Russ, the artist best known for his eight-times-platinum single “Losin Control,” was honored for his achievements as a songwriter at the just-concluded Music Biz conference in Atlanta on Thursday (May 14). At the event, he was presented with an NMPA Gold & Platinum Recognition plaque — commemorating his 26 RIAA-certified gold, platinum and multiplatinum songs as a songwriter — by the National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA).

“Russ represents exactly what the NMPA Gold & Platinum program was created to celebrate: exceptional songwriting that creates a lasting connection with audiences around the world,” said NMPA president and CEO David Israelite in a statement. “Today we are recognizing an extraordinary body of work spanning 26 certified songs across Gold, Platinum, Multi Platinum, and major milestone certifications, including ‘Best on Earth,’ ‘What They Want,’ and the 8x Platinum ‘Losin Control.’ These certifications are the most definitive measurement of a songwriter’s success, and Russ’s catalog reflects not only remarkable commercial achievement, but years of consistency, vision, and dedication to his craft.”

Over his career, Russ has scooped up 12 gold records, eight platinum records, three double-platinum records, a triple-platinum certification for “Best on Earth,” a five-times platinum certification for “What They Want” and an eight-times platinum certification for “Losin Control.” The awards were presented to Russ on stage after a fireside chat between Israelite and Sound Royalties founder and CEO Alex Heche.

According to Luminate, Russ’ catalog has garnered 8.2 million album consumption units and nearly 11 billion streams in the U.S. On a global basis, his streams total 24 billion.

“Russ’s career is a testament to what can happen when artistry, discipline, and long term vision come together,” said former Tunecore CEO Andreea Gleeson — who currently heads up her own Andreea Gleeson Advisory but has worked with Russ, who has some of his music distributed by Tunecore — in a statement. “What has always stood out to me from working with him over the years is not just that he is an exceptional artist, but that he is a truly exceptional songwriter and creative thinker across every part of his work. Whether it’s music, storytelling, live experiences, or the way he builds connection with fans, everything is approached with incredible intention. This recognition is such a meaningful reflection of the depth, consistency, and impact of his songwriting over time.”

Besides working as a songwriter and recording artist, Russ also serves as a record producer, entrepreneur, author and actor. He’s slated to star in the upcoming feature film Don’t Move.

“We’re incredibly proud to celebrate Russ and his many songwriting achievements,” said Sony Music Publishing senior director of creative Omar Grant in a statement. “He has built a catalog that continues to resonate with audiences around the world and across generations, and we are thrilled to see him receive this well-deserved recognition.”

“We’re especially excited to celebrate Russ at Music Biz this year because the conference is taking place in Atlanta, a city that has had such an enormous impact on global music and culture,” said Music Business Association president Portia Sabin in a statement. “Russ represents so much of what is shaping the future of the industry today through his artistry, songwriting, entrepreneurship, and direct connection with audiences. It felt incredibly fitting to recognize one of Atlanta’s most impactful artists in his hometown during this year’s conference.”

Julieta Venegas‘ new album Norteña plays out as the vibrant soundtrack of her life, weaving together the lively sounds and cherished memories of her Tijuana, Baja California roots.

“I was inspired by Los Tigres del Norte, Juan Gabriel, bandas and mariachis. We listened to a lot of Vicente Fernández. We were always singing rancheras by José Alfredo [Jiménez], going nuts with the karaoke,” she expressed in a press release.

Released on Thursday (May 14) via Altafonte, Norteña is more than just an album; it is a loving homage to the music and stories that filled her family gatherings as a child. The project blossomed during two turning points in Venegas’s life: after years spent in Buenos Aires, she felt an irresistible pull back to Mexico City. Crafting Norteña became her way of returning home in spirit, long before she set foot there again.

During an intimate listening session in Miami back in April, after receiving the Artistic Excellence Award at Billboard‘s 2026 Latin Women In Music gala, Julieta shared just how deeply Norteña resonates with her. The album not only revives her norteño roots through the soulful accordion and a memorable collaboration with the legendary Mexican band Bronco, but also breathes life into a song she had long envisioned. She always imagined the voice of Bronco’s lead singer, José Guadalupe Esparza, on the track, and when she finally reconnected with Bronco’s frontman, his encouragement inspired her to complete it. That moment sparked the creation of the cumbia “Volver a ti,” which pulses with the unmistakable Bronco spirit.

Among the album’s standout moments is her duet with longtime friend Natalia Lafourcade, “Tengo que Contarte,” a midtempo ranchera adorned with saxophone and guitar that feels like a heartfelt exchange between close companions. Julieta also joins forces with Yahritza y su Esencia on the heart-wrenching “La Línea,” which addresses the pain of separation caused by deportations and immigration policies in the United States. And she reflects on her own journey in “Terca,” a spirited polka inspired by her daring move to Mexico City at 21. The song’s title nods to her father’s nickname for her, a playful tribute to her stubborn determination to chase her dreams.

Another of the album’s most joyful tracks is a touching song she wrote to celebrate her father’s 80th birthday, “Te Celebramos,” finally granting his long-held wish for a song of his own. She says he always asked her to write him a song, and now thinks her mother will ask for one, too, since she will be turning 80 this year as well.

Stream and listen to Norteña below.

Usher has won a court ruling allowing him to proceed with $700,000 legal claims against music producer Bryan-Michael Cox over a loan for a failed Atlanta restaurant.

