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A group of legal scholars say Drake’s lawsuit against Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” is “dangerous” because it will have a “chilling effect” on hip-hop and encourage prosecutors to use rap lyrics as evidence in criminal cases.
Filed in January, Drake’s case claims that UMG defamed him by releasing Lamar’s scathing diss track, which tarred the Canadian rapper as a “certified pedophile.” He says that millions of people took that lyric literally, severely harming his reputation.
But in a legal brief filed in the case on Wednesday, a group of professors from the University of California, Irvine School of Law say that Drake’s argument is “not just faulty—it is dangerous.”
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“Drake’s complaint rests on the assumption that every word of ‘Not Like Us’ should be taken literally, as a factual representation,” professors Charis E. Kubrin, Jack Lerner, Adam Dunbar and Kyle Winnen write in the court filing. “[We] urge this court to recognize the danger that assumption poses.”
Diss track lyrics are a creative artform that are understood by listeners not as “factual arguments or a series of news reports,” the professors write, but as “hyperbole, bluster, and demonstrations of disrespect” that are “designed to entertain and impress their audience.”
The professors warn that the consequences of endorsing Drake’s literal interpretation of Kendrick’s lyrics would extend far beyond his case – including to the long-controversial practice of using lyrics as evidence in criminal cases against rappers.
“When courts ignore rap music’s history and artistic conventions, the effect is to deny rap the status of art and instead to flatten lyrics into literal confessions or statements of specific intent,” write the UCI professors. “This problematic treatment has introduced racial bias and unfair prejudice in countless criminal cases [and] has created a demonstrable chilling effect across the industry.”
The use of rap music as criminal evidence has been widely criticized, both because it threatens the right to free speech and can sway jurors by tapping into racial bias. One empirical study – authored by Kubrin and Dunbar – found that listeners who viewed violent song lyrics responded more negatively if they believed they came from a rap track than if they were told the exact same lyrics came from a country or heavy metal song.
Over the past few years, the practice has drawn backlash from the music industry and led to efforts by lawmakers to stop it, including a landmark California statute. But it has persisted in high-profile instances – including Young Thug’s gang case in Atlanta and briefly in Lil Durk’s federal murder-for-hire case.
Moving to dismiss Drake’s lawsuit, UMG has argued that Lamar’s lyrics are “rhetorical hyperbole” — the kind of statement that might sound bad but cannot actually be proven false. Since defamation only covers false assertions of fact, statements of hyperbole can’t form the basis for such cases.
In making that argument, UMG has pointed to Drake’s own public support for a 2022 petition criticizing prosecutors for using rap lyrics as evidence in criminal cases. That letter, also signed by Megan Thee Stallion, 21 Savage and many other stars, criticized prosecutors for treating lyrics as literal statements of fact.
“As Drake recognized, when it comes to rap, ‘the final work is a product of the artist’s vision and imagination,’” UMG’s lawyers write. “Drake was right then and is wrong now.”
A rep for Drake’s legal team did not immediately return a request for comment on the arguments made by the professors.
Heads up, Tems fans. Billboard has launched an exclusive Pinterest board honoring the Nigerian chart-topper’s latest role: Billboard cover superstar. On Thursday, May 15, the board was released, offering fans all the behind-the-scenes action of Tems’ newest feature. The shoot, which took place in London in April, was led by photographer Zoe McConnell. Throughout the […]
Source: Getty / Radio One
New claims are shaking up the case between Megan Thee Stallion and Tory Lanez.
Bradley James, who worked as a driver and bodyguard for Megan’s former friend Kelsey Harris, says he heard something shocking. According to him, Kelsey allegedly told someone that she was actually the one who shot Megan, not Tory.
This all goes back to a fight in 2020 after a party. Megan said Tory shot her in the foot, and he was later found guilty and sentenced to 10 years in prison. The Canadian rapper has always said he didn’t do it. The only people there were Megan, Kelsey, and the driver. Now, during a press event held by a group helping Tory’s legal team, a rep named Walter Roberts shared what the driver claims. He says Kelsey allegedly told someone she fired the gun three times, and Tory tried to stop her by hitting her arm.
