Music News

On Wednesday (July 9), Harper’s Bazaar published their list of the 50 “Hottest Men Of All Time,” which includes Tupac Shakur at No. 2, Lenny Kravitz at No. 3, Bad Bunny at No. 8, and Elvis Presley at No. 17. Other musicians like Maluma, Zayn Malik, and A$AP Rocky also made the list, along with actors such as Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, and Keanu Reeves. The No. 1 spot was claimed by actor James Dean, with his fellow Old Hollywood stars Paul Newman and Marlon Brando also making the list. According to the tally, Bad Bunny reached his “peak” hotness level in March when he showed off his abs in his steamy Calvin Klein ads, while Pac’s hottest moment was during his shirtless appearance in the “Hit ‘Em Up” music video, and Elvis’ hotness peak occurred every time he did his notorious “Jailhouse Rock” dance moves. (Billboard) 

Kanye West's Shanghai concert on Saturday night (July 12) faced backlash as fans demanded refunds due to his late arrival, erratic behavior, and early departure. The show, billed as Ye’s first full-length concert in nearly a year, was marred by technical issues and minimal stage production, with the rapper performing alone in the rain at Shanghai Stadium. Attendees were left confused and frustrated by West's delayed start, and once he finally did take the stage,  technical issues with the DJ caused Ye to stop and restart multiple songs. Following the rapper’s abrupt early exit, fan shot footage captured the crowd chanting for refunds. Fans paid upwards of $400USD for tickets to the show, and took to Chinese social media to voice their displeasure, with one user saying they had “never seen such a poorly organized concert.” (Consequence of Sound)

Travis Scott and Cactus Jack released the highly-anticipated JACKBOYS 2 compilation album on Sunday (July 13) in honor of ‘713 Day,’ paying homage to the area code of Scott's hometown of Houston. The set serves as a sequel to Scott’s 2019 JACKBOYS project, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Scott hyped the new collection with an Instagram post on Friday, with a promotional image boasting, “The Jack is back with 17 new tracks full of trunk rattling classics in the making. Hosted by Bun B of UGK.” JACKBOYS 2 features Scott alongside hip-hop stars like Sheck Wes, Don Toliver, GloRilla, 21 Savage, Kodak Black, Waka Flocka Flame, and more. Scott also offered fans various merchandise collections tied to the release, and CD/vinyl bundles featuring alternate cover art. This continues a busy year for Scott, who headlined Coachella in April, after scoring another No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 with “4×4” in February. The rap star also made a series of surprise appearances at high-profile WWE events. (Billboard)

During her Cowboy Carter Tour stop in Atlanta on Thursday (July 10), Beyoncé swapped out her flying red convertible stage prop for a gold mechanical horse that she rode above the crowd during her performance of "16 Carriages." This change followed a scary stage malfunction in Houston on June 28 when the red convertible tilted mid-air during the song, leaving the 35-time Grammy winner suspended at an awkward angle while they lowered the car to the floor. Beyoncé previously rode on a silver horse during the Renaissance Tour in 2023, mirroring the album's cover, with the singer also sitting atop a horse on the album cover for Cowboy Carter. Beyoncé continues her Cowboy Carter Tour with the final show of a four-night stand at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Monday (July 14), with the tour concluding on July 25-26 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. (People)

Morgan Wallen’s I’m the Problem has now spent its first two months at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, after it debuted atop the chart following its release on May 16. Wallen’s three chart-topping albums (I’m the Problem, One Thing at a Time, and Dangerous: The Double Album) have spent a combined total of 37 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, tying the country superstar with Harry Belafonte and Drake for the fifth-most weeks at No. 1 among solo male artists in chart history, trailing Elvis Presley (67 weeks), Garth Brooks (52), Michael Jackson (51), and Elton John (39).

