State Champ Radio News
Page: 501
Illenium has signed with Republic Records. The move comes after the electronic producer’s tenure at Warner Records, where he released two albums dating back to 2021. Prior to that, he was signed to UMG and the indie labels Seeking Blue and Kasaya Records.
“This is a completely new chapter for me,” the artist born Nick Miller tells Billboard of signing with Republic. “When I had my meeting with Republic, I just felt a family sort of love. I want people working my music that are as passionate as I am and truly have my best interest in mind. Republic absolutely has that for me.”
“I just felt an energy at Republic that was really inspiring,” he continues. “They’re also the best at what they do, so it’s hard to even consider anywhere else.”
Trending on Billboard
Illenium says that within the next six months, he’ll reveal information about a new project that he calls “my most ambitious, without a doubt.” He doesn’t say whether or not this project is a new album, but notes that “I’m working every day, but don’t have an exact ETA yet. But I’m moving at light speed.”
The last Illenium album was a 2023 self-titled project and an attendant remix album. Since then, the Colorado-based producer has released a handful of singles and remixes. His forthcoming work will include what he calls “a sick drum n bass style song” with Kid Kudi. He also says that “Ryan Tedder and I wrote something beautiful with Amy Allen and Lostboy,” and there additionally is “a bunch of other stuff that’s awesome but not ready to share yet.” On Tuesday (May 6), Illenium and Hayla also teased a new collaboration they say is “coming soon.”
“We are thrilled to welcome Illenium and his expert team to the Republic family,” Glenn Mendlinger, the evp of Republic Records and president of IMPERIAL & Casablanca Records tells Billboard. “The world he has created and the fandom he has built over the last decade is nothing short of remarkable. Nick is a true pioneer in the electronic music landscape and has carved out a lane that is distinctly Illenium. His anthemic, emotional music and signature production has touched people globally and his landmark live shows have created incredible communal moments for his fans. Together our ambitions are grand and the team is already setting up for a historic year ahead.”
In addition to his recorded music, Illenium has carved out a wildly successful touring career, becoming one of the few electronic artists able to play and sell out stadiums and arenas. His Trilogy shows have taken place at a handful of stadiums across the U.S., with a 2023 show in Denver grossing $3.9 million and selling 47,000 tickets, according to numbers reported to Billboard Boxscore.
Wolverine, the 142-year-old workwear brand trusted by generations of tradespeople, is kicking things up a notch with their newest partnership with country music star Jordan Davis. Known for his heartfelt lyrics and no-nonsense work ethic, the Billboard-charting country artist is a perfect fit for Wolverine, which celebrates those who put in the work and stay the course.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
“For me, it’s the versatility of Wolverine,” says Davis. “It’s something I can wear in my everyday life—get off the road, jump in the truck, come out to the farm—and I know it’s going to be there for me. It’s a brand I have a lot of trust in.”
And that trust runs deep. Davis grew up watching his dad and grandpa working in their shops, refurbishing furniture and casting lines in the creek—all with Wolverine boots on their feet. Now, whether he’s writing songs in Nashville, playing shows around the world on his ‘Ain’t Enough Road Tour’, or spending time on his Tennessee farm, those same boots are still part of his story.
Trending on Billboard
But this partnership goes beyond the boots.
Wolverine and Davis are hitting the road for something big: The Wolverine x Jordan Davis Trades Tour. This first-of-its-kind initiative will celebrate eight American small trades businesses with over $100,000 in sponsorships and gear—giving back to the very people who inspire Wolverine and Jordan every day.
“For over 140 years, Wolverine has been about supporting those whose work we couldn’t live without – American tradesmen and women,” said Lauren King, Senior Director of Marketing for Wolverine. “The Wolverine x Jordan Davis Trades Tour is our latest commitment to celebrating their hard work, resilience, and impact. We’re proud to stand beside them and shine a spotlight on the essential work they do every day.”
“Growing up in a family of tradesmen is something I have a ton of pride in,” Davis shares. “It taught me about hard work and creating something from nothing. I want to pass that on to my kids—and this tour is a way to honor the folks still doing it.”
Each of the eight selected businesses will receive a $15,000 support package, including $7,500 toward growing their business, $2,500 in boots and gear, and even a VIP experience at a local stop on Jordan’s Ain’t Enough Road Tour. Plus, their name will be featured on the official Trades Tour t-shirt and promoted and sold across Wolverine and Jordan Davis’ channels, including merch stands at Jordan’s tour this fall.
“Wolverine has been with me on a lot of long days—on the road, at the farm, in the studio,” Davis says. “They’re built for endurance, just like the people who wear them.”
As Davis puts it, “There’s just something special about creating something with your own hands—and knowing you’ve got the gear to back you up.”
To check out the boots or nominate a trades business for the tour, head tohttps://www.wolverine.com/US/en/trades-tour.
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. Not only is Doja Cat showing off some of the cutest new bags in this Marc Jacobs campaign, the social post […]
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.
Spring is here and summer is just around the corner. One of the best ways to spend a day at the beach, or at a picnic with friends and family, is with your own music to brighten up the vibe. Bring the party with you, thanks to this wireless boom box from Skullcandy, which is marked down nearly 55% off the list price.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
The Skullcandy Barrel Bluetooth Boombox Speaker is on sale for $79 — $90 off — at Walmart. It has a 4.7 out of 5-star rating from nearly 100 of the retailer’s shoppers.
The big barrel-style Bluetooth speaker features crystal-clear premium audio with deep and booming bass that’s full and rich. Simply connect your smartphone, tablet or laptop to the device to listen to your favorite music with customizable sounds and settings via the Skullcandy app.
It’s compatible with Apple and Android mobile devices, while you can listen to tracks and playlists from Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Soundcloud, Pandora, Tidal, YouTube Music, iHeartRadio, SiriusXM and much more.
Additionally, the Skullcandy Barrel Bluetooth Boombox Speaker has a built-in handle for easier travel and portability. It’s IPX5-rated for water resistance too, so feel free to take it to the beach or the pool.
Skullcandy
Skullcandy Barrel Bluetooth Boombox Speaker
$79
$169
53% off
And since the Skullcandy Barrel Bluetooth Boombox Speaker is from Walmart, you’ll get it shipped to you for free if you’re a Walmart+ member. Otherwise, your cart has to be more than $35 to get free shipping.
If you’re not a member, then you’re in luck: You can sign up for a 30-day free trial to take advantage of everything the retailer’s rewards program has to offer with perks such as free, fast delivery; fuel discounts; deals at Burger King, streaming access to Paramount+ to watch hit originals; additional savings with early access deals and much more.
Meanwhile, Walmart+ comes with access to SiriusXM for all sorts of talk radio and music — including popular channels such as SiriusXM Hits 1 for pop hits from Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, SZA, Harry Styles, Dua Lipa, Post Malone, Olivia Rodrigo, The Weeknd, Sabrina Carpenter, Benson Boone and others. Learn more about what Walmart+ can offer you here.
Discounted down to $79 (regularly $169), the Skullcandy Barrel Bluetooth Boombox Speaker is available as a “rollback” item at Walmart.
Want more? For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best Xbox deals, studio headphones and Nintendo Switch accessories.
Singer-songwriter Brandon Lake scores his fifth No. 1 on Billboard’s Christian Airplay chart as “Hard Fought Hallelujah” ascends a spot to the top of the survey dated May 10. During the April 25-May 1 tracking week, the song increased by 6% to 3.9 million audience impressions, according to Luminate. The 34-year-old Lake, from Charleston, S.C., […]
Maren Morris can speak from experience: No other concert crowd holds a candle to Taylor Swift‘s.
While on The Jennifer Hudson Show Wednesday (May 7), the Texas-born singer-songwriter opened up about performing her Fearless (Taylor’s Version) collaboration, “You All Over Me,” with Swift at one of the pop superstar’s 2023 Eras Tour shows in Chicago. “I’ve never seen a crowd like that, and there’s not a crowd like hers,” Morris raved.
“They’re so supportive, they’re listening to all the lyrics, they want to hear every nuance and breath between words,” she continued. “They’re truly locked in. It was a real treat to experience on that plane.”
