5 Best Moments From Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres Tour Boston Show

Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres Tour has resumed in the United States, hitting cities that they missed during the first round of their tour. Back by fan demand, Coldplay not only added US dates, but added additional international dates at multiple stadiums. 

Last night, Coldplay played the first East Coast show of the highly-anticipated U.S. leg of the band’s record-breaking Music of the Spheres World Tour to over 66,000 ecstatic fans at Boston’s Gillette Stadium. 

The band first entered Billboard’s charts in 2001 with their breakout single “Yellow,” which peaked at No.48 on the Billboard Hot 100. Its growing popularity over the years has led to multiple successful releases and a strong chart presence, including 27 total entries on the Hot 100, five Top 10 hits, and two No. 1s. The band’s 27th and most recent entry is “Sparks” — originally released in 2000 on Parachutes—which saw a viral resurgence on social media platforms like TikTok. 

Coldplay’s additional tour dates celebrate its tenth studio album, Moon Music, which showcases a variety of sounds, while demonstrating the quartet’s stability in the industry and how far they’ve come since their first album, Parachutes, in 2000. 

Coldplay’s ability to sell out not just arenas but full stadiums has been a consistent hallmark of its touring history. This includes major global runs like the A Head Full of Dreams Tour (2017), the Viva La Vida Tour (2008) and the Mylo Xyloto Tour (2011), which helped cement the band’s reputation as one of the most in-demand live acts in the world. The Mylo Xyloto Tour in particular stands out — not only for its scale but for its innovation. It was the first to introduce Xylobands/LED wristbands that light up in sync with the music, pushing the boundaries of fan engagement through technology.

There’s truly nothing like a Coldplay tour. Following the close of the first leg of its international tour in 2024, it came as no surprise that the second leg — set for 2025 — sold out almost instantly. The band’s recent performance at Gillette Stadium marked the latest stop on a global run that spans Latin America, North America and Europe, with multiple-night stops in nearly every major U.S. city due to overwhelming demand.

Featuring a stacked set list from multiple albums, from Ghost Stories to Music of the Spheres to Moon Music, the show featured the band’s recent hits “My Universe,” “Higher Power” and “Let Somebody Go” alongside classics including “Yellow,” “Fix You,” “Viva La Vida” and “Adventure of a Lifetime.” Here are the top five moments from Coldplay’s first of two performances this week at Boston’s Gillette Stadium.

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Jane’s Addiction Members Sue Perry Farrell for ‘Brutal’ Onstage Assault: ‘Unprovoked Anger’

Three members of Jane’s Addiction have sued their frontman Perry Farrell over his viral onstage attack of guitarist Dave Navarro last year, claiming the incident was a “terminal inflection point” that lost the band millions of dollars from canceled tour dates and a derailed record deal.

The lawsuit, submitted in Los Angeles court on Wednesday (July 16) and obtained by Billboard, was brought by Navarro alongside Jane’s Addiction bassist Eric Avery and drummer Stephen Perkins. The trio reunited with Perry last year for their first tour all together since 2010, but things went haywire in September when Farrell punched Navarro onstage mid-set at Boston’s Leader Bank Pavilion.

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A now-viral fan video of the altercation shows Farrell shouting profanities and lunging at Navarro while he was mid-guitar solo in the song “Ocean Size.” Wednesday’s lawsuit calls Farrell’s alleged series of punches, which supposedly continued backstage after the band prematurely ended their set, “brutal and unprovoked.”

“Navarro was shocked by what he would later describe as the demonic look in Perry’s eyes,” writes attorney Christopher Frost in leveling seven claims, including assault, battery and breach of contract.

The band members allege that while Farrell initially apologized for the incident and took accountability, “the narrative quickly changed” as the singer and his wife, Etty Lau Farrell, blamed the other band members and onstage acoustics for his outburst.

Jane’s Addiction was allegedly forced to cancel the rest of its 33-date North American reunion tour after this incident, losing out on significant profits from a now-scuttled deal with Live Nation. They’ve also been unable to complete a planned album, forcing them to repay an advance to Warner Music Group’s ADA.

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“The band will never have their revival tour, to celebrate a new album and 40+ years of deep, complex, chart-topping recordings,” the lawsuit reads. “Instead, history will remember the band as suffering a swift and painful death at the hands of Farrell’s unprovoked anger and complete lack of self-control.”

The band members are seeking at least $10 million in damages from Farrell for this lost revenue, as well as for emotional and physical pain. They also claim Navarro lost $50,000 when he postponed his wedding in Scotland to go on the ultimately canceled tour, and that because he began working again, the guitarist was forced to give up $25,000 in monthly disability payments he had been getting due to long COVID-19.

