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Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” holds on to No. 1 for a second week on the TikTok Billboard Top 50, and others make their way into the top 10. Keep watching to see who else made the top 10 this week! Tetris Kelly:Kendrick Lamar continues to dominate the top 10, but a couple of new […]
Amazon has partnered with AI music company Suno for a new integration with its voice assistant Alexa, allowing users to generate AI songs on command using voice prompts. This is part of a much larger rollout of new features for a “next generation” Alexa, dubbed Alexa+, powered by AI technology.
“Using Alexa’s integration with Suno, you can turn simple, creative requests into complete songs, including vocals, lyrics, and instrumentation. Looking to delight your partner with a personalized song for their birthday based on their love of cats, or surprise your kid by creating a rap using their favorite cartoon characters? Alexa+ has you covered,” says an Amazon blog post, posted Wednesday (Feb. 26).
Other new Alexa+ features include new voice filters, image generation, smart home operation, Uber booking and more. It also includes an integration with Ticketmaster to “find you the best tickets to an upcoming basketball game or to the concert you’ve been dying to go to,” according to the blog post.
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Suno is known to be one of the most powerful AI music models on the market, able to generate realistic lyrics, vocals and instrumentals at the click of a button. However, the company has come under scrutiny by the music business establishment for its training practices. Spearheaded by the RIAA, Universal Music Group, Sony Music and Warner Music Group came together last summer to sue Suno and its rival Udio, accusing the AI music company of copyright infringement “on an almost unimaginable scale.” At the time, neither AI company had admitted to training on copyrighted material.
In a later filing, Suno admitted that “it is no secret that the tens of millions of recordings that Suno’s model was trained on presumably included recordings whose rights are owned by the Plaintiffs in this case.” Its CEO, Mikey Shulman, added in a blog post that same day, “We see this as early but promising progress. Major record labels see this vision as a threat to their business. Each and every time there’s been innovation in music… the record labels have attempted to limit progress,” adding that Suno felt the lawsuit was “fundamentally flawed” and that “learning is not infringing.”
More recently, German collection society GEMA also took legal action against Suno in a case filed Jan. 21 in Munich Regional Court.
Still, a couple of music makers have sided with Suno. In October, Timbaland was announced as a strategic advisor for the AI music company, assisting in “creative direction” and “day-to-day product development.” Electronic artist and entrepreneur 3LAU has also been named as an advisor to the company.
News of Amazon’s deal with Suno comes just months after its streaming service, Amazon Music, was commended by the National Music Publishers’ Association for finding a way to add audiobooks to its “Unlimited” subscription tier in the U.S. without “decreas[ing] revenue for songwriters” — a contrast to Spotify, which decreased payments to U.S. publishers by about 40% when it added audiobooks to its premium tier.
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Source: Chip Somodevilla / Getty / Jeff Bezos
Jeff Bezos continues to find ways to capitulate to Donald Trump, out of fear Orange Mussolini won’t bully him.
Freedom of the press was under attack during the first Trump presidency. Now, for the unfortunate second term, Jeff Bezos, who owns the Washington Post, is helping silence voices that may offer dissenting views against Felon 47.
Spotted on Variety, Bezos announced he is making more changes to the Washington Post, revamping the opinion section. He claims it will now focus on “support and defense of two pillars: personal liberties and free markets.”
Whatever that means.
According to a ridiculously long post the billionaire shared on his personal X account, he offered David Shipley, the now former Washington Post editorial opinion page editor, “the opportunity to lead this new chapter. I suggested to him that if the answer wasn’t ‘hell yes,’ then it had to be ‘no.”
Bezos continued, “After careful consideration, David decided to step away.” As such, “We’ll be searching for a new Opinion Editor to own this new direction.”
The Blue Origin founder who purchased the Washington Post in 2013 added that the opinion section will still “cover other topics too of course, but viewpoints opposing those pillars will be left to be published by others.”
Shipley acknowledged his time with the Washington Post had ended in an email sent to his now former colleagues obtained by the New York Times.
