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Billboard Women in Music 2025
You’ve already had your “hot girl summer,” so, naturally, it’s time for “single girl summer.” At least it is according to the caption on an Instagram post from Haim on Tuesday (April 1), in which the sister trio previewed another song from their upcoming fourth album. In the clip, the siblings chill out on a stoop as lead singer Danielle lip synchs along over the marching drum-like beat as blasé New Yorkers walk through frame without breaking stride.
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“Renters’ rights, squatters’ rights/ I’ll be the gatekeeper for the rest of my life,” she sings along to the funky rhythm. “I don’t want your charity/ Spend a night in the cold if it keeps me free,” she adds. While the group only provided a 12-second preview of the song, the self-actualized nature of the lyrics are in keeping with the theme of the untitled album’s first single, “Relationships,” which delved into the hot-cold nature of affairs of the heart.
As if any other clues were needed that the new album might lean into the labor of love lost, the caption over the video reads: “this is your sign to leave him.”
At press time the trio also featuring drummer Alana and bassist Este Haim have not announced the title, or release date, of their upcoming album, the follow-up to 2020’s Women in Music Pt. III. In a recent interview in i.d. magazine, self-proclaimed “serial monogamist” Danielle said the new album is the first they’ve made without the involvement of her longtime boyfriend, producer Ariel Rechtshaid, and that she’s single for the first time since 2011. “Being single now, I’m just trying to embrace it, because I’m… I feel like I’m the age where I need to embrace it,” she said.
Alana said that the album is “the closest we’ve ever gotten to how we wanted to sound,” with Danielle diplomatically adding that working again with another longtime collaborator Rostam was “very quick, kinetic with him, which I really love as an artist… Maybe before, it wasn’t that way, it was kind of a more… longer, searching, labored situation.”
According to the article, the proof is in the meat of songs such as opening track “Gone,” described as a “blast of post-breakup energy that feels like one long, cathartic scream after years of pushing everything down thanks to lyrics such as: “You can hate me for what I am/ You can shame me for what I’ve done/ You can’t make me disappear/ You never saw me for what I was.” The track reportedly features an as-yet-uncleared sample from George Michael’s “Freedom ’90.” In a tribute to her love of Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter, Danielle said she was inspired by the samples on that album, noting, “It doesn’t feel ‘F–k you’ to me — it feels like… ‘I’m gonna do my thing.’”
Check out the new song preview below.
Add Billy Joel to the list of artists advocating for late powerhouse rock vocalist Joe Cocker to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year. On Tuesday (April 1), Billy Joel posted a video in which he reads a letter he wrote in 2014 to the RRHOF’s induction committee — at a time when Cocker’s health was in decline — imploring the Rock Hall to finally enshrine Cocker in its ring of honor.
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“As a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of fame since 1999, it has been one of my finest hopes to see Joe Cocker into it as well,” Joel said in a never-before-released clip recorded in 2016 in which he notes that he was “stunned” that he was inducted before Cocker. “When I first heard him in 1969 I was very inspired by the sound of his incredibly raw and soulful vocal style.”
That same “watershed” year, Joel said he attended the Woodstock Festival, bought the first Led Zeppelin album and heard Cocker sing one of his signature, raw-boned covers, the Beatles’ “With a Little Help From My Friends.”
“I thought Joe was the most powerful rock n’ roll interpretive male singer I had heard since first hearing the iconic early recordings of Ray Charles,” Joel continued in the video. “In my opinion, no one has since come even close to him as one of the great primal rock n’ roll vocalists of all time. I feel very strongly that Joe Cocker should be considered for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.”
The plea came from a video recorded by filmmaker John Edginton backstage at Madison Square Garden before a Joel performance, which was filmed for the 2017 documentary Joe Cocker: Mad Dog With Soul, but not included in the final cut. The clip posted to Cocker’s Instagram feed last week, ends with Joel asking the committee to consider putting Cocker on the ballot that year (2016). The singer said he never heard back from the Hall, joking, “it shows how much impact I have.” The Edginton video also includes singer-songwriter Randy Newman expressing surprise that Cocker — who recorded Newman’s “You Can Leave Your Hat On” — had not been on the ballot to that point.
Cocker was famous for his ragged, one-of-a-kind covers of other acts’ famous songs, with Joel comparing the late singer to such legendary song interpreters as Frank Sinatra.
In February, Cocker — who died in December 2014 at 70 from lung cancer, just months after Joel penned the letter — was nominated for the RRHOF for the first time after 36 years of eligibility. He’s vying for a spot for the Rock Hall’s Class of 2025 alongside 13 other musical greats, including Bad Company, The Black Crowes, Mariah Carey, Chubby Checker, Billy Idol, Joy Division/New Order, Cyndi Lauper, Maná, Oasis, Outkast, Phish, Soundgarden and The White Stripes. The Class of 2025 will be revealed in late April, and this year’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place in Los Angeles this fall, with details to be announced at a later date.
