Music News

02 Jan 2025

Justin Bieber Rings In 2025 With Sweet Dedication to Wife Hailey: ‘Goin Anywhere With U BB’

Justin Bieber rang in the new year by rededicating himself to wife Hailey Bieber. After the model posted a spicy NYE pic in which she wore a pink bikini under a fur coat, Justin hopped into the conversation in his Instagram Stories on Wednesday (Jan. 1) by commenting “Goin anywhere with u bb,” according to E! News.

Meanwhile, Hailey gave her followers a photo dump on New Year’s Day, dropping a roll of pics from her celebration. Though Justin is not featured in any of the snaps, they hint at a fast food kind of night.

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In the first one, Hailey is giving her best model look in a selfie while wearing an animal print fur coat, jeans and a black shirt. The roll, captioned “wake up, it’s 2025!,” then flips over to Hailey in the same outfit holding up a martini while rocking an In-N-Out Burger paper hat and flashing a thumb’s up.

The pics also included a close-up of one of the chain’s iconic burgers topped with caviar, another snap of Hailey in her pink bikini with a Happy New Year tiara and a close-up of her headgear. 

According to US Magazine, Hailey also celebrated the new year by sharing an image of the couple’s baby son, Jack Blues, on her Story. The close-up snap of the bottom of Jack’s foot was captioned “HNY,” and it was accompanied by paw print and smiley face emoji. Hailey gave birth to the couple’s first child together in August. 

Back in November, Justin shared the first family photo with Jack, a Halloween image in which all three Biebers were dressed up for the holiday, with Justin and Hailey wearing Ron and Kim Possible costumes and Jack dressed as Ron’s pet naked mole rat, Rufus.

02 Jan 2025

Stormzy Banned From Driving Following Mobile Phone Offense

Stormzy has been banned from driving in the U.K. for nine months after an off-duty police officer caught the rapper using a mobile phone behind the wheel of his Rolls-Royce vehicle in London.

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The 31-year-old born Michael Ebenazer Owuo Junior pleaded guilty to the offense via a letter to the courts, the BBC reports. The offense took place on March 7 on Addison Road in west Kensington, London.

On Thursday morning (Jan. 2), the district judge Andrew Sweet criticised the “Vossy Bop” musician’s “dangerous and irresponsible” actions. The Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court heard that the off-duty police officer knocked on the tinted window of Stormzy’s Rolls-Royce Wraith and said: “Get rid of your tints and get off your phone.”

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Sweet banned the rapper, who was not present in court, from driving for nine months and fined him £2,010 (around $2,500). The court was also told that Stormzy already had six penalty points on his driving license from previous offenses.

The prosecutor Alice Holloway noted that in 2023, Stormzy had previously admitted to driving a Lamborghini Urus that had front windows illegally tinted to only 4% light transmission, violating the 70% requirement.

In October 2023, Stormzy was stopped by officers on Coombe Lane, in Kingston upon Thames, London, having previously been warned about the windows. Stormzy’s solicitor Peter Csemiczky said that his client accepted responsibility for the offenses and apologized. He added that the rapper had removed the tints.

In 2024, Stormzy scored a No.1 on the U.K.’s Official Singles Chart with a team-up with rave duo Chase & Status. Their single “Backbone” hit the top spot in August 2024, while Stormzy released his most recent full-length LP, This Is What I Mean, in November 2022.

01 Jan 2025

Billy Joel Teams Up with Jason Bonham to Play ‘Whole Lotta Love’ at New Year’s Eve Concert

Billy Joel rung in the new year in style, joining forces with Jason Bonham for a rendition of Led Zeppelin‘s “Whole Lotta Love”.

Performing at Long Island’s UBS Arena on Tuesday (Dec. 31), Joel’s end-of-year spectacular was a special for one for numerous reasons. Not only was the night preceded by Jason Bonham’s Led Zepellin Evening as the opener, but the lengthy set saw the veteran musician roll out plenty of fan favorites for the night, along with a few rarer tracks from his extensive into his back catalog.

While the seldom-heard 1982’s “A Room of Our Own” got a look-in, rarer still was a performance of 1974’s “Souvenir”, which received only its 13th showing from across the past 40 years.

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However, one of the most notable songs from the evening was one that wasn’t Joel’s own. Just over a third of the way through the set, Joel switched his focus to welcome Bonham and his band to the stage for a rendition of 1969’s “Whole Lotta Love”.

