Music News

The second annual I’m Just Me: A Charley Pride Celebration of Inclusion brunch is set to take place on May 6 at the Hall Park Hotel in Frisco, Texas, preceding the 2025 Academy of Country Music Awards by two days. The event will be hosted by Mickey Guyton – a two-time ACM Award nominee and the first Black woman to host the ACM Awards, in 2021 – and will honor individuals who embody Pride’s legacy in country music through leadership in hope, advocacy, and innovation, including honorees like Brittney Spencer, Lionel Richie, Shaboozey, the Freddy Fender Estate, and more. The invite-only celebration, presented by Amazon MGM Studios in partnership with Amazon Music and the Academy of Country Music, aims to support diversity in the genre. “We’re honored to support this celebration that uplifts trailblazers pushing the genre forward, while reaffirming our commitment to broadening the narrative and welcoming a wider range of voices into the spotlight,” Ryan Redington, GM of Amazon Music, said in a statement. (Billboard)

The 2025 Grammy Hall of Fame Gala will feature performances by country legend Emmylou Harris, R&B icon Eddie Floyd, and Big Star drummer Jody Stephens. The event will take place on Friday, May 16 at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, and will celebrate the recordings being inducted this year. Harris will perform alongside Daniel Lanois and Brian Blade for a song from her 1995 album, Wrecking Ball, Floyd will be honored for his classic "Knock on Wood," and Big Star will be celebrated for their 1972 album, #1 Record. Other performers include Cindy Blackman, Ledisi, Leslie Odom Jr., Orianthi, and the music label, Republic Records, will also be recognized. Jon Batiste is set to perform and will also be the inaugural recipient of the Ray Charles Architect of Sound Award. CBS News journalist Anthony Mason will host the event, which will celebrate the 13 newly inducted recordings that have reached the standards of "qualitative or historical significance" in music. (Billboard)

During their concert in Goyang, South Korea on Tuesday (April 22), Coldplay collaborated with Blackpink singer Rosé, inviting the K-pop superstar onstage to perform her smash hit song "APT." The band and Rosé performed the track together as the huge stadium crowd sang along and screamed their approval, with frontman Chris Martin taking over Bruno Mars’ memorable role in the song. Rosé released "APT." with Mars back in October, and included it on her debut solo album, Rosie, which arrived in December. The single set a record by topping the Billboard Global 200 chart for 19 weeks. With this surprise pairing with Rosé, Coldplay continues their history of collaborating with K-Pop stars, as Twice is the opening act on the current leg of their record-setting Music of the Spheres World Tour, joining the British band last week for a collaboration on their single, “We Pray.” Coldplay also partnered with BTS on their 2021 hit, “My Universe.” (Rolling Stone)

On Tuesday night (April 22), Ed Sheeran and Noah Kahan surprised 100 lucky fans with an intimate performance at Santa's Pub in Nashville. Sheeran shared an Instagram video capturing the duo singing Kahan's smash hit, "Stick Season," with the singers accompanied by their guitars and surrounded by an enthusiastic audience. “Shut down @santaspub in Nashville to do dueling songs with @noahkahanmusic what a night,” Sheeran captioned his post, with the surprise performance featuring a series of duets from the catalogs of both music superstars. This impromptu event followed Sheeran's recent appearance at Coachella over the weekend, and the release of his new single "Azizam," from his forthcoming album, Play, which is due out sometime in 2025. Kahan is preparing for a series of shows starting in May, followed by performances in Europe and the UK, and appearances at a series of U.S. music festivals in September. (People)

Addison Rae took to Instagram on Wednesday (April 23) to reveal the title and album cover for her debut LP, Addison, which is set to be released on June 6, as she announced during her Coachella appearance. “Self-titled debut album!!!!,” Rae captioned her post. “I love the entirety of this project with all of me. A mirror. A deep desperation and desire to understand myself better. A true collection of my proudest work yet. My dream cover. My dream collaborators.” The album consists of 12 tracks, all co-written and produced by Rae, Luka Kloser, and Elvira Anderfjärd, and features the previously released singles, "Diet Pepsi," "High Fashion," "Aquamarine," and "Headphones On." No details have been shared about the complete tracklist or the “dream collaborators” who are featured on the record, with the project being touted as “the first & last album by Addison Rae.” Pre-orders are now available via Rae’s webstore. (Rolling Stone)

