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Few NFL teams merge culture, community and together quite like the two-time Super Bowl-winning Los Angeles Rams, and SoFi Stadium has become an entertainment mecca each football Sunday.
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Billboard was in the building when the Rams beat the Colts in week 4, and music took center field. Here are seven moments that capture how the Rams continue to redefine what game day can look (and sound) like:
1. VIP Tailgate at CineVita Sets the Game Day Tone
At most stadiums, tailgating means folding chairs and cooler beer. In Inglewood, it means a red carpet and a DJ booth. The CineVita Tailgate is the Rams’ luxury pre-game ritual — a place where locals, celebrities and die-hard fans blend together for one purpose: to celebrate the L.A. Rams. Guests can catch other NFL games on the massive LED screens, play Xbox or trivia for prizes, or lounge on leather couches inside. The pre-game menu honestly tastes like something out of a food festival: loaded potato skins, Ortega taco bars, lemon pepper wings, and a maple-drizzled chicken and waffles station.
2. Mariachi Rams Represents L.A. Culture
Few teams showcase their city’s identity like the Rams do through music. The Mariachi Rams — the NFL’s first-ever mariachi ensemble — have become a fan favorite for the way they blend tradition with modern flair.
“To be the first NFL mariachi ensemble is an absolute honor and a great responsibility,” the group told Billboard. “We might be the first mariachis someone ever sees, so we give it everything every time.”
Their setlist jumps from classics like “El Rey” to mariachi renditions of 2Pac’s “California Love” and Selena’s “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom.” “We take contemporary hits and put a mariachi twist on them,” they said. “It honors the genre while paying homage to the pop moments fans love.”
3. SoFi Stadium Turns National Anthem Into a Statement
At SoFi, the national anthem isn’t just tradition; it’s the show opener. Singer/songwriter Madilyn Bailey described it as a career milestone. “Singing the national anthem at a Rams game can now be checked off my bucket list,” she told Billboard. “I’m not originally from Los Angeles, but the second I stepped off my first plane here, I knew this was my city and these were my people.”
Her performance carried a message of ambition that fits the energy of LA. “Everyone in this stadium is chasing something,” she said. “If a girl from a town of a thousand people can find herself singing in front of 70,000, anything is possible.”
4. The Crucial Catch Halftime Brings Rachel Platten to Fight
Each season, the Rams and Cedars-Sinai transform SoFi Stadium into something bigger than football through the NFL’s Crucial Catch initiative, which honors cancer survivors and their families. This year’s ceremony recognized 12 “Crucial Catch Captains,” each representing stories of strength and survival. Among them was linebacker Shaun Dolac, who lost his father to stage four cancer in 2016.
The highlight came at halftime when singer/songwriter Rachel Platten took the field to perform her anthem “Fight Song.” “The energy is unbelievable,” Platten told Billboard. “There are 70,000 people, and you’re feeding off the team’s energy. The Rams scored a touchdown right before I went on, so the whole place was already lit up.”
For Platten, the moment carried a deeper purpose. “It wasn’t about me,” she said. “It was about the survivors and the people supporting them. My mom is a cancer survivor, so I wanted to channel that strength. This performance was service, not perfection.”
5. Loud Luxury Turns SoFi Stadium Into the Club
Los Angeles Rams
Canadian DJ duo Loud Luxury brings in club-level energy to SoFi with an electrifying set. “It’s unique because everyone is there for the game first and foremost, so it feels like a chance to win over new fans,” they told Billboard. “Also, playing earlier in the day is definitely a bit of a body shock for both of us since our average bedtime is about 4 a.m.”
Their set bridges the worlds of sports and nightlife. “Fans play a huge role in the game atmosphere,” they said. “Our main goal is to energize the crowd, and if that can influence the game in any way, that’s a win for us.”
6. The Rams Junior Cheerleaders Take Over The Field
Before kick-off, nearly 300 Rams Junior Cheerleaders performed a four-minute routine alongside the official squad, showcasing the team’s dedication to community and youth involvement. The program, which builds confidence and teamwork among kids ages 5 to 14, has become one of the most wholesome traditions on game day.
