State Champ Radio

by DJ Frosty

Current track

Title

Artist

Current show

State Champ Radio Mix

12:00 am 12:00 pm

Current show

State Champ Radio Mix

12:00 am 12:00 pm


Music News

Page: 899

Over the past decade-plus, Illinois native Brett Eldredge has earned five No. 1 Billboard Country Airplay hits (including the two-week chart-toppers “Don’t Ya” and “Wanna Be That Song”) and has seen two of his albums rise into the top 3 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart.

Explore

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

Thanks to his velvety, timeless vocal delivery, his annual holiday-themed Glow concerts and two albums comprised of primarily classic holiday songs (2016’s Glow and 2021’s Mr. Christmas), he’s also earned a reputation as an essential artist to help usher in the spirit of the holiday season.

On Sept. 27, Eldredge will extend that reputation with his third holiday album, Merry Christmas (Welcome to the Family), an eight-song collection of original holiday songs. Eldredge, who is managed by Q Prime South, is also turning a new page professionally, as the album will be the first released on Eldredge’s own independent label, Warm and Cozy Records. Eldredge previously parted ways with his longtime label home, Warner Music Nashville.

Trending on Billboard

“The run we had together at Warner was very special and it ended with respect and love,” Eldredge tells Billboard via email. “I am so grateful for the wonderful team of humans at Warner and the work and belief they always had for me. At the end of the day, I missed the feeling of betting on myself. That feeling when you first get to town, knocking on doors and playing anywhere they would let me in the doors with my guitar and an eager voice that wanted to be heard…I have that hunger to bet on myself and starting my own label felt like the perfect way to do that.”According to Q Prime South’s Randi Tolbert, ADA will handle distribution for the label, with Q Prime South and Q Prime New York label services handling duties including marketing, press, radio and digital.

Asked if there are plans to sign additional artists to his Warm and Cozy label, Eldredge notes that at the moment, his sights are set on releasing his own music, and he’s immersed in “making music that I love by cutting out expectations or outside pressures and anything that would influence my creative spirit. I love the freedom of it all so far…I am going to focus on that for now, but who knows what the future holds!”

Among the original songs on the new album is “Sweet December,” a duet with Kelly Clarkson (the two previously collaborated on “Under the Mistletoe,” featured on Clarkson’s 2021 holiday album, When Christmas Comes Around).

“After singing ‘Under the Mistletoe’ together, I knew there was no one else in the world I wanted to sing this song with,” Eldredge says in a statement. “Kelly’s voice has this soulful retro feeling. I’ve never done a Christmas song in this style, and I really love it.”

Clarkson adds in a statement, “I’ve been fortunate enough to record songs with Brett, go see him live, and have him on my show! He has one of my favorite voices and I will sing with him anytime, anywhere! I hope people dig ‘Sweet December’ as much as we do!”

[embedded content]

The vinyl edition of the upcoming album will be released Oct. 25, bolstered by Welcome to the Family: The Game, an exclusive board game printed onto the vinyl edition’s gatefold.

For Eldredge, seeing the growing success of his holiday-centered music is a fulfillment of the dreams and ideas he had as a young vocalist, inspired by the sounds of timeless holiday songs each season.

“I think the success of this Christmas business or any business is to dig into what sparked it before it mattered to anyone else but yourself,” he tells Billboard. “That’s how I feel about this whole Christmas dream that has blown up to a level I only used to dream about as a kid, sitting by the tree singing along to Nat King Cole and Bing Crosby. That whole feeling of, ‘What if one day I could make music classic and cool like this, with my own holiday original songs? What if I could make people feel the way I do right now just listening and dreaming?’ When it all gets overwhelming, which indeed any type of success or ‘business’ does, I like to imagine taking a seat next to that 12-year-old me and saying, ‘Can you believe we are doing this?’”

Eldredge also notes to Billboard that fans can likely expect to hear a variety of sounds from him in the future as he explores musical avenues.