In March, Paul McCartney wrote his own letter to the Rock Hall also calling for Cocker’s induction. “Joe was a great man and a fine singer whose unique style made for some fantastic performances,” McCartney wrote. “He sang one of our songs ‘With a Little Help From My Friends,’ a [1968] version produced by Denny Cordell which was very imaginative.”
The two-time HOF honoree added, “All the people on the panel will be aware of the great contribution Joe made to the history of Rock and Roll. And whilst he may not have ever lobbied to be in the Hall of Fame, I know he would be extremely happy and grateful to find himself where he deserves to be amongst such illustrious company.”
Cocker’s widow, Pam Cocker, appreciated Macca support and his “sweet, sweet letter,” saying, “Joe was never anxious for it. The awards and accomplishments and all of that kind of stuff were not his thing — not to say that he wouldn’t be very pleased, as I am, just thrilled. But you just didn’t think about it.”
In addition, ZZ Top guitarist/singer Billy Gibbons has also supported the nomination of “one of a kind” singer Cocker nomination, saying, “Good news in view of the monumental recordings released and amazing performances… the very embodiment of rock and roll in terms of talent and spirit.”
See Joel’s video below.
Dua Lipa wrapped the Australian leg of her Radical Optimism world tour on March 29 with one last surprise for Sydney fans: a stripped-back duet of “Big Jet Plane” alongside Angus Stone. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The crowd at Qudos Bank Arena joined in on […]
Demi Lovato is a Little Monster! The 32-year-old singer took to TikTok on Thursday (March 27) to share a video, in which she lip syncs along to Lady Gaga’s “How Bad Do U Want Me,” off her recently released album, Mayhem. “That girl in your head ain’t real/ How bad do you want me, for […]
Alessia Cara was set to kick off her 2025 tour next month in support of her recent album, Love & Hyperbole. However, the pop star took to social media on Friday (March 28) to reveal that the U.S. leg of the tour has been postponed.
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“I cried about it then patched it up with ice cream. I’m so so so sorry, my US friends 💔 I’ll make it up to you, I promise!!!! thank you. I love you,” she wrote in the caption to the statement, in which she shared that “there are truly so many factors that lead to this (reluctant) decision, all of which were genuinely and completely out of my control.”
She continued, “Touring, especially today, is challenging and involves to many little moving parts. Bottom line is we couldn’t make it all work on time. Disappointing you guys is killing me, because everything I’ve put into this has been for you and I know how excited you’ve been, but I can only hope you understand.”
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The “Scars to Your Beautiful” singer noted that the rest of the tour, which will take place across Canada, Asia, Australia and Europe, will go on as planned. “As soon as I have new information on the new US dates, I will let you know,” she wrote, adding that original tickets will be honored on the new dates.
“I love you so much,” the Grammy winner concluded her statement. “I can’t apologize enough and I’ll make it up to you. See you soon.”
Cara’s Love & Hyperbole arrived on Valentine’s Day and featured singles “Dead Man,” “Slow Motion,” and “Obvious.”
See the full list of tour dates here, and see Cara’s full statement below.
Last September, Katy Perry released her seventh album, 143. The album peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard 200, while lead single “Woman’s World” hit a No. 63 high on the Hot 100.
The song was co-written and co-produced by Lukasz Gottwald, known better as Dr. Luke, who worked on nine out of the album’s 11 tracks. Upon release, his involvement caused controversy as fans questioned why Perry would return to working with the producer — who Kesha previously and publicly accused of physical, sexual, verbal and emotional abuse over a 10-year period. (Dr. Luke countersued for defamation, and in 2023 a settlement was reached.)
“I think there was some backlash for her reuniting with Dr. Luke,” Chris Anokute, who works as Perry’s A&R manager, said in his recent interview with The Manager’s Playbook. “[That] was my desire and recommendation.”
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During the interview, Anokute called Gottwald “a dear friend” and claimed that the many accusations leveled at the all the producer were “not true,” a fact that the producer himself has vehemently claimed over the last few years. “So I thought it was a good time to reunite them after 10 years of not working together and every single he’s ever done for her was No. 1,” Anokute said in the interview. “The press didn’t react favorably, and they basically tried to assassinate him and her.”
Dr. Luke previously worked on Perry hits including “I Kissed a Girl,” “Hot n Cold,” “California Girls,” “Dark Horse” and many more. Perry has collected nine Hot 100 No. 1s, with 36 songs in all on appearing on the tally.
On April 23, Perry will kick off her Lifetimes Tour, named after the second single from 143, in Mexico. The trek will hit the U.S. in May, opening in Houston. She’ll also visit Australia, Canada, South America and the UK and Europe, wrapping on November 11 in Madrid.
Check out Anokute’s full interview below:
Billboard’s Friday Music Guide serves as a handy guide to this Friday’s most essential releases — the key music that everyone will be talking about today, and that will be dominating playlists this weekend and beyond.
