Culture
Page: 26
On Friday (May 2), the TODAY show announced the 30th-anniversary lineup for its Citi Concert Series on TODAY, with outdoor performances on the way from Kelly Clarkson, Jonas Brothers, Blake Shelton, Cynthia Erivo and more.
Clarkson will kick things off next week with a Rockefeller Plaza concert on Tuesday, following the release of her new single “Where Have You Been.” The rest of the 2025 roster includes Blake Shelton (May 13), Sebastián Yatra (May 30), Cynthia Erivo (June 6), Ciara (July 11), Zac Brown Band (July 25), Jonas Brothers (Aug. 8) and Role Model (Aug. 29).
More performers will be announced, including concerts through September.
Trending on Billboard
While TODAY‘s Concert Series has gone through different creative directions in the past three decades, the summer tradition began with the first Rockefeller Plaza concert from Earth, Wind & Fire back in 1995, as Al Roker recalled to Billboard.
“It started with Earth, Wind & Fire literally on the plaza. In the last 30 years, we’ve had musical icons and first appearances of icons-to-be,” Roker tells Billboard exclusively. “It’s been imitated but never duplicated because of the excitement that our plaza audience gives and gets from our concert performances.”
Anyone can attend the famous outdoor concerts — known for attracting fans as far as the eye can see outside TODAY‘s New York studio — by registering for Fan Passes at TODAY.com/Concerts, which allow priority access to the show ahead of General Admission. Viewers can also join the General Admission line the morning of each concert and will be admitted if space permits; the line entrance is located at 48th Street and Rockefeller Plaza.
Find the full lineup below:
May
Tuesday, May 6: Kelly Clarkson
Tuesday, May 13: Blake Shelton
Friday, May 30: Sebastián Yatra
June
Friday, June 6: Cynthia Erivo
July
Friday, July 11: Ciara
Friday, July 25: Zac Brown Band
August
Friday, Aug. 8: Jonas Brothers
Friday, Aug. 29: Role Model
September
TBD
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.
Bring the arcade home with Arcade1Up‘s new compact cabinets. These new models are ideal for those who live in small spaces with the same gameplay, art, graphics and controls as the full-size counterpart, but just smaller.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Available at Walmart, the Arcade1Up SE arcade cabinets are priced at just $299 per model. Retro games, include Mortal Kombat II, Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man and many others.
And since these Arcade1Up SE retro arcade cabinets are from Walmart, you’ll get it shipped to you for free if you’re a Walmart+ member. Otherwise, your cart has to be more than $35 to get free shipping.
If you’re not a member, then you’re in luck: You can sign up for a 30-day free trial to take advantage of everything the retailer’s rewards program has to offer with perks such as free, fast delivery; fuel discounts; streaming access to Paramount+ to watch hit originals; extra savings with early access deals and much more.
In addition, Walmart+ comes with access to SiriusXM for all sorts of talk radio and music — including popular channels such as The Coffee House for stripped-down songs from Noah Kahan, Kacey Musgraves, The Lumineers, Phoebe Bridgers and others. Learn more about what Walmart+ can offer you here.
Ahead, you’ll find the Arcade1Up SE cabinets available at Walmart.
Arcade1Up
Arcade1Up ‘Mortal Kombat II’ SE
The Arcade1Up ‘Mortal Kombat II’ SE arcade cabinet, with original arcade music by Dan Forden, comes with 13 games, including Mortal Kombat, Mortal Kombat II, Mortal Kombat 3, Ultimate MK 3, Rampage, Joust, Wizard of Wor, Gauntlet, Rootbeer Tapper, Defender, Bubbles, Paperboy and Klax.
Arcade1Up
Arcade1Up ‘Pac-Man’ SE
With original arcade music by Toshio Kai, the Arcade1Up ‘Pac-Man’ SE retro arcade cabinet comes with 13 games, including Pac-Man, Dig Dug, Dig Dug II, Pac-Mania, Pac & Pal, Super Pac-Man, Pac-Man Plus, King & Ballon, Galaga, Galaxian, Galaga ’88, Mappy and Rompers.
