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Justin Bieber‘s team has spoken out amid the ongoing federal trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs, who stands accused of sex trafficking and racketeering and faces potential life in prison for his alleged crimes.
In a statement shared with People Friday (May 16), the pop star’s spokesperson said, “Although Justin is not among Sean Combs’ victims, there are individuals who were genuinely harmed by him.”
The spokesperson added, “Shifting focus away from this reality detracts from the justice these victims rightfully deserve.”
Billboard has reached out to Bieber’s reps for comment.
The statement marks the first time the “Peaches” singer has directly discussed Combs since the Bad Boy Records founder was arrested in September, with federal prosecutors accusing him with running a large-scale criminal operation in which he “abused, threatened and coerced women” for decades, in part through drug-fueled sex parties known as “freak-offs,” according to the indictment.
Combs has denied all of the accusations, and in the defense’s opening statements at his trial in New York City Monday (May 12), his lawyer asserted: “Sean Combs is a complicated man, but this is not a complicated case. We take full responsibility that there was domestic violence. Domestic violence is not sex trafficking.”
Friday marks the fifth day of the trial, which has so far focused heavily on the days-long testimony of Cassie Ventura, Combs’ ex-girlfriend. It was her now-settled civil lawsuit in November 2023 — in which she accused him of years of rape and physical abuse — that first raised allegations against the hip-hop titan, sparking a flood of additional suits from others who claimed he abused them, and setting into motion the criminal probe that led to his indictment.
Amid Combs’ fall from grace, some of Bieber’s fans have remembered that the two musicians crossed paths in the past. In a 2009 video with more than 11 million views on the “Baby” singer’s YouTube channel, a then 15-year-old Bieber spends time with the producer for 48 hours, and the pair discusses cars and hitting on girls.
“Where we hanging out and what we’re doing, we can’t really disclose,” Combs says in the video. “But it’s definitely a 15-year-old’s dream.”
In 2010, the two would take the stage with a group of other musicians at the BET-SOS Saving Ourselves Help for Haiti Benefit Concert. In 2011, they appeared together on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, with Combs saying at the time, “We’ve become friends in a strange way … [Justin] knows better than to be talking about the things that he does with Big Brother Puff on national television.”
Bieber also attended Combs’ Deleon Tequila launch party in Atlanta in 2014. In one picture from the event, the Canadian pop star sits next to Ventura; in another snap, Combs poses with his arm around Bieber.
Bad blood is still brewing. Donald Trump made yet another jab at superstar Taylor Swift in a post on his Truth Social platform on Friday (May 16).
Eight months after he shared on the same social media platform that he hates the 14-time Grammy winner, the twice-impeached president posted, “Has anyone noticed that, since I said ‘I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT,’ she’s no longer ‘HOT?’”
Billboard has reached out to Swift’s rep for comment.
The insult seemingly came out of thin air, as Swift has not spoken about Trump since endorsing Democratic nominee Kamala Harris for president in September. Her support of President Joe Biden’s vice president came after the business mogul shared an AI image of the “Anti-Hero” singer falsely endorsing him for a second term in office.
“It brought me to the conclusion that I need to be very transparent about my actual plans for this election as a voter. The simplest way to combat misinformation is with the truth,” the star wrote of the fake image at the time. “I’m voting for @kamalaharris because she fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them.”
Swift concluded that message — which was accompanied by a photo of her with her beloved cat Benjamin Button — by signing off as “Childless Cat Lady,” a dig at Vice President JD Vance’s comments about Democrats who don’t have kids.
Five days after the superstar backed his opponent, Trump posted on Truth Social in all caps, “I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT!”
While they never had mad love for each other, Trump — who in May 2024 was convicted of 34 felony counts in his hush money case — did previously appreciate the singer-songwriter. In August 2012, he wrote on X (then Twitter) to thank the star for a photo, closing his message with “you are fantastic!” Months later in October, he congratulated her on landing the co-hosting gig announcing the Grammy nominations special, ending his tweet with “Taylor is terrific!”
But once Swift began sharing her political leanings in 2018, when she urged the voters of Tennessee to vote against Republican Marsha Blackburn in the midterms, Trump’s opinion of the star shifted. “Let’s just say I like Taylor’s music about 25% less now, OK?” he told reporters at the White House.
Billboard’s Friday Music Guide serves as a handy guide to this Friday’s most essential releases — the key music that everyone will be talking about today, and that will be dominating playlists this weekend and beyond.
