Music News

30 Aug 2024

Yolanda Adams Opens the ‘Church Doors’ With First Solo Single in 10 Years

One of the gospel genre’s most iconic voices is back — and she’s bringing along her first album in 13 years. On Friday (Aug. 39), four-time Grammy-winning gospel music icon Yolanda Adams unleashed “Church Doors,” her first solo single in a decade.

Across a soundscape punctuated by spirited handclaps and crisp choir harmonies, Adams’ robust voice soars with a perfect mixture of reverence and joy. “When you let me make it to the church doors, I’ll tell them what you’ve done for me,” she promises in the poignant hook.

The new single hit DSPs alongside a remix featuring Terry Hunter, Sir The Baptist and Donald Lawrence & Co., as well as an extended remix featuring Grammy-winner J. Ivy in addition to all of the aforementioned artists.

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“I am so excited about the release of the single ‘Church Doors’ because we have been working on it with some amazing people including Donald Lawrence, Sir The Baptist and Terry Lewis,” Adams tells Billboard. “A group of fantastic people wrote an amazing song that voices the sentiments of testimony. The world has been through so much so to have some good news about what God has done is what we need right now. That’s the theme of church doors.”

Power Book II: Ghost and The New Edition Story actor Woody McClain leads the track’s artful music video, which features direction and choreography from Fatima Robinson, who recently worked on 2023’s Color Purple movie musical and Beyoncé‘s blockbuster Renaissance World Tour.

“Church Doors” is the lead single to Sunny Days, Adams’ new 15-track LP, which is currently slated for a Sept. 13 release. To support the album — her first full-length release with Epic Records — Adams is set to launch a North American arena tour that kicks off on Sept. 6 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, and concludes on Nov. 3 at Kia Forum in Inglewood, Calif. Billed the Reunion Tour, the trek will also visit major cities such as Boston, Brooklyn and Atlanta.

Adams has landed six top 10 titles on Top Christian Albums, including 1999’s chart-busting Mountain High… Valley Low, which spent 16 weeks atop the ranking and charted for 100 weeks. Her sole Billboard Hot 100 charting song, 2000’s “Open My Heart” (No. 57), is also one of the biggest crossover gospel tracks of the 21st century, appearing on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (No. 10), Dance Club Songs (No. 29), Adult R&B Airplay (No. 1, 16 weeks) and the all-genre Radio Songs chart (No. 53).

Watch the video for the “Church Doors” remix below:

30 Aug 2024

This Is Not a Drill: Megan Thee Stallion & BTS Are Teaming Up Again on a Collab That’s ‘Coming Soon’

MTS is joining forces with BTS once again — yes, for real. After teasing on social media that she was teaming up with another artist to release a new collaboration, Megan Thee Stallion has confirmed that she’s working with the world’s biggest K-pop stars: Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V and Jung Kook.

The “Hiss” rapper first started hinting at a new duet on X Thursday (Aug. 29), when she simply tweeted a pointed string of emojis: “?X? ?”

The cryptic post got lots of fans fired up, with some immediately guessing that the purple heart signified BTS’ involvement. “HELLO?? PURPLE HEART?? BTS???” one person commented at the time, while another excited user wrote, “BTS COLLAB ?? NO ONE MOVE.”

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The following day, BTS’ account confirmed the news: “?X?(?),” the band wrote, retweeting Meg’s original post. “Coming Soon! ??”

The news comes about two months after the “WAP” artist released her third studio album, Megan, which debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200. BTS’ full-band activities have been on pause as the members fulfill their mandatory military obligations in South Korea, with some of the boys dropping solo projects in the meantime.

The new collab won’t be the first time MTS and BTS have worked together. In 2021, Meg jumped on the remix to the boy band’s Billboard Hot 100-topping single “Butter,” which they all performed together at BTS’ concert in Los Angeles that November.

“I love BTS, and I was telling my manager, ‘I really want to do a song with BTS, I don’t know what I can do or what we’re going to do,’” she recalled to Entertainment Tonight the following February. “Around that the same time, they wound up reaching out to me and asking me to do the ‘Butter’ remix. So, I was like, ‘Oh my God.’”

