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06 Jun 2025

Mrs. GREEN APPLE on Landing Unprecedented Trifecta on Billboard Japan Mid-Year Charts: Interview

Billboard Japan unveiled its mid-year charts for 2025 early Friday morning (June 6), and Mrs. GREEN APPLE dominated the three major domestic rankings for the first time in the platform’s history: the all-genre Japan Hot 100 song chart, the Hot Albums tally, and the Artist 100 list compiled from the sum of the former two charts.

The three-man band’s songs old and new are loved by a wide audience, including the long-running hit “Lilac,” streamed approximately 270 million times during the mid-year tallying period. As they forge ahead with projects marking the tenth anniversary of their major-label debut, members Motoki Omori, Hiloto Wakai, and Ryoka Fujisawa shared their thoughts on the band’s monumental achievement during a packed schedule, repeatedly expressing their gratitude to everyone who listens to their music.

“Lilac” is the No. 1 song on Billboard Japan’s mid-year Japan Hot 100. Mrs. GREEN APPLE also remains atop the Artist 100 chart following your reign over the year-end list for 2024, and your album ANTENNA tops the Hot Albums tally for the first time. Congratulations! How do you feel about this unprecedented accomplishment?

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Motoki Omori (vocals, guitar): I’m thrilled. I also feel humbled, but the fact that so many people are listening to our music just makes me so happy. I’d like to continue making music sincerely from now on as well. Thank you.

Hiloto Wakai (guitar): It makes me really happy to know that our music is reaching so many people in this way. “Lilac” is a song from last year, and since we aim to make songs that will be loved for a long time, it’s very gratifying. Thank you.

Ryoka Fujisawa (keyboards): Mrs. GREEN APPLE is celebrating its tenth anniversary since its debut this year. From the time we formed the band, we’ve continued to place importance on putting out the music that Omori writes, so I feel very happy and grateful that it’s being listened to by many and appreciated like this. Thank you.

And Mr. Omori, you’re on your way to becoming the Top Lyricist and Top Composer for the third year straight, after topping the mid-year results for 2025. In addition to “Lilac,” “Bitter Vacances,” “Que Sera Sera,” “Darling,” and “Soranji” are also charting in the top 10, proving that many listeners are inspired by your words, and the melodies that create the world of your songs.

Omori: You know what, I’m just really pleased to hear such kind words from each person and also about the fact that our songs are blending into everyday life and adding color to it. Like, “I danced to your song on our school’s sports day,” or “It was playing at such-and-such a place,” for example. I still find it hard to believe that my music has become a part of people’s everyday lives, but it really gives me joy. Writing music is a necessity in my life, not just something I enjoy doing. It’s something very important for me to be able to live my life as who I am, so I feel really fortunate that the recognition meshes properly with that and am grateful for it.

You’ve had many opportunities to do solo work in addition to working as a band. Do you feel that you’ve grown from those experiences?

Wakai: I’ve done solo work before, but used to always be like, “What if I mess up?” and sometimes things didn’t go well. But now that I’m being tapped to work as an individual on more occasions, I’m starting to gradually enjoy myself more, so that feels like proof that I’m growing as a person.

Omori: I’ve had more opportunities to do acting, and it’s the first time in four years that I’ve done any solo work. I feel very reassured by the magnitude of our band and the fact that Wakai and Fujisawa are protecting it as my allies. I’m able to lean on them now, and that feels like personal growth, or that time has passed. I’m truly grateful to both of them.

Fujisawa: I’ve been watching Omori and Wakai working hard on their solo endeavors and like them, I’m determined to do my best representing our band, but I don’t think I’m in a position to speak of such ambitions yet. When I’m working on my own, it really hits home how important Omori and Wakai are to me. Like the things they say, or words of encouragement they give me when we’re working together. I really appreciate that kind of casual, everyday communication. Every day I realize how grateful I am that they’re there.

The tenth anniversary of your debut, as well as your anniversary concerts and dome tour are coming up. What do you think are the highlights and things to look out for in these events for fans looking forward to them?

Omori: I think the best way to experience the latest Mrs. GREEN APPLE is at one of our live shows, so I hope everyone will enjoy our energy to the fullest. I’m just looking forward to meeting many people. I want to express my gratitude directly to the people who support us so much, so I hope we’ll have more opportunities to do so. Everything is going to be fun, so I really hope people will enjoy it from the bottom of their hearts without hesitation. That’s all I can say.