“It is with both sadness and gratitude that I write to let you know that I have decided to leave The Post. This is a conclusion I reached after reflection on how I can best move forward in the profession I love,” Shipley said.
Social Media Is Not Feeling The Decision
As expected, Bezos’ decision is not sitting well with folks. Jeff Stein, the Post’s chief economics reporter, slammed Bezos’ move in a post on X: “Massive encroachment by Jeff Bezos into The Washington Post’s opinion section today — makes clear dissenting views will not be published or tolerated there. I still have not felt encroachment on my journalism on the news side of coverage, but if Bezos tries interfering with the news side I will be quitting immediately and letting you know.”
Another post on X read, “Who do you think you are, Jeff? The American people–workers, consumers, and everyday citizens–are the reason you became a billionaire. And now, instead of using your platform to support a fair and balanced discourse, you’re turning The Washington Post into a mouthpiece for policies that make the rich even richer while undermining workers’ rights, economic fairness, and government protections that keep corporate greed in check.”
Welp.
Jeff Bezos deserves all the smoke since he wants to kiss Trump’s ring.
You can see more reactions in the gallery below.
Kim Kardashian is healing through her relationship with her 11-year-old daughter North following her divorce from Kanye West.
In the newest episode of Hulu’s The Kardashians on Thursday (Feb. 27), Kim reveals a positive development to her sister, Kourtney Kardashian Barker. “The craziest thing happened. Tell me if this happened with Mason,” Kim says, referring to Kourtney’s 15-year-old son. “North is like obsessed with me now. And calls me with her friends like, ‘Mom I love you, you’re the best mom. I love you so much.’”
“Do you think you’ve changed?” Kourtney asks Kim, and the SKIMS founder replies, “I mean possibly. It was a year of like mad at me.”
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“Well also you guys were getting a divorce,” Kourtney notes, and Kim agrees. “I think it was all the divorce. It’s insane the turnaround,” she says.
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Kardashian filed for divorce from West in February 2021 after six years of marriage. Both sides initially said that the split would be amicable, but the relationship between the two superstars has turned increasingly tense in the two years since.
Ye has also been especially controversial. Back in October 2022, Ye fired off a series of antisemitic rants, including the “Death Con 3” tweet, which led to companies such as Adidas, Def Jam, Balenciaga, Gap and more cutting ties with the rapper.
Earlier this year, the rapper went on a hate-filled X spree, in which he once again praised Nazis and Adolf Hitler, while insulting the LGBTQ community and people with disabilities with phrases such as “f–k ret-rds.”
“After further reflection I’ve come to the realization that I’m not a Nazi,” he later wrote, backtracking on his highly criticized comments.
Kardashian has previously opened up about navigating the divorce with her four children — in addition to North, she also shares Saint, Chicago and Psalm with Ye. “Ultimately, what matters is that kids feel loved and heard,” she said in a GQ cover feature. “You want to be sensitive because they’re just kids, and it’s hard to go through no matter what age. You have to make sure that you only go to a level that they can understand. It’s okay to show a vulnerable side. You never go to a negative side.”
“Just because I know how to manage my stress well doesn’t mean that I don’t feel the emotions. If I’m sad, of course I will cry and feel it,” she added.
Ray J regrets his infamous rant aimed at Fabolous from 2011 when he called into The Breakfast Club and threatened the Brooklyn rapper after Fab made fun of Ray J playing his song “One Wish” on the piano for Floyd Mayweather on an episode of HBO Sports docuseries 24/7. Explore See latest videos, charts and […]
While known mostly for her numerous and diverse acting roles, Michelle Trachtenberg also made a notable impact on Billboard’s music charts.
As reported Wednesday (Feb. 26), Trachtenberg passed away at age 39.
The New York native broke through with, among other early roles, her starring turn in the film Harriet the Spy in 1996, released when she was just 10. By then, she had also made multiple appearances on ABC’s All My Children — working with Sarah Michelle Gellar. That connection led to Trachtenberg joining Gellar on Buffy the Vampire Slayer from 2000 through its 2003 finale. (A reboot is currently in the works.)
When the series shifted from the WB to UPN for its sixth season, fans were treated to one of its most innovative episodes: the musical Once More With Feeling. Most prominently for Trachtenberg, whose ballet talents were showcased that week, she opens the episode’s coda, “Where Do We Go From Here?,” singing the opening title line a cappella.
The 23-song Once More With Feeling soundtrack was subsequently released (on Mutant Enemy/Twentieth Century Fox/Rounder Records). Mirroring the show’s trademark witty dialog (one lyric features singing-averse Alyson Hannigan admitting, “I think this line’s mostly filler”), the set slayed Billboard’s charts, most notably debuting at its No. 3 best on the Soundtracks chart — a year after the episode aired. It also hit the Billboard 200 and Independent Albums charts.
To date, the album has drawn 23.6 million streams in the U.S., according to Luminate.
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In 2016, upon the 15th anniversary of Once More With Feeling’s premiere, the series’ Anthony Head — aka Buffy’s slayer sage, Giles — mused about the idea to give the cast something to sing about. “I’d done Chess, Godspell and Rocky Horror before I joined Buffy, and, on the pilot, [creator Joss Whedon], Sarah Michelle and I were waiting in the back of the library set and [Whedon] said he had a huge fondness for musicals,” Head recalled to Billboard at the time. “We said then, ‘If the show ever gets picked up, wouldn’t it be fun to do a musical episode?’ Pretty much every season, for three or four seasons, I said, ‘Are we going to do the musical episode this year?!’”
Head said that Whedon wanted to wait until it felt “organic,” and by the sixth season, after the cast’s vocal chops had been discovered and honed through singalongs at Whedon’s house, and the show’s storylines had been furthered, the timing seemed right. Before the season, Head received a demo of songs from Whedon, who realized at last, per Head, “’We’ve got a musical!’
“It was just remarkable,” Head marveled. “Even in that home-demo stage … the melodies were so strong. It was a great, eclectic compilation of songs. From that moment on, I was like, ‘What can I do? What can I do?!’”
Ahead of Sebastián Yatra’s performance at Viña del Mar, the singer sits down with Billboard to share the inspiration behind his upcoming single, “La Pelirroja,” reveals a new album is coming this year, his friendship with Carlos Vives, performing on Broadway and more! Leila Cobo:Hi, Sebas. Sebastián Yatra:Hi, Leila. How are you? It’s been many […]
PARTYNEXTDOOR has walked back his Tory Lanez diss.
PND previewed a snippet on his Instagram Live of a song on Wednesday (Feb. 26), where he’s throwing shot at fellow Toronto artist Tory Lanez. “I’m not y’all n—as friend. What are you talkin’ about bro? Stop saying my name,” he could be heard saying before playing the track.
“F—k what Tory Lanez say, he knows the B, I’m runnin’ it,” Party says in his signature flow. “I did everything he did he’s just a running man … drama man … I’m the daddy let me slap you OK.”
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He later sings about Tory sounding like him and seems to refer to his guilty verdict in the Megan Thee Stallion case: “You said I sound like Young Thug, you know you sound like me,” he says. “Life is short, the lawyer’s cheap/ The people that love me, they love me/ Would’ve been back in the streets by Monday.”
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However, a few hours later, Party admitted that recording and teasing the song was a mistake. “I was told about what you said without hearing your video for myself,” he wrote in his Instagram Story. “You didn’t say anything that I wouldn’t say myself, now that I seen it I was wrong. City is stronger together.”
The video he’s referring to is the one that was posted to Tory Lanez’s Instagram on Feb. 19, where the currently incarcerated artist mentioned in a phone call from behind bars that Party, Drake, and The Weeknd‘s latest efforts have inspired him to record an album this year. “PARTYNEXTDOOR showed his best work of 2025, Drake showed his best work of 2025,” Lanez said. “The Weeknd showed his best work of 2025, now it’s time for me to come out.”
