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Adele had three hyped-up words of wonder as the completed her 10-night run at a custom-built stadium in Munich, Germany: “Wow! Wow! Wow!” That’s how the singer began a loving note to the city for embracing her during a two-week run of gigs at the 80,000-capacity open air outdoor arena, Messe München, after completing her […]
The music industry is mourning the loss of talent manager Jason Hobdy, who passed away on Friday, Aug. 30, at the age of 40.
According to Yvette Noel-Schure, Hobdy was on a flight returning from a tour in Japan with his artist, Maeta, when he fell ill. The Bronx native was known for his work with a roster of notable artists, including H.E.R., Maeta, Elijah Blake, and Tone Stith.
Jason Hobdy began his career at MBK Entertainment under the guidance of Jeff Robinson, Jeanine McClean, and Suzette Williams. Starting as an intern at just 16, Jason quickly immersed himself in the world of artist management, learning the ropes from some of the best in the business.
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His journey from street team work to tour management saw him traveling the world with artists like Alicia Keys, K. Michelle, and Lucky Daye. In a 2021 interview with Rolling Out, Jason reflected on his beginnings, saying, “I was just a little boy from the Bronx… It has opened up doors, I have traveled the world, and it has shown me that there’s a big world out here outside of the Bronx.”
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Jeff Robinson, CEO of MBK Entertainment, shared a tribute on Instagram, where he described Jason as a determined young man who fulfilled his childhood dream.
“When he was 11 years old, my nephew Jason ‘Hoody’ Hobdy told me that when he grew up, he was going to work for me and eventually run the company,” Robinson wrote.
“As a teen, he actually did start working for me… What a great life and career for a poor kid from the Bronx who loved to laugh and dream big, to running your own company and touring the world for years! I am so proud to call you my Nephew and PARTNER!”
He also expressed his deep pride in Jason’s achievements, acknowledging how he successfully managed artists and broke new acts. Robinson concluded by saying, “Your name will ring bells in heaven and Earth!! Rest well, Young King.”
Jason’s impact on the artists he managed was profound. Elijah Blake shared on Instagram, “Death is such a strange concept because we were on the phone laughing at 3 a.m…. All we ever did was joke bro… Your legacy is & will be that of a champion.”
Tone Stith also paid tribute, saying, “Hoody’s heart was so big that he was able to love everyone at the same level, and serve that person… A great example of living like Jesus Christ.”
In addition to his work at MBK, Jason founded his own management company He was also an A&R consultant for Monarch Distro since 2022.
Jason Hobdy is survived by his family, including many brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, and his industry family worldwide.
Oasis is on track to reclaim the No. 1 spot on the U.K. Official Albums Chart with their iconic debut album Definitely Maybe, thanks to the hype surrounding their 2025 reunion tour.
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As the album celebrates its 30th anniversary, it’s predicted to rise four spots, potentially marking the first time in three decades that it has topped the chart. The 30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition of Definitely Maybe has sparked renewed interest, featuring previously unreleased demos from the band’s original Monnow Valley and Sawmills Studios sessions.
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Since its release in 1994, the album has spent a total of 556 weeks in the U.K. Top 100, and was the fastest-selling debut in British history at the time.
The band’s 2009 hits compilation Time Flies… (1994-2009) is also expected to climb, with predictions placing it at No. 2, while their second studio album, (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?, looks likely to hold its position in the Top 5.
Further down the chart, other Oasis albums are enjoying a resurgence. The Masterplan is expected to jump 63 places to No. 35, and their third album, Be Here Now, is predicted to re-enter the Top 40 at No. 37.
The Oasis Live ’25 tour has already caused a wave of excitement, with “unprecedented demand” leading to the addition of three more dates in the U.K. The Gallaghers announced that, despite rumors, the band will not be playing any festivals in 2025. Instead, fans will have to catch them on their official reunion tour, which kicks off in July.
Elsewhere on the chart, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds are on track to secure their seventh Top 10 album with their latest release, Wild God, which is currently eyeing a No. 3 debut, potentially marking their highest-charting LP in eight years. English rock band Wunderhorse is also making waves with their second album, Midas, which is set to enter at No. 6, a career-best for the group.
Meanwhile, U2’s ZOO TV Live in Dublin 1993 EP is projected to land at No. 15, giving the legendary band their 22nd Top 40 album.
