State Champ Radio Author: djfrosty
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Trending on Billboard Chordal has onboarded Futures Music Group and eight additional music companies to its sync licensing platform, the company tells Billboard. The new deals follow major alliances with TikTok and Kobalt Music Group, both of which became Chordal clients over the summer. Futures, an indie label collective co-founded by Neon Gold’s Derek Davies […]
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Hip-Hop’s most beloved boot is going viral. Pharrell Williams and Louis Vuitton have produced a super luxe version of the Timberland construction boot — and the internet is going nuts.
As per Sneaker News, Pharrell continues to push the line when it comes to blending streetwear with luxury fashion. This week, the Maison revealed a super-premium Timberland featuring Louis Vuitton’s signature brown Monogram Canvas and plush leather. This version comes with some additional details that justify an $85,000 price point. An 18-karat gold LV logo sits on both the inner and outer tongue, and the precious metal is also used for the shoelace eyelets and lace loops. Gold embossing also shines on the Timberland tree logo at the outer heel. Even the packaging gets elevated — arriving in a hard-sided Monogram canvas box with natural leather trim and a plexiglass Monogram front door.
This isn’t the first time Louis Vuitton has collaborated with the outdoor footwear icon. Back in 2024, Pharrell turned heads with his interpretation of the classic 6-inch boot, featuring LV monogram embossing across the upper and tongue. The brown Monogram Canvas design lived on the leather collar, and the footbed carried the four-point LV star meant to symbolize fortune.
Beyond the luxury upgrade, the Timberland boot holds deep cultural significance in Hip-Hop. Since the ’90s, these boots have been a staple of street style, worn by icons from Tupac to Jay-Z, symbolizing toughness, resilience, and authenticity. Over the decades, Timberlands have transcended fashion to become a marker of identity, community, and the ethos of the streets — which makes Pharrell’s high-fashion interpretation all the more impactful.
As expected, the LV x Timberland 6-In High End Ankle Boot will be nearly impossible to secure, with only 50 pairs being produced globally. You can learn more about the drop here.
Trending on Billboard Travis Scott wrapped up his Circus Maximus Tour on Nov. 19 and has broken the record for the highest grossing solo rap tour of all time, according to Live Nation. According to figures reported to Billboard Boxscore, Scott’s global trek grossed $265.1 million and sold 2.1 million tickets. Circus Maximus kicked off […]
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Ariana Grande is ready to see her name on a Broadway marquee. After finishing up the Wicked films, the pop star is hoping to do more live theater in the future, as revealed in a new interview with Nicole Kidman.
In a conversation between the two women published Monday (Nov. 24) for Interview, Grande didn’t hesitate when the actress asked whether she’d ever do a Broadway show going forward. “I would,” she replied. “I love theater so much, and I actually did a Broadway show when I was 13 years old. I was a chorus girl.”
The show in which Grande got her start was 13, which opened on Broadway in 2008. “I had a few little lines, and it was the most incredible training,” she explained to Kidman. “And to sing songs written by Jason Robert Brown — it’s so beautiful and so challenging. I feel like that’s where I developed stamina. But I would love to be on stage again.”
When Kidman pointed out that it’s “such a massive commitment” to take on a Broadway stint, Grande explained why she wasn’t fazed. “I suppose,” the Grammy winner said. “But it’s funny, because I thought that’s what I would be doing with my life when I was a young girl.”
Grande has previously said that she imagined being a theater actress as a kid, having grown up doing community shows. After landing a role on Victorious as a teenager, however, she started releasing pop music and almost immediately began accumulating hits, leaving little room for acting for many years.
“There was a tricky adjustment period in the very beginning, when my pop career took off the way that it did,” she told Kidman. “And I hope this doesn’t sound ungrateful, but it’s just a big adjustment when your life changes in that very drastic way.”
Only time will tell whether Grande makes her Broadway dreams a reality, but for now, she’s focused on wrapping up the Wicked: For Good promo cycle and preparing for her upcoming tour next year in support of Billboard 200-topping album Eternal Sunshine.
