State Champ Radio Culture
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Marshall is dominating the month of May with back-to-back exciting announcements. Last week, the audio brand surprised many fans by releasing the company’s first-ever soundbar, the Heston 120. Now, on Tuesday (May 27), Marshall continues its momentum with the launch of its highly anticipated medium-sized Bluetooth speaker, the Kilburn III, boasting powerful, high-quality sound.
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The latest Kilburn model comes equipped with a striking 50-plus hours of portable playtime in one single charge of the battery, which is more than double that of its predecessor. The speaker also comes equipped with 360° True Stereophonic sound, thanks to a stereo arrangement with no blind spots. True to Marshall’s ethos, this speaker has been engineered to be turned up loud, without compromising sound quality. Marshall claims the result is a “harmonious blend of bass, mids and treble at any volume.”
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Marshall has once again taken the classic aesthetic inspired by their amps and rock n’ roll heritage by incorporating intricate details such as tactile control knobs and a carrying strap lined with velvet that can be easily removed and reattached with guitar strap buttons. Thanks to its portable design and impressive rechargeable battery, the Kilburn III can be carried around the home without the bother of wires and power bricks. With an IP54 dust- and water-resistance rating, it can provide the perfect soundtrack both inside and out.
“Kilburn III represents a groundbreaking evolution in our product line, showcasing a completely reengineered acoustic design. We’ve enhanced its visual appeal, refined usability and extended the playtime to over 50 hours. Kilburn III is a remarkable upgrade from the highly appreciated Kilburn II,” said Hanna Wallner, Product Manager, Marshall Speakers, in a statement.
The Marshall Kilburn III releases May 27 in a black-and-brass or cream colorway on Marshall.com for $379.99. The speaker will be available to purchase through other retailers starting on June 10. Shop both colorways below.
Marshall Kilburn III Speaker
Marshall Kilburn III Speaker
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.
Ever wonder what your favorite K-Pop boy groups use to bump to their favorite music?
Enhypen just revealed their earbuds of choice are Samsung Galaxy’s Buds 3 Pro in “Silver.” The K-Pop act sat down for an interview with Samsung Galaxy, alongside their producer Armadillo, to share what sound means to them, highlighting their latest earbud obsession.
The video posted to YouTube shows each member popping in the earbuds, playing various instruments or listening to music while backstage. Jay, the main rapper of the group, shared his thoughts on the product, saying, “For me, the sound is inspiration. Because I now take part in producing music, I find myself listening to more genres of music than ever before. The sound of the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro seems to out the colors of each genre very well.”
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ENGENE you’re in luck. If you want to listen to music like Enhypen does, their Samsung pick is currently available on Amazon for 24% off. Without further ado, here’s how to shop the K-Pop boy band-beloved tech at an affordable price.
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Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds
$189.99
$249.99
24% off
Wireless bluetooth earbuds in a silver case.
These aren’t your ordinary earbuds. Currently retailing for $189.99, the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro creates an immersive listening experience all packaged in a portable sleek silver case. These buds deliver a high-resolution experience with crystal clear sound that you’re ears have been craving. Touch controls allow for ease of control so you can pause and replay your favorite tunes intuitively. Battery life on this bad boy lasts up to six hours.
One of the buds key features is the ultra-innovative adaptive active noise cancellation with Galaxy AI² that automatically adapts to your surroundings so you can tune in and out of the world around you with ease. Additionally, these futuristic buds use Galaxy AI to translate during face-to-face conversations using a real-time interpreter. Pretty snazzy.
What’s even more impressive is the Amazon-exclusive two-year limited Samsung warranty that comes with these buds, meaning if the product is lost or damaged, you’ll be in good hands. The pill-shaped case acts as a charging station for your headphones and comes in an alternative white hue if silver isn’t your thing.
See Enhypen’s interview with Samsung 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.
If there’s one thing we know Teddy Swims likes, it’s his jewelry.
