State Champ Radio Music News
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Next year’s Hellfest will feature more than 180 bands, including headliners Limp Bizkit, Iron Maiden, The Offspring and Bring Me the Horizon. The huge four-day (June 18-21) hard rock festival in Clisson, France will kick off with Bring Me the Horizon topping a bill that will also include Papa Roach, Breaking Benjamin, The Plot in You, We Came As Romans, Deep Purple, Alice Cooper, The Pretty Reckless, Social Distortion, All Time Low, Lagwagon and many others.
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The June 19 lineup will have Maiden joined by Helloween (playing a 40th anniversary set), Ultra Vomit, Accept, Queensryche, Sortilege, Winds of Steel, Blackrain, Sabaton, Opeth, Sepultura, Bloodywood, Tesseract, Brothers of Metal, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Ceremony, Mastodon, Slift, Stoned Jesus, Blood Incantation, Decapitated, Blood Red Throne, My Dying Bride, Rotting Christ and more.
Saturday night will find Limp Bizkit sharing the stage with A Perfect Circle, Tom Morello, Static-X, Enhancer, House of Protection, Thornhill, Slay Squad, Volbeat, Megadeth, Anthrax, Cavalera, Crisix, Gatecreeper, Escuela Grind, Insanity Alert, Hatebreed, Lionheart, Cro-Mags, Trash Talk, Cancer Bats, Cult of Luna, God Is an Astronaut, Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs, Deicide, Carcass and more.
The final night will have the Offspring topping the main stage on a bill that also features The Hives, Rise Against, Pennywise, The Ataris, The Bones, The Dwarves, Not Scientists, Bad Omens, Architects, Three Days Grace, Black Veil Brides, President, The Funeral Portrait, The Adicts, Agnostic Front, Circle Jerks, Buzzcocks, Down, Acid Bath, Corrosion of Conformity, Eyehategod, Soilent Green, Napalm Death, Possessed, Six Feet Under, Bloodstain and Sublimate Cadaveric Decomposition and more.
Click here for ticket information.
Check out the full Hellfest 2026 poster below.
Trending on Billboard Olivia Rodrigo‘s dreams came true this summer when Weezer joined her on stage during her headlining set at Lollapalooza in Chicago. She loved it so much that on Tuesday (Nov. 11) the singer surprise released a limited edition 7″ vinyl single commemorating the pop-rock summit. Explore See latest videos, charts and news […]
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AJ McLean is obsessed. The target of his obsession for the past few weeks is creator Lydia Getachew’s viral remix of Taylor Swift‘s “Elizabeth Taylor” and the Backstreet Boys‘ iconic 1997 hit “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back),” which, not for nothing, were both produced by pop savant producer Max Martin.
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Back on Oct. 10, Getachew posted her original video in which he vibes out to her perfectly perfect melding of the Swift song over the BSB beat, writing, “My brain immediately heard the drop in ‘Elizabeth Taylor’ and I was like wait the bass is giving a drop in BSB… lo&behold, Max Martin produced both songs!
A week later, McLean posted a video in which he rocked out to the remix, commenting, “Come on now you know one of us had to! @taylorswift!” Swift immediately jumped into the comments, responding, “OH HI AJ OH MY GOD.”
To date, the remix — which Getachew posted in full on Soundcloud a short time later — has been view more than one million times on TikTok and streamed more than 665,000 times on Soundcloud. And now McLean is hoping to recreate that magic on stage at the BSB’s Into the Millennium residency, which recently announced seven more shows for December and January.
TMZ caught up with McLean on Tuesday (Nov. 11) and asked who he’d like to see take the stage at the mind-bending Sphere after he, Kevin Richardson, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell and Nick Carter move on from Las Vegas’ favorite new high-tech venue. AJ’s wish list of potential next residencies included some big names — Coldplay, Lenny Kravitz, Red Hot Chili Peppers — but one stood out.
“I don’t know if she’d ever do it, but I think Taylor [Swift] would absolutely destroy it,” he predicted of a fantasy Swift Sphere stint. “She is a fan, and we’re a massive fan of hers. I mean, she’s the sweetest. She’s been so kind to my daughters anytime that we’ve had a chance to hang out and meet her at her shows. She’s just the best.”
Given how popular the mash-up is, McLean said it would “break the planet” if Swift did a pop-in to perform it live with his crew. “Fans are hoping she’ll do ‘Elizabeth Taylor’ while we do ‘Backstreet’s Back,’” he said. “Taylor, if you want, come see the show first, so you know what’s going on. And then you can figure out if you want to come up with up with us,” he said. “We’re not going to say no.”
