Music
Page: 68
The slate of nominees have been announced for the 12th annual K-LOVE Fan Awards, Billboard can exclusively reveal. The awards show, which honors top hitmakers in the Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) genre each year, will return to Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House on May 25, and will be hosted by Matthew West, Jeremy Camp, Mac Powell and MercyMe‘s Bart Millard.
This year, 10 artists will vie for artist of the year: Brandon Lake, Crowder, Anne Wilson, TobyMac, Tauren Wells, Josh Baldwin, for KING & COUNTRY, MercyMe, CeCe Winans and Forrest Frank. Meanwhile, the song of the year contenders are Lake’s “Hard Fought Hallelujah,” Baldwin’s “Made for More,” Wells’ “Take It All Back,” Crowder’s “Somebody Prayed,” Megan Woods’ “The Truth,” Leanna Crawford’s “Still Waters,” Jamie MacDonald’s “Desperate,” Winans’ “That’s My King,” MercyMe’s “Oh Death” and TobyMac’s “Nothin’ Sweeter.”
The annual awards show serves as the pinnacle each year for the three-day K-LOVE Ultimate Fan Experience, which also includes a Friday night kick-off concert, Emerging Artist Showcase, Songwriter’s showcase, Sunday morning worship service and more. This year’s Ultimate Fan Experience weekend will be held May 23-25 in Nashville.
Trending on Billboard
Last year, for King & Country took home the artist of the year honor, while other winners included Lake (male artist of the year as well as worship song of the year for “Praise You Anywhere”), Wilson (female artist of the year) and Elevation Worship (group of the year). The annual awards show is a John Sanders LLC production presented by Coca-Cola Consolidated.
See the full list of this year’s K-LOVE Fan Awards nominees below:
Song of the year:
“Hard Fought Hallelujah” – Brandon Lake“Made for More” – Josh Baldwin“Take It All Back” – Tauren Wells“Somebody Prayed” – Crowder“The Truth” – Megan Woods“Still Waters” – Leanna Crawford“Desperate” – Jamie MacDonald“That’s My King” – CeCe Winans“Oh Death” – MercyMe“Nothin’ Sweeter” – TobyMac
Worship song of the year:
“Goodbye Yesterday” – Elevation Rhythm“God Is Not Against Me” – Elevation Worship“That’s Who I Praise” – Brandon Lake“Take You at Your Word” – Cody Carnes“Lead On Good Shepherd” – Patrick Mayberry“In the Name of Jesus” – JWLKRS Worship“The Jesus Way” – Phil Wickham
Breakout single: “Desperate” – Jamie MacDonald“The Truth” – Megan Woods“Still Waters” – Leanna Crawford“Whisper and the Wind” – Bodie“Flowers” – Samantha Ebert
Artist of the year:
Brandon LakeCrowderAnne WilsonTobyMacTauren WellsJosh Baldwinfor KING & COUNTRYMercyMeCeCe WinansForrest Frank
Group of the year:
CAINMercyMefor KING & COUNTRYWe Are MessengersElevation WorshipCaleb & JohnBig Daddy WeaveJWLKRS WorshipElevation RhythmWe The Kingdom
Male artist of the year:
Brandon LakeCrowderJeremy CampTauren WellsJosh BaldwinTobyMacForrest FrankPhil WickhamMatthew WestJosiah Queen
Female artist of the year:
Anne WilsonCeCe WinansLauren DaigleTasha LaytonTerrianJamie MacDonaldMegan WoodsLeanna CrawfordKaty NicholeSamantha Ebert
Film Impact:
Unsung HeroThe Best Christmas Pageant EverThe Unbreakable BoyBonhoefferSound of HopeCabriniThe ForgeWhite BirdSomeone Like YouThe Chosen Season 5
TV/Streaming Impact:
The Wingfeather Saga Season 2House of DavidShadrachHomestead: The SeriesThe Riot and the Dance Season 1Heart of a Servant: The Father Flanagan Story
Podcast impact:
Jan Harrison – Rooted & Radiant
Jonathan Pokluda’s Becoming Something podcast
John Siebeling and Wayne Francis – Leadership in Black & White
Andy Chrisman – 1 Degree of Andy
Christine Caine – Life & Leadership Podcast
Lisa Harper – Back Porch Theology
Max Lucado – Encouraging Word Podcast
Book Impact:
I Want to Trust You, But I Don’t – Lysa TerKeurstGod Never Gives Up on You – Max LucadoI Surrender All – Priscilla ShirerDevoted to Jesus – Alex & Stephen KendrickFeasting on God’s Word – Kristi McLellandHow Great Is Our God – Chris TomlinMy Story Your Glory – Matthew West
Ozzy Osbourne will definitely be on stage at the upcoming Back to the Beginning gig in his hometown of Birmingham, U.K. for what is being billed as Black Sabbath’s final-ever show. But given his recent run of ill health and surgeries, the 76-year-old rock icon said his madcap performance days are definitely over.