The fashion-forward star recently curated a collection of glitzy pieces alongside Kay Jewelers, toting the title of Chief Love Officer for the occasion. It seems only fitting, given Kay Jewelers is sponsoring the musician’s North American leg of his I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy tour. We spoke to the “Lose Control” singer regarding the multi-piece collection celebrating love, diving deep into Swims’ jewelry fascination with talk of favorite pieces, fashion inspiration and his new role at the specialty jewelry company.
To do the collaboration justice, Swims first tackled recording his version of the brand’s iconic “Every Kiss Begins With Kay” jingle, a move that even Swims didn’t see coming. “I mean of course you grow up hearing that song your entire life right? And that was something in the grand scheme of being a musician at this level that..I just never had that on my bingo card,” Swims joked.
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Men’s Diamond Teddy Bear Charm 3/4 ct tw 10K Yellow Gold
A charm shaped like a teddy bear encrusted with diamonds in 10K yellow gold.
“We were sitting in the hotel a couple of days ago..I mean we sat there and did 100 versions of it..and I just caught myself laughing at some point with my engineer like ‘Dude what the heck..we’re singing the Kay Jewelers jingle right now. This is the coolest thing ever.” It’s safe to say that re-upping the jingle was an exciting moment for the little 90s kid in Swims’ heart.
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The curated line was inspired by Swims’ flashy fashions that mix punk rock with “baby girl.” “We’ve chosen a lot of black diamonds and some darker black jewels and stuff like that to keep it a little gothic and punk-rocky, you know. But then there’s, of course, the gold and all that shimmer of the diamonds too,” Swims said. The collection strikes a balance between edgy and sweet, light and dark, paying homage to Swims’ personal style. His favorite piece? A yellow gold and diamond-encrusted teddy bear pendant charm, of course. “You can’t beat diamonds,” the rapper added teasingly.
Swims‘ collaboration serves as a tribute to love in all its forms, expressed through his signature mix of soul, swagger and sincerity. With that in mind, his title of Chief Love Officer was a no-brainer, a title that aptly exemplifies Swims’ love of all things love. “I think it’s badass,” the performer said. “Love is what I live and breathe for…I’m grateful for every opportunity.. I mean, even if it’s a random Wednesday it’s always a good time to show somebody love and compassion.”
The “Bed on Fire” singer’s collaboration with Kay Jewelers is available to shop now on the brand’s website. You can catch Swims’ on tour until August 20.
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.
Livestream WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark in action, as the Indiana Fever take on the Washington Mystics. The Fever-Mystics game takes place at CFG Bank Arena (formerly known as Royal Farms Arena) in Baltimore, Maryland, on Wednesday (May 28).
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When Does Fever vs. Mystics Start?
Indiana Fever vs. Washington Mystics broadcasts live, with a start time of 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT.
Where to Watch Fever vs. Mystics Online
Fever vs. Mystics airs on NBA TV. The game is available to livestream on Sling Orange + Sports Extra. Keep reading for more details on how cord-cutters can watch the Indiana-Washington game online with Sling.
How to Watch Fever vs. Mystics with Sling TV
A subscription to Sling Orange + Sports Extra — which comes with NBA TV — gets you access to live TV from local and cable channels, starting at $34 for the first month of service and $56.99 per month afterwards. Here’s how it breaks down: Sling Orange goes for $23 for the first month and $45.99 per month afterwards, while Sling Sports Extra for NBA TV goes for an addition $11 per month.
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With Sling Orange, you can watch networks that carry WNBA games like ESPN, ESPN3 and ION Television, while you can also watch many cable networks, including ESPN2, FreeForm, Lifetime, AMC, A&E, BET, Fuse, CNN, Food Network and many others.
In addition, you can get a free month of AMC+ upon sign up. AMC+ is the home to original programming, like Gangs of London, Interview with the Vampire, Deadstream and more.
Please note: Prices and channel availability depends on your local TV market. You can learn more about Sling TV here.
