Music News

09 Nov 2025

Max B Released From Prison After 16 Years

Trending on Billboard

Max B is officially a free man.

The 47-year-old Harlem rapper, born Charly Wingate, was released from Northern State Prison in Newark, New Jersey, on Sunday (Nov. 9) after serving roughly 16 years behind bars.

Max B was originally sentenced to 75 years in 2009 for his role in a deadly robbery at a New Jersey hotel. In 2016, his sentence was reduced to 20 years after he pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter.

The “Wavy Crockett” artist was sentenced alongside his stepbrother, Kelvin Leerdam, who received a life term plus 35 years after jurors found he fatally shot one of the victims.

Upon his release, Max B was greeted by family and friends in a joyful moment captured and shared on Instagram by his longtime friend and collaborator French Montana. The rapper’s homecoming coincided with Montana’s 41st birthday.

“CANT MAKE THIS UP ! MY BROTHER REALLY CAME HOME ON MY B DAY ! HAMDULILLAH,” Montana captioned the video. “WALKED IT DOWN ! NO MORE FREE YOU.”

Late last year, Max B hinted at his impending release during a phone call to The Joe Budden Podcast, where he announced his official date and discussed his excitement about returning to music.

“Listen, I’m not even gonna put myself in a box, it’s all gonna run concurrent,” he said at the time. “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 s—t ain’t A-list, I can’t f—k with it.”

Earlier this year, Young Thug also shared a clip of himself speaking with Max B over the phone from prison.

“Man, I’m in here grinding this s—t out,” Max told Thug, who then asked if he’d be released soon. “Hell yeah, we ’bout to hit the home stretch, baby,” Max replied. “We gon’ make some history?”

See French Montana’s Instagram post celebrating Max B’s release below.


Billboard VIP Pass

09 Nov 2025

Juan Gabriel Concert Screening Draws 170,000 People to Mexico City’s Zócalo

Trending on Billboard

The legacy of iconic Mexican singer-songwriter Juan Gabriel was celebrated in an unprecedented and massive event that brought together 170,000 people on Saturday (Nov. 8) night at Mexico City’s Zócalo, according to figures from the capital’s government. Fans gathered to watch the screening of the first concert the late “Divo de Juárez” performed at the Palacio de Bellas Artes in 1990.

This marked the second time that one of the three concerts the legendary artist held at Bellas Artes during his career was screened in the country’s main public square. A similar event held in September 2024, when a projection of his 2013 performance at Mexico’s premier cultural venue, drew 70,000 fans.

Saturday’s screening set a new global attendance record for an in-person fan event organized by Netflix, according to the streaming platform, which partnered with the capital’s Secretariat of Culture to host it at the same public space where, 25 years earlier, the legendary artist held a free concert for thousands of fans.

The screening of Juan Gabriel’s debut performance at Bellas Artes was part of Netflix’s promotion for its new docuseries Juan Gabriel: I Must, I Can, I Will (Juan Gabriel: Debo, Puedo y Quiero), which premiered on Oct. 30.

The event, which at times felt like an actual concert due to the audience’s enthusiasm, became a journey back in time to revisit the historic performance of the singer, which took place 35 years ago and sparked controversy due to his desire to perform at Mexico’s most prestigious cultural venue as a popular artist.

From early hours, fans of all ages and from all corners of Mexico, Juan Gabriel impersonators, and special guests gathered in the Zócalo — or Plaza de la Constitución — with posters, T-shirts, and outfits inspired by the legend. The artist’s son, Iván Aguilera, was also present to celebrate his father’s legacy, as well as the docuseries director María José Cuevas and producers Laura Woldenberg and Ivonne Gutiérrez, who also sang and danced alongside the attendees.

José Luis Flores, a man in his 40s from the neighboring State of Mexico, proudly displayed a tattoo on his chest featuring the late singer’s image. “I waited for him for more than four hours after a concert — this is my greatest treasure,” the man told Billboard Español. 

