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While Coldplay might claim they’ve made peace with being an “easy, safe target” for widespread disdain, James Blake has issued a public plea for music-lovers to stop criticizing the band just for the sake of it.
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Blake made his public appeal in a recent discussion with Nick Grimshaw and Annie Macmanus on the BBC Sounds podcast Sidetracked with Annie and Nick. The focus of the conversation turned to a recent Instagram post from The Pretenders’ Chrissie Hynde, in which she spoke about what she feels is and isn’t cool.
As Blake, Grimshaw, and Macmanus continued, they began to ruminate on the definition of cool, how its “hard to be a successful touring cool band,” and the recent comments from Brit Awards host Jack Whitehall, in which he referred to Coldplay as a “public school Nickelback.”
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“Coldplay bashing has got to stop,” Blake chimed in. “It’s not cool anymore! It’s not cool anymore to just be like ‘Coldplay’s not cool.’ Just f–k off,” he said. “There are so many amazing Coldplay songs. And Chris Martin is clearly a melodic genius.”
“[If] you don’t like the sound of their last few records, OK. When you go and see them at Glastonbury, did you like a lot of the songs? Probably,” he continued. “Maybe the band changed the way they dressed? Are we not allowed to change the way we dress? Are we not allowed to bloody write songs in a different genre? Like, who cares, man? I get really a bit irate about this!”
While bands such as Coldplay and Nickelback have indeed become something of a lightning rod for public scorn over the years (the were themselves the subject of a 2023 documentary Hate to Love: Nickelback), Martin indicated to Rolling Stone in 2024 that he’s at peace with where the band find themselves in terms of public opinion and expectations.
“There’ve been times where we [were like], ‘Well, we should probably try and look a bit like this or talk a bit like that,’” Martin explained. “And now, it’s just like, ‘No.’ Just follow whatever’s being sent. And that’s a very liberating place to be.
“If you want a puppet to sing a bit of a song, well, some people might not like this — my mum being one of them, for example. But my point is, that’s part of my journey to be like, ‘Well, I love you, and this is what we’re doing.’”
Despite any of the criticism that Coldplay attracts, their successes seem to tell a different story about what the public think of them. In January, their Indian debut broke the record for the largest-ever stadium shows of the 21st century. A two-night stint at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Gujarat saw them perform for 111,581 fans at the first show and 111,989 fans per night at the second, totaling more than 223,000 fans across the two nights.
As of mid-December, Coldplay had sold more than 100,000 tickets on over half the stops of their Music of the Spheres World Tour and grossed a total of $1.14 billion.
System of a Down drummer John Dolmayan has shared more insights into his fondness for U.S. President Donald Trump, despite the notably progressive views espoused by his band.
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Dolmayan, who joined System of a Down in 1997, shared his recent opinions in a recent discussion with Australian YouTuber Lilian Tahmasian. Throughout the lengthy conversation, the drummer turned his attention to the ever-present topic of politics, addressing his support for the President and confirming that he voted for Trump during his 2024 campaign.
“I’m glad he won, because it brings a little sanity back,” Dolmayan explained. “Irrespective of what you hear out there, it’s much more sane with him than it was without him.”
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As he continued, Dolmayan – who moved from Beirut to California as a two-year-old amidst the Lebanese Civil War – agreed with Trump’s border policy, explaining that while the U.S. thrives on immigration, he believes it must be done “a certain way.”
“We need law and order,” he continued. “Just like you lock your door at night, you don’t want somebody coming to your house when you have secure borders. We need people coming to this country. We all came to this country. And we need more people coming in. And the United States should always be a bastion for people that need it. Maybe they get oppression one way or the other in their countries and they need to leave. Or maybe they just want a fresh start. Or maybe they wanna be part of something that’s unique and interesting like the United States. And they should be allowed to do that, but do it a certain way — pay taxes, whatever you need to do, and live your life.”
