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Brat Summer has extended deep into awards season. Charli XCX’s Brat is competing for a Brit Award for British album of the year on Saturday (March 1), just weeks after it competed in the Grammy race for album of the year. Brat is the first album to be nominated for the top album honor on […]
Drake and PartyNextDoor finally dropped their much hyped collab, $ome $exy $ongs 4 U, on Valentine’s Day, and to celebrate they decided to give fans a freebie. On Monday (Feb. 17), the Toronto rapper posted an unreleased track on his finsta account @plottttwistttttt featuring New Orleans bounce rapper OnlyHeaven and blamed sample clearance issues for […]
The first round of grants targeting wildfire relief efforts in Los Angeles following last month’s all-star FireAid benefit concerts were announced on Tuesday (Feb. 18). The $50 million-worth of phase one gifting — representing half of the estimated $100 million raised by the shows — will prioritize “community-based organizations that are on the front lines of wildfire relief.”
The groups, which organizers said have the infrastructure, experience, and in-place relationships to “efficiently and equitably” deliver assistance to fire-impacted individuals, are each for $100,000 or more and targeted toward immediate relief; phase two will be more focused on rebuilding efforts following the series of fires that killed 29 Angelenos and destroyed more than 16,0000 homes and structures.
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The organizations are split into several buckets, including emergency aid to children and families, school recovery funding, targeted support for vulnerable youth and foster youth and funds to help with educational continuity via a grant to A Sense of Home.
The community hubs and conveners grant will send funds to Abundant Harvest LIFT, a community crisis center that distributes information, financial assistance and connects individuals with critical resources for survivors of the Eaton Canyon fire. Other groups covered by this grant include: Chabad Jewish Community Center of Pacific Palisades, Clery Community Coalition, Inc., Deliverance Tabernacle Church, First AME Pasadena, Flintridge Center, Friends Indeed, Harambee Ministries – Pasadena, Jewish Federation of Los Angeles, Kehillat Israel Synagogue, LA Voice Benevolence Fund, Masjid al Taqwa, NAACP of Pasadena, Pasadena Church, Pasadena City College Foundation, Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center, Pasadena Seventh Day Adventist, St. Vincent de Paul Society’s St. Elizabeth Conference of Altadena, the Santa Monica College Foundation, Victory Bible Church Pasadena and YMCA Metro.
Disaster relief will distribute direct cash aid for Angeleno’s most critical needs, as well as coordinated efforts to clear hazardous waste, test water quality and restore safe living conditions. The grantees for those efforts include: Alliance for a Better Community, Black LA Relief & Recovery Fund, Brotherhood Crusade, CA Conservation Corps, CA Native Vote Project, Change Reaction, CORE, Heal the Bay, Jewish Free Loan Association, LA Conservation Corps, LA County Household Relief Fund, LA Works, Inc., Latino Community Foundation, My Tribe Rise, Pasadena Community Foundation Eaton Canyon Fire Relief Fund and Team Rubicon.
Grants covering food access and security needs for those displaced residents who are in shelters without cooking facilities and who face challenges sourcing nutritious meals will go to: Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, Hollywood Food Coalition, Hunger Action Los Angeles, Los Angeles Food Policy Council, Las Angeles Regional Food Bank, Meals on Wheels, Saint Vincent, Meals on Wheels, West, Office of Food Equity, Our Big Kitchen Los Angeles, Project Angel Food and Westside Food Bank.
Aid for frontline, displaced workers and small businesses to assist first frontline workers possibly facing displacement, financial strain and mental health challenges, as well as workers who commuted to affected areas for jobs and small businesses needing relief to rebuild will go to: CA Firefighters Benevolent Fund, IDEPSCA, Inclusive Action For the City, LA Region Worker Relief Fund, Labor Community Services Program of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Black Worker Center, Philipino Workers Center and Restaurants Care Project.
Health and housing assistance for wildfire survivors facing physical and mental health challenges due to exposure to smoke and poor air quality, as well as stress and trauma, include: Dena Heals, Didi Hirsch, Door of Hope, Foothill Family Service, Greenline Housing Foundation, LA Coalition of Community Clinics, LA Family Housing Corporation, LIFT-Los Angeles, NAMI Westside LA, Neighborhood Housing Services of Los Angeles County, Pacific Clinics, St. Joseph Center, The People Concern, Union Station Homeless Corporation, United American Indian Involvement and Vision y Compromiso.
