On Thursday (May 15), Alex G announced the dates and details of his 2025 North American tour, which will feature some of the biggest shows of the indie rock pioneer’s celebrated career. The esteemed British musician Nilüfer Yanya will be the opening act for the entire 16-show run. The tour kicks off on September 11th at Roadrunner in Boston, and will feature high-profile shows at notable venues including the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, and Radio City Music Hall in New York City, before finishing up at the Fillmore in Philadelphia on October 11. An artist pre-sale starts on Tuesday (May 20), and general on-sale begins on Thursday (May 22), with Alex G partnering with PLUS1 to contribute $1 per ticket to local youth services. Alex G's recent works include scoring Jane Schoenbrun's 2024 horror film, I Saw the TV Glow, while his latest studio album was 2022’s God Save the Animals. (Consequence of Sound)

Lizzo joined host Jake Shane on a recent episode of Therapuss, where the music superstar reflects on the impact of viral fame and shares insight into her upcoming album, Love in Real Life. Lizzo also discussed the unexpected breakthrough moment for her 2017 single, "Truth Hurts," which was featured in the 2019 film Someone Great, propelling the track to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. “The sync changed my f—ing life,” Lizzo recalled of the track’s inclusion in the movie. “They put it in Someone Great in 2019. I was like, ‘Okay, cool.’ That s— went so crazy. It launched ‘Truth Hurts’ to the No. 1 song. A song that had been out for three years.” Lizzo also opened up about the emotional process of writing music, while emphasizing the personal nature of her new album, which is slated for release later this year. (Billboard)

The visual accompaniment to Miley Cyrus' forthcoming album, Something Beautiful, will be screened in theaters worldwide. The short film, which is described by Cyrus as a "pop opera fueled by fantasy," will feature all 13 songs from the album. It is set to premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 6, which will also include an exclusive conversation with the Grammy-winning pop superstar following the screening. That event will be followed by a one-night-only showing in North American theaters on June 12, with international screenings set for June 27. “Something Beautiful is my dream project come true—fashion, film, and original music coexisting in harmony,” Cyrus said of her new record and the accompanying 55-minute movie. Miley is producing the project as well as directing the film alongside Jacob Bixenman and Brendan Walter, with engineer Alan Meyerson mixing the music specifically for movie theaters. (Rolling Stone)

In a revealing new Rolling Stone cover story, Lorde shares her past struggle with an eating disorder, detailing her obsession with being thin while vividly recounting moments of feeling hungry and weak. Despite her newfound freedom onstage and joy from connecting with fans during her 2022 Solar Power Tour, Lorde grappled with an eating disorder that began during the pandemic and continued through her 2023 breakup with longtime partner Justin Warren. Once Lorde was able to overcome her fixation on thinness, she allowed herself to take up more space physically, creatively, and emotionally, leading to the creation of her new album, Virgin. “Once I stopped doing that, I had all this energy for making stuff,” Lorde said. “I could see that if I cut that cord, maybe I would get something back that I needed to do my work. And it was totally true. Got it all back, and way more.”

Elsewhere in the interview, Lorde opens up about discussing her gender identity with Chappell Roan, who has become a close friend over the past year. “[Chappell] asked me this … She was like, ‘So, are you nonbinary now?'” Lorde recalled. “I was like, ‘I’m a woman except for the days when I’m a man.' I know that’s not a very satisfying answer, but there’s a part of me that is really resistant to boxing it up.” (Rolling Stone)

Chris Brown was arrested in Manchester, England on Thursday (May 15) over an incident at a London nightclub in February 2023, and he was subsequently charged with suspicion of grievous bodily harm. The arrest came after music producer Amadou “Abe” Diaw filed a $16 million lawsuit against Brown in October 2023, alleging that the R&B superstar attacked him with a tequila bottle and stomped on him during the nightclub altercation, which resulted in him sustaining severe injuries. “A 36-year-old man was arrested at a hotel in Manchester on Thursday, 15 May on suspicion of grievous bodily harm,” London police said. “He has been taken into custody, where he remains. The investigation is being led by detectives from the Central West Area Basic Command Unit.” A representative for Brown has yet to comment on the charges, and it remains unclear how the arrest will impact the singer’s upcoming 20th-anniversary tour in the U.K., where he has a series of stadium shows scheduled throughout June. (Rolling Stone)