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Mashd N Kutcher’s next tune is a banger for a good cause.
The APRA Award-winning electronic music act dishes up the official tune for 2025 McHappy Day this Saturday (Nov. 15), the biggest annual fundraiser for Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) in Australia.
The bouncing cut captures the voices of children and their families staying at Ronald McDonald House in South Brisbane, and works in the iconic “ba da ba ba ba” jingle over keys, drums, funky electric guitar and a soaring synth line.
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“This song means a lot to me. Visiting the team and families at Ronald McDonald House was truly inspiring – their positivity, resilience and the way they support each other is incredible,” comments Mashd N Kutcher lead Matt James.
“Seeing the kids light up while playing instruments, sharing laughs and even singing the Macca’s jingle was magic,” he adds. “It was a privilege to bring a little fun into their day, and I think that magic shines through in the track. I hope it makes people smile and inspires them to get involved and donate to McHappy Day this Saturday.”
The track is live on Mashd N Kutcher and McDonald’s Australia’s social channels and will play in the burger chain’s 1,000-plus restaurants nationwide on the big day. Stream it, and watch footage of MNK’s visit to Ronald McDonald House below.
James knows more than most about the healing powers of music. The classically-trained Brisbane artist was diagnosed in 2023 with cancer, Multiple Myeloma, which forms in blood cells inside the bone marrow. A year later, in 2024, James and MNK made a roaring musical return with the full-length album Legacy.
It’s not the first MNK tie-in with Maccas. The lads sizzled with 2022’s “Ultimate Mix,” the music treat to accompany McDonald’s McFlurry with Cadbury’s, celebrating what was the chocolate specialist’s 100th year as an Australian favorite.
Since launching in 1991, McHappy Day has raised over A$79 million ($51 million), helping more than 69,000 families every year through RMHC, by funding various programs.
Trending on Billboard It’s not officially Grammy season until there’s some spirited debate about this year’s nominations — and here we are. On this week’s Billboard Pop Shop Podcast, Katie & Keith are chatting through the 2026 Grammy nominations, starting with the Big Four categories (album, record and song of the year, plus best new […]
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Radio companies had mixed results in the third quarter in their efforts to build digital businesses, cut costs and manage a decline in broadcast advertising dollars as consumers shift to newer entertainment platforms.
iHeartMedia’s consolidated revenue of $997 million was down just 1.1%, well within the company’s guidance of a low single-digit decline. Excluding the impact of political advertising in the prior-year period, revenue was up 2.8%. CEO Bob Pittman said during the company’s earnings call on Monday (Nov. 10) that the advertising environment is “pretty good” and iHeartMedia is “not feeling anything” related to the U.S. government shutdown.
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An operating loss of $116 million stemmed from a $209 million impairment charge related to the value of iHeartMedia’s FCC licenses. Excluding the impact of the write-down and other extraordinary items, adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), a common measure of profitability from ongoing operations, was flat at $205 million.
The multi-platform division, which includes iHeartMedia’s broadcast and network businesses, had revenue of $591 million, down 4.6% due to lower political advertising and what the company called “uncertain market conditions.” Adjusted EBITDA of $119.2 million marked an 8.3% decrease from the prior-year period, despite lower employee compensation costs.
The digital audio group, which includes podcasts, had revenue of $342 million, up 14%, and adjusted EBITDA of $130.3 million, up 30.3%. Podcast revenue increased by 22% to $140 million.
Based on trends for the top advertisers and advertising agencies, Pittman said he has “confidence” that the multi-platform division will return to revenue growth. “We’re feeling similar momentum to what other ad-supported companies have discussed right now: Spending is holding up, and discussions with advertisers are positive,” he noted on the company’s earnings call. Although iHeartMedia has not felt any impact from the government shutdown, Pittman conceded it “does add a level of uncertainty.”
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iHeartMedia said it remains on track to create $150 million in annual cost savings in 2025. In addition, the company took steps in the third quarter to save an additional $50 million in 2026, which COO/CFO Rich Bressler said will come mainly from the multi-platform division.
Looking ahead, iHeartMedia expects fourth quarter revenue to be down in the low single digits. Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be $200 million to $240 million, down from $246 million in the prior-year quarter because of political advertising in the 2024 election year. The multi-platform division is expected to be down in the low single digits. Digital revenue is expected to grow in the high single digits, and podcast revenue specifically is expected to grow in the mid-teens.
