The Weeknd Drops First-Ever Live Album, Shatters Record For Highest Debut For An HBO Max Music Special

The Weeknd's more than a «Starboy,» he's the most popular artist in the world — at least according to the Guinness World Records.On Wednesday, GWR — previously known as The Guinness Book of World Records, a reference book published annually, listing world records both of human achievements and the extremes of the natural world -- declared that the «Blinding Lights» singer is statistically the most popular musician on the planet.Citing two new Guinness World Records titles, the records company said that The Weekend, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, has not only become the artist with the most monthly listeners on Spotify, raking in 111.4 million as of March 20, but has become the first artist on the streaming platform to reach 100 million monthly listeners.GWR also notes that The Weeknd currently has almost 30 million more listeners than Miley Cyrus, who came in at second place at 82.4, with Shakira (81.6 million) coming in third.Trailing behind them, are Ariana Grande (80.6 million), Taylor Swift (80.2 million), Rihanna (78.5 million) and Ed Sheeran, who boasts a total of 77.5 million Spotify listenersThe ranking comes after the release of The Weeknd's «Die For You» remix featuring Ariana Grade. The remix has gone viral on TikTok and is being used frequently as a sound on the app.The track also hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the seventh number-one hit for both The Weeknd and Grande respectively.Outside of music, The Weeknd has been making headlines for his new HBO series, , following a bit of back and forth with music magazine .

Joe Otterson TV Reporter HBO Max is developing a drama series based on the life of Heidi Fleiss, Variety has learned exclusively. The untitled series hails from writer and executive producer Maggie Cohn, who most recently served as the co-showrunner on HBO Max’s critically acclaimed limited series “The Staircase.” Fleiss will serve as a consultant on the project. Emma Tillinger Koskoff (“Joker,” The Irishman”) of First Love Films will also executive produce, along with Alex Goldstone (“Dickinson”) for Anonymous Content, Bill Gerber (“Muhammed Ali,” “A Star Is Born”) of Gerber Pictures, and David Bernon, Paul Bernon, and Sam Slater of Burn Later Productions (“Support the Girls,” “Mile 22,” “Drinking Buddies”).

The Weeknd has been named the world’s most popular artist in terms of Spotify statistics.That’s according to a new report by Guinness World Records in which the Spotify data of some of the biggest acts in the music industry has been analysed.The number of monthly listeners on the streaming platform is a key metric in Guinness‘ report. Abel Tesfaye aka The Weeknd has 111.4million monthly listeners.It comes weeks after Tesfaye became the first artist and so far the only act in Spotify history to hit 100million monthly listener milestone [via Billboard].The next artist on the list is Miley Cyrus, who currently tallies 82.4million monthly listeners.

“the world’s most popular artist.”The 33-year-old “Starboy” singer currently holds the Guinness title for the most monthly listeners on Spotify (male) at 111.6 million, which also makes him the first artist to reach 100 million monthly listeners on the platform, Guinness confirmed to The Post on Tuesday. His Spotify numbers even soar above other high-ranking acts, including Miley Cyrus, who has 82.3) million monthly listeners, Shakira (81.7 million), Taylor Swift (80.3 million) and Rihanna (78.2 million).The Weeknd’s closest male competitor, Ed Sheeran, has 77.5 million monthly Spotify listeners.

The Weeknd has been breaking more records.

It's a pop emergency - Madonna is in the studio with Max Martin working on new music. 

The Weeknd has settled a copyright infringement case relating to his 2018 track ‘Call Out My Name’, it has been reported.The song featured on his first EP ‘My Dear Melancholy’ and saw the star singing over a minimal, melancholy R&B backing.In 2021, Suniel Fox and Henry Strange – who make up the electro duo Epikker – filed a lawsuit against The Weeknd and producers Frank Dukes and Nicolas Jaar, claiming that ‘Call Out My Name’ plagiarised their unreleased song ‘Vibeking’. The pair claimed that his track pulled from their vocal hook and lead guitar part.Now, a new filing in the case states that all parties have reached a settlement.

Love Island's Jessie Wynter recently enjoyed her "first ever" trip to Tesco after jetting to the UK with boyfriend Will Young. Jessie, 26, who found fame on Love Island Australia before appearing on the UK version, lives in Sydney, Australia but opted to jet to London with Will, 22, when Love Island finished.

Lukas Gage is speaking out about his romance with celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton, who he’s rumoured to be dating.