A Monday (May 11) ruling in Fulton County court, first obtained and reported by Billboard, says Cox and his business partners cannot dismiss the lawsuit brought against them by the star (born Usher Raymond IV) this past November. This means the case will now move forward into evidence discovery and toward a possible trial.

Cox, whose work with Usher and other R&B artists like Mariah Carey earned him a spot on Billboard’s top producers of the 21st century list, was part of a team that developed plans for a restaurant called “Homage ATL” in 2024. Cox’s business partners in the project were songwriter Keith Thomas, who’s also credited on multiple Usher hits, including the chart-topper “Love In This Club,” and Charles Hughes, who was previously involved in T.I.’s own troubled Atlanta restaurant.

Usher alleges these men approached him in 2024 about investing in the restaurant as a full partner and that he declined, instead opting to lend them $1.7 million to help fund the purchase of a $6 million building in Atlanta’s upscale Buckhead neighborhood. The real estate deal ultimately fell through, and Usher asked for his money back.

According to the lawsuit, the group’s attorney, Alcide Honoré, returned $1 million to Usher. But $700,000 is still missing — and the singer says Honoré effectively admitted that the funds had been improperly spent elsewhere. Now, Usher is leveling breach of contract claims against Cox, Thomas, Hughes and Honoré over the loan balance.

Cox and Thomas both argued that a judge should dismiss them from the case because Honoré was the sole person responsible for processing Usher’s loan, and they had no involvement in the movement of the funds. But Judge Craig L. Schwall Sr. denied the motion during a Monday hearing in Atlanta.

“Construing the pleadings in plaintiff’s favor, those allegations are sufficient to survive dismissal at the pleading stage,” wrote the judge in his order. “Plaintiff has plausibly alleged that the moving defendants solicited, directed, benefited from, or retained the funds at issue, notwithstanding that the funds were routed through defendant Honoré’s attorney trust account.”

Hughes has not responded to the lawsuit. Honoré, meanwhile, countersued Usher last year for interfering with his reputation. Judge Schwall ruled Monday that this counterclaim “appears inartfully pled and may ultimately prove deficient as matter of law,” but he declined Usher’s request to dismiss it outright.

A lawyer for Thomas, Leron Rogers of the firm Fox Rothschild, told Billboard on Thursday (May 14) that they “respectfully disagree with the court’s ruling on procedural grounds.” According to Rogers, Judge Schwall made clear during Monday’s hearing that Honoré will be primarily responsible for explaining where Usher’s $700,000 has gone.

“Our client is aligned with the court’s primary question toward defendant Honoré concerning the location of Mr. Raymond’s money,” said Rogers. “We await attorney Honoré’s response.”

Lawyers representing Usher and the other defendants did not immediately return requests for comment. When the case was first filed, Cox wrote on Instagram that he was only a “passive minority shareholder” in Homage ATL: “I was not a participant in that business transaction and have no involvement in the ongoing legal process,” he claimed. “While I’m unable to share more details right now, I want to make one thing absolutely clear: my 27-year friendship with @usher remains fully intact.”

Coran Capshaw, founder of Red Light Management, will receive the lifetime music industry award at the T.J. Martell Foundation’s 51st annual New York Honors Gala on Tuesday, Sept. 15, at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City.  The event is the foundation’s primary annual fundraiser.

Capshaw has built Red Light into the world’s largest independent artist management company, where he personally manages Dave Matthews Band, Phish, Chris Stapleton and The Strokes, among others.  Beyond management, he has helped shape acclaimed music festivals and venues across the United States.

Capshaw is consistently ranked highly on the Billboard Power 100 List (he ranked No. 19 on the latest list, published in January). He also received an award for personal manager of the year at the 37th Annual Pollstar Awards last month in Los Angeles, as well as the City of Hope’s Spirit of Life Award in 2017. In 2011, he became the first artist manager to receive the Humanitarian Award at the Billboard Touring Awards.

“We are deeply honored to recognize our esteemed music industry colleague Coran Capshaw with this year’s Lifetime Music Industry Award, a tribute to decades of remarkable dedication and philanthropic leadership,” said Steve Gawley, executive vp of Republic Co/head of business & legal affairs at Republic Collective and chairman of the board of trustees at T.J. Martell Foundation. “Coran’s enduring commitment to philanthropy, as well as his ability to rally artists in support of meaningful causes, has made a profound impact on our community. We are proud to shine a spotlight on Coran’s exceptional leadership and lasting contributions to the causes that matter most.”

“I’m honored to support my longtime friend and colleague Coran Capshaw as he receives the T.J. Martell Foundation’s Lifetime Music Industry Award,” said Elliot Groffman, partner at Carroll Guido Groffman Cohen Bar & Karalian, LLP. “In all the years I’ve known Coran and worked alongside Red Light and their artists, philanthropy has always been close to his heart — particularly causes like T.J. Martell, which hits close to home for so many of us who’ve lost friends and colleagues to cancer.”

“I am incredibly honored to support this life-saving work,” Capshaw said in a statement. “Giving back has always been important to me, and being able to engage our generous music community to support vitally important organizations such as the T.J. Martell Foundation is something I’m proud of and will keep doing my part however I can.”

The event’s red carpet will be sponsored by Live Nation. The program will include special performances and celebrity presenters to be announced in the weeks ahead.

For more information on the T.J. Martell Foundation, visit their website. Click here to view tables, tickets, sponsorships and tribute journal ad opportunities.​