Newcomer Paris Paloma is poised to make her Albums Chart debut with her first full-length release, Cacophony, expected to secure a spot at No. 40, rounding out a competitive week on the U.K. Official Albums Chart.
Sabrina Carpenter is on track to continue her taste of victory on the U.K. Singles Chart for another week as her latest single, “Taste,” from the album Short n’ Sweet, continues to lead the midweek update.
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If it holds, this will mark her second consecutive week at the top spot. The track is part of her sixth studio album, Short n’ Sweet, which debuted at No. 1 and marks her first U.K. No. 1 album.
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Carpenter’s dominance on the singles chart extends beyond “Taste.” Her previous chart-toppers “Please Please Please” and “Espresso” are also expected to hold steady at No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, continuing her reign on the U.K. Singles Chart. These three tracks have seen sustained success, with “Please Please Please” and “Espresso” spending multiple weeks in the Top 3 since their release.
Meanwhile, Oasis is surging as “Live Forever” looks set to soar back into the Top 5, potentially reaching a new peak at No. 4.
Following the announcement of their Oasis Live ’25 reunion tour, Oasis is experiencing a resurgence in popularity. “Live Forever,” which originally peaked at No. 10 in 1994, is now on track to surpass its previous best, riding the wave of Oasis mania. The track is part of their debut album Definitely Maybe, which is also seeing a resurgence, with the 30th-anniversary edition eyeing off a return to the top of the U.K. Albums Chart.
Two more Oasis classics, “Wonderwall” and “Don’t Look Back In Anger,” are also climbing, currently aiming to return to the Top 10 at No. 8 and No. 7.
Other notable midweek movements include Sonny Fodera, Jazzy, and D.O.D’s “Somedays,” set to reach a new peak at No. 13, and Teddy Swims’ “The Door,” which could break into the Top 20 for the first time, moving up to No. 20.
With the final chart set to be revealed on Friday, all eyes are on whether Sabrina Carpenter can fend off the Britpop legends to secure another chart-topping trifecta. ‘
Singer-songwriter Jewel has come forward in support of Chappell Roan after the rising pop star shared her concerns about invasive fan behavior.
Roan, who recently hit No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Good Luck, Babe!,” opened up about her experiences with “predatory behavior” from some fans in a lengthy social media post. She explained that after years of dedicated work to build her music career, she’s had to draw clear boundaries to protect herself from uncomfortable and often creepy interactions.
“I’ve been in too many nonconsensual physical and social interactions, and I just need to lay it out and remind you, women don’t owe you s—,” Roan wrote on Instagram.
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Jewel, best known for her ’90s hit “You Were Meant for Me,” expressed her support for the “Hot To Go!” singer in a TikTok video, where she shared her own experiences with overzealous fans.
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“I am weighing in on Chappell Roan, the drama of it all. I saw that she had to turn off her comments because of her recent post just saying being stalked and having people grab you in public isn’t OK as a celebrity,” Jewel said.
“I learned with time that I could talk to my fans and say ‘you can’t come within six feet of me.’”
Jewel noted importance of compassion and understanding, regardless of someone’s fame. “I’m proud of what you’re doing. And everybody, I hope you all know that everybody is worthy of compassion. Even if you’re rich. Even if you’re famous,” she added.
Roan’s original post also seemed to resonate with Paramore’s Hayley Williams, who shared it on her own Instagram Story, stating, “This happens to every woman I know from this business, myself included. Social media has made this worse. I’m really thankful Chappell is willing to address it in a real way, in real time. It’s brave and unfortunately necessary.”
Roan, whose debut album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess recently peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, further urged fans to respect her privacy in her posts, “Please stop touching me. Please stop being weird to my family and friends. Please stop assuming things about me.”
Alongside her current success on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Good Luck, Babe!,” Roan has multiple singles charting, including “Pink Pony Club” and “Casual.” Jewel, meanwhile, saw “Foolish Games” and “You Were Meant for Me” both reach No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1997.
Cardi B is denying that she was throwing shade at Nicki Minaj in a maternity photo shoot.
The “WAP” rapper, who is expecting her third child with Offset, shared photos on social media Sunday (Sept. 1) of her bare baby bump while sitting on a motorcycle in front of a shuttered storefront spray painted with graffiti.
“I wanna meet my little boo boo soo bad already,” Cardi captioned the photos on Instagram.
