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Bruno Mars jokes that he’s nearly debt-free after performing ‘APT.’ with BLACKPINK’s Rosé

Bruno Mars has seemingly poked fun at rumours that he’s heavily in debt – see what he had to say below.

• READ MORE: Rosé and Bruno Mars’ ‘APT.’ is an addictively flirty and fun intro to the BLACKPINK star’s solo era

On Sunday (July 13), BLACKPINK performed their second show at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. To celebrate the occasion, Rosé brought out Bruno Mars to perform their hit collaboration ‘APT.’ to close out her short solo set mid-show – you can watch footage of the performance here.

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Following the performance, Mars uploaded a clip of the performance onto Instagram, which he captioned: “Almost out of debt BehhhhhBehhhhh!!! Preciate You ROSAAAAYYYYYY!!!!”

The caption seemingly relates to rumours that surfaced in 2024 that the singer was $50million in debt with the MGM Grand due to gambling. The MGM Grand later denied these claims.

Amid his ninth year performing a residency there, a “well-placed Vegas insider” reported that Mars “owed millions” to them from gambling. They went on to claim that Mars apparently made $90million from the deal with the casino, but after paying off his debts and taxes, takes home $1.5million per night.

In their dismissal of the speculation, a spokesperson for MGM said: “We’re proud of our relationship with Bruno Mars, one of the world’s most thrilling and dynamic performers,” said a spokesperson from the MGM Grand.

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“MGM and Bruno’s partnership is longstanding and rooted in mutual respect. Any speculation otherwise is completely false; he has no debt with MGM. Together, we are excited to continue creating unforgettable experiences for our guests.”

Since then, Mars has been having fun with the rumour, and earlier this year joked that he’d be “out of debt in no time” as his collaboration with Sexyy Red ‘Fat Juicy & Wet’, which also featured Lady Gaga and Rosé, topped numerous charts.

Watch Bruno Mars make a surprise appearance for ‘APT.’ at BLACKPINK show in Los Angeles

Bruno Mars made a surprise appearance at BLACKPINK‘s recent Los Angeles concert to perform ‘APT.’ – watch fan-shot footage of the moment below.

On Sunday (July 13), BLACKPINK performed their second show at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. To celebrate the occasion, Rosé brought out Bruno Mars to perform their hit collaboration ‘APT.’ to close out her short solo set mid-show.

Rosé kicked off the song solo, performing the first verse and chorus on her own, before Mars was lifted onstage via a riser for his verse. The pair then shared a quick hug as confetti went off, and they ran across the stage while performing.

Watch the moment below.

‘APT.’ was named one of NME’s best 50 songs of 2024 and one of NME’s best 25 K-pop songs of the year. The song also scored a glowing five-star review, with NME’s Rhian Daly writing: “Truthfully, Rosé has never sounded as good as she does here. There’s a power and confidence in her voice that far surpasses her past performances, and the vintage pop-rock riffs and attitude – which echo with elements of Toni Basil, Blondie and Joan Jett – feel sublimely suited to her as an artist. Addictive, flirty and a whole lot of fun, ‘APT.’ is the perfect introduction to Rosé’s new chapter.”

Bruno Mars cancels Tel Aviv Concert amid Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Bruno Mars was forced to cancel his concert in Tell Aviv yesterday (October 7) following an attack in which Palestinian militants launched an early morning attack on Southern Israel.

Days earlier (October 4), Mars performed his first concert at Tel Aviv’s Park HaYarkon, and was due to return yesterday (October 7) for the second of the dates.

“Bruno Mars concert scheduled to take place tonight is cancelled,” Live Nation Israel wrote Saturday on Instagram.

“All ticket purchases to the show will receive an automatic refund to the credit card through which the purchase was made. We stand with the residents of Israel, IDF fighters and the security forces in these difficult moments.”

Meanwhile, dozens of Israeli music festival goers were killed following yesterday’s attack.

According to CNN, music fans attending the festival reported that rockets began to hit the site around 6:30am before gunfire opened up on those in attendance soon after.

At the time of writing, media reports say that over 400 Israelis have been killed in the wider conflict, with over 2000 injured and over 100 abducted. According to The Guardian, around 350 Palestinians have also been killed since fighting began. Separate reports from media outlets in the area say up to 250 people have been reported killed at the music festival alone, although there has, as yet, been no official confirmation of these figures.

Eyewitnesses at the festival said gunmen left multiple festival goers dead while dozens were taken hostage. Videos have been circulating on social media showing different attendees being taken hostage.

One eyewitness told CNN they began hearing sirens and rockets while at an all-night event at the festival, a rave that borders the desert near Kibbutz Re’im. “We didn’t even have any place to hide because we were at [an] open space. Everyone got so panicked and started to take their stuff,” they explained.

The eyewitness also reported seeing multiple casualties and fatalities at the scene.

The outdoor trance music festival was reportedly produced by NOVA productions, beginning at 11pm and continued throughout the night. According to The Times of Israel, it was attended by thousands of Israelis aged around 20-40 from all over the country. NME has reached out to NOVA productions for comment.

Bruno Mars confirms Silk Sonic will not be submitting their album for Grammys consideration

Bruno Mars has confirmed that Silk Sonic will not be submitting their debut album for consideration at next year’s Grammys.

Mars and Anderson .Paak released ‘An Evening With Silk Sonic’ in November 2021, featuring the singles ‘Leave The Door Open’, ‘Skate’ and ‘Smokin Out The Window’.

• READ MORE: Silk Sonic – ‘An Evening With Silk Sonic’ review: an unashamedly retro delight

While Silk Sonic picked up four Grammys – with ‘Leave The Door Open’ winning in the Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Song categories – at the 2022 ceremony back in April, Mars has now confirmed that the duo will not be submitting ‘An Evening With Silk Sonic’ for consideration at the 2023 Grammys.

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“We truly put our all on this record, but Silk Sonic would like to gracefully, humbly and, most importantly, sexually bow out of submitting our album this year,” Mars told Rolling Stone in a statement.

“We hope we can celebrate with everyone on a great year of music and partake in the party. Thank you for letting Silk Sonic thrive.”

Mars added: “Andy and I, and everyone that worked on this project, won the moment the world responded to ‘Leave The Door Open’. Everything else was just icing on the cake.

“We thank the Grammys for allowing us to perform on their platform — not once but twice — and awarding us at last year’s ceremony. We’d be crazy to ask for anything more.

“Thank you to everyone that supported this project and championed it.”

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Silk Sonic have also been victorious at the MTV VMAs, the BRIT Awards, the Billboard Music Awards and the BET Awards over the past 18 months.

Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak unveil ‘Silk Sonic’ album release date

Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak have unveiled the release date for their ‘Silk Sonic’ album.

The album, ‘An Evening With Silk Sonic’, will arrive on November 12 and will feature previously released singles, ‘Leave The Door Open‘, ‘Skate‘ and ‘Silk Sonic Intro’.

The pair announced the project back in February and performed ‘Leave The Door Open’ at the Grammy awards a few weeks later.

Bruno Mars becomes first artist to have five songs certified Diamond

Bruno Mars has become the first artist to have five songs certified as Diamond by the Recording Industry Association Of America (RIAA).

• READ MORE: NME Radio Roundup: Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak, Girl in Red and more

His songs ‘That’s What I Like’ and ‘When I Was Your Man’ have just received diamond certification after selling and streaming over 10 million copies.

Other songs already certified Diamond include ‘Just The Way You Are,’ ‘Grenade,’ and his collaboration with Mark Ronson, ‘Uptown Funk!’

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Recording Industry Association Of America chairman and CEO Mitch Glazier said of the achievement: “Congratulations to Bruno Mars — the first artist with five Diamond Single Awards in the history of RIAA’s Gold and Platinum Program!”

“This milestone is a testament to Bruno’s unstoppable creative genius and the incredible partnership he has built with the team at Atlantic Records. What Bruno has accomplished is just extraordinary. Fewer than 60 Diamond Single Awards have ever been awarded — and Bruno now has five of them!”

Back in March, Mars and Anderson .Paak brought their new collaboration Silk Sonic to the stage for the first time at the Grammys 2021.

The pair announced the new project earlier this year (February 26) and released their first single ‘Leave The Door Open’ on March 5.

Mars and .Paak joined forces on stage for the first time at tonight’s Grammys, performing alongside the likes of Harry Styles, Dua Lipa, Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish.

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They brought some vintage style to the annual awards show, dressed in matching burnt orange suits to deliver their debut live performance.

Mars and .Paak also returned to the Grammy stage after debuting their new project to pay tribute to Little Richard. 

Paak took on drumming duties while Mars sang on a medley of ‘Long Tall Sally’ and ‘Good Golly Miss Molly’. “We love you Little Richard,” Mars said as the performance ended.

Bruno Mars is teaming up with Fortnite for new dance project

Bruno Mars is teaming up with Fortnite on a new dance project.

• READ MORE: Bruno Mars – The Full NME Cover Interview 

Mars’ dance skills will feature in an exclusive Icon Series Emote, which, as The Hollywood Reporter describes, “is a cosmetic item available in the game’s shop that is designed for players to further express themselves on the battle royale playing field.”

The emote will also be set to ‘Leave The Door Open’ – the debut single from Silk Sonic, aka project Mars is working on with Anderson .Paak.

Watch Brittany Howard, Chris Martin, Bruno Mars and more perform Grammys 2021 In Memoriam tribute

Brittany Howard, Coldplay’s Chris Martin, Bruno Mars and more paid tribute to lost stars of the music world during the Grammys 2021 In Memoriam segment.

Ahead of the performances, host Trevor Noah noted that due to the tragic number of lives lost in the last year, not all would be able to be recognised in the section, but would be remembered online instead.

Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak returned to the stage after debuting their new project Silk Sonic to pay tribute to Little Richard. Paak took on drumming duties while Mars sang on a medley of ‘Long Tall Sally’ and ‘Good Golly Miss Molly’. “We love you Little Richard,” Mars said as the performance ended.

Confira a performance completa de Bruno Mars e Anderson.Paak numa homenagem a Little Richard, no #GRAMMYs. pic.twitter.com/s2m2MOMlpz

— No Instante – A informação agora (@NoInstante_n10_) March 15, 2021

Bruno Mars And Anderson Paak Slide Into Leisure Suits For Silk Sonic Debut

Bruno Mars and Anderson. Paak’s Silk Sonic to perform at 2021 Grammys

Bruno Mars and Anderson. Paak‘s new Silk Sonic project will perform at the 2021 Grammys this weekend – after the duo spent days campaigning on social media to join the lineup.

Earlier this week, Anderson and Mars began tweeting back and forth at one another in mock outrage, devising a plan to get themselves on the bill and encouraging fans to get onboard with the hashtag #LetSilkSonicThrive.

The pair eventually shared a letter addressed to Grammys organisers, writing, “If you can see it in your hearts to allow two out of work musicians to perform at your show, we would really appreciate it.”

Bruno Mars speaks about cultural appropriation accusations: “This music comes from love”

Bruno Mars has spoken out about the cultural appropriation claims he has faced during his career in a new interview.

The musician – who is of Filipino, Puerto Rican and Ashkenazi Jewish descent – has been accused of appropriating Black music through his work.

During an appearance on New York radio show The Breakfast Club last week (March 5), Mars defended himself against those allegations. “I would say you can’t find an interview where I am not talking about the entertainers that have come before me,” he said. “The only reason why I’m here is because of James Brown, Prince, Michael [Jackson] – that’s the only reason why I’m here.

Bruno Mars To Produce & Star In Upcoming Disney Film

Bruno Mars has been tapped by Disney to produce and star in an upcoming music-driven film, for which he will also write and perform original music.

Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga’s Names Used By Fake Booking Agents In Sandy Hook Scam

They’ve been arrested for fraud.

These are Spotify’s most streamed artists, songs and albums of all time

Spotify has officially unveiled its most streamed artists, songs, and albums of all time, providing a definitive look at the music that has defined the platform since its inception in 2006. The announcement coincides with the streaming giant’s 20th anniversary, marking the first time the company has shared its comprehensive all-time streaming data.

As expected, the charts are dominated by global superstars. Taylor Swift has been crowned the most streamed artist of all time on the service. In the albums category, Bad Bunny’s 2022 release Un Verano Sin Ti claims the top spot, while The Weeknd’s 2019 global smash ‘Blinding Lights’ holds the title for the most streamed song in Spotify history.

The data also highlights the enduring popularity of artists such as Ed Sheeran, Drake, Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, and Billie Eilish. Notably, Arctic Monkeys’ 2013 album AM secured the ninth position on the albums chart, with its closing track ‘I Wanna Be Yours’—an adaptation of a John Cooper Clarke poem—reaching Number 12 on the songs list.

Other notable entries include Glass Animals’ 2020 breakout hit ‘Heat Waves’ and Coldplay’s ‘Yellow’, which remains a staple of the platform despite being released six years before Spotify launched.

