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On Thursday night (March 13), Billboard’s The Stage at SXSW kicked off in Austin with a fiery set by Texas’s own Koe Wetzel, who is fresh off a five-week No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart with “High Road” with Jessie Murph. Murph may have been absent from the stage at Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo […]
Playboi Carti fans will have to wait a little longer for his highly anticipated album I AM MUSIC, as the rapper has announced a last-minute delay.
Initially scheduled for release at midnight EST, Carti revealed on social media that the album will now drop three hours later at 3 a.m. EST.
The rapper took to X on March 14, citing Young Thug’s involvement in the project as the reason behind the delay. “HAD TO WAIT 4 THUG 2 SEND HIS VERSE,” Carti wrote, confirming that the Atlanta rap icon will be featured on the album.
Alongside the announcement, Carti also shared what is believed to be the official list of featured artists on I AM MUSIC, which includes heavyweights such as Travis Scott, Future, Lil Uzi Vert, The Weeknd, Skepta, Young Thug, Ty Dolla Sign, and one mystery feature whose name is blacked out. The final tracklist currently remains unconfirmed.
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DJ Akademiks previously claimed to have heard the album on Thursday (March 13), and he’s already championing it as a “day one classic” and seemingly dropped names from the star-studded guest list.
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“CARTI got Pluto slime Uzi Trav Weeknd floating on dat bih,” he wrote to X. “I nearly shed a tear listening to the s–t. This s–t for everybody I SWEAR. Btw purple hair Uzi back.” He also seemingly confirmed rumors circulating of a Kendrick Lamar appearance on I Am Music. “Buckle up, y’all,” Akademiks said. “That n—a talking s–t again.”
Ak also teased a posthumous collaboration with XXXTENTACION. “I also heard a song with,” he said on a stream and proceeded to play X’s “SAD!” hit.
Before hitting the road for tour with The Weeknd, Carti will debut the project live when he takes the stage at Rolling Loud California 2025 this weekend at Hollywood Park.
It’s been a long journey for Playboi Carti to I Am Music after announcing the project in 2022. His last album, Whole Lotta Red, arrived on Christmas Day in 2020 and debuted atop the Billboard 200 for his first No. 1 album, which earned 100,000 equivalent album units.
Carti has been teasing I AM MUSIC for months, with fans eagerly anticipating its sound and directio
I AM MUSIC is now expected to arrive at 3 a.m. EST.
Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco’s joint album I Said I Love You First is arriving in just a week, and the pair unveiled the latest single from the project, “Sunset Blvd,” on Friday (March 14). The title is inspired by the Los Angeles street where the duo, who got engaged in December, had their first […]
There are changes afoot at Australia’s peak trade body and the country’s labels’ copyright collecting society.
Lynne Small, the Chief Operating Officer of the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) and Phonographic Performance Company of Australia (PPCA), has announced she will be stepping down from her joint role at the organizations as of April 30.
Small joined PPCA in 1996 following seven years spent at Festival Records as their Group Finance Manager. With her initial roles seeing her serve as Finance Manager and later Finance Administration Manager, Small’s presence within the company grew in the ensuing years, ultimately resulting in her appointment to General Manager of both PPCA and ARIA in 2011.
In 2021, Small took over the role of Chief Operating Officer alongside the appointment of Annabelle Herd to the role of Chief Executive Officer.
Small’s work within both ARIA and PPCA have seen her become one of the Australian music industry’s most respected figures, with her impact felt far beyond the two companies for which she has served. Small will continue in her current role until April 30, though she will continue to be engaged on a part-time basis to support key PPCA projects and assist with ARIA’s transition.
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“I’ve been incredibly lucky to have spent the majority of my career with organisations that support and champion Australian music,” Small said in a statement. “The friendships, challenges, and achievements over the past 28 years have been incredibly rewarding, and I am so grateful to have worked alongside such passionate and talented people, both inside and beyond ARIA and PPCA.
“While I’m looking forward to the next chapter, I’ll always be invested in the ongoing success of ARIA, PPCA, and the Australian music industry, and a big supporter from the cheap seats!”
“Lynne’s legacy is immeasurable. She’s been more than a leader, she’s been the heartbeat of ARIA and PPCA, a trusted advisor, and a guiding force through decades of change,” Herd added. “Her encyclopaedic knowledge of the industry, coupled with her warmth, integrity, and sharp wit, will leave an incredible legacy and undeniably positive impact on all of Australian music.
