State Champ Radio Coachella
Trending on Billboard
The 2020s have been a turbulent time for agents and the musicians they represent. The decade started off with an unprecedented global pandemic that forced the shutdown of live shows indefinitely, and as lockdown orders lifted, early concerts often dealt with no-shows, rising costs and an over-supply of acts going back on the road at once.
Now, in 2025, the live music market is stabilizing, but it’s never looked quite like this. Artists are bringing more production value to shows than ever, festival ticket sales are softening and talents like Harry Styles and Beyoncé are offering fewer tour stops — but more nights in each location.
Related
Creative Artists Agency’s (CAA) top agents are in the midst of it all, often singlehandedly sparking trends with the decisions they make with their superstar clients when they are ready to hit the road. To talk through the evolution of live entertainment post-pandemic, CAA managing director Rob Light (Bruce Springsteen, Beyoncé, Ariana Grande, Fleetwood Mac) and co-head of global touring Rick Roskin (Slipknot, Eric Clapton, Santana, Kelly Clarkson) joined Billboard‘s new music industry podcast, On the Record w/ Kristin Robinson, this week.
Below is an excerpt of that conversation.
Watch or listen to the full episode of On the Record on YouTube, Spotify or Apple Podcasts here, or watch it below.
How did you make sure to help your artists’ tours stand out after pandemic lockdowns lifted and everyone rushed back onto the road?
Roskin: You have to make a statement because there’s a ton of volume. I mean, you can look at what plays in every city on a weekly basis, and there are a ton of shows. So somehow you have to figure out a way to cut through the clutter and break through and get noticed.
Light: A great example of that was three summers ago was with Harry Styles and his management team. Harry could have easily sold out two or three or four nights at MetLife Stadium. But everybody was playing Met Life Stadium. It wasn’t a big event, everybody was doing it. They came up with the idea of ‘let’s do 15 nights at Madison Square Garden.’ And he owned New York. Didn’t matter who was playing stadiums those nights. Everybody was talking about that move. It was a huge statement and intentional. I really do believe, you know, trying to find those moments are really part of our job. You can’t create them every day. You can’t create them on every tour, but any moves you’re making should hopefully lead to something.
Related
We’re also seeing artists like Beyoncé doing fewer cities, but more dates within those cities. I’m wondering why you think that’s occurring now?
Light: The cost of touring has gone up exponentially and the size of these productions becomes more and more intricate so that if you can sit in one place you can actually make them a little bigger and better — and the audience is willing to come to you. Beyoncé goes to New York for a week, for example, and Boston, Washington and Philly, they’re all gonna come to her if that’s the only place to see it. Also, if you have kids, sitting in one place actually makes touring more palatable.
I don’t think that the idea of day-to-day playing a city, getting on a bus and going to the next will ever go away, but if you have control of your career at that moment, it’s certainly easier to tour this way.
Roskin: To get a little technical, you know, a huge tour eight years ago or ten years ago, was about 13 semi-trucks [of production equipment]. I mean, that would be like, ‘Oh my God. That is a massive tour.’ You know, tours now are carrying 30, 40, 50 trucks of production. To move that is incredibly expensive. Everything has been amped up. In this boom post-Covid, artists are taking it to a level that no one’s ever seen before…Actually — The Weeknd’s stadium tour had about 60 trucks.
Let’s talk about Coachella 2026. Coachella decided to put its tickets for 2026 on sale very early this year. I have to say, I read that at the time as them maybe being nervous about not selling out. I know that that’s been an increasing issue for them over the last few years, but Coachella 2026 sold out pretty immediately. Why do you guys think it sold so quickly?
Light: Nothing replaces star power, and it’s a great lineup. Let’s be fair, but I think part of the reason they decided to go earlier is that they realize the public is getting more and more trained to buying earlier and so waiting till January feels late now… It was a great way for Coachella to make a statement about the festival season. They want to buy in advance, they want to make those plans, they want to be able to travel. I think was very smart on Paul [Tolette] and his team’s part to go earlier, and when you have that lineup — with Sabrina [Carpenter] and Justin [Bieber] — you’re going to do great. Why not go early?
Related
In general, it seems like festivals aren’t quite as hot as they used to. Ticket sales across the board are softening. Why do you think that is happening now?
