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Kylie Minogue will be honored with the prestigious Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music at this year’s APRA Music Awards, set to take place at Melbourne Town Hall on April 30.
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The honor, awarded annually by APRA AMCOS, recognizes outstanding contributions to the Australian music industry. Minogue joins a distinguished list of previous recipients, including Paul Kelly, Midnight Oil, and The Seekers.
To celebrate Minogue’s latest accolade, several leading artists and industry peers shared tributes to her career and influence. Longtime collaborator, Neighbours co-star Jason Donovan, praised her “dedication and focus to her craft,” describing her as “a hardworking and authentic Melbourne girl who is proud of her Australian heritage.”
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Fellow Australian songwriter Kylie Sackley declared, “Kylie Minogue walked so the rest of us Australian music makers could run,” hailing her as “an innovator and an inspiration.”
Ben Lee reflected on Minogue’s lasting cultural impact, calling her a “mirror” through which audiences see themselves, and Gretta Ray credited Minogue with making the path toward pop stardom less daunting for emerging Australian artists. “She has inspired me to be courageous in my creativity,” Ray said.
Missy Higgins noted Minogue’s remarkable longevity: “She continues to tour consistently and remain exciting and relevant,” while The Wiggles, who once collaborated with Minogue when she portrayed the honorary “Pink Wiggle,” applauded her “unstoppable artistry” and “special Kylie-magic.”
Minogue’s career, spanning over four decades, has earned her international acclaim. She has amassed 10 ARIA No. 1 albums, including her most recent project Tension, which debuted atop the Australian Albums Chart in September 2023. Minogue made history on the Billboard charts when “Padam Padam,” the lead single from Tension, became her first solo track to reach the top 10 on Billboard’s Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart in 2023.
Minogue’s influence on generations of artists remains unmatched. Julian Hamilton of The Presets, who curated a special performance for the APRA Awards night, said, “With so many hits to her name, it hasn’t been the easiest of tasks.”
Tim Nelson of Cub Sport summed it up best, calling Kylie “a true global icon who has filled countless lives with joy, expression and a sense of belonging for decades.”
It was a match made in brat heaven when Charli xcx met some 15,000 Minnesotan fans at Minneapolis’ Target Center on Saturday (April 26) night for the 17th stop on her brat tour. Her co-headlining Sweat Tour with Troye Sivan last year didn’t include a stop in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, but if you […]
Capping off a month of excellent new music releases, Lorde, Benson Boone, Megan Thee Stallion and several more artists have entered the chat for the last New Music Friday of April. Starting off strong with a certain New Zealand-born pop star, the arrival of Lorde’s comeback single “What Was That” on Thursday (April 24) finally […]
“I’m still trying to take it all in,” Gigi Perez tells Billboard of her extended moment in the spotlight. Last July, the singer-songwriter’s “Sailor Song” became a viral hit and Perez’s first Hot 100 hit — and months later, the folksy exaltation of queer flirtation remains in the chart’s top 40, rising up one spot this week to No. 35.
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In the interim, Perez played a slew of shows to growing audiences, released follow-up singles like “Fable” and “Chemistry,” and most importantly finished recording her debut album. At The Beach, In Every Life, out today (Apr. 25), finds Perez navigating love, grief and self-possession, as the success of “Sailor Song” has amplified her Island Records debut but not altered its core tenets.
“This project is as close of a reflection of my experiences over the past five years as I could get,” says Perez of the album, which expounds upon the reflection of her sister’s passing that became the focus of her single “Fable.” “My grief has shaped the way that I love, in friendships and with family and romantically. On the project, those things exist next to each other.”
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Below, Perez discusses four songs on At The Beach, In Every Life, and what they represent within her debut album:
The Song That Was Finished Last
“Two days before I was turning the album in, I recorded ‘Sugar Water’ on my own,” says Perez of the five-minute emotional heavyweight, which looks back on her transition into adulthood with childhood details and a simple guitar-and-vocals arrangement. “I wasn’t expecting to put ‘Sugar Water’ on the project,” Perez continues. “And my A&R asked me about the song. I was like, ‘Oh, I love this song.’ … I was like, “Okay, I’m gonna just record and see what happens.’ And it ended up being one of my favorite songs on the project.”
The New Song That’s Most Fun to Play Live
“The most excitement that I’ve had playing a new song has been definitely ‘At The Beach’ or ‘Sugar Water,’” says Perez, who’s been playing a handful of headline shows in the lead-up to the album release. The title track of At The Beach, In Every Life closes the album with an encapsulation of Perez’s worldview, full of passion, disappointment and unruly thoughts that run into each other over the course of the song.