In addition to laying out the alleged onstage attack in detail, Wednesday’s lawsuit also takes a series of other shots at Farrell. Navarro, Avery and Perkins say Farrell was exhibiting bad behavior from the start of the reunion tour, and he “frequently “forgot lyrics, lost his place in songs he had sung since the 1980s, and mumbled rants as he drank from a wine bottle onstage.”  

The band members also say Farrell has a history of “taking credit for others’ ideas and accomplishments. They claim the singer has spread a false narrative that he came up with the idea for Lollapalooza, when the festival was actually the brainchild of Perkins and touring executive Marc Geiger.

“To anyone who truly knows Perry, his conduct on the tour was emblematic of Perry’s continued self-aggrandizement,” the lawsuit says.

Reps for Jane’s Addiction and Farrell did not immediately return requests for comment on the allegations.

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Here’s How to Get Tickets to Nelly’s 2025 Where the Party At Tour With Help From StubHub

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Nelly is hitting the road this summer with a global tour celebrating the 25th anniversary of his debut studio album, Country Grammar, released in the 2000. The Where the Party At tour will span multiple U.S. cities, including Las Vegas, Dallas, Phoenix and Atlanta, with a few stops overseas in New Zealand, Australia, Canada and Europe, among others.

During the tour, the “Air Force Ones” rapper will be joined by a number of collaborators and friends including Ja Rule, Eve, St. Lunatics, Fabolous, Jermaine Dupri and Chingy on various stops. Additional surprise guests will be named as the tour proceeds. 

Nelly Concert Tickets: How to Get Them on StubHub Now

Nelly 2025 Where the Party At Tour Tickets

Buy Tickets here

You can grab your seats now, for an affordable price to boot, using StubHub. Tickets for certain cities go for as low as $34, some of the lowest prices we’ve seen from ticketing sites thus far. Some venues for the tour — such as PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, N.J., and Jiffy Lube Live in Bristow, Va. — are going fast. 

To simplify your search, StubHub allows users to sort by price and location to ensure the seats you snag are the best of the best. You’ll want to secure your seat soon. Wherever you choose to sit, be it balcony or front row, your ticket will get to you in a speedy manner ahead of the show.

If you’re a nervous Nellie (no pun intended) when it comes to ticket buying, don’t worry — you’re in good hands. StubHub’s FanProtect Guarantee offers the option to shop all dates and arenas easily. The initiative ensures valid tickets every time, or your money back.

Shop Nelly tickets on stubhub here

If your event gets canceled and is not rescheduled, you’ll be able to receive a credit worth 120% of the amount you paid for the impacted show. You also have the option of a cash refund. Additionally, in the rare instance of an issue with your order, StubHub will find a replacement for you without question. 

Not just for Nelly concerts, you can get seats to any ticketed event with StubHub. Looking for courtside seats to a heart-pounding NBA game? Or how about a great view of the Broadway stage for shows such as Gypsy or The Book of Mormon? StubHub has got you covered. You can shop tickets for just about everything from sporting events to comedy shows, concerts and music festivals with ease. Wherever your summer plans may take you, StubHub makes the ticketing process easy, so you can get to the good times faster.