Light: There’s a lot of factors. There’s no one answer that fills the floor. Part of it is, you’ve got so many shows and ticket prices have gone up. There’s decisions being made now, like ‘how much money do I have?’ I have to pick and choose where I am going to go. Part of it is who the headliners are, and then another part of it was just a proliferation of festivals. They were everywhere and you couldn’t go to every one. So when you feel softness at the edges, it’s really a function of ‘I can’t beat everyone. I have to pick and choose.’
Lately, festival attendees are arriving later to the festival, which means those baby artists who are at the bottom of the poster and the top of the day are going to have even less crowds than before. I’m wondering, do you still think that, for emerging artists at CAA, that being on those festival lineups is still as worthwhile as it once was?
Light: I’ve said this for years about those slots, and this is where agents really play a role in the artist development of a career. Part of getting on a festival is being on the poster. You want to be part of that and playing at 12 or one or two o’clock may not be great, but a great agent is going to stop and say, How do I get back to that market within four or five months of having done that gig? Because two or 3,000 kids who might have seen me and have told their friends now want to be able to see them on their own, and so to just show up anywhere and play one day at two o’clock and disappear for a year? Is bad management, bad agenting. If you’re going to get one of those slots, how am I going to take advantage of that moment and make other things happen off the back of it?
Related
Along with the cost of touring rising, we’re also seeing ticket prices rise as well. I remember that Bruce Springsteen tried dynamic ticketing a few years ago, and that led to some of the tickets ending up being thousands of dollars. I’m wondering now, a few years later, like we’re reflecting back on that, how you feel about dynamic ticketing as a model for big tours?
Light: Bruce got a really bad rap because at that same time that one guy bought a ticket at a high price, Elton John and the Rolling Stones were charging tickets for twice the price. But because he was a working man, somebody took a shot at him. There’s always going to be supply and demand. It just is. And what we try to create, and all the ticket companies try to create, is the closest way to be fair, where the money is going to the artist, right? If we’re going to do dynamic pricing, and you’re buying a ticket at a higher price, but the artist is getting paid. He or she deserves that. They built that career. What we hate is when you know, scalpers and bots and stub hubs and all these middle people now are making money with no skin in the game. They did nothing other than got a ticket, and now they’re reselling it. The artist doesn’t see any of that money…But I’m a fan of dynamic pricing, simply because it allows everybody to be equal in the process so if I can afford it, and it’s a show I want to see, I get to pay for it. I want to see the artist get paid. I don’t want to see some outlier get paid.
The federal government is attacking Ticketmaster on multiple fronts right now. This includes the FTC suing the company, and it has to deal with resale. Do you think that Ticketmaster should play a part in the resale of tickets, and if it does, does there need to be a cap on the secondary market?
Roskin: On platinum ticketing, most artists have a cap on what they allow the tickets to sell for, usually the cap ranges from two to three times value. So even if the secondary tipping market exceeds that, it doesn’t feel like it’s so harsh. But as far as the secondary ticketing market goes, it isn’t going anywhere.
This was one of Rob’s stories, but I’ll tell it. Years and years ago, AC/DC was doing a tour, and they go out on the road, and they’re like, ‘we’re gonna sell all tickets paperless. You’re gonna have to walk in with your credit card, scan your credit card at the door. They’re gonna see your name. You go into the venue,’ and through this they thought they were going beat scalpers, and they’re going to finally win. What ends up happening is that the scalpers sent gift cards to their own people who bought tickets, and they walk up with the gift cards, scan the tickets, and they beat AC/DC’s brilliant idea to get rid of scalpers. They are always gonna find a way to get ahead. Be it bots, be it AI, whatever — it is our responsibility as agents is to figure out ways that as much money stays with the artist.