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“We’re going to bring a guest onstage and do this next song,” Joel said to the crowd. “We have fun playing this, especially with this guy. Please welcome Jason Bonham. You all know this song. It’s not a piano song.”

With Bonham performing drums on the song his father helped make famous more than five decades ago, Joel’s longtime guitarist and vocalist Mike DelGuidice sang lead on the track, relagting Joel to the background somewhat.

Hearing Joel perform “Whole Lotta Love” isn’t a rarity (in fact, he also performed it at his previous New Year’s Eve celebration at the same venue), and it seamlessly fit in amongst the rest of the set, which also featured renditions of The Rolling Stones’ “Start Me Up”, and Derek and the Dominos’ “Layla”, which was used to fill time ahead of the midnight countdown.

The show also wrapped up a big year for Joel, who not only concluded his record-breaking ten-year Madison Square Garden residency (earning $266.7 million from 1.9 million ticket sales to 104 shows), but also released “Turn the Lights Back On” – his first new lyrical single in nearly 20 years.

01 Jan 2025

Charli XCX’s ‘Brat’ Lights Up London Eye in New Year’s Eve Fireworks Show

London’s New Year’s Eve fireworks display was, apparently, brat. The celebration took pace on the River Thames as Big Ben struck midnight and 2024 shifted to 2025.

Charli XCX‘s big year made it into the city’s annual fireworks display airing on BBC and ITV; her influence on the fireworks show is immediately recognizable as Brat green lights the sky, as captured in the photo above.

The night’s Brat-inspired moment can be seen in full here, via a clip Charli’s fans shared on X (formerly Twitter). Along with that familiar shade of green, album track “Apple” plays and “london” appears typewritten in the style of Charli’s album art.

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Elsewhere on New Year’s Eve, Charli shared reflections on Brat‘s massive success over the past year on Instagram.

“So many highs in 2024 and i cba to post them all but here’s some of my fav memories and fav people. love you all so much and thank you for everything. sorry i’m a lot sometimes xx,” she wrote on Dec. 31.

The caption went along with a photo carousel looking back at the year of Brat, with snapshots with friends and from the rollout of the album — and its companion release, Brat and it’s completely different but also still brat. Some highlights included pictures with her fiancé (The 1975’s George Daniel) and a behind-the-scenes cue card shot from her SNL hosting gig.

Brat arrived in June, reaching No. 3 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. It also led the Top Dance/Electronic Albums chart for 29 weeks.

Brat and it’s completely different but also still brat, a variation of the original album featuring collaborations with Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, The 1975, Lorde, Robyn, Troye Sivan, Bon Iver, Julian Casablancas, Caroline Polachek and more, followed in October.

Charli’s fall Sweat Tour with Sivan earned $28 million, with 297,000 tickets sold over the course of 22 shows in the U.S. and Canada, according to figures reported to Billboard Boxscore. 

01 Jan 2025

Selena Gomez & Fiancé Benny Blanco Ring in the New Year With Sweet New Photos

Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco are starting off 2025 on a sweet note. The singer-actress shared a series of photos on New Year’s Eve that offer a glimpse at the engaged couple enjoying each other’s company.

“Happy new years,” Gomez captioned the Dec. 31 post, which includes eight pictures, most of them being cute selfies of the two together — lounging, attending a party and shopping at T.J. Maxx.

One snapshot features Gomez’s younger sister, Gracie, and a scrumptious-looking ice cream sundae from Serendipity that the siblings seemed to be sharing.

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Another photo in the bunch shows a paper plate, with beans on one side and the words “I LOVE YOU” etched on the other.

Gomez and record producer Blanco, who went public with their relationship back in December 2023, have been documenting their happiness on Instagram this holiday break. Over the weekend, they uploaded a loved-up picture of a romantic kiss.

The couple announced the news of their engagement on Dec. 11, 2024, with Gomez writing on Instagram, “forever begins now.” She shared a video of her marquise-cut diamond engagement ring soon after. “I’ve just dreamed of this moment my whole life,” she said in the clip. Meanwhile, Blanco revealed a behind-the-scenes look at the proposal.

Gomez and Blanco were first linked professionally in 2019, when they collaborated on the track “I Can’t Get Enough” with Tainy and J Balvin. In 2023, the they teamed up for Gomez’s song “Single Soon.”

See her New Year’s Eve photo carousel below.

01 Jan 2025

See Photos From ‘Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2025′

Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest featured performances from the Jonas Brothers, Carrie Underwood, TLC, Lenny Kravitz, Tinashe, Alanis Morissette with Reneé Rapp and many others. See the best photos from the Dec. 31 special below.

