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Lionsgate / 50 Cent Action Channel
50 Cent has another accomplishment to add to his ever-growing list. His action channel nabbed the number one spot on Roku and LG Channels.
Lionsgate announced that 50 Cent Action, the FAST channel curated by the Hip-Hop mogul, is the #1 action channel on both The Roku Channel and LG Channels and could find the same success on Sling TV’s Sling Freestream, which was just launched.
The channel features 50 Cent’s favorite premium films and television series, especially those in which he starred, such as Den of Thieves, The Expendables, and, of course, his hit crime drama Power, which has gone on to spawn a whole drug-dealing television universe, known as the Power Universe.
The Queens rapper, born Curtis Jackson, will be on hand at LG Ad Solution’s NewFronts presentation on Monday, May 5th, where he will participate in a live Q&A with the company’s CEO, Michael Hudes. During the session, he will discuss the success of his FAST channel and its future.
“This is the future of entertainment,” said Jackson. “It’s about making real connections. I’m hands on with everything and collaborating closely with Lionsgate – which has been a great partner – to give fans free, direct access to the best action movies and shows out there, all in one place. Fans can step into my world every time they turn on the channel.”
“50 Cent is a cultural icon with an unmatched connection to his audience,” said Jim Packer, Lionsgate’s President of Worldwide Television Distribution. “We’ve seen incredible momentum on the channel since launch, and our goal is to make 50 Cent Action one of the leading action destinations for fans and advertisers in the FAST Space.”
50 Cent continues to rack up the wins.
Kid Cudi is teasing his return with a new song called “Neverland.” On Thursday (May 1), Cudi shared a cryptic teaser on social media that merely shows some amusement park rides before posting the link to the rapper’s website. “Pre save NEVERLAND, my first single from my new album, NOW!” Cudi wrote on X. The […]
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May Day (May 1) is also known as International Workers’ Day and Labour Day in certain parts of the world, and it has particular resonance today, considering the current political climate. In America, protests are cropping up in an affront to President Donald Trump’s policies, and other protests around the world are in support of worker solidarity.
May Day’s roots were established in the late 1880s as the labor movement and unions advocating for better working conditions for laborers began to establish their presence. In America, protests in support of worker rights took place, and on May 4, 1886, in Chicago, a deadly bombing set off by anarchists left several people dead and dozens more injured. Union leaders decided from that point on that May 1 would be a day to honor those workers, and a sculpture sits today at Chicago’s Haymarket Square where the Haymarket Affair took place.
The wider focus of May Day is largely global, but there is a unifying message this year as the first 100 days of President Donald Trump’s second term just concluded. Within America, Trump’s policies have come under fire as some find his current path destructive and wanton. Outside of the States, organizers are protesting the Israel-Gaza conflict, working conditions, and more.
On X, May Day has been trending for much of the day, and we’ve got a series of posts to share below. To learn more about the day, click here.
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Photo: Remon Haazen / Getty
Hailing from Mannings Hill in the Stony Hill area of Jamaica’s St. Andrew parish, Valiant has emerged as one of the leading voices of dancehall’s new generation – and his forthcoming new EP promises to cement his stardom and carry him into a notably more R&B-infused space.
In 2022, Valiant (born Raheem Bowes) broke through with a scorching string of singles — “Dunce Cheque,” “Siance,” “Speed Off,” “North Caolina,” and “C.A.L (Cut All Losses)” among them – that established his singular slang (“Kotch e hat a lie”) and his melodic approach to trap dancehall. The following year, he dropped his 20-song 4:14 mixtape, which he supported with performances across the Caribbean and the U.K. Although his breakthrough was fairly recent, Valiant, 26, has been recording music for over a decade; the young father was even a part of Popcaan’s Unruly Camp once upon a time.
After signing to Sony Music UK’s newly relaunched Epic Records in late 2023, Valiant dropped his A Gift from Me to You EP, which gave way to an even bigger 2024 — with hits like “Flava,” “Lumbah” and “Baddiedeh.” In 2024, Valiant won best Caribbean music act at the MOBO Awards and male dancehall artist of the year at the Caribbean Music Awards. This year, Valiant is looking to defend his title at the latter award show, which announces its victors on Aug. 28 at Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, N.Y.
