A paparazzo and photo agency have dropped lawsuits alleging Jennifer Lopez infringed their copyrights by posting pictures of herself outside a Golden Globes pre-party to Instagram and X without paying to license the images.

Federal court notices from Saturday (June 28) say photographer Edwin Blanco and agency BackGrid USA are voluntarily dismissing the pair of lawsuits they brought against Lopez last month. These types of dismissals are often the result of settlements, though it’s not clear whether the pop singer and actress paid to get the cases dropped.

The lawsuits centered on two images of Lopez standing outside the Amazon MGM Studios x Vanity Fair Party at Los Angeles’ swanky Bar Marmont the night before the Golden Globe Awards in January.

A lawyer for Blanco and BackGrid, who own the photos, claimed Lopez posted them to both her Instagram and X pages on Jan. 5 without permission. This supposedly set off a spate of reposts from fan pages and fashion brands, including the designer of a faux fur coat Lopez was wearing in the pictures.

Blanco and BackGrid’s attorney said he contacted Lopez’s team about the alleged copyright infringement soon after these posts went up. They had “fruitful discussions” about a monetary settlement, the lawyer claimed, but failed to reach a deal before the lawsuit was filed.

The legal complaint accused Lopez of willful infringement under the federal Copyright Act, carrying possible damages of up to $150,000 per photo.

The lawyer for Blanco and BackGrid and reps for Lopez did not immediately return requests for comment on Monday (June 30).

It’s quite common for celebrities to be sued for posting paparazzi photos of themselves on social media. Major artists, including Miley Cyrus and Justin Bieber, have settled similar lawsuits in the last few years, and Robin Thicke was sued for the same thing earlier this month.

As Billboard wrote in 2022, U.S. copyright law is on the side of photographers and image licensers. Though it may seem odd, celebrities do not automatically co-own images of themselves and therefore don’t have the right to repost them for free.

Shortly after Olamide presented EMPIRE founder and CEO Ghazi with the Clive Davis Visionary Award at Billboard‘s first Global Power Players event in London last month, the YBNL label boss didn’t rest on his laurels and continued refining his craft on his 11th studio album, Olamidé. The Nigerian rap legend taps in with Wizkid twice on the horn-heavy “Kai!” single (featured in last month’s African Fresh Picks column) and boastful “Billionaires Club” cut with Darkoo while linking up with American hip-hop heavyweight Dr. Dre on the smooth “Indika” collab with Spinall.

After becoming the first Ghanaian solo female act to perform at Coachella this past spring, Amaarae continues to put her cultural pride on display with her third studio album Black Star, due Aug. 8 via Interscope Records. And she fuses highlife, kpanlogo and more on the LP’s lead single “S.M.O.,” which stands for “Slut Me Out.” Meanwhile, there are new heavyweight cuts from Young Jonn, SPINALL, Crayon, BNXN and more.

We’ve highlighted 10 of our favorite new songs by African acts that have come out roughly within the last month. Check out our latest Fresh Picks, and curate your new soundtrack for the summer with our Spotify playlist below.

Odeal, “London Summers” 

Odeal is ready to be outside with a new ting on his arm on “London Summers,” the first single from his upcoming EP The Summer That Saved Me. Shae Jacobs and Jack Dine blend the shuffling percussion of house with Afrobeats and R&B’s breezy grooves to create Odeal’s latest day party jam. And his sensual lyrics, like “Headed back to your place/ I done fell in love with your taste/ Never get enough of your fragrance” capture the fleeting exhilaration of a summertime fling – as well as the hope it lingers a little longer after the season’s over.  

Bloody Civilian, “Ladida” 

The Nigerian singer-songwriter-producer returns with “Ladida,” her first single of 2025. The rousing Afro-fusion production soundtracks the hormonal rush that only her lover gives her, but the lighthearted bounciness of her “La-di-da-da-da-da” hook puts her back at ease.  