Classic hits from Juanga’s discography, such as “Hasta Que Te Conocí,” “Querida,” “Amor Eterno,” and “Por Qué Me Haces Llorar,” moved the audience to tears, creating an intimate and nostalgic atmosphere. After the screening, the Mariachi Estrella de América performed on stage a setlist of Juan Gabriel’s hits, followed by a fireworks display that lit up every corner of the square, honoring the life, talent, and music of the Mexican singer-songwriter.
  
Juan Gabriel died on August 28, 2016, at his home in Santa Monica, Calif., of natural causes, in the middle of a concert tour. He was 66.

Inducted into the Billboard Hall of Fame in 1996, he built a legacy as a multifaceted artist over more than four decades, recording songs in genres as diverse as ranchera, ballad, pop, and bolero, and producing for other artists. Among his many achievements, he sold over 150 million records, wrote more than 1,800 songs, released 34 studio albums, was nominated for six Grammy Awards, won three posthumous Latin Grammys, and saw more than 20 of his hits reach the top 10 on the Billboard charts, including seven No. 1s on Hot Latin Songs. His hit “Yo No Sé Qué Me Pasó” inaugurated the first edition of that chart in 1986, at No. 1.

09 Nov 2025

Sombr Performs ’12 to 12′ & ‘Back to Friends’ on ‘Saturday Night Live’: Watch

Trending on Billboard

Sombr made his Saturday Night Live debut as the musical guest on Nov. 8.

The 20-year-old singer-songwriter performed two songs — “12 to 12” and “Back to Friends” — from his debut album, I Barely Know Her, which reached No. 10 on the Billboard 200 in September.

Dressed in a sharp red suit and black shirt, the New York City native opened the show with “12 to 12” alongside a full band, then returned later to perform “Back to Friends” from behind the piano before stepping out for an emotional delivery.

Sombr, who writes and produces all of his own songs, is having a breakout year. His debut album, I Barely Know Her, arrived in August and produced his first three Billboard Hot 100 hits: the top 20 singles “Back to Friends” (No. 12) and “Undressed” (No. 16), as well as “12 to 12,” which peaked at No. 41.

The musician, whose real name is Shane Boose, recently earned a Grammy nomination for best new artist. He recently wrapped the sold-out North American leg of his first-ever headlining tour, which spanned 31 shows across the U.S. and Canada. Every venue was upgraded to meet demand, with multiple cities adding extra dates, including a triumphant hometown finale in New York City.

The latest episode of the long-running NBC sketch comedy show also featured first-time host Nikki Glaser. The comedian is set to return as host of the Golden Globes on Jan. 11.

SNL returns on Nov. 15 with actor Glen Powell as host and musical guest Olivia Dean.

Watch sombr’s SNL performances below, and find all the ways to stream the full episode here.


Billboard VIP Pass

Get weekly rundowns straight to your inbox


Sign Up

08 Nov 2025

John Butler Responds to Metallica’s Tribute With ‘Enter Sandman’ Cover

Trending on Billboard

Australian musician John Butler has responded to Metallica‘s surprise nod at their Perth concert by delivering a heartfelt, blues-infused take on the band’s iconic single “Enter Sandman.”

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

Butler shared the cover via Instagram while on tour in Europe and the U.K., captioning the post: “@metallica Enter Sandman, but make it John Butlery.”

Butler, who is currently touring across Europe and the U.K., shared his bluesy interpretation via Instagram, using a custom-made Indian slide guitar known as a Chaturangui. “@metallica ‘Enter Sandman,’ but make it John Butlery,” he captioned the clip. “It’s taken me a minute to pull my sh*t together after Metallica covered my song ‘Zebra’ last weekend in Perth/Boorloo… I thought I’d tackle one of their lesser-known tracks. I hope you like it.”

