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“Music Moguls of the Year: Beyoncé and Jay-Z Make Records and Break Them - Variety” plus 2 more

“Music Moguls of the Year: Beyoncé and Jay-Z Make Records and Break Them - Variety” plus 2 more


Music Moguls of the Year: Beyoncé and Jay-Z Make Records and Break Them - Variety

Posted: 28 Aug 2019 08:20 AM PDT

"Damn, look at us now … we came, and we saw, and we conquered it all," the music industry's ultimate power couple proselytize on "LoveHappy," the song that caps their 2018 Grammy-winning album, "Everything Is Love." A more fitting title might have been "Everything Is Money," because the collection was also an ode to the Carters' combined wealth.

While Beyoncé and Jay-Z have problems just like every married couple, no other husband-and-wife team has mined its relationship woes for a musical trilogy (including separate solo albums "Lemonade" and "4:44," respectively), adding to an already formidable nest egg in the process. Clearly, things have changed since 2003's "Crazy in Love," the pair's first collaboration, which features a video shot on the grimy streets of downtown L.A. Last year, they shut down the Louvre to film the clip for "Apeshit," an apt symbol for just how far the Carters have come. Beyoncé may rap, "My success can't be quantified," on the song "Nice," but Forbes says she has a net worth of $400 million. Along with Jay-Z, a newly minted billionaire, they are among the richest couples in the nation. Queen Bey and Hov — along with daughter Blue Ivy and twins Rumi and Sir — are arguably the equivalent of America's royal family.

Among the innumerable things that extreme wealth affords is the freedom for Jay-Z to throw shade at the likes of the commander in chief ("Your president tweeting about Hov like he knows us," he spits on "Salud!") and the Recording Academy ("Tell the Grammys fuck that zero-for-eight shit," he declares on "Apeshit"). Beyoncé, too, has been inspired to dis, taking a swipe at Spotify ("If I gave two fucks about streaming numbers / Would have put 'Lemonade' up on Spotify," she sings on "Nice" — although three years after its release, she did.) The Carters even have their own streaming service, Tidal, of which Jay is the primary owner, but both have stakes. They also share a passion for giving back with individual charities — BeyGood and the Shawn Carter Foundation — and joint donation of scholarships for 11 high school students to attend college in the fall.

Beyoncé has nothing bad to say about Netflix, however, having earned $60 million for a three-project deal that kicked of with the Emmy-nominated "Homecoming" documentary of her 2018 Coachella performance. Or Disney, for that matter: The performer was reportedly paid $25 million for her multifaceted role in the live-action remake of "The Lion King," which included recording and curating the movie's sort-of soundtrack album, "The Gift." It may prove to be the gift that keeps on giving this awards season: An Oscar nom for her original song "Spirit" could put her one step closer to membership in the exclusive EGOT club.

Jay-Z, meanwhile, has bolstered his fortune through liquor (he owns Armand de Brignac Champagne and partners with Bacardi for D'Ussé Cognac); real estate (New York City penthouse? Check. East Hampton mansion? Check. Bel Air palace? Check); an art collection valued at d $70 million (including pieces by Jean-Michel Basquiat and Damien Hirst); the sports and entertainment management firm Roc Nation (its client roster features Rihanna and Shakira as well as superstar athletes); and stakes in companies such as Uber. And while he has taken shots for his recently announced controversial partnership with the NFL (which he had harshly criticized for its stance on Colin Kaepernick's protests over police brutality and racial injustice), a social-change element is built into the deal, along with a check for an undisclosed but doubtless enormous amount.

On top of their individual solo tours, the Carters' two international treks together — "On the Run" in 2014 and last year's "OTR II" — made a combined total of more than $350 million, proving that the popularity of these married moguls continues to grow along with the size of their family. As Beyoncé puts it on the song "Boss": "My great-great-grandchildren already rich / That's a lot of brown children on your Forbes list."

Popular on Variety

Beyoncé Lost an Emmy to James Corden, and Twitter Is Fuming - HarpersBAZAAR.com

Posted: 16 Sep 2019 10:07 AM PDT

  • Beyoncé's Netflix documentary, Homecoming, which offered a behind-the-scenes look at her 2018 Coachella performance, was shut out at the Creative Arts Emmys this weekend.
  • Fans were especially upset that the project lost to James Corden's Carpool Karaoke series in the Outstanding Variety Special category.
  • The Beyhive unleashed their thoughts on Twitter.

