Music News

28 Jan 2025

‘The Voice’ Star Ryan Whyte Maloney Dies at 44

Ryan Whyte Maloney, who appeared on The Voice in 2014, has died. He was 44 years old.

The Las Vegas Clark County Coroner confirmed to People on Tuesday (Jan. 28) that Whyte Maloney died by suicide, with the cause of death listed as a gunshot wound to the head.

The Traverse City, Mich., recorded his first album, Tomorrow’s Aother Day, for his band Indulge in 2005. He then began making music for his solo career, and spent most of 2010 to 2013 performing across the country with original songs like “Hillbilly,” “Michigan Moonlight” and “Living With No Directions” under his belt.

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He appeared on season six of The Voice, and joined Blake Shelton’s team. He ended up in the country star’s top five finalists, and returned to perform during the season finale. He continued his relationship with coach Shelton, and in 2024, he performed at the pre-opening party and on opening day of Shelton’s Ole Red bar. He had an ongoing residency at Ole Red.

Whyte Maloney’s most recent Instagram post was shared the day before his death was confirmed. On Monday night (Jan. 27), he posted on his Instagram Stories a selfie-style video from what appears to be a bar.

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If you or anyone you know is in crisis, call 988 or visit the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s website for free, confidential emotional support and resources 24/7.

28 Jan 2025

Julia Fox Consults Magic 8 Ball to Ask: Will She Ever Be a Billboard Hot 100 Artist?

Nearly a year after Julia Fox debuted her first single “Down the Drain” at Charli XCX’s February 2024 Boiler Room DJ set, the actress is thinking big when it comes to the future of her music career.

In fact, Fox is setting her sights on the Billboard charts. While partnering with MAC for a new campaign, the Uncut Gems star asks a Magic 8 Ball for some guidance on her goals as a musician — but the answer might come as a disappointment to those who are fans of her burgeoning sound.

“Will I be a Billboard [Hot] 100 artist?” Fox, sitting on a subway platform bench while dressed in a revealing nude dress and pale purple glam, asks the toy before giving it a shake. “My reply is no!” she quickly reports back, laughing. “I kind of had a feeling it was no.”

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The new video is part of MAC’s Eight Ball Questions series, which also includes new clips with Martha Stewart and Tiffany “New York” Pollard.

While Fox’s 8 Ball might be counting her out, there’s no telling what the future might actually bring. After all, the model did enter the music game last year with the release of “Down the Drain,” produced by Ben Draghi and accompanied by an envelope-pushing music video filmed at a dominatrix dungeon where she used to work.

“In all seriousness, music was my first love,” she told Rolling Stone of her musical ambitions in May. “I’ve always wanted to do it, but I got discouraged by [my] mom at a young age, so I’m just healing my childhood wounds and making my lifelong dreams come true. [I’m] not trying to get rich off music or win Grammys. I have realistic expectations.”

Watch Fox consult her Magic 8 Ball below.

28 Jan 2025

Could Chappell Roan Sweep the Big 4? Or Is It Beyoncé’s Time for Album of the Year? What to Expect at 2025 Grammys

As we near the 2025 Grammy Awards this Sunday, predicting what will happen in the Big Four categories — album, record and song of the year, along with best new artist — feels more challenging than ever.

Could Chappell Roan sweep the Big Four? Or could it be Beyoncé’s time to notch her first win for album of the year? On the new Billboard Pop Shop Podcast, Katie & Keith are chatting through Billboard awards editor Paul Grein’s final predictions and sharing our own takes as we try our best to guess how the night could go.

Listen here:

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Also on the show, we’ve got chart news on how Bad Bunny holds at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, as does Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ “Die With a Smile” atop the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart. Plus, another song by Mars, “APT.” with ROSÉ, hits No. 1 on Pop Airplay, and the late Mac Miller’s Balloonerism debuts in the top three on the Billboard 200 chart.

The Billboard Pop Shop Podcast is your one-stop shop for all things pop on Billboard‘s weekly charts. You can always count on a lively discussion about the latest pop news, fun chart stats and stories, new music, and guest interviews with music stars and folks from the world of pop. Casual pop fans and chart junkies can hear Billboard‘s executive digital director, West Coast, Katie Atkinson and Billboard’s managing director, charts and data operations, Keith Caulfield every week on the podcast, which can be streamed on Billboard.com or downloaded in Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast provider. (Click here to listen to the previous edition of the show on Billboard.com.)

