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With Clint Bentley’s new film focusing on the life of a railroad worker laboring at the heart of the United States’ industrial revolution, the director needed a composer who understood the complexity of Americana — so he tapped Bryce Dessner.
The National guitarist is, at this point, an expert in soundtracking the American experience throughout historical periods, with his résumé including The Revenant and Manhunt. That’s why he was the perfect person to craft the score for Bentley’s Train Dreams, which — after earning rave reviews at Sundance and the Toronto International Film Festival — is headed to Netflix on Nov. 7.
And, following the release of the film’s Nick Cave-assisted title track in August, Billboard can exclusively share the first piece of music on the Train Dreams soundtrack. Dropping Thursday (Oct. 23), “Passageways I: Ahead, Trembling” gives fans a taste of the swelling strings and analog techniques — including the use of ribbon microphones from the 1930s and 40s — that Dessner employed while creating the musical world of the project.
Speaking to Billboard about the track, Dessner explains, “‘Passageways’ is one of the main themes of the film and comes back four or five times throughout the film in different moments and iterations.”
“The emotion in this music is lyrical but halting, like an aria that never really fully reaches completion,” he continues. “This idea is mirrored in the minimalism of the film, which is beautifully restrained.”
Featuring performances from members of the Oregon Symphony, “Passageways” is just one piece of the broader sonic landscape that Dessner created with main character Robert Grainger (who is played by Joel Edgerton) in mind. The full soundtrack will drop on the same day as the film
“I wanted to find music that was emotional but not overtly sentimental, like [Robert],” Dessner says of the film’s rugged protagonist.
He also took inspiration from Denis Johnson’s original Train Dreams novella, on which Bentley’s film was based. “There’s also a feeling of light and dark in the film which I tried to access in the music, balancing the heavier more intense moments with moments of levity and lighter sounds,” the two-time Grammy winner adds. “The music for the score exists between American folk music and more orchestral writing.”
Other credits on Dessner’s film scoring résumé include The Two Popes, We Live in Time and Cyrano. In addition to his work as a composer, he is a member of one of indie rock’s most beloved groups, as well as a producer and frequent contributor to twin brother Aaron’s projects (such as Taylor Swift’s Folklore and Evermore, to name a couple of Billboard 200 chart-toppers).
But despite his full plate, Dessner has a passion for scoring for which he has continued to make room — and Americana-focused pieces have a particularly special place in his priority list. “I find the subject matter really inspiring for creating music,” he tells Billboard.
The interview with Dessner comes two weeks after Bentley and company dropped the trailer for Train Dreams, immediately sparking Oscar buzz. The film’s soundtrack will arrive Nov. 7, the same day the movie comes to Netflix.
Along with Edgerton, the project also stars Felicity Jones, Kerry Condon and William H. Macy.
Listen to “Passageways I: Ahead, Trembling” below.
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In a historic panel, Daddy Yankee returned to the 2025 Billboard Latin Music Week for a candid conversation with Billboard’s Leila Cobo for the “Superstar Q&A” panel on Wednesday (Oct. 22).
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During the one-hour-long conversation, the Puerto Rican artist opened up about his personal and professional rebirth; his latest album, Lamento en Baile; as well as God’s purpose with him.
“I feel reborn, reenergized, and truly joyful with everything I’m experiencing,” he told Cobo. “The personal, spiritual, and faith-based change certainly feels good in my heart. Each person has a different purpose and design. Everyone has a purpose to fulfill in their lives, and mine was this path: to forefront popular culture, announcing the Kingdom — that’s a challenge. My father is so strategic that he’s calling many people.”
The Puerto Rican artist also reacted to his uplifting song “Sonríele” reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Latin Airplay chart this week.
“I never imagined it would have the huge impact it has had because music is different now,” he expressed. “Seeing it reach people’s hearts fills me with joy because that purpose is being seen. This song is medicine… it’s celebrating life. That’s the true No. 1.”
And though he “feels reborn with new energies and very happy” with his personal and spiritual change, he admits that it’s still a learning process for him.
