Music News

Foo Fighters are marking their 30th anniversary with the release of a new track, "Today’s Song," the first new music from the band since their 2023 album, But Here We Are. The song – which features cover art drawn by Dave Grohl’s 15-year-old daughter, Harper – was accompanied by an emotional essay from the band’s frontman that he shared on Instagram on Wednesday (July 2). “We have followed this road together, with each other, for each other, no matter what,” Grohl wrote to his band and his fans. “Because in life, you just can’t go it alone.” He also paid tribute to the group’s beloved late drummer, Taylor Hawkins: “Your name is spoken every day, sometimes with tears, sometimes with a smile, but you are still in everything we do, everywhere we go, forever.” In additional Grohl news, the musician and his wife, Jordyn Blum, were spotted together at Wimbledon on Wednesday, their first joint public appearance since Grohl revealed that he fathered a child outside of his marriage in September 2024. (Billboard)

Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, has had his Australian visa canceled due to the release of an antisemitic song titled "Heil Hitler" in May. “He’s made a lot of offensive comments that my officials looked at again once he released [that] song,” said Tony Burke, Australia’s Minister for Immigration and Citizenship. “We have enough problems in this country already without deliberately importing bigotry.” The decision comes more than two years after the musician wed Bianca Censori, who is from Australia. This follows a series of antisemitic remarks and offensive social media posts by Ye, leading to the termination of a series of major brand partnerships while generating backlash from the Jewish community. In May, Ye claims to have experienced a change of heart, writing on X: “I am done with antisemitism. I love all people. God forgive me for the pain I’ve caused.” (Billboard)

In Los Angeles on Monday (June 30), Mariah Carey took part in an interview with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe and Ebro Darden to celebrate 10 years of the streaming service. During the chat, the 5-time Grammy winner revealed that her upcoming sixteenth studio album is finished, while hinting that the project will include "some Mariah ballads." "What is next? The album coming out,” Carey said. “I don’t wanna tell too much about it because I just don’t want to reveal the whole thing," she teased, while adding, "It’s finished." Carey went on to share that the album will consist of either "11 songs, or 12,", including her recent single, "Type Dangerous," which debuted at No. 95 on the Billboard Hot 100. Carey went on to disclose, "A second single is coming soon. I’m very excited about it," while describing the track as "very summer-y. I like the beat as well." Carey’s forthcoming new album will mark her first since 2018's Caution. (People)

Frustrated fans are experiencing playback issues with Lorde’s crystal clear Virgin CD, with many of them unable to play the disc on a variety of CD players. Discussions on Reddit and multiple TikTok posts feature annoyed fans experiencing compatibility problems with older models or in-car CD players, expressing their disappointment with the design choice and lack of alternative CD options. “Seems like older models with older sensors won’t play it,” a fan wrote. “Pretty disappointing, I know it was for an aesthetic but at least press it on normal CDs, too.” Lorde’s website shows only sold-out listings for the translucent CD, with no other CD pressing options currently available. A spokesperson for Lorde declined to comment on the issue, leaving frustrated fans hoping for a smoother listening experience with any potential future CD releases or deluxe editions. (Rolling Stone)

On Wednesday (June 2), Sean “Diddy” Combs was found guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, potentially facing up to 20 years in prison, while being found not guilty of the more serious charges of sex trafficking and racketeering. The split verdict prompted a jubilant reaction from Combs, who pumped his fist and mouthed “thank you” to the jurors. Members of his family shed tears of relief following the verdict, and they were shown leaving the courthouse amidst chants of “Freedom!” Following the gruelling eight-week trial, the defense advocated for Combs to be released on a $1 million bond before his sentencing date on the prostitution charges, while prosecutors felt he should continue to be held due to the severity of the conviction. The judge later ruled that Combs will remain in jail until his sentencing (with the date yet to be determined), citing his history of domestic violence. (Variety)

In their first collective WeVerse stream in almost three years, BTS confirmed their reunion and shared plans for a new group album and world tour in 2026. “We’ll be releasing a new BTS album in the spring of next year. Starting in July, all seven of us will begin working closely together on new music,” BTS shared. “Since it will be a group album, it will reflect each member’s thoughts and ideas. We’re also planning a world tour alongside the new album. We’ll be visiting fans all around the world, so we hope you’re as excited as we are.” This announcement comes after a lengthy hiatus that allowed members to fulfill their mandatory military service in South Korea and pursue solo projects. In addition to the reunion news, BTS’ record label Big Hit announced on Monday (June 30) that the first-ever live album from the K-pop group is arriving on July 18. Permission to Dance On Stage — Live will feature live performances of their hits, including Billboard Hot 100 chart-toppers “Dynamite” and “Butter,” recorded on BTS’ 2021-2022 Permission to Dance On Stage Tour. (Rolling Stone)

At the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Monday night (June 30), Katy Perry brought the 15-date Australian leg of her tour to an emotional close. The pop superstar finished the show in tears, following her recent split from Orlando Bloom. “Thank you for always being there for me, Australia. It means the world,” Perry said as her eyes welled up with tears and her voice cracked slightly, before adding, “Now let’s sing ‘Firework!'” Reports of Perry’s split from Bloom surfaced last week, and in the following days it was reported that the couple ended their engagement after nine years together. In August 2020, the couple welcomed their daughter, Daisy Dove. Despite these personal challenges, Perry remains committed to her ongoing Lifetimes Tour, with the North American leg kicking off on July 10 in Denver. The massive tour concludes in early December, after a total of 89 shows around the world. (Rolling Stone)

While attending the Glastonbury music festival on Saturday (June 28), Harry Styles was spotted kissing a mystery woman in the VIP section in video footage obtained by The Sun.  The woman has now been identified as producer Ella Kenny, with Styles spotted dancing and making out with her while in the middle of a crowd. This public display of affection with Kenny follows Styles' previous high-profile relationships with actressess Taylor Russell and Olivia Wilde in recent years. The Grammy-winning singer concluded his successful Love on Tour in 2023, though Styles continues to make headlines with a series of surprise public appearances as of late. He was seen in St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican on May 8 to celebrate the election of Pope Leo XIV, as well as participating in the Tokyo marathon back in March, where the musician finished ahead of over 20,000 runners with his sub-3:30 race time. (People)

In an Instagram post on Monday (June 30), Lorde opened up about the challenges of creating her new album, Virgin, after the record had been out for three days. The Grammy-winning pop superstar singled out "Favourite Daughter" as the toughest to write, produce, and sing. The track, which Lorde admits “Kicked my ass,” delves into her complex relationship with her mother, the poet Sonja Yelich. Lorde shared a series of insights about various tracks on the album, revealing that the record-closing tune, “David,” was the “First song started (and second to last finished),” while “Clearblue” was the “Last song started,” and “Broken Glass” was the final song she finished for the album. She also disclosed that she removed a favorite song of hers from the tracklist last minute, but hinted at the possibility of releasing it as a B-side in the future, teasing the existence of a “Couple really good B sides knocking around actually.” Lorde will launch her Ultrasound World Tour on September 17 in Austin, Texas. (Billboard)

Sabrina Carpenter's charitable fund under the nonprofit PLUS1 has raised over $1 million in just 12 months, making it the organization's fastest-growing artist initiative. The Sabrina Carpenter Fund supports causes close to the pop superstar’s heart, including mental health advocacy, LGBTQ+ rights, and animal welfare support. Carpenter integrates fundraising into various aspects of her career, such as dedicating a portion of ticket sales to her causes, and collaborating on charity projects with brands like Erewhon and Catbird. PLUS1 founder Marika Anthony-Shaw, the former viola player in Arcade Fire, established the organization after seeing the impact from the band’s ticket sales donations towards Haiti relief following the devastating 2010 earthquake. “Sabrina’s approach to philanthropy shows what’s possible when an artist truly commits to embedding impact across their work,” Anthony-Shaw said in a statement. “Sabrina is setting a new standard, one where social impact becomes woven into an artist’s career to create meaningful, lasting change.” (Rolling Stone)

During a recent concert, Gavin Adcock blasted Beyoncé’s Grammy-winning Best Country Album, Cowboy Carter, during an onstage rant. In fan-captured video footage of the incident, the country star takes issue with albums that currently outrank his own on Apple Music’s country albums chart. “One of them’s Beyoncé — you can tell her we’re coming for her f—in’ a–,” Adcock said, before adding, “That sh– ain’t country music and it ain’t ever been country music, and it ain’t gonna be country music.” Adcock took to Instagram on Monday (June 30) to share a video statement clarifying his remarks. “I’m gonna go ahead and clear this up,” he says. “I really don’t believe that her album should be labeled as country music. It doesn’t sound country, it doesn’t feel country, and I just don’t think that people that have dedicated their whole lives to this genre and this lifestyle should have to compete or watch that album just stay at the top, just because she’s Beyoncé.” (Billboard)

Miley Cyrus' visual companion to her latest album, Something Beautiful, will premiere on Disney+ and Hulu on July 16 in the United States and Canada, and on July 30 internationally. The film, directed by Cyrus, Jacob Bixenman, and Brendan Walter, made its debut at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 6, which was followed by limited screenings in movie theaters. Cyrus is not embarking on a full-scale tour in support of Something Beautiful in order to focus on her sobriety along with her vocal and mental health, but she did perform some intimate shows at the Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles around the album release, and also made a surprise appearance alongside Beyoncé at a recent Cowboy Carter Tour stop in Paris to perform their Grammy-winning duet, "II Most Wanted." Something Beautiful, Cyrus' ninth album, features hits like "More to Lose," "End of the World," and the title track, and serves as the follow-up to her Grammy-winning 2023 album, Endless Summer Vacation. (Consequence of Sound)

Charli XCX is hitting back at critics of her Glastonbury performance on Saturday night (June 28), who were dismissive of her reliance on autotune while denouncing her for not using a traditional band on stage. “Really enjoying these boomer vibe comments on my glastonbury performance. it’s super fascinating to me,” she wrote in a social media screed, where she continued: “Like the idea that singing with deliberate autotune makes you a fraud or that not having a traditional band suddenly means you must not be a “real artist” is like, the most boring take ever. yawn sorry just fell asleep xx.” While Charli is clearly tired of defending her performing style and sound, the Brat star went on to admit, “I enjoy the discourse.  imo the best art is divisive and confrontational and often evolves into truly interesting culture.” Charli continues her Brat World Tour with a series of European summer festivals, including Roskilde, Sziget, ØYA, Way Out West, and more. (Consequence of Sound)

The trial of Sean Combs is now in the hands of the jury, as they began deliberation on Monday (June 30) on the charges of sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution against the disgraced music mogul. The process is expected to take several days. If convicted, Combs faces a possible life sentence for racketeering, a minimum of 15 years for sex trafficking, and a maximum of 10 years for transportation to engage in prostitution. The judge commended both the defense attorneys and federal prosecutors for their "great lawyering" at the end of the seven-week trial, stating that “the case was really exceptionally tried by both sides.” The trial saw lengthy closing arguments, with the prosecution portraying Combs as the head of a criminal enterprise, while the defense claimed that his activities were part of a consensual "swingers lifestyle." (Variety)

During her headlining, festival-closing set at Glastonbury on Sunday night (June 29), Olivia Rodrigo surprised fans by bringing out The Cure's legendary frontman, Robert Smith, during her set, where they performed his classic hits, "Friday I'm in Love" and "Just Like Heaven." “He’s perhaps the best songwriter to come out of England,” Rodrigo said enthusiastically while introducing Smith. “He is a Glastonbury legend and a personal hero of mine. Would you please welcome, Robert Smith!” This marked Rodrigo's first time headlining the Pyramid Stage, and she delivered a triumphant performance full of her current hits and early singles, with the Grammy-winning pop star blown away by the support from the massive crowd. “This is the most people I’ve ever seen in my entire life,” she said as she took the moment in. “This is a dream come true, I actually can’t believe this is my life right now.” Rodrigo concludes the U.K. leg of her Guts World Tour with a two-night stand in Manchester on June 30-July 1. (Variety)

Alex Warren’s “Ordinary” remains at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, as his first career leader adds a fourth week atop the chart. Elsewhere in the Top 10, Cardi B’s new single “Outside” debuts at No. 10, becoming the Grammy-winning rapper's 13th career Top 10 hit. Meanwhile, Morgan Wallen claims his sixth week with at least three simultaneous Hot 100 Top 10s this year, surpassing Kendrick Lamar for the most such weeks in 2025. The country superstar’s duet with Tate McRae, “What I Want,” rises one spot to No. 2, while his single “Just in Case,” remains at No. 4, and “I’m the Problem” moves up one slot to No. 5, as his chart-topping album of the same name spends its sixth consecutive week at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. The rest of the Hot 100 Top 10 features Sabrina Carpenter’s new single,“Manchild,” dropping one spot to No. 3, Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s “Luther” falling one spot to No. 6, Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” holding at No. 7, Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ “Die With a Smile” remains at No. 8, and Teddy Swims’ “Lose Control” stays at No. 9. (Billboard)

LL Cool J delves into the birth and evolution of rap in New York City in the new trailer for the upcoming docuseries, Hip-Hop Was Born Here. The five-part show features interviews with rap luminaries such as Method Man, Grandmaster Caz, Roxanne Shante, and Big Daddy Kane, while providing a historical and musical tour of the five boroughs, showcasing how the city shaped the genre. The trailer features LL visiting the birthplace of hip-hop, with the rap legend making a pilgrimage to the Bronx park where DJ Kool Herc set up his equipment and threw his groundbreaking first parties. Other NYC-centric stories will be featured in each episode, while also exploring the global impact of rap music. Hip-Hop Was Born Here will premiere on July 22 on Paramount+, with the docuseries hosted, executive produced, and co-created by LL Cool J, in collaboration with NFL Hall of Famer Peyton Manning. (Rolling Stone)

Dua Lipa continued the U.K. leg of her Radical Optimism Tour by covering a pair of legendary local artists during her recent shows in England and Ireland. Lipa performed the Beatles' classic, “Hey Jude,” during her stadium show at Anfield in Liverpool on June 25, and covered the Zutons’ “Valerie” – which was popularized by the late Amy Winehouse – with the Liverpudlian rock group’s singer Dave McCabe the night before. Lipa then paid a touching tribute to the late Sinéad O'Connor by performing her Billboard No. 1 hit, “Nothing Compares 2 U,” at Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Friday night (June 27). “Tonight, I am honored to perform a song by a late Irish legend,” Lipa said before her emotional rendition of the Prince-penned classic. This continues Lipa’s trend of covering hometown artists during stops on her tour – performing hits from AC/DC, Lorde, and Kylie Minogue on the Australian/New Zealand leg – while also collaborating with local stars Charli XCX and Jamiroquai's Jay Kay during her recent London shows at Wembley Stadium. (Rolling Stone)

Kendrick Lamar and SZA have broken the touring record previously held by Beyoncé and Jay-Z, as the duo’s ongoing Grand National Tour is officially the highest-grossing co-headline tour of all-time. Kendrick and SZA just completed the North American leg of their tour, which grossed $256.4 million from 1.1 million tickets sold over the course of 23 shows. The Grand National Tour surpassed the total gross of Beyoncé and Jay-Z's On the Run II Tour by a 1% margin. While Bey and Jay still hold the co-headlining record with 2.2 million tickets sold, there is potential for Lamar and SZA to surpass them in total tickets sold by the end of the tour, which continues with a series of European dates beginning in July. In addition to this milestone, Lamar also just announced a Latin American leg of the Grand National Tour which will take place without SZA, as the Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper will perform in Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, and Chile, with opening acts Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso. (AV Club)

Morgan Wallen’s I’m the Problem spends a sixth straight week at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. I’m the Problem earned 177,000 units over the past week, netting the largest total for an album in its sixth week on the chart since Adele’s 25 earned 363,000 in its sixth week in January 2016. Three new releases debut in the current Billboard 200 Top 10, as Benson Boone’s American Heart lands at No. 2, marking his highest-charting album and biggest week of his career, while Karol G notches her third career Top 10 album with the No. 3 arrival of Tropicoqueta, and the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack enters at No. 8, becoming the first soundtrack released in 2025 to reach the Top 10, and the highest-debuting soundtrack of the year. The rest of Top 10 is filled out by all former No. 1 albums, as SZA’s SOS holds at No. 4, Wallen’s One Thing at a Time remains at No. 5, Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet stays at No. 6, Kendrick Lamar’s GNX rises one spot to No. 7, Wallen’s Dangerous: The Double Album is steady at No. 9, and PARTYNEXTDOOR and Drake’s $ome $exy $ongs 4 U sticks at No. 10. (Billboard)