Other notable moves in this week’s Billboard 200 Top 10 include the KPop Demon Hunters Soundtrack hitting a new peak by climbing one spot to No. 2, while Toby Keith’s former chart-topper, 35 Biggest Hits, vaults up 34 places to reach No. 9 due to streaming surges around Independence Day. Elsewhere in the Top 10, Wallen’s One Thing at a Time jumps up three spots to No. 3, SZA’s SOS climbs three slots to No. 4, Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet rises four places to No. 5, Wallen’s Dangerous: The Double Album vaults up five spots to No. 6, Bad Bunny’s Debí Tirar Más Fotos jumps up nine slots to No. 7, Karol G’s Tropicoqueta falls three places to No. 8, and PARTYNEXTDOOR and Drake’s $ome $exy $ongs 4 U rises seven spots to No. 10. (Billboard)

Tomorrow X Together have announced that they are bringing their highly-anticipated Act: Tomorrow 2025 World Tour to the U.S. The K-pop boy band will make stops in seven major cities, including the U.S. tour kickoff on September 9 in San Jose, followed by a high-profile stadium stop in Los Angeles, before hitting arenas in Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta, and Washington D.C., and finishing with a two-night stand at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on October 1-2. This tour follows their successful run of shows in the U.S. in 2024, and marks their third world tour in as many years, with prior stops scheduled in Europe, China, and Japan. The announcement coincides with the July 21 release of the group’s fourth studio LP, The Star Chapter: Together, which marks the second and final instalment of the band's Star Chapter series. (Rolling Stone)

Kanye West faces new accusations of sexual battery and sex trafficking from his former assistant, Lauren Pisciotta, who initially sued him in 2024 for wrongful termination and sexual harassment. The amended complaint alleges that West coerced Pisciotta into sexual encounters, made lewd comments, and subjected her to harassment and assault. Pisciotta began working for the rapper in 2021 as an A&R during the making of his album, Donda, and eventually became his personal assistant. She is demanding a trial by jury to seek general, economic, and punitive damages, including past and future lost earnings. Representatives for West have not made a statement about the new accusations, though at the time of Pisciotta’s original lawsuit in 2024, West’s lawyer put out a statement calling her accusations “baseless” while claiming that they planned to countersue. (Variety)

Temple University has unveiled a groundbreaking new course, "Kendrick Lamar and the Morale of M.A.A.D City," to be taught by Professor Timothy Welbeck in Fall 2025. The class will focus on the cultural impact of the Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper, with students giving close listens to Lamar’s Grammy-winning albums, while also receiving guest lectures from his collaborators. “Kendrick Lamar is one of the defining voices of his generation, and in many ways, both his art and life is reflective of the Black experience in many telling ways,” Welbeck says, while revealing that the college was very supportive of his course idea. “My current department chair was very open to the idea and received it almost immediately,” he says. “Our department at Temple has embraced the study of hip-hop in academic spaces.” The course, which begins in August, is now open for enrollment. (Rolling Stone)

Jennifer Hudson is set to headline the Whitney E. Houston Legacy of Love Gala at the St. Regis Hotel in Atlanta on August 9, on what would have been the late singer's 62nd birthday. The event will celebrate the 40th anniversary of Houston's groundbreaking career, with music industry legend Clive Davis serving as honorary chair. Hudson, an EGOT winner, will be joined by R&B artist Meli'sa Morgan, who sang on Houston’s self-titled debut album, along with the foundation’s Cover Song Competition winner Jimmy Vance, and a symphony orchestra previewing the upcoming North American tour of The Voice of Whitney: A Symphonic Celebration. The gala will honor Houston's legacy while also continuing her mission of supporting children and empowering youth, by offering grants to organizations like Kids in the Spotlight, and awarding scholarships for students attending HBCUs. (Billboard)

Justin Bieber is set to surprise fans with the unexpected release of his long-awaited seventh album, Swag, on Friday (July 11) via Def Jam. The highly-anticipated project, which Bieber put the finishing touches on during a getaway to Iceland in April, will likely feature collaborations with Gunna, Sexyy Red, and Cash Cobain, who recently participated in “jam sessions” with the singer. A series of social media posts that surfaced on Thursday announced the impending arrival of the surprise album, including a billboard in Iceland featuring the possible cover art that includes a black-and-white photo of Bieber alongside the word “SWAG.”

