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MGK‘s “Cliché” tops this week’s new music poll.
In a poll published Friday (May 23) on Billboard, music fans chose the rocker’s latest single as their favorite new release of the past week.
“Cliché” brought in 38% of the vote, edging out fresh offerings from a range of artists, including Joe Jonas (Music For People Who Believe in Love), Burna Boy featuring Travis Scott (“TaTaTa”), Karol G (“Latina Foreva”) and Alex Warren with Jelly Roll (“Bloodline”), among others.
The melodic new track marks MGK’s fourth single of 2025, following “Your Name Forever,” “Come Pick Me Up” and his recent cover of the Goo Goo Dolls’ “Iris,” featuring Julia Wolf.
Shortly after “Cliché” dropped on Friday, the artist formerly known as Machine Gun Kelly shared a video on Instagram of his elated reaction to landing the cover of Spotify’s New Music Friday playlist.
“For the first time in my career…CLICHÉ!!” he captioned the post, adding a teary-eyed emoji and prayer hands while tagging Spotify and Spotify for Artists. In the video, MGK excitedly FaceTimes his 15-year-old daughter, Casie Colson Baker. “Princess, I’m hyped right now! … Your sister’s asleep so I can’t scream, but I wanna scream so loud,” he said.
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Coming in a close second in the poll was Joe Jonas’ Music For People Who Believe in Love, which received nearly 33% of the vote. The 14-track project is Jonas’ first solo album since 2011 and features collaborations with his younger brother Frankie Jonas, Sierra Ferrell, Louane, Tiny Habits, Luísa Sonza, and more.
Speaking to Billboard in April, Jonas shared the personal nature of the album. “The music I’ve been making felt really personal,” the Jonas Brothers member said. “And I selfishly didn’t want to share it with other people. This needed to come from my voice in particular.”
Check out the full results of this week’s poll below and visit Billboard’s Friday Music Guide for more must-hear releases.
Britney Spears is speaking out after making headlines for lighting a cigarette during a recent flight. On Thursday (May 22), the 43-year-old pop star lit a cigarette aboard a JSX public charter flight and was asked to extinguish it by a flight attendant, according to People. Smoking on airplanes is a violation of federal aviation […]
Morgan Wallen’s latest studio effort, I’m the Problem, debuts atop the Billboard 200 chart (dated May 31) with the year’s biggest week for any album — 493,000 equivalent album units earned in the United States in the week ending May 22, according to Luminate. It also easily lands the largest streaming week for any album in 2025.
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It’s the third No. 1 for Wallen on the Billboard 200, following 2023’s One Thing at a Time (19 nonconsecutive weeks at No. 1) and 2021’s Dangerous: The Double Album (10 weeks at No. 1, all consecutive). The latter two titles both debuted at No. 1 and have never left the weekly top 50 of the chart. On the latest chart, One Thing at a Time is a non-mover at No. 4 (making Wallen the only act with two concurrent albums in the weekly top five in 2025), while Dangerous shifts 11-12.
I’m the Problem was officially announced in mid-March, and was preceded by eight charting songs on the Billboard Hot 100 over the past 10 months, all of which reached the top 20 of the ranking, including six top 10s (the most top 10s ever from an album prior to its release). Among them were the No. 1 “Love Somebody,” which debuted atop the list last November, and the album’s title track (No. 2 in February).
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Also in the latest Billboard 200 top 10, Jin notches his highest-charting effort as Echo launches at No. 3. The BTS member previously hit the top 10 as a soloist with Happy (No. 4) in 2024.
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 May 31, 2025-dated chart will be posted in full on Billboard‘s website on May 28, one day later than usual due to the Memorial Day holiday in the U.S. on May 26. For all chart news, follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both X, formerly known as Twitter, and Instagram.
Of I’m the Problem’s 493,000 first-week equivalent album units, SEA units comprise 357,000 (equaling 462.63 million on-demand official streams of the set’s 37 tracks; it debuts at No. 1 on Top Streaming Albums), album sales comprise 133,000 (it debuts at No. 1 on Top Album Sales) and TEA units comprise 3,000.
