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LL Cool J is set to host the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards, which will air live from Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Monday, March 17 (8-10 p.m. ET live/PT tape-delayed) on FOX. LL also hosted the show in 2022. He is the first repeat host in the show’s 12-year history.
A wide range of top acts — Bad Bunny, Billie Eilish, GloRilla, Gracie Abrams, Kenny Chesney, Muni Long and Nelly — are set to perform on the show.
LL hosted the Grammy Awards five years running, from 2012-16. He has also hosted or co-hosted the Soul Train Music Awards (1996-97), the NAACP Image Awards (2007) and the MTV Music Video Awards (2022).
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Taylor Swift and Morgan Wallen are the leading contenders for the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards, with 10 nods each. They are followed by Kendrick Lamar, Post Malone and Sabrina Carpenter, with nine nods each. All five artists are nominated for artist of the year, as are Billie Eilish, Doja Cat, Jelly Roll, SZA and Teddy Swims.
Lady Gaga will receive the 2025 iHeartRadio Innovator Award, which is presented to an artist who has impacted both music and global culture throughout their career. Mariah Carey will receive the 2025 iHeartRadio Icon Award. Nelly will receive the 2025 iHeartRadio Landmark Award, honoring artists whose album releases have inspired and shaped culture over multiple decades.
Swift’s record-breaking Eras Tour will be named Tour of the Century (despite the fact that we’re only one-quarter of the way through the century). The telecast will air an exclusive performance from the opening night of The Eras Tour, March 17, 2023.
The 12th annual iHeartRadio Music Awards will celebrate the most-played artists and songs on iHeartRadio stations and the iHeartRadio app throughout 2024, while also offering a preview of the hits of 2025.
The event also will be heard on iHeartRadio stations nationwide and on the iHeartRadio app.
Fan voting will determine this year’s favorite soundtrack, favorite Broadway debut, favorite K-pop dance challenge, favorite surprise guest and favorite tour tradition (all of which are new categories this year), plus these five returning categories: best lyrics, best music video, favorite tour style, favorite tour photographer and favorite on screen. Social voting began on Jan. 22 and will close on March 10 at 11:59 p.m. PT. Fans can vote by visiting iHeartRadio.com/awards.
Additional categories include label of the year and individual winners for album of the year in music’s biggest genres, including pop, country, alternative, rock, dance, hip-hop, R&B, Latin and regional Mexican formats. For a full list of categories, visit iHeartRadio.com/awards.
Executive producers for the iHeartRadio Music Awards are Joel Gallen, for Tenth Planet; and Sykes, Poleman and Bart Peters, for iHeartMedia.
Britney Spears had a lot to say about famous ex Justin Timberlake in her 2024 memoir, The Woman in Me. And over the weekend, she said even more in her favorite medium: dance. In her latest choreo video, Britney slipped into a pair of thigh-high black boots, a brown stetson hat and a patterned thong bodysuit to bust some moves in front of a roaring fireplace to a classic JT tune.
In the video posted with no commentary, Britney swivels her hips, spins around and shakes it around the room to the strains of “Señorita,” the sensual single from Timberlake’s 2002 debut solo album, Justified. At one point, as the jazzy pop ballad plays out, Britney moves over to the fireplace and appears to get dangerously close to the flames as she drops it low in front of the flaming logs.
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In her memoir, Spears wrote about having an abortion after an unexpected pregnancy with then-boyfriend Timberlake, saying it was something “I never could have imagined choosing for myself, but given the circumstances, that is what we did.”
Despite the pain from the medication abortion — which she called “excruciating” — Spears said she still had love for married father of two Timberlake. “After that, I was messed up for a while, especially because I still love Justin so much,” she wrote. “It was insane how much I loved him, and for me, it was unfortunate.”
Spears has been on a posting spree over the past couple days, also offering up a dance to Otis Redding’s “These Arms of Mine,” with a lengthy commentary on her recent doings. “After a day phone call, yoga, and watching the sunset at 5 which was literally way more beautiful in person … The phone does no justice !!! Time with self trying to teach self love sometimes that’s the hardest thing to do so I get busy and rode horses and got pissed the f–k off because no matter how hard I kicked with my heels he only listened to his trainer !!!” she wrote.