See Megan and BTS’ tweets below.

30 Aug 2024

Friday Music Guide: New Music From Big Sean, A$AP Rocky, Muni Long and More

Billboard’s Friday Music Guide serves as a handy guide to this Friday’s most essential releases — the key music that everyone will be talking about today, and that will be dominating playlists this weekend and beyond. 

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This week, Big Sean puts in the work, A$AP Rocky has a gift for fans and Muni Long is back with more R&B gems. Check out all of this week’s picks below:

Big Sean, Better Me Than You 



“Back to the basics, back to the work,” Big Sean raps in the opening minutes of his new album Better Me Than You — and the Detroit star’s first album since 2020 indeed carries a sense of head-down purpose, with guest artists like Gunna, Syd, Kodak Black and Bryson Tiller lending a hand as Sean carries the torch of no-frills hip-hop.

A$AP Rocky, “Tailor Swif” 



A previously leaked track that A$AP Rocky has properly released as a gift to fans, “Tailor Swif” finds the rapper quickly jumping between come-up stories and double-entendre boasting: “Even when I was po’, I was out here, eatin’ goats,” he spits, as the flute-laden production urges him to keep going.

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Muni Long, Revenge 



After waiting many years for her solo moment, then achieving it with the top 20 smash “Hrs & Hrs,” Muni Long has happily returned sooner than later with Revenge, which follows 2022’s Public Displays of Affection: The Album as another R&B songwriting showcase, highlighted by the electric recent hit “Made For Me.”

Tommy Richman, “Thought You Were the One” 



After “Million Dollar Baby” zoomed into the top 10 of the Hot 100 and “Devil is a Lie” continued his upward trajectory, Tommy Richman shows off his vulnerable side on “Thought You Were the One,” which molds his new jack swing riffing and falsetto croon into a more heartbroken pose.

Zedd, Telos 



When you revive Jeff Buckley’s “Dream Brother” for a dance remix, you know you are taking some big swings — and Zedd, the veteran EDM star who has scored hits by taking chances in the pop world, spends new album Telos pushing his style into intriguing new territories as a wide smattering of guests (Muse! Dora Jar! John Mayer!) swing by to help.

Noah Kahan, Live From Fenway Park 



At long last, Noah Kahan has left the road after spending multiple years gradually growing his fan base and venue size — but before wrapping up a tour that eventually made him a stadium headliner, the singer-songwriter recorded Live From Fenway Park, a live album that captures Kahan beaming through his catalog at the hometown gig.

Victoria Monét & Usher, “SOS (Sex on Sight)” 



Continuing a fruitful year in which Victoria Monét won the best new artist Grammy and Usher headlined the Super Bowl halftime show, “SOS (Sex on Sight)” allows both artists to warble about desire and showcase their abilities as master collaborators — some of their strongest respective work has been alongside other artists, and “SOS” is another winning team-up.

Editor’s Pick: Fireboy DML, Adedamola 



For casual fans who only know Nigerian singer-songwriter Fireboy DML’s global smash “Peru,” new album Adedamola is both a sumptuous listen and personal new entry into his discography, building upon his global success with anecdotes about his journey and engrossing relationship musings; this album simmers, and never loses your attention.

30 Aug 2024

Basel Picked As Host City For 2025 Eurovision Song Contest

The 2025 Eurovision Song Contest is setting up roots in the northern Swiss town of Basel. Organizers announced the news on Friday (August 30), revealing that the 69th edition of the international singing competition will visit Switzerland for a third time next May 13, 15 and 17 when it sets up shop Basel’s 12,000-capacity St. Jackobshalle Arena; Eurovision previously took place in Lugano for the very first edition in 1956 and Lausanne in 1989.

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Switzerland took home the top prize in the inaugural year of Eurovision, when Lys Assia’s “Refrain” came out on top and then won again in 1988 when Celine Dion triumphed with “Ne partez pas sans moi.” Following last year’s win by Swiss singer Nemo, riverside town Basel, the third largest city in the country, was tapped to host this year after beating out Geneva for the honor.

