Grammy-winning <keyword id="19935312" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="singer" source="keywords">singer</keyword> <keyword id="19935467" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Dua-Lipa" source="keywords">Dua Lipa</keyword> is coming back to <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="India" source="keywords">India</keyword> for her <keyword id="20040346" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="concert" source="keywords">concert</keyword> in November. She shared an update about her visit on the social media handle and also mentioned that her earlier visit to the country was a great experience. Taking to her Instagram handle, she shared a series of pictures from her visit to India and wrote, "India, I'm coming back!! my trip at the start of this year was a beautiful reminder of how much I love this place. The warmth and energy I felt from everyone I met there was amazing, and I can't wait to see you again to perform in November!!!!" <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="14"> View this post on Instagram A post shared by DUA LIPA (@dualipa) </blockquote> Dua visited India in late 2023 and spent the last few days of the year in the country. After the visit, Dua shared her experience of spending time in India and said that she feels "so beyond lucky" to end her year "here in India." She shared glimpses of her trip. Her post's visual narrative on her Instagram handle begins with Dua sipping a hot beverage in Rajasthan, followed by a video of traditional folk dancers. She posted photos of herself posing in front of an elephant and a video of a tiger. She also posted photos of herself and her family visiting a temple, embarking on a desert safari, and swinging a leg with folk dancers at a resort. Lipa closed her post with a video of herself riding a horse down the street. The singer wrote in her caption, "I feel so beyond lucky to end my year here in India. Thank you to all the wonderful people here who have shown us so much love, kindness, hospitality and generosity. This experience has been deeply meaningful. I feel lucky to be in and within the magic with my family where we have had the time to explore, regroup, recharge and restart. Ready for the year ahead. What a joy!!!" Earlier, the global singer has surprised her fans with her pictures from her vacations in Rajasthan. In the first photo, Dua was seen posing against the backdrop of a beautiful painting of the Hindu deities Radha and Krishna. The next picture showed her wearing a red and golden dress as she stood near a desk. A group of Indian women were seen in another image. She also gave a glimpse of Umaid Bhawan Palace. "Happy Holidays from me to youuuuu[?] sending love light health and happiness for the year ahead x," she captioned the post, leaving Indian fans wondering when Dua visited India. Dua also did not mention anything about her trip to Rajasthan in the caption. After visiting Rajasthan, she headed to New Delhi and sought blessings at the famous Bangla Sahib Gurudwara and visited the Humayun's tomb. Taking to Instagram, Dua Lipa's father Dukagjin Lipa shared a string of pictures from their outing in the national capital which he captioned, "The Indian journey starts at New Delhi #humayunstomb." The ace singer is coming back to India for her upcoming concert in November.

"I'm coming back!!" Dua Lipa announces return to India for her concert in November

