Media, technology and commerce company Essence announced on Friday (June 19) that for the first time in its 25 year history, their annual festival will be going virtual. The 2020 Essence Festival of Culture: Unstoppable Virtual, hosted by Loni Love and…
"Silence is Not An Option (turn this up)" is out now on ATO Records. ATO Records released a surprise digital compilation on Friday (June 19) that will support Black Lives Matter, Color of Change and the Innocence Project. The 11-track…
In the midst of a national reckoning about systemic racism and the continued killing of Black and brown men and women at the hands of police, the country paused to celebrate Juneteenth on Friday (June 19). The holiday recalls the…
J-pop artist Gen Hoshino released a song he wrote and recorded on his own during quarantine called “Oriai / Halfway” on Friday (June 19), along with the accompanying music video. The “Same Thing” hitmaker explains that he came up with…
Kelly Rowland took to social media to issue a powerful statement on the importance of supporting Black trans people amid the Black Lives Matter movement. “LET’S BE VERY CLEAR….You can not say Black Lives Matter, and those lives not include…
Pharrell Williams dropped by Jimmy Kimmel Live! to discuss his advocacy in making Juneteenth an official holiday. During his virtual chat with host Jimmy Kimmel on Thursday (June 18), Pharrell dished about how the ongoing wave of Black Lives Matter protests…
Google marked the 155th anniversary of Juneteenth with a new Doodle on Friday (June 19). In the video clip, LeVar Burton narrates the lyrics to classic hymn “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” colloquially known as the Black national anthem. “Lift…
As calls to end systemic racism continue unabated, this year’s celebrations of Black Music Month and Juneteenth (when slaves were emancipated in the U.S.), are underscored with a new urgency. Here’s a quick roundup of upcoming releases, events and other…
Billboard’s First Stream serves as a handy guide to this Friday’s most essential releases — the key music that everyone will be talking about today, and that will be dominating playlists this weekend and beyond. This week, John Legend offers…
“First Stream Latin” is a compilation of the best new Latin songs, albums, and videos recommended by the Billboard Latin editors. Check out this week’s picks below. Sofia Reyes & Piso 21, “Cuando Estas Tu” (Warner Music Latina) In their…