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Trending on Billboard Demi Lovato earns her first No. 1 album on Billboard’s Top Dance Albums chart, as It’s Not That Deep opens at No. 1 on the Nov. 8-dated list. Released Oct. 24 via DLG Recordings/Island/Republic Records, the set debuts with 31,000 equivalent album units earned in the United States in the week ending […]
Trending on Billboard Marc Anthony announced Tuesday (Nov. 4) his first-ever residency in Las Vegas. The 10-date “Vegas… My Way!” will take place at BleauLive Theater at the Fontainebleau, kicking off Feb. 13. “This residency marks a new chapter in my journey,” Marc Anthony said in a statement. “Las Vegas has always been about reinvention […]
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Next year’s hard rock Download Festival will feature headlining slots from Linkin Park, Guns N’ Roses and Limp Bizkit. The 23rd edition of the fest — branded DLXXIII — will take place from June 10-14, 2026 in Donington Park, Leicestershire in the U.K.
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The massive event featuring more than 90 rock, metal, punk, emo, hardcore and classic rock acts will welcome nu-metal rockers Limp Bizkit for their first-ever headlining slot on Friday — they performed a well-received Download set last year — with veterans GNR headlining on Saturday and Linkin Park doing the honors on Sunday night in their first Download appearance since reuniting with singer Emily Armstrong as their lead singer in 2024; the group headlined Download twice (2004, 2014) with their original lineup. GNR have headlined at Download twice before as well, but haven’t taken the stage there since 2018.
Among the other bands on next year’s roster are: Bad Omens, Cypress Hill, Trivium, Halestorm, Pendulum, All-American Rejects, Mastodon, Baby Metal, Ice Nine Kills, Tom Morello, Black Vein Brides, Dogstar, Drowning Pool, P.O.D. Bush, Feeder, Ash, The Pretty Reckless, Static-X, Spineshank and many more. Click here for ticketing information.
Also slated to take the stage at the 2026 event are: Bloodywood, Hollywood Undead, Kublai Khan TX, letlive., LANDMVRKS, Mammoth, Paleface Swiss, Periphery, RØRY, Set It Off, Sleep Theory, Social Distortion, Story Of The Year, Those Damn Crows, We Came As Romans, Corrosion of Conformity, Decapitated, Dinosaur Pile-Up, DRAIN and Ego Kill Talent.
Check out the full 2026 Download Festival poster below.
Billboard’s Live Music Summit will be held in Los Angeles on Nov. 3. For tickets and more information, click here.
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With just days to go before this year’s induction ceremony, one of the 2025 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees has sent his regrets. Bad Company singer Paul Rodgers posted a note on the band’s socials on Monday (Nov. 3) revealing that his ill health will prevent him from participating.
Bad Company are slated to be inducted into the Rock Hall this weekend at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles alongside Chubby Checker, Joe Cocker, Cyndi Lauper, OutKast, Soundgarden and The White Stripes in the Performer category and Salt-N-Pepa and Warren Zevon for Musical Influence.
But, just days after the other surviving original member of the English rock supergroup – fellow former Free member drummer Simon Kirke — revealed that the two planned to reunite to play two songs on Saturday, Rodgers said he cannot participate.
“My hope was to be at the Rock & Rock Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and to perform for the fans, but at this time I have to prioritize my health,” Rodgers, 75, said in a statement without providing any additional information on his condition. “I have no problem singing, it’s the stress of everything else. Thanks for understanding. Simon along with some outstanding musicians will be stepping in for me – guaranteed to rock.”
Rodgers, Kirke, late guitarist Mick Ralphs and late bassist Boz Burrell will be inducted this weekend for their roles in the 1970s rock juggernaut whose biggest hits include “Bad Company” and “Can’t Get Enough” (1974), “Feel Like Makin’ Love” and “Shooting Star” (1975) and “Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy” (1979) among others.
The group originally split in 1982 and have reunited several times over the years in a variety of configurations to tour and record albums, last performing together in 2019. But in 2023, Kirke said the band was likely done due to a variety of health issues suffered by Rodgers over the past few years, with the singer revealing to CBS Mornings that year that he’d suffered two major strokes — one in 2016 and another in 2019 — as well as 11 minor strokes.
This year’s RRHOF induction ceremony will stream live coast-to-coast on Disney+ Saturday (Nov. 8), at 8 p.m. ET, and will be available to stream following the ceremony. ABC will also air a primetime special with performance highlights and standout moments on Jan. 1, at 8 p.m. ET, available the next day on Hulu.
This year’s event will feature an impressive list of performers and presenters, including: Beck, Brandi Carlile, David Letterman, Doja Cat, Elton John, Flea, Iggy Pop, J.I.D, Killer Mike, Maxwell, Missy Elliott, Olivia Rodrigo, Questlove, RAYE, Sleepy Brown, Taylor Momsen, Teddy Swims and Twenty One Pilots.
