Author: djfrosty
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Ashley Gorley, Charlie Handsome, Jessie Jo Dillon, Morgan Wallen and Jelly Roll are among the songwriters who will be honored at the 2025 CMA Triple Play Awards. This year’s ceremony, hosted by composer and CMA board member Jim Beavers, will be held Tuesday, April 29, in Nashville.
The CMA Triple Play Award is presented to songwriters who pen three No. 1 songs within a 12-month period based on the Country Aircheck chart and two key Billboard charts — Country Airplay and Hot Country Songs. (See the full list of honorees below.)
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Gorley and Handsome each had a hand in writing six No. 1 hits, which means they each pick up two Triple Play Awards. These are Gorley’s 25th and 26th CMA Triple Play Awards, extending his lead as the most decorated recipient in the award’s history. And he has an even bigger honor coming up: On June 12, he’ll be inducted into the all-genre Songwriters Hall of Fame at the annual gala at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York.
Dillon was nominated for a Grammy for songwriter of the year, non-classical, this year for the second year in a row. This is her first CMA Triple Play Award. Other songwriters receiving their first CMA Triple Play Awards this year are Rocky Block, John Byron, Jordan Minton and Taylor Phillips. Triple Play honorees Wallen and Jelly Roll are both notable for being superstar artists in addition to being songwriters.
CMA will also honor 73 songwriters who have achieved their first No. 1 country hit since the previous ceremony.
“Songwriters are the heartbeat of Country Music, and the CMA Triple Play Awards allow us to recognize the incredible talent and dedication it takes to write not just one, but three No. 1 songs in a year,” says Sarah Trahern, CMA CEO. “We’re also proud to celebrate those reaching their first No. 1 — a milestone that marks the beginning of many great stories. We look forward to uniting our songwriting community later this month to honor these achievements and the creative contributions that continue to shape the genre.”
Music publisher David Conrad is set to receive the 2024 CMA Songwriter Advocate Award, which honors individuals who have significantly supported and advanced the art and careers of songwriters. Conrad, a music publishing veteran with more than 35 years of experience, is a driving force in establishing Nashville as a leading songwriting hub. Starting as GM for Charley Pride‘s PiGem/Chess Music in 1973, he went on to serve as head of Almo/Irving Music’s Nashville office.
“Some of my favorite folks in the Nashville song business have been recognized before me so it’s twice the honor,” Conrad said in a statement. “This is as good as it gets, and I am privileged to be included.”
The 2025 CMA Triple Play Awards recipients are being recognized for the following songs:
Rocky Block
“Man Made a Bar,” recorded by Morgan Wallen feat. Eric Church
“Cowgirls,” recorded by Morgan Wallen feat. ERNEST
“Pour Me a Drink,” recorded by Post Malone feat. Blake Shelton
John Byron
“Thinkin’ Bout Me,” recorded by Morgan Wallen
“Pour Me a Drink,” recorded by Post Malone feat. Blake Shelton
“Love Somebody,” recorded by Morgan Wallen
Zach Crowell
“God Gave Me a Girl,” recorded by Russell Dickerson
“Stars Like Confetti,” recorded by Dustin Lynch
“Outskirts,” recorded by Sam Hunt
Jessie Jo Dillon
“Memory Lane,” recorded by Old Dominion
“Back Then Right Now,” recorded by Tyler Hubbard
“Halfway to Hell,” recorded by Jelly Roll
Ashley Gorley
“I Had Some Help,” recorded by Post Malone feat. Morgan Wallen
“Cowgirls,” recorded by Morgan Wallen feat. ERNEST
“Bulletproof,” recorded by Nate Smith
“Young Love & Saturday Nights,” recorded by Chris Young
“Love Somebody,” recorded by Morgan Wallen
“I Am Not Okay,” recorded by Jelly Roll
Charlie Handsome
“Thinkin’ Bout Me,” recorded by Morgan Wallen
“I Had Some Help,” recorded by Post Malone feat. Morgan Wallen
“Cowgirls,” recorded by Morgan Wallen feat. ERNEST
“Pour Me a Drink,” recorded by Post Malone feat. Blake Shelton
“Love Somebody,” recorded by Morgan Wallen
“I’m the Problem,” recorded by Morgan Wallen
Jelly Roll
“Halfway to Hell,” recorded by Jelly Roll
“I Am Not Okay,” recorded by Jelly Roll
“Liar,” recorded by Jelly Roll
Ben Johnson
“TRUCK BED,” recorded by HARDY
“Bulletproof,” recorded by Nate Smith
“Liar,” recorded by Jelly Roll
Chase McGill
“God Gave Me a Girl,” recorded by Russell Dickerson
“Mamaw’s House,” recorded by Thomas Rhett feat. Morgan Wallen
“Chevrolet,” recorded by Dustin Lynch feat. Jelly Roll
Jordan Minton
