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Eslabon Armado‘s frontman and songwriter Pedro Tovar has signed a worldwide publishing deal with Kobalt, the company tells Billboard. The agreement was done via Tovar’s Armado Publishing; Kobalt will administer the Mexican-American artist’s entire catalog and future songs globally.
“I’m excited to join the Kobalt Music family in this new career stage,” Tovar said in a statement. “As a songwriter, I have always sought a company that values creativity and provides the necessary support to elevate my music to a global audience. I know that with Kobalt, I’ll continue growing and sharing my stories through my songs.”
Since having a major breakthrough in 2020, the sierreño act has been on a winning streak and fueling the música mexicana movement along the way.
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Over the course of four years, Eslabon released six consecutive chart-topping albums — all of which hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Albums chart. In 2022, the group made history, with Nostalgia becoming the first top 10-charting regional Mexican album ever on the Billboard 200. A year later, Eslabon released its blockbuster hit “Ella Baila Sola” with Peso Pluma. The song was a runaway success and made history when it entered the Billboard Hot 100‘s top five. Last week, Eslabon released its eight studio album, Vibras de Noche II, a follow-up to the band’s 2020 set Vibras de Noche.
“Pedro Tovar is one of the most exciting artists and songwriters making music today,” added Nestor Casonu, president of Kobalt Music Latin America. “Through this partnership, we’ve had the privilege of understanding the values of an extraordinary family, led by Doña Nelly, with whom we’ve built both a professional and personal bond. I’m excited about the great things we’ll achieve together in the future.”
“At Kobalt, we want to sign songwriters who have singular voices that resonate with a wide audience,” said Teresa Romo, Kobalt’s senior creative director for Latin America. “Our partnership with Pedro Tovar represents an exciting new phase in his songwriting career, and we’re honored to support his creative independence and nurture new opportunities.”
Armado Publishing was represented in the deal by Christopher Navarro, partner at Singh, Singh & Trauben LLP.
The Sea.Hear.Now festival will be back in Asbury Park, N.J. this fall with a lineup including headliners Blink-182, Hozier, LCD Soundsystem and Lenny Kravitz. The Sept. 13-14 event will also feature sets from Alabama Shakes, ZZ Top, Remi Wolf, Royel Otis, De La Soul, UB40, Gigi Perez, Sublime, Public Enemy, TV on the Radio, Spoon, Phantogram, 4 Non Blondes, Hot Mulligan and Mannequin Pussy, among others.
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The seaside event will once host some of the world’s greatest surfers and emerging stars, who will ride the waves throughout the weekend in team contests held between the Surf and Sand stages. Among the scheduled participants are: Landon McNamara, Cam Richards, Balaram Stack, Sam Hammer, Rob Kelly, Cassidy McClain, Pat Schmidt, Mike Gleason and many more.
A pre-sale for the event will kick off on Friday (March 21) at 10 a.m. ET, with a public on-sale to follow if any tickets remain; click here to sign up for a pre-sale passcode.
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Among the other musical acts on the roster for this year are: Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Inhaler, Mondo Cozmo, Bumpin Uglies, Not Yer Baby, Grace Bowers & the Hodge Podge, Landon McNamara, Neal Francis, Surfing for Daisy and The Tide Bends.
Last year’s fest got a major boost when Jersey legend Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band ripped off a three-hour-plus throwdown for a massive crowd that was full of hometown stories and a mix of beloved classics and deep-cut tracks. The epic show was later released on CD and for streaming via nugs.net.
Check out the 2025 Sea.Hear.Now announcement below.
Dolly Parton said she’s doing her best following the death earlier this month of her beloved husband of nearly six decades, Carl Thomas Dean. After a surprise appearance at the 40th season celebration at her Dollywood resort in Pigeon Forge, TN, last week, the singer spoke to Knox News about how she managing life without Dean, who died on March 3 at age 82.
“I’m doing better than I thought I would,” Parton said. “I’ve been with him 60 year. So, I’m going to have to relearn some of the things that we’ve done. But I’ll keep him always close.” Parton added that Dean — who was publicity-shy and more than happy to let his famous wife take all the spotlight over their long marriage — suffered “a great deal” near the end. “I’m at peace that he’s at peace,” she said of the love of her life, who she met when she was 18 and he was 23. “But that don’t keep me from missing and loving him.”