“I love so many types of music and I am inspired that we now live in an era where there can be a home on different playlists for different styles,” he says. “It honestly makes the live shows more fun and expansive too. I have a lot of different styles and sounds in my bag of magic tricks that I can’t wait to get out to the world!”See the tracklist for Merry Christmas (Welcome to the Family) below:

1          “Merry Christmas (Welcome to the Family)”

2          “It Must Be Christmas”

3          “Sweet December” (featuring Kelly Clarkson)

4          “Warm and Cozy”          

5          “The Night St. Nick Got Sick”

6          “Season of Lights and Wonder”

7          “Who Will You Be Kissing on New Year’s Eve?” (featuring Idarose)

8          “Welcome to the Family” (Reprise)

After more than 50 years of rocking, REO Speedwagon will permanently park the tour bus at the end of the year. The long-running soft rock band known for such 1980s hits as “Keep on Loving You,” “Take It On the Run” and “Can’t Fight This Feeling” announced on Monday (Sept. 16) that their upcoming U.S. dates will be their last due to intractable conflicts between the two longest-tenured members.

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

“Bruce has intended to be Back On the Road Again by now. If it were up to just him, he’d be back on tour… but it’s not up to just him,” read a statement from the group in reference to bassist Bruce Hall, who has been off the road recuperating from back surgery while the band was touring with Train this summer.

“The consensus opinion was that he had not recovered sufficiently to be able to perform at the level the fans have come to expect,” they continued. “Bruce respected that opinion and is grateful that [replacement bassist] Matt [Bissonette] has been around to keep the Wagon rolling through the summer tour. Bruce never had any intention of retiring or walking away from the band, fans, and crew he has loved for almost 50 years.”

Trending on Billboard

The message also noted that singer Kevin Cronin also “never had any intention” of leaving the band, but that things came to a head over unexplained stressors, leading to the difficult decision to call it a road day.

“Due to this complex situation, irreconcilable differences arose between Bruce and Kevin. So, it is with great sadness that we announce REO Speedwagon will cease touring effective January 1, 2025,” they announced. “[Keyboardist] Neal [Doughty], Kevin, and Bruce thank their fans for all their years of loyal support and for giving back to the band such wonderful memories that will remain with each of them forever.”

Writing on Facebook, Hall wrote his own goodbye, telling fans, “Never ever thought it would end like this and I’m heartbroken. Please know Neal and I did everything in our power to try and keep the Wagon rolling. I am so appreciative of ALL the amazing love & support. You guys have been very vocal and clear in your wishes for me to return to the stage. Trust me…that’s all I wanted too. We all deserved a farewell tour.” He noted that he wanted to the band to continue touring as it was prior to his successful, planned back surgery.

Last week, the band had to cancel shows in Chula Vista, CA and Phoenix, AZ after Cronin was felled by an undisclosed illness. Train and REO Speedwagon launched their 44-date co-headlining Summer Road trip on July 8 and wrapped it up on Sept. 11; only Train peformed at the latter show in Phoenix due to Cronin’s illness. The group has a final round of headlining dates slated to kick off on Sept. 27 at the Agua Caliente Casino in Rancho Mirage, CA before playing what will now be their swan song on Nov. 23 at Rupp Arena in Lexington, KY.

After missing the final two shows, Cronin wrote a note from his hospital bed on FB over the weekend in which he reminisced about the great time on the road with Train this summer and his own future. “Lying here tethered to various beeping machines, makes a guy think. I have had plenty of free time this past week to appreciate the love in the eyes of my wife and kids, as they have gathered around me here every single day. I have so much more life to live, and have re-examined what I want to do with the rest of my time here, and who I want to be surrounded by while I do it,” he said.

“I need to be lifted by those around me, and in return, to lift them. I feel excited at the prospect of creating and playing the best music I have in me, with the best artists, musicians, and people who will have me. And I promise to continue giving my best, and appreciating the gift of music which has allowed me this life.”

REO Speedwagon formed in Champaign, IL in 1967 with an initial lineup featuring lead singer Terry Luttrell and a rotating roster of guitarists, releasing three albums with as many lead vocalists before Cronin joined in time for 1972’s R.E.O./T.W.O. LP; Cronin split before 1973’s Ridin’ the Storm Out album. After sitting out three additional studio albums, Cronin returned for 1976’s R.E.O., which set the stage for their breakthrough with 1978’s punny You Can Tune a Piano but You Can’t Tuna Fish.

