News
Page: 254
Neil Young has added a major festival date to his upcoming summer run with new band the Chrome Hearts. Young, 79, will headline a July 11 date at the annual BST Hyde Park summer concert series in London, where he will be joined by “Peace Train” singer Yusuf/Cat Stevens and Van Morrison, with more support acts to be announced later.
American Express U.K. card members can grab tickets now through 9 a.m. on March 5, with a BST Hyde Park pre-sale slated to open at 10 a.m. on Monday (March 3) and a general on-sale kicking off at 10 a.m. on March 5; all times GMT.
The gig will be Young’s first at BST Hyde Park since a 2019 co-headlining gig there with Bob Dylan. Young’s show will join a growing roster of 2025 BST Hyde Park headliners, which also include Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo, Zach Bryan, Noah Kahan and Jeff Lynne’s ELO.
Trending on Billboard
The addition of the Hyde Park show expands the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer’s burgeoning 2025 road roster, after this week’s announcement of the dates for the first leg of the European/North American Love Earth tour, which is slated to kick off in Europe on June 18 at Dalhalla in Rättvik, Sweden before moving on to gigs in Norway, Denmark, Ireland, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany.
The tour will then hit the U.S., beginning with an August 8 show at PNC Music Pavilion in Charlotte, N.C., before moving on to Detroit, Cleveland, Toronto, New York, Chicago, Denver and Vancouver, with the last currently scheduled date set for Sept. 15 at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles; a spokesperson said more date will be added to the run later.
Young will be accompanied on all the shows by the Chrome Hearts band, featuring his longtime collaborator keyboardist/organist Spooner Oldham, as well as Promise of the Real members Micah Nelson (guitar/vocals), Corey McCormick (bass) and Anthony LoGerfo (drums). The group released the grungy anthem “Big Change” in January. Young debuted the Chrome Hearts band last year and has said an album from the group is tentatively slated for release in April.
Check out the poster for Neil Young at BST Hyde Park below.
Lizzo‘s fun night out turns into a nightmare (and then gets fun again) in the high-energy video for her comeback single “Love in Real Life.” Two years after her last solo single, the singer was back in our ears and our eyes on Friday (Feb. 28) with the release of the rollicking, uptempo pop rock […]
BLACKPINK will be hanging around in your area a bit longer this summer. The K-pop girl group announced the addition of five more dates for their anticipated world tour on Thursday (Feb. 27). After initially rolling out 10 stops on the outing earlier this month, JENNIE, ROSÉ, JISOO and LISA have doubled down, adding second nights […]
Tate McRae has officially hit a new career high in Australia. The Canadian singer-songwriter has secured her first No. 1 album on the ARIA Albums Chart with So Close To What, marking her third top 10 placement Down Under.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
It follows I Used To Think I Could Fly, which peaked at No. 10 in 2022, and Think Later, which climbed to No. 2 in 2023.
In addition to her album topping the charts, McRae is making waves on the ARIA Singles Chart. “Sports Car,” which previously peaked at No. 10 earlier this month, has rebounded from No. 25 to No. 9, while “It’s OK I’m OK” re-enters at No. 37 and “2 Hands” returns at No. 40.
Trending on Billboard
McRae also lands a new hit with “I Know Love,” her duet with boyfriend, The Kid LAROI, debuting at No. 17. It marks The Kid LAROI’s 11th top 20 hit in Australia and adds another major moment to McRae’s chart success. In total, she has nine tracks in the ARIA Top 50 this week.
Elsewhere on the Albums Chart, Australian indie outfit Rum Jungle makes a strong debut at No. 9 with Recency Bias, the Newcastle band’s first full-length release. The album arrives following sold-out tours across the U.K., Europe, and Australia.
British singer-songwriter Sam Fender also achieves his highest Australian chart entry yet with People Watching landing at No. 17. His previous best came with Hypersonic Missiles (No. 62 in 2019) and Seventeen Going Under (No. 46 in 2021), both of which topped the U.K. chart.
On the ARIA Singles Chart, Rosé and Bruno Mars reclaim the No. 1 spot with “APT.,” which now boasts 12 non-consecutive weeks at the top. The track has bounced back to No. 1 four times since October 2024, temporarily losing the crown to songs from Gracie Abrams, Mariah Carey, Lola Young, and Kendrick Lamar.
McRae also dominates the Vinyl Albums Chart, with So Close To What debuting at No. 1 ahead of Hit Me Hard And Soft by Billie Eilish and New Love by Ziggy Alberts.
With a No. 1 album, multiple singles in the top 50, and a strong vinyl debut, McRae continues her rapid rise in Australia.
Chris Stapleton isn’t taking part in one of Australia’s most infamous concert traditions.
The 10-time Grammy winner, who is currently on his first-ever tour of the country, has made it clear that he won’t be doing a shoey—drinking beer from a shoe—despite the custom being a fan favorite at major performances.
