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Ye’s — formerly known as Kanye West — Yeezy website has been taken down following backlash to the sale of his swastika T-shirt in recent days.
The rapper’s website used Shopify to make e-commerce transactions. Variety reported on Tuesday (Feb. 11) that Shopify said Ye had violated the company’s terms in recent days.
“All merchants are responsible for following the rules of our platform,” a spokesperson for Shopify relayed to Variety. “This merchant did not engage in authentic commerce practices and violated our terms, so we removed them from Shopify.”
In place of the Yeezy website is now an error message that reads, “Something went wrong. What happened? This store is unavailable.”
Billboard has reached out to reps for West and Shopify.
Just prior to the website’s shutdown, Ye paid for a Super Bowl commercial promoting Yeezy and encouraging fans to shop the marketplace. He shot the spot on an iPhone while sitting in a chair at the dentist. Variety reports the ad was shown on three Fox stations, including KTTV Los Angeles.
“What’s up, guys? I spent all the money for the commercial on these new teeth,” he says in the clip while showing off his diamond-encrusted teeth. “So, once again, I had to shoot it on the iPhone. Um … go to Yeezy.com.”
Before deactivating his X account on Monday (Feb. 10), the rapper spent the weekend going on several X tirades filled with antisemitic, misogynistic and homophobic remarks, which also included him calling for the freedom of Diddy and praising Hitler.
Ye’s latest string of hate speech has been rebuked by the Anti-Defamation League, Friends star David Schwimmer and Charlie Puth, who took to his Instagram Story to beg the Chicago native to stop posting.
“@ye The message you are sending out to the world is incredibly dangerous,” wrote Puth. “Please man, I beg you to stop. You are selling a T-shirt with a Swastika on it, and MILLIONS of people are influenced by you. Please I BEG you to stop, PLEASE.”
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Source: Sony / PlayStation Plus / PSN
PSN subscribers are still awaiting the compensation PlayStation promised them following a global service outage that left them staring at the PS5 and PS4 consoles instead of doing some intense weekend gaming.
Following last weekend’s global service outage, caused by an “operational issue” that took down PSN for about 24 hours, PlayStation broke its deafening silence and told gamers they would extend the PS Plus subscriptions by five days.
Those same gamers, many of whom thought PlayStation’s offer was weak, are still waiting for those five free days after their subscriptions expired.
Damn.
PlayStation’s favorability has taken a serious hit this past weekend due to what many believe is the company’s perceived lack of transparency about what happened.
It took almost a day following the initial interruption of service for them to get on X, formerly Twitter, to say that the global outage that made multiplayer games useless, took the PSN store down, and made some games in folks’ digital libraries inaccessible was the result of an “operational issue.”
Was PSN Hacked? Many Gamers Think So
Many gamers think there is more to this situation and believe PSN was hacked. PlayStation is doing a disservice to its subscribers by revealing this to them.
Some users even tell current subscribers to change their “passwords on everything” out of fear that this is more than just an “operational issue.”
“If you are a Playstation user make sure to change your passwords on everything. This is looking more and more like a giant hack by their lack of transparency,” one post on X read.
We hope it was just an “operational issue” and not a severe hack, as many people feel. We don’t need the ghosts of 2011’s massive attack on the PSN to return.
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Kendrick Lamar and his current status in the industry is no longer a mystery after taking home several Grammy Awards trophies on the back of his smash “Not Like Us” single. While performing the hit at the halftime show during Super Bowl LIX, Kendrick Lamar’s grin and stare during the “Say Drake” line is currently getting the meme treatment on X.
The grand spectacle of the Super Bowl LIX halftime show is still front of mind for many some two days later. Featuring Samuel L. Jackson in the role of Uncle Sam, a C-walking Serena Williams, and vocal features from SZA, the production was amazing and Kendrick Lamar sounded in tip-top shape. During the set, Lamar teased “Not Like Us” and even mentioned Drake’s reported legal moves in getting the song shut down alleging baked numbers and other unfavorable maneuvers by UMG.
The next to last song in his set, “Not Like Us” got the requisite reaction from the crowd after it appeared it wouldn’t happen. With the crowd rapping almost in unison, Lamar rapped into the camera the lyrics that started the latest meme trend on X.