Arcade1Up
Arcade1Up ‘Ms. Pac-Man’ SE
The Arcade1Up ‘Ms. Pac-Man’ SE retro arcade cabinet comes with 13 games, including Ms. Pac-Man, Pac-Man Plus, Super Pac-Man, Pac & Pal, Pacmania, Dig Dug, Dig Dug 2, Galaga, Galaxian, Galaga 88, Mappy, Rompers and The Tower of Druaga. Original arcade music for Ms. Pac-Man by Chris Rode.
Meanwhile, all arcade cabinets are four feet tall and come with a 15.6-inch IPS color monitor, dual speakers for stereo audio and Wi-Fi connectivity for live leaderboards and online multiplayer. If you’d like these cabinets to be taller, Walmart also has arcade risers available for $59 each.
Priced at $299, the Arcade1Up SE retro arcade cabinets are only available at Walmart.
Want more? For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best Xbox deals, studio headphones and Nintendo Switch accessories.
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Jeff Hahne / Getty
During a recent interview on The Morning Hustle, Tameka “Tiny” Harris revealed a powerful moment that took place just minutes before the tragic death of The Notorious B.I.G.
According to Tiny, the legendary rapper took the opportunity to apologize for the controversial lyric he rapped about Xscape in his track “Just Playin’ (Dreams).” The infamous line, “I’ll f**k RuPaul before I f**k them ugly a** Xscape b**ches,” had long caused tension between Biggie and the R&B girl group.
Tiny explained that Biggie approached them at an event and expressed his regret over the insult. “He was like, ‘I didn’t mean it. I love y’all. Y’all beautiful,’” Tiny recalled. Interestingly, Kandi Burruss, also a member of Xscape, revealed that she declined the chance to hear Biggie out at that moment, saying she didn’t want to speak with him.
Though this emotional story was first shared back in 2020, according to Revolt TV, it has recently gone viral again following Tiny’s new recounting of the event during her appearance on *The Morning Hustle*. Fans have been reacting strongly online, with many expressing surprise and admiration for Biggie’s willingness to make amends before his untimely passing.
Biggie Smalls was tragically killed in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles in March 1997. This anecdote adds a bittersweet layer to his legacy, showing a more human side of the rapper just moments before his death.
Check out the full interview below:
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.
Major League Soccer, or MLS, is currently two months into its 2025 season, and fans in more than 100 countries and regions can sign up for MLS Season Pass to access every single soccer match with no blackouts. To make things even sweeter, the subscription service on Apple TV is now 30% off as of May 1 for season pass users.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Season after season, MLS continues to grow in global recognition. Thanks to key acquisitions of superstar talent — such as Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi — the league has skyrocketed in popularity and is becoming home to elite footballers. Like Messi, MLS has also welcomed some well-known Premier League football stars into the mix, including David Beckham, Ashley Cole, Gareth Bale, Thierry Henry and Javier “Chicarito” Hernández over the years.
Trending on Billboard
With the competition continuing to level up, MLS and Apple TV are offering fans a way to catch all the premium pitch action with the MLS Season Pass. With a subscription, users gain access to every league match in a season, including the playoffs. It carries all matches live or on-demand right on the app, alongside in-depth coverage and analysis, and exclusive content. The subscription also includes access to coverage of the Leagues Cup, an annual mid-season competition open to all clubs from MLS and Mexico’s top division of men’s football, Liga MX.
If that wasn’t enough, the service has sweetened the deal by lowering its price for both non-Apple TV+ subscribers and Apple TV+ subscribers on May 1. For non-subscribers, the price is dropping from $99 to $69. For Apple TV+ subscribers, the cost will go down from $79 to $59. To note, these price drops only apply to the full season plan, not monthly plans. Also, if you’re a season ticket holder, one MLS Season Pass subscription will be included with your account at no additional cost. The free pass is available for one per account.