“Finally actually rode the damn horse and got back realizing evenings are meant for substance as you get older so I confess I want wine !!! My mind is too busy and the two classes I was supposed to teach for once I said f–k it and danced for me !!!,” Spears added. “And I did after being on the beach and saving 7 sea shells that to me felt like silk !!! I’m never hungry here I’m just excited so I walk outside and see the fire pit and I swim and feel like a mermaid and I become one with fire 🔥 once again !!! The dirty night gown !!! I have nice dresses too but do you honestly think I feel anyone is honestly worthy of the real me at this point ??? Just motherf–king saying I’d rather serve cow s–t !!!”
She also posted a throwback pic from early in her career shot by legendary photographer Herb Ritts, as well as another dance video in which she rocks a floor-length red strapless dress and one in which she wears a low-plunging cheetah-print bodysuit as she rocks out to Janet Jackson’s “All Nite (Don’t Stop).”
“I dropped four sizes putting the cheetah on — Haven’t danced in a while !!!,” she wrote. “I burned my bathroom down today, ran like a maniac back to the house because there was a pie in the oven and I’m honestly tired of making sense of things these days !!!”
Doechii is set to receive the 2025 Woman of the Year award at the annual Billboard Women in Music event. The star-studded event is taking place Saturday, March 29, at YouTube Theater at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, California.
Doechii won the Rising Star award at the 2023 Billboard Women in Music event. She is just the third woman to progress from the Rising Star award to Woman of the Year, following Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande.
“After receiving the Billboard Women in Music Rising Star Award in 2023, Doechii has quickly gained recognition in the music industry for her bold creativity and impressive talent,” Hannah Karp, editorial director of Billboard, said in a statement. “With her genre-blending sound, Doechii is redefining what it means to be a trailblazer in the music industry. We are honored to celebrate Doechii and cheer on her continued success!”
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Billboard’s Woman of the Year award has become one of the music industry’s highest honors. Past recipients include Karol G, SZA, Olivia Rodrigo, Cardi B, Billie Eilish, Ariana Grande, Selena Gomez, Madonna, Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift.
Doechii is the second rap artist to win the award, following Cardi B in 2020. Doechii, who was born in Tampa, Florida, is the second artist from the Sunshine State to be named Woman of the Year. Grande, the 2018 recipient, was born in Boca Raton.
On Feb. 2, Doechii became the second solo woman to win the Grammy for best rap album, again following the lead of Cardi B. Doechii won for her acclaimed mixtape Alligator Bites Never Heal. Her performance of “Denial Is a River” and “Catfish” on the Grammy telecast was rated as the night’s best by Billboard‘s Jason Lipshutz.
Less than three weeks later, Doechii was named outstanding new artist at the 2025 NAACP Image Awards.
Alligator Bites Never Heal has climbed as high as No. 14 on the all-genre Billboard 200. Two of Doechii’s songs have made the top 30 on the Billboard Hot 100: “What It Is (Block Boy)” and “Denial Is a River.”
Hosted by Laverne Cox, who received four Primetime Emmy nods for Orange Is the New Black, the event will air live on VIZIO WatchFree+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
The 2025 event will also honor aespa (Group of the Year), Ángela Aguilar (Breakthrough Award), Erykah Badu (Icon Award), GloRilla (Powerhouse Award), Gracie Abrams (Songwriter of the Year), JENNIE (Global Force Award), Megan Moroney (Rulebreaker Award presented by Crown Royal Whisky), Meghan Trainor (Hitmaker Award), Muni Long (Rising Star Award Presented by Honda Stage) and Tyla (Impact Award presented by Bose).
As previously announced, honorees aespa, Aguilar, GloRilla, Abrams, Moroney, Long and Tyla will also perform at the event. Becky G, Julia Michaels, Kali Uchis, Madison Beer, Mickey Guyton, Suki Waterhouse, Summer Walker, Tanner Adell and Zara Larsson are set as presenters. Additional performers and presenters will be announced in the coming weeks.