From “Not Like Us”:
Say, Drake, I hear you like ’em young
You better not ever go to cell block one
To any b*tch that talk to him and they in love
Just make sure you hide your lil sister from him
With the moment now frozen in time, fans on X are sharing gifs and memes captioned “Say Drake” along with taking other shots at the Canadian superstar, who is currently on his Anita Max tour in Australia and New Zealand.
During the tour, Drizzy seemingly acknowledged the aftermath of the beef, donning a hoodie riddled with bullet holes and engineered smoke coming from said holes to signify all the damage he took during the battle with Kendrick Lamar.
On X, Drake’s name is trending mentioning Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl jab and more. Check out those reactions below.
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Photo: Getty
Warner Music Group announced changes to its division overseeing Argentina and Chile on Tuesday (Feb. 11), bringing in Tomás Talarico as the new managing director of Warner Music Southern Cone (née Cono Sur), effective immediately. He succeeds Guillermo Castellani, who will stay on as a consultant during the transition. Talarico will report to Alejandro Duque, president of Warner Music Latin America.
Talarico brings extensive industry experience, having founded MOJO, an independent record label and digital distributor, in 2014. Under his leadership, MOJO expanded across Argentina, Chile and Peru, becoming a key player in the tropical and urban music markets. The company has collaborated with approximately 150 artists and labels, managing audiovisual production and music publishing. According to the hiring announcement, MOJO’s success includes more than 50 Gold and Platinum certified singles and multiple industry awards, including eight Gardel Awards and two Pulsar Awards.
Throughout his career, Talarico has played a significant role in developing emerging artists such as ECKO, Grupo Zumbale Primo, Kaleb Di Masi, Papichamp and Uriel Lozano, among others. He was also a key contributor to the collaborative project Un Poco de Ruido. He’s also a musician, having released five rock and pop albums as a guitarist and singer-songwriter.
Trending on Billboard
Before founding MOJO, Talarico was a pioneer in digital music distribution, working with companies focused on MP3 and ringtone sales. His early career included a role as a supervisor at Tower Records.
Duque praised Talarico’s entrepreneurial mindset and ability to bridge music and technology “to the service of artists,” also praising Castellani role in developing the careers of major Warner artists such as Maria Becerra and Tiago PZK.
Talarico expressed excitement about joining WMG, highlighting the opportunity to utilize the resources of an international label to support the region.
“To be able to tap into the resources of a major label to superserve the exceptional talent in this region is an incredible opportunity,” he said. “I also want to pay tribute to the remarkable Guillermo Castellani who has nurtured such a strong team and played a huge role in the wider music industry. He leaves big shoes to fill, and I’m looking forward to building on his legacy!”
Castellani reflected on his time at Warner Music, which dates back to early 2002, and lauded the support of Duque and the Warner Music Southern Cone team.
“I am grateful to the family of Warner Music Southern Cone for allowing me to enjoy my work every day: without them it would have been impossible to reach the goals we achieved,” he said. “I wish Tomás success in writing the following chapter in the Southern Cone. I am sure that he will lead Warner Music in its continuous growth so that it will remain a magnet for new music talent in this part of the world.”
Winter Music Conference 2025 has announced a long phase one list of speakers for its March event in Miami.
The dance industry conference, returning to Miami Music Week for the first time since 2019, will feature input from artists including Aluna, LP Giobbi, Hayla, Sydney Blu and more.
Additionally, programming will include more than 60 industry representatives from a wide range of labels, management companies, agencies, publications, streaming services and more. See the complete list of phase one names and companies below.
Panels themes, keynote speakers and more will be announced in the coming weeks, with the event also set to feature mixers, a pool party and workshops, along with the inaugural hybrid awards show from the EDMAs and IDMAs. The Conference and tangential events will happen at Eden Roc Miami Beach Resort on March 26-28. Tickets are on sale now.
Trending on Billboard
Winter Music Conference is owned by Ultra Music Festival, which kicks off in Miami the same day the conference ends, Friday, March 28. Launched in 1985, Winter Music Conference was held every March in Miami (prior to the pandemic) and is part of the larger event known as Miami Music Week, a marathon of dance music performances and parties. Drawing an estimated 100,000 attendees and 3,500 music professionals from more than 70 countries at its height, WMC hosts a schedule of events, parties, seminars and workshops and serves as one of the largest industry networking events in the dance/electronic music genre.
Though the Ultra Music Festival was originally spawned by the conference, it eventually surpassed it in terms of influence, and its parent company went on to acquire WMC in 2018.