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Out on May 23 via Epic/Sony Records UK, Valiant’s forthcoming new EP, Prove Them Wrong, intends to do exactly as its title suggests. From detractors and doubters to those apprehensive of the longevity of dancehall or Valiant’s versatility, the international star is set to level up significantly from his mixtape days. The new set will feature several collaborations, including tracks with Grammy-nominated R&B singer-songwriter Fridayy and fellow Jamaican dancehall star 450, as well as a heavier R&B sound.
“For this project, I basically did one trap song,” Valiant tells Billboard. “I wanted to give them a different sound; I don’t want it to be [a case where] it sounds like every dancehall project. I wanted different feelings, so I infused my dancehall with a lot of R&B on the new project.”
Featuring cuts like “Selfish,” “Ugly” and “Whole Lotta,” Prove Them Wrong has already established an intriguing Spanish guitar-laced soundscape complemented by thought-provoking ruminations of masculinity and male beauty politics. With over 128 million official on-demand U.S. streams to his name already, according to Luminate, Valiant hopes to exponentially grow that number as he shares his new music with the world.
Speaking with Billboard, Valiant explains why he believes in trap dancehall’s longevity, the origins of his stage name, and why he’ll always bet on Drake.
What’s the first song you remember being stuck in your head?
“Next to You” by Chris Brown and Justin Bieber.
Who are the dancehall figures that you look up to as you navigate your career?
Some of the old legends dem like Shabba [Ranks], Yellowman, Vybz Kartel and Mavado. I look pon what they do inna di game, and try to [note] what to do and what not to do.
Why do you think younger listeners are so drawn to the sound of trap dancehall?
We, as young people, must believe in [ourselves]. As kids, we were rebellious against the bigger kids dem, so I think [younger listeners] like the rebellious behavior and the crazy, creative style we bring in trap dancehall.
Do you think this is a style of music that will have longevity?
Yeah. It’s not like it’s changing from dancehall. If dancehall is the father or the senior, then trap dancehall is the junior.
What’s your favorite song to perform live?
Recently, “Baddiedeh.” Before, it was “Cut All Losses.”
Where’s your favorite place to perform outside of Jamaica?
Mi love performing in the U.K.; mi like Bahamas and Trinidad, too. The U.K. loves dancehall, dem support dancehall. People really come out to the shows when dancehall artists visit. I remember one time I was in Manchester [Parish in Jamaica] and the parents came backstage like, “The kids won’t go home!” [Laughs.]
How do you think you’ve grown since putting out 4:14 in 2023?
4:14 was more of a mixtape I made with friends. It was a vibe. I want fans to hear more from me because there’s a lot of things I couldn’t get to do on [that project]. A lot of people still come to me and say that they listen to 4:14 up to now. Musically, I grow with every song because I always try fi do different things and different sounds. Even if I get criticized, I always try — because you nuh know which songs could cross over and change your life.
Which producers did you work with for Prove Them Wrong?
The producers for this project are DJ Mac, KVRIM, GI, Emoji Records and Crown Heights.
How many tracks should we expect?
Still unknown, but it’s gonna be the length of an album. It’s basically an album.
What was the studio session for “Whole Lotta” like?
I was in the studio with KVRIM and a few other writers, catching a vibe and chilling. I wanted a song that was not about the trap. We never want it to sound speaky-spokey, so we infused the patois with R&B melodies and the Spanish guitar in the riddim.
Do you prefer singing or rapping?
Mi love singing! Growing up, I was singing a lot, and I’ve learned to master my craft. I know when to deejay and when not to deejay, but I’m trying to branch out because I mostly just want to sing.
Who are some vocalists that you study?
I like Sam Smith’s vocals, and Alicia Keys, Adele and John Legend. That’s the type of music I like too.
Who are some of your favorite R&B artists right now?
I like Chris Brown. Partynextdoor and Fridayy too. The Weeknd.
Who’s the greatest rapper alive?
Eminem and then Drake. Drake is an all-around artist and a hitmaker. I’m not saying Kendrick [Lamar] is not a good artist – we need both of them – but if I had to book somebody, I’m booking Drake. If you carry Drake to Jamaica, everybody knows a song from Drake. If Kendrick comes out, they’ll know three or four songs max maybe. Mi sure of that, mi can bet money pon dat. But the crowd will still come out for Kendrick because he’s Kendrick.