The double platinum LP — the first to feature Hall on bass — finally broke them on radio and on the charts, hitting No. 29 on the Billboard 200 album tally and landing their first hit singles with “Time For Me to Fly” (No. 56 on the Billboard Hot 100) and “Roll With the Changes” (No. 58). But it was 1980’s High Infidelity that cemented their reputation as AOR radio soft rock gods thanks to Hot 100 charting hits “Keep On Loving You” (No. 1), “Take It on the Run” (No. 5), “In Your Letter” (No. 20) and “Don’t Let Him Go” (No. 24). The band released six more albums, including their final original studio effort, 2007’s Find Your Way Home; the holiday album Not So Silent Night… Christmas with REO Speedwagon was released in 2009.

See the band’s statement below.

After giving birth to her third child earlier this month, Cardi B says the public pressure on performers to quickly shed baby weight is both unrealistic and unfair. On Monday (Sept. 16), the “Bongos” rapper reacted to a fan who commented on Cardi’s post from the day before featuring footage of the MC’s first postpartum workout. “It’s barely been a week. Yoh, the pressure women in the industry are under? Insane,” the person wrote.
The comment came after Cardi shared a [since timed-out] video on Instagram Stories on Sunday in which she hit the gym for 30 minutes of hard late night cardio on a StairMaster, just two weeks after giving birth on Sept. 7 to her third baby, a girl, with estranged husband rapper Offset. “This is my third baby and postpartum is a little different from my first two… I’m not doing heaving lifting, no muscle straining, squatting none of that… just cardio,” Cardi wrote.

“Sometimes to avoid postpartum depression you gotta keep your mind busy and for me that’s work and staying active… but you know what’s funny?? Y’all dragged me down when I gained 15 pounds because I was 5 months pregnant but now yall fake concerned and wanna talk about pressure???” she added. “Y’all said I was pregnant to avoid working now that you see I’m still at it it’s something else?? So yeah I’m taking this personal but its FOR ME because either way y’all are gonna have something to say.”

Trending on Billboard

The fan quickly clarified that she didn’t “mean any harm” with her tweet and did not intend it as an indictment on Cardi, “but rather society’s expectations of women and ‘snap back’ culture. Cardi said it was all good, responding, “Totally babe!! And I do agree about society and pressure…I just was never the type to care about snap back after birth. I don’t know what it is about this time around but I have this burst of energy where I want to do EVERYTHING… It’s like I want to complete all my goals in one day.”

On Monday Cardi also posted some home movies from the hospital in which she and Offset spend quality time with their baby girl, whose name has not yet been revealed. In the TikTok clip we see Cardi breastfeeding and snuggling with her third bundle of joy, as well as Offset enjoying some skin-to-skin contact as their two other kids together, Kulture, 6 and Wave, 3, meet their new sibling.

Cardi, who filed for divorce from Offset for the second time earlier this summer, has been hard at work on her long-awaited follow-up to her 2018 debut studio album, Invasion of Privacy, whose release date has not yet been announced.

This is my third baby and postpartum is a little different from my first two… I’m not doing heaving lifting, no muscle straining, squatting none of that… just cardio. Sometimes to avoid postpartum depression you gotta keep your mind busy and for me that’s work and staying… https://t.co/I6VFBsAxGO— Cardi B (@iamcardib) September 16, 2024

Totally babe!! And I do agree about society and pressure…I just was never the type to care about snap back after birth. I don’t know what it is about this time around but I have this burst of energy where I want to do EVERYTHING… It’s like I want to complete all my goals in one… https://t.co/0NheAYu5kh— Cardi B (@iamcardib) September 16, 2024

Justin Timberlake was back in comfortable confines on Monday night (Sept. 16) when he visited The Tonight Show to hang with his good pal and frequent sketch partner host Jimmy Fallon. After a lengthy, laudatory pre-interview wind-up running down the multi-hyphenate singer’s resumé, Timberlake took a seat as Fallon assured his friend “you’re well-liked here.”

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

The visit was Timberlake’s first public appearance since pleading guilty to impaired driving in New York’s Sag Harbor Village Court on Friday, where he was sentenced to 25 hours of community service and hit with $760 in fines and court fees. “I did not live up to the standards that I try to hold for myself,” he told the court, before addressing the judge, “I should’ve had better judgment. I understand the seriousness of this.”

Timberlake did not address the plea deal or the DWI incident during the visit, which focused on the singer’s Forget Tomorrow world tour; on Tuesday morning (Sept. 17), JT announced a string of 10 new 2025 dates for the outing (see below).