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Wicked: For Good star Jonathan Bailey is People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive for 2025. The news was revealed on Monday night (Nov. 3) on The Tonight Show, where Prince Fiyero called the title the “honor of a lifetime,” jokingly thanking host Jimmy Fallon for turning it down so that he could take the crown.
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“I’m sort of thrilled that People magazine have invited someone in — bestowed this honor on someone who can really cherish the value of a sexy man,” he joked as Fallon asked him to do the traditional cover signing.
The actor admitted he was still “giggling” about taking over from last year’s winner, Jack Ryan star John Krasinski. “At the beginning of the year I was doing Shakespeare’s Richard II — for those of you who don’t know, it’s not a comedy,” Bailey said, noting that he was very much “in the zone” doing the intense drama when he got word that he would be the cover star for the 40th anniversary honor. “So you go slightly mad, and the only thing madder than doing Richard II is being invited into this.”
Bailey got the assignment as evidenced by the two People covers he graces, snuggling with his adorable cockapoo puppy, Benson, shirtless, naturally, on one. On the other, he stares straight into the lens while being buffeted by chilly surf off a beach south of London in a dramatic shoot, both with the tagline: “Wicked-ly handsome & oh-so-charming. We know, we nailed it.”
The 37-year-old actor born in Oxfordshire, England, began his career as a seven-year-old child actor in the Royal Shakespeare Company and received the prestigious Laurence Olivier Award for best actor in a supporting role in a musical in 2019 for his performance in a gender-swapped revival of Company. He rose to prominence a decade ago for his role in the crime drama Broadchurch, then became a heartthrob for his role as Lord Anthony Bridgerton in the romance series Bridgerton before being cast as Prince Fiyero in the first part of the Wicked movie musical series in 2024. In addition to that role in the original and this month’s anticipated sequel, Bailey also co-starred in this summer’s hit movie Jurassic World: Rebirth.
Asked by People when he first realized that his star was rising, Bailey said it was in 2020 when Bridgerton rocketed him to fame. “I had the radio set for my alarm, and one morning it went off with, ‘Here’s the news at 7. But just before we go, can we talk about Jonathan Bailey?’ ” the actor said. “I was like, ‘Where is my journal? Is this real?’ It was wild.”
Bailey, who is openly gay, founded the Shameless Fund, which offers support to LGBTQ+ organizations and said he knows it’s important to be a beacon during difficult times.
“I know the LGBT sector is under immense threat at the moment,” said the actor known colloquially as “the internet’s boyfriend.” “So it’s been amazing to meet people who have the expertise and see potential that I could have only dreamed of.”
When Fallon suggested that fans are constantly trying to cast Bailey in sought-after roles such as James Bond or Batman, the actor humbly demurred, saying he would do it only if Fallon was his Moneypenny or Robin sidekick.
As with all previous Sexiest Men, Bailey struggled to keep the news a secret — and actually tried, and failed, to leak the news to some friends during a round of drinks where they teased him to keep doing his “affirmations” — but now that it’s out Fallon wondered if he thinks people will treat him differently now. “I f–king hope so!” Bailey said. All joking aside, he called the title a “huge honor… Obviously I’m incredibly flattered. And it’s completely absurd.”
Wicked: For Good hits theaters on Nov. 21 with returning stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariaan Grande, as well as Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, Ethan Slater and Bowen Yang.
Watch Bailey on The Tonight Show below.
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The Grateful Dead have paid tribute to longtime collaborator Donna Jean Godchaux, following news of her death at age 78.
“It is with heavy hearts that we mourn the loss of Donna Jean Godchaux,” the band shared in a statement posted to social media. “Her unmistakable voice and radiant spirit touched the lives of countless fans and immeasurably enriched the Grateful Dead family. Her contributions will forever remain part of the tapestry that continues to be woven.”
Godchaux passed away on Sunday (Nov. 2) at a hospice facility in Tennessee following a prolonged battle with cancer, according to her longtime publicist Dennis McNally. “She was a sweet and warmly beautiful spirit, and all those who knew her are united in loss,” McNally said. “In the words of Dead lyricist Robert Hunter, ‘May the four winds blow her safely home.’”
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Godchaux joined the Grateful Dead in 1971 alongside her husband, keyboardist Keith Godchaux, becoming a key part of the band’s 1970s sound during a transformative creative period. She sang on several of the group’s most enduring studio albums — including Europe ’72, Wake of the Flood, and Terrapin Station — and appeared on many now-iconic live recordings, including the legendary Cornell ’77 show and the Dead’s 1978 concerts at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt.
