genre pop
Ariana Grande‘s staying tight-lipped about a release date for new music. Of course, when you’ve been a patient at Eternal Sunshine‘s Brighter Days clinic, as Grande was in her “We Can’t Be Friends” music video, memories have a tendency to fade away. She reminded an interviewer of this concept on the red carpet at the 2025 Oscars on Sunday (March 2).
Grande, an Academy Award nominee for best supporting actress for her role as Glinda in Wicked, gave a live performance with co-star Cynthia Erivo at Sunday night’s Oscars ceremony. Ahead of the big show at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood, she walked the red carpet in a custom Schiaparelli gown.
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While making the red carpet rounds on a night focused on achievements in film, Grande was questioned by Variety on the “next step” of any new music release plans. The singer/actress had previously confirmed there’s a deluxe edition of 2024’s Eternal Sunshine still to come.
“The next step is the next step … It means it must come out. It’s been done,” Grande offered, then was prodded further for a release date.
“You know what, they did the Brighter Days memory erasure treatment to me, so I’m having trouble remembering the details. They’re foggy,” she quipped.
Still dodging questions that would elicit her giving an actual scoop about when to expect the set, she added, “You know what, I’ll have to go back to the clinic to see if they can restore my memory.”
Then Grande was nudged with the word “soon” in relation to the upcoming release.
“You have to learn the language of my fans because ‘soon’ means 10 days or less,” she said. “I’m not allowed to use that word at this moment. I’m not gonna use that word today. I’ll say that.”
“Just keep your eyes peeled. Just keep them peeled. That’s all I’m saying,” Grande suggested.
No specific details have been given about the unreleased deluxe edition of Eternal Sunshine. “There’s something I made last year that will come out eventually,” Grande said in an interview at the Golden Globes in January. “It’s an attachment of Eternal Sunshine. So, that does exist, and that will be coming out at some point.”
Eternal Sunshine topped the Billboard 200 for two weeks in 2024, with singles “Yes, And?” and “We Can’t Be Friends” both reaching No. 1 on the Hot 100. The album’s standard release was already followed by a “Slightly Deluxe” version of the album, with four additional tracks: “Yes, And?” with Mariah Carey, “Supernatural” with Troye Sivan, an acoustic recording of “Imperfect for You” and an a capella version of “True Story.”
See Grande’s latest comments on music in a clip from Variety on X here. Follow the list of winners at the 2025 Oscars, updating live here.
LISA‘s Alter Ego topped this week’s new music poll, which highlights artists from a variety of genres.
Music fans cast their votes in a poll published Friday (Feb. 28) on Billboard, selecting the BLACKPINK star’s debut solo album as their favorite new release of the past week.
Alter Ego received 49% of the vote, leading other notable new music releases such as Feid’s “Nos Desconoximos,” Benson Boone’s “Sorry I’m Here for Someone Else,” Lizzo’s “Love in Real Life,” D4vd and Kali Uchis’ “Crashing,” and more.
After months of anticipation, LISA dropped her first album on Feb. 28, featuring 15 new tracks and collaborations with Megan Thee Stallion, Future, Tyla, and others. The highly anticipated project includes previously released singles like “Rockstar,” “New Woman” featuring Rosalía, “Moonlit Floor (Kiss Me),” and “Born Again” with Doja Cat and RAYE.
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Alter Ego showcases the Thai rapper embodying five distinct personas: Roxi, Kiki, Vixi, Sunni and Speedi. “It represents five characters of me as well, like I feel related with them,” she told Sean Evans on Hot Ones ahead of the album’s release.
Before Alter Ego, LISA had released only two solo singles: 2021’s “LALISA” and “MONEY,” both of which charted on the Billboard Hot 100. That same year, she also appeared without her bandmates on DJ Snake’s “SG” with Ozuna, and on “HISS” with the rapper, who features on Alter Ego track “Rapunzel.”
LISA is the latest BLACKPINK member to release solo music in recent months. ROSÉ released her debut solo album, rosie, in December, and two months later, JISOO dropped her EP, AMORTAGE. JENNIE is set to follow with her debut LP, Ruby, scheduled for release on March 7. The foursome announced a summer 2025 world tour in February.