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Dua Lipa released her third studio album, "Radical Optimism," on Friday.</li><li>Its structure and release strategy recall "Future Nostalgia" in a way that bodes well for its longevity.</li></ul>If you're anything like me — or plenty of other pop lovers — your first instinct will be to measure Dua Lipa's fizzy new album "Radical Optimism" against her previous release, "Future Nostalgia."<a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/DJLouieXIV/status/1778157983374967168">Fans</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/article/2024/may/03/dua-lipa-radical-optimism-review-psychedelic-pop-infused-pull-the-other-one">critics</a> alike have tended to frame this comparison unfavorably for Lipa, who's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/dua-lipa-third-album-influences-dating-life-acting-1234945422/">bristled</a> at the suggestion that she's retreading familiar ground. Her defensive reaction makes sense — it must be daunting to follow a <a target="_blank" href="https://youtu.be/U4daHlqAtmU?si=GDidcoGRAiLhdjEB">Grammy-winning</a> classic.But I'm here to offer a contrary perspective, and perhaps some comfort for Lipa's fellow optimists.With its Euro-pop vibe, 11-track structure, and dance-forward conceit, "Radical Optimism" does recall its predecessor, but that's hardly a bad thing. In fact, it bodes very well for the album's staying power.<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/suAR1PYFNYA?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" title="Dua Lipa - Houdini (Official Music Video)"></iframe>"Future Nostalgia" has wormed itself so deeply into our DJ sets and playlists that people forget the album wasn't an overnight sensation.Back in 2019, Lipa unveiled the album's lead single, "<a target="_blank" href="https://youtu.be/oygrmJFKYZY?si=ofM115Rk5HnU3KqL">Don't Start Now</a>." The song was paired with <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-music-videos-this-year-ranked-2019-8">a hypnotic music video</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://youtu.be/-Wyum8FwMtw?si=4OEYCc5yTjod7aFo">Lipa's newly impressive stage presence</a>, overhauled in response to the infamous comment, "<a target="_blank" href="https://people.com/dua-lipa-found-the-go-girl-give-us-nothing-meme-really-painful-8426872">Go girl, give us nothing</a>." When Lipa reappeared for her sophomore era, she was determined to give us everything.But still, true to its title, "Don't Start Now" didn't latch on immediately. It debuted at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.billboard.com/pro/dua-lipa-billboard-hot-100-dont-start-now/">No. 30</a> on the Billboard Hot 100 — a triumph for any average Joe, but a slight letdown for a superstar <a target="_blank" href="https://www.billboard.com/pro/dua-lipa-new-rules-hot-100-top-10/">who'd scored a viral hit the previous year</a>. "Don't Start Now" took a five-month voyage to reach <a target="_blank" href="https://www.billboard.com/pro/lil-uzi-vert-3-songs-hot-100/">No. 2</a> shortly before "Future Nostalgia" was released in March 2020.Other songs that preceded the album <a target="_blank" href="https://www.billboard.com/artist/dua-lipa/chart-history/hsi/">performed with similar modesty</a>. Lipa's second single, "<a target="_blank" href="https://youtu.be/9HDEHj2yzew?si=sS-Ae4csXlICRiU_">Physical</a>," debuted at No. 60 and spent only two weeks on the chart. Her third, "<a target="_blank" href="https://youtu.be/Nj2U6rhnucI?si=BlvkaHWfO2C0fZak">Break My Heart</a>," earned a stronger arrival at No. 21, but failed to reach the top 10.Compare that to the trio of "Radical Optimism" singles: "<a target="_blank" href="https://youtu.be/suAR1PYFNYA?si=mK0HJ2QuTl9TzNHI">Houdini</a>," "<a target="_blank" href="https://youtu.be/ZjBZ8MUnB0E?si=soeLgh-r-wmwKKL9">Training Season</a>," and "<a target="_blank" href="https://youtu.be/a9cyG_yfh1k?si=KWw9Lf4J0rYK6UZp">Illusion,</a>" all of which have the makings of a smash. They're vibrant, assertive, and determinedly catchy; on more than one occasion, I've found myself singing their hooks in the shower, without even realizing I'd learned the words.So far, these songs have peaked at No. 11, No. 27, and No. 43, respectively. Vultures online have described this turnout as Lipa's "flop era." But their assessment is both harsh and premature. Judging by the existing evidence, Lipa could well be gearing up for her second round of pop domination.<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/a9cyG_yfh1k?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" title="Dua Lipa - Illusion (Official Music Video)"></iframe>Although <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/dua-lipa-future-nostalgia-review-first-listen-2020-3">"Future Nostalgia" was met with glowing reviews</a>, it sold only 66,000 copies in its first week and debuted at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.billboard.com/pro/the-weeknd-after-hours-no-1-billboard-200-chart/">No. 4</a> on the Billboard 200. It would be several months before Lipa's disco-lit fantasy imbued our reality.But Lipa came prepared to convince us. After the album's March 27, 2020 release, her pandemic-era campaign included an <a target="_blank" href="https://variety.com/2020/music/news/dua-lipa-club-future-nostalgia-album-review-1234751941/">eclectic remix album</a> and a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.rollingstone.com/pro/news/dua-lipa-livestream-cost-viewership-1096950/">million-dollar virtual concert</a>. Then came "<a target="_blank" href="https://youtu.be/N000qglmmY0?si=8deP9l85fl0m0xEh">Levitating</a>," identified as an early critical favorite, which was released as the album's fifth single. It was eventually crowned the top-performing Billboard hit of the year — <a target="_blank" href="https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/dua-lipa-levitating-2021-hot-100-top-song-year-in-charts-1235004941/">on December 2, 2021</a>, nearly two years after "Future Nostalgia" was released while the world was stuck inside and not on the dancefloor.All this is to say: I wouldn't bet against Lipa. "Radical Optimism" is primed for the same kind of slow-burn success, especially given its familiar shimmer of pop genius.The album kicks off with "<a target="_blank" href="https://youtu.be/hWw3dS2cyLc?si=bOFrwKqXVCfw-sRp">End of an Era</a>," a trippy banger that sets the scene for Lipa's journey through singledom.In track one, she's in the throes of a delirious honeymoon phase. But we get the feeling it won't last long. At the end of the bridge, Lipa's butterflies are interrupted by a self-aware eye roll: "Oh, here she goes again."<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hWw3dS2cyLc?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" title="Dua Lipa - End Of An Era (Official Visualiser)"></iframe>This push-and-pull energy is central to the album. If "Future Nostalgia" sounds like falling in love at the club, "Radical Optimism" sounds like Lipa flitting around untethered, her confidence forged by past disappointments.Lipa shines in these songs. She's the girl at the party with the best stories, full of ultimatums and escapades. In a thrilling three-track run, she honors the urge to break up in "<a target="_blank" href="https://youtu.be/1TtvG18iSxY?si=YUUwAj2zUOc19_51">These Walls</a>," flirts with someone new in "<a target="_blank" href="https://youtu.be/7x08rpZtzDg?si=4sbkmyL7wwEJUZtc">Whatcha Doing</a>," then dips without warning in "<a target="_blank" href="https://youtu.be/r9vNgw93VA4?si=AYKLEw9T7Y7_ivkV">French Exit</a>." She's always challenging her suitors to keep up: "Don't you know I could do this dance all night?" she teases in "Illusion," a succinct thesis for the entire album. Lipa proves that she's hard to earn and even harder to keep. Her <a target="_blank" href="https://www.wmagazine.com/culture/dua-lipa-responds-vacation-criticism-rolling-stone">elusive reputation</a> is recast as wise discernment."Radical Optimism" mirrors the weird rush of dating, enhanced greatly by Lipa's key producers: Kevin Parker, aka Tame Impala, and Danny L Harle, who recently worked on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-albums-this-year-ranked-2023-12">Caroline Polachek's "Desire, I Want to Turn Into You."</a>Parker and Harle bring eccentric textures to Lipa's soundscape: Flamenco-style guitars and funky basslines course through the opening track; album highlight "<a target="_blank" href="https://youtu.be/gpu4f-8vk-I?si=AHSq45WtFuB8vMnm">Maria</a>" is propelled by brisk acoustics; "<a target="_blank" href="https://youtu.be/uZ5RcAqYym0?si=Y9XpN8xz5y0tr_OR">Happy For You</a>" closes the album with bombastic drums and bird chirps.Even Lipa's three primers sound better as parts of a cohesive sum. "Houdini" reigns as the best song on the tracklist, while "Training Season," the only single that didn't impress me at first blush, has already managed to climb out of "skip" territory.With streaming platforms and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-tiktok-is-changing-music-industry">TikTok trends</a>, we're used to seeing songs come and go like flashes in a pan. Our collective attention span is shorter than ever. But Lipa's isn't. She creates songs that stick around — earworms that tunnel, subtly and steadily, until they've set up camp in the deepest ridge of your brain. "Radical Optimism" is full of those suckers. So if you don't get it yet, just wait.<h2>Final Grade: 8.6/10</h2><div type="image" title="dua lipa radical optimism" height="2048" width="2048" msid="109825883" hostid="261" sizebytes="225746"></div>Worth listening to: "End of an Era," "Houdini," "These Walls," "Whatcha Doing," "French Exit," "Illusion," "Falling Forever," "Maria" "Happy For You"Background music: "Training Season"Press skip: "Anything For Love"*Final album score based on songs per category (1 point for "Worth listening to," .5 for "Background music," 0 for "Press skip").

Don't worry, Dua Lipa fans: 'Radical Optimism' isn't a flop — it's primed for slow-burn success