“While this is a significant change for ARIA and PPCA, we are fortunate to have Lynne’s continued support during the transition, and we will forever be grateful for her immense contribution.”
Alongside Small’s news, the organizations have announced that Julia Robinson will be promoted to Head of Government Relations and Programs, while Rohini Sivakumar will be promoted to General Counsel & Company Secretary. Their new roles will take effect as of May 1.
ARIA and PPCA have also posted a job advertisement seeking a new Head Of Finance, with full details available via recruitment website SEEK.
The Mars Volta appear to be sick of the standard album release plan, with the group finally confirming their new album after weeks of speculation.
Vocalist Cedric Bixler-Zavala confirmed the existence of the new album via his Instagram Stories this week, sharing a pre-order link to a record titled Lucro Sucio; Los Ojos del Vacío. No other announcement from the band – be it a larger social media post or a press release – has mentioned the record, though it is currently available for pre-order via online retailers such as Amazon. These retailers list an official release date of April 11.
“The Mars Volta’s ninth studio album represents a significant milestone for the band, which has been continually reinventing itself for more than 20 years,” an online description for the record reads. “With Lucro Sucio; Los Ojos del Vacio, they deliver an album that celebrates their roots, allowing them to reconnect with their origins. Fans are invited to embark on a musical journey.”
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The album’s rollout plan has been a strange one, perhaps in response to the fact that both news of the album and its content had leaked prematurely in late January. While The Mars Volta had not acknowledged the leak publicly, they launched a U.S. tour in support of Deftones on Feb. 25, where they have since been performing Lucro Sucio; Los Ojos del Vacío in its near-entirety.
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On March 2, a Reddit user took to The Mars Volta subreddit to share an unverified story in which they claimed to have delivered food to Bixler-Zavala while the band were in Oregon, only to be handed the singer’s personal copy of the album. The user shared a handful of photos to support their claim, adding further speculation amongst fans as to when the album would be officially released.
The Mars Volta was formed by Bixler-Zavala and guitarist Omar Rodríguez-López following the breakup of their previous band At the Drive-In. Debut album De-Loused in the Comatorium was released in 2003, while 2005’s Frances the Mute would see the band reach No. 4 on the Billboard 200. They would release a total of six albums across their initial run, with 2012’s Noctourniquet preceding their split the following year.
While Bixler-Zavala and Rodríguez-López would later perform again in Antemasque and a reunited At the Drive-In, The Mars Volta would not be considered active again until 2019. They returned to releasing music in 2022 with a self-titled record, and an acoustic re-recording of the album the following year titled Que Dios Te Maldiga Mi Corazón.
A new release from Radiohead could be on the way, if a historical trend of new legal entities is to be believed.
According to the British Government’s Companies House agency, the five members of Radiohead established a new limited liability partnership under the name RHEUK25 LLP on Monday (March 10). An LLP is a legal business entity which allows the band to exist and conduct their own dealings outside of the typical framework of a record label.
While the establishment of an LLP may mean nothing on face value, historical activities have indicated that a new release or tour usually follows after Radiohead or its members establish a new LLP.
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In 2007, the group prefaced the release of In Rainbows with the creation of Xurbia Xendless Ltd., which was followed by Ticker Tape Ltd. ahead of The King Of Limbs’ arrival in 2011, while 2016’s A Moon Shaped Pool was rumored after the discovery of the Dawn Chorus LLP.
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It’s not just restricted to Radiohead’s movements as a whole, with frontman Thom Yorke having been a part of Unsustainabubble Ltd. in 2010 before Atoms for Peace released their solo album in 2013, with the partnership also being used for his later solo releases. In 2021, Self Help Tapes LLP was incorporated before the release of The Smile’s debut album, and has since been used for their subsequent releases.
The most recent partnership to be created with all five members of Radiohead was Spin With a Grin Ltd., which arrived ahead of their 2021 reissue of Kid A and Amnesiac, dubbed Kid A Mnesia. It should be noted though, the nascent establishment of RHEUK25 LLP also coincides with the anniversary of Radiohead’s second album, The Bends, which was released 30 years ago on Thursday (March 13). Currently, it’s unknown whether the new LLP could be related to new music or a potential reissue.
Radiohead haven’t released a new studio album since 2016’s A Moon Shaped Pool, which peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 at the time. Band members have remained active since, with Yorke and guitarist Jonny Greenwood teaming with Tom Skinner to craft The Smile. On Tuesday (March 11), Yorke also announced a collaborative album with Mark Pritchard, with Tall Tales slated to arrive on May 9.
