On Wednesday (May 21), during the first night in Los Angeles on her co-headlining Grand National stadium tour with Kendrick Lamar, SZA surprised the audience by bringing out Lizzo for a special performance of “Special.” The duo previously collaborated on the remix of the title track of Lizzo’s Grammy-nominated 2022 album, Special, and the besties took the SoFi Stadium stage together in matching black outfits to deliver a powerful rendition of the track together. Lizzo later shared a video of the performance on Instagram, excitedly captioning the post, “BABYS FIRST STADIUM PERFORMANCE— I love u @sza u r THEE DIVA!” SZA and Lamar continue their Grand National Tour with two more L.A. shows on May 23-24, with the duo currently riding a record-setting 13-week streak atop the Billboard Hot 100 chart with their hit single, “Luther.” Lizzo, meanwhile, is prepping the release of her upcoming fifth album, Love in Real Life, and recently performed on Saturday Night Live on April 12. (Rolling Stone)

This spring, a series of tribute concerts dubbed "Jillith Fair — Loving Jill Sobule" will honor the late singer-songwriter Jill Sobule, who tragically died in a house fire in Minnesota on May 1. The events will feature appearances from Tom Morello, Lisa Loeb, John Doe, Margaret Cho, members of the Go-Go's, Joan Osborne, and more. The various tribute shows will be held throughout the country, with the first event set to take place on May 31 in Northampton, Massachusetts, featuring performances by Marshall Crenshaw and Madeleine Peyroux, and hosted by Erin McKeown. Organizers plan to make Jillith Fair an annual celebration on Sobule's birthday of January 16, as well as during Pride Month, supporting causes she championed in her lifetime. Sobule’s management says she had two partially completed albums at the time of her death, with a full-length documentary also in the works. Sobule’s F*ck 7th Grade – Original Cast Recording will come out on June 6, and a vinyl reissue of her 1995 self-titled album – featuring her enduring hits “I Kissed A Girl” and “Supermodel” – will come out the same day. (Rolling Stone)

Cardi B is set to receive the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) Voice of the Culture Award, in recognition of the hip-hop superstar’s groundbreaking influence on music and culture. The award ceremony will take place during a private, invitation-only event on Sunday, June 8, in Los Angeles, with Cardi set to follow last year’s winner, Usher. “Cardi B has left an indelible mark on the culture of hip-hop by redefining and challenging the norms for women,” ASCAP Chairman of the Board and President Paul Williams said in a statement. “Having broken through countless barriers with her unapologetic authenticity and talent, she continues to use her voice to advocate for and inspire others, a true testament to her undeniable impact.” In 2020, Cardi made history by becoming the first woman to receive the esteemed ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Songwriter of the Year Award two years in a row, while also being awarded eight ASCAP Pop Music Awards and 23 ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards. (Billboard)

Beastie Boys and Universal Music Group have settled their lawsuits with Chili's parent company Brinker International, over the unauthorized use of the band's 1994 hit, "Sabotage" in social media ads, which also mimicked the famous Spike Jonez-directed music video. The legal dispute began in July 2024, with the band and record label seeking damages of at least $150,000. “The plaintiffs do not license ‘Sabotage’ or any of their other intellectual property for third-party product advertising purposes,” states the lawsuit. “And deceased Beastie Boys member Adam Yauch included a provision in his will prohibiting such uses.” This continues a series of legal victories for the Beastie Boys when it comes to protecting their intellectual property and honoring the late MCA’s wishes, including a $1.7 million verdict against Monster Energy in 2014, and an undisclosed settlement that same year with GoldieBlox over the unauthorized use of their song “Girls.” (Rolling Stone)

On Thursday (May 22), Miley Cyrus unveiled the trailer for her new short film, Something Beautiful, a visual companion piece to her forthcoming record set to be released on May 30. The clip features Cyrus singing an unreleased song from the record, "Easy Lover," as well as a theatrical blend of sights and sounds. “13 original songs,” the onscreen text reads. “A striking visual album fueled by fantasy.” The film will premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City on June 6, before a one-night-only theatrical release on June 12 in the US and Canada, followed by a worldwide screening on June 27. Cyrus just revealed the complete tracklist for Something Beautiful, which will feature the previously released songs, “Prelude,” “Something Beautiful,” “End of the World” and “More to Lose,” as well as collaborations with Alabama Shakes’ frontwoman Brittany Howard and supermodel Naomi Campbell. (Billboard)

