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Sara Landry, Aluna, Kaleena Zanders & More Win 2025 Femmy Awards: Full Winners List

The inaugural Femmy Awards kicked off in high style and spirit Thursday (March 27) in Miami.

Happening amid the many (many) events of Miami Music Week, the awards were put on by Femme House, the nonprofit founded by LP Giobbi and Lauren Spalding that works to create and celebrate equity in the music industry by amplifying voices of women, femme, gender-expansive LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC creators.

The afternoon ceremony took place on the waterfront patio at Palm Tree Club, the hotel opened by Kygo and his manager and Myles Shear this past December. In the sunshine and bay breezes, LP and Spaulding presented a variety of awards honoring artists, party brands, festivals, execs and other members across the dance music industry.

The event started with moving speeches by Barbara Tucker and Crystal Waters, who were honored with the Voice of House award for the prolific contributions they’ve made to the genre over the years. So too were DJ Minx and DJ Lady D each honored with the Pioneer Award for their everything they’ve each done to break barriers, reshape the dance and electronic music industries and pave the way for femme, non-binary, and LGBTQ+ artists.

The event also presented awards to a flurry of other artists, with Kaleena Zanders and Aluna Francis winning for best live performance, Coco & Breezy winning the Carolyn Horn Trailblazer Award (named for LP Giobbi’s longtime piano teacher who passed away in 2023), TSHA winning for best producer, Xandra being honored with the Rising Star Award and Sara Landry getting the award for producer of the year.

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The ceremony also honored a number of executives, with WME’s head of electronic music Stefanie LaFera getting the Theresa Velasquez Award for Outstanding Executive award and WME’s Bailey Greenwood winning for agent of the year. Billboard was the official media sponsor of the event.

See the complete winners list below.

2025 Ally Award: Le Chev
2025 Breakthrough Artist: Alleycvt
2025 Most Diverse Festival: Lightning in a Bottle
2025 Theresa Velasquez Award for Outstanding Executive: Stephanie LaFera
2025 Ableton Instructor of the Year: Mini Bear
2025 Pass the Mic Media Award: DJ Mag
2025 Pass the Mic Media Award: Billboard
2025 Carolyn Horn Trailblazer Award: Coco & Breezy
2025 Femme House Community Member of the Year: Shak Jackson
2025 Best Live Performance: Kaleena Zanders + Aluna Francis @ Planet Pride

2025 Best Radio Mix: DJ Holographic
2025 Album of the Year: Sofi Tukker, Bread
2025 Best Sound Designer: Tokimonsta
2025 Best Producer: TSHA
2025 Best Vocalist: Kaleena Zanders
2025 Best Engineer: Jayda Love
2025 Best Mixer: Laura Sisk
2025 Sonic Innovator Award: FKA Twigs
2025 Best Visual Experience: The Blessed Madonna
2025 Best Visual Experience: Nora En Pure
2025 Activist & Impact Award: She Is the Music
2025 Culture Shifter Award: Ronny Ho
2025 Best Music Journalist: Katie Bain
2025 Best Record Label: HE.SHE.THEY.
2025 Manager of the Year: Julia Fugazy
2025 Agent of the Year: Bailey Greenwood
2025 Hospitality Visionary Award: Carly Van Sickle
2025 Talent Booker: Heather Church
2025 Best Club: Elsewhere
2025 Icon Award: Honey Dijon
2025 Song of the Year: Desiree, “Khuluma Nami”
2025 Creative Director of the Year: Sophie Muller
2025 Best Underground Promoter: Girls Room
2025 For the Culture Award: Interna$hional Bounce
2025 Voice of House Honoree: Barbara Tucker
2025 Voice of House Honoree: Crystal Waters
2025 Rising Star Honoree: Xandra
2025 Producer of the Year Honoree: Sara Landry
2025 Pioneer Award Honoree: DJ Lady D
2025 Pioneer Award Honoree: Minx

Abbey Road Reopens Studio One Following Extensive Restoration

LONDON – Abbey Road has announced the reopening of Studio One following an extensive restoration to the iconic recording studio space. The room closed in late 2024 for the first time in its history to allow for the work to take place.

On Thursday night (March 27), the studio celebrated the reopening with an event Synergy In Motion, which combined contemporary dance and music in a unique event. The choreography was helmed by Royal Ballet choreographer Joseph Toonga and set to the film scores of composer Daniel Pemberton (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse), remixed and arranged by Jordan Rakei, Abbey Road’s Artist in Residence.