“Save Me the Trouble,” recorded by Dan + Shay
“your place,” recorded by Ashley Cooke
“Love You, Miss You, Mean It,” recorded by Luke Bryan
Randy Montana
“Different ’Round Here,” recorded by Riley Green feat. Luke Combs
“Where the Wild Things Are,” recorded by Luke Combs
“This Is My Dirt,” recorded by Justin Moore
Hunter Phelps
“TRUCK BED,” recorded by HARDY
“Take Her Home,” recorded by Kenny Chesney
“Bulletproof,” recorded by Nate Smith
Taylor Phillips
“Thinkin’ Bout Me,” recorded by Morgan Wallen
“World on Fire,” recorded by Nate Smith
“I Am Not Okay,” recorded by Jelly Roll
Ernest Keith Smith
“I Had Some Help,” recorded by Post Malone feat. Morgan Wallen
“Cowgirls,” recorded by Morgan Wallen feat. ERNEST
“I’m the Problem,” recorded by Morgan Wallen
Josh Thompson
“Angels (Don’t Always Have Wings),” recorded by Thomas Rhett
“Stars Like Confetti,” recorded by Dustin Lynch
“Young Love & Saturday Nights,” recorded by Chris Young
Morgan Wallen
“Mamaw’s House,” recorded by Thomas Rhett feat. Morgan Wallen
“I Had Some Help,” recorded by Post Malone feat. Morgan Wallen
“Love Somebody,” recorded by Morgan Wallen
Billboard Women in Music 2025
Zenyara Desert Nights is back and bigger than ever for 2025.
Global experiential agency Corso Marketing Group (CMG) and underground nightlife tastemakers Framework have revealed the lineup for their invite-only late-night festival series, returning April 11–13 and April 18–20, with exclusive access driven by Dorsia and in collaboration with Tao Group Hospitality.
Held at the sprawling, 70-acre Zenyara estate in the Coachella Valley, the two-weekend affair promises deep grooves, underground legends and the kind of high-touch hospitality money can’t buy — unless you’re on the list.
The 2025 lineup features a stacked roster of talent, including Bob Moses (Club Set), Vintage Culture, Mau P, WHOMADEWHO (Hybrid Set), Dixon b2b Jimi Jules, Mahmut Orhan, Damian Lazarus b2b Dennis Cruz and more. A special guest is also confirmed for Saturday, April 12 — because Zenyara never misses a surprise moment.
2025 lineups
Weekend One
Friday, April 11: Ahmed Spins, Bob Moses (Club Set), Damian Lazarus b2b Dennis Cruz, KILIMANJARO
Saturday, April 12: Special Guest
Sunday, April 13: Dixon b2b Jimi Jules, WHOMADEWHO, Yulia Niko, DESIREE, Sparrow & Barbossa
Desert Nights
Courtesy Photo
Weekend Two
Friday, April 18: Mahmut Orhan, Vintage Culture, Ahmed Spins, Beltran
Saturday, April 19: ChaseWest, Mau P, Autograf, Miramar
Sunday, April 20: Francis Mercier, Mind Against, Tripolism + more TBA
Desert Nights
Courtesy Photo
Since launching in 2018, Zenyara Desert Nights has earned a reputation as one of the most exclusive, off-site experiences of Coachella season — where the energy of a club night meets the polish of a luxury brand retreat. Past editions have featured performances from artists like RÜFÜS DU SOL, Kaytranada, Skrillex and Solomun, while attracting an elite mix of artists, designers, athletes and industry leaders from around the globe.
And just when you think they’ve peaked, enter Rodeo Nights, Zenyara’s first-ever country-inspired weekend, set for April 25–27 during Stagecoach. Full lineup details are still under wraps, but expect luxury with a side of cowboy boots.
With premium brand partners including Patrón El Alto, Red Bull, Heineken, Rivian, and Outcast, immersive activations will be spread across Zenyara’s aquatic playground, complete with a private beach, a full spa, golf and tennis courts, and a rooftop-ready infinity pool. Co-produced by CMG and Framework, in association with Dorsia and Tao Group Hospitality, Zenyara 2025 is once again shaping up to be the desert’s most coveted invite—and the late-night party everyone will wish they got into.
Plus, two Beatles and their spouses, Sonny & Cher and more.
Billboard Women in Music 2025 After dropping the highly anticipated “Nokia” video, Drake made some merch available on his website, andJoe Budden Podcast co-host Melyssa Ford isn’t happy about it. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news On DrakeRelated.com, the Toronto rapper is selling a “Hot Moms Vixen” hoodie […]
Billboard Women in Music 2025 You can call her Queen Li? At her Auckland, New Zealand, concert Wednesday (April 2), Dua Lipa paid tribute to the country’s biggest pop star by performing a cover of Lorde‘s “Royals.” In clips from the show, the “Levitating” artist looks glamorous in a lacy black bodysuit and fuzzy cream […]
Billboard Women in Music 2025
Ye — formerly Kanye West — blasted J. Cole and his music during another X rant on Tuesday night (April 1), but it didn’t seem to be any sort of April Fools’ Day joke.