Speaking to the Guardian, Osbourne said, “I’ll be there, and I’ll do the best I can. So all I can do is turn up.” The July 5 show at Villa Park is slated to feature a massive roster of metal acts paying tribute to Osbourne and the band’s iconic career, including Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax, Alice in Chains, Pantera, Gojira, Lamb of God, Mastodon and many more.
But after Tool singer Maynard James Keenan recently said that Osbourne — who hasn’t performed a full set since Dec. 31, 2018 — will need “modern miracles” to get on stage given his health issues, Ozzy said he is, indeed dealing with a lot. “You wake up the next morning and find that something else has gone wrong. You begin to think this is never going to end,” he said of a series of health setbacks including a 2019 fall that aggravated a previous spinal injury and required several surgeries, as well as pneumonia and the diagnosis of a form of Parkinson’s.
Trending on Billboard
Regardless, Osbourne has said he’s begun rigorous training to play the first show by the original Black Sabbath lineup in 20 years, where he’ll appear alongside guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward. “I do weights, bike riding, I’ve got a guy living at my house who’s working with me. It’s tough – I’ve been laid up for such a long time,” Osbourne said of his regimen. “I’ve been lying on my back doing nothing and the first thing to go is your strength. It’s like starting all over again. I’ve got a vocal coach coming round four days a week to keep my voice going. I have problems walking. I also get blood pressure issues, from blood clots on my legs. I’m used to doing two hours on stage, jumping and running around. I don’t think I’ll be doing much jumping or running around this time. I may be sitting down.”
Osbourne noted that the reunion concert was originally conceived by his wife/manager, Sharon Osbourne, as “something to give me a reason to get up in the morning.” That said, Ozzy confirmed that he won’t be performing a full set, but “only playing a couple songs each. I don’t want people thinking ‘we’re getting ripped off’, because it’s just going to be… what’s the word? … a sample, you’re going to get a few songs each by Ozzy and Sabbath.”
Among the newly added acts who will be playing a few songs alongside Guns N’ Roses and members of Judas Priest, Limp Bizkit, Smashing Pumpkins, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Megadeth, Ghost and more, according to Sharon Osbourne, are members of Soundgarden and Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler.
Musical director Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine told the Guardian that there are also “some pretty great surprises that are not posted anywhere [yet].”
The show will raise funds for three charities: Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital and the Birmingham-based Acorns Children’s Hospice.
Lorde has officially returned to the ARIA Singles Chart’s top tier, as her latest release “What Was That” debuts at No. 9 this week (May 2). It marks the New Zealand singer-songwriter’s first top 10 appearance in Australia since 2017, when “Green Light” peaked at No. 4. The new track, co-produced by Dan Nigro — […]
Maroon 5 has returned with a major pop crossover moment. On Friday (May 2), the Adam Levine-fronted band unveiled their new single “PRICELESS” featuring BLACKPINK’s LISA, released via 222/Interscope Records.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
The track marks Maroon 5’s first-ever collaboration with a K-pop artist and offers a guitar-driven sound that nods to the group’s early 2000s roots, paired with LISA’s confident rap feature. The accompanying music video, shot on 35mm film and directed by Aerin Moreno, draws inspiration from Mr. & Mrs. Smith.
“It’s just a guitar-based song which we haven’t really done in so long. It happened first for us while we were recording the album. I think it’s just the purest and we are so happy to have LISA on it,” frontman Adam Levine said in a statement.
