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Actor/singer Teyana Taylor will join producer/actor La La Anthony and SNL star Ego Nwodim on the 2025 Met Gala red carpet livestream on May 5. The three women will be joined by podcaster/influencer Emma Chamberlain, who is marking her return as Vogue‘s special correspondent, interviewing some of the biggest stars walking the carpet at the […]
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. Shapewear can really make or break an outfit — especially for silky summer dresses and special occasion — but really effective […]
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The next movie by Spike Lee has attracted heavy attention, as it represents his fifth time working with Oscar-winner Denzel Washington, but the origins of the casting of rapper A$AP Rocky in the movie is also generating buzz. As the esteemed filmmaker is preparing for the premiere of his latest film, Highest 2 Lowest, he revealed that he was inspired to add A$AP Rocky to the cast after seeing a meme that compared the Grammy Award-nominated rapper to Washington.
“What’s funny is that I was looking at Instagram four or five years ago and people were saying that A$AP looked like he’s Denzel’s son,” Spike Lee said during his appearance on the latest episode of the 7PM In Brooklyn podcast hosted by former NBA star Carmelo Anthony and Kazeem Famuyide. “Everyone was saying it. I seen those memes and then in the film, we used that.” The meme shows childhood photographs of Washington and A$AP Rocky bearing a resemblance to each other. Lee suggested that viewers might see that acknowledged at some point in the upcoming movie.The Bamboozled director also praised the rapper’s acting chops. “A$AP, man, he fire,” Lee said. “I mean, there’s some scenes where him and D head to head – he ain’t backing up. Like, ‘I’m here too.’ So very, very happy with the way the film turned out and looking forward to sharing it with the world.” A$AP Rocky, aka Rakiem Myers, isn’t a stranger to the big screen – he made his debut in the 2015 film Dope, and was in If I Had Legs, I’d Kick You. That film, like Highest & Lowest, was produced by A24. Lee has hinted that A$AP Rocky has a “major” role in the movie.Highest 2 Lowest is set to make its debut at the Cannes International Film Festival next month. Billed as a reinterpretation of High and Low, the 1963 film from Japanese director Akira Kurosawa, Lee stated: “In our film Denzel Washington is a music mogul with his own label and his reputation as the best ears in the business.” Highest 2 Lowest also stars Jeffrey Wright, Ilfenesh Hadera, Dean Winters, John Douglas Thompson, and Ice Spice in her first film role.
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This past March the Hip-Hop culture was aghast when news broke that Druski was one of the latest celebrities linked to Diddy’s infamous “freak-off’s” and was accused of partaking in some non-consensual sexual depravities.
Though Druski immediately rebuked the allegations made by Ashley Parham, that didn’t stop the online community from piling on the jokes about Druski possibly violating women at a Diddy party in Northern California. Now, it seems like Druski has a little vindication in the form of leaked documents that seemingly prove his innocence in the incident that was alleged to have taken place on March 23, 2018, well before anyone knew Druski even existed.
According to TMZ, they were able to obtain not only Druski’s phone records, but also bank statements, which show that not only was Druski living with his mother in Georgia at the time of the incident, but was so broke he couldn’t even afford public transportation, much less a plane ticket to a Diddy swingers party. With less than $1 in his bank account and phone calls showing that he was in Georgia the entire time of the alleged violation, Druski seems to be in the clear as he continues to get his name dropped from the lawsuit.
Per TMZ:
The records show Druski’s balance ending the period of March 10, 2018 – April 9, 2018 was capped out at just $0.91 cents!!!
He only had enough for the bare essentials … a bite at Mickey D’s and enough gas at to get from point A to A.2.
We’ve also seen Verizon documents showing Druski was under his mother Cheryl‘s phone plan and made 16 calls on March 23 — all incoming or outcoming to and from Georgia phone numbers.
Yeah, we doubt that Diddy would invite anyone with less than $1 to their name to one of his extravagant house parties where the baby oil flowed like water and celebrities left with all kinds of stories to tell (but probably never will).
At this point, one has to wonder how long it’ll be before Druski is able to get his name dropped from the lawsuit as it’s looking like all evidence points to him not being anywhere near Diddy at the time of the alleged assault.