Dolmayan’s outspoken support for Trump has been notable in recent years. In 2023, he took to social media to reveal he had lost friends and “hundreds of thousands” of followers due to his support for the President and his “unwillingness to accept the narratives [his followers] are now questioning the validity of.” Speaking to Tahmasian, however, Dolmayan explained that the left or right side of politics “makes no difference” to him, instead claiming he’s against “who’s doing wrong at this time.”
“If the conservatives go way off on the right and become too religious or whatever the case may be, where they’re infringing on people, then I’m gonna be with the Democrats at that point, because I’m not a politician and I don’t give a shit about the political parties. I’m a realist,” he explained. “And whatever’s good for people, that’s what I’m gonna fight for. So I’ll always be the enemy. I can never win.”
System of a Down released five albums between 1998 and 2005, with 2001’s Toxicity, and Hypnotize and Mezmerize (both 2005) all hitting No. 1 on the Billboard 200. The group embarked on a four-year hiatus in 2006, later reforming in 2010 and continuing to perform live sporadically since.
In 2020, System of a Down released the singles “Protect the Land” and “Genocidal Humanoidz,” though the band have shown no indication of recording a further studio album, with Dolmayan claiming that he’s felt “frustration” with the group’s lack of musical progress.
A Day to Remember’s Big Ole Album, Vol. 1 jumps 27-5 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart (dated March 8) — and is the only title on the list charting solely from physical album sales. The set was surprise released on Feb. 18 exclusively on CD and vinyl, with its digital download and streaming versions slated for a March 21 release. (The March 8 chart reflects the sales week ending Feb. 27.)
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In the tracking week ending Feb. 20, the album sold about 4,000 copies in the U.S., according to Luminate and yielded debuts on Top Album Sales (No. 27) and Indie Store Album Sales (No. 4). All sales generated in the Feb. 18-20 frame were from brick-and-mortar stores.
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Then, in the week ending Feb. 27, as mail order sales kicked in, it sold nearly 10,000 copies (up 205%), largely from vinyl sales (almost 8,000). The set surges 27-5 on Top Album Sales, 4-2 on Indie Store Album Sales and bows at No. 4 on Vinyl Albums, No. 6 on Top Hard Rock Albums, No. 19 on Top Alternative Albums, No. 24 on Top Rock Albums and No. 30 on Top Rock & Alternative Albums. It also debuts at No. 155 on the all-genre Billboard 200 as the only title on the list charting from solely physical sales.
With the 27-5 jump on Top Album Sales for A Big Ole Album, Vol. 1, A Day to Remember earns its third top 10-charting effort on the list. The rock band also visited the top 10 with 2021’s You’re Welcome (peaking at No. 3) and 2016’s Bad Vibrations (No. 1).
Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart ranks the top-selling albums of the week based only on traditional album sales. The chart’s history dates back to May 25, 1991, the first week Billboard began tabulating charts with electronically monitored piece count information from SoundScan, now Luminate. Pure album sales were the sole measurement utilized by the Billboard 200 albums chart through the list dated Dec. 6, 2014, after which that chart switched to a methodology that blends album sales with track equivalent album (TEA) units and streaming equivalent album (SEA) units.
As for the rest of the top 10 on the latest Top Album Sales chart, Tate McRae’s new So Close To What leads the pack, as it debuts atop the list with 71,000 copies sold. Kendrick Lamar’s chart-topping GNX is a non-mover at No. 2 with 19,000 (down 37%) and Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet falls 1-3 with 17,000 (down 77%). Chappell Roan’s former No. 1 The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess climbs 5-4 with nearly 10,000 (down 15%).
The Weeknd’s chart-topping Hurry Up Tomorrow is stationary at No. 6 with 9,000 sold (down 16%) and Stray Kids’ former No. 1 HOP is steady at No. 7 with 8,000 (down 8%).
