Music News

20 Mar 2025

Check In to Eagles’ Hotel California Inside Las Vegas Sphere Fan Experience: Photos

When the Eagles began their residency at Las Vegas’ Sphere back in September, they also debuted a Third Encore fan experience at the neighboring Venetian Resort. The space allowed fans to go inside a re-creation of the famed Troubadour venue where the California rockers got their start in the 1970s; legend has it that Don Henley and Glenn Frey met at the West Hollywood club.

This year, Live Nation’s travel and music company Vibee expanded the VIP experience to include a Hotel California pop-up, paying tribute to the band’s 1976 album and its immortal title track, which has opened each Sphere show in epic fashion. Just like the Troubadour re-creation, the Hotel California installation includes memorabilia from the band’s archive, including Joe Walsh’s personal collection of hotel keys, a neon sign from the original Hotel California Tour, and unseen photos from the era.

A hotel lobby desk in the space also doubles as a bar — serving pink champagne on ice, of course — with the “Manager on Duty” listed as Irving Azoff, the band’s real-life manager for the past 50-plus years.

The most interactive piece of the space is three hotel room doors that open to three different moments in the song, with each room number representing the time code of the corresponding lyrics. Room 052 takes you to a “dark desert highway,” with a circa-1970s car dashboard leading the way; room 118 has a “mission bell” hanging above the doorway; and room 354 leads to a spooky mirrored hallway in search of “the passage back to the place I was before.”

On Thursday night (March 20), Dead & Company return to Sphere for their second-round residency, and their own Vibee space has popped back up on the floor above Third Encore. But Eagles fans can make their way back to the Troub and Hotel California when the band returns next month for four more dates.

Earlier this week, Eagles announced even more Sphere dates, with four concerts set for this September — marking their one-year anniversary of first playing the venue. Other Sphere concerts coming this summer: the first residencies for country star Kenny Chesney (starting in May) and pop all-stars the Backstreet Boys.

For more information on Vibee VIP travel packages that include Third Encore access, which also allows fans to buy exclusive merch not available at the concerts, click here. And for your first look inside the Hotel California pop-up, see the photos below.

20 Mar 2025

Will Kendrick Lamar Be Involved in 2028 Summer Olympics in L.A.? It’s a ‘Fair Bet’

If you’re tired of Kendrick Lamar, he’s not going anywhere for at least three years. Earlier Thursday (March 20), Casey Wasserman — the head of the Wasserman talent agency and the chairman of the 2028 L.A. Olympics organizing committee — spoke with The Associated Press in Greece during the 14th International Olympic Committee session and floated the idea that Lamar may be involved with the 2028 Summer Games.

“Fortunately in my day job, I represent Kendrick Lamar,” Wasserman told the AP. “He is truly an L.A. icon, so I think it would be a pretty fair bet that Kendrick will be involved in the Olympics in Los Angeles in some way.”

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Wasserman also mentioned the L.A. wildfires from earlier this year and that the Summer Olympics can make for a good “comeback story.”

“The rebirth, the rebuild, maybe reimagining L.A. 2.0 — and the Olympics as a catalyst for all those things — we think is really part of our ethos,” he said. “You can’t have a natural disaster at that scale in a city as big and as important as Los Angeles and not have it be part of your core philosophy going forward.”

Lamar has had himself a crazy year. Since popping up as a hidden feature on Future and Metro Boomin‘s song “Like That” in March 2024, kicking off his historic rap battle with Drake, he seemingly beat the Toronto rapper handily, dropped a No. 1 album in GNX, and performed the most-watched Super Bowl Halftime Show in history.

He was also a hidden feature on Playboi Carti‘s most recent album Music, appearing on the songs “Mojo Jojo,” where he provides ad libs; “Backd00r,” on which he and Jhené Aiko are on chorus duty; and “Good Credit,” where he gives fans a stellar verse as he pulled off a great A$AP Relli line.

The Los Angeles opening ceremony is set for Friday, July 14, 2028.

20 Mar 2025

Remember Me? ‘Coco 2’ In the Works From Disney & Pixar

Coco is getting a sequel. Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger said Thursday (March 20) that Coco 2 is currently in development at Pixar Animation Studios.

“While the film is just in the initial stages, we know it will be full of humor, heart and adventure,” Iger said at the company’s shareholders meeting.

The sequel will reunite the creative team behind the first, including directors Lee Unkrich and Adrian Molina. Coco followed Miguel, a 12-year-old boy with musical dreams who goes to the Land of the Dead to find out more about his family’s history.