Trending on Billboard

The friends mostly joked around, with Fallon demurring when Timberlake repeatedly suggested that the host would come out and do a mandatory warm-up set before Justin’s upcoming Barclays Center show in New York on Oct. 7. “I’m not doing anything,” Fallon assured him. “I’m going as a fan… screaming.”

“Shouldn’t Jimmy come out and do a 15-minute set?” JT baited Fallon as the studio audience howled at the idea.

Fallon also noted that he’s always giving Timberlake advice about touring, for example, suggesting he sit on a stool and play for 45 minutes. Instead, Timberlake plays for more than two hours and as Fallon noted, does a dramatic bit during “Mirrors” where he flies out over the crowd on a giant robotic arm that looks cool, but has led to some regrets from the singer.

“I’m going to say that was my idea… After 53-54 shows,” Timberlake said haltingly before standing up and getting into an arms wide open, leaning forward pose, “I was up there one time, just, like, suspended over everyone. I was like, ‘I could be on a stool right now.’”

“Yes! I told you that!” Fallon said enthusiastically, requesting that when he comes to the show he would like to not be able to see Timberlake that well. Clarifying, Jimmy said he doesn’t want such good seats next time, getting up from his desk and standing within a foot of JT to demonstrate his usual VIP status.

“I don’t know what to do with myself,” Fallon admitted of being so up-close-and-personal. “I don’t dance… and so I just stand there and I bore your wife (actress Jessica Biel), so she leaves me [and] I’m by myself. It’s too much pressure for me.”

“Do you not want to come to the show?” Timberlake wondered. Amid the giggles and the inside jokes, Fallon teased a new holiday song the pair recorded for the host’s upcoming Christmas album, tracked at New York’s Electric Lady studio. “You’ll Be There,” described as a a “holiday bromance” tune, mixes sleigh bells and ukulele for a chilled-out island vibe, with JT singing, “The only thing on my wish list/ Is that you’ll be home for Christmas.”

The pair also played a round of “Playlist Playoff,” in which Fallon and Timberlake competed to pick the perfect song for different scenarios, including a pre-workout jam and the track they’d want on repeat if stuck in an elevator together, which prompted Justin to pay tribute to recently deceased R&B icon Maze frontman Frankie Beverly.

Check out Timberlake on The Tonight Show below.

[embedded content]

[embedded content]

Timberlake’s new 2025 North American Forget Tomorrow world tour dates:

Jan. 13 – Portland, OR @ Moda Center 

Jan. 15 – Sacramento, CA @ Golden 1 Center 

Jan. 18 – Anaheim, CA @ Honda Center 

Jan. 20 – Palm Springs, CA @ Acrisure Arena  

Jan. 23 – Phoenix, AZ @ Footprint Center  

Jan. 25 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Delta Center 

Jan. 28 – Denver, CO @ Ball Arena 

Feb. 3 – Austin, TX @ Moody Center 

Hyperpop pioneer SOPHIE has been honored with a Google Doodle on what would have been her 38th birthday (September 17). The Google Doodle is accompanied by a short clip soundtracked by “Immaterial” from Oil Of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides, her sole studio album released in 2019, and is inspired by her most iconic look and an […]

Earlier this year, Coldplay’s Music Of The Spheres tour was named as the biggest rock tour of all time, according to figures accumulated by Billboard Boxscore.
That run will continue with a set of new U.K. dates in August 2025 in London and Hull, Yorkshire. It’ll be their first shows in the region following their headline set at Glastonbury in June 2024, their fifth headlining appearance.

The 8 shows, which will take place at London’s Wembley Stadium and Craven Park in Hull, will take place in August 2025 and be the only European cities next year. Tickets for the shows go on sale at 9am on September 27. See the full run of dates below.

Trending on Billboard

They join Oasis in Wembley Stadium’s schedule in July and August, who are set for 7 nights at the venue. Dua Lipa, meanwhile, has booked a pair of shows for next June.

✨ AUGUST 2025 LONDON & HULL DATES ANNOUNCED Exclusive first ticket access to fans who order Moon Music from the official Coldplay UK or EU Stores, at https://t.co/G2iiva4kgH (inc those who already have).These are the only UK/European cities where the band will perform next… pic.twitter.com/ZnDlgyfJyp— Coldplay (@coldplay) September 17, 2024

The band will release their new album Moon Music on Oct. 4 and have shared two singles so far: “feelslikemfallinginlove” and the star-studded “We Pray”, featuring turns from Burna Boy, Little Simz, Elyanna and Tini.

