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Following the devastating news of Carl Dean‘s death, Billy Ray Cyrus and his ex-wife, Tish Cyrus, are sending love to their longtime friend, Dolly Parton, who is mourning her husband. Parton announced his passing in a statement posted to Instagram on Monday (March 3), and both Billy Ray and Tish were among the countless celebrities […]
“New York, that’s Jamaica outside of Jamaica!” Vybz Kartel told Billboard in his January cover story. And in March, the Big Apple will be able to prove Worl’ Boss correct. On Monday (March 3), Kartel announced his first U.S. live performance in more than 20 years, set to take place at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, […]
It’s only two days past the 2025 Oscars, so some may think it’s too soon to start thinking about the 2026 Oscars. But it’s not too early to consider that history could be made: Wicked: For Good, the upcoming sequel to Wicked, could become the most nominated film sequel in Oscar history.
If it repeats its 10 nominations from this year and picks up two more, it would set a new record. If it picks one more, it would tie the record, which is currently jointly held by The Godfather Part II, which received 11 nods in 1975, and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, the third installment in that franchise, which received 11 nods in 2004.
Even if Wicked: For Good merely matched Wicked’s tally of 10 nods, it would become one of the most nominated sequels in history. It would tie Mad Max: Fury Road, the fourth installment in that franchise, which received 10 nods in 2015.
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Wicked’s 10 nominations this year were best picture, best actress (Cynthia Erivo), best supporting actress (Ariana Grande), best costume design, best film editing, best makeup and hairstyling, best production design, best original score, best sound and best visual effects.
There are three categories where Wicked: For Good could improve on its performance from this year. Jon M. Chu was passed over for a nod as best director for Wicked. A nomination for Wicked: For Good could serve to acknowledge his work on both films. Jonathan Bailey was passed over for a best supporting actor nod. And according to reports, there will be two new songs in Wicked: For Good, which would both be eligible for best original song consideration. None of the songs in Wicked were new, and thus, were not eligible.
One of the new songs will be for Elphaba, the character played by Erivo; the other will be for Glinda, the character played by Grande. Erivo will be a co-writer on her song, which could be her easiest path to her first Oscar — and EGOT status. Erivo has won a Tony, a Grammy, and a Daytime Emmy, all for The Color Purple and related projects, but has yet to win an Oscar, despite three nods so far.
If Erivo becomes an EGOT at the 2026 Oscars, she will become the youngest woman to EGOT. That title is currently held by Jennifer Hudson, who was 40 years and nine months old in 2022 when she achieved the feat. Erivo will be about 39 years and two months old at the time of the 2026 Oscars; the exact date of the show hasn’t been announced.
But Erivo would not become the youngest EGOT overall, which she would have become if she had won Sunday for best actress. That distinction has long been held by songwriter and librettist Robert Lopez, who was 39 years and one week old in 2014 when he achieved the feat. Songwriter and producer Benj Pasek was 39 years and two months old in 2024 when he joined the exclusive club.
Erivo was nominated for best original song in 2020 for co-writing “Stand Up” from Harriet. She was also nominated for best actress for that film.
Stephen Schwartz, of course, would also make history if a song from Wicked: For Good won an Oscar. Schwartz has won two Oscars for best original song — for “Colors of the Wind” from Pocahontas and “When You Believe” from The Prince of Egypt. A third win would make him one of just 10 songwriters in Oscar history to win three with three songs.
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Meek Mill recently went back and forth with a troll on Twitter after the person called him “a special kind of slow.”
This nigga a special kind of slow https://t.co/86nRAsTm1Q
— Carlton Banks (@Dothat_shi1) March 2, 2025
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The fan’s jab didn’t faze Meek at all. He clapped back hard, saying, “I have millions in my bank account… respected by the streets and the wealthy… with over 30M raised to fight the system with reform… all houses owned from my gmom and mom… and I look out for my community… let’s compare lives right here in front of the world lol.”