Trending on Billboard
He added, “The guitar intro is literally me playing into an audio message on my iPhone with an unplugged guitar. I actually got a little emotional recording ‘cause it was sort of reconnecting to our roots, which a lot of our fans have been saying ‘hey we want to hear that sound again.’ It’s been like over 20 years so I think it’s time for that to return.”
Teasers of the track, which Maroon 5 previewed on Instagram in late April, included Levine’s falsetto vocals alongside a rap verse from LISA: “Yeah, talk is cheap boy stop it/ Got my love that’s a real big profit.”
In the days leading up to the confirmation of “Priceless,” Maroon 5 also teased the collab by posting an Instagram photo from behind of the lead singer and a mystery woman standing side by side, gazing out of a floor-to-ceiling window at a cityscapeLISA’s IG Story also featured a clip with audio, showing the K-pop star lying back while seemingly filming a music video.
The single also serves as the first preview of Maroon 5’s upcoming 2025 album, which the band first teased during Levine’s recent appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (April 8).
“PRICELESS” follows Maroon 5’s 2021 album Jordi, which peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard 200. For LISA, the track adds to her growing list of international collaborations as a solo artist, following the success of her 2021 debut single “LALISA” and her ongoing work with BLACKPINK.
Watch the “PRICELESS” video and stream the single now.
A little more than a month since unleashing their collaborative studio album I Said I Love You First, Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco are giving fans another romantic release by way of the record’s deluxe edition.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
The couple have adopted a swift turnaround for the release of the appropriately-titled I Said I Love You First… And You Said It Back, announcing its arrival only two days prior, on Wednesday (April 30).
“The deluxe version of my album with @itsbennyblanco is called I Said I Love You First…And You Said It Back and it’s out this Friday, 5/2!” Gomez wrote on Instagram. “There are some new songs, some favorites you might recognize, and reimagined songs from the original album. Can’t wait for you to hear them!”
Trending on Billboard
Alongside the original 14-track album, the deluxe version is complemented by an additional eight tracks, featuring unheard tracks, remixes, and collaborations.
These include fresh cuts such as “That’s When I’ll Care,” the Cake-interpolating “Talk,” and the Gomez solo venture “Stained.” Meanwhile, GloRilla is tapped for a remix of “Cowboy” while DJ Sliink offers a new version of “Bluest Flame.”
Gracie Abrams returns for an acoustic version of “Call Me When You Break Up,” and a live Vevo performance of “How Does It Feel to Be Forgotten” also joins the mix. The new set closes out with the dreamy “Guess You Could Say I’m in Love,” a collaboration with Texas shoegaze outfit Cigarettes After Sex.
The pair promoted the new drop by teasing that the video for “Talk” would drop on Thursday night (May 1), encouraging fans to “pick out your prom outfit.”
It arrived just a week after Blanco posted a video on Instagram of the couple going to the mall to get their prom pics taken after revealing that Gomez never got to go to her prom. The video shows Gomez getting ready in a purple ballgown and planting a kiss on her fiancé as they do a classic walk-down-the-stairs dress reveal. In the limo ride to the mall, Blanco excitedly leans out the window of their stretch limo and tells the driver in the lane next to him: “We’re going to prom!”
After first starting dating in mid-2023, Blanco and Gomez got engaged in December last year. In March, they dropped I Said I Love You First, their first joint album as a couple, which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200.
Stream I Said I Love You First… And You Said It Back below.
Mexican American powerhouse Fuerza Regida has turned their vision into reality with the release of their ninth studio album, 111XPANTIA, released Friday (May 2). Explored through imaginative storytelling exploratory regional Mexican music sounds, the 12-track album captures the group’s hustle, evolution, and deep connection to their roots.
The title — pronounced “ixpantia” and derived from the Náhuatl word, a dialect of the Aztecs meaning “to manifest” — reflects frontman Jesús “JOP” Ortiz Paz’s lifelong belief in the power of the law of attraction and turning dreams into reality. “This is the most important album of my career, the one that brings everything together,” JOP previously told Billboard Español.
Opening with the gritty anthem “GODFATHER,” it sets the tone for an explorative ride beyond Mexican music, free of collaborations for the first time in the band’s history. From nostalgic nods like “Malboro Rojo” that evoke their early norteño-laden sound to inventive risks like the corrido synth-laced “Nocturno” and innovative banjo riffs on “Peliculiando,” Fuerza Regida expertly balances their street-inspired roots with inventiveness.