Maleek Berry feat. Wizkid, “Situation” 

Maleek Berry reunites with longtime collaborator and friend Wizkid on the sizzling highlight track “Situation” from his debut album If Only Love Was Enough. Berry finds himself stressing over a girl who’s giving him the run around, but Wiz reminds her she’d still be his even in another life. “Back in the day we understood each other very well, and I think that’s what has allowed us to keep this connection for all these years and understand each other musically for all these years,” Berry told Clash of his working relationship with Wizkid. 

Amaarae, “S.M.O.” 

Amaarae champions sexual liberation and summertime gratification on “S.M.O.,” the slinky lead single from her upcoming third album Black Star. In a press release, the Ghanaian-American star says “S.M.O.” is inspired by “Ghanaian ‘80s highlife trailblazer Ata Kak and blends it with a mean Detroit club bass, a drum roll akin to both Magic System’s ‘1er Gas ‘1er Gaou’ and Michael Jackson’s ‘Rock With You’ and an infectious zouk melody that sounds like a steel pan lipsing an evil synth.” She compares the song’s sensual messaging to Janet Jackson’s “The Pleasure Principle” and Donna Summer’s “Love to Love You Baby,” adding, “I don’t know how much clearer one can get when they ask you to ‘SLUT ME OUT.’”  

Olamide, Wizkid & Darkoo, “Billionaires Club” 

Olamide is living it up on “Billionaires Club” with Wizkid and Darkoo from his latest self-titled album. P.Priime’s blissfully laidback production provides the perfect backdrop for Olamide and Wiz’s braggadocious verses. Meanwhile, Darkoo impressively holds her own while putting her sexy touch on the third verse that brings the song to a sweeping, cinematic close.  

Olamide, “1 Shot”

Olamide’s self-titled latest album is full of outstanding collaborations with some of the brightest lights in Nigerian music right now: Wizkid, Seyi Vibez, Darkoo, Asake, SPINALL, Young Jonn and Boj among them, and he even clears space for a Dr. Dre verse. But he hardly needs help in producing a great song, and on the solo cut “1 Shot” he reminds everyone that he’s hands down among the greatest and deserves mention among his peers on the continent. It’s an instantly catchy track with throwback vibes and a swagger to it that only really he can pull off.

Young Jonn feat. Asake, “Che Che”

Long a superproducer in his own right, Young Jonn at this point can be considered at the forefront of Afrobeats as a lead artist, too, with a track record of dropping big hits for a few years straight now — and this collaboration with the young legend Asake stands alongside his other recent work in that regard. It’s an intricate production, with Jonn taking the first verse and the hook before clearing way for Asake to do his thing. 

Spinall feat. Destin Conrad and JayO, “Want You”

DJ Spinall has, like Young Jonn, made a successful foray into lead artist territory in the last few years, and seems to save his best stuff for his own projects. This one has a late-night sweaty summer dancefloor vibe, as excellently produced as anything in his catalog, with breathy vocals to match. His instrumentation has always stood out, and does again here.

Crayon, “Roju”

“Roju” is a vocal showcase for the Nigerian singer, as well as a love song to both a woman and the world. With a hard-driving drum background that belies its light and airy feel, Crayon delivers a big standout in his career in time for the summertime, with a hook that soars majestically over a swelling organ. 

BNXN & FOLA, “Very Soon”

BNXN has become one of the most reliable hitmakers in the game over the past few years, with his heartfelt and melodic vocals often shining through brightest. On this track, he and FOLA trade lines seamlessly and effortlessly, with the young singer fitting right in on the emotional track about a strained relationship that both sides are trying to save.

A lawsuit accusing Chris Brown of assault at a London nightclub in February 2023 has been dropped by the accuser, Abe Diaw.

According to L.A. County court documents viewed by Billboard, Diaw requested on Friday (June 27) that the suit be dismissed with prejudice, meaning he can’t refile the case.

A filing with prejudice request can signal that a settlement was reached, but that is yet to be confirmed by either party involved.