On Wednesday (April 23), the American Music Awards announced their complete list of nominations for their 2025 ceremony – the first AMAs following a two-year hiatus. Kendrick Lamar leads the way with 10 nods, followed by Post Malone with eight, and Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan, and Shaboozey each receiving seven nominations. New categories for Album, Song, and Social Song of the Year have been added, and artists like Beyoncé, Charli XCX, Sabrina Carpenter, and Taylor Swift are among the nominees for Album of the Year. The stacked list of nominees for Artist of the Year includes Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan, Kendrick Lamar, Morgan Wallen, Post Malone, Sabrina Carpenter, SZA, Taylor Swift, and Zach Bryan. The award show will be broadcast live from Las Vegas on May 26 via CBS and streaming on Paramount+, and will be hosted by Jennifer Lopez. Voting is currently open for all categories on the AMA website. (Rolling Stone)

Fans flooded Washington Square Park in New York City on Tuesday (April 22) after Lorde texted them, “Meet me in the park. Tonight 7 p.m.” The Grammy-winning singer was planning to debut her brand new single in front of the thousands of fans who gathered there to witness the event, but cops shut down the impromptu gathering before it started due to Lorde lacking the proper permits. The crowd still made the most of the moment, joining together on a spirited a-cappella rendition of Lorde’s 2013 Pure Heroine track, “Ribs.” The New Zealand pop superstar wasn’t deterred by the police intervention either, as she returned a few hours later and danced and sang along to her dynamic new single in front of her adoring fans. On Wednesday (April 23), Lorde posted a short teaser video on Instagram featuring a close up of her breathing heavily into the camera, followed by a release announcement for the highly-anticipated new single, “What Was That out Midnight ET,” signalling the official launch of new material from her upcoming fourth album. (Rolling Stone)

In a new interview with People, Dasha revealed that she is set to debut her new single, "Give Me a Second," at Stagecoach this weekend. “I'm really excited this year to have my own set at the main stage,” Dasha shared about her afternoon slot on Saturday (April 26). “I'm going to have four dancers on stage, some other folks on stage with me as well and [am] going to be debuting a new song. Stagecoach is going to be the first to see it.” Dasha also revealed that her forthcoming new project will be an EP release, “with another EP in October that combines into a bigger album.” She also tipped her cap to those who refer to her as "Trailer Swift." “Honestly, I think it's really creative,” she said. “I have to give them some points [for] that. It's f---ing hilarious.” She credits Taylor Swift with inspiring her approach to songwriting and performing, while also attributing her focus on storytelling in her music to her childhood idol. (People)

Phish emerged victorious in the 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame fan vote, securing over 329,000 votes and surpassing runner-up Bad Company by nearly 50,000 votes. The Top Five in the fan vote was rounded out by Billy Idol, Cyndi Lauper, and Joe Cocker, with notable acts like Soundgarden, Chubby Checker, and The Black Crowes just missing the Top Five in the tally. Phish, a Vermont jam band known for their spellbinding live shows, have had an unconventional journey in the music industry with no Billboard Hot 100 hits and a lone Grammy nomination, but they have achieved success with 38 albums charting on the Billboard 200, including three Top 10 albums. Meanwhile, this year’s class of inductees for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will be revealed on American Idol on April 27. Ryan Seacrest will host the episode, and James Taylor will serve as guest mentor, with contestants performing songs by previous Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members. The induction ceremony is expected to take place in Los Angeles in the fall. (Billboard)

Lil Wayne will mark the release of his hotly-anticipated new album, Tha Carter VI, with his first-ever headlining show at Madison Square Garden on Friday, June 6. Tickets for the show will go on sale on Wednesday (April 23), with general on-sale starting on Friday, April 25. The New Orleans rapper – and current Rolling Stone cover star –  has previously expressed his dislike of New York due to his past legal issues in the city, including a gun possession charge in 2007 that led to an eight-month prison sentence at Rikers Island. Wayne has since returned to NYC several times in recent years, and he will now celebrate the release of his long-awaited sixth installment in his chart-topping Tha Carter series with his first ever show at The World’s Most Famous Arena. Weezy’s new album features a series of high-profile collaborations, with guest appearances by Miley Cyrus, Bono, Andrea Bocelli, MGK, Elephant Man, Wyclef Jean, and Wayne’s Young Money artist Euro. (Rolling Stone)