The original grossed over $814 million at the worldwide box office and won two Oscars, for best animated feature and best song for the catchy hit “Remember Me.” It also won a Golden Globe and the BAFTA for best animated film.

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Coco was Pixar’s first feature film with a lead character from a minority group, and one of the largest American productions ever to feature an almost entirely Latino cast.

Coco 2 is reportedly eyeing a 2029 theatrical release.

20 Mar 2025

Lizzo Announces Her New Album Is Officially ‘Done’

Lizzo is ready for fans to feel some Love in Real Life.

The superstar took to Instagram on Wednesday (March 19) to reveal that her upcoming album, Love in Real Life, is officially complete. “ALBUM IS DONE YALL!” she wrote, alongside a photo of herself in the studio, struggling to smile, which she explained in the second half of the caption: “ASTROLOGY EXPERTS Do my mercury got micro braids? Cus I got an emergency root canal, announced SNL & finished my album all in one day today.”

The astrology comment is play on the term Mercury retrograde, which is an astronomical illusion and phenomenon where the planet Mercury appears to move backward in its orbit from the Earth’s perspective. During the retrograde, astrology enthusiasts believe that communication, technology and travel is disrupted.

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The star will make her fourth appearance on Saturday Night Live as musical guest alongside host Jon Hamm for the April 12 show. She made her debut on the show in 2019, and returned twice in 2022.

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Lizzo has already released two songs from her upcoming album, “Still Bad” and the title track. Aside from “Pink” for Greta Gerwig’s 2023 Barbie soundtrack, the first singles from the project mark the Yitty founder’s first proper releases since 2022’s Special, which reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and spawned two-week Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 single “About Damn Time.”

In a recent interview with SiriusXM’s The Heat With Swaggy Sie, she revealed her inspirations for the album. “We can’t even cap in our rap and say that [Michael Jackson] didn’t inspire so much of [the ‘Love in Real Life’] video. Also, Beyoncé. Her visual albums, like, since ‘B’Day’ she’s been doing visual albums and that’s so f—ing cool to me.”

See her Instagram post below.

20 Mar 2025

Tina Knowles to Be Honored as Mother of the Year at 2025 Billboard Women in Music

Tina Knowles is the ultimate matriarch in Hollywood, and the businesswoman and beloved mom to Beyoncé and Solange Knowles will be receiving a special honor at this year’s Billboard Women in Music event.

Knowles will be the first-ever Mother of the Year honoree at the event taking place live at the YouTube Theater in Inglewood, Calif., on March 29.

Tina Knowles

Tina Knowles

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Knowles is gearing up to head out on a book tour this spring in support of her upcoming memoir, fittingly titled Matriarch (out April 22). The nine-city book tour launches in Washington, D.C. on April 30 with special guest and former First Lady Michelle Obama joining Knowles as the evening’s moderator. The press tour will conclude on June 4 in London.

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The 2025 Billboard Women in Music event, hosted by Laverne Cox, will recognize music’s top female artists, producers and executives for their contributions to music industry, their communities and beyond. Doechii is the 2025 Woman of the Year recipient, just two years after she was given the Rising Star honor in 2023.

Additional honorees include aespa (Group of the Year), Ángela Aguilar (Breakthrough Award), Erykah Badu (Icon Award), GloRilla (Powerhouse Award), Gracie Abrams (Songwriter of the Year), JENNIE (Global Force Award), Megan Moroney (Rulebreaker Award presented by Crown Royal Whisky), Meghan Trainor (Hitmaker Award), Muni Long (Rising Star Award Presented by Honda Stage) and Tyla (Impact Award presented by Bose).

The 2025 Women in Music Awards will stream on March 29, live on VIZIO WatchFree+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on VIZIO TVs and in the VIZIO mobile app.

Tickets to attend the show in person can be purchased via Ticketmaster here, with more information at billboardwomeninmusic.com.

20 Mar 2025

‘The Carters’ Trailer Previews Emotional Conversations With Aaron & Nick Carter’s Loved Ones

A new Paramount+ documentary will dive into the struggles behind Nick Carter and Aaron Carter’s rise to fame, and a new trailer for The Carters shows how much the highs and lows affected the people closest to them.

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Told through the eyes of Angel — Aaron’s twin sister — the doc will piece together the Carter family’s “deeply disturbing path” through never-before-seen home movies and exclusive interviews with friends Melissa Joan Hart and Scout Willis.

In the two-minute trailer, Angel is heard getting emotional as she describes her brother’s troubles, as scenes of the Carters growing up weave through the screen. “Imagine being a child and working like an adult, and having your childhood taken away from you,” she says, before adding, “In our family, mental health disorders run very deep.”