Jenna Ortega is excited about working with The Weeknd.

 claiming that the production of  is having issues, the show's stars, The Weeknd and Lily-Rose Depp, and HBO are speaking out in defense of the project.On Wednesday, released a lengthy article claiming that the series — helmed by 's Sam Levinson — has «gone wildly, disgustingly off the rails» with regard to chaotic scheduling, going over budget and last-minute script changes and overhauls on graphically violent and sexual scenes.In response, The Weeknd — whose real name is Abel Tesfaye — shot back at the report, sharing a clip from the series, in which The Weeknd's character — a cult leader and self-help guru named Tedros — slams magazine for being «irrelevant.»The Weeknd threw additional shade in the caption, writing, "@rollingstone did we upset you?"A post shared by The Weeknd (@theweeknd) editor-in-chief Noah Shachtman replied to The Weeknd's message with two recent covers featuring the artist, writing, «Not at all!» Not at all! https://t.co/jKuDh7xAHQpic.twitter.com/TgLkYvsG9nIn the scene, Tedros is cozied up with pop star Joceyln (Lily-Rose Depp), as her publicist (Dan Levy) pitches the idea of Joceyln doing a photo shoot for the magazine."? Aren't they a little irrelevant?" Tedros asks, before pulling out his phone to look at their Instagram. " has six million followers on Instagram, half of them probably bots.

Ariana Grande, is living her dream while filming and she couldn't be happier for her.«She is so in Oz right now,» the 33-year-old singer/songwriter told ET's Deidre Behar at the Billboard Women in Music event on Wednesday about Grande's upcoming role as Glinda in the upcoming movie musical. «Literally, she's in that place and we're just staying in communication and I miss her so much. I'm like, 'When are you coming home?' It's such a long filming process but I'm so happy for her. This has been a dream of hers since she was a child.

The forthcoming HBO show The Idol is said to be “the sleaziest love story in all of Hollywood,” according to its very own promo push from late last summer. And considering its creators — Euphori

Shutting it down. The Weeknd fired back after Rolling Stone published a scathing report that claimed his upcoming HBO show, The Idol, has gone “off the rails.”

 claiming that the production of The Weeknd's new HBO series,  is having issues, the singer-turned-actor has fired back at the publication.On Wednesday, released a lengthy article claiming that the show — created alongside s Sam Levinson — has «gone wildly, disgustingly off the rails» with regard to chaotic scheduling, going over budget and last-minute script changes and overhauls on graphically violent and sexual scenes.In response, The Weeknd — whose real name is Abel Tesfaye — shot back at the report Wednesday afternoon, sharing a clip from the series, in which The Weeknd's character — a cult leader and self-help guru named Tedros — slams magazine for being «irrelevant.»The Weeknd threw additional shade in the caption, writing, "@rollingstone did we upset you?"A post shared by The Weeknd (@theweeknd)In the scene, Tedros is cozied up with pop star Joceyln (played by Lily-Rose Depp), as her publicist (played by Dan Levy) pitches the idea of Joceyln doing a photo shoot for the magazine."? Aren't they a little irrelevant?" The Weeknd's Tedros asks, before pulling out his phone to look at their Instagram. " has 6 million followers on Instagram, half of them probably bots.

Rolling Stone story published Wednesday, many of the 13 anonymous sources claiming to be close to the project described the director’s scripts as including disturbing sexual and physically violent scenes between The Weeknd, 33, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, and Lily-Rose Depp, 23. “It was like any rape fantasy that any toxic man would have in the show — and then the woman comes back for more because it makes her music better,” one anonymous source told the publication.The series follows Depp’s character, a pop star named Jocelyn, who meets a nightclub owner, Tedros (The Weeknd), who secretly happens to run a cult similar to NXIVM and Scientology.In one example, Levinson allegedly proposed a scene in which Jocelyn was reportedly expected to successfully place and carry an egg in her vagina.

The Weeknd is set to star in an as-yet-untitled feature film, which he also co-wrote and is co-producing. The film also stars Jenna Ortega of ‘Wednesday’ fame and Barry Keoghan, who recently appeared in ‘The Banshees of Inisherin’.Co-written by Reza Fahim, Trey Edward Shults, Kevin Turen and Harrison Kreiss, details of the film are currently being kept under wraps.

The Weeknd has landed his first starring role in a movie, which Oneohtrix Point Never will score.The film, which as yet is untitled, was co-written by the singer with director Trey Edward Shults and will also star Wednesday actor Jenna Ortega and The Banshees Of Inisherin‘s Barry Keoghan.It has also been confirmed that the movie will be soundtracked by Oneohtrix Point Never, who previously worked with Abel Tesfaye on his 2022 album ‘Dawn FM’ and remixed the title track.The Weeknd previously appeared in 2019’s Netflix movie Uncut Gems and he is set to appear in HBO series The Idol as a self-help guru, club owner and leader of a modern-day cult, who begins dating an up-and-coming pop artist played by Lily-Rose Depp. It was co-created with Euphoria creator Sam Levinson.Meanwhile, Tesfaye recently shared a remix of his 2016 song ‘Die For You’, featuring new vocals from longtime collaborator Ariana Grande.The song first appeared on the tracklist of The Weeknd’s third studio album, ‘Starboy’.

The Weeknd is quickly positioning himself as a rising media mogul. Still fresh off producing and co-wiring a new TV series that he'll star in later this year, the singer has followed the exact same blueprint for the big screen.The «Earned It» singer is set to star in his own yet-to-be-named film, which he also co-wrote (alongside Reza Fahim and Trey Edward Shults)  and produced.

The Weeknd has become the first artist to reach 100 million monthly listeners on Spotify.