Trending on Billboard
Adding another layer of intrigue, the loop of Vicente Fernández’s live version of “Acá Entre Nos” is subtly reimagined throughout “Ansiedad,” while a hypnotic sample of Ellie Goulding’s vocals from “Don’t Say a Word” is seamlessly woven into “Tu Sancho,” adding another surprise element for fans diving into the album’s details.
111XPANTIA arrives during a period of sky-high momentum for the San Bernardino troupe, following the massive success of their No. 1 hit “Me Jalo” with Grupo Frontera — which topped Billboard‘s Latin Airplay and Regional Mexican Airplay charts — and the teaser track “Por Esos Ojos,” which has already surpassed 154 million streams on Spotify alone since its February release.
With ambition woven into every song, the album continues to testifies Fuerza Regida’s ability to dream big, push boundaries, and stay true to their roots along the way.
They are slated to perform at Madison Square Garden and Hollywood Bowl June 20 and 21, respectively. The album is now available across all streaming platforms and physical formats, including CD and vinyl.
Stream 111XPANTIA below.
Quavo is always going to do what he can to keep TakeOff’s legacy alive. Huncho joined forces with his late nephew on Friday (May 2) for the posthumous collaboration “Dope Boy Phone.” Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The Migos frontman announced the single earlier this week with […]
Just weeks after announcing the release of their sophomore LP, English duo Wet Leg have unveiled a run of North American tour dates.
The group’s tour will officially launch in the U.K. in May before a series of festival appearances throughout Europe across the summer. In September, the band will make their way back to North America, launching an 18-date tour in Seattle on Sept. 1, and wrapping up in Los Angeles on Oct. 17.
The Isle Of Wight-formed duo – made up of Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers – will be hitting the road in support of their second album, Moisturizer, which releases on July 11 via Domino Records. The pair increased speculation of a new era in March, plotting a handful of U.S. dates before issuing their first new single since 2022, “Catch These Fists,” on April 1.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
“We were just kind of having fun and exploring,” said Chambers in a press release, describing the band’s creative process for Moisturizer, which involved decamping to Southwold, East Sussex, to write together in spring 2024. “We focused on: Is this going to be fun to play live? It was very natural that we would write the second record together,” added Teasdale.
Trending on Billboard
The new album was produced by Dan Carey, who also worked on Wet Leg’s debut, and features performances from the duo’s touring band: Ellis Durand (bass), Henry Holmes (drums) and Joshua Mobaraki (guitar, synth).
Wet Leg rose to fame in 2021 with the release of their debut single “Chaise Longue.” Reaching No. 15 and 21 on the Alternative Airplay and Rock Airplay charts respectively, the Mean Girls-referencing track was featured on the band’s self-titled debut LP in 2022, which reached No. 14 on the Billboard 200 upon its release.
Such was the success of Wet Leg that they scored a nomination for best new artist at the 2023 Grammys, with “Chaise Longue” taking home best alternative music performance and their LP winning best alternative music album. The group have also managed to snare high-profile support slots for the likes of Harry Styles and the Foo Fighters in stadiums around the world in recent years.
Wet Leg – 2025 North American Tour Dates
Sept. 1 – Paramount Theatre, Seattle, WASept. 3 – Malkin Bowl, Vancouver, BCSept. 5 – Revolution Hall, Portland, ORSept. 9 – First Avenue, Minneapolis, MNSept. 10 – Salt Shed, Chicago, ILSept. 12 – HISTORY, Toronto, ONSept. 13 – MTELUS, Montreal, QCSept. 14 – Roadrunner, Boston, MASept. 15 – Franklin Music Hall, Philadelphia, PASept. 17 – Summerstage in Central Park, New York, NYSept. 19 – 9:30 Club, Washington, DCSept. 21 – Shaky Knees, Atlanta, GASept. 28 – Ohana Music Festival, Dana Point, CASept. 30 – Fox Theater, Oakland, CAOct. 3 – Arizona Financial Theatre, Phoenix, AZOct. 7 – The Criterion, Oklahoma City, OKOct. 14 – Lowbrow Palace, El Paso, TXOct. 17 – The Greek Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
Even as he’s signed to one of Nashville’s biggest labels, Eric Church has amassed more than a little experience over the past nearly two decades in pushing back against the typical Music Row way of doing things, and thus, bursting the confines of how and when artists are expected to create and release albums, approach touring and build a fanbase.