I’m the Problem is the fifth No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in 2025, of 14 total, to also simultaneously be No. 1 on both Top Album Sales and Top Streaming Albums, following Sleep Token’s Even in Arcadia (May 24), Lady Gaga’s MAYHEM (March 22), Kendrick Lamar’s GNX (Feb. 22) and The Weeknd’s Hurry Up Tomorrow (Feb. 15).
I’m the Problem captures 2025’s biggest week by equivalent album units earned. The last bigger week was the opening frame of Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department over a year ago. It bowed at No. 1 with 2.61 million units on the May 4, 2024-dated chart.
With 357,000 SEA units equaling 462.63 million on-demand official streams of I’m the Problem’s 37 tracks, the set logs the largest streaming week of 2025 for any album, and the biggest since The Tortured Poets Department’s first week, which snared 891.37 million. I’m the Problem also tallies the second-biggest streaming week ever for any country album, trailing only the opening week of Wallen’s last album, One Thing at a Time, which bowed with 498.28 million clicks.
Meanwhile, with 133,000 copies sold in its first week, I’m the Problem captures Wallen’s biggest sales week ever, the biggest sales week for any country album in 2025 and the fourth-largest sales frame in 2025 among all albums. The last country set to post a bigger sales week was Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter, when it debuted with 168,000 sold (April 13, 2024-dated chart). I’m the Problem’s sales were helped by its availability on vinyl in its first week. Wallen’s last album, One Thing at a Time, didn’t get its vinyl release until its fourth week on sale.
During its first week, I’m the Problem was available to purchase across five vinyl variants (standard black vinyl, a “first pressing” black vinyl, bone white-colored, coke bottle clear-colored [all exclusively sold in Wallen’s webstore] and a Target-exclusive opaque brown-color edition with a collectible insert), four CD variants (standard, a deluxe boxed set containing a branded T-shirt, a signed CD and a Target-exclusive edition with a collectible insert) and a standard digital download. All variations of the album had the same 37 tracks. All told, of I’m the Problem’s first-week sales, digital downloads comprise 51,000, vinyl comprise 48,000 (Wallen’s best week on vinyl ever, and the largest week for a country album in 2025) and CDs comprise 34,000.
SZA’s chart-topping SOS rises one spot to No. 2 on the latest Billboard 200, earning 47,000 equivalent album units — down 8%.
Jin nabs his highest-charting effort on the Billboard 200 as Echo arrives at No. 3. It’s the second charting solo set for the BTS member, who previously hit the chart with the No. 4-peaking Happy in November 2024.
Echo debuts with 43,000 equivalent album units earned. Of that sum, album sales comprise 35,000 (it debuts at No. 2 on Top Album Sales), SEA units comprise 6,000 (equaling 8.92 million of the album’s tracks) and TEA units comprise 2,000. Echo’s first-week sales were bolstered by its availability across 13 CD variants (all have the standard seven-song tracklist and contain collectible branded paper ephemera) and five download album variants (a standard wide version, a version exclusive to Jin’s webstore containing a bonus voice memo track and three widely available deluxe editions each containing two different remixes of the album’s “Don’t Say You Love Me”).
Nos. 4-9 on the new Billboard 200 are all former No. 1s. Wallen’s One Thing at a Time is steady at No. 4 (42,000 equivalent album units; down 13%); Kendrick Lamar’s GNX rises 7-5 (41,000; down 5%); Sleep Token’s Even in Arcadia falls 1-6 in its second week (38,000; down 70%); Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet steps 8-7 (just over 37,000; down 6%); PARTYNEXTDOOR and Drake’s $ome $exy $ongs 4 U drops 5-8 (37,000; down 21%); and Bad Bunny’s Debí Tirar Más Fotos climbs 10-9 (nearly 37,000; down 3%).
Fuerza Regida’s 111XPANTIA closes out the top 10, falling 6-10 with 32,000 equivalent album units earned (down 26%).