Earlier this year, Univision Networks Group president Ignacio Meyer‘s role was expanded to include oversight of the Hispanic media giant’s portfolio of 35 owned-and-operated radio stations, nearly 300 affiliates, its Uforia streaming app, live-events business and networks group. The promotion empowered Meyer to fully execute his longheld vision for a streaming-era business strategy. In the wake of Univision’s $4.8 billion 2022 merger with Televisa, his division would operate as part of a global, vertically integrated multimedia company where content created by different units can move freely between countries and platforms, including VIX, the company’s growing streaming enterprise.
That content includes music, and Meyer says he’s focused on fortifying its strength as one of the “pillars”— in addition to drama and sports — of the TelevisaUnivision brand.
For the company’s consumers, “Calling music a passion point is an understatement,” the dapper, Madrid-born executive says. As a result, “The entire company is behind it.”
Meyer, who is known for booking music artists himself on Univision shows and sending personal thank-you notes afterward, is well-loved by the industry, and his office is decked out with signed gold records, awards and other memorabilia. His walls will inevitably become more crowded, given his plans to return Univision to the music business. In the early 2000s, Univision Music Group operated as a label, which was sold to Universal in 2008 (before Meyer joined the company). And in 2016, Univision’s Fusion Media Group division signed a multiyear, multiplatform deal with former Calle 13 member Residente, which is no longer active.
Meyer spoke to Billboard about those plans, as well as his strategy for harnessing the power of music to Univision’s advantage.
How has your job changed since your promotion?
The big difference is we’ve become a platform-agnostic, content- and audience-first company. We’re fortunate enough that, over the years, our ownership has invested in all the platforms. We have TV stations, local and national networks, radio stations, top digital destinations — whether it’s web- or social media-based — and now we have a dedicated streaming platform, VIX. This year, for the first time, we deployed a global content investment strategy and looked at every content investment for profitability and distribution purposes, regardless of platform or country. That’s new and different because we realize that the strategy of having the consumer at the forefront is not about pulling them to a particular platform. It’s about making sure we are everywhere they are and that they can flow freely.
How does music play into that?
Music is a passion point for U.S. Hispanics. We feel strongly that Latin music is mainstream today, and we need to follow that mainstream consumer everywhere they are. So we’ve made structural changes to allow music to travel more seamlessly throughout our ecosystem.
If you look at the history of Univision, there are isolated pockets of success with music. What was missing is the connective tissue. We’re eliminating the barriers between calling something a “radio product” or an “audio product” or a “national” product or a “local” product. It’s intellectual property. It’s music, it’s a song, it’s a brand, it’s an artist.
Can you give me an example?
This year, we treated Premio Lo Nuestro [an annual awards ceremony that recognizes achievements in Latin music] as a platform-agnostic event. It was simulcast on streaming and we had events [tied to] fashion and social with some brands. We decided to light up YouTube and social media before we aired the show, so we did our version of off-air awards and the pretelecast on digital networks. And it was all supported by audio-first talent that represented different genres. For example, we featured talent from our [Mexican musicfocused] radio show, El Bueno, la Mala y el Feo. Just as we lean into our [TV] consumer brands, we’re going to lean into our radio show brands and elevate those shows. And we’re crosspollinating. TV host Alejandra Espinoza, for example, is now also part of our Los Angeles morning radio show.
Awards show viewership in general has declined. How do you make yours profitable?
We found a way to make money because we studied the ecosystem. It’s not just a TV show. We’re communicating, we’re editorializing, we’re telling a story, and we’re using music to do so — across all of our platforms. It creates more inventory for brands to get more deeply involved. Ratings define and validate the commercial side of ad sales, but it’s not the only measure of success. Total impressions, total reach, influence — that is success.
How else are you expanding Univision’s music presence?
We are looking at entering the music business again through strategic alliances. That is new. I don’t have the format a hundred percent. I don’t know if it’s a record label, but by virtue of this vertical, content-first approach, I am going to be getting back in touch with the industry. We want to be a more regular part of the music ecosystem. It could be a strategic alliance with a particular artist, a distribution deal with an artist, a management company, a publishing company or the distribution and promotion of music. I will generate content with you. I will generate social currency. We will make money by participating in a revenue share or license fee of the actual revenue streams we generate.
Some companies are not as convinced about the viability of music as a revenue driver.
We are. We demonstrate it day in and day out with our properties, and we know we could do more with it. So that’s where the investment comes in. Could we have done it as a company 10 years ago? I think the answer is no. Structurally, we probably weren’t set up for it. The power of music is it travels with no borders. Now we have the platforms. You can consume via audio, video, streaming.