Los Angeles’ vast musical community will also get some assistance after many musicians and artists lost their homes, equipment, studios and income in the fires. The funds will provide direct aid to affected artists, as well as mental health services, employment in community programs and support for small arts organizations to ensure their survival. The grantees include: Armory Center for the Arts, LA Arts Community Fire Relief Fund, LA Commons, LA County Arts & Creative Recovery Fund, MusiCares Foundation, Music Health Alliance – Music Industry Mental Health Fund and Sweet Relief Musicians Fund.
Organizations helping Angelenos facing displacement, trauma and having trouble navigating survivor services who will receive funds include: 211LA, Bet Tzedek, Dena Care Collective, Imagine Los Angeles, Inc., Legal Aid of LA, Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County – BAILA and Public Counsel.
Schools around the L.A. region have had classes severely disrupted due to the fires while some have faced closure as displaced students — especially those from low-income households in college — struggle with housing, financial aid stability and campus resources. Aid for those groups will go to: California Charter School Association, Communities in Schools of Los Angeles, LA Community College Foundation, LAUSD Foundation, Pasadena Educational Foundation, Palisades Charter HS and Project Camp.
Supportive services for vulnerable populations including seniors and people with disabilities who may confront issues accessing aid, healthcare and stable housing will get a boost with grants to: Disability Community Resource Center, Jewish Family Services of Los Angeles, Malibu Senior Center, Pasadena Senior Center and Special Needs Network Inc.
Click here to see the full list.
Organizers says the first phase of funds will be distributed by the end of February. The second phase will focus on sustaining long-term recovery, remediation and rebuilding, as well as addressing environmental issues. Fundraising for the fund is still open.
January’s two shows at L.A.’s Intuit Dome and Kia Forum were seen by more than 50 million viewers across 28 streaming platforms, who tuned in to performances by more than 30 artists including Green Day with Billie Eilish, Jelly Roll, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Olivia Rodrigo, Peso Pluma, Stevie Wonder, Lil Baby, Tate McRae, Sting, Alanis Morissette, Anderson .Paak with Dr. Dre and Sheila E, Dawes, John Mayer, a Nirvana reunion, Joni Mitchell, a reunited No Doubt, P!nk and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, among many others.
Nick Terranova has been appointed senior vp of brand partnerships at Dick Clark Productions (DCP). Based in New York, Terranova will be responsible for developing brand alliances across all media platforms for the production company’s many award shows (Golden Globes, American Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards and Academy of Country Music Awards) and other programming, such as Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest.
Terranova brings more than 15 years of experience in media, advertising, and partnerships to the role. Prior to joining DCP, Terranova held senior leadership roles at Fox and Warner Bros.
As svp, ad sales & brand partnerships at Fox, Terranova oversaw the national sales team and led the transition of TMZ’s advertising business following its acquisition from WarnerMedia, contributing to double-digit revenue growth across digital, social, and branded content platforms.
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Prior to Fox, Terranova held key sales leadership roles during his 12-year tenure at Warner Bros., managing numerous advertising portfolios for premium entertainment properties such as Rotten Tomatoes, Flixster, TMZ, Ellen DeGeneres, Extra, and DC Comics—brands that together formed Warner Bros. Digital Media. His work spanned direct and programmatic sales, branded content, and on-air product integrations.
Terranova began his career in media at OMD as a national TV buyer before moving to ad sales at Turner and CBS Interactive. Most recently, he served as svp of sales at Anoki, an AI-driven CTV startup.
The 60th ACM Awards, hosted by Reba McEntire, is set for May 8, live from Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. The American Music Awards will return following a two-and-a-half-year hiatus over Memorial Day weekend. The show, live from Las Vegas, will include a tribute to America’s veterans.
DCP is owned by Penske Media Eldridge, a Penske Media Corporation (PMC) subsidiary and joint venture between PMC and Eldridge. PMC is the parent company of Billboard.
As evidenced throughout her career, Serena Williams likes to go big — and she doesn’t do anything for small reasons. That includes her recent appearance during Kendrick Lamar‘s 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show, about which the superstar athlete is now shutting down rumors regarding the so-called “petty” reasons she decided to take part in the performance.
Replying to a post on X about the cultural significance of the cameo she made as Lamar performed Billboard Hot 100-topper “Not Like Us” at the big game — shared by her husband, Reddit founder Alexis Ohanian — Williams wrote Monday (Feb. 17), “… def not dancing to be petty lol.”