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This week, Rihanna unveils a summer Smurf jam, Morgan Wallen pulls back the curtain and Jin continues his solo momentum. Check out all of this week’s picks below:
Rihanna, “Friend of Mine”
While Rihanna is no stranger to the soundtrack single, “Friend of Mine,” from the upcoming Smurfs film, does not function like a shiny product for kid’s movie — instead, the song thumps and shimmers with club-ready propulsion, as Rihanna lets the percussion take center stage and serves up what sounds like a long-lost, long-awaited summer jam.
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Morgan Wallen, I’m the Problem
At 37 songs and nearly two hours, I’m the Problem pushes Morgan Wallen’s mega-sprawling approach to full-length projects to a new limit — but if it ain’t broke, then the decade-defining, stadium-commanding country superstar has no reason to fix it, as his latest marks another rustic, self-examining storytelling extravaganza brimming with multi-song runs to be appreciated by different types of listeners.
Jin, Echo
Six months after making his solo bow with Happy, Jin has quickly returned with Echo — but instead of feeling like a continuation of that debut project, the BTS member has already moved on to vibrant new sounds and ideas, ranging from the stately romance of opener “Don’t Say You Love Me” to the punk-inflected YENA collaboration “Loser,” the latter making good use of the cowbell.
Lola Young, “One Thing”
“Everbody wants to know ya / But me? I only want one thing,” Lola Young declares on new single “One Thing,” a slinky sex jam that showcases Young’s ability to oscillate between commanding and yearning; following the smash confessional “Messy,” the ascendant pop star wields this follow-up with hedonistic glee, as if she’s ratcheting down the stakes to have some hard-earned fun.
Avicii, Avicii Forever
Avicii’s 2018 passing still feels crushing all these years later, yet his musical legacy has remained towering in his absence; Avicii Forever — a new compilation featuring the producer’s biggest hits, essential tracks and one unreleased single, “Let’s Ride Away” featuring Elle King — underlines his sonic impact and acts as a handy first step for casual fans looking to dive deeper.
Sebastian Yatra, Milagro
The title of Sebastian Yatra’s new album, Milagro, refers to a miracle that can occur thanks to a slight change in perspective; the idea defines the follow-up to 2022’s Dharma +, as the singer-songwriter tweaks his lyrical approach to dig deeper into ideas of faith, emotional availability and communication across generations, while still providing plenty of melodic heft.
Laufey, “Tough Luck”
“I wanted to reveal an angrier side of myself — a side that this unfortunate relationship brought out in me,” Laufey says of her new single, “Tough Luck,” in a press release. To preview upcoming album A Matter of Time, the rising singer-composer lets her frustration simmer above sighing harmonies and ornate string arrangements, producing a beautifully mad opening shot.
Editor’s Pick: Rico Nasty, Lethal
After spending the majority of her career exploring the ways in which rock music can inform her hip-hop, Rico Nasty pushes toward full-throated pop-rock at times on Lethal, displaying her voice with a newfound vulnerability and expanding her aesthetic in impressive ways; considering that several songs on the new album don’t reach the two-minute mark, Lethal zips by with verve and energy, and sets up an exciting future for Rico.
Lady Gaga is headed to the Netflix Tudum stage in Los Angeles — and fans all over the world are going to be able to watch her live.
As announced Friday (May 16), the pop superstar will perform at the streamer’s Comic Con-esque event this year, joining a previously announced lineup of stars featured in some of Netflix’s biggest titles who are also set to appear. In a clip announcing the news on Instagram, Gaga appears in a lacy black getup, looking excited as she tells fans, “Hi, Little Monsters!”
“I just wrapped Copacabana,” she continues, referencing her record-breaking May 3 performance in Rio de Janeiro. “I’m headed to Singapore, and then I’ll see you at Tudum.”
“mother will bring the MAYHEM, performing a song you will not want to miss!” reads Netflix’s caption. “watch it LIVE may 31 on netflix — tickets now on sale.”
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The event will take place at 8 p.m. ET on May 31 at the Kia Forum, but anyone with a Netflix subscription can tune in to stream it live. Tickets to attend in person are available for purchase on Ticketmaster.
Originating in 2020 as a fan-oriented festival celebrating Netflix’s young-adult content, Tudum brings viewers and the stars of their favorite programs together. This year, actors from Emily in Paris, Frankenstein, Happy Gilmore 2, Love Is Blind, One Piece, Outer Banks, The Rip, Squid Game, Stranger Things, America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, The Life List, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, Wednesday, WWE, Ginny & Georgia, My Life With the Walter Boys and more will flock to the Forum.