In addition to her work with the Dead, Godchaux had an accomplished background as a session vocalist, performing on classic hits such as Elvis Presley’s “Suspicious Minds” and “In the Ghetto,” as well as Percy Sledge’s “When a Man Loves a Woman.” Her credits also included work with Cher, Neil Diamond, Boz Scaggs and Duane Allman.
After departing the Grateful Dead in 1979, the Godchauxs formed the Heart of Gold Band, which was cut short by Keith’s tragic death in a car accident the following year. Donna Jean Godchaux returned to music in the 1980s and continued recording and performing through the 2010s, including with the Donna Jean Godchaux Band and on her final album Back Around (2014).
Godchaux’s passing comes just over a year after the death of founding Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh in October 2024. The remaining members of the extended Dead universe — including Bob Weir and Mickey Hart — have continued to perform with Dead & Company, who celebrated the band’s 60th anniversary with a three-night run at San Francisco’s Oracle Park earlier this year.
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The Neighborhood will head to Australia and New Zealand in July 2026 as part of their upcoming Wourld Tour, in support of their new album, (((((ultraSOUND)))), arriving Nov. 14 via Warner Records.
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The run begins July 4 at Spark Arena in Auckland, followed by headline shows at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion on July 7 and Melbourne’s Margaret Court Arena on July 10. Presale begins Nov. 6 at 10 a.m. local time, with general onsale following Nov. 7 at 10 a.m. The Australian leg is presented by Handsome Tours.
The global Wourld Tour kicks off March 28 in Austin, Texas, and will hit major venues across North America, Europe, Asia and Oceania, including Madison Square Garden in New York and London’s O2 Arena. The tour will wrap with a hometown performance at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles on Oct. 9.
ultraSOUND marks the band’s first studio album since 2018 and is described as a stripped-back return to form. The LP was recorded between Conway Studios in Los Angeles and The Beehive in Van Nuys, with longtime collaborator Justyn Pilbrow and Jono Dorr. The band has previewed the project with singles “Private,” “OMG” and “Lovebomb,” the former of which received a new video on Nov. 4 directed by Ramez Silyan (Post Malone, The Kid LAROI).
Notably, the Wourld Tour also marks the return of drummer Brandon Fried, who was previously dismissed from the band in 2022 following allegations of inappropriate conduct. Fried publicly apologised at the time and entered treatment for substance abuse. His quiet return was first observed in early ultraSOUND sessions and confirmed with the release of “Private.” The band has not made a formal statement about his reinstatement, but fans noted his appearance in recent promotional material and tour visuals.
The Neighbourhood recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of their sophomore album Wiped Out! with an expanded edition featuring 11 previously unreleased demos and remixes.
The Neighbourhood Australia & New Zealand Tour 2026Presented by Handsome ToursJuly 4 – Spark Arena, Auckland, NZJuly 7 – Hordern Pavilion, Sydney, NSWJuly 10 – Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne, VIC
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Halsey is on the mend after spending the night in the emergency room following her Nov. 2 show in Boston.
The singer-songwriter, who had a two-night stop in Boston for her international Back to Badlands tour, took to Instagram Stories on Sunday (Nov. 3) to share that she experienced a “minor medical emergency” after her concert at MGM Music Hall. Despite the overnight ER stay, she confirmed she would be returning to the stage for her second Boston performance as scheduled.
“Boston I’m gonna be honest with ya, after the show last night I was in the ER till 6 this morning,” Halsey wrote. “Minor medical emergency but I am A-Okay now and ready to rock tonight! But if I’m pacing myself, that’s why!” She added a thank you to the hospital staff, calling them “the absolute best team I’ve ever met.”
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The 31-year-old artist has been open about her ongoing health journey. In 2022, Halsey revealed she had been diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and a rare T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder, conditions that she says are now being managed or are in remission. “Both of which I will likely have for the duration of my life,” she wrote in a June 2024 Instagram post. She also lives with endometriosis and previously shared she suffered a miscarriage while on tour at age 20.
This latest health scare comes amid a particularly prolific era for the genre-blurring star. The Great Impersonator, released in October 2024 via Capitol Records, debuted at No. 2 on both the all-genre Billboard 200 and Top Album Sales charts. It also debuted atop Billboard’s Top Rock & Alternative Albums and Top Alternative Albums charts. The set earned 93,000 equivalent album units in the United States in the week ending Oct. 31, according to Luminate.
Halsey previously ruled Top Alternative Albums for a week each with If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power in 2021 and Badlands in 2015.
Halsey has charted 20 songs on the Billboard Hot 100, including two No. 1 hits: her 2016 Closer collaboration with The Chainsmokers, which topped the chart for 12 weeks, and 2019’s “Without Me,” her first solo No. 1. She’s also earned multiple top 10 albums on the Billboard 200, including Badlands (No. 2), Hopeless Fountain Kingdom (No. 1), Manic (No. 2), and If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power (No. 2).