This isn’t the first time Meek Milly has been dragged by trolls online. For years, he’s dealt with criticism, whether it was deserved or not. Despite the hate, Meek’s been a solid figure in his Philly community, always giving back whenever he can. He’s one of the few rappers who’s made it a point to show that success ain’t just about the chains and the fame, but about changing lives and making moves for the greater good. Meek’s online clapbacks are more than just defending his name—they’re about flexing the real work he’s done.
The Philly legend has raised millions for criminal justice reform, he’s been putting in work to fight a broken system. Instead of letting the internet hate get to him, he continues to use his platform to elevate his people. Meek’s response shows that he’s about action, not just talk, and no troll can take that away from him.
Femme House, the nonprofit focused on creating equity in the music industry by amplifying voices of women, femme, gender-expansive LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC creators, will host the first ever Femmy Awards during Miami Music Week 2025.
Happening at Palm Tree Club — the waterfront hotel opened by Kygo’s Palm Tree Crew this past December — the March 27 event will honor artists, agents, managers, engineers, allies event brands and other figures across the industry who’ve worked to make the dance scene a more inclusive and representative space.
The Femmys will honor a flurry of groundbreaking artists, including Detroit legend DJ Minx and Chicago dance music royalty DJ Lady D, who will both receive the Pioneer Award for lifetime achievement. This award honors trailblazers who’ve broken barriers, reshaped the dance and electronic music industries and paved the way for femme, non-binary, and LGBTQ+ artists, leaving a lasting impact on music, culture and inclusivity.
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Barbara Tucker and Crystal Waters will be honored with the Voice of House award, which honors the vocalists who have soundtracked the dance music we know and love through generations. Meanwhile Sara Landry will be honored as Producer of the Year, an award that celebrates her singular contributions to electronic music.
Cross-category nominees will be announced in the coming weeks. Billboard is the official media sponsor of the Femmy Awards, which is taking place on March 27 from 1 to 3 p.m. Tickets and tables for the event are available now, with all proceeds from the event benefitting Femme House.
“The Femmy Awards were created to celebrate the artists, executives, and industry leaders who are actively shaping a more inclusive future for dance music,” Femme House Executive Director Emily Bass tells Billboard. “This year felt like the right time to launch because representation in electronic music is at a pivotal moment — there is progress, but there’s still work to do. Honoring legends like DJ Lady D and DJ Minx, who have spent decades breaking down barriers, alongside trailblazers like Sara Landry, who is redefining what it means to be a powerhouse producer today, reflects the impact that diverse voices have across generations. The Femmys are about more than recognition — they’re about cementing the legacy of those pushing this industry forward.”
“As an artist, I know firsthand how important it is to see yourself reflected in the industry — to have role models, mentors and a community that lifts you up,” adds Femme House co-founder LP Giobbi. “The Femmy Awards are our way of shining a light on those who are not only making incredible music but also creating opportunities for others to rise. DJ Lady D and DJ Minx have paved the way for so many of us, and Sara Landry is leading the charge for the next generation of producers. We hope The Femmys inspire more people to challenge the status quo and build a more equitable future in dance music.”
“The Femmy Awards aren’t just about celebrating talent, they’re about acknowledging the people who have fought to create space for underrepresented voices in dance music,” continues co-founder & Head of Culture, I know how powerful it is to see pioneers like DJ Lady D, DJ Minx, Barbara Tucker and Crystal Waters honored for their legacy, and to celebrate someone like Sara Landry, who is showing the next generation what’s possible. This moment is about more than awards — it’s about visibility, representation, and giving credit to those who are shifting the culture.”
Femme House will also host additional events during Miami Music Week, with the third annual Femme Friday happening March 28 at W South Beach. The daylong program will provide emerging artists with direct access to top industry professionals in an effort to foster education and community building.
The Big Ass Party will now begin before the official festivities kick off. Post Malone announced on Tuesday (March 4) that he will be hosting 10 free, open-to-the-public Travelin’ Tailgate parties at select dates on his upcoming summer Big Ass Stadium Tour. The events will offer fans with (or without) tickets an “unforgettable day of live music, great food, cold Bud Light, exclusive merch, carnival games, BIG ASS photo opportunities, and tattoos by Posty’s personal tattoo artists from Oxford Circle Tattoos,” according to a release announcing the stadium parking lot events.
