Music
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Lizzo leans into a classic kiss-off on the just-released second preview of her upcoming Love In Real Life album. In a snippet released on Instagram on Thursday (March 6), the singer rocks a bedazzled red bodysuit with a series of cut-outs down the front as she shimmies and shakes her way through a 20-seconds of […]
CMT’s Next Women of Country franchise, launched in 2013, has selected its class of 2025, naming seven burgeoning female country artists to the latest edition.
The Class of 2025 is Alexandra Kay, Dasha, Kaitlin Butts, Kat Luna, Lanie Gardner, Meghan Patrick and MŌRIAH.
CMT’s Next Women of Country franchise started 12 years ago under Leslie Fram, CMT’s former senior vp of music & talent, as a way to highlight developing country artists across CMT and parent company Paramount’s suite of brands.
“CMT provides support for our NWOC artists, their music and videos across CMT, CMT Music, PlutoTV’s CMT Equal Play channels, CMT Hot 20, our CMT Digital franchises (Studio Sessions, Campfire Sessions, On The Road, etc.) our curated playlists on Apple Music, Spotify and beyond,” Donna Duncan, vp of music & talent tells Billboard. “We also provide support and cross-brand promo opportunities across our portfolio of Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios & Paramount Media Network brands with the Times Square Billboard in New York City, promotional and event opportunities.” There have also been branded NWOC tours, but so far there are no plans for a tour this year.
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Members of the 2025 class are already benefiting from the corporate synergy. Duncan cites Dasha, who was the first country artist to be named an MTV Push artist in December. “We just coordinated a big premiere rollout for her new video with CMT, MTV and the Times Square billboard,” she says. “We also just booked her to perform at a Paramount ad sales event in Vail. These are the kind of opportunities we look to do across the board where it makes sense for all our artists.”
The official introduction to the new class will come Saturday (March 8) during CMT Hot 20 Countdown, when Lauren Alaina interviews each of the new inductees during the three-hour episode. The segments also include Alaina, who was in the class of 2014, breaking the news to each woman that she is a member of the 2025 class.
“It was special to have it come from someone who has also been in their shoes,” says Duncan. “One of my favorite moments is Lauren talking to Kaitlin Butts about her upcoming tour with Lainey Wilson. She tells her Lainey will take great care of her on the road – and that she herself is only a call away. That moment embodied exactly what NWOC is about – it’s become one big sisterhood and artist support group.”
CMT selects the women through a variety of ways, but the primary focus is always the music, Duncan stresses. Then, “CMT takes a 360, full-picture look at each artist. There is no single stat, streaming benchmark or airplay requirement,” she says. “A variety of factors are considered in our decision making: Artists can be independent, signed to a label, in the industry for a decade or a new breakout sensation. Each class of Next Women are selected for their unique contributions to meeting the moment in country music.”
The seven-member class size is smaller than in past years — last year’s class was 14 — but Duncan says “there’s no one-size-fits-all rule for the number of inductees.”
Despite the cutbacks CMT underwent last fall as part of a Paramount Global restructuring, which included Fram’s departure, Duncan says continuing the NWOC program was never in doubt. “There was never a question CMT would continue the work it’s done for 10+ years in this space,” Duncan says. “Supporting female artists and underrepresented voices in country music remains a top priority for us.”
Including the new class, more than 130 women acts have gone through the NWOC program. Beyond Alaina, alumni include Ashley McBryde, Brandy Clark, Brittney Spencer, Carly Pearce, Ella Langley, Gabby Barrett, Ingrid Andress, Kacey Musgraves, Kelsea Ballerini, Lainey Wilson, Maren Morris, Megan Moroney and Mickey Guyton.
Less than a year after dropping his Jamaican Situation EP, two-time Grammy-nominated Jamaican reggae star Protoje is set to embark on a world tour — and he’s also just dropped his highly anticipated new single.
