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Lana Del Rey has announced a string of stadium shows in the U.K. and Ireland for summer 2025. The U.S. star’s tour will kick off at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium in Wales on June 23, before heading to Glasgow, Liverpool, Dublin and wrapping up at London’s Wembley Stadium on July 3. See the full run of […]
Drake has officially announced his return to Australia for the Anita Max Wynn Tour, marking his first visit to the country in eight years.
The Canadian rap icon casually dropped the news during a livestream with gaming streamer xQc on Sunday night (Nov. 24), revealing that the tour will kick off on Feb. 9 and run through early March.
“February 9th for anybody that’s watching from Australia, I’m coming back to Australia for the first time in eight years. Coming back to Australia on tour,” Drake shared during the livestream. “Melbourne, Sydney, Gold Coast… February 9 ’til like… March something.”
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While specific dates and venues have yet to be confirmed, Drake teased appearances in key cities like Melbourne, Sydney, and the Gold Coast. However, the OVO rapper seemed to rule out visits to “other places.”
The announcement comes as a major moment for Drake’s Australian fans, who last saw him perform live during the Boy Meets World Tour in 2017. “Funny enough, it’s actually called the Anita Max Wynn Tour,” Drake told XQC during the stream.
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The timing of the tour’s launch is particularly noteworthy, as it coincides with Kendrick Lamar’s highly anticipated Super Bowl halftime show performance on the same day. The two artists have been engaged in a well-documented musical feud throughout the year, with the artists slinging diss tracks at one another, like Lamar’s “Not Like Us” and Drake’s “Push Ups”. Lamar recently also surprised-released his latest album, GNX.
Anita Max Wynn is a nod to a viral moment from Drake’s December 2023 livestream on Kick. During the stream, he introduced an “alter ego” with the same name, a pun on the gambling phrase “I need a max win,” which refers to hitting the maximum payout on a slot machine.
The phrase, popularized by streamer Adin Ross, quickly became an internet sensation, inspiring memes, TikTok edits, and exaggerated depictions of Drake’s character. Now, the joke has come full circle, lending its name to Drake’s 2025 Australian tour.
Drake had previously hinted at a turn return to the country earlier this month, posting an old photo of himself in front of Sydney’s Opera House to his Instagram Story, writing, “It’s been like 7 years.”
In addition to the tour announcement, Drake also provided an update on his forthcoming collaborative album with PARTYNEXTDOOR, revealing, “Me and Party’s album is 75 percent done shout out to PX cooking right now. Album sounds incredible…This album is good; it’s the sound that people know and love us for.”
Drake and Party announced their joint album back in August while on stage performing together in Toronto.
Earlier this month, PND hopped on his Instagram Live as he wrapped up the European leg of his Sorry I’m Outside Tour and revealed his project with Drake is nearing the finish line. “Guys, I have one more show on this tour,” he told his followers. “Then the album is getting finished. That’s all I gotta say.”
11/22/2024
From K-pop gossip to the star-studded afterparty in West Hollywood, here’s what Billboard learned and overheard during the first-ever MAMA Awards ceremony in the States.
11/22/2024
Gracie Abrams’ “That’s So True” has settled in for its third consecutive week at the summit of the U.K.’s Official Singles Chart. Once again fending off competition from Gigi Perez’s “Sailor Song” and ROSÉ and Bruno Mars collaboration “APT.”, Abrams’ “That’s So True” remains at No. 1, while another Abrams single, “I Love You, I’m […]
On Oct. 26 and 27, HYDE performed HYDE [INSIDE] LIVE 2024 -EXTRA- at Chiba’s Makuhari Messe.
These shows were an extension of HYDE [INSIDE] LIVE 2024, the music club tour he kicked off at Tokyo’s Zepp Haneda (TOKYO) on June 22. As is clear from its name, this tour was in support of HYDE [INSIDE], his first new album in five years. In 2024, HYDE also played in numerous festivals across Japan, such as the OGA NAMAHAGE ROCK FESTIVAL and the DEAD POP FESTiVAL. Although a respected figure, always on the frontlines of the rock world, he also has many rivals. His constantly evolving live performances have captured the hearts of a diverse fan base.