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Shortly after the post, eagle-eyed fans noticed the word “pedophile” was written over the word “homesick” on the security gate behind Cardi. Some online spectators took it a step further by questioning whether the graffiti art was meant to diss Minaj’s husband Kenneth Petty, a registered sex offender who was convicted of attempted rape in the first degree in 1995.
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“Cardi B seems to be taunting Nicki Minaj’s family by taking photos in front of graffiti that reads ‘pedophile,’” one person wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
“Lol wait why there’s Pedophile written on the wall??……is this a nicki shade?” another fan added.
Cardi soon caught wind of the rumors and quickly shut them down on her official X account.
“First of all we literally picked a random street because paparazzi was hounding us everywhere.. this was supposed to be my original first picture and we had to edit the photos in minutes because the shoot got leaked,” she wrote on X Monday (Sept. 2).
The “I Like It” rapper added, “Didn’t even have time to go over every detail because people were busy trying to expose my pregnancy as ‘aha’ moment…Second I’m ALWAYS with the s–ts but I’m not using MY MATERNITY shoot to be funny. Are you dumb??”
In a separate X post, Cardi wrote, “Btch my makeup artist touched up the picture because we didn’t have time for all that, it says the date and time nobody was paying attention to the graffiti… second if I wanted to be petty I would’ve posted a lot of memes last week.. I KEEP TELLIN YALL TO LEAVE ME THE F-K ALONE !! If I’m saying I’m not on that time DONT MAKE ME GET ON THAT TIME. Unrist yourself!!”
Cardi B and Nicki Minaj have beef dating back to 2017. The following year, the two rap stars were involved in an altercation at Harper’s Bazaar’s ICONS New York fashion week party. Social media footage at the time In the footage released on social media showed Cardi yelling obscenities and throwing her shoe at Minaj while also leaving the event with no shoes and a knot on her forehead.
In early August, Cardi revealed that she’s expecting her third child with Offset. The happy news arrived the same day she filed for divorce the Migos rapper a second time. The former couple have two other children together: daughter Kulture, 6, and son, Wave, who is nearly 3 years old.
See Cardi’s maternity photos on Instagram here and her response on X below.
First of all we literally picked a random street because paparazzi was hounding us everywhere.. this was supposed to be my original first picture and we had to edit the photos in minutes because the shoot got leaked. Didn’t even have time to go over every detail because people… https://t.co/AyHerH9PAr— Cardi B (@iamcardib) September 2, 2024
Britney Spears is hinting at her involvement in an upcoming film project — but it’s not her biopic.
On Friday (Aug. 30), the 42-year-old pop superstar shared a cryptic message on social media amid hype that actress Emma Roberts is interested in portraying Spears in the biopic adaptation of the singer’s best-selling memoir, The Woman in Me.
“The project I might be doing isn’t a biopic story … it’s a fictional musical where I play an extremely intelligent character !!!,” Spears wrote on Instagram alongside an illustration of a girl hovering over a pair of cats.
She added, “It’s flattering to be in such good company like Jon Chu !!!”
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Following a bidding war, Universal Pictures reportedly won the rights to adapt the pop princess’ best-selling book into a film. The Woman in Me chronicles Spears’ rise to fame, her relationship with fellow child star Justin Timberlake — which included her getting pregnant and having an abortion during their time together — as well as her life under a highly restrictive 13-year conservancy.
Wicked director Jon M. Chu and Marc Platt are leading the film’s development, according to Variety. Spears also took to X (formerly Twitter) in early August to reveal that she’s been working on a “secret project” with Platt.
“Excited to share with my fans that I’ve been working on a secret project with #MarcPlatt. He’s always made my favorite movies … stay tuned,” Spears wrote.
No casting or timeframe has been announced for the biopic at press time.
In a recent interview with Cosmopolitan, Roberts was asked about headlines in which Spears’ longtime assistant, Felicia Culotta, pitched the Space Cadet actress, 33, as the perfect actress to portray the “…Baby One More Time” hitmaker in the biopic.
“I was like, I love her assistant. I mean, it’s my true dream to play Britney Spears,” Roberts said of Culotta’s TMZ interview, in which she suggested that Emma’s child star roles on Nickelodeon shows such as Unfabulous were a good parallel to Brit’s younger years on The All-New Mickey Mouse Club.
“It’s a rumor, but I hope maybe it’ll come true. I mean, I remember I locked myself in my room and listened to [2003’s] In the Zone and said, ‘I cannot leave this room until I memorize every word,’” Roberts said.