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See latest videos, charts and news
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“I hate J Cole music so much,” West said matter-of-factly. “It’s like between Kendrick and J Cole I bet you industry plants asked J Cole to diss Drake then we would have been accosted with a J Cole Super Bowl commercial with no SZA song to save it.”
The embattled Chicago native went on to diss Cole’s artistry by claiming that the Dreamville leader’s music was strictly for virgins. “No one listens to J Cole after loosing [sic] their virginity,” he wrote.
Ye also brought up purported conversations around 2021’s Donda era when he pleaded with Drake that he was “hurting hip-hop” by giving J. Cole a bigger platform.
“When I met up with Drake during Donda most of the convo was me telling him he was hurting hip hop by giving J Cole a platform and I was saying how much I loved Future,” he added.
Kanye previously dissed J. Cole last year when adding a verse to the “Like That” remix. “Play J.Cole get the p—y dry,” he raps.
The relationship between Ye and Cole has been icy for some time. The North Carolina rhymer jabbed at West on multiple occasions in the past. While he respects Ye’s artistry, Cole hasn’t had any issue checking him on tracks like 2016’s “False Prophets” and 2019’s “Middle Child,” saying he feels West hasn’t lived up to the billing.
The 48-year-old has been draped in controversy in recent months while his unhinged X rants have found him doubling down on his antisemitic remarks and appreciation for Hitler while wearing a Swastika shirt and chain.
West provided context about some of his recent rants when he spoke with DJ Akademiks last week for an hour-plus-long interview, which saw him wearing a black KKK-inspired hood and touching on Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Kim Kardashian, Diddy, Virgil Abloh, Jay-Z, Playboi Carti and more.
Find Ye’s rant sniping at J. Cole below.
I hate J Cole music so much It’s like between Kendrick and J Cole I bet you industry plants asked J Cole to diss Drake then we would have been accosted with a J Cole Super Bowl commercial with no SZA song to save it https://t.co/djbn491rpv— ye (@kanyewest) April 2, 2025
When I met up with Drake during Donda most of the convo was me telling him he was hurting hip hop by giving J Cole a platform and I was saying how much I loved Future— ye (@kanyewest) April 2, 2025
No one listens to J Cole after loosing their virginity— ye (@kanyewest) April 2, 2025
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Source: @truththebull/@taylor_avonte/@bgperico/@ashleebankz / @truththebull/@taylor_avonte/@bgperico/@ashleebankz
April’s looking like a hot month in music, and Hip-Hop Wired’s got the lowdown on the artists you gotta have on your radar right now.
From rising stars to underground sensations, these are the ones making noise this month. Atlanta’s Truththebull is staying on top of his game. After the viral wave of his hit “HYPE ME UP” which was literally everywhere on TikTok, he’s back with a banger called “WICKED.” The track shows exactly why Truththebull is one of the hottest artists coming out of the A right now. With his catchy hooks and undeniable energy, he’s making it clear he’s not slowing down anytime soon. If you haven’t been put on yet, now’s the time.
Out in Chicago, Ashlee Bankz is putting on for the Chi like nobody else. Known as the city’s best-kept secret, Bankz has been tearing up the scene with freestyles and her project “GO TO HELL”. Her gritty style proves she’s not here to play around. If you haven’t heard her bars yet, you’re missing out. She’s a serious contender in this game.
Now this next one? Do NOT sleep on Ron E, the latest talent in Hitmaka’s camp. The cousin of Yung Berg (now Hitmaka) has been creating some smooth R&B vibes that’ll have you hitting repeat. Tracks like “Rated R” and “Northface” show he’s got a lot of potential, and his On The Radar freestyle? FIRE. Ron E’s got that next-up energy in the R&B game, and you’ll be hearing a lot more from him soon.
These artists are coming hard this April, and you don’t wanna miss what they’re dropping. Check out the full list below.
1. TruththeBull
2. Taylor Avontè
3. Jorjiana
4. G Perico
5. Talk2Pops x Famous Sally
6. Loe Shimmy
9. Goya Gumbani
10. Ashlee Bankz
11. Lord Sko
12. IAMGAWD
13. UFO Fev
14. Dom Innarella
15. PARTYOF2
Billboard Women in Music 2025
Ten years after making a cameo in Taylor Swift‘s “Bad Blood” music video, Olivia Pompeo has nothing but love for the pop star — especially after the generous gift she gave the Grey’s Anatomy actress for a children’s charity on set.