Many fans were confused by Party’s shots because Drake has shown support for Lanez a few times, most recently calling for his freedom during a Christmas giveaway on a stream with Adin Ross.
Tate McRae has ticked a lot of career dreams off her vision board over the past few years. But that doesn’t mean the “Sports Car” singer is done searching for new challenges. In an interview with Pride about her deep connection to her LGBTQ+ day one fans and the star’s upcoming Miss Possessive tour in support of her So Close to What album, McRae didn’t hesitate when asked which one of her idols she’d like to hit the studio with.
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“My dream is to write with SZA. She’s one of the coolest and best writers ever,” McRae said of the “Luther” star who is gearing to to hit the road with her Super Bowl LIX halftime show compatriot Kendrick Lamar in April. “I love her. I think it’d be a mix of pop and R&B. I’d let her take the charge! I just want to always keep pushing my comfort zone. I never want to recycle and do the same things. As an artist, I want to be uncomfortable and shock myself sometimes.”
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While she’s manifesting things, the goal-driven McRae also said she “would die” to perform at the MTV VMAs. “That’s something I’ve watched all my idols do for so many years,” she said of the show that has been a launching pad and showcase for some of her obvious influences in the past, from Madonna to Britney Spears. “From some reason, that specific performances is something I’ve always wanted.”
She also had to give it up for her day-one queer fans, saying that they are her absolute “favorite. No one beats them. Nobody is better than them. My whole team is gay! That’s the only opinion I really want when I’m releasing music. I feel lucky that I have their opinion. We want to do the most and push the boundaries, but it’s also the most brutally honest advice.”
As an example, the 21-year-old noted her 2023 performance at the G-A-Y & Heaven Nightclub in London, which she called one of her all-time high points. “I ditched the mic and just started dancing,” she said. “There was only like 150 people in the room and it was some of the craziest, loudest energy I’ve ever felt. I just wanted to whip my hair, do a kick, and leave! That’s all I wanted to do.”
In a final shout-out to the audience that has always had her back, McRae added, “I love you guys so much. Y’all are my number ones. You know that as much as you guys ride for me, I ride for you. I feel very grateful to have you guys in my life and surrounding me.”
As she awaits the March 18 kick-off of her tour in Mexico City’s Pepsi Center WTC, McRae will appear as the musical guest on Saturday Night Live this weekend alongside host comedian Shane Gillis.
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Hot 107.9’s Birthday Bash has seen its fair share of memorable moments, from surprise guests to on-stage shenanigans. We have pretty much seen it all over the past 29 shows, and yet, each year becomes hotter than the last!
We take a look back at 20 of the biggest moments in Birthday Bash history! Consider it a warm-up for this year’s Birthday Bash!
Scroll Down and Tune In FRIDAY @ 5 pm For A MAJOR BIRTHDAY BASH ANNOUNCEMENT!
20 Memorable “Birthday Bash” Moments
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1. Latto Brings Out Usher For Birthday Bash
2. NLE Choppa & Sexyy Red Get Frisky On Stage
3. Megan Thee Stallion Performs “Realer”
4. Lil Baby Brings Out Lil Durk
5. 21 Savage Brings Out Latto & Cardi B
6. Lil Baby & His Son Having a Ball
7. Migos Hits The Birthday Bash Stage For The Last Time
8. Gucci Mane Brings Out Rick Ross
9. Fabo From D4L Performs “Laffy Taffy”
10. BeatKing’s Final Birthday Bash Performance
11. Gloss Up Shares The Stage With Her Son
12. DaBaby Hops In The Crowd & Turns Up
13. 21 Savage & J Cole Light Up The Stage
14. Ludacris & Mystikal On Stage
15. Killer Mike Awarded The Inaugural Rico Wade Game Changer Award
16. T.I. Shouts Out Young Thug
17. Pastor Troy Performs “No Mo Play in GA”
18. Latto Gets Freaky On The Mic
19. Yung Miami Twerks On Stage
20. Gucci Mane Brings Out Lil Wayne