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A Russian tour operator is offering concert-themed package vacations.</li><li>Russian fans can pay to see pop stars like Ed Sheeran and James Blunt in Europe.</li></ul>Western pop stars have largely boycotted Russia amid its invasion of Ukraine.Russian music fans, however, appear to be so desperate to see their favorite artists that they are paying thousands to go on "concert vacations" abroad.Tour operator Russian Express has seen large demand for its concert-themed vacation packages, according to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2024/05/06/russians-launch-package-holidays-see-taylor-swift-coldplay/">The Telegraph. </a>The packages include the chance to see <a target="_blank" href="https://r-express.ru/guide/croatia/tours/kontsert-ed-sheeran-x-tour-1/">Ed Sheeran in Zagreb</a>, Croatia, and <a target="_blank" href="https://r-express.ru/guide/uae/tours/james-blunt-live/">James Blunt in Dubai.</a>A spokesperson for the operator told The Telegraph that it had sold 150 concert vacations since it launched its packages in the fall of last year. The spokesperson said these kinds of vacations are "consistently popular" and that it selects artists that appear to both "young people and the older generations.""Imagine Dragons and Snoop Dog are the choice of young people. Scorpions and Rammstein are the choice of older people," the spokesperson told The Telegraph.One of the packages — <a target="_blank" href="https://r-express.ru/guide/serbia/tours/kontsert-ed-sheeran-v-belgrade/">a five-day trip to see Ed Sheeran </a>perform in Belgrade, Serbia, in August — costs around $1,123.Sheeran, who last <a target="_blank" href="https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/ed-sheeran-statue-gorky-park-moscow-tour-a9006581.html">performed in Moscow</a> in 2019, has publicly expressed his support for Ukraine and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/defiant-antytila-kiev-band-ed-sheeran-join-uk-benefit-concert-2022-3">performed at the Concert for Ukraine</a> fundraiser in 2022."Western superstars don't perform in Moscow anymore," Jonny Tickle, a British man living in Moscow, <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/jonnytickle/status/1780281574304399481">wrote on X.</a> "As a result, some companies have set up travel packages including flights, accommodation, and concert tickets for Russians who want to watch their favourite singers like Taylor Swift, Dua Lipa and Adele.'"Tickle also posted ads by Moscow-based radio station Europa Plus, which is running a competition called "<a target="_blank" href="https://livetour.europaplus.ru/">Live Tour 2024</a>." Prizes include packages to see Adele in Munich, Coldplay in Budapest, and Taylor Swift in Vienna.In 2021, Coldplay's bassist Guy Berryman <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/coldplay/status/1407661755082366976?lang=en">wrote on X</a> that the band would "for sure" want to perform in Russia after a fan asked if there was anywhere he would like to play that he hadn't visited.However, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Coldplay didn't include Russia dates on its tour.In 2022, Coldplay invited <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/coldplay/status/1557450422985654272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1557450422985654272%7Ctwgr%5Efcec1ad9bb895263eb46a1db8b2965f4ccc909ee%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fvirginradio.co.uk%2Fmusic%2F72228%2Fcoldplay-perform-anti-war-anthem-with-ukrainian-rockstar-svyatoslav-vakarchuk">Svyatoslav Vakarchuk</a>, lead singer of the Ukrainian rock band Okean Elzy, onstage at their show in Brussels."We are at war. I want you to know we are fighting not only for Ukraine, we are fighting for world peace, freedom, and democracy," Vakarchuk said in a video of the concert posted to X.Russian Express and Europa Plus did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Russians are so desperate to see Western pop stars, they are paying to go on 'concert vacations' abroad

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="11937050" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="dua-lipa" source="Orion">Dua Lipa</keyword> dropped her microphone into the audience during her Washington D.C. concert on Wednesday.</li><li>She continued dancing and hyping up the crowd until her crew was able to give her a replacement.</li></ul>Dua Lipa suffered a minor onstage mishap at her concert in Washington D.C. on Wednesday.The Grammy winner was performing the bridge of her hit song "New Rules" when the microphone slipped out of her gloved hand and into the audience.As seen in <a href="https://twitter.com/DemeSoRad/status/1499215131712106496?s=20&amp;t=YoxzSmUxyhRqikAAGh6OBg">videos shared on Twitter</a>, Lipa bent down to retrieve the mic but was seemingly unable to find it. She shrugged and laughed as the song continued to play, mouthing "What the fuck?" to her fans in the front row.Instead, she continued to dance and hype up the crowd until her crew was able to give her a replacement."D.C., what the fuck! I got way too excited," she said once the song had ended.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Monster Moo Stan (@DemeSoRad) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1499215131712106496">March 3, 2022</a></blockquote><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Dua Lipa Media (@STUDlO2054) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1499367682042388484">March 3, 2022</a></blockquote>"Everything is sooo seamless??? The tech guy with the mic…Dua not missing a beat??? I've watched this 5 times," <a href="https://twitter.com/MalloryMayhew/status/1499687710713384960?s=20&amp;t=YoxzSmUxyhRqikAAGh6OBg">one fan raved in response</a>.Lipa's highly anticipated "Future Nostalgia" tour, in support of <a href="https://www.insider.com/dua-lipa-future-nostalgia-review-first-listen-2020-3">her acclaimed sophomore album</a>, features elaborate choreography, several costume changes, and a setlist packed with hits — including "Don't Start Now," which <a href="https://www.insider.com/best-breakup-songs-this-century-ranked-2022-2">Insider recently named one of the best breakup songs of the century</a>.The tour has been hailed as "a powerful reminder of Lipa's pop savvy" by <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-live-reviews/dua-lipa-future-nostalgia-tour-kickoff-review-1292091/">Rolling Stone</a>, although <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/02/arts/music/dua-lipa-future-nostalgia-tour-review.html">the New York Times</a> described her Madison Square Garden show as "a concept-less, box-checking production that severely underplayed Lipa's stadium-size goals."

Watch Dua Lipa drop her mic into the crowd at a concert: 'I got way too excited'

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Dua Lipa donned a netted, pink dress with knit pasties while on tour in Melbourne, Australia.</li><li>The pasties were designed to look like Patrick Star from "SpongeBob SquarePants."</li></ul>Dua Lipa stunned in a pink, fishnet dress with star-shaped pasties while touring in Melbourne, Australia.The singer, who began the Australian leg of her "Future Nostalgia" tour on November 2, shared photos of the look <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Ck4Z9ubBh67/">on Instagram</a> Saturday. Close-up images show Lipa wearing knot pasties designed to look like Patrick Star, a starfish character from the Nickelodeon cartoon "SpongeBob SquarePants.""Down undaaaa in bikini bottom," the "Sweetest Pie" singer wrote in the caption, referring to the underwater town from the show.<blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px); data.width~540;"><div style="padding:8px;"><div style="background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:62.4537037037% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"><div style="background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Ck4Z9ubBh67" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank"></a> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by DUA LIPA (@dualipa)<time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime=""></time></div></blockquote>Lipa paired the ensemble with matching, fingerless gloves and pink thong underwear, which showed through the sheer dress. Two strands of fabric held the dress up around her neck, creating a halter-top shape with a keyhole cutout between the pasties.The statement look didn't stop the pop star from having fun with makeup. Lipa sported an eye look adorned with jewels and heart-shaped glitter, topping it off with sharp, winged eyeliner. She kept the rest of her makeup subtle and wore her hair down in loose waves.<blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px); data.width~540;"><div style="padding:8px;"><div style="background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:62.4537037037% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"><div style="background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Ck410DAKuKx" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank"></a> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by DUA LIPA (@dualipa)<time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime=""></time></div></blockquote>Lipa is known for her bold and daring looks on tour and at events. Photos from the singer's concert show she wore a stunning blue catsuit for her stops in both Sydney and Melbourne. She paired a monochrome lace look with cobalt blue gloves and boots.<div type="image" title="Dua Lipa wears a blue catsuit with matching gloves and boots while performing in Sydney, Australia" height="3507" width="5260" msid="95494686" hostid="261" sizebytes="278920"></div>Ahead of her next <a href="https://www.dualipa.com/live/">tour date in Adelaide, Australia</a>, Lipa denied reports that she would perform at the opening ceremony of the World Cup in Qatar."I will not be performing and nor have I ever been involved in any negotiation to perform," she wrote on her Instagram stories Sunday. "I will be cheering England from afar and I look forward to visiting Qatar when it has fulfilled all the human rights pledges it made when it won the right to host the World Cup."The World Cup host country has come under fire this year for its <a href="https://www.insider.com/fifa-boss-says-dying-migrant-workers-gain-dignity-work-qatar-2022-5">treatment of migrant workers</a> and its anti-gay laws. <a href="https://www.insider.com/qatar-world-cup-wales-staff-boycott-tournament-anti-gay-laws-2022-6">Insider's Barnaby Lane previously reported</a> that being homosexual in Qatar is illegal and punishable by death, and discrimination and violence against members of the LGBTQ community are rampant. Representatives for Lipa did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Dua Lipa made a splash in a fishnet dress with knit pasties that look like Patrick Star from 'SpongeBob SquarePants'

