will.i.am has launched a new AI-driven radio service, RAiDiO.FYI, to evolve the static medium into a more personalized experience. With RAiDiO.FYI, users are able to have conversations with AI DJs about anything from music, to breaking news, to sports, to weather reports — and the service will create a listening experience designed to each user.

The new offering is part of FYI, a multi-faceted tech company which will.i.am founded to help “maximize creativity” for artists with the help of AI personas, file management, project management, design tools and more. Users can start listening for free on the FYI app, available for both iPhone and Android smartphones.

will.i.am says he had an “aha” moment when he was recently on a radio show and the DJ opened the request line. “The request line has always been always been awesome for radio with when the callers get to call in and talk to the DJ or talk to the guests, but they’re limited to one person at a time,” he tells Billboard. “And then after the broadcast you couldn’t talk the host.”

While the relevance of AM/FM radio continues to wane, particularly with younger audiences, will.i.am’s RAiDiO.FYI promises to reinvigorate the medium by switching it from a passive, immovable experience to one that is much more engaging and playful.

“This is an infotainment revolution where you can go back and forth with information in a deep way, and I’m so excited to be launching that with FYI, and to all the folks out there listening,” says will.i.am.

In the future, FYI will continue to partner with content creators from various internet niches to publish their own stations on the radio, including stations dedicated to spots, tech, politics, music and more.

The NFL is gearing up for a significant milestone by hosting its inaugural regular-season game in São Paulo, marking a historic expansion of American football into South America.

Amid this groundbreaking event, Brazil’s own baile funk superstar Anitta will kick off the halftime show, Billboard can exclusively announce Tuesday (Aug. 20). Her performance is set to meld the vibrant spirit of Brazilian music with the exhilarating intensity of American football. “I am incredibly excited to perform in São Paulo at the NFL’s first game in my home country of Brazil,” the artist tells Billboard Español. The event is taking place September 6 at 8:15pm ET.

Steering Anitta’s presentation are NFL’s head of music, Seth Dudowsky, Senior vp of global event operations & production, Jon Barker, and director of event presentation & content, Tim Tubito, all in collaboration with Production Club. “When we talked about artists that we wanted to work with, Anitta was at the top of that list,” explains Dudowsky. “We don’t want to come in and make this very American and Western. We want it to weave into the culture of the environment that we’re at,” adds Jon Barker.

In a discussion with Billboard Español, Anitta, Dudowsky, and Barker delve deeper into the preparations and expectations for this unprecedented NFL game, sharing their visions of blending sports, music, and culture to create an unforgettable experience for fans around the globe.

How do you feel about performing at the historic NFL game in São Paulo, the first of its kind in South America? 

Anitta: I am incredibly excited to perform in São Paulo at the NFL’s first game in my home country of Brazil. Growing up here has completely shaped me as an artist and, of course, as a person. So it means everything to be able to bring fans around the world the excitement and joy of our amazing music and culture. It’s really a dream come true to be a part of this moment.

Seth and Jon, how was Anitta decided on for this halftime show at the NFL’s first game in São Paulo?

Seth Dudowsky: We wanted to make sure that coming to Brazil, we were putting on the spectacle and the level of quality that you expect from an NFL event. Also, doing it in a way that felt natural and embracing the culture of São Paulo and Brazil. The most authentic way to do that is to work with artists and performers who are from those places. Artists who have been not only a face of Brazilian music, and what that represents around the world, but also being an icon in America as well. This creates a bridge for us to come from American culture down to São Paulo. When we talked about artists that we wanted to work with, Anitta was at the top of that list. It’s been an amazing opportunity, not only to have her perform at the game and help us create an incredible game-day experience for the fans, but also to help be an ambassador so that fans understand we’re coming down to Brazil. We’re going to do it in a special way that celebrates Brazilian culture.

Jon Barker: American football is becoming a global sport, and we are starting to play more games in different parts of the world. The opportunity to bring our game to São Paulo, Brazil, to South America, is really exciting. When you think about an opportunity to work with an artist like Anitta, it just elevates everything that we’re going to do. We don’t want to come in and make this very American and Western. We want it to weave into the culture of the environment that we’re at, so that fans who are coming to this game can identify with the entire experience. Anitta just brings that one hundred times for us, because she’s such a wonderful talent.

Anitta, have you previously followed American football? If so, what does this sport mean to you personally?

Anitta: I love sports in general, and I’m one of those fans who screams in front of the TV! With American football it would be no different. As a Brazilian, I love getting together with friends and family to have a barbecue and to cheer. 