The studio has now reopened and is in operation for recording sessions.

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Studio One is described by the north-west London studio as “world’s largest purpose-built recording studio,” and can comfortably host 100-piece orchestras. The room is primarily used for the recording of classical and movie scores, with the soundtracks to a number of blockbusters having been recorded in in the space, including much of John Williams’ oeuvre, such as Raiders of The Lost Ark, Star Wars: The Return of The Jedi, as well as the Harry Potter movies. Earlier this month, on March 18, the studio hosted a one-off concert to celebrate the film scores recorded in the space over the past 45 years, including The Last Emperor, The Lord of The Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, Skyfall, The Shape of Water, Barbie, Black Panther and more.

The room has also been used by a variety of contemporary musicians in recent years, including Harry Styles, U2, Noel Gallagher, Little Simz, Sam Smith and Celeste.

In a statement, Abbey Road’s managing director Sally Davies said, “The reopening of Studio One sees Abbey Road embrace a renewed energy that not only honours our legacy but also looks forward to the future. Last night’s multidisciplinary Synergy In Motion celebration was the perfect way to usher in this new era, with an evening that championed innovation and creativity at every turn.”

The refurbishment includes the replacing of the 20-year old 72-channel AMS Neve 88RS SP2 recording console with an 84-channel AMS Neve 88RS SP3D recording console, and extensive acoustic treatment and the installation of new fabric. The live room – where the musicians play – has seen the introduction of 10 rows of wool serge, as well as the integration of 3 rows of 9 LED pendants to increase visibility. 

The premises was first built as a residential townhouse in 1831, and was converted into a recording studio a century later, reopening as EMI Studios in 1931. A number of classical greats including Edward Elgar and Sergei Prokofiev recorded there; in 1958, Studio Two was opened, with a number of influential acts like The Beatles recording in the space. The studio is currently owned by Universal Music imprint Virgin Records.

Morgan Wallen Is Torn on Chloe Fineman’s ‘Sexy Dance’ in New ‘SNL’ Promo

Morgan Wallen is taking the Saturday Night Live stage once again as musical performer, alongside best actress Oscar winner Mikey Madison as host. The duo appear in a hilarious new promo on Thursday (March 27) alongside cast member Chloe Fineman.

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“Mikey, I was so inspired by your dancing in Anora, it actually made me take an exotic dance class,” Fineman tells Madison of he Anora character, a stripper from New York who marries the son of a Russian oligarch.

Fineman then asks Madison if she wants to see her “sexy dance,” to which the actress agrees. The comedian then begins to contort her body awkwardly, before Madison uncomfortably notes, “That’s an interesting take.”

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“I think I like it,” Wallen says, before Madison ultimately joins in on the dance party.

Wallen previously appeared as a musical guest on the iconic sketch comedy program in December 2020. The country superstar is gearing up to release his new album, I’m the Problem, on May 16. Earlier this month, he released two single from the project: the post heartbreak anthem “Just in Case” and the reflective “I’m a Little Crazy.”

Watch the promo below, and catch the full Saturday Night Live episode on March 29 at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBC, before it begins streaming on Peacock.

McLaren F1’s Limited-Edition Loop Earplugs Are Race Ready: Shop Here

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McLaren F1 has announced a new partnership with Loop Earplugs, a luxury hearing-protection brand. For the first time, Loop is partnering with a Formula 1 team, debuting the McLaren Formula 1 Team x Loop 2 earplugs, which will protect hearing with precise sound control and passive noise reduction to help you enjoy the race day environment at an optimal sound level.

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Designed for all-day performance, Switch 2 adapts to your environment. With three precise volume modes, the earplugs will keep you focused, balanced and in control during race day. First up, Quiet Mode delivers maximum focus for intense concentration and tranquil recovery, whether you’re analyzing data or recharging between events. Next, Experience Mode, preserves the thrill and atmosphere while protecting your ears, keeping you present and engaged at live events. Lastly, Engage Mode filters background noise while maintaining conversational clarity—perfect for meetings or social environments.

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“At Loop, we’re revolutionizing how people harness sound to unlock their full potential. This partnership with McLaren Racing combines our shared commitment to precision and performance, creating an innovative solution that inspires excellence in every environment,” says Dimitri O, Loop Co-Founder.

From the high-octane world of Formula 1, to traveling, to active lifestyles, the McLaren Formula 1 Team x Loop Switch 2 helps optimize your sound environment and enhances focus and clarity for peak daily performance.