A complete timeline of DaBaby's homophobic comments and controversies

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Taylor Swift is set to play in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on November 9, 10, and 11. </li><li>Hardcore Swift fans have set up five tents since June, in which they take turns sleeping.</li></ul>Editor's note: The identities of all women interviewed are known to Insider, but for security reasons, we are referring to them by first name only.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.insider.com/taylor-swift-net-worth-spending-2018-8">Taylor Swift</a> is about to kick off her "<a target="_blank" href="https://www.insider.com/taylor-swift-eras-tour-details-easter-eggs-references-missed-photos-2023-8">Eras Tour</a>" in Latin America, starting with <a target="_blank" href="https://www.insider.com/buenos-aires-surprising-things-first-trip-american-argentina-2023-6">Buenos Aires</a>, Argentina, on November 9, 10, and 11. It's no surprise that Swifties are going to great lengths to secure prime spots near the stage."I've been waiting for over a decade for this day to come. A little more wait won't hurt," Aylen, 25, told Insider.It's been 130 days since she and her "Carpa 1" crew set up camp, eagerly anticipating their favorite artist's first performance in Argentina.When it comes to Swift, Argentine fans are not only die-hard but also innovative. They've established a collaborative rotating system with five tents outside the iconic River Plate Stadium, right next to the Club Hípico, where Lionel Messi played last month.<h2>Each tent is taken care of by about 50 Swifties</h2>Each tent groups about 50 people who take turns so that there's always someone guarding the place and putting in hours that will guarantee them a spot at the railing, the most desired location from which to experience the show. They all have tickets for the pit area, which doesn't have assigned seating.They believe this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Aylen tries to explain the decision to disrupt her daily routine, but not everyone comprehends it."I managed to snag my ticket with a bunch of fellow Swiftie fans," she said. "Being close to Taylor now means the world to me; who knows when the next chance will come?"<div type="image" title="Woman sweeping street next to tents" height="2002" width="3000" msid="105047419" hostid="261"></div>"Each group has its own organization with designated time slots and shifts," said a 21-year-old from Carpa 3, who spoke on condition of anonymity because she skipped classes to hold a spot and was afraid of repercussions from her school.The Swiftie campers, predominantly middle-class women in their early 20s, have made tending to their spots a full-time job when they're not working or studying."It's never left unattended," the 21-year-old said.<h2>This is not the first time some of them have camped before a concert</h2>The burning question still remains: Who gets to be first in line? The ranking system takes into account the cumulative camping time; the longer you stay, the better your chances of catching Swift's gaze."I've spent a maximum of 10 hours per day with mandatory sleepovers," Rocio, who keeps track as the admin of one of the five established groups, said.Aylen has taken on a double shift to watch over her friend's spot."She's from Córdoba," she said. "Traveling isn't realistic for her since it's about 11 hours by bus. We met while camping for Harry Styles in 2018. We were strangers with different activities and interests, and now we're close friends."<div type="image" title="Women around tents in Buenos Aires, Argentina" height="2002" width="3000" msid="105047420" hostid="261"></div>It's more than just being near the artist — it's become a cultural ritual.Last year, Rocio camped for 15 days to see Dua Lipa, and she's already planning for Louis Tomlinson's performance on May 18. The X profile <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/AcampoXvos">Acampo x vos</a> — which translates to, "I camp for you" — is just one of the many fan accounts offering to wait in line for others, especially those from distant provinces. Prices start at $2 an hour.<h2>The women have been mocked on social media</h2>Some fans declined to speak with the press because of mockery from <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/therealbuni/status/1666797978064125954?s=20">social media</a> and local media outlets."They think we don't work or have anything better to do. We do this in our free time and by choice," a young woman said when arriving for the night-shift change.Insults and curiosity are common during the week when college students pass by. On weekends, tourists visiting River's stadium, stop to ask or take pictures. On soccer-match days, the residential streets are noisy and crowded, with police setting up barricades to safeguard the tents, often with an officer on watch."They call us 'mufa' — or bad luck — when they lose," Rocio said.Some soccer fans understand the fanaticism and have even created a stadium song for the Swifties which they sing as they pass the tents by before entering the stadium.<h2>Tickets went from $45 to $214 dollars</h2>Despite the ticket prices ranging from $45 to $214 before hitting resale websites, these fans have set tight budgets that cover meals, hygiene, and plenty of beads for friendship bracelets."I've been here since June, coming twice a week, spending $10 to $17 a day," Aylen said.To kill time, hyped campers sing, dance, tidy up the surroundings, study, and, naturally, gear up for the big day.Swifties always say that Taylor's got a song for every moment in their lives, that whenever they're going through something special, her music helps them. They wonder which song the artist will dedicate to them once the concerts start.

Hardcore Taylor Swift fans have been camping outside a stadium for 5 months in Argentina. They've been mocked by local media and harassed by passersby.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Katie Holmes attended Z100's iHeartRadio Jingle Ball concert in New York City on Friday.</li><li>She walked the red carpet in a long Tove top, loose-fitting jeans, and Margiela sneakers.</li></ul><a href="https://www.insider.com/photos-of-celebrities-wearing-2000s-fashion-2019-10">Early-2000s fashion</a> might not be everyone's cup of tea, but it seems to be <a href="https://www.insider.com/katie-holmes-tom-cruise-daughter-suri-alone-together-movie-2022-7">Katie Holmes'</a>.The actor, 43, made an appearance at Z100's iHeartRadio Jingle Ball concert in New York City on Friday.She was one of <a href="https://www.insider.com/best-celebrity-outfits-at-jingle-ball-this-year-2022-12">many stars to walk the red carpet in unique fashion</a>, though her outfit could have been pulled from the early aughts.She wore a navy-blue shirt from Tove over loose-fitting jeans, Margiela sneakers, and a hoop nose ring.<div type="image" title="Katie Holmes at Z100's iHeartRadio Jingle Ball in New York City on December 9, 2022." height="2000" width="1334" msid="96232804" hostid="261"></div>The outfit caused a stir online, as The New York Times reported, with some critics saying <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/13/style/katie-holmes-y2k-jingle-ball.html">the dress-over-jeans look should stay in the past</a>.But as her stylist, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/briesarawelch/">Brie Welch</a>, told the publication, she and Holmes thought the look was "fun.""We decided the rich color and subtle bustier-effect detailing of the top was elegant and would be fun if paired with jeans, creating a more youthful feel for Jingle Ball and the atmosphere there," Welch told The Times via email.Some critics also took issue with Holmes wearing sneakers on the red carpet. Her brown-and-black shoes were made from calfskin, nylon, and suede, and <a href="https://www.maisonmargiela.com/en-us/50-50-sneakers-S58WS0213P4341.html?dwvar_S58WS0213P4341_color=T8013">retail for $740</a>.In her email to The Times, Welch said the sneakers were a spontaneous decision."On the day of (and because Katie has her own effortless style that should be appreciated here), she said she wanted to wear sneakers, because it was a concert and obviously there would be a lot of dancing to Dua Lipa (and nothing is more comfortable!)," she said.<div type="image" title="Katie Holmes wears Margiela sneakers at Jingle Ball on December 9, 2022." height="2000" width="1334" msid="96232807" hostid="261"></div>Welch also shared the article on Instagram, and clarified that Holmes' outfit did not feature a dress. Katie Holmes then reposted Welch's story to her own page."For all the inquiries: the beauty Katie Holmes," she wrote. "And it's a top."<div type="image" title="A screenshot of Brie Welch's Instagram story about Katie Holmes' Jingle Ball outfit." height="1636" width="1298" msid="96232808" hostid="261"></div>Other stars like Brooke Shields opted to wear more traditionally festive attire at the event. Speaking with Insider on the red carpet, the actor and podcaster said <a href="https://www.insider.com/brooke-shields-talks-about-her-daughters-fashion-2022-12">her red silk top with a giant bow was inspired by her daughter</a>.