That’s when the gun went off two more times. Roberts said this means Tory never fired the gun at all.
These new claims might change how people see the case, but it’s not clear if anything will happen legally. The court had already decided Tory was guilty based on evidence and Megan’s story. Still, with this new info, people are asking more questions about what really happened that night. More news to come as the story takes an interesting turn.
Megan Thee Stallion and her lawyer, Alex Spiro, quickly responded to new claims about her shooting. Spiro told XXL that the case is already settled and not up for debate. He said, “Tory Lanez was tried and convicted by a jury of his peers, and his case was properly adjudicated through the court system. This is not a political matter, this is a case of a violent assault that was resolved in the court of law.”
Megan’s team made it clear they’re not here for rumors or drama, the court made its decision, and that’s what they stand by.
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2025 American Music Awards nominees Benson Boone and Lainey Wilson have been added as performers on this year’s show, which will air live from Fontainebleau Las Vegas on Monday, May 26. Blake Shelton, Gloria Estefan, Gwen Stefani and Reneé Rapp have also been added as performers, joining the previously announced Jennifer Lopez (who is also hosting) and Janet Jackson (who will receive an ICON Award).
The 51st AMAs will air live coast-to-coast at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on CBS, and stream on Paramount+ in the U.S.
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Breakout artist and first-time American Music Award nominee Benson Boone will perform his latest single “Mystical Magical,” from his upcoming sophomore album American Heart, which is due June 20.
Three-time American Music Award winner Blake Shelton will make his AMAs performance debut with a track from his new album For Recreational Use Only, which was released on May 9.
Gloria Estefan will mark her first performance on the AMAs in 32 years, celebrating five decades of her career in music. Estefan co-hosted the AMAs twice – in 1990 (with Alice Cooper, Anita Baker and The Judds) and again in 1993 (with Bobby Brown and Wynonna Judd).
American Music Award winner Gwen Stefani will perform a medley celebrating the 20th anniversary of her debut solo album Love.Angel.Music.Baby, including her Billboard Hot 100-topping smash “Hollaback Girl,” and a song from her newest album Bouquet, which was released in November.
Fresh from winning four awards at the 2025 Academy of Country Music Awards, country music star Lainey Wilson will perform. Wilson has recently headlined shows across Europe ahead of embarking on the U.S. leg of her Whirlwind World Tour.
Pop star Reneé Rapp will make her AMAs performance debut with new music off her upcoming sophomore album. Rapp performed on the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards, on the Extended Play stage, a platform for new and breaking artists.
As previously announced, Janet Jackson will receive the ICON Award, which recognizes an artist whose body of work has marked a global influence over the music industry. The 11-time American Music Award-winner will also take the stage, marking her first television performance since 2018.
Fan voting is now open via VoteAMAs.com and the @AMAs Instagram profile in all award categories. Voting closes tonight (Thursday, May 15) at 11:59:59 p.m. PT, with the exception of collaboration of the year and social song of the year, which will remain open for web voting through the first 30 minutes of the AMAs broadcast.
Kendrick Lamar leads this year’s nominees with 10 nominations, followed closely by Post Malone with eight nods, and Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan, and Shaboozey, with seven each.
American Music Awards winners are voted entirely by fans. Nominees are based on key fan interactions – as reflected on the Billboard charts – including streaming, album and song sales, radio airplay and tour grosses. These measurements are tracked by Billboard and Luminate, and cover the data tracking eligibility period of March 22, 2024, through March 20, 2025.
The American Music Awards is the world’s largest fan-voted awards show. Tickets to show are available now on Ticketmaster.
This Memorial Day, the AMAs will pay special tribute to our U.S. troops and veterans through performances and moments.
The American Music Awards are produced by Dick Clark Productions, which is owned by Penske Media Eldridge, a joint venture between Eldridge Industries and Billboard parent company Penske Media.
LONDON — A number of vital grassroots music venues in the U.K. are set to come under shared ownership in the second phase of a new community-led project.
The Music Venue Properties, the Charitable Community Benefit Society (CBS) created by Music Venue Trust (MVT), seeks to protect grassroots venues by placing them into community ownership and outside of commercial leases with landlords.
Seven grassroots music venue will be included in the next phase of the project: Esquires, Bedford; The Sugarmill, Stoke-on-Trent; The Joiners; Southampton, The Croft, Bristol; Peggy’s Skylight, Nottingham; The Lubber Fiend, Newcastle; The Pipeline, Brighton. The community share offer, which will open on May 15, 2025 and close on July 31, 2025.
The first phase of the Own Our Venues initiative ran in 2023, and raised £2.88m ($3.83m) to secure the ownership of a number of venues across the U.K., including The Bunkhouse in Swansea, Wales, and The Snug in Atherton, England.
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An accompanying press release says that the scheme offers a “cultural lease,” that far exceeds the traditional 18 month commercial lease that these venues must operate within. The statement adds, that these cultural leases “ensure fair, sustainable rent, annual contributions toward essential maintenance, and ongoing support in areas such as financial sustainability and operational best practice.”
Ricky Bates, venue operator of The Joiners, Southampton said of the next phase of the program, “We welcome Music Venue Properties’ ownership of our building as the only real solution to securing one of the most important live music venues in the UK. For almost 60 years, The Joiners has been a vital part of the UK touring circuit and a creative cornerstone of Southampton, but today its future is uncertain. Our lease expires this year, our landlord is retiring and, while the venue is rich in history, the building is over 200 years old and in need of care.
“In today’s economy, it simply isn’t viable for us as individuals to purchase the property but, with the support of the Own Our Venues campaign and the wider music community, we can secure The Joiners for the next 60 years and beyond. Be part of this historic moment—get involved and help protect grassroots music for generations to come.”
It’s the latest move by the U.K. music scene in the fightback against closures of independent venues and to support grassroots musicians. On Wednesday (May 14), the team behind The Leadmill in Sheffield, England said that their eviction appeal had been unsuccessful and that they have three months to vacate the premises. The building’s landlord, the Electric Group, runs a number of venues in the U.K. already, including London’s Electric Brixton, Bristol’s SWX and Newcastle’s NX. Oasis, Arctic Monkeys, Pulp and Coldplay are among the legendary artists to play The Leadmill over the years.
Ariana Grande, Lady Gaga and Kendrick Lamar are the top nominees for the 2025 Kids’ Choice Awards, with four nods each. They are followed by Jack Black, Dwayne Johnson, Selena Gomez and Jelly Roll, with three nominations each.
Tyla is set to host the show, which will air live on Saturday, June 21 at 8 p.m. (ET/PT) from Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif. Tyla is also nominated for favorite global music star and favorite music collaboration for “Show Me Love,” a collab with WizTheMc and bees & honey.
Tyla won the inaugural Grammy Award for best African music performance in 2024 for “Water,” which was a top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. She received the Impact Award at the 2025 Billboard Women in Music event. She’s the first African pop star to host the Kids’ Choice Awards, a sign of the genre’s growing popularity. (Other music stars to have hosted or co-hosted the show over the years include DJ Khaled, Blake Shelton, Nick Jonas, Justin Timberlake, LL Cool J, Whitney Houston and Debbie Gibson.)
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First-time nominees include Gracie Abrams, Zach Bryan, Jordan Chiles, Frankie Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Doechii, Keith Lee, Chappell Roan, Shaboozey, Shohei Ohtani, and Florence Pugh.
Three K-pop stars – JENNIE, LISA and ROSÉ – are in the running for favorite female breakout artist.
Bruno Mars is competing with himself for favorite music collaboration. He’s nominated for both “APT.” (with ROSÉ) and “Die With a Smile” (with Lady Gaga).
Wicked: The Soundtrack is nominated for favorite album. Two tracks from the album, “Defying Gravity” and “Popular,” are nominated for favorite song from a movie.
The Kids’ Choice Awards will celebrate fans’ favorites from across the worlds of film, television, music, sports and more. The show will simulcast across Nickelodeon, TeenNick, Nicktoons, the Nick Jr. channel, MTV2 and CMT, and also air on Nickelodeon channels around the world.
The Kids’ Choice Awards broadcast will feature collaborations, skateboarding stunts, high-energy dancing; Nickelodeon’s signature orange blimp trophy and epic slimings. Musical performances will be announced at a later date.
Beginning today, fans can cast their votes across 35 categories on the Kids’ Choice Awards website, KidsChoiceAwards.com.
Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards 2025 is produced by Nickelodeon Productions and overseen by: Ashley Kaplan, executive vp, Nickelodeon & Awesomeness Unscripted & Digital Franchise Studio; Paul J Medford, vp, Unscripted Current Series; Luke Wahl, vp, Unscripted Creative; and Jennifer Bernstein, vp, Talent. Guy Carrington & Kevin Hermanson of Done and Dusted serve as executive producers, with Rob Paine serving as co-executive producer. The show is directed by James Merryman.
Here’s a full list of nominations in all categories.
MUSIC
Favorite Female Artist
Ariana Grande
Billie Eilish
Cardi B
Katy Perry
Lady Gaga
Selena Gomez
SZA
Taylor Swift
Favorite Song
“Abracadabra” – Lady Gaga
“Cry for Me” – The Weeknd
“I Can Do It With a Broken Heart” – Taylor Swift
“squabble up” – Kendrick Lamar
“Taste” – Sabrina Carpenter
“Wildflower” – Billie Eilish
Favorite Male Artist
Bad Bunny
Bruno Mars
Drake
Jelly Roll
Kendrick Lamar
Post Malone
The Weeknd
Travis Scott
Favorite Music Group
blink-182
Coldplay
Imagine Dragons
Jonas Brothers
Linkin Park
Stray Kids
TWICE
Favorite Music Collaboration
“APT.” – ROSÉ and Bruno Mars
“Call Me When You Break Up” – Selena Gomez, benny blanco with Gracie Abrams
“Die With A Smile” – Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars
“luther” – Kendrick Lamar and SZA
“Please Please Please” – Sabrina Carpenter (ft. Dolly Parton)
“Show Me Love” – WizTheMc, bees & honey, and Tyla
“Slow Motion” – Marshmello and Jonas Brothers
Favorite Female Breakout Artist
Addison Rae
Chappell Roan
Doechii
GloRilla
JENNIE
LISA
ROSÉ
Sabrina Carpenter
Favorite Male Breakout Artist
Alex Warren
Benson Boone
d4vd
Djo
Leon Thomas
Myles Smith
Shaboozey
Zach Bryan
Favorite Album
Beautifully Broken – Jelly Roll
F-1 Trillion – Post Malone
GNX – Kendrick Lamar
Hurry Up Tomorrow – The Weeknd
I Said I Love You First – Selena Gomez, benny blanco
Mayhem – Lady Gaga
Short n’ Sweet – Sabrina Carpenter
Wicked: The Soundtrack
Favorite Global Music Star
Africa: Tyla
Asia: Stray Kids
Australia: The Kid LAROI
Europe: David Guetta
Latin America: Shakira
North America: Bruno Mars
UK: Ed Sheeran
Favorite Song From a Movie
“Can I Get a Chee Hoo?” – Dwayne Johnson (Moana 2)
“Defying Gravity” – Cynthia Erivo (ft. Ariana Grande) (Wicked)
“Higher Love” – DESI TRILL (ft. DJ Khaled, Cardi B, Natania, Subhi) (Smurfs)
“I Always Wanted A Brother” – Braelyn Rankins, Theo Somolu, Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr. (Mufasa: The Lion King)
“I Feel Alive” – Jack Black (A Minecraft Movie)
“Kiss the Sky” – Maren Morris (The Wild Robot)
“Popular” – Ariana Grande (Wicked)
“Run It” – Jelly Roll (Sonic the Hedgehog 3)
Favorite Viral Song
“Apple” – Charli xcx
“Bluest Flame” – Selena Gomez, benny blanco
“Diet Pepsi” – Addison Rae
“Messy” – Lola Young
“Ordinary” – Alex Warren
“Pink Pony Club” – Chappell Roan
“Sports car” – Tate McRae
“That’s So True” – Gracie Abrams
TELEVISION
Favorite Kids TV Show
Ayla & The Mirrors
Bunk’d
The Really Loud House
The Thundermans: Undercover
Tyler Perry’s Young Dylan
Wizards Beyond Waverly Place
Favorite Male TV Star (Kids)
David Henrie (Justin Russo, Wizards Beyond Waverly Place)
Dylan Gilmer (Young Dylan, Tyler Perry’s Young Dylan)
Hero Hunter (Charlie Wilson, Tyler Perry’s Young Dylan)
Israel Johnson (Noah Lambert, Bunk’d)
Jack Griffo (Max Thunderman, The Thundermans: Undercover)
Trevor Tordjman (Parker Preston, Bunk’d)
Favorite Female TV Star (Kids)
Celina Smith (Rebecca Wilson, Tyler Perry’s Young Dylan)
Janice LeAnn Brown (Billie, Wizards Beyond Waverly Place)
Kira Kosarin (Phoebe Thunderman, The Thundermans: Undercover)
Mallory James Mahoney (Destiny Baker, Bunk’d)
Maya Le Clark (Chloe Thunderman, The Thundermans: Undercover)
Miranda May (Lou Hockhauser, Bunk’d)
Favorite Family TV Show
Abbott Elementary
Cobra Kai
Goosebumps: The Vanishing
Star Wars: Skeleton Crew
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
XO, Kitty
Favorite Male TV Star (Family)
Damon Wayans Jr. (Damon, Poppa’s House)
David Schwimmer (Anthony Brewer, Goosebumps: The Vanishing)
George Lopez (George, Lopez vs Lopez)
Jude Law (Jod Na Nawood, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew)
Sam McCarthy (Devin Brewer, Goosebumps: The Vanishing)
Xolo Maridueña (Miguel Diaz, Cobra Kai)
Favorite Female TV Star (Family)
Anna Cathcart (Kitty, XO, Kitty)
Janelle James (Ava Coleman, Abbott Elementary)
Jayden Bartels (Cece Brewer, Goosebumps: The Vanishing)
Peyton List (Tory Nichols, Cobra Kai)
Reba McEntire (Bobbie, Happy’s Place)
Ryan Kiera Armstrong (Fern, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew)
Favorite Reality TV Show
American Idol
American Ninja Warrior
America’s Funniest Home Videos
America’s Got Talent
MasterChef Junior
The Masked Singer
Favorite Cartoon
Dragon Ball DAIMA
Monster High
SpongeBob SquarePants
Teen Titans Go!