Most streamed artists of all time on Spotify:

1. Taylor Swift
2. Bad Bunny
3. Drake
4. The Weeknd
5. Ariana Grande
6. Ed Sheeran
7. Justin Bieber
8. Billie Eilish
9. Eminem
10. Kanye West
11. Travis Scott
12. BTS
13. Post Malone
14. Bruno Mars
15. J Balvin
16. Rihanna
17. Coldplay
18. Kendrick Lamar
19. Future
20. Juice WRLD

Most streamed albums of all time on Spotify:

1. Bad Bunny – ‘Un Verano Sin Ti’
2. The Weeknd – ‘Starboy’
3. Ed Sheeran – ‘Divide (Deluxe)’
4. Olivia Rodrigo – ‘Sour’
5. The Weeknd – ‘After Hours’
6. SZA – ‘SOS’
7. Post Malone – ‘Hollywood’s Bleeding’
8. Taylor Swift – ‘Lover’
9. Arctic Monkeys – ‘AM’
10. Billie Eilish – ‘When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?’
11. Dua Lipa – ‘Future Nostalgia’
12. Post Malone – ‘Beerbongs & Bentleys’
13. XXXTentacion – ‘?’
14. Karol G – ‘Manaa Sera Bonito (Bichota Season)’
15. Bad Bunny – ‘YHLQMDLG’
16. Bruno Mars – ‘Doo-Wops & Hooligans’
17. Drake – ‘Views’
18. Taylor Swift – ‘Midnights’
19. Drake – ‘Scorpion’
20. The Weeknd – ‘Beauty Behind The Madness’

Most streamed songs of all time on Spotify:

1. The Weeknd – ‘Blinding Lights’
2. Ed Sheeran – ‘Shape Of You’
3. The Neighbourhood – ’Sweater Weather’
4. The Weeknd, Daft Punk – ‘Starboy’
5. Harry Styles – ‘As It Was’
6. Lewis Capaldi – ‘Someone You Loved’
7. Post Malone, Swae Lee – ‘Sunflower – Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse’
8. Drake, Wizkid, Kyla – ‘One Dance’
9. Ed Sheeran – ‘Perfect’
10. The Kid LAROI, Justin Bieber – ‘Stay’
11. Imagine Dragons – ‘Believer’
12. Arctic Monkeys – ‘I Wanna Be Yours’
13. Glass Animals – ’Heat Waves’
14. Billie Eilish, Khalid – ‘Lovely’
15. Coldplay – ‘Yellow’
16. Lord Huron – ‘The Night We Met’
17. The Chainsmokers, Halsey – ‘Closer’
18. Billie Eilish – ‘Birds Of A Feather’
19. Vance Joy – ’Riptide’
20. Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars – ‘Die With A Smile’

Every Song Featured in ‘Malcolm In The Middle: Life’s Still Unfair’

A New Chapter for the Wilkerson Family

Nearly two decades after the original series concluded its seven-season run in 2006, the beloved sitcom Malcolm In The Middle has returned to screens with a four-episode revival, Malcolm In The Middle: Life’s Still Unfair. Original creator Linwood Boomer returns to helm the project, with Bryan Cranston serving as an executive producer to ensure the revival maintains the chaotic, heartfelt spirit of the original.

The series sees the return of the core cast, including Frankie Muniz, Jane Kaczmarek, Justin Berfield, and Christopher Masterson. They are joined by new additions to the family, including Keeley Karsten as Malcolm’s daughter Leah, Vaughan Murrae as Kelly, and Caleb Ellsworth-Clark, who steps into the role of Dewey. The revival is currently available to stream on Disney+.

The Evolution of the Theme Song

One of the most iconic elements of the original show was its high-energy theme song, ‘Boss Of Me’ by They Might Be Giants. For the revival, the track has been reimagined by Drama Dolls. Fans will notice that the song is no longer used as a full-length opening sequence; instead, it appears during the end credits of select episodes, marking a shift in the show’s stylistic presentation.

The Soundtrack: Episode-by-Episode Breakdown

Beyond the reworked theme, the revival utilizes a curated selection of music to underscore its narrative beats. From pop anthems to classic rock, here is every song featured in the four-episode run:

Episode One

• ‘Locked Out Of Heaven’ – Bruno Mars
• ‘Oop Pop A Dah’ – Dizzy Gillespie
• ‘Feelin’ It’ – Danger Twins

Episode Two

• ‘Big Fat Woodpecker’ – Pepe Deluxé

Episode Three

• ‘Super Duper’ – Hello Stereoh
• ‘P1NK’ – KAI
• ‘Grow Wings And Fly’ – King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard

Episode Four

• ‘Lil Boo Thang’ – Paul Russell
• ‘Rock Your Baby’ – George McCrae
• ‘Freak-A-Zoid (Reboot)’ – Calloway
• ‘Eternal Flame’ – The Bangles

Whether you are a long-time fan of the original series or a newcomer to the Wilkerson family’s antics, the soundtrack provides a nostalgic yet fresh backdrop to this long-awaited return.

“PieceZz” by ShedNo TearZzz Is Now Streaming Everywhere

Providence, Rhode Island has never been the first city anyone mentions when mapping the geography of American hip-hop. That's precisely what makes ShedNo TearZzz interesting.

Born Daniel Martinez, the emerging emo-rap and melodic hip-hop artist released his latest single "PieceZz," now available across all major streaming platforms. The track lands like a declaration — raw, emotionally precise, and built with the kind of quiet confidence that doesn't need to announce itself twice.

What "PieceZz" establishes immediately is range. The production sits comfortably inside R&B-influenced melodic hip-hop territory while the lyricism pulls in a different, darker direction — heartbreak, internal conflict, the slow work of becoming someone more resilient than the version of yourself that got hurt. It's a combination that feels genuinely inhabited rather than assembled from trending reference points.

ShedNo TearZzz began freestyling informally with friends and family long before a studio was ever part of the equation. By nineteen, that changed. What followed was the deliberate, unglamorous process of learning how to translate real feeling into recorded sound.

His influences read like a precise emotional map: XXXTentacion, Juice WRLD, Trippie Redd, and Iann Dior on one side, early 2000s alternative rock and Bruno Mars on the other. Together they explain the melodic instinct, the genre-blurring production choices, and the confessional lyrical core that runs through everything ShedNo TearZzz makes. None of it feels like imitation. It feels like synthesis.

Importantly, "PieceZz" isn't a standalone release. It's the first move in a deliberate sequence, setting the stage for his forthcoming single "?WHY!." This rollout strategy signals an artist thinking in chapters rather than moments.

Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show was found not to have violated any rules following investigation

Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show was found not to have violated any rules following an investigation by the Federal Communications Commission.

It comes after a number of Republican congressmen called for a probe accusing the Puerto Rican star of potentially violating broadcast decency standards despite the fact he censored or omitted his most explicit lyrics from the show.

Bad Bunny joined by Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin in dazzling, historic Super Bowl halftime show

Bad Bunny brought boundless energy, elaborate staging and guest spots from Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin in his Super Bowl halftime show.

The Puerto Rican superstar became the first Latin male artist and the first artist performing primarily in Spanish ever to take the prestigious headline slot, having previously delivered a guest appearance during Jennifer Lopez’s halftime show in 2020.

Record Store Day 2026: check out the full list of releases here

Kendrick Lamar cleans up at the Grammys 2026 see the full list of winners

Kendrick Lamar was the big winner at the 2026 Grammy Awards, picking up a total of five trophies – see the complete list of winners below.

Lamar had gone into the night leading the nominations with nine, and ran out with Record Of The Year for his SZA collaboration ‘Luther’, as well as all four rap-specific categories, thanks to his sixth album ‘GNX’.

BRIT Awards 2026: here are all the nominees

The full list of nominations for the 2026 BRIT Awards have been revealed, with Lola Young and Olivia Dean leading the pack. Check out the full list below.

This year’s ceremony will see the prestigious awards head to Manchester for the first time in its nearly 50-year history. Taking place at the Co-op Live arena on Saturday February 28, Jack Whitehall will be returning to host for the sixth time.

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It has already been confirmed that Scottish art-folk artist Jacob Alon has snagged the BRITs Critics’ Choice Award, beating off competition from Rose Gray and SIENNA SPIRO. The Mercury Prize nominee joins an impressive roster of past-winners, including Adele, Florence and the Machine, Ellie Goulding, Sam Smith, and Jorja Smith.

Now, the full list of nominations for the 2026 BRITs is out, with the likes of Sam Fender, Lily Allen, and Olivia Dean are all up for multiple awards on the night.

The three of them are all up for Artist Of The Year, alongside JADE, Fred Again.., PinkPantheress, Little Simz, Self Esteem and more. Former NME Cover star Lola Young has made that list too, and is also nominated in Breakthrough Artist, Alternative Rock, Pop and Song Of The Year categories.

Nominees for Group Of The Year are previous BRITs Rising Star winners The Last Dinner Party, as well as Sleep Token, Wet Leg, Wolf Alice, and Britpop veterans Pulp. The nomination for Jarvis Cocker and co. is their first from the BRITs in 30 years.

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International acts up for awards this year include Doechii, Geese, Bad Bunny, Sabrina Carpenter, HAIM, Turnstile, Tame Impala and more, and those up for Mastercard Album of the Year include Lily Allen, Olivia Dean, Sam Fender, Wolf Alice, and Dave.

Song Of The Year has entries from RAYE, with her viral hit ‘Where Is My Husband?’, last year’s Rising Star winner Myles Smith with ‘Nice To Meet You’, Lewis Capaldi with his comeback single ‘Survive’, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande with their Wicked hit ‘Defying Gravity’, and many more.

Check out the complete list of nominations below.

The nominees for the BRITs 2026 are:

Artist Of The Year
Dave
Fred Again..
JADE
Lily Allen
Little Simz
Lola Young
Olivia Dean
PinkPantheress
Sam Fender
Self Esteem

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Group Of The Year
The Last Dinner Party
Pulp
Sleep Token
Wet Leg
Wolf Alice

Mastercard Album Of The Year
Dave – ‘The Boy Who Played The Harp’
Lily Allen – ‘West End Girl’
Olivia Dean – ‘The Art Of Loving’
Sam Fender – ‘People Watching’
Wolf Alice – ‘The Clearing’

Breakthrough Artist
Barry Can’t Swim
Esdeekid
Jim Legxacy
Lola Young
Skye Newman

International Artist
Bad Bunny
Chappell Roan
CMAT
Doechii
Lady Gaga
Rosalia
Sabrina Carpenter
Sombr
Taylor Swift
Tyler, The Creator

International Group
Geese
HAIM
HUNTR/X (K-Pop Demon Hunters)
Tame Impala
Turnstile

Song Of The Year
Calvin Harris and Clementine Douglas – ‘Blessings’
Chrystal and NOTION – ‘The Days-NOTION Remix’
Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande – ‘Defying Gravity’
Ed Sheeran – ‘Azizam’
Fred Again, Kkepta and PlaqueBoyMax – ‘Victory Lap’
Lewis Capaldi – ‘Survive’
Lola Young – ‘Messy’
Myles Smith – ‘Nice To Meet You’
Olivia Dean – ‘Man I Need’
RAYE – ‘Where Is My Husband’
Sam Fender with Olivia Dean – ‘Rein Me In’
Skye Newman – ‘Family Matters’

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International Song
Alex Warren – ’Ordinary’
Chappell Roan – ‘Pink Pony Club’
Disco Lines and Tinashe – ‘No Broke Boys’
Gigi Perez – ‘Sailor Song’
Gracie Abrams – ‘That’s So True’
HUNTR/X – ‘Golden’
Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars – ‘Die With A Smile’
Ravyn Lenae – ‘Love Me Not’
Rose and Bruno Mars – ‘Apt.’
Sabrina Carpenter – ’Manchild’
Sombr – ‘Undressed’
Taylor Swift – ‘The Fate Of Ophelia’

Alternative/Rock
Blood Orange
Lola Young
Sam Fender
Wet Leg
Wolf Alice

Pop
JADE
Lily Allen
Lola Young
Olivia Dean
RAYE

Hip-Hop, Grime and Rap
Central Cee
Dave
Jim Legxacy
Little Simz
Loyle Carner

R&B
Jim Legxacy
Kwn
Mabel
Sasha Keable
Sault

Dance
Calvin Harris and Clementine Douglas
FKA Twigs
Fred Again.., Skepta, PlaqueBoyMax
PinkPantheress
Sammy Virji

This year, Olivia Dean and Lola Young are up for the most awards, each nominated in five categories. Close on their heels is Sam Fender with four nods, and those with three nominations each are Wolf Alice, Lily Allen, Fred Again.., Dave, and Jim Legxacy.

“Five BRIT Nominations, how is this even possible? I’ve had this dream a thousand times, so I’m slightly convinced that my alarm clock is about to wake me up,” said Young. “Seriously, this means so much to me, I am so grateful for this moment and to be nominated alongside the incredible other nominees.”

“It feels crazy to have five BRIT Award nominations, it’s very surreal and I’m still processing it,” added Dean, who has also been confirmed as the first artist to perform at the 2026 ceremony. “I remember watching the BRITs on TV when I was younger, and having gone to BRIT School and now having this full circle moment 10 years later, attending the awards is going to feel very emotional.”

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This year, nearly 70 per cent of the acts nominated are women and non-binary artists, which is the highest number yet for the BRITs. Additionally, Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande and HUNTR/X are all being nominated for their musical contributions to film, with the former two recording ‘Defying Gravity’ for Wicked, and the latter releasing the viral song ‘Golden’ for the hit Netflix film Kpop Demon Hunters.

This year, both Song Of The Year and International Song categories can be voted for by the public. More details about the voting process will be shared at a later date.

This year’s trophy has been designed by Matthew Williamson, who drew inspiration from “his Manchester roots and the city’s famous drive and resilience.” The statue is made of a distinctive amber-resin, resembling the golden honey of a worker bee, which is Manchester’s mascot.

ITV remains the official BRIT Awards broadcaster for the 34th year. The ceremony is set to air exclusively on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player.

Last year, Charli XCX swept the awards, taking home five trophies, and thanking dance artists who inspired her vision for ‘Brat‘ – among them her late collaborator SOPHIE. Check out the full list of winners here.

Among the performers on the night were Sabrina Carpenter, Sam Fender, JADE, Teddy Swims, The Last Dinner Party, Myles Smith, Lola Young, Ezra Collective and Jorja Smith.

BLACKPINK announce new mini album ‘Deadline’

BLACKPINK have announced a brand-new mini album, ‘Deadline’. Check out the preview video below.

• READ MORE: BLACKPINK live in Seoul: K-pop superstars bring power and playfulness as their massive ‘Born Pink’ world tour lifts off

The project will mark the K-pop group’s third EP, following 2018’s ‘Square Up’ and 2019’s ‘Kill This Love’. Their third and most recent full-length album, ‘Born Pink’, arrived in 2022.

Spotify Wrapped: Kneecap score more listeners than The Beatles in Ireland, as Irish music continues to thrive

Irish music has had a stellar year on streaming according to Spotify Wrapped 2025, with Kneecap attracting more listeners on the platform than The Beatles and Elton John in their native Ireland – NME can exclusively reveal.

Today (Wednesday December 3) saw the launch of Spotify Wrapped 2025 – showing music fans their most listened to songs, artists, albums and more from the last 12 months. While globally, listening habits on the streaming service were dominated by the likes of Bad Bunny, Taylor Swift, The Weeknd, Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars – and with top 10s in the UK led by Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, Alex Warren and Billie Eilish – stats shared exclusively with NME show the continued worldwide phenomenon of Irish music.

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While last year saw Irish artists export 14.6billion streams worldwide, with 95 per cent of Irish artist streams coming from outside Ireland, 2025 is currently on track to be an even bigger year for Irish artist exports with more listeners in the US, Canada, South Korea and Germany. The first quarter of 2025 saw Irish music streams increase by 20 per cent, with another 9.8billion listeners added by August.

Fontaines D.C. have kept the momentum up since the release of 2024’s ‘Romance‘ – which came in at Number 10 in the most-streamed albums list in Ireland and found them in the UK’s top 70 artists – but it’s controversial Belfast rap trio Kneecap who rode the wave of success after last year’s ‘Fine Art‘, their BAFTA-winning biopic and headlines surrounding their legal battle with the British government. The rappers were listened to 26million times in Ireland this year, more than the likes of The Beatles and Elton John on the Emerald Isle, as Spotify have confirmed to NME. 

In a year that has also seen acclaimed albums from Just Mustard and NewDad, one of the most celebrated new Irish releases of 2025 was CMAT‘s Mercury-nominated third LP ‘Euro-Country‘, which landed amongst the top 100 albums in Ireland this year and saw her attract 1.5million monthly listeners on Spotify. Viral track ‘Take A Sexy Picture Of Me‘ has more than doubled in streams since summer – now sitting at over 23million streams.

She’ll be at the top of many summer festivals in 2026, including a headline spot at Ireland’s Electric Picnic alongside Fontaines and Gorillaz.

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Meanwhile, summer 2025’s Reading & Leeds headliner Hozier has two albums in Ireland’s top 50 albums list on Spotify, and finds himself in the top 100 artists in 2025 globally and in the top 50 artists in the UK this year. The singer-songwriter also has two songs in the top 125 songs this year globally, including ‘Too Sweet’ and ‘Take Me To Church’, which both feature in the top 55 songs in the UK.

Kingfishr have in as as the third most streamed artist in Ireland, behisnd only Taylor Swift and Zach Bryan. Their single ‘Killeagh’ was Spotify’s top song in Ireland in 2025, while Amble’s ‘Reverie’ has come in a the most listened to album in the country ahead of efforts from Noah Kahan and Sabrina Carpenter.

Editor at Spotify Shannon Carragher explained how there was “something about Irish artists that cuts through the noise right now”.

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“A lot of it comes down to how naturally they blend intimacy with scale,” she told NME. “Their work often carries this mix of emotional honesty, wit, and self-awareness that feels instantly relatable, even if you’ve never set foot in Ireland.

“They write and perform like people who have lived a lot, felt a lot, and aren’t afraid to show the messier edges of it. That vulnerability lands in a world where listeners are tired of polished perfection; they want music that feels lived-in, flawed, funny, and true. Irish artists offer that in spades, and listeners recognise the sincerity.”

Carragher continued: “At the same time, there’s a spark of defiance that runs through much of the new Irish wave, an instinct to question, poke fun, stand ground, or turn pain into something communal. Whether it’s CMAT’s emotional chaos delivered with a wink, Fontaines D.C.’s restless searching, or Kneecap’s fearless cultural commentary, these artists bring a sharp point of view that feels refreshing rather than heavy.

“Each act is rooted in Ireland yet universal enough to travel. In fact, CMAT, NewDad and Kettama will all be flying the flag at Coachella next year.

She added: “The music is rooted in Irish identity but not entirely defined by it; instead, they use it as a lens to make sense of the world. And that mix of humour, heart, cultural specificity and big, human themes, travels more effortlessly now due to the times we’re living in. There are truths being told in a way listeners around the world perhaps haven’t felt before, and in a year like 2025, that is exactly what people are craving.”

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Fontaines D.C. and Kneecap are among the hundreds of artists taking part in the No Music For Genocide campaign, calling for their work to be geo-blocked on Spotify and other streaming platforms in Israel in protest against what an independent United Nations inquiry found to be a genocide in Gaza. So far, Massive Attack and Paul Weller have been success in their boycott bid.

Again, Spotify hasn’t been without controversy in 2025. Along with continuing issues and complaints around artist payment, the platform has made headlines for the investments of CEO Daniel Ek.

A number of artists have boycotted the streaming service, with Massive Attack vowing that their new material shall never be released on it. The trip-hop icons’ dispute with Spotify emerged earlier this year when they revealed that they had asked their label UMG to remove their music from the platform, following reports that Ek had led a €600million (£524million) investment into Helsing, a Munich-based company creating drones and artificial intelligence for military operations.

In a statement at the time, the band said: “In light of the (reported) significant investments by [Spotify’s] CEO in a company producing military munition drones & Al technology integrated into fighter aircraft, Massive Attack have made a separate request to our label that our music be removed from the Spotify streaming service in all territories.”

They continued: “The economic burden that has long been placed on artists is now compounded by a moral & ethical burden, whereby the hard-earned money of fans & the creative endeavours of musicians ultimately funds lethal, dystopian technologies.”

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King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard also pulled their music from the streaming platform as a result, in a bid to “put pressure on these Dr. Evil tech bros to do better”, while the Sabres Of Paradise removed their music from Spotify due to its “financial ties to AI-driven weapon technologies”.

Other artists have made similar moves to remove their work from Spotify this year, including Deerhoof, Wu Lyf, Xiu Xiu and many more.

In September, Ek announced that he would be stepping down as CEO on January 1, 2026, with Spotify co-presidents Alex Norström and Gustav Söderström set to take his place.

Spotify have also recently cracked down on AI, removing 75million tracks and targeted impersonators, and the streaming giant previously claimed it had paid $10billion (£7.58billion) in royalties in 2024, the largest payout to the music industry in a single year.

Grammys 2026: Check out the full list of nominations

Kendrick Lamar leads the way at the 2026 Grammy nominations with nine nods – see the full list of nominations below.

The Recording Academy announced the full list of nominees on their YouTube channel today (November 7) and the ceremony is due to take place in Los Angeles on February 1, with CBS and Paramount+ set to broadcast the show live.

Here are all of the performers and presenters for the 2025 MAMA Awards

The full list of performers and presenters for the 2025 MAMA Awards have been revealed – see all the details below.

• READ MORE: ENHYPEN on The Cover: Meet the K-pop boyband destined to dominate the mainstream

This year’s edition of the annual K-pop wards is slated over two days in Hong Kong on November 28 and 29. Previously 10 acts were announced to perform over the course of the two days.

2025 MAMA AWARDS announces stacked first round of performers

The first round of performers for the 2025 MAMA Awards has been revealed – check out the current list of performers below.

• READ MORE: ENHYPEN on The Cover: Meet the K-pop boyband destined to dominate the mainstream

This year’s edition of the annual K-pop wards is slated over two days in Hong Kong on November 28. This week, the MAMA Awards has announced the first round of performers set to take the stage at the upcoming awards, with more to be announced in the coming weeks.

Record Store Day Black Friday 2025: check out the full list of releases

2 Chainz

T.R.U. REALigion (Anniversary Edition)

2 Chainz

2xLP

a-ha

Take On Me (40th Anniversary EP)

Rhino

12”

Alan Silvestri

The Back To The Future Trilogy

Concord

LP

Albert Ayler with Don Cherry

Complete 1964 Recordings (Box Set)

ORG MUSIC

LP BOXSET

Alesha Dixon

Chargie

Precious Stone Records

7”

Alice Cooper

Welcome To My Nightmare Live From the Forum 6/17/75

Rhino

2xLP

Band, The

Jericho

BFD

2xLP

Beat, The

The Beat At The Beeb

Rhino

2xLP

Benson Boone

Pulse

Warner Records

12”

Bill Evans

Portraits at the Penthouse: Live in Seattle

Resonance

LP

Billie Eilish

Birds of a feather – Amazon Songline

Interscope

10’’

Billy Idol

77

Dark Horse Records / BMG

LP

Billy Joel

Live From Long Islan

Sony CMG

3xLP

Bluey

Bluey The Album (Zoetrope Edition)

Demon Records

LP

Bob Dylan

Masters of War (1962)

Lomax Archive

7”

Bob Dylan

The Original Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan

Sony CMG

LP

Bratmobile

The Real Janelle & The Peel Session

Kill Rock Stars

LP

Bruno Mars

It’s Better If You Don’t Understand

Atlantic Records

10’’

Buddy Reed & th’ Rip It Ups

Tough Enough

Red Lightnin’ Records

LP

Buddy Reed & th’ Rip It Ups

Tough Enough

Red Lightnin’ Records

CD

Carmen McRae

I’m Coming Home Again

Reel / Versatile Jazz

2xLP

Carmen McRae

I’m Coming Home Again

Reel / Versatile Jazz

2xCD

Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine

Avon Calling!

Chrysalis Records

2xLP

Chappell Roan

The Subway / The Giver

Island

7”

Charley Patton

The Father of Delta Blues: Selections from Paramount Recordings, Vol. 2

ORG MUSIC

LP

Creed

Live In San Antonio (11/14/1999)

Concord

2xLP

Curren$y

Pilot Talk II

Jet Life Recordings / Pilot Talk

LP

David Johansen And The Harry Smiths

David Johansen And The Harry Smiths

Chesky Records

LP

David Johansen And The Harry Smiths

David Johansen And The Harry Smiths

Chesky Records

CD

Deee-Lite

The Very Best Of Deee-Lite

Rhino

2xLP

Descendants of Mike and Phoebe, The

A Spirit Speaks

Strata-East

LP

Devo

Merry Something To You

Rhino

LP

Doctor Who

The Last Voyage

Demon Records

2xLP

Doors, The

Live In Copenhagen

Rhino / Atlantic

2xLP

Dr. Dre

Compton (A Soundtrack by Dr. Dre) (Instrumental Edition) [2 LP]

Ume/Interscope

2xLP

Eleventh House, The featuring Larry Coryell

Riviera ’76

L.M.L.R.

LP

Elton John & Brandi Carlile

Who Believes In Angels? (Live at the London Palladium) [LP]

EMI Records

LP

Eric Burden & War

Best of Eric Burdon and War

Rhino

2xLP

Faithless

Insomnia

Sony CMG

12”

Flaming Lips, The

Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots – Live at the Zoo Amphitheatre, Oklahoma City, August 30, 2024

Warner Records

2xLP

Fleetwood Mac

Fleetwood Mac Live 1975

LP

Fred again..

Actual Life Piano EP 1

Atlantic Records

LP

Fred again..

Actual Life 2 Piano EP

Atlantic Records

LP

Fred again..

Actual Life 3 Piano EP

Atlantic Records

LP

Gang Of Four

Shrinkwrapped (Black Friday 2025)

Gill Music

LP

George Harrison

Living in the Material World

(RSD Exclusive Zoetrope)

Dark Horse Records / BMG

LP

Ghost

Skeletá

Concord

LP

Go! Team, The

Thunder, Lightning, Strike – Live from the Roundhouse

Memphis Industries

12”

Grateful Dead

On A Back Porch Vol 2

RBD2171

2xLP

Grateful Dead

The Warfield, San Francisco, CA Oct 4 & 6, 1980

RBD2171

2xLP

Grateful Dead

The Warfield, San Francisco, CA Oct 4 & 6, 1980

RBD2171

CD

Icona Pop

I Love it (Feat Charli XCX)

Rhino / Atlantic

LP

In Flames

Breathing Fire – In Flames Live 2024

Nuclear Blast Rec.

12″

INXS

Live from Royal Albert Hall

UMe

LP

Ivan Shopov, Carmen Rizzo & Dhani Harrison feat. New Bulgarian Voices & Georgi Petkov

Ascending Into Silence

Dark Horse Records / BMG

LP

James Bay

Chaos and the Calm

Mercury/Republic Records

LP

Japanese Television

Automata Exotica (The Remixes)

Tip Top

LP

Jeff Tweedy & Wilco

dBpm 15

Sony CMG

LP

Jelly Roll

Pickin’ Up The Pieces [Color 12″ EP]

Republic Records

LP

John Debney

The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out Of Water

Concord

LP

John Lee Hooker

Chill Out

BMG

LP

Johnny Thunders & Wayne Kramer

Gang War

Jungle Records

2xLP

Jonathan Richman

You Must Ask The Heart

Concord

LP

Joni Mitchell

Rolling Thunder Revue Live

LP

Jorma Kaukonen

Wabash Avenue

L.M.L.R.

2xLP

Jorma Kaukonen

Wabash Avenue

L.M.L.R.

CD

Junior M.A.F.I.A.

Gettin’ Money (The Get Money 30th Anniversary 12″)

Rhino

12”

KESHA

HOLIDAY ROAD

KESHA RECORDS / ADA

7″

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard

Live in 24′

Having Fun

LP

La Luz

Extra! Extra! Extra!

