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Trending on Billboard
Wicked: For Good director Jon M. Chu has had enough of the criticism of Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo‘s friendship throughout the press tour for both musical films.
At an American Cinematheque For Good screening and Q&A on Monday night (Dec. 1), Chu spoke out against the vitriol being thrown at his Wicked leading ladies for their openness in sharing their deep friendship with the world.
“For us to be at a time when you can have these two amazing women emerge from their shells to share love and friendship and the importance of that, unabashedly, no cynicism; to be able to share that vulnerability and wounds with the world, knowing people are going to come out with their knives, shame on people who put that down,” he says in a fan-filmed clip. “These girls are giving us everything; it is why people around the world are drawn to it. It’s why they love it, and they’re sharing a real friendship that happened on set that I got to be a part of, and we should honor that with everything that we have.”
Grande and Erivo, who both landed Oscar nominations for their acclaimed performances in 2024’s Wicked, frequently went viral on last year’s press tour due to their deeply emotional responses to questions and their physical comfort with one another. Notably, Billboard named the duo’s “holding space” moment, a viral interview clip in which Grande dramatically clutches Erivo’s elongated manicured nail, the No. 10 Greatest Pop Star Meme of All-Time. In addition to its dual Oscar wins, the first Wicked movie also became the highest-grossing musical film adaptation of all time, making over $750 million at the worldwide box office.
Wicked: For Good, which brings the Broadway musical’s second act to the silver screen, boasted a comparatively less aggressive press tour — but Grande and Erivo’s relationship quickly became the dominant talking point. After the press tour ended with a triple-whammy of Grande missing the Brazilian premiere, Erivo defending Grande from a red carpet rusher at the Singaporean premiere and Erivo losing her voice the night of the New York premiere (where Grande also contracted COVID-19), social media devolved into especially nasty attacks on both women’s bodies and appearances, as well as their overall intimacy. Over the holiday weekend (Nov. 29), Grande reposted a clip from a 2024 interview “as a loving reminder to all,” regarding the dangers of openly dissecting and criticizing people’s physical appearance.
Nonetheless, that online chatter didn’t stall Wicked: For Good at the box office. In its opening weekend, the film topped the worldwide box office, grossing $223 million and surpassing its predecessor to earn the highest opening weekend for a Broadway adaptation.
On the Billboard 200, the For Good soundtrack tied the No. 2 peak of its predecessor, with several songs landing on the Hot 100, including “For Good” (No. 43), “No Good Deed” (No. 56), “As Long As You’re Mine” (No. 91) and “The Girl in the Bubble” (No. 100). Furthermore, both Erivo and Grande remain formidable contenders in their respecitive categories at next March’s 98th Academy Awards.
Trending on Billboard
Mexican superstar Carín León has signed with WME’s global co-head of music, Kirk M. Sommer, in all areas, it was announced Tuesday (Dec. 2). Together with León’s manager, Jorge Juárez, the intention is to “grow León’s business and presence in territories beyond his current base.”
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“We are thrilled to join the WME team led by Kirk Sommer,” Juárez said in a statement. “Carín has tremendous potential to expand into other global territories. We are looking to WME to lead the way in all areas of their expertise.”
“Carín is a generational artist,” Sommer added. “In his incredible career, he has consistently broken barriers and transcended genres. We are determined to bring the full weight of WME to bear to expand Carín’s fanbase around the world and we are honored to work with both Carín and Jorge.”
Hailing from Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, León — known for his signature norteño sound fused with R&B, country and pop — is one of the most versatile voices in Latin music. His debut album, Desvelada con Banda y Mariachi (2018), propelled him to quickly dominate the regional Mexican music scene. In 2021, his album Inédito debuted atop multiple charts and was named one of Billboard’s 25 Best Latin Albums of the Year.
A Grammy and Latin Grammy Award winner, León became the first Latin artist ever to play Coachella and Stagecoach in the same year in 2024, and is now set to become the first Latin artist to play Sphere in Las Vegas, with a run of seven shows set for 2026. He has also sung at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry, opened for legendary British band The Rolling Stones, and sold out the impressive GNP Seguros Stadium in Mexico City, among other achievements. Earlier this year, he set an attendance record at RODEOHOUSTON with over 70,000 fans showing up to see him perform.
