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For the first time during her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour, Shakira shared the stage with special guests. On Tuesday (March 25), during her fourth night at the iconic GNP Seguros Stadium in Mexico City, the Colombian superstar was joined by Grupo Frontera for a live performance of “(Entre Paréntesis),” a song from her 2024 album that gives its name to the tour.
“I really wanted to give you all a surprise,” Shakira told Billboard Español in an interview following the show. “Every day, I strive to give you something more because the Mexican audience has been so loyal, so loving, and has lifted me up every time I needed it. I wanted to surprise you with something that would fill your hearts. Having them on stage today was a true privilege.”
“(Entre Paréntesis)” joins “Ciega, Sordomuda” and “El Jefe” as songs Shakira has added to her extensive repertoire as a heartfelt tribute to Mexico, where she continues her historic seven-night residency at the GNP Seguros Stadium (formerly known as Foro Sol), which will conclude on Sunday (March 30). This milestone makes her the first female artist to perform this many shows at the venue, previously filled by artists like Paul McCartney, Taylor Swift, Coldplay and Metallica. In total, the residency will gather 455,000 attendees, according to promoter OCESA.
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But Grupo Frontera wasn’t the only guest of the night: Lili Melgar, nanny to Shakira’s sons Milan and Sasha, made a surprise appearance while the singer performed “El Jefe,” her collaboration with Fuerza Regida, in which Melgar is immortalized in one of the final verses. “Lili Melgar, this song is for you, for not being paid your severance,” Shakira shouted to the thunderous roar of her Mexican pack, undeterred by the rain during their reunion with the She Wolf.
Still emotional from the warm reception from her Mexico audience, the 48-year-old star revealed that there will be more surprises for the U.S. leg of the Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran trek, which kicks off May 13 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
“For the first part of the tour, I wanted the show to stay as it was, for the fans to experience the songs just as I conceived them,” she told Billboard Español. “But now I’ll be incorporating some surprises and special guests that you’ll see in the United States. It will be very exciting to share the stage with friends and colleagues.”
One year after the release of Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran — the Grammy-winning album that marked her triumphant first album in seven years — Shakira reflected on what this project has meant to her. The set reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart and No. 13 on the all-genre Billboard 200. Last Friday (March 21), the Colombian singer premiered the video for “Última,” her latest single from the album, filmed in the New York City subway and directed by close friend and photographer Jaume de Laiguana.
“I believe this has been a healing process for me and for many people — not just women, men too. I think together we’ve learned that you grow from setbacks, and that together we heal when we support each other,” she said. “That’s what the audience has done for me. They’ve given me strength when I felt weak, and I know I’ve done the same for them.”
On her historic current stadium tour — which began on Feb. 11 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and will still visit the Dominican Republic, Chile and Colombia before arriving in the U.S.— Shakira says that this series of shows has become something deeper and more intimate.
“These are more than just concerts. They’re very profound gatherings where healing happens,” she stated. “With each show, I feel stronger and happier.”
The Recording Academy’s MusiCares and mental health provider Amber Health are teaming up to look into the touring professionals’ well-being. The partnership will launch mental health study for touring professionals, entitled Headlining Mental Health: A Tour Study. Both artists and crews are encouraged to take part. The research will mark a pivotal step in addressing […]
We’re just days away from Billboard’s 2025 Women in Music event, which is set to take place Saturday, March 29, at YouTube Theater at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, California. Hosted by Laverne Cox, the event will honor influential women in music, spanning artists and industry leaders, with performances, awards and tributes.
Honorees Aespa, Ángela Aguilar, Erykah Badu, Gracie Abrams, Megan Moroney, Muni Long and Tyla are also set to perform at the event.
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Tina Knowles is set to receive the Mother of the Year Award, which is entirely fitting. She’s the mother of not one, but two past Women in Music honorees. Beyoncé was Woman of the Year for 2009. Solange Knowles won the Impact Award in 2017.