Katie Holmes was mocked for her Y2K fashion moment, but her stylist says it was fun

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The Presidential Inaugural Committee released a playlist of 46 songs — a nod to President-elect <keyword id="99719" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Joe-Biden">Joe Biden</keyword> as the 46th President of the United States — days before Biden is set to be sworn into office. </li><li>The multi-generational playlist includes Dua Lipa, SZA, Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, Stevie Wonder, Led Zeppelin, and more.</li><li>Rolling Stone reported that on <keyword id="6363817" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Inauguration">Inauguration</keyword> Day, Biden's "walk-on" song will be "We Take Care of Our Own" by Bruce Springsteen, and Harris' is "Work That" by Mary J. Blige.</li></ul>The Presidential Inaugural Committee for President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect <keyword id="180909" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Kamala-Harris">Kamala Harris</keyword> <a href="https://twitter.com/BidenInaugural/status/1350125893276979205">released a playlist</a> full of tunes to help celebrate Inauguration Day on Wednesday.The playlist - created by producer and rapper DJ D-Nice and actress Issa Rae's <keyword id="6354530" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="music">music</keyword> label, Raedio, in partnership with the inaugural committee - includes 46 tracks, a nod to Biden as the soon-to-be 46th President of the United States.It includes of-the-now artists like Dua Lipa, SZA, Beyoncé, and Vampire Weekend, as well as hits by Stevie Wonder, Earth, Wind &amp; Fire, Bob Marley &amp; The Wailers, and more. According to <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/joe-biden-kamala-harris-inauguration-playlist-springsteen-mary-j-blige-1115096/">Rolling Stone</a>, the playlist also includes the "walk-on songs" that will play when Biden and Harris, as well as future first lady Jill Biden and future second gentleman Doug Emhoff, arrive for the inauguration. The magazine stated that Biden's song is "We Take Care of Our Own" by Bruce Springsteen; Jill Biden's song is "You Make My Dreams (Come True)" by Hall &amp; Oates; Harris' song is "Work That" by Mary J. Blige; and Emhoff will walk out to "You Get What You Give" by New Radicals.Listen to the full "Biden + Harris 2021 Inauguration Playlist" on <a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2xvItYBGEkuvFTDASiAO5P?si=sdtiInWTSkKEeZhFhHa8vQ">Spotify</a>, <a href="https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/pl.7132431700f346008f1245b2d56a2cd3?ct=FFM_34e69e88519c7dd45162132b1ba22c55&amp;at=1001lwQylwQy">Apple Music</a>, and <a href="https://ffm.to/bidenharris2021">other streaming platforms</a>.<iframe src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/playlist/2xvItYBGEkuvFTDASiAO5P" width="300" height="380" frameborder="0"></iframe>The Presidential Inaugural Committee's CEO, Tony Allen said in a statement that the playlist is meant to honor music as "a consistent vehicle that has kept us connected" through a challenging year."These songs and artists reflect the relentless spirit and rich diversity of America. They are the score to a new chapter and will help bring people together as the Biden-Harris Administration begins its important work to unite our country," Allen said.<h2>Biden and Harris's inauguration will be broadcast on Wednesday and includes a star-studded lineup of performers</h2><div type="image" title="biden harris inauguration" height="512" width="1024" msid="80316354" hostid="261"></div><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/biden-inauguration-day-schedule-celebrity-lineup-how-to-watch-2021-1">The president-elect and vice president-elect will take the oath of office</a> in front of the US Capitol on Wednesday around 12 p.m. ET.The inaugural committee <a href="https://bideninaugural.org/presidential-inaugural-committee-announces-participants-in-the-59th-inaugural-ceremonies/">announced</a> that Lady Gaga will sing the national anthem, and Jennifer Lopez will be giving a musical performance.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Biden Inaugural Committee (@BidenInaugural) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1349718160073699328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 14, 2021</a></blockquote>On Wednesday night, the committee will host the <a href="https://bideninaugural.org/schedule/">"We The People Concert,"</a> which will be the first virtual inaugural musical event. Actors Keegan-Michael Key and Debra Messing will host the event, and musical guests will include will.i.am, Carole King, Fall Out Boy, Cher, among other artists. <ul class="read-more-links"><li>Read more:</li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/fall-out-boy-inauguration-pete-wentz-parents-met-joe-biden-2021-1">Fall Out Boy to play before Biden's inauguration, a full circle performance after Pete Wentz's parents met working for Biden in the Senate in the 1970s</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/first-lady-presidential-inauguration-looks-2017-1">Here's what 16 first ladies wore at their husbands' presidential inaugurations</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/how-first-lady-style-changed-2018-2">How first lady style has evolved over the years</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/biden-inauguration-day-schedule-celebrity-lineup-how-to-watch-2021-1">Biden's inauguration day will be unlike any other in history. Here's what to expect.</a></li></ul>

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris shared an official inauguration playlist with 46 songs to celebrate the 46th president