Wakai: There are some songs we haven’t performed live yet, so I hope people have fun waiting to see if they’ll be played or not. We’re all excited getting prepared, so let’s go full-out and create some fun memories together! Looking forward to seeing everyone there!

Fujisawa: This year is our MGA MAGICAL 10 YEARS celebration, and we intend to unleash lots of things that everyone will enjoy. As the other two said, we’re really looking forward to meeting everyone, and more than anything, we’re grateful to be able to celebrate the tenth anniversary of our major-label debut in this way. All we feel is gratitude, and I hope everyone is really, really looking forward to it!

–This interview by Mariko Ikitake first appeared on Billboard Japan

06 Jun 2025

Samuel L. Jackson Didn’t Understand Kendrick Lamar’s Halftime Show Until Dress Rehearsal

Samuel L. Jackson didn’t exactly know what he was getting into when he first agreed to be a part of Kendrick Lamar‘s Super Bowl Halftime Show.

The veteran actor and civil rights activist stopped by the Mad Sad Bad podcast and talked about his turn as Uncle Sam during the Super Bowl earlier this year, telling host Paloma Faith that it wasn’t until dress rehearsal that he started to put two and two together.

“I didn’t know what they were doing,” he admitted after being asked what it felt like to contribute to the performance. “It was kinda trippy because it wasn’t until dress rehearsal that when I looked up and I looked on that stage and I go, ‘Oh sh—t, that’s a flag. Ah, f—k, we’re being revolutionaries.’ Because I wasn’t listening or paying attention.”

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Lamar’s performance took on a political tone as he and his pgLang team wanted to convey what Black America looks like and used Jackson as sort of a “Greek chorus” to narrate the action on the field, just as he did in Spike Lee‘s 2015 film Chi-Raq as Dolmedes, something even the Brooklyn filmmaker acknowledged.

Jackson has a rich history in America’s civil rights movement, so much so that he was one of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s ushers during his funeral when he was attending Morehouse and has come to realize that he often finds himself in these kind of important situations.

“Something about me or my persona has put me in the right place at the right time… in a lot of different moments in my life,” he told Faith. “And I have to accept that that’s what I’m meant to be sometimes; an agent of change, whether I know it or not. And to be proud of it and to know God has placed me in a place that I can be influential.”

He added: “I wanna be on the right side of history in terms of what’s going on, and sometimes it’s not by choice.”

Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Halftime Show was the most watched in the history of the event.

You can watch the full interview with Samuel L. Jackson below.

06 Jun 2025

Mrs. GREEN APPLE Tops Billboard Japan’s 2025 Mid-Year Hot 100, Hot Albums & Artist 100 Charts

Mrs. GREEN APPLE dominates Billboard Japan’s mid-year domestic charts for 2025, rounding up the weeks from Nov. 25, 2024 through May 25, 2025.

On the Japan Hot 100 song chart, the three-man band’s “Lilac” leads the list for the first half of the year. “Lilac” was released on April 12, 2024, and featured as the opening theme song for the anime show Oblivion Battery. The track became a long-running hit, topping the Japan Hot 100 five times during the tallying period for the 2025 mid-year chart.

Rosé & Bruno Mars’ “APT.” follows at No. 2. The global hit led the Japan Hot 100 on the chart released Nov. 20, becoming the first song by a Western act to hit No. 1 on the tally in about eleven and a half years, since The Wanted’s “Glad You Came” in May 2013.

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At No. 3 is Mrs. GREEN APPLE’s “Bitter Vacances.” The theme song for the live-action movie Saint Young Men became the third-fastest song to rack up 100 million streams for the band. Four songs by the hitmakers have charted in the mid-year top five, the first time any act has accomplished this feat.

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Frontman and principal songwriter Motoki Omori comments, “I’m thrilled. I also feel humbled, but the fact that so many people are listening to our music just makes me so happy. I’d like to continue making music sincerely from now on as well. Thank you.” Guitarist Hiloto Wakai says, “It makes me really happy to know that our music is reaching so many people in this way. ‘Lilac’ is a song from last year, and since we aim to make songs that will be loved for a long time, it’s very gratifying. Thank you.” Keyboardist Ryoka Fujisawa notes, “Mrs. GREEN APPLE is celebrating its tenth anniversary since its debut this year. From the time we formed the band, we’ve continued to place importance on putting out the music that Omori writes, so I feel very happy and grateful that it’s being listened to by many and appreciated like this. Thank you.”

