Per Billboard: Last News

SXSW has announced its first edition in London set for 2025. See dates below.SXSW, also known as South by Southwest, marks its latest overseas venture after last year’s Sydney debut – and its first time in Europe.

Drake‘s lawyers have claimed that “millions of people” believe Kendrick Lamar was literally calling him a pedophile.Last November, the ‘Hotline Bling’ hitmaker filed a dispute against Universal Music Group in New York, alleging that the publisher and label had “artificially inflated” streams for ‘Not Like Us’, among other allegations.In the filing – which can be viewed here – Drake’s Frozen Moments LLC accused UMG and Spotify of “illegally” aiding and boosting ‘Not Like Us’ streams in favour of Lamar – who entered a viral rap feud with Drake last year.More recently, UMG filed a motion to dismiss the Canadian rapper’s suit, stating that he had sued the corporation because he “lost a rap battle”. They went on to say that “instead of accepting the loss like the unbothered rap artist he often claims to be”, Drake had “sued his own record label in a misguided attempt to salve his wounds”.UMG also cited a 2022 petition in their filing which noted that Drake, along with various other musicians, had urged prosecutors to stop citing rap lyrics as evidence in criminal trials.

HYBE is teaming up with OneRepublic frontman Ryan Tedder to launch a new boyband.Announced on February 20, the project will kick off with a global talent search, with HYBE chairman Bang Si-hyuk, HYBE America CEO Scooter Braun and Ryan Tedder at the project’s helm. Per Billboard, a training programme fusing HYBE’s K-pop development programme and Tedder’s creative direction will commence in Los Angeles after members of the group are chosen.Tedder has a history of working with HYBE acts, including the with company’s US-based girl group KATSEYE for ‘Debut’, Japanese band &TEAM for ‘Dropkick’ and Korean boyband TXT for ‘Back For More’.

Aerosmith are reportedly set to reunite for a brief performance next month – find out more below.The band announced their abrupt retirement from touring in August last year after frontman Steven Tyler suffered a serious vocal cord injury while performing in 2023. Their final live show took place at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York back in September 2023, and no one – including the band themselves – knew it would be their last.Now, however, it appears that the band will be reconvening for a special performance as part of Tyler’s Jam For Janie charity event in early February.

2025 Oscars will be moving away from its traditional programming for select categories, it has been revealed.Ahead of the Oscars’ core nominations being revealed later today (January 23), Academy president Janet Yang and Bill Kramer, CEO of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences shared an internal letter to members of the Academy outlining several changes to this year’s ceremony.Per Billboard, this year’s ceremony on March 2 will not include live performances for the Best Original Song category. Typically, artists who are nominated in the category will perform throughout the night in the lead-up to the award being presented.In their letter to Academy members, Yang and Kramer wrote per Billboard: “This year the Best Original Song category presentation will move away from live performances and will be focused on the songwriters.

Pusha T has admitted in a new interview that other artists were “backing away” from him after his highly publicised 2018 feud with Drake.Per Billboard, on Saturday (December 7), Pusha T – real name Terrence LeVarr Thornton – was interviewed at an Art Basel event in Miami. Thornton had been asked about the feud between Kendrick Lamar and Drake that transpired this year, while touching on his own back-and-forth with the Canadian hitmaker in 2018.Thornton spoke about how the aftermath of his Drake feud played out differently compared to Lamar, whose scathing diss track ‘Not Like Us’ shot up to number one on Billboard charts.

Falling In Reverse have announced the cancellation of their UK tour as frontman Ronnie Radke has been allegedly denied visa entry, due to his time spent in prison.The metalcore band’s Popular Monstour 2: World Domination tour was set to hit the UK today (December 4) in Manchester. However, the band announced in an Instagram Story yesterday that it will no longer go forward as scheduled.“We regret to announce that the home office has denied Ronnie’s visa application for the remaining 2024 UK shows,” it read.

Source Music, a subsidiary of HYBE Labels, has filed a lawsuit against fellow subsidiary ADOR’s CEO Min Hee-jin.On July 15, Sports Seoul reported that Source Music had filed a lawsuit against Min at the Seoul Western District Court. According to the report, the agency is seeking KRW500million (roughly US$360,000) in damages for defamation and interfering with business.

Drake is facing a lawsuit after clothing brand Members Only alleged tour merch he sold infringed upon their company trademarks.In a case filed on Tuesday (June 12), it was claimed that Drake’s company, Away From Home Touring Inc., had been selling shirts that read ‘Members Only’ on the recent ‘It’s All a Blur‘ Tour.The words seemingly reference his track ‘Members Only’ from 2023 album ‘For all the Dogs’ and are not imitations of the recognisable Members Only racer jackets that made the brand popular in the 1980s.However, Members Only lawyers have said (via Billboard): “The fact that ‘Members Only’ is a song on Drake’s album ‘For All the Dogs’ does not obviate the likelihood of confusion or give [Drake] a license to use our client’s ‘Members Only’ marks in such a confusing manner, particularly on or in connection with apparel items.”They continued: “Away From Home’s use of ‘Members Only’ … is likely to cause confusion, mistake, and deception among consumers as to the origin of Away From Home’s infringing T-shirts.”Per Billboard, representatives for Drake have not yet responded to a request for comment.This is the latest legal battle facing the Canadian rapper, who recently was dismissed from lawsuits relative to Travis Scott‘s 2021 Astroworld festival disaster.

