New York Nightclub Complex Avant Gardner Hires Josh Wyatt as New CEO

After opening its doors in early 2018, It didn’t take long for multi-venue dance destination Avant Garder to dominate New York’s nightlife scene. Each year, the indoor/outdoor complex that includes Brooklyn Mirage, the Kings Hall and Great Hall has attracted some of the biggest names in dance, including a busy 2024 season that saw sellouts by Black Coffee, Swedish House Mafia, David
Guetta, Gesaffelstein, Diplo, Anderson. Paak, Carl Cox, Deadmau5 and Three 6 Mafia.

That success comes in spite of the high-profile September 2023 collapse of the Electric Zoo festival — the Randall’s Island EDM festival purchased by Avant Gardner co-founder Billy Bildstein and the company’s former chief creative officer Philipp Wiederkehr the year before. Once a staple of the New York festival scene, the 2023 version of Electric Zoo was marred by missed permit deadlines, rampant overcrowding and safety violations later cited by former ally turned critic, Mayor Eric Adams.

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“It’s something I wanted to address head-on,” says Josh Wyatt, Avant Gardner’s new CEO, who officially begins his new role on Wednesday (Oct. 23) but has spent the last several months working behind the scenes to settle any lingering issues in the aftermath of the Electric Zoo debacle. “If I were to make a constructive criticism of the company in the past, it’s that they have not always done a good job of communicating with the various [Electric Zoo] stakeholders.”

“Over the last eight weeks, I have reached out to every key stakeholder in Electric Zoo and I’ve made them whole,” Wyatt added of refunding ticket holders, settling with vendors and managing small litigation issues. “I’m proud of that.”

Wyatt counts two decades of experience in the hospitality and nightlife sectors, including his most recent tenure as CEO of the members-only social club NeueHouse and its sister company, the photography museum Fotografiska. He also served as president of Equinox Hotels and as co-founder/managing partner of Generator Hostels.

Wyatt joins Avant Gardner after the company brought on a new unnamed investor, which has “inject(ed) the company with growth capital to allow myself as the new CEO to really operate the company,” he says, adding that Bildstein will serve as “my partner in this journey” as founder/creative director. Together, the two will explore the first phase of experiential evolution inside Avant Gardner with a handful of new initiatives including the launch of a music venue/mocktail bar, as well as new community spaces like a hi-fi listening room for audiophiles and immersive art and visual studios for guests.

“That’s the trend that’s happening right now and It’s something that we see a lot of our guests asking for — places to chill out and refresh,” Wyatt says.

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Zayn Malik Reschedules U.S. Stairway to the Sky Tour After Postponing in Wake of Liam Payne Death

Zayn Malik has rescheduled his Stairway to the Sky tour after previously postponing the U.S. dates of the outing following the death of his former One Direction bandmate Liam Payne. Zayn will now pick up the dates beginning with a Jan. 21 show at the Anthem in Washington, D.C., followed by two gigs at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York, as well as dates in Los Angeles and Las Vegas before winding down with a Feb. 3 concert at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco.

The U.S. leg of what was to be Malik’s first-ever headlining tour — in support of his fourth solo album, Room Under the Stairs — was originally scheduled to take place in October and November of this year. But on Saturday, the “Pillowtalk” singer told fans that he was delaying the U.S. run that was originally scheduled to launch on Wednesday (Oct. 23) in San Francisco.

“Given the heartbreaking loss experienced this week, I’ve made the decision to postpone the US leg of the STAIRWAY TO THE SKY Tour,” Malik wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “The dates are being rescheduled for January and I’ll post them as soon as it’s all set in the next few days. Your tickets will remain valid for the new dates. Love you all and thank you for your understanding.”

Malik is still slated to hit the road in the U.K. next month, kicking off with a pair of shows on Nov. 20-21 at the O2 Academy Edinburgh, followed by stops in Leeds, Manchester, London, Wolverhampton and Newcastle Upon Tyne.

The postponement of the U.S. dates came after Payne’s death in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Oct. 16 at age 31 following a fall from the balcony of his hotel room. An initial toxicology report found that Payne had a number of drugs in his body at the time of death, including a recreational drug referred to as “pink cocaine,” a mixture that often contains ketamine combined with MDMA, methamphetamine, cocaine, opioids and/or psychoactive substances.

Payne had openly discussed his struggles with addiction in the past. In May 2023, he celebrated 100 days of sobriety. “I feel really, really good, and support from the fans and everything has been really, really good. So, I’m super happy,” he said at the time. The loss has hit Directioners and fellow artists hard, perhaps none so much as Payne’s former bandmates in 1D, who issued both a group statement, as well as their own individual comments about their late brother in song.

“I can’t help but think selfishly that there was so many more conversations for us to have in our lives,” Malik wrote in his remembrance alongside a photo of himself laying in Payne’s lap when the two were world-beating teenager pop stars. “I never got to thank you for supporting me through some of the most difficult times in my life. When I was missing home as a 17 yr old kid you would always be there with a positive outlook and reassuring smile and let me know you were my friend and I was loved.”

Click here to see Zayn’s full run of rescheduled U.S. dates.

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Sabrina Carpenter, Charli XCX and Chappell Roan to Headline 2025 Primavera Sound Festival

Primavera Sound has announced a stacked lineup for its 2025 edition, including headline slots for Charli XCX, Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan. The festival will take place at Barcelona’s Parc Del Fòrum (June 5-7) and also feature sets from LCD Soundsystem, FKA Twigs, Fontaines DC, Clairo, Haim and Turnstile.

The announcement Thursday morning (Oct. 24) also included confirmation of acts including TV On The Radio, Wet Leg, Beach House, Waxahatchee, Beabadoobee, Caribou, Anohni, Denzel Curry, Chat Pile, Parcels and more.

Elsewhere on the lineup, there will be sets from The Dare, Floating Points, Stereolab, Yaosobi, Spiritualized, Hinds, Glass Beams, Kim Deal and MJ Lenderman.

Fans can register for a presale which takes place on Oct. 28 at 11 a.m. CET. The general sale will take place on Oct. 29 at 11 a.m. CET. Passes for all three days will cost $286 and you can register for access on the festival’s official website.

2024’s edition of Primavera Sound included sets by Blur, Lana Del Rey, Pulp, SZA, Justice, The National, Mitski and Charli XCX.

Primavera Sound had expanded its offerings in recent years and included sister events in Madrid, Los Angeles, São Paulo, Asunción and Buenos Aires. In August, the festival confirmed that all their Latin American editions would not be going ahead in 2024.

Primavera Porto in neighboring Portugal will take place on June 12-14, though a lineup has not been announced.

See the first lineup announcement for Barcelona’s Primavera Sound below.

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‘I’m Pissed’: Megan Thee Stallion Only Just Discovered ‘Sex and the City’

Megan Thee Stallion is still in shock that nobody told her how great Sex and the City is.

The rapper and singer shared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Wednesday (Oct. 23) that she just recently started watching the iconic series starring Sarah Jessica Parker, Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon and Kim Cattral.

“Nobody told me Sex and the City was this good?” Stallion quipped. “I’m pissed. Nobody said, ‘Megan, you should be watching Sex and the City. Girl, this for the culture. Watch it! I don’t even know how I like stumbled upon it. I think I just kept seeing like pictures of Sarah Jessica looking pretty as f—.”

She continued, “Her hair, her shoes, her outfits were always so beautiful. And I was like, what is this show? Let me just watch it, let me get into it because nobody put me on. So I started watching the show and I’m like, I cannot look away. This is the best thing! I’m watching it while I’m working out, I’m watching it while I’m in glam, I’m watching it when I don’t have nothing else to do, and I’m a busy girl. I’m like squeezing Sex and the City in there. And I’m like asking everybody, ‘Have you seen Sex and the City?”

The “Body” artist later informed host Jimmy Fallon that she has yet to see the 2008 Sex and the City movie as well as its 2010 sequel.

“The way Sex and the City ended, you know, I was a little upset, and they said, ‘No, no, no, no, no, you have to watch the movie.’ And I say, ‘OK, take me there because I don’t understand what’s happening,’” she said.

Fallon also asked Meg if she would be open to sharing her reviews for each of the show’s characters, including Carrie [Parker], Samantha [Cattral], Charlotte [Davis] and Miranda [Nixon], and she didn’t hold back on her thoughts.

Up first was Samantha: “When Sex and the City first started for me, I said, ‘Oh, I hate this character.’ Like why are y’all making her like, oh my God, sex is like the ruler of my life. And it’s like, I’m just so desperate. I was like, this is horrible, this is a horrible character. But then as the show kept going, I was like, ‘OK, hold on. Wait a minute.’ I’m glad I hung in there, because she runs men. Like she does not let men run her and she keeps trying to tell the girls, like stop making the man the center of your life. Like go shopping, have a good time, make your money and then have fun with your little toys. And I’m like, yes, I did that.”

As for Charlotte, Stallion said, “She is a little delulu, but it’s cute. She would be my bestie because she’s so emotional and I feel like it’s OK to cry. It’s OK to be a little crazy. She might be a cancer in the show, her character has to be a cancer… I’m sorry, cancers, but y’all are very emotional and I feel like caners and Aquarius go together very well.”

Miranda was next on the list: “Miranda, this is the worst character on the show. I cannot stand Miranda. She never got nothing good to say. She’s so sad all the time … How could anybody even fix their lips to be mean to Steve [David Eigenberg] and Miranda figured out a way to be mean to Steve. The only thing Steve ever wanted to do was love this crazy lady.”

And for Carrie, Stallion added, “Her hair is good, her makeup is great. I’m pretty sure this dress is great paired with a pair of Manolos. Like she’s always attractive, doing these sick old things. She’s nuts. But you know what [Laughs]? I see a lot of myself in this character, like Carrie really loved drama. Like she would literally wake up and figure out how can I mess up everybody’s day? How can I be my cutest messing up everybody’s day? How can I make my life more complicated? Simply, she could have always made the right choice. She could have chosen sanity, but she always chose insanity. And then I had to wonder, is that me?”

Sex and the City, which ran from 1998 to 2004, follows the lives of four women living in New York City as they navigate love, friendship and sex in the big city, all while remaining inseparable and confiding in each other. A series spinoff, And Just Like That, which sees Parker, Davis and Nixon return, has also been renewed for a third season.

Via The Hollywood Reporter.

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Global Public Performance Collections Grew 7.6% to New High of $10.9B in 2023

Global royalty collections for song rightsholders grew 7.6% last year, to a new high of 11.75 billion Euros ($10.9 billion, based on the average exchange rate for 2023), according to CISAC (the Confédération Internationale des Sociétés d´Auteurs et Compositeurs), the Paris-based collecting societies trade organization. Much of the growth was driven by two categories: Digital collections rose 9.6% to 4.52 billion Euros ($4.18 billion), while live and background music royalties grew 21.8% — fueled largely by the concert business — to overtake the pre-pandemic total from 2019. 

The big collecting societies all had good years, but the CISAC report offers unparalleled insight into a complicated but important part of the music publishing business. (CISAC includes other collecting societies from outside the music business, but publishing accounts for most of these royalties, which are, in turn, more important to music than to other businesses. CISAC breaks out music royalties, but its figures only include those that go through CISAC member societies rather than direct deals.) There are no big surprises here: Digital has been the main driver of growth recently, more than doubling in five years from 2.06 billion Euros ($1.90 billion) in 2019 to 4.52 billion Euros ($4.18 billion) last year — although last year’s growth of 9.6% was lower than in any of the preceding four. Digital now accounts for 38.5% of collections, more than any other category.  

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Collections for broadcast and live concerts and background music represent the two other major sources of revenue, accounting for 28.7% and 26.1%, respectively. (Background music refers to compositions played in public, at restaurants, stores or bars, for example.) Royalties from TV and radio declined 5.3% to 3.37 billion Euros ($3.11 billion) after a significant jump the previous year. They have stayed fairly steady over the past half-decade. 

The live and background music figures are more complicated because of the disruption from the pandemic. Last year those categories grew to 3.06 billion euros ($2.82 billion), fueled mostly by the return of live music revenue, which in some regions may lag live music events. More significantly, that represents a 12.7% jump from 2019. 

Collecting societies take in most of their business in Europe and the U.S.; CISAC has one category for Western Europe and another for the U.S. and Canada. Western Europe collections rose 8.2%, while those in the U.S. and Canada rose 7.8%. Taken as a whole, Europe accounts for more than half of total collecting society revenue, and the U.S. and Canada together account for another 27.1%. Asia-Pacific royalties shrank by .3%, largely due to currency fluctuations in Japan, without which the region would have seen 6.8% growth. The fastest growing region is Latin America, up by 26.2% — and by 108.2% over the past two years – although it only accounts for 5.9% of the overall market. Africa, where executives have seen massive potential for years, is still growing very slowly – up 3.2% to .6% of the overall market. 

General CISAC collections are also up 7.6%, to 13.09 billion Euros ($12.1 billion), also an all-time high, with digital up 9.6% to 4.62 billion Euros ($4.3 billion). (This includes collecting societies for other media, such as writing and visual art, which many countries in Europe have.) 

Billboard will follow this news story with a more extensive analysis of growth sectors, the future of various markets, and how this business might grow in the years ahead. 

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Metallica’s M72 Tour to Rock Australia and New Zealand in 2025

Metallica has officially announced that their M72 World Tour will make its way to Australia and New Zealand in November 2025.

The tour, which has already hit several countries, will see the Bay Area metal legends performing at stadiums across Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, and Auckland.

Starting on November 1 in Perth, which was exclusively revealed by Rolling Stone AUNZ, the tour will continue through the major cities before wrapping up in Auckland on November 19. The shows will feature Metallica’s signature Snake Pit stage, a central feature of their performances that brings fans closer to the band in a way that has become synonymous with their live shows.

The announcement follows the success of Metallica’s latest album, 72 Seasons, which reached No. 1 on the ARIA Albums Chart in 2023. This marked their eighth chart-topping album Down Under, and served as a followup to Hardwired…To Self-Destruct, which also led the ARIA Chart following its release in 2016. The band’s 1991 Black Album remains one of the country’s best-selling records, certified 13 times platinum by ARIA.

Metallica will be joined by special guests Evanescence and Suicidal Tendencies, and tickets will go on sale starting Monday, November 4, with pre-sale opportunities available to fan club members from Tuesday, October 29.

Metallica’s influence on the global music scene is undeniable. Since their formation in 1981, the band has sold over 120 million albums, collected nine Grammy Awards, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009. In Australia, their legacy has been equally impactful, with each new release adding to their strong chart history.

For more information on pre-sale times, enhanced experiences, I Disappear Tickets, travel packages, and more, visit Metallica’s website.

Metallica 2025 Australia & New Zealand Tour Dates

November 1 — Optus Stadium, Perth, WA

November 5 — Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, SA

November 8 — Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, VIC

November 12 — Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, QLD

November 15 — Accor Stadium, Sydney, NSW

November 19 — Eden Park, Auckland, NZ

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One Direction Albums Set to Reenter U.K. Chart After Liam Payne’s Death

Following the tragic passing of Liam Payne, One Direction’s music has experienced a major resurgence on the U.K. Official Charts.

Payne died on Oct. 16 at age 31 after falling from a third-floor hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He is survived by his 7-year-old son, Bear, whom he shares with ex-partner Cheryl Cole.

In the days since his death, countless friends, fans and family members have posted messages of grief, including all four of the musician’s former bandmates: Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik.

Fans paying tribute to the late star have since helped propel the group’s catalogue back into the U.K. Official Charts, with several of their albums and singles now seeing a major uplift in the wake of the tragedy.

According to the latest Official Albums Chart Update, Take Me Home (2012) is currently positioned at No. 12 and is eyeing a potential Top 10 return by the end of the week. The album, which initially peaked at No. 1 in the U.K., features hits like “Live While We’re Young,” “Little Things,” and “Kiss You.”

Midnight Memories (2013) is also making a resurgence across the pond, sitting at No. 14 midweek, while Made in the A.M. (2015) and FOUR (2014) are tracking at No. 15 and No. 20, respectively. Meanwhile, their debut album Up All Night (2011), which originally peaked at No. 2, has re-entered the chart at No. 33.

In addition to the albums, several One Direction singles are also gaining traction. “Night Changes” (2014) has re-entered the charts at No. 13, with “Story of My Life” (2013) at No. 21. Their debut hit “What Makes You Beautiful” (2011) is set to return at No. 48.

Payne’s solo work has also seen a resurgence. His 2019 album LP1 has re-entered the charts at No. 49, and singles like “Teardrops,” “For You” (with Rita Ora), and “Strip That Down” (featuring Quavo) are all experiencing renewed interest.

Several of One Direction’s singles have also seen renewed interest. Their 2014 hit, “Night Changes,”as re-entered the charts at No. 13, while “Story of My Life” (2013) is currently positioned at No. 21. Meanwhile, their debut single “What Makes You Beautiful” (2011) is set to re-enter the chart at No. 48.

Payne’s solo material has also experienced a resurgence. His 2019 debut album LP1 has re-entered the charts at No. 49, with singles like “Teardrops,” “For You” (with Rita Ora), and “Strip That Down” (featuring Quavo) also climbing.

For the full midweek update, visit the Official Charts Company.

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KATSEYE Gets Fierce With Rooftop ‘TOUCH’ Performance on ‘The Kelly Clarkson Show’

KATSEYE is fully in “TOUCH” as a girl group, as the six-member squad took the stage on The Kelly Clarkson show on Wednesday (Oct. 23) to perform their latest hit.

The group delivered the track out of the studio, on a rooftop against the Los Angeles skyline, dressed in coordinating pastel outfits and go-go boots. “You been so out of touch, touch, touch, touch, touch/ Thought about you way too much, much, much, much, much/ Over, over thinking us, us, us, us, us/ ‘Cause you been so out of touch,” they sing in the instantly catchy chorus as they delivered in-sync choreography.

“It’s such a beautiful song. We all love it,” KATSEYE’s Daniela previously told Billboard of “TOUCH,” which is featured on their recent EP, SIS (Soft Is Strong). “The song itself is like our softer side and it shows complexity of love. Filming the whole music video was such an amazing experience and recording as well. It’s ethereal and shows our softer side, but we can tap into our fierceness and our self-confidence too.”

The K-pop-inspired international girl group featuring members Sophia, Manon, Daniela, Lara, Megan and Yoonchae, were formed as part of the competition series The Debut: Dream Academy, and while they only debuted back in June, they’ve already established an impressively dedicated fanbase, known as the EYEKONS.

Watch KATSEYE perform “TOUCH” on The Kelly Clarkson show below.

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Best ‘Wicked’ Merch: 16 Wickedly Good Collaborations to Shop Before the Film Hits Theaters

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.

Countdown to Wicked! Ariana Grande will make her debut as Glinda the Good Witch alongside Oscar winner Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, Wicked Witch of the West, in the eagerly anticipated film out Nov. 22.

With just four weeks until it hits theaters, Wicked fans are readying a journey to the Land of Oz. To help prepare for the trip, we’ve collected a list of the cutest Wicked-themed merchandise to shop before (and after) the film drops.

From headphones and speakers to sweatshirts, shoes, luggage, beauty essentials and other goodies, see below for a collection of merch that’ll help you channel the magical energy of Wicked.

Ariana Grande’s r.e.m. Beauty x Wicked Collection

r.e.m. Beauty x Wicked Elphalba Makeup Set

$60

Buy Now at target

Starting with the beauty aisle, Grande’s R.E.M. Beauty unveiled a Wicked collection of dazzling eyeshadows, eye masks, lip oils, glittery glow drops and other beauty must-haves. The collection is available at Target, Ulta and rembeauty.com.

green metallic crocs with wicked jibbitz

Wicked Elphaba Classic Crocs

$69.99

Buy Now at crocs

Step into the magic of Wicked in limited-edition Crocs. The Wicked x Crocs collection includes the Elphaba Classic Clog ($69.99), Glinda Siren Clog ($94.99) and Wicked-themed jibbitz ($24.99).

Best 'Wicked' Merch: 16 Magical Collabs to Shop Ahead of the Movie

Wicked Elphaba Bluetooth Wireless Headphones

$29.99

Buy Now at target

Wicked headphones for the kiddies! These Elphaba headphones (available exclusively at Target) offer 37 hours of playtime and Wicked design elements.

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Best 'Wicked' Merch: 16 Magical Collabs to Shop Ahead of the Movie

Wicked x Shark FlexStyle Limited-Edition

$299.99

Buy Now at shark

Magical mane! The Wicked x Shark FlexStyle comes in an ombre green colorway with a hit of pink. The Shark FlexStyle is a multi-use hair tool that is designed to curl, smooth, dry and volumize.

Best 'Wicked' Merch: 16 Magical Collabs to Shop Ahead of the Movie

Wicked x Aldo Spellbinding Strappy Sandals

$160

Buy Now at aldo

Ready for a night out in the Emerald City? The Aldo x Wicked collection features sparkling heels, pumps and accessories. Grande wore custom, pink Aldo pumps inspired by the collection while hosting SNL earlier this month.

Best 'Wicked' Merch: 16 Magical Collabs to Shop Ahead of the Movie

Vera Bradley x Wicked Large Original Duffel

$120

Buy Now at vera bradley

Vera Bradley’s Wicked collection features this lovely duffle bag (available in pink or green). The roomy bag is sized just right for traveling, or hitting the gym.

Best 'Wicked' Merch: 16 Magical Collabs to Shop Ahead of the Movie

 Béis The Carry-On Roller in Wicked Green

$258

Buy Now at beis

Whether your traveling to Emerald City or another destination, the Wicked x Béis collection will get you there in style. The limited collection includes suitcases, backpacks and more.

Best 'Wicked' Merch: 16 Magical Collabs to Shop Ahead of the Movie

OPI x Wicked Limited Edition Collection, 2PC Duo-Pack

$23.99

Buy Now On Amazon

Buy Now at ulta

Give your nails a touch of Wicked. This duo set from Opi’s Wicked collection pairs bright pink and dark green gel polish.

Best 'Wicked' Merch: 16 Magical Collabs to Shop Ahead of the Movie

Aerie x Wicked Big Chill Crew Sweatshirt

$38.46 $54.95 30% off

Buy Now at aerie

Cozying up in Emerald City? Get comfy in the Aerie x Wicked Big Chill Crew Sweatshirt (available in smoked gray and light heather gray).

Best 'Wicked' Merch: 16 Magical Collabs to Shop Ahead of the Movie

Wicked x Bombas Lightweight Quarter Sock, 4-Pack

$76

Buy Now at bombas

Bombas’ Wicked collection features 12 sock styles inspired by Elphaba and Glinda. Kim Kardashian slipped into a pair of socks from the collection to host a private, Wicked screening at her house on Tuesday.

Best 'Wicked' Merch: 16 Magical Collabs to Shop Ahead of the Movie

Wicked x Voluspa Pink Goes With Green Candle Duo Set

$98

Buy Now at voluspa

Light things up with this candle set from the Wicked x Voluspa collab. The candle coupling features 8.5oz candles: Elphaba’s Bewitching Banyan Forest and Glinda’s Perfectly Pink Yuzu.

emerald city "wicked" lego set box and build

Wicked Lego Emerald City

$99.99

Buy Now at target

Buy Now at walmart

Build your very own Emerald City! The Welcome to the Emerald City Lego Set has 945 piece and Lego minis of Glinda, Elphaba, The Wizard, Madame Morrible and Fiyero.

Best 'Wicked' Merch: 16 Magical Collabs to Shop Ahead of the Movie

Wicked Elphaba Singing Doll

$24.99

Buy Now at target

With the press of a button, Mattel’s singing Elphaba doll belts out “Defying Grafity.” Shop more Wicked dolls here.

Best 'Wicked' Merch: 16 Magical Collabs to Shop Ahead of the Movie

Wicked Glinda at Shiz University Doll

$24.97

Buy Now at walmart

Head of the class! The Glinda at Shiz University doll is ready for school with her pink school bag and Shiz textbooks.

Best 'Wicked' Merch: 16 Magical Collabs to Shop Ahead of the Movie

Monopoly Wicked Edition Board Game | Inspired by The Motion Picture |

$24.84 $29.99 17% off

Buy Now at Amazon

Buy Now at target

Play a Wicked round of Monopoly with this movie-themed board game. It comes complete with munchkin homes, emerald castles, Defy Gravity and Total Ozmopolitan cards and six tokens: Elphaba’s hat, Elphaba’s Broom, Elphaba’s Bottle, Glinda’s Crown, Glinda’s Trunks, and The Grimmerie.

Best 'Wicked' Merch: 16 Magical Collabs to Shop Ahead of the Movie

Bitty Boomer Glinda & Elphaba Speakers (Sold Separately)

$19.99

Buy Now at target

A mini speaker with a Wicked vibe. The Bitty Boomers Elphaba Speaker and Glinda Speaker are a couple of the exclusive drops that you’ll find at Target. Bitty Boomers features Bluetooth 5.0 and up to four hours of playtime.

Want more ways to celebrate Wicked? Toast to Oz with a Wicked-themed cocktail kit ($160) from Cocktail Courier. It’s packed with all the ingredients (and booze) needed for Oz-inspired drinks such as “Popular Pink Punch,” “Ozmopolitan” and the “Ozpresso Martini.”

There’s also a Wicked-inspired hotel suite at the Hilton New York Midtown. The custom-designed suite will be available from Nov. 21 until Jan. 5 (book here).

Speaking of the Big Apple, Wicked the musical opened on Broadway in 2013 and went on to gross over $1 billion. In 2017, Wicked became the second-highest grossing Broadway musical in history behind The Lion King.

Will the movie be just as popular as the Broadway production? The film has already earned strong numbers in presale tickets and could rake in as much as $150 million opening weekend, per Box Office Theory. The Universal Pictures’ fantasy film, directed by Jon M. Chu, is estimated to make as much as $1 billion at the box office.

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Juvenile Reiterates His Feelings About the Lil Wayne & Kendrick Lamar Super Bowl Controversy

Juvenile clarified his comments about Lil Wayne not being tapped to headline this season’s Super Bowl Halftime Show.

He and Mannie Fresh made appearance on Los Angeles-area radio show, Power 106’s Brown Bag Morning Show where they both addressed Kendrick Lamar being picked instead after being asked if they would perform if the Compton rapper extended an invite. “Oh, we there,” Juvie answered with no hesitation. “Kendrick is one of the best performers we’ve ever seen. He’s top notch, especially in hip-hop. In the hip-hop world, and he raises the bar. So it’s something that everybody want to see, and if he calls, I’m there. No problem.”

Mannie then interjected that social media has a habit of mucking things up. “The thing is, the internet always makes something that it’s not,” he said. “Because people felt like we took a side ’cause we said that it would be cool if Wayne was in it. Of course we going to say that — that’s from our team, but respectfully, Kendrick is that dude. He’s a good dude.”

Juvie added: “Never throwing shade on Kendrick not one time because I don’t live my life like that anyway. I don’t like to tear somebody else down to put somebody else in a position, right? But I felt like Wayne was campaigning for that spot, he came out months ahead of time and I’m like, well, if he’s asking for it, at least consider him — give him a call or something.”

The New Orleans rapper continued by reemphasizing that his beef was always with the NFL and never with Lamar or the person ultimately responsible for the pick in Jay-Z. “My quarrel was never with Jay-Z or Kendrick or anything like that,” he reiterated. “My quarrel was with the NFL and the other 11 Super Bowls they had in my city and they never gave us a chance to put anybody from the city on. How they come to our city and they throw this big major event and they rent all the buildings and they don’t let the people from the city… we don’t see those benefits. My cause is totally different.”

Back in September, a day after Kendrick announced that he was headlining Super Bowl 59 in New Orleans, Juvie took to social media to give his two cents. “So everybody wants me to speak on this Super Bowl situation,” he began visibly upset while sitting in a car. “Look, I’m mad about the situation just like y’all, but my hatred is towards the NFL — not really the people that booked the halftime show. I’m mad at the people that hired the muthaf—as that booked the halftime show. I feel like y’all should step in. Y’all done had 11 Super Bowls in New Orleans, man. Y’all have yet to put a hip-hop artist from New Orleans on the damn Super Bowl!”

He continued: “I feel like every time y’all come here, y’all should have somebody from our city on the sh—t. But this time it really hits hard when you don’t have Lil Wayne on the show. I don’t see how the f—k y’all don’t have Lil Wayne doing the halftime show. Somebody that has a whole bunch of f—ing hits and somebody that really deserves it and somebody that can bring out multiple artists of all genres. Think about it.”

The N.O. legend then aimed his anger towards NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, saying, “So this goes to you, Roger Goodell, you need to get it right, man. You coming to our city, sucking up our culture and making all this money and putting all this bread in your pocket and other people’s pockets and hanging us dry. It gotta stop.”

He wasn’t the only rapper upset. Nicki Minaj, Cam’ron, Mase, Master P, and Boosie all felt like Weezy was snubbed. Wayne even admitted to feeling broken over the situation.

You can watch the full convo below:

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