Bieber himself also shared an Instagram post featuring a Times Square billboard displaying the surprise album’s 20-song tracklist. Bieber's dedicated fans are eagerly awaiting the upcoming release, which marks the 31-year-old pop superstar’s first album since 2021’s chart-topping, Grammy-nominated, Justice. Bieber has since undergone considerable changes in his personal and professional life, including becoming a father and parting ways with longtime manager Scooter Braun. (The Hollywood Reporter)

During a recent appearance on the StageLeft podcast, Olivia Rodrigo's guitarist, Daisy Spencer, revealed that the singer generously paid for free therapy for her crew throughout the Guts Tour, as well as during their time off the road. Spencer expressed gratitude for the accessible and free therapy, emphasizing the impact it had on her mental health and well-being. “I have never had anything like that,” Spencer said. “And that reignited the importance of therapy to me because I had just kind of fallen off for so long, and then suddenly I had this free resource of incredible therapists. Honestly, that was one of the coolest things that has ever happened on tour.” Spencer detailed how Rodrigo's gesture allowed her to regularly access therapy and work through unprocessed trauma from her younger years, describing it as one of the best gifts one can receive. The act reflects a growing trend of artists openly discussing mental health struggles, with Rodrigo being a leading proponent of prioritizing mental well-being. (Billboard)

In a recent appearance on the School of Greatness podcast with his brothers Nick and Joe, Kevin Jonas revealed that he faced financial ruin after losing "almost all" of his money following the split of the Jonas Brothers. Kevin eventually restored his assets due to the group's reunion in 2019, and reflected on his personal journey from financial success to near bankruptcy on the show. “I’ve seen the beginning of the success to financial success — not knowing what money really was and understanding it — to not having [it], to losing almost all of it,” Kevin said, revealing that he lost “most of” his money, “like, down to the one 10 percent left.” Kevin didn’t share specific details of his ordeal, though he said it happened around nine years ago. “I invested in a bunch of property and doing other things and I was building at the time,” he explained. “Sadly, it wasn’t the right partnership.” (Variety) 

The new Netflix competition series, Building the Band, is dedicated to the late Liam Payne, with host AJ McLean honoring the One Direction member in the premiere episode. “When we came together to film ‘Building the Band,’ we never imagined we’d soon be saying goodbye to our friend Liam Payne,” McLean said at the beginning of the episode. “Liam is a guest judge in later episodes, and through his presence, we see his deep love for music and his unwavering commitment to helping others find their voice. It’s through that spirit that we dedicate this series to Liam and his family.” Payne will appear posthumously as a guest judge in later episodes set to arrive next week, alongside fellow judges Kelly Rowland and Nicole Scherzinger. Payne filmed scenes for the show in the summer of 2024, with his last scenes captured in August, before his tragic death in October. The first four episodes of the series are currently available for streaming, with additional episodes set to be released on July 16 and July 23. (Variety)

Ed Sheeran will showcase his Jackson Pollock-inspired paintings in London at the Heni Gallery in Soho, starting on July 10 and running until August 1. The exhibition, titled "Cosmic Carpark Paintings," will raise funds for his Ed Sheeran Foundation, which focuses on providing music education for young people. “So last year in between shows I was doing these paintings,” Sheeran wrote in an Instagram post announcing his exhibition, while adding, “I love painting, more for fun and to give to friends, but this time I was encouraged to do a show of them by @DamienHirst and @Heni.” The musician explains that, “I paint when I’m not working on a record, just to do something creative with my brain,” while admitting, “I am by no means ‘an artist’, but I do love making art, it makes me feel great, and I love the end result.” Sheeran says,”The paintings are for sale if anyone fancies it, and my proceeds from them will all go into the @edsheeranfnd so art will fund art. I like the idea of that.” (Rolling Stone)

Sean "Diddy" Combs will be sentenced on October 3 for his two prostitution convictions, after his defense team reached an agreement on the sentencing timeline with the prosecution. The defense's sentencing memorandum is due on September 19, and the prosecution’s will be expected the following week, which was agreed to and signed by presiding Judge Arun Subramanian on Tuesday (July 8). The government is seeking a prison sentence of between 51 to 63 months, while the defense is recommending between 21 to 27 months, with Combs expected to receive credit for over a year of time served. Following a nearly two-month trial, Combs was found guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, but was acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering charges. He will remain in custody at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center until the sentencing. (People)