Which Celebrities Are Making Appearances During Fever vs. Mystics Game?
It’s likely there may be a number of celebrities and famous recording artists in attendance during Fever vs. Mystics, such as Caitlin Clark fans Jason Sudeikis, Travis Scott, Tim McGraw, Mila Kunis and others. Tune in to the games to find out who’s sitting courtsideon celebrity row.
Starting at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT, the Indiana Fever vs. Washington Mystics airs on NBA TV on Wednesday (May 28). The WNBA game is available to livestream with Sling TV.
Want more? For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best Xbox deals, studio headphones and Nintendo Switch accessories.
Kenan Thompson is teasing the possibility of casting changes for the next season of Saturday Night Live. Following the conclusion of the iconic sketch comedy show’s 50th season on May 17 — hosted by Scarlett Johansson with musical guest Bad Bunny — the 47-year-old comedian and longtime SNL cast member called the season’s end “bittersweet” […]
Virtual star Ironmouse, along with a host of other VTuber virtual talent, will perform at an IRL event in Los Angeles in July.
Fantastic Reality will feature a performance from Ironmouse, a massive virtual streaming and Twitch star, along with performances from virtual talent including Japanese virtual singer KAF and Jakarta’s virtual pop artist JKT48v. Together, these acts have a combined global following of almost 10 million.
But while the talent is virtual, the event will be very real. Fantastic Reality happens at The Vermont Hollywood on July 3 beginning at 7 p.m. For several of the performances, VTuber composer Daryl Vanessa Barnes will direct a live band, with performer and event co-producer Mariya serving as MC for the night, which will also feature music from both virtual and non-virtual DJs.
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Fantastic Reality is part of the VTuber (or “virtual YouTuber”) phenomenon happening in online spaces and featuring virtual artists of all shapes and sounds. These performers, who are not AI, create often anonymous content using real-time motion capture technology. The field typically fuses aesthetics of anime, video games, animation and the internet.
To wit, South Korean virtual boy band PLAVE, whose members’ real-life identities are hidden behind digital avatars but whose commercial performance and ambitions rival K-pop’s biggest human acts, recently became the first entirely virtual Korean act to surpass 1 million units sold, according to Circle Chart.
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Fantastic Reality is pushing the boundaries even further by bringing such virtual acts into an IRL space. The event is being presented by VTuber streaming app IRIAM, with co-producers Kou Mariya, Daryl Vanessa Barnes, ETC, Bulldog DM and Rust.
“Fantastic Reality is doing something that has always been impossible,” Mariya says in a statement. “We’re uniting our community in an intimate IRL space with a cutting-edge live show featuring international luminaries Ironmouse, KAF, JKT48v and more with a live band.”
See the full lineup below:
Courtesy of Fantastic Reality
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.
Jennifer Lopez is set to host the 2025 American Music Awards, kicking off on Memorial Day, May 26. The show will feature a star-studded list of performers, including Benson Boone, Gloria Estefan, Gwen Stefani and more.
Taking place at the Fontainebleau in Las Vegas, here’s everything you need to know about the annual fan-voted awards show, including how to stream, who’s performing, and where to buy last-minute tickets. Keeping scrolling for more info.
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When Are the 2025 AMAs?
The American Music Awards will air live starting at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on Monday, May 26, on CBS. You can stream the event live on Paramount+ With Showtime, DirecTV or fuboTV.
How to Watch the AMAs
The annual music awards show will be airing on CBS. Don’t have cable? There are plenty of streaming options to catch the show, including Paramount+ With Showtime. The current service plan costs $12.99/month or $119.99/year, while the Paramount+ Essential Plan currently costs $7.99/month or $59.99/year. However, the awards show will only be available to watch live with Paramount+ With Showtime. The streaming service does offer a seven-day free trial, which new users can activate once signing up.