Billboard’s global partners have expanded Women in Music with new events launched around the world. ANNA, named Woman of the Year by Billboard Italy at its inaugural ceremony, and Charlotte Cardin, honored as the latest Woman of the Year by Billboard Canada, will also be celebrated as Global Women of the Year.
VIZIO WatchFree+ will be the exclusive home to the Billboard Women in Music 2025 live channel and on-demand collection from March 17 through April 5, with the live show airing free on March 29 at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on VIZIO TVs and in the VIZIO mobile app. The channel and on-demand collection will give viewers an inside look at the inspiring women artists shaping the music industry, featuring interviews, in-studio sessions with artists, episodic series and more.
VIZIO TV owners can watch Billboard Women in Music 2025 and the live event by opening the WatchFree+ app on their TV. For those who do not have a VIZIO TV, anyone can download the free VIZIO mobile app to their mobile device, click on the WatchFree+ button in the bottom row menu, and tune into the Billboard Women in Music 2025 channel.
Tickets are on sale now via Ticketmaster here. Prices start at $89. (Tables are also available to purchase; contact joe.maimone@billboard.com for additional information.)
Sponsors for the 2025 Billboard Women in Music event include Official Whisky Partner Crown Royal, HarbourView Equity Partners, Bose (presenter of the Impact Award), Sol De Janeiro and Honda Stage (presenter of the Rising Star Award).
This event is not affiliated with Women in Music, a nonprofit organization committed to advancing equality, visibility and opportunities for women in the musical arts through education, support, empowerment and recognition. To support the work of Women in Music, visit WomenInMusic.org.
Rihanna celebrated International Women’s Day on Saturday (March 8) by sharing a rare glimpse at the two sons she shares with longtime love A$AP Rocky. The candid pics of RZA, 2 and Riot Rose, 19 months, were taken in the hospital after the singer gave birth to the children, a moment she said was the high-point of her life.
“By far the most powerful thing I’ve ever done as a woman… my little miracles! #InternationalWomensDay,” she wrote in the caption to the post, with the first pic depicting RZA Athelston Mayers laying on his mother’s chest for some crucial skin-to-skin time, with RihRih’s face only partially in the frame, her neck adorned with a pair of gold and pearl necklaces.
In the second snap, Rihanna stares at the camera while rocking pink shades and a black bra as Riot Rose Mayers snuggles up to her in the hospital bed. “And yes I gave birth in pearls and sunglasses,” Rihanna wrote. “Don’t ask, a lot was happening.”
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She got support from fellow pop star and mom Katy Perry, wrote commented, “The BEST.”
The singer and rapper have kept their sons out of the public eye for the most part to date, though last month Rihanna opened up to Harper’s Bazaar about being a mom and her boys’ personalities. “Riot, he’s just hilarious,” she said of her second-born. “When he wakes up, he starts to squeal, scream. Not in a crying way. He just wants to sing. And I’m like, ‘Okay, here we go!’ He’s my alarm in the morning! He’s not taking no for an answer from anyone.”
She also revealed that RZA is “just an empath. He’s so magical. He loves music. He loves melody. He loves books. He loves water. Bath time, swimming, pool, beach, anything. And Riot, he’s just hilarious. When he wakes up, he starts to squeal, scream. Not in a crying way. He just wants to sing. And I’m like, ‘Okay, here we go!’ He’s my alarm in the morning! He’s not taking no for an answer from anyone. I don’t know where he came from, dude.”
Prince Jackson stepped out in Sydney over the weekend to support MJ the Musical, the Tony Award-winning production that brings his father’s legendary career to the stage.
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The eldest son of the late Michael Jackson attended the official Australian premiere of the jukebox musical at Sydney’s Lyric Theatre on Saturday (March 8), wearing a dark pinstripe suit paired with a purple tie.
