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J-Hope Receives a Gift From Luka Dončić, Selena Gomez & Benny’s Date Night, More | Billboard News

April 10, 2025

J-hope got to hang court side at a Lakers game in L.A. and receive a gift from Luka Dončić, while Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco had a courtside date night on the East Coast at the Knicks and Celtics game. Keep watching for all the latest news from music and sports! What do you think of […]

Howard Jones, ’80s Synth-Pop Pioneer, Is Still Innovating on New Album

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April 10, 2025

Now in his fifth decade of making music, synth-pop pioneer Howard Jones is just as enamored with innovative technologies as he was in the early ‘80s.
For one of the two versions of his upcoming album, Piano Composed, Jones used a Steinway Spirio, a state-of-the-art player piano that captures mechanical data and allowed him to edit the performance on an iPad. Piano Composed will be released May 23 on Cherry Red Records, which owns Jones’ five albums that were originally released through Elektra Records. The limited-edition vinyl version, Piano Composed Ivory, contains the original compositions performed on his Steinway D piano during the COVID-19 lockdown. The CD version, Piano Composed Spirio, has the same tracks in an alternate sequence and reimagined using the Spirio. Both versions provide the buyer with playable notion for five of the pieces.

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“It’s the most incredible instrument,” Jones tells Billboard’s Behind the Setlist. The Spirio allowed him to combine his classical training — Piano Composed is his third piano-based album — with his proficiency with technology and computers.

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“For example, on a piano, you can do a glissando, where you will go down all the white keys, or maybe all the black keys,” he explains. “But to actually get a chromatic glissando, it’s almost impossible to do physically. But with programming [on the Spirio], I could achieve that.

“So I was thinking, ‘Oh, I can actually ask the piano to do things that you can’t actually physically play,’ which really excited me,” he continues. “And so I used it to do extra octaves, to double lines, to bring out central lines that were hidden within the chords.”

Jones’ affinity for innovative musical instruments goes back to his use of synthesizers and drum machines. Although a classically trained musician, Jones was part of a wave of artists who could create music in a bedroom without spending years learning how to play an instrument.

The then-radical synthesizer was the foundation his best-known songs. His 1983 album, Human Lib, reached No. 1 in the U.K. and No. 59 in the U.S., and spawned the hit songs “New Song” and “What Is Love.” His 1985 album Dream Into Action sent the song “Things Can Only Get Better” to No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. “No One Is to Blame,” featuring Phil Collins on drums, reached No. 4 on the Hot 100 in 1986.

After Piano Composed, Jones says he plans to record another album (titled Global Citizen), play dates in the U.K. and Europe, and add new visual elements to the live shows. “So it’s just more of the same for me, really, but with the idea that it always is moving forward and progressing,” Jones says. “That’s so important to me. Never stand still. Don’t become a museum piece.”

To listen to the entire interview with Jones and hear his thoughts on his Buddhist practices, young musicians’ mental health challenges and his concert setlist, use the embedded Spotify player below, or go to Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, iHeart, Podbean or Everand.

Karol G, J Balvin, Feid & More Violated Children’s Rights in ‘+57’ Lyrics, Rules Colombian Court | Billboard News

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April 9, 2025

A Colombian court has ruled that Karol G, J Balvin, Maluma, Feid, Blessd, Ryan Castro and DFZM violated children’s rights in their song “+57.” Keep watching for the full story. What do you think of the court’s ruling? Let us know in the comments below. Tetris Kelly: A Colombian high court has ruled a song […]

A Brand New Day With Greeicy | Billboard x Lysol

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April 9, 2025

This is partner content. Latin superstar Greeicy gives Billboard a glimpse into her life after a long string of shows and tells us how she gets the house ready to host friends and family by using Lysol’s latest line of Lavender & Cotton Blossom scented Brand New Day products. Greeicy:Hey, guys! Welcome! I just got […]

Behind the Scenes at Dreamville Fest 2025: Exclusive Portraits of Some of This Year’s Performers

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April 9, 2025

J. Cole’s Dreamville Festival returned to Raleigh, North Carolina, for its fifth — and final, at least as we currently know it — edition under the Dreamville banner on April 5-6. Held at Dorothea Dix Park, the sold-out festival drew over 50,000 fans who braved the scorching heat to experience two days of hip-hop, R&B, and unforgettable moments. (See some of our favorite moments from the memorable festival weekend here.)

From the larger-than-life photo opportunities to the diverse food vendors and the exclusive pop-ups, Dreamville Fest 2025 was more than just a music event — it was a full-fledged cultural experience. The lineup featured legends and rising stars alike, with Lil Wayne (alongside Hot Boys and Big Tymers), 21 Savage, and Ari Lennox performing Saturday (April 5), while Coco Jones, GloRilla, Wale and J. Cole took over Sunday (April 6). Additional performers included Tems, PartyNextDoor, Erykah Badu, Ludacris, Keyshia Cole, BigXThaPlug, J.I.D, Ab-Soul, Lute, Chief Keef, Omen, Young Nudy, Anycia, EARTHGANG, Bas, Cozz, Akia and Kai Ca$h & Niko Brim.