Nemo thrilled the crowd last year in Malmö Arena in Sweden when the singer — who identifies as non-binary, representing the first Eurovision win by a non-binary act — performed their song about coming to terms with their identity.

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The annual Eurovision finals are one of the most-watched TV events of the year, with the 2024 edition drawing in more than 160 million viewers. According to a release announcing next year’s host, the two Swiss cities who were the final candidates were chosen according to criteria including hotel capacity, security, available venues, sustainability, transportation infrastructure and experience with large events.

“The EBU is thrilled that Basel has been selected as the Host City for the Eurovision Song Contest 2025,” said Eurovision executive supervisor Martin Österdahl in a statement. “The Contest was born in Switzerland in Lugano back in 1956 and it’s great to be bringing it back to its birthplace almost 70 years later. Basel’s strategic location at the crossroads of Europe makes it the ideal setting for an event that celebrates the power of music to connect people across borders.”

He continued, “With its unique blend of tradition and innovation, Basel reflects the spirit of the Eurovision Song Contest. The city’s exceptional St. Jakobshalle venue and outstanding hospitality will ensure a memorable experience for delegations, artists and fans alike. Following Contests in the Italian and French speaking parts of the country in 1956 and 1989 we’re also excited to bring the Eurovision Song Contest to German Switzerland for the very first time.”

Basel, a town of 177,000 situated on the River Rhine, is one of the country’s cultural capitals, home to dozens of museums and world-class architecture. Tickets for the nine 2025 shows, including dress rehearsals, are expected to go on sale in the next few months.

Check out the 2025 announcement below.

30 Aug 2024

Patrick Mahomes Says Taylor Swift Has Been ‘Drawing Up Plays’ for the Kansas City Chiefs

They don’t call her mastermind for nothing. When she isn’t crafting songs, albums and concert setlists, Taylor Swift apparently draws up plays, as revealed by Patrick Mahomes in a new interview.

While speaking to Chris Simms for NFL on NBC in a video posted Thursday (Aug. 29), the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback gushed about the pop star’s involvement in the sport ever since she started dating tight end Travis Kelce. “She’s really interested in football, she asks a lot of great questions,” Mahomes said. “She’s already drawing up plays, so we might have to put one in.”

“Meeting Taylor, realizing how genuine and cool she is … that’s been special to me, because like you said, [she’s] the most famous person in the world,” added the athlete, who shares daughter Sterling, son Bronze and a new baby on the way with wife Brittany Mahomes. “I think it’s been cool to see the girls and the women that have really embraced watching football. I know being a girl dad, how cool it is for me … to see these little girls, these daughters and how much they’re loving spending time with their dad watching football.”

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The interview comes just a few days ahead of the beginning of the 2024-25 NFL season, which kicks off Sept. 5 with a Chiefs vs. Baltimore Ravens game. Fans will surely be tuning in to see whether Swift is present at Arrowhead Stadium to support Kelce on the big day, with the 14-time Grammy winner currently on an Eras Tour break following the conclusion of its European leg on Aug. 20.

Mahomes and Kelce also recently sat for a pre-season panel with teammates Harrison Butker, Nick Bolton and Justin Reid, during which the topic of Swift briefly came up again. At one point, the tight end told the event’s host, play-by-play announcer Mitch Holthus, “We love you.” Holthus then asked Kelce if he loves him “more than Taylor,” prompting the Ohio native to respond: “Maybe not.”

Watch Mahomes’ interview with NFL on NBC and a clip of the Chiefs panel below.

30 Aug 2024

Eminem & LL Cool J Join Forces for First-Ever Collaboration on ‘Murdergram Deux’: Listen

LL Cool J and Eminem have joined forces for the first time on a brand new track slated to land on LL’s upcoming The Force album, which arrives on Sept. 6.

The single finds the pair of lethal MCs passing the baton back-and-forth while spitting rapid-fire bars, one hotter than the next. “Murdergram Deux” landed on Friday (Aug. 30) without much of any notice from LL or Em that the track was on the way.

