State Champ Radio Music News
Page: 188
Newly crowned American Idol winner Jamal Roberts, a 27-year-old gym teacher from Meridian, Miss., debuts at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Gospel Songs chart (dated May 31) with “Heal.” He capped off his championship run on the ABC competition May 18 with a stirring rendition of the faith-based track, which was written by Tom O’Dell, who released his version in 2013.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Released May 18, Roberts’ “Heal” sold 9,000 downloads in the United States in the week ending May 22, according to Luminate. It tops Gospel Digital Song Sales, marking his initial No. 1; he previously hit No. 4 with “He’s Preparing Me” earlier in May. On the all-genre Digital Songs survey, “Heal” opens at No. 2, granting Roberts his first top 10 in his rookie appearance. The spiritual power ballad also drew 918,000 official U.S. streams in the tracking week.
Trending on Billboard
Meanwhile, Roberts is joined on Digital Song Sales by two fellow American Idol finalists: Breanna Nix with “Higher” (No. 4; 5,000 sold), and John Foster with “Tell That Angel I Love Her” (No. 6; 4,000 sold). They finished in third and second place, respectively, in the series’ latest season.
Notably, the three acts’ haul outpaces that of American Idol contestants from a year ago, when champion Abi Carter was the sole competitor to appear on the Digital Song Sales chart (dated June 1, 2024) following the finale, with “This Isn’t Over” (No. 23; 2,000 sold).
We Get an ‘Amen’
Pastor Mike Jr. adds his record-extending seventh straight career-opening leader on Gospel Airplay as “Amen” lifts 2-1. He co-authored the song with Adia Andrews, David Lamar Outing II and Terrell Anthony Pettus.
Pastor Mike Jr., from Birmingham, Ala., last led Gospel Airplay with “Windows” for a week in June 2024. Before that, he reigned as featured on Kierra Sheard’s “Miracles,” for a week in July 2023, and with his own “Impossible,” featuring James Fortune (two weeks, April 2023); “Amazing” (two weeks, May 2022); “I Got It” (four weeks, beginning in March 2021); and “Big Rock City” (10 weeks, beginning in February 2020).
In addition to owning the career-opening record run, Pastor Mike Jr. boasts the longest streak of Gospel Airplay No. 1s overall. Tasha Cobbs Leonard and Tamela Mann follow with active streaks of six consecutive chart-toppers. (Cobbs Leonard ranks at No. 7 on the latest list with “Do It Anyway,” a week after it reached No. 6.)
Additional reporting by Alex Vitoulis.
Former Mojo Music executive Alan Wallis has launched Dynamite Songs, a new publishing venture that boasts rights to songs performed by Ed Sheeran, Kendrick Lamar and Papa Roach, it was announced on Wednesday (May 28).
Described as a “specialist music publisher,” Dynamite Songs has acquired around 50 catalogs to date, including those of Ed Sheeran and Paolo Nutini songwriter Chris Leonard; Sly Jordan, whose songs have been performed by Lamar and Sean Kingston; Jim Sullivan of the English electronic music duo The Wideboys; Dan + Shay songwriter Danny Orton; and Papa Roach’s Anthony Esperance and Bruce Elliott-Smith.
With backing from Crestline Investors Inc., a Fort Worth, Texas-based investment manager with $16 billion in alternative credit assets under management that previously invested in Mojo, Wallis says Dynamite will focus on rights to enduring catalogs that are considered “smaller sized deals.”
Trending on Billboard
“The smaller end of the music rights market has been under-appreciated for too long,” said Wallis, who previously led the music transactions practice valuing catalogs at Ernst & Young LLP and will serve as Dynamic Songs’ CEO.
“Our experience with Mojo Music has shown that there are brilliant songwriters and catalogues to be found — you just need to know where to look. With one of the best teams and networks in the business behind us, we’re strongly placed to navigate this market segment, allowing us to support songwriters and honour their works and legacies,” Wallis said in a statement.