While Dreamville Festival as we know it has come to an end, a similar event will continue under the direction of the city of Raleigh. J. Cole made sure to give fans a proper send-off, running through classics from his discography like “No Role Modelz,” “Can’t Get Enough,” “Lights Please,” and “Lost Ones.” As fireworks lit up the sky for the final time, he closed his set — and Dreamville Fest —with “Farewell.”

Billboard captured exclusive behind-the-scenes moments with some of this year’s performers, shot on the Leica Q3. See intimate portraits of Dreamville stars Coco Jones, Wale, Ab-Soul, Lute, Chief Keef, Omen, EARTHGANG and Cozz below.

Coco Jones

Image Credit: Chris Claxton

Ye’s Controversial Outfit on DJ Akademiks Interview, Bianca Censori Split & More | Billboard News

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April 8, 2025

Ye recently joined DJ Akademiks for an interview, where his controversial outfit sparked an online debate. Billboard staffers dive into his outfit choice, his commentary on Kim Kardashian, Kendrick Lamar, and Drake, as well as his recent split from Bianca Censori. Keep watching to learn more about the discussion.

What do you think of Ye’s interview with DJ Akademiks? Let us know in the comments below.

Stefanie Tanaka:

He just wants attention. I mean, he’s been kind of saying ridiculous sh*t, like, for like, over 10 years now.

Tetris Kelly:

We’re talking all things Ye, from his new breakup to his controversial wardrobe and his feelings on the Drake and Kendrick Lamar beef.

Jerah Milligan:

Y’all Kanye got on the KKK outfit.

Tetris Kelly:

Dude and of course, he’s doing it talking to Akademiks, of all people.

Jerah Milligan:

This is my thing. It’s like, I like Kanye. His music is great.

Tetris Kelly:

Was.

Stefanie Tanaka:

Let’s say was.

Jerah Milligan:

He’s a legend. Some of his music I still love, but this KKK, first off where do you get this? Like what do you-

Stefanie Tanaka:

You don’t think he just made that? Like it’s a sheet.

Tetris Kelly:

You could Google black KKK.

Stefanie Tanaka:

No, you don’t just think he put a black sheet over his head and cut like two eye sockets out of it.

Jerah Milligan:

It’s pointed.It’s like he put a cone on top of his head.

Judy Sanchez:

This is Kanye being Kanye. He’s completely on brand.

Stefanie Tanaka:

He’s a fashion designer, right?

Judy Sanchez:

Exactly.

Stefanie Tanaka:

He has Yeezy, he could have made it.

Jerah Milligan:

If I ever went to someone’s house and they were at a sewing machine just making a KKK costume, an exclusive all black one-

Stefanie Tanaka:

You think Kanye West was sitting at a sewing machine making this?

Keep watching for more.

Ed Sheeran & Jimmy Fallon Go Incognito in the NYC Subway for ‘Tonight Show’ Busking: Photos

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April 8, 2025

One of Jimmy Fallon’s most popular segments on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon is his subway busking bit, where he and a superstar go incognito down in the New York City subway stations to perform songs.A number of celebrities have taken part in the series, including Miley Cyrus, Green Day, Bad Bunny, U2, Maroon 5 and more. Ed Sheeran is the latest to join the fun, rocking early-2000s emo outfits with the talk show host, complete with straight black wigs, hoodies and sunglasses.
Eventually, the gig was up and Sheeran performed hits as himself for the lucky fans who happened to walk by.
The subway busking comes following the release of his new single, “Azizam.” Sheeran explained to Fallon during an interview last week that the title of his new song translates into “my dear” in Farsi, inspired by the song’s Persian producer, Illya Salmanzadeh. “We were creating a lot of music and he suggested we create something within the Persian culture,” said Sheeran, who noted that they’ve done a full version in Farsi as well. The song recently got its live debut at a pop-up show in New Orleans, where Sheeran was joined by the second-line Soul Rebels brass band.
Sheeran also confirmed that his upcoming album is called Play and that after his Mathematics album series, which included five studio records — + (2011), x (2014), ÷ (2017), = (2021) and – (2023) — his next run is based on an idea he had when he was 18. Back then, the now-34-year-old singer cooked up a 10-album plan, starting with maths, and followed by Play, Pause, Rewind, Fast-Forward and Stop.
To celebrate Sheeran’s new album era, check out some exclusive photos of his subway busking segment with Fallon below, and watch the full episode on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, which airs on NBC weeknights at 11:35 p.m. ET before it streams the next day on Peacock.