On Monday (July 7), Frankie Grande took to Instagram to announce that an upcoming remix of his song, "Hotel Rock Bottom," will feature his sister, Ariana Grande. The track is set to be released on Friday (July 11) as part of the deluxe edition of his debut album, also titled Hotel Rock Bottom. This collaboration marks the siblings first music collaboration together, while showcasing Frankie's transition from Broadway to his own music project. Frankie captioned the post: “This song is so personal to me, and having her on it makes it even more meaningful. Can’t wait for you to hear it!!” Ariana showed her support by commenting on the post, “love you so much 🥹🥲 ♡ so proud of you and grateful to be a part of this deluxe!” Ariana remains focused on her acting career, continuing her portrayal of Glinda the good witch in the highly-anticipated Wicked sequel, Wicked: For Good, which will hit theaters on November 21. (Rolling Stone)

On Monday (July 7), Jessie J shared an emotional update on Instagram where the English pop star revealed that her breast cancer had not spread following a mastectomy. In the touching video clip, her two-year-old son Sky Safir is shown saying, “Mommy’s gonna be okay.” Jessie captioned the post: “And…I AM OK Results = I have NO cancer spread 😭😭😭 Happy tears are real 😭😭😭😭😭😭 Thank YOU for the prayers, the love, the well wishes, the joy and all the positive energy. 🥹” The singer also disclosed her plans for further reconstructive surgery to ensure a full recovery. “Lots of healing to go and one more surgery to make these cousins look more like sisters. But for now it’s gratitude time.” This positive news comes after the musician's initial announcement of her breast cancer diagnosis on June 3. During an appearance at the Summertime Ball at London’s Wembley Stadium on June 16, Jessie declared it was her "last show before I go to beat breast cancer!" (People)

In an Instagram post on Monday (July 7), Justin Bieber shared a couple adorable snapshots of his 10-month-old son, Jack Blues, joining him in the recording studio. sparking speculation about his possible musical inclinations. In the photos, Jack is seen in striped dungarees standing by a coffee table surrounded by Justin and his friends, two of whom are playing guitars, while Justin lovingly gazes at his son. The proud dad captioned his post, “💕💕💕💕💕💕💕.” This heartwarming moment follows a video posted on Sunday featuring Justin affectionately playing with Jack, as well as a carousel of snapshots featuring Justin and his wife, Hailey, sharing a sweet embrace, which the singer captioned, “My forever n always 💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕.” These tender glimpses into Justin’s personal life capture the love he has for his family, while he remains at work on the long-awaited follow-up to his chart-topping, Grammy-nominated 2021 album, Justice. (People)

Janet Jackson and Maxwell sparked romance rumors when they were spotted smiling and holding hands as they attended the 1,500th performance of Cabaret in London on Monday night (July 7). Jackson, a five-time Grammy-winning singer, and R&B star Maxwell, were captured by fans arriving together at the Playhouse Theatre, with Jackson donning an all-white pantsuit and Maxwell in all black. Fellow celebrities Eddie Redmayne and Helena Bonham Carter also attended the event. The 59-year-old Jackson divorced Wissam Al Mana eight years ago, with the former couple sharing an eight-year-old son, Eissa. In May, Jackson received the ICON Award at the 2025 American Music Awards, and recently wrapped a 10-date residency at Resorts World Theatre in Las Vegas on May 31, with six additional dates scheduled for September. (People)

During his concert in Hamburg, Germany on Saturday night (July 5), Ed Sheeran delighted fans by bringing out his childhood band along with Wheatus frontman Brendan B. Brown to perform the 2000 indie rock hit, "Teenage Dirtbag," a song he considers one of his all-time top 10 favorites. Sheeran, 34, explained that he reunited with his high school band earlier this year to perform at a friend’s wedding, and got the idea to play the song with them during his 2025 stadium tour. He then reached out to Brown to perform his band’s classic track on stage with them. Sheeran shared a video of the performance on social media, captioning his post: “Used to play Teenage Dirtbag with my high school band when I was 12. I cheekily asked Brendan from @wheatusofficial to come over and rock it with us, and being the ledge that he is, he did. One of my fav moments ever on stage. What a night.” Wheatus' Instagram page commented on the post, "BEST DAY EVER!!!! 💛🩵." (People)

