State Champ Radio Music
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Iggy Azalea is officially closing the door on her rap career.
The Australian-born artist, who has shifted her focus to entrepreneurial and digital ventures in recent years, reaffirmed that she does not plan to return to the music industry. The update came via Instagram on Friday (Nov. 28), when the “Fancy” rapper shared a selfie that prompted a fan to ask whether she had recently signed a new record deal.
“F*** no,” Azalea replied in the comments. “But I did consider signing, for weeks. I’m very sure I don’t want to come back to the music industry.”
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Her comment follows years of gradual distance from major releases. Azalea’s last studio album, The End of an Era, arrived in 2021 and marked a personal milestone, intended as a closing chapter before a pivot to new creative paths. Her 2014 debut, The New Classic, made a global impact with the Billboard No. 1 single “Fancy” and established her as one of the most commercially successful Australian rappers of the decade.
Earlier this year, Azalea publicly alleged on X (formerly Twitter) that Universal Music Group owed her what she described as “millions of dollars in back pay” from international royalties. She claimed the amount in question was in the “eight-figure range” and said the corporation “technically stole” earnings during her early career. UMG did not comment at the time, and Azalea has continued to discuss the issue while advocating for artist rights and royalty transparency online.
In August, she appeared on ABC News and spoke candidly about the pressures she experienced at the height of her fame. She recalled being labeled an “industry plant” early on and described the rap industry as a “battlefield.” “I was stepping on landmines left and right, and I just couldn’t survive it. It’s not survivable,” she said. She added that while she made mistakes along the way, the emotional toll of navigating the spotlight ultimately reshaped her relationship with music.
“There are some things I walked into and deserve, or things I could have done better,” she said. “But I can’t sit here all day long feeling sorry about that. It’s just part of life.”
Azalea has since focused on business ventures — including cryptocurrency projects and online creative work — and has not hinted at reconsidering her decision. Her latest comments suggest her retirement from music is firm, with no plans for a comeback on the horizon.
Trending on Billboard Vanessa Hudgens and husband Cole Tucker have welcomed their second child together. The High School Musical alum — and singer behind pop songs including 2008’s “Sneakernight” and 2006’s “Come Back to Me” — announced her newborn’s birth on Saturday (Nov. 29) with a photo of herself hooked up to monitors in a hospital bed. […]
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Radiohead is making history at London’s O2 Arena.
Following four sold-out shows earlier this month, the iconic U.K. band broke the venue’s attendance record, previously held by Metallica in 2017.
The Oxford-formed band played the O2 on Nov. 21, 22, 24 and 25, with each show drawing more than 22,200 concert-goers, and the final show reaching 22,355 attendees, the venue announced on X.
“These past four record-breaking nights will go down in the venue’s history, with Radiohead breaking the attendance records each night,” Christian D’Acuna, the O2’s senior programming director, said in a statement.
“We knew how special these exclusive shows would be and we’re so grateful to the band for bringing them to the O2. It’s been a true honor to host them, and each night they played different set lists spanning their incredible back catalogue. These shows will be remembered for years to come.”
After a seven-year absence from touring, Radiohead returned to the stage on Nov. 4 at Madrid’s Movistar Arena to launch a sold-out 20-date European tour. The trek includes stops across the U.K. and Europe, with shows in Madrid, Bologna, Copenhagen, Berlin, and the four-night residency in London.
This marks Radiohead’s first live performances together since summer 2018, when they played at Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center in August of that year.
Reflecting on the recent reunion, drummer Philip Selway said in a press statement, “Last year, we got together to rehearse, just for the hell of it. After a seven-year pause, it felt really good to play the songs again and reconnect with a musical identity that has become lodged deep inside all five of us.”
Radiohead went on hiatus after completing an extensive world tour supporting their 2016 album, A Moon Shaped Pool. The album became their sixth No. 1 on the U.K. Official Albums Chart, reached No. 3 on the Billboard 200, and earned the group a Coachella headlining slot in 2017.
Trending on Billboard Kelly Clarkson has officially joined Spotify’s Billions Club. The 43-year-old pop superstar and talk show host earned her place in the streaming service’s elite circle as her hit “Since U Been Gone” became her first song to surpass 1 billion streams on Spotify. The pop-rock anthem was released as the second single […]
Trending on Billboard Sean “Diddy” Combs is supporting his fellow inmates this Thanksgiving. While serving his first year at FCI Fort Dix in New Jersey, the 56-year-old hip-hop mogul helped organize and fund a Thanksgiving meal for 1,000 inmates at the federal correctional institution on Thursday (Nov. 27), according to TMZ. “Thanksgiving, to me, is […]
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The Wiggles have issued a statement after a TikTok video featuring the children’s entertainment group and Keli Holiday — the solo project of Peking Duk’s Adam Hyde — was removed from social media following complaints from parents.
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The since-deleted clip, first reported by News.com.au, showed Blue Wiggle Anthony Field and his nephew Dominic Field (who portrays The Tree of Wisdom) dancing behind Holiday as he promoted his new single “Ecstasy.” The chorus of the track includes the lyric: “Hey girl, come on, dance with me / You and your pocket full of ecstasy,” prompting criticism from viewers who felt the pairing blurred the line between children’s entertainment and adult-coded content.
The video was posted shortly after Holiday appeared onstage with the pair at the 2025 TikTok Awards on Nov. 26, where The Wiggles joined him for a performance of his single “Dancing2.” Anthony played the bagpipes during the set while Dominic performed his signature dance alongside Holiday’s partner, broadcaster Abbie Chatfield.