Trending on Billboard In 2012, popular music was at a point of major transition. Rock was fading from the mainstream, R&B was getting weird, rap was entering its middle age, and EDM was suddenly at the center of everything. All of these trends were reflected at that spring’s Coachella, where some of the defining artists […]
Trending on Billboard Billboard senior music correspondent Katie Bain is bringing her just-released book Desert Dreams: The Music, Style, and Allure of Coachella to a Billboard Book Club livestream today (Oct. 27). [talkshoplive modus=”rqqZwi_OmY-7″ data-auto-play=’1′] In the new book — which arrived last week, on Oct. 21 — Bain explores the history and influence of Coachella, […]
English trip-hop outfit Massive Attack have shared their support for Belfast hip-hop trio Kneecap in response the controversy that has followed their pro-Palestinian messaging.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Massive Attack shared their comments on Instagram on Wednesday (April 30), criticizing the disproportionate amount of condemnation that Kneecap have received when compared to the attention received by pertinent matters in Gaza.
“If senior politicians can find neither the time, nor the words to condemn, say, the murder of fifteen voluntary aid workers in Gaza, or the illegal starvation of a civilian population as a method of warfare, or the killing of thousands & thousands of children in the same territory, by a state in possession of the highest precision weapons on earth; how much notice should a music festival take of their moral advice on booking performing acts?” the band wrote.
Trending on Billboard
“As a band that has spoken publicly for more than 30 years about the illegal occupation, apartheid system and killing with impunity of thousands of Palestinians, we are hyper aware of the both the human cost of abject political silence, and the commercial implications of publicly expressing solidarity with an oppressed people.”
Kneecap’s overtly political messaging made global headlines following their appearance at the Coachella festival in April, where they projected strong anti-Israel sentiments during their set – sentiments which they had claimed were censored during their first weekend appearance.
“Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people,” the projected messages read. “It is being enabled by the U.S. government who arm and fund Israel despite their war crimes. F–k Israel; free Palestine.”
The backlash to Kneecap’s comments were swift and varied, with Sharon Osbourne calling for the band’s work visas to be revoked ahead of another North American tour later in the year, while the trio would soon split with their booking agent, Independent Artist Group.
More recently, Kneecap issued an apology for archival footage which showed the group allegedly calling for the death of British MPs (members of parliament).
Filmed at a London gig in November 2023, it appears to show one member of the band saying: “The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.” At the time, the Conservative Party – also known as the Tories – were in government with a large majority.
“Language matters of course. The hideous murders of elected politicians Jo Cox and David Amess means there’s no scope for flippancy or recklessness,” Massive Attack continued.
“But do politicians and right-wing journalists strategically concocting moral outrage over the stage utterings of a young punk band, while simultaneously obfuscating or even ignoring a genocide happening in real time (including the killing of journalists in unprecedented numbers) have any right to intimidate festival events into acts of political censorship?
“Kneecap are not the story,” they concluded. “Gaza is the story. Genocide is the story. And the silence, acquiescence and support of those crimes against humanity by the elected British government is the real story. Solidarity with all artists with the moral courage to speak out against Israeli war crimes, and the ongoing persecution and slaughter of the Palestinian people.”
Soon after Massive Attack’s message, London-based independent label Heavenly Recordings also shared a statement which was signed by Massive Attack alongside Fontaines D.C., Pulp, The Pogues, Thin Lizzy, Sleaford Mods, Paul Weller, and myriad others.
“This past week has seen a clear, concerted attempt to censor and ultimately deplatform the band Kneecap,” the statement read. “In Westminster and the British media, senior political figures have been openly engaged in a campaign to remove Kneecap from the public eye, with veiled threats being made over their scheduled performances at gigs, outdoor events and music festivals, including Glastonbury.”
“In a democracy, no political figures or political parties should have the right to dictate who does and does not play at music festivals or gigs that will be enjoyed by thousands of people,” it continued. “The question of agreeing with Kneecap’s political views is irrelevant: it is in the key interests of every artist that all creative expression be protected in a society that values culture, and that this interference campaign is condemned and ridiculed.
“Furthermore, it is also the duty of key leadership figures in the music industry to actively defend artistic freedom of expression — rather than seek to silence views which oppose their own.”
Goldenvoice must pay a $20,000 fine to the City of Indio for going past curfew for several minutes during Travis Scott‘s set during the first weekend of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts festival, according to a statement from city officials. On Saturday, April 12, Scott closed out his headlining set three minutes past 1 […]
Northern Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap have split with their booking agent IAG (Independent Artist Group) following the controversy caused by their recent Coachella performances.