Lauryn Hill took the stage at the Essence Festival in New Orleans in the early hours of July 5, starting her performance at 2:30 a.m. due to the festival lineup running behind schedule. With a sparse audience in the 83,000-seat Superdome, Hill still engaged with the small crowd, took requests, and performed alongside her sons – Zion Marley, 27, and Joshua “YG” Marley, 23 – before concluding her set at 3:37 a.m. Videos of the near-empty stadium circulated on social media, prompting fans to defend the singer while absolving her of responsibility for the late start. Hill was a late addition to an already overcrowded lineup – which also featured Maxwell, Babyface, the Isley Brothers, and GloRilla – with the evening running behind schedule from the start, with some acts finishing their set an hour after the next performers were scheduled to begin. The Essence Festival 2025 concluded on Sunday (July 6), featuring a lineup including Boyz II Men, Master P, NAS, and Doug E Fresh. (People)

During her second sold-out headlining show at BST Hyde Park in London on Sunday night (July 6), Sabrina Carpenter surprised the 65,000 fans by bringing out Duran Duran for a performance of their 1982 hit, "Hungry Like the Wolf." Before their collaboration, Carpenter had the audience howling at the moon and then introduced the legendary band to the stage. Carpenter sang harmonies while vocalist Simon Le Bon and bassist John Taylor led the way, before Sabrina took over the lead on the second verse. The Duran Duran members were clearly thrilled with the experience, sharing photos of the night on Instagram while captioning the post: “Thank you @sabrinacarpenter for having us at her epic headlining show in Hyde Park last night! “Hungry” has never sounded so good!” Carpenter is gearing up to headline Lollapalooza in Chicago on August 3, and will release her highly-anticipated new album, Man’s Best Friend, on August 29, which has already spawned the Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit, “Manchild.” (Rolling Stone)

Alex Warren’s “Ordinary” tops the Billboard Hot 100 once again, as his first career leader on the chart scores a fifth total week at No. 1. Meanwhile, Morgan Wallen notches his fifth week in 2025 with at least three songs simultaneously charting in the Hot 100’s Top Five, as “What I Want,” featuring Tate McRae, remains at No. 2, “Just in Case” rises one spot to No. 3, and “I’m the Problem” holds at No. 5. Wallen ties Kendrick Lamar for the most weeks with three or more concurrent Top Five hits in a single year among solo artists, with Lamar also posting three such weeks this year. Among all acts, only the Beatles have more such frames with eight, achieved during their historic breakthrough year of 1964.

The rest of the Hot 100 Top 10 is rounded out by Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” jumping up three spots to No. 4, Lamar and SZA’s “Luther” holding at No. 6, Sabrina Carpenter’s “Manchild” drops four slots to No. 7, Teddy Swims’ “Lose Control” moves up one place to No. 8. Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ “Die With a Smile” drops one spot to No. 9 – marking the longest-charting song in the Top 10 ever by a woman artist at 45 weeks, while also surpassing The Kid LAROI and Justin Bieber’s “Stay” for the longest such stretch for a collaboration. While Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club” returns to the Top 10 by jumping up one spot to reach No. 10. (Billboard)

During a visit to Phoenix Children’s Hospital in May, Kelsea Ballerini continued her involvement with Musicians On Call, a music-based charity that brings live and recorded music to patients in healthcare environments. In a heartwarming TikTok video shared by the charity, Ballerini sang Justin Bieber’s 2010 hit, “Baby,” with a young girl in a hospital bed, playfully passing the “mic” back and forth between the two of them during their special duet. Musicians on Call captioned the clip, “Huge thanks to @kelseaballerini for bringing joy and brightness to patients by playing their favorite songs 🎶💛 Your talent brings smiles to many!” Ballerini has been a part of the organization for nearly ten years, after helping launch the program – which now has a roster of volunteers which includes Darius Rucker, Luke Bryan, Trisha Yearwood, and Dolly Parton – in Phoenix back in 2016. After her most recent visit, Ballerini said, “it’s a beautiful way to let music be what music is, which is powerful.” (Holler)

Kelly Clarkson postponed her Las Vegas residency hours before the opening night due to vocal damage she suffered from rehearsals. In an Instagram post on Friday (July 4), the three-time Grammy-winning singer wrote: “I am devastated to have to postpone tonight and tomorrow’s opening at Caesars. The prep and rehearsals have taken a toll on my voice. I want the shows to be perfect for y’all and I need to protect myself from doing serious damage so I am taking this weekend and next week to rest up so that we can deliver what you all deserve.” Clarkson is aiming to officially kick off her Studio Sessions residency with scheduled shows on July 11-12 at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. The performances are slated to run every Friday and Saturday through August 16, with encore dates scheduled for November. Rescheduled dates for the postponed shows have not yet been announced. (Rolling Stone)