Gaga’s performance at the event comes as she’s been showcasing her Billboard 200-topping album Mayhem on the road with concerts at Coachella and in Mexico City and Rio. Up next, she’ll perform May 18, 19, 21 and 24 for Little Monsters in Singapore before embarking on her Mayhem Ball Tour in July.
See Gaga’s announcement that she’ll be performing at Netflix Tudum 2025: The Live Event below.
Names Daniela, Lara, Manon, Megan, Sophia, YoonchaeAges 20, 19, 22, 19, 22, 17Label HYBE x GeffenPublisher HYBE x GeffenManagement HYBE x Geffen
Last year, when KATSEYE gave its first live performance at Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena for the annual K-pop festival KCON, the group’s Megan remembers it as “chaotic but so much fun.” It was the first test of the members’ bond, with the girl group now saying strong communication is the key to navigating music industry madness. “We had to learn to be there for each other,” Sophia says. “We’re able to just come up to one another, good or bad, and say, ‘Hey, I feel this way.’ ” The HYBE x Geffen act will showcase that growth this spring with its second EP, Beautiful Chaos, which follows 2024’s SIS (Soft Is Strong) that spawned the Mainstream Top 40 hit “Touch.” As Manon teases: “This next era is really authentic to who we are.”
What are you most proud of when you look back at this past year?
Lara The MAMA Awards. That was our first time doing a big dance break as a group with dancers; there were cheerleaders and a full-on production. Every time I look back on that, I’m like, “Oh, my God. We did that.”
What has been the key to success in your first year as a group?
Sophia The biggest thing that we really learned together is communication. We care so deeply about each other, and this is something that we’re all so passionate about — this isn’t just our job. We’re so lucky to do something that we all grew up obsessed with. We’ve learned that it’s something we can connect through and that we have to be honest with each other all the time. At the end of the day, it’s the six of us against the world.
Megan We really found our flow with each other and how each of us works in different scenarios. When we do performances [now], we’re like, “OK, Megan needs to prepare in the corner, Yoonchae needs her own time, Sophia needs to warm up,” and then we all come together. So thanks to that communication, we all know each other so well and so deeply.
What can you share about what inspired your upcoming Beautiful Chaos EP?
Manon I always say this, but I feel like [fan army] the EYEKONS and [us] are the same people. We think the same; what they like, we like, and what we like, they like.
Sophia We are always on Weverse; we’re lurking through Instagram and Twitter. We literally see everything that the fans post and hear them, so hopefully, they’ll like what we’re coming out with.
What’s the best advice you would give aspiring young musicians?
Yoonchae To believe in yourself and do whatever you want.
Daniela It’s important to not let others decide your path.
Sleep Token have claimed their first-ever No. 1 album in Australia, as Even In Arcadia debuts at the summit of the ARIA Albums Chart. The masked U.K. rock act previously peaked at No. 3 in 2023 with Take Me Back to Eden. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news […]
Australian singer, songwriter and EDM icon VASSY has teamed up with Dutch producer RSCL for the release of her latest single, “Beg.”
Released Friday, May 16 via Revealed’s Gemstone Records imprint, “Beg” is the latest in a long line of singles for the Darwin-born, U.S.-based musician. Described as being rooted in emotional surrender and the desire to hide vulnerability, it sees VASSY (born Vasiliki Karagiorgos) using her trademark strength to turn pain into power.
“From the moment I wrote and recorded BEG, I knew it had that special spark—emotive, energetic, and made for the dancefloor,” VASSY explained to Rolling Stone AU/NZ.
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“When the label heard it, they instantly loved it and introduced me to RSCL,” she added. “We clicked right away, and the collaboration came together effortlessly. What we created is a soulful, piano-driven house track that feels like summer—uplifting, emotional, and full of energy that you can feel in every beat.”
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VASSY rose to fame as a musician in her native Australia throughout the ’00s, finding widespread fame in 2012 when her single “We Are Young” topped Billboard’s Dance Club Songs chart – her first of seven tracks to do so. She found wider fame in 2014 after appearing as a featured artist on David Guetta and Showtek’s Platinum-certified single “Bad.”
In 2020, the success of “Bad” saw her become a member of APRA AMCOS’ The 1,000,000,000 List in celebration of the track reaching a billion streams. Since the honor, it’s since surpassed the two billion mark, and in 2023, she became the first female recipient of the Icon accolade at the EDM Awards in Miami.