Metallica’s rendition of “Zebra” came during the band’s signature “doodle” segment — a live intermission where lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Rob Trujillo jam on a local song as a nod to the host city’s musical legacy. Butler, who awoke to news of the tribute from across the globe, posted: “Metallica are performing in Boorloo/Perth tonight… I’ve just woken up in London to several texts/vids of them performing ‘Zebra’ wtaf!?? This is a spin out!! RESPECT🙌🤘♥️.”

The Perth doodle was part of a string of Australian tributes during Metallica’s 2025 M72 World Tour run. In Adelaide (Nov. 5), the band mashed up INXS’ “Need You Tonight” and The Angels’ “Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again,” blending two Aussie anthems into a gritty, high-octane medley.

The mutual admiration comes as Metallica continues the Australian leg of their M72 World Tour, with upcoming shows in Brisbane (Nov. 12), and Sydney (Nov. 15). The band last toured Australia in 2013, headlining Soundwave Festival.

Butler, meanwhile, is promoting his latest album PRISM, the third instalment in his Four Seasons series, following Running River and Still Searching. He recently completed an Australian tour and is currently performing across Europe.

Get weekly rundowns straight to your inbox


Sign Up

08 Nov 2025

ARIA Awards 2025 Reveal Olivia Dean, Kacey Musgraves, Dom Dolla & More

Trending on Billboard

The 2025 ARIA Awards will return to Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion on Nov. 19, with a stacked lineup of performers and presenters confirmed by the Australian Recording Industry Association on Nov. 9.

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

Leading the live performance slate is GRAMMY-nominated British artist Olivia Dean, who will make her ARIA Awards debut just weeks after announcing her sophomore album The Art of Loving. Dean has accumulated more than 4.5 billion global streams, including over 236 million in Australia.

She will be joined onstage by a wide array of Australian talent, including G Flip, Missy Higgins, Kita Alexander, Keli Holiday, You Am I, Thelma Plum, Young Franco, Baker Boy, Alex Lahey, Janet English, Anna Ryan, Neve Van Boxsel, and Touch Sensitive.

In an ARIA first, all five nominees for Best Soul/R&B Release — Boy Soda, Larissa Lambert, PANIA, Jerome Farah, and Jacotene — will perform with a 15-piece backing band in a joint showcase of the category.

Presenters for the evening will include Dom Dolla, Kacey Musgraves, Amy Shark, Budjerah, Josh Pyke, Kate Ceberano, King Stingray, Meg Washington, Melanie Bracewell, and Kobie Dee, alongside hosts Tim Blackwell and Concetta Caristo.

Annabelle Herd, CEO of ARIA, said in a statement, “Diversity, emotion, raw talent and constant evolution all make Australian music so powerful, and that’s exactly what we’re celebrating in this incredible lineup of artists. Each performer and presenter joining the stage represents a part of our story, one that’s deeply local but heard all over the world.”

Mikaela Lancaster, Managing Director of Spotify AUNZ, added, “AusMusic month is underway, and Australian music has never sounded louder or prouder. This year’s ARIA Awards lineup is stacked with incredible performers and presenters who embody everything that makes our industry so special – creativity, community, and a fearless drive to share our stories with the world. Spotify is proud to support the 2025 ARIA Awards. It’s going to be a night to remember.”

The 2025 ARIA Awards will stream live on Paramount+ from 5:00 p.m. AEDT, with red carpet coverage airing on Network 10 from 7:00 p.m., followed by the ceremony.

The event is presented in partnership with Spotify and supported by the NSW Government via Destination NSW.

08 Nov 2025

Midnight Oil’s Rob Hirst Releases New EP Amid Cancer Battle

Trending on Billboard

Midnight Oil’s Rob Hirst has unveiled a deeply personal new EP, A Hundred Years or More, recorded while undergoing treatment for stage three pancreatic cancer.

The celebrated drummer and songwriter, 70, collaborated with longtime bandmates Jim Moginie and Hamish Stuart, and enlisted his daughters Gabriella and Lex Hirst to contribute vocals on the emotionally resonant four-track release.