The show began with a count-up. At 17:06 (or 16:66), the sounds of the show’s opening music filled the club, and then the band kicked things off with “LET IT OUT.” HYDE also performed this as the first song in many of the shows on last year’s tour, HYDE LIVE 2023, but the band’s stage reveal took things up a notch this year. HYDE stood atop a towering platform, looking down on the audience. He wore a military cap adorned with Swarovski crystals, and his piercing stare gave a premonition of the excitement that was to come. In the next song, “AFTER LIGHT,” the volume of the audience singing along to the chorus almost rivaled HYDE’s. The crowd was already clearly warmed up. The band then played “I GOT 666,” which had first been revealed on HYDE’s previous tour before being released roughly a year later on HYDE [INSIDE]. As the song reached its shouted refrain of “I’m aware!” the crowd began head-banging. The audience had reached a fever pitch.
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HYDE and Hiro
Hiroaki Ishikaw/Billboard Japan
HYDE then spoke to the audience for the first time: “Welcome to HYDE [INSIDE]! Let’s enjoy reality!” From the start, the show drew in the audience with powerful songs like “BLEEDING,” in which HYDE looked straight into the camera lens, a panoply of expressions crossing his face, and “ON MY OWN,” during which he sang while holding aloft a flag that waved in the wind. Then he smoothly shifted gears, with a mournful keyboard arpeggio naturally segueing into “THE ABYSS.” HYDE also performed a solo arrangement of “TOKOSHIE,” a song he wrote together with MY FIRST STORY as the ending theme song for the Hashira training arc of the TV anime Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. The ever-changing drums were a perfect match for HYDE’s singing style, reminiscent of storytelling. The two blended their talents to open up the song and share its vision. It was a moment that made you keenly aware of HYDE’s expressive range.
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Towards the middle of the show, HYDE again spoke to the audience, saying “I’ve done a lot of shows here in Makuhari. I want today’s to be the most chaotic of them all!” In “6or9,” he had the audience take a seat, calling out “Sit down! We’re all going to join together.” He gazed at the audience, looking for the perfect timing, and then the band started playing and the audience leapt into the air as one. During the next song, “MAD QUALIA,” HYDE jumped into the crowd, one man facing off against 10,000. Strings of lights hung down from the four corners of the stage, like a circus tent, and against the back curtain was an electric signboard, brightly emblazoned with the name “HYDE.” It was as if HYDE was the ringmaster of the circus, and he had tamed the audience before him. Or, looked at another way, the audience was taking in the spectacle of a monster (HYDE) in a circus ring. HYDE showed the audience the pinnacle of entertainment, and he himself also abounded with excitement, telling the audience, “You’re on fire today! I can feel the heat coming off you!”
The deeply metal-infused “SOCIAL VIRUS,” the core of HYDE [INSIDE], featured one of the highlights of the show. As the bass boomed out during the long, heavy bridge, HYDE split the audience down the middle, separating it into left and right sides. Then, as he sang “I’ve gotta find a way, to see the light of day,” the audience slammed back together in a wall of death, combining with HYDE’s guttural growl and the band’s breakdown to create a chaotic spectacle. The final song of the set was the ballad “LAST SONG.” HYDE, face covered in blood, sang in the midst of a blizzard of red confetti, baring his heart and revealing the emotions deep inside.
HYDE
Hiroaki Ishikaw/Billboard Japan
The curtains fell, but then after some time, the guitarist took to the stage, playing a guitar solo. The movable drum set then appeared in the crowd, atop a stage erected in the middle of the dance floor. The audience called out “HYDE-!” and HYDE sprang from a massive Pandora’s box to perform the song “PANDORA.” The joy was evident on his face as he shouted “We’ve truly all come together!” He went on, “You need to live your life the way you want. I don’t want to worry about what others think, I want to do what I want. If you want to join me, be my guest!” The audience erupted in applause. “This world is just full of pain, isn’t it! It makes you want to wrap yourself up in an aura of joy!” he continued, and then called on a surprise guest: Hiro (vocalist for MY FIRST STORY), who had just announced his marriage a few days earlier. HYDE asked Hiro to hype the audience up, so Hiro spoke out to the audience, saying, “You guys are bright, so I’m sure you’ve already figured this out. If I’m up here on stage, that must mean…” and with that the band launched into “MUGEN,” the opening theme of the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Hashira training arc. HYDE put on the ultimate performance, not just in the way he and Hiro played off each other and harmonized, but also in the shouted part of the song, when he grabbed and held Hiro by the lapels.
