State Champ Radio News
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Buoyed by news that The Wizard of Oz surpassed 1 million tickets sold and $130 million in sales since its Aug. 28 debut, Sphere Entertainment Co. shares rose 14.5% to a new all-time high closing price of $67.24. The film has helped send Sphere Entertainment’s stock price into a new stratosphere. Shares of the Las Vegas venue’s parent company are up 58.4% year to date and have gained 56.4% since Sphere debuted its revamped version of the classic film.
While some music stocks had big gains this week, the 19-company Billboard Global Music Index (BGMI) fell 1.4% to 2,845.60, marking its fifth consecutive losing week. Three music companies had stock gains over 10%, but they are relatively small compared to the index’s largest companies, Spotify and Live Nation, both of which lost ground this week. Foreign exchange rates also played a role in the BGMI’s poor performance despite numerous music stocks posting gains. In the last week, the euro fell about 0.3% against the U.S. dollar while the Korean won lost approximately 1.2%.
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Spotify had the week’s biggest loss after falling 3.8% to $645.78, bringing its five-week decline to 12.1%. Numerous analysts expect the company to raise U.S. subscription prices by early 2026, which would provide further margin improvement and help deliver streaming royalty growth to rights holders. Investors appear not to be taking a possible price increase into account yet, though. The Stockholm-based streaming company will announce third-quarter earnings on Nov. 4.
Live Nation shares slipped 1.5% to $152.86. Although the stock is up 18.0% in 2025, it has fallen 12.0% over the last six weeks. On Wednesday (Oct. 22), Deutsche Bank lowered its price target to $173 from $175. Then on Thursday (Oct. 23), Citi lowered its price target to $181 from $195.
LiveOne rose 23.3% to $5.55. The music streaming company announced on Monday (Oct. 20) that it plans to launch a subsidiary in Africa, LiveOneAfrica, in partnership with Virtuosity Music Group. “Through this partnership, we’ll connect LiveOne’s technology and artist ecosystem with one of the most vibrant creative markets in the world,” CEO Robert Ellin said in a statement.
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Anghami rose 0.4% to $2.85. On Wednesday (Oct. 22), the company announced it will issue 2.38 million shares of common stock to satisfy the convertible debt held by OSN Streaming Limited. Anghami’s share price fell 5% following the news but recovered on Thursday and Friday.
K-pop stocks were in the black this week. HYBE jumped 6.9%, JYP Entertainment rose 6.1% and SM Entertainment increased 1.5%. YG Entertainment rose just 0.6%.
Inflation data announced Friday showed a modest increase to 3%, leading to a jump in stock prices as investors anticipated a pending interest rate cut by the U.S. Federal Reserve. The economy hasn’t fallen apart despite reports of growing auto reposessions and a never-fail sign of tightening budgets: a surge in sales of Hamburger Helper.
In the U.S., the Nasdaq composite index rose 2.3% to 23,204.87 and the S&P 500 improved 1.9% to 6,791.69 — both record highs. The U.K.’s FTSE 100 gained 3.1% to 9,645.62. South Korea’s KOSPI composite index soared 5.1% to 3,941.59 and hit an all-time high on Friday. China’s Shanghai Composite Index rose 2.9% to 3,950.31.
Trending on Billboard Cardi B is using some discretion when it comes with her ongoing beef with fellow rapper BIA. During a recent X Spaces, the Bronx rapper told fans listening in that she has no intentions of dissing BIA’s album sales as she was in the middle of a rant about bullies. “I don’t […]
Trending on Billboard Justin Bieber showed Odeal nothing but love and respect when the Nigerian-British star visited L.A. last week for his sold-out show at The Roxy. Both artists were seen casually hanging out in the video from Odeal’s The Shows That Saved Me tour vlog series posted Friday (Oct. 24) on YouTube, where Odeal […]
Trending on Billboard Hailey Bieber is setting the record straight regarding a rumor she’s heard about herself and Justin Bieber — and she says there’s “no world” in which it would be true. While guesting on the In Your Dreams With Owen Thiele podcast posted Friday (Oct. 24), the Rhode founder didn’t have to think […]
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Shaquille O’Neal isn’t happy with players and coaches involved in the gambling scandal.
News broke yesterday (Oct. 23rd) that Chauncey Billups, Damon Jones, and Terry Rozier were arrested for allegedly participating in sports gambling. It could have also opened the door to rigged schemes that alter stats and even affect who wins or loses.
During an episode of “Inside The NBA”, Shaq let the alleged gambling participants have it, “There’s an old saying in the hood, all money ain’t good money. So if you’re making $9 million and you’re dealing a certain thing, like how much more do you need? Especially if you know you can get caught, you can do jail time. Lose your career, put a bad image on yourself or your family. Or on the NBA”
The NBA legend also kept it 100 and admitted he’s not perfect himself but expected more from his friends actively in the league. Also adding the embarrassment that all of their families may feel, “I’m ashamed that those guys would put their families and their careers in jeopardy.”
