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12 Jan 2025

Halestorm’s Lzzy Hale Recalls Breaking Up with Partner Who Fell Asleep During Tool Show

The Beastie Boys may have asserted there was “No Sleep till Brooklyn”, but a recent admission from Halestorm‘s Lzzy Hale has indicated this may extend to Tool concerts in Pennsylvania, too.

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Speaking to Guitar Player magazine recently, Hale opened up about ten records that changed her life, specifically focusing on the impact of albums by artists such as Black Sabbath, Jeff Buckley, Alice Cooper, and even Hanson.

Another artist that she focused on was Tool, whose 2001 album Lateralus came about four years into the life of Halestorm, which she had co-founded with her brother Arejay. The record was a major success for the metal outfit, giving them their first of three consecutive appearances atop the Billboard 200, and resulting in the Grammy for Best Metal Performance for lead single “Schism”.

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For Hale, however, the record represents something of a humorous memory which can be traced back to Tool’s performance in Philadelphia in September 2001.

“My little bro Arejay was getting really good on the drums,” Hale told the publication. “He had learned Tool’s song ‘Schism’ from the radio, so I thought that I should get him the whole album for his birthday. We just devoured it. I ended up getting really into it myself. Listening to their music was just like watching a horror film.

“I had a shitty waitress job, and I got us tickets to see Tool at Hersheypark. I was so stoked. Then Arejay did something to piss off our parents, so they wouldn’t allow him to go. I thought, Okay, this could be an opportunity to ask somebody out on a date, which I did. I asked this guy Nate, and he said yes. I was like, Sweet! We didn’t have great seats, but it didn’t matter — the show was amazing. I was singing every word. Halfway through, I looked at my date and saw that he had fallen asleep — total deal-breaker for me. So in a weird way, Tool’s Lateralus was a life-changer. My brother still teases me about it: ‘I wouldn’t have fallen asleep.’”

Though Halestorm haven’t yet managed to score a support slot for the likes of Tool, the two bands have however performed on the same lineup from time to time, no doubt inspiring plenty of sly jokes between the Hale siblings.

12 Jan 2025

Altadena, A Los Angeles Community With High Black Residency, Suffers Under Wildfires #Altadena

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LA battles fires

The wildfires ravaging Los Angeles County in California have devastated homes and misplaced longtime residents as firefighters battle the blazes. The community of Altadena, which has a significant number of Black residents, is suffering from the damages of the wildfires as they forge a path forward.

Several outlets have covered the damage from the wildfires in Altadena and the town of Pasadena, including Pasadena Star-News and CBS News. The Eaton fire has damaged around 4,000 structures according to the Star-News, adding that 18 percent of Altadena’s residents are Black along with 7 percent of Pasadena residents.

“This will (displace) a lot of Black people, said Sheila Foster, who lost homes in both Altadena and Pasadena. “Some of them are elderly, some were barely holding on before the fire, trying to keep their property because it was going down from generation to generation up here.”

As seen in Yahoo! News by way of TheGrio, the Eaton fire is among four blazes which include the Palisades fires, and as seen both burning over 30,000 acres of land and over 10,000 structures total. There is a multinational effort made by firefighters from the north in Canada and to the South in Mexico. This is especially interesting to note considering the aggressive tone towards the named countries from President-elect Donald Trump.

On X, formerly Twitter, some are mentioning the devastation endured by the residents of Altadena and Pasadena, while also noting efforts of spectacular scope are being made to support those displaced by the blazes. Those reactions can be viewed below.

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Photo: Getty

12 Jan 2025

Warner Music’s Social Justice Fund Pledges $1 Million to Support L.A. Wildfire Relief Efforts

As wildfires continue to devastate Los Angeles, the Warner Music Group/Blavatnik Family Foundation Social Justice Fund is stepping in to help.

On Sunday (Jan. 12), the organization announced a pledge of $1 million to support fire relief and rebuilding efforts in the region. The funds will be directed to organizations assisting the Los Angeles community, local first responders, and individuals in the music industry affected by the disaster.

Recipients of the pledge include the California Community Foundation, the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, Project HOPE and MusiCares, among others, according to a news release.