Mrs. GREEN APPLE also rules the mid-year Hot Albums chart, with its fifth studio set ANTENNA leading the list. The project dropped on July 5, 2023 and came in at No. 1 for streaming and No. 7 for downloads during the 2025 mid-year tallying period.

Snow Man’s best-of album THE BEST 2020 – 2025 follows at No. 2. The collection by the nine-member group sold 1,616,736 copies during the tallying period and topped the album sales chart. SixTONES’ fifth album GOLD is at No. 3. All of the sextet’s albums, including this one, has hit No. 1 on the Hot Albums tally.

And Mrs. GREEN APPLE rounds out the mid-year trifecta as the top artist on the Japan Artist 100 chart, compiled from the results of the Japan Hot 100 and Hot Albums charts. 20 songs by the “Darling” hitmakers have charted in the mid-year top 100.

back number follows at No. 2. The veteran three-man band’s latest hit is “Blue Amber,” being featured as the theme song of a currently ongoing drama series. At No. 3 is singer-songwriter Vaundy, who has five songs including “Kaiju no Hanauta” and “Fuujin” charting in the top 100.

The globalization of music has been gaining momentum in recent years, with Japanese artists performing overseas more proactively and a brand-new international music award, MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN, launching this year. On Billboard Japan’s Global Japan Songs Excl. Japan chart that tallies songs from the country that are popular abroad, Creepy Nuts’ “Otonoke” rules the mid-year round-up. The Dandadan opener has become a global hit following the rap duo’s breakout smash “Bling-Bang-Bang-Born.” “Otonoke” also topped the country and region specific Japan Songs rankings in six countries and regions, tallying the weeks from Nov. 22, 2024 through May 22, 2025.

“‘Otonoke’ has topped the mid-year Global Japan Songs excl. Japan chart for 2025, a ranking of songs from our country that are being listened to globally. Thank you so much!” comment Creepy Nuts. “We’re really proud of ‘Otonoke,’ so we’re glad to know so many people from around the world are enjoying it. We also look forward to being able to visit the countries where our songs are being listened to and perform live there. Thank you for your continued support!”

Billboard Japan Hot 100 Mid-Year Chart 2025

1. “Lilac” / Mrs. GREEN APPLE

2. “APT.” / Rosé & Bruno Mars

3. “Bitter Vacances” / Mrs. GREEN APPLE

4. “Que Sera Sera” / Mrs. GREEN APPLE

5. “Darling” / Mrs. GREEN APPLE

6. “Soranji” / Mrs. GREEN APPLE

7. “Otonoke” / Creepy Nuts

8. “Kawaii Dakeja Dame Desuka?” / CUTIE STREET

9. “IKUOKUKONEN” / Omoinotake

10. “Bling-Bang-Bang-Born” / Creepy Nuts

Billboard Japan Hot Albums Mid-Year Chart 2025

1. ANTENNA / Mrs. GREEN APPLE

2. THE BEST 2020 – 2025 / Snow Man

3. Attitude / Mrs. GREEN APPLE

4. strobo / Vaundy

5. No.Ⅰ / Number_i

6. replica / Vaundy

7. Rosie / Rosé

8. Hello! We’re timelesz / timelesz

9. LOST CORNER / Kenshi Yonezu

10. BAD HOP / BAD HOP

Billboard Japan Artist 100 Mid-Year Chart 2025

1. Mrs. GREEN APPLE

2. back number

3. Vaundy

4. Kenshi Yonezu

5. Official HIGE DANdism

6. YOASOBI

7. Aimyon

8. Creepy Nuts

9. Snow Man

10. CHANMINA

Billboard Japan Global Japan Songs Excl. Japan Mid-Year Chart 2025

1. “Otonoke” / Creepy Nuts

2. “Bling-Bang-Bang-Born” / Creepy Nuts

3. “Idol” / YOASOBI

4. “Shinunoga E-Wa” / Fujii Kaze

5. “ReawakeR (feat. Felix of Stray Kids)” / LiSA

6. “TOKYO DRIFT (FAST & FURIOUS)” / TERIYAKI BOYZ

7. “Mayonaka no Door – Stay With Me” / Miki Matsubara

8. “It’s Going Down Now” / Lotus Juice/Azumi Takahashi

9. “NIGHT DANCER” / imase

10. “Racing into the Night” / YOASOBI

06 Jun 2025

Which New Music Release Is Your Favorite This Week? Vote!