“Thank you for your love of this insane art!”
HYDE kicked into high gear with “BELIEVING IN MYSELF” and “GLAMOROUS SKY” as the show drew closer to its end. He told the audience how many songs were left, and the crowd went wild, focusing intently on each song. This excitement was heightened by the last song, “SEX BLOOD ROCK N’ ROLL.” “Show me what you’ve got!” HYDE shouted, voice hoarse, joined by the shouts of the crowd. “We tore things up! Don’t forget it! And we’ll do it again! Just wait and see!” he shouted as he smashed the drum set and then left the stage.
The message that ran throughout the show was of the importance of the moment. It seems clear that this ties into [INSIDE], a reference to what lies in HYDE’s heart, but I’ll leave further interpretation up to the readers. HYDE is now in the middle of a world tour, so who knows what else he might have in store before the year is out.
London DJ PAWSA has announced his biggest U.K. show to date, with a homecoming gig at the city’s Gunnersbury Park next summer.
The dance producer, born David Esekhile, will host PAWSA In The Park – All Day Long in the capital’s Gunnersbury Park on Aug. 8, with more acts to be revealed at a later date. The news follows the 34-year-old’s recent viral success with his latest single, a reimagined version of The Adventures of Stevie V’s iconic 1989 track “Dirty Cash (Money Talks).” Watch the video below.
A fan presale will begin at 10 a.m (GMT) on Nov. 27. General tickets are set to go live at 10 a.m on Nov. 29 via Ticketmaster.
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As one half of the duo behind scene-leading label Solid Grooves, PAWSA has enjoyed an ever-burgeoning career over the past decade. Since 2016 he has held annual residencies in Ibiza and regularly tours clubs across mainland Europe. In 2021, he won Best Producer at DJ Mag’s Best of British Awards.
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PAWSA released his debut EP, Pilot, in 2014 via the renowned Lost Records label, a key player in the U.K.’s techno and house music scenes. The following year, he founded Solid Grooves alongside DJ Michael Bibi – the sister company of Solid Grooves club night, which hosts regular happenings in London, Ibiza and Berlin.
This past summer has seen PAWSA perform at Circoloco Amsterdam and Chicago’s ARC Music, among many other major festivals. In July, he made a surprise appearance at Bibi’s One Live event at London’s Finsbury Park.
Meanwhile, Gunnersbury Park, which can hold up to 30,000 fans, has become something of a central hub for major British dance music events in recent years. Throughout summer 2024 alone, the park played host to the electronic-focused Waterworks Festival, a drum ‘n’ bass weekender (DnB Allstars), and headline gigs from Annie Mac and Fisher.
The reunion tour rolls on: Oasis have announced a trio of shows to take place in Asia next year, the latest gigs added to their Live ‘25 reunion tour. The Gallagher brothers will head to Seoul, South Korea on Oct. 21. for a show at the Goyang Stadium before heading to Tokyo, Japan for a […]
Linkin Park have made a triumphant return to the top of the ARIA Albums Chart with From Zero (via Warner Records and Machine Shop), their eighth studio album and the first release since 2017’s One More Light.
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Their latest milestone Down Under is especially poignant as it marks the debut of their new lineup, featuring Mike Shinoda, Brad Delson, Joe Hahn, Dave Farrell, Emily Armstrong, and Colin Brittain, following the heartbreaking loss of former frontman Chester Bennington in 2017.
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From Zero adds to Linkin Park’s storied ARIA legacy, with every studio album they’ve released landing in the top three. This new chart-topper joins the ranks of Hybrid Theory (2000), Minutes to Midnight (2007), and A Thousand Suns (2010), cementing their place as one of the most successful rock acts in ARIA history.
Australian rapper Illy also delivered a standout performance on the charts, landing at No. 4 with Good Life. As his seventh studio album, Good Life marks his fourth trip to the Top 10, following the successes of Cinematic (No. 4 in 2013), Two Degrees (No. 1 in 2016), and The Space Between (No. 1 in 2021).