Nelly’s 2025 Where the Party At Remaining Tour Dates

  • July 23 – Bristow, Va. @ Jiffy Lube Live  
  • July 25 – Virginia Beach, Va. @ Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach  
  • July 26 – Holmdel, N.J. @ PNC Bank Arts Center  
  • July 27 – Wantagh, N.Y. @ Northwell at Jones Beach Theater  
  • July 31 – Toronto, Ontario, Canada @ Budweiser Stage  
  • Aug. 1 – Buffalo, N.Y. @ Darien Lake Amphitheater  
  • Aug. 2 – Hartford, Conn. @ Xfinity Theatre^  
  • Aug. 3 – Mansfield, Mass. @ Xfinity Center  
  • Aug. 5 – Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio @ Blossom Music Center  
  • Aug. 6 – Bethlehem, Penn. @ Musikfest*~
  • Aug. 8 – Oshkosh, Wis. @ Crossroads 41 Festival*~
  • Aug. 9 – Clarkston, Mich. @ Pine Knob Music Theatre  
  • Aug. 10 – Cincinnati @ Riverbend Music Center  
  • Aug. 13 – Tinley Park, Ill. @ Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre  
  • Aug. 14 – Noblesville, Ind. @ Ruoff Music Center 
  • Aug. 16 – Greenwood Village, Colo. @ Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre*^ 
  • Aug. 22 – Concord, Calif. @ Toyota Pavilion at Concord  
  • Aug. 23 – Los Angeles @ Intuit Dome  
  • Aug. 27 – Chula Vista, Calif. @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
  • Aug. 28 – Phoenix @ Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre  
  • Sept. 4 – Houston @ The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion presented by Huntsman^  
  • Sept. 5 – Dallas @ Dos Equis Pavilion  
  • Sept. 6 – Oklahoma City, Okla. @ Zoo Amphitheatre*#
  • Sept. 9 – West Palm Beach, Fla. @ iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre  
  • Sept. 12 – Atlanta @ Lakewood Amphitheatre  
  • Sept. 13 – Raleigh, N.C. @ Coastal Credit Union Music Park
  • Sept. 14 – Charlotte, N.C. @ PNC Music Pavilion  
  • Sept. 16 – Nashville @ Ascend Amphitheater  
  • Sept. 18 – Birmingham, Ala. @ Coca-Cola Amphitheater
  • Sept. 19 – North Little Rock, Ark. @ Simmons Bank Arena 
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Watch ‘Sinners’ Star Miles Caton Show Off His Holy Vocals on Soulful Cover of SZA’s ‘Snooze’

Miles Caton isn’t missing his moment. Amid his newfound fame from starring in Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, the actor-musician showed off his vocal talents with a new cover of SZA‘s “Snooze” that fans are absolutely loving.

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SZA is seen arriving to her sunglass collab launch with Quay at Soho House's Little Beach House Malibu on May 16, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.

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In a recent TikTok, Caton sits in a recording studio while holding up a mic, casually spinning slightly in his swivel chair as he sings. “I can’t lose when I’m with you/ How can I snooze and miss the moment?” he croons with silky soulfulness. “You just too important/ Nobody do body like you do.”

Featured on SZA’s Billboard 200-topping album SOS, “Snooze” reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in October 2023, nearly a year after it was first released. Just a month before the song’s peak, Justin Bieber had joined SZA on an acoustic version of the track.

Caton’s followers loved what he did with the song, with one person writing in the comments of his TikTok, “I didn’t know I needed to hear sammie sing SZA until now,” referencing the name of his character in Sinners.

“sing it preacher boy!!!” another viewer wrote, while a third person commented, “i need you to drop some music like NOW.”

Sinners premiered in theaters in April, earning critical acclaim and marking Caton’s acting debut. In an interview with Variety that month, Coogler said that he knew there was something special about Caton from the moment he saw the young star’s audition tape.

“He was just in the dark — like he didn’t turn his lights on,” the director told the publication at the time. “Something about that was, like, so intriguing. This kid looked like he was in his basement, like in between homework assignments. But he had this voice — a once in a lifetime voice — and he also felt like the character.”

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Before making his acting debut, Caton gained traction as a musician, performing with artists such as H.E.R. In 2023, he dropped a single titled “This Ain’t It.”

Watch Caton’s cover of “Snooze” below.

@_milescaton_

Tell the truth..🤞🏾 #sza #snooze #sinnersmovie

♬ original sound – mil3scaton

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aespa’s Fashion-Forward ‘Dirty Work’ Merch Is Available Now: Here’s How to Get It

All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

aespa is dropping a slew of fashion-forward merch inspired by its latest single, “Dirty Work.” The synth-poppy rock-infused dance track, which arrived on June 27, has been embraced by fans. The track debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard Global 200 and No. 2 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. charts. This marks the group’s first top five hit on the Global 200 and the highest debut for a K-pop group on both charts in 2025 to date.

The merch launch is the second of its kind for the group. Merch offerings include a slouchy shoulder bag, jersey tees and postcard sets. Some of the pieces, such as the tees and postcards, feature designs specific to certain members so you can rep your favorite member — from Karina to Giselle to Winter and Ningning — in style.

aespa 'Dirty Work' Merch Is Now Available: Here's Where to Buy It

aespa Official Merch “Dirty Work” Relaxed Shoulder Bag

$55

Buy Now On Amazon

Retailing for $55, this slouchy shoulder bag is fixed with an all-over leopard print accompanied by silver star studs. The front pocket is embroidered with the group’s logo in black, a subtle nod at the K-pop act.

aespa 'Dirty Work' Merch Is Now Available: Here's Where to Buy It

aespa Official Merch “Dirty Work” Wide Tape

$10.00

Buy Now On Amazon

Playful and simple, this wide tape is another subtle decorative piece that doesn’t really look like traditional merch. The printed tape would look great affixed to books, binders and laptops.