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.
OVO Fest will be back in summer 2025. Drake made the announcement while making a surprise guest appearance at Central Cee‘s concert in Toronto Saturday (May 24) at History. “I’ll see you this summer, by the way” Drake said to the crowd, while congratulating the British rapper on his success. “OVO Fest will be back […]
Christie Brinkley is showing her support for ex-husband Billy Joel following news of his recent health diagnosis.
On Saturday (May 24), the 71-year-old model took to social media to share a heartfelt tribute to Joel, 76, just one day after he revealed he had been diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), a type of brain disorder.
“Dear Billy, the whole Brinkley gang is sending you lots of love and good wishes for a full and speedy recovery,” Brinkley wrote on Instagram. Her message was accompanied by video clips of herself and daughter Sailor Brinkley Cook — whose father is Peter Cook — attending one of Joel’s past concerts.
“I was looking for some cute photos of you and Alexa to send you, when I came across this clip from a recent concert,” she continued. “It made me laugh … but it also reminded me of all the joy you create, and all the sensational sing a longs you’ve lead… You turn an arena of strangers into a living room full of friends as we all sway in unison.”
Brinkley closed her message with an emotional note of encouragement.
“I’m sure I’m speaking for everyone in that room when I say please take good care of yourself, we all want you back in that white hot spotlight, you’re OUR piano man,” she wrote. “And we’re always in the mood for your melodies And we all hope you’re feeling alright! We Love You, the kids, me and an arena or two!”
Brinkley and Joel married in 1985 and welcomed daughter Alexa Ray Joel that same year. The couple divorced in 1994 after nearly a decade together.
Just last month, Brinkley was spotted in the audience at Joel’s concert at New York’s Madison Square Garden, smiling and dancing along to his 1983 hit “Uptown Girl” — a song he famously wrote with Brinkley in mind. In his 2014 biography Billy Joel: The Definitive Biography, the iconic musician revealed that the track was initially inspired by the models of Manhattan, but he changed the title from plural to singular after beginning his relationship with Brinkley.
Earlier this week, Joel announced he would be canceling all upcoming shows due to complications from NPH.
“This condition has been exacerbated by recent concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision and balance,” he said in a statement. “Under his doctor’s instructions, Billy is undergoing specific physical therapy and has been advised to refrain from performing during this recovery period. Billy is thankful for the excellent care he is receiving and is fully committed to prioritizing his health.”
The cancellations include several scheduled appearances throughout summer and fall 2025, as well as early 2026, including joint shows with Sting, Rod Stewart, and Stevie Nicks.
When Shakira announced the stadium tour dates for her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran trek, Chicago was not part of the list, leaving fans wondering why the Windy City was left out. Soon after, it was unveiled that she’d headline Sueños Festival and on Saturday (May 24), the Colombian star closed out day one of the two-day event in Chicago’s Grant Park.
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What was originally billed as a two-hour performance starting at 8 p.m., Shakira went onstage closer to 8:30 p.m. and played a 90-minute set. The crowd — which had quickly dispersed after Peso Pluma’s set — slowly returned to find a good spot to watch Shakira and the empty spots filled up, especially when the main stage lights were turned on.
Shakira’s crowd was multigenerational, which is noteworthy given that Sueños caters to a younger, perhaps Gen Z-leaning crowd. Many women in attendance paid homage to Shakira, wearing her signature belly-dancing hip belts. And Colombians proudly waved their flags, eager to hear La Loba howl.
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“I was really looking forward to being with you tonight,” a beaming Shakira said, speaking in a mix of English and Spanish. “This is incredible. This city, wow I’m in love with this city, it’s so beautiful. Thank you for making me feel at home. There is definitely no better reunion than a she-wolf with her pack. Chicago, tonight, we are one.”