“I’ve heard about this. I asked somebody before I went on for the first night, ‘Is there anything that I should be prepared for?’” Stapleton said according to news.com.au.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
“And then they’re like, ‘Yes, a shoey. They’ll want you to drink beer out of a shoe’. And I said I will graciously decline to do that. But no one has asked me to do that yet and maybe this interview will make someone want to do that. I don’t know. But I’m probably going to decline that request.
Trending on Billboard
“I mean is there some kind of penalty if I don’t do it? Are they going to throw things at me?”
The country star joins a growing list of artists who have opted out of the tradition, which has been embraced by performers like Luke Combs, Lainey Wilson, and Morgan Wallen. While Stapleton remains appreciative of his Australian fans, he’s keeping the focus on his music rather than sideline antics.
Stapleton’s tour has been a massive success, with tickets selling out in minutes. His impact on the country music scene has been undeniable, with five No.1 albums and collaborations with Adele, Justin Timberlake, Pink, Dolly Parton, and Taylor Swift. His latest single, “Think I’m In Love With You”, saw renewed success after he performed a special version with Dua Lipa at the Country Music Awards in Texas.
In between sold-out shows, Stapleton has been making time to promote his Traveller Whiskey, which has just launched in Australia.
Partnering with Kentucky distillery Buffalo Trace, he emphasized that this isn’t just a celebrity-branded product, but a passion project.
“I don’t look at it as a side hustle, this is a company that makes some of the finest bourbons in the world and a bottle of something that master distiller Harlen Wheatley has made has been in the studio for every record I’ve ever made,” he said.
“This is a point of passion for me and you know it’s a bit of a hindrance, the perception that it’s a side hustle that somebody makes something somewhere and they get a celebrity to slap their name on it But I’m not into that and I really believe in what’s in the bottle and the people that are making the whiskey and they’re very serious about it and I am too.”
Stapleton’s Australian tour continues with back-to-back sold-out performances at Brisbane Entertainment Centre before heading to Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena on March 4 and 5.
Lizzo’s back! The superstar is launching her new album era with a brand new single, “Love in Real Life,” released on Friday (Feb. 28). She teased the song just a few days prior to its arrival, with a cinematic teaser over which she narrates: “Everything was so much simpler, and that’s exactly what I need. […]
As the progeny of Ernie Isley — a key songwriter and multi-instrumentalist of The Isley Brothers, perhaps the most prolific soul group of all time — Alex Isley knows a thing or two about sensuality and intimacy. With her self-penned, Camper-produced new single “Hands,” the two-time Grammy-nominated R&B singer seeks to enter a new era marked by fresh sonics, fearlessly self-assured narratives — and a new home at Free Lunch Records.
As announced earlier this month (Feb. 19), Warner Records entered a strategic partnership with veteran hip-hop/R&B executive Tim Hinshaw, expanding his Free Lunch Agency creative and tour company into a record label. With Isley and Syd — the Grammy-nominated R&B songwriter of The Internet fame – as the first signees, Warner artists will be able to access and leverage Free Lunch’s creative, touring and sync services. “I talked to a few labels, but with Warner, it was [about] the synergy and the timing,” Isley says. “I’m a firm believer in God’s timing. In talking with [Free Lunch Records general manager] Ericka Coulter and getting to know her and the Warner team, everything aligned.”
On Friday (Feb. 28), Isley unleashed the first taste of her forthcoming new era: “Hands.” Written “almost exactly a year ago,” “Hands” finds Isley building on the tender sensuality of tracks like last year’s Terrace Martin-assisted “2 Step in the Living Room,” infusing Camper’s earthy, bass-driven soundscape with a tasteful vocal performance showcasing her buttery falsetto and effortless melisma.
“I wasn’t necessarily expecting to start and finish a record that night with Camper, but that’s just how it happened,” Isley tells Billboard with a slight chuckle. “I wanted to create something moody and leaned more into my sensual side.”
Mood sensuality is also the guiding light for the “Hands” music video. Directed by City James and starring One of Them Days breakout star Patrick Cage II, the “Hands” music video casts Isley as an alluring vixen, expertly building up unmistakably carnal tension without feeling excessive or unnatural. To color her version of sensuality, Isley called upon her synesthesia – a condition that allows her to correlate colors with certain keys or chords. “This particular song evokes warm oranges, gold, and yellow tones,” explains Isley of her “Hands” mood board. “It’s also a bit moodier, almost like sunset tones. I wanted to paint with that color palette as much as possible.”
“Hands” previews Isley’s forthcoming album, one that Coulter calls “a true story you gotta read from start to finish. In addition to Camper, Isley also tapped Grammy-winning DJ and producer Kaytranada, longtime collaborator Jack Dine and producer Oh Gosh Leotus, who helped capture the sonic essence of Los Angeles. Though she was born in New Jersey, Isley has lived in L.A. for the vast majority of her life, and she hopes her new music is reflective of the unwavering community and togetherness the City of Angels displayed in the wake of January’s devastating fires.