Winter Music Conference 2025 Industry Speakers:
Alex Greenberg – Falcon PRAlex Jukes – Jukebox PR/The TribesAndy Daniell – Defected RecordsAnna Horowitz – WMEBina Fronda – Ultra RecordsBlake Coppelson – Proximity II Kompass Music GroupCameron Sunkel – EDM.comCandace Silva-Torres (p/k/a SiLVA) – KCRWaCarly Peterson – CircaCelena Fields – EVENChris Johnson – SoundCloudChuck Fishman – Soul Clap RecordsConnie Chow – FUGA II shesaid.so AMSCristiana Votta – Alegria AgencyDani Chavez – Good Girl ManagementDani Deahl – BandLabDanny Klein – SPIN Magazine II Robot SunriseDavid Waxman – Ultra RecordsDeron Delgado – EMPIRE Dance/DirtybirdDilini Weerasooriya – Merrill Wealth Management (Bank of America)Dorothy Caccavale – FM Artists/Three Six ZeroEddie Sears – Republic RecordsElyn Kazarian – Women In Visuals/dublabEmma Hoser – Liaison ArtistsEric Silver – Red Light ManagementEryk Puczek – FriendsOfFriends.AgencyGavin Ryan – Big Beat Records/Atlantic RecordsGeorge Hess – G5 EntertainmentGina Tucci – 146 RecordsHallie Halpern – SeriouslyHallie StudiosHarmony Soleil – c895 SeattleHilary Gleason – BacklineJason Adamchak – Calculated Creative AgencyJaye Hamel – 1of1 CustomJeroen te Rehorst – BEAT Music Fund/ArmadaJess Page – RareformJordyn Reese – Do Better For ArtistsKat Bein – Super Kat WorldKatie Bain – BillboardKatie Knight – Can U Put Me On Guestlist PodcastKyle Jones – EDM.comLauren Anderson – LabelWorxLewis Kunstler – 2 + 2 Management II Young Art RecordsLorne Padman – Dim Mak RecordsMatt Sherman – Sherm In The Booth Podcast II Hood Politics RecordsMegan Venzin – DJ MagNicholas Saady – Pryor Cashman LLPOlivia Mancuso – Elevated Frequencies PodcastOllie Zhang – 88risingPaula Quijano – Little Empire MusicPete Anderson – ETP AgencyPeter Slayton – Slayton CreativeSam Mobarek – Major Recordings (Warner Records)Seth Shapiro – Shapiro Legal, PLLCShannon Herber – Wise River ConsultingSilvia Montello – Voicebox ConsultingSimon Scott – Cirkay LTDSonya Okon – Helix Records/Ultra PublishingSteph Conlon – Easier SaidTaryn Haight – WassermanTom Williams – L’Affaire MusicaleVivian Belzaguy Hunter – Ultra Music Festival II Ascendance Sustainable EventsWatse de Jong – Manager, Martin GarrixWill Scott – Helix Records / Ultra Publishing
Jimmy Kimmel is coming to Taylor Swift‘s defense after Donald Trump taunted the pop star on social media following the 2025 Super Bowl. On the latest episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live! Monday (Feb. 10), the late-night host recapped the night prior’s big game — which ended with the Kansas City Chiefs losing 22-40 against the […]
Ariana Grande has seen how fans have been shipping her with Cynthia Erivo during the Wicked promotional cycle, to the point where some people think there’s actually something going on between the two stars in real life.
And in a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter published Tuesday (Feb. 11), the “Yes, And?” singer addressed the theories surrounding her relationship with her costar. “People think we’re secretly married,” she told the publication.
It’s clear to anyone watching that Grande and Erivo are very close, often comforting each other during teary-eyed interviews and red-carpet appearances. But some fans have taken things one step further and have started speculating that there’s a romantic connection between them, despite the fact that both women are in relationships with other people; the Victorious alum has been dating fellow Wicked star Ethan Slater since 2023, while the Pinocchio star has reportedly been with actress Lena Waithe for several years.
Trending on Billboard
So why the rumors? Grande says it’s likely “the Gelphie stuff,” aka people shipping her Wicked character, Glinda, with Erivo’ s Elphaba.
“I wish I could unsee some things,” the two-time Grammy winner said of the sexual artwork people have made using their characters’ likenesses. “I mean, wow, I had a feeling, but I didn’t know it would be on this scale or this graphic.”