Trailing behind Alter Ego in this week’s poll is Feid’s “Nos Desconocimos,” which earned nearly 38% of the vote. The Colombian star’s new single arrives ahead of his European tour.
Check out the full results of this week’s poll below and visit Billboard’s Friday Music Guide for more must-hear releases.
Tate McRae scores her first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 chart as her third full-length studio set, So Close to What, debuts atop the list dated March 8. It arrives with 177,000 equivalent album units earned in the U.S. in the week ending Feb. 27, according to Luminate — marking the biggest debut week, by units, for a studio album by a woman in five months.
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It’s the second top 10-charting effort for the singer-songwriter, who previously visited the region with the No. 4-peaking Think Later in December 2023. The album generated a trio of charted songs on the Billboard Hot 100, including the No. 3-peaking “Greedy.”
So Close to What was announced in November 2024 and its release was preceded by three charted titles on the Hot 100, including a pair of top 40 hits: “It’s OK I’m OK” (No. 20, September 2024) and “Sports Car” (No. 21 in February).
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The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week in the U.S. based on multi-metric consumption as measured in equivalent album units, compiled by Luminate. Units comprise album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). Each unit equals one album sale, or 10 individual tracks sold from an album, or 3,750 ad-supported or 1,250 paid/subscription on-demand official audio and video streams generated by songs from an album. The new March 8, 2025-dated chart will be posted in full on Billboard‘s website on March 4. For all chart news, follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both X, formerly known as Twitter, and Instagram.
Of So Close to What’s 177,000 first-week equivalent album units, SEA units comprise 105,000 (equaling 137.30 million on-demand official streams of the set’s songs; McRae’s biggest streaming week ever, and it debuts at No. 2 on Top Streaming Albums), album sales comprise 71,000 (her best sales week ever, it debuts at No. 1 on Top Album Sales) and TEA units comprise 1,000.
With So Close to What’s launch of 177,000 equivalent album units, the set tallies the biggest debut week for a studio album by a woman since Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet bowed at No. 1 with 362,000 units on the Sept. 7, 2024-dated chart.
So Close to What’s streaming activity was led by the tracks “Sports Car,” “Revolving Door,” “It’s OK I’m OK” and “Dear God,” which collectively comprise a little more than a third of the album’s total streams for the week.
So Close to What was released across an array of permutations and variants. It was issued as a standard 11-song digital download album, a 13-song physical set (on CD, cassette and vinyl), a 15-song digital download and streaming edition, a 16-song digital download and streaming set, and an 18-song digital download sold exclusively in McRae’s webstore. Each variation of the album beyond the 11-song set contained the core 11 songs found on the standard edition, as well as additional tracks (which varied depending on the version).
The album’s first-week sales were bolstered by its availability across four download variants (three widely available, and one exclusive to the artist’s webstore), three CD variants (including one signed), seven vinyl variants (including two signed editions) and a cassette.
McRae ushered in the release of the new album with an appearance on NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, along with interviews with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe, iHeartRadio and Allure, among other outlets. The performer’s Miss Possessive Tour kicks off on March 18 in Mexico City and has dates scheduled through Nov. 8 in Inglewood, Calif. McRae will play more than 80 dates in over 20 countries on three continents.
As for the rest of the top 10 on the latest Billboard 200 chart, it’s a quiet week, as McRae’s set is the lone new arrival in the region. PARTYNEXTDOOR and Drake’s $ome $exy $ongs 4 U falls to No. 2 in its second week, earning 119,000 equivalent album units (down 52%). The next five titles on the Billboard 200 are all former No. 1s: Kendrick Lamar’s GNX holds at No. 3 (106,000 units; down 22%); SZA’s SOS is a non-mover at No. 4 (82,000; down 13%); Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet slips 2-5 (76,000; down 51%); Bad Bunny’s Debí Tirar Más Fotos falls 5-6 (63,000; down 6%); and The Weeknd’s Hurry Up Tomorrow drops 6-7 (50,000; down 14%).