Diaw claimed that Brown struck him multiple times with a bottle of Don Julio 1942 at Tape nightclub and proceeded to stomp on him, which allegedly left the music producer injured and temporarily unconscious.

Brown is still facing criminal charges in the case. He was arrested at a Manchester hotel on May 15 as he arrived in Europe for tour rehearsals and was charged with one count of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, as well as additional counts of assault causing bodily harm and possessing an offensive weapon.

Brown was initially denied bond, which put his Breezy Bowl XX tour in jeopardy, until the R&B singer secured a lucrative bail package for $6.75 million on May 21.

The R&B star appeared in London court on June 20 to plead not guilty to a charge of serious assault. He’s due back in court on July 11; a trial has been set for Oct. 26, 2026.

Brown is currently wrapping up the European leg of his Breezy Bowl XX tour with dates set for Glasgow and Paris this week. He’ll then head to the U.S., where the first show of his stadium trek is slated for Miami on July 30.

Billboard has reached out to attorneys for Brown and Diaw.

The launch of The Berry Gordy Music Industry Scholarship at The Herb Alpert School of Music was announced today (June 30) by Universal Music Group (UMG) in partnership with The UCLA Foundation. The new scholarship — which will support students enrolled in the school’s Music Industry program — is the next chapter in the 2024 establishment of The Berry Gordy Music Industry Center at the school.

In announcing the new scholarship, Universal Music Group chairman/CEO Sir Lucian Grainge said in a statement, “For more than 65 years, Berry Gordy’s name has been synonymous with artistry and the transformative power of music. Through this scholarship, UMG is honoring his enduring legacy by investing in a new generation of young people who will help carry that spirit forward — creators and changemakers who will have an opportunity to reflect the innovation and entrepreneurial genius that Mr. Gordy helped bring to the world through Motown, Tamla and the pioneering sound of Detroit.”

“I am thrilled that my friend Sir Lucian Grainge and Universal Music Group have committed to support this program with their endowment that will help open doors for many more students and continue to pave the way for music to be a force for good and change,” added Gordy. “The center provides vital opportunities for students at UCLA to help prepare for careers in the music industry, so that future generations of young talent will continue to innovate, inspire and bring together culture and communities through the power of music.”  

Chosen by the director of The Berry Gordy Music Industry Center each year, a student exhibiting academic excellence and demonstrated financial need will be honored as a Berry Gordy Scholar and receive funding toward tuition, housing and other educational expenses. Recipients will also be eligible to receive the award in consecutive years, depending on continued financial need and academic engagement.

“UMG’s partnership with The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music reflects our belief that increasing access to education and professional training is a powerful tool for transforming the music industry,” commented Robert Fink, acting dean of The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music and director of The Berry Gordy Music Industry Center. “This endowment ensures that the next generation of music executives, artists and entrepreneurs will not only be inspired by Berry Gordy’s legacy of innovation but also equipped to build on it.”

The Berry Gordy Music Industry Scholarship also works in alliance with UMG’s three-year-old, ongoing Sounds of the Future campaign. Established by UMG’s Task Force for Meaningful Change in 2023, the campaign supports initiatives promoting Black creativity, the preservation of cultural heritage and equity in the music industry. According to the press announcement, the scholarship is also aimed at directly supporting Sounds of the Future’s “invest” pillar, which is focused on “advancing the commitment to schools, institutions and community-led programs that preserve and pass down the creative legacy of Black music for generations to come.”

Included among the investment initiatives launched by Sounds of the Future this year thus far are donations to two nonprofit organizations: Roots of Music in New Orleans and Girls Make Beats in Los Angeles. And, in honor of Black Music Month, UMG hosted an immersive art installation at its Santa Monica, Calif., headquarters, curated in partnership with the Brooklyn-based archive concept shop BLK MKT Vintage. The installation also featured a specially curated Sounds of the Future playlist spotlighting past and present culture-shaping artists.