Does Univision have any music-driven shows in the pipeline?
There will be announcements made, likely at the upfronts [in May]. But our approach is holistic. For example, you’re going to see a lot more radio shows like El Flow and El Bueno, la Mala y el Feo — which are also podcasts — on TV or on VIX. We are no longer taking a TV-centric approach to business. We will have music properties, but it’s not going be a one-show-fixes-all. Scripted is still a huge vehicle for music, for example. And we have a publishing business with over 100,000 copyrights here that I’m also managing.
What really drives fans to tune in to music-adjacent programming?
Storytelling and pop culture. Music has become a synonym for lifestyle. And it has a lot to do with social media and the way artists interact with their fans. Permanence in any kind of show all year is the most important. Also, there is a lot more being done in scripted than we are getting credit for as a music industry. There are so many storylines, documentaries, entertainment shows that are in and around music. How do we get people to engage? The most successful reality shows on television today have more hours of digital content than they do of [regularly scheduled] linear content. Because there are multiple platforms, they are “always on.” The Latin market is diverse, and we are more than a media company. We are a cultural representation of the Latins who live in the U.S. and of the way we live in the U.S.
This story appears in the April 19, 2025, issue of Billboard.
Etsy has agreed to sell Reverb, an online marketplace for musical instruments and equipment, to Creator Partners, an investment firm founded by a former SoundCloud CEO, and Fender-owner Servco, the companies said on Tuesday.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Bought by Etsy in 2019 for $275 million, Reverb is used by fans to purchase collectibles like the recording console used to track the Beatles’ Abbey Road and Travis Barker’s drums, as well as regular guitars, pedals, keyboards and other music-related products.
The deal, which is expected to close in the coming weeks, will see U.S.-based music gear selling site return to its roots as an independently operated company backed by Creator Partners and Servco.
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Creator Partners is the investment company of former SoundCloud CEO Kerry Trainor, and it stakes in BMI, Colors+Studios, Mogul, as well as SoundCloud. Servco is the majority owner of guitar company Fender, which Creator Partners is also invested in. Reverb previously raised $25 million from a group of investors led by Summit Partners.
The deal for Reverb comes at a time when the threat of global tariffs has sparked fears of rising prices for music product imports, merchandise and other goods. In a blog post announcing the new ownership, Reverb CEO David Mandelbrot said the company plans to roll out a new option for sellers “that allows you to get paid faster and drop off your gear locally, without needing to create a listing or ship.” Reverb has other plans to expand its offerings of music-making software and to improve search, ship and help services on the website.
“Over the past five years, we’ve learned a lot from Etsy as we’ve expanded our community,” Mandelbrot wrote in the blog post. “As we look ahead, with a focus on growing the entire industry by helping more people buy and sell used music gear, we’re excited to align ourselves with two new partners who share our passion and focus.”
According to Mandlebrot, buyers and sellers using the website should not notice any disruption as the companies work toward closing this deal in the coming weeks, and Creator and Servco sought to assure Reverb users that Fender will not get preferential treatment on Reverb. Reverb’s partnership with Fender will stay the same, including Fender’s certified pre-owned program, which is one of 20 such offerings available on Reverb, the companies said.
Creator Partners’ Trainor said they are keen to invest in Reverb and its goal of growing “the entire industry through seamless secondhand commerce.”
Mark Fukunaga, executive chair of Servco, said his company has been invested in musical instruments and education for over 90 years. “We remain committed to being good stewards of leading musical instrument companies, like Reverb, and supporting players everywhere in pursuing their passion to create music.”
It’s been 55 years since the first Earth Day launched the modern environmental movement as we know it today, affecting change through a mix of education, public policy and innovative campaigns. The first Earth Day was organized by Sen. Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin on April 22, 1970. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See […]
It’s been a full decade since Poot Lovato had her last taste of freedom — and according to Demi Lovato, the hilarious, fictitious alter ego is staying locked up for many decades more. In a TikTok video posted Monday (April 21), the singer-songwriter poked fun at the mega-viral meme from 2015 by lip-synching to an […]
Fans will have to wait until Sunday (April 27) to find out if Phish makes it into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this year on its first try, but the veteran jam band’s enthusiasts showed their support. The band won the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame fan vote, receiving 329,000-plus votes — nearly 50,000 more than runner-up Bad Company, who got 280,725.