On Tuesday (April 22), Cypress Hill took to social media to reveal the dates and details of their 2025 Dank Daze of Summer Tour, which will also feature Minneapolis hip-hop duo Atmosphere, along with support from Lupe Fiasco and The Pharcyde. The month-long trek will kick-off on August 8th in St. Augustine, Florida, and hit cities like Charlotte, Baltimore, Asbury Park, Milwaukee, and Salt Lake City, before finishing on August 30 in Bend, Oregon. Tickets will be available through an artist pre-sale on Wednesday (April 23), with general on-sale starting on Friday (April 25). “You know we're bringin' the party, so ya better be ready!” the rap legends captioned their post. In addition to the tour, Cypress Hill is gearing up for the release of a live album recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra in June and a Canadian tour in May, before heading to European festivals later this summer. (Consequence of Sound)

During an interview on CBS Mornings on Tuesday (April 22), Tina Knowles, the mother of Beyoncé and Solange, disclosed her private battle with breast cancer. Knowles shared that her cancer was discovered after missing a routine mammogram appointment due to the COVID-19 pandemic, eventually leading to the detection of two tumors in her left breast, one being benign and the other at stage 1. “I’ve always tried to take care of myself. I just was in disbelief,” she said. Following a lumpectomy in August, Knowles is now cancer-free, and she credits early detection for her positive outcome. With the support of her daughters, Knowles aims to be a beacon of encouragement for other women, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing health screenings and routine check-ups to avoid potential health risks. “I decided to share it because I think it’s a lot of lessons in it for other women,” Knowles said. (Rolling Stone)

Lady Gaga has expanded her upcoming Mayhem Ball Tour with seven new dates, adding shows at the Chase Center in San Francisco on July 22, 24, and 26, and the Kia Forum in Los Angeles on July 28 and 29, and August 1 and 2. Ticket pre-sales for the additional dates will begin on Thursday (April 24), with an artist presale set for Monday (April 28). The Mayhem Ball is Gaga's first arena tour in seven years, and the North American leg will kick off on July 16 in Las Vegas, stopping in Seattle, New York, Miami, Toronto, and will conclude on September 15 and 17 in Chicago. “With the Mayhem Ball, I wanted to create a different kind of experience – something more intimate – closer, more connected – that lends itself to the live theatrical art I love to create,” Gaga said of her forthcoming tour. This announcement follows Gaga's showstopping headlining performances at Coachella over the past two weekends, and is in support of her latest chart-topping album, Mayhem, which was released in March. (Rolling Stone)

SZA's SOS has just made history by surpassing Adele's 21 for the most weeks in the Top 10 on the Billboard 200 among albums by women, as it secures its 85th total week within the top tier. came in 2022, but has climbed back into the charts due to the release of an expanded edition, SOS Deluxe: Lana, with the record climbing to No. 3 on this week’s chart. SOS overtakes Adele's 21, which spent a cumulative 84 weeks in the Top 10, with its final week in 2016. Both albums had long runs at No. 1, with SOS spending 12 weeks at the top, and 21 topping the charts for 24 weeks (a record among albums by women).

SOS ties Peter, Paul and Mary's self-titled album for the third-most weeks in the Top 10 among albums by singular artists, following two albums by Morgan Wallen, Dangerous: The Double Album (158 weeks), and One Thing At A Time (106 weeks). The album with the most weeks spent in the Top 10 of the Billboard 200 is the Original Cast Recording of My Fair Lady, which spent 173 weeks in the Top 10 between 1956-60. (Billboard)

Post Malone brought out Jelly Roll and Ed Sheeran during his headlining set on Sunday night (April 20) that brought Coachella's second weekend to a rousing close. Sheeran joined Post on "Sunflower," taking the place of his original collaborator Swae Lee on lead vocals and acoustic guitar, with the country superstar genuinely surprised at their unexpected pairing. “I didn’t even know he was here tonight,” Posty exclaimed. Jelly Roll joined Malone on "Losers,” reprising his role on Post’s chart-topping 2024 album, F-1 Trillion. Malone took the opportunity to promote his upcoming stadium tour, while expressing his gratitude for the chance to hit the road with Jelly Roll and praising the singer’s kindness. Malone's Big Ass Stadium Tour is set to begin on April 29 in Salt Lake City and will feature Jelly Roll as the opening act for most of the trek, with Sierra Ferrell as a special guest for the first part of the run. (Rolling Stone)