Chappell Roan’s The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess dips 7-8 (46,000 equivalent album units; down 5%), Morgan Wallen’s chart-topping One Thing at a Time is stationary at No. 9 (41,000; up 4%), and Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard and Soft falls 8-10 (nearly 41,000; down 11%).
Luminate, the independent data provider to the Billboard charts, completes a thorough review of all data submissions used in compiling the weekly chart rankings. Luminate reviews and authenticates data. In partnership with Billboard, data deemed suspicious or unverifiable is removed, using established criteria, before final chart calculations are made and published.
Tate McRae made her return to Saturday Night Live on March 1, delivering a pair of standout performances from her latest album.
The 21-year-old pop star graced the stage for her second appearance on the iconic NBC sketch comedy show, captivating viewers with electrifying renditions of “Sports Car” and “Dear God.” Both tracks are from her third album, So Close to What, which was released on Feb. 21.
For her first performance of “Sports Car,” McRae stepped onto a stage filled with stacked metal chairs, surrounded by male dancers in suits who appeared to be snapping photos of her. Later in the episode, she returned to the same minimalist stage design for a slower, emotional performance of “Dear God.”
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Saturday’s episode was hosted by comedian Shane Gillis.
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McRae is fresh off the release of her latest album, So Close to What. The project features previously released viral singles like “It’s OK I’m OK” and “2 Hands,” as well as a collaboration with Flo Milli (“Bloodonmyhands”). The set also includes a track with McRae’s boyfriend, The Kid Laroi, titled “I Know Love.”
So Close to What follows her 2023 album, Think Later, which debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200. The album was bolstered by singles like “Greedy” and “Exes.”
The Canadian-born star first appeared on SNL in November 2023, with Jason Momoa as the pre-Thanksgiving episode’s host. She performed two songs, “Greedy” and “Grave,” to promote her then-upcoming sophomore album, Think Later.
Later this month, McRae will launch a world tour in support of So Close to What. The Miss Possessive Tour will begin on March 18 in Mexico City and will see the singer touring through Europe, Canada and North America until the end of September 2025. Special guests for the tour include Zara Larsson and Benee.
Watch McRae’s SNL performances below. For those without cable, the broadcast streams on Peacock, which you can sign up for at the link here. Having a Peacock account also gives fans access to previous SNL episodes.
Amidst the joy and celebration at the 2025 BRIT Awards was a poignant moment of remembrance for One Direction’s Liam Payne, who tragically passed away in October. Jack Whitehall, host of this year’s awards show, introduced the tribute to Payne on stage at The O2 Arena on Saturday (March 1). “It is now time to […]
Chappell Roan seems to have started a trend with her pointed acceptance speech at the Grammys on Feb. 2, in which she challenged labels to provide better healthcare and financial support for their new and developing artists. At the BRIT Awards on Saturday (March 1), several artists used their acceptance speeches to make points that mattered to them.
Myles Smith, whose “Stargazing” was a global hit, posed three questions, to the government, music venues and label executives. Georgia Davies of The Last Dinner Party challenged successful arenas like The O2, where the Brits were held, to do more to support small independent venues, who, she said, were dying. And Chappell Roan had still more to say about artistic freedom and queer joy in her two acceptance speeches.
Here, we look at three artists who used their acceptance speeches at the BRITs not just to recite a laundry list of thank yous, but to actually say something. These are the pertinent excerpts from their speeches.
Chappell Roan
Award: International song of the year for “Good Luck, Babe!”
“Over the years, I have written many songs. I don’t believe in bad art, but let’s just say I had to write a lot of bad songs to get to the good ones, and artists deserve that freedom to write bad songs and to explore horrible concepts and to flop — and rise and not be pressured into making music based off of what’s trending. So, we must continue to support these artists so they can find success on their own terms and have long careers. So, this is dedicated to the people who have helped me protect my bad art and lifted me up along the way.”
