Composer Mark Smythe, who was nominated in 2023 for a Society of Composers and Lyricists (SCL) Award and World Soundtrack Award for scoring The Reef: Stalked, died May 9 after collapsing while hiking on Mt. Wilson in Los Angeles. He was 53.

Smythe was a beloved member of the film and TV composing community and in addition to his work as a musician, he served as the Society of Composers and Lyricists’ chief operating officer from 2018-2021, after a stint as Los Angeles administrator.

“To say that his loss comes as a profound shock to our community, especially to his students, collaborators, and friends, is an understatement,” said SCL president Ashley Irwin.

Smythe was born in New Zealand, then moved to Australia before coming to Los Angeles in 2013. In addition to the SCL and World Soundtrack nominations, he received three Hollywood Music in Media Award nominations for scoring films Unfallen, Flying South and The Things She Did. His score for Daddy’s Little Girl earned him the Australian Screen Industry Network award for best composer in 2012.

“Beyond his professional accomplishments, people genuinely enjoyed Mark’s company, as evidenced by the current outpouring of love for him on social media,” said SCL president Ashley Irwin. “He had a wry sense of humor and an infectious laugh that could light up a room. Exceptionally generous with his time and energy, he had a way of making everyone feel welcome, whether they were longtime SCL members or attending their initial event. For many, Mark was the first friend they made at the SCL. Those who knew Mark will never forget being greeted with his favorite line: ‘I’m all the better for seeing your smiling face.’”

Australian music rights management organization APRA AMCOS also paid tribute to Smythe on its Instagram page. Smythe “became an APRA member in 2004 and was also a beloved colleague to many in our Melbourne office, where he worked as client and legal liaison for four years in the early 2000s before heading to Los Angeles to pursue film and concert composing full-time,” posted the organization.”

APRA AMCOS CEO Dean Ormston added, “Mark’s passing is a great loss to the screen composing world and to the musical communities he was such a meaningful part of. He is remembered very fondly by his former APRA AMCOS colleagues for the positive spirit he brought to work every day – both at the office and in his music.

In addition to composing, at the time of his death, Smythe was teaching media composition at California State University, Northridge, as well as Department Head of Composing for Visual Media at the Los Angeles College of Music.

“Many composers in our community had the privilege of learning from Mark, and remember him not only as a great teacher, but as someone who believed in them personally,” Irwin said.

Smythe was also composing choral works and had collaborated with the LA Choral Lab on several projects.

Among the survivors are Smythe’s sister, Kate Ward-Smythe.

Madonna, Shakira and BTS will perform during halftime of the World Cup final game, Global Citizen announced first thing Thursday (May 14).

The Sunday, July 19, match at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, will mark the first time the FIFA World Cup final has ever featured a halftime show. Billboard understands that the show will clock in at 11 minutes.

The news was announced in a social video starring Coldplay’s Chris Martin alongside Sesame Street‘s Elmo and Cookie Monster, as well as Kermit, Miss Piggie and more from The Muppets. The unlikely crew even calls up BTS on FaceTime in the video — watch below.

Shakira’s name had already been linked to this year’s World Cup – hosted in North America, with tournament games across the United States, Canada and Mexico – with the announcement of “Dai Dai,” her official 2026 World Cup song with Burna Boy. It will be Shak’s second official FIFA World Cup song following “Waka, Waka (This Time for Africa)” recorded for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The Colombian superstar kicks off her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour in June, with July 14 and July 20 in New Jersey and New York, respectively, surrounding the World Cup final at MetLife.

Madonna is also gearing up for a busy July, with the Queen of Pop’s Confessions II album – the sequel to her 2005 classic Confessions on a Dance Floor – arriving July 3. She’s so far released lead single “Bring Your Love,” her duet with Sabrina Carpenter, which they live-debuted during weekend 2 of Coachella last month, as well as “I Feel So Free.”

BTS made a major return to music earlier this year with the March 20 release of their sixth studio album ARIRANG, the Korean group’s first project since they went on hiatus for each member to complete their military service. The album debuted atop the Billboard 200 and stayed there for three straight weeks – their first multi-week No. 1 on the chart. Last month, they kicked off their ARIRANG WORLD TOUR in Goyang, South Korea, before bringing the trek to the U.S. on April 25. They have international dates scheduled through next March.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup final halftime show is being curated by Global Citizen along with Coldplay’s Martin, with plans to raise money for children’s education on the massive stage. The advocacy organization and Martin similarly teamed up for last year’s Club World Cup final halftime show, which was headlined by Doja Cat, J Balvin and Tems.

Last week, FIFA announced that Katy Perry, Future, Tyla, LISA and Anitta are slated to perform during the 2026 World Cup opening ceremonies set for the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Perry will headline the opening ceremony in Los Angeles ahead of the U.S. men’s national team’s first game against Paraguay on June 12. Future will also take the SoFi Stadium stage for a performance along with DJ Sanjoy.

While this marks the first time the World Cup final has had a halftime show, two of the July performers have previously headlined the Super Bowl halftime show; Madonna took center field at the 2012 Super Bowl, while Shakira co-headlined with Jennifer Lopez in 2020.

These stars can’t say their BET Awards invites got lost in the mail — Druski is making sure of it.

In a new promo for the 2026 BET Awards, comedian and this year’s host Druski visited the homes of some of the culture’s biggest stars to personally ensure that they know to be at the ceremony. And in true Druski fashion, the sketch comedian made sure to be as extra as possible.

“C’mon now, John,” Druski says as a confused John Legend opens his front door to see the comedian outside his house with a gospel choir in tow. Of course the 13-time Grammy winner had to ask Druski what he was doing there. “I’m hosting the BET Awards!”

“He’s the host!” the choir echos before Druski lets Legend know that the singer is invited to “culture’s biggest night.”

As the choir sings that the awards show will be on June 28, Legend let’s them know that they sound good and dances back into his home. With the first message delivered, Druski is on to the next one: actor and musician Jamie Foxx.

Referencing Foxx’s Oscar-winning film Django Unchained, Druski rolls—or, more accurately, rides—up to Foxx’s abode on a horse. Druski once again shares that he’s hosting “the culture’s biggest night” and that lets Foxx know that the dress code is black suit and tie.

“It’s black suit and tie but can you get your black a— off my street,” Foxx retorts before rejecting Druski’s invite to ride with him on the horse to the awards.

With a mariachi band to back him up, Druski pulls up to Cardi B‘s residence next. There, he learns that Cardi is Dominican, not Mexican. Druski pushes past the cultural mix up and delivers Cardi her personal invite and tells her to “bring the girls out.”

“You know I’ll bring the girls” Cardi replies before thanking Druski and the band. “Thank you, papacitos!”

With that, it’s time for Druski’s final invite. Ditching the horse and musicians, Druski arrives at the house of fellow comedian Martin Lawrence with a huge BET Awards sign and pyrotechnics.

“So you think I got time to get a black suit and tie—” Lawrence begins before Druski cuts him off by reigniting his sparklers. As the sparklers burn, the two scream “June 28th” back and forth at one another before Lawrence retreats into his house and closes the door on Druski.

The 2026 BET Awards will be hosted live on—as Druski ensured he made very clear—June 28 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Watch the full invitation promo below.

Ninajirachi could fill her boots at the 2026 AIR Awards, for which the EDM star and her support cast are shortlisted in 10 categories included the coveted independent album and single of the year.

With the release last year of her debut full-length album, I Love My Computer, the electronic music producer and DJ has been flying high both on the international festivals and awards circuits. Along the way, Ninajirachi (real name: Nina Wilson) nabbed three wins at the 2025 ARIA Awards, won the Australian Music Prize for album of the year, J Awards, the NSW Music Prize for breakthrough artist, and took out second place in the Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition for “iPod Touch.” On the live front, she realized a dream by performing at Coachella 2026, with another North American tour to come.

Expect another gold rush at the AIR Awards, to be presented Thursday, July 30 at Adelaide Town Hall, for an invite-only industry event.

Also on the night, Ninajirachi’s label home, Nina Las Vegas’ NLV Records, is shortlisted for independent label of the year, one of the top categories. NLV Records will square off with ABC Music, Astral People Recordings, College Of Knowledge and Mushroom Music.

Other nominees, announced today, May 14, include Teen Jesus And The Jean Teasers, Spacey Jane, Jem Cassar-Daley, Confidence Man, FISHER, John Butler, Keli Holiday, and Stella Donnelly.

Produced by The Australian Independent Record Labels Association (AIR), the awards were first established in 2006 as an effort to “recognize, promote, and celebrate the success of Australia’s Independent Music sector.”

The trophies will once again be handed out on the penultimate evening of AIR’s Indie-Con Australia Conference and A2IM’s Indie Week Australian Edition, presented this year at Mercury Cinema and Nexus Arts from July 29 – 31.

“The South Australian Government is proud to support Indie‑Con Australia and the AIR Awards,” comments minister for arts Kyam Maher MLC, “and to welcome nominees, industry leaders and delegates from across Australia and around the world to South Australia.”

As previously reported, AIR has, for the first time, split its dance and electronic recognition into more clearly defined lanes. A new best independent dance/club single category will spotlight club-driven tracks — including house, techno, trance, drum & bass and garage — with eligibility requiring a DJ service component.

Meanwhile, best independent electronic single fetes electronic releases not designed primarily for club settings, separating festival-floor material from broader electronic artistry.

The category formerly known as best independent dance or electronica album or EP category has been renamed best independent electronic album or EP to align with the updated single framework.

See the full list of AIR Awards nominations below.

Young Thug knows what it’s like to be sitting behind bars awaiting your day in court. Thugger took to X on Wednesday (May 13) with a message in support of Lil Durk, calling for the Chicago rapper’s freedom.

“Free smurk please god,” he wrote.

Fittingly, Brian Steel, the powerhouse attorney who represented Young Thug in his YSL RICO case, filed to join Lil Durk’s legal team in March and represent him in his federal murder-for-hire case.

Steel facilitated a plea deal for 15 years of probation and time served to get Thugger out of jail in October 2024 after the YSL rapper spent over two years behind bars.

“I get very close to my clients. I meet their families,” Steel told Billboard in an interview in March. “Because if I’m going to defend somebody, I gotta be invested. I gotta believe in the person. I gotta make it where if I lose this case, it’s going to ruin my life.”

He continued: “I just want to help people, ethically and zealously. And I don’t want to hurt anybody, and God willing, something good will come out.”

Steel was also part of Diddy’s defense team in April, which saw the embattled Bad Boy mogul sentenced to 50 months in prison for violating federal prostitution laws.

Lil Durk was arrested in October 2024 on murder-for-hire charges, as federal agents apprehended the OTF rapper before they believed he was headed to catch a private flight to Italy.

Durk’s trial was set for April, but has once again been delayed to Aug. 20. Prosecutors allege that Durk plotted to have rival rapper Quando Rondo killed during a Los Angeles shooting in 2022. However, Rondo’s cousin, Lul Pap (Saviay’a Robinson), was killed during the crossfire.

Prosecutors believe that Durk ordered the hit to have Rondo taken out in retaliation for the 2020 killing of rapper King Von (Dayvon Bennett), who was the rapper’s frequent collaborator.

As for Young Thug, the Atlanta native spent last weekend at Rolling Loud Orlando, where Thugger popped out at multiple sets, including Ken Carson’s headlining set to close out the festival.