The ranks of presenters at this year’s show include several women who were honorees at past Women in Music events. As part of Fifth Harmony, Lauren Jauregui won Group of the Year in 2015. Summer Walker took the Chart Topper Award in 2022. Becky G won the Impact Award in 2023. Victoria Monét won the Rising Star Award at last year’s event.
Billboard’s global partners have expanded Women in Music with new events launched around the world. ANNA, named Billboard Italy Woman of the Year at its inaugural ceremony, and Charlotte Cardin, honored as the Billboard Canada Woman of the Year, will be celebrated as Global Women of the Year.
VIZIO WatchFree+ is the exclusive home to the Billboard Women in Music 2025 live channel and on-demand collection available now through April 5, with the live show airing free on March 29 at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on VIZIO TVs and in the VIZIO mobile app. The channel and on-demand collection features in-depth interviews, in-studio sessions with artists, episodic series and more.
VIZIO TV owners can watch Billboard Women in Music 2025 and the live event by opening the WatchFree+ app on their TV. For those who do not have a VIZIO TV, anyone can download the free VIZIO mobile app to their mobile device, click on the WatchFree+ button in the bottom row menu, and tune in to the Billboard Women in Music 2025 channel.
Jazzy will serve as red carpet correspondent, while backstage correspondent Drew Afualo will create behind-the-scenes content throughout the show. Girls Make Beats will host a special DJ performance during the red carpet featuring DJ Princess SC and DJ Sparkle. The red carpet will also feature appearances from Ari Lennox, Ashe, Ava Max, Bella Poarch, Heidi Montag, JoJo Siwa, Kandi Burruss, Keyshia Cole, Loren Gray, Madison Bailey, Queen Naija, Sophia Culpo, Tinashe, Victoria Justice and more.
Join us at Billboard Women in Music 2025 – get your tickets now! Get Tickets → HERE
Here’s the complete list of performers, presenters and honorees at the 2025 Billboard Women in Music event.
Honorees
Doechii, 2025 Woman of the Year Award
aespa, Group of the Year Award
Ángela Aguilar, Breakthrough Award
ANNA, Billboard Italy Woman of the Year
Charlotte Cardin, Billboard Canada Woman of the Year
Erykah Badu, Icon Award
GloRilla, Powerhouse Award
Gracie Abrams, Songwriter of the Year Award
JENNIE, Global Force Award
Megan Moroney, Rulebreaker Award presented by Crown Royal Whisky
Meghan Trainor, Hitmaker Award
Muni Long, Rising Star Award presented by Honda Stage
Tina Knowles, Mother of the Year Award
Tyla, Impact Award presented by Bose
Performers
Aespa
Ángela Aguilar
Erykah Badu
Gracie Abrams
Megan Moroney
Muni Long
Tyla
Presenters
Becky G
Kali Uchis
Madison Beer
Julia Michaels
Lauren Jauregui
Mickey Guyton
Suki Waterhouse
Summer Walker
Tanner Adell
Victoria Monét
Zara Larsson
Mrs. GREEN APPLE‘s “Lilac” Returns to No. 1 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100, on the chart released March 26.
The Oblivion Battery opener is back atop the tally after five weeks to log its seventh week at No. 1. On its 50th week on the chart, streaming for the long-running hit is up 103%, downloads 104%, and karaoke 103% compared to the week before.
Eighteen songs by the popular three-man band continue to chart this week, with “Ao to Natsu” from 2018 leading the pack at 282 weeks.
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Debuting at No. 2 is SixTONES’ “Barrier.” The six-member boy band’s 14th single bows at No. 1 for sales again, selling 374,475 copies after dropping March 19, making it the group’s 14th consecutive single to debut atop the metric.
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Sakanaction’s “Kaiju” rises a notch to No. 3. The newly released music video accompanying the Orb: On the Movements of the Earth opener helped boost downloads, streaming, video views and karaoke. Downloads are up slightly, streaming up 106%, video 185%, and karaoke 198% week-over-week.