Cumulus Media, the country’s third-largest radio broadcaster by revenue, reported that third-quarter revenue fell 11.5% to $180.3 million. CEO Mary Berner cited a “challenging” advertising environment and touted Cumulus’s efforts to cut costs and employ AI to improve efficiency. Broadcast revenue plummeted 17.2% to $115.0 million. Digital revenue fell 2.6% to $39.0 million but would have grown 8.4% without the losses of The Daily Wire and conservative commentator Dan Bongino, who left podcasting to become the deputy director of the FBI. Consolidated adjusted EBITDA fell to $16.7 million from $24.1 million a year earlier.
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Townsquare Media faced “numerous headwinds,” CEO Bill Wilson said in a statement, but the company met its previous guidance on revenue and adjusted EBITDA. Revenue dropped 7.4% to $106.8 million and would have dropped 4.5% if political advertising were excluded. Adjusted EBITDA fell 13.5% to $3.4 million.
iHeartMedia shares fell 6.0% to $4.29 on Tuesday (Nov. 11) following the earnings announcement on Monday afternoon. The stock had jumped 55.9% in the week ended Nov. 7 following a report that the company was in talks with Netflix to distribute its podcast content.
Cumulus Media shares soared 31% to $0.135 the day after the company released earnings on Oct. 30. The stock has since lost all of those gains and more, however, and closed at $0.10 on Tuesday (Nov. 11).
Townsquare Media shares fell 11.3% to $5.42 on Monday following the quarterly earnings report. The stock rose 0.6% to $5.45 on Tuesday.
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Lightning in a Bottle dropped their 2026 lineup early this year, with the event’s organizers presenting a major bill for the fest this May.
Leading the lineup are art electronic legends Empire of the Sun, Dutch phenom Mau P (whose August track “Tesla” is currently at No. 1 on Dance/Mix Show Airplay), hard techno arbiter Sara Landry, bass OGs Zeds Dead, UK D&B legends Chase & Status, R&B queen Tinashe, UK fav Barry Can’t Swim and Brazilian whirlwind Mochakk.
Beyond that, the bill features Of the Trees, Billboard’s September Dance Rookie of the Month Jigitz, Overmono, Daily Bread, Lee Burrdige, Hot Since 92, Nia Archives, Dimension, Alleycvt, Jayda G, and many more. See the complete lineup below, with this lineup poster’s design nodding to the festival’s longstanding Mixtape stage, where DJs play classic cuts on cassette all weekend long.
Additionally, after first collabing with legendary L.A. club night A Club Called Rhonda last year, the party will be back for another takeover at the Crossroads Stage, with the longstanding D&B party Respect DnB, the party Baile World and afrobeat/amapiano/dancehall party FMLY BZNS all also hosting nights at Crossroads. LiB will also, as always, host myriad talks, workshops and yoga sessions over the weekend.
Lightning in a Bottle 2026 will mark the 23rd edition of the independent festival. It happens over Memorial Day weekend, May 20-24, 2026 at Buena Vista Lake near Bakersfield, Calif.
Tickets for for the fest go on sale on Nov. 14 at 11 a.m. PT.
Lightning in a Bottle 2026
Courtesy Lightning in a Bottle
Trending on Billboard Modern parents know all too well how difficult it can be to tear their kids and their tablets apart — and that’s exactly what the new Toy Story 5 teaser (soundtracked by INXS) touches on. In a 50-second preview released by Pixar on Tuesday (Nov. 11), Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Mr. Potato Head […]
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A$AP Relli has abandoned plans to retread his shooting claims against A$AP Rocky at a second trial early next year, telling Billboard through a lawyer that he’s instead “focusing on rebuilding his life.”
Rocky (Rakim Mayers) was acquitted at a criminal trial this past February of shooting Relli (Terrell Ephron), his childhood friend and onetime A$AP Mob collaborator, in 2021. Relli brought an assault lawsuit in 2022 seeking financial damages from the star rapper over the same alleged incident.
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The civil case was scheduled to go to trial in January, with Relli facing a lower burden of proof than the one prosecutors failed to meet in their criminal case against Rocky. But an attorney for Relli, Aaron Morris, tells Billboard on Tuesday (Nov. 11) that his client has decided to drop the assault claims.
“At this point, he’s ready to simply move on from the shooting,” Morris said. “The ordeal has been a nightmare for him, and the statements calling him a ‘liar’ and worse effectively eliminated his chances of a career in the industry.”
