King Stingray Announces Split with Lead Vocalist Ahead of Tour

King Stingray has announced the departure of lead vocalist Yirrŋa Yunupiŋu just as the band prepares to embark on their massive For The Dreams national tour.

The announcement was shared via the band’s social media on March 19, confirming that Yunupiŋu, who co-founded the band in 2020, will no longer be part of the lineup. Stepping into the role is Ngalakan Wanambi, who has already performed with King Stingray on their recent U.S. tour.

“Hey everyone, we’ve got some news to share – King Stingray and Yirrŋa have parted ways,” the band wrote. “To keep the fire burning, we’re stoked to introduce the deadly Ngalakan Wanambi stepping up on vocals. He absolutely smashed it with us on our recent U.S. tour, and as always, our main man, Dima Burarrwanga, will be bringing the energy as he always does.”

Formed in Yirrkala, a remote community in Arnhem Land, King Stingray quickly made a name for themselves with their blend of Yolŋu rock, seamlessly fusing Indigenous sounds with surf-rock and alternative influences. Yunupiŋu, the nephew of the late Dr. M. Yunupiŋu of Yothu Yindi, co-founded the group with guitarist Roy Kellaway, the son of Yothu Yindi bassist Stuart Kellaway.

With Yunupiŋu as lead singer, King Stingray released their self-titled debut album in 2022, followed by For The Dreams in November 2024. The band has since been at the forefront of Australia’s contemporary music scene, winning critical acclaim and multiple awards, including an ARIA for Best Independent Release.

Their For The Dreams national tour kicks off March 21 at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion, followed by stops in Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne, and Fremantle. Special guests Beddy Rays and The Belair Lip Bombs will join them on select dates.

Despite the lineup change, the band assured fans that the tour will retain the signature King Stingray energy. “This For The Dreams tour is gonna be something really special – same King Stingray spirit, same unstoppable Yolŋu rock and a whole lotta love,” they wrote.

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Australia Falls Out of the Top 10 Global Music Markets for the First Time in Decades

Australia has fallen out of the top 10 global music markets for the first time in nearly three decades, according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry’s (IFPI) latest Global Music Report.

The annual report, released this week, ranks the world’s largest music markets based on recorded music revenues, with the United States, Japan, and the United Kingdom retaining their long-standing dominance in the top three positions. However, for the first time since at least 1996, Australia is absent from the top 10, with Mexico overtaking it to claim the final spot.

Despite this shift, recorded music revenues in Australia continue to rise. The IFPI report states that revenues in Australasia reached $629 million in 2024, reflecting a 6.4% increase, with Australia specifically seeing a 6.1% boost. Similarly, New Zealand experienced a 7.8% revenue increase. Yet, these figures were not enough to maintain Australia’s position in the ranking, as markets like Mexico saw even more rapid growth, with a 15.6% increase, while Brazil, now ranked ninth, grew by a staggering 21.7%.

Historically, Australia has been a formidable player in the global music industry, reaching as high as No. 6 on the IFPI’s ranking in 2004 and holding that position again from 2007 to 2015. In recent years, however, the country has hovered on the edge of the top 10 before finally dropping out in 2024.

This decline raises questions about the factors influencing Australia’s global standing. While growth remains steady, the rapid expansion of emerging markets suggests a shift in industry investment and audience engagement. Countries like Mexico and Brazil have seen increased investment in A&R, marketing, and local talent development, contributing to their rising influence on the international stage.

The IFPI’s Global Market Overview offers an optimistic outlook overall, noting that worldwide music revenues increased for the tenth consecutive year, growing 4.8% to a total of $29.6 billion. “The growth tells a story of an industry that continues to evolve and adapt around the world – with every region experiencing growth,” the report states.

However, the challenge for Australia lies in securing a stronger foothold in the global landscape amid this evolving market. Recent figures from ARIA indicate six consecutive years of revenue growth in Australia’s recorded music sector, but the nation’s industry leaders may need to explore new strategies to regain their competitive edge. Increased investment in local artists, a greater push for international market penetration, and innovations in streaming and digital distribution could all be key to Australia reclaiming its spot in the global top 10.

The full IFPI Global Music Report is available for review, providing further insights into the shifts shaping the industry in 2025.

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Marty Callner, Acclaimed Music Video Director, Dies Aged 78

Marty Callner, the acclaimed director responsible for numerous music videos, concert specials, and stand-up performances, has passed away at the age of 78.

Per The Hollywood Reporter, Callner’s representative Gail Parenteau confirmed that the director passed away at his home In Malibu from natural causes on Monday (March 17).

Born in Chicago in 1946, Callner’s directorial career began while working for Cincinnati’s WCPO-TV in their news department, moving on to commercials and then sports until the mid-’70s. During this time, Callner began working for HBO, ultimately helping to set the standard for live comedy specials while serving as director of their On Location series.

Helming specials featuring Robert Klein, Redd Foxx, Robin Williams, and Myron Cohen, Callner also directed 1981’s The Pee-Wee Herman Show, having discovered comedian Paul Reubens at The Groundlings in Los Angeles. Callner shifted his focus towards music with names such as Diana Ross, Paul Simon, and Liza Minnelli, before rising to prominence as an unsung hero of the entertainment world through his prolific career directing music videos.

Alongside videos for beloved names such as Stevie Nicks, Pat Benatar, Heart, and The Bangles, Callner was responsible for some of the most memorable music videos in history. His impressive resumé includes Cher’s “If I Could Turn Back Time,” Twisted Sister’s “We’re Not Gonna Take It” and “I Wanna Rock,” Whitesnake’s “Here I Go Again” and “Is This Love,” Poison’s “Every Rose Has Its Thorn,” and numerous clips for Aerosmith, including “Livin’ on the Edge,” “Dude (Looks Like a Lady),” and “Love in an Elevator.”

Callner’s career would also boast numerous live concert specials, including a number of famed pop stars of the ‘90s and ‘00s. Madonna’s The Girlie Show: Live Down Under, Britney Spears’ Live From Las Vegas, Justin Timberlake’s FutureSex/LoveShow, and NSYNC: Live from Madison Square Garden.

Despite ten Prime Emmy Awards nominations, Callner didn’t win any during his lifetime, with his work on Jerry Seinfeld: I’m Telling You for the Last Time, Robin Williams: Live on Broadway, and the Rolling Stones: Forty Licks World Tour Live at Madison Square Garden all receiving nods at the turn of the century.

Callner is also remembered as the creator of HBO reality sports documentary series Hard Knocks, which has run since 2021 and takes viewers through the trials and tribulations of an NFL’s team’s pre-season preparation for the upcoming season.

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Gloria Estefan Releases ‘Raíces,’ Lead Single & Video From Her First Spanish-Language Album in 18 Years

Gloria Estefan is ready to return to her roots with her first Spanish-language album in 18 years. First thing Thursday (March 20) — the start of the spring equinox — the Cuban-American superstar released the first single from the set, written by her producer-husband Emilio Estefan and aptly titled “Raíces” (Roots).

“Always enjoy the moments because you never know what surprises life will bring,” Estefan sings, expressing how love and life are very much like planting seeds. “If you want a good harvest, you need to know how to sow/ With faith and dedication, that tree will grow roots.”

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“The song ‘Raíces’ touched my soul the first moment I heard it,” Gloria Estefan tells Billboard Español. “Being a Virgo, my connection with nature is strong, and I see life as a garden, with love as the seed. I believe that what you cultivate with kindness, patience, and faith will one day bloom into joy.”

She adds: “It is important not to miss the opportunity to express love because every sincere word and gesture plants the roots of a beautiful tomorrow — and that is what this song is all about.”

Recorded at their Crescent Moon Studios in Miami, “Raíces” is a tribute to the rhythms that have defined Estefan’s sound: salsa, tropical beats, classic Latin music. The song will also give its title to her new album — the 30th in a 50-year career — which will be released at the end of May under Sony Music. It will be her first fully Spanish-language album in 18 years, since 90 Millas, which debuted and spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart in October 2007.

“For me, recording in Spanish again was a contribution to our music,” Emilio Estefan tells Billboard Español, noting that they worked with “great musicians, engineers, and industry professionals” and that he personally wrote almost the entire album because “I wanted it to reflect our essence: Gloria’s sound and mine.”

“[When we started], I remember people telling us that our sound would never work and that we should change our last name. But we understood the value of our culture and our roots,” he explains, referring to their beginnings in the mid-1970s with the Miami Sound Machine. “When Gloria reached the top of the charts worldwide [singing in English], we took a big risk and decided to record Mi Tierra, an album that represented one of our greatest victories.”

The iconic first LP by Gloria Estefan in Spanish from 1993, which included hits like “Mi Tierra” and “Con Los Años Que Me Quedan,” spent a whooping 58 weeks at No. 1 on Top Latin Albums. More than three decades later, the renowned Cuban producer and musician along with the singer-songwriter present “a letter of gratitude to the fans, to the press, to those who believed in us, and to the city of Miami, which watched us grow and then allowed us to bring our music to the whole world.”

“It is a moment full of emotions for Gloria and me, a celebration of our culture and our audience,” Emilio Estefan says. “The most beautiful thing about a career is being able to leave a legacy of gratitude.”

Check out the music video for “Raíces” below.

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Wet Leg Plot U.S. Return With New York City and Los Angeles Shows

British indie-rock duo Wet Leg are teasing a full-scale return, plotting their launch with a pair of upcoming U.S. dates.

The group – which was formed in 2019 by Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers – announced their live return via a post on social media on Wednesday (March 19). 

“Hey there neighbor,” they wrote. “Been a while hasn’t it? Why dont u come on down to the bottom of our garden? it’s about time we had ourselves a little gathering…just a couple of special nights in NYC and LA.” 

The first of these shows will take place on March 31 at Brooklyn’s Market Hotel, while their Los Angeles show will be on April 8 at The River in Frogtown. Sign-ups for ticketing access have been made available via the band’s website. These live shows will be the band’s first since August, and are set to be followed by a series of performances throughout the U.K. and Europe over summer.

News of the upcoming U.S. dates follows on from a surprisingly active period of time on social media for the band this week. On Monday (March 17), a post captioned “we’re so back” urged fans to visit Wet Leg’s website, where hints of the band’s new era were provided.

“Salutations, lonely heart,” a message in a Windows 95-era textbox reads. “You have wandered far, but you are home. Enter Moisturizer Valley — where the skin never cracks, and the body never withers. Enroll now. Learn how to live forever.”

This was followed up by a snippet of a new song shared on Tuesday (March 18), though no official release date for the track has been revealed as yet.

Wet Leg rose to fame in 2021 with the release of their debut single “Chaise Longue.” Reaching No. 15  and 21 on the Alternative Airplay and Rock Airplay charts respectively, the Mean Girls-referencing track was featured on the band’s self-titled debut LP in 2022, which reached No. 14 on the Billboard 200 upon its release.

Such was the success of Wet Leg that they scored a nomination for best new artist at the 2023 Grammys, with “Chaise Longue” taking home best alternative music performance and their LP winning best alternative music album. The group have also managed to snare high-profile support slots for the likes of Harry Styles and the Foo Fighters in stadiums around the world in recent years.

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Guns N’ Roses Announce ‘Amicable’ Split With Longtime Drummer Frank Ferrer

After close to two decades together, Guns N’ Roses and drummer Frank Ferrer have parted ways,

News of the band’s lineup shift was confirmed by the group in a statement released on Wednesday (March 19). “Guns N’ Roses announce the amicable exit of Frank Ferrer, the longest-serving drummer in their storied run,” the statement read. “The band thanks Frank for his friendship, creativity and sturdy presence over the past 19 years, and they wish him success in the next chapter of his musical journey.”

Ferrer became a member of Guns N’ Roses in 2006, taking over from Bryan “Brain” Mantia, who had joined in 2000. Holding the role for 19 years, he is the longest-tenured percussionist in the band’s history, second only to Steven Adler, who sat behind the kit from 1990 to 1997.

Ferrer’s recorded contributions to the band began with five tracks on their famously-delayed (and currently, their most recent) studio album, Chinese Democracy, which arrived in 2008. He would also appear on the live portion of 2022’s Hard Skool EP, with former drummer Brain appearing on the studio tracks and their 2023 singles “Perhaps” and “The General.”

Ferrer’s last appearance with the band took place at Mexico’s Hell & Heaven Metal Fest in November 2023, which is currently the most recent live performance from Guns N’ Roses to date.

Currently, the band are scheduled to return to the road soon, launching their awkwardly-titled Because What You Want & What You Get Are Two Completely Different Things Tour in South Korea on May 1. The tour will visit the Middle East and Europe over the following months, with no dates set past their July 31 concert in Germany. No replacement for Ferrer has been named at the current time.

Outside of his time with Guns N’ Roses, Ferrer had previously performed with The Beautiful, later joining future Guns N’ Roses bandmate Richard Fortus in both Love Spit Love and The Psychedelic Furs. In 2019, Ferrer also co-founded the rock band PSSR, who have issued a handful of singles in recent years.

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Dua Lipa Covers Natalie Imbruglia’s ‘Torn’ During Second Melbourne Show

Dua Lipa is continuing her tributes to iconic Australian artists as she tours throughout the continent this spring.

Just a day after Lipa covered AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell” during her Radical Optimism tour stop at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Australia, the pop superstar continued the covers for night two at the venue.

On Tuesday (March 18), Lipa opted to perform “Torn” by Australian and British singer-songwriter Natalie Imbruglia. “Illusion never changed/ Into something real/ I’m wide awake and I can see the perfect sky is torn,” Lipa sings in the chorus, surrounded by her band and rocking a black lace jumpsuit with red shorts and a faux fur scarf placed over her shoulder.

Watch a snippet of the performance via a fan social media account here.

Earlier this month, it was announced that Lipa sold out the Australian leg of her global Radical Optimism Tour. The singer will remain in the country for just two weeks, with five nights scheduled for the Rod Laver Arena, and a further three at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena. Lipa will then jet over to New Zealand for two sold-out dates at Auckland’s Spark Arena in early April.

The pop superstar also kicked off 2025 with a new collaboration, appearing as a guest on JENNIE’s “Handlebars,” off the BLACKPINK singer’s freshly released debut solo LP, Ruby.

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Eminem’s Former Employee Criminally Charged With Selling the Rapper’s Unreleased Music Online

A former employee of Eminem (Marshall Mathers) has been criminally charged in connection with the sale of unreleased music by the rap superstar, it was announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Julie Beck on Wednesday (March 19).

According to the criminal complaint, the FBI was contacted by employees of Eminem’s music studio in Ferndale, Michigan, to alert the agency that unreleased music created by the rapper was available for sale on the Internet. The FBI subsequently identified multiple people who purchased the unreleased music, all of whom identified Eminem’s former employee, Joseph Strange, as the person who was selling it. A press release states that the music “was still in the process of being developed by” the rapper.

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If convicted on the charge of criminal copyright infringement, Strange faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. A conviction on a charge of interstate transportation of stolen goods carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

Strange worked for Eminem from 2007 to 2021, according to the press release.

“Protecting intellectual property from thieves is critical in safeguarding the exclusive rights of creators and protecting their original work from reproduction and distribution by individuals who seek to profit from the creative output of others,” said Beck in a statement.

“This investigation underscores the FBI’s commitment to safeguarding artists’ intellectual property from exploitation by individuals seeking to profit illegally,” added Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “Thanks to the cooperation of Mathers Music Studio, FBI agents from the Oakland County Resident Agency were able to swiftly enforce federal laws and ensure Joseph Strange was held accountable for his actions.”

The case against Strange is being investigated by special agents of the FBI Oakland County Resident Agency and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy Wyse and Alyse Wu.

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SZA ‘Speechless’ Over ‘SOS’ Tying Michael Jackson ‘Thriller’ Chart Record — And Now She Stands Alone (UPDATE)

UPDATE (March 19): A week after SZA’s SOS matched Michael Jackson’s Thriller with 79 nonconsecutive weeks each in the top 10 on the Billboard 200, the Grammy-winning Top Dawg/RCA singer-songwriter has broken that tie. Her SOS now boasts 80 weeks in the Billboard 200’s top 10. As noted in the original story below, no other Black artist has as many, or more, weeks in the top 10 for a single album since the Billboard 200 began publishing on a regular, weekly basis in March 1956. 

SZA’s 80th week in the top 10 occurs on the latest chart, dated March 22 (at No. 4 again). Thriller spent 78 of its 79 weeks in the top 10 during its 1983-1984 peak, including 37 of those weeks at No. 1. The record for most weeks in the top 10 reached by any album is the original cast album to My Fair Lady, with 173 weeks in the top 10 of the Billboard 200 from 1956-1960.

SOS was originally released on Dec. 9, 2022, to immediate commercial success. The set debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and spent 10 of its first 11 weeks at No. 1 and remained a regular fixture inside the top 20. The album received a second wind – including two more weeks at No. 1 – after the release of its SOS: Deluxe LANA edition, which dropped on Dec. 22, 2024 and added 15 new tracks. (All versions of the album are combined for tracking and charting purposes and continue to chart under the title SOS.)

“Luther,” SZA’s duet with Kendrick Lamar, now has four weeks at No. 1, breaking Lamar’s personal best. It’s also SZA’s longest-leading Hot 100 No. 1: her previous two – “Kill Bill” and as a featured act on Drake’s “Slime You Out” — each had one week on top in 2023.

ORIGINAL STORY (MARCH 12): SZA has hit another chart milestone. The singer/songwriter’s SOS has tied with Michael Jackson’s Thriller, notching 79 total, nonconsecutive weeks each in the top 10 on the Billboard 200. No other Black artist has as many, or more, weeks in the top 10 for an album.

“My album tying MJ’s Thriller record … Got me speechless,” a shocked SZA told TMZ Hip-Hop following her appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Tuesday evening. In his own social media post on X, Top Dawg Entertainment president and SZA manager Terrence “Punch” Henderson succinctly described the momentous occasion with one word: “Insane,” followed by two praying hands emoji.

SOS reached its 79th week in the top 10 on the latest chart, dated March 15, when it held steady at No. 4. MJ’s Thriller claimed its 79th week in the top 10 when it jumped 115-7 on the Dec. 2, 2022-dated chart following its 40th-anniversary reissue.

For those wondering, the record for most weeks in the top 10 reached by any album is the original cast album to My Fair Lady, with 173 weeks in the top 10 of the Billboard 200.

SZA’s latest chart achievement comes in the wake of other good news this week: “Luther,” her duet with soon-to-be tourmate Kendrick Lamar, is celebrating its third week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. That feat also finds Lamar tying his prior longest Hot 100 reigns: three nonconsecutive weeks with “Not Like Us” between last May and this February and three weeks in a row last April with “Like That” alongside Future and Metro Boomin.

Lamar and SZA’s highly anticipated Grand National Tour kicks off April 19 in Minneapolis.

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Rod Stewart Extends Las Vegas Residency Into Fall 2025

Sir Rod Stewart is not done with Las Vegas. The ageless pop wonder announced another six-pack of residency shows at the Colosseum for this fall, extending his Sin City run yet again. “Las Vegas! You wanted more, so here we go—I’ve added more shows! I’ll be back at @colosseumatcp this September and October, Can’t wait to see you all for another round of unforgettable nights,” Stewart wrote on Instagram on Tuesday (March 18).

Tickets for the shows slated to take place between Sept. 24 and Oct. 4 will go on sale this Friday (March 21) at 10 a.m. PT through Ticketmaster. There will also be a fan club sale beginning at 10 a.m. PT on Wednesday (March 19) and one for Caesars Rewards members and LN/Ticketmaster customers on Thursday (March 20) at 10 a.m. PT.

Stewart has a trio of residency shows this week, beginning tonight, followed by gigs on Friday and Saturday (March 22). After that he hops over to Europe, with shows in Lithuania, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Germany, Poland, Italy and Portugal through mid-May; he will return to Europe in November for more gigs in Germany, as well as stops in Switzerland, Austria, Bulgaria and Greece.

As if that weren’t enough road work for the 80-year-old pop legend, he also has another six Colosseum dates in May and early June before he launches a North American tour with his pals in Cheap Trick that will span June, July and August, with a quick break to headline the Glastonbury Festival in the U.K. on June 25.

The new Colosseum dates are: Sept. 24, 25, 27 and Oct. 1, 3 and 4.

Check out the announcement below.

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