Rosy Chronicle’s “Heirasshai! ~ Nippon de aimasho” bows at No. 4. The Hello! Project girl group’s major-label debut single launches with 74,912 CDs to come in at No. 2 for sales and No. 28 for downloads.
Boku ga Mitakatta Aozora’s “Koi wa baisoku” follows at No. 5, debuting on the chart at a higher position than the group’s previous single, “Sukisugite Up and down.”
Southern All Stars’ “Yume no Uchuryoko” rises to No. 8. The track off the evergreen veteran band’s 16th studio album and the first in ten years entitled THANK YOU SO MUCH ruled radio and came in at No. 11 for downloads after dropping March 19.
The Billboard Japan Hot 100 combines physical and digital sales, audio streams, radio airplay, video views and karaoke data.
See the full Billboard Japan Hot 100 chart, tallying the week from March 17 to 23, here. For more on Japanese music and charts, visit Billboard Japan’s English X account.
Penske Media Corporation (PMC) is in talks to open a Rolling Stone Hotel and Casino in downtown Las Vegas, sources tell Billboard.
The potential property would open on the site of the Downtown Grand Hotel & Casino, which PMC (owner of Rolling Stone as well as brands including Billboard) is currently in talks to acquire from CIM Group, the sources say. As reported by Vital Vegas, which first reported the news of PMC’s possible acquisition, PMC is just one of several potential buyers for the property; suitors have also included John Unwin‘s Corvus Collective, which dropped out after failing to come up with the $30 million in cash needed to complete the purchase. Downtown Grand is currently managed by Fifth Street Gaming.
If talks are successful, the Rolling Stone Hotel and Casino could well be the future site of the Life Is Beautiful Music & Art Festival, which PMC acquired through Rolling Stone in 2022. As a PMC spokesperson told the Las Vegas Review-Journal in February, the festival “is in the process of making a long-term investment in Las Vegas real estate for the festival’s new home downtown.” A version of Life Is Beautiful, A Big Beautiful Block Party, was staged for two days and nights last September at the Plaza Hotel and Casino in downtown Vegas with headliners Peggy Gou, Justice, LCD Soundsystem, Jamie xx and Jungle.
While nothing is confirmed — sources say the due diligence process for PMC’s potential acquisition of the Downtown Hotel & Casino is underway — Rolling Stone and its sister brands have been looking to strategically invest in opportunities that create brand extensions. Indeed, licensing and experiential opportunities have been a major part of the brand strategy for PMC and Rolling Stone. On March 12, Rolling Stone opened Rolling Stone Presents: Amplified, The Immersive Rock Experience, a first-of-its-kind 360-degree immersive music history experience at Illuminarium Las Vegas at AREA15 that included more than 1,000 photographs, 200 videos and 1,300 Rolling Stone covers and featured more than 300 iconic artists.
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“While we do not comment on specific investment or acquisition details, Penske Media is always looking for strategic opportunities that meet the long-term goals of our brands,” said a spokesperson for Penske Media. “We are committed to growing our international and domestic footprints in both experiential and hospitality for Rolling Stone. As producers of over three hundred events annually across the portfolio, Las Vegas, like other entertainment centers, remains an important market for us.”
Rolling Stone is looking into several additional real estate opportunities around the world and will consider those that meet strategic long-term goals for the brand, sources say, with the Rolling Stone name being licensed for casinos and hotels, similar to Peter Morton‘s Hard Rock Cafe playbook.
PMC and its brands produce more than 300 live events per year and have several events planned in Las Vegas, including the 51st American Music Awards — part of PMC-owned Dick Clark Productions — which will return to the city on Monday, May 26. There is also talk of the 61st annual Academy of Country Music Awards moving to Vegas next year, sources say.