“I’m not sure if I was aware of how resilient the city is because we’ve never seen anything like these fires,” remarks Isley. “Being able to see and feel that in January was heavy but also very inspiring. It made me want to be even more intentional with my music and how I share it. It just means that much more to me to be able to share the music at this time.”
Stream “Hands” below.
Say hello to LISA‘s Alter Ego. After months of buildup, the BLACKPINK star has at last unveiled her debut solo album, complete with 15 new tracks and collaborations from Megan Thee Stallion, Future, Tyla and more.
Featuring the previously released singles “Rockstar,” “New Woman” featuring Rosalía, “Moonlit Floor (Kiss Me)” and “Born Again” with Doja Cat and RAYE, Alter Ego finds LISA channeling a quintet of different personas: Roxi, Kiki, Vixi, Sunni and Speedi. “It represents five characters of me as well, like I feel related with them,” she told Sean Evans on Hot Ones one day prior to the LP’s release.
“It feels like I can express myself in a different version of me, and it’s fun,” she continued “I can’t wait for my fans to listen to this album, to really enjoy this album and see a different side of LISA.”
Leading up to Alter Ego, the Thai rapper had only released two proper solo singles: 2021’s “LALISA” and “MONEY,” both of which charted on the Billboard Hot 100. That same year, she also appeared sans her bandmates on DJ Snake’s “SG” with Ozuna and the “HISS” rapper, who features on an Alter Ego track titled “Rapunzel.”
LISA is just the latest BLACKPINK member to release a set of solo songs in recent months. ROSÉ dropped her first-ever solo album, rosie, in December, two months after which JISOO unveiled an EP titled AMORTAGE. JENNIE will follow suit March 7, with the Idol actress’ debut LP Ruby scheduled to arrive one week after Alter Ego.
The foursome will soon get back together, though, with BLACKPINK announcing a summer 2025 world tour earlier this month. It’ll mark the ladies’ first trek together since 2022-2023’s Born Pink World Tour, which supported Billboard 200-topper Born Pink.
In her November Billboard cover story, LISA said that she “can’t wait” to reunite with her bandmates. “We know each other so well and know how much energy we have to put into every single project,” she added of their time apart spent working on solo music. “So we want to support and say, ‘You did really well!’ … They’re like family. I’m just so happy that they’re releasing something. This is what we all wanted to do, so I just wanted to say that I really do love their songs.”
Listen to LISA’s Alter Ego below.
Anna Lunoe has joined forces with pop icon Melanie C for “Girl,” a high-energy dance track that fuses Lunoe’s signature production with the former Spice Girl’s powerhouse vocals. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The song, which first surfaced during Lunoe’s set at London’s Drumsheds last year, marks […]
Garbage are back, announcing their first new album in almost four years.
Dubbed Let All That We Imagine Be the Light, the new LP will be their eighth, and follows on from the release of 2021’s No Gods No Masters and a pair of EPs in recent years. Their new record arrives on May 30 via Stun Volume.
“Our last album was extremely forthright. Born out of frustration and outrage – it had a kind of scorched earth, pissed off quality to it,” singer Shirley Manson explains in a statement. “With this new record however, I felt a compulsion to reach for a different kind of energy. A more constructive one. I had this vision of us coming up out of the underground with searchlights as we moved towards the future.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
“Searching for life, searching for love, searching for all the good things in the world that seem so thin on the ground right now. That was the over-riding idea during the making of this record for me – that when things feel dark, it’s best to try to seek out that which is light, that which feels loving and good.
“When I was young, I tended towards the destruction of things,” Manson adds. “Now that I’m older I believe it’s vitally important to build and to create things instead. I still entertain very old romantic ideals about community, society and the world. I don’t want to walk through the world creating havoc, damaging the land and people. I want to do good. I want to do no harm.”
Recorded in a number of locations – including Los Angeles’ Red Razor Sounds, Butch Vig’s Grunge is Dead studio, and Manson’s bedroom – the album’s announcement notably hasn’t been accompanied by a lead single. Rather, the band have promised that a preview will arrive “in the coming weeks”.
The new record also arrives following a few months of downtime for the band, with Garbage announcing in August they were forced to cancel the remainder of their 2024 tour dates due to Manson requiring “surgery and rehabilitation” for an undisclosed injury suffered while on tour in Europe. The group are slated to return to the road in March for a run of South American tour dates.
The impending release of Let All That We Imagine Be the Light will also become Garbage’s fourth album since they resumed activity in earnest in 2010, following a five-year period of hiatus.
Their debut self-titled album, Garbage, released in 1995, achieved double-platinum status and peaked at No. 20 on the Billboard 200. Their follow-up album, Version 2.0, released in 1998, reached No. 13 on the Billboard 200 and further cemented their reputation as one of the leading bands of the era.
Garbage have remained busy with musical projects in recent years, including 2021’s, No Gods No Masters. The album debuted at No. 95 on the Billboard 200 and included tracks like “The Men Who Rule the World.” They also collaborated with artists like Screaming Females and Brody Dalle on a special edition of the album, and toured with Alanis Morissette on her Jagged Little Pill anniversary tour in 2022.