On the other hand, Gilbert Arenas went on full troll mode, hearing the news about some of the players taken to custody for gambling. Posting a photo online with a brown paper bag with “Informant Lunch” written on it.
Since the news, Chauncey Billups was released on bail. More news to come as the story develops.
Trending on Billboard As Outkast’s “Ms. Jackson” celebrates its 25th anniversary on Friday (Oct. 24), Erykah Badu revealed her doubts about being the muse behind the Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit. Explore See latest videos, charts and news Badu joined Popcast for an interview earlier this week, where she discussed being the subject of […]
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Taylor Swift is breaking multiple Billboard chart records in Canada.
As with many of the artist’s recent releases, Swift’s new album, The Life of a Showgirl, has been a blockbuster success since its release on Oct. 3.
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According to new data from Universal Music Canada, Luminate and Billboard Canada chart performance, in its first week of charting, Showgirl was the biggest album debut in the country for Swift in the modern streaming era — or for any artist.
The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Canadian Albums chart, her 15th No. 1 on the chart. With this milestone, Swift is now tied with Canadian icon Celine Dion for the most No. 1 albums of all time in the country and is the only non-Canadian artist to reach that mark.
Swift’s last album, 2024’s The Tortured Poets Department, stayed at No. 1 for 12 weeks. Showgirl’s win continues Swift’s streak of 14 consecutive studio albums debuting at No. 1, beginning with 2008’s Fearless and including the four “Taylor’s Version” re-recordings: Red, 1989, Fearless and Speak Now.
Showgirl has now cemented Swift as the sole artist with all top 5 of the highest album debuts in Canada in the streaming era (since streams began contributing to Billboard chart performance in the early 2010s).
On last week’s Billboard Canadian Hot 100, the week of Oct. 18, the top 12 entries were all of the album’s 12 tracks. The album’s lead single, “The Fate of Ophelia,” hit No. 1 and has become the most-streamed song in a single day and a single week in Canadian history.
The Life of a Showgirl reportedly amassed over 1.5 billion global streams, securing the largest debut of 2025.
This isn’t the first time Swift has broken records in Canada — last year’s The Tortured Poets Department and her Post Malone-featuring single “Fortnight” earned similar chart records. At this point, Swift is competing with herself.
Read more here.
Samantha O’Connor Joins MRG Live as Senior Talent Buyer, Will Continue to Lead RAPSEASON
Samantha O’Connor has been appointed as MRG Live’s senior talent buyer.
The music industry executive will continue to lead RAPSEASON, Canada’s biggest hip-hop concert and culture promoter.
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O’Connor previously led the brand in her last role as talent buyer at INK Entertainment. In her new role at MRG, she will continue to grow the RAPSEASON brand and promote shows across the country.
Founded in 2015, RAPSEASON has presented concerts with a-list artists including Future, Central Cee, Cardi B, Post Malone, Summer Walker and Daniel Caesar, to name just a small sample. Now, RAPSEASON moves from INK to MRG, one of the country’s largest independent concert and live event companies.
“With the support and resources of MRG Live, I’m excited to continue growing the RAPSEASON brand, not only in Toronto, but nationally and internationally,” says O’Connor. “This next chapter offers an incredible opportunity to expand our reach, connect with new audiences, and spotlight the talent that drives the culture forward.”
Under O’Connor’s leadership, RAPSEASON is set to be introduced to new markets across its network throughout Canada. Currently, The MRG Group owns and operates 14 properties in Canada, including Toronto’s Queen Elizabeth Theatre and Adelaide Hall, Vancouver’s Vogue Theatre and The Revelry in Kelowna, British Columbia, and produces over 1,000 live shows annually through MRG Live. RAPSEASON branded content will also be integrated with the company’s media publication, Beatroute.
“Samantha O’Connor has proven a great astuteness in securing top-tier, identifying emerging talent and continuing to build the RAPSEASON brand,” shares Matt Gibbons, president of The MRG Group. “We are looking forward to both her and the brand’s further growth as they both integrate into our global network, our resources and our overall strategic approach.”
Read more here.
Ms. Lauryn Hill Embarking On Intimate Cross-Canada Tour
Ms. Lauryn Hill is making her return to Canada.
Independent, female-led promoter F7 Live announced the news, sharing the details of Hill’s tour, which kicks off this fall. The legendary American R&B singer and Fugees member is set to perform eight cross-country shows in intimate venues as part of her Artist In Residence tour.
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The tour kicks off in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on Nov. 19 at Burton Cummings Theatre, with further stops in Vancouver, Hamilton, Montreal, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto and Ottawa.
This marks Hill’s return to Canada since 2023, when she performed at Vancouver’s Rogers Arena and Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena on The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill 25th Anniversary Tour. The rest of the North American shows came to a quiet ending after Hill cited vocal issues.
Since then, Hill has performed various pop-up shows, joining son YG Marley at this year’s Coachella, turning it into a Fugees reunion with Wyclef Jean. In July, she performed with Drake during day one of his three-day stint at the U.K. Wireless Music Festival. They debuted a mashup of “Ex Factor” and “Nice For What,” the former of which is sampled on Drake’s 2018 Scorpion track.