Who are some of your dream collaborators?
Rihanna – [I want to do] a whole album with her.
You broke through in the TikTok era of the music industry. How do you think that platform has impacted dancehall specifically?
It’s a good marketing strategy to let people from all over the world hear your music. The younger generation, even the older generation, they’re on TikTok, right? It’s a platform where you can promote a business, your music, anything, and all you have to do is post a short video. It’s a different game.
How’d you come up with your stage name?
I got it from the title of [a 2005 animated film] about birds [fighting in World War II]. It was one of my favorite [movies] growing up, so I looked up the meaning and saw that “valiant” meant courage and brave and all that. Mi seh, “Yuh know? It fit meh.” At first, I was Raheem Melody, and then I changed it.
What excites you most about this generation of dancehall artists?
I like how competitive it is, everybody wanna be on top. I’m trying to cross over. I like to be consistent. I like that my name is always called when discussing the new generation. It’s competitive, but it’s all unity. The new generation is more cooperative and will link up and do things together.
It’s gotta be the May 1st edition of Publishing Briefs, our semimonthly bulletin of recent signings, deals and doings in the wide world of music publishing. Since the last time we gabbed, Kristin Robinson whipped up a comprehensive guide to the comments submitted in the Copyright Office’s inquiry regarding PROs and Robert Levine analyzed the growing pushback among clubs and radio stations on the amount of collecting societies in the U.S.
Caught up? Here’s what else is going on:
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Warner Chappell Music Nashville and Morgan Wallen’s publishing company, Wilder Music, signed songwriter Jared Mullins to a global publishing deal. Wilder’s first signing, Mullins has co-written No. 1s like “Thank God” (Kane Brown feat. Katelyn Brown) and “Homemade” (Jake Owen), and has also collaborated with Wallen, Little Big Town and others. Originally from Maryland and West Virginia, he moved to Nashville in 2013 and has since written for Cole Swindell, Justin Moore and others. In 2022, he co-penned LOCASH’s “Beach Boys,” featuring Mike Love and Bruce Johnston. Wallen praised Mullins’ passion and creativity, while Mullins expressed gratitude for Wallen’s belief in him. “It is incredibly exciting to be working with Jared,” glowed Jessi Vaughn Stevenson, vp of A&R and digital at WCMN. “His talent is vast and varied, and to be partnering with Morgan is the cherry on top.”
Warner Chappell Music signed a worldwide administration deal with the one-and-only Diplo. A three-time Grammy winner, Diplo is known for a mess of global hits like “Where Are Ü Now,” “Lean On,” “Run the World (Girls)” and “Paper Planes.” He is a key member of Major Lazer, LSD, and Jack Ü, and his work with Silk City and Dua Lipa on “Electricity” earned platinum certification. Diplo continues to innovate with ventures like Diplo’s Run Club and his labels Mad Decent and Higher Ground. His recent projects include “Diplo Presents Thomas Wesley: Chapter 2 – Swamp Savant” and he just curated Diplo’s HonkyTonk at Stagecoach Festival, featuring artists like Paris Hilton and Anderson .Paak. “Diplo is a visionary creative whose multi-faceted success includes pushing boundaries with his own projects, creating cross-genre hits for others, and breaking talent through collaboration,” said Gabz Landman, senior vp of A&R at WCM. “It takes a rare kind of talent to be able to build and sustain a successful career that spans multiple decades – something Diplo has done almost effortlessly, and we’re so honored to help amplify his legacy even more.” Diplo added: “The Warner Chappell team … have an immensely skilled, forward thinking staff that I feel can help complement how I approach making and placing music.”
Kobalt signed Bizzy Crook, who played a key role in writing Leon Thomas’ breakout hit “Mutt.” The track recently peaked at No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 and currently sits at No. 1 on the Hot R&B Songs chart. Thomas praised Crook’s dynamic songwriting process, describing it as complementary to his. “I’ll usually do the hooks and he’ll have really cool ideas for verses, and I’ll shape out a pre-chorus that really brings everything together,” Thomas said. “It’s kind of like playing Tetris with words.” Besides the original release, “Mutt” has been remixed twice, featuring collabs with Freddie Gibbs and Chris Brown. “His talent as a songwriter and storyteller is undeniable, and his work on ‘Mutt’ is a testament to the kind of creativity and vision we love to support,” said Genevieve Huguely, Kobalt’s manager of creative. “Bizzy brings a fresh perspective and a unique voice to everything he touches, and we’re proud to be part of this next chapter in his journey.”
Sony Music Publishing Nashville signed 18-year-old country singer-songwriter Caiden Wallace to a global publishing deal in partnership with Marv Green’s new venture, Out Yonder Music. Hailing from Springville, Calif., Wallace has gained attention with songs like “More Than a Night,” “Manipulate” and “Don’t Call,” which have earned millions of views on social media. His first studio-produced single, “Girl I Never Had,” was released on April 18. Rusty Gaston, CEO of SMP Nashville, praised Wallace’s raw talent and potential, observing that “his California roots are infused into every song he writes, and he is creating something special.” Green, who is Wallace’s uncle, highlighted his nephew’s “spirited work ethic and his natural born artistry” and predicted a major record deal in the near future.
VDW Music Group’s Marion Van Der Wees, BMM’s Timmy Haehl, Thomas Daniel, BMM’s Mike Molinar
Thomas Daniel signed an exclusive co-publishing agreement with Big Machine Music. His songs have been recorded by K-Pop stars ENHYPEN, Lauren Spencer Smith, Alexander Stewart, TAEYEON, and &TEAM. A multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and vocalist, Thomas has over 150 million streams of his own releases. Mike Molinar, BMM’s president, praised Thomas as a “natural,” adding, “his incredible sense of melody and capacity to capture the full range of human emotion lyrically are just a couple of reasons why we are so proud and excited that he chose us as his publishing partner.”
Armada Music Publishing signed new deals with Bloom Twins, SHELLS and Trance Wax, and extended its partnership with Da Beatfreakz. This expansion strengthens Armada’s UK presence and adds to its roster of successful producers and songwriters, including D.O.D, Ki Fitzgeral and Chicane. Ukrainian-born Bloom Twins (twin sisters Anna and Sofia Kuprienko) have joined under exclusive writer agreements to grow their songwriting careers following tracks like “High on Beat” and “DayDream.” SHELLS (Sarah Sheldrake) signed an exclusive deal after achieving a UK Top 5 hit and a BRIT nomination for “Dancing is Healing.” Belfast-based Trance Wax (Garry McCartney) brings his trance-inspired catalog and sold-out shows to the fold. Armada renewed its deal with Da Beatfreakz, whose 26x platinum hit “Prada” has over one billion streams. “This is an exciting time for Armada Music Publishing—we’re honored to join forces with Bloom Twins, SHELLS and Trance Wax, and build on the success of our partnership with Da Beatfreakz,” said Maykel Piron, CEO of Armada Music Group. “Each of them truly represents the very best in songwriting, and we’re thrilled to support them on their respective musical journeys.”
Audius, a decentralized music discovery and community platform, has partnered with Downtown Music to integrate millions of licensed recordings into its ecosystem. This deal includes both recording and publishing assets from Downtown’s catalog, giving over 4 million artists and 5,000 clients more control over monetization and fan engagement. The partnership looks to empower Downtown’s roster, including estates like John Lennon & Yoko Ono and Miles Davis, and contemporary artists like Jason Mraz and Pamungkas, to engage fans beyond traditional streaming. Audius collaborates with major names such as Skrillex, deadmau5 and Disclosure, and integrates with performance rights organizations like ASCAP and BMI. Both companies emphasized the benefits of artist autonomy and direct fan interaction, with Downtown vp of product and services strategy Harmen Hemminga highlighting Audius as a platform that “opens new doors for creative fan engagement and monetization, putting control into the hands of artists and rights holders.”
Musou Music Publishing and Warp Publishing have both joined IMPEL, the international collective licensing agency for digital music publishing rights. Musou Music Group, established in 2006 and headquartered in Athens, Greece, also includes Musou Music Production, Musou Studios and Musou Records. Warp Publishing, with offices in London and Los Angeles, grew out of Warp Records and offers personalized music publishing services to a diverse roster of artists, score composers and songwriters, including Boards of Canada, Slowdive, Khruangbin, Danny Brown and more. It also represents music catalogs for companies like Psychotic Reaction Music, Inni Music and Infine Music. Now in 17 countries, IMPEL represents top independent publishers like Beggars Music, Bucks Music and Reservoir, with a repertoire featuring global icons such as Ed Sheeran, Beyoncé and Rihanna.
Last Publishing Briefs: Reservoir Media Expands to India
Sin Suela lit up NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert with a historic and dynamic performance, becoming the first artist to incorporate a sign language interpreter as part of the performance that premiered on Thursday (May 1).
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Clad in vibrant orange — a color aligning with his most recent album, Toda Época Tiene Su Encanto, which dropped September 2024 — the Puerto Rican wordsmith and his 12-member troupe brought a genre-bending set to the stage.
The 24-minute performance opened with the love rap “Tengo Una Nota” and and the bilingual “Duolingo.” The artist showcased his versatility with “Mírame,” delivered in a spoken-word, conscious-rap style that highlighted his lyrical depth and storytelling ability. A blend of funk, rap and hip-hop defined the set’s eclectic sound, punctuated by a laid-back yet pulsating performance of “Amor Artificial” and the high-energy “Top.” He closed with the emotional anti-war song “Mambrú.”
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“This is a dream come true for me,” said PJ Sin Suela in a press release. “I remember being in college playing Tiny Desk sessions and thinking, ‘One day I’ll be there,’ and it happened. To this day, if I’m cooking or having friends over, we put on a Tiny Desk. I have a deep respect and love for the platform, and I treated it that way. We prepared, rehearsed and gave it our all. I was able to bring my favorite musicians from Puerto Rico and people I admire and love dearly. I was able to represent what I do visually, musically, and socially.”
Accompanying PJ was a powerhouse ensemble of Puerto Rican musicians, including Jahaziel García on trumpet, Benson Pagán Jiménez on guitar, Gabo Lugo on percussion and Barba Blanca on piano. Alexssa Hernández made Tiny Desk history as the series’ first sign language interpreter. Backing vocalists Verónica Rolón Acevedo and Jeimy Osorio added soulful harmonies to the show.
PJ Sin Suela also used his Tiny Desk debut as a platform for activism, placing stickers on the set that read “Puerto Rico is NOT for sale.” The message — which he carried as a sign during the 2022 Puerto Rican Day Parade — reflects his opposition to policies such as Act 22, which allows wealthy foreigners to exploit the island’s resources.
Watch PJ Sin Suela’s performance on Tiny Desk below.
Ye (formerly Kanye West) hasn’t let up when it comes to repeatedly taking shots at J. Cole and Kendrick Lamar. During a livestream on Wednesday (April 30), West claimed he hates Cole’s music and disparaged the Compton rapper along with Lamar’s fans.
“I hate J. Cole. It can’t even be called music. I hate J. Cole,” Ye told Toronto rapper Top5. “And it’s something about both J. Cole and Kendrick that kinda, that leaves me sorta like — it reminds me of each other and s–t like that. It’s just not that sauce to me.”
Trending on Billboard
Ye continued that if anyone in the room with him at that moment was a J. Cole fan, he didn’t want them to tell him because otherwise, he’d devalue their opinion. The embattled rapper then turned his attention back to Lamar and took shots at any fan who would list the Pulitzer-winning rapper as their GOAT.
“Anybody that say Kendrick is one of their favorite rappers, don’t know about rap, doesn’t know about real rap,” he claimed.
Billboard has reached out to J. Cole and Lamar’s reps for comment.
Cole and Kendrick have been frequent targets for Ye when he’s been lashing out at his peers during recent rants on X.
“I DON’T LIKE KENDRICK LAMARS MUSIC,” he wrote in March. “HE RAPS VERY GOOD BUT I DIDNT NEED TO HEAR HIM ON CARTI ALBUM.”
While there’s plenty of history between Cole and West, the Chicago native — who has faced widespread criticism for his repeated hate speech — claimed in early April that Cole’s music was for “virgins” and he’s “hurting hip-hop.”
“I hate J Cole music so much,” West said matter-of-factly on X. “It’s like between Kendrick and J Cole I bet you industry plants asked J Cole to diss Drake then we would have been accosted with a J Cole Super Bowl commercial with no SZA song to save it… No one listens to J Cole after loosing [sic] their virginity.”
Kanye also dissed J. Cole last year with his “Like That” remix. “Play J. Cole get the p—y dry,” he raps on the track. Cole has jabbed at West on multiple occasions in the past. He previously checked him on 2016’s “False Prophets” and 2019’s “Middle Child,” saying he feels West hasn’t lived up to the billing of his legend status.
However, following the repeated shots, Cole took the high road and showed Ye love during his set at Dreamville Fest 2025 in April, where he saluted West for clearing samples for him throughout his decorated career.
“I know n—-s feel a way about him right now, but I got love for [Ye] and I really appreciate him. He cleared all these f—ing samples for me,” he said.
On the music front, Ye is staying busy. He uploaded his lost 2022 Donda 2 album to streaming services for the first time on Tuesday night (April 29).
A$AP Rocky has a bone to pick with Rihanna. In a new interview with Vogue‘s The Run-Through podcast posted Thursday (May 1), the rapper lamented how his famous partner is always stealing his clothes without his knowledge — not that he doesn’t return the favor sometimes.
The topic of Rocky and Ri’s sneaky style swapping first came up as the former was chatting about being unafraid to wear traditionally feminine clothing. “I do what the f–k I want,” he told hosts Chioma and Leah Faye Cooper. “I wanna be a catalyst for daring men. I don’t know who drew the line between femininity — or being feminine — and masculinity. I don’t see any barriers.”
“For me, it’s not fair that my girl could just go in my closet and take anything from it and wear it,” he continued. “She does it to me all the time, man! Sometimes you just see her on an interview or see a paparazzi photo, like, ‘Wait, there goes my Miu Miu f–king jacket! What the f–k? I was looking for that since 2021!’”
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That said, Rocky isn’t shy about borrowing items from the Fenty mogul’s collection, either. “That goes both ways,” he said, underscoring his point about feeling free to wear women’s clothing. “She has pieces she don’t know that I actually stole.”
The interview comes four days ahead of the first Monday in May, aka the day of the Met Gala. This year, Rocky will co-chair the high-fashion event with Colman Domingo, Lewis Hamilton and Pharrell Williams (though the “F–kin’ Problems” musician did reveal on the podcast that he still has no idea what he’ll be wearing on the Met red carpet).
Leading up to the big event, Rocky also graced the cover of Vogue and opened up about his life at home with Ri and their young sons, RZA and Riot Rose. During one particularly sweet moment from the interview, his Grandma Cathy gushed about her love for the “Umbrella” singer, telling the publication of her grandson, “I’m glad that he settled down, and I’m happy with who he settled down with.”
Calling fatherhood “amazing” on The Run-Through, Rocky gushed on the podcast about watching his boys grow into their personalities. “To see them actually, like, interact with each other and interact with me and with their mom, it’s amazing,” he said. “It’s something that you dream about, and when it happens, it’s just like you [are] living your dream and that all jokes aside.”
The Harlem native also opened up about his family’s Easter this year: “I dressed up as a bunny. My boys was in they best Easter outfits, buttoned down — it was sharp to a T.”
Listen to Rocky gush about Ri and their boys on The Run-Through below.
Olly Alexander, Charli XCX, Self Esteem, Neneh Cherry, Rina Sawayama, Jessie Ware and more are among the leading musicians to have signed an open letter on behalf of the U.K. music industry to offer solidarity to the trans community.
On April 16, the U.K.’s Supreme Court ruled that the definition of a woman is based on biological sex, and that a person with a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC) in the female gender “does not come within the definition of a woman under the Equality Act 2010.” The U.K. prime minister Sir Keri Starmer has backed the ruling.
Trending on Billboard
The decision has been widely criticized, with protests and community action held by the trans community and its allies in the weeks since the ruling. In recent days, a number of authors and actors signed similar open letters decrying the decision and offering their support to the community. Dr Victoria McCloud, the U.K.’s first openly trans judge, is planning to appeal the decision to European Court of Human Rights.
The open letter, organized by artist Tom Rasmussen and publicist Tom Mehrtens with support from Alexander and his manager Martha Kinn, states that “the UK music industry is a vibrant, diverse landscape that thrives on creativity and inclusivity” that has “long celebrated a multitude of voices and identities, and the music industry here in the UK is one of our most trailblazing and culturally vital assets — one which trans, intersex and non-binary people are woven into in every aspect of the industry, past, present and future.”
Continuing the letter states that artists and and executives “must now urgently work to ensure that our trans, non-binary, and intersex colleagues, collaborators, and audiences are protected from discrimination and harassment in all areas of the industry — whether in studios, at venues, in offices, or at festivals.”
At the time of publication, over 330 names had added their name to the letter, which describes this as a “moment to amplify voices that need to be heard, to champion inclusivity and real justice, and to ensure that our industry remains a welcoming and trailblazing space for everyone.” The letter also calls on leading U.K. industry organizations — including major and independent labels, publishers, managers and trade bodies like PRS for Music, PPL, BPI and more — to “join us in condemning the Supreme Court ruling.”
Signees also include Shygirl, Jimmy Somerville, Lava La Rue, JADE (Little Mix), Mura Masa, Mabel, Jake Shears, CMAT, Wolf Alice, MNEK, Paloma Faith and more, alongside a number of employees from across the sector.
The letter also links out to actionable steps from promoters and community group Queer House Party to support and protest the decision. Read the full letter and see all the signatories here.
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Source: CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / Getty / / Microsoft / Xbox
Welp, it’s going to cost you more if you’re still in the market for an actual Xbox Series X or Series S console.
Xbox announced today that it is raising the prices of the Xbox Series S and Series X consoles globally, except for accessories, which will see their prices increase in the US and Canada. First-party titles are expected to reach the $80 threshold by the holiday season.
The price hike will take effect beginning May 1. You can peep them below:
Xbox Series S 512 – $379.99 (up from $299.99)
Xbox Series S 1TB – $429.99 (up from $349.99)
Xbox Series X Digital – $549.99 (up from $449.99)
Xbox Series X – $599.99 (up from $499.99)
Xbox Series X 2TB Galaxy Special Edition $729.99 (up from $599.99)
Xbox Wireless Controller (Core) – $64.99
Xbox Wireless Controller (Color) – $69.99
Xbox Wireless Controller – Special Edition – $79.99
Xbox Wireless Controller – Limited Edition – $89.99 (up from $79.99)
Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 (Core) – $149.99 (up from $139.99)
Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 (Full) – $199.99 (up from $179.99)
Xbox Stereo Headset -$64.99
Xbox Wireless Headset – $119.99 (up from $109.99)
Here’s what Xbox had to say about the price hikes in an official statement:
We understand that these changes are challenging, and they were made with careful consideration given market conditions and the rising cost of development. Looking ahead, we continue to focus on offering more ways to play more games across any screen and ensuring value for Xbox players.
A History of Price Hikes
This marks the first time the Series S has seen a price hike since its 2020 release. Xbox committed to the console’s current prices in 2022, following PlayStation’s price increase for the PS5 due to inflation.
The Xbox Series X experienced a price increase in 2023 in most countries, except the US, and Xbox Game Pass underwent multiple price hikes globally.
These new Xbox price increases should not come as a surprise, as PlayStation announced price hikes for the PS5 in the UK, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand three weeks ago.
Nintendo recently faced criticism after revealing that the Nintendo Switch 2 would cost $450, one $80 game (Mario Kart World), and price hikes for Switch 2 accessories following Donald Trump’s misuse of tariffs.
Somehow This Is Nintendo’s Fault
Speaking of Nintendo, gamers, of course, are BIG MAD about the price hikes and already pointing fingers at someone. Gamers should blame Donald Trump and his misguided trade policies, as well as his misuse of tariffs. Still, somehow, Nintendo is being blamed for what Xbox’s decision, with “Thanks, Nintendo” immediately trending after the news broke.
While we understand that Nintendo is not at fault for Microsoft’s or even a potential decision from PlayStation, we acknowledge gamers’ frustration with having to spend more money at a time when prices are increasing. There doesn’t seem to be enough money to cover these expenses.
You can see more reactions in the gallery below.
5. Lol, this is crazy
7. A thread