Drake has set the release date for his anticipated “Nokia” video, which will arrive on March 31. The 6 God posted a teaser for the clip on Tuesday (March 25), revealing that the Theo Skudra-directed visual was shot for IMAX. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news “NOKIA […]
Coheed and Cambria has its fifth No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Hard Rock Albums chart, debuting atop the March 29-dated ranking with The Father of Make Believe. The new set bows with 16,000 equivalent album units earned in the U.S. in the week ending March 20, according to Luminate. A total of 12,000 units of […]
Jason Aldean, Brooks & Dunn, Luke Bryan, Cody Johnson, Megan Moroney and Keith Urban are among the acts who will appear at Nissan Stadium as part of CMA Fest, which will run June 5-8 in Nashville and span 10 stages.
Also slated for Nissan Stadium are Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Riley Green, Ella Langley, Ashley McBryde, Parker McCollum, Rascal Flatts, Red Clay Strays, Darius Rucker, Shaboozey, Black Shelton, Zach Top and Bailey Zimmerman.
Four-night stadium passes range from $240 to $1,061, while single-night stadium ticket starts at $79.80.
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CMA Fest, which began in 1972 as Fan Fair, will spread across Music City on stages both free and paid. The event has a new partner, bank and financial services company SoFi, in a multi-year partnership.
MŌRIAH will kick off the Chevy Riverfront Stage on Thursday morning, performing the national anthem. Other artists playing that stage over the festival run include Gavin Adcock, Tanner Adell, Cooper Alan, Drew Baldridge, Sam Barber, Gabby Barrett, George Birge, Tyler Braden, Colbie Caillat, Ashley Cooke, Dasha, Jackson Dean, Marcus King, Randall King, Brandon Lake, Chris Lane, Ella Langley, Maddie & Tae, Dylan Marlowe, Kameron Marlowe, Max McNown, Midland, Megan Moroney, Ian Munsick, RaeLynn, Redferrin, Josh Ross, Conner Smith, Austin Snell, Alana Springsteen, Thelma and James, Tigirlily Gold, The War And Treaty, Hudson Westbrook and Tucker Wetmore.
Appearing on the Dr. Pepper Amp Stage at Ascend Park are Rodney Atkins, Frankie Ballard, Casey Barnes, Danielle Bradbery, Blanco Brown, T Graham Brown, Karley Scott Collins, Billy Dean, Tyler Farr, Filmore, Josh Gracin, Ty Herndon, Braxton Keith, Erin Kinsey, Lakeview, Edwin McCain, John Morgan, Kylie Morgan, Jerrod Niemann, Jamie O’ Neal, Mason Ramsey, Owen Riegling, Emily Ann Roberts, Reyna Roberts, Kaylee Rose, Shaylen, Sister Hazel, Iam Tongi, US Navy Band Country Current, Darryl Worley, Charlie Worsham and Jake Worthington.
Artists playing The Chevy Vibes Stage at Walk of Fame Park are Angie K, Graham Barham, Blessing Offor, Craig Campbell, Dillon Carmichael, Mackenzie Carpenter, Ashland Craft, Kashus Culpepper, Dailey & Vincent, Jade Eagleson, Exile, Mickey Guyton, Kelsey Hart, Tayler Holder, Greylan James, Willie Jones, Tiera Kennedy, Vincent Mason, Madeline Merlo, Drake Milligan, Lorrie Morgan, David Nail, Meghan Patrick, Dylan Schneider, Shenandoah, MaRynn Taylor, Thompson Square, Pam Tillis, Lauren Watkins, Mark Wills, Rita Wilson and Waylon Wyatt.
The Good Molecules Reverb Stage at Bridgestone Plaza’s line-up includes Willow Avalon, Maddox Batson, Laci Kaye Booth, Brenn!, Franni Rae Cash, Chapel Hart, Julia Cole, Preston Cooper, Kolby Cooper, Wesley Dean, Melanie Dyer, Madeline Edwards, Mae Estes, Carter Faith, Lanie Gardner, Cole Goodwin, Fancy Hagood, Jack Wharff and The Tobacco Flats, Max Jackson, James Barker Band, Just Jayne, Alexandra Kay, Zach John King, Matt Lang, Bryce Leatherwood, Hannah McFarland, Walker Montgomery, Will Moseley, Elizabeth Nichols, Adrien Nunez, Scoot Teasley, Cameron Whitcomb, Blake Whiten, Austin Williams and Eli Winders.
Acts will perform free at The Hard Rock Stage with a slate that includes Ashley Anne, Palmer Anthony, Hayden Blount, BODHI, BoomTown Saints, Luke Borchelt, CECE, Hayden Coffman, Abbey Cone, Crowe Boys, Eddie and The Getaway, Sterling Elza, Brian Fuller, Giovannie and The Hired Guns, Colt Graves, Reid Haughton, Christian Hayes, The Heels, Hueston, Solon Holt, Preston James, Jason Scott & The High Heat, Britnee Kellogg, Alex Lambert, LECADE, Trey Lewis, Tyler Joe Miller, MŌRIAH, Clayton Mullen, O.N.E The Duo, Harper O’Neill, Pistol Pearl and the Western Band, Peytan Porter, RVSHVD, Sacha, Matt Schuster, Sophia Scott, SKEEZ, Kevin Smiley, Payton Smith, Liam St. John, Colin Stough, Troubadour Blue, Leah Turner, Alli Walker, Carson Wallace, Brendan Walter, Chandler Walters, Jay Webb, Wesko, Angel White and Sam Williams.
All artists perform for free to benefit the CMA Foundation, with a portion of ticket proceeds supporting music education programs. CMA Fest will be filmed for a special airing on ABC and Hulu later in the summer.
For more details and ticketing options, go here.
In 2023, Grammy-winning producer Daniel Nigro founded his independently-funded Amusement Records primarily as a home for a then-independent Chappell Roan to release the album they made together, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess.
Roan at the time had been recently dropped by her former label, but as Nigro told Billboard when announcing Amusement: “I was so in love with everything that we were doing. I believe in [Chappell] so much that I was like, ‘Do I want this added stress in my life? Is it worth it? Yes.’”
And it sure was. Last August, almost one year after her debut album’s release, The Rise and Fall peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. The following month, she scored her highest-charting Hot 100 hit with “Good Luck, Babe!” And this February, Roan won the Grammy for best new artist.
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Now, on Wednesday (March 26), Universal Music Group and Nigro announced an expanded partnership with Amusement following the knockout success of Roan and building on the producer’s long-term creative relationship with superstar Olivia Rodrigo (who is signed to UMG label Geffen/Interscope). Going forward, Amusement will operate as a label venture within UMG, allowing new signees to partner with any of UMG’s labels.
“Daniel embodies the type of creative brilliance and entrepreneurial spirit that is at the heart of UMG,” UMG chairman and CEO, Sir Lucian Grainge, said in a statement. “I can’t wait to hear the culture shaping music and artists [he] will bring next to our global family.”
Since Nigro founded Amusement, he and Roan have both celebrated new highs. The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess spawned six Hot 100 hits, including the top 10 smash “Pink Pony Club.” Meanwhile, Nigro earned his second Grammy for producer of the year at the 2025 ceremony for his work with Roan, Rodrigo and the soundtrack for The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. (His first win was for Rodrigo’s debut album Sour.)
“After 6 years of working almost exclusively with the various labels [and] artists under Universal, it made perfect sense to make the relationship more formal,” Nigro said in a statement. “I want Amusement Records to be a place where artists can feel comfortable growing and developing at their own pace but with all the real resources needed to thrive and succeed.”
“Also,” he added, “a place where I can have the freedom to help choose the right team each time for the artist. I know in my heart that the people at Universal understand this, and I am beyond excited about what’s to come.”