The first week of June is ending with an impressive variety of major music releases, with hitmakers such as Sabrina Carpenter, Mariah Carey and Ed Sheeran all dropping new tracks.

Both S.C. and M.C. released songs dedicated to the types of partners they’re attracted to, but with decisively different attitudes. Marking her first piece of new music since the Short n’ Sweet deluxe album dropped in February, Carpenter skewers incapable men on “Manchild” while owning up to her own habit of choosing them in the first place — “I like my men all incompetent,” she sings on the Jack Antonoff-produced track — whereas the Songbird Supreme declares she’s “looking for the dangerous type” on her first proper single in years, “Type Dangerous.”

Other singles that dropped this week include Sheeran’s sparkling “Sapphire” — on which the British pop star blends dance-pop with Indian influences and sings a few lyrics in Punjabi — as well as a remix of KATSEYE’s hit “Gnarly,” featuring Ice Spice. In a recent interview with Billboard, the members of the girl group said that after 2024’s Brat Summer and Hot Girl Summer before that, they’re ready for a “Gnarly” summer in 2025 — and this new collaboration with the New York rapper seems to be the next step in making that happen.

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Plus, music fans got a vast array of new albums by everyone from Turnstile, whose Never Enough arrived Friday (June 6), to Addison Rae, who dropped her long-awaited debut solo LP Addison following steady growth with singles “Diet Pepsi,” “Aquamarine” and “Headphones On.” Lil Wayne also finally unveiled Tha Carter VI, a sprawling LP that features collaborations with the likes of Jelly Roll and BigXThaPlug that prove Weezy is still a gifted hip-hop craftsman more than two decades after he first started his Carter album series.

But which of those releases is your favorite this week? Billboard wants to know. Tell us your top pick by voting in the poll below.

06 Jun 2025

Everything ROSÉ, LISA, JENNIE & JISOO Have Said About BLACKPINK’s Upcoming Reunion

Over the past two-ish years, BLINKs have definitely missed seeing their favorite lovesick girls together. But this summer, the ladies of BLACKPINK will finally be a unit once more, with ROSÉ, LISA, JENNIE and JISOO set to return with a world tour and new music after taking time off to pursue solo projects.

And, much like their fans, the foursome has been open about their excitement surrounding their pending comeback. Though details of just how and when it would happen remained hazy for many months during their time apart, it was finally announced in February that BLACKPINK would hit the road as a band for the first time since 2022-2023’s Born Pink World Tour, embarking on a run of stadium dates kicking off July 5 in Goyang, South Korea. As that first show has gotten closer, a couple of the women have also dropped hints about new music in the works, with the K-pop girl group last releasing an album — Billboard 200-topper Born Pink — in October 2022.

But, despite their eagerness to get back together, the BLACKPINK members have also talked about how important it was for each of them to take time for themselves. During which, ROSÉ, LISA and JENNIE all released debut solo albums — Rosie, Alter Ego and Ruby, respectively — each climbing to the top 10 of the Billboard 200, while JISOO dropped a solo EP titled Amortage and focused on acting projects. As a result, each member has something new to bring to their group dynamic, and fans will finally get to see that in action very soon.

While we wait for the big day, keep reading to see everything the foursome has said about reuniting — from getting back in the studio together to joining forces on stage again — below.

06 Jun 2025

How to Get Addison Rae’s ‘Times Like These’ Makeup Look With These Beauty Products

All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

Addison Rae just dropped a dreamy music video, and a stunning beauty look with it.

The singer just dropped her self-titled debut studio album, and with it a music video for her track “Times Like These.” In the video, Rae channeled levels drama, beauty and grace, all while looking stunning. The video saw the performer and TikTok star boasting a full-on Armani Beauty look featuring a dreamy lavender eye and dewy skin.

For those looking to replicate Rae’s music video moment, you’re in luck. From blush to concealer to eye makeup, we’re sharing all of the Armani Beauty products Rae used to create her latest music video look that you can shop now at Sephora.

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Addison Rae's 'Times Like These' Makeup: Shop the Products

Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Cheek Tint Shine

A new blush in a mauve hue with flecks of sparkling pigmint.