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="2815009" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Shawn-Mendes">Shawn Mendes</keyword> apologized to <keyword id="348407" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Sam-Smith">Sam Smith</keyword> after using the wrong pronouns to introduce the "Diamonds" singer at the iHeartRadio Jingle Ball virtual event on Thursday. </li><li>In June 2019, Smith wrote in an Instagram post that their pronouns are they/them.</li><li>After the event on Thursday, Mendes wrote in an Instagram story: "Oh @samsmith I'm so sorry for referring to you as a 'he' for your jingle ball introduction. It absolutely slipped my mind. Won't happen again... Sending you so much love!"</li><li>Smith replied to Mendes, writing: "We're all learning together. Happy holidays, all my love xx."</li></ul><a href="https://www.insider.com/category/shawn-mendes">Shawn Mendes</a> apologized to <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/sam-smith">Sam Smith</a> for misgendering the singer, or using pronouns other than the ones the person prefers, during an introduction at Thursday's virtual iHeartRadio Jingle Ball.Smith, the musician behind the hit songs "Diamonds" and "Stay With Me," <a href="https://www.insider.com/sam-smith-identifies-as-non-binary-and-genderqueer-2019-3">said in a March 2019 interview that they identify as nonbinary</a>. In September 2019, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B2WpiusAc6h/">Smith wrote in an Instagram post that their pronouns are they/them</a>.Mendes said that he wrongly referred to Smith as "he" while introducing them at the iHeartRadio Jingle Ball event. Following the concert, Mendes took to his Instagram story to apologize."Oh @samsmith I'm so sorry for referring to you as a 'he' for your jingle ball introduction," Mendes wrote. "It absolutely slipped my mind. Won't happen again... Sending you so much love!" <div type="image" title="sam smith shawn mendes instagram response" height="1500" width="2000" msid="79697908" hostid="261"></div>Smith responded to Mendes' apology, writing on their Instagram story: "We're all learning together. Happy holidays, all my love xx."<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B2WpiusAc6h/">Smith wrote on Instagram in September 2019</a> that they changed their pronouns to they/them "after a lifetime of being at war with my <keyword id="6358360" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="gender">gender</keyword> I've decided to embrace myself for who I am, inside and out.""I understand there will be many mistakes and misgendering but all I ask is you please please try," Smith wrote at the time. "I hope you can see me like I see myself now. Thank you." Smith continued: "I'm scared s---less, but feeling super free right now. Be kind."<blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px); data.width~540;"><div style="padding:8px;"><div style="background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:62.4537037037% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"><div style="background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B2WpiusAc6h" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank"></a> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by Sam Smith (@samsmith)<time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime=""></time></div></blockquote>During the <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CIoUjMKFFyU/">iHeartRadio virtual holiday-themed concert</a> on Thursday, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CIqzsvSA7I5/">Smith sang a cover of Frank Sinatra's "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,"</a> as well as "Diamonds" and "Dancing with a Stranger." Other performers included Billie Eilish, The Weeknd, Dua Lipa, and Harry Styles.<blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px); data.width~540;"><div style="padding:8px;"><div style="background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:62.4537037037% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"><div style="background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CIqzsvSA7I5" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank"></a> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by iHeartRadio (@iheartradio)<time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime=""></time></div></blockquote><ul class="read-more-links"><li>Read more:</li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/celebrities-come-out-as-lgbtq-this-year-2020-9">16 celebrities who have come out as LGBTQ in 2020</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/9-celebrities-who-identify-as-gender-non-binary-2019-6">14 celebrities who don't identify as either male or female</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/happiest-season-features-a-character-coming-out-in-her-30s-2020-12">People are saying it's unrealistic that 'The Happiest Season' has a character coming out in her 30s, but there's no perfect time to do it</a></li></ul>

Sam Smith said 'we're all learning together' after Shawn Mendes apologized for misgendering them

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5d1638b6a17d6c0c633972f7-2400/gettyimages-1153173114.jpg" border="0" alt="Taylor Swift" data-mce-source="Kevin Mazur/Getty" /></div></div></div><ul class="summary-list"><li>Taylor Swift is headlining <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/amazon">Amazon's</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/prime-day">Prime Day</a> concert on July 10, joined by SZA, Becky G, and Dua Lipa.</li><li>New for this year, the concert event will stream live on Amazon Prime.</li><li>It's designed to draw attention to one of Amazon's biggest shopping days of the year.</li><li>With an Ariana Grande concert last year and Swift this year, it's clear Amazon is moving its Prime Day celebration to more closely mimic Alibaba's Singles Day.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/?hprecirc-bullet">Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.</a></li></ul>By any measure, this year's Amazon's Prime Day event will be its largest ever.It will run for a full 48 hours, making a mockery of the word "day" in the event's title. In fact, this Prime Day will be the longest ever - a full 12 hours longer than last year's.It'll be bigger in other ways, too. This year's Prime Day concert event will be headlined by Taylor Swift, arguably the biggest pop star on the planet. She will be supported by SZA, Becky G, and Dua Lipa, all of which bring their own fan bases.Last year, a different but similar event called the Amazon <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-prime-day-parties-include-ariana-grande-concert-2018-7">Music Unboxing Prime Day concert</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-prime-day-parties-include-ariana-grande-concert-2018-7"> was headlined by Ariana Grande</a>, a massive pop star in her own right. Like this year's concert will be, it was streamed on Prime Video for Prime members. It was more of a one-off concert than the holistic event this year.Amazon is promising "a first-of-its-kind event that celebrates the best in Amazon entertainment." The stream will be interspersed with new preview clips of Amazon Prime Original shows. It even has its own host, actress Jane Lynch.It's the biggest event yet tied to, and meant to draw attention to, Prime Day, which has cemented itself since its debut in 2015 as one of the top-three most important sales days of the year for Amazon.But even as Prime Day is bigger and better than ever, it does not stand alone on the world stage of glitzy sales events.Every year, Chinese giant Alibaba hosts its massive Singles Day celebration. The company was crucial in transforming the regional holiday into the largest shopping day on the Chinese calendar over the last 10 years, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/alibabas-singles-day-2018-photos-2018-11">as reported by Kate Taylor, who was at 2018's Singles Day in Shanghai</a>.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5be9321766be5008f02271d4-1821/disney.jpg" border="0" alt="disney singles day alibaba" data-mce-source="Alibaba" /></div></div></div>A four-hour gala kicks off the sales event in a massive arena now every year. Last year, the event featured numerous celebrities like model Miranda Kerr and singer Mariah Carey, who performed.It also featured numerous other segments for its variety show-like entertainment featuring performers and singers, including Allen Iverson overseeing a basketball competition.Read more: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/alibabas-singles-day-2018-photos-2018-11">We went to Alibaba's 24-hour shopping extravaganza that is like nothing in America, featuring a Mariah Carey performance and an online-shopping-themed Cirque du Soleil act. Here's what it reveals about the future of retail.</a>But that's not to distract from the main event: moving product. A giant screen projects the number that Alibaba calls its GMV, or gross merchandise volume, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/alibabas-singles-day-beats-amazon-prime-day-2018-11">which eventually tallied up more than $30 billion in sales</a> across Alibaba's sites like Tmall and physical retailers like Hema for the day.Right now, Amazon cannot compete with that. The company does not release exact sales figures for its shopping events like Prime Day, but for 2018's 36-hour Prime Day, its <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-07-19/amazon-prime-day-shopping-topped-4-billion-analyst-estimates">total sales were pegged at $4.2 billion by Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter</a>.Prime Day is regularly beating in terms of sales by other days of the year. Both Black Friday and Cyber Monday beat Prime Day in sales, according to Amazon. Right now, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-cyber-monday-black-friday-2018-biggest-shoppings-days-ever-2018-11">2018's Cyber Monday sits as Amazon's top sales day</a>.Prime Day is also younger than Singles Day, starting only in 2015. Alibaba's first modern Singles Day event was held in 2008.It's clear is that Prime Day is here to stay, and we can expect more events like this year's Singles Day-esque Prime Day concert to draw attention to it.<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/intelligence/40-big-tech-predictions-for-2019?IR=T&amp;itm_source=businessinsider&amp;itm_medium=ctgr_bii&amp;itm_term=ctgr_leadgen&amp;itm_content=amazon&amp;itm_campaign=40-big-tech-predictions-for-2019"><img src="https://static.businessinsider.com/image/5c3e00140df17634a90fd649" alt="Exclusive FREE Slide Deck: 40 Big Tech Predictions for 2019 by Business Insider Intelligence" border="0" style="width: 100% !important" /></a>