Hell hath no fury like the Beyhive. Beyoncé's fans sounded off on Twitter this weekend after the singer's Homecoming documentary, which chronicles the grueling preparations for her 2018 Coachella performance, was shut out at the Creative Arts Emmys this weekend.

The project, which was released in April, was nominated in six categories, per IndieWire, including: Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded), Outstanding Production Design (Variety Special), Outstanding Music Direction, Outstanding Writing (Variety Special), Outstanding Costumes (Variety/Nonfiction/Reality), and Outstanding Directing (Variety Special).

The fact that Bey's team went home empty-handed hurt, but losing to James Corden's Carpool Karaoke series just rubbed salt into the wounds, with some fans claiming that Homecoming was more technically impressive than the late-night sing-along. They did not hold back on Twitter.

Even one of Beyoncé's cameramen, Ben Hagarty, joined the conversation.

This wasn't Beyoncé's first time getting nominated—and snubbed—for an Emmy. Her visual album, Lemonade, was nominated for Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special in 2016; the TV broadcast of her and Jay-Z's On the Run Tour was nominated for Outstanding Special Class Program in 2015; and her Super Bowl halftime performance was nominated in the Short-Format Live-Action Entertainment Program in 2013. She's yet to bring a trophy home.

Fans were hoping that this year's awards circuit could bring Beyoncé one letter closer to EGOT status (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony wins). So far, the singer has crossed off only the G in that acronym, with nearly two dozen Grammys under her belt. There's still hope for her to earn an Oscar nod for her original music created for The Lion King remake.

Beyoncé's Top 50 Songs, Ranked in Order - Cosmopolitan

Posted: 04 Sep 2019 12:00 AM PDT

While it's extremely upsetting today isn't an international holiday, Beyoncé's 38th birthday is still cause to celebrate and crack open some sort-of-vegan refreshment (water?) in her honor. And while you pour one out for her—and Tina, for bringing her into this world—here's a definitive ranking of her top 50 songs to mull over.

But before we begin! Let's get one thing straight: Beyoncé has no bad songs. She's never heard of one, never experienced one, and certainly never recorded one. But some songs are obviously better than others, so this very necessary ranking of her top songs is in order of good to great to outstanding. And no, there will be no mention of that Ed Sheeran song for obvious reasons that have nothing to do with her. Shall we?

50. "Signs," Dangerously in Love

This was the first introduction to astrology for a lot of people, and as Cosmo's astro section shows, it's only gotten more nuanced from here. But even if Beyoncé probs could've benefitted from more detailed astro guides, it's still fun to hear your sign come around each time the chorus plays.

49. "Freakum Dress," B'Day

Because "put your going out dress on" isn't as catchy, amirite?

48. "Yes," Dangerously in Love

I love a Beyoncé ballad that schools a man in a little common sense.

47. "Check on It," B'Day

This is a solid and catchy song that you'd dance to at parties, but it's also somewhat forgettable among all Beyoncé's other hits, despite making it to the number one spot on the Hot 100 charts. All in all, it's a really, really good song featured on a soundtrack, and The Pink Panther was lucky to have Beyoncé mentioned in the same breath.

46. "Work It Out," Austin Powers-Goldmember O.S.T

The only two good things Austin Powers has done for this world: It brought us this song and gave curly girls some major hairspo. (Okay, that Britney Spears cameo was great too, but we're talking about Bey here!)

45. "Brown Skin Girl," The Lion King: The Gift

A song from Bey and the heir to the Knowles-Carter throne for brown skin girls all across the world. We must bow down.

44. "Dangerously in Love 2," Dangerously in Love

Even without Kelly and Michelle's harmonies from the original "Dangerously in Love" on the Survivor album, Beyoncé's range is still on full display. I mean, the last minute of the song speaks for itself. Unfortunately, trying to hit these notes is dangerous for your vocal cords if you're not a trained musician.

43. "Get Me Bodied (Extended Mix)," B'Day

Who doesn't love a song that gives you every single dance move needed to keep up on the dance floor? It's the Electric Slide of this generation.

42. "Beautiful Ones," Live Prince Cover

Yes, this is a Prince cover, but she owned it and truly made it hers, as any American Idol judge worth their salt would say. Beyoncé's been performing this live for years, but she infuses it with more soul each and every time she takes the stage.

41. "Spirit," The Lion King: The Gift


Perhaps the best test of a musician is making a movie soundtrack—especially a classic Disney one—sound inventive and like something you'd actually listen to on the radio. With hits on the Lion King, Austin Powers, Dreamgirls, Fighting Temptations, and Pink Panther soundtracks, Beyoncé passes with flying colors.