Ryan Seacrest spent his 20th time as New Year’s Rockin’ Eve host, while co-hosts Rita Ora joined in the year-end festivities in Times Square and Dayanara Torres in Puerto Rico.

The show had artists on stage on the West Coast, Las Vegas, New York’s Times Square and Puerto Rico.

Among the pictures in this photo gallery you’ll also see Dasha, Teddy Swims, Laufey, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Blake Shelton, Megan Moroney, T-Pain, Cody Johnson, Thomas Rhett, Ernest, Natasha Bedingfield, Fat Joe, Ja Rule.

The Jonas Brothers celebrated the night by sharing an announcement of new music: a new song with Marshmello, which Nick says is being released on Jan. 17. “We’ve got a ton of announcements coming,” he teased, adding, “I’ll be making a return to Broadway next year in The Last Five Years, which I absolutely can’t wait to do. There’s a lot coming, so stay tuned,” Nick added.

Kevin shared that a “big tour” is on the horizon in 2025 for the band, while Joe said their New Year’s Eve performance would have “a lot of songs that you’ll hear on the next tour. Kind of a sneak peek of what’s coming.”

Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2025 aired on Dec. 31 on ABC, then streamed on Jan. 1 on Hulu. Dick Clark Productions is owned by Penske Media Corporation; PMC is also the parent company of Billboard.

01 Jan 2025

Rihanna Reveals She ‘Didn’t Drink All Year’ in 2024 While Celebrating New Year’s Eve

Rihanna went alcohol-free in 2024.

On Wednesday (Jan. 1), the 36-year-old singer and entrepreneur took to social media to share a video of herself ringing in the New Year with friends. In the clip, Ri reveals that she abstained from alcohol over the past 12 months while celebrating the countdown to 2025, holding up her phone to capture the iconic ball drop in New York City’s Times Square.

“Y’all, I didn’t drink all year,” Rihanna proudly told her 150 million Instagram followers after the clock struck midnight. “I didn’t drink all year.”

The brief clip shows the “Diamonds” singer enjoying a low-key New Year’s Eve celebration, dressed casually in a gray robe and surrounded by a group of friends who helped with the countdown while holding up their drinks. Ri rang in the New Year in New York City alongside her boyfriend, A$AP Rocky, People reports. The couple shares two sons: RZA, 2, and Riot, 1.

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“New Year, New Me,” she captioned the IG post.

In another Instagram video, Rihanna is seen goofing around with friends while using her Fenty Hair shampoo to properly clean a hair extension. “You owe me a new bottle!” she playfully says to her pals. “For one stinkin’ track!” She captioned the post, “De Dirt!!! We walking into 2025 CLEANSED baby! 1 track at a time! Also tell @mdollas11 stay out my bathroom!”

In late December, Rihanna surprised fans with an impromptu visit to Manhattan’s Girls Love Karaoke, where she took the stage to perform “Needed Me” and “Sex With Me” from her 2016 album, Anti. In fan-captured footage from the event, the “Work” hitmaker can be heard telling the excited crowd that she only had about five minutes to spare, joking that her “battery” was “about to burn out.”

Check out Rihanna’s New Year’s 2025 celebration post on Instagram below.

01 Jan 2025

Jonas Brothers Tease Big Announcements for 2025 Ahead of New Year’s Eve Performance

The Jonas Brothers are gearing up for a busy 2025.

On Tuesday (Dec. 31), the sibling trio of Kevin, Joe, and Nick Jonas reunited for a special appearance at Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest in New York City. Ahead of their high-energy performance, the group — celebrating their 20th anniversary this year — teased some exciting projects on the horizon.

“We’ve got a ton of announcements coming. First up, we’ve got a new song with Marshmello dropping on January 17th,” Nick shared with Seacrest in a pre-performance interview in Times Square.

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The “Jealous” singer also revealed, “I’ll be making a return to Broadway next year in The Last Five Years, which I absolutely can’t wait to do. There’s a lot coming, so stay tuned.”

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Kevin then hinted at a “big tour” in 2025 for the Jonas Brothers, while Joe mentioned that the band’s New Year’s Eve performance would offer a sneak peek of “a lot of songs that you’ll hear on the next tour. Kind of a sneak peek of what’s coming.”

After the clock struck midnight, Kevin, Joe, and Nick took the stage in Times Square to perform “Play My Music” from their 2008 Camp Rock movie. The trio also delivered their hit “Sucker,” which topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 2019, and a cover of The Cranberries’ “Dreams.”