“I’m still under construction,” he said. “I’m far from perfect. I’m vulnerable, I have weaknesses, I’m going to make mistakes, but I know my faith is in the Lord, and that he’s in control of that.”
Spanning 36 years, Latin Music Week is the single largest gathering of Latin artists and industry executives in the world. This year’s event — which also features Carín León, Daddy Yankee, Ivy Queen, Gloria Estefan, Kapo, Laura Pausini, Netón Vega, Ozuna, Pablo Alborán, and Xavi, among others — hosts panels, marquee conversations, roundtables, networking and activations, in addition to its celebrated Billboard En Vivo showcases.
Latin Music Week also coincides with the 2025 Billboard Latin Music Awards, set to air Thursday, Oct. 23, on Telemundo and Peacock, where Bad Bunny will be honored as Top Latin Artist of the 21st Century.
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During the third day of activities at 2025 Billboard Latin Music Week, the new stars of regional Mexican music discussed the changes the genre is experiencing as it captures global attention. During the panel “The Future of Regional Mexican Music,” presented by Walmart and moderated by Isabela Raygoza of Billboard Español, five of the talents revolutionizing the genre came together: Xavi, Netón Vega, Estevie, Oscar Maydón and Codiciado.
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Fusions have been one of the main factors driving the shift in sounds for the new generation. Netón Vega — who gained recognition as a composer of corridos tumbados — has experimented with trap and reggaetón, releasing his album Mi Vida Mi Muerte this year, which is nominated for eight Billboard Latin Music Awards. “The lyrics can be about romantic themes, like in my case, but the sounds of a song with charcheta are very different from those of an urban sound. That’s where creativity comes in, knowing how to use the voice and experiment with the rhythms,” explained the artist, who was born in La Paz, Baja California Sur.
Maydon, who rose to fame through his collaborations with Peso Pluma, Natanael Cano, Junior H, and Fuerza Regida, is also part of the corridos tumbados wave. Like his peers, he has had to adapt his music due to restrictions placed on the genre in some Mexican states. “We, as the new generation, grew up listening to things like trap. Before, with singers like Vicente Fernández, everything was different,” he said. “But now we can collaborate with anyone. In corridos, you have to be a bit more careful about how you say things, whereas in reggaetón and urban music, for example, you can be more open.”
The new faces of Mexican music have also grown up in the U.S., though they carry in their veins the heritage of the country in which their parents were born, inheriting those traditions and musical tastes. That is the case for Estevie, who is making waves with her unique style of performing danceable music. “In 2021, I listened to ‘Ay Papasito’ by Alicia Villreal and realized there wasn’t music like that, but with more modern beats, and that’s when I created my first cumbia called ‘Canela,’” she explained about the path she chose for her career.
For his part, Xavi, born in Phoenix and known for revolutionizing social media with his hit “La Diabla,” shared his formula for writing successful songs: “The most important thing is to reflect what comes from the heart; the message you convey through your music is what makes you connect with people,” said the artist, who has caught the attention of major stars like Grupo Frontera and, more recently, Manuel Turizo, for collaborations.
The most experienced participant on the panel, Codiciado — part of the generation that emerged in Tijuana during the pandemic that predates the corridos tumbados movement — shared valuable advice with his peers. “You must always believe in yourself. If you fall, you get back up,” said the artist, who is about to release his first album in three years. “A career is built by being genuine and working hard every day. The most important thing is to find what you can contribute to music and the industry. We can ride the waves and do well, but there’s nothing like stirring the waters.”
With over 30 years of history, Latin Music Week is the most important and largest gathering of Latin artists and industry executives worldwide. The event also coincides with the 2025 Billboard Latin Music Awards, set to air on Thursday (Oct. 23) on Telemundo and Peacock, where Bad Bunny will be honored as Top Latin Artist of the 21st Century.
Trending on Billboard Like Adele, Lorde has leaned into taking time off to live her life out of the spotlight between album releases. And, also like Adele, the “Man of the Year” singer has been fine with long gaps between those releases. But after the usual four-year gap between this Virgin and her previous LP, […]
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KiTbetter, the South Korean company behind the KiTalbum hybrid physical-digital format, is opening a manufacturing facility in Los Angeles to better reach consumers in the U.S. The first KiTalbums produced in the U.S. are expected to reach retail and fans in early 2026.