Started in 2018 by Wallis and two former Spirit Music Group principals, Mark Fried and Peter Shane, Mojo Music & Media grew to include some 40 catalogs and 30,000 songs before it was acquired by Concord in 2023 for an undisclosed amount. Mojo’s portfolio included portions of songs recorded by REO Speedwagon, KISS, Cheap Trick, Duran Duran and Earth Wind & Fire.
Wallis’s team includes former Mojo Music & Media executives Sophie Brown, who will serve as CFO/COO; Lisa Macy, who will serve as head of sync; and Tom Donovan, Dynamite’s head of business development. Dynamite’s investment manager is Naomi Riley, whil Peter Thomas, previously MD of Carlin Music, serves as chief catalogue officer.
Reservoir Media wrapped up earnings season on Wednesday (May 28) by announcing that its revenue rose 10% to $41.4 million in the fiscal fourth quarter ended March 31. Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), a popular measure of profitability, was $18.2 million, up 14%.
“The music industry has a longstanding ability to weather broader macroeconomic headwinds as consumers believe in the value that music brings to their daily lives,” CEO Golnar Khosrowshahi said during the earnings call. “Our top-line growth is a testament to the demand and resiliency of our catalog.”
Music publishing revenue grew 6% to $27.9 million in the quarter. Digital, publishing’s largest revenue stream, rose 5% to $13.6 million. Sync revenue jumped 51% to $5.5 million due primarily to the timing of licenses. Performance revenue dropped 13% to $6.5 million and mechanical royalties fell 6% to $1.2 million.
Trending on Billboard
Recorded music revenue improved 7% to $12.0 million. Digital revenue jumped 19% to $8.8 million due mainly to price increases and subscriber growth at subscription platforms. Direct affiliations with collection societies helped neighboring rights rise 15% to $1.1 million. Physical sales fell 26% to $1.3 million due to a lighter release schedule. Sync revenue fell 29% to $700,000 due to the timing of licenses.
Full-year revenue of $158.7 million beat the high end of the guidance range of $155 million to $158 million. Adjusted EBITDA of $65.7 million also topped the high end of the guidance range of $64.5 million.
“Reservoir had a standout fiscal year, capitalizing on our opportunities to boost our organic revenue,” said CFO Jim Hindlmeyer. “Thanks to our value enhancement team, the deals we closed this year were substantial and delivered notable value to the company, and profitability was further aided by our internal efforts to control costs.”
In a busy year for signings, Reservoir Media inked songwriting deals with Snoop Dogg and Death Row Records, k.d. lang, Travis Heidelman and Aaron Zuckerman, among others. It also acquired the publishing catalog of Lebo M, Lastrada Entertainment, Big D Evans and Billy Strange, and purchased the produce royalties of Jack Douglas (Aerosmith, Cheap Trick).
While Reservoir Media has a roster of Western songwriters and recording artists, the company also focuses on emerging markets. This month, Reservoir Media announced its PopIndia subsidiary acquired the publishing and master rights of Musicraft Entertainment, which spans decades of Indian music. Khosrowshahi described the growth rate of India’s music business as “pretty significant given both the size of the population and the opportunity for the number of people to become streamers of music.”
Guidance for fiscal 2026 is revenue of $164 million to $169 million, which at the midpoint would result in 5% annual growth. Adjusted EBITDA guidance of $68 million to $72 million represents 7% growth at the midpoint.
Reservoir Media shares fell as much as 8.4% Wednesday morning but recovered to $7.69, down 1.4%, by early afternoon. The share price jumped 7.9% on Tuesday (May 27) on heavier than average trading volume.
“Breakin’ speed records on roads that these n—-s paved,” Drake raps on Scorpion‘s “Emotionless.” The 6 God collected another impressive accolade on Wednesday (May 28) when the RIAA announced that Drizzy has earned his 10th Diamond certification, which is the most of any artist ever.
“Drake has the most RIAA Diamond Certifications of any artist, ever,” the RIAA wrote on social media with a graphic featuring all 10 of Drizzy’s Diamond plaques. “‘Hold On, We’re Going Home’ and ‘Best I Ever Had’ are now certified RIAA Diamond, bringing Drake to a total of 10 Diamond Certifications.”
