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Josh Groban signed with CAA in all areas. According to a press release, the singer has sold more than 35 million albums worldwide. In May, he will play an exclusive five-night run at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Groban is managed by Diarmuid Quinn at TourDForce Productions. His attorney is Richard Leher and his publicist is Luke Burland.
Coi Leray signed a recording contract with Epic Records and signed with Cory Litwin at Range Media Partners for management. Leray released the EP What Happened to Forever on Feb. 12. She previously released music on Universal Music Group’s Republic and Island Records.
Armada Music extended its deal with D.O.D with a new long-term agreement. The British DJ/producer just released the single “Wrap Yourself Around Me” featuring NORTH. Armada is also D.O.D’s publisher via its Armada Music Publishing arm.
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Spanish electronic artist Judeline signed with WME for representation in all areas. She previously released the EP De La Luz and the album Bodhiria. Last summer, she opened for J Balvin on his European tour and is currently wrapping her second solo tour. Her upcoming set at Coachella will serve as her U.S. festival debut.
The U.K. office of Believe signed deals with three rap artists: SL, Cristal and Strandz. SL signed an artist services deal covering both frontline and back catalog, with the rapper retaining ownership of his masters and creative control. Cristale and Strandz signed distribution deals on frontline releases, with Believe providing label management, editorial and marketing partnerships at DSPs, video and audience development, and synch services.
Singer-songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist Cautious Clay (Joshua Karpeh) signed with Concord Records, which recently released his new single “No Champagne (6am).” Concord Music Publishing previously acquired Clay’s catalog in 2024.
Mexican singer Carolina Ross signed a record deal with Fonovisa/Universal after several years as an independent artist. Born in Culiacán, Sinaloa, the artist’s acoustic versions of regional Mexican hits have amassed more than 400 million streams, according to a press release. – Tere Aguilera
Pop-rock group Arrows in Action signed with Nettwerk, which will release the trio’s new album, I Think I’ve Been Here Before, on May 16, with a second installment of the album to follow.
Nettwerk also signed indie-pop artist Your Smith (formerly Caroline Smith) and released her new single “Peaches.”
Warner Music Group signed a global label deal with Japanese dance and vocal boy group PSYCHIC FEVER via Warner Music Japan, in partnership with 10K projects in the U.S. The group will release its first single under Warner Music in June.
Ontario, Canada, band Arm’s Length signed with Pure Noise Records, which will put out the group’s sophomore album, There’s A Whole New World Out There, on May 16. The album is preceded by the single “Funny Face,” which is out now.
Anthony Martini and Rich Barner‘s recently launched Gravel Road Records signed country artist Travis Bolt (“Never Tried Cocaine”). An EP is coming in the spring.
Melbourne-based band Tropical F— Storm signed to indie label Fire Records, which released the group’s new single, “Goon Show.”
DJ Python (Brian Piñeyro) signed to XL Recordings, which will release his forthcoming five-track EP, I Was Put On This Earth, on March 28 as part of the label’s “house bag series.” The first track to be released from the EP is “Besos Robados.”
Triple Tigers Records signed singer-songwriter and Tennessee native Shane Profitt. Profitt earned a top 20 Billboard Country Airplay hit with “How It Oughta Be” in 2023 and previously released the BMLG Records/Harpeth 60 Records project Maury County Line. He is currently in the studio working on new music and is managed by Maverick Nashville Management. The Triple Tigers Records roster also includes Scotty McCreery, Russell Dickerson and Jordan Fletcher. – Jessica Nicholson
Sony Music Nashville signed Latina country singer-songwriter Kat Luna. Luna was previously part of the duo Kat & Alex and has since released solo music including “That Girl” and “Happiest I’ve Ever Been.” She is prepping new music with producer Nathan Chapman and is represented by Neon Coast for management, UTA for booking and Warner Chappell Nashville for publishing. – Jessica Nicholson
Korean rock artist LØREN signed with L.A.-based label AYLA. LØREN previously worked as a songwriter on BLACKPINK’s The Album, including the tracks “Pretty Savage,” “You Never Know” and “Lovesick Girls.”
Warner Classics signed the all-women vocal ensemble Lyyra. The first release under the deal will be a digital single of Vienna Teng’s song “Hymn of Acxiom,” which will be released on March 7 to celebrate International Women’s Day.
