Metallica Announce Intimate NYC Show, Address Las Vegas Sphere Rumors

As Metallica announce one of their most intimate gigs to date, the group have addressed rumors their celebrated live show will be heading to the Las Vegas Sphere.

While metal icons Metallica are currently gearing up to embark upon the home stretch of their 2025 touring plans with shows in Australia, New Zealand, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, the group have announced a special one-off show in New York later this month.

Taking place on Aug. 28 at Stephen Talkhouse in Amagansett on Long Island, the 250-capacity venue makes the show one of the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers’ most intimate to date. 

Presented by SiriusXM to celebrate the launch of the Maximum Metallica channel the following day, tickets are being distributed via contests by both the band and Sirius XM.

Per Brooklyn Vegan, Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich spoke to Howard Stern on Wednesday (Aug. 6) to discuss the upcoming gig, where the co-founding percussionist also addressed current rumors that the band may be bringing their show to Las Vegas venue Sphere as one of its famed residencies.

According to a recent report by Vital Vegas, unnamed sources have pointed towards a potential residency from Metallica at the Sphere in fall 2026. However, Ulrich stated he was unable to confirm these rumors due to there being “nothing to confirm.”

“But I’m not going to deny it, because we’re all such fans of this venue,” he explained. “All of our managers and our production people have been there and looked at it. It’s something that we’re considering, [but] nothing is etched in stone or green-lit. It’s something that we’re looking at at some point when the 2026 tour is done.”

Officially known as Sphere at the Venetian Resort, the immersive venue officially opened its doors in September 2023, with U2 launching a 40-date run of shows at the venue. Since then, the likes of Phish, Dead & Company, the Eagles, and Kenny Chesney have all performed residencies, with the Zac Brown Band set to appear following the completion of the Backstreet Boys’ current run of shows.

“I was there seeing U2 the first night, when they took that stage, I wanted to see it for myself before I saw it on YouTube or read about it,” Ulrich told Stern. “I was there, like everybody else that was there that night, I was completely blown away, and felt that was the beginning of another chapter in live performances.”

“I’m not going to bulls–t you, I would f–king love to do it, let there be no question about it. It’s not signed, sealed and delivered, but speaking to me and asking my opinion I would f–king love to do it.”

Metallica will wrap their 2025 touring plans with tours of Australia and New Zealand in November, followed by dates in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. Their current M72 World Tour will wrap in July 2026 following dates in Europe and the U.K..

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Kelly Clarkson Postpones August Las Vegas Residency Dates

Kelly Clarkson’s Las Vegas residency is taking an unplanned break, with the star postponing the remainder of the planned August dates for her Studio Sessions concert series.

Clarkson announced the news on the evening of Wednesday (Aug. 6), citing familial health issues as the reason behind the decision.

“While I normally keep my personal life private, this past year, my children’s father has been ill and at this moment, I need to be fully present for them,” Clarkson wrote in a statement shared to Instagram.

“I am sincerely sorry to everyone who bought tickets to the shows and I so appreciate your grace, kindness and understanding.”

The affected dates include planned shows for Aug. 8-9 and 15-16.

Kelly Clarkson: Studio Sessions was announced in early February. Clarkson expressed excitement about returning to Vegas following 2023 and 2024 residencies at PH Live at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino.

However, the recent cancellation is not the first issue this current residency has experienced, with Clarkson abruptly cancelling the July 4-5 opening weekend just 90 minutes before the scheduled start.

“We have been working 24/7 to make Studio Sessions the most intimate and extraordinary experience with and for my incredible fans,” Clarkson explained at the time. “The prep and rehearsals have taken a toll on my voice.

“I want the shows to be perfect for y’all and I need to protect myself from doing serious damage so I am taking this weekend and next week to rest up so that we can deliver what you all deserve.”

Clarkson ultimately took to the stage the following week, on July 11, to formally launch the series, with both the singer and audience clearly enjoying themselves.

“I hope you enjoy tonight,” she told the opening night crowd, hinting at a possible live album release for the shows. “We’re having a good time, as if we were literally in the studio creating a live record, which I’m going [to] sell this [as] one day.”

Clarkson is currently scheduled to resume her Studio Sessions residency in November, with dates planned for Nov 7-8 and 14-15. No replacement dates for the postponed August shows have been announced as yet.

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Eddie Palmieri, Legendary Pianist, Composer & Bandleader, Dies at 88

Eddie Palmieri, the Grammy Award-winning pianist, bandleader, musician, and composer of Puerto Rican ancestry who revolutionized Latin jazz and salsa over a more than seven decades career, has died at 88. He passed away Wednesday (August 6) in his New Jersey home, according to a statement posted on his official Instagram account.