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This week, Ariana Grande’s Eternal Sunshine gets brighter, Lil Durk shares his story and Selena Gomez finally releases a fan favorite. Check out all of this week’s picks below:
Ariana Grande, Eternal Sunshine Deluxe: Brighter Days Ahead
While Ariana Grande’s Eternal Sunshine album already feels like ages ago — thanks in part to a wildly successful Wicked campaign, which netted the pop superstar an Oscar nod — this deluxe edition not only adds six new top-notch cuts to her most recent full-length, but also serves as a reason to revisit one of Ari’s most accomplished artistic statements, one year later.
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Lil Durk, Deep Thoughts
Lil Durk’s ninth studio album exists in a singular context from the rest of his catalog, as the Chicago rap star is currently in prison and awaiting trial while facing murder-for-hire charges, but Deep Thoughts turns that uncertainty into a compelling listen, with Future, Lil Baby and Jhene Aiko all stopping by to support Durk as he works through his fears and doubts behind bars.
Selena Gomez, “Stained”
One week after she and fiancé Benny Blanco unveiled their collaborative album I Said I Love You First, Selena Gomez has given fans a thank-you gift with the studio version of “Stained,” a smoky standout that originally leaked in 2017 during an exciting creative run and, with its echoing harmonies and trap drums swirling around Gomez’s haunted words, still sounds fresh today.
Lucy Dacus, Forever is a Feeling
Lucy Dacus’ personal and professional circumstances have changed since her last full-length — she’s signed to a major label, the success of Boygenius has greatly elevated her profile, and she recently confirmed a relationship with Julien Baker, which serves as the basis of her new album’s romantic slant — but her distinct songwriting flair remains intact, and helps connect Forever is a Feeling to the rest of her oeuvre.
Playboi Carti, Music – Sorry 4 Da Wait
After flooding the Hot 100 with all 30 tracks from his long-awaited new album Music, Playboi Carti has tossed four new songs onto the project as a means of apologizing to fans for the prolonged gap between Whole Lotta Red and its follow-up; the final song, “FOMDJ,” is a tough-as-nails highlight, with the type of juxtaposition between crunchy production and elastic flow that Carti often embraces.
Linkin Park, “Up From the Bottom”
If From Zero, the rock group’s first album in seven years and Emily Armstrong’s debut as co-vocalist, represented a band working towards a new identity last year, the pulse-pounding “Up From the Bottom” may hint at the sound Linkin Park will explore more deeply in the future, as a punk anthem with coiled energy and more natural interplay between Armstrong and Mike Shinoda.
Feid feat. Ty Dolla $ign, “DALLAX”
The flip phones and cassette players featured in the music video to “DALLAX” are not the only retro components to Feid and Ty Dolla $ign’s new collaboration: as the reggaetón and R&B veteran bounce off each other, their styles blend into a sound that harkens back to the rhythmic pop of the turn of the century, with modern flourishes but a nostalgic foundation.
Mumford & Sons, Rushmere
At a moment when folk-rock is back in vogue, Mumford & Sons, perhaps the movement’s biggest breakthrough act in the early 2010s, has returned with an album that gestures toward the band’s past while not abiding by its boundaries. Rushmere is a free-wheeling rock affair that builds upon the confidence that Marcus Mumford demonstrated on his 2022 self-titled solo album.
Jessie Reyez, Paid in Memories
Paid in Memories is the sprawling project that Jessie Reyez has been working towards her entire career, with the singer-songwriter no longer reducing her aesthetic to chase success, writing about her experiences with heightened vulnerability and ultimately producing the best songs of her career. “NYB,” “BEGGIN 4 LUV” and the 6lack team-up “6LESSINGS” are immediate highlights.
Editor’s Pick: Free Range, Lost & Found
As Free Range, Chicago-based singer-songwriter Sofia Jensen writes songs that linger in the air and rattle in your brain long after they’ve dissipated. Lost & Found, their follow-up to 2023’s Practice, contains breathtaking beauty made out of very few production tricks — a testament to Jensen’s disarming delivery, as they yearn for connection and let their voice crack over straightforward yet effective arrangements.
British singer Duffy has been off-the-radar for much of the past decade after revealing in 2020 that she was the victim of a terrifying assault and kidnapping in 2015. The Grammy winner took her latest tentative step back into the spotlight this week when she made a brief cameo in a TikTok video posted by […]
Dua Lipa is marking the fifth anniversary of her Grammy-winning sophomore album Future Nostalgia with a remix of one of its biggest hits, enlisting Australian pop star Troye Sivan for a brand-new version of “Physical.” Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Released Friday (March 28), the reimagined track […]
Time to enjoy some Brighter Days Ahead. Ariana Grande unveiled the highly anticipated deluxe edition of her Billboard 200 chart-topping album, Eternal Sunshine, on Friday (March 28). Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The extended edition of the original 13-song project features six new tracks, including “Twilight […]