While it’s hard to replicate a stadium tour stage in a festival setting, it’s safe to say Shakira gifted Chicago fans an unforgettable night. Going from wearing a shimmery white jumpsuit and large black sunglasses to a sparkly pink dress in a blink of an eye, the “Pies Descalzos” singer, backed by a troupe of fierce dancers, kicked off with bangers, including “Girl Like Me,” “Las de la Intuición,” “Estoy Aquí,” “Inevitable,” “Te Felicito,” “TQG” and “Don’t Bother.”
“These last few years have not been easy for me, nobody is saved from falls. But if I have learned anything, it’s that the fall is not the end but the beginning of a higher flight. We, women, get up a little stronger, a little more wiser, every time we fall,” Shakira said, a nod to the empowering theme of her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran era, inspired by the healing that comes from a heartbreak.
During her 90-minute set, Shakira’s hypnotizing dance moves and choreography were on full display, including her unmatched belly-dancing in “Ojos Asi” and the champeta and calypso footwork during “Waka Waka.” But a fan favorite moment was when Shakira revisited her rockera roots, singing “Pies Descalzos, Sueños Blancos” and “Antología.”
Of course, she closed with the global hit “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53,” which had all the women in attendance singing at the top of their lungs, ending an epic reunion between a she-wolf and her pack.
Sueños continues on Sunday (May 25) with Grupo Frontera and Don Omar as headliners. Meanwhile, Shakira’s Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran is set to visit Boston, Atlanta, Miami and Los Angeles next.
Sueños fans waited one year for Peso Pluma to headline the Latin music festival in Chicago’s Grant Park after his set was canceled by festival organizers last year over thunderstorms.
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“It’s good to be in Chicago,” Peso told attendees at the top of his one-hour-and-15-minute set on Saturday (May 24). “Remember last time we got rained out? Well, no rain can stop me this time.”
The significant crowd that gathered to see him perform at the event’s main stage roared, crowding the stage area to be closer to Peso.
Although the air was crisp and unseasonably cold temperatures had festival-goers rethinking their summery wardrobe choices, it did not rain. This time, mother nature was on Peso’s side. And so he went on to sing his biggest hits, including “AMG,” “Rubicón,” “Nueva Vida,” “La Patrulla,” “Rompe La Dompe” and “Lady Gaga,” to name a few on his Sueños setlist.
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Dressed casually in jeans, a black T-shirt with a black puffer jacket over it and a black and white Chicago White Sox baseball cap (which he later traded for a beige one), Peso was accompanied by his band composed of nearly 10 musicians — giving life to signature sound powered by instruments like charchetas, trombones and trumpets and following Peso’s lead.
“They are my family,” Peso gushed about his band. “Over the past three years, we’ve grown this project together.”
A handful of artists joined him onstage as special guests, including Oscar Maydon and El Alfa — both who had performed earlier in the day — and labelmates Tito Double P and Jasiel Nuñez. Throughout his show, Peso expressed his Mexican pride and wrapped a Mexican flag at the end of his set saying, “Viva la cultura mexicana!”
And, although he didn’t address head on the bans on narcocorridos in Mexico and the U.S., and how they’ve impacted a few of his fellow regional Mexican hitmakers, Peso made note during his set that he’s focusing on romantic corridos.
According to Sueños’ website, as of Saturday, about 95% of the passes to the event were sold, although actual daily attendance figures were not made readily available by festival organizers. Now in its fourth edition, day one of Sueños featured other acts like NSQK, El Malilla, Dei V, Oscar Maydon, El Alfa and Arcángel. Shakira closed out Saturday with a 90-minute set.
Don Omar and Grupo Frontera will headline day two of Sueños on Sunday (May 25).
Laura Segura, executive director of MusiCares, has departed the organization after five years as executive director, according to an email sent to staff by Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy and MusiCares.
The memo announced a “key leadership transition” heading into Memorial Day weekend, revealing that Segura is “no longer with MusiCares” — and that Theresa Wolters, who’s been serving as MusiCares’ head of health and human services, “is stepping into the role of interim executive director.”
No reason or details regarding Segura’s departure were given. Billboard reached out to the Recording Academy and MusiCares on Saturday (May 24) for comment.