Outside of classics such as Nothing Was the Same‘s “Hold On, We’re Going Home” or “Best I Ever Had,” the rest of Drizzy’s Diamond club includes “God’s Plan,” “One Dance,” “Hotline Bling,” Travis Scott’s “SICKO MODE,” “Life Is Good” with Future, Lil Wayne’s “Love Me” and Chris Brown’s “No Guidance.”
Trending on Billboard
There could be an 11th Diamond plaque on the way, as Drake will look to extend his record with Scorpion‘s “Nice for What,” which is currently at 9x Platinum.
Drake is the first artist to enter double-digit Diamond certifications across both singles and albums. The OVO rapper broke a tie with Garth Brooks, who has nine Diamond-certified albums, along with Post Malone, who also has nine Diamond certifications across an array of singles.
Fans hopped into the RIAA’s comment section to give Drake his flowers. “You just simply can’t say anything bad about this lol. N—-s staring greatness in the face,” one person wrote.
Another added a reference to Drake’s war with Kendrick Lamar: “Looks like the 20v1 didn’t work out!”
The hard work continues to pay off for Drizzy, who is enjoying another busy year. On the music side, he delivered his long-awaited $ome $exy $ongs 4 U joint album with PARTYNEXTDOOR in February. A pair of songs from the project (“Nokia” at No. 12 and “Somebody Loves Me” at No. 77) remain on the Billboard Hot 100.
Drake will heat up the summer when he hits the Wireless Festival stage to headline all three nights (July 11-13) at London’s Finsbury Park. He’s also promising the return of OVO Fest to Toronto.
Check out the RIAA’s announcement about Drake’s latest accomplishment below:
Months after photos of Victoria Monét getting cozy with Stormzy went viral, the “On My Mama” singer is reflecting on her romance with the rapper.
While hosting Monét on her Baby, This Is Keke Palmer podcast posted Tuesday (May 27), Keke Palmer first brought up the topic of Stormzy by recalling how the English-Ghanaian hip-hop star had been gushing hard about the singer-songwriter at the Met Gala earlier in May. “I said, ‘You know my girl, Victoria,’” Palmer said as Monét blushed. “He’s like, ‘Yeah, you know, she’s amazing.’”
“Yeah, he’s a really special guy,” replied Monét. “I have so much respect for him, and I got to learn more about him by dating him.”
The Grammy winner went on to say that she “fell deeply, so deeply,” for Stormzy before recalling how photos of the pair — which surfaced in October, less than a month after Monét announced her split from John Gaines — went viral before she and the rapper were even official. “We didn’t even get together yet,” Monét reflected.
Trending on Billboard
“The first time that you saw us in that viral picture, that was the first time of us really hanging out hard in his city, so I was like, ‘Oh my god, it’s everywhere before we’re even starting,’” she continued. “So that was interesting to navigate … We would have wanted to announce on our own time, when everything was official. But that was just the beginning.”
“We had a blast together, we had such a great time,” added Monét, before seeming to hint that she and the “Vossi Bop” artist have since called it quits. “I think there’s mutual respect there and support, no bad blood. Always love.”
Billboard has reached out to reps for Monét and Stormzy for comment.
Monét and Stormzy’s romance followed the former’s September statement confirming her separation from Gaines, with whom she shares 4-year-old daughter Hazel. Noting that they’d actually split 10 months prior to the announcement, the vocalist wrote at the time, “Though we still completely adore and respect each other, we are not a couple anymore.”
Stormzy also announced a breakup shortly before his relationship with Monét, revealing that he and TV host Maya Jama had split in July.
The interview comes about seven months after Monét dropped the deluxe edition of her breakthrough album Jaguar II, featuring collaborations with Usher and Thundercat. The LP originally reached No. 60 on the Billboard 200 in 2023 and won best R&B album at the 66th Grammy Awards.
In April, Monét teamed up with Davido for new track “Offa Me.” She is also gearing up to publish a children’s book titled Everywhere You Are, which arrives June 25.