On the international front, Shawn Mendes debuted at No. 24 with his fifth studio album, Shawn. The Canadian hitmaker, who previously claimed the No. 1 spot in 2018 with Shawn Mendes and reached No. 2 with 2020’s Wonder, remains a force to be reckoned with on the ARIA charts.
In a posthumous triumph, U.K. hip-hop icon MF Doom makes his first-ever ARIA Albums Chart appearance. The 20th-anniversary edition of his classic MM.. Food enters at No. 29, proving the late legend’s music continues to resonate with fans old and new.
On the ARIA Singles Chart, Gracie Abrams is ruling the airwaves, holding steady at No. 1 for a second week with her track That’s So True.
She joins the ranks of powerhouse female artists like Mariah Carey, Taylor Swift, and Billie Eilish who have dominated the top spot this year, with female artists claiming the No. 1 position for 25 weeks in 2024, including an unbroken streak of 16 weeks.
Gretta Ray made an unforgettable return to the stage during Missy Higgins’ ARIA Hall of Fame induction at the 2024 ARIA Awards.
The Melbourne-based singer-songwriter joined a powerhouse lineup including Amy Shark, Angie McMahon, G Flip, and Higgins herself for a moving performance of “Scar” amid Higgins’ induction into the ARIA Hall of Fame. The show marked Ray’s first performance in six months after recovering from a severe heart infection.
“This was my first moment back on stage in 6 months, and I cannot express how good it felt and how thankful I am,” the “Upgraded” singer wrote on Instagram. Reflecting on the experience, she called it a “dream come true” to share the stage with Higgins, one of her biggest musical inspirations. “Missy is such a giant part of what inspired me to pursue a career in music, and I am so lucky to have her to look up to and learn from.”
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The ARIA Awards marked the culmination of months of recovery, and Ray’s return to the spotlight was as much a personal triumph as a musical one. She went on to share a poignant memory of walking through Sydney city, listening to Higgins’ ARIA chart-topping album The Second Act.
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“Yesterday morning I walked around Hyde Park listening to the title track of her latest album on repeat, thinking about her lyrics but it’s intermission, life’s calling me back… How lucky am I to still feel so tightly held by her songs all these years later, and to sing them alongside her wtf !” she said, adding, “A dream come true.”
Earlier this year, Ray revealed her battle with infective endocarditis, a rare and severe heart infection that left her hospitalized in London for five weeks.
“I wanted to let you know that the sickness I am recovering from is a rare disease called infective endocarditis – a severe infection in the heart that for me, caused a multitude of distressing repercussions,” she explained in an Instagram post on July 30.
“It happened very suddenly and frighteningly, and as a result, took a moment to be diagnosed. Nonetheless I am so, so lucky that I caught it early, and landed in such a great hospital here in London that took amazing care of me. I was then transferred to a second hospital – one that is famous for dealing with this particular disease.”
The illness led to the cancellation of her remaining 2024 shows, including a showcase at BIGSOUND, as she focused on her recovery.
Ray documented the harrowing journey on social media, explaining the toll it took on her physically and emotionally. “I’m overwhelmed by the outpouring of love on my latest post, you are all so incredibly kind and it really means the world to me, thank you x,” Ray wrote in an update to fans in July.
“I wanted to clarify that luckily I’m not having to deal with this experience on my own – due to the seriousness of my condition my family are here in London taking care of me I am in good hands here in a really good hospital. Just taking it day by day. Lots of love.”
Ray’s career has been defined by her remarkable talent and early achievements. In 2016, she won Triple J Unearthed and the prestigious Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition, launching her into the national spotlight.
Her debut album, Begin to Look Around, was released in 2021 and earned nominations for an ARIA Award and a J Award, while her sophomore album, Positive Spin, followed in 2023, earned critical acclaim and a shortlist nod for the Australian Music Prize. The single “Heartbreak Baby” further cemented her reputation, receiving a nomination for Song of the Year at the 2024 APRA Music Awards.