The top five finishers in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s Fan Vote will have their results counted alongside ballots from more than 1,200 artists, historians and music industry professionals to help determine the Class of 2025. Joining Phish and Bad Company in the fan vote’s top five are Billy Idol (260K votes), Cyndi Lauper (nearly 237K), and Joe Cocker (233K).
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As was announced Monday, Ryan Seacrest will announce this year’s inductees into the Rock Hall on a live episode of American Idol on Sunday. James Taylor will serve as mentor on the episode, on which this year’s contestants will perform songs associated with past Rock Hall inductees.
Soundgarden just missed the top five in the fan vote, receiving about 300 fewer votes than Cocker. They were followed by Chubby Checker (203K), The Black Crowes (165K), Mariah Carey (nearly 138K), Joy Division and New Order (120K), The White Stripes (110K), OutKast (108K), Oasis (99K) and Maná (34K).
Phish has had an unorthodox career. The band has yet to put a single on the Billboard Hot 100 and has received just one Grammy nomination — best rock instrumental performance for “First Tube” in 2001. But the band has put 38 albums on the Billboard 200, including three that made the top 10 — Billy Breathes (No. 7 in 1996), The Story of the Ghost (No. 8 in 1998) and Fuego (No. 7 in 2014).
The band has had its greatest radio success in the adult alternative format. It has had four top 10 hits on Billboard’s Adult Alternative Airplay chart — “Free” (No. 7 in 1996), “Heavy Things” (No. 2 in 2000), “The Connection” (No. 2 in 2004) and “Backwards Down the Number Line” (No. 9 in 2009).
And the band is a powerhouse live attraction, as evidenced when it played the Sphere in Las Vegas in April 2024.
In February of this year, Natti Natasha took the stage in Miami and performed music from her new album, Natti Natasha En Amargue, live for the first time. Backed by a full live band, Natti didn’t sing provocative reggaetón or commercial pop. Instead, she dove into the pure amargue — or bitterness — of bachata, the traditional music of her native Dominican Republic.
But for Natti, this wasn’t just her first full bachata album; it was also entirely written and produced by Romeo Santos, the superstar known as the King of Bachata. The collaboration between the genre’s biggest name and possibly the best-known female Dominican artist today has already paid off. En Amargue debuted at No. 6 on Billboard’s Top Tropical Albums chart in February, and by April, the single “Desde Hoy” became Natti’s first No. 1 as a solo artist (not part of a collaboration) on the Tropical Airplay chart.
Beyond the album’s success, it’s a “full-circle” moment for Natti. “I feel like in every area of my life, after working so hard for so long, I’m finally at a place where I can just enjoy my music,” she says.
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Natti Natasha (real name Natalia Alexandra Gutiérrez Batista) has had one of the most successful careers in contemporary tropical and urban music. She first hit Billboard’s charts in 2012 alongside Don Omar with “Dutty Love,” which reached No. 1 on the Hot Latin Songs chart. Since then, Natti has racked up 34 entries on the Latin Airplay chart, including 10 No. 1 hits, and her debut album Iluminatti landed in the Top 10 of the Top Latin Albums chart in 2019. She’s experimented with pop and dance, but above all, she’s become known as a trailblazer of melodic, lyrically bold urban fusion music — anchored by her exceptional voice.
But her journey hasn’t been easy. Natti emerged in a time when reggaetón by women was largely overlooked and far from commercially successful. She had the image of a pop artist, but her music was often unapologetically sexual. It was hard to put her in a box, and earning respect as a confident, feminine woman in a male-dominated urban music world was no small feat. Two years ago, the foundation she worked so hard to build was shaken when her husband and manager, Raphy Pina, was sentenced to 41 months in prison for illegal possession of firearms. At the peak of her career and with a one-year-old daughter, Natti had to navigate uncharted waters. Now, she’s back on the charts — with the artistic touch of Santos, the emotional support of Pina (who’s back home), and the love of daughter Vida Isabelle, who will turn four in May.
This year, Natti Natasha will be honored at Billboard’s 2025 Latin Women in Music event with the Unstoppable Award, recognizing both her extraordinary music career and her resilience in the face of adversity.
What does receiving the Unstoppable Award mean to you?