After the TikTok clip began circulating, a spokesperson for The Wiggles told The West Australian that the group “does not support or condone the use of drugs in any form,” emphasizing that the video was created without their approval.
“We understand that a video circulating on social media has caused concern for many parents and professionals, and we want to address that directly,” the spokesperson said. “The Wiggles do not support or condone the use of drugs in any form. The content being shared was not created or approved by us, and we have asked for it to be removed.”
The statement clarified that while Holiday is a longtime friend of the group, the music added to the clip was edited in after their TikTok Awards appearance. “While Keli Holiday (Adam Hyde) is a friend of The Wiggles, the video and the music added to it were created independently and without our knowledge,” the spokesperson continued. “Our performance at the TikTok Awards was family-friendly and fun, and this video was edited together separately and without our awareness.”
The group ended by reaffirming their commitment to families: “We deeply value the confidence families place in us and we remain committed to creating safe, positive, and educational experiences for children and families in Australia and around the world.”
Holiday released “Ecstasy” earlier this month, describing the track as a spontaneous idea that took shape during sessions with Golden Features and Belgian singer Romanie, before finalising the song with producer Konstantin Kersting.
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Bob “Bongo” Starkie, guitarist for the trailblazing Australian rock band Skyhooks, has died at 73 after a year-long battle with acute myeloid leukemia. His death was confirmed Tuesday on the group’s official Facebook page.
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Skyhooks archivist Peter Green announced the news, writing that Starkie “passed away early this morning” after spending the past year undergoing treatment while still hoping to return to the stage. Green remembered him as the youngest member of the band who “embraced the theatrics” that became a signature part of Skyhooks’ identity — from bold makeup and elaborate stage outfits to the irreverent swagger that helped define the group’s rise. “The music always came first,” Green wrote, adding that performing live “was his absolute joy” and that “music was in his blood till the very end.”
Starkie joined Skyhooks in August 1973, replacing his older brother Peter Starkie, who died in 2020 at age 72 following complications from a fall. Peter was one of the musicians who helped establish the early lineup that would go on to dominate Australian rock in the mid-1970s.
In a tribute shared through the band’s page, Starkie’s daughter Indiana said her father “peacefully departed, listening to Chuck Berry, snuggling with his fur baby Bonnie, surrounded by friends and family.” She noted that he was deeply loved by daughters Indiana and Arabella, grandchildren Phoenix and Lucia, partner Chrissy, close friend Ian, and son-in-laws Simon and Chris, adding: “He felt the love till the very end.”
Formed in Melbourne in 1973, Skyhooks quickly became one of Australia’s most influential rock acts. Known for their glam-leaning visual style, provocative lyrics and theatrical shows, the band gave Michael Gudinski’s Mushroom Records its first major commercial breakthrough. Their debut album, Living in the 70’s, spent 16 weeks at No. 1 in 1975 and reshaped Australia’s pop and rock landscape. Skyhooks also made broadcasting history when their track “You Just Like Me ’Cos I’m Good in Bed” became the first song ever played on 2JJ (later triple j) in January 1975.
The group endured tragedy before: frontman Graeme “Shirley” Strachan died on August 29, 2001, at age 49 in a solo helicopter crash near Mount Archer in Queensland. He was piloting a Bell 47 when turbulence caused the rotor to strike the tail boom, leading to the fatal accident.
Skyhooks disbanded in 1980 but reunited periodically, with Starkie remaining one of the band’s most active ambassadors. In 1992, Skyhooks were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame, further defining their status as one of Australia’s defining rock acts.
Trending on Billboard Taylor Swift continues her reign over the U.K.’s Official Singles Chart, landing her sixth non-consecutive week at No. 1 with “The Fate of Ophelia” (Nov. 28). Explore See latest videos, charts and news The track appears on the superstar’s 12th studio album The Life of a Showgirl, and first hit the summit […]
Ray J was arrested after allegedly pointing a gun at his ex-wife, Princess Love, during a livestreamed argument on Thanksgiving.
The 44-year-old singer, whose real name is William Ray Norwood Jr., was taken into custody by Los Angeles police on Thursday (Nov. 27) and charged with making a criminal threat. Officers had responded to a report of assault with a deadly weapon and domestic violence, according to NBC News.
Ray J, the younger brother of singer Brandy, was booked at the LAPD’s Van Nuys Station and released on $50,000 bond later that night, jail records reportedly indicate.
Video footage of the heated incident, published by TMZ, appears to show Ray J livestreaming a confrontation with Princess Love, 41, over the custody of their children. The former couple share daughter Melody Love, 7, and son Epik Ray, 5.
In the edited clip, Ray J appears to pull a gun while Love — holding one of their children — says, “You just pointed a gun at me.” The “One Wish” singer then denies pointing a firearm.
The livestream begins with Ray J claiming he was having “the worst Thanksgiving in the f—king world,” TMZ reports. The video also reportedly shows him holding a gun and saying, “If these n—s step foot close to this door I’m going to blow this f—king s—t away, bro.”
Ray J and Princess Love starred together on the VH1 reality show Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood from 2014 to 2019. They married in 2016, and Love filed for divorce — her fourth filing — in 2024, according to People.
The singer has also recently been in the news for filing a countersuit against Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner, claiming they intentionally released the sex tape with him that helped launch Kim’s career and then “peddled the false story” that it was leaked.
Trending on Billboard Horns up! Yungblud and Aerosmith have hit No. 1 with their new collaborative project on this week’s Official U.K. Albums Chart (Nov. 28). The achievement marks a major milestone for both acts. One More Time sees U.S. rock legends Aerosmith hit the summit on the chart for the first time, while also […]