Following the premiere of Wicked: For Good two days prior, Grande shared a heartfelt letter to fans on Instagram on Sunday (Nov. 23). “My Sweet Fellow Ozians,” she wrote. “I fell in love with Wicked when I was 10 years old. It has been an escape and a place where I knew I could find comfort and understanding throughout my child and adult life.”
“Becoming your Glinda the Good and being asked to join this most wonderful group of human beings on a most creatively fulfilling journey was the greatest gift of my life,” she added. “I’m so thankful to have been a tiny piece of this bubble puzzle and to be your Glinda.”
See her full note below.
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Stephen Wilson Jr., who had a double-shot of performances at this week’s CMA Awards, has released a new tribute to blue-collar workers, while R&B star Ne-Yo offers up a country-inspired new track and ERNEST pays tribute to tight-knit communities. Kameron Marlowe, newcomer Emily Roth and bluegrass trio Sweet Sally also offer up new music.
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Check out all of these and more in Billboard‘s roundup of some of the best country, bluegrass and/or Americana songs of the week below.
Stephen Wilson Jr., “Gary”
Last week, Stephen Wilson Jr. not only performed twice at the CMA Awards and during the SESAC Nashville Awards, but he also released this stirring new track. It’s a gritty tribute to working-class men, those who are “Born with a cigarette glued to their face/ Fix about anything a hammer can handle.” Wilson Jr. praises the titular character’s blue-collar skills, but also fears that current and future generations won’t have enough “Garys.” Wilson Jr. has long been known for his formidable songwriting and grunge rock infused style of country. Searing guitar, explosive percussion and lines like “Time leaves town but the minute hand stays” reinforce his reputation as a superb musical craftsman.
Ne-Yo, “Simple Things”
R&B star Ne-Yo has been a steady presence in Nashville of late, as a presenter at the CMA Awards and performing on the Opry in the past week. Now, he releases this country-leaning track about appreciating simple things in life, like spending time with loved ones. The song is a deft mix of R&B and country, and Ne-Yo’s voice is as smooth and commanding as ever.
Emily Roth, “Matter of Time”
In her new song, Roth sings of how a glass of wine and intimate talk with a potential lover leave her teetering on the edge between infatuation and full-blown romance. Roth’s silky voice and the song’s understated musicianship give it a tender, dream-like quality. She wrote this track with Alex Kiel and Jesse Dozzi.
ERNEST, “Hate a Small Town”
On this song from his new project Live From The South, ERNEST lends his strong, vivid songwriting to chronicling the daily happenings and sights of a small community, from kids helping an elderly neighbor, to Friday night football games and “miles and miles of cottonwood trees.” This uptempo track’s percussion sizzles and while the guitar lines are tight and catchy, making for quite the radio-friendly track. ERNEST wrote the song with Chandler Paul Walters, Jordan Dozzi, and Brad Clawson.
Kameron Marlowe, “Fire on the Hillside”
Marlowe has already proven himself as a superb vocalist, and he turns that impeccable voice to this hard-charging tale of how, sometimes, smoke means fire when it comes to rumors raging through small towns. Marlowe’s soulful voice, paired with the song’s relentless rock swagger, makes this a track worth repeated listens and further cements Marlowe as a treasure of a newcomer in the genre.
Sweet Sally, “Iron Waterfall”
This all-woman California bluegrass trio has played at bluegrass events including DelFest, IBMA’s World of Bluegrass and High Sierra Music Festival. Its offers up a smooth, moody performance on “Iron Waterfall,” lyrically sketching a scene of emotional devastation and resilience. Guitarist Lucy Khadder wrote the song, and the trio is joined on the recording by mandolin player Sophia Sparks and bassist Clare O’Grady. Their tight-knit musicianship, paired with their honeyed harmonies that are sprinkled judiciously in the track, showcases their instinctive musical chemistry as a group.