The non-feud between Green Day and Charli XCX at Coachella culminated in a fun and lighthearted resolution on Saturday night (April 19). The playful “spat” was started on the first weekend of the festival, when Charli was shown wearing a cheeky “Miss Should Be Headliner” sash following her set, poking fun at the actual headliner that night, Green Day. Not to be outdone, drummer Tré Cool shared a photo of himself donning a toilet paper sash with "Actual Headliner" scrawled on it before Green Day took the stage on the second weekend. During the performance, Billie Joe Armstrong was beaming as he proudly donned a "Brat" hat on stage. While the initial incident caused a social media buzz as fans speculated that the artists were really fighting, it ultimately was all in good fun, with Charli even praising Cool's toilet-paper sash as she re-shared the photo in a tweet she playfully captioned, "Obsessed." (Rolling Stone)

On Monday (April 21), The Cure announced details of their forthcoming project, Mixes of a Lost World, a remix collection featuring artists like Deftones frontman Chino Moreno, Paul Oakenfold, and others reimagining tracks from their 2024 album, Songs of a Lost World. The 24-track compilation was conceived and compiled by Cure frontman Robert Smith, and is set for release on June 13th through Fiction/Capitol Records. The album includes remixes from an impressive lineup of artists like Four Tet, Orbital, Trentemøller, Mogwai, 65daysofstatic, the Twilight Sad, Gregor Tresher, and more, resulting in what Smith describes as a "fabulous trip" through the original album's eight songs. All proceeds from the remix album will support War Child UK, with multiple formats available for purchase. This new collection follows The Cure's previous remix albums, Torn Down: Mixed Up Extras 2018, and 1990’s Mixed Up. (Billboard)

Over the weekend, Deadmau5 made a disastrous return to Coachella during a shambolic set at the festival’s Quasar stage on Friday night (April 18). The celebrated DJ was performing as his alter-ego, Testpilot, alongside electronic artist Zhu, with the duo scheduled to perform for multiple hours that evening. Deadmau5 made a spectacle of himself by stumbling drunk around the stage, eventually falling over behind the DJ booth and being escorted off as his set ended early. In a series of apologetic Instagram posts the next day, Deadmau5 admitted, “I dont remember a thing” about his set, while acknowledging that this was “Probably my last Coachella.” “Sorry about last night,” the DJ continued. “To be fair, I felt the first 3/4 was great! Huge shout out to @zhu for introducing me to whisky and carrying my dumb a** till the bitter end. lemme quit smoking, do some fu**en [sic] personal resetting here at home, find my spirit animal, work on some new music, and come back better.” (Variety)

In a new Cosmopolitan cover story, Doechii credits SZA's Ctrl for empowering her to end a relationship with an unsupportive ex-boyfriend back when she was 18-years-old. “I was dating a guy who just wasn’t very supportive of my music, and it really stifled me,” Doechii told the publication. “I stopped writing because he was just like, ‘That’s not cool.’ I took his opinion way too seriously when really he just didn’t get it. I remember listening to SZA’s Ctrl for the first time, and it literally gave me the courage to break up with him. She inspired me to be vulnerable through my music in a way that I didn’t think I could be.” That personal move eventually led the Swamp Princess to release her 2024 album, Alligator Bites Never Heal, eight years later. That project led to Doechii becoming the third woman to ever win Best Rap Album at the 2025 Grammys, while also being recognized as Billboard's 2025 Woman of the Year. (Billboard) 

On Sunday (April 20), Snoop Dogg celebrated his enduring relationship with marijuana by releasing a trippy new music video for “Last Dance With Mary Jane,” which was directed by Dave Meyers. The single is a collaboration with country star Jelly Roll, and features a sample from late rock legend Tom Petty, and is lifted from Snoop’s 2024 album, Missionary. The psychedelic clip also features guest appearances – many of them through a series of colorful animations – by the rapper’s iconic friends such as Dr. Dre, Tupac Shakur, Bob Marley, Redman, Method Man, B-Real, and Wiz Khalifa, along with Jelly and Petty as well. The video incorporates Snoop's trademark humor and style through a series of surreal, wild sequences, while also conveying the profound impact of marijuana on Snoop's life that compliments the subject matter of the song itself. (Rolling Stone)

Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s “Luther” claims the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart for a ninth consecutive week. The collaborative track now has the second-longest rule atop the Hot 100 among rap hits this decade, trailing only Roddy Ricch’s “The Box,” which was No. 1 for 11 weeks in 2020. Other significant moves in this week’s Top 10 include Chappell Roan tying her career best Hot 100 rank with “Pink Pony Club” rising a spot to reach No. 4 (the same peak achieved by “Good Luck Babe!” last year), while Alex Warren’s first career Top 10 hit, “Ordinary,” vaults two places to reach a peak of No. 5 (while also hitting No. 1 on the Digital Song Sales chart), and Teddy Swims’ “Lose Control,” moves up one slot to No. 7, breaking the record for the most weeks ever spent in the Hot 100’s Top 10 with its 58th week, surpassing the 57-week run of The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights.”

Elsewhere in the Top 10, Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ “Die With a Smile” moves up a spot to No. 2, Drake’s “Nokia” falls a spot to No. 3, Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” drops two slots to No. 6, BigXthaPlug’s “All the Way,” featuring Bailey Zimmerman, slides four places to No. 8, Benson Boone’s “Beautiful Things” moves up one spot to No. 9, and Morgan Wallen's “I’m the Problem” slips one place to No. 10. (Billboard)

During weekend two of Coachella, Dave Grohl surprised the crowd on Saturday (April 19) by joining conductor Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic for orchestral renditions of Foo Fighters' tracks "The Sky Is a Neighborhood" and "Everlong." This marked Grohl's first public performance of Foo songs since the rock legend revealed last fall that he had fathered a child outside his marriage. Dudamel and LA Phil’s star-studded set also featured guest appearances by the Oscar-nominated Wicked actress Cynthia Erivo, who joined the orchestra for a soulful cover of Prince’s “Purple Rain.” Other special guest vocalists included Natasha Bedingfield, Laufey, and Argentine duo Paco Amoroso and Ca7riel, which followed weekend one guest appearances by Becky G and LL Cool J, who all helped make the LA Philharmonic’s first Coachella appearance a memorable experience during Dudamel’s final year as music and artistic director. (Billboard)

On Saturday (April 19), Megan Thee Stallion took to Instagram to announce that her new single, "Whenever," is set to be released on April 25. Meg also shared the movie poster-style artwork for her upcoming track, along with a link allowing fans to pre-save the song on various streaming services. “WHENEVER. APRIL 25. ⏱️ PRE-SAVE NOW HOTTIES,” Meg captioned her post. The announcement arrived during Coachella weekend two, where Megan performed on Sunday night (April 20), following her weekend one set that featured surprise guest appearances by Queen Latifah, Victoria Monét and Ciara. Meg recently gave fans an update on her next album, Act III, on TikTok, where she revealed, “‘Act III’ is being made. I’m really just trying to figure out who do I want to do features with at this point in life.” ‘Act III’ follows the Grammy-winning Houston rapper’s previous releases, Megan and Megan: Act II. (Billboard)

On Friday (April 18), Lana Del Rey released a new ballad, "Bluebird,” and the singer shared an Instagram video where she revealed the song’s origins in a heartfelt story. Lana describes witnessing a little bird flying into her window as she was preparing to take a walk with an old boyfriend. “I was shocked, and I opened the little door and I saw this little sparrow right there, and I just was so emotional,” she said. “Like sometimes I feel like nature has its own way of communicating with you, especially in extremely severe situations. I just wanted to hold it. I was so hoping that it would be OK. I just knelt there, and I just sang, ‘Little bird, little bird, fly away for both of us.’ I was just kind of tearing up for myself and for the bird.” “Bluebird” is the second song shared from her upcoming 10th studio album, with the title and release date now uncertain. Lana will perform “a very special country set” at the Stagecoach music festival on Friday (April 25). (Billboard)

On Friday (April 18), Kendrick Lamar became the first musician to be featured in a Gatorade commercial, as he took part in their new “Lose More. Win More.” ad campaign. The Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper delivered a motivational speech in the clip that is set to his track "Peekaboo," a standout on his chart-topping album, GNX. The commercial includes appearances by athletes like Luka Dončić, Jason Taytum, A’ja Wilson, and Caitlin Clark. “How much are you willing to lose?” Lamar asks at the start of the commercial, before recounting the company’s storied history with the University of Florida football team, with the ad closing with a  sweat-covered image of Kendrick's face. Gatorade's Chief Brand Officer Anuj Bhasin said the company chose to pair with Lamar “because of his mindset of hard work, resilience and pushing boundaries.” Lamar triumphantly kicked off his Grand National Tour with SZA on Friday night in Minneapolis, with the duo set to perform 39 stadium shows across North America and Europe throughout the spring and summer. (Billboard) 