40. "Naughty Girl," Dangerously in Love

Wow, anybody else sing this song at a ripe old 10 years of age much to the dismay of any adults around you?

39. "If I Were a Boy," I Am...Sasha Fierce

Okay, nobody is saying Beyoncé copied Ciara's "Like a Boy" song, because they have completely different vibes, but this song suffers from same issue those Friends With Benefits and No Strings Attached movies had. Too similar for comfort! Great song otherwise though! The emotions, I felt 'em.

38. "Sweet Dreams," I Am...Sasha Fierce

An upbeat bop that makes you want to scream-sing the chorus obviously deserves solid placement on this list. And the fact that she recorded this song in 15 minutes is nothing to sneeze at! Most of us can't even roll out of bed in less than 15 minutes!

37. "Until the End of Time," Future Sex/Love Sounds

Not to be confused with her "End of Time" anthem, Beyoncé graced a Justin Timberlake track back in 2007 and her vocals a hundred percent overshadowed his. Sorry, JT, this is Beyoncé's song now. If you have a flare for dramatics, play this song while you stare out the window on a rainy day. You'll thank me later.

36. "Ring the Alarm," B'Day

This song is such a banger that it made Bey tumble down a set of stairs after she whipped her hair a little too much during a live performance. Naturally, she recovered like a pro though.

35. "Mood 4 Eva," The Lion King: The Gift

While I'm pissed I've been shamed into never staying at the Ramada Inn again, I'm a better person for it. Thank you, Bey.

34. "Freedom," Lemonade

Coming out in the height of the presidential election, this song seemed to bottle up so much of the strife, anger, fear, and general uneasiness in society and flip it upside down and turn it into a battle cry.

33. "XO," Beyoncé

This YouTube comment put it best: "Man wtf is this feeling? My eyes are tearing up but I'm not sad."

32. "Ego," I Am...Sasha Fierce

Beyoncé tells no lies. She can do whatever TF she wants—including rocking those controversial one-inch bangs—because she can back it up and has the ego to boot. This is a prime song to play during the pregame to get you ready to own the night.

31. "Baby Boy," Dangerously in Love

This dance break was the dance break to end all dance breaks. There will never be another like it, and that's the truth with a capital T.

30. "Best Thing I Never Had," 4

A breakup anthem that will smack you upside the head and remind you you're the best thing that loser ev👏 er👏 had.

29. "Hold Up," Lemonade

Honestly, the most laid-back melody for someone who has been pushed to the edge. If Gone Girl were a song, this would be it. She kept it chill and fun, yet here goes this man cheating on Beyoncé of all people! SMH.

28. "All Night," Lemonade

Understandably, this song tends to get buried beneath the Lemonade heavy hitters like "6 Inch," "Don't Hurt Yourself," "Sorry," but it's the best possible ending to an album that took listeners through the hurt she endured from Jay-Z's infidelity and how they worked through it. Not to be cheesy, but it's the perfect love song for an occasionally imperfect relationship.

27. "Dance for You," 4

Years before Beyoncé was banishing dudes with a simple "Boy, bye," she was singing "Loving you is really all that's on my mind" and talking about how she can't thank her S.O. enough. Also, for someone who is so private about her life, hearing her sing about giving someone a lap dance is truly something to ponder, like, for life.

26. "Part II (On the Run)," Magna Carta Holy Grail

A much-needed follow-up to her and Jay-Z's "Bonnie & Clyde," "Part II" squashed all that relationship drama surrounding their first On the Run tour. When people say Bey has a body of work, this is what they mean!

25. "Sorry," Lemonade

Better! Call! Becky! With! The! Good! Hair! 'Nuff said.

24. "Feeling Myself," The PinkPrint

A body-positive, sex-positive, Beyoncé-Nicki-Minaj-positive bop!

23. "Irreplaceable," B'Day

This is a good know-your-worth song, but I'll never be able to forgive radio DJs for overplaying it in 2006. Sorry, but sometimes external forces can taint a song, and that's unfortunately what happened in this case.

22. "Run the World (Girls)," 4

I mean, what other song makes you lose all control of your shoulders?

21. "Upgrade U," B'Day

Remember when Beyoncé used to do TV commercials and promote DIRECTV with this here song? Thankfully, she's not doing that anymore or we'd all be broke from buying whatever she endorses.