Trending on Billboard LISA is the next featured artist for Fortnite Festival, with the BLACKPINK member set to lead the game’s upcoming Starlux Music Pass when season 12 launches Nov. 29, Fortnite announced on Monday (Nov. 24). “I love seeing how Fortnite brought my alter ego’s to life in the game so perfectly,” LISA said […]
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Ne-Yo, MC Jin, Indian singer and actor Sonu Nigam and former Warner Music Asia co-president Jonathan Serbin have unveiled a new record label, Pacific Music Group, that will focus on talent from across the Asian continent, the group announced today (Nov. 24). Pacific, which will be based in Hong Kong, will aim to both promote local talent globally and serve as a hub for international artists who want to create a footprint in the region.
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The three artists will have A&R input and serve as mentors to the label’s talent. The label says it will include imprints focusing on pop, hip-hop, R&B, electronic music and local genres.
“Launching Pacific Music Group isn’t just a business move, it’s a personal mission,” Ne-Yo said in a statement announcing the label. “As an individual of Chinese descent, I’m proud to use my resources to help discover and elevate the next generation of talented Pan-Asian superstars. I’ve toured across Asia several times and witnessed the evolution of the music scene, so I’m really excited to make history and bring the region’s rich culture to the forefront of the global stage.”
“Asia has emerged as one of the most dynamic forces in the global music industry,” added Serbin, who spent five years overseeing Warner’s Asia operations, following five years as Billboard’s head of Asia. “With half the world’s population and three of the top 10 music markets, the region is primed to lead on the world stage. At the same time, rapidly growing markets like India, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines offer immense potential. We believe the time is right for a music company born in Asia, but built with a global perspective from day one.”
Pacific’s stated goal is to reflect the global music axis around the Pacific Ocean, in a similar way that Atlantic Records set out to do when it was founded decades ago. The label says it will announce its artists in the coming months and begin releasing music soon after.
“Asia is full of talent with unique stories, fresh styles and authentic messages waiting to be shared with the world,” said MC Jin, who will oversee Pacific’s hip-hop imprint, in a statement, adding that the genre helped him find his own voice as an artist and Chinese American. “With Pacific Music Group, these individuals will now have a chance to share their art rooted in creativity and culture in an impactful way.”
“India alone has 1.6 billion people, but Indian artists want to connect well beyond our borders,” added Nigam. “The same is true across Asia. There is a hunger to grow globally and the potential to bring the richness of our cultures to the world. With Pacific Music Group, we’re not just exporting talent, we’re helping artists thrive both at home and abroad.”
SZA’s SOS Deluxe: Lana, the deluxe edition of her 2022 album SOS, has set a new record as the album with the most tracks that have received Grammy nominations – a whopping nine tracks. These nominations have been spread out over four Grammy eligibility years. “Good Days,” which was released in December 2000, was nominated […]
Sean “Diddy” Combs seems to be adjusting to life as the most famous inmate at FCI Fort Dix just fine, with images showing him smiling and conversing with others as he serves his time. New images featuring Diddy have also surfaced, showing the mogul at his media library job inside the facility’s chapel.
TMZ shared video footage that appears to come from a smartphone or tablet from inside FCI Fort Dix, and showed Sean “Diddy” Combs in his full prison regalia walking around the media library.
The video shows Combs getting ready to end his day at work, where he hands out religious scriptures and videos to inmates. The video’s quality isn’t the greatest, but one can clearly see that it is the mogul, and his beard shows prominent shades of grey. Combs kept on a brown skullcap the entire time before the video switches. He’s seen speaking with another man, who hands him an object that is hard to make out in the clip.
In another video, Combs is no longer wearing his coat or skullcap as he walks up to another inmate and has what appears to be a pleasant conversation. There is no sound in the video, and it is unknown if Combs was aware that he was being recorded. Among all of the footage that has leaked from Fort Dix, Combs looks to be in great spirits in most of it.
Diddy is currently serving a 50-month sentence for violating the Mann Act and is expected to go free in 2028.
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Trending on Billboard Austin Daboh has left his senior role at Warner Music’s Atlantic Records after five years. Daboh, who served as executive vice president of Atlantic Records U.K., announced the news on his LinkedIn profile on Thursday (Nov. 20). Daboh also served as president of Black Music at the label from 2023 onwards. He […]