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The leadership and staff directory on MusiCares’ website no longer includes Segura’s name and lists Wolters as interim executive director.
Segura was named executive director at MusiCares in 2020, after serving as vp of membership and industry relations at the Recording Academy.
She was honored at Billboard‘s Women in Music, which recognizes top executives in the industry, in both 2022 and 2023.
Segura and Wolters, who is now MusiCares’ interim executive director, co-penned a guest column for Billboard, “Health Insurance Isn’t Enough — Music Also Needs a Financial Safety Net,” published in March.
MusiCares, founded by the Recording Academy in 1989, provides a safety net of critical health and welfare services to the music community. The U.S. based, independent 501(c)(3) charity offers financial grant programs, support resources and crisis relief.
Earlier this month, MusiCares reported that nearly $10 million raised for Los Angeles wildfire relief efforts during the 2025 Grammy Awards was distributed to recipients across the region. As of May 2, $6,125,000 was disbursed to more than 3,100 music professionals across L.A, and $3,969,005 had been directed to the community-based organizations California Community Foundation, Direct Relief and Pasadena Community Foundation.
An additional $16 million was raised by MusiCares and the Recording Academy during Grammy weekend with the MusiCares Fire Relief campaign and its annual Persons of the Year gala. $6 million of that amount was allocated to longterm fire relief efforts, and $10 million will go toward the organization’s year-round mission delivery.
“What moved us most in the days following the Grammy telecast wasn’t just the scale of support, it was the spirit behind it, Segura said in a statement on May 2. “Thousands of people gave what they could, and together, their generosity became a lifeline for those in crisis, which reached far beyond our industry. That’s why we partnered with trusted community organizations who are helping Angelenos across the region access the care, resources and support they need to rebuild.”
Sophie Turner seems to be streaming her ex’s new album. The actress posted Joe Jonas‘ Music for People Who Believe in Love on Saturday (May 24) in an Instagram Story, where she also shared a note of support for his latest solo release.
“Go go @joejonas,” Turner wrote on the post, which showed an image of the album on Spotify and tagged her ex-husband’s Instagram profile.
Her reaction to Music for People Who Believe in Love‘s release comes after the former couple — who co-parent their two children, four-year-old Willa and two-year-old Delphine — finalized their divorce in September 2024. Jonas, who outside of his solo endeavors is one third of the Jonas Brothers, met Turner in 2016. They were wed in 2019.
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Though Jonas and Turner initially had a disagreement over custody, they voluntarily entered into a confidential parenting plan and separation agreement that was in the best interest of the family, a judge declared on final judgement paperwork for the divorce, dated Sept. 6, 2024.
“After four wonderful years of marriage we have mutually decided to amicably end our marriage,” they said in a joint statement that first announced their split in 2023. “There are many speculative narratives as to why but, truly this is a united decision and we sincerely hope that everyone can respect our wishes for privacy for us and our children.”
Turner later said the breakup “was incredibly sad.” “We had a beautiful relationship, and it was hard,” she told Harper’s Bazaar.
Music for People Who Believe in Love was released on Friday (May 23) via Republic Records. The set is Jonas’ second studio album as a solo artist, following 2011’s Fastlife, and features the singles “Work It Out,” “What This Could Be” and “Heart By Heart.”
Working on the personal project “was scary at times, and also freeing,” Jonas told Billboard last summer. “I’m not trying to come for anyone on this album. I’m not trying to put stuff on blast. I have a beautiful life that I’m grateful for. I’ve got two beautiful kids. I’m a happy person, and the music needed to resemble that — but also, the journey to get here.”
Billboard has learned the identities of all six individuals killed in a fiery jet crash early Thursday morning (May 22) in San Diego, California.
The victims of the crash include Kendall Fortner, Emma Lynn Huke, Dominic Damian and Celina Kenyon. Billboard previously reported that talent agent and the flight’s pilot, Dave Shapiro, and Daniel Williams, former drummer with metal band The Devil Wears Prada, were among those who perished in the crash early Saturday morning just two miles south of an executive airport in San Diego. The crash caused a massive fire as it tore through the residential enclave, damaging homes, melting vehicles and causing panic in the coastal suburb where residents were shocked but, thankfully, uninjured from the violent crash that killed all six passengers.