RSCL (pronounced “Rascal”) also boasts an impressive career, with releases on the Spinnin’ Records and Casablanca Records labels, and credits alongside names such as Mr. Belt & Wezol and Jake Shore.
The release of “Beg” comes just a matter of days after the arrival of VASSY’s BossAcoustics EP, a collection of intimate acoustic tracks that showcases her early influences while reimagining her classic cuts with an immersive Bossa style.
Stream ‘Beg’ below:
It’s taken years, but Rihanna finally released a new song Friday (May 16) — “Friend of Mine,” recorded for the upcoming Smurfs movie in which she voices Smurfette. Featuring the Fenty mogul singing over a happy-sounding Afrobeats-inspired dance track, complete with warm synths and rhythmic drums. A snippet of “Friend of Mine” was first premiered […]
JIN of BTS has released his solo EP Echo (echo, echo, echo, echo …).
On Friday (May 16), the K-pop star unveiled the project featuring seven tracks: “Don’t Say You Love Me,” “Nothing Without Your Love,” “Loser” featuring YENA, “Rope It,” “With the Clouds,” “Background” and “To Me, Today.” JIN first announced the mini-album about a month prior to its release, with a statement describing Echo as offering the musician’s “perspective on universal life experiences, capturing everyday emotions with warmth and sincerity.”
“Built on dynamic band sounds, the album showcases his versatile vocals across a spectrum of moods and styles,” the description continued at the time. “It reflects a deeper layer of vocal maturity and personal storytelling that underscores Jin’s evolving artistry.”
Echo follows the November release of JIN’s debut solo EP Happy, which reached No. 4 on the Billboard 200. The project featured single “Running Wild,” which marked JIN’s second Billboard Hot 100 entry separate from his mega-famous boy band, following 2022’s “The Astronaut”; the two tracks reached Nos. 53 and 51 on the chart, respectively.
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The new EP arrives about a year after JIN became the first member of BTS to be discharged from the South Korean military. After he completed his obligatory service in June, J-Hope finished in October.
RM, Suga, V, Jimin and Jung Kook are still finishing out their commitments, but will be discharged in June. After spending the past two years or so focusing on solo projects, the seven members are expected to reunite soon.
In the meantime, JIN will promote Echo a few days after its release by performing on The Tonight Show Jimmy Fallon! on Wednesday (May 21).
Listen to JIN’s new EP Echo below.
Just days after suffering a “non-life-threatening medical emergency” that necessitated the cancellation of their spring tour, Alice in Chains drummer Sean Kinney has provided fans with an update to his health.
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The legendary grunge outfit had initially been scheduled to perform at Connecticut’s Mohegan Sun Arena on May 8, though announced the show’s cancellation after Kinney suffered a medical emergency following their soundcheck.
An additional five shows over the next week, including appearances at the Sonic Temple Art & Music and Welcome to Rockville festival, had been scheduled but were cancelled one day later on May 9.
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“While we were all eager to return to the stage, Sean’s health is our top priority at this moment,” the band wrote in a statement. “Although the issue requires immediate attention, his long-term prognosis is positive.”
Now Kinney – one of two remaining founding members of the band, alongside guitarist Jerry Cantrell – has issued his own statement, apologizing to fans for the short-notice cancellation and outlining his experiences dealing with the unspecified medal issue.
“I was very much looking forward to getting back out there and playing with the band again, and it’s been a difficult but necessary decision to make,” Kinney wrote on social media. “I don’t personally utilize social media and I’m not particularly fond of my health issues being made public, but I understand that people are concerned.”
Kinney explained that doctors advised against him performing in the short-term, coming to terms with his situation after a quick trip through the five stages of grief.
“I finally concluded that medical doctors with many hard-earned degrees on their walls might know a bit more about health than a musician with some shiny spray-painted records on his wall,” he explained. “The outpouring of love, concern and well wishes has been both extremely humbling and very much appreciated.
“The good news is that I’m going to be fine and I’m going to live,” he concluded. “The bad news (for some of you?) is that I’m going to be fine and I’m going to live.”
Alice in Chains’ cancelled run of dates were to be their first live appearances since performing at Las Vegas’ Sick New World festival in April 2024.
Currently, their website lists only one upcoming date, which is the Back to the Beginning concert in England on July 5, and boasts a lineup featuring Black Sabbath, Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax and myriad others.
