State Champ Radio Blog
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The U.K. government hopes to decrease the price of resale tickets by an average £37 per ticket ($48 USD), according to a new report released released Wednesday (Nov. 19) in which it outlined its plan to outlaw ticket resale above face value.
According to a memo outlining the new rules, “Music and sport fans will no longer be ripped off on the ticket resale market thanks to new measures which will destroy the operating model of ticket touts,” also known as scalpers. The memo, released by the country’s Department for Business and Trade and Department for Culture, Media and Sport, adds that Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government will make it “illegal for tickets to concerts, theatre, comedy, sport and other live events to be resold for more than their original cost.” The news was first reported by multiple U.K. outlets on Monday (Nov. 17) prior to the memo’s release.
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The new rules effectively make ticket resale above face value — defined as “the original ticket price plus unavoidable fees, including service charges” — illegal. The law limits the service fees that resale sites can charge and requires platforms like StubHub and Viagogo “to monitor and enforce compliance with the price cap.” The law also bans fans and resellers from buying more tickets than they are legally entitled to purchase during an initial ticket sale.
The U.K. government’s website features supportive quotes from politicians, music managers and artists about the bill, including U.K. Business Secretary Peter Kyle, who said the legislation taking on scalpers was meant to “smash their model to pieces and make sure more fans can enjoy their favourite stars at a fair price.”
In her own statement, U.K. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy compared ticket scalpers to “a shadow industry, acting without consequence” while Dan Smith of the band Bastille described the legislation as “a good step towards protecting music fans from being ripped off.”
The new rules apply to both ticket resale platforms and social media sites where fans buy and sell goods. Violating the new regulations, according to the government, could result in large financial penalties from the U.K.’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).
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“Government analysis suggests that these measures could save fans around £112 million annually [$146 million USD], with 900,000 more tickets bought directly from primary sellers each year,” the government’s website reads.
The law is meant to build on a development from September in which the Competition and Markets Authority secured commitments from Ticketmaster to give U.K. fans 24 hours’ notice if Ticketmaster plans to use tiered pricing and provide clearer information about how the company’s online queues work, among other measures.
“The CMA’s enforcement action in this case, and the measures agreed with Ticketmaster, send a clear message to all ticketing websites that fans must have access to clear and timely pricing information with accurate ticket descriptions, especially where there are different pricing models and queues in play,” the government’s website reads. “In the future, the CMA will be able to respond even more swiftly and robustly to breaches of consumer law.”
The new legislation drew both praise and condemnation from different corners of the music industry. U.S.-based pro-ticket resale group the National Association of Ticket Brokers warned in a statement that it does “not support efforts to thwart competition. We discourage laws that impose price caps that make it more difficult for ticketing companies to compete with one another.”
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Others were more supportive, with Chris Lipscomb, managing girector for AXS U.K., telling Billboard in a statement, “We strongly support the UK government’s efforts to strengthen safeguards around ticket resale, which align with AXS’s longstanding practices in support of fair fan access.”
Matt Kaplan, who heads up U.K. and EU operations for fan-to-fan exchange Tixel, said “the UK’s move to outlaw touting is a huge win for fans, artists and the wider industry, and we fully support this long-overdue reform. Tixel was built to tackle these exact problems, and after nearly a decade fighting for fair, transparent resale in multiple markets around the world, we’re proud to see a framework emerge that protects fans, restores trust and shuts out the bad actors.”
In a statement to Billboard, Nathaniel Marro with the National Independent Talent Organization (NITO) added, “We hope policymakers stateside are paying attention and that reining in predatory resellers is a global movement.” Also in a statement, Stephen Parker of the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) called on “state lawmakers throughout the United States to follow the United Kingdom’s (UK) proposed ticket resale price cap.”
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Carrie Underwood is an eight-time Grammy winner, a three-time ACM entertainer of the year winner, an American Idol judge, an actress and a businesswoman — and she’s also a mom to two sons, Jacob and Isaiah. Thus, Underwood is well-acquainted with the scourge facing countless parents right now: Kids’ obsession with the phrase “6-7.” The trend has become so popular, in fact, that it was named Dictionary.com’s Word of the Year.