28 Jan 2025

Madonna Says the Government Is ‘Dismantling All the Freedoms We Have Been Fighting For’

Madonna is calling out the Donald Trump administration following a number of anti-trans executive orders, including barring transgender people from serving and enlisting in the military, as well as banning federal funding for youth gender-affirming care.

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“It’s so sad to watch our new Government slowly dismantling all the Freedoms we have been fighting for and WON over the years,” she wrote alongside a selfie via X on Tuesday (Jan. 28). While she didn’t indicate which freedoms she’s referring to, she added broken heart and Pride flag emojis to her post. “Don’t give up the Fight!”

Madonna has been clear about her disapproval of Trump over the years. After the election in November, she took to her Instagram Stories to post a photo of a yellow and orange cake with “F— Trump” written across the top, surrounded by cherries. “Stuffed my face with this cake last night,” she captioned the snap.

She followed up the photo of the cake with a selfie, over which she wrote, “Trying to get my head around why a convicted felon, rapist, bigot was chosen to lead our country because he’s good for the economy?”

The star also shared a post to her feed, writing in the caption, “I woke up this morning and the first thought that came to my head was-America hates Women! – Not that I haven’t always felt the wrath of misogyny breathing down my neck.”

She continued, “They straight up hate Freedom. They want lower taxes, but they don’t mind if they live in a Totalitarian government to get them. I don’t want to let go of our democracy!! Now we will all have to fight even harder to hang onto it. Americans who voted for Trump or didn’t vote at all- showed that many people are OK with a dictatorship to take over . I don’t want my friends that are not naturally born Americans to live in internment camps.!! I want my daughters and all of their friends to have agency over their bodies!! To feel valued. Not like second-class.citizens. How could women vote for Trump? We fought for so long for so much!”

28 Jan 2025

Billboard to Co-Livestream L.A. Gives Back Wildfire Relief Benefit: See the Lineup

The electronic music-focused Los Angeles wildfire relief benefit happening on Wednesday (Jan. 29) in L.A. has announced a stacked lineup.

Take place at The Bellwether, L.A. Gives Back: Fire Relief will feature sets from artists including AC Slater and Chris Lorenzo, Alice Glass, Chrome Sparks, Corey Sizemore, Goddollars, Ladies of Leisure, Love Bailey, Miss Tosh, Niohuru X, Paradise, Richie Panic, Spank Rock, Thee Mike B, Tech Grl, Walker & Royce, Poolside and more, including a group of acts who won’t be announced until they step onstage. Visuals will be provided by Strange Loop. See the complete lineup below.

Additionally, a livestream pre-show will feature performances exclusive to the stream from Sylvan Esso, Fat Tony, Marc Rebillet The Bob Baker Marionette Theater and more. The livestream will be hosted by Reggie Watts, Hannah Rad, Jesse Camp, Avita Ash and Samantha Urbani.

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The L.A. Gives Back: Fire Relief livestream will stream on the event’s website and through Billboard’s YouTube channel along with Brownies and Lemonade’s Twitch, VEEPS and on ON AIR from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m., starting on the evening of Jan. 29.

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Tickets for the 18+ live show, beginning at 7 p.m. at The Bellwether, are available here, with 100% of the proceeds going to the California Fire Foundation, MusiCares, Anti-Recidivism Coalition and the Pasadena Humane Society.

L.A. Gives Back: Fire Relief is being organized by IHEARTCOMIX, Brownies & Lemonade, Another Planet Entertainment (which owns The Bellwether) and Teragram. Organizers also include a fleet of L.A.’s most crucial electronic event organizers including A Club Called Rhonda, Emo Night, Ninja Tune, Mad Decent, Pangea Sound, Electric Feels, Lights Down Low, Shrek Rave and Production Club. The event also features support from Fortress Entertainment, Little Cinema, Little Secret, and Restless Nites.

LA GIVES BACK: FIRE RELIEF announces lineup

LA GIVES BACK: FIRE RELIEF

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28 Jan 2025

J. Cole Launches New ‘The Algorithm’ Blog

J. Cole has decided to start a blog.

The Carolina rapper posted the first entry to The Algorithm on his Inevitable website, which also hosts his podcast of the same name.

“This is just a place for me to share,” he wrote. “I been wanting a lil blog for years. Somewhere to post random sh– I f— with where the audience is way smaller than it is on the social media platforms. Finally pulled the trigger, [bear] with us as we still developing this page and the layout.”

He then mentioned LA rapper AHMAD and his 1993 hit record “Back in the Day.”

“Respect to AHMAD,” Cole wrote. “I played this joint last night and was like, ‘Damn! There go my first post for the blog.’ Been loving this song since I was like 9 years old on Lewis Street begging my mom for a bike I heard about called a GT performer.”