Award: International artist of the year
“Chappell Roan was born through experiencing queer joy. It’s so special I had to write an entire album about it. I dedicate this to trans artists, to drag queens, to fashion students, sex workers and Sinéad O’Connor. Because of all those people, they have laid the groundwork for me to be here today. I did not give up because of them and I will continue going because of them.”
Myles Smith
Award: BRITs Rising Star
“Tonight, whilst I have the attention of the nation and this award, which gives me kind of like this really cool speaking power, I want to ask three questions:
“My first is to the government. If British music is one of the most powerful cultural exports we have, why have we treated it like an afterthought for so many years? How many more venues need to close? How many more music programs need to be cut before you realize that we can’t just celebrate success, you have to protect the foundations that make it?
“My second is to the biggest venues in the country and around the world. If artists selling out your arenas and your stadiums started in grass-roots venues, what are you doing to keep them alive?
“And my third, to the industry, to the execs in the room and to the people behind-the-scenes. Are we building careers or are we just chasing moments because moments fade and careers take time. So please stick with artists past their first viral hit, please stick with artists past their first tour, because it really matters to us. And moments, they fade, but careers last forever.”
Georgia Davies of The Last Dinner Party
Award: Best new artist
“We wouldn’t be a band, and a lot of the artists here would not be bands either, without the U.K.’s incredible independent venues, and they are the lifeblood of the music industry and they are dying. And if venues like this, like The O2, like arenas, stadiums across this country contributed even a tiny bit toward these independent venues, then we would not be losing them at this alarming rate. We wouldn’t be here without them. None of this would be happening without them. So, I want to say to those artists who are playing independent venues all over the country tonight — keep going because that’s the best kind of art there is. In a time when art is under threat, that is the most important thing to keep supporting.”
Sabrina Carpenter kicked off the 2025 Brit Awards with a rousing medley of “Espresso” and “Bed Chem” at London’s O2 Arena Saturday night (March 1).
The American pop star — who later on Saturday would be celebrated with this year’s Global Success Award — got the crowd going with a flirty set that referenced the Union Jack and the King’s Guard before moving over to the Short n’ Sweet singer’s heart-shaped bed at the awards show, which was broadcast live on ITV1 and streaming service ITVX in the U.K., and streamed elsewhere via the Brits’ official YouTube channel.
Surrounded by dancers dressed as marching guards for “Espresso,” Carpenter then playfully shed her sparkly, British-inspired bodysuit, paired with thigh-high stockings and garters, for a red negligee and lacy lingerie. She perched herself atop a bed staged at the O2, where she complemented her “Bed Chem” vocals by performing some sultry, synchronized choreography.
Carpenter wrapped her performance with a camera trick implying her attempt to seduce a member of the King’s Guard. Judging by the guard’s wink, it worked.
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Carpenter was awarded with the Global Success honor later in the evening. The award was presented to her by Millie Bobby Brown, who joked that after seeing Carpenter’s steamy Brits performance Saturday night, the singer’s the one who should be handcuffed on stage — a bit she does to someone else for being “too hot” on the Short n’ Sweet Tour. (Brown personally requested to be arrested on stage and got her wish in Atlanta.)
Sabrina Carpenter accepts the Global Success award on stage during the Brit Awards 2025 at the O2 Arena on March 1, 2025 in London, England.
Brown introduced Carpenter to the Brits crowd as “the woman who keeps us all hot and bothered.”
“The first time I ever came to the U.K. was 10 years ago,” the “Please Please Please” hitmaker recalled during her acceptance speech. “I was with my mom. Nobody knew who I was. Maybe 10 people.”
“This week I get to headline the O2 because of you guys,” she said. Carpenter is set to play the 20,000-capacity arena for two nights, on March 8 and 9, as part of the European leg of her tour.
Not one to leave the stage without wise crack, and appreciating that the English get her dry humor, she quipped, “In a very primarily tea-drinking country, you guys streamed the shit out of ‘Espresso.’”
Carpenter also thanked her fans: “This is all because of you and this is for you. Thank you so much. Cheerio!”