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“I think I proved 23 times over (not counting 4 gold medals) that I simply don’t have time for petty,” she continued.
The tennis champion’s post comes a full week after Ohanian — with whom Williams shares two daughters — posted his initial tweet, in which he reminded followers how much backlash his wife received when she famously crip walked at Wimbledon in 2012. Thirteen years later, Williams reclaimed the narrative by crip walking again, this time for more than 130 million viewers on the Super Bowl stage with Dot in New Orleans.
“Some of y’all have no idea how criticized Serena was for this same dance,” the entrepreneur wrote, sharing a screenshot of an old article calling Williams’ dance at Wimbledon “the height of disrespect.” “This is bigger than the music.”
“That there my baby daddy and husband,” the Olympian added in her reply. “Always got my back. I Love you.”
Williams’ seconds-long appearance during halftime Feb. 9 was certainly one of the most talked-about moments from Lamar’s 13-minute showcase — not only because of its callback to Wimbledon, but also due to the athlete’s rumored romantic past with Drake, whom the Compton rapper taunted multiple times during the show. In addition to cheekily referencing Drizzy’s defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group over “Not Like Us,” Lamar also led the crowd at Caesars Superdome in an ear-splitting “Tryna strike a chord, and it’s probably A-minor” chant seconds after looking straight into the camera and jeering, “Say, Drake, I hear you like them young …”
Because of Lamar’s feud with Drake, many fans assumed that the “Squabble Up” artist was adding insult to injury by inviting his foe’s rumored ex to join him on stage. But according to Williams, she only had pure intentions before getting on the field.
She added in her post, “All love and respect always nothing negative here.”
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Megan Thee Stallion turned 30 over Valentine’s Day Weekend and looked stunning doing so as we were privileged to witness via social media. The Houston Hottie herself is now expanding her business portfolio by way of her new tequila brand, Chicas Divertidas.
Announced on Megan Thee Stallion’s birthday (Feb. 15), Chicas Divertidas aims to be more than a celebrity tequila brand and is produced and sourced at Casa Centinela (NOM 1140), which has been distilling the famed Mexican spirit for over 120 years. As with all tequilas, the juice is made from 100% Blue Weber agave as legally mandated by the Consejo Regulador del Tequila (CRT) and can only be made from the plant in one of the designated regions in the country.
Hot Girl Meg is known as someone who enjoys a good beverage responsibly and shared her vision of Chicas Divertidas with her legion of fans.
“As someone who values good vibes and great memories, I knew I wanted to create a tequila that was designed to be shared and savored with my Hotties,” Megan shared in a statement. “Smooth, sultry, and premium. This process has been years in the making, and I’m so proud to take this next step in my journey as an entrepreneur and launch this brand. I know the Hotties are ready, it’s time to give them a drink made by me! I’m excited to share this labor of love with you all and hope you are inspired to enter your CHICAS ERA!”
Currently, Chicas Divertidas is offered in Blanco (SRP $70), which is unaged tequila that can be either sipped with meals or mixed and Reposado (SRP $80), which means “rested” and is a slightly aged version of tequila that can be sipped or make an excellent base for an Oaxacan Old Fashioned.
There is a presale link for Chicas Divertidas ahead of its wider national distribution, which can be found here.
Congratulations to Megan Thee Stallion.
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Photo: Chicas Divertidas Tequila
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Source: Paras Griffin / Getty
While fans continue to wait for a new Clipse album, Pusha T has released a new song titled “Mike Tyson Blow To The Face” produced by Pharrell.
It goes without saying that Pusha T hasn’t lost a step lyrically. Last week his newest solo song hit the internet and we find the MC right back in his comfort zone.
“He’s pressure, I’ve been knee deep, key deep, we in DC / Me and Lee Lee get you fronted for the summer so easy / The snow alone fill up a mobile home / My n***a’s name ring like mobile phones and no one’s home” spits Push A Tob. To no surprise even the title of the record is a double entendre; a nod to Mike Tyson’s signature punching power and the infamous photo of him walking around with cocaine residue on his nostrils.
Pusha T’s new song is courtesy of Pharrell’s newest movie All Day I Dream About Sport. Directed by Gabriel Moses, the 20-minute short film is billed as a visual love letter to West African culture. Shot in Dakar, Senegal the project features an all-local cast that drives a true point of difference with visually stunning cinematography. A hardcover book highlighting still photography from the movie is forthcoming.