See Spears’ “fictional musical” teaser post on Instagram here.
Rihanna is the new queen of Dior.
On Sunday (Sept. 1), the 36-year-old singer and entrepreneur was unveiled as the face of J’Adore Fragrance by Dior in a dazzling short film directed by Steven Klein. She replaces longtime spokeswoman Charlize Theron.
“Powerful, dazzling, and inspiring, Rihanna embodies the triumphant and free-spirited femininity of J’adore through the lens of Steven Klein,” Dior’s YouTube caption reads. “J’adore and Rihanna, a new golden dream begins.”
Set to the tune of RiRi’s 2016 hit “Love on the Brain,” the minute-long visual finds the superstar gracing the halls of the Palace of Versailles in France and donning a gorgeous sparkly golden gown before seemingly walking on water in heels.
“Your dreams, make them real,” Rihanna says into the camera at the end of the short film.
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Rihanna, who was announced as the face of J’Adore earlier this summer, has a long relationship with Dior. Apart from being spotted at several of the brand’s fashion shows, most recently during Paris Fashion Week earlier this year and during her first pregnancy, she became Dior’s first Black ambassador in 2015.
“For over two decades, the fragrance has been a brilliant and faithful companion for women the world over, the perfume of a strong, liberated and independent woman, resonating perfectly with Rihanna’s personal story,” LVMH, owner of Dior, said in a statement at the time.
“This scent, that I have known and loved for so long, means so much to women,” Rihanna said in the same press release. “It is more than a perfume, it is a companion and a reference. I am especially touched to join this adventure and to contribute to it through my world, my story, my roots, as well as my creativity and my own femininity.”
Dior’s marque women’s fragrance balances floral with fruity featuring fragrant notes of ylang-ylang, Turkish Damascus rose, jasmine grandiflorum and Indian jasmine sambac.
Watch Rihanna’s J’Adore campaign film on Instagram below.
Sebastian Yatra’s “Los Domingos” has topped this week’s new music Latin poll. In a poll published on Friday (Aug. 30) — in support of the weekly New Music Latin roundup and playlist, curated by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors — music fans voted for the Colombian pop star’s newest tune as their favorite music […]
Former Oasis drummer Alan White has fueled excitement among fans by hinting that he may be part of the band’s highly anticipated 2025 reunion tour.
On Sept. 1, White, who played with Oasis from 1995 to 2004, shared a photo on social media featuring his drum kit, adorned with Union Jack-themed artwork reminiscent of the band’s iconic era. The post has sparked widespread speculation that White could be joining the Gallagher brothers on stage once again.
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The Oasis Live ’25 tour announced on Aug. 27, marks the first time in 16 years that Liam and Noel Gallagher will perform together. The tour, which includes 17 dates across major U.K. and Ireland cities, has already sold out.
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White originally joined Oasis in April 1995, replacing original drummer Tony McCarroll. During his nine years with the band, White contributed to four studio albums, including the seminal sophomore effort (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? and Be Here Now, the fastest-selling LP in U.K. recorded music history. His drumming became an integral part of Oasis’s sound, and he played a significant role in the recording process, often shaping the rhythm and feel of the band’s tracks.
Meanwhile, McCarroll has indicated that he will not be part of the reunion, telling MailOnline: “They haven’t reached out yet and to be honest I’m not holding my breath.”
“Would I consider being involved? I don’t know. At the end of the day I’m not the only ex-member left behind, so I’ll just crack on.” He added, “I haven’t made up my mind if I’m going to watch them play next year either. I was at their last ever gig in the U.K. at the V Festival. It’s weird and ironic that I was there at the first and last gig.”
He added later, “Whether it’s been a blag for 15-years I haven’t got a clue. They’re brothers at the end of the day- maybe their mum Peggy clashed their heads together and said ‘sort it out’.”
The reunion announcement has also caused a surge in Oasis’s streaming numbers. Following a teaser on Aug. 25, the band’s daily U.S. on-demand audio streams increased from 750,000 to 820,000. By Aug. 26, streams hit 1.31 million, and after the official tour announcement on Aug. 27, streams skyrocketed to 2.80 million.
The Britpop band’s most iconic single, “Wonderwall,” peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1996. The band also achieved a top 10 album on the Billboard 200 with (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?, which reached No. 4 in 1996, while their debut album, Definitely Maybe, and their third album, Be Here Now, both charted on the Billboard 200.