While the K-pop scene is an ever-evolving landscape whose definition has expanded beyond a specific genre of music, Yves wants her career to change preconceived notions that tend to separate K-pop idols from being considered complete artists.
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Back in November 2017 when Yves (born Ha Soo-young) was first introduced to the world as the ninth member of LOONA through the dark, atmospheric synth-pop throbber of single “New,” the star may have unknowingly set a standard of experimental excellence that would define her solo career years later. An exploration of newfound artistic expression and identity, a now-unshackled Yves released two EPs last year in Loop and I Did (both of which made Billboard‘s mid-year and year-end best K-pop albums lists) with singles like “Viola” and “Loop” featuring Lil Cherry embracing the club-ready sounds that defined some of 2024’s best records as different album cuts explore everything from racing and acoustic rock as well as airy R&B and soft electronica. To date, I Did has 6,000 equivalent album units of activity through Feb. 20, according to Luminate, with its songs collectively registering five million official on-demand U.S. streams. Furthermore, Yves’ most streamed song in the U.S. is “Viola,” which has 2.16 million official on-demand U.S. streams.
“I always had my own image,” Yves shares backstage at the Brooklyn Paramount ahead of the opening U.S. date of her Apple Cinnamon Crunch tour. “But as my solo career is developing, I think I was able to explore more and show more of myself. I feel like I can express a lot of things now that I couldn’t.”
Embracing the multifaceted flavors of the tour’s unique name, Yves begins the show in a punky, funky black mini-skirt and top for the first half of the show, which includes Madison Beer and Avril Lavigne covers before changing into an all-white ensemble reminiscent of any classic millennium pop star look.
While the 27-year-old connected with fans in person on tour across Europe and the States (and will hit Latin and South America in April), Yves wants all aspects of her career to speak to anyone who feels like an outsider. “What I’m trying to pursue is to become a person where I can freely express myself in the world where there is a lot that can cloud one’s perspective,” she adds. “I really don’t want to put myself in a box.”
As she takes center stage fully on her own as a soloist, Yves seems ready to shine brighter than ever. Read on for more insights from Yves’ concurrent journey of solo stardom and self-discovery.
You’ve performed in the States in the past, but it is your first time as a soloist. How has the tour been going and how are you feeling ahead of your first U.S. concert?
At first, I was very scared. Because on stage all of the members are gone, right? It’s just me. So, I’ve been very nervous, but now I think I can enjoy. I’m 70 percent ready out of 100.
From music to fashion to even social media presence, you’ve been sharing what feels like a totally refreshed person. What has been happening in these past months? Are we seeing the real you?
I always had my own image. Back when I was a part of LOONA, whenever I was wearing my own clothes — so, not the clothes that the company wanted me to wear — my members weren’t able to recognize me in public. But as my solo career is developing, I think I was able to explore more and show more of myself. I feel like I can express a lot of things now that I couldn’t before because I have opportunities, so as I develop more and more, you can see more and more of myself.
One of your biggest changes was signing with PAIX PER MIL. I’ve heard K-pop companies may kind of force an image on an idol or artist, but it seems like they give you a lot of creative freedom?
When I was first searching for agencies to join, most of them told me that I have to be either part of a girl group or they didn’t think I can make it as a solo in meetings. But when I went to PAIX PER MIL, the producer, millic, sent me a long message and told me that I have potential to become a solo artist. So, I was really touched by the message that he sent and also that he believed in my image. So, I trusted him and he trusted me.
I was with my first label for almost eight years and in an idol group so I was obligated to think, “Are these clothes right for me? Can I wear this? Can I pose this way? Can I take a picture like that?” I was unsure about what to do with myself. But the label [PAIX PER MIL] really pushed me to point where I could just express myself and just fully show my version of me. So, I think that’s how my label really supported me. It’s a lot easier to have fun now.
You came out so strong with “LOOP” featuring Little Cherry, “Viola” was one of the best songs of last year but there’s also rock, you’re recording in different languages you, is this the music you personally listen to?
