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Rihanna Surpasses 100 Million Monthly Spotify Listeners for the First Time

Rihanna Surpasses 100 Million Monthly Spotify Listeners for the First Time

Rihanna has officially joined Spotify’s most elite club — surpassing 100 million monthly listeners for the first time ever. Rihanna is now the 11th artist in Spotify history to pass 100 million monthly listeners, joining a lineup of legends like Bruno Mars, The Weeknd, Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, and Ed Sheeran. It’s been nearly a decade since her last studio album ANTI dropped in 2016, yet her presence on the charts hasn’t faded one bit. What’s wild is that Rihanna has only released four fea


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U.S. Revokes Visas Over Comments Made About Charlie Kirk’s Death

U.S. Revokes Visas Over Comments Made About Charlie Kirk’s Death

The Trump administration has cancelled the visas of at least six people for public comments made about the murder of right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk. In a post on X, the US Department of State wrote: "The United States has no obligation to host foreigners who wish death on Americans." It shared screenshots of six social media posts which it said were examples of foreign visa holders welcoming Kirk's death in September, and suggested further visa cancellations would follow. Kirk, an ally of


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Nicki Minaj Says She’s Quitting Music After Jay-Z and Roc Nation Rant

Nicki Minaj Says She’s Quitting Music After Jay-Z and Roc Nation Rant

Nicki Minaj has shocked fans by announcing she’s walking away from music altogether. The rapper took to X on Wednesday to reveal she’s canceling her next album after calling out Jay-Z and Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez in a fiery online outburst. They came BEGGING the QUEEN for a tour & album & I said NOPE!!!!! LMFAO. Wanted to patch it up. They needed help from the QUEEN & the BARBZ. I called the Barbz on the secret BARB phone & it was a resounding NOOOOOOOO. just like the casinooooooooooooooooo


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Beyoncé Pays Tribute to D’Angelo Following His Passing

Beyoncé Pays Tribute to D’Angelo Following His Passing

Beyoncé shares an emotional tribute following the passing of D’Angelo. D’Angelo passed away at the age of 51. According to reports, the Neo-soul pioneer passed following a a private battle with pancreatic cancer. “Rest in peace, Michael Eugene Archer, known to the world of music as the inimitable D’Angelo. We thank you for your beautiful music, your voice, your proficiency on the piano, your artistry,” Beyonce writes via her website. “You were the pioneer of neo-soul and that changed and trans


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A$AP Rocky Won’t Reveal Any More Release Dates for ‘Don’t Be Dumb’

A$AP Rocky Won’t Reveal Any More Release Dates for ‘Don’t Be Dumb’

A$AP Rocky is preparing for a highly anticipated comeback with his forthcoming album, Don’t Be Dumb—his first full-length project since Testing in 2018. In a recent conversation with Numéro Magazine, published Monday, the Harlem rapper opened up about his decision to take a more deliberate approach to releasing new music. For Rocky, the focus now is less about timing and more about quality. “Honestly, I’m done discussing release schedules,” Rocky said. “I believe in letting the work speak for i


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Killer Mike and JID to Induct Outkast Into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Killer Mike and JID to Induct Outkast Into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

On November 8, Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater will host one of the year’s most anticipated music events. Sleepy Brown, Killer Mike, and JID are set to perform a tribute to Outkast as the Atlanta duo is officially inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Fans and artists have long called the honor overdue, recognizing Outkast’s groundbreaking influence on Southern hip-hop. Their enduring mark on global music culture makes this tribute significant. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame confirmed the lin


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New York City Sues Social Media Platforms For Allegedly Creating ‘Screen Addicts’

New York City Sues Social Media Platforms For Allegedly Creating ‘Screen Addicts’

New York City filed a sweeping federal lawsuit Wednesday against several major social media companies, alleging that their platforms have fueled a youth mental health crisis by intentionally designing addictive products that exploit the psychological vulnerabilities of minors. The 327-page complaint, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, names Meta Platforms Inc., ByteDance Ltd., Alphabet Inc., and Snap Inc. as defendants. City officials accuse the companies o


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MTV to Shut Down All Its UK Channels by End of 2025

MTV to Shut Down All Its UK Channels by End of 2025

MTV, the American 24-hour music broadcaster, is set to shut down five of its channels by the end of 2025. BBC reports that the affected UK channels include MTV Music, MTV 80s, MTV 90s, Club MTV, and MTV Live. It is understood that they are all set to go off air on December 31. The shutdown is also expected to extend beyond the UK, with MTV music channels in countries such as Australia, Poland, France, and Brazil likely to be affected. However, MTV HD, the flagship channel, will remain on air


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Taylor Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl Shatters Multiple U.K. Chart Records — Biggest Opening Since 2017

Taylor Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl Shatters Multiple U.K. Chart Records — Biggest Opening Since 2017

Taylor Swift’s record-breaking week continues as she bags No. 1 spots on the U.K.’s Official Albums Chart and Official Singles Chart following a gargantuan debut for The Life of a Showgirl (Oct. 10). Her 12th studio album nets Swift her 14th No. 1 in the U.K. overall, while lead single “The Fate of Ophelia” earns the superstar her fifth U.K. No. 1 single. The Life of a Showgirl gives Swift her biggest opening week ever in the U.K. with 423,00 units across physicals, streaming and downloads, su


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YoungBoy Never Broke Again Explodes at Fan for Throwing Objects During South Carolina Show

YoungBoy Never Broke Again Explodes at Fan for Throwing Objects During South Carolina Show

YoungBoy Never Broke Again threatened to beat a fan after he kept getting pelted with objects during a tour stop in Columbus, South Carolina. During YoungBoy’s latest performance on Thursday, the rapper paused his rowdy setlist to address a rambunctious fan in the crowd who kept throwing items onstage. “I had to calm myself down,” YoungBoy said in part. “Throw one more thing up here, I’mma whoop your a–, boy. Throw one more.” He went on to reiterate he would beat him down if he threw one more


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Trump Threatens new 100% Tariff on Chinese Imports Amid Rising Trade Tensions

Trump Threatens new 100% Tariff on Chinese Imports Amid Rising Trade Tensions

President Donald Trump said Friday that he’s placing an additional 100% tax on Chinese imports starting on Nov. 1 or sooner, potentially escalating tariff rates close to levels that in April fanned fears of a global recession. The president said on his social media site that he is imposing these new tariffs because of export controls placed on rare earth elements by China. The new tariffs built on an earlier post Friday on Truth Social in which Trump said that “there seems to be no reason” to m


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Drake’s Defamation Lawsuit Against UMG Dismissed by Federal Judge

Drake’s Defamation Lawsuit Against UMG Dismissed by Federal Judge

A federal judge has reportedly dismissed Drake’s defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG), bringing an end to the rapper’s legal fight over Kendrick Lamar’s hit diss track, “Not Like Us.” According to reports, Judge Jeannette A. Vargas issued the ruling on October 9, 2025, concluding that the controversial lyrics at the center of the dispute—where Lamar accused Drake of being a “certified pedophile” and implied misconduct—were protected speech under the First Amendment. The Case:


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Warner Music & Netflix in Talks for Artist-Focused Films and Documentaries

Warner Music & Netflix in Talks for Artist-Focused Films and Documentaries

Warner Music Group is nearing a major content deal with Netflix to produce films and documentaries inspired by its legendary artists and songs, according to a new Bloomberg report. The discussions signal a renewed focus for the record label, which aims to turn its vast catalog into cinematic stories that resonate across generations. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Billboard On the Record (@billboardontherecord) The potential partnership would represent a strategic evolution


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Trump Announces Israel–Hamas Ceasefire Deal

Trump Announces Israel–Hamas Ceasefire Deal

United States President Donald Trump has announced that Israel and Hamas have agreed on the first phase of a peace framework that aims at a Gaza ceasefire, and the release of Israeli captives and Palestinian prisoners. The announcement follows from Trump’s 20-point plan to end the war on Gaza, which he announced last week, and which Israel, Hamas and most of the world broadly welcomed. More than 67,000 people have been killed in Israel’s war on Gaza, described by many international rights orga


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‘KPop Demon Hunters,’ ‘Wicked,’ ‘A Complete Unknown’ & MORE Lead 2026 Grammys Contenders for Best Compilation Soundtrack

‘KPop Demon Hunters,’ ‘Wicked,’ ‘A Complete Unknown’ & MORE Lead 2026 Grammys Contenders for Best Compilation Soundtrack

KPop Demon Hunters, which has topped the Billboard 200 for two nonconsecutive weeks, and Wicked, which debuted and peaked at No. 2 on that chart last December, are among the 48 soundtracks vying for Grammy nominations for best compilation soundtrack for visual media. Wicked received 10 Oscar nominations earlier this year, including nods for both of its main stars, Cynthia Erivoand Ariana Grande. Soundtracks from two other films that were major players at the Oscars on March 2 are also vying fo


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T-Pain’s Viral Track “Club Husband” Set to Drop October 17

T-Pain’s Viral Track “Club Husband” Set to Drop October 17

T-Pain’s unreleased track, “Club Husband,” has gained a life of its own on social media, with fans clamoring for an official release. On October 7, the award-winning recording artist took to Instagram to announce that the song behind the viral trend will be released on October 17. “Clearly you need a Club Husband [ring emoji] 10/17,” T-Pain captioned the post.  T-Pain would share a self-made Nappy Boy News newspaper to promote the upcoming song on social media. Promoting the presave option, th


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Ronaldo Becomes Bloomberg's First Billionaire Footballer

Ronaldo Becomes Bloomberg's First Billionaire Footballer

Cristiano Ronaldo has become football's first billionaire player, according to financial information and media firm Bloomberg. The Bloomberg Billionaires Index, external  which tracks the world's richest people based on their net worth, has measured the 40-year-old Portugal and Al-Nassr striker's wealth for the first time. The valuation takes into account career earnings, investments and endorsements and says Ronaldo's net worth is $1.4bn (£1.04bn). It says he earned more than $550m (£410m)


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Drake Surprises Toronto School While Supporting Son Adonis at a Soccer Game

Drake Surprises Toronto School While Supporting Son Adonis at a Soccer Game

Drake took a quieter stage this week—the sidelines of his son Adonis’s elementary school soccer game. The chart-topping artist, whose name is synonymous with global hits and cultural influence, appeared in fatherly form. He was cheering from the stands as cameras captured a rare moment of domestic normalcy. The brief break from promoting his upcoming album, ICEMAN, offered fans a glimpse of a superstar grounded in something more personal. In a clip shared by No Jumper, Drake strolled across t


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Central Cee Earns His First No. 1 on Rap & Rhythmic Airplay Charts With “Which One” — As Drake Extends His All-Time Record

Central Cee Earns His First No. 1 on Rap & Rhythmic Airplay Charts With “Which One” — As Drake Extends His All-Time Record

Drake strings together his fourth No. 1 in a row on Rhythmic Airplay, all coming in 2025. Drake’s 43rd No. 1 on Billboard’s Rhythmic Airplay chart is courtesy of his Central Cee collaboration “Which One,” which lifts 2-1 on the tally dated Oct. 11. With “Which One,” Drake strings together his fourth No. 1 in a row on the list — all coming in 2025. “Nokia” reigned for two weeks in May, followed by the PARTYNEXTDOOR and Cash Cobain collaboration “Somebody Loves Me” in July for a week and the thr


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Israel and Hamas Begin Indirect Talks in Egypt Over Trump’s Gaza Peace Plan

Israel and Hamas Begin Indirect Talks in Egypt Over Trump’s Gaza Peace Plan

Indirect talks aimed at reaching a final agreement on a US peace plan to end the war in Gaza have begun in the Egyptian city of Sharm El-Sheikh.  Palestinian and Egyptian officials have told the BBC that the sessions are focused on "creating the field conditions" for a possible exchange that would see the release of all Israeli hostages in return for a number of Palestinian prisoners. Hamas has said it agrees to the peace plan proposals in part, but has not responded to several key demands - i


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AI 2Pac Video Sparks Widespread Concern About the Future of Digital Legacy

AI 2Pac Video Sparks Widespread Concern About the Future of Digital Legacy

The swift rise of artificial intelligence has ushered in a new—and increasingly divisive—chapter for pop culture. This includes AI-generated videos that recreate the likeness of celebrities, both living and long gone. One recent viral example shows the late 2Pac casually shopping at a Target. This scene is so eerily lifelike that it’s both fascinating and deeply unsettling. While many marvel at the technology, others see it as crossing a moral threshold. They argue that reviving public figures


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2026 GRAMMYs: Over 1,000 Songs Battle for Eight Nomination Slots

2026 GRAMMYs: Over 1,000 Songs Battle for Eight Nomination Slots

The race for the 2026 Grammy Awards is heating up as over 1,000 songs are competing for only eight nomination spots in the Song of the Year category. Billboard reports that the category received 1,015 entries this year, making it the most competitive category in the entire awards. In contrast, Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media had only 48 submissions, the lowest number recorded. Voting for the 68th Grammys opened on Friday, October 3. Members of the Recording Academy have until Octo


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Kendrick Lamar Eyes History with 2026 Grammy Submissions

Kendrick Lamar Eyes History with 2026 Grammy Submissions

Kendrick Lamar has officially entered the race for the 2026 Grammy Awards, staking his claim as hip-hop’s leading creative force with his latest album, GNX. This album is a collection of collaborations that have reignited his dominance. As the discourse around Lamar’s evolution deepens, this moment feels like a defining close to a remarkable chapter. This chapter is shaped by his influence in the post-Drake landscape. GNX, along with collaborations featuring SZA, Playboi Carti, and Clipse, anc


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US Treasury Weighs $1 Coin Featuring Donald Trump Ahead of America’s 250th Anniversary

US Treasury Weighs $1 Coin Featuring Donald Trump Ahead of America’s 250th Anniversary

The US Treasury Department is considering minting a one-dollar coin that features President Donald Trump, in order to commemorate the country’s 250th independence anniversary, officials said Friday. In a social media post retweeted by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, US Treasurer Brandon Beach shared early drafts of the coin. Beach posted “first drafts” of the design on X, adding that he was “looking forward to sharing more soon, once the obstructionist shutdown of the United States governmen


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