In addition, Warner Music Group is prioritizing the safety of its team members. For employees who have been forced to evacuate their homes, the company is assisting with emergency accommodations and food expenses. WMG is also actively contributing to donation drives and volunteering efforts.

“The destruction and loss of life brought by these wildfires are unimaginable. By supporting these organizations, we’re helping to direct funds to those most in need,” Blavatnik, head of the Blavatnik Family Foundation, said in a statement.

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WMG CEO Robert Kyncl added, “We’re joining the relief efforts to help the community in LA, while aiding the firefighters in their brave battle. Los Angeles is home to so much determination, resourcefulness, and creativity, and its powerful story is inextricably interwoven with ours. We’re determined to support the people of this extraordinary city.”

A number of organizations, listed here, are also offering help to those impacted by the California wildfires, which have been blazing through the L.A. area and causing extensive damage since Tuesday (Jan. 7). Musicians and music industry professionals who are affected can get details about assistance here.

12 Jan 2025

Former Little Mix Member Jesy Nelson Hints at Twins in Pregnancy Announcement: ‘Eating for 3 Now’

Congratulations are in order for Jesy Nelson, who is expecting her first child.

The former Little Mix member, 33, shared the exciting news on social media on Sunday (Jan. 12). In the post, Nelson and her partner, musician Zion Foster, hinted that they’re expecting twins.

“She’s eating for 3 now,” the couple wrote in a joint Instagram post, accompanied by a pair of baby emojis and a photo of Nelson proudly showing off her baby bump.

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Fans quickly took to the comments, speculating that the announcement was a subtle hint about the twins. “JESY IS A FULL MOTHER OF 2 YOU GUYS,” one fan wrote, while another added, “I knew it, I saw it a long time ago… Congrats to the 4? Of yous!!!”

The sweet photo shows a beaming Nelson wearing a white tank top, revealing her growing belly, while a smiling Foster stands behind her with his hand on her stomach.

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Nelson and Foster, who have been romantically linked since January 2022, have had an on-again, off-again relationship, according to Daily Mail. This pregnancy announcement marks their first joint Instagram post since November 2024, when Nelson shared pictures of herself standing next to a car with the caption, “Where we going then?”

The couple also released a song together, titled “Mine,” in August 2024, and danced to the track in a TikTok video. They’ve teased additional unreleased material on social media as well.

Since leaving Little Mix in late 2020 after the release of their sixth studio album, Confetti, Nelson has pursued a solo career, which has been marked by some controversy. Her debut single “Boyz,” released in 2021 and featuring Nicki Minaj, drew criticism for accusations of “Blackfishing” in the music video.

See Nelson and Foster’s pregnancy announcement on Instagram here.

12 Jan 2025

Fans Choose Teddy Swims & Giveon’s ‘Are You Even Real’ as This Week’s Top New Music in All-Genre Poll

Teddy Swims and Giveon’s soulful collaboration “Are You Even Real” has emerged as the winner of this week’s new music poll, which features artists spanning various genres.

The track was voted the top new release by music fans in a poll published Friday (Jan. 10) on Billboard.

“Are You Even Real” garnered nearly 34% of the vote, edging out other new releases such as Wallows’ “Your New Favorite Song,” Jade’s “IT Girl,” Lil Baby’s WHAM (extended edition) and Warren Zeiders’ “Can a Heart Take.”

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Following a standout 2024, thanks to his Billboard Hot 100-topping hit “Lose Control,” Swims teamed up with Giveon for this snappy soul-pop song, which serves as a preview of Swims’ upcoming album, I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy, Part 2, set for release on Jan. 24.

The song blends Swims’ heartfelt vocals with Giveon’s signature deep tones, creating a rich contrast accentuated by tight harmonies in the track’s latter half.

The poll victory comes alongside exciting personal news for Swims: he and his partner, fellow musician Raiche Wright, recently announced they’re expecting their first child. Wright shared the happy news on Instagram on Jan. 8, posting a series of photos from a beach outing that showcased her growing baby bump. The couple, who went public with their relationship in early 2024, has also shared the stage together, with Wright joining Swims on tour for performances of duets.

Taking second place in the poll is Wallows’ “Your New Favorite Song,” which earned 25% of the vote. The dreamy pop-rock track is poised to be a breakout hit for the Los Angeles trio, who have built a loyal fanbase through extensive touring in recent years.

Check out the full results of this week’s poll below, and visit Billboard’s Friday Music Guide for more must-hear releases.

12 Jan 2025

Here’s How the L.A. Wildfires Are Disrupting Awards Season

The wildfires that have been devouring multiple neighborhoods in the greater Los Angeles area for the last five days have caused so much misery and heartbreak for so many that it may seem trifling to point out the impact they have had on awards season. But it’s not. Awards shows aren’t just about privileged celebrities, but also about the thousands of everyday people who make their livings in support roles — caterers, bartenders, limo drivers, hairstylists, make-up artists and many more.

The latest show to be affected by the fires is the Producers Guild of America Awards. The nominations were set to be announced on Sunday (Jan. 12) at noon PT, but have been pushed to next week. “Out of care and concern for those being affected by the fires, we will be holding the announcement of the PGA award nominees until next week,” the guild said in a statement on Sunday.

The big question is whether the Grammys will go forward on Feb. 2, which is just three weeks away. Billboard has reached out to the Recording Academy; an answer is expected this week.

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If the show is postponed, this will be the third time in the past five years that Music’s Biggest Night has been pushed back due to outside events. The 2021 and 2022 shows were both postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2021 show was bumped from Jan. 31 to March 14. The 2022 ceremony was pushed all the way from Jan. 31 to April 3.

The Oscars are set for March 2, which gives the Motion Picture Academy and the show’s producers more breathing room. The fires have already impacted the Oscars voting schedule. Academy CEO Bill Kramer wrote a letter to all Academy members on Wednesday (Jan. 8), one day after the first fires exploded.

“Given the fire situation, we want to share some updates regarding an extension to the Oscars nominations voting window… Nominations voting for the 97th Oscars opened this morning at 9 a.m. PT. We will be extending the voting window by two days to give members more time to cast their ballots. Voting will now close on Tuesday, January 14 at 5 p.m. PT. As such, our Oscars Nominations Announcement will move from Friday, January 17 to Sunday, January 19.”

Other shows have also been impacted. The Critics Choice Awards, which were set to air live on E! tonight, were postponed to Jan. 26. (It is unknown if they will be able to proceed on that date.) The show was to be held at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif., which is located just a few miles from Pacific Palisades, where the fires originated.

In retrospect, the Golden Globes, held one week ago at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, were extremely lucky. The show concluded just 38 hours before L.A.’s wind and fire nightmare began.

12 Jan 2025

Lil Baby’s ‘WHAM’ Makes It Big With No. 1 Debut on Billboard 200

Lil Baby collects his fourth No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 chart, all tallied consecutively, as WHAM opens atop the chart dated Jan. 18. The set earned 140,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. in the week ending Jan. 9, according to Luminate. The rapper previously topped the list with his last three releases: It’s Only Me (2022), The Voice of the Heroes (with Lil Durk, 2021) and My Turn (2020).

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In total, WHAM marks Lil Baby’s seventh top 10 on the Billboard 200, stretching back to 2019’s Harder Than Ever (No. 3 peak).

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WHAM’s Friday (Jan. 3) release was announced by Lil Baby in late December.

Also in the top 10: Bad Bunny’s DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS debuts at No. 2, securing the superstar his seventh top 10-charting set. Bunny’s album was released on an off-cycle Sunday (Jan. 5) and, thus, it arrives on the chart with only five days of activity (as the chart’s tracking week runs Friday through Thursday). The album’s release date was announced on Dec. 25.

The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week in the U.S. based on multi-metric consumption as measured in equivalent album units, compiled by Luminate. Units comprise album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). Each unit equals one album sale, or 10 individual tracks sold from an album, or 3,750 ad-supported or 1,250 paid/subscription on-demand official audio and video streams generated by songs from an album. The new Jan. 18, 2025-dated chart will be posted in full on Billboard‘s website on Tuesday (Jan. 14). For all chart news, follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both X and Instagram.