During her headlining set at Coachella on Friday (April 18), Lady Gaga expertly handled a microphone malfunction that plagued her performance. Despite a glitch occuring in her headset microphone during the song “Abracadabra,” the 14-time Grammy winner seamlessly continued her performance by flawlessly switching to a handheld mic and not missing a beat. Gaga laughed off the incident while joking with the audience, saying: "I’m sorry my mic was broken for a second. At least you know I sing live. I guess all we can do is our best, and I’m certainly giving you my best tonight." Gaga's electrifying set included classics like "Judas" and "Poker Face," as well as new hits from her chart-topping album, Mayhem. Gaga made a triumphant return to Coachella over the course of her two headlining performances, which marked her first sets at the celebrated Indio, California music festival since she stepped in for a pregnant Beyoncé back in 2017. (People)

Ken Carson claims his first ever No. 1 album on the Billboard 200, as More Chaos debuts atop this week’s chart. More Chaos marks the first Top 10 of the Atlanta rapper's career as well, following two previous charting albums, A Great Chaos (which peaked at No. 11 in 2023) and X (No. 115 in 2022). Interestingly, More Chaos is released by Opium/Interscope Records, and it bumps Opium label founder Playboi Carti from atop the Billboard 200, as MUSIC falls six spots to No. 7 after spending three nonconsecutive weeks at No. 1. The rest of this week’s Top 10 features all former No. 1s, with Kendrick Lamar’s GNX rising three slots to No. 2, SZA’s SOS moves up one place to No. 3, Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet jumps up two spots to No. 4, PARTYNEXTDOOR and Drake’s $ome $exy $ongs 4 U falls two places to No. 5, Morgan Wallen’s One Thing at a Time moves up one slot to No. 6, Bad Bunny’s Debí Tirar Más Fotos holds at No. 8, Ariana Grande’s Eternal Sunshine plummets seven spots to No. 9, and Lady Gaga’s MAYHEM rises two slots to No. 10. (Billboard)

Only days after announcing his forthcoming new album, Echo, BTS member Jin has unveiled plans for his debut solo world tour, the  #RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR, named after his YouTube variety show Run Jin. The tour will hit nine cities throughout the summer, including a series of eight shows in the U.S. in late July at arenas in Anaheim, Dallas, Tampa, and Newark, with each city hosting a two-night stand from the K-pop superstar. The run of shows will start in South Korea and Japan before heading to the U.S., with the tour set to wrap up in London and Amsterdam. Echo is set for release on May 16, and according to the record’s press release, it “showcases his versatile vocals across a spectrum of moods and styles. It reflects a deeper layer of vocal maturity and personal storytelling that underscores Jin’s evolving artistry.” (Rolling Stone)

Drake has just filed an amended complaint in his defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group, citing Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Halftime Show performance of “Not Like Us” as broadening the audience for the diss track and causing "even more people to be duped into believing that Drake was a pedophile." The artist’s legal team claimed that UMG intentionally caused harm to Drake by promoting Lamar’s Super Bowl performance after his initial lawsuit was filed, asserting that it “was the first, and will hopefully be the last, Super Bowl halftime show orchestrated to assassinate the character of another artist.” The amended lawsuit also claims that Lamar purposefully omitted an inflammatory line from “Not Like Us” in order to still be allowed to perform at the halftime show. “That is because nearly everyone understands that it is defamatory to falsely brand someone a ‘certified pedophile,'” the complaint reads. (Consequence of Sound)

After opening for Taylor Swift on her Eras Tour at major venues throughout the world, Gracie Abrams has revealed her desire to headline her own stadium shows in a recent Billboard cover story. The 25-year-old singer-songwriter stated that witnessing Swift's massive performances inspired her desire to achieve the same level of success. “Hell yeah,”Abrams said when asked if she wanted to headline stadiums in the future. “I could have never imagined myself admitting to that. I think having had the privilege of opening for Taylor in the stadiums that we played, to now have a visual reference and a real sense of what it feels like to be on a stage in that environment … It’s something that I miss and desperately hope to earn over time.” The Grammy nominee also praised another past tourmate, Olivia Rodrigo, for aiding her career. “She gave me such a shot, opening for her on the Sour Tour,” Abrams said. “I adore her with my whole heart for forever and ever.” (Billboard)