The duo sang together at the “Fortnight” musician’s second of three Soldier Field shows in June 2023, which came two years after they first teamed up for the re-release of Swift’s blockbuster 2008 sophomore album. The performance marked the first time they’d ever played “You All Over Me” — a From the Vault bonus track on the revamped Fearless — live.
Trending on Billboard
But Morris and Swift had been friends long before that, performing the former’s smash “The Middle” together in Arlington, Texas, on the latter’s Reputation Tour in 2018. In November 2023, the “Circles Around This Town” singer told Jimmy Fallon that her onetime collaborator has “been so supportive of me and my career over the years,” adding, “We’re the same age, but looking up to her since I was a teenager, and watching her navigate her country music to pop career so gracefully, and the way she treats her fans is so kind and generous … she’s setting a high bar.”
Morris echoed those sentiments on Hudson’s talk show, telling the host, “I fell in love with [Swift’s] songwriting back in high school, and I just turned 35, so I feel like even before I met Taylor, I had this friendship in my mind with her.”
The interview comes two days ahead of Morris’ fourth studio album, Dreamsicle, which features the five tracks she previously dropped in August on EP Intermission. The new project is also preceded by two singles, “Carry Me Through” and “Bed No Breakfast,” released in March and April, respectively.
Watch Morris gush about Swift on The Jennifer Hudson Show below.
The 2025 ACM Awards are almost upon us. Hosted by 16-time ACM Award winner Reba McEntire, the show will stream live for a global audience on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch on Thursday, May 8, at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT/5 p.m. PT from the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. The show will be expanded from two to two-and-a-half hours.
The show will open with 12 straight minutes of music highlighting ACM Award-winning song of the year winners from across six decades. The segment will feature Clint Black, Dan + Shay, LeAnn Rimes, McEntire, Sugarland and Wynonna Judd. Four of those artists popularized songs that won ACM Awards for song of the year, so you’re very likely to hear these songs in that medley: Dan + Shay’s “Tequila,” The Judds’ “Why Not Me,” Rimes’ “Blue” and Sugarland’s “Stay.”
The show will also feature collaborative performances by Jelly Roll & Shaboozey; Backstreet Boys & Rascal Flatts; and Brooks & Dunn with Cody Johnson. Jelly and Shaboozey performed together at last month’s Stagecoach Festival in Indio, California. Backstreet Boys were also on the bill for the three-day country festival.
Trending on Billboard
Keith Urban will finally receive the ACM Triple Crown Award, which he clinched in 2019 when he was named entertainer of the year (having won new male artist of the year in 2001 and male artist of the year in 2005-06). The ACM had somehow never actually presented him with the award, and it is going all out this year. Chris Stapleton, Megan Moroney and Brothers Osborne will perform Urban hits in the segment.
This will be the 18th time McEntire has hosted or co-hosted the ACM Awards. She first co-hosted the show in 1986 with John Schneider and the late Mac Davis. McEntire is fast closing in on Bob Hope’s record as the most frequent host of any major awards show. Hope hosted or co-hosted the Oscars 19 times between 1940 and 1978.
Other performers include Ella Langley and Zach Top, who have already been announced as the winners of new female and male artist of the year.
The ACM also announced presenters on the show, most of whom are top country stars past and present. Other presenters include music legend and American Idol judge Lionel Richie, actress/singer Rita Wilson, NASCAR driver Chase Elliott and Amazon Music’s co-hosts of the Country Heat Weekly podcast Amber Anderson and Kelly Sutton.
Broadcaster Bobby Bones has also been added to the program. The five-time ACM winner will have multiple moments throughout the show in which he conducts artist interviews.
Raj Kapoor is executive producer and showrunner of the 2025 ACM Awards, with Patrick Menton as co-executive producer. Damon Whiteside serves as executive producer for the Academy of Country Music, and Jay Penske and Barry Adelman serve as executive producers for Dick Clark Productions. John Saade will also continue to serve as consulting producer for Amazon MGM Studios.
Established in 1966, the Academy of Country Music Awards is the longest-running country music awards show. The ACMs made history in 2022 as the first major awards ceremony to exclusively livestream, in collaboration with Prime Video. Carnival Cruise Line is the presenting sponsor of this year’s show.