One of the most influential figures in Latin music history, Palmieri was born in Spanish Harlem to Puerto Rican parents and was greatly influenced by his older brother, the pioneering Latin pianist Charlie Palmieri. “Together, the Palmieri brothers helped define the sound of Latin music in New York City and beyond, each leaving a distinct legacy,” reads the post.

Known for pioneering progressive salsa and Latin jazz, blending American jazz with Afro-Caribbean rhythms, Palmieri founded in 1961 La Perfecta, a band that redefined salsa with its use of trombones in place of trumpets, introducing a new sound that became Palmieri’s musical signature. His 1965 classic “Azúcar Pa’ Ti” has been recognized for its cultural significance – in 2009, it was inducted into the Library of Congress of the United States. He also blended Latin music with funk, soul, and socially conscious messaging in his innovative 1971 album Harlem River Drive.

On the Billboard charts, Palmieri had seven entries on the Jazz Albums ranking – from Palmas (1994) to Listen Here! (2005) -– and eight entries on Top Tropical Albums, including three top 10s: Obra Maestra: Mastepiece (2000) with Tito Puente, Ritmo Caliente (2003), both of which reached No. 5, and Eddie Palmieri Is Doin’ It In The Park: The EP (Soundtrack), which peaked at No. 7. He also had presence on Traditional Jazz Albums (nine entries, two of them in the top 10), Top Latin Albums (one entry at No. 7) and Tropical Airplay (one entry).

Winner of the NEA Jazz Masters Award as well as multiple Grammy and Latin Grammy Awards, Palmieri received in 2013 a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Latin Recording Academy.

“It is with deep sorrow that we mourn the passing of maestro Eddie Palmieri, a pioneer of salsa, a visionary of Latin jazz, and an eternal revolutionary of rhythm,” the Latin Recording Academy said on a statement. “His talent broke barriers, merging tradition with innovation and leaving an indelible mark on generations of musicians and music lovers. […] He always had a deep commitment to culture, and his invaluable contributions cemented him as one of the great pillars of the Latin sound worldwide.”

Eddie Palmieri’s wife for almost six decades, Iraida Palmieri, whom he lovingly called “Mi Luz Mayor,” passed away in 2014. He is survived by their five children – daughters Gabriela, Renee, Eydie and Ileana, and son Edward Palmieri II – and four grandchildren.

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Nogizaka46’s ‘Same numbers’ Hits No. 1, ENHYPEN’s ‘Shine on Me’ Follows at No. 2 on Japan Hot 100

Nogizaka46’s “Same numbers” soars to No. 1 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100, on the chart released Aug. 6.

The J-pop girl group’s 39th single dropped on July 30 and sold 775,982 copies in its first week (No. 1 for the metric), powering the track to the top spot from No. 41. This is the second-biggest first-week sales for any act this year, and is also significantly more than the group’s previous single, “Navel Orange,” which launched with 611,511 copies.

The top 3 songs with highest first-week sales this year so far are:

1. Snow Man “SERIOUS” (909,496 copies)
2. Nogizaka46 “Same numbers” (775,982 copies)
3. &TEAM “Go in Blind” (620,541 copies)

“Same numbers” also comes in at No. 10 for downloads, No. 27 for streaming, and No. 6 for radio airplay. It’s the popular group’s 29th No. 1 hit on the Japan Hot 100.

ENHYPEN follows at No. 2 with “Shine On Me.” The track is off the group’s fourth Japan single called “YOI” and is being featured as the ending theme song for the drama series Ebi datte Tai ga tsuritai. The track launched with 575,330 copies to come in at No. 2 for sales, while also hitting No. 18 for downloads, topping radio. The K-pop group scores its fifth top 10 hit on the Japan Hot 100.

HANA’s “Blue Jeans” is at No. 3. The track tops streaming for the third week in a row, while radio is at 115% compared to last week.

LiSA’s “Shine in the Cruel Night” rises a notch to No. 4. The theme song for the latest Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba blockbuster movie is up to 114% for streaming and 109% for video views.

Mrs. GREEN APPLE’s “KUSUSHIKI” rises 10-5 this week, coming in at No. 2 for streaming, No. 6 for video, No. 29 for downloads, and No. 21 for karaoke.

Other notable chart moves include 7m!n (Seven Minute) debuting at No. 8 with “JOY!,” veteran trio THE ALFEE’s “HEART OF RAINBOW” at No. 17, and King & Prince’s “I Know” at No. 31. Also, ORANGE RANGE’s “Hana” from 2004 makes its first-ever appearance on the Japan Hot 100 at No. 47.