Rock act Killswitch Engage debuts at No. 8 with This Consequence, selling nearly 7,000 copies. It’s the eight top 10-charting set for the group.
Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard and Soft falls one spot to No. 9 with 6,000 sold (down 23%) and G-DRAGON logs his first top 10 with Übermensch bowing at No. 10 with nearly 6,000 sold.
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Kendrick Lamar is clearly not taking his foot off the gas pedal. His forthcoming comedy film is set to be released this summer.
HotNewHipHop is reporting that the MC is looking to extend his 2025 winning streak. After much speculation, we finally have more information on his first big screen effort. This week, Paramount+ disclosed more information on the project via a formal synopsis and the culture is already invested. Titled Whitney Springs, the movie follows a “Black man interning as a slave re-enactor at a living history museum” who “finds out that his white girlfriend’s ancestors once owned his.”
Originally announced in 2022, fans have speculated if Kendrick Lamar would play a role in the film and that too seems to be confirmed. In the promotional poster for the movie, Kendrick Lamar is listed as a primary talent along with Chloe East and Celeste Octavia. This is not the first time K.Dot has tapped into his acting talents, as he played a homeless man in Power.
While very little else is known about Whitney Springs, we do know that Kendrick Lamar has partnered with South Park co-creator Trey Parker to product the project. In an interview with Bloomberg News, Parker confirmed that the rapper was very involved in the creative process. “[Kendrick Lamar is] very involved. And Dave Free is very involved,” he stated. “Every day they are working on it.”
Whitney Springs will be streaming exclusively on Paramount+ starting July 11.
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Rev. Jamal Bryant made a public declaration to boycott Target due to its shift in DEI policies assumed to be in response to the Trump-Harris administration’s stances. Rev. Jamal Bryant is urging that the Target boycott take place for 40 days in conjunction with the holy lenten season period, which began on March 5 and extends into April.
As spotted on Newsweek, Rev. Jamal Bryant, Senior Pastor of the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Dekalb County, Ga., joined forces with the Black Chamber of Commerce and OurMoneyUnited.com to launch the Target Fast. A quick scan of the website for the organized boycott effectively explains the aims of the 40-day ban from shopping at the major retail giant.
From Target Fast: (click to learn more)
This Lent, we will begin a corporate fast, starting with Target, as a spiritual act of resistance. Just as Jesus overturned the tables in the temple, challenging the exploitation and hypocrisy of his day, we too must disrupt business as usual. Fasting is not just about what we abstain from—it is about what we embrace. By redirecting our resources toward businesses that uphold justice, we embody our commitment to God’s vision of equity and love in action.
This is a fast for accountability. A fast for justice. A fast for a future where corporations do not bow to pressure at the expense of marginalized communities. As we journey through these 40 days, let us pray, reflect, and act—knowing that our collective sacrifice can bring about transformation.
The company has already faced backlash for its rollback of DEI policies, reporting lower than normal earnings totals since making the announcement. The effort from Bryant and the other organizing bodies could extend toward other entities and will assess data collected during the fast, which will end on April 17.
Participants are asked to use the Voter Wallet tool to find Black businesses to support in place of any retailers named in the economic fast.
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Photo: Anadolu / Getty
Tate McRae’s ‘So Close To What’ leads at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 this week, and we’re breaking down all of the Canadian women who have gotten to No. 1 with their albums. Which album is your favorite from a Canadian woman? Let us know in the comments below! Tate McRae: This is my […]
King Charles is taking on a new role in addition to monarch of the United Kingdom: DJ.
As announced Thursday (March 6), the British ruler is set to premiere a new radio show on Apple Music titled The King’s Music Room. Recorded in his personal office at Buckingham Palace, the show will showcase Charles’ favorite artists, from “1930s crooners to Afrobeats stars as well as disco divas and reggae icons,” according to a description.