The news was confirmed by an IAG representative to The Hollywood Reporter. The report states that the Belfast group and IAG, which includes Metallica, Billy Joel and 50 Cent on its roster, split between Coachella’s first and second weekends. A spokesperson for Kneecap told Billboard U.K. that they would not be commenting on the split.
During the first weekend, the group claimed that the YouTube stream of their live performance had been cut following anti-Margaret Thatcher and pro-Palestine chants by the group and crowd. Thatcher was the U.K. prime minister between 1979 and 1990, and played a pivotal role during the violent Troubles in Northern Ireland during that span; she died in 2013, aged 87. The group have long expressed support for a united Ireland, and frequently spoken out on the war on Gaza at their shows and in interviews.
Trending on Billboard
During the band’s second set at Coachella, a projected message stated: “Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people. It is being enabled by the U.S. government who arm and fund Israel despite their war crimes. F–k Israel; free Palestine.” The set was not livestreamed on YouTube, but images from the onstage projections were widely shared on social media.
Since the band’s set, they have faced a wave of criticism from industry figures. Sharon Osbourne, wife and manager of husband Ozzy, called for their U.S. work visas to be revoked, saying that “At a time when the world is experiencing significant unrest, music should serve as an escape, not a stage for political discourse.” She also criticised Goldenvoice, Coachella’s organiser alongside AEG, for allowing the band to be booked. A previous report in The Hollywood Reporter said that Goldenvoice was “blindsided” by the messaging.
On Wednesday, London’s Metropolitan Police confirmed they were assessing a video taken of a band member appearing to say “up Hamas, up Hezbollah” at a headline performance in the capital in November. The two militant groups have been ascribed “terrorist group” status by the U.K. Government and expressing support for either is forbidden under the Terrorism Act 2000.
Following the fallout, the group have shared a number of messages on social media from Palestinians thanking them for speaking out. Kneecap member Mo Chara responded to the criticism on Wednesday, telling Rolling Stone that their message is “about [the Israeli government’s] government’s sickening actions, not ordinary people.”
Kneecap released their second studio album Fine Art in June 2024 on Heavenly Recordings. Their 2024 music biopic Kneecap, starring Michael Fassbender, was nominated for two Academy Awards, and in February director Rich Peppiat won a prize for his work on the film at the BAFTAs (British Academy Film Awards). The group will play a number of shows in Europe this summer including at Primavera Sound in Barcelona, Spain and Glastonbury Festival in England. They will return to North American for a headline tour in October.
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
In the heart of Palm Springs, the Coachella Valley Music and Arts festival came and went with a bang, from Lady Gaga‘s extravagant “Mayhem In the Desert” set, to Charli XCX‘s electrifying Brat performance with surprise guests. But this year marks a significant shift for concert culture as the music festival brings in Loop Earplugs as its first official earplug partner.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
The collaboration also delivers a limited-edition Loop x Coachella Experience 2 Earplugs that quickly became a go-to accessory for many in attendance.
Trending on Billboard
As the growing awareness of hearing health continues to rise, this partnership encourages users to tear up the dance floor without tearing up their eardrums in the process. With 17 decibels(SNR) of filtered noise reduction, the earplugs, which were sold at both Coachella weekends, ensures clear sound while protecting ears.
Adventuring to the Sahara, Yuma, and Sonora stages, which typically offer lineups of electronic dance music, the Loop earplugs shine when blocking out pounding subwoofers, so you can enjoy the music without sacrificing sound quality or risking hearing damage. Conversations may be muffled with them on, but when a Chase & Status set is happening, who’s is trying to talk?
“The Loop experience is actually made to reduce noise, but not distort it, so that you’re protected and also you’re still in the music, in the festival, in the atmosphere,” Loop co-founder Maarten Bodewes tells Billboard. “Loop started as a way for us to keep enjoying live music experiences without the negative side effects. It’s incredibly rewarding to have Coachella join us on that journey, making hearing protection a more natural, welcome and intrinsic part of live music culture.”
Limited-edition
Loop x Coachella Experience 2 Earplugs
The days of carrot stick-esque foam earplugs that fall out in seconds are over. The limited-edition Loop x Coachella Experience 2 Earplugs provide as much design aesthetic as they do functionally. Inspired by the festivals desert location, the earplugs feature a modern gradient design mixing sky blue and sunset orange for a dusk till dawn aesthetic. They come with multiple sized tips so they stay snug in your ear during any activity the day brings, as well as a matching Loop x Coachella Carry Case and an optional Link connector cord. There is a bit of a learning curve to get them to sit properly in your ear, but after some minor adjustments they fell pretty comfortable for long-term uses.
“From a design perspective, we looked at like what is typical about Coachella,” says Bodewes. “It’s in the desert. It goes from dusk till dawn, and if you look at the color of dusk, it’s more the bluish hue, and dusk is more of a orange hue. So we tried to make it from dusk till dawn.”
limited-edition
Loop x Coachella Link
As Coachella kicks off the 2025 festival season, Loop is leading the charge in this new era of specially designed hearing protection and quickly becoming a go-to essential for concert goers. Its sleek design, resembling daith piercings, sets it apart from typical earplugs on the market, and adds a element of stylish fun for vibrant festival looks. With an affordable price point, the Loop x Coachella Experience 2 earplugs are a game-changer for live music.
The Loop x Coachella Experience 2 earplugs ($39.95 USD), as well as the duo’s link connector ($29.95 USD), are now available on Loop’s site here.
Northern Irish hip-hop group Kneecap have responded to calls from Sharon Osbourne to have their U.S. work visas revoked following their airing of anti-Israel messages during the trio’s second Coachella weekend appearance. In an email to Rolling Stone, group member Mo Chara (born Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh) said that the messaging was in keeping with their career-long views on Palestine.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
He said the group have talked about Palestine “at every single gig since the band’s formation, long before [the deadly Hamas attack on Israeli civilians] October 2023 as the oppression and brutal occupation of Palestine has been ongoing for 77 years.”
Kneecap claim that their anti-Israel messages were censored on the livestream of their set during the first weekend of Coachella, but at the end of their show last Friday (April 18) they closed by projecting the phrases: “Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people… It is being enabled by the U.S. government who arm and fund Israel despite their war crimes. F–k Israel; free Palestine.” The audience then reportedly broke into a “Free Palestine” chant.
“Not the only thing that was cut – our messaging on the US-backed genocide in Gaza somehow never appeared on screens either,” Kneecap wrote on their social feeds in response to reports about the first weekend feed cut. “Back next Friday Coachella and it’ll be sorted,” they promised before the controversial second weekend set.
“We believe we have an obligation to use our platform when we can to raise the issue of Palestine, and it was important for us to speak out at Coachella as the USA is the main funder and supplier of weapons to Israel as they commit genocide in Gaza,” Chara told RS. “As I said from the stage, ‘The U.S. government could stop the genocide tomorrow.’ It’s important that young Americans hear and know it.”
He added that the band didn’t initially realize their political statements were not viewed when the YouTube livestream was cut off. “We only heard about it the next day and haven’t heard from anyone officially,” he said. “It’s not surprising, large companies don’t like to hear the truth unless it suits their narrative and pocket.”
Chara said the “Free Palestine” chant is something that “happens at all of our gigs from Spain to Scotland and Ireland to Iceland because people know what’s happening is wrong and are angry about it. The crowd chanting ‘Free Palestine’ at Coachella was a message of solidarity to the people of Gaza from regular Americans who want to see an end to the genocide, despite their government’s arming and funding Israel.”
According to The Hollywood Reporter, insiders claimed Goldenvoice CEO Paul Tollett was “blindsided” by Kneecap’s actions. In lengthy note condemning Kneecap’s actions, Osbourne decried what she called the politicization of Coachella, saying that this year’s shows will be remembered “as a festival that compromised its moral and spiritual integrity… Goldenvoice, the festival organizer, facilitated this by allowing artists to use the Coachella stage as a platform for political expression,” she said of the event, where a number of other acts, including Green Day, Bob Vylan and Blonde Redhead, respectively, altered lyrics to reflect the plight of Palestinian children and displayed Palestinian flags on stage. “At a time when the world is experiencing significant unrest, music should serve as an escape, not a stage for political discourse,” Osbourne said.
