Chari XCX continues her recent musical supremacy by topping the list of nominees at the UK’s prestigious BRIT Awards. Charli received a total of five nominations overall, getting nods for Artist of the Year, Best Pop Act, Best Dance Act, Album of the Year for Brat, and Song of the Year for “Guess,” her collaboration with Billie Eilish, who is nominated for International Artist of the Year alongside Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Chappell Roan, Kendrick Lamar, and Sabrina Carpenter. Dua Lipa, the Last Dinner Party, and Ezra Collective received four nominations each, while goth rock legends the Cure scored their first BRIT nominations since 1993, receiving three nods for Album of the Year, Group of the Year, and Best Alternative/Rock Act. Coldplay got two nominations, bringing their all-time tally to 30. The 2025 BRIT Awards are set to take place on Saturday, March 1, at The O2 Arena in London, with comedian Jack Whitehall hosting the ceremony. (Billboard) 

On Thursday (January 22), the first trailer arrived for the new documentary, Ladies & Gentlemen… 50 Years of SNL Music, ahead of its premiere on NBC on January 27. The three-hour film, directed by Academy Award-winner Questlove, captures the memorable musical performances on Saturday Night Live over the past 50 years, from Billie Eilish, Adele, Prince, Kendrick Lamar, Bob Dylan, Charli XCX, Nirvana, and more. Dua Lipa, Miley Cyrus, Mick Jagger, and Jack White are among the artists interviewed about their experiences performing on the legendary sketch comedy show. “You don’t know what’s going to happen until 11:30 p.m.,” reflects Lipa, while Cyrus adds: “It’s the tightrope walk. They want to see you dangle. They don’t want to see you fall.” The documentary touches on the groundbreaking performances as well as the controversial music moments that took place on the show, including Ashlee Simpson’s lip-synching debacle and Sinéad O'Connor defiantly ripping up a picture of the pope. 50 Years of SNL Music airs on NBC at 7 p.m. on January 27, and streams on Peacock the next day. (Rolling Stone)

On Thursday (January 22), Kid Cudi shared a personal statement on his Instagram Story and X about a bizarre break-in that took place at the rapper’s Los Angeles home earlier this month. Cudi heard that people were making jokes about the incident, so he took to social media to set the record straight. “The person that broke into my house was a crazed fan that has been stalking me for years without me knowing,” Cudi wrote. “There is nothing funny about this. My privacy was violated, and now I have to protect myself. I don't feel safe now.” The Grammy-winning musician described the intruder as “an unhinged 34 year old man” who “rummaged through personal things, my fiance's stuff, took a shower and ate” after invading his home, with Cudi vowing, “I'm gonna take some serious security measures to make sure this doesn't happen again.” (Billboard)

A realtor for Adele’s former West Sussex mansion is having a hard time selling the property due to the singer’s past claims that the home is haunted. The current owner of the English estate, Nicholas Sutton, said that Adele’s comments "negatively impacted future marketing efforts and continues to affect the property’s reputation to this day.” According to Sutton, the 16-time Grammy-winner rented the 10-bedroom mansion for six months back in 2012. Adele told Anderson Cooper in an interview that her time at the estate – known as the Lock House – was "all quite scary, really," and she hired a female bodyguard to stay in the home after hearing unexplained noises. Sutton only had one serious offer on the property in the 14 years it has been on the market, but it was rescinded "after learning about the property’s supposed haunted status, which was publicly mentioned by Adele during her tenancy." (People)

On Thursday (January 23), the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that the 2025 Oscars won’t feature the standard live performances of the Best Original Songs nominees. A statement from Academy CEO Bill Kramer and President Janet Yang said the ceremony will instead “honor Los Angeles as a city of dreams, showcasing its beauty and resilience” following the devastating wildfires that have ravaged the city, “while highlighting the strength, creativity, and optimism” of Hollywood. The Oscar nominated songwriters will still be recognized during the ceremony through “personal reflections from the teams who bring these songs to life,” with the statement assuring that “all of this, and more, will uncover the stories and inspiration behind this year’s nominees.” This marks the first Oscars since 2012 – and only the fourth ceremony overall – where there won’t be live performances of the Best Original Songs nominees. The Oscars are scheduled for March 2nd, with Conan O’Brien serving as host. (Consequence of Sound)

On Tuesday (January 21), Record Store Day event organizers announced that Post Malone is the official 2025 Record Store Day Ambassador. Posty’s Billboard No. 1 album, F-1 Trillion, was a big seller in record stores since it was released back in August, with the breakout country star also making a guest appearance on “Fortnight,” the lead single from the best-selling album of 2024, Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department. Malone hasn’t announced a special release for this year’s Record Store Day – which is set to take place on April 12th – but in the past he has released limited edition RSD versions of his compilation, The Diamond Collection, and singles like “White Iverson” and “Circles.” “What an honor, I can’t believe I was chosen to be Record Store Day’s Ambassador for 2025,” Posty said in a statement. “Record Store Day is so important, and I really hope to do my part to keep it alive. We love hitting local shops when we’re on the road. The whole energy in a record store is just super inspiring. I feel at home.” (Consequence of Sound)

On Wednesday (January 22), the Songwriters Hall of Fame revealed their inductee class of 2025. This year’s distinguished inductees feature the leader of Parliament/Funkadelic, George Clinton; award-winning country music songwriter, Ashley Gorley; Destiny’s Child, Beyoncé, and Lady Gaga collaborator, Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins; Beach Boys vocalist and songwriter, Mike Love; nine time Ivor Novello Award-winning British songwriter, Tony Macaulay; and three members of the beloved rock and soul band, the Doobie Brothers – Tom Johnston, Michael McDonald, and Patrick Simmons. In order to receive a nomination for the SHOF, a songwriter with a catalog of notable hits qualifies for induction 20 years after their first significant commercial release of a song. Notably, this is the first Songwriters Hall of Fame class to not include any women inductees since 2017. Four women were included in this year’s list of nominees – Franne Golde, Sheryl Crow, Janet Jackson, and Alanis Morissette – but none received enough votes to be inducted. The Songwriters Hall of Fame 2025 Induction and Awards Gala will take place on Thursday, June 12 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City. (Billboard)

Seventeen has teamed up with Pharrell Williams on their new collaborative track, “Bad Influence.” The vibrant tune initially made its premiere on Tuesday (January 21) during the Paris runway show for Louis Vuitton’s Men’s Fall/Winter 2025 collection, where Williams serves as creative director. Williams wrote and produced “Bad Influence,” which features vocals by Seventeen members S.Coups, Hoshi, Wonwoo, Woozi, The8, DK, Seungkwan, Vernon, and Dino. “We are happy and honored to collaborate with Pharrell Williams, whom we have deeply admired for a long time,” Seventeen said in a joint statement. “We truly enjoyed the creative process which showcases a new side of ourselves. We hope to connect with more listeners worldwide through this collaboration.” In addition to “Bad Influence,” Williams’ soundtrack for Louis Vuitton’s fashion show also included Don Toliver and J-Hope’s “LV Bag,” and the Weeknd featuring Playboi Carti’s “Timeless.” (Rolling Stone)

Jennie from Blackpink has revealed that she will release her first solo album, Ruby, on March 7. The record is being released by Jennie’s own record label Odd Atelier and Columbia Records. Ruby features a series of high-profile collaborations with music superstars like Dua Lipa, Childish Gambino, Doechii, Dominic Fike, FKJ, and Kali Uchis. The 15-track collection will also feature Jennie’s recent Billboard Global No. 3 hit single, “Mantra,” which was released back in October. In a recent interview with Billboard, Jennie revealed that she has been plotting her solo album since 2023. “While I was on my last Blackpink tour, I couldn’t stop myself from starting to plan ahead,” she said. “I’m just like that. I listed out the things that I want in my life and started pinpointing, or prioritizing, what’s my very next step. And instantly, I was like, ‘I still haven’t accomplished the dream of releasing a solo album.’ I wanted to satisfy myself by achieving that goal.” (Rolling Stone)

Bruno Mars took to Instagram on Tuesday (January 20) to celebrate his hit collaboration with Lady Gaga, “Die With a Smile,” spending its third consecutive week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. The achievement clearly had Mars in a party mood, as the 15-time Grammy-winning musician playfully captioned a post featuring a screenshot of the current singles chart: “THANK YOU ALL! 🥂 I’m headed to the studio right now to make a strip club anthem so I can celebrate and properly act up this weekend. Someone please help me get in touch with Sexyy Red!!🙏“ “Die With A Smile” is Mars’ fifth Hot 100 chart-topper to reign for three or more weeks, joining his smash hit collaboration with Mark Ronson, “Uptown Funk!” (14 weeks at No. 1 in 2015) and his own singles, “Locked Out of Heaven” (six weeks at No. 1 in 2012-13), “Grenade” (four, 2011) and “Just the Way You Are” (four, 2010). (Billboard)

On Tuesday (January 21), Ed Sheeran posted an Instagram Story to discredit an inflammatory article from The Sun that falsely claimed that the singer attended a New Year's Eve party at J.K. Rowling's Scottish home. In Sheeran’s post, he shared a screenshot from X by British journalist India Willoughby, where she wrote, "Ed Sheeran reportedly went to JK Rowling's New Year's Eve party, too," over the top of a previous headline about the singer. "Respectfully, India Willoughby, and any other journalist who has reported both these stories, neither are true," Sheeran wrote. "I spent new year with my family and friends." For her part, Willoughby was relieved to hear the clarification, writing a retraction on X, “Hi @edsheeran - this is great to hear 👍. I note the Daily Express has now removed their made-up story. Delighted I can still be an @edsheeran fan 😊✌️❤️🏳️‍⚧️” (People)

In a lawsuit filed on Tuesday (January 21) in Los Angeles Superior Court, Chris Brown is suing Warner Bros. Discovery for $500 million. The musician accuses the company and its producers of making defamatory and libelous claims against him in the recent documentary, Chris Brown: A History of Violence. The film, which was released in October, examines the numerous assault accusations against Brown throughout his career, including a lawsuit filed by Jane Doe against the R&B singer, alleging that he drugged and assaulted her during a 2020 yacht party hosted by disgraced music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs. Brown’s suit accuses Warner Bros. Discovery and the production company Ample Entertainment of “promoting and publishing false information in their pursuit of likes, clicks, downloads and dollars and to the detriment” of Brown, despite “knowing that it was full of lies and deception and violating basic journalistic principles.” “To put it simply, this case is about the media putting their own profits over the truth,” the suit claims. (Variety)

In a new interview with Variety during the recent Girls Just Wanna Weekend annual music festival outside of Cancun, Shania Twain and Brandi Carlile opened up about how important it is for women to support women in the music industry and everywhere else. The 6th annual iGirls Just Wanna Weekend took place from January 16-20, featuring multiple sets from the Grammy-winning Carlile, as well as performances from Twain, Maren Morris, Muna, Brandy Clark, Lucius, Brittney Spencer, Jensen McRae, and other talented women musicians. “Everybody is united here and it’s very peaceful,” Twain said of the festival. “Girls Just Wanna is one of those places that you can feel really free and good and fun.” Carlile was appreciative of Twain’s involvement in her festival. “I’m not sure I could really overstate how much you’ve changed the course of the festival by being here,” she said to Shania. “That kind of validation for these people was just huge for us.” (Variety)

On Monday (January 20), Travis Scott performed a live debut of his new song, “4x4,” from atop Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium during the halftime show of the College Football Playoff National Championship game. The new track represents Scott’s first solo release since 2023’s Billboard No. 1 album, Utopia, giving fans a taste of what is on the way from the chart-topping rapper in the new year. “4x4” is officially set to be released on Friday (January 24), and the project will also feature a fundraising initiative to benefit victims of the L.A. wildfires. Scott revealed that he will be donating 100% of the net proceeds from the sales of a special line of merchandise – including a shirt and hoodie honoring Los Angeles’ first responders – to benefit Direct Relief’s California Wildfire Response Fund. Sales of an exclusive CD single for “4×4” will also contribute to the same cause. You can order the merch and music directly at shop.travisscott.com. (Billboard)

Over the weekend, Lady Gaga added a tantalizing countdown clock on her website that is ticking down to Monday, January  27. The move has caused anticipation to build that the pop superstar is finally ready to announce details of the long-awaited new album that Gaga and her Little Monsters have taken to calling ‘LG7.’ It’s been five years since Gaga released her chart-topping last studio album, Chromatica, and she has teased the progress of her forthcoming record for months now. On January 27, the long wait should finally be over, with a source disclosing to Rolling Stone that Gaga is planning to reveal details about the highly-anticipated new project at the end of the countdown, not actually release the LP. 2025 is shaping up to be a big year for Gaga, with the 13-time Grammy winner set to headline both weekends of Coachella in April in addition to releasing a new album. (Rolling Stone)

On Tuesday (January 21), FireAid organizers took to Instagram to share complete details about its upcoming benefit concerts on January 30. FireAid disclosed the full music lineups for their two host venues – Inglewood, California’s Intuit Dome and neighboring Kia Forum – while also revealing that they are waiving all ticket fees in order to ensure that all proceeds go directly to those affected by the recent L.A. wildfires. Kia Forum will feature performances by a reunited No Doubt, Pink, Alanis Morissette, Green Day, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dave Matthews & John Mayer, Stevie Nicks, Joni Mitchell, and more, with showtime beginning at 6 p.m. Intuit Dome will host performances by Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga, Olivia Rodrigo, Gracie Abrams, Katy Perry, Peso Pluma, Sting, Lil Baby, Stevie Wonder, and others, with the concert beginning at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for the benefit concerts go on sale starting Wednesday (January 22) at noon PT via Ticketmaster, and the shows will be broadcast live worldwide on a variety of media outlets and streaming services. (Rolling Stone)

Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ “Die With a Smile” scores its third consecutive week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. This marks Gaga’s second longest chart-topping reign of her career, tying the three-week run at No. 1 of her 2009 debut hit “Just Dance,” featuring Colby O’Donis, which sits behind the six-week rule of her 2011 smash, “Born This Way.” Bad Bunny’s Billboard No. 1 album, DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS, places three songs in this week's Hot 100 Top 10, as “DtMF”  surges 36 spots to claim No. 2, “BAILE INoLVIDABLE” jumps 25 places to No. 3, and “NUEVAYoL” vaults 19 slots to No. 8. Bad Bunny’s total career Top 10 hits now rises to 15, the most all-time among Latin music artists. Elsewhere in the Hot 100 Top 10, Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” drops two spots to No. 4, ROSÉ and Bruno Mars’ “APT.” holds at No. 5, Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s “Luther” jumps up a spot to No. 6, Billie Eilish’s “Birds of a Feather” falls four slots to No. 7, Teddy Swims’ “Lose Control” slides three spots to No. 9, and Gracie Abrams’ “That’s So True” drops two places to No. 10. (Billboard)    

The Recording Academy announced on Instagram on Tuesday (January 21) that Trevor Noah will once again serve as host of the 67th annual Grammy Awards on February 2. This will be the fifth consecutive year that the Emmy Award-winner will be master of ceremonies at the Grammys, becoming the first comedian to host the music awards show five times. In addition to his hosting duties, Noah will serve as a producer on the show, and is also nominated for a Grammy for Best Comedy Album for Where Was I. “Trevor Noah will lead a special GRAMMY telecast, a night that will not only celebrate the year in music, but raise additional funds to support wildfire relief efforts, pay tribute to the bravery and dedication of first responders, and honor the resilient spirit of Los Angeles,” the Recording Academy wrote. The Grammys will be broadcast live from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on CBS beginning at 8 p.m ET, and will stream live and on-demand on Paramount+. (Variety)

Busta Rhymes was arrested in Brooklyn last week, and charged with assault in the third degree. The 52-year-old rapper was detained after police responded to a 911 call where a 50-year-old male victim claimed he was being harrassed, which included multiple punches from the assailant. According to police reports, the victim had severe swelling on the left side of his face and was transported to the hospital, where he is in stable condition. The New York Post is reporting that Rhymes' victim was apparently his assistant, and the rapper was allegedly berating him for using his cell phone while working. The unnamed victim supposedly declined to provide details of the incident during a discussion with the Post, apparently telling the outlet, "An article in the paper as opposed to a six or seven-million-dollar settlement? I’m not risking it, sorry." (Entertainment Weekly)

According to reporting by The Sun, an unnamed “insider” revealed that the 1975’s new album is possibly titled, God Has Entered My Body, and features a title track containing lyrics that allude to frontman Matty Healy’s public relationship and messy breakup with Taylor Swift. The article shares the possible lyrics, “Keep your head up, princess, your tiara is falling,” which could be Healy referring to Swift. The insider claims, “Matty will never publicly comment on his relationships, but he lets his deepest feelings out in his songs and gets everything off his chest.” Healy hasn’t publicly responded to the claims, but his verified Reddit account reacted to a fan sharing The Sun article in the 1975-subreddit by quipping, "Huge if true.” In a 2021 Instagram post, Healy captioned it, “Keep your head up princess, your tiara is falling 💫🌸👑,” while the singer captioned a studio photo from two months ago, “GHEMB,” which could be an acronym for “God Has Entered My Body.” (Billboard)

On Sunday (January 19), Black Eyed Peas announced via their Instagram story that they are cancelling their entire 2025 Las Vegas residency that was set to begin on February 15. "To our dearest Peabodies,” the band’s statement reads. “It is with a heavy heart that, in light of current circumstances, our Las Vegas shows will not be moving forward as planned. Stay tuned for updates on future performances by following us — we can't wait to see you again." While the group didn’t elaborate on what specific “current circumstances” caused the cancelled tour dates, the Los Angeles-based band did post a moving statement offering love and support to the victims of the L.A. wildfires on January 11. Black Eyed Peas: 3008 The Las Vegas Residency was set to be a series of 15 shows scheduled to take place at PH Live at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in February, March, and May. (People)

In a new interview with the BBC, Chappell Roan opened up about how she believes her career would be altered if she behaved differently. The 26-year-old multiple Grammy nominee said she has been labeled a “spoiled diva” while being accused of throwing “tantrums” because she continues to speak her mind about negative aspects of the music industry and overzealous fan behavior. "I think, actually, I'd be more successful if I was okay wearing a muzzle," Roan said. "If I were to override more of my basic instincts, I would be way bigger.” Roan applies her late grandfather’s belief that “there are always options” when it comes to her career. "So when someone says, 'Do this concert because you'll never get offered that much money ever again', it's like, who cares?” Roan states. "If I don't feel like doing this right now, there are always options. There is not a scarcity of opportunity.” (People)

During a recent appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Kenny Chesney recounted a story about his planned tour with Taylor Swift in her early days that never materialized. The 56-year-old country star said that Swift was set to open for him back when she was a rising 17-year-old country singer, but because the tour was sponsored by a beer company, Swift couldn’t take part because she was a minor. "I had to call Taylor personally and tell her she couldn’t go on tour with me, which now seems absurd, right?" Chesney recalled, saying he felt bad because “she was going to lose some money.” So Chesney personally wrote Swift a check to make up for it. Later that year, both singers were nominated for CMA Entertainer of the Year. "Well, she won," Chesney said. "So backstage I went up to her and gave her a big hug. I said, 'Congratulations but give me my money back.’” (People)

On Friday (January 17), Mac Miller's posthumous album, Balloonerism, was released on what would have been the late rapper’s 33rd birthday. One of Miller’s early collaborators was SZA, who is featured on a track from the new collection  called “DJ’s Chord Organ.” The Grammy-winning R&B superstar took time to reflect back on her creative history with Miller on X on the day Balloonerism dropped. “I love my friend I miss my friend,” SZA wrote. “Grateful he saw something in me before most and treated me w love from day 1 . Wish he could see how right ab everything he truly was . Please go stream Balloonerism RIGHT NOW . 🙏🏾✨🫀”  SZA also retweeted a post sharing a candid photo of her in the studio with Miller, which was captioned, “I’m not crying, you are.” Balloonerism is Miller’s second posthumous album released by his estate, following 2020’s Circles. Miller died from an accidental drug overdose in 2018 at the age of 26. (Billboard)

The Roots' acclaimed major label debut, Do You Want More?!!!??!, was released 30 years ago last week, on January 17, 1995. The Philadelphia rap crew will celebrate their record’s milestone anniversary with an upcoming residency at the Blue Note in New York City. The Roots will perform a series of six shows at the legendary jazz club between March 13 through March 15, with two gigs scheduled per night at 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. “So uh…..for the 30th Anniversary of our major label debut…..we are doing SIX early Roots era focused shows,” drummer Questlove wrote on Instagram on Friday (January 17). “Yall better riggety rawl & cop them tix cause uh…..👀” Tickets for the Do You Want More 30th Anniversary Celebration are currently on sale now via Blue Note's official site. Following their Blue Note residency, the Roots are set to perform alongside Lil Wayne at the 2025 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. (Rolling Stone)

Following last week’s postponement of his album release and cancellation of his scheduled Rose Bowl concert, the Weeknd announced that he has donated $1 million towards three wildfire relief organizations. The 34-year-old music superstar — whose real name is Abel Tesfaye – split his $1 million donation between The Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, GoFundMe’s Wildfire Relief Fund, and the LA Regional Food Bank. The charitable contributions were made in partnership with World Food Program USA and the Grammy-winning musician's XO Humanitarian Fund. Due to the L.A. wildfires, the Weeknd recently decided to push back the release of his highly-anticipated new record, Hurry Up Tomorrow, from January 24 to Jan. 31, and cancelled his massive record release celebration at the Rose Bowl on January 25. “This city has always been a profound source of inspiration for me, and my thoughts are with everyone impacted during this difficult time," he wrote. "My focus remains on supporting the recovery of these communities and aiding its incredible people as they rebuild." (People)

Bad Bunny’s Debí Tirar Más Fotos has climbed to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart following its first full week of activity. It becomes the fourth chart-topping album in Bad Bunny’s celebrated career. Debí Tirar Más Fotos previously debuted at No. 2 on last week’s Billboard 200, after being released on an off-cycle Sunday (January 5), but still managed to chart after only five days of activity. Taylor Swift’s Lover: Live From Paris reenters the chart at No. 2, following its reissue on vinyl and first digital download release, becoming the highest charting live album in over five years. Elsewhere in the Billboard 200 Top 10, SZA’s SOS remains at No. 3, Kendrick Lamar’s GNX holds at No. 4, last week’s leader Lil Baby’s WHAM drops four places to No. 5, Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet falls a spot to No. 6, Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard and Soft stays at No. 7,  the Wicked film soundtrack drops two places to No. 8, Morgan Wallen’s One Thing at a Time slips a spot to No. 9, and Gracie Abrams’ The Secret of Us falls one slot to No. 10. (Billboard)

The lineup for the upcoming FireAid benefit concert has just been revealed, topped by music superstars Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga, Green Day, and a special No Doubt reunion. The January 30 fundraiser for Los Angeles area fire victims will take place at L.A.’s Intuit Dome, but the amount of artists committing to take part in the benefit show has required the event to expand to also include performances at Inglewood’s Kia Forum. Additional artists appearing at FireAid include Stevie Nicks, Katy Perry, Jelly Roll, Pink, Joni Mitchell, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sting, Tate McRae, Rod Stewart, and the debut live collaboration between Dave Matthews and John Mayer. Event organizers, which include Live Nation, AEG Presents, and the Azoff Company, promise “additional artists to be announced shortly.” FireAid will start at 6 p.m. PT, with tickets on sale at noon PT on January 22. The event will be broadcast simultaneously by iHeartRadio, Apple Music, Netflix, Paramount+, Prime Video, Max, SiriusXM, SoundCloud, and YouTube, along with select AMC Theatres, with viewers able to submit donations throughout the event. (Rolling Stone)

Malibu’s celebrated Shangri-La recording studio miraculously survived the Palisades fire that recently decimated much of that area. The space is now owned by legendary producer Rick Rubin, but the studio was originally built in the mid-70s under the creative guidance of the Band and Bob Dylan. The Band’s 1975 record, Northern Lights – Southern Cross, was the first album to be recorded at Shangri-La’s renovated studio, with Eric Clapton’s No Reason To Cry soon following, along with classic albums from Van Morrison, Bonnie Raitt, Crosby Stills and Nash, Jackson Browne, Mark Knopfler, and Keith Richards. Since Rubin took over the studio, legendary artists like Adele, U2, Pearl Jam, Lady Gaga, Metallica, Eminem, Harry Styles, and many others have recorded there. In 2019, the iconic studio was the subject of a four-part Showtime documentary series titled, Shangri-La. While over 200 musicians and producers throughout the Los Angeles area have sadly lost everything in the recent fires, Shangri-La has thankfully survived so a new generation of artists can record there. (Ultimate Classic Rock)

Eminem fans have recently discovered a handful of unreleased tracks from the Detroit rapper that have since gone viral on social media. The songs were apparently leaked from Em’s vault,  including never before heard tracks with longtime collaborators 50 Cent and Dr. Dre, and apparently an alleged Suge Knight and Ja Rule diss track that dates back to 2003. “These leaked songs were studio efforts never meant for public consumption … demos, experiments and ideas that are dated and not relevant so many years later,” said Eminem’s longtime spokesperson Dennis Dennehy. “The latest in a line of unfinished material released against artists’ will and without their permission.” The number of leaked tracks has now reached around 30, with additional songs surfacing that feature Em’s unreleased collaborations with Slaughterhouse, Anderson .Paak and the late Nate Dogg. Eminem has yet to personally respond to the recent leaks. (Billboard)

Liam Payne’s friend Roger Nores, who was with the former One Direction star on the night of his tragic death,  is suing the late singer’s father, Geoff Payne, for defamation. The 263-page federal lawsuit was filed in Florida on Wednesday (January 15), with Nores alleging that Geoff made “false, misleading” statements about him in sworn declarations to an Argentina prosecutor investigating Liam’s death. Nores is seeking damages of over $10 million, and pledges that all “net financial proceeds of the judicial proceedings for the benefit of Liam Payne’s son,” Bear. “Geoff needs to backtrack on his [sworn] statement as he very well knows I wasn’t Liam’s nurse or caretaker,” Nores told Rolling Stone. “Liam, who I miss every day, was my dear friend and an independent, brilliant, respectful free man who did whatever he wanted whenever he wanted.” Nores faces wrongful death charges affiliated with Payne’s fall from his 3rd story hotel balcony in Buenos Aires on October 16. (Rolling Stone)

A$AP Rocky’s criminal gun-assault trial is on track to begin next week in Los Angeles. The charges stem from an alleged incident where Rocky apparently fired shots at his former friend A$AP Relli on a Hollywood, California, street three years ago. Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Mark S. Arnold said jury selection is scheduled to begin on Tuesday. Rocky, born Rakim Mayers, will appear in person each day, with prosecutors planning to make a new plea-deal offer to Mayers before the trial gets underway. Joseph Tacopina, the attorney for the Grammy-nominated rapper, said the offer would be a pointless endeavor. “From our side, we have no interest in a settlement,” Tacopina told the court. “He’s eager to tell his story. He would love the opportunity to do so,” Tacopina told Rolling Stone. The 36-year-old Mayers has pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, and if convicted, he faces up to 24 years in prison. (Rolling Stone)

On Wednesday (January 15), Justin Bieber shared a brief 24-second video clip featuring what appeared to be a new song on his Instagram Story. It has been over two years since Bieber has released any new music, so even a snippet of potential new material has fans excited that more music is possibly on the way. The clip features Bieber in a hoodie and sunglasses, singing along to a rough demo of a song that includes a spare acoustic guitar strain underneath lyrics that definitely claim, “I’m shakin’ off the hate.” In Bieber’s other stories, he is shown vibing with other hit songs of the moment, including Gunna’s “Got Damn," Sleepy Hallow’s “Call Me,” and Playboi Carti’s “Cancun,” which soundtracks a clip capturing nature footage from the Grammy-winning singer’s recent holiday in Aspen, Colorado with wife Hailey and their infant son, Jack Blues. (Billboard)

Taylor Swift pledged her support for the victims of the ongoing Los Angeles wildfires in a handwritten note on her Instagram story on Thursday (January 16). “The fires in California have devastated so many families, and it’s been heartbreaking to see these stories unfold,” Swift wrote. “So much suffering, loss and destruction.” The 35-year-old pop superstar went on to share a list of relief organizations supporting those in need in the L.A. area, while also voicing words of compassion to those who have lost everything in the recent fires. “As so many people embark on some of the most challenging times of their lives, there are also many amazing organizations and groups banding together to help these communities rebuild,” Swift added. “These are the organizations I’ve donated to. If you feel compelled or able to donate, please do.” Her list of organizations includes Greater Los Angeles Education Foundation, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, MusiCares, and many more. (Billboard)

On Wednesday (January 15), the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival revealed its stacked 2025 lineup. The celebrated music festival will feature high-profile headlining sets from Pearl Jam, Dave Matthews Band, hometown rap superstar Lil Wayne performing with The Roots, Lenny Kravitz, Kacey Musgraves, John Fogerty, Luke Combs, Santana, and Burna Boy. New Orleans Jazz Fest 2025 is set to take place over eight days this spring – from April 24th-27th and May 1st-4th – at the Fair Grounds Race Course in the Big Easy. The rest of the lineup includes notable acts like HAIM, Cage the Elephant, My Morning Jacket, Gladys Knight, Patti LaBelle, Kamasi Washington, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Cheap Trick, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Harry Connick Jr., Margo Price, Irma Thomas, Branford Marsalis, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Morris Day & the Time, James Bay, Taj Mahal & The Phantom Blues Band, Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives, and many more. Tickets to both weekends of the festival are on sale now. (Consequence of Sound)

On Wednesday (January 15), the Recording Academy announced significant changes to its annual Grammy Week festivities. The Academy canceled most industry events leading up to the awards show on Sunday, February 2, while shifting the focus of the remaining events towards raising relief efforts for the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles. “We understand how devastating this past week has been on this city and its people,” Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. said in a statement. “This is our home, it’s home to thousands of music professionals, and many of us have been negatively impacted. Grammy Week 2025 will not just be about honoring music, it will be about using the power of music to help rebuild, uplift and support those in need.” The Academy confirmed that the MusiCares Person of the Year Charity Gala honoring the Grateful Dead will take place as scheduled, with MusiCares already raising $2 million in wildfire relief funds. Clive Davis’ annual Pre-Grammys Gala will also now be a fundraising event. (Rolling Stone)

The music data tracking company Luminate announced on Wednesday (January 15) that Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department was the most popular album of 2024 in the U.S. This marks the third time in Swift’s career that she has topped Luminate’s year-end list, after previously claiming the top album in 2014 with 1989 and in 2009 with Fearless. Luminate also shared that the most-streamed song by on-demand audio streams was Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” while the most-heard song on the radio was Teddy Swims’ “Lose Control.” Luminate’s year-end figures also revealed that total music consumption in the U.S. – measured by audio equivalent album units – increased by 5.6% in 2024.

The Top 10 Albums of 2024 in the U.S.(by total equivalent album units) is rounded out by Morgan Wallen’s One Thing at a Time at No. 2, Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet at No. 3, SZA’s SOS at No. 4, Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard and Soft at No. 5, Noah Kahan’s Stick Season at No. 6, Chappell Roan’s The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess at No. 7, Morgan Wallen’s Dangerous: The Double Album at No. 8, Zach Bryan’s  Zach Bryan at No. 9, and Future & Metro Boomin’s We Don’t Trust You at No. 10. (Billboard)

An upcoming benefit show called L.A. Gives Back: Fire Relief was announced on Wednesday (January 15), supporting the ongoing relief efforts in the Los Angeles area. The benefit show is scheduled to take place on January 29 at The Bellwether, a 1,600-capacity independent music venue in downtown Los Angeles. The event – whose lineup will be announced in the coming weeks – is being organized by IHEARTCOMIX, Brownies & Lemonade, Another Planet Entertainment (which owns The Bellwether), and Teragram. All funds raised from the event will go towards charities supporting victims of the fire, along with first responders and animals.

“The devastation Los Angeles has endured the past week from these wildfires made it clear we had to do something,” said Brownies & Lemonade, a company who organizes electronic dance events in the area. “L.A. Gives Back has been our longstanding event series focused on providing aid to our city and we’re so happy to bring it back for this crucial moment to provide wildfire relief for our city.” (Billboard) 

On Tuesday (January 14), Céline Dion took to Instagram to pay tribute to her late husband René Angélil on the ninth anniversary of his death. The Canadian singer shared a Christmastime photograph of herself surrounded by their three sons, while she affectionately remembered Angélil, who died of throat cancer in 2016 at the age of 73. “René, we can’t believe you’ve been gone nine years already,” Dion wrote. “Not a day goes by that we don’t feel your presence, RC, Eddy, Nelson and I. You were my greatest champion, my partner, and the one who always saw the best in me. I honor you and you are forever missed mon amour…. We love you.” Dion retreated from the public spotlight in recent years following her diagnosis with stiff-person syndrome in 2022, but she delivered a triumphant performance at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony last summer, singing Édith Piaf’s “The Hymn to Love” from the observation deck of the Eiffel Tower. (Rolling Stone)

On Wednesday (January 15), Drake sued Universal Music Group over their role in releasing and publicizing Kendrick Lamar‘s diss track “Not Like Us.” The Canadian rap superstar filed a defamation and harassment lawsuit against UMG – the record company behind both rappers – claiming in an 81-page complaint that the media conglomerate “unleashed every weapon in its arsenal” in their publicity campaign to turn Kendrick’s diss-track of Drake into a “viral hit.” The suit claims the song was “intended to convey the specific, unmistakable, and false factual allegation that Drake is a criminal pedophile.” Drake makes clear that he is not suing Lamar over his song, noting that the lawsuit “is not about the artist who created ‘Not Like Us,’” and that his legal action is “entirely about UMG, the music company that decided to publish, promote, exploit, and monetize allegations that it understood were not only false, but dangerous.” (Rolling Stone)