This award means so much to me. Being recognized as “unstoppable” makes me reflect on everything I’ve been through — every obstacle I’ve had to overcome, every tear, every sacrifice, every moment I had to be strong even when I was breaking inside. To me, being unstoppable is loving what you do with your whole heart. It’s getting back up a thousand times, even when the world tells you that you can’t. It’s being a woman, being a mother, being a proud and strong Latina. Today, I embrace the Natti who started this journey with fear but had huge dreams, and I thank her for never giving up. This award is for everyone who keeps fighting with their head held high. Because together, we’re unstoppable.
Natti Natasha En Amargue was written and produced by Romeo Santos, who also worked with you on the remix of your hit “La Mejor Versión de Mí.” Had you known each other for a long time?
I’ve always been a huge fan of Romeo, but I didn’t actually know him. I first met him during the video shoot for “La Mejor Versión de Mí” in 2019, when we did the remix. I never in my life thought Romeo Santos would want to do a remix of one of my songs. I remember being in New York, getting ready for the video shoot, and my manager came over and said, “I want to play you something real quick.” He hit play, and I heard the percussion and Romeo’s voice. I didn’t say a word — I just started crying. I’m one of those people who cries when they’re happy. I couldn’t believe someone like him noticed me, my voice, and my song.
You’ve recorded so many songs. What was different about making a full album with Romeo?
First, we sat down and talked about what each song was about — because every song has a story, a concept. One thing I love about Romeo, which is something I have too, is his attention to detail. The “why,” the concept, the story — he explains everything. For every song, he’d sit in a little chair right inside the recording booth while I was at the mic. After he explained the meaning behind the song, we’d go line by line, and sometimes even word by word. The songs evolved. Every single one is so special. For every note, every breath, every way of delivering a line, Romeo was right there with me.
Jodie Jones
This album, En Amargue, has been in the works for years. Why did you wait to release it?
I was waiting, just like I was waiting to get back on stage and sing again. This project is so important, so beautiful, and so personal. I wanted to wait until my family was whole again, until our home was complete [and Pina was back]. It’s a blessing because now we have balance, and we have chemistry. This business isn’t easy. A lot of people say it’s hard for couples to work together, but for me, it’s been the perfect formula.
Did you feel incomplete without Raphy back?
Of course, [but] I had my daughter, and she made me happy. For her, I stayed focused on making music and keeping her happy. I worried a lot about that, and I did it. You know, as a mom, that’s just the law. But Raphy was such a big part of this project, and he cared about every little detail. My team is my family, and a key piece of the puzzle was missing. We deserved to enjoy this moment together. Because this is a moment to celebrate the project, not stress over it. Good music shouldn’t be rushed or forced — it never dies.
This album is very artistic and so different from something like Nasty Singles, which you released in 2023. Those are pretty spicy tracks. Do you ever regret any of the music you’ve put out?
Never. There’s not a single song I’ve recorded that feels like “filler” or makes me feel unsure. Every song — even if it’s just a party anthem — you never know what could happen. And I enjoy the process so much in the studio; it’s such a beautiful experience. I always love sharing different moments and music with my fans. At that time, Natti Natasha was living through that particular chapter of her life. So my music grows with me. You keep living, you keep creating, and you share that growth with the people who’ve been with you along the way.
And what stage are you in now?
When I first came to New York from the Dominican Republic, I didn’t know what kind of music I wanted to make. I took a chance on reggaetón and grew from there. I faced a lot of struggles because I was chasing this dream without knowing if it would ever come true. At one point, I thought, “Wow, this music career is such an uphill battle.” Then, when Raphy had to leave, I kept going and faced a lot of criticism just for being a woman. But I thought, “I’m not going to let this bring me down.” Now, with Raphy back, I look back at all those moments, and I realize I never stopped. I always pushed forward. And now, everything makes sense. When you’re in those moments of confusion, you kind of close yourself off. But thank God, I focused on my daughter, I have my family, and I released Natti Natasha En Amargue, which to me is on another level. I feel like, in every area of my life — because I’ve worked on all of them for so long — I’m now in a place where I can enjoy my music, not stress over it. I feel like I’m in a stage of growth where people are starting to appreciate Natti Natasha’s artistry more. It’s like I’m climbing all these steps in my career that are taking me to a whole new place.
The third annual Billboard Latin Women in Music special will air live at 9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT on Thursday, April 24 exclusively on Telemundo, Universo, Peacock and the Telemundo app and throughout Latin America and the Caribbean on Telemundo Internacional.
Check out Billboard’s Latin Women In Music 2025 executive list here.