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Adding, “Now at midnight I will turn 40. Might save the sentimentals for a post tomorrow. But in a nutshell I’m GRATEFUL. Happy new year to yall and God bless. 2025 will be a good one.”

Cole’s Inevitable podcast highlighted his journey from unknown aspiring rapper and producer to the superstar he is now as he continues to prep his seventh solo album The Fall-Off. There’s no telling if he’ll retire after its release, but he hopes to have it finished before the fifth and final Dreamville Fest this upcoming April. “I’ll see y’all at Dreamville Festival,” he told the crowd at his 10th Anniversary 2014 Forest Hills Drive concert at Madison Square Garden. “Hopefully I’ll have something new to perform for y’all.”

28 Jan 2025

Max B to Young Thug: ‘We Gon’ Make Some History?’

Max B and Young Thug spoke over the phone recently, the imprisoned rapper revealed this week.

The Boss Don — who is reportedly coming home later this year on Nov. 9 — posted a clip of himself talking to Young Thug over the phone on his Instagram Stories. “Man, I’m in here grinding this sh– out,” he tells Thug before the Atlanta rapper, whose dealt with his fair share of legal issues lately, asks if Max will be released soon. “Hell yeah, we ’bout to hit the home stretch, baby,” he answered before asking Thug: “We gon’ make some history?”

A collab between the two would be fitting, seeing that their styles of rap are similar. Stepping onto the rap scene around 2005, the Harlem rapper often sang his raps, making him a polarizing figure at the time — just like when Thug first started out. Max’s rise was cut short in 2009 when he was sentenced to 75 years for an armed robbery. His sentence was reduced in 2016 and is due to be released later this year after serving 16 years in prison.

Now, at the age of 46, he hopes to resurrect his career. Biggaveli recently called in to The Joe Budden Podcast to not only announce his official prison release date, but to also talk about his plans once he does come home. “Listen, I’m not even gonna put myself in a box, it’s all gonna run concurrent,” he said over the phone. “I can’t wait to get in the studio. There’s a lot of artists out there, too many to name. I’m looking forward to working with the big names, the head honchos… But they gotta be A-list. If the sh– ain’t A-list, I can’t f— with it.”

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Thug has also been keeping himself busy since being released from jail in the fall. He’s reportedly working on a collab album with Lil Baby and Future.

28 Jan 2025

Who Should Win Album of the Year at the 2025 Grammys? Vote!

When 2024 turned out to be one of the most densely packed years for pop music releases in recent memory, it was a given that the following year’s Grammys would be extremely competitive. But as the days close in on Sunday’s ceremony, the face-off is starting to feel more and more contentious — especially in the album of the year category.

In 2025, some of pop’s most established titans are squaring off against breakout newcomers and tastemakers in the category, with no clear front-runner to speak of. For starters, last year’s winner Taylor Swift returns to the fold in 2024, this time with her 17-week Billboard 200-topper The Tortured Poets Department. If the prize was awarded based on sales, the Eras Tour headliner would have it in the bag, having recorded the second-highest first-week numbers in history — 2,610,000 units, to be exact — with her sprawling 11th studio record the in April last year. She’s also the reigning AOTY winner, taking home the award a record fourth time in 2024 for the year prior’s Midnights.

But Beyoncé is also in the race for the fifth time in her career, this time thanks to Cowboy Carter. Some people think that the critical acclaim of the country-bending, genre-exploring LP — which features all-star cameos from Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Post Malone, Miley Cyrus and more greats — might be the project to finally get the “Texas Hold ‘Em” singer that AOTY honor, which would become the crown jewel of her already record-high Grammy count (32 total).

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But three of last summer’s most talked-about ladies also share the category with Bey and Tay: Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan and Charli XCX. All three women ruled the charts last year with their respective projects, with Short n’ Sweet, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess and Brat, respectively, all spawning year-defining viral hits and turning their creators into superstars.

And those are just a few of the heavyweights included in this year’s album of the year category, which will also see Grammy darling Billie Eilish‘s Hit Me Hard and Soft face off against André 3000‘s New Blue Sun and Jacob Collier‘s Djesse Vol. 4. Opinions about who should actually take home the coveted gramophone are rampant, but only Recording Academy voters can decide the fate of the nominees.

Except for here, where your voice is the one that matters: Tell Billboard which project you hope to see win album of the year at the 2025 Grammys by casting your vote in the poll below.