7. Hollywood Park Extends the Game Day Experience Beyond the Stadium
Even after the final whistle, the energy carries through Hollywood Park. Fans can head to The Meeting Spot for drinks, catch a movie at Cinepolis Luxury Cinemas, or experience COSM’s immersive visuals. In American Airlines Plaza, $5 Bud Light specials, face painting and games keep the atmosphere lively through sunset.
Luminate has announced a new global data partnership with Tencent Music Entertainment (TME), marking the company’s first data collaboration with a chart that measures music engagement in China, the companies announced Wednesday (Nov. 5).
Under the agreement, Luminate, Billboard‘s longtime data partner, will integrate streaming and sales metrics from TME’s platforms — including QQ Music, Kugou Music, Kuwo Music and JOOX — into its music data platform CONNECT. The data will be reflected on CONNECT in the coming weeks and integrated into Billboard‘s global charts on a date yet to be announced. This marks the first time Chinese music market activity will be measured and reflected on the Billboard global charts.
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Wednesday’s news represents the latest international expansion for Luminate, which now tracks data for more than 60 countries, with other recent additions in the Middle East and North and Sub-Saharan Africa. With the addition of TME to its data set, the company will be able to identify the appeal of genres and artists originating in China across markets.
Notably, in 2023, the TME UNI Chart became the first music chart from the Chinese Mainland to be featured on Billboard‘s U.S. website.
“This partnership marks a pivotal moment for the global music industry, underscoring Luminate’s unwavering commitment to providing the most accurate and comprehensive measurement of music activity worldwide,” said Luminate CEO Rob Jonas in a statement. “As the industry’s most trusted source of streaming and sales data, our customers and partners expect as much information as possible to make the best business decisions, and we know how valuable it is for a market as large and influential as China to be represented in those insights.”
Added TC Pan, group vp of TME and president of the Content Cooperation Department, “This collaboration with Luminate represents a data-driven effort to establish a unified global content ecosystem. China is one of the most dynamic music markets in the world, and through this partnership, all content on TME’s platforms — whether domestic or international — will participate in, and even help shape, global music trends. Moving forward, TME will continue to strengthen its content ecosystem, enabling more quality content to be discovered worldwide, realizing long-term value through a journey from ‘data connectivity’ to ‘ecosystem synergy.’”
Also weighing in was Ryan Liang, vp of corporate development and content system at TME, who said, “Our partnership with Luminate marks TME Chart as Billboard’s first in-depth data partner in China，which demonstrates that its objectivity and professionalism have gained recognition from international authorities. We see this partnership as an opportunity to further strengthen the TME Chart’s role as a bridge connecting Chinese music with the global market. By integrating China’s music data into the global chart ecosystem, we are dedicated to delivering Chinese music to a broader audience and enhancing its international recognition.”
4 Non Blondes’ “What’s Up?” is back on the Billboard charts, thanks to a viral trend.
The 1993 No. 14-peaking Billboard Hot 100 classic reenters the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs tally dated Nov. 8 at No. 13, as users on shortform video platforms such as TikTok have been mashing up the track with Nicki Minaj’s 2012 hit “Beez in the Trap.” (Older songs are eligible for Billboard’s multimetric charts if in the top half and with a meaningful reason for their resurgences.)
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In the week ending Oct. 30, “What’s Up?” drew 4.2 million official U.S. streams, up 17%, according to Luminate. It also sold 1,000 downloads, a 34% boost week-over-week, sparking a second week at No. 3 on the Rock Digital Song Sales tally.
Over the past few weeks, streams of “What’s Up?” have steadily gained. A month prior to the Nov. 8 rankings (in the tracking week for charts dated Oct. 4), the song accumulated 2.7 million streams. A year ago this week (Nov. 9, 2024), the track pulled 2.2 million streams.
As for “Beez in the Trap,” the tune from Minaj’s 2012 album Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded (the track hit No. 7 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs that year) totaled 1.7 million on-demand streams in the week of Oct. 24-30, up 47%. A month ago (week ending Sept. 25), it drew 484,000 streams.