Six months after the tragic death of singer Liam Payne, his sister Ruth Gibbins penned an emotional tribute to her late brother, expressing her ongoing pain over his loss. In a heartfelt Instagram post on Wednesday (April 16), Gibbins described the daily struggle of living without her brother, while reminiscing about their shared memories and the ways she feels his presence guiding her. “My head is still screaming for you,” Gibbins wrote. “Each morning on waking, I feel like I am plunged underwater. Living without you is impossible, so for now, I exist. I’m learning to laugh or smile in the right places, but mate, it’s exhausting when all I want to do is speak to you.” Payne, who rose to fame at the age of 17 as a member of One Direction alongside Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, and Louis Tomlinson, died on October 16, 2024 after falling from the balcony of a hotel room in Buenos Aires. Gibbins' added, “I miss you loudly, quietly and in all the moments in between. For now I’ll meet you in my dreams.” (Rolling Stone)

In the new Rolling Stone cover story feature, Lil Wayne opened up about his disappointment in being passed over for the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show in his hometown of New Orleans. Wayne felt snubbed when Kendrick Lamar was ultimately chosen for the slot, and vowed never to perform at the event in the future. “They stole that feeling,” Weezy said “I don’t want to do it. It was perfect.” Wayne admits that he was blindsided when he wasn’t selected to perform, but still has respect for Jay-Z and Roc Nation, who oversee the halftime show. Wayne said he reached out to Lamar prior to his performance to show support, even though he didn’t watch the halftime show. “Every time I looked,” Wayne said of Lamar’s set, “it was nothing that made me want to go inside and see what was going on.” (Rolling Stone)

During an interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Tuesday (April 15), Luke Bryan shared that he unexpectedly found himself intrigued by the livestream featuring fellow American Idol judge Katy Perry's all-female space flight on Monday (April 14). The country star's interest was piqued while scrolling through Instagram on his morning farm walk, leading him to tune in to witness Blue Origin’s NS-31 launch. “They’re heading to the capsule, and I’m sitting there walking and it roped me in,” he said. “Because when you have a friend — I mean, let’s face it — it could blow up. So I wanted it to not do that.” Bryan then expressed a willingness to take the chance of traveling to space himself, but admitted that he would need to have "a delicate negotiation" with his family to get their approval first, concluding that they would most likely give him "a resounding no." (People)

Nas' Mass Appeal Records has unveiled seven forthcoming records as part of their "Legend Has It..." series, featuring new records on the way from New York hip-hop pioneers like Nas & DJ Premier, De La Soul, and Mobb Deep. The venerable rap label is also releasing highly anticipated projects from Ghostface Killah – who will finally drop his long-rumored Supreme Clientele 2 – Raekwon the Chef’s Emperor’s New Clothes, and a posthumous release from late Harlem rapper Big L, along with what they are teasing as “the epic return of a surprise guest of honor.” Notably, De La Soul and Mobb Deep will be releasing their first albums since the passing of their beloved members Trugoy the Dove and Prodigy. Mass Appeal shared a teaser video for their upcoming releases, and while all the projects are expected to drop sometime in 2025, no release dates have been confirmed as of yet. (Consequence of Sound)

Ed Sheeran, ROSÉ of BLACKPINK, Snoop Dogg, and Hozier have been recognized as some of the Most Influential People of 2025 by TIME100. Those music icons are honored alongside singers Myles Smith and Nicole Scherzinger, actors Adam Scott, Rashida Jones, Kristen Bell, Demi Moore, Adrien Brody, and Blake Lively, and athletes including Serena Williams and Simone Biles. The annual list from TIME recognizes 100 people across multiple pursuits who are currently “transforming the world.” Chris Hemsworth praised Sheeran for the publication, writing that the four-time Grammy winner “has an almost supernatural ability to connect” with his fans while also being “one of the most kindhearted, down-to-earth people.” Noah Kahan wrote of Hozier, “I’m not sure where my life would’ve gone if I hadn’t been exposed to his music … Thank you for sharing your gift with us mere mortals.” While Hoda Kotb said of Snoop, “There’s just something about this guy that makes me — and millions of his fans — feel so happy and loved.” (Billboard)