The Viña del Mar Festival has been forced to cancel activities on Tuesday (Feb. 25) due to a massive blackout in Chile that left most of the country in darkness, including the coastal city where the famous event has been taking place since Sunday.
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“We deeply regret having to inform you that, due to the state of emergency decreed by the Government of Chile, tonight’s shows must be rescheduled for Saturday, March 1, 2025,” the festival said in a statement published on its social media.
“We know how much you have been waiting for this moment and how important it is for you, that is why we want to assure you that the confirmed artists and comedian will be present on the new date, maintaining the same schedule,” it added about Colombian band Morat, Colombian pop star Sebastián Yatra and Chilean comedian Pedro Ruminot.
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The Chilean government declared a state of emergency and a curfew after the blackout left millions of people without power for hours across 14 of the country’s 16 regions, according to The Associated Press. The news agency indicated that the government did not disclose the reasons for the blackout or the timeline for power restoration.
The Viña del Mar Festival posted a statement earlier informing that it was evaluating its options and that, for the time being, the doors of the Quinta Vergara, the venue where the event is held, would remain closed until further notice.
“The production of the Viña del Mar Festival informs that due to the general power outage reported by the authorities and media, which currently also affects the City of Viña del Mar where the Quinta Vergara is located, we are evaluating the situation together with the competent authorities to make a decision regarding the development of the event tonight,” it read. “Our teams are in constant contact with regional and national authorities, public order, and security, to make a decision that always benefits the safety of all people.”
People who had tickets for Tuesday and cannot attend the recheduled show this Saturday can request a refund of their money at www.puntoticket.com starting March 3, 2025, the organizers said.
In its 64th edition, the Viña del Mar Festival began on Sunday with performances by Marc Anthony and Bacilos, and continued on Monday with Myriam Hernández and Ha*Ash. Still to come are the presentations of Carín León and Carlos Vives scheduled for Wednesday (Feb. 26); Incubus and The Cult on Thursday (Feb. 27); and Duki, Eladio Carrión and Kid Voodoo on Friday (Feb. 28).
Read the two statements issued on Tuesday by the Viña Festival below.
As the online feud between Bhad Bhabie and Alabama Barker continues to heat up, Bhabie dropped a music video for her “Ms. Whitman” diss track on Monday (Feb. 24), featuring a drummer that looks a whole lot like Travis Barker.
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The song’s title references Alabama’s first name, which was inspired by the character Alabama Whitman from the 1993 movie, True Romance. In the track, which samples Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign’s “Carnival,” Bhabie throws a number of jabs at Alabama, accusing her of promiscuous activity, and having an unconfirmed abortion from a Tyga pregnancy.
“Why this b— obsessed with me? I just don’t understand/ You sucked the d— straight out my a–, who got the upper hand?/ I see why you ain’t got no friends, you’re Miss I’ll-F—Your-Man,” she raps in the opening verse, later adding, “This h- belong all in the zoo, see, I don’t understand/ She f—ed on Tyga and killin’ babies, I seen the sonogram.”
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Tyga has previously denied having a physical relationship with Alabama.
The accompanying “Ms. Whitman” music video features a tattooed lookalike of Alabama’s Blink-182 drummer father, who rocks a beanie and plays drums as Bhabie twerks on him throughout the two-minute clip. Bhabie also takes aim at Travis’ wife, Kourtney Kardashian, rapping, “Your stepmom burnt out, why she took her sister’s second-hand?”
The drama between Bhabie and Alabama seemingly took off in December, when the “Gucci Flip Flops” rapper claimed in an Instagram Story that Alabama meddled into her relationship with Le Vaughn, with whom Bhabie welcomed a daughter with last March.
Alabama also released her own diss track two weeks ago, titled “Cry Bhabie.” Watch the “Ms. Whitman” music video below.
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Roberta Flack, an enduring voice that the world got to know through her chart-topping and soul-stirring ballads, was a source of sound for several Hip-Hop producers over the years. As we continue to honor the life and legacy of the legendary vocalist, Hip-Hop Wired has compiled 10 songs that sampled Roberta Flack’s music.