Early in his career, Church was already stacking his albums with songs such as “These Boots” and “Sinners Like Me” that became fan-favorites, regardless of whether they became radio hits. Albums including Sinners Like Me and Carolina spawned hits that broke ever-higher through the ranks on Billboard‘s Country Airplay chart, and by third album Chief, he earned a double-header of Country Airplay No. 1s with “Drink in My Hand” and “Springsteen.” He’s also been quick to pivot when needed to bring music to his fans the way he wants — like after he was let go from an opening slot on Rascal Flatts’ tour in 2006, when he booked a series of club shows in the same cities, on the same nights as the Flatts tour would play, and dubbed it the “Me and Myself Tour.”
Not content with the status quo, he’s shaken things up with songs such as the marijuana-centered “Smoke a Little Smoke,” and music videos for “Lightning” and “Homeboy” that were filmed the former Tennessee State Prison. He took his 2015 album Mr. Understood directly to fans first, with a surprise release to members of his fanclub. And more recently, he’s displayed his artistic freedom onstage at freewheeling residencies and/or shows at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, as well as at own Chief’s bar in downtown Nashville, and during festivals such as CMA Fest and Stagecoach.
So, it’s no surprise that many songs on Evangeline Vs. The Machine album, out today (May 2), center on the power of music as a healer, encourager, energy lifter, emotional solace and infinite creative source. However, the muses behind the steely-eyed defiance that vibrates through the album run far deeper and wider than the Nashville industry’s machinations. Inspired by the collaborative approach of New Orleans jazz, Church approached the new album with the all-encompassing, spontaneous nature of a live show, teaming again with producer Jay Joyce and bolstering his core blend of country, rock and soul with a choir, horns and full-bodied strings.
What his succinct, eight-song album lacks in length, it more than makes up for in depth of creativity and intention, with songs that stretch well beyond country music’s typical lyrical trifecta of relationships, trucks and alcohol. Evangeline Vs. The Machine finds Church writing and recording songs inspired by his own discomfort with being creatively bound, as well as by the natural disaster of Hurricane Helene and by the tragedy of the Covenant School shooting that took place in 2023.
Here, Billboard ranks the eight songs on his new project.
“Storm in Their Blood”
Australian music festival Spilt Milk has returned from a fallow year with what is shaping up to be one of the country’s biggest touring events in 2025.
Confirming its 2025 lineup on Friday (May 2), the Spilt Milk festival has announced that the four-date affair will be headlined by Kendrick Lamar and Doechii, with Sara Landry, Dominic Fike, and Schoolboy Q rounding out the topline. While Lamar’s appearance will be his first Australian visit since 2022, and the other headliners have previously performed on Australian soil, Doechii will make her debut visit to the country as part of the festival.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
D4vd, Nessa Barrett, and Sombr also join Australian producer Skin on Skin as second-tier additions, while international names such as Rebeca Black and Chance Peña join local acts The Dreggs, The Rions, Ninajirachi, and more.
Trending on Billboard
Lamar’s high-profile addition to the festival is something of a coup for the event, which first launched in 2016 as a one-day affair in the country’s capital, Canberra.
After three years of events, the festival expanded to the Gold Coast and regional Victorian city Ballarat in 2019, with the likes of CHVRCHES, Khalid, and Juice WRLD appearing on the lineup. The Ballarat edition of Spilt Milk would also serve as Juice WRLD’s final performance before his passing just one week later.
The festival returned from a COVID-induced hiatus in 2022, though announced they would be taking another year off in 2024. “Sorry pookies, we couldn’t get you the Spilt Milk you deserve this year,” event organizers wrote in July. “Sooo imma dip for a bit and come back when I can make all ur dreams come true.”
At the time, concerns were raised for the future of Spilt Milk given the cancellation of other high-profile festivals such as Splendour in the Grass, though organizers confirmed on May 1 that it would return in December 2025. The four-date affair will take place across Ballarat, Perth, Canberra, and the Gold Coast between December 6-14.