Of WHAM’s 140,000 first-week equivalent album units, SEA units comprise 90,000 (equaling 119.77 million on-demand official streams of the streaming version of the album’s songs; the set debuts at No. 3 on the Top Streaming Albums chart), album sales comprise 50,000 (it debuts at No. 1 on Top Album Sales) and TEA units comprise a negligible sum.

WHAM was available to purchase as a 15-song standard digital download album and a standard CD (the latter exclusively sold via the artist’s official webstore). On Jan. 7, an extended edition of WHAM — with four additional songs — was released exclusively via Lil Baby’s label webstore for purchase. The extended edition was later issued widely through streaming services and digital retailers on Friday (Jan. 10). Both digital versions of the album were discounted to $4.99 in the webstores of the artist and his label (Motown), along with in the iTunes Store.

The standard version of WHAM features guest turns from 21 Savage, Future, GloRilla, Rylo Rodriguez, Travis Scott, Young Thug and Rod Wave.

Bad Bunny’s DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS starts at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 with 122,000 equivalent album units earned. Of that sum, SEA units comprise 113,500 (equaling 152.16 million on-demand official streams of the set’s 17 songs; it debuts at No. 1 on Top Streaming Albums), album sales comprise 8,000 and TEA units comprise 500. The album was only available as a standard 17-song set via streaming services and to purchase as a digital download (also discounted to $4.99 in Bad Bunny’s official webstore and the iTunes Store).

DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS was preceded by a pair of entries from the album on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart: “EL CLúB” and “PIToRRO DE COCO.”

Three former No. 1s follow on the Billboard 200: SZA’s SOS falls 1-3 on the (113,000 equivalent album units earned; down 13%), Kendrick Lamar’s GNX moves 2-4 (67,000; down 4%) and Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet slips 3-5 (51,000; down 9%).

The Wicked film soundtrack dips 4-6 (45,000 equivalent album units; down 7%); Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard and Soft falls 5-7 (43,000; down 5%); Morgan Wallen’s chart-topping One Thing at a Time is a non-mover at No. 8 (40,000; down 1%); Gracie Abrams’ The Secret of Us is steady at No. 9 (38,000; down 5%); and Tyler, The Creator’s former leader CHROMAKOPIA is stationary at No. 10 (37,000; down 3%).

Luminate, the independent data provider to the Billboard charts, completes a thorough review of all data submissions used in compiling the weekly chart rankings. Luminate reviews and authenticates data. In partnership with Billboard, data deemed suspicious or unverifiable is removed, using established criteria, before final chart calculations are made and published.

12 Jan 2025

Miley Cyrus Gets Emotional Over L.A. Wildfires While Reflecting on 2018 Malibu Home Loss

Miley Cyrus is sharing her reaction to the devastating Los Angeles wildfires.

On Saturday (Jan. 11), the 32-year-old superstar singer took to social media to express her support for those affected by the wildfires ravaging Southern California. In her Instagram Story, Cyrus also reflected on the fire that destroyed her Malibu, Calif., home in 2018.

“This image hits me hard today,” the “Flowers” singer captioned the post, which featured a photo of her destroyed house. “This is a photo taken of my front porch in 2018 after losing our house in the Woolsey fires. It’s a feeling you don’t ever forget.”

She continued, “Walking up to the door you would pass through daily, looking forward to being greeted by the ones you love like you always do but instead being met by a pile of ash and rubble.”

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The Hannah Montana alum expressed that her “soul aches” for the victims of the L.A. wildfires. “It’s beyond heartbreaking. Los Angeles represents ‘living the dream’ but the reality today is wreckage and destruction.”

Cyrus also shared links to organizations supporting wildfire relief, including the Malibu Foundation, which she co-founded.

“Time, resources and dedication from inside and outside of our community will heal us, but it hurts deeply for now,” the singer wrote, signing off with “Love always.”

For health alerts, evacuation updates and additional shelter information as the wildfire battle continues, go to L.A. County’s emergency website here.