Armani Beauty just dropped Luminous Silk Cheek Tint Shine. Rae popped on shade 62S Magnetic Mauve in a radiant finish on her cheeks and a bit on her lips. The lively flush product comes in two finishes, natural and radiant. It’s exceedingly lightweight, instantly melting into the skin. This liquid blush is also exceedingly long-lasting, up to 12 hours to be exact.

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Rae’s chosen hue is a mauve tone with flecks of sparkling pigment suspended in the formula that offers the skin a luminous finish, hence the name. In total, you’ve got 10 shades, four of them new, so there’s bound to be something that’ll work for you.

Addison Rae's 'Times Like These' Makeup: Shop the Products

Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Natural Glow Foundation

A foundation with a natural glowy finish.

Rae’s makeup team utilized Luminous Silk Natural Glow Foundation in shade 5.75 light to medium, golden. The foundation is a best-seller for Armani Beauty, and for good reason. Retailing for $69.00, this foundation features a radiant, skin-like finish that offers the complexion a subtle “glow from within” kind of look.

Addison Rae's 'Times Like These' Makeup: Shop the Products

Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Hydrating Face and Under-Eye Concealer

A silky brightening undereye concealer in a hydrating formula.

High-coverage and well-performing like its foundation counterpart, Armani Beauty’s Luminous Silk Hydrating Face and Under-Eye Concealer is a major winner in our book. Rae used shade 5.25 medium with a pink undertone to cancel out any redness under the eyes. The concealer is equipped with a radiant but high-coverage formula that’s dispersed with help from a nifty short doe foot applicator.

Addison Rae's 'Times Like These' Makeup: Shop the Products

Armani Beauty Eye Tint Long-Lasting Liquid Eyeshadow

A long-lasting tinted liquid eyeshadow with a doe foot applicator.

This dreamy and ultra-creamy eyeshadow formula comes in three finishes, metallic, matte and shimmer. Rae sported shade 32S Frost in an icy lilac shimmer. The pastel hue was very 2000s-inspired and brought out the color of her eyes. The secret of this eyeshadow formula is a liquid-to-powder technology that goes on wet so you can blend and dries down so it won’t budge or transfer. That means no fallout and no creasing. The formula consists of pure color pigments in a water-infused formula so you can build up for a higher color payoff without disturbing the layer beneath. No bunching or pilling here.

Addison Rae's 'Times Like These' Makeup: Shop the Products

Armani Beauty Vertigo Lift Longwear Lengthening Mascara

A black lengthening longwear mascara.

Want long lashes without the hassle? The Vertigo Lift Longwear Lengthening Mascara will get you there in a few easy swipes. The “Headphones On” singer wore Armani Beauty’s Obsidian Black shade, a deep and rich pigmented hue with a formula that builds and lengthens without getting clumpy. The wand is equipped with a long and bristled brush that works to define each lash, giving each hair follicle the attention and length it deserves. Smudgeproof and ultra black, the formula also boasts 24 hours of wear time. Rae built up her lashes with this product for a spidery, doll-like look, making the eyes look bigger in turn.

Addison Rae's 'Times Like These' Makeup: Shop the Products

Armani Beauty Prisma Glass Hydrating Lip Gloss with Squalane

A clear hydrating gloss with squalane for moisturizing properties.

For a powerful pout, Rae sported Armani Beauty’s Prisma Glass Hydrating Lip Gloss with Squalane in shade 01 Clear Shine. The chosen shade is clear and not sticky, offering the lips a glassy and plump look. The key to this formula is the added squalane, a naturally occurring oil that offers ample hydration, keeping the lips shiny and moisturized. Clear glosses like these can be used as a sort of lip topper, enhancing the color beneath. If the clear gloss isn’t your thing, the Prisma formula is also available in eight other colors on Sephora’s website.

Watch Addison Rae’s “Times Like These” music video below:

06 Jun 2025

Beyoncé Effortlessly Handles a Wardrobe Mishap During Her Cowboy Carter London Show

Beyoncé suffered a wardrobe malfunction during her Cowboy Carter Tour on Thursday night (June 5), but not even having her pants fall down on stage can ruffle Queen Bey’s feathers.

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According to footage posted by attendees on social media, the mishap occurred on the opening night of the icon’s stop at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium when, while performing a dance move during “I’m That Girl,” the pair of golden, fringed chaps Bey was wearing slipped off her bodysuit and fell to her ankles.