“While festivals like Coachella showcase remarkable talent from around the globe, music’s primary purpose is to unite people. It should not be a venue for promoting terrorist organizations or spreading hate,” London-born Osbourne added, ending with a call for the “revocation of Kneecap’s work visa.”
“As someone with both Irish Catholic on my Mothers side and Ashkenazi Jewish heritage on my Fathers side, and extensive experience in the music industry, I understand the complexities involved,” Osbourne, who has managed husband Ozzy Osbourne for more than 45 years, added. “Goldenvoice’s claim of being ‘blindsided’ by Kneecap’s performance seems implausible given the circumstances. I know for a fact that certain people in the industry had written to Goldenvoice, airing their concerns around the booking of Kneecap.”
In the wake of Hamas unprovoked attack on Israeli citizen on Oct. 7, 2023 in which nearly 1,200 mostly civilian Israelis were killed and nearly 250 were taken hostage, Israel has waged a devastating war against the militant group in the Gaza Strip and West Bank in which a reported 50,000 people have been killed and most of the territories’ infrastructure has been decimated. One of the most devastating attacks on Oct. 7 was a raid on the EDM Nova Music Festival celebrating the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, where Hamas militants killed 364 civilians, as well as wounding and sexually assaulting scores more.
Kneecap’s actions at Coachella are in keeping with what has been described as a long-held solidarity between the people of Northern Ireland and Palestinians based on the 800-year British occupation of Ireland that lasted until 1921.
Organizers of the Nova Festival have invited Kneecap to view the Nova Oct. 7 6:29 a.m. – The Moment Music Stood Still: The Nova Music Festival Exhibition in Los Angeles — a chronicle of the Hamas attack on the music fest brought to the U.S. by HYBE America CEO and former Justin Bieber manager Scooter Braun — to “experience firsthand the stories of those who were murdered, those who survived, and those who are still being held hostage,” according to RS, which reported that Chara did not respond to questions about whether they’d accept that offer.
The call from Osbourne to have Kneecap’s visas revoked for their anti-Israel sloganeering comes as the Trump administration has been targeting universities for defunding and revoking the visas and/or deporting students who it says participated in protests against Israel’s war in Gaza.
Kneecap, which also features members Naoise Ó Cairealláin (stage name Móglaí Bap) and JJ Ó Dochartaigh (stage name DJ Próvaí), are slated to launch their largest North American tour to date in October.
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE
Source: Kevin Mazur / Getty / Megan Thee Stallion / Queen Latifah
Megan Thee Stallion is gearing up for another hot girl summer, kicking things off with her Coachella performance these past two weekends. During night one, living legend Queen Latifah was one of her many guests during her headlining set, and the two linked up offstage.
The Houston megastar delivered a phenomenal Coachella performance, which also featured appearances from Ciara and Victoria Monet, who elicited the most enthusiastic reactions from the fans.
“Thank you to everyone who came out to watch my team show out at @coachella ! Thank you to all my dancers and JaQuel 💙” wrote in the caption of her Instagram post. “yall are so amazing and are always so supportive and I appreciate yall for pushing me and motivating me ! Thank you to all my ladies @queenlatifah @courtneylaplante @ciara @victoriamonet that came out and shared the stage with me YALL ARE ICONS and made this experience so much more amazing for me thank you 1000 times !!! Love you hotties.”
The Trio We Didn’t Know We Needed
After ripping the stage together, Megan Thee Stallion joined Queen Latifah and her wife, Eboni Nichols, and they decided to enjoy some fine dining, including escargot, also known as snails.
“So me, Queen, and Eb is at dinner and b***h, and we’re about to try some sh*t we ain’t never ate before,” the “Hiss” crafter begins in the video.
Before embarking on their escargot journey, Thee Stallion boasted about her oyster seasoning skills after a friendly competition between herself and Nichols, saying they will battle for the title of “Best Oyster Maker.”
Next on the menu for Supreme Hot Girl was caviar with bread which seemed to be hit based on her joyful reaction. The final treat was steamed escargot paired with bread.
“I don’t know about this,” she said as she picked up the delicacy with her fork.
To top things off, she also got a lesson on how to eat mussels from the Queen herself, who warned her that if the shell doesn’t open by itself, don’t eat it.