“As we expand globally, and with growing interest from artists, labels, and retailers across North America and Europe in particular, we’re increasing capacity to support more titles and meet rising international demand,” says Jennifer Sullivan, president, North America and chief marketing officer.
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The KiTalbum is a proprietary format that includes a physical album stored in a jewel case and a small “KiT” device that uses a U-NFC (ultrasonic near-field communication) signal to unlock music, videos, lyrics and album credits on the KiTalbum app for iOS and Android devices. The square-shaped jewel box typically contains printed materials such as stickers and cards.
A relative unknown in the U.S., the KiTalbum format is best known in the company’s home country. Not only are KiTalbum’s original manufacturing facility and offices in Korea, but the company also launched a flagship retail store in the country. Sullivan says that since 2017, KiTbetter has produced 10 million KiTalbums, with K-pop titles being the best-selling.
But now, the company is targeting a wider range of genres and artists in North America and Europe. “We’re seeing strong international demand that continues to drive the need for additional production capacity,” adds Sullivan. Having a facility in Los Angeles will cut down on the turnaround time compared to shipping products from South Korea.
In recent years, KiTbetter has released titles on metal label Earache Records (Napalm Death and Carcass, for example) and Rhino Records (Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill and B-52s’ Cosmic Thing, among others). Rap icons Public Enemy released a KiTalbum version of its latest album, Black Sky Over the Projects: Apartments 2025. Metal greats Megadeth will offer a KiTalbum version of its final album that’s due out in January.
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KiTalbums typically come with exclusive or bonus content. The upcoming reissue of Devo’s 1980 album Freedom of Choice, for example, includes cover versions of the band’s hit song “Whip It” by the bands Teen Mortgage! and Scowl. Stone Temple Pilots’ Purple comes with seven music videos and acoustic sessions for “Big Empty” and “Pretty Penny.”
Independent artists can also create KiTalbums for their releases through the KiTbetter self-service website. Sullivan says prices start around $9 apiece and drop to about $7 per unit for orders of 300 units. Artists can sell their KiTalbums in the KiTbetter shop or through their own online stores. “A lot of artists like to have product on hand at shows,” says Sullivan.
KiTbetter isn’t the first company to attempt to enhance digital content. Yoto sells Yoto Cards, credit card-sized pieces of plastic, that are inserted into a screen-free audio player for children. Weverse, the social media platform owned by K-pop giant HYBE, offers Weverse Albums that include digital photo cards and animated album covers. Going further back in time, record labels embraced enhanced CDs in the 2000s to help combat falling album sales. Enhanced CDs added data to an audio CD and frequently included videos, wallpapers and links to web pages.
While the KiTalbum remains a niche product in the U.S., KiTbetter’s expansion corresponds with the music industry’s increased interest in collectibles and selling physical items to superfans. With streaming dominating music consumption, perhaps the KiTalbum will become an intriguing option for fans who prefer digital music but want a tangible item.
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Following the death of founding KISS guitarist Ace Frehley last Thursday at age 74, the Morris County, New Jersey medical examiner’s office is conducting a series of exams to determine the rocker’s cause of death. According to TMZ, a rep for the examiner’s office said that though an autopsy was not performed on Frehley’s body, the guitarist know for his on-stage Spaceman persona is undergoing a toxicology screening as well as an external body examination to determine how he died; the final cause of death will not be announced until after the toxicology report is completed, which could take several weeks.
At press time a spokesperson for the medical examiner’s office had not returned Billboard‘s request for confirmation on the TMZ report.
Frehley’s family announced his death last week in a statement, writing, “We are completely devastated and heartbroken. In his last moments, we were fortunate enough to have been able to surround him with loving, caring, peaceful words, thoughts, prayers and intentions as he left this earth. We cherish all of his finest memories, his laughter, and celebrate his strengths and kindness that he bestowed upon others. The magnitude of his passing is of epic proportions, and beyond comprehension. Reflecting on all of his incredible life achievements, Ace’s memory will continue to live on forever!”