Such a scenario would be the ultimate nightmare for many of us, but without so much as blinking, the superstar continued to nail her pose before smoothly slinking down into a crouch to pull the chaps back up — at which point one of her backup dancers helped ensure that the bottoms were once again fastened securely around her waist.

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Thankfully, by the time Beyoncé launched into the Renaissance opener’s sultry bridge, all was well and she effortlessly continued with the number’s choreography.

Naturally, members of the Beyhive were buzzing in the comments section with praise for not only their queen’s unfazed professionalism but the hilarious timing of the malfunction. “The pants did their own choreography matched with the beat,” one fan wrote, while another added, “The song was so appropriate for the pants drop ‘these pants ain’t stopping me, deadass’” followed by multiple laughing emojis.

Meanwhile, Beyoncé is set to play five more shows in the U.K. through June 16 before performing three nights at Paris’ Stade de France. The Cowboy Carter Tour is set to return to this side of the Atlantic on June 28 with back-to-back shows in her hometown of Houston, Texas.

Watch Beyoncé breeze through her wardrobe malfunction here.

06 Jun 2025

Ana Bárbara, Adriel Favela & Horacio Palencia Hope ‘Pase a la Fama’ Gives Mexican Music ‘A Different Level of Visibility’

Pase a la Fama, Telemundo’s new television series, is set to premiere on Sunday, June 8 featuring a star-studded panel of judges — Ana Bárbara, Adriel Favela and Horacio Palencia — and original music produced by Latin Grammy-winning hitmaker Edgar Barrera.

During the show, participants will compete in a bootcamp-like setting where they will “train, perform and face challenges,” according to a press statement, vying for a $100,000 prize, a record deal with HYBE Latin America and crowned the next regional Mexican band, which will comprised of five participants.

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“The truth is that it’s a project we put our hearts into,” Ana Bárbara tells Billboard during a conversation over Zoom, just days before competition kick off. “I personally feel moved, excited, thrilled and I think it will be a great project.”

The judges will be meticulous about who they choose as finalists. They must have “discipline and respect for the audience and us as judges, all of those are ingredients that for me are very, very important,” Palencia says. “In fact, I tell the new generation that, for me, discipline is actually even more important than talent, because sometimes it doesn’t matter to have talent if you don’t have discipline.”

So, what were the main qualities the judges looked for?

“It’s a band and, at the end of the day, I believe that there are many components that contribute to what brings success to a career,” Palencia adds. “The [right] attitude, preparation and how they accept more than just criticism, but the constructive advice we give them,” Palencia adds. “I believe that the winning band will genuinely work towards achieving all of those characteristics.”

The show is set to premiere at a time when some música mexicana artists are facing bans in Mexico (if they sing narcocorridos in certain public settings) or visa delays and revocations in the United States. “I had no idea that all of this could happen, which is both delicate and strong, yet sensitive, and definitely very sad,” Ana Bárbara says. “Because it affects all of us in some way, it has an impact. We all admire the music of someone who is having problems for various reasons, beyond whatever the reason may be. This show will provide [Mexican] music with a different level of visibility.”

The judges will also focus on emphasizing “clean song lyrics and about love stories,” Favela says. “It is nice to realize that music is giving us a chance to go beyond the musical aspect. To see our individual values, to see young people singing themes that, nowadays, I dare to say, are being lost, perhaps more and more. And that there is validity in rescuing all of this, which at the end of the day is the pure root of our Mexican essence.”

It was previously announced that Lupillo Rivera, Fuerza Regida’s JOP and Gabito Ballestero’s will join the show as mentors. The first episode of Pase a la Fama will premiere Sunday at 9 p.m. ET on Telemundo.

06 Jun 2025

Queer Jams of the Week: New Music From Ethel Cain, Cynthia Erivo, King Princess & More

Gay-dies and gentle-thems, happy Pride! With the queerest season of the year officially upon us, what better way to celebrate than with some new bangers from your favorite queer artists? Billboard Pride is proud to present the latest edition of Queer Jams of the Week, our roundup of some of the best new music releases from LGBTQ+ artists.