During a recent appearance on The Zane Lowe Show, Miley Cyrus confessed to lying about the existence of two new songs after her godmother, Dolly Parton, inquired if she had any hits during a visit two Christmases ago. This fabrication spurred the Grammy-winning pop star to create the songs "More to Lose" and "Every Girl You've Ever Loved" for Cyrus's upcoming album, Something Beautiful. Cyrus and her songwriting partner Michael Pollack set a quick deadline for themselves to write the songs, with that sense of urgency helping fuel their creativity. Cyrus eventually shared “More to Lose” with Parton, who immediately challenged her by asking, “Got any more?” Cyrus credits her godmother's inquiry as the driving force behind their creation, admitting, “I hadn’t even written the songs yet, so all because of her did those two songs ever get created.” Something Beautiful features both Parton-inspired songs, and is set to be released on May 30 along with an accompanying film. (People)

Gorillaz will mark their 25th anniversary with four standalone live shows at east London’s Copper Box Arena on August 29-30 and September 2-3. The performances will coincide with the opening of an immersive exhibition, House Of Kong, which will offer fans access to the virtual band’s headquarters, while chronicling their animated history since the release of their debut EP, Tomorrow Comes Today, in 2000. House of Kong is open from August 8 to September 3, with exhibition ticket holders having exclusive presale access to the special shows. Tickets for the exhibition are currently available through the Gorillaz website. In a recent interview with the French publication Les Inrockuptibles, frontman Damon Albarn confirmed a new Gorillaz project is in the works. “I’m finishing a new Gorillaz album,” Albarn revealed. “One opera and one new Gorillaz album seems like enough for 2025!” Gorillaz last album, 2023's Cracker Island, hit No. 3 on the Billboard 200, while reaching No. 1 on the U.K. Albums Chart, marking their first British chart-topper since 2005’s Demon Days. (Billboard)

On Wednesday (May 21), Robbie Williams announced the details of his upcoming album, BRITPOP, which is set to be released this autumn via Columbia Records. “I set out to create the album that I wanted to write and release after I left Take That in 1995,” Williams writes, calling the era “the peak of Britpop and a golden age for British Music” while revealing that he’s “worked with some of my heroes on this album.” One of those idols is Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi, who is featured on the album’s lead single, “Rocket.” Williams is hitting the road on an extensive U.K. and European headline tour this summer, highlighted by a two-night stand at London’s 60,000-capacity Emirates Stadium on June 6-7. Earlier this year, Williams notched his 15th No. 1 record on the U.K. Album Charts with the soundtrack to his biopic, Better Man, tying him with The Beatles for the most British chart-topping albums of all-time. (Billboard)

On Wednesday (May 21), Addison Rae revealed the track list for her debut album, Addison, through a unique underwear-themed rollout on Instagram. The TikTok star turned pop singer used a rack of panties to provocatively display the names of her 12 songs, such as "Fame Is a Gun," "Life's No Fun Through Clear Waters," "Money Is Everything," and "Times Like These," alongside her previously released singles “Diet Pepsi,” “High Fashion,” “Aquamarine,” and “Headphones On.” Rae previously announced the album's June 6 release by showing off the date on the back of her underwear during an appearance with Arca at Coachella in April. “I love the entirety of this project with all of me,” Rae previously wrote about Addison, calling the album, “A mirror. A deep desperation and desire to understand myself better. A true collection of my proudest work yet.” Rae co-wrote and produced all twelve tracks on the record alongside Luka Kloser and Elvira Anderfjärd. (Rolling Stone)

In a new interview with Culted while attending the Cannes International Film Festival, Charli XCX reflected on the success of her Grammy-winning 2024 album, Brat, and dismissed any expectations surrounding her eventual follow-up record. “I don’t really feel the pressure to create another record like Brat, because when I was making it, even though I really believed in it and totally knew what I wanted to do with it, I had no idea how it would be received,” Charli said. “I was really doing it for myself and marketing it in the way I wanted to for myself, but I had no clue that people would kind of connect to it in the way that they did.” Charli went on to share that she isn’t concerned about how her next project will be received, with the pop superstar adding,  “I feel that you can never really do the same thing twice, and my next record will probably be a flop which I’m down for to be honest.” (Billboard)