My first time hearing Roberta Flack occurred when I was in elementary school via the song “Feel Like Makin’ Love,” a beautiful ballad written by the late Gene McDaniels. As I was still quite young, I didn’t know what the lyrics meant but what I could tell you then is that it sounded like what I imagined falling in love deeply was like. Roberta Flack’s serene, even-keeled voice sounded as if it descended from the heavens and few singers have had that effect on me.
As I aged, so did my pursuit of music which is where my devotion to Hip-Hop strengthened and learning about the intricacies of sampling in music production. However, few songs have captured the essence of Flack’s sonics to the level of The Fugees’ 1996 rendition of “Killing Me Softly With His Song” and the beauty of it all is that The Fugees had the honor of having Flack perform the global hit with them.—D.L. Chandler
Flack’s music just didn’t boost the sonic profile of The Fugees, but also gave strong backdrops to the likes of Scarface, Gang Starr, T.I. Ye, Memphis Bleek, Lil’ Kim, Biz Markie, and countless others. Below, we’re featuring 10 songs that sampled Roberta Flack’s classic music. Let us know on social media or in the comments if we missed any of your favorites.
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Bad Bunny earns a second No. 1 on Billboard’s Latin Airplay chart from Debí Tirar Más Fotos album, and his 27th overall, as “Baile Inolvidable” rises 3-1 on the chart dated March 1. The tropical song follows two-week champ “El Clúb” (Feb. 8-15 charts).
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“Baile Inolvidable” rolls into the top spot on the overall Latin Airplay chart thanks to 8.3 million audience impressions earned in the U.S. during the Feb. 14-20 tracking week, according to Luminate. It scores an 11% boost from the week prior. The song ejects Myke Towers’ “Otra Noche,” featuring Darell, from the lead (falling to No. 2 with 7.8 million audience, down less than 1%)
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“El Clúb,” the first single from his No. 1 album, Debí Tirar Más Fotos, continues its run in the top 10, falling 4-10. Meanwhile, Benito has a third song in the region, as his collab with Rauw Alejandro, “Que Pasaria…,” jumps 8-4.
Bad Bunny, who first led Latin Airplay in February 2018, has managed to place at least two No. 1s every year since, with 2020 marking his most rewarding year, placing six rulers then. As Bad Bunny’s collection grows, here’s a look at the number of chart-toppers during his seven-year No. 1 career:
2018, three2019, four2020, six2021, three2022, three2023, four2024, two2025, two (so far)
Beyond its Latin Airplay coronation, the tropical “Baile Inolvidable” ranks a second week at No. 1 on Tropical Airplay. It also adds a seventh week at No. 2 on the multi-metric Hot Latin Songs chart, which blends airplay, digital sales and streaming data into its formula. There, it takes the Greatest Gainer/Sales honors, with a 2% gain in sales, to 500, which moves it 3-2 on Latin Digital Song Sales. Not the same luck in streaming activity, as the song registers 11.3 million official U.S. streams, translating to an 11% dip in clicks for the tracking week.
Great Strides for Maluma & Fuerza Regida: Elsewhere on the Latin charts, Maluma adds a 13th No. 1 on Latin Pop Airplay with “Cosas Pendiente,” his first champ in over two years. The song improves thanks to 12% gain in audience impressions, to 6.4 million. The song, written by Maluma alongside Edgar Barrera, Keityn, and Casta, is a warm nod to his day-one fans and the first single from upcoming +Pretty +Dirty album.
Fuerza Regida’s “Por Esos Ojos” becomes the biggest streaming gainer on Hot Latin Songs thanks to an 183% gain to 9.2 million official U.S. streams logged during the tracking week, which yields a No. 5 start on Latin Streaming Songs. The song, released Feb. 11, surges 25 ranks, from No. 30 to No. 5 for the group’s 11th top 10 on the multi-metric chart.
Charli XCX will collect the songwriter of the year award at the upcoming BRIT Awards. The Brat star is the recipient of the honorary prize, which has previously been won by British acts Ed Sheeran (2022), Kid Harpoon (2023) and most recently, Raye (2024).
The BRIT Awards ceremony will take place Saturday (March 1) at London’s O2 Arena, and will be hosted by comedian Jack Whitehall. Performances on the night will come from Sabrina Carpenter, Sam Fender, Teddy Swims, Shaboozey and more.