Sub Pop

12”

Ladytron

Nightlife

Nettwerk

2xLP

Larry June, 2 Chainz & The Alchemist

Life Is Beautiful (Chopped Not Slopped)

The Freeminded Records / 2 Chainz / ALC / EMPIRE

LP

Larry Mullins and Mike Watt

We Will Fall

ORG MUSIC

LP

Led Zeppelin

Trampled Underfoot

7”

Lester Young

Lester Leaps In: Live At Birdland 1951-1952

Liberation Hall

LP

Linda Perry

In Flight

Kill Rock Stars

2xLP

Love

The Complete Elektra Albums

Rhino

LP BOXSET

Maribou State

Portraits (10th Anniversary Edition)

Counter Records / Ninja Tune

2xLP

Matchbox Twenty

Mad Season (Live 2001)

2xLP

Matt Berninger

Get Sunk At Union Chapel: Live

Concord

10’’

Miles Davis

Live At The Plugged Nickel: Dec 23 1965 – Set Two

Sony CMG

2xLP

Mississippi John Hurt

Live At Oberlin College 1965 (2LP)

Mississippi John Hurt Foundation / Southern Echoes

2xLP

Mississippi John Hurt

Live At Oberlin College 1965 (CD)

Mississippi John Hurt Foundation / Southern Echoes

CD

Motörhead

Live at Brixton ’87

Sanctuary Records Group, a BMG Company

LP

Mötley Crüe

Home Sweet Home 40th Anniversary

BMG

LP

Neil Frances

Took A While/Stay Strong Play Long

Nettwerk

2xLP

Nico

Live in Reims Cathedral – December 13th, 1974

L.M.L.R.

2xLP

Ol’ Dirty Bastard

Shimmy Shimmy Ya

Rhino

12”

Orb, The, feat. David Gilmour

Metallic Spheres

Sony CMG

2xLP

Phil Collins

12″ers

Rhino (Pure)

12”

Post Malone

Long Bed

Mercury/Republic Records

LP

Prince & The Revolution

Around The World In A Day – The singles collection

Warner Records

7”

Rahsaan Roland Kirk

Seek & Listen: Live at the Penthouse

Resonance

2xLP

Rahsaan Roland Kirk

Vibrations in the Village: Live at the Village Gate

Resonance

2xLP

Ramones

Live & CBGB’s

LP

Randy Newman

Trouble In Paradise (Demo’s)

LP

Ratt

Invasion Of Your Privacy

BMG

LP

Rent

OST

2xLP

Role Model

Kansas Anymore (The Longest Goodbye)

Interscope

2xLP

Sam Fender & Olivia Dean

Rein Me In

Polydor

7”

She & Him

Christmas Party

Sony CMG

LP

Sid Vicious

Sid Lives

Jungle Records

2xLP

Sierra Ferrell

Trail Of Flowers

Concord

LP

Sleigh Bells

Treats

Mom+Pop

LP

Slo Burn

Amusing The Amazing

ORG MUSIC

LP

Son Volt

Trace

2xLP

Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee

Live from The Ash Grove

Liberation Hall

LP

Spinal Tap

The End Continues

Interscope

LP

Sugar

Copper Blue – The Singles Collection

BMG

LP Boxset

Talking Heads

Tentative Decisions 1974 – 1976

LP

Tangerine Dream

Place des Arts, Montreal – April 9th, 1977

L.M.L.R.

3xLP

The Notorious BIG

Big Poppa (Remix)

Rhino

12”

Todd Rundgren

A Capella 40th Anniversary

LP

Touché Amoré

Chasing Brightness

Rise Records

2xLP

Tyler Bates

Watchmen OST

LP

Van Halen

Live At Wembley 1995

LP

Various Artists

Jazz Dispensary: Green Bullets

Concord

LP

Various Artists

Flowers In The Afternoon: Late-1960s Sunshine

Concord

LP

Various Artists

Metal Machine Music: Power To Consume Vol.1

Sony CMG

2xLP

Various Artists

Wicked For Good: The Soundtrack [Color LP] [Alternate Cover] [Numbered]

Republic Records

LP

Vince Guaraldi Trio

A Charlie Brown Christmas (2025 Record Store Day Black Friday Exclusive)

Concord

LP

Ween

Shinola

LP

Young Fathers

White Men Are Black Men Too (10th Anniversary Edition)

Big Dada

2xLP

Young Gun Silver Fox

Extended Mixes

Candelion / YGSF

12”

Yusef Lateef

Golden Flower – Live in Sweden

2xLP

‘The Daft Punk Experience’ is coming to Fortnite

Fortnite have announced that an official interactive Daft Punk collaboration is coming to the platform in the coming days.

As of Saturday (September 27), The Daft Punk Experience will provide an immersive world that will allow Fortnite players to be able to explore 31 songs from across the French duo’s catalogue, while there will also be custom outfits, all-night dance parties and opportunities to remix and mashup Daft Punk songs.

Watch KATSEYE’s new DIY-inspired visualiser for ‘M.I.A’

MTV VMAs 2025: here are all the nominees

The MTV VMAs 2025 nominations are here – check out the full list of artists being nominated this year.

Last night (August 5), MTV announced the nominees for this years Video Music Awards, which is set to take place on September 7 at the UBS Arena in Long Island.

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This year’s nominations are being led by Lady Gaga, who clocks in with 12 nods to her name. Her ‘Die With A Smile’ collaborator Bruno Mars comes in a close second with 11 nominations to his name, while Kendrick Lamar has 10. They are they only artists with double-digit nominations this year.

BLACKPINK‘s Rosé has eight nods this year – all for ‘Apt.’ Additionally, the VMSs are introducing two new categories this year: Best Pop Artist and Best Country.

The coveted Video of the Year award is being contested between Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars, Rosé & Bruno Mars, Sabrina Carpenter, and The Weeknd & Playboi Carti.

Meanwhile, Bad Bunny, Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Morgan Wallen, Taylor Swift and The Weeknd are battling it out for Artist of the Year.

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See the full list of nominations below.

Video of the Year
Ariana Grande – ‘Brighter Days Ahead’
Billie Eilish – ‘Birds of a Feather’
Kendrick Lamar – ‘Not Like Us’
Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – ‘Die With a Smile’
Rosé & Bruno Mars – ‘Apt.’
Sabrina Carpenter – ‘Manchild’
The Weeknd & Playboi Carti – ‘Timeless’

Artist of the Year
Bad Bunny
Beyoncé
Kendrick Lamar
Lady Gaga
Morgan Wallen
Taylor Swift
The Weeknd

Song of the Year
Alex Warren – ‘Ordinary’
Billie Eilish – ‘Birds of a Feather’
Doechii – ‘Anxiety’
Ed Sheeran – ‘Sapphire’
Gracie Abrams – ‘I Love You, I’m Sorry’
Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – ‘Die With a Smile’
Lorde – ‘What Was That’
Rosé & Bruno Mars – ‘Apt.’
Tate McRae – ‘Sports Car’
The Weeknd & Playboi Carti – ‘Timeless’

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Best New Artist
Alex Warren
Ella Langley
Gigi Perez
Lola Young
Sombr
The Marías

Best Pop Artist
Ariana Grande
Charli XCX
Justin Bieber
Lorde
Miley Cyrus
Sabrina Carpenter
Tate McRae

MTV Push Performance of the Year
Ayra Starr – ‘Last Heartbreak Song’
Damiano David – ‘Next Summer’
Dasha – ‘Bye Bye Bye’
Gigi Perez – ‘Sailor Song’
Jordan Adetunji – ‘Kehlani’
Katseye – ‘Touch’
Lay Bankz – ‘Graveyard’
Leon Thomas – ‘Yes It Is’
Livingston – ‘Shadow’
Mark Ambor – ‘Belong Together’
Role Model – ‘Sally, When the Wine Runs Out’
Shaboozey – ‘A Bar Song (Tipsy)’

Best Collaboration
Bailey Zimmerman & Luke Combs – ‘Backup Plan’ (Stagecoach Official Music Video)
Kendrick Lamar & SZA – ‘Luther’
Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – ‘Die With a Smile’
Post Malone ft. Blake Shelton – ‘Pour Me a Drink’
Rosé & Bruno Mars – ‘Apt.’
Selena Gomez & Benny Blanco – ‘Sunset Blvd’

Best Pop
Alex Warren – ‘Ordinary’
Ariana Grande – ‘Brighter Days Ahead’
Ed Sheeran – ‘Sapphire’
Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – ‘Die With a Smile’
Rosé & Bruno Mars – ‘Apt.’
Sabrina Carpenter – ‘Manchild’

Best Hip-Hop
Doechii – ‘Anxiety’
Drake – ‘Nokia’
Eminem ft. Jelly Roll – ‘Somebody Save Me’
Glorilla ft. Sexyy Red – ‘Whatchu Kno About Me’
Kendrick Lamar – ‘Not Like Us’
LL Cool J ft. Eminem – ‘Murdergram Deux’
Travis Scott – ‘4×4’

Best R&B
Chris Brown – ‘Residuals’
Leon Thomas & Freddie Gibbs – ‘Mutt (Remix)’
Mariah Carey – ‘Type Dangerous’
PartyNextDoor – ‘No Chill’
Summer Walker – ‘Heart of a Woman’
SZA – ‘Drive’
The Weeknd & Playboi Carti – ‘Timeless’

Best Alternative
Gigi Perez – ‘Sailor Song’
Imagine Dragons – ‘Wake Up’
Lola Young – ‘Messy’
MGK & Jelly Roll – ‘Lonely Road’
Sombr – ‘Back to Friends’
The Marías – ‘Back to Me’

Best Rock
Coldplay – ‘All My Love’
Evanescence – ‘Afterlife’
Green Day – ‘One Eyed Bastard’
Lenny Kravitz – ‘Honey’
Linkin Park – ‘The Emptiness Machine’
Twenty One Pilots – ‘The Contract’

Best Latin
Bad Bunny – ‘Baile Inolvidable’
J Balvin – ‘Rio’
Karol G – ‘Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido’
Peso Pluma – ‘La Patrulla’
Rauw Alejandro & Romeo Santos – ‘Khé?’
Shakira – ‘Soltera’

Best K-Pop
Aespa – Whiplash’
Jennie – ‘Like Jennie’
Jimin – ‘Who’
Jisoo – ‘Earthquake’
Lisa ft. Doja Cat & Raye – ‘Born Again’
Stray Kids – ‘Chk Chk Boom’
Rosé – ‘Toxic Till the End’

Best Afrobeats
Asake & Travis Scott – ‘Active’
Burna Boy ft. Travis Scott – ‘TaTaTa’
Moliy, Silent Addy, Skillibeng & Shenseea – ‘Shake It to the Max (Fly) (Remix)’
Rema – ‘Baby (Is It A Crime)’
Tems ft. Asake – ‘Get It Right’
Tyla – ‘Push 2 Start’
Wizkid ft. Brent Faiyaz – ‘Piece of My Heart’

Best Country
Chris Stapleton – ‘Think I’m in Love With You’
Cody Johnson & Carrie Underwood – ‘I’m Gonna Love You’
Jelly Roll – ‘Liar’
Lainey Wilson – ‘4x4xU’
Megan Moroney – ‘Am I Okay?’
Morgan Wallen – ‘Smile’

Best Album
Bad Bunny – ‘Debí Tirar Más Fotos’
Kendrick Lamar – ‘GNX’
Lady Gaga – ‘Mayhem’
Morgan Wallen – ‘I’m the Problem’
Sabrina Carpenter – ‘Short n’ Sweet’
The Weeknd – ‘Hurry Up Tomorrow’

Best Long Form Video
Ariana Grande – ‘Brighter Days Ahead’
Bad Bunny – ‘Debí Tirar Más Fotos’
Damiano David – ‘Funny Little Stories’
Mac Miller – ‘Balloonerism’
Miley Cyrus – ‘Something Beautiful’
The Weeknd – ‘Hurry Up Tomorrow’

Video for Good
Burna Boy – ‘Higher’
Charli XCX – ‘Guess’ ft. Billie Eilish
Doechii – ‘Anxiety’
Eminem ft. Jelly Roll – ‘Somebody Save Me’
Selena Gomez & Benny Blanco – ‘Younger and Hotter Than Me’
Zach Hood ft. Sasha Alex Sloan – ‘Sleepwalking’

Best Direction
Ariana Grande – ‘Brighter Days Ahead’
Charli XCX – ‘Guess’ ft. Billie Eilish
Kendrick Lamar – ‘Not Like Us’
Lady Gaga – ‘Abracadabra’
Rosé & Bruno Mars – ‘Apt.’
Sabrina Carpenter – ‘Manchild’

Best Art Direction
Charli XCX – ‘Guess’ ft. Billie Eilish
Kendrick Lamar – ‘Not Like Us’
Lady Gaga – ‘Abracadabra’
Lorde – ‘Man of the Year’
Miley Cyrus – ‘End of the World’
Rosé & Bruno Mars – ‘Apt.’

Best Cinematography
Ariana Grande – ‘Brighter Days Ahead’
Ed Sheeran – ‘Sapphire’
Kendrick Lamar – ‘Not Like Us’
Lady Gaga – ‘Abracadabra’
Miley Cyrus – ‘Easy Lover’
Sabrina Carpenter – ‘Manchild’

Best Editing
Charli XCX – ‘Guess’ ft. Billie Eilish
Ed Sheeran – ‘Sapphire’
Kendrick Lamar – ‘Not Like Us’
Lady Gaga – ‘Abracadabra’
Sabrina Carpenter – ‘Manchild’
Tate McRae – ‘Just Keep Watching’

Best Choreography
Doechii – ‘Anxiety’
FKA twigs – ‘Eusexua’
Kendrick Lamar – ‘Not Like Us’
Lady Gaga – ‘Abracadabra’
Tyla – ‘Push 2 Start’
Zara Larsson – ‘Pretty Ugly’

Best Visual Effects
Ariana Grande – ‘Brighter Days Ahead’
Lady Gaga – ‘Abracadabra’
Rosé & Bruno Mars – ‘Apt.’
Sabrina Carpenter – ‘Manchild’
Tate McRae – ‘Just Keep Watching’
The Weeknd – ‘Hurry Up Tomorrow’

Taylor Swift swept the 2024 VMAs, taking home seven of the 10 awards she was up for, including Video of the Year for ‘Fortnight’, Song of the Summer, Best Pop, Best Collaboration and more. She also became the first-ever artist to win Video of the Year three years in a row.