Only five months after dropping Missionary with Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg has surprise released his new album, Iz It a Crime?, on Thursday (May 15). The 21-track project features collaborations with Wiz Khalifa, Sexyy Red, Pharrell, and more, along with a title-track that appropriately samples Sade’s “Is It a Crime.” “Just some of the things that I do, that I’ve done, that have been speculation, and I just want to ask the question, ‘Is it a crime?’ Is it a crime for me to do the things that I do,” Snoop said in an Access Hollywood interview on Tuesday (May 13). “Is it a crime for me to take care of people, to love people, to be there for people? Is it a crime for me to be me?” An accompanying Iz It a Crime? short film provides a visual companion to the album, with the movie premiering during a private screening in NYC on Tuesday night.

In additional Snoop news, as part of his NBCUniversal deal, the rapper will host a two-hour variety special from Miami titled Snoop Dogg’s New Year’s Eve, which will air on NBC on December 31 from 10:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. ET. (Billboard)

Jennifer Lopez is recovering from a nose injury she sustained during rehearsals for the 2025 American Music Awards, where she is set to host for the second time on May 26th. The entertainment icon revealed on her Instagram Story that she underwent emergency treatment by plastic surgeon Dr. Jason B. Diamond and receiving stitches, though Lopez did not reveal how she sustained the injury. “Thank you for stitching me up Dr. Diamond,” Lopez said. “A week later and a whole lotta ice, I’m good as new.” JLo shared a series of images documenting her recovery, where she was holding an ice pack to the bridge of her nose, with a red wound visible on her face. As for the AMAs itself – which returns after a two-year hiatus – the ceremony will feature the first TV performance by Janet Jackson in seven years, with the musician also set to receive the ICON Award during the event. Kendrick Lamar received the most AMA nominations with ten total nods. (Rolling Stone)

Charli XCX is marking the 5th anniversary of her album, How I’m Feeling Now, by sharing a heartfelt letter to fans on Instagram. She also announced a music video for the viral hit track, "party 4 u," which recently entered the Billboard Hot 100 five years after its release. “I made the album in just five weeks, from conception to release, entirely publicly in collaboration with all of you,” Charli wrote about the album’s origins, which was created during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. “It was so special. I felt like I rediscovered myself, my sanity + my sense of connection with the world, at a time where we were all so alone.” Despite the record’s modest commercial success – peaking at No. 111 on the Billboard 200 chart – it remains a fan favorite, and the social media buzz surrounding “party 4 u” prompted Charli to unveil plans to release an accompanying music video on Thursday (May 15). Charli just finished her Brat Tour in the U.S., and she’ll kick off the European leg on May 31 in Poland. (Billboard)

On Wednesday (May 14), Rihanna took to social media to announce the upcoming release of her first song in nearly three years, "Friend of Mine," which will be featured on the upcoming Smurfs movie soundtrack. In addition to her music being included as part of the film, Rihanna will also provide the voice of Smurfette in the movie, alongside fellow stars John Goodman, James Corden, Nick Offerman, and Sandra Oh. The song – which is officially set to drop on Friday (May 16) – is featured in the new trailer for the animated film, which will hit theaters on July 18. In addition to RiRi’s highly-anticipated new song, the Smurfs soundtrack will also feature a contribution from Tyla as well as the track “Higher Love” by DJ Khaled, Cardi B, and DESI TRILL, which was released back in February. “Friend of Mine” is Rihanna’s first new release since 2022’s “Lift Me Up” from the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack, while her last studio album was 2016’s Anti. (Rolling Stone)

On Tuesday (May 13), Kali Uchis announced the dates and details of ‘The Sincerely, Tour.’ The 24-date North American arena trek will feature special guest opening act Thee Sacred Souls, and is set to kick off on August 14 in Portland and finish up on September 25 in Denver, while making high-profile stops at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles (August 20) and Madison Square Garden in New York (September 11). The tour is in support of Uchis new album, Sincerely, which was released on May 9, with the multi-lingual singer’s shows set to feature her “most intimate and vulnerable body of work to date,” with songs that are “a testament to the curative power of deep love, and a powerful representation of the way Uchis romanticizes life and her inner world.” Presales for tickets begin on Wednesday (May 14), with general sales launching on Friday (May 16) via Uchis's website. (Billboard)