The 2024 ARIA Awards delivered a night of unforgettable performances. The Pixies surprised audiences with a world TV exclusive of “Where Is My Mind,” Kane Brown performed alongside Troy Cassar-Daley with a stirring vocal cameo from Kasey Chambers, and Jessica Mauboy collaborated with 3% and Julian Hamilton of The Presets for a high-energy set featuring “Won’t Stop” and “Our People.” A
Ava Max brought the house down with a medley of hits, and emerging talents CYRIL, Becca Hatch, and Budjerah delivered a genre-bending showcase.
Missy Higgins’ induction into the ARIA Hall of Fame at the 2024 ARIA Awards was nothing short of a love letter to her iconic career and the profound influence she’s had on Australian music.
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Held at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion on Gadigal land on Nov. 20, the event honored Higgins’ two decades of chart-topping hits, emotional storytelling, and unwavering authenticity.
The night was capped by a powerhouse performance featuring Higgins alongside fellow powerhouse performers Amy Shark, Angie McMahon, Gretta Ray, and drum dynamo G Flip — who nabbed “Song of the Year” award for “The Worst Person Alive”. Together, they delivered a high-energy medley of Missy’s most beloved songs.
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In her emotional ARIA Hall of Fame Induction speech prior to the performance, Higgins said, “I really have to gather myself. What an incredible honour it is to accept this award and to stand up here tonight in front of all you guys, my music pals my music industry family. Some of you I’ve been touring alongside for over 23 years. And I feel so bloody fortunate to have shared this journey with you all.”
Higgins didn’t just reflect on her career but also made a powerful call to action for the Australian music industry, throwing her support behind homegrown artists.
“The young singer-songwriter just starting out won’t be as fortunate as me,” she explained. “We have to keep demanding local content here. We can’t lose Australian stories. We lose that, we lose who we are.”
Since her 2004 debut, The Sound of White, Higgins has been a force in Australian music. The album, which included unforgettable tracks like “Scar” and “The Special Two,” achieved 12-times platinum certification and spent seven non-consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the ARIA Albums Chart. Her follow-ups—On A Clear Night (2007) and The Ol’ Razzle Dazzle (2012)—also soared to No. 1.
Her latest record, The Second Act, released in September via EMI Australia, continued the streak, becoming her fourth album to top the ARIA Albums Chart.
In a candid interview with Rolling Stone AU/NZ discussing her first full-length release in six years in September, Higgins explained, “I generally take really big breaks in between albums and then when I come back, I’m immersed in the process. I’m very obsessed with it, and it becomes my entire life for a while. It’s like the ‘birth, death, rebirth’ circle. Going around and around.”
Missy also picked up the Best Australian Live Act award for her Second Act tour, which has sold over 100,000 tickets. Reflecting on the tour, she shared, “I was in tears at the beginning of this tour because I didn’t know how I was going to sing these songs every night,” adding that it turned out to be the “best bloody therapy.”
When news of her prestigious induction into the ARIA Hall of Fame was announced back in September, Higgins said, “I feel very honoured and grateful. So many artists I love and admire are in the ARIA Hall of Fame, so it feels a bit surreal to be joining them. This year has already been really special, now this is going to make it even more memorable.”
The 2024 ARIA Awards were packed with unforgettable performances. The Pixies shocked the audience with a surprise world TV exclusive of their classic “Where Is My Mind.” Down Under supporting Pearl Jam on tour, the ’90s alternative rock icons also recently announced their own Aussie tour, which will see them return to the country next year.
U.S. country star Kane Brown joined Troy Cassar-Daley onstage for a heartfelt duet, with a surprise vocal appearance by Australian music legend Kasey Chambers.
Jessica Mauboy lit up the stage, teaming with Best Hip Hop/Rap winners 3% and Julian Hamilton of The Presets for a stunning rendition of “Won’t Stop” and “Our People.” Rising stars CYRIL, Becca Hatch, and Budjerah delivered a genre-blurring performance that highlighted the future of Australian music, while Ava Max brought a high-energy medley of her hits, including “Sweet but Psycho,” “Kings & Queens,” and her new single collaboration “Forever Young” (ft. David Guetta and Alphaville).
Watch Missy Higgins and Friends perform at the 2024 ARIA Awards here.