Amazon's Prime Day is looking more and more like Alibaba's $30 billion Singles Day sales event

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><a href="https://amzn.to/2XewTur" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5d161945a17d6c015c724cb4-1859/screen shot 2019-06-28 at 94159 am.png" border="0" alt="prime video" data-mce-source="Amazon" /></a>Amazon</div></div></div><ul class="summary-list"><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/prime-day-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Amazon Prime Day 2019</a> begins July 15 at 12 a.m. PT, but there are aa number of <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/early-amazon-prime-day-deals" target="_blank" rel="noopener">early deals</a> worth taking advantage of.</li><li>For a limited time, you can take 50% off rentals on <a href="https://amzn.to/2XewTur" target="_blank" rel="noopener">popular movies on Prime Video</a>. </li><li>Find the full list of <a href="https://amzn.to/2XewTur" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Prime Video movies here</a>. </li></ul>As you've probably already heard, <a href="https://amzn.to/2NjSkL6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Amazon Prime Day 2019</a> will start Monday, July 15 at 12 a.m. PT and run through Tuesday, July 16 in a 48-hour event.And while the real <a href="http://amazon.com/primeday?tag=biip_071618_amazon-prime-day-20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">barrage of deals</a> won't begin until then you can already start saving a lot of money on the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/early-amazon-prime-day-deals" target="_blank" rel="noopener">early deals</a> Amazon is releasing before Prime Day, which include both products and Amazon services. If movie nights are as essential to your summer as grilling and dips in the pool, Amazon is making them even more enticing with its early Prime Video deal. <h3>Right now, you can take 50% off rentals on popular movies on Prime Video. </h3>They start at just $1.99 and include blockbuster titles like <a href="https://amzn.to/2J3mcXV" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jordan Peele's horror hit "Us"</a> ($2.99 to rent). You have 30 days to start watching the movie once you've rented it, and 24 hours to finish once you've started it. Whether you want to keep this summer suspenseful, action-packed, or lighthearted, you'll be able to find an entertaining movie to rent on Prime Video. You can find <a href="https://amzn.to/2XewTur" target="_blank" rel="noopener">all movies available to rent on Prime Video here</a>. <div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><a href="https://amzn.to/2FDKCVU" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5d161f1ba17d6c03834efe08-1700/screen shot 2019-06-28 at 100705 am.png" border="0" alt="Screen Shot 2019 06 28 at 10.07.05 AM" data-mce-source="Amazon" /></a>Amazon</div></div></div>Prime Video will also be home to another exclusive event: the <a href="https://amzn.to/2FDKCVU" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Prime Day Concert</a> on July 10, headlined by Taylor Swift and including performances by Dua Lipa, SZA, and Becky G. The concert will stream live on Prime Video at 9 p.m. ET on July 10 for Prime members only and will be made available on demand after the live show for a limited time. To <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-shop-amazon-prime-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener">make the most of Prime Day this year</a>, you should first become a member and sign up for a <a href="https://amzn.to/2ZWvNoK" target="_blank" rel="noopener">free 30-day trial</a> to access early deals like the one above, as well as the 1 million+ sitewide deals on July 15 and 16. <h3><a href="https://amzn.to/2XewTur" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Check out Prime Video deal here</a>.</h3><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/prime-day-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Read all our Amazon Prime Day 2019 coverage here</a> as the big day approaches.</h3><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-prime-day-best-deals" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bookmark our list of the best deals of Prime Day 2019 here</a>.</h3><a href="http://e.businessinsider.com/join/ci/insider-picks">Subscribe to our newsletter.</a> Find all the best offers at our <a href="https://coupons.businessinsider.com/">Coupons page</a>. Disclosure: This post is brought to you by the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/insiderpicks">Insider Picks</a> team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners. We frequently receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising sales team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at insiderpicks@businessinsider.com.

Amazon is running an early Prime Day deal that gets you 50% off popular movie rentals on Prime Video