The viral sound featuring both songs synchs up their choruses: 4 Non Blondes singer Linda Perry’s refrain of “And I say, hey, what’s going on?” merges with Minaj’s “Bitches ain’t shit and they ain’t sayin’ nothing/ A hundred motherfuckers can’t tell me nothing/ I beez in the trap” verse.
That said, the original versions of each are having their own moments on platforms including TikTok, although many videos still reference the prevailing meme; some of the top-performing clips, for instance, find users lip-synching to “What’s Up?” but then mouthing along to the lyrics of “Beez in the Trap” at its usual cue even though its audio isn’t playing.
The mashup sound is lip-synch-heavy, as well, with some of the most viral uses indicated by two participants standing back-to-back, one taking the 4 Non Blondes lyrics and the other assuming Minaj’s role. The trend has been utilized by everyone from typical creators to folks dressed up in cosplay or Halloween costumes to celebrities such as Anitta, Jimmy Fallon, Kylie Jenner, Khloe Kardashian and Jennifer Lopez. Lopez’s version even got Perry herself in on the fun.
Trending on Billboard Summer Walker looks like she has the post-wedding blues on the album artwork for Finally Over It, which she unveiled on Wednesday (Nov. 5). While being showered with white rose petals, the R&B superstar poses with an elderly white man she’s taken as her husband, drawing inspiration from then-26-year-old model and actress […]
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Rauw Alejandro turned his acclaimed Cosa Nuestra Tour into a heartfelt tribute to Mexico and its most famous festivity, Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead), on Tuesday night when the Puerto Rican star, his dancers and musicians all appeared with their faces painted as Mexican skulls for the first of five shows at the Palacio de los Deportes in the capital city.
In a stunning surprise for the 18,000 attendees who packed the venue, according to Ocesa figures, Rauw, elegantly dressed in a 1960s-inspired outfit, resembled the character El Catrín — the eternal lover of La Catrina, the legendary skull created by Mexican cartoonist José Guadalupe Posada, who in Mexican tradition is her eternal companion in celebration on life and death.
“I’m singing here in one of my favorite cities,” Rauw said with emotion to the crowd, who erupted in a warm ovation. “Today’s story is a little different, when two cultures become one, when Cosa Nuestra meets Mexico with lots of love and affection, with great respect for everyone.”
The fact that the dancers and musicians accompanying the artist also appeared with their faces painted as Mexican skulls made the experience even more emotional and intimate for his local fans, who, adhering to the singer’s dress code, wore short sequined dresses, feathers, berets, and classic-cut suits.
Día de Muertos is traditionally celebrated on Nov. 1-2. Over the weekend, the performer had shared a series of snapshots on his Instagram account, where he and his team appeared with their faces painted as a skulls enjoying traditional tacos and tequila in Mexico, where he has 10 fully sold-out shows scheduled.
The Mexican leg of his Cosa Nuestra World Tour began on Nov. 2 in the northern city of Monterrey and continues in Mexico City with five shows, from Nov. 4 to 9. He will also stop in the city of Guadalajara on Nov. 15 and 16.
Rauw Alejandro participated on Monday (Nov. 3) in the Billboard Live Music Summit 2025 in Los Angeles, where he spoke with Billboard’s Leila Cobo and Hans Schafer, senior vp of global touring at Live Nation, about how his partnership with the entertainment giant helped him create a Broadway-inspired show that could “travel the world.”
The Cosa Nuestra tour is a high-concept, 1970s New York-inspired spectacle supporting Rauw’s 2024 album of the same name, which hit No. 6 on the Billboard 200. The tour grossed $91.7 million across spring and summer legs in North America and Europe before heading to South America and Mexico. The trek will conclude at the end of this month with a five-date residency at San Juan’s Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot.
There are a lot of happy New Yorkers out there celebrating the victory of Zohran Mamdani in the 2025 mayoral race, and some of them — including Gracie Abrams, Halsey and more — are also big-name musicians.
In response to the 34-year-old Democratic Socialist triumphing over opponents Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa after the election wrapped up Tuesday night (Nov. 4), numerous stars shared messages of excitement and congratulations on social media. Abrams shared a number of posts about Mamdani’s win on her Instagram Story, writing that she was “SCREAMING” and adding, “I keep getting chills over and over.”