Fresh off its global success—including Broadway, London, and Germany—this four-time Tony Award-winning production transports audiences back to 1992, inside the high-stakes creative process of Jackson’s Dangerous World Tour. Through the lens of an MTV documentary crew, the musical explores not just Jackson’s signature moves and music, but his relentless artistic vision and the challenges behind the scenes.
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Producer Michael Cassel, who brought MJ to Australia alongside original Broadway producers Lia Vollack, John Branca, and John McClain, said the response has been overwhelming, “I said Australian audiences would be obsessed with this incredible show, but I couldn’t have imagined just how passionately they would embrace it! From fans dressing up to audiences dancing in their seats, this show has truly captured Sydney’s heart.”
Leading the cast is Roman Banks, whose portrayal of Jackson has already won critical acclaim in the U.S., where he debuted in Chicago in 2023 and has played the role more than 200 times.
This isn’t the first time Prince has shown his support for the production, which debuted on Broadway in 2022 and has since expanded globally. In March 2024, he attended the London preview night alongside his siblings, Paris Jackson and Bigi Jackson, continuing their tradition of honoring their father’s legacy.
Two years prior, he and Paris made an appearance at the 2022 Tony Awards, where MJ the Musical was nominated for multiple awards, including Best Musical. The siblings introduced the cast’s performance of Smooth Criminal that night, with Prince reflecting on their father’s deep love for musicals.
“A lot of people seem to think our dad Michael Jackson changed popular music forever. And who are we to disagree?” he said during the awards show. “But what people may not know is that he loved musicals, on film and on the stage.”
Following its success in New York, the musical has expanded to London’s West End, a U.S. national tour, and now Australia, where it will run in Sydney before moving to other cities.
Michael Jackson remains one of the most celebrated artists in music history, with an influence that continues to be felt across generations. He holds the record for the best-selling album of all time with Thriller and has achieved 13 No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100. His groundbreaking performances, innovative music videos, and signature dance moves reshaped pop music and cemented his place as the “King of Pop.”
Prince Jackson has remained active in preserving his father’s legacy, often attending events in his honor and sharing personal stories about his upbringing. Alongside his siblings, he has worked on charitable initiatives and music-related projects, ensuring that Michael Jackson’s impact remains alive for future generations.
With MJ the Musical now expanding worldwide, it’s clear that the magic of Michael Jackson’s music still captivates audiences, decades after he first moonwalked into history. Throughout his career, 13 of his solo singles went to No. 1, with 30 of his songs reaching the top 10 and six albums topping the Billboard 200.
Tickets for MJ The Musical are available now at mjthemusical.com.au.
Doechii joined Ms. Lauryn Hill onstage in Miami over the weekend for a surprise duet of Hill’s 1998 Billboard No. 1 hit, “Doo Wop (That Thing).”
The collaboration took place during Hill’s headlining set at the Jazz in the Gardens Festival at Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday (March 8), marking the Fugees icon’s second live appearance of 2025.
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“I want to introduce y’all to another sister” Hill said before welcoming Doechii to the stage. The rising rapper and singer, who has credited Hill as one of her biggest inspirations, shared the moment with fans afterward, expressing her deep gratitude on social media.
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“Thank you Miss Lauryn Hill,” Doechii wrote on X on March 9. “Thank you. My heart is so full. She is my hero. This is the greatest honor hip-hop could give me. Praise God … my entire body is vibrating with joy right now. I’ll never forget this day! EVER!” She added, “I’ve never been so nervous in my life. She is a QUEEN.”
Doechii, fresh off winning her first Grammy for Best Rap Album, becoming the third woman to take home the trophy following Cardi B and Lauryn Hill. The rapper is also set for a massive festival season, including a headline slot on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury 2025—going head-to-head in a much-publicized clash with Charli XCX, who will headline the Other Stage at the same time.
She’s also on the lineup for Rock en Seine in Paris in August, Forwards Festival in Bristol the same month, and Roskilde Festival in Denmark in June.