On March 9, Protoje will hit the stage at Australia’s WOMADelaide festival before spending the rest of the month hitting stops across Europe, including Lisbon, Portugal; Berlin; and Copenhagen, Denmark. On April 4, the “Who Knows” singer will kick off the U.S. leg of the tour with an appearance at the Reggae Rise Up festival in Tempe, Ariz. Over the following month and a half, Protoje will visit fans in Southern cities across the states, including Miami, Atlanta and Asheville, N.C. By July 25, he’ll return to Europe for the final leg of the tour, playing festivals across the continent, including Sweden’s Uppsala Reggae Festival (July 25) and Austria’s One Love Reggae Festival (Aug. 9). The international trek will conclude on Nov. 29 at La Cigale in Paris.
To accompany his tour announcement, Protoje also unveiled a new single titled “Big 45.” Inspired by Jamaica’s iconic sound system culture, the St. Elizabeth-hailing artist-producer has crafted a booming, bass-driven track that playfully teases a rap-sung cadence over a sultry, groovy instrumental. “Big 45” — produced by The Indiggnation and Winta James — also arrives alongside a SAMO-helmed music video. The clip prominently features the massive sound systems traveling through the streets of JA.
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“This is just a reggae and dancehall anthem,” Protoje said in a press release. “It’s talking about sound system, it’s talking about live music … the moment we started [playing] it, everybody got excited because we knew it was one of those ‘bring everyone together’ type of songs.”
After teasing “Big 45” on socials and in his live shows, Protoje has finally released the song. The new track is a natural progression from the national pride that colored tracks such as “Where We Come From” from last year’s Jamaican Situation EP. Protoje’s last solo full-length album was 2022’s Third Time’s the Charm, which featured collaborations with Jorja Smith, Lila Iké, Samory I and Jesse Royal.
Protoje has sent five consecutive projects to the top 10 of Reggae Albums, including two chart-toppers: 2015’s Ancient Future and 2018’s A Matter of Time. In 2018, he entered the Emerging Artist chart for the very first time at No. 42.
Check out the dates for Protoje’s 2025 world tour below.
March 9 — Australia @ WOMADelaide
March 14 — New Zealand @ Womad Aotearoa
March 19 — Aarau, Switzerland @ KIFF
March 21 — Barcelona, Spain @ Razzmatazz
March 22 — Lisbon, Portugal @ Disaster Club
March 25 — Berlin, Germany @ Maaya Club
March 26 — Hamburg, Germany @ Fabrik
March 27 — Cologne, Germany @ Die Kantine
March 28 — Copenhagen, Denmark @ Grey Hall
March 29 — Legorreta, Spain @ Legoreggae
April 4 — Tempe, Ariz. @ Reggae Rise Up
April 16 — Miami, Fla. @ Miami Beach Bandshell
April 17 — St. Petersburg, Fla. @ Jannus Live
April 18 — Ormond Beach, Fla. @ Granada Theatre
April 19 — Atlanta, Ga. @ Sweetwater 420 Fest
April 20 — Asheville, N.C. @ Orange Peel
May 23 — Monterey, Calif. @ California Roots
May 30 — Durango, Colo. @ Rise and Vibes
July 12 — Marshfield, Mass. @ Levitate Music Festival
July 25 — Uppsala, Sweden @ Uppsala Reggae Festival
July 26 — Fraga, Spain @ Monegros Desert Festival
Aug. 1 — Geel, Belgium @ Reggae Geel Festival
Aug. 2 — Milton Keynes, U.K. @ Reggaeland
Aug. 9 — Wiesen, Austria @ One Love Reggae Festival
Aug. 10 — Saint-Malo, France @ No Logo BZH
Nov. 20 — Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Paradiso
Nov. 21 — Zurich, Switzerland @ Rote Fabrik
Nov. 29 — Paris, France @ La Cigale
After spending the last two years navigating the fulfilling experience of writing for her peers, Sabrina Claudio is entering a new chapter of her career as the R&B singer signs with EMPIRE, Billboard can reveal. “I think my uniting with Empire was divine timing,” says Claudio, who was signed to Atlantic Records from 2018 to […]
Dolly Parton‘s songs have always been there to comfort us, bring joy and, occasionally, put certain people in their when they get a bit too cheeky. So it’s perfectly fitting that following the death earlier this week of her husband of 60 years, Carl Thomas Dean, Parton paid tribute to her lifelong partner with a heartbreakingly beautiful musical testament to their endless love.