Watch Monét discuss her relationship with Stormzy on Baby, This Is Keke Palmer above.
Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani both performed at Monday night’s 2025 American Music Awards. Shelton made his AMAs debut with a run through his patriotic anthem “Stay Country or Die Tryin’,” and then returned later to introduce a medley from his wife Stefani. The No Doubt singer and solo star opened with her recent country-tinged […]
SEVENTEEN is headed for some big changes, as most of the boy band’s 13 members are currently serving or gearing up to enlist in the South Korean military to fulfill their mandatory service to their country.
But that doesn’t mean the group mates have any plans of putting their musical evolution on pause. In a Hollywood Reporter profile published Wednesday (May 28), the members of the K-pop phenomenon revealed their game plan for the next couple of years as Jeonghan, Hoshi, Wonwoo, Woozi, Mingyu, DK, Seungkwan, Vernon and Dino complete their civic duties, from dropping solo music to reuniting stronger than ever at the end of their service. (Joshua, a U.S. citizen; The 8 and Jun, who are Chinese citizens; and S.Coups, who is exempt due to an ACL injury, are the only members who are not required to serve.)
“This is something that has been inevitable for us all along,” Hoshi told the publication of enlisting. “We have been prepared. We have a lot of projects that we have discussed with [Hybe] very thoroughly up until now.”
Trending on Billboard
First thing’s first: On Monday (May 26), SEVENTEEN dropped new album Happy Burstday, featuring a solo song performed by each member, in addition to three full-group tracks. The move to showcase their individual capabilities before enlisting was intentional, priming each bandmate for more opportunities to explore music even as everyone else in the group is pulled in different directions. It’s a strategy not unlike the one used by BTS over the past couple of years, with all seven of the “Dynamite” singers dropping solo music at different points during their own enlistments ahead of their upcoming post-military reunion this year.
“Up until now, we’ve mostly focused on our group promotions,” Hoshi continued. “We would like to show more of our individualities, each of the members’ personalities and capabilities, so that when the time comes and we get back together again as a group, we‘ll be able to showcase ourselves as a better SEVENTEEN.”
And while nine of the members carry out their service, group leader S.Coups said that he and the other three bandmates plan to “stick together and make something great to showcase to the fans” in the meantime.
“We understand that the fans are very sad that some of us are going to be away, but among ourselves, [we] don’t consider this to be a really huge deal because we know that we are going to stay together,” added Woozi. “We should consider this as quite a long preparation phase for the next album that’s going to be even better and greater.”
According to THR, the nine eligible bandmates must enlist in South Korea before they turn 30. Jeonghan and Wonwoo, who are 29 and 28, respectively, are already serving.
SEVENTEEN is also similar to BTS in that the former’s military shift will come right at the height of the group’s popularity. As announced by Billboard on Wednesday, the “Super” band is the top K-pop group and No. 3 overall on the midyear Boxscore charts, grossing $120.9 million and 842,000 tickets sold on tour in 2025.
The interview also follows a three-year run of six top 10 albums on the Billboard 200. But according to S.Coups, SEVENTEEN — even in spite of its upcoming challenges — is just getting started.
“We are ready to reinvent ourselves,” he told THR. “We are standing at a new starting line, preparing for a new path ahead and ready to blaze a new trail.”
Kings of Leon have pulled all of the band’s U.K. and European shows for the summer following Caleb Followill being involved in a “freak accident.”
The frontman announced the news on Wednesday (May 28) via an update posted across social media. Taking to Instagram, he shared that he underwent emergency surgery recently after breaking his foot.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
“Hello to everyone out there, especially our European fans who are coming to see us this summer,” the singer and guitarist began in his video message. “Unfortunately I regret to inform you that those shows will have to be cancelled due to a freak accident that happened the other day. I broke my foot pretty bad playing with my kids.
Trending on Billboard
“It’s pretty gnarly and I’ll spare all the details. But we’re fortunate enough to have some great doctors here in Nashville that gave me emergency surgery. I’m on the mend, but they told me that I can’t be on my feet, travelling, or anything for the next eight weeks or so. That’s a big bummer.”