Perez says that testing out her new material on live audiences over the past few weeks has been a thrilling experience. “I just have fun for an hour straight, so it’s hard” to pick one highlight, she explains. “Every single song I get the guitar, and I’m like, ‘Oh my god, I’m so excited to do this song!’”
The Song That Was Most Difficult to Finish
“’Crown’ was hard,” Perez says of the searing centerpiece of the album’s second half, which mixes religious imagery with memories of her late sister. “I think it was letting myself go into that space of my grief and the uglier side of it. It’s all ugly, pretty much, but a different shade was probably the hardest to do in a specific time constraint.”
Yet that struggle, Perez believes, speaks to the truth of her first full-length. “Ultimately, I feel like that’s part of the album,” she says. “It’s not easy.”
The Smash Single That Set the Tone
“Sailor Song” kicks off At The Beach, In Every Life, and Perez says that she’ll always be thankful for the doors that her breakthrough hit has opened. “Especially now that there are new songs in the mix and other focuses that I have, to know that she’s just holding down the fort is amazing,” she says of “Sailor Song. “It’s a gift — to know that I was part of the creation of something that has impacted people globally just feels divine.
“And it’s exciting to see where the rest of the music is gonna go,” she continues, “because in my head, ‘Sailor Song’ and the impact that it’s had are amazing, but I’ve set my sights on personal fulfillment, and what that means is different. As long as there’s a community there, whether it’s one person or it’s 1 million, every single person that’s impacted by it matters.”
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, Lorde shakes us awake, Megan Thee Stallion is ready “whenever” and Benson Boone shows off a different side. Check out all of this week’s picks below:
Lorde, “What Was That”
Lorde has made a habit of returning every four years with a bold new solo statement, and with “What Was That,” the pop auteur circles back into our orbit in her late twenties, chasing new highs in New York City and feeling a little more bruised by breakups; the subtle, slightly twitchy production and subject matter draw a line back to 2017’s Melodrama, but Lorde is evolving her feelings, sharpening the specificity of her lyrics and treating a much-anticipated new single like a too-honest piece of poetry.
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Megan Thee Stallion, “Whenever”
Megan Thee Stallion blacks out in the second verse of her new single “Whenever,” rattling off lines like “I love when I hear that a b—h don’t like me, stalk my IG / This pretty face on her FYP,” in a way that recalls her ferocious early mixtapes — it’s a moment that reminds us of Meg’s effortless drive when she wants to pick up the pace, and stirs up even more anticipation for her next project.
Benson Boone, “Mystical Magical”
Unless you’ve spent the past year under a rock, you know that Benson Boone possesses the type of soaring vocals that can startle listeners, and serve as the engine of a smash. Unlike “Beautiful Things,” however, new single “Mystical Magical” peppers that force into a more delicate arrangement, with Boone delivering the titular phrase in a blissed-out falsetto as the bass pops beneath him.
Young Thug feat. Future, “Money on Money”
After a few guest spots in recent months, Young Thug has unveiled his first proper single since leaving jail on a plea deal last year, and it’s a doozy: “Money on Money” is opulent Atlanta rap, with a killer beat switch, a reinvigorated Thugger calling out those who doubted him (and declaring that he’s “blowing money fast like a cheetah”), and Future supporting his frequent collaborator on the back end.
Coco Jones, Why Not More?
Coco Jones has already translated legions of Disney fans into R&B listeners, scored a crossover hit in “ICU” and taken home a Grammy, yet the release of her long-awaited debut album Why Not More? feels like a momentous occasion — as well as the proper full-length showcase that her voice deserves, as Jones spends the first half of the album sans guests and letting her sensual delivery commanding our attention.
Tucker Wetmore, What Not To
The reason why Pacific Northwest singer-songwriter Tucker Wetmore has broken through in Nashville involves his adeptness at emotional storytelling as well as party-ready singles; debut album What Not To boasts both across its 19-song track list, from the finger-snapping viral hit “Brunette” to the searing title track.
D4vd, Withered
Throughout his short career, D4vd has refused to trade in viral success for mainstream pandering, instead using the platform afforded by his early hits to keep exploring his sonic interests — and Withered, his first proper album, sounds like a young singer-songwriter comfortable in his own skin, drifting toward dreamy rhythmic pop that should be a natural springtime soundtrack.