Charli is also competing in five additional categories on the night, including album of the year and British artist of the year. The songwriter of the year prize gives Charli her first-ever BRIT Award win, having been nominated four times previously in 2015, 2020, 2023 and 2024.
Brat was named Billboard staff’s album of the year, with Kristin Robinson writing that the LP had “most exciting and culturally significant album launches in modern memory,” and catapulted “the longtime music maker into a new stratosphere of stardom.” The record peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, and at No. 1 on the U.K.’s Official Albums Chart.
On Monday (Feb. 24), it was announced that A.G. Cook, Charli’s close collaborator and an executive producer on Brat, would collect the producer of the year prize. The trophy was first awarded in 1977 to Beatles producer George Martin, and in recent years has been won by Fred again.. (2020), Inflo (2022), David Guetta (2023) and Chase & Status (2024).
Speaking to Variety in 2020, Charli described her working relationship with Cook. “We really trust each other, and challenge and push each other in the right ways. And we’re also very smart and equally dumb, and I think that’s really important in pop music,” she shared. “A.G. will make a beat in a few minutes and I’ll yell over it, and even if it sounds crazy, we’re not afraid of sounding stupid because we know we can get there eventually.”
She continued, “We enjoy twisting formats and breaking rules but we also kind of like some rules; we’re a bit winky but we’re also very serious; we’re both fans of pop music but equally fans of wanting to disrupt things; and we like to dance around what people think we should be doing. So there’s enough tension and push and pull to make really interesting music.”
The BRIT Awards will be broadcast live on ITV and on streaming service ITV X from 8:15 p.m. GMT.
Jesus Guerrero, a beloved celebrity hairstylist who has worked with a slew of high-profile clients including Kylie Jenner, Jennifer Lopez, ROSÉ, Rosalía, Katy Perry, Camila Cabello, Charli xcx and many more, died over the weekend at age 34.
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While no cause of death has been revealed, his family noted on a GoFundMe page that he died “very suddenly and unexpectedly.” The fundraiser has earned more than $96,000 for the costs of bringing his body home to Houston, Texas, as well as funeral costs — though Guerrero’s younger sister later revealed that Jenner has offered to cover the funeral. “Donations raised through this fundraiser will go toward the costs associated with securing his belongings home. As well as other unexpected expenses to settle his assets,” the GoFundMe now reads.
Following the devastating news, a number of stars took to social media to mourn the loss of a friend and fellow creative. “The sweetest angel when I needed one the most,” ROSÉ wrote on her Instagram Stories. “I love you so much.. and i miss you already. Rest in power. You will always be remembered for your incredible work.”
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Lopez, who was with Guerrero just a few days prior to his death in Dubai, also shared a touching tribute alongside a black-and-white photo of the artist. “It’s no surprise your mother gave you the name Jesus. You were gentle and kind and loving, quiet and unassuming, but so powerful, and your presence was felt the minute you walked into any room,” she wrote. “You never demanded the spotlight. You never needed to make a sound to be recognized, your heart and your talent did that as effortlessly as you artistry did. I’ve been having trouble putting the words together the last few days.”
She continued, “The truth is I’m still in shock that such a beautiful young life has come to an end. It seems senseless and unfair. I know your family is brokenhearted as am I and everyone else who knew you. Your spirit moved on to the next phase beyond this life but I know wherever you are there is beauty and light. And the beauty and light you left here will live on forever. Rest in peace, sweet angel…”
See her post here.
Jenner wrote a similarly heartfelt post about Guerrero on her page, along with several photos of the duo smiling and working together. “Jesus was more than my friend – he was a light in my life, a source of laughter, comfort, love, and unwavering support. I don’t know how I would have made it through the last almost decade without him by my side. He had a way of making even the heaviest days feel lighter,” she wrote.
“Thank you, Jesus, for always being there for me, for lifting me up, for being my friend,” Jenner added. “The pain of losing you is just unbearable and i don’t know how to move forward without you but I know great grief is born only of great love. and I loved you so much. You were the best person, with a talent that was unmatched. a true artist. You inspired so many, and you always will.”
See her post here.
Several country music songwriter heavyweights will be taking the stage in Las Vegas in August, when the inaugural Las Vegas Songwriters Festival takes place at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.
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Presented by MGM Resorts International and Entersong Entertainment, the event will take place Aug. 21-24, 2025. The festival will feature 50 award-winning songwriters, and 100 live performances, as songwriters perform at venues throughout the resort.