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

The EP was created in pockets of time when Hirst felt well enough to sing and strum, following a major gastro bypass operation earlier this year. “It’s completely replumbed the inside because the tumour was pushing against the guts and I couldn’t eat,” he shared as per news.com.au. Despite the challenges, the sessions became a space of defiant creativity and familial healing.

Gabriella, an artist based in Berlin, delivers the lead vocal on the EP’s title track—a tender, melancholic ballad inspired by Hirst’s diagnosis. “May you live to be a hundred years or more,” she sings, with her father joining for the final line: “May you take another turn around the sun.”

“I was just working it up at home with an incomplete lyric and Ella was out for a while looking after me and checking up on all her arty friends in Sydney and she came in and said ‘Dad, I really like this song you’re singing and I said, ‘Well, here’s the rough lyric, you sing it,’” Hirst said.

Lex Hirst lends backing vocals to the opening track, “First Do No Harm,” while Hoodoo Gurus bassist Rick Grossman makes a surprise appearance on the EP as well.

Hirst, who co-founded Midnight Oil in the 1970s, has also led acclaimed side projects like Ghostwriters, The Break, and Backsliders. The band played their final show in October 2022 at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion.

A Hundred Years or More follows 2023’s Red Continent and will be released Nov. 14.

08 Nov 2025

Meg White Didn’t Attend the White Stripes’ Hall of Fame Induction, But She Edited Jack’s Speech

Trending on Billboard

Meg White missed the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, which honored the the White Stripes — her iconic duo with Jack White — at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles Saturday night (Nov. 8). But the bookends of Jack’s speech were all about Meg, who’d edited most of it.

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

“I spoke with Meg the other day,” he said at the podium, sharing, “She wanted me to tell you she’s very grateful to all the folks who supported her through all the years. It really means a lot to her tonight.”

“She checked it for me,” he added of the speech he was about to give on behalf of the pair. “A lot of punctuation corrections, too.”

Though White’s emotion was palpable throughout the speech, it was most felt in the poem he brought to the room, one that he said he was going to send to Meg ahead of time but hadn’t.

Instead, he noted, “I thought I’d read it to you all tonight.”

“One time, a girl climbed a tree, and in that tree was a boy — her brother, she thought. And the tree looked so glorious and beautiful, but it was just an oak tree. And these two so loved the world that they brought forth a parade float, one they built in their garage behind the oak tree with their own bare hands. And the boy looked at this giant peppermint on wheels and felt pride. Pride that it was produced in the Motor City just like in the big factories, but it was just in their garage.

He looked at the girl, his sister, he thought, and like the Little Rascals, they said, ‘Let’s put on a show.’ And they paraded this float through the Cass Corridor, standing atop the Peppermint, pulled by white horses or maybe it was a red Econoline van. And many of the blocks they traveled were empty, but some had people.

And some of those people cheered and some laughed and some even threw stones. And with their bare hands, the two started to clap and sing and make up songs. And some people kept watching and swaying and moving, and then one person even smiled. And the boy and the girl looked at each other, and they also smiled.

And they felt, they both felt the sin of pride, but they kept on smiling, smiling from a new freedom, knowing that they had shared and made another person feel something. And they thought the person smiling at them was a stranger, someone they didn’t even know. But it wasn’t just a stranger, it was God.”

Jack and Meg released six studio albums, including the Grammy-winning Icky Thump, together as the White Stripes before parting ways in 2011. Meg now stays out of the spotlight.

Following Jack’s speech, Olivia Rodrigo and Feist performed a sweet duet of the band’s “We’re Going to Be Friends” (2002) and 21 Pilots took on “Seven Nation Army” (2003), in tribute to the honorees.

Jack White Olivia Rodrigo

Jack White and Olivia Rodrigo attend the 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Peacock Theater on Nov. 8, 2025 in Los Angeles, Calif.