Here are all the winners from the BET Awards 2025

Kendrick Lamar, Doechii, SZA and more have won big at the BET Awards 2025 – see the full list of winners and nominees below.

The BET Awards took place late Monday night (June 9) at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles, California, celebrating its 25th anniversary.

BLACKPINK’s Rosé reveals Taylor Swift gave her career advice: “She was trying to protect me”

BLACKPINK singer Rosé has opened up the career advice she received from pop superstar Taylor Swift.

In a new interview with i-D, BLACKPINK’s Rosé discussed the making of her upcoming debut album ‘rosie’ and her experience going solo. The K-pop star revealed that, ahead of inking a deal with Atlantic Records for her solo career, she had reached out to Taylor Swift for advice.

“I told her I’m such a huge fan and I just had some questions. As soon as she met me, she’s like ‘Spill, let me help you out,’” said Rosé, who shared that they met at an impromptu social hangout hosted by producer and long-time Swift collaborator Jack Antonoff.

“She gave me her number and she’s like, ‘Let me know if you have any questions.’ Who does that? Like, you’re Taylor Swift!” the BLACKPINK star recalled.

BLACKPINK’s Rosé says her best songs were written when “life has been pretty bad” on ‘Hot Ones’

Cher to lead all-women line-up for Victoria’s Secret’s first fashion show since 2018

Cher has been announced as the headliner for Victoria’s Secret’s upcoming comeback fashion show – find out more below.

• READ MORE: Cher – ‘Dancing Queen’ review

Yesterday, Victoria’s Secret announced that Cher will be leading the line-up for its first fashion show since 2018. In the post, they also confirmed that this year’s performance bill will mark the fashion show’s first-ever all-women line-up.

Other acts have yet to be announced, but will be revealed in the lead up to the October 15 event. Victoria’s Secret wrote on Instagram announcing Cher’s performance: “It’s a woman’s world, so it’s understood that you can’t have a fashion show without the mother of fashion herself — @Cher! We’re beyond excited to announce she will officially be performing at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2024 on October 15.”

The post continued: “But she won’t be alone… stay tuned, more announcements are coming to round out our first-ever, all-women lineup.”

Cardi B teases new song featuring a Janet Jackson sample

NxWorries announce new album, share new single ’86Sentra’

NxWorries, the duo of Anderson .Paak and Knxwledge, have announced their sophomore album, ‘Why Lawd?’.

Last night (April 3), NxWorries (pronounced “No Worries”) took to social to announce the upcoming record, which is due for release on June 7 via Stones Throw. Further information surrounding their second studio album remain unknown at this time, including its tracklisting and cover art. The duo shared on Instagram that more information will be shared “soon”.

In the meantime, the pair of .Paak and Knxwledge have shared a new single, ’86Sentra’, along with an official visualiser to accompany the track. The newly released track is taken off the upcoming record ‘Why Lawd?’.

“Fast Love”: Diego Smith’s Melodic Ode to Love’s Ephemeral Nature

In the vibrant music scene of Buenos Aires, Diego Smith, a multifaceted artist originally from Chillán, Chile, has made a striking impact with his latest single, “Fast Love.” This piece is more than a song; it’s a narrative woven from the threads of fast-paced modern life and the fleeting nature of relationships, echoing the essence of urban music that has propelled Chile to new heights.

“Fast Love” emerges as a profound reflection on the complexities of contemporary relationships, encapsulating the emotions of a generation grappling with the rapid pace of life and love. The song, conceived three years ago, has matured into a melodic representation of Smith’s artistic journey. Its release marks the return of the first Chileans to collaborate with Ozuna, bringing a unique blend of cultural influences and musical innovation.

Smith‘s path to musical success is a story of passion and perseverance. His early years in Bulnes were marked by a deep-seated love for music, a flame kindled by his grandfather and fueled by school rap sessions. Despite his initial inclination towards football, music took precedence, leading to the creation of his first compositions at the tender age of 10. This journey culminated in the release of his debut single, “Replay,” in 2017, setting the stage for a promising career.

In “Fast Love,” Smith’s lyrical prowess shines through as he navigates the ebb and flow of intense emotions and genuine connections. The song is a testament to his belief that authenticity and depth can thrive even in transient moments. His ability to capture the essence of modern relationships in his music resonates deeply with listeners, making “Fast Love” a standout track in his growing discography.

Diego Smith‘s sound is continually evolving, influenced by a diverse range of artists from Bruno Mars to Lil Baby. His commitment to innovation and boundary-pushing is evident in every note and lyric. Among his notable tracks, “Illuminati” and “Conexión” stand out, alongside “Arte,” his personal favorite from the past year.

His achievements extend beyond the recording studio, with significant milestones such as participation in the Netflix series “La firma,” a successful Chilean tour, and a performance at the prestigious Movistar Arena. Smith’s dedication to his craft and his belief in the power of music to spread joy have established him as a prominent figure in the industry.

As he continues to collaborate with leading producers and artists, Diego Smith remains committed to exploring new horizons and experimenting with different genres. His aspirations to create a dembow track with El Alfa and a merengue piece with Elvis Crespo, along with potential collaborations with artists like Mon Laferte, Akapellah, and Los Bunkers, highlight his versatility and passion for music.

“Fast Love” is not just a song; it’s a reflection of Diego Smith‘s artistic identity, marked by a journey of growth, exploration, and the relentless pursuit of musical excellence. It stands as a symbol of the ever-changing landscape of love and life, inviting listeners to embrace the swift currents of modern existence.

Taylor Swift submits ‘Red (Taylor’s Version)’ for 2023 Grammys, Drake and The Weeknd still absent

Submissions for the 2023 Grammys are in, with the first round voting for next year’s awards kicking off yesterday (October 13).

There are a number of notable submissions and absentees from the 2023 submissions list, including six from Taylor Swift. Swift has put forward ‘Red (Taylor’s Version)’ for consideration in the Album of the Year and Best Country Album categories, eight years after the original ‘Red’ release lost in both at the 2014 awards.

Her other submissions include ‘All Too Well (10 Minute Version)’ for Record of the Year and Song of the Year, ‘I Bet You Think About Me (Taylor’s Version)(From The Vault)’ for Best Country Song and Best Country Performance, and the Phoebe Bridgers-featuring ‘Nothing New (Taylor’s Version)(From The Vault)’ for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.

Harry Styles presented with special banner after 15-night run at Madison Square Garden

Harry Styles was given a banner at the end of his sold-out, 15-night run at Madison Square Garden in New York City last night (September 21).

• READ MORE: Harry Styles – ‘Harry’s House’ review: grounded star finds home is where the heart is

The soloist became the third musician to have a banner raised at the venue – a surprise gift that was presented by US TV host Gayle King.

To celebrate the end of his residency, the banner was raised to the rafters. According to Rolling Stone Styles wept openly, telling the crowd: “Any time that you come to Madison Square Garden and you see that, remember it’s because of you. That is ours.”

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He added: “I’m gonna come back when everyone is gone, and just sit and look at that for a while.”

?I?TORY MADE.

The newest banner was raised to the rafters tonight in celebration of @Harry_Styles’ 15 consecutive nights of “Love on Tour” at the Garden! pic.twitter.com/MhxgjDl31q

— MSG (@TheGarden) September 22, 2022

Styles is now the third music artist to have a banner hanging in the Garden rafters. Billy Joel has two of them – one for his 129 shows there and another for the 83 shows of his long-running monthly residency. Phish, meanwhile, received their banner in 2017 after their record-setting Baker’s Dozen stay where they didn’t repeat a song for 13 sold-out nights in a row.

At last night’s closing concert Styles brought out his support act, Blood Orange’s Dev Hynes, to perform ‘Matilda’ with him. Hynes played cello. “In my opinion he is one of the most important musicians, artists, of our generation,” Styles told fans.

Elsewhere, Styles surprised the audience with ‘Ever Since New York’, which he hasn’t performed live in four years.

The former One Direction bandmember has continued to break records on the Billboard chart this month, with ‘As It Was’ hitting Number One for a 14th week.

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The ‘Harry’s House’ lead single, which was released in April, is currently in the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart in the US.

In turn, it ties as the fourth longest reign in the Billboard Hot 100’s 65-year history alongside hits including ‘Uptown Funk!’ (by Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars), ‘I Gotta Feeling’ (Black Eyed Peas) and ‘I Will Always Love You’ (Whitney Houston), all of which spent 14 weeks in the top position (via Billboard).

Harry Styles continues to break Billboard chart records with ‘As It Was’

Harry Styles is continuing to break records on the Billboard chart with ‘As It Was’ after the track hit Number One for a 14th week.

• READ MORE: Harry Styles’ new song ‘As It Was’ is a reflective ode to the bittersweet nature of change

The ‘Harry’s House’ lead single, which was released in April, is currently in the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart in the US.

In turn, it ties as the fourth longest reign in the Billboard Hot 100’s 65-year history alongside hits including ‘Uptown Funk!’ (by Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars), ‘I Gotta Feeling’ (Black Eyed Peas) and ‘I Will Always Love You’ (Whitney Houston), all of which spent 14 weeks in the top position (via Billboard).

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‘As It Was’ marks the longest Billboard run since Lil Nas X‘s ‘Old Town Road’ (feat. Billy Ray Cyrus) remained at Number One for a record-breaking 19 weeks in 2019.

Additionally, ‘As It Was’ is the joint longest-running Number One track by a solo artist, joining Elton John‘s ‘Candle In The Wind’ (1997), Whitney Houston‘s ‘I Will Always Love You’ (1992) and Mariah Carey‘s ‘We Belong Together’ (2005).

‘As It Was’ is also the first song ever to spend its first 24 weeks on the top three positions on the same chart, with 23 of the 24 in the top two extending its record.

In May Styles achieved the rare feat of simultaneously holding the Number One album and Number One track titles with ‘Harry’s House’ and ‘As It Was’, respectively, in a number of countries.

Styles and Kate Bush were recently revealed to be the leading acts on Spotify‘s Top Songs Of Summer 2022 steaming report.

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According to the platform, ‘As It Was’ registered more than 610million streams between May 29 and August 29. It’s the most listened-to song globally, and claimed the top spot in 24 countries.

The former One Direction singer revealed last month that he is already working on ideas for his fourth solo record.

Meanwhile, Styles is scheduled to play the final date of his residency at Madison Square Garden in New York tomorrow night (September 21). He’ll then embark on multiple-night stints in Austin, Chicago and Los Angeles.

The star will return to the UK and Ireland next summer as an extension to his mammoth ‘Love On Tour’.

Watch Silk Sonic take on Papa Roach’s ‘Last Resort’

Silk Sonic delivered a brief and light-hearted cover of Papa Roach‘s ‘Last Resort’ during a surprise appearance at a Las Vegas club over the weekend – you can watch fan-shot footage of the moment below.

Anderson .Paak and Bruno Mars, who released the Silk Sonic album ‘An Evening With Silk Sonic’ back in November 2021, are currently in the middle of a Vegas residency at the Park MGM, with a pair of shows having taken place over the weekend (August 12-13).

• READ MORE: Silk Sonic – ‘An Evening With Silk Sonic’ review: an unashamedly retro delight

Following the latter gig, .Paak and Mars made a surprise on-stage appearance at the Vegas club The Barbershop (which is owned by the same company as the Park MGM) during which they briefly covered Papa Roach’s 2000 debut single.

Peloton sued for unlicensed use of Cypress Hill and House Of Pain songs

Exercise equipment brand Peloton is being sued for the alleged unlicensed use of songs by Cypress Hill and House Of Pain.

• READ MORE: Cypress Hill – ‘Elephants On Acid’ review

A lawsuit has been filed against the company by Soul Assassins Inc. which is owned by Cypress Hill member DJ Muggs, according to Billboard.

It is alleged that Peloton used portions of Cypress Hill’s classic 1993 track ‘Insane In The Brain’ and ‘(Rap) Superstar’ (2000) during their workout regimes without obtaining a proper license.

Anderson .Paak announces tiny free London gig at House of Vans

Anderson .Paak will play a tiny London gig at the House of Vans later this month – get full details on the intimate show below.

The singer, drummer and Silk Sonic member will play the Waterloo venue on Monday, June 27 to celebrate his new collection with the footwear brand.

Tickets for the gig will be free, and fans can enter a ballot for their chance to win. The ballot opens at midnight on Monday (June 13) and tickets will available to apply for here.

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The gig also promises “a bespoke UX experience throughout the 32,000 square foot venue which is situated underneath Waterloo station.”

Elsewhere, Anderson .Paak is set to direct his first feature film, K-POPS!, a dramatic comedy in which the rapper will also star alongside his son.

The film follows a musician who travels to Korea to write for K-pop stars, only to discover that his long-lost son is about to front one of the country’s most popular new groups (per Deadline).

After attempting to hijack his son’s new-found fame to boost his own career, the older musician is forced to confront the importance of fatherhood.

“My mom is from Korea but she was adopted so I never knew anything about my Korean heritage until I met my wife,” .Paak explained. “This movie is a reflection on my experience learning about this part of myself alongside my wife and son – and spending even more time with them.

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“I knew this would be something I should write and direct, and Stampede Ventures took a chance and trusted that I could pull this off. I’m excited to bring it to the big screen.”

Back in April, .Paak shared a brand new track called ‘Yours To Take’ via a new advertisement for Budweiser.

The track marks the first piece of new solo material – following releases as one half of Silk Sonic, his hugely successful collaborative project with Bruno Mars – the rapper, singer, drummer and producer has released since the 2020 single ‘Jewelz’.

KISS are retiring out of “self-respect” and the “love” for their fans

KISS bassist Gene Simmons has said that the band are retiring out of “self-respect” and because of the “love” for their fans.

The band announced back in 2018 that they would embark on one massive final tour, before hanging up their iconic costumes. Speaking in a new interview, Simmons explained why the band felt it was time to retire.

“The reason for stopping touring is because of pride and self-respect and a love and admiration for the fans,” he told Full Metal Jackie on an episode of KLOS’ Whiplash. “The last thing you wanna be is to be a world-champion boxer and stay in the ring too long. It’s only a matter of time until your legs are not gonna be able to hold you up, and you’re gonna lose.”

Justin Timberlake sells entire song catalogue

Justin Timberlake has sold his song catalogue to Hipgnosis Song Management, in a deal that gives the company all the rights to the artist’s previously released music.

Hipgnosis Song Management have bought 100 per cent of Timberlake’s rights, including to tracks like ‘SexyBack’, ‘Rock Your Body’, and ‘Can’t Stop The Feeling’. The deal pertains to Timberlake’s publishing rights but not his recording rights, which means songs that he either wrote or co-wrote.

As he wasn’t a songwriter on some of NSYNC’s best-known hits such as ‘Bye Bye Bye’ and ‘It’s Gonna Be Me’, these are not included in the sale but the majority of his solo work will be included. The financial details of the sale have not been disclosed.

Anderson .Paak shares new song ‘Yours To Take’ via Budweiser ad

Anderson .Paak has shared a brand new track called ‘Yours To Take’ via a new advertisement for Budweiser – scroll down the page to hear it now.

The track marks the first piece of new solo material, the rapper, singer, drummer and producer has released since the 2020 single ‘Jewelz’.

• READ MORE: Silk Sonic – ‘An Evening With Silk Sonic’ review: an unashamedly retro delight

“Are you sure you can be like them?” he asks at the start of the song. “Do you have what it takes to win?” Later, he adds a promise and a warning: “We can book a show on the moon, but my band ain’t playing no EDM / I’m in the Sunshine State but they’ll be the shadiest / Young, Black, gifted and dangerous / Don’t play with us.”

Ice-T and Gene Simmons defend Mike Tyson after boxer punches heckler on flight

Ice-T and Gene Simmons are among those who shared support for Mike Tyson over the weekend, after the former heavyweight champion repeatedly punched a passenger on a flight bound for Miami.

• READ MORE: Soundtrack Of My Life: Ice-T

As reported by TMZ, Tyson was embroiled in the altercation last Wednesday (April 20) when a punter sat behind him on the JetBlue flight started loudly heckling and antagonising the boxer. Footage obtained by the gossip site shows Tyson landing several blows on the man – later identified as 36-year-old Melvin Townsend III – who appears bloodied after the battering.

Tyson’s representatives said Townsend was acting “aggressive” towards the boxer – who was en route to Miami for a speaking engagement at the Benzinga Cannabis Conference – and claimed that in addition to verbally “harassing” him, Townsend “threw a water bottle at him while he was in his seat”.

Silk Sonic’s ‘Clean Sweep’ Concludes With Record Of The Year Grammy Win

By Alex Gonzalez

Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak opened the show tonight (April 3) with “777” from their collaborative album, An Evening With Silk Sonic, and near the end of the show, they closed the door so humbly. Taking home the penultimate award of the night, Mars and .Paak super duo Silk Sonic won the Record Of The Year award for “Leave The Door Open” at the 64th Grammy Awards.

https://twitter.com/MTVNEWS/status/1510817296616415235

Earlier in the night, “Leave The Door Open” won for Best R&B Performance and Song of the Year. Mars, .Paak, and producer Dernst “D’Mile” Emile II once again danced to the stage in their flashy retro attire.

“We are really trying our hardest to remain humble at this point,” .Paak said, “but in the industry, we call that a clean sweep. For all the other nominees, y’all know we love y'all. Drinks is on Silk Sonic tonight. We getting drunk."

Johnny Nunez/Getty Images

Wary of the wrath of stan Twitter and TikTok, .Paak continued, saying “I know a lot of y'all fans might be upset, we are going to get out of here before the internet gets to talking.”

“God bless you all, and good night,” Mars added.

Silk Sonic first performed “Leave The Door Open” at last year's Grammys, making tonight’s wins feel like a full-circle moment. Find the full list of winners here.

Silk Sonic Show Off Smooth Moves As They Accept Song Of The Year Grammy

By Alex Gonzalez

Over a year after they performed it at the 63rd Grammy Awards, Silk Sonic have won the coveted Song of the Year Award at the 64th Grammys for “Leave the Door Open.” Composed of superstar artists Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak, Silk Sonic have secured three other nominations at this year’s ceremony, including Record of the Year, Best R&B Performance, and Best R&B Song. They won in the latter category before the telecast in a tie with Jazmine Sullivan’s “Pick Up Your Feelings.”

Mars, .Paak, and the song’s co-writer and producer Dernst “D’Mile” Emile II took to the stage to accept the award, dancing up to the podium.

https://twitter.com/MTVNEWS/status/1510775952959225876

“I just want to say thank you to my team and my family, my beautiful wife out there,” D'Mile said.“This is for my mom [singer Yanick Etienne]. She passed on Wednesday.”

“Because of you, me and [Anderson .Paak] will be singing this song forever, so God bless you all.” Mars added.

The duo opened the show with a Vegas-themed performance of “777” from their collaborative album An Evening With Silk Sonic. Donning ’70s-inspired costumes, Mars showed off his guitar chops, while .Paak kept the beat going on the drums, rocking a bowl cut. The two were joined by a full band, who added infectious horns to the electrifying set.

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

Last year, Silk Sonic performed “Leave the Door Open” with a tribute performance to the late Little Richard, kicking off the era with their sensual, seductive yet nostalgic aesthetic. Stay tuned for continued coverage of the ceremony, and find the list of winners here.

Silk Sonic to open 2022 Grammys Awards

Silk Sonic have been added to the star-studded line-up of acts performing at this year’s Grammy Awards.

• READ MORE: Silk Sonic – ‘An Evening With Silk Sonic’ review: an unashamedly retro delight

The duo – comprised of Bruno Mars and Anderson.Paak – will open the ceremony ahead of performances by Billie Eilish, BTS, Olivia Rodrigo, Lil Nas X, Jack Harlow, John Legend, J Balvin and more.

In addition to a segment showcasing the songs of late Broadway legend Stephen Sondheim (who died last November, age 91), the 64th annual Grammys ceremony will also feature a tribute to late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins, who died last week at the age of 50.

Afropunk founder announces LETSGETFR.EE Carnival with Missy Elliott, Kali Uchis and more

Matthew Morgan, the founder and ex-head of Afropunk, has announced the inaugural LETSGETFR.EE Carnival.

Taking place on August 20 and 21 at Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens, the festival has enlisted the likes of Missy Elliott, Kali Uchis, Jhené Aiko, Ozuna, and Anderson .Paak & the Free Nationals.

It is described on the festival’s social media channels as “a radical movement designed for and by Black, Brown, Asian/Pacific Islander, and LGBTQIA+ free spirits, artists, and creators”.

Leonard Cohen estate sells songwriting catalogue to Hipgnosis

Leonard Cohen is the latest artist whose song rights have been bought, after his estate reached a deal with the Hipgnosis Songs Fund for an undisclosed sum.

• READ MORE: Leonard Cohen, 1934-2016 – The NME obituary

According to Rolling Stone, the deal includes all 278 songs that Cohen wrote, including his most popular songs ‘Hallelujah’, ‘Suzanne’, ‘So Long, Marianne’, ‘First We Take Manhattan’ and more.

The investment company obtained the “songwriter’s share” of 127 songs from Cohen’s Stranger Music catalogue, which covers the period of the inception of late musician’s career through to the year 2000; derivative works pushes the total to 211 songs.

Bop Shop: Songs From Apink, Kurt Vile, Jazmine Sullivan, And More

Silk Sonic celebrate Valentine’s Day with cover of Con Funk Shun’s ‘Love’s Train’

Silk Sonic have rung in the most romantic day of the year with an expectedly sensual release – their soulful, groove-laden take on Con Funk Shun’s 1892 hit ‘Love’s Train’

• READ MORE: Silk Sonic – ‘An Evening With Silk Sonic’ review: an unashamedly retro delight

The duo – comprised of Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak – keep largely faithful to the five-minute jam, melding warm, mix-steering bass guitar and glittering keys with ultra-suave and honeyed vocal runs. Where the Silk Sonic redux differs is in its period accuracy; while the Con Funk Shun release embraces the synth-centric flair of ‘80s R&B, the Silk Sonic mix heads back a decade, swapping those digital touches for balmy horns and analogue production.

Have a listen to Silk Sonic’s take on ‘Love’s Train’ below:

Kodak Black reportedly shot outside Justin Bieber Super Bowl party

A shooting outside of Justin Bieber’s Super Bowl party last night (February 11) has left four people injured, including rapper Kodak Black, according to reports.

The pop star performed at Los Angeles venue Pacific Design Center last night before moving onto club The Nice Guy, ahead of the Super Bowl taking place at SoFi Stadium on Sunday (February 13).

According to TMZ, Black, Lil Baby and Gunna were standing on the corner of the street outside The Nice Guy talking when a fight started near them. It is claimed that Black was involved in the fight, during which a total of 10 shots were fired around 2:45am. Four people were thought to have been either hit by the bullets or suffered superficial injuries indirectly from the incident.

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The LAPD told The Daily Beast that three male victims aged 19, 24 and 60 were among those injured. All injured parties were taken to hospital and have been confirmed to be in a stable condition. No suspects have been arrested in relation to the shooting at the time of writing. NBC News later cited “four law enforcement sources familiar with [the] investigation” as confirming Black was the 24-year-old male who had been shot.

NME has contacted representatives for Kodak Black for comment.

This year’s Super Bowl halftime show will feature a performance from Eminem, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar. Blige recently confirmed she is not being paid to perform at the event, saying: “Listen, you’re gonna be paid for the rest of your life off of this. People are gonna be knocking at your doors. They don’t have to pay me, but if they was paying it would be a lot of money.”

Eminem is also reportedly set to bring deaf rappers Sean Forbes and Warren (WaWa) Snipe to perform at the event, making them the first deaf rappers to play at the Super Bowl. The pair are said to have been booked to perform interpretations of the headliners’ songs in American Sign Language (ASL) to help create “an elevated accessibility experience”.

In other Justin Bieber news, meanwhile, the pop star broke the record for the number of songwriters who contributed to a Song Of The Year nominee last year. Bieber’s 2021 track ‘Peaches’ is in the running for the award and was worked on by a total of 11 songwriters.

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Previously, Beyoncé’s ‘Black Parade’ held the title, with nine songwriters involved in the track. Before that, Bruno Mars’ ‘That’s What I Like’ held the record, with eight.

Silk Sonic are joining ‘Fortnite’ with a special radio station

Silk Sonic, the collaborative project between Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak, are coming to Fortnite as part of the Icon Series.

• READ MORE: Silk Sonic – ‘An Evening With Silk Sonic’ review: an unashamedly retro delight

Epic Games and Atlantic Records announced the new Icon Series launch in a press release. Players will be able to purchase new in-game outfits and listen to tracks from Silk Sonic on a new in-game radio station.

“When Fortnite asked me if I wanted to create an outfit for the game, I asked, ‘Are CGI muscles off the table?’ They said ‘no.’ I said ‘deal.’ I’ll see you on the Island,” said Mars.

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Paak added: “When Fortnite agreed to give Bruno CGI muscles, I said, I’m in. He could use the help, so I support it. And it makes me cool. Win, win.”

Nate Nanzer, VP of global partnerships at Epic Games, said that the duo were “long-time Fortnite favourites, and we’re thrilled to welcome them to Fortnite‘s Icon Series”.

“The Icon Series is a celebration of the most dynamic figures in culture — Silk Sonic’s entry will allow players to express themselves as the iconic duo with reactive signature style Outfits and accessories and to discover new music through the new ‘Icon Radio’ station.”

The new Icon Radio station is the first of its kind. Fortnite players will be able to turn on the radio while in cars and listen to tracks from their acclaimed 2021 album ‘An Evening With Silk Sonic‘.

Bootsy Collins will host the station and feature other popular tracks from Mars and Paak.

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The official Silk Sonic Set Outfits – allowing players to select either Bruno Mars or Anderson .Paak, as their in-game character style – will launch in the game on February 11 at 12AM GMT. Fortnite fans will have the chance to get early access to the new Outfits and the duos’ signature Silk Sonic Spray by competing in the Silk Sonic Cup tournament. The tournament will kick off on February 7.

In other news, Nintendo has suggested that its next console could have backwards compatibility with Switch titles. Nintendo said: “Into 6th year of Switch, and we are maintaining momentum, we are looking at how to expand and grow this 100m users, leading into next gen device.”

Having announced a limited radio show on Apple Music, Silk Sonic also recently confirmed details of a Las Vegas residency. They will perform 13 concerts at the 5,200-capacity Dolby Live theatre between February 25 and April 2.

Sony Music acquires all of Bob Dylan’s back catalogue in new deal

Sony Music has acquired all of Bob Dylan’s back catalogue in a new deal.

• READ MORE: Bob Dylan – ‘Rough And Rowdy Ways’ review: arguably his grandest poetic statement yet

It’s the culmination of a partnership that’s lasted six-decades and will see the entirety of Dylan’s work since 1962 pass to Sony.

The agreement, which was concluded last year but was only announced today (January 24), will see everything from Dylan’s self-titled debut to his last album ‘Rough And Rowdy Ways‘ jump over to Sony in a deal that’s reportedly worth millions.

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Dylan will continue to collaborate with Sony on a range of future projects including catalogue reissues and more.

Speaking about the deal, Dylan said: “Columbia Records and Rob Stringer have been nothing but good to me for many, many years and a whole lot of records. I’m glad that all my recordings can stay where they belong.”

Rob Stringer, the chairman of Sony Music Group, added: “Columbia Records has had a special relationship with Bob Dylan from the beginning of his career and we are tremendously proud and excited to be continuing to grow and evolve our ongoing 60-year partnership. Bob is one of music’s greatest icons and an artist of unrivalled genius.