Selena Gomez will be honored with the 2025 Woman of the Year award at the third annual Billboard Latin Women in Music event on April 24. The accolade “is presented to a female artist who has demonstrated exceptional success, leadership and cultural influence in the music industry and beyond,” with Gomez set to join previous honorees Shakira and Karol G. The 32-year-old global superstar has released three Billboard No. 1 albums and an impressive 42 entries on the Hot 100 chart during her celebrated career, including No. 1 hits, “Lose You to Love Me” and “Taki Taki.” Her 2021 Spanish-language EP, Revelación, earned Gomez a Grammy Award nomination for Best Latin Pop Album. Beyond music, Gomez is also being recognized for her advocacy on mental health and social justice issues. The awards show will air exclusively on Telemundo on April 24 at 9 p.m. ET, honoring additional artists like Anitta, Belinda, Celia Cruz, Chiquis, Ha*Ash, Natti Natasha, and Olga Tañón. (Billboard)

Young Thug took to social media on Wednesday (April 16) to announce that his forthcoming album, Uy Scuti, is on the way, though he did not disclose a specific release date for the project. “It’s time. Red Planet” Thugger teased in the post, which linked to his official webstore where fans can pre-order a variety of CD and vinyl packages and an assortment of new album-affiliated merchandise. Uy Scuti is named after a red supergiant star, and the Atlanta rap star has been teasing the album for the past month. He first unveiled the title by wearing a custom jersey to a Miami Heat game, while a billboard located near Coachella last weekend featured this teaser, “Universe has been too quiet. Until now. Uy Scuti.” The billboard included this mysterious date, “5/??/25,” which suggests a possible release date coming next month. This album will mark Young Thug's first new album since 2023's Business Is Business, which was released amid the rapper’s RICO trial and while he was in jail. (Rolling Stone)

On Wednesday (April 16), Lorde took to social media to announce that her highly-anticipated new single, "What Was That," is set to be released “soon.” In addition to the name of the track – which she recently previewed with a TikTok teaser video – the New Zealand pop superstar also shared the cover art for the forthcoming song, which features Lorde’s dripping wet face shot by American photographer Talia Chetrit. “What Was That” marks Lorde’s first new song in four years, and the singer shared a message with fans hinting that big things are ahead. “I just wanted to say hi, because everything is about to change,” she said. “These are the last moments where it’s just us, which is crazy. But so right. I’m so ready.” In addition to her new single, Lorde has been more visible as of late, making a surprise guest appearance during Charli XCX’s Coachella set on Saturday night (April 12), where the two pop titans performed their recent collaboration, “Girl, So Confusing.” (Variety)

Rapper BigXthaPlug's new collaboration with country singer Bailey Zimmerman, “All the Way,” debuts at No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart this week. The track was released on BigXthaPlug/UnitedMasters, with additional radio promotion provided by Atlantic Records. “All the Way” also claims the top spot on the all-genre Streaming Songs and Digital Song Sales charts, while reaching No. 3 on Hot Rap Songs. “All the Way” also premiered at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, marking the first Top 10 of BigXthaPlug's career, and Zimmerman's second. The track is a preview of the Dallas rapper’s forthcoming country-focused project. “It gives me a better feeling how they’ll feel about the [country] project,” BigXthaPlug says of his new single. “I knew that song was gonna do something.” (Billboard)

After Katy Perry briefly traveled to space on Monday (April 14) as part of Blue Origin’s all-female mission, the fast food chain Wendy's took to X to share a humorous post which suggested, “Can we send her back.” The joke prompted Perry’s pop rival Kesha to share a photo of herself smiling mischievously while drinking from a Wendy's beverage cup. Kesha is trolling Perry  because the “Firework” hitmaker worked with producer Dr. Luke again on her latest album, 143, marking their first time recording music together since Kesha sued him in 2014 over accusations of "physical, sexual, verbal and emotional abuse over a 10-year period." in 2014. When it was first announced that Perry was back in the studio with Dr. Luke, Kesha took to X in June 2024 and wrote, "lol," and Kesha took their public feud even further by wearing an "LOL" t-shirt for her performance at Lollapalooza in Chicago last summer. (People)