The 29th annual Webby Awards were held on Monday (May 12) at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City. During the ceremony, Ice-T presented fellow rap legend Snoop Dogg with the Webby Entrepreneur of the Year Award in recognition of his leadership in the online cannabis industry, his record label, and multiple other ventures. “Of course, the internet changed the game,” Ice said during his presentation speech. “But one thing didn’t change: Snoop Dogg. He’s never gonna change, and Snoop is still on top.” The event was hosted by comedian Ilana Glazer, with a series of awards honoring the technological achievements of music artists such as Questlove, Kendrick Lamar, Laufey, and U2, whose U2: UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere, won for ‘AI, Immersive & Games, Best Performance 2025.’ New Webby Awards executive director Jesse Feister said, “What I love most about the internet is that it gives talented, self-made, creative people a way in. And tonight’s winners are proof of that.” (Billboard)

Abel Tesfaye has been hinting that he will bring an end to his long-standing musical alter ego, The Weeknd, following the release of his sixth album and the accompanying movie of the same name, Hurry Up Tomorrow. Despite previously stating his intent to retire the persona at the culmination of his current album trilogy – which includes 2020’s After Hours, 2022’s Dawn FM and January 2025’s Hurry Up Tomorrow – the 4-time Grammy winner now suggests the possibility of a new direction during a recent interview with EW. “It feels like it [the end of the Weeknd],” Tesfaye says. “I mean, I’ve kind of toyed with the idea in the past with albums.” He adds that this isn’t the first time he’s considered doing away with his alter ego, “But it could also just be a rebirth. Who knows?” he teased. The movie, which premieres on Friday (May 16), features Tesfaye playing a fictionalized version of himself, also named Abel, who goes on a wild adventure with Anima, portrayed by Jenna Ortega. (Billboard)

Janet Jackson will receive the ICON Award at the 2025 AMAs, and is also set to perform at the ceremony, marking her first television performance in seven years. The event is set to take place on May 26 at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas, and coincides with Jackson's ongoing residency at the Resorts World Las Vegas, which is set to start back up again on May 21. Jackson has won a total of 11 AMAs over the course of her four-decade career, and she will become only the third recipient of the ICON Award, following Rihanna in 2013 and Lionel Richie in 2022. Jackson last performed on television in 2018 at the Billboard Music Awards. The AMAs return after a two-year hiatus, and will introduce three new categories to mark the occasion – Album, Song, and Social Song of the Year. Jennifer Lopez will host the show, with Kendrick Lamar leading all artists with 10 nominations. The live broadcast will air on CBS and stream on Paramount+. (Rolling Stone)

Cassie Ventura took the stand on Tuesday (May 13) and testified in a packed courtroom against her ex-boyfriend, Sean "Diddy" Combs, accusing the disgraced music mogul of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse spanning over a decade. Ventura described instances of physical abuse and detailed disturbing "freak-offs" orchestrated by Combs that made her feel humiliated and degraded. “He would smash me in my head, knock me over, drag me, kick me, stomp me in the head if I was down,” Ventura said of Combs' history of abuse. She testified about Combs' control over her life, including dictating her actions, appearance, and music career, alleging that her talent was stifled under his influence. Ventura – who confronted Combs in the courtroom for the first time since their 2018 breakup – is a key witness in the criminal case, with her testimony mirroring her previous civil lawsuit from 2023 that ultimately launched the federal investigation. Ventura is the third witness to testify in the high-profile trial that is expected to last eight weeks, with Combs facing five felony counts and the possibility of life in prison if convicted. (Rolling Stone)

After a fan stole Twenty One Pilots' drum during a performance in Manchester on Sunday night (May 11), the band's fanbase mobilized to help investigate and recover the stolen instrument. The thief was caught on video leaving the venue with the drum, prompting fans to launch a makeshift investigation in hopes of identifying the culprit. With the help of the fan community and key details provided by witnesses, the drum was successfully tracked down to a hotel across from the arena, where it was retrieved by the band's security team. “We Have The Drum!!!!!!” Twenty One Pilots’ crew member Sax shared on Instagram the next morning. “Thank you for all the tags and information. You guys rock!🤘” The incident sparked outrage among fans, who saw the theft as a violation of their close-knit community, and they expressed relief and gratitude once the drum was safely returned to the band. (Rolling Stone)