Speaking to Australian radio station Double J ahead of his Australian tour last year, Yorke noted his ignorance of online speculation regarding the band’s future. “I am not aware of it and don’t really give a flying f–k,” Yorke said.
“No offence to anyone and err, thanks for caring. But I think we’ve earned the right to do what makes sense to us without having to explain ourselves or be answerable to anyone else’s historical idea of what we should be doing.”
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Ticketmaster is celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with a rare discount offer to some of the biggest concerts of the year.
For a limited time, music fans can take advantage of Ticketmaster’s 2-for-1 deal to get two tickets for the price of one at participating shows. The promotion includes tickets to artists like Kim Gordon, Halsey, AWOLNATION, Tobe Nwigwe, Lucius, Tennis (with special guest Alice Phoebe Lou) and more. We spotted tickets starting from just $20 with the discount.
It’s not just concerts either — the Ticketmaster St. Patrick’s Day deal includes a buy one, get one free offer for Ricky Gervais’ “Mortality” comedy tour, the “Club Chris Tour” with Chris Olsen and Ryan Trainor, and RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Alyssa Edwards’ “Crowned Tour.”
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The best deal is for the upcoming “Outlaw Festival,” featuring Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Billy Strings and others. Taking place May 16 at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, this is the 10th annual Outlaw Music Festival Tour, which showcases a rotating lineup of artists spanning country, alt-country, Americana, bluegrass, folk and rock. The 2025 Outlaw Festival tickets start from just $59 with the 2-for-1 sale.
There’s no promo code needed to claim the discount but you will need to use this link. The new Ticketmaster offer runs until Wednesday, March 19 at 10 p.m.
Ticketmaster rarely holds sales so this is a promotion you’ll want to take advantage off while it’s still live. Tickets are moving quickly so we recommend adding your preferred seats to your cart before the shows sell out. Live Nation has held a summer concert offer the last two years for $25 all-in tickets, but the company has yet to announce if it’s bringing the promotion back for 2025.
For more ticket deals, check out ShopBillboard’s roundup of best cheap ticketing sites online.
The Midwest Princess is heading back to her roots. Chappell Roan unveiled her newest single, “The Giver,” on Thursday (March 13), putting her own spin on country music. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news In the fiddle-heavy track, she declares in the cheeky chorus: “Take it like […]
RCA Records Greater China, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, signed a strategic partnership with Chinese indie label and music collective IRIS Chengdu, founded by Chengdu, China-based producer, DJ and recording artist Andre Grant, a.k.a. HARIKIRI. During his career, HARIKIRI has worked with artists including American rapper Jay Park and Chinese hip-hop group Higher Brothers. Over the next year, five albums will be spawned from the partnership, including new releases from female Chinese rapper Vinida Weng, rapper/singer/songwriter Haysen Cheng and HARIKIRI himself, among others. According to a press release, Chengdu “has been widely regarded as the epicentre of China’s evolving hip hop music scene and touted as the city raising China’s new generation of rappers.”
EMPIRE formed a partnership with automated music marketing and promotion platform un:hurd music that includes an investment in un:hurd to support the development of new tools and will give EMPIRE access to un:hurd’s tools and services. The partnership came amid un:hurd’s ongoing fundraise, which has drawn investors including Willard Ahdritz, Dan Runcie’s Trapital Ventures and Mindset Ventures MusicTech. According to un:hurd CEO/founder Alex Brees, the platform boasts a community of more than 125,000 artists and record labels.
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Bria, a generative AI platform for visual images that claims to be built on 100% licensed data, closed $40 million in Series B funding, bringing its total capital raise to $65 million. The money will be used to scale the company’s visual generative AI platform and widen the application of its patented attribution engine to music, video and text generation. The company says its attribution engine “bridges the generative output and the training dataset, so data owners are programmatically compensated according to their overall influence on each generated output,” according to a press release. In a statement, Bria founder/CEO Dr. Yair Adato added, “Enterprises can use our source code and API platform to integrate visual generative AI inside their products and access previously untouchable premium branded content. By broadening our attribution offering to all types of content, including music, video, and text, we are helping to usher in a truly sustainable creative economy.”