The event will feature Bob DiPiero (Kathy Mattea’s “Walking Away a Winner,” the Oak Ridge Boys’ “American Made,” Tim McGraw’s “Southern Voice”), Dean Dillon (“Tennessee Whiskey,” as well as George Strait’s “Ocean Front Property,” “Marina Del Rey,” “The Chair,” and more), Liz Rose (Little Big Town’s “Girl Crush,” Taylor Swift’s “Fearless,” “White Horse,” “Tim McGraw” “All Too Well” and more) and Victoria Shaw (Garth Brooks’ “The River,” John Michael Montgomery’s “I Love The Way You Love Me”).
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The event will be hosted by Matt Warren, who has crafted songs for Darius Rucker, Gary Allan and others), and was founded by Entersong’s Rob Hatch and Mike Every, in collaboration with MGM Resorts.
More performers include Billy Montana, Jesse Lee, Justin Wilson and more, with each songwriter blending music with storytelling, discussing the inspirations behind their songs. Some writers will also host select Q&A sessions.“For years Mandalay Bay has been one of the leaders in delivering memorable entertainment experiences for its guests and we believe the Las Vegas Songwriters Festival (LVSF) will continue this tradition,” said Paul Davis, Senior Vice President of Booking and Development, MGM Resorts International, via a statement. “LVSF will provide a platform for songwriters to celebrate their incredible artistry and storytelling that has shaped the industry’s greatest hits and resonate with music fans everywhere.”
Entersong’s Hatch said, “The Las Vegas Songwriters Festival brings together some of the most prolific songwriters of our time – artists whose words and melodies have shaped the soundtrack of our lives. It’s an intimate opportunity to hear the stories behind the songs, straight from the voices that wrote them.”
Fans can purchase either general admission or VIP tickets, and have the option to purchase a room-and-ticket package. Artist pre-sales will run Wednesday, Feb. 26 from 10 a.m. PST to Thursday, Feb. 27 at 10 p.m. PST. Members of MGM Rewards will have pre-sale access Thursday, Feb. 27 from 10 a.m. PT to 10 p.m. PT. Tickets for the general public go on sale Friday, Feb. 28 at 10 a.m. PST via LVSF at Mandalay Bay.
Las Vegas Songwriters Festival at Mandalay Bay
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A Missouri woman has pleaded guilty to mail fraud for her role in an alleged scam to steal the Elvis Presley family’s ownership interest in the famed Graceland mansion. Lisa Jeanine Findley, who has gone by various aliases including Lisa Holden and Lisa Howell, initially pleaded not guilty to mail fraud and aggravated identity theft […]
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Source: The Washington Post / Getty / Elon Musk / Donald Trump
This hilarious stunt will definitely make Donald Trump feel some type of way, and in *Trump’s voice* it definitely won’t be good.
Hackers finally put their talents to good use, hacking a television at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on Monday morning and playing an AI-manipulated video of puppet Donald Trump kissing and carressing the real president, Elon Musk’s feet.
The stunt was first reported by Vox journalist Rachel Cohen, who said the video with the message “LONG LIVE THE REAL KING” was being played on TV at the agency that Trump considers to be a “Black job” because any Black person who is linked to Trump lands that position.
If you guessed it, the current HUD Secretary, Scott Turner, is a Black man; Trump’s last pick for that position was Ben Carson.
The video plays on the current sentiment amongst people who can’t stand both Musk and Trump. They have taken to calling the Tesla Chief the real president while calling Trump a puppet because Musk seems to have so much influence over the president.
It also comes after Trump shared an AI-generated TIME magazine cover with himself on it with the caption “Long Live The King” after he claimed to have killed New York’s congestion pricing.
The Hackers Are Getting Love On X
Reactions to the stunt from those on the left are what you should expect; they loved it.
“Not all heroes wear capes,” a post on X from the Democrats on the House Financial Services Committee account read.
Another post added, “He must have found out Musk’s net worth.”
HUD spokeswoman Kasey Lovett commented on the incident, saying it was “another waste of taxpayer dollars and resources” and that “Appropriate action will be taken for all involved.”
This video clearly indicates how much of a joke this administration is.
You can see more reactions in the gallery below.