the Weeknd

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Don't Know Who Abel Tesfaye Is? Yes, You Do

Canadian singer known as the Weeknd has started using his birth name on social media

(Newser) - The most popular singer on Earth (at least according to Guinness World Records stats) is on social media, but you might not recognize his accounts now—at least not until you get used to his new, actual moniker. The Weeknd, whose birth name is Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, is now going...

Hit by Drake, the Weeknd Went Viral. It Wasn't Theirs

We have a new can of worms, courtesy of AI

(Newser) - A song that went viral on streaming platforms over the weekend appeared to feature Drake and The Weeknd trading verses about fellow singer Selena Gomez. But as Mashable reports, "Heart On My Sleeve" was both "very good and very fake." The AI-generated tune had actually come from...

The Weeknd Ends Concert on Third Song

Singer tells LA audience he lost his voice when he screamed

(Newser) - Three songs into his Los Angeles concert on Saturday night, the Weeknd called it off. The singer walked offstage in the middle of "Can't Feel My Face," then came back out a moment later, after the lights went up, to say that he wanted to apologize personally...

After Grammys Controversy, Drake Calls for 'Something New'
Drake Withdraws His
2 Grammy Nominations
UPDATED
Dec 6, 2021 5:50 PM CST

Drake Withdraws His 2 Grammy Nominations

Move appears to be unprecedented

(Newser) - Update: Drake has abruptly withdrawn his two nominations for the 2022 Grammy Awards. Sources tell Variety that the Canadian star and his management have asked for "Certified Lover Boy," nominated for best rap album, and song "Way 2 Sexy," nominated for best rap performance, to be...

Billboard Hot 100 Gets New No. 1 Song of All Time
The Weeknd
Dethrones
Chubby
Checker
Nov 24, 2021 3:09 AM CST

The Weeknd Dethrones Chubby Checker

'Blinding Lights' is new No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 song of all time

(Newser) - After years as the No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 song of all time, Chubby Checker's "The Twist" has been dethroned. The Weeknd's "Blinding Lights" is now in the top spot, after Billboard updated its Greatest of All Time Hot 100 Songs recap. "The Twist,"...

BTS Wins Big at AMAs: 'This Whole Thing Is a Miracle'

Big night for South Korean boy band at American Music Awards, including first artist of the year win

(Newser) - South Korean superstars BTS were crowned artist of the year at the American Music Awards on Sunday, brushing aside challenges from Taylor Swift, Drake, and The Weeknd as they took home a total of three awards, teamed up with Coldplay for a raucous " My Universe," and closed the...

Prof to Teach Class on Drake, the Weeknd: 'It's Time'

Canada's Ryerson University is offering deep-dive course on Toronto-born performers

(Newser) - If you're an undergrad at the Creative School, part of Toronto's Ryerson University, there's a class on Aubrey Drake Graham and Abel Makkonen Tesfaye that may interest you. Don't recognize those names? You likely know them as Drake and the Weeknd, and if you want to...

The Weeknd on Grammys Changes ... Meh

Singer still won't be submitting his music

(Newser) - After this year's controversial Grammy Awards , from which The Weeknd was completely shut out , the Grammys are making some changes—but it's too little, too late for the singer. "I remain uninterested in being a part of the Grammys, especially with their own admission of corruption for...

Here's Spotify's Most-Streamed Artist of 2020

Bad Bunny leads a list that includes Drake, J Balvin, Juice WRLD, and The Weeknd

(Newser) - The year's most played artist on Spotify? Globally speaking: Bad Bunny. The Puerto Rican superstar is the music platform’s most-streamed artist of the year with 8.3 billion streams globally. The Latin Grammy winner and hitmaker, who released a new album last week, leads a top five list...

The Weeknd Shut Out of 'Corrupt' Grammy Awards

He's not the only one

(Newser) - The Weeknd is having what ABC News says might be "one of the best years in his career." The Canadian pop star's latest album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200; one of the singles from it spent a record-breaking 40 weeks in the top 10...

Super Bowl Halftime Headliner Is Revealed

The Weeknd will do the honors in Tampa in February

(Newser) - The NFL has announced this season's headliner for the Super Bowl halftime show: It's the Weeknd, reports ESPN . The game is scheduled to be played Feb. 7 in Tampa, Florida, though the stadium will likely be only 20% full because of the pandemic, notes People . No word yet...

One of These Men Nabs Time 'Most Influential' Cover

Fauci. Time 100 list also features Trump, Megan Thee Stallion, and more

(Newser) - President Trump will not like this : Dr. Anthony Fauci of the White House Coronavirus Task Force graces the cover of Time magazine as one of the year's 100 most influential people . (There will be eight worldwide covers in all, per Entertainment Weekly .) President Trump also made the list,...

South African Party Protests H&M 'Monkey' Sweatshirt

The sweatshirt has caused controversy around the world

(Newser) - Members of a South African opposition party have stormed into some H&M stores to protest a promotional image of a black child wearing a sweatshirt with the words "Coolest monkey in the jungle," the AP reports. Local media reports say the Economic Freedom Fighters members urged local...

Spotify Has a Very Different Artist of Year Than Grammys

Ed Sheeran, largely shut out of awards nominations, is most streamed artist of the year

(Newser) - The Grammys may have dissed Ed Sheeran, but Spotify says he's the most streamed artist of the year. The streaming service announced Tuesday that Sheeran tops its 2017 list with 6.3 billion streams. He also has Spotify's biggest album of the year with Divide, streamed 3.1...

Highest-Paid Celeb Can Thank Vodka for the Honor

Diddy tops 'Forbes' annual list

(Newser) - The highest-paid celebrity on Forbes' 2017 list managed to beat out Beyonce for the top spot—and he has vodka to thank for it. Sean "Diddy" Combs tops this year's annual list, having raked in $130 million pre-tax between June 2016 and June 2017. That's partially due...

Kendrick Lamar Dominates Grammy Noms

In an unsurprising development, Taylor Swift also received quite a few nods

(Newser) - Kendrick Lamar is the king of the 2016 Grammys: The rapper is the leading nominee for the 2016 awards with 11, including album of the year for To Pimp a Butterfly and song of the year for "Alright." To Pimp a Butterfly goes up against Taylor Swift's...

16 Stories