Fortner, 24, had interned at Sound Talent Group while a student at San Diego State University, joining the company after graduating in 2021 with a degree in business. Fortner was born in Glendale, California, and raised in Santa Clarita, attending West Ranch High School.
Kendall Fortner
The Fortner Family
“Ever since Kendall’s father took her to concerts at a young age, she was hooked on music,” a letter from Sound Talent Group reads. “From 1950s doo-wop to classic rock, Green Day to Ed Sheeran, Kendall loved it all. She taught herself to play a variety of instruments, including piano and guitar.”
Fortner had expressed interest in working in the music business as a teenager, “and the job at STG was a perfect fit that showcased her work ethic and ability to plan tours and festivals nationwide,” the letter continued. “Fiercely independent and strong-willed, Kendall was the life of the party and lit up any room she entered.”
Fortner is survived by her parents Gary and Kristin, her brother Justin and his wife Hannah and their son, Theo, and her brother Jordan and his wife Kailey.
Huke, 25, was born and raised in Orange County, California, and attended Santa Margarita Catholic High School, where she was part of a national championship-winning dance team.
Emma Huke
The Huke Family
“After graduating from the University of Oregon in 2022 with a degree in journalism, Emma completed several internships in the music industry before joining Sound Talent Group in 2024 as a booking associate,” according to STG.
“There was nothing Emma loved more than live music. She worked hard to save up money so she could travel to concerts and festivals. And while she loved all genres of music, her favorite artists to see live were Taylor Swift and The 1975,” the letter read. “Emma also brought that passion for live music to her work. She was smart and organized, helping STG plan and promote their biggest tours. Clients and friends called Emma a force of nature, and she was a beautiful soul who brought joy and a light to everyone in her presence.”
Huke is survived by her parents, Tim and Allison, and her younger sibling, Ellis.
Damian was a personal friend of Shapiro and worked as a senior software engineer, according to his LinkedIn page.
Damian held a black belt in Brazilian Jui-Jitsu who trained at Baret Yoshida’s gym in San Diego, where Damian lived. The gym is honoring Damian on Monday (Mat 26) in a special event.
“Dom was intelligent, thoughtful and had amazing jiu jitsu. A really kind guy who will be missed,” one online poster wrote.
Kenyon, 36, was a professional photographer who had joined the group to take photographs at a concert. Kenyon “decided to fly home to San Diego with other crew and friends on a late night private flight rather than a commercial flight so she could get home early to take her daughter to school,” a letter from Kenyon’s family reads, describing the San Diego resident as “an amazing mother, daughter, sister, grand-daughter, partner and friend.”
“Celina’s legacy is her daughter and partner, her parents, as well as countless family members,” they continue. “Our family is devastated beyond these words. The world has lost a beautiful bright light.”
The letter from STG also included additional information about Shapiro, who had moved to Alaska in 2020.
“Dave’s superpower was his ability to recognize new talent, work with their unique skills and sound, and give them the counsel and resources to make a living in the music industry. Some of your favorite bands wouldn’t be on your playlists right now without Dave,” the letter read.
“Dave impacted the lives of countless people in the music industry, but on a personal level, he was the best friend you could ever want – funny, full of life, always passionate about music, and never jaded. He was the guy that would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it,” according to the letter.
Shapiro is survived by his wife, Julia; his sister, Jennifer, and her children, Isabella and Jonathan Lee, and Dave’s beloved dogs, Amigo, Juneau and Monster.
Williams, 39, is a former drummer and founding member of the band The Devil Wears Prada. He was a native of Dayton, Ohio, who began playing drums in the sixth grade.
Williams left the band in 2016 to pursue a career in the tech industry, serving as a senior software architect at GoPro and Apple Inc.