Want to watch the AMAs online for free? FuboTV offers a seven-day free trial when you sign up for one of its plans. You’ll gain access to more than 200 live TV channels, so you can watch the AMAs live for free. After your free trial is over, you’ll be charged the subscription price based on the plan you choose or you can cancel at any time.
DirecTV also offers a five-day free trial and the live TV streaming service also includes CBS as part of its channel lineup. Use the free trial to stream the AMAs online free from your phone, tablet, computer or smart TV.
Who’s Performing at the AMAs?
Janet Jackson will receive the prestigious ICON Award and deliver her first live TV performance in seven years. Rod Stewart will also be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award and perform on the AMAs stage for the first time in over two decades. Other performers include: Jennifer Lopez, Gloria Estefan, Benson Boone, Gwen Stefani, Blake Shelton, Lainey Wilson, Reneé Rapp and more. See more of this year’s performers here.
How to Get Tickets to the American Music Awards
Want to attend the AMAs this year? You’re in luck. Fans can still score last-minute 2025 American Music Awards tickets through a variety of ticket sites, including Ticketmaster, StubHub and Vivid Seats, ahead of Monday night’s ceremony. It’s not too late to spend the long weekend in Vegas.
The American Music Awards are produced by Dick Clark Productions, which is owned by Penske Media Eldridge, a joint venture between Eldridge Industries and Billboard parent company Penske Media.
Source: John Lamparski / Getty
Sacha Jenkins, a writer, director, producer and co-founder of the beloved Hip-Hop magazine ego trip, has passed away.
For Generation X and Millennial-aged Hip-Hop fans—and particularly Hip-Hop journalists—Jenkins was a titan. Born in Philadelphia, but raised in Queens, he was a co-founder of ego trip magazine along with fellow rap journalist Elliott Wilson in 1994. Although it only published 13 issues in four years, it spawned an influential brand that would feature books, ego trip’s Book of Rap Lists, and even a TV show, ego trip’s The White Rapper Show, on VH1.
As a journalist, his byline hit all the magazines of importance (XXL, The Source, Rolling Stone, Spin, et. al), interviewing a who’s who of subjects (he co-wrote Eminem’s biography, The Way I Am (2009)). Jenkins would go on to hold down a plethora of gigs that included Music Editor of Vibe magazine and creative director of Mass Appeal. A former graffiti writer, he launched the Piecebook series of titles that highlight graf from worldwide.
If you’ve watched many Hip-Hop documentaries, you inevitably would see his name pop up in the credits. He directed the doc series Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men, (2019) which ran on Showtime (as did his Biz Markie doc All Up in the Biz), as well as Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues (2022) and Fresh Dressed (2015). And that’s only a small sampling of an indelible, culturally important body of work that Jenkins managed to leave behind before his untimely death.
Jenkins is survived by his wife, Raquel Cepeda, and their two children. A cause of death has not been shared at this time and the family asks for privacy.
As soon as word of Jenkins’ passing became public, many Hip-Hop figures (including some iconic graf artists) took to social media to pay homage to the legend. We’ve compiled some below.
Hip-Hop Wired sends its deepest condolences to Sascha Jenkins’ family and friends. Rest powerfully in peace.
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Forget twinks, bears and otters — are you a Nickelodeon gay or a Disney gay?
Thankfully, Miley Cyrus stopped by Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Thursday night (May 22) to break down the age-old queer tribal descriptors.
The topic came up when host Jimmy Kimmel asked the superstar about the last time she’d watched an episode of her iconic Disney Channel series Hannah Montana, which ran for four seasons from 2006 to 2011.
“I’m surrounded by gays,” Cyrus quipped. “And there’s a big difference in…there’s Nickelodeon gays and Disney gays.”
As Kimmel pressed her for the contrast between the two types, the singer continued, “Nickelodeon gays and Nickelodeon, no offense, but in general, they do like boogers and, you know, bro jokes. And Disney, I would like to think is a little bit more fabulous, especially if it’s about a teenage pop star wearing a wig, like being the most famous drag queen for kids ever.”