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Parton, of course, poured her grief out in the only way she knows how days after Dean’s death, releasing the moving ballad, “If You Hadn’t Been There,” an homage to the stoic support her husband offered her throughout their life together. “If you hadn’t been there/ Where would I be?/ Without your trust/ Love and belief/ The ups and downs/ We’ve always shared/ And I wouldn’t be here/ If you hadn’t been there,” Parton sings on the track.
“If you hadn’t been there/ Well, who would I be?/ You always see the best in me/ You’re loving arms have cradled me/ You held me close, and I believe,” she adds on the song before leaning into the loving chorus: “I wouldn’t be here/ If you hadn’t been there/ Holding my hand/ Showing you care/ You made me dream/ More than I dared/ And I wouldn’t be here/ If you hadn’t been there.”
In her trademark chin-up style, Parton told Knox that there is a “hole in my heart… but we’ll fill that up with good stuff and he’ll still always be with me.”
Though Dean was happy to stay off the radar, Parton also talked about how he loved visiting Dollywood, often standing in line to purchase his own ticket because “he didn’t want somebody giving him a ticket ’cause he was Dolly’s husband. Everybody thinks that’s the funniest thing.” In fact, he’d go alone, snack on funnel cakes and give his wife notes on improvements, saying things like, “‘You need more bathrooms’… or he would say, ‘You need to tell them this or that. It’s crowded over in that area. You might want to tell them they ought to do this or that.”
In his honor, Parton said she plans to hit up Dollywood and “do like Carl” and “walk around, look at everything.” The interview came after Parton made her first public appearance since Dean’s death on March 14, where she thanked Dollywood guests for their love and support.
Beyoncé is doubling down on Sin City. The singer announced on Wednesday (March 19) that she is going to play a second show at Allegiant Stadium on July 26, with tickets slated to go on sale on March 25 at 12 p.m. local time. A BeyHive pre-sale will kick off on Thursday (March 20) at 12 p.m. local, followed by the artist pre-sale on March 24 at 12 p.m. local and additional pre-sales for Citi cardmembers, Verizon Up and Mastercard ahead of the general on-sale.
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The new date comes after Bey added a July 25 stop in Las Vegas following the initial announcement of the Cowboy Carter & the Rodeo Chitlin’ Circuit tour last month. Before a single note is sung, the outing is already off to a blazing start. Earlier this week, Billboard reported that barely a month after pre-sales kicked off and six weeks from opening night the global outing is already at 94% capacity across all dates according to figures from promoter Live Nation.
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The tour was first announced on Feb. 3 with a roster of 22 shows in eight cities in the U.S. and Europe, with high demand forcing additional dates to be added in six of the eight markets on the tour celebrating Queen Bey’s Cowboy Carter album, which won album of the year at this year’s Grammy Awards.
When the tour was initially announced, Billboard projected that final earnings of $294 million on sales of 1.1-1.2 million tickets, with the additional dates — not counting the second Vegas show — potentially boosting that figure to more than $325 million.
Check out the announcement and updated full list of Cowboy Carter dates below.
April 28 – Inglewood, CA @ SoFi Stadium
May 1 – Inglewood, CA @ SoFi Stadium
May 4 – Inglewood, CA @ SoFi Stadium
May 7 – Inglewood, CA @ SoFi Stadium
May 9 – Inglewood, CA – SoFi Stadium
May 15 – Chicago, IL @ Soldier Field
May 17 – Chicago, IL @ Soldier Field
May 18 – Chicago, IL @ Soldier Field
May 22 – East Rutherford, NJ @ MetLife Stadium
May 24 – East Rutherford, NJ @ MetLife Stadium
May 25 – East Rutherford, NJ @ MetLife Stadium
May 28 – East Rutherford, NJ @ MetLife Stadium
May 29 – East Rutherford, NJ – MetLife Stadium
June 5 – London, UK @ Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
June 7 – London, UK @ Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
June 10 – London, UK @ Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
June 12 – London, UK @ Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
June 14 – London, UK @ Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
June 16 – London, UK @ Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
June 19 – Paris, France @ Stade de France
June 21 – Paris, France @ Stade de France
June 22 – Paris, France @ Stade de France
June 28 – Houston, TX @ NRG Stadium
June 29 – Houston, TX @ NRG Stadium
July 4 – Washington, D.C. @ Northwest Stadium
July 7 – Washington, D.C. @ Northwest Stadium
July 10 – Atlanta, GA @ Mercedes-Benz Stadium
July 11 – Atlanta, GA @ Mercedes-Benz Stadium
July 13 – Atlanta, GA @ Mercedes-Benz Stadium
July 14 – Atlanta, GA @ Mercedes-Benz Stadium
July 25 – Las Vegas, NV @ Allegiant Stadium
July 26 – Las Vegas, NV @ Allegiant Stadium
Smashing Pumpkins leader Billy Corgan and wife Chloé Mendel welcomed their third child on Tuesday (March 18). The couple shared the news with People magazine, revealing that Juno Corgan was born during the “wee hours” at the couple’s Highland, Park, IL home and weighed 9.9 lbs. and was 22 inches long. “My wife, Chloé is […]
King Stingray has announced the departure of lead vocalist Yirrŋa Yunupiŋu just as the band prepares to embark on their massive For The Dreams national tour.
The announcement was shared via the band’s social media on March 19, confirming that Yunupiŋu, who co-founded the band in 2020, will no longer be part of the lineup. Stepping into the role is Ngalakan Wanambi, who has already performed with King Stingray on their recent U.S. tour.
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“Hey everyone, we’ve got some news to share – King Stingray and Yirrŋa have parted ways,” the band wrote. “To keep the fire burning, we’re stoked to introduce the deadly Ngalakan Wanambi stepping up on vocals. He absolutely smashed it with us on our recent U.S. tour, and as always, our main man, Dima Burarrwanga, will be bringing the energy as he always does.”
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Formed in Yirrkala, a remote community in Arnhem Land, King Stingray quickly made a name for themselves with their blend of Yolŋu rock, seamlessly fusing Indigenous sounds with surf-rock and alternative influences. Yunupiŋu, the nephew of the late Dr. M. Yunupiŋu of Yothu Yindi, co-founded the group with guitarist Roy Kellaway, the son of Yothu Yindi bassist Stuart Kellaway.
With Yunupiŋu as lead singer, King Stingray released their self-titled debut album in 2022, followed by For The Dreams in November 2024. The band has since been at the forefront of Australia’s contemporary music scene, winning critical acclaim and multiple awards, including an ARIA for Best Independent Release.
Their For The Dreams national tour kicks off March 21 at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion, followed by stops in Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne, and Fremantle. Special guests Beddy Rays and The Belair Lip Bombs will join them on select dates.
Despite the lineup change, the band assured fans that the tour will retain the signature King Stingray energy. “This For The Dreams tour is gonna be something really special – same King Stingray spirit, same unstoppable Yolŋu rock and a whole lotta love,” they wrote.
Australia has fallen out of the top 10 global music markets for the first time in nearly three decades, according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry’s (IFPI) latest Global Music Report.
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The annual report, released this week, ranks the world’s largest music markets based on recorded music revenues, with the United States, Japan, and the United Kingdom retaining their long-standing dominance in the top three positions. However, for the first time since at least 1996, Australia is absent from the top 10, with Mexico overtaking it to claim the final spot.
Despite this shift, recorded music revenues in Australia continue to rise. The IFPI report states that revenues in Australasia reached $629 million in 2024, reflecting a 6.4% increase, with Australia specifically seeing a 6.1% boost. Similarly, New Zealand experienced a 7.8% revenue increase. Yet, these figures were not enough to maintain Australia’s position in the ranking, as markets like Mexico saw even more rapid growth, with a 15.6% increase, while Brazil, now ranked ninth, grew by a staggering 21.7%.
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Historically, Australia has been a formidable player in the global music industry, reaching as high as No. 6 on the IFPI’s ranking in 2004 and holding that position again from 2007 to 2015. In recent years, however, the country has hovered on the edge of the top 10 before finally dropping out in 2024.
This decline raises questions about the factors influencing Australia’s global standing. While growth remains steady, the rapid expansion of emerging markets suggests a shift in industry investment and audience engagement. Countries like Mexico and Brazil have seen increased investment in A&R, marketing, and local talent development, contributing to their rising influence on the international stage.
The IFPI’s Global Market Overview offers an optimistic outlook overall, noting that worldwide music revenues increased for the tenth consecutive year, growing 4.8% to a total of $29.6 billion. “The growth tells a story of an industry that continues to evolve and adapt around the world – with every region experiencing growth,” the report states.
However, the challenge for Australia lies in securing a stronger foothold in the global landscape amid this evolving market. Recent figures from ARIA indicate six consecutive years of revenue growth in Australia’s recorded music sector, but the nation’s industry leaders may need to explore new strategies to regain their competitive edge. Increased investment in local artists, a greater push for international market penetration, and innovations in streaming and digital distribution could all be key to Australia reclaiming its spot in the global top 10.
The full IFPI Global Music Report is available for review, providing further insights into the shifts shaping the industry in 2025.
Marty Callner, the acclaimed director responsible for numerous music videos, concert specials, and stand-up performances, has passed away at the age of 78.
Per The Hollywood Reporter, Callner’s representative Gail Parenteau confirmed that the director passed away at his home In Malibu from natural causes on Monday (March 17).
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Born in Chicago in 1946, Callner’s directorial career began while working for Cincinnati’s WCPO-TV in their news department, moving on to commercials and then sports until the mid-’70s. During this time, Callner began working for HBO, ultimately helping to set the standard for live comedy specials while serving as director of their On Location series.
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Helming specials featuring Robert Klein, Redd Foxx, Robin Williams, and Myron Cohen, Callner also directed 1981’s The Pee-Wee Herman Show, having discovered comedian Paul Reubens at The Groundlings in Los Angeles. Callner shifted his focus towards music with names such as Diana Ross, Paul Simon, and Liza Minnelli, before rising to prominence as an unsung hero of the entertainment world through his prolific career directing music videos.
Alongside videos for beloved names such as Stevie Nicks, Pat Benatar, Heart, and The Bangles, Callner was responsible for some of the most memorable music videos in history. His impressive resumé includes Cher‘s “If I Could Turn Back Time,” Twisted Sister‘s “We’re Not Gonna Take It” and “I Wanna Rock,” Whitesnake’s “Here I Go Again” and “Is This Love,” Poison’s “Every Rose Has Its Thorn,” and numerous clips for Aerosmith, including “Livin’ on the Edge,” “Dude (Looks Like a Lady),” and “Love in an Elevator.”
Callner’s career would also boast numerous live concert specials, including a number of famed pop stars of the ‘90s and ‘00s. Madonna’s The Girlie Show: Live Down Under, Britney Spears’ Live From Las Vegas, Justin Timberlake’s FutureSex/LoveShow, and NSYNC: Live from Madison Square Garden.
Despite ten Prime Emmy Awards nominations, Callner didn’t win any during his lifetime, with his work on Jerry Seinfeld: I’m Telling You for the Last Time, Robin Williams: Live on Broadway, and the Rolling Stones: Forty Licks World Tour Live at Madison Square Garden all receiving nods at the turn of the century.
Callner is also remembered as the creator of HBO reality sports documentary series Hard Knocks, which has run since 2021 and takes viewers through the trials and tribulations of an NFL’s team’s pre-season preparation for the upcoming season.
Following his passing, some of the many names associated with Callner’s work came forward to offer their own tributes. Whitesnake’s David Coverdale labelled Callner “an amazing guy” and a “super talent,” while famed broadcaster Eddie Trunk dubbed him a “legend in music video,” and noted that “anyone who watched MTV knew his work.”
Dane Cook, who worked with Callner on his 2006 special Vicious Circle and 2022’s Above it All noted he was “heartbroken” following the loss of Callner, who labelled a “friend, collaborator and legend.”
“You put me on the map w/ Vicious Circle at HBO – you told me dream big and we did,” Cook said. “You directed the best because the best wanted to work with the best – you. You had the astonishing ability to take the best of a creative person and highlight it, define it with them all the while capturing it with your stellar team. Condolences to the whole family – I love you guys. Marty – we always said it to each other – ‘I love you more!’”
British indie-rock duo Wet Leg are teasing a full-scale return, plotting their launch with a pair of upcoming U.S. dates.
The group – which was formed in 2019 by Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers – announced their live return via a post on social media on Wednesday (March 19).
“Hey there neighbor,” they wrote. “Been a while hasn’t it? Why dont u come on down to the bottom of our garden? it’s about time we had ourselves a little gathering…just a couple of special nights in NYC and LA.”
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The first of these shows will take place on March 31 at Brooklyn’s Market Hotel, while their Los Angeles show will be on April 8 at The River in Frogtown. Sign-ups for ticketing access have been made available via the band’s website. These live shows will be the band’s first since August, and are set to be followed by a series of performances throughout the U.K. and Europe over summer.
News of the upcoming U.S. dates follows on from a surprisingly active period of time on social media for the band this week. On Monday (March 17), a post captioned “we’re so back” urged fans to visit Wet Leg’s website, where hints of the band’s new era were provided.
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“Salutations, lonely heart,” a message in a Windows 95-era textbox reads. “You have wandered far, but you are home. Enter Moisturizer Valley — where the skin never cracks, and the body never withers. Enroll now. Learn how to live forever.”
This was followed up by a snippet of a new song shared on Tuesday (March 18), though no official release date for the track has been revealed as yet.
Wet Leg rose to fame in 2021 with the release of their debut single “Chaise Longue.” Reaching No. 15 and 21 on the Alternative Airplay and Rock Airplay charts respectively, the Mean Girls-referencing track was featured on the band’s self-titled debut LP in 2022, which reached No. 14 on the Billboard 200 upon its release.
Such was the success of Wet Leg that they scored a nomination for best new artist at the 2023 Grammys, with “Chaise Longue” taking home best alternative music performance and their LP winning best alternative music album. The group have also managed to snare high-profile support slots for the likes of Harry Styles and the Foo Fighters in stadiums around the world in recent years.
After close to two decades together, Guns N’ Roses and drummer Frank Ferrer have parted ways,
News of the band’s lineup shift was confirmed by the group in a statement released on Wednesday (March 19). “Guns N’ Roses announce the amicable exit of Frank Ferrer, the longest-serving drummer in their storied run,” the statement read. “The band thanks Frank for his friendship, creativity and sturdy presence over the past 19 years, and they wish him success in the next chapter of his musical journey.”
Ferrer became a member of Guns N’ Roses in 2006, taking over from Bryan “Brain” Mantia, who had joined in 2000. Holding the role for 19 years, he is the longest-tenured percussionist in the band’s history, second only to Steven Adler, who sat behind the kit from 1990 to 1997.
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Ferrer’s recorded contributions to the band began with five tracks on their famously-delayed (and currently, their most recent) studio album, Chinese Democracy, which arrived in 2008. He would also appear on the live portion of 2022’s Hard Skool EP, with former drummer Brain appearing on the studio tracks and their 2023 singles “Perhaps” and “The General.”
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Ferrer’s last appearance with the band took place at Mexico’s Hell & Heaven Metal Fest in November 2023, which is currently the most recent live performance from Guns N’ Roses to date.
Currently, the band are scheduled to return to the road soon, launching their awkwardly-titled Because What You Want & What You Get Are Two Completely Different Things Tour in South Korea on May 1. The tour will visit the Middle East and Europe over the following months, with no dates set past their July 31 concert in Germany. No replacement for Ferrer has been named at the current time.
Outside of his time with Guns N’ Roses, Ferrer had previously performed with The Beautiful, later joining future Guns N’ Roses bandmate Richard Fortus in both Love Spit Love and The Psychedelic Furs. In 2019, Ferrer also co-founded the rock band PSSR, who have issued a handful of singles in recent years.