R.E.M. have finally gotten back together for a surprise performance – their first in 15 years.Last night (June 13), the band were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, shortly after their first interview as a group in 30 years aired on CBS.After accepting their induction at the Songwriters Hall of Fame ceremony, the band pulled out acoustic instruments and treated those in attendance to a surprise performance of ‘Losing My Religion’.Watch fan-shot footage of the performance below.Per Billboard, Michael Stipe said on behalf of the band upon their induction: “Writing songs and having a catalog of work that we’re all proud of that is out there for the rest of the world for all time is hands-down the most important aspect of what we did.

Madonna‘s legal team has labelled the class action lawsuit against the singer for showing up late on stage as a “harassment campaign”.More than one class action lawsuit has been filed over her late starts during her recent ‘Celebration’ 40th anniversary tour. In January, Michael Fellows and Jonathan Hadden, two fans who bought tickets to the December 13 date of Madonna’s ‘Celebration’ shows at the Barclays Center, filed a lawsuit against Madonna in New York for starting the concert more than two hours past the stipulated 8:30pm start time.The lawsuit accused her of not only breaching contracts with ticket buyers, but also of “false advertising, negligent representation, and unfair and deceptive trade practices”.A few months later, Madonna asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit filed against her.

Madonna’s lawyers have asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit filed against her on the grounds of late concert start times.In January, Michael Fellows and Jonathan Hadden, two fans who bought tickets to the December 13 date of Madonna’s ‘Celebration’ tour at the Barclays Center, filed a lawsuit against Madonna for starting the concert more than two hours past the stipulated 8:30PM start time.The lawsuit accused her of not only breaching contracts with ticket buyers, but also of “false advertising, negligent representation, and unfair and deceptive trade practices”.In the new filing, Madonna’s representatives have written: “Plaintiffs speculate that ticketholders who left the venue after 1am might have had trouble getting a ride home or might have needed to wake up early the next day for work. That is not a cognizable injury.”The motion also states that one of the plaintiffs, Jonathan Hadden, “raved” about the show in a social media post, calling it “incredible as always!”In response to the original suit, Madonna’s representatives and Live Nation issued a joint statement, expressing their intentions to “defend this case vigorously”.

a summons against the music executive was filed in the Supreme Court of the State of New York County by attorneys for a woman identified as Jane Doe (per reports from Rolling Stone and Pitchfork). Now, the unnamed woman has dropped the case according to a document filed in New York court on Thursday, February 15.

Beyoncé continues to break barriers.

Madonna has responded to a recent lawsuit filed by two fans over late start times at her ‘Celebration’ tour dates in New York City’s Barclays Center.Last week (January 17), Michael Fellows and Jonathan Hadden, two fans who bought tickets to the December 13 date of Madonna’s ‘Celebration’ tour at the Barclays Center, filed a lawsuit against Madonna for starting the concert more than two hours past the stipulated 8:30PM start time. The lawsuit accused her of not only breaching contracts with ticket buyers, but also of “false advertising, negligent representation, and unfair and deceptive trade practices”.Now, Madonna’s representatives and Live Nation have issued a joint statement, expressing their intentions to “defend this case vigorously”.

Will Smith has announced that he will be hosting a new podcast called Class Of ’88, exploring hip-hop music that was released in that year.The rapper-turned-actor will celebrate the year in rap alongside other hip-hop superstars of that era, including Queen Latifah, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Darryl ‘DMC’ McDaniels, Salt-N-Pepa, Chuck D of Public Enemy, Fab Five Freddy, Rakim, and DJ Red Alert.Per Billboard, Smith said: “Hip-hop has been a central part of my life for over four decades. I’m hyped to share my first-hand experiences and those of some of hip-hop’s greatest legends as we delve into the origins of one of the most influential genres of music in history.”Last Thursday (September 21), the trailer for Class Of ’88 was released, with Smith saying: “Today, hip-hop dominates pop culture, but it wasn’t always like that.

Like something out of a classic country song, Zach Bryan has had his first No. 1 album, his first No. 1 single, and how he’s been arrested — all in the same week.

JAY-Z's mom, Dr. Gloria Carter, and her new wife, Roxanne Wiltshire, wore matching smiles as they walked their first red carpet as a married couple. The pair, who got hitched earlier this month, attended the Shawn Carter Foundation's 20th Anniversary Black Tie Gala on Friday, where they posed for photographs arm-in-arm.Carter, 72, wore a sleek black tuxedo jacket with leather lapels, a gray silk scarf under her collar and a fashionable pair of black glasses.

The Hot 100 chart is seeing a country music comeback.For the first time in 42 years, country music stars simultaneously hold the top two spots on the coveted music list. Morgan Wallen’s “Last Night” remains atop the chart, with Luke Combs’ “Fast Car” coming in a close second. The last time country musicians were on top of the all-genre chart was in 1981.

Coolio, has re-entered the charts for the first time in over 25 years following the rapper’s death last month.Per Billboard, the multi-Platinum song has re-entered both its Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and its Hot Rap Songs chart. It currently appears at Number 16 on the former chart, while charting even higher up at Number 11 on the latter.

Ed Sheeran will enter his third set of court proceedings over his songwriting, with the musician set to face a jury trial following a suit from a stakeholder in the estate of Marvin Gaye‘s co-writer.The ruling came yesterday (September 29) from Judge Louis Stanton, a senior district judge for the Southern District of New York. Per Billboard, the case will determine whether Ed Sheeran’s hit single ‘Thinking Out Loud’ is in breach of copyright due to its similarities with Gaye’s 1973 single ‘Let’s Get It On’.The suit came from Structured Asset Sales, a company that owns a stake in the copyrights of the estate of Ed Townsend – a co-writer on ‘Let’s Get It On’.