During a preview clip for American Idol‘s upcoming season, Underwood greets a contestant on the show, Uzziah Hutchinson, who works with kids and references the popular catchphrase.
“I bet you get a lot of funny stories,” Underwood says, with the contestant replying, “Right now, it’s ‘6-7.’”
Immediately, Underwood begins mimicking the hand gesture that goes with the catchphrase, which is wildly popular with school-age kids. “6-7” originally came from the song “Doot Doot (6 7)” by rapper Skrilla, in reference to NBA star LaMelo Ball’s height, but it’s mostly just become extremely popular for students to repeat — and an annoyance for many parents and teachers.
Fortunately, Underwood has a scheme to get the “6-7” craze to halt.
“Here’s how we stop that, Uzziah. I have the cure,” Underwood says. “Every time the kids say ‘6-7,’ we have to immediately say [singing], ‘5-3-0-9,’” she says — referencing Tommy Tutone’s Billboard Hot 100 top five hit “867-5309/Jenny” from 1982.
“That’ll work!” Uzziah said.
“And if we all band together and do that, it will stop,” Underwood insists. “It’s gonna take all of us.”
Season 24 of American Idol will launch on Jan. 26 — exactly 67 days from now — welcoming back Underwood as a judge alongside Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie. The music competition airs on ABC and streams on Hulu.
See the American Idol preview clip below:
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Warner Music Group (WMG) reported a 23% decline in annual profit for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30 on Thursday (Nov. 20), as restructuring costs and the end of the company’s BMG distribution deal weighed on revenue.
However, executives struck an optimistic tone during their earnings presentation, pointing to higher publishing and recorded music revenue, driven by subscription streaming growth, as evidence that their cost-cutting and reinvestment strategy was working.
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WMG’s share price fell 2.66% on Thursday to $29.69. However, analysts at Guggenheim Partners, who have rated WMG a buy over the past few quarters, wrote in a note to investors that the company’s subscription streaming revenue and growth forecast is “encouraging.”
“We modestly raise our [full year 2026] revenue … estimates primarily reflecting higher subscription revenue as a result of pricing adjustments,” Michael Morris, equity analyst at Guggenheim, wrote on Thursday.
Here are a few of the highlights from WMG’s earnings presentation and filings.
Digital music revenue growth and market share improvement
WMG’s digital income improved by 3% in the year, helped by two straight quarters of recorded music streaming growth. Music subscription streaming rose by 8.5% during the quarter. Ad-supported streaming grew by 3%.
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This was driven by hits from sombr, whose “Back to Friends” has spent 33 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, Cardi B’s Am I The Drama?, which has spent the past two months on the Billboard 200, and Twenty One Pilots, whose Breach had the best debut week for a rock album in six years.
On an earnings call, WMG CEO Robert Kyncl noted that the company’s share of the Spotify Top 200 grew “by around 6 percentage points versus fiscal 2024” and that it “had the No. 2 market share” for the full quarter.
Meeting savings goals by using AI for dealmaking
WMG is on track to meet its goal of cutting internal costs by $200 million in 2026 and $300 million in 2027, said Armin Zerza, WMG’s CFO. Because the company is investing more in front-line artist development and key regions and genres, Zerza added, it has focused on savings in back-office functions.
In addition to introducing the cloud-based finance software SAP in Zerza’s department and using data to tailor marketing spend, WMG is working with an AI company to help “optimize” its mergers and acquisitions strategy, Zerza added.
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Ultimately, the company’s cost savings plan, along with other growth, is expected to drive a 150 to 200 basis point improvement in WMG’s adjusted operating income before depreciation and amortization (OIBDA) margins.