“Give blessings to my disciples, professional I’m a sniper/ Like eight miles away, me and Marshall doing murders/ With dirty burners, break them down and melt them in the furnace,” LL Cool J raps over the skittering Q-Tip production.

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Eminem closes out “Murdergram Deux” seemingly without taking a breath and brings the uptempo track across the finish line with a hat tip to his Dr. Dre and 50 Cent-assisted “Crack a Bottle.”

“Go ahead and crack a bottle, ’cause this is E and J/ Meaning me and James (Yeah), got that avocado/ And we the sociopaths, and we got your ho on our laps/ And we’re goin’ back to Cali so she can blow on our sax,” he spews.

It’s been a turbulent journey for “Murdergram” to receive an official release, as an unfinished version of the track was leaked earlier this year, which frustrated the Queens-bred icon.

“It’s not A.I., but it’s not official. It’s not official, it’s not the right version,” he previously told Raymond T. “People just walk all in the kitchen, touching the rolls before they’re done — you know, how your grandmother slaps your hand when you try to check the pots early. It’s not A.I., it’s a real joint.”

Em joined LL Cool J as a guest on his Rock The Bells radio show in 2018, during which the Detroit artist recalled meeting the rapper for the first time on the set of his “Just Don’t Give a F–k” video.

“I’m like, ‘Yo, he’s in here by himself.’ I was buggin’ the f–k out,” Em said. “You quoted a lyric back to me. You said, ‘Yo, how can I be white/ I don’t even exist.’ You quoting that lyric back to me, was like, ‘I think I s–t myself.’”

Eminem also made an appearance at the 2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction for LL Cool J, where the duo performed his “Rock the Bells” hit.

LL Cool J’s The Force album serves as his first since 2013’s Authentic, and is slated to feature Snoop Dogg, Busta Rhymes, Rick Ross, Saweetie, Nas and more.

Listen to “Murdergram Deux” below.

30 Aug 2024

Double Shot: Post Malone & Blake Shelton’s ‘Drink’ Hits Country Airplay Top 10, Shaboozey’s ‘Bar Song’ Rules for Sixth Week

Post Malone’s “Pour Me a Drink” featuring Blake Shelton hops three spots to No. 10 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart (dated Sept. 7). It increased by 18% to 18.6 million audience impressions Aug. 23-29, according to Luminate.

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Post Malone adds his second Country Airplay top 10, after “I Had Some Help,” featuring Morgan Wallen, led for four weeks beginning in June. Both singles are from his first country LP, F-1 Trillion, which soared in at No. 1 on the Aug. 31-dated Top Country Albums chart and the all-genre Billboard 200 with 250,000 equivalent album units earned in the United States. It scored the second-biggest week for a country title this year, after Beyoncé’s maiden release in the genre, Cowboy Carter, arrived with 407,000 in April.

Shelton banks his 36th Country Airplay top 10 and his first since “Minimum Wage” hit No. 9 in June 2021. He ties fellow Oklahoman Reba McEntire for the ninth-most top 10s; Kenny Chesney and George Strait lead all acts with 61 each dating to the chart’s 1990 start, followed by Tim McGraw with 60.

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Post Malone boasts two concurrent Country Airplay top 10s, as “I Had Some Help” holds at No. 2 (28.1 million in audience). Plus, newest F-1 Trillion single “Guy for That,” featuring Luke Combs, ranks at No. 41 (2.6 million).

Shaboozey Cracks Open Six-Pack

Shaboozey rules Country Airplay for a sixth total and consecutive week with “A Bar Song (Tipsy).” The track, which drew 28.8 in reach among chart reporters (down 3%), is only the second country career-establishing No. 1 to reign for as many as six weeks (counting acts’ first Country Airplay entries as a lead artist or their initial songs promoted to country radio); Carrie Underwood’s “Jesus, Take the Wheel” logged six weeks on top in early 2006.

“A Bar Song (Tipsy)” added a seventh week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 dated Aug. 31, claiming outright 2024’s longest reign, surpassing the six nonconsecutive weeks on top for Post Malone’s “I Had Some Help.” Shaboozey’s hit has likewise logged the sole longest command this year on the multimetric Hot Country Songs chart, its 11 weeks at No. 1 having bested Beyoncé’s “Texas Hold ‘Em,” which ruled for 10 weeks in February-April.