Model Denise Bidot has accused rapper Lil Wayne of abuse after he allegedly broke up with her via text message on Mother’s Day. Bidot detailed the ordeal on her Instagram Story, revealing that Wayne’s assistants ejected her and her daughter from his residence despite her ongoing recovery from recent surgery. In her posts, Bidot accused Wayne of emotional abuse and claimed that the rapper physically harmed her, while expressing her plans to pursue legal action and seek support from lawyers. “It’s not just the emotional abuse,” Bidot said. “This man has actually laid a f—ing hand on me. And I took it. And you know what’s crazy is, they always say we’re so stupid for love, and I thought it was a mistake. But I know other women he’s put his hands on.” Bidot and Lil Wayne had been in a relationship since 2019, and the couple made it public in 2020. They briefly split in 2022, and reunited thereafter, though recent events have led to Bidot speaking out against the rapper’s alleged mistreatment. (Billboard)

On Sunday (May 11), Kid Cudi announced the upcoming release of his debut book, Cudi: The Memoir, which is scheduled for publication on August 5 via Simon & Schuster . The Cleveland rapper will delve into his upbringing and the highs and lows of his music career, while sharing personal stories that reflect on his struggles with mental health. The book will be a collection of life lessons and experiences that is accompanied by Cudi's own artwork, which is featured on the cover and throughout the 320-page book. “I cannot wait for u guys to read it. Its filled w so much about my journey from my first memory to turning 40,” Cudi wrote. “I hope this book does what my music does for u and gives u guidance and hope that u will make it through those difficult times. Get ready, you’ll all understand me a lot more after this.” Cudi also just released his new single, "Neverland," ahead of the June 7 premiere of his short film of the same name at the Tribeca Film Festival. (Rolling Stone)

Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s “Luther” tops the Billboard Hot 100 chart for a 12th consecutive week. The hit collaboration now holds the record for the most weeks spent at No. 1 among duets by co-billed lead solo men and women, surpassing Puff Daddy and Faith Evans’ “I’ll Be Missing You” (featuring 112), which topped the charts for 11 weeks in 1997. “Luther” also becomes the longest-leading R&B/hip-hop No. 1 on the Hot 100 this decade, surpassing the 11 week rule for Roddy Ricch’s “The Box” in 2020.

Another historic milestone is set by Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” which rises one spot to No. 4, securing a 44th week in the Hot 100 Top 5, surpassing The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” for the most weeks ever spent in the upper tier. Elsewhere in the Top 10 this week, Alex Warren’s “Ordinary” remains at its No. 2 peak, Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ “Die With a Smile” holds at No. 3, Drake’s “Nokia” falls one spot to No. 5, Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club” stays at No. 6, Teddy Swims’ “Lose Control” remains at No. 7, Benson Boone’s “Beautiful Things” moves up a slot to No. 8, Doechii’s “Anxiety” jumps up one spot to reach a new peak of No. 9, and Morgan Wallen’s “I’m the Problem” drops two spots to No. 10. (Billboard)

Tory Lanez was hospitalized after a prison stabbing on Monday morning (May 12). Following the brutal attack, Lanez was rushed to a nearby hospital in Bakersfield, California, to treat his injuries. The Canadian musician was reportedly in the prison yard of California Correctional Institution when he was stabbed, though details of the attack and its motive remain unclear. Lanez was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2023 after being convicted on three felony counts related to the shooting of Megan Thee Stallion. On Friday (May 9), just days before the stabbing, the hip-hop star shared an Instagram slideshow of him surrounded by fellow inmates, while giving an update on a future project he has in the works. “UPDATE : 2025,” Lanez captioned the post. “IYKYK LESS IMPORTANT UPDATE : 2ND ALBUM 100 % RECORDED, MIXED & MASTERED NEW ALBUM. NEW GENRE: SLUTTY BASS SUMMER 2025.” No update on Lanez’s condition has been shared as of yet. (Billboard)

Madonna is partnering with Netflix and director Shawn Levy for an upcoming limited series about her life and music. The show is separate from a previous Madonna film project affiliated with Universal Pictures that was halted back in January 2023. Details regarding the new limited series, including which part of Madonna's life will be depicted and who will portray her, remain unknown. Madonna previously put the Universal biopic on hold to conduct The Celebration Tour in 2023-2024, which was one of the fastest-selling tours of all time with more than 1.2 million tickets sold, eventually grossing $225.4 million from 80 shows worldwide. Madonna was personally involved in that shelved project, co-writing two drafts of the film's script with Diablo Cody and Cressida Wilson, with Ozark’s Julia Garner apparently tapped to star as the singer in that film. (Variety)