THE BIG STORY: Taylor Swift knows trademarks. She owns dozens of them, covering everything from “Swiftie” to “Taylor’s Version” to the names of her cats. And she’s not afraid to enforce them — just ask the Swift Home bedding brand. She’s also been sued herself over them, from a case filed by an Evermore theme park to a recent action over The Life of a Showgirl.

So it makes sense that Swift is now on the cutting edge of a novel legal strategy to adapt trademark law for the age of AI deepfakes.

In a pair of filings last week, the superstar asked the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to issue federal trademark registrations of her voice saying “Hey, it’s Taylor” and “Hey, it’s Taylor Swift.” She filed a third application covering an image of herself on stage.

Swift seems to be trying to protect her name and likeness against misappropriation, a problem that has boomed as AI technology has made it far easier to mimic voices and create fake videos. She’s following a path pioneered last year by Mathew McConaughey, who filed similar applications in an effort to “trademark himself.”

Whether such a strategy will actually work is pretty debatable. Trademark law … doesn’t really work like this. But you can hardly blame Swift for trying: She’s repeatedly been the victim of ugly deepfakes, and lawmakers have been slow to address the problem. A few trademark filings don’t cost much, and they might give her a way to fight back.

Other top stories this week…

— The prosecutors in D4vd’s murder case told a judge that there was “a significant amount of child pornography” on the singer’s phone, adding a hideous new allegation to accusations that he killed and dismembered 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.

— A decade after Cinq Music bought much of T.I.’s recorded music catalog, the rapper filed a breach of contract lawsuit claiming the label has refused to honor promises to let him buy back those same masters at a cheap price.

— Precious Jacobs-Perry, the Jenner & Block attorney who helped Chance the Rapper win his trial against longtime manager Pat Corcoran, sat down with Billboard for an extended interview — about the legal issues, the verdict and her “incredible” client.

— Miami’s Ultra Music Festival is facing a new lawsuit from angry local residents who say the electronic dance music event violated earlier promises to limit sound levels and inflicted “psychological torture” on its neighbors every spring.

— A man named Jay Bryant pleaded guilty to acting as an accomplice in the 2002 killing of Run-DMC’s Jam Master Jay, admitting he opened a studio door so that two other men could enter undetected and shoot the rap icon.

— A former Live Nation arena development executive filed a lawsuit alleging he discovered “compounding corporate malfeasance” and then was fired for trying to “stand up for and confront that misconduct.”

— A judge dismissed Sean “Diddy” Combs’ $100 million defamation lawsuit over the 2025 Peacock documentary The Making of a Bad Boy, ruling that it took “a carefully curated and nuanced approach” that passed muster under the law.

— Smokey Robinson cannot countersue his former housekeepers for defamation after they sued him for sexual abuse, a Los Angeles judge ruled.

Following Megan Thee Stallion and Klay Thompson’s breakup, The Sims is helping the rapper say “dag dag” — which means “goodbye” in Simlish — to the NBA star.

In a Monday (April 27) post on X, the video game’s official account shared a gif depicting an in-game rendering of Thompson looking confused while standing in a digital kitchen, surrounded by four different bonfires. “If you can’t handle a Hottie,” the caption reads, “stay out of the kitchen.”

On Instagram Stories, the franchise also reposted a dance TikTok it filmed with Meg — wearing a headband with a large green diamond shape sprouting out of it to make her look like a Sim — at last year’s Dream Con. At the event, the Grammy winner hosted a “Hotties Play Thee Sims” livestream.

“We lurv you Meg,” wrote The Sims account over the TikTok. “Can’t keep a Hottie down.”

Billboard has reached out to Thompson’s rep for comment.

The brand’s posts come during an outpouring of fan support for Meg, who announced her split from the athlete on Saturday (April 25). After accusing him of cheating and exhibiting “HORRIBLE mood swings and treatment” toward her in a post on her Story, she shared in a statement to Billboard, “I’ve made the decision to end my relationship with Klay.”

“Trust, fidelity and respect are non-negotiable for me in a relationship, and when those values are compromised, there’s no real path forward,” she added at the time. “I’m taking this time to prioritize myself and move ahead with peace and clarity.”

Thompson has not yet addressed the breakup or infidelity allegations. One person who has spoken up is Lexie Brown, who — amid gossip that she was linked to the Dallas Mavericks player — shut down rumors with a post on her Story.

“I’ve seen what’s being said online, and I want to be clear, none of it is true,” the WNBA star wrote Monday (April 27), one day before Meg announced that she’d be departing Moulin Rouge! on Broadway early amid the breakup. “I have no involvement in this situation.”

See The Sims‘ post (literally) roasting Klay Thompson as a Sim below.

Ahead of its 40th anniversary, Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage revealed its 2026 lineup on Tuesday (April 28). On June 10, Grammy winner Ledisi, in association with Blue Note Jazz Festival, will open the season with a set that salutes jazz icon Dinah Washington—fitting enough, given that the inaugural SummerStage concert was delivered by Sun Ra, another jazz legend, albeit one of a very different bent. (The Sun Ra Arkestra began the annual NYC concert tradition June 1986 in Central Park.)

The 2026 SummerStage lineup, which offers free concerts across all five boroughs, includes a number of legendary artists, familiar hitmakers and buzzing newcomers from a variety of genres: Laurie Anderson (who is somehow making her SummerStage debut despite being an integral part of the NYC art scene for longer than SummerStage has existed), Angélique Kidjo, Mavis Staples, De La Soul, Spoon, Andrew Bird, Bilal, MIKE’s Young World with Max B, Julieta Venegas, Edem, Black Country, New Road, Horsegirl, SHABAKA, Kokoroko, Trueno, Luedji Luna ft. Liniker, Shaggy, WayV, Charlie Aponte and more.

You can check out the full lineup (so far) here, but here are a few shows worth special mention. Longtime SummerStage mainstay Funk Flex taps Jon B. for the Birthday R&B Picnic on Central Park on Aug. 7, then hosts a night of house/freestyle and hip-hop with Crystal Waters, Cynthia and Frankie Cutlass on Staten Island on Aug. 8. He’s also presenting a Hip-Hop Appreciation Park Jam in the Bronx July 31 with Doug E. Fresh. One day earlier on July 30, a celebration of the wildly influential breakbeat compilation series Ultimate Breaks and Beats hits Central Park to celebrate its 40th anniversary, led by the series’ co-founder Breakbeat Lou and featuring Lord Finesse, Diamond D, Grand Puba and Sadat X.

As per usual, the 2026 SummerStage season includes ticketed benefit shows to help fund the free performances, including: The Martinez Brothers (June 13); Elderbrook (June 20); a showcase for British trance label Anjunadeep (July 18); Blues Traveler with Gin Blossoms and Spin Doctors (Aug. 15); Simple Plan with 3OH!3 and Bowling for Soup (Aug. 19); The Marcus King Band (Sept. 12); Charley Crockett (Oct. 1); and more artists, with additional names yet to be announced.

“Forty years ago, I had a simple idea: that world-class music and performing arts belonged to everyone, not just those who could afford a ticket. Four decades later, I’m genuinely moved by what SummerStage has meant to our city and what we helped build together with our fans,” said Joe Killian, SummerStage founder and executive producer (1986-1993) and City Parks Foundation board member.

“It is such a thrill to be presenting our 40th season lineup, while also celebrating four decades of showcasing iconic artists and dynamic new voices from around the world,” said Erika Elliott, executive artistic director of SummerStage. “We are extremely proud of SummerStage’s place in NYC music history and of championing artists across all genres, whether its local NYC icons or major stars from across the globe. This summer’s performances in each borough will continue to provide platforms for artists to share their creativity with the diverse communities that make up our city and further build our legacy.”

“I am thrilled to announce our 2026 SummerStage lineup and mark our momentous 40th anniversary,” said Heather Lubov, executive director of City Parks Foundation. “This season’s exceptional mix of artists truly embodies why SummerStage has become such a beloved music destination for the past four decades, and reflects our city’s rich cultural diversity. We are excited to continue the tradition of bringing memorable live performances to NYC’s parks and celebrating our communities.”