All charts dated Sept. 7 will update on Billboard.com Wednesday, Sept. 4 (a day later than usual due to the Labor Day holiday Sept. 2).

30 Aug 2024

Karol G Duets With Andrea Bocelli in Powerful Rendition of ‘Vivo Por Ella’: Stream It Now

Andrea Bocelli has joined forces with Karol G for a new duet called “Vivo por Ella,” which arrived Friday (Aug. 30) via Decca Records/Sugar Music. The new single reinvents one of the Italian tenor’s most iconic tracks, “Vivo Per Lei” (“I Live for Her”), which originally features Spanish singer Marta Sánchez. The single is part of Bocelli’s upcoming album, Duets, which is slated to release on Oct. 25 and celebrates his 30th anniversary in music.

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 Switching out the original piano for a blend of bow-stroked (arco) and plucked (pizzicato) violin notes, the newly reimagined version of the song adopts a slightly faster pace than the ’90s version. This powerful rendition features the passionate tenor of the Italian paired seamlessly with the vibrant vocals of the Colombian superstar. The song is produced by David Foster and Ellis.

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“This song holds a very special place in my heart, and it’s a great honor to reimagine it with one of the most talented and exciting new artists in the world, Karol G,” Bocelli said in a statement. “Her beautiful voice helps create a timeless celebration of love and music that will find new fans and resonate across generations.”

Karol G added in the press release, “I discovered Andrea when I was a teenager. I was super connected to his music, the power of his voice and his unique way of creating music. This song is a huge honor for me – it’s a song I’ve always loved, and when I was invited to sing ‘Vivo por Ella,’ it felt like coming home. It’s a song I really feel inside myself, it feels like it’s going to be a special point in my career.”

The original “Vivo Per Lei” achieved success in numerous countries when it was released in 1995 on his album Bocelli, including on the Billboard charts, peaking at No. 16 on Hot Latin Songs, No. 8 on Tropical Airplay and No. 9 on Latin Pop Airplay.

This career-spanning 32-track collection of Duets also includes duets with Ed Sheeran, Celine Dion, Sarah Brightman, Dua Lipa, Jennifer Lopez, Giorgia and Luciano Pavarotti, as well as Shania Twain, Chris Stapleton, Gwen Stefani, Marc Anthony, Hans Zimmer and more.

Stream the song below:

Duets tracklist:

CD1
1. “Time To Say Goodbye” (Sarah Brightman)
2. “Vivo Por Ella” (Karol G)
3. “Quizás, Quizás, Quizás” (Jennifer Lopez)
4. “Fall On Me” (Matteo Bocelli)
5. “Perfect Symphony” (Ed Sheeran)
6. “Da stanotte in poi (From This Moment On)” (Shania Twain)
7. “Holding On” (Gwen Stefani)
8. “Il mare calmo della sera” (Chris Stapleton)
9. “The Prayer” (Céline Dion)
10. “La vie en rose” (Édith Piaf)
11. “E più ti penso – from ‘Once Upon A Time In America’” (Ariana Grande)
12. “If Only” (Dua Lipa)
13. “Somos Novios” (Christina Aguilera)
14. “Return To Love” (Ellie Goulding)
15. “Rimani qui” (Elisa)
16. “Vivo per lei” (Giorgia)

CD2
1. “Dare To Live (Vivere)” (Laura Pausini)
2. “Can’t Help Falling In Love” (Katharine McPhee)
3. “Hallelujah” (Virginia Bocelli)
4. “Amazing Grace” (Alison Krauss)
5. “Moon River – from ‘Breakfast At Tiffany’s’” (Sofia Carson)
6. “Canto della terra” (Lauren Daigle)
7. “La voce del silenzio” (Marc Anthony)
8. “Canzoni stonate” (Stevie Wonder)
9. “Un amore così grande” (Veronica Berti)
10. “Notte ‘e piscatore” – Live in Modena (Luciano Pavarotti)
11. “Io ci sarò” (Lang Lang)
12. “Pianissimo” (Cecilia Bartoli)
13. “The Pearl Fishers Duet” – Live in Central Park (Bryn Terfel)
14. “Bambina mia ricordati” (Virginia Bocelli)
15. “What Child Is This?” (Mary J. Blige)
16. “Time To Say Goodbye” (Matteo Bocelli, Hans Zimmer)