In a trailer released Thursday, Charles personally introduces the show while seated behind his desk. “Throughout my life, music has meant a great deal to me,” he says. “It has that remarkable ability to bring happy memories, comfort us in times of sadness and take us to distant places. But perhaps, above all, it can lift our spirits to such a degree, and all the more so when it brings us together in celebration.
“In other words, it brings us joy,” the king continues. “This is what I particularly wanted to share with you: songs which have brought me joy. This seemed such an interesting and innovative way to celebrate this year’s Commonwealth Day.”
A press release adds that Charles’ show will be “shaped by his extraordinary experiences from around the world” and find the monarch sharing personal stories about the artists he features. Bob Marley, Kylie Minogue, Grace Jones, Davido and RAYE make up just a few of the musicians he’ll highlight.
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“Human curation has always been a key pillar of our unique editorial approach,” said Rachel Newman, Apple Music’s global head of content and editorial, in a statement. “Apple Music Radio is where culture is happening worldwide, and we are honored that King Charles III chose to share his personal playlist with us, and with music fans around the world.”
The King’s Music Room will premiere on Apple Music 1 and Apple Music Hits at 6 a.m. GMT on Monday (March 10), with additional broadcasts throughout the day and Tuesday (March 11).
Watch the trailer below.
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Fresh off his 2024 “Quittin’ Time” tour, country star Zach Bryan is hitting the road for a string of big dates this summer.
Bryan is only playing a handful of shows in the U.S. in 2025, but the “I Remember Everything” singer is making it count, with one of them being the inaugural concert at the University of Michigan’s recently-built Michigan Stadium. Bryan will also perform at Notre-Dame Stadium, with comedian Shane Gillis and Irish singer-songwriter Dermot Kennedy tapped as openers, and play a string of dates with Kings of Leon. First though, the Grammy winner is kicking off his summer by appearing at Stagecoach, where he’s booked in as a headliner.
Tickets to Bryan’s shows initially went on sale through Ticketmaster, but many of the dates have either sold out or are close to selling out. Your best bet to find Zach Bryan tickets online is through a third-party site, all of which guarantee authentic tickets in time for your event. We also like that tickets are all delivered digitally, so you can get them sent instantly to your phone or email (with no awkward in-person hand-offs necessary). Prices may be also be above or below face value.
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Where to Find Zach Bryan 2025 Tickets Online
Looking for cheap Zach Bryan seats? Here’s where to find tickets still available and on sale online.
TOP PICK
Find Zach Bryan Tickets at Stubhub
Stubhub has Zach Bryan tickets available for Stagecoach, his U.S. dates and his June shows at Hyde Park in the UK. Stubhub’s Fan Protect Guarantee ensures valid tickets or your money back. And if your event is canceled and not rescheduled, you’ll receive 120% in credit or be given the option of a full refund.
EARN REWARDS
Find Zach Bryan Tickets at Vivid Seats
You can also find Zach Bryan tickets online at Vivid Seats, which lets you search by price, location and “Super Sellers,” which denotes reputable sellers with the best deals on tickets. Vivid Seats is also great for group tickets: the site has a rewards program that gives you your eleventh ticket free (in the form of a credit) after you buy ten tickets online. A bonus: use our exclusive promo code BB30 to take $30 off your purchase at VividSeats.com.
BEST PRICES
Find Zach Bryan Tickets at SeatGeek
The lowest prices we’re seeing for Zach Bryan tickets (as of this writing) is at SeatGeek, which has stubs from $112 and up. Use our discount code BILLBOARD10 to save an additional $10 at check out.
PROMO CODES
Find Zach Bryan Tickets on TicketNetwork
TicketNetwork has tickets to Bryan’s shows in New Jersey, San Francisco, Notre Dame and Ann Arbor, with all-in pricing that lets you see exactly what you’ll pay up front (fees included). For a limited time, you can use our exclusive code BILLBOARD150 to save $150 off $500 or BILLBOARD300 to save $300 off orders of $1000 and up.