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From Ethel Cain’s plaintive new single to Cynthia Erivo’s emotional new album, check out just a few of our favorite releases from this week below:

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Ethel Cain, “Nettles”

After taking a brief detour with her droning EP Perverts, Ethel Cain is back to the task at hand with “Nettles,” the long-awaited first lead single off her forthcoming album, Willoughby Trucker, I’ll Always Love You. Taking fans back five years before the narrative of her critically-acclaimed LP Preacher’s Daughter, “Nettles” paints a gentle, melancholy of a young couple, deeply in love with one another for better or worse. The stunning country-blues production and Cain’s echoing, gorgeous vocal, makes “Nettles” yet another song in her growing discography you’ll keep going back for, picking out new details every time.

Cynthia Erivo, I Forgive You

After a career spent bringing others’ characters to life — whether it’s The Color Purple‘s Celie, Wicked’s Elphaba or dozens of others — Cynthia Erivo steps into herself with her stunning sophomore album I Forgive You. Over the course of 20 songs ranging from slinky R&B (early standout “Play the Woman”), touching adult contemporary, (“She Said”), or straight-up power ballads (“Worst of Me”), Erivo lets her voice do the work, showcasing her once-in-a-lifetime instrument at every given opportunity. As she told Billboard in our latest cover story: “People don’t know me as a musician in the way they’re getting to know me now.” So, get to know the real Cynthia Erivo with her lush new LP.

King Princess, “RIP KP”

What better way to kick off your Pride celebrations than with a capital-L Lesbian Anthem? King Princess returned with “RIP KP” this week, and she made sure that her first single back was a certified banger. Slinky guitars and a shuffling drum beat punctuate Mikaela Straus’ playful vocal, as the singer lists all the various ways the object of her affections can take her — “on the floor,” “up against the door,” you name it, KP is down. The title might suggest a passing on, but rest assured; King Princess is back and better than ever.

Big Thief, “Incomprehensible”

With their latest single “Incomprehensible,” Big Thief are touching on a universal theme — getting older — while still giving it enough specificity to make it feel like something brand new. Adrienne Lenker’s voice, in particular, cuts through this shimmering single, as she struggles with her own moratlity, and what that does to her identity. “And as silver as the rainbow scales that shimmer purple blue/ How can beauty that is living be anything but true?” she questions.

Scott Hoying, “PRAY”

How conversion therapy is still a legal practice in this country is beyond us — but Pentatonix’s Scott Hoying is here with a bit of a rebuttal to the folks claiming you can “pray the gay away.” On his infectious new gospel-tinged single “Pray,” Hoying sings (and believe us when we say that he sings) about his own experiences with the anti-LGBTQ+, before making it clear that the only thing we ought to be praying for is the courage to accept ourselves as we are.

Check out all of our picks below on Billboard’s Queer Jams of the Week playlist:

06 Jun 2025

The Funeral Portrait Nabs Second Mainstream Rock Airplay No. 1 With ‘Holy Water’

The Funeral Portrait goes 2-for-2 atop Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart, lifting to No. 1 on the June 14-dated survey with “Holy Water.”

The track, which features Five Finger Death Punch vocalist Ivan Moody, is the band’s second Mainstream Rock Airplay ruler in as many entries, following the one-week reign of “Suffocate City,” featuring Ice Nine Kills’ Spencer Charnas, last November.

This time around, The Funeral Portrait’s trip to No. 1 is one week quicker; “Holy Water” rules in its 18th frame on the chart.

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Moody reaches No. 1 on Mainstream Rock Airplay as a solo act for the first time, having exceeded his No. 10 peak as a featured vocalist on Cory Marks’ “Outlaws & Outsiders,” alongside Travis Tritt and Mick Mars, in 2020. Five Finger Death Punch, with him as frontman, boasts 15 leaders, third-most dating to the ranking’s March 1981 inception.

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Concurrently, “Holy Water” places at No. 11 on the all-rock-format, audience-based Rock & Alternative Airplay chart with 2.5 million audience impressions, up 8%, in the week ending June 5, according to Luminate. The song reached a No. 8 high a week earlier and marks The Funeral Portrait’s first top 10 on the tally, having passed the No. 11 best of “Suffocate City.”

“Holy Water” is the second single from The Funeral Portrait’s 2024 album Greetings From Suffocate City. Released in September, the set has earned 25,000 equivalent album units to date. The collection is the second full-length from the group, which formed in Atlanta more than a decade ago.

All Billboard charts dated June 14 will update Tuesday, June 10.