Following the release of the mixed language track, a remix featuring rapper Flo Milli dropped along with a full Korean-language version. The music video also arrived on June 27. The dramatic choreography-heavy video was filmed at Hyundai Steel’s steel mill located in Dangjin, South Korea, and includes shots of heavy machinery to add to the industrial vibe.

Earlier in the year, aespa embarked on its SYNK: PARALLEL LINE world tour. The North American tour began Jan. 28 in Seattle and concluded on Feb. 15 in Chicago. The girls also stopped in London, Seoul and Japan. The “Whiplash” singers will be following up their second tour with Synk: Aexis Line, an Asia-only tour. The third tour will begin on Aug. 29 in Seoul and end on Nov. 27 in Osaka.

The group’s latest endeavor? A PUBG event. “On the final day of the PNC Final Stage, we’ll be performing ‘Dark Arts‘ live for the first time ever — only on the PNC stage,” the group announced July 13; the song arrived two days later on July 15.

aespa 'Dirty Work' Merch Is Now Available: Here's Where to Buy It

aespa Official Merch “Dirty Work” Jersey T-Shirt

$63

Buy Now On Amazon

If you’re looking to rep your bias in style, aespa features a unisex jersey for each member. The jersey is black and gray with white trim. “Dirty Work” graphics are on the front and short sleeves. The jersey is one size, but slightly boxy, so keep that in mind before purchasing.

aespa 'Dirty Work' Merch Is Now Available: Here's Where to Buy It

aespa Official Merch “Dirty Work” Postcard Set

$12.00

Buy Now On Amazon

If you’re looking for a collector’s piece, look no further than aespa’s “Dirty Work” postcard sets. These postcards come in a pack of eight, accompanied by one sticker. Each postcard set is designated for a specific member.

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Jason Aldean, Trisha Yearwood, Old Dominion & More Set to Perform at 2025 Nashville Songwriter Awards

Jason Aldean, Old Dominion, Trisha Yearwood, Lukas Nelson and Jessie Jo Dillon are among those set to perform at the 2025 Nashville Songwriter Awards, which will be held at the fabled Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on Sept. 23. Dillon has been nominated for the Grammy for songwriter of the year, non-classical, the last two years running.

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Other artists set to perform at the event are Kelly Archer, Drew Baldridge, Marc Beeson, Johnny Clawson, Travis Denning, Josh Dorr, Aaron Eshuis, Tyler Hubbard, Lalo Guzman, Cameron Jaymes, Tony Lane, Josh Miller, Tim Nichols, Josh Phillips, Daniel Ross, Chris Stevens, Kyle Sturrock, Chris Tompkins and Jimmy Yeary.

The awards, now in their eighth year, are presented by the Nashville Songwriters Association International along with presenting partner City National Bank. Tickets will be available on the Ryman’s website beginning on Friday, July 18, at 10 a.m. CT.

In addition, Alabama will receive the Kris Kristofferson Lifetime Achievement Award, and Brenda Lee will be honored with the NSAI President’s Keystone Award. The event will also recognize song of the year, songwriter of the year, songwriter-artist of the year, the 10 Songs I Wish I’d Written awards, and the legendary song award.

Both songwriter and songwriter-artist of the year are contingent on chart performance, while the other award categories are peer-voted and determined by NSAI’s professional membership of songwriters.

The song of the year award is given to the song that receives the most votes in the 10 Songs I Wish I’d Written voting process.

The legendary song award, which was introduced in 2024, was developed as a way to honor a song that is deemed legendary above all others in the designated time frame. The eligibility period for this year’s award was 1968-1984. The NSAI board of directors selected 10 songs from that time frame for the pro membership to vote on to determine the top legendary song.

The NSAI is the world’s largest not-for-profit songwriters trade organization dedicated to protecting the rights of and serving aspiring and professional songwriters in all genres of music.

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Tomorrowland 2025 Mainstage Destroyed by Fire Ahead of Festival

The mainstage at Belgian dance mega-festival Tomorrowland has been almost entirely destroyed by fire.

Footage shared Wednesday (July 16) by Belgian news station VRT NWS shows the festival’s biggest gathering area being consumed by flames. Separate videos viewed by Billboard by individuals on site at the event show the stage being entirely destroyed, with huge clouds of smoke rising from the stage.