The Music Of The Spheres tour has been a blockbuster run for the British band. The tour began in March 2022, taking the same name as their ninth studio album released in 2021. The show has since taken in 160 shows across the globe including Europe, Asia, Latin America and North America. The shows at Wembley will be powered by 100 per cent solar, wind and kinetic energy – and delivered by a specially-designed electric battery system, the band shared in their announcement.

In August, Billboard Boxscore announced that the Music Of The Spheres world tour had crossed the $1 billion (USD) mark in tour revenue and sold 9.3 million tickets so far. Next month, the band are slated for 11 shows in Australia and New Zealand.

The band have also announced a collaboration with the Music Venue Trust (MVT) in the U.K., a charity that seeks to champion and improve grassroots music venues. 10% of all revenue generated from the tour will be used to support “small U.K. venues and upcoming acts”.

“Coldplay are the perfect example of a UK band who came through the grassroots circuit on their way to worldwide stadium-filling success,” MVT CEO Mark Davyd said in a statement to NME. “It’s fantastic to see them celebrating their own pathway to Wembley by giving back to the grassroots music venues that supported them and recognising the artists and promoters that are struggling more than ever to build their own careers.”

Coldplay 2025 U.K. Tour Dates:

August 18 – Hull, Craven Park StadiumAugust 19 – Hull, Craven Park StadiumAugust 22 – London, Wembley StadiumAugust 23 – London, Wembley StadiumAugust 26 – London, Wembley StadiumAugust 27 – London, Wembley StadiumAugust 30 – London, Wembley StadiumAugust 31 – London, Wembley Stadium

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit Coldplay’s official website.

As the world grieves the loss of Tito Jackson, a founding member of the Jackson 5, authorities have confirmed that he passed away following a medical episode in Gallup, New Mexico, on the evening of Sept. 15.

Explore

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

A statement released on Sept. 16 by the Gallup Police Department details the events leading up to Jackson’s death. According to their statement, at approximately 6:17 p.m., an officer was flagged down near the American Heritage Plaza after someone alerted them to an individual requiring immediate medical attention.

Jackson was transported to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The police’s preliminary investigation is ongoing.

Trending on Billboard

The full statement posted to Gallup Police Department‘s social media account reads:

“On September 15, 2024, at 6:17 p.m., an officer from the Gallup Police Department was flagged down near the American Heritage Plaza located at 702 US Highway 491. The officer was alerted to an individual requiring medical attention and promptly requested an ambulance.

The individual was subsequently transported to a local hospital in Gallup, NM, where he was pronounced dead. Following this, the hospital requested the presence of detectives and the Office of the Medical Investigator. The deceased has been identified as 70-year-old Toriano ‘Tito’ Jackson from Tulsa, Oklahoma.

This information is derived from a preliminary investigation that is still ongoing. Investigators are actively interviewing witnesses and examining both physical and electronic records. The Department’s understanding of the facts and circumstances may evolve as additional evidence is gathered and analyzed.”

While an official cause of death is yet to be revealed, according to initial reports from Entertainment Tonight, Steve Manning, a longtime Jackson family friend an former manager, revealed that Tito is believed to have suffered a heart attack while driving from New Mexico to Oklahoma. 

As the Jackson family grieves this monumental loss, Tito’s sons—TJ, Taj, and Taryll—paid a heartfelt tribute to their father on Instagram, expressing their profound sorrow. They shared:

“It’s with heavy hearts that we announce that our beloved father, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Tito Jackson, is no longer with us. We are shocked, saddened, and heartbroken. Our father was an incredible man who cared about everyone and their well-being.”

The statement continued, “Some of you may know him as Tito Jackson from the legendary Jackson 5, some may know him as ‘Coach Tito,’ or some know him as ‘Poppa T.’ Nevertheless, he will be missed tremendously. It will forever be ‘Tito Time’ for us. Please remember to do what our father always preached, and that is ‘Love One Another.’ We love you Pops.”

The statement concluded with a personal note signed by his three sons:“Your boys, Taj, Taryll, and TJ.”