How do you plan to connect with an audience that might be experiencing both Anitta and NFL football for the first time?

Anitta: Music is something that brings us all together, no matter where you’re from or what your background is. Football does the same, so I think that uniting force from both music and football creates a natural connection to the audience. I hope this global audience will really enjoy the performance.

Seth and Jon, how important is local culture in choosing a halftime performer for international NFL games?

Barker: Extremely important. It’s part of the overall environment that we create. I know we’re talking about halftime, about Anitta, but it sits in the way that we think about decor and the use of color and pattern, and how that reflects local culture. It’s in the music selection that we use in pregame DJs and artists who are going to be singing the national anthems for both countries. It shows up in many different ways, not just in the music that we select at halftime. It’s integrated along the journey. When you start to see the decor pattern that we’re using, you’ll see that it’s reflective of Brazilian culture.

Dudowsky: We’re going to make sure that we are representing and being authentic to the culture there. One of the most direct and effective ways to make it feel like I’m seeing something that’s not just another regular season game [with] the way we’re using art, imagery, and music. To go back to Anitta, we’ll have assets that are going to be created both in Brazil and America. For the fans in Brazil, it’s to make sure that they feel like we’re doing something authentic with an artist they recognize and love. But also for American fans to see that content, to see Packers-Eagles highlights. With Anitta and Brazilian music, it gives [Americans] that feeling that this is unique and special, even if [they’re] not actually going to São Paulo to experience it. 

The NFL is focusing on global expansion and bringing American football to new audiences. As a Brazilian artist, how do you see your role in this initiative?

Anitta: Seeing the NFL grow football internationally has been great to watch, and when I saw they announced the first game in South America, I felt like the stars were aligning. I know many football fans out here in Brazil, so having the opportunity to perform for so many of my fans here and beyond is an amazing experience.

Jon and Seth, how do you ensure that the music appeals to both longtime NFL fans but also new audiences?

Dudowsky: On the music strategy point, one of my biggest beliefs is that music is universal, just like sports is. Every country on earth has their own version of what they love in sports and what they love in music. You won’t find a corner of the planet that doesn’t have those two things as part of that culture. While it’s universal, it’s also specific. Everybody’s music choices and opinions on music are personal. So we know not every single piece of music everybody’s going to love, and that’s okay. We try to work with artists that are authentic and are uniquely themselves and represent a space in music. We speak a lot with our office counterparts in Brazil and Latin America. We work with labels and trusted sources, artists, agents, tastemakers, people that really are on the ground and know what’s relevant. 

Barker: It’s such a great line that sport and music are universal, and they don’t need to be translated; they just carry over. Who would have ever thought that playing John Denver in Munich, 70,000 people would just stop doing what they’re doing and sing together in unison? It happened! Sometimes we get it right, and sometimes we don’t. We experiment, and we see what hits and what doesn’t. You’ve got a different audience inside the stadium at varying ages, a different audience tuning in television locally, and a different one tuning in the United States. 

How do we listen and learn from the local community? And how do we weave that into this game and create the environment that we want new fans in São Paulo to experience? That’s the process we go through, and I hope that each year we get better and better at it. 

Anitta, can you give us a hint about what viewers can expect from your halftime show? 

Anitta: While I want to keep a lot of elements of the show a surprise, I can tell you I will perform Brazilian funk! I can’t wait to do this in front of so many Brazilians at home, as well as the global audience who will be able to see the show as well. It’s going to be big, and I’m excited for everyone to see what we have in store.

Last words? 

Barker: I don’t want to be hyperbolic but we’re about to do something historic, bringing our game to a place that’s never been played before. The excitement that is bouncing off the walls at our headquarters in New York and Seth’s offices in Los Angeles is palpable. How we’ve been received in [Brazil] from the day we made the announcement that we’re coming has been overwhelmingly welcoming. I’m proud that I can be a part of something like this, being part of the NFL, and being part of a group that’s bringing this game to Brazilians, and have them, hopefully, experience it and love it the same way that we all do here.

Dudowsky: One of the things that keeps me energized and passionate about being at the NFL for over a decade is the opportunity to not only learn about these cultures, but to be a part of something that is happening for the first time. Whether it was in Munich or the first Super Bowl in Las Vegas, when a city gets the opportunity to do something like this for the first time, it just feels extra special. The energy, the passion that especially Brazilian fans come with, we couldn’t be more excited to see it with our own eyes and to be a part of it; and to see what the country and fans of Brazil do with this game going into the future.