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“Carl and I fell in love when I was 18 and he was 23, and like all great love stories, they never end. They live in memory and in song, and I dedicate this to him,” Parton, 79, wrote in an early-morning post on Friday (March 7) announcing the ballad “If You Hadn’t Been There” that featured a sweet throwback pic of the couple in which Parton is smiling and wrapping her arms around Dean’s neck.
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Like so many of Parton’s most beloved songs, “If You Hadn’t Been There” tells a complicated story in plain, powerful language in a way that is pure Dolly. “If you hadn’t been there/ Where would I be?/ Without your trust/ Love and belief/ The ups and downs/ We’ve always shared/ And I wouldn’t be here/ If you hadn’t been there,” Parton sings delicately, her voice just a whisper at times over subtle piano and strings.
As a swaying fiddle comes in and the beat picks up, Parton swells into her full voice while paying tribute to the famously attention-shy partner who she says was truly her other half. “If you hadn’t been there/ Well, who would I be?/ You always see the best in me/ You’re loving arms have cradled me/ You held me close, and I believe,” she sings before exploding into the loving chorus: “I wouldn’t be here/ If you hadn’t been there/ Holding my hand/ Showing you care/ You made me dream/ More than I dared/ And I wouldn’t be here/ If you hadn’t been there.”
The instant classic written by Parton and produced by Gregg Perry swells to a crescendo in the final verse, with a gospel chorus backing Parton up as she repeats the song’s title a few more times like a prayer.
The song’s release came shortly after Dolly posted a note about Dean’s death on Monday (March 3) in which she wrote, “This is a love note to family, friends and fans. Thank you for all the messages, cards and flowers that you’ve sent to pay your respects for the loss of my beloved husband Carl. I can’t reach out personally to each of you, but just know it has meant the world to me. He is in God’s arms now, and I am okay with that,” before quoting her own 1982 classic hit: “I will always love you.”
Parton met Dean the day she moved to Nashville at age 18 to pursue a career in music and they got married a short time later in in Georgia in 1966, two years after that first run-in at the Wishy Washy Laundromat. Though Dolly would soon climb to the highest highs as a performer, songwriter and global superstar, Dean preferred to stay out of the spotlight and was rarely seen by the public.
Listen to “If You Hadn’t Been There” below.
Lady Gaga can do it all. At least she’s going to try to when she both hosts and performs as the musical guest on Saturday Night Live tomorrow (March 8). You know, “just like Tiomothée Chalamet” did a few weeks ago, she proudly tells cast member Bowen Yang in the second promo for this weekend’s episode
“Damn,” Bowen says with a dismissive head tilt and crossed arms. “Good luck girl.”
“Thanks,” Gaga responds, seeming a bit peeved, as Yang softens up and gives her a sweet “you’re welcome.”
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The second run finds the two a bit chummier, with Gaga leaning in to touch Yang’s chest as he reveals that he’s sooooo excited to see her perform at Coachella next month. “You’re going?” she asks. “Yeah, but I’ll be at the Chobani tent handing out açaí bowls… for whoever wants açaí,” Yang explains with an annoyed look at his mandatory sponcon gig.
“Well, that’s the best part of Coachella,” Gaga assures him as they bust out their best jazz hands to yell in unison “BRAND ACTIVATIONS!”
After a bit about Gaga’s hit Mayhem song “Abracadabra,” the pair land the plane with a most embarrassing reveal from Yang. Blushing, the Wicked-ly talented break-out star of the show pulls down the collar of his T-shirt to reveal the new chest tattoo he got honoring his favorite Gaga song, “Alejandro.”
“Bowen, who is that?” Gaga says concerned. “Hello? That’s Alejandro, Alejandro Mayorkas, the seventh United States Secretary of Homeland Security? Keep up!” he tells her as if she is dense or something. “Bowen… that’s not,” she says before they bust into the chorus of the 2010 single from her The Fame Monster album.
Gaga’s seventh studio album, Mayhem, is out now and she will take the stage at Coachella as a headliner at this year’s event, which takes place from April 11-13 and April 18-20.
Watch Gaga and Yang’s promo below.
Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard and Soft returns to the top of the ARIA Albums Chart this week, reclaiming the No. 1 position for the first time since mid-July.
The album, which previously spent five non-consecutive weeks at the summit in 2024, surged back to the top following her sold-out Australian tour dates.
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The record finished 2024 as the No. 2 album of the year in Australia and continues to be a strong performer across streaming and physical formats, now clocking in six non-consecutive weeks at No. 1 since its release.
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Blackpink’s Lisa makes a strong debut at No. 5 with her first solo album, Alter Ego. The project features collaborations with Raye, Doja Cat, Future, Rosalia, Tyla, and Megan Thee Stallion. Lisa is the second member of Blackpink to land a solo album in the ARIA Top 10 in the past four months—Rosé’s Rosie peaked at No. 2 in December and is currently at No. 45. Meanwhile, fellow bandmate Jennie just dropped her debut album, Ruby, which is set to make its chart debut next week.
The top five albums on this week’s ARIA Albums Chart are all by female artists. Following Eilish at No. 1, Tate McRae’s So Close To What holds steady at No. 2, Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet is at No. 3, SZA’s SOS climbs to No. 4, and Lisa’s Alter Ego debuts at No. 5.
Architects also make an impact this week with The Sky, The Earth & All Between, debuting at No. 8. The British metalcore band has a strong Australian following, with For Those That Wish to Exist reaching No. 1 in 2021.
Over on the ARIA Singles Chart, Rosé and Bruno Mars’ collaboration “APT” extends its reign at No. 1 for a 13th non-consecutive week. The track is now tied with Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus’ “Old Town Road” (2019) as the longest-running duet at No. 1 in the past five years. The all-time record for longest-running duet on the ARIA Singles Chart remains The Kid LAROI and Justin Bieber’s “Stay,” which dominated for 17 weeks between 2021 and 2022.
With Eilish reclaiming the top spot and Lisa making a major solo debut, female artists continue to dominate the ARIA charts this year.
BTS’ j-hope is back with a fresh solo release, teaming up with R&B powerhouse Miguel for the ethereal new single “Sweet Dreams,” out today (March 7).
A smooth fusion of R&B, pop, and hip-hop, “Sweet Dreams” pairs j-hope’s effortless melodic flow with Miguel’s signature velvety vocals, creating an ethereal, late-night groove. The song continues the BTS rapper’s journey of blending genres, showcasing his artistic range while adding another solo to his growing discography.
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Renowned producer Johnny Goldstein, songwriters Sam Martin, known for his works with Maroon 5, David Guetta, One Direction, and Sean Douglas, who has collaborated with Madonna, Sia, and more, aided in the creation of the track.
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And there’s even more in store for fans: Billboard recently revealed that j-hope is set to make his solo debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Monday, March 10, where he’ll take the stage for a performance of his new single.
The single j-hope’s first proper release since his special album Hope on the Street Vol.1, which arrived in March last year. The project reached No. 5 on the Billboard 200, his highest solo peak on the chart to date.
The “More” vocalist also paired the LP with a docuseries of the same name. Traveling to New York, Paris, Osaka, Seoul and his hometown of Gwangju in South Korea, j-hope explored his passion for dance in the six-part Prime Video project.
He’s now gearing up to hit the road again, this time on a tour kicking off one week before “Sweet Dreams” drops. The 31-date HOPE ON THE STAGE trek will begin with a three-night stay at Seoul’s KSPO DOME starting Friday (Feb. 28).
Not counting his February feature on Don Toliver’s “LV Bag” alongside Pharrell Williams, “Sweet Dreams” also marks j-hope’s first proper solo release since he was discharged from the South Korean military.
Stream “Sweet Dreams” below.
From ballads like “Die With a Smile” to dance-pop anthems like “Abracadabra,” see where every song on Gaga’s long-awaited seventh studio album wound up on our ranking.
YoungBoy Never Broke Again’s fourth compilation album More Leaks is out. The embattled rapper out of Baton Rouge is currently serving 23 months in prison after pleading guilty to a federal gun charge late in 2024 and will have to do 60 months of probation after he gets out. His team announced the new project […]