Bryan’s tour is expected to include all his hit singles and songs from his 2024 album, The Great American Bar Scene, which debuted at number two on the Billboard 200. The country star has teased new music and a possible new album later this year.
Zach Bryan Tour Dates 2025
April 25 – Indio, CA (Stagecoach)
June 20 – Dublin, Ireland
June 21 – Dublin, Ireland
June 22 – Dublin, Ireland
June 28 – London, England (BST Hyde Park)
June 29 – London, England (BST Hyde Park)
July 18 – East Rutherford, NJ
July 19 – East Rutherford, NJ
July 20 – East Rutherford, NJ
August 15 – San Francisco, CA
September 6 – Notre Dame, IN
September 27 – Ann Arbor, MI
Charli XCX created a clubland dream world with her Brat revolution, and now it seems she may be stepping further into the realm of fantasy. As first reported by Deadline, the pop star is being considered for a role in Greta Gerwig’s upcoming Narnia film, which the revered director is creating for Netflix. Deadline reports […]
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The UFC returns back home to “The Entertainment Capital of the World” for UFC 313. Two premier fighters face off against each other as the main event. Brazilian fighter Alex “Stone Hands” Pereira (12-2-0) defends his UFC Light Heavyweight Championship belt against Russian Magomed “Alibulatovich” Ankalaev (20-1-1) in a title fight rematch on Saturday (March 8).
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UFC 313: Pereira vs. Ankalaev takes place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, with a start time of 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT. The main card is expected to begin at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
Want to watch UFC 313 online? This event is streaming on ESPN+ with pay-per-view access, which goes for $79.99 for subscribers only.
If you’re not a subscriber, you can get PPV access and an ESPN+ monthly subscription — which is $11.99 per month — for $91.98 in total, or pick up an ESPN+ annual subscription for $134.98. The annual subscription bundle is the best deal because it saves you more than 30% overall instead of going month-to-month.
Subscribers to ESPN+ and Disney+ can livestream the early prelim and prelim portions of UFC 313 for free. In fact, the prelims card airs on the cable networks ESPNEWS, so it’s streamable on Fubo, as well as Hulu + Live TV — which comes with Hulu, ESPN+ and Disney+.
In addition, you can get the Disney Trio — which comes with ESPN+, Hulu and Disney+ — starting as low as $16.99 per month.
What Is Pereira and Ankalaev’s Walkout Music for UFC 313
Although the UFC has yet to announce each fighter’s walkout music for UFC 313, the pair usually go out to the octagon to the same songs during their matches. Alex Pereira walks out to “Itsári” by Sepultura, while Magomed Ankalaev prefers to walk out to the Russian song, “My Nanak (Мой Нанак)” by Tamila Sagaipova.
Check out the full UFC 313 fight card below, and PPV livestream here.
Main Card, 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT
Alex Pereira (Champion) vs. Magomed Ankalaev (Light Heavyweight) — Title Fight, Main Event
Justin Gaethje vs. Rafael Fiziev (Lightweight)
Jalin Turner vs. Ignacio Bahamondes (Lightweight)
Amanda Lemos vs. Iasmin Lucindo (Women’s Strawweight)
King Green vs. Maurício Ruffy (Lightweight)
Prelims Card, 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT
Curtis Blaydes vs. Rizvan Kuniev (Heavyweight)
Joshua Van vs. Rei Tsuruya (Flyweight)
Brunno Ferreira vs. Armen Petrosyan (Middleweight)
Alex Morono vs. Carlos Leal (Welterweight)
Early Prelims Card, 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT
Mairon Santos vs. Francis Marshall (Featherweight)
Chris Gutiérrez vs. John Castañeda (Featherweight)
Djorden Ribeiro dos Santos vs. Osman Diaz (Middleweight)
UFC 313: Pereira vs. Ankalaev is streamable on ESPN+ with PPV on Saturday, March 8, starting at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT, with the main card beginning at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
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