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Agents Jenna Adler of CAA, Marsha Vlasic of Independent Artist Group, Sara Williams of WME and Elisa Vazzana of UTA took part in a conversation about the current challenges and trends in touring — and what it’s like being a female agent in 2025 — at the Billboard Live Music Summit on Monday (Nov. 3) in West Hollywood, California.
In a panel moderated by Billboard editor-in-chief Hannah Karp, the four agents — who collectively represent artists including Green Day, Neil Young, Luke Combs and Megan Maroney — discussed the expansion of the micro-residency model as one of the ways the live business is likely to change over the next few years.
Adler remarked that “micro-residencies are only going to get more and more expansive; micro-residencies meaning it’s no longer a 45-date tour across the country, it’s more like four or six markets and we’re going to do multiple days. I think it not only saves on costs, because it’s so expensive to tour these days, especially as a mid-level and young artist, that these micro-residencies actually really help curtail that.”
Adler also noted that global touring is now a major priority for artists, “so as we’re planning 24-month calendars. I think that we’re looking at all of it and making sure there’s breaks in between and just really being mindful for the artist, because it’s grueling out there.”
Vazzana noted that with this emphasis on global touring, it’s important for artists to grow their international fanbases earlier in their careers, as “it hurts a lot more when you have a much bigger team to go and try to do it then, than if you had just done it from day one and taken those incremental steps. I also think that international audiences really appreciate the early investment.”
The agents also discussed the state of the glass ceiling for women agents. Vlasic, who began her career 40 years ago, when she was often the only woman in meetings, reflected that “there are more women in our business than ever. When I started out there were three. It has tremendously [improved].”
“Learning form the past, being in rooms with women who have taught us to come into the room and bring another woman into the room and have those conversations,” is important, Williams continues, “because it’s not over. It’s much better, but it’s not over. The number of times we might be one of the only women on a screen or in the room is significant in this business, still.”
“I feel like we’ve come such a long way, but there’s so much more to do,” added Adler. “We do belong in the room, and we have to advocate for ourselves, and we have to continue to advocate and fight.”
“But you must do it,” said Vlasic. “You cannot expect to have the path laid for you; you have to create it yourself.”
“Sometimes I just feel like we just have to continue to fight for each other and to be there and show up for each other,” Adler continues, “because as much as people try to pit us against each other, I just feel like we just need to be screaming and amplifying from the rooftops that we do belong in the room, because it’s systemic at times.”
“I’ve always said that it’s not a disadvantage to be a woman, and I firmly believe that,” continued Vazzana. “I was raised by a dad who was like, ‘Get in there, do the job, be smarter than everyone else,’ and by the way, sometimes I maybe have to yell a little louder, but I don’t see that as a negative. I see it as a necessity, and if it helps move women forward, so be it.”
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Shakira received the inaugural Billboard Global Touring Icon Award in honor of her historic Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour, and as part of the 2025 Billboard Live Music Summit held Monday (Nov. 3) in West Hollywood, California.
“As your longtime tour manager, I am so proud and truly honored to present the first annual Billboard global icon tour award to you,” said tour director Marty Hom, who’s also worked for Fleetwood Mac, Barbra Streisand and The Rolling Stones, among others. “We get to witness every day how hard you work to do the best show possible for all your fans.”
Shakira, who received the news backstage during the rehearsals of her recent show in Cali, Colombia, dedicated the award to her entire team, including dancers, band and crew, for “working as hard as I do,” she noted.
The Live Nation-produced tour’s first 64 dates (of 82) grossed $327.4 million and sold 2.5 million tickets, according to Billboard Boxscore, converting Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran into the highest grossing Latin tour ever by a woman and the second highest grossing Latin tour ever (behind only Luis Miguel’s 2023-24 outing, which grossed $409.5 million).
Additionally, the Colombian artist sold 65,000 tickets per night during her historic 12-concert run at Mexico City’s Estadio GNP Seguros (formerly known as Foro Sol), according to promoter OCESA, for a total of 780,000 tickets sold.
“It’s encouraging and inspiring,” Shakira said to Hom. “I never thought, not even in my wildest dreams, that I would fill every stadium. It’s incredible and motivating at the same time, I feel like I’m just starting my career, and it’s crazy because it’s been 30 years … This has been the best tour of my life, it’s been just as we dreamt it. We worked so hard, overcoming every obstacle, it hasn’t been easy, we worked many, many long hours to make everything as good as people deserve it.”
Backstage at her show in Cali — where she performed for the first time in 20 years — Shakira also discussed her personal life: “I’m completely dedicated to my boys and my career. That’s all I need, my boys, my fans and my music, and creating, it’s fulfilling a big part of my life right now.”