Editor’s Pick: Samia, Bloodless
Bloodless is the sound of a talented artist achieving clarity: Samia Finnerty has released intriguing albums before, but nothing comes close to the stylistic command and singular point of view she demonstrates on her third album, which oscillates between alt-folk and indie-pop to study gender norms in modern society and present Samia’s full self without compromise.
Kylie Minogue had to call off what was going to be her first-ever show in Denver, CO this week for the very best reason. The Australian dance pop legend was slated to play at Ball Arena on Tuesday (April 29), but because the hometown Denver Nuggets are still in the playoff hunt and have a […]
PinkPantheress was born in Bath, England, and raised in Kent, but on Friday (April 25), she came “Stateside” for her latest single. “Stateside” arrives three weeks after “Tonight,” the lead single from her upcoming mixtape, Fancy That, which is out May 9 via Parlophone and Warner Records. The club anthem, which samples Panic! At the […]
Joe Jonas is going offline for his first solo single of the year.
Ahead of his forthcoming sophomore solo album, Music for People Who Believe in Love, the second-eldest JoBro has released his long-teased “Heart by Heart,” a booming, reflective track that blends a pop foundation with elements of ’90s country and arena rock. “Well, if he don’t ever light your spark/ Remember, I know your heart by heart,” he sings in the pre-chorus over swirling guitars and percussion, striking an impressive balance between dirty macking and heartfelt ode to the enduring power of genuine connections.
As the third offering from Music for People following 2024’s “Work It Out” and “What This Could Be,” “Heart By Heart” further solidifies Joe’s solo sound and differentiates from his work alongside his brothers and DNCE bandmates – as well as the electropop throughlines of his 2011 debut LP, Fastlife.
Accompanying the new single is a Bleeker Street Bar-set music video that finds Jonas embodying the ethos of Heineken’s new “Social Off Socials” campaign. Launched on Thursday (April 24), the new campaign seeks to remind consumers that the original social network is the bar – and that no mode of communication beats in-person connections. It’s a poignant message for a population still recovering from the psychological and emotional impact of not just the COVID-19 pandemic, but also the ever-growing pressures of existing in the digital age. Jonas also stars in the beer brand’s new video spot, which features him dramatizing his reaction to empty social media feeds before eventually stumbling on a packed bar.
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On the evening of the campaign launch, Jonas and Heineken teamed up for a special event at Bleeker Street Bar, where the Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter played “Heart by Heart” for the first time in front of an audience free of phones and social media. He even captured the crowd’s real-time reactions for the track’s forthcoming music video, playing the song twice, with a passionate rendition of “What This Could Be” sandwiched in between. Jonas will unleash his full Music for People Who Believe in Love LP on May 23 via Republic Records. Alongside his solo efforts, Jonas and his brothers will release their seventh studio album, Greetings from Your Hometown, on Aug. 8 — a little over four months after the band hosted JonasCon to celebrate their 20-year anniversary.
“I chose to debut my new song offline and in-person because it felt like the perfect time to return to what music is really about: connecting with people,” Jonas said. “The crowd was so real, so present, and completely locked into the music – that is something you can’t experience by watching on social media.”
During the video shoot, Billboard got some time with Jonas himself as he opened up about recording “Heart by Heart,” his favorite poets, and resuming his solo musical journey nearly 15 years after his debut.
What was the writing process for “Heart by Heart” like?
[“Heart By Heart”] was actually pitched to me [by] Savan Kotecha. He wrote it with Lewis Capaldi, and I just loved the messaging behind it. I really felt connected to it, so we did some tweaks, and I recorded it last year around the summer or fall. We held onto the song for a while. It felt like the song I really wanted to be the next single of my album, so I’m positioning it in a way where it speaks to where I’m at in my life and the emotional side of where I’m at. I’ve teased it long enough, so I’m eager for people to hear it.
How many takes did it take for you to nail that bridge?
Savan and the whole Max Martin team are brilliant because they will be very particular about what they want, and that’s always really encouraging. They’ll hear something and be like, “Eh, the diction on this word, etc.” [The song] took a few takes, but ultimately, when you connect with anything, it falls together quite quickly. For me, I thought it was pretty natural to get into the song emotionally. The bridge [took] a few takes, but honestly, the song itself happened quite fast – all the mixing and that.
Why does this feel like the right song to launch alongside the Heineken campaign?