The Loud House
The Simpsons
FILM
Favorite Movie
A Minecraft Movie
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
Captain America: Brave New World
Descendants: The Rise of Red
Paddington in Peru
Sonic the Hedgehog 3
THUNDERBOLTS*
Wicked
Favorite Movie Actor
Chris Evans (Jack O’Malley, Red One)
Chris Pratt (Keats, The Electric State)
Dwayne Johnson (Callum Drift, Red One)
Jack Black (Steve, A Minecraft Movie)
Jason Momoa (Garrett Garrison, A Minecraft Movie)
Jim Carrey (Dr. Robotnik, Sonic the Hedgehog 3)
Favorite Movie Actress
Ariana Grande (Glinda, Wicked)
Cynthia Erivo (Elphaba, Wicked)
Emma Myers (Natalie, A Minecraft Movie)
Jenna Ortega (Astrid Deetz, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice)
Millie Bobby Brown (Michelle Greene, The Electric State)
Winona Ryder (Lydia Deetz, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice)
Favorite Animated Movie
Despicable Me 4
Dog Man
Inside Out 2
Moana 2
Mufasa: The Lion King
Plankton: The Movie
The Wild Robot
Transformers One
Favorite Male Animated Voice From a Movie
Ben Schwartz (Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog 3)
Chris Hemsworth (Orion Pax, Transformers One)
Dwayne Johnson (Maui, Moana 2)
Keanu Reeves (Shadow the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog 3)
Steve Carell (Gru, Despicable Me 4)
Will Ferrell (Maxime Le Mal, Despicable Me 4)
Favorite Female Animated Voice From a Movie
Amy Poehler (Joy, Inside Out 2)
Auli’i Cravalho (Moana, Moana 2)
Kristen Wiig (Lucy, Despicable Me 4)
Lupita Nyong’o (Roz, The Wild Robot)
Maya Hawke (Anxiety, Inside Out 2)
Scarlett Johansson (Elita-1, Transformers One)
Favorite Villain
Frankie Grande (Frankini, Henry Danger: The Movie)
Harrison Ford (President Thaddeus Ross/Red Hulk, Captain America: Brave New World)
Jeff Goldblum (The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Wicked)
Jim Carrey (Dr. Robotnik, Sonic the Hedgehog 3)
Michael Keaton (Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice)
Michelle Yeoh (Madame Morrible, Wicked)
Rita Ora (Queen of Hearts, Descendants: The Rise of Red)
Favorite Butt-Kicker
Anthony Mackie (Sam Wilson/Captain America, Captain America: Brave New World)
Emma Myers (Natalie, A Minecraft Movie)
Florence Pugh (Yelena Belova, THUNDERBOLTS*)
Jace Norman (Henry Hart, Henry Danger: The Movie)
Jack Black (Steve, A Minecraft Movie)
Kylie Cantrall (Princess Red, Descendants: The Rise of Red)
Sebastian Stan (Bucky Barnes, THUNDERBOLTS*)
OTHER CATEGORIES
Favorite Female Sports Star
Alex Morgan
Angel Reese
Caitlin Clark
Coco Gauff
Jordan Chiles
Naomi Osaka
Sha’Carri Richardson
Simone Biles
Favorite Male Sports Star
Jalen Hurts
Jayson Tatum
LeBron James
Lionel Messi
Patrick Mahomes
Shohei Ohtani
Stephen Curry
Travis Kelce
Favorite Male Creator
Adam Rose
Dhar Mann
Keith Lee
Mark Rober
MrBeast
SeanDoesMagic
Favorite Female Creator
Brooke Monk
Charli D’Amelio
Emma Chamberlain
Lexi Rivera
Salish Matter
Sofie Dossi
Favorite Gamer
Aphmau
IBella
IShowSpeed
Kai Cenat
Ninja
Pokimane
Unspeakable
Fan Favorite Kids Creator
A for Adley
Danny Go!
Kids Diana Show
Ms. Rachel
Ryan Kaji/Ryan’s World
Toys and Colors
Favorite Podcast
American Girl: The Smart Girl’s Podcast
Are You Afraid of the Dark?
Avatar: Braving the Elements
Baby, This Is Keke Palmer
LOL Podcast
New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce
Super Great Kids’ Stories
The Nikki & Brie Show
Favorite Video Game
Fortnite
Just Dance 2025 Edition
Madden NFL 25
Minecraft
Roblox
Super Mario Party Jamboree
By now you’re certainly seen video of the nightly ritual at Sabrina Carpenter shows on the singer’s Short n’ Sweet tour where she “arrests” someone from the audience. Back in March, during a stop at the O2 Arena in London, she once again looked around for a guest that was “too hot” in order to […]
This year’s amfAR Gala in Cannes has added a couple of major names to its performance roster. The event announced on Wednesday (May 14) that Ciara and Adam Lambert will perform at the 31st annual gala that typically coincides with the end of the Cannes Film Festival.