At the time, TMZ reported that Frehley had been on life support after suffering a brain bleed following a fall at home several weeks earlier. The rock star had canceled a planned performance at the Antelope Valley Fair in Lancaster, California, after suffering what at the time was described as a “minor fall … resulting in a trip to the hospital.” A statement on his Instagram at the time said Frehley was “fine, but against his wishes, his doctor insists that he refrain from travel at this time.”
Less than two weeks later, Frehley’s team announced that he would be canceling all of his remaining appearances for this year “due to some ongoing medical issues.”
Frehley co-founded KISS in 1973 in New York along with singer/guitarist Paul Stanley, basist/singer Gene Simmons and drummer/singer Peter Criss. He remained a core member of the greasepaint rockers’ lineup through 1982 and later returned for the band’s blockbuster reunion tour in 1996, staying on through 2002.
The group known for their elaborate, glittery costumes, character makeup and bombastic rock anthems released some of its most successful albums during Frehley’s tenure, including 1977’s Love Gun and Alive II, both of which charted in the top 10 of the Billboard 200.
“We are devastated by the passing of Ace Frehley,” read a post from the band following Frehley’s death. “He was an essential and irreplaceable rock soldier during some of the most formative foundational chapters of the band and its history. He is and will always be a part of KISS’s legacy. Our thoughts are with Jeanette, Monique and all those who loved him, including our fans around the world.”
KISS will be honored at the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors taping on Dec. 7 — and airing Dec. 23 on CBS — with Frehley becoming be just the third person to receive the honor posthumously.
Trending on Billboard Nora Fatehi brings Billboard behind the scenes as she gets into glam for the All That Glitters Diwali Ball 2025. She shares memories of past Diwali events, details on her new music, a secret collaboration coming and much more. Nora Fatehi: There’s a Diwali bash happening in London, then there’s one in […]
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Justin Bieber has been on our screens for more than half of his life. But starting Wednesday (Oct. 22) the “Daisies” singer promised that we’re about to see even more of him. Bieber made his debut on Twitch yesterday with a stream that included footage of the singer playing basketball, shooting pool with friends and teasing his upcoming Coachella dates.
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The live feed from a giant warehouse space decked out with a mini half-pipe, a recording studio, ping-pong table and lounge area — with a pack-and-play bed for son Jack Blues — included an extended bit where JB put up short jumpers while talking about focusing on his health and “friendships, relationships, the ability to connect with each other,” all cued to Partynextdoor’s “Come and See Me.”
Long stretches of the stream were taken up with Bieber’s crew wandering around the space or just chilling as the singer played DJ and cued up some favorite mellow R&B, including Leon Thomas’ “Yes It Is,” as they played a lengthy game of Horse on the court. At one point, Justin hit a long shot from near the foul line while seated in a chair. The action then moved to a pool table, with Bieber yawning as he prepared to chalk up his cue.
After the game, Bieber took control of the camera and provided the first bit of actual news in the otherwise action-lacked feed with a tease about his April 2026 Coachella headlining gig, the only concerts he’s booked so far following the release of his Swag and Swag II collections and his first full live shows since 2022.
“This is our space for the next few months, so excited,” Bieber said. “I’m gonna be putting on a hell of a show for you guys at Coachella. I can’t wait. So getting ready, getting the gang together, get inspired. So Beautiful.” Speaking directly to camera, Bieber promised that the Twitch stream will be live “pretty muchevery day,” encouraging fans to tune in. “It’s gonna be awesome.”
In addition to the singer hopping on his skateboard and working the half-pipe, the feed also included a section with a shirtless Bieber playing ping pong. While not playing around, Bieber has been busy lately dropping music videos and topping charts, including a visual for “Bad Honey” and a No. 1 spot on the Pop Airplay Chart with “Daisies,” which tied him with Bruno Mars for most leaders among solo males in the chart’s history.