The Billboard Japan Hot 100 combines physical and digital sales, audio streams, radio airplay, video views and karaoke data.

See the full Billboard Japan Hot 100 chart, tallying the week from July 28 to Aug. 3, here. For more on Japanese music and charts, visit Billboard Japan’s English X account.

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Chappell Roan Rides ‘The Subway’ to First Post-Release Performance & Admits She’s ‘Really Nervous’ at Oslo Festival: 9 Best Moments

Before Chappell Roan took the main stage at Øyafestivalen on Wednesday (Aug. 6) night in Norway, thousands of fans in fuzzy pink cowboy hats, chalky white face paint and a variety of looks from her music videos waited patiently on the tree-dotted lawn of Oslo’s gorgeous Tøyen Park.

From a nearby stage, Australian punk band the Chats could be heard raging about everything from identify theft to the rising cost of smokes. For those unfamiliar with Roan’s live sets, the pre-show sonic bleed might have seemed like an incongruous juxtaposition, given that Roan is ostensibly a pop artist. But when she hit the stage for her Øyafestivalen debut, it quickly became clear that Roan and her all-female backing band can land a rock n’ roll punch just as well as a punk outfit (or any band that falls more obviously under the rock umbrella). The drums are hefty yet lean, thumping and energetic; the guitars crackle like fireworks and cut like buzzsaws; and Roan’s voice can give falsetto highs, growly lows and from-the-gut shrieks at a level above most pop stars.

Two years out from The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess and the runaway success of that LP and follow-up singles “Good Luck, Babe!” and “The Giver” (both Billboard Hot 100 top 10s), Roan is now on the Visions of Damsels and Other Dangerous Things Tour. The new stage design offers up an alternately whimsical and foreboding fairytale atmosphere, with red eyes peeping out from a stony gazebo, images of gargoyles flapping above church spires and an intricate art nouveau gate that looks like a castle one moment and a cemetery the next. It’s all fantastical camp, exactly the kind of heartfelt cosplay that has attracted LGBTQ people, allies and outside-the-box oddballs to Roan’s world, which is both refreshingly candid and playfully unserious, sometimes within the same song.

Here are nine highlights from Chappell Roan at Øyafestivalen, from the first post-release performance of new single “The Subway” to a shout-out to her mom, who was in the crowd.

Billboard’s travel and accommodations for Øyafestivalen were provided by Music Norway, which was founded by the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Culture and Equality.

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Luke Combs Was Once Forced to Choose Between Music & A College Frat

With his stadium-packing shows and massive hits including “Beautiful Crazy,” “When It Rains It Pours” and his rendition of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car,” it may seem obvious that music has been Luke Combs‘ passion his whole life.

But even as a sophomore at Appalachian University in Boone, North Carolina, Combs was already having to make tough choices when it came to following that passion.

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During a recent episode of The Dog Walk With Eddie, Combs recalled that he had rushed at Kappa Alpha Order, but was quickly forced to make a decision between the fraternity and music, due to a scheduling conflict in which the frat’s “Big Brother” reveal happening the same night as his a cappella group’s concert.

“On Big Brother reveal night we had a concert for the a cappella group, the same night that was gonna be at the same time,” he said, adding that he was “already kind of over” the process of pledging for a fraternity.

“Why does anyone really join a fraternity? To go to parties and meet chicks is kind of the deal, right?” Combs said. “So I tell the guys, ‘Hey, I really gotta do this concert tonight.’ Because there’s only like 12 people in the group; it’s not like there’s a thousand guys in the a cappella group. I’m like, ‘Your boy’s got solos. I can’t just not go,’ [but] they were like, ‘You’re either doing this or that.’”

When he was forced by his potential fraternity brothers to choose, it seems his decision was quickly made.

“I was like, ‘Well, I’m doing that, dude. I’m out,’” Combs said. Reflecting on it, he said, “It was tough, but I made the right choice. … I ended up here … but I would have loved to do both. … There was no wiggle room.”

Though he added in the interview that he held “no hard feelings” after having made the decision, he noted, “I was just like, ‘I kind of already sing and I’m already kinda good at that. All I’m doing with you guys is paying to be your friend, which I already have a lot of friends anyways.’ It just didn’t line up.”