On X, Halsey wrote, “I just got off stage from an AMAZING show and Zohran Mamdani is mayor of New York and I am NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO SLEEP I’m too ALIVE!”
Lorde also weighed in, sharing a “New York” graphic on her Story and typing, “Change … Have a Nice Day” while tagging Mamdani’s account.
All three of those singer-songwriters are based in NYC, which showed up for Mamdani on Election Day with more than 1,036,051 ballots cast in his favor, according to The Associated Press. Running on a platform of lowering the cost of living in the city, the assemblyman earned an estimated 50.4% of the vote, while Cuomo and Sliwa split the rest 41.6% and 7.1%, respectively.
Many other musicians celebrated the results in the comments of Mamdani’s posts on Instagram with Clairo dropping a fire emoji and Lizzy McAlpine writing, “YAYYYY.”
“he’s home!” Rachel Zegler replied, while King Princess commented, “I think we should throw a party ?”
Lauren Jauregui chimed in, “thank God!! May you be protected and guided!! Yayyyy!”
The outpouring of happiness in response to Mamdani’s win reflects the unprecedented grassroots momentum he was able to curate with his campaign. Backed by politicians such as Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the Ugandan-born immigrant leaned into social media strategy and pop culture throughout the race, at one point coming out on stage during PinkPantheress’ October concert in Brooklyn.
Mamdani also got himself in the good graces of Swifties by shouting out Taylor Swift’s “Only the Young” — as well as “Hate It or Love It” by The Game featuring 50 Cent and “Right Above It” by Lil Wayne featuring Drake — when he was asked to summarize his campaign in three songs.
Brandi Carlile breaks the record for most No. 1’s by a woman on Billboard’s Top Rock & Alternative Albums chart, as her latest album Returning to Myself debuts atop the Nov. 8-dated tally.
In its first week, ending Oct. 30, Returning to Myself earned 35,000 equivalent album units, according to Luminate. That sum includes 32,000 in album sales.
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Returning to Myself is Carlile’s fifth No. 1 on the ranking, all achieved consecutively. She first led with 2015’s The Firewatcher’s Daughter, followed by 2018’s By the Way, I Forgive You, 2021’s In These Silent Days and this year’s Elton John collaboration Who Believes in Angels?.
Carlile’s five leaders are the most by a woman or woman-led act since Top Rock & Alternative Albums began in 2006. Previously, she was tied for the mark with Florence + the Machine and Paramore. (The distinction may be short lived; the former’s new album, Everybody Scream, was released Oct. 31 and will hit next week’s Billboard charts, dated Nov. 15.)
Returning to Myself also starts at No. 1 on Top Rock Albums and Americana/Folk Albums. It’s Carlile’s sixth ruler on the latter list, second only to Bob Dylan’s eight.
Elsewhere, Returning to Myself marks Carlile’s second No. 1 on Top Album Sales, and first since By the Way, I Forgive You. Of the new set’s 32,000 in sales, 15,000 are via vinyl; as a result, the LP starts at No. 2 on Vinyl Albums.
On the all-format Billboard 200, Returning to Myself opens at No. 7, marking Carlile’s fifth top 10, where she first ranked with the No. 10-peaking Bear Creek in 2012. Her personal best on the chart was set by By the Way, I Forgive You (No. 5).
Returning to Myself’s title track lead single reached No. 12 on Adult Alternative Airplay (Oct. 18). Its follow-up, “Human,” is bubbling under the list.
Trending on Billboard Tyla storms in at No. 1 on the Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart as “Chanel” bags the top spot of the list dated Nov. 8. The new champ, an Afrobeat, amapiano and pop composition, namechecks the iconic designer brand and centers on the repeated lyrical refrain “Say you love me, put me […]
Trending on Billboard Calvin Harris is returning to Las Vegas. The Scottish producer has locked in a two-year residency at Wynn Las Vegas, where he’ll play the resort’s mega-club XS and its poolside Encore Beach Club. The first three dates at XS will happen Jan. 16, Feb. 13 and Feb. 21, with more shows to […]
Is it hot in here, or is it just our chart?
11/5/2025