<ul><li><keyword id="-77" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="gaana" source="Orion">Gaana</keyword> recently reshuffled its management, bringing <keyword id="3237946" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sandeep-lodha" source="Orion">Sandeep Lodha</keyword> on board as its CEO.</li><li>We recently caught up with him and he spoke to us about the potential of the <keyword id="2435252" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="audio-streaming" source="Orion">audio streaming</keyword> space, where India is headed and the platform’s growth trajectory and all that the platform is doing to make sure it holds on to its leadership position.</li></ul>In the last 1.5 years, as most of us had to lock ourselves in our houses, music gave us that much-needed respite. While a lot of music and <keyword id="1590914" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="podcast" source="Orion">podcast</keyword> consumption used to happen during commute time in the pre-pandemic era, the lockdown led to people using music as a stress buster. Haven’t most of us streamed music in the background to make everyday chores less monotonous? There has been an increase in both the number of subscribers and the time they spend on audio streaming platforms in 2020. People have been experimenting with the kind of content they listen to, and podcast uptake has seen a significant jump. In fact, a report from KPMG revealed that India is the third-largest podcast-listening market globally and is expected to be valued at Rs 17.62 crore by 2023, growing at a CAGR of 34.5%. Currently, Times Internet-owned streaming platform Gaana is at the top of India’s audio streaming chart with a 30% market share, according to a study by Kantar and audience measurement and analytics company VTION earlier this year. The platform also recently reshuffled its management, bringing in Sandeep Lodha as its CEO. We recently got an opportunity to catch up with Lodha who spoke to us about the potential of the audio streaming space, where India is headed and the platform’s growth trajectory. Excerpts: Q) Audio streaming has witnessed a boom in India in the past few years, and Gaana has been one of the key players in the segment. In fact, reports reveal you have the market leadership position currently. What are a few things that have helped you get that edge? Over the years, we have invested heavily in understanding the musical content consumption tastes of the Indian audience. Gaana has set up an internal team on content &amp; product innovation called Gaana Innovation Labs, which will launch a suite of cutting-edge products and content formats at the concurrence of Music and technology. The team consists of people from content programming, event production, music engineering and few external consulting advisers tasked to deliver India Specific innovations. In addition to enhancing the platform experience by lieu of technology, we constantly conduct market research to drive user insights and based on the findings, we curate our offerings to meet the demands of users across India. So, be it tailoring playlists to launching properties such as Gaana Lives that assists singers / artists connect directly with the audience in the absence of Concerts, we aim to ensure that every user is catered to. The coming months you will see more of the insights being put to action as we work towards our goal of being the go-to music destination of India. On the advertiser front, we realized advertisers increasingly demand clear attribution modelling, better ROI and actionable leads, so we launched voice activated ads and dynamic audio ads. Similarly, in order to serve SMEs and MSMEs who demand local advertisers, we will bring them onboard with self-serve ads. Each of these steps have kept us ahead of the competition in the <keyword id="808056" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="music-streaming" source="Orion">music streaming</keyword> space. Q) A lot of players make the best use of algorithms, to play just the songs I want. How is Gaana strengthening its offering, to become more personalized, to give users a more holistic experience? Each music listener has a specific taste in music, languages, genres, artist’s moods etc. like a Bollywood fanatic, party lover or EDM fan. Therefore, personalization and recommendation are of utmost importance for a platform like Gaana. We pay close attention to user personalization across all our consumers and product journeys each aided with respective and suitable product interventions. Every user who enters the platform is automatically classified into various user persona buckets based on his /her journey, actions, kind of music consumed: language, era of music, genre of music, time of day, type of podcast consumed etc. etc. This allows us to be hyper-contextual to each and every user basis their personas. We are constantly working with the technology teams out here who are developing algorithms to better understand a user’s music consumption patterns across beats / mood / genre and based on that, the platform suggests music recommendations. Of course overlapping playouts on top of that. The coming months a lot of great stuff can be expected on this front. Q) How has Gaana has been enabling brands to create engaging ad experiences? How are you also ensuring that ads don't become intrusive from the user perspective? We believe ads need to have relevant and useful information, in order to not come off as intrusive. Our brand partners can target a specific audience based on their age, gender, location, weather, time and even music preferences. By matching the advertiser’s ideal target audience with our user personas, we are able to reach the right set of people at the right time. Our ‘Unwind with Taj’ campaign is a great example of what audio advertising can do for brands, where we brought alive the magic of Indian classical music for millennials. The specially curated ‘Unwind with Taj’ playlist on Gaana was aimed to serve as a destination for millennials and a set of premium audiences with refined taste to explore the splendor of a genre that showcases the music heritage across generations. Q) How have you enabled brands to create budget-friendly ads? We have recently launched a self-serve ads platform, where advertisers can plan, create and monitor their campaigns on their own. SMEs and small advertisers who are interested in hyperlocal targeting of audiences, have found huge value in both these initiatives. We believe this kind of innovation will further strengthen audio ad’s share in advertiser plans. Q) How do brands stand to benefit by partnering with you over other players from the segment? The audio streaming industry is evolving, and we believe competition in the space is healthy enough to keep the brands at a task of bringing new offerings to the table for its users and maintaining the market share. When partnering with Gaana, advertisers have access to the widest distribution of any music streaming service in the country, while having access to a rich set of audio advertising formats and an end-to-end creative studio to tailor campaigns to their individual needs. Q) How have you been using AI to bolster your ad offering? We use AI and ML capabilities extensively in our voice-enabled ads, helping our clients struggling with the “click challenge” inherent to the medium: because audio can’t be clicked – unlike the visual-based digital ads published on web and mobile interfaces. With voice activated ads, users can engage with audio ads via voice commands to take a specific action. This kind of ads empowers the listener of the audio ad on Gaana to talk back to the ad and tell it if they are interested in the offer or not. Cutting edge innovation that makes advertising more democratic than ever before. Leading the right set of users to the client. Q) What is your target in terms of the number of users you want on the platform for this financial year? We hope to continue our leadership in the music streaming sector. Our target is to increase our user base to 500 million over the next 3 years, and turn profitable in two years. During the course of the last 12 months, there has been a significant shift in audience behaviour as well as content consumption patterns. On Gaana we witnessed a substantial increase in music consumption across India. To cater to the needs of the users, we will constantly expand our library to have music right from Bollywood to regional languages such as Bhojpuri, Haryanvi, Tamil and more. Not just that, we will also focus on genre-expansion in a bid to meet the needs of our users. We aim to be the go-to platform for everything in music. Q) Where will the next phase of growth for Gaana come from? Going ahead, what will your key focus areas be? As we constantly look to expand our library and focus on diversification of music content, we strongly believe the next phase of growth would come from Indie music. As we foray into newer markets and focus on regional content, the growth is slated to stem from tier II and tier III cities as well. Our primary focus area of expansion will be diversifying our content library. We aim to have everything in music, not just in terms of languages but also genres meditation, devotion, workout and so on. We will also focus on bringing new avenues of entertainment, such as live streaming. The Dua Lipa Studio2054 concert hosted exclusively on Gaana witnessed a tremendous response with over 150,000 users attending the stream. This huge in comparison with say a concert that hosts a few thousand attendees at best. In addition to that we hosted a number of live sessions with podcasters from various categories. We are also implementing a pay per view and subscription-only model with the premium live events starting with Shankar, Ehsaan and Loy who performed live on Gaana apart from other iconic singers in the upcoming events. From a revenue aspect, there are quite a few avenues that we are looking at: Ad revenues, subscription driven revenues and promotional marketing. Q) How have podcasts been performing for you? Are you already monetizing them? There was a surge in podcast creation during the pandemic and that is primarily attributed to the low cost of investment. Podcasts have always enjoyed a loyal audience base and on Gaana too, we saw a healthy consumption on podcasts. Having said that, currently podcast consumption on Gaana comprises 1% of our minutes. We aim to be the YouTube of Podcasters and scale up 20X in the next 12 months. From an Advertising viewpoint as well, podcast listening has great value in terms of user attention and hence an opportunity for users. It’s an anytime, anywhere audio medium which provides a great platform for content creators. So from all quarters creators, suppliers, consumers and platforms - the podcast ecosystem is poised to rapidly expand and bound for exponential growth in revenues. Q) How has 2021 been in terms of growth so far? Do you anticipate consumer sentiments will pick up, thereby improving the growth for the overall audio streaming segment? Over the last year, at the beginning of the pandemic there was a stabilization in the volume of engagement of consumers. However, with time consumers discovered new content formats, new content categories and hence the engagement rates kept on growing. With the brutal second wave, clearly there was an impact on sentiments and engagement as well. With most of the major cities now unlocking the engagement numbers are back to earlier levels and we believe that with new content formats and categories being discovered, there will be a surge in engagement and consumption over the course of next few months.

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