However, it seems that some of the unnamed gays in Miley’s orbit these days somehow weren’t familiar enough with her “Best of Both Worlds”-belting alter ego that first made her a household name. “I’m like, you’re gay and you don’t live for Hannah Montana? What’s wrong with you?” she joked. “So I introduced them to Hannah, and obviously they were gagged. They were obsessed with her. I was offended.”
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Throughout the 2000s, blossoming Disney gays were also blessed with plenty of other small-screen idols to look up to, including High School Musical‘s Sharpay Evans, London Tipton from The Suite Life of Zack and Cody and, of course, Zac Efron as iconic heartthrob Troy Bolton — all of whom hit the Disney Channel in roughly the same era as Hannah Montana.
And speaking of eras, Cyrus is ready to usher in her latest musical one with the release of her ninth studio album, Something Beautiful, which is set for May 30 via Columbia Records. To promote the LP, the pop star also debuted her new ballad “More to Lose” live for the first time during her Kimmel appearance and spilled some rather stomach-turning tea from the set of the cinematic visual album.
Watch Miley explain the Nickelodeon gays vs. Disney gays conundrum below.
Before you head off on your three day weekend, take a moment to add some new tracks to your playlista from your favorite queer artists. Billboard Pride is proud to present the latest edition of Queer Jams of the Week, our roundup of some of the best new music releases from LGBTQ+ artists.
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From Renee Rapp’s cheeky return to St. Vincent’s Spanish-language reimagination, check out just a few of our favorite releases from this week below:
Reneé Rapp, “Leave Me Alone”
For every fan of Reneé Rapp’s that’s been asking, ad nauseum, “where’s the single,” the singer has a definitive answer — “leave me alone, b—h, I wanna have fun.” On this rollicking, tongue-in-cheek meta-commentary, Rapp gives her fans everything they could have asked for with her return. The lyrics are just as unhinged and provocative as the singer herself, the production adds some rock vibes to her established pop’n’b sound, and the vibes are simply, immaculate. We don’t predict anyone will be leaving
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St. Vincent & Mon Laferte, “Tiempos Violentos”
While St. Vincent has already shared a Spanish-language version of her standout track “Violent Times” from All Born Screaming, the singer-songwriter certainly hasn’t done so with rising singer-songwriter Mon Laferte. Now, “Tiempos Violentos” is given a new edge, as the pair trade lines in English and Spanish, while expanding the jazzy, dark track to a new, broader world of sound that fits both artists like a glove.
Cerrone & Christine and the Queens, “Catching Feelings”
It turns out when you take disco legend Cerrone and pace him with avant-pop chameleon Christine and the Queens, you get one of the most immediately enjoyable tracks of the year. On “Catching Feelings,” the pair lean into their strengths and create a guitar & drum-driven disco-pop track that will have you grooving along within moments.
Allison Goldfrapp, “Reverberotic”
Goldfrapp fans, wake up! We got a new banger from Allison herself! “Reverberotic,” the latest off the singer’s forthcoming new album Flux, sees Goldfrapp embracing synth-pop, trance and a touch of soul to make for one of her most unique-sounding tracks to date. “Reverberotic, wanna feel that again/ Vibrating light, a supernatural ascent,” she croons on the undulating chorus. “Reverberotic, all your dreams in the cloud/ Your sweet elixir is a part of me now.”
PINKNOISE, “Bittersweet”
It’s been a good week for rising heavy metal rocker PINKNOISE. Not only did the fast-rising artist (known off-stage as Kacey Foxx) sign with Nettwerk Music Group, but they decided to celebrate that fact with a new track. On “Bittersweet,” Foxx delivers the full range of their artistry, starting the song from a cool, quiet space before blowing up the premise and delivering a hard rock ballad that feels like it’s being powered by jet fuel. If you haven’t listened to PINKNOISE before today, let this be your official notice to go press play now.
Check out all of our picks below on Billboard’s Queer Jams of the Week playlist:
