State Champ Radio Music News
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Truly madly scary. Savage Garden‘s Darren Hayes revealed on Friday (April 18) that he recently suffered a serious injury after fainting that could’ve ended tragically.
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“On March 17, 2 months to the day after my Mother passed away, I had a terrible accident … I lost consciousness – I fainted shortly after getting out of bed and collapsed 3 times, losing consciousness each time,” he revealed in an Instagram post. “The blunt force trauma was so severe it snapped my left jawbone in half.”
The Australian artist went on to share that he woke up in a pool of blood and had nine teeth shattered, and was taken to an ER in Santa Monica, Calif. “I could have died if I landed in a different position,” Hayes wrote.
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The musician went on to share that his medical team ruled out any neurological and heart issues, and that he had been feeling lightheaded and experienced fainting spells for some time before his accident; doctors are still investigating for causes to his health struggles. Hayes — who noted that he doesn’t drink or do drugs — had reconstructive surgery on March 21, which included having a titanium brace inserted to reconnect his jaw bones, as well as having his mouth wired shut for at least eight weeks.
“I just wanted my fans to know why I’ll be out of action for quite some time. After my jaw heals it’s a long road to rehabbing my jaw function and then of course replacing my shattered teeth. I’m so grateful to be alive and every day I’m getting stronger. I’m almost one month post surgery now and I’m only just starting to feel better,” the singer wrote before thanking his medical team and loved ones. “After surviving a brutal divorce, losing my Mother, finding out my father died and then this I have had moments of deep sadness. But I am a survivor and I’ll come back strong.”
Along with his message updating fans about what he has been experiencing, Hayes shared a photo of himself with one side of his face badly swollen, and a yellow bruise at the base of his neck. A second image was an X-ray of his jaw with the titanium brace holding the broken pieces together.
At the height of Savage Garden’s popularity, the duo of Hayes and Daniel Jones snagged two Billboard Hot 100 No. 1s with 1998’s “Truly Madly Deeply” and 1999’s “I Knew I Loved You,” while “I Want You” peaked at No. 4 in 1997. The pair’s self-titled debut album — which houses “Truly Madly Deeply” and “I Want You” — peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, while sophomore and final release Affirmation, which houses “I Knew I Loved You,” reached No. 6. The group split up in 2001.
A Manhattan federal judge on Friday denied a bid by Sean “Diddy” Combs to delay his sex trafficking and racketeering trial by two months, ruling that the request was made too close to his trial date.
The star’s lawyers asked for the delay on Wednesday (April 16), arguing they didn’t have enough time to prepare for trial after prosecutors added new charges earlier this month. But according to Reuters, Judge Arun Subramanian denied that motion at a court hearing on Friday (April 18).
Endorsing an argument made by the prosecutors, Subramanian said that the new indictment largely overlapped with earlier charging papers. According to CNN, the judge told Combs’ lawyers that it was “unclear why there isn’t sufficient time to prepare.”
Friday’s ruling means that, barring any last-minute disruptions, jury selection will begin on May 5 and testimony will begin on May 12. Representatives for Combs’ legal team did not immediately return a request for comment.
Combs was indicted in September, charged with running a sprawling criminal operation that aimed to “fulfill his sexual desires” by subjecting numerous women to abuse. The case centers on elaborate “freak off” parties in which Combs and others would allegedly ply victims with drugs and then coerce them into having sex, as well as on alleged acts of violence to keep victims silent.
A trial has long been set to start in May. If convicted on all of the charges, which include sex trafficking and racketeering, Combs faces a potential life prison sentence.
In a letter to the judge filed Wednesday, the star’s lawyers claimed the feds were dragging their feet on turning over crucial evidence, and that the extra two months would give them “the necessary time to prepare his defense” for a new superseding indictment filed April 3.
The request — far longer than the two-week delay Diddy’s lawyers had hinted they might seek — was opposed by prosecutors, who said the new charges were not sufficiently different to require any delay at all, and that Combs was not entitled to the evidence he claimed he was owed.
In addition to denying the delay, Subramanian made another important ruling Friday. According to Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press, the judge granted a request from prosecutors to allow three alleged victims to testify under Jane Doe pseudonyms. Diddy’s lawyers had called the move “a blatant violation of Mr. Combs’s Sixth Amendment rights to confront witnesses,” but prosecutors said it was necessary to protect them from harassment and embarrassment.
The judge seemingly left at least one big pretrial issue unresolved: a motion filed by Combs on Thursday seeking to ban prosecutors from showing jurors the infamous 2016 surveillance video of him assaulting his former girlfriend Cassie Ventura. Combs says the clips has been edited and will “confuse and mislead the jury”; prosecutors says it’s a “damning piece of evidence” that must be admitted.
MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN has unveiled the nominees for all 50 categories to be honored at the inaugural event set for May 21 and 22 in Kyoto.
The finalists were selected from the approximately 3,000 entries revealed in March, through a preliminary vote by artists, creatives, media-related and other music industry professionals, with some awards open to general listeners. After a final vote including overseas voting members, the winners will be announced at the award ceremony next month.
In the six main categories — Song of the Year, Album of the Year, Artist of the Year, New Artist of the Year, Top Global Hit from Japan, Best Song Asia — artists and acts that have graced the charts and excited music listeners are up for awards: Creepy Nuts (“Bling-Bang-Bang-Born”), YOASOBI (“Idol”), Mrs. GREEN APPLE (“Lilac,” ANTENNA), Fujii Kaze (“Michi Teyu Ku (Overflowing),” LOVE ALL SERVE ALL), Rosé & Bruno Mars (“APT.”), Kenshi Yonezu (LOST CORNER), FRUITS ZIPPER, Kocchi no Kento, Number_i, and aespa (“Supernova”), to name just a few.
Kazutoyo Koyabu, Asuka Kijima, Ko Matsushima, the Founder of arne inc. and music critic Tomonori Shiba took to the stage at the event announcing the nominees. Koyabu, a popular comedian and musician, noted, “These are artists that even an old guy like me has heard of,” while Kijima, a model and actress, said, “Everyone will be satisfied no matter who wins, because they’re all outstanding artists.” The nominees in the Top Global Hit from Japan category selected by overseas listeners include a diverse range of tracks, such as songs featured in games, anime show openers, songs familiar from TikTok, and tracks by artists with a notable global presence. Check out all the nominees at the official MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN website.
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Find the nominees of the six main categories below:
Song of the Year
(Recognition for the song with the most outstanding musical creativity and artistry.)
Rosé & Bruno Mars “APT.”
Creepy Nuts “Bling-Bang-Bang-Born”
YOASOBI “Idol”
Fujii Kaze “Michi Teyu Ku (Overflowing)”
Mrs. GREEN APPLE “Lilac”
Album of the Year
(Recognition for the album with the most outstanding musical creativity and artistry.)
Mrs. GREEN APPLE, ANTENNA
Kenshi Yonezu, LOST CORNER
Fujii Kaze, LOVE ALL SERVE ALL
Vaundy, replica
Hikaru Utada, SCIENCE FICTION
Artist of the Year
(Recognition for the artist with the most outstanding musical creativity and artistry.)
Creepy Nuts
Mrs. GREEN APPLE
Vaundy
YOASOBI
Fujii Kaze
New Artist of the Year
Recognition for the new artist who demonstrated outstanding musical creativity and artistry.
FRUITS ZIPPER
Number_i
Omoinotake
tuki.
Kocchi no Kento
Top Global Hit From Japan
(Recognition for the Japanese song that became a global hit.)
Lotus Juice/Azumi Takahashi “It’s Going Down Now”
XG “WOKE UP”
YOASOBI “Idol”
Fujii Kaze “Shinunoga E-wa”
Miki Matsubara “Mayonaka no Door – stay with me”
Best Song Asia
(Recognition for the Asian hit song that was popular across Asian countries.)
Bernadya “Satu Bulan” (Indonesia)
REGINA SONG “the cutest pair” (Singapore)
aespa “Supernova” (South Korea)
PLAVE “WAY 4 LUV” (South Korea)
JEFF SATUR “GHOST” (Thailand)
MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2025 KYOTO
Date of the ceremony: Wednesday, May 21 and Thursday, May 22, 2025
MAJ Week: From Saturday, May 17 to Friday, May 23, 2025
Venue: ROHM Theatre Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan
Domestic live broadcast of May 22 event on NHK; global stream of events on both days on YouTube scheduled (some regions excluded).
TDE’s Punch claims Kendrick Lamar took out even more harmful disses aimed at Drake on the song “Euphoria.” In a three-hour conversation with Curtiss King on Thursday (April 17), Top Dog Entertainment’s president spoke on all things TDE, including the high-profile rap battle between Drake and K-Dot. When asked about the rumored 18-minute version of […]
Morgan Wallen banks his 17th No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart as “I’m the Problem” ascends a spot to the top of the list dated April 26. The song increased by 7% to 28.8 million audience impressions April 11-17, according to Luminate.
The co-write by the 31-year-old from Sneedville, Tenn., reaches the penthouse in 11 weeks. It completes the quickest trip to No. 1 since Post Malone’s “I Had Some Help,” featuring Wallen, needed just seven frames to reign last June.
“I’m the Problem” is Wallen’s third Country Airplay No. 1 from his album of the same name, ahead of its May 16 arrival. “Love Somebody” dominated for three weeks in February, after “Lies Lies Lies” led for a week in November. He scored his initial No. 1 in June 2018 as featured on Florida Georgia Line’s “Up Down.”
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Wallen’s new LP bulges with 37 tracks, one more than on his 2023 blockbuster, One Thing at a Time. That set has ruled the Top Country Albums chart for 82 weeks, the second-most in the chart’s history, after only his own Dangerous: The Double Album, which ran up a record 97 weeks at No. 1 beginning in January 2021.
Wallen also surges 30-22 on Country Airplay with his newest single from I’m the Problem, “Just in Case” (6.6 million, up 53%). Plus, the album’s “I Ain’t Coming Back,” his second collab with Post Malone, was released Friday (April 18).
‘Holy’ Lands in Top 10
Bailey Zimmerman nets his fifth consecutive career-opening Country Airplay top 10 as “Holy Smokes” lifts 11-10, up 2% to 15.9 million in reach. His first four entries all hit No. 1: “Where It Ends” (last October, for two weeks); “Religiously” (September 2023, one); “Rock and a Hard Place” (beginning in April 2023, six); and “Fall in Love” (December 2022, one).
Zimmerman earned his first No. 1 on the multimetric Hot Country Songs chart (dated April 19) as featured on rapper BigXthaPlug’s “All the Way,” which soared in at the summit. (The single is not currently being promoted to country radio.)
Whens she’s not making music, chances are you’ll find Tinashe (aka SniperNashe) sniping away at bad guys in Call of Duty: Warzone. The singer loves to talk about her obsession with the game — including with Billboard last August — and all that chatter has paid of in a new promo featuring Tinashe hyping the return of the Verdansk map.
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And even if some people still look sideways at her game skills, she’s not sweating it. “I think it’s something that you kind of expect with the territory and within the culture, and something that I’m definitely used to,” she told Rolling Stone of the side-eye women gamers still get sometimes. “Gaming culture is super huge, and especially women — young women — [are] an underappreciated fan community. So, it’s really nice to be able to represent that. And yeah, hopefully with more representation, the less we’ll have those kind of stigmas.”
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Because of her obsession, the “Nasty” vocalist told the magazine that she always brings her PlayStation console on tour to set up in venues before her shows. “It’s one of the ways that I can still stay connected with the things I love to do at home, because you have so much downtime on the road before shows,” she said. “If I’m flying show to show, I probably won’t bring it because it’ll just be a little bit of a hassle going through security, but whenever we’re on a bus tour, I definitely always bring it.”
Her focus on the game is so intense, in fact, that she admitted she’d rather play than work on new music when she’s on the road. “I’m not really a big fan of recording while I’m touring because it’s hard for me to split my energy and attention that way,” she said of her attention to Call of Duty‘s free-to-play first-person shooter game that debuted in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic when she, and everyone else, had a lot of free time at home. “But now the Match My Freak Tour is done, and I’m just doing more spot dates, a couple here and there. So, now I’m really kind of more focused on creative mode.”
At Billboard’s Women in Music 2025 event in March, the Tinashe promised now that her dates are over she “excited to get in there [the studio] and work on what’s next musicwise.”
Watch Tinashe describe the sniper tower rampage that earned her her killer nickname in the promo video for the return of the beloved original Verdansk map below.
This week in dance music: Interscope Records announced a forthcoming Avicii compilation album that will feature a new song with vocals from Elle King, and PinkPantheress, 2hollis and Skrillex made moves on the dance charts.