If you’ve been on the fence about making the plunge into the vast, exciting world of the MLS, kicking and screaming at your TV every weekend for Sunday Night Soccer, there’s no better time to grab a subscription. Subscribe here.
Want even more content? Apple TV+ has a great selection of original TV shows, including hit shows such as Severance, Your Friends and Neighbors, The Morning Show and Ted Lasso. The streaming service also has must-see music specials and concert series such as Soundbreaking, Behind the Music, 1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything, Jennifer Lopez’s Apple Music Live Concert, The Beatles: A Complete Anthology, Bruce Springsteen’s Letter to You and much more.
Olly Alexander, Charli XCX, Self Esteem, Neneh Cherry, Rina Sawayama, Jessie Ware and more are among the leading musicians to have signed an open letter on behalf of the U.K. music industry to offer solidarity to the trans community.
On April 16, the U.K.’s Supreme Court ruled that the definition of a woman is based on biological sex, and that a person with a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC) in the female gender “does not come within the definition of a woman under the Equality Act 2010.” The U.K. prime minister Sir Keri Starmer has backed the ruling.
Trending on Billboard
The decision has been widely criticized, with protests and community action held by the trans community and its allies in the weeks since the ruling. In recent days, a number of authors and actors signed similar open letters decrying the decision and offering their support to the community. Dr Victoria McCloud, the U.K.’s first openly trans judge, is planning to appeal the decision to European Court of Human Rights.
The open letter, organized by artist Tom Rasmussen and publicist Tom Mehrtens with support from Alexander and his manager Martha Kinn, states that “the UK music industry is a vibrant, diverse landscape that thrives on creativity and inclusivity” that has “long celebrated a multitude of voices and identities, and the music industry here in the UK is one of our most trailblazing and culturally vital assets — one which trans, intersex and non-binary people are woven into in every aspect of the industry, past, present and future.”
Continuing the letter states that artists and and executives “must now urgently work to ensure that our trans, non-binary, and intersex colleagues, collaborators, and audiences are protected from discrimination and harassment in all areas of the industry — whether in studios, at venues, in offices, or at festivals.”
At the time of publication, over 330 names had added their name to the letter, which describes this as a “moment to amplify voices that need to be heard, to champion inclusivity and real justice, and to ensure that our industry remains a welcoming and trailblazing space for everyone.” The letter also calls on leading U.K. industry organizations — including major and independent labels, publishers, managers and trade bodies like PRS for Music, PPL, BPI and more — to “join us in condemning the Supreme Court ruling.”
Signees also include Shygirl, Jimmy Somerville, Lava La Rue, JADE (Little Mix), Mura Masa, Mabel, Jake Shears, CMAT, Wolf Alice, MNEK, Paloma Faith and more, alongside a number of employees from across the sector.
The letter also links out to actionable steps from promoters and community group Queer House Party to support and protest the decision. Read the full letter and see all the signatories here.
Will the new cast of queens on RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars season 10 find themselves becoming more and more “Popular” on the new season? Will they need some “Good Luck, Babe” in order to take home the top prize? Maybe the new slate of guest judges can help them figure it out. On Wednesday […]
While The Weeknd is starring in his first feature film next month with Hurry Up Tomorrow, one of his old hits is inspiring a different film. Matt Reeves, who directed 2022’s The Batman starring Robert Pattinson and Zoë Kravitz, had previously told IGN that Pattinson’s titular character will be heartbroken in the beginning of the […]
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.
Beyoncé has kicked off her Cowboy Carter World Tour and Queen Bey is serving up a ton of surprises to go along with her must-see show.
One of them is the release of Cé Lumière, her new fragrance that’s available exclusively at Ulta.com for a limited time. Previously only available on her official website, the arrival of Cé Lumière at Ulta is part of the superstar singer’s larger partnership with the beauty store, which has been named the “Official Beauty Retail Partner” of the Cowboy Carter Tour.