You can listen to Pusha T’s “Mike Tyson Blow To The Face” below.
Ole Obermann, the long-serving global head of music business development, is leaving the company. Tracy Gardner will step into the role after his departure at the end of March.
“I am proud to have played a role in bringing so many people the joy of music while at TikTok,” Obermann wrote in a note to staff on Tuesday (Feb. 18), according to Music Business Worldwide. “We have an amazing team,” he continued, “and leadership and music will continue to thrive and evolve on TikTok.”
A representative for TikTok declined to comment.
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Obermann started at TikTok in 2019. Before that, he spent three years at Warner Music Group as chief digital officer/evp, strategy and business development, and a decade at Sony Music, where he worked on licensing renewals with Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube, as well as deals with Facebook and many other digital services. Gardner also worked at WMG prior to joining TikTok.
During Obermann’s time at TikTok, the platform grew rapidly and became a major conduit for music discovery, changing the ways that artists made and marketed songs, and the ways that labels signed and promoted artists.
As TikTok grew, it also evolved from its roots as a dance-focused app for younger users. “Even though it’s been a bunch of years since we morphed from Musical.ly to TikTok, there is still, in some communities, this misconception that the artist needs to get out there and do a dance to their song, and then it’s going to go viral,” Obermann said last year.
For the music business, Obermann often served as the TikTok’s public face. TikTok’s relationship with the industry was tense for much of 2024: There was a monthslong standoff with Universal Music Group before the two parties came to a licensing agreement.
“There was obviously a value conversation: What are the payments that are happening, and also how much marketing and promotion can we provide to help with the discovery of new music or new artists that are priorities for them?” Obermann explained last year. “So that was one thing that we were wrestling over, and we ultimately got there.”
G-Eazy is a sponge for culture. Young Gerald traded the sunshine of California for the gridlock of the Big Apple in 2023 to avoid stagnation. He delivered his Freak Show album last year and quickly turned the page to a new era in 2025.
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The Bay Area native stopped by the Billboard offices in January ahead of his European tour run, where he opened up about rediscovering himself as the new music he’s been cooking up rejuvenated him creatively.
“The process of making this record almost felt like I had rediscovered myself. Everything was about having fun again and getting back to the essence,” he says. “When you lock in and you get in a good space and you have fun and you understand the mission and you feel motivated, then it should flow like water.”
G-Eazy continued: “This was almost a return to the sound of what’s the essence of Gerald? And what does he want to do? Ultimately, man, this new music, I feel incredible about and I’m really excited.”
Gerald dropped off his intoxicating “Kiss the Sky” single to kick off February, and has a project on the way.
He also touched on some of the high-profile collaborations in his catalog, such as teaming with Britney Spears in 2016 for “Make Me…,” which he looks back on with a new sense of gratitude. The track peaked at No. 17 on the Billboard Hot 100.
“These opportunities I always try to stay in a space of gratitude,” he adds. “Imagine your 12-year-old self was told one day you’re gonna grow up and see this person on TV and you’re gonna get to do that. Never take none of this for granted.”
Demi Lovato and G-Eazy united in 2021 for the vulnerable “Breakdown,” which found the pair candidly confronting their personal battles while turning their intimate conversations into a powerful song. Gerald calls Lovato a “kindred spirit” and a “powerful force of a human being.”
“It’s not a linear path it’s a difficult one those ups and downs those challenges — that’s real life. As friends, we’ve talked about that extensively,” he says of their collab. “It’s one thing to talk about that, it’s another thing to find a way to frame it in a song.”
Before any of the fame, Gerald first’s concert was seeing Ye (formerly Kanye West) perform The College Dropout in the mid-2000s, where he remembered the rapper being presented with a gold plaque on stage. “I was, like, a freshman in high school and went with some friends,” G recalls. “I still remember his stage presence. That struck me as much as anything.”
G-Eazy will hit the road once again in April for 26 dates across North America. Marc E. Bassy will serve as the trek’s opener. “I’m really grateful for all of it,” The Bay Area native concludes.
Watch the entire interview above.
Little Monsters have spent the last few months patiently waiting for Lady Gaga‘s long-anticipated seventh studio album. Now, Mother Monster is giving them yet another tease ahead of the LP’s release. In a post to Instagram Reels on Tuesday (Feb. 18), Gaga revealed the full tracklist for her forthcoming album, Mayhem. Featuring already-released singles “Die […]