles, Gunna lit up the stage
06:00 for a sold out show at the YouTube Theater.
06:03 (singing in foreign language)
06:07 Rapping in the air over a packed crowd.
06:11 Finally, Billboard headed to the City of Love
06:13 to get a little taste of what's to come at the Super Bowl.
06:17 (upbeat music)
06:20 Usher's show had everything.
06:23 Strippers, roller skates,
06:26 and of course his signature dance moves.
06:29 (upbeat music)
06:32 But the real Parisian treat was Usher's voice.
06:38 (singing in foreign language)
06:42 (audience applauding)
06:44 Ed Sheeran has time to tour and drop new music.
06:47 Cue album, Autumn Variations.
06:50 ♪ My English girl in an American town ♪
06:53 ♪ Overlevated to the fifth floor ♪
06:54 ♪ I'll bring in the bars and then you'll be back down ♪
06:57 Peso Pluma is the best,
06:59 and we have an Explains episode breaking down his success
07:02 with regional Mexican music.
07:04 Is Peso Pluma Mexican music's next global superstar?
07:07 The Latin genre has been growing in popularity
07:09 over the years, and Peso is at the center of the explosion.
07:12 This is Billboard Explains,
07:14 Peso Pluma and the Mexican music boom.
07:16 Peso had a breakout year in 2023
07:19 and has reached milestone after milestone ever since.
07:22 But what is it about Peso and other young artists
07:25 that has captured everyone's attention?
07:27 One answer, this new generation is honoring the music
07:30 of their parents and grandparents
07:31 by putting their own spin on the traditional sound.
07:34 Artists are also collaborating
07:36 with non-regional Mexican artists to widen their appeal.
07:39 Artists are seeing a huge increase in streams.
07:41 In the last year, Peso Pluma's average daily listeners
07:44 increased on Spotify by over 4,000%,
07:47 and his average daily streams increased by almost 11,000%.
07:51 It's clear that Mexican music is taking over,
07:54 and it shows no signs of slowing down.
07:56 We can't wait to see where Peso
07:57 and the new generation of artists take us next.
08:00 The full episode is on Billboard.com.
08:04 And whoop, there it is, that's Friday's show.
08:06 We leave you with one more Friday Music Guide entry.
08:09 Lovable girl group XG has delivered many addicting songs,
08:13 but now we have their full debut mini album, New DNA.
08:17 ♪ Welcome to the birthday show ♪
08:19 ♪ Where we're playing with the ghosts and ghosts ♪