The 26-year-old rap star is preparing to cement her quantum leap to stardom with her debut album later this year. On March 4, she dropped her “Anxiety” single via Top Dawg Entertainment and Capitol Records, announcing the drop approximately half an hour ahead of its arrival on X with the single’s cover art, which features a mirrored black-and-white image of the TDE rapper being connected by her braids.
“Anxiety” has been trending on TikTok lately, but Doechii performed the original version five years ago on her YouTube channel. The single samples Gotye‘s 2011 Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit “Somebody That I Used to Know,” featuring Kimbra.
“Denial is a River” from her critically acclaimed 2024 mixtape Alligator Bites Never Heal became her highest-charting entry on the Hot 100, peaking at No. 21.
Ubiquitous rockers Imagine Dragons have extended their reach even further, with their music officially touching down on earth’s moon.
Last month, it was revealed that ambitious space startup Lonestar Data Holdings was planning a rocket launch to land the first data center on the moon. If the launch was a success, then one of its first orders of business was to transmit a song back to earth, with Imagine Dragons’ Starfield theme “Children of the Earth” chosen as the lucky track.
“Our goal is to inspire the next generation of kids to be excited about the future of space and technology, which is why we chose ‘Children of the Sky’ as the first song in history to be broadcast from the Moon,” Lonestar investor Ryan Micheletti said in a statement at the time.
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Notably, the plan to put music on the moon isn’t exactly a new one. Just last year, the Odysseus craft landed on the moon, bringing with it digitized recordings of musical icons such as Elvis Presley, Marvin Gaye, Santana, Jimi Hendrix, Chuck Berry, Sly & the Family Stone, Bob Marley, Janis Joplin, The Who and many more. However, the goal of broadcasting music back to earth from the moon was set to be a first time occurrence.
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The Athena spacecraft was launched on Feb. 26 with a planned landing date of March 6. Upon initial news of the touchdown, Inon Zur (who composed “Children of the Earth” with Imagine Dragons), took to social media to express his gratitude. “Success, we’re on the Moon!” he wrote. “Following Athena’s touchdown on the lunar surface, our friends at Lonestar successfully transmitted ‘Children of the Sky’ song and lyrics to their data center on the Moon. The song will now be on the Moon…forever!!”
However, on Friday (March 7), it was reported that the Athena lander (built by Texas company Intuitive Machines), did indeed land on the moon the day prior, albeit on its side and 820 feet short of its intended target. The result was largely the same as the Odysseus’ last year, where a hard landing compromised a landing leg and resulted in an early end to the mission.
Similarly, Intuitive Machines have since stated the most recent mission has officially come to an end due to the failed landing. “The mission has concluded and teams are continuing to assess the data collected throughout the mission,” the company said in a statement.
As a result of the failed landing and the premature end to the mission, Imagine Dragons have ultimately not managed to obtain the honor of having the first song broadcast to earth from the moon. Meanwhile, Intuitive Machines CEO Steve Altemus has claimed the company may hold off on attempts for a third lunar landing which is currently scheduled for 2026.
Legendary KISS bassist Gene Simmons is giving fans the chance to live out their dreams of rock stardom by letting them be his roadie for a day – but it comes with a hefty price tag.
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In 2024, Gene Simmons explained to Billboard that he was saving money on tour by traveling light. “There’s no managers, no private jets, no 20 tractor trailers, no 60-man crew, no huge shows,” he explained, revealing he makes more money now than as a member of KISS. “The local promoters provide the back line, and we just get up there and play,” he adds.
In fact, the whole production is a bit of a skeleton crew. Alongside Simmons, the crew also features drummer Brian Tichy, and guitarists Jason Walker and Brent Woods, with the latter also managing travel and concert production details. Only two others are on the road, including an assistant who helps with business duties and Simmons’ security, and one crew member for the musicians.
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Now, Simmons has launched a rather compelling way of saving money while expanding his crew, and it all involves allowing fans to pay for the privilege.
As the Gene Simmons Band prepares to hit the road again in April, the eponymous rocker has launched a handful of Experiences which fans can purchase ahead of the upcoming dates. One of them is the Gene Simmons Bass Experience, which allows you (and three guests) the chance to meet Simmons after the stage.