In addition, one lucky fan will take home the ultimate door prize: a 2025 Harley-Davidson motorcycle.
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The first tailgate event will take place on May 3 before the singer/rapper’s show that night at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, followed by similar stops at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX (May 9), as well as darties in Atlanta, Detroit, Philadelphia, Boston, Miami, Ridgedale, MO and Denver, with one last daylight blowout on June 21 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, AZ.
The daytime throw downs (noon-6 p.m.) will feature a DJ, as well as sets from local artists, turning the parking lots into a “full-scale party.”
The tailgates will not take place on all the dates of the upcoming stadium swing featuring support from Jelly Roll and Sierra Ferrell. The following shows will not feature tailgates: the April 29 kick-off at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, UT, as well as the May 7 gig at the Alamodome in San Antonio, the May 13 stop at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, a May 20 show at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, the May 22 date at Wrigley Field in Chicago, a May 26 gig at Rogers Centre in Toronto, the May 28 show at Hersheypark Stadium in Hershey, PA, as well as a May 29 show at PNC Park in Pittsburgh.
There will also be no tailgates at gigs at: Gillette Stadium (May 31, Foxborough, MA), Northwest Stadium (June 2, Washington, D.C.), CitiField (June 4, Queens, NY), Camping World Stadium (June 10, Orlando, FL), Albertsons Stadium (June 26, Boise, ID), T-Mobile Park (June 26, Seattle, WA), Providence Park (June 28, Portland, OR) and Oracle Park (July 1, San Francisco, CA).
See the dates and venues for the Travelin’ Tailgate parties below:
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Source: Activision / Call of Duty / Black Ops 6
You’ll have to wait a bit longer for season 3 of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Warzone.
Activision announced via the official Call of Duty account on X, formerly Twitter, that season 3 will be delayed in Black Ops 6 and Warzone. This delay also means the return of the Call of Duty map Verdansk is on hold.
Season 3 was supposed to launch on March 20, but its wig has been pushed back two weeks and will arrive on April 3.
“Season 3 is a big moment for Call of Duty: Warzone and Black Ops 6, and we’re taking the time to deliver a great experience starting on April 3,” Activision wrote on X.
“More to come following Call of Duty: Warzone’s fifth anniversary next week…”
Verdansk, the original map featured in Warzone when the COD’s Battle Royale mode first launched in 2020, was expected to come back to help celebrate Warzone’s fifth anniversary.
With the rumored return to Verdansk, Call of Duty would follow in the footsteps of other popular battle royale video games like Fortnite and Apex Legends, which have decided to take gamers back to where it all began with “OG Seasons ” and bring classic maps back to boost playing numbers.
Social Media Has Thoughts About The Season 3 Delay
As you can imagine, the news of the delay is generating responses from COD players. It comes after Activision addressed claims of rampant cheating in the game, the use of AI imagery in loading screens, and the price for the Squid Games and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles event passes.
“Either Activision is ensuring everything is perfect for Season 3 or there are plenty of bugs that need to be addressed,” one user on X, formerly Twitter wrote.
Another person on X wrote, “one step forward two steps back ass game.”
We just hope Activision can drop season 3 without any issues. Until then, you can see more reactions in the gallery below.
Fans still have to wait a few weeks to hear the songs on Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco‘s upcoming joint album, I Said I Love You First, but as of Tuesday (March 4), they at least get to know their titles.
The Only Murders in the Building star casually unveiled the tracklist to the 14-song project. Sharing a photo of her own hand holding up a piece of paper with the titles listed in a Polaroid frame, Gomez wrote, “Leaking some more details…”
“benny & I are so excited to reveal the official tracklist for our album,” she added.
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Arriving March 21, I Said I Love You First features previously released singles “Scared of Loving You” and “Call Me When You Break Up” featuring Gracie Abrams. And, as revealed by the Rare Beauty founder, the rest of the songs are called “I Said I Love You First,” “Younger and Hotter Than Me,” “Ojos Tristes,” “Don’t Wanna Cry,” “Sunset Blvd,” “Cowboy,” “Bluest Flame,” “How Does It Feel to Be Forgotten,” “Do You Wanna Be Perfect,” “You Said You Were Sorry”,” “I Can’t Get Enough” and “Don’t Take It Personally.”