“The partnership with Loop embodies our commitment to performance and giving our team every advantage,” Matt Dennington, Co-Chief Commercial Officer, McLaren Racing, said in a statement. “Both Loop Earplugs and McLaren Racing share a passion for precision design and this collaboration brings something truly unique to both our team and our fans.”

McLaren Racing is off to a strong start to the 2025 season with both Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris sweeping the opening two races of the year. Following its 2024 constructor title, the company looks to continue it winning streak alongside its luxury push with multiple partnerships, including Loop.

Shop the first of its kind McLaren F1 x Loop Switch 2 Earplugs below and enjoy your next race day in peace.

McLaren F1 x Loop Switch 2 Earplugs

Selena’s Killer, Yolanda Saldívar, Denied Parole

Yolanda Saldívar, the 64-year-old woman who was sent to prison for the murder of Latin music superstar Selena in 1995, has been denied parole, the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles announced Thursday (March 27) in an official statement posted on its website.

“After a thorough consideration of all available information, which included any confidential interviews conducted, it was the parole panels determination to deny parole to Yolanda Saldivar and set her next parole review for March 2030,” the statement reads. “The reason provided by the panel for denial was the Nature of the Offense: The record indicates that the instant offense has elements of brutality, violence, assaultive behavior or conscious selection of victim’s vulnerability indicating a conscious disregard for the lives, safety, or property of others, such that the offender poses a continuing threat to public safety.”

In October 1995, Saldívar was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole in 30 years after being found guilty of murdering the tejano music icon, whose full name was Selena Quintanilla. It was initially reported that Saldívar had begun the review process earlier this year since she was up for parole on March 30.

The Quintanilla family and the late star’s widower, Chris Pérez, issued a statement just after the board announced its decision. “Today, we are grateful that the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles has chosen to deny parole for Yolanda Saldívar,” the post reads. “While nothing can bring Selena back, this decision reaffirms that justice continues to stand for the beautiful life that was taken from us and from millions of fans around the world far too soon.”

One of the most consequential artists of her generation, Selena revolutionized Latin music with her tejano twist on norteño music and hip-swiveling techno-cumbias that showcased her versatility. With anthems like “Amor Prohibido,” “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom,” “Como La Flor” and “No Me Queda Más,” to name a few, Selena’s music has endured decades after her death.

On the Billboard charts, Selena earned 24 entries on Top Latin Albums, 16 of which hit the top 10 and seven of which hit No. 1 — among them Amor Prohibido, which spent 20 weeks at the top in 1994, and the posthumous Dreaming of You, which spent 40 weeks at the top in 1995. On the Regional Mexican Albums and Latin Pop Albums charts, the late artist placed seven and six titles at No. 1, respectively. Amor Prohibido topped the former chart for nearly 100 weeks. 

Read the family’s entire statement on the parole decision below:

Akon ft. Simien “Never Really Mattered,” Sean Paul “Summa Hot” & More | Daily Visuals 3.27.25

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For a hot minute back in the early 2000’s, Akon was one of the hottest artists on the streets providing some stellar street cuts and memorable hooks and though he’s gone on to bigger and better things, the artist in him still has that itch to create music in 2025 and we’re not mad at him one bit.

Dropping off some new visuals to the Simien assisted “Never Really Mattered,” Akon gets in his loverboy feelings and pours his heart out of his diamond encrusted grill while the seductive singers of Simien sing the hook and lowkey steal some shine from his iced out teeth.

Speaking of early 2000’s music stars, dancehall legend Sean Paul keeps churning out new work and in his latest clip to “Summa Hot,” the Jamaican artist hits the ocean in a private boat with some stunners of his own and get thing poppin’ out at sea as the man knows how to keep the party going.

Check out the rest of today’s drops including work from J.I. featuring Roy Woods, Jacquees, and more.

AKON FT. SIMIEN – “NEVER REALLY MATTERED”

SEAN PAUL – “SUMMA HOT”

J.I. FT. ROY WOODS – “LOVE ME LOVE ME NOT”

JACQUEES – “WHEN I’M AROUND HER”

GYPTIAN – “SLOW WALK”

LEOSTAYTRILL – “YA GET DAT”

SEAN PAUL & SQUASH – “LIFE WE LIVING”

MUNGA HONORABLE – “AVOID PEOPLE”

La T y La M’s ‘Amor De Vago,’ Featuring Malandro de América, Back at No.1 on Billboard Argentina Hot 100

La T y La M’s “Amor De Vago,” featuring Malandro de América, rebounds for an 11th week at No. 1 on the Billboard Argentina Hot 100 chart (dated March 29). The song trades places with Jombriel, Ryan Castro, Jotta and Alex Krack’s “Parte & Choke (remix),” which dips 2-1 after one week in charge.

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Brazilian singer-songwriter Luisa Sonza achieves her highest-charting entry since the chart launched in 2018 thanks to “Bunda,” with Emilia, which jumps 4-3. Meanwhile, Bad Bunny’s “Velda” rebounds to its No. 10 high, after the song hit the top 10 on the chart dated Feb. 22.

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Colombian influencer and Youtuber W Sound, better known as Westcol, earns his first entry on the Billboard Argentina Hot 100 ranking, as his latest project, “La Plena (W Sound 05),” with Beéle and Ovy On The Drums, becomes the Hot Shot Debut of the week debuting at No. 39. W Sound celebrates a dual milestone, following his recent deal with Warner Music Latina.

Beéle and Ovy on the Drums also take the Greatest Gainer honors of the week with “Mi Refe,” as the song surges 92-65.

Back in the top 60, Mexican Emanero and Argentinian Luciano Pereyra add a new career entry through their first collab “Ahora Resulta,” which bows at No. 60.

Lastly, Maria Becerra extends her record for the most entries among women, as “Tatú” opens at No. 62.

Doja Cat Set to Headline South African Festival Hey Neighbour 2025

Doja Cat is the first headliner to be revealed for Hey Neighbour festival in South Africa this summer, marking the star’s first time performing in her motherland.

The three-day festival will be held at Legends Adventure Farm in Pretoria, South Africa from August 29-31. Kendrick Lamar, Khalid, The Chainsmokers, Swedish House Mafia and H.E.R. performed at the 2023 inaugural edition of the festival.

“We are beyond excited to welcome Doja Cat to the Hey Neighbour Festival stage,” Glen Netshipise, CEO of Hey Neighbour, said in a statement. “Her energy, creativity, and ability to connect with audiences on a global scale make her the perfect artist to kick off what will be an epic festival lineup. This is just the beginning — we have more incredible acts to reveal soon!”

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The festival will serve as a sort of homecoming for the Grammy-winning rapper (real name Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini), who is the daughter of South African actor Dumisani Dlamini.

She told Apple Music 1’s Ebro Darden in an interview in December 2023 about her album Scarlet that she had yet to visit the country. “I rely on my career to just throw me out to places,” she said at the time. Looks like her career finally brought her home. Doja has expressed pride in her heritage by bringing out the South African a capella group The Joy to perform alongside her during her headlining slot at Coachella last year.

Fans can purchase tickets to Hey Neighbour here.

NFL Bans ‘Nose Wipe’ Celebration Popularized by Young Thug

The No Fun League is back at it again.

On Monday night (Mar. 26), ESPN NFL analyst Benjamin Solak posted a screenshot from the league’s rules report that was sent out to teams recently highlighting that the “nose wipe” celebration is now deemed unsportsmanlike and will cost teams a 15-yard penalty.

The “nose wipe” will fall under the “violent gesture” category next to celebrations like the throat slash, invisible guns, and sexually suggestive or offensive acts.

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Players like Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb use the celebration often after first downs and touchdowns. And as you can guess, is not a big fan of the rule change, tweeting that he has plenty of celebrations in mind.

Young Thug fan account, ThuggerDaily, which became the go-to source during the Atlanta’s rapper’s lengthy RICO trial, saw the news and proclaimed that Fulton County district attorney Fani Willis finally won.

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“Oh my God Fani Willis won,” he tweeted. “‘Wiping your nose’ as a celebration is now banned from the NFL and will result in a 15 yard penalty for being a ‘violent gesture’ WTF.”

The “nose wipe” has been popularized by rappers like Young Thug and Future who have referenced the gesture in songs and in pictures often used with the words “slime” and “slatt.”

They both can be heard rapping the phrase on “Sup Mate” from Thugger’s 2019 debut album So Much Fun and it essentially means to confront an enemy to maybe rob them or humiliate them in some way, among other things.

We have to get to the bottom of who sent the NFL the Urban Dictionary link.

Larkin Poe Announce 2025 Bloom Tour

Fresh off their appearance on Joe Bonamassa’s Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea X cruise, Grammy winning sisters Rebecca and Megan Lovell of Larkin Poe have announced their 2025 Bloom tour in support of their new record of the same name.

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Born in Georgia and currently residing Nashville, the pair begin their trek on April 8 in St. Louis, Mo., and run coast to coast with stops across the country. On March 31, days before the tour opens, Larkin Poe and Emmylou Harris are set to perform at Woofstock at City Winery in Nashville.

Bloom follows last year’s Grammy winning album Blood Harmony from 2022. Bloom debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Blues album charts.

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“History isn’t quick to point it out, but Rock ‘n’ Roll has been underpinned by a strong, matrilineal root that has been growing deep for generations, abiding. And now, more than ever, that root is coming to bloom,” a statement attributed to the band reads. “As female songwriters, producers, instrumentalists, and record label owners — we are proud to be standing on the shoulders of the strong women who have come before, and to be a part of the empowered chorus that is climbing to sing from the rooftops. When we won a Grammy for Best Contemporary Blues Album in 2024, for the first time ever, that category was represented by a female majority of talent. This is just a taste of what’s coming. In the prophetic words of Shania Twain, ‘let’s go girls.’”

Dates for Larkin Poe’s Bloom Tour 2025 can be found below:

3/31 – Nashville, TN – Woofstock at City Winery with Emmylou Harris
4/8 – St. Louis, MO – The Hawthorn *
4/10 – Kansas City, MO – The Truman *
4/11 – Denver, CO – Ogden Theatre *
4/12 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Depot *
4/15 – Boise, ID – Treefort Music Hall *
4/17 – Seattle, WA – The Showbox *
4/18 – Portland, OR – Crystal Ballroom *
4/19 – Vancouver, BC – Commodore Ballroom *
4/22 – Grass Valley, CA – The Center for the Arts *
4/23 – Los Angeles, CA – The Fonda Theatre *
4/25 – San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore *
4/26 – San Diego, CA – House of Blues *
4/27 – Santa Barbara, CA – Arlington Theatre *
5/8 – Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer ^
5/9 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club ^
5/10 – New York, NY – Irving Plaza ^
5/12 – Boston, MA – The Wilbur ^
5/14 – Toronto, ONT – The Concert Hall ^
5/16 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue ^
5/17 – Chicago, IL – The Vic Theatre ^
5/22-26 – Cumberland, MD – DelFest †
5/29 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium
5/30 – Atlanta, GA – The Eastern
5/31-June 1 – Lexington, KY – Railbird Music Festiva
6/1 – Asheville, NC – The Orange Peel
6/22 – Asbury Park, NJ – Asbury Lanes
7/23-27 – Floyd, VA – FloydFest †
9/4-7 – Las Vegas, NV – Big Blues Bender †
10/3 – Miramar Beach, FL – Moon Crush Avett Moon
10/9-12 – Nashville, TN – Tommy Emmanuel’s Guitar Camp
10/17 – Manchester, UK – Manchester Academy
10/18 – Glasgow, UK – O2 Academy
10/19 – Bristol, UK – Bristol Beacon
10/21 – London, UK – Eventim Apollo
10/22 – Birmingham, UK – O2 Institute
10/24 – Paris, France – Salle Pleyel
10/25 – Tilburg, Netherlands – 013 Poppodium
10/26 – Cologne, Germany – E-Werk
10/28 – Oslo, Norway – Sentrum Scene
10/29 – Stockholm, Sweden – Circus
10/30 – Frederiksberg, Denmark – Falkoner Center
11/1 – Berlin, Germany – Tempodrom
11/2 – Warsaw, Poland – Klub Stodola
11/4 – Vienna, Austria – Gasometer
11/5 – Munich, Germany – Tonhalle
11/8 – Geneva, Switzerland – Salle De L’Alhambra
11/9 – Nimes, France – La Paloma
11/12 – Lisbon, Portugal – Coliseu Dos Recreios
11/14 – Madrid, Spain – Sala Riviera
11/15 – Barcelona, Spain – Razzmatazz 1
11/16 – Bordeaux, France – Le Rocher de Palmer
11/18 – Clermont-Ferrand, France – Le Cooperative de Mai
11/19 – La Rochelle, France – La Sirene
11/21 – Antwerp, Belgium – De Roma

w/ Special Guest Parker Millsap
^ w/ Special Guest Amythyst Kiah
† Festival Appearance

Larkin Poe's Bloom tour

Larkin Poe’s Bloom tour

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