These shows will be at more intimate concert hall and theatre venues, including the iconic Massey Hall in Toronto.
Read more here.
Trending on Billboard Volbeat scores a milestone No. 1 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart, jumping two spots to the top of the Nov. 1-dated survey with “Time Will Heal.” Explore See latest videos, charts and news It’s the 12th leader for Volbeat and second in a row, following “By a Monster’s Hand,” which reigned […]
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10 years ago, the late Mac Miller made his major-label debut with GO:OD AM, a frank, melodious rumination on addiction, recovery and fame that reached No. 4 on the Billboard 200. On Friday (Oct. 24), the Grammy-nominated rapper’s estate shared three new songs to celebrate the LP’s landmark 10th anniversary.
Led by the Vinny Radio-assisted “Royal Flush,” the expanded 10th anniversary edition of GO:OD AM also includes new cuts titled “Cable Box” and “Carpe Diem.” All three songs are sourced from the original GO:OD AM recording sessions, which at the time, resulted in a 17-track set featuring Miguel, Chief Keef, Lil B, Little Dragon, and Ab-Soul. “100 Grandkids” served as the album’s lead single, reaching No. 100 on the Hot 100, and the Miguel-assisted “Weekend” followed with a No. 46 peak on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.
To accompany the new songs, Miller’s estate also teamed up with artist Danaé Goset for a series of visualizers, including one for “Rush Hour,” a deep cut from the original GO:OD AM tracklist. Gosset has long been a close collaborator of the Miller estate, having worked on the Balloonerism visuals and the “Star Room (OG Version)” music video that arrived for the 10th anniversary of Watching Movies with the Sound Off.
GO:OD AM (10th Anniversary) is just the latest in a series of moves to celebrate Miller’s beloved third studio album. Last month (Sept. 18), his estate unveiled GO:OD AM (Time Flies, Try to Catch It), a 15-minute, Sam Balaban-helmed documentary chronicling the making of the record. Available on YouTube, the intimate mini-doc has amassed over 320,000 views in just one month.
It’s been a particularly active year for the Miller estate. At the top of the year (Jan. 15), they unveiled Balloonerism, the Pittsburgh rapper’s second posthumous album, which he recorded around 2014. Featuring collaborations with SZA and Delusional Thomas, his alter ego, Balloonerism reached No. 3 on the Billboard 200, marking Miller’s seventh consecutive studio album to reach the chart’s top five. The accompanying animated short film of the same name, which is currently available to stream on Apple TV+, earned a best longform video nomination at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards.
Check out the “Rush Hour” visualizer below.
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Ariana Grande isn’t going to let haters stop her from being her true, authentic self. While speaking to Evan Ross Katz on his Shut Up Evan podcast posted Friday (Oct. 24), the pop star opened up about how much she dislikes the current culture’s aversion to genuine excitement, which often gets written off as “cringe” or “trying too hard.”
“[Earnestness] scares people so much, and I think that’s really sad,” Grande began. “The whole ‘cringe,’ whatever, is just so unfair. Maybe it’s because of, like, PTSD or whatever, but I love so much. I’m so grateful to feel so much.”
“We should be able to be happy and it not be corny or cringe … being passionate about something, loving people,” she continued. “That’s the best. Why do you want me to be sitting here numb? Been there.”
Grande also cited last year’s Wicked press tour — which spawned viral moments such as the “holding space” meme — as a time where hers and costar Cynthia Erivo’s emotional reactions to things were especially mistaken for inauthenticity. “There are so many clips that you would understand if you were there,” she told Katz. “I loved that experience. We had a really beautiful time.”
Speaking of the Wicked press tour, which seemingly lasted for months with countless headline-making interviews, premieres and fan events, Grande said that the promotional cycle for Wicked: For Good has been more low-key for a variety of reasons — the main one being that the R.E.M. Beauty founder is busy filming 2026’s Focker In-Law alongside Skyler Gisondo, Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro.
“With this second one, we’ve been filming,” she explained. “I’m wrapping Fockers on Halloween and flying straight into Brazil, we’re starting the [Wicked] press tour three days later. It’s not necessarily a strategy as much as it’s logistically been a little difficult.”
“But there’s also, there’s a little element of we wanted to make it different this time,” she added. “The first time was so special and so unique that we wanted to make it more about the fans this time.”
The main way Grande says she and the rest of the Wicked team are planning on reaching fans this time around is through a concert special premiering in early November on NBC.
The interview comes with just one month left until Wicked: For Good arrives in theaters and ties a bow on the epic Wicked saga that kicked off last year. The first film in the duology broke box office records by becoming the highest grossing adaptation of a Broadway musical, while the soundtrack debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200.
Elsewhere in the podcast, Grande spoke about getting advice from Madonna and Beyoncé early on in her career, as well as why she thought she’d never release another album after 2020’s Positions.
Watch Grande’s full conversation with Katz above.