The tracklist reveal comes just a few days after Gomez teased another one of the songs on the LP with a video on Instagram. Sitting in her car, she listened to a sultry dance track — which seemingly samples Cake’s 1998 Billboard Hot 100-charting hit “Never There” — and mouthed along to herself singing the lyrics, “I’ma call you daddy, ’cause I know you like that/ Go recharge your batteries, come back to me and make your momma proud.”
Gomez and Blanco got engaged in December, two months after which they announced I Said I Love You First on Valentine’s Day. In a recent interview with Apple Music 1’s Zane Lowe, the “Lose You to Love Me” singer described the project as “a little taste of what we are and how we made this together, and how much we loved it and how much we love each other.”
She added, “It just felt like it was meant to be.”
See Gomez’s announcement below.
Jimmy Humilde, CEO of Rancho Humilde, has teamed up with Sony Pictures and Sony Music Latin to release CLIKA, a feature film set to be executive directed by Humilde alongside Michael Greene. The project also includes Humilde’s business partners Jose “JB” Becerra and Roque “Rocky” Venegas.
“This film paves the way for a whole new era of opportunity and representation for Mexican American creators in Hollywood,” Humilde, who has been a force in growing música mexicana’s global movement, said in a statement. “We’ve been grinding in the background, but now we’re stepping into the spotlight, ready to show the world what we’re really about. This moment changes the game, not just for us, but for the next generation and everyone who’s ever felt like they didn’t have a seat at the table. We’re not just part of the conversation anymore—we’re leading it. This is just the beginning.”
CLIKA stars Rancho Humilde rising artist Jaydee (frontman of corridos tumbados group Herencia de Patrones) and follows the aspiring musician’s relentless fight to preserve his family’s legacy, marking a pivotal moment in the global representation of Mexican American stories, according to an official description of the film.
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“Jimmy is a visionary producer whose groundbreaking approach has reshaped the sound of Mexican music. Now, his significant contributions in the world of music open the door for new voices, new kinds of stories, and new movie stars. We are thrilled to partner with Sony Music Latin to release his first feature film CLIKA,” added Sanford Panitch, president of Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group.
“We are very excited to be part of this film alongside Rancho Humilde and Sony Pictures,” said Alex Gallardo, president, Sony Music U.S. Latin. “Jimmy Humilde is a visionary who has revolutionized Mexican culture, and CLIKA is the first film born from his vision and creative drive. From the moment we first learned about the project, we knew we wanted to be a part of it and that Columbia Pictures was the ideal partner to bring it to life.”
The film is executive produced by Humilde, Venegas, Becerra and Jaydee, alongside producer Sean McBride. CLIKA will be released in theaters Aug. 15 by Columbia Pictures and Sony Music Vision.
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According to CBS News, Texas rapper G$ Lil Ronnie and his daughter were tragically shot and killed at a car wash in Fort Worth, Texas.
The deaths were confirmed by MedStar, the Tarrant County ambulance service, as reported by CBS News. Witnesses in the area described hearing gunshots before emergency responders arrived at the scene. This shocking incident has left the local community and the music world in mourning.
Lil Ronnie, known for his unique style and contributions to the Texas rap scene, gained recognition with tracks like “Hoodfame Killumanti,” “Wops,” and “Crash Pt. 4.” His music resonated with fans for its raw energy and street authenticity, helping him build a loyal following. He released his latest album, *Literally*, in 2023, which showcased his evolving sound and artistic growth. His final release was the single “Chase,” dropped in early 2024, leaving fans with a bittersweet reminder of his talent.
The loss of G$ Lil Ronnie and his daughter is a devastating blow to both his family and the hip-hop community. As authorities continue to investigate the tragic shooting, tributes from fans and fellow artists have poured in, honoring the rapper’s legacy. Lil Ronnie’s work, especially his contributions to the Texas rap scene, will undoubtedly continue to influence and inspire for years to come. His death serves as a painful reminder of the violence that still affects many communities.
More news to come as the story develops.