The pair will join previously announced performers Duran Duran at the event that will be hosted by Taraji P. Henson at the Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc on May 22. “We are thrilled to have such a sensational lineup of talented artists — the iconic Duran Duran, Ciara, and Adam Lambert — performing for us at amfAR Gala Cannes this year and we are deeply grateful for their support of our work,” amfAR CEO Kevin Robert Frost said in a statement, according to The Hollywood Reporter. “We are also delighted that the incomparable Taraji P. Henson has graciously agreed to act as host for the evening.”
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In addition to the performer news, amfAR also announced the chairs for the event hosted by the world’s leading nonprofit organization dedicated to support of AIDS research, HIV prevention, treatment education and advocacy. Among the A-listers — some of whom are expected to attend — are: Pedro Almodóvar, Angela Bassett, Odell Beckham Jr., Halle Berry, Len Blavatnik, Adrien Brody, Ron Burkle, Marion Cotillard, Tom Cruise, Colman Domingo, Alessandro Dusi, Laurence Escalante, David Glasser, Paris Jackson, Milla Jovovich, Heidi Klum, Spike Lee, Julian Lennon, Demi Moore, Coco Rocha, Carine Roitfeld, Caroline Scheufele, Russell Wilson and Ciara, Jeffrey Wright, Michelle Yeoh.
As usual, there will be a live auction of luxury goods, art and experiences to raise money for the group’s work, as well as a fashion show. Among the items up for auction are a Picasso-esque George Condo painting (Smiling Goddess), a Fast X Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody, a moody 2010 photo of Bono taken by Julian Lennon and a Geroge Hoyningen-Huene platinum palladium print of Josephine Baker from 1929.
There were the usual allotment of eye-popping fashion whoas and uh-ohs at this year’s Met Gala. And while fans and the media love to obsess over who wore what and how, sometimes A-listers who didn’t even go get drawn into the conversation. Take, for instance, Billie Eilish. While it certainly seemed like she dove into […]
Amyl and The Sniffers delivered a characteristically unhinged performance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon this week, taking the late-night stage for a rowdy rendition of their latest single, “Tiny Bikini.”
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Frontwoman Amy Taylor brought her statement punk flair to the late-night stage, pairing her explosive vocals and fearless energy with a cheeky fashion statement – thong sandals repurposed as a top. Styled in leather lace-up shorts, knee-high boots, bold blue eyeshadow and her unmistakable mullet, Taylor delivered the kind of explosive presence that’s become a hallmark of the band’s live performances.
“Tiny Bikini” features on the band’s third studio album Cartoon Darkness, released in March via Rough Trade. The album marks a new high point in their trajectory, blending their snarling pub-rock energy with a sharper sense of songwriting and production. It follows 2021’s Comfort to Me, which landed in the top 10 of the ARIA Albums Chart and earned international acclaim.
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Their Fallon appearance comes at a peak moment for the Melbourne punk outfit. Earlier this week, Amyl and The Sniffers scored three nominations at the 2024 AIR Awards, including Independent Album of the Year and Best Independent Rock Album or EP for Cartoon Darkness, as well as Independent Song of the Year for “U Should Not Be Doing That.” The latter already took out Song of the Year at the recent APRA Music Awards, and have won three ARIA Awards, including Best Group in 2022.
The band also performed at Coachella last month, earned a Brit Award nomination for Best International Group, and graced the cover of Rolling Stone AUNZ in March after picking up two trophies at the 2024 RSA Awards.
Known for pushing the envelope, Amyl and The Sniffers previously made headlines with the uncensored version of their music video for “Jerkin’,” which featured full-frontal nudity and a disclaimer emphasizing body positivity over titillation.
From raucous club gigs to mainstream U.S. television, the Aussie band continues to prove that they’re not here to tone things down. In fact, they’re just getting started.