Moreover, he added that the band was planning on previewing some unreleased material during the now-canceled gigs. Followill also reassured fans that he and his bandmates will continue trying to work on new music over the coming months.
“We were so excited, we’ve been preparing for this tour for a long time… We’ve been in the studio recording, we have a bunch of new songs, we were going to debut a few of them on this run,” Followill said. “We had a lot of exciting things planned and now we’re going to have to pivot and find a new way to continue the work that we’ve started.”He concluded: “I’m very excited for when we do get to show you the stuff we’re doing, and in the meantime we’re going to do whatever work we can while I have these limitations. Exciting stuff is coming, I know this isn’t the message anyone wants to hear. It’s certainly not the message I want to be sending, but it’s going to be all right. Hopefully, we will see you all soon.”
The Tennessee-formed four-piece were set to perform in Cardiff, Wales, and Lytham, England, this summer beginning on June 29. The former was a slot at the Blackweir Live series, and the latter was part of Lytham Festival, where acts including Justin Timberlake and Alanis Morissette are also set to appear.Other affected gigs included Southsea’s Victorious Festival, Mad Cool Festival in Madrid and Belgium’s Rock Werchter. Rescheduled dates are yet to be announced.In an official statement, the band also shared, “Kings of Leon are updating fans that Caleb Followill has recently sustained a serious injury, shattering his heel and requiring a significant emergency surgery, that will prevent him from traveling and performing.”
“The anticipated recovery process is expected to take eight weeks, under strict guidance of expert orthopaedic specialists,” it continued. “The band regrets to report that they will need to cancel all upcoming U.K. and European festival headline shows in June and July of this year. Caleb took to social media today to detail his injury in a heartfelt apology to all the fans.”The sibling act’s last full-length effort arrived in the form of 2023 LP Can We Please Have Fun. The record reached No. 35 on the Billboard 200 upon release, and hit No. 2 on the Official U.K. Albums Chart. The band is set to resume touring on July 18 when they support Zach Bryan at his show at the Metlife Stadium in New Jersey.
Watch Followill’s announcement about his injury below:
50 Cent trolled Diddy on Tuesday night (May 27) when he posted an image of himself on Instagram rocking a “Free Diddy” T-shirt while sitting courtside at game four between the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers.
The photo itself appears to be Photoshopped or AI-generated with a “Free Diddy” logo, as 50 posted a similar picture rocking a Balmain T-shirt at the game. “Bro this game is crazy,” he captioned the “Free Diddy” shirt photo.
Marshawn “Beast Mode” Lynch, Tony Yayo and Power actors Gianni Paolo and Kris Lofton had a laugh in the comments section, along with thousands of fans.
“Dis nigga too 2 too funni!!!! YesLawd,” Lynch, a former NFL star, wrote. A fan chimed in, “I want a t shirt of 50 cent wearing a free diddy t shirt.”
Another fan added, “50 already gettin started, wait till he finish that drink!”
Billboard has reached out to the rapper’s rep for comment.
50 has been relentless in his trolling of Diddy throughout the embattled Bad Boy mogul’s sex trafficking and racketeering trial, and it doesn’t appear he’ll be stopping anytime soon.
The G-Unit boss was actually name-dropped during Diddy’s trial on Tuesday when a former assistant of Combs’, Capricorn Clark, took the stand. Clark claimed that Diddy “had an issue with 50 Cent.” In typical 50 fashion, the Queens legend made light of the court situation. “Oh my goodness itty bitty Diddy wants me Dead, I have to lay low, I think I’m gonna hide out at the playoff game tonight. LOL,” he wrote to IG.
This also wasn’t the first time 50 has shared a photo of himself in a “Free Diddy” shirt. On May 20, the rapper posted an AI-generated image of himself in a black tee featuring the same message and wrote in part for the caption: “Free itty bitty Diddy! LOL 😆”
Diddy’s trial is heading into day 10, but is expected to last into July. Combs, who has pleaded not guilty, faces a potential sentence of life in prison if convicted on all charges.