To be fair, the theory that Elphaba and Glinda are more than just friends is a little less unfounded than the theories about their real-life counterparts. Grande has said herself that she thinks her character “might be a little in the closet,” and in January, she told Variety, “[Glinda] loves Elphaba so much, and that forgiveness and that unconditional love that they share — I think they’re in love with each other.”
Despite the pervasiveness of the speculation surrounding Grande and Erivo, it’s not the first time the “We Can’t Be Friends” artist has had to deal with whispers about her love life during the Wicked era. The rumor mill went crazy when it was first reported in 2023 that she and Slater were in a relationship following their respective splits from ex-husband Dalton Gomez and ex-wife Lilly Jay, a tabloid cycle Grande slammed as “bulls–t” in a September Vanity Fair article, adding, “The most disappointing part was to see so many people believe the worst version of it.”
Now, Grande tells THR that dealing with rumors will “never be unpainful.” “But also, I walk with the awareness that I’m an artist and this is a path that I’ve chosen,” she added. “So I just try to protect myself so that I never start to resent the art.”
See Grande on the cover of THR below.
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South by Southwest has announced new keynotes and its latest round of featured speakers for its 39th edition, taking place March 7-15 across Austin.
Newly announced keynotes include Issa Rae, the creative force behind HBO’s Insecure; Meredith Whittaker, president of Signal; and Ben Lamm, CEO of Colossal Biosciences, who’ll be joined by actor Joe Manganiello to discuss advancements in… cloning. They join previously announced keynotes such as Creedence Clearwater Revival icon John Fogerty, Bluesky CEO Jay Graber, and IBM chairman and CEO Arvind Krishna.
The featured speakers lineup includes the cast and creators of HBO’s The Last of Us, game designer Hideo Kojima, Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe, comedian and podcaster Conan O’Brien, actor and musician Kevin Bacon, and Something Corporate singer-songwriter Andrew McMahon. Additional speakers include comedian Taylor Tomlinson food critic Keith Lee and social health expert Kasley Killam.
Trending on Billboard
This new slate of speakers complements SXSW’s rounds of announcements, which included Donald Passman, Ghazi, Dr. Peter Attia, Johanna Faries, Douglas Rushkoff, and more.
Highlighted sessions include “Colossal: Technology Company Turning Science Fiction to Science Fact,” where Lamm and Manganiello will explore advancements in gene editing and cloning. “A Conversation with Issa Rae” will cover her career and media company, HOORAE, while “A Conversation About Online Security and Confidentiality” will see Whittaker discussing privacy with Guy Kawasaki. Other panels include “Balloonerism – A Film Based on the Album by Mac Miller,” a discussion on a new film inspired by the late artist’s work, and “Breaking Barriers by Turning Prisoners into Firefighters,” focusing on rehabilitation through firefighting programs.
Entertainment-focused chats will include “Fans Over Fees,” where McMahon will address ticket scalping and fair access to live events; “Claiming the Future of Entertainment,” where O’Brien and gaming exec Johanna Faries will discuss gaming’s influence on media; and “DEATH STRANDING 2: ON THE BEACH,” where Kojima will reveal details about the video game.
Other notable discussions include “Fireside with Arm CEO Rene Haas,” covering AI’s impact on technology, and “Funny AF Comedy Showrunners,” where Universal Television’s top creators will share insights into comedy production. Business-oriented panels include “How America’s 33M Small Businesses Can Grow and Prosper,” featuring Mark Cuban; and “How Technology Is Transforming Urban Spaces,” examining AI’s role in city infrastructure.
Additional sessions will feature discussions on AI in media with Paramount CTO Phil Wiser, immersive storytelling with ILM Immersive, and influencer entrepreneurship with Keith Lee and Jennifer Quigley-Jones.
“Every year, SXSW assembles a group of speakers who are doing extraordinary and often surprising things, such as breaking boundaries in storytelling and representation, advocating for secure communication, and bringing back the woolly mammoth,” said Hugh Forrest, president and chief programming officer of SXSW. “Issa Rae, Meredith Whittaker, Ben Lamm, and Joe Manganiello make up a stellar group of changemakers who are a perfect fit for the SXSW community.”
SXSW will take place from March 7-15 in Austin, Texas, with full details regarding their newly-announced speakers and sessions available via their website.