Alongside the ability to take photos and videos (and the potential to “find that Gene Simmons is very down-to-earth, funny, and knowledgeable on almost any subject”), purchases will also be able to take home one of Simmons’ bass guitars, which can be signed and personalized. In addition to the original ticket price, this experience costs $6,500 for a “non stage played” instrument, and $12,500 for an instrument that Simmons has previously played on stage.
The other of these experiences (dubbed ‘The Ultimate Gene Simmons Experience’) allows the purchaser to become “Simmons’ personal assistant & band roadie for the day.”
Alongside a handful of merch benefits (a crew shirt and hat, a VIP laminate, and a signed setlist), it provides the opportunity to help with load-in at the venue, stage set-up, and the ability to sit in on sound check and hang out backstage. Meanwhile, photo opportunities are plentiful, Simmons will join the purchaser for a meal, and then will introduce the lucky roadie during the show.
This package costs a total of $12,495 (in addition to the original ticket price), and also includes a bass guitar that had been used by Simmons during a KISS rehearsal. Only one experience per concert is available, with 26 dates currently scheduled across North America between April and August.
Though some may balk at such a high price for the opportunity to work on Simmons’ tour, it’s far from the most unique offering that the musician and his bandmates have put on the market. Back in 2001, the Kiss Kasket was introduced, giving fans the chance to take their fandom into the afterlife. Though no longer for sale, the item was however used by a number of individuals, including Pantera and Damageplan members “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott and his brother Vinnie Paul Abbott.
“This is the ultimate KISS collectible,” Simmons said at the time. “I love livin’, but this makes the alternative look pretty damn good.”
Finneas has teamed up with The Zombies’ Colin Blunstone for a live performance of the English band’s 1968 single, “Time of the Season.”
Music-lovers were first treated to a performance of the enduring ‘60s psych-pop hit back in January, when Finneas covered the song during his visit to Australia for radio station triple j’s long-running Like a Version cover series.
“ This is a song I’ve loved over the past year,” Finneas explained in a post-performance interview. “I’ve heard it for years, but I think this year is the year that I’ve listened to it the most. I think if you’re a creator, you hope that you make a piece of work that feels prescient and somehow also feels timeless. I don’t know how ‘Time of the Season’ felt to listen to in the ‘60s, but it sure holds up in my mind in 2025.”
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Since Finneas covered the track back in January, it’s become a popular part of his setlist, and on Wednesday (March 5), he brought out the track during a performance at Los Angeles’ Hollywood Palladium. Not content with going it alone, Finneas also brought out Blunstone, who has fronted the band for almost all of its iterations since 1961.
“An unforgettable moment,” wrote The Zombies’ official Instagram account alongside a video of the performance. “Colin joined the incredibly talented @finneas on stage at the Hollywood Palladium for a special performance of Time of the Season—a song that’s resonated for over 55 years. Huge thanks to Finneas for bringing this classic to life in a whole new way!”
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The Zombies first formed in Hertfordshire, England in 1961, with their debut album Begin Here arriving in 1965 (a self-titled version was issued in its place for the U.S. market). The group found fame fast, with debut single “She’s Not There” being released the year prior and peaking at No. 2 on the Hot 100.
Though they’d hit the top ten once again with “Tell Her No” that same year, their other big hit was 1968’s “Time of the Season,” which peaked at No. 3 when it was issued as the third single from that year’s Odessey and Oracle.
The group would split for the first time that same year following the release of Odessey and Oracle, though briefly reunited when “Time of the Season” became a hit. The band would remain divided until 1989, when sporadic reunions would take place. Since 2004, they’ve remained an active presence with their most recent album, Different Game, arriving in 2023.
j–hope feat. Miguel‘s “Sweet Dreams” tops this week’s new music poll. Music fans voted in a poll published Friday (March 7) on Billboard, choosing the BTS star’s fresh song with an R&B veteran as their favorite new music release of the past week. There was tough competition in this week’s poll, but the latest from j-hope managed to […]