While on The Jennifer Hudson Show Wednesday (April 2), Pompeo reflected on Swift tapping her to star in the Billboard Hot 100-topping 1989 single’s all-star visual, which premiered at the 2015 Billboard Music Awards. “Taylor is such a good girl,” the Golden Globe nominee said. “I didn’t know her, and she invited me to be in the video and I thought, ‘Oh that would be fun.’ It was the easiest thing.”
Pompeo added that she still gets “a lot of points” with daughters Stella and Sienna — whom she shares with husband Chris Ivery, along with son Eli — for having starred in the VMA-winning project. “That got me so much mileage with both of the girls for a stretch.”
“At the time, Chris and I, we do a lot of volunteering for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles here,” she continued. “They have an amazing program at Children’s where they make music for the babies in the NICU and for the parents who have to go to work all day and they can’t be with the kids, they record their voices singing nursery rhymes or telling them stories, and they play it for the babies in the day when the parents can’t be there.”
“It’s a really nice program, but they need money to run it,” Pompeo said before revealing that Swift chipped in big at the drop of a hat. “So I just got up the hutzpah and asked Taylor, ‘Could you write me a big old check for Children’s?’ And she knew me all of 20 minutes, and that girl wrote me the biggest check without blinking an eye.”
It may have been Swift’s first 20 minutes of knowing Pompeo, but the Grammy winner had been a fan of hers for years. She’s long been vocal about her fandom for Grey’s and named one of her cats Meredith Grey after Pompeo’s character on the show.
A couple years ago, fans even thought that Swift might make a cameo on the medical drama, which is still on the air after 20 years. The rumors turned out to be false, but Pompeo told Extra of a future Swift appearance, “I think she’s pretty busy, but that would be fun … I would love it.”
Watch Pompeo talk about Swift’s generosity on The Jennifer Hudson Show above.
Billboard Women in Music 2025
Bruce Springsteen is seemingly gearing up to release another massive collection from his vaults. After teasing on Instagram on Tuesday (April 1) that “what was lost has now been found,” The Boss posted the official teaser for what appears to be another career-spanning project on Wednesday (April 2) via another Insta post with the caption #TheLostAlbums.
The accompanying video featuring black and white footage of Springsteen, 75, playing an acoustic guitar was accompanied by an untitled instrumental track and the words Tracks II, leading to a website (lostalbums.net) with a studio card from the singer’s L.A. (and Colts Neck, N.J.-based) Thrill Hill Recording studio featuring the dates 1983-2018.
While no additional information was available on the project at press time — including a release date or track listing — the project appears to be a sequel to Springsteen’s 1998 four-disc, 66-song box set Tracks, which covered the years 1972-1995. That sprawling collection featured never-before-released songs, b-sides, demos and alternate versions of released tracks from throughout his career, including an acoustic version of “Born in the U.S.A.”
The original Tracks spanned from early demos recorded in 1972, before the release of his 1973 debut, Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. through such landmark releases as Born to Run, The River, Born in the U.S.A., Tunnel of Love and 1992’s Human Touch.
Based on the dates from the Lost Albums site, the new set seemingly picks up right before the 1984 release of Born in the U.S.A. and runs all the way until just before 2019’s Southern California pop LP Western Stars. That period covers a dozen releases, including 1992’s Lucky Town, 1995’s The Ghost of Tom Joad, 2002’s The Rising, 2009’s Working on a Dream and 2012’s Wrecking Ball, among others.
It was unclear at press time when the set will drop, though the promo video features Thursday’s (April 3) date at the top. Back in December, Springsteen’s team teased that, “upcoming releases in 2025 include a look back at Springsteen’s storied recording career, featuring never-before-heard material.”
Springsteen has talked about recording much more material than fans have heard, telling Variety in 2017 that he and the E Street Band have “made many more records than we released. Why didn’t we release those records? I didn’t think they were essential,” he said of projects including the mythical electric version of his landmark bare-bones 1982 Nebraska album, which will be the focus of the upcoming Jeremy Allen White-starring biopic Deliver Me From Nowhere.
“I might have thought they were good, I might have had fun making them, and we’ve released plenty of that music [on archival collections over the years],” Springsteen added in the Variety interview. “But over my entire work life, I felt like I released what was essential at a certain moment, and what I got in return was a very sharp definition of who I was, what I want to do, what I was singing about. And I still basically judge what I’m doing by the same set of rules.”
Springsteen and the E Street Band will kick off their European tour on May 14 with the first of three shows at Co-Op Live in Manchester, U.K.
Shakira has been unstoppable since kicking off her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran world tour in Brazil in February. Now, due to an overwhelming demand, the Colombian global artist has added two more dates to the North American leg of the trek, slated to start May 13 in North Carolina. Explore Explore See latest videos, […]