Details on the Tempo and Bain Deals
WMG’s February acquisition of 50.1% of Tempo Music was for a “consideration of $77 million, including transaction costs,” and it included the option to buy out the remainder of Tempo for $73 million before the end of November 2027, according to an SEC filing released Thursday. That acquisition saw WMG recognize $351 million in publishing copyrights and $88 million in recorded music catalogs, along with $13 million in cash and other assets. Also included in the acquisition was $311 million of asset-backed securities secured by some of Tempo’s catalog, according to the filing. The Tempo catalog includes rights to songs by Wiz Khalifa, Florida Georgia Line and Brett James.
Additionally, Warner disclosed in filings that as part of the joint venture it announced in June to acquire catalogs with Bain, it secured a $500 million line of credit.
Zerza said during the earnings presentation that WMG’s joint venture with Bain has a robust pipeline of deals they expect to begin announcing in 2026.
Trending on Billboard Tucker Wetmore & Old Dominion take us behind the scenes of their CMA Awards rehearsals before the big show and discuss what went into these performances. Tetris Kelly: The CMAs took over Nashville this week, and Tucker Wetmore and Old Dominion show you what went down behind the scenes in Billboard All […]
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When KPop Demon Hunters fever came to the Top Gabb Music Songs chart in July, listeners seemed more inclined to stream Saja Boys, the Netflix film’s demon boy band, than HUNTR/X, the girl group trio hunting them down.
But now the tides have turned, as HUNTR/X’s “Golden” not only reigns for a second month on the October 2025 chart; the group’s “How It’s Done” also rises to No. 2.
Billboard has partnered with Gabb Wireless, a phone company for kids and teens, to present a monthly chart tracking on-demand streams via its Gabb Music platform. Gabb Music offers a vast catalog of songs, all of which are selected by the Gabb team to include only kid- and teen-appropriate content. Gabb Music streams are not currently factored into any other Billboard charts.
The October 2025 chart marks the third published ranking since Gabb Music was made available via app stores, meaning users can now download the streaming app to devices other than Gabb Wireless’ phones and tablets.
In July, Saja Boys’ “Your Idol” crowned the ranking, followed by a pair of HUNTR/X songs in “Golden” and “Takedown” at Nos. 2 and 3. Saja Boys’ “Soda Pop” ruled the August survey, followed by the aforementioned “How It’s Done” and “Your Idol,” and “Golden” ascended to the throne in September, with the two Saja Boys tunes in hot pursuit.
But this time, HUNTR/X becomes the first of the warring groups to occupy the entire top two thanks to “How It’s Done” rising to No. 2, while “Soda Pop” and “Your Idol” must be content with Nos. 3 and 4, respectively.
With a second month at No. 1, “Golden” is the first song to reign for multiple months since Forrest Frank’s “Your Way’s Better” ruled between April and June.
“Golden” topped the multimetric, weekly Billboard Hot 100 for two frames in October, reigning on the Oct. 4 and 11 lists. It appears at No. 2 on the latest (Nov. 22-dated) tally.
While music from KPop Demon Hunters remains ubiquitous on the latest Top Gabb Music Songs ranking, occupying seven of the top eight positions for the second month in a row, October marks the first time since the songs’ July debut that something else seeps into the top five: Alex Warren’s “Ordinary,” which lifts one position to No. 5.
One song debuts on the October chart, though it’s not a newly released song. Billie Eilish and Khalid’s 2018 collaboration “Lovely” bows at No. 24, over six years after the song peaked at No. 64 on the Hot 100 in January 2019. It’s Khalid’s first appearance on Top Gabb Music Songs since the ranking’s October 2024 inception, while Eilish has previously made the 25-positon survey with “Wildflower.”
See the full chart below.