On Wednesday (May 21), Chris Brown was granted a $6.7 million bail by a British judge, with the R&B superstar released from custody following his recent arrest over an alleged 2023 London nightclub attack. Brown was initially held without bail after being arrested in Manchester on May 15 on charges of causing grievous bodily harm to music producer Amadou “Abe” Diaw, who alleges that the singer hit him with a tequila bottle and stomped on him, resulting in his hospitalization. Brown was ordered to post £4 million ($5.4 million) immediately, and an additional £1 million ($1.3 million) within seven days to secure his release. As part of his bail conditions, Brown must surrender his passport (except for touring purposes), reside at a specified address, and refrain from contacting the victim or visiting the nightclub where the incident occurred. Brown has not officially entered a plea, and his next hearing is set for June 20, amidst his European tour that kicks off on June 8 in Amsterdam. (Rolling Stone)

On Tuesday (May 20), Lady Gaga moved closer to achieving EGOT status following her Sports Emmy win for Outstanding Music Direction for her performance of “Hold My Hand” at the Super Bowl. Gaga’s Emmy win follows her 2019 Oscar for Best Original Song with “Shallow,” and her 14 Grammy Awards, with the pop superstar needing only a Tony Award to complete the EGOT. The Emmys highlighted Gaga’s achievement with a social media post, sharing a photo of her award-winning performance along with the caption, “Putting the "E" in @ladygaga's E-G-O...she's just short of the T!” There are a total of only 19 people who have previously achieved the coveted EGOT status, including Elton John, who joined the elite group in January when he was awarded an Emmy for his Disney+ show, Elton John Live: Farewell From Dodger Stadium. Other EGOT winners include Jennifer Hudson, John Legend, Viola Davis, Whoopi Goldberg, Audrey Hepburn, Rita Moreno, and Andrew Lloyd Webber. (Rolling Stone)

Sir Rod Stewart is set to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award and perform at the 2025 American Music Awards, marking the British rock legend’s return to the AMA stage for the first time since 2004. The 80-year-old Stewart joins the lineup of artists over 50 set to perform at this year's awards ceremony, including Jennifer Lopez, Gwen Stefani, Janet Jackson, and Gloria Estefan, alongside younger acts like Benson Boone, Reneé Rapp, and Lainey Wilson. Stewart has received numerous accolades throughout his celebrated career, including two inductions into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame – for his solo work and with The Faces – and a variety of Lifetime Achievement Awards in recognition of his four No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 and four No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200. Stewart will launch the North American leg of his "One Last Time" world tour this summer, as well as continuing “The Encore Shows” residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas from May-June and September-October 2025. (Billboard)

Hasbro is celebrating the 40th anniversary of Jem and the Holograms by releasing a new album, featuring six re-recorded songs from the original voice of Jem, Britta Phillips. Jem was an animated series that ran from 1985-1988, which featured outrageous ‘80s fashion and a synth heavy music soundtrack. In July, Hasbro is planning to release Jem and the Holograms on vinyl and digital platforms, including a reimagined version of the show’s theme song that just dropped, as well as updated renditions of "Only The Beginning" and "She's Got The Power." Phillips is excited to have the opportunity to revisit these classic tunes – and that iconic character – after all these years. “Seriously, I was thrilled to be asked to sing these songs again,” Phillips says. “I had listened to and sang many Jem songs at Jemcon last year, so they were very fresh in my mind. And I’m so excited for the Jem fans to hear them.” (Billboard)

On Monday (May 19), Lorde revealed on social media that her next single, "Man of the Year," is on the way soon. The post includes the single’s cover art – shot by American photographer Talia Chetrit – which features Lorde’s chest covered with a strip of duct tape, along with her caption: “Man Of The Year. An offering from really deep inside me. The song I’m proudest of on Virgin. Out next week.” The track will be the second single lifted from the pop superstar’s upcoming album, Virgin, following the April release of “What Was That,” which debuted at No. 36 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. While writing “Man of the Year,” Lorde shared with Rolling Stone that she taped her own chest with duct tape, a gesture “that was fully representative of how [her] gender felt in that moment. It sounds crazy, but I felt that all of a sudden, I was off the map of femininity. And I totally believed that that allowed things to open up.” Virgin is due out on June 27. (Billboard)