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The two-part project will give viewers a “deeply personal look at the extreme highs and tragic lows of a family propelled into the spotlight” by Nick’s boy band career with the Backstreet Boys and Aaron’s rise to solo pop stardom.

Aaron, Nick and Angel are three of five children in their family. They also had a sister named Leslie, who died of an apparent overdose in 2012, and another sister, Bobbie Jean, who died of an accidental overdose in 2023. Aaron died the year prior in an accidental drowning. Nick is currently embroiled in legal battles with three women who have accused him of sexual assault.

Watch The Carters trailer below. The documentary will be available to watch on Paramount+ starting on April 15.

20 Mar 2025

Mexico Becomes a Top 10 Global Music Market for the First Time, Bumping Australia

For the first time ever, Mexico has entered the top 10 global music markets, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) has confirmed to Billboard Español. The milestone was driven by a 15.6% increase in recorded music revenue, as revealed in the IFPI’s 2025 Global Music Report published Wednesday (March 19). Mexico’s climb to No. 10 marks a huge achievement for the country and for Latin America as a whole.

Also on the list, Brazil retains its position at No. 9, making 2024 the first year two Latin American markets appear simultaneously in the top 10, the IFPI also confirmed. According to the report, Brazil is also the fastest-growing top 10 market by far with revenues surging by 21.7% last year.

With Mexico’s ascension, Australia has fallen out of the top 10 for the first time in nearly three decades, despite a 6.1% increase in recorded music revenue.

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Latin America continues to thrive overall: With nearly 88% of the region’s recorded music revenue driven by streaming, it saw 22.5% growth in 2024, marking its 15th straight year of revenue gains.

The IFPI’s annual report ranks the world’s largest music markets based on recorded music revenue. The United States retains its long-held No. 1 position, with revenue increasing by 2.2% year-on-year. Japan, ranked No. 2, remained flat due to a decline in physical sales, while the United Kingdom (No. 3) and Germany (No. 4) saw growth of 4.9% and 4.1%, respectively. China rounds out the top five with 9.6% growth.

Further down the list, France (No. 6) reported a 7.5% increase, followed by South Korea (No. 7), which experienced a 5.7% decline, and Canada (No. 8), which saw modest growth of 1.5%.

The full 2025 IFPI Global Music Report is available here.

20 Mar 2025

Cam’ron Announces Joint EP With Mase, Teases New Song

Cam’ron and Mase are planning on dropping a project together.

The childhood friends have had a tumultuous relationship over the years dating back to the late ’90s, when they had a falling out over an appearance in Cam’s video for his hit single “Horse & Carriage.”

Since the two have reconciled, they got into business together and started their increasingly popular sports talk show It Is What It Is in 2023.

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Now, they plan on strengthening their relationship by making music with each other again.

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On March 19, Cam posted a clip on Instagram. “Harlem Fact check season. Sorry Murder, I had to give them a small sample. Willie Burgers (The EP) July 4th. I’m from old Harlem. Where the dirty kitchen was open pass 12pm. Maybe I’ll drop the full song on @talkwithflee 2mr morning,” he wrote. “We got so many joints in da stash.”

Produced by ADM Beatz, Cam started the song off by rapping, “Shouts Mason Betha, I’m Cameron Giles/ I’m sorry, Richard Porter, I’m sorry, Kevin Chiles/ I’m sorry, Bumpy Johnson, y’all always gettin’ chedda/ It come to Harlem, baby girl, nobody did it better.”

Cam also posted snippet on Talk With Flee earlier Thursday morning, and he’s calling it “Tupperware Freestyle.”

Last week, Mase announced that he’s planning on releasing his first album since 2004’s Welcome Back, and he wants to drop it on the first day of the Diddy trial, which is Monday, May 5. He also claimed that the project will be a “triple CD” and that Cam helped him pick the songs.

You can watch the freestyle below.

20 Mar 2025

Billboard & Telemundo Announce Third Annual Billboard Latin Women in Music

The Billboard Latin Women in Music special is scheduled to return for its third edition on April 24 at 9 p.m. ET via Telemundo, Billboard and Telemundo announced Thursday (March 20).

Hosted by the legendary Mexican singer and songwriter Ana Bárbara, who was among the 2024 honorees, the two-hour event will celebrate the groundbreaking women who are shaping the future of Latin music. The show will also be available to stream live on the Telemundo app and Peacock.

“We are thrilled to partner with Billboard once again to commemorate the incredible achievements of Latin women in music,” Francisco “Cisco” Suarez, Telemundo’s evp, primetime unscripted & specials, said in a press release. “At Telemundo, we are committed to empowering and uplifting voices that inspire and resonate with our audience and look forward to an unforgettable night of celebration filled with captivating performances.”

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“Billboard Latin Women in Music is a powerful platform that shines a spotlight on the extraordinary talent, resilience and impact of Latinas in the music industry,” added Leila Cobo, Billboard’s chief content officer for Latin/Español. “We are proud to continue this celebration alongside Telemundo, honoring the women who are breaking barriers, shaping culture and inspiring future generations through their artistry. This year’s show promises unforgettable performances and heartfelt moments that showcase the strength and brilliance of Latin women in music.”

This year’s honorees and performers will be announced at a later date.

Ana Bárbara, a renowned singer, songwriter, producer and actress who received the 2024 Lifetime Achievement honor for her significant contributions to music, returns this year to host the special. Throughout her career, the hitmaker behind anthems such as “Bandido” and “Loca” has been a beacon of empowerment, resilience and advocacy for female representation. She has shattered barriers and paved the way for other women in the industry, becoming an artistic inspiration and a respected figure in the Regional Mexican genre.

On the Billboard charts, she’s had hits including “Me Asusta Pero Me Gusta,” “La Trampa,” “Ya No Te Creo Nada” and “No Lloraré” reaching the top 10 of Hot Latin Songs, while albums such as Ay Amor (1996) and Yo Soy La Mujer (2014) have established her as a mainstay on Regional Mexican Albums.

Besides Ana Bárbara, last year’s honorees included Karol G as Woman of the Year, Gloria Estefan as Legend, La India as Pioneer, Ángela Aguilar with the Musical Dynasty Award, Camila Cabello with the Global Impact award, Kany García as Spirit of Change and Kali Uchis as Rising Star.

20 Mar 2025

Lady Gaga’s Fiancé Michael Polansky Makes His Billboard Chart Debut

Lady Gaga has built one of the most impressive histories on Billboard’s charts, achieving seven No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200 and six No. 1 songs on the Billboard Hot 100, among other honors.

Her fiancé, Michael Polansky, has largely stayed out of the spotlight. The Harvard-educated businessman is the founder or co-founder of several tech companies, including Avos Capital Management, Hawktail and Outer Biosciences. He’s also a board member for the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy and Gaga’s makeup company, Haus Labs.

As of Billboard’s latest charts (dated March 22), he can now add another item to his résumé: Billboard-charting songwriter.

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Polansky is credited as a co-writer on seven songs on Gaga’s new album, MAYHEM, which debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Of those seven cuts, four are on Billboard’s Hot Dance/Pop Songs chart. Here’s a recap:

Rank, Title (co-writers in addition to Polansky):

  • No. 4, “Vanish Into You” (Lady Gaga, Andrew Watt, Cirkut)
  • No. 5, “Disease” (Lady Gaga, Andrew Watt, Cirkut)
  • No. 9, “LoveDrug” (Lady Gaga, Andrew Watt, Cirkut)
  • No. 13, “Don’t Call Tonight” (Lady Gaga, Andrew Watt, Cirkut)

Thanks to those four charting hits, Polanksy debuts at No. 6 on the Dance/Pop Songwriters survey, marking his first appearance on a Billboard chart.

Gaga places at No. 3 on Dance/Pop Songwriters, while Cirkut and Watt tie at No. 1.

Polansky is also credited as a co-writer on MAYHEM tracks “How Bad Do U Want Me,” “The Beast” and “Blade of Grass.” Of those, “How Bad Do U Want Me” debuts at No. 69 on the Hot 100, “Disease” peaked at No. 27 on the Hot 100 in November, while “Vanish Into You” and “LoveDrug” debut on the latest list at Nos. 61 and 95, respectively.

Gaga has been vocal in recent interviews about Polansky’s role in creating MAYHEM, saying he encouraged her to return to her dance-pop roots. “Michael is the person who told me to make a new pop record. He was like, ‘Babe. I love you. You need to make pop music’,” she shared in a September interview with Vogue.

Polansky added, “Like anyone would do for the person they love, I encouraged her to lean in to the joy of it. On the Chromatica tour, I saw a fire in her; I wanted to help her keep that alive all the time and just start making music that made her happy.”

Gaga and Polansky met in 2019 and got engaged in 2024. In a March 7 interview with ABC’s Good Morning America, she said the pair include each other in their work. “He includes me in his business, as well. He’s really creative, he plays guitar — he’s like a beautiful musician. We have a really creative relationship.”