When I was first making the LOOP EP, my musical spectrum wasn’t as big as of now. I used to listen to the same songs that I’ve always listened to, but my producers, millic and ioah, really helped me to expand my musical spectrum. It was kind of like homework, where they’d assigned me to listen to some music that they recommended or sometimes they’d share what kind of music they’re listening to. One thing that I remember is the day that they asked me to make a playlist of what I wanted to do in my solo career so I was able to collect the music that I wanted to perform as an artist and make my choices for my music. So, I think as of now, I can confidently say that I am doing what I want to do in terms of my music taste.
Do you remember what songs were included?
So many songs! When I was a part of LOONA, I felt that I was a member who is good at ballads rather than the kind of dance-pop that I’m doing right now. But when I was collecting the music from my playlist, I was able to collect some funky sounds, alternative sounds, rock sounds, all the different kind of experimental sounds that I’ve never dealt with [as a singer]. That’s when I discovered Caroline Polachek and other artists that I’m into right now.
You have great taste and it’s great you could develop your sound. But on the other side of things, why didn’t you want to go to a group or re-debut in another formation?
During my one year break [in 2023], I was able to interact with my other members of LOONA as well as keep communicating my fans. When I was talking to my fans, they were really the ones who convinced me to pursue a solo career. They really supported me for who I am, my choices, and what I wanted to do. So, I think that kind of really pushed me to become a solo artist. Also, when I was talking to other members of LOONA, we all wanted to reach a happy path for all of us and attempt challenges we hadn’t done before because we were going through a lot together. So, there are the solo artists like me and Chuu, but also other girl groups that were formed with LOONA members.
Despite the hard time, it seems like everyone from ARTMS and Loossemble to even Jade Jeong has loving memories of LOONA. Do you feel the same?
Of course. I’m not sure exactly how to put this in English, but it’s kind of like a sore finger. I feel like, you know, I have to have a finger, but also it kind of hurts and will always give me those memories of my past.
My, one of my favorite lyrics from you is on “Hashtag,” which is “Don’t care what’s fake and who you are/ Yeah, In my world, it is only you and me, babe.” What is your perspective these days on what you wanna personally share, whether it’s your social media, your lyrics, fan interactions?
What I’m trying to pursue is to become a person where I can freely express myself in the world where there is a lot that can cloud one’s perspective. I’m also trying to be a confident person who can make my opinions clear without losing my taste. There is a lot of social media and channels to communicate these days which means there’s a lot of information and opinions. It’s gotten to the point where if you’re a little bit different, people criticize or blame them for being different rather than being accepting for who they are. I think that’s the most important part to consider in this world of social media. I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels like that.
What kind of message would you give to someone who maybe is being criticized or not accepted and needs the kind of confidence you always show?
It’s a huge world. To the people who feel that something is different, even if you feel like you’re alone or you’ve isolated and locked yourselves in, I should share that when you look around, in fact, there are so many people who think like you, share the same beliefs and don’t deny their existence because of people who criticize them. And just like you or I would say, I always want to support you for who you are and don’t feel discouraged or insecure for being different. Don’t stop.
I love that message. Is there anything else you want to share right now?
I don’t know about the mindset abroad, but in Korea there’s a certain boundary of what is an idol and what is an artist. But I’ve honestly always been an artist and an idol equally since I was in LOONA. I want to be in both. It’s an ongoing process and I really don’t want to put myself in a box when I want to be part of both. I think that’s the message that I really wanted to share here.
BINI released their new EP ‘BINIverse,’ and the girl group shares the inspiration behind it, what they’re looking forward to on tour, their love for LISA and more! What’s your favorite track off ‘BINIverse?’ Let us know in the comments! Tetris Kelly: So tell me about ‘BINIverse’ and how excited you guys were to release […]
Benson Boone wasn’t on hand to perform at a birthday celebration for Mark Zuckerberg‘s wife, philanthropist Priscilla Chan, so the Meta CEO simply decided to do it himself. In a truly wild video posted to Zuckerberg’s Instagram Friday (Feb. 28), he jumps on stage at a black-tie party honoring his better half and spreads out […]