Selena Gomez, Benny Blanco & The Marias’ ‘Ojos Tristes’ Debuts Top 10 on Hot Latin Songs

Selena Gomez is back in the top 10 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart (dated April 5) as “Ojos Tristes,” with Benny Blanco and The Marias, debuts at No. 4. Thanks to the reimagination of Jeanette’s 1981 classic ballad “El Muchacho De Los Ojos Tristes,” Blanco and The Marias secure their first top 10 on their second visit to the chart.

“Ojos Tristes” opens at No. 4 on Hot Latin Songs –which blends airplay, digital sales and streaming data into its formula– thanks to gains mainly through streaming activity. The song registered 8.2 million official streams in the U.S. in the tracking week ending March 27, according to Luminate. The sum yields a No. 3 start on Latin Streaming Songs, the fifth top 10 for Gomez and an equal first top 10 for Blanco and The Marias.

Gomez’s “Ojos Tristes” samples “El Muchacho De Los Ojos Tristes” by Spanish-British Jeanette, who rose to the spotlight in the 1970s. While the song, composed by Manuel Alejandro, did not enter the charts, the singer-songwriter’s global hit, “Porque Te Vas,” reached No. 25 high on Latin Pop Airplay in 2008.

The bilingual “Ojos Tristes” intertwines nostalgic melodies with a modern sound, where Gomez sings in English and Maria Zardoya, of The Marias, lends her soft vocals to mirror Jeanette’s style for a modern audience.

The collaboration has propelled Blanco and The Marias to secure their first top 10 on Hot Latin Songs, after each scored an entry. Blanco reached No. 22 high last December as a featured artist on Myke Towers’ “Degenere.” The Marias, meanwhile, scored a No. 17 peak through their Bad Bunny collab “Otro Atardecer” in 2022.

For Gomez, “Ojos Tristes” gives her a fifth top 10 and first since “Selfish Love,” with DJ Snake, debuted and peaked at No. 6 in 2021.

“Ojos Tristes” also makes inroads across other Billboard charts. It debuts at No. 59 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100. Plus, it starts at No. 63 on the Billboard Global 200 with 19.5 million streams, and at No. 118 on Global Excl. U.S. with 11.3 million clicks outside the U.S.

Sales too assist on the song’s top 10 debut on Hot Latin Songs, as “Ojos Tristes” registers 1,000 downloads in the U.S. which translates into a No. 1 debut on Latin Digital Song Sales.

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Shakira Talks Mexican Residency as Part of Her “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran” World Tour | Billboard Latin

Shakira has added more dates to her Mexican residency as part of her “Mujeres Ya No Lloran” World Tour and the Colombian singer shares what she loves about her Mexican fans, performing with Grupo Frontera and more!

Have you attended her concert? Let us know in the comments!

Natalia Cano:

Shakira, well, it’s been a series of very exciting concerts in Mexico and I think that together with Gabriel García Márquez, you are the Colombians that Mexico loves the most, that Mexico has adopted. And a very important Mexican section that you have incorporated in this part of your tour, today with Grupo Frontera. If you can tell us a little bit about having this Mexican section and with these guests tonight.

I really wanted to surprise them. The thing is that every day I strive to give them something more because the Mexican public has been so loyal, so affectionate, they have lifted me up every time I have needed it. And I wanted to surprise them with something that would touch their hearts and with Grupo Frontera, I love them, I love them, they have incredible energy, they are extraordinarily talented and I have a great time with them. Every time we did something together, well, we worked on this song or worked together on the music video, it’s always been a very human experience, they’re so genuine and I admire that a lot on the dance floor. So having them on stage today was a real treat. I got really emotional when I saw them, I wanted to hug them all. Payo has a special aura, he’s very handsome. And his voice, he doesn’t miss a note. It’s incredible to sing with him. He plays it safe. So it was an experience, it was very exciting for me, it was one of the highlights of today’s concert.

Keep watching for more!

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The Beatles: Actors Set to Play Fab Four in Sam Mendes’ Upcoming Biopics Revealed

The first cast announcement for the upcoming Beatles biopics has been confirmed, with Harris Dickinson (John Lennon), Paul Mescal (Paul McCartney), Barry Keoghan (Ringo Starr) and Joseph Quinn (George Harrison) set to play the Fab Four. 

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The quartet will assume the roles for what Sony Pictures is currently dubbing The Beatles – A Four Film Cinematic Event, directed by Sam Mendes (Skyfall, 1917). The group will appear in four separate biopics – one about each member – and all will be released in theatres in April 2028, in what Sony Motion Pictures Boss Tom Rothman’s called a “bingeable moment in cinema” (per Deadline). No further cast members have been announced at this stage, nor has the release order for the four films.

The news was confirmed on Monday night (March 31) at the CinemaCon event in Las Vegas, with Mendes and the all-star cast all appearing on stage to celebrate the announcement. See a photo of all four members together below.

Mendes said that the four separate films will provide “a chance to understand them a little more deeply.” Mendes added that the group “redefined the culture and stayed with you for a lifetime,” and called them “the most significant band of all time.” He also said that he had been trying to make a Beatles film “for years,” but struggled to fit the story into one movie and rejected the idea of a television series.

“There had to be a way to tell the epic story for a new generation,” he told the audience, adding: “I can assure you there is still plenty left to explore and I think we found a way to do that.”

On stage, Dickinson, Mescal, Keoghan and Quinn recited from the band’s song “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”: “It’s wonderful to be here, it’s certainly a thrill, you’re such a lovely audience, we’d like to take you home with us,” each saying a line.

The upcoming film has approval from McCartney and Starr, as well as Lennon and Harrison’s estates. It marks the first time the group and rights holders Apple have granted full life story and music rights for a scripted film.

The reveal confirms rumors that have swirled about the casting for months. Last year Starr hinted that Keoghan would be playing him in the film, saying “I believe he’s somewhere taking drum lessons, and I hope not too many.” Ridley Scott, who directed Mescal in Gladiator II, accidentally confirmed the latter’s casting in an interview in late 2024, with Mescal responding that it would be “a dream come true” to play McCartney.

Dickinson is best known for his roles in Babygirl (2024) and The Iron Claw (2023), while Quinn had a starring role alongside Mescal in Gladiator II, and also appeared in the most-recent season of Stranger Things.

The four Beatles films will follow the group’s trajectory from their 1960 formation through their time as a touring act and in the studio. The group hold the record for the most No. 1 LPs on the Billboard 200 (19 in total) and most No. 1 singles on the Hot 100 (20 in total).

A number of documentaries and smaller-budget films have been released chronicling the group’s career, including 2009’s Nowhere Boy which focused on Lennon’s early years, and starred Aaron Taylor-Johnson in the leading role. In 2022, The Beatles: Get Back documentary saw Peter Jackson compiling hours of unused footage for an eight-hour epic on Disney+.

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Baylee Littrell Gets Brian Littrell Emotional With Performance on ‘American Idol’

Baylee Littrell, son of Backstreet Boys’ Brian Littrell, took center stage during Hollywood Week on American Idol with a moving original song dedicated to his late grandmother.

The 21-year-old’s performance of “Hey Jesus,” a tribute to the woman he called his best friend, brought his parents to tears in the audience. Brian Littrell, visibly emotional, was seen singing along as his son poured his heart out on stage.

“Baylee, you’re so good,” judge Carrie Underwood told him after the performance, noting his “heat” and “genuineness.”

It’s been a few episodes since Baylee first stepped out of his father’s boyband shadow during the season premiere, and this week, he reminded everyone why he earned his spot in Hollywood Week. His heartfelt performance was one of the most memorable of the night and secured him a spot in the next round.

Hollywood Week also saw Idol’s most brutal cut yet, with more than half of the 144 contestants eliminated in what host Ryan Seacrest called “the biggest cut in Idol history.”

Among the standouts moving forward was 17-year-old Isaiah Misailegalu, who wowed with a masterful take on Teddy Swims’ “Lose Control.” “You have such a gift, and you’re so confident on the stage,” said Underwood.

The youngest contestant, 15-year-old Mattie Pruitt, stunned the panel with her performance of Chris Stapleton’s “Cold.” “Nothing about that is 15,” said Bryan, noting the “rasp and pain and heart” in her voice.

Josh King, a 24-year-old airport pianist, found his redemption arc with a stirring rendition of Rick Astley’s “Hopelessly.” “Josh! If you had done that in your audition, you would have gotten three yeses, absolutely,” Underwood told him.

Among the contestants moving forward include Thunderstorm Artis, Amanda Barise, Jamal Roberts, Slater Nalley, Sonny Tennet, and Platinum ticket holders Canaan James Hill, Filo and Kolbi Jordan.

Among those who didn’t make the cut were Landynn Kennedy, Sam Sparks and Mikaela Bautista—contestants who had impressed in earlier rounds but couldn’t recapture the magic under pressure.

Showstoppers Week continues Sunday, April 6 on ABC, followed by head-to-head performances on Monday, April 7.

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FISHER Honored With Official Day in Las Vegas

Australian DJ and producer FISHER just scored one of the most surreal honors of his career: his own official day in Las Vegas.

March 29 is now officially recognized as “Day of the Fish” in Las Vegas, following a city proclamation that was rolled out as FISHER played a headline set at the city’s premiere party hotspot, TAO Beach. The Aussie tech-house star signed the proclamation before taking to the decks to celebrate with fans.

“NO FKN WAY!!! THEY NAMED A DAY AFTER ME IN LAS VEGAS! MARCH 29th IS OFFICIALLY ‘DAY OF THE FISH’!! THANK YOU LEGENDS @taobeach,” he wrote on Instagram on March 31.

The proclamation reads: “We welcome [FISHER] to Las Vegas and thank him for bringing his energy and music to our fabulous city.”

This isn’t the first time FISHER has made waves in Sin City. His 2018 breakout track “Losing It” has become a dance music anthem, dominating festival stages and club sets around the globe. The track hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Dance Club Songs chart and earned him a Grammy nomination for Best Dance Recording, solidifying his status as one of the genre’s most in-demand names.

“Losing It” marked a turning point in dance music, helping usher in a broader appetite for tech-house while launching FISHER from Holy Ship! fan favorite to Coachella and Tomorrowland mainstay. He’s since performed back-to-back sets with longtime collaborator Chris Lake, become a fixture on the Ibiza club circuit, and launched his own label Catch & Release.

FISHER’s honor in Las Vegas arrives just weeks ahead of the return of his homegrown festival, Out 2 Lunch. Taking place May 3–4 on the sands of Surfers Paradise, the two-day event sees him doubling as both host and headliner. The 2024 edition will welcome an impressive lineup of global names including Chris Lake, Patrick Topping, DJ Boring, Noizu, Hayden James, Little Fritter and Shimmy.

The festival follows the record-breaking success of last year’s edition, which drew 30,000 punters to Coolangatta Beach and generated an estimated $50 million for the local economy.

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Billy Corgan to Tour Smashing Pumpkins Songs With New Band, the Machines of God

Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan will be playing classics from his beloved group when he hits the road this summer, though his backing group will look a little different.

Hitting the live trail throughout June, Corgan will be joined by his new band, the Machines of God, for the 16-date tour of North America. 

Dubbed A Return to Zero, the trek sees Corgan and his band touring in support of the 30th anniversary of the Smashing Pumpkins’ Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, and the 25th anniversary of the 2000 albums Machina/The Machines of God and Machina II/The Friends & Enemies of Modern Music. The tour will feature classics and deep cuts from the records, along with selections from 2024’s Aghori Mhori Mei.

Joining Corgan in the Machines of God is nascent Smashing Pumpkins guitarist Kiki Wong, drummer Jake Hayden, and bassist Kid Tigrrr (aka Jenna Fournier of NIIGHTS).

This isn’t the only retrospective look that Corgan is taking in 2025. In early March, Corgan detailed a forthcoming series of performances which sees him and the Lyric Opera of Chicago reimagining Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness in a new operatic light in November. “Opera and rock both tell stories of heightened emotions, and I am excited for both fans of my music and traditional opera fans to hear some truly inspired work; for the balance here is to honor both traditions in a magisterial way,” Corgan explained.

Mellon Collie was issued in 1995 as the band’s third album, and managed to become the Smashing Pumpkins’ first release to debut atop the Billboard 200. The record also garnered seven nominations at the 1997 Grammys, including album of the year and best alternative music album, ultimately winning best hard rock performance for lead single, “Bullet with Butterfly Wings.”

Meanwhile, Machina/The Machines of God arrived in February 2000 as the band’s last studio album to be commercially released ahead of their breakup later that year. The record hit No. 3 on the Billboard 200, and received a Grammy nomination for best recording package.

Its follow-up, Machina II/The Friends & Enemies of Modern Music, was released in September of 2000 as a free download after plans to release the records as a double album fell through. A long-awaited reissue of the Machina albums is set to arrive later in the year.

Billy Corgan and the Machines of God – A Return to Zero North American Tour

June 7 – Baltimore Soundstage, Baltimore, MD
June 9 – Paradise Rock Club, Boston, MA
June 11 – Kee to Bala, Muskoka, ON
June 12 – History, Toronto, ON
June 13 – Beanfield Theatre, Montreal, QC
June 15 – Irving Plaza, New York, NY
June 16 – Theatre of Living Arts, Philadelphia, PA
June 17 – Archer Music Hall, Allentown, PA
June 19 – St. Andrew’s Hall, Detroit, MI
June 20 – Taste of Joliet, Joliet, IL
June 21 – Intersection, Grand Rapids, MI
June 23 – Roxian Theatre, Pittsburgh, PA
June 25 – House of Blues Cleveland, Cleveland, OH
June 26 – Bogart’s, Cincinnati, OH
June 27 – Summerfest, Milwaukee, WI
June 29 – Varsity Theater, Minneapolis, MN

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BABYMETAL Recruit Spiritbox and Poppy for New Album, ‘Metal Forth’

Japanese heavy outfit BABYMETAL are preparing to kick off their latest era, announcing the release of their fifth album today.

As is tradition, news of the group’s latest happenings was shared on Fox Day (April 1, Japanese time), a day typically used by the group to unveil big announcements. The big headline for 2025 is the forthcoming release of BABYMETAL’s fifth album, Metal Forth, which will be released on June 13.

The ten-track release is a heavily-collaborative effort, featuring appearances from the likes of Spiritbox, Polyphia, Bloodywood, and Slaughter to Prevail. The album will also include previous singles released by the band, including the 2023 Tom Morello-featuring “METALI!!”and their 2024 collaboration with Electric Callboy, “Ratatata.” News of the forthcoming record will also be bolstered by the impending arrival of new single “From Me to U,” which drops on Friday (April 4) with guest vocals from Poppy.

BABYMETAL first formed in 2010, releasing their self-titled debut in 2014. While the record peaked at No. 187 on the Billboard 200, subsequent albums performed better, with 2016’s Metal Resistance hitting No. 39 and 2019’s Metal Galaxy reaching No. 13. 

In 2023, the band released fourth album The Other One, which became their first not to chart on the Billboard 200, and their first to be released as a duo following the departure of Yuimetal in 2018. Now, following the inclusion of Momometal as an official member in 2023, the forthcoming record is said to represent a new era for the band, with its title meaning “beyond metal,” and a new signing to Capitol Records being detailed alongside its announcement.

In a statement issued on Monday (March 31), Capitol Records noted that the deal makes BABYMETAL “the first Japanese artist to sign a frontline deal with the label.”

“BABYMETAL’s groundbreaking sound and compelling artistic vision have not only cultivated a worldwide following, but have also demonstrably shifted global music culture,” said Capitol Records Chairman & CEO, Tom March. “We at Capitol Records are privileged to join them in this next chapter as we continue to amplify their international reach and influence with the upcoming release of Metal Forth.”

The arrival of Metal Forth on June 13 will also coincide with the launch of a 24-date North American tour for the band, with dates in Europe, the U.K., and Asia also set to complement their current schedule.

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Shakira Announces Even More Shows in Mexico for a Record Total of 22

UPDATE (MARCH 31): After concluding her historic residency in Mexico on Sunday (March 30) with her last of seven concerts at the GNP Seguros Stadium in the capital, Shakira announced two more dates in the Latin American country on Monday (March 31), extending her own record to 22 shows on a single tour. This is the fourth time in five days that the Colombian superstar has added dates in Mexico as part of her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran world tour.

“The She-Wolf continues breaking records and making history. We have the 11th date of the Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour at the Estadio GNP Seguros and a new date at the Akron Stadium in Guadalajara!” OCESA announced on social media.

With these two new shows, the Colombian superstar reaffirms her position as the first artist in history to perform that number of shows on a single tour en Mexico, 11 of which will be at the aforementioned stadium, where she is expected to draw a total of 715,000 people, according to the promoter.

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The new date at the GNP Seguros Stadium is scheduled for August 26th, adding to the previously announced dates for the 27th, 29th, and 30th of the same month. The new show announced for the Akron Stadium in Guadalajara is scheduled for September 7th, adding to the one scheduled for the 6th.

Named on Monday by Billboard as No. 1 among the Best 50 Female Latin Pop Artists of All Time, Shakira is poised to break the record of eight shows at the GNP Seguros Stadium (formerly Foro Sol), currently held by Grupo Firme.

PREVIOUSLY (MARCH 29): About to wrap up the first part of her historic residency at the Estadio GNP Seguros in Mexico City this Sunday (March 30) with a seventh show, Shakira has announced four additional dates in Mexico, including one more at the aforementioned venue on August 27, which adds to the already scheduled shows on August 29 and 30, promoter OCESA announced Saturday (March 29).

With these four concerts, the Colombian superstar brings the total of dates of her first world stadium tour to 20 in Mexico, 10 of them at the Estadio GNP Seguros (formerly Foro Sol), setting a new record as the act with the most shows at this major venue. Regional Mexican band Grupo Firme have held the title so far with eight.

“As a thank you to her fans and in response to unprecedented demand, the singer has announced four more dates. The first stop will be in the city of Monterrey,” OCESA said on social media.

The promoter specified that Shakira’s second leg of the Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran tour in Mexico will kick off on August 23 at the iconic Parque Fundidora, which has opened its doors for the Colombian singer to return to this northern border city. The other three dates include Sept. 3 at Estadio Corregidora in Querétaro and Sept. 11 at Estadio Cuauhtémoc in Puebla.

PREVIOUSLY (MARCH 28): Shakira continues breaking records in Mexico, where she will perform five additional shows as part of her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran world tour, including two dates dates at the Estadio GNP Seguros in the capital on August 29 and 30, the latter announced on Friday (March 28) by the promoter OCESA.

With this new show, the Colombian superstar brings the total number of dates on her first world stadium tour to 16 in the Latin American country.

“Shakira continues to make history in Mexico! Due to high demand, another date of the Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour has been added at the GNP Seguros Stadium,” OCESA said in a statement.

Pre-sale for Banamex cardholders began Friday at 1:20 p.m. (local time), one day before the general sale.

ORIGINAL STORY (MARCH 26): Shakira continues breaking records in Mexico, where she will perform four additional shows as part of her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran world tour, including one more date at the capital’s GNP Seguros Stadium on August 29, OCESA announced on Wednesday (March 26).

“11 dates are not enough; the She-Wolf will return with four more dates in August and September,” the promoter said on social media.

With this, the Colombian superstar will reach the historic milestone of eight performances at the aforementioned venue (previously known as Foro Sol) over two separate phases of her tour. The feat surpasses shows by other international icons such as Paul McCartney, Metallica, Coldplay, and Taylor Swift.

The other three tour dates in Mexico will be at Estadio Corregidora in Querétaro on September 2, Estadio Akron in Guadalajara on September 6, and Estadio Cuauhtémoc in Puebla on September 12. Presale tickets for Banamex cardholders will take place on March 28, while general ticket sales will begin on March 29, added the promoter.

On Tuesday night (March 25), Shakira performed the fourth of seven concerts that make up her unprecedented residency at Estadio GNP Seguros, making her the first artist to sell out such a number of nights at the imposing venue, which will bring together a total of 455,000 attendees, according to OCESA.

Launched on February 11 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran tour is set to visit the Dominican Republic, Chile, and Colombia before arriving in the United States on May 13.

In an interview with Billboard Español in Mexico City, Shakira said that the tour has become something more intimate and profound. “These are more than just concerts. They are deep encounters where healing happens,” she said, adding that, with each performance, she feels “stronger and happier.”

Check out OCESA’s announcement below.

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‘The Wonder of Stevie’ Wins Best Entertainment Podcast at 2025 Ambies

The Wonder of Stevie, a podcast about music legend Stevie Wonder, won best entertainment podcast at the fifth annual Awards for Excellence in Audio (The Ambies). The awards were presented on Monday (March 31) at McCormick Convention Center in Chicago, with comedian Tig Notaro serving as host. The awards are voted on by members of The Podcast Academy.

Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang won best comedy podcast. Bowen Yang has received four Primetime Emmy nominations for his work on Saturday Night Live.

Hysterical, which explores a mass psychogenic illness that occurred in 2011 to some cheerleaders in Le Roy, N.Y., won podcast of the year and best reporting (for Dan Taberski).

Ira Glass was honored with the Governors Award, which recognizes a podcast or individual for the influence they’ve had on the industry; and Sam Sanders received the Impact Award, which recognizes an individual or podcast that has made a significant, positive effect on its listeners.

Ronan Farrow, Jon Cryer, Matt Rogers, and Meena Harris were among presenters and guests at the event.

Here are the nominees for The 2025 Ambies in categories most relevant to the music and entertainment industry, with winners marked.

Podcast of the year

99% Invisible: Not Built for This

Beyond All Repair

Cement City

Dragon Age: Vows & Vengeance

Empire City: The Untold Origin Story of the NYPD

Faraway

Fire Escape

Hot White Heist 2

WINNER: Hysterical, Wondery, Audacy’s Pineapple Street Studios

Throughline

Best entertainment podcast

Infamous

Lemme Say This

Rattled & Shook

Scamfluencers

Split Screen: Kid Nation

The Road to Joni

WINNER: The Wonder of Stevie, Audible, Higher Ground, and Pineapple Street Studios

Best podcast host or hosts

Diallo Riddle and Blake ‘LUXXURY’ Robin – One Song

Glennon Doyle, Abby Wambach and Amanda Doyle – We Can Do Hard Things

Jon Stewart – The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart

Rainn Wilson – Radio Rental

WINNER: Ronald Young Jr. – Weight for It, ohitsBigRon studios LLC

Sam Sanders – The Sam Sanders Show

Wesley Morris – The Wonder of Stevie

Best original score and music supervision

WINNER: Dan Leone – Ripple, Western Sound, APM Studios

Daniel Lloyd-Evans, Louis Nanke-Mannell and Toby Matimong – Extrasensory

Deron Johnson – Dungeon Masters

Jonathan Pfarr, Carson Graham and Bobby Mota – Celebrity Pets

Peter Nashel, Ross Hopman, Gio Lobato, Dana Hom, Brad Fischer, Jordan Lieb, Lucas Villemur and Lindsay Dievert – Hammerless: A True Crime Podcast in a Fantasy World

Skyler Gerdeman, Martin Lynabel, Nicholas Alexander, Max O’Brien and Caroline Thornham – Kill List

Stro Elliot and Eric Gersen – Historical Records

Best production and sound design

Casandra Tinajero and Andrés Bahena – Nocturno: Tales From the Shadows

Jeremy S. Bloom – Hot White Heist 2

Kenny Kusiak and George Drabing Hicks – The Confessions of Anthony Raimondi

WINNER: Michelle Macklem – Girl v. Horse, ESPN Podcasts, 30 for 30 Podcasts

Realm – Narcosis

Sagafilm and Skybound Entertainment – Impact Winter Season 3

Ted Bonnitt – Hindsight: The Day Before

Best society and culture podcast

Hysterical

In Retrospect with Susie Banikarim and Jessica Bennett

WINNER: Inheriting, LAist Studios

Mind Your Own with Lupita Nyong’o

My Divo

Sixteenth Minute (of Fame)

Weight For It

Best podcast for kids

Culture Kids

Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest

Historical Records

Mysteries About True Histories

PJ Library Presents: Beyond the Bookcase

Skylar & Bones – Funny Stories for Kids!

WINNER: Wow in the World Wondery, Tinkercast

Best Spanish language narrative podcast – fiction or nonfiction

¡No Vengan!

Greal: El Secreto de las Ocho Llaves

Hechos Reales

WINNER: HUMO: Murder and Silence in El Salvador, Sonoro

No quieren que sepas

Pantallas & Mentiras [Screens & Lies]

Pétrea

Best sports podcast

30 for 30 Podcasts

WINNER: Broomgate: A Curling Scandal, Kelly&Kelly, CBC Podcasts, USG Audio, and Pacific Electric

Good Game with Sarah Spain

Pablo Torre Finds Out

Shadowball: The Rise of the Black Athlete

The Raven

The Rich Eisen Show

Best comedy podcast

Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend

Hot White Heist 2

WINNER: Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, iHeartPodcasts, Big Money Player

Scam Goddess

SmartLess

We’re Here to Help

Who Replaced Avril Lavigne? Joanne McNally Investigates

Best indie podcast

Sightings

The Insurgence: Sheriffs

The Man Who Calculated Death

The Nightingale of Iran

The People’s Recorder

The TMI Project Story Hour

WINNER: What Happened in Skinner, Mazama Entertainment

Best indie podcast host or hosts

WINNER: Dallas Taylor – Twenty Thousand Hertz, Defacto Sound

Deja Perkins and Purbita Saha – Bring Birds Back

Jill Jonassen – The Cost of Extremism

Kate McCoy and Kevin Corbett – Horrorwood: True Crime in Tinseltown

Lisa Phillips – From Now On

Lisa Woolfork – STITCH PLEASE

Susan Lambert Hatem and Sharon Johnson – 80s TV Ladies

Best interview podcast

American Masters: Creative Spark

Apple News in Conversation

Overlooked: Women’s Health Can’t Wait

WINNER: Thanks Dad with Ego Nwodim, Headgum

The Assignment with Audie Cornish

The Integrated Schools Podcast

Tomorrow’s Cure

Best performance in audio fiction

Bowen Yang, Cynthia Nixon, Shannon Woodward, Jane Lynch, Jesse James Keitel, Sarah Steele, Ian McKellen, Raul Esparza, Sara Ramírez, Joel Kim Booster, Bianca Del Rio, Cheyenne Jackson, Abbi Jacobson, Stephanie Beatriz, Katya Zamolodchikova, Trixie Mattel, Yvie Oddly, Jane Krakowski, Sandra Oh, and Tony Kushner – Hot White Heist 2

WINNER: Caitlin Stasey, Jake ‘The Snake’ Roberts, David Yow, Caroline Morahan, Guinevere Turner, Elizabeth Halpern, Travis Harmon, Brad Griffith, James Bacon, Jameson Cush, Jonathan Shockley, Ayla Glass and Chris Goodwin – The Skies Are Watching, Goldhawk Productions

Fredi Bernstein, Cody Wilkins and Dana Domenick – The Box

Mikki Hernandez, Toby Meuli, Geri-Nikol Love, Rachel Kylian – Ominous Thrill

Ruth Righi – Winnie Taylor’s 4th & Inches

Sanaa Lathan – The Justice

Tisha Campbell – Snoriezzz

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Former Kraftwerk Member Wolfgang Flür Tricked Into Fake Daft Punk Collaboration by Imposter

The world of electronic music is currently coming to terms with news of an international ruse which has seen former Kraftwerk member Wolfgang Flür reportedly tricked into a false collaboration with Daft Punk’s Thomas Bangalter.

Flür, who rose to fame as part of Kraftwerk between 1973 and 1987, issued his third solo album, Times, on Friday (March 28). Early reports of the record indicated the effort was a star-studded affair, featuring collaborations with the likes of Yello’s Boris Blank, New Order’s Peter Hook, and more. One of the most notable collaborations was with Daft Punk’s Thomas Bangalter, who was to be credited on the record under the name Thomas Vangarde.

According to a recent interview with Flür, the apparent collaboration began innocently enough when Bangalter got in touch with the veteran musician via social media to request a signed copy of Flür’s 2022 album, Magazine 1. “He said, ‘It’s so wonderful. Can I have a signed album? I collect albums but it must be signed personally from you. We love you guys. Without Kraftwerk we would not find our own robot style, being on stage with the helmets, you know. And I love you Wolfgang. And please, can you send me [an album]?’”

After the signed record landed at Bangalter’s house, Flür explained that he suggested the two work together on a track. Following some technical alterations to ensure Bangalter’s contributions fit the key of the initial musical ideas, his work was combined with Hook’s bass line, and both Flür and musical partner Peter Duggal completed the track. The final record actually features two songs credited to Bangalter/Vangarde; “Über_All” and “Monday to the Moon.”

However, following the release of Flür’s Times album, Daft Punk archivist Luke Perez took to their blog to confirm the collaboration was in fact a hoax, outlining the chronology of events that led up to the release of the final product.

According to research conducted by Perez, Flür had spoken about being contacted by Bangalter via Facebook back in 2023, admitting he was unaware of the Daft Punk member or his influence at the time. 

Though initially suspicious of the news, given the reclusive social media presence of Daft Punk and its members, Perez further noted that something seemed amiss when Thomas Vangarde was credited on the record instead of Bangalter. Further compounding the mystery was the fact that Bangalter’s father had reportedly used the surname as a moniker during his own musical past, providing a reasonable explanation for the different name.

Ultimately, Perez concluded by mentioning that an individual in close contact with Daft Punk’s management had confirmed that Bangalter was not behind the collaboration with Flür, and that the former Kraftwerk musician had been duped by an as-yet-unknown individual on social media.

“I’m assuming the fake Bangalter must have convinced Flür’s camp that he was now going by Thomas Vangarde in some sort of effort to cover their tracks,” Perez concluded in their post. “Bizarrely, it seems no one in the real Thomas Bangalter’s sphere found out about this or brought this up to him until after the tracks released despite over two years of this being known about. It’s equally bizarre that at no point did Cherry Red Records (or any other involved party) question or debunk this bold claim that Thomas Bangalter was involved.”

Daft Punk officially announced their split in 2021, having not released new music since their fourth and final studio album, 2013’s Random Access Memories. The record was their first to top the Billboard 200, and earned the group five Grammys, including album of the year and best dance/electronic album, while lead single “Get Lucky” took out record of the year and best pop duo/group performance.

Since their dissolution, Bangalter has been active musically, curating scores for ballet, film, and other art projects, while fellow Daft Punk member Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo has remained active in the world of production.

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