Working with a global icon like Anitta has only made everything we’re saying even more tangible. Her team has been amazing. She has been fantastic. We’re excited to have Anitta and all the energy and excitement that she brings. It’s only going to add to what we know is going to be a really special and historic night in São Paulo.

The 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago kicked off in style on Monday night (August 19) with rousing speeches from former Sec. of State Hillary Clinton and President Joe Biden and riveting performances from Jason Isbell and Mickey Guyton.

But on a night when Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris and her VP nominee, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, made surprise appearances, one of the biggest unexpected moments came during the reveal of a new ad for the Harris/Walz campaign that is scored to Beyoncé‘s a cappella version of the bid’s theme song, “Freedom.”

The powerful Lemonade track that has quickly become the musical grace note of the 11th hour campaign that kicked off when Biden unexpectedly agreed to drop out of his second race against convicted felon and former one-term President Donald Trump soared from the speakers inside Chicago’s United Center to help hype the crowd up for what turned out to be a very long night.

Opening with images of horses running free on the prairie and trains moving through the desert West, the video was full of classic images of Americana, from desperate Dust Bowl families to American troops storming the beaches during WWII, plenty of American flags and the Statue of Liberty. “What kind of America do we want?” Oscar-nominee actor Jeffrey Wright intoned over video of regular citizens suiting up for a day’s work. “One where we’re divided, angry, depressed? C’mon! We’re Americans! Fascism? We conquered it. The Moon? Landed on it. The future? Building it. Freedom? Nobody loves it more.”

As pics of Black Lives Matter protests, the moon landing and Civil Rights, reproductive rights and gay pride marches mixed with training film of Paralympic athletes and citizens of all races and abilities filled the screen, Bey’s voice soared as she sang, “Freedom, freedom, I can’t move/ Freedom, cut me loose/ Singin’ freedom, freedom/ Where are you?”

In contrast to the often dark, dire message from Republicans during the RNC several weeks ago, the “Freedom” video offered a message of hope and unity, save for a bit that spotlighted the deadly Jan. 6 assault on the Capitol by Trump’s followers. “I’mma keep on running cuz a winner don’t quit on themselves,” Beyoncé’s bellowed as footage of Harris promised, “extremists want to take us back, but we are not going back!”

The convention that runs through Thursday (August 22) will nominate the nation’s first Black and Asian American woman to the precipice of the highest office in the land. It is expected to be a star-studded affair that will contrast with the RNCs roster of septuagenarian professional wrestler Hulk Hogan, Ultimate Fighting CEO Dana White, model Amber Rose, country singers Lee Greenwood, Jason Aldean and Chris Janson and rapper-turned-far-right country singer Kid Rock. Instead, the DNC will have nightly celeb hosts including Kerry Washington, Mindy Kaling, Ana Navarro and Tony Goldwyn as well as guest Julia Louis-Dreyfus, along with Jason Isbell and Mickey Guyton (who performed on night one) and James Taylor, who was cut for time on the first night.

After jumping into the race at the end of last month, Harris’ campaign rolled out “Freedom” during the veep’s walk-out at her inaugural visit to campaign headquarters; the rousing, full-band album version of the song was also featured in an early campaign video. Unlike Trump, who has been sued, issued cease & desist orders and strongly-worded requests to stop using the music of popular acts during his campaign stops by musicians who do not agree with his divisive, name-calling rhetoric, Queen Bey gave the Harris campaign full approval to use “Freedom” during the run for the White House.

And while Trump re-posted fake AI-generated images of what appeared to be Taylor Swift fans, and the singer herself, endorsing his third presidential bid over the weekend, the Harris campaign has been flooded with full-throated, A-list endorsements from a galaxy of contemporary and classic stars, from Olivia Rodrigo and Barbra Streisand to Megan Thee Stallion, John Legend, Spike Lee, Katy Perry, Charli XCX, P!nk, Cardi B, Kesha, Jane Fonda, Ben Stiller, Robert De Niro and George Clooney, among many others.

Watch the new “Freedom” campaign video below.

DNC airs new “Freedom” ad to kick off the Democratic Convention pic.twitter.com/lXLqKi2rAN

— Kamala HQ (@KamalaHQ) August 20, 2024

SYDNEY, Australia — Playbill Group, the venue management business that operates the Hordern Pavilion, a Sydney landmark, has struck a partnership with AEG Presents and Frontier Touring, part of the Mushroom Group.

Going forward, Michael Nebenzahl continues as managing director of Playbill, in a “business as usual” arrangement, reads a joint statement.

Playbill and Frontier, both Australian, family-founded companies proving competitive on the global stage, have much in common, Frontier Touring CEO Dion Brant tells Billboard. “When we met Michael and his team it became obvious that the similarities didn’t stop there. We think very similarly, we have similar values and a similar culture. Both companies care deeply and go the extra mile for their clients, be it a theatrical production, a sporting team, or a music artist. Both go out of their way to treat fans well. And both focus on hiring and developing talented people, care about their people and trust them to deliver day in day out.”

He adds, “with all the things the companies have in common the partnership feels natural for both.”  

Formed in 1958 by Brian and Jocelyn Nebenzahl, Playbill’s interests include management of the Hordern Pavilion, which this year celebrates its 100th anniversary, and will host the ARIA Awards this November for the third-successive year.

From its grand opening in 1924 until 1983 (when the now demolished Sydney Entertainment Centre first opened its doors), the Hordern, with its 5,500-capacity, was the largest indoor venue in the country’s biggest city. Over time, the room has hosted concerts by a who’s who of global superstars, from Frank Sinatra to Coldplay, Foo Fighters, Nirvana, David Bowie, Queen and the Jackson Five.

Playbill also merchandises for theatrical productions including musicals, national theatre and music companies in 12 countries worldwide, and partners with major sporting teams and operates venue concessions across the country and in Asia.

Playbill’s merchandise division has “been a mainstay” of the theater scene in Australia for over 60 years, notes Brant, “and is now a major force” on the world stage. ​ ​ 

“I am delighted to be partnering with AEG Presents and Frontier Touring in this next phase of the Playbill journey,” comments Nebenzahl in a statement. “We have always prided ourselves on serving our customers, whether in musical theatre, sport or as a venue through the Hordern Pavilion. In AEG, we have found a like-minded partner to continue to honor the legacy my parents created when they founded the business.”

Frontier Touring and AEG Presents, the live-entertainment division of Los Angeles-based AEG, struck a strategic joint venture in 2019, formalizing a successful 12-year arrangement on tours into these parts. With that agreement, the award-winning Australian concerts specialist stepped into a global family whose portfolio includes venues around the globe, many at the arena-and-stadium level.

AEG has a long-established presence here through its then-named AEG Ogden joint venture, the largest venue management company in Asia Pacific. In 2019, AEG Facilities, the venue management subsidiary of AEG, announced a merger with SMG to create a new management empire called ASM Global, which would collect more than 300 facilities worldwide under a single banner.

“The Hordern and Frontier have a long-standing relationship bringing the best live music to Sydney,” comments Anthony Dunsford, GM Playbill Venues. “We look forward to continuing our role to bring iconic acts to the fans.”

Blink-182 are set to take their fans on another wild ride with the release of One More Time… Part-2, dropping on Sept. 6. The San Diego rockers Are set to take their fans on another journey with the release of One More Time… Part-2, dropping on Sept. 6.

Adding to the excitement, the band is set to share the first single from the expanded album, “All In My Head,” this Friday, Aug. 23.

The legendary pop-punk trio, who have been at the forefront of the genre since their mainstream breakthrough with 1999’s Enema of the State, is expanding their 2023 Billboard 200 No. 1 album One More Time… with eight fresh tracks.

One More Time… marked a significant moment for the band, as it was their first album with guitarist/vocalist Tom DeLonge since his return to the band.

DeLonge’s return was spurred by bassist/vocalist Mark Hoppus’s battle with cancer, leading to a reconnection that resulted in the creation of the album. The project, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, became their third career No. 1 album, furthering their legacy in the pop-punk genre.

The album’s singles saw major success on the Billboard charts, with “Edging” and “One More Time” both topping the Alternative Airplay chart, the latter setting a record with 20 consecutive weeks at No. 1.

The buzz around Part-2 has been building ever since drummer Travis Barker teased fans with a cryptic tweet on July 22, asking, “Who’s ready for One More Time Part-2?” The anticipation reached a peak on Aug. 18 when Barker confirmed that the album was “mixed and mastered” and ready for fans.

One More Time… Part-2 features eight brand-new tracks that will be available in multiple physical formats, including a 2 LP Complete Deluxe Edition on Blue Balls Colored Vinyl and a 1 LP Deluxe Tracks Only variant on Red Rocket Colored Vinyl.

You can pre-order and pre-save One More Time… Part-2 here, while the first single from the album, “All In My Head,” will drop on Aug. 23.