LL Cool J and Jazmine Sullivan decided to cancel their appearances at a Fourth of July festival in Philadelphia in solidarity with nearly 10,000 striking city workers. LL posted a video on social media on Thursday (July 3) that he captioned, “Dear Philly,” where the rapper explained his decision. “There’s absolutely no way that I can perform, cross a picket line and pick up money when I know that people are out there fighting for a living wage,” he said. “I hope that the mayor and the city can make a deal. I hope it works out.” Sullivan, a Grammy-winning Philadelphia native, wrote in an Instagram Story on Friday that she would support the striking workers “until the city and the union find a way to bring fair living wages to our working class. I love my city and I believe in you. Hopefully we will get to celebrate when things are better.” (Billboard)

On Friday (July 4), Drake hosted a livestream event called, “Iceman Episode One,” where the 5-time Grammy winner shared a brand new song titled, “What Did I Miss?” The track delves into the theme of fake friends and fractured loyalties, possibly related to his ongoing feud with Kendrick Lamar. While not directly naming Lamar or any of his friends, the Toronto rapper references an incident at Kendrick's Juneteenth 2024 Pop Out concert in Los Angeles where the Compton rapper performed his Drake-dissing track, “Not Like Us,” five times, while questioning the company his supposed friends – like NBA stars LeBron James and DeMar DeRozan – choose to keep. This release and accompanying livestream – where Drake drove around Toronto in a van for an ice delivery company called The Iceman – have fueled speculation of a new album, potentially titled Iceman, on the way, although no official details have been confirmed. (Rolling Stone)

On Saturday (July 5), it was revealed that Ed Sheeran's Grammy-winning 2017 single, "Shape of You," has topped Apple Music's list of the 500 Most-Streamed Songs of the Decade. The British pop superstar’s smash hit – which topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 12 weeks – surpassed The Weeknd's "Blinding Lights" (which came in at No. 2 on Apple’s list) and Drake's "God's Plan" (No. 3). The Top 10 is rounded out by popular tracks by Post Malone (“Sunflower” and “Rockstar”), Drake (“One Chance”), Travis Scott (“Sicko Mode”), Sheeran (“Perfect”), Chris Brown (“No Guidance”), and Billie Eilish (“Bad Guy”), in that order. Drake has the most songs in the Top 500 with 27, followed by Taylor Swift with 14. Apple released their list to celebrate the streaming service’s 10-year anniversary. “No one can take away the song,” Sheeran reflected to Zane Lowe in an interview surrounding the announcement. “I’ll be able to play it forever … I’m just grateful that I have songs like that, that you could be anywhere in the world and someone gives you a guitar and you can make someone happy with it.” (Billboard)

Morgan Wallen’s I’m the Problem sits atop the Billboard 200 albums chart for a seventh consecutive week, since first debuting at No. 1 following its May 16 release. The record earned 173,000 units over the past week, marking the the largest total for an album in its seventh week on the chart since Adele’s 25 earned 194,000 in its seventh week back in January 2016. Three big releases debut in the Top 10 in this week’s Billboard 200 chart, as Lorde’s Virgin premieres at No. 2 – with the pop superstar also claiming her first career No. 1 on the U.K. chart – while KATSEYE’s BEAUTIFUL CHAOS launches at No. 4, and Russ’ W!LD starts at No. 10.

Other significant moves in this week’s Top 10 include the KPop Demon Hunters Soundtrack jumping up five places to reach a new peak of No. 3, while Playboi Carti’s former chart-topper MUSIC vaults up twenty spots to claim No. 8 after the record was finally released on vinyl. The rest of the Top 10 is rounded out by Karol G’s Tropicoqueta, which falls two spots to No. 5, Wallen’s One Thing at a Time drops a spot to No. 6, SZA’s SOS plummets three slots to No. 7, and Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet slides down three places to No. 9. (Billboard)