In addition to the Jonas Brothers, the Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve special featured performances by Mickey Guyton, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, TLC, Kapo, Carrie Underwood and Rita Ora.

Check out Seacrest’s NYE interview with the Jonas Brothers below.

01 Jan 2025

Neil Young Backs Out of Glastonbury 2025: ‘It Is a Corporate Turn-Off’

Neil Young has announced that he will not be performing at the 2025 Glastonbury Festival.

On Tuesday (Dec. 31), the legendary Canadian rocker, 79, shared a message with fans on Neil Young Archives explaining his decision to back out of the massive music event, which takes place annually at Worthy Farm in Somerset, England.

“The Chrome Hearts and I were looking forward to playing Glastonbury, one of my all time favorite outdoor gigs,” Young wrote in the brief letter. “We were told that BBC was now a partner in Glastonbury and wanted us to do a lot of things in a way we were not interested in. It seems Glastonbury is now under corporate control and is not the way I remember it being.”

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He continued, “We will not be playing Glastonbury on this tour because it is a corporate turn-off, and not for me like it used to be. Hope to see you at one of the other venues on the tour.”

Young did not specify what exactly Glastonbury and the BBC had requested that led to his withdrawal. The BBC has been a long-time broadcaster of the festival, streaming and airing portions of the event, including a global broadcast for the first time last year, according to Rolling Stone.

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Billboard has reached out to Glastonbury’s representatives for comment.

In November 2024, Glastonbury revealed that Rod Stewart would be the first artist announced for the 2025 festival. The legendary musician was the first confirmed act for the event, which is set to take place from June 27-29. Tickets for the festival have already sold out.

While Glastonbury has not yet revealed the headliners for 2025, several names have been speculated, including Olivia Rodrigo, Sam Fender, Harry Styles and Lady Gaga. Young had also been rumored to perform at the festival.

A timeline for the headliner announcements has not been confirmed, but the full lineup is typically revealed in the spring.

In late November 2024, Young revealed plans for a European tour, which will feature mostly outdoor venues. He followed up with another message on Wednesday (Jan. 1), telling Neil Young Archives readers that “tour announcements for the summer are coming very soon.”

Young last performed at Glastonbury in June 2009, with portions of the show broadcast on the BBC. The set included tracks like “The Needle and the Damage Done,” “Words,” “Rockin’ in the Free World” and a cover of The Beatles’ “A Day in the Life,” Rolling Stone reports.

Young’s new band, the Chrome Hearts, features Micah Nelson (guitar), Spooner Oldham (organ), Corey McCormick (bass) and Anthony LoGergo (drums). The group made its live debut in September 2024 at Farm Aid and recorded a new album last year, tentatively titled Talking to the Trees.

01 Jan 2025

Diplo Tells Andy Cohen & Anderson Cooper He Was on LSD During CNN’s New Year’s Eve Special

Diplo didn’t hold back about his altered state of mind on New Year’s Eve.

While appearing on CNN’s New Year’s Eve Live with Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper on Tuesday night (Dec. 31), the 46-year-old DJ and producer confessed to being on LSD during the live broadcast.

In a virtual interview before his performance at Avalon Hollywood in Los Angeles, Diplo was asked by Cohen, “What’s the most unconventional place you’ve done LSD?” The “Where Are U Now” hitmaker chuckled before replying, “Right now. I did some on the helicopter on the way here.” He added, “I’m not even lying.”

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Cohen and Cooper’s reactions were priceless. “Right now?!” Cohen repeated in stunned amusement, while Cooper laughed uncontrollably. “Oh, my God. Hold on, hold on,” Cohen said, still processing.

Diplo casually confirmed, “Yeah,” when Cohen asked, “You’re tripping right now?” The Major Lazer star explained he was “microdosing,” but he “might have macrodosed earlier” in the day.

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After the unexpected admission, Cohen expressed admiration for Diplo’s honesty. “I wish I was Diplo. I think he has a fun, cool lifestyle,” the Bravo executive producer said. “Can you imagine his lifestyle? ‘I’m Diplo. I do things.’”

The Anderson Cooper 360° host joked about his “boring life” compared to Diplo’s, adding, “We don’t recommend this at home.”

Cohen then asked Cooper if he followed Diplo on Instagram. “I’m absolutely going to start,” the CNN anchor replied. “He’s got helicopters, he’s doing things, he did like four shots while we were talking.”

Cooper added, “And he’s going to play. How does he work? I’ve had four shots and I just want to go to sleep.”