Last month, León took home the Latin Grammy for best contemporary Mexican music album for Palabra De To’s (Seca), which is also up for a 2026 Grammy Award for best música mexicana album.
Source: FilmMagic / Getty
Sad news has broken that Florida rapper POORSTACY has reportedly passed away at 26.
According to the Palm Beach County Medical Examiner, Carlito Milford Jr., also known as POORSTACY, died on Saturday, November 29th. The Florida rapper had reportedly checked into a hotel with a woman and a child, where he had been staying for ten days. Medical personnel were called to his room, and he was transported to a hospital. His cause of death has not yet been confirmed.
STACY built a dedicated fanbase with his fusion of Hip-Hop and heavy metal, often collaborating with similar artists like Iann Dior. His most-streamed song, “Choose Life,” features Travis Barker, and they also collaborated on two albums under the 10K Projects label. POORSTACY was also a part of the “Bill & Ted the Music” soundtrack, which received a Grammy nomination.
Outside of music, Carlito Milfort Jr. faced legal trouble in 2023 after being arrested following a standoff with police. He was charged with battery and child neglect. The incident began after he was accused of assaulting a woman, reportedly throwing a cage containing a hamster at her and a one-month-old baby. POORSTACY was released shortly after on bond, and the case was ultimately dropped.
Fans of the Emo rapper have expressed their shock online as the news broke on the internet.
More updates are expected as details continue to come regarding the sudden passing of the Florida rapper.
As with just about every other industry in the world, some of music’s biggest issues in 2025 have revolved around the Trump administration. Artificial intelligence? Upon taking office, Trump revoked an order by President Biden that ensured “safe, secure and trustworthy development” of the technology. Share prices for public companies like Warner Music and Live […]
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Trending on Billboard Miley Cyrus has something beautiful to share with fans. After four years of dating, the pop star is now engaged to musician Maxx Morando, as revealed Tuesday (Dec. 2) following the couple’s red-carpet appearance at the Avatar: Fire and Ash premiere. Stepping out with her fiancé at the film’s screening in Los […]
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The sheer number of artist signings announced on a weekly basis makes it difficult to keep up, no matter how closely you pay attention to the industry news cycle. That’s why every other Tuesday, Billboard compiles the latest signings to labels, distributors, agencies, management companies and more, in an effort to provide a snapshot of the latest moves in the artist space, from household names to indie stars to emerging acts.
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To start this week, label and management company XOXO Entertainment signed Grammy-winning R&B group Blackstreet. Since 2014, the group’s lineup has featured original members Chauncey “Black” Hannibal and Levi Little, along with Mark Middleton and Eric Williams.
A press release indicates that announcements regarding new music and performances from the group are forthcoming.
“We are beyond excited to partner with Blackstreet,” said XOXO president Adam H. Hurstfield in a statement. “As some of the greatest architects of that legendary 90’s RnB sound, their music shaped the soundtrack of our lives, defined an era, and left an unmistakable imprint on global culture. Around the world, fans have been yearning for that authentic feeling again, and at XOXO Entertainment, we are devoted to bringing it back, side by side with the very legends who created it. We are honored to help amplify Blackstreet’s iconic legacy into this exciting new chapter.”
In its own statement, Blackstreet added that the group “has always stood for timeless music, true artistry, excellence, and evolution. Partnering with XOXO Entertainment feels like the perfect alignment; where vision, passion, and creativity meet. As a group, we’re excited and honored to join forces with a team that shares our energy and commitment to taking BLACKSTREET into a new era. This partnership is powerful, and together we’re ready to create moments the world will remember. This next chapter will be iconic.”
Blackstreet scored a Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit in 1996 with “No Diggity” featuring Dr. Dre, which spent four weeks at the chart’s summit. It also enjoyed success with tracks including “Before I Let You Go” and “Take Me There.”
Check out more of the latest artist signings below.