Foo Fighters are marking their 30th anniversary with the release of a new track, "Today’s Song," the first new music from the band since their 2023 album, But Here We Are. The song – which features cover art drawn by Dave Grohl’s 15-year-old daughter, Harper – was accompanied by an emotional essay from the band’s frontman that he shared on Instagram on Wednesday (July 2). “We have followed this road together, with each other, for each other, no matter what,” Grohl wrote to his band and his fans. “Because in life, you just can’t go it alone.” He also paid tribute to the group’s beloved late drummer, Taylor Hawkins: “Your name is spoken every day, sometimes with tears, sometimes with a smile, but you are still in everything we do, everywhere we go, forever.” In additional Grohl news, the musician and his wife, Jordyn Blum, were spotted together at Wimbledon on Wednesday, their first joint public appearance since Grohl revealed that he fathered a child outside of his marriage in September 2024. (Billboard)

Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, has had his Australian visa canceled due to the release of an antisemitic song titled "Heil Hitler" in May. “He’s made a lot of offensive comments that my officials looked at again once he released [that] song,” said Tony Burke, Australia’s Minister for Immigration and Citizenship. “We have enough problems in this country already without deliberately importing bigotry.” The decision comes more than two years after the musician wed Bianca Censori, who is from Australia. This follows a series of antisemitic remarks and offensive social media posts by Ye, leading to the termination of a series of major brand partnerships while generating backlash from the Jewish community. In May, Ye claims to have experienced a change of heart, writing on X: “I am done with antisemitism. I love all people. God forgive me for the pain I’ve caused.” (Billboard)

In Los Angeles on Monday (June 30), Mariah Carey took part in an interview with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe and Ebro Darden to celebrate 10 years of the streaming service. During the chat, the 5-time Grammy winner revealed that her upcoming sixteenth studio album is finished, while hinting that the project will include "some Mariah ballads." "What is next? The album coming out,” Carey said. “I don’t wanna tell too much about it because I just don’t want to reveal the whole thing," she teased, while adding, "It’s finished." Carey went on to share that the album will consist of either "11 songs, or 12,", including her recent single, "Type Dangerous," which debuted at No. 95 on the Billboard Hot 100. Carey went on to disclose, "A second single is coming soon. I’m very excited about it," while describing the track as "very summer-y. I like the beat as well." Carey’s forthcoming new album will mark her first since 2018's Caution. (People)

Frustrated fans are experiencing playback issues with Lorde’s crystal clear Virgin CD, with many of them unable to play the disc on a variety of CD players. Discussions on Reddit and multiple TikTok posts feature annoyed fans experiencing compatibility problems with older models or in-car CD players, expressing their disappointment with the design choice and lack of alternative CD options. “Seems like older models with older sensors won’t play it,” a fan wrote. “Pretty disappointing, I know it was for an aesthetic but at least press it on normal CDs, too.” Lorde’s website shows only sold-out listings for the translucent CD, with no other CD pressing options currently available. A spokesperson for Lorde declined to comment on the issue, leaving frustrated fans hoping for a smoother listening experience with any potential future CD releases or deluxe editions. (Rolling Stone)

On Wednesday (June 2), Sean “Diddy” Combs was found guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, potentially facing up to 20 years in prison, while being found not guilty of the more serious charges of sex trafficking and racketeering. The split verdict prompted a jubilant reaction from Combs, who pumped his fist and mouthed “thank you” to the jurors. Members of his family shed tears of relief following the verdict, and they were shown leaving the courthouse amidst chants of “Freedom!” Following the gruelling eight-week trial, the defense advocated for Combs to be released on a $1 million bond before his sentencing date on the prostitution charges, while prosecutors felt he should continue to be held due to the severity of the conviction. The judge later ruled that Combs will remain in jail until his sentencing (with the date yet to be determined), citing his history of domestic violence. (Variety)

In their first collective WeVerse stream in almost three years, BTS confirmed their reunion and shared plans for a new group album and world tour in 2026. “We’ll be releasing a new BTS album in the spring of next year. Starting in July, all seven of us will begin working closely together on new music,” BTS shared. “Since it will be a group album, it will reflect each member’s thoughts and ideas. We’re also planning a world tour alongside the new album. We’ll be visiting fans all around the world, so we hope you’re as excited as we are.” This announcement comes after a lengthy hiatus that allowed members to fulfill their mandatory military service in South Korea and pursue solo projects. In addition to the reunion news, BTS’ record label Big Hit announced on Monday (June 30) that the first-ever live album from the K-pop group is arriving on July 18. Permission to Dance On Stage — Live will feature live performances of their hits, including Billboard Hot 100 chart-toppers “Dynamite” and “Butter,” recorded on BTS’ 2021-2022 Permission to Dance On Stage Tour. (Rolling Stone)