20. "Listen (From Dreamgirls)," B'Day

An original song written by Bey for an Oscar- and Grammy-winning movie. The way the lyrics change from "I followed the voice you gave to me" to "I followed the voice you think (!) you gave to me." Whew! The power that that has.

19. "7/11," Beyoncé

This song can only be described as utter nonsense and proves Bey can be completely ridiculous in the best way possible. It's pure fun! There's seriously no need to question this song or write any think pieces about it. Unlike Shrek and onions, there are no layers to this one, and that's the beauty of it. Just spin around with your hands up and be happy, dammit!

18. "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)," I Am...Sasha Fierce

Can you even call yourself a member of the Beyhive if you didn't spend your whole adolescence perfecting the choreography from this music video? Seriously, the video alone made Kanye West risk his entire career by interrupting Taylor Swift's VMAs speech!

17. "Daddy Lessons," Lemonade

Beyoncé (and, yes, other artists before her) walked and dealt with all that backlash after the Country Music Awards so that future black musicians with an affinity for country music can run. Now, if only we could get her on an "Old Town Road" remix.

16. "Déjà-vu," B'Day

Not many artists get compared to the great Tina Turner, but Beyoncé's vocals and dance moves in the music video were right up there with the "Proud Mary" singer. This song—along with "Ring the Alarm"— helped Bey win the Best Contemporary R&B album at the Grammys in 2006.

15. "Love on Top," 4

This song immediately slid into the cookout playlist hall of fame and all holiday weekends are better for it.

14. "I Care," 4

A song to play whenever someone tells you "So what?" after you praise Beyoncé for posting an Instagram with an actual caption. But seriously, the harmonies in this are Grammy-worthy, if only the Recording Academy would wake TF up!

13. "Halo," I Am...Sasha Fierce

Beyoncé always uses this in her encore, so I can't wholeheartedly approve of a song that symbolizes the end of a Beyoncé concert. I simply cannot! No matter how much her stunning vocals make me want to cry!

12. "***Flawless," Beyoncé

Let's pour one out for Beyoncé, who inspired us all to send Snapchats to our friends first thing in the morning and with our hair and teeth unbrushed and pimple cream on. Flawless, amirite!?

11. "Drunk in Love," Homecoming: The Live Album

The live Coachella version added the Swag Surf to the end and provided a whole other level to the song that the world never knew it needed. Beyoncé anticipates and fulfills our every need before we even know about them ourselves.

10. "Diva," I Am...Sasha Fierce

Once I get the confidence level of Beyoncé, it's over for you guys.

9. "Countdown," 4

This song is like "The Twelve Days of Christmas" but with way more thought put into the lyrics.

8. "Apeshit," Everything Is Love

Yes, technically this is from The Carters, but she did THAT. Petition to put Bey on all those Top 50 Rap Artists of All Time lists floating around out there.

7. "Crazy in Love," Dangerously in Love

The song that kicked off her solo career. There has never been a better debut song in history. Period!

6. "Blow," Beyoncé

Roller disco music is such an underserved genre these days, and all I can say is we need more songs like "Blow."

5. "Me, Myself, and I," Dangerously in Love

The only gripe anyone could have with this song is that it has no mention of Solange, who threw down in an elevator 11 years later and always has Beyoncé's back. Regardless, the song is a forever mood.

4. "Partition," Beyoncé

"Partition" picked up where "Dance for You" left off, and this one is way more...detailed. I never imagined the day when we'd all know Jay-Z likes to call her "Peaches" and once "Monica Lewinsky'd" on Bey's House of Deréon couture. And the way that she seamlessly transitions from rapping on the "Yoncé" intro to something way more sensual to inserting a little lesson in feminism and sexual freedom (in FRENCH!) is no easy feat.

3. "1+1," 4

Beyoncé is here to school us in love and arithmetic, and even though I hated math class, I'm not even mad about that last bit. If there's one thing Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter knows how to do, it's sang, and that's exactly what she did in this stripped-down serenade that never feels dated.

2. "Party," 4

Still not convinced that fun even existed before this song and video dropped. The only thing that can compete with "Party" is the way Beyoncé's marching band and majorette brought it to life at Coachella, and of course, "Formation."

1. "Formation," Lemonade


        If there was ever any doubt about who Beyoncé makes music for, she answers that in a matter of three minutes. Sometimes songs and videos that have such a pointed message— like "Formation" does—tend to feel like homework when you listen to and watch them, but this one is an empowering anthem that conveys her pride in being a black woman and her pride in her community. You'll want to add to every single playlist.


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