For a limited time, fans can also get a free “mystery gift” with purchase of Cé Lumière at Ulta.com. This is an online-only bonus gift so you can’t find it in stores.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
BEYONCÉ-APPROVED
Cé Lumière Eau de Parfum
So what exactly does Cé Lumière — and presumably Beyoncé — smell like? While the eau de parfum’s name translates to “This Light” or “In the Light” in French, the scent is surprisingly dark and sophisticated, rather than being dainty and well, light.
Beyoncé perfume features top notes of Madagascar black pepper and Italian mandarin, with the spiciness of the pepper helping to tone down the brightness of the citrus (and vice-versa). In other words, a quick spritz won’t tickle your nose with anything too strong or too sweet, and the scent is more grounded rather than being overly “juicy.”
The main notes you’ll smell are of jasmine, and rhubarb, which makes for an interesting pairing. Why? Because while jasmine is soft, floral and delicate, the addition of rhubarb brings an earthy, herbaceous quality to the fragrance. Base notes of patchouli and musk are classic fragrance add-ons that add richness, woodiness and complexity. Reddit users agree, with one writing that “it gives off a wealthy vibe.”
The Cé Lumière Eau de Parfum was created in France and completely crafted and nosed by Beyoncé, and we could totally picture — nay, smell — her wearing it too. The music star doesn’t give off light and airy vibes, nor do we see her wearing anything sugary sweet, and Cé Lumière is neither of those things. The conventionally masculine notes of patchouli and black pepper also play into Beyoncé’s boldness and strength, holding down the fragrance just like the singer holds down her family and those close to her (it also helps Cé Lumière work as a unisex fragrance — I would totally wear it, even as a guy!)
Cé Lumière Eau de Parfum
$160
Buy Now AT ULTA
If there’s one thing we know about Beyoncé, it’s that her work is multi-layered, and the same thinking went into this perfume. The singer isn’t a one-hit wonder and this isn’t a one-note wonder either, with all the ingredients working together to create an elegant and evocative potion that’s sure to leave a lasting impression. And if it’s good enough for Beyoncé, it’s good enough for us.
Cé Lumière follows the release of Beyoncé’s Cé Noir in 2023 and her first fragrance, Heat, in 2010. You can purchase Cé Lumière right now for $160 on Ulta.com — the perfume is selling quickly so Ulta is limiting shoppers to one unit per visit. Be sure to also sign up for the free gift with purchase.
You can also pick up Beyoncé’s Heat perfume on sale right now at Amazon below.
ALSO CONSIDER
Beyonce Heat For Women Eau De Parfum Spray
04/30/2025
These artistic storage options will keep your favorite records in heavy rotation.
04/30/2025
HipHopWired Featured Video
DDG tried to casually drop $2 million on IShowSpeed just to swing by for a quick cameo in his new music video—no big deal.
The rapper and YouTube star hopped on livestream and casually asked Speed how much it’d take to get him in a video—most likely for a track off his upcoming project *Blame the Chat*, dropping this Friday, May 2.
“How much is it gonna cost me? How much you gonna charge me, Speed?” DDG asked, clearly ready to cut the check. But he didn’t wait long for an answer—he shot his shot right after. “I come in roughly around like two million. Two million dollars, three hour shoot, quick little cameo—take you 40 minutes of your time,” he said. “You let me know, brother.”
Fans were caught off guard, not just by the price tag, but ‘cause DDG recently hinted that money might’ve been tight. Still, it’s clear he sees the value in locking in with someone like Speed, who’s got a massive online presence and a fanbase that moves numbers. A cameo from Speed would instantly go viral and bring even more eyes to the video—and the album.
Whether Speed’s actually gonna take the offer or not is still up in the air, but the convo already got people talking heavy. If this link-up really happens, it could be one of the most expensive—and talked-about—collabs between a rapper and a streamer yet.