Here’s the full list of performers and presenters for the 2025 ACM Awards
Opening Segment
Clint Black
Dan + Shay
LeAnn Rimes
Sugarland
Reba McEntire
Wynonna Judd
Keith Urban Triple Crown Award Segment
Brothers Osborne
Chris Stapleton
Megan Moroney
Collaborations
Backstreet Boys & Rascal Flatts
Brooks & Dunn with Cody Johnson
Jelly Roll & Shaboozey
Other Performers
Alan Jackson
Blake Shelton
Brothers Osborne
Chris Stapleton
Ella Langley
Eric Church
Kelsea Ballerini
Lainey Wilson
Megan Moroney
Miranda Lambert
Zach Top
Amber Anderson & Kelly Sutton
Blake Shelton
Carly Pearce
Chase Elliott
Clint Black
Crystal Gayle
ERNEST
Gabby Barrett
Gretchen Wilson
Lee Ann Womack
Jordan Davis
Lionel Richie
Little Big Town
Martina McBride
Parker McCollum
Riley Green
Rita Wilson
Sara Evans
Sugarland
The Oak Ridge Boys
Wynonna Judd
The ACM 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.
The Backstreet Boys have extended their upcoming summer residency at Las Vegas’ Sphere. On Wednesday (May 7) the veteran man band added a final three shows to the Into the Millennium run, revealing that their final shows of 2025 will take place on August 22, 23 and 24.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
With that trifecta — which will also be the group’s final shows of 2025 — the total number of Sphere gigs has run up to 21. The Live Nation-produced shows from AJ McLean, Kevin Richardson, Brian Littrell, Howie Dorough and Nick Carter will be the first by a pop act in the futuristic venue that has to date hosted U2, Phish, Dead & Company, the Eagles and EDM act Anyma; country star Kenny Chesney will set up shop from May 22-June 21.
Tickets for the newly added dates will go on sale first through the Backstreet Boys Fan Club presale that kicks off on Monday (May 12) at 12 p.m. PT, followed by an artist presale on Tuesday (May 13) beginning at 10 a.m. PT; fans can sign up for the artist presale here through Sunday (May 11) at 10 p.m. PT. A general onsale will kick off on May 16 at 10 a.m. PT here.
Trending on Billboard
The group will celebrate the 25th anniversary of their landmark Grammy-nominated Millennium album on July 11 with the release of Millennium 2.0. The revamped album will feature 25 tracks, including all 12 remastered originals, as well as live recordings, demos and b-sides.
Speaking to Billboard earlier this year, Carter promised the shows will provide fans with a “sensory overload” experience as they perform the 1999 album, along with some greatest hits and their new single, “Hey.” McLean also suggested that attendees pack “something all white” for the shows.
Check out the full list of BSB Sphere dates below.
July 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27
August 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: YouTube / Youtube
For the past few weeks Kanye West has been doing interviews and making appearances in the most random livestreams and ultimately found himself alongside right-wing favorite journalist, Piers Morgan, but unfortunately for Piers, it was a short-lived interview.
Sitting alongside his new buddy, Sneako, Kanye West agreed to be interviewed by the British media personality only for things to go left after Morgan not only called him by his original name instead of “Ye,” but even dared to miscount the number of followers Kanye has on his social media pages.
After going on a quick back-and-forth about Kanye being at peace in his life as opposed to the anger he displays on X formerly known as Twitter towards, well, everyone, Kanye took issue with Piers stating that he had 32 million followers saying he was taking “inches off my d*ck.”
Morgan then went on to correct himself by saying it was 33 million (big difference), Kanye decided to Kanye and went on a mini rant about how impactful his music has been on the lives of everyone (including Piers) and accused the media (again, including Piers) of hating on people who “put out love” which prompted Piers to ask “What are you talking about?!”
After Morgan asked the question that was basically on everyone’s mind at that point, Ye bowed out of the interview and said he’d return when Morgan was able to count.
End scene.
Even Sneako was left bewildered by what just happened before having to do a little impromptu interview with Morgan himself and tried to clean up the mess that Ye left behind telling Piers “You know what you were doing” suggesting that Morgan was purposely patronizing Kanye by calling him “Kanye” and misrepresenting the number of social media followers he had.