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Fresh off the release of his new single “Changes,” Charlie Puth is ready to be part of the change in protecting the Amazon rainforest by joining the lineup of Global Citizen Festival: Amazônia, taking place next weekend in Brazil, Billboard can exclusively reveal.
Puth will join previously announced performers Anitta, Seu Jorge, Gilberto Gil, Gaby Amarantos, Chris Martin of Coldplay, Eric Terena, Kaê Guajajara and Djuena Tikunal. It’s all going down Saturday, Nov. 1, at Belém’s Estádio Olímpico, also known as Mangueirão, in Pará, Brazil.
“I’m thrilled to be coming to Belém for the first Global Citizen Festival in Latin America,” Puth said in a press release announcing his addition. “As a Global Citizen ambassador, I’m honored to be part of such an important cause for our planet and can’t wait to see you on November 1st.”
Also announced Thursday (Oct. 23): Brazilian singer Vivi Batidão will perform during the festival’s pre-show, and Alane Dias, Ricardinho and Luiza Zveiter have joined the lineup of presenters. The festival will be co-hosted by Regina Casé, Mel Fronckowiak, Hugo Gloss and Isabelle Nogueira, with appearances by Rodrigo Santoro and Estêvão Ciavatta.
Any fans not attending in person can visit globalcitizen.watch to tune in live on Nov. 1 at 6 p.m. ET, and the fest will also broadcast on Globo across Brazil.
The event will focus on amplifying the voices of indigenous peoples and local communities in the Amazon rainforest and aim to raise $1 billion to protect, restore and rewild the Amazon rainforest. Global Citizen Festival: Amazônia will be a zero carbon footprint festival, in alignment with Global Citizen’s campaign to Protect the Amazon rainforest; find the full details of the Protect the Amazon campaign here.
Puth will likely perform some of his newest music at the festival, after announcing his fourth studio album, Whatever’s Clever!, last week and dropping the lead single “Changes” alongside a music video that doubled as a pregnancy announcement for him and his wife Brooke. Puth just wrapped a 16-show residency at Blue Note Jazz Club in New York and Los Angeles, where he also live-debuted “Beat Yourself Up” from the new project, due March 6 via Atlantic Records.
Billboard’s Live Music Summit will be held in Los Angeles on Nov. 3. Find details about tickets and more information here.
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Courtney Barnett is back on our screens and behind the wheel once again with “Stay In Your Lane.”
The celebrated Australian singer and songwriter was the musical guest Wednesday (Oct. 22) on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where she roused night owls with her new single.
“Stay In Your Lane” (via Mom+Pop Music) is a blast of ‘90s-leaning indie rock, and is Barnett’s first new material since the 2023 instrument LP End Of The Day and her first new lyrical piece since the 2021 album Things Take Time, Take Time, which cracked the Billboard 200 chart, debuted in the top 40 on the Official U.K. Chart, and impacted the top 10 in her homeland.
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“Gotta get this off my chest” she chants in the chorus, leading a full band. “This never would’ve happened if I stayed in my lane, stayed the same way.”
Watch Barnett’s late night performance of “Stay In Your Lane” below.
The Grammy Award-nominated Melbourne artist has been quietly revving up her full-scale return to the stage with a string of intimate shows at Levon Helm Studios and in Joshua Tree, and a date booked next month at Odeon Theatre in Hobart, Tasmania.
Barnett emerged in the 2010s as one of Australia’s finest indie exports. Her debut full-length album from 2015, Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit, peaked at No. 4 in Australia, and blasted into the top 20 in the United Kingdom and the United States, and won the Australian Music Prize, awarded to the best Australian album, regardless of critical success; along with a trio of ARIA Awards and a nomination for best international female at the BRIT Awards. Then, her solo follow-up from 2018, Tell Me How You Really Feel, cracked the top 10 in the United Kingdom, led several Billboard charts and peaked at No. 22 on the Billboard 200.
A collaborative project with Kurt Vile, 2017’s Lotta Sea Lice, was another success story, reaching No. 5 in Australia, No. 11 in the U.K., and No. 51 in the U.S.
There’s no word yet on when that next, fourth solo studio album will see the light of day.