Of course, pursuing music has paid off for Combs. He just released his new song “Back in the Saddle,” and has had three top 10 hits on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 (so far). Four of his albums have reached the pinnacle of the Top Country Albums chart, while he’s garnered 18 No. 1 Country Airplay hits. After spearheading his Growin’ Up and Gettin’ Old Tour, Combs is playing shows in 2025 including Austin City Limits Music Festival in Austin, and his own Bootleggers Bonfire event, slated for October.

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Additional Performers Added to ACM Honors, Joining Luke Bryan & More

UPDATE (Aug. 6): The ACM Honors have added four new performers to its lineup. The additional performers are three-time ACM Award-winning songwriter Ashley Gorley, “Wind Up Missin’ You” hitmaker and ACM Award-nominated Tucker Wetmore, K. Michelle and Carter Faith.

Faith is gearing up to release her debut project Cherry Valley in October, while K. Michelle is known for songs including “The Rain” and previously joined Jelly Roll and the Fisk Jubilee Singers on a rendition of The Judds’ classic “Love Can Build a Bridge,” recorded as part of the project A Tribute to The Judds.

PREVIOUSLY (July 30): The first round of performers has been revealed for the upcoming 18th annual Academy of Country Music Honors, including three-time ACM entertainer of the year Luke Bryan, as well as eight-time ACM Award winner Karen Fairchild of Little Big Town, Amy Grant, Ashley McBryde and Carly Pearce and Russell Dickerson.

The ACM Honors are set for Wednesday, Aug. 20, at The Pinnacle in Nashville. Pearce returns to host the event for a fifth consecutive year, and will be joined by first-time ACM Honors co-host Dickerson.

This year’s honorees include executive Lori Badgett, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Jessie Jo Dillon, Jelly Roll, Cody Johnson, Mac McAnally, Rissi Palmer, Randy Travis, the film Twisters, Ben Vaughn and Lainey Wilson.

“I’m excited to return as host of ACM Honors for the fifth year in a row,” Pearce said in a statement. “This night holds a special place in my heart because it shines a light on the songwriters, musicians and industry voices who make what we do possible. It’s truly one of my favorite nights of the year. It will be such a full circle moment to cohost with one of my oldest friends in Nashville, Russell Dickerson.”

“It’s a real honor to be hosting ACM Honors for the first time — especially at The Pinnacle in the heart of Nashville,” Dickerson said in a statement. “This night is all about giving credit to the folks who keep the wheels turning behind the scenes, and I’m proud to be part of it. Getting to team up with Carly and celebrate the industry we love so much is going to be one for the books.”

Additional performers, presenters and event details will be announced in the weeks ahead. Tickets for the ACM Honors are available through AXS.

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Teyana Taylor to Undergo Vocal Cord Surgery After Noncancerous Growth Discovered: ‘This Moment Hurts’

Teyana Taylor revealed on Wednesday (Aug. 6) that she’ll be undergoing emergency surgery after a noncancerous growth was discovered on her vocal cords.

The rapper-actress shared the health update to her Instagram Story, but promised that while she’ll need to cancel some upcoming appearances, like an upcoming podcast with Michelle Obama, her Escape Room album rollout is going to continue with the project scheduled to arrive on Aug. 22.

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“I’ve been quietly dealing with some vocal challenges for a while now. And after a lot of back and forth with my doctors, I’ve been told I need vocal surgery immediately,” she wrote. “They found a noncancerous growth on one of my cords that’s been messing with my voice and causing real discomfort. Thankfully, we caught it & it’s treatable—but it does mean I need to pause and give myself time to fully heal.”

The 34-year-old continued: “That honestly breaks my heart. I don’t take lightly what it means to show up for y’all. I’ve poured so much of myself into this next chapter—especially the Escape Room, which is still dropping August 22! So no worries there. It’s the most personal body of work I’ve ever created. and the timing… it’s not lost on me. Just as I was getting ready to finally share this with you, life handed me my own unexpected ‘escape room’—one I didn’t ask for, but one I now have to find my way out of with patience, rest, and faith.”

Even amid the health battle, Taylor says she put her “whole heart into this music, this film, this rollout. And when I return, it’ll be with even more fire, more purpose, and the best version of me. Thank you for rocking with me through it all.”

Escape Room is set to boast 22 tracks, including her previously released “Bed of Roses” and “Long Time” singles and skits from Issa Rae and Lala Anthony.

The project serves as Spike Tee’s first LP since 2020’s The Album, which reached No. 8 on the Billboard 200 and No. 6 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.

2025 is shaping up to be another busy campaign for the Harlem native, who is starring in Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another film alongside Leonardo DiCaprio and Sean Penn, due out later this year.