Morgan responded by saying that the duo “d*cked us around” before the interview and called it a waste of time and money. Taking his aim (and anger) towards an unsuspecting Sneako, Morgan asked him how he feels hanging around a pro-Nazi and antisemitic Kanye West. Sneako tried his best to deflect, but to no avail as Morgan came with receipts (X posts) and left Sneako reaching for answers to questions that he wasn’t prepared for.
After the two argued and spoke over each other throughout the remainder of the interview, Morgan called Kanye an antisemite and “sniveling little coward” before Sneako walked off on the interview himself.
As crazy as this interview was, we have to admit it was pretty hilarious all things considered.
Check out the trainwreck of an interview between Piers Morgan, Kanye West and Sneako below and let us know your thoughts about it in the comments section.
Billboard’s Dance Moves roundup serves as a guide to the biggest movers and shakers across Billboard’s many dance charts — new No. 1s, new top 10s, first-timers and more.
This week (on charts dated May 10), Beyoncé, Gryffin, PinkPantheress and others achieve new feats. Check out key movers below.
Beyoncé
Beyoncé’s 2022 LP Renaissance rises 8-5 on the Top Dance Albums chart, earning 6,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. in the April 25-May 1 tracking week (up 26%), according to Luminate, as the superstar kicked off her Cowboy Carter Tour April 28 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. While the setlist primarily highlights her 2024 country album Cowboy Carter, Beyoncé included several Renaissance tracks during the tour’s first three shows (all at SoFi), including “America Has a Problem,” “My House,” “Cuff It” and “Alien Superstar.”
The album wasn’t Beyoncé’s only beneficiary: Her entire solo catalog sports gains following the tour’s launch. Her catalog raked in 57 million official U.S. streams during the tracking week, up 18% from the 48.3 million streams the week before. Cowboy Carter had the largest gains and surges 193-64 on the Billboard 200 with a 73% increase in units.
Trending on Billboard
Gryffin, Excision & Julia Michaels
Gryffin, Excision and Julia Michaels’ new collaboration, “Air,” debuts at No. 25 on the Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart, fueled entirely by its 620,000 first-week streams. The track arrived April 25 via 10K Projects.
“Air” earns Gryffin his 38th career entry on the chart, and his second of 2025, after “In My Head,” with Kaskade and Nu-La, peaked at No. 15 in February. It also becomes Excision’s 10th entry and Michaels’ fifth.
PinkPantheress
PinkPantheress lands her second entry on the Hot Dance/Pop Songs chart with “Stateside.” Released April 25 on Parlophone/Elektra/Atlantic Records, the track debuts at No. 11 and joins her previous single, “Tonight,” which ranks at No. 13 after debuting at No. 5 in April. Both songs are set to appear on her second mixtape, Fancy That, a nine-track project due out Friday (May 9).
PinkPantheress previously charted two tracks on Hot Dance/Electronic Songs: “Way Back” with Skrillex and Trippie Redd (No. 13 in January 2023), and Kaytranada’s “Snap My Finger,” on which she’s featured (No. 40 last June). Her breakthrough collaboration with Ice Spice, “Boy’s a Liar, Pt. 2,” climbed to No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in March 2023.
MEDUZA, Innellea, GENESI & Nu-La
MEDUZA, Innellea and GENESI’s “Edge of the World,” featuring Nu-La, debuts at No. 33 on the Dance/Mix Show Airplay chart, marking the highest new entry of the week. It gained by 33% in plays among 24/7 dance reporters and pop stations’ mix show hours.
The release marks a milestone for Italian house group MEDUZA, which scores its 10th career entry and first since “Another World,” with HAYLA, hit No. 1 in December, becoming the act’s third leader. It’s also the first entry for both Innellea and GENESI and the second for Nu-La, whose “In My Head,” with Gryffin and Kaskade, rises to a new No. 14 high.
In a fun twist, the chart’s second-highest debut is the similarly titled “End of the World” — Miley Cyrus’ latest single. It enters at No. 35 with a 30% gain in plays, becoming her 12th career hit on the chart.