A number of organizations, listed here, are also offering help to those impacted by the California wildfires, which have been blazing through the L.A. area and causing extensive damage since Tuesday. Musicians and music industry professionals who are affected can get details about assistance here.

In November 2018, the Woolsey Fire in Malibu destroyed the home of Cyrus and her then-husband, actor Liam Hemsworth, leaving her devastated, as she shared on social media at the time.

“My house no longer stands but the memories shared with family & friends stand strong,” Cyrus tweeted after her evacuation, expressing that she was “completely devastated” by the loss. “I am one of the lucky ones. My animals and LOVE OF MY LIFE made it out safely & that’s all that matters right now.”

12 Jan 2025

Ariana Grande Reveals Details About ‘Wicked’ Sequel Song: ‘A Pivotal Moment in Glinda’s Journey’

Ariana Grande is opening up about a new song from the upcoming Wicked sequel.

In a recent interview with Variety’s Awards Circuit podcast, published Saturday (Jan. 11), the 31-year-old pop star and actress opened up about what fans can expect from her character Glinda’s new song, penned by composer Stephen Schwartz, in the live-action adaptation of the Wicked sequel, Wicked: For Good, set for release on Nov. 21.

“It’s a pivotal moment in Glinda’s journey,” Grande said. “It shows a side of her we’ve never seen before. In the stage show, this transformation happens offstage. But in the movie, we get to see her make the decision that defines who she is. It’s a privilege to sing this song and be the first Glinda to bring it to life.”

The “We Can’t Be Friends” singer also dished on her dream role as Glinda and the preparation that went into bringing the beloved character to life.

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“I started acting lessons a year before I even knew when the auditions were happening,” she told the podcast. “I wanted to make sure I was ready. Transforming my voice to sing Glinda’s soprano parts took months. Pop singing and musical theater are so different. I had to retrain my muscles and reframe how I approached every note.”

Grande acknowledged that taking on the role of Glinda came with a significant sense of responsibility.

“From the moment it was announced, I realized this role would live with me forever. It’s an honor, but it also comes with so much weight,” she said. “I wanted to do it justice. Glinda isn’t just a character to me — she’s a symbol of growth and love, and I wanted to give her everything I had.”

Elsewhere in the interview, Grande further teased the already-confirmed deluxe version of Eternal Sunshine, revealing that the project is “in the can” and will include several new tracks.

“It’s a very special project,” Grande said. “I’m out there so much right now. I want to let my children miss me for two seconds. I’m excited to surprise them with it at some point, but I’m still mulling over the timing in my head. It’s not the end of ‘Peaches’ just yet, but she’s going in the closet for a minute.”

12 Jan 2025

Kid Cudi Evacuates Los Angeles Due To Wildfires

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Kid Cudi is one of the many individuals impacted by Los Angeles wildfires. He has revealed he has evacuated his home and urges anyone in peril to do the same.

As spotted on Rap-Up Magazine Kid Cudi has spoken up amidst the natural disaster that is ravaging Southern California. On Thursday, Jan, 9 he took to Instagram and shared some updates and recommendations. “Hey, guys, [I] had to evacuate my crib. I’m safe [with] my loved ones,” he wrote. “For all the folks who lost their homes [and] people that are dealing with this, my heart hurts for you, and I am praying for us all.” He went to send his regards to any one who lives in the surrounding area. “Hey, guys, [I] had to evacuate my crib. I’m safe [with] my loved ones,” Cudi explained. “For all the folks who lost their homes [and] people that are dealing with this, my heart hurts for you, and I am praying for us all.”

This is the first time the world has heard from Kid Cudi since late 2024. On Dec. 19 he shared list last post on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Ok yall. I think my time is done on twitter. If u wanna stay connected to me I’ll have my ig, I’ll keep yall updated thru my stories but I wont be posting much on there either. Just projects and things I got goin on will be posted by my team. Ive been thinkin, I see too much bullshit on here and life is much cooler being disconnected” the caption read.

According to CNN the Los Angeles wildfires have taken the lives of 11 individuals and have displaced over 100,000 people.