At the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Monday night (June 30), Katy Perry brought the 15-date Australian leg of her tour to an emotional close. The pop superstar finished the show in tears, following her recent split from Orlando Bloom. “Thank you for always being there for me, Australia. It means the world,” Perry said as her eyes welled up with tears and her voice cracked slightly, before adding, “Now let’s sing ‘Firework!'” Reports of Perry’s split from Bloom surfaced last week, and in the following days it was reported that the couple ended their engagement after nine years together. In August 2020, the couple welcomed their daughter, Daisy Dove. Despite these personal challenges, Perry remains committed to her ongoing Lifetimes Tour, with the North American leg kicking off on July 10 in Denver. The massive tour concludes in early December, after a total of 89 shows around the world. (Rolling Stone)

While attending the Glastonbury music festival on Saturday (June 28), Harry Styles was spotted kissing a mystery woman in the VIP section in video footage obtained by The Sun.  The woman has now been identified as producer Ella Kenny, with Styles spotted dancing and making out with her while in the middle of a crowd. This public display of affection with Kenny follows Styles' previous high-profile relationships with actressess Taylor Russell and Olivia Wilde in recent years. The Grammy-winning singer concluded his successful Love on Tour in 2023, though Styles continues to make headlines with a series of surprise public appearances as of late. He was seen in St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican on May 8 to celebrate the election of Pope Leo XIV, as well as participating in the Tokyo marathon back in March, where the musician finished ahead of over 20,000 runners with his sub-3:30 race time. (People)

In an Instagram post on Monday (June 30), Lorde opened up about the challenges of creating her new album, Virgin, after the record had been out for three days. The Grammy-winning pop superstar singled out "Favourite Daughter" as the toughest to write, produce, and sing. The track, which Lorde admits “Kicked my ass,” delves into her complex relationship with her mother, the poet Sonja Yelich. Lorde shared a series of insights about various tracks on the album, revealing that the record-closing tune, “David,” was the “First song started (and second to last finished),” while “Clearblue” was the “Last song started,” and “Broken Glass” was the final song she finished for the album. She also disclosed that she removed a favorite song of hers from the tracklist last minute, but hinted at the possibility of releasing it as a B-side in the future, teasing the existence of a “Couple really good B sides knocking around actually.” Lorde will launch her Ultrasound World Tour on September 17 in Austin, Texas. (Billboard)

Sabrina Carpenter's charitable fund under the nonprofit PLUS1 has raised over $1 million in just 12 months, making it the organization's fastest-growing artist initiative. The Sabrina Carpenter Fund supports causes close to the pop superstar’s heart, including mental health advocacy, LGBTQ+ rights, and animal welfare support. Carpenter integrates fundraising into various aspects of her career, such as dedicating a portion of ticket sales to her causes, and collaborating on charity projects with brands like Erewhon and Catbird. PLUS1 founder Marika Anthony-Shaw, the former viola player in Arcade Fire, established the organization after seeing the impact from the band’s ticket sales donations towards Haiti relief following the devastating 2010 earthquake. “Sabrina’s approach to philanthropy shows what’s possible when an artist truly commits to embedding impact across their work,” Anthony-Shaw said in a statement. “Sabrina is setting a new standard, one where social impact becomes woven into an artist’s career to create meaningful, lasting change.” (Rolling Stone)

During a recent concert, Gavin Adcock blasted Beyoncé’s Grammy-winning Best Country Album, Cowboy Carter, during an onstage rant. In fan-captured video footage of the incident, the country star takes issue with albums that currently outrank his own on Apple Music’s country albums chart. “One of them’s Beyoncé — you can tell her we’re coming for her f—in’ a–,” Adcock said, before adding, “That sh– ain’t country music and it ain’t ever been country music, and it ain’t gonna be country music.” Adcock took to Instagram on Monday (June 30) to share a video statement clarifying his remarks. “I’m gonna go ahead and clear this up,” he says. “I really don’t believe that her album should be labeled as country music. It doesn’t sound country, it doesn’t feel country, and I just don’t think that people that have dedicated their whole lives to this genre and this lifestyle should have to compete or watch that album just stay at the top, just because she’s Beyoncé.” (Billboard)