The Hotties Loved To See It
The Hotties loved the candid moment between Megan Thee Stallion and Queen Latifah.
“I love this. Meg deserves to be surrounded by vets in the game who will uplift her and build solid healthy friendship/peer mentorship. A lot of the OG Women rappers like Queen, Missy, Brat, Eve and Kim have solid friendships with one another, “one post on X, formerly Twitter read.
Another post read, “A group I didn’t know I needed lol.”
Same sis, same.
You can see more reactions in the gallery below.
5. Very true
6. Not a “warm welcoming lesbian,” bruh.
Sharon Osbourne has shared her disdain of Northern Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap and the outspoken messaging present in their recent Coachella set, going so far as to call for the revocation of their work visas.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Osbourne shared her comments on social media on Tuesday (April 22), days after Kneecap played the second weekend of the Coachella festival. The Friday (April 18) performance drew recognition for the band’s use of strong anti-Israel sentiments during their set – sentiments which they had claimed were censored during their first weekend appearance.
“Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people,” the projected messages read. “It is being enabled by the U.S. government who arm and fund Israel despite their war crimes. F–k Israel; free Palestine.”
Trending on Billboard
These messages weren’t the only pro-Palestinian sentiments shared during the 2025 edition of the festival. Notably, Green Day altered lyrics to reflect the plight of Palestinian children, while names such as Bob Vylan and Blonde Redhead displayed Palestinian flags during their sets. In the case of the latter, the onstage event was soundtracked by audio of Mahmoud Khalil – the detained Columbia University graduate student currently being held in an immigration detention center following his role in on-campus protests.
However, Osbourne shared a lengthy response to the apparent politicisation of Coachella, noting that this year’s edition will be remembered “as a festival that compromised its moral and spiritual integrity.”
“Goldenvoice, the festival organizer, facilitated this by allowing artists to use the Coachella stage as a platform for political expression,” she wrote. “At a time when the world is experiencing significant unrest, music should serve as an escape, not a stage for political discourse.
“While festivals like Coachella showcase remarkable talent from around the globe, music’s primary purpose is to unite people. It should not be a venue for promoting terrorist organizations or spreading hate.”
As Osbourne continued, she noted that despite being a fan of Saturday headliners Green Day, she felt that their own views of events in the Middle East would have been more appropriate if shared “at their own concert, not at a festival.” Kneecap’s sentiments, however, were deemed so egregious that she closed by asking supporters to join in her “advocating for the revocation of Kneecap’s work visa.”
“Kneecap, an Irish rap group, took their performance to a different level by incorporating aggressive political statements,” Osbourne wrote. “Their actions included projections of anti-Israel messages and hate speech, and this band openly support terrorist organizations.
“This behavior raises concerns about the appropriateness of their participation in such a festival and further shows they are booked to play in the USA. Reports indicate that Goldenvoice was unaware of Kneecap’s political intentions when they were booked. However, after witnessing their performance during the first weekend, allowing them to perform again the following weekend suggests support of their rhetoric and a lack of due diligence.”
In the wake of Kneecap’s performance, Goldenvoice CEO Paul Tollett reportedly claimed he was “blindsided” by the band’s actions. While HYBE America CEO and former talent manager Scooter Braun – who previously staged exhibits in Los Angeles and Israel about the October 7, 2023 attacks in Israel – defended Tollett, Osbourne expressed disbelief that anyone who attended exhibits such as Braun’s could book an artist such as Kneecap for the festival.
“Furthermore, the Independent Artists Group, which represents Kneecap, includes individuals of Jewish heritage,” she continued. “It is disheartening that they have not used their positions to prevent the promotion of such controversial messages. Shame on them.
“As someone with both Irish Catholic on my Mothers side and Ashkenazi Jewish heritage on my Fathers side, and extensive experience in the music industry, I understand the complexities involved,” she added. “Goldenvoice’s claim of being ‘blindsided’ by Kneecap’s performance seems implausible given the circumstances. I know for a fact that certain people in the industry had written to Goldenvoice, airing their concerns around the booking of Kneecap.”
For their part, Kneecap have not responded directly to the criticism of their messaging, instead sharing examples of the myriad supportive messages they have received in the wake of their Coachella sets. The group will return to North America in October for another run of live dates.