Tito was an integral part of the Jackson family’s musical dynasty. He, along with his brothers Michael, Jermaine, Marlon, and Jackie, formed The Jackson 5 in the 1960s. Their debut single, “I Want You Back,” became an instant sensation, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, as did their subsequent hits “ABC” and “I’ll Be There.”

Beyond his work with The Jackson 5, Tito pursued a solo career, releasing his debut album Tito Time in 2016. His single “Get It Baby” reached No. 19 on the Billboard Adult R&B Airplay chart.

Tito’s passing follows the deaths of his younger brother Michael Jackson in 2009 and their father Joe Jackson, the family patriarch and early manager of The Jackson 5, who passed away in 2018 at the age of 89.

Diddy was arrested in New York on Monday night (Sept. 16) after being indicted by a grand jury on unknown charges, The New York Times and other outlets report. According to TMZ, Diddy was taken into federal custody at the FBI field office in Manhattan. The rap mogul (real name: Sean Combs) has been hit […]

Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Kamala Harris has not affected voter’s opinion on the 2024 presidential election, a new poll says. Per a new ABC News/Ipsos poll posted by The Hill, 81 percent of voters surveyed said Swift’s support for Vice President Harris will not influence how they vote. Only six percent said they are more likely to […]

Batman has been an iconic character in comic books, TV and film for 85 years. On Thursday, Sept. 26, he’ll make history as the first superhero with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His star will be at 6764 Hollywood Boulevard in front of The Hollywood Guinness World Records Museum. Michael Empric, an official Guiness World Records adjudicator, will be on hand to certify Batman’s history-making achievement.
“The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce is proud to honor our first superhero on the Hollywood Walk of Fame! The one, the only, Batman!” stated Ana Martinez, producer of the Hollywood Walk of Fame. “Fans from around the world will be thrilled to know that Batman will have his star dedicated next to the stars of television’s Batman, Adam West, and the co-creator of Batman, Bob Kane.”

Jim Lee, DC Comics’ president, publisher, and chief creative officer, and Anne DePies, SVP & general manager, will be there, as will Steve Nissen, Hollywood Chamber of Commerce president & CEO, who will emcee the event.

Trending on Billboard

Created for DC Comics by Bob Kane with Bill Finger, Batman first appeared in 1939’s Detective Comics #27. The Batman TV series, starring West and Burt Ward as Robin, debuted on ABC in January 1966. Neal Hefti’s memorable theme song to the series won a Grammy for best instrumental theme and sparked a cover battle on the Billboard Hot 100. Hefti’s original version reached No. 35, but a cover version by the sur-rock instrumental band The Marketts made No. 17.

With the help of director Tim Burton and actor Michael Keaton, Batman would usher in the age of the comic book movie in 1989. Danny Elfman composed and produced the score album, which reached No. 30 on the Billboard 200. Elfman’s “The Batman Theme” won a Grammy for best instrumental composition.

Prince composed and produced an album of songs “inspired by and featured in” that 1989 film, which did even better than the score album. This ushered in the era of pop soundtracks which were distinct from (and often more successful than) score albums. Prince’s album topped the Billboard 200 for six consecutive weeks and spawned a No. 1 single on the Hot 100, “Batdance.”

The soundtrack to Batman Forever in 1995 reached No. 5 on the Billboard 200 and spawned a No. 1 smash, Seal’s “Kiss From a Rose,” which won Grammys for both record and song of the year. Seal didn’t write the song for the film, so it wasn’t Oscar-eligible. The soundtrack also featured U2’s “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me,” which reached No. 16 on the Hot 100, as well as genre hits by Method Man and Offspring.

The soundtrack to Batman & Robin in 1997 also reached No. 5 on the Billboard 200 and featured hits by such diverse acts as Smashing Pumpkins, Jewel, R. Kelly, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony and Eric Benet.

Hans Zimmer composed and conducted the scores to The Dark Knight (2008) and The Dark Knight Rises (2012), both of which reached the top 20 on the Billboard 200. Zimmer also composed and conducted the score to Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, which reached No. 25.

The Batman film franchise has grossed more than $6.8 billion at the global box office, making it the 10th highest-grossing film franchise of all time.

The star unveiling ceremony will be streamed live at www.walkoffame.com.