“The essential impact he and his recordings continue to have on popular culture is second to none and we’re thrilled he will now be a permanent member of the Sony Music family. We are excited to work with Bob and his team to find new ways to make his music available to his many fans today and to future generations.”

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Dylan is the latest in a long line of artists to sell their music rights recently.

Earlier this month, John Legend reportedly sold the rights to his music to the companies KKR and BMG.

The two companies first came together to purchase the publishing rights and back catalogue of ZZ Top in December, while BMG have also recently acquired the rights to the back catalogues of Mick Fleetwood, Tina Turner and Mötley Crüe.

Another huge catalogue sale recently came from the estate of David Bowie, which sold the late singer’s publishing catalogue to Warner Chappell Music for a price reported to be upwards of $250million (£186million).

A wide-ranging series of deals by Warner Chappell has seen it strike catalogue deals with Bruno Mars, Cardi B, Quincy Jones, Anderson .Paak, Saweetie and the estate of George Michael, among many others.

Other artists who have sold their rights elsewhere include Paul Simon and Bruce Springsteen.

John Legend becomes latest artist to sell recording catalogue

John Legend has become the latest artist to sell rights to his recording catalogue in a big money deal.

According to Bloomberg, the companies KKR and BMG have each acquired a 50 per cent stake in Legend’s catalogue for an undisclosed fee.

The two companies first came together to purchase the publishing rights and back catalogue of ZZ Top last month, while BMG have also recently acquired the rights to the back catalogues of Mick Fleetwood, Tina Turner and Mötley Crüe.

David Bowie’s estate sells catalogue for reported $250million

David Bowie’s estate has sold the late singer’s publishing catalogue to Warner Chappell Music for a price reported to be upwards of $250million (£186million).

• ORDER NOW: Paul Weller is on the cover in the latest issue of Uncut
• READ MORE: David Bowie’s contemporaries on lost album Toy: “We always felt that they were great songs”

That’s according to sources who confirmed the news to Variety on January 3, revealing that a deal has been reached after months of negotiations.

The catalogue spans Bowie‘s career from 1968 to 2016, including songs from the musician’s 26 solo studio albums and the two albums from his Tin Machine side project. Bowie‘s “lost” 2001 posthumous album, Toy, which is released this Friday (January 7), also falls under the agreement.

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Last year, Warner Music announced that it was bringing all of Bowie’s albums under the Warner umbrella, including the ones that were originally released on Sony Music.

It’s the latest in a wide-ranging series of deals by Warner Chappell, which includes catalogue deals with Bruno Mars, Cardi B, Quincy Jones, Anderson .Paak, Saweetie and the estate of George Michael, among many others.

Warner Chappell Music Co-Chair and CEO Guy Moot said: “All of us at Warner Chappell are immensely proud that the David Bowie estate has chosen us to be the caretakers of one of the most groundbreaking, influential, and enduring catalogs in music history. These are not only extraordinary songs, but milestones that have changed the course of modern music forever.

“Bowie’s vision and creative genius drove him to push the envelope, lyrically and musically – writing songs that challenged convention, changed the conversation, and have become part of the canon of global culture. His work spanned massive pop hits and experimental adventures that have inspired millions of fans and countless innovators, not only in music, but across all the arts, fashion, and media.

“We are looking forward to tending his unparalleled body of songs with passion and care as we strive to build on the legacy of this most extraordinary human being.”

David Bowie’s estate sells catalogue for reported $250million

David Bowie’s estate has sold the late singer’s publishing catalogue to Warner Chappell Music for a price reported to be upwards of $250million (£186million).

• READ MORE: Life before Ziggy – remembering David Bowie’s early years

That’s according to sources who confirmed the news to Variety today (January 3), revealing that a deal has been reached after months of negotiations.

The catalogue spans Bowie’s career from 1968 to 2016, including songs from the musician’s 26 solo studio albums and the two albums from his Tin Machine side project. Bowie’s “lost” 2001 posthumous album, ‘Toy’, which is released this Friday (January 7), also falls under the agreement.

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Last year, Warner Music announced that it was bringing all of Bowie’s albums under the Warner umbrella, including the ones that were originally released on Sony Music.

It’s the latest in a wide-ranging series of deals by Warner Chappell, which includes catalogue deals with Bruno Mars, Cardi B, Quincy Jones, Anderson .Paak, Saweetie and the estate of George Michael, among many others.

Outside of Warner Chappell, other recent deals include those between Mötley Crüe and BMG, Tina Turner and BMG, and ZZ Top and BMG/KKR.

Warner Chappell Music Co-Chair and CEO Guy Moot said: “All of us at Warner Chappell are immensely proud that the David Bowie estate has chosen us to be the caretakers of one of the most groundbreaking, influential, and enduring catalogs in music history. These are not only extraordinary songs, but milestones that have changed the course of modern music forever.

“Bowie’s vision and creative genius drove him to push the envelope, lyrically and musically – writing songs that challenged convention, changed the conversation, and have become part of the canon of global culture. His work spanned massive pop hits and experimental adventures that have inspired millions of fans and countless innovators, not only in music, but across all the arts, fashion, and media.

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“We are looking forward to tending his unparalleled body of songs with passion and care as we strive to build on the legacy of this most extraordinary human being.”

In other Bowie news, BFI’s month-long celebration of the late singer and actor, titled Bowie: Starman And The Silver Screen, takes place this month.

After it was originally cancelled from January 2021 due to the COVID pandemic, the event will now run until January 30 at BFI Southbank, coinciding with what would have been Bowie’s 75th birthday (January 8).

The celebration will include screenings of a mixture of feature films, documentaries and television appearances featuring Bowie, ranging from The Man Who Fell To Earth, Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence and Labyrinth to Bowie At Glastonbury 2000.

The nominees for the 2022 BRIT Awards have been revealed

The likes of Adele, Ed Sheeran, Little Simz and Dave are among nominees for the 2022 BRIT Awards.

• READ MORE: The BRIT Awards 2021: a night defined by its audience of heroes

The nominations were announced today (December 18) during the one-hour The BRITs Are Coming TV special on ITV. Find the full list below.

Notably, the Best Male and Female Artist categories are not featured in next year’s awards, instead, a Best Artist category takes their place.

Listen to new Dr. Dre tracks featuring Eminem and Snoop Dogg

Dr. Dre has shared a series of new songs from GTA Online’s new expansion The Contract featuring collaborations with Eminem, Anderson .Paak and Snoop Dogg.

• READ MORE: Dr. Dre’s ‘The Chronic’: A 4/20 deep dive into the album that changed hip-hop forever

Up to six tracks have been shared featuring two solitary tracks by the legendary rapper and producer – ‘Black Privilege’ and ‘Fallin Up’, alongside team ups with Eminem (‘Gospel’), .Paak (‘The Scenic Route’), Snoop Dogg and Busta Rhymes (‘ETA’) and Ty Dolla $ign along with the late Nipsey Hussle appear on ‘Diamond Mine’. You can listen to all the songs below.

The Contract is a brand-new GTA adventure set in the city of Los Santos. Players help the character Franklin and friends set up his “celebrity solutions agency” and do whatever they can to help recover Dr. Dre’s missing new music.

Watch Silk Sonic perform ‘Fly As Me’ and ‘Smokin’ Out The Window’ at the BET Soul Train Awards

Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak have continued riding the wave of their collaborative album ‘An Evening With Silk Sonic’ with new grin-inducing performances of ‘Fly As Me’ and ‘Smokin’ Out The Window’.

• READ MORE: Silk Sonic – ‘An Evening With Silk Sonic’ review: an unashamedly retro delight

The newly minted duo Silk Sonic opened the 2021 BET Soul Train Awards with two vintage-influenced live performances, which both took place at the Apollo Theater in New York.

This marks the latest of a string of live appearances the pair have made over the course of the album’s cycle, with Silk Sonic previously taking ‘Smokin’ Out The Window’ to the stage for last week’s American Music Awards.

JYPn’s Lily and Haewon unveil cover of Destiny’s Child’s ‘Survivor’

Lily and Haewon of JYP Entertainment‘s upcoming girl group have shared their rendition of the iconic Destiny’s Child single ‘Survivor’.

• READ MORE: JYP Entertainment’s “blind package” release capitalises on our deep-rooted FOMO

The two singers, who have been announced as part of the line-up for JYP Entertainment’s forthcoming girl group tentatively named JYPn, released a duet cover of Destiny’s Child’s 2002 hit song ‘Survivor’. The cover dropped as part of the ‘Qualifying’ series, which was launched to introduce the JYPn members.

For their rendition of ‘Survivor’, Lily and Haewon have shortened and stripped-down the song, removing the dramatic opening strings and second verse. Meanwhile, the accompanying black and white video features the duo performing the song in a nondescript studio.

Silk Sonic announce limited radio show on Apple Music

Silk Sonic have announced a new limited radio series on Apple Music 1, An Evening With Silk Sonic.

The group – comprised of Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak – released their debut album ‘An Evening With Silk Sonic’ last Friday (November 12).

• READ MORE: Silk Sonic – ‘An Evening With Silk Sonic’ review: an unashamedly retro delight

Today (November 17) it’s been confirmed that the duo will launch their own radio show of the same name at 3am GMT tomorrow (November 18). You can tune in here.

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Silk Sonic share tracklist for new album ‘An Evening With Silk Sonic’

Silk Sonic, the duo comprised of Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak, have shared the tracklist for their upcoming debut album ‘An Evening With Silk Sonic’.

• READ MORE: Posthumous albums: why labels should show more respect for musicians’ art

The pair announced last month that their forthcoming LP will be released on November 12, after having previously suggested it wouldn’t arrive until early next year. The album will mark Mars’ first since 2016’s ’24K Magic’, and Anderson’s first since 2019’s ‘Ventura’.

Tonight (November 5), Silk Sonic unveiled the tracklist for the highly anticipated album. “YOU HAVE A WEEK TO GET YOUR OUTFITS TOGETHER,” .Paak wrote on Instagram.

Anderson .Paak launches his own record label, APESHIT INC.

Anderson .Paak has launched a brand new record label called APESHIT INC.

• READ MORE: Posthumous albums: why labels should show more respect for musicians’ art

The Grammy Award-winning solo artist, who is also one half of Silk Sonic alongside Bruno Mars, announced the arrival of the imprint on Tuesday (November 2) via a tongue-in-cheek pre-recorded press conference.

APESHIT’s mission statement is to focus on “raw talent” and artists who can actually play their own instruments.

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Silk Sonic announce release date for debut album ‘An Evening With Silk Sonic’

Silk Sonic, the duo comprised of Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak, have announced the official release date for their debut album ‘An Evening With Silk Sonic’.

• READ MORE: Posthumous albums: why labels should show more respect for musicians’ art

The pair, who dropped their chart-topping track ‘Leave the Door Open‘ in March before following it up in July with the self-described “summertime jam” ‘Skate’, suggested in August that their much anticipated debut LP would arrive next year.

However, Silk Sonic have today (October 8) confirmed that ‘An Evening With Silk Sonic’ will drop on November 12, 2021. The announcement coincides with Bruno Mars’ 36th birthday.

Here are all the winners from the MTV VMAs 2021

The MTV Video Music Awards have wrapped up for another year, with Beyoncé, Harry Styles and Travis Scott among those crowned winners at this year’s ceremony.

The ceremony took place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. It was hosted by Doja Cat, who also performed her singles ‘Be Like This and ‘You Right’, and took home the award for Best Collaboration with her SZA-featuring single ‘Kiss Me More’.

• READ MORE: The MTV VMAs 2020 were fun, but could pre-records make awards shows predictable and sterile?

The VMAs also returned to its usual live setting for 2021, after last year’s ceremony was pre-recorded from a variety of outdoor locations as a result of the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic.

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Lana Del Rey says her will prohibits posthumous release of music

Lana Del Rey has revealed that a stipulation in her will prohibits the release of posthumous music by the singer-songwriter following her death.

It comes after Anderson .Paak recently shared a new tattoo he got with similar sentiments. “When I’m gone, please don’t release any posthumous albums or songs with my name attached,” the forearm tattoo reads. “Those were just demos and never intended to be heard by the public.”

• READ MORE: “It’s hard to get right”: how posthumous rap albums became big business

Del Rey shared a screenshot of the tattoo in a post on her Instagram account. “It’s in my will but it’s also on his tattoo,” she captioned the post. See that below:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Lana Del Rey (@lanadelrey)

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Yola Stand For Myself

Paul McCartney shares trippy new video for ‘Find My Way’ featuring Beck

Paul McCartney has shared a trippy new video for his latest single, ‘Find My Way’, featuring Beck – you can watch it below.

• READ MORE: Paul McCartney: read the exclusive track-by-track story of ‘McCartney III’

Taken from the Beatles legend’s most recent album, ‘McCartney III: Imagined’ – a reworking of last year’s ‘McCartney III’ – the ‘Find My Way’ visuals sees a digitally de-aged McCartney dance the halls of a hotel before being transported to various other locations.

The colourful, funk-driven, disco-inspired video – which has a big reveal at the end – was directed by Andrew Donoho (Janelle Monae, The Strokes, Khalid) and co-produced with Hyperreal Digital, which specialises in the creation of hyper-realistic digital avatars. The video also features choreography from Phil Tayag (Bruno Mars, Jabbawockeez).

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BTS reveal more about their “dynamic” new single, ‘Butter’

BTS have revealed more about what fans can expect from their next English-language single, ‘Butter’.

• READ MORE: Big Hit’s new ventures might just reshape the music industry worldwide – and for the better

In a new interview with Rolling Stone, RM from the group described it as being “very energetic..and very summery. It has a very dynamic performance.”

The song is also said to have a “superstar glow” and sound “smooth like butter.”