During a recent appearance on Outlaws with TS Madison, Chappell Roan candidly reflected on her experience of being labeled a 'villain' in the public eye, while expressing frustration with toxic fan behavior and societal expectations of pop stars. The Missouri native, who rose to fame in 2024 with her breakout hit, "Good Luck, Babe!," emphasizes her struggle to combat misperceptions and maintain boundaries amidst intense public scrutiny, drawing parallels to malicious past treatment of celebrities like Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan. “That behavior is still, they’re still doing it,” Roan explained. “Do you want me to just get to the point where I become agoraphobic? Or so stressed out or so anxious to perform? You want me to get to that point? If I do not stand up for myself, I will quit because I cannot bear this.” Roan is a first-time nominee at the upcoming American Music Awards, receiving seven total nods, including Artist of the Year, New Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, and Song of the Year. (Billboard)

Taylor Swift's "Look What You Made Me Do (Taylor's Version)" made a surprising appearance in a recent episode of The Handmaid's Tale. The reworked version of Swift’s lead single from her chart-topping 2017 album, Reputation, was featured in the opening scene of the penultimate episode of the Hulu series, as a group of rebellious handmaids walk purposefully in formation. “I’ve been wanting to use a Taylor song for many years on the show and we finally found the perfect spot for a track from her,” says the show’s star and executive producer Elisabeth Moss. “And I’m so glad we waited because there could not be a more perfect song for a more perfect moment. It’s such an honor to be able to use her music in the final episodes of our show.” Swift has been re-recording her first six albums in an effort to reclaim her masters, and only Reputation (Taylor's Version) remains, with fans speculating a possible album announcement at the American Music Awards on May 26. (Rolling Stone)

Jelly Roll was joined by special guest Eminem for a surprise performance of the rapper’s 2002 Oscar-winning hit, "Lose Yourself," at Detroit's Ford Field on Sunday night (May 18). Jelly started the song on his own before Em joined him during the second verse, with the duo joining together on the track’s rousing chorus. “Detroit, what up?! Make some noise for Jelly Roll!” Eminem said to the crowd as he was leaving the stage. “Long time, no see. I love y’all. Peace!” Jelly Roll was clearly thrilled to collaborate with the rap superstar in his home city, announcing to the audience, “If you can’t tell, that was a childhood dream come fu**ing true, Detroit. This is the greatest show I’ve ever had in my fu**ing life,” while adding that Eminem’s music “helped me through the darkest moments of my life.” The show was part of Post Malone’s ongoing Big Ass Stadium Tour, which is set to hit U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Tuesday (May 20). (Rolling Stone)

On Monday (May 19), the Whitney Houston Estate announced dates and details of "The Voice of Whitney: A Symphonic Celebration" Fall North American Tour. The series of eight shows will honor the late singer's legendary music career with performances that feature "the original master and remastered recordings of Whitney’s vocals set to new arrangements in a unique and one-of- a-kind reinterpretation of her classic hits and landmark songs." The press release adds that the events will be "accompanied by never-before-seen video footage and interviews, along with some of her historic performances." The tour will commemorate the 40th anniversary of Houston's music career, and it will kick off with two shows in Cincinnati on September 20-21, which will feature the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra with conductor Daniel Wiley. The tour will then make stops in cities such as Wilmington, Thousand Oaks, and Palm Desert, before wrapping up in Mesa, Arizona on November 22. Additional dates for 2025 and 2026 are set to be announced, with international shows being planned. (People)

On Sunday (May 18), Drake lost a $1 million bet on his hometown hockey team, the Toronto Maple Leafs, who lost a deciding Game 7 to the Florida Panthers. After the Leafs crushing 6-1 defeat on home ice, the rapper took to his Instagram Story to jokingly place the blame on the "Bieber curse," after Justin Bieber attended the game alongside his wife Hailey. Drake also pledged his support to fellow Canadian Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for the NBA MVP, writing “MVP R U DUMB” over a photo of the Oklahoma City Thunder superstar, who also made a cameo in Drake's "Nokia" video earlier this year. Bieber, for his part, shared photos of him and Hailey on Instagram, alongside words of encouragement for his favorite hockey club. “I don’t remember a time in my life when I haven’t been obsessed with the leafsssss. This year we made it farther than we have in so long and im happy about that. I can be patient cuz I know this is the team to do it.” (Billboard)