Morris said his team will file court papers officially dismissing the assault lawsuit later this week. Relli is still pursuing a separate defamation lawsuit against both Rocky and his lawyer, Joe Tacopina, over press interviews in which they called the shooting claims “extortion” and a “get-rich-quick-scheme.” Relli alleges these statements harmed his reputation and career as an artist manager.
“He’s going to litigate the defamation action because of the damages it caused, but as to the shooting, he’s thankful he wasn’t hurt worse and is focusing on rebuilding his life,” says Morris.
Rocky’s reps did not immediately return a request for comment.
Rocky and Relli were involved in a now-infamous altercation near a Hollywood hotel in November 2021. Relli alleges Rocky fired a handgun at him twice during the argument, while the rapper maintains it was a prop gun filled with blanks.
Prosecutors charged Rocky with two felony assault counts in 2022. The Grammy-nominated Harlem rapper rejected a plea offer from prosecutors and went to trial, risking a maximum of 24 years in prison if convicted. Rocky’s bet ultimately paid off, with a Los Angeles jury fully acquitting him of both counts.
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During last year’s Wicked press tour, Ariana Grande earned viral moments at the drop of a hat — and one of her funniest clips found her somewhat playfully challenging the validity of the 1969 moon landing during a Vanity Fair lie detector test. Back on the promotional circuit for Wicked: For Good, Grande encountered the moon landing question a second time, with co-star Bowen Yang lobbing the inquiry instead of Cynthia Erivo.
“I feel like we have some air to clear,” Grande said as she got hooked up to the polygraph. “That moon thing doesn’t sit well with me. I think sometimes I get nervous. Is it picking up truth or lie, or is it picking up waves of panic? The moon landing has happened! And f— off if it didn’t!”
After Yang reminded Grande that her last moon landing answer was ruled “inconclusive,” he asked the “Twilight Zone” singer a second time. She responded, “I wanna move past it,” before her Wicked: For Good co-star asked if she believed Gayle King and Katy Perry went to the moon earlier this year. “No, because they didn’t,” she replied. “They orbited the Earth… or went for a few minutes up and down.”
While Grande was correct in this specific instance (the Blue Origin crew went 60 miles above the Earth), Yang continued his intergalactic line of questioning, asking Grande if she would sing for her “fellow travelers,” as Perry famously did, should she ever have the opportunity to visit space. “No, I wouldn’t sing in space,” she promptly responded. “I wouldn’t do that trip, personally. I do love space, but I’m staying right here for now. I think it makes sense. I’ll look from my yard or from a plane, not breaking certain layers.”
Like any great investigator, Yang gave Grande a brief break to talk about potentially confronting impersonators before returning to the moon. “Do you believe that there is a flag planted on the moon?” he asked, to which Grande replied, “Bowen… I hear both arguments. The truth is: I don’t give a rat’s ass! I’m worried about Earth, goddamn it! We’re burning alive! We’re killing each other! Can we worry about Earth for five minutes? Who gives a f— about the moon and the flag! How did you get me here again? You guys!”
Safe to say, Grande handled this lie detector test a bit more smoothly than the last one. And she also got a chance give some of the Emmy-nominated Saturday Night Live star’s energy right back to him. “Did you enjoy kissing me?” Ariana asked in reference to the smooch the pair shared during a 2024 SNL episode. “It was the only time I kissed someone where a crowd screamed in horror, so I think I liked it?”
Taking it one step further, Grande then asked if she was a better kisser than Sydney Sweeney, whom Yang kissed in another SNL episode. “You were,” he replied. “Because she and I did it in a very rushed way. We had an intimacy coordinator, lovely woman, who was like ‘Keep the lips closed, no tongue,’ and I was like ‘Got it.’”
Grande and Yang’s lie detector marathon arrives just over a week before Wicked: For Good, the sequel to 2024’s Oscar-winning Wicked, hits theaters on Nov. 21. Alongside favorites from the Broadway musical’s second act like “For Good” and “No Good Dead,” the show’s legendary composer, Stephen Schwartz, penned two new songs for the Jon M. Chu-helmed film. Grande’s Glinda will perform “The Girl in the Bubble,” while Erivo’s Elphaba will sing “No Place Like Home.” Last week, Grande, Erivo and the entire Wicked cast mounted a television special titled Wicked: One Wonderful Night to celebrate the release of Wicked: For Good.
Check out Grande and Yang’s complete lie detector test below.