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An Oral History of Pink Slip’s ‘Freakier Friday’ Reunion: Where Are Lindsay Lohan & The Rest of the ‘Girls in the Garage’ Now?

One of the most beloved bands of the early 2000s wasn’t even a real band.

When the Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis-starring Freaky Friday remake premiered in 2003, moviegoers were introduced to the teen garage band Pink Slip, led by Lohan’s Anna and her two besties Maddie (Christina Vidal) and Peg (Haley Hudson). Their song “Take Me Away” — originally released by Australian alt-punk band Lash in 2001 — was introduced in the film during a garage rehearsal, before Pink Slip takes the House of Blues stage for their big Wango Tango audition and Lohan and Curtis’ body-swap switch-back.

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Now, Pink Slip and “Take Me Away” are back in Freakier Friday, Disney’s 23-years-in-the-making sequel that hits theaters on Friday. This time around, Lohan’s Anna is still pals with Maddie and Peg, but she’s left Pink Slip behind to focus on her life as a mom to Harper (Julia Butters) and music manager to gen Z pop superstar Ella (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan). But the band finds its way back together in the film, starting with Anna’s karaoke-fueled bachelorette party and concluding, once again, on a big Los Angeles stage, this time upgrading to The Wiltern for the musical grande finale.

Ahead of the sequel’s release, Billboard caught up with the three women behind Pink Slip — Lohan, Vidal and Hudson — as well as film producer Kristin Burr (credited with reuniting all five of the original Pink Slip bandmates for Freakier Friday) and music producer Suzy Shinn (who channeled her previous work with pop/rock heavyweights like Weezer, Panic! at the Disco, Fall Out Boy and Katy Perry into a revamped recording of “Take Me Away” and three different versions of brand-new song “Baby,” a centerpiece of the movie’s new mother-daughter storyline between Lohan and Butters).

Below, find Billboard‘s oral history of the epic Pink Slip reunion for Freakier Friday.

–Additional reporting by Lyndsey Havens

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Managers Who Guided KISS, Alabama & Tom Waits Among 2025 Inductees Into Personal Managers Hall of Fame: Full List

Several music managers are among the National Conference of Personal Managers’ Class of 2025 inductees into the Personal Managers Hall of Fame. The class will be honored at a red-carpet reception and gala induction ceremony on Wednesday, Oct. 22 at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.

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Here’s a complete list of this year’s inductees, with music managers listed first:

Bill Aucoin (posthumous): A pioneering rock manager best known for launching KISS and guiding the career of Billy Idol. Aucoin died in 2010 at age 66.

Tony Conway: The CEO of Nashville’s Conway Entertainment Group manages top country artists Alabama, Lorrie Morgan, Randy Travis and Exile.

Stuart Ross: The Los Angeles-based music manager and festival producer has managed such artists as Tom Waits and Puddles Pity Party and is the past producer of Coachella, Lollapalooza and Stagecoach.

Burt Stein: A partner at Gold Mountain Entertainment in Nashville, he represents Ronnie Milsap, The Band of Heathens and other top country and Americana acts.

Howard Klein, Michael Rotenberg, and Erwin Stoff: The three are co-founders of 3 Arts Entertainment, a Beverly Hills–based talent management and production powerhouse. Over nearly 35 years, they have guided the careers of such stars as Jessica Alba, James Downey, Francis Lawrence, Matt LeBlanc, Kristin Chenoweth, Michael Green, Mindy Kaling and Matt Reeves. The trio also produced acclaimed projects such as The Office, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, King of the Hill, 13 Hours, The Matrix and Late Night.

Joe Stabile: The longtime personal manager of the late comedian and humanitarian Jerry Lewis died in 2004.

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“The 2025 inductees reflect the extraordinary influence, ethics, and legacy of personal management that the Hall of Fame exists to honor,” Clinton Ford Billups Jr., national president of the National Conference of Personal Managers (NCOPM), said in a statement.

Established in 2015, the Personal Managers Hall of Fame has inducted more than 50 industry legends, including Sid Bernstein, Bernie Brillstein, Brian Epstein, Danny Goldberg, Ken Kragen, Doc McGhee, Patricia McQueeney, Dolores Robinson, Jack Rollins and David Spero.

Inductees are selected by the national board of officers of NCOPM, the nation’s oldest trade association dedicated to advancing the profession of personal management. Nominations are accepted annually from professionals across the personal management industry.

Reserved tickets for the Oct. 22 event are available online at the Personal Managers Hall of Fame’s official website. Tickets are $175, which includes both the reception (6 p.m. -7 p.m.) and the ceremony (7 p.m.- 8:30 p.m.)

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