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A description in Rolling Stone added: “It’s a pure, swaggering dance-pop celebration in the retro vein of Bruno Mars, with layers of Jam and Lewis-style synths.”

The interview also revealed that more English-language songs could be on the way in the future, with the article stating that several Western songwriters who have worked with BTS previously are “currently in touch with BTS’ team about new songs.”

The forthcoming single will be the second English-language release from the K-pop juggernauts following the release of ‘Dynamite’ last year.

The group recently released a new ‘photo teaser’ of the single together with several ‘concept clips’ ahead of its release.

The new track will arrive on May 21 at 5am BST, and was described in a statement as being “a dance pop track brimming with the smooth yet charismatic charm of BTS”.

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‘Dynamite’ recently became the longest-charting single by a Korean artist on the Billboard Hot 100. BTS’ record surpassed a 31-week run by Psy in 2013 for ‘Gangnam Style’.

‘Dynamite’ also became the longest-running number one on Billboard’s Digital Song Sales Chart. It surpasses an achievement previously attained by Luis Fonsi’s ‘Despacito’, which topped the chart 17 times.

Anderson .Paak talks collaborating with BTS: “I’m working on trying to get that plug”

Anderson .Paak has spoken about a potential collaboration with BTS.

• READ MORE: Inside Connect, BTS – the Korean pop revolutionaries’ incredible global art project

The musician, who yesterday (March 14) won a Grammy for Best melodic rap performance, teased the idea in a new interview.

While discussing his nine-year-old son’s obsession with the K pop superstars, the singer was asked by Esquire whether he’d consider a collaboration.

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He replied: “I’m working on trying to get that plug, man. If you know of any way, let me know, bro”, although the publication noted it was a “mostly joking” response.

Meanwhile, .Paak has been busy with other collaborations including his new band with Bruno Mars: Silk Sonic. Last night the duo performed their debut single ‘Leave The Door Open’ at the Grammys ceremony, bringing some vintage style to the show by dressing in matching burnt orange suits.

The pair announced the new project last month (February 26) and released their first single ‘Leave The Door Open’ on March 5.

BTS were nominated for Best pop duo/group performance for ‘Dynamite’ at the Grammys but lost out to Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande’s ‘Rain On Me’.

The South Korean stars performed ‘Dynamite’ from a set in Seoul that recreated the Grammys stage. It followed their performance at the pre-Grammys MusiCares event on Friday, which saw Jungkook take on drumming duties for ‘Dynamite’.

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Beyoncé was the big winner of the night, taking home four awards and breaking the record for the most Grammy wins by a female artist and by any singer, male or female.

See the full list of winners here.

Bad Bunny joined by Jhay Cortez for ‘Dákiti’ performance at Grammys

Bad Bunny performed alongside Jhay Cortez at last night’s (March 14) 2021 Grammys – watch their rendition of ‘Dákiti’ below.

• READ MORE: Here are all the winners from the Grammys 2021

The song is taken from Bad Bunny’s second album of 2020, ‘El Último Tour Del Mundo’, while his first record from last year, ‘YHLQMDLG’, won Best Latin Pop or Urban Album at the ceremony.

The performance of ‘Dákiti’ saw the pair surrounded by neon lights. Watch footage of the rendition below.

Kanye West’s ‘Jesus Is King’ wins Best Contemporary Christian Music Album at 2021 Grammys

Kanye West has won his 22nd Grammy award, tying Jay-Z for the most awards for a hip-hop artist.

West won Best Contemporary Christian Music Album for 2019’s ‘Jesus Is King’ at last night’s (March 14) ceremony in Los Angeles.

• READ MORE: Kanye West – ‘Jesus Is King’ review: an iconoclast sounds peaceful and fulfilled on this jubilant gospel collection

West wasn’t present at the ceremony to collect the award, and has been critical of the Grammys in the past.

Watch Post Malone bring ‘Hollywood’s Bleeding’ to the 2021 Grammys

For his Grammys performance, Post Malone performed the title track of his 2019 album ‘Hollywood’s Bleeding’ in a sea of fog – watch footage below.

The album was nominated for Album Of The Year at last night’s (March 14) ceremony in Los Angeles, losing out to Taylor Swift’s ‘folklore’.

• READ MORE: Post Malone – ‘Hollywood’s Bleeding’ review

The moody performance of ‘Hollywood’s Bleeding’ saw Post Malone performing an energetic rendition of the track, surrounded by fog and dark lighting.

Taylor Swift to perform with Aaron Dessner & Jack Antonoff at 2021 Grammys

Taylor Swift has revealed that she’ll be joined by The National‘s Aaron Dessner as well as Jack Antonoff for her performance at the 2021 Grammy Awards.

Speaking to the Recording Academy, Swift said that revealing her collaborators will be joining her on stage is the one thing about her performance that isn’t “highly confidential”.

“(It’s) really exciting because this has been adventure that the three of us have gone since the very beginning of quarantine and lockdown,” she said.

Epik High Is Here For You

By Regina Kim

“We were anomalies when we started,” says Tablo of the Korean hip-hop trio Epik High, which he leads. A Stanford graduate whose given name is Daniel Lee, he wears a black cap and matching hoodie on the opposite end of a Zoom call, giving off a laid-back, unassuming air that belies his status as a South Korean superstar. Though rap and hip-hop have become infused in all of the country’s major pop from BTS to Big Bang to Blackpink, Epik High were genre pioneers when they formed in 2001, mixing high-speed vocal deliveries with seemingly disparate elements as punk and classical at a time when the sound was considered niche. “As time went on and other people started experimenting with different sounds in hip-hop, we became more accepted,” he tells MTV News.

Composed of Tablo, fellow rapper Mithra Jin, and DJ Tukutz, Epik High craft outspoken, socially conscious lyrics that tackle topics ranging from discrimination and class struggle to religion and politics, subjecting them to controversy and even outright bans over the years. But that raw authenticity has only fueled their success: All of Epik High’s previously released albums have charted No. 1 on the South Korean iTunes hip-hop chart. In addition to reaching No. 1 on Billboard’s World Albums chart in 2014, they became the first major Korean act to perform at Coachella in 2016.

Now the industry veterans are back with the first half of their two-part tenth album, Epik High Is Here, every aspect of which they treated like a film production. “Every song is a scene,” Tablo says, as on display in the cinematic, sprawling composition of “End of the World” and the lush portrait of contemporary society “Leica.” That strategy extends to their collaborators, which include the popular South Korean rappers Zico and CL, as well as contributions from emerging stateside talents, like the singer-songwriter Hayley Gene Penner, whose writing credits include tracks for The Chicks and The Chainsmokers. “The artists are like character actors, and we’re in the director’s chair,” Tablo adds. “We know exactly what we want for the scene and who would be the best actor to deliver that scene.”

The resulting collection is a true epic, the story of collaborations and inspirations inevitably shaped by the coronavirus pandemic, including the title itself.  But while the songs deal with somber lyrical themes of sadness, anger, and confusion, the album’s core message is one of hope — a reflection of Tablo’s belief that, if the entire world is collectively experiencing painful emotions, then it can unite in positive sentiments, too. “We’re all in the same boat,” he says. “We’re all confused, but Epik High is here for you and with you.” Speaking with MTV News ahead of the album’s release, Tablo reveals the secret to the group’s longevity, as well as his aspirations for the future of Korean rap and hip-hop as it pervades music around the globe.

Courtesy OURS Co

MTV News: When did you start working on the album?

Tablo: It depends on the song. We had demos for “Based on a True Story” and “Acceptance Speech” about four years ago. Some of the songs are completely new — they came in a couple of weeks before we had to press out CDs. We were debating everything until the very last moment, which is normally what we do anyways.

MTV News: The word “here” comes up a lot on this album. In addition to being included in the title, it’s found in the lyrics of  “Wish You Were” and “Acceptance Speech.” Where is “here” for you, and what kind of significance does the word hold for you? 

Tablo: You live in your home, but you never really think about it. It’s just where you come back after work or go to sleep, right? But we’ve had to think about each of our “here”s in a new light. And for me, I think “here” is not a fixed place — it’s an ever-changing place that is both physical and spiritual. Even when you look at the arc of Epik High’s career, “here” has changed so many times, where sometimes “here” is a very good place and we’re flying high, and sometimes “here” is the lowest of lows.

People who are ambitious are always imagining a better “here.” They want that certain job or that certain life, which means that you’re never actually thinking about the “here” that you’re living in now. I think I was probably the same way. I think I’m finally learning that my “here” is going to change day by day or even minute by minute. Sometimes it’s going to be great, and sometimes it’s going to be horrible, but it is my “here,” and I’m OK with that. So when I say, "Epik High is here,” wherever that may be, we’re OK with that. We know it’s ever-changing.

https://youtu.be/FCsLikmxhV0

MTV News: What do you hope people will get out of this album? What’s the overall message you’d like to convey?

Tablo: I just want people to feel like someone understands, that someone is with them and is just as confused and angry as they are. If they’re angry about something, I want these songs to accompany them. Hopefully, at the end of the song, some of their anger will have transformed into something better, like courage.

I don’t want my songs to be diversions. I don’t want our music to simply be a way to get away from or ignore what’s going on. I think there are other musicians that are great at doing that. But I don’t think that is our forte, and that’s not even close to what our music is pretending to do. I want our music to reflect whatever emotions you are really feeling, because most likely we’re feeling that way too, and we really do know what it’s like. It can feel comforting to know that you’re not alone.

MTV News: Can you talk about the meaning of the titles of some of your songs?

Tablo: “Rosario” has multiple meanings, [referencing] the rosary and praying the rosary. It also comes from the Latin rosarium, which means “a crown of roses.” All of that is within the song. We’re talking about God and celebrity and dealing with your own demons. I imagined that if a Messiah figure were to come down to earth today, what would people say? I think people would attack this person, and nobody would believe them. If this person were to use a modern-day way of speaking to express their grievances, how would they do it, and how would they rap? I imagined these weird things and then put them into a song.

“Based on a True Story” is for people dealing with heartbreak. In moments of heartbreak, you want to put your attention into any story that is not your own, so you watch TV and movies and listen to songs to forget. But the irony is that everything you see or hear hits close to home and feels like your own story.

https://youtu.be/ZcnnUoyv-hs

MTV News: Epik High has been around for two decades. How has the group stayed together for so long, and did you guys hit it off from the beginning?

Tablo: I think we appear to get along really well because, from the very beginning, we didn’t get along. The three of us have extremely different personalities and musical differences. From the beginning, we fought, even in public and in front of the camera. We weren’t a group that was made, and we didn’t have media training, so we had no other choice but to be ourselves. And I think that worked out because that meant that we had no “yes” men. The three of us are so hard on each other that it’s impossible to have a situation where everyone around you is a “yes” man, which I think is the worst possible thing you can do to yourself, to have everyone agree with you and pretend to love you. Musically as well, I think that’s why we’ve always been able to adapt and grow because we’re really hard on each other. We’ll shit on each other’s songs, and it just never stopped. And I think ironically that is the only reason we’re still together.

MTV News: Who are some of your biggest influences, for you and for the group?

Tablo: For the group, A Tribe Called Quest was probably the biggest influence. It’s one of the only groups that all three of us liked equally. Also, Outkast. Personally, I’ve been a huge alternative rock fan. I love Smashing Pumpkins and Nirvana. Also, growing up I was in love with The Beatles and Bob Dylan. My favorite hip-hop artist was and still is Nas. Illmatic was the first hip-hop album that I bought with my own money.

Nowadays as a group, we’re really into the Rolling Stones. We imagine performing as a group when we’re grandpas, and we hope that we’ll have the same energy on stage when we’re 90.

MTV News: Are there any artists that Epik High might want to collaborate with in the future?

Tablo: Mark Ronson. Billie Eilish. Kid Cudi. Bruno Mars.

Courtesy OURS Co

MTV News: Epik High are pioneers of Korean rap and hip-hop, and I think it’s safe to say that you guys were the ones who brought those two genres into South Korea’s mainstream music. How would you describe the current rap and hip-hop scene in South Korea? How would you describe the music’s popularity in Korea compared to K-pop and other genres?

Tablo: I think rap and hip-hop are the most popular genres in Korea right now by far. BTS is heavily a hip-hop group as well. The members of the group started off as hip-hop artists, and even when they’ve branched out into other genres, the way they approach lyrics has never left their hip-hop roots behind, and I think that’s why they’re so popular. Major groups like Blackpink and Big Bang have always been hip-hop-based. Now the scene is so huge that there are so many rappers and hip-hop artists that I don’t even know. It’s very vibrant.

We’ve also had a renaissance of indie and folk-rock artists, and many of them have been featured in our music. We’ve always wanted to introduce different genres and artists to our fans. We just want everyone to like each other’s stuff, because there’s no bad that can come out of that. I’m all about having people expand their circles and break down whatever barriers they may have between each other. I can’t understand why someone who loves hip-hop must hate other genres, or why some fans of K-pop idols won’t listen to other genres like Korean indie. I can understand that familiarity can be good, but I’ve never divided people into genres. I don’t see those barriers, and I don’t want our audience to see those either.

I believe that if everyone who is a fan of Korean music in one form or another can all share in this experience and get behind not just Korean music but Asian music, art, films, and culture in general, then these can do even better. We are having a moment, but I want that moment to become a movement. I really want some 12-year-old with a guitar and a unique sound somewhere in Asia to feel like the path to their dreams isn’t farther than some other kid living in Tennessee. I don’t want anyone of any race to think that their path to their dreams is farther away.

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Jason Derulo has been added to Rock In Rio Lisbon’s 2021 line-up

Jason Derulo has been added to the line-up for next year’s Rock In Rio Lisbon event.

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The festival, which was due to take place over two consecutive weekends over June 20-21 and 27-28 this year, was postponed until 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Many of the initially confirmed acts have been carried over to 2021, including Post Malone, Liam Gallagher Foo Fighters, The National and Black Eyed Peas.

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