I think it was good timing. Heineken came with this amazing campaign of being present [and it resonated with me]. We’re all on our phones all the time, doom-scrolling; I’ll be in bed and be like, “I could be doing so many things right now.” I went to the Masters Tournament recently, and you’re not allowed to have your phone there. The anxiousness you get is crazy; I get in line to order a drink, I’m checking my pockets, and it’s like, “Wait a minute, I can just be.” It’s a nice reminder to be present. I was about to release the song, and they were about to launch the campaign, and we chose the same day.
What’s the most interesting thing you’ve learned about yourself since returning to solo work?
It’s been a minute since I’ve released anything [solo]. The last album that I did by myself, I’m very proud of. There were a lot of cooks in the kitchen at that time in my life. I was surrounded by a lot of people that I just said, “Yes, and” to. Now, knowing who I am, feeling confident, and looking at my life, I’m so grateful for the friends and family I have around me. And I get to do it again 20-something years later, and find creative ways to speak to what I’ve been through. I know the difference of when it’s a [Jonas] Brothers song or a DNCE song; the music I’ve been making felt really personal. And I selfishly didn’t want to share it with other people. This needed to come from my voice in particular.
What are some of those musical elements that help you differentiate between a solo song, a JoBros song and a DNCE song?
DNCE – our drummer Jack [Lawless] is here, actually – is a funky, sexy, wild, free band, and our audience loves that. We’re a party band; a bar wouldn’t be an unfamiliar place to find us. For the [Jonas] Brothers, [we’re] the guys you know and grew up with. It’s like a warm hug; it’s emotional. But, lyrically, sometimes we can’t always speak. We have three minds going through three different things in our lives. With my solo album, I feel like this music is like my journal that I carry around all the time, and the poetry I’ve been working on.
Who are some of your favorite poets? 
I have a few! Mary Oliver is probably my favorite among many people. I love her poetry. At the beginning of my solo shows right now, I project a Mary Oliver poem [“The Journey”] about realizing the only person you can save is yourself. It’s so powerful. I’m most encouraged by her writing.
What’s your go-to bar order?
I usually go with tequila. Tequila soda with an orange wedge. I don’t know why, but I’m doing the rocks glass — it feels like it tastes different from a tall glass. I’ve also been getting into martinis.
What’s your go-to bar song?
If you’re doing karaoke, you can always do “Don’t Stop Believin’,” and everyone is thrilled. If it’s just me, I like “Piano Man” by Billy Joel. But I’ve Shazamed Brazilian and Spanish hip-hop, so it can be different for any setting.
Where’s your dream place to perform “Heart by Heart?”
A giant stadium, so hopefully this song will be popular enough by when we open the tour on Aug. 10 and people request it!
The Chainsmokers dropped a remix of Chappell Roan‘s “Pink Pony Club” on Thursday (April 24), with the duo shaving down the original from four-plus minutes to a tight two-minute and 11-second edit. The remix bounces along on a dark house beat before taking a turn into brighter and quintessentially Chainsmokers sonic terrain around the one-minute […]
On Thursday (April 24), Benson Boone released his new song “Mystical Magical,” following its live debut at Coachella. It’s the second single from Benson’s American Heart album, due June 20 via Night Street Records/Warner Records.
With a jangly pop-rock production, Boone is clearly having a blast on the song, showing off his famous falsetto on the chorus as he tries to describe the otherworldly feeling of his love. “‘Cause it feels so mystical, magical, oh baby/ ‘Cause once you know, once you know/ My love is so mystical, magical, oh baby/ ‘Cause once you know, once you know,” he sings in the light-as-air chorus.
Boone made his Coachella debut on April 11, where he brought out Queen guitarist Brian May to cover the epic 1975 hit “Bohemian Rhapsody” and also gave his fans in the desert a sneak peek at his brand-new single, performing “Mystical Magical” for the first time live.
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An official lyric video for the song, directed by Matt Eastin, also debuted on Thursday, showing Boone dancing around in a series of colorful outfits and settings, as balloons float all around him or, just like the lyrics says, “dancing at the movies.”
“Sorry I’m Here for Someone Else,” the first single from American Heart, hit the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100, so far peaking at No. 36, and has also climbed to No. 13 on the Pop Airplay chart.
Boone will make his Saturday Night Live debut as the May 3 musical guest alongside host Quinta Brunson. He also has a string of festival dates lined up throughout the summer, including BottleRock in Napa, California; Summerfest in Milwaukee; and Governors Ball in New York.
Find the “Mystical Magical” lyric video below: