“Welcome to Pearl Jam’s 50th show in New York City,” Eddie Vedder said to a rapturous response on stage at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night (Sept. 4), the second of two shows the iconic band from Seattle played at the World’s Most Famous Arena this week.

“And for that we are grateful and want to pay that back. So enjoy yourselves to the finest — and Mike McCready promises to do the same,” he added, before the lead guitarist ripped into a searing version of “Evenflow,” playing an extended epic solo with his guitar behind his back.

That was one highlight of a show full of them, and one that captured the band in its element: pushing songs to the limit, having fun with the crowd and also getting serious about some of the big issues in the country and the world at large. 

“The rights of women are not just being threatened, they are already being taken away,” Vedder said after “Evenflow,” a handful of songs into the band’s two and a half hour set. “I know it’s a little early to be getting into this s–t, but let’s get it over with! So the right to choose issue, it used to involve religious fanatics, and then politicians got involved, not because they care one way or another, they just would like the votes. And it’s evolved into judges, and women of all ages are up against a Supreme Court. So there’s good news: It’s time to vote, and as the great Patti Smith said, people have the power. Never have truer words been spoken. Women, feel empowered; women, vote for your own interests, and help a sister out while you’re at it.”

The band then went into “Daughter,” with an extended outro to the melody of Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick In the Wall Pt. 2,” in which Vedder changed the lyrics to sing, “Keep your bans all off our bodies/ politicians leave our girls alone/ Judges leave our girls alone.”

It wasn’t the only time Vedder, wearing a Walter Payton Chicago Bears jersey, and the band addressed the outside world. On a day in which the U.S. saw another mass school shooting, in which four people were killed and more wounded at a high school in Georgia, the band pulled out a seldom-performed song from its sophomore album, Vs., called “Glorified G” — a cynical sneer at the false bravado of gun owners, with Vedder introducing it by saying, “I hate guns!” More poignantly, and more somberly, two songs later, the band played “Jeremy,” its first breakout hit from the group’s debut album, which is about a boy who brings a gun to school and shoots himself in front of his classroom bullies. Delivered with full energy, the subtext wasn’t lost.

Otherwise, the band clearly enjoyed the 50-show milestone, with Vedder telling a story of the first time he ever came to New York City (“as a Chicago kid, and then on the West Coast, I had never been East of Chicago before”) while introducing “Elderly Woman Behind the Counter In a Small Town,” while there were huge crowd reactions for the high-energy performances of songs such as “Rearviewmirror,” “Hail Hail” and “Do the Evolution.” (The latter, for this fan at least, takes on a different tenor after watching three episodes of the docuseries Chimp Crazy, but I digress.)

After a set break, Vedder came out solo to perform the Steven Van Zandt-penned “I Am a Patriot” and the latter-career gem “Just Breathe,” before bringing tour opener Glen Hansard — “Good human, great Irishman” — to the stage to perform the latter’s “The Song of Good Hope,” shouting out a few fans who had been going through rough times and saying that the song had helped him through troubles of his own. The full band — plus former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist Josh Klinghoffer and producer Andrew Watt, who chipped in with a few solos over the evening — then returned for John Lennon’s “Gimme Some Truth” and the punk anthem “Sonic Reducer.”

The band then ripped through another rarity in fan-favorite “Leash” and its iconic anthem “Alive,” before Vedder brought Little Stevie himself on stage to run through a joyful “Rocking In the Free World,” complete with Hansard, Watt and the full arena lights on, before closing out with their unreleased classic “Yellow Ledbetter” and sending fans home into the Manhattan night.

Set List

—

The Recording Academy is gearing up for Music Advocacy Day, its new name for District Advocate Day, which is set for Oct. 1 with Mark Ronson as this year’s Music Advocacy Day Artist Ambassador. A letter with Ronson’s signature was emailed Thursday (Sept. 5) to the Recording Academy’s 22,000 members, including voting, professional and GRAMMY U student members, urging them to join him in this nationwide rally.

“The music industry is changing faster than ever, and with those changes come challenges—whether it’s navigating the impact of artificial intelligence or tackling the issues surrounding live event ticketing,” Ronson wrote. “But these challenges are also our opportunities to shape the future of music.

“Music Advocacy Day is your unique opportunity as an Academy member to share your perspective on policies to prevent the misuse of A.I., protect your voice and likeness, and stop predatory ticketing practices to ensure we creators are getting equitably paid.”

Ronson was in Washington, D.C., on May 1 for the Academy’s Grammys on the Hill Advocacy Day, at which time he and Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason, Jr. met with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), among others.

“I saw firsthand the impact of sharing our stories with the people who represent us,” Ronson wrote in this letter. “Those conversations helped lead to meaningful outcomes on Capitol Hill, including the passage of the TICKET Act in the House, and the introduction of the NO FAKES Act in the Senate. Now, on Music Advocacy Day, we can build on the progress we’ve made and speak with our Congressional leaders at home in our local communities to ensure they hear our concerns.”

Recording Academy members can sign up for Music Advocacy Day by checking their inboxes for registration information or reaching out to their local chapter. But they don’t have much time to act. Registration closes on Friday (Sept. 6). The Academy notes that non-members can also participate by reaching out to their legislators through the Academy’s music advocacy action page.

Key issues that members of the Academy will address with legislators in their hometowns this year include:

Artificial Intelligence: Advocating for the Nurture Originals, Foster Art, and Keep Entertainment Safe (NO FAKES) Act, which is designed to protect Americans from fraudulent AI replicas.

Live Event Ticketing Reform: Advocating for the Fans First Act, legislation that safeguards artists and consumers from deceptive practices, provides transparency and restores integrity to the ticketing marketplace.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Music Advocacy Day, which the Academy calls the largest grassroots advocacy movement for music. On last year’s Music Advocacy Day, more than 1,700 Academy members engaged in nearly 100 meetings with lawmakers, according to the Academy.

Music Advocacy Day has helped achieve several legislative victories. Efforts from previous years have led to the enactment of the Music Modernization Act, which reformed music licensing for the streaming era, and the Save Our Stages Act, which provided needed financial support to music venues affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, advocacy efforts contributed to the passage of the CASE Act and the Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act, further protecting music creators and consumers alike.

Ronson, 49, has won eight Grammys, including two awards for record of the year — one as producer of Amy Winehouse’s “Rehab” and the other as artist and co-producer of his own megahit “Uptown Funk!,” featuring Bruno Mars. He also won an Oscar for co-writing the Lady Gaga/Bradley Cooper hit “Shallow” from A Star Is Born.

Here’s the complete text of Ronson’s letter to Recording Academy members:

“If there’s one thing I’ve learned from my years in the studio, it’s that music has the power to move mountains. It’s more than just beats and lyrics; it’s the heartbeat of our culture. That’s why I’m reaching out to you today about something that’s close to my heart.

October 1st marks Music Advocacy Day, a day where we, as creators and members of the Recording Academy, come together across the country to make sure our voices are heard. The music industry is changing faster than ever, and with those changes come challenges—whether it’s navigating the impact of artificial intelligence or tackling the issues surrounding live event ticketing. But these challenges are also our opportunities to shape the future of music.

In this time of industry transformation, I am honored to serve as this year’s Music Advocacy Day Artist Ambassador and work alongside you to inspire a positive impact on our community. Earlier this year, I had the chance to speak with lawmakers in Washington, D.C. during GRAMMYs on the Hill, and I saw firsthand the impact of sharing our stories with the people who represent us. Those conversations helped lead to meaningful outcomes on Capitol Hill, including the passage of the TICKET Act in the House, and the introduction of the NO FAKES Act in the Senate. Now, on Music Advocacy Day, we can build on the progress we’ve made and speak with our Congressional leaders at home in our local communities to ensure they hear our concerns.

Music Advocacy Day is your unique opportunity as an Academy member to share your perspective on policies to prevent the misuse of A.I., protect your voice and likeness, and stop predatory ticketing practices to ensure we creators are getting equitably paid. On this day, you’re representing the millions of artists and producers – your peers – that need safeguards and protection. The Recording Academy will be with you every step of the way to provide resources and guidance.

I know how busy life gets, but this is a moment where our voices can truly make a difference. If you haven’t signed up for Music Advocacy Day yet, I urge you to do so. We’re a community of innovators and pioneers, and together, we can protect human creativity for generations to come.

Looking forward to championing the cause with you,

Mark Ronson”

Jay Wheeler and Zhamira Zambrano are first-time parents! The couple announced the exciting news in a joint post on Wednesday (Sept. 4).

“Welcome princess, we love you with our life,” reads the caption, which accompanies two adorable photos in which the newborn’s tiny feet and hands are shown.

The Puerto Rican artist and Venezuelan emerging act first announced they were expecting their first child on June 13 via a collaboration post on Instagram. “Bienvenida,” read the caption alongside four images of the couple embracing each other lovingly.

To coincide with the news, Zambrano also released a single called “Bienvenida,” with a music video that documented her pregnancy. “My life is about to change in a couple more months,” she croons sweetly against a slow pop ballad.

Wheeler and Zambrano tied the knot in December, and that same month dropped their second collaborative effort, “Extrañándote,” following “Dícelo” in 2022. The former earned Zambrano her first top 10 on the Latin Pop Airplay chart and Wheeler his third. They also performed the song at the 2024 Latin American Music Awards this April.

Zambrano will be participating in the 2024 Billboard Latin Music Week, joining previously announced artists such as J Balvin, Alejandro Sanz, Peso Pluma, Maria Becerra and Gloria Estefan, to name a few.

Celebrating its 35th anniversary, Billboard Latin Music Week — the “most important week in Latin music” — will take place Oct. 14-18 at The Fillmore Miami Beach at the Jackie Gleason Theater. Tickets are already available for purchase here.

See Wheeler and Zambrano’s baby announcement below:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by zhamira (@zhamirazambranomusic)

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.

Unless you’re spinning vinyl on your record player or listening to the radio, you most likely have a music subscription to stream your favorite artists and the latest album drops. Apple Music, much like Spotify and Amazon Music, is an all-in-one hub to go to for playlist creation, music discovery and taking your favorite songs on the go.

Attached to each music subscription is a monthly or annual cost, but with a little help from Apple Music deals, promos and bundles going on, you can use the platform for free.

The easiest way to test out the music-streaming platform is through Apple Music’s standard free trial option. New users will receive one-month free of the streamer when they sign up and get access to all of the benefits like Spatial Audio and playlists that are always ad-free.

Apple is also treating new subscribers to a limited-time promo that’ll score you three months of Apple Music for free when you purchase a new Apple device that’s iOS 16+, iPadOS 16+ or macOS 13+. Limited-time offer for new subscribers redeeming on eligible devices. Plan auto-renews at $10.99/month until canceled. Terms apply.

If you find commitment scary, you can read on to discover more ways on how to get a free Apple Music subscription.

How to Get a Free Apple Music Subscription

Instead of finding the deals yourself, ShopBillboard put together a list of the latest deals and promos that’ll instantly get you free Apple Music.

Standard Apple Music Free Trial

If you’re new to Apple Music, you’re eligible for a free one-month subscription when you sign up through Apple. After that, it’s $10.99 a month, but includes benefits such as an ad-free listening experience, curated weekly playlists, access to the streamer’s library of more than 100 million songs and more.

Still in school? Apple Music has a student plan that offers the same 30-day trial before charging $5.99 a month. For families, there’s even the option to test it out for a month before paying $16.99 per month. And for those who prefer to only use Siri, the Apple Voice plan provides the same free trial before charging $4.99 a month. All you have to do is click the button on the page that says “try it free” and sign up.

Purchasing an Eligible Apple Device

Apple has a couple more methods to earn a free subscription without even leaving its site. The first being if you purchase an eligible Apple device such as a new MacBook, iPhone 16+ or iPad with iOS 16+.

Once your subscription is up, the individual Apple Music plan is $10.99 a month, but for further savings, you can do the Apple Voice plan for $4.99 a month, which requires you use Siri for all your streaming needs. Students can grab a student plan for $5.99 a month, while families can enjoy streaming together for just $16.99 a month.

Apple One Subscription

Sick of having multiple subscriptions? Apple released one of its newer services: Apple One, which bundles up to six apps together to create a lower monthly price. This even includes up to 2TB of iCloud+ storage and one month free of Apple Music. Rather than have various apps charging you different subscriptions costs, this will put it all together.

To score a free trial, go to the Apple One page and click “try Apple One for free.” From there you’ll have the option to choose from one of three plan options with the basic one being an Individual plan for $16.95. month that provides 50GB of iCloud+ storage and up to four apps bundled.

Need more space?You can opt to go with the Premiere plan for $32.95 a month, which will allow you to share it with up to five people, has 2TB of iCloud+ storage and can bundle up to six apps. Families can also snag a Family plan for $22.95 a month giving them access to 200GB of iCloud+ storage, the ability to bundle up to four apps and sharing with a max of five people.

Best Buy Promo

Arguably one of the easiest ways you can start streaming for free is through Best Buy’s promo. Just add Apple Music to your cart from the site and you’ve automatically earned three months of free, unlimited music (only eligible for new or returning subscribers).

Plans for Apple Music follow its own tiered plan that’s separate from Best Buy’s promo. The standard plan will cost $10.99 a month, but if you’re looking for additional savings you can subscribe to Apple Voice (a Siri only listening plan), the student plan or the family plan.

Verizon Unlimited Plan

For anyone looking for an excuse to upgrade their cell phone, this is your sign to do it. Verizon Wireless has a promo where you can score six months of free Apple Music, and all you have to do is be on an eligible Verizon Unlimited Plan.

After the Verizon free trial is up, the subscription follows Apple’s different tiered plans including Apple Voice for $4.99 a month, a Student plan for $5.99 a month, the Standard plan of $10.99 a month and the Family plan for $16.99 a month.

For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of how to get free Amazon Music Unlimited, the best tech deals and streaming device deals.

Despite his high-profile arrest for a DUI on June 18 on Long Island, Justin Timberlake didn’t see much impact on the ticket sales for his Forget Tomorrow World Tour, which is on track to gross more than $250 million over 87 dates, according to Billboard Boxscore data.

The estimated sales figure means each concert has generated about $2.8 million so far, before the tour stopped reported grosses when it crossed over into Europe, where he is playing 27 dates across Poland, Germany, Belgium, the U.K., the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden and France. While there’s not much data on how European tickets are selling, there’s no indication that sales have fallen off. In fact, in the months leading up to it, there were plenty of signs that Forget Tomorrow was one of the strongest selling tours of Timberlake’s career.

In the immediate aftermath of Timberlake’s arrest — which produced the singer’s reported response, “This is going to ruin the tour,” which became a viral meme — prices on secondary sites for some of his shows did drop, in some cases to as low as $20 per ticket. But those drops were likely publicity stunts by resellers trying to drive traffic to their websites. Prices on the secondary market have since recovered: His Sept. 4 concert in Hamburg, Germany is selling for slightly over face value, with some floor tickets selling for 250 euros ($277), about 25% higher than face value for those seats.

Prices get even higher on the secondary market in the U.S. when the tour returns in October, starting Oct. 6 at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center. While there are a handful of tickets listed below $75, the majority are marked up significantly, with lower bowl tickets selling for double the face value at more than $250 each and floor seats moving for over $400.

Even as the tour moves into softer markets like Orlando, Fla., and Milwaukee, prices on secondary resellers are holding strong and going for three to four times face value. By the time the Forget Tomorrow World Tour ends on Dec. 20 in St. Louis, it will very likely rank as one of the top 10 tours of the year and be remembered as one of Timberlake’s most profitable runs.