Top Gabb Music Songs
“Golden,” HUNTR/X (=)
“How It’s Done,” HUNTR/X (+2)
“Soda Pop,” Saja Boys (-1)
“Your Idol,” Saja Boys (-1)
“Ordinary,” Alex Warren (+1)
“Takedown,” HUNTR/X (-1)
“Free,” EJAE & Andrew Choi (=)
“What It Sounds Like,” HUNTR/X (=)
“What I Want,” Morgan Wallen feat. Tate McRae (+1)
“Your Way’s Better,” Forrest Frank (-1)
“Sorry I’m Here for Someone Else,” Benson Boone (=)
“Beautiful Things,” Benson Boone (=)
“Stargazing,” Myles Smith (=)
“Riptide,” Vance Joy (re-entry)
“God’s Plan,” Drake (=)
“Up!,” Forrest Frank & Connor Price (=)
“Dusty Bibles,” Josiah Queen (-3)
“Stressed Out,” Twenty One Pilots (+7)
“Eternity,” Alex Warren (-1)
“Butterfly Effect,” Travis Scott (re-entry)
“Love Somebody,” Morgan Wallen (+1)
“Let You Down,” NF (-1)
“Gabriela,” KATSEYE (re-entry)
“Lovely,” Billie Eilish & Khalid (debut)
“Slow It Down,” Benson Boone (-5)
DROPS: “Strategy,” TWICE; “Love Me Not,” Ravyn Lenae; “Lemonade,” Forrest Frank & The Figs; “Chk Chk Boom,” Stray Kids
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Jelly Roll has two major life updates. First, the country star is newly nominated for three Grammys. Second, his face is now bald.
In a chatty video posted to YouTube on Thursday (Nov. 20), Jelly took fans with him as he shaved his beard for the first time in years and shared how he “really feels” about the Recording Academy. After razoring off his facial hair with wife Bunnie Xo at his side in the bathroom, he went for a walk outside and talked to viewers one on one.
“By now, you have probably figured out that I look like a Ninja Turtle,” he said self-deprecatingly, explaining that before his recent weight loss, he felt he “was so obese, it was easier to cover what was happening here [with a beard].”
Jelly then fought back tears while addressing his 2026 nominations for best country duo/group performance for the Shaboozey duet “Amen,” best contemporary country album for Beautifully Broken and best contemporary Christian music performance/song for “Hard Fought Hallelujah.” “When I look at these nominations, all I see is God,” he said.
“I want to cry,” the singer continued. “Wow, country album of the year. It’s not even about the album or the nom. It’s about the name.”
Getting emotional, Jelly said that the title of his 2024 Billboard 200-topping LP represents “what’s happening in the world right now, I think, more than ever.”
“Win, lose, or draw, holy f—, dude, we won,” he added. “I know a lot of artists give the Grammys a lot of sh–, but the truth is I feel honored … Y’all make fun of me now and leave comments about my double chin.”
Jelly has now been nominated for a total of seven Grammys, earning his first nods in 2024 for best new artist and best country duo/group performance for his and Lainey Wilson’s “Save Me.” The following year, he scored nominations for best country song and best country solo performance for “I Am Not Okay.”
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We’re just one day away from the release of Wicked: For Good.
Throughout the month of November thus far, it’s been all about Wicked mania in preparation for the film. Many brands have been dropping Wicked-themed products left and right for fans of the magic franchise, hoping to tide them over before they head back to the wonderful world of Oz.
Now Yoto, the parent-owned and operated children’s audio tech company, is getting in on all the fun with the release of their Wicked: The Soundtrack Card for $11.99, discounted from $14.99. This soundtrack card can be used with the brand’s Yoto Player, sold separately, giving your little ones control of their tunes. If your child is just as big of a fan of Wicked as everyone else is, this Yoto soundtrack card and a separate Yoto Player would make a great gift for the holidays.
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Wicked: The Soundtrack
$11.99
$14.99
20% off
Yoto soundtrack card.
The soundtrack card features 56 minutes of pure fun, including tracks from the first half of the Wicked franchise along with tracks from Wicked: For Good sung by the likes or Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo and Jonathan Bailey, among others. You’ve got hit tracks that have made their way onto the Billboard charts, like “Defying Gravity,” “No One Mourns the Wicked,” “The Wizard and I” and “Popular.”
The Yoto Player is kind of like a kid-friendly boombox, made for tiny hands and ears ages 3 to 12+. The player currently comes in two sizes: Yoto Player (3rd Generation) for $81.99 and the more compact Yoto Mini for $63.99. Both are on sale at the time of writing. While there are some differences in the sizes, the biggest thing to note is that the 3rd Generation produces acoustically engineered stereo sound, while the mini produces mono sound, meaning a single-channel audio format. Stereo uses two channels to create a room-filling kind of sound, giving your audio a more dynamic feel. If you or your child are a stickler for good audio, go for the 3rd Gen Yoto Player.
Yoto Player 3rd Generation
$81.99
$109.99
25% off
A Yoto audio player.
Both players allow children to play the Wicked-themed soundtrack card, along with audiobooks and so much more. The 3rd Gen is best for jamming out at home, while the mini is best for listening to your favorite tracks on the go. The 3rd Gen is equipped with more technical features than its tiny counterpart, including a nightlight, clock and even a room thermistor.
The battery life on the bigger Yoto Player is also larger, lasting up to 24 hours on a single charge, while the mini will last up to 14 hours. Both products can be hooked up to wired headphones so your kids can listen in privacy. You can also choose the color of your Yoto device on the website.
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Cardi B is snapping back to her Bodega Baddie era, as the Bronx native kicked off her fitness journey last week while looking to be ready for her first headlining arena tour in 2026.
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Cardi posted a clip in the gym after getting a workout on the stairmaster on Thursday (Nov. 20) to her Instagram Story, which was dated to be from Nov. 13. For now, she’s taking it light while adjusting to post-partum life with tour rehearsals on the horizon.
“Tour journey with me,” she wrote. “I haven’t started tour rehearsals yet but I’m doing light workouts to not only get my body back in shape but my joints and bones.. I’m 33 honey I’ma ol’ lady.”
In the clip, Cardi revealed it was her first day back in the gym. She completed over 20 minutes on the stairmaster and was getting ready to head over to the squat machine. Cardi’s looking to get to a point where she can do over an hour on the stairmaster.
The 33-year-old announced she gave birth to a baby boy on Nov. 13 — her fourth child and first with NFL star Stefon Diggs — and posted the first glimpse of her newborn on Wednesday (Nov. 19) to social media.
The post boasts over four million likes and finds Cardi in mommy mode, while her son is wrapped up in New England Patriots gear, repping his father’s team.
Cardi B will be hitting the road for the Little Miss Drama Tour on Feb. 11, which kicks off in Palm Desert, Calif. She’s set to make stops across North America in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Portland, Vancouver, Seattle, Sacramento, San Francisco, Phoenix, Houston, Austin, Dallas, Denver, Minneapolis, Indianapolis, Detroit, Kansas City, Cincinnati, Chicago, New York, Newark, Toronto, Boston, Hartford, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C and finish up on April 17 in Atlanta.
Trending on Billboard Kehlani has condemned ICE for “kidnapping” immigrants from school and their jobs. In an interview with Los Angeles radio show Big Boy’s Neighborhood earlier this week, Kehlani was quick to criticize ICE as they discussed today’s tumultuous political climate alongside host Big Boy. “They’re kidnapping [people] out of schools, and jobs, and […]
Source: Julia Beverly / Getty
Rapper Mystikal has been ordered to stay in jail for a bit longer, according to KLYFY.
A Louisiana judge of Ascension denied the New Orleans artist’s request for bond. Mystikal pleaded not guilty to charges from an incident in 2022. The charges he was facing consisted of first-degree rape, domestic abuse battery, strangulation, and false imprisonment. During Tuesday’s hearing, the Here I Go rapper’s mother and business manager were front and center.
Pleading to the judge that if he were granted bond that they would monitor him and make sure he doesn’t run into any trouble. Following that hearing was a new court date, March 30th, 2026, and it’s expected to last one week. Unfortunately, this was not the first incident of Michael Tyler, better known as Mystikal was charged with sexual abuse towards others.
His past legal charges include a 2003 case, followed by a 2016 case involving kidnapping and sexual assault. That case was eventually dropped.
The 55-year-old rapper is facing a crossroads.
If his team can present evidence proving his innocence, he walks free. If not, he could face a life sentence, according to Louisiana First News. The decision ahead will ultimately determine the rest of his life. More updates as the story develops.