Find more fan reactions to 50 Cent posting a photo of himself appearing to wear a “Free Diddy” shirt below.
50 Cent has nothing to worry about but he knows that Diddy has to worry. 50 Cent can troll guilt free.— James Griesbach (@JamesGriesbach) May 28, 2025
No wayyy, 50 Cent really came through with that “Free Diddy” tee? That’s straight-up drama 🔥👀— Luna West (@luna_west07) May 28, 2025
50 has always been peak troll— SusieSatire (@mr_mojorisin90) May 28, 2025
50 Cent’s jokes at Diddy have plateaued.— asare chase (@iStillChase) May 28, 2025
50 cent trolling a basketball game with Free Diddy shirt is hilarious, however don’t forget he is part the Diddy List.— Brix Black 💍🇺🇸🖤✝️🚺🎮♍️🪶🎶🎥🌿🧯🍉 (@AmericanRebel24) May 28, 2025
50 cent the biggest troll why this nigga got on a Free Diddy shirt😭😭— Lil Reese👺 (@reese_wackemm76) May 28, 2025
knicks lost cause 50 cent was out there with a free diddy shirt like the karmic rebound of that wouldn’t hit our team 30 fold— shine (@tiniestbrain) May 28, 2025
Ahead of the premiere of the new Apple TV+ animated special Lulu Is a Rhinoceros on Friday, Billboard Family has your exclusive first listen of the uplifting self-love anthem “The Perfect Me.”
The adorable ditty features Auli’i Cravahlo‘s Lulu, Dulé Hill’s Flom Flom and Utkarsh Ambudkar’s Hip-Hop celebrating their best and most authentic selves as they sing, “The perfect me is me/ The perfect you is you/ And when we listen to each other/ The whole world is more in tune, yeah!/ Who I am’s up to me/ Nothing I have to prove/ I’m easy to love, I’m good enough/ The perfect you is you!”
Coinciding with the premiere, Cravalho and creators Jason and Allison Flom shared exclusive statements with Billboard about the inspirational message that both kids and adults can take from “The Perfect Me.”
Trending on Billboard
“I adore Lulu for her enthusiastic spirit, and her innate wisdom of knowing exactly who she is,” the Moana star tells Billboard. “The song ‘The Perfect Me’ was a lot of fun to record; and while the message is simple, it felt meaningful to belt out! Others might say how you should look or act, but you are whole and complete without alI that outside noise. It’s honestly really catchy, and I definitely left the studio in a better mood that day.”
Meanwhile, the Floms — who penned the original children’s book together and serve as executive producers on the animated special — shared their own thoughts on the self-love anthem. “To write these lyrics, I started from, ‘The rhino of my dreams is me’ and ‘I am easy to love,’” Allison says. “In the song, Lulu, Flom-Flom and Hip-Hop each have a verse where they affirm: ‘Who I am is up to me/ Nothing I have to prove/ I’m easy to love/ I’m good enough…The perfect you is you!”
Jason adds: “Each of them reminds us that there’s much more to them than everyone else thinks and assumes. … We think everyone, not just kids, will connect to ‘The Perfect Me,’ and maybe they’ll get a boost of confidence every time they hear it.”
Once Lulu Is a Rhinoceros arrives on Apple TV+ on Friday, the special’s soundtrack will be available on Apple Music and other streaming platforms as well.
Pop songwriter LELAND serves as the special’s musical producer, and he tells Billboard: “Finding the right melodies and chords to pair with the brilliant lyrics written by Allison Flom was a challenge I welcomed. I aimed to compose melodies that felt conclusive, exciting, and easy enough for a child to sing after just a few listens. I remembered the songs I loved as a kid in my favorite musical specials or movies and how they’ve stuck with me to this day. The message of ‘The Perfect Me’ is simple and important and something we should all be reminded of whether we’re kids or adults.”
Watch the exclusive premiere of “The Perfect Me” from Lulu Is a Rhinoceros below.