28 Jan 2025

Tinashe Teases the ‘High Energy Vibe’ She’s Bringing to the Popeyes x Tequila Don Julio Super Bowl Bash

Nothing pairs better with football than fried chicken and tequila. That’s why Popeyes is teaming up with Tequila Don Julio to curate a special Championship Lineup menu for the Super Bowl.

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The Popeyes x Tequila Don Julio Reposado Flavored Concha Chicken Sandwich includes a chicken breast fillet marinated in reposado tequila then fried in Popeyes crunchy buttermilk breading, topped with a tequila lime slaw, spicy spread, a barrel cured pickle and sandwiched between a concha roll. Additional items featured on the specialty menu include Popeyes x Tequila Don Julio Reposado Flavored Louisiana Garlic 3-Piece Wings with a specialty sauce and a Spicy Strawberry Hibiscus Flavored Lemonade Mocktail.

For one day only, on January 31, select Popeyes restaurants in New York City, Miami and New Orleans, as well as the hometowns of the teams headed to the Super Bowl — Philadelphia and Kansas City — will feature the collaboration for customers over 21 years of age. In New Orleans, where the Big Game will take place this year, the items will be available at the flagship restaurant on Canal Street for an extended period from January 31 through February 9, while supplies last.

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To celebrate the collaboration, Tinashe will head down to New Orleans to perform at the Popeyes x Tequila Don Julio bash on Feb. 7. “It’s two things I’m a fan of coming together,” she tells Billboard of the collaboration. “It’s fried chicken and tequila. What more could you ask for?”

While drinking tequila, the “Nasty” keeps it simple. “I’m usually taking shots,” she says with a laugh.

It’s also the second Super Bowl she’s attending. “The Super Bowl was always a huge day in my family. We have a ton of big sports fans in the house,” she shares. “The halftime performance is something I always look forward to every year. I’m just so excited to be back and part of the Super Bowl energy. It’s always so much fun.”

Her performance at the Popeyes x Tequila Don Julio bash will be equally as fun. “I always have a lot of high energy in my performances,” she says. “It’s going to be dancing, going to be on your feet. It’s going to be a real fun, high energy vibe and a celebration.”

If you’re unable to get your hands on the Championship Lineup menu, you can still redeem a buy one get one free chicken sandwich when purchasing Popeyes on UberEats, as well as a $5 code to redeem on Tequila Don Julio until Feb. 9.

28 Jan 2025

Flavor Flav Comes to Selena Gomez’s Defense After Mass Deportation Backlash

Flavor Flav has Selena Gomez’s back. The Public Enemy rapper came to Gomez’s defense on X earlier this week in the wake of the backlash she faced following her emotional reaction opposing the mass deportations taking place around the U.S. with Donald Trump in office.

“Team Selena Gomez. Again. That woman is always so brave to share her truth,,, and so many are quick to bully her,” he wrote.

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There was a mixed reaction in Flav’s replies representing both sides. “She is so real and honest! Love her,” one person wrote.

Another fired back: “Nobody loves defending illegals like she does!”

Over the weekend, a shaken-up Gomez posted an Instagram Story crying over the ICE arrests and mass deportations of undocumented immigrants in the United States. “I’m sorry,” she captioned the since-deleted clip with a Mexican flag (Gomez is half-Mexican from her father’s side).

“All my people are getting attacked, the children,” she said while sobbing. “I don’t understand. I’m so sorry, I wish I could do something, but I can’t. I don’t know what to do. I’ll try everything, I promise.”

After deleting the clip, she posted a follow-up addressing the backlash. “Apparently it’s not ok to show empathy for people,” Gomez added in a follow-up IG Story.

Republican politician Sam Parker even called for the Texas-bred star to be deported in a post on social media. However, Gomez was unfazed by the threat. “Oh, Mr. Parker, Mr. Parker,” she responded, per People. “Thanks for the laugh and the threat.”

Selena Gomez previously served as a producer on Netflix’s Living Undocumented documentary in 2019, which showcased the state of undocumented immigrant families in the United States.

The Emilia Pérez star also penned a Time essay in 2019 addressing immigration issues. “Undocumented immigration is an issue I think about every day, and I never forget how blessed I am to have been born in this country thanks to my family and the grace of circumstance,” she wrote.

It’s far from the first time Flavor Flav has shown love to Gomez. Back in November, he praised her for opening up about her mental health.

“I don’t know her personally,,, but Selena Gomez is one of the STRONGEST and MOST BEAUTIFUL people inside and out,” he gushed. “I applaud her for being so open about her health and mental health. And I applaud her even more for clapping back at haterz,,, but she shouldn’t have to.”