On Tuesday (November 11), the Los Angeles Philharmonic announced that the Hollywood Bowl has dedicated its iconic stage to legendary composer John Williams, marking the first artist dedication in the venue’s 103-year history. The private ceremony, hosted by LA Phil leaders and supported by prominent philanthropists and friends of Williams – including director Steven Spielberg and renowned industry figures – unveiled new stage signage honoring the 93-year-old composer's profound influence on symphonic film music. Celebrated for scoring over 100 films, including all nine Star Wars movies, along with the first three Harry Potter films, E.T., and Jurassic Park, Williams has become synonymous with the Bowl through annual performances featuring his scores that have captivated audiences of all ages. “This is an honor that is unprecedented and unequaled in generosity shown by the Los Angeles Philharmonic family,” Williams said at the ceremony, while adding that “the uniqueness of this honor is certainly unheard of and I thank all of you.” (Variety)

Benson Boone humorously reacted to being snubbed by the 2026 Grammy nominations, joking on Instagram that his hit song “Mystical Magical” deserved recognition. “Can’t believe moonbeam ice cream didn’t get a Grammy nom,” Boone said in reference to the song’s memorable, meme-worthy lyric, while adding, “it’s literally pure lyrical genius.” Despite the success of his album, American Heart, which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and featured multiple Hot 100 hits, including “Mystical Magical” (No. 17), Boone received no nominations this year. Though the singer was nominated for Best New Artist in 2025 in a stacked category featuring fellow nominees Sabrina Carpenter, Doechii, Khruangbin, RAYE, Shaboozey, and Teddy Swims, with the coveted award eventually going to Chappell Roan. Boone is currently wrapping up his European tour, with a final show scheduled for November 18 in Stockholm. (Billboard)

During her Back to Badlands Tour stop at The Anthem in Washington, D.C., on November 4, Halsey was filmed being groped by a concertgoer while performing “Is There Somewhere,” prompting security to swiftly intervene and remove the fan’s hand. The disturbing incident, captured on video and shared widely, sparked outrage among fans on social media who condemned the violation. “Respect Halsey and DO NOT touch her or anyone like this without their consent,” one fan wrote, while other fans chimed in by responding, “Have we not learned respect?” and commenting, “There’s no excuse for this.” Despite the unsettling moment, Halsey continued her performance uninterrupted, and has since carried on with her tour, with the U.S. leg set to conclude with a two-night stand in Denver on Wednesday and Thursday (November 12-13). (Billboard)

On Sunday (November 9), Brandy and Monica’s co-headlining The Boy Is Mine Tour made a standout stop at the sold-out Kia Forum in Inglewood, California, where the star-studded audience included Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Rihanna, Queen Latifah, and Jenifer Lewis. The legendary R&B duo delivered a dynamic six-act show featuring hits like Monica’s “Don’t Take It Personal,” Brandy’s “I Wanna Be Down,” their iconic duet “The Boy Is Mine,” and a tribute to Whitney Houston. The set also featured surprise guests appearances by LL Cool J, O.T. Genasis, Blxst, and Mario, while Kehlani, Ty Dolla $ign, 50 Cent, and Miguel took part in the duo's first L.A. show. Supporting acts Jamal Roberts, Muni Long, and Kelly Rowland added to the star power, with Rowland performing solo hits and Destiny’s Child classics. The tour now heads to Charlotte on Thursday (Nov. 13), with the 32-date run set to conclude in Jacksonville on December 14. (Billboard)

During a recent backstage tour of her talk show, Kelly Clarkson revealed her top three all-time favorite albums, with the pop star teasing viewers by proclaiming, “I  hope you like them. If you don’t, you’re dumb.” After praising a diverse series of artists like Alanis Morissette, the Toadies. and Aretha Franklin, Clarkson shared her top three picks, which are: Patty Griffin’s 2002 folk classic, 1000 Kisses, with Clarkson praising Griffin as her all-time favorite singer-songwriter; U2’s 1998 greatest hits compilation, The Best Of 1980-1990, with the host recalling seeing the Irish rock band play a transformative show at Madison Square Garden which “was like a spiritual experience”; and Lauryn Hill’s Grammy-winning debut, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, which Clarkson admires for its organic sound, vocal brilliance, and deeply authentic songwriting that inspired her own musical journey, crediting the album with being one of the reasons she became a songwriter. (Billboard)

Taylor Swift’s “The Fate of Ophelia” continues to rule the Billboard Hot 100, topping the chart for a fifth consecutive week. This marks Swift’s third single to spend at least five weeks at No. 1, alongside “Anti-Hero” (eight weeks in 2022) and “Blank Space” (seven weeks in 2014). “The Fate of Ophelia” garnered 27.4 million streams, 59.2 million radio airplay audience impressions, and sold 29,000 copies in the U.S. over the past week, bolstered by the release of the song’s “Alone in My Tower Acoustic Version.” The single’s continued success coincides with her No. 1 album, The Life of a Showgirl, claiming its fifth consecutive week atop the Billboard 200, extending Swift’s record as the first artist to simultaneously have both her album and single spend their first five weeks at No. 1.

In another notable move, Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” surges back into the Top 10, with the King of Pop’s 1982 hit jumping from No. 32 to No. 10 on the strength of substantial Halloween streaming numbers and significant radio airplay around the holiday. With that achievement, Jackson becomes the first artist to rank in the Hot 100's Top 10 in six distinct decades, reaching the top tier of the chart in the ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s, 2000s, ‘10s and now ‘20s. Notably, an 11-year-old Jackson also was a member of The Jackson 5 when they spent their first week in the Hot 100’s Top 10 on the last official chart of the ‘60s (dated Dec. 27, 1969), with their breakthrough hit, “I Want You Back.”

The rest of this week’s Top 10 remains mostly the same as the previous week, as HUNTR/X’s “Golden,” from the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack, holds at No. 2, Alex Warren’s “Ordinary” stays at No. 3, Swift’s “Opalite” remains at No. 4, Olivia Dean’s “Man I Need” keeps at No. 5, Justin Bieber’s “Daisies” sticks at No. 6, Kehlani’s “Folded” stays at No. 7, Leon Thomas’ “Mutt” moves up two spots to No. 8, and Morgan Wallen’s “I Got Better” remains at No. 9. (Billboard)

Charli XCX has collaborated with Velvet Underground’s John Cale on the experimental new single, “House,” which will be featured on the soundtrack for director Emerald Fennell’s upcoming film adaptation of Wuthering Heights, which stars Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi. Inspired by Cale’s phrase describing the Velvet Underground’s sound as “elegant and brutal,” Charli and producer Finn Keane wrote the song during a tour stop in Austin, Texas, and later invited Cale to contribute, resulting in a haunting track infused with the 83-year-old's ominous spoken word. The eerie Mitch Ryan-directed music video depicts the two artists isolated in a remote house, enhancing the song’s dark, edgy vibe. “When I heard the music, my first thought was - no one will expect this - let’s do it!,” Cale wrote of the song on Instagram. “Collaborating with Charli was effortless - work fast, stay in the moment, embrace the peculiarities!” “House” is one of several tracks Charli wrote for the film’s soundtrack after reading the script, drawn to its themes of passion, pain, and grit. (Rolling Stone)

On Monday (November 10), Hilary Duff announced the dates and details of her first tour in over a decade, the Small Rooms, Big Nerves 2026 mini-tour. The short run features four intimate shows across the U.K. and North America, kicking off at London’s Shepherd’s Bush Empire on January 19, before heading to Toronto’s HISTORY on January 24, followed by a date at the Brooklyn Paramount on January 27, before concluding at The Wiltern in Los Angeles on January 29. The announcement follows the release of her new single, “Mature,” co-written with her husband Matthew Koma, marking Duff’s celebrated return to music after focusing on acting for nearly ten years. “One single? Please. This girl is hitting the road for some very special shows,” Duff wrote on Instagram, while instructing fans to “dust off your dancing shoes. I’m coming for you. I’m so ready (and okay, a tiny bit nervous).” An artist ticket pre-sale begins on Friday (November 14). (Billboard)

The Jonas Brothers will ring in 2026 with a two-hour New Year’s Eve concert at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida, airing live exclusively on Samsung TV Plus at 10 p.m. ET on December 31. The performance comes after the conclusion of the group’s highly successful Greetings From Your Hometown Tour, which finishes on Dec. 22. “Greetings from 2026,” the trio announced on Instagram. “We couldn’t imagine closing out 2025 anywhere else but with you. Thank you for making this one of the most unforgettable years in our 20-year journey so far." Nick, Joe, and Kevin added that, "2025 will be a year we will always remember, and we couldn’t think of a better way to kick off the new one than celebrating with our fans. We can’t wait to count down to midnight together, and welcome 2026 in Miami, as well as with our fans at home.” Ticket pre-sale begins on Wednesday (Nov. 12), followed by a public on-sale on Thursday (Nov. 13). (Rolling Stone)

Rod Wave was arrested in Fulton County, Georgia, on Friday (November 7) on multiple drug and weapon charges, including possession of a firearm during a felony, reckless driving, and controlled substances. The arrest took place on the same day that the 27-year-old rapper received his first-ever Grammy Award nomination for Best Song Written for Visual Media for “Sinners,” which is featured in the hit 2025 film Sinners. He was released on bond the following day, with his attorneys claiming the arrest was unjust and a result of aggressive policing by Atlanta’s Crime Suppression Unit. Wave has faced previous legal issues in Georgia earlier this year, including charges of aggravated assault and conspiracy to commit a felony, and a separate battery charge. The rapper is preparing for his nationwide The Redemption Experience Tour which is set to kick on December 7 in Los Angeles. (People)

Hayley Williams quietly revealed her 2026 tour dates by adding them to her official website on Friday (November 7), featuring a ’90s computer desktop design and an “oops.jpg” image hinting at an early leak of the itinerary for her At A Bachelor Party Tour. The Paramore frontwoman’s worldwide solo trek begins March 28 in Atlanta and concludes June 29 in Dublin, including two-night stands in Boston, Philadelphia, New York City, Chicago, Nashville, Oakland, and Los Angeles, with the May 12-13 dates at The Wiltern in L.A. closing out Williams’ North American tour. Water From Your Eyes are set to open all dates on the tour, with Snuggle also playing select shows. The tour is in support of Williams’ latest album, Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party, which was released digitally in August and received a physical CD and vinyl release – with an added bonus track “Showbiz” – on November 7. Ticket on-sale dates for the tour have yet to be officially announced. (Billboard)

Taylor Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl continues its dominance by securing a fifth consecutive week at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, earning 120,000 equivalent album units in the week ending November 6. It is the second album in 2025 to spend its first five weeks atop the chart, following Morgan Wallen’s I’m the Problem, which led for eight straight weeks following its May release. Showgirl marks Swift’s third album to start off with at least five consecutive weeks at No. 1, alongside the six-week chart-topping run of Folklore in 2020, and the initial 12-week rule of The Tortured Poets Department in 2024. Other notable moves in this week’s Top 10 include Florence + the Machine notching their fifth Top 10 of their career, as Everybody Scream debuts at No. 4, while Tyler, The Creator’s former chart-topper, CHROMAKOPIA, surges from No. 117 all the way up to No. 5 following its one-year anniversary reissue.

The rest of this week’s Billboard 200 Top 10 includes a series of former No. 1 albums, with the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack holding at No. 2, Wallen’s I’m the Problem staying at No. 3,  Sabrina Carpenter’s Man’s Best Friend slipping one spot to No. 6,  SZA’s SOS rises two slots to No. 8, Wallen’s One Thing at a Time jumps up two places to No. 9, and Cardi B’s AM I THE DRAMA? falls two spots to No. 10. The Top 10 is rounded out by Olivia Dean’s The Art of Loving, which drops one slot to No. 7. (Billboard)

On Saturday night (November 8), the 40th annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony took place at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, honoring legendary artists including Bad Company, OutKast, Cyndi Lauper, The White Stripes, Soundgarden, Salt-N-Pepa, and Chubby Checker, with posthumous honors for Warren Zevon and Joe Cocker. The event was broadcast live on Disney+, and started with a rousing tribute to 1993 Rock Hall inductee Sly Stone, who died in June, which featured a medley of his hits performed by an an all-star band led by Stevie Wonder, Flea, Beck, and Questlove, with guest vocalists Maxwell and Jennifer Hudson. Elton John later honored the late Brian Wilson by performing the Beach Boys’ classic, “God Only Knows.”

Salt-N-Pepa gave an exhilarating performance of their ‘80s and ‘90s hits, “Let’s Talk About Sex,” “Whatta Man” (joined by En Vogue), and “Push It,” while OutKast’s Big Boi and Andre 3000 shared the stage for their acceptance speech – after being inducted by Donald Glover – but only Big Boi took part in a performance of a medley of their hits with special guests Doja Cat, Tyler, the Creator, and Janelle Monae. Cyndi Lauper was inducted by Chappell Roan, with her emotional performance of “True Colors” paying tribute to the LGBTQ community, before she was joined by Raye on “Time After Time” and Avril Lavigne on “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.”

Iggy Pop inducted fellow Detroit garage rock band The White Stripes, with only Jack White attending the ceremony, delivering a message of thanks from drummer Meg White in his emotional speech. Olivia Rodrigo and Feist performed a tender version of the band's 2001 track, “I Think We’re Gonna Be Friends”, while Twenty One Pilots delivered a raucous take on the iconic hit, “Seven Nation Army.” The late Chris Cornell’s absence cast a dark shadow over Soundgarden’s induction, with Jim Carey delivering a heartfelt speech praising the grunge legends, where he was joined by Cornell’s daughter, Lily. The Pretty Reckless’s Taylor Momsen then joined the band for a fiery take on “Rusty Cage,” while Brandi Carlile took lead vocals on their smash hit, “Black Hole Sun,” alongside guest appearances by Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready, Alice in Chains’ Jerry Cantrell, and Soundgarden’s original bassist, Hiro Yamamoto. Heart’s Nancy Wilson then accompanied Cornell’s 21-year-old daughter Toni on a stirring acoustic take on “Fell on Black Days.”

Despite some notable absences – like Bad Company singer Paul Rodgers, Carol Kaye, and the 84-year-old Checker, who fittingly had a gig that night – the ceremony was still filled with star-studded moments, culminating in a rousing finale of Cocker’s classic Beatles’ cover, “With a Little Help from My Friends,” that included Lauper joined by the Black Crowes’ Chris Robinson, Bryan Adams, the Tedeschi Trucks Band, Nathaniel Rateliff, and Teddy Swims. (Billboard)

Kendrick Lamar leads the 2026 Grammy nominations with nine total nods, fueled by his chart-topping album, GNX, and No. 1 single "Luther," with the recognition following the Compton rapper’s five wins in 2025 for “Not Like Us.” Lady Gaga set her career-high with seven nominations, tying her with the total nods received by producers Jack Antonoff and Cirkut, while rising star Leon Thomas, along with Sabrina Carpenter, Bad Bunny, and engineer Serban Ghenea, each earned six nods. Bad Bunny makes history by becoming the first Spanish-language artist to earn nominations in the three major categories – Album, Record, and Song of the Year – for his chart-topping album, Debí Tirar Más Fotos, and its hit title track, highlighting the increased recognition for Latin music at the Grammys.

Lamar, Gaga, and Carpenter join Bad Bunny as the four artists each nominated for album, record, and song of the year. Notably, the artists with the two biggest commercial releases in 2025, Morgan Wallen and Taylor Swift, are absent from the nominations, with Wallen choosing not to submit his work for Grammy consideration, while Swift didn’t release her album within the eligibility date. Hip-hop is well represented in this year’s list of nominees, highlighted by the multiple nominations for Doechii, Clipse, and Tyler, the Creator, while country music was completely shut out in the major categories. The Grammys other big category, Best New Artist, features Olivia Dean, Katseye, The Marias, Addison Rae, Sombr, Leon Thomas, Alex Warren, and Lola Young. The 2026 Grammys will air live on CBS and Paramount+ on February 1. (Variety)

On Thursday (November 6), Lionsgate released the first trailer for Michael, Antoine Fuqua’s upcoming biopic chronicling Michael Jackson’s rise to becoming the King of Pop, starring his nephew Jaafar Jackson as the legendary singer. The teaser features Jackson in the studio with Quincy Jones (Kendrick Sampson), at the dinner table with his young siblings, and on stage in front of stadiums filled with screaming fans, all while his iconic 1982 hit, “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’,” plays in the background. The film is set for release on April 24, 2026, and also stars Miles Teller as Jackson’s attorney and adviser John Branca, Colman Domingo as his father Joe Jackson, and Nia Long as his mother Katherine Jackson. Written by John Logan and produced by John Branca, Graham King, and John McClain, the biopic offers an intimate look at Jackson’s life, legacy, and influence. (Variety)

The NFL will host its first game in Spain on Sunday, November 16, at Madrid’s Bernabéu Stadium, where the Washington Commanders and Miami Dolphins will face off. The halftime show will be headlined by Argentine DJ/producer Bizarrap and Puerto Rican rapper and singer Daddy Yankee, with the duo set to perform their new joint track, “BZRP Music Sessions #0/66,” live for the first time. Known for collaborating with top Latin artists like Shakira and Rauw Alejandro, Bizarrap will also perform other hits alongside Daddy Yankee. “Getting the opportunity to headline the halftime show for the NFL’s first game in Spain is a huge honor,” said Bizarrap in a statement. “Especially alongside Daddy Yankee, such a legend” This event follows an international NFL game in São Paulo, Brazil, in September, emphasizing the league’s commitment to showcasing Latin music worldwide. The game will air on Mediaset España’s Cuatro and DAZN in Spain, and NFL Network in the U.S. (Billboard)

Daniel Caesar notched his first No. 1 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart with his fourth album, Son of Spergy, which debuted October 24 and earned 43,000 equivalent album units in its first week, including 34.1 million streams. The album also gives Caesar his first-ever leader on the Top R&B Albums chart, while also debuting at No. 4 on the Billboard 200, marking Caesar’s first Top 10 appearance on the all-genre tally. Ten tracks from the album entered the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, led by “Who Knows” at No. 23, his highest position as a lead artist. Additionally, Caesar scored his first No. 1 on the Hot Gospel Songs chart with “Rain Down,” featuring Sampha. Son of Spergy builds on the success of Caesar's previous releases, with his 2017 debut, Freudian, peaking at No. 16 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, followed by 2019’s Case Study 01 reaching No. 10, and 2023’s Never Enough climbing to No. 6. (Billboard)

In a new GQ interview, SZA expressed confusion over Nicki Minaj's recent social media attacks on her, saying they have no personal association and she doesn’t understand the motive behind the criticism. “I don’t know her,” SZA said. “We have no connection to each other. There’s no backstory. There was no through-line narrative… I don’t know where it came from. That’s not even my place to correct a narrative that I don’t got sh*t to do with. It was a little strange.” She also declined to get involved in the ongoing feud between Kendrick Lamar and Drake, both collaborators and friends, emphasizing that it’s a dispute between “two grown-ass men” and she has no stake in it. Additionally, SZA revealed that she is currently immersed in creating what she hopes will be “the best album I’ve ever made,” with the five-time Grammy winner working closely with Steve Lacy on the project, though she hinted it might arrive later than 2026. (Billboard)

Snoop Dogg has canceled his planned New Year’s Eve special with NBC in order to focus on his correspondent role with the network for the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. “Sometimes the calendar gets in the way of the celebration, which is why my NBC family and I decided this winter was time for us all to focus on the Olympics,” Snoop said in a statement. “But don’t worry, we’ll party together bigger and better later in 2026. Ya dig.” The two-hour New Year’s Eve special was originally announced back in May, and was scheduled to film in Miami and feature music and surprise performances, but it was shelved so Snoop could dedicate himself to the Winter Games, following his successful stint as a Summer Olympics correspondent in 2024. NBC Olympics executive producer Molly Solomon dubbed Snoop the “Ambassador of Happiness,” while stating that the rapper “connected with viewers in a way we’ve never seen before" at the previous Olympics, adding that "now he’s primed to return as Team USA’s most effusive supporter.” (Rolling Stone)

The 1975’s Matty Healy removed the track “Human Too” from their 2022 album, Being Funny in a Foreign Language, on streaming services because he no longer liked how it fit with the album. Healy acknowledged the change on Reddit by commenting on a thread about the song’s disappearance: “Hey! Human Too was removed from the album so the album is more how I want it to be. I doubt the same will happen with any other records as I am pretty happy with them.” The move surprised fans who speculated on the reason behind the change, while Healy went on to suggest he might remove another song, “What Should I Say,” from 2020’s Notes on a Conditional Form. But after a fan’s desperate plea, he apparently decided against it, with the singer commenting, “Ok no worries x.” The 1975 are working on a follow-up to Being Funny, though they have released two live albums in the meantime. (Rolling Stone)

Chris Brown dominates Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart this week, as he secures the top two spots with “It Depends” featuring Bryson Tiller rising to No. 1, and his previous chart-topping hit, “Residuals,” rebounding to No. 2. “It Depends” marks Brown’s 12th career chart-topper, tying Lil Wayne for third-most No. 1s since 1992, while earning the Greatest Gainer award with a 15% audience increase to 22.4 million impressions over the past week. Meanwhile, “Residuals,” which spent nine total weeks at No. 1, reached an audience of 20 million during its 65th chart week. This is Brown’s third career instance holding the top two R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay positions simultaneously, though this marks his first time as lead artist on both songs. The chart success extends across other formats, with “It Depends” scoring a fifth straight week at No. 1 on Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay, while reaching No. 8 on Adult R&B, and climbing to No. 7 on the all-genre Radio Songs chart. (Billboard)

During Tuesday’s (November 4) Short n’ Sweet Tour stop at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, Sabrina Carpenter continued her tour tradition by playfully "arresting" actress Nicole Kidman, after referencing her famous AMC ad. “We come to this arena for magic, right?” Carpenter said from the stage, quoting Kidman’s memorable line while the cameras focused in on the Hollywood star. “Oh, my goodness, speaking of magic,” Carpenter exclaimed, as she proceeded to “arrest” Kidman for “being too hot.”  “I expected to find love, but not my soulmate. What is your name?,”  Carpenter continued, joking with the newly-single Kidman about moving to Nashville “if things work out between us.” During recent tour stops, Carpenter has “apprehended” Anne Hathaway at New York’s Madison Square Garden and Gigi Hadid in Pittsburgh, with the Grammy-winning pop superstar set to wrap up her multiyear tour with a six-night stand at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles that concludes on November 23. (Rolling Stone)

On Wednesday (November 5), Ed Sheeran took to social media to praise the U.K. government’s recent changes to the National Curriculum that improves music education. These upgrades reflect recommendations from an open letter he and the Ed Sheeran Foundation sent over the summer advocating for more diverse music education and accessible arts study in schools. “This involves diversifying the music genres taught in schools and removing outdated systems that stop kids from studying music and the arts as part of their school day,” Sheeran wrote in support of the educational improvements, while adding that, “These changes give young people hope and the opportunity to study music.” Prime Minister Keir Starmer committed £250 million to strengthen music and drama education, with plans for a National Center for Arts and Music Education to ensure creative learning is accessible to all children. (Rolling Stone)

During his American Heart World Tour stop at London’s O2 Arena on Tuesday night (November 4), Benson Boone reunited with Queen guitarist Brian May for a surprise encore. The duo performed “Bohemian Rhapsody” together, alongside Boone’s hit “Beautiful Things,” continuing a collaboration that began at Coachella earlier this year. Boone and May also took part in the viral “What’s Up?” TikTok trend after the show, with the young singer affectionately captioning the clip, “Guess who’s back,” as the video highlighted their growing camaraderie. Following their Coachella collab, Boone praised May as “one of the most legendary musicians of all time,” while the 78-year-old guitar legend returned the compliment by calling Benson a “truly golden 22-year-old prodigy,” Boone is currently on a European tour that extends throughout November, and he quickly recovered from vocal issues that forced him to cancel a show in Birmingham, England over the weekend. (Rolling Stone)

Bad Bunny, Ca7riel and Paco Amoroso, Karol G, Fuerza Regida, Chuwi, and Marco Antonio Solís are among the performers announced for the 2025 Latin Grammys. The ceremony is set to take place on November 13 in Las Vegas, with the event hosted by Maluma and Roselyn Sánchez. Bad Bunny leads all nominees with 12 total nods including record, album, and song of the year for Debí Tirar Más Fotos, while Argentinian duo Ca7riel and Paco Amoroso earned 10 nominations, and Karol G received three. Other performers include Pepe Aguilar, Rauw Alejandro, Gloria Estefan, Carín León with Kacey Musgraves, Alejandro Sanz, Carlos Santana, while 2025 Person of the Year Raphael is also scheduled to make a special appearance. The three-hour ceremony, produced by TelevisaUnivision, will air across their U.S. platforms starting at 8 p.m. ET, following a one-hour pre-show. (Variety)

Cardi B’s collaboration with Kehlani, “Safe,” has landed at No. 1 on Billboard’s Rhythmic Airplay chart dated November 8, marking Cardi's milestone 10th career leader on the tally. The duo’s newly crowned chart-topper surpasses the No. 2 peak of their 2018 joint track, “Ring.” The new collab, released by Atlantic Records, saw a 17% increase in plays the week of October 24-30, earning the Greatest Gainer award for the largest weekly play increase. With “Safe,” Kehlani scores her second Rhythmic Airplay No. 1, just one month after “Folded” topped the chart. Also this week, “Folded” became Kehlani’s first ever No. 1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, while also marking her inaugural Top 10 hit on the Hot 100, reaching a new peak of No. 7. Concurrently, “Safe” also holds the top spot on the Rap Airplay chart for a third week, while rising on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay (No. 6) and Radio Songs (No. 21) charts with significant audience growth across all radio formats. (Billboard)

At her show in Boston on Monday night (November 3), Halsey sharply shut down a male concertgoer who told her to “stop talking and play,” by responding, “Who the f–k do you think you’re talking to?” while asserting she would perform whatever she wanted. Afterward, Halsey addressed the incident on X by writing, “I’ve been polite but won’t be caught dead letting a man tell me what I should play in my set” while defiantly declaring, “NOT IN MY HOUSE.” The exchange came shortly after Halsey revealed a minor medical emergency had led to an ER visit before the show, from which she recovered in time for the performance. That incident underscores Halsey’s determination to continue touring despite her ongoing health battles with systemic lupus and a rare T-cell disorder. Halsey is currently on the road celebrating the 10th anniversary of her debut album, Badlands, on the Back to Badlands Tour, with her next show scheduled for Minneapolis on Thursday (November 6). (Billboard)

After a two-week absence that marked rap's first time out of the Billboard Hot 100 Top 40 since 1990, Megan Thee Stallion’s new single, “Lover Girl,” returned hip-hop to the upper ranks by debuting at No. 38 on the November 8 chart. The Houston rapper's track broke the recent dry spell following Kendrick and SZA’s “Luther,” which dropped out of the tally after 44 weeks due to Billboard's new chart guidelines. “Lover Girl” garnered 8.5 million U.S. streams, 1.5 million in radio airplay audience, and 5,000 sales in its opening week. While the brief absence sparked debate about rap's current standing in pop music, Megan’s return marked her 21st Top 40 hit, though the track is expected to drop in the rankings next week, amid a lack of other rap tracks climbing the chart. Gunna’s collaboration with Burna Boy, “wgft,” and Cardi B’s “Safe” show some chart momentum, but currently aren’t threatening to crack the Top 40. (Billboard)

Jeezy set a Guinness World Record by performing with a 101-piece orchestra at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas on Saturday night (November 1), marking the largest orchestra ever gathered for a hip-hop concert and the biggest orchestra assembled for any concert in Las Vegas. Guinness adjudicator Andy Glass was on hand to recognize Jeezy’s record-setting collaboration with The Color of Noize Orchestra, featuring music composed by Derrick Hodge and directed by Adam Blackstone. Celebrating the milestone on Instagram, Jeezy wrote of his achievement: “It has always been my purpose to motivate and inspire my culture. Thank you to everyone involved for believing in my vision. Couldn’t have done it without you. This one’s for the books…literally‼️” The rapper’s historic four-show residency began on Halloween and featured themed masquerade nights for the first two performances, with upcoming Nutcracker-themed holiday shows planned on December 19 and 21. (Billboard)

Britney Spears has deactivated her 12-year-old Instagram account following a series of distressing posts. Many of those were responding to her ex-husband Kevin Federline’s recent memoir, You Thought You Knew, which accuses her of alarming behavior during their marriage and while parenting their two sons. Spears publicly denounced Federline’s claims as trying to profit off her pain, saying his “constant gaslighting” has become “extremely hurtful and exhausting.” Her Instagram had shown concerning images over the past month, including an October 7 post that featured the pop superstar with bruises on her arms and bandages on her hands and wrists, injuries she claimed were the result of a fall “down the stairs at my friend’s house,” followed by mentions of possible brain damage she suffered during her conservatorship. While her Instagram is now inaccessible, her X account remains active, with her last post made on October 16. It is unclear whether the Instagram deactivation was voluntary or enforced by Meta. (Rolling Stone)

Taylor Swift’s “The Fate of Ophelia” continues to dominate the Billboard Hot 100 chart, sitting at No. 1 for a fourth consecutive week, bolstered by the recent release of an alternate acoustic version and strong streaming, sales, and radio airplay. The four-week rule of “The Fate of Ophelia” extends Swift’s total to 40 cumulative weeks at the chart’s summit, moving her up to eighth on the list of the most total weeks at No. 1 in chart history. This also marks Swift’s fifth No. 1 hit to rule the charts for four or more weeks, tying her for fifth-most of all-time, while also extending her record as the only artist to top both the Billboard 200 albums chart and the Hot 100 singles chart for the first four weeks of release. Two other tracks from Swift’s The Life of A Showgirl remain in the Top 10 this week, as “Opalite” holds at  No. 4, while “Elizabeth Taylor” drops three spots to No. 8. 

Meanwhile, Kehlani achieves her first Hot 100 Top 10 hit with “Folded,” which surges seven spots to reach No. 7, following the release of multiple high-profile remixes. "Folded" also becomes her first ever No. 1s on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot R&B Songs charts. The rest of the Hot 100 Top 10 includes HUNTR/X’s “Golden” holding at No. 2, Alex Warren’s “Ordinary” remaining at No. 3, while Olivia Dean scores her first-ever Top 5 hit as “Man I Need” jumps three spots to reach No. 5. Justin Bieber’s “Daisies” climbs up one spot to No. 6, while Morgan Wallen’s “I Got Better” sticks at No. 9, and Leon Thomas’ “Mutt” remains at its previous peak of No. 10. (Billboard)

On Monday (November 3), Kelly Clarkson announced that she has extended her Studio Sessions Las Vegas residency at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace. Clarkson has scheduled four additional shows in August 2026, adding to her six previously announced dates next year, for a run that now stretches from July 17 to August 15. This announcement comes ahead of Clarkson’s upcoming return to the Vegas stage on Friday (November 7), marking her first performance since the death of her ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock. from melanoma in August. After postponing initial shows in July due to vocal strain before eventually stepping away following Blackstock’s illness and passing, Clarkson kept a low profile before she recently resumed hosting her daytime talk show in late September. She also has upcoming residency dates scheduled on November 8, 14, and 15. Tickets for the new 2026 dates go on sale November 7, with a presale starting November 5. (Rolling Stone)

On Monday (November 3), Hilary Duff took to social media to officially announce her musical return after a decade-long hiatus with the release of her upcoming new single, “Mature.” The track is set to be released on Thursday (November 6), marking the 38-year-old actress/singer’s first new music since 2015. Newly signed to Atlantic Records, Duff also shared the single’s  cover art, while captioning her post, “So happy this is finally yours to hear. Been keeping this one quiet too long.” Alongside the single, a docuseries executive produced by Grammy-nominated director Sam Wrench is in development, capturing Duff’s personal and professional journey as she balances family life, recording, and preparing for live performances. Duff rose to fame in the early-2000s starring in the Disney series Lizzie McGuire, followed by a variety of pop hits in the mid-2000s. She has spent recent years focused on acting, but now returns to music with support from her husband, producer Matthew Koma. (Rolling Stone)

The first-ever U.S. TikTok Awards will be held on December 18 at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles, featuring live performances and appearances by top TikTok creators. Fans can vote for their favorites via the TikTok app from November 18 to December 5, with nominees for Breakthrough Artist of the Year including Alex Warren, KATSEYE, Laufey, Ravyn Lenae, and sombr. Most of these musicians are also strong contenders to be nominated for Best New Artist at the upcoming Grammy Awards, except for Laufey, who already won a Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album in 2024, and is ineligible for Best New Artist. The event, themed “New Era, New Icons,” will be streamed live on TikTok and Tubi, with a red carpet and hundreds of creators in attendance, celebrating emerging talent across music and video categories. (Billboard)

AI-driven artist Xania Monet, created by poet Telisha Jones, has made history by debuting on Billboard’s Adult R&B Airplay chart with her song, “How Was I Supposed to Know?,” the first known instance of an AI artist charting on a Billboard radio airplay list. The track – which reached No. 30 on this week’s chart – first gained notoriety as a viral hit on TikTok, while reaching No. 1 on the R&B Digital Song Sales chart and sparking mixed reactions from artists and industry figures, with SZA and Kehlani among the most vocal opponents of the track and AI-based music. “Her song is resonating with the masses. That was our simple formula,” says Romel Murphy, who manages Monet. “Our goal is to continue to grow, continue to connect and hopefully get to No. 1.” Monet’s breakthrough reflects a larger trend of AI-driven acts beginning to shape the evolving music industry, with several of them appearing on the Emerging Artists chart over the last few weeks. (Billboard)

During Sabrina Carpenter’s Halloween show on her Short ‘N Sweet Tour at Madison Square Garden – which she dubbed Short ‘N Spooky for the holiday – the Grammy-winning pop superstar dressed up as Margot Robbie’s Barbie while performing a cover of Aqua’s 1997 worldwide chart-topper, “Barbie Girl.” Carpenter also donned two other playful costumes during the show – her fourth performance of an epic five-night stand at MSG – dressing up as Wonder Woman and Fred Flintstone during different portions of the set. The show also featured Carpenter continuing her playful tradition of “arresting” a fan from the audience with fluffy pink handcuffs. In this case, Carpenter apprehended Scream star Drew Barrymore, who wore a Ghostface mask to match the show's Halloween festivities. Carpenter concluded her celebrated run at MSG on Saturday night, and now heads to Nashville for a two-night stand at Bridgestone Arena on Tuesday and Wednesday (November 4-5). (NME)

During a recent appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show, Megan Thee Stallion recalled being mistaken for Hudson at the 2021 Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda show in Venice, Italy, where Hudson’s security repeatedly tried to escort Megan away, despite her protests. “Your security kept snatchin’ me up, and I was like, ‘Where is my security?’ Maybe they were getting you, I don’t know. But Jennifer’s security wanted me to be Jen real bad that day,” Megan joked. In a humorous reversal, Hudson herself was mistaken for Megan at a recent NFL Super Bowl game, with fans calling out to her as Megan. “I turned around and I was like, ‘Are y’all serious? You think I’m Megan?,” Hudson recalled, while adding, “But if I’m gonna look like anybody, I mean…” The two stars then playfully discussed what it would be like to trade places for a day, with the host asking the rapper about her dance moves, humorously wondering, “How do you get down with those knees?” (Rolling Stone)

Mariah Carey officially kicked off the 2025 holiday season with a playful new ad in partnership with Sephora. The spot was released on Halloween to signify the transition from Spooky Season to Christmas, and it co-stars Billy Eichner as an overworked elf who steals Carey’s new holiday line of beauty products while threatening to cancel Christmas cheer over seasonal stress. The clip was directed by Joseph Kahn, and features Carey proclaiming, “Halloween slayed, but now … it’s time!” Eichner is eventually turned into an animated snowman as Carey saves the day, flying Santa’s sleigh above the rooftops as her iconic song, “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” plays in the background. That modern holiday classic holds Carey’s personal record of 18 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, which includes four weeks atop the chart during the 2024 Christmas season. (Billboard)

Taylor Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl has spent its first month atop the Billboard 200 chart, marking its fourth consecutive week at No. 1 on the strength of 146,000 equivalent album units sold in the week ending October 30. It is the second 2025 album to achieve a month-long reign at No. 1, following the opening eight-week rule of Morgan Wallen’s I’m the Problem, while Swift’s previous album, The Tortured Poets Department, held the top spot for its first 12 weeks in 2024. With this latest chart success, Swift extends her record as the soloist with the most weeks at No. 1 (90) and most No. 1 albums (15), second only to The Beatles among all artists, who lead in both lists with 132 total weeks at No. 1 and 19 No. 1 albums.

Other significant moves in this week’s Billboard 200 Top 10 include new albums from Daniel Caesar, Brandi Carlile, and Demi Lovato all making strong chart debuts, as Caesar notches his first ever Top 10 release with Son of Spergy launching at No. 4, while Carlile claims her fifth career Top 10 as Returning to Myself opens at No. 7, and Lovato scores her 10th Top 10 with It’s Not That Deep debuting at No. 9. The rest of the Top 10 is rounded out by Olivia Dean’s The Art of Loving rising one spot to No. 6, alongside a series of former chart-toppers, as the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack holds at No. 2, Wallen’s I’m the Problem remains at No. 3, Sabrina Carpenter’s Man’s Best Friend is stationary at No. 5, Cardi B’s AM I THE DRAMA? drops two spots to No. 8, and SZA’s SOS falls two slots to No. 10. (Billboard) 

Kenny Chesney recognized Taylor Swift’s talent early on when she was just a teenager slated to open for him on his 2007 Flip-Flop Summer Tour. Swift ultimately had to be removed from the lineup due to an alcohol sponsorship that prevented the underage artist from joining the tour, leading Chesney to compensate her with a check and a heartfelt note to make up for missing the shows. In his upcoming book, Heart Life Music (out Tuesday, Nov. 4), Chesney reflects on Swift’s creative drive and songwriting skills. "With Taylor, I mean, she had the eye of the tiger even as a teenager. And I recognized that early on,” Chesney recalls. “I could tell that she was really talented and really wanted it. And even at a young age, she was a really good songwriter. So I knew something special was going to happen there." Chesney launched his 10-stop book tour on November 1 in Johnson City, Tennessee. (People)