Japanese talent management and production company Asobisystem teamed up with blackx, described as a leader in music investments in Asia, to help expand the J-pop genre globally. According to a press release, the companies “will expand artist portfolios, venturing beyond traditional music to explore innovative IP such as cross-industry collaborations, introducing J-Pop to new global audiences and reinforcing Japan’s leadership in the entertainment sector.” Asobisystem’s roster includes Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, Atarashii Gakko!, Fruits Zipper and Yasutaka Nakata.
Synch platform SourceAudio struck a deal with AI-powered music analysis platform Cyanite to integrate Cyanite’s AI music tagging and search capabilities directly into the SourceAudio licensing ecosystem. Through the deal, SourceAudio’s music libraries and content owners can opt in to access Cyanite’s AI tagging and search system within their existing workflows. Cyanite has also chosen SourceAudio as its delivery platform for new and existing customers, meaning all Cyanite users can now benefit from SourceAudio’s hosting and licensing solution, allowing their audio files to be automatically tagged and optimized for search, discovery, pitching and monetization.
Celebrity Coaches, a luxury transportation services provider for the entertainment industry, acquired BandWagon RV Rentals, which specializes in mid-level tour transportation. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The acquisition expands Celebrity’s fleet to more than 120 vehicles.
Nightlife and entertainment company Ministry of Sound signed a deal with DICE that will see it leveraging the latter’s mobile-first ticketing technology. Through the agreement, Ministry of Sound will gain access to DICE’s analytics and marketing tools, allowing for real-time insights into audience behaviors, event performance and sales attribution.
She Is The Music (SITM) will honor Gracie Abrams and her all-female team at its inaugural Women Sharing the Spotlight celebration. The Women’s History Month event is being held on March 27 at The Peppermint Club in Los Angeles. In keeping with its ongoing advocacy for more inclusion, She Is The Music will also honor 50 other impactful women from various sectors of the music industry. And in further support of the organization’s mission, each of the 50 women will share their spotlight with another woman in the business.
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“Being surrounded by such an incredible team of women has changed the way I see everything,” said Abrams of her team in a statement. “They’re not only insanely talented in their individual capacities, but also intentional about supporting each other. I’m grateful for the opportunity to learn from each of them. I’m deeply honored to be recognized by She Is The Music, an organization that has done so much to acknowledge and uplift women in this industry. I hope our team is a small example of what’s possible when women support each other and build together.”
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Global star and She Is The Music co-founder Alicia Keys stated, “Gracie Abrams and her incredible team are living proof of what happens when women uplift each other — when we step into our power, we change the game. In an industry where female-led teams are still the exception, their success is a reminder that we belong in every room, at every table, leading every conversation. She Is The Music is about breaking barriers, opening doors and making sure the next generation of women in music don’t just have a seat at the table —they build the table.”
As part of the Women Sharing the Spotlight celebration, each honoree will receive one of Barbie’s newly unveiled Career of the Year: Women In Music dolls, a musical artist and tour manager duo created to illuminate women in the music industry.
Universal Music Publishing Group Chairman/CEO and She Is The Music co-founder Jody Gerson also noted, “Women supporting women is at the very core of She Is The Music’s mission. Creating a sisterhood of accomplished women and the next generations of working women across all facets of the music industry is our collective path forward to success. We are delighted to host our inaugural Women Sharing the Spotlight and to celebrate so many wonderful women in our business. We are also making a powerful statement by honoring Gracie Abrams and her team for embodying the spirit of sisterhood. This recognition is not only well deserved but also a testament to the fact that women in our industry can reach the highest levels of success on their own terms — especially when they uplift and support one another in meaningful ways.”
The evening will also spotlight key takeaways from the newly released “Inclusion in the Music Business” report, conducted by USC Annenberg’s Inclusion Initiative in partnership with Believe and TuneCore. Chief among the findings: 84.2% of the most senior executives at major music companies are white men; only 13.2% of CEO/president roles are held by women and only 5.3% of top executives are women of color —an unchanged statistic since 2021. The full report can be viewed HERE.
Both TuneCore CEO Andreea Gleeson and USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative founder Dr. Stacy L. Smith will present the aforementioned and other findings at Women Sharing the Spotlight. “In recent years, our work has shown that women and people of color are increasing their presence on the popular charts as artists,” commented Smith in the press announcement. “But this progress is not matched by the executive ranks that are responsible for the business of music. It’s clear that there are still real discrepancies in who gets to lead.”
Added Gleeson, “We can’t afford to sit back and wait for this issue to fix itself. Artists are pushing boundaries and redefining music every day. It’s time for the executive ranks to reflect that same diversity and innovation.”