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for RRHOF

Rodrigo’s been vocal about the White Stripes being her favorite band: “I was so obsessed with Jack White’s guitar, and I made my mom take me to guitar lessons so I could learn how to play all of his songs,” she said in a 2021 interview. “Fell in Love With a Girl” was one of the first songs she learned to play. Rodrigo first met her hero in 2022.

The 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony honored the White Stripes as well as Bad Company, Chubby Checker, Joe Cocker, Cyndi Lauper, OutKast and Soundgarden in the performer category; Salt-N-Pepa and Warren Zevon for musical influence; Thom Bell, Nicky Hopkins and Carol Kaye for musical excellence, and Lenny Waronker with the Ahmet Ertegun Award.

08 Nov 2025

Hayley Williams Quietly Uploads Tour Dates for 2026

Trending on Billboard

Hayley Williams’ tour dates for 2026 have been added to her official website’s homepage, which currently features a design reminiscent of a ’90s computer desktop.

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

An image file titled “oops.jpg” offers a peek at a snapshot of a Macbook screen that shows a tour announcement preview with a “NOT FOR RELEASE” watermark — suggesting that Williams leaked the itinerary early. The picture has a list of 20 cities she’s scheduled to visit on the At a Bachelor Party Tour.

The Paramore frontwoman’s solo trek kicks off in the United States with a concert in Atlanta, Ga., on March 28 and runs through June 29 in Dublin, Ireland. Williams will make it to several U.S. markets — plus Toronto, Canada, and select cities in Europe.

Information about ticket on-sale dates is not yet available.

Williams’ tour will be in support of her latest album, Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party — which arrived unsequenced and scattered across her website, and then on streaming services, in August, but just got a physical CD and vinyl release on Friday, Nov. 7, with an added track (“Showbiz,” embedded below). (Read more about her unique release strategy in Billboard‘s interview with Williams’ co-manager Leah Hodgkiss.)

See the list of Williams’ 2026 tour dates:

March 28 – Atlanta, Ga. (Tabernacle)
March 31 – Toronto, Canada (Massey Hall)
April 3-4 – Boston, Mass. (Citizens House of Blues)
April 6-7 – Philadelphia, Pa. (Franklin Music Hall)
April 9-10 – New York, NY (Hammerstein Ballroom
April 14 – Baltimore, Md. (The Lyric)
April 18 – Minneapolis, Minn. (Fillmore)
April 21-22 – Chicago, Ill. (Chicago Theater)
April 25, 27 – Nashville, Tenn. (Ryman Auditorium)
May 2 – Austin, Texas (ACL Live at the Moody Theater)
May 5 – Phoenix, Ariz. (Van Buren)
May 7, 9 – Oakland, Calif. (Fox Theater)
May 12-13 – Los Angeles, Calif. (The Wiltern)
June 5 – Milan, Italy (Alcatraz)
June 8 – Amsterdam, Netherlands (Paradiso)
June 10 – Cologne, Germany (Live Music Hall)
June 15 – Berlin, Germany (Tempodrom)
June 16 – Copenhagen, Denmark (Poolen)
June 22 – Manchester, U.K. (Academy)
June 26 – Glasgow, Scotland (O2 Academy)
June 29 – Dublin, Ireland (National Stadium)

08 Nov 2025

Katy Perry’s Manager Seemingly Shades Wendy’s Amid Reports of Nationwide Location Closures

Trending on Billboard

Katy Perry’s manager, Bradford Cobb, appears to be firing back at Wendy’s after the fast-food chain took a dig at his client earlier this year.

On Friday (Nov. 7), reports emerged that Wendy’s plans to close hundreds of restaurant locations nationwide as part of a corporate “turnaround plan.” Interim CEO Ken Cook announced that between 200 and 350 of the company’s roughly 6,000 U.S. restaurants would be affected, according to CNN.

Cobb quickly took notice of the news, reposting a KTLA headline about the closures to his Instagram Story, alongside a photo of the brand’s iconic red sign.