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And to round it out, these are the best new dance tracks of the week.
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Barry Can’t Swim & O’Flynn, “Kimpton”
Ahead of performances at Terminal V festival and Brooklyn Steel this weekend, producer of the moment Barry Can’t Swim has dropped the gorgeous “Kimpton” with London producer O’Flynn.Emotive, enchanting and exotic, the track weaves kalimba and chanting vocals with soft, brooding piano and string parts — and even a subtle harp. Of course, as dance artists, Barry (his real name is actually Joshua) and O’Flynn tie these delicate elements together with a hefty kick drum. It’s easy to imagine “Kimpton” mesmerizing Barry’s crowds this weekend; taking listeners into those oh-so-memorable moments of elation before bringing back the beat and locking them into the groove. The track comes ahead of Barry Can’t Swim’s sophomore album, Loner, coming July 11 via Ninja Tune.
Dom Dolla & Kid Cudi, “Forever”
Kid Cudi earned his EDM stripes almost two decades ago with David Guetta’s legendary “Memories” and Steve Aoki’s party-fueled remix of “Pursuit Of Happiness.” Now, he joins Dom Dolla on “Forever,” a melodic progressive house track that evokes those EDM vibes of old, along with the good vibes approach we’ve come to expect from Dolla. As the Aussie DJ/producer puts it, the pair “went to the studio to write something that takes you to a happier time and place. It’s something a little different from both of us.” Dolla debuted the track at his sold-out March doubleheader show at Madison Square Garden, bringing Kid Cudi on-stage to belt it out live. You can watch the moment in the music video for “Forever”, if you haven’t seen it online already — clips shared previously by Dolla racked up over 20 million views.
Dove & Kehina, “Chroma 009”
Belfast’s underground heroes, Bicep, are back with a mellow, hazy breaks track under their Dove alias, released on the duo’s Chroma label. Joined by vocalist Kehina, the track is laden with rich synth pads, meticulous beats and a glistening synth arp that floats in and out of the track; much like Kehina’s vocals. This track probably won’t be the most floor-filling moment at one of Bicep’s coveted Chroma shows, but instead is prime material for the more pensive moments at the party. Expect to see this accompanied with stunning visuals at upcoming Bicep shows.
Speaking on the track, Kehine says: “It’s a dizzying, trance-like track that weirdly reminds me of a lot of the music my mum used to play when I was a kid, particularly North African Gnawa music. That same hypnotic rhythm, that trance you fall into while dancing” Kehina comments on the new single. “I recorded and wrote this a month or two after vocal surgery. It really helped pull me out of my head and reminded me why I love making music in the first place. It helped me imagine a future in something I’d had to step back from for a while.”
HiTech feat. George Riley, “Take Yo Panties Off”
You might be looking for the “Skip Ad” button when watching the music video for HiTech’s “Take Yo Panties Off ft. George Riley.” But fret not, this is just the intro, which is just as fun and wacky as the rest of the track. The fast-tempo track hits you hard with a collage of bizarre sounds that’ll make you think, “Wait, was that the sound of a player taking fall damage in Minecraft?” (Yes. Yes it was.)
But beyond the fun and freaky sounds in the track, there’s a serious amount of groove in “Take Yo Panties Off” that’ll make you truly want to… Actually, better keep ‘em on. From George Riley’s infectious cadence throughout the track, the rapid walking bassline, smooth synth stabs and, of course, the repeating “Real freak bitches, tho” vocal part, there’s a whole lot to get down to. HiTech, the Detorit trio comprising King Milo, Milf Melly and 47Chops, have released the song via Loma Vista Recordings amidst their HoneyPaqq tour. They’re previewing tracks from the HoneyPaqq VOL. 1 mixtape, so you can expect a whole lot more booty-shakin’ material at their shows.
Surf Mesa, “Holding On”
Los Angeles-based producer Surf Mesa had a lightning in a bottle moment in 2020 when his breakout hit “ily (i love you baby)” had a lengthy run at the top of Hot Dance/Electronic Songs. He’s steadily released singles and EPs in the five years since, the latest of which is “Holding On” with Danish American producer John Alto. The moody track falls square in the lane Bob Moses has long carved out, giving (in the best way) Chris Isaak goes tech house vibes. The track is out on the recently launched Breakaway Projects, the new label and management venture from the company behind Breakaway Music Festival.
“I’m really excited to be working with Breakaway for a few records this year and even more excited to begin that partnership with ‘Holding On,’ a favorite of mine with my good friend John Alto,” says the artist born Powell Aguirre. “This record has been super close to my heart from the moment we started the demo and is the third or fourth idea John and I made one day in the studio. We knew immediately we had to get it out asap.”
Aaron Hibell & Dan Heath, “Odyssey“
Next week, lauded livestream producer Cercle launches its much-hyped touring show, Odyssey, in Mexico City, with the events brand and label releasing the official soundtrack to the shows ahead of the premiere. Created by rising producer Aaron Hibell and Golden Globe nominated composer and producer Dan Heath, “Odyssey” is a sweeping, cinematic scene-setter in the grand tradition of Hans Zimmer, with its swells of violin and drums adding to the already significant anticipation for this show. Odyssey which will have ten nights in Mexico City (with headliners including The Blaze, Beh Böhmer, Jungle and Mura Masa) before heading to Los Angeles then on to Paris. “Odyssey” is out on Cercle Records.
The Weeknd gave fans another sneak peek at his upcoming Hurry Up Tomorrow movie through the lens of his “Drive” music video, which arrived on Friday (April 18). Directed by Trey Edward Shults, who also helms the movie portion, the heart-racing clip will give viewers goosebumps as they go from a state of euphoria to […]
You gotta love a practical pop star. When shooting her 2005 music video for smash hit “We Belong Together,” Mariah Carey got a second life out of her wedding dress from her nuptials to first husband Tommy Mottola — and in a new episode of Vevo’s Footnotes posted Friday (April 18), she explained the simple […]
It’s been seven years since Public Enemy leader Chuck D released a solo single. But on Friday (April 18) the lyrical Hard Rhymer came back into the frame with the psychedelic bomb track “New Gens.” A swirl of PE’s signature hard-hitting beats, layered samples and D’s twisty wordplay, it opens with the rapper borrowing last presidential election’s Democrat diss of choice.
“Weird, I’m weird too/ But damn, you weird/ Can’t stand the way you, goddamn you weird/ Oh way you can’t see, but can you listen for a minute?/ If you cannot see it, but cannot hear it/ Whoa, new gens can’t dance to this,” he booms over the free jazz-like track featuring rock guitar, vintage VHS tape educational videos samples, blaring horns and a disjointed drum track.
“Here right now the place to be/ Why everybody’s always pickin’ on we?/ We the people, ‘crossed all ages/ Now joined by a screen between/ Called screenagers,” he intones in the video that features a collage of stock b-boy and rollerskating footage from the 1970s and ’80s, news reels and fresh film of Chuck chilling on a couch having a drink. “And don’t forget, new gens I love y’all/ Have a ball,’” D says in a shout-out to the current crop of MCs.
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Stetsasonic legend Schooly D jumps into frame in the final stretch to amp things up with a frenetic guest spot.
“They say I got no filter/ I’m wonderin’ if it’s true/ But when you speak the truth/ Some punks ain’t into you,” he raps before adding the cold hard coda, “Some people claim they legends/ But don’t put nothin’ out.”
The single is the first taste of D’s upcoming solo album, Radio Armageddon, which is due out on May 18. The 14-track follow-up to 2018’s Celebration of Ignorance will find Chuck surrounded by some of his old school microphone brethren, from Schooly D to Philly rapper Phill Most Chill and Donald D and Jazzy Jay of the Universal Zulu Nation. Other guests include hip-hop’s original hype woman, Son of Bazerk’s 1/2 Pint, ULTRAMAG7, N.Y. MC Miranda Writes and artists from D’s SpitSLAM Record label, The Impossebulls and Blak Madeen.
Chuck will be on the road with PE this summer, playing a run of festivals in the U.S. and Europe in May and June before joining Guns N’ Roses for a run of European shows this summer.
Check out the video for “New Gens” and the album’s track list below.
Radio Armageddon tracklist:
“Radio Armageddon”
“What Rock Is”
“Black Don’t Dead”
“New Gens”
“Station Break”
“Rogue Runnin”
“Is God She”
“Station Identification”
“Here We Are Heard”
“Superbagg”
“Carry On”
“What Are We To You”
“Sight Story Style Sound”
“Signing Off”