The festival had not yet started and attendees were not on site, although event staff was present. It is not yet clear how the fire stared or if anyone has been injured. Billboard has reached out to representatives for the festival, but did not immediately get a response.

Tomorrowland 2025 is schedule to start this Friday, July 18, and extends through Sunday, July 20. Tomorrowland’s second weekend is scheduled to begin on Friday, July 25, and goes through the weekend. The world’s biggest dance music festival, Tomorrowland reports typically hosting roughly 400,000 attendees over its two weekends.

According to VRT NWS, emergency services are currently on site, and police spokesperson Joris Van Camp said in a statement that officials are “given maximum space to do their work. People’s safety is our top priority. We advise people experiencing odor nuisance to close their windows and doors and stay out of the smoke.”

The lineup for the 2025 event, the 19th edition of Tomorrowland, includes the who’s who of global dance music, with artists such as Martin Garrix, Steve Aoki, Armin van Buuren, Charlotte de Witte, David Guetta, Hardwell, Nervo, John Summit, Fisher, Amelie Lens, Alok, Agents of Time, Miss Monique, The Blessed Madonna all on the bill.

See the footage of the fire from VRT NWS below:

This story is developing.

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Alison Krauss & Union Station, Billy Strings Lead 2025 IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards Nominees

Alison Krauss & Union Station, Billy Strings and the Alison Brown/Steve Martin/Tim O’Brien collaboration “5 Days Out, 2 Days Back” lead the slate of nominees for the 2025 IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards, presented by Get It Played.

The 2025 IBMA Awards will be held Sept. 18 at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium in Chattanooga, Tenn., during the annual IBMA World of Bluegrass, which runs Sept. 16-20. This marks the awards ceremony’s first to be held at the venue in Chattanooga, following a long stint in Raleigh, N.C. The nominees and honorees announcement was made during a live event held at the SiriusXM Studios in Nashville.

Alison Krauss & Union Station, Strings, Appalachian Road Show, East Nash Grass and The Del McCoury Band are competing for the entertainer of the year honor. Alison Krauss & Union Station, who released their first project in over a decade earlier this year, were previously named entertainer of the year in 1991 and 1995. Strings took home the entertainer of the year honors in 2021, 2022 and 2023. Del McCoury Band’s 2024 win in the category marked their 10th overall entertainer of the year win. Meanwhile, the Appalachian Road Show celebrate their second nomination in the category, while East Nash Grass earn their first nomination in the category. (They earned the IBMA’s new artist of the year accolade last year.)

Also announced were this year’s Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame inductees, which are pioneering Black guitarist Arnold Schultz, who influenced musicians including Bill Monroe; bluegrass band Hot Rize (which included musicians such as Tim O’Brien, Pete Wernick, Nick Forster, Charles Sawtelle and Bryan Sutton over the years) and group The Bluegrass Cardinals, who toured from 1974 to 1997.

“IBMA is excited to bring the biggest night in bluegrass to our new host city, Chattanooga,”
Ken White, executive director of IBMA, said in a statement. “Our mission is to inspire innovation by recognizing the great work done by artists this past year and to honor tradition by inducting new members into the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame. The early influence of Arnold Shultz on Bill Monroe continues to shine through in the playing of even the youngest member of Kids on Bluegrass. You will undoubtedly see once in a lifetime performances. Don’t miss it.”

This year’s IBMA distinguished achievement award goes to five recipients: Alan Arthur Knoth, Penny Parsons, Ron Thomason, Sidley Austin LLP and Missy Raines.

Knoth, also known as “Cuzin’ Al,” a pioneering bluegrass radio host who influenced the bluegrass music community in Northern California. His career launched at KTAO in Los Gatos, Calif., in 1970 and continued at KFAT in Gilroy and at KPIG in Freedom. His show, “Cuzin Al’s Bluegrass Show,” highlighted traditional bluegrass music along with Hawaiian songs and comedic recordings. He also helped inspired the creation of the Santa Cruz Bluegrass Society and served on the California Bluegrass Association board.

Parsons spent more than 45 years advocating for bluegrass music as a writer, publicist, producer, manager and booking agent, launching her career in 1979. Her work has included time at Sugar Hill Records, Record Depot Distribution and MerleFest, as well as leading her publicity and promotions firm the Penny Parsons Company. Parsons has contributed to Bluegrass Unlimited since 1981 and worked with bluegrass artist Curly Seckler, working as his manager, producer and biographer from 2004 to 2017. Her accolades include the 2016 IBMA print media person of the year award and her biography, Foggy Mountain Troubadour earning the Association of Recorded Sound Collections certificate of merit.

Thomason, leader of the Dry Branch Fire Squad, began hosting the Grey Fox Festival in 1984. He started with Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys in 1969, then joined the Dry Branch Fire Squad and promoting traditional bluegrass music.

The law firm Sidley Austin LLP has contributed to the IBMA through pro bono legal services since 2015, when Sidley Austin partner and co-head of the company’s global corporate governance practice Holly Gregory initiated the partnership. The firm provided support in transitioning the IBMA to 501c3 nonprofit status, protecting the IBMA’s intellectual property and assisting with travel visa processes for international bands, among other support.

Trailblazing bassist Raines has won the IBMA’s bass player of the year honor 10 times and is the first woman to achieve the honor. She is known for work as a duo with Jim Hurst, but also for leading Missy Raines & the New Hip, co-founding the Helen Highwater Stringband and issuing the Grammy-nominated project Royal Traveller.

More nominations are set to be revealed, including nominees for the 2025 IBMA Momentum Awards, which highlight artist and industry professionals in the early stages of their bluegrass music careers, as well as the 2025 IBMA Industry Awards. The nominations will be announced the week of July 20.

See the full list of this year’s nominees below:

Entertainer of the year:

Alison Krauss & Union Station
Appalachian Road Show
Billy Strings
East Nash Grass
The Del McCoury Band

Song of the year:

“5 Days Out, 2 Days Back” – Alison Brown, Steve Martin, Featuring Tim O’Brien
Songwriters: Steve Martin/Alison Brown
Producers: Alison Brown/Garry West
Label: Compass Records

“Big Wheels” – Authentic Unlimited
Songwriter: Jerry Cole
Producer: Authentic Unlimited
Label: Billy Blue Records

“Coal Dust Kisses” – The Grascals
Songwriters: Susanne Mumpower/Jerry Salley
Producer: The Grascals
Label: Mountain Home Music Company

“My Favorite Picture of You” – Darin & Brooke Aldridge
Songwriters: Darin Aldridge/Brooke Aldridge/Dennis Duff
Producers: Darin Aldridge/Mark Fain
Label: Billy Blue Records

“Outrun the Rain” – Jason Carter & Michael Cleveland
Songwriters: Terry Herd/Jimmy Yeary
Producers: Jason Carter/Michael Cleveland
Label: Fiddle Man Records

Album of the year:

Arcadia – Alison Krauss & Union Station
Producer: Alison Krauss & Union Station
Label: Down the Road Records
Carter & Cleveland – Jason Carter & Michael Cleveland
Producers: Jason Carter/Michael Cleveland
Label: Fiddle Man Records

Earl Jam – Tony Trischka
Producers: Tony Trischka/Lawson White
Label: Down the Road Records
Highway Prayers – Billy Strings
Producers: Billy Strings/Jon Brion
Label: Reprise Records

I Built a World – Bronwyn Keith-Hynes
Producers: Brent Truitt/Bronwyn Keith-Hynes
Label: Sugar Petunia Records

Vocal group of the year:

Alison Krauss & Union Station
Authentic Unlimited
Blue Highway
Sister Sadie
The Del McCoury Band

Instrumental Group of the year:

Billy Strings
East Nash Grass
Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper
Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway
The Travelin’ McCourys

Gospel recording of the year:

“Blue Collar Gospel” – Jerry Salley Featuring The Oak Ridge Boys
Songwriters: Rick Lang/Bill Whyte/Jerry Salley
Producer: Jerry Salley
Label: Billy Blue Records

“Dear Lord” – Darin & Brooke Aldridge
Songwriter: Daniel Davis
Producers: Darin Aldridge/Mark Fain
Label: Billy Blue Records

“Even Better When You Listen” – Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers
Songwriters: Rick Lang/Mark BonDurant
Producer: Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers
Label: Billy Blue Records

“He’s Gone” – Jaelee Roberts
Songwriter: Kelsi Harrigill
Producer: Byron House
Label: Mountain Home Music Company

“Wings of Love” – Authentic Unlimited
Songwriters: Jesse Brock/Stephen Burwell/Jerry Cole/Eli Johnston/John Meador
Producer: Authentic Unlimited
Label: Billy Blue Records

Instrumental recording of the year:

“Bluegrass in the Backwoods” – Jason Carter & Michael Cleveland
Songwriter: Kenny Baker
Producers: Jason Carter/Michael Cleveland
Label: Fiddle Man Records

“The Drifter” – Danny Roberts
Songwriter: Danny Roberts
Producers: Danny Roberts/Andrea Roberts
Label: Mountain Home Music Company

“A Drive at Dusk” – Authentic Unlimited
Songwriter: Jesse Brock
Producer: Authentic Unlimited
Label: Billy Blue Records

“Kern County Breakdown” – Jason Carter & Michael Cleveland
Songwriter: Buck Owens/Don Rich
Producers: Jason Carter/Michael Cleveland
Label: Fiddle Man Records

“Ralph’s Banjo Special” – Kristin Scott Benson, Gena Britt & Alison Brown
Songwriter: Ralph Stanley
Producer: Alison Brown
Label: Compass Records

New artist of the year:

AJ Lee & Blue Summit
Bronwyn Keith-Hynes
Jason Carter
Red Camel Collective
Wyatt Ellis

Collaborative recording of the year:

“5 Days Out, 2 Days Back” – Alison Brown & Steve Martin Featuring Tim O’Brien
Songwriters: Steve Martin/Alison Brown
Producer: Alison Brown/Garry West
Label: Compass Records

“A Million Memories (A Song for Byron)” – Darin & Brooke Aldridge Featuring Vince Gill
Songwriter: Vince Gill
Producers: Darin Aldridge/Mark Fain
Label: Billy Blue Records

“Cora Is Gone” – Bobby Osborne & C.J. Lewandowski Featuring Rob McCoury & Billy Strings
Songwriter: Mac Odell
Producer: C.J. Lewandowski
Label: Turnberry Records

“Outrun the Rain” – Jason Carter, Michael Cleveland, Jaelee Roberts & Vince Gill
Songwriters: Terry Herd/Jimmy Yeary
Producers: Jason Carter/Michael Cleveland
Label: Fiddle Man Records

“Ralph’s Banjo Special” – Kristin Scott Benson, Gena Britt & Alison Brown
Songwriter: Ralph Stanley
Producer: Alison Brown
Label: Compass Records

Male vocalist of the year:

Billy Strings
Dan Tyminski
Del McCoury
Greg Blake
Russell Moore

Female vocalist of the year:

AJ Lee
Alison Krauss
Brooke Aldridge
Jaelee Roberts
Sierra Hull

Banjo player of the year:

Alison Brown
Gena Britt
Kristin Scott Benson
Ron Block
Tony Trischka

Bass player of the year:

Barry Bales
Mike Bub
Missy Raines
Todd Phillips
Vickie Vaughn

Fiddle player of the year:

Bronwyn Keith-Hynes
Jason Carter
Maddie Denton
Michael Cleveland
Stuart Duncan

Resophonic guitar player of the year:

Andy Hall
Jerry Douglas
Justin Moses
Matt Leadbetter
Rob Ickes

Guitar player of the year:

Billy Strings
Bryan Sutton
Cody Kilby
Molly Tuttle
Trey Hensley

Mandolin player of the year:

Alan Bibey
Jesse Brock
Ronnie McCoury
Sam Bush
Sierra Hull

Music video of the year:

“5 Days Out, 2 Days Back” – Alison Brown & Steve Martin Featuring Tim O’Brien
Songwriters: Steve Martin/Alison Brown
Producer: Alison Brown/Garry West
Videographer: Joseph Spence
Label: Compass Records

“A Million Memories (A Song for Byron)” – Darin & Brooke Aldridge Featuring Vince Gill
Songwriter: Vince Gill
Producer: Jenny Gill
Videographer: Travis Flynn
Label: Billy Blue Records

“Big Wheels” – Authentic Unlimited
Songwriter: Jerry Cole
Producers: Bryce Free/Kyle Johnson
Videographer: Bryce Free
Label: Billy Blue Records

“Gallows Pole” – Appalachian Road Show
Songwriter: Traditional arr. Barry Abernathy/Jim VanCleve/Darrell Webb
Producer: Steve Kinney
Videographer: Steve Kinney
Label: Billy Blue Records

“Tennessee Hound Dog” – The Grascals
Songwriter: Felice Bryant/Boudleaux Bryant
Producer: Ty Gilpin
Videographer: Nate Shuppert
Label: Mountain Home Music Company

“The Auctioneer” – The Kody Norris Show
Songwriters: Leroy Van Dyke/Buddy Black
Producer: James Gilley
Videographer: Nate Wiles
Label: Rebel Records

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Ariana Grande Teases ‘A Plan to Sing for You All Next Year’: See What She Said

Ariana Grande has been booked and busy, but making clear that music is still a priority.

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The superstar assured fans of such on Instagram Wednesday (July 16), writing: “very silly of you all to assume that just because i have my hands full with many things that i plan to abandon singing & music … !!! it is and has always been my lifeline. there will need to be room made for all of it. 🧚🏼‍♂️”

“It may not look exactly like it did before but i much prefer how it looks in my head,” she continued to write in the caption of a video from her performing “Into You” at the 2024 Met Gala. “I am having fun. i feel grateful and excited and inspired. 🙂 finding a balance, between many projects and endeavors i love, and doing it my own way… so i’m working on a plan to sing for you all next year. even if it’s just for a little.
i love you.”

Grande has indeed been working on many projects, including a starring role in Wicked and Wicked: For Good, the latter of which is out this November. And on Tuesday (July 15), she posted a photo alongside Josh Gad holding up what appears to be scripts for a forthcoming animated film based on Dr. Seuss’ final book, Oh, the Places You’ll Go! Jon M. Chu (Wicked) will direct the musical, with Jill Culton and J.J. Abrams producing.

In March 2024, Grande released her seventh album, Eternal Sunshine. The album debuted atop the Billboard 200, while singles “Yes, And?” and “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait For Your Love)” both topped the Billboard Hot 100. Just over a year later, in March, she released the album’s deluxe edition, Brighter Days Ahead.

Grande last toured in 2019 as part of her Sweetener World Tour, which celebrated both Sweetener and its follow-up album, Thank U, Next. While it’s unclear what her “plan to sing” for fans next year might entail, it seems that “brighter days” are indeed ahead with this to look forward to.

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Ty Dolla $ign Declares Leon Thomas the King of R&B & Previews the Next Chapter in His Own Legacy

As Leon Thomas entranced the crowd with his spellbinding performance at Wireless Festival 2025, his mentor and EZMNY labelhead, Ty Dolla $ign, came onstage and made a bold proclamation: Leon Thomas is the new King of R&B.

“We started our record company EZMNY — me and Shawn Barron — and signed Leon Thomas, who is now the new king of this s–t. He’s the easiest artist I’ve worked with — ever in life,” Dolla $ign told Billboard after Thomas’ Wireless performance. “He’s the new example of what an artist should be, in my eyes.”

For Ty to bestow such an honor on Thomas — who is enjoying a breakout year with the success of his top 15 Hot 100 hit “Mutt” — is a gratifying experience, after watching the singer/songwriter build his acclaimed album from the ground up. According to Dolla $ign, Thomas’ calculated approach and insatiable appetite for greatness shone during a label meeting with Motown and Capitol, where the singer presented his album rollout via a PowerPoint presentation.

“We were in a label meeting. EZMNY, Motown and Capitol. When we go into this meeting, this man pulls out his laptop and asks for it to be hooked up to the TV so we can talk about what’s going to happen with this new album. He pulls up a f–king PowerPoint display,” chuckled Dolla $ign. “These are the colors I want to use. This is the stage. These are videos, and the people I want to work with for the videos. And these are the people who I want to style me. And this is the work.”

He added, “A lot of people need to give them ideas. You have to make it for them, and he showed me there’s people who know the whole thing. You go years and years of f–king with different artists and them blaming you for the way their success went when it’s really on you, just like how it was all on me.” 

Since Mutt’s September 2024 release, the album has garnered excellent reviews and ultimately topped Billboard’s staff year-end list for best R&B albums. As Thomas continues to accelerate towards musical excellence, Dolla $ign isn’t done forging a legacy of his own. After netting a No. 1 single and album last year alongside Ye, the Beach House singer-songwriter is back riding solo, prepping the release of his forthcoming project, Tycoon. According to Dolla $ign, Thomas and Chloe Bailey will feature on the set.

“Tycoon, I put my all into this,” expressed Dolla $ign. “It’s a crazy body of work. I’m at the top of my game. I’m going to that next level. You’ll see the growth, the musicality, and it’s going to be better than anything that’s coming out.”

Last month, Dolla $ign previewed his upcoming documentary, Still Free TC, at New York’s Tribeca Film Festival. The doc, which commemorates the 10th anniversary of his 2015 album, Free TC, highlighted Dolla $ign’s creative process and evolution as a premier singer/songwriter.

“My documentary is about to drop. I’ve been working on that for the last two years,” explained Dolla $ign. “You’re going to see what’s been going on over the last two years and get a glimpse of my whole life. It’s called Still Free TC. You’ll get some appearances from [my brother] TC, of course, if you’re a fan of Free TC.”

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