30 Aug 2024

Sabrina Carpenter Drops ‘Short n’ Sweet’ Bonus Track & Barry Keoghan Is Ready for It

Sabrina Carpenter has been one busy woman. Just one week after dropping her sixth studio album, Short n’ Sweet, the 25-year-old pop star released a surprise bonus track — and Barry Keoghan was first in line to download.

Sharing an outtake from her Short n’ Sweet cover shoot, Carpenter announced the new song on Instagram Thursday (Aug. 29). “surprise b—h!” she captioned the post.

The “Feather” singer went on to explain that she penned the song — titled “Busy Woman” — with producer Jack Antonoff and cowriter Amy Allen after she turned her new album in to her record label. “[I] was so sad i couldn’t include it…,” she added, noting that the song would only be available to purchase on her website for a limited time. “it’s one of my favorites so i wanted to give it to you as a thank you for all of the love!!!!!”

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In the comments, her Academy Award-nominated boyfriend was quick to show support. “Lets feckin go!! ??” Keoghan wrote.

After Carpenter dropped Short n’ Sweet on Aug. 23, fans were quick to speculate that the Work It star wrote some of the project’s songs about the Irish actor — particularly the NSFW “Bed Chem.” “I was in a sheer dress the day that we met/ We were both in a rush, we talked for a sec,” she sings on the track. “Who’s the cute boy with the white jacket and the thick accent? … Who’s the cute guy with the wide, blue eyes?”

Keoghan also stars opposite Carpenter in the music video for her Billboard Hot 100-topping single “Please Please Please,” which is featured on Short n’ Sweet. The pair first sparked dating rumors in late 2023, a few months before making their public debut at the Vanity Fair Oscars afterparty in March.

See Carpenter’s post below.

30 Aug 2024

The Cure Releasing Live Versions of Two New Songs on Eco Vinyl

While fans continue the seemingly interminable wait for the proper follow-up to 2008’s 4:13 Dream, The Cure will slake their thirst for new music in October with the release of live versions of two new songs. After debuting some fresh tracks on the road over the past few years, the Robert Smith-led group will issue the two-song live 12″ single Novembre: Live in France 2022 on Oct. 1, marking their first official release of new music in 16 years.

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The double A-side 12″ will have in concert versions of “And Nothing Is Forever” and “I Can Never Say Goodbye,” both songs the band started playing in concert two years ago. The songs will be released on Eco-vinyl through Naked Record Club, with net profits going to Brian Eno’s Earth Percent climate charity. Intense, dreamy ballad “And Nothing Is Forever,” was recorded at Montpellier Sud de France Arena on Nov. 8, 2022, while the equally gauzy “I Never Can Say Goodbye” was tracked in Toulouse at Zénith on Nov. 13, 2022 on the French leg of the goth rock group’s 2022 Shows of a Lost World tour.

“I’d like to thank The Cure and NAKED Record Club — both true innovators — for their generous support of vital climate projects through the release of The Cure – Novembre: Live In France 2022,” Eno said in a press release. “It’s a powerful example of how the music community can work together to build a better world.”

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The tracks will appear on 5,000 individually numbered vinyl LPs — 100 of which will be signed– with pre-orders open now. According to Naked Record Club, their releases are pressed on sustainable vinyl, which is made by an injection-molding machine that uses a reported 90% less electricity than traditional steam presses on non-toxic recyclable PET plastic instead of PVC, which is toxic and takes thousands of years to decompose.

Back in 2020, Smith promised that the band’s 14th album would “definitely be out soon,” saying at the time that he was wrapping up recording and was preparing to mix any day. “But until it’s completed, no one will believe me. I look forward to it coming out more than anyone else, trust me!” Smith added in February of that year.

See the announcement below.