Pop Shots – Very Becoming

Welcome to your weekly dose of pop world musings. Covering all things pop culture, this week Pop Shots is hitting you with thoughts on everything from Demi Lovato becoming animated, to Britney Spears becoming a resident of Mexico, to Dead & Company becoming a mainstay at the Sphere, and since this is Pop Shots you know everything is seasoned with a little bit of attitude.

* Fans of Demi Lovato can now play as an animated version of her in the mobile game Subway Surfers. Lovato’s character is available as an in-app purchase through January 5th, with all the profits being donated to environmental projects. I’ve never heard of the game, but have to assume subway surfers are yet another reason my train will be delayed.

* Zayn Malik canceled a concert in Newcastle, England just minutes before showtime due to vocal issues. Apparently no one wanted to let him know that’s how he sounds all the time.

* Buoyed by The Tortured Poets Department being Spotify’s most listened to album of 2024, Taylor Swift was named the steaming service’s top artist of the year. Sabrina Carpenter, meanwhile, had the most streamed single with “Espresso.” So tortured poets, and espresso … 2024 was basically one really long terrible day at your local coffee shop.

* Britney Spears celebrated her 43rd birthday by declaring herself officially single, and revealing that she’s moved to Mexico. Sounds like pretty soon border patrol is gonna have a tough call to make.

* Dead & Company have booked a second residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas, this one being an 18-show run that will go from March through May, and celebrate the tenth anniversary of the current version of the band. Eighteen dates of the Dead? Jesus Christ, you’re gonna catch a contact high walking into the Sphere all the way until Thanksgiving.

* On February 7th, two days before Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, Post Malone will perform a free show at The Fillmore, as he headlines the Bud Light Backyard Super Bowl concert (needless to say, the show is 21+). I hope security is good at the venue, because if Bud Light is involved, chances are Kid Rock will shoot at it.

* Falling In Reverse was forced to cancel their U.K. tour after frontman Ronnie Radke was denied a visa due to his criminal history. Wait … there are ways of keeping Ronnie Radke out of a country? Hey America, step it up!

* Chris Brown notched his 20th #1 song on Billboard’s Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart. This puts him in a second place tie with Lil Wayne for the most #1s since the chart began in 1992. Brown and Weezy only trail Drake, who has topped the chart a whopping 46 times. That said, Brown’s 20 hits do not include all the hits he’s rained down on his significant others. If those were included he’d be far ahead of Drake.

* British alternative rock band Sports Team were robbed at the beginning of their U.S. tour during a stop at a Starbucks outside of San Francisco. Apparently, after someone informed them their tour van was being ransacked, the band attempted to stop the robbery, only to be held at gunpoint. After calling the police, the authorities told them no officers would be coming to the scene of the crime, and that the band should file a report online. In a related story, I can’t wait to hear Sports Team’s indie rock twist on a certain Public Enemy classic …

That’s all for this edition of Pop Shots, but come back next Monday for more shots on all things pop.