B2K (BPC Music Group)
Trending on Billboard Tyler Childers will hit the road next year, when his 2026 Snipe Hunt Tour launches April 23 in Dallas, Texas. The trek will visit 14 cities along the way, including stops in St. Louis, Chicago and Seattle, before wrapping Oct. 3 in Portland, Oregon. His Snipe Hunt tour is presented by LN […]
Trending on Billboard
Chappell Roan, Mariah Carey, Post Malone, Leon Thomas, Charlie Puth and HUNTR/X, who gave us the global smash “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters, are among 33 artists set to perform on Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2026 (NYRE). The roster is a mix of current hit artists and a few veteran acts, such as Rick Springfield, New Kids on the Block, 4 Non Blondes and Goo Goo Dolls.
This year’s show is set to run for eight hours – from Wednesday, Dec. 31 at 8:00 p.m. until the next morning at 4:00 a.m. ET on ABC, and the next day on Hulu. This is the 54th edition of the show, which launched in December 1972. It marks the longest telecast in the show’s history, including an additional 90 minutes of programming compared to last year, with more than 85 songs set to be performed.
This year’s broadcast will be led by Ryan Seacrest and co-host Rita Ora from New York’s Times Square. Chicago native Chance the Rapper will lead the show’s first-ever Central time zone countdown from Chicago. NFL legend Rob Gronkowski returns alongside performer Julianne Hough, who makes her NYRE co-hosting debut as they take over Las Vegas.
The Times Square headliner and special guests will be announced soon, as will details for the Puerto Rico celebration.
This marks the third consecutive year that Dick Clark Productions and iHeartMedia will broadcast Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest live across 150 iHeartRadio stations nationwide, including Z100 New York, KIIS-FM Los Angeles, KISS FM Chicago, Q102 Philly and THE NEW MIX 102.9 Dallas. The show will also be available to stream live on the iHeartRadio app.
ABC’s Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest has been the No. 1 New Year’s Eve special since 1977, when it surpassed Guy Lombardo’s long-running New Year’s Eve specials on CBS.
The Clark show, which was conceived as a younger, hipper alternative to the Lombardo program, debuted on NBC on New Year’s Eve 1972 as Three Dog Night’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve. That year’s special featured pre-recorded musical performances by Helen Reddy, Billy Preston and Three Dog Night (all of whom had No. 1 or No. 2 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 that year). Clark served as a reporter from Times Square for live coverage of the ball drop and the arrival of 1973.
The second special, New Year’s Rockin’ Eve ’74, also on NBC, was hosted by comedian George Carlin and featured pre-recorded musical performances by Preston, The Pointer Sisters, Linda Ronstadt and Tower of Power.
Beginning with the December 1974 edition, the program moved to ABC and Clark assumed hosting duties; billed as Chicago’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve 1975, the first ABC edition was headlined by Chicago, with guests The Beach Boys, The Doobie Brothers, Herbie Hancock and Olivia Newton-John.
Clark died in 2012 at age 82, but his name is still in the title of the show he created.
Last year, Carrie Underwood capped the night with a Times Square performance as the broadcast drew more than 29 million total viewers at midnight.
ABC’s Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2026 is produced by Dick Clark Productions, with Ryan Seacrest, Michael Dempsey and Barry Adelman serving as executive producers.
Here’s a full list of performers who have been announced so far for Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2026:
The All-American Rejects
AJR
BigXthaPlug
Chance the Rapper
Charlie Puth
Chappell Roan
Ciara
Demi Lovato
DJ Cassidy’s Pass the Mic Live! Starring Busta Rhymes, T.I. & Wyclef Jean
50 Cent
Filmore
4 Non Blondes
Goo Goo Dolls
Jess Glynne
Jessie Murph
Jordan Davis
KPop Demon Hunters: The Singing Voices of HUNTR/X – EJAE, Audrey Nuna and REI AMI
Leon Thomas
LE SSERAFIM
Lil Jon
Little Big Town
Madison Beer
Maren Morris, sponsored by Carnival Cruise Line
Mariah Carey
New Kids on the Block
OneRepublic
Pitbull
Post Malone
Rick Springfield
Russell Dickerson
6lack
Tucker Wetmore
Zara Larsson
Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve
ABC
Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2026 is produced by Dick Clark Productions, which is owned by Penske Media Eldridge, a joint venture between Eldridge Industries and Billboard parent company Penske Media.