The longtime manager’s post comes months after Wendy’s threw shade at Perry on social media. In April, the chain’s official X account responded to a Pop Crave post about Perry’s return from her Blue Origin NS-31 spaceflight with a blunt jab. “Can we send her back?” Wendy’s replied, causing a stir online.

The company doubled down with another post on X featuring a photo of the “Firework” singer kissing the ground after landing, captioned, “I kissed the ground and i liked it.” When one user pointed out that Perry had only been in space for about 10 minutes, the brand wrote back, “Don’t short change her it was 11 minutes.”

Perry was one of six passengers on Blue Origin’s all-women flight crew, which landed safely back on Earth after the brief suborbital trip.

Weeks later, Perry addressed the online negativity, leaving a heartfelt comment on a fan page thanking her supporters for standing by her.

“I’m so grateful for you guys. We’re in this beautiful and wild journey together,” she wrote. “I can continue to remain true to myself, heart open and honest especially because of our bond. I love you guys and have grown up together with you and am so excited to see you all over the world this year!”

The artist continued, “Please know I am ok, I have done a lot work around knowing who I am, what is real and what is important to me. My therapist said something years ago that has been a game changer, ‘no one can make you believe something about yourself that you don’t already believe about yourself’ and if I ever do have any feelings about it then it’s an opportunity to investigate the feeling underneath it.”

She closed, writing, “When the ‘online’ world tries to make me a human Piñata, I take it with grace and send them love, cause I know so many people are hurting in so many ways and the internet is very much so a dumping ground for unhinged and unhealed.”


Billboard VIP Pass

08 Nov 2025

Here’s How Vybz Kartel, Lila Iké & More Reacted to Their 2026 Best Reggae Album Grammy Nominations: ‘This Is a New Tidal Wave for Reggae’

Trending on Billboard

As Jamaica picks up the pieces in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa’s historic devastation, the global reach of their artists remains cause for celebration.

On Friday (Nov. 7), the Recording Academy revealed the five nominees for best reggae album at the 2026 Grammy Awards — and Jamaican musicians snagged every single spot. The five newly Grammy-nominated albums are Treasure Self Love (Lila Iké), Heart & Soul (Vybz Kartel), Blxxd & Fyah (Keznamdi), From Within (Mortimer) and No Place Like Home (Jesse Royal). Notably, Billboard correctly predicted four out of the five nominees in its round-up of global field Grammy predictions.

“It’s exactly 464 days ago to the day I achieved a significant milestone with my freedom, and within this time span, I have been nominated [for a Grammy Award] twice,” Kartel exclusively told Billboard. “I am genuinely thankful that my artistic contributions have once again garnered such esteemed attention from the Recording Academy.”

Earning his second nod in this category in as many years, Kartel’s latest Grammy nomination bookends a seismic comeback year that began, in earnest, with his January Billboard cover shoot. The sole dancehall album in contention, Heart & Soul arrived on Aug. 29, featuring a steamy collaboration with Ishawna. The week before Kartel dropped Heart & Soul, Lila Iké celebrated her third consecutive Caribbean Music Award win for female reggae artist of the year by releasing her long-awaited Treasure Self Love debut album. “I’m always paying homage to my culture and the people who laid the foundation for what’s going on in Jamaican music right now,” she told Billboard about the nods to Peter Tosh, Patra and Barrington Levy sprinkled throughout her album.

In February, Keznamdi spoke with Billboard about the music video for “Time,” the lead single from Blxxd & Fyah, saying, “In the process of making the problem, the music just sounded like Africa.” Now, Blxxd & Fyah has earned the independent Kingston-born reggae artist his first career Grammy nomination. Throughout the year, both Mortimer (“Bruises”) and Jesse Royal (“Too Late”) had tracks from their now-Grammy-nominated albums featured in Billboard’s monthly Reggae/Dancehall Fresh Picks column.

Check out how each 